150 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY the Rev. James Copus, who lived a few miles further up the valley, and requested him to persuade the Indians to peacefully comply with the oiler. Copus was a local preacher in whom the Indians had confidence. Copus has been described as a stern, iron-willed man of arbitrary views. At first Copus refused to take any part in the matter. After entreaty had failed with him, Captain Douglas. said : "Mr. Copus, my business is to carry out the instructions of my superior officers. This is a military matter, and if I cant persuade you to comply with my request, I shall arrest you as a traitor to the Government of the United States." Mr. Copus-, seeing that he was up aganst the inevitable, consented to accompany the troops, Captain Douglas assuring him that the Indians would be protected. When the officers returned to the Indian Village, accompanied by Mr. Copus, another conference was held with Chief .Armstrong in which Mr. Copus explained the order under which the troops were acting, and the Indians had to obey the order or take the alternative. The Indians then reluctantly announced that they would go, and Judge Peter Kinney and Captain James Cunningham took an inventory of their effects. The Indians were then formed into line and marched away under guard. but they had not proceeded far, when looking back thev saw a cloud of smoke ascending from their burning village. The burning of Greentown has been criticised and censured by sentimentalists who regarded the act as a breach of faith with the "noble red man," who was cruelly taken from his "happy hunting ground" into a forced exile. But the burning of that Indian village was not a breach of faith, for the officers were not responsible for the act. It was done without warrant by five or six stragglers who had dropped out of the ranks for that purpose. They were Militiamen who had suffered wrongs too grievous to be borne from the bloody hands of the savages, and it was but human nature for theim to want to retaliate in some Way. it is a maudlin sentimentality to dilate upon the wrongs which the white settlers committed against the Indians. for the few misdeeds that may have been done by the pioneer were too insignificant to be given prominence in history, or to attempt to excuse or offset the bloody outrages committed by the Indians with the few incidental retaliations of the whites. In the early history of France we read of the dark and bloody acts of the Druids and how they immolated human life in their forest temples, but it was as a religions rite. as an atoning or propitiiating sacrifice, and while we stand appalled at the bloody spectacle, our condemnation is somewhat modified when we consider the motive that prompted the act. But with the Indians it was cruelty for cruelty's sake. They were savages and through all the civilizing influences of a century they are savages still. Even those who have been educated at the Government's expense at Carlisle, Pa., drift back into barbarism, as a rule, after they return to the West. Let those have tears to shed over the burning of Greentown read acounts of the massacre in the Wyoming valley and its aftermath of butcheries, and then consider the Indians' bloody deeds in our own state and country—of cruelty, torture and death, and then tell us where is the Indian claims for mercy and charity HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 153 Settlers have returned from the hunt and chase and found their cabins burnt and their families murdered. The bloody tomahawk and gory scalping knife have done their work and mutilation has been added to murder. Nortwithstanding the beautifully drawn and charmingly colored word pictures given us by novelists, history teaches us that the Indian is cruel and bloodthirsty by nature and is devoid of the redeeming traits of humanity. It is not the purpose to here narrate the dangers and hardships through which the pioneer passed, nor to speak of the character traits of the Indian further than to state that he generally repaid hospitality with treachery and forbearance with murder. But as a race he was doomed and the hills and valleys of old Richland County will known him no more forever. Writers who have made tribal races a study, state as a corollary that if the Indians had been left to tthemselves their internecine strife, of tribe against tribe would in time have resulted in the extermination of the race. The pioneer seemed to have been inspired, and whatever place in the ranks of the grand army of progreess he was called to fill, he performed his duty with confidence and and zeal. Whether in fighting, the savages, in clearing the forests, in filling the soil or in carrying the banner of the Cross, he filled his mission and aided in his way to attain the grand results of which we enjoy the benefits to-day. And in this connection I want to speak of the priests and preachers who kept abreast of the march of civilization and shared with the other pioneers the hardships and privations of that period. With their no sacrifice was too great—no enterprise too hazardous to deter them from doing the Master's work. They could not rude bicycles over paved street; to make pastoral calls, but went through forests infested with wild beasts to say prayers for the sick and to give absolution to the dying. From a secular standpoint the reward of these missionaries was but meger, but in a spiritual view how different! A gentleman of that period once spoke to a priest about the small returns that had accrued from such missionary work, to which the aged priest replied: "I this day rescued from the burning a dying child, to whom the mother allowed me to minister the sacred rite of baptism; and that alone amply, rewards me for all my years of toil.''' To bring one soul within the pale of the Church was to him a better reward and more of a solace than would be all the earthly comforts that a munificent salary could buy. MEXICAN WAR SURVIVORS At a soldiers' reunion held in the early part of the winter of 1903, the question arose as to the number of survivors of the Mexican war living in Richland county, and as there seemed to be no definite knowledge on the subject, A. J Baughman was appointed a committee to look up the survivors and give sketches of their lives. He received a commission from W. S. Cappeeller, to perform the work and after completing the same his report was published in the Mansfield Daily News of January 16, 1903, as follows: "Statesman may argue--soldiers must fight. When arguments failed in 154 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY 1846 to settle the controversy between the United Slates and Mexico the question was referred to the arbitration of armys. "In 1812 the United States voluntarily gave Texas to Spain as a bonus for the cession of Florida, for which adequate compensation had already been given. This act in the end led to the war with Mexico a quarter of a century later. That set was begun for the re-acquisition of Texas and for enforcing; the claim of that stone to the territory east of the Rio Grande and for obtaining damages claimed by the citizens of the United States . "That war brought about unforeseen results which changed the history of the continent and added to the Uinted States a territory larger than that of the thirteen American colonies at the time of the War of the Revolution. "For that war with Mexico, Ohio furnished four regiments--forty compaies—of troops. There are eighty-eight counties in the state and pro rata there would not have been a half company as the quota of each. But Richland county furnished three companies . for her sons are ever ready to to their country's call. These companies were commanded, respectively, by Captain William McLaughlin, Captain Thomas H. Ford and Captain George Weaver. "'Mr. Jacob Oyster is the only survivor of the three mentioned companies who resides resides in Richlarid county at present. "There are however. two other survivors of the Mexican war who are resident of Richland county, but they did not enlist from here, and died not become residents of the county until after the close of the war. Their names are Samuel Frey, of Shelby, and James W. Downing of Butler. They in different Companies of the same regiment—the Seventh regulars the First United States mounted riflemen. Mr. Frey enlisted at Mt. Vernon in March, 1847, Mr. Douwning enlisted at Charlestown, Jefferson county, Virginia July 29, 1846. "Samuel Frey was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania in 1821, and come to Ohio with his parents when he was an infant. They first located in Muskingum, then in Knox county. After enlisting at Mt. Vernon. Samuel Frey was sent to the United State barracks at Newport, Kentucky. Then to New Orleans and from there to Vera Cruz. and joined General Scott at Pueblo He was made a non-commissioned officer and before the close of the war became orderly sergeant of his company. Sergeant Frey was first under fire at Contreas. August 19 and 20, 1847. Then followed the battle of Churubusco and he was in the command that crossed the Rio Churubusco and held the causeway which led to the city. Then came the battle of El Molino del Rey, September 8. "On Septenber 13 the American carried the fortress of Chapultepec by storm. The division of which Sergant Frey's company was a part, supported the attacking party, then took time lead to the City of Mexico, by the way of the gates of Belen and Sab Cosme. Over the Belen gate. General Quitman, after a sharp contest. waved the American flag as a token of victory. General Worth led the column against the gate of San Cosme and in the fierce fight which ensued carried the last: barrier to the Mexican capital. On the night of September 13, 1847, Santa Anna evacuted the City of Mexico and HISTORY OF RICHLAMD COUNTY - 155 on the morning of the14th General Scott's army took possession of the halls of the Montezumas. "Sergeant Frey remained the City of Mexico for nine months, after which he was discharged, having enlisted for the war. "Samuel Frey has been a resident of Shelby for forty-seven years, twenty-nine of which were passed in railroad employment at the Junction, where for seventeen years, he was bill clark. Although 82 years old Mr. Frey's appearance to-day is that of a prosperous business man of sixty. He resides on Second street, Shelly, has a comfortable home and a lovely wife and two daughters. "James W. Downing was born in Virginia, November 23, 1823. He came to Ohio in 1851 and has been engaged in the mercantile business in Butler for nearly forty years. He is in comfortable circumstances, financially, but is out of health and feeble. "Hostilities began on the Rio Grande under General Taylor in April, 1846, and Sergeant Downing enlisted on the 29th of July following, and his first engagement was under General Scott at Vera Cruz, where, after seven days' hard fighting, the Mexicans yielded to the inevitable and on the morning of the 29th of March the garrison marched out through the Gate of Mercy and stacked arms on the Plain of Cocos. "General Scott then started on that historical march of two hundred miles to the City of Mexico. Sergeant Downing panticipaited in all the batttles along that line of march and was one of the assaulting party at Chapultepee. For this attack a call was made for two men from each company and Mr. Downing volunteered for the hazardous duty and was in the hottest of the fight. He was General George F. Pickett tear down the Mexican colors and then plant the America flag in triumph on the summit of the castle. For distinguished service in this assult. Sergeant Downing received a "Certificate of Merit," engrossed on parchment, signed by James K. Polk, president, and William L. Marcy, secretary of war. "Jacob Oyster was born in Columbiana county, OhioNovember 7, 1825, and was 77 years old on his last birthday, anniversary. He came to Richland county when he was 10 years old. Enlisted in Co. D, Fourth Ohio infantry under Captain George Weaver May 16, 1847, and served untii July 15, 1848, and was in nearly all the battles of the Mexican war. He also served in the Civil war and is now leading a peaceful, quiet life amid the hills of the gold region north of Bellville. where he owns a farm of eighteen acres. He has been twice married. His first wife bore him seven children, his second wife five - twelve children in all. Although in humble circumstances and surrounding Mr. Oyster is happy in the love and care given him by his wife and children. "These soldier; of the Mexican war receive the small pittance of $10 a month an a pension from the government, although their service helped to acquire a territory vast in extent, whose treasures surpass the fabled wealth of Ormus and and of Ind. "William Furgeson was born ten miles east of Wheeling on January 1, 156 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY 1824, and came to Mansfield in 1845. and has ever since been a resident of this city. "When a call was made for troops for the war with Mexico. Mr. Furgeson volunteered May 23, 1846, in Captain William McLaughlin's company A Third Ohio infantrv, and was mustered out of service with the regiment June 24, 1847. In 1849 Mr. Furgeson was married to Elizabeth Stambaugh, sister of David Stambaugh, of 272 Spring Mills. street, this city. Mr. and Mrs. Furgeson have a handsome home on the northeast corner of Wayne and Orange streets, near the Eclipse stove works. They have two children living: Ex-Policeman Furgeson and Mrs. Paisley. Mr. Furgeson is a blacksmith by trade. and he is quite infirm. "Michael Knofflock enlisted in compnay E. Second Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, November 17, 1846, at Philadelphia. After serving a mouth in a camp of instruction, the regiment left for Mexico on the 17th of December. came west to Pittsburg. thence by boat down the river to New Orleans, thence across the Gulf of Mexico and joined General Scott's army, with which he served until the, end of the war. Comrade Knofflock was in the seven days' fight at Vera Cruz, and in all the other engagements and long marches between that and the City of Mexico. Mr. Knofflock also served in the Civil war in the Twenty-seventh Ohio infantry. "Michael Knoflock came to Mansfield in 1861, and resides at the corner of Altamont avenue and Chestnut street. He can give vivid descriptions of the engagements in which he took part—particularly that of the storming of Chapultepec, ''the hill of the grasshopper," on the 12th or September, after fourteen hours of steady fire. Veteran Knofflock is the father of Fire Chief George Knofflock. "Samuel Wirts enlisted May 22, 1847, in cornpany D, Fourth Ohio infantry. George Weaver, afterward sheriff of Richland county, was his captain, and Charles H. Brough, brother of War Governor John Brough was colonel of the regiment. "Captain Weaver's company marched to Columbus and went by stages from there to Xenia, then by rail to Cincinnati, the "Little Miami" railroad having been completed a short time before. From Cincinnati the troops went by boats to New Orleans, then over the gulf to Point Isabelle on the Texas coast. Then to Matamoras, in General Taylor's army. September 4, 1847, it was transferred to General Scotts command, which it joined at Vera Cruz. While this regiment took part in a number of engagements, its principal battle was that of Atlexco, October 19, 1847, in which it bore an honorable part. The regiment was mustered out July 15, 1848, at Cincinnati. Upon the return of Captain Weaver's company, the soldiers were welcomed home by a large crowd of citizens and were given a banquet at Ganges. But, amid the festivities of the occasion, many a tear was shed for those whose lives went out and whose remains were left in a foreign land. Only about one-half of the company lived to return. "Mr. Wirts' is the father of Mrs. B. P. Palmer. "Samuel Wirts' father was a soldier in the War of the Revolution. HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 157 John Rohme, of Lucas, was a member of Captain Thomas H. Ford's company C, of the Third Ohio infantry. Enlisted May 28, 1846, and was mustered out with the regiment, June 18, 1847. Mr. Rohme also served two enlistments during the Civil war. He was in the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad company for many years and is now on its retired pension list. "The companies commanded by Captain McLaughlin and Captain Ford were in the Third Ohio infantry, and served under General Taylor. Captain Weaver's company was in the Fourth regiment, and for the first few months was with General Taylor and that transferred to General Scott's army. "The Third regiment was commanded by the late Colonel Samuel R. Curtis, of Mt. Vernon. From Cincinnati the regiment went by boat to New Orleans then to Brazos Island, Texas. then took up a line of march to Matamoras on the Rio Grande. It later marched up the river one hundred and sixty miles to Camargo, arriving at that place February 13, 1847. It was at Monterey and Buena Vista. During its year's service the regiment lost sixty-four men. "William Johnson, of Captain McLaughlin's company. died at Saltillo, and his remains were brought home to Mansfield—the first interment in the (then) new cemetery. "George Hooker, another nember of company A, died while enroute home. "Richland county has a patroitic pride in her soldiers of the several wars in whihc our country has been engaged. But, few of the soldiers of the war with Mexieo are left to answer the roll-call here. There is no distinction in rank here now and back from the unknown land no voice has come to tell of rank there, where they are waiting in silence for the resurrection day. "Even a republic may be ungrateful. Reward may be late in coming. The bivouacs of some may be cold and cheerless, but after the night comes the morning and after the judgment the New Jerusalem. "Plymouth has the honor and distinction of being the home of three men who were soldier, in