HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 411

CHAPTER XIII.

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP-FIRST FAMILIES-EARLY INCIDENTS- MERCANTILE BEGINNINGS

SOCIAL CUSTOMS-CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.

IN undertaking to sketch the history of that territory which is now known as Franklin Township, in Morrow Count , the writer finds himself on the wrong side of the boundaries that hedge in its traditions. The history of the early settlement of a county gathers about the original county seat in conformity to a law of social gravitation that is as certain and powerful as the similar law which governs matter; and in such a place, where the traditions of the county center, and from whence the thousand influences proceed that contribute so largely to mold the history of the different divisions of the county, the historian finds the proper point of observation. Unfortunately for the writer, in the case of Franklin and its sister townships from Knox, the center of social and political gravitation, was changed after forty years had fixed their associations and endurably established the currents of social intercourse, and a new center formed. This abrupt change could affect the current of later history, but the traditions of the early days had passed beyond its influence, and

412 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY.

they are still true to the Mecca of their early homage. Until April 10, 1812, Franklin formed a part of Wayne Township, one of the four original divisions into which Knox County was first divided. At this time it was set off as a. part of Chester, and, December 3, 1823, it began a separate existence, voicing, in its name the admiration of its citizens fur the great printer, patriot and philosopher Benjamin Franklin.

The earliest information in regard to this part of the country is gathered from the reminiscences of John Stilley, one of the earliest settlers of Knox County. When a mere had, he was captured by a band of Wyandot Indians that made a predatory excursion into Washington County, Penn., in 1779. On their return to their village, (in the Sandusky plains, they passed through the western portion of what was known later as Knox County, Stilley describes the country as an unbroken wilderness of heavy timber, without the trace of a single white man. It was regarded by Me savages as the finest portion of their hunting ,,rounds, and during his five years of captivity he was frequently brought to this vicinity on hunting expeditions. It looked far more prepossessing to him then than it ever did afterward, and determined him in later years, when released and seeking a place for a permanent residence, to emigrate to Knox County. Franklin Township is situated on the Greenville treaty line, and is composed in part of United States military lands and Congressional lands, the latter being that portion north of the treaty line. It was originally surveyed in 1807 that portion north of the treaty line by Maxfield Ludlow, and that south of the line by Joseph Vance-and comprises parts of Township 18, in Range 19, and Township 17, in Range 20, of the Congressional lands, and Township 8, in Range 15, of the United States military lands. A part of the original field notes have been lost, and but a meager description of this land. appears in the surveyor's notes published by the Secretary of State's department. That portion of the township situated below the treaty line is described by the field notes that are preserved, as level and of second rate quality, bearing principally sugar, beech and ash timber. Above the treaty line, the land is more rolling, forming a ridge somewhat along the line of the road passing through Pulaskiville, which divides the waters of the two branches of Owl Creek. What is laid down in the maps as the Middle Branch, takes its source in Congress Township and flows in a southerly course through the western portion of Franklin. Another small tributary to Owl Creek takes its rise just north of Pulaskiville, and follows a southeasterly coarse, joining the main stream in Middlebury Township, n Knox County. The soil is principally clay, though there are bottom lands that indicate a better soil by the number of black-walnut trees that appear among its timber. Notwithstanding the rolling character of the land, the early maps how show quite a number of swamps, which seem to have been impartially scattered all over the upper division of the township, a fact that has rendered tile draining necessary in some portions. Owing to the circumstances of its origin, the boundaries of Franklin Township are quite irregular. For twenty-five years, it was the extreme township, in the northwest corner of " Old Knox." At that time Harmony extended northward to the natural boundary of the treaty line, and prevented the rectangular completeness of Franklin in that quar. ter, and, when the township was set off to form a part of Morrow County, a row of sections was taken off the eastern end above the treaty line, through the influence of certain residents who preferred to remain in their old county. It is bounded on the north by Congress and Perry, on the east by Middlebury, in Knox County, on the south by Chester and Harmony, and on the west by Harmony and Gilead. The territory thus embraced is well adapted to general farming and, under the management which the owners have found to be most successful, yields returns second to no land in the county. Grain raising is the pursuit of a large part of the farmers in this township, though some fine stock is exhibited

HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY. - 413

by one or two persons who make it a specialty.

The only surviving representative of the urban element in Franklin Township is a small cluster of houses about the crossing of the two main roads, near the center of the township, called Pulaskiville.

Many years ago-so many that it has almost been entirely forgotten a town was projected by Allen Kelley. It was situated in the western end of the township on the land now owned by William Kelley. The site was one admirably calculated for a village, with the remote corners of four counties centering near it, and the founder might well entertain sanguine hopes of its ultimate success, but the re-organization of the counties changed the whole aspect, and Jamestown became a thing of the past. The House Brothers had a store here early, where they did business until Mount Gilead began to show elements of growth, when they removed to that place. This establishment attracted trade from all points, and it is said that a man by the name of Magoogin went there from Mount Gilead to buy a looking - glass; this was probably for his wife, but while there be got several glasses for himself, until he found himself rather lightheaded. In staggering home he smashed the glass and back entirely out of the frame, but it served his purpose just as well, and he was discovered looking through the frame, addressing himself over and over again in a confidential undertone, " Yes, Magoogin, that's you that's you, Magoogin." Sometime previous to 1823 the village of Florida Grove was laid out on the land now owned by Thomas P. Morrison. The project was inaugurated by Rev. George Van Eman, who then owned the land, together with Plumb Sutleff and Samuel Hardenbrook. A number of lots were sold, but the would-be town failed to thrive, and has long since become apart of the farming land of the township.

