Richland County, Ohio - The whole text, 1908 (part 10 of 16)

"About sixty vears ago there was a chopping in the neighborhood of the Zeiters' church. Dan Wolf, a young Dutchman, attended that chopping. He carried a maul and a couple of iron wedges to use in the industry of the day. Returning home that might a company of the young men and women had to pass that church and then turn north on the "big road" to reach their homes. Nearing the Flora place the story of that ghost and that black dog came up. Wolf averred boldly what he would do to that black dog with his maul if he came about him. At the proper juncture for testing his courage one of the party exclaimed: 'There is that black dog.' Wolf slung the maul from his shoulder, but didn't wait to extricate the two iron wedges from his pocket, but got away from that place at as nearly a two-forty gait as his good, active legs could take him."

A Universalist church was erected in the northern part of the township at an early day and may have ante-dated the Zeiters' church. Among its members were: James Ayers, William Truck, Adam, John and Lewis Keith, and a Mr. Crum. A Baptist church was erected in 1852, a short distance north of Five Corners. Among the early members were the Boyée, the Jackson, the Copeland, the Jump, the Bohler, and the Moses families. A Tunker society was organized in the '30s. In 1858 they built a house of worship on section 20, a mile and a half west of Five Corners. The early members were: James Tracy, Elias Dickey, H. Showalter, Henry and Jacob Worst, Jacob Whisler, Christian and Joseph Rittenhouse, and Samuel and Jacob Landes.

The parents of the late Isaiah Boyce came from England to America and settled in Franklin township, seven miles north of Mansfield, in about 1816 - lIsaiah being then six years old. This Boyce place is on the old State road. where it crosses Brubaker's run, at Five Corners, and in situation and appearance ranks with the best of the many attractive farms for which Richland county is noted. At the Boyce home Bishop Chase conducted services and confirmed a class - the first confirmation service ever held in Richland county. The bishop held two services upon that occasion, one in the log courthouse in Mansfield, the other at Boyce's. Different dates may have been given as to the year of the bishop's visitation. The late Isaiah Boyce stated that "it was just prior to the bishop's trip to England to get funds to start a college." That trip to England was made in 1823. The Rev. Philander Chase, an uncle of the late Hon. Salmon P. Chase, was consecrated to the episcopate in 1819. The first Episcopal See of the diocese of Ohio was at Worthington. The Rev. Mr. Chase had settled there in 1817 as principal of an academy and rector of that parish, and two years later was made the first bishop of Ohio. Feeling the necessity for better educational facilities, he visited England to seek financial aid toward founding a college and theological seminary. He raised a fund of over $30,000. Upon his return he bought a large tract of land on the Kokosing, in Knox county, east of Mt. Vernon, where he founded Kenyon college and Gambier village, the latter being named for Lord Gambier, who was the largest contributor to the fund. Isaiah Boyce died February 10, 1900, aged nearly ninety years. Mr. Boyce was a prosperous farmer and a prominent citizen - a man of influence in his day and generation. Although Mr. Boyce was in Bishop Chase's class, he afterwards united with the Baptist denomination. About a year before his death he was visited by the Rev. A. B. Putnam, and during the interview the visit of Bishop Chase, seventy-five years previous, was vividly and lovingly recalled. The Rev. Mr. Putnam said prayers and Mr. Boyce joined in the responses.

At the conclusion of the service Mr. Boyce expressed the pleasure und comfort he felt in again hearing the prayers with which he had been familiar in his childhood, and were still dear to him.

Back in the stage-coach days there were two taverns of note in Franklin township. Of these, Long's tavern - kept by Israel Long - was situated on the old State road, near to the Zeiters' church. The other was Gates', on section 17, a little north of the center of the township, in the vicinity of the Franklin township house. The Gates tavern was first called "Ink's." Ink died and a Mr. Gates married the widow - hence the change in name. These taverns were quite popular in their time, and public gatherings and militia musters were held in the vicinity of each.

Jacob Cline and William Hollister were the first justices of the peace in Franklin township. A short time after his election, "Squire Cline resigned the office and Jacob Ozsbun was elected to succeed him.

While water was not wanting, there was not sufficient fall to give water power to operate grist and saw mills generally. There was a sawmill or two on the Brubaker run, and a grist mill on the Blackfork, where the road from Five Corners to Shenandoah crosses this stream.

The first schoolhouse in the township stood on the Flora farm, near Long's tavern, and the first teacher was Thomas Taylor. This was about the vear 1821. Franklin township could boast of stalwart men. like Samuel Bell and others - men who helped to found and maintain a country and institutions, not only for themselves, but for posterity. Of men like these. Sir W. Jones. in his Ode in Imitation of Aleoeus, wrote -

"What constitutes a State? Not high-raised battlements, or labor'd mound. Thick wall or moated gate: Not cities proud. with spires and turrets crown'd: No; men, high-minded men: Men, who their duties know; But know their rights. and, knowing, dare maintain, - These constitute a State."

That the world is not all made up of one sort of people was proven in the early settlement of the locality of Franklin church in Weller township, this county, as shown in every new settlement. Among the early settlers three brothers located in the neighborhood, Isaac, Jacob and Nathaniel Osborn. Those brothers, especially Isaac and Jacob. were highly respected and influential citizens. When my parents settled in the locality in 1832, Nathaniel was a cripple, unable for active labor. How long he had suffered from that cause we are uninformed. We think he was the oldest of the three brothers In 1832 he had sons married and rearing families. He settled upon the present infirmary farm, which he sold to the county in 1844 or 1845. His wife, "Aunt Annie," was a woman of strange mental ideas. Naturally active in tongue and limb, in her way she would make some stir among kindred elements in society. She had been reared on the frontier and was truly backwoods in her habits, ideas and manners. Yet a kinder neighbor need not be desired. Of this matter we know whereof we speak, for it was our lot to live on an adjoining farm to the one on which she spent the later years of her life, the family being our nearest neighbor.

The family of Nathaniel Osborn consisted of four sons, Isaac, Samuel, Nathaniel, and Jacob, and two daughters. The youngest daughter, "Polly," being an imbecile.

In the early settlement of the locality one William Holston settled on the quarter section of land that my father purchased for the family home in the fall of 1832. When my father purchased that farm, William Holston, Sr.. having lost his first wife and married a much younger woman, had moved to the neighborhood of Savannah, and his son William occupied the farm. I do not know much of the history of the Holston family; only this I know, that the sons wanted to make a living without spending much muscular effort. "Aunt .\nnie" Osborn certainly, in my acquaintance with the families, had a destitution of personal regard for the Holstons.

But "Aunt Annie" had implicit faith in witcheraft. Until her death she implicitly believed that the first Mrs. Holston was a witch and the source of all the mental misfortune of her daughter Polly and her serious troubles resulting from Polly's strange antics. '"'Aunt Annie" could tell marvelous incidents of the work of witches and the appearance of ghosts. She was sanguinely certain that she knew the cause of the first Mrs. Holston's death. In her mental deliberations she had conceived that the death of that woman (witch) was essential to the welfare of the daughter, Polly. So arranging with Abe Pittenger, a man well qualified to act the part desired of him, she formed an image of dough, representing Mrs. Holston, who at the time was lying on a sick bed, and sat it against a fence and arranged with Pittenger to run a silver bullet for his rifle and with it shoot the doughy image through the breast. Pittenger went through the motions, shot the image, and, as Aunt Annie told the story, Mrs. Holston at once gave up the ghost, and when she was laid out the attendants discovered a bullet wound in her breast, located exactly as the perforation in the image of dough was made by Pittenger's silver bullet. which Aunt Annie implicitly believed at once ended her life and her power for evil.

The Flora Ghost

Quite early in the settlement of the locality a family of the name of Flora settled on the big road, south of where the Myers nursery was afterward established. Flora was a man gifted with a remarkable power of imagination, which he indulged without restriction or regard for truth. One Trucks, the founder of Trucksville. and Flora appear to have been hail fellows whenever they met where the cheap whisky of the time was served with generous hand. Having met at one time. they were indulging in rehearsing incredible tales about happenings and strange occurrences within the limits of their wonderful individual observation. Flora went on to tell of a wonderful storm that he had witnessed and of its strange doings, telling how it swept the limbs and bark off the trees and left the bare poles standing in the woods in strange ghastliness. Trucks at once, as Flora reached this part of his invented story. came to the confirmation of Flora's statements, remarking that he knew that his account of that storm was true, because the bark and brush were blown clear over the mountains in Pennsylvania to where he lived and stuck on the dead trees standing in the fields, so that the dead oak trees again lived and bore acorns.

But Flora was suspicioned of evil deeds. A story ran about a peddler that had stopped for the night at Flora's cabin and was never afterward seen. But a ghost was often seen in the road and other places about or near the Flora home.

About 1838 an honest, industrious family by the name of Wolf moved into the neighborhood from eastern Pennsylvania and bought and settled on a thirty-five-acre farm that was afterward merged by Alanson Martin into his fine farm home. In the family there were a number of boys that the industrious father, a weaver by trade, trained to habits of honest industry. With one of the younger sons, Dan, our story has to do.