the Mexican war—George J. Heitzman. aged eighty-two; Elias C. Gregg, seventy-eight, and Robert White. seventy-five. their joint ages being two hundred and thirty-five years. "George John Heitzman has served in three wars—the Seminole war in Florida, the Mexican war and the War of the Rebellion. He was born in France February 28, 1821; came to America in 1833. Before attaining his majority he enlisted in the regular army (Seventh regiment) and served under General Taylor in the Seminole war in Florida. "Seminole means 'Separatists' or renegade and the Indians known as 'Seminole' had separated from the Creek confederacy and settled in Florida, and later were engaged in two wars with the United States—one in 1817-'18. the other in 1835-'42. The first was caused b the Seminoles making depredation upon the Georgia and Alabama frontiers. In 1835 the Seminoles resisted the efforts of the government to remove them to reservations west, of the Mississippi, and a war ensued which lasted seven years and was the most bloody and stubborn of all our Indian wars, and in this war Mr. Heitzman 158 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY took an active and honorable part. In 1846—four years after the close of the Seminole war—the United States declared war against Mexico. and Mr. Heitzman again enlisted in the regular army--Company E. first Dragoonsand served under General Taylor from Matamoras to Buena Vista, and at the latter was promoted for efficient services, from an orderly to an aide on the staff of General John E. Wood. During the Civil war, Mr. Heitzman. then a resident of Kansas , served in the militia of that state under Colonel Low, was engaged in several battle, and assisted in driving the rebel General Price out of Kansas. Mr. Heitzmen has been a resident of Plymouth five, years, making his home with his sister. Mrs. Mittenbuhier, the mother of County Infirmary Drector Mit tenbuhler. Although Mr. Heitzman is a veteran of three wars, the government allows him only the small pension of $12 a month. Action should be taken by the congress of the United State to at least double the pensions of the Mexican war veterans. "Captain Elias C. Gregg is seventy-eight years old and has been a resident of Richland county ever since he was a boy. He is a, veteran of both the Mexican and the Civil war. He was a member of Captain William McLaughlin's Company A, Third Ohio Infantry, and served under General Taylor. He was in the battle, of Palo Alto, Monterey and Buena Vista. Of the service of these troops, in Mexico, President Polk, in a testimonial letter to General Taylor, wrote: `Our army have fully sustained their deservedly high reputation, and added another bright page to the history of American valor and patriotism. They have won new laurels for themselves and their country.' "In the early part of the Civil war, Mr. Gregg enlisted in the Eighty-first Ohio infantry and was in the battle of Shiloch. Was later detailed on recruiting duty, and was then assigned to the Tenth Ohio cavalry, with the rank of second lieutenant: was promoted to first lieutenant, then to captain. Captain Gregg was through the hard cavalry service of the war, and was wounded in the fight at Bear Creek Station, while en route with General Sherman from Atlanta to the sea. Mr. Gregg has followed school teaching the greater part of his life. He has been honored by his party with nominations for county office. He is now leading a retired life, has a comfortable home and pleasant surroundings. "Robert White was born in York county, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1828. He enlisted under the Hon.Simon Cameron in May, 1846; was assigned to General Patterson's brigade, and went through the long, hard service of our war with Mexico. Comrade White was a member of the Seventeenth Indiana in the Civil war, and lost a limb in the fight with the rebels at Selma, Alabama. He can give interesting accounts of the Battles and Services throuih which he has passed. Plymouth has a patriotic pride in these war veterans which is commendable, for no other town of irs size is so honored." Since the foregoing sketches were published, Robert White. Elias C. Gregg, George John Heitznman, James W. Downing. John Rohme and Michael Knofflock have passed away. HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 159 DEFENDERS OF THE FLAG Richland county furnished two thoushand seven hundred ad twenty-nine troops during the War of the Rebellion. History deals more fully with the three-year troops, on account of their longer service,.than it does with the men who responded to the president's call, at the outbreak of the war. Ohio's quote under President Lincoln's call for 75000 men was 10,153; and within the week over thirty regiments were offered--six companies of which were from Richland counity. The number of men accepted by the state under that call was 12,357. The six companies were: General McLaughlin's; Colonel Dickey's, Captain Cummins', Captain Moody's, Colonel Beekman's and Captain Weaver's. The latter two did riot get into the three-months service, but Weaver's reorganized and enlisted for three years. Captain William McLaughlin's was the first company organized and the first to leave the county for the war. It was raised in Mansfield. This company was assigned to the First Ohio Infantry, and served in the army of the Potomac. McLaughlin's company was first under fire at Vienna, Virginia, and later took part ini the memorable battle of Bull Run. General McLaughlin afterwards entered the three years' service as major of a squadron of cavalry,, and died in the field, July 23, 1862. Captain M. R. Dickey's company was also raised in Mansfield, and was assigned to the Fifteenth Ohio Infantry, and Captain Dickey was chosen as lieutenant colonel and Hiram Miller became captain of the company. The Fifteenth saw service in West Virginia. Captain Miller is dead. Captain A. C. Cummins' company was from Shelby and was also assigned to the Fifteenth. Captain Cummins was then a young attorney. the law partner of Judge Bartley. John W. Beekman raised a company at Plymouth. Captain Beekman was a lawyer, and was a large, fine specimen of manhood. His company had a grand secd-off upon its departure. On Sunday the company attended service at the Presbyterian church and listened to a sermon from the text: "Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward." The following morning the company left for Cleveland, marching across the country to Norwalk. About 3,000 people assembled at Plymouth to bid the boys goodbye. A flag was presented to the company by the ladies of the town, a. Miss Seymour making the presentation. Arriving at Cleveland the company went into camp, but as twice the number of men were offered than the state could accept, Captain Beekman's company did not get in under that call, and the company was disbanded and the boys sent home. Captain Beekman entered the three years' service as major of the One Hundred and Twentieth regiment; was promoted to lieutenant colonel, and died September 8, 1863. Captain George Weaver, like General McLaughlin, had been an army officer in our war with Mexico. He was sheriff of Richland county in 185960. Captain Weaver had been a mill-owner, had built and operated a grist- 160 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY mill at Ganges, and later bought the Zerby mills at old Octororo, below Lucas. Captain Miller Moody's company was organized at Bellville, and was raised with a spontaneity unexcelled in the history of the war. Moody's men became Company I. Sixteenth Regiment. They rendezvoused at Camp Jackson. Columbus. The Sixteenth was the first regiment that crossed the Ohio river and entered the so-called Southern Confederacy. The Sixteenth did guard duty along the B & O railroad for two hundred miles, repaired and rebuilt the bridges wrecked and burned by the rebels: it did a great deal of hard marching, and was in the fight at Philippi--the first battle of the war. It was in that trying before from Thornton to Philippi, through the terrible storm. the night before the battle. General Lew Wallace. then colonel of an Indiana regiment. who has since attained world-wide fame as the author of "Ben Hur.'' was with us on that memorable march, When the Iighting flashed along and athwart the mountain tops, and the thunder roared through the valley, and reverberated among the hills, and the rain poured in incesant torrent upon the boys in blue as we marched along unknown roads to—we knew not what. After that the Sixteenth was encamped at Rowlesburg, one of the most romantic place:, along the picturesque B & O. Later the regiment, under General Hill, marched to the summit of Cheat Mountain to intercept Garnett's retreating forces from Laurel Hill. At Carrick's Ford the rebel General Garrett, was killed while endeavoring to rally his men. The Sixteenth pursued the retreating rebel army to the Red House and beyond; they later went into camp at Oakland, Maryland, from which place they returned to Ohio and were discharged. having more than completed their term of enlistment. The G. A. R. lost at Bellville  named in honor of Captain Miller Moody. The men recruited at Bellsville by Captain Moody in the fall of 1861 and taken to New York and enlisted in Colonel Tidball's regiment, are not included in the figure's given as the number of men Richland county furished for the war. it would be an honor to write the name of each private soldier, for their deeds are recorded in the blood of battle and are emblazoned in glory. But they need no encomium, for their patriotism will be remembered and cherished after official titles are forgotten Many Richland county boys who then went forth to war never returned. Some were killed on southern batttlefields and were buried where they fell: some died in hospitals, others in rebel prisons. The bodies of a few were brought home and interred in our local cemeteries, and their graves are annually decorated in the May time. The Duke of Wellington said: "Take my word for it, if your had seen but one day of war, you would pray that you might never see another." Those who have seen the carnage of war on the battlefield. will concur in that saying. HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 161 What events have transpired, what characters have passed off the stage of action since the war! The majority of our Richland county boys who so patriotically went forth in defense of liberty and union—one and inseparable have since answered the final roll call. "And we'll find them camped in meadows where the waters stilly flow, Where the sward is soft and verdant and the flowers of heaven grow." President Lincoln was barely permitted to see the end of the struggle. General Grant, who was wont to move upon the enemy's works immediately, with intent to gight it out on that line if it took all summer, now sleeps at Riverside. Sheridan, who mode that wonderful ride to victory, has since taken another ride on a pale horse through the valley of shadows. Sherman, who marched his valiant army from Atlanta to the sea, has gone up the hills of immortality. But none of these could have achieved such greatness and fame but for the valor and heroism of the private soldiers. RICHLAND COUNTY SOLDIERS IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION Ricland county furnished more than her fulll quota of soldiers for the war of the Rebellipn. History deals more fully with the three-year troops on account of their longer service, than it does with the men who responded to the president's first call at the outbreak of the war. Ohio's quota under President Lincoln's call for 75,000 men was 10,153, and within the week over thirty regiments were offered, six companies of which were from Richland county. The number of men selected by the state under that call was 12,357. The six companies were: General McLaughlin's, Colonel Dickey's, Captain Cummins', Captain Moody's, Captain Beekman's and Captain Weaver's. The later two did not get into the three-month' service, but Weaver's reorganized and enlisted for three years. Captain William McLaughlin's was the first company organized, and the first to leave the county for the war. It was raised in Mansfield. This company was assigned to the First Ohio Infantry and served in the army of The Potomac. McLaughlin's company was first under fire at Vienna, Virginia, and later took part in the memorable battle of Bull Run. General McLaughlin afterwards entered the three years' service as major of a squadron of cavalry, and died in the field July 22, 1862. Captain M. R. Dickey's company was also raised in Mansfield, and was assigued to the Fifteenth Ohio Infantry and Captain Dickey was, chosen as lieutenanit colonel. and Hiram Miller became captain of the company. The Fifteenth saw service in West Virginia. Captain Miller is dead. Captain A. C. Cummins' company was from Shelby. and was also assigned to the Fifteenth. Captain Cummins was then a young attorney, the law partner of Judge Bartley. John W. Beekman raised a company at Plymouth. Captain Beekman was a lawyer and was a large, fine specimen of manhood. His company 162 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY had a grand send-off upon its departure. On Sunday the company attended, service at the Presbyterian church and listened to a sermon from the text: "Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward." The following morning the company left for Cleveland,. Marching .across the country to Norwalk. About 3,000 people assembled at Plymouth to bid the boys. good-bye. A flag was presented to the company by the ladies, of the town. Arriving at Cleveland the company went into camp, but as -twice the number. of men were offered that the state: could accept, Captain Beekman's company did not get in under that call, and the company was -disbanded and the boys sent home. Captain Beekman entered the three years' service as major of the One Hundred and Twentieth regiment; was promoted to lieutenant :colonel and died September 8, 1863. Captain George Weaver, like General McLaughlin, had been an army officer in our war with Mexico. He was sheriff of Richland county in 1859-60. Captain Weaver had been a. mill owner, had built and operated a grist mill at Ganges, and later bought the Zerby mills at old Octororo, below Lucas. Captain Miller Moody's company was organized at Beliville and was raised with a spontaneity unexcelled in the history of the war. Moody's men became Company T., Sixteenth regiment. They rendezvoused at, Camp Jackson, Columbus. The Sixteenth was the first regiment that crossed the Ohio river and entered the so-called Southern Confederacy. The Sixteenth did guard duty along the B. & O. railroad for 200 miles, repaired and rebuilt, bridges, wrecked and burned by the rebels; it did a. great deal of hard marching, and was in the fight at Philippi—the first battle of the war. It was in that .trying march from Thornton to Philippi, through the terrible storm, the night before the battle. General Lew Wallace, then colonel of an Indian regiment, who has since attained world-wide fame as the author of "Ben Hur," was with us on that memorable march, when the lightning flashed along and athwart the mountain tops and the thunder roared through the valleys and reverberated among the hills, and the rain poured. down in incessant torrents upon the boys in blue as We marched along- the unknown roads to--we knew not what. After that the Sixteenth was encamped at Rowlesburg, one of the most romantic places 'along the picturesque B. & O. Later the regiment, under. General Hill. marched 46 the summit of Cheat. Mountain to intercept Garnett's retreating forces . from Laurel Hill At Carrick's Ford the rebel general, Garnett; was killed" while endeavoring to rally his men: The Sixteenth pursued the retreating rebel army to the Red House and beyond; they later went into camp at Oakland, Maryland, from which place they returned to Ohio and were discharged, having more than completed their term of enlistment. Captain Moody was a college graduate, a scholar of fine attainments of polished manners and was faultless in his dress and appearance. Upon his return from the :West Virginia. ;campaign Moody raised a: company for HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 165 Colonel Tidball's Forty-ninth New York regiment for the three years' service. He was with the army of the Potomac, served in the campaign of the peninsula; fought at Antietam, in which bloody battle he received wounds roan which lie died a few weeks later, after undergoing 'five amputations. The G. A. R. post at Bellville is named in honor of Captain Miller body. The men recruited at Bellville by Captain Moody in the fall of 1861 nd taken to New York and enlisted in Colonel Tidball's regiment,. are not included in the figures given as the number of men Richland county fur- nished for the war. Limit will not permit of details, or even of naming other companies organized later and for longer terms of service, except to state that Richland county, throughout the above Conflict, as her duty nobly and that many of her sons Yon distinction in the field; as Others had, and have since, on the orum and in legislative halls. It would be an honor to write the name of each private soldier for their deeds are recorded in the blood of battle and are emblazoned in glory. But ey need no encomium, for their patriotism will be remembered and cherhed after official titles are forgotten. Many Richland county boys who then went forth to war have never returned. Some were killed on southern battlefields and were buried where they fell; some died in: hospitals, others in rebel prisons. The bodies of a few were brought home and interred in our local cemeteries and their graves are annually decorated in the May time. The Duke of Wellington said : "Take my word for it, if you had seen but one day of war, you would pray that you .Might. never see -another." hose who have seen the carnage of war on the