508 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. CHAPTER XVI. (RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) AUBURN TOWNSHIP -DESCRIPTION -SETTLEMENT BY THE WHITES-TOPOGRAPHICAL-EARLY PRIVATIONS-PIONEER INDUSTRIES-TOWNS LAID OUT-SCHOOLS-CHURCHES. ETC. THE historical investigator, with tireless thought, surveys the dusty memorials of forgotten years and endeavors to select from the strange commingling of facts and fancy those beautiful life-lessons which exemplify the noblest type of human character. There is a strange pleasure in rummaging over the relics and records of former generations. and in scanning the brief period of those lives that will be green forever in the memory of the world. It affords abundant opportunity for the derivation of useful moral, from the motives which animate the hearts of the human race. The evolution of society and civilization from primitive man to the present time, presents a wonderful volume of instruction for human inspection and guidance. The rise and fall of nations and the causes, the remorseless deeds of an inordinate ambition, brothers engaged in fratricidal warfare, innocence and purity trampled under the iron feet of cruelty-all are strangely interesting, and stir the heart to its profoundest depths. Countless lessons and morals of usefulness are found among the dust-y archives of human progress, from a benighted barbarism to the present imperfect state of civilization. This gives to history a value and dignity beyond any other study within the scope of intellect, and presents the human race with ideal lives of excellence.. well worthy of imitation. It often occurs in a neighborhood, that, when the question of early settlement is broached, different families present rival claims as to the first cabin built, the first birth, marriage, or death; and numerous instances are met with where the descendants of early settlers endeavor to surpass each other in narrating deeds of peril or hardship through which their forefathers passed when the forest was filled with wild animals, or when crafty Indians, in war-paint and feathers, watched the pioneer's cabin with the eye of a Hawk, ready, when darkness concealed their movements, to swoop down upon the unsuspecting inmates who were deemed intruders and deadly enemies. to carry them off into hopeless captivity, or for purposes of torture more HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 509 heart-rending than those of the Spanish Inquisition. It thus occurs that numerous interesting incidents that transpired in the neighborhood many years before, are wrested from falling into the fathomless depths of forgetfulness, becoming bright and ever-living mementoes among the heroic deeds of the past, perpetual testimonials of the adventurous spirit of pioneers, placed upon the page of history through the medium of tradition. There is no neighborhood without its interesting legend-no section of country without its curious or mysterious incident,. which, under the masterly hand of Genius, would become as fascinating as the strange myths of prehistoric time. On yonder elevation, the swift wheel of a busy mill once told the passers by of the presence of the enterprising pioneer. That deep ravine, with precipitous sides thickly overspread with heavy foliage, was once the scene of a mysterious murder, that has persistently baffled the truth of the maxim,"Murder will out," "This is the spot." says an old settler, "where a pack of hungry wolves once came mighty near eating me up." "Do you see that big tree there,'' asks another: "that's where I was treed by a bear, when that tree was a little sapling." This illustrates the common experience of those whose lot it is to gather incidents and events of early years. Every family that came into the wilderness, prepared for any and every emergency, has handed down through the generations tales of privation and danger - trials of courage and hardihood, undergone by its members, that have become imperishable portions of the family history. In this manner, the more interesting events occurring in a neighborhood are preserved and given future generations, that will read of them with thrilling interest and wonder as they read. There are found those traditions relating to social, domestic, or hunting customs, to family characteristics. to individual peculiarities, to personal danger and to innumerable events that combine to form an attractive family or township record. Auburn Township, from its being one of the first, if not the first, settled in the county, presents a very attractive early history. Its earliest settlers, English from the Eastern States. Hollanders from New York and Scotch-Irish from Pennsylvania, were almost wholly soldiers in the war of 1812, many of whom, in the military expeditions across Ohio, had seen the land which they afterward purchased. As soon as the war had closed. large numbers of pioneers arrived and settled in northern Richland County, of which, at that time, Auburn Township formed a part, purchased their farms, and began to clear them, and to surround themselves as rapidly as possible with schools, churches, and other auxiliaries of settled localities. The township was early the home of those wandering hunters, the advance-guard of settlement, whose greatest annoyance seemed to be the approach of pioneers. Their wives and families seemed proof against privation and starvation, and cheerfully followed the husband and father into the .deepest woods, where no white foot had yet pressed, and where Indians and savage beast: were every-day sights. John Pettigon, one of these roving hunters, and the first settler in the township-the first resident land holder - built a small cabin as early as 1814, and began supporting his family almost wholly by means of his rifle, in the rise of which he had but few equals and no superiors. He was a very successful hunter and trapper, and made no little money in the sale of furs. It is probable that he lived in Vernon Township for a few years. He was an eccentric character, and seemed uneasy when in the presence of other settlers, and apparently much preferred the companionship of the Indians 510 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. and wild animals or solitude. He had been a soldier in the war of 1812, and at its close had purchased a small tract of land in Auburn. He cared nothing, however, for real estate, as long as the forests were filled with an abundance of wild animals. It was no trouble for him to stalk a deer, and one of his favorite "deer licks" was on the farm now owned by Capt. Cummins. He killed scores of deer at this "lick," the most of them being shot soon after dark, when they came to drink. He remained in the township until six or eight families had settled within as many miles of him, when, thinking that the country began to look too much like a city, he moved farther out into the wilds of the forest. Jedediah Morehead was another of these hunters, who located for a time in Auburn and adjoining townships. He was a squatter, and roamed over vast tracts of country in search of game, often being absent from home for weeks at a time. He had a large family, and lived a few years in Northern Vernon, devoting all his time to hunting and trapping, a portion of it being spent in the swamps and cranberry marshes, within a radius of fifteen miles of his cabin. His cabin, if such it could be properly called, was located on a narrow neck of land which extended into the large cranberry marsh lying partly in