Jefferson Township (part 1 of 7)

Jefferson Township

JEFFERSON is one of the original surveyed townships, containing thirty-six sections, and is one of the most important in the county, in its liistorical, as well as in its other, characteristics. Its surface is rough and diversified, to an extent that is onl}' excelled b}- 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 valle}" 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

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, Init 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 loam}', 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 do'ilars 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.

Originall}' 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 5'et covered with forest, although Jefferson is one of the most thickl}* settled townships in the count}".

miles wide and eigliteen miles long, embracing six Congi-essional townships, namely : Jefferson. Peny, Congress, North Blooming Grove, Tro}- and Washington. So rapidl}- this territory was settled, that a new election district seemed proper, and, September 5. 1814, the territory in qnestion was divided, and the north half received the name of Troy. This left to Jefferson three townships, the present Jefferson, Perr}' and Congress ; and while it retained this ])Oundary. one election was held. Michael Shuey, Benjamin Potts and John Leedy were chosen Trustees, and William Spears. Clerk. The township was heavil}' 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-da}- was then organized. The Township Trustees made a final settlement with the Trustees of Verry Township October 12, 1816, and the indebtedness of the old district was $54.94, which was equall}' divided - Jefferson 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 purchased. 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 Enoch 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 ; Gleorge Strong, from Maryland, southeast quarter of Section 33 ; John Strong, from ^laryland, 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 Kentuck}-, northeast quarter of Section 27 ; Benjamin Hennis, northeast quarter of Section 19 ; John Robinson, from Pennsylvania, 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 "V^ermont, 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 ; Chancy D. Wright, wheelwright, in Bellville ; John Weaver, from A'irginia. northeast quarter of Section 18 ; B. F. Thrailkill. from Maryland, northeast quarter of Section 28 ; Caleb Selb}-, southeast quarter of Section 19 ; Gideon Cornwall, from Virginia, northwest quarter of Section 1 5 ; Amos Hartly, from Mar3-land, northwest quarter of Section 31 ; Peter Boham, southwest quarter of Section 20 ; John McDowel, northeast quarter of Section 21 ; William Mahagan, from Mar^-land, southwest quarter of Section 31 ; Peter Strine ; Samuel Bevo, northeast quarter of Section 31 ; Thomas Durbin, from Virginia, southeast quarter of Section 9 ; Scott Durbin, from Virginia, southeast quarter of Section 9 ; William Price, northeast quarter of Section 16 ; John Fordney ; Philip 3Ierring, from New York, southwest quarter of Section 4 ; Phineas ^lerring (wheelwright), from New Jersey, southwest quarter of Section 4 ; Timotliy Evarts, from A^ennont. southeast quarter of

Section 22 ; Geo. Aimgst, from Virginia, southeast quarter of Section 1 5 ; 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 0 ; 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 Selb}', southeast quarter of Section 19 ; Jacob Stout, from Pennsylvania, northwest quarter of Section 7 ; Jonathan Oldfleld, 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 Mar^dand, 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 Smith, in 1810, from Vermont, northwest quarter of Section 22 ; John Leedy, came in 1811, from Pennsylvania, northwest quarter of Section 35.

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 j-ears it had a larger population than any other township in the count}-. 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 l)y 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 Pickawa}^ 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 famil}-. This was the first cabin built in the southern part of the county w-ith its present limits, and the second built in the count}-. It stood on what is now a part of D. Zent'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, aifiidst many tears and thanks.

The election list above, and the following pioneers residing in the township in 1869, who were in the county prior to 1820, will give a good knowledge in reference to the first settlers of the township :

Bellville is the only town in Jefterson Township, and is located on the northeast quai'ter of Section 9 and adjoining sections. The first building within the present incorporated limits was the first in the toAvnship, 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. Enoch 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 Cemeteiy) - were the 011I3' 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 Ogles 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 Blount A^ernon and Mansfield. l)y 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 3ear 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 under him the spelling of Bellville was changed to Belleville, using the word hdlc instead of the proper name of its founder - BeU. 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 best men that Bellville ever contained, opened a store, and the usual trades and a^'ocations common to a village were well represented. In 1835. thei'e 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 paj' 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. \. Park, Otis Howard ; A. I. Beach acted as Treasurer. The first schoolhouse was erected on ground which Dr. B. llidenours residence now occupies, at the southwest corner of the public square. The pi'esent school Ijuilding was erected in 1867, on ground purchased of Elias Smith in Ma}-, 1856, at a cost of $325. The lot contains four acres. The Ijuilding 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 Assemlil}-, and at an election, at which the rural and town population contended fiercely, the affirmative carried. The band stand 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 held in Mansfield, agreeable to an understanding between interested parties in l)oth 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 ver}' successful fairs were held, but it went down under the pressure of the rebellion.

The Ralnhoiv and Repository was the first newspaper published hi Bellville. Its publication was commenced in Fredericktown, and, in 1849, was removed to Bellville. It was a five-column folio, and was published b}' A. Lauback, at $1 per year. It existed onl^^ a few months.

The first number of the Bellville WeekJi/ was issued February 28, 1872, bearing the name of Bellville Dollar Weeldy, and was printed on a Kamage press, half platen, with a wooden frame. In one and a half j^ears from its commencement, it was enlarged from a six to a seven column folio, received its present name, and its subscription price was advanced to $1.25. J. C. Potts and Thomas Fans were its proprietors, which relation, with a few intervals, has continued to this time.

The Richland 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 Saturda}-, October 6, the first number of The 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. Clarlier and Aaron A. Leedy voluntaril}' headed the subscription list, and soon a large circulation was obtained. It is a five-column quarto, and published ever}- 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 with a capital stock of $12,000, with a deposit of from $12,000 to $15,000. The safe weighs 8,800 pounds, and cost $1,400.

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 ^Nloore built a foundr}' 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 incendiarj-, it is believed, and this took awaj- 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 industr}- other than a few ordinary shops.