When the family moved into the neighborhood Dan was a boy of about sixteen. He was full of ghostly ideas and a firm believer in spook notions. Some of the older brothers had learned the cooper trade, and weaving and coopering was followed by the boys through the winter to the exclusion of educational opportunities. As Dan verged into manhood his associations were with the German-speaking families around and west of the old Zeiter church. There was a chopping and quilting at some house west of that old log church, and it was followed by a dance which kept the company together well toward morning.

A group of young people, among them our friend Dan with his girl, on their way home had to pass the Flora home. The old man years before had passed to that country where there are no peddlers. But as the company neared the Flora place the matter of the ghost and the probabilities of a visit from the spook were mentioned. Dan made profuse protestations of what he would do with that ghost if it appeared to trouble them. Nearing the house, some wag of the party exclaimed: '""There is the ghost!" Dan at once threw his ax from his shoulder and broke from that company and place with as near a two-ten gait as he could get up. It was the last appearance of that ghost of which we hear, but it was some time before our friend Dan heard the last of his marvelous run, made at the mention of its appearance.

Sandusky township was organized February 12, 1818, and at that time was twelve miles long from north to south and six miles wide. It remained that size for a number of years, and until Vernon township was created, 'which took the north half of Sandusky's former territory. Later, Crawford county was formed February 3, 1845, and took part of Richland's territory, and reduced the size of Sandusky to its present limits - seven miles long and two miles wide.

So far as is known, the first white men to traverse this region were Colonel Crawford's troop in 1782, their route leading across the northern part of the township, as they marched from Spring Mills to Leesville. The first settlers in the township were Christian Snyder and Jacob Fisher, who came in 1817. By 1820 the following had located there: John Reed, Daniel Miller, Joseph Russell, John Doyle, Louis Lybarger and Henry Hershner. The first settlement was made near the center of the township. The first settlers in the southern part of the township were the Hardings and the Snyders. The Riblets came in 1831, settled on section 25, and was one of the leading families there for half a century. Christian Riblet had been a soldier in the war of the revolution. He enlisted in 1779, at the age of eighteen years, and served till the close of the war. He died April 6, 1844, and is buried in the cemetery near Riblet's Corners.

Daniel Riblet, a son of this Continental soldier, was a justice of the peace in his township for eighteen years, and served two terms in the Ohio legislature - from 1840 to 1844. He kept the Riblet house, at Riblet's Corners, on the Mansfield-Bucvrus road, about midway between Ontario and Galion. The Riblet house was a stopping place for the stages that ran between Mansfield and Bucyrus. Riblet's postoffice was maintained there for a number of years. The farms in this neighborhood are valuable and under a high state of cultivation. The residences will compare favorably with the very best in the county. The homes of the Kuhns, the Overlys, the Flowers and others deserve special mention.

The inhabitants of Richland county may be called a religious people, and each township has about an average per capita of church membership. The Methodists, Lutherans and Baptists seem to largely occupy the field in Sandusky township. The Free-Will Baptists erected a church in 1850 on section 36, near Bailey's Corners. Mr. Reese, Harvey Day and Samuel Nestlerode were among its organizers and influential members. This society finally disbanded and the Albrights got possession of the building in 1877. This building has ceased to be a place of worship. It was sometimes called the "Red Squirrel church." Services were held there before the building was completed. Upon one occasion a red squirrel appeared upon a joist and took a position over the minister's head. He did not see it, but the audience did. It seemed to mimic the preacher in gestures and grimaces. It was but human nature for the audience to laugh, but their levity shocked the preacher and disconcerted him. But the good pastor forgave them when the situation was explained at the close of the service. The squirrel departed as quietly as it came. without waiting for the benediction.

While some townships boast of their wolf stories and their fox hunts, Sandusky does not deign to indulge in reminiscences of anything smaller than bears. One of these is the Hibner story. One day while Mr. Hibner was absent and his wife was busy with her household duties, she heard a noise near the chimney. and on looking in that direction was horrified to see the areat black paw of a bear reaching through an opening beside the chimney.

The opening was caused by one of the chimney stones having become loosened and rolled to one side. She had placed her babe upon the floor, on a blanket near the fire, and the bear was endeavoring to reach it. Fortunately it was beyond its reach, and the mother quickly removed it further away to a safer place and the bear went away. Many other bear stories were told by the pioneers of this locality.

As there are only small streams in the township, the gri=t mills were operated by horse power. There were two of these, one owned by Mr. Me- Quade, in the southern part, and one by Mr. Snyder further north.

But twelve votes were cast at the first election. John Williams was the first justice of the peace. The first school in the township was a subscription school, with about a dozen scholars. The Russell schoolhouse, south of Crestline, was one of the earliest. Many of the pioneers were of remarkable longevity. Christian Snyder liver to be ninety-eight vears old and his wife died at the age of one hundred and seven. In 1820, the third vear of Snvder's residence in the township, a terrific wind storm blew down his house and barn and destroved his growing crops.

A few vears after the township was first settled squirrels were so numerous that they would come sometimes by hundreds and make havoc with the farmers' corn crops.

Three railroads and one trolley line run through this township - the Erie, the Pittsburg, Ft. Wayne & Chicago. and the "Big Four." and the Mansfield- Crestline-Galion-Bucyrus, the latter being the new trolley line recently opened, and whose large comfortable cars glide along our streets like moving pictures. East Crestline is in Sandusky, and is its only town. But the township needs no towns of its own, for it is within convenient reach of several of the best little cities in Ohio. and Harvey Woods daily delivers mail to its people. The pioneers cleared the wilderness and now orchards and fields of grain in season occupy the ground where a heavy forest once stood, and these farms convince the observer that the township was intended by nature for a people engaged in agricultural pursuits - one of the noblest of vocations, for no one has greater reasons to be thankful and contented than the men whose faces are to the earth and whose backs are to the sun, for what they produce feeds the people. Therefore, farming is the grandest calling. Further. there are no promises to any other pursuit or calling like those to the farmers. The farmer has a special promise, that. while the earth stands. seed-time and harvest shall not fail. Farmers scatter precious seeds. showing the sublimest act of faith in burying in the earth the last grain of wheat from his granary. believing that in due time it would doubtless come again with rejoicing. bringing sheaves with it.

The history of Rome is shrouded in myth and fable, but the history of this country is an open book. Our fathers planted a republic. which in less than a hundred years spanned the continent. Our people have advanced as the people of no other country ever did, and our wonderful achievements are due to the sturdy and resolute pioneers who laid the foundation of our ereatness.

A Marriage Incident

The marriage, several years ago, of a Sandusky township couple, and the incidents connected therewith, afforded entertainment at the time for those who witnessed the nuptials, and is even yet amusingly recalled.

One day as S. G. Cummings, of the law firm of Cummings, McBride & Wolfe, was seated at his desk, engaged upon a legal paper, a Sandusky township farmer, whom we will call John Smith, entered the office. Mr. Cummings had taught school in that township in the years agone, and Mr. Smith had been one of his pupils. -\fter pleasant greetings, Smith took a seat and a short conversation followed. Mr. Cummings, being busy, hoped the interview would be brief, but, the perfect gentleman that he is, he did not betray this in his looks or conversation. Finally. Mr. Smith moved his chair closer to Mr. Cummings and said:

John, who was a widower. went on to explain that he had brought his prospective bride with him. and that she was waiting at Scattergood's. store while he came to Mr. Cummings for advice - to know if he could get married on $3 (all the money he had) and have some left to buy groceries, with which to comience housekeeping. Mr. Cummings assumed an air of dignified seriousness and stated that upon such an important problem he preferred to have a consultation of the firm. and the Hon. C. E. McBride was called into Mr. Cummings' room and the case stated to him. As the bride-to-be was in waiting, Mac told the expectant groom that while he had not time to look up the authorities, he thought he could help him out in a business-like way. Mr. Cunmnings went for the license and Mr. McBride for a magistrate to perform the ceremony. Within half an hour everything was in readiness and a client who had dropped in was invited to be one of the witnesses.

waving his hands. He then turned to McBride and said, "Give me $2." But the astute attorney cut the fee in two on account of blunders made. The account then stood: License, 75 cents; marriage fee, $1; leaving $3.25 of the five-dollar bill. With this balance they bought groceries and wended their way to Sandusky township, happy and with hopeful thoughts for the future. These attorneys often laugh over this amusing episode, for "a little fun now and then is relished by the wisest men."

Weller township was created in 1846 from Franklin and Milton townships upon the organization of Ashland county. The land of Weller embraces every variety of soil, well adapted for the production of grain and grass, as well as for all varieties of fruit and vegetables. The Blackfork, with its numerous curves and loops, courses diagonally over the township, from a mile south of its northwest corner to its southeast corner, and in the past furnished power for several grist and saw mills. The Brubaker creek, coming in from the southwest, enters the Blackfork at Oswalt's, in section 11, and the Whetstone, coming in from the north. confluences with the Blackfork two miles south of Olivesburg.

The Charles mill dam, where the Muanstfield-Olivesburg road crosses the Blackfork, was the cause of a long and expensive litigation about forty years ago. There is but little fall to the Blackfork. and the mill dam backed water three miles up the stream, overflowing banks and backing water into lowlands and marshes. <A Mr. Lee, father of the late John .\. Lee, brought suit against Mr. Charles for damages, and endeavored to have the mill dam obstruction to the stream removed, claiming that the miasmatic condition created by the overflows was unhealthful. The litigation resulted in the verdict that the dam be lowered a foot. Even this small lowering of the dam bettered the condition of the country ying above very much.

