540 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY CHAPTER XVIII (RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) WHETSTONE TOWNSHIP-SANDUSKY PLAINS-EARLY SETTLEMENT AND INCIDENTS-PIONEER IMPROVEMENTS-GROWTH OF VILLAGES-CHURCH AND SCHOOL HISTORY. THE human mind delights in novelty and variety and the whole being demands a change of pursuits. Nature's countless designs are never frustrated. Harmony and logical sequence are found everywhere pervading the laws of nature by both theologian and atheist. The appetite. cloyed with continual sweets, loves the relief afforded by bitterness. The traveler becomes weary with the sight of unending plains or a continuous range of elevations, and loves to see small vales encircled with hills and cloud-capped mountains. Weary with the long journey through the tiresome forests of Ohio, the early settler was attracted to the Sandusky Plains, in Whetstone Township. In early years, they were the most noticeable feature in the township: but, since the surrounding woods have been partly cleared away and the Plains in many places have become covered with forest trees, it requires careful scrutiny to detect prairie from woodland. The Plains originally comprised fully the western half of the township. extending far down the Scioto Valley and on the boundary lines, were irregular sending off long spurs into the woods and being pierced in turn by long, knifelike projections of forest land. Some portions of considerable extent are free from trees, though generally the surface is dotted here and there with "lone trees" or small groups varying in size from half a, dozen to several hundred. The plains extend largely HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 541 over Bucyrus and Dallas Townships and far down into Marion County, covering quite an extensive tract of land. In Whetstone Township they are generally flat, though the monotony is relieved by knobs of clay and gravel, deposited with the drift formations. Many of these knobs were originally covered with trees. It is observable that all the trees growing on the plains are comparatively small, having an approximate age of forty or fifty years. This seems to indicate that before the advent of the white settlers the plains were swept over by fire. Which kept down the growths of forest trees. But, after the land was purchased by the pioneer and the Indian had disappeared, the destructive fires were avoided and the trees began to grow. The plains were early covered with tall rank grass anti weeds that furnished an excellent hiding place for wild animals. When the grass was dry and the wind blew heavily, the Indians were in the habit of setting out fires on the windward side, and then posting themselves to leeward, shot down the game that fled before the burning grass. The earliest white settlers did the same: but it was soon necessary to avoid the fires, as the cabins and grain were in danger of being burned. Many years after the first settlers arrived a while the Wyandots were still on their reservation. they were in the habit of establishing their camps outside their own lands, wherever the hunting or trapping was good. and where they did not give too much offense to the settlers. They were cunning, and adopted this course to save the game in their reservation. Whenever they approached a settlement they were accustomed to give the whip to their ponies and come in on the gallop, with "whoop and halloo," as some of them said. "to scare white man." They were notorious beggars, rivaling the modern "tramp" in skill and expediency. When the settlers failed to respond liberally, strategy was adopted. A cabin was watched until the husband and father had gone, when the Indians presented themselves with scowling faces, exhibiting an array of weapons that were an "open sesame" to the woman's lavish generosity. A small encampment was located one fall near the center of the township, on Whetstone Creek. An old Indian, named "Crum," was among them with his squaw and a "new " papoose. Several young women in the neighborhood went one day to view the little stranger, that lay wrapped in blankets and furs, swinging in its cradle of deer thongs strapped to trees. The young women went forward and began raising the garments to see the face of the little one, but they were interrupted by a burst of laughter from Mr. and Mrs. Crum, who pointed to the other extremity of the bundle, signifying that the face could he found there. The young; women. though confused at first by their mistake and the laughter of the Indians, soon recovered sufficiently to join in the merriment at their own expense. The young women's descendants are yet laughing at the mistake of their grandmothers. The date of the creation of Whetstone Township is uncertain, though the old settlers say that it was very probably in 1824. The land was surveyed in 1821 or 1822, and the township then received its appropriate range and number. It took its name from the principal stream draining it, and its name was the one suggested by the settlers when they petitioned for the creation of the township. The township, as originally created, was six miles square; but, in 1835, when Sandusky and Jackson Townships were altered. the eastern tier of fractional sections became a part of the latter township. But, some time previous to this event. these sections had been annexed to Sandusky Township, as can be seen by reading the extract taken from the report of the commissioners in 1835, and given in the history of Sandusky Township, which appears in this work. After 1835 and until 1845, the township of Whetstone was five 542 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. miles square; but, at the latter date, when Wyandot County was created, and nearly all the townships in Crawford County were altered, the fractional tier of sections mentioned above, was re-annexed to Whetstone Township, of which it has since formed part. There were also added to this township twelve sections two tiers from Marion County, thus making Whetstone the largest township in the county. At present, it comprises forty full sections and eight fractional ones, and has an area of almost 28,000 acres. There is no existing account of the names of the first officers. The township is favorably situated, none of its territory being farther than eight miles from either Bucyrus or Galion. This gives the citizens the boon of a choice of markets, which they greatly prize. Much of the soil of the township, especially on the flat prairie land, is deep and black, and is largely composed of decaying vegetable matter. Numerous banks of drift clay and gravel are found along the course of the shallow Olentangy. The water of the creek is turbid, presenting a faint, milky appearance, evidently caused by many small sulphur springs that feed it. As has been said, the Olentangy is the principal stream. It flows from Polk Township, entering Section 13, thence flowing across Sections 35, 26, 27, 22. 