HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY. - 609

CHAPTER LXI.

WELLER TOWNSHIP.

ORGANIZATION-TOPOGRAPHY-IMPROVEMENTS-EARLY SETTLERS-INCIDENTS AND REMINISCENCES OF PIONEER LIFE-THE ENGLISHMAN'S "CASTLE"-SOLDIERS IN THE LATE WAR-THE COUNTY INFIRMARY-SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES-THE RAILROAD-OLIVESBURG-SUPERSTITIONS.

WELLER TOWNSHIP was organized in the year 1846, from the original townships of Milton and Franklin, after Ashland County had been organized. That part of Milton Township lying east of the Black Fork remaining in Ashland County, and retained its original name as possessing the largest amount of territory. Two miles was then taken from the east side of Franklin and added to what was left of Milton, and erected into a new township and called Weller, and was subsequently divided into six school districts.

The township contains within its limits a very fine body of land, embracing every variety of soil, and well adapted for the production of grass or grain, as well as every variety of fruit and vegetables. The Black Fork is the principal stream of water and traverses the township from west to east, entering at the northwest corner, near Urick's mill, and continuing an eastward course to Linn's mill, then turns south to the bridge, on the Wells farm, in the southeast corner of the township. The Whetstone, coming in from the north, and the Brubaker Run from the south, are important branches. The land on these streams is extremely fertile, producing fine crops of corn and other cereals. The "Big Hill," as it is called, forms a prominent feature in this department.' It rises about one hundred and fifty feet high, and is four miles in circumference, more or less abrupt on its several sides, to a uniform altitude, and then drops to a level surface on the top, forming a table-land of great beauty and value for agricultural and horticultural purposes. There are about one hundred and fifty springs emitting pure, soft water which flows from its sides; the geological formation being sandstone. A number of valuable quarries are in operation on different sides. There are also heavy deposits of potters or fire day. Specimens on the farm of John Ward were sent to Akron, Ohio, and to Lansing, Mich., for testing purposes, and pronounced at both factories to be first-class material for stoneware. Some indications of coal have been found cropping out at several points, but not sufficient to justify a heavy venture.

About ten years ago, Thomas Clingan, living on the north side of the hill, employed men to bore for coal. They went clown about one

610 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

hundred and ten feet, and then abandoned the enterprise.

The wooded portions of the hill are covered with a dense growth of chestnut, hickory and oak timber. There are men living on the hill now who can remember when the tall chestnut trees-now 100 feet high-were no thicker than a man's thumb. When the aborigines held possession, they burned the forests over annually to prevent the undergrowth from obstructing the distant view of game. Heavy timber would not be affected by the tire, but the land was no doubt impoverished by consuming the decaying vegetable matter.

In early times, there was a saline spring about half a mile west of Windsor Station, which spread out over a low, flat bottom-ground, forming an extended marsh, which the early settlers called "The Deer Lick." This was a place of great resort, both of the Indians and also of the early hunters, to kill deer. It was once owned by Jacob Gardiner, a son of Archibald Gardiner, the first settler in those parts. Gardiner was one of the best riflemen in the country. He made a small pen of poles, at a convenient angle, covered it with bark and brush, in which he would secrete himself and await the approach of the deer, which resorted here generally by moonlight, in the autumn of the year, to lick at the saline fountain. Many were the splendid specimens that were dragged out of that marsh.

On the east side of the hill there is a picturesque-looking cavern, that was called " The Snake Den," under whose massive rocks the rattlesnakes took refuge and propagated their fearfully hated race. John Dickson once improvised a party of snake-hunters and made a raid on the den, killing seventy-five and wounding others.

In the first stages of its settlement, progress was necessarily very slow. Things did not go by steam in those days. The early settler labored under immense disadvantages and crushing embarrassments. When the scanty supply of flour or meal ran out, he must drop his ax or plow, and travel perhaps ten or twenty miles to a mill, or five to a blacksmith-shop. When his salt ran out, he must go or send seventy miles, and pay $10 a barrel for it. Instead of the shapely plank to lay his cabin-floor, he must split up huge trees and hew puncheons for a floor. Then rushing waters must be bridged, swamps must be corduroyed, before travel was possible. Under such difficulties, it would be wonderful if education was not neglected-schoolhouses dispensed with for some time. Yet, considering these disadvantages, our fathers exhibited a praiseworthy energy in that direction, and schools were inaugurated in rude log cabins, and the most erudite of the settlers chosen as a teacher.

Among the first enterprises was the manufacture of whisky; corn, being very low in price, could be made into whisky and sold at 25 cents a gallon. It constituted the chief article of commerce in those days, considerable being sent to Michigan, and was considered "legal tender " in any kind of trade. A few yards from where. Windsor Station now stands, a distillery was run by a Deacon Williamson, who came from Jefferson County, Ohio, in 1817. The good Deacon, who was indeed a worthy man, would, after putting his buzzing, seething enginery in operation, take his seat at the place where the precious fluid made its exit, and, rubbing his hands together, would begin to sing

"Come, Thou fount of every blessing."