In 1818 Elijah Charles built a sawmill upon this Charles mill site. and in 1835, Elijah Charles having died. his son. Tsaac Charles. erected a grist mill, and for the quarter of a century following ran both grist and saw mills successfully, notwithstanding the litigations in the courts. The mills are now numbered among the "has beens.'"' In 1868 Isaac Charles removed to Bluffton, Allen county, where he was murdered some years later. His son Isaac was convicted of the crime and was sentenced to the Ohio penitentiary for life.

The first grist mill in the township was built by Benjamin Montgomery on the Whetstone at Olivesburg, in 1817. Mr. Montgomery was elected a justice of the peace in 1816. The eastern part of what is now Weller was then Milton township. The first schoolhouse was built on the west side of the Big Hill in 1816, and James Mahon was the first teacher.

Among those who settled in Weller township in 1814 may be named the following: Benjamin Montgomery, Elijah Charles, Jacob Osbun. In 1815, A. A. Webster, Levi Stevenson, George Hall, John and James Ferguson, James Mahon, John Dixon, James Haverfield, Henry Wikoff, William Holson, Francis Porter and Peter Pittenger. In 1816-19. Simon Morgan. Moses Modie.

For a number of years after the township was settled there was but little market for the products of the country, and money was scarce. With wheat - 25 cents a bushel and calico and muslin 50 cents a yard, corn and oats 15 cents a bushel, and salt $25 a barrel, and coffee 50 cents a pound, conditions confronted the pioneers of which the people of today know of only in an historical way. But the pioneers with steadfastness of purpose worked out their problem of civilization - a civilization that brought the markets of commerce in its train - markets that made a demand for farm products and reward for farmers' toil.

A description of the country in pioneer times says the valley of the Blackfork was very densely covered with a low, matted growth of small timber, while, close to the creek, the ground was rankly covered with long grass, and the interlacing vines of wild morning glory, plumy willows and the dark, thick growth of alder. The hills were covered with giant oaks, and the fragrant winds were healthful as the breezes of the ocean. Wild game abounded, even great, ferocious wild hogs, with their white tushes gleaming out and looking frightful.

In the years that have intervened, civilization transformed the wilderness into farms whose fields reward the labor of the husbandman. General Reasin Beall, in marching his army to the protection of the frontier, in September, 1812, encamped for a short time near the present site of Olivesburg, and called the place "Camp Whetstone."

Inasmuch as Weller township adjoins Ashland county, a story is given of how Robert Newall, a pioneer justice of the peace, sometimes decided cases according to his own views of equity, without regard to either law or precedent. 'Squire Newell was one of the earliest settlers in Montgomery township (then in Richland county). and his cabin was burned by the Indians during the war of 1812. Andrew Clark wished to bring suit against one Martin Mason for a balance claimed for work performed on a mill-race. It was against pioneer ethics for a justice of the peace to encourage litigation, and 'Squire Newell endeavored to effect a settlement between the parties without resorting to the law. but, being unable to do so, he issued a summons to Constable Kline against the said Martin Mason, the writ being a verbal one, and his mace of authority was a buckeye club, with which he was instructed to belabor the said defendant over the "hend and shoulders" until he would consent to accompany the officer to the court room of the justice. Force, however, was not required in this case, as Martin recognized the potent power of the constable's club, obeyed the summons with apparent willingness and was soon arraigned before His Honor, who required that plaintiff and defendant each make a statement of his side of the case, and after this was done the court decided that "Mason should pay to Clark two bushels of corn. Clark being a poor man, and having no horse, you, Mason, shall deliver the corn at Clark's house. Forever after this you are to be good friends and neighbors, and if either shall ever fail in the least particular to obey this order, I will have the offender before me and whip him within an inch of his life. As for myself, I charge no fees. Not so with Constable Kline, his charge being a quart of whisky, which plaintiff and defendant will see is brought into court as promptly as possible, for the use of all present." And the arret of the court was obeyed..

The Big Hill forms a prominent feature in the topography of Weller township. It has an altitude of about one hundred and fifty feet and is four miles in circumference. It is more or less abrupt on its several sides, and on top there is a stretch of tableland embracing a number of valuable farms. Upon this hilltop plain stood the Robinson castle, and a few years after it was erected, although the brick aud stone masons had been brought from England to build its walls, the foundation spread and the building fell into ruins.

Thomas Robinson, the builder and owner of Robinson's castle, was an Englishman, and, on account of his aristocratic ways, was called 'King Tom." He settled on the "hill" in 1820. A brother, Francis Robinson, married a Miss Dixon, who was called "Aunt Jane" by her relatives. Francis Robinson and wife were the parents of William Robinson and of General James 8. Robinson, both of whom are deceased. "'King Tom" was wealthy and was a widower when he came to America. After getting a farm cleared he returned to England, as he stated himself. for a wife. He was gone seven vears and was married just prior to his return. The cause of his long absence he never explained. and no one dared to question concerning the delay. This wife lived about eight years after coming to America. Her remains rest in the Milton cemetery. Robinson returned to England in 1843, where he died the year following. Jn past years parties frequently visited the ruins of the Robinson castle. on account of tales - absurd though they were - connected therewith. Bovs were usually hired as guide. Upon one occasion, as a party stood gazing at the ruins, one of the number remarked. "Down in that vaulted cellar is where old 'Bluebeard' Robinson buried his wives." "No." said the guide, with an eve to business. "no one is buried there. *"King Tom' cremated them, and if each of vou give me a quarter extra T/ll take vou to the exact spot where their bodies were burned inte ashes." The extra quarters were paid and the boy conducted the party to a ravine on the east side of the hill. where stone quarrymen had had a fire a vear before. and. pointing to the place, exclaimed. "This is where he cremated lis wives. and here are the ashes of their remains." One of the men took a small quantity of the ashes away with him. The boy afterwards boasted of how he had 'worked' the party for extra quarters. Other guides have done the saine, telling tales to suit the occasion. and in this way many very absurd and erroneous stories originated and were circulated about "Koug Tom." who. although peculiar in some things. was a benefactor in his way. for he gave employment to many people, and always paid them in cash. which was quite a consideration in those days, when money was so scarce that the settlers were glad of the opportunity to dig out stumps for "King Tom" to get money to pay their taxes.

The Holstein witch story has also been told before. and. in brief. is that in about the vear 1831. a Mrs. Holstein. then living west of the Richland infirmary farm. was accused of being a witch. und a meeting of people of that neighborhood was held to devise ways and means to get rid of her. It was proposed to make a dough image of the alleged witch and shoot it with a <ilver bullet. All of which was done. with the result, as the story goes, that Mrs. Holstein died the next day from the effects of a wound in her breast, like unto the one made in the dough image by the silver bullet.

The Richland county infirmary is situated on section 25, in Weller township. In 1846, in accordance with an act of the legislature, proceedings were instituted toward establishing an infirmary, and a farm of 160 acres was bought of the heirs of Nathaniel Osbun for that purpose. The county commissioners had charge of the matter, and William Taggart, William B. Hammett and John McCool then constituted the board. Colonel George Weaver, a soldier of two wars, had the contract for the building, which cost $4,500. The first directors of the infirmary were Richard Condon, Christopher Horn and Samuel Lind, and Lowrey Sibbett was the first superintendent. The building was destroyed by fire in 1877, and the year following a new building was erected at a cost of about $40,000.

Samuel Robinson, whose death occurred July 27, was the last of the generation of Robinsons which came from England and settled on the Big Hill in Weller township in an early period of Richland county's history.

Thomas Robinson came from England in the year 1820, and entered a tract of land on the Big Hill. He was a man of wealth, and his views differed widely from those held by the average pioneer. He was aristocratic in his ways, adhered to the old English style of dress, wore knee-breeches and was called "King Tom." He was peculiar in some things, but was a benefactor in his way, for he gave employment to many people in clearing his land, and always paid them cash for their work, which was a great consideration in those days when the circulating medium was so scarce that the settlers often did not know how to get money to pay their taxes, except to go and "dig out stumps for Robinson." He kept from ten to fifteen men in his employ the year round and paid them in gold. He had not the patience, like the other settlers. to wait for stumps to rot, but had them dug out in clearing his land, and, paying liberally for the work. caused fabulous stories to be told as to his wealth.

Thomax Robinson was a widower when he came to America, but after getting his land cleared he returned to England to marry again. He was gone seven years. Upon his return he was accompanied by his wife, but gave no explanation as to the cause of his long stay. They brought a boy with them, aged about four or five years, who was the Samuel Robinson whose funeral occurred from Oakland church.

In 1836, Robinson built a large brick building for a residence. which on account of its style and the aristocratic manners of its owner was called the "castle." It stood upon the most commanding site of the summit of the hill. Beneath the building were cellars with arched ceilings of stone work. The castle seemed to be doomed, for in about two years after it was built a windstorm wrecked part of the building, and Samuel Robinson, then a boy seven vears old, was taken from the debris after the storm abated. A few years later the arched foundation began to give away, and in time the building fell in a mass of ruins. remnants of which vet mark the place where the old castle

Francis Robinson, younger brother of Thomas Robinson, came to America a few years after his brother had located on the hill. He resided with his brother for some time, but later removed to a farm near the State road, north of Mansfield. Francis Robinson married "Aunt Jane" Dickson. They were the parents of two children - William and James S. William Robinson became the owner of the Thomas Robinson farm, and there he passed the greater part of his life. He is now dead. The other son was the late General James S. Robinson, who served with honor through the Civil War, as he did later in civil capacities - as a member of congress and as secretary of state.