28, 33, 5 and 4 on the lower extremity, and leaving the township from Section 8. It and its branch, Mud Run, drain about two-thirds of the surface. The latter stream has its source in Section 17 and flows across Sections 20, 19, 30, 31, and enters Bucyrus Township. Most of the surface north of the Galion road is drained by small branches of Sandusky River. This river flows across the extreme northwestern corner of Section 6. The beautiful Scioto River has its source in the western part of the township. This division of the county is thus situated on the Ohio watershed, as part of its water reaches Lake Erie, and part the Ohio River. It has a few flat portions poorly drained, but generally the township has excellent drainage, and the soil is kept in fine working condition. The name of the first settler is lost in the obscurity of the past. The settlers began to appear before the land became marketable; and, so great was the rush after 1820, and before 1827, that as many as thirty families had settled in the northern part. There were but few Germans at first. though many of those genial and hospitable people known as "Pennsylvania Dutch" came with the New Englanders, who composed the majority of the earliest settlers. Looking from the present, it would appear wise for the first settlers to select the prairie land, which could be cultivated almost immediately; but this they did not do, partly because there was no market for grain, and partly Because the settlers imagined that within thirty or forty years the timber would be largely destroyed, which led them to select farms covered with heavy groves of black walnut or oak, and to leave the prairie land for subsequent settlers, using it in the meantime to supply themselves with hay and with pasture for the few horses, cattle and sheep that had been brought in from the East. The ambition of the early settler was to live well, and to secure as much, as possible of the land that was being taken up so rapidly around him. He raised a small crop of corn and potatoes, pulverizing the former in mortars made from an oak block, and roasting the latter in the ashes of the capacious fire-place. Joseph Stewart, now an old man of fourscore years, remembers of going to bed many a night with no supper except roasted potatoes and milk. The corn-meal prepared with the mortar and pestle was coarse: but, when eaten under the stimulus of long fasts (a common occurrence for the early settler) was greatly relished. The cows of the settlers furnished them with milk - that all-important factor in domestic economy. Horses and cattle suffered severely from mosquitoes, that came in clouds from the surrounding marshes. This harassing annoyance, and HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 543 an insufficient quantity of grain, swept off the horses of the settlers, though the tough little Indian ponies lived on and enjoyed life as well as Indian ponies could. Deer, prairie chickens, ducks, squirrels and swine furnished abundant meats. In a few years, swine in large numbers ran wild in the woods, and fed upon "mast " beech and hickory nuts and acorns - that covered the around in the fall of the year. They were often quite fat, some of them weighing 200 pounds, though usually they turned the scales at from seventy-five to one hundred and fifty pounds. These "hazel-splitters " bore but little personal resemblance to the well-bred and shapely Berkshire and Poland-China swine of to-day. Their legs were long and strong, and their snouts were abundantly ample for all practical purposes. Some of the tusks on the male gender attained a length of five or six inches, and were formidable weapons in the hands (or rather the snout) of an enraged sus scrifa. Unless they had some distinguishing ear mark, the swine were considered the property of those who could capture them. There was quite a demand for pork, as early as 1823. Judge Merriman, then doing a general mercantile business in Bucyrus, bought live or dressed hogs on commission for men living in Sandusky City. He was authorized to pay cash, or to give goods in exchange, for pork. paying about $2.50 per hundred for dressed hogs, and about $2 per hundred live weight. This was considered a good price, as the rearing and fattening of the swine cost nothing not even in the: winter. The result was that during the fall of the year, when hogs were fattest, the settlers turned out with dogs and horses to drive them in from the woods. Several of the settlers made considerable money by driving droves of thirty or forty to Sandusky City. The northern half of the township was settled eight or ten years before the southern half. This was because a location near Bucyrus was desirable, though, in a few, years, the settlers began to build their cabins near Whetstone Creek, where spring; of pure, living water were found. As near as can be ascertained, the settlers came into the township as follows: In 1820, John Kent, Seth Holmes, Joseph Young, Noble McKinstry, Ralph Bacon and a Mr. Willouby: in 1821, John King, Philander and Eli Odell, Samuel Parcher, Asa Howard, Zalmon Rowse, George Hancock and a few others: in 1822, Hugh Stewart and his five sons, William, John, James, Hugh and Joseph, all over twenty-one and all unmarried, Phillip Clinger, Samuel Van Voorhis, John Stien, Henry Harringer, John Beckwith, Benjamin, George, .John and Lyman Parcher, brothers of Samuel, who had come out the year before, Christopher Bear, Heman and Abner Rowse, William Hamilton, Archibald Clark John Campbell and several others: in 1823. Hugh Trimble, George Poe, Cornwallis Reese, Daniel Jones, James Faloon, James Armstrong and others; in 1824. Robert Reed, Charles Chambers, James Henderson, Isaac and Caspar Eichelberger and others : in 1825. Adam Keifer, John Lininger and Robert Walker: in 1826-27, many came in; in 1828. David Savage, John Heinlen, John Brehman Isaac Boyer, Robert Walker, Oliver Jones and others. Many more came in during the years that have been mentioned, but their names are forgotten. The majority of these settlers were from New England or the Middle States, and, with but few exceptions, located on the three tiers of sections on the north. Among the most prominent of the early settlers was the family of Hugh Stewart. This man had come from Ireland. and had lived many years in Cumberland County, Penn. In 1821, he left Pennsylvania, and traveled twenty-four days with his family in a wagon drawn by four horses, arriving at Mansfield, Ohio, where his family remained, while he went to Whetstone Township, Crawford County, Ohio, to select a farm. Favorable reports were in circulation at Mansfield as to the fertile land and 544 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. valuable forests in the New Purchase, and the reports, reaching the East, induced thousands of intelligent and wealthy farmers to go to the West, where the price of a load of wood today would purchase an acre of land, covered with heavy walnut or oak forests. The reports were so favorable that Mr. Stewart went to Whetstone Township and selected 240 acres, which he entered at Delaware for $300. This land was on Section 8. The family remained near Mansfield until the next spring, renting, in the meantime, a small portion of land owned by James Hedges, and putting in a small crop of corn and potatoes on shares. While the family remained at Mansfield tile father and sons went to Whetstone and built a round-log cabin, twenty feet square, having one room, one door and one window. The logs on the inside of the cabin were roughly hewed off, the door was hung on wooden hinges and the family were proud of the distinction of having a window which contained four panes of glass. In this rule cabin, they began life in the backwoods. Mrs. Stewart was in feeble health, and the family had brought with them a widowed lady, named Betsey Anderson, upon whose shoulders fell much of the household duties. A few calves and sheep were driven from Pennsylvania, and these were carefully guarded and fed. The calves, when four years old. were driven to Sandusky City and sold for $10 per head; but the sheep did not thrive so well. They all died, except two, from eating some poisonous weed growing in the woods or on the plain. One of these two was so badly poisoned that it swelled up to twice its natural size, but was saved by a lavish dose of whisky. The family brought with them a small copper still, which was sold soon after their arrival. The sons in after years occupied many positions of honor in the township and county James Stewart served as one of the three Associate Judges of the county in about 1830, and, at one time, was Mayor of Bucyrus. Himself and other sons of the family served frequently as Justices of the Peace. William, the eldest son, went to Kentucky. and what became of him is unknown to his relatives now living in the county. John, James and Hugh are dead, and Joseph is the only child of Hugh Stewart, Sr., left living to tell the tale of hardships and privation of his long and eventful life. The mother died a few years after reaching the county, and her death was one of the first in Whetstone Township. The Parcher family, in early times, was among the most prominent. Samuel came to this division of the county in 1820, with the family of Ralph Bacon. He had been employed by Bacon to drive an ox team from Painesville, Ohio. to Whetstone Township. Bacon entered 240 acres of land. partly in each of the two townships. Whetstone and Liberty and his cabin was erected in Liberty. Immediately after their arrival. Bacon employed Parcher to maul 10.000 rails for which he was to receive $50. The next year, Samuel's s four brothers, named above came on, and the brothers together entered considerable land on Section 3, and began improving it. Benjamin was the only married one of the brothers, and one large cabin served as home for all. Samuel was employed by Judge Merriman to haul the first stock of goods to Bucyrus. This was in 1821, or 1822. After the goods had arrived. the report became current that the stock consisted of nothing but a half-dozen handkerchief's and a few pounds of powder; but the reader is assured that this report was probably erroneous. In about 1828, the Parcher brothers built a saw-mill on their farm. It was a small affair, with an "up-and-down" saw, and was run by horse power. At the same time, they began the distillation of whisky and ground their grain on a small horse-mill. with the usual "nigger-head " stones. Neither of the mills nor the distillery proved profitable, and, after running two or three years, the three were dis- HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 545 continued. Their copper still was bought at Sandusky City. A few descendants of the Parcher family are yet living in the county. The Rowse family were among Whetstone's earliest and most intelligent citizens. Their family history accompanies this work. It is more than possible that John Kent located in the township in 1819, as he had an acre or more cleared around his cabin in the summer of 1820. During that summer, and for a few subsequent years. Seth Holmes lived in a small log shanty in Kent's door yard. He was an old bachelor, and had the care of an aged father and mother on his hands a task he performed with filial love and devotion Eli and Philander Odell were among the earliest settlers. Eli was a cabinet-maker, and began manufacturing a limited quantity of rough furniture as early as 1826. Between 1840 and 1850, he gained great notoriety as being prominently connected with a well-traveled underground railroad. He publicly avowed it to be the moral and social duty of every man to assist the runaway slaves in escaping to Canada, and to render obnoxious the law requiring a rendition of escaping slaves wherever found. He made no concealment of the fact that he fed and carried every runaway that came to his dwelling to the next point nearer the slave's earthly paradise Canada. He was careful, however, not to be caught in his acts, and thus escaped the clutches of the law. The slaves were brought to him by Peter West, who lived near New Winchester, and who also openly avowed his helief in the sin of slavery, and his intention to thwart the laws he believed to be unjust and unholy. It is likely that these men assisted dozens of slaves in escaping to Canada. Just where the slaves were conveyed from Odell's house is a mystery that has not yet been cleared up, but was probably to some citizen at or near Annapolis. Settlers who located near the center of the township, were unusually careful to build their cabins near springs of good water. This was an important item in early years, when pure water was a rarity, and when the surface of the country was covered with multitudes of marshes and swamps of stagnant water. Wells were dug with great difficulty, and. when ready for use, were largely filled with surface water, that could not be kept out. Some settlers preferred to locate near promising villages, regardless of water, trusting that time would furnish them with an abundant supply of the purest. Others chose their farms from the proximity of valuable springs, regardless of the remoteness of their land from villages. They were not ignorant of the fact that their houses were in a country where ague and fevers were the certain result of the infectious climate ; and, with all the knowledge and skill at their command, they endeavored to guard against the distressing effects of malarial diseases. Doctors came to Bucyrus at an early day, and were the ones employed by the settlers of Whetstone. Calomel and quinine were dealt out in quantities that are incompatible with the medical logic of today, which requires that the desired results be attained by the use of the least possible quantity of medicine. These medicines were found abundantly in every cabin, and were universally regarded as an unfailing panacea for all the various types of disease. In early springtime, the cabin, that did not contain a case or two of "shakes," became a conspicuous object. Pioneers with frail constitution, who came West, hoping that "roughing it" would soon bring them the priceless boon of good health, found to their sorrow that sickness alone, repaid them for the trouble until death came to relieve them of earthly tribulations. Often during the cold, dreary month of March, every member in large families was ailing; and it was not uncommon to see whole families " shaking" at the same time as they bent over the roaring fireplace. This was true of all Ohio, which, at that time, was termed by the settlers the "shakers' paradise." 546 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. But, after many years, the forests were opened to the sunlight and heat, and the stagnant water was turned into the nearest streams. Ague and kindred afflictions largely disappeared, and good health, with all its attendant blessings, prevailed. John Campbell, Sr., located near the center of the township, on Section 28. George Hancock had squatted on the same farm the year before, and continued to remain there for several years after Campbell had purchased the land. At the end of the first year, Campbell had cleared eight acres, a portion of which was on the edge of the prairie, and required but little labor to prepare it for the plow. He planted a crop of corn and potatoes, and. in a few years, had saved money enough to purchase more land. He selected his land, and made preparations to start for Delaware to enter it. Jacob Bowers and Henry Lininger had their eyes on the same piece, and employed Henry Remson, an early schoolteacher, to prepare the necessary papers, giving a description of the land. When they reached Delaware, they discovered that their documents did not accurately locate the land. They started back to correct the error; but Campbell, in the meantime, had obtained the necessary papers, and had gone to Delaware, entering the land about the time the others reached home. When the latter learned what had transpired, they were greatly mortified. Quite an extensive settlement was formed near Mr. Campbell's cabin. Van Voorhis, Hamilton, King, Clinger, Poe, Clark, Jones and several others settled near the Olentangy, where overflowing springs furnished an unfailing supply of pure water. These settlers were mostly Scotch-Irish, from the Keystone State, and nearly all, when they came, drove in small herds of cattle, sheep or hogs. Several manufacturing enterprises and trades arose in early years, to supply the settlers with much-needed articles used in farm and domestic economy. Barney and David Eberhardt erected a frame saw-mill on the Olentangy. It ran from 1830 to 1844, changing owners several times, and was, perhaps, in early years, the best mill of its kind in the township. The dam was constructed of mud, brush, stones, logs and whatever offered sufficient resistance to the flow of the water. The capacity of the mill, though great at that day, cannot compare with the circular mills of the present. The mill had an up-and-down saw, and often ran so slowly that the owner ventured to tread for hours on the large overshot wheel that furnished the saw with motion. It did good work for many years, but finally fell into the hands of careless owners, who allowed the dam to break, which ended the career of the mill. George Sweney was one of the owners, running it successfully for five years. Paul Heddick also owned a saw-mill on the Olentangy, which was erected about the time the Eberhardt mill was built. It ran for twenty-five years, and was well patronized. It was near the Eberhardt mill that a murder occurred soon after 1830. Two wealthy men of the East. named Hammer and Bender, had come out West as far as Mansfield, Ohio, looking for land. While they were stopping at the hotel in Mansfield, it became known that each had in his possession several hundred dollars in gold. After stopping for several days and making inquiries about the land farther west, they journeyed on as far as Galion, and were accompapanied by two strangers, who had joined them soon after leaving Mansfield, and who seemed quite social and friendly. The party, now increased to four, took dinner at Galion, and traveled on until they reached a lonely place on the Olentangy, near the Eberhardt mill, when one of the strangers suddenly drew a pistol from his pocket and shot Bender through the head, killing him instantly. At the same instant, the other stranger struck Hammer a terrible blow on the head with a heavy cane, stretching him senseless on the ground. The murderers im- HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 547 mediately left the scene of the tragedy without taking the gold of their victims, leaving the pistol and an overcoat on the ground. It is supposed that they became frightened by hearing the voices of the men at the mill, who were driving the oxen. The murderers escaped. and subsequently could not be traced. Bender was dead, but Hammer soon recovered consciousness and roused the men at the mill, who began scouting the woods after the murderers, but without avail. Hammer conveyed the body of his friend East, where it was buried. Michael Nye owned a small horse-mill on his farm in 1838 or 1840, Abraham Holmes also owned one about the same time. These mills did not pretend to compete with the extensive flouring-mills on Sandusky River. Their aspirations were modestly confined to the grinding of a coarse grade of corn-meal, and were run more as an act of accommodation than as a scheme to male money. They continued a few years and were then discontinued. In the year 1824, James Armstrong built the first cabin having a shingle roof. Where his shingles were obtained like many other early event, will probably remain locked forever in the jeweled casket of the muse of history. The chimney was not in keeping with the roof, as it was built of sticks laid cross-wise and mortared together with clay mud. The inference is that Mr. Armstrong soon saw the incongruity of the arrangement as, in the spring of 1826, he burned a small kiln of brick and tore down the old chimney, substituting, bricks in the place of the clay and sticks. Another inference is that he was a progressive man and a lover of neatness and order. His bricks were the first burned in the township, if not in the county, and his chimney was the first of its kind and soon excited the envy of his neighbors, all of whom wanted brick chimneys after the fashion was fixed. The remainder of the bricks were sold to unknown neighbors for an unknown price. Mr. Armstrong did not continue the brick business. His neighbor, John Boyer, did, however, although he burned but two or three small kilns. It was about this time or soon afterward that a brick house was built, which is yet standing on the John Boyer farm. Phillip Clinger dug many of the early wells, and finally lost his life from injuries received by falling into one of them. John Boyer and William Fitzsimmons kept tavern in the township as early as 1830. Boyer was located on the Galion Road, and his tavern was known far and near as the "Blue Ball Tavern." On the top of a high post in front of the door was fastened a huge round ball which had been painted blue. This gave name and fame to the tavern, which had an extensive patronage, and was the source of a large income to the owner. It was located on the farm of John Holmes. Fitzsimmons' tavern received a fair patronage. It was located on the route leading from Bucyrus to Delaware, which, in an early day, was well traveled by pioneers westward bound. In November, 1840, the village of Olentangy was laid out. The projectors and proprietors were Paul J. Heddich, George Sweney and Win. Snyder. Forty-seven lots were laid out on the northern half of Section 26, on the Galion Road, and the little town began to grow. A Mr. Shreck brought in a small general assortment of goods, and was afterward succeeded by Mr. Codger and others. Sweney and Heddick opened a tavern: and a blacksmith and carpenter established themselves in the village, which, at that late day, began making the effort of competition with the larger towns of the county. The town was soon destined to sink into hopeless obscurity. It was located midway between Galion and Bucyrus, each of which had a population of severat thousand, and was growing rapidly. The Galion Road, that had been surveyed in 1822 or 1823, was a well-traveled thoroughfare, uniting the two cities like Siamese twins. The most that Olen- 548 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. tangy ever did was to accommodate the neighborhood and the traveling public. Business enterprises paid but little more than a living, and were soon transferred to localities more highly favored. Fifteen or twenty years ago, the lots were thrown into the adjoining farms, and but few are now occupied by lot holders. The southern half of Whetstone is almost like a separate township. Until 1845, the two lower tiers of Sections belonged to Marion County and the interests of the citizens naturally centered at Marion, the county seat. They usually went to market to Galion or Bucyrus. and, after their annexation to Crawford County, were better satisfied than when under the " fostering wing" of the older county of Marion, from the fact that they were nearer the countseat. It was not until about 1828 or 1830, that the settlers began to pour into what is now the southern half of Whetstone Township. As many as twenty-five or thirty families, mostly from the thrifty Keystone State, located within two miles of New Winchester and began to clear up and improve the country. Between 1828 and 1836;. the following men and their families appeared : Frederick Wise, Samuel Winter, William Stuck, Abraham Steen, John Albright. Moses Dale, John Conn, Charles Gifford. Jehu Harlan, John and Peter Weidner, Jacob Keister, George Deibler, Nicholas Myers, Christian Null, Jacob Dupps, Samuel Crow, .Jacob Hauck, John Roberts, John Kaun, Adam Bear and several others, whose names are not remembered. Very soon the land was all entered, and the little cabins, built of round and hewed logs, dotted the surface of the township with evidences of civilization. The first settlers were luckiest (in one respect), as they had choice of land and location. Land, covered with valuable forests of walnut and oak, from which flowed one or more springs of pure water, was most highly prized and was first selected. Subsequent settlers took what was left, after entering land that lay concealed beneath weeds and water. After 1835, the village of New Winchester became the central point, around which the southern half of the township revolved. The reader will observe that a majority of the smaller towns in the county were laid out between 1830 and 1836. A sort of an epidemic for town-making swept like a wave over the county between those dates; but most of the villages were destined to remain small, or to sink into total obscurity and extinction. New Winchester was surveyed and laid out in 1835. The land from which it was originally laid out was owned by four men-Benjamin Fisher, Henry Wise, William Stuck and Samuel Lechner whose farms lay at the intersection of two roads. The first cabin had been built by William Stuck, a few months before the village came into existence under its present name. Soon after the town was founded, Israel Wise built the second cabin, and Samuel Winter the third. All three were built of hewed logs, and were fully up to the standard of excellence established by custom in the township. It was not long before eight or ten of these rude structures were erected, and the villagers became clamorous for a store and post office. At last, Samuel Crow, yielding to entreaty, placed $500 worth of goods in a log storeroom erected for the purpose. Patronage was solicited and obtained from the surrounding neighborhood; but it did not pay, and Crow suddenly retired from the business. He was urged to continue, but - "Alas! Alas! in truth, the man had changed his mind; Perhaps was sick, in love, or had not din'd." It was well that he retired, as his capital was limited, and his knowledge of mercantile pursuits insufficient. In 1838 or 1839, Judge Merriman. then in business at Bucyrus, established a branch store at Winchester. He began with $1,500 worth of goods, and continued a number of years. making money rapidly, and PAGE 549 - PICTURE OF JOHN CAMPBELL PAGE 550 - BLANK HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 551 investing the surplus in outside speculations. He was succeeded by Henry Clark, who, with the exception of Merriman, had the largest and best stock of goods ever brought to the town. He made considerable money, but, at the end of six years, sold to Plodner & Timson, who, after running a few years, dissolved partnership, disposed of their stock, and engaged in other pursuits. George Cox opened a saloon a few years later, keeping also a small stock of groceries. He soon sold to Abe Conklin, who also sold, within five years, to Henry Rorick. Rorick sold to Charles Haughn; who, after a few years, left for more fruitful fields. The last two named kept groceries and dry goods. John Beard, Fred Wise and Henry Aiker sold liquor at different times. William Stuck was the first blacksmith. He was followed by John Rexroth and Henry Aiker. Samuel Winter, whose shop was erected in 1835, was the first carpenter. Jacob Cressinger followed the same calling. At the same time the village was laid out. John Kaun was operating a sawmill about a mile west. Though it changed hands several times, and was altered and enlarged, the same mill is yet running, after the lapse of almost half a century. Formerly it was operated by horse-power, but at present by steam, and is owned by John Keeter. Abraham Steen operated a saw-mill for twenty years, a few miles north of town, beginning about 1838. The village has been the home of numerous physicians, the more noted being Beard, Brougham, Black, Millison, Coover, Millard, Haughn and the present doctor, C. W. G. Ott, a graduate of the Columbus Medical College. Ague and malaria stood no chance before such an array of medical erudition. The post office was secured the next year after the village was laid out, through the influence of Frederick Wise, who became the first Postmaster. After it had been in operation nearly twenty-five years, it was removed, but, two years ago, was re-established through the influence of Josiah Keeter and George Timson. The mail is now tri-weekly, and the postal route extends from Bucyrus through New Winchester and Latimberville, to Caledonia, in Marion County. Josiah Keeter is the present Postmaster. At an early day, Adam Bear built a grist-mill on the Olentangy, about half a mile north of the village. Though located on the stream, it was at first operated by horse-power. It has continued running with but few short stoppages until the present day. Alterations and improvements have been made from time to time, steam taking the place of the old sweep, and different owners succeeding each other, among whom were Henry Wise and Peter Wert. One of the three sets of stones now used was purchased in Philadelphia over forty years ago, and is the best set now in the mill. E. A. Binfield is the present miller, and has the reputation of furnishing as good flour as that ground at Bucyrus. The mill, valued at $3,000, has an extensive patronage, and is owned by Roberts, Fink & Binfield. Peter Wert was the miller for many years, and, while in this connection, was also conductor on the underground railroad. He was a strong anti-slavery- man, and always took the liberty of expressing his opinions, regardless of the consequences. It is asserted that he was often seen to take little negro children up on the street, toss them in his arms, and kiss them. He never tired of talking of the sin of slavery and the great wrong done to the unfortunate black man. He was so intense in his convictions as to be fanatical. He made many enemies, but all belonged to the ranks of those who favored slavery, and were opposed to the enfranchisement of the negro. He was religious, and was accustomed to introduce Scriptural evidence to prove the wrong of slavery. In March, 1861, the village of North Robinson was laid out by Horace Martin, the Crawford County Surveyor. The land was owned by J. B. Magers, and the lots were laid off from the southeastern part of the southern half of 552 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. fractional Section 12, Township 3, Range 17 east. As originally surveyed, the town consisted of seventeen lots, to which one or more additions have been made, until the village at present comprises about eighty lots of different sizes. The additions have been made by Ebert Price and others. The village derives its title from a family, named Robinson, that came to the township in about 1831, the members becoming prominent and influential citizens in after years. Several descendants are yet living in the township and in other parts of the county. A number of dwellings had been built in the town before it was laid out, and, as soon as Mr. Magers offered the lots for sale, quite a number were taken by those desiring a residence or place of business in the village. After the sale of lots had become quite large, and dwellings and industrial buildings, of various kinds, had been erected, it became known that the land, from which the lots were laid off, was heavily covered with mortgages. This created a panic, and the lots were mostly vacated by those who were in doubt of having a legal title to their land. They moved across the line in Jefferson Township, and established themselves on land owned by J. P. Robinson, who made an addition of lots to the village, and had them properly recorded. After the title to the originally laid out lots became quieted, business men and property-holders, generally, returned to the original town, which began to grow quite rapidly. Frederick Newman, the first merchant in the town, began with a small general assortment of goods, which was slowly increased until the capital invested amounted to more than a $1,000. There are, in town at present, one general store, two drug stores and one provision store, and all are doing a fair business. Liquor has been sold in the village since its origin. There was no hotel until five years ago, when W. P. Deam, the present landlord, erected suitable buildings and began entertaining the public. He has the reputation of keeping a first-class country hotel. John and William Burwell were the first resident blacksmiths. A schoolhouse was built early in the history of the village, which, though small at first. has been enlarged since its erection, until it is now large, commodious and comfortable, and capable of accommodating an attendance of nearly one hundred busy children. The school is graded. H. H. Fate teaching the higher department, and Miss Ida Traul the lower. The building was erected in 1873: but, prior to this event. the children in the village were obliged to attend the neighboring schools in the country, much against the wishes of several citizens in the village, who became convinced that it was time to become independent of the country schools. The attendance has been large, and the school has been of vast benefit to the village. One of the best steam saw-mills in the county is located in town, and is owned and operated by Warden & Tracht. The mill has enormous capacity, and can turn out as excellent work is any of the county mills. Unlike some sawyers in the State, the operators have the reputation of being able to furnish more lumber from a given number of logs than any other mills in the county, except. perhaps, three or four. Their mill is circular. In April, 1880, Sickman, Fate & Co., of Crestline, erected a steam tile-factory which is operated by the latest improved steam-driven machinery. They have several kilns, each having a capacity of 12,000 tiles of all sizes, from two to ten inches. Mr. Fate has charge of the factory, and finds ready sale for all the tile he can manufacture, which speaks well for the interest manifested by the farmers and other land-holders in draining the wet and marshy land in the neighborhood. The tiles are dried wholly by steam, and the process of drying is slow, to avoid the serious loss of allowing them to crack and break. Samuel Landes is operating a cooper-shop in the village, and is doing good work. Ten years before the town was HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY . - 553 laid out. J. B. Magers, William Brown and William McGee leased a small piece of land of Mr. Robinson, upon which they erected a steam saw-mill. Brown and McGee soon afterward retired from the enterprise, but Magers continued, and placed in one apartment of the mill two sets of buhrs and other suitable machinery for grinding grain. The mill did a good business, changing owners several times, and was finally burned to the ground. It was not afterward rebuilt, and, since the fire North Robinson has been without a grist-mill. Soon after the establishment of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad in the county. J. P. Robinson secured the location of a post office on the site of what afterward became North Robinson. Mr. Magers was appointed Postmaster. The present post office official is George Railing. In 1873, Mr. Magers erected a threestoried frame elevator at a cost of about $3,000. After a year or two, Magers failed in business, and the elevator was sold at public auction to Porter & Robinson, who conducted the business successfully for a few years. The building is now owned by Russell, Dailey & Co. of Crestline, a wealthy business partnership, which buys and ships quite a large quantity of grain. In 1863, John L. Caskey and Lewis Helcker erected suitable buildings and began the manufacture of carriages. The business was continued by the partnership until 1873, when Mr. Caskey obtained entire control, and has since owned and managed the manufactory, employing steadily from six to ten employes, though his trade has been greatly injured by the large numbers of cheap Cincinnati carriages, sold throughout the county at a less price than he can afford to sell. However, he is doing a fair business, which is on the increase. A large English Lutheran Church was built in the town about four years ago. It is a nice, tastefully arranged edifice, and is a credit to the Christian people of that denomination living in the town and neighborhood. The United Brethren, also, have a church in which they are wont to assemble. Prior to four or five rears ago, their church was about half a mile south of town. They have quite a strong membership. Dr. Frank Duff was the first physician in the town. Several others have practiced the profession. C. R. Sheckler is the only resident physician at present. There are butcher, shoe and other shops, and the village is slowly increasing in population. A school cabin was built just south of the Campbell farm during the spring of 1828. It was a large rough-log structure, with one door hung on wooden hinges, and two windows, each containing two or three panes of glass. Elizabeth Bear taught the first term in this cabin during the succeeding summer, and had between fifteen and twenty scholars enrolled. It was while this school was in session, that the greatest storm ever in the county, since the coming of the pioneer. passed across the township. It occurred about 2 o'clock in the afternoon of a June day that had been extremely hot and entered the township southwest of New Winchester, taking a northeasterly course; and leaving from Section 25. Those old settlers who recollect seeing the storm, describe it as wonderfully grand and awe-inspiring. Before its coming, all nature was hushed in ominous silence. Not a leaf rustled, and the birds ceased their songs and sought the seclusion of the deepest woods. The few cattle gathered in herds in sheltered spots, and quietly awaited the coming of the storm. Great banks of black clouds appeared, almost touching the earth, and the vivid lightning and startling thunder awoke the echoes of the forest, and added wildness and sublimity to the scene. The roar was frightful, and the rain fell in torrents. accompanied with hail as large as hens eggs. The path of the cyclone was from one to two miles wide, and wherever the circling cloud struck, everything was leveled before it, like grain before the reaper. Large trees were uprooted; others were snapped off 554 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. like willow branches, and carried aloft in the air. Not a tree was left standing in its path ; but, strange to say, though stock and a few cabins were in its way, not one is remembered to have been injured. One man's cow was in its course, and, when found, was hemmed in so securely by fallen trees, that a clearing had to be made to release her. The schoolhouse was on the edge of its course, but was uninjured, though the teacher and scholars were greatly frightened when large limbs, covered with ice, evidently frozen on while high in the air, struck the building. Its course across the township is known to this day as the "windfall." Henry Remson taught the second term in the Campbell school cabin the following winter. Like many of the early teachers, he made a specialty of penmanship, and was himself an excellent scribe. He was a severe disciplinarian, never hesitating on account of the size of the scholar. One day, he gave John Hamilton a severe whipping with a large hickory stick, for coupling the teacher's name with a "good, round oath," while on the play-ground. "Round" oaths went out of fashion thenceforth. The attendance at this schoolhouse became so large that the school was divided, part of the scholars going for three or four years to a vacant cabin, located a mile and a half northwest of New Winchester. Remson taught two or three terms in this cabin. In 1840, a larger schoolhouse was built a short distance east of Mr. Campbell's residence, to take the place of the other, which had become too small to accommodate all the scholars. It was a large building, and was used as a meetinghouse for all denominations of Christians. Conflicting opinions often wrought disturbance, though all serious outbreaks were happily averted. The present schoolhouse of the Campbell District was built in 1860, at a cost of $500. About six years after the early Campbell school cabin was built, another was erected across the Olentangy, on the Snyder farm. This answered the purpose until 1855, when the present one was erected, at a cost of nearly $500. The Snyder and Campbell schools were not the earliest, however. The intelligent and enterprising settlers in the northern part began holding schools as early as 1824, in the cabins of the settlers. Suitable clapboard furniture, or, at least, that which answered the purpose, was placed in one end of the cabin, sufficient in amount to supply the few scholars with seats and desks. The other end of the cabin was occupied by the culinary department, and was tabooed ground to the urchins during moments of intermission. The housewife would not brook the nuisance of having the children interfering in her domestic affairs. So far as known, the first school was taught in John Beckwith's cabin, during the winter of 24-25. Who taught it will, doubtless, ever remain part of the unwritten history of Whetstone Township. School was taught here continuously until the winter of 1826-27, when the first session was held in a round-log schoolhouse, that had been erected the summer before, on Joseph Young's farm. A teacher from Bucyrus, named Moses Arden, taught one of the early terms here, and some say he taught the first. In the absence of any evidence to the contrary, Mr. Arden should be accorded the honor. When teachers were wanted in early years, Bucyrus responded to the call, and could usually furnish the desired number and sex. In the fall of 1828, another log schoolhouse was built on the Ludwig farm. But little is known concerning the schools taught here, though two of the early teachers were Elizabeth Bear and Jonas Scott. The schoolhouse was so near Bucyrus, that the larger scholars preferred going to the latter place, though school was still taught in the schoolhouse for the benefit of the smaller children, who were unable to walk through the bad roads, during the winter months, to the village school. It was not long before the township was divided into school districts, and soon HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 555 afterward each could boast of the historical log schoolhouse. The most important school in Whetstone at present is the one at New Winchester. The first school in the village, like all the early schools, was taught in a log schoolhouse. The building was erected in 1835, near the northern limits, and was used for about fifteen years, when another was built in the eastern part. The latter was a frame structure, having a shingle roof, and was sided with poplar lumber, obtained at the saw-mill in Osceola. This building was used about ten years, when another took its place, the latter lasting until two years ago, when the present fine brick structure was erected at a cost of $1,700. The school is graded and has an average attendance of about ninety-five scholars. It is one of the largest school edifices in the county outside the three largest towns, and reflects great credit on the citizens of southern Whetstone for interest in educational affairs. The citizens of Whetstone early felt the need of churches, and as early as 1824, meetings were held around at the cabins by the more prominent church denominations. The churches of the county were many years a part of what was known as the Richland Circuit, and many of the earlier ministers came from the vicinity of Mansfield, where churches had been founded several years before the war of 1812. It is difficult to realize the trials under which tire early church people labored. The circuit-rider has passed into history in Ohio, although farther west on the frontier, where the first settlements are being made, that well known character meets with a hearty welcome at tile fireside where the Bible is often read and where its precepts are taught and followed. Crawford County remained for many years a part of the Richland Circuit, and hence the preachers who first appeared in Whetstone Township came from Mansfield. John O. Blowers and his brother William, residents of Liberty Township, became known throughout the county as preachers of considerable power. They were Methodists, and were full of magnetic force, and were among the most successful of the early revivalists. They were the first to conduct meetings in Whetstone. Solomon Myneer was a prominent Methodist circuit-rider, who traveled for months at a time. A circuit-rider that could collect from his congregations $40, during a year of incessant traveling and preaching. was deemed lucky by his less fortunate fellow-ministers. Having preached in a cabin or a schoolhouse one night, the rider would travel the following day to another neighborhood. where he would again preach. Rev. Myneer traveled over Delaware, Monroe, Crawford. Richland, Hardin and Morrow Counties, and was almost two months in making the round. The Campbell Schoolhouse was used as a church, or rather, it was built as a combined church and schoolhouse. It was used by different denominations, and while it was thus used. conflicting opinions often arose as to what denominations should or should not occupy it. In shout 1852, the Whetstone Disciple Church was built, at a cost of $500. The society soon became quite strong, but the members soon found that Bucyrus, with its fine churches, was too near, many of the citizens who would otherwise have joined it preferring to attend those in the town. This fact became a serious drawback to the growth of the society. The building was occupied however, until four years ago when it was abandoned and during the past year, has been sold to private parties. The Methodists built a church in the northern part as early as 1832. Cornwallis Reece was a prominent man in this society for many years and was one of the men to organize it. Robert Reed was the Class-leader through a long series of years. The German Reformers organized a church in the vicinity of New Winchester at an early day. No church was built, however. until 556 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. 1847, when a building was erected about thirty rods west of the village at a cost of some $900. Rev. James Keller was the first officiating minister. He did more than any other man to arouse enthusiasm in the church. and to increase its membership by the addition of intelligent Christian people. He was a fine scholar and preached in either the German or the English language. The church soon had a strong membership: Sunday schools were organized and much interest was manifested. Two years ago, the church was remodeled and improved. The building is at present owned by the United Brethren, and the minister in charge is Rev. J. V. Potts. The German Reformers, living, about a mile and a half north of the village, built a church as early as 1835, in the yard of which they began burying their dead. Many costly monuments are standing in memoriam of loved ones. The building was used until 1859, when a large brick structure was erected to take its place. This church is called "The Reformed St. John's Church." There is but one finer church in the township. The most of the Reformers, living in the vicinity of New Winchester, who formerly belonged to the church there. are at present members of the St. Johns Church. A United Brethren Church society was organized quite early in the vicinity of North Robinson. A church was built about half a mile south of the village: but. after the town was laid out, the building was moved there. The finest church in the township, one that would be no discredit to a city, was built a few years ago in the village by the English Lutherans. The building cost several thousand dollars and its arrangement on the interior is elegant and costly. It has a large congregation. and is among the best churches in the county.