battlefield, will concur in saying. What events have transpired, what characters have passed off the stage of action since the war! The majority of our Richland county boys who o patriotically went forth in defense of liberty and union—one and inseparable—have since answered the final roll call. "And we'll find them camped in meadows where the waters stilly flow, Where the sward is soft and verdant and the flowers of heaven grow." President Lincoln was barely permitted to see the end of the struggle. General Grant, who was wont to move upon the enemy's works immediately, with intent to fight it out on that line if it took all summer, now sleeps at Riverside. Sheridan, who made that wonderful ride to victory, has since taken another ride on a pale horse through the valley of shadows. Sheridan who marched his valiant army from Atlanta to the sea, has gone up the hills of immortality. But none of these could have achieved such greatness and fame but for the valor and heroism of the private soldiers. THE FIRST VOLUNTEER. The question is often asked, "Who was the first volunteer from Richland runty in the Civil War?" In answer to this, with my knowledge of the sit- 166 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY nation existing at that time, I can state without the fear of successful contradiction that no one today can answer that question; reunion and campfire stories to the contrary nothwithstanding, that is if the situation in other parts of the county was similar to that at Bellville. And to explain conditions there at that time, I give the following brief history of the raising of a company there, of which the Hon. Miller Moody became captain, and which after it entered the service was known as Company Sixteenth O. V. I. To get terms right it was not called enlisting then, it was called volunteering. Without attempting any prefatory statement of the antecedent history of the War of the Rebellion further than to state, that the long-expected crisis came at last, when seven thousand armed Confederates, attacked the seventy Union soldiers who garrisoned Fort Sumter, and. forced Major Anderson to evacuate the fort on the 13th of April, 1861, after withstanding the incessant fire of the rebels for thirty-four hours. Two days afterwards President Lincoln issued his proclamation, calling for seventy-five thousand volunteers, To maintain the honor, the integrity and the existence of our national government, and to redress wrongs long enough endured." This proclamation was flashed over the wires throughout the Northern state, and was everywhere received with patriotic fervor and was responded to by thousands of men offering their services to the government under that "first call." The North proved itself ready for the emergency, The arguments of Daniel Webster and others against the right of secession had educated the public minds of the North upon lines of loyalty to the government and for the preservation of the Union, and the call for troops met with a prompt and hearty response. The raising of troops went forward with a bound, and the wildest excitement and enthusiasm attended the departure of companies for the seat of war. The seriousness of the situation was not overlooked; but high above that consideration rose the tide of Patriotic feeling, and swept all obstacles before it. Ohio's quota. under the call was ten thousand one hundred and fifty-three. As double this number responded, all could not be accepted. Following the first call for troops, the president on May 1, issured his second call, this time for forty-two thousand volunteers for three years; for twenty-two thousand recruits for the regular army, and for eighteen thousand seamen: A number of regiments which organized, or partially organized, wider the first call, reorganized under the president's second call. The infantry regiments were numbered from one to twenty-two inclusive and inasmuch as the Twenty-second got into the first-call service, some people imagine there were over twenty-thousand troops in the service under the president's call of April 15. But such assumption is not sustained by facts. for the number accepted and mustered into the service in Ohio, under the first-call, and as before stated the number mustered into the first-call service was twelve thousand three hundred and fifty-seven which was two thousand two hundred and four over the quota. Ten regiments were offered for the first-call Service that were not accepted on account that more troops wen offered than could be accepted under the call. A great many of the men HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 167   ad a number of the regiments that could not be acepted under the first call went into the second for three- years. Ohio being a border state and liable to invasion, additional troops were flustered into the state service in accordance with an act of the General Assembly to provide more effectively for the defense of the state against invasion, passed April 26, 1861. At the outbreak of the Civil War there was no telegraph office at Bellville. Learning from the daily papers that Fort Sumter had been fired upon, and anticipating a declaration of war and a call for troops, the Hon. Miller Moody, one of the leading citizens of Renville came to Mansfield, to be in telegraphic communication with Governor, Dennison, who had been his classmate in Kenyon College. On the morning of April 16th, a large crowd gathered at the Renville depot to await the arrival of the train from the North, anxious to get news, feeling assured that action had been taken government to avenge the firing upon the American flag at Fort Sumter. As the train cause down the valley, the engineer opened wide the whistle-valve and the engine came into town shrieking weirdly, which told, as plainly as words could have expressed that war had been declared. And soon the church bells rang with direful refrains, and the occasion was one of awful portent.  As Captain Moody stepped from the train, he stated that a call for troops had been made and that he was authorized to raise a company of men for the service. After the train, left, men fell into line and followed Captain Moody up town, marching in the middle of the street, and although no roll was presented for signatures it was understood that the majority of those who marched up and down the street to the music of the fife and drum intended to enlist, and later, when an opportunity was given, ninety-two men volunteered as fast as their names could be enrolled. Others were added later. After a few days preliminary drill while awaiting marching orders, the volunteers went to Camp Jackson, Columbus. The company was then known as the Jefferson Guards, with the following officers: Captain Miller Moody: First Lieutenant, A. W. Loback; Second Lieutenant, James Riddle. Later, the Jefferson Guards. became Company I, of the Sixteenth Ohio Infantry Volunteers, and after drill and equipment, was ordered to the front, and on Monday morning, May 27th the Sixteenth crossed the Ohio river from Bellaire to Bellwood, and were the first troops to. enter the so-called Southern Confederacy. From Bellwood the regiment went east along the 'line of the Baltimore & Ohio. railroad, did a large amount of Marching and guard duty, and rendered valuable service to the government in. assisting to the progress of the rebels, who were endeavoring to carry the war into the North. The official list of battles in which the regiment or companies of it bore an honorable part is as follows: Philippi, June 3. Laurel Hill, July 8. Carrick's Ford, July 14. To this list should be added the skirmish at Bowman's June 29, in which N. O. Smith, of West Windsor was killed. Mr. Smith was the first Richland county soldier. who lost his life in the war of the Rebellion. His remains were brought home and buried in the Bostock 168 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY cemetery. He was a member of Company H, Fifteenth Ohio Infantry Volunteers. The Sixteenth got as far east as the Red House, West Virginia, and Cumberland, Maryland. The regiment entered the service April the 27th and was mustered out August the 18th. The Sixteenth was the first regiment to cross the Ohio river into th so-called Southern Confederacy, and it was in the fight at Philippi, the firs battle of the Civil War. There is a distinctiveness in the first-call servic conducive to patriotic retrospection that will be more appreciated in the future than it has been in the past. Nearly all the members of the Company I re-enlisted later for three years' service. Captain Moody raised a company and went into the Fifty-ninth New York, Colonel Tiball's. regiment. The captain was wounded in the battle of Antietam, and died two weeks later after having suffered five amputations. THE SHERMAN BRIGADE. The Sherman Brigade was organized in Mansfield by the late Hon. John. Sherman and General R. Brinkerhoff. The camp was situated in the northern part of Mansfield,. in what is commonly called Johns Addition. The Hon. John Sherman then .a United States senator from Ohio, was commissioned by the governor of the state to raise a brigade to consist of two regiments' of infantry, one squadron of cavalry and one battery of artillery. Mr. Sherman came to Mansfield on Saturday; the 21st of September (1861) and at once set about to raise the brigade. At that time b. Sherman resided in the house now owned by Captain J. P. Rummel on Park avenue. west. A few doors west of Mr. Sherman's lived General R. Brinkerhoff, then a young Mansfield lawyer. Mr. Brinkerhoff joined with Mr. Sherman in raising. the brigade and became its quartermaster. Senator Sherman was given a colonel's commission and the Hon. Roeliff Brinkerhoff that of lieutenant. A site was chosen for a camp, which was called Camp Buckingham. The brigade when organized consisted of it Sixty-fourth and sixty-fifth regiments of infantry. McLaughlin's squadron of cavalry and the Sixth Ohio independent battery. James W. Forsyth was colonel of the Sixty-fourth; C. G. Harker colonel of the Sixty-fifth; William McLaughlin major of the cavalry squadron and Culler Bradley captain of the artillery. Major R. S. Granger. of the Eighth United States Infantry, came and took charge of the Camp and gave Military instructions. He was a distinguished officer of thorough military attainments and tried courage. was a dignified gentleman, a graduate of West Point, and had seen about twenty-five years of military life. He had been released by the rebels on parole, when captured at his post in San Antonio, Texas, and was in consequence, disqualified from active service. He put the camp in fine order and gave a thorough drilling to the men as they were recruited. He was greatly admired. by the boys and remained with them until the brigade left for the HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 169 field. He was afterward exchanged and again entered the service and at the close of the war ranked as a Major general of volunteers. Under Major Granger's instructions the troops soon became well drilled, and the gimp was the center of attraction for the town a.nd the adjacent country, and was visited by a great many people, and many compliments were paid the soldiers for their fine military appearance. The saddest feature of the encampment was its close—the leaving of the troops for the front. They were leaving home, many of them forever. Many fell in battle or died during the service, but others returned to recount in story or in song the life in camp, on the march and in the field. In Camp Buckingham the recruits. donned the blue. to fight for the preservation of the union of the states; And when the troops marched off to the Southland, the, city. of Mansfield was decorated with flags and banners, which well nigh canopied the streets. Amid cheers and prayers and tears, troops went forth to fight their country's battles and to uphold the starry flag. The brigade, ready for service left Camp Buckingham, December 17 and 18, 1831. The Sixty-fourth left on the 17th for Louisville Kentucky. Two trains of twenty cars each were required to transport them. McLaughlin's squadron of cavalry accompanied the regiment. On the 18th the Sixty-fifth and the battery left the camp, and the place which had seen so much bustle and life. was quiet. After getting to the field the brigade was separated, and was never in service as a brigade, its regiments belonging to other divisions as their history in the field shows:. Mr. Sherman's duties as senator would not allow him to take command and upon leaving, issued an order expressing his grateful acknowledgments to all the officers and Men 'composing the brigade; their prompt response to the call of their country in its time of need. Saying that he would ever remember with the warmest feeling of 'gratitude the assistance rendered in recruiting the force, and that he felt assured that they would reflect honor upon the state from .which they went and upon' the country they served. As to the war history of the Sherman brigade,. each of the. survivors can today point to its record and state with pardonable pride that he was a member of the Sherman brigade. THE FIRST BATTLE OF THE CIVIL WAR. The first battle of the Civil War was fought: at Philippi, West Virginia, June 3, 1861. In that engagement the Union troops, under command of Colonel Kelley, defeated the Rebels under Colonel Potterfield killing fifteen of their men. While this battle was comparatively 'small in the number of men engaged, it was of great importance in shaping the events which followed and its influence was far reaching in its results to the Union cause. The victory there was as inspiring to the North as it was discouraging to the South. Philippi is an historical name. But this is not the Philippi where 170 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY Brutus fell, but the Philippi where the Union troops won the first victory in the war of the Rebellion. There was a Scotch tradition that— "Which spills the foremost foeman's life, That party conquers in the strife. The fate of the battle was often anticipated by the. Scotch by observing which party first shed blood. It is said that the Highlanders under Montrose were so deeply imbued with this idea that on the Morning of the battle of Tippermoor, they murdered a defenselesss herdsman whom they found in the fields, merely to secure, an advantage .which they thought was of much consequence to their party. They also believed: that the result of a war hung upon the result Of. the . first battle. The. Scottish tradition was verified in the result of the American War of the Rebellion, as it had frequently been in the clannish contests between the Highlanders and the Low Landers of Scotland, centuries before: The day following the morning of the battle of Philippi, a. Richland. county captain had charge of the troops picketing one of the roads, with instructions, to arrest any person who attempted to enter or leave the town. While the people of that vicinity knew that Colonel Potterfield and his rebel force. were stationed at Philippi, and that the Union troops were in possession of Grafton, and that the armies being so near to each other, a battle might occur at any time, they were surprised nevertheless when they heard .cannonading at early dawn of the morning of June the 3rd. The cannonading awakened the people of Barbour county as they had never been aroused before. After the cannonading ceased the people began to get anxious about the result, and men .attempted to go to Philippi to get the news. In so doing, twenty-three men were halted and placed under arrest by the Mansfield captain before referred to, who took the men as prisoners into the town and reported them at headquarters. He was ordered to take the men out and have them shot. The business of war was new to us all then and we bad had no time to learn the rules and regulations thereof. This order seemed an unnecessarily murderous one, and the young captain was reluctant to carry it into execution. Then his knowledge of the law came to his relief, that although he had been ordered to have the men shot, .no time had been set for the 'execution. Therefore, he concluded to defer carrying out the order, hoping it, .would be revoked. It happened during the. day that a higher officer came to Philippi and. took command of the troops there, and to this officer. the Mansfield captain presented the case of the prisoners whom he was ordered to have shot, and the order was not only revoked but the prisoners were discharged and returned to their homes. It was fortunate for those prisoners that the Mansfield captain was gentleman of humane feeling, otherwise he might have hastily executed th order without an effort to have it revoked or reconsidered, as was the ca in the following incident: When prisoners were brought before Sir 'William Howard, who was an enthusiastic mathematician and at that time engaged in trying to solve a Mathematical problem, a .lieutenant approached and asked for orders. as to their disposal. Sir William annoyed at the interrup- HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 171 ton exclaimed, "Hang the prisoners !" and went on with his work. After be had finished, he went to inquire about the prisoners, and to learn with what they had been charged, and was horrified to learn that his exclamation “Hang the prisoners !” had been mistaken for an order and that they had all been executed. In the battle of Philippi, J. E. Hanger, a young soldier of Colonel Potterfield's command, lost a limb by being struck by a cannon ball. He received attention from Dr. Robinson; of Wooster, who was then surgeon of the Sixteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. This was the first amputation erformed in the Civil war. Mr. Hanger is still living. He resides in Washington City and has been successful as a manufacturer of artificial limbs. Here is another prisoner story story is told that early in the eighteenth century, in Scotch camp; an orderly.. who had charge of burying the dead after a battle, reported to the Officer in command, saluted and said: "Sir, there is a heap, of fellows lying. out yonder who say they are not dead, that they are only wounded and won't let us bury them like the rest. That shall we do?" "Bury them at once," replied the commander, "for if you take their word for it, they won't be dead for a hundred years to come." The orderly saluted and started off to carry out the. order and the commander had to dispatch another order at Once and in haste to prevent his order from becomng a tragedy. Captain Miller Moody's Company I, Sixteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, company that went out from Bellville, this county, was in the battle of Philippi, and the surviving .members of the company are proud of the fact that they were not only in the first-call service, but also participated in the first battle of the Civil war. and helped to earn the victory which was so far reaching in its results. THE SULTANA DISASTER. The One Hundred and. Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry was organized at Mansfield in August, 1862. There were three Richland county companies in the regiment: C, D and E companies the latter commanded by Captain A. W. Loback of Bellville. Of the twenty-five men. in Captain Loback's squad on board the Sultana, twenty-two perished in the disaster. The Sultana disaster was one of the most appalling in the history of the world. The survivors hold annual reunions, and from the proceedings of the one recently held at Galion, the following is taken in part: At Bellefonte, Alabama, on September 1, 1864, the One Hundred and Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry went on board the cars and remained on them fourteen days patrolling, the Tennessee & Alabama railroad from Decatur, Alabama, to Columbia, Tennessee, and on the 15th of September went into camp at Decatur. On September the twenty-third, Colonel Given, in command of the post, was Ordered to send four hundred men to reinforce the fort at Athens; this was done by taking about equal numbers from the One Hundred and Second Ohio and the Eighteenth Michigan, and the 172 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY next morning this force met the rebels under General Forrest, near Athens, and by persistent fighting drove them about four miles, and twice cut their way through two brigades of the enemy ; but upon arriving in sight of the fort they saw it had surrendered, and that the starry flag had been hauled down and the rebel flag hoisted in its place. The Union troops were thus surrounded by an overwhelming force of the enemy, and in the conflict which ensued a large number were killed and wounded, and the remainder taken prisoners. The officers were taken to. Selma and the men to Cahaba; Alabama. The officers were afterwards transferred to Enterprise; and later paroled, then exchanged. The One Hundred and Second Ohio prisoners, and those of the Eighteenth Michigan, and perhaps others, were kept at Cahaba from September, 1864, until April, 1865, when they were paroled on account of high waters the Alabama river having risen so high that the prisoners were waist deep in water for five days. Paroled Union prisoners were also taken from Andersonville and Macon, Georgia, under flag of truce, to a parole camp on the Black river, near Vicksburg, and turned over to the federal forces after which they marched to Vicksburg to be sent North. While in this parole camp, the prisoners heard of the assassination of President Lincoln. They became wild with indignation, and started for rebel headquarters. The rebel major who had charge of them fled across the Black river bridge for safety. The government had chartered the steamer "Sultana," a packet plying between St. Louis and New Orleans, to 'bring the prisoners north, their d tination being, Camp Chase, at Columbus, Ohio. The steamer left Vicksburg with over two thousand parole prisoners and two companies of infantry under arms, making a total of over two thousand five hundred, including other passengers, among whom were twelve women. The boat arrived at Memphis, Tennessee, at about seven o'clock on the evening of April 26, 1865. After unloading several hundred hogsheads of sugar and taking on a supply of coal the steamer started up the river for Cairo, Illinois. Between two and three o'clock on the morning of the twenty-seventh when about eight miles above Memphis, as the boat was passing through a group of islands known as "The Old Hen and Chickens," and while about opposite Tangleman's landing, one of the, boilers exploded, the boat caught fire and in a short time was destroyed. Hundreds jumped into the water and many of those who could. swim were saved. Others were killed by the explosion, burned to death or drowned. Of the twenty-five hunched passengers, over seventeen hundred were lost, and many more died from burns or exposure. A little rain was falling at the time, and the night was very dark. The river at that place was three miles wide and very high, having overflown its banks. On 1. account of the intense darkness, the men who jumped into the water could not see which way to take to reach the bluffs, the flats being covered with deep water. The survivors were picked up by passing boats and taken to Memphis hospitals. One of the survivors of the "Sultana" disaster states: "After leaving ''"Vicksburg, the clerk and myself had quite a chat and he deemed to take an HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 173 interest in having me state some of my prison experience. In return, asked him how many were on board the boat. The clerk replied that if we arrived safe at Cairo it would be the greatest trip ever made on the western waters. as there were more people on board than were ever carried on one boat on the Mississippi river. He stated that there. were twenty-four hundred soldiers, (me hundred citizen passengers, and a crew of about eighty—in all over twenty-five hundred people. Little did this .throng know what awaited it; that in a few More hours some were to be roasted—yes burned to death—while others would be struggling -with the waves only to sink- to rise no more. Another survivor says: "I was through all the war, this being my second term, but the horror, and suffering of that morning I never saw approached. Pen cannot write or describe it, tongue cannot tell, and mind cannot picture the despair of twenty-three, hundred scalded and drowning men in a cold deep river on a dark night, with a current running twelve miles an hour, and those men just released from prison, not half fed nor quarter clothed. They did not have the strength to battle with a trial like that. It was the most heart rending scene I ever witnessed." William Lockhart, was a Richland county boy and is a survivor of the Sultana disaster. At the time of the catastrophe, Mr. Lockhart: was lying asleep with some of his Bellville comrades upon the upper deck. In narrating his experience e says the first he knew that anything had happened, he was thrown by the explosion to the stern end of the boat, and was trying to get his breath and didn't know what had occurred. Soon realizing that a terrible accident had befallen the steamer, he started forward to find his comrades. The first man he met was Lash Haltom and he saw by the light of the burning boat that Holtom had been injured in the face, one side of which was covered with blood. Holtom remarked that he could not swim and did not know what to do to save himself. They met Jacob Irons and Jacob Byerly, and all four being Bellville men; they resolved to keep together. Lockhart suggested that they try to get a gang-plank push it off and all get on and try to help each other. That was agreed to, and they started forward for the front end of the boat to climb off, and when they got just beyond the wheelhouse, the deck gave way and all went down together. Lockhart was near the side of the boat and caught hold of the steps and pulled himself out, after being considerably burned about his face and hands and his hair was all singed off. Holtom, Irons and Byerly went down into the burning pit. and Lockhart, while clinging to the stairs saw thew perish in the flames. He says he then got a deck bucket and drew up water which he poured over himself, his clothes being on fire. The reason he did not jump overboard was because the hundreds of people he saw in the water, were in bunches of ten, twenty or thirty, holding to each other and sinking in a bunch. He finally climbed to the :top of the wheel house, Where he stood and gazed at the awful spectacle about him. Lockhart says he knew not what to do. The fire was raging and his position could not be held but a few moments longer. To remain he would 174 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY soon be consumed by the flames as his comrades had been. To jump into the river he would be seized by the struggling, agonizing mass of drowning Men and would he carried under the water with them. Fate soon decided the' matter for The wheel house burned off and in falling into the river, threw Lockhart out beyond the reach of those who were struggling in the water. Being an expert swimmer he struck out, not knowing which way to reach the shore. After drifting some distance, he saw a man floating, holding on to two shutters. Upon reaching him, he found that the man's head was beneath the water—that he was dead. Securing the shutters, he was enabled to swim and float until he reached a cotton-wood tree, about six miles below where the disaster had occurred. The broad Mississippi had overflowing its banks and was about ten miles wide at the place. Lockhart had drifted toward the Arkansas shore, and the cotton-wood tree to which he clung was upon the overflowed land. He was enabled to retain his hold in the. branches of/the tree until rescued about nine o'clock the next morning, after. having, been in the water seven hours. William Lockhart was born and reared at Beliville, and is the eldest son of the late Rev. Benjamin Lockhart, a minister of the Christian church, who was noted for his evangelical work along the lines of the doctrine promulgated by Alexander Campbell, that "the Bible should be the sole creed of the church." Rev. Lockhart removed to Missouri in 1863 where he continued his ministerial work, until his death, which occurred a few years ago. Daniel Garber was a member of Captain Loback's company who resided near Butler, this county, until his death a few years since. In giving his experience said: "My first recollection was .that I was on my feet and enveloped in a cloud of hot steam, and. was considerably scalded in the face, I was told that the vessel had been blown up. I then began to look around to devise song Means of escape. I got. a shutter and board off. the pilot house and tied them together with a pair of drawers. I looked around for a clear place to jump, for I knew if I jumped in where men were struggling they would seize my board and as I could swim but little, I would be lost. Finally I saw my chance, threw my board and jumped with it. I went. down in. the water quite deep, but came up all right and floated away from the boat. I was picked up four miles below Memphis by two men in a yawl and rowed to the gunboat Pocahontas, where I 'was taken in, about eleven miles from the scene of the disaster." J. W. VanScoye, a Richland county boy who was a member of company A, of the Sixty-Fourth, O. V. I., in giving an account of the disaster says: "I was lying on the cabin deck asleep at the time of the explosion: I vas stunned so that I did not realize anything. When I came to, I was under the water. I swam around until I found a board and floated down the river within four -hundred yards of Memphis, when I was picked up by some party in :a skiff. I was scarcely out of the' Water until I was entirely helpless, and it was sometime before I recovered." Joseph Bringman, a Mansfield boy, was a member of company D of the One Hundred and Second O. V. I. Mr. Bringman was sick and weak, re, HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 175 suiting from his prison confinement. The explosion threw him off the boat into the river and he was not fully conscious when he rose to the surface. He managed to get hold of some floating debris, and by that means was able to eep above the water. In describing .the event, he says: "I shall never forget hat terrible ordeal. The water was icy cold and in every direction men were hivering and calling for help; while the current was carrying us swiftly down the stream. I could see the buildings on the bank at Memphis, as I oated down past the city. There were twelve of my company on board that at and only two of us escaped." Mr. Bringman was picked up below Memphis his. His injuries were a fractured arm, three broken ribs, scalded face, scars and bruises. He was in the hospital for some time and then, discharged. Among the passangers, on board the "Sultana" were twelve women beonging to the Christian commission; only one of whom was saved. One of the ladies had extraordinary presence of mind and heroic courage. Standing upon the burning deck; she directed the men how to try to save them yes and thus perished in the flames. The following lines are taken from William H. Norton's; poem, entitled ,The Burning of the sultana." Mr. Norton was a Member of the. One Huned and Fifteenth O. V. I. On sails the steamer through the gloom, On sleep the soldiers to their doom, And death's dark angel—oh! so soon— Calls loud the muster-roll. Out from the flames' encircling fold, Like a mighty rush of Warriors bold, They leap to the river dark and cold, And search for the Hidden shore. Out on the river's rolling tide; Out from the steamer's burning side, Out where the circle is growing wide, They battle with the waves. And drowning men each other clasp, And writhing in death's; closing grasp They struggle bravely, but at last Sink to watery graves. Oh! for the star's bright silver light! Oh! for a moon to dispel. the night! Oh! for the hand that should guide aright The way to the distant land. Clinging to driftwood and floating down, Caught in the eddies and whirled around, Washed to the flooded banks are found The survivors of that band. 176 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY Dr. George. Mitchell, of Mansfield, was the assistant surgeon of the One Hundred and Second, and was in charge of the hospital at Pulaski, Tennessee, at the time the "boys" were captured at Athens, Alabama. While on duty there: a member of rebel General Forrest's Staff was brought to the hospltal, severely wounded. Wishing to do a fair thing even by a rebel, Dr. Mitchell and his assistants called in the two citizen doctors of the place for consultation and to witness the operation which had to be performed. A limb was amputated, and as the officer was otherwise wounded he only partially rallied and died within twenty-four hours. To work up a feeling against the Union surgeons, the citizen doctors reported that the staff officer had not been properly treated. Just as a portion of Forrest's force appeared in sight of Pulaski, railroad trains arrived with two regiments of colored troops. Their commander said, "Men, remember Fort Pillow. Forrest takes no colored, prisoners. Fight for your lives." And so they did, and drove the enemy away. Joe L. Hott of Mansfield, was in the hospital at the time the "boys" were captured at Athens, and thus escaped being taken prisoner. MEMORIAL DAY MUSINGS. Among the graves that are annually decorated in the Mansfield cemetery each Memorial Day, that of Robert M. Johnson, a soldier of the Mexican war, whose burial, was the first interment in the Mansfield cemetery is one of the most noted.  