Union County, Ohio - Chapter 4: Early Settlement, 1915

Chapter 4: Early Settlement

The facts concerning the settlement of any given county are usuall) read with no Httle interest by each siicceechng generation, for somewhere in such a chapter will be found here and there the names of relatives and friends of the reader. Generations come and go, but the line of ancestrv keeps on sending forth words of historic interest to posterity. In this chapter it will not be the aim to go far into the detail of early settlement from the fact that it lias been deemed best to treat the early settlement by townships. Hence here will only be found a general showing of the first comers to Union count)' with other interesting references to customs, manners and incidents connected with pioneer life.

The first settlement in the county was made in Jerome township in 1798 by Joshua and James Ewing, two brothers. Thev erected their rude log cabin on the west bank of Darby creek about one mile north of Plain Citv. It should be stated, however, that a year prior to these men coming Lucas Sulli- \'ant had laid out a town called Xi)rth Liberty, but no improvements had been made there. Sullivant was a young Kentuckian, a land surveyor, who believed this a good point at which to speculate in the products of a "paper town." At that date the Indians were numerous hereabouts. James Ewing opened the first store and was the first postmaster in Lhiion county as now con.'itituted.

The most important settlement made in Paris township was made in 181 7 by Abraham Armine and his sons two miles northwest of Marysville. A few squatters luay have been in ahead of these men, but not as permanent settlers. The Armine family were from Pennsylvania. The father was born in that state in 176 1 of Swiss ancestry.

Union township was among the first sections of what is now Union county to be settled by tlie white race. George Reed, who settled on Big Darby creek, near Milfurd in 1799, was the first .settler. He also was from Pennsylvania. He erected a saw and grist mill in 1810-11 and also laid out the village of Alilfcird. He died in 18^:56, aged si.xty-seven years.

Marvland and Virginia. Tliey settled along Big Darby creek between 1798 and 1 81 2. Here we find that the two Ewings first stopped at the platted village of Lucas Sullivant for less than a year before going to Jerome township. They first located in what is now Darb_\' township in 1798. The next to locate in Darby were the Mitchells (1799) and their settlement has l:)een treated in the township history.

In Mill Creek townshii) the pioneer settler was Ephraini Burroughs, of New Jersey, wdio settled here in 1814 or 1815 at a point a little to the east of the x'illage of Watkins.

D(.n-er townshii) had for its first settler Jonathan Burroughs, a son of the pioneer settler in Mill Creek. He married Mary Bell, a daughter of a pioneer of Mill Creek township, and settled in Dover township in the winter of 1815-16 on a leased tract of land consisting of four hundred acres.

In Liberty townshi]) the first settlers were drawn hither by the stream known as Mill creek and the excellent land and dense forests, which at that date seemed to be the coveted place in which to make a home. Probablv the first man to arrive as a settler was Levi Carter, a Virginian by birth. The date of his settlement was 1813-14.

In Leesburg township the first to become ]iermanent settlers are not now known. It is known that the first settlement was on Blue's creek in the southwestern part of the township. There was a small colony came in from Clark county before 1820 and in this colony one man who it would seeiu was a leader. Simon Gates, who, with the family oi his father, located in survey No. 5,506.

In Allen township quite a goodly number came in early and among them was Henry Vangordon, a native of Pennsylvania, who located on Buck riui about 1820.

In Jackson township the first settler was Benjamin Carter, born in Tennes.see. 1787; emigrated to Ohio in 1805, arriving in Jackson township on Christmas day, 1826. He bought one hundretl acres in siu'vev Xo. 9,899.

In York townshi]) one of the earl}- settlers was Joseph Miller, of Xew York state, who located here in 1828, after having lost the title to his farm in Franklin county, where he had located in 1817.

In Claibourne township Cyprian Lee has always held the undisijuted honor of having been first to settle in the domain now known h\ that name. He claimed part of the Buller-Claibourne sur\-ey No. 4,267. His settlement was between 1820 and 1824. He was from Delaware, to which state he soon returned and married, bringing his bride ti_) the wilderness on their honeymoon trip.

