Jefferson Township (part 4 of 7)

There are several old and substantial furniture manufacturing establishments, a broom factory or two, and, in John's Addition, a churn factory, C. Blust & Co.'s, that has been in operation many years. Benskin & Zellner and E. M. Wolff & Co. are engaged in the manufacture of gravestones, the latter establishment employing steam power and twentj^-two workmen. An old citizen, John Rickets, still continues the manufacture of shooting implements on Main street, and there are half a dozen harness-makers, employing several hands each.

On Walnut street is located the carriage manufacturing establishment of Messrs. Patterson & Creigh. They emplo}- more than twenty-four men, and turn out l^etween 300 and 400 carriages per annum. Their trade is mostly local, their work substantial and beautiful in st^de and finish, and their reputation for quality of work excellent.

Mr. Gr. W. Forne}', of Cincinnati, established a carriage manufactory in the old buildings on Main street, during the winter of 1879-80. The works proved a profitable investment, but owing to the lack of capital on the part of the proprietor, were obliged to suspend earh' in April, 1880. Mr. Sharp Bird was appointed assignee, who controlled the works until about the 1st of May, when the}' were sold to Mr. J. C. Kintner, who now owns and operates them.

Chapter Li History Of Mansfield, Concluded

Fire Department and Water Works - The Mayors of the City - First Council - First Railroad - Population AND Business in 1857 - Gas Works - Railroads - Market House - Mansfield Made a City - Erection of Buildings - The "Flush Times" Following the War - The Wholesale Trade - The Business of the Manufacturing Establishments - Incomes - Business of the City According to the Directory for 1869 - Library Association - Young Men's Christian Association - The Cemetery Association - Building and Loan Association - The Coldwater Railroad - The "Collapse" of '73 - Prosperity in 1879 - General Review of Business.

ABOUT 1829, the village of Mansfield had made such headway that a fire department was thought of. There was no way of raising funds for such a purpose at that time, but b}^ subscription, and accordingly Dr. William Bushnell carried around a paper, and obtained a subscription of 1150, with which a small handengine was purchased. It was a queer machine, the water being forced through a hose by turning two cranks, one on each side of the engine. This was the first fire engine, and Dr. Bushnell, Dr. Miller, Jacob Lindley (at that time Mayor), Hugh McFall, James Smart, Nathaniel Bryan, Henry Hufiman, a Mr. Canfidd and some others, constituted the first fire company. Jacob Lindley was foreman. On the occasion of a fire, they would range themselves in a row extending from the engine to some convenient well or cistern, or to the big spring, and pass buckets of water along the line to keep the engine supplied. Dr. Bushnell sa3's it was a veiy good engine, and was in use about fifteen j-ears or more, before the village felt able to invest in a better one. It was kept in Lindley's cabinet-shop on the site of the present Baptist Church. In 1846, a new engine was thought of - one with more power and eflfectiveness. The subject was presented in the Council on the 10th of April, 1840, and S. J. Kirkwood appointed by that body to obtain information with a view of purchasing.

In July of the same 3'ear, as a result of this inquir}', Isaac J. Allen was directed to conti-act with Messrs. Borden & Craw, of Newark, N. J., for a fire engine, to cost not over $600. This was done. At the same time the Council took the precaution of stipulating that the engine should be forwarded to Mansfield, free of expense to the town, where it would first receive a fair trial, and, if found satisfactory, it was to Ije purchased at a stipulated price ; otherwise, to be returned to the makers. It was not until May, 1847, that this engine made its appearance. It was duly weighed in the balance, found wanting, and the Ma3-or directed Mr. Allen to return it to the manufacturers. It was accordinglyreturned in June. Meanwhile, in the foil of 1846, while the new engine was in process of construction, it was thought best to devise some means for a water supply, and, for this purpose, it was decided to make a number of cisterns, which should hold from three to five hundred barrels, to be built in diflferent parts of the village, most convenient in case of fire. For the construction of these cisterns, the Council advertised for bids, and Jacob Scholl, being the lowest bidder, received the contract. Three cisterns were to be built, to be walled with stone, to hold five hundred barrels each, and to cost $92 each. These cisterns seem to have been sufficient for the fire department until 1853, when the Council advertised for bids for the building of eight more. The contract was awarded to H. D. Sheffler, at $52 each. These cisterns were not completed until 1854, and the village was compelled to borrow monej' to pay for them, and to meet the increased wants of the department. The number of these cisterns increased, from time to time, as the growth of the cit_y demanded until (at the time of the erection of the water works) there were seventeen of them in different parts of the city. They were kept full of water by various means, sometimes by conductors from the adjoining houses, but generally by laying hose and pumping the water from the creek, or the spring on Fourth street. This was ver}' laborious work for the fire department until the arrival of the steam engine. Since the construction of the water works, these cisterns are being neglected ; they are no longer of any particular benefit to the city, and will never be again used unless some accident should happen to the works during a conflagration.

In 1847, the Recorder was authorized to correspond with parties in Mount Vernon, who, it seems, had procured an engine that did satisfactory work, and were directed to L. Button & Co., of Waterford, N. Y. This, however, came to naught, and late in the fall a correspondence was opened with a manufacturer of engines and hose in Cincninati. It was not until February, 1848, however, that the Council authorized P. P. Hull to purchase an engine and six hundred feet of hose. Thus the town was nearly two 3'ears negotiating for its first acceptable hand-engine of importance. This engine, which seems to have been a good one, cost $1,000 ; hose and coupling, $441 ; transportation, $69.58; total, $1,510.58. These were purchased of D. L. Farman & Co., Cincinnati. At the same time, the Council authorized the following persons, and such others as they chose to associate with them, to organize a fire company, viz.: Levi Zimmerman, A. L. Grimes,

C. McEwen, John Rickets, Adam Heldman, Abraham Emminger, P. P. Hull, Alexander Mcllvain, David Bushey and James A. Cook. They were to have the use of this new engine " Ohio," hose, etc. The same date, a committee was appointed to procure a hose cart, and a proper place to keep the engine, and P. P. Hull was appointed the First Engineer by the Council. A shelter for the engine, etc., was rented of C. L. Avery.

After getting the engine, the Council recognized the importance of having a place to put it ; the}^ therefore negotiated with Gen. James Hedges for the purchase of Lot No. 184, being the one which the English Lutheran Church now .occupies. This lot cost $600, which was to l)e paid for in yearly installments of $100. This was in December, 1849, and in the same month a plan was reported for the new enginehouse. It was to cost $1,500, and the contract was taken hy B. McCaren and Henry D. Sheflfler in March, 1850. In the following January it was so far finished that the keys were delivered to the Council. The lower part of this building was used for the engine-room, and the upper part for a council-room and a town hall.

In July, 1852, a second fire compau}- was organized. It was called " Torrent No. 2." Its engine was purchased by subscription, the Council authorizing the same, and agreeing to refund to each subscriber, the amount of his subscription ; taking it gradually from his amount of tax for corporation purposes. The following names comprise the charter members of the company : George F. Carpenter, Eckles McCo}', Barnabas Burns, M. L. Miller, Ephraim McFail, T. B. Dodd, J. H. Cook, H. R. Smith, G. McFall, John H. Wiler, I. C. Fair, J. Christofel, James Dickson. John Y. Glessner, John C. Ritter,

Subsequently, other companies were organized, from time to time, much machinery and apparatus purchased, and the fire department became an institution of much interest and importance. In 1854, an Assistant Engineer was appointed by the Council for each organization ; the old engine and apparatus of No. 1 was turned over to the Young America Fire Company, No. 3, and Mr. Mcllvain went to Boston and purchased a new engine for No, 1. It was called the " Deluge " and cost about $1,500.

Isaac Grass was appointed Chief Engineer ; E. McCoy, First Assistant ; M. Day, Jr., Second Assistant ; William Mcllvain, Third Assistant, and David Bruck, Fourth Assistant. Mr. Glass continued to be Chief Engineer, two years, when J. H. Cook was appointed, with H. C. Hedges as First Assistant, and Samuel Carothers, Second. The third and fourth seems to have been dispensed with.

In 1857, John A. Lee was Chief, and David McCulloch and P. Bigelow, First and Second Assistants, Mr. Lee continued as Chief Engineer several years. He was followed by B. S. Runyon, E. McCoy, Henry Lemon, James Emminger, Robert McCrory and George Knofflock. In 1867, a steam engine was purchased for the department, at a cost to the city of $5,500. It was a valuable addition, and greatly reduced the labor of the fireman. It is still in possession of the city, together with two handengines, all of which are kept ready for instant use, in case the water-works should fail, during a fire.

The subject of building water-works for the citj' was first discussed in the City Council, in 1848. The first official action in the matter was taken by the Council June 5 of that year, when a committee was appointed to examine the springs northeast of the city and report as to the advisability of bringing in the water.

Again in July, 1848, a Mr. Bartle petitioned for certain privileges, for the purpose of furnishing the city with water from these springs. The matter was referred to a committee to report at an adjourned meeting. Mr. A. L. Grrimes made a favorable report, and the matter was again referred to a committee to make a contract. For some reason, however, the project failed. In December of the same year, a Mr. Maize petitioned for aid to erect water- works. The matter was favorably considered b}^ the Council, but with no practical results. For twenty years, there was only an occasional spasmodic eflTort in the direction of water- works, but in 1870, it began to be talked up in earnest, and the first decisive action was had at the April election of 1871, when the people decided by a large majorit}', that a long-felt want should be supplied. The matter having been decided, the Council in May, 1871, ordered an election for Water Works Trustees, which resulted in the selection of Messrs. H. R. Smith, A. C. Cummings and S. B. Sturges. These gentlemen were given great discretionary powers, and executed the trusts confided to them with fidelity and ability-. They first visited various places to study the workings of different systems of water-works, and came " to the unanimous conclusion that the Holly S3'stem of pumping direct through the mains, was the best and cheapest." Whatever the merits of other systems, the Holly was considered best for Mansfield on account of the high elevation of the city above the water to be used - some 220 feet, at the highest point. The works consist simply of apparatus of sufficient strength, and sufficient steam power, to force the necessary quantit}' of water through iron pipes to this height, and as much higher as might be necessary in case of fire.

