HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY - 554

CHAPTER LV.

PLYMOUTH TOWNSHIP.

ORGANIZATION-SURVEY AND PHYSICAL FEATURES-THE WYANDOT TRAIL-FIRST SETTLERS AND SETTLEMENTS - FIRST MARRIAGES AND DEATHS-YEARIAN AND THE BEAR-THE MARTIAL BAND-CHARLES AND WILLIAM BODLEY-"ENTERTAINMENT"-FIRST POST OFFICE-FIRST FRAME AND BRICK HOUSES-FIRST PREACHERS AND CHURCHES-PLYMOUTH VILLAGE-ITS LOCATION AND GROWTH-THE SETTLEMENTS AROUND PLYMOUTH-A NUMBER OF FIRST THINGS-MILLS AND DISTILLERIES-CHURCHES-CHANGE OF NAME - FIRST MAYORS-SCHOOLS-RAILROAD-WHEAT MARKET-THE CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS-THE CEMETERIES -BANKS-NEWSPAPERS-POPULATION-GENERAL BUSINESS, ETC.

THIS township was originally part of Blooming Grove, and was detached from it and organized into a separate township February 12, 1818, being then twelve miles long from east to west, and six miles wide. This territory was divided April 3, 1820, the east half retaining the name of Plymouth. December 6, 1849, Cass Township was erected out of the east two-thirds of Plymouth, and the latter extended so as to take in two tiers of sections from Auburn. This reduced Plymouth to four by six miles in extent, in the northwest corner of Richland. This territory was surveyed by Maxfield Ludlow in 1807, several years before any white man settled within its limits. The land is generally fertile, slightly rolling, and across the center of the township, east and west, is a ridge which forms the dividing line between the waters of the Huron River and those of the Black Fork. In the notes of the survey, swamps

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY. - 555

and prairie lands are occasionally noticed, but the township was generally heavily timbered with all the varieties of hard wood. and is at present, all under a high state of cultivation. The old Wyandot trail from the mouth of the Sandusky River to Fort Pitt (Pittsburgh) passes across the northeast corner. through the present village of Plymouth, and the march of Gen. Beall's army was along this trail in 1812. Gen. Beall widened this trail from a narrow path to a road of sufficient width for the passage of his wagons, and although it has been straightened in some places and abandoned in others, it is yet traceable on the map. Beall was guided through this country by a Seneca chief named Capt. John, who was a great friend of the whites, and evinced great sagacity as a scout; and in guiding scouting parties of Beall's army.

It was along this military road that the first settlers advanced in search of homes in the West, and naturally enough. upon this road that the first settler in Plymouth Township is found, upon the present site of the village of Plymouth. Here, on the headwaters of the Huron River, Abraham Trux erected his cabin, on the northwest quarter of Section 5, in the spring of 1815, and became the first settler. This cabin stood on the bank of an insignificant branch of the river. which passes through the village, and was a double cabin, of round logs. The lot is now owned by Aaron Kappenberg, and his butcher-shop occupies the exact spot upon which this first cabin was erected. Other settlers came in during this year (1815), some of them probably about the same time with Mr. Trux. Among these were John Concklin, who settled on the northeast quarter of Section 6 Daniel Kirkpatrick, northeast quarter of Section 8 ; Robert Green, southeast quarter of Section 4; and John Long, northwest quarter of Section 13. William and Daniel Prosser also came in this year or early in 1816, the former settling on Section 19, and the latter on Section 13. In 1816 came John Morris, who settled on Section 15; Thomas McClure. Section 14 ; James Gardner and Michael Gipson. Section 1 ; James Douglas. Section 35. Settlers continued to arrive rapidly until in 1818, when there was a sufficient number to organize a township. The first election was held in the spring of 1818. in which Abraham Trux was made Justice of the Peace, Stephen Webber. Constable, John Concklin, John Long. and Thomas McClure. Trustees. Thomas McCluer was made Clerk. and Asa Murphy, Tressurer.