The graves of soldiers are, in a certain sense, like those of the saints, on an equality. The place where an officer is buried, like that of a private, is simply the grave of a soldier. Death obliterates all rank, class and distinction. The grave of an humble Christian is on an equality with that of a prelate, for—"The graves of all his saints he blest." While in death all are equal, each has while living his individual part. Robert M. Johnson was the son of Rev. James Johnson, who was the pastor of the U. P. church of Mansfield from 1821 to 1852. When but eighteen years of age, Robert Johnson enlisted to fight under his country's flag in our war with Mexico, and died at Saltillo, May 11, 1847 one month before the expiration of his term of enlistment. With loving hands his comrades brought his body home with them and he was buried in the (then) newly opened cemetery. A marble monument stands on the burial lot on which is the following inscription : "Robert M. Johnson, Mar 11, 1847." "A Volunteer to the Mexican War. Died at Saltillo. His remains were borne home by his Beloved Fellow Soldiers to his Grief-stricken Parents. The first burial in this cemetery. This lot was donated to him by the Directors. The text-inscription on the Johnson monument is: "Blessed are Dead Who die in the Lord. In the same lot lie, the remains of the minister-father and the solder son. The following might be added as a text: "Honor to the Dead, who in HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 177 Life Defended their Country's Flag." In that spirit the graves of American soldiers are decorated with flowers each recurring Memorial Day: Major Samuel PoppTeton, a Green Mountain boy, who fought. under Colonel Ethan Allen; and who had the honor.: of placing the American flag on Fort Ticonderoga. at its surrender, May 10, 1775; lived in Richland county number of years and is buried in the Everts graveyard, a mile south of Bellville. The Major was a color-sergeant at the time of the surrender, and stood near to Colonel Allen and heard his demand for the surrender of the fort. In the name of the Great Jehovah and the continental Congress." Upon a bloody page of history is recorded American bravery and devotion to principle excelled nowhere else in the annals of the world. It is the story of the Alamo. For several days the Mexican Army under Santa Anna had successfully bombarded' the. fortress, and on February 23, 1836, the Alamo was stormed—four thousand infuriated Mexicans against one hundred and eighty-three Americans (Texan patriots). Charge after charge had been repelled and for every patriot killed a dozen. Mexicans bit the dust. When the Mexicans entered the last enclosure, but six of the defenders of the Alamo were alive—Crockett and five of his comrades. Santa. Anna's chief of the staff implored. Crockett to surrender and thus spare the lives of his comrades and himself, but Crockett Would. not surrender. And when the Mexicans made the final charge, the last man of the little band was shot down. the Alamo was taken, but its .capture. cost Santa Anna one thousand flve hundred of his four thousand men. Every man of the little American band of the defenders of the Alamo died at his post. Thermopylae had its messenger of defeat—the Alamo had none. "Remember the Alamo," was the tallying cry of the Texan patriots when General Houston defeated Santa Anna at. Jacinto,: which 'victory. assured the independence of Texas and its annexation to the American Union. Governor Sam Houston, in after years, in a speech at San Antonio, said that, "Whatever state gave .us birth, We have one native land and one flag." This patriotic sentiment struck a responsive cord in the vast audience before him, and as the American flag was displayed from the Alamo, thousands of smaller flags were waved--the greatest flag scene in American history. The thunder of cannon was answered by the thunder of voices and the clapping of hands. In answer to this demonstration, Governor Houston said: "Far off, far off, yet louder than any noise, On earth, I hear from the dead years and the dead heroes of the Alamo the hurrahing of spirit-voices and the clapping of unseen hands." Patriotism has ages for its own, and the history; of .heroic deeds lives after nations perish. There was a law in ancient Greece that "He who receives his death while fighting in the front of battle shall have. an annual oration spoken to his honor." But Americans need no decree to honor their soldier dead. Prompted by the fullness of grateful hearts they decorate their graves each returning May-time. No matter if those .graves are beneath the sweeping shadows of the pines or beneath the sun-kissed verdure of unsheltered sod, whether in 178 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY the beautiful cemeteries of the North, or whether they are simply unmarked graves in the chastened South, or in the islands of the sea, whether the storms rage over them or whether the birds fill the slumberous air with the melody of their songs, the hallowed graves of American soldiers .a everywhere honored and revered. THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC. ITS GENERAL AND LOCAL HISTORY. "O, veteran band; our Army Grand, before our dreamy eyes ye stand Twisting with a firm, strong hand the three-fold cord of Unity—the Red White and Blue." The recent camp-fire held by McLaughlin Post, inaugurates a new feature in Grand Army work in Mansfield. The idea of holding such meetings was suggested by .Comrade A. F. Nail, Who has attended similar social gatherings at Worcester, Massachusetts, and other places in the East. The initial. meeting was sesuccessful, both in the attendance, good 'fellowship and interest, that it was the consensus of 'opinion of the comrades that this social feature should' be made a permanent affair. And it should be, for the Grand Army of the. Republic is an association 'of soldiers of the civil war, who have participated in both victories and defeat, and who have the same convictions and hopes, common memories and mutual sympathies. It is said that the American. passion for "organizing" and "appointing a committee" manifests itself under all varieties of circumstances. Any phase of things is a sufficient pretext for the American citizen to call a meet, ing for some specific purpose not hitherto provided for. And that one might suppose that the severely methodical conditions of army life might have satisfied the yearning of the most enthusiastic "organizer" who had been subjected to its stern requirements; but fortunately, even under these conditions the national impulse to confer, deliberate and resolve, possesses the citizen-soldiers. During the later months of the civil war and for several years thereafter numerous societies were formed all from some commendable motive of cooperation of commemoration. The Grand Army of the Republic was organized at Springfield, Illinois, February,1866, by Major. Stephenson and Chaplain Rutledge, assisted byComrades Snyder, North, Phelps and others. That the order succeeded is an historical fact and it is a fine study in climax to note from year to year the persevering efforts. Of comrades to develop the organization in accordance with its motto of "fraternity, charity and loyalty," and to mark how, step by step, the order. has marched steadily forward, out of the distrust ti shadowed its beginnings into the confidence of the people who now belie, because it has been proved to them, that the Grand Army is patriotic am not partisan. It is also gratifying to note the steady growth of its membership, despite the ever increasing roll of the departed, the growing balance in its treasury,' notwithstanding the constantly widening scope. of its charities; and, finally, to reflect how a quarter of a century of culture in the sentiments HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 179 of loyalty and brotherly kindness has raised the average of character in the citizenship of the nation, and proven the Grand Army of the Republic to be second to none among the civilizing forces at work in our day and generation. McLaughlin Post, No. 131, was so named for General William McLaughlin, a veteran of both the Mexican and the civil wars. The post was organized September 6, 1881, with the following charter members: A. C. Cummins, W. S. Bradford, T. T. Dill, James S. Crall, Frank, M. Rowe, W. S. Ward, G. F. Carpenter, Thomas E. Douglas, George Mitchell, M. E. ouglas, R. C. McFarland, W. M. Hahn, E. J. Potter, H. P. Roberts, F. W. Pierson, A. C. Armstrong, S.' E.. Bird, B. F. .Crawford, J. L. Hott, Moses R Dickey, W. H. Albach, P. P. Fork W. C. Markward, A. F. Nail, John McKinley, J. Y. Cantwell,, James. McCoy'' 'A. .J. Gilbert, B. F. Keiser, eorge L. Emminger, Abraham Oster, John F. Woods, R. Brinkerhoff, H. Alvord, W. W. Smith,. W. H. Cockins, George W. Hunt, George B. Merchant, M. R. Doll, E. D. Hunt, J. V. Van Atta. March 21, 1884, a corps of the W. R. C. was organized, auxiliary to the G. A. R., and it is auxiliary in fact as well as in name. General John A. Logan said: "When the encampments that know us hall know us no more forever, the feeling of fraternal regard we have ourished will shed its silent tear over our grabes; the charity" we have prooted will throw its mantle over our short-comings; and the spirit of loyalty we have cultivated will still rally round the flag we love."—Saturday's News. SOLDIERS COUNTY REUNION. A reunion of Richland county soldiers was held at Bellville, Saturday, Novembet 8, 1902, under the auspices of the comrades. of Company I, Sixenth O. V. I. There was a large attendance from Mansfield, and a general attendance from various parts of the county. The use of the township building was given the comrades that day, in which the meetings were held the townhall, and the courtroom on the first-floor was used as a banquet room, and where two .sumptuous meals were served during the day and neing. The late Captain D. W.. Wilson was the promoter of the reunion. Company I was a Bellville company and was one of the first to respond President Lincoln's first call for troops, and the Sixteenth Ohio infantry, of which Company I was a part, Was the first to` cross the Ohio river and rater the territory of the seceded states. .After the noon-day banquet, a camp-fire was set ablaze in the. After music and an invocation, O. H. Gurney, then mayor of Bellville, gave an address of welcome, to which plain D. W. Wilson .responded, as follows: "Mr. Mayor: In response to your cordial words of welcome to the members of Company I, Sixteenth O. V. I. and all :the soldiers of other commands present upon this occasion. As a member of that gallant old company I have been assigned the pleasant duty of responding. "I thank you most cordially for your very kind words of welcome, and sure you that as we were among the first to respond to our country's call 180 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY when it needed defenders, that you may be assured in turning your beautiful little city, over to us for our day's enjoyment, that it will be in safe hands Again thanking you very kindly for your hearty welcome, we will proceed: to have a general good time." Captain Wilson, who, had been selected to respond to Mayor Gurney's address of welcome, and as toastmaster for the campfire, served as a soldier in the Civil war from the start to the finish. He was a member of Captain Moody's company and at the expiration of that term, he enlisted in the Thirty-second O. V. I. for three years, and during the service rose from the, ranks to the captaincy of his company, and returned to Bellville at the close of the war, wearing a captain's bars. Captain Wilson is now deceased. A fine monument marks the place in the cemetery at Bellville, where his remains repose. The monument was unveiled with, appropriate ceremonies in the presence of the G. A. R. of Mansfield and Bellville and a large concourse of citizens. Following the unveiling, memorial services were held in the town hall. Letters of regrets were read from Congressman W. W. Skiles and the Hon. W. S. Cappeller, that they were unable to attend the reunion and camp fire. The first regular number on the program was an address by A. J. Baughman, who had been a member of Captain Moody's First-call company and also of Captain Wilson's company, in three years' service. As the adds gave interesting facts and figures it is copied here: A. J. BAUGHMAN'S ADDRESS. I thank. you, Mr. Chairman, for the opportunity of' addressing this reunion, and also thank alls the citizens of Bellville for the generous welcome that has been extended to us upon this occasion. I am reminded that this is but the third reunion of the surviving members of Captain Moody's company in forty-one years, but I hope such gatherings will be held mo frequently in the future. Soldiers are favorably mentioned in sacred, as well as in secular histo It was a soldier of whom the Nazarene spoke in words of commendation, th He had 'not seen such faith in all Israel. It was a soldier who was so impressed by. the awful tragedy upon Calvary as to exclaim "Truly this is the Son of :God !" And Paul advised Timothy to "Endure hardships as a good Soldier." The great apostle. considered the soldier so worthy of imi- tation that. He handed him down to all ages as an example to those who would follow the highest ideals. Look at Rome, once the mistress of the world! Even in her decadence after official corruption had taken hold of every branch of the civil govern ment, the army maintained its integrity and honor to the last. The soldier represents something independent of himself. In Amen he stands as the defender of representative government—a government of the people, for, the people and by the people. It is for this reason that, he has the respect and gratitude of all patriotic people. When we remember that our comrades fought .for the perpetuity of the American Union and the HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 181 upholding of the old flag, then we can understand why the generation of today holds in grateful regard the soldiers of the Civil War who are living, and feel that no flowers are too fragrant to enshrine, the memory of those who are dead. Ohio did her full part. in the Civil War. She put 310,654 men into the field-4,334 more than her. quota. Bellville not only furnished her I share, but more—for a company went out from your borders for the fifty-ninth New York infantry, for Which neither. Jefferson township nor the state of Ohio got credit. If that number were added to her list it would seen that Bellville furnished more men per capita for the war than did any other town in Ohio. Therefore, Bellville, in her patriotic devotion, stands preeminent in honor and transplendent in glory. As a sample of the fatality of war, take the Thirty-second Ohio infantry, which regiment my old-time friend, Captain D. W. Wilson, our toast-master today, was an officer, and in which a number of the comrades see this audience, also served. That regiment entered the field September 15,1861, nine hundred and fifty strong. During its service it received more an sixteen hundred recruits, making a total of twenty-six hundred men, and of that number there were but five hundred and sixty-five left to be mustered out of the service at the close of the war. A loss of about two thousand men, some of whom were killed in battle ; some died in hospitals and rebel prisons; others had been discharged on account of wounds and other disabilities. What an appalling record! Each year the number of the- survivors of the Civil war grows less. We who still live have gotten so far up the hill of time that it may be proper to stop and look hack and down into the valleys of the years of our youth and recall the events of the most wonderful half-century in the history of the world. In some respects we have been the most fortunate of all the generations of men, for while some have passed eventless lives; without incident or history, the generation we represent has taken part. in some of the greatest events in the annals of time. Ours has participated in the debates of the greatest questions which have ever agitated a people, and also took part in the bloody conflict that decided the fate of the American Republic—that decreed that we should have but one country and one flag. Some time will come, Mr. Chairthan, when there will be but a single survivor of Company "I." To him will descend our company flag—the flag given us by the ladies of Bellville and which we carried in triumph through our term of service and which we have ever since jealously guarded, ever remembering that notable Fourth of July, when it was hoisted on Cheat mountain, and how it waved in triumph from that almost cloud-capped summit, while at the base of the mountain the clear waters of the Cheat river flowed onward to the Potomac and to the sea. And in conclusion, comrades, let us   that we will have many more such reunions and that the star-spangled banner will continue to wave over the land of the free and the home of the brave. 182 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY The Spayde partial band furnished fife and drum music for the occasion. A chorus of eight voices gave vocal selections.. The late Captain A. H. Condict gave some remarks relating incident of the Rebellion, in which the honor of the flag was upheld. A. J. Baughman was again called upon, and briefly related incidents of the spring of 1861, outlining vivid scenes in Bellville, and stated that Richland county furnished over three thousand men with which to suppress the rebellion. He pronounced a fitting eulogy in which were interspersed some excellent thoughts in verse.  