The first school in the township was taught by Samuel McCluer, in his own cabin, during the winter of 1816-17. and in the same building by William Spears the following winter. The first schoolhouse was built on the southwest 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 countr}- subscription at the rate of $1.50 per pupil for a term of three months, paj-able 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 windoAvs, and greased paper pasted over the opening to keep out cold and admit light ; the floor, seats and writing tables were of the inevital:)le -- puncheon." and, although the house was romantic, the school was well patronized and a success. 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 Eichland Count}' 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 Kevs. 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 liuilt 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, IG-feet story, in the clear, with a lobby of 9 feet. In Ma}^, 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 probabl}' about 1845. JM. L. Bonar was Superintendent in 1879, and the membership was 249 ; contributions $67. The church membership, March, 1880, was a1)out one hundred and forty.

and became the effective power of the first organization. Mr. IMoody 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 Sundajs. 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 naUiral life. He built a church where the gi'ain elevator now stands, in Bellville, which remained there till 1850, when it was moved some distance south, to accommodate the railroad. In Jul}', 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 1 847, the societ}' 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.

Dolittle. The constitution used by the first society" was not recorded as the rules of the church required, and, in 1854, a few members drafted a new constitution, and had it recorded, unknown to the majorit}' of the old members. This annulled their right of membership, and only a few ever subscribed to the new constitution, which gi'eath* impaired the prosperity of the church. The present membership is about eighty. The Sabbath school was organized in 1846, by Rev. Smead ; Samuel Cutting was its Superintendent.

At a meeting of the Presbyter}', at Fredericktown, Ohio, April 18, 1838, application was made li^- citizens of Bellville, to form a Presbyterian 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 Gearj-, John Lafferty, Andrew Linn, Philip Traxler and their companions. Messrs. French and Geary were ordained Ruling Elders, and Rev. Robinson was their minister. The church flourished several years, and from 1842 till 1844, Thomas Smith pi'eached regv^larl3^ 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 Presbyter}', at IMount 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 membei'ship, 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 Church and in private houses. An organization was effected December 20, 1866. A house of worship was built in 1867, and the flrst services were held in it January 29, 1868. There were fifteen persons in the first society. ^lembership, 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 fii'st preaching in the locality that was fruitful toward establishing a church was done in private houses, by .Solomon Ritz. Adam Sliafer, 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 societ}', 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 Hoft', 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 Societj^ 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 Hill United Brethren Church is located on the southeast corner of Section 18. This church was organized by Jacob George in 1843 or 1844. James Ninian. a member and minister of this denomination, came from Penns^'lvauia in 1837, and settled in the neighborhood of the chureli, 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 1855 or 1850. The society is weak at this date (1 880), and regular services are not held.

The 3It. Carmel Evangelical Church is located on land donated for the purpose liy John F. Kanga. a part of the southwest qitarter of Section 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 Sabliath school was commenced in 1865, with J. F. Kanaga as Superintendent. Joseph Kanaga filled the oflflce in 1879, and the school numbered about sixt}'.

Bellville Lodge, No. 306, I. 0. 0. F., was organized b}' Charles B. Stickney. The charter was gi-anted June 20, 1856. The charter members were H. Alexander, William AValker, S. W. Eels, James Oaks, 3Iiles Moore, George M. Simpson, Abraham R. Kanaga, W. P. Crain and Charles Crain. 3Iembership, January-, 1880. sevent3--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. Marke}', John McCune, William Lyne, William Menzie and Andrew Gerhart, to congregate themselves into a lodge of Masons, and appointed the following officers : Joseph Hildreth, W. Master ; William Lyne, S. 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, the}' moved from the Odd Fellows' Hall, which the}' occupied some months previous, to the room in the third story of the new building, designed for the purpose. The society has wended its wa^- against fierce opposition, is prosperous, and numbers among its members some of the most successful farmers and best citizens of the township.

The Patron's Mutual Relief Association may be regarded as an outgrowth of the co-operative principles studied l)}- the Patrons of Husbandr}-. 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. H. Shoup, Treasurer, and Levi Ross, H. S. JMosier and Amos Fry, Survej'ors. In March,

1877, a bill to incorporate associations for the mutual protection of its members against loss by fire, passed the General xissembl}' 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, Secretar}^; 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 Jolinn}' 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 Mar}' McCluer. Jonathan Oldfield and Elizabeth McCluer were married by Esquire Cofljenbury February 11, 1812, probably the first in the count}'. Mr. Coffinl)ury 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 the}' first knew it, as it is at present. The mills on this stream in the Jefferson Township of 1815, were Shauek's, built in 1830 ; Phillips', built in 1833; Ebyo Perry, built in 1837; Herron, built in 1812 ; Zent, built in 1813 ;

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 hills of timber. On the land now owned ])y R. Evarts (part of Section 16), there is a space of about thirty acres, on which there was not a tree left standing. Its width was about onefourth of a mile, and its track can yet ])e traced through the township. The timber which formerly stood on the ground now covered with a beautiful gro\\i;h of young chestnut, owned by Jacob Bux'kholder and Casper Swank, was destroyed by this storm. L. K. Leedy remembers when he was taller than this timber. This was, undoubtedly, the se^'erest tornado that ever visited the county. The only white persons in Jeflferson Township at that time were the two }-oung 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 walked a short distance further, and, just in front of them, in the dim light of the morning, the face of a huge l:)ear 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 gTapnel 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 tlie 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 put in the gun, and, as he started, a 3'oung boy at the house told his father that he saw a man with a black coat canying a hog away. Mr. Robinson was soon near the bear, and it scented him and raised upright, standing on its pre}', 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 Leed}^ 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. ^Irs. Leedy brought the old flint-lock in line and sent a bullet after him, but she was not familiar with sjiooting 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 bear stood upright on the pig and e^-ed his enemy 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 saj', eleven - balls were taken ft'om 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 iitensils. 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 finall3^ 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 ba}'. 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 name. The dogs ceased barkino; 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 braver}-, 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 awa}' from home, and when the dogs came about, it sat up, as a child.