the township and partly in Huron County. His cabin was built of brush and bark, being in reality nothing more nor less than an Indian wigwam, except perhaps, a few artistical finishes of his own device, and unknown to the natives, after whose habitations the main features of his cabin had been copied. The point of land where his cabin stood became known as "Morehead's Point," a name it yet retains, in memory of the old hunter. It is thought by some of the old settlers that Morehead lived in the township during the war of 1812, and that his cabin was erected just at its commencement. This, however, is not definitely known, although it is quite certain that he built the first cabin in the township. Among the early residents of the township were two singular old bachelors, named Varnica and Wadsworth. They were hermits, and lived lonely and solitary lives in rude caves dug by themselves in the side of embankments, the roof being supported by upright posts, standing at intervals within the caves. People called them crazy, and the eccentricity of the two gave abundant credence to the report. They shunned all associates except their faithful dogs, and were never seen in the neighboring settlements, unless called there for supplies or to dispose of provisions. Varnica was a German, and could handle the glib idioms of his native language with a grace and fluency that proved his education to be of unusual excellence. It became current, and was universally believed, that he had been an officer in one of the European armies, possibly in that of Napoleon Bonaparte. His language and manners indicated that he was familiar with military tactics, and his inability to speak English proved that he had not resided long in America. Although he lived in poverty, and went dressed in insufficient and even ragged clothing, he seemed to have an abundance of money, which he kept hid in out-of-the-way places. He entered a quarter-section of land, upon which he resided until his death. But little money was found after this event, until a will was found among his papers, bequeathing his land. and a few hundred dollars in money, to a young man named James Wilson, with whom he had lived at the time of his death. The secret of this strange man's life was buried with him. He was always silent and melancholy, and seemed to have a deep-rooted sorrow preying upon his mind, robbing it of joys that make life endurable. By the provisions HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 511 of the will, Wilson was made executor, and was enjoined to distribute the balance of the money among poor and friendless females. This provision was a denouement to some. who had noticed that Varnica shunned the opposite sex as he would the plagues of Egypt, his conduct giving rise to the report that his life had been blighted by a woman. The will disclosed the hiding-place of $2,200 in gold, which had been concealed in a gate-post, into which a hole had been bored and the gold dropped in, after which the hole had been closed with a pin of the same wood as the post. He died in 1840, and Wilson faithfully executed the provisions of the will. Wadsworth was a graduate of Yale College, and had evidently fitted himself for the ministerial profession. He lied in a cave on his land, and. though bent almost double from unknown circumstances, was possessed of enormous strength. He carried his melons, potatoes and other provisions, in a sack on his back from house to house or to some of the surrounding villages. He was a recluse and seemed contented only when he could brood without molestation over his mysterious life. He had rich relatives living in Boston who occasionally visited him and tried to induce him to abandon his life of poverty and loneliness, but without avail. A happy smile was never seen upon his sad face, and. when he at last died. in about 1838, his property was claimed by his Eastern relatives. The territory comprising Auburn Township, like all the land in Western Richland County, was surveyed in 1807, by Maxfield Ludlow. It was almost universally the case, when the country was first settled. that township organizations first extended over large tracts of land, one set of officers being elected to administer the public affairs of several townships. Until April 3, 1820, Auburn was part of Plymouth Township, which, at that time, comprised two full townships, one of them being Auburn. In 1820, Auburn was granted the right of self government, and the first officers were then elected. However, while the township was yet a part of Plymouth, several settlers in Auburn served as officers of the combined townships. After 1820, the township remained six miles square, until changes were made in the boundaries of surrounding counties by the creation of Wyandot County. The four tiers of sections on the west were then severed from the remainder, and annexed to Crawford County, constituting Auburn as it is at present. When the township was created, several settlers met to decide, among other matters, what it should be named. Various titles were suggested, among them being Auburn presented by two brothers, Palmer and Daniel Hulse, then residing in the township, the name being taken from a township in New York, where the brothers formerly lived After some discussion, the name was adopted and bestowed upon the township. No tract of land in the State, is more highly fitted for agricultural purposes than Auburn. The soil is deep and black, and contains sufficient sand to furnish abundant silica for strengthening wheat and oat straw, the want of which is experienced in Western States, where a dearth of silica in the rich alluvial soil prevents a firm growth of the straw and causes the stalk to break before the grain is ripe. The surface is comparatively level, although there is a sufficient number of streams to furnish ample drainage. The township lies wholly within the Lake Erie basin, and its surface, therefore, slopes gently toward the north. Coykendall Run, a small stream named after an early settler, rises in the southeastern corner, and takes a zigzag course, flowing north across the eastern tier of sections; and it and its small branches drain almost the eastern half of the township. 512 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. Honey Creek rises in a low tract of land, formerly a swamp, lying on the boundary between Auburn and Vernon Townships. It flows north the greater part of its course lying on the western tier of sections. These streams give the surface excellent drainage, although they have not sufficient slope to carry off the water so rapidly as to leave the soil without the proper degree of moisture in times of drought. These streams are branches of Huron River. A tract of land comprising several thousand acres, two or three hundred of which lie on the northern tier of sections, was, in early years, an extensive cranberry marsh, being very wet and unproductive, except for the berries which grew there in great abundance, and remained thus until a score or more of years ago, when proper sluices were dug to carry the water into Honey Creak. Berries no longer grow there, the marsh being too dry for them. The drift deposits which cover the surface are underlain, in the southern part. by an abundance of excellent limestone, which lies too deep ever to be profitably worked, except perhaps on the southwest quarter of Section 28,. where it outcrops on a small stream on the land of Samuel Hilborn. The surface in the southern part. is quite thickly covered with