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50 - HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO In the year 1808, while I was riding with a number of gentlemen through Greentown (an Indian town in the State of Ohio), I heard an Indian in his house, who through a crevice saw us passing, say in his language to his family : See! what a number of people are coming along! What, and among all these not one "Long Knife" (Virginian). "All Vengees!"—then probably observing me, he said to himself, "No ! one Quaekel (Quaker)!" How often the good Moravian missionary, Rev. John Heckewelder, passed through Greentown in his missionary tours among the Delawares, we are not informed; . but the trip made in 1808 throws much light upon the condition of the inhabitants of Greentown, and goes far to show that when James Copus acted as occasional preacher among the people of that village in 1809--10-11-12, they were not unaccustomed to the presence of the white missionary; and that the ArMstrongs, the Jelloways, Thomas Lyon and other leading Indians were prepared to listen attentively to the heralds of the truths of the Christian religion, When Alexander Finley and family arrived at their new home on the Mohican, their nearest neighbor, as he supposed, was Benjamin Miller, who resided on the present site of Wooster, William and Joseph Larwill, now deceased, were then boarding in the family of Mr. Miller, and were young men. Thus, then, the valleys of the Black fork and Mohican were first selected for settlement, Messrs. Craig, Eagle and Finley arriving about the same period, in 1809. These valleys at that period were nearly destitute of underbrush and small timber. It had been the custom of the Indians for a long time to burn the undergrowth in Mohican, Lake and Green townships, to facilitate the pursuit of game. Some portions of the hills below Greentown were entirely bare of timber, while in Lake and Mohican timber was scarce and much injured by fire. In the early part of the summer the soil in these townships was covered with sedge-grass and pea- vines, which afforded an abundance of provender for cattle and horses, and when cut and properly cured, a very nourishing food for winter. In May, 1809, Thomas Eagle and family arrived and located on a farm subsequently owned by Henry Treace, near the present site of Mohicanville. There were many Indians in the neighborhood at the time of his arrival. The Indian village of Mohican Johnstown had, perhaps, about one hundred families, composed of Mohicans, Delawares, Mingoes, and a few Shawnees. Mr. Eagle described them as being generally harmless, and friendly to himself and family. Mr. Eagle, and Finley, were under the necessity, for some years, of obtaining their supplies of food from Shrimplin's mill, near Mount Vernon. To do so, they descended the Lake fork and passed up Owl creek in canoes, with small quantities of corn or wheat, which, having been ground, was re-conveyed to their homes after an absence of several days. The forest abounded in an abundance of game, and these early pioneers could easily supply their families with a sufficient quantity of flesh, though salt to cure and preserve it was a rare article. While Messrs. Finley and Eagle were engaged in erecting their cabins, and clearing a small piece of ground around them for cultivation, Captain Pipe, Crane, Jelloway, Killbuck, the Armstrongs, Jonacake,* Buckwheat, Catotaway, and Thomas Lyon were roaming up and down the Jerome fork, the Lake fork, the Black fork, the Walhonding, and the shores of the Ko-ko-sing on hunting excursions. For three years the neighborhood of Messrs. Finley and Eagle remained undisturbed by the children of the forest, * This name was originally spelled ''Johnny cake," but, we think, incorrectly. The "cake" from which he was doubtless named was known by Virginians as "journey-cake," from which "Jonacake" is derived, and is the correct way of spelling it. . See Zell's Encyclopedia. CHAPTER XX, PIONEER HISTORY. The Pioneers from 'Bog to 1812.—Two Indian Feasts at Greentown. Curious Indian Ceremonies.—The White Persons Present.—Old Captain Pipe, Armstrong and Lyon. A FEW weeks after the arrival of Andrew Craig and wife, he erected a camp cabin about one and a half miles southeast of the Indian village of Greentown, where he resided when James Copus and family landed, some weeks afterward, on his way to his forest home in the south part of Mifflin township. Mr. Copus was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, about the year 1775. He married in his native county in 1796. In March, 1809, he removed to the Black fork in Richland county. His family consisted of himself, wife and seven children. His route of travel was through Wheeling, Cambridge, Zanesville, Coshocton, and up the banks of the Walhonding through the Indian village of Greentown. He located at first about three-quarters of a mile northeast of the present site of Charles' mill, on what was afterwards known as Zimmer's run, and erected a small camp cabin of poles. The cabin was constructed by planting two forks in the ground about twenty feet apart, and placing a ridge pole on them, and then leaning split timber against the pole, making a sort of shed roof, the base being about twelve feet wide, leaving a small opening at the top for the escape of smoke. The ends were closed by setting poles in the ground, leaving a door at one end. The cracks were carefully closed with moss gathered from old logs. The floor consisted of the smooth, well packed earth. In this rude structure James Copus and family resided for a period of about eighteen months. Though often visited, in the meantime, by the Greentown Indians, he felt entirely safe, and remained on the most friendly terms with Captain Armstrong and his people. Being a stout, fearless and industrious man, he set to work at once to clear and prepare a few acres for corn, and soon had a small field fenced with brush, and otherwise prepared to plant. Having brought a "yoke of oxen" and a cow or two along with him, he felt certain that his family could survive the hardships of pioneer life, aided by his industry. At that time the for- HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO - 51 ests abounded in the most luxuriant growth of sedge- grass, pea-vines and other growths upon which horses and cattle could feed and grow fat. In July he had the misfortune to see his field of corn bitten by the frost and greatly injured. However, though soft, it turned out better than he anticipated. In the meantime he visited Andrew Craig, and purchased a hog or two from him, and by their increase and the use of his trusty rifle he procured meat enough to pass the first winter in safety. In the spring of 1810 he erected a cabin in the vicinity of an excellent spring, about three-quarters of a mile south of the camp cabin, on the Indian trail leading to Greentown, Here he cleared about twenty acres and enclosed the same with a good rail fence. Here he resided when the war of 1812 commenced between the United States and Great Britain. In the meantime, being an exhorter and local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal church, he was often invited to address the Indians at Greentown, by whom he was listened to with great attention. He soon became intimate with Captain Armstrong, the chief, and the leading men of the village, among whom were Montour and Jelloway. INDIAN FEAST. In the fall of 1809 he attended an Indian feast at Greentown, where he met James Cunningham and other new settlers. Cunningham was a native of Maryland, and had emigrated to Licking county, Ohio, in 1804, and from thence to the vicinity of Greentown in May, 1809. His neighbors were Samuel Lewis, Henry McCart and Andrew Craig. The refreshments (?) consisted of boiled venison and bear meat, somewhat tainted, and not very palatable to the white guests. The ceremonies took place in the council house, a building composed of clap-boards and poles, some thirty feet wide, and perhaps fifty feet long. When the Indians entered the council house, the squaws seated themselves on one side and the men on the other. There was a small elevation of earth in the center, eight or ten feet in diameter, which seemed to be a sort of sacrificial mound. The ceremonies were opened by a rude sort of music, made by beating upon a small copper kettle, and pots, over the mouths of which dried skins had been stretched, This was accompanied by a sort of song, which, as near as could be understood, ran; "Tinny, tinny, tinny, ho, ha, ho, ha, ho"—accenting the last syllables, Then a tall chief arose and addressed them. During the delivery of his speech, a profound silence prevailed. The whole audience observed the speaker, and seemed to be deeply moved by the oration. The speaker seemed to be about seventy years of age, He was tall and graceful. His eyes had the fire of youth, and blazed with emotion while he was speaking. The audience frequently sobbed, and seemed deeply affected. Mr, Copus could not understand the language of the address, but presumed the speaker was giving a summary history of the Delawares, two tribes of which, the "Wolf " and the "Turtle," were represented at the feast. Mr. Copus learned that the distinguished chief who had addressed the meeting, was "Old Captain Ape," of Mohican Johnstown, the executioner of the lamented Colonel Crawford. At the close of the address dancing commenced. The Indians were neatly clothed in deer skin and English blankets. Deer hoofs and bear claws were strung along the seams of their leggins, and when the dance commenced, the jingling of the hoofs and claws gave a rude sort of harmony to the wild music made upon the pots and kettles. The men danced in files or lines, by themselves around the central mound, and the squaws followed in a company by themselves. In the dance there seemed to be a proper sense of modesty between the sexes. In fact, the Greentown Indians were always noted for being extremely scrupulous and modest in the presence of each other. After the dance, the refreshments were handed around. Not relishing the appearance of the f0od, Mr. Copus and the other whites present, carefully concealed the portions handed them until they left the wigwam, and then threw them away. No greater insult could be offered an Indian, than to refuse to accept the food proffered by him. So those present had to use a little deception to evade the censure of the Indians. In the spring and summer of 1810, the population of Green township was increased by the arrival of George Crawford, David Davis, Frederick Zimmer, sr., Frederick Zimmer, jr., Philip Zimmer, John Lambright, Peter Kinney, Edward Haley, John Davis (a widower), Charles Tannahill, Bazel Tannahill, John Coulter, Melzer Coulter, Archibald Gardner, and their families. These settlers commenced improvements along the Black fork, the Clear fork, and the Rocky fork of the Mohican, each erecting a small cabin, and clearing a few acres of ground for corn. The majority of these settlers were of German descent, and had come directly from the western counties of Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and the eastern part of Ohio; and had found the way to their new homes up the branches of the Mohican, and by Indian trails. Many of them had entered their lands at Canton, Ohio, without seeing them, and had followed their neighbors into these wilds. While these settlers were erecting new homes along the Black fork, Alexander Finley and Thomas Eagle were being joined, in 1810, by James Loudon Priest, Nathan Odell, Joshua Oram, Benjamin Emmons, John Baptiste Jerome, Ezra Warner, Elisha Chilcoat, Benjamin Bunn, James Conley, Amos Norris, William Metcalf, John Newell, Westel Ridgely, Vatchell Metcalf, Josiah Crawford, and John Shinnabarger. The Odells, Orams, Priests, and Metcalfs, settled in the present limits of Lake township. Mr. Emmons settled in Perry, and Mr. Warner in the lower part of Vermillion. These settlers were mostly from the border States, and from Jefferson county, Ohio. They had found their way to their new homes like the settlers on the Black fork, and commenced the erection of cabins, and clearings, in the same way. Corn was generally purchased and ground, the first year, in Knox county; and the new settlers either packed it on horses, or descended the Mohican in canoes, and transported it in that way. The hominy block was in universal requisition among the early settlers; and jonacake, or journey-cake, pork, and wild 52 - HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO. game, furnished the principal solid food, while spice- wood and sassafras tea, and milk, furnished the balance of nourishment. In 1811, Calvin and Joseph Hill, Allen Oliver, Ebenezer Rice, Joseph Jones, Melzer Tannahill, sr., Lewis Hill, Solomon Hill, Moses Adzit, Jeremiah Conine, Sylvester Fisher, Thomas Coulter, Otho Simmons, and their families, came into the Greentown settlement, along the Black fork. These families were from Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, Vermont, Maryland, and eastern Ohio. Soon the woodman's ax was heard in every direction, and cabins commenced to spring up, and fields were cleared and fenced, and crops planted. The most friendly relations existed between the new pioneers and the Indians. ANOTHER INDIAN FEAST. In 1811, about two years after the first feast attended by Mr. Copus and Cunningham, another one took place at Greentown. It was conducted very much like the one in 1809. John Coulter,* who was present, and who is now (1873) in his eighty-third year, gives me the following description of the feast, which Alexander Rice and others confirm : The feast was prepared and held in the large council house. In the center of the building was a mound of earth, perhaps eight or ten feet across and two feet in height. The kettles for cooking the supper were placed around the edge of the mound, over small fires, and bear's flesh and venison pm in them. In the center of the mound a large fire was kindled, which blazed with great brilliancy. While the supper was being cooked an occasional choice morsel was thrown into the large fire as a sacrifice to the Great Spirit. A great number of distinguished chiefs and warriors from Upper Sandusky, Jerometown and other parts, were present and participated in the ceremonies. While the supper was being cooked the leading chiefs and warriors commenced to move in a solemn procession around the altar, sometimes singing, sometimes delivering short speeches in their native tongue. While this was going on the balance of the audience were arranged in lines two or three deep around the insrde of the council house, which, according to Mr. Howe, was about sixty feet long and twenty-five feet wide, one story high, and enclosed by clapboards. The singing was a soft of low, melancholy wail accompanied by a sort of grunt, contortions of the face, and singular gesticulations of the arms. The exact meaning of the speeches and other performances was not understood by Mr. Coulter and the other guests. The chiefs and other distinguished warriors present made a fine display as they marched around the altar, arrayed, as they were, in costume which exhibited many gay colors, arranged so as to produce a fine effect. As on the former occasion, their leggins were ornamented with dry deers' hoofs, which produced a rattling noise as they marched around the central mound. These ceremonies produced a profound impression on all present. Whether it was a recital of the history and achievements of the Delawares, or whether it portended future trouble, and was an offering to avert the calamities of war, could not be divined by those of the white race present. The ceremonies lasted two or three hours, and then the cooked venison and bear's meat were distributed among the audience and the ceremonies closed with a general hand-shaking, congratulations and other friendly tokens. Mr. Coulter, Wesley Copus and other invited guests, feel confident that they met "old Captain Pipe" of Jerometown, there. There were from three to four hundred Indians present, and Wesley Copus says that Thomas Lyon, who was a warm friend of his father ( James Copus), prepared a choice bit of venison for him. We are compelled to believe that "old Captain Pipe" was present. This was the last we hear of him at any public gathering in this region ; and we are inclined to think this feast foreshadowed the calamitous war of 1812, which commenced a few months after that feast. Along the Jerome fork and the brooks that flowed into it, in the same year (181I) we find John Carr, James * Simon deceased Collyer, James Slater, James Bryan, Joseph Chandler, sr., Robert Newell, Robert Finley, George Eckley, Jonathan Palmer, James Wallace, Thomas Newman, and perhaps a few others and their families. At this time there was not a white man in Montgomery, Milton, Clearcreek, Orange, Jackson, and the three northern townships. The number of the cabins in the lower part of Vermillion, in Lake and Perry, as well as all over Mohican, was rapidly on the increase; and the prospect for a large influx of settlers in 1812 was fair. The pioneers were keenly alive to their interests, and traveled far and near to aid each other in raising cabins, felling the forest, rolling logs and fencing new fields. Many hardships were encountered the first year or two, by reason of unripe grain, and the great distance to be traveled in reaching mills. Still, those difficulties were met with fortitude and soon 'overcome. The spring of 1812 saw the tide of emigration on the increase. At that period a war was impending between Great Britain and the United States. This checked the influx of the pioneers, for it was evident the Indians of the northwest would be invited to assist the enemy. In fact, it had been observed for nearly two years, that the Greentown and Jerometown or Mohican Johnstown Indians had been in the habit of making frequent visits to Upper Sandusky, and always returned with new blankets, tomahawks and ammunition in abundance. Indeed, it was suspected that British agents were busily at work sowing the seeds of disaffection among the northern Ohio Indians. A few families settled on the Black fork in 1812, among whom were Samuel Hill, Simon Rowland, (single) Martin Ruffner, Richard Hughes, Henry Smith, (single) Archibald Gardner, and Michael Ruffner, (single). On the Jerome fork and vicinity, we find the population increased by the addition of the families of Thomas Carr, William Bryan, and perhaps one or two others, In January, 1812, Daniel Carter, sr., located about one mile northeast of the present site of Ashland; Christopher Crickle at the east end of Ashland, where Markley's brick house formerly stood; Benjamin Cuppy near the Orange road, on the farm owned by the late David Sloan, and Jacob Fry near the present residence of Leo Wertman, on the Troy road, while Robert Newell located on the old McGuire farm, near where the brick house now stands. All north of this region was a dense forest, and had not been disturbed by the presence of the white hunter or settler. Messrs. Carter, Cuppy, Fry, Newell and Trickle put up small cabins, soon to abandon them for a home in the Jeromeville block-house. HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO - 53 CHAPTER XXI THE WAR OF 1812.WAR Declared against Great Britain.- The Concentration of Troops in Northwestern Ohio.—The Disgraceful Surrender of General Hull. Threatening Aspect of the Border.—Removal of the Jerome and Greentown Indians. ON the eighteenth of June, 1812, the United States declared war against Great Britain and her dependencies. The national pride of England had been deeply wounded by the treaty of 1783, that gave independence to the colonies. The events of the Revolutionary war forcibly constrained Great Britain, reluctant as she was, to surrender all control over the thirteen colonies; yet, she refused to execute the treaty in good faith, and availed herself of every equivocation to justify her perfidy. She agreed to vacate all the western ports from Oswego to Michilimacinac; but, contrary to the express terms of the treaty, retained forcible possession of them, This breach of faith subjected the United States to the expense of a long and bloody Indian war. In that war, the Indians were supplied with the means of death from those very ports. The governor-general of Canada, Lord Dorchester, was industrious in instigating Indian hostilities all along our frontiers. His agents were distributing arms, ammunition, food and blankets among the Indians during the campaigns of Harmer, St. Clair and Wayne. McKee, Girty and Henry, were busy in their efforts to excite the whole Indian race against the pioneers, and offered liberal rewards for every scalp brought by the Indians to Malden. To aggravate the matter, a systematic rule of impressment was adopted in the British navy during the French war, and large numbers of our sailors and seamen were torn from American vessels on the high seas, and forced into the British service. The administration of Jefferson and Madison had protested in vain against these outrages, and war became inevitable. The British agent, Mr. Henry, was dispatched through the New England States with power to corrupt and detach them from the Union, and re-annex them to the British empire. While these things were transpiring, war was declared. Mr. Madison made haste to meet the storm. The waters of lakes Erie, Huron and Michigan, as well as the territory of Michigan, northwestern Ohio and northern Indiana, were m a defenceless condition. The Executive of the United States determined to display a respectable military force on the borders of the straits separating the lakes. In April, 1812, a requisition was made by the President for one thousand two hundred of the militia of the State of Ohio, who were to be found by the Fourth regiment of United States regular troops, then on their way from Vincennes, Indiana. In obedience to the call, Governor Meigs, with his usual promptitude, issued orders to the major-generals of the western and middle. divisions, to furnish their respective quotas of men, who were to rendezvous at Dayton on the twenty-ninth of the same month. In a few days the requisition was more than complied with, Citizens of the first distinction were among the foremost to enroll their names. With a celerity never equaled in a new country, volunteers collected from every part of the State. They rendezvoused at Dayton, as required, An election for officers took place, and Duncan McArthur was elected colonel of the First regiment ; James Finley, of the Second, and Lewis Cass, of the Third. By the middle of May the troops were provided with blankets; tents, and other necessary camp equipage, and had become expert in military evolutions and the manual of arms. Brigadier General William Hull, of the United States army, was appointed by the government to conduct the expedition. Governor Meigs having assembled the troops in obedience to the orders of the Secretary of War, now surrendered their command to General Hull. Everything being in readiness for the departure of the troops, they took their line of march on the first of June. On the nineteenth the army passed through the Auglaize region. On the fourth of July the army reached the Huron river,. twenty miles from Detroit, The British and Indians gave no trouble up to this period. On the fifth of July the army encamped at Spring wells, three miles below Detroit. Detroit contained about two hundred houses and twelve hundred inhabitants at that period, General Hull and his army took possession of the fort, which stood upon a handsome eminence of moderate height, about two hundred yards in the rear of the town. The fort had well constructed ramparts of earth, surrounded by a ditch, defended by a double line of pickets ; between this and the town was a stockade enclosing about two acres of ground. The area of the fort was about one and a half acres. There were also extensive commons in the rear of the fort, skirted by boundless and almost impenetrable forests, which offered an easy and safe retreat for the Indians, General Hull remained in the fort at Detroit, making an occasional feint as if he intended to invade Canada, at one time sending forward a few soldiers, and in a few days recalling them, until the sixteenth of August, 1812, when he surrendered his army to the British commander, Major General Isaac Brock! The circumstances attending the surrender were of the most suspicious character. It was alleged that Hull was under the influence of liquor, that his conduct was cowardly in the extreme, and that he had been acting under a bribe from the British! t The number of the troops surrendered amounted to about two thousand and five hundred men. The same number of arms was stacked on the esplanade and in the arsenal. There was also an abundance of fixed ammunition. In the magazine was sixty barrels of powder and one hundred and fifty tons of lead. There were twenty-five pieces of iron ordnance, and eight brass field pieces. Hull had also an abundance of flour, and * The day before the surrender, the fifteenth of August, General Hull pitched a markee in the centre of the encampment, of a most singular appearance, with red and blue stripes painted on the top and sides, which gave it a strong resemblance to the Brilish flag ! As the general had not erected a tent in camp since the fourth of July, this became an object of surprise, and was evidently portentous of the issue. See Brown's History of the second war for Independence, page—76. + A court matrial convened at Albany, New York, in the winter of 1814, sentenced General Hull to be shot ; hut appealing to his revo lationary record and services, against the charge of treason, Mr. Madison remitted the sentence of the military court. 54 - HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO. three hundred head of cattle, The army was composed of brave and patriotic men, officered by such men as McArthur, Cass, Finley and Miller ; yet the fort was surrendered without resistance! The news of the surrender of Detroit was so unexpected, that it came like a clap of thunder to the cars of the American people. The disastrous event blasted the prospects of the campaign, and opened the northern and western frontiers of Ohio to savage incursions. The news of the disaster soon reached the pioneers of Richland and Ashland counties, and they were deeply alarmed at the appalling prospect of soon hearing the yells of the Indians of the northwest in their midst. Governor Meigs and the authorities of Washington, made haste to furnish protection for the border states, and to renew the struggle with the now triumphant British and Indians. At the time of the surrender, two thousand militia under Major General Payne, a battalion of mounted riflemen under Colonel R. M. Johnson, from Kentucky, a brigade of militia under the orders of Brigadier General Tupper, and nearly one thousand regulars under the command of General Winchester, were advancing to support - General Hull, and had reached the St. Mary's, when the news of the capture was received. But for the timely arrival of the above force, a wide scene of flight, misery, bloodshed and desolation must have ensued in the border settlements. Nearly half the territory in Ohio must have been depopulated, or its inhabitants fallen victims to the tomahawk and scalping knife. This force was sufficient to arrest the tide of savage invasion ; but it became necessary not only to repel invasion, but to subdue the foe. The governor of Kentucky brevetted William H. Harrison a major general and he took command of the army of the northwest and marched to the relief of Fort Wayne, which was invested by Indians and British from Malden, on their way to the frontiers of Ohio. The Indians and British fled at his approach. This was early in September, 1812. Soon after the sur-- render of Hull, two block-houses were built on what is now the public square of Mansfield. The first was built by the company of Captain Shaeffer, from Fairfield county, and the other by the company of Captain Williams of Coshocton. About three and a half miles below Mansfield, on the Rocky fork, another block-house was built, and the company of Captain Martin, of Tuscarawas county, was stationed there. The block-house was named after Mr. Jacob Beam, who had located on the Rocky fork in the spring of 1811, and put up a log cabin and cleared a small piece of ground. In the fall of 1811 he put up a small log mill which had one run of stones. It was probably the first mill in Richland county. Mr. Beam was born in the State of Pennsylvania. During the summer of 1812 Andrew Newman put up a small saw-mill on the same stream two and one-half miles below Mr. Beam, and was engaged on the race when the Zimmer-Ruffner tragedy occurred, and sought protection at the Mansfield block-house. In the meantime John Baptiste Jerome was arrested, by order of General Beall, and confined some weeks in the block-house at Wooster, to prevent him from communicating with the Indians, as was alleged. About this time, Captain Douglas was dispatched with his company, by Colonel Samuel Kratzer, who had arrived in Mansfield with his command,, from Knox county, to remove the Indians from Jerometown and Greentown, as a measure of safety to the settlers, to some other part of the State. Captain Douglas proceeded quiety to their villages, but when he arrived at Greentown, Captain 'Thomas Armstrong, the chief, hesitated about obeying the order of removal. He had about eighty warriors under his command, and could have made a vigorous resistance. Fearing trouble, Captain Douglas, before attempting to use force, proceeded to the residence of James Copus, some two and a half miles further up the Black fork, and requested him to accompany him and his guard to Greentown, to use his influence to induce the Indians to depart without further trouble. Mr. Copus had the confidence of Armstrong, and felt that he would be doing injustice to his Indian neighbors to interpose in the matter, without the most positive assurance from Douglas that their property would remain safe until peace, and that no violence would be offered his Indians on their way to Urbana, the point to which they were to be removed. On receiving these assurances, he and his three sons. Henry, James, and Wesley) accompanied Douglas to Greentown. When they arrived, Armstrong and his people were greatly excited, and fears of a fight were entertained. Armstrong was an old man, and much esteemed by his people. He trembled with excitement when the consultation took place. On appealing to Mr. Copus, as to whether their property would be safe, he responded that Douglas had pledged him that it would be, and, though he was sorry they had to leave, he thought all would be safe. Prior to this, the Indians had assured Peter Kinney, a neighbor, that, if permitted to remain, they would surrender. all their guns and war-like weapons, and answer to a roll call every day; but Douglas insisted that his orders were to remove them, and he intended to obey them. Accordingly, after the assurances of Mr. Copus, Captain Armstrong held a consultation with his leading advisers, and consented to go. A schedule of their property was taken by James Cunningham and Peter Kinney, and they took up their line of march across the Black fork, to the new State road, and pro- ceeded thence Lucas, and from there to Mansfield, and encamped in the ravine southwest of the public square. A few of Douglas' soldiers, perhaps eight or ten, remained in the village until Armstrong and his people had disappeared in the forest, and then, to the surprise and horror of Mr. Copus and his three sons, deliberately set fire to the village, and nearly everything In it was consumed in their presence.* This is the statement of Wesley Copus (died in 1876, at the age of * Mrs. James Irwin, daughter of Judge Peter Kinney, who was near the village and conversant with the history of the removal, states that only part of the huts were burned by the soldiers of Douglas, and that the remaining huts were burned by the army of General Crook, who encamped some days on the site of the village. The army devoured the balance of the Indian corn, hogs, and cattle. HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO - 55 seventy-four years), who was present and saw. it. He attributes the untimely death of his father to this piece of perfidy on the part of Douglas and his men. After being joined by a few Indians from Jerometown, including the wife and daughter of Baptiste Jerome, a Frenchman, Colonel Kratzer and his command conducted the Indians through Berkshire, 'and across Elm creek, in Delaware county, to Urbana, where the settlers were more numerous, and where many peaceable Indians resided; and left Captain Armstrong and his people, as well as the Jerometown Indians—and the wife and daughter of Baptiste Jerome, who soon died from exposure, and were never again permitted to see husband and father! Jer0me lamented the fate of his wife and daughter for many years, and often shed tears over their sad separation. CHAPTER XXII. OCCURRENCES DURING THE WAR. A Part of the Greentown Indians, and a Number of Wyandots, Re turn. The Murder of Martin Ruffner, Frederick Zimmer and Family, on the Black Fork.—The Tragedy at the Cabin of James Copus, and His Death.- --The Rescue of His Family. About two weeks after the removal of the Green and Jerometown Indians, the murder of Martin Ruffner and the family of Frederick Zimmer, sr.,* took place. Mr. Ruffner and a brother-in law, named Richard Hughes, erected cabins not a great ways apart, in the spring of 1812, about half a mile north of west of the present village of Mifflin, into which they moved. The mother of Mr. Ruffner, and a brother, aged about nineteen years, named Michael, accompanied and boarded with Richard Hughes. The wife and child of Martin Ruffner came on late in the summer. They had all resided in Fairfield county, Ohio, f0r several years, from whence they had gone to Canton, Ohio, and entered their lands. Mr. Zimmer located his tract about two and a half miles southeast of Mr. Ruffner, and, having put up a cabin, moved into it with his wife, daughter Catharine, and son Philip, aged about nineteen years, Being an old man, he was unable to do much work. Desiring to rapidly prepare some fifteen or twenty acres for corn, he hired Michael Ruffner, brother of Martin, to assist him. In the meantime, Martin Ruffner and a bound boy named Levi Berkinhizer, kept bachelor's hall in his cabin, working and doing their own cooking. Early in September, one afternoon, while Michael Refiner was on his way, on the old Indian trail leading from the cabin of Frederick Zimmer to the cabin of his brother, through the forest, he met two Indians who were well armed with guns, knives, and tomahawks, and * Mr. Zimmer purchased his land at Canton, in the spring of 1812, for which he obtained a deed, or patent, signed by President Madison, October 2, 1812. It was recorded in the land office, in the name of Philip Zimmer --by modern settlers pronounced Semour or Seymour. seemed very friendly to him. Stopping him, they asked if the Zimmers were at home, He replied, they were. They then passed into the forest; and he hastened on and stated to his brother the occurrences on the way. Martin Ruffner suspected mischief took down his gun —mounted a very fleet. mare,* and rode rapidly down the trail to put Zimmer on his guard, and notify the other settlers in the vicinity. He arrived before the Indians, and Philip Zimmer was dispatched to inform James Copus, who lived about two miles further south, on the trail. Having notified Mr, Copus, he hastened from thence to inform John Lambright, who resided about two miles further south. Lambright returned with him, and, joined by Mr. Copus, they all proceeded to the cabin of Mr. Zimmer, where they arrived in the early part of the evening. + Finding no light in the cabin, and all being silent, fears were entertained that the Indians had killed the inmates. Mr. Copus moved cautiously around to a back window and listened a moment, but hearing no movements he crept slyly around to the door, which, on examination, he found partially ajar, and, pressing upon it, found some obstruction behind it. He at once suspected the family had been murdered, and, on placing his hand upon the floor, found it wet with blood ! Hastening back to Philip and Lambright, who were concealed a short distance from the cabin, he stated his convictions, when Philip became frantic with grief and excitement, and desired to rush into the cabin to learn the whole truth concerning the fate of his venerable parents and sister. Suspecting Indians were concealed in the cabin, awaiting his return, Messrs. Lambright and Copus induced him to accompany them. On arriving at his cabin, Mr. Copus hastily took his wife and children and proceeded with Mr. Lambright to his residence. There they were joined by his wife and children. From thence they pressed on to the cabin of Frederick Zimmer, jr., brother of Philip, and he and his brother joined the fugitives, and they hastened along an Indian path near where the village of Lucas now stands, and stopped at the cabin of David Hill, where they remained until the next morning. Hill and family then accompanied them to the block-house * Statement of Daniel Hoover, a neighbor of Martin Ruffner in Fairfield county, Ohio, who now resides in Richland county, about three miles northwest of Mifflin, on the west side of the Black fork. He is now (1873) seventy-years of age. He came from Rockingham county, Virginia, and sailed on the waters of Rush creek, in Fairfield county, about the year 1803, with the family of his father. He had known Martin Ruffner in Shenandoah county, Virginia. Ruffner moved to Pleasant township, Fairfield county, Ohio, in 1807, accompanied by his mother, brother Michael, and a sister, who married one Richard Hughes. Martin Ruffner returned to Virginia a year or two before he moved to Richland county, and married. He and his relatives located on what is now Staman's run, half a mile below Miffhn, in the spring of 1812. Mr. Hoover was in Mansfield, on his way to Ruffner's, when Hull surrendered; and; taking into view the excitement produced by that disaster, thought it prudent to return home, where he remained until 1814, and then removed to and commenced improvements on the farm upon which he now resides. He says: "Michael Ruffner, on his return to Fairfield, in 1812, gave him a full statement of the Ruffner-Zimmer affair, which is substantially the same as given in the foregoing sketch."   + Statement of Wesley Copus, who remembered the occurrence very. distinctly. He died in 1876, aged seventy-four years. 56 - HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO. at Jacob Beam's, where they arrived safely arid gave the alarm. Mr. Copus, Philip amend Frederick Zimmer, Hill, Lambright and a number of soldiers, well armed, proceeded by the most direct route, through the forest, to the cabins of Martin Ruffner and Richard Hughes.