Samuel Bushong came from Pennsylvania in 1837, and purchased land - thirt^'-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 mone}' 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 thi'ough the neighborhood that Bushong had murdered his family, consisting of his wife and four children, the oldest, Marj-, 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 were sleeping in a room adjoining that in which the girls were, and were partially awakened b}- 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 pi'oved his superior in the fight, and finally wrenched the ax from his murderous hands. 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 la}' upon their bed, in the greatest agony.

Excitement ran high. Some said, " Kill him, and throw his bod}- on the pile." Others said, " Hang him," and for a time it seemed that the man would be Ij-nched ; 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. The}' 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 civill}' to jail, which was accepted, and the two started on their wa}', 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. ^lar}- 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 daj^s their home would be sold and they would be turned out as beggars - " we had better nU he 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 gi-eat 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 jurj-men were Jonas Stought. James Drennan, Pascal Whiting, John McCool, George Bull, Uriah Johnston, John Harman, William Cadwell, Jacol) 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 insanit}' 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 jviry were short, and inside of twelve hours a verdict was returned of " Not guilty."

Amos Hartl}' 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 emploj'ed 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 haj'. Mr. Hartl^^'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 became 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 pul)lic 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 friends that the brutes would partly climb the fence and squeal for the food she was cooking for herself Finall}-, 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 w^as 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 wiiom she employed, her table was as well furnished as that of her neighbors ; but, in the decline of life, she gave waj- 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 onl}' article of diet in her possession, and she allowed " it didn't make bad eatin' either." Mr. Gr. 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 the 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 drj- in the barn and in the curing piles in the field. In the summer, she usually went to mill herself, carrying half a bushel of grain on her shoulder. In the winter, when the gi'ound was covered with 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 tMs peculiar woman not to add that she was not of the mean, miserh' nature which gi-asps for possessions, without any respect to the rights of propert}', justice and moralit}- ; but, on the contrar}-, she exercised the most delicate discernment of justice as she understood it ; was conscientious to the last, and scrupulously honorable in all her business I'elations. 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 lioys accused him of getting the apple on purpose to see '- Kat}-." He replied that he did not care so much for " Kat}" " 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 was discharged. Xo clew was ever obtained of the" guilt}- part}-. 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.

Histoky Of Richland Couxty

only soldier of the war of 1812 living in the township, at this time, (March, 1880). His fathers name was John Kincaid ; he was a soldier of Lee's legion, in the Revolutionary war. George William was born, in Philadelphia, June 23, 1790, and was twent3'-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 man}- 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 ray soul ! " The prisoner also said that his mother's predictions came true^ - that he would be brought home a cripple or dead. In the Ijombardment of Fort McHenr}^, 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 the name of God are you doing here ? " She answered : "If you die, I want to die with you." 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. Kiucaid was one of the soldiers sent to reenforce the array engaged in the battle of Tharaes, in Upper Canada, and arrived on the field as Tecuinseh 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 remerabers 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 ^ears of his life, and died, February 17, 1841, aged one hundred and four years.

Samuel Poppelton, Sr., was one of the Green Mountain Boys, who fought with Col. Ethan Allen. He clairaed the honor of having placed the Araerican flag on the walls of Fort Ticonderoga, at its surrender, with his own hands, and heard the historic words : " B3' the authority of Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress," uttered at that time, he being Color Sergeant. He died about 1842, in the ninety-ninth year of his age. He is buried south of Bellville. Frosts and storms have robbed his old sandstone of its inscription.

This history is particularly indebted to Mr. Reuben Evarts for this chapter. The official records of the township are all destroyed, of proceedings previous to 1850 ; what is inserted regarding early elections and officers, was obtained from other sources.

John Leedy Chapter Xlyii

Madison Township - Its Formation, Physical Features and Population - Survey - Early- Settlers - Mansfield - Its Location and Survey - Established on Rocky Fork - Name - First Settlers - First Cabin - First White Child - Pioneer Matters - A Number of First Things - Gen. Crooks - The Block Houses - John M. May^ - The Sturges Firm - Indians - What Rev. James Rowland and Other Pioneers Say - Early Hotels, Etc.

IN 1807, Madison Township included the territory at present embraced in Richland County. It was named after President Madison, and was then under the jurisdiction of Knox County. In 1812, it was divided, Greene being created from its o^stern part. A third division occurred August 9, 1814. leaving Madison the northwestern township in the county, with a territor}- eighteen miles square. Thus it remained until 181G, when it was reduced to its present dimensions - six miles square in the center of the count}'. It is generally rolling, and in places even hill}', but there are no prominent landmarks. North of the city of ^lansfield, there is a ridge whose general course is northwest and southeast, over which the Atlantic & Great Western Railway passes, sufficiently elevated to divide the waters of Black Fork and Rocky Fork ; the grade along the road being about fift}' feet to the mile over this ridge. The tributaries of these two streams carry off the water ; and in addition to these, numerous and beautiful springs burst from the gi'ound in different parts of the township. One of these, on Fourth street, probabh' had an influence in determining the location of Mansfield. Two others, the Laird and John's Springs which will receive more particular mention in the history of the w^ater-works, now furnish the city with pure spring water. Another of importance is located in the southeastern part of the township, on Rocky Fork, where the first settlement was made, and others of more or less importance in various places. It was once denselj' covered with every species of hard-wood, and its agricultural resources are fully equal to those of an}' other in the county.

