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CHAPTER XLVII

EARLY HISTORY OF MADISON TOWNSHIP AND MANSFIELD.

MADISON TOWNSHIP - ITS FORMATION, PHYSICAL FEATURES AND POPULATION-SURVEY-EARLY LOCATION SETTLERS-MANSFIELD-ITS LOCATION AND SURVEY-ESTABLISHED ON ROCKY FORK-NAME-FIRST SETTLERS-FIRST CABIN-FIRST WHITE CHILD-PIONEER MATTERS-A NUMBER OF FIRST THINGS-GEN. CROOKS-THE BLOCK HOUSES-JOHN M. MAY-THE STURGES FIRM-INDIANS-WHAT REV. JAMES ROWLAND AND OTHER PIONEERS SAY-EARLY HOTELS, ETC.

IN 1807 Madison Township included the territory at present embraced in Richland County. It was named after President Madison, and was then under the jurisdiction of Knox County. In 1812, it was divided. Greene being created from its eastern part. A third division occurred August 9, 1814, leaving Madison the northwestern township in the county, with a territory eighteen miles square. Thus it remained until 1816, when it was reduced to its present dimensions-six miles square in the center of the county. It is generally rolling, and in places even hilly, but there are no prominent landmarks. North of the city of Mansfield, there is a ridge whose general course is northwest and southeast over which the Atlantic & Great Western Railway passes sufficiently elevated to divide the waters of Black Fork and Rocky Fork: the grade along the road being about fifty feet to the mile over this ridge. The tributaries of these two streams carry off the water and in addition to these numerous and beautiful springs burst frown the ground in different parts of the township. One of these. on Fourth street, probably had an influence in determining the location of Mansfield. Two others. the Laird and John's Springs which will receive more particular mention in the history of the water-works, now furnish the city with pure spring water. Another of importance is located in the southeastern part of the township, on Rocky Fork, where the first settlement was made, and others of more or less importance in various places. It was once densely covered with every species of hard-wood, and its agricultural resources are fully equal to those of any other in the county.

The substratum of its population was of the best material. It was largely Pennsylvania German-either Lutheran or Reformed-and Pennsylvania Calvinistic Scotch-Irish. The former was the better judge of the qualities of the soil, and the more careful and skillful cultivator of it. But in public spirit and in appreciation of the importance of private and public education, the Scotch-Irish were superior. In the intermingling of the two elements, enterprise and conservatism materialism and idealism were happily balanced and blended ; and it would be hard to find a more desirable population than this combination furnished. To these have been added in minor proportions the more cosmopolitan elements of the Marylander. the Jerseyman and New Yorker, with now and then a Yankee, with his native acuteness. smartness pushing enterprise and passion for progress and improvement ; and notwithstanding his ever present assumption, that whatever there is good in America came over in the Mayflower, has made himself a valuable and valued ingredient in the population of the township. The presence of the German element was influential in bringing in large

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numbers of European Germans, with their indefatigable industry and marvelous economy and thrift: their passionate desire for the ownership of real estate enough to absolve them from the payment of rent: their skill in mechanics agriculture and horticulture: their universal instruction in the primary departments of letters and science. They have proved themselves the best of citizens, the friends of common schools, of the Republic. of civilization, of law and order such a foundation readily explains the marvelous beauty and solidity of the superstructure that in so few years has attained such vast proportions.

The history of the city and township is so interwoven that it cannot be written separately. They have run together in the race of progress and whatever has been the measure of success it belongs equally to both. It may or may not be new to a majority of its citizens to hear that Mansfield was not born on its present location. It first saw the light on the southwest quarter of Section 25, about three miles southeast of its present location, on Rocky Fork at what was Beam's, afterward Campbell's and now Gondy's mill. As this location and its first settlers are fully described in another chapter it will not be dwelt upon here.

Gen. James Hedges was the pioneer of the township. He was here as a Government Surveyor in 1806, a year before the first settlement was made. The name is a well-known and honored one, is interwoven in the warp and woof of Mansfield history, and still stands high in the roll of its honored citizens. Hedges was accompanied by Maxfield Ludlow and Jon athan Cox. These, and their attendants, whose names are not given, drew their lines through the woods, and rolled themselves in their blankets by their camp-fires, before any white man built his cabin within the limits of the township.