fragments of Granite bowlders and other stones containing a large percentage of quartz, often beautifully colored with iron oxides. The large quantity of iron in the soil of the drift deposits gives rise to many wells of ferriferous water. This water is ordinarily found in great abundance in the sand of the Waverly group of rocks. No township in the county has a greater number of interesting incidents of personal adventure in early years than Auburn, evidently from the fact that there are found a greater number of the old settlers living who participated in those events, and whose recollection is good notwithstanding the lapse of time. When the first settlers appeared. the forests were yet filled with wild beasts;. and the Indians were found in large numbers, camped in small detachments on almost every stream. They were mostly Wyandots, though Delawares, Senecas and members of other tribes were often seen. It frequently happened that Indians, who had been reared in the woods, and whose life-long education was a succession of hunting maneuvers, wherein the crafty experience of ancestors, which had been handed down through a long period of wars, had been exemplified and imitated, were less skillful and successful in their hunting expeditions than the white hunters, many of whom had passed their early life where hunting was scarcely known, and whose education in wood craft and the tactic: of the chase had been extremely brief. Many of the settlers, however knowing that the time would be unprofitably spent, because the rapid settlement and improvement of the country was destined to cut short the brief period when wild game of the larger varieties abounded did not endeavor to obtain a profound of knowledge of hunting tactics. It thus occurred that nine out of every ten of the settlers paid no heed to the exciting adventures with wild animal, going on around them, except, perhaps, for pastime. but devoted their time and labor to the clearing and cultivation of their farms. Deer were occasionally killed by the most unskillful: : but. when venison was wanted, it was customary to employ a hunter of known skill - often the Indian-to hunt for a few days, paying him for his trouble, and taking the game he killed. Indian hunters could be employed for lower wages than white hunters, a small bottle of whisky being considered by them as an ample reward for an all day's tramp through the woods, whereas a white hunter was dissatisfied with less than several PAGE 513 - PICTURE OF JOSEPH STEWART PAGE 514 - BLANK HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 515 gallons. For the first few years after the settlers had become established. the slaughter of deer was carried on so wantonly that the more thoughtful and prudent settlers saw that those animals were soon destined to become unknown in the country, unless some means could be devised to end the useless slaughter. The Indians, who camped on the small streams throughout the country, killed hundreds of them for nothing but their skins, leaving the flesh for the wolves and buzzards. During the season when the fawns were young, the Indians, in order to kill as many deer as possible, were in the habit of what was called "bawling up a deer." They imitated the bleating of a fawn in distress, when the instinct of the doe to protect her young was on the alert and paramount and when she ran to protect her offspring, she was shot by the Indians. In this manner, large numbers of does were slaughtered. After a few years, the settlers forbade the Indians coming to the neighborhood to kill deer; and on one occasion when they disobeyed the command and killed a fine doe by the "bawling" process, several settlers, among whom were one of the Chilcotes, of Cranberry Township, and Enoch Baker, informed them emphatically, with a significant tap on the rifle that if the act was repeated the Indians doing it would be shot. This put a stop to the destruction in that direction, and the settlers were requested not to slaughter the animals unnecessarily. Ira Blair, on one occasion, remained in the woods for three days, killing during that time. eight deer. It is related by Amos Morse, that, in about 1821, Jacob Byers made a contract with Rodolphus Morse, the father of Amos, to the effect that he could kill more deer the next day than Mr. Morse could bring in. The bargain was made one evening, during a heavy fall of snow. Byers knew that the following day would be an excellent one for the hunt, so early the next morning he started out. He had an old flint-lock rifle, that had evidently seen any amount of service, as the parts were tied together in many places with bands of tow. But the gun proved very effective in the hands of the experienced Byers, who, during that eventful day, killed seven deer, all of which were brought in, according to agreement, by Mr. Morse, except one, which had been mortally wounded, and had been followed and killed about eight miles east of the township. The approach of darkness prevented Mr. Morse from bringing this animal in, and he therefore failed to live up to his part of the agreement. Fawns, wore often captured alive, and after a few days had elapsed they would follow members of the family around like dogs. Almost every cabin had its pet deer or fawn. Bells were hung about their necks to prevent them from getting lost in the woods. Mr. Baker owned one of these pets, which was prized very highly by the members of his family. One day, while it was feeding near the cabin. Mr. Tyndal. who was hunting in the woods, possibly thinking it was a wild one, shot and killed it. He also killed several others about the neighborhood. when the indignant owner's came to the conclusion that it was preposterous to look any longer upon the act as a mistake. Enoch Baker became quite an expert hunter, and is yet living in the township, on the farm purchased by his father in 1826. On one occasion, when returning late at night, or rather early in the morning, from "sparking" a neighbor's daughter, he barely escaped being devoured by wolves. He had left the cabin of his sweetheart, and was walking along through the forest, swinging his cane and whistling, as boys do yet when returning on similar occasions, when the distant howl of a wolf was borne to his ears. The howl was repeated, and soon the woods were filled with a chorus of the terrifying sounds. 516 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. The boy was terribly frightened, and, as he I had several miles to go before reaching home, he started rapidly on the run, hoping to reach his father's cabin before the wolves closed upon him. He ran on as swiftly as his feet would carry him; but soon the foremost wolves were seen bounding along at his right and left. He swung his club aloft and shouted, and the wolves fell back a short distance, only to again approach nearer than before. But the panting boy was almost home. He struggled on, with the wolves about him, and finally ran into the clearing around his father's cabin, when the animals fell back, and were soon out of sight in the dark forest. This was a lesson to the youth: but it did no good, for the nest Sunday night he was out late again for the same reason. On another occasion, William Johns, a neighbor, having lost several pigs through the agency of some wild animal that carried them off one by one on successive nights, offered Mr. Baker a dollar if he would kill the animal. Baker accordingly established himself with his dog in the cabin of Johns, to watch for the animal during the