* They found that the cabin of Ruffner had not been disturbed, and that Levi Berkinhizer, the boy, had slept there, alone, the night before, and that the cabin of Hughes, had also been undisturbed. Ruffner had, a short time prior to this, on learning of the surrender of Hull, sent his wife and child to Licking county in company with young Berkinhizer, to reside with Mr. Laird, an uncle, who lived about one and. a half miles from Utica. After the return of the boy, they did their own cooking. Ruffner was a large, fearless man had been on good terms with his Indian neighbors in fact, when he came on to locate his land, in passing through Greentown an Indian volunteered to show him the piece he entered; telling him "it was good land had Indian huts on it; had apple trees, good water, and other advantages." He had cleared, and planted four or true acres of corn, which was attended by himself and Berkinhizer. After the murder of the old people, Philip Zimmer, May 1, 1815, and wife Elizabeth, before Thomas Mace, justice of the peace of Pickaway county, deeded the old farm to Michael Culler, who took possession of it, and resided upon the land until his death, in 1876. This deed was plainly signed by Philip and Elizabeth Zimmer, his wife. But to return: When they arrived at Ruffner's cabin, young Berkinhizer, Michael Ruffner and Hughes joined the company, and hastened down the trail to the cabin of Mr. Zimmer. On entering it, they found the old gentleman, the old lady and Catharine all dead and dreadfully mangled by the savages. Ruffner was found in the yard dead. He had, apparently, made a desperate effort to save the family, during which he had succeeded in reaching the front yard. His gun was bent nearly double, from clubbing it in the cabin. Several of his fingers had been cut off by blows from a tomahawk; and the struggle had finally ended by his being shot twice through the body. Ruffner and the Zimmers had been scalped by the Indians. It seemed from appearances, that the table had been set with refreshments for the savages, as the most of the food remained. + The attack must have been very sudden and unexpected; for Ruffner, with his trusty rifle, was more than a match for two Indians. Indeed, there can be scarcely a doubt that eight or ten Indians were engaged in the tragedy. It is also prob- * Statement of Daniel Hoover. +There is a tradition among the early settlers, that about the year 1815-16, two Indians were arrested in the east part of the State for some crime, and imprisoned at New Philadelphia ; and that while there, one of them—Philip Konotchy—a Greentown Indian, stated that he had killed Kate Zimmer after she had prepared supper for the Indians. That after Ruffner and the old people had been killed, the balance of the Indians desired to save Kate, but he returned and finished the work by sinking his tomahawk into her brains. While many of the pioneers relate this story, we are not able to verify it by anything on record. For a further description of this Indian, see, also, personal sketch of Robert F. Chandler. able that the Indians that committed those murders had resided at Greentown, and had a personal spite to avenge on Mr. Zimmer and family. The older pioneers say the Indians often complained that the Zimmers had maltreated their ponies by tying clapboards to their tails, when they were feeding around their fields, to frighten them away; and they had possibly taken this way to complete their retaliation. Their fences were mostly made of brush, and the corn was very tempting to the Indian horses. Any injury to their dogs and ponies was always remembered and resented. Martin Ruffner and the Zimmers were buried on little knoll, a few rods from the scene of the tragedy, one grave, where they now rest quietly in the dream death. The farm is now owned by Michael Culler (since deceased), and the site of the grave is pointed out 1 hint, After performing the last sad ceremonies over remains of the murdered pioneers, they returned to block-house at Beams, and Michael Ruffner, his moth, and Hughes and family, removed to Fairfield county, Ohio, from whence, we are informed, they never returned.* About five days after the return of Mr. Copus to the blockhouse, becoming weary of staying there, and believing the Indians entertained no ill will towards him, he insisted on returning with his family to the Black fork, Captain Martin protested that he was incurring much danger in doing so; but Mr. Copus insisting on going back, nine soldiers were detailed to conduct him and his family home. They all arrived safely in the afternoon, and found the cabin and stock secure. In the evening Mr. Copus invited the soldiers to sleep in the cabin; but the weather being yet quite warm, they preferred to take quarters in the barn, which stood four or five rods north of the cabin, on the trail, that they might have a better opportunity to indulge in frolic and fun, and be less crowded and under less restraint. Before retiring, Mr. Copus cautioned them against surprise by Indians wh might be lurking about. During the afternoon, Sarah, little daughter of Mr. Copus, aged about twelve years went into the cornfield, a few rods south of the cabin and while there saw an Indian, in the edge of the forest skulk behind a brush heap, but neglected to relate the circumstance to her father. + That night the dogs kep up a constant barking, and Mr. Copus had many unpleasant dreams. Before daylight he invited the soldier into the cabin, telling them he feared some great disaster was about to overtake himself and family. He agai lay down to rest; and when daylight began to appeal the soldiers insisted on going to the spring, about thre rods away, to wash. The spring is one of best in the country, and gushes from the base of the hill in a larg current. He again cautioned them of impending dar ger, telling them that Indians were certainly in the * Statement of Daniel Hoover. +. Mrs. Sarah Vail, now, a widow seventy-eight years of age, rein this occurrence, and says the reason she did not inform her father of is, that he was a very strict man in regard to the truth, and fearing she might have been deceived, did not wish to incur his displeasure by creating a false-alarm ; and therefore did not relate the circumstance HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO - 57 neighborhood, or his dogs would not have made so much noise; and said "if they went to the spring, they should take their guns along," which they promised to do: but on passing out leaned them against the cabin, and started for the spring. They had scarcely reached it, when the Indians rushed from their concealment in the cornfield with a terrific yell, and cutting off all retreat, began to shoot and tomahawk the soldiers. Mr. Colitis, upon hearing the uproar, sprang from his bed, seized his gun and rushed for the door. Just as he opened it, he met a ferocious looking savage, and both fired at the same instant, and both were mortally wounded. The ball passed through the leather strap that supported the powder-horn t of Mr. Copus, and penetrating his breast, caused him to fall, when he was supported to his bed, where he expired in about an hour, while begging the soldiers to bravely defend and save his poor family from the cruel fate that seemed to await them. Two of the soldiers fled to the forest, pursued by the Indians, and were soon overtaken, killed and scalped; the third had nearly escaped his pursuers, when they tired after him, and shot him through the bowels and foot. He ran about six hundred yards, and becoming weak through loss of blood, sat down, and leaning against a tree, stuffed his handkerchief into the wound and expired. Mr. Geo. Dye, another soldier, (from Morgan county), made a desperate effort and regained the cabin, but was shot through the thigh just as he entered. The killed were Geo. Shipley, John Tedrick, and Mr. Warnock, who fled into the forest. The ground on the east of the cabin was quite precipitous and rose about seventy-five or eighty feet high. It had a small growth of dwarfed timber, and furnished a good lodgment for the Indians: A few stunted oaks stood along the brow of the hill, behind which the Indians partially concealed themselves as they loaded their guns. The door of the cabin was soon riddled with balls; and the soldiers tore up the puncheons and placed them against it, to prevent the balls from entering the room and killing or wounding the family. Volley after volley was tired into the building, until the logs were honey-combed with leaden balls. From the elevation obove the cabin, the Indians fired through the roof, in the hope of hitting the inmates. Nancy Copus, a little girl, was shot through the door, above the knee, producing a painful wound. George Launtz, a s0ldier, had his arm broken by A, ball, up stairs, as he was removing the clay and chin,— to enable him to get a "crack"' at an Indian! Very soon he saw the "head of the red fiend protruding from behind a small scrub oak, that stands yet on the brow of the hill, above the cabin, and "let drive at it," and the "Indian bounded into the air and rolled down the hill into the trail," The battle continued about five hours, when the . savages, despairing of success, withdrew and carried off their wounded and buried their dead. The exact number could not be ascertained; neither could the point + The powder-horn, a very large on, is yet in the possession of the Mr. Wesley Copus, and is a rare relic of the days of the pioneers. where they buried their dead be pointed out. As a sort of farewell salute they emptied their guns into a flock of sheep belonging to Mr. Copus that had, from fright, huddled together on the brow of the hill above the cabin, and killed most of them.* As soon as the Indians disappeared, one of the soldiers up stairs cautiously separated the clapboards of the roof, and passing out, made the utmost speed to inform the soldiers at the blockhouse at Beam's of the disasters of the morning, and crave immediate assistance. Before leaving the blockhouse, the day before, Captain Martin agreed to call at the Copus cabin the same evening, with a number of soldiers, and stay all night. But he and his soldiers having been out on a scout all day, and failing to find Indian signs concluded that all apprehensions' of danger were frivolous; therefore neglected to appear as agreed. He encamped above the Black fork, and on the morning of the disaster, moving leisurely down the trail from the region of Ruffner's, reached the scene of the light too late to render aid in the fearful struggle. On approaching the cabin, he and his soldiers were awe-struck on beholding the work of death around them. The captain and his men attended at once to the wounded, and the grief- stricken family of Mr. Copus, who was then lying cold in death, surrounded by his terrified wife and children, Search was then made for the Indians; but from the trail in the rich weeds that grew luxuriantly about the hill, it was found they had retreated around the southern brow of the bluff, and gone up a ravine about a quarter of a mile away, and fled in the direction of Quaker Springs in Vermillion township; and hence, pursuit was abandoned. Mr. Copus and the murdered soldiers were buried by the command, in a large grave at the foot of an apple tree, a rod or two from his cabin, where their bones yet repose. Captain Martin and his soldiers then took the family, and the wounded, and, proceeding up the valley about half a mile, stopped for the night, and placed pickets around the camp to prevent surprise. In all, there were about one hundred persons in the camp that night. The wounded were carried on poles, over which linen sheets had been sewed, making a sort of stretcher. The next morning, the little army passed up the trail near the deserted cabin of Martin Ruffner, and crossed the Black fork about where the State road is now located; that being the route by which Martin and his men had advanced. The whole party reached the block-house that evening, and were again safe. About six weeks after this, Henry Copus, and five or six soldiers, returned to the cabin, and found Mr. Warnock leaning against a tree (as before stated), dead; and buried him near the spot where he was found. The two Indians, the one in the * These transactions were narrated by Wesley Copus and Mrs. Sarah Vail, his sister, who were old enough at the time to observe and retain a most vivid recollection of them. It was found on examination that forty-five fires had been kindled in the edge of the forest, just south of the cornfield, from which Sarah had seen the Indians. These fires had been kindled in a small hole scooped out of the ground, to prevent their being seen. She thinks the Indians had probably dined the evening before the murders, on roasted corn. The number of fires would indicate that forty-five Indians were engaged in the assault, 58 - HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO front yard, and the one at the foot of the hill, were still in the position they had been left; and were, doubtless, afterwards devoured by the wolves that existed in great numbers in the forests at that time. Mrs. Copus and her children, after remaining in the block-house some two months, were removed to Guernsey county, Ohio, by Joseph Archer and George Correll, who resided near Claysville, in that county, where they remained until the spring of 1815, and then returned through the old village of Greentown, where, to their alarm, they found many of the Indians had re-erected their cabins, and had again settled. This tragedy is believed to have occurred on Tuesday morning, September 15, 1812. Mr. Lewis Oliver is very certain it so occurred, and cites facts to prove it. CHAPTER XXIII. THE SETTLERS TAKE REFUGE IN BLOCK-HOUSES. The Flight of the Pioneers.—The Erection of Block-houses.—Preparations to Meet and Repel the Savages.—The Depot at Clinton, Knox County.--Beam's Block-house on the Black Fork. IN a few hours the painful intelligence. of the assassination of Martin Ruffner and the Zimmer family reached the settlers along the branches of Mohican creek. A panic ensued; and the yells of the furious Indian hordes of the northwest, led on by the relentless Tecumseh, were momentarily expected. The situation was comprehended at a glance, and a general flight of the pioneers to the block-houses and other safe retreats, took place. Pack-horses, wagons and carts were in demand—in fact, every means of conveyance was put into speedy requisition; and such articles of bedding and wearing apparel as could not be dispensed with, were put in packs and conveyed along with the fugitives. As near as can, be remembered, the following families fled to Clinton: Ebenezer Rice and family, Joseph Jones and family, Calvin Hill and family, Moses Adzit and family, Abraham Baughman and family, Allen Oliver and family, and J. L. Hill and family. There were in all about thirty persons, and they made their way, as rapidly as possible, along the paths leading through the forests to the village of Clinton, near the present site of Mt, Vernon, then a sort of depot for supplies for the army. A difference of opinion existed among pioneers as to the propriety of the flight, and the necessity of seeking protection among the Clintonites, some asserting that it seemed cowardly, while others contended that the Greentown Indians entertained none but the kindest feelings for their pioneer neighbors, and that if they should return would do them no harm* The upper settlement on the Black fork hastened to * Early in November, 1812, the famihes that fled to Clinton, returned to Green township, and made Coulter's block-house their place of retreat when threatened by Indian invasion. The cabin of Allen Oliver being quite safe, he and his family spent but a night or two at Coulter's. the block-house on the Clear fork, owned by Samuel Lewis. At that time, some twenty or thirty soldiers, under Lieutenant Barkdall, were there as a guard., Those seeking refuge there were Peter Kinney and family, James Cunningham and family, Andrew Craig and family, David Davis and family, John Davis, William Slater and family, John Wilson and family, Peter Zimmerman and family, Harvey Hill and family, Henry Mc- Cart and family, and Henry Nail and family. Most of these families made a temporary stay at the block-house, . returning to their cabins frequently, during the fall months, to keep watch over such household goods as were left in them, and to take care of their abandoned stock. The next day after the flight to the Lewis block-house, Harvey Hill and John Coulter, who aided the fugitives in driving along most of their cattle, returned; and by the aid of the Tannahills and others, whose names are not now remembered, the roof of the cabin of Thomas Coulter was thrown off, and a second story put on, and the cabin thereby became "Coulter's block-house," We learn from Mr. Alex. Rice, who was then a boy, that the Coulter cabin was perhaps sixteen by eighteen feet, built for their first dwelling in the fall of 1810, the over jutting part being put on as referred to above. It stood at the base of a bold bluff, on the bank of the Black fork, near where the mill-dam now is, about half a mile southeast of the village of Perrysville, and furnished a safe retreat for the neighbors of Mr. Coulter, when endangered by the savages. As soon as this block-house was completed, the following persons occupied it: Thomas Coulter and family, Allen Oliver and family, Melzer Tannahill and family, Jeremiah Conine and family, and George Crawford and family. When the foregoing families had gathered in, Thomas Coulter and Harvey Hill volunteerd to go to Wooster, through the forest, to secure soldiers to defend the settlement against Indian incursions. They succeeded in obtaining a guard of eleven soldiers, under the command of lieutenant Winterringer, of the Tuscarawas militia, of the army of General Beall, then collecting at Wooster, for an expedition to Upper Sandusky. The guard accompanied them home, and in the day-time skirmished ..bout the hills, and up and down the valleys for Indian signs, and then stood guard at night to prevent an attack by the Indians. While a resident of the block-house, the wife o Jeremiah Conine died and was buried in the cemetery at Perrysville. She was the second person interred in that ground, the first being Mr, Samuel Hill who died the preceding June. The settlers along the Jeromefork and its branche were also greatly excited and alarmed over the murder of Ruffner and the Zimmers. Thomas Eagle hastened to Wooster for assistance. The block-house at Wooster then a mere village, was under the command of Captain Stidger, whose company constituted a part of the arm of General Beall. The company of Captain Nichola Murray, composed of about sixty soldiers, immediately hastened to the relief of the Jerome settlement. HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO - 59 A block-house was erected by his men, a short distance northeast of the present site of the mill, on a gentle rise of ground, where the settlers commenced at once to concentrate. Mr. Eagle also conducted a guard of eight or ten men to protect a small block-house or cabin at the Finley and Collyer settlement, about five miles down the Jerome fork, near where Tylertown now stands. In the meantime, Robert Newell and family, George Eckley and family, Jonathan Palmer and family, James Wallace and family, Christopher Trickle and family, James Bryan and family, Ezra Warner and family, and David Noggle and others, not now remembered, gathered at the new block-house. The families of Benjamin Cuppy and Jacob Fry did not remain at the fort, but passed on cast. It was noticed, when all had gathered in, that Daniel Carter and family were missing. Much uneasiness was evinced concerning the safety of Mr. Carter and family, He resided up the stream, about nine miles from the block-house, and one mile northeast of the present site of Ashland. Absolom Newell, the eldest son of Robert Newell, volunteered to go and inform Mr. Carter and family of the danger that threatened them, Being an active young man, he soon reached the cabin of his father, some five miles up the Jerome fork, which he found almost consumed by fire. Supposing Indians had set it on fire, and were concealed in the vicinity, he hastened back and related the circumstance to the come panty at the block-house. David Noggle, a warm friend of Mr. Carter, at once offered to undertake the hazardous task of reaching him on horseback. Thirty soldiers were detailed for the expedition. Mr. Noggle and the soldiers followed a trail cut through the forest by Mr. Carter when he removed his family to his new cabin, which passed south of Newell's, thence over lands more recently owned by Mr. Smucker, Samuel Swinford, and the late farm of Daniel Carter, jr., and so on to his cabin. Mr. Noggle reached the cabin some time before the soldiers, and found Mr. Carter at work with his team, all safe, From circumstances afterwards developed, it appears that a body of Indians had that very morning* passed through the cornfield near the cabin, but had offered no harm to Mr. Carter and his family. He had always made it a rule to treat the Indians kindly and offered them food when they visited his cabin ; and it was doubtless owing to this circumstance that their lives were spared that morning, Mr. Carter hastily placed such clothing and bedding on his wagon as he could conveniently remove, and taking his family, accompanied Mr. Noggle, They had gone but a short distance when they met the guard. The soldiers continued in the direction of the deserted cabins of Cuppy and Fry, and on * Mr. Daniel Carter, jr., now a resident of Ashland, states that some time after the flight, Thomas Lyon, a well-known Delaware warrior, in conversation with himself and father, inquired whether they had seen Indian tracks in the cornfield that morning. On assuring him that they had, he said he was with the Wyandots that passed up the creek, and could see Carter's family from the corn. Carter asked him why he did not stop? Lyon replied, "Some strange Injin with me. Me 'hid scare you. Me pass on." It is probable the presence of Lyon saved the family of Carter from the deadly tomahawk of the strange Wyandots. approaching the former, found it yet burning, and some of the soldiers discovered the rear guard of the Indians skulking in a cornfield. On looking towards the cabin of Mr. Fry, a half-mile west, they could see the smoke ascending from it. They then turned about, and retraced their steps to the block-house at Jerome's place, where Mr. Carter and family had arrived a short time before. Mr. Carter and family did not remain at the blockhouse; but passed on through Wooster to New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas county, where he and his family remained until February, 1813. The band of Indians that burned the cabins of Newell, Cuppy and Fry was undoubtedly the same that the day before made the assault on the Copus cabin. They had passed through the forest in the hope of wreaking vengeance upon these families ; and if they had been found at home the tomahawk of the savages would have done its work. Fortunately they had all fled on gaining intelligence of the Ruffner-Zimmer tragedy, which took place some five days prior to the Copus murders. It is somewhat remarkable that Mr. Carter and his family should have remained in his cabin after the departure of Cuppy, Fry and Trickle.* No satisfactory explanation has ever appeared concerning the course of Mr, Carter, unless it be that he felt confident the Indians would do him no harm. A very strong friendship existed between Mr. Carter and Thomas Lyon, a famous old Delaware warrior, who accompanied the expedition, but who always denied that he had aided in killing Ruffner, the Zimmers and Copus, Mr. Carter never failed to invite hungry Indians into his cabin and offer them food when they called on him. These acts of hospitality made him feel confident and secure, although at that time he resided nine miles farther in the Indian country than his Jerome neighbors. Acts of hospitality have always been remembered by the red man of the forest, and many instances are recorded, where years after, the Indian warrior interposed to save the white prisoner from the fagot. Assuming such to be the true explanation of the motives of Mr. Carter in remaining in his cabin, all incoherence is removed, as well as the apparent indifference of his fugitive neighbors. At this time there were six or eight families in the Vachel Metcalf settlement, some two and a half miles southeast of the fort on Jerome's place, among whom were those of William Bryan, James Conley, Elisha *Andrew Mason, now well advanced in years, states, that in a conversation with his father, Martin Mason, now deceased, at his mill where the mill of Mr. Lidigh now stands on the Troy road, some four miles north of Ashland, about the year 1816. Thomas Lyon told his father " that being present at the Copus affair, but taking no part in the murder, and learning that it was the intention of some Greentown and Wyandot Indians to pass up the Jerome fork and kill all the settlers, he had gone through the forest and notified Mr. Cuppy of his danger." If this statement be not erroneous, Thomas Lyon, as is believed by the Copus family, was present at both those tragedies. In a conversation with Mrs. Copus after the return of herself and children in 1816, Lyon admitted that he knew all about the affair, but asserted that he was innocent of taking a part in the horrors of that morning. If it be true as asserted by Lyon, that he was not disposed to alarm Mr. Carter and family, it is conclusive that he was restrained by gratitude for past hospitality, as well as by friendship and fidelity. 60 - HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO. Chilcote, Benjamin Bunn, James Slater, and James Bryan. These met and constructed a fort two stories high, the walls of the second story projecting beyond the first on all sides. The floor and sides of the second story were pierced with port-holes. The pioneers, with ox teams, axes and strong arms soon erected the fort. The lower story had strong doors securely fastened, and was to be occupied by women and children, while the men, with trusty rifles, were to occupy the second story in hours of danger and alarm. About one-fourth of an acre of ground was cleared around the fort and enclosed by a palisade twelve feet high, with a strong gate; and all the families of the settlement gathered into the fort, while their horses and cattle were placed within the palisade, Mr. Metcalf and his neighbors remained in the fort during the winter of 1812-'13 and part of the summer of 1813, while cultivating, by occasional visits, small patches of corn and vegetables, with pickets, to prevent surprise. In Lake township, Messrs. James Loudon Priest and William Greenlee had located very near the old Indian highway known as the Wyandot or Crawford's trial leading to Upper Sandusky from the Tuscarawas. When they first landed, the Jerome and Greentown Indians were peaceable and inclined to be quite friendly, and passed up and down the trail in large numbers on hunting excursions. Early in the spring of 1812, it was noticed that the Indians were quite uneasy, and that large numbers passed up the trail painted and armed for war. * Mr, John Greenlee, son of William, now aged seventy- two years from whom we obtain these particulars, says at the time of the murders on the Black fork, he and the son of a neighbor were at Shrimplin's mill in Knox county to obtain a small grist of corn meal, and upon their return were greatly surprised at finding all the settlers gathered at the cabin of Mr. Priest, busily engaged. with ox-teams hauling logs and split timber to build a fort. The fort was erected near the banks of the Mohican, not a great way from the point where the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago railroad crosses that stream. A new extension was added to the strong cabin of Mr. Priest making it a double log house with an entry passage between the wings. The wings were about forty feet long and twenty feet wide. The fort was surrounded by a picket of heavy split timber about twelve feet high and enclosed about one fourth of an acre of ground. It had a strong gate suspended on wooden hinges. In case of necessity, the horses and cattle of the settlers could be brought within the enclosure. The families of James L. Priest, William Greenlee, William Hendrickson, Nathan Odell, John Oram, Thompson Oram, Joshua Oram and Mordecai Chilcote forted here some three months during the fall of 1812; but were not visited by any of the hostile red men of the northwest. In a few days after the construction of the fort, Samuel Marvin and John Hendrickson and their families departed for Wheeling, Virginia, leaving but seven families in the little colony. During the continuance of * Mr. Greenlee died since this sketch was written. the war in 1813-14 the little settlement remained stationary as to numbers and undisturbed. THE BLOCK-HOUSE. It may be interesting to the reader to learn something of the construction of the early block-houses, or wooden forts. They were generally constructed of hewn logs, closely jointed or fitted together, two stories high; the length and width of the building being about twenty by thirty feet. The logs resting on each other, prevented the balls from entering the cracks or crevices. The corners were carefully notched and fitted, so that the building was really quite strong. There was but one door, or entrance, made of thick planks or puncheons, hung on strong wooden or iron hinges, and bolted or fastened on the inside, so as to prevent ingress unless much force should be used,—the door being thick enough to prevent ordinary musket or rifle balls from passing through it. The first story was generally about eight or nine feet high. Sometimes the floor consisted of well packed earth. The second story generally projected over the lower one, about three feet, on the sides and ends. This over-jut rested upon logs or joists, which were allowed to project over the first story. The second story was about seven or eight feet high, and was perforated with numerous port-holes, pointing in every direction, so as to guard against the approach of an enemy. The floor of this story was thick and strong, and had port-holes pointing downward, so that if an enemy came under the projection, to set fire to the building, he could be shot from above. There were also port-holes in the lower story, from which the savages could be seen and cut off before they reached the building. The roof was of clapboards, supported by logs. These little forts, or block-houses, were generally placed in an open space, upon some slight elevation of ground, so as to prevent the approach of a hostile force without being seen by the inmates. The next point in the location of a block-house was to secure good water; and hence, they were always placed near a pure, sparkling spring.* In such a fort, or block-house, twenty-five or thirty families could be accommodated with tolerable quarters, by spreading their beds upon the floors, and sleeping thereon. During the day, the in- mates could pass in and out; and, most of the time, attend to business without being molested by the Indians, —their raids being only semi-occasional, and very sudden and unexpected. We do not learn that more than two block-houses of this county, were surrounded by stockades. Life in the blockhouses was exceedingly irksome and monotonous; and the inmates were always pleased who assured they could safely return to their deserted cabin. and stock. Of course, hours and weeks were spent in reciting and reiterating stories of revolutionary adventure, and pioneer hardships, until all could repeat them Thus, the tedium of the fort was wiled away for two o three months. The scarcity of flour, meal, salt, an other provisions, sometimes rendered the situation exceedingly unpleasant; nevertheless, all was borne wit * The one at Jeromeville had a well within it. HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO - 61 patience until November, when most of the pioneers again returned to their cabins. A few soldiers continued to patrol the neighborhood, sleeping at the block-houses at night. CHAPTER XXIV. MILITARY EXPEDITIONS. The Expeditions of Generals Beall and Crooks.--Their Trails Across Ashland County.—The Artillery Train of Colonel Anderson.—The Aid Extended to the Inhabitants of the Block-houses on the Branches of the Mohican. THE battle at the cabin of James Copus having taken place Tuesday morning, September 15, 1812, after which the pioneers fled to the block-houses, the military expeditions forming in the eastern part of the State hastened the time of their departure to aid General Harrison, who was then at Upper Sandusky awaiting the arrival of reinforcements and army stores. About the twenty-fifth of September, General Rezin Bealls commenced to raise a brigade of soldiers in the vicinity of New Lisbon, Canton and the village of Wooster, with a view of furnishing protection to the border settlers of Wayne and Richland counties, as well as to aid General Harrison in repelling British invasion. The entire brigade was composed of about two thousand men. A portion of the brigade, in detached companies, and parts of companies, preceded, by some weeks the advance of the main army, to guard the block-houses of the border settlers, Early in October, General Beall, with two regiments, commenced to advance. The brigade had been a short time at Canton in organizing. The route from Canton to the village of Wooster, led through the forest, and was very rough. When the army reached Wooster, where the advance had put up a block-house, it was joined by two or three new companies. From that point the army proceeded to the west bank of the Killbuck and encamped over night, cutting a path wide enough to permit the baggage-wagons to pass. From thence, by the most direct route, a trail was cut to Jerome's place, and the army passed over it. After remaining in the vicinity of the blockhouse one or two days, General Beall crossed the Jerome fork, and his pioneers opened a path along the old Wyandot trail, in a northwesterly direction, to the banks of a small stream, where they formed a camp. This location was subsequently known as the Griffin farm. The camp received the name of "Mercer," in honor of Major Musser, who commanded one of the regiments. The distance of this camp from the present site of Jerome- vine, was about three miles. Here the army remained about two weeks. While encamped at Mercer, a ludicrous scene occurred one night, from a false alarm. One of the guards, Jacob Ostler, saw some object cautiously approaching in the darkness, and immediately suspecting "injuns," cried "halt." The invader ceased not to advance slowly upon the guard, Suspecting the insidious enemy, Mr. Ostler leveled his musket and blazed away, and down tumbled the enemy! The whole camp was aroused at the report, and the cry "to arms, to arms!" rang through the darkness. Agitated and frightened soldiers expected momentarily to hear the hideous yells of the red fiends of the forest, and to feel their scalps disappearing in the hands of the savages. While the soldiers were uttering brief reflections of—"Now I lay me down to sleep"--the sentinels rushed in and reported the enemy upon them ! The drums beat to arms, horses neighed, bugles sounded. The ground trembled with the dull tread of squadrons. The order was given to "fire," and never before or since was such a noise and din heard in Vermillion, as there was that eventful night. The cavalry (old wagon horses) charged in the direction of the supposed enemy, but finding no person or thing, returned from the charge, and reported that the foe had retreated; but when the first gray of morning appeared, the outposts discovered that they had been firing upon a herd of cattle belonging to the settlers, which had been roaming through the woods, and had slaughtered seventeen. This was afterward known among the settlers as "The battle of the Cowpens."* It was while General Beall tarried at this camp, that he ordered the removal of the wife and daughter of Baptiste Jerome to Urbana, where they soon died from exposure. + This act was deemed, at the time, extremely cruel, and not demanded by the exigencies of the occasion. The wife of Jerome was a full Indian; but had learned the customs of the whites. The daughter was an interesting girl of fourteen or fifteen. From Camp Mercer, General Beall sent forward twenty pioneers, well guarded, to cut a road along the old Huron or Wyandot trail, through the north part of Vermillion, the south part of Montgomery, and across Milton, in a northwesterly direction, into Richland county, which, afterwards, was known as "Beall's trail," and was used for many years as a common highway by the settlers. In about one month, the road was completed through the present site of Olivesburgh to Shenandoah, in Richland county. In the meantime, General Beall moved forward, and erected a camp on a small stream, a short distance from the present site of Olivesburgh, which he called Camp Whetstone, owing to the quality of the stone found there, which made excellent whetstones. There he remained about one week, and then moved forward to the present site of Shenandoah. From thence, he turned southwest about one and a half miles, and erected a camp on a small stream. This he called Camp Council. Here he awaited further orders from General Wadsworth, who had rendezvoused at Cleveland. The army had remained at Camp Council about six weeks, when one evening a strange officer and his guard rode into the camp. One of the guard, a Mr. Hackathorn, at first refused to let him pass; but, on further examination, the * Knapp's History, page 256. + The weight of pioneer tradition says Captain Douglas removed Jerome's wife and daughter with the Greentown Indians, some weeks prior to the arrival of General Beall. 62 - HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO. stranger turning out to be General Harrison, let him and his guard pass in. His arrival was timely, for the soldiers of General Beall were in open revolt. Their rations were about exhausted, and the means of obtaining more, precarious ; besides, the time of heir enlistment was about to expire. Many of them were making arrangements to return home. Some of them had already packed their knapsacks with clothing and a few rations, and were ready to march away! General Harrison, the next morning, ordered a parade of the army. A hollow square was formed, around a huge stump, upon which the general mounted, and addressed the disaffected troops. He told them the dangers that environed the border settlers and their helpless families, painted in vivid colors the horrors of invasion by the savages, and deprecated the conduct of the soldiers who would abandon the settlements to the tomahawks of the ruthless foe, One by one, the knapsacks disappeared from the backs of the discontented soldiers; and, by the time he had concluded his address, the army of General Beall was ready to move forward, and endure all manner of hardships, to shield the border settlements from impending ruin. From Camp Council General Beall proceeded with his army to Camp Avery, which was located about six miles above the mouth of the Huron river. Here he was tried by court-martial for disobeying the orders of General Wadsworth. This was about the first of January, 1813. It seems that General Wadsworth outranked General Beall, and had ordered him to rendezvous at Cleveland instead of going the route he did. General Beall believed he could render the settlements on the branches of the Mohican more secure by cutting his trail. Hence he refused to obey the order of General Wadsworth, and for this he *as court-martialed. Upon a full hearing of the charges, General Beall was acquitted. He was then ordered to reinforce General Winchester who was then in the neighborhood of the river Raisin, but only succeeded in reaching Lower Sandusky, where he was ordered to return to Camp Avery and disband his army. The soldiers made their way along the route of his advance to their homes about Wooster, Canton, New Lisbon, and along the Sandy and Tuscarawas rivers.