In looking for the first settlers of any township or county, it is natural to turn to their eastern boundaries and to the banks of any stream that may cross them ; for the Indian trails were generally along the streams, except where they diverged to some prominent spring, or to cross from one stream to another. These trails were the highways of the wilderness and were generally followed by the advancing pioneers. True to this principle the first settlement is found on Rocky Fork as above described. Here Jacob Newman was induced by his friend and kinsman. James Holges, to build the first cabin, the first, not only in the township, but in tile county also. It came very near lining the first in the future city, for it was built near tile boundary line of the town that was then staked out. These pioneers knew that a new county would soon be created here and determined to profit dry it. They thought if they laid out a town on the Rocky Fork, near that beautiful spring and induced settlers to come in it would grow up into a city and become the county seat. They laid out the future city but it never went any farther at that place. It was not platted or recorded and no settlements made within its limits. For some reason it was abandoned. and the present site determined upon. What their reasons were is a matter of uncertainty but it is conjectured that the "big spring " on Fourth street: had some influence; that Gen. Hedges had, probably, some intimations as to the future boundaries of the new county, and thought this would be a central location; and Doctor Bushnell says a very potent reason was in the fact that Mr. Hedges had entered for himself the section upon which the site now stands, and wanted the new city located upon it, and that he actually paid these early settlers $1,500 in silver as an inducement. However this may be, their city on Rocky Fork was abandoned ; they came up that stream and laid out the present city on the 11th day of June, 1808. The men who thus established the foundation of this monument to their memories, were Joseph Larwill,

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of Wooster, James Hedges and Jacob Newmam. They agreed to name the new town Mansfield. after the then Surveyor General of the United States. Col. Jared Mansfield under whose instructions Hedges and his companions were working. Col. Jared Mansfield was born in New Haven, Conn., in the year 1759 and during his lifetime occupied various prominent and responsible positions under the United States Government. He was a graduate of Yale College in 1777 and taught school, first in New Haven and afterward in Philadelphia. Becoming known to Mr. Jefferson, he received the appointment of Professor of Natural Philosophy at the Military Academy at West Point. The publication of his mathematical and physical essays about this time, enhanced his reputation and he took a high stand among the scientific men of the nation. He was appointed Surveyor General about the year 1803, an office before held by Gen. Rufus Putnam. Col. Mansfield subsequently resumed the Professorship of Natural Philosophy at the Military Academy, where he continued until a few years before his death when he retired to Cincinnati. and subsequently died while on a visit to his native city. February 3, 1830, aged seventy-one years. He was a near relative of the now venerable author and scholar E. D. Mansfield, who resides near Cincinnati.

The original plat of the city was a square of which the public square was the center. It extended north one block beyond Fourth street south across Ritter's Run one block beyond First street : east one block beyond Water street and west one block beyond Mulberry. It was mainly off the southeast quarter of Section 21, the south side however extending a little more than a square into the southwest quarter of Section 22. Since that time it has extended over the entire section (21). and into all the adjoining sections, its growth having been mainly west and north. James Hedges entered the two quarter-sections upon which the town was platted; also two other quarter-sections, lying east and north of the town.

New towns, in those days, did not spring into life as rapidly as in these days of steam and electricity. It is a common thing flow to build a new town ill a few days or weeks, make and lose fortunes on it abandon it, and start another at some distant point on a new railroad, with, perhaps. the same result. But, in those days or stage-coaches and Pennsylvania schooners," with their four yoke of cattle, things moved correspondingly slow. People were not whirled through the world on "lightning expresses" or crammed with telegraphic news from "all parts of the world." The future city was not an exception in this particular. So far as can be ascertained but one actual settler was obtained in 1808. This was Samuel Martin who came from New Lisbon. This is about all that is known of him. He built the first cabin; such, at least is the testimony of many of the oldest settlers. though, like every other matter depending on the memory of the "oldest inhabitant" it is contradicted yet the weight of testimony is in his favor. The question as to where that first cabin was built, is one more difficult of solution. It is one upon which, one would think, those who were here first could hardly be mistaken : but it must be considered that their attention was not called to this matter for years afterward, and being considered (if considered at all) a small matter, it passed from their minds entirely. Looking back afterward, through the mist of half a century, with its changes the exact spot might not be so readily determined. It remains to give the evidence pro and con and form a judgment accordingly.