Ground was first broken May 15, 1871, and the work carried rapidly forward ; the city advancing $500 to meet immediate expenses, the City Council voting the issue of bonds to the amount of $175,000. E. McCoy was employed by the trustees, as foreman in the preliminary work. The water was taken out of

Rocky Fork, 450 feet above the works. As this creek is formed entirel}' of spring-water - the spring at Spring Mill contributing largely - it was thought sufficient for all purposes of the water-works. The first issue of bonds ($100,- 000) was dated October 1, 1871, and the contract for the building, October 6 ; the contract for laying the pipes to the woi'ks having been made the previous August. Six acres of ground were purchased, where the works were erected, at a cost of $3,000, and an engine purchased of the Holly Manufacturing Company, of Lockport, N. Y., at a cost of $32,000. The entire cost of construction and material amounted to $154,420.70.

The work was pushed with such energy that, on the 20th of August, 1872, they were ready for operation, the machiner}- put in motion, and since that time have been working with entire satisfaction. After a few years' experience, much complaint being made regarding the quality of the water, which, although answering every requisite of the Fire Department, was not good enough for domestic purposes, it was determined, in 1879, to take the water from two very fine springs, within easy reach of the works. Accordingly, the Johns' Spring, half a mile up the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad track, and the Laird Spring, a half-mile beyond, were purchased at a cost of $5,250. The right of way having been secured, pipes were laid from these springs directly to the works. A reservoir was formed around the Johns Spring, with a capacity of about 1,000,000 gallons, the Laird Spring emptying its waters into this reservoir, and the Johns Spring welling up at its bottom. The pump draws the water directl}' from the reservoir, and, on the 1st of November, 1879, the city was supplied with pure spring water. The additional cost to the city, including the purchase of the springs, the right of waj', laying of pipes, etc., was about $17,000. More than fifteen miles of pipe have been laid through the city. All the material used in construction was thoroughly tested before being placed in position, all the pipes being required to withstand a pressure of 300 pounds to the square inch, a pressure about three times more than they will ordinarily be called upon to bear in actual service. It is thought these springs will furnish water for a citj^ of 20,000 people. The engine is of sufficient power to furnish 2,000,000 gallons in twenty-four hours, and to throw water over the highest liuilding in the most elevated and distant part of the city. The construction of these works was commenced when times were good and money plenty ; since that, the city has passed through a panic, and the debt has been felt to 'be somewhat burdensome. The yearly cost to the cit}', including interest on the bonds and running expenses, is about $13,000, but this will continually decrease as the bonds are paid off and the sale of water increases, and it is felt that, even with this expense, a large saving is yearly made in the decreased rates of insurance and the security of property from the ravages of fire. Since the construction of the works, no fire of consequence has occurred.

Mansfield toiled along through the woods, the war of 1812, the mud and slush, the stumps and logs of a backwoods hamlet, the ups and downs incident to every new settlement, for twenty years before any notice was taken of it by the outside world, and then the Legislature came to the rescue and made it a town. It was made an incorporated village, by an act of the General Assembl}-, in February, 1828. It had passed through a long period of incubation, but was finally '- borned," and started on its career of future usefulness, greatness and glory under the guidance of its first Maj^or, a Mr. Jacob Lindley. Unfortunately, the early town records have become misplaced or lost.

and a complete list of the Mayors who followed Lindley. with their terms of service, cannot be found ; such as can be found are given below. The list commences with 1846 ; from 1828 up to that time the records are lost, but some of the distinguished gentlemen who were called to the helm during those years were, besides Lindley, Joseph Hildreth, Henr}^ Huffman and Simeon Bowman.

Dr. Bushnell and Charles T. Sherman were members of the first Council, and almost the first act of that body was the passing of a resolution, introduced by Dr. Bushnell, that the members of the Council should accept no pay for their services. Mansfield did not exhibit an}' marked signs of future greatness until the Mansfield & Sandusky Railroad came, in 1846. This gave a start to the development of its almost limitless resources. It began to be a grain market, a wood market and a market for

The Mansfield Ilerahl sa3'S, of the city ten years later (1857): "The population is nearl}- 6,000 ; the annual exports exceed $1,000,000. There are twenty merchants in the cit}' ; three hardware establishment selling an aggregate of $80,000 per annum ; six manufactories ; three fire companies ; twenty-seven lawj^ers ; ten doctors ; two banks ; seven hotels ; eleven churches, ancl gas works aliout completed." The Herald is mistaken about the 6,000, but there was something over 5,000, for this year an enumeration was taken, and Mansfield made a city of the second class.

At a called meeting of the Council, June, 1855, H. P. Piatt, of Cleveland, asked, for himself and associates, the right of wa}', for twenty j-ears, to la}- gas pipes. The Council granted the right, upon certain specified terms ; this was the first positive action regarding gas. Two j^ears were given the contractors in which to finish the woyk, but the company was slow, and finally failed to complete their work within the specified time. Mr. James Purdy says that he, with others, " advanced the money to establish gas works, and when the contractors failed, he, with seven others, paid the debts due, organized a gas-light company, laid main pipes, put up lamp posts, aud lighted the streets." This was in 1857, and the price of gas was $3 per thousand feet. About 1849, the town received another "boost" toward her present greatness, by the arrival of cars on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railway. These railways receive full attention in another chapter. In 1856, ground was broken for the Atlantic & Great Western Railway. Mansfield subscribed $100,000. Ground was first broken liy John Wiler, followed b}' Jabez Cook and Robert Carter. Judge Bartley delivered the address. This road was fianlly declared finished, at 3:15 P. M., December 27,

In 1853, the town had attained to the dignityof a street commissioner, and Alexander Mc- Ilvain was the first to hold that office, and was appointed by the Council.

In 1855, the Council began talking about a public hall and market-house, and a committee was appointed to select a site. This committee was finally ordered to purchase part of the Bowland Block, that part on the corner of West Mai'ket and Walnut streets, at a price not to exceed $1,500. They borrowed $1 ,000 of Hugh McFall to make the first payment. Jacob BrinkerhoflT was a member of the Council at that time, and resigned his position, alleging as a reason that the duties of council men were incompatible with those of Supreme Judge of Ohio, which office he then held. He was paid $33.33 for the good he had done, and let off. Roeliff Brinkerhoff was appointed in his place. The corner-stone of the market-house was laid with much ceremon}' June 24, 1858. In the stone were deposited a gold ke^^stone (a Masonic emblem), a programme of the proceedings, a copy of each of the cit}' papers of latest date, containing a brief history of the city, together with several other articles, such as current coins, etc. All were put in a glass jar, which was placed in a cavity made for the purpose in a solid stone, in the northeast corner of the building, immediatel}' beneath the corner-stone. , Thi s building went rapidly forward to completion. October 3, 1856, Alexander Mellvain was directed by the Council to take an enumeration of the inhabitants of the village, and, Januar}' 5, 1857, Mr. Mellvain stated, over his signature, that the number was 5,121 ; thereupon a resolution was passed asking the Grovernor of the State to declare Mansfield a city. Accordingly, February 4, 1857, Gov. Salmon P. Chase issued a proclamation to that effect, and the city of Mansfield sprang into existence. The city was immediately divided by the Council into four wards, the line east and west following the center of Third street, and the line north and south following the center of Main street. The first election in the new city was held April 6, 1857, and resulted in the choice of Stephen B. Sturges for Mayor ; Hubbard Colby and R. C. Smith, Councilmen from First Ward ; J. L. Simmons and J. H. Cook from the Second Ward ; William Mellvain and B. Burns from the Fourth Ward, and F. H. Wise and W. L. Higgins from the Third Ward. Hubbard Colby was elected President of the Council, and Henry P. Davis, Clerk. The office of City Solicitor came into existence with the city, and L. B. Matson (deceased) was the first to hold that office.

The three railroads centering in Mansfield from different points of the compass, stimulated business and building, and caused the city to take a long step forward. Miller's Hall was erected in 1858 ; the brick block on the corner of West Market and the square, where Black's store is, in 1863, and the same year, H. H. Sturges erected the brick building on the corner where the first cabin was located. Opera House Block was erected by H. K.. Smith in 1869. Many other buildings of more or less importance were erected during these years of prosperity. The war came in '61 with its all absorbing issues, which, however, only checked for a 3"ear or two the growth and development of the city ; and with the flush times immediately succeeding the war, Mansfield sprang forward with renewed energy and life. No period in her history can compare in interest (and the same may, perhaps, be said of almost every other city in the country), to that embraced between the years 1865 and 1 873. Mansfield went wild with success, and ran up that ladder, so to speak, to such a height that she, in common with the rest of the countr3^ grew dizzy and fell. The history' of the " flush times " immediatel}'' preceding the panic of '73 need not be written here ; it is written on the memory of most people ; everybod}^ understands it, and its causes and effects ; and, if they do not forget it, will profit by it. It affected Mansfield in common with the rest of the world; in common with the rest of the world, she has passed that period, experienced her " ups and downs," and remembers that the " ups " were ver3' high, and the '- downs " very low. Business was wonderfully stimulated ; wholesale houses, factories and machine-shops sprang into existence ; more retail houses started than could live ; many of her citizens waded into the stream of debt over their heads ; built fine houses ; found the current of that stream too rapid for them ; were swept into the whirlpool, and - have generally repented in "sackcloth and ashes." There ma}' be consolation, however, in knowing that they had plent}' of company. Mansfield went on a " bum," to use an expressive word, over the good things the great victor}' brought ; she has since "sobered off;" seen the folly of so doing, and is now walking carefully and cautiously on solid gi'ound, after the manner of a man who has been in a scrape and learned by experience.