Among the soldiers who responded to calls were Samuel Eddleman, William Ritter, Robert McFarland, Samuel McFarland, Captain W. W. Coakley; W. H. Shoup, Frank Lantz, W. W: Smith and Judge Leidigh. General R. Brinkerhoff .addressed the camp-fire, giving an account of the assassination of President Lincoln, of which he was an, eye witness. His word picture of ,the tragedy held the audience in rapt attention. After song by the choir, other comrades were called upon for remarks as follows: George Knofflock, J. B.. Niman, J. N. Atherton, G. W. Zenner and Andrew Stevenson. The latter gave an historical sketch of the founding of the Grand Army Of the Republic. Music by chorus and orchestra again was followed by Rev: J. W. Boyer, who told jokes, one of which was not appre¬ciated by some of. .the comrades present. The stage in the hall was very prettily decorated with flags and bunting and presented a handsome appearance. The meals furnished, of which over four hundred partook, were furnished free by the citizens of Bellville. REUNION OF COMPANY I; SIXTEENTH O. V. I. The reunion of Captain Miller Moody's Company I, Sixteenth O. V. I. First-call troops, was held in Bellville, Friday, August 5, 1904. Company I was one of the four companies that went from Richland county into the service under President Lincoln's first call for troops; made April 15, 1861. A member of the editorial staff of the Mansfield Daily Shield newspaper, attended the reunion and we herewith copy the report he made for his paper upon that occasion, and as the gentleman was a member of Captain Moodys company and assisted in its organization, he knew whereof he wrote. The following is his report: While fragmentary sketches have been given from time to time of Captain Miller Moody's Company I, Sixteenth O. V: I., first-call troops, no history of that organization has ever' been published. And this sketch is more cursory than complete, leaving to some future writer the honor of compiling and revising "what has already been written without attempting any prefatory statement Of the antecedent history of the war of the Rebellion, further than to state that the long-expected crisis cane at last, when Seven thousand armed Confederates attacked the seventy Union soldiers who garrisoned Fort Sumter, and forced Major Anderson to evacuate the -fort the 13th of April, 1861, after withstanding the incessant fire of the rebels for thirty-four hours. Two days afterwards President HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 183 Lincoln issued his proclamation, calling for seventy-five thousand volunteers "To maintain the honor, the integrity and the existence of our National Government, and to redress wrongs long endured." This proclamation was flashed over the wires throughout the northern states, and was everywhere received with patriotic fervor and was responded to by thousands of men offering their services to the Government under that "first call." The North proved itself ready for the emergency. The arguments of Daniel Webster and others against the right of secession had educated the public mind in the North upon lines of loyalty to the government and for the preservation of the Union, and the call for troops met with a prompt and hearty response. The raising of troops went forward with a bound, and the wildest excitement and enthusiasm attended the departure of companies for the seat of war. The seriousness of the situation was not overlooked, but high above that consideration rose the tide of patriotic feeling and swept all obstacles before it. Ohio's quota under the call was 10,154. As double this number responded, all could not be accepted. The president's call, made May 1, was for 42,000 volunteers for three years; for 22,000 for the regular army, and for 18,000 seamen. A number of regiments which organized, or partially organized, under the first call, reorganized under the president's second mill. The infantry regiments were numbered from one to twenty-two, inclusive, and inasmuch as the Twenty-second got into the first-call service, some people imagine there were over twenty thousand troops in the service under the president's call of April 15. But such assumption is not sustained by facts, for the number accepted and mustered into the service in Ohio, under the first call, was 12,357. Ohio being a border state and liable to invasion, additional troops were mustered into the State service in accordance with an act of the General Assembly to provide more effectively for the defense of the state against invasion, passed April 26, 1861. At the outbreak of the Civil war there was no telegraph office at Bellville. Learning from the daily papers that Fort Sumter had been fired upon, and anticipating a declaration of war and a call for troops, .the Hon. Miller Moody, one of the leading citizens of Bellville came to Mansfield, to be in telegraphic communication with Governor Dennison, who had been his class-mate in Kenyon college. On the morning of April 16, a large crowd gathered at the Bellville depot to await the arrival of the train from the north, anxious to get news, feeling assured that action had been taken by the government to avenge the firing upon the American flag at Fort Sumter. As the train came down the valley, the engineer opened wide the whistle-valve, and the engine came into town shrieking weirdly, which told plainly as words could have expressed that war had been declared. And n the church bells rang with direful strains, and the occasion was one of awful portent. As Captain Moody stepped from the train, he stated that a call for troops had been made, and that he was authorized to raise A company of men for the service. After the train left, men fell into line and followed 184 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY Captain Moody uptown, marching in the middle of the street, and although no roll call was presented for signatures, it was understood that the majority of those who marched up and down the street to the music of the fife and drum intended to enlist, and later, when an opportunity was given, ninety-two men volunteered as fast as their names could be enrolled. Others were added later. After a few days' preliminary drill, while awaiting marching orders, the volunteers. went to Camp Jackson; Columbus. The company was then known as the Jefferson Guards, with the following officers: Captain, Miller Moody ; first lieutenant, A. W.. Loback; second lieutenant, James Riddle. Later, the Jefferson Guards became Company I, of the Sixteenth 0. A'. I., and after drill and equipment, was ordered. to the front, and on May 27, the Sixteenth crossed the Ohio river from Bellaire to Benwood, and were the first troops to enter the so called Southern Confederacy. From Benwood the regiment went east along the line of the B. & 0. railroad, did a large amount of marching and guard duty, and rendered valuable service to the government in assisting to stay the progress of the rebels, who were endeav- oring to carry the war into the North. The official list of battles in which the regiment, or companies of it bore an honorable part, is as follows: Philippi, June 3 ; Laurel Hill, July 8-; Carrick's Ford, July 14. To this list should be added the skirmish at Bowman's, June 29, in which N. 0. Smith, of West Windsor, was killed. Mr. Smith was the first Richland county soldier who lost his life in the war of the Rebellion. His remains were brought home and buried in the Bostock cemetery. He was a member of Company H, Fifteenth 0. V. I. The Sixteenth got as far east as the Red House, West Virginia, and Cumberland, Maryland. The regiment entered the service April the 27th and was mustered out August the 18th. Captain Miller Moody's company, the survivors of which held a reunion at Bellville, Wednesday, August 3, has the distinction of having not only been in the first-call service and the first troops that crossed the Ohio river, but of having taken, part in the first battle of the Civil war. There is a distinctiveness in the first-call service conducive to patriotic retrospection which will be more appreciated in- the future than it has been in the past. Nearly all the members of the company I reenlisted later for the three years' service. Captain Moody raised a company and went into the Fifty-ninth New York, Colonel Tiball's regiment. The captain was wounded in the battle of Antietam, and died two weeks later, after having suffered five amputations. His remains were brought back and interred in the Bellville cemetery. Lieutenant A. W. Loback recruited a company for and became a cal tain in the One Hundred and Second O. V. I., and served through the war. Lieutenant James Riddle became a lieutenant in Captain Loback's company. He was killed in a railroad accident near Woodville, Tennessee. Three privates of Company I became officers in the three years' service D. W. Wilson enlisted. as a private in the Thirty-second Ohio and cal; out of the service at the close of the war wearing a captain's bars. J. P. HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 185 Rummel was afterwards a captain in the One Hundred and Twentieth., and S. B. Donel was a lieutenant. in the One Hundred and. Second. Captain Moody was a college graduate and was. prominent in social and political circles, and had been a member of the Legislature. He was an aristocrat, but could be approached by the most humble citizen. He was dignified and courteous in his bearing and was faultless in his dress. He was kind to his men, as were also the other Bellville. captains, Loback and Wilson. A few of the members of Captain Moody's company are still living, and are grateful that we have a common country and "a common flag. HOME LIFE IN RICHLAND COUNTY DURING THE CIVIL WAR. Much has been written, told and sung about. the Civil war, about marches, camp incidents and battles, but this deals largely with the life. at home, of the Richland county families left behind by the soldiers who went South at their country's call to. put down the Rebellion. Within five days after President Lincoln's first call, for troops Richland county sent over five hundred volunteers to camps of rendezvous and instruction. Perhaps half of these volunteers had families dependent upon them for support, and as they were largely of the employed class they had but little, if any,. means at hand to use in providing for those left behind. To meet this condition funds were raised and appropriations voted, from which weekly allowances we given to soldiers' families.. The Bellville town council appropriated: seven hundred dollars for this purpose, and similar funds at Mansfield, Shelby, Plymouth and other places were equally generous and liberal. Soon after the war began prices went up and money went down. Calico, which was generally worn then, jumped from five to fifty center a yard, and coffee went up from ten to fifty cents a pound. And gold, the sneaking coward that it was and is, hied to the other side .of the Atlantic at the .first sound of war and hid itself away in the vaults of the monetary centers of Europe, and soon silver, too, began to disappear, being' laid away by the timid to await events and hoarded up by avaricious and speculative persons, who hoped to make money by its retirement, and many of them made large amounts by selling their coins at a high premium. Coins, save those carried pocket pieces and exhibited as curiosities, were not to be seen from 1862 until the close of the war. To meet the conditions existing on account of the retirement of gold and silver many merchants got scrip notes printed calling for five, ten and twenty-five cents each, which was received as money for goods bought and were redeemable at their places of business when presented in amounts of five dollars. This scrip was given to customers as change and was received as such in return. Every town had its scrip currency, and it was a point of honor among business men to accept each other's scrip as change. Thomas J. Robinson was treasurer of Richland county at the time and issued treasury tickets in amounts from ten up to fifty cents, redeemable in money when presented in amounts of five dollars at the treasurer's office. This was. a. personal matter 186 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY with Mr. Robinson, he having no authority as county 'treasurer to do so. But his "tickets" met a pressing need of the times and was a great convenience to the people, and Mr. Robinson faithfully redeemed them all. Later the general government issued fractional notes—called "shin plasters"—which took the place of the merchants' scrip. In time relief commissions were organized, whose work was somewhat like that of the soldiers' relief commission of today. There were Mansfield families of wealth who tried to economize, that by practicing economy the might be more able to assist soldiers' families which, through the exigencies of the war times, were in need of the necessaries of life. As the war continued and a draft was impending, people became mo liberal and offered bounties to recruits. At a meeting held in Mansfield Friday, August 1, 1862, a fund of $18,279 was raised for local bouunties. To this fund B. S. Runyan, Willard S. Hickox and seventeen others gave five hundred dollars each. Other contributions in sums of from five dollars to three hundred dollars were added to the fund. Supplemental to the citizens' fund, the county commissioners levied a tax of $25,000. The One Hundred and Second Regiment, O. V. I., was organized at Mansfield and left for the South on September 4, 1862, one thousand men strong. The regiment was mustered into the United States service at Covington, Kentucky. Jonas Smith, then county auditor, and T. J. Robing then county treasurer accompanied the regiment to Covington, and after muster gave each Richland county soldier ninety dollars as a local bounty Nine-tenths of this money, the soldiers sent back with Messrs. Smith hr Robinson to their families and friends at home. An old copy of a Mansfield paper of that period states that "On streets, in the public square, as well as in the surrounding camps, can daily be heard martial music and the tread of the volunteers." Fathers, sons, brothers and husbands lest the old home to go to the war. A few carried shining swords and wore beautiful uniforms, but the majo of the volunteers were private soldiers, but were none the less dear to till, they left behind. "Then mothers put motherly fears to flight, And wives hid their tears away; For men must fight when their cause is right, While women in patience pray." As the soldiers marched away people lined the streets, with faces beautiful with sympathy and eyes moist with pity and with love. The people at home had cares and sorrows to bear, while the soliders at the front met the foe upon fields of battle. To show the magnitude of the Civil war the following comparison with other wars is here given. The number of soldiers engaged in the War of the Revolution was 184,038; in the war of 1812 with Great Britain, was 286,730; in the Mexican war the number was 78,718, and in the Civil war was 2,213,363. There were 1,676,438 more soldiers in Union army in the War of. the Rebellion than in all the other wars HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 187 together in which the United States has been engaged; and the number of families bereft by the Civil war is proportionately large. To show the strenuous feeling that existed in the North during the Civil. ar the following incident is given: In the spring of 1861, when the soldiers ere encamped at Camp Jackson, Columbus, the soldiers frequently .attended eaters in the evenings. There were hundreds of young soldiers from the country and small towns who had not previously had opportunities to attend theatrical performances. On the first night of an engagement of Caroline Richings an exciting incident occurred. Miss Richings was an accomplished and beautiful woman well as a popular singer. It was customary at that time to sing songs between the acts. At the close of the first act Miss Richings appeared in a gorgeous costume with an American flag in her hand. She sang the "Star-Spangled Banner," and as she sang she waved the flag and the audience ent wild with enthusiasm. Amid the deafening cheers and applause which shook the house there was the sound of a hiss, which brought forth clamations of surprise and indignation. At once a man was seen climbing the stage and, straightening up, stood fully six feet in height, a perfect imen of manhood. He had a revolver in his hand and requested the man be pointed out to him who had hissed, but the man could not be located,, and the song was sung through without further. interruption. The day following the Ohio State Journal stated that the man who had threatened to loot was Murat Halstead, of the Cincinnati Commercial, one of the great ewspaper men of his time. In July, 1878, Miss Richings played an engagement at Miller's Hall in Mansfield. In an interview with her upon that occasion she told the writer she had not forgotten the scene which ensued on the night the American flag was hissed at a Columbus theater. A BIG DEMOCRATIC MEETING. A big Democratic meeting was held in Mansfield, August 17, 1840. President Martin Van Buren and Vice President Richard M. Johnson were then candidates for reelection on the Democratic ticket. General William Henry Harrison and John Tyler were the Whig nominees. There was not much at issue in the campaign, and had it been fought on party lines the Democratic nominees would doubtless have been reelected. The Van Buren administration had been a creditable one, but a financial depression had overspread the country soon after Mr. Van Buren had been inaugurated, and such financial conditions are usually charged against the administration, without much inquiry as to its responsibility in the matter. In this 1840 campaign for the first time in American history the power of song was invoked to, aid a presidential candidate. A Democratic editor in describing General Harrison's home, stated that he lived in a log cabin lined with coon skins and that he was better fitted to sit there and drink hard cider than he was to be president of the United. States This like the fateful "Rum, Romanism and Rebellion" of the Blaine campaign of 1884, had a different result from what had been intended. And the statement Made by the Democratic editor was at once taken, up by the Whigs and" was Made the 188 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY party slogan of that memorable campaign. General Harrison was called the log cabin candidate, which touched a sympathetic.. choad in the minds of th voters, as the majority of the people lived in log cabins in those days. The people of Ohio and of other states in the West had not fully emerged from the log cabin era, and the early association and the sentiment of their home lives were identified with the log cabins in which they had lived, as had their parents before them, and to resent the reflection cast upon the homes of the pioneers, people. rallied to the support of "Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too.” Among his other military achieveinents General Harrison was called the hero of Tippecanoe, for on. the banks. of the Tippecanoe river, on November 1811, General Harrison defeated tilt Indians under the brother of Tecumseh. Colonel Richard M. Johnson, the Democratic candidate for vice president, also had an enviable military record, and was called the hero of the battle of the Thames, fought October 5, 1813, in which Tecumseh was killed. A Democratic shibbolethic inquiry of that campaign was, "Who fought the battle of the Thames?" with' the ,answer, "Richard M. Johnson and his brother James!" During that log-cabin campaign there were political songs galore, man of them being parodies on familiar ballads. George P. Morris’ parody on "The Old Oaken Bucket' was very popular, and ran like the following: "Oh, dear to my soul are the days of our glory, The time honored days of our national pride; When heroes and statesmen ennobled our story " And boldly the foes of our country defied; When victory hung o'er our flag, proudly waving, And the battle was fought by the valiant, and true For our homes and our loved ones, the 'enemies braving, Oh, then stood the soldier of Tippecanoe- The iron-armed soldier, the true-hearted soldier, The gallant old soldier of Tippecanoe." The preponderance of songs was with the Whigs, and one of the most catchy was a buckeye cabin song. The first portable campaign. cabin was of buckeye logs and was made in Union county. It was. first used in a parade at a Whig meeting in Columbus. Similar cabins, mounted. on trucks, later appeared in Whig processions, not only in Ohio, but also in other states. In this way the "buckeye" got an historical association, for that campaign irrevocably fixed the name "Buckeye" upon the state and the people of Ohio. The Mansfield meeting was a great gathering in the Democratic annals of Richland county, and is still remembered by our respected townsman, Hirairn R. Smith, whose life has been extended beyond four score years and ten. The day of that memorable Democratic meeting opened auspiciously; the sun rose in a cloudless sky and a refreshing breeze fanned the August air. At an early hour the people began to arrive—in wagons, on horseback and on foot and as the day advanced the cry was "Still they come.” From the east, west, north and south came the people in seemingly interminable lines of pro- HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 189 cession, with horses and vehicles decorated with the Democratic badge of hickory boughs, presenting somewhat the appearance of moving forests, re-calling the lines of Macbeth : "I looked toward Birnam, Sand .anon, methought, The wood began to move."  