Mr. C. S. Coffinberry, writing from Constantine, Mich., under date of February 17, 1873, says : "The first house built in the town of Mansfield was built by George Coffinberry, in 1809, in the month of August in that year, on the site now occupied by the North American Hotel, at the southwest corner of the public square. The

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building was a small log cabin." The above is an extract. The writer must he mistaken, tbr there is much evidence that tile first cabin was not built in 1809, but 1808, and not on the North American corner and as before stated not by George Coffinberry. Mansfield H. Gilkison. who is now living in Mansfield and who was born in this cabin (the one referred to in the above extract). says it was built in 1810 and was the second cabin in the town.

Mrs. Elizabeth Baughman, who is still living and who is the daughter of Capt. James Cunningham, one of the earliest pioneers in the county, in a letter to the Shield and Banner in 1873, says: "A log cabin was afterward erected on the present site of Mansfield. It stood, I think, near where Mr. Keating now lives, at the northeast corner of the park, and a man (whose name I have forgotten) moved into it, but for selling whisky to the Indians, in violation of law - a Congressional act. I suppose-he had to leave the country * * * One of the proprietors of the then contemplated town of Mansfield, got father to consent to move into the cabin to board the coming surveying party, and entertain persons who might come to buy town lots, etc. * * * The day following, they removed to the cabin spoken of, which, was, as father always claimed, the first house built in Mansfield, and the only one here at that time."

According then to Mrs. Baughman's recollection, the first cabin was built on the northeast corner of the public square, where stands the old brick dwelling-house belonging to the Hedges family. Mrs. Baughman, however, did not live with her father at the time he occupied this dwelling, for she says in the same letter: "My father was married to Margarett Myers, his present widow, in 1808 and came to this country soon afterward: but I remained with my grandfather, Michael Stateler, until 1819, then came to this county, where I have since had my home." It must be considered that James Cunningham, her father, moved into that house in October, 1809, and moved out during the next year so that he only occupied it a short time ; and if his information was given to his daughter years afterward, he might have been mistaken or she might have misunderstood him.

That she was mistaken seems evident from the following, taken from the lips of James Cunningham himself and written down at the time by Rev James McGaw: "In October of the same year (1809), he (James Cunningham), moved into the only log cabin is then standing in Mansfield, which had been built some months previously by one Samuel Martin. This cabin stood on the corner lot of E. P. Sturges - No, 97." It would seem as if the statement of Mr. Cunningham, which was written down in his presence and must therefore have been carefully given, ought to he conclusive. He was a very early settler, well known to all the pioneers and a very intelligent man. He was afterward a Captain in the army.

The following is an extract from a letter of Margarett Cunningham, wife of James Cunningham dated January 31, 1873: "August 23, 1809, we had a daughter born to us in the town of Mansfield, when there was but one log cabin, in the place built by a Mr. Martin for a boarding-house. Mr. Martin lived in this cabin but a short time, and left abruptly, having sold whisky to the Indians contrary to law. Some one threatened to prosecute him for the offense, and he left."

From this extract is ascertained what became of the first actual settler in the town and the builder of the first cabin. He was evidently a trader; whether he kept anything more than whisky is not told: but he might be called the first merchant in Mansfield ; and this first cabin was also the first boarding-house, the first store and the first dwelling.