The wholesale grocers were the pioneers of the wholesale trade of Mansfield. Fortunately for the cit}', three great trunk lines of railroad, connecting the largest cities in the country East and West, converge and diverge at this point. Men were not slow to perceive the excellent shipping facilities thus presented ; the advantage of competition in freights from the East, and the opportunity for easy distribution of goods. Until 1865, no exclusively wholesale house existed in Mansfield. Several houses were doing a wholesale and retail business together, but none had the nerve to branch out into wholesaling exclusively. A Mr. Davis had for some 3^ears been wholesaling groceries in a small way, and Mr. E. Clapp (now living on Fourth street, having retired from active business) kept quite a large retail grocery and candy manufacturing establishment on the corner of Fourth and Main, and did some wholesaling. No effort, however, was made to wholesale ; if purchasers came from the country and wanted to buy in quantities, they were waited upon, but no traveling men were out drumming up the trade as in later times. Col. Hiram Miller was among the first who attempted to sell goods on the road from Mansfield. He traveled a short time for Mr. Davis, before he engaged with Tracy & Avery, with whom he remained many years. When he first went on the road, he would take orders from the country merchants, carry them about in his pocket until his return, before filling them. He only traveled a day or two out of a week, or a week or two out of a month. In 1864, he was employed by Tracy & Avery, who kept a wholesale and retail establishment on the northwest corner of the public square (where it still remains), and who were probably the first to keep a traveling man continually on the road. About the 1st of December, 1865, Messrs. Peter Remy, James A. Hedges and A. C. Cummins formed a partnership, purchased the establishment of E. Clapp and began an exclusive wholesale business. The next year, 1866, Tracy & Avery closed up their retail business, and began wholesaling exclusively, and have continued in that business to the present time. Stiirges, Wood & Witter began jobbing dry goods in this year (1866) in connection with their retail business. In a year, their wholesale business liad increased to such an extent that they also closed up their retail business. The stock and business of this fimi continually increased until the latter reached about $800,000 per annum. They were then occupying the block on the Sturges corner, but upon the completion of the Hedges Block, corner of East Diamond and the Public Square, in 1873, the}' transferred their stock to that block. This firm was also engaged in the wholesale crockery and queensware business until 1870, when they sold out to Markward & Harroun. In 1869, the wholesale gi'ocery firm of E. P. Sturges & Co. came into existence, and soon established a large business. Reed, Jones i& Co. (now H. M. Weaver & Co.) also came in 1869, and started a wholesale boot and shoe store in the Opera Building. This firm also moved into Hedges' Block in 1873. This was the second establishment of this kind then in the eit}-, John G. Spencer having been engaged in wholesaling boot, shoes, hats and caps for several years. In addition to these were J. H. Reed & Brother, doing a large wholesale book, paper and notion business ; F. S. Lahm & Co., wholesale hats, caps, trunks, etc.; Custer & Brother, wholesale hardware, and various other establishments were wholesaling and retailing.

The amount of sales by wholesale houses in Mansfield for the year ending April 30, 1869, is thus stated by the Herald. The list comprises only those whose sales are over $50,000 per annum :

In the height of its prosperity, the wholesale trade of Mansfield must have exceeded $2,500,- 000 per annum, exclusive of The Aultman and Taylor Manufacturing Company, and other machine works and factories. To give a fair idea of the business of the factories, the Mansfield Herald of February 22, 1872, is responsible for the following statement :

As another indication of the immensity of the tidal wave of prosperity' in those days, it is found that the total amount of incomes returned for taxation in 1868 was over $300,000. A few of the largest were : C. Aultman, $102.- 230 ; H. H. Sturges, $10,969 ; H. Colby, $9,379 ;

The following summary is taken from the Mansfield Business Directory for 1869, and gives a correct idea of the business of the cit}^ at that date : There were fourteen churches ; three banks ; four Masonic and three Odd Fellows" lodges ; a Young Men's Christian Association ; a Philharmonic Society ; a gas company ; a cemetery association ; six public buildings and halls ; three manufacturers of agricultural implements ; twenty attorneys at law ; five bakers ; five barbers ; three billiard saloons ; six blacksmiths ; nineteen boardinghouses ; three dealers in books and stationery, one wholesale ; one book-bindery ; two wholesale boot and shoe houses ; twelve boot and shoe manufacturers and dealers ; three breweries ; eight brickmakers ; one candy manufacturer ; twelve carpenters and builders ; one carpet store ; four carriage manufacturers ; one importer of china, glass and queensware ; two cigar-makers ; four dealers in clothing ; three dealers in coal and wood ; four confectioneries ; five coopers ; five dentists ; five dressmakers ; five druggists ; one wholesale dry goods and notions ; eight dry goods, wholesale and retail ; two dry goods, groceries and general merchandise ; one dyer and renovator ; one eating saloon ; one egg-packer ; one manufacturer of engines and boilers ; two dealers in fancy goods ; one flouring-mill ; one dealer in flour and feed ; one dealer in furnishing goods ; two foundries ; four furniture dealers ; one furrier ; three wholesale groceries ; twenty-five retail groceries ; one gunmaker ; two hardware stores, wholesale and retail ; two wholesale hats, caps and furs, four retail ; eight hotels ; one hoop-skirt factor}- ; four insurance agents ; one dealer in leather and findings ; six livery-stables ; two dealers in lumber ; one machine-shop ; two marble-works ; seven butchers ; five merchant tailors ; three dealers in millinery goods, two wholesale ; five milliners ; two dealers in musical instruments ; two news-depots ; two newspapers and printing offices ; thirteen notaries public ; one wholesale notion house ; two nurseries ; one manufacturer of blacking ; four painters ; one wholesale paper house ; one papermill ; three photographers ; twenty-one physicians ; two planing-mills ; two plow manufacturers ; two produce and commission dealers ; five restaurants ; three dealers in saddles and harness ; one dealer in saddlery and coachtrimmings ; twenty-two saloons ; two saw-mills ; one sash, blind and door manufacturer ; five dealers in sewing machines ; one silver-plater ; one spring-bed maker ; one stencil-cutter ; four dealers in stoves and tinware ; three tanners and curriers ; one dealer in tobacco and cigars ; one trunk-maker ; one umbrella-maker ; four wagon-makers ; four dealers in watches and jewelr}^ ; two dealers in wall-paper ; one dealer in wines, liquors and cigars ; one wood-turner ; three dealers in wool ; one dealer in worsted goods.

Among other public enterprises during these prosperous years, was the organization of a library association, which occurred November 3, 1865. Hon. John Sherman forwarded a large collection of books and public documents for that purpose. The first meeting was held in Vance & Daily's office, and the temporary officers were Rev. J. W. Osborn, Chairman, and L. D. M3'ers, Secretary. The committee to obtain lecturers were L. B. Matson, ]M. Wordon and 0. H. Booth. The Committee on Permanent Organization were L. B. Matson, J. H. Reed, W. S. Hickox, J. P. Vance and J. M. Jolly. The permanent officers elected were : H. Colby, President ; Rev. T. K. Davis, Vice President ; L. D. M3'ers, Recording Secretary, 0. H. Booth, Corresponding Secretary ; J. H.

Reed, Treasurer ; W. S. Hickox, L. B. Matson and J. M. Joll}', Executive Committee. The powers of the association are vested in its officers, acting as a Board of Directors, who are elected annually. For a few ^^ears, while the library was under the care and management of Mr. J. E. Wharton, it grew and prospered ; a room was procured in the court house, which was soon filled with books, relics, etc. After Mr. Wharton left the city, it was neglected, and and is still neglected. There is in it, at present, about one thousand eight hundred volumes, besides magazines and other matter, a nucleus around which Mansfield people may, in the future, build up a much-needed library. A lyceum has been connected with it since August 15, 1871. It still exists, but is not well sustained at present.

A Young Men's Christian Association was organized December 30, 1867, the first meetings being held in the Baptist Church. Its first officers were : R. Brinkerhoff", President ; L. J. Bonar and E. J. Davis, Vice President ; Mr. Allison, Recording Secretary ; Mr. Hilliar, Corresponding Secretary, and J. H. Reed, Treasurer. During the first year of its existence, nearly $800 were collected and expended in books, periodicals, furnishing room, etc. It continued many 3'ears with much interest, but is no longer in existence. Its books are preserved in the public library.

The Mansfield Cemetery Association was formed in 1865, and added to the old cemetery, southeast of the city (about a mile from the public square), thirty-eight acres. The Board of Managers are J. H. Cook, P. Bigelow, Abner Wright, N. S. Reed and E. McCoy. The grounds have been laid out in lots, walks and drives ; it is well kept, and one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the State ; the gi'ounds, for the most part, being high and dr}' ; the soil generallj^ sand}*. Improvements are continually made, and the location and lay of the ground is unsurpassed for the purposes of

A building and loan association was formed in 1807, which has been well managed, has grown and prospered, and to-day is one of the permanent institutions of the city. Reed Carpenter is President ; S. A. Jennings, Secretary, and John Wood, Treasurer.

June 8, 1871, ground was broken for the Mansfield, Coldwater & Lake Michigan Railroad ; the work was pushed so rapidly that the last rail was laid December 16, 1872, and the next da}' a party of railway officials passed over the road on the first train over the entire route.