The substratum of its population was of the best material. It was largely Pennsylvania German - either Lutheran or Reformed - and Pennsylvania Cah'inistic Scotch-Irish. The former was the better judge of the qualities of the soil, and the more careful and skillful cultivator of it. But in public spirit, and in appreciation of the importance of private and public education, the Scotch-Irish Avere superior. In the intermingling of the two elements, enterprise and conservatism, materialism and idealism were happily balanced and l)lended ; and it would be hard to find a more desirable population than this combination furnished. To these have been added, in minor proportions, the more cosmopolitan elements of the Marylander, the Jersej'^man and New-Yorker, with now and then a Yankee, with his natiye acuteness. smartness, pushing enterprise and passion for progress and improvement ; and notwithstanding his ever-present assumption, that whatever there is good in America came over in the Mayflower, has made himself a valuable and valued ingi-edient in the population of the township. The presence of the German element was influential in bringing in large numbers of European Germans, with their indefatigable industry and marvelous economy and thrift ; their passionate desire for the ownership of real estate enough to absolve them from the payment of rent ; their skill in mechanics, agriculture and horticulture ; their universal instruction in the primary departments of letters and science. They have proved themselves the best of citizens, the friends of common schools, of the Republic, of civilization, of law and order. Such a foundation readily explains the marvelous beauty and solidity of the superstructure that in so few years has attained such vast proportions.

The history of the city and township is so interwoven that it cannot be written separately. They have run together in the race of progi-ess, and whatever has been the measure of success, it belongs equally to both. It may, or may not be new to a majority of its citizens, to hear tliat Mansfield was not born on its present location. It first saw the light on the southwest quarter of Section 25, about three miles southeast of its present location, on Rocky Fork, at what was Beam's, afterward Campbell's and now Goudy's mill. As this location and its first settlers are fully described in another chapter, it will not be dwelt upon here.

Gen. James Hedges was the pioneer of the township. He was here as a Government Surveyor in 1806, a year before the first settlement was macte. The name is a well-known and honored one, is interwoven in the warp and woof of Mansfield history, and still stands high in the roll of its honored citizens. Hedges was accompanied by Maxfield Ludlow and Jonathan Cox. These, and their attendants, whose names are not given, drew their lines tlu-ough the woods, and rolled themselves in their l)lankets by their camp-fires, before any white man built his cabin within the limits of the township.

eastern boundaries, and to the banks of any stream that may cross them ; for the Indian trails were generally along the streams, except where they diverged to some prominent spring, or to cross from one stream to another. These trails were the highwaj^s of the wilderness, and were generally followed liy the advancing pioneers. True to this principle, the first settlement is found on Rocky Fork as above described. Here Jacob Newman was induced by his friend and kinsman. James Hedges, to build the first cabin, the first, not only in the township, but in the county also. It came very near being the first in the future city, for it was built near the boundary line of the town that was then staked out. These pioneers knew that a new county would soon lie created here, and determined to profit l\y it. They thought if they laid out a town on the Rocky Fork, near that beautiful spring, and induced settlers to come in, it would grow up into a city and become the county seat. They laid out the future city, but it never went any farther at that place. It was not platted or recorded, and no settlements made within its limits. For some reason it was abandoned, and the present site determined upon. What their reasons were is a matter of uncertainty, but it is conjectured that the "big spring" on Fourth street had some influence ; that Gen. Hedges had, pi'obaably, some intimations as to the future lioundaries of the new county, and thought this would be a central location ; and Doctor Bushnell says a very potent reason was in the fixct that Mr. Hedges had entered for himself the section upon which the city now stands, and wanted the new city located upon it. and that he actually paid these early settlers $1,500 in silver as an inducement. However this may be, their city on Rocky Fork was aliandoned ; thej' came up that stream and laid out the present city on the 11th day of June, 1808. The men who thus established the foundation of this monument to their memories, were Joseph Larwill, of Wooster. James Hedges and Jacob Newman. The}' agreed to name the new town Mansfield, after the then Surve^'or General of the Ignited States, Col. Jared Mansfield, under whose instructions Hedges and his companions were working. Col. Jared Mansfield was born in New Haven, Conn., in the 3'ear 1759. and during his lifetime occupied various prominent and responsil)le positions under the United States Grovernment. He was a graduate of Yale College in 1777, and taught school, first in New Haven and afterward in Philadelphia. Becoming known to Mr. Jefferson, he recei^-ed the appointment of Professor of Natural Philosophy at the Militarv Academ}- at West Point. The publication of his mathematical and physical essays, about this time, enhanced his reputation, and he took a high stand among the scientific men of the nation. He was appointed Surveyor General about the year 1803, an office before held b}- Gen. Rufus Putnam. Col. Mansfield subsequently resumed the Professorship of Natural Philosophy- at the Militaiy Academy, where he continued until a few years before his death, when he retired to Cincinnati, and sul)- sequently died while on a visit to his native city, February 8, 1830, aged seventj'-one years. He was a near relative of the now venerable author and scholar, E. D. Mansfield, who resides near Cincinnati.

The original plat of the city was a square, of which the public square was the center. It extended north one block beyond Fourth street ; south across Ritter's Run, one block beyond First street ; east one block beyond Water street, and west one block beyond Mullierr}'. It was mainl}' on the southeast quai-ter of Section 21, the south side, however, extending a little more than a square into the southwest quarter of Section 22. Since that time, it has extended over the entire section (21), and into all the adjoining sections, its growth having been mainly west and north. James Hedges entered the two quarter-sections upon which the town was platted ; also two other quarter-sections, lying east and north of the town.

New towns, in those days, did not spring into life as rapidly as in these days of steam and electricity. It is a common thing now to build a new town in a few days or weeks, make and lose fortunes on it, abandon it, and start another at some distant point on a new railroad, with, perhaps, the same result. But, in those days of stage-coaches and Pennsylvania " schooners," with their four yoke of cattle, things moved correspondingly slow. People were not whirled through the world on " lightning expresses," or crammed with telegraphic news from " all parts of the world." The future city was not an exception in this particular. So far as can be ascertained, but one actual settler was obtained in 1808. This was Samuel Martin, who came from New Lisbon. This is about all that is known of him. He built the first cabin ; such, at least, is the testimony of many of the oldest settlers, though, like every other matter depending on the memory of the '- oldest inhabitant," it is contradicted, yet the weight of testimony is in his favor. The question as to where that first cabin was built, is one more difficult of solution. It is one upon which, one would think, those who were here first could hardly be mistaken ; but it must be considered that their attention was not called to this matter for years afterward, and being considered (if considered at all) a small matter, it passed from their minds entirely. Looking back afterward, through the mist of half a century, with its changes, the exact spot might not be so readily determined. It remains to give the evidence, pro and con, and form a judgment accordingly.