There were no large landholders in this township save James Brady of Greensburg, Westmoreland Co., Penn. ; and most of the settlers bought direct of the Government at the land office in Canton. The Congressional lands were a part of what was known as the new purchase, and were put on the market about 1809, or as soon as practicable after the necessary survey was completed. The first actual settler was Samuel Shaw, who came from Washington County, Penn., in 1810. He was born in Carlisle, Penn., in 1762, and came to Pickaway County, Ohio, in 1809, coming to Franklin a year later, and settling on land where Salathiel Bonar now lives. He had bought 600 acres here in 1808. Mr. Shaw is represented as a clever, quaint old gentleman, who commanded the universal respect of his fellow-townsmen. He brought a large family of children, the oldest of whom, David, achieved considerable distinction in a local way. He was an early school teacher, the third person to be elected to the position of Justice of the Peace-an office he held for twenty-three years-a Colonel in the Peace Establishment, and a County Commissioner for nine years. David Peoples came from Jefferson County, Ohio, to Franklin, in 1810, shortly after Mr. Shaw. He was young, unmarried, and in straitened financial circumstances. After securing 100 acres of land, he had not money enough to buy an ax with, and worked fur some time at clearing, for $4 per acre, to get money to help himself. He got his first lot cleared early, and had the first rolling of the season, and afterward was called upon to "return the compliment " every day for six weeks. About this time his horse, his only possession, died, and he was forced to put in his corn without plowing, using his hoe for all purposes of plowing and planting. In the mean while, he had boarded at Mr. Shaw's, but, having prepared a home an got in his crop, he returned for his mother, wit whom he came back to Franklin in the same year. In the fall of 1810, John Cook started from his home in Maryland in search of a better land and a newer community, where he might turn his limited capital to a larger account. He was a Dative of New Jersey, but had emigrated in 1794 to Maryland, where he purchased land near the Pennsylvania line, adjoining the counties of Bed-

414 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY.

ford and Washington. The formation of Ohio as a State had opened a vast amount of land to the enterprising pioneer. Maryland at that time furnished one of the most available markets for the frontier settlements in the new territory, and it was no uncommon occurrence to see a string of pack-horses, numbering from ten to thirty animals, laden with flax, making their way to Hagerstown, to return with supplies for the Ohio settlements. The reports concerning the beauty and resources of the country, and the fertility of its soil, thus brought to the attention of those who began to feel crowded in the older communities, stimulated their natural curiosity, and gave rise to a widespread emigration movement, which was recognized as the "Ohio fever." The "new purchase" added a fresh impetus to this movement, the effects of which seem to have become universal. The only question seemed to be, "When?" Songs, descriptive of the pleasures and advantages to be found in Ohio, were the staple entertainment of the young ladies of the period, and one of the earliest recollections of W. P. Cook- now a man who bears his eighty years with the sprightliness of youth is the chorus of one of these songs, which pictures the new-found El Dorado as follows:

"We'll all together go

Where plenty pleasures flow

And settle on the banks of the pleasant Ohio."

It was under the influence of such a state of affairs that John Cook, John Ackerman and William Levering mounted their horses in the fall of 1810, and started out to investigate the charms of the new country. Their course was to the settlement in Wayne Township, where some fifty families had settled. They were here directed to lands which are now situated in the northeast part of Franklin Township, as desirable for farming purposes. Pleased with the prospect, they purchased lands, and, after casting lots for first choice, Ackerman took land within the present boundaries of Middlebury Township, in Knox County, Levering on the branch of Owl Creek, in the northeast corner of Franklin, and Cook just north of the property now owned by his son, W. P. Cook. John Cook bought 160 acres, including as he supposed a fine Spring and a large maple grove. The land was sold in parcels of 160 acres at $2 per acre, $80 to be paid in cash, the balance to be paid in three annual payments of $80 each. A large discount was made for cash, a half-section being sold for $260, and in either case the property to be exempt from taxes for five years. In the following spring, Ackerman moved out with his family, and took possession of his new purchase, and with him came a son of John Cook, and a neighbor's son, William Blair, to see the new country and purchase on their own account. These young men looked over the land and entered farms adjoining that of the elder Cook. The latter had commissioned his son to look after the boundaries of his recent purchase, and see that it was located as he supposed it to be. This proved to be a wise precaution, as on examination it was found that his land failed to take in the spring and grove which added so much value to his supposed purchase. This state of affairs was reported, when Mr. Cook at once sent on money and secured another half-section, taking in the desired property. On the return of the young men, William Blair married, and with his bride and father returned in the fall to build up a home in the wilderness. The father, Abraham Blair, was a native of Perth Amboy, N. J., and emigrated to Pennsylvania. He served in the Revolutionary war, and took part in the battle" Of' Trenton and Monmouth. He died on his farm in Ohio October 2, 1846, in the ninetieth year of his age, respected by all.

Mr. Cook was possessed of a fair competence, and it took him some time to arrange matters for a change of residence of such a radical nature, and it was not until late in the year 1812, that he was ready to go to his new home. He had sold everything he cared to dispose of, and had all preparations made for his departure, when the declaration of war with England put a damper upon his enthusiastic preparations. He determined to brave

HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY. - 415

the consequences, however, and on the 21st of September, 1812, with his effects and family stowed in one of those Pennsylvania wagons known by the expressive name of land schooners, with a team of five horses as the motor power, he started for the "Far West." The route took them along the Hagerstown pike, which had been partially completed, for about forty miles. From this point, they followed a plainly marked road, along which there was considerable travel. They could make but slow progress at best, and four weeks had passed before they reached their journey's end. On their way, they met with persons leaving their frontier homes, and giving the most discouraging reports of matters on the border. At Cambridge, they met one of the soldiers who had been wounded at the Copus affair at Mansfield, who almost discouraged Mr. Cook from proceeding farther. He was a "plucky " sort of a man, and was determined nothing short of actual danger should impede his progress. On reaching Mount Vernon, he found that his former neighbors who had settled near the farm to which he was going, had fled to Mount Vernon and Fredericktown for protection from the Indians, who, it was feared, were about to make a descent upon the unprotected settlements in that region. The occasion of this alarm we may give in the language of Norton in his history of Knox County as follows: "The Seymours lived on the Rocky Run, or Crooked Fork of Mohican, a little stream which headed above Mansfield. They were plain, simple-minded people, who had been cultivating a small patch of ground, and making slow but sure improvements on their location. Their nearest neighbor was a Dutchman named Martin Rufner, who lived in a little cabin with only a small Dutch boy., The Seymour family consisted of Frederick and his wife, and their children, Philip and Catherine. One night, four Indians were seen about dark prowling around the neighborhood of Seymour's house, and Rufner went to their house and urged Philip to go over to Mr. Copus and get help from there to capture them. No sooner had he started than the Indians entered the front door. They were received in a friendly manner, and Catherine at once prepared supper for them, but the Indians, instead of eating, at, once set upon the household, and proceeded to kill and scalp them. Rufner was a very strong man, and fought like a tiger, but he was soon overpowered, killed by two balls through his body, and left scalpel in the yard, with several of his fingers cut off with a tomahawk. The father, mother and daughter were killed and scalped. In a few days after this an attack was made by a party of Indians upon the cabins of Mr. Copus, who lived at the Block fort. Some men belonging to a scouting party were at the time stopping at his house, and four of them had gone to a spring a few rods off to wash, when they were fired upon by Indians, who had hidden from view. Three of the men were killed, and the fourth escaped into the house with a bullet in his thigh. Mr. Copus, when in the act of looking out the door to see what was the affray, was shot in the breast. The door was at once closed, and a vigorous resistance made to the attack of the savages, who came with terrific yells and a shower of balls. The daughter of Mr. Copus was shot in the thigh, and herself and mother, for safety, stowed away in the cabin loft. One of the men had his arm broken by a ball, and the house was completely riddled by bullets. Several of the Indians were killed, and although so nearly successful in their savage attack, after an hour's bard fighting, they withdrew from the field." Tracks of the savages were discovered about other cabins, which indicated that a general plan of murder had been contemplated by the Indians. News of these terrible occurrences was carried by Johnny Appleseed, on horseback, to various settlements and to Fredericktown. It was but natural that this news should create a lively alarm among the isolated settlements; the towns of Mount Vernon and Fredericktown were thronged with families anxious to arrange some plan for defense. It was in this situation that Mr. Cook found affairs when he arrived at Mount Vernon. Some time had elapsed

416 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY.

since the massacre, and he was soon able to pursuade them that their danger had been exaggerated, and that it was best for them to return to their places. Cook came as far as Middlebury, where he took possession of an empty cabin belonging to an old surveyor by the name of Mitchell, which he occupied until he had got a cabin of his own erected. When built, his cabin was a structure 18x20 feet, "staked and ridered," a chimney constructed of " cat and clay," and contained one room and a loft. The following year was a busy one for this part of the township. The neighbors about them were Benjamin Hart, in the edge of Perry Township, John Ogle, Henry Sams and his sons, who were married, and lived near, Andrew and Henry Sams, Jr., and a family by the name of Hoofmire. But little improvement had been made upon their farms and about three days in the week were spent by each family in assisting to build cabins for new arrivals, or helping to roll their neighbors' fields. The plan was for each one to cut the timber on three or four acres, and then invite all the neighbors for three or four miles around to roll these logs into piles for burning. During the work, it was expected that the beneficiary would provide plenty of whisky, and a supper when the task was finished. The logs were cut twelve or fourteen feet long, and were handled with "handspikes " alone, as oxen were too slow motioned for the enthusiastic ardor of the pioneers. Mr. Campbell relates that on one occasion thirty men assembled to roll up a lot of four acres for one of Abednego Stevens' sons. This was completed by noon, and after dinner the party went to Mr. Campbell's and "rolled up " a two-acre field on his premises. This job was completed some time before the hour for supper, and, anxious to put in a full day, they repaired without invitation to a field belonging to Mrs. Peoples, a widow, where an acre of timber had been " chopped over," and "logged " it, going to Campbell's to supper. Such were some of the experiences in the life of the pioneers, which called out in rude fashion the kindly feelings of generous and impulsive people. On these occasions, whisky was provided and used as freely as water, and, while it did not seem to have so powerful an effect as is observable in later days, many of the pioneers, on these occasions, to express it in the language of one of the company, "got real glad."

In the spring of 1813, Mr. Cook prepared to realize on the anticipations of sugar - making, which led him to purchase the large grove of sugar-trees. Large iron kettles made by Dillon, at his foundry, on Licking Creek, were a part of the regular stock in trade of a frontier store. Several of these kettles, with a capacity of from ten to eighteen gallons, were procured; rude troughs were hollowed lowed out to catch the sap, and the trees scarred and tapped with "spiles." Thus far it needed no particular experience to carry on the business -successfully, but when it came to boiling the gathered sap he found it tedious work. A slow fire was all that could be kept up and keep the liquid in the kettle. It seemed as though it was arranged on the principle of some modern self-adjusting contrivances, so that when the fire got just a little too hot it overflowed and put it back. Mr. Cook and his boys were struggling along in this way when some visitors to the camp let them into the secret of sugar-making in the use of bacon to keep the sirup within bounds. Meanwhile their first cabin had proved a rather uncomfortable home even for pioneers, and Mr. Cook employed some persons who carried on a rude carpenter business, to erect a two-storied, hewed-log house, 18x26 feet. This building was provided with a brick chimney and a shingled roof, and was considered as quite an aristocratic residence for that time.