night. About 12 o'clock, the swine were heard squealing, and Baker opened the door and told the eager dog to go. Away it went after some large animal, that bounded off into the woods and ran up a tree. Baker followed, and saw by the light of the moon a catamount crouched on a large limb above his head. He fired, and the animal fell to the ground dead. The death of the catamount stopped the destruction of the swine: but Baker refused to take the dollar he had earned, being satisfied with the skin of the animal. At another time, when returning from a neighbors, his dogs treed two catamounts. After a lively skirmish, during which he experienced considerable personal danger, he succeeded in killing them both. The woods were filled with squirrels, which came by the hundreds into corn-fields, and dug up and destroyed the growing grain. Hunts were frequently organized to rid the forest of these pests, and, often, on such occasions, hundreds were killed, and for days afterward the hunter's families were provided with an abundant supply of choice meat. A hunt of this character was projected one day by a party of the settlers, among whom were Thomas Cooker and Enoch Baker. When night came, and the hunters assembled to see who had been most successful, it was found that almost 200 squirrels had been killed. As each hunter brought into the room the squirrels he had killed, Baker, to the astonishment of all, lugged in a large catamount as the result of his day's hunt. It was conceded by all that he had done the best day's work. Mr. Baker is among the oldest and most respected citizens in the township. He lives upon the old farm, and the rise of ground where his dwelling stands is the site of an extensive Indian cemetery. Indian remains were first discovered in 1833, when Mr. Baker, in digging a well, having reached a depth of about eighteen inches, came upon four skeletons, lying side by side, two with heads toward the east and two toward the west, the heads of each couple lying near the lower extremities of the other couple. No articles of clothing or implements of war were found, and the more fragile portions of the skeletons soon crumbled into dust. One of the Indians must have been a Hercules, as the inferior maxillary, or jaw-bone, was large enough to pass entirely over the jaw of an ordinary man and the upper bone of the arm the humerus, was four inches longer than in the average man, and had a corresponding thickness. Subsequently, more than fifteen skeletons have been plowed up near the house, all of them being buried within from a foot to eighteen inches of the surface, and all being in an HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 517 advanced state of decomposition. No war or other implements have been found with any of the skeletons, a very unusual circumstance where Indian remains are unearthed. In 1866, while digging a cellar, Mr. Baker and his workmen disclosed nine of these skeletons, reposing side by side, some of the skulls to the east and some to the west. As many as thirty skeletons have been unearthed on the farm since 1833, and those discovered in late years have been apparently no further decomposed than those found in early years, proving that the bodies were buried scores of years before the coming of the pioneer. The future will reveal many more of these skeletons. At another time, William Cole, then a boy about sixteen years old, called the dogs one evening. and started in search of the cows. The dogs left his side, and he soon heard them barking furiously at some animal that had turned at bay. He hurried forward, and saw them standing guard over a large hollow log, and, from their cautious movements, he knew they were confronted by an animal of which they were afraid. He stole cautiously forward from the rear. and. peering under the log. saw the huge paws of a bear. The boy was without a gun; but, determining to attack the bear at all hazards, he armed himself with a heavy club, and resolutely approached the log. While the attention of the bear was diverted to the dogs, which, emboldened by the approach of the boy, had renewed the attack with great fury. He seized it by the hind leg and pulled it from the log. Before the animal could recover its feet, the boy dealt it a terrible blow across the head, repeating the act again and again until life was extinct. When the excited boy returned home without the cows and related his adventure, his story was not believed until the dead bear was seen. William's brother Daniel remained one night at the cabin of a relative near West Liberty, and early the next morning, before daybreak, started for home. He was accompanied by a large bull-dog, belonging to Enoch Baker, and, after going a short distance, he was startled by seeing several wolves running along in the woods on either side of and behind him. He started forward, but had not gone ten paces before a pack of eleven wolves, with open months, bounded toward him from behind. A large one, the leader of the pack, was almost upon him, when it was seized by the throat by the dog, and pinned to the ground. The others fell back, giving the boy time to ascend a small iron-wood tree, and, after a short fight, the wolf escaped the hold of the dog, and together the whole pack turned and disappeared in the woods. The boy had been saved by the dog from a horrible death. One day, Seth Hawks, hearing one of his hogs squealing loudly in the woods about a quarter of a mile from his cabin, hastened out to see what could be the matter. A large log lay upon the ground between him and the squealing hog, and nothing could be seen by the settler until he reached the log and peered over. There lay his swine upon the. ground, while, standing over it, with their sharp teeth and claws in its flesh, were two large bears. The animals instantly perceived the intruder, and turned upon him furiously; but he ran to a small tree, and, exerting himself, sprang into the lower branches just in time to escape the claws of the larger bear, which had swiftly pursued him. The furious animal began making desperate efforts to reach the settler. It at first endeavored to climb the tree; but, failing in this, it retired a short distance and, turning, ran toward the tree with the apparent intention of leaping into the lower branches. The terrified Mr. Hawks sat on a limb above, and regarded with no little concern the efforts of the bear. He began hallooing loudly for assist- 518 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. ance, and the bear increased its efforts to reach its enemy. It soon wore quite a path in running to the tree, and would leap high enough to seize one of the limbs in its teeth. After about half an hour, Rodolphus Morse, who had been apprised by Mrs. Hawk; of the dangerous situation of her husband, appared upon the scene; whereupon the bears, whose fury had spent itself, apparently realizing that it was no longer wise to dispute against such odds about the, ownership of the hog, shambled off through the woods as fast as their feet could carry them. Many other interesting anecdotes of a similar nature are related by the old settlers. As was previously stated, immediately after the war of 1812, the first settlers began to appear in Auburn Township. William Green, a native of Massachusetts, came in 1815, and purchased 160 acres of land in the southeastern part. After clearing a few acres and erecting a rude log cabin, he returned to Licking County, Ohio, where he had left his family, remaining there until December, 1816, when