The late Samuel Robinson was an industrious man and an exemplary citizen. He was a hard worker and accumulated much property. He added farm to farm until he had one each for his five children. He was best known perhaps as an auctioneer. He was also very successful in the berry-raising business. About six years ago he built a fine residence on what was formerly known as the Hetler farm, on the Olivesburg road, five miles north of Mansfield.

Samuel Robinson's seventy-four years of life covered a period which was noted for its effectiveness in the advancement of civilization. The people were frugal and industrious, and the lesson of their lives might be studied with profit by the present generation.

Springfield township is bounded on the north by Sharon and Jackson; on the south by Troy; on the east by Madison, and on the west by Sandusky. At its organization as a township in 1815 Springfield was twelve miles in length from east to west, and in width was six miles from north to south. In 1818 its territory was delimitated to its present size of six miles square. The name "Springfield" was taken at the suggestion of Mrs. Coffinbury, on account of the springs of water that abound in the township, notably those known as Palmer's, Preston's and Spring Mills. The Palmer spring, on section 8, is the fountain-head of the Sandusky river, and water is piped from it to Crestline for the waterworks of that town. The spring is 123 feet higher than the town. In fact, it is one of the means by which Crestline is able to maintain its position as a division terminal of the Pennsylvania railroad. Formerly the water supply of the town was insufficient and of poor quality; was not conducive to the generation of steam; was corrosive to metal, rendering it unfit for engine use. Fearful of the removal of railroad shops and divisions terminal, Crestline put in an admirable system of waterworks, piping the water from the Palmer spring. Although litigations ensued, costing thousands of dollars, the benefits Crestline derived from the works far exceeded the cost of the plant, with the litigations added.

At the Preston spring, a mile northeast of Palmer's, the Purdy m'lls were built in the pioneer times, and were operated for many years. Earthworks on the dam and race can yet be seen.

The sprin,; at Spring Mills has furnished water-power to operate mills there for eighty years, is still flowing and "tarries not the grindings." A fuller history of this mill, with sketches of the Barr, the Welch, the Wentz and other prominent families of the locality. will be given hereafter in a chapter entitled "Spring Mills."

Springfield has a nunrber of small streams, which, seeking outlets in different directions, supply a considerable portion of its area with water for stock and agricultural purposes. The sources of both the Sandusky and the Mohican rivers are in this township, and the Blackfork and the Clearfork branches of the latter have their origin from the same spring or lake, at Five Corners.

Springfield is situated on the watershed between Lake Erie and the Ohio river, the "divide" passing through the township from east to west, at varying altitudes, the highest being 832 feet above Lake Erie. This point is on section 16. Geologists call such elevations '"knobs.'' These "knobs," which are found along the summit of the "divide," present a difficult problem in surface geology. In some respects they resemble the Kames of the British Isles, and it has been suggested that they may have been formed of shore-waves, when the lake-basin was filled to the brim and they were islands or shoals. They occupy the summit of the water-shed, and in their stratification and the rounding of their pebbles show water action. A half-mile north of this knob there is a gap in the ridge of the "divide" through which the Blackfork flows to the north. The depression is called Shafer's Hollow, and, since the completion of the Mansfield-Crestline-Galion electric line, which crosses the Hollow, the place has come to public notice as picnic grounds.

Agriculturally considered, the land of Springfield compares favorably with the general average of other townships. The soil over the greater part of Richland county rests upon the unmodified drift clays, and takes its general character from them. It contains a large quantity of lime, derived mainly from the corniferous limestone, fragments of which are mingled with the drift. The clay in the soil is also modified and tempered by the debris of the local rocks, and is mostly silicious. This character, combined with a high elevation and surface drainage, furnishes a soil which renders the name of the county - Richland - appropriate. and secures a great variety of agricultural products. While all parts of the county are well adapted to grazing, the land is especially fitted for the growth of wheat and cereals. and to the production of fruits.

Newton Y. Gilkinson has for years been planting and cultivating a forestry park at Millsborough, in which he aims to have every kind and variety of trees native to Ohio. This is a commendable work, and Mr. Gilkinson's effort should be appreciated, for forestry has been too much neglected. The late Dr. James W. Craig. father of Dr. J. Harvey Craig, once offered $200 towards buying ten acres of land at Hemlock Falls for an historical and forestry park. But as no one seemed to join him in the matter no action was taken. The trend of civilization has been to destroy the forests, as was necessary to a certain extent, but the time has now come to cultivate instead of to destroy. Colonel William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) recently made an earnest appeal to President Roosevelt in behalf of .\merican forests. An interesting branch of the science of forestry teaches the relations of forests to the earth's surface, and the important part forests have in retaining and in distributing the rain and snow which moisten and refresh the earth. Since such vast areas of forests have been destroyed the volumes of water in springs and streams have diminished and the climate has become less equable.

Among the olden-time families of Springfield township the following are prominent: The Seward, the Douglas, the Dille, the Trimble, the Ricksicker, the Sewell, the Fraunfelter, the McCopnel, the Patterson, the Wentz, the Crooks, the Leppo, the Davidson, the Nazor, the Kirkland, the Webber, the Rank, the Ralston, the Dougal, the Cooks, the Ashbaugh, the Sheppard, the Roe, the Shafer, the Stewart, the Ringer, the Reinhart, the Miliken, the May, the Woods, the Walker, the Wark, the Craig, the Marshall, the Marlow, Hout, Freed, Ferguson, Day, Brandt, Au, Andrews, Neal, Chambers, Carter, Williams; Crim, Bell, Hackedorn, Hartupee, Moorhouse, Purdy, Sanders, Larimore, Stentz, Roasberry, Myers, Wise, O'Rourke, Musselman Sanderson, Mitchell and others. Others equally notable will be given in succeeding chapters.

The first settlers located in the northeast part of the township, coming on Colonel Crawford's route, which was the only road through that part of the county at that time. Among the first settlers was George Coffinberry, who came in 1814, and settled on the southeast quarter of section 1. Coffinberry had served in the War of the Revolution. Richard Condon settled on the northeast quarter of section 2 in 1815. About the same time the Welch family settled on section 1. Jesse Edgerton and Uriah Matson came in 1818. At the organization of the township, April 15, 1816, twenty-five votes were polled. Richard Condon was the first justice of the peace. The Finneys came in 1820.

The Presbyterians bad church and Sabbath school organizations in Springfield as early as 1822, and built a church at Five Corners, a mile north of Ontario. About the same time the Methodists built a church about a mile south of Millsborough, which was called Taylor's meeting house. Bigelow chapel, in the Jaques settlement, two miles north of Ontario, was built in 1837. It belonged to the Methodists. In 1844, a Baptist church was built in the same neighborhood. The Reformed and Lutheran denominations built a church on the Mansfield road, south of Spring Mills, and the Methodists built another near Carter's Corners, but nearly all of these have passed away, and handsome church edifices have been built instead at Ontario.

An account of the 'underground railroads" for which the township was so noted in slavery days was so recently given in a rural route article that it seems useless to repeat it here. 'Uncle' John Finney, one of the most prominent actors in assisting runaway slaves to Canada and freedom, was the stepfather of Dr. S. N. Alban, of Mansfield.

Springfield outranks her sister townships in leading roads - thoroughfares - over which travel passes from east to west and from north to south. And it is also traversed by both steam and trolley lines, and of the latter more. are to be built. ;

The Hon. William Patterson, one of the most prominent men of the county in the "30s, resided for a number of years in Springfield township, on the Mansfield-Galion road. Judge Patterson had been a soldier in the war of 1812, and was a member of congress from this district from 1833 to 1837 - the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth congresses. He is buried in the Mansficld cemetery in an unmarked grave.

Captured By Indians

In the pioneer days, when Springfield township was first settled, there were no near neighbors. For miles around there was nothing but paths through the forests - woods infested by savages, wild beasts and venomous reptiles. Stock ran at large and had to be hunted up if they did not come home when evening approached. They had bells attached to the necks of the cows, and the tone or clatter of each was readily recognized by the owner.

A Springfield township settler, who had a wife and three children, went in search of his cows one evening, and, following the sound of the bell, was allured into an ambuscade and taken prisoner by the Indians. He was taken to another part of the country, where he was held a prisoner for five years. His one aim was to escape - to return to his family - but the Indians kept such a close espionage upon his movements, year after year, that no opportunity to escape was open to him. He feigned contentment to throw them off their guard, and whenever separated from them in the hunt or chase would express delight upon rejoining them. Upon an occasion of this kind he succeeded in eluding their vigilance and in making his escape. He traveled by night and concealed himself during the day. He was pursued, but was not retaken. One day, while in the top of a tree and concealed by the thick foliage of its branches, his pursuers passed by, but did not discover him. Finaily, foot-sore and almost famished, he reached his home. Being in Indian drezs, his wife did not recognize him. He solicited something to eat, and after partaking of refreshments made his identity known.