Abednego Stevens, who came with a large family of grown-up children from Bedford County, Penn., was among the first families to settle in the township. His son William had been in the army under Harrison, and in coming home had been attracted by the country in this township, and had entered a considerable tract lying in the southeast section of the Congressional portion of the land. This struck his father favorably, and, making up

HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY. - 417

his mind to emigrate to the new State, where he could give each of his children a farm, he bought the whole section, which, owing to the angle made by the treaty line, contained 690 acres. In 1813, packing their household goods in one of the huge wagons peculiar to the State of Pennsylvania, the family, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Pittman, Jacob, Richard, and Thomas Stevens, with two girls, started for Ohio. Mrs. Pittman, who was a feeble woman, and several small children, rode in the wagon, while Abednego Pittman, a lad of eight years, and the others performed the journey on foot. Although the wagon was drawn by four horses, the road was so bad and the load so heavy that the family found no trouble in keeping pace with the team. On arriving in Middlebury Township, in Knox County they stopped at Daniel Levering's, and later went to Benjamin Hart's in Perry, until cabins could be put up for the accommodation of the several families. John Cook, who was an intelligent and generally useful man, and possessed surveying instruments, was employed to run out the lines, and cabins were erected along the road running south from Pulaskiville and near the crossing of the Cardington road. Pittman's house was erected near the spot now occupied by Mr. James, a little northeast of the hamlet. Mr. Abednego Stevens was a man of considerable property, and seeing his sons well situated on farms of their own, being a widower, bought a residence in Mount Vernon, where he resided with his unmarried daughter until she left to begin a home for herself, when he moved out to the place of one of his sons. He was about the only man in the township who possessed any ready money, and persons in the neighborhood who were in pressing need of a little cash, were wont to split rails for him, for which he paid the munificent sum of 50 cents a day. This price, though not extravagantly high wages for that time, was a great convenience to many a pioneer who otherwise must have gone without many of the comforts that were to be secured only with ready money. William Stevens, the original purchaser of land here, was killed by a falling tree which was blown over by a violent storm just before the start for Ohio. In 1812, Benjamin Corwin came to Franklin, being a tanner by trade, and on arriving immediately set about resuming his trade ; he sunk vats on the Johnston road, in the eastern part of the township, and set up the first and only tannery in this vicinity. The dearth of the raw material for his trade made the first efforts rather insignificant, but a murrain which broke out among the cattle soon furnished him with ample material for the exercise of his ability; there was but little stock save what the necessities of the situation demanded. Cows were indispensable, and most of the pioneers brought one or more of these animals but so great was the fatality among them that the settlers for miles around lost all they had. It seems that the cause of this fatality was something the animals found in the woods, and the pioneers were in the habit of giving them alum, soot, soap, etc. There was a considerable demand among the men for buckskin leather, which furnished substantial and not unattractive clothing; the skins were treated in some way with the brains of cattle, or better, with those of the deer, and then smoked to a fine color that was permanent and attractive. Pants of this material were made tight-fitting, as they were the reverse of comfortable on a cold day if not kept in close contact with the person all the time. This material in many instances furnished the whole suit, which was capped by a hat made from the skin of some fur-bearing animal. A funny incident is related by Mr. Campbell which I occurred at the spring election in 1823. The voting was done at the house of Jacob Shur, in Chester, and some fifteen or twenty men were gathered to discharge the duty of citizens. Mr. Campbell had but recently come into the township and was exceedingly curious to see an Indian. Among the others at the poll was Thomas Stevens, who wore a long tangled beard and a suit of buckskin clothing, presenting to the uncultivated eyes of Mr. Campbell a make-up suggestive of what his imagination had pictured the Indians to be. He was about to speak to Abednego Stevens, the

418 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY.

father of the young man, and the only one present whom he knew, and inquire if that was a real lord of the forest, when another man spoke his name, and dispelled his illusion. Mr. Campbell's disappointment in not seeing a real savage was considerably modified by the thought of his narrow escape from a contretemps that could not have failed to have been embarrassing to both parties. Another family was that of John Ullery, who came from Washington County, Penn., about 1825, and settled where his descendants now live. They occupied their cabin as soon as the roof was on, and it was some time before doors or windows could be secured. The wolves were numerous and daring, and in the absence of her husband, Mrs. Ullery took her babe and a gun and laid on the joists of the loft in the cabin to guard against Indians and animals. Joseph Mann came in 1815 from Bedford County Penn.; he was eighteen days in comin- and brought cattle and sheep. The latter he found too much trouble to protect and left them on the frontier. He settled near where W. P. Cook lives; he was a man of good education and taught school one term after coming to Franklin.

The absence of any considerable stream prevented the establishment of those industries that are felt to be necessities in a pioneer community. The first milling was done at Mount Vernon, or Fredericktown, and, later, a saw and grist mill was erected at Waterford, but none have been built in the township. A distillery was built on the creek, in the northeast part of the township, by a son of Daniel Levering, where, it is said, a good article of whisky was made. The proprietor accumulated considerable property from the result of his trade, but his son discontinued it. A steam saw-mill was built a short distance southwest of the hamlet in 1843, but it passed away some years since, leaving a large, brick chimney, sixty-eight feet high, to mark the place of its location. The building is doing service as a barn for Milton Hart. In 1815, William Levering, one of the original party that came with John Cook in 1810, settled in this township, on the property now owned by Milton Levering. He had been detained in Maryland by his mother's inability to move; but at her death, he started for the land of his choice. The community in this section of the town were largely made up of Old School Baptists, and were remarkably staid in their habits. Husking bees, quiltings or parties were things unknown, and, Mr, Cook, now an octogenarian, and a constant resident of the community, has never been at a frolic in his life. His father was a minister of this sect, and had scruples against such frivolous entertainments, which was enough to keep them down. There were a few who did not join in these conscientious scruples, and made various efforts to break in upon the long-established precedents. A single attempt, with its monotonous result, was sufficient to restrain such movements for some time.