^Ir. C. S. Coffinberr}-, writing from Constantine. Mich., under date of February 17, 1873, says : '- The first house built in the town of Mansfield was built by George Coffinberry, in 1 809, in the month of August in that year, on the site now occupied l^y the North American Hotel, at the southwest corner of the public square. The building was a small log cabin." The above is an extract. The writer must be mistaken, for there is much evidence that the first cabin was not built in 1809, but 1808, and not on the North American corner, and, as before stated, not by George Cofflnbeny. Mansfield H. Gilkison, who is now living in Mansfield, and who was born in this cabin (the one referred to in the above extract), says it was built in 1810, and was the second cabin in the town.

Mrs. Elizabeth Baughman, who is still living, and Avho is the daughter of Capt. James Cunningham, one of the earliest pioneers in the county, in a letter to the Shidd and Banner, in 1873, says : " A log cabin was afterward erected on the present site of Mansfield. It stood, I think, near where Mr. Keating now lives, at the northeast corner of the park, and a man (whose name I have forgotten) moved into it ; Init, for selling whisky to the Indians, in violation of law - a Congressional act, I suppose - he had to leave the country. * * * One of the proprietors of the then contemplated town of Mansfield, got father to consent to move into the calkin to board the coming surveying party, and entertain persons who might come to buy town lots, etc. * * * The day following, they removed to the cabin spoken of, which was, as father always claimed, the first house built in Mansfield, and the only one here at that time."

Accoi'ding, then, to Mrs. Baughman's recollection, the first cabin was built on the northeast corner of the public square, where stands the old brick dwelling-house belonging to the Hedges family. Mrs. Baughman, however, did not live with her father at the time he occupied this dwelling, for she says in the same letter : " My father was married to Margarett Myers, his present widow, in 1808, and came to this country soon afterward ; but I remained with my grandfather, Michael Stateler, until 1819, then came to this count}', where I have since had my home." It must be considered that James Cunningham, her father, moved into that house in October, 1809, and moved out during the next year ; so that he onh' occupied it a short time ; and if his information was given to his daughter years afterward, he might have been mistaken, or she might have misunderstood him.

That she was mistaken seems evident from the following, taken from the lips of James Cunningham himself, and written down at the time by Bev. James McGaw : " In October of the same year (1809), he (James Cunningham), moved into the only log cabin then standing in Mansfield, which had been built some months previously b}' one Samuel Martin. This cabin stood on the corner lot of E. P. Sturges - Lot No. 97." It would seem- as if the statement of Mr. Cunningham, which was written down in his presence, and must, therefore, have been carefully given, ought to be conclusive. He was a very earh' settler, was well known to all the pioneers, and a ver}^ intelligent man. He was afterwai'd a Captain in the army.

The following is an extract from a letter of Margarett Cunningham, wife of James Cunningham, dated January 31, 1873 : "August 23, 1809, we had a daughter born to us in the town of Mansfield, when there was but one log cabin in the place, built by a Mr. Martin for a boarding-house. Mr. Martin lived in this cabin but a short time, and left abruptl}', having sold whisky to the Indians, contrar}' to law. Some one threatened to prosecute him for the oflTense, and he left."

From this extract is ascertained what became of the first actual settler in the town, and the builder of the first cabin. He was evidently a trader ; whether he kept an3'thing more than whisky is not told ; but he might be called the first merchant in Mansfield ; and this first cabin was also the first boarding-house, the fii'st store and the first dwelling.

was also a daughter of James Cunningham : " M}' sister, Matilda Cunningham, was born in the town of 3Iausfield, in a house built hj a Mr. Martin, near the corner of the square nearest the big spring." This was what she heai'd her parents say, and corresponds with the evidence of her sister, Elizabeth Baughman ; but contradicts that of her father. The following testimony on this point is from Jacob Brubaker. who was a man of high character, and of good memory when his evidence was given, in 1858 : -' When I was eighteen years old, I was employed, with others, in survej'ing and cutting out a road between Canton and AVooster. I was employed by Joseph Larwill, of Wooster, when the town of Mansfield was run off into lots ; I was engaged in cutting the logs for the first cabin that was built in Mansfield, it being built for one ]\Iartin, who had removed from New Lisbon to this place. This cabin was erected on the lot now owned by E. P. Sturges." This testimony of one who cut the logs and assisted in l)uilding the house, agrees with that of Capt. James Cunningham, who lived in it after its first tenant, Martin, moved out. There is much other conflicting testimony regarding this matter, which, could space be allowed for its admission, would not present the matter in any clearer light. The weight of evidence seems to place the first cabin on the northwest corner of the square, where the Sturges Block now stands, or very near that spot ; some evidence being given to show that it was a little north of the lot upon which that block Avas erected.