* EXPEDITION OF GENERAL ROBERT CROOKS. While Governor Meigs was exerting himself to obtain troops to reinforce General Harrison in the northwest, the war department at Washington city ordered the governors of Pennsylvania and Virginia, each to dispatch two thousand men to aid General Harrison. The order was promptly obeyed, and the Pennsylvanians were placed under the command of Brigadier General Robert Crooks, and ordered to rendezvous at Pittsburgh, and, as soon as equipped, to hasten to the relief of General Harrison. The artillery and army stores not being ready, General Crooks was ordered to move as rapidly as possi- *We are indebted for these details to Patrick Murray, John Clay, Henry Gamble, Thomas Hewey and Samuel White, (all deceased), who were soldiers under General Beall; and an interesting history of Richland county now being published by General R. Brinkerhoff. ble by way of New Lisbon, Canton, and Wooster, to Mansfield, and there remain until the artillery and army stores should arrive, under the direction of the quartermaster. The brigade under the command of General Crooks numbered about two thousand men—western Pennsylvanians. The brigade moved slowly down the west bank of the Ohio, from Allegheny City, some forty miles, thence, turning westward, moved on through New Lisbon, Canton, and Wooster. In the meantime its movements were much impeded by the rough roads, then mere paths cut through the forest. The army was put in motion about the middle of October, 1812, and arrived in Wooster about three weeks after the departure of General Beall to Jerome's place. The train of wagons connected with General Crooks' brigade numbered, as near as can be remembered, some twenty-five or thirty six-horse teams, the wagons being covered by canvas, and filled with army stores of all kinds. After halting a day or two at Wooster to repair broken wagons and allow the jaded teams to rest, the brigade was again put in motion. It reached the block-house* and log cabin, afterwards known as Jerometown, in one day. Here the army of General Crooks passed the Jerome fork and turned to the southwest. The brigade passed up a small stream, by what was afterwards known as the site of Goudy's mill, and commenced to cut a path, now known as the "old Portage road." The pioneers cut the road along an old Indian trail, as far as the Quaker springs, the first day, where General Crooks and his brigade encamped for the night. The next day the pioneers continued along the old trail, in a southwest direction, cutting a path large enough for the teams to pass, reaching the deserted village of Greentown in the evening, and the brigade coming up, encamped there for the night. Nearly all the Indian huts. had been burned prior to this time, by order of another command. At Greentown the brigade crossed the Black fork, and proceeding southwest a short distance, struck a new blazed road leading to the west. The pioneers again kept in advance of the brigade, cutting the road, filling up gulches, and preparing the crossings over small streams until they reached the cabin of David Hill, on the present site of Lucas, where the brigade again encamped for the night. The next morning the pioneers, continued to penetrate the forest, and in the afternoon reached the present site of Mansfield, where they found two block-houses, and a few cabins and dwelling houses, In the evening General Crooks and his men encamped' on what is now the public square of Mansfield, where he remained some weeks awaiting the arrival of the quartermaster's train. About the fifteenth of December General Crooks was ordered to proceed to Upper Sandusky to assist in fortifying that point. The quartermaster had as yet failed to reach Mansfield. General Crooks moved forward under the guidance of Jacob Newman, an old hunter and a citizen of the village, to Upper Sandusky. About three weeks after the departure of General Crooks and his brigade from Allegheny City, Colonel James Anderson, acting quartermaster, was ready to HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO - 63 march en route to Mansfield and Upper Sandusky. His command was composed of the following officers: Captain Gratiot, engineer of equipments; Captain Paul Anderson, forage-master; Captain Wheaton, pay-master; Captain Johnston and ninety men, and Lieutenant Walker,* with forty men, as a guard. Colonel Anderson had, for conveyance to Upper Sandusky, twenty-five iron cannon, mostly four and six pounders. They, and the balls fitting them, were placed in covered road wagons, and drawn by six horses to each. The cannon carriages, twenty-five in number, empty, were each drawn by four horses. The cartridges, canister, and other necessary ammunition, were put in large covered wagons. There were fifty covered road wagons, drawn by six horses each. They were loaded with such army stores as would be serviceable in the expedition. Equipped in this manner, Colonel Anderson left Allegheny City about the first day of November, 1812, and camped nine miles down the west side of the Ohio, the first night. The second night, he reached General Wayne's Legionville. The third night, encamped thirty miles down the river from Allegheny. The fourth night at Greersburgh, forty-two miles from Pittsburgh. The fifth night, fifteen miles further on their journey. The sixth night, at New Lisbon, seventy-five miles from Pittsburgh, where he stayed three days to repair broken wheels and wagons. The tenth night, the command had advanced fifteen miles further. The eleventh night, Colonel Anderson reached the village of Canton. Here he tarried ten days, repairing wagons, shoeing horses, and obtaining provisions. On the twenty-first night he reached Hahn's swamps, and was three or four days in passing over the same, to Wooster, owing to the fact that Beall and Crooks' road was badly cut up with their wagons. Part of the route from the swamps to Wooster, Colonel Anderson had a new road cut. At Wooster, Colonel Anderson's men beheld an object of curiosity in the new block-house, the first they had seen. About the tenth of December, Colonel Anderson left the village of Wooster, pursuing the route of Beall and Crooks, and the first evening reached a block-house and cabin on the east side of the Jerome fork of the Mohican, where he encamped for the night. On the eleventh he crossed the Jerome fork, taking the trail of General Crooks, which he followed through the forest, crossed the Black fork, and encamped for the night on the present site of Lucas. On the twelfth he reached the village of Mansfield, where they found two block-houses, a tavern, and one store. General Crooks and his brigade had left before the arrival of Colonel Anderson. The teamsters being volunteers, at twenty dollars per month, and their time having expired, desired to return home. Colonel Anderson being ordered to follow General Crooks to Upper Sandusky, offered to pay the teamsters one dollar per day, if they would continue in the expedition until he arrived at Upper Sandusky. These terms were accepted, and each teamster was furnished a gun to be kept in the feed * Lieutenant Walker was unfortunately killed, when out hunting, by an Indian, while General Crooks was quartered at Upper Sandusky. trough, to defend himself against an apprehended attack of the Indians. The command had scarcely got out of sight of the village of Mansfield when it commenced to snow, and continued to do so until it was two feet deep. The ground being unfrozen, the situation became very embarrassingo The heavy wagons cut into the soft earth, and the horses were unable to draw them. A council was held, and fifteen gun carriages were sent ahead to break, the path, and let it freeze, so that the heavy teams could pass without crushing through. Cy this means they made a few miles a day; and when one team gave out, it turned aside and another took its place. At night the soldiers were compelled to work two or three hours shoveling off a suitable place to pitch their tents, build fires to cook their food and keep them from freezing. The soldiers cut brush and threw their blankets over it, and by that means, while sleeping, were raised above the mud, water and snow. After some two weeks of such travel and hardships, the command reached Upper Sandusky (New Year's Day), January 1, 1813. After a brief rest the teamsters, under a guard, took the horses of the expedition to Franklinton, one mile west of the present city of Columbus, to be fed and kept until spring.* * We are indebted for the items of this sketch to the excellent memory of Captain Robert Beer, now eighty-three years of age (1876), a resident of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, who accompanied Colonel James Anderson as teamster, and took charge of one of the cannon carriages. This sketch never having appeared before in print, is very valuable as a personal and historic reminiscence, and we know the reader will thank Captain Beer for it, although it is somewhat foreign to an exact home - history of Ashland county. Mr. Beer died in Alleghany City, Pennsylvania, May 4, 1880, aged about eighty-seven years. CHAPTER XXV. VICTORY BRINGS JOY. Adventures of the Pioneers, and Life in the Block-houses.—The Collyer Affair.—Cultivating the soil trnder a Guard.---The Heroic Defence of Fort Meigs.--The Gallantry of Major Croghan at Fort Stevenson.— The Naval Victory of Perry. THE commands of Generals Crooks and Beall, that passed through this region in the fall of 1812, as related in a former chapter, were left in the vicinity of Upper Sandusky about the first of January, 1813. The time of service of General Beall's troops having expired, most of them returned and dispersed. General Winchester having advanced with his forces to the river Raisin, and the position at Upper Sandusky being regarded as critical, the brigade of General Crooks was induced to volunteer one more month to defend the borders of the northwest. His brigade, after finishing the entrenchments at Upper Sandusky, was ordered to Fort Meigs, with an artillery train and stores, which were dragged through the mud and snow by the soldiers. In doing so, they had to endure the most incredible hardships—part of the time wading through mud and water two or three feet deep, and being compelled to cut brush 64 - HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO. and logs to lift them above the water when they encamped at night. General Winchester had advanced with his army, about one thousand strong, to within eighteen miles of Malden, where he was surprised by General Proctor, with his British and Indians, and a battle ensuing on the twenty-second of January, 1813, Winchester was defeated with great slaughter. The loss of the Americans was about four hundred in wounded, killed and missing, being fully one-third of all the force engaged in the battle! General Winchester was taken prisoner in the commencement of the engagement; and many of his soldiers, after having surrendered, were butchered by the savages in the most wanton manner, without the interference of the British commander to prevent it! This misfortune disconcerted all the plans of General Harrison for the spring campaign; and compelled him to fall back to Fort Meigs, until the troops ordered into the field by Governor Meigs, should arrive. While these bloody scenes were transpiring, the people of Richland, Wayne and Knox counties were again compelled to seek safety in the block-houses, not knowing what moment the infuriated savages, led on by Tecumseh, might appear in their midst, Along the Black fork and Clear fork the fugitives that found safety at Clinton, the fall before, had returned to their homes in the vicinity of Coulter's block-house, and that of Samuel Lewis, on the Clear fork; though they had spent most of the winter at their own cabins. Their corn crops, though small, had been secured and safely stored; their cattle and swine were under their control. The mills in Knox county, and below Wooster, had been visited and a stock of corn meal laid in for the winter. So that they had an abundance of corn-bread and meat; and by the aid of hominy-blocks, there was no imminent danger of starvation, though the situation was rather exciting. Along the Jerome fork, the majority of the fugitives remained in the block-house during the winter, In the fall of 1812, when Captain Nicholas Murray, with a company of sixty men, was ordered by General Beall to advance to Jerome's place, to build a block-house, just after he had crossed the Killbuck, he met the fugitive families of John Carr, Christopher Trickle, Matthew Williams, Robert Newell, Ezra Warner, Daniel Carter, Jacob Fry, and Benjamin Cuppy. Captain Murray offered all these families protection, and they all returned with him to Jerome's place, except Mr. Carter and family, who continued their flight to New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas county. These families remained in and around the block-house during the winter. About the middle of February, 1813, Daniel Carter and family returned from New Philadelphia, and again occupied his old cabin, one mile northeast of the present site of Ashland, where he found everything as he had left it the fall before. His corn was yet standing in the field undisturbed, except what had been devoured by deer, wild turkeys, and small animals. A pioneer gives the following version of the Collyer affair : "About the first of March, 1813, in the morning, four strange Indians appeared at the cabin of James Collyer, then residing about two miles above the junction of the Jerome and Muddy forks of Mohican, a short distance from Finley's bridge, and asked for something to eat. They appeared to be well armed, and his suspicions were excited. There had not been an Indian seen in that neighborhood for several m onths, the fast of the Mohican Yarn Indians having been sent away by order of General Beall, when he cut his trail the fall before. Putting on an air of confidence and calmness, he invited them into his cabin, entering which, they leaned their guns against the wall near the door, and were seated. Mr. Collyer told his wife, who was much alarmed, to set some cold victuals on the table for them to eat. She did so, ' putting on a lot of meat, corn-bread and such other articles as she had at hand. Mr. Collyer motioned for them to sit down and cat. They went to the table and were seated, and began to eat heartily of the food. While they were eating Collyer moved cautiously to the point where he kept his gun, which was always loaded, and securing it, placed himselt, unobserved, between the Indians and the door, and carefully raising his gun so as to get a range on two of them, prepared to fire, seeing which, Mrs. Collyer shrieked out, and fainting, fell to the floor. This alarmed the Indians, and they sprang to their fect ; but seeing the threatening attitude of Collyer, raised their hands and begged him to spare their lives, saying, "me Goshen Injin, me no harm you." Thereupon Collyer withheld his fire, still keeping his gun pointed at them---his intention having been after killing or wounding two of them at the table, to club it over the other two, and thus secure them all--he being a powerful man and having had a good deal of experience as a hunter, and in Indian warfare. They continued to protest their innocence of any intended harm to him and his family, when he told them he would spare them on condition of retiring from the cabin and leaving their guns within, when he would remove the flints and priming, and hand them the balance of the food on the table, out at the window, when they should immediately leave the neighborhood and not return again. They accepted these conditions, and retired at once from the cabin. After securing the door, Mr. Collyer placed his wife on a bed, and proceeded to remove the priming and flints from the guns of the Indians, and having done which, he passed them out at a small window ; after doing so, he handed them the balance of the food, and they disappeared in the forest. After waiting until he was satisfied they had gone, and were not intending to attack him, he took his wife and such valuables as he possessed, and hastened to the "Eagle" block-house, a strong cabin prepared by Thomas Eagle for himself and neighbors. The news of this exploit soon reached the blockhouse at Jerome's place, and word of it being sent to Daniel Carter, he again took leave of his cabin, never to return to it, for he was compelled to remain at the block-house until the spring of 1814. A few days after this, a number of Indians appeared in view of Eagle fort, and made some hostile demonstrations, but owing to the strength of Eagle's force, they retired in the direction of Jerome's place, killing a number of hogs on their way, and finally disappeared from the neighborhood without doing further mischief. This added to the excitement produced by Winchester's defeat, the particulars of which were now understood at the blockhouse. On the approach of the season for planting corn, a few fields were put out by the pioneers of the blockhouse. John Carr had about twenty acres cleared; Ezra Warner had about the same number of acres ready; and Jerome had some thirty acres, on the bottom beyond the block-house. Mr. Carter had four or five acres near the old Indio village, across the Jerome fork. These. fields were plowed, and the -planting was done, by the residents of the block-house, as a community. While. part of them planted and cultivated the corn, during the summer, the others patrolled the forests in the vicinity of the fort, to prevent surprise and capture by the Indians. When the corn had become sufficiently ma. HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO - 65 for use, the same vigilance prevailed in and about neighborhood, to prevent surprise. When the crop gathered, it proved to be quite large. The summer months, in this way, seemed to pass slowly. The inmates could rarely get news from the frontiers. The defence of Fort Meigs by General Harrison, and his victory of the fifth of May, 1813, sent joy to the block-houses along both forks of Mohican. Harrison and his army had endured, in the most heroic manner, the fierce assaults and cannonading of the British army, and finally compelled them to march down the Maumee river, In August, the monotony of the ock-house was again removed by the reception of the intelligence of the splendid defence of Fort Stevenson (Lower Sandusky) by the heroic Major Croghan and his men. The signal repulse of the British, under Proctor, and their hasty retreat from that locality, gave renewed hope and confidence, On the tenth of September, Commodore Perry captured the whole British fleet on "Lake Erie, and by that great achievement the territory Michigan passed into the possession of the American forces. So great was the joy of the people of this region over the victory on Lake Erie, that a pioneer (Mr. John Greenlee) now seventy-five years of age, who was then a boy, assures us he thinks he could hear the echo of Perry's guns during the conflict, amid the forests of what is now Lake township, in this c0unty! In the month of June, Mrs. Anna Carter, wife of Daniel Carter, and his son James, a lad of six years of age, died in the block-house at Jerome place, and were buried in the Carr cemetery near the fort, In September, Christopher Trickle also died in the block-house, and was buried in the same cemetery. These deaths were occasioned from malaria and want of proper medical attendance, there being no physicians within the present limits of the county, at that time. Upon the recurrence of autumn, the pioneers along Black fork, the Clear fork, the Lake fork and the erome fork, busied themselves in storing their meagre mops for winter. Stibbs' mill, and one or two other fills on the Vernon river, each running one set of buhrs, tome of which were "nigger-head," were visited by pioneer was with pack-horses and small canoes, loaded with libeled corn, to be converted into meal. Their food 'Consisted of corn-bread, journey-cake, mush and milk, aloes, vegetables, and principally wild meat, cattle and swine being very scarce, "Store tea" and coffee, were exceedingly rare and very costly. "Store goods" were a thing of note; and the calicoes of that day were t luxury few could afford. Home-spun and woven linsey-woolsey, and flax or linen garments were the best to he seen; and many a daring, whole-souled pioneer felt proud, clothed in such garments. Salt and flour were luxuries that few could use profusely, Salt was purchased at Zanesville and Pittsburgh, and from its price had to be used sparingly, Ammunition, such as lead and powder, was obtained from the supplies furnished the soldiers left to guard the block-houses. So far, then, as tool was concerned, the inmates of the block-houses "fared sumptuously"—to use an expression of an old gentleman who was quartered in one about two years. Nothing happened in the fall of 1813 to materially disturb the quiet of the pioneers of this region. CHAPTER XXVI. ORGANIZATION OF WAYNE AND RICHLAND COUNTIES. The Pioneers from 1813 to 1815.—The Situation.—Roads.—Currency. —A Trip for Salt. WAYNE was the third county established in the territory ceded by the Indian tribes to the United States at the treaty of Greenville in 1795, and was the largest county in the United States. Its original limits embraced nearly all of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Governor Arthur St._ Clair erected Wayne county by proclamation, about ten years before the township and sectional surveys were made by the United States. As early as 1808 the site of Wooster was purchased at the land office at Canton, and was laid out by the proprietors—John Beaver, William Henry, and Joseph H. Larwill. Shortly after, a few cabins were erected, and among the first settlers were William Larwill, Joseph H. Larwill, John Larwill, and Abraham Miller. In 1809–10, James Morgan, John Beaver, Joseph Stibbs, William Smith, Hugh Moore, Jesse Richards, Michael Switzer, and a few others, located within the county. In 1811-12, a few scattering settlements were formed, among which was the Odell colony in Lake, and the original families in Mohican, the Finleys, the Metcalfs, the Eagles, the Carters, the Carrs, the Bryans, and others. Range fifteen was included within the jurisdiction of Wayne county. When Wooster became the seat of justice, the whole of Wayne county was comprised in one township, which was called Killbuck, after a noted Delaware chief, whose village was on a stream of that name, ten miles south of the present site of Wooster. In 1810 the census gave the whole number of heads of families in this township at forty-six. In discussing the erection of Fairfield county, it was stated that the inhabitants of Licking, Knox, and Richland counties were much scattered. The great extent of Fairfield rendered it inconvenient for the settlers of most remote parts to attend the seat of justice at Lancaster. In 1808 the counties of Licking and Knox were erected by the legislature, and their boundaries defined. Their seats of justice were located at Newark and Mount Vernon. The boundaries of Richland were also defined, and the citizens, for civil purposes, left under the jurisdiction of Knox county, until her population had become sufficiently large to resume the home government. In 1813, the population having reached about oneive hundred, it was deemed proper to take the incipient steps for county organization. The people met and consulted, and concurred in the necessity of a home gov- 66 - HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO, eminent. The commissioners established the seat of justice at Mansfield, and converted one of the blockhouses, that had been erected in the public square, into a 'hall of justice, and, in August, Thomas Coulter and Peter Kinney, of what is now Green township, Ashland county, and William Gass, of Mansfield, being associate judges, held the first session of the court of common pleas, for the administration of estates, and other purposes. The jurisdiction of this court extended over ranges sixteen and seventeen, in what is now Ashland county. We again return to the condition of the pioneers in the years 1813 and 1814. After the splendid naval achievement of Commodore Perry on Lake Erie, on the tenth of September, 1813, General Harrison prepared for the immediate invasion of Upper Canada. The army under Generals Cass, McArthur, Ball, Shelby, Johnson and Hill, embarked on board Perry's vessels for Malden, which they entered without opposition, on the twenty-eighth of September, and found the British and Indians under Proctor and Tecumseh had just evacuated the town and fort, setting fire to the latter to destroy the work and stores. General McArthur with his forces was dispatched to take possession of Detroit, which was also abandoned by the British. General Harrison pursued General Proctor's retreating army up the river Thames, on the second of October, On the fifth the great battle, two miles below the Moravian town, known as the battle of the Thames, was fought, in which General Harrison's forces gained a signal victory over Proctor, in which the noted Indian warrior, Tecumseh, fell under the sure aim of Colonel Richard M. Johnson. The death of that daring and wily chief was a great disaster to his Indian allies, for they immediately lost all courage, and all hope of ever regaining their old hunting-grounds in northwestern Ohio. This blow completely humbled nearly all the Indian tribes that had aided the British in their invasion, and assisted in perpetrating revolting cruelties upon our soldiers at Detroit and the river Raisin; and Walk-in-the-water, Between-the-legs, and other chiefs of the Ottawas, Chippewas, Miamis, Kickapoos and Pottawatomies gladly accepted peace at the hands of General Cass. This success of the army of General Harrison put an end to all active hostility in Michigan territory, Indiana and Ohio; and on the twenty-third of October, 1813, General Harrison, with all his disposable force, embarked on board Perry's fleet and sailed for Buffalo, in obedience to orders from the Secretary of War. Previous to his departure, he appointed Lewis Cass provisional governor of Michigan territory. General Cass was left with about one thousand men, who were employed at once in preparing winter quarters at Detroit. From this period the war was transferred to northern New York, and the borders of Lower Canada. At the close of the year 1813, we left the pioneers of the Upper Black fork, at Beam's block-house—those of the Greentown neighborhood, at Lewis' block-housethose in the region of the Rices', at Coulter's, with the exception of a few families who had strong cabins for self-defense—a few families in the. vicinity of Odell's, Oram's and Priests, who collected in a strong cabin in that neighborhood—a few families, among whom were those of Alexander Finley and James Collyer, at Thomas Eagle's or John Shinnabarger's, and all the pioneers up the Jerome fork, at the Jerome block-house. The inmates of these retreats remained there until the spring of 1814. After the death of Ruffner, Zimmer's and Copus, that settlement was abandoned for nearly two years, and the small fields cleared by them were overrun with tall weeds and underbrush; and wild game had an undis turbed range along the valley. • The Carter, Cuppy, Fry, Newell and Trickle clearings in Montgomery had again become a wild waste, where deer, turkey and hear roamed at will. The Trickle cabin, where Markley's brick house was subsequently erected, was the pioneer mansion of Uni0ntown. There was not a cabin north of it containing a white family. Neither was there a house in any of the now villages of this county, except the cabin of Jerome, near the block-house. The Wynn dots and Delawares had a free hunt during the fall of 1813 and the winter of 1814 ; for the inmates of the block-house did not venture many miles into the forest, unless compelled to do so to visit the mills. The da ger of returning to their cabins, however, was more imaginary than real ; for, after the battle of the Thames, the Indians of the northwest were shorn of their power to inflict serious mischief upon the settlements, many of the Delawares, Wyandots and Shawnees voluntarily having joined the army of General Harrison. Early in the spring, the inmates of the block-houses prepared to return to their cabins and put out crops. The woodman's axe was again heard in the forest, and new cabins began to appear in every. direction. The tide of emigration, though not rapid in the spring, dining the summer and autumn increased considerably, and the settlers were greatly encouraged. In the spring of 1814 all the territory in ranges sixteen and seventeen, within the present limits of Ashland county, for civil purposes, comprised one township— Green; and all the territory in range fifteen, within the present limits of the county, was under the jurisdiction of Mohican, for civil purposes, no other township having been, as yet, organized. We learn, from pioneer tradition, that in 1813, 184, 1815, the following new settlers arrived on the Black fork: Troy Pettee, William Brown, John Shehan, Ahira Hill, Asa Brown, Lewis Crossen, Stephen Vanscoye, Noah Custard, David Hill, John Crossen, H. W. Cotton, Lewis Pierce, Adam Crossen, William Slater, Jeremiah Conine, Moses Jones, Sylvester Fisher, John Cotton, William Irvin, John Murphy, Henry Naugh, John Pool, William and Asa Brown started the first dry-goods store on the present site of Perrysville. In what is now Hanover, we find Stephen Butler and Caleb Chapel, with their families. In Mohican, William Metcalf, William Ewing, Major Tyler, John Bryan, John Naylor, Christian Deard William Vaughn, Adam Teener and John Lake, their families. HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO - 67 In lake, John Newkirk and family. In Perry, Hugh Carr, Cornelius Dorland, Thomas Johnson, Joseph Chandler, Arthur Campbell, John Raver, Richard Smalley, Henry Worst and John Pittinger, wilh their families. In Jackson, Joseph A. Dinsmore, John Chilcote, Isaac Lyons and Noah long, and their families. In Vermillion, Lemuel Boulter, Samuel Hutchins, William Black, George McClure, Daniel Harlan, William Reed, Robert Jackman, John Vangilder, William Harper, William Karnahan, William Ryland, Joseph Workman, George, William and Thomas Hughes, John McCrory and Joseph Strickland, with their families. In Montgomery, Jacob Crouse, Daniel Mickey, Samuel Burns, Henry Baughman, Joseph Markley, Widow Trickle, John Carr, Benjamin Cuppy, Robert Newell, Daniel Carter, William McNaull, Henry Gamble, James Kuykendall, David Markley, John McNaull, Michael Springer, William Montgomery, John Heller, Conrad Kline, Robert Ralston, and John Smith, and their families. In Orange, John Bishop, Jacob Young, Amos Norris, Vachel Metcalf, Jacob Mason, Joseph Bishop, Martin Hester, Lot Todd, Solomon Urie, John McConnell, Martin Mason, Jacob Mason, Patrick Murray, Christian, William, David, and Nicholas Fast, Henry Hampson, Mordecai Chilc0te, and William Patterson, and their families. In Milton, Alexander Reed, John Clay, Robert Nelson, Andrew Stevenson, Henry Keever, Michael Smeltzer, John Hazlet, William Dickey, S. King, F. Sultzer, J. Hoover, Peter and Benjamin Brubaker, John Hewey, A. Doty, A. A. Webster, J. Church, and J. Crawford, and their families. In Mifflin, George Thomas, James Ford, Jacob Snyder, Jacob Keifer, Leonard Croninger, Daniel Harlan, Michael Culler, and David Braden, and their families. In Clearcreek, David Burns, John Richard, and W. Freeborn, James Haney, William Shaw, Abraham Huff' in, Peter Vanostrand, and Isaac Vanmeter. The records of the settlers are very imperfect, and our record of early settlers is mostly a matter of tradition, and, hence, it may be quite imperfect. The year before Mr. Thomas and his family arrived at their new home, Peter Thomas, now a resident of Montgomery township, made a trip from near Cadiz, Ohio, through the forest, unarmed, accompanied only by a faithful watch dog, to the cabin of his uncle, Jacob Beam, on the Rocky fork, where the block-house had built in 1812, and where his uncle had subsequently It a mill with one run of buhrs. He stayed all night Tibbs' mill, below Wooster, and the next night at what afterwards known as John Raver's cabin, southeast of the present site of Rowsburgh, the only house he found between Wooster and Beam's block-house. From tile cabin on the Muddy fork, he followed horse trails, by the way of Jerome's place, until he reached the cabin of his uncle, which took one day. He is unable to point out the precise route, but remembers that he traveled hard all day, with his faithful dog at his side, and neither feared Indians nor wild animals. His brother, George, was at Beams' when the Ruffner-Zimmer Copus murders took place, and helped bury the dead. In 1814 he was returning from Cadiz with his family, by the way of Odelts lake, when he took sick and died, and was buried there—his wife and children subsequently reaching the residence of Mr. Beam with their goods. In the fall of 1814, John Coulter and Ebenezer Rice contracted with the State commissioners to cut a road on the old survey, from Trickle's cabin, at the east end of the present site of Ashland, to what is now Windsor, in Richland county—ten miles—for ninety dollars. The Trickle cabin was then deserted ; Mrs. Trickle having sold it to Mr. Markley, who had not yet taken possession. When the road was cut, it became the duty of Melzer Coulter and Alexander Rice, then boys, to supply the laborers with food. On pack-horses, they passed down the old Portage road to near the Jerome blockhouse, and then took the Beall trail to near the present residence of James Newman, and then followed a path through the forest to the present site of Ashland. On one of those trips, while passing down the old Portage road, Alexander Rice found an axe setting beside a log, with the letters "U. S." stamped upon it, which had probably been left there by the pioneers of General Crooks. He took the axe home, and used it for a number of years; finally having it made into a wedge, which he yet has in his possession, as a memento of the days sixty years agone. The territory along the branches of Mohican remained undisturbed during the fall of 1814, and emigrants in large numbers visited the country, to select sites for their new homes. A glance at the financial condition of this region, therefore, may be interesting. The only currency in circulation among the pioneers of this region in 1814 was gold and silver, and that in very limited quantities. The supplies furnished the army of the northwest, kept a small amount of specie in circulation. But when the sums paid the soldiers for their services had been invested in small tracts of land, money became very scarce. "Necessity" is said to be the "mother of invention," and Pennsylvanians, Virginians, and Yankees, alike, were driven to "invention." Falling back to the common remedy for all evils—the constitution of the State the pioneers held, that in consequence of the scarcity of money, they had the right to have charters granted for the establishment 0f a bank or banks by the legislature. Insisting upon such right, articles of association were drawn for the establishment of a bank at Mt. Vernon, with a capital of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars, in shares of fifty dollars each. In December, 1814, articles of association were submitted to a meeting held in Mt. Vernon, and it was resolved that an institution, to be called the "Owl Creek Bank of Mt. Vernon," be established ; and certain commissioners were appointed, to open stock books. Petitions for a charter were presented to the legislature, which was refused; and then the stockholders "went it alone," and planting themselves upon their assumed constitutional rights, they formed themselves into a company and es- 68 - HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO. tablished the "Owl Creek Bank of Mt. Vernon." This institution issued shinplasters, from the denomination of six and one-fourth cents, up to ten dollars, and the country was soon flooded with them. In fact, the settlers of Richland county, and the people of what is now Ashland county, were compelled to take it or nothing for their surplus produce. In a few years, the Owl Creek currency became worthless, and much distress, with unlimited recrimination, followed. Samuel Williams, a merchant of Mansfield, got up a sort of rival currency, upon which he had printed a coiled rattlesnake. A good many of such shinplasters were thrown into circulation. Finally, Jacob Beam, who had purchased about a section of land in the vicinity of his mill, and was the owner of a fine six-horse team, which was used to haul produce to Pittsburgh, and bring back salt, nails, iron, dry-goods and the like, for the use of the settlers, became involved in the meshes of Williams, and was subsequently stripped, by litigation, of his wealth. Such was the beginning and effect of the wild currency of 1814. Many anecdotes are related concerning the " Owl Creek Bank," and its worthless notes. The Indians visiting Mt. Vernon and Mansfield, were frequently offered the "Owl Creek" shinplasters, on which was the figure of an owl, in exchange for venison and furs, but they invariably refused to take them, saying: "Too much hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo." On one occasion, an enemy of the bank killed a large owl, which he deposited on the counter of the bank, saying " he had killed its president." Salt was extremely scarce among the pioneers, so much so, that neighbors often borrowed pints. Corn-bread, hominy and mush were exceedingly unpalatable without salt. This article was generally brought from Zanesville on pack-horses, or in small boats up the Muskingum and its branches, Late in the fall of 1814, William Ewing,* then a young man, living two miles below the present site of Jeromeville, fitted out a four-horse team, taking a small load of shelled corn, and money enough to purchase a load of salt and plow-castings, and started for Zanesville. He passed up the old Portage road to Greentown, thence to near Lewis' block-house, on the wagon trail leading to the village of Clinton, one mile north of Mt. Vernon. The day he started it was clear and cold, and he made good progress until he reached the Clear fork. That stream was unusually full and rapid. In crossing it, he struck the opposite bank obliquely, and in attempting to ascend it the hind part of his wagon was overturned, emptying the greater part of the corn, which was in sacks, into the stream. For a time he thought his wagon would be drawn into the current, and his horses entangled and drowned. Fortunately, he had a fifth-chain along, which he fastened to the coupling poll, and, hitching two horses to it, and at the same time encouraging his wheel horses, he succeeded in righting the hind wheels and dragging the wagon up the bank to dry land. The next effort was to fish out his sacks of corn and food, which had become completely saturated with * Mr. Ewing died in Montgomery township, in 1874, aged about eighty years. water. After considerable exertion, he finally replaced his corn in the wagon, when, to use his own language "the only dry spot on him was the collar on the back of his neck." Being much chilled and benumbed, it was with difficulty he could hitch his horses in their proper places in the team. This he finally succeeded in doing; and again started on the path through the forest. He continued along it until after dark, expecting to lay out during the night, and probably freeze before morning; but, as he was about to lose all hope, the light of a cabin window was seen in the distance. Pressing on, he soon reached it, wet, cold and hungry. He was welcomed to its shelter. His horses being arranged about the feed- trough, and fed, he found his new landlady had prepared him a bowl of warm mush and milk, for which he was exceedingly thankful. The fire kept up a cheerful blaze until he had dried his clothing and recovered from his numbness. He slept soundly, rose bright and early, and started on his way whistling. In about ten days he returned safely to his cabin, with a load of salt and castings. We give this incident to illustrate the hardships endured by the pioneers. CHAPTER XXVII. AFTER THE WAR OF 1812. The Close of the Tour.