There was one or two more in the township, one of which was run by Jacob Osbun, near the infirmary, but was soon abandoned. The state of public sentiment changing on that matter, as soon as the temperance agitation commenced, yet flow harmless, comparatively speaking, was the liquor manufactured then to the poisonous "rot-gut " sent out by the millions of gallons at the present day.

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Among the first settlers of Weller Township may be named the following: Benjamin Montgomery, Elijah Charles, Jacob Osbun, 1814 ; A. A. Webster, Levi Stevenson, George Hall. James Mahon, James Haverfield; William Holson, Peter Pittenger, Francis Porter, Henry Wikoff, John Dixon, John and James Feguson, 1815; from 1816 to 1819, came Moses Modie, James Grimes, Charles Stewart, John and Charles Palmer, Joseph Ward and Simon Morgan.

The first grist-mill built in the township was on the Whetstone, at Olivesburg, by Benjamin Montgomery, in 1817. The first saw-mill was built by Elijah Charles, on the Black Fork, in 1818, and it is worthy of note here, that it is, perhaps, the only saw-mill built in that early day that is in operation at this date over sixty years, and is now owned by David Lind. In the year 1816, Benjamin Montgomery was elected Justice of the Peace, and the same year a small log schoolhouse was built on the west side of the Big Hill, and a small school improvised with James Mahon as teacher. The schoolhouse was on Levi Stevenson's land. Mr. Stevenson taught one term in the same house.

From 1814 to 1822, wild beasts made occasional depredations on the stock of citizens.

In 1820, Mr. Hall had some sheep killed by wolves, and as late as 1822, Joseph Ward, Sr., had fourteen sheep killed in one night in the woods, a mile from the house; some others were killed in other parts of the township, but the names of the parties are forgotten.

In 1819, John E. Palmer settled on the south side of the hill, where there were three or four fine springs of water bursting out of the side of the hill. In the fall of 1820, Mrs. Palmer stepped out of the house into the wood-yard for some fuel. She had placed some chips in her apron, and was turning to go into the house when she discovered a huge black bear just a few yards from her.

Uttering a scream, she sprang for the door, when a very fine, large Newfoundland dog, that Mr. Palmer had brought from London with him, whom he called Lord Nelson, sprang out of his kennel and made for the bear, which immediately broke for the chapparal on the hill-side and "Lord Nelson " very discreetly contented himself with making a very vigorous demonstration in his rear.

Some excitement was produced in the summer of 1825, by the story of a Mrs. Church, that she had been pursued by a panther. She lived on the east bank of the Black Fork. On the south was an extensive swamp, stretching toward the Webster farm. She was returning home from a neighbor's in the dusk of the evening, and heard, or thought she heard, a panther scream behind her. She started to run and scream herself, the panther answering. She soon reached the Black Fork, which she crossed on a fallen tree, and there the chase ended. The story was not generally credited ; many thought the screams alluded to proceeded from a huge night-owl that was in the habit of making nocturnal visits in the neighborhood. At all events, people who had boys to send to the woods to hunt cows were anxious to have them take that view of the matter. Black and gray squirrels were the most numerous and abundant of all other wild animals, and, while they were a little annoying to the farmers, yet they furnished them with thousands of meals of the most delicious meat.

During the war of 1812, Jacob Osbun was a soldier, and with a company of men from Jefferson County was sent out to fight the Indians on the Sandusky Plains and the Maumee. On their way out, he passed over Section 35, and being impressed with the beauty of the location, timber, etc., took occasion to mark with a hatchet a number of trees, with a view to future operations. On his return, he made the entry sometime in December. His son, William, owns and lives on the same farm now.

In February, 1815, Samuel Osbun, Jacob's father, came out and built a cabin on the same

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land. He was born in New York, was of English descent, and lived some time in Washington County, Penn.; moved to the Pan Handle, Va. thence to Jefferson County, Ohio, and came to Richland in 1814. He was ninety years old when he died. Religious services were frequently held in his house in early times. His son, Judge Osbun, settled in Mansfield in 1815, was elected Justice of the Peace, and was for several years Associate Judge. He moved to his farm in this township in 1824.

Elijah Charles came from Beaver County, Penn., to this township, in 1814, and built a saw-mill on the Black Fork, in 1818, which was of great service to the people. He went to Pittsburgh with a wagon, for the irons. He died shortly after the mill was set in operation, leaving a large family, who carried on the milling and farming business with great success, the oldest son, Isaac, adding a valuable gristmill to the property in 1835. He was soon after elected Justice of the Peace, serving two terms. In 1868, he moved to Bluffton, Allen County, Ohio, where he is supposed to have been murdered by his youngest son, Isaac, who is now in the State prison for life a truly tragic ending of a useful life. All the male members of the the original family are now dead. Elijah, the fourth son of old Elijah Charles, died at the same age, and singularly enough, of the same disease, as his father. William Taggart married the third daughter. He was Commissioner of the county two terms; and subsequently made two trips to California, in the gold-digging enterprise.

Indians were lingering around some time after the introduction of the white settlers. Sometimes they were troublesome, even after the close of the war, often intruding themselves into the cabins, with their characteristic " Ugh ! me heap hungry; Indian want some bread, some hominy, some powder." The Charles family were annoyed two or three years by them as they were a great terror to children.