Having briefly glanced at the history of Mansfield, during her most prosperous 3^ears, it onl}' remains to speak briefly of the collapse and consequent depression. The city might be compared to a huge balloon, taking in gas for its aerial flight. It grew large rapidly, a thing of beauty, but, alas ! not a joy forever. It became too highl}- inflated. Its collapse ma}' be compared, in suddenness, to that of a punctured balloon in mid air, and almost as fatal in its consequences. If the people were not killed outright, their feelings may be compared to those of the man who, after being kicked down four pair of stairs, said he felt " shuck up like." Whatever headwa}' the city had made during these years, seemed to have been suddenly lost. The breaking of the First National Bank was the first clap of thunder, that seemed to come from a clear sky, but, in realit}', came from the blackest cloud that ever hung over Mansfield. Following this in quick succession, came crash after crash, and the terrible financial storm swept over the cit}', leaving it in ruins, in more ways than one. This storm came from the east, and like other eastern storms, was ver}- hard and long-continued, and during its continuance, nearly all the smaller craft, and many of the larger, went under. A few of the larger ships - whose

It is not pretended that Mansfield has been followed closely, in her journey from her birth in the forest to her present proud position among the cities of the State. It was a long, weary journey, and full of quagmires and winding ways, that would be wearisome to follow ; but it is hoped enough has been given to stamp the picture of her gi-owth and development on the mind of the reader. For five years she floundered among the ruins of financial disaster and hard times, but in 1878, began again to see daylight, and travel the solid, open, macadamized road to prosperity. Resumption and good times have given her a new lease of life, and during the year 1879, she has been again taking iimnense strides in growth and prosperity-, and it may be safe to say that hundreds of new dwellings and business houses, many of them elegant and costly, have been erected. The old frame buildings, on the east side of Main, between the park and Third street, have been torn down, during the last summer, and an elegant brick and stone block erected by Messrs. Swigart, Jenner & Scattergood ; and jNIain street now, for the first time, presents an unbroken front of brick and stone, on both sides, from Fourth street to the North American.

The new directory, for 1880, just issued, gives a good idea of the present condition of the business of the citj'. The director}' for 1 867 contained 1,715 names; that of 1876, about 2,700, and that of 1880, 3,500. There are forty-one at- torneys at law ; ten barber-shops ; nine drug stores (of which that of P. Bigelow is the oldest, and it is safe to place this gentleman among the oldest, if not the oldest man in continuous business in the city, without failure) ; nine dry-goods houses, six bakers ; three banks, of which the Farmers' is the oldest ; five billiard rooms ; eleven blacksmith-shops ; sixteen advertised boarding-houses ; one boiler works ; one book-bindery ; three bookstores, all retail - the wholesale house of J. H. Reed & Bro. having failed and gone out of existence ; one wholesale boot and shoe house, that of H. M. Weaver & Co., John G. Spencer having gone into the retail business ; six retail boot and shoe stores ; fourteen boot and shoe manufactories ; one boxmaker; one brass foundry ; two breweries; two brick^'ards ; one broom-shop ; one butter and egg packer ; nine cabinet and furniture stores ; two candy factories ; ten carpenters and builders ; five carpet weavers ; nine carriage and wagon works ; ten cigar manufactories and tobacconists; nine clothiers and merchant tailors, none exclusively wholesale ; six coal cracker bakery, which receives notice in another chapter ; two crockery stores, one retail and one (Harroun & Hammond) wholesale and retail. This firm came into existence in 1873, purchasing the stock of Markward & Harroun. The business had been established by Sturges, Wood & Witter, in connection with their drygoods business. Harroun & Hammond transferred the stock to Hedges Block, corner of East Diamond street and the Public Square, in 1873, where they yet remain. They employ two traveling salesmen, and sell about $100,000 per annum. There are five dentists ; two enginemanufacturing establishments, which receive notice in another chapter ; four express agencies ; three founders and machinists ; two marble works ; two wholesale grocers, and one wholesale dealer in liquors and tobacco. This business has found a profitable level. Tracy & Aver}' emplo}' three traveling salesmen, and do a large and safe business. Bissman, Sealts & Miller opened a wholesale grocery in January', 1878, making, at that time, four regular wholesale groceries in the city. E. Sturges, Sr., dying in September, 1878, that firm closed up its business affairs and went out of business ; shortly afterward, Mr. Hedges dying, Remy, Hedges & Walters also closed up their business. This left but two wholesale groceries. Col. Hiram Miller dying in 1878, the business was continued b}' Bissman & Sealts. Mr. Frederick Walters, of the old firm of Rem}-, Hedges & Walters, continued the liquor business, which had been established by the old firm. There are twentj'-five retail gi'oceries; four hardware stores, all retail ; six harness-shops ; two hat and cap stores, one of which, F. Lahm & Co., wholesale, in addition to their retail business ; eight hotels, which are elsewhere mentioned ; six insurance agents ; one iron-roof factory ; two leather stores ; six livery stables; eight meat markets ; two mills, which are mentioned in another chapter ; one wholesale, and four retail millinery stores ; five newspapers, elsewhere mentioned ; one normal college, also mentioned in the chapter on schools ; two wholesale notion stores, that of J. E,. Brown & Sons, and Reed, Ink & Lewis - the former doing business in Hedges' new block, on the east side of the square, carrying a large stock, and running two wagons with their goods. Reed, Ink & Lewis are on the " Sturges Corner," and have latel}' added a retail store in the same block.

There are three photograph galleries ; nineteen physicians ; two planing-mills - McVay & Allison and the Mansfield Lumber and Building Company ; ten restaurants ; thirty-six saloons ; one shirt factory, which is kept by J. H. Knisely, in the Krause Block. This business was established in 1876, by its present owner and proprietor, and has become firmly and permanently established. There are also two soap, and two suspender factories, elsewhere noticed ; six stove stores ; five tailorshops ; one tanj'ard ; one toy store ; one trunk factory ; six jewelry stores ; one woolenmill, elsewhere noticed ; one wire-works, and a host of lesser industries, employing from one to twenty hands each. The directory also gives the names of ninety-one streets.

Much valuable and interesting history, mostly relating to the citizens of Mansfield and vicinit}-, will be found elsewhere, in the biographical department.

Source changes here: from History of Richland County Ohio, by A.a. Graham, published 1880; 51,815 words in this source stream.

Jefferson Township

Soxpiers or 1812. EFFERSON is one of the original surveyed townships, containing thirty-six sections, and is one of the most important in the county, in its historical, as well as in its other, characteristics. Its surface is rough and diversified, to an extent that is only excelled by one other township in the county - Worthington. The Clear Fork, Honey Creek, and a branch of the Owl Creek flow through it, from west to east, and their numerous tributaries, which gather the water from a _ thousand springs, make the township a succession of ridges and depressions. The Clear Fork is the largest stream, and its valley is from one hundred to two hundred rods wide, and the stream occupies the southern part of the flat. In ages past, it flowed along the northern part of the valley, and gradually cut away the hills toward the south, and now this bank of the stream is perpendicular, fifty feet high, and in places cliffs hang over the stream, which, in midsummer, afford a retreat as pleasant as that -*Beneath the shade of Vecta's cliffy isle.'' The Honey Creek gathers the water from the central part of the township, and the tributary of the Owl Creek and one of the Clear Fork, from the southern part. The second tier of sections, from the southern line, forms the summit of the watersheds of the Owl Creek and Clear Fork. Almost the entire surface of the township is susceptible of cultivation. The soil of the chestnut ridges, which comprise no small part of the township, is clayey, stony and thin, but with the use of fertilizers, in connection with proper cultivation, it yields abundantly the ordinary cereals. The soil of the Clear Fork and other valleys is loamy, pre-eminently fertile and exuberantly productive. Had the pioneers developed the true power of the soil, stories would have returned to the East, approaching the emigrant's dream of Kansas in point of greatness. The "New Purchase" would have abounded in chickens that lay two goose eggs, each, per day ; choice pigs, full of forks, squealing to be eaten ; pure fat, rolling in the plow furrows, and the cornstalks bearing Continental doilars at every "jint." The numerous springs, gushing from the hills, supply an abundance of water, and render a large acreage of the township valuable for stock-raising.

Originally the territory was covered with a dense growth of oak, walnut, ash, elm, chestnut, hickory, linn, gum, sassafras, sycamore, hard and soft maple, and a good variety of the smaller growths. A large per cent of the land is yet covered with forest, although Jefferson is one of the most thickly settled townships in the county.

miles wide and eighteen miles long, embracing six Congressional townships, namely: Jefferson, Perry, Congress, North Blooming Grove, Troy and Washington. So rapidly this territory was settled, that a new election district seemed proper, and, September 5, 1814, the territory in question was divided, and the north half received the name of Troy. This left to Jefferson three townships, the present Jefferson, Perry and Congress ; and while it retained this boundary, one election was held. Michael Shuey, Benjamin Potts and John Leedy were chosen Trustees, and William Spears, Clerk. The township was heavily in debt, so they regarded it, and the Trustees agreed to serve for nothing; and by common consent William Spears was allowed $1 for services as Clerk. On September 3, 1816, this election district was again divided, and the Jefferson Township of to-day was then organized. The Township

Trustees made a final settlement with the Trustees of Perry Township October 12, 1816, and the indebtedness of the old district was $54.94, which was equally divided - J efferson assuming one-half. The Trustees of this turned over to Perry one-half of a bond of $17 which they held against William Spears and John Zent, given for a stray horse the former puxschased. The first election, after the township was reduced to six miles square, was held in April, 1818, and the following persons were elected to office: Justice of the Peace, Michael Shuey ; Trustees, Samuel Devo, Barson Sweet and dnoch Ogle; Clerk, Timothy Evarts ; Constables, William Casper and Benjamin Thrailkill. The names of the voters at this election, and the place of their nativity and location in the township, are as follows : Charles Strong, from Maryland, southeast quarter of Section 29; George Strong, from Maryland, southeast quarter of Section 33; John Strong, from Maryland, southwest quarter of Section 27; Isaac Armstrong, from Maryland, northwest quarter of Section 24; Fred