The daughters of two of these first settlers. Catharine Trux and Susan Concklin. were married in 1817, being the first marriages celebrated in the township; the first to Hugh Long and the last to Oliver Granger. No death occurred among them for four years. the first being that of Mrs. Mary. wife of John Concklin, in 1819. The prominence of her husband in the affairs of the township and church had given her an extended acquaintance, and she was greatly beloved.

Many of the settlers had served in the war of 1812, and nearly all of them were good hunters. Among the latter were Michael Trux, Charles Bodley, Jacob Wolf, Jedadiah Moorhead, Michael Gipson. Robert Yearian and some others. Yearian made his own powder and guns, was a remarkable shot, as was also his son Frederick, who used a light rifle his father had made for him. It is related of this boy, when he was about twelve years old, he was one day separated from his father while hunting, and came suddenly upon a mother bear and her two cubs, upon whom he at once made war. The ball from his rifle was, however, too small to do much execution, and the bear turned upon him pressing him so closely that he had neither time to reload or climb a tree, and so ran in the direction of his father. The latter, seeing him coming and the bear at his heels. called to him to run past him, which Fred did; and as the bear passed, Yearian

556 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

planted one of his ounce balls in some vital part of the animal with such certainty and precision as to bring her down. They then carried the cubs home for pets..

The settlers had their full share of patriotism. What they did the Fourth of July and at their military musters, is well worth recording and will appear in another chapter. This township was especially blessed with a martial band for such occasions, the members of which were Charles and Jesse Bodley tenor drummers; William Dean, bass drummer and Theason Richardson and Robert Bigler, fifers. They had an excellent reputation, and were often invited to considerable distances on Fourth of July and general training occasions, lured by the promise of dinner and drinks free. The Bodleys were quite prominent among the early settlers. Of these "Uncle William " may be specially noted. He was in his younger clays a splendid specimen of a Low-Dutch American, standing six feet two inches in his stockings, broad-shouldered, bony and. muscular, weighing about two hundred pounds cool and deliberate, yet quick and active: and to the day of his death never lost faith in George Washington, his long-barreled gun, buttermilk pop, boiled dinners, knee breeches with silver buckles, plaited cue, his wife Dinah, or the ultimate glory of the American Republic. Neither did Mr. Bodley enjoy alone these good things; he had many neighbors fully his equals in manly proportions and, patriotic zeal and fire. William Bodley, Sr., was at this time an elderly man, but in his younger days had been an Indian hunter in the Mohawk Valley, New York, and had brought with him his long gun, which carried an ounce hall, and made a louder report, he thought, than any gun in the West, of its size. He was always fond of talking about his gun and its wonderful capacity. He hunted with it in the forests of New York, and it was his boast that it could bring down an Indian at a greater distance than any rifle, and when he sighted a deer or an elk however great the distance, he was sure of meat for his family.

There were probably not more than five hewed-log houses in the township prior to 1820 These were owned by Alexander McBride, Mr. Griffith, John Long, Benjamin Wooley and Jacob Vanhouten. Long and Vanhouten had boards supported by poles, in front of their cabins. upon which was inscribed Entertainment," which meant in those days; hog, hominy and whisky," which were enjoyed by tile weary traveler at a moderate compensation. Whisky was 15 cents per gallon the pure stuff and was therefore used about as freely as water. Until 1822, the mails were carried on horseback and on foot but about this date stages made their appearance, a route having been established from Columbus to Portland (now Sandusky City). These stages followed "Beall's trail" through this part of the country. What a wealth of fact and romance must have been crowded into the lives of those stage-drivers! The first post office established in that part of the country was about the year 1817, a few miles cast of Plymouth Village. on the military road, on Section J of what is now Cass Township. It was kept by a jolly old Hollander by the name of Jacob Vanhouten, and called "Plymouth." The regular six horse teams began also to make their appearance along the trail, loaded with produce for the lakes. Arriving at the lake, they would discharge their cargoes and load up with salt, fish, etc., for the return trip.

The first frame house was erected in 1822. on the northwest quarter of Section 18, by Fleming Wilson ; and the first brick house in 1823, by James Douglas, on the southwest quarter of Section 35. Mr. Douglas made the brick himself, on his own land; and it is stated that one morning, when the workmen went out on the brickyard to work, the tracks of a panther were plainly impressed on the soft bricks that had been left on the yard the evening before.

