300 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY OHIO STATE REFORMATORY The state of Ohio has especially favored Richland county by locating at Mansfield one of the state's finest and most beneficent public institutions. This is the Ohio State Reformatory, formerly known as the Intermediate Penitentiary, located a short distance outside and northeast of the city limits The idea of such an institution for the state was "thought' out" mainly by General Roeliff Brinkerhoff, of Mansfield, then, as now, one of the leading penologists of the world, aria whose study and work along the lines of corrections and charities have made him known the world over. To general Brinkerhoff, more than anyone else, is due the credit of the inception of this great effort of the state to reclaim and reform the young then who, while yet young in crime, are not yet beyond the pale of restoration to good citizenship. This intermediate prison was needed to complete the penal system of the state, intermediate between the Boys' Industrial School and the Ohio Penitentiary. Criminologists like General Brinkerhoff and those associated with him in the agitation for prison reform, held that a combined prison and school was needed for the benefit of young offenders who are not yet given over to a life of crime, whose offenses are more due to thoughtlessness and the rashness of youth than to criminal intent, and who should not be degraded by confinement in the penitentiary and association with hardened and vicious criminals. It had been demonstrated in other states that with proper training and education many of these young violators of the law could be saved from a life of crime and made good citizens. With this object in view the friends of prison reform set about establishing such a reformatory institution for Ohio, and the results have more than justified the hopes and the efforts of those who have labored so long and earnestly for its accomplishment. The proposition to establish the Intermediate Penitentiary of Ohio began to take tangible shape April 14, 1884, when the law was passed by the Legislature creating the institution. In pursuance of this act Governor George Hoadly appointed the first board of managers, which consisted of Ex-Congressman John Q. Smith, of Clinton county, Ex-Judge John M. Pugh, of Columbus, and Frank M. Marriott, of Delaware. This board first took up the question of location and spent more than a year in examining sites. There was an animated contest among a number of cities to secure the location of new the institution. May 9, 1885, the board examined the site offered by Mansfield, and May 20, a delegation consisting of Hiram R. Smith, M. D. Harter, S. N. Ford, and M. B. Bushnell met with the board. at Columbus and presented Mansfield claims. The board visited Mansfield again May 23, and presented to the local committee a proposition looking to the location of the institution at Mansfield. The terms of this proposition were that the citizens of Richland county should give to the state thirty acres of land on which the Intermediate Penitentiary was to be located, and secure for the state an option on one hundred and fifty acres adjoining the thirty acres. This proposition was accepted by the 303 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY loca1 committee and a number of other citizens at a meeting held the evening of the same day at the office of the Mansfield Water Works. A general meeting of the citizens of Mansfield was :held the evening of May 25, in the probate court room for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of the agreement. The necessary committees were appointed. In a few days the finance committee raised the $10,000 necessary for the purchase of the thirty acres to be donated to the state. It was June 2, 1885, that the Intermediate Penitentiary was finally located at Mansfield. On that day the board of managers met at Columbus and took definite action fixing the location, although it had been well understood for some days prior to the date that the institution would go to Mansfild. The board closed its option on the one hundred and fifty acres addition land at $20,000; and the long contest for the location was ended in Mansfield's victory. Preparations were immediately begun for the erection of the buildings. George S. Innes, of Columbus, secretary of the board, was appointed surveyor of the grounds. July 18, 1885, F. F. Schnitzer, of Delaware, now a resident of Mansfield, was appointed. superintendent of construction. At the same meeting the first contract was let by the board to Cohen & McCabe, of Columbus for grading the ground.. The first work was done July 21, 1885, being the commencement of grading. Levi T.. Scofield, of Cleveland, was appointed architect of the building. June 9, 1886, the first construction contract was let to Hancock & Dow, of Mansfield, 'and actual Work on the building was begun soon thereafter. Work on the foundation proceeded during the season of November 4, 1886, was one of the great days in Mansfield's history. On that day the official corner-stone, laying of the Intermediate Penitentiary of place with imposing ceremonies and in the presence of a vast number of people, including many distinguished visitors. It was a beautiful autumn day and the city was finely decorated in honor of the occasion. Senator John Sherman was president of the day and General Thomas T. Dill was grand marshal of the procession from the city to the grounds: The assembly was called to order by General R. Brinkerhoff; prayer by Rev. Dr. S. A. Bronson, rector of Grace Episcopal church; address of welcome by George A. Clugston, mayor of the city; presentation of President of the Day John Sherman, by General Brinkerhoff; address by Hon. John Q. Smith, president of the board of managers; Masonic ceremonies of laying the corner stone, by Grand Lodge of the Ohio F. & A. M., S. Stacker Williams, of Newark, officiating; address by Governor J. B. Foraker; address by Ex-Governor R. B. Hayes; benediction by Rev. Dr. H. L. Wiles, pastor of First Lutheran church of Mansfield. The corner-stone laying was supplemented with a meeting in the evening of the same day in the Congregational church, at which Ex-Governor R. B. Hayes presided, and at which addresses were made by Hon. G. G. Washburn, of Elyria, afterwards a member of the board of managers of the Mansfield instituion; Rev. John C. Milligan, chaplain of the Allegheny (Pa.) Penitentiary; Hon. James Massie, warden of the Central Prison, Toronto, Canada; W. D. Patterson, warden of the Cleveland workhouse; General H. Berry. 304 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY of Minneapolis, Minnesota ; Hon. Levi L. Barbour, member of the state board of charities of Michigan; Hon. George A. Kelly, president of the board of managers of the Western Pennsylvania. penitentiary ; and Hon. F. M. Green, of Akron. Many other prominent persons, including members of the Legislature and newspaper men, attended the corner-stone laying. Work on the building proceeded by slow stages owing to the inadequate appropriations made by the Legislature. The state was in hard financial straits during the years succeeding the beginning of the work, and with appropriations of only from $40,000 to $60,000 each year progress was necessarily slow. In the years 1888 and 1889 no appropriations were made. Work was suspended during these two years and the state was on the point of abandloning the enterprise. A crisis in the life of the Intermediate Penitentiary was reached during the legislative session of 1890. A majority of the House, as well as a majority of the finance committee of that body, were opposed to expending any more money on it and wanted to sell the property or convert it into an insane asylum or do anything to get rid of it. The idea of a reformatory prison for the purpose of reclaiming young men from a life of. crime did not appeal to the law-makers. They regarded it as an unnecessary and expensive experiment. Hon. C. M. Gaumer, the then member of the House of Representatives from Richland county, took hold of the situation with energy and perseverance and finally won a majority of the House in favor of an appropriapriation of $50,000, which was sufficient to keep the project alive for another year. Hon. W. S: Kerr, state senator from this district, piloted the appropriation safely through the Senate, and thus the crisis was passed and the institution saved, at least for that year. Fearing further difficulty in securing 'an appropriation at the next session of the Legislature, at the suggestion of Representative Gaumer, the citizens of Mansfield invited the entire Letislature to become their guests on a trip to Elmira, New York, to inspect the New York State Reformatory, after which the Ohio institution was modeled. The legislators were accompanied on this trip by General R. Brinkerhoff, Captain A. C. Cummins, H. R. Smith, J. M. Waugh, E. H. Keiser, F. F. Schnitzer, R. G. Hancock, and Hon. J. E. Howard, of Bellville. The legislators were so favorably impressed by the Elmira Reformatory that there was no further opposition to going forwward with the work at Mansfield. An appropriation of $180,000 was granted that year, and from that time on the question whether there should be an Ohio State Reformatory was settled for all time. Larger appropriations were made from year to year, as the state's finances became easier, until now, after twenty- four years from the time of its inception, Mansfield has, substantially completed the most magnificent and useful institution of the kind in the United States, if not in the world. Considerably more than a million dollars has been expended by the state in establishing this place for the reformation of the wayward young men of Ohio. At the legislative session of 1890 the number of the board of managers was increased from three to five, and Governor Campbell appointed Hon. G. G. Washburn, of Elyria, and E. H. Keiser, of Mansfield, the additional members. Only two of the citizens of Richland county have been permitted to HISTORY OF RICHLA.ND COUNTY - 305 serve on the board of :managers. These were Colonel B. F. Crawford and E. H. Keiser. There can now be no resident managers because of a law passed some years ago prohibiting any resident of a county where a state institution is located from being appointed a trustee or manager of such institution. Among the many public-spirited citizens of Mansfield who deserve special mention for their energetic and untiring efforts in securing this splendid institution for Mansfield and Richland county are, General R. Brinkerhoff, Captain A. C. Cummins, Judge Eckels McCoy, Colonel B. F. Crawford, Hon. M. D. Harter, Hiram. R. Smith, and John W. Wagner. Hon, James E. Howard, of Bellville, and Hon. John T. McCray, of Ashland, who were members of the Legislature from 1886 to 1890, are also entitled to lunch credit for their good work in behalf of the institution during the early and strenuous days of its existence. And in giving credit to those to whom credit. is due, it would be improper to dose without a word of commendation for Mr. James A. Leonard, the present able and efficient superintendent, whose intelligent management for more than seven years past has contributed so much to the success of the Ohio State Reformatory. It is the universal sentiment of all who are acquainted with the operation of this institution that it would be difficult to find a man so well adapted to the work as Superintendent Leonard has proven himself to be. April 24, 1891, a law was enacted by the Legislature changing the name of the Intermediate Penitentiary to the Ohio State Reformatory, increasing the board of managers from five to six members, making the board non-partisan, androviding for the organization and government of the institution: This law was prepared by General R. Brinkerhoff and introduced in the Senate by Senator Perry M. Adams of Tiffin; the president pro tern of that body. On September the 15th, 1896, the institution heretofore known as the Intermediate Penitentiary, was formally opened as the Ohio State Reformatory under the superintendency of W. D. Patterson, of Cleveland, Ohio. On September 16, 1896, one hundred and fifty prisoners were transferred by special train from the Ohio Penitentiary, and' this group constituted the first prison population of the Reformatory. It was found to be extremely difficult to inaugurate reformatory methods under the peculiar conditions brought about by the transfer of Ohio Penitentiary prisoners, and the lack of equipment of the school of' letters and trade schools, and want of sufficient funds for the necessary equipment for an ideal reformatory. The inmates were diligently employed, however, in improving the grounds and premises, but it was found necessary in order to have employment in winter, to secure temporarily a contract under which the men could secure factory employment. After one year's service, Mr. W. D. Patterson was succeeded by W. E. Sefton, of Canton, Ohio. The passage of the indeterminate sentence law caused the population of the Reformatory to rapidly increase, and after the original population which had been transferred from the Penitentiary had disappeared from the institution it was possible to put into effect a system of rules and regulations in harmony with the indeterminate sentence and to grade the inmates in accordance with their conduct while in the institution. 306 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY Schools of letters were organized, but little was accomplished in the way of industrial training, as the Legislature was slow to make appropriation for this purpose. But the inmates were employed to good purpose in the improvement of farm property, putting in sewage system, building roads; and other improvement work incident to the creation of a great institution. In February, 1901, Mr. W. E. Sefton was succeeded as superintendent by the present incumbent, Mr. J. A. Leonard, of Youngstown, Ohio. In the year following, the Reformatory laws were revised in many important particulars, which rendered the. administration of the institution as a true reformatory less difficult. The Legislature authorized the expenditure of not to exceed fifty per cent of the earnings of the inmates for the purpose of industrial training. Under this provision of law industrial schools were first established in the line of building trades. Inmates were instructed In bricklaying, stone cutting, carpentry, painting and in iron work. Since. the inauguration of this policy no construction work has been given by contract. Six large brick buildings have been erected with inmate labor exclusively. A large block of steel cells, much structural iron work, the extension of the heating and lighting plant are among the most important enterprises undertaken by the trade school classes in iron work. It is found that the expense of these important improvements, because of the employment of inmate labor, Was but forty-seven per cent of the probable cost, if given out by contract. The expense of the trade school, however; is not alone an economical .saving, but has its highest. value in the skill and habits of industry that come to the young men therein employed. Under the provisions of law, the contract system is being superseded by what is known as the State Use System. The Reformatory inmates nor manufacture all the shoes required for all other state institutions; also all the brooms. Under the provisions of what is known as the Wertz bill this State Use System will be rapidly extended until the industrial trade schools of the Reformatory will manufacture a wide range of articles for state use; furniture, vehicles, harness, tools, implements, clothing, shoes, brooms, brushes —in short, whatever is required in large quantities for use in state institutions or state offices. The present policy of the Reformatory management contemplates the diligent employment of all inmates during a half of each day in some farm of manual labor, the other half day being devoted to the school of letters and to physical training, the chief feature of which is a thorough military training; this being found to be the most interesting and effective general system