Wise, from Pennsylvania, northeast quarter of Section 34; Martin Crow, from Pennsylvania, northwest quarter of Section 26 ; Casper Fitting, northwest quarter of Section 33; Thomas Griswold, northwest quarter of Section 30; William Casper, from Kentucky, northeast quarter of Section 27 ; Benjamin Hennis, northeast quarter of Section 19; John Robinson, from Pennsyl-' vania, southwest quarter of Section 11; John Gatton, from Maryland, northeast quarter of Section 13; Jacob Culver, from Pennsylvania, northeast quarter of Section 10; Barson Sweet, from Vermont, northwest quarter of Section 16 ; Abram Vaughn, from Maryland, southwest quarter of Section 15; James Doughty, from New York, southwest quarter of Section 9; Abineal Dodge, from New York, northeast quarter of Section 16; Michael Shuey, from Pennsylvania, southeast quarter of Section 6; Adam Shafer, from Pennsylvania, southwest quarter of Section 6; Christian Aungst, from Virginia, northeast quarter of Section 8 ; Benjamin Potts, from Vermont, southwest quarter-of Section 7 ; Chaney D. Wright, wheelwright, in Bellville ; John Weaver, from: Virginia, northeast quarter of Section 18; B. F. Thrailkill, from.Maryland, northeast quarter of Section 28; Caleb Selby, southeast quarter of Section 19; Gideon Cornwall, from Virginia, northwest quarter of Section 15; Amos Hartly, from Maryland, northwest quarter of Section 31; Peter Boham, southwest quarter of Section 20; John McDowel, northeast quarter of Section 21; William Mahagan, from Maryland, southwest quarter of Section 31; Peter Strine ; Samuel Devo, northeast quarter of Section 31; Thomas Durbin, from Virginia, southeast quarter of Section9; Scott Durbin, from Virginia, southeast quarter of Section 9; William Price, northeast quarter of Section 16; John Fordney; Philip Merring, from New York, southwest quarter of Section 4; Phineas Merring (wheelwright), from New Jersey, southwest quarter of Section 4 ; Timothy Evarts, from Vermont, southeast quarter of

Section 22; Geo. Aungst, from Virginia, south, east quarter of Section 15 ; John Fowler, southwest quarter of Section 14; John Boham, northeast quarter of Section 20; Robert Bell, Sr., and Robert Bell, Jr.. from New Jersey, northeast quarter of Section 9 ; Zephaniah Bell, northwest quarter of Section 4: John Study, from Pennsylvania, southwest quarter of Section 25; John Watson, southeast quarter of Section 7; Joseph Hix, from Pennsylvania, northeast quarter of Section 25; Henry Swank, from Pennsylvania, northwest quarter of Section 34 ; James Selby, southeast quarter of Section 19; Jacob Stout, from Pennsylvania, northwest quarter of Section 7; Jonathan Oldfield, came to township in 1808, from New York, northeast quarter of Section 22; William Oldfield, came in 1810, from New York, southeast quarter of Section 16; Samuel Oldfield, came in 1810, from New York, northeast quarter of Section 16; John Weirick, came in 1809, from Maryland, northwest quarter of Section 17; Peter Weirick, came in 1809, from Maryland, southwest quarter of Section 8; John Zent, Sr., came in 1810, from Pennsylvania, northwest quarter of Section 9; John Zent, Jr. came in 1810, from Pennsylvania, southwest quarter of Section 7; Duncan Spear, came in 1810, from Vermont, southwest quarter of Section 15; William Spear, came in 1810, shoemaker in Bellville; Abraham Sraith, in 1810, from Vermont, northwest quarter of Section 22; John Leedy, came in 1811, from Pennsylvania, northwest quarter of Section 395.

The male adults residing in the present limits of the township previous to the war of 1812, were James McCluer, Samuel McCluer and the above eleven whose names have dates of settlement. Jefferson being on the frontier, with good soil and water, and on the principal thoroughfare through the county, held a large share of the heavy wave of immigration which came immediately after the war of 1812; and for many years it had a larger population than any other township in the county. In 1826, there were but forty acres of public land, which was entered by George Nicewanger, whose patent bears the date of 1835.

The first road in the township established by State aid. is the State road running from Mount Vernon to Mansfield, along the central section line. It was opened to the boundary line as early as 1810, and through the township in 1812.

The survey of the "new purchase" was completed and the land offered in market in January, 1808 ; and soon after, James McCluer, a Virginian, and Jonathan Oldfield and Thomas McCluer, two young men in his employ, came from Pickaway County and opened a road from Fredericktown, in Knox County, to the present site of Bellville, which he chose as a location, and while he picked his way to Canton to enter it, the northeast quarter of Section 9, the two young men commenced the improvement. The entry was made in March, 1808. They remained a part of the year, clearing a parcel of ground and erecting a cabin, and then returned to Pickaway County again. The next year, Mr. McCluer moved his family. This was the first cabin built in the southern part of the county with its present limits, and the second built in the county. It stood on what is now a part of D. Zefit's. garden lot, a few feet northwest of the scale-house connected with Alexander & Zent's grain elevator, in Bellville. The block-house stood south of the railroad station, a few feet from the railroad, and was erected soon after the Greentown massacre in 1812. The settlers along the Clear Fork gathered there for defense against hostile Indians, but underwent no attack. The Indians had camps in various parts of the township, and associated freely with the first settlers in a business way ; and in 1818, they bid final farewell to their hunting-grounds and generous white friends who treated them as human, amidst many tears and thanks.

History

Bellville is the only town in Jefferson Township, and is located on the northeast quarter of The first building within the present incorporated limits was the first in tae township, erected in 1808. About 1814, Robert Bell, Sr., came from Belmont County, Ohio, and purchased the quartersection of James McCluer, and, in 1855, he laid out the first plat of the town, which consisted of forty-eight lots, embracing the land between Main and Huron streets, bounded on the north by Ogle street, and on the south by the first alley north of Durbin street. Knoch Ogle purchased Lot No. 1, east of the Clifton House, and thereon erected a building and opened a tavern - the first in the township. These two - the block-house and a dwelling-house at the foot of Snake Hill (Bellville Cemetery) - were the only buildings in the village for several years. Richard Crawford set up a blacksmith-shop on Lot No. 5, in an early day. Joseph Carter brought the first dry goods to the place from Uniontown, now Ashland, and occupied a small room in Ogle's tavern. Joseph Hildreth succeeded him, and he by Wm. Thrift, who built a house on the lot where the Globe House now stands, to accommodate his business. January 22, 1824, a post office was established, and Isaac Hoy was appointed Postmaster; and the mail matter was carried from and to Mount Vernon and Mansfield, by John Bell and Samuel Miller, until 1826, when a line of stages was put on the road that continued to the day of railroads. Previous to the year 1824, the citizens of Jefferson Township received their mail at Mansfield, and each letter cost the receiver 25 cents, paid on lifting it. Dr. A. I. Beach succeeded Mr. Hoy, and uncer him the spelling of Bellville was changed to Belleville, using the word belle instead of the proper name of its founder - Bell. The latter form was in use till 1872, when, after some discussion in the local paper, the Department. by an order, fixed it as Bellville - the original name. About the time that the post office was received, John Moody, one of the common to a village were well represented. In 1835, there were three stores in the place, each of which served the purpose of a drygoods, grocery, provision, hardware and hat store, saying nothing of clothing, notions, drugs and medicines. From this time, Bellville was one of the most enterprising towns in Central Ohio, until Mansfield received a railroad and the patronage of a large constituency - drawn thither to pay taxes. Even this exercised no material check to the Clear Fork village, and, up to the time the railroad was built to it and for years after, it ranked as one of the foremost trading-points in the county. An act incorporating the village was passed by the Legislature, March 25, 1841, and April 1, following, the first municipal election was held, which resulted in choosing the following persons to office : Mayor, James C. Lee; Clerk, John M. Smith; Trustees or Council, Benjamin Jackson, James Walsh, Samuel Cutting, T. V. Park, Otis Howard; A. I. Beach acted as Treasurer. The first schoolhouse was erected on ground which Dr. B. Ridenour's residence now occupies, at the southwest corner of the public square. The present school building was erected in 1867, on ground purchased of Elias Smith in May, 1856, at a cost of $325. The lot contains four acres. The building is 70x40, has four schoolrooms on the first floor and two in the second; 200 perch of stone, and 150,000 brick, were used in its construction. Levi H. Strong was the contractor, and received $4,300 for the work. The first school commenced in it November 30, 1857. It was taught by A.Gerhart. The town hall was built in 1877-78, and cost about $6,000. In the winter of 1877, the Town Council agitated the question of building a jail. A plan of combining a town hall, jail and township house was finally conceived, and a petition was sent to the Legislature for this authority, subject to the vote of the township. A bill passed the General Assembly, and at an election, at which the rural and town population contended fiercely, the affirmative carried. The bandstand was erected in July and August, and dedicated September 11, 1879. The population of the village, in 1870, was over seven hundred, and in 1879, over eleven hundred.

In 1843-44, when it became certain that Richland County would be divided, the leading citizens of Bellville petitioned largely for the erection of a county out of the southern part of Richland and the northern part of Knox, making Bellville the county seat; it is needless to say without success. The first fair in the county was held in Bellville in 1850. The next year, it was heid in Mansfield, agreeable to an understanding between interested parties in both places; and the succeeding one was to have been held in Bellville, but it remained in Mansfield. In 1860, another agricultural society was organized, .and three very successful fairs were held, but it went down under the pressure of the rebellion.