They seldom, however, did any serious harm, and were soon after confined to their reserve, in what is now Wyandot County.

In 1820, the Rev. Mr. Lee came from Westmoreland County, Penn., and bought a quarter section of land east of the Charles mill. He had a large family, of which John A. Lee, late of Mansfield, was the youngest boy. In a short time, the entire family was prostrated with fever and ague, and his oldest daughter, a very amiable young lady of seventeen summers, died of bilious fever. The rest of the family all recovered, only to be stricken down again the nest autumn.

Between Mr. Lee's farm and the Charles mill was an extensive marsh, over which the waters of the Black Fork flowed at every succeeding freshet. Of course the miasma arising there from in autumn was fearful. Mr. Lee attributed much of the trouble to the mill-dam obstructing the channel, and thus throwing the water over the banks into the marsh, and proceeded to inaugurate a suit for damages, or effect a removal of the nuisance. A long, bitter and expensive litigation followed, the courts finally deciding against Mr. Lee, but compelling the mill-owners to cut a foot off their dam, which at that time backed the water three miles. Mr. Lee, disheartened and disgusted, sold his farm at a great sacrifice, and moved to Crawford County, Ohio.

In 1821, a local preacher, Joseph Curtis. came from England, and settled on the south side of the Big Hill. He was a good carpenter and farmer. and also filled the place of an undertaker, thus making himself doubly useful for while he attended to the duties of an undertaker, he could, at the same time and place, preach an acceptable funeral sermon. Mr. Curtis married Mary Woodhouse near Windsor, and raised a large family, one of whom (Benny) enlisted in the army, and was killed at the battle of Chickamauga. A marble monument at Milton graveyard bears his image,

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taken from a photograph, but his body was never recovered-it sleeps on the blood-stained field of Chickamauga. William Curtis, the second son, was elected Captain of Company C, One Hundred and Sixty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was sent to Virginia, Fort Reno, in the 100-days service. Quite a number of his company was made up of recruits from this township-Joseph H. Brown, Second Lieutenant ; Peter Sterritt, First Lieutenant ; Jacob Rohrer, First Orderly Sergeant; James Hughes, Orderly; David Berry, Levi Nelson, Allen Haverfield, Ben Egner, Chief Artificer; Isaac Connelly, Third Sergeant ; William Houston, Winfield Houston, Benjamin Crabbs, Thomas Hughes, Joe Balderson, Amos Jump, M. Ozier, Marvin Seaton, J. W. Tucker, privates.

After his return from the service, he married the youngest daughter of John E. Palmer, and on the death of his father, which took place in 1864, he inherited the old homestead, which he sold, and moved to Illinois. He was not considered a very efficient officer, and was very unpopular with his men.

In addition to the company raised for the 100-days service above mentioned, most of which were from this township, quite a number of volunteers went into other companies. Jacob Ward went in the Fifteenth, and was killed at the battle of Chickamauga ; Joseph W. Palmer, John Fickes, Bent Martin, Joseph Haverfield, Steven Clifford and J. Miller were in the cavalry service-the former three in McLaughlin's squadron. Clifford re-enlisted, and went into the Ohio Battery. H. O. Pittenger, Milton Charles, Newton Charles went into the One Hundred and Second ; Martin Taggart, in the One Hundred and Twentieth ; was taken prisoner, and confined nineteen months; Elmer Nelson was in the Fifteenth ; was taken prisoner and confined in Libby Prison and Andersonville ; Franklin Osbun, Lemuel Pittenger, I. Pittenger, Freeman Osbun, Melvin Osbun, James Weagly, James Mason were in the One Hundred and Sixty-third. Gaylord Ozier and his brother, Kemp Ozier, were taken prisoners, and kept in Andersonville ten months.

Henry Newman settled on the quarter section on which the Franklin M. E. Church stands in 1822, and donated the church one acre of ground, when that edifice was built. He was the oldest son of Jacob Newman, of Mansfield, one of the proprietors of that town ; came with his father before the war, when a boy, to where Mansfield now stands, and, with others at that day, encountered many difficulties and dangers from Indians and other sources. He taught school several terms when young. In the spring of 1822, he commenced opening up his farm, and soon after married Miss Jane Ward. He had three sons and four daughters ; all his boys went into the service. Capt. Jacob Newman (the oldest) was shot through the body at the battle of Shiloh ; the surgeon, considering his case hopeless, refused to dress his wound for twenty-four hours after the battle. He was sent to Pittsburgh on the boat, where his mother met him, and nursed him into life, and he returned to service. Joseph, the second son, was mortally wounded at the battle of Mission Ridge, and died soon after. He was for some time attached to the staff of Gen. Williams. Capt. Andrew Newman, the third son, went through the entire service; at the battle, of Jonesboro, behind Atlanta, half his regiment fell. After the close of the war, he entered college and studied law, but his constitution was shattered, and he broke down, and slowly sank to rest.