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY. - 537

The early settlers of Plymouth Township were perhaps more than other townships at a loss about getting their grinding done. There were mane brooks and beautiful spring in different parts of the township. but none of sufficient strength for any considerable period of the tear, to furnish especially excellent water power. They were compelled, therefore to travel great distances for this purpose. This state of things could not last where Yankee ingenuity and wit were not lacking. Mr. John Webber had been a miller by trade. and concluded he could work out a set of buhrs or millstones, from the native granite bowlders. or "nigger-head " stone which abounded in the country of almost any size. Selecting two large specimens. He succeeded by great labor in shaping them to suit him. These bulbs, instead of being two flat surfaces working against each other like the French buhr. were made. the nether one in the shape of a cone and the upper bowl shaped to fit over it. The lower one was made stationary and the upper revolved around it. This mill was run by a little spring stream oil Mr. Webber's land, and was a success. It was a curiosity even in that day and would be much more so to-day. Part of this mill is still in existence-the howl part being used as a water trough at the house of a man named Cline, a short distance south of Shelby Junction. A wheelwright and carpenter named Rouse Bly assisted Mr. Webber in the erection of this mill.

Many horse-mills were erected in different parts of the township. In 1825, Mr. Trux erected a water-mill upon the little stream near his cabin. Steam power was unknown in those days, and this mill could only be used a portion of the year. but it has been in operation from that day to this. having been rebuilt and having changed hands many times steam power being added in the course of time. It is now operated by Snyder & Wolf Further down this stream. near Plymouth Village, is another mill owned and operated by Ross Cuykendall. It also uses steam and water power and has been in operation many years.

The subject of education and religion received the early attention of the settlers here as elsewhere. The early missionary preachers through here were Rev. Mr. Wolf,. a Presbyterian. Mr. Arbuthnot. a Covenanter. Mr. McIntire, a Methodist and John Chapman a Swedenborgian, Rev. Benjamin Wooley a Methodist settled on the northwest quarter of Section 4, in 1817 and became a local preacher. Nearly all the ear y ministers found in other parts of the county were also well known here. Among them. the well-known names of Bigelow, Benajah Boardman. Harry O. Sheldon. Enoch Congor and others appear. These were excellent men with clear heads and stout hearts. preaching wherever they could find shelter and often when they could not. They established church organizations and assisted in the erection of churches all over the county and adjoining counties. They spent their lives in the wilderness sowing good seed and unconsciously. perhaps. building their own monuments.

Perhaps as early as 1816 or 1817, a Methodist class was formed at the house of John Long. John Murphy was its leader. These were earnest people and this class continued in existence long after Methodist churches were erected in different parts of the county. The United Presbyterians. the General Assembly Presbyterians and the German Reformed people held meetings generally at the house of John Concklin until 1819, when they organized a church under the care of the Richland Presbytery called the "First Presbyterian Church of Plymouth." with forty-two members ; and the same year erected a large log meeting-house oil the corner of Peter Ruckinan's land. Section 7.

The first Elders of this church were John Concklin, Abraham Vanhouten, Levi Bodley and Daniel Gunsaulus. This society was organized at the house of Abraham Vanhouten.

558 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

Rev. Mathews was present and aided in the work.

In 1822 or 1823, there was a division in this' church. not on account of any difficulty among the members. but the church had grown rabidly. and a number of members desired to withdraw. feeling themselves sufficiently strong in numbers and organize a United Presbyterian Church. This they did. and afterward built a house of worship. about two miles southwest of the old log church. Rev. Arbuthnot and Rev. Johnson were among the first members of this church and the principal movers were Daniel Gunsaulus, William Bodley, Daniel Kirkpatrick and others. The house was a small frame located on Section 13 and is not now in use the organization having gone out of existence.

The first two or three years after the first settlement here schools were taught in private houses. and were " select" that is no public funds were used in their maintenance, there being none to use. The first schoolhouse was erected in 1818 in time for the winter school of 1818-19. It was of logs. and stood upon the land of Daniel Kirkpatrick. Section 8 Robert McKelvey taught here the first winter and John Webber the second.