The settlement in the southern part of the township was an early and important one. The nucleus of this community was at Center Corner, a local name for cross-roads, in that section. Here are found the names of Col. Strong, the first school teacher, a military character, and a politician; Joshua Bickford, the first and only hotelkeeper; Bernard Fields, the Swingleys, from Hagerstown, Md. ; Samuel Livingston, William Pharis, William Gordon, Caleb Barton, Miller Mosher, John Parcels, Calvin Bates, from New York, William Linn, from Pennslyvania, and others. Among these names should be mentioned that of William T. Campbell, who still remains to mark the almost miraculous change which has come over the country, since he first became a citizen of Franklin. He came in 1822, from Northumberland County, Penn. and occupied a vacant cabin near Center Corners, on a corner of land belonging to John Parcels. He brought his wife and two children, with a small box containing their earthly possessions, in a one-horse wagon. Besides a spavined horse, a harness and an old wagon, he had $30 to begin the world with. He hired out to Jacob Shur at $8 per month, until winter, when he engaged

HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY - 419

in teaching school, teaching in a log schoolhouse, a little southwest of the corners, receiving for his services $12.50 per month. In 1824, he moved up to the part of town where he now resides. He bought fifty acres of old Mr. Stevens, lying on the east side of the road leading to Pulaskiville, and put up his cabin just south of where the orchard now stands. Mr. Campbell paid at the rate of $2 an acre for his land, and gave in payment, his horse, harness, wagon and $33 in money, leaving him in debt just $17. His only capital with which to improve his new possession was his hands, and an ax, which was made by Young, a blacksmith in Wayne, and for which he had paid $3. His cabin was hastily put up, without chimney doors or windows. The openings for windows and doors were closed with such extemporized substitutes as presented themselves, the fire was built between the log-joists on the ground, and a box that had first contained their clothing and few household goods when emigrating, served one whole summer as the only table. The bed was an improvised structure built in the corner of the cabin, the side and end-logs supporting the end and side of the bed, and a single leg serving the same purpose at the otherwise unsupported corner. Bedcords or slats were unknown, and elm bark served as a foundation on which the bed was made. By dint of hard work and unremitting industry, he got in one acre of corn. and harvested a fair crop. Plowing was out of the question among the stumps, and be secured the services of a yoke of oxen, with a barrow, and stirred up the surface a little, and completed the rest with the hoe Corn and wheat were then carried to Fredericktown for grinding, and at Mount Vernon was found the only store or post office. Mr. Campbell relates that on one occasion, going to the post office, be found two letters for him, each with 25 cents postage due on it. Money was very scarce, and hardly anything the pioneers had to sell would bring it at any price. He took a quantity of maple sugar to the village in hopes that he could sell enough to make up, with what be had, the required amount. He had 37 cents, and he went from store to store trying to sell a shillings worth of sugar for cash, but without avail. He then went to the different houses, explaining his situa. tion, and that one of the letters bore a black seal, but they could not or would not buy. At last, he went into a saddler's, who was an acquaintance, and stated his case, and found a purchaser in the two men at work for a sixpence worth of sugar each. James Hyler was among the early settlers in the central portion of the township. He came from New Jersey in 1818, and settled in a log house on the property now owned by Johnson Wait. Three years later, with his family, he moved on to the place where his widow still lives. It was four years before a good crop was taken off his place, but he lived to see his farm improve, through his efforts, into one of the pleasantest places in the township. Mr. and Mrs. Hyler lived to see their eleven children grow up to maturity.

The Indians were a prominent feature of the new country, especially during the 'first years of the early settlement. The massacre of the Seymour family made a strong impression on the few pioneer families in the northeastern part of the township, and although they returned to their cabins as soon as the immediate danger passed they did so with many misgivings. Not long after their return, a trader among the Indians by the name of Jones, who lived at Mansfield, was waylaid, killed and scalped within sight of the village by one of the savages. It was, doubtless, done to revenge some real or fancied injury, received at his hands. This murder occasioned another stampede, the story of which illustrates frontier experiences more vividly than any amount of general description. The settlements were not resting in any great feeling of security. As they laid themselves down at night, and realized what a treacherous, wily foe they were braving, who could easily destroy them in detail, isolated as they were from each other, it will not seem strange to learn that every unusual noise at night aroused the settlers

420 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY.