for physical exercise. The Ohio State Reformatory, while it is a prison. and always must remain so, is something more: It is a school of letters in which every inmate must acquire a common school education before he is eligible to parole; it is a sanitarium in which inmates are cleansed of the results of excesses and dissipation and restored to good sound physical health, as a prime requisite for moral regeneration ; it is an industrial training institution in which the plan contemplated gives all inmates a certain degree of skill in the use of tools, affords a great many a degree of skill that will enable them to enter upon thee HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 307 chosen callings upon leaving the institution as advanced apprentices, and not a few go from the institution thorough journeymen in their respective trades. The Reformatory is, moreover, an institution for moral instruction. In addition to the customary .agencies, such as the regular chapel service, Catholic service, the prayer meeting, sand Sunday school, the young men have the benefit of a course of lectures and systematic instruction in civic duties ; and lasst, but not least, there is maintained under wise and competent direction a school of ethics in which are taken up all sorts of hypothetical questions of a practical everyday character and thoroughly discussed from an ethical point of view. The Reformatory library would be a credit to any institution, and the inmates are encouraged to subscribe for the best reading matter as represented by the best weekly and monthly periodical's. At the present time there are in the institution a thousand young men; and of these six hundred subscribe for one or more high-class magazines. The rules of the institution provide for a system of promotion through three grades, in order to secure eligibility for parole. The degree of restraint upon an inmate depends entirely upon his character and conduct. A large number are employed at all times outside of the. institution enclosure under what is known as the "institutional parole:" Those enjoying the privilege of working on the farm or on the institution premises, free from the restraint of armed guard, are under an Honor Bond,- which they give to the assistant superintendent, the general superintendent becoming ,their surety. In the last report of the superintendent he states that he has become surety on more than eight hundred bonds, and only four of that number have been dishonored. All information available tends to show that at least three out of every four young men who leave the institution go out to lead honest, industrious lives, and the private records of the institution reveal much interesting information as to the high degree. of success attending many of the young menwh have had a course in the Ohio State Reformatory. The management of the reformatory has. striven a long time for a probable feature as a part of the .reformatory system: This probation feature is now in successful operation. Those in the custody of the reformatory management at the present time consist of one thousand inmates actually incarcerated, four hundred on parole and twenty-five on probation, the number on probation is small, but will rapidly increase. Those on parole or probation are closely looked after in a friendly, helpful, but thorough-going .manner by two field officers, who aim to see each man on parole or probation at least once a month. The general spirit of the administration of the Ohio State Reformatory is best set forth in the words of a report made by the general superintendent to the board of managers and presented by them to the governor as a part of their annual report. Reformatory methods and processes within the institution should not be the round of transcendental nonsense that unwise advocates and partially informed opponents of the system have represented it to be. But, on the contrary, it consists, or should consist, of the Most practical and commonsense methods. It should be characterized by. a thorough, firm discipline. This 308 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY discipline should not be of a character to destroy, distort or demean the personality of the young criminal. It should be rather of the character of strong greatest. and most hope-inspiring fact auto frail humanity is its "improvable better or the best, must ever remain a divine art that no man or group of men as that. of Mansfield, Ohio, and Elmira., New York. Reformatory administration and treatment, while avoiding the windy waste of speculation as to "defectives," "innate criminals," "degenerates" etc, aims through the scientific study of heredity, environment, physical ane psychical peculiarities of each individual,. and by prudent experimentation, to arrive at a degree of scientific precision in classificaton and methods. The young criminal may be awakened to a new 'intellectual day by the educational processes of the reformatory school. He may be quickened to a new spiritual life by the inspiration of moral or religious truth; but lie stands secure only when his feet rest upon the rock of economic independence. "Labor stands on golden feet" is a proverb, the truth of which can be realized by the reformatory inmate only after industrial training has given creative vision to his eye and constructive skill to his hands. To this end, the state laws should be so amended as to make it possible to employ young criminals in productive industries, skilled and unskilled. It is not possible to train such large numbers of young men as are found in reformatory institutions in mere non-productive practice work in manual training and trade school classes. Output in quantity and quality are the most wholesome incentives. A wholesome moral atmosphere is fundamental to successful work in reformatory institutions. It should not be tainted by anything questionable in business methods, official appointments or the character or conduct of any person connected with the institution. It should be so electric with manly vigor as to quicken into life the latent manliness that is supposed to sleep in the .soul of even the worst criminal. It should be so genial and warm with honest human sympathy as to be a balm for the hurt mind and a gentle stimulant to the dormant sensibilities of those who are at all responsive. Permit me to say in closing this, my sixth annual report, that a retrospect of the :six years' experience in dealing with the young men committed to our care does not weaken or destroy my faith in the reformatory methods of dealing with the youthful criminal. John Fiske said that the greatest and most hope-inspiring fact as to frail humanity is its "improvableness. " The Pharisee who is so good that he cannot, and the criminal who is so had that he will not, avail himself of this comforting truth represent let us hope and believe, the exceptions and not the rule among men. The exceptions, however, are sufficient to measurably justify the contention of the pessimist and to sober the zeal of the optimist. The latter has, however, upon the whole, the larger truth, and is best able to distinguish between the substance and the shadow, be that shadow ever so dark. I am inclined to believe that it is better—more wholesome—for us who are charged with the practical administration of a reformatory to lean to the optimistic; otherwise, We might be disposed to minimize our efforts by absolving ourselves from responsibility by attributing our failures to the total depravity HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 309 of the offenders rather than to find the explanation largely in our own limitations, as to means and methods, the want 'of resourcefulness, or lack of experience, knowledge or wisdom. Truly, the winning of these young men from a likeness or weakness for wrongdoing justifies the employment of the best scientific means and processes available. But the winning of men from bad to good, and from good to better or the best, must ever remain a divine art that no man or group of men cab hope to fully master. The degree of success attending our efforts thus far justifies the existence- of the institution, and the failures should not discourage but stimulate to more strenuous and more wisely directed effort. The standing of the Ohio State Reformatory is second to no institution of its kind. Commissioners from the German government, after visiting the Ohio State Reformatory, have published in English and German very complimentary statements, and the German reformers Who are endeavoring to introduce reformatory methods into German prisons have taken the Ohio State Reformstory as a model. A Canadian parliamentary commission visited the reformatory within a year, and after making an exhaustive. study of the whole matter of reformatory prisons and the indeterminate sentence, accorded the Ohio State Reformatory first rank in the following statement: "The reformatory idea originated nearly a century ago in Europe, but made little progress until quite recently. On this continent the new plan of treating the unfortunate moral weaklings of the community has found its highest development in the United States, particularly in such reformatories as that of Mansfield, Ohio, and Elmira, New York. THE RICHLAND COUNTY INFIRMARY. The Richland county infirmary is situated six miles northeast of Mansfield, on the Olivesburg road, in Weller township. In descending the Pittenger hilt a good view of the institution is presented. The building is on the east side of the valley upon an upland, with the big hill as a background, making a beautiful picture—the green valley, the wooded hillside. The inmates are treading the declining path of life, with the shadows lengthening and darkening. We hope the light spoken of by the prophet may be theirs in this, the eventide of their lives, and that happiness and peace may be found when they cross the "divide." The infirmary farm contains about 160 acres of valuable land. A brook of living waer runs through the place and empties into Brewbaker creek, a half mike to the northwest. The inmates now number 120, and these who are able work—the men on the farm, the women in the buildings. While the minds of nearly all the inmates are more or less affected—from the maniac down to those who are simply childish from old age. The space allotted to this sketch will not admit of going into details, and can only say that the farm and buildings seem to be complete in their appointments and arrangements. The farm is well stocked, the institution is supplied 310 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY with pure water brought in pipes from the hill, the building is warmed by radiators from a furnace, the rooms look tidy and the beds clean, showing the excellent management of Mr. and Mrs. Imhoff. The inmates of eleemosynary institutions are of two classes—those who are deficient in some way from their birth and those who become afflicted in mind; body. or estate later in life, and all are entitled to the sympathy and aid of their more fortunate brothers. We know not what. a day may bring forth in, our own lives, and if we take retrospect of the past what is presented! We see a man walk forth in the morning of life, his step elastic. But he soon passes the meridian, and anon we see him in the evening time of life with his eyes lacking their old time luster and filmed over with the dimness of age. In this retrospective view we see those who a few years before had been strong, now tottering with the weakness of a child, and men who had been considered oracles of wisdom sink into second childishness, and those who had been rich brought down to poverty, wealthy possessions, worldly power all gone, yet in the face of all this have we profited by their experience, or have we fostered, perhaps, the folly we have derided, or practiced the pride we have condemned, or have we discovered a preventive for the weakness and senility of age? We know not what the future may have in store even for those who are the most prosperous today. Therefore, let us favor the enactment of laws still more humane. and remember and heed what the psalmist saith : "Blessed be the man that provideth for the sick and needy ; the Lord shall deliver him in the time of his trouble." It is creditable to the human heart and conscience of the people of Ohio that retreats called infirmaries—are maintained in every county in the state: places where the poor and needy can go for shelter and for food. Many of the unfortunates have doubtless made shipwrecks of themselves, but the fact that a man has been the cause of his own ruin has no bearing on the ease, for many lives have their heart histories unknown and unguessed by those who are more fortunate: RICHLAND COUNTY CHILDREN'S HOME. During the past thirty years great and humane progress has been made throughout the United States in the care of the poor, dependent children. In 1878 in Ohio our statistics show 2,604 children in public care during the yet Of these 526 were cared, for in the six county homes then in operation and the others were in county infirmaries. By 1898 the number of homes had increased to forty-six in number. In Ohio, as well as in other states, the importance of caring for dependent children is very generally recognized and provided for, ample provision being made by the state for their care and education. At their meeting held September 10, 1880, the county commissioners of Richland county ordered that a vote should be taken at the annual October election of that year for or against the erection of a children's home in Richland county. The vote at the election resulted in 1,590 majority in favor of the proposition. In the April following the commissioners appointed a board of trustees for the home, composed of the following persons: Hiram R. Smith, HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 311 Irwin and Banard Sens. The baard met, qualified and organized and on the 14th of August, 1882, appointed Mrs. Alice Wright, of Shelby, matron of home, but it was not until May 19, 1883, that the commissioners turned the home over to the trustees. May 31, 1883, the first inmates were received at the home—seventeen boys and eight girls from the county infirmary. The matron; Mrs. Alice Wright, resigned on the first of November, 1883, and Mr. M. M. Gates was then appointed .superintendent and his wife was appointed matron. In March, 1884, Henry D. Keith succeeded Hiram R. Smith as trustee. The resignation of Mr. and Mrs. Gates was accepted in 1886, and Mr. and Mrs. John H. Mowers succeeded them as superintendent and matron, which positions they held until August 6, 1887; and the trustees appointed Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Palmer to succeed them. January 9, 1887, M. D. Ward succeeded. Henry Keith as trustee. In 1888, John J. Douglass succeeded Ballard Sens as trustee.. Rev. H. L. Wiles succeeded Levi Irwin as trustee, and on March 4, 1890, J. P. Seward succeeded M. D. Ward as trustee. September 1, 1891, Mr. and Mrs. Mathias Mowry succeeded Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Palmer as superintendent and matron. June 1893,. Mr. McElroy was made the fourth member of the board of trustees; the number of trustees having been increased from three to four. In February; 1894, David Bricker succeeded Mr. Douglass as trustee February 1, 1898, Joseph W. Palmer was appointed trustee to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. McElroy. September 1, 1897, Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Uhlich succeeded Mr. and. Mrs. Mowry as superintendent and matron, which positions they. have very creditably and satisfactorily filled and continue to hold. In April, 1901, I. S. Donnell succeeded T. P. Seward as trustee. October, 1902, Rev. Baltzly was appointed 'trustee to fill the unexpired term of the Rev. H. L. Wiles, deceased. March 1,1907; the Rev. J. J. Dimon succeeded the Rev. Baltzly as trustee. The "Home" is situate upon a forty-acre tract of land at the southeastern part of the city. The building is of brick, three. stories in height, and is sufficiently large to accommodate eighty inmates, besides the officers and teachers. The greatest number of inmates, however, there