This township came very near not having a town within its present limits. the present village of Plymouth being about equally divided by the northern line of the township and county. the northern part lying in New Haven Township, Huron County.

There is this somewhat remarkable fact about the early history of the place-it was a town before any one thought of laying out or platting it. It seemed to be the natural place for a town. these things being governed by a law which is secret and subtle in its operations. and not generally understood. yet any violation of it brings sure and certain punishment as has again and again been demonstrated by the defunct villages all over the country. Generally, towns are planted as it were nourished and made to grow but Plymouth, or Paris as it was first called, sprang up, grew and developed like a mushroom in the wilderness. It located on Beall's military road. Beall moved very slowly in those days: first he must cut his way through a dense forest and secondly he desired to keep between the settlements and the Indians of the Northwest. His movement was made immediately after Hulls surrender. when it was feared that a British and Indian army would slake a raid across the State of Ohio. He took the route that seemed to him best calculated for his purpose, and this happened to be the old Wyandot trail, before mentioned. Gen. Beall moved slowly and camped frequently and it is nut unlikely that after leaving Camp Council (referred to in another chapter he went into camp again upon reaching the headwaters of the Huron River, at this point, and remained in camp here several days. A year after the war, when Abraham Trux and his companions came along this trail hunting new homes they came upon this where Beall had camped. and cleared off a few acres of ground as he would naturally do, and dill do at every camping place. They thought this would pre a good place to step and build their cabins. They were hunters and woodsmen game was plenty and the country beautiful. They were likely soon to have neighbors. for this open military road would soon become a highway for the incoming emigrants. They were not mistaken neighbors came to them rapidly, and, within the next ten years. sixteen log-houses sprang up where the village of Plymouth now stands. and is yet no town was lard out. Besides, the country was being rapidly settled. The emigrants dropped into the little town one by one as the years went by and thinking the country delightful, went into the neighborhood and located lands. Many of these were Connecticut Yankees with land warrants in their pockets. which called for a certain amount of land on the Connecticut

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY. - 559

Reservation. These people followed the old military road to Paris, and then went north " blazing " their way to their farms. Thus it was, before Paris was laid out, there were settlements in every direction. and " blazed trails leading from the village to these different settlements. It is a remarkable fact, that no less than fourteen or fifteen " blazed trails " led through the woods to as many different settlements, all these trails centering in Paris. They were not roads; they were hardly paths, the blazed trees alone directing the traveler to the "Morris, Green and Van Osdell Settlement," the " White Settlement," the " Gypson and Gardner Settlement," the Bodley Settlement," the Broomback and Swearengen Settlement," the Bevier Settlement," and "Swan and Smith Settlement," etc.

It seems a little strange that it took ten years of time, and all these settlers and thus cluster of houses, to impress upon the minds of some of the early settlers the necessity of laying out a town : but such seems to be the case, for the village of Paris was not laid out until the 17th day of May, 1825, at which time, as before stated, there were sixteen log houses on its site, occupied by the following settlers: Abraham Trux, Patrick Lynch, Benjamin Wooley, James Young, Enos Rose, Abner Harkness, A. D. W. Bodley, Haslo, John and Henry Barney, Christian Culp, B. F. Taylor, William C. Enos and Lemuel Powers. These men were generally mechanics, and picked up what work came to the place, by reason of the travel on its great thoroughfare, passing the remainder of their time hunting, trapping and farming.

The town was laid out by Abraham Trux, Lemuel Powers and John Barney, on a high, sandy rolling piece of ground, and consisted, at first, of forty-seven in-lots, all of which were sold in less than two years, and additions made which found a ready sale, and Plymouth promised to be a city.

The first blacksmith was Patrick Lynch ; the first lawyer, William C. Enos ; the first doctor. Lemuel Powers; the first tailor, Mr. C Curtis ; the first shoemakers. John Skinner and W. V. B. Moore ; the first tanner, Hugh Long; the first bricklayer and plasterer, Robert Norfoot (yet living); the first wheelwright, A. D. W. Bodley ; the first cooper, Anthony McLaughlin; the first cabinet-maker, James Drennan ; the first carpenters, William Crall, Junes Dickson and Mr. Gilcrease ; the first merchants, Wilson Brothers, Mathew McKelvey and G. G. Graham.