The following extract is from a letter of Nancy Shively, written March 3, 1873. She

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was also a daughter of James Cunningham "My sister, Matilda Cunningham, was born in the town of Mansfield, in a house built by a Mr. Martin near the corner of the square nearest the big spring." This was what she heard her parents say. and corresponds with the evidence of her sister. Elizabeth Baughman ; but contradicts that of her father. The following' testimony on this point is from Jacob Brubaker. who was a man of high character. and of good, memory when his evidence was given in 1858: "When I was eighteen years old. I was employed with others in surveying and cutting out a road between Canton and Rooster. I was employed by Joseph Larwill, of Wooster. when the town of Mansfield was rein off into lots; I was engaged in cutting the logs for the first cabin that was built in Mansfield it being built for one Martin, who had removed from New Lisbon to this place. This cabin was erected on the lot now owned by E. P. Sturges." This testimony of one who cut the logs and assisted in building the house. Agrees with that of Capt. James Cunningham who lived in it after its first tenant. Martin, moved out. There is much other conflicting testimony regarding this matter which could space be allowed for its admission would not present the matter in any clearer light. The weight of evidence seems to place the first cabin on the northwest corner of the square where the Sturges Block now stands or very near that spot: some evidence being given to show that it was a little north of the lot upon which that block was erected.

The first sale of lots occurred in October, 1808. Joseph Larwill having pitched his tent above the big spring and opened the sale on that day. It is not stated whether any lots here sold but probably a few were as it is found that purchasers came from "Knox, Columbiana, Stark and other partially settled counties." Aniong the first settlers in the new town were George Coffnberry, Winn Winship, Bolin Weldon, J. C. Gilkison. John Wallace, Joseph Middleton, James Cunningham and Andrew Pierce. These arrived, some with their families, mostly in the year 1809, and all came to stay. George Coffinberry built the second cabin, on the North American corner. Gen. Harrison stopped at this tavern, one his way to the siege of Fort Meigs, in which siege Gen. James Hedges was engaged. Winn Winship, who was a single man, built the first frame house in the town, across the street from the cabin of George Coffinberry, on the corner where the Farmer's Bank was, for some time, located. He was one of the most important of these early settlers being Postmaster at that time, and not only the first Postmaster in Mansfield, but the first Postmaster in Richland County , and was also Register and Receiver of Virginia Militairy !, School lands, having been appointed to that office by the Legislature of Virginia, some two years before. He is thus described, in a letter written by Mrs. Margarett Cunningham, in 1873: "This Winn Winship was a singular little mail; short, round face, dark complexion, very talkative, wore a cue, quite a fop, was not very particular what he ate so that he got milk. and after we discharged him, he went to Mr. Coffinberry's to board. He used to send little George Coffinberry down to our house, every day with a great tin quart cup, for milk, with a silver sixpence always in the cup." He seems to have been a little out of place in this wild region, and had a repugnance to boarding or living with other people, and in a log house so he built a neat two-story frame, and lived by himself. The lumber for this house was hewed and split out. saw-mills being rather scarce. He was afterward appointed Clerk of the court by the first Judges in the county, Thomas Coulter, Peter Kenny and Hugh McCluer.

Rolin Weldon came from Delaware, built a cabin, and started the first blacksmith-shop in the town, on the McFall corner, the northwest corner of Third and Main streets. This is,

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However. disputed by M. H. Gilkison. who says the first blacksmith was Joint Fogelsong. who built a shop in the alley connecting Main and Walnut below the Wiler House. Mr. Winship and Levi Jones boarded with Weldon for a time. Jones was afterward killed by the Indians; full account of this being given in another chapter.

John Wallace remained in town but a short time. He bought and cleared up a farm two miles east, which has since been known its the Wallace farm. J. C. Gilkisou was a printer and started the first printing office. He was also an officer of the militia. He married a daughter of George Coffinberry, and lived for some time in the Coffinberry house on the North American corner. where his son. Mansfield H. Gilkison who is still living was born. This son was the first white male child born in the town or county.

Much controversy has arisen in regard to the first child born in Mansfield. The friends of Matilda Cunningham. of whom many are yet living claim that honor for her: while Mansfield H. Gilkison and his friends are equally persistent and positive that he was the "very first." That he was the first male child does not admit of question ; whether he was the first child each one must judge for himself after reading the testimony. The statements are so conflicting and the time so far back, that the truth is hard to find. For nearly sixty years this honor was borne by Mr. Gilkison. with no one to dispute his title: but in an unfortunate moment, at a pioneer meeting a new claimant suddenly appeared, and created some feeling among the pioneers and those interested. The following extracts from letters, and such other testimony as is at hand, may be of some assistance in forming a correct conclusion:

Gen. R. Brinkerhoff, in his centennial address to the pioneers of Richland County, July 4, 1876, says: "The first white child born in Mansfield was Mansfield H. Gilkison, who is still living and with us to-day. He was born February 2, 1811 in the building on the North American corner. His father was John C. Gilkison and his mother a daughter of George Coffinberry."