With anxious heart-beats. It was under such circumstances that, one quiet night, Mr. Cook's family were startled by the repeated cry of, "Hello Hello! " The family was not long in responding to this ominous cry, and learned from the messenger, who was found mounted on a horse near the cabin, that the Indians and British were at Mansfield, spreading devastation as they came, and to carry conviction of the truth of his message, the horseman announced that the news had been brought by Johnny Appleseed, who had brought the news of the Seymour massacre before. This decided Mr. Cook, and without further question hasty preparations were made for going to a place of safety. By daylight the preparations were completed, and driving the cows with them they started for Waterford. Here they met a number of families who had been brought to-ether by the same report. After consultation, and an examination of all the evidence at command, it was generally argued that there was imminent danger of an attack- from the Indians, and that it was advisable to build a blockhouse. This was accomplished very soon, and the settlers prepared for an attack. There were no signs of the approach of an enemy, however, and, forgetting their first alarm, the men went back and forth to their several improvements, attending to their various concerns, and bringing supplies to their families at Waterford. This manner of conducting a defense, Mr. Cook thought, was likely to prove a fatal indiscretion, if there was any truth in. the reported nearness of the Indians; but, as there was no de velopment that confirmed the report, the settlers, after remaining at the block-house several days, repaired to their homes. These reports, and the various rumors that found their way to the frontier cabins from the seat of war about Sandusky, made the settlers suspicious and hostile to all Indians, and the frequent serious collisions between the friendly Delawares, located at Jerometown and Greentown, caused the latter to be removed to Urbana, and from there to the West. There is no doubt that the Indians contributed to this result, by the action of certain ones in the tribes that could not be restrained. They were frequently seen among the settlers in squads of two to ten persons, and, when they found the women unprotected, seemed to delight in frightening them, and forcing them to give up any supplies they might take a fancy to. During the early part of the war, the braves were especially insolent, and many incidents are related of their exacting demands. Four Indians, at one time, called upon Mrs. Wait and asked for her husband. On seeing them approach, she had closed the door, and thus kept them at bay. Fearful that they meant evil to her husband, she directed them in an opposite direction to where he was chopping a tree. They did not find Mr. Wait, but they went over to Cook's and forced his wife to comb, their hair and feed them with a spoon. This seemed to satisfy them, and they departed without further molestation. Among those of the Indians who made themselves especially distasteful to the whites, both during the war and afterward, was Tom Lion, a chief in the Wyandot nation. on one occasion, he, with a party of brave , came prowling about the cabin of Jacob Stevens. He was away at Mount Vernon, and his wife, Nancy, was alone with an infant child. It would seem that the Indians had discovered this fact, and, failing to force the door, began to throw firebrands into the house, through the window. Mrs. Stevens had gone up-stairs with her child, taking her child and the rifle with her, but the firebrands put a new face upon affairs. She went quietly down stairs, and, calling her husband's name aloud, quietly crept up-stairs, and, putting on a heavy pair of boots, came rattling down again. She repeated this ruse, calling her husband's father, who was a stern old man, and held in great fear by the Indians, and the marauders, believing the old man there, took to their heels, and fled. Mrs. Stevens was greatly annoyed by this band, beaded by Lion, after the war, as well as during those "troublous times." She was in the habit of hiding her butter in the woods, where it

HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY. - 421

would keep cool, but she was constantly annoyed to find it gone. The Indians learned to look upon this article as a great luxury, and had no trouble in finding the place where it was bid. They came in the night and made a thorough search, and, when successful, gave a peculiar yell that announced to the rest of the gang and the settlers, that they had discovered the object of their search. Sometimes they came to the cabin, and, finding Mrs. Stevens alone, would threaten her with their knives to make her tell where her butter was, but seldom with success. On one occasion Ad had gone out to where a rude spring house had been built, leaving her little one in the cabin; on returning she found a large framed warrior in full dress of paint and feathers, but not a trace of her child. She jumped at the conclusion that the child had been stolen, but just then she saw - his head poke out from under a bench, where he had gone to escape the Indian. These depredations and constant frights began to incite a feeling of revenge in the hearts of the whites, and there were muttered threats against Lion in many a mouth. The settlers began to lose large numbers of hogs, which were traced to this miscreant's hands, and some of the settlers determined to put an end to this whole trouble. Abednego Stevens followed him for several days, and, though frequently catching sight of him, failed to get a shot. Not long afterward, one of the Hardenbrooks, while out hunting, got a shot at him and killed him. This put an end to these depredations, and Hardenbrook was considered a public benefactor. After the restoration of peace, the Indians came among the settlements in large numbers in quest of game and trade. They early learned to love the cooking of the whites, and were eager to trade game, sugar and wild fruits for bread, smoked beef or vegetables. One party of Indians were attracted by some thrifty cucumbers, and asked permission to pick some of them, which was at once granted. But to the entire surprise of the whites, they noticed these children of nature placidly eating some of the largest and ripest of the fruit to be found on the vines. The green ones they would not touch, because they were not ripe. Game was early in great abundance, as were wolves and bears. The winter of 1812-13 was severe on deer, however, contributing largely to drive them out of the county. A heavy fall of snow came early in the winter, and successive thaws and freezings had formed a crust of considerable thickness. The deer found it difficult to obtain a living, and were so poor that they were unfit to eat, and their skins were too poor for tanning. This fact did not prevent their being a tempting bait for the wolves, which killed hundreds of them that winter. The lightfooted wolf found the crust an excellent path, while the deer, in its frantic efforts to escape from the ferocious pack, broke through at every step, lacerating its legs, and finally wearied out, failing an easy prey to its pursuers.

The earliest trail found here by the whites was that followed by the Indians, which led from Mount Vernon to the Sandusky plains. Near this, the first settlers found a road blazed and chopped out so as to be accessible for wagons which a pretty well authenticated tradition claims as a road chopped out by the troops of Anthony Wayne, in his campaign against the Indians in 1793-94. The larger part of this road has long since been vacated, but a short piece of it is still traveled on the hack route from Pulaskiville to Chesterville, where the road takes a diagonal direction. The road from the eastern settlements to Fredericktown was the first laid out, and later was continued west to Mount Gilead. In 1820, the road which branches toward the southeast, off toward Cardington, and known as the Cardington road, was changed from a semi- private lane into a regular highway.

The first election of the township after its erection into a separate organization was at the house of Thomas Axtell, on the first Monday in April of 1823. William Van Buskirk, who was Justice of the Peace within the territory, and had been reelected in 1821, continued his functions in the

422 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY.

new town, and was re-elected again in 1824. Among the subsequent incumbents of this office were John Truax, David Shaw, and H. W. Strong. Politics took an early and deep root in the new township under the fostering band of Col. Strong, who was an ardent Democrat, with such partisan enthusiasm that he walked all the way to Columbus to attend the State Convention of his party, at that place. Joshua Bickford, who naturally ally fell into politics as a part of the tavern business, was another shining political light of the township. An incident is related of him when acting, on one occasion, as chairman of a county convention. A legal gentleman belonging to the same party introduced a part of the business of the. convention by a motion to go into the nomination of delegates to the Congressional Convention, to be held at Johnstown. In stating the question, Chairman Bickford said: "Gentlemen, all you who are in favor of the motion just made, about delegates to the Congregational Convention, will say, "Aye"' The author of the motion started to his feet with a somewhat excited exclamation, setting the chairman right as to the nature of the convention. "Exactly," blandly replied the chairman You've heard the motion, gentlemen. The Congregational Convention said, and I say it again; and I know what Mr. M- said, and what we all want: we want Democrats to congregate at Johnstown, and it is a congregational convention."