—Peace Declared.—A Rush of Pioneers to the Branches of the Mohican.—Cabin Raising.—The Woodman's Axe. —Log Rolling.—Planting.—Social Bearing of the Pioneers.—Sugar Making in 1815. AFTER the departure of General Harrison for Buffalo, New York, the humbled Indian tribes of the northwest were earnest in their desire for an early peace. The government of the United States appointed General Harrison and General Cass commissioners to negotiate a treaty with the Indian tribes. The commission met at Greenville, July 2, 17 ; and the tribes were represented at that place by their head men, chiefs, and warriors, and a treaty was agreed upon, which was ratified by the Senate of the United States, and signed by President Madison, December 1, 1814. In the treaty, the Wyandots, Delawares, Shawnees, Senecas and Cayugas, being friends of the United States, granted peace to the Miamis, Pottawatomies, Ottawas, Kickapoos, Chippewas and other tribes aiding the British. The treaty was signed by Killbuck, White Eyes and Captain Pipe of the Delawares, and one hundred and ten other chiefs and heads of Indian tribes. The various bands or tribes mentioned in the treaty, agreed to place themselves under the protection of the United States, and aid in all wars against Great Britain. This brought a speedy reconciliation among the Indians of Ohio, and averted all danger of subsequent difficulties, by fixing boundaries to the tribes and regulating their intercourse with the whites who had settled in their midst. In the mean HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO - 69 commissioners on the part of the United States and Great Britain met at Ghent, in Belgium, and on the twenty-fourth of December, 1814, agreed to articles but before it had been received and ratified by treaty of peace and unity between the two countries; the two governments, the brilliant victory over the British forces under Packingham, at New Orleans, had been won by General Andrew Jackson and his gallant army, on the eighth of January, 1815, the treaty being ratified and signed February 18, 1815. Thus ended the second win for independence, after the United States had shown ability, for nearly three years, to cope successfully with the mother country by land, lake and sea. The war hating closed, pioneers from all the States east, with their families, goods and valuables hastened to occupy a porlion of the paradise west of the Ohio river ; and in 1815 the forests of this region echoed with the sturdy blows of the new settlers. A pioneer, Michael Culler, who was among the first seltlers within this region, assures us that in the months of April, May, and June, the forests along the various streams of this county presented a scene of unrivaled beauty. The banks of the streams resembled a vast greenhouse, where choice flowers, flowering shrubs, and plants of every variety peculiar to this climate, might be seen growing in wild luxuriance, diffusing their fragrance on the passing gale. The trees being in full leaf, with an undergrowth of shrubbery, pea-vines, and sedge grass, intertwined by wild grape-vines; and, in the glades, black haw, red haw, and plum trees, in abundance; and all echoing with the merry songs of birds, and the chatter of squirrels, leaping from branch to branch, saluting the pioneer or hunter, rendered the scene a veritable paradise. He says: "Nothing could be more lovely and inviting; though to the town and city people of the present day, a scene of this description would possess but few harms." After a trip to the Black fork to select his future home, he returned to Maryland to report what he had seen in the far west, and to invite a fair young lady, of that State, to accompany hint to his cabin, to share his joys and sorrows, in his newly discovered paradise of flowers, beautiful streams, blooming forests, and rich land, in which dwelt Indians, wild animals, and serpents of all kinds ! "Telling the whole truth, the old people thought it extremely hazardous to make choice of such a home ;" but the little lady he had left behind him had a strong will and a brave heart, and said "she would freely go to the wilds of Ohio, and share his joys and griefs, amid the serenades of wolves, and the terrific screams of the wild cat." She did come; and, for over half a century, dwelt upon the banks of the Black fork, sharing the prosperity and happiness of a faithful husband, surrounded by her family, until the benevolent Father of all, in 1873, called her hence. The old man still lingers, with gray locks and trembling gait, and is now waiting to join her .in that better land.* Since they came to the black fork, what a change ! The unbroken forests have been leveled by *Deceased in 1875. the woodman's axe, and the village and farm are now seen, where then all was wild luxuriance. This is the story of hundreds of pioneers, now old and feeble, residing in this county ; and, though romantic, is, nevertheless, real life. The first task of the pioneer was the erection of a comfortable cabin for the reception of his family. The first cabins were generally made of round logs, which were cut in suitable lengths, and dragged by oxen to the spot selected for the erection of a house. Those who had ox-teams hauled the logs, while the axe-men cut them in suitable lengths. While this was being done, others were riveing clap-boards of oak for the roof. They were made six or eight inches wide, and about four feet long, and a half to three-quarters of an inch thick. Though mechanics were very scarce, almost any pioneer could use a frow, an adz, a broad-axe and a drawing knife. When the logs were collected, the task of raising commenced. A good axe-man was placed at each corner to notch the logs, while other hands shoved or lifted them into position. When the first story was completed, straight saplings were placed across for joists, and upon which rested a clap-board loft. From the second story the logs were gradually cut shorter, and the ends tapered so as to form the roof, by placing straight logs three or four feet apart, upon which the clap-boards rested, the last log of the main round jutting over about fifteen inches for the eaves, upon which a log was placed for the first course of clap-boards. As each course of boards was placed in position, it was secured by a roof- pole, supported by blocks of the proper length, extending from pole to pole. The chimneys were very ample, and built on the outside, of split timber, and lined with stone and clay. A section of the logs was cut out for a door, chimney, and a small window or two. The floor was made of split timber, hewed into what were known as puncheons. Many of the cabins had only earth floors for the first year or two. In this manner the first cabins were erected near a good spring. Having thus completed a cabin for the new settler, and congratulated him on his new home, all hands dispersed, In such rude cabins, the pioneers of Ashland county lived many happy years. The occupants of those humble homes were always distinguished for their hospitality and manhood. The dense forests seemed to defy the efforts of man to remove them. The aggregated strength of a community always triumphed. It was the custom, for miles, to assemble in aid of each other, to cut and heap the logs. The hands were divided into squads, so that they could work to advantage, and by the use of strong ox-teams, the logs were easily heaped into piles, where they could be consumed by fire. These gatherings furnished excellent opportunities for the display of strength, and the herculean woodsmen of that day were not backward in seeking the championship. The rugged men of those times overflowed with fun and frolic. After a hard day at a cabin raising or a log rolling, it was not uncommon to wind up with a foot-race, a wrestle, or even a trial of skill in boxing. If blows followed, the parties were compelled to shake hands, take a drink, and agree to be 70 - HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO. good friends. These little frolics were esteemed trivial, and only meant a sort of friendly how do you do. To hold resentment after such an adjustment, was regarded as cowardly, and hence, discountenanced. These exhibitions of fun and merriment were thought to be but the out croppings of a whole-souled, courageous and spirited nature. Very few new communities possessed a more rugged, go-ahead class of backwoodsmen than the branches of Mohican, and nowhere in Ohio could be found a more generous and hospitable people. The rarest sport was found at the corn huskings, flax scutchings, and quiltings. The corn was plucked from the stalks, hauled and piled in a long row, near where it was to be cribbed. An invitation was then extended to the hardy settlers and their sons to assemble in the evening and husk corn. At these gatherings captains were chosen, and the hands divided as nearly equal as possible, and the long pile of corn measured, and the center marked by a rail. The captains were placed next the rail to maintain fair play, and keep it in position until the pile had been husked. At a given signal all hands entered briskly upon the contest. The rivalry was generally very exciting, and the golden maize was unshucked with astonishing rapidity. Interest was increased by an occasional song and a little whiskey. It was thought that a little music and whiskey added fresh-. ness and vigor, Shouting and hurrahing were in order. Thus hours passed, until the pile had disappeared. In the meantime, it was not unusual for some sly contestant, if the night were dark, to conceal many bushels of unhusked corn, that his side might excel. Such performances, if not discovered at the time, were esteemed allowable, and evidence of shrewdness. When the task was completed, supper was announced, and the huskers assembled in the cabin of the pioneer, where a plain meal had been prepared. To the surprise (?) of all, a large company of married and unmarried ladies confronted the huskers. They had assembled in the afternoon to aid a neighbor friend in preparing a quilt. While the huskers had been enjoying themselves over .their contest, the quilting ladies had been arranging and bringing upon a table a steaming supper. After the huskers had satisfied their hunger, the tables were removed, and some native violinist appeared. "French fours," and "Old Virginia reels" were then in order, The puncheon floors received additional polish by the brogans of the rustics. The cottons, calicoes and other goods used at that time were scarce and costly. This deficiency was suppled by home manufacture. Flax was extensively cultivated by the early settlers, and when manufactured into linen, largely used for shirting, pantaloons, and other wearing apparel. When combined with wool, the article was called "linsey-woolsey," and was very generally worn by both sexes. What were known as "hunting-shirts" with a cape, a belt, and fringed around the edges, were worn by the men. They were large and flowing, and were much esteemed in their day. Almost any housewife at that era could spin and preside at the loom, and much of the family wearing apparel was spun and woven by them. The flax scutchings, therefore, were of prime necessity, and the young men and women regarded such gatherings as highly useful and honorable. It was on such occasions that the flax was broken, the shives separated therefrom and made fit for spinning and weaving. These frolics, so called, furnished much amusement for the young people, and generally wound up with a merry cabin dance. Everything tended to practical utility. The hardy mothers, fathers, sons and daughters of that period entered heartily into the pursuits of active life. For several years, Beall's trail, and the Portage, cut by General Crooks, were the principal roads in the county, along which many emigrants reached their new homes in the wilderness. The roads diverging from these trails were mere paths, being only ten or twelve feet wide. The undergrowth had been cut, and removed to the sides of the road. Owing to the sparseness of the settlers, the roads were, for several years, very rough and poorly kept. To keep them, even in a passable condition, required a good deal of labor. The supervisor of highways was a man of considerable importance. If he properly filled his office, he was regarded as a public benefactor. From the importance of the position, it was customary to select the most energetic man as supervisor. For a long time, the only bridge fund was the strong muscle of the pioneer. By him, the ruts were filled, and the marshes spanned by corduroy. bridges. On the arrival of the early settlers, in 1810-11-12, there were a good many black bear, deer and wolves in the forests. In a few years the bear and wolves disappeared. The deer and turkey remained until within the last thirty-five years. When the dense forests began to be cut away, gray foxes appeared. Hunting deer and other game was regarded as rare sport. A majority of the hunters kept hounds for deer and fox hunting. Foxes were esteemed for their fur. In pursuit of this game the baying of the hounds, as they wound up and down the valleys and over the uplands, was deemed charming music by the hunters. The head branches of Black river were the usual resorts for game. Deer, bear and wolves were found .there in abundance. Solomon Uric, John McConnell, Christopher Mykrantz, and Jacob Young were among the most noted hunters. Many anecdotes are related concerning their exploits with the rifle. Sugar was one of the luxuries of the early settlers. The forests of this county abounded in maple and sugar trees. Along the Black fork and Jerome fork and their branches, there was one continuous camp of sugar trees. For a long time prior to the appearance of white settlers, these regions were the favorite resort of the Delawares, Wyandots and Mingoes, in the season for making sugar; and numerous huts and small camps of Indians were seen along the banks of the various streams of this county. The Indian mode of tapping sugar trees, securing the sap, and boiling it down, and granulating sugar, has been fully described in a former article. After the treaty of 1814, the Wyandots, Delawares, Ottawas, and Mingoes or Senecas, returned to this region in the spring of 1815 to make sugar and hunt. The white set- HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO - 71 tiers and the Indians were frequently neighbors during the season for making sugar, and exchanged visits, and generally got along on friendly terms. This custom, in some parts of the county, continued for twelve or fourteen years, when the Indians finally disappeared, never to return. Some of the pioneers who had lost relatives during the war, did not entertain the most cordial affection for their red-skinned brethren, and occasionally one of the Indians known to have been very active in killing and scalping white people during and prior to the war of 1812, ceased to visit the settlements, and it was whispered about that they had probably fallen into Black river, or mired in some of the swamps about the Mifflin or Clearcreek lakes. Making sugar was rare sport for the young people. Small camp-houses of poles were erected and covered with clapboards or bark, and a furnace of stones, cemented with yellow clay, and sufficiently long to receive eight or ten large iron kettles, in which the sugar water was speedily evaporated, and prepared for granulation. When large iron kettles could not be obtained, iron pots, brass kettles and other cooking utensils were brought into requisition. The large iron kettles were generally purchased at Zanesville, Pittsburgh, and Portland. Large troughs, dug-outs of white ash, holding two or three hogsheads, were made for the surplus water in a good rn. The usual mode of tapping, sugar trees being abudant, was to notch, and bore a hole so as to intersect the inner part of the notch, which sloped down and back, so as to fit in a spile of elder or alder to convey the water into a trough or other vessel.. The troughs were generally made of black and white ash, dug out, and would hold two or three gallons each. It was not . uncommon for a pioneer to tap from three hundred to six hundred trees, and make from one thousand to one thousand five hundred pounds per season. Sugar, in those days, ranged price from eight to eighteen cents per pond, and hundreds of pioneers paid for their farms by making sugar. The utmost hilarity and good cheer prevailed in the camps, and it was not uncommon for parties of young, and even middle-aged people, to travel four or five miles about the neighboring camps to serenade, sing, tell anecdotes, romp and frolic. Thus, the friendly Indian and the white settlers gathered a harvest of sweets for many recurring springs, as neighbors. CHAPTER XXVIII. TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION. Organization an Anglo-Saxon Characteristic.—Mohican Township.— The First Justice of the Peace.—Green Township.—Lake.—Perry.— Jackson. —Hanover. —Vermillion. —Montgomery. —Orange. —Mifflin —M Mon. — Clearcreek. —Ruggles. —Troy. —Sullivan. ORGANIZATION seems to be the highest characteristic of the Anglo-Saxon. Wherever enough adventurers or pioneers are found to locate, the first prominent idea is, to call a meeting and organize for self government. In the midst of the warlike excitement of 1812-15, the pioneers of the branches of Mohican failed not to remember that self government was the boon for which their revolutionary fathers contended. As rapidly as the population would permit, they proceeded to organize townships, and elect magistrates to enforce the laws and preserve order. Wayne county was comprised in one township, which was called Killbuck. MOHICAN TOWNSHIP. On the twelfth of April, 1812, the commissioners of Wayne county, one of whom was John Carr, then a resident of what is now Mohican township, divided Wayne into four townships, the western part including what are now Jackson, Perry, Mohican and Lake, and part of Washington in Holmes, and the west half of Clinton, Plain, Chester and Congress townships in Wayne; and organized this territory into one township under the name of Mohican. This was a large township. John Carr was one of its principal citizens, and one of the first commissioners of the county. The first justices of the peace are believed to have been Nathan Odell and James Loudon Priest, who were succeeded by John Weatherbee and John Newkirk in 1815. A new justice was added in 1815, and William Metcalf was elected. GREEN TOWNSHIP was erected in 1812; prior to that time, Richland county constituted but a single township, which was named Madison. That township was authorized to elect several justices of the peace. As early as 1810, Archibald Gardner was elected a justice in what became Mifflin; and Henry McCart in 1811, and Peter Kinney in 1812, in what subsequently became Green; and James McClure and Andrew Coffinberry in 1814, in the balance of Madison township. In 1812 this arrangement was deemed inconvenient, and the township was divided on the seventeenth range, giving the territory in ranges sixteen and seventeen to the jurisdiction of the new township, which was called Green. It is asserted by some, that it was named after General Nathaniel Greene, of revolutionary fame ; but probably received the name of the Indian village in the west part of the township. Peter Kinney was acting as a justice when the township was organized. LAKE TOWNSHIP was organized by the commissioners of Wayne county, in September, 1814 ; and in 1824, upon the organization of Holmes county, a strip from the south side of the township was ceded to that county. In 1814 the popu- 72 - HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO. lation of Lake was very sparse. The settlements were east of the Lake fork, in the region of Odell's lakes, and were composed, principally, of those who forted at Priest's in 1812. Nathan Odell and James Loudon Priest are believed to have been acting as justices of the peace at the organization of Lake,* PERRY TOWNSHIP was organized at the same session of the commissioners with Lake, in September, 1814, and had jurisdiction over the territory of Jackson until 1819. The pioneers of Perry at that time (1814), are believed to have been John Carr, John Ewing, Joseph Chandler, Aaron Cory, John Cory, John Raver, Benjamin Emmons, James Scott, Richard Smalley, Henry Worst, Arthur Campbell, Cornelius I)orland, and John Jackson, who was the first justice of the peace. JACKSON TOWNSHIP was organized by the commissioners of Wayne county in February, 1819. The township, at that period, was thinly settled. The pioneers of that date are believed. to have been Noah Long, Isaac Lyons, John Chilcote, John Jackson, John Davault, Charles Hey, Jacob Berry, Thomas Cole, James A. Dinsmore, Jonas H. Gierhart, Josiah Lee, Jesse Mathews, Michael Richel and Mathias Richel. The pioneers concur in the statement that John Jackson was the first justice of the peace for Jackson township. HANOVER TOWNSHIP was organized by the commissioners of Richland county in 1818. The major part of the township being exceedingly rugged and difficult of cultivation, retarded settlement. At the period of its organization it is believed the following heads of families constituted the majority of the settlers: William Burwell, Thomas Taylor, Robert Dawson, George Davidson, George Snider, Amos Harbaugh William Webb, Abner Winters, Stephen Butler, Abel Strong, John Hilderbrand, John Burwell, and Chapel. Stephen Butler was the first justice of the peace. VERMILLION TOWNSHIP was organized in December, 1816, by the commissioners of Richland county. It is difficult to ascertain the precise number of the heads of families at that time, the township records not being in existence. It is believed the following families resided in the township as early as 1818: Ezra Warner, George Eckley, James Wallace, Robert Finley, Samuel Bolter, Jonathan Palmer, George McClure, William Harper, William Karnahan, William Reed, William Ryland, Joseph Workman, Peter and John Vangilder, Joseph Strickland and sons, Mr. Harlan, Mr. Lattimer, Mr. Crabb, Mr. Beabout, Mr. Beck, and the late John Scott, sr. James Wallace was the first justice of the peace. MONTGOMERY TOWNSHIP was organized by the commissioners of Richland county in 1816. Prior to that time Vermillion and Montgomery each elected one justice of the peace and acted as one township. The pioneers of Montgomery, at the * John Greenlee so states. period of its organization, are believed to have been Robert Newell, Daniel Carter, Jacob Fry, Benjamin Cuppy, Henry Baughman, Samuel Burns, Daniel Mickey, Solomon Urie, Samuel Urie, Jacob Figley, William Montgomery, Jacob Crouse, James Kuykendall, Joseph Markley, John McNaull, Michael Springer, John Springer, Henry Springer, Daniel and Henry Vautilburg, and probably a few others not now remembered. The first justice of the peace was Robert Newell, who was succeeded by Daniel Carter, sr. ORANGE TOWNSHIP was organized by the commissioners of Richland county in 1818, The pioneers of that date are believed to have been Christian Fast and sons, Martin Mason and sons, Jacob Young, Vachel Metcalf, Amos Norris, John McConnell, Patrick Murray and sons, Jacob Mason, Joseph Bishop, John Bishop, Frederick Heiffner and sons, Thomas Green, Mordecai Chilcote, Philip Fluke and sons, James Clark, William Patterson, and probably others not now remembered by the present generation, the first justice of the peace was Vachel Metcalf. MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP was organized by the commissioners of Richland county in 1815, The pioneers at that date, as near as can be ascertained, were John Lambright, Leonard Croninger, David Braden, Michael Culler, Daniel Harlan, George Thomas and sons, Jacob Keiffer and sons, James and Wesley Copus, sons of Rev, James Copus, Daniel Hoover, Elijah Hart, sr., William B. James, Peter Deardorf, Samuel Lewis, and many others not now remembered. The first justice of the peace in Mifflin, was Archibald Gardner, who served one term, and was succeeded by William Gardner. MILTON TOWNSHIP was organized in 1816, by the commissioners of Richland county. The pioneers of that date are believed to have been Jacob Foulks, Alexander Reed, Robert Nelson, Benjamin Montgomery, James Andrews, Peter Brubaker, John Clay, Henry Keever, Frederick Sultzer, John Hazlett, Joseph Charles, Andrew Stevenson, David Markley, James Crawford, David Crabbs, Elijah Charles, David McKinney, John Ferrell, Abel Montgomery, William Houston, George Burget, and possibly a few others. Prior to 1816, Milton had been under the jurisdiction of Mifflin. The first justice of the peace was Robert McBeth, from what is now Clearcreek, then under the jurisdiction of Milton. CLEARCREEK TOWNSHIP was organized by the commissioners of Richland county in 1820.* The pioneers at that period are believed to have been David Burns, John Richards, John Freeborn, James Haney, William Shaw, Abraham Huffman, Peter Vanostrand, Isaac VanMeter, Elias Ford, Thomas Ford, John Bryte, Nathaniel Bailey, Daniel Huffman, James Burns, Abraham Clayberg, Jacob Foulks, Richard Free born, Thomas Haney, John Haney, Abel Bailey, John * This is the recollection of Mr. John Bryte. See "Biographic Sketches." HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO- 73 Bailey, Thomas Wright, John McMurray, John Cuppy, Patrick Elliott, Isaac Harvuot, John McWilliams, John Aten, Robert McBeth, and perhaps others, not now remembered. Robert McBeth, who had been justice during the jurisdiction of Milton over Clearcreek, was also the first justice of the peace for Clearcreek. RUGGLES TOWNSHIP was organized in 1826, by the commissioners of Huron conty. It was called after Judge. Almon Ruggles, who surveyed the Fire Lands. It was erected from the Fire Lands, and was five miles square, and subdivided into four quarters, each being again subdivided into lots containing from fifty to five hundred acres. The jurisdiction of Bethel township was extended over Ruggles until her population was sufficient for home rule. At the time of the organization, in 1826, the following heads of families are believed to have resided in the township: Bradford Sturtevant, Daniel Beach, James Poag, Harvey Sacket, Aldrich Carver, Norman Carter, Enoch Taylor, Reuben Fox, Jacob Roorback, Perry Durfee, A. Bates, C. Sanders, Abraham Ferris, Ezra Smith, T. Hendrix, D. J. Parker, Justus Barnes, and, perhaps, a few others, not now remembered. Harvey Sacket is believed to have been the first justice of the peace after Ruggles assumed self-government. TROY TOWNSHIP was organized by the commissioners of Huron county, in 1835. It was erected out of territory known as the "Gore," and was four miles wide and five miles long. At the time of its organization it abounded in forests, and was the resort of wild game. It had been attached, for purposes of civil rule, to the township north of it, in Huron county. The pioneers, at the date of its organization, are believed to have been: Joseph Parker, Nathaniel Clark, Benjamin Moore, Christian Bush, David Mason, Ralph Phelps, Nicholas Fast, Christian Fast, .and Sanford Peck. Benjamin Moore was the first justice of he peace after the township assumed its organized condition. SULLIVAN TOWNSHIP was organized in 1819 by the commissioners of Lorain county. It is divided into lots in the same manner as Ruggles, being five miles square. This township was originally heavily timbered and abounded in wild game. The Canesadooharie, or Black river, famed as the region of deer and bear in Indian times, rises in Sullivan township. The pioneers at the date of its organization were,—Sylvanus Parmely, John Parmely, Asahel Parmely, Jesse Chamberlain, Abijah Chamberlain, Thomas Rice, James Palmer, Aretas Marsh, George Mann, J. M. Close, Henry Close and Rhesa Close. These were followed in 1818, by Whitney Chamberlain and Mr. Durfee. John Gould is believed to have been the first justice of the peace in Sullivan. This concludes the organization of the various townships, and shows their original position in the counties, from which they were, at a later day, detached. CHAPTER XXIX. EARLY GRIST MILLS. Hominy Blocks.—The Coffee Mill.—The Horse Mills—Water Mills. —Chop Mills.—Mill-wrights. " Oh, who has not seen Kitty Clyde, She lives at the foot of the hill, In a sly little nook by the babbling brook, That carries her father's old mill." When the pioneers entered the forests of what is now Ashland county, and commenced to erect cabins and remove the sturdy oak and the tangled undergrowth, they experienced many privations and inconveniences. A majority of the first settlers were in moderate circumstances, and had to depend upon their own strong arms and the smiles of Providence for subsistence. Their food was exceedingly plain, and their habits industrious and economical. Their clothing was generally of the most primitive character, and spun and woven by the faithful pioneer mothers. From 1809 to 1813 there were but two grist-mills within a radius of some thirty-five miles. These mills were owned by Messrs. Shrimplin and Stibbs, and were of hewed logs and quite primitive in appearance. The former was located on Owl creek, some distance below Mt. Vernon. This mill could be reached by descending the branches of Mohican to the Walhonding, and ascending Owl creek, or by Indian paths through the forest. By either route it took several days. Stibbs' mill, near Wooster, was less distant, and could be reached by wagon or bridle paths. Pack-horses, ridden by small boys, generally made the trip to Stibbs' in from two to three days, depending upon the throng for their grist, These settlements being somewhat earlier in their improvements, generally had surplus corn crops, and were able to supply the new settlers on the branches of Mohican. HOMINY-BLACKS, In consequence of the difficulties attending pioneer life, the great distance of grist-mills, the failure of the corn crops to mature, and the economic habits of the people, the pioneers were compelled to resort to the use of hominy-blocks. This method of preparing meal was, perhaps, the oldest in the world. The red' races that preceded the pioneers have left many relics of the mortar and pestle. The hominy-block was very simple in its construction. It was generally made of a section of a beech tree, fifteen or eighteen inches in diameter, and three or four feet long, in one end of which holes were bored, forming a sort of hopper, the inside being removed by burning or a chisel, and the surface polished or made smooth. This rude receptacle was placed upright, and the corn, in the mortar, was pulverized by hand or the spring-pole. An iron wedge inserted in the end of an upright shaft and secured by a ring, formed the pestle. By the use of such an instrument, corn was rapidly crushed. In a few hours an active hand could prepare from one to three pecks of hominy meal. Many of the pioneers brought from the settlements wire sieves for the separation of meal from the coarse portions of the cracked corn, while others occasionally used home-made 74 - HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO. sieves, of perforated deer skins, drawn over a hoop. The finer meal was made into mush or journey-cake, and the coarse made excellent hominy. THE COFFEE-MILL. The labor of preparing meal in the foregoing manner, was so great that a more expeditious method had to be adopted. Ingenious native mechanics soon began the construction of what were known as " hand-mills." Two or three neighbors joined in the purchase of such a mill. They were made from a large bowlder, much after the fashion of the coffee-mills now in use, A hopper was drilled in a " nigger-head," and made in the shape of an inverted cone; a cylinder of the same material, exactly fitting the hopper, perforated through the center by a shaft, and also regularly grooved, was placed therein, on a pivot, and propelled by the aid of a lever, by one or two hands, as necessity required. The meal was received in a box below, and sifted by hand. It operated much like the modern coffee-mill. The hopper was stationary and generally artistically finished. About the same time an improved hand-mill made its appearance. Small "nigger-head" buhrs were used. They were placed within a hoop, very much as in the larger mills of the present day. The buhrs were grooved in the same manner, and the meal, being somewhat finer than that produced by the coffee-mill, was secured and sifted in the same manner. They were adjusted for fine or coarse work, and required from two to four men to turn them so as to greatly increase the quality of meal produced. They were not in extensive use, and were soon superseded by THE HORSE-MILL. A number of these were erected in many parts of the county. They were rude affairs, requiring great num bers of cogs, wheels and other curious machinery. They were propelled by horse-power much as the modern threshing machine or cider-mill. Many produced very good meal and flour, and generally had hand-bolts. A description of their machinery would occupy more space than can be allotted in these notes. They were in very general use for a period of about fifteen years. The buhrs of the horse-mills were made, mostly of bowlders or " nigger-heads," and fitted and secured much like the buhrs now in use in the water and steam grist-mills. The horse-mills were succeeded by improved WATER-MILLS. The numerous small streams throughout the county, during the earlier settlement, furnished valuable mill sites; and a great number of enterprising pioneers erected small grist- and saw-mills upon them. Before the removal of the heavy forests that covered most of the county, sufficient water was obtained to propel one or two set of buhrs, in the smaller mills, the major part of the year ; but since the forests have been cut away, the water produced by heavy showers is rapidly conveyed by brooks and small streams to the larger ones, while the moisture left on the surface soon evaporates; the result being, that nearly all the smaller mills were compelled to suspend work three-fourths of the year. The conse quence is, that while, in our earlier history, every little stream had a grist- or saw-mill, the number has gradually diminished, until there are not over a dozen good mills left, and these are chiefly propelled by steam. It will be interesting to note the history of our mills, from the earlier settlements to the present time. It is generally conceded that the first grist-mill within the present limits of Ashland county, was erected by Benjamin Guppy, on a small stream one and a half miles northeast of Ashland, on what is now the Orange road, in March, 1816, It had one run of stones, and grond very slowly, not exceeding four bushels of corn per day.