Washington township had for its first settler Edward, or "Ned," Southworth, who came about 1830 from Logan county, Ohio. His brother, William, arrived a few years later and soon died.

In Taylor township it is orenerally conceded that Adam Shirk was the verv first person to locate. He was a native of Virginia, born in Hardy countv in 1791 : was a soldier in the War of 1812: settled in Taylor township in 1829.

For a more extended account of the various settlements made in the countv, the reader is referred to the separate township histories found elsewhere in this volume.

Sixty vears ago there were but few houses either of brick or frame in this section of the countiy. At first most of the dwellings were built of round logs not even hewn ; later the better class of houses were made of hewed logs nicely matched and the opening between the logs daubed with mud mixed with lime, whitewashed, and presenting a very neat appearance. When a settler had his logs cut. hewed and hauled to the location where he wanted his dwelling erected the neighbors were invited to the "raising," and they came with axes and all necessary tools on the appointed day. There was great strife among the ax-men to see who could "take up a corner" the neatest and at the same time the most rapid and it was quite dangerous work for an inexperienced boy, but they were all anxious to try a hand at it. usuallv under the eye of their fathers. There was also much rivalry in running up the logs to the workmen on skids by using long forked poles. Frequently <')ne end of the log would be rushed so fast that the other end would fall and the workmen sometimes injured by the falling timber. The house was usually raised in one day and the ridge-pole put on ready to receive the roof. The roof, of clapboards, split usually from oak timber, was kept in place bv weight-poles instead of by nails.

The onlv way the cabins were heated was b\- means of the old fireplace, now onlv known in poetry and h'story. These were about six feet wide. Many of the chimneys w-ere made of split sticks plastered with clay mortar on the inside. Cooking outfits were not very elaborate and usually consisted of an oven or two for baking corn pone, a skillet, an iron tea kettle and a few large iron kettles for boiling homin}-, making soft soap and washing clothes. The dishes were of the old blue pattern, decorated with birds, animals and flowers, which are now considered the proper style and quite rare.

Union Countv, Ohio. I Qq

Before the fireplaces and on the iron cranes that swung- the kettles the dear old mothers of pioneer (.lays would ])repare chicken and s(|uirrel p()t-])ies with accompanying side-dishes fit f<ir a king.. The first improvement in cooking liefore the days of sto\es was the tin reflector. It was ab(_mt twi) and a half feet wide and open in front and one foot deep with a shed-shaped top running out toward the fire at an angle of forty-fi\'e degrees, wliich reflected the heat from the fire-place to hread or cakes arranged on a tin or sheet-iron shelf, raised six inches fr(.>m the hearth on small iron legs, so that coals were ])laced under to heat l)eIo\\- while the reflector heated above. The ad- \ent iif the reflector was C(.)usidered a great advance in cooking and baking and was used in a majority of families until C(iok stoves were introduced in the vicinit\- about sixtv vears ago.

Xearl}- e\"ery cabin had a loom with spinning wheels for both wcjol and flax, and the linsey. jeans and linen cloth was wo\en 1)\' the women in each household. They cut out and maile all the clothing for the familv. The loose wamus for men and boys was usually worn, while the women and girls had flannel dresses dyed with the oak and walnut bark.

The furniture of the pioneer houses was both plain and scarce. Solid wood chairs or benches, with a s])lit botton.i rocker for mother, a ])lain table used for all purposes, and a "dough-chest" for meal flour and cooking utensils. The beds with thick and wide feather ticks of sufficient height to require a step-ladder. A trundle-bed for the cliildren. a book-case and a clock with wooden wheels completed the usual outfit for the average famih'. ( )f course, the trusty rifle, bullet pouch and powder horn always hung o\er the door.