The Rainbow and Repository was the first newspaper published in Bellville.« cation was commenced in Fredericktown, and, in 1849, was removed to Bellville. It was a five-column folio, and was published by A. Lauback, at $1 per year. It existed only a few months.

The first number of the Bellville Weekly was issued February 28, 1872, bearing the name of Bellville Dollar Weekly, and was printed on a Ramage press, half platen, with a wooden frame. In one and a half years from its commencement, it was enlarged from a six to a seyen column folio, received its present name, and its subscription price was adyanced to $1.25. J.C. Potts and Thomas Faus were its proprietors, which relation, with a few intervals, has continued to this time.

The Richtand Star was started by the Garber Bros., who purchased a small press in the fall of 1875, and commenced to print cards at their country home, five miles south of Bellville. During 1876, they issued a small monthly, a little larger than two hands. It was continued in 1877, and, in September, 1877, moved to Bellville ; and Saturday, October 6, the first number of Zhe Star was published. The work was commenced without a single subscriber, and, when the matter for the first number was about half in type, B. L. Garber and Aaron A. Leedy voluntarily headed the subscription list, and soon a large circulation was obtained. It is a five-column quarto, and published every Thursday morning.

The Exchange Bank was organized June 18, 1872, with Frederick Fitting, H. Alexander and John and David Zent, as stockholders. At the end of eleven months, Mr. Fitting retired, and a re-organization took place, but no change was made in the officers. H. Alexander is President and David Zent, Cashier. It commenced

Bangor is a small cluster of houses, located on the southwest quarter of Section 30. Several families of Yankees from the vicinity of Bangor, Me., settled there, from which the place derived the name. William Moore built a foundry there in 1847, and for two years did a flourishing business in the manufacture of thrashing machines, plows, stoves, and in custom work and casting mill gearing. It was burnt down in 1850 by an incendiary, it is believed, and this took away the life of the village. In 1850, Abraham Farquhar opened a sort of dry-goods store, remaining a short time. At this date, the place contains no industry other than a few ordinary shops.

west quarter of Section 15, near where the Honey Creek House now stands, in 1818, and Timothy Evarts taught the first term of school in it, supported by country subscription at the rate of $1.50 per pupil for a term of three months, payable in any kind of provisions, clothing or work. This house was of primitive log-cabin style. 16x18 feet; one end contained the fireplace, the other the door; a log was taken out of each side for windows, and greased paper pasted over the opening to keep out cold and admit light; the floor, seats and writing tables were of the inevitable " puncheon," and, although the house was romantic, the school was well patronized andasuccess. Young men rode five and six miles, bringing the noon feed for their horses with them. to have the young idea taught how to shoot. A similar schoolhouse was built on the southeast quarter of Section 35 soon after, to which children from Knox as well as from Richland County went for learning.

usually communicants of some one of the | Lutheran societies ; and the first church in Jefferson Township, before it was reduced to its present limits, was built by two branches of this church about 1825. As early as 1814-15, Charles Waddle and James Smith, Methodists, came to Bellville and organized a church. The Reys. Gowell, Ashley and Marvin, of the Disciples. came a few years later.

The Methodist Episcopal Church in Bellville, was organized by Rev. Charles Waddle, William Oldfield, father of Jonathan and Richard Oldfield, who was the oldest member of the first society, and his two sons, Samuel and Jonathan, and Robert Bell, were the most efficient workers of the infant church. The first house of worship was built on the site of the present one, by Lewis Potts, in 1835; its dimensions were 30x40 feet; and his statement of account ran something like this: "To getting out timber, framing, putting on shingles and making frames and ten windows, $90.11." The house was furnished in 1836, and used for services about eighteen years. This was the first church erected in the Jefferson Township of 1880. In April, 1854, the building committee was authorized to sell the old house, and in the same month a resolution was passed to build a new house 40x55, 16-feet story, in the clear, with a lobby of 9 feet. In May, Judge Jackson proposed to build the house for $1,660, and his offer was accepted. The new house was completed in October, 1855. Rev. W. T. Lewis was Pastor of the church in 1879-80. The contributions for all purposes amount to $650 a year. It is not known when the first Sabbath school was organized, but was probably about 1845. M. L. Bonar was Superintendent in 1879, and the membership was 249 ; contributions $67. The church membership, March, 1880, was about one hundred and forty.

and became the effective power of the first organization. Mr. Moody entered the ministry, and for some time preached in private houses. In 1830, he built a mill in Bellville, and, in that' early day, the demand for breadstuffs kept the mills running almost night and day, week-days and Sundays. On the sacred day, he would preach in his mill to those hungering for the bread of eternal life, while his mill ground wheat to sustain the natural life. He built a church where the grain elevator now stands, in Bellville, which remained there till 1850, when it was moved some distance south, to accommodate the railroad. In July, 1864, the church purchased a half-interest in the church erected by the Cumberland Presbyterians in 1855, and the remainder in 1871. The membership, March, 1880, was forty-one. A Bible school was held in the old church house, and a Sabbath school proper was organized in 1865, with T. M. Yearian as Superintendent. J. W. Kelly was Superintendent in 1879, and the school numbered sixty pupils.

The first appearance of a society for the dissemination of the Universalists' faith was at Lexington, in the house of Amariah Watson, September 10, 1822, under the appellation of the General Convention of Universalists of the State of Ohio. A little later, a society was formed under the name of the Richland Association of Universalists, and a meeting was held in Fredericktown, Ohio, August 28, 1822. At a meeting of the Association held in Mount Vernon in September, 1846, Samuel Cutting and Richard Oldfield applied for admittance, and in 1847, the society met at Bellville, when the church of the place numbered sixteen. It was organized by George R. Brown, and Truman Strong and P. A. Smead, who were the first subsequent ministers. Samuel Cutting, Silas Cross, Richard Oldfield, Joseph Ford and John Merril were the principal members. A house of worship was erected in Bellville in 1850, and dedicated in March, 1851, by Rev.

church required, and, in 1854, a few members drafted a new constitution, and had it recorded, unknown to the majority of the old members. This annulled their right of membership, and only a few ever subscribed to the new constitution, which greatly impaired the prosperity

| byterian Church, and James Rowland was appointed to exercise authority, at discretion. A church was organized, in the month of May, 1838. Those known to be among the original members were Enoch French, Matthew Geary, John Lafferty, Andrew Linn, Philip Traxler and Messrs. French and Geary was their minister. The cburch flourished several years, and from 1842 till 1844, Thomas Smith About this time, several of the leading members passed away, and other ones moved away, which weakened the flock so much that it passed under a cloud in 1845 ; its name disappeared from the roll-book, and a blank was made in its history. In 1851, the matter came before the Presbytery, at Mount Vernon, and from that date appeared to have new life. In 1853-54, a house of worship was built, which has been occupied since. Rev. W. W. Anderson assumed the duties of the charge, January 7, 1877, and is still the Pastor. The membership, February, 1880, was 110; contributions for home purposes, $800 ; missionary, $50 ; membership of the Sabbath school, 125 ; contributions, $45.

to preach the views of this denomination. The tent was taken away in August, and further meetings were held in the Universalist Chureh and in private houses. An organization was effected December 20, 1866. A house of worship was built in 1867, and the first services were held in it January 29, 1868. There were fifteen persons in the first society. Membership, February, 1880, was thirty-three. A Sabbath school was organized when the church was, and its number of pupils, at this time, is forty-five.

The Salem Lutheran Church is located two and a half miles west of Bellville. The first preaching in the locality that was fruitful toward establishing a church was done in private houses, by Solomon Ritz. Adam Shafer, a wealthy farmer of the locality, and earnest in spiritual matters, formed a sort of standard, around which the nucleus of the present church gathered. Rev. Ritz organized the first society, and in 1838, a house of worship was built, near where the present one stands. A few of the original members were Adam Shafer, Joseph Border, Jacob Beckley, Samuel Hoff, Christian Craymer, Jacob Shafer, Christian Russel, James Selby and their wives. Revs. Lane and G. Liter held the first protracted meeting in the new house, which resulted in a large number of accessions. The German Reformed Society assisted in building the house, and also worshiped in it. Some trouble developed between the two parties, in regard to the use of the house, and in 1860 the Lutherans built a brick structure, on ground outside of the lot donated for church purposes. Rev. G. M. Heindel was Pastor, in 1879-80. The membership, March, 1880, was eighty ; contributions, for all purposes, $450. The Sabbath school was organized in May, 1846.

The Pleasant Hilli United Brethren Church is located on the southeast corner of Section 18. This church was organized by Jacob George in 1843 or 1844. James Niman, a member and minister of this denomination, came from Pennsylvania in 1837, and settled in the neighborhood of the church, and he has since been one of the most faithful. The early meetings were held in his and other houses for a number of years after the first society was organized. The house was built, probably, in 1856. The society is weak at this date (1880), and regular services are not held.

The Mt. Carmel Evangelical Church is located on land donated for the purpose by John F. Kanga, a part of the southwest quarter of 26. The first Evangelical meetings were held in a schoolhouse. The church was erected in 1864, at a cost of $1.200, about half of which was paid by Mr. Kanga. The membership is thirty-nine, and Mr. Meissee is Pastor. The Sabbath school was commenced in 1865, with J. F. Kanaga as Superintendent. Joseph Kanaga filled the office in 1879, and the school numbered about sixty.

Bellville Lodge, No. 306, I. O. O. F., was organized by Charles B. Stickney. The charter was granted June 20, 1856. The charter members were H. Alexander, William Walker, §. | W. Eels, James Oaks, Miles Moore, George M. Simpson, Abraham R. Kanaga, W. P. Crain | and Charles Crain. Membership, January, 1880, seventy-two.