William Houston, of Olivesburg, came from the State of Delaware in 1815, and entered a half-section of land adjoining what is now the village of Olivesburg. He had five sons - Jonathan, Richard, Joseph, William and Robert. He was chiefly instrumental in the building of the first Presbyterian Church, and also the first schoolhouse. He furnished all the siding for the church, and hauled it with his team from

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John Stewart's mill, south of Mansfield. He died on the same farm in 1842. Robert inherits the old homestead.

James Mahon came from Harrison County, Ohio, in 1815, and entered half a section of land on the "Big Hill." He taught the first school in the township in the log schoolhouse on Levi Stevenson's farm in 1816. He died in 1820 or 1821.

One of the most prominent and useful families of early times were the Halls. They came from Westmoreland County, Penn., in 1815. Mr. Hall had five sons and three daughters, all members of the Presbyterian Church. He entered three quarter-sections of land on the Black Fork, in the southeast corner of the township, in 1815, and, having a strong force of muscular and industrious young men, soon opened up a fine farm. The oldest son married a Miss Ralston, of Plymouth. Mr. Maxwell, late of Mansfield, married the oldest daughter, though rumor has it that it was a runaway match, but proved to be a most felicitous one. Judge Lee, of Bucyrus, married the youngest daughter. The entire family have all passed away the last member died more than ten years ago. The first sermon preached by a Presbyterian minister in this neighborhood was in Mr. Hall's house, by Rev. James Rowland. Mr. Hall was fond of a good horse, and was remark able for keeping the finest lot of fat horses in the township.

In connection with Mr. Hall's history, it would be proper to make mention of a terrific whirlwind that swept over his farm in the year 1824, and the only one of that character that has visited this township in sixty years. It threw down every fence on the farm, carrying fence-rails through the air.

The best barn in the township, at that time, was on this farm. It lifted the heavy, new shingled roof off as if it had been a cobweb, and, what was most remarkable, a hewed log, lying in the lane, half buried in mud, was taken up out of its bed and thrown eight or ten rods.

The next day, fifty men collected on the farm to gather up the debris, and collect what materials were available for further use, and bring order out of chaos.

The year 1859 was memorable on account of the unprecedented heavy frost of that year. The preceding winter had been favorable for the protection of winter wheat, and, when spring opened, the wheat was unusually fine, and the prospect for an abundant harvest was never more cheering in the entire history of this township. Some fields of corn on favorable ground was nearly knee-high by the 5th of June. Although slight frosts had occurred during the months of April and May, no material damage had been done ; all kinds of fruit were doing well; apples were as large as hickory nuts, and wheat was all out in head and in much of it the grain was partly formed. About the 1st of June a light rain fell, after which it turned colder. The weather continued cloudy and cold for two or three days, and on the 4th it snowed a little during the day.

At 10 o'clock A. M. of the 4th, the thermometer stood just at the freezing point, a strong breeze blowing from the north.

At sunset, the wind dropped ; the sun setting clear. By 9 o'clock P. M., the mercury was falling very fast ; the stars were unusually brilliant; not a sound was heard in the air; no whip-poor will raised his night song; no chirping cricket lifted its unmusical voice; all was silent as the house of death-and the house of death indeed it was, for the " destroying angel was abroad in the land, sweeping down tens of thousands of acres of the finest grain-fields that ever waved before the breeze, or delighted the eye of the husbandman.

The morning sun rose on a scene of indescribable grandeur and desolation. The meadows, the wheat-fields, corn-fields and gardens were thickly covered over with frost-crystals

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY. 615

glistening and dancing in the morning sunlight. The work of destruction was complete; everything was frozen stiff. Under the powerful re-action from the rays of the morning sun, the corn wilted and soon fell to the earth, the ground being frozen down to the roots of the corn. On a farm on the Black Fork, a large iron kettle, half filled with water, was so frozen over, that a heavy man got on it with both feet and tried in vain to break it. It is worthy of note here, that there was a frost in every month in the year of 1859.

There was great sympathy manifested in those days for each other, and when one neighbor became distressed, the others would rush to his assistance with a perfect fervor. Mr. Hall died about the year 1832, regretted and respected by all his neighbors. His son Robert inherited the farm, and married a very amiable lady by the name of Walker, but died in four years after, of consumption, leaving one child.

Abel A. Webster came from the State of Connecticut in the fall of 1814, and settled on the Black Fork, one mile north of the Hall farm. He was the only man from the State of Connecticut in the township. He was a man of means, and was soon able to clear out a fine farm, so that when later settlers came in, about 1819-20, he had produce to sell them at his own figures. He was skeptical in his views, and although the wealthiest man in the neighborhood, he never could be induced to contribute a dollar to build a church, college, railroad or any other enterprise of the day. He sold his farm in 1859 to Mr. Minster, who married his daughter and now resides on the farm. He soon after removed to Cleveland, where he died at the advanced age of eighty-eight years.

