A
HISTORY
OF
KNOX COUNTY, OHIO,
FROM 1779 TO 1862 INCLUSIVE:
COMPRISING
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS OF MEN CON-
NECTED WITH THE COUNTY FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT:
TOGETHER WITH
COMPLETE LISTS OF THE SENATORS, REPRESENTATIVES, SHERIFFS, AUDITORS,
COMMISSIONERS, TREASURERS, JUDGES, JUSTICES OF THE PEACE, AND
OTHER OFFICERS OF THE COUNTY, ALSO OF THOSE WHO HAVE
SERVED IN A MILITARY CAPACITY FROM ITS FIRST ORGANIZA-
TION TO THE PRESENT TIME.
AND ALSO
A SKETCH OF KENYON COLLEGE,
AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING AND RELIGION
WITHIN THE COUNTY.
BY
A. BANNING NORTON.
COLUMBUS:
RICHARD NEVINS, PRINTER.
1862
Entered according to the act of Congress in the year 1862
BY A. BANNING NORTON,
In the Clerk's office of the Southern District of Ohio.
SEARCH ENGINE
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by going to the top of your browser, click Edit and then click find on this page. Type in the desired search word and click. This will take you to the places on
the page where this word is found. It will take you through all of the places that this word is found on this page CONTENTS FILE ONE - (CHAPTERS I - IX) ................................................................................................... 8 - 111 FILE TWO - (CHAPTERS X - XVI) ............................................................................................ 112 - 219 FILE THREE - (CHAPTER XVII - XXXI)..................................................................................... 220 - 318 FILE FOUR - (CHAPTER XXXII - LI) ........................................................................................... 319 - 424 PREFACE To write the history of my native county, and to rescue from oblivion the anecdotes and early incidents of its first
settlers, has been with me a pleasant pastime. While it has been much labor to gather the material for this work,
and to test it by the crucible of truth, my mind has thereby been relieved of much care and of anxious thought upon more serious subjects during an exile in my native land; and if I
will have been the means of preserving, for the future historian, matters which are within the recollection of but
very few now living, my time and toil have been well spent. Several years ago, when a resident of this place, I collected many of the items which I now produce from memory;
such as the captivity of John Stilley, and events of early occurrence with the knowledge of Dr. Timothy Burr, my
father, Daniel S. Norton, Col. John Greer, Judge Bevans, Gilman Bryant, Col. Emor Harris, Judge Jesse B.
Thomas, Rev. James Scott, and others who have since deceased. Among my papers in Texas are notes taken by me
of conversations with the above recited parties, as also with Samuel H. Smith and William Smith, old residents of
Knox, now residing in that State. I would have delayed the publication of the sketch I give herewith, were it not very uncertain when the present
unhappy war may terminate, or what my future may be. Procrastination might prove fatal to the enterprise; hence
I have concluded to furnish it to the children of the old settlers, and the public generally in the Ko-kosing country,
conscious that it has imperfections, but without the ability, under existing circumstances, of making it more
complete. My object is accomplished in putting in this form for preservation much crude material, which I regard
as of value to those who may succeed us: I did not undertake it with expectation or purpose of gain. I may have overlooked some names in putting the manuscript to press, or improperly placed others; but from the
most reliable data I have drawn my conclusions and made my statements. I would have been pleased to have
extended my genealogical sketches, and to have traced out the various old families in the townships; but, from
having met several who were indisposed to give me information, I found this branch must necessarily be partial, and
desisted from researches in that way. The reader will take those named as examples of the manner in which I think
a history of the county ought to be written, and I would like to have so presented it. Some, whose names may not be
found in this book, may find fault with its compilation, as did "Schmidt," the dutch drayman in the city of Austin,
whose name he discovered in the Directory spelled "Smith," and exclaimed, "I would not give one tam for the
Correctory vot has my name left out of it; for Smith is not Schmidt no how." Of one thing all may be assured, and that is this: I have set down naught in malice, nor aught extenuated, but
endeavored to represent all fairly and correctly. I have no object to do otherwise. I do not intend ever to live
among you, nor in your State, and am, therefore, truly independent. I belong to no political or religious party, sect or organization of the present day, nor do I ever expect to. "He is a
freeman whom the truth makes free!" Having no interest to subserve-"no friends to reward, or enemies to
punish"-I am, with my best regards to such as have received me kindly and aided me with information, and to the
people of Knox individually and collectively, Their friend, A. Banning Norton. Mount Vernon, O., July 1, 1862. REDEADICATION (CD Version any way) This inscription appears on the inner leaf of the front cover of my edition. Scanned and optical character recognized
in the late fall and early winter of 2000-2001. My G.G.G. Grandfather circa. 1801 as he appeared at the time of the
settling of Clinton, Ohio Dave Ketterer 47 Forest Road Burnt Hills, New York 12027