at one time was seventy-six. The average number between forty and fifty. On the evening of December 19, 1904, a small party of ladies and gentlemen passed the evening at the home taking: a Christmas treat to the children. Among that party was the late Senator William Lawrence, then the. editor of the Mansfield Daily Shield newspaper. The. day following Editor Lawrence gave the following write-up in his paper of the Home, its management and its inmates, which was so well and truthfully written that we reproduce it here: THE CHILDREN'S HOME. "There is at least one institution in Richland county of which all the citizens, without regard to political and religious prejudices or predilections, should be proud. It is the children's home, an institution maintained by the taxpayers for the purpose of giving the advantages of a home to those little 312 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY children of the community who, by no fault of their own, have been deprived of the kindly care and training that is the birthright of every child brought into the world. "Several members of the Shield force, in company with Captain Wilson, of Bellville, had pleasure of visiting the Richland County Children's Home on Tuesday evening. They met the children and heard them sing and recit the little speeches they have prepared for Christmas. They inspected the dormitories, the Playrooms, the schoolroom, the dining-rooms and the kitchen. and to say they found everything in order is but putting the case mildly. Cleanliness, which is next to godliness, was apparent in every department, and the same scrupulous .neatness that exists in every well regulated private household reigned throughout this large building. The clean, bright faces of the children, their neat clothing and their unconcealed love and respect for their matron further emphasized the fact that the physical and moral welfare of these helpless waifs was being looked after with as much solicitude and love as in many of Sour best Christian homes. "It is indeed a treat to spend an hour or two in this institution, and every resident of the county should enjoy the pleasure at least once. No one who has not inspected such an institution can truly realize the peculiar talents and temperaments required to Manage it successfully. No one who has not had experience in such management can fully appreciate the endless care and the great amount of labor involved in keeping the institution always in perfect condition and order. We do not believe there is another like institution in Ohio that is so capably and, withal, so economically managed as is the Richland county home, and this creditable standing is largely due to the superintendent and matron, Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Uhlich, who seem peculiarly well fitted and adapted for the. positions. "In this glad Christmas season, the benevolent citizens of Mansfield should not forget the orphaned children in the big house on the hill. They are looking for Santa Claus with as eager eyes as your own darling boys and girls, and their little hearts can be made glad so easily and with so little expense. "Let the citizens of Mansfield remind Santa Claus that he will grievously offend if he should neglect to drop down via the big chimneys of the home on the hill the night before Christmas' and leave every child there an assortment of toys. Let not one be forgotten—not even the sweet faced, blue-eyed babe in its cradle." MONROE TOWNSHIP. Monroe township is six miles square and was organized February 11, 1817. The surface is broken, but the land is generally fertile, productive crops upon uplands and valleys. The township has abundant water supply both of running streams and flowing springs. The Clearfork of the Mohican flows across the southeast corner; the Blackfork across the northeast part; the Rockyfork through the northern part, and Switzer's run diagonally through the southwest part of the, township. Of the gushing springs, Schrack's on the northeast quarter of section 34, and the Sheehy spring on the southeast quarter of section 22, have the greatest outputs. A. few of those of less flow are: HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 315 Switzer's, on the southeast quarter of section 34; Douglass', at Green Gables, and the Kinment's, on the southwest quarter of section 22. The first settler was David Hill, who built the first cabin in the township. The site of this cabin is on the southwest quarter of section 9, where Silas Rummel now lives. The following is a partial list of the early settlers : David Hill, section 9; Frederick Bonenberg, section 10 ; John G. Peterson, section 1; John Lambright, section 2 ; Mordecai Williams, section 35 ; Abraham Baughman, section 25; Adam Wolfe, section 19 ; Frederick Switzer, section 13 ; Robert and William Stewart, William Ray, William McLaughlin, Thomas Rigdon, William Ferguson and Thomas McBride, on section 8; Jeremiah Smart, section 4; Thomas Pope and Daniel Balliett, section 9 ; Andrew Richey, Michael Huffman, and Ebenezer Smith, section 6; John Tier, Melzer Coulter, section 19 ; David and Charles Schrack, section 34 ; David Ellis, section 17; Frederick Cromer and David Crawford,. section 26 ; Christian Good, section 3; John Douglass, section 28 ; Solomon Gladden, section 23 ; William McDanel, section 26. Adam Wolfe settled in Monroe township in 1816. He had been a soldier in the war of the American Revolution. He died April 24, 1845, aged eighty-five years. Adam Wolfe was the grandfather of Judge N. M. Wolfe, of Mansfield. Joseph Reed came to Richland county, Ohio, in 1829, and settled on the northwest quarter of section 23, in Monroe township, where he resided until his death. October 3, 1874. He was the father of J. M. Reed, of this city, and the grandfather of Verner Z. Reed, of Colorado. Solomon Gladden came in 1816, but.. did not settle permanently until 1817. He had served in the war of 1812, was a justice of the peace and a member of the legislature: Squire Gladden was the grandfather of the Hon. W. S. Kerr. Mansfield's ex-congressman. Samuel Douglass came to Richland county in 1829. and settled in Monroe township in 1831. He was the grandfather of the Hon. A. A.. Douglass and Judge S. M. Douglass, of Mansfield. The Douglass farm contains over two hundred acres, and has been in the possession of the family over seventy years. Abraham Baughman had been the first settler in the vicinity of Greentown, but during the war of 1812 removed. to Monroe township and entered the southwest quarter of section 25, where he located and resided until his death, in January, 1821. Abraham Baughman and wife and three of their sons—Abraham, Jacob and George—are buried at Perrysville. Among the early school teachers were Captain James Cunningham John Clark, John Tucker, William Wigton and Joseph Wolfe. The first election in.the township was held in 1817, and resulted in the election of J. G. Peterson, William McLaughlin and David Ellis as trustees and Andrew Richey as lister. Ten votes were cast. The first grist mill was erected in 1820 by Peter Zerby. This was the Octorora mills, and was situate near where the Pennsylvania railroad crosses the Rockyfork. 316 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY Another grist mill was erected on the Rockyfork, between Zerby mill and Lucas in 1830, by Reinhart Oldfield. This mill is still being operated. The LaRue mill, west of Lucas, was also built in 1830. Is not now running/ Another early grist mill was that of Charles Schrack's, on Switzer's run, known some years since as the Rose Mills. A number of saw mills were erected pm the Rockyfork and on Switzer's run. A woolen factory was built in alout 1846 on the Rockyfork, a mile and a half below Lucas, and was operated for several years. In 1819 the following names appear on the tax duplicate of Monroe township : James and George Archer, Abraham Baughman, Stephen Brady, Jacob Baughman, George Baughman, Frederick Boneberger, James Church, Frederick Cramer, John Douglass, David Ellis, William Furgeson, Benjamin Forbey, Benjamin Gatton, Christian Good, Solomon Gladden, Henry Huffman, Rebecca Hensel, James Irwin, John Iler, Peter Kenney, Lawrence King, John Lambright, William McLaughlin, Amerine Marshall, Thomas and Alexander McBride, Jr., Jacob Oler, John G. Peterson, William Bay, Andrew Richey, Jacob Switzer, Frederick Switzer, William Slater, Thomas Summerman, Samuel Stewart, David Shrack, Ebenezer Smith, M. Shinnebarger, Jeremiah Smart, Jacob and Mordecai Williams, William Wilson, Adam Wininger, Samuel White, Adam and Robert Wolfe and Peter Zerby. One of the first religious societies organized in Monroe was of the Swedeborgian faith, under the teachings of "Johnny Appleseed," and of its members were John Tucker, David Crawford, Joseph Applegate, et al., men who led blameless lives and had the respect of the community in which they lived. The Lutheran is the prevailing religious denomination in Monroe. The Baptist, the Reformed and the United Presbyterian denominations each had a church and an organization. All are now numbered with the thing that were but are not. There are now seven churches in Monroe--five Lutheran, one Congregational and one Disciple. St. John's Lutheran church is situate at the north side of the Darling valley, about half way between Newville and Perrysville. The congregation was organized in 1838. "Saint John's" is used as a synecdochical term, meaning the church, the locality or both. In the '50s the late Rev. W. A. G. Emerson preached at St. John's. He was one of the most talented ministers of his day; with a perfect command of the English language, never hesitating for a term to felicitously express his thoughts. He threw such persuasive power and convincing force into his sermons that he swayed his audience at his will. He dwelt more upon the love of the Father than upon the terrors of the law, and his word pictures were beautifully drawn. Mrs. J. M. Condon, of Sherman avenue; Mansfield, is a niece of the Rev. Mr. Emerson. Mohawk Hill, near the center of the township, is an elevation of natural as well as historical interest. Its northwest side, being too steep and rocky for cultivation, is still covered with its native forest. The road winds around to to lessen the grade, and at the top of the hill there is a rolling surface of tableland, with a dip to the east overlooking the Rockyfork valley. The hill takes HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 317 its name from the fact that Mohawk Indians were buried there during the occupancy of Helitown, which was evacuated in 1783. Pipe's Cliffs, near Green Gables in Pleasant valley, is also a place of both geological and historical interest: Historically, it is named for Captain Pipe, a chief of the Monsey branch of the Delaware tribe. Round Head, an Indian warrior (who married Captain Pipe's sister) with his wife and child and other Indians, were fleeing in 1781. from the punishment which justly awaited them in the Muskingum valley, had encamped upon the summit of these cliffs, and seeing a squad of pursuing soldiers coming up the valley, the Indians opened fire upon them. The soldiers returned the fire, aiming at the part of the cliff from which the smoke came through the thick foliage of the densely forestcovered hill, and Onalaska—Round Head's wife who was standing near to the edge of one of the rocks with her child in her arms, was struck by a bullet, fell to the base of the cliff, where their bodies were buried. Two Indian warriors were also wounded or killed by the soldiers. Sentimentality must be far-spun out to censure the troops for returning the fire of their ambushed foes. The late Rev. Richard Gailey founded "Monroe Seminary," in the southwestern part of Monroe township, in— May, 1851. and after successfully continuing the same for about ten years. removed to Lexington, where he continued in the same pursuit until his death, in 1875. Captain I. N. Thompson and wife now own and occupy the Gailey residence of the Monroe academy days. Of the three attempts at town building in Monroe township, only one Lucas—succeeded. Octororo was started with fine prospects, but was outrivalled by Lucas, and many people of Monroe today scarcely know it ever existed. Six Corners - commonly called "Pinhook"—still contains a few buildings. Pinhook is situate at the intersection of the Newville-Mifflin and the Lucas Perrysville roads, with the section line road running east and west through the center of the township. Pinhook was at the height of its prosperity in 1852, and at that time contained' several business buildings, a number of dwelling, a schoolhouse and a Masonic hall. William B., Miller was the postmaster and merchant at the place. Michael Hogan was born in Ireland. Received a classical education. Also graduated in. medicine and surgery. Then took a military course. Came to America and located in New York. Was given a commission as major in the regular army, where he served five years. Came to Ohio in 1818, and engaged in the mercantile business at Newville. In 1827 he bought the northwest quarter of section 35 in Monroe township, upon which he removed and resided until his death, January 17, 1875. Buried in the Catholic cemetery, Mansfield. Major Hogan was one the best classical scholars in Ohio. He could read the history of several countries of Europe in the language of each. The old homestead is still in the possession of the family. James Stout, a New Jerseyman by birth and a Hollander by descent, entered the west half of the southwest quarter of section 22, upon which he located in 1829, and upon which lived until his death, August 30, 1864. There were but few settlers in that part of the township at that time. There were heavey forests, and wild cats, deer and wild turkeys were numerous, and bears 318 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY were frequently seen. Mr. Stout was fond of hunting, and his wife could sjppt squirrels and other small game equally well with her husband. The Stouts were industrious people and good neighbors. Hiram Stout, the survivor of the family lives at the old home. He is eighty:four years old and a bachelor. Michael Swigart who was a .drum-major in the war of 1812, settled in Monroe township in 1832. One of his sons, Leonard Swigart, was a commissioner of Richland county, 1860-66. "Aunt Betsey" . Chew, of Monroe township; and Jesse L. Swigart, of Lucas, are children of the late Michael Swigart . John Swigart, the father of Luther M. Swigart, of Mansfield, was a Monroe township pioneer. He also served in the war of 1812. He settled in Monroe, in 1821. William Darling, another soldier of the war of 1812, settled in Monroe in 1817. He acquired by purchase 1,185 acres of land in one body, and also owned a number of other farms not connected with that. tract. This land lies along the Clearfork, below Newville, and is very fertile. This valley is often called the Darling settlement or the Darling valley. The following is a copy of an appendix to William Darling's will: "Having been one of the Pioneers of this part of Ohio, the maker of this will, .having emigrated from Hardy county, Virginia, in the year 1803, in company with his father and family, to Muskingum county, Ohio, and endured all the hardships, trials and privations incident to the settling and improving of a new country, I do give and bequeath my love, respect and good will to all my old associates, and hope that, by the intelligence, energy and untiring industry of growing posterity, the prosperity of my beloved country may continue to increase as surely and rapidly as though we pioneers were kill here to look after our country's welfare for, next to my love for my God and my family, is my love for my country—these blessed United States. May prosperity and peace be the lot of our happy, happy land." In one of the charming little valleys of Monroe township are two phenomena more pronounced and peculiar than exist . in any other part of Richland county. These phenomena are a. pillar of cloud by day and a cloud of light by night in the same locality. Upon the eastern side of the valley, traversed by a stream that empties into the Clearfork of the Mohican in the vicinity of