James Arnold, the veteran pole-raiser of that period, had put up a hickory liberty pole in the public square, from which a flag made by the Democratic ladies of Mansfield floated in the mid-summer breeze. A Democratic brass band came from Canton in their own wagon, having taken a day and a night to make the trip. The band boys arrived in time on the second day to take breakfast at the Wiler House, then kept by John Wiler, whose name is an historical one in this vicinity. At 7:30 o'clock a procession was formed under the direction of General R. Bentley, chief marshal of the day, and, led by the Canton band, the line of march was taken to the 'country residence of Judge William Patterson, at Locust Grove, a few miles west of Mansfield on the Ontario road, where the speakers had been entertained the night previous. Judge Patterson was a prominent citizen of Richland county, had represented this district in Congress and was personally acquainted with his distinguished guests. The party consisted of Vice President Johnson, Senator William Allen, Governor Wilson Shannon and Congressman George Sweney. The Patterson place is now known as the Crouch farm. The Patterson residence was a large two-story brick house, still standing on the north side of the road, around which are a number of locust trees, hence the name, "Locust Grove." The speakers had addressed a meeting at Bucyrus on Friday, from which place they came by stage to Judge Patterson's on Sunday. On Monday morning a large delegation from the west came in early to attend the meeting and to have the honor of assisting to escort the speakers into Mansfield. These were joined by a large concourse of people from Mansfield, and a procession was formed at Judge Patterson's, which made a grand escort for the speakers, with music and banners. Arriving in Mansfield, as the 'carriages containing the honored guests halted in front of the Wiler House., Vice President Johnson and the other speakers were welcomed in behalf of the Democracy of Richland county by the Eon. James Stewart in an appropriate address, in which he referred to the fact that Richland county in the war of 1812 was on the frontier, and that Vice President Johnson 'had defended the settlers from the tomahawk of the Indians and from the bayonet of the British, and that the assemblage surrounding him was animated as one man by impulses of gratitude and admiration for his brave and valuable services in that war. At the conclusion of the reception the procession reformed and marched to the place of meeting—then a grove—between South Main street and Lexington avenue, land mow well built up by fine residences. The crowd was so large that at least five acres of ground were compactly filled with people. The late Major William McLaughlin was the president of the day. 190 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY The first speaker was Vice President.Richard MM. Johnson, who in the battle of the Thames "Drove the savage legion and the British army, too." Colonel Johnson was received with rapturous applause and his speech was highly appreciated. Governor Wilson Shann followed, thanking the Democracy for the support given him in the past, then excused himself from making a speech on account of an indisposition from which he then labored. The Hon. William Allen was then introduced, and the distinguished senator spoke at length upon the issues of the campaign, and for three hours held the vast audience by the charms of his matchless oratory. The privilege of attending that meeting was highly appreciated by thousands of Democrats, who in later years told their children and their children's children about that great gathering. A notable feature of the parade was an elegant barouche, containing revolutionary soldiers, in charge of John J. Bell, of Ashland: The vehicle was decorated with American flags and a banner was carried upon which was inscribed "76." That the presidential election of 1840 resulted in a Whig victory was not the fault of the Democrats of Richland county, for they did their duty faithfully then, as they have in many succeeding contests. After the meeting was over the speakers were taken to the Wiler House, where a reception was given them in the evening. The next morning they left by stage for Mount Vernon to attend the young men's state convention. Following the big Democratic meeting the Whigs also got up a big demonstration in Mansfield on Friday, September 4, 1840. The meeting was addressed by the Whig candidate for president, General William Henry Harrison. Log cabins, decorated with coon skins, were in the parade, and barrels of hard cider were on tap. A DEADLY EXPLOSION. The late George C. Wise was a member of the squad, but was not with it upon that occasion. Van Buren Hooker was a brother of the J. R. Hooker, who formerly lived on South Main street Darius Grant was a brother of Mrs. R. R. Smith, of East Fourth street; Mr. Merrell is a printer and resides in Toledo, and Morgan Roop has been in the employ of theAultman-Taylorr Company ever since the plant was founded. The Frank Pierce campaign of 1852 will always be remembered by surviving members of the Mansfield gun-squad of that period and by their friends. There was to be a big Democratic mass-meeting at Ashland on the 14th of August, and the Mansfield battery had been invited to attend and do the "booming" for the occasion. The squad started the afternoon of the 13th, with 80 pounds of powder in the magazine. John Wise, brother of Frank Wise, furnished a four-horse team to haul the carriage and acted, as driver. As they approached Windsor they fired a Salute. The bridge across the Black Fork being down, a detour was made to the north, around by where HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 191 Pavonia station now stands, and in passing through a piece of woods on the Horn farm the magazine exploded, throwing John Wise, the driver, and Van Hooker, who sat beside him, up above the tree tops. Mr. Wise received fatal injuries, from which he died the next morning without regaining consciousness. Mr. Hooker was severely concussed, survived the disaster and is living in one of the Pacific states. Finding Morgan Roop in a reminiscent mood, he kindly narrated this thrilling episode of his life, as he was one of. the members of the squad, and was only a short distance ahead when the catastrophe occurred. It is supposed the explosion was caused by a fuse that may have caught fire when the salute was given at Windsor and acted as a slow-match and ignited the powder in the magazine. The explosion occurred at 8 :00 p. m. Of the members of the squad besides Messrs. Roop and Hooker, the names are recalled of Captain Mullen, J. Z. Mcllvaine, Darius Grant, George Merrell, James McElroy and Fred Wise. The first families which came to Mansfield, with the exception of a few from Southern Ohio, were from Pennsylvania. When Samuel Hill and Rolin Weldon came they had to cut the road from Greentown to Mansfield. There were about,one hundred naked Indians residing in Greentown at that time, which was in 1810. The first doctor who practiced in Mansfield was Royal V. Powers, who came from the East and settled here in 1815. The first resident lawyer of Mansfield was John M. May, who also came in 1815. There were about a dozen houses in the village of Mansfield at that time. On what was long known as the Sturges corner, now owned by H. L. Reed, there stood a small one-story frame building, when E. P. Sturges and Buckingham Sherwood came to Mansfield with a stock of goods, and purchasing this little building referred to, opened up a store. At that time there was also a small frame building on the southwest corner of the public square (the present site of the Hotel Southern) where a tavern was kept by Samuel Williams—called Williams' tavern. Richland county scenery in every direction is beautiful. A gentle diversity of hills and valleys stretch away on every hand. There is nothing tame nor lifeless in the landscape. In fact, there are points where nature approaches grandeur in the wild and vigorous beauty that marks, especially the southern part of Richland county, with varied attractiveness. Within seventy-five miles of Mansfield lie exhaustless beds of bituminous coal. Mansfield, lying between the lake and the 'gulf, has rapid drainage,. with strong springs of pure soft water gushing from the hillsides. STORMS AND FLOODS. Is is frequently stated that storms, hurricanes and floods have been more frequent the past few years than heretofore. Without admitting the correctness of this statement, brief mention will be made of some of the storms of the past. In the summer of 1808 there was a furious and destructive tornado 192 - HISTORY OF ICHLANDD COUNTY in this county, its path being diagonally from the northwest to the southeast. It coursed down the north branch of the Honey Creek, cutting a swath from one-fourth to one-half mile in width. On land later owned by Reuben Everts there were thirty acres or more upon which a tree was not left standing: The greatest havoc of this storm was wrought on Chestnut Ridge, further southeast, where it made a clean sweep of the forest. In time a new growth of timber covered the ridge, whose foliage in thesummer makess a beautiful background to the lovely little valley which nestles so charmingly on the north. Chestnut Ridge has an elevation of four hundred and fifty feet above the railroad Station at Butler. Hiram R. Smith recalls a "wind fall" that cut a swath through the timber between Mansfield and Shelby prior to 1830. Upon making a trip on horseback from Mansfield to Gamble's Mills as Shelby was then called, Mr. Smith found the road obstructed .by .fallen trees.. The storm in its east=' ward course crossed the old state road north ofBollman's.s This storm was of great violence and 'mowed the timber as the reaper Mows the grain. On June 21, 1834, a terrific storm passed over Richland and Ashland counties, felling forest trees inmany places, unroofing bildingss and, in some places, removing them from their foundations. This storm was particularly severe in the vicinity of Jeromeville. On November 11, 1835, a severe storm passed to the north of us, doing great damage in New York state, particularly at Buffalo. In about 1838 a storm passed over the Big Hill, in Weller township, and wrecked the Robinson "castle."' The weather during the years 1816-17 was noted on account of the cold and frosts. In the month. of May, 1816, there was a severe snow storm, and in July men wore overcoats while harvesting wheat. On the Morning of June 1, 1817, a frost visited Ohio that destroyed the fruit and denuded the forest trees of half their foliage. On May 15, 1834, the wheat crop was muchinjuredd by the frost, there being frosts six nights in succession. The summer of 1835 was extremely wet,with bottomm lands greatly overflown and too wet for tillage. The hay crop of that year was particularly damaged. On May 2, 1841, a violent snow storm, a regular blizzard, swept over this part of Ohio. On July 1, 1843, there was frost that did considerable damage. On September 27, 1844, therewas aa heavy snow fall that Covered the ground for two days, and on October 18th a violent snow storm passed to the north of us and raged furiously in the western part of New York. On May 7 and 25, 1845, there were frosts which destroyed the wheat crop for that year. The last week of May, 1854, brought a. sucession of snow storms, and on the 29th snow fell all day. During the following summer there were ten consecutive weeks of drouth. During the winter of 1854-5 the ground was covered with snow for thirteen consecutive weeks. There was a May storm that year. On December 24, 1855, a rain began falling inthe mornning and continued all day, changing to snow in the evening. On the net morning,Christmass, there were about seven inches of snow on the ground, and it snowed some everyday for six weeks. The Snow was deep, and in places HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 193 blown into impassable drifts. The sleighing continued until the litter part of March. The snow melted so gradually in the spring that no flood ensued. The spring of 1857 was very backward;. the peach trees did not bloom until the latter part of May. During the year 1859 there was frost every month in the year, as there had been in 1816. The killing frosts' of 1859 are well remembered. On June 1, there was a slight rain, followed by a cold wave for several days, and on the 4th there was: a slight snow fall. On the morning of the 4th the thermometer stood at the freezing point, with a strong wind blowing from the north. That evening the wind dropped and the sun went down in a clear Sky. During the night the mercury fell fast, the stars shone with an unusual brilliancy, and on the morning of the 5th the sun rose upon a scene of desolation all vegetation was frozen. Under the reaction of the sun's rays corn and wheat wilted and fell to the earth. The ground was frozen to the roots of the corn. Ice was formed in some places sufficiently strong to bear a man. On the morning of the 4th of July. there was another frost, which killed what little vegetation the former one had left. On August 11th and on the 28th, there were also frosts, and on October the 9th there was a freeze. June, 1837, was noted for its floods. The Clearfork at that time broke all previous records. This was called the Victoria. flood, on account of its occurring at the time Victoria became queen of England. During this flood a piece of land called the island, lying between the creek and the upper race of the David Herring mills, in Worthington township, was inundated, and an incident occurred worth relating: A dwelling, house stood on the and as the land had become partly submerged it was feared the house might be swept away by the flood. The good wife and .mother of the family living in this house was ill .at the time, and the men gathered upon the bank and discussed ways and means to rescue the family. A canoe was Obtained and a man volunteered to make the several trips necessary to bring the members of the family to the shore. A hero always rises and comes forth equal to every occasion, and this brave pioneer paddled the wide forth and back Until every member of the family had been safely landed on the shore, and during the last trip of the canoe the building, which had stood unsteady upon its foundation for an hour or more, was swept away by the flood. The month of June, 1854, was remarkable for its floods, which continued from the 10th to the 17th of the month. On Tuesday, April 3, 1877, a cloud burst near the headwaters of Ritter's. Run caused that stream to rise suddenly and to carry destruction in its wake. Bridges were washed away, culverts were torn out and several buildings were moved off their foundations between Adams street and the Pennsylvania railroad. The water was about three feet deep on South Main street at the crossing of First. J. H. Sharp, who then had a dry goods store on Sturges' corner, lived on the west side of South Main street, the first house south of First. He was at home when the flood came, and, hearing the roar of rushing waters, he looked up the valley and saw the flood coming, which looked like a greyish wall from forty to fifty feet in height, the south end of which struck his dwelling house with terrific force; flooding even the rooms on the third 194 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY floor. The kitchen and dining rooms were in: the basement, and in the ebb of the receding waters the dining room and kitchen furniture, including the cooking stove, were washed away. A singular incident: M. connection with this flood is that it was on the anniversary of the cloud-burst which had occurred in that valley twenty-nine years before. On Monday evening, June 19, 1899, a terrific thunder, hail and rain storm visited Mansfield, coming from the west and doing much damage. People were rescued in boats and wagons from inundated districts. There was a general suspension of 'business, not only Monday evening; but also on Tuesday forenoon. During this storm not only the largest amount of rain fell in a short time, but it was also the most disastrous in the history of Mansfield. The following excerpts from the Mansfield News of the date following the storm are herewith given: The terrific and destructive rain and hail storm which raged here Monday night was not only the largest in respect to th.e amount of rain which fell in so short a tithe, but was also the most disastrous that was ever known in the history of Mansfield. The damage wrought by the elements will amount to many thousands of dollars. Reports continue to come in today giving particulars of the destruction caused by the floods. A vast amount of property adjacent to streams was washed away, streets were flooded and the water washed into dwellings, ruining carpets, furniture as well as other household goods. Traffic along the railroads was seriously interfered with by the flooding of the tracks. at different places along the lines and the washing out of roadbeds. Some bridges, culverts, barns, houses and other structures were washed away by the water undermining their foundations. It is rather difficult to estimate With any degree of accuracy the extent of the damage done as the path of the flood was very wide. It was one of those terrific rains which are characterized by the fall of an immense amount of water within a short space of time. These are, as a rule of comparatively short duration, but the storm of Monday night differed from these in the length of time during which the torrents filled the streams until their banks no longer confined them and the flood spread to bring ruin and destruction in its wake. Within the memory of Mansfield's citizens there have been some very hard storms, accompanied by much destruction of property, but this one eclipsed them all. It seemed like a cloudburst, and as the rain, accompanied by flashes of fierce lightning and claps of thunder, continued for several hours it brought apprehension to many hearts, especially in the north part of the city, which is more frequently flooded than any other district of the city. The storm was at its height between the hours of nine and ten and was Accompanied by a hard fall of hail. Even after midnight the rain fell at intervals and fears were felt that the storm might again break forth and cause the waters, which were beginning very slowly in some of the higher places to abate, to rise again. This flood has been compared to one which, it is recalled, occurred some thirty or forty years ago in Mansfield, but, from all accounts, that was not nearly so large as this one.   HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 195 The north part of the city was a perfect flood and in some places it caused much trouble to the residents on the first floors of the dwellings. On North Adams, North Sugar and other streets in that vicinity the. water rose to the height of from three to five feet. On the buildings the marks of the flood could be seen this morning. A great many cellars were filled with water, and in numerous instances the water flooded the best rooms of the homes, causing damage which will be heavy. The audience which attended Monday night's performance at the Casino will, no doubt, remember their experience with the flood for a long time come. When the performance closed the storm was at its height and no one ventured forth, even though the cars were standing in waiting. Amid the fierce electrical storm which was prevailing the motormen and conductors sought the Casino to await the abating of the storm. Soon the water was noticed to be rising in Casino park, the stream north. of the Casino began to rise and in a short time had overflowed and the grounds from the Casino to the gate became a rapidly rising lake. The Casino was surrounded by water and the ground floor was within a short time overflowed to the depth of a couple of feet. The waters continued to rise, and by 10:30 o'clock the rain began to abate somewhat. The flood rose until the depth of the water in the Casino grounds averaged from two to three feet. The water was over the bridge north of the Casino, and when a considerable amount of the debris had lodged there it looked as if the bridge must go with the whirling, eddying torrent. A regular falls came from the Baltimore & Ohio tracks and joined the stream at the Casino. It carried with it portions of the fence which separated the park from the railroad. There was a. fascination in watching thwaters sweeping down as section after section of the fence yielded to the pressure and fell into the stream. The benches in the park began to float about and then down stream, where they were followed by numerous other articles, including a bicycle which had slipped its moorings. The swans enjoyed their enlarged lake and swam about most contentedly. It looked for a time as if the Casino might be in danger, but no alarm need to have been felt, for the, building is strongly constructed. One of the men braved the waters, and, having telphoned to the city for cabs, soon one arrived, took away a load and then came back for another. Other cabs and conveyances were telephoned for; and a few at a time the people were taken home. Forney's and Newcomers' cabs. A vast number of people visited the flooded district in the northern part of the city this morning and gazed with considerable astonishment at the wide extent of the flood. Everyone agrees that Mansfield never saw anything to compare with it. There are those whowere somewhat surprised this morning at the extent. of the damage done, and say that while they thought it was quite a storm they had no idea that it would be attended by so much damage. MORMONS IN RICHLAND COUNTY.  The investigation of Mr. Smoot by the United States senate a few years since caused a great deal to be written about the Mormons. There is a 196 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY Richland county chapter in connection with the history of the Mormon church that is well remembered by our older citizens. Seventy year and more ago the Mormons had a small following in the southern part of Richland county, and in 1838, a number of families from the vicinity of Newville joined the Mormon exodus to the West. The decade from 1825 to 1835 was one of great religious activity, especially in the eastern part of Ohio. This was called a gospel movement and was largely outside of denominational organizations. Gifted, eloquent men went forth on foot or on horseback, without any thought of pay or remuneration except their food or lodging which were freely given them by the settlers. Prominent among those preachers were Alexander Campbell, Sidney Rigdon, Thomas Rigdon and others, each preaching the gospel as he understood it, but all agreeing upon the doctrine of water baptism by immersion. The Rigdons were gifted men, as was also Mr. Campbell. Sidney Rigdon has been described as a most charming and: convincing speaker. He was then about thirty-five years of age and his personality drew a following. This gospel movement resulted in the organization o.f several religious societies or churches in the southern part of the county. A Disciples church, or more properly perhaps, a "Church of the Disciples. of Christ," was organized at Newville, another at. Bellville, and another called Caesarea, in Washington township. The two latter are still in existence. A Christian church was organized in Monroe township. This was the only church of the "Christian" denomination ever organized in Richland county. It existed but a few years. The denomination, however, is quite strong, in many towns in southwestern Ohio,. and also in a number of the southern states, where it had its origin about the beginning of the nineteenth century. The difference between the Christian denomination and that of the Disciples of Christ consists largely in the different views held by them, relative to conversion, and change of heart. These sects. were locally called "Campbellites" and "Newlites." The denomination then called "The Disciples of Christ." is now known in Mansfield, as the "Christian church." After the Rigdons had preached successfully in Newville for several years, Sidney Rigdon went to Palmyra, New York, and became associated with Joseph Smith and assisted him in the translation of the gold plates that Smith claimed he had found in 1823. It has been stated that it was after Rigdon and Smith became 'associated that the "divine" part of the alleged plates were claimed. Rigdon was regarded as the brains of the movement and seemed satisfied to be the power behind the throne. The Mormon church was organized April 6, 1830, by Smith and Rigdon. In looking about for a See or headquarters for the new church, Kirkland and Newville were considered. Rigdon favored Newville as the site, but Smith preferred Kirkland, Lake county, to which Rigdon at last yielded because they were more converts in Kirkland than in Newville. After Rigdon joined Smith at Palmyra his visits to Richland county became less frequent, but after the Mormons located in Kirkland, Rigdon again resumed his work in Richland county, and to his "gospel" preaching of the years before, he added the "latest revelations" claimed by Joseph HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 197 Smith. As church buildings were but few at that time, religious, services were held in the homes and barns of the neighborhood, the preachers', thus getting into closer touch with the people. Sidney Rigdon antagonized no one, but swayed his audiences by his great and persuasive eloquence: Therefore, it was not surprising that he gained converts in his new doctrine. As a result of Mr. Rigdon's work in that locality, ten or twelve families sold their homes and their belongings and followed their leader to Nauvoo, Illinois, saying like one of old, "where thou goest, I will go, and thy people all be my people." After the death of Joseph Smith at Nauvoo, June 27, 1844, Brigham Young became the prophet and leader of the Mormons. In time, as estrangement sprang up between Brigham Young and Sidney Rigdon, resulting in the retirement of the latter, who returned to the East and founded another Mormon church, the members of which were called Rigdonites. The fact that Sidney Rigdon was a prominent factor in the founding of three religious sects, shows that he was a born organizer and leader of men. He died in 1876, aged eighty-three years. A feature of the Book of Mormons which readily caught the attention of the people was the history it professed to give of America from its first settlement by a colony of refugees from the crowd of people dispersed by the confusion of tongues at the Tower of Babel, down to the year 5, A. D., and incidentally giving what purported to be a history of the American Indians. Newville lost its opportunity of becoming famous in history by not gaining the prize of becoming the See of the Mormon church. THE BUSHONG MURDER. The Bushong murder was one of the most atrocious crimes, ever committed in Richland county. It is seldom referred to not simply that more than sixty years have intervened between then and now, but because the minds of men 'revolt at the heinousness of that bloody deed. Samuel Bushong came from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1837 and settled on Chestnut Ridge, in Jefferson township, Richland. county, where he bought thirty-five acres of land for eight hundred dollars. Of this he paid four hundred dollars cash and gave notes secured by mortgage on the land for the other four hundred dollars. Chestnut Ridge is in the south part of Jefferson township and has an elevation of one thousand and fifty-nine feet above Lake Erie, making it a notable "landmark" in the topography of the great "divide." In the summer of 1808 a tornado swept over Jefferson township, from the northwest to the southeast, with great fury, mowing down the forest, making a swath about a third of a mile in width. The storm was especially severe on Chestnut Ridge, where the trees were blown down without number. For years afterwards the Ridge was often called the "Region of the Fallen Timber." In after years the Ridge made a fine appearance, the young chestnut trees forming a beautiful grove. The Bushong place was upon a plateau on the south slant of the hill, and the improvements were well advanced for that day, and the house was 198 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY large and roomy. But although the place always looked homelike and the surroundings attractive, there was trouble in the household. The mortgage notes were coming due, and money could not be obtained. to pay them. Bushong, at best, was not an amiable man, and his financial embarrassments caused him to become more cross and morose. At times he abused and Upbraided the family, it was said, on account of his financial trouble. On the 3d day of October, 1840, Bushong attended the election at Bellville and no one noticed anything wrong with him. In the evening he returned home and before he retired, stated that he intended to go to Mansfield the next day to try to get an extension of time on his note, and that he wished to get an early start. Before daylight the next morning Bushong and wife rose to prepare for his departure, and in the preparatio for the breakfast meal, the wife had to roast coffee in a skillet on coals, before the open fire-place. While she was thus employed, Bushong went the woodpile in the yard and brought the ax into the house on the pretense to "whet” it, and while his wife was in a stooping position over the skill, he struck her with the ax, splitting her head open., filling the skillet with he brains and blood. Her death was instantaneous. The inhuman father then went up stairs and made a murderous assault upon his four children—two girls and two boys—whom he assaulted with the ax, inflicting almost fatal wounds, first upon the girls, after which he went to the boys' room, but they succeeded in wrenching the ax from him, but in doing so the boys received serious injuries. The girls were aged respectively twenty-two and fifteen years. Bushong then took to the woods, but was soon captured and roughly handled. He was then taken to Bellville where he was threatened with lynching. He was arraigned before Squire Heath, was bound over to the court of common pleas without bond and was given over to constable Reuben: Everts, with instructions to have him put in the county jail. In a conversation with the constable, Bushong stated that, considering their financial condition, he thought "we had better all be dead." Bushong requested the constable not to handcuff him when taking him to jail. The constable' and prisoner made the trip from Bellville to Mansfield in a single buggy; but when they got to the ravine a mile south of Mansfield, the prisoner tried to get away, but the constable at once covered him with his gun and said, "Bushong, you gave me your word as a brother Free Mason that if I would leave you unhandcuffed you would not attempt to get away, and now. I give you my word as a Mason that if you repeat the attempt I will give you the contents of this revolver." Bushong saw he was up against it, to use a common expression, and made- no further effort to get awway from the officer. Bushong's trial before the court of common pleas lasted six days, but it is seldom, if ever, referred to by attorneys in quoting rulings or in referring to. precedents. The trial began July 1, 1841, with Judge Parker on the bench. James Stewart and Jacob Brinkerhoff were the attorneys for the state, and Thomas W. Bartley and Columbus Delano, for the defense. Note the names' of the attorneys in the case. Stewart afterwards served on HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 199 the common pleas bench; Brinkerhoff became a member of congress and a supreme court judge, Bartley, three years later was the acting governor of Ohio, and later one of the judges of the supreme court; Delano was considered one of the greatest orators of his. time and won both state and national fame. A plea of insanity was entered for the prisoner, and the jury, after twelve hours of deliberation, returned a verdict of "not guilty:" Soon afte his acquittal, Bushong left the county, and it was rumored that he died a few years later in the west. His children returned to the east. It is claimed. that the crimes of a country are as much a part of its history as are its deeds of heroism—that the brutality of Nero, the shameless intrigues of Messalina, and cruelties of Domitian are as much a part of the annals of Rome as are the patriotism of Cincinnatus, the valor of Ceesar and the self-sacrifice of Curtius. And in this view the foregoing is given. MURDER MYSTERIES. Among the unsolved. criminal mysteries of Richland county, that of the murder of Mary Jane Lunsford, is the most. apalling, for the victim was a woman and horrible mutilation was added to murder. On the fateful night of March 12, 1870, Olive street, Mansfield, was the scene of one of those horrible bloody deeds that stain pages in the criminal calendar of the county. The city was startled by the report that a murder had been committed, and when the people beheld the scene and saw the evidences of the struggle fiat had ensued in the poor woman's tragic efforts to save her life, many turned away sickened by the awful bloody spectacle. Mrs. Lunsford, the murdered woman, was a seamstress, was young and did looking, and while upon her :life there rested the blot of social sin, he was popular among her few acquaintances, and if was not known . that she had an enemy—surely not one of sufficient deadly hate. to take her life, and as it was apparent that robbery had not even been attempted, the authorsties were at a loss for a theory to account for and to ascertain the actuating motive that led to the commission of the murder. Mrs. Lunsford had been a resident of Mansfield less than a year, having come from Cincinnati at the instance of Ansel L. Robinson, then superintendent of the Blymer, Day & Co. works. About a month before the murder Lunsford became engaged to a Mr. Ebersole, and the wedding was to take place the next week. Robinson, it was said, was opposed to her marriage. At the time of the murder Ebersole was taking care of a sick man at Shelby. Upon searching the murdered woman's trunk, letters were found from Robinson which betrayed the relations that had existed between them and led to his arrest. A long imprisonment followed, but at the final trial one of the most memorable in the criminal history of the county—he was acquitted. Soon after his acquittal Robinson removed to the northwest, accompanied