The controversy began in 1869. It seems, therefore that, seventeen years afterward, Gen. Brinkerhoff had not been convinced that he was in error regarding this matter. Mansfield H. Gilkison gives his understanding of this in the following words, an extract from his letter to the Shield and Banner in 1873. They did so (speaking of Hedges and Newman) and entered three if not more quarter-sections of land from the Government, one of which Gen. James Hedges selected as his own farm. Jacob Newman taking a quarter-section for his farm, and upon the third quarter-section they laid off the present town of Mansfield. A short time after this a portion of Mr. Newman's family came out, and occupied the cabin on this farm of Mr. Jacob Newman's, immediately south of Mansfield.* Shortly after this, the Cunningham family came out and found their way to the Newman cabin; as yet; upon the site of Mansfield, no cabin had been erected. In this cabin, it is claimed, Matilda Cunningham was born. If this be true, then it is not possible for her to have been born in Mansfield at all. I think; in the fall of 1810, a cabin was erected where the North American now stands; by George Coffinberry, my mothers father, and in this cabin I was born, the 2d day of February, 1811, being the first white child born within the limits of the present town of Mansfield. Gen. James Hedges requested of my parents the privilege of naming the child, saying he would deed to me a town lot to which request they acceded and he named me for the town and himself, Mansfield Hedges Gilkison and deeded to me

* This was one of the first cabins built. It was on the east side of North Main street, across the bridge over Ritter's Run. In what is now South Addition, just outside of the original town plat.

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the lot according to his promise; and I have recently been informed by H. C. Hedges. Esq., his nephew, that it was Gen. Hedges' intention to have it made a matter of record. But it seemed he had forgotten to do so. At that time. Gen. Hedges was a single man-in fact, I believe he never was married and boarded at the Newman cabin and it would seem strange that my parents and Gen. Hedges could be so much mistaken; considering tile sparsity of the population and the fact that such an event was not of such frequent occurrence as to escape their memories."

The following extract is from a letter of C. S. Coffinberry, of Constantine, Mich., a son of George Coffinberry and is dated February 17, 1873: "I notice in the Shield and Banner a note of Thomas B. Andrews addressed to you (R. Brinkerhoff), giving the date of the birth of the three daughters of Mrs. Cunningham, with the further statement of Mrs. Cunningham that Matilda was born in the town of Mansfield, in the first house built in the town there being no other house in the town when they moved into it. Mr. Andrews further states that Mrs. Cunningham informed him that she was at the house of Jacob Newman which was the only house in Mansfield at the time. * * * The first house built in the town of Mansfield was built by George Coffinberry in 1809, in the month of August of that year, on the site now occupied by the North American Hotel, at the southwest corner of the public square. The building was a small log cabin, and was never occupied any other family. It was occupied by Mr. Coffinberry until he pulled it down to make place for a frame building. On the 23d of August 1809, the date of the birth of Matilda Cunningham this house was the only one in tile town of Mansfield. and had not been erected over six days. The house of Jacob Newman. erected and occupied by him. was not within the original plat of the town of Mansfield, and was not erected for some considerable time after that of Mr. Coffinberry's, I think during the winter of 1809. Mansfield Hedges Gilkison was the first white child born in the town of Mansfield. This fact was well known to all the first settlers in the town the Weldons the Hedges. the Laflands, the Newmans, and others. If Henry Newman and John Newman still survive, they will bear me out in this statement. If Matilda Cunningham was born August 23, 1809, she was not born in Mansfield, for the house of George Coffinberry, my father, was then the only house in Mansfield, which was a thick and heavy forest."

Evidence he has already been given to show that Mr. Coffinberry must have been mistaken regarding the first cabin, and if so mistaken, it impairs his evidence in this letter.