But here an unexpected condition confronted him. His wife, after waiting for his return for three long years, concluded he had been killed by the Indians, and, thinking herself a widow, had again married. The woman explained the situation, and husband No. 2 was called in and a conference was held. A novelist might here graphically portray the emotions, thoughts and passions which surged in the breasts of the dramatis persone in this pioneer drama in real life, but the purpose of this sketch is to give a true narrative of a local historical event, without having the story annotated by flights of fancy.

Finally, husband No. 1 suggested, to relieve the woman of embarrassment, that the matter should be left to the children for them to decide which man should remain, and that the other must leave instanter and never return. The children said they wanted their '"'real papa," if he did look like an Indian. Thereupon No. 2 retired and left the country. He had been good to the family and had well provided for them.

A friend remarked to the returned husband that but few men would have treated the affair so philosophically, and inquired if the case had been decided against him if he would have as quietly acquiesced in the decision. The answer was "No; while I did not blame them, for they thought I was dead, yet had it been decided that I was to go and for him to remain I would have killed him on the spot."

When the Indians were being removed from Greentown to Piqua they were held in camp in this city a short time under guard. Two Indians - a warrior and his daughter - escaped through the lines, were pursued and the warrior was shot while in the act of crossing the little stream now called Toby's Run. The Indian - Toby - was killed, but the young squaw escaped and nine days later arrived at Upper Sandusky, having subsisted during that time on berries. The fact that the Indian maiden was with her father when he was shot throws around the scene a veneering of sympathy. But there is no sympathy in war, and the soldiers simply obeyed the military order to shoot whoever attempted to escape, and it seems unnecessary at this late day to apologize for the war of civilization against barbarism - a war that prepared the way for the church, the school and other institutions which enlightenment brought in its train.

In the stage days ''Riblet's" was a well-known locality. There was Riblet's postofice and there was Riblet's tavern, and Daniel Riblet was a state senator in 1854-6. What changes time brings! The postoffice. the tavern and the Ribiets are now gone. The history of the past, like an echo from other days, comes back to our memory over the tide of years, as -

Worthington township was erected June 6, 1815. out of the west half of Green. As originated, it was twelve miles long from north to south, and six iniles wide. February 11, 1817, Monroe township was created out of the north half of Worthington, making each six miles square. Worthington is in the southeast corner of Richland county. It was named for Thomas Worthington. who was governor of Ohio at the time it was organized.

The surface of the township is broken, and in the southern part is hilly. It is well watered by the Clearfork and its tributaries, and numerous springs abound. Slater's run enters the township at its northwest corner and empties into the Clearfork at Newville. Andrew's run comes in from the western part, passes through Butler and then enters the Clearfork. The Shields' run, or Gold run, has its source in the southern part, courses north and enters the Clearfork a short distance below Butler. On the latter stream the Shields and Wilson sawmills were operated in former vears.

Hemlock Falls. the old time picnic resort, is situated a mile and a half south of Newville, and about the locality are woven legendarv tales and romantic incidents which could be spun out and elaborated upon to make a book of sufficient size to sell either by measurement or by weight - as bulk and heft are the desideratu of some people in the purchase of books. The falls is about a half-mile from the Clearfork at Watts' bend, and the water of the falls is a run from a spring on the highland back of the ridge. The water pours over a slanting rock for fifty feet, then makes a leap over the edge to a basin thirty feet below.

The first public meeting in the interest of the collection and preservation of the early history of Richland county was held at Hemlock Falls on the first Saturday of September. 1856. William B. Carpenter, now a resident of Mansfield. was the chairman of the meeting, and General R. Brinkerhoff and the late Rev. James F. McGraw were the speakers. A number of meetings upon historical lines followed at irregular intervals, resulting finally in the Richland County Historical society of today, which is auxiliary to the Ohio .\rchaelogical and Historical society of Columbus.

Between Winchester and Watts' Bend a narrow road winds between the river and the environing hills, whose huge rocks seem to frown ominously upon the passersby.

The first grist mill in the township, which was the third erected in the county. was built at Newville in 1815 by John Frederick Herring, and was operated about thirty-five vears. The second grist mill was built by Jacob Myers in 1820. and was known for many years as the Kanaga mills. It is situated on the Clearfork between Butler and Bellville, and is now ealled Plank': mills. In 1840 David Herring, whose widow resides at 15 North Walnut street. Mansfield. built a large three-story grist mill on the Clearfork. between Butler and Newville. It was changed to a woolen factory. and now stands idle. The Watts' millx. on Slater's run near Newville. was operated for many vears. The Rummel mills. on the Clearfork below Butler, was built by D. J. Rummel in about 1855. Jacob .\rmentrout built a sawmill upon this ~ite in the "40s. He -old to Ma. Rummel in about 1850.

On Slater's run. at the south end of Newville, a woolen faccory was operated for many years, and farther up the run were sawmills owned severally by Tarras, Losh and Clever.

Commendable interest has always been manifested in religious matters, and a number of denominations have organizations and church buildings here. The Rigdons preached at Newville in the early "30s. The Disciples, the Methodists. the United Presbyterians, the United Brethren. the Lutherans, the Albrights. the Church of God, the Presbyterians and the German Reformed are represented.

William Grosvenor, of Park avenue East. Mansfield, witnessed a flood incident on the Clearfork when he was a boy that is worth relating. The upper part of the long head-race of the David Herring mills widens into a reservoir, between which and the creek there is an island of about five acres. Upon this island stood a dwelling house occupied by a family. The Clear- fork had overflown its banks and the waters of Simmons' run, which emptied into the reservoir, overflowed its banks also, and the outlet at the "spill" formed a current but little less swift than the river itself. The dwelling house was inundated and stood unsteady upon its foundation. The peril of the situation was apparent and men gathered upon the shore and discussed ways and means to rescue the family. A canoe was obtained and a man volunteered to make the several trips necessary to bring the inmates to the shore. A hero always rises equal to every occasion, and this brave pioneer paddled the canoe forth and back until each member of the family was landed in safety upon . the bluff. The last person taken over was a Miss Duncan, who was stopping with the family. She declined to take a seat in the canoe but stood with a foot upon either side of the boat and from a bottle drank to the health of the rescuer amid the cheers of the crowd.

Samuel Lewis was the first permanent white settler in Worthington township. He located on the northwest quarter of section 1 in 1809. In 1812 he erected a blockhouse on his farm for the protection of the settlers.

Henry Nail, William Slater, Peter Zimmerman and James Wilson came in 1811. Simmons, Herring. Broad, Darling, Pearce, Davis and some others came a few years later.

Captain James Cunningham was one of the early settlers of the county, but did not Jocate in Worthington until about 1820. He harvested the first crop of wheat in the county. Captain Cunningham was of Irish parentage, and was reared and educated in Baltimore. He came West - to this "new purchase'* - to teach school, but later became a farmer. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, as his father had been in the revolutionary war. He died in 1870, aged nearly ninety years.

Martin Spohn was born in Pennsylvania in 1804. Came to Ohio in 1832 and located in Tuscarawas county, and later came to Worthington township. this county. The Spohns were the founders of the town of Butler. They were Dunkards and industrious, exemplary people. Mrs. Sarah Bevington. of West Fourth street. Mansfield, is the daughter of Martin Spohn. She has two sons - one is the manager of the Aultman-Tavlor office at Chicago. and the other is an officer in the United States navy.

David Taylor was born in Pennsylvania in 1818. Came to Ohio with his parents in 1821, and located in Worthington. He was county commissioner SIX years.

Thomas Simmons came from Marvland to Ohio in 1813 and settled in Worthington. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and two of his sons served in the Mexican war.

Edward Sheehy came from County Cork in Ireland in 1809. He resided for many years in Monroe township, but later moved to Worthington, where he died. One of his sons, John Sheehy. resides on South Adams street, Mansfield.

Lewis Rummel was born in Maryland in 1804. He came to Ohio in the twenties. Was a miller by trade. He united with the Disciple Church in 1840, and was one of the leading members of that denomination until his death. He was the father of Silas Rummel, of Lucas.

David Secrist was born in Pennsylvania in 1815. He was a shoemaker, and by industry accumulated considerable wealth and owned some valuable . farms.

Danie] Mowry was born in Pennsylvania in 1823 and came with his parents to Richland county, Ohio, in 1828. He lived near Newville and is now deceased. He was the father of Mrs. John W. Baughman, of Jefferson township.

The McClelands came from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1824. They were prominent people in the township. and one of the descendants, C. L. MecCleland. is county clerk-elect.

The late Dr. J. P. Henderson was one of the pioneer doctors of Richland county, and was a member of the constitutional convention which framed the present constitution of Ohio.

Thomas B. Andrews was a justice of the peace of Worthington for many years, and served two terms as county commissioner. His widow, whose maiden name was Marilla Pollard, is still living.

Abner Davis was a farmer who lived about two miles southeast of Newville. He was once robbed of eleven hundred dollars in gold. The money was recovered in a peculiar way. The robbers, three in number, were from Mt. Vernon. The night was severely cold, the mercury standing below zero. 'Two of the number froze to death within a few miles of Mr. Davis' house. The third was so badly frozen that he was easily captured, and upon his trial was sentenced to the penitentiary.

George Hammon came from Virginia and located in Worthington. His son. Thomas.:now deceased. became one of the largest land owners in the township.