Very soon after the town was laid out, Abraham Trux erected the grist-mill before mentioned, and also a saw-mill near his house. oil a branch of the Huron River. Two distilleries were also erected. one by Lemuel Powers and the other by William McKelvey. These distilleries purchased the corn, which they made into whisky, and therefore created a market for corn, about the only article of produce the farmer could sell. The whisky was hauled to the lake--except what was consumed at home, which was no small quantity-where it found a ready market.

These distilleries were, however, soon discontinued, Mr. McKelvey receiving an injury- which disabled him, and Dr. Powers having been converted to the cause of temperance. The latter turned his distillery into a hat factory, which was conducted by him with success until his death, when it passed into the hands of his son, Volney, who continued it several years.

The travel on the military road brought many strangers to the place, and made "taverns" a necessity. Before the place was two years old, three of these institutions existed, kept by James Drennan, Jacob Heller and Mr. Linsay, where the " hog, hominy and whisky," wild meats and "corn pone," were plentifully spread before the mud-bespattered stage-drivers and their weary passengers.

The same year in which the village was laid out, the people erected, by subscription

560 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

and volunteer labor, a comfortable schoolhouse 22x30 feet square, which was used for a school during week clays and a church on Sunday in which religious people of all denominations gathered for worship. As the Methodists were the most numerous, it was agreed that they should control and take care of the building but should give way to a reasonable extent to people of other denominations by having two weeks' notice of the wish on the part of others to use it. This singular arrangement was harmoniously and pleasantly carried out as long as the building lasted. or was needed for that purpose. The Methodists worshiped in this house five or six years, when they erected a frame church on Light street and, about 1835 they made an addition to this building of twenty feet, and added a belfry, in which was hung the first church bell in this part of the country. In later years, they erected the fine brick building now occupied by them on Sandusky street.

When the town was laid out, the Presbyterians had a large log church (before mentioned) about one and a half miles from town, which they occupied during the summer months, and in the winter shared, with other denominations. the schoolhouse in town. until the Methodist erected their church, when they occasionally used the Methodist Church, until they grew strong enough to build one of their own, which was about the year 1838. They erected a good substantial frame,. with stone basement, in a beautiful and commanding spot on Bucyrus street, which, with some alterations and improvements, they still occupy. This church is strong and well sustained, and for many years has had a large and active Sunday school connected with it Rev. Mr. Barnes has charge at present. The Methodists are, however. the most numerous religious body in this vicinity. Their organization is large and active, and their Sunday school large and well sustained. Rev. Mr. Ball is the present minister.

About the year 1838 or 1839, the Lutherans erected a substantial church. on Lots 22 and 23 to which some additions have since been made. This church is also active and well sustained, Rev. Miller being Pastor. A large Sunday school is connected with it.

A Congregational church was erected many years ago. on Lots 12 and 13. The society however. is not numerous and no services are held in the church at present neither is there any Sunday school connected with it.

A Catholic society was organized and church erected in 1873 on Lot 3. in Deringer's Addition. The society is not strong.

The name of the village being Paris and the name of the post office Plymouth many mistakes were made in the mail and freight business and to avoid trouble of this kind a charter was procured for the town, with the name of Plymouth, in 1838, and the town has been governed by officers elected under that charter to the present time. The first Mayor was Daniel Colckglazer ; the second. Ensign Benschoter and the third. Robert Wilson.

The subject of education has received attention, since the settlement began and always just and energetic treatment.

The first schoolhouse has been referred to and was called the "Old Red," the first teacher being Mr. Howe. a gentleman of the " old school." who understood and instructed his pupils in that old-fashioned branch of education (now, perhaps unfortunately. gone out of use) called - manners." The second teacher here was Elisha Brown. About the year 1831, Mr. McKelvy, a prosperous merchant, who had a large family of daughters erected a frame house with two rooms, which he called a female seminary. The school was taught by a lady of good education and was well patronized.