The following is from Robert Cairns, who is still living in Mansfield: "My father and mother moved to the town of Mansfield in the fall of 1813, and I have frequently seen them point out M. H. Gilkison, and say; that he was the first child born in Mansfield. I further state, that I was long and intimately acquainted with Gen. James Hedges, one of the proprietors of the town, and frequently have had conversation with him in which he stated to me, in speaking of the early settlers of the town of Mansfield, that Mansfield Hedges Gilkison was the first white child born in the town. He also stated to me that he had the privilege of naming said M. H. Gilkison, and for the privilege of doing so, agreed to give him a deed for a town lot, which he has done. * * * Mr. Andrews, in his statement, says that Matilda Cunningham stated to him, that she was born in tile cabin-house of Jacob Newman, and the only house in the town. Now if her statement be correct, in whose house she was born. I boldly assert, without fear of contradiction, that Matilda Cunningham was not born in Mansfield at all. I now assert that this cabin-house of Jacob Newman was not built in the town of Mansfield at all, * * * It was located directly south of

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Mansfield. upon a firm. and for many years Gen. James Hedges boarded in the same cabin house with Jacob Newman."

The following is from James Cunningham. father of Matilda Cunningham. It was taken down in writing by the Rev. James McGaw in conversation with Mr. Cunningham. "Capt. James Cunningham was born in the State of Maryland and in 1776, emigrated with his father to Westmoreland County, Penn., and afterward to Monongalia County, Va., where the father died. In 1804, James emigrated to Licking County, Ohio, and from there to Richland in 1809, in the month of May and landed on the Black Fork of the Mohican, where he found Samuel Lewis, Henry McCart. Mr. Shaeffer and Andrew Craig, who had landed there only a few weeks before him. After landing he put out a crop of corn, then went back, brought out his wife and put her down in the woods along side of a camp fire and commenced building a shanty over her head. This was completed in about three days having in his employ three hands. In the following August, his wife gave birth to a daughter, being the first white child born in Richland County. In October of the same year, he moved into the only log cabin then standing in Mansfield, which had been built some months previously by one Samuel Martin. This cabin stood on the corner lot of E. P. Sturges."

The above very direct testimony of the father of the claimant goes to show that she was born on the Black Fork of the Mohican.

The following two letters are given as much for their historical interest, as for their bearing on this case. The first, written by Henry Newman, a son of Jacob Newman, is dated March, 187: "I think it to be an unmixed truth, that Mansfield Hodges Gilkison was the first child as the truth and veracity of the very early pioneers of Mansfield and vicinity cannot be questioned or denied. They were Gen. James Hedges my father Jacob Newman, John Wallace, George Coffinberry, Rolin Weldon, Michael Newman, James McCluer (one of the first Associate Judges), Capt. David Newal and John Chapman the last better known as Johnny Appleseed, and others could mentioned respectable first-class pioneers, settlers in Mansfield and vicinity. They could not have been mistaken with regard to the fact, that Mansfield H. Gilkison was the first white child born in the town of Mansfield, I pronounce all the above named gentlemen (now deceased), in their day-men of truth and veracity, and that judgement will be affirmed by many yet living in Mansfield and vicinity. I have heard most, it not all of them speak of the fact that Mansfield H. Gilkison was the first white child born in Mansfield. How is it possible those first pioneers could be mistaken? How is it that I never heard the first intimation to the contrary until lately, and yet lived in Mansfield and the county of Richland over forty years? The venerable old lady and others who advocate as a fact that Matilda was born in Mansfield in the cabin built by Jacob Newman or built by a Mr. Martin, are most certainly mistaken. * * I never knew but one Mr. Martin in Mansfield and he was a contractor under Gen. Crooks in the war of 1812-13, and had his headquarters during the winter in Mansfield. The cabin spoken of, which they claim Martin built, was close to and north of where the Sturges Block now stands. When I first came to Mansfield, Joseph Middleton and wife lived in that cabin; after they left it, the cabin became a trading-shop for Lewis Jones, who kept groceries and whisky, and dealt out the same to whites and Indians. * * * Our family was frequently annoyed by drunken Indians, from the effects of the whisky sold them by Jones. This was yet while we lived on the farm, sold to Beam in 1810 or 1811."