The first sale of lots occurred in October, 1808, Joseph Larwill having pitched his tent above the " big spring '' and opened the sale on that day. It is not stated whether any lots were sold, but probably a few were, as it is found that purchasers came from '- Knox, Columbiana, Stark, and other partiall}* settled counties." Among the first settlers in the new town were George Coffinberry, Winn Winship, Rolin Weldon, J. C. Gilkison, John Wallace, Joseph 3Iiddleton, James Cunningham and Andrew Pierce. These arrived, some with their families, mostly in the year 1809, and all came to stay. George Coflfinberry built the second cabin, on the North American corner. Gen. Harrison stopped at this tavern, on his wa^' to the siege of Fort Meigs, in which siege Gen. James Hedges was engaged. Winn Winship. who was a single man, built the first frame house in the town, across the street from the cabin of George Coffinberrj^, on the corner where the Farmer's Bank was, for some time, located. He was one of the most important of these early settlers, being Postmaster at that time, and not only the first Postmaster in Mansfield, but the first Postmaster in Richland County ; and was also Register and Receiver of A'irginia Military School lands, having been appointed to that office by the Legislature of Virginia, some two years before. He is thus described, in a letter written by Mrs. Margarett Cunningham, in 1873 : This Winn Winship was a singular little man, short, round face, dark complexion, very talkative, wore a cue, quite a fop, was not very particular what he ate so that he got milk, and after we discharged him. he went to ^Ir. Coflfinberrj-'s to board. He used to send little George Coffinberry down to our house, every day, with a great tin quart cup. for milk, with a silver sixpence always in the cup." He seems to have been a little out of place in this wild region, and had a repugnance to boarding or living with other people, and in a log house : so he Iniilt a neat two-stor}' frame, and lived by himself The lumber for this house was hewed and split out. saw-mills being rather scarce. He was afterward appointed Clerk of the court, by the first Judges in the county, Thomas Coulter, Peter Kenm- and Hugh 3Ic- Cluer.

Rolin Weldon came from Delaware, built a cabin, and started the first blacksmith-shop in the town, on the 3IcFall corner, the northwest corner of Third and ]Main streets. This is.

however, disputed by M. H. Gilkison, who says the fii'st bhieksinitli was John Fogelsong, who built a shop in the alley connecting" Main and Walnut, below the Wiler House. Mr. Winship and Levi Jones boarded with Weldon for a time. Jones was afterward killed by the Indians, a full account of this being given in another chapter.

John Wallace remained in town liut a short time. He bought and cleared up a farm two miles east, which has since been known as the Wallace farm. J. C. Gilkison was a printer, and started the first printing office. He was also an officer of the militia. He married a daughter of George Coffinberry, and lived for some time in the Cofflnberr}' house on the North American corner, where his son, Mansfield H. Gilkison, who is still living, was born. This son was the first white male child born in the town or county.

Much controA'ersy has arisen in regard to the first child born in Mansfield. The friends of Matilda Cunningham, of whom many are 3'et living, claim that honor for her ; while Mansfield H. Gilkison and his friends are equally persistent and positive that he was the '- very first." That he was the first iiki/c child does not admit of question ; whether he was the first child, each one must judge for himself after reading the testimony. The statements are so conflicting, and the time so far back, that the truth is hard to find. For nearly sixty 3ears this honor was borne l)y Mr. Gilkison, with no one to dispute his title ; Init in an unfortunate moment, at a pioneer meeting, a new claimant suddenly appeared, and created some feeling among the pioneers and those interested. The following extracts from letters, and such other testimony as is at hand, may be of some assistance in forming a correct conclusion :

Mansfield was Mansfield H. Gilkison, who is still living and with us to-day. He was born February 2, 1811. in the building on the North American corner. His father was John C. Gilkison, and his mother a daughter of George Coffinberry.'

The controvers}' began in 1869. It seems, therefore, that, seventeen years afterward. Gen. Brinkerhoff had not been convinced that he was in error regarding this matter. Mansfield H. Gilkison gives his understanding of this in the following words, an extract from his letter to the Shield and Banner in 1873: "They did so (speaking of Hedges and Newman) and entered three, if not more, quarter-sections of land from the Government, one of which Gen. James Hedges selected as his own farm, Jacob Newman taking a quarter-section for his farm, and upon the third quarter-section the}' laid off' the present town of 3Iansfield. A short time after this, a portion of Mr. Newmans lamily came out, and occupied the cabin on this farm of 3Ir. Jacob Newman's, immediately south of 3Iansfield.* Shortly after this, the Cunningham family came out and found their way to the Newman cabin ; as yet, upon the site of Mansfield, no cabin had been erected. In this cabin, it is claimed, Matilda Cunningham was born. If this be true, then it is not possible for her to have been born in Mansfield at all. I think, in the fall of 1810, a cabin was erected where the North American now stands, by George Coffinberry, m}^ mother's father, and in this cal)in I was born, the 2d day of Februar}-, 1811, being the first white child born within the limits of the present town of Mansfield. (Jen. James Hedges requested of my parents the privilege of naming the child, saying he would deed to me a town lot, to which request they acceded, and he named me for the town and himself, Mansfield Hedges Gilkison. and deeded to me

--This was one of the first cabins built. It was on tlie east side of Noith Main stri"et, across the bri(ig(? over Ritters Run, in what is now S lutli Aiidiliuu, jwst outside of the original town plat.

the lot, according to his promise ; and I have recently been informed by H. C. Hedges, Esq., his nephew, that it was Gen. Hedges" intention to have it made a matter of record. Bnt it seemed he had forgotten to do so. At that time, Gen. Hedges was a single man - in fact, I believe he never was married - and boarded at the Newman cabin, and it would seem strange that my parents and Gen. Hedges could be so much mistaken, considering the sparsity of the population and the fact that such an event was not of such frequent occurrence as to escape their memories."