* It long since disappeared, and was replaced by the present mill, which has for many years been a great conven ience to the farmers. It is now run by steam. + About four weeks after the completion of the Cuppy mill, Martin Mason finished a small water-mill upon the present site of Samuel Leidigh's mill, on the Troy road, four miles north of Ashland. It had one run of hard- head stones. It was of hewn logs. It was a convenient neighborhood mill for many years, and did fair work. It passed through many hands, and the site is now owned by Mr. Leidigh. About the year 1870 he constructed a new and elegant frame mill, which is partly propelled by water, and partly by steam. It is doing fine business. About the year 1817, John Raver put up a small grist and saw-mill on a run about one-fourth of a mile northeast of the present site of Rowsburgh, in Perry township. It run about one-third of the time, had an under-shot wheel and one set of stones and a hand-bolt. It stood several years, and was replaced by a mill built some years later by John Pittinger, east of Rowsburgh, on the Muddy fork of Mohican, since owned by the late Dr. A. Ecker, and is yet doing a prosperous business. During the fall of 1817, it is believed that Constance Lake, of Jeromeville, erected a small log grist-mill, where what is now known as Goudy's mill, was subsequently built. The Goudy mill was accidentally burned about 1850. It had sustained a good reputation, and was great loss to the community. It was not rebuilt, an the site is abandoned. Conrad Kline, about the year 1819, built a small horse-mill one and a half miles northeast of Ashland near the late residence of John Mason. It was constructed in the usual form of such mills, had one run of stones and a hand bolt. It made good meal and flour It long since tumbled into ruins. Jabez Smith, in 1820, erected a saw- and grist-mil half a mile south of the present site of Mohicanville, in Lake township. He sold it to R. F. Chandler, who key the mill moving until the spring of 1875, when it acci dentally burned. It was long a convenience to the farm ing community, and its destruction was much regretted Robert Crawford, a rugged, enterprising pioneer, put * The Cuppy mill had "nigger-head" stones and was a poor offal It was soon succeeded by a larger and better mill, erected near the same site by Thomas Oram, the millwright being John Brown, Clearcreek township. + The steam-mill was accidentally burned in the fall of 1875, sin which time the site has remained unimproved. HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO - 75 up a large and expensive horse-mill on the present land of Albert Tilton, in the southeast part of Orange town- Ship, in 1820-21. It had one run of stones, a fine bolt, and did a large business for those times. It was finally abandoned about the year 1837. About the year 1823 Thomas Ford put up a small horse-mill near what is now known as Ford's meeting- 'house, in Clearcreek township. It was a neighborhood mill, and did some business for a number of years. It has long since given way to the march of improvement. It is believed that Oliver Sloan put up a saw- and gristmill two miles southeast of Hayesville, about the year 1830. It had one run of stones and a bolt, and did a good deal of neighborhood work. It was conducted, for some years, by a Mr. Vangilder. It is now in ruins. John Hendricks built a water-mill on Vermillion creek, about one mile west of Savannah, in 1823. It had one rn of stones, and a bolt, and did some business. He subsequently sold to the late Joseph Roop, who caused a deep ditch, at heavy expense, to be dug from the lower lake, in the hope of increasing the flow of water ; but only succeeded in draining the lower lake, The enterprise was a financial failure, and the mill went down. Conrad Kline erected a small grist-mill, about two miles east of Ashland, at the foot of Roseberry hill, in Montgomery township, in 1825. It did some business, and was carried on some eight or ten years, when it was abandoned. John Haney built a small horse-mill, on a run east of the village of Savannah, in Clearcreek township, in 1825. It was chiefly used for chopping, in connection with a distillery. It stood but a few years, and went to ruin. David Weitzel erected a small saw- and grist-mill on the present site of the Ashland woollen-mills, about the ear 1825. It had a pair of coffee-mill stones and was used chiefly for chop-work. It had also a hand-bolt. It subsequently became the property of the late John Jacobs, and was by him considerably improved. It was superseded by the large brick flouring-mill now owned by John Damp & Company. This mill is propelled exclusively by steam, and its work has long been classed among Ole finest in the county. It has a fine run of stones and produce seventy-five barrels of flour per day, Andrew Newman built what is now known as the Hershey mill, on the Black fork, two and one-half miles northwest of the village of Mifflin, in the year 1820. It regarded as one of the best of its kind. It is chiefly neighborhood mill, does fine works and is run by water. It is now owned by Stamen Brothers. Silas Longworthy built a small water-mill three miles southwest of the village of Mifflin, on the Black fork, in 825, and sold to John Hewhey, he to Charles Lewis, and he to Daniel Kauffman. It was carried on until 18.15, when Daniel Kauffman, a skilful millwright, tore Ft down and erected a valuable mill which he sold to John Charles. It is propelled exclusively by water, and regarded as one of the best in the county. It has a saw mill attached. It is believed that James Neely erected a grist-mill, on Zimmers’s run, two and one-half miles southeast of Mifflin, as early as 1825. The mill is still in operation, and is doing a fair neighborhood business, when it has water. It is now owned by W. W. Matthews. Jonathan Harvuot built a small horse-mill, about one mile northwest of Ashland, on lands recently owned by James Wells, about the year 1830, It had a brief career, and was used mostly as a chop-mill by the farmers. Joseph Sellers put up a small water-mill, on Clearcreek, two miles west of Savannah, in 1830. It struggled along a few years and went down. Colonel John Murray erected, for himself, a grist- and saw-mill, on Mohican creek, one and a half miles north of Orange, in 1831. It did considerable business in wet seasons, but finally became of little value, because of a want of water. George McCartney constructed a small water-mill in connection with a carding machine—on lands since owned by the late Samuel Urie, in Milton township, in 1830. It had insufficient power, and the enterprise failed and brought disaster upon its owner. William Goudy and sons put up the present large gristmill at Jeromeville, about the year 1836. It has passed through many hands,—Eli Zimmerman, N. G. Glenn, R. McMahan, G. W. Basford, 1851, John Webster, 1856, R. M. Winbigler & Co., 1871, and in 1873, R. M. B.,— and is yet regarded as a valuable property. It has fine water power, and does a fair business. It has a good saw-mill connected with it. Armstrong Meanor erected a small grist-mill three miles north of Loudonville, on the Hayesville road, near a small stream, about the year 1831. It was subsequently rebuilt, and is yet doing a fair business, About the same time (1831), Mr. Newman built a grist-mill three miles northeast of Hayesville, on a small stream in the Finley settlement, It was carried on for many years, and did a prosperous business. A new mill, now known as Smith's mill, was erected in the neighborhood some twenty years since, and the old mill is going to decay. Jacob Mason built a small undershot mill about four miles north of Ashland, on Leidigh's run, in 1831. It was used principally as a chop-mill for a distillery. It has long since disappeared. Daniel Beach built a saw-mill in 1824, and a grist-mill on Vermillion river one mile north of Ruggles corners, in 1832. It run to about 1858, and is now in ruins. It passed through four or five hands. Daniel Carter, jr., put up a water-mill two miles east of Ashland, near the Wooster road, in 1832. It did a fair business eighteen or twenty years. It is now in ruins. The Loudonville mill—a frame—tw0 run of stones, was built by Alexander Skinner in 1818; Caleb Chapel was carpenter and first miller. He died in 1821, and T. J. Bull became the owner of the mill; he sold to Thomas Carlisle; and in 1835 the mill became the property of Gray & Freeman, of Cleveland. They run it until 1845; then it passed into the hands of James Christmas and John C. Larwill, and in 1861, A. A. Taylor, who erected a new mill. It is run, principally, 76 - HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO. by steam, and has nine run of stones, and manufactures seventy-five thousand barrels of flour annually. Hanvey and Smith, from Rochester, New York, put up a large flouring mill on the Lake fork, three miles southeast of Mohicanville, in 1836. It is now known as the "Rochester mill," It has fine water power, and does an excellent business. Michael Diblebess erected, in 1840, a small water mill where the Berkh older mill now stands, on the Catotaway, in Montgomery township. It made some flour, and had a hand-bolt. Thomas Stringer erected a large grist-mill, on the Black fork, about one mile below Perrysville, in 1839. He owned it but a short time. It has had a stirring career, and has passed through many hands. It is a valuable property, and capable of doing a large business. John Scott, sr., put up a valuable grist-mill one mile north of Hayesville, on the Ashland road, in 1846. It has a good location, and when the seasons are favorable, does a fair business. The stream is gradually failing, and the mill will eventually have to be run by steam. In 1874 Messrs. Roop, Coble and Myers erected a large brick mill in Ashland. It is driven by steam, and is complete in all its machinery. It is capable of producing one hundred barrels of flour per day, It was put in motion early in 1875, and has already become noted for its excellent work. It is one of the most valuable mills in northern Ohio. CHOP-MILLS AND WHISKEY. As reference has frequently been made to chop-mills, in connection with distilleries, it is proper to state that our pioneers were not particularly noted for intemperance. Distilleries, like mills, were a necessity. There was a surplus of corn and rye, while there were neither purchasers nor a market. Transportation by wagons to Portland, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh, was attended with much expense. The only way the surplus corn and rye could be made available was to convert them into whiskey, which could be exchanged for groceries, salt and goods. The whiskey thus manufactured was put into barrels and hauled to market. The result was that many distilleries sprang up in every part of the country, and chop-mills came into use. It will be seen, therefore, that good rye whiskey soon became a "legal tender" in the market. Improved modes of conveyance have long since disposed of the chop-mills and the numerous distilleries. Whiskey is an institution, nevertheless. It pays an enormous revenue, and is feared alike by the politician and the moralist. It was said in classic times, that "the mills of the Gods ground slow, but exceedingly fine," It will be observed that the earlier mills of the pioneers not only ground exceedingly slow, but also exceedingly coarse. I have adverted to the earlier mills, because many of the mill-boys of sixty years agone are yet with us. Many pleasant memories cluster about those days. Trips of thirty miles, on pack-saddles, through the forests, along the winding paths, were not without interest. Sleeping on the mill floors upon an empty sack—the delay to obtain a grist, and the lively jokes and songs of those days, must often come to recollection. As the aged mill-boys now meander through the country, by the old mill seats, I have no doubt they are often led to exclaim- " Here's the path by the long deserted mill, And the stream by the old bridge, broken still, And the golden willow boughs bending low, To the green sunny banks where the violets blow ; The wild birds are singing the same sweet lays, That charmed me in dreams of the dear old clays. " MILLWRIGHTS. John Horrick made most of the nigger-head hominy mortars, and coffee mill-stones. Colonel John Murray was the most noted millwright in this part of the county. When a young man, he learned his trade in Louisville, Kentucky. He is said to have been a very ingenious workman. Colonel George W. Uric and Isaac Stull, both citizens of Ashland, learned of Colonel Murray. Abraham Holmes, who resided near Windsor, in Richland county, constructed a good many mills along the Black fork and in other localities. Daniel Kauffman, who built the Charles mill, was regarded as a good mechanic. He resides in Richland county. John Brown, of Millbrook Wayne county, built the Carter Mill, and some others, in the county. He is said to have beeen a good mechanic. NOTE.— In writing the foregoing sketch it was impossible to obtain the exact date of the erection of all the mills, many of the parties having long since removed or deceased. CHAPTER XXX. THE VILLAGES AND TOWNS OF ASHLAND COUNTY. Loudonville.—Perrysville. —Jeromeville. — Ashland. — Miffhn. — Sava nah. —Orange. —Hayesville. —Perrysburgh. —Sullivant —Lafayette.—Polk.—Ruggles Center. IN the long future, it may be interesting to recur t the appearance, growth, and decay of villages and town within the limits of this county. We will, therefor proceed to notice the location and survey of each. LOUDONVILLE, in Hanover township, was laid out August 6, 1814, by James Loudon Priest and Stephen Butler, and contained at the census of 1870, a population of eight hundred and eleven. It is located in. the northeast corner of the township, on the banks of the Black fork of the Mohican, which was navigable, for many years, for small craft. The Pittsburgh and Fort Wayne railroad passes through it, and adds thrift and enterprise to the place. The road was constructed in the years 1852 and 1853, and, since its completion, he town has grown quite rapidly. Recently, many fine brick buildings have been constructed along its principal HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO - 77 business streets, and a number of handsome and valuable brick residences put up, in different parts of the original town, and several very showy ones in a new addition above the depot. During the construction of the Walhonding canal, some thirty-five years ago, it was proposed to continue it up the lake and Black fork; and Loudonville was made a point. After that enterprise was abandoned, the village failed to improve, until the completion of the railroad. A good deal of business is now transacted in the town. It furnishes a good market for all the surplus grain and stock of the southeast part of the county. It has a spirited population, and contains two good hotels, a bank, several dry goods establishments, a drug store, a tin and hardware store, a foundry, a carriage manufactory, a large tannery, an excellent steam grist-mill, clothing stores, blacksmith shops, lumber yards, cabinet shops, shoe stores, a gunsmith, five or six fine churches, a newspaper, several physicians, and a lawyer. The country around the town is healthy, and the hills and valleys are quite romantic ; and many legends are related, concerning the red men that roamed up and down the streams of Hanover, three-quarters of a century agone. PERRYSVILLE, in Green township, from the victory of Commodore Perry, September 10, 1813, was the second village in the present limits of Ashland county. It was laid out June 10, 1815, by Thomas Coulter. Its growth for many years was moderate. In the days of the construction of the Ohio canals, this village had large expectations concerning the route of the extension of the Walhonding canal. It is located on the Black fork, which was navigable to within a little distance of the village. As early as 1822 a number of flat-boats were built in its vicinity, loaded with the surplus products of Green township, and sent south. Since the completion of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago railroad, which passes through the town, its growth has been quite rapid. It has a station and warehouse, and large quantities of grain, and the surplus stock of the southeast part of the county are here purchased and shipped west. This adds greatly to the thrift and enterprise of the town. Its population is estimated at about five hundred. The village contains three stores, a foundry, a fine gristmill, a tavern, a post-office, one Presbyterian, one Baptist, and one Methodist church, two blacksmith shops, a carriage and wagon manufactory, four physicians, and an excellent institution of learning. The town is surrounded by a rich valley of land, which is cultivated by hundreds of thrifty and prosperous farmers. The outlook for the future is very flattering. Her academy, under the management of Professor J. C. Sample, is an ornament to the town, and cannot fail to contribute to the intelligence and prosperity of her people. JEROMEVILLE, in Mohican township, named after John Baptiste Jerome, the original proprietor of the land upon which it was surveyed, was the third town within the present limits of Ashland county, having been laid out February 14, 1815, by Christian Deardorff and William Vaughn; and is now estimated to contain a population of about four hundred. It is eligibly located in the northwest part of the township, on the old and much traveled road from Wooster to Mansfield, and prior to the construction of railroads, had a large patronage from the traveling public, and was a good business town. The interests of the town would be greatly enhanced by the construction of a railroad up the valley to Ashland, which project is now being considered by her most enterprising citizens. It contains two or three small stores, two hotels, a carriage manufactory, two cabinet shops, a harness shop, three blacksmith shops, several shoe shops, one wagon shop, a tailor, several groceries, two physicians, a fine mill, and an excellent school. It also has one Presbyterian, one Methodist and one Disciple church. It is surrounded by fine farming land and industrious farmers, whose patronage adds to the prosperity of the town. No better agricultural lands can be found in the State than those along the branches of Mohican ; and all the farmers need is access to a ready market for all their surplus products, to make them wealthy and independent. ASHLAND, formerly Uniontown, in Montgomery township, was laid out by William Montgomery, July 28, 1815, and was the fourth town within the present limits of Ashland county. It retained the name of Uniontown, until the establishment of a post-office, in 1822, which was called Ashland, because there was another Uniontown in the State. The village thereupon received the name of Ashland. Mr. Frank Graham, now (1876) eighty-five years old, was the first postmaster. Ashland is situated on sections seven, eight, seventeen and eighteen, and is estimated to contain a population of three thousand. In 1822, the village contained about twenty log cabins, one small dry goods store, a blacksmith, two distilleries, a tannery, a shoemaker, a tailor, a hatter, a cooper, a wheelwright, a small tavern, and one physician. The inhabitants of the village were William Montgomery, farmer; Philip Shaffer, shoemaker; Elias Slocum, tavern keeper; Alanson Andrews, farmer; George W. Palmer, distiller; Samuel Urie, blacksmith ; Joseph Sheets, tailor; Joseph Markley, distiller; David Markley; Amos Antibus, hatter; Ebenezer D. Nightingill, hatter; Mr. Barr, cooper; Francis Graham, storekeeper; John Croft, tanner; Alexander Miller, cabinetmaker; Joel Luther, physician. This was really the beginning of the village. The principal street was very crooked, and the cabins were ranged along either side of it. A grist- and saw-mill or two, all propelled by water, soon appeared. Jacob Grubb, an excellent cabinetmaker, and other mechanics, soon erected dwellings. A demand for more goods introduced other business men, and more stores were opened. The original plat filled rapidly, and more room was required. Markley's addition was laid out, and, in a few years, Alanson Andrews, Francis Graham, Joseph Sheets and Christopher Mykrantz added their additions. 'Then, in 1846, Ashland 78 - HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO. became the seat of justice, and South Ashland was laid out. More recently, the additions of Rocky, Cowan & Myers, and Willis, have been added. Some of the original streets have been straightened and considerably extended, while Main and Orange streets have been paved and guttered with bowlders. The original cabins and frame structures have gradually disappeared, and been replaced by fine brick buildings along Main and other streets. For many years Ashland was noted for its excellent academy. This was suffered to be merged into the union school system in 1850. At present, her schools are in a prosperous condition. The town contains ten churches, nine Protestant and one Catholic. It has three banks, an Odd Fellows' hall, and a masonic lodge, two manufactories of agricultural implements, four blacksmith shops, two large steam grist-mills, three carriage and wagon manufactories, two steam saw-mills, two lumber yards, two large tanneries, four harness and saddle shops, four shoe stores, three hardware stores, three clothing stores, two hotels, five dry goods stores, four provision stores, three stove and tin stores; two silverware and jewelry stores, two bakery establishments, two printing offices, one gun store, three butcher shops, two furniture stores, one furniture manufactory, sixteen physicians, two dentists, thirteen lawyers, three livery establishments and two book stores. The county buildings add to the business of the place during the sessions of the court, and the payment of taxes. The New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio railroad, with its warehouses and depot, is within the northern limits of the town, and adds to its property wealth. All in all, we conclude that in the future, as in the past, Ashland will go steadily forward in the increase of her population, in wealth, and number of valuable improvements. It is surrounded by a fine, productive country, and can sustain a much greater population. MIFFLIN, formerly called Petersburgh, in Mifflin township, was laid out by William B. James, Peter Deardorff, and Samuel Lewis, June 16, 1816. It was located on the old State road leading from Wooster to Mansfield. For many years it was very thrifty, and, under the old stage era, and during the early settlement of Richland county, was well patronized by the traveling public. George Thomas erected the first tavern, which he conducted until about 1820. The removal of the old stage lines, and the construction of railroads, diverted travel to other lines, and for many years the village has been sustained almost exclusively by the patronage of the farmers of Mifflin. It has one tavern, one store, one cabinet shop, one blacksmith shop, one grocery, a post-office, an excellent district school, one church, one physician, and one shoe shop. It contains a population of about one hundred and fifty. SAVANNAH, formerly Vermillion, in Clearcreek township, was laid out December 25, 1818, by John Haney. It is situated on a beautiful plateau, on the old Vermillion road, and contains a population of about four hundred. It has five churches, two dry goods stores, one tavern, two grocery stores, a wagon and carriage shop, a tannery, two blacksmith shops, a saddle and harness shop, a tailor shop, a cabinet shop, a tin shop, and a number of mechanics. It has, also, a fine academy, which is well patronized, and adds thrift and spirit, to the town. Its inhabitants are, largely, the descendants of Scotch-Irish, intermixed with people of New England birth. The town is noted for its adhesion to total abstinence from every form of intoxicating drinks, and, in this respect, is a safe resort for young men seeking an education, and preparing for future usefulness. ORANGE, in Orange township, was laid out by Amos Norris and John Chilcote, April 22, 1828. It is located on section twenty-eight, on a branch of Mohican creek, in the midst of splendid farming lands. It was for many years- a flourishing village ; but its nearness to the county-seat has somewhat checked its growth. It contains one hotel, one dry goods store, one or two groceries, a blacksmith shop, two_ tanneries, a shoe shop, a harness manufactory, a tailor shop, a post-office called Nankin, a physician, a Presbyterian and a Methodist church, and a good scbool. The New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio railway passes near the village and has a small station and telegraph office. The village is estimated to contain two hundred and fifty inhabitants. HAYESVILLE, situated near the center of Vermillion township, was laid out October 26, 1830, by John Cox and Linus Hayes. The State roads running from Wooster to Mansfield and from Ashland to Loudonville, intersect each other in the center of the town, and constitute its principal streets. It contains two dry goods stores, a wagon and carriage manufactory, two or three blacksmith shops, a cabinet shop, a shoe shop and store, two or three groceries, two hotels, one or two boarding houses, a good district school, one Presbyterian, one United Presbyterian, and one Methodist church, post office, two physicians, and many pleasant residences, The population and business are on the increase. In 1875, a newspaper was started, in connection with Vermillion institute, which has for many years been the ornament of the town. The population of Hayesville is estimated at about six hundred. It is surrounded by a good farming community, and must continue to increase in wealth and population. PERRYSBURGH, in Jackson township, was laid out October 13, 1830, by Josiah Lee and David Buchanan. It has a population of about one hundred and fifty. It has one tavern, two small stores, a shoe shop, a blacksmith shop, a wagon manufactory, a cabinet shop, a tailor, and one church, The post-office is named Albion. The village has had a gradual growth, and is supported by a good farming community, MOHICANVILLE, in the southwest part of Mohican township, was laid out July 2, 1833, by Simeon Beall and Henry Sherradden, HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO - 79 It contains a population of near two hundred, and has three churches, a hotel, one store, a grist-mill propelled by steam and water, a woollen manufactory a wagon shop, a shoe shop, a harness manufactory. a carriage shop, a paint shop, a cabinet shop, a good school, a post- office, and two physicians. The people of the village are wide-awake and prosperous. The village has very fine water-power, and is healthfully located in the midst of excellent farming lands. It has a fair trade, and is mostly supported by the farmers. SULLIVAN, situated in the center of Sullivan township, was laid out in 1836 by Sylvanus Parmely, Ira Palmer, Joseph Palmer and Joseph Carlton, whose lands formed the corners of the center. It contains one tavern, one dry goods store, one shoe shop, one grocery, one carriage shop, one blacksmith shop, one cabinet shop, one harness shop, one steam saw-mill, four good churches, a good school, and is eligibly situated, Its population is about two hndred, and mostly from New England, The post-office bears the name of the village, Its principal support is derived from the neighborhood trade. The population of the township is largely engaged in the dairy business and grazing. ROWSBURGH, in the center of Perry township, was laid out by Michael D. Row, April ,15, 1835. It is situated on the main road from Ashland to Wooster, and has a population of about two hundred and fifty. It has two stores, one tavern, one wagon and blacksmith shop, a large tannery, a cabinet shop, two harness manufactories, three churches, a fine school and a post-office, It also has one physician. The country about the village contains many valuable farms, and the patronage of the farmers contributes largely to the growth and prosperity of the town. There is also considerable travel. LAFAYETTE, in the north part of the township of Perry, was laid out in the spring of 1835, just prior to the platting of Rows- burgh. The original proprietors were William Hamilton and John Zimmerman. The location of the village at that time, gave promise of a fair business and considerable growth, being situated on a much traveled road. The conlry around the village is very productive, and is filled by industrious, frugal, and prosperous farmers. It has one store, a blacksmith, a cabinet-maker, a shoemaker and other mechanics, a good school and one or two churches. The population has not increased of late years. POLK, in Jackson township, was laid out May 4, 1849, by John Kuhn. It is located near the New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio railway, and contains about one hundred and fifty inhabitants. It has a good store, a tavern, a steam saw-mill, a harness manufactory, a blacksmith shop, a post-office, a railroad station, two churches, a good school and two physicians. Its growth for the last few years has been quite rapid. TROY CENTER, in the center of Troy township, became a village in 1851, upon the addition of Norris division. The corners were re-surveyed and consolidated in 1868, and platted. Its post-office is called "Nova." It has one tavern, one store, a blacksmith shop, a steam saw-mill, a shoemaker, a cabinet-maker, a tailor, a tin shop, a harness maker, and about forty dwelling houses, one church and school-house. It also has one lawyer and a physician. The roads from Sullivan and from Ashland cross at right angles, and form the principal streets. It has a fair neighborhood trade. RUGGLES CENTER is located on the intersection of the Ashland, New London and Sullivan roads, and contains a post-office, a grocery store, a blacksmith shop, two shoe shops, one Methodist and one Congregational church, a school, and twelve residences. The old point of trade in the township was the corner west of the center; but since the old trade route to Mohican has been abandoned, in consequence of the completion of the Atlantic & Great Western railway (now the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio), through Ashland, it has gone down, CHAPTER XXXI. EDUCATION AND INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING. A Description of the First School-Houses.—Early Teachers.—What Branches. Taught —School Amusements.—Improved Methods and Progress. —School Statistics for 1875.—Ashland Academy.—Ashland Union Schools.— Vermilhon Institute. — Loudonville Academy. Savannah Academy. — Perrysville Academy. — Ashland College.— Ashland City Church. IN the early settlement of the territory now constituting Ashland county, the system of education adopted by the pioneers was very ineffective. The schools of that period were supported almost exclusively by individual subscriptions, the only aid being a nominal sum received in each township, from leases on section sixteen. Teachers were employed for low wages, or it would have been impossible for the sparse settlers to have maintained or supported any schools. At first, a few pupils were collected in a cabin of one of the pioneers, for instruction, by a volunteer teacher, deemed capable of imparting a knowledge of the elementary branches. In examining the pioneer records, it is found that, in many localities, the first teachers were single or married ladies, and that the amount received for tuition, from the parents of the pupils, was used to defray the expense of clearing and preparing a homestead. They were noble sisters and exemplary wives. The first school-houses were of round logs, and were erected by the joint voluntary efforts of the citizens residing within the district, which was generally large. 'These "backwoods colleges," as they were sometimes denominated in jest, had puncheon floors, benches of 80 - HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO. split timber, writing desks of planed boards, placed in front of a long window, formed by cutting out a log, while the light was reflected through oiled paper ; and benches, the legs of which, for some unexplained reason, were generally quite lengthy. The fire-place was very broad, and the chimney generally erected against the end of the school-house, and formed of split timber, lined with stone and clay. The fuel was of large, round logs for "back sticks," and smaller ones for "fore-sticks," which rested upon a stone or andirons. The schoolhouse, by such a fire, could be made quite comfortable, in all the stages of winter. The fuel was delivered in a sort of voluntary frolic, with teams of oxen and horses, while the axe-men cut and prepared it. In this way, for many years, the earlier schools were supplied with fuel. The earlier teachers were from Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, and the New England States. Sometimes an educated Irishman sought and obtained employment as a teacher. In a general way, good order, in school hours, was rigidly enforced; and if a ready compliance, on the part of the pupil, was not yielded, an application of birch readily induced the recreant scholar to comply. The theory of moral suasion was not so popular then as now. The commands of the teacher were obeyed, much as those of the military officer, where no argument, as to the right or wrong of a command, is permitted. The modern theory is: More argument, and less birch. Both systems have their advocates. The course of instruction in those days was generally limited to the elementary branches, such as spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, and English grammar. These branches were carefully and thoroughly taught. In penmanship, the old fashioned round hand prevailed. The Spencerian was unknown. In spelling, the scholar champion often spelled every word in the book. In arithmetic, every problem was solved. In fact, the scholars of those days illustrated the adage "beware of the man of one book," because they knew all that their school books contained. The brains of the student were not addled, like the over-tasked scholar of the present, with six or eight half-mastered, and ill- digested branches. The speculation in new text books had not been introduced. The amusements of those days consisted in a game of "town ball," somewhat like the modern "base ball," "corner ball," "chase the fox," leaping, running, and wrestling. These athletic sports were harmless, and entered into at recess and noon, with much spirit and good humor, and were supposed to add vigor to both body and mind. Spelling schools were conducted with a good deal of enthusiasm, and rival schools, from adjoining neighborhoods, often competed for the championship. At the approach of the holidays, it was the custom of the larger boys and girls to insist upon the enforcement of the immemorial usage of exacting a "treat" from the teacher. This generally consisted in the donation of a bushel of apples, a gallon or two of cider, and a lot of pies or cakes. As a general rule, the teacher yielded to the custom, but sometimes refused. Upon refusal, the sport of "barring" the door and windows, to exclude the teacher, was the next resort. The issue being thus joined, either the teacher or scholars had to surrender. A good deal of strategy followed on both sides. If the teacher—an Irishman—gained admission, a beech or hickory rod soon enforced obedience. Sometimes the boys, being large and rugged, seized the teacher and expelled him by force. In that case the obstinate "master" compromised by agreeing to donate a bushel of apples, while the courageous scholars would remit the cider and pies. The apples were distributed, and after a good deal of merriment and many practical jokes, steady habits and hard study were resumed. But a change was rapidly approaching. Farmers were becoming wealthy. The school lands were sold, and the deficiency of funds was supplied by direct. taxation. The next grand improvement was the erection of neat, commodious, well painted and furnished school-houses in every district in the county. Township school boards enforced this system by local taxation, and the standard of qualification for teachers was raised, until our common schools now rival, in number of branches, the academies of forty years ago. The names of a few of the early teachers are well remembered. Miss Elizabeth Rice, afterwards Mrs. John Coulter, taught a little subscription school in a cabin near the present site of Perrysville, in the .summer of 1814. She yet survives, and lives in the village of Congress, in Wayne county, Ohio. In the winter of 1816 Asa Brown had a school about one mile north of Perrysville. In the summer of 1817 Mrs. Patrick Elliott taught a small school in her cabin home in Clearcreek. In the winter of 1817 Robert Nelson taught in a cabin on the premises of the late Abraham Huffman, in Clearcreek. In 1818 Rev. John Hazard taught a small school in what is now known as the "Crouse" district, in Montgomery. He was followed by the late Sage Kellogg, in 1819-20. In 1818 John G. Mosier is believed to have taught the first. school in Perry. About the same time L. Parker taught a small school in the Priest neighborhood, in Lake. At a later period John Bryte, of Clearcreek, Hugh Burn of Milton, Therygood Smith, of Montgomery, th daughters of Sterling G. Bushnell, of Vermillion, Chandler Foot and Lorin Andrews, of Montgomery, were among the noted teachers. The thoughtless destruction of township records makes it impossible to extend, accurately, a list of the early teachers. It is proper to state, in this connection, that many of the better educated pioneers instructed their own families in the elementary branches. The common schools of this county are now in a flourishing condition. The amount annually approp ated for the employment of competent teachers, insures a continuous school, in each district, of from four to six months each year. The total number of scholars enrolled in common schools for 1875 was 5,041 The total number enrolled in the high schools for 1875, was 1,306 The total number of teachers in the common and high schools in 1875, was 231 HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO - 81 The total value of school-houses in 1875, was - $86, 800 The total value of high school property, in 1875 was - 71,500 The total amount paid teachers of common schools, in 1875, was - 42,258 The total amount paid teachers in high schools, in 1875, was - 36,357 The total number of school-houses, in 1875, was - 118 The total amount for defraying expenses in the erection of high school buildings in 1875,$2,905 The amount received from section 16, Fund in 1875 - 1,686 The amount of Western Reserve fund received in 1875 - 65 From the foregoing statistics, it will be seen, that the neglect to give each member of a family, at least a good common school education, is growing unpopular; and to be illiterate, amid so many school advantages, is regarded as inexcusable. Mental culture and intellectual development bring out the latest sparks of genius, and enable civilized communities to advance in all that conduces to the peace, prosperity and happiness of man. We will now direct attention .to the higher institutions of learning, and see that the people of Ashland county have placed a proper estimate upon the importance and value of a finished education. ASHLAND ACADEMY. In the year 1838, Professor Samuel McClure, of Cuyahoga Falls, taught a select school in Ashland, which attracted a good deal of interest. Public attention was directed by Professor McClure and others, to the project of erecting and organizing, under trustees, an Academy at Ashland, with a view of attracting a large number of foreign students. In the years 1838-9, through the efforts of the principal citizens of Ashland, and other villages in what is now Ashland county, a handsome brick structure, two stories high, was erected, and dedicated as Ashland academy. The board of trustees was as follows: Rev. Robert Fulton, president; Johh P. Rizner, John Jacobs, William 5. Granger, Joseph Wasson, Francis Graham, James Stewart, Abraham Huffman, Joseph McComb, Daniel W. Frown, Willliam McComb; Jones Stout and Silas Robbins, secretaries; and John L. Lang, treasurer. The board elected Rev. Robert Fulton, A. M., principal; Rev. R. R. Sloan, assistant; and Miss Jane E. Coulter, preceptress of the ladies department. They entered on the discharge of their duties in May, 1839. Professor R. Fulton died in 1841, and was succeeded by Rev. Samuel Fulton, of Pittsburgh. Professor Sloan and Miss Coulter continued as assistants about two years, under the new principal. Professor Samuel Johnston succeeded Rev. S. Fulton, and a sister, Cecilia, became preceptress in lieu of Miss Coulter, who became Mrs. Sloan ; and Lorin Andrews succeeded Professor Sloan. In 1844 Professor Johnston resigned, and Professor Lorin Andrews became principal, Professor A. M. Fulton, assistant, and Miss Lisle, preceptress. She remained about one year, and Miss Jane M. Becket became preceptress of the ladies' department. Professor A. M. Fulton resigned about 1846, and was succeeded by Professor John M. Rankin, who continued about eighteen months. In 1847 Professor Andrews resigned to engage in the union school enterprise, He was succeeded by Rev. John M. Rowe in 1848, who was aided by Professor T. V. Milligan. After a struggle of about one year the labors of Professor Rowe terminated, and the academy was discontinued; and the buildings finally merged into the union school. Ashland academy had a very successful career of over ten years, during which it sustained a high reputation at home and abroad. Very few academic institutions of Ohio can furnish a roll of scholars containing more influential and leading men, as