The following is from Harriet Hedges: "I have read the communication of my brother,

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Henry Newman, and fully agree with him in all l the statements made by him. I carne to Mansfield in 1814; made the acquaintance of Gen. James Hedges : afterward was married to his brother, my late husband. Ellzey Hedges, and during all their subsequent lives always understood from them that you (M. H. Gilkison) Was the first white child born in Mansfield.

With this the case for the defense will close. Much other testimony is given but none that would add any material weight to the foregoing.

The following extract from the report of a "Pioneer Committee" is signed by R. Brinkerhoff. Henry Hedges and R. C. Smith. "Said committee further find that Margaret Cunningham, of Worthington Township is entitled to the chair, she having settled in Mansfield in said county of Richland. May 1, 1808." They must have meant 1809, as the town was not laid out May 1808. The following letter is from Thomas B. Andrews, dated February 3, 1873." On the 31st May of January 1873. I visited Mrs. Margaret Cunningham for the purpose of ascertaining from the family record the true age of Matilda Cunningham, said to be the first white child born in the county of Richland and in the town of Mansfield.

"I found the record well written in a plain, legible hand, in a large family Bible. The first entry is the birth of Elizabeth Cunningham in 1805. The second is Matilda Cunningham born August 23, 1809. The third is Mary Cunningham, born November 16, 1810,

Mrs. Cunningham says that Matilda Cunningham was born in the town of Mansfield in the first house built in the town there being no other house in the town when they moved into it and where the first child was born.

This evidence, coming from the mother, herself would seem to be conclusive, though it must be remembered this testimony was taken about sixty-four years after the event happened, however much of the testimony on both sides is open to the same criticism. This testimony, it will be seen. contradicts that of her husband before given. Who, therefore is able to decide where Matilda Cunningham was born, when the testimony of the father and mother is contradictory? Mrs. Elizabeth Baughman, who has been quoted in regard to the first cabin. Says in the same letter regarding the first child:

"And in that same cabin, on the 23d day of August 1809. , my half-sister, Matilda, was born. My father remained there only about a year, then removed to the Greentown settlement on the Black Fork." As Mrs. Baughman is believed to be in error in regard to the location of the first cabin, so she may be in error in regard to Matilda being born in that cabin. She was not as before stated. living with her father at the time. Mrs. Baughman in the same letter further says: "I have often heard father say that Mansfield H. Gilkison was the first white male child born in Mansfield. In fact it is of the male children that mention is generally made. For instance, we read that George W. Cass was the first white male child born in the city of Allegheny. Had father remained permanently in town or had the child been a boy, the fact no doubt, would have been better remembered. The first settlers have nearly all been called to their heavenly homes, and it seems very reasonable to the that their descendants whose honesty I do not question in speaking of the matter have learned to say the 'first child' instead of the 'first male child.'"

The following extract is from a letter to Mr. Andrews in 1873, signed by nine old citizens of Worthington Township. "We have been neighbors and have known James Cunningham and Margaret Cunningham of Worthington Township, Richland County, for the thirty-five or forty years last past, and we have heard them both tell at different times, that their daughter Matilda was the first white child born in the county of Richland, and in the town of Mansfield. We never heard this disputed until 1869 at the county fair at Mansfield when and where

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a certain chair was awarded to Mrs. Cunningham as the oldest pioneer present at the picnic at their fair."

The following interesting extract regarding this and other matters is from the pen of Mrs. Margaret Cunningham, the mother of Matilda. written in 1873:

"My husband and myself came to Mansfield in May 1809. * August 23, 1809, we had a daughter born to us in the town of Mansfield, when there was but one log cabin in the place, built by a Mr. Martin for a boarding-house. Mr. Martin lived in this cabin but a short time and left abruptly. having sold whisky to the Indians contrary to law. * * * As soon as he left, Mr. Jacob Newman, living near or at what was more recently called Beam's or Campbell's Mill, came with his team and moved us from where we lived on a piece of land about one or two miles below said mill, belonging to my uncle Henry Myers, to the aforesaid house, for the purpose of boarding those that might attend the sale of the school lands and town lots. Winn Winship, Mr. Wallace and a Mr. Pierce boarded with us. Pierce was the crier of the sale. Winn Winship boarded with us until Mr. Coffinberry came out and built a house. I think, on the angling corner of the square from our house. We used water from the big spring (our house was up the hill from the spring on or near the corner of the square nearest the spring. * * * Mr. Coffinberry and a Mr. Bryson built their houses about the same time. These are the three houses said to be here at the time the father and mother of M. H. Gilkison came (as claimed by Mrs. Gilkison in an interview I had with her at the county fair in 1869) to Mansfield..