Saint John's, is a primitive forest over a section of which a cloud of misty vapor hovers over the tree tops, as it has in the years gone by, for ages untold. This phenomenon has never been explained, but many speculative theories have been advanced in attempted explanation of the mystery. Some have opined that there is a mineral deposit in the earth in that locality, although unable to give philosophical or pedantic reasons for such conclusions. Others suppose there is a subterranean hot spring from which steam issues through some invisible crevice, forming a vapor mist that hangs over the trees like a cloud. This pillar of cloud causes day dreamers to muse, not upon the cause of the phenomenon, but upon the pictures presented in the form-like shapes one can see, or fancy they see in the cloud. From the other side of the valley, looking over the broad meadows at the wooded slope, with its low-hanging cloud, the HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 319 scene is picturesque and fascinatingly poetical, reminding old soldiers in some respects of the mists that hang over Lookout mountain at certain limes. The other phenomenon is a jack-o-lantern that moves over the meadows of the valleys, always going toward thelocality where the cloud is seen by day. Many fruitless chases boys have had over the bottom lands after this will-o'- the-wisp in vain, for it always distanced them, or hid away, to reappear further off towards the woodland. These lights were understood to be jack-o' lanterns, but often gave occasion for the pastime of ail amusing chase. Such lights ate sometimes called ignis fatuus, and are susceptible of a scientific explanation, when all the facts are collected and compared. Illusions, more or less ludicrous are occasionally mixed up with what really does occur. It has been pretty well ascertained that jack-o'-lantern lights, which consist of a glow without a. flame, are due to phosphorescence. Phosphorus exists in all animal organisms and when the organism is decomposed the phosphorus makes its presence visible. If decaying animal substance yields more phosphorus than decaying vegetables, the latter are an abundant source of inflammable .gases hence, the fact that swamp meadows are the places in which the flickering nocturnal lights are often to be seen, produced by the combustion of the gases generated from decomposed grasses and leaves. Particular conditions of the weather hasten decomposition and the lights are more abundant at such times. Electricity may also produce such, or similar lights, but perhaps cannot be explained as easily in that connection, as can chemical combustion and ignition. Electricity is now so much better understood than it was formerly that many resultants in the years ago, looked upon with superstitious awe, can now be scientifically explained. The old-time phenomenon of Saint Helen's—sometimes called Saint Elmo's—fire, now excites but little attention or remarks. This fire was the lights that are 'sometimes seen on the points of soldiers' bayonets when upon the march;. froth church spires and other pointed objects. Such lights are seen when there is a peculiar electrical condition in the air. St. John's Lutheran church is in the southeast corner of Monroe township, half-way between Newville and Perrysville. In the vocabulary of that part of the country, "St John's" is used as a Synecdochical term, meaning either the church, the locality or both. While the church society was organized in 1838, a church building was not erected until 1842, services in the interim being held at the home of Mathias Stouffer and at other private houses. A new church edifice—a handsome and commodious brick building, costing about $5,000— was erected in 1870. The congregation is a large, wealthy and prosperous one. St. John's is situated in one of the richest valleys of the Clearfork—a valley that is as beautiful in its landscape as it is fertile in its soil. The township line running east and west divides this valley between Monroe and Worthington townships. The first settlement in the southeast part of Richland county was at St. John's, and among the early settlers were Samuel Lewis, Captain James Cunningham, Andrew Craig.and Henry McCart. In 1812 the "Lewis block-   320 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY house" was built on the northeast quarter of section 1 in Worthington township, about a mile south of where the church now stands. In the St. John's valley is the Darling fort, an ancient earth-work, erected by at people of whom we knoe nothing. Some of the finest specimens in the large collection of relics and curiosities owned by the late Dr. J. P. Henderson weretaken from this fort, which is situated on the north bank of the Clearfork, a short distance south of the church. The fort is circular and contains an area of about three acres. It bad embankments from the gate at the south side leading down to the bank of the river. It was visited, surveyed and explored by Judge Peter Kenney in his day. The embankments were then about three feet high, and the whole covered with a growth of timber which showed that the works had been made centuries before. The fort commands a good view of the valley, and was, perhaps, intended as a defensive work. The greater part, if not all, of these ancient earthworks were planned and constructed upon geographical and geometrical lines and measurements. Their uses and purposes are matters of vague conjectures which the people of this age will never be able to determine. Evidences exist of the occupation of this country by a race of people somewhat advanced in the arts and sciences, but who they were, from whence they came and what became of them, are questions for speculative history. The Pennsylvania element predominated in the early settlement of Monroe township, but the proportion was not sufficiently large to leave distinctive racial characteristics among the generation of today. For several years, commencing, perhaps, in 1855, the late Rev. W. A. C. Emerson was pastor of the congregation at St. John's. Mr. Emerson was born in Fairfax county, Virginia,. 1816; and died at Ashland November, 1879. He was of. French descent wand possessed many of the traits and polite accomplishments of his ancestry. In many respects Mr. Emerson was an extraordinary man. As a preacher he was one of the most eloquent and powerful. The most appropriate words were always at his command, and he never hesitated for a term to felicitously express his thoughts. His voice was under the most perfect control and capable of expressing all the emotions of the human heart. His manner was earnest and impressive and his style pleasant and fascinating. He threw. such persuasive power and convincing force into his sermons that he electrified his hearers and swayed them at his will. He loved to dwell upon the goodness of the Father and of the Savior's love, and his word pictures were beautiful and entrancing. In 1862 Mr. Emerson became chaplain of the One Hundredth and Twentieth Regiment, 0. V. I., and lost his health in the service. Mr. Emerson was not successful financially—and the majority of people are not—but many who read these lines will bear witness. that he was one of the greatest preachers of his day and generation. MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP. Vermillion township was originally eighteen miles long from north to south, and twelve miles wide from east to west. In 1814 this territory was cut into two parts, and the west half was called Mifflin. In 1816 Mifflin was HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 321 divided, and the portion lying directly east of and adjoining Madison, six miles square, retained the name and organization of Mifflin township. A number of settlers there came from Mifflin township, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania---hence the name. When Ashland county was created in 1846, Mifflin was again divided by the county line, which follows the general course of the Blackfork. The territory on each side of the line retains the name of Mifflin, one being in Ashiand, the other in Richland county. The surface of Mifflin along the Blackfork is generally hilly, but the western part of the township is more level, and some of the most productive farms in the county, are along the Blackfork valley, and the farmers are generally well and comfortably situated. Long before Mifflin was settled by white men it was a favorite hunting ground for the Indians, as all kinds of game abounded in its primeval forests: Samuel and David Hill and ArChibed Gardner were the first white settlers in Mifflin, locating there either late in 1809 or early in 1810. Samuel Hill settled on the northeast quarter of section 33, north of Lucas. Archibald Gardner located near Windsor. The settlement and history of Mifflin have been similar to that of the other townships of the county. In the beginning there were dangers from savages and from the climatic diseases of a new country. The Mifflin pioneers, like those of other localities; lived in log cabins, cleared their lands, worked early and late, and their. bill-of-fare consisted, principally, of corn bread, fish and game. As the population increased, :there were shooting matches and militia musters. The men were robust and brave and the women were fit mothers for the generations that were to follow. , Time passed and Mifflin grew and improved and prospered, keeping step with her sister townships, and will soon be traversed by trolley lines, bringing the people in touch. with the county seat and country towns and pleasure resorts. Before churches or schoolhouses were built, religious services were held and schools were taught in the cabins of the pioneers. In time, fine churches were erected for religious and educational purposes, and today the churches and schoolhouses of that township are evidences of the high character and attainments of the people. Robert. Bentley settled upon the southwest quarter of section 10 in 1815. The family camped in their wagon until their cabin was built and in which they lived until 1828, when they Moved out of the old cabin into a fine brick residence—the first brick dwelling erected' in Richland county. Mr. Bentley was for seven years an associate judge of the court of common pleas, and served two terms in the state senate. He was a major general of the Ohio militia, and was a prominent man in business, as well as in civic and military affairs. He died in Mansfield in 1862. Two grandchildren of General Bentley reside in Mansfield - the Hon. M. B. Bushnell and the wife of General Brinkerhoff. Peter Hout was born upon the farm on which he now resides, November 17, 1821, and has, therefore, been a resident of this township for eighty-two years. He attended school in one of the log schoolhouses common at the time. He can relate many interesting incidents of pioneer life, when the land was all 322 -HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY wild and unimproved and when wild game was plentiful in that region. Mr. Hout has held several township offices, and also served his county as infirmary director two terms. As an honored pioneer and representative man of Mifflin he is worthy the high regard in which he is held. The Houts are both numerous and prosperous. One rural mail carrier from Mansfield delivers mail to a dozen Hout families. The late Isaac Aby settled. in Mifflin in 1826. In 1854 he married Sarah Clugston, sister of George A. Clugston, of this city. Mr. Aby was a California "forty-niner," and what he accumulated in the Golden State gave him a good financial start upon his return, and.. as the years came he bought farm after farm and was quite wealthy at the time of his death. His son—Byron J. Aby—is one of the wealthy and prominent farmers of Mifflin today. The Ballietts are both numerous and prosperous. Mifflin does not contain all of them, for Washington and other townships have many families of them. Whenever you pass a Blliett farm you see a place that is well improved: There are a number of Boals families, all well situated, and the late David Boats was a county commissioner.  James Chew located in Mifflin in 1817. His sons were Andrew, William, Aaron and Cephias. James Chew died in 1839. The Chews have been prominent. people in Richland county since its early settlement. Daniel Hoover was one of the early settlers of Mifflin township, and through his industry and frugality accumulated considerable property. He was married to Sarah Sheller. They were the parents of eight children, of whom Joseph, born in 1824, was the eldest The others were Mary, Henry, Aaron, Christian, Alfred, Elizabeth and Daniel. Mr. Hoover was a Baptist, and frequently had preaching at his house. Daniel Kohler, Sr., was 'born in Pennsylvania in 1814. Caine to Ohio at an early day and was married to Nancy Brubaker. The Kohlers, the Kagys, the Cotters, the Coles and Hershes are related by marriage. Duncan McBride was born in Virginia in 1807, came with his parents to Richland county in 1817, and settled one mile north of Lucas, in a. log cabin, which for a time had no floor but the earth later a puncheon floor was laid and a quilt Was hung up for a. door. In those days they put bells on their horses and on their cows, which were turned out to browse in the woods, which were the only fields of pasture then. In hunting for them they were apt to encounter almost any kind of wild animals from bears to porcupine, When the dogs attacked the latter their mouths would get filled with the quills of the porcupines, and then their yelling and howling was terrible Their master would have to pull the quills out of their mouths, to which the dogs would submit intelligently. In 1829 Duncan McBride bought. a farm at the foot of the Mohawk hill in Monroe township, upon which he resided until his death, in 1862. Duncan 'McBride was 'a justice of the peace for many years, and during the period: when cases that now go to the common pleas- court, were then tried before justices of the peace. One' of these was the notable "California case," which was tried before Justice McBride, ane in. which the Hon. John Sherman and the Hon. George W. Geddes were HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 323 opposing counsel. This was before Sherman went to Congress, and before Geddes was elected a judge in the common pleas court. Solomon Aby is a successful farmer. He is a great-grandson of the late Rev. James Copus, who was killed by the Indians in the Copus battle, September 15, 1812. Squire Freeman. Osbun owns farms in both Mifflin and Weller townships. He was a soldier in the War of the Rebellion, being a member of Company D, One Hundred and Second O. V. I. He is of a pioneer family, and is a justice of the peace, as his father was before him. Of other prominent people ill Mifflin, past and present, the familiar names of a number are recalled: N. S. Henry, E. N. Ernsberger, the Hales, Au, Bell, Barr, Cole, Hoover, Kaufman, Kaylor, Van Cleaf, Miller, Sattler,. Snyder, Wolfe, Woodhouse, Yeaman, Swoveland, McNaull, McCready, Walters, Haverfield, Sunkel, Amsbaugh, Sturgeon, Tucker, Hunt, Reyher, Simpson, Hostetter, Culler, Gongwer, McCormick, Zook, Niesley, Sites, Koogle, and Cook. Peter Hout was in Mansfield Saturday and in conversation with some friends on the Sturges corner, told an interesting way of the pioneer days, when he was a boy—three-fourths of a century ago, and of the change made by "The inaudible and noiseless foot of time:" With the network of telephone. wires now strung over the country, every man is in communication with his neighbors, even to the remotest parts. How different from the slow intercourse of that of bygone years. This us realized as much in receiving election returns as in any other way. Years ago post riders were frequently sent to the outlying townships to bring in the returns. Upon one occasion the contest between two candidates was very close, and when the returns had been received from all the precinct except one, the interest became intense, as the vote was so close that it was conceded that the township to hear from would decide which of the two candidates would be chosen. The suspense became more and more intensified as time