Bristol Township (part 2 of 2)

"It was upon the Devereaux farm that the first general muster of the first regiment of Morgan County militia was held. The regiment was about 500 strong and was officered by Col. Alexander McConnel ; B. W. Talbot, Lieutenant-Colonel, and Asa Emerson, Major. The regiment appeared uj>on the ground fully armed and equipped' - some with and many without guns ; some with walking-sticks, others with cornstalks, anil because of the latter being the prevailing arm of 'offense and defense1 at these musters they were everywhere called the 'cornstalk militia.1 As these musters were a new feature in the public affairs of Morgan County, and the people being of a more social nature than now, full of fun and frolic, they came in for fifteen miles around - men, women and children - to participate in and witness the performances of the day. Whisky, cider, apples and gingerbread were consumed liberally. At this time whisky was the prevailing beverage and universally considered an article of necessity, especially to those who were in any way exposed to the vicissitudes of the weather or engaged in laborious employment. Prohibitionists were then unknown, and a neighbor who failed to offer a friend a drink, even when calling at his house, was thought to be a mean and stingy fellow and as much despised as if he failed to observe other more necessary acts of hospitality. At these general musters fights of ''list and skull" were common. The combatants | purposely met to test their muscular i superiority, or to settle any differences j that might in the past have been exist- | ing between them. At this first I general muster appeared the Olive | Green Independent Rifle Company, j John Whitmore, Captain. They were i the observed of all observers - one i hundred strong ; large, sinewy, resolute, | fierce-looking fellows from the town- j ships of Olive, Olive Green, and Centre. I Their uniform was entirely home-made and made up of a deep blue hunting shirt fringed with red, and butternut pants. Every man was well armed with a squirrel rifle. The officers wore the same kind of uniform as the pri- | * vates, and were distinguished from the j common soldiers by some outlandish insignia of rank. They would go tlrrough the manual of arms, march and counter- j march, and by way of variety give a little of the maneuvers and drill of the Indians. In this way they gained the applause of the spectators. Maj. Emerson made his debut at this muster, in company with other regimental and staff officers, mounted upon a diminutive, l untamed young charger. The Major | in person was long and lank, standing | over six feet in his stockings, dressed in gaudy regimentals, spurs on his heels and several in his head. The martial music of that day was immense, but dis- j cordant, and the Major's horse, not | having an ear for that kind of music, | took fright and started off at full tilt - first down along the front of the regi- | ment, then made a like exhibition of | himself in the rear. lie then charged I the center and broke it, routing whole j companies. The unceasing music from a dozen drums and the spurs on the j Major's heels, added to the shouts from I a thousand throats, increased the terror of the warhorse and the prolongation of the Major's ride, which came to an ignominious ending in a fence corner. The affair disgusted the Major and he retired from military life. lie died many years ago at his home near Luke Chute, in Windsor Township."

The first election held in Bristol was on the 24th day of July, 1819, at the house of Simon Merwin, for the purpose of electing a justice of the peace. This was eleven years after the first settlement in the township bv David Stevens in 1808. From some cause the pioneers were not very much interested in the election, as only twenty-four votes were cast. Following are the names :

At an election held two years after, June 30, 1821, thirty-six votes were polled, showing either a small increase in the population or a decided lack of interest in politics in 18

Mt. Zion Church . - Mt. Zion Church, of Bristol, has been from its organization one of the strongest country churches in Morgan County. At the same time it is one of the oldest, having been organized by John Ilammoml in 1819. The records having been lost, it is impossible to give the names of the original members, but among them were the Hammonds, Devols, Murphys, Ranersons, Cuddingtons, McCarty s. Smiths, Harmons, and others. Janies Abbott was the first class-leader. The first church building was of logs; it was built in 1821. The present structure was erected in 1850; it is 88x44 feet, and cost $1,200. The present membership is about fifty. The society has a flourishing Sabbath-school of fifty pupils. Of this church, W. D. Mercer says ; 44 There is probably no country church in the state that so many people will call their spiritual birthplace."

Mt. Carmel Church . - Mt. Carmel Church (Methodist Protestant), is located two miles northwest of Mt. Zion Church. It was organized in 1827, and a log house built for a place of worship, j Nathan Coleman, James Howard and I Alexander Smith were among the prominent early members of this organization.

Bristol Grange No. 80 was organized in 1870 with thirteen charter members and William Chambers as master. At one time the order was quite prosperous, and had one hundred members.

1 The society has a fine hall, the lower | part of which is occupied as a Grange j store. The first officers, after the erection of the building, were John Henderson, master; Solomon Rowland, secretary ; J ames Scott, treasurer ; .John Whitney, overseer.

Thk Pa Km Iter Family

The Parmiters are of English descent. The name was originally spelled Palminter, the present orthography of the name being quite modern. John 1). Panniter, one of the pioneer settlers of Bristol Township, was born in Massachusetts in 1779. When a young man he was married to Hannah Rowe, and shortly afterward they settled in Hancock County, Maine. There he was engaged in farming until 1813. In the spring of that year he decided to emigrate with his family to the "Ohio Country," the Scioto Valley having been determined upon as his future home. Accordingly, he loaded I into his one-horse wagon his family, consisting of Mrs. Parmiter and six I children, and in due course arrived safely at Zanesville. Here he was persuaded bv a man named Varnum, who had previously settled on Meigs Creek, to change his plans and locate in the valley of the Muskingum, instead of on the Scioto. He passed the winter with his family at or near where Pnionville now is. There were then about six I families on Meigs Creek. In the spring of | the following year (1814) he leased and | settled upon an unimproved piece of land in section 3, Meigsville Township.

The family were poor, and their privations and inconveniences were many. They lived five years on this place. Mr. Panniter then removed to section 34, Bristol Township, where he bought twelve acres of land, for which he paid $30. In 1830 lie removed to a farm of 80 acres, which he cleared and improved, and, by the daily lalior of himself and sons, managed to pay for. The price of the farm was $3<>0, for nearly all of which lie went in debt. A debt of that magnitude, in pioneer times, when the scarcity of money was great, was more formidable than one many times larger would appear to a modern farmer. Mr. Parmiter was a kind-hearted and liberal man, and was warmly esteemed by all who knew him. Ilis wife died in 1838. He reached the ripe age of ninety-four yeai*s, and crossed to the other shore in November, 187*2. He was the father of six sons and six daughters.

John Parmiter, Jr., son of John D. Panniter, is one of the few people now living to whom pioneer life was a reality. He was born June 8, 1809, in Hancock County, Maine. His early 1 life was a continuous lesson of hardship and toil. He never had a pair of shoes until he was thirteen years of age, and went to school barefooted during one winter. He remained at home until he attained his majority. He then learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for ten years. In 1837 he purchased the farm on which he has since resided. He has been a prosperous farmer and is a most worthy citizen. In 1839 he married Elizalieth Bradley, daughter of John Bradley, an early settler of this township. She was born in Virginia in 1821. Their union has been blessed by six children - Joseph, Nancy (deceased), Benjamin, Mary D., Henrietta (Brown), and Sarah J. (Bowen). Mr. Parmiter has never been an office-seeker. In early times he was a captain of militia. He was justice of the peace for six veal's, and is an elder in the Christian Church, to which he has belonged many years.