The Carpenter family located in Newville. and Danie] Carpenter was one of the first merchants and imanufacturers there. Daniel Carpenter was the father of William B. Carpenter. of this city. and of the late George F. Carpenter.

Dr. Hubbs. an Olivesbure boy. learned the printer': trade and followed typesetting for several vears, and in company with his father-in-law. the Jate Joshua Ruth, published the Loudonville Advocate. Later Dr. Hubbs read medicine. and has been a successful practitioner at Butler for about twenty vears. The doctor always has a cordial greeting for iis fmend- and deserves to have good things said of hint. :

John W. Wilson went to Califormia in 1852. driving all the distance from Butler to the Pacific coast. except between Cincinnati and St. Louis. which was made by boat. He served his country as a soldier in the War of the Rebellion. Mr. Wilson. ke Henry (Greer. was quite a dude in Ins vounger days, and today has the appearance of a well-to-do business man. He has a fine home adjoining the town.

L. W. Severns was a Butler boy. whose father was a Jeading merchant there for many xears. Curt was in the cavalry service all through the Civil War.

The Mix family was long identified with the history of Worthineton township, and several of their number have becn engaged in mereantile pursuits.

Of the McKibben. the White, the Snvder. the Crowner. the Traxler. the Wilson, the Flaharty. the Frehafer. the Piper. the Bemiller, Pritchard. Tooman, Berry. Shields. Grubaugh. Mishey. Kunkle. Cunning, Keller, Switzer. Dutton. Kramer. Halferty and other famnihes. sketches will be given later.

There was a generous friendship among the pioneers. There were no aristocratic lines drawn between the "upper and lower" classes. Their amusement - cabin raisings and log-rollings - were generally accompanied with a sewing or a quilting, and these brought together a whole neighborhood, both men and women, old and young, and after the labors of the day were ended the evenings were spent in amusements. A wedding frequently called together all the young people for miles around. The party assembled at the home of the bride, and after the nuptials came the wedding dinner, of which there is none such now. The second day was called the groom's day, and the party would go to the home of his parents to enjoy the "infair." Then came the racing for the bottle, and fleet horses were in demand. The successful racer would take the bottle and meet the company, treat the bride and groom and then the guests.

While Worthington township had no taverns outside of the village, a number of private houses entertained transient guests. Among these were Shields. Davis and Hammons. At the latter place drovers often put up for the night. .\t these pioneer homes many a weary traveler through the tall and lonely forests has been sheltered and refreshed beneath their humble roofs. und the savory odor of ham and eggs would have tempted more fastidious appetites.

Many manly lad= and beautiful lasses have been reared within the walls of these cabin forest homes. Many courtships have been carried on during the long winter evenings beside the dying embers in the old-fashioned fireplace - happv in present love and anticipating future bliss and prosperity in a more commodious home.

Here and there vet can be -een some relic of pioneer life and the good old-fashioned customs. The present generation should be remindful of the vrivations and hardships of the men who cleared the forests and first tilled our soil, and compare their humble beginning with our present state of improvements and utilities. It is to those who marked the way in the early settlement that we are so deeply indebted for our present prosperity.

Plymouth township was organized February 12, 1818, and as originally created was twelve miles long from east to west, and six miles wide from north to south.

By the creation of new counties and new townships, Plymouth was reduced in size to twenty-four sections - six miles from north to south and four from east to west. This territory was surveyed by Maxfield Ludlow in 1807, but no settlement was made until several years later. The land is generally fertile, slightly rolling, and an elevation extending across the township from east to west is the "Portage" between the river and the lake.

The old Wyandot trail, from the Sandusky river to Pittsburg, passed across the northeast part of the township and through the present village of

Plymouth. This trail was widened into a road by General Beall's army in 1812, and it was along this road that the early settlers of the northern part of the county came when hunting homes in the West. Many of the first settlers of Blooming Grove and other northern townships had been soldiers under General Beall, who had opportunities when encamped upon the banks of the Whetstone, at Olivesburg, and at Camp Council in Blooming Grove township. and in marching along the "trail," to see the beauty and the possibilities of the country, and at the close of the war returned to the forest scenes of their military operations. entered land and became pioneer settlers, and their descendants are today influential citizens of the county.

Abraham Trux was the first settler in Plymouth township. He built a cabin on the northwest quarter of section 5 in the spring of 1815. John Concklin, Daniel Kirkpatrick. Robert Green and John Long also came in 1815. John Morris, William and Daniel Prosser, Thomas MeCluer, James Gardner, Michael Gipson and James Douglass came in 1816. By 1818 there waz a sufficient number of residents to organize a township. The first election was held in the spring of 1818 and resulted in the election of Abraham Trux, justice of the peace; Stephen Webber, constable; John Conecklin. John Long and Thomas McCluer. trustees. A postoffice was established in 1817 on the military road a few miles east of Plymouth on section 4, now in Cass township. Jacob Vanhouten was the first postmaster.

The first settlers were at considerable inconvenience in getting grain ground, and had to go miles to reach a grist mill. There was not sufficient water in that section to run mills in dry seasons. Later a number of horsemills were erected. This was before steam was used as an operating power.

Whatever improvements have been made in Richland county, Plymouth township has shared those improvements. Whatever advancements there have been along educational lines and in civic betterments, Plymouth is always in line and touch with her sister townships.

At irregular intervals for vears past reports have been made of the discovery of coal in the northern part of the county. But such discoveries never materialized. The collapse of the recent "boom" was owing to the fact, as alleged, that the shaft had been "salted." Jt is a legitimate part of the work of a geological survey to expose and to prevent frauds, but not to assert that any particular individual has attempted or practiced a fraud. Thin seams of carbonaceous matter or beds of bituminous shale may be reached by boring. Coal if discovered in Richland county would have to be found below the carboniferous conglomerate, beneath which strata it has never been found in paying quantities.

The Pittsburg, Akron & Western railroad, which crosses the B. & O. at Plymouth, opened a market for the stone quarries that has been a material help to that vicinity. The Plymouth stone is of the Berea grit, the upper layers thin, the lower ones more massive and blue in color.

A story of a fight in Plymouth between two Irishmen comes down in the unwritten history of pioneer times. These sons of Erin were neighbors living south of Plymouth. Upon returning from a trip to the lake they quarreled as to which side of a stump they should drive around at the corner of Main and Plymouth streets. Their team was composed of a horse belonging to each; therefore, each claimed to speak as having authority. They stopped the horses and sat in the wagon and discussed the question, but as they could not agree, they proposed to decide the case by fighting. They got out of the wagon and fought in the street. Quite a crowd collected to see the performance, and while the "mill" was in progress the team started, went around the stump on the west side and was then halted by one of the bystanders. The Irishmen were separated and told that the horses had decided the stump question, going around it by keeping to the right. But the Irishmen replied that, although it was decided so far as the horses were concerned, it was still an open question between themselves, which they proposed to decide in their own way, and each taking a drink of whisky from a jug in the wagon, the pugilistic encounter was renewed and finally they were down in the muddy street "wallowing in the mire." A 'squire being present, he commanded peace in the name of the state of Ohio, and the belligerents de=isted from their strenuous contest, for the Irish are always loyal to those in authority. -\fter drinking again from the jug, they got into the wagon. avowing that they would fight it out when they got home.

(yoing to the lake in the old time meant a trip to Portland (Sandusky) or to Huron, the market marts on the lake. Teams came in long processions from the interior of the state to the market ports of Lake Erie. That markets are now at our doors is almost a literal fact.

One of the bear stories is the following: Michael Trux, Charles Bodley, Jacob Wolf, Jedadiah Moorhead, Michael Gipson, Robert Yearian and other early settlers were great hunters. Yearian made his own powder and guns, was a remarkable shot. as was also his son Frederick, who used a light rifle his father made for him. It is related of this bov, when he was about twelve years old. he wax one day separated from his father while hunting, and came suddenly upon a mother bear and hertwo cubs, upon whom he at once made war. The ball from his rifle was, however, too small to do much execution. and the bear turned upon him, pressing him so closely that he had neither time to reload or climb a tree, and so ran in the direction of his father. The latter, seeing him coming and the bear at his heels, called to him to run past him. which Fred did, and as the bear passed Yearian planted one of his ounce balls in some vital part of the animal with such certainty and precisien as to bring her down. They then carried the cubs home for pets.

Blackman's Grove, in the southwestern part of the township, where farmers' picnics were held for a number of years, was superseded by Holtz', in Blooming Grove township.

Monteith's, two miles south of Plymouth, has become a picnic place, where a lake has been formed on the headwaters of the Huron river. The place is now called "Huron Valley Park." decade or two ago, and the answer to each was '"'dead." How each decennial period removes from the living many of those who were influential in molding the affairs of the county and in shaping its destiny a generation ago.

The second settlement within the present borders of Richland county was made on the Clearfork, where Bellville now stands, and was called the McCluer settlement.

James McCluer came to that locality in 1808, and was so favorably impressed with the Clearfork country that he entered land, after which he returned to Pickaway county, where he had temporarily settled. and gave such glowing accounts of the Clearfork part of the "New Purchase" that he induced his kinsmen, Samuel and Thomas McCluer. and Jonathan Oldfield to join him upon his return, and a cabin was put up. the first in that part of the county. James McCluer then returned to his family for the winter, leaving his three comrades to keep "bachelors' hall" in the cabin. They had laid in breadstuff, and they could supply themselves with meat by kiling game which abounded in the forest. James McCluer brought his family to the cabin in the spring of 1809. which date is usually given as the time the first settlement was made.