passed. Finally the messenger appeared, riding at a furious speed, and halting where the crowd had gathered, his panting horse flecked with foam, exclaimed; "Seven of a majority." "For whom?" yelled the anxious crowd. "I don't know for whom, but I do know, gentlemen, that this 'hoss' is a speeder." It was the custom in the pioneer days, when a man killed a calf or pig to divide it among his neighbors. One who had often, received the benefit of this generous custom, but was rather noted for his parsimony, had, in his turn, killed a pig, and meeting a friend, informed him of the circumstance and expressed to him his fear that he would not have meat sufficient to distribute among his neighbors and retain what he considered necessary for his own use. His friend, after considering the case, proposed that he could relieve himself of his dilemma by permitting the pig to remain suspended outdoors where it had been dressed, during the night, and before daylight take it in and conceal it in his house, and then to give out that it had been 324 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY stolen during the night. The suggestion- received the approval of the pig owner and on the next morning he met his friend, and with a rueful countenance, informed him that, sure enough, his pork had been stolen. The friend complimented the pig man upon his skill in lying, and told him had only to repeat the story with the same skill to all whom he would meet and there would be no doubt that the lie would be successful. The other swore that his tale was neither a lie nor a joke, but that his pig had indeed been stolen. In response to his vehement protestations, his friend Would the more compliment his skill in playing off, and urge him to put on a bold front and maintain his position in the face of everybody. The truth of the matter was, that the disinterested and facetious "friend" who had advised the plan, had taken the pig. There has been a tendency to unearth ancient graves in the interest, as it is claimed, of historical research, but often, perhaps, to gratify curiosity, or to hunt for supposed trinkets and treasures. The meanest kind of a thief is a grave robber. There are two kinds of ancient graves in Richland county—one of the pre-historic people who inhabited this locality eight or ten centuries ago. The other, those of Indians of the pre-pioneer period. Many people .confound the Indians with the pre-historic race of mound builders, who were not Indians. A different people may have inhabited part of the country at a period between its occupancy by the mound Wilda?: and by the Indians. Why desecrate those ancient graves in a fruitless attempt Co roll back the centuries of the past, for the search light of investigation reveals but little of "the night of time." An old-time poet wrote : "Oh, Mound ! consecrated before The white man's foot e'er trod the shore, To battle's strife and valour's grave, Spare, oh, spare, the buried brave. "A thousand winters passed away, And yet demolished not the clay, Which on yon hillock held in trust The quiet of the warrior's dust. "The Indian came and went again; He hunted through the lengthened plain ; And from the mound he oft beheld The present silent battlefield. "But did the Indian e'er presume, To violate that ancient tomb? Ah, no, he had the soldier's' grace Which spares the soldier's resting place. HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 325 "It is alone for Christian hand To sever that sepulchral band, Which ever to the view is spread, To bind the living to the dead." MADISON TOWNSHIP. Madison township in 1807 included all the territory which then comprised Richland county. The township was named in honor of President Madison, the fourth president of the United States. On the 16th of January; 1808, a bill passed the Ohio Legislature creating the counties of Knox, Licking and Richland, with the provision placing Richland under the jurisdiction of Knox county, as it had been before under Fairfield, "until the Legislature may think proper to organize the same." The commissioners of Knox county, on June 10, 1809, declared "the entire county of Richland a separate township, which shall be called and known by the name of Madison." At .an election held in 1809, but seventeen votes were cast, showing that there were -but few settlers here at that time. Thomas Green, a white man, who had assisted the Indians in the Wyoming massacre, lived with the Indians at Greentown, and the village was named for him ..(in 1783)', but he was, not a settler. Other renegade white men may also have been in these parts temporarily. But the first permanent white settler was Jacob Newman, who located within the present boundaries of Madison township in the spring of 1807. General James Hedges was here prior to that date, but he was then in the employ of the government as a surveyor, and did not become a resident until later. The first white man, so far as is known, to traverse the territory now known as Richland county, was James Smith, a young man who was captured by the Indians in Pennsylvania in .1755; and was adopted into one of their tribes. Smith, in company with his foster brother, Tontileango, passed a number of hunting . seasons in these parts. Next, Major Rogers and his rangers passed through where Mansfield now stands, when passing to and fro between Gnadenhutten and Wyandot. In 1782, Colonel Crawford, with his army, passed through Richland county, and halted at "a fine spring"—now known as the Lampert spring, on East Fourth street, Mansfield. The first white woman in this. region was Miss Heckewelder, daughter of the Moravian missionary. These. were pre-settlement white people, who were in the territory now known as Richland county, only as sojourners, or in transit. The successful campaign of General Anthony Wayne in 1794, and the peace treaty with the Indians that followed, in 1795, secured comparative safety on the Ohio. frontier and immigration to the West was resumed. The surveys of the public lands, which had been practically stopped were resumed, and the surveyors tried to keep in advance of the settlers, and land offices were established in several places. General Hedges began the survey of Richland county in 1806, and at that time there was not a settler within 326 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY its borders. The year following, the Newman settlement was made and the first cabin Was erected on Section 36, about sixty rods from the grist mill, later known in history as Beam's Mills. The site of this historic cabin was doubtless selected on account of the spring of the water at the base of a knoll a few rods-west of where the cabin was erected. This was known as the Newman cabin, and its owner was Jacob Newman, the first settler. The cabin was made of rough beech logs with the bark on. There was but one room with a loft above. The Walls. were chinked and daubed with sticks and mud. In the little window, oiled. paper was used, instead of glass. The door was low, but its latchstring was always on the outside, and no stranger was turned away hungry. Jacob Newman's. family consisted, besides himself, of three nephews and a niece—Isaac, Jacob, John and Catharine Brubaker. Mr. Newman was then a widower, and Miss Brubaker acted as his housekeeper until he remarried. Their nearest neighbors were at Wooster and Frederick-town, the distance to either place being twenty-five miles. Michael Newman, Jacob Newman's brother, joined the little colony the next. spring. The next addition to the settlement was Moses Fontaine and family; followed by Captain James Cunningham. In 1809, the Newmans built a sawmill, prior towhich the settlers had to use puncheon instead of board floors in their cabins. A grist mill was added a year later. The mills were purchased in 1811, by Michael Beam, who improved the former and finished the latter, which became widely known as "Beam's Mills," and by that name have passed into history. The buhrs of the grist mill were made of "nigger-head" stones, and did poor work, but it was a great deal better than no mill at all.. It Was well patronized by .the settlers, who came from great distances and from all directions, and often had to wait several days to have their grinding done, many grists being ahead of them. Samuel Martin was the first settler at the Mansfield site. He was from New Lisbon, Columbiana. county, and was somewhat of an adventurer, who following the course of the pioneers westward, heard of the new town that was to be, halted here, put up a cabin, and. prepared to board the party of surveyors' who were coming to lay out a town. Martin, however, got into trouble by selling whisky to the Indians, and had to leave the country. He was sue. ceeded by Captain. James Cunningham, who thereby became the first bonafide resident in the place. This was in 1809. As a new county was to be formed, a town for a county seat must ix founded, and the site selected was upon the opposite side of the Rockyford of the Mohican, where George Mentzer's residence now stands, between the grist mill and the grange hall. Here a number of cabins were built. Within a year, however, another site was chosen for the county seat town, and the latter is where the city of Mansfield stands today, and from her vantage location as a railroad, manufacturing and commercial center sends her products around the world. An hundred years have not yet been counted off the calendar of time since this first settlement eras made in a little clearing in the wilderness: at Beam's mills, but how important that period has been iii the history of the world, and how fraught with results for the betterment of mankind. Ho interesting that lives sometimes span from one epoch to another. John Gray HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 329 who was the last survivor of the War of the Revolution, lived eighty-three year after the close of that struggle, dying at Hiramsburg, Noble county, Ohio March 29, 1868, aged one hundred and four years. He lived to see great changes in the country he fought to sever from the tyrant beyond the sea, and in making America an independent nation—"the land of the free and the home of the brave." It is also interesting to trace the history of a country from its beginning and follow society ,in its formative state and note its material developments and scientific achievements. It took George Washington eight days to journey from Mount Vernon to New York to be inaugurated first president of the United States. Now the same distance can be traveled in less than eight hours. Macaulay's eloquent panegyric on science as applied to the arts in promoting human welfare is justified, and more than justified, by the facts about us And all those achievements and others since Macaulay, still more wonderfull, have accrued to the benefit of mankind since Madison township was first settled. No fable—no mythical legend of encounters with dragons and monsters exaggerates the heroism's of the pioneers. Their acts, their lives are in the full light of history. To them can be applied Pericles' commendation of Athens, "Athens alone among her contemporaries is superior to the report of her. Although the first town site was abandoned, the locality has always been prominent in the history of the county on account of Beam's mills and Beam's blockhouse, the latter being one of the most important of its kind in this part of Ohio during the war of 1812. It is not definitely known why the site was changed. At the time the first settlement was made in Richland county there were no railroads, no locomotives, no steamships, no telegraphs, no telephones, no power printing press, no known utility of frictional electricity, no spectroscope, no microscope, no farm machinery—all of these have since that time been given to the world, and to which we greatly owe that remarkable advance in the conveniences and comforts of life, that unite in making this a grand age--an age in which it is a blessing to live, to be part of the same and to enjoy its privileges. Ohio was the battleground where the savages tried to stop the tide of civilization in its westward course across the continent, and Richland county was the theater-stage upon which some of the bloodiest tragedies of that terrible strife were enacted, and in those conflicts her soil was reddened with the blood of many of her noblest sons. It was, in fact, a battle between civilization and barbarisrn, and the former conquered and the latter receded by that world-propelling plan. by which peoples are driven forward in the ways of destiny. Millions of people have been hurrying westward, westward ever since the dawn of time. In America all citizens, whether as rich as Croesus or as poor as Lazarus, are equal before the law. And because of our free institutions and public schools, any boy, though born in a cabin, though reared in poverty, may attain 330 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY whatever place in life to which his ambition might lead and his ability :him to fill. The history of Madison township is closely interwoven with that of Man field, but this sketch deals with the former, leaving the latter to succeeding chapters. There should be a monument erected to mark the site of the first cabin that future generations may know where the first settler in Richland county founded a home. The locality is of additional historical interest from the fact that the first town in the county was to have been located there, and there the first were built, and one of the first and the most prominent and impor tant of the several blockhouses in the county was erected there. This block-house is known in history as "Beam's blockhouse." During the war of 1812 forts and blockhouses were necessary to protect tit settlers from the Indians, who were aided and abetted by the British against th pioneers. This barbarous mode of warfare was also employed by Great Britain in the War of the Revolution, and was denounced by Lord Chathamin a speech in parliament. Blockhouses were square, heavy, double-storied buildings, with the upper story extending over about two feet all around. They also projected slightly over the stockade, commanding all the approaches thereto, so that no lodgment could be made against the pickets of which the stockade was built to set them. on fire or to scale them. They were also pierced with port-holes for musketry. The roof sloped. equally from each side upward, and was sur mounted at the center by a quadrangular structure called the sentry-box. This box was the post of observation, affording, from its elevated position, at extensive view on all sides. In times of threatened attacks the whole settlement would seek the safety and protection of the blockhouses. Many were thy tragedies witnessed by the pioneers, whose courage and devotion should eve be held in memory. It has been related that evening roll call was an important as well as an amusing part of the day's programme at a blockhouse. At roll call men and boys, assuming different tones of voice, would loudly answer to. fictitious names added to the list, so that if Indians were prowling about Meditating an attack they would think the blockhouse was well garrisoned. The Beam blockhouse stood on the east side of the Rockyfork, a few rods north of the grist mill. It was used as a military post during 1812, 1813 and 1814. Thirteen soldiers died there during its occupancy and are buried on beautiful knoll a on the bank of the Rockyfork, a half mile below the mills. In 1812, when the Indians were being removed from Greentown to Piqua, and while temporarily encamped at Mansfield, an Indian named Toby escaped but was captured and killed near where the Leesville—West Fourth street - road crosses the Toby run, which takes its name from the Indian. There was a military order to shoot any Indian who tried to escape, and a party of scouts, obeying the order—as soldiers are required to do—fired upon the fleeing savage, and he was buried where he fell. The name is the Indian "Toby": not the German "Touby" - A month or two later Levi Jones was killed by the Indians. Jones ke a grocery store upon the site now known as the Sturges corner, and the Indians HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 