he moved out to the farm. He was the first substantial settler, and with his coming began the rapid growth and improvement of the township. Subsequently, he increased his farm until he owned a section of fine land. His sons, Samuel S. and Walter, are yet living in Auburn at advanced ages. Samuel Hanna entered a quarter-section of land in 1815, but did not locate thereon until 1819. A man named Deardorff entered a quarter-section of land in 1815, upon which he lived two or three years, after which he sold out and moved to some other locality. In 1817, Charles Morrow and William Cole came to the township. But little is remembered of Charles Morrow, who remained in the township a few years, and then sold out and moved away William Cole, however, remained in Auburn until his death. He was an intelligent man and did much in early years to render the township a desirable place in which to locate. His descendants are among the prominent citizens. In 1818, there came in James Coykendall, Charles Dewitt, John Bodley, David Cummins, and possibly three or four others. Nothing. comparatively, is known of the lives of these men, although many of their descendants are scattered throughout Northern Ohio. Coykendall became quite an expert hunter, and, like his brother Nimrods, avoided as far as practicable, the irksome duties of clearing up and improving his farm, preferring to rove the forest in quest of adventure. He killed several bear, and catamounts and his advice and skill were in demand when hunting topics were discussed, or when hunts were on the tapis. In 1819, there came Rodolphus Morse, Samuel Hanna, Adam Aumend, Resolved White, John Webber and several others. Mr. Morse became one of the most prominent of the early settlers. He took an active part in educational advancement, was instrumental in organizing many of the early schools, a number of which he taught, and did perhaps as much as any other man to hasten the tardy movements of education. It was due to influence. more than to any other that the establishment of a post office was secured in the township as early as 1824, and perhaps earlier. This was one of the first. if not the first, post offices of its kind in the county. Mr. Morse received the appointment as Postmaster, and the office was established in his cabin, where it remained many years. He was a native of Berkshire County, Mass., and first came to Huron, Ohio, in June 1818. He had served with distinction in the war of 1812, and after coming to the township was elected Clerk for many successive terms. His son Amos has for years been one of the most influential of Auburn's citizens. He has served twenty-four terms as Justice of the Peace, and was also HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 519 Postmaster for a number of years before the location of the office at Tiro. Mr. Morrow served many years as Postmaster, succeeding the elder Morse. It is no longer remembered who were the first township officers, except that James Coykendall was the first Justice of the Peace. While holding this office, he married, as early as 1821, Harvey Hoadley to Elizabeth Blair, the marriage being one of the first in the township. The early settlers, almost without exception, were of English descent. many of whom came from the Bay State immediately after the war of 1812, first locating in one of the Eastern counties. The most of them had served in the war, and Auburn Township was settled by a greater number of these ex-soldiers than any other township in the county. Resolved White, a lineal descendant of Peregrine White, the child born in the Mayflower on its journey across the Atlantic, purchased a quarter-section in 1819 of a Mr. Laughtery, who had located on the land the year previouly, and had erected a small log cabin and made some improvements, Mr. White returned to New York, where he married. and in 1821, came with his wife to their wilderness home. His daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth (White) Daugherty, is yet living in the township. Adam Aumend was a shoemaker by trade, an occupation he followed to some extent after coming to the township, He purchased 320 acres in the northern part, near the cranberry marsh, of Henry Rief, paying $2.50 per acre. How long Mr. Rief had lived there is unknown or forgotten. Mr. Aumend's son Adam was the first Asessor in the township assessing Vernon, and perhaps other townships at the same time. Within two or three years after 1819, there came in John Blair, George Hammond, John Sheckler, Erastus Sawyer, Jesse Ladow, Nelson S. Howe, Daniel Bunker, Jacob Bevard, Richard Tucker, Seth Hawks and several others. Abel C. Ross arrived in 1825, and Joseph Baker came the following year. George Hammond was a native of the Nutmeg State, and came to Auburn early in 1822. He purchased a quarter section of a man named Clark, there being a small cabin upon the place and a few acres, cleared. His son is yet living on the same farm. John Sheckler came from Pennsylvania in 1821, and became a prominent citizen. He was skillful with the rifle, and on one occasion, in company with Mr. Pettigon, he killed three wild-cats; remaining all night in the woods. Joseph Baker, a native of the Old Dominion, arrived in 1826. He also was one of the brave soldiers in the war of 1812. His son Enoch gathered cranberries in the neighboring marshes for sixteen consecutive year. This pursuit was largely followed by almost all the early settlers, many of whom made sufficient money thereby to purchase the fine farms their descendants now own. Many interesting aneedotes are related concerning adventures in these marshes. The men who finally purchased the marshes experienced great difficulty in preventing their neighbors from gathering berries without due authority. Personal encounters occasionally took place, and several law-suits were instituted to compel the trespasser to make proper return for the berries he had unlawfuly taken. John Blair came from New York in 1821, entered a small tract of land and erected thereon a round-log cabin, which at first had no floor, but which, after a few years, was furnished with one inside made of puncheons. He brought with him two horses, two cows and eight sheep seven of the latter being subsequently killed by the wolves. His son Ira lives on the old place. The early settlers of the township were temperate for that day, drunken men being rarely seen. No liquor, except wine from grapes, has ever been manufactured in the township. The settlers usually observed Sunday, although 520 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. an instance is related by Mr. Morse where the Scriptural injunction of one of the Ten Commandments was disobeyed. One Sunday, Rodolphus horse heard Seth Hawks, who was a strict Presbyterian, repeatedly shouting to his oxen, which he seemed to be driving; and, not understanding the meaning of such boisterous conduct from such a source on the Sabbath, he went across to his neighbor's to see what it meant. There was Mr. Hawks busily engaged in driving his oxen round and round upon a puncheon floor, laid down in the open air, upon which was a heavy spread of grain yet in the stalk. He was threshing his wheat, and was so intent on his business as to be unaware of the approach of Mr. Morse. He was asked what he meant by working on Sunday, to which he replied that the day was Saturday. Thereupon explanations followed, much to the discomfiture of Mr. Hawks, who became convinced that he had violated the commandment, "Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy." The