teachers, attorneys, physicians, men of science, and politicians. ASHLAND UNION SCHOOL. Under the act authorizing the erection of union schools, the electors of the Ashland school district, in 1850, adopted that system and proceeded to erect buildings. A large central building was constructed, adjoining the old academy, for the high school, while the latter was occupied for the primary branches. Professor John Lynch was elected by the board the first superintendent. He resigned in 1852, and was succeeded by Pr0fessor Seth M. Barber. Professor Barber continued until 1861, when he resigned to take a captain's position in the army. He was temporarily succeeded by Professor C. W. Mykrants. Professor George L. Mills succeeded Mr. Mykrants in September, 1862. Professor Mills was succeeded by Professor Foose, and he by Professor S. E. Pearree, and he, in 1867, by Professor Barber, who continued as superintendent until 1872, when he resigned, and Professor T. J. Bartin was elected. In 1875 Professor J. A. Beattie was elected. In 1874-‘5 a large central building was erected at an expense of thirty-two thousand dollars. It makes a fine appearance. VERMILLION INSTITUTE. Those in Vermillion township who desired advanced educational training beyond the facilities furnished in the common schools, were compelled to send their children to the academy at Ashland or to more distant institutions. The enterprising people of Hayesville and Vermillion township, upon a full discussion of the subject, concluded that the establishment of a high school or academy at Hayesville would reduce the expense of sending their youth to distant schools, and at the same time contribute to the growth and interest of the village. By the joint efforts of her citizens, a sufficient amount of stock was subscribed to .warrant the erection of an academic building. In 1842 a high school was opened by Rev. Lewis Granger, of Granville, who was elected principal. The school was non-sectarian. Rev. J. L. McLean took a deep interest in the school, and it prospered beyond expectation. In 1845 a charter was granted by the legislature erecting the school with Vermillion institute, and authorizing it to confer degrees. The erection of a suitable building for the institute was, commenced, and on the fourth of July, 1845, the corner stone was laid. Upon the completion of the building, Rev.. J. L. McLean was elected president, with assistants W. J, Booth and others. The institute course of studies was the same as a collegiate routine. The machinery was too intricate for the patronage, and the institution resumed the academic course. Under this ar- 82 - HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO. rangement the institution had a prosperous career for about five years. In 1850, the presbytery of Richland, and, in 1854, Wayne and Coshocton, joined in the purchase of the institute, and elected trustees, who employed the professors. At first there were ten trustees, but when Wayne and Coshocton joined Richland, in 1854, in its management, the number was extended to fifteen. By this arrangement the institution came under the management of the Presbyterians. Professor S. Diefendorf, a learned and accomplished scholar, was selected as principal, and W. W. Colmary and W. T. Adams assistants, Professor W, J. Booth took charge of the mathematical branches, under President McLean, and resigned in 1850 and removed to Athens. Professor Diefendorf, after being absent about one year, resumed his place as principal in 1851, and continued until 1866, when he resigned and moved west. In 1867 Professor J. Simpson took charge of the school, but remained only a short time. Professor A. F. Ross became principal in the fall of 1868, but retrained only a few months, and resigned, In 1869 Professor Diefendorf again resumed his old position, but soon withdrew. In 1870-71 Professor W. J. Brugh became principal. In 1872 Professor John Martin succeeded Professor Brugh; he remained but a short time. In 1873 Professor J. A. Bower was elected principal. Owing to disputes arising in the board of trustees, the institution was transferred, in 1874, to its original owners, and passed from the management of the presbytery. In 1875 the institution again became non-sectarian, and is now managed by new trustees. Under this management Professors W. J. Ward and J. B. Paine became teachers, and continued until the close of the session of 1876, when they retired. The institution, after a checkered and restless career, is again under the management of the accomplished and learned Professor Diefendorf. The institute property is estimated to be worth about six thousand dollars. May it again flourish. LOUDONVILLE ACADEMY. This institution originated from a high school taught by the late Professor John McCormick, about the year 1848. It was erected by the joint efforts of the citizens of Loudonville. The location of the academy was very pleasant. The school was well patronized for the first four or five years. Professor McCormick remained about two years, and was succeeded by Professor Andrew J. Scott, who continued until 1852, and was succeeded by the author of these notes, who continued one session, and resigned in consequence of ill health. From 1853, the school languished under a number of changes, and was finally consolidated with the high schools. SAVANNAH ACADEMY. This institution was the result of a voluntary subscription on the part of the citizens of Clearcreek township. Those favoring the enterprise formed a joint stock company, agreeing to name the institution, "The Savannah Male and Female Academy." The required stock was secured and the necessary buildings erected. A board of trustees was elected, consisting of Dr. John Ingram, Dr. Thomas Hayes, Rev. Alex. Scott, A, F. Shaw, Daniel G. Templeton, Rev, R. Newt0n, Rev. A, Rum field, John R. Bailey, Rev. John Bryte, Samuel Gault, James Heant, Jared N. Slonaker, Joseph McCutchin, Dr. W. S. Shaw, S. Shaw, and Mead Fancher. One-third of the hoard served three years, one-third two, and one-third one year. Daniel G. Templeton was elected president, Rev, A. Riverfield vice-president, Dr. J. Ingram secretary, and Mead Fancher treasurer. The school was to be non-sectarian. The board elected Professor E. J, Rice, of Sullivan, principal; Miss — Foster and Miss — Rice, graduates, took charge of the female department. Rev, A, Scott was elected professor of moral science, Rev, R, Newton of history, and Dr. John Ingram of natural science. The course of study in the male department was quite thorough, and that of the female department was preparatory for graduation. Professor Rice served about two years, and was succeeded by Rev. A. Scott as principal, and Dr. J. Ingram as assistant. Miss — Stafford and Miss — Rutan had charge of the female department. In 1862, Professor C. K. Geddes was elected principal, while Miss M. Boynton took charge of the female department, Upon the resignation of Professor Geddes, Rev. Samuel F. Boyd became principal and Professor Elias Fraemfelter associate. Miss Mattie Franks took charge of the female department. Upon the resignation of Professor Boyd, Professor J. Peoples became principal, and, upon his retirement, Professor J, A. Brown took charge of the institution. The academy came under the control of the presbytery of Wooster in 1875. A committee of five was appointed to co-operate with the original trustees, who continue to be elected as in the organization of the institution. The property is valued at about four thousand dollars. PERRYSVILLE ACADEMY. This institution was erected in 1871. It is thirty-two by forty-five feet, two stories high, and cost about three thousand five hundred dollars. It is eligibly situated, and deserves a liberal patronage. Professor J. C. Sample has been the principal since the erection of the academy. It originated from a select school, in 1869, under Professor Sample. He opened the school and met with flattering success. The project of erecting an academy was put on foot, and resulted in that institution. The average number of students is about seventy- five. The advanced branches are taught, and many teachers are departing from the school annually. Their influence is felt in many parts of the county. ASHLAND COLLEGE. For many years the Church of the Brethren (Tunkers had under consideration the propriety of establishing an institution for the higher education of the sons and daughters in that denomination, and had made a number of attempts in this direction at Berlin, and at Plans Creek, Pennsylvania, and at Bourbon, Indiana, all o which efforts had failed ; but the friends of the movement in northeastern Ohio, undaunted by previous reverses, determined to make their enterprise a success, and solicited S. Z. Sharp, their professor in Marysville HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO - 83 college, Tennessee, to sever his connection with that institution and throw his entire energy into this new enterprise. After several refusals, he at last consented, and in Jne, 1877, made a tour through a part of this State in search of a suitable location. The choice of himself and friends was nearly unanimous in favor of Ashland, and when this was well discussed by the friends of the movement, the matter was laid before some of the most influential citizens of Ashland, who at once caught the spirit, called a meeting in the city hall, where an unusually large and enthusiastic audience was addressed by the present president of the college, S. Z. Sharp, who set forth the object of the founders to be to establish a college equal to any in the State ; that it would be under the care of the Church of the Brethren to the same extent that other colleges were under the care of their religious bodies; that among the prominent features of the institution would be thorough scholarship, and the cultivation of a sentiment among the students to appreciate solid worth rather than vain show; and that plain, neat attire, and a richly stored mind, were better than a gaudy dress and an empty mind. After hearing the plan and aims of the proposed institution, the citizens of Ashland unanimously endorsed the project, and at once raised ten thousand dollars towards the erection of the college building. The most beautiful site in this part of the State was selected. A campus of twenty-seven acres of land was bought for six thousand three hundred and thirty-three dollars, and a building erected which is at this writing nearly completed, and will cost, including material, work, supervision, furniture, apparatus and cabinet, sixty thousand dollars. The college building is one hundred feet front, one hundred deep, four stories high, built of brick, roofed with slate, and, for substantial construction and convenience, has few equals. There is also a boarding hall one hundred and ten feet long, forty feet wide and four stories high, which, when completed, will cost between ten and eleven thousand dollars. A charter was obtained February 22, 1878, by which the institution is placed under the care of members of the church of the Brethren, and put upon an equal footing with any other college in the State. The charter provides for the following courses of instruction: classical, philosophical, normal and commercial. The college was formally opened September 17, 1879, with a full corps of instructors, as follows: Elder S. Z. Sharp, A. M., president, professor of mental and moral philosophy; L. Huber, A.M., professor of Latin and modern languages; J. E. Stubbs, A. M., professor of Greek language and literature; David Bailey, A. M., professor of mathematics; Jacob Keim, Ph. D., professor 0f natural science; J. C. Ewing, professor of music; Mrs. C. P. Chapman, teacher of painting and drawing. The first term closed December 24, 1879, with one hundred and twelve pupils enrolled, and was regarded is a decided success in every respect. ASHLAND CITY CHURCH. The Ashland City Church of the Brethren (Dunkard) was organized May 22, 5879, with S. Z. Sharp as elder in charge, and S. H. Basher, assistant in the ministry. J. H. Worst was also called to the ministry, on the day of organization; and J. N. Roop and E. J. Worst, deacons. The membership enrolled at that time was forty- three, which has increased since to sixty-five. The congregation worships every Sabbath in the chapel of Ashland college, and has a Sunday school of over one hundred members. The Gospel Preacher, having a circulation of about five thousand, and Our Sunday School, a juvenile weekly, having nearly six thousand subscribers, are published in Ashland, under the auspices of the Brethren church. CHAPTER XXXII. RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES AND CHURCHES. The Eckley Church. — The Presbyterians. — Methodist Episcopal Churches.—The Evangelical Lutheran.—Baptists and Disciples.— German Baptists, or Tunkers.—The Evangelical Association.—German Reformed.—Catholics. IN the early settlements of the territory now composing Ashland county, there were but few organized churches. An occasional minister, of the Presbyterian or Methodist persuasions, traversed this region. The pioneers, for a number of years, assembled in a log cabin to hear preaching. If the weather permitted, people often gathered in the forest, and sometimes in a log barn to hear a new minister. As the country improved, and the settlements became more densely populated, religious societies of kindred faith, by voluntary contributions of labor, prepared timber, and other necessary materials, began the erection of small hewed log churches, and employed a preacher to deliver an occasional discourse. In this way, all the early organizations struggled along from year to year, until Providence enabled them to build more elegant structures for public worship. The name of the first organized religious association, within the present limits of the county, remains in some uncertainty. The Eckley church, a log building, in the northeast part of Vermillion township, was undoubtedly the first church edifice erected within the county. We understand, however, that it was a union building, and free to all Protestant ministers, and was long so used by all denominations. The Methodists being much more numerous, occupied the building the major part of the time for many years. THE PRESBYTERIANS. Upon carefully comparing traditions, we are inclined to the opinion that the first organized congregation was within the present limits of Montgomery township. The membership was largely composed of the residents of Milton township. It was organized by the settlers of 1815-16, who were the descendants of the Scotch-Irish. In 1816 these people, mostly from western Pennsylvania, were visited by Rev. Joshua Beer, who preached a few 84 - HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO. sermons in the cabins of the pioneers, and became a candidate for settlement among the congregation then 'organizing. About the same time Rev. William Mathews also became a candidate for employment. Upon consultation, the members gave Mr. Mathews the preference, and employed him one-third of the time. The balance of the time was divided between Mt. Hope, in Perry, and Jeromeville, in Mohican township, where a few Presbyterians were beginning to organize, with a view of erecting churches. In 1817 the Hopewell congregation was organized, and twenty-two persons received on certificates and twelve on examination. In 1818 Robert Nelson and Abraham Doty were elected elders, ordained and installed. The members, so far as we can learn, were Robert Nelson, Abraham Doty, David McKinney, William Huston, David Pollock, Abel Montgomery, William Andrews, George Ryall, Samuel Burns, David Burns, Jasper Snook, James Clingin, James Ferguson, Hance Hamilton, Thomas Cook, Robert Culbertson, Isaac Mathews, Jesse Mathews, William Lions, John Hall, George Hall, Samuel Urie, James Black, William Shilling, and their wives, and Mrs. Jane Burgett, Mrs. Mary Stevenson, Mary Vanoshand, Susan Vanmeter, Nancy Owens, Margaret and Mary Owens, Mary Callen, Nancy Starret, Obediah Ferrell, John Crabs, John Prosser, Joseph Scott, Elisha Kelley, and Cornelius Eaton. In 1819 a hewed log church, thirty by thirty-five feet, was erected one and a half miles west of Uniontown, now Ashland, on what is now the Olivesburgh road. According to the recollection of Mr. John Nelson, son of Robert, "the building had a cabin roof, plank floors and door, plank benches without backs or cushions, the windows very high from the ground, the pulpit elevated after the old style, four or five steps, and boarded as high as a man's shoulders. The church was heated, in winter, by a large box-stove, capable of receiving four-foot wood. The building was erected by the voluntary efforts of the pioneers and members, some furnishing a quota of hewn timber, others, plank and boards, and others, clapboards, sash, glass and nails, while others, with teams, hauled the materials to the ground where the church was to be erected. William Andrews and George Ryall, excellent singers, were chosen to conduct the music. They were stationed near the pulpit, on a platform, where they read two lines of a psalm or hymn-- " And are we wretches yet alive, And do we yet rebel?" and sang, the congregation joining as the leaders proceeded to read and sing." These services—reading, singing, and preaching—began about ten o'clock in the forenoon, and continued until about twelve o'clock, when there was a recess, after which the services were renewed for one or two hours. In the absence of the pastor, a reader was selected from among the church officers, who read a printed or written discourse for the edification of the members. This task frequently fell upon Elder Robert Nelson, who is said to have been a fluent reader. It was not uncommon, at that period, for members and others to ride or walk three or four miles, along the forest paths, to attend day and evening meetings. We have been thus careful in the description of the early practices of the pioneers, for the reason that all other denominations passed through a similar routine until their organization and membership were sufficient to warrant the erection of denominational church buildings. The Rev. William Mathews continued, a portion of his time at Hopewell, until 1821, and was succeeded by Rev. Robert Lee, who remained until 1826, when he was succeeded by Rev. William Mathews, who devoted one-third of his time, until 1833, when he was succeeded by Rev. James Robinson, who gave half his time, until 1837, the congregation, in the meantime, increasing to about one hundred and fifty members. In 1837-38 a lot was purchased in Ashland, and a large frame church erected thereon, and the old church was abandoned. The minister officiating at that time was Rev. Samuel Hare. In 1839 Rev. S. N. Barnes supplied the pulpit He was succeeded by Rev. Robert Fulton, then principal of Ashland academy. He remained until 1841, and was succeeded by Rev. James Robinson, who remained until 1843, when he was succeeded by Rev. Samuel Moody, who was pastor until his demise, in 1856. The church building, soon after, became the property of the Catholics, the congregation having dissolved and connected with other churches. The Jeromeville Presbyterian church, in point of time succeeds Hopewell. The congregation was organized a early as 1817, and Rev. William Mathews divided hi time with Rehoboth, as it was called in 1820, and Hope well. The first church edifice was erected in 1820. Mr. Mathews was succeeded, in 1820, by Rev. Robert Lee, and he, in 1829, by Rev. R. Brown, who remained ntil 1832. He was succeeded by the following, in the order named: Revs. Robert Fulton, Samuel Fulton, William Colmary, S. Diefendorf, and Thomas Beer. The last named remained until 1857, and was succeeded by Rev. James Bower. In the meantime, after 1830, Revs. Samuel Baldridge, Joseph Wylie, Benjamin Lowe, and J. W. Knott are believed to have acted as supplies. The membership is thirty-five. The Mt. Hope Presbyterian church, in the northeast part of Perry township, was organized in 1820, and a small log building erected. At that period, it was known as the "Muddy Fork church," being situated near that stream. In 1831, the name was changed. Its first pastor was Rev. William Mathews, who, at that time, had charge of Hopewell, near Ashland. He was succeeded by Rev. Robert Lee. In 1829, Rev. R. Brown became pastor. He preached also at Congress and Jeromeville. In 1834, Rev. Thomas Beer took charge of the church. In 1836, the building was accidentally burned. In 1841, a new church was built. Mr. Beer remained until 1857, when he was succeeded by Rev. T B. VanEmmons. The church ceased to exist in 1861-2 having lost its membership by emigration. The Perrysville Presbyterian church was organized early as 1818, by Rev. S. Baldridge. He remained HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO - 85 some time, and was succeeded by Rev. William Hughes, in 1829. The present church building was erected in 1865, and is thirty-four by fifty-five feet, and has a bell. The building is neat, and cost three thousand dollars. The church also possesses an organ, The original elders were Thomas Coulter, John VanHorn, and George Crawford. The Rev. William Hughes, who filled its pulpit for thirty-seven years, retired in 1866, in consequence of age and feeble health. He states that, when he came, there were no church buildings in either Hanover or Lake, and but one in Green township. The membership is one hundred and twenty-five. The Lake Fork Presbyterian church was organized in 1826, through the efforts of Rev. Samuel Baldridge. The congregation met in the cabins of the pioneers, until 1831, and in 1832 erected a church. The congregation, always small, ceased to exist in 1858, since which time there has been no regular service. The Savannah Presbyterian congregation was organized by Rev. Robert Lee, in 1833. He and Rev. William Mathews are believed to have supplied the church, occasionally, as ministers, until 1840, when Rev. F. A. Shearer succeeded to the pastorship of the church, and continued two years. In 1845, Rev. W. C. Kniffin became pastor, remaining three years; and in 1848, Rev. W. T. Adams became the pastor, and remained two years. In 1856, Rev. A. Scott became its pastor, and remained until 1872. In the interval between 1850 and 1856, Rev. William Bonar, Rev. James Anderson, and Rev. Jacob Coon, labored as supplies. The membership, at present, is one hundred and seventy-eight ; and Rev. John Kelley is pastor. In 1861, the church building was considerably enlarged and improved. The Orange Presbyterian church was organized in 1834, principally through the efforts of Rev. William Mathews. In 1835, Rev. Nathaniel Cobb was pastor ; and in 1841, Rev. F. A. Shearer became pastor, devoting one-third of his time. In 1843, Rev. Samuel Moody became its pastor, dividing his time equally between Hopewell and Orange. He continued until his decease, in 1856; when Rev. A. Scott become its pastor, „lid continued until 1872. Rev. S. T. Boyd, the present pastor, was his successor. The number of members is about eighty. The United Presbyterian church of Hayesville was organized in 1838, by Rev. Samuel Hindman. He had preached in Hayesville occasionally, one or two years prior to that time. He devoted one-fourth of his time to Hayesville, and the balance to Mansfield, Iberia, and Savannah. He retired in 1842. In 1844 Rev. J. L. McLain took charge of the congregation, dividing his time equally between Mansfield and Hayesville. He retired in 1855. From that period until 1856, the church had occasional supplies. In 1856, Rev. J. Y. Ashenhust became the pastor, dividing his time equally between Savannah and Hayesville. In 1859, after the union of the associate reformed churches, Mr. Ashenhust confined his services to Hayesville. The present membership is about eighty. The First Presbyterian church of Ashland, in consequence of a division in Hopewell, on the subject of music and modes of worship, was organized in 1841. The congregation of Hopewell opposed choir music. Those concurring in the propriety of a choir, after a number of conferences and consultations, withdrew from the mother church, and established a new one, which received the name of the First Presbyterian church of Ashland. The new congregation erected a fine free-stone building, forty-three by sixty-five feet, and fifteen years afterward increased its length to eighty-four feet, and otherwise greatly improved it. It has a large bell and a good organ. It was served by Rev. Robert and Samuel Fulton, as supplies, until 1843, when Rev. John Robinson became the pastor, and has continued ever since, a period of over thirty-one years. It has prospered greatly under his ministry, and now contains a membership of about three hundred and twenty. The Second Presbyterian church of Ashland was removed in 1879, and a new and handsome brick church built by the congregation, at an expense of about twenty- five thousand dollars, on the old location. The present structure presents an imposing appearance, and retains the old bell. The Presbyterian church of Hayesville was organized in 1846, through the efforts of Rev. Benjamin T. Lowe, who divided his time between the churches of Jeromeville and Hayesville. Rev. William W. Calmary succeeded the former, and remained until 1850, when he was succeeded by Rev. S. Diefendorf. In 1852, he was succeeded by Rev. Jacob Coon. in 1853 he resigned, and the church remained without a stated minister until 1854, when Rev. Diefendorf again supplied the pulpit. In 1859, a new frame building was erected by the congregation, and Mr. Diefendorf continued, as supply. The church, at present, has no minister. The membership is about one hundred. The Mifflin Presbyterian congregation was organized in 1851, through the efforts of Rev. W. T. Adams. The membership being too feeble to erect a church building, worshipped in the union church, which was erected in 1851, and occupied by the Baptists, Albrights, Methodists, and Presbyterians, jointly. The congregation ceased to exist, through inability to sustain the preaching of the gospel, in 1854. The Free Presbyterian church of Savannah was organized in 1851, by Rev. F. M. Finney. It had but fourteen members at its organization. The congregation still occupies the Associate Reform church. It has not increased largely in members, and at present has no minister. The United Presbyterian church of Savannah was organized in 1858. Its membership was derived from the union of the Associate and Reformed Presbyterian churches. The membership is now believed to be about one hundred. The first pastor was Rev. J. Y. Ashenhust. In 1861 Rev. William Bruce became the stated supply. The congregation occupies the Free Presbyterian church, and the present pastor is Rev. Mr. Miller. The Associate Reformed Presbyterians of Savannah organized as early as 1831, the Rev. James Johnson be- 86 - HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO. ing the first minister. He was succeeded by Rev. James Arbuthnot. The congregation erected a house of worship in 1834, and a new and more commodious one in 1845. Originally the church was the strongest in Clear- creek township, having among its members some of the most influential of the pioneers, among whom were the McMeekins, the Welshes, the Hearsts, the Paxtons, the Dunlaps, the Marshalls, Longbridges and Craytons, of Scotch-Irish descent. We are unable to give the exact number of members. The Presbyterian church of Savannah, presided over by Rev. Kelley, removed their old church in 1879, and built a new one at an expense of about five thousand dollars. It is a frame, has a, bell, and presents a fine appearance. It is located a little east of the old church on another lot. The Presbyterians of the village of Polk, in Jackson township, formerly connected with the Orange church, erected a handsome frame edifice in 1875. The exact number of members we are unable to give. The minister is Rev. Samuel T. Boyd. The Loudonville Presbyterian church was organized in 1873. The pastor was Rev. Homer Sheely. In 1874 he resigned, in consequence of ill health. In 1875 a neat church edifice was erected. The membership is about fifty. The present pastor is the Rev. F. R. Davis. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES. The first Methodist preachers held their meetings in the cabins of the pioneers until a sufficient number of members were obtained to form a class, with leaders. When the membership became sufficiently numerous, small log or frame churches were erected, and their congregations speedily enlarged. As communities improved in wealth and means, a new era dawned, log churches disappeared, and neat frame or brick structures took their place. The circuits were large, and traveled on horseback. The early preachers were proverbial for their good horses.' Strong, active animals were chosen. In making the round of their circuits through the forests, across the valleys and amid the hills of Ohio, in the inclement seasons of the year, these animals often carried their faithful riders across swollen streams and through bogs and swampy paths to their appointments. The characteristic hat, white cravat, and Quaker coat, of the Methodist preacher, enabled the pioneer to recognize his mission. The zeal and energy manifested by the early Methodist preachers captivated the plain settlers; and small classes were formed in almost every section of the country. The first church building occupied by the Methodist people of this county, is believed to have been erected by George Eckley and his neighbors, in the northeast part of Vermillion township, in 1816 or 1818, and was free to all Protestant denominations. Mr. Eckley was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and that people being the most numerous in the settlement, occupied the church—a plain log building,--the major part of the time. At an early day, a number of quarterly conferences were held at this church. The members from a distance prepared and brought food from home, upon which to subsist during the progress of the meetings. In fact, Methodism radiated from "Eckley's" to every part of the county, and that church must be credited with being the originator of Methodism in this region. The old church has long since tumbled into ruins; and a more showy frame structure, known as "Newman's church," occupies its place. The membership is small. The Methodist Episcopal church of Ashland, was organized in 1823. The first class was composed of the following members: Jacob Grubb and wife, James Hull and wife, Elijah Oram and wife, James Kent and wife, Therygood Smith and wife, James Swaney and wife, John Smith and wife, Mrs. Henry Gamble, Belinda and Mary Smith. James Swaney was the first class leader, The class was organized by Revs. James Hazard and James Haney. It met at the house of John Smith, (which stood near the site of the brick residence of the late Christopher Mykrantz,) for a number of years. In the meantime, Father Goff McIntire, and Rev. H. 0 Sheldon, are remembered as having traveled this circuit, In 1835 6, the congregation erected a large freestone church in which they worshiped until 1847, when it was disposed of to the county commissioners for a temporary court house. In 1848, a new brick church was commenced. It was about ten years before it was completed throughout. It is fifty by eighty-five feet, and has a basement for class rooms and official meetings—a choir and melodeon and a good bell. The church is frescoed and the seats are neatly arranged and finished. The membership is about three hundred. In this, as in all the other Methodist churches of this county, it is impracticable to give a full list of ministers, owing to the fact that they have been changed every one or two years. The Methodist Episcopal church of Orange was organized in 1830, and a small church erected. In 1853 the present edifice, forty by sixty feet, was built. Vachel Metcalf and John Sloan were very active in organizing the first class. The Reverends Elmer Yocum and John Jaynes were the first circuit preachers. The early members were John Sloan, Vachel Metcalf, Jacob Fluke, John, Isaac and Andrew Mason, Wesley Richards, Isaac Gordon, Thomas Richards, Henry Gill, George Koontz, John Fluke and their wives. The present membership is about one hundred and fifty. The Jeromeville Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1820, and a log church built. The first class was composed of the following members : Luke Ingmand, Edmund Ingmand, Robert Copels, Samuel Warner, John Naylor and their wives, Mrs. Ezra Warner and daughters. Preaching was at first held in cabins, and sometimes in the forest, until the first church was built The congregation, in 1858, erected a new frame church; The membership is now about one hundred. The Hayesville Methodist Episcopal church was or ganized about the year 1830. A class had been formed prior to that time, and preaching held in the cabins or the pioneers. The first church was of logs, twenty-eight HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO - 87 by thirty-five feet. In 1855 the congregation erected a new frame church thirty-eight by fifty feet. The present number of members is one hundred and fifty. The Ford Methodist Episcopal church, of Clearcreek township, was erected in 1830, by the voluntary contributions of the pioneers of Clearcreek. From about the year 1821 the cabin of Thomas Ford was the prominent place for public worship. A large class was formed, principally through the exertions of Father Goff and Rev. James Haney. Thomas Ford was a zealous and influential member. When the new church was completed the quarterly conferences were held in it for several years. We are unable to give the present number of members, probably about fifty. The McKay Methodist Episcopal church was organized by the formation of a class in 1834, and in 1837, after having had preaching in cabins for some time, a neat church was erected at the corners. The church subsequently became a union church, owing to its feeble membership, and is now free to all Protestant denominations. The Loudonville Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1834, by the formation of a class, by Rev. Elijah Yocum. The class and congregation met in the warehouse of Thomas McMahon. A church twehty- four by thirty-six feet was erected in 1836. In 1856 a new church, forty by fifty feet, was built. The membership is about one hundred. The Mohicanville Methodist Episcopal church was organized by Rev. Elijah Yocum, as a class, in 1828. The congregation, for some years, met in cabins and a log school-house, near the village., In 1844 the congregation built the present church. Its members number about seventy. The Rowsburgh Methodist Episcopal church was originally organized, as a class, in 1822, at the house of the late John Helman, north of the village, and continued to meet, for preaching, at his house, for about thirty years. In 1854 a church, thirty-eight 'by fifty feet, was built in the village. The present number of members is ab0ut seventy. The Perrysville Methodist Episcopal church was built in 1871, and cost one thousand five hundred dollars. It has a good bell, and is neat in all its arrangements. It is thirty-two by fifty feet, and heated by a furnace. Its membership is about seventy-five. The Polk Methodist Episcopal church was organized some time prior to 1839, as a class. In that year a church was built. The congregation, at that time, belonged to the Ashland circuit. Its leading members were the Bryans, Chilcotes, Richards, Proudfits, Ruff- corns, Gordons and Barracks. It has now about sixty- five members. The Perrysburgh Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1839 by Rev. John Mitchell. Its members were the Coles, Buchanans, Bryans, Berrys, Withouts, Reeds, Smiths, and others. The church was built in the year 1839. Its membership numbers about seventy- five. The Lake Fork Methodist Episcopal church was erected in 1838. It is twenty-eight by thirty-four feet. A class had been formed some time prior to that time. Elijah Yocum was quite active as a local preacher in that part of the county, and was influential in the promotion of many classes, which subsequently increased in numbers until a small church was built. The present membership is small. In 1876 a new church was built, which cost two thousand five hundred dollars. It is finely finished and frescoed. The North Orange Methodist Episcopal church was erected in 1848, and had but eleven members. It is twenty-five by thirty feet. The members now number about sixty. The Hammond Methodist Episcopal church, in the northwest part of Vermillion township, was erected in 1852. It is a neat frame building. The membership numbers about sixty. The Sherradden Methodist Episcopal church, in the east part of Montgomery township, was erected sometime between 1830 and 1835. It was torn down about 1870, and a neat frame, twenty-five by thirty-five feet, erected. The membership is not large. The Methodist Episcopal church of Savannah was erected in 1838. It was heeded to John Freeborn, Adam Smith, Thomas Ford, Anthony McLaughlin, and A. G. Richardson, as trustees, from James Burgan, being lot ninety-nine. It has been repaired at different times, and is now known as in Savannah circuit. Its present membership is about fifty. Mr. Joseph McCutchin, our informant, has been a member and leader for twenty-five years. The congregation have also a parsonage, which was erected in 1868. The Ruggles Methodist Episcopal church, thirty-six by fifty-two feet, was built in 1873, and has a good bell. The building is a neat frame. The membership is sixty. The Troy Center Methodist Episcopal church, a neat frame, forty by sixty feet, with a good bell, was erected in 1870. The membership is about one hundred and sixty. The Troy Center United Brethren church, thirty by forty-five feet, with a bell, was erected in 1874. The members number sixty. The South Troy Union church, thirty by forty-five feet, mostly occupied by the United Brethren, was erected in 1870. Membership small. In addition to the ministers already mentioned, we are informed that the following have traveled circuits and been located within this county: Russell Bigelow, William B. Christie, Henry 0. Sheldon, Elmer Yocum, Edward Thompson, H. L. Harris, Thomas Barkdull, John H. Power, Adam Poe, J. McMahon, David Gray, Peter Sharp, John Wheeler, John Mitchell, James McNabb, Jesse Warner, Joseph Kennedy, Philip R. Roseberry, James Sutherland, John Sloan, Joshua Carr, James Fast, James A. Kellam, H. L. Parish, H. G. Duboise, L. Parker, E. Bush, T. Hildreth, E. C. Gault, Hiram M. Shaffet, Rolla H. Chubb, P. B. Stroup, and A. L. Your- tee. The majority of the foregoing ministers were noted for their talents and efficiency in the pulpit. Of course, there were many others, but want of space prevents the appearance of their names. 