331 had pawned some articles with him, and because he refused. to give them up without pay they assassinated him as he was passing along North Main street, near the foot of the hill. After the close of the war of 1812 some of the Indians returned to Richland county, but Greentown having been destroyed, they had no fixed habitation here. Two young "braves" by the names of Seneca John and Quilipetoxe, came to Mansfield and got on a spree, and at the Williams tavern, at the site of the present Southern Hotel, got into trouble with some of the settlers. The Indians left late in the afternoon, intoxicated and swearing vengeance against the whites. They were followed by five settlers, who overtook the redskins about a mile east of town, and in the battle that ensued both Indians were kilied and their bodies buried in the ravine east of the Sherman hill, on the Ashland road, and the place has since been called Spooks' Hollow. The Woosier road then passed through Spooks' Hollow. It now runs a half mile south of its first location. In former years many tales were told of apparitions that had been seen in Spooks' Hollow. But the Indians Seem to be "keeping quit" there now. Coming to later years, the Finney murder, in Madison township, south of Mansfield, was committed on the night of December 6, 1877. For this foul and bloody crime Edward Webb, a brutal negro, was hanged. May 31, 1878, in the presence of over ten thousand people. William S. Finney, the murdered man, was an uncle of County Commissioner Finney. While the Beam mills were the first in the country, others were erected within a few years thereafter. Among the number was the Keith mills, erected by the father of Judge H. D. Keith. The location of this mill was near the junction of Rocky run with the Spring mills, or main branch of the Rockyfork, in the vicinity of the recent Baltimore & Ohio railroad accident. This mill was operated for about fifty years, but is now a thing of the past. Where and how to get grain ground were questions that confronted Madison township pioneers. It required both capital and millwrights to erect grist mills, and as both were scarce mills were not numerous: The first settlers frequently went to the Clinton mills, a mile. north of Mount Vernon, to have their grain ground into breadstuff. Expedients were often employed, such as grating corn into meal for mush, or grinding the grains by hand between two flat stones. A power mill, when it came, with runs of buhrs, was a blessing to the settlers. The first mill in Mansfield was located where the county jail now stands. It was built by Clement Pollock. It was a tread-mill, operated by three yoke of oxen. The mill was duplex—it ground corn and sawed lumber. Robert Pollock erected and operated carding mill on East Fourth street, near Adams street. It was propelled by horse-power, arid simply made "rolls."—prepared wool for the spinning wheel. John Wright built a saw mill on Toby's run in 1820 in the vicinity of Mullberry street. Later, Henry Leyman built a grist mill where the old oil mill now stands, on West Sixth street. Thomas Clark built a sawmill on Toby's run. west of the Baltimore & Ohio depot. 332 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY Jacob Bender, the grandfather of Jacob Laird, had a carding mill on the new state road, propelled by the water of the Laird spring, now known as the upper reservoir. The spring had an output of four hundred gallons a minute. The Tingley woolen mills, just north of the Ohio reformatory, was one of the early industries in that line. The Painter woolen mills, east of Mansfield on the Sherman hill road, came early and stayed late—was operated for many years. Its propelling power was water from the Painter or Bender springs. The Bartley mill, on the Rockyfork, east of Mansfield, served its day and purpose, and then, like others mentioned, passed away. Archaeologically and prehistorically, Ohio is richer than any other state in the Union, and Madison township has its fair share of such remains, as would be shown was the bibliography of its earthworks and relics fully given. Prehistoric earthworks are usually called "Indian Mounds,". which is a misnomer, for the Indians never made them. These earthworks were erected. many. years before the Indians came. And all prhistoric earthworks may not have been erected by the same race of people. Ohio was inhabited even prior to the coming of the "Mound Builders," as archaeological discoveries show there were people here before the close of the pre-glacial period. Palaeolithic implements—unquestionably of human manufacture—have been found near Loveland and other places—similar to others found in the east—showing that in Ohio, as well as on the Atlantic coast, pre-glacial men existed and manufactured implements such as were. necessary for their pursuits and vocations. When the age of the Mound Builders is reckoned by centuries, that of the pre-glacial race must be counted by thousands of years. The most extensive prehistoric earthwork in this part of Ohio is the "fort" on the Balliett farm, in the vicinity of Spooks' Hollow, east of the Sherman hill, in Madison township. This earthwork was surveyed in 1878 by the county surveyor, John Newman, who made a report of the same to the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, and also made his report a matter of county record. This work is upon an elevation at the east side of the head of Spooks' Hollow, and consists of an oval-shaped embankment or fort, five hundred and ninety-four feet long by two hundred and thirty-eight feet wide in the center, and contains two and two-thirds acres. Southwest of the fort seven hundred and ten feet there is a spring at the side of the ravine from which a copious flow of water issues at all seasons of the year. Directly south of the fort upon the side of the hill leading to the old Stage road, is the "furnace," which is a excavation walled with stone like a well. It is called a "furnace," as charcoal charred bones and evidences that fire had been used there were found at the bottom of the drift with which the place was filled. This furnace is about five feet across, is circular in form and its uses and purposes must be conjectured. At the east side of the "fort" there were a number of depressions varying from four to twenty feet, but they have been so filled up in the tilling of the land . as to be nearly obliterated. In excavating one of these depressions at the time of the survey at a depth of eight feet a drift was struck leading toward the fort. Geographically, the fort was platted upon longitudinal lines and upon geometrical measurements, and the depressions were variously located. with relative HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 333 mathematical distances, all giving. evidences that the people who planned and made and occupied these works were well advanced in the higher branches of mathematics. Since their day and occupancy large forest trees have grown upon these earthworks - trees of least six centuries growth. These works are relics of a prehistoric, age of which much has been written and but little is known. Geologically, Madison has interesting features, the most notable of which is its inexhaustible stores of stones of. the Waverly conglomerate. The quarries just east of Mansfield yield goodbuilding stones, although not equal, perhaps, to the Berea On the north, nor to the more homogeneous and finer grained sandstones of the Waverly, further south. The peculiarly variegated coloring of the stones from these. Madison township quarries make beautiful windowcaps, sills and corners, and alsp fine looking building fronts. Madison township is an interesting subject for . both choragraphers and topographers in its location and in its environments, its surface and its physical features and outlines, being situate in the center of Richland county and on the crest of the "Divide," with hills and valleys and rocks and streams, and although it has neither' extended plains nor high mountains, it has an undulating surface and beautiful landscapes in charming variety. From the western slope of the Sherman hill, on the Ashland road, an excellent view can be had of Mansfield, and from the top of the hill, looking south, down along Spooks' Hollow, a valley of garden-like beauty is presented, and the landscape-picture extends for miles, embracing some of the Washington township hills. From the Tingley hill, on the Olivesburg road, a good view is also obtained of Mansfield, including the adjacent country to the north and west. A newspaper man had occasion recently to visit that part of Madison township lying northeast of the city. Leaving the car at the reformatory grounds he walked up the Tingley hill, halting occasionally to look back and around at the city and its environments. He tramped along, passing Hancock's Heights and Excelsior Hall schoolhouse, and the homes of Sol Harnley, Fred Nixon and others, to the Charles B. Tingley cottage on the hill, from which, looking down the slope and over the city, a beautiful picture was presented that Morning, the view terminating in the hazy west, with forms lying across the dim horizon, which might be low-lying clouds or distant hills. The morning sun was touching the scene with its warming rays, dispelling the mist that had hung over the city at the dawn. From the contemplation of this view and from the historical reminiscences the scene recalled, the knight of the pencil turned to meet Mr. Tingley and family and to receive the cordial greeting they extended to their guests. Nearly opposite Charles B. Tingley's is the home of Samuel Nail, who might almost be called a pioneer. Miss Anna Ettinger, of Chicago, a relative of the Nails, owns five acres of land on the brow of the hill and is having the grounds platted by a landscape gardener, and will build a cottage there with the intention of spending the summers at that rural retreat, which will be one of the finest suburban homes in Richland county. 334 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY Adjoining the Nail place on the north is the farm of Thomas Tingley and where his father lived before him. Thomas Tingley, the presen owner, was born upon this farm October, 1822, and is, therefore, over eighty years of age, but his mind is clear, of excellent memory, and has the old style cordiality and candor of the pioneer period in which lie was born. Mr. Tingley lives in the two-story brick house built by his father over seventy years ago. It is the first brick residence built in Madison township. Back in the "forties" Mr. Tingley hauled grain to the lake markets and relates many interesting incidents connected with his trips. The Tingley farm will ever be prominent in the history of the county, as a part of it was a military camp during the War of the Rebellion. In July, 1861, a military camp for organization and instruction was established upon this Tingley farm and called Camp Mordecai Bartley, in honor of Mordecai Bartley, who had been a soldier in the war of 1812, had represented the Richland district eight years in congress and later was governor of Ohio. In this camp the Fifteenth and the Thirty-second Ohio infantry rendezvoused, but were later transferred to Camp Dennison. For convenience the name was changed to "Camp Mansfield." The One Hundred and Second Ohio infantry went into Camp Mansfield August 18, 1862, and remained until September 4, when they left for the front with 1,041 men, rank and file. The One Hundred and Twentieth Ohio infantry went into Camp Mansfield August 29,1862, where the "boys" drilled and prepared for the service which awaited them at the front. They left camp October 25; with 949 men. The late James Purdy began the draft on the morning of October 1, 1862, and 236 men were drawn to fill the deficit in Richland county's quota. Ohio had been divided into eleven military districts. The tenth district was composed of Ashland, Erie, Huron, Holmes, Richland and Wayne counties, and of this district Camp Mansfield was the military camp, and thus Madison township has the distinction of having had the headquarters of the Tenth Ohio military district within her borders during the Civil War. Of this camp the late W. S. Hickox was quartermaster and Thomas Tingley was the sutler. At the close of the draft over 4,000 men were sent to Camp Mansfield. The land upon which Camp Buckingham was located, where the Sherman brigade was in camp,. is now a part of the Second ward of the city of Mansfield, and does not, therefore, come Within the scope of a. Madison township sketch. What scenes a visit to old Camp Mansfield recall! Forty years and more ago preparations for war were witnessed which made it seem as though life had been very commonplace before. Public meetings were held, patriotic songs were sung and eloquent speeches were made, and enlisting went on, more eloquent in its silence than were the speeches and songs. Recruits ‘‘donned the blue" to fight for the preservation of the union of the states. The city of Mansfield blossomed out in flags and banners; they floated from almost every house and well nigh canopied the streets. Amid cheers and prayers and tears troops went off to the front to fight their country's battles and to uphold the HISTORY OF RICHLAND. COUNTY - 337 starry flag. Anon, funeral pageants passed along' the streets where a few months before troops had gaily Marched. For whenever possible the remains of those whose lives went out in camp or field were brought home and were buried by the side of kindred and. each recurring Memorial Day their graves are decorated with flowers. The Tingley schoolhouse—called "Excelsior. Hall" since the change of location—was often used for religious gatherings and the Rev. Harry O. Sheldon, the Methodist circuit rider, who preached in Mansfield as early as 1818, frequently conducted services there, as also did other ministers of later years. Ministers did not read essays in those days—they preached. And their preaching was effective and powerful.. Upon one occasion when a minister was discoursing upon "hell" (they gave it to them straight then), he told them the devil was at that moment outside the building rattling his chains. His eloquence and word pictures had so held and swayed the audience that many thought they really heard chains clanking. Singing was a prominent part in religious gatherings in the days of the pioneers. It was of the old style congregational singing. The church music. of today may be more artistically rendered—more operatic with spectacular displays—but it is the old-time. tunes; as. our mothers sang them that comfort us In our sorrows and sustain us in our trials. To the pioneer preachers civilization owes much, and it has been truthfully said that it is due to the influence of these worthy men that the passions the pioneers, stimulated by the continual cruelties and outrages of their savage foemen, did not degenerate into a thirst for revenge and a barbarous retaliation, and their respect for these sacred teachings has been perpetuated in their descendants, along with a chivalrous courage and a contempt for everything base and mean. A high moral tone has ever pervaded the children sprung from these early settlers, in whose. own- lives the spiritual truths of regigion had taken root. Within the memory of persons now living, country people would start for church Sunday barefooted, carying their shoes and stockings stied in a handkerchief until they got near the meeting-house, when they would stop and put them on. In those early days wheat often brought but twenty-five cents a bushel and the oily market for it was at the lake, where it had to be hauled by wagons, taking nearly a week to make the trip. Ginseng sold for twenty-five cents a pound, and often more. It was found in the woods, dug, cut into pieces and strung upon strings to dry then it was ready for the market and shipped east. Cash was paid for ginseng' and beeswax. Coffee then cost fifty cents a pound. It could not be bought without . ginseng, beeswax or money. Most families made it a point to have store coffee on Sunday or when they had company other times they used "coffee" made from burnt rye or wheat. A pioneer stated