October 17, 1866, Thomas Sparrow, Grand Master of Masons in Ohio, issued a dispensation to Joseph Hildreth, A. I. Beach, William H. Elston, Solomon Wagener, A. J. Markey, John McCune, William Lyne, William Menzie and Andrew Gerhart, to congregate themselves into a lodge of Masons, and appointed the fol- | lowing officers: Joseph Hildreth, W. Master ; | William Lyne, 8. Warden; A. I. Beach, J. Warden.

Creek Schoolhouse, about one mile south of Bellville, December 9, 1873, and received its charter March 24, 1874. The charter members were Aaron A. Leedy, John Garber, Samuel Shaffer, Benton Garber, Abner Oldfield, Theodore Garber, James Lee, John Garber, Amos Fry, Lewis Garber, Simon Young, Samuel K. Garber, Lewis Young, J. W. Howard, Jehu Durbin and fourteen females. Regular meetings were first held in a building rented of George Aungst. . After Jefferson Hall was completed, they moved from the Odd Fellows' Hall, which they occupied some months previous, to the room in the third story of the new building, designed for the purpose. The society has wended its way against fierce opposition, is prosperous, and numbers among its members some of the most successful farmers and best citizens of the township.

A. M. Collins organized the Bellville Division of the Sons of Temperance, No. 146. Its charter was issued July 22, 1874. There were twenty-four charter members. The males were J. W. Kelly, Thomas Faus, H. Faus, H. Kinton, W. C. Hamilton, W. T. Cole, W. Porter, E. Marshall, H. Howard, A. H. Potts and C. Brown. The society held regular meetings in 1879.

The Patron's Mutual Relief Association may be regarded as an outgrowth of the co-operative principles studied by the Patrons of Husbandry. The matter of establishing a mutual insurance society was agitated in the County Council of the order. A constitution was drafted, and an election of officers held February 24, 1876, at Mansfield, resulting as follows: Aaron A. Leedy, President; Jehu Garber, Secretary; W. 4H. Shoup, Treasurer, and Levi Ross, H. S. Mosier and Amos Fry, Surveyors. In March, 1877, a bill to incorporate associations for the mutual protection of its members against loss by fire, passed the General Assembly of Ohio, and, June 16, 1877, the body re-organized, adopted a new constitution and was incorporated. The business office was fixed at Bellville, and the new officers were: R. M. Coulter,

President ; Jehu Garber, Secretary; Aaron A, Leedy, Treasurer, and Thos. Poland, R. W. Haslette and Simon Tucker, Directors. Valuation of property insured March, 1880, over $600,000.

The first orchards in the township were transplanted from Johnny Appleseed's nurseries by Jonathan Oldfield, George Aungst and Scott Durbin. A few of the trees in these orchards are living.

John Leedy set up the first distillery in 1812, at his home, near the center of Section 35. The first year, and for a time thereafter. the whisky sold for $1 per gallon. Distilleries soon became plenty, and, at one time, there were five in the township, and whisky sold for 20 cents a gallon. The last one suspended operations in 1862.

The first birth in the township was that of Mary McCluer. Jonathan Oldfield and Elizabeth McCluer were married by Esquire Coffenbury February 11, 1812, probably the first in the county. Mr. Coffinbury had no form of ceremony, and, to meet the emergency, he sent to a friend in the region of Wheeling, Va., for one. The first deaths were those of Ludwic Strong and Stephen Dodge. Mr. Strong died in 1815, and was buried at the west side of the Frederick road, in a field belonging to Hezekiah Armstrong. He was visiting his brother, Charles Strong, at the time. The latter was the first person buried in the Bellville cemetery. His grave is lost.

Old settlers say the Clear Fork was three and four times as large (so much more water), when they first knew it, as it is at present. The mills on this stream in the Jefferson Township of 1815, were Shauck's, built in 1830; Phillips', built in 1833; Ebyo Perry, built in 1837; Herron, built in 1812; Zent, built in 1813; Stumps built in ; Moody, built in 1831 ; Johnston, built in 1828; and Greenwood, in 1833. A Mr. Cornell built a mill on Honey Creek, a short distance east of the State road, in 1821, but it went down in a short time.

In the summer of 1808, a furious tornado swept diagonally across Jefferson Township. It entered near the northwest, and passed out near the southeast, corner, almost stripping the his of timber. On the land now owned by R. Kvarts (part of Section 16), there is a space of tree left 'standing. Its width was about onefourth of a mile, and its track can yet be traced. through the township. The timber which formerly stood on the ground now covered with a beautiful growth of young chestnut, owned by Jacob Burkholder and Casper Swank, was destroyed by this storm. L. K. Leedy remembers when he was taller than this timber. This was, undoubtedly, the severest tornado that ever visited the county. The only white persons in Jefferson Township at that time were 'the two young men who had just finished the first log cabin.

In the fall of 1812, Jonathan Oldfield and his young brother Richard, set a trap at a hollow of a tree, where they deposited the remains of a deer, which they presumed a wolf had killed the previous night. They did this in the evening, and early the next morning Jonathan took his gun, and Richard followed after, carrying the bridles to catch the horses. When they arrived at the tree the trap was gone, but'the hook-like device attached made a trail, which they followed. After going a short distance} they heard a cry as the cry of a child. They front of them, in the dim light of the morning, the face of a huge bear appeared: above the brush and nettles. Jonathan instantly took aim and fired; the ball penetrated the bear's nostril, entered the brain, and she fell dead. - A cub was in the trap, and the grapnel had fastened on a root and it could not get away. Two more cubs were upon trees and were shot; the captive was taken home alive. The mother thought her young one in the trap was sick, and she had gathered a great pile of leaves about it.

John Robinson came to the township at an early day, and settled about a mile east of Bellville. Late one fall, when he and his sons were | digging potatoes, about the dusk of evening, | the boys heard a hog squealing in the high nettles below his house. No attention was given to this, but the hog squealed again. Mr. | Robinson started for his gun; it was empty, and he had one bullet, which had the neck on. This was soon putin the gun, and, as he started, | a young boy at the house told his father that he saw a man with a black coat carrying a hog | away. Mr. Robinson was soon near the bear, and it scented him and raised upright, standing | on its prey, when it received the rifle ball. The knife was used to dispatch him. The hog | the bear had belonged to George Yearian, of Bellville, and the bear had eaten the flesh from along one side of its backbone from its shoulder | to the hips. Mr. Yearian dressed the wound | with tar, and it lived and raised a litter of pigs. It died the next summer. The bear was seven feet long. | On the fourth of July, 1815, John Leedy | went to Fredericktown to participate in a celebration. His family remained at home, and | about noon the old pig announced the usual alarm. Mrs. Leedy seized the old rifle, and her | eldest son Lewis, the ax, and at once marched to the field of battle, a few hundred yards from the cabin. The dog, Old Sign, accompanied them, and when within a few rods of the spot, her restraint gave way to her eagerness for fight and she bounded at the bear. Bruin left without ceremony, with Old Sign at his side. Mrs. Leedy brought the old flint-lock in line ; and sent a bullet after him, but she was not | familiar with shooting on the wing, and the race went on. A few days after, the pig gave the alarm again, and this time Mr. Leedy took down the gun, and when he arrived near the fight, the my some time, apparently in a study whether to contest the ownership of the property in his possession or not. He swung his big fists back and forth a few times, but uttered not a word. Mr. Leedy knew the enemy; he had seen him before. He was the "old one," a chief among bears. The gun was fired; the bear leaped in the air, fell on his prey, howled, sprang forward toward his assailant, and, after hesitating a moment, moved off. It was followed, but darkness ended the chase. The bear was wounded near the heart and bled freely, yet he lived. The next fall or winter he came in contact with William Simmons, who then lived where Independence now is, and, after receiving two balls from his rifle, he invited Mr. Simmons to a rough and tumble fight, which equaled some of Davy Crockett's best. Seven - some say, eleven - hballs were taken from his carcass, a number of which were returned to their owners. Mr. Leedy received the ball he shot.

Rachel Gatton went to Mansfield one time with a web of linen, to trade it for kitchen utensils. She went on horseback and alone, her steed being a rapid traveler. After doing her business, she started home and when about half-way she discovered that a pack of wolves were pursuing her. She made the best of the time, but the ravenous creatures came up with her finally. The brutes jumped at the horse and bit him in the side, which made him kick, plunge and stamp, but he kept faithfully on his course, and his rider clung to his back for life. They finally arrived at the cabin, where all were eagerly awaiting her return, and the beasts were driven off.

L. K. Leedy and two of his brothers went on a coon hunt one night, and when a short distance from home, the dogs announced that game was brought to bay. The three hastened to where the dogs were, and, in coming near, they saw a white object, which, in the extreme darkness of the night, they were unable to The dogs ceased barking and snuffed the air, not daring to venture an attack. The object appeared stone still and like a naked child to the hunters. Lewis, being full of pioneer bravery, ventured up to it, and still it appeared to be a nude child. He grasped the object, and, as he felt its long wool, his fright can better be imagined than described. The ghost proved to be a pet lamb that had wandered away from home, and when the dogs came. about, it sat up, as a child.

Samuel Bushong came from Pennsylvania in 1837, and purchased land - thirty-five acres of Section 26. He paid $400 down, and secured the remaining $400 by giving a mortgage. He failed to meet the obligation, and, in the summer of 1840, a judgment was obtained against him and the Sheriff advertised the homestead for sale. Mr. Bushong had made diligent efforts among his friends to procure money and have the property saved, but without success. On the 3d of October, 1840, he attended the election at Bellville, and no one noticed any peculiarity of conduct on his part.