In 1834, the town was divided into two districts and a brick house erected. which, with the old red served until 1849 when the two districts were re-united and organized under

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY. - 561

(Picture of the Plymouth High School)

what was known as the "Akron" law and a fine house. for the times. was erected. It was a comfortable frame. contained five rooms and in this the school was graded. This building served the purpose until 1875, when the present beautiful and substantial structure was erected and cost about $25,000. It is of stone and brick and contains nine recitation-rooms and a hall.

The Sandusky. Mansfield & Newark Railroad was finished to this place in play 1846. Before it was fairly finished to Mansfield, a large number of Plymouth citizens went down on open cars attached to the construction-train, to attend a meeting called for the purpose of obtaining volunteers for the Mexican war. The same year, a large grain warehouse was erected at Plymouth, capable of storing 300,000 bushels of wheat, and Plymouth immediately became a great wheat market. As much as 8,000 bushels of wheat were received per day at this warehouse, for several days in succession. From the east, west, and for awhile, from the south, people came great distances to the wheat market. Other railroads, after a time, destroyed this trade.

When the call for troops in 1861 flashed over the wires, the five church-bells of Plymouth rang for an hour. The citizens came together, and men within the hearing of the bells came in from the country. In less than three hours, a full company of volunteers was organized and tendered to the Governor by telegram, and were in two hours. accepted by him. Plymouth Village and Township furnished their full quota of troops to put clown the great rebellion.

Plymouth's first burying-ground was at New Haven and the first person buried in this ground was Mr. Beymer grandfather of Mrs. Thomas Kinney. The first graveyard in the village was Lot No. 23 donated by Abraham Trux. It soon became apparent that the town would improve around this lot and it was vacated; a lot being purchased near the Presbyterian Church. In 1874 a number of citizens formed an association ca11ed "The Green Lawn Cemetery Association," and purchased twenty-three acres of land lying near the village which was laid out into nine hundred and forty lots with drives and walks. These grounds have been cultivated and beautified, and will in time, be among the most beautiful in the State.

The first bank was started in 1839 by lesser Barker, who did a banking business in connection with his mercantile business and continued to do so until his death in 1859 ; after which Robert McDonough and S. M. Robinson did the banking business for Plymouth until 1870 when the former opened a regular bank of discount and deposit, and continued until his death in May, 1873. Soon after, the First National Bank was organized by John Devinney, Henry C. Breckenridge, H. P. Steutz, E. Sturges, Sr., of Mansfield. T. B. Tucker and

562 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

others. This bank is yet doing a flourishing business.

In 1851, E. H. Sanford started a paper in Plymouth Village, called the Plymouth Journal, in the old "Peninsular" building, which has been for many years occupied as a photograph gallery. In 1853, he sold out to H. M. Wooster, who conducted it a short time, and sold out to Robinson & Locke (the latter generally known as Petroleum V. Nasby), who changed the name of the paper to Plymouth Advertiser. In 1859, the concern was purchased by A. H. Balsley, now publisher of a paper in Fremont, Ohio. Balsley conducted it until January, 1864, when he sold out to J. M. Beelman, who afterward took his brother, J. Frank Beelman, into partnership, and together they conducted the paper until 1876, when J. M. Beelman retired, and the paper has since been conducted by J. Frank Beelman.

The population of the village is, at present, something more than a thousand. The manufacturing power consists of eleven steam engines and one water-wheel. The secret societies are the Masons, Odd Fellows, Good Templars, Knights of Honor and Royal Arcanum. There are two hotels, five dry-goods stores, two clothing and five grocery stores, four millinery establishments, two hardware, two stove and tin. three drug. two shoe, and two furniture stores. and the usual number of mechanics and small tradesmen.

Generally considered. Plymouth is a pretty, clean, healthy village. The intelligence of its citizens is of a high order and the society excellent. There are an unusual number of old people living in and near the village, which speaks well for the healthiness of the locality. It belongs properly to the Western Reserve of which the lamented Bayard Taylor, the Greatest of American travelers, once said that no other place on the globe of equal extent could equal it in intelligence.