that people who have spent their lives in an old-settled country can form but a faint idea of the privations and hardships endured by the first settlers of Our now flourishing and prosperous state. That when he emigrated he was a young man, without any property, trade or profession, and entirely dependent on his own industry for a living. He purchased a 338 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY tract of new land on credit two miles from any house or road and built a pole cabin. He got a loaf of bread, a piece of pickled pork, some potatoes, borrowed a. frying pan and commenced housekeeping. He had no company by days, but the wolves and owls gave him a concert by night. In time he persuaded a young woman to tie her destiny to his. He built a log house twenty feet square, which was considered quite large and aristocratic in those days. He said he was fortunate enough to possess a jackknife ; with that he made a wooden knife and two wooden forks, which answered for the two to eat with. He made a bedstead of poles—poles for posts, for side rails and for springs, and upon the latter he placed a straw. bed, which answered the purpose and upon which, he said, they slept soundly. In time, a yard and a half of calic was wanted and he went ten miles on foot to the nearest town to procure it. But he had no money and could not get credit, and therefore the calico could not be obtained. Upon his return home he reported his failure, whereupon his wife suggested that he had a thin .pair of pantaloons which would make a decent frock. The pants were cut up, the frock made and in due time the child was dressed. The family became wealthy and prominent. "Old times have gone, old manners changed." Providence crowned the labors of the pioneers with success and they had enough to eat and to wear. Of course, their wants were few and simple and the products of the soil and hunting yielded a sufficient supply. They spun and wove the fabrics for their clothing and the law of kindness and goodwill governed their actions. In the early settlement of a new country there is to be found a larger development of a true and brotherly love and magnanimity than in any other place or under any other conditions. PERRY TOWNSHIP Leipsic township was organized in 1816 and embraced the territory of the present Perry and a part of Congress township, the latter now in Morrow county. The first officers of the new township were sworn into office September 28, 1816; as follows: Trustees, John Cook, James Huntsman and John Coon ; clerk, Jonathan Huntsman ; supervisors, Philip Stealts and Benjamin Hart; overseers of the poor, George Goss and Lawrence Lamb; fence viewers, Henry Salts and Caleb Selby. On October 11, 1816, the name of the township was changed from Leipsic to Perry. As it had formerly been allied with Jefferson and there was an indebtedness of $54.94, each township assumed one-half the amount, $27.47. The a dministration of public affairs was not expensive in those years. Hart, for his pay as supervisor of the west half of the township, received 75 cents for his services. Perry retained the boundary given it in 1816 until June 5, 1825, when it was reduced to six miles square—the original survey—and the western thirty-six sections received the name of Congress. HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 339 Morrow county was created (inpart out of Richland) in 1848, and Perry was again divided and .reduCed to its present limit: six miles long and three miles wide--and contains eighteen sections of its original territory. The central part of the township is rolling tableland, with an elevation. that makes a watershed divide between the Clearford of the Mohican on the north and Owl creek (the Kokosing) on the south. A considerable portion of Perry township is a beech-wood country; and when first settled the land was covered with decayed vegetable accumulation that made the surface look invitingly fertile. All the ordinary crops are successfully grown, but upon the. upland where the soil is argillaceous, care must be taken to maintain its fertility. Perry township has a very interesting history; some of the events and incidents may be mentioned in this connection. The first house in the township was built on section 11, in 1809, by John Frederick Herring, who also built a grist mill at the same place, the second mill put in operation in Richland county. This mill was on the south branch of the Clearfork, four miles west of Bellville, where the Lexington-Fredericktown and the BellvilleJohnsville roads cross. It was known for fifty years as the Hanawalt mill, but after serving well its day and purpose fOr about three-fourths of a century, it is now no more. The Eby mill was built in 1837, was operated thirty-seven years, and stood farther up the stream. Frairie's. woolen factory Was run successfully for many years, and a grist mill was formerly operated at the same locality, where the Walters bridge spans the south branch. A number of both grist and saw mills were erected in the township and did a flourishing business for years, but the shrinkage of the streams lessened the water power with which the mills were operated, and, with the change in business affairs and in operating methods, country mills of all kinds generally went out of business. The people of Perry have always been abreast of the times in their religious matters, and the Christian, Methodist, Lutheran, Evangelical, United Brethren and perhaps other 'denominations have congregations and places of worship. In about 1840 quite a religious revival was had in the western part of the township. One man, being "almost persuaded," prayed that a sign might be given him; and one night while in bed he heard a noise and, arising to ascertain the cause, discovered that the family Bible had fallen from a shelf to the floor. He picked it up and opened at the passage: "He brought me up also out of a horrible pit." He sent messengers out to his neighbors, with "speed, Malice, speed," messages that a sign had been given him, with the request that they gather at his house. "Instant the time speed, Malise, speed," and his neighbors came that same hour of the night and held services of prayer and praise until noon the next day, and many were "converted." Darlington, the only town in the township, was formerly called Hagerstown, after Christopher Hager, the first settler on the land where the village stands. 340 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY The Lost Run region, in the southwest part of Perry townshlp, is one of the most picturesque and attractive of the many interesting localities in Richland county. Lost Run is a north tributary of the Kokosing, and cuts diagonally across the southwest corner of the township, from the northwest to the. southeast, a distance of about two miles. Its waters were of sufficient volume in the olden time to furnish water power to operate the Hosack mill. A "feeder" comes into the run from the Follin spring, on the northeast quarter of section 27. The Lost Run distillery has been operated a number of years and is situate a short distance north of the county line. Lost Run got its name in this way: A man on a prospecting tour to locate lands became lost in the wilderness and, coming to this stream, follewed it down to a settlement in Knox county. The locality inspires a desire for rural. domesticity. It is a region where the milkmaids can sing their evening songs in the quiet valley with refrains answering in echoes from the surrounding hills. Of Perry township people, past and present, the names of the following families are prominent: Hosack, Bigbee, Sagar, Bisel, Mann, Ewers, Toben Painter, Follin, Culp, McFerren, McDonald, Hardman, Poorman, Baughman Walters, Eckert, Craven, Olin, Coursen, Kochheiser, Daily,. Ruhl, Lantz, Baker, Steel, Hiskey, and others. Jacob Algire settled in Perry township 1827. David Buckingham came in 1823. Bickley Craven was born in Perry township. Jackson and Samuel. Eby came from Pennsylvania in 1831 and built a sawmill in 1836 and. a grist mill in 1837, on the Clearfork, called "The Perry Mills," and 'operated the same for thirty-seven years. Jacob Erow came from Green county in 1857 and served in the Union army during the war of the rebellion. John Garver came from Pennsylvania with his parents in 1834. John Hanawalt was born in Baltimore in 1803. He came to Ohio at an early day and purchased the Herring mills, which he operated for many years. Jonathan Huntsman came in 1.816. The Huntsman family is one of the most numerous in the township, and are well-to-do people. The family came in 1833. Samuel Lantz married Leah Brubaker. Alexander McKinley settled in Perry in 1864. His wife's maiden name was Jerush Runyan. The Olins came from Vermont. Gideon Olin, father of Nathaniel Olin, was a major in the war of the rebellion, was a judge of the court and a member of congress. Nathaniel Olin was the grandfather of Olin M. Farber, of Mansfield. The Painter family came in 1813 and located in the southeast part of the township. In 1827 Robert Parker came from ,Baltimore in a one-horse wagon and located in Perry township. Thomas Phillips .settled in Perry in 1814. Mr. Phillips was, in his day, one of the most prominent men in the township. His son William was a member of the Sixty-fourth O. V. I., and was killed at the battle of Stone river, December 31, 1862. The Ruhl family have been prominent and prosperous for several generations. John Steel was born in Perry township in 1818 and Steel run in the eastern part of the township was named for him. At Painters, west of Bangorville, a government meteorological station is maintained. The leading "institutions" of Perry township are farm homes HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 341 country schools and churches. The people are industrious and prosperous and, being removed from the marts of trade and commerce, are but little affected over strikes, trusts or political agitations. "Home," to the people of Perry township, is a dear word, as it should be to all, for it is the place where the tired toiler finds rest at eventide. It is the place where love is not only fraternal but divine, and here joy permeates the very air and prayer trembles into its most solemn and earnest importunities and where sorrow drops its bitterest tear. WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP Washington township was organized March 4, 1816. It is six miles square and contains thirty-six sections. The surface is broken, but is generally fertile, and a number of rich little valleys lie between its rugged hills. Richland county is noted for its springs of cool, pure water and Washington township has its full share of them. Considerable land in the central. part of Washington township was not entered during the earlier period of the settlement of the county, because that locality was hilly and the land rough. But when the Germans came they settled there, not; perhaps, from choice as much as from necessity, for the better lands had previously been taken. Predictions were made at the time that the Germans could not make a living. out of that rough region. But they cut and grubbed and digged and cleared, and succeeded in changing a rough wilderness into remunerative farms, and by dint of application, industry, perseverance and economy—traits for which the Germans are noted success was achieved and the people of that. settlement are as prosperous today as are those of other localities. As a class, the Germans are industrious and frugal and make good citizens. The question has been asked why so many Germans leave their much beloved Fatherland and seek homes in America. They began to emigrate to this country early in the eighteenth century, and for the reason that their fields of grain had been trampled under foot by the armies of Europe. In many cases their stock and grain had been taken and their homes burned. Added to these misfortunes, the severely cold winter of 1708 froze their wine and destroyed their vineyards. William Penn had visited them. in their affliction and told them of his fertile lands in America. Then the hegira to the new world began. Thousands settled in Pennsylvania, whose descendents became known as the "Pennsylvania Dutch." For many years later the contending armies of Europe rendered German industries insecure and the local controversies made. a military enrollment necessary that interfered with business plans and pursuits of young men who were able for military service. The only town in the is Washington, situate about six miles from Mansfield on the Newville road. Town and township were named for the "Father of His Cuuntry." A good start to begin with. The Clearfork of the Mohican courses across the southwest corner of the township and into this empties Toby's run. In the north part of the township the Bentley run in former years furnished water power for a number of mills, and of these Wickert's is still in operation. Slater's run rises in the glades upon 342 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY . the old-time Vasbinder and Siekinger farms, and runs in a southeast direction until it empties into the Clearfork at Newville, a distance of eight miles. The land of the valley through which this run courses is very productive. This stream of water is now commonly called 'Possum run. It formerly furnished water-power to run the Clever, the Losh and the Snyder sawmills and the Watts grist mills and the Graber woolen factory. One of the highest elevations. in Ohio is the "Settlement" hill, near the center of Washington township, five miles south of Mansfield, on the old State road. The elevation is nine hundred and thirty-two feet above Lake Erie and three hundred and seventy feet higher than Mansfield. Further south is the Sheckler hill, which has an altitude almost as high as the Settlement hill. Washington township was noted in the past for its temperance and anti- slavery societies 'and Black Cane company. The latter was organized to suppress horse-stealing. From the number of horses stolen in the county from about 1820 to several years later, it was thought that members of the Blackfork gang resided in this township. This Black Cane company was composed of some of the most prominent settlers of different neighborhoods, and each carried a black cane 'as all insignia of membership. By the efforts of this company the neighborhood was rid of thievish depredations until about 1833, when the services of this company Were again employed to drive out horse-thieves and counterfeiters. The first temperance society had its headquarters in Washington. To counteract this society an anti-temperance organization was formed and out numbered the other in membership, but not in duration of years. The first road in the township was the State road from Mansfield to Bellville. The first public house was kept by Thomas Laughlin, on the State road `near the, center of the township. Some years later Sickinger's tavern was opened, a half-mile north of the center. Although Sickinger's was a stage-tavern, its principal patronage Mille from the freight traffic of those days. The products of central. Ohio were hauled by teams along this State road to the lake. Dozens of teams at a time would stop at Sickinger's over night. The popularity of this hotel was. largely due to Mrs. Sickinger's reputation as a cook. Some of the best fighters at pioneer musters were Washington township men. A muster was considered a tame affair unless there were several fights at fisticuffs, and it was usually Washington against the field. Crist Burns, the herculean pioneer, married a Miss Pearce, of this township, and resided a number of years within its limits. He was called a giant not so much on account of his height and weight as his great strength He was known to carry three men and their loads. He outran and whipped every man against whom he was ever matched. His acrobatic feats were as wonderful as were his exhibitions of strength. At one time a. pole was placed upon the heads of two men and Burns jumped over the same with apparent ease. At another time he jumped over a covered .wagon, to the surprise of all who witnessed the feat, and his gymnasium training had been in clearing