oxen were unhitched, and Mr. Hawks retired to the seclusion of his cabin to meditate at leisure over his mistake. In about 1827, David Cummins built a saw-mill on Honey Creek, near the center of the township. It was a small frame structure, and was run by water-power, the water being secured in the usual manner by means of a race. It was run until about 1855. having a change of owners, among whom were a Mr. Irving and a Mr. Brown. The former purchased it of Cummins in about 18l5, and, after a few years, sold it to the latter, under whose management it stopped. This was the first mill of the kind in the township. Prior to its erection, sawed lumber was obtained east toward Mansfield, or north on the Huron River. There was no great demand for lumber as the early dwellings were built of logs, and many of the floors were of puncheons. Nothing of the kind was required for fences, barns or outhouses, and even after the lapse of twenty years the demand had not increased to any great extent, from the fact that many dwellings were constructed of nicely hewed logs, which were considered peculiarly fitted to make as fine a dwelling as need be desired. Two or three years after the erection of the Cummins mill. Thomas Millard built another a short distance below on the same creek. This was also frame, and was run by waterpower. It became a valuable mill in after years, and furnished large quantities of lumber for the citizens. The building was large, and in one apartment was placed a set of "nigger-head" stones, for the purpose of grinding wheat, corn, rye, etc Mr. Millard operated the combined mills for about twelve years, when both were rented to Enoch Baker, with the understanding that the latter was to have half the profits. But the frequent breaking of the dam prevented steady and profitable work and, at the end of a year. Mr. Baker concluded to sever his connection with the mills. It is said that the grist-mill furnished an excellent article of flour. Shortly after this, Rufus Page purchased the mill; of Mr. Millard but, while they were under his ownership, the grist-mill was abandoned as unprofitable, though the saw-mill was operated with renewed vigor. A short distance above the site of these mills, the water of Honey Creek has been channel for more than a mile from the original channel. This was done by Mr. Baker, on his farm, at a cost of more than $1,000, exclusive of his own labor and time. The object was to prevent the frequent overflowing of the land, and to reclaim the valley of the creek, which, from the zigzag course of the stream across the farm and the shallowness of the bed, was covered a large portion of the year with water. Since the construction of this artificial channel, the increase in the crops raised in the valley has HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 521 returned the outlay several times. Extensive systems of drainage for the cranberry marshes have been adopted, and ere many years these rich alluvial basins will be reclaimed. They are so dry at present that the peat which they contain in great quantity often catches fire, causing much trouble before the fire is extinguished. The peat is not of sufficient purity, however. to be utilized as fuel, even if wood and coal did not abound. The village of Waynesburg, named in honor of Gen. Anthony Wayne, was laid out and platted in 1833, Aaron Cory and Richard Millar being the owners and proprietors. Twenty-six lots were surveyed, to which no additions have been made. The lots were offered for sale at public auction, and several of the citizens invested, paving some $8 or $l0 per lot. Enoch Baker, possibly thinking that the village was destined to become metropolitan, bid $10 for a choice corner lot, which was "knocked down" to him at that price. Nothing further was done, however, to complete the purchase, and. after several years had elapsed. Mr. Baker signified his readiness to pay the $10 for the lot. But Mr. Cory refused to take the money, saying that the lots had risen in value. and that the corner one was worth $20. Baker refused to pay the price demanded, and hence failed to buy the lot. This was the only effort Mr. Baker ever made to own real estate in a town. and his aspirations in that line died out with the failure. Soon after the sale of the lots. Reuben Frisbee brought a small stock of goods to the town. He placed in a small room, built for the purpose. $560 worth of a general assortment of merchandise, and also began dealing in provisions. He was a close, shrewd financier, and at the end of eight years was worth $6,000. He had borrowed $500 of his original capital of his brother. This was returned, with interest at the end of the eight years, leaving Mr. Frisbee a balance of over $5,000 as a return for his $60 of invested capital. He was extremely close in all his business transactions, and always carefully scrutinized butter, eggs, etc., before venturing to purchase. It is said that he had a small hole bored in the counter, and that he ate only those eggs which could pass through. This story was intended to convey the idea that Mr. Frisbee ate but few eggs. One day he went coon-hunting with Enoch Baker to the cranberry marsh. The hunters intended to be gone three days, and took enough provisions with them to last that length of time. In order that nothing, might be wasted. Frisbee counted the meals required by the two while away, and then carefully measured and cut off the necessary slices of ham, of equal size and thickness, to last until their return. The bread and provisions were measured in a similar manner, and, when all was ready, they started. But, for some cause, the hunters remained away but one night, catching four coons in the meantime. It soon became apparent that Frisbee was in trouble. He looked dejected, and sorrowfully remarked to Baker that the food so carefully prepared was destined to become stale before it could be consunned. Baker tendered his sympathy, but it afforded no relief. The pelts of the coons were equally divided, and Mr. Baker sold his two for $1 each. Three or four years after Frisbee opened his store, Anderson & Moore placed $2,500 worth of goods in another building. Then made considerable money during a period of about four years, when, finding that Frisbee was rapidly gaining the advantage in trade they sold their stock to Rufus Page. Shortly afterward, Frisbee went out of business, leaving a clear field to build up an excellent country trade. After continuing eight or ten years, Page sold his stock to Baker & Sims. At the expiration of 522 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. eighteen months, Baker sold his interest to his partner, whereupon the partnership of Sims &; Son was formed. This firm continued for about four years, when the trade became so reduced that it was thought best to retire from the business, which was accordingly done. It was about this time that Bear & Graffmiller ventured to engage in the mercantile pursuit in the village, and soon afterward Enoch Baker began selling goods on commission. After about a year, Baker deemed it advisable to purchase the stock he was selling; and he also soon afterward bought out Bear, who was then alone, having purchased his partner's interest. Baker closed out his stock at the end of a year, having cleared, during that period, $1,200. Joseph Kerr kept a small grocery for a few years, beginning about 1858. Several others have engaged for short periods in the mercantile pursuit in the