Hunting Anu Tr.Vpping

.All kinds of game was ])lentiful in this vicinitv until the breaking out of the Civil War in 1861. It was a comuKin amusement to go out in the nearby woods on almost any farm and kill a "mess" of squirrels before breakfast or after supper in the summer season. When corn was planted the squirrels and chipmunks would commence digging it up near the side of the fields next to the woods and it was then the dut_\- of the boys to "go the rounds" of the fields two or three times each day hammering on the fences with clubs and shouting to scare the game away. Some of the older men of today have devoted many an hour to this duty, ski])ping o\-er the clods in bare feet and stubbing their toes on stones or stumps. When roasting ears were in season the raccoons were \'erv destructive and when the corn ripened wild turkevs visited the fields in great droves to get their share of the farmno UNION COUNTY, OHIO.

er's corn before it was husked. E\eiy farmer had at least one deer or scjuirrel rifle and hunting was not only great sport but was profitable as well. At least two hunting dogs were kept by each . family and usually one was a "coon dog" and they were always an.xious for the chase. In the late autumn months was the busy time for "coon" hunting with dogs as soon as the fur was good. Earl)- in the e\ening the boys would start out with their torches of hickory bark and their dogs whining, skipping and playing, in anticipation of the night's sport. A hound was not considered the best "coon dog," for he barked on the track, warning the game, thereby giving the raccoon time to find a large tree. .V cur dog would follow the trail so quietly that he would be on the game, unawares, thereby compelling it to seek and climb the first tree. Both guns and axes were carried and when the coon was "treed," if he ciiuld not find a hole in which to hide and it was moonlight, he could often be shot, (otherwise the tree must be felled. The coon is prettv shrewd and if not pushed too hard usually found a large tree. If the tree was large and the game could not be seen, coats were diiffed in a iiffv and the chips were soon flying, the hunters taking turns at chopping. Xo tree was too large to tackle and sometimes tliey were the largest white oak. which at this time, if sawed into finishing lumber, would be valued at a hundred dollars and more. The hunters seldom requested permission of the land owner to cut a tree, for if it was a good rail tree he would split it into rails, and if not he did not care for it anyhow. When the tree was about read}- til fall the l.toys with clubs, and the diigs an.xious for the fight, would fonn a circle in the woods out of danger, ready for the chase. The raccoon would usuall}- jump as the tree commenced falling, and when he was spied a grand rush would be made and the dogs would soon have him. A raccoon is a hard fighter and when tackled by dogs he turns his back and fights with both teeth and claws. A dog not accustomed to such fighting is knocked out in the first r<iund. l)ut the did hunting dog gets him by the throat and never releases his Imld until liis game is dead, .^s raccoon skins were onlv worth fr(om fiftv to cents each, Inuiting was not verv profitable where the investment was di\-ided between three or four Ijoys, but the fun and excitement cnmjjensated full\- for the financial sluTrtage. In the northwest ])art of Jeronie township there was a great forest called the "Galloway Woods." owned by non-residents, uninhabited and imcultivated before the Civil War. This forest was full of wild gam&, deer, wild turkey, raccoons, foxes, minks and sc|uirrels. At times hunters from a distance would come with a pack of liounds and start the deer, while the hunters would follow on horseback. Old pioneers can recall the haying of the hdunds, and if coming in our direction, how they watched for the deer as they bounded through the woods with the pack close in pursuit, taking up the cry of the leader of the pack as they followed in a straight row eagerly chasing the timid, frightened animals. It was very e.xciting ; and then came the hunters, guns (i\er their shoulders and liurses on the gallop. Such a scene, with tlie sweet nuisic of the hounds, impressed a boy intensely, hence it is just as \i\id today as if it occurred l)ut yesterday, although three score _\-ears lia\'e passed. As late as fifty years ago wild turkeys might have been seen in Hocks of from twenty-iive to fifty. Hunters woukl follow them carefull\- in dav time, getting a shot now and then. About sun down the turkey would begin to go to roost b\' ffying into the branches of tall trees. The good hunter who understood the game would then, after marking carefully the location, leave the flock. If it was nnjonlight he woukl retm"n at midnight or later when the moon was high, and bring down a few turkeys by shots from his trust\' rifle by getting the range so that tlie turkeys would be seen against the moon. Every rifle was a muzzle loader and the ram-rod would extend to the end of the rifle's barrel. To the end of the ram-rod the hunter would attach a glove or mitten so that it hung down three or four inches below the gun barrel when the gun was sighted. The aim must be .so the mitten or glo\-e would drop just below the fonn of the turkey looking upwards toward the moon. John Curry, who was the most noted and successful hunter in this \-icinitv, seldom missed a shot. An old pirmeer savs. ".\s I go back in memor\- now, I can see him mounted on his chestnut sorrel hunting horse. 'Alex.' as he dashed through ni}- father's sugar camp in front of our home at full s]ieed. leaning forward with rifle over his shoulder, on his way to the (".allowa\- Woods on many a winter afternoon. About dusk he would return slowly with one or two large turkeys hanging from the pummell of his saddle." He had a great coon dog, "Old Ben," wlio was sure of his game and never failed "treeing" a few raccoons and opossums e\-ery night he had the opportunity to "take the trail." Ben was the en\'}' of every hunting dog in the neighborhood. Among the other noted hunters may be named Sardius Ward, l)a\id McCune, the Hensils and in fact the bo\s in almost any family. Before Civil \\'ar times all the shooting was done with the rifle and a man or boy with a shot-gun was ridiculed. A boy of fourteen or sixteen \'ears was a good shot and could bring down a squirrel from the tallest tree with a rifle. There was much trapping of raccoon, minks and other small game. (JuaiN were caught in traps, a whole covey at once, and wild turkey would fl\- down into rail pens built tapering toward the top, only leaving- a small opening for the bird to enter to gain the shelled corn which was placed to entice him. When once in the pen, it was hard for him to fly straight up and out, and the hunter had easy work in securing him. That was long before any game laws were enacted and so the shooting season lasted all the year, and not a few days or weeks as it is today. When the county was first settled bear, wolves and other animals were veiw numerous, and wolf scalps brought four dollars each after the count}' had lieen organized a short time. Col. James Currv was a member of the Legislature, representing the counties of Madison and Delaware in 1820, when the bill was passed for the erection of Union county, so called because it was made from the territory of Franklin, Madison and Delaware, therefore a union of counties. Hon. Job Rennick, a prominent citizen of Chillicothe, represented Ross county, and after the bill passed he remarked to C"ol. Curry, facetiously, that "he now had a county and all it was fit for was wolf traps." Could those grand old men who first settled this county, and by the labor and hardship they endured, blazed the way for civilization, visit the county today (1914) with its macadamized roads, telephones and autiim()l)iles. what a revelation it would be to them!