John Dickson came to this township in 1815. He entered the quarter of land joining Elijah Charles on the south, and married the oldest daughter of Mr. Charles in 1818. In 1830, he formed a partnership with William Taggart, and built a grist-mill on a spring rising out of the Big Hill side, and, two years after, built another grist-mill about forty rods below the other, on the same stream. He was a man of great physical strength and endurance, an excellent workman and hunter; had very black hair and black eyes. His entire face and bosom were so thickly covered with hair as to hide the skin. He was generous in his impulses, honest in his dealings, and an accommodating neighbor. In the days of "corn-huskings," he was first choice in a ram; he would become so excited sometimes in an exciting race as to leave marks of blood on the corn-husks from his lacerated fingers. These simple facts are given simply to exhibit faithfully the spirit of the times half a century ago, and the habits of our fathers. The last days of. this good citizen were shrouded in melancholy and gloom. A dark shadow had fallen over the threshold-of his domestic relations, and the cloud never lifted from his brow, or the load from his heart. He became a wreck, mentally and physically, and never did the weary heart look forward with deeper longings for the grave that should cover it, or the spirit with earnest yearnings for the brighter and better land, than did his.

Samuel Pittenger came to this township with his father, Peter in the year 1815, landing on the 17th day of February of that year. The family made the entire journey from Harrison County on sleds. Samuel was the oldest son, and became the" Nimrod " of the family, supplying them with venison for several years, until stock could be raised. He killed his first deer on the "Big Hill," soon after landing, and has killed as high as twenty-eight deer in fourteen consecutive days. He was married in 1819 to Elizabeth Kent, and settled on the northwest corner of his father's farm, where he lived seven years, and removed to Greene Township, where he resided six years, and then returned to his present location, where he celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of their wedding, a few months ago. He is now in his eighty-fifth

PAGE 616 - PICTURE- HOME OF H. O. PETTENGER.

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year, and Mrs. Pittenger in her eightieth. There is a cabin that he assisted in building, in the year 1817, still standing on the farm now owned by H. G. Palmer. It is the oldest cabin known in the township. It was built and owned by a man by the name of Ensign, who was at that time a Swedenborg preacher, but subsequently became a Methodist, as his name appears on the minutes as an exhorter in 1829, in the official records of the M. E. Church, Mansfield' Circuit.

Levi Stevenson came from Beaver County, Penn., in the year 1815, and settled on the section northwest of the Big Hill. He was a good mathematician, and was employed in the year 1818 to teach school in a little log cabin, built on the southeast corner of his land. It was in the days of "barring opt," and a number of the young men attached to the school gathered before daylight on Christmas morning and barred "the master " out to make him "treat." Uncle Levi coolly surveyed the premises, and thinking no doubt that it was a long lane that had no turn in it, proceeded to climb the corner of the domicile, and without further ceremony jumped down the chimney, although there was a roaring fire of hickory logs, ten feet long, to receive him. The insurgents "took in the situation," and surrendered at discretion. Uncle Levi could not say that he came out without the smell of fire on him, but no serious damage resulted; but never was a pair of buckskin breeches in more serviceable demand than on that memorable occasion. He had four sons, William S., John, Andrew and Samuel. The last named still lives on the old homestead.

John E. Palmer came from the city of London, England, to this township in the year 1819. He bought half a section of land of William Holson, and commenced making improvements in the fall of the same year. His brother, Charles Palmer, and himself, brought a small stock of dry-goods, chiefly calicoes, with them, which sold for high prices at that day. They brought these goods in a light wagon from Philadelphia, crossing the mountains by way of Pittsburgh.

The following year, the two brothers married the two eldest daughters of Joseph Ward, who accompanied them from England.

Mr. Palmer engaged actively Wall the moral enterprises of the day, such as the temperance movement, the antislavery question, etc. He assisted in the organization of the first Congregational Church in Mansfield, of which he was one of the first Deacons. For many years, he was connected with 'the underground railroad, and never was happier than when rolling away a wagon load of quivering fugitives by the pale light of the stars toward the Canada shore.

John Crabbs settled half a mile west of Olivesburg in 1817. He came from Jefferson County. He married Polly Montgomery in 1818, and is now living on the same farm with the same wife ; they celebrated their golden wedding two years ago. A large fatty tumor has been growing on his shoulder for twenty years. In November, 1879, Dr. Craig,.of Mansfield, assisted by Dr. Crabbs, of Olivesburg, successfully removed the tumor. He remained unconscious three weeks after the operation, but is recovering slowly. He is now in his eighty-fifth year.

Thomas Robinson emigrated to this township from England in the year 1821. He bought a quarter-section of Isaac Hanly, and afterward sixty acres of Israel Graham. There was a small improvement on each place, situat ed on the "Big Hill." Robinson was a man of singular notions and habits of life. He had plenty of money to do what he took in his head, and he conceived the idea of grubbing up all before him, when he cleared land, taking out trees three or four feet over.As a matter of course, it was a losing business financially, but it gave employment to poor men, and scattered f his guineas round the neighborhood, where they were badly needed at that time. After staying two or three years, he returned to England, as

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he said, to get another wife, which important mission he accomplished in seven years, and then returned and recommenced grubbing up trees, etc. He also built a large brick house, made of bricks of extraordinary large size. He also built the first frame barn in the township. The house above mentioned was remarkable for its immense cellars, which were all arched with atone. These were not properly constructed, and proved the ruin of the house by spreading the foundations, the walls cracking, and finally falling by piecemeal. It has not been clearly demonstrated whether the fall was great or not, but it fell; and the indications went to show, that Mr. Robinson, in more ways than one, did not build his house upon a "rock." He lost his fourth wife in 1842, and in the spring of 1843, returned to England, where he died.