88 - HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHO THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERANS. The membership of the Lutheran church is largely composed of Pennsylvanians, and the descendants of Germans. It is a strong denomination, and its ministers are now generally educated in colleges founded by the Lutherans. The Ashland Lutheran church is believed to have been organized in 1839. It originated from the efforts of. Rev. W. J. Sloan, who became its first minister. The late Christian Miller, sr., and Jacob Young, were among its leading members. The first church was located one mile north of Ashland, on the Troy road. In 1842 the congregation purchased a small church from the Universalists on the corner of Orange and Third streets, which was occupied until 1852, when the, present brick church, forty by sixty feet, was erected on Third, between Orange and Church streets. It is a good building, neatly seated, and has a bell. The ministers have been: W. J. Sloan, E. Eastman, J. J. Hoffman, William A. G. Emerson, S. Ritz, Isaac Culler, Samuel McReynolds, W. A. G. Emerson, A. H. Myers, J. W. Swick, and M. L. Wilhelm. The church is in a prosperous condition. The membership is about two hundred and eighty : The following is an extract from the sermon of Rev. O. Wilhelm, on the history of the Lutheran church in Ashland: About 1820 Father Stough preached to the scattered Lutherans of this county. The Masons, Crouses, Youngs, and Branderberrys were among the membership. He introduced revivals, and the doctrine that for every drop of intoxicants distilled the distillers would have to sweat drops in hell." He is now dead. About 1830 F. J. Ruth came and preached in school-houses, dwellings, and in the open air to the Lutherans and citizens, catechized, and held revival meetings with great success. He still hves in Galion, Ohio, and preaches regularly. Rev. Shew organized a congregation of Germans about the same time, and built the Neff church, one mile north of Ashland, on the present site of Peter Dessenberg's residence. All that remains of that congregation has been absorbed in this congregation. Rev. W. J. Sloan came about 1838, and organized this congregation in 1839, preaching in the Neff church a short time, then in a school-house in Ashland, then the brewery which stood on the southwest corner of Orange and Third streets was purchased and converted into a church. W. Imhoff and Weber were deacons, Alexander McClelland and Father Young, elders, in this organization. Father Sloan still lives in Wooster, Ohio. Rev. E. Eastman succeeded in 1844, and continued two years. He is now dead. Rev. Hoffman came in 1846, and continued one year. He is also dead, and his memory sacred. Rev. W. A. G. Emerson took charge in 1847. During his ministry great meetings were held, and many converted. The present building was erected at a cost of three thousand dollars. Alexander McClelland, Henry Woods, and S. Bauchman, were the building committee ; Henry Woods, carpenter; S. Bauchman, brick-mason. Rev. Richard Emerson preached the derication sermon. A. McClelland, B. Gross- cup, D. Grosscup, W. Imhoff, Jacob Stoner, and S. Bauchman, were among the contributors. The Sabbath school was organized at this time; W. A. G. Emerson was the first superintendent, and Abraham Hoffman the first lay superintendent. Rev. S. Ritz followed, and continued two and one-half years, with great success, directing his efforts against formalism and drunkenness. He left in 1853, and has since gone over the river. Rev. Isaac Cutler came in 1855, and continued two years. He is now living in Richland county, Ohio. Rev. S. W. McReynolds took charge in 1858 ; continued two and one-half years, leaving January 1, 1861. To him is due the honor of instituting the church records. He found eighty-four members, and added forty-three. Rev. W. A. G. Emerson was recalled April 1, 1861, and continued to labor to October 1, 1862, when he entered the army as chaplain. He added sixty-four to the church. Rev. A. H. Myers took charge October t, 1862, and continued four and one-half years. During this time, the civil war raged. Seventy- six were added to the church. He is now dead, having died most gloriously in our common faith. Rev. J. W. Swick took charge May I, 1866, continuing to December 1, 1874, making a term of eight years and seven months. During his ministry the church was extensively repaired, the present parsonage built, and two hundred and seventy-three added to the church. He still hves, and preaches in Leetonia, Ohio. Rev. M. L. Wilhelm, your present pastor, took charge June 20, 1875, having been here one year. Fifty-four have been added, and concord prevails. This makes thirteen pastors who have served this charge, six of whom are dead, seven still living. During this time, fifty-four members have died. There have been not less than eight hundred connected with the church; two hundred and eighty-nine answer to their names now, five hundred have died, or been dismissed by letter to unite elsewhere, and wandered we know not where. Where, O! where are the five hundred? There has been not less than an average of one thousand dollars contributed each year to the necessities of the church, making in all thirty-seven thousand dollars. Let the congregation but maintain the principles of its origin and history, and its future will be alike glorious for, first, piety; second, temperance; third, benevolence. Its means of success, first, prayer; second, labor; third, sacrifice. Do but this and the future will surpass the past. Prior to 1839, say from 1825, the German Reformed and Lutherans, new school, had formed an organization in Ashland, to which the German Reformed ministers preached. About 1832, Rev. Francis Ruth, new school, preached alternately with a German Reformed minister, to a small number of members, who assembled in a brick school-house in Ashland. Mr. Ruth preached until Rev. Mr. Coon, German Reformed, took charge of the organization. Under Mr. Sloan, the Evangelicals and German Reformed separated, and formed the new church. The Hanover Evangelical Lutheran and German Reformed church, in the southeast part of Hanover township, was built in 1846. The Evangelical Lutherans subsequently occupied the church. The Rev. M. Hartsbarger has been the regular minister. The membership is small. The Loudonville Lutheran church was built in 1861, on the site of the German Reformed church, which. had been accidentally burned in 1860. The minister was Rev. M. Hartsbarger. The membership is small. The new German Reformed church, of Loudonville was built in 1861, and Rev. Mr. Greenline became minister. It is feeble in point of membership. The German Evangelical, or Mennonite, church, the northwest part of Vermillion township, was erect in 1847. The late Rev. John Risser was the first past̊ The church subsequently became the property of the Germans and Lutherans. The building is twenty-eight by thirty-six feet. The German Reformed and Lutheran church in the Finger settlement, in Orange township, twenty-eight by fifty feet, was built in 1859. The original German Reformed church was built in 1832. Rev. D. R. Moo was the stated minister for several years. The membership is about seventy-five. The Canaan German Reformed and Lutheran chore on lands of Samuel Maxhammer, in Orange towns was built in 1850. It is thirty by forty-five feet. ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO - 89 membership is small, and they have no stated minister. The St. Jacob's German Reformed, in the east part of Orange township, was built in 1853. It is twenty-four by thirty-six feet. It has about fifty members. It has, at present, only occasional preaching. The Evangelical Lutherans, of Jeromeville, built a church in 1850, thirty-six by forty-six feet. It has been very prosperous. The present number of members is one hundred. The German Reformed church, of Mohicanville, was organized in 1859. It has seventy members. The minister is Rev. H. H. Sandoe. The Evangelical Lutherans organized under Rev. W. J. Sloan, in Rowsburgh, in 1842, and erected a church thirty by forty-five feet. Mr. Sloan continued to preach for some time. Rev. Richard D. Emerson subsequently took charge of the congregation. The membership is now about one hundred and twenty-five. The German Reformed and Lutherans built a church on the present site of the village of Polk, in Jackson township, in 1830. A small congregation organized in 1827. In 1840-41, the members of Orange township withdrew, and those remaining in Jackson town erected a new church, thirty-five by forty feet, half a mile west of Perrysburgh. It has about seventy-five members. The Evangelical Lutherans, of Mifflin, organized soon after the separation of the German Reformed, and erected a church, which was accidentally burned in 1860. A new church has since been built. The late Michael Culler, a wealthy and zealous member, contributed largely to the support of the church. Its early ministers were Revs. F. Ruth and W. A. G. Emerson. The German Lutherans, about 1840, built a good frame church four miles southwest of Ashland, on the Mansfield road. Its membership is small, and there is no regular minister. The Lutherans of Ruggles township built a church in 1852, twenty-six by thirty feet, in which irregular services are held. The congregation is small. THE BAPTISTS AND DISCIPLES. The Baptists, in the early history of the county, were (mile numerous, and had a number of small churches in which their people assembled for preaching. Sometime prior to 1824, the Baptists organized a small congregation in Ashland. Rev. John Rigdon became the stated minister. His labors were successful, and the church was prosperous. Sometime after the organization in Ashland, Alexander Campbell, of Bethany, Virginia, became the leader and exponent of certain reforms in the doctrines and modes of church government in the Baptist organization. Those adopting his views were admitted into what is now known as the Disciple or Christian church, having withdrawn from the Baptist organization. Mr. Rigdon passed under censure for accepting and teaching the ideas advocated by Mr. Campbell, withdrew and joined in organizing the present Disciple church of Ashland. Those adhering to the Baptist organization, met at the Neoff church, on the Troy road, one mile north of Ashland, until about 1849, when the congregation ceased to exist, because of the migration of its members to the west. Rev. Solomon Neoff was the last pastor. In 1860 a few Baptists, who had in the meantime located in and about Ashland, through the efforts of Rev. I. N. Carman, erected a neat frame church in South Ashland. He was its pastor for some years. It is feeble in membership, and has no stated minister at present. The Baptist church of Taylor's corners, in Green township, was erected in 1837. It was of brick, thirty-five by forty-four feet. The organization prospered, and some thirty-two years afterward 1869, the old church was torn down, and a neat frame, thirty-two by forty-six feet, built. The McGuires, Gladdens, Rices, and other leading families, are active members. Rev. Mr. Tulloss, of Knox county, was recently the minister. It has about sixty members. The Perrysville Baptist church was erected in 1865, and is thirty-four by fifty feet. It is a neat structure, and cost two thousand five hundred dollars. It has about sixty members. The present minister is Rev. Mr. Wiley. The Loudonville Baptist church was formed as early as 1839. It was organized by Rev. Mr. Willson. The building is a frame, forty by forty-five feet, and was erected in 1843. The ministers have been Revs. Willson, Stearns, Thomas, Lecte, Eddy, and Seigfreid. The Hayesville Baptist church was erected in 1842. Rev. John Cox, late of Mansfield, was perhaps the earliest minister at Hayesville. Rev. Granger, of Granville, preached occasionally at this church. The church some years since, owing to a feeble membership, ceased to exist. The Baptist church at Weddel's corners, in Vermillion township, was organized in 1869, and a neat frame building, thirty by forty feet, erected. It has about one hundred members. Rev. S. Stanley is the minister. The Sullivan Baptists organized about 1830, and held their meetings in the town hall, until 1837, when, under the exertions of Elder Freeman, a frame church was erected, in which the congregation still worships. The membership is small. The Baptists organized and erected a small church in Savannah about 1830, which continued to exist until about 1850. It finally yielded to the zeal of the Disciples. Elder Andrew Barnes was among its latest preachers. The Disciple church was organized in Ashland in the fall of 1836, by James Porter, and erected a building in 1842 on Orange street. Prior to the erection of said church, the congregation met in the Universalist church at the corner of Third and Orange streets (subsequently the property of the Lutherans), and at the residence of John Mykrants, west of Ashland, and that of Michael Riddle, four miles east of Ashland. The original members were Frederick Sulcer and wife, John Anderson and wife, Mother Matthews and two daughters, Barbara Sigler, Mary Hazlet, Mr. Justus and wife, John Gilkerson and wife, Jonas Stough and wife, Mary Redburn, John Horick and wife, Michael Riddle and 90 - HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO. wife, John Mykrants and wife, Elizabeth Luther, Michael Shoup and wife, Isaac Van Nood Strand. Elders, Michael Riddle and John Gilkerson. Deacons, John Horick and Mr. Justus. The Disciple or Christian church, of Ashland, was erected in 1842. We are unable to give room for a disquisition on the tenets of the church. It is sufficient to state that the modes of worship and baptism are nearly identical with the Baptists. The Disciples, however, appear to have no printed creed, each member reading and interpreting the Scriptures for himself. The ministers or elders of the church in Ashland have been John Rigdon, James Porter, John Reed, Abner Woods, Judson Benedict, Andrew Barnes, I. N. Carman, Isaiah Jones, Leroy Norton, James L. Parsons, John F. Rowe, S. E. Pearree, John Lowe, Arius Rumfield, N. P. Lawrence, M. Riddle, and others occasionally. The Jeromeville Disciple church was organized in 1854. The church building is thirty-five by fifty feet. The Hootmans, Winbiglers and Wilsons were among the organizing members. Elder Arius Rumfield was, until recently, the minister. The church is strong in its membership. The Clearcreek Disciple church was organized as early as 183o. It is on the southwest line of the township, and known as Bryte's church. The present church building, a neat frame, thirty by forty feet, was erected in 1853. The late David Bryte, Joseph Harvuot, Abner Mercer, Peter Vanostrand, and Philip Shriver, were among its early members and officers. Elder John Bryte has been the principal speaker for many years. The membership is about sixty. The Sullivan Disciple church was organized about 1835. Its first members were Sylvanus Parmely, Milo Carlton, Parmely Mann, and their wives and daughters. These members seceded from the Baptist organization, and the new church was organized by Elders Almond Green and Sutton Hayden. These members were soon followed by others. In 1850 the present church was erected. The present number of members is about ninety. THE GERMAN BAPTISTS OR TUNKERS. As this organization has recently appeared in this region, it may be interesting to give some explanati0n of its faith and mode of worship, for which I am indebted to the courtesy of Professor S. Z. Sharp and David West- man, speakers in the church, who are regarded as authority in that denomination. Professor Sharp states that the following synopsis, published in the Ashland Times, contains a fair statement of the history and religious teachings of that people At the present time there are in the United States about one hundred thousand people whose religious faith and practice are very imper fectly understood by the generality of American readers, and in Europe, very little is known of them. Many papers have gone forth purporting to give a correct account of their religious tenets, and some of their peculiar principles, hut, so far, have been vague and often very incorrect. This article can be strictly relied upon as being correct, and is likely the most complete account of that people that has yet been published, and is intended to set forth some of their arguments by which they defend their faith and practice, along with many of their pecuharities, for which they are noted. In history they are generally known by the name of German Baptist but, more commonly, among outsiders, Dunkers, or, as it is more get erally spoken, Dunkards, The latter, however, are nick-names, d rived from a German word, /meaning to dip, and is somewhat expres sive of their manner of baptizing. Among themselves they are knot as Brethren, taken from the declaration of Christ on a certain oceasion when he said: "All ye are brethren." (Matt. 23: 8). The origin and history of this reformatory movement dates frost tit year 1708 ; having taken its rise in Germany about that time, in a poi tion of country where Baptists are said to have been unknown. Some eight persons in number, who had been bred Presbyterians, exceptin one who was a Lutheran, became much dissatisfied with the then p vailing rehgious principles of the day, consorted together, in order t prayerfully read the Bible and comfort one another, and, if possible find the old path, and walk therein, for as yet they knew not that ther were any Baptist churches in existence. After a careful study of the sacred word, they were fully convinced t that faith and strict obedience in all things laid down in the perfect law of liberty, were essential to salvation, and agreed to "obey from th heart that form of doctrine once delivered unto the saints." Consequently, in the year 1708, they all repaired to the river Eder, by Schwarzenau, and were buried with Christ in baptism. They all were baptized by trine immersion, organized themselves into a church, and chose Alexander Mack for their minister. Though Alexander Mac was chosen as their first minister, yet the church has never recognized him as the originator of either their faith or practice. They increased rapidly; their doctrine spread far and wide, and soon excited the hatred of persecution, by which they were driven from place to place, until the year 1719, when they commenced emigrating t America, and settled in the vicinity of Philadelphia and Germantown In 1829 nearly the whole church found herself quietly settled down in the western world. Among these was their first preacher, Alexander Mack, who, though formerly a man of considerable property, was nor poor in this world's goods, yet rich in grace and knowledge. H quietly settled himself on a small lot near Germantown, in the vicinity of Philadelphia. He did not live long to enjoy the quietude of a home in the new world, for only six years after his arrival in America close his labors on earth. And now in the Brethren's public burying-groud in Germantown, the stranger is shown the spot where rests the remain of this humble and venerable reformer. He is said to have been man of great influence in his own family. All his sons united with th church in their seventeenth year, and some of them lived to be useful men in their Master's cause. It may be proper to observe that all the Dunkards in America liar sprung from the little band of eight souls, who started up in German in the year 1708, and that, too, in a portion of the country where no Baptist had lived in the memory of man, and even now, none exist there. Most all reformatory movements have usually been introduced and kept up by some one of great influence and talent, but not so in this. This movement was put on foot by men and women who occu pied humble positions in hfe, and, consequently, at the head of lb organization is no man to whom the body can appeal for hum authority or precedent, and, hence, in all their faith and practice the are under the necessity of appealing directly to the Scriptures, the only infallible source of correct information, for all their authority in religious practices. This little leaven has spread itself far and wide till now nearly every State and territory has its members. 'They are, however, most nu merous in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois Kansas, Iowa and Missouri. But while the present organization dates its history from the move ment in Germany, the careful reader will observe that the rise of their faith and practice generally is hid in the remote depths of Christian antiquity. Owing to the fact that they have never published any denominational statistics, it is somewhat difficult to determine their exact number Those, however, who are acquainted with the entire body, state that their number is not far from one hundred thousand. As this estimate was made several years ago, it is hkely short of their number, for in various localities they have increased in numbers very fast, and it is perhaps safe to place their number considerably above one hundred thousand. The larger majority of them are farmers, and where they settle to any great extent, they are sure to make a well improved country, Many of them are mechanics, while a small number are professional men. Such a thing as a Dunkard lawyer is wholly unknown. They are usually in good circumstances, and many of them are men of HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO - 91 considerable wealth. As it is a part of their religion to inculcate inry and frugality, abstaining from all extravagance and worldly display, they are likely to become in possession of property. By tinning from superfluities of all kinds, they not only improve their health, and increase their wealth, but set before the world a good example of plainness and frugality. They have no written creed, save the New Testament, which they regard as an only rule of their religious faith and practice. They consider this to be all that was used by the primitive Christians in the first century, and by virtue of the same is sufficient now. The minutes of their annual councils are published, from year to year ; this is by not a few innocently regarded as their discipline, but they do not regard it as such, but recieve it as advice from those who are assembled on that occasion. Lately they have collected and published all the minutes of their annual councils and bound them in book form. They believe in the Trinity—that there are three divine persons or powers in the Godhead. They accept the entire Old and New Testaments as being of divine inspiration, and strongly contend for a literal interprctation of the same, as we would interpret the language of other books, so far as it may appear in harmony with the general tenor of the Bible. They believe in future rewards and punishments—that the wicked, those who wilfully disobey the gospel, "shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal."—Matt. 26: 26. They believe that all idiots, all infants, and persons who die before they arrive at the years of knowledge—to know good from evil—will he saved without obedience, being sufficiently atoned for by the death of Christ. They are, however, strong opposers of infant baptism, believing like the Baptists in general, that baptism is intended for believers only, and as infants cannot believe, and are not required to 00 so, they are perfectly safe without it. It is further believed by them that baptism in connection with faith and repentance is for the "remission of sins" (Acts 2 : 38), that is, actual sins committed--and as the children have committed no actual sin against a law of which they . know nothing, they are fit subjects for heaven without being baptized. It being further maintained that baptism is "the answer of a good conscience towards God" (1st Peter 3 : 25), cannot apply to children as they know nothing of baptism and cannot, therefore, have any conscience in the matter. Faith, repentance and baptism are considered essential to salvation and for the remission of sins. "Without faith it is impossible to please God." He that believeth not shall be damned. " “Except ye agent ye shall all likewise perish. " " Repent and be baptized every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins." Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. " None are recognized as members until after baptism. First in order of the ordinances is baptism, which is to be observed Immediately after the exercise of true repentance, according to the land, "Repent and be baptized." The mode of baptism is peculiar. called trine immersion, and their general service attending it is follows: At the water-side they kneel down, especially the applicant and the administrator, and the administrator' then offers up a prayer to God. This being over, they both go down into the water to a proper depth, and the applicant kneels down. The administrator then asks the following questions, all of which the applicant answers in the affirmative : Dost thou believe that Jesus Christ is the n of God, and that He has brought from Heaven a saving gospel? Dost thou willingly renounce Satan, with all his pernicious ways, and all the sinful pleasures of this world? Dost thou covenant with God, in Christ Jesus, to he faithful unto death ? Then he proceeds : "Upon ;his, thy confession of faith, which thou hast made before God and these witnesses, thou shalt, for the remission of sin, be baptized in the name of the Father" (then bends the applicant forward until he is wholly immersed), "and of the Son" (dipping him the second time), "and of the Holy Ghost" (dipping him the third time). After this, and while the applicant is yet kneeling, the administrator lays his hands upon the applicant's head, and offers up a short prayer to God, in his behalf. Baptism makes the recipient a member of the church, and is never repeated for the same individual. Excommunication does not impair the validity of the baptism, so that they can be received again, on proper repentance and reformation,without the re-administration of the ordinance. In defence of their practice it is maintained by them that the commission--"Baptizing them into the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost," is very elliptical, and when filled up agreeable with the rules of the English as well as the Greek language, will read as follows: " Baptizing them into the name of the Father, and baptizing them into the name of the Son, and baptizing them into the name of the Holy Ghost." This is claimed to be the grammatical import)of the -language —amply sustained by all the ancient Greeks of Christian antiquity who have written on the subject. It may be in place to remark that Chrysostom, the most renowned Greek scholar of antiquity, and who lived and wrote in the fourth century, says: "Christ delivered to his disciples one baptism in three immersions of the body, when he said unto them, 'Go teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.— The Greek portion of Christendom, who received the gospel directly from the apostles themselves, to this day, amid all their speculations and ceremonies, still retain the use of the three-fold immersion, which is an unanswerable argument in defence of the antiquity of the trine immersion as now practiced by the German Baptists. As they believe in the Trinity—that there are three persons in one Godhead, they maintain that there should also be three actions in the one baptism. Their method is invariably performed by the forward motion of the body in the water, believing that backward immersion is a human invention, and cannot be traced beyond its origin among the English Baptists in the sixteenth century (Judson on Baptism, page 152). They hold that as baptism is an act of obedience, like all other obedience, must be forward and not backward, and being in the likeness of Christ's death, which took place on the cross where He bowed His head (forward), they in like manner must bow forward in the water. Next in order is the ordinance of feet-washing. The authority is from the incident of Christ washing His disciple's feet, narrated in John 13. They believe the command in the fourteenth and fifteenth verses of this chapter to be as literally binding as the commands elsewhere for the observance of the communion. It is observed as a preparation for the love-feast and communion, according to the statement of Christ to Peter in the tenth verse. In the observance of the ordinance the brethren wash the feet of the brethren only, and the sisters of the sisters. The sexes never, under any circumstances, wash the feet of each other, as has sometimes been charged. Everything connected with the ordinance is done decently and in order. It is observed at every love-feast and communion. It is proper to observe, however, that those who perform the service of feet-washing are not " chosen" from the members, but any member may perform this service, which is always a purely voluntary one. Next is the love-feast. The authority for this is predicated upon the fact that before Christ instituted the communion, on the night of His betrayal, He first partook of a supper with His disciples. They make this a real meal. There is no limit as to kind or quality of food. The only requirement is, that it be a real supper. After this, and immediately preceding the communion, is the salutation of the kiss, which they claim was observed by the apostles and Christian churches following them. In this ordinance the brethren salute each other, and the sisters the same.. The sexes do not interchange salutations. In the observance of the communion, which is the ordinance next in order, the sisters all have their heads covered with plain caps, and the brethren with heads uncovered. Thanks are given both for the bread and wine. The minister breaks the bread to the brethren, and they to each other. The minister breaks to the sisters also, but they do not break to each other; and the same is the case in passing the wine. The communion and its attendant ordinances are always observed at night, as this was the hour of their institution by Christ. It is observed usually once or twice a year in every church. In addition to these ordinances, is that of the laying on of hands, and anointing the sick with oil ; founded on James, 5: 55. It is done only at the request of the sick person, and always by an elder, if one is within reach; but if it is not convenient to secure the presence of an elder, the ordinance is then administered by a minister. To perform this ceremony, two are always required, The church government is republican in form. Each church has its council, to which all matters of difference, and questions of difficulty, must first be submitted. If not settled here, they are carried to the council of the district. These districts generally include about twenty churches, sometimes less; and the council is composed of delegates from each church. If not settled here, and is a matter of general interest, it is taken to the national council, or conference; but no local matter is allowed to come up before that body. In some cases, the national council appoints persons to confer with the local councils, and, in this way, assists in the settlement of difficult cases. The national conference is composed of two delegates from each district. One of the two serves on the standing committee, which has important offices to perform; and the other attends more particularly 92 - HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO. to the matters before the conference. But, while these delegates constitute the official conference, opportunity is given to all members present, to speak, and participate in the proceedings. In the lower councils, all matters are decided by vote, and the sisters are allowed the same privileges as the brethren, in this respect; but in the national conference, the decisions are by common consent, and the sisters do not participate in the official deliberations. The special object of this national conference is to decide matters for which no "Thus saith the Lord" can be found. Questions naturally arise which cannot be decided by reference to the Bible teachings, and the object of this annual conference is to take all such questions into consideration and decide upon them. A clerk keeps a careful record of all the proceedings, and at the close the record is printed and sent to each church, and becomes the final authority, so far as advice is concerned, on all the subjects considered. Their mode of worship does not differ materially from that of other people, save in the use of the Lord's prayer, which they repeat at the end of each prayer. In case two ministers are together, one offers up a prayer and the other repeats the Lord's prayer. Meeting generally opens with singing and prayer, after which a chapter is read. Then follows preaching by one or more of the ministers present. If no minister is present, the meeting is generally conducted by one of the deacons. The services are closed in the same way they are opened, by singing and prayer. They do not use the benediction. The minister usually says: "We are dismissed in the name of the Lord," or some similar phrase. During services the sisters are required to have their heads covered with a plain covering, in compliance with Paul, who says: " It is a shame for a woman to pray or prophesy with her head uncovered." The men keep their heads uncovered at all times during services. The Dickey church may be regarded as the pioneer denomination of Dunkers, in what is now Ashland county, and the late Joseph Roop, as the pioneer who was instrumental in introducing the first " Dunkard" speakers to Montgomery township. As early as 1839-'40 he invited Mr. Tracy, one of their speakers, to address a few hearers at his (Mr. Roop's) residence, in the east part of the township. These meetings were frequently addressed by Mr, Tracy and other speakers, and finally resulted in the organization of a small society, which continued to meet frequently at the residence of Mr. Roop, and being joined by others, finally became sufficiently numerous to erect what is now known as the "Dickey church," one of the leading speakers being the late Elias Dickey. The church was a neat frame, in the east part of Montgomery township, and was erected about 1860 ; but a new and larger one was erected by the same congregation in 1877, forty by eighty feet. The Ashland City church assembles at the chapel in the new college of the Dunkards. The congregation was organized during the summer of 1879, and mostly addressed by Professor S. Z. Sharp, David Wertman and Bashor. The members number about fifty, and are increasing. The Lafayette church, in the north part of Perry township, was organized in 1856. The congregation is mostly made up of Pennsylvanians, who speak the German language and conform to the faith of the Dunkards. Mr. Snowbarger, a member of that denomination and a man of wealth, donated the church building. The Maple Grove or Beighley church was organized in 1850. The church was erected four or five years earlier than the Dickey church, say about 1855. The Beighleys, Roops and Myers were among the first and leading members. The members number about one hundred and fifty. The Hershey or Oak Grove church, in the northwest part of Vermillion township, was purchased from the German Reformed Lutherans about 1870, and has about twenty members. It is a branch of the Dickey congregation, and increasing in members, and evinces prosperity. The Burns organization, in Milton township, is a branch of the Maple Grove or Beighley church, and meets at the Burns school-house. It has about twenty members. The speakers at the Beighley church and its branches are : William Sadler, George Worst, Isaac Rudy and Alphus Dickey. The speakers for the Dickey church and its branches are : David Whitmer, Henry Kilheffner, David Workman, Dillon Parker and Isaac Kilheffher. The Loudonville, or Workman church, in Green township, was built about 1863. It is thirty by forty feet, and has about one hundred members. The speakers are Morton Workman, William Workman and J. Workman. It is proper to state that the speakers for the Dunkards receive no salary ; but if the speaker be a poor man, and devote his time and talents to the spread of their faith, the Dunkards regard it as incumbent to reward their speaker by gifts. THE UNITED BRETHREN. The United Brethren church of Ashland was erected in 1867. It is a neat frame. The members number about two hundred. The present minister is Rev. David Sprinkle. The United Brethren church, of Mohican, near the Lake fork, was built in 1847. It is thirty by thirty- eight feet, and known as Fairview chapel. The membership is about sixty. The Oak Grove United Brethren church is some three miles north of Fairview. The building is twenty-six by thirty feet. The membership is about seventy-five. The United Brethren, of Lafayette, have a small frame church. There is also a small churchl near the south line of Perry township. The number of members in each is believed to be about forty. The United Brethren church, of Jackson township, known as Otte_ rheim chapel, thirty by thirty-six feet, was built in 1861. It has about thirty members, and has oc casional preaching. THE EVANGELICAL ASSOCIATION. This church has been represented in Ashland by a few members for upward of forty years. Occasional preach ing has been held in private dwellings. The Heitman and Michael Thomas were early members. When Michael Thomas moved to Ashland a class was formed, consisting of himself, C. Kreisher, H. Campbell, Joseph Heitman, Mr. Rebman, Mr. Wenrick, William, Daniel and Philip Morr, Mr. Shaffer, and M. Proudfit. In 1875, the society built a very fine brick church, thirty. eight by sixty-six feet, in modern gothic style, with a totter and fine bell. It is beautifully frescoed, and cost over sir thousand dollars. Rev. Dr. D. H. Resenburg is the pastor,' HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO. - 93 and the new church is the result of his zeal. The membership is now about sixty in town; and five miles east he has another class called Trinity society, consisting of one hundred and ninety-six members. This class was formed in 1832 by Andrew Morr, Daniel Morr, Mr. Shreffler, Benjamin Myers, Jacob Myers, Michael Morr, Jacob Morr, John Myers, Adam Echelbarger and others. The first minrsters were Revs. C. Hammer and J. J. Kopp. In 1850, a neat frame church was erected. In 1870 a new frame superseded the old one. It is thirty-six by fifty feet, and has a good bell. This church is under the care of the Ashland station. Its members are wealthy farmers, and possess a good deal of enterprise and Christian zeal. At Lafayette a class was formed in 1830, by Henry Zimmerman, John Betts, Henry Kiplinger, Henry Shaffer, Nicholas Shaffer, Mr. Swaisgood and George Walkey. Preaching was held in cabins till 1846. At that time a log church, thirty by thirty-five feet, was built. In 1858, this was vacated, and a new frame church built, and again remodeled and enlarged, in 1865, to a fine church, thirty-six by fifty feet, with a steeple and bell. The membership is now about one hundred and fifty. The people are very harmonious and prosperous. In Jackson township, in section twenty-two, a fine frame church, thirty by forty feet, with a tower and bell, was erected in 1873. The leading members are John Swaisgood, Mr. Landis, Mr. Stelzer, Mr. Nickle, Jones, and Isaac Eshelman. The entire membership is about fifty-six. Near Lakeville, in Lake township, is another church, which was organized in 1840. It has now about one hndred and fifty members. The building is a neat frame. In the southwest corner of Green township is another church of the same denomination. It was organized about 1846. The church is a neat frame. The members number, about seventy. It is proper to observe that the Evangelical Association, in its doctrines, modes of church organization, and appointment of classes and ministers, resembles the Methodist Episcopal church. The ministers are appointed by the annual conference of the Association. The Evangelical Association was originally formed by Rev. Jacob Albright, of Pennsylvania, and the members of the church are known in some localities as "Albrights." Jacob Albright was born May 1, 1759. He joined the Lutheran church in 1791; and subsequently joined the Methodist Episcopal church and was licensed to preach. He lost his place by absence from class. He began to preach as an independent, in 1796, and in 1800 the formation of the Evangelical Association took place. He was then thirty-seven years old. He died May 18, 1808, aged nearly fifty years. The present membership of the Association is one hundred thousand. THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. In 1827 a small Congregational society formed in Ruggles Center. The minister was Rev. E. T. Woodruff; the members Harvey Sackett, E. D. Smith, Reuben Fox, Tholia Sackett, Norman Carter, Rachel Curtiss, Sarah Sturtevant, Lorinda Beach, Jerusha Peck, Mina Fox and Cynthia Smith. The ministers have been Revs. Joseph Treat, E. T. Woodruff, S. Robinson, Benjamin Judson, E. P. Salmon, S. Dunton, W. L. Buffett, 0. W. Mather, E. P. Sperry, W. T. Milikan, G. C. Judson, James Wilson, John McCutchin, H. L. Howard, and G. V. Fry. The services were held in the cabin of Mr. Sackett, and in a school-house for several years. In 1838 a church Was erected by the congregation and township. In 1854 a new church was erected. The members number about ninety-five. THE CATHOLICS. St. Peter's Catholic church, of Loudonville, was built in r871. It is of brick, seventy by forty feet, and thirty- five feet high in the clear. The corner-stone was laid by Rev. Father Verlet, of Massillon, June 25, 1871, assisted by Father Ankly, of Wooster. Father Magenhann sang high mass in Loudonville on the occasion. The building was completed in 1872, and Rev. Father Schmitz took charge. It has a membership of thirty-five families, and is a neat, comfortable church. It cost about twelve thousand dollars. It has no school as yet. The Catholic church, of Ashland, St. Edward's, was organized in 1863. Mass had been said as early as 1853, by Father Brennan, who came from Wooster, Ohio, saying mass in private houses. He was followed by Fathers O'Neill and Molony, and Rev. J. F. Gallagher, of Wooster, in 1863, in which year the Presbyterian church was purchased, for six hundred dollars; and from that time the organization of the congregation may be dated. Rev. J. Kuhn took charge in 1865, attending every four weeks, from Mansfield, Ohio. About this time, the church, a wooden structure, quite old, was repaired, at an expense of about five hundred dollars. The congregation consisted, at that time, of about thirty members. By the time of the completion of the Atlantic and Great Western railway, it had a less membership. Father Kuhn continued in charge until 1867, when Rev. A. Magenhann, of Mansfield, took charge. At this time, the old church burned down. A new church (brick) was built in 1870, thirty-six by fifty feet, at a cost of three thousand five hundred dollars; and in 1872, Rev. M. Schmidt, of Loudonville, took charge, and has continued ever since. Mass is said every five weeks. St. Edward's has no school, and has never had a resident pastor. GERMAN REFORMED. About the year 1838, a small congregation of Evangelical Lutherans and German Reformed Lutherans organized in the Gierhart settlement, on the east line of Montgomery township, and erected a brick church. Rev. Mr. Wolf was the first preacher. The Rev. Adam Staump preached at the same time, the congregation being partly Lutheran and partly German Reformed. The Rev. William Gilbraith subsequently took charge of the congregation. The German Lutherans of Ashland, having organized some time prior, erected a neat brick church in 1868. The first minister was Rev. Mr. Schmidt. The present 94 - HISTORY OF ASHLANI) COUNTY, OHIO. minister is C. R. O. Muehler. The members number about thirty. The German Reformed Lutherans of Ashland, having organized some time prior, erected a new frame church in 1867. The membership is about fifty. The present minister is Rev. Mr. Mutsinger. The Winebrenarians erected a church, near the east line of Vermillion township, in 1835. It has now about seventy-five members. The early ministers were Rev. Thomas Hickerall and Jacob Keller. CHAPTER XXXIII. THE PIONEERS OF THE YEAR 1825. The Settlements in the Various Townships.