The founding of Bellville. its growth and history, with mentions of its people - past and present - will be given in another chapter. This sketch deals with the township and its people.

The first election district. named Jefferson, was organized August 9, 1814, and was eighteen miles long and twelve miles wide, embracing six congressional townships, namely, Jefferson. Perry, Congress. North Blooming Grove, Troy and Washington. On September 3. 1816. Jefferson township as it is today, was organized with an area of six miles square and containing thirty-six sections.

Jefferson township has a diversified topography. The water courses are generally from the northwest to the southeast, making a succession of ridges and valleys. The principal stream of water is the Clearfork of the Mohican, which enters the township near its northwest corner and leaves it about the center along the east line. While the land of Jefferson township as a whole is fertile and productive, the soil along the clearfork is acknowledged to be as good as there is in the country, and the ridges that border the valley form a landscape picture exceeding in beauty any creation of an artist's fancy.

Honey creek gathers its waters from the west-central part of the township and empties them into the Clearfork, a short distance above the old Greenwood mills at Wintergreen hill. This stream also courses through a rich valley - a country of historic associations and of restful beauty.

Another stream, a branch of the Owl creek, waters the southern part of the township. Its source is up in the Bangorville region, flows to the southeast and leaves the township where the railroad enters Knox county.

Deadman's run comes down from the hills of the northern part of the township and empties into the Clearfork at Bellville. Along this stream is the gold region, where gold was discovered in 1853 by Dr. James C. Lee, who had been a miner in California. Considerable gold has been taken out there, but has never been found in paying quantities.

A furious tornado swept over Jefferson in 1808, entering the township near its southwest corner and sweeping diagonally to the southeast, cutting a swath through the forest and felling every tree on Chestnut ridge. This ridge has an elevation of 1,059 feet above the lake. Young chestnut trees grew up in time end made the ridge a beautiful background for a landscape picture.

Just south of this ridge is where Bushong killed his wife on the morning of October 4, 1840 - one of the worst murders in the criminal history of the county. Physicians testified that Bushong was a monomaniac and he went clear on the plea of insanity.

John Fox was shot and killed on the evening of March 8, 1883, two miles south of Bellville. on the road leading east from the Honey creek school house and within a half mile of his own home. This crime is one of the several murder mysteries of the county.

Bangorville, although now but a small country settlement, possesses an interesting history, and back in the "forties" had bright prospects and a promising outlook of future greatness. The reason of its rise and decline will be given in another chapter.

The Red House, one mile south of Bellville, was one of the most popular taverns on the state road in the old stage days, and of all the places of public entertainment on the route between Columbus and the lake, none surpassed in general favor this Red House tavern. The wood fire in the big fireplace in the winter not only warmed the spacious room, but also illuminated it. The words of an Irish comic song seem to be applicable to the spirit that pervaded the place:

For. in addition to its patronage by the traveling public, it was a favorite place for balls and other public functions. A rival was started across the wav - * Morrow's Inn'' - but there was patronage enough for both until the railroad was built through Bellville. in 1850. and the stage and stage taverns were relegated to the past.

Thackery wrote that one of the delights of stage traveling in England was the opportumity it afforded to laugh with the jolly hostess at the bar and to chuck the pretty waiter girls under the chin. 'Squire James E. Howard, sitting upon the porch of. his suburban home, can look down the old race track near the Red House tavern of the long ago and recall sporting scenes of other vears. It was over that track that the young man who assumed to be an unsophisticated Yankee lad won the stakes, thanked the crowd for the fun he had with them, then rode away.

Of the popular stage drivers Thomas, James and Alex Huston - three brothers - whose home was in Honey creek valley, deserves special mention. They held the ribbons, blew the horn and cracked the whip for a number

The Rev. John Moody was a pioneer preacher of the Disciple Church. He built a grist mill at Bellville in 1831. The story of his good deeds during" the period of the threatened famine has been told and retold, and should be repeated in the years to come as a memorial to him. Providence rewarded his generosity, for giving to the poor did not impoverish him, for the crops upon his farm yielded more plentiful than before. He was blessed in the giving as the poor were receiving his assistance. Captain Miller Moody, son of the benefactor, gave his life for his country upon the bloody field of Antietam.

On account of their kinship the Leedy and Garber families are often mentioned as one people. John Leedy came to Richland county from Pennsylvania in 1811, and Samuel Garber came from the same state in 1821, and married a daughter of John Leedy. The Leedys and Garbers are both numerous and prosperous. They are helpful to one another, and the maxim "live and let live" has been a rule of their lives. Their annual reunions are attended by hundreds of their friends.

The Gatton brothers, at Gattons' Rocks, have one of the largest and best fruit orchards in Ohio. Their hospitable homes are always open to their friends, and for an after-dinner talk "Cy" can entertain his guests with coon and fish stories that would read like tales of fiction. The Gattons came to Richland county in 1819 and are people of property. 'As rich as Gatton" is a familiar phrase and shows their financial standing as a people.

John Robinson was born in Ireland, came to America, settled in Pennsylvania, then came to Ohio and settled in Jefferson township in 1815, on section 11, east of Bellville. His descendants are well-to-do farmers. The Robinsons are industrious people, whose endeavors are directed more in the line of good citizenship and home comforts than in the pursuit of fame.

A half mile below Bellville there was a saw mill and a carding mill owned bv John LeFevre, one of the pioneers of the township. These mills were successfully operated for many vears. Mrs. LeFevre. whose maiden name was Huston, came to Bellville with her parents in 1813, when there were but four buildings in the town and one of those a block house. She was then six years old. Mr. and Mrs. LeFevre were the parents of Mrs. M. M. Sheidley, of Chicago, Ohio, and of J. M. LeFevre, of Garrett. Indiana. and of Samuel LeFevre, who lives on the old homestead. These have other brothers and sisters living, of whom mention would be made did space permit.

A Mr. Cornell built a saw mill on Honey creek, a half mile east of the Old State road, in 1821, and a pottery was operated in the same vicinity for some time, but both have long since been numbered with the things of the past.

These old mill seats are interesting from an historical point of view. although the generation of today know them not. The race of the old Samuel Heron mill is still discernible on the south side of Honey creek. where it crosses the New State road between John Robinson's and John Baughman's. Mr. Heron afterward owned the Marshall saw mill further up the stream.

Of the early romances of Jefferson township that of Katy Ebersole was the most pathetic. Katy's parents were honest, honorable people of high respectability and owned a large tract of land in the Owl creek valley between Fredericktown and Palmyra, and also owned a half-section in Richland just north of the Knox-Richland line, on the New State road. This Richland tract was Miss Katy's inheritance, and after the death of her parents she made her home upon her own farm - a portion of her land having been cleared and a cabin built close to and upon the west side of the road, along which the stages then passed. Prior to this, however, occurred the events that constitute the first chapter of her heart history - the first act in the sad drama of her life. Varied stories of Katy's love affair and blighted hopes have been told, but the following true version is from facts furnished by Frank Caywood, who was born and reared in the Ebersole neighborhood. Katy Ebersole was engaged to be married to Taylor Willits, an estimable young man of the same vicinity. The Willits were Quakers, and they said it would never do for a member of the Society of Friends to marry a "worldly" person, as they called those who were not of their faith. Jacob Ebersole, Katy's father, also forbade the bans, saying that the Dutch and Quakers had never got along well together and never would. Katy was a girl of high character and nobility of womanhood. and one of the strong points of her nature was reverence for her father and obedience to his word. Taylor and Katy each aecepted and obeved the parental injunctions and thus their ways parted - Taylor's leading to a premature grave and Katy's to the life of recluse. Taylor Willits had not the strength and courage to sustain him in the disappointment he felt in having his cherished plans for the future thwarted and blighted, and being predisposed to consumption, went into a decline and died, pleading to the last to see his "Katy." He was buried in the Friends' cemetery, southwest of Palmyra. JKaty lived on for, as we are told, "Life may long be borne, ere sorrow breaks its chain." She did not attempt to enter upon a "career," but was content to live unostentatiously and in seclusion, bearing her sorrow in silence. Her semi-hermit life extended over a period of perhaps thirty-five years - from 1840 until a short time before her death, when she was taken to the residence of a relative and was tenderly eared for until the death angel came and took her home.

The student of history takes interest in studying race lines and clanish groupings, and how the peculiarities and idiosyneracies of the early settlers leave their influence and impressions upon future generations.

Some of the prominent early settlers of Jefferson township were from Maine, which gave a Yankee impress to many things, especially in educational lines, upon which the people of that township have always been well advanced.

The Moore, the Drew, the Howard, the Walker, the Cross, the Greeley, the Gurney, the Ordway, the Alexander, the Bean, the Whitten, the French, and the Cutting families came from Maine; Evarts and Sweet from Vermont. The Gatton, the Strong, the Armstrong, the Bell, the Mahagan, the Thrilkill, the Gibson and other families came from Maryland. The Laffertys, the

In this sketch a number of names are omitted - omitted so that the pleasure of writing about Jefferson township can be again enjoyed to mention those not given in this chapter.