The following extract is from a letter of C. S. Cottinberrv. of Constantine, Mich., a sou of George Coffinberry. and is dated February 17, 1873: -- I notice in the Shield and Banner Si note of Thomas B. Andrews addressed to you (R. Brinkerhoff ). giving the date of the Ijirtli of the three daughters of 3Irs. Cunningham, with the further statement of Mrs. Cunningham that Matild was born in the town of Mansfield, in the first hnise built in the town, there beingno other house in the town when the}' moved into it. ^Ir. Andrews further states, that Mrs. Cunningham informed him that she was at the house of Jacob Newman, which was the only house in Mansfield at the time. * * * The first house built in the town of Mansfield was built by George Coftinberry in 1809, in the month of August of that year, on the site now occupied by the North American Hotel, at the southwest corner of the public square. The building was a small log cabin, and was never occupied by an}^ other famih'. It was occupied h\ Mr. Coffinberry until he pulled it down to make place for a frame building. On the 23d of August, 1809, the date of the birth of Matilda Cunningham, this house was the only one in the town of ^lansfield, and had not been erected over six days. The house of Jacob Newman, erected and occupied by him, was not within the original plat of the town of Mansfield, and was not erected for some considerable time after that of Mr. Coffinberry's, I think during the winter of 1809. Mansfield Hedges Gilkison was the first white child born in the town of Mansfield. This fact was well known to all the first settlers in the town - the Weldons, the Hedges, the Laflands, the Newmans, and others. If Hemy Newman and John Newman still survive, they will bear me out in this statement. If Matilda Cunningham was born August 23, 1809, she was not born in Mansfield, for the house of George Coffinberry, my father, was then the only house in IMansfield, which was a thick and heavy foi'est."

Evidence he has already been given to show that Mr. Coffinberry must have been mistaken regarding the first cabin, and, if so mistaken, it impairs his evidence in this letter.

The following is from Robert Cairns, who is still living in ^Mansfield : -- ]My father and mother moved to the- town of Mansfield in the fall of 1813, and I have frequently seen them point out M. H. Gilkison, and say that he was the first child ])orn in Mansfield. I further state, that I was long and intimately acquainted with Gen. James Hedges, one of the proprietors of the town, and frequently have had conversation with him, in which he stated to me, in speaking of the early settlers of the town of jNIansfield, that JMansfield Hedges Gilkison was the first white child born in the town. He also stated to me that he had the privilege of naming said M. H. Gilkison, and for the privilege of doing so, agi'eed to give him a deed for a town lot, which he has done. * * * Mr. Andrews, in his statement, says that Matilda Cunningham stated to him, that she was born in the cabin-house of Jacob Newman, and the only house in the town. Now, if her statement be correct, in whose house she was born, I boldly assert, without fear of contradiction, that Matilda Cunningham was not born in Mansfield at all. I now assert that this cabin-house of Jacob Newman was not built in the town of Mansfield at all. * * * It was located directly south of

The following is from James Cunningham, father of Matilda Cunningham. It was taken down in writing by the Rev. James McGaw, in a conversation with Mr. Cunningham. " Capt. James Cunningham was born in the State of Maryland, and, in 177(5, emigi-ated with his father to Westmoreland County, Penn., and afterward to Monongalia County, Va., where the father died. In 1804, James emigi'ated to Licking County, Ohio, and from there to Richland in 1 809, in the month of May, and landed on the Black Fork of the Mohican, where he found Samuel Lewis, Henry McCart, Mr. Shaeffer and Andrew Craig, who had landed there onl}' a few weeks before him. After landing, he put out a crop of corn, then went back, brought out his wife, and put her down in the woods alongside of a camp fire, and commenced Ijuilding a shanty over her head. This he completed in about three days, having in his employ three hands. In the following August, his wife gave birth to a daughter, being the first white child born in Richland County. In October of the same year, he moved into the only log cabin then standing In Mansfield, which had been built some months previousl}- by one Samuel Martin. This cabin stood on the corner lot of E. P. Sturges."

The following two letters are given as much for their historical interest, as for their bearing on this case. The first, written by Henry Newman, a son of Jacol) Newman, is dated March, 1873 : " I think it to be an unmixed truth, that Mansfield Hedges Cxilkison was the first child, as the truth and veracity of the very early pioneers of Mansfield and vicinity cannot be questioned or denied. They were Gen. James Hedges, my father. Jacob Newman, John Wallace, George Coflfinberry, Rolin Weldon, Michael Newman, James McCluer (one of the first Associate Judges), Capt. David Newal and John Chapman, the last better known as Johnnj^ Appleseed, and others I could mention - all respectable first-class pioneers, settlers in Mansfield and vicinity. They could not have been mistaken with regard to the fact, that ]Mansfield H. Gilkison was the first white child born in the town of Mansfield. I pronounce all the abovenamed gentlemen (now deceased), in their day, men of truth and veracit}*, and that judgment will be aflflrmed by many yet living in Mansfield and vicinit}'. I have heard most, if not all of them, speak of the fact that ^lansfield H. Gilkison was the first white child Ijorn in Mansfield. How is it possible those first pioneers could be mistaken ? How is it that I never heard the first intimation to the contrary' until latel3^ and yet lived in Mansfield and the county of Richland over fort}' years ? * * * The venerable old lady, and others who advocate as a fact that Matilda Cunningham was born in Mansfield, in the cabin built by Jacob Newman, or built by a Mr. ]Martin, are most certainly mistaken. * * * j never knew but one Mr. iNIartin in Mansfield, and he was a contractor under Gen. Crooks, in the war of 1812-13, and had his headquarters during the winter in Mansfield. The cabin spoken of, which they claim ^Martin Ijuilt, was close to and north of where the Sturges Block now stands. When I first came to Mansfield, Joseph Middleton and wife lived in that cabin ; after they left it, the cabin became a trading-shop for Lewis Jones, who kept groceries and whisky, and dealt out the same to whites and Indians. * * * C)ur family was frequentl}' annoyed by drunken Indians, from the effects of the whisky sold them by Jones. This was yet while we lived on the farm, sold to Beam in 1810 or 1811."

Henry Newman, and fully agi'ee with him in all the statements made by him. I came to Mansfield in 1814; made the acquaintance of Gen. James Hedges ; afterward was married to his brother, my late husband. Ellzey Hedges, and, during all their subsequent lives, alwa3-s understood from them that you (^I. H. Grilkison) ' was the first white child born in ^lansfield." "'

With this the case for the defense will close. Much other testimony- is given, but none that would add any material weight to the foregoing.