—Lake.—Mohican.—Perry. ----J ackson. —Green .--Vermillion. —Montgomery. —Orange. — Mifflin. —Milton.—Clearcreek. —Ruggles. —Troy. —Sullivan. IN the settlement of the various townships prior to 1825, the arrival of pioneers has been fully detailed; and, since we will not have space for a personal notice of each pioneer, at a later period, we have concluded to give the name of each voter and male citizen, so far as possible, at that date. That the list may be properly arranged, we will first give the townships in the fifteenth range—Lake, Mohican, Perry and Jackson. Lake.—Nathan Odell, L. D. Odell, William Greenlee, William Hendrickson, Elijah Balling, John Greenlee, John Emrick, Jacob Emrick, John Emrick, jr., Andrew Emrick, George Emrick, John Ewalt, William Ewalt, George Marks, Ephraim Marks, William Marks, George Marks, jr., William Green, Asahel Webster, Joshua Oram, Elijah Oram, Thomas Oram, Henry Oram, John Wetherbee, Justus Wetherbee, Jabez Smith, Peter Wycoff, William Wycoff, John Riddle, J. C. Young, James Green, Jesse Green, William Green, John Green, William Green, jr., John Newkirk, Henry Newkirk, Reuben Newkirk, James Gray, Thomas Baker, John Smith, and Robert Chandler. Mohican.- The property holders were: Austin Ambrose, Robert Andress, James Arnold, Silas Allen, Kendal Beard, Calvin Beard, Calvin Beard, jr., Charles Beard, Asa Beard, John Bivins, Henry Bivins, Frederick Blew, John Blew, Simon Bell, William Bryan, Joseph Botterfield, Mary Brown, John Black, James Bryan, Benjamin Bunn, Thomas Brown, Aaron Beard, William Boils, James Cameron, Edward Church, Charles Cliff, Jacob Cook, Matthew D. Cully, Charles Collins, Francis Carothers, Robert Caples, Thomas Carnes, George Clark, George Conkel, Lewis Crum, James Collier, John Cully, Isaac Cangman, Carpenter David, James David, Nathan Daily, Thomas Dallas, Henry Dubbs, John Ewing, Thomas Eagle, Jacob Ewing, James Ewing, William Ewing, Michael Ensminger, George Ensminger, David Ensminger, John B. Eagle, William Eagle, Samuel Freeman, Luther Freeman, Alexander Finley, Hannah Finley, John Glenn, sr., Joshua Glenn, George Gear, John Gorsuch, Isaac Gill, Frederick Gill, James Greer, Alexander Greer, John Gilbreath, Daniel Heller, John Harpster, sr., George Harpster, Henry Hopkins, Jacob Houser, John Harpster, George Hart, Samuel Heller, Cyrus Harry, John Hiser, William Helper, Richard Hargrave, Isaac Hallinger, William Hayne, John Heaney, Luke Ingmand, Isaac Ingland, Edmond Ingmond, sr., Edmond Ingmand, Heman Isable, Charles Isable, Henry Jackson, James Kelley, Archibald Kennedy, Frederick Kiser, Jacob Lybarger, John Laix, George Laix, Jacob Leathers, Alexander Mitchell, David Murdock, George Martin, Josiah Metcalf, John Mitchell, Edward Metcalf, John Musgrove, Benjamin Martin, John McMurray, Joseph McCombs, John Mickmacken, John H. Metcalf, Allen Mackenon, Melinda Metcalf, John Metcalf, Th0mas Metcalf, Thomas McClure, Equiler Nailer, Thomas Newel, Charles Newel, William Norris, William Newbrough, Joseph Norris, Joseph Noggle, John Nailor, David Noggle, Thomas Newman, John Otto, Matthias Otto, Jonathan Potts, Richard Owens, Robert Richey, Absalom Rice, James Reed, Jacob Raub, Richard Ridgeley, Henry Riley, Thomas Smurr, John Smith, John Shinabarger, Thomas Selby, Hugh Skilling, James Slater, Jacob Steel, Adam Steel, David Strouse, Nathaniel Sheldon, Frederick Strouse, Jacob Stoler, Jacob Trease, Benjamin Tyler, Major Tyler, Sarah Tyler, Francis Winbigler, Richard Winbigler, John Woods, John Wonder, George Winbigler, Samuel Warner, John Winbigler, Daniel Wissamore, Thomas Wissamore, William Wible, and Thomas Wissinger. Perry.--John Allison, sr., John Allison, jr., James Allison, William Akrite, Robert Ason, John Adams, William Adams, Alexander Allison, James Anderson, Henry Buffenmyer, David Buffenmyer, William Buffenmyer, Mathias Buffenmyer, George Buffenmyer, Joseph Clark, Thomas Cunningham, David Cunningham, David Cunningham, jr., George Carey, David Clark, David Cline, John Carr, Nicholas Carr, Hugh Carr, Aaron Cory, John Cory, Mathias Campf, Arthur Campbell, Joseph Chandler, Jacob Countryman, .Philip Clodfelter, Charles Cliff, James Dorland, Garrett Dorland, James Dickason, Samuel Deardorf, Abraham Echer, James Ewing, John Ellison, Adam Eichelburger, John Ewing, Jacob Ecker, Conrad Friedline, John Fry, Henry Gierhart, Henry Grindle, Henry Grindle, jr., William Hamilton, John Hern, Samuel Y. Hayes, John Hillis, William Hillis, Robert Hillis, Conrad Hare, John Heiman, Christopher Heftier, John Hileman, John Hamilton, John Ihrig, David Johnson, Thomas Johnson, Isaac Jackson, William Kelley, Jacob Klingman, John Klinger, John Kelley, William Kiplinger, Robert Laughlin, John Long, Lazarus Lowry, Francis Lowry, Zacheus Lash, Jacob Lash, Peter Lash, Henry Lash, John Lattimore, John McLain, Hugh Meloy, Edward McFadden, John Maurer, Philip Mang, Samuel Mang, Peter Mang, Solomon McMiller, William Morgan, Benjamin Moyer, Valentine Mogle, David McConahey, Samuel Neal, James Nelson, William Nelson, jr., Jacob Onstott, John Pittin- HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO - 95 ger, Thomas Pittinger, Nathaniel Paxton, Peter Pittinger, Daniel Pittinger, Jonn Pittinger, John Raver, Jacob Rauch, Robert Robinson, Christian Rice, Michael Row, Michael Row, jr., John Smith, David Smith, Henry Sapp, Phineas Summerton, Frederick Shawn, Remember Stockwell, John Shissler, Richard Smalley, John Smalley, James Scott, William Spencer, George Strouse, James Shinnebarger, Henry Smalley, Thomas Selby, John Shisler, William Shisler, John Scott, David Swash, Isaac Smalley, Henry Smalley, John Thomas, John Tarryer, Samuel White, David Williams, Jacob White, Jacob White, jr., William Williams, James White, Henry Worst, John White, Daniel Williams, Frederick Wise, Jacob Weggardt, Charles Wilson, George Worley, Henry Zimmerman. Jackson.—William Anderson, John Bryan, Shadrach Bryan, Daniel Bryan, William Prosser, Jacob Berry, Tate Brooks, Philip Brown, Adam Bruge, Peter Berk, Peter Bowman, John Berry, Joseph Chilcote, Samuel Chacey, Thomas Cole, Thomas Cole, jr., Stephen Cole, Henry Culler, Thomas Copley, Benjamin Drodge, James Durfee, James A. Dinsmore, Samuel Dyarman, John Davoult, Robert Dyarman, John Duncan, Henry Eldridge, Martin Fast, James Fulton, Francis Fast, Michael Foreman, Daniel Goodwin, Jonas H. Gierhart, James George, John George, Thomas Green, William Harris, Jacob Hellman, Hanson Hamilton, Peter Henry, John Harbaugh, Chas. Hoy, Adam Henry, John Johnsonbaugh, Jacob Kiplinger, John Kiplinger, Adam Keny, Michael Kiplinger, Peter Kiplinger, Moses Kitchin, Peter Kane, John Kelley, Henry Kiplinger, Henry Kiplinger, jr., John Kuhn, Jacob Kramer, Job King, John Keen, George Long, Isaac Lyons, Noah Long, Nathaniel Lyons, Josiah Lee, John Lafler, John M. Livingston, Peter Loucks, Samuel Landis, John Langherry, Michael Markle, Thomas McBride, Jesse Mathews, John Meason, Amos McBride, Solomon Mokle, Samuel McConahey, Isaac Mickey, James F. McMeekin, Alexander McConnell, Frederick Miller, Henry Moyer, James McCoy, John Nelson, Jacob Oxenrider, Hankey Priest, David Proudfit, William Prosser, John Priest, Mathias Rickle, John Rickle, Michael Rickle, Peter Rickle, John Ramsey, John Raker, William Ramsey, William Ruffcorn, Solomon Raser, Martin Shaffer, Lawrence Swape, John A. Smiley, Robert Smiley, Nicholas Shaffer, Thomas Smith, William Smith, Henry Shisler, David Sprinkle, David Tucker, John Tarryer, John Vavolman, Thomas Uric, Conrad Weaver, Peter Yearick, John Young. We will return to range sixteen, and give a list of property holders and voters in Hanover, Green, Vermillion, Montgomery and Orange townships, in 1825. Hanover—Isaac Y. Askew, William Burwell, Stephen Butler, John Burwell, George W. Bull, Thomas J. Bull, Ransom Clark, William Cunningham, Robert Dawson, George Davidson, George Davidson, jr., Samuel Garrett, Amos Harbaugh, John Hildebrand, Samuel Hendricks, Calvin Hibbard, Edward S. Hibbard, Nathaniel Haskell, John Lisar, William Kay, Mark Mapes, John McCoy, Gilbert Pell, William Robinson, John Reno, George Snyder, Thomas Shearer, Andrew Smith, Abel Strong, Chester Spafford, Thomas Taylor, William Webb, Abner Winters, Anthony Zeers. Green.—The following list is as nearly accurate as tradition can make it: Moses Adsit, Jame. Ady, Isaac N. Ayres, William Brown, Joseph Byers, James Byers, John Bailey, Thomas Coulter, sr., Jonathan Coulter, John Coulter, David Coulter, Caleb Chapel, Noah Castor, Conrad Castor, Pelham Cook, John Chambers, George Crawford, James Cunningham, Adam Crosser, Michael Crosser, Aaron Crosby, Jeremiah Conine, Richard Conine, Robert Davidson, George Davidson, Isaac Doney, William Darling, Nathan Dehaven, Robert Irwin, James Irwin, William Irwin, Sylvester Fisher, Joseph Gwin, Azariah Gwin, James Gwin, Uriah Gee, John Glass, William Guthrie, Richard Guthrie, John Guthrie, George Guthrie, C. Guthrie, Samuel Guthrie, Samuel Graham, James Gladden, Calvin Hill, Harvey Hill, Josiah L. Hill, Andrew Humphrey, William Hunter; James Hunter, Joseph Hill, Joseph Jones, Moses Jones, William Johnson, Aaron Kinney, John Kinney, William McNaull, Benjamin Murphy, Isaac Martin, Al- marine Marshall, James McFall, James McNaull, Isaac Menor, John Neptune, John Oliver, Daniel Oliver, Lewis Oliver, M0ses Odle, Trew Pallee, Joseph Parish, Lewis Pearce, Andrew Pearce, William Pearce, John Palmer, Alexander Rice, James Rowland, Simon Rowland, John M. Rowland, Jedediah Smith, Chandler Smith, Otho Simmons, Alexander Skinner, Joel Stroud, John Shambarger, Jacob Shambarger, David Snyder, Philip Shambaugh, William Simmons, Joseph Studley, Melzer Tannehill, Charles Tannehill, Basil Tannehill, William Taylor, Stephen Vanscoyce, Jonathan Vanscoyce, John Vaughn, John Van Hoon, Jesse Van Zile, Peter Van Hoon, Samuel White, Joshua White, A. Winter, William Wallace, John White, Isaac Wolf, Warring Wolf. Vermillion.—Andrew Byerly, Nathaniel Baker, Aquilla Bennett, John Bennett, Peter Bennett, Abraham Bennett, Michael Bennett, John Brown, Daniel Block and sons, John G. Blurt, William Bell, Sterling G. Bushnell, William, Collins, Jotham, Homer and Thomas Bushnell, John Cox, sr., John, James E. and Thomas Cox, William and Samuel Craig, John Clapper, James Campbell, Joseph Dawson, Robert Daws0n, Joseph Duncan, John Duncan, Ephraim Davis, Edward Dalton, Peter Dragon and sons, George Ewing, William, John and Walter Emery, Philip, Frederick, Christian, Samuel, George and Andrew Eihinger, George Eckley, Ephraim, Jeremiah, and David Eckley, James, Lewis, William, jr., Henry, George, Titus, Stephen, David and John Ewing, William Ewing, sr., Philip, Michael, Jacob and George Friend, John Farver, Robert, Hugh, Isaac and Daniel Finley, William, Thomas, George and James Goudey, William, John, William, jr., and Thomas Galloway, Michael, Joseph, David, John and Thomas Grubaugh, Jacob Huff, Daniel, Samuel, John, Samuel, jr., and Peter Harman, Daniel Harlan, John, Thomas and William Harper, Thomas Hewey, Nathaniel Hammond, John Hall, Linus, George and Titus Hayes, John Howard, George Hersh, William Hervey, Andrew and William Humphrey, Aaron, Enoch and Isaac Hoagland, Samuel Harlan, 96 - HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO. Reuben Hill, David Hazlett, Joel Hughes, Linus, Walter, Lucius and Edwin Insign, Richard, Henry, Robert and Samuel Jackman, John Johnson and sons, Abraham Johnson, Uriah Johnson, John King, Isaac Kilmer, John Kirk, Patrick Kelley, William, Robert and John Lemon, William McCrary, George Marshall, William McLaughlin, John McNabb, Thomas McGuire, Mashem Metcalf, John McCrory, James McCrory, David and John Matthews, John Mowdy, George Marshall, jr., Andrew, William and James Newman, James Nealy, William and George North, Aquilla Naylor, John and Daniel Porter, Peter M.. Purdy, Jonathan Palmer, James Palmer and sons, William Reed, Jacob Reed, William Ryland and sons, Abraham Roarick, George Shriver; Stephen and James B. Smith, William Scott, William Spirter and sons, Henry Sigler and sons, John Steel, John Stover, Joseph Strickland and sons, Mahlon, Joseph and William S., David Sherrick, Nathan, John and Thomas Stafford, Andrew, William and John Scott, John Scott, sr„ Weekly W. and John Scott, jr., Azariah Vanzile, John, Peter, Jeremiah and George Vangilder, Thomas Vanzile, Alfred Vanzile, Robert Williams, Joseph, Thomas and Stewart Workman, John Wilson, J. H. Williams, RobertWilliams, jr., James Whittington and sons Samuel and John, Solomon Updegraff. The foregoing list, although very full, may not contain all the settlers of 1825. In obtaining the list, we had to rely mostly upon tradition. Montgomery.—John Aten, Richard Aten, Amos Antobus, Alanson Andrews, Richard Beer, David Barr, Thos. H. Brown, James Boots, Samuel Burns, John Brubaker, Seth Benton, Henry Baughman, Samuel Baughman, Abraham Baughman, George Butler, Elias Bailey, John Baughman, Joshua Brooks, John Carr, Jacob Crouse, Ludwig Cline, Jonas Cline, Daniel Carter, Daniel Carter, jr., Jesse Callehan, James Cole, Conrad Cline, Jacob Cline, Seth B. Cook, Richard Clark, Philip Cline, Benjamin Cuppy, James Cuppy, Joseph Conley, William Drumb, Uriah Drumb, Andrew Drumb, Levi Dunaway, Aaron Dolby, Benjamin Emmons, Jacob Figley, Henry Gierhart, Martin Griner, Francis Graham, Henry Gamble, Josiah Gallup, Jacob Grubb, Michael and Jonathan Grubaugh, John Hough, John Herriman, David Herriman, Daniel Herriman, John Heller, Jacob Heiler, John Hull, Abraham Holmes, Jonathan Harvuot, Asa Ingland, John Jacobs, Isaac Jones, Wells Kellogg, Sage Kellogg, Burr Kellogg, James Kindall, Moses King, John Keller, James Kuykendall, John Kuykendall, Ezekiel Knight, David Lockhart, Adam Link, William McCune, Abraham Myers, Daniel Mickey, John McNaull, Joseph Markley, David Markley, Aaron Markley, Jonathan Markley, William Mathews, Jacob McClusky, John Mullen, Hugh Moore, Christopher Mykrants, John Mykrants, Jacob Mykrants, John Mason, John McCommon, Andrew Mason, Michael Myers, Alexander Miller, William Montgomery, Elijah and Elisha McKeral, Thomas Maize, Robert Newell, Joseph Newell, Samuel Newell, E. D. Nightingill, Daniel Oldshue, Thomas Oram, James Proudfit, John Proudfit, Andrew Proud fit, George W. Palmer, Joseph Palmer, Robert Ralston, Robert Rals ton, jr., James Ralston, John Rowland, Michael Riddle, Samuel Rowland, Andrew Rutter, David Robinson, sr David Robinson, jr., Benjamin Sirkel, John Smith, Therygood Smith, Nicholas, Jacob, Peter, and John Shaffer, Elias Slocum, Benjamin Shearer, Peter Swineford, John Swineford, George Swineford, Samuel Swineford, Henry Springer, John Springer, Thomas Smith, William Skilling, Solomon Shearer, Samuel Sheets, Joseph Sheets, Willard Slocum, Paul Sherradden, John Sutherland, James Swaney, Wesley Swaney, David Swaney, Jacob Stair, William Sheets, Abraham Sherradden, Solomon Sherradden, Michael Thomas, Peter Thomas, Leonard Thomas, George Thomas, Solomon Urie, Samuel Urie, David Urie, Solomon Urie, jr., James Urie, George W. Urie, Henry Vantilburg, Daniel Vantilburg, Franklin White, Samuel White, John Wolf, Samuel B. Whiting, Jacob Wolf, William Wallace, Simon WertMan, Alanson Walker, Henry, George, and Jacob Wachtell, Peter Zimmerman. Orange.—Adam Artman, Solomon Artman, John P. Anderson, John D. Baker, Peter Biddinger, Thomas Brown, Isaac Biddinger, Philip Biddinger, John Y. Burge, Samuel C. Bowlsby, Henry Baughman, John Bishop, John N. Bowman, Nathaniel Bryte, Martin Boyer, Christian Bush, Henry Bishop, Joseph Bishop, Masham Bowman, Silas A. Bryan, William Bryan, Joshua Carr, Robert Culbertson, Aaron Cunningham, Robert Campbell, Daniel Campbell, Elijah Chilcote, James Campbell, John Cassel, George Campbell, James Clark, Mordecai Chilcote, John Chilcote, Humphrey Chilcote, Thomas Donley, Abraham Erb, Christian Fast, sr., Jacob Fast, William Fast, David Fast, George Fast, Nicholas Fast, Abraham Fast, Philip Fluke, Henry Fluke, Saline Fluke, William Fitzgerald, John Fluke, Philip Fluke, jr., Jacob Fulmer, John Fulmer, Valentine Hiffner, He Hiffner, Frederick Hiffner, Jacob Hiffner, David Huffner, Jacob Hiffner, jr., George Hall, John Hartman, David Hartman, John Heister, Nicholas Jones, John Krebs, Mathias Krebs, Christian Krebs, James Kilgore, Jacob Krebs, Jacob Kendig, Henry Krepps, John Linard, Joel Mackerill, George McConnell, Patrick Murray, Edward Murray, Thomas McConnell, John McConnell, Vachel Metcalf, Samuel Metcalf, Jacob Mason, William Murray, John Murray, James Murray, George Murray, James McLaughlin, Robert McLaughlin, Hugh Murray, William McDowell, John McDowell, Hance McMeekin, Martin Mason, sr., James McDowell, Amos Norris, William Patterson, Samuel Richards, Daniel Reaser, Jacob Ridenour, John Richards, Michael Ride. nour, James Richards, Christopher Ricket, Daniel Sum mers, Michael Sheets, Joseph Snyder, John Sibert, Jac Switzer, John Stull, Isaac Stull, John Singer, Jac Shroder, John Tilton, Aaron Tilton, Samuel Tilt James A. Tilton, Josiah Thomas, Jonathan Tuck Josiah Tucker, Henry Tucker, David Tucker, 'I ho Urie, sr., Thomas Urie, jr., Valentine Vance, Ephr Welch, Jacob Young. We will now enumerate the pioneers of range se teen, which includes the greater part of the towns of Mifflin, Milton and Clearcreek. HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO - 97 Mifflin.—Francis Andrews, John Andrews, John and Michael Autsbarger, Isaac Abey, David Bolles, Henry Brubaker, Joseph Bolles, Peter Baum, John Brubaker, Jonas Bolyeat, Samuel Braden, Robert Bentley, David Brubaker, Jacob Baum, John Beninghoff, Benjamin Bare, Aquilla Bennett, Jacob, Henry and Stephen Bolyeat, Benjamin and Leonard Croninger, Fred Cotner, Joseph Charles, John Charles, Michael Culler, James Copus, jr., Wesley Copus, James Chew, Phillip Culler, .Frederick Deal, Joseph Doty, Philip Deter, Isaac Davis, James Doty, Peter Egner, Francis Enos, C. Edwards, William Gardner, John Gongwer, John Gates, Christian Hahn, Joseph Hughes, Benjamin Hershey, Joseph Hoover, Daniel Hoover, Hugh Hazles, Martin Kagy, Samuel Kagy, Isaac Kagy, Daniel and John Kauffman, Jacob Keever, Jacob Koogle, John Landis, John Lemon, William Lattimore, Samuel Lewis, John Lam- bright, Lewis Lambright, Charles and Nathan Lewis, Robert Lemon, Jacob Markley, Calvin Morehead, John McCrony, Daniel and Martin Matthews, William Newman, Jonathan Pettet, Andrew and John Richey, Charles M. Reed, Henry Sunday, Samuel Scott, Jacob Stehman, Jacob Sheller, John Stofford, Samuel and Joseph Simpson, Henry Smith, John Sunday, Christian Vesper, James, Solomon and John Vail, John Vautilburg, Joseph and Jacob Will, Solomon Walters, John Woodhouse, David Young, Michael Young, Joshua and John Yehman, Henry and David Young, Isaac Zehner, Samuel Zehner, Mathias Zehner. Milton,—John Anderson, James Anderson, Hugh Anderson, Lemon Armstrong, James Andrews, George Albert, Obed Andrews, Elijah Andrews, Daniel Arnold, Joseph M. Anderson, Thomas Braden, Benjamin Brubaker, Jacob Blughlauger, Adam Baum, Peter Brubaker, Andrew Burns, sr., Samuel Baum, Jacob Baum, Robert Barr, Stephen Barr, Peter Bechtel, Joseph Bechtel, David Barr, Peter Brubaker, Andrew Barnes, jr., Hugh Burns, Jacob Baum, Benjamin Brubaker, John Clay, David Crawford, Joseph Charles, Lewis Corts, John Chambers, John Campbell, David Clay, William Callin, Hugh Callin, Henry Campbell, Jacob Cotner, Jacob Culler, James Crawford, Abraham Doty, John Doty, Samuel Doty, James Ferrell, Obediah Ferrell, George Garber, Jacob Gebhart, Peter Greenawalt, John Holderman, James Hall, Samuel Hilburn, Jacob Hiller, John Hall, Amos Hilburn, John Hazlett, Nottingham Houston, George Hall, James Hilburn, Joseph Heitman, John Hilton, John Imhoff, .Peter Imhoff, William Imhoff, Theodore Imhoff, John Kauffman, Henry Keever, James Kelley, John Klingan, William Kelley, Adam Link, William Lockhart, Jacob Lora, Allen Lockhart, Alexander Lockhart Franklin Mercer, A. E: Mercer, Jackson Mercer, John Myers, Levi Mercer, Abraham Myers, Benjamin Miskin, John Myers, James McConoughey, Joseph Mellinger, Jacob Myers, Samuel Motter, Robert McCrory, George McCartney, Robert McCartney, John McCrory, John Nusbaum, Henry Neal, John Neal, Peter Neese, Peter Nusbaum, Robert Nelson, John Nelson, Scott Nelson, John Neal, Archibald Owens, David Pollock, John Pollock, Joseph Pollock, James Pollock, Nicholas Perrine, George Ryall, Alexander Reed, John Ryall, Nicholas Rutan, Frederick Rienhart, Abraham Rutan, John Souser, John Stout, David Stout, Thomas Smith, Michael Smeltzer, John Smeltzer, Frederick Sulcer, David Stoner, John Starrett, James Short, Samuel Thomas, David Teel, James Wharton, John Wharton, Isaac Williams, Ebenezer Williams, Abel A. Webster, Benjamin Whitmarsh, Joseph Williams, Robert Williams, John Woodburn, Henry Zehner, Peter Zehner, Samuel Zehner, David Zehner. Clearcreek.—John Aten, James Anderson, William Andrews, Jacob Akright, Jeremiah Abbott, John Bryte, David Burns, John Brown, Nathaniel Bailey, David Blann, John Bennett, Thomas Brink, John Bailey, Abel Bailey, George Beymer, Thomas C. Cook, John Coonelson, Lewis Crow, John Cuppy, Abraham Clayburg, John Cooper, Job Casey, John Cook, Joel Crampton, George Downer, John Downer, Moses Dayhuff, Joseph Davis, Patrick Elliott, Joseph Fast, John Freeborn, Richard Freeborn, William Freeman, Samuel Freeman, Jacob Foulks, Henry Fisher, Thomas Fisher, Thomas Ford, Elias Ford, Elijah Ford, William Gilchrist, James Gribben, Nicholas Goldsmith, Vincent Goldsmith, Matthew Hai per, James Haney, John Haney, Thomas Haney, John Hendricks, Robert Houston, Abraham Huffman, Samuel Huffman, Isaac Harvuot, Joseph Harvuot, Joseph Harvuot, jr., John Jackson, Joseph Jackson, James Jackson, Sylvanus Kellogg, James Laughton, Matthew Laughton, Thomas Munhollen, Hance McMeekin, Joseph Marshall, Robert Merfert, Jacob McClain, Robert McBeth, William McMeekin, William McMeekin, jr,, Joseph McKibben, Alexander McCready, John McWilliams, John Owens, James Poag, Alexander Porter, Ephraim Palmer, Robert Patterson, Elijah Potter, William Price, John Prosser, Nicholas Peterson, John Rig- don, Thomas Ross, William Shaw, John Smith, Adam Smith, David Stratten, Joseph Scott, Casper Snook, John Scott, Alfred Skinner, Thomas Sprott, Thomas Sprott, jr., Jared N. Slonaker, Isaac Vanmeter, Peter Vanostrand, Joseph Wright, Casper Wagner, Thomas G. Whitlock, Thomas Wright, Mr. Youngblood. Ruggles.—The voters and property holders of this township, in 1825, were as follows: Truman Bates, Justus Barnes, Daniel Beach, Norman Carter, Aldrich Carver, Perry Durfee, Reuben Fox, Abraham Ferris, Jacob Roorback, Harvy Sacket, Bradford Sturtevant, Ezra D. Smith, and shortly after, Solomon Weston, Enoch Taylor, Samuel Monroe, Samuel Camp, John Hall, and J, Gates. Troy.—It is believed there was not a single white inhabitant within the township in 1825. At that period it was a common hunting-ground for Indians, and the pioneer hunters, of what now constitutes the county of Ashland. Sullivan.—Henry Close, Benjamin Close, R. M. Close, Jesse Chamberlain, Abijah Chamberlain, Whitney Chamberlain, Richard Chamberlain, John Hooker, Daniel Tillotson, John Munson, Durfee, A, Mann, Sylvanus Parmely, John Hendryx, William Woods, John Parmely, Asahel Parmely, Ashley Parmely, John Parmely, jr,, James Palmer, Thomas Rice,. Joseph Carlton, Isaac 98 - HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO. Diamond, George Mann, Uriah Chapman, Abijah Marsh, John Gould, Aretas Marsh, and Harris Hooker. It will be seen by consulting the foregoing lists, that the population of the territory now constituting Ashland county, in 1825 was much larger than is supposed by many. If we estimate six members to each family, the aggregate number of people in this region must have reached nearly eight thousand. When we reflect that in 1812 the entire population did not exceed one hundred and fifty souls, the settlement of the wilds of Richland county, for the next thirteen years, must have been exceedingly rapid; while the erection of cabins and improvements dotted almost every part of the forest. CHAPTER XXXIV THE ERECTION OF ASHLAND COUNTY—PHYSICAL FEATURES Formation of County.—Location of County-Seat.—Erection of J ail.— Geological Formation.—Area.—Streams. THE legislative act creating Ashland county was enacted February 24, 1846. It was formed of the territory of Richland, Huron, Lorain, and Wayne counties. The fractional townships of Mifflin, Milton and Clear- creek, and the full townships of Hanover, Green, Vermillion, Montgomery and Orange, were from Richland county, while Ruggles was from Huron, and Troy and Sullivan from Lorain, and the fractional townships of Jackson, Perry, Mohican, and Lake from Wayne county. On the first Monday of April, 1846, the county-seat was located at Ashland, by a vote of the electors, the citizens of Ashland agreeing to donate suitable grounds, and five thousand dollars to erect county buildings thereon. In 1847-48, the present jail was erected, by Ozias S. Kinney, architect, and cost the county about fourteen thousand dollars. An old stone church, purchased on the site of the grounds selected for the erection of county buildings, was occupied some seven years as a court house. It stood about midway between the present court house and jail, and had been erected by the Methodist denomination, The new court house was commenced by Ozias S. Kinney, architect, in 1851, and completed in 1853; and cost the county about twenty thousand dollars. The infirmary was erected by Sylvester Alger and George W. Urie, architects and builders, in 1849, and cost about four thousand dollars. Geologically considered, Ashland county presents evidence of having shown dry land at a very remote period in the history of the globe. Her soils and hills are older than the carboniferous, or coal and limestone periods; and if ever either existed within the limits of this county, they were worn away by the glacial flow from the north; or, during the emptying of the great northern seas through the valleys of the Ohio, Mississippi and the Hudson, after the elevation of the Appalachian chain of mountains, by the cooling and shrinking of the crust of the earth. How long this region may have been covered by the northern seas, will doubtless never be known by man, but that such seas enveloped this part of the globe for an extended period of time, must be apparent to all careful observers. It is very probable that the great chain of lakes extending from northern New York to the Lake of the Woods, is but a remnant of the mighty sea that covered a large portion of the States of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. The hypothesis, that during the "glacial period" huge mountains of ice were forced southward from high, northern regions, and in their advance, plowing deep valleys, and wrenching granite rocks from their position, and crushing, and rolling, and rounding them into boulders by erosion, receives much strength, on careful examination. It is possible that during the "drift period" great quantities of what are called "nigger-heads,"— boulders, were carried by ice, thousands of miles, thawed out, and dropped in the position they are now found. These granite boulders are found scattered all over northern Ohio, in sizes ranging from three or four pounds, to tons in weight, gradually diminishing in size as they recede from the lake shore. Further evidence of the existence of a great sea is found in the deposit of immense quantities of petrified shells, among the surface rubbish of the freestone formation. It is quite certain that these shells were deposited slowly, and that an immense period of time was exhausted in their petrifaction. The freestone rocks are in strata ; and their beds range in thickness from three to twenty feet. The sandstone formation crops out at a later period. Petrified shells are not so frequently fond above or beneath the sandstone. The sandstone is found on the highest land east of Ashland, commencing at Roseberry's hill, and extending nearly south to Lake township. It is also found on the elevated tract of land running from Milton, through Mifflin and Green townships, to Hanover. These stones arc found in abundance, and form a useful and durable material for walls, bridges and buildings. Ashland county contains an area of about four hundred square miles. It is divided into two principal slopes, or water-sheds, by a range of upland, extending in a northeast direction, across the south part of Glean creek and the north part of Orange and Jackson townships ; thus forming a dividing ridge, that separates the heads of the streams flowing south to the Muskingum, and north to Lake Erie. The streams on the south side of the dividing ridge, rising mostly from strong springs, flow in a southern direction, until they form a junction with larger ones, out of the county, The streams south of the dividing ridge are: the Black fork, fringing the western border of Milton and Mifflin townships, and passing across Green and Hanover ; the Jerome fork, rising in the northwest and northeast parts of Orange township, passes over Montgomery, the western part of Mohican and the eastern HISTORY OF ASHLAND COUNTY, OHIO - 99 part of Lake, and joins the Black fork in Holmes county; the Muddy fork rises in the northeastern part of Jackson township, and flows in a southwesterly direction across Perry, into Mohican, and thence into the Lake fork. These streams are fed by a number of smaller ones— the Catotaway, Honey creek, and a branch or two in Vermillion and Lake townships, and assume a considerable size before they form a junction with the Lake fork; and in early days were navigable for small flat-boats as high as Perrysville, Findlay's bridge, and Rochester milk. The uplands, south of the dividing ridge, slope gently to the south, presenting fine views for residences, and most desirable lands for agricultural purposes. At many points on the uplands, a landscape of eight to ten miles in circuit sweeps before the vision, giving as lovely a view as can be found-elsewhere on the globe. The range of lands on the western slope is composed of clay soil, second bottom loam, and rich alluvium along the streams, giving every variety of soil ; the same is the character of the soils in the middle and eastern ranges throughout the county, except in Hanover, where the upland is more rugged, the soil more sandy and less productive. The direction of the streams in that township is from the west, and though her hills antedate the carboniferous periods, they must have been elevated, like small islands, above the surface of the great sea, centuries before the region in and about Hayesville, Ashland, Savannah and Orange. The Vermillion river rises in the small lakes near Savannah, and is fed by numerous small rivulets and brooks on its winding way to Lake Erie. The Black river rises in the northern part of Sullivan township, and also empties into Lake Erie. The townships north of the dividing ridge dip slightly towards the north, and possess a stiff clay soil, better adapted to grazing than agricultural purposes, and many tine cattle are produced for the market by the farmers. The lakes in Ashland county are five in number, Two of these are found a short distance southeast of Savannah, in a basin formed by the dividing ridge, and are fed by springs. The upper, and larger lake, contains about one hundred and sixty acres, and the lower one, which has been partially drained, about eighty acres. They contain many of the varieties of fishes usually found in the streams of this State, and are of great depth, and evidently the remains of a much larger body of water. They are often resorted to for the sport of fishing in canoes, and as a pastime for picnic parties. There are also three small lakes about two miles southwest of Mifflin. The larger one contains about fifty acres, the middle one about thirty, and the smaller one about ten, They constitute a sort of basin, and are fed by numerous springs. They abound in the same varieties of fishes found in the Vermillion lakes. These lakes were once the favorite resort of the Indians for fishing purposes, and their bark canoes were often floated over glassy surface of these hill-hedged basins of water, known as the " mimic lakes of Mifflin." There are a number of noted springs in the western part of the county. In Milton and Mifflin, the largest are found, In the neighborhood of the Nelsons, in Milton, is found one of extraordinary power, pouring forth a volume of water sufficiently large to turn a mill, if properly directed. Near the residence of Mr. Copus, in Mifflin township, are also found several springs, throwing out copious quantities of pure, cool water. Many sections of Green, Lake, and Mohican townships possess springs of great strength; and few counties in the State have a better supply of pure, sparkling, healthful water, than this. The timber of this county consists of oak, walhut, black and white ash, cherry, beech, sugar, maple, hickory, chestnut, elm, and the usual undergrowth found in other parts of the State. In Troy, Ruggles and Sullivan, on the northern slope, a few scattered poplars were found in early days, but have been long since converted into lumber. Ashland county is exceedingly limited in its mineral productions. A few pieces of coal, and a little slate, found on the dividing ridge north of Ashland are all the evidences of coal that are seen within its limits.* It is believed that the county is totally deficient in limestone and iron ore. Attempts have been made, in the deep valleys of Hanover, to discover coal oil by boring ; but such attempts have been unsuccessful, so far. If it be true, that the nature of the soil nearly always determines the occupation of a people, the inhabitants of this county, with but few exceptions, must pursue the delightful and manly avocation of tilling the soil, raising fine horses and cattle, and flocks of sheep, surrounded by abundance, with homes blessed of God, and made comfortable by industry, and the fruits of toil. Evidence exists on all sides that when the red man of the forest roamed unchecked over plain, and hill, and along our lakes and streams the dappled deer in numerous groves, with the elk, the wild turkey and other game, marched up and down these wilds in native freedom, disturbed only by the savage with his bow and arrow ; and long since with him, have traveled toward the setting sun, and ere long will be swept before the remorseless march of the -white man, into oblivion. *A small vein of coal was found on the farm of Cyrus Miller in the lower part of Hanover township in 1875.