Very early the next morning, the news spread through the neighborhood that Bushong had murdered his family, consisting of his wife and four children, the oldest, Mary, aged twenty-two years, the youngest, Susan, aged fifteen, and two sons. The neighbors soon gathered, and found Mrs Bushong lying on the hearth, before the fire, where she had _ been sitting in a chair, browning coffee in a skillet, with her head literally mashed by an ax, and a portion of her blood and brains were mingled with the coffee. The two girls were found in a room up-stairs. Mary had received a heavy blow with the poll of the ax on the front of her head, which glanced and left the skull unbroken. Susan was struck with the edge of the ax, making a deep wound the full length of the bit, one end of which was above the left eye and the other end below the right eye. Both were alive and in great agony. The sons the girls were, and were partially awakened by the disturbance. The moon was shining through the window, and they soon observed the deadly ax descending toward the head of the younger brother, who lay next the wall.

He dodged, and both brothers caught the ax-handle and held to it, and were dragged out of bed on the floor, where a life-and-death struggle ensued between the sons and- the father. They proved his superior in the fight, and finally wrenched the ax from his murder- The oldest boy was severely wounded in the arm, and the younger was hit with the poll on the head. The murderer then seized his razor and renewed the attack; but the weapon was taken from him and cast away. Thereupon he started for the woods near by, and was soon after captured by the neighbors. | The scene in the house was most ghastly, and the murderer was carried through the house and compelled to view his horrible doings. His wife was lying in a pool of blood, mingled with her brains, and the daughters lay upon their bed, in the greatest agony.

Excitement ran high. Some said, " Kill him, and throw his body on the pile." Others said, " Hang him," and for a time it seemed that the man would be lynched; but a few negative words by Dr. Eels and a few other dispassionate persons calmed their vengeance. He was roughly handled and uncomfortably tied on his horse and escorted toward Bellville by twenty or more men. They were met about one mile from town by the Constable, R. Evarts, who unbound him and walked with him to town.

The preliminary trial was held before Esquire Heath, which ended by noon, and preparations were made to send him to jail. Bushong remonstrated against being tied, and pledged his honor and life that he would go quietly and civilly to jail, which was accepted, and the two started on their way, arm in arm, in a single buggy, and Horace Baker and Hugh Oldfield

On the way to Mansfield, in answer to questions, he said he had been so troubled about his affairs that he did not sleep much for several weeks, and not any the last three nights. He said last night he and his wife talked about matters until after midnight - he could sell out and pay the debt, but his wife would not sign the deed, and said she would never leave the place. Mary had caused him some trouble also.

He further said he had invested all his money in that place and now could not make the payments, and in a few days their home would be sold and they would be turned out as beggars - "we had better all be dead,' he exclaimed. The day of the murder he intended to go to Mansfield, and he and his wife got up early, to make ready. The Constable inquired whether he remembered all the transaction, to which he answered, "It seems like a dream - something I did while asleep."

About one mile south of Mansfield there is a deep depression near the road, which contained a dense thicket at that time. Here the prisoner made an effort to extricate his arm from the arm of the Constable and escape. The officer said to him, "It is your honor or your life. If you attempt to leave this buggy, I will kill you." He remained quiet, but moaned, as if in great distress.

His trial opened in the Common Pleas Court July 10, 1841, and lasted six days, Judge Parker presiding. Brinkerhoff and Stewart were Prosecuting Attorneys, and Bartley and Delano conducted the defense. The jurymen were Jonas Stought, James Drennan, Pascal Whiting, John McCool, George Bull, Uriah Johnston, John Harman, William Cadwell, Jacob Stinneman, Jonas Gerhart, David Robinson and William Boggs. The witnesses were numerous. There were several old acquaintances and relatives of his from Pennsylvania, and physicians who had made insanity a study, present. The physicians testified that they had before them a well-defined case of monomania. Insanity being the only issue, the pleas and the charge to the jury were short, and inside of twelve hours a verdict was returned of " Not guilty."

Amos Hartly entered the southwest quarter of Section 31 in an early day. He was of rather an impatient turn of mind. One summer, the weather was very showery, and to cure hay was next to impossible. He employed labor to mow several acres of grass for him, which he turned several times and had it about ready to draw to the barn or stack, when a rainstorm would soak it again. The next day, the turning was repeated, the wagon was brought to the field, a thunder-shower was on hand, and Mr. Hartly, seeing that he would again be caught, lifted the wagon-hammer from the tongue, threw it heavenward, and ran to the house, got fire and burned the hay. Mr. Hartly's mother and first wife committed suicide on the farm he owned.

The Ebersoles came to Knox County at a very early day, and settled near Fredericktown. There were six or eight children in the family, and were possessed of peculiar ways. The father was very wealthy. Catharine, the hermitess, received, as a part of her inheritance, over two hundred acres of land in Jefferson Township, the greater part of the south half of Section 32. She caused a house to be built on it, and, about 1840, she moved to it. For a number of years she lived somewhat after the manner of people in general; but'as she grew older, the more abject she rendered her own condition, until her 'hovel. hecame an object of curiosity and her doings the gossip of the community. The frame house she had built was located near the road, which made it too public for her love of seclusion ; and while she yet occupied it, pigs out on the commons occasionally passed along the road, and she told her fence and squeal for the food she was cooking for herself. Finally, she decided to be further from the road, and went to work to gather stone for a foundation of the house she proposed to build. She put up the walls with her own hands, and when they were finished, a carpenter was employed to erect an ancient log cabin. The chimney she put in herself. She owned no furniture except an old chest, in which she kept a few bedclothes, which her mother, probably, assisted her to make. The cooking was done in a fireplace of her own build, and the bread she ate was baked in an oven of her own make. During the early part of her hermitical life, she subsisted on food prepared in ordinary ways, and when she agreed to board persons whom she employed, her table was as well furnished as that of her neighbors ; but, in the decline of life, she gave way to the most barbarous methods of providing food. The grain which tenants raised on her farm was usually sold, and she would go over the field after the crop was gathered and pick up what was needed to satisfy her wants. One of her neighbors visited her once, early in the spring, and she was found gathering "greens," the only article of diet in her possession, and she allowed "it didn't make bad eatin' either." Mr. G. went to her house one time, when the weather was inclement. She was busy mashing wheat between two stones. Corn was ground in a similar way. A large hearth was connected with tlte fire-place, and when she wished to sleep, one corner was swept clean, and she would lie down upon the floor, with her feet toward the fire; a stone served the, purpose of a pillow, and boards were used as comfortables and quilts, not for the ostensible purpose of keeping the cold away, but as a shield against wind and rain. She had no bed, and her few bedclothes were devoted to the better purpose of keeping the hay dry in the barn and in the curing piles in the field. In the summer, she usually went to mill herself, carry- ing half a bushel of grain on her shoulder. In snow, a hand-sled was brought into requisition. Her cabin finally fell into decay ; she occupied it many years after the roof was so wretched that there was only one spot under it that she could keep dry when it rained.

It would be doing injustice to the memory of this peculiar woman not to add that she was not of the mean, miserly nature which grasps for possessions, without any respect to the rights of property, justice and morality ; but, on the contrary, she exercised the most delicate discernment of justice as she understood it; was conscientious to the last, and scrupulously honorable in all her business relations. As an example of her nice regard of equity, this will answer: Her fire went out in the old chimney, and the house was destitute of matches; she went to a neighbor to get fire; she carried an armful of wood to pay for it from her own | place. It is not known that she loved more than one person, and her father spurned his presence on account of an expression that he carelessly made when his associates were jesting him about "his girl." He brought an apple | from the orchard, and the boys accused him of getting the apple on purpose to see "Katy." He replied that he did not care so much for "Katy" as for her property. In speaking. of herself, she always used the plural pronoun, "We are well; we have plenty to eat," and like expressions. She was robbed, in 1865, of over $200. A person was arrested and tried, but he the guilty party. She died at the residence of a brother, near Fredericktown, a few years ago. Several years previous, she went blind, which necessitated her being taken from the home in the woods before her departure to the final rest.

only soldier of the war of 1812 living in the township, at this time, (March, 1880). His father's name was John Kincaid; he was a soldier of Lee's legion, in the Revolutionary George William was born, in Philadelphia, June 23, 1790, and was twenty-one years old when he enlisted. His regiment was sent to Canada, where he took part in several of the most noted battles, and remembers many incidents connected with the campaign. At the battle of Fort George, a Scotch Colonel, named McDonald, was taken prisoner, who had been shot in the knee.

He' pleaded piteously for his life, saying: "Don't kill me until I have time to save my soul!" The prisoner also said that his mother's predictions came true - that he would be brought home a cripple or dead. In the bombardment of Fort McHenry, the wife of a Sergeant in Mr. Kincaid's regiment came to her husband, with a small bucket in her hand. He accosted her in this language: " What in She "Tf you die, I want to die with He took the bucket, which she had set down, and gave it to her, and told her to leave. She set it down, and in a few moments stooped to pick it up, when a shell struck her, severed her body above the hips, and cut off two limbs. Mr. Kincaid was one of the soldiers sent to reenforce the army engaged in the battle of Thames, in Upper Canada, and arrived on the field as Tecumseh was killed. He declares that a ball, shot by Col. Johnston's Sergeant, ended the career of the desperate chief, instead of Col. Johnston killing him. Mr. Kincaid remembers sitting on the knee of Gen. Washington, and of seeing Lady Washington get in and out her carriage. He came to Richland County in 1837. He was married to Anna Bond, and is the father of fourteen children. He was wounded in the hand, while in the service, and is a pensioner.

William Galispie, interred in the Bellville cemetery, was a Major throughout the Revolutionary war. He was blind during the last thirteen years of his life, and died, February 17, 1841, aged one hundred and four years.