HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY. - 419

CHAPTER XLV.

JACKSON TOWNSHIP.

ORGANIZATION-NAME-TOPOGRAPHICAL FEATURES-HUNTING GROUNDS-ARCHEOLOGICAL-FIRST SETTLEMENTS-JUDGE MCCLUER-FIRST ROAD-URIAH MATSON-FIRST CABIN-WHITE HUNTERS-EARLY SETTLERS -MILLS-PUBLIC MEETINGS-TOWN HALL-SCHOOLS-CHURCHES.

JACKSON was among the last townships organized in the county, belonging to Sharon until March 2, 1847. the date of its organization. Its early history is, therefore, connected with that of Sharon. The first election of Sharon was held April 7, 1819, within the present limits of Jackson, at the house of Mrs. Rockwell, Giles Swan, John Bennett Taylor and James Rockwell were elected Trustees; Almon Hayes, Clerk, and Giles Swan, Justice of the Peace. Upon its erection into a separate township, an election was ordered by the Commissioners, April 3, 1847, at which Anthony Hershiser, Robert Leach and John Leppo were chosen Trustees ; Abraham Bushey, Treasurer; Alexander Barr, Assessor; Samuel Rockwell, Town Clerk, and Delanson Rockwell and David McKinney, Constables. May 3,1847, Abraham Bushey and John Ackerman were elected first Justices of the Peace.

Robert Cairns claims the honor of suggesting the name, calling it after that much-abused idol of the Democracy. Gen. Jackson.

Topographically, it is four by six miles in extent. generally level or gently rolling; was once densely covered with timber of a sturdy and vigorous growth and before white man set foot on the soil, was partially covered with swamps. Since its cultivation and drainage, it proves to be among the best townships of land in the county for agricultural purposes. It is well watered, and yet there are no streams of any considerable importance within its limits. The head-waters of the Black Fork pass across the southwest corner, flowing west, and a tributary of the Black Fork, Bear's Run, rises in the central part, flowing north, and leaving the township near the northwest corner of, Section 3. These are the principal streams, but several brooks are found in various parts. Three small tributaries of the Black Fork-Leatherwood Run, Lick Run and Richland Run, water the eastern and northeastern part.

The Mansfield, Coldwater, & Lake Michigan and the Baltimore & Ohio Railroads pass across its southwestern part. It is now, well settled with a mixture of Connecticut Yankees and Pennsylvania Germans.

In its primitive condition, it contributed its full share to the extensive hunting-grounds of the Northwestern tribes. No permanent Indian villages appear to have been located within its limits, but their camps, for hunting purposes, were frequently located on the higher grounds in various places. That it was extensively occupied for this purpose is evident, from the quantity of Indian relics, such as arrow points, stone axes and wedges, and various other implements of war and the chase, as well as domestic implements, known to have been used by the Indians for various purposes, found in different parts. John S. B. Matson, a son of one of the first settlers of the county, Uriah Matson, has a large and valuable collection of these relies.

The first settlers in Jackson came from two directions-those settling in the northern part

420 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

entering by way of "Beall's trail" and Trucksville, through Blooming Grove Township and were mostly New Englanders; those settling in the southern part coming from the direction of Zanesville, Mount Vernon and Mansfield. After leaving Beall's trail. these northern settlers were compelled to cut their own road through to the lands they had entered. No roads of any kind then existed in the townships. It, is said that one or two Indian trails crossed it, which was probably the case, but their location cannot be defined at present. Settlers from the south came by way of the McCluer settlement, at Bellville; and Judge McCluer, being well acquainted with the country, was in the habit of acting as guide to these immigrants, and frequently accompanied theca to different parts of the county, to show them choice quarters of land. It is said that McCluer, during these excursions, frequently selected lands for himself, and thus became the proprietor of many valuable quarter-sections of land, in various places. It thus happened that McCluer entered, just after the war of 1812, several quarter-sections of land on the Black Fork, in the southern part of Jackson Township, which were ever afterward known as " McCluer's mill seat," probably from the fact that he expressed his intention of erecting a mill there, which, however, he never did. It is believed, the first road in the township was cut from Mansfield to " McCluer's mill seat," and this road was afterward extended on, north, to the present site of Shelby, where Gamble's mills were located. Two of Jackson Township's earliest settlers, Uriah Matson and Joseph Curran. assisted in cutting this road, and entered their land in the township as early as 1814 or 1815, though they did not return for permanent settlement until 1816.