In 1866, the property was sold at public auction, by order of the court, and Gen. James and Wm. Robinson bid it off and now own it.

A few years ago, a Sunday-school picnic from Ashland landed at Windsor Station, and made a raid over the Big Hill, taking in their rounds the ruins, of the fallen castle. On leaving the ruins it was observed by Mr. Robinson that each one of the party was carrying away a brick. He called the party to a halt, and gruffly inquired, what in thunder they were carrying off his bricks for.

The spokesman of the party proceded to explain, that they had heard down at Ashland that a rich lord from. England had built a wonderful castle here once, that he was something of a Blue Beard in his character, that four wives had mysteriously disappeared; some thought, in the arched vaults of the cellar, etc., etc., and finally that an earthquake had shaken down the house, and buried the unfortunate wicked lord in the ruins; and that with.this romance burning in their brains, they were carrying away the brick to keep as a souvenir, and one brick to deposit in the cabinet of curiosities in the Ashland Academy of Science.

At this wonderful story, Mr. Robinson's eyes dilated. He at once proceeded, with impressive voice and gesture, to strip this romantic legend of some of its superfluous verbiage, and put things in something like matter of fact form, such as would do to go into the history of Richland County. It is needless to say that quite a change came over the spirit of their dreams, and before the party reached the station on their return home, there was not a brick to be found in the hat of one of those boys. The teachers felt pretty badly sold.

In 1862-63, the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad was built, which enters Richland County and Weller Township on the east side of the township, at the crossing of the Black Fork, and running west to the west line of the township, where it makes a sudden curve to the south, to Mansfield.

There is a comfortable station-house at the crossing of the Windsor & Olivesburg road, commodious switches and spurs, and convenient accommodations for loading and unloading stock. There is considerable business done in the way of shipping stone, staves, lumber, grain, etc., from this point, though but little enterprise is manifested in building up a town. The old village of Windsor, three-fourths of a mile south, is dwindling away.

The railroad bridge over the Black Fork, one mile east of the station, broke down under a freight train in 1871, and all the train was precipitated into the river. The crash was fearful, but by a wonderful providence, none of the employes were killed or even seriously hurt, though some were pulled out of the water from under the debris. A wrecking train was improvised and all hands, put to work, and a new bridge built as soon as practicable, which has stood the pressure since.

The first child or children born in the township were Samuel and Mary Stevenson (twins), in 1816, one of whom (Samuel) is still living

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on the old farm where he was born, and where he has lived sixty-four years.

The oldest man living within the bounds of the township is a Mr. Smith, living at Olivesburg, who. claims to be ninety-eight years old. He is yet a hale old man, chops his own wood, and to all appearances, he is good for another half century.

There are fifteen persons in the township who have lived therein sixty years, viz., Samuel Pittenger, Nathaniel Pittenger, James Hagerman, William Hagerman, William Ferguson, John Ward, Samuel Stevenson, John Crabbs, Richard Houston, Robert Houston, Isaac Connell and Francis Porter-twelve men, and three women, viz., Mrs. Morgan, Mrs. John Cline and Mrs. Taggart.

The Richland County Infirmary is situated in the center of Weller Township. It is beautifully situated on the western slope of the Big Hill, on the Mansfield & Olivesburg road. In accordance with an act of the Legislature, proceedings were inaugurated by the County Commissioners, in -the year 1846, toward its erection. William Taggart, William B. Hammett and John McPool were acting in that capacity at that time. The farm of one hundred and sixty acres, was bought of the heirs of Nathaniel Osbun, and the contract for making the brick and putting up the building was given to Col. Weaver, of Ganges, for $4,500. As Col. Weaver claimed he had lost money in the enterprise, the Commissioners humanely added a little pile to it as extras, but the house was finished, and, the following year, was occupied in accordance with its legitimate purpose. The first Board of Directors elected to take charge of its conduct were Richard London, Christopher Horn and Samuel Lind.

These men appointed Lowry Sibbet, of Mansfield, as Steward, and his lady, Mrs. Sibbet, was duly installed as Matron. The institution was managed as well, perhaps, as the average of such institutions throughout the State, and, as a benevolent institution, was a credit to the country. The average number of paupers accommodated within its walls was about seventy-five or eighty.

In June, 1877, the old building burned down, and great inconvenience was experienced in making temporary provision for the inmates till another building could be provided.

Plans and specifications were presented during the year 1878, and, in the spring of 1879, the contract was let to Sheets & Frayer, and the work commenced. The building is much more elaborate and expensive than the old one, and will cost between $30,000 and $40,000. It is a very handsome building, and makes a fine appearance from the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad. The present officers, under whose directions it was built, are William Newlon, J. F. Gerhart and Peter Snapp. Present Steward in charge is William Gates.