The last bear known to have been killed in Jerome township was on the farm of James Buck, later owned by Perry Buck, and near the banks of Sugar run. A wounded bear had been chased into the neighborhood by dogs and finallv came to bay. A number of dogs were gathered up among the settlers and a great fight was soon in progress. Among the dogs were two or three bear dogs and they knew how to tackle the game by running in behind the bear and snapping at his heels and would then be out of reach before the bear could turn, keeping up this method of attack until the bear was completely tired out, and then the dogs could close in on him. In this pack of dogs two or three were not accustomed to bear-fighting and would rush in front of the animal and one stroke of his great paw would put them out of commission. In this scrimmage one or two dogs were killed.

James Buck, who was working in a corn field near, had liis hoe in hand iluring the battle. He became very much incensed at the rough usage of the dogs by the bear and signified his intention of attacking the bear in front with his hoe, but he was warned by James Curry, an old bear hunter, that he had better keej) away, as the wounded bear had good use of his fore paws and one stroke would be sufficient to put him out of the fight. After the dogs had fouglit for some time to the satisfaction of the onlookers, if not to the bear, it was dispatched by a rifle shot. This was soon after the War of 1812 and tlie spot on a Httle hillside on the east bank of Sngar run where this fight ensued was always a point of interest to those who witnessed the passing of the last bear in the township.