At a meeting of the pioneers of the county, in 1858, at which a number of axes were presented to the oldest pioneers, Uriah Matson says, in a letter to the committee : "I would inform you, that I came to this county the 4th day of August, 1815, and from that time to October, 1822, I followed chopping exclusively, during which time I chopped about one hundred and ninety acres of land. and did a large amount of other chopping, such as making rails; sawing timber for frames, getting bark for tanners, etc. Since 1822, I have chopped and cleared upward of eighty acres, on the farm I now occupy. I think I have done more chopping, assisted in raising more cabins and rolling more logs, than any other man now living in the county. When I came; to the county. there were about four families living in Springfield Township, to wit, Coffenberry, Condon, Edington and Thomas Adams; and but four more families in all the northwest part of the county, to wit Pettijohn, in Auburn, McCluer, Widow Trux and son-in-law, in Plymouth Township."

Mr. Matson was presented an ax, in consideration of the amount of land cleared by him. In the spring of this year (1816). Mathew and Joseph Curran came, and erected a cabin upon Mathew's land, the southwest quarter of Section 36. This is said to have been the first cabin in the township, and' stood upon the farm now owned by Robert Cairns, of Mansfield. Joseph Curran had entered the southeast quarter of the same section, and soon after erected the second cabin. It is related that settlers came from several miles south to help erect this cabin for Mathew Curran and family, among the number being Mr. Calvin Clark, yet living and a resident of the township. The time and circumstances are vividly impressed upon Mr. Clark's mind, from the fact that an accident happened at the raising. The Curran family had encamped near where they intended erecting the cabin, and were cooking dinner for the workmen, by the side of a large log, in the open air. One of Mr. Curran's children, a little boy, attempted to walk this log, in sport, and, making a misstep, fell into a large kettle of boiling coffee, scalding him to such an

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY. - 421

extent that he died the following day. This was the first death of a white person in the township so far as known.

A few white people, it is ascertained, frequented this territory before the Currans came, but they cannot be called settlers ; they were trappers and hunters-backwoodsmen in the full sense of the word-and they remained just long enough after other white occupation to have their names preserved in history, and then disappeared, to perish, probably, at their perilous calling, alone in the great forest,

"Unwept, unhonored and unknown."

Their names were James Champion and a Mr. Girard. It is said, also, that a Mr. Brubaker, and some other hunters whose names are not remembered, frequented this excellent hunting and trapping ground at a very early day. Two men named Eben Bolt and -- Brown are said to have commenced a settlement by clearing off a little patch of ground, but they disappeared, and were not heard of afterward.

It is a mooted question as to whether the Currans were the first actual settlers, as some of those who settled in the northern part of the township came about the same time. It has been stated that the Currans came in 1815. If this be true, they were, probably, the first settlers ; but the weight of evidence seems to bring them here in the spring of 1816, at which time their cabin was erected; and this same year, probably in the spring. John Bennett Taylor and Robert Henry came. and made a settlement in the northern part of the township, as before stated. These two were soon after (it is believed the same year) followed by Adam and Giles Swan, and Joseph Rockwell. John B. Taylor settled on Section 14. the Swans on Section 10, and Mr. Rockwell on Sec tion 23. These were followed within the next two years by Henry Taylor, who settled on Section 14; Isaac Marvin, Section 10 ; Wilson Rockwell, Section 14; James Smith, Section 14, and Charles Taylor, Section 15, Walter Taylor came in 1819, settling on Section 12, and Almon Hayes in 1820, settling on Section. 15. The early settlers who came a little later were John Drake, Section 15; Calvin Clark, Section 16; Thomas McLaughlin, Section 9; George, Hugh and Robert Fulton, Section 16; Adam and Peter Miller, Section 16; Carson Craig, David Funk, John Craiglow and John Rice, the latter mentioned in another chapter as being with Commodore Perry in the battle on Lake Erie.

The people who settled in the northern part of the township were sharp, shrewd, live, go-ahead Yankees from Connecticut, and, in addition to their enterprise and thrift, were well educated, the two Swans being graduates from Tale College. They came here to make money, and most of them succeeded. The Taylors erected a carding-mill, propelled by horsepower. It was of logs, and certainly a primitive affair, but answered the purpose several years. Henry Crum now occupies the farm where the mill stood. In addition to this, the Taylors brought on a small stock of goods, suitable for traffic among the Indians and early settlers, consisting mostly of hardware, cutlery, groceries, etc. Henry, who was induced to come by his brother Bennett, and came in 1817, brought this stock with him, and managed this branch of the business. He was the first merchant in this part of the country, and kept his goods in his cabin. He did not, however, replenish his stock, and soon sold out. He was also a blacksmith, and erected the first shop of that kind in the township, working at his trade while closing out his stock, and making for the Indians, knives, tomahawks, etc., and repairing their guns. He was an ingenious and skillful workman, and was the father of Mrs. W. R. Bricker, of Shelby. Hayes was also a black-smith, and erected the second shop. He relates that while working in his shop one day, he was visited by half a dozen Indians, who, upon leaving, and after getting a short distance away,

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turned and leveled their guns at him, as if they would shoot him. He was somewhat frightened, but continued his work without exhibiting any outward signs of fear, and, finding he was not visibly frightened, they continued their journey.