There was a school organized about the same time on Jacob Osbun's farm, at that time in Franklin Township (now Weller); adjoining the infirmary, and was taught by John Hagerman, and, in the winter of 1819-20, Joseph Ward taught a school on the south side of the Big Hill, and the winter following, in a log cabin on the farm of Mr. Hall, on the Black Fork, at which time and place the Hon. Barnabas Burns, of Mansfield, commenced his education, also James Rait, of Mansfield. This rustic seminary had greased newspapers for windows. The fireplace extended nearly across the east end, into which chasm immense piles of beech and sugar logs were rolled by muscular, students. The master was favored with a splint-bottomed chair for his throne, but the students had seats made of split-rails, placed with the soft side upward.

The first schoolhouse making any pretensions to respectability was built at Olivesburg in the year 1824. This was a substantial, hewed-log house, twenty feet square, glass windows and good stove in the middle. The above named gentleman (Joseph Ward) taught the first four

620 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

terms in it. This was the first school continued through the summer season. His article of agreement stipulated that one-third of his pay should be in corn, one-third in maple-sugar and one-third money.

It was not till the year 1854, that the township was thoroughly organized into districts, and a Board of Education appointed, and a good frame house put up in each sub-district. The first Board of Education met at Isaac Charles' house, and was composed of the following members: Charles Palmer, Sr., John Ward, Elijah Charles, Daniel McCormick, James O. Hagerman and James Walker, since which time the schools have prospered, with regular sessions winter and summer.

The first religious service in this township was held at Peter Pittenger's house, conducted by Rev. John Clingan. Preaching was continued for some time at his house' by the Methodist ministers before any church was built. In 1820, a log church was built on the land of Nathaniel Osbun, now the infirmary farm, and services held occasionally. The first church of any size or comfort was built by the Presbyterians at Olivesburg, in the year 1827. It was a good frame house for those days, and cost $500. Rev. William Mathews was Pastor; William Houston, Abel Montgomery and Joseph Burget were the Deacons.

John Crabbs, John Owens and James Godwin were the Elders; Joseph Ward, Clerk, and James Laughlin, Treasurer. In 1831, Mr. Nathan retired and Rev. James Robinson was installed Pastor and continued a number of years. The church is not more than half as strong at the present time as it was fifty- years ago. In the year 1849, the old church building was removed, and a new one built on the site in 1852. The present Pastor is Rev. Mr. Boles.

The first Methodist Church in Olivesburg was built in 1840. Rev. M. Kinnear was Pastor; Dr. Mitchell and Isaac Charles, Trustees. It burned down in 1848 and was rebuilt in 1849. The Pastors were Rev. O. Burgess and Jacob Fry; the Trustees, Isaac Charles and Jacob Crabbs.

The M. E. Church at Frankton was built in the year 1837. The preachers were Revs. Gavitt and Yokum ; the Trustees, Charles Palmer, Henry Newman, William Ferree, Andrew Oswalt. The church cost $500.

First M. E. Church at Milton was built in 1839. Pastors, Adam Poe, A. L. Harris; Trustees-Joseph Curtis, Henry Pittenger, M. Mason and Ezra Osbun. Second church was built in 1875. The Pastors have been John McNabb and C. C. Ball; Trustees, William Ferguson, John Ward, H. 0. Pittenger, William Hagerman, William Robinson, William Wells and S. S. Harnly. It cost $2,400.

The first parsonage in the township was built in Olivesburg in the year 1847. Trustees-Jacob Crabbs, Charles Palmer, Joshua Ford. Itwas occupied severally by Revs. Hubbard Dubois, Jacob Fegtly, John McNabb, John Whitworth and others. In the year 1876, it was sold, and a more commodious and convenient house built near Windsor Station, in close connection with Milton Church, and costing about $1,200. Trustees-John Ward, William Ferguson, Henry Golladay, James Hughes and William Foulks. It is beautifully situated on the southern slope of the Big Hill, and, with its rather picturesque surroundings, presents a pleasing view during the summer season, from the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad. It frequently calls out remarks of passing strangers. The present Pastor occupying it is the Rev. C. I. Russel.

Sabbath schools were organized first in the year 1828 by a Mr. E. Judson, of Milan, Ohio, at Olivesburg and at Fleming's Falls. James Godwin, Superintendent at Olivesburg; Thomas Wilson, Superintendent at Fleming's, and Levi Horseman. Secretary.

In 1829, the Rev. Mr. Matthews assisted in organizing a school in a cabin on Simon Morgan's land. Bartholomew Williamson,

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Superintendent; Joseph Ward, Sr., Secretary and Librarian. A collection was taken up here and forwarded to New York for books, and these were the first Sabbath-school books introduced into the township. There was a small school also in the west part of the township, with Charles Palmer as Superintendent. All these schools went down after a brief struggle for support;. but after the building of commodious chnrch edifices at the various points already indicated, they were all reorganized on a permanent basis, and have continued with brief intermissions ever since. Some of them are very prosperous and successful. These schools were superintended alternately by Ezra Osbun, John Ward, William Hagerman, Newton Charles, Freeman Osbun, and others at Milton; Charles Palmer, James Hughes, Henry Golladay, Allan Haverfield, David Hughes and others, at Franklin, and Dr. Crabbs, William Burget, William Foulks, at Olivesburg.