Fox Hunting

Fox hunting was great sport and very exciting when the hunters were mounted. On the day set the hunters would assemble at a time and place agreed upon, with all the hounds and hunting dogs that could be brought together in the neighborhood. Some of the older hunters would take the advance with the best dog and beat the bnish in some locality where the game was likely to be roused. If there was snow on the ground and it was soft and melting a track was soon struck and would be followed b}- sight some distance until the scent would become warm before the dogs were allowed to take the trail. When they did start and were baying on the track it was sweet music to the hunter's ears and they were all off on the gallop, following the hounds through the brush, over logs, streams, fences, in a wild race which frequently continued for hours. In some instances the fox would double on the track, dodge the pack, and run through the fields or pastures where there were sheep or cattle and by the time the trail was again found would be a mile or more away, heading for the Scioto river or Darby creek, and often reaching a place of safety in a hole among the rocks. It was great sport and dangerous as well, leaping fences or ditches, but a few bruises were just a part of the game and were not taken into account by the hunter, if he could only by a wild and reckless ride be in at the death. Some of the men who have passed their seventieth mile-stone, can feel the flush of youth yet come to their cheek as they go back in memor}' to the days when they followed the hounds in Union county more than half a century ago.

On Saturday afternoons and always on the Fourth of July, the clans gathered for sport and some swift runners were usually on the ground. The distance was usually a quarter of a mile. On the Post road toward Dublin, the horsemen of Pleasant Valley and West Jefferson had many races for afternoon outings. These races would be fast and furious until toward evening, and usually the da}-'s amusement wound up with an exhibition not on the program, participated in by such actors as Hen Davis, of Dublin, Abe Garabrant and Tom Gregg, of Jefferson, and sometimes the Kilburys would take a hand just as peace-makers. When the racing was over and the arguments commenced, the boys would climb on the top of the stake-and-rider fences to see the fun, as they could get a better view of the performance, and for another reason it was safer. In those days the actors were not governed by Queensbur\- niles : neither did they wear three-ounce gloves, and the rounds were not limited, although there was usually but one. This was in antebellum days, and after the Civil War Thompson Kilbury fitted up a fine half-mile track on his farm where the horsemen had some very interesting meets. There were some fine bred running horses in this community, among which the Printer and Uexington stock were the favorites. Running races were the great sport of that day and indeed it was very fascinating. Compared to the baseball and football of the present day, there are nine points out of ten in favor of horse racing.

Be it understood that a boy must indulge in some kind of exciting exercise, and breaking colts or riding wild horses was the favorite sport of the countrv lad of fiftv vears ago. When a farmer boy arrived at the age of sixteen or seventeen years, he was given a colt, a new saddle and bridle by his father. He was as proud of these possessions as the boy today is of his rubber-tired buggy or an automobile.

There were many races along the soft, smooth dirt roads by these boys going and returning from town in the evenings, just for fun and excitement and with no thought of betting. Among them were riders who would make a cowboy riding a bucking broncho green with envy. The racing on the Kilbury track after the Civil War closed was conducted in a very quiet manner. No rowdying was allowed and it was interesting, clean sport. At that time, the Cone boys, the Careys, Taylors, Millikans, McCanns and Converses were great horse fanciers, as were their fathers before them.

Pursuant to a published call, signed by W. M. Robinson, H. Sabine and others, a number of the pioneers of Union county met at the court house in Marysville on the 4th of December, 1875, and organized an association. William M. Robinson was chosen chairman and H. Sabine, secretary. A constitution was adopted, and the following persons were enrolled as members of the society :

The following officers were chosen for the ensuing year: William M. Robinson, president: H. Sabine, secretary: J. F. Sabine, treasurer; vice- presidents as follows, one from each township : William Porter. Union ; Hiram Kent, Darby; Jesse Mitchell, Jerome; Silas Bell, Mill Creek; Samuel Gamble, Dover; Joseph Dodds, Paris; Abraham Holycross, Allen; Stephen Shirk, Liberty; George W. Carey, Leesburg; Samuel Scott, Taylor; William Phillips, Claibonrne ; John Chapman, Jackson ; Gorhani Bird, Washington ; Jonathan G. Miller, York. After some other business the society adjourned to hold its first regular meeting on the first Saturday in the following June. As the years have come and gone, these meetings have been the source of much enjoyment among the pioneers and their children.