The only business center which has survived to the present is a cross-roads hamlet which has been overshadowed by a great name. It was laid out in 1834, by William Linn and Richard Truax, on land which they then owned. The original plat exhibits several streets that have long since been vacated without discommoding lot owners, or disappointing any probable demand for building sites. Its name was suggested by some of the citizens who had become interested in the history of Count Pulaski, who fell in the service of this country, during, the Revolutionary struggle. In 1836, a one-story store building was erected by William T. Campbell, but with no expectation of engaging in business himself. No one presenting himself who was willing to undertake the venture, and the citizens being desirous that a business place should be established, he put in a stock of goods, William Linn furnishing the capital, and sharing in the risks of the enterprise. After continuing the business a few years, he sold out, and in different hands, the business has been maintained to the present, and, until the spring of 1880, in the same building. A few years ago, another similar building was erected on the northeast corner, and in that the store is now situated. The post office was established about 1840, where a daily mail is dispensed. There is now in what might be called the confines of the hamlet, in addition to the store and post office combined, a wagon-shop, a shoeshop, the district schoolhouse and two meeting-houses, belonging to the Methodist and Baptist Churches.

Church influence has been felt in Franklin from an early date, and with marked effect. Among the earliest settlers was John Cook, a preacher of the old-school Baptist Church; and most of his neighbors who settled in the northeast section of the township were members of the same organization. Mr. Cook came in 1812, and organized a society very soon after his coming, consisting of some twenty persons, among whom were Samuel Hoofmire, Zebulon Ashley, Benjamin !art, John Ackerman, Henry Same, Andrew Sams, Henry Sams Jr and their wives, and Elizabeth Blair. William Thrift, of Mount Vernon, and Henry George, of Chester, assisted in the organization of this society, which was known as the Owl Creek Baptist Church, North Branch, and preached occasionally at the settlement. Mi. Cook was the settled Pastor, who preached for several years in the cabins of the settlers. In 1815, a log meetinghouse was put up on the site of the present Baptist Church, where Mr. Cook had given two acres for a building site and cemetery. The building was a round-log structure, with but a single window place; this was never supplied with anything

PAGE 423 PICTURE OF P. C. McCLURE

PAGE 424 BLANK

HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY. - 425

to keep out the weather, the doors were never made, and the crevices between the logs never "chinked." It was used, however, in the summertime, the preacher and people accommodating themselves to the inconveniences of the place as best they could. During the winter months, the services were held in the log schoolhouse, which was near at hand, until 1833, when a frame house was built for church purposes. The building was provided with a gallery, and was built by subscription, costing about $1,000, John Young taking the contract to build the house for the subscription list. The church had begun to use the edifice, although the outside staging had been left up to finish something not quite completed, when it burned to the ground. The fire was doubtless the work of an incendiary, and most of the commu nity's suspicions pointed to a man who had resisted the payment of his subscription to the contractor, but who was afterward forced to pay the amount. This was a heavy loss to the community, and to build another at that time was out of the question. Resort was had to the primitive custom, and services were held about the neighborhood in the cabins of the settlers. About 1823, Mr. Cook, who had been an efficient Pastor of the flock, died, and the choice of a successor brought on a strife which resulted in the disruption of the church. A Rev. Mr. Daken was called by one part of the church, and John Parcels, a local preacher of this sect, was called by the other. The latter's administration was summarily cut short by certain indiscretions which removed him from his sphere of usefulness in this part of the country. Rev. Thomas Rigdon, of Mount Vernon, succeeded Mr. Daken, and finally adopted the tenets promulgated by Alexander Campbell. His followers in this departure numbered some twenty-five or thirty members, among whom were some of the oldest members of the Baptist Church. They built a log house in 1834, and, in 1874, built on the same site the present neat frame house of worship, at a cost of $1,800 in cash, and $700 in contributions of work and material. Rev. Stephen Cook is the present Pastor, of a church numbering about seventy persons in its membership. The Baptist division erected their present building, on their old site, in about 1834, at a cost of considerable contribution of work and material, but of which there can be no estimate made in money. It was called the Harmony Baptist Church. Elder S. B. Sherwood has been Pastor for the last fourteen years, but at present the pulpit is not regularly supplied. The membership numbers - persons.

At Pulaskiville a Baptist Church was formed about 1830, by Elders James and George, of Chester. They came here frequently and preached in the cabins of Abednego Stevens and M. T. Campbell. They afterward used the schoolhouse, and in 1840 the whole neighborhood assist, in building a frame building, which was used for years. In 1874, they built the present neat edifice near the hamlet, and sold the old building, which now serves as a wagonshop east of the corners. The new church building was erected at a cost of $2,200. The church numbers some fortyeight members, and is served by Rev. William Mercer.