The following extract from the report of a "Pioneer Committee"' is signed by R. BrinkerhoflJ", Henry Hedges and R. C. Smith. '- Said committee further find that Margaret Cunningham, of Worthington Township, is entitled to the chair, she having settled in 3Iansfield, in said county of Richland, May 1, 1808." They must have meant 1809, as the town was not laid out May. 1808. The following letter is from Thomas B. Andrews, dated February 3. 1873: On the 31st day of January, 1873, I visited jMrs. Margaret Cunningham for the purpose of ascertaining from the famil}- record, the true age of Matilda Cunningham, said to be the first white child born in the county of Richland, and in the town of Mansfield.

" I found the record well WTitten, in a plain, legible hand, in a large famil}' Bible. The first entry is the birth of Elizabeth Cunningham in 1805. The second is Matilda Cunningham, born August 23, 1809. The third is Mary Cunningham, born November 16. 1810.

'- Mrs. Cunningham says that Matilda Cunningham was born in the town of Mansfield, in the first house built in the town, there being no other house in the town when they moved into it. and where the first child was born."

This evidence, coming from the mother, herself, would seem to be conclusive, though it must be remembered this testimony was taken about sixtj'-four years after the event happened: however, much of the testimony on l)oth sides is open to the same criticism. This testimonj'.

it will l)e seen, contradicts that of her husband before given. AVho, therefore, is able to decide where Matilda Cunningham was born, when the testimonj' of the father and mother is contradictory ? 3Irs. J^lizabeth Baughman. who has l)een quoted in regard to the first cabin, saj-s in the same letter regarding the first child: '- And in that same cabin, on the 23d day of August. 1809, my half-sister. Matilda, was born. M}' father remained there onl}- aliout a j'ear, then removed to the Greentown settlement on the Black Fork." As Mrs. Baughman is bebelieved to be in error in regard to the location of the first cabin, so she may be in error in regard to Matilda being born in that cabin. She was not, as before stated, living with her father at the time. Mrs. Baughman in the same letter further says : "I have often heard father say that ^lansfield H. Gilkison was the first white mah' child born in 3Iansfield. In fact it is of the male child /rn that mention is generall}' made. For instance, we read that ' George "W. Cass was the first white male child born in the city of Allegheny." Had father remained permanently in town, or had the child been a boy. the fact, no doubt, would have been better remembered. The first settlers have nearly all been called to their heavenl}^ homes, and it seems very reasonable to me that their descendants - whose honest}' I do not question - in speaking of the matter have learned to say the ' first child ' instead of the - first male child." " The following extract is from a letter to Mr. Andrews in 1873. signed by nine old citizens of Worthington Township. " We have been neighbors, and have known James Cunningham and ^largaret Cunningham, of Worthington Township. Richland Count}-, for the thirtj-five or forty years last past, and we have heard them both tell at difl[erent times, that their daughter Matilda was the first white child born in the county of Richland, and in the town of 3Iansfield. We never heard this disputed until 18G9 at the coimtv fair at Mansfield, when and where

The following interesting extract, regarding this and other matters, is from the pen of Mrs. Margaret Cunningham, the mother of Matilda, Avritten in 1873 :

" My husband and myself came to 3Iansfield in May, 1809.* August 23, 1809, we had a daughter born to us in the town of Mansfield, when there was Init one log cabin in the place, built by a Mr. Martin for a boarding-house. 3Ir. 3Iartin lived in this calkin ])ut a short time, and left al)ruptly, having sold whisky to the Indians contrary to law. * * * ^g soon as lie left, Mr. Jacob Newman, living near, or at what was more recently called Beam's or Campbell's ^lill, came with his team and moved us from where we lived on a piece of land about one or two miles below said mill, lielonging to my uncle. Henry Mj'ers, to the aforesaid house, for the purpose of boarding those that might attend the sale of the school lands and town lots. Winn Winship, Mr. Wallace and a Mr. Pierce boarded with us. Pierce was the crier of the sale. Winn Winship boarded with us until Mr. Cofflnberry came out and built a house, I think, on the angling corner of the square from our house. We used water from the big spring (our house was up the hill from the spring, on or near the corner of the square nearest the spring. * * * Mr. Coflfinberry and a Mr. Bryson built their houses about the same time. These are the three houses said to l>e here at the time the father and mother of IM. H. Gilkison came (as claimed by Mrs. Ciilkison in an interview I had with her at the county fair in 1869) to Mansfield."

That portion of Nancy Shively's letter relating to this matter was quoted in the evidence regarding the first cabin. The venerable Margaret Cunningham, above quoted, died on the

In a letter printed in the OJn'o Liberal in July, 1873, M. H. (xilkison says : "I was born on the lot on which now stands the Ijuilding known as the American Hotel, in the year 1811, on the 2d day of February, being the first male child born in the county, so far as known."

It will be seen by the above extract that Mr. Gilkison, in the last letter written b}" him regarding this matter, does not claim to be the first child, but the first male child, born in the county. There is no dispute as to his being the first male child.

It is hardly necessary to continue this evidence further, the most essential parts on each side having been given. It may not lead the searcher after the truth any nearer to it. and is not likely, in the least, to change the opinions of the friends of the " first child.''

The following extracts regarding the early history of Mansfield were collected and published many years ago by Gren. E. Brinkcrhoft'. Any history of the town would be incomplete without them. They are believed to be authentic, as much of the information was gathered more than twenty j^ears ago, when ver}' many more of the early settlers were living than at the present time. Pioneer life in Mansfield did not differ from the same in other places. It was a rough, hard life, but had its bright and shady sides, the same as that of to-day.

The first marriage in the township was that of John Pugh and Fanu}' Murphy, daughter of Asa ^lurphy, one of the earliest of the pioneers of Richland County, and, proljably, the first hotel-keeper in Mansfield, as he built the first log house, on the site of the Wiler House, and started a '' tavern."

in those days were sustained by voluntary contributions. The teacher drew up an article, and stated the conditions upon which he would teach by the quarter, per scholar. At the end of the term, he would present the article to each subscriber and receive his paj*.