That portion of Nancy Shively's letter relating to this matter was quoted in the evidence regarding the first cabin. The venerable Margaret Cunningham. above: quoted died on the

* It will be remembered that the husband testifies to coming here in October, 1809.

13th of December 1875, at her home in Worthington Township.

In a letter printed in the Ohio Liberal in July, 1873. M. H. Gilkison says: "I was born on the lot on which now stands the building known as the American Hotel, in the year 1811, on the 2d day of February, being the first male child born in the county so far as known."

It will be seen by the above extract that Mr. Gilkison, in the last letter written by him regarding this matter, does not claim to be the first child, but the first male child, born in the county. There is no dispute as to his being the first male child.

The lot which Mr. Hedges promised him was deeded to him when he was married in 1831.

It is hardly necessary to continue this evidence further the most essential parts on each side having been given. It may not lead the searcher after the truth any nearer to it and is not likely. in the least to change the opinions of the friends of the "first child."

The following extracts regarding the early history of Mansfield were collected and published many years ago by Gen. R. Brinkerhoff. Any history of the town would be incomplete without them. They are believed to be authentic as much of the information was gathered more than twenty years ago, when very many more of the early settlers were living than at the present time. Pioneer life in Mansfield did not differ from the same in other places. It was a rough hard life, but had its bright and shady sides, the same as that of to-day.

The first marriage in the township was that of John Pugh and Fanny Murphy, daughter of Asa Murphy, one of the earliest of the pioneers of Richland County and, probably, the first hotelkeeper in Mansfield, as he built the first log house, on the site of the Wiler House, and started a "tavern."

The first school in the township it is supposed, was taught by Andrew Coffinberry, commonly known as Count Coffinberry. Schools

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY. - 453

in those day's were sustained by voluntary contributions. The teacher drew up an article and stated the conditions upon which he would teach by the quarter, per scholar. At the end of the term he would present the article to each subscriber and receive his pay.

The first Justice of the Peace was Andrew Coffinberry and the first process issued by him was against his brother George, for chopping on the Sabbath. This was the first introduction of Sabbath-keeping in Mansfield. Prior to that the day had been set apart for hunting, fishing. shooting at a mark and pitching quoits. A Methodist society was organized about this time which will be noticed hereafter. Much drinking was indulgent in by the early settlers or some of them. In those days, they had not learned to adulterate their liquors and, although their whisky caused drunkenness; it did not poison, as is the case at present. The settlers on a certain occasion assembled together, and enacted a law, that any man who should get drunk should dig up a stump on the street or public square. The result was that in a short time, the town was clear of stumps. One morning after the passage of the law, a man by the name of Henry T. Bell was observed working at a stump on the square, and was asked if he was drunk. He replied that he was not drunk, but expected to be before night, and wanted to pay in advance.

For grain and grinding the settlers all went to Fredericktown and Mount Vernon, and horses and oxen were the only means of transportation.* It took two days or more to make the trip, the only stopping-place being at James McCluer's on the Clear Fork, near Bellville. This James McCluer was one of the first Associate Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of the county.

The first tailor was John J. Foos, who afterward went crazy because one of the first school, teachers, Miss Eliza Wolf, would not marry

* Beam's mill was then in operation, but ground only corn.

him. The first shoemaker was Robert Ekey. The first tan-yard was started by John Pugh ; the first tinner was Samuel Bukias.

The first death in the township was that of Eli Murphy; he ied in a log tavern kept by his father. on the present site of the Wiler House. This differs from the recollection of Henry Newman who thinks the first deaths were John Coffