HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 579 CHAPTER XX (RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) HOLMES TOWNSHIP-ORIGINAL BOUNDARY-PIONEER SETTLEMENTS-EARLY INDUSTRIES-CON FEDERATE X ROADS-UNDERGROUND RAILROAD-CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS THE generations of to-day call scarcely realize the hardships passed through by their parents and grandparents more than half a century ago. Surrounded as they are with the loving endearments of home, and with all the pleasures that riches can bestow, they are apt to forget at what a cost their enjoyments were purchased by their ancestors, who cleared up the forests, and, from primeval wildness, created the bright habitations of civilization. The dear old father and mother, who are standing, as it were, on the brink of the grave, are the only ones who love to live over the wild experiences of pioneer life. To them the remem- 580 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. brances are sweet; and they love to tell of the privation and adventure through which they passed while the red man was yet an inhabitant of the woods, and animals of ferocity roamed unmolested and unscared. They have no need to desire a drought of the waters of Lethe's stream to drown in forgetfulness the miseries of a wrecked and ruined life. No remorse can pierce their hearts "like a tooth of fire," with sad recollections of kind acts omitted or left wholly undone. Though their lives have been checkered with sunshine and shade, and though their lot has been humble and obscure, yet they have left memorials, more lasting than monumental marble, in the beautiful homes reared by their endeavors. It is difficult to realize that the township of Holmes was once, and but a short time ago, the unmolested home of wild animals and wild Indians, and that its pleasant slopes were once the sporting grounds of the Mound Builders, who followed their peculiar occupations in unknown centuries before either white or red man became their successors. These strange people have left a few evidences of their presence in the form of nearly obliterated earthworks along the course of Broken Sword Creek, though to the passer-by nothing would appear to lead him to suspect that the mysterious race, whose origin and fate are so perplexing to the archaeologist and chronologist, once lighted his campfires on the banks of the winding stream, or, with war implements of stone or copper, wandered the forest paths in pursuit of game. They have passed away, with almost all the evidences of their presence, and in their place the Indian has reigned for his allotted time, and has been succeeded by the white race, whose steady advancements by superior skill and intelligence, have driven back the aborigines, until but a remnant remains, scattered throughout the country, to tell of the once happy and warlike race of native Americans. Will the white race also have its day, and pass from the stage of action, giving place to some more highly developed order of humanity? Nothing but time can tell the decrees of fate, or solve the problem of human destiny. The early records of Holmes, like those in the other townships in Crawford County, have been lost. or destroyed, and there is but little left to guide the historical investigator to the numerous items of interest of this division of the county, save the traditions handed down by the generations of the past to those of the present. The memories of the old settlers are filled to overflowing with neighboring traditions, and. though in matters of detail they cannot always be trusted. yet in general their accuracy may be depended upon. None of the land in Holmes could be purchased by the settlers until after 1820, and the western part of the township was owned by the Wyandot Indians prior to 1836. at which date a strip of land on the eastern side of the reservation was purchased of the Indians by the Government, and was sold at public auction at the date last mentioned. That portion of the Wyandot sale that afterward became a part of Holmes Township, was something more than two sections wide, and. on account of the numerous and inexhaustible beds of excellent limestone, has proved of greater value to the citizens than any other portion of the township. The stone has been taken out in large quantities by Nicholas Pool, Adam Gearhart and Christian Reiff, and much of it has been sold to the citizens for the foundations of their houses and barns, and the walls of their wells. at the rate of from $1 to $2 per load. A number of years ago, the town of Bucyrus purchased one of the best quarries on Broken Sword Creek, consisting of' two acres underlaid with deep, large beds of fine stone but this quarry has not been worked to any extent worth mentioning. Lime has been burned since 1838 or l840, sufficient in amount to supply the large demand. The township. one of the most attractive and HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 581 wealthy in the county, received its name from Deputy Surveyor General Samuel Holmes, who was authorized to make a re-survey of its territory in 1836. It lies wholly on the northern slope of the Ohio water-shed. and its entire surface is drained by tributaries of Sandusky River. The principal stream is Broken Sword Creek, which enters the township, coming from the east and flowing across Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 8, 7, 18 and 19, southwestwardly into Todd Township. It has a small valley fifteen or twenty rods wide, which in some places approaches one side of the stream, thus forming a series of low bluffs, that in early times were covered with a heavy forest of poplar. This timber has been highly prized because of its lightness and durability, and has been estensively used in the construction of houses and barns. Brandywine Creek, the largest branch of Broken Sword in Holmes. flows from Liberty Township across Sections 12, 11, 10 and 9, uniting on the latter section with the larger stream. A small branch of the Sandusky River, called Grass Run, flows angling across; the lower two tiers of sections in a southwestern direction. these streams, with a few small branches, afford ample drainage to the township. While the land was yet covered with heavy woods, the southeastern third, which is almost as level as a floor, was wet and muddy the whole year. Having but little or no slope, and being thickly covered with fallen logs, which lay strewn in promiscuous confusion, the flat land retained the water, and even in summer time, as related by Joseph Lones, the trip to Bucyrus could not be made without walking ankle deep in water and mud a large part of the way. Sometimes the fallen trees lay so thickly upon the ground, that, by skipping from one to another, miles could be traveled without once having to step into the water. The northern and western parts of the township are abundantly rolling, and in some places the hills are quite long and steep. The surface soil has a large proportion of clay, especially along the banks of Broken Sword Creek, though farther away from the stream; on the flat land in the southeastern part, it contains much decaying vegetable matter, underneath which is found a black alluvial earth, very productive when properly drained. In the western part is an area of about fifty acres, known, since the earliest times, as the "Burnt Swamp," from the circumstance that, when the first settlers came in, the swamp was thickly covered with willows and tall weeds, growing from a bed of vegetation of about a foot in thickness, and a fire, having been lighted by the Indians or settlers to dislodge game, swept over the swamp, continuing to burn for about a week before the decaying vegetation was consumed. This circumstance gave rise to the name by which the swamp has since been known. Tradition says that a man named Heaman was the first settler in the township, having located about two miles and a half from the southern boundary on what afterward became known as the Columbus and Sandusky Pike. Quite an extensive settlement had been formed in the eastern part of Liberty Township several years before Heaman located in Holmes, and it is probable that this man came originally to either that village or to Bucyrus. The boundaries of settlements were gradually increased, as settlers came in, who purchased land on the outskirts, as by thus doing they could have a choice of farms. It is more than likely that Heaman pushed westward from Annapolis, and selected his farm. When he came in, how long he remained and what finally became of him are unrecorded and unknown items. Soon after he appeared, William Flake built a log cabin on the old Quaintance farm, and began clearing his land, preparatory to farming. This man was well known and became quite prominent in early years. He was kind-hearted and charitable to a fault, as natural inclination of his heart led him into the 582 - HISTORY of CRAWFORD COUNTY. communistic plan of bestowing his property upon others, without expecting or desiring anything in return. This peculiar characteristic caused him to be as free with property not his own, which procedure finally led him to break open a store in Bucyrus. for which he was arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced to serve a number of years in the penitentiary. He died soon after his release, and it has been many years since any of his descendants lived in the county. It was as late as 1823 before any settler located in Holmes Township. That portion of the township nearest Bucyrus was flat and covered with water, and was not the land selected by the first settlers. The western and northern parts were rolling, but were not selected because they were too remote from the "base of supplies"in other words. the villages: and besides, a portion of the land belonged to the Wyandot Reservation. Notwithstanding the remoteness of his land from towns. Daniel Snyder, or "Indian " Snyder, as he was popularly known, built a small round-log cabin in the northeastern part of the township in about 1825, into which he moved his family, consisting of a wife and half a dozen children, apparently of about the same size, he was called "Indian" Snyder from the fact that almost his whole time was spent in traversing, the woods in pursuit of deer and other varieties of game. He was very skillful and successful in his hunting excursions, and was often employed by his less expert neighbors to furnish them with venison, for which services he was paid $1 per day, whether he succeeded in getting anything or not. He was gone from home for days together, leaving his wife and family to bear the burden of loneliness as best they might. He was the most expert hunter in the township in early years, and his services led him to hunt over large tracts of land. He had no regard for the Indian's reserved rights, and invaded their land without and conscientious scruples, or without any apparent fear of danger to himself for so doing, he understood the language of the Indians quite well, and could converse with them. Often when disputes arose between the Indians and settlers. Snyder was called upon to act as interpreter. Joseph Lones had four pigs, which were turned into the woods in spring of 1829, after having been carefully marked. They continual to run at large aill summer, and when fall came, the owner began to inquire as to their whereabouts. Daniel Snyder reported that he had seen them near the "Burnt Swamp," where Mr. Lones went in search of them. Three were there,. but the fourth could not be found and the owner began to mistrust that it had been boiled in an Indian stew-kettle. He sent Snyder as a spy into the Indian camp on their reservation to discover, if possible, what had become of his lost scrofa. Nothing at the time was found, but a few years afterward one of the Indians confessed of having shot the pig in the woods, and of having taken it to "Indian Town," where it was devoured. Many swine of the settlers were shot and eaten by the Indians: but the red men were not the only ones who violatol the commandment which says, "Thou shalt not steal.' Swine that hail no ear-mark and that could not be identified were considered public property, and became the property of the possessor: but. usually they were marked when turned into the woods, and yet. notwithstanding this precaution, large numbers were driven off and sold to buyers, who "shipped " them to Sandusky City. Mr. Lones three pigs. mentioned above, were shot as soon as found, and were conveyed on sleds to the cabin, where they were dressed. cut up and salted down for winter use. The pigs were a gift to Lones from Flake. The latter told the former to come over and receive a present in a sack. The present proved to be the pigs, which were then about three weeks old, and which were carried home in a sack by Lones. This is an instance of the charitable acts of Flake. for, though to-day HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 583 Lones is surrounded with the comforts of wealth, he came to the township in 1828 with scarcely a dollars worth of property of his own. He came from Columbiana County, Ohio, with his father-in-law. John Boeman, and was over eleven days on the route between New Lisbon, Ohio and Crawford County. Mr. Boeman came with his family in a wagon drawn by five horses. while Lones drove the sixth horse to a small empty Dearborn wagon. It was in March, 1828, and the route lay through a wild country that was almost impassable from the fallen timber that lay scattered upon it, and from the muddy condition of the entire route. They traveled at the rate of about ten miles per day, surmounting almost incredible obstacles in the shape of mud and fallen timber, cutting their way through the deep woods. They were unable to follow the comparatively good roads which led to the west farther south, and the men were obliged to walk almost the entire distance leading the way with axes on their shoulders, read to cut away any obstruction that could be removed with the ax. Finally, after a tedious journey, and the usual number of accidents to men beats and wagons, they arrived safe at their destination. Lones built his cabin on land adjoining, the Quaintance farm, anal began work on the Columhus and Sandusky Pike in process of constuction at the time. He received $10 per month for his services, and continued laboring on the road for about two years, paying for the bulk of his land from the wages thus received. Not one cent was spent foolishly during the whole time, but all were carefully hoarded to he used in paying for the land, and the members of the family were required to forego many of the necessities of life, having in view the ownership of a home. Mr. Lones is yet living in the township, and is one of the few old settlers left to tell the tale of hardships and privations endured by the pioneers. So far as call be learned. the following men were in the township in the year 1828: William Flake, Fisher Quaintance, Isaac Williams, William Spitzer, Samuel Miller, David Brown, Jonas Martin, Jacob Andrews, Joel Glover, Jacob King, Eli Quaintance, Joseph Newell anal Timothy Kirk. Mr. Flake had cleared. by 1828, about ten acres, and lived in a round-log cabin on the farm now owned by the descendants of Eli Quaintance. Mr. Black now owns the farm where Timothy Kirk located. Kirk died at an early day, about 1828, and his death was probably the first in the township. Joseph Newell, who arrived in about 1826, purchased a fine rolling farm on Broken Sword Creek, his land then joining, the Wyandot Reservation. He was an intelligent man, and saw, from the rapid settlement of the country, that numerous villages were destined to spring up. and that county-seats were soon to be established in the newly laid-out counties of the New Purchase. A portion of his farm was laid out into a town. which Mr. Newell designed would some day become the county seat of Crawford County. The lots were offered for sale: but, so far as known, none were sold. and Mr. Newell soon saw that he had made a mistake and that Bucyrus was the town to be honored. He also laid off half an acre of land, fenced it with rails, designing it for a cemetery. It may be stated that his cemetery was a success, if his county seat was not. About the time Newell appeared, a Mr. Spitzer settled on the farm now owned by Charles Laman, Jacob King was, in a few years late, living in a little log cabin on Broken Sword Creek, on the farm owned at present by Samuel Slapp, James Martin was in at an early day. He was a sort of a local minister, and preached in the cabins of the settlers, and was probably the first one to preach the word of God in the township. There came with him from England a young man. named Thomas Alsoph, whose father was one of the English nobility. The sons mental horizon was somewhat clouded. or, in other words, he 584 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. was non, compos mentis. Just why he was sent from England and plenty to the backwoods of Ohio and privation, is an unsolved mystery. Some thought he was a monomaniac, because of his being perfectly rational and sensible on all ordinary subjects. This is probably the correct view. His manners were refined, and, in all his intercourse with the settlers, he was as genteel and polished as was customary in the polite society of European aristocracy. He soon became a favorite with every one. The first Sunday schools in the township were organized by him, and it was perhaps for the best that he became a backwoodsman, thousands of miles from home and friends. It became current, and was believed by many, that he became mad by brooding over disappointments in love. If this be not true, it proves that the reporters, Adam-like, were inclined to lay the sin of wrecking the young man's life to woman. He taught many of the early schools, and, after living in the township quite a number of years. returned to England. Prior to 1836, the township of Holmes was fractional, but, at that date, a portion of the land belonging to the Wyandot Reservation was annexed to the western side, giving the township its present size and shape. The following, from the records of the County Commissioners, shows the change that was made Resoled, by the Commissioners, that they proceed to attach the Wyandot Reservation to the different townships adjoining said Reservation, agreeably to the provisions of an act of the Ohio Legislature, made for that purpose, and said territory shall be attached as follows: All that part of Township 2, Range 16, as lies within said Reservation, shall be attached to Holmes, and shall constitute a part of said township. This gave to the township thirty-six square miles of territory. The names of a few of the first officers are remembered, and were as follows: Jacob Andrews was the first Justice of the Peace, and Joseph Newell was elected Clerk. The spring after the township was organized and named, at an election held in the cabin of John Hussey. an early settler, a total of nine votes was polled. At the second township election, Joseph Lones was elected Constable-lo! without a dissenting voice, soon after his term of office began, an execution was placed in his hands, to be levied upon the personal property of Thomas Williams. The execution was duly issued by "Squire" Andrews, and, when Lones presented himself in the presence of Williams, announcing that he had come to serve an execution, Williams asked to have it read, which was accordingly done. During the reading, Williams approached and looked over the shoulder of the Constable, and, with a sudden movement, snatched the legal document and put it in his pocket. Lones stormed and threatened, but, finding that Williams could not be scared by threats of lawful punishment, went for advice to the "Squire," who issued another execution, and, also, a warrant for the arrest of the rebellious Williams. It was winter, snow being upon the ground, and Lones again went to the cabin of Williams with the warrant and execution, accompanied by a Mr. McMichael who drove an ox team hitched to a sled. Williams was away from home, and without any ceremony. Lones and his deputy took a sled-load of personal property from the cabin, against the violent protests of Mrs. Williams, and conveyed them to the cabin of Andrews, who announced that they should be sold after a certain date, unless Williams paid the execution and costs. `Williams appeared the next day, paid all the charges, which amounted to about $15, and was then permitted to take his property home. This was the only official business required of Lones during his term of office. The southern half of the township, in early years, was noted from the circumstance that no liquor was used at the house-raisings or log-rollings. All parties, with few exceptions, HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 587 abstained from all drinks, except strong coffee. This was a very desirable state of things, and was greatly appreciated by lovers of temperance; but, after a number of years, when many settlers had appeared. the neighborhood fell from grace, and whisky was used at the rollings, as in other localities. In about the year 1830, Moses Spahr, John Lichtenwalter, Thomas Minich, Jacob Mollenkopf, Samuel Shaffner, John McCulloch, William Roberts, Thomas Williams, John Hussey, Abraham Cary and several others, settled in the southern part of the township. The early population was about half German and half English; but, in 1828, when the settlement of the township became quite rapid, the German element prevailed. Two distinct settlements were formed, one in the southeastern corner, and the other near the present site of Portersville, and the two were made about six years apart. The one formed in the northern part was almost wholly German, eight or ten families coming together from Dauphin County, Penn., in wagons drawn by horses, in the year 1828. Among those that settled in the northern part were the families of Michael Shupp, Isaac and Abraham Ditty, Henry Fralick, Jacob Lintner, Jacob Moore, Daniel Porter, Daniel Fralick and three or four others. These families settled near each other in the northern part, on or near Broken Sword Creek, built their little log cabins, some of which are yet standing, and began to clear up and improve the country. Various industries began to spring up to furnish articles only obtained by long and toilsome journeys through almost bottomless roads to some of the neighboring villages. It is hard to believe some of the "mud and water " stories told by the early settlers relative to the condition of pioneer roads. Who would imagine to-day, in traveling over the Bucyrus & Tiffin road, which is almost as hard as pavement, that it formerly took a harassing journey of two days to go by wagon from the northern part of the township to Bucyrus and back? And yet the story bears all the evidences of truth. A journey of ten miles through the swamps and marshes and fallen timber was a day's work for man and beasts. Land which is now cultivated year after year without the least difficulty from dampness, was slush in early times, and wagons sank into it from six inches to the hub, and were only pried out after half an hour of hard and disagreeable work. And then the long journeys to some distant mill, often consuming a week, were multiplied journeys to Bucyrus. The early settlers in the northern part, as a whole, were not willing to relinquish liquor drinking, and often went to Bucyrus for supplies of whisky. If they remained in the village all night, their evenings were spent reveling in bacchanalian enjoyments, drinking and toasting each other's health, and singing "Oh! landlord, fill the flowing bowl Until it has run over. Oh! landlord fill the flowing bowl Until it. has run over. For to-night we'll merry be, For to-night we'll merry be, For to-night we'll merry be, And to-morrow we'll be sober." The Indians from the reservations were in the habit of joining the revelers, and were very fond of what they called "Sandusky water." when under the influence of liquor, they became quarrelsome, and it was safest to leave them alone until they were sober. Several women in the northern part were inveterate and disgraceful drinkers, and were frequently seen beastly drunk, lying by the roadside. But this state of things passed away, and the citizens have learned to leave liquor alone. Probably the first saw-mill in the township was built in 1833, on Broken Sword Creek, by Jesse Quaintance. It was an "up and down" mill, operated by waterpower, and continued 588 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. to do good work for nearly twenty years. The building was frame, being sided with poplar boards, obtained after the saw had been in operation a few months, and was divided by a partition into two apartments, into one of which was placed the sawing machinery, and into the other the machinery necessary for grinding grain. Notwithstanding the creek had but little fall where the mill was located, excellent waterpower was secured by extending the race across the narrow neck of a large bend in the stream. This advantage, together with a large, strong brush-dam, gave sufficient fall to the water to furnish ample power for the operation of saw and stones. Both departments of the mill were well patronized as long as they continued to do good work. Two years later, Frederick Williams built a saw-mill on Brandywine Creek. This was also a frame building; and an "up and down " saw, and, though he was unable to secure as fine water-power as Quaintance did, yet he did good work. This mill necessarily ran slower than the other, and was continued in operation ten years, when Williams sold it to other parties, and, four years afterward, joined a party of men en route for the gold mines in California. The parties who purchased the mill, carelessly permitted the dam to break, which ended the career of the mill. In the year 1845, Rodney Poole built the third saw-mill, a the "Falls," on Broken Sword Creek. The bed of the stream, at this point, has an irregular fall of about a foot and a half. This, together with a strong dam and race, furnished abundan power for the rapid running of the saw, an was the best site for either a grist or saw mill in the township. This mill, like the others, was frame, having a long shed, extending out right angles to the main building, in which was piled the lumber when sawed. The sawing was done either on shares, or at the rate of 50 cents per 100 feet. In early years, the mill-dams were not as strongly constructed as they are at the present day, when large quantities of stone can be had at but little cost. They were usually built of dirt, stones, brush, logs, etc., piled in promiscuous confusion into the bed of the stream, the work being done in times of low water, and the whole dam being braced from the lower side by logs driven into the ground in a slanting position. These rude dams were subject to continual breakage, the owner being uncertain upon going to bed, whether he was destined to have water-power the next morning or not. The streams were full of muskrats, which burrowed into the dams, and were the cause of many a breakage. On the occasion of heavy rains, the water was held in check by the large amount of fallen timber, which often resulted in flooding the whole country in the neighborhood of the streams. Samuel Shaffner recollects of being compelled to swim his horse, on one occasion, across the Brandywine Creek, which now, in times of the greatest rains, does not acquire a depth greater than two or three feet. In 1853, Joseph Lones built a steam sawmill on the plank road in the southern part, near a small stream called Grass Run. A muley saw was placed in the mill, which was operated three years and then sold to other parties. The mill is yet running, and, since its construction, has done a large amount of good work. It has been operated by several different owners. Two years after the Lones mill was built, another was erected in the northern part, on Broken Sword Creek, by Fralick & Flickinger and was continued in operation until a short d time after the war. It was a large frame mill, having a muley saw, and was operated by steam while it continued running. Several other mills have been built in the township at different times, furnishing an abundant supply of sawed lumber from the various varieties of wood, at a cents reasonable figure. The little village of Portersville lies partly in Holmes Township and partly in Lykens, and its creation and growth, regardless of the location HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 589 of the various industries and dwellings, will be given in this sub-division of the county history. There are circumstances connected with the village to be detailed in coming pages, rendering the annals of the town universally interesting and a matter of wide public interest. In about the year 1830, as has been stated, about ten families of German emigrants established themselves in tile woods in the vicinity of Portersville. In addition to those families already mentioned. which located in the northern part were those of Robert Knott, John and William Shultz. John, Peter and Jacob Shupp, Samuel Fralick, Samuel Flickinger, David Scale and others. It was more than twenty- years after this settlement was formed. that the Village of Portersville was laid out, and the county around had become quite thickly populated with emigrants of different nationalities from the East, and various industries and improvements had arisen here and there, before that event transpired Jacob Lintner, one of the earliest in this settlement, erected a blacksmith-shop just across the line in Lykens Township, shortly after his arrival though, he did not receive sufficient work to make it advisable to drop all other labor except in the line of his trade. He was quite ingenious and worked considerablyat the carpenter's trade, acquiring, by practice, what little he knew of that business. When the log cabins were reared. he was called upon to prepare the door and window casings, and to do the work requiring greater skill. Jacob Moore was a shoemaker, and had a small shop in one end of his cabin. His leather was largely obtained at Bucyrus, and during the winter time, he was in the habit of traveling from house to house to ply his trade. Notwittistanding his shop furnished coarse shoes at a very low figure. many, too poor to buy, were compelled to manufacture a rough moccasin from deer or other skin, and to wear the same the whole year. It was no uncommon thing to see whole suits of buckskin, and many amusing tales are told of the efforts made to get into buckskin breeches that had been thoroughly soaked in water and then dried. It is related that the custom was to stand the breeches on the floor near the bed (for they were abundantly able to stand alone) and to take a flying jump from the couch, care being taken to alight in the proper place and position, or the effort was abortive, and dire disaster followed. Whether this is true or not. the reader is left to determine. William Fralick was a carpenter; and was employed to build many of the early frame houses. Any man with average ingenuity could design and construct the log cabins; but, after a few years. when the settlers were in better circumstances, carpenters were called for and better houses were built. William Spitzer, who lived in the southeastern part, was a mason by trade, and, when the better class of dwellings began to go up, his services were required in laying the foundations and chimneys. He burned several small kilns of brick, obtaining his supplies of clay from large banks in the neighborhood of his cabin. These bricks were sold to the settlers, and were used in building chimneys, etc. Oxen were used to mix the clay and sand composing the bricks. The first were made in about 1830. Samuel Burnison erected a small building in the northern part in 1841, designing it for a distillery. He owned a small copper still, and operated a small horse-mill at the same time, to furnish him supplies of ground grain; from which an inferior article of whisky was made. The enterprise did not pay, and Burnison endeavored to change the business to that of cheese making. He purchased a few good cows and made preliminary arrangements to begin the manufacture, but for some reason unknown dropped the enterprise at the beginning, disposed of his cows, tubs, vats, etc., and turned his attention to farming. His was the first, last and only distillery ever in Holmes Township, which remark is also true of his cheese 590 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. factory. David Porter owned an ashery in about the year 1837, and manufactured black and scorched salts from ashes obtained from the surrounding settlers. Ashes could be obtained in quantities from the large heaps of logs burned soon after the rollings. They were hauled loose in the wagons or often in sacks to the ashery, where they were made into potash, frequently on shares. The supply of ashes from the surrounding country, failed to such an extent within the next ten years, that the ashery was no longer profitable and was discontinued. The village of Portersville was not in existence when the German settlement was formed, and it was a number of years before the first cabin was built on its present site. John Brant erected the first building. It was a large frame and is yet standing. Cyrus Fralick built the second, which is also standing, though additions have since been made to it. The third was erected across the line in Lykens Township by Benjamin Fawcett. The town was laid out in 1852 by the County Surveyor, George M. Wiley. Sixteen lots, wholly on the western side of the Bucyrus and Tiffin Road, were laid out from the northeastern corner of the eastern half of the northeastern quarter of Section 4, Township 2, Range 16. David Porter was the founder and owner, and the village was named Portersville in his honor. Porter did not enter into business in his village, but turned his attention to his farm near by, William Wingart lived just across the line in Lykens Township, and was a chair and cabinet maker. He made large numbers of very durable chairs from poplar and other kinds of wood, and scores of them can be seen in the dwellings at Portersville, as sound and serviceable as the day they were made. He also, though less extensively, made cupboards and bureaus, besides other useful articles of furniture. About five years after the town was laid out, he was employed by George Quinby, of Bucyrus, to sell goods on commission, and was given about $300 worth to commence with. These were the first goods sold in the town, and the rapidity with which they disappeared from the shelves, proved that quite an extensive business could be profitably carried on in the village. Wingart continued to sell two or three years for Quinby, and then went to New York City, where he purchased goods of his own valued at about $800. He followed the mercantile pursuit for about ten years, when he closed out his stock and, retiring to his farm, began the peaceful occupation of tilling the soil. Two years before Wingart retired, Brinkerhoff & Wilson, then doing business in Sycamore with a general assortment of goods, established a branch store in Portersville, and offered for sale about $3,000 worth of goods. Daniel Fralick purchased the stock in 1854, which then invoiced at $2,740, and has continued the business from that time until the present, sometimes carrying $6,000 worth of stock, consisting of a general assortment. Occasionally, as during the war, considerable money was made ; but at other times the sales have been small and the business unprofitable. Country stores are burdened with the requirements of competition, and it is only through large sales that they are rendered profitable. Mr. Fralick has in store at present about $900 worth of goods. Shook & Ditty have also been engaged in mercantile pursuits in the village. In 1846, Seale & Hollingshead opened a saloon in the village. They sold considerable liquor, and, it is said, could perform the miraculous feat of selling a half-dozen different kinds of liquor at the same time from one bottle. One day, several young men, in order to secure a public exhibition of the wonderful performance, posted one of their number behind the door of the saloon unknown to the proprietor, and the others retired, and, after a time. came in singly asking for liquor not called for by the others. The first one called for whisky, and obtained it from the big brown bottle; the second called for ale, and received it from the same brown HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 591 bottle ; the third asked for gin : the fourth for wine and so on, and all received their potations from the same mysterious brown bottle. The performance became noised about and excited no little sport and comment : but for some reason, after the event narrated above, the different varieties of liquors were sold from as many bottles. This partnership continued for a number of years, and, while in the business, also began entertaining the public, though they did not pretend to keep tavern. John Stinerock, a tailor by trade, was the first genuine tavern-keeper in the village. He kept no bar, and his tavern is spoken of as the best and most orderly ever opened in the town. No bummers nor loafers were permitted to lounge round the premises. He was a tailor and worked some at his trade, cutting and making suits according to the prevailing fashions. The building is yet standing, and is still under the management of a tavernkeeper. In 1868. Elias Shirk built another tavern in the town. which is at present owned and managed by his widow. Liquor has been sold in the village since 1846. In 1834, long before the town was laid out, William Wingart circulated a petition, which was signed by every one, praying for the establishment of a post office in the settlement. The petition was granted by the authorities, and Wingart was appointed Postmaster. The postal route established at the same time lay from Bucyrus to Tiffin, with intermediate offices at Portersville, Benton and Melmore. Daniel Fralick is the Postmaster at present, and has officiated in that capacity for many years. Two years after the village was surveyed and named, an addition was made by Shupp & Company. The addition was on the eastern side of the Bucyrus & Tiffin road. and across the line in Lykens Township, and comprised some forty lots. This addition gave great impetus to the growth of the town, and the citizens became impressed with the thought that some railroad company should honor their town with its presence. But the years have glided by without bringing the desired road, and the citizens are now in despair of ever seeing their hopes realized. The Ohio Central Railroad has just been built across the lower part of the township, but this, instead of increasing the population of the town, has lessened it, and has turned the attention of the villagers to the more favorable locations along the new road. Portersville gained national notoriety during and since the last war, by being the celebrated X Cross Roads, where the fictitious personage, Petroleum V. Nasby, first began to chronicle his experiences, and to send communications to the Toledo Blade and other well-known newspapers. Many of the incidents and circumstances narrated by him, though given with partisan partiality actually transpired; and all the principal characters, such as Nasby, Bascom, Bigler, Pogram and others, were taken from fancied resemblances to individuals residing in the village at that time. The inquisitorial eyes of the nation became centered upon the little town; and the characters drawn have become almost as well known to the citizens of the United States as those of Dickens or Shakespeare. They have become permanent characters in standard American literature. It was not long before the renowned Nasby sold out at Portersville (if the figure may be indulged in). and established himself at the "Confedrit X Roads, wich is in the State of Kentucky." Several of the originals from which the principal characters were drawn are yet living in the village, or in other parts of the county. The legend of Nasby's, trials in the political world, like that of the fanciful Don Quixote, will ever remain connected with the unpretentious little village, and will afford abundant material for gossip for scores of years to come. When the village was first laid out and named. William Wingart strenuously objected to its being called Portersville, and suggested Wingart's Corners, as being, in his opinion a 592 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. much more euphonious title. David Porter, after whom the town was named, positively refused to have any other name bestowed upon his protege, except the one selected by himself. But Wingart, determining not to be outwitted, spread abroad the report that the real title of the village was Wingart's Corners, and a few years afterward. when lie went to New York for his goods. He had them shipped to Wingart's Corners, Ohio, via Bucyrus, thus introducing the town to the attention of the Citizens at the county seat under his favorite name. He continued this practice and other skillful maneuvers, until the village became quite universally known as Wingart's Corners, a name yet bestowed upon it by the majority of the citizens in the county. Of late years, it has also been known as "The Confedrit X Roads," but this name is not countenanced by the villagers, who much prefer either of the others. Various physicians have lived in the town since its organization, among whom were Foutz, Rousch, Zander and the present one, C. D. Lea. It is not considered a good point for doctors, because the town and surrounding country are quite free from sickness. Ohio was traversed more than any other State between 1840 and 1850, by large numbers of slaves from the Southern States, especially from the large cotton plantations on the Red River, on their way to Canada. The runaways were always welcomed by some one in every county in the State, although, perhaps, the Quaker settlements afforded the surest protection against capture by pursuing owners. After the enactment of laws making it the duty of public officers in the Northern States to apprehend negroes, found under suspicious circumstances, who could not give a satisfactory account of themselves, it became necessary for the escaping slaves, in order to avoid detection and arrest, to travel wholly in the night, and to be concealed in out-of-the-way places during the day. This procedure gave rise to what is known as the Underground Railroad, as the runaway slaves were not seen publicly, until they had reached Canada. For a decade before the last war, many of the citizens of Ohio were so bitterly opposed to the efforts made by some of their neighbors to assist the slaves in escaping North that they began a system of' espionage to discover those violating the laws referred to above. This often occasioned extreme bitterness between neighbors, and even resulted in family estrangements. Although Crawford County was largely populated with citizens who were disposed to prevent the escape of the slave, and to even apprehend him, when it became certain that he was running away; yet, quite a number of the farmers in different parts of the county were engaged quite extensively, at times, in feeding the slaves, and in conveying them farther North. A family named Jackson, living in the southern part of Holmes Township, were known to harbor the runaways, and to convey scores of them to some other friend in Seneca County. The slaves were always brought to Jackson's cabin during the night and usually after 10 o'clock; but who brought them is a mystery not yet solved. The Columbus and Sandusky Pike, one of the finest highways in the State running north and south. was extensively traveled by slaves without guides, as the road was so plain that no mistake could be made. But the traveling was usually done between 10 o'clock at night and daylight the next morning. Isaac Jackson and his son Stephen have been seen to carry sled-loads of them north into Seneca Count. At one time, about 1853. they were seen to have six or eight negro women and children in a sled, which was driven rapidly north, while five or six negro men. unable to get into the sled, ran at the side or behind. The night was bitterly cold, though the moon shone brightly upon the scene revealing the runaways to the people along the road. who were willing to jump from their beds in the cold and look from HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 593 the window or door. The Jacksons are the only ones in the township who are remembered to have been connected with the Underground Railroad. It was the custom, for a decade after Bucyrus was laid out, for the settlers within a radius of three or four miles from that town to refrain from erecting school buildings, and to send their children to the village schools. The larger scholars could walk the distance, even in winter, and the smaller ones, if they were proof against the sticking qualities of the spring and summer mud, could attend during the warmer months. These advantages, such as they were, obviated the necessity of building schoolhouses near Bucyrus until the surrounding country became, so thickly populated as to render such a course advisable. The result was that schoolhouses were built in settlements five or more miles from Bucyrus, a number of years before those nearer the town. Although the southern part of Holmes Township was first settled almost a decade before the northern part, the latter division erected a log schoolhouse several years before the, former, and also had several terms taught before the school building was erected. David Moore, one of the early settlers in northern Holmes, was an old bachelor, who had come into the wilderness of Ohio to secure a home for his widowed mother and himself. His land was purchased in 1828, and during the following year his cabin was built, four or five acres cleared, and a small crop of corn and potatoes raised. Everything was then in readiness for his mother, who was to preside over this rule home. During the succeeding winter (1829 and 1830), he returned to Pennsylvania, and, while he was gone, the neighbors converted his cabin into a schoolhouse, and the first term in the township was taught here by John Bretz, a native of the Keystone State, who had come in with the German emigration. The attendance was quite large, owing in a measure, no doubt. to the novelty incident upon attending the first school. The following winter, Bretz taught in the southern part of Lykens Township, in a cabin designed for a dwelling, but into which no family had yet moved. He continued to teach for a number of years in the German settlement and its vicinity, always having good, orderly schools: indeed, he prided himself on being able to govern any school, and from his personal appearance his scholars and all others were willing to admit the statement without cavil. He was over six feet in height, and as wiry as a panther, and could handle any other man in the neighborhood with ease. His commands were implicitly obeyed, but he had one serious drawback in teaching, as his knowledge of mathematics, and, indeed, of all the other branches required to be taught, was sadly deficient. He therefore resorted to artifice and procrastination when called upon to work "sums" beyond his capacity. It is probable that the first schoolhouse in the township was built on Section 3, during the summer of 1833. The first term in this building was taught by Edward Porter, who had taught one or two terms in the neighborhood previously. During the winter of 1832-33, he had taught in a log cabin in Lykens Township, about a mile and a half northeast of the present village of Portersville. In early years it was customary, and was the supreme delight of the pupils (and they greatly relish it yet), to reach the schoolhouse before the teacher on the first day of the term, and to bolt the door and bar that dignitary out for an hour or two, or for a half-day, just as the scholars were inclined. Porter, anticipating such a maneuver on the part of his scholars, on the first day of the term taught the winter of 1832-33, determined to outwit them; so he took Daniel Fralick into his confidence, and instructed him to raise the window at the proper moment, into which the teacher would leap with a bound, to the dismay of the scholars. As was anticipated, upon reaching the schoolhouse the first 594 - HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. morning, the teacher found the door securely bolted, and, from the suppressed titter within, knew that the scholars were expecting any amount of sport. The teacher began pounding loudly on the door, and, when sure that the attention of all the scholars was riveted to the entrance, he darted to the rear of the building; the window was quickly raised by the watchful Fralick, and, ere the guilty students were aware of his presence, their teacher stood in their midst. The utmost consternation prevailed. The door was thrown open, and the frightened scholars poured from the room into the yard, like sheep before a wolf. They scattered in all directions; and many of them, fearing dire chastisement, did not return until the next day. The teacher was master of the situation. and the scholars were no little chagrined at being so completely outflanked. The treacherous Fralick, who was to blame for the rout was thenceforth tabooed from the confidence of his fellow-students. After the schoolhouse on Section 3 had been used about nine years, a much better and larger one was erected, a short distance south, to take its place. This building was a frame, and was almost wholly built of lumber sawed at the mills on Broken Sword Creek. It is yet used for school purposes. A Miss Margaret Cannon taught many of the earlier schools in the northern part. She attempted many of the winter schools, which were attended by large, rough boys, but usually succeeded in giving satisfaction to the patrons in both government and instruction. The larger boys in the early schools were required to cut the wood, which was usually done while the school was in session. When one was tired or was called upon to recite or get his lesson, another took his place, and this excellent respite from study was necessarily continued a greater part of the day, as the fire-places in the old log schoolhouse were noted for the consumption of wood. It was not until 1835. that a school-building was erected in southern Holmes. It was built on or near the farm of Mr. Black, and was constructed of hewed logs. A few years later, a frame building was erected on the Lones farm, which, after being used for school purposes for nearly twenty years. was removed, and the present one was built at a cost of about $350. The township was divided into school districts as early as 1836. or thereabouts, and, soon after, each was furnished with a school-building. No schoolhouse has been built in Portersville. As is usual in a new country; early church societies were established in Holmes Township a number of years before the settlers deemed it advisable to build churches. Local preachers visited the township from the neighboring villages. Itinerant ministers. known as "circuit riders," of all the various orthodox denominations, stopped in the neighborhood periodically, and, as is usual in the history of the human race, wherever there are leaders in the cause of Christ, there are also followers. Meetings began to be held regularly in the cabins of Michael Shupp, Daniel Seats and others, until in about 1834, an Evangelical Church was built in the extreme southern part of Lykens Township. Soon after this, the Lutherans and German Reformers erected a log church in the northern part of Holmes. Considerable antagonism was developed from the start, between the two denominations, growing out of certain assumed privileges denied to each sect by the other. Much bitterness was manifested for several years, until the matter culminated by being adjusted in the courts. In 1852, a log meeting-house was erected one mile west of Portersville, by the Protestant Methodists. This building became known as the Concord Meeting-house Rev. William Brown was the officiating minister during the last war, and, being a strong Abolitionist, he incautiously incorporated his political views in his sermons, in opposition to the protests of many of the members, who, as might have been expected, posi- HISTORY OF CRAWFORD COUNTY. - 595 tively refused to tolerate any such procedure. But the minister persisted in the course begun, until finally, one night, a party of men went to the church and leveled it with, the ground. Much the same proceeding was enacted in other localities. One night, a man with blackened face, went to the store of Daniel Fralick, in Portersville, and bought six dozen eggs. That same evening, a minister, conducting a revival in one of the churches near the village, was severely pelted with eggs -evidently- the ones purchased at the store. Soon after, a church on the line between Holmes and Liberty Townships was burned one night-the result of an effort to unite political and religious views. It is proper, though unnecessary, to state that the better class of citizens had nothing to do in perpetrating these outrages. The southern part of the township was not without its early church organizations. Meetings were held in the cabins. until, in about 1840, the Quakers erected their church, which is yet standing. It is a large, low building, built originally of logs and afterward weather-boarded with poplar lumber. It was used continuously until 1879, when the building was deserted, and it yet re mains unoccupied.