The village of Olivesburg was laid out by Benjamin Montgomery in the year 1816, add called Olivesburg in honor of his oldest daughter, Olive. In 1821, the village contained one tavern, kept by Benjamin Montgomery; one blacksmith-shop, by Abel Montgomery; one tailor-shop, by John Gum; one cabinet-shop, by Thomas Beach; one tannery, by Joseph Burget; one horse-mill and water-mill, by Jonathan Montgomery; one wheelwright-shop, by William Lee, or James Hall, and about the usual per cent of loafers.

It was suggested to the writer by an old settler, that the history of Weller Township would be incomplete without some allusion to the witchcraft excitement that prevailed some fifty years ago. It will, perhaps, be looked upon by some as a matter almost incredible that such things took place at so comparatively recent date, and we should feel reluctant about placing them on record were there not living witnesses to substantiate all the statements made here: It was about the year 1831 or 1832, that a family living on the farm now occupied by the county infirmary, conceived that they were annoyed by enemies who were endowed with the powers, qualities and attributes of witchcraft. A Mrs. Holstein, living at that time on the farm now occupied by Alanson Martin, was one of the parties thus charged, and that, in the exercise of powers and capacities above mentioned, they entered into their churns, sugar-kettles, etc., and prevented the butter from coming and the sugar from Braining, etc. At other times, the old lady would fancy they had taken partial possession of her person, and she would commence a series of gymnastic performances, swaying her body and limbs to and fro, looking mysteriously out into vacancy and uttering sepulchral tones; then she would take a silver half-dollar and clap it on the calf of her leg and kick like a mule in her efforts to throw it off. In the night, mysterious noises were heard up-stairs and down; there were hissings and screechings, and runnings to and fro. In the morning, piles of meal would be found in one corner, piles of salt in another, and torn shreds of old faded calico dresses would be scattered hither and thither. Neighbors were called in to witness the " proceedings," and, according to the Scripture, "some believed, and some believed not." A large portion of the more intelligent part of the community scouted the whole thing and stood aloof from all the proceedings. It was thought by many, that the object of the old woman was to excite hatred toward old Mrs. Holstein. The excitement, however, continued to increase in a class of community who either did, or feigned, to believe it. Finally, a meeting of the "believers " was called to take steps looking toward the abatement of the nuisance. A man by the name of Wycoff, a connection of the troubled family, was Chairman of the meeting.

Wycoff settled on the western slope of the Big Hill in 1815. He was a man of immense

624 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

weight-on a pair of scales of very indolent habits, but a more inoffensive, good natured man there was not in the county of Richland. Wycoff and his confreres on on the occasion above alluded to, held a kind of "experience meeting," in which each one is supposed to have told " what I know about witch craft," and its probable cause and cure. The conclusion of their deliberations was that the witch should be shot, not in dramatis peronae, but by proxy. So they very gravely went to work, and, with the aid and assistance of the female department of the house, took wheat flour and created a dough image, made after the "similitude and likeness" of a sinful and erring old woman, whose presence was now invoked with mysterious incantations. It was then placed on the corner of an outside., old fashioned mud and stick chimney, at a convenient angle, with a big forked cherry-tree, where an excellent marksman was placed, with a rifle loaded with a silver bullet which had been melted down from two or three old, smooth sixpences that had been previously well soaked in buttermilk from which no butter would come. The nerve of the marksman was good, and his aim was true. No better nerve was ever exhibited by " Fitz James or Roderick Dhu," considering the conditions. Sir Walter Scott's heroes pale before him. The silver bullet was true to its magic charm and accomplished the end whereunto, they sent it." At all events, the poor innocent image was bored through and through , and it was not three days till there was a report circulated all through the neighborhood that there was a corresponding wound in poor old Mrs. Holstein's side or bosom. It is a veritable fact, however, that Mrs. Holstein died shortly after these ridiculous transactions. which served to strengthen some in the faith. The writer hereof was present the year after these things took place, when a witch-doctor was sent for, who lived two miles north of Mansfield, who claimed to have power to exorcise evil spirits. He went out to the sugar-camp and muttered something over the sugar-kettles, to make the sugar " grain " good. He appeared to be an honest Pennsylvania Dutchman; talked broken English, charged a small fee for his services, stayed all night with the family, and, early in the morning, left them with his blessing. This was about the winding up of the era of witchcraft.

Absurd and ridiculous as these things were. they had their counterpart in the spiritual rapping period, a quarter of a century later. Not more than a mile from this same locality, on the farm owned at that time by Henry Newman, and rented by a man named Heppard, some very extraordinary things took place, and the family was kept in a terrific state of alarm and excitement for weeks and months by similar noises, thumping, rapping and tearing round the house in the night ; and no satisfactory solution of the strange proceedings ever came to light. But these singular manifestations, like the former, have all passed away, and we look back upon them with mingled feelings of wonder and incredulity.