The first and only grist-mill erected in Jackson Township was by James Kerr in 1830, on Richland Run, in the northern part of the township, on Section 1. The first miller was Mr Uric: the second, William Kerr, son of James Kerr. William is yet living on the old place. The third miller was a Mr. Sellers. In 1853, this old mill was taken clown, and some of the timbers used in the erection of Mr. Kerr's barn. The old mill-race is yet to be seen. A few saw-mills have been erected from time to time in the township, but this territory is not well supplied with water-power, and few mills were ever in operation. Most of the settlers went to the Spring mill, or to Gamble's mill at Shelby.

The first birth in the township occurred in the family of Robert Henry ; the first death has been mentioned as being the child of one of the Currans. and the second was that of Joseph Rockwell. in the spring of 1818. The first marriage was that of Giles Swan to Jane Rockwell, in September, 1817. The Swans, Taylors and Rockwells were influential in all the early affairs of the township, When it was organized. all the residents met at the house of Mrs. Rockwell; which stood on the farm now owned by M. M. Barber. There were fourteen persons present, and after the petition was duly signed, they appointed Henry Taylor to present the same to the Commissioners at Mansfield. The Commissioners granted the petition and named the township Sharon, after some town in Connecticut. The subsequent elections in Jackson were held at Taylor's Corners. Mr. Henry Taylor's house was a noted place for public meetings, elections, militia musters, etc.. in those early days. Mr. Taylor then kept a tavern, in addition to his black-smithing and other business. A town hall is now located at this place for the transaction of the public business of the township. This is a small frame building and answers the purpose of all public meetings and gatherings of the people to discuss their local affairs. General spelling schools and sometimes religious meetings are held here.

No villages have been laid out in this township, the people generally going to Shelby or Mansfield to trade.

Schools were first organized about 1820, and the first schoolhouse was erected on what is now known as the Cutler farm. one and a half miles east of Shelby, near the cross roads. then not far from the residence of Giles Swan, who was very likely a prime mover in the matter. being a well-educated man himself. The first teacher was Miss Amelia Graves. A little later, a log schoolhouse was erected in the southern part of the township. John Upp being the first teacher here. At the present day, neat white schoolhouses are placed here and there at convenient distances, and the children who attend them, instead of following a blazed path miles through the woods, barefooted and thinly clad, to the log schoolhouses, now traverse cleared, cultivated fields and well-kept highways.

Only two churches have an organized existence within the limits of the township, the people, many of them, attending church in Shelby.

Quite a number of the first settlers in the northern part of the township were Lutherans, and did not at first attempt to organize a church of their own, being too few in number and too poor to employ a minister; they therefore united with the Presbyterian Church of Shelby, with the understanding that they should be allowed to withdraw whenever they felt able to organize a church of their own. Most of these withdrew about or before 1830, and effected an

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organization employing the Rev. Francis J. Ruth as Pastor part of the time. This gentleman yet lives in Galion and is yet preaching, though now quite advanced in years. The early meetings were held in private houses and the schoolhouse but in 1832, a log church was erected in the northern part of the township. (Section 10) which was called the "Loudon Church," from the facet of its proximity to the village of Loudon in Cass Township. The original members of this organization were Leonard May and wife, John and Anthony Hershiser and their wives, a Mr. frump and wife, and Mrs. Samuel Mowery. They worshiped in the old log church until 1842 or 1843, when they erected their present frame building. The church is now fairly attended though not strong. Rev. Summers of Shelby is the present minister. A Sunday school has been generally sustained since the church was established.

Mount Bethel Church is located on Section 23. This is more generally known by the name of "Sheriff's Church " from the fact that it occupies land which was donated to the church by a Mr. Sheriff. In an early day, two religious organizations had an existence in this part of the township, a German Reformed and a Lutheran. In 1833, they agreed to unite and erect a church which should be equally free to both denominations. The church he was a log one, and was erected by united and voluntary labor.

Rev. Mr. Shuh was first preacher for the German Reformed society, and Rev. Francis J. Ruth for the Lutherans. Before the church was erected the German Reformed society held their meetings at the house of Daniel Stahl, where the society was first organized by Mr. Shuh. Among the first worshipers in the church were William Stine, Daniel Stahl, Adam Myers, Jacob Shadle, John Hippart, Daniel Livensparger, Jacob Freighner, John Stock, John Hall and Daniel Huffman,

After a time, the German Reformed organization disbanded, and the Lutherans only now occupy the church. In 1878, they erected a new frame church, costing about $1,000. It is 32x38 feet in size. Mr. Ruth still preaches to these people. The church is not strong, having a membership of ten or twelve. The Sunday school, however, is in a flourishing condition, with forty or fifty pupils enrolled. Its organization dates back to the time of the establishment of the church.