village. Soon after the town was laid out, a petition was circulated for signers, praying for the location of a post office at Waynesburg. The office was secured, and James K. Davis received the appointment as first Postmaster. Wellersburg was the name bestowed upon the new office, Martin Clark erected a small tavern, which was thrown open for public reception in 1850. The village, in early years, was a lively trading-point; but, after the advent of railroads in the county, and the subsequent growth of villages along its line, the business prosperity of Waynesburg steadily declined, until the present finds it almost "without a habitation and a name." After much inquiry and search, the writer of this chapter has recovered from old records, in the possession of Hon. J. E. Cory, the following, which is received too late to insert in its proper connection, and which explains itself "At an election held at the house of Palmer Hulse, in Auburn Township, on the 2d day of April, 1821, agreeable to an order of the County Commissioners, the following persons were elected township officers: Jacob Coykendall, Clerk; Samuel Hanna, Levi Bodley and Michael Gisson, Trustees; David Cummins, Treasurer; James Gardner and David Cummins, Overseers of the Poor; Adam Aumend and Charles Dewitt, Fence Viewers; James C. Coykendall and Lester and Jesse Bodley, Appraisers; Adam Aumend, Jr., Constable; Michael Gisson, William Cole, William Laugherty and William Garrison, Supervisors. The above officers were severally elected and qualified according to law. Jacob Coykendall, Township Clerk." A reasonable inference from this is that these offcers were the first elected, as the election was held pursuant to an order of the County Commissioners. From the same records is also taken the following: "Jacob Coykendall's commission as Justice of the Peace bears date July 14, 1821. He was qualified Aug. 29, same year, and gave bond September 7, 1821; James Coykendall and James Gardner, bondsmen." The second township election was held at the house of Jacob Coykendall, on the 1st of April, 1822; the third, at the house of Aaron B. Howe, April 7, 1823. When the Mansfield, Coldwater & Lake Michigan Railroad was established in the county, a station called De Kalb was located in Auburn Township. J. D. Brown secured the services of the County Surveyor, and laid out forty lots on his land where the station was located. from the central part of the west part of the southeast quarter of Section 32, Township 22, Range 20 west. In November, 1878, John Hilborn made an addition of eight lots to the town. The post office at De Kalb, in Vernon Township, was transferred to the station, and Ira Van Tilburg was appointed Postmaster, an office he yet holds. I. and B. HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 523 S. Van Tilburg were the first to bring a stock of goods to the town. They began in 1872; and, the following year, erected the building they now occupy, moving their stock of goods in as soon as the room was completed. They have a general assortment of good, valued at about $10,000. They are also engaged in buying grain, at the rate of over $100,000 worth per annum. William Flavin began with a general assortment of drugs in 1876; but two years later he sold his stock to D. G. Jeffrey, who at present has drugs valued at $1,600. J. D. Brown began in 1878 with a stock of groceries worth $8,000, anal two years later Davis & Mitchell engaged in the same occupation, with goods valued at $5,000. C. McConnell has a notion store, and Misses Crall & Owens supply the neighborhood with female apparel. In August, 1879, E. R. Wilcox, Grand Master of the State Lodge of Odd-Fellows organized Tiro Lodge, No. 688. in the village, there being but seven charter members as follows: Daniel Howe, Cornelius Fox, E. E. Ashley, S. W. Jeffrey, J. R. Hall, Lewis Williams anal Matthew Irwin. The first officers elected were: S. W. Jeffrey, N. G.; J. R. Hall. V. G.; Cornelius Fox. Secretary; E. E. Ashley, Treasurer. The lodge is doing well, anal has a present membership of thirty. The members have a comfortable hall and the present officers are: E. E. Ashley. N. G.: Lewis Wing, V. G.; J. O. Davis, Recording Secretary: Daniel Howe, Corresponding Secretary: G. M. Jeffrey, Treasurer. Although the village is yet in its infancy, it is doing a livelier and more extensive business than any other town in the county of equal or less population, and its energy and trade are permanent. About a quarter of a mile north of Tiro, a half-dozen or more families began to congregate in about 1845. A blacksmith located there and, soon afterward, a carpenter and a cooper. No lots were laid out, and yet, to all appearances, a village was beginning to spring up. People soon began to speak of the location as Mechanicsburg, a name suggested by the occupation of the people. In 1856, Jonathan Davis and William Crouse built a frame grist-mill in the village (if the term may be indulged in), which, after running about four years, was taken to another locality. The village is not a village, and yet it is a village. No stores have honored it with their presence. Coykendall & Ladow built a saw-mill in the southeastern part, on Coy kendall Creek, as early as 1836. After a few years, it was burned down, but was immediately rebuilt, and the mill continued in operation until a few years ago, having changed hands many times. Though first operated by water-power, steam was afterward employed, and the mill, in its time, was one of the best ever in the township. William Ewing also built and operated a saw-mill on the same creek, beginning about 1840, and continuing nearly twenty years, when the mill was abandoned. Each of these mills sawed for either forty cent, per hundred feet, or one-half the logs delivered in good order at the mill. According to the best accounts, the first schoolhouse was built on Robert Cook's farm, in 1821. It was a round-log structure. with clapboard roof, door, floor, desks and seats, and its external appearance was not inviting to the ragged pioneer children. A large fireplace, capable of taking in a log of almost any dimensions, occupied one end of the room; and a small table was provided at the other to establish for the teacher a permanent position, from which to pronounce decrees, issue commands, and administer condign punishment to offending pupils. The clapboard ceiling was so low that a tall man's head was sure to get severely bumped unless care was taken to stoop low when walking about in the room. 524 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. A large, quaint chimney, built of a combination of innumerable and mysterious materials, graced the exterior of one end of the building; and the four insignificant apertures slanderously denominated "windows" admitted half-sufficient light for a judicious use of the pupils' eyes. A man named Talford was the first teacher. He taught during the winter of 1821-22, and had some fifteen scholars. There was nothing in the external appearance of Mr. Talford to excite curiosity or apprehension, and yet, when he spoke, his voice is said to have been like distant thunder. He had a fair education, was a good disciplinarian and a competent instructor. He taught what was known as a "loud school," which may be understood as one where the scholars studied at the pitch best suited to their voices. Notwithstanding the din and confusion prevailing in the room at all times, the stentorian voice of the teacher could be easily heard, imparting instruction and issuing