The early settlers of Jefferson, as well as those of other townships in the county, were men of brain and brawn. There may have been no decadence, but where are the men of this generation who could be considered favorably with such pioneers as were Major Samuel Poppleton, Major Morrow, Captain Joseph Johnson, Squire John Young, Squire Reuben Everts and others who might be named?

Sharon township was created out of Blooming Grove and was organized February 9, 1819, and in size was six miles square. In the creation of new counties there was also rearrangement of townships in the northern part of the county, and on March 2, 1847, Jackson township was organized, taking a strip six miles long and two wide off the east side of Sharon, reducing the latter to four by six miles.

The land of Sharon is well adapted to agricultural purposes and the farms are well improved and the dwellings and barns give evidence of the prosperity of the farmers and of their civic taste. Sharon is watered by the Blackfork and its tributaries. It has three railroads and one trolley line, placing the township in communication with the "whole world and the rest of mankind."

History tells of a school in Cleveland when but three families resided there. This shows the interest taken in educational matters in the very early settlements of Ohio. The schools and churches of Sharon township and of Shelby town will be given the credit and mention they deserved - and they deserve much - in a future chapter. °

A small band of Indians under Johnnycake had a camp for some time about two miles southwest of Shelby. But the Indian "episodes" in this part of the county consisted of nothing fiercer than war-whoops and dances. It has well been said that the great wave of the sea of civilization has long since blotted out all external evidences of Indian occupation, except here and there the plow yet turns up some curiously shaped implement which speaks of vears gone bv.

During the early settlement of Sharon wolves and other wild beasts, as well as game, abounded in the forests, and travel by night was unsafe on account of them. A pioneer story is told of a fiddler who was on his way after dark to play for a dance in the neighborhood, and was ''treed" upon a high fence by a pack of wolves. So fierce were they that they would try to jump upon the fence to get hold of the fiddler, who had to sit tailor-like upon the top rail to keep out of their reach. The familiar couplet of the poet Congreve at last came to the fiddler's mind, that

-\nd acting upon the thought, he played, as he afterward expressed it, "for dear life," and the music not only quieted the wolves, but actually seemed to charm them. The party for which the fiddler was going to play finally got tired of waiting and sent a committee after him, and the blazing torches of the searching party frightened the wolves away, and the fiddler was escorted in safety to the cabin where the dance was to be held, and in a short time there was "a sound of revelry by night," and the fair ladies and the brave young men of Sharon danced to the familiar strains of old-time airs.

Judge Hugh Gamble was a prominent citizen of Sharon township in the pioneer period. He was born in New York state, came to Ohio in 1823 and located in Sharon township, Richland county. His father, James Gamble, and his brother, John Gamble, came a few years later. John Gamble built the first grist mill in that part of the county, and it was run by horsepower. At the cross roads, now the crossing of Main and Gamble streets, where the mills stood, a number of houses were built, and in 1828 a postoffice was established called "Gamble's Mills," with John Gamble as postmaster. In about 1840 the name was changed from Gamble's Mills to Shelby in honor of Governor Shelby, of Kentucky. Hugh Gamble was elected a justice of the peace in 183+, and a member of the legislature in 1835 and served until 1839. He was an associate judge of the common pleas court for nine years. He was the third president of the old Richland County Agricultural Society, and was a member of the board of directors of the Mansfield & Sandusky railroad. In whatever position Judge Gamble was placed he filled the same faithfully and well.

In addition to Gamble's, other mills were later erected. General Wilson put up asaw mill on the Blackfork. John Kerr came to Sharon in 1826 and settled on section 29, in the southeast part of the township, and a few years later erected a grist mill and a saw mill. These were destroyed by fire in 1875. Joseph Coltman erected two grist mills, which were operated for a number of years. In 1839 John Dunean erected a grist mill on the Blackfork at Shelby. It was run ten or twelve years. The Heath mills were erected in 1844 and, keeping up with the improvements of the times, is still in business. The Shelby mills, at the crossing of Main street and the Big Four tracks, has a capacity of a thousand barrels of flour per day - dquite a contrast with the pioneer mills of seventy years ago.

Levi Bargahiser was an historical character. He was born in Pennsylyania, December 5, 1791. He came to Ohio when he was twelve years old and became a boy pioneer of Richland county. He lived with Martin Ruffner, near Mifflin, and was taken prisoner by the Indians, after Ruffner and the Zelmer family had been killed, September, 1812. Mr. Bargahiser entered the southeast quarter of section 6, Sharon township, in 1815, where he lived until his death, December 26, 1868.

Samuel M. Rockwell, who was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, December 2, 1811, and came to Sharon township in 1815, took a commendable interest in history and published a number of historical sketches, and to these he had intended to add others with the intention of having the same published in book form, but death cut short his labors. Each year it becomes more difficult to gather data of the past history of the county.

John F. Rice was the last survivor of Commodore Perry's battle on Lake Erie, September 10, 1813, known in history as Perry's Victory. Mr. Rice died March 8, 1880, aged ninety years, five months and seventeen days. Mr. Rice owned a farm of fifty acres, being a part of the southwest quarter of section 28 of Jackson township, but the last few years of his life were passed in Shelby at the home of his foster daughter, where he died. His funeral was an historical one. The flag on the dome of the state house at Columbus was at half-mast, as were the flags from the custom houses at Cleveland and Sandusky. These honors were accorded him on account of the distinction of having been the last survivor of the valiant band who fought under the gallant Perry.

The soldier is the unit of the army, but when numbers are massed together people generally look more to the aggregate than to the individual soldier. But these individuals make companies, companies make regiments, regiments make brigades, brigades make divisions, divisions make corps and corps make the army. But no matter how large an army may be, the individual soldier is the unit, and to him as such we are under obligations for the services rendered and the battles won. Then, too, people may be inclined to estimate the importance of a battle by the number of troops engaged in the same. History shows that a battle may be far-reaching in its results, though but a small number be engaged. The combined Continental army at the siege of Yorktown numbered only sixteen thousand men, yet this force compelled the surrender of Lord Cornwallis and secured the independence of the American colonies. General Jackson won his victory over the British at New Orleans with eight thousand men, and this victory ended the War of 1812. General Scott entered the City of Mexico with an army of less than eleven thousand and triumphantly terminated the Mexican war. But in later vears wars have been conducted upon more gigantic scales, and the larger the army the more people are lable to lose sight of the unit - the individual soldier.

Troy township was organized September 5. 1814. Prior to this date this territory was included in Jefferson township. At its organization Troy was eighteen miles in length from east to west and six miles from north to south. This area included all of Washington and North Bloomfield townships. In March, 1816, Washington township was created, leaving Troy six by twelve miles in extent. March 4, 1823, the size of Troy was again reduced by the creation of North Bloomfield on the west, leaving Troy six miles square.

Morrow county was created in 1848, which took thirteen sections from Troy, leaving the township irregular in form, there being a pan-handle at the northwest corner and a jog at the southwest corner.

1811-12. The first land entered in the township was the west half of section 12, by William Gass, in 1811. The next was the southwest quarter of section 11, by Francis Mitchell. Government land then sold at $2 an acre. In the spring of 1812 Amariah Watson located there with his family, having previously entered the north half of section 24. Elisha Robins and family also came in 1812. Others soon joined the little colony, among the number being Calvin Culver, Wesley Spratt, William and Daniel Cook, Samuel McCluer, Ezekial Boggs, Alexander Abernathy, Noah Cook, A. J. and Henry Winterstein, Thomas Scott and others.

The first election in Troy township was held October 4, 1814, and resulted in the election of Amariah Watson, clerk; C. Culver, constable; John Young, Jacob Mitchell and Solomon Culver, trustees. The second election was held April 3. 1815, at which Daniel Mitchell was elected clerk; Solomon Culver. John Young and Jacob Mitchell, trustees; John Vandorn, constable; Ichabod Clark and Andrew Perkins, fence viewers; Samuel Watson, appraiser: Jacob Cook. lister; .Amariah Watson and Samuel McCluer, overseers of the poer: Aaron Young, William Gass, Alexander Mann and Amariah Watson, supervisors. The treasurer gave a bond of $400, with Amariah Watson as security. From this humble beginning Troy has advanced with her sister townships. -.\nd while no cities have grown up within her borders. the people have prospered. The greater number of Troy township farms are fertile and productive in. soil, and in appearance from landscape views both pleasing and beautiful.

Judge William Gass, who settled in Troy township in 1812, was the father of the late Colonel Isaac Gass, and Samuel Davis, who settled on the northeast quarter of section 11 in 1825, was the father of the Hon. Henry P. Davis, of Mansfield.

Grist and saw mills were erected on the Clearfork in 1812-14. and contributed largely to the business of the new settlement, and stores of general merchandise were opened at Lexington by William Darnell and J. F. Adams. Each succeeding year brought new settlers, and in time all the land in Troy had been entered, and town and township grew apace with the other sections of this part of north central Ohio.

In the religious field the Rev. Henry George was the first minister in Troy, and he did an itinerant work, preaching in different places. He was a stone mason and worked at his trade during the week. Pioneer preachers were worthy and useful members of those early settlements. They seldom received any salary from their congregations, but, nevertheless, they carried the 'Banner of the Cross' along the borders of the wilderness, notwithstanding the dangers that beset them. Some of them may have been faulty in their English and may occasionally have said "had went," as was said in a fashionable Ohio pulpit during the year last past.