The Presbyterian Church found a home in Franklin soon after the Baptist organization. The settlement, on what was known as Yankee street, was settled principally by Yankee Presbyterians. A Rev. William Matthews was early among them, preaching the doctrine that went by the name of "Blue Presbyterianism." For some years be preached in the cabins, and especially in that of Mr. Hardenbrook. In 1827, the society built a log church building, at what is known as Crossroads. This was a strong society, and counted its members living far and near in the surrounding townships. Attendants came with ox teams and in rough carts, from ten miles away, and seemed to enjoy the stern doctrines dispensed, as a sort of moral tonic, which, though sometimes bitter to the taste, braced up the Christian character. About ten years later, a large, plain frame building was erected, and prosperity seemed to be assured" In 1850, however, a dissension sprang up in the

426 - HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY

society, which broke up the church, the two divisions leaving the old church building, one part going to Waterford, and the other going to Chesterville. The old meetinghouse still stands there, deserted, and going rapidly to decay. A burying ground, where some of Franklin's earliest dead are interred, is still used, and, paradoxical as it may seem, alone exhibits evidences of life. This cemetery was one of the earliest laid out in the township, and one of the first burials in it was that of a son of W. T. Campbell. A church of this denomination was established in the western part of the township in 1831. The first members were Lodwic, Lewis, Francis and Abram Hardenbrook, Alfred Bennett, John Forgy, Sr., James Foot Samuel Straw, Daniel Moody, John and Robert Stockdale, Thomas Morrison and their wives, Nancy Stockdale, and Elsie Cornell. William Matthews was the first Pastor, and stayed with them about a year. He was succeeded by Henry Shedd, who served the church until about 1837, when a schism arose in the church and it divided, some dozen of the new school going off. Rev. Mr. Smith, of Springfield, preached there afterward for a few months, and was succeeded by Rev. W. K. Brice, who remained until 1848. The old log church was replaced by a frame building in 1844, which is now used as a dwelling, by Samuel Peoples. The church was removed to Mount Gilead.

About 1828, and following closely after the .Presbyterians, came the Methodist Episcopal Church. Zephaniah Bell was the first preacher of this denomination, and came first into the township on a missionary tour. He found a number who professed the Methodist faith, and after holding services at Campbell's cabin, formed a class of some twelve persons, among whom were Calvin Bates, James, Swift, Harvey Eldridge and their wives, Benton Swift, W. T. Campbell and others. A hewed-log house was put up near the present residence of Mr. Peterson, at Pulaskiville, in 1828, which was used for school and church purposes. Here Mr. Bell preached until he gave place to his regular successor. In 1828, a frame house of worship was at a cost of $300 or $400. the people going as far as Mount Vernon for part of the lumber. In 1868, this building was sold for $100 to Mr. Higgins, and is now used by Mr. Peterson as a residence. In the same year the present building, a neat frame structure, was erected at a cost of $2,883. It is furnished with blinds, a good bell, and is finished inside in black walnut. The winter of 1837-38 was remarkable with this church, for a powerful revival, which resulted in some sixty conversions, including some of the oldest members of the community, The meetings were held at first in the old building, but as they grew in interest, this room became insufficient for the accommodation of the audiences, and the place of holding the meetings was removed to the new building, which was barely inclosed. It was extremely cold weather, and large iron kettles filled with coals were taken. into the building to make the atmosphere of the place endurable, but notwithstanding the discomfort of the situation, the interest continued unabated for weeks. The present membership numbers some forty persons.

Schoolhouses were among the first structures built by the pioneers of Franklin, and in some instances preceded the meeting-houses. The first one was built about 1815, on the site of the Owl Creek Baptist Church (North Branch), in the northeast corner of the township. It was a round-log affair, with a huge fire-place in one end, and greased paper windows. This was used until 1822, when it was burned, the fire catching from some defect in the rude chimney. This result was expected for some time, and the teacher, W. P. Cook, had the children remove the books from the house every night, for fear the books might be burned, which would have proved a much more serious loss than that of the building. In the following year, another house was put up on a part of Mr. Levering's land. This had a brick chimney, and boards overhead, but without glass in the widows. This was a fine building, and served the public for years. About 1820, a log schoolhouse was erected a little southeast of Center Corners. Nellie

HISTORY OF MORROW COUNTY. - 427

was the first teacher here, and W. T. Campbell, soon after. The building was made of round-logs, with an inclined puncheon running along the side of the wall, supported by pins driven into the logs, just above which a part of one log was out away to give light. This was covered by greased paper, which admitted all the light needed for school pur. poses. Here Mr. Campbell taught the rudiments of reading, writing, "ciphering" add geography, to some thirty or forty scholars. In explanation of the number of scholars, it should be said, that they came from three or four miles away, and, that each family sent several-those of Shur and Walker, in Chester, sending five pupils each. A little later, a schoolhouse was built near the cross-roads, which was constructed on a unique plan, borrowed from the pioneer structures of " York State." it was a large, square-log building, with a fire-place in the center of the room. A large surface of stone was laid in the center of the room at each corner, of which, out of reach of the flames, was placed a large post, which supported the chimney about six feet above the fire. An incident, related of Mr. Campbell's teaching here gives a glimpse of the customs of 'lye olden tyme." The boys about the holidays thought to force their teacher to treat on the occasion, and locked him out, to bring him to terms. Mr. Campbell took in the situation at a glance, and, nimbly climbing to the roof, he covered the chimney, and smoked the boys into an unconditional surrender. He afterward treated the school, but not under compulsion. The earliest school was taught by Lawrence Van Buskirk, and the second by Oliver Strong. There are at present eight school districts in the township, in which gentlemen are generally employed during the winter, and ladies during the summer, the former receiving an average of $40 per mouth, and the latter an average of $30 per month. The schoolhouses are all frame buildings, but few of which are provided with improved school furniture. The last enumeration reached 223 persons of school age, a falling-off of sixty-eight from the previous enumeration. The attendance reaches a daily average of 201. Other Statistics, which we have been able to gather from the reports in the Auditor's office, represent that there was a balance on band September 1, 1878, of $5,018.68; amount of State tax received, $507 ; local tax for schoolhouses, and school purposes, $1,656; total amount paid teachers last year., $1,806.75; value of school property, $8,000 ; teachers employed, eight gentlemen and eight ladies; balance on band Septem. her 1, 1879, $728.23.