orders. A year or two after the erection of the Cook Schoolhouse, another was built on the Hammond farm. It resembled the other in both external and internal appearance. The year before its erection, school had been taught by a young lady named Mary Wilcox, in a rude cabin that had been designed for a dwelling. The seats in the schoolhouse were of clapboards that had been split out of wood having a crooked grain. Mr. Morse. then a boy of about five years of age. was assigned a seat at the end of one of the long benches, where the plank was turned up at an angle of about twenty degrees from the horizontal line. Here he was compelled to sit hour after hour, undergoing excruciating tortures, while learning his letters. It was easy enough to occupy the seat for a short time without discomfort: but, when day after day brought no relief from the position, it became tiresome and distressing. Erastus Sawyer and Daniel W. Ross were early teachers in this house. Rodolphus Morse was teaching in 1824, when the house caught fire and burned to the ground, consuming the scholars' books and slates. The remainder of the term was taught in a cabin standing near the school building. Mr. Morse was a good teacher, and taught many of the early schools. A school building was erected on the farm of J. Willford, as early as 1824, a young man named John Webber being the first teacher. Webber was a wild, reckless young fellow, and many thought him incapable of imparting proper instruction to the scholars. He had conducted the school with success for about a month, when Mr. Laugherty, the Director. provoked beyond endurance by some act of the teacher, went to the schoolhouse while school was in session, and ordered Webber to leave the room and not come back, as his services would no longer be required. The teacher instantly saw that it was useless to attempt to argue the point. as the fiat of the Director was omnipotent so, controlling his disappointment and anger as best he could. he made preparation, to obey the command and, having, reached the door turned, and, it is said. relieved his pent-up passion and bade adieu to the school, as follows: " Farewell schoolroom, farewell school; Farewell Laugherty, you d-d old fool." Two other schoolhouses, were built prior to 1825, one located on the farm of Adam Aumend, and the other on that of Jesse Ladow. A number of years afterward one was built in the northwest corner, and soon the township was supplied with abundant schoolhouses. The citizens have taken a strong interest in educational advancement. This becomes apparent from the fact, among other, that there are nine schoolhouses in the township at present. These are found to be too many for the attendance of scholars. It is proper to notice HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 525 in this connection that the citizens have a commodious town hall, which is located near the center of the township. It was built before the last war. The early church history of the township is almost wholly lost in the shadows of the past, and many interesting incidents and dates relating thereto have faded from the memory of the oldest settlers. The Methodists and Baptists were the first to organize religions societies. Meetings began to be held in the cabins, and the services of local ministers, from Northern Richland County and elsewhere and of circuit-riders, were secured, as early as 1818. It was not long ere the propriety of building log churches was freely discussed by members of the above denominations. As was desired. this led to the erection of two round1og churches, one for the Methodists and one for the Baptists, the churches being built as early as 1821. The buildings were both low, uninviting, structures, judging from their eternal appearance, although the interior was commodious and cheerful when the great fire-places were glowing with heat, and the settlers assembled to renew their devotions. Those buildings were used but a few years, as the members soon became too numerous to be comfortably accommodated, and, moreover, the members desired a more imposing temple in which to worship. However, before these denominations erected new churches, the Presbyterians, Winebrennarians, English Lutherans and, perhaps, others, organized societies and began to worship God in their characteristic way. No churches were built by these denominations until after 1830. The Methodist society mentioned above continued to thrive until about 1830, when Rev. Thomas Millard came to the township from Pennsylvania. and entered a tract of land, upon a portion of which the "Good-Will" Methodist Church stands. He was a strong churchman, with a resolution for the advancement of Christianity that could not be diverted nor checked. He at once took the lead of the Methodist Church, and did more than any other man in early years to increase the membership and interest. He gave two acres of his land to the church, with the understanding that a building was to be erected thereon. A frame church was accordingly erected. in about 1835, on the two acres, and Mr. Millard, who expended as much labor and money as any other man, was employed as the first officiating minister. Under this good shepherd the flock multiplied, and did much good. The old church was vacated in 1868, when the present building was erected on the same two acres, at a cost of about $1,500. The early organization of the Baptist society was not as perfect as the Methodist organization. It almost ceased to exist in l830, but an unexpected increase in the membership gave it additional impetus, and. in about 1840, they erected a small frame church on Section 16, which was occupied until 1879, when a new one, costing $2,500, was erected. Deacon Howe was one of the leading spirits in this church in early years, and much of its prosperity in after years was due to his influence and guidance. The Rev. Mr. Wolf was the founder of the Presbyterian organization in the township. This good man had come into the wilderness years before the first settlement, as a missionary among the Indians. He had dedicated his life to the cause of religion, and his will in his course in life was as inflexible as iron. He became the founder of many of the Presbyterian Churches in Northern Ohio, and was a man whose purity of life was unquestioned. His ultimate fate is unknown. The Methodists have a church in the southern part called "Pleasant Grove Church." The society was not organized until about 1850. Soon afterward, their church 526 - HISTORY OF CRAW FORD COUNTY. was built, at a cost of about $1,500. A Methodist Church was built in the northern part as early as 1835, which building was afterward sold to the Winebrennarians. This denomination, known as the Church of God, has since owned the building. The United Brethren have a neat little church in the southern part, near Tiro. Their present church was built in 1878, at a cost of about $1,600, but, many years before the building of their church, these humble people were found worshiping in the township. A few years ago, when the German Catholics at New Washington divided their congregation, those living in Auburn Township and vicinity, erected a large, fine church, a half-mile north of Waynesburg. It is the largest church building in the township, and cost about $4,000 (including the parsonage). The church is frame, and was completed in 1879. The school and church systems of Auburn are not surpassed by any other country township in the county, and the citizens are almost wholly of English descent.