the forest. tilling the soil, and in carrying the hod. HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 343 The Pearce family, prominent people in the township, came in 1814, and among other early settlers were the following persons: William and John Stewart, Solomon 'Culver; James Sirplis, William Ayers, Solomon Lee, Daniel Mitchel, William. Riddle, Daniel Cook, Joseph and Garvin Mitchel, Andrew Thompson, John and Wesley Barnes, Isaac Slater, Alexander McClain, Robert Crosky, Thomas Shanks, Andrew Pollock, Noah Watson, Martin and Jacob Ridenour; Calvin Culver, Thomas Smith, Maier Coulter and Jedediah Smith. Jedediah Smith was the reputed lover of Kate Seymour, who, with her father and mother, .was killed by the Indians in 1812. Smith had entered land in the, northeast part of the township, and then returned to Pennsylvania to make final arrangements for his removal here, and was to be married upon his return. During his absence, his beautiful Kate was murdered, as above stated. Mr. Smith was so affected by this appalling event that he did not return to Ohio until 1816, and remained single for a number of years. John Stewart was the first justice of the peace of the township, which office he filled for a number of years. He was auditor of the county for eight years and county surveyor for eighteen years. Mr. Watson was one of the first constables, and during his term of office served two summons and two warrants, but received no pay. The first school was taught by John Barnett, Who received $2 per scholar for a three-months' school. In 1818 Sally Braden taught a summer school, the first taught by a woman in the township. The religious sentiment of the township was always at the front. The first church organization was of the Methodist Episcopal, at Washington, in about 1823. They maintained their organization for many years. During the anti-slavery excitement, prior to the Civil War, this congregation divided, and the out-going party organized as Wesleyan Methodists and built a church at the north end of the village. Both of these are now gone. The Congregationalists built a church in the center of the town, which is now the only place of worship there. Two churches were organized and two church building's erected in the southeast part of the township; and were occupied. in the 50's by the Albrights and United Brethren. Ebenezer church is at the crossing of the Mansfield-Newville and Bellville-Lucas roads: Cesarea church, a mile northwest of Washington, is one of the oldest organizations of the Disciple church in Richland county. St. Peter's church, five, miles south of Mansfield on the old State road, is of the German Reform denomination. It is commonly known as the "Settlement" church, because it is in the German settlement. St. Peter's was a branch of St. John's, of Mansfield, until 1866, when it was given full church functions and privileges. The first church building was a log structure and was dedicated on Whitsunday, 1848. The date chosen for the 'dedication showed that the Germans were in touch with church traditions. The late ex-Governor John P. Altgeld passed his boyhood years in Washington township, and worked on his father's farm,. situated amid its rugged hills. By close application to his studies, qualified himself for teaching, and, after teaching a country school for several terms, he went west and became 344 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY a lawyer, then a judge of the court of the city of Chicago, then the governor of the great state of Illinois. Among the prominent residents of Washington township today mention should be made of Squire John Gerhart, who served two terms as county commissioner; John. and W. B. Knox, Martin Touby, wealthy farmers Samuel Spayde is always ready' to furnish martial music for soldiers' reunions. There are the Kochheisers, the Kiners, the Ritters, the Lawrence the Culvers, the Straubs, Kennedy, Kinney, McKee, Hammett, Lutz, Hesselton, Swigart, Clever, McFarland, Balliet, Charles Pollock, Harter, Fulton, and Maglott, each of whom deserve more mention than space will admit of here Dr. Maglott, of this city, was a Washington township boy. James McVey Pearce was born, reared and has always lived in the Pearce settlement, as he does today. He was named for a pioneer preacher of the Disciple church. You must not estimate the value of his lands nor the amount of his bank deposits by the clothes he wears. If you visit his home you will be hospitably treated, for he is a liberal entertainer, a good citizen and a loyal friend. R. C. McFarland came from Washington township, as also did the Sewell brothers, and William now represents our country at a foreign port. While the fact is known by our older citizens that a Black Cane company, with headquarters in Washington township, existed in the long ago, the history and purposes of the company have never been given in newspaper print. As early as 1820-21 the southern part of the county was troubled with a company of horse-thieves and counterfeiters, whose operations extended into other counties. The band was quite numerous, and for several years its members had things their own way. It was almost impossible to convict them, as they would swear each other clear. After losing a number of horses and much other property, a number of the most prominent citizens banded themselves together for self protection and called their organization the Black Cane company. Each member carried a black cane, made out of black haw wood, the bark being peeled off and the canes burned black, after which they were oiled and polished to give them a glossy appearance. The object of the Black Cane company was to protect the property of the settlers, with special reference to horse-thieves. A number of horses had been stolen from the southern part of the county, and so completely were the traces of the thieves covered up that the settlers came to the conclusion that an organized band of horse-thieves was operating in their midst. Itappears that these thieves had a line of communication from the Mohi valley to Lake Erie, so that horses stolen in the southern part of Richland orthe northern part of Knox county would be passed along and be disposed far away from the place of' their theft. So stealthily was their work of formed and so thorough was their mode of operation that but little, if any, evidence could be obtained against any member of the gang, and then, too, they could furnish plenty of witnesses to prove an alibi for an accused member. While the Black Cane company had its headquarters in Richland county and had its purpose to rid the country of the gang of horse-stealers and counterfeiters, and a considerable part of the workings of the thieves had been HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 347 done in the southern part of the county, our own people had neither lot nor part in their nefarious operations. A conviction or two was had of citizens of Hanover township, Ashland county, and the .gang seemed most numerous along the upper Waters of the Walhonding, with a membership extending down to Guernsey county, to Perry's den, east of Cambridge, in Guernsey county, situated in a deep ravine on either side of which were high projecting rocks and deep, dark recesses, where persons suspected of crime could go into comparatively safe hiding. Perry himself was finally captured, convicted, and given a five-years term in the penitentiary. Perry's conviction had much to do in terminating the operations of the gang, as he had been one of its leaders for a number of years. The early settlers of Richland county were men of different mold from those down along the rugged banks. of the Walhonding, and instead of stealing horses they built churches. and schoolhouses and organized temperance societies. It is true that pioneers drank whisky at log-rollings and corn-husking's, and occasionally indulged in fighting at county musters, and they may have "chawed" dog-leg tobacco,., yet they were honest, upright men and founded a civilization—the civilization of which we boast today. March 29, 1827, the temperance society referred to was organized with Thomas Smith as president and Samuel Ritchie secretary. The following platform was adopted as a basis of organization, to-wit: Whereas, The use of intoxicating. liquors as a beverage is injurious to the health of the consumer and ruinous to the morals of the community; Resolved, That we form. ourselves into a society to be known by the name of Washington and Monroe Temperance Society, and that we adopt the following pledge for our guide for one year: "We, whose names are hereunto attached, do pledge ourselves to dispense with the common use of ardent spirits in our families and at our gatherings and. frolics, and, so far as our influence extends, use all laudable means to discourage the use of it in others." At first the matter of getting along without whisky in the harvest season and at log-rollings, raisings and corn-huskings was earnestly discussed, but as the foregoing pledge was adopted for only one year the members agreed to stand by it for that length of time and see how it would work. At the next meeting, held one year after the organization of the society, progress was reported, and by a unanimous vote it was decided that the pledge should stand ad infinitum. This temperance society had an organized existence for more than thirty years, meeting .monthly upon the first evening of each month. During its existence the names of over six hundred persons were enrolled as members upon the society's books. The organization was kept up as long as there was anything to fight, and then it disbanded, as did also the Black Cane company after its mission was accomplished. Chestnut Chapel schoolhouse is in Washington township, two miles north of Bellville, on the State road. It is situated in a chestnut hill country, and the house has been used for Sunday school and religious purposes, hence the name—Chestnut Chapel. The location is at the top of the first hill of the succession of elevations that rise from the Clearfork at Bellville and terminate 348 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY at the Settlement church on the summit of the divide. This Chestnut Chapel region has never been very prominent in the history of the country, for the residents there are a steady-going, industrious people, who pursue the even tenor of life's way, never aiming at great renown and never doing aught that would cause a blush of shame to mantle their honest cheeks. The men are stalwart sons of toil, and the ladies are not only handsome, but possess sterling qualities as well. Life, it is claimed, is what We make it. . In youth all are apt to look forward to a future of perpetual sunshine, little thinking of those dark and troublesome days, the shadows of which sooner or later, in some degree, overtake all but these people have cared more for their homes and their homelife than for the world, with its riches and fame and disappointments. "What is the end of lame? "Tis but to fill A certain portion of uncertain paper."            . A writer once said: "The world's most royal heritage is his Who most enjoys, most loves, and most forgives." Home, to these people, is a dear word, as it should be to us all, for it is the place where the tired toiler finds rest . at eventide. It is the place where love is not only fraternal, but divine, and where joy permeates the very air and prayer trembles into its most solemn and earnest importunity, and where sorrow drops its bitterest tear. The stately city mansion, carpeted from basement to attic, with its appointments and furnishings of the richest .and most costly, may not be as happy a home as that of a log cabin. in the country, even though there be no carpet on its floor, no paintings of the "old masters" hanging upon its rough walls, no piano, but voices sweet and dear, singing melodies but little short of angels' songs. Where there is contentment and happiness there is home and love. "The noblest mind the best contentment has." In old days the Teutonic nobles used to draw their swords, as they repeated the words of the creed, while their glittering blades .flashed in the air, to show that they were willing to fight for the faith of their fathers; and the Chestnut Chapel people are content with the old farms and the old homes and the associations of their childhood. During the ninety years this part of Washington township has been settled the lands have been productive and the harvests multiplied and the fruits of the earth annually gathered, and the people have been blessed with whatsoever was needful for them. The early residents have long since taken their "departure hence in peace," but many of their descendants occupy the homesteads of other days. The Chestnut Chapel school is fully up to the standard in educational lines, as is evidenced by the intelligence and learning of the people of the district. Chestnut Chapel hill is not without scenic beauty. From the brow of the summit, at the bend of the road, south of Bowers', a good view is HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 349 obtained of Gold valley to Bellville and to Durbin hill beyond. The landscape picture there presented is not grand nor majestic, but enhancing and sublime. FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP Franklin township was created June 4, 1816, and was at that time six miles square. Upon the creation of Ashland county, two tiers of sections from the east part of Franklin went toward creating the township of Weller, which was named in honor of .tie Hon. John B. Weller, a former Ohio boy who was then governor Of California:. By this elimination Franklin township was reduced to .its present size—six miles in. length from north to south, and four miles in width. from east to west. But meager data can be obtained of the early settlement of Franklin township. There is a record that Peter Pittenger, George Wolford, and the Rev. John Clingan organized. a Methodist society of twelve members in Franklin township in 1815. This would indicate that a settlement had been made there at an earlier date. The Methodist society, however, may have been composed partly of members from other townships. Henry and Peter Pittenger settled on section 21 before 1820. Samuel Harvey, Samuel Gossage, Mr. Arbuckle, and the Armstrongs settled on school land at an early day. Section "16". of every township the state had reserved as school land, the proceeds of which, when sold, were to go to the school funds. The fund thus created was a material factor in establishing the free school system of Ohio. Among the early settlers were a Mr. Grosscross, on section 29 Samuel Linn, section 28. Jacob Keiser, John and Jacob Stover, Robert Hall, Samuel Donnan were early settlers. Calvin Morehead, Jacob Cline and a Mr. Ink settled on section 17, and Jacob Flora on section 16. Among the later settlers were John Kendall, the Boyces, the Taylors, the Crums, Powells, and others became Franklin township settlers. Franklin township was heavily timbered and in its forests game abounded, making it a favorite hunting ground for the Indians, and later for the pioneers: The Blackfork of the Mohican cuts across the northeast part of the township, and Friends' and Brubaker's creeks flow through the central part, entering from the west,.. each leaving on the east line near the center of the township from north to south. It has been related that an Ohio pioneer who had witnessed all the stages of our material development—our gradual redemption from the wilderness condition to a state of civilization—and having by years of industry and economy accumulated property and had surrounded himself with the comforts and modern conveniences of life, had an irrepressible longing for the ways and customs of pioneer days. He sighed particularly for that hospitality which dissolves "as wealth accumulates and men decay." He wished to realize again such conditions as prevailed in Franklin township pioneer days. He went to a western state, where he found a wilderness, but not the pioneer conditions he had once enjoyed in Ohio. Instead of "women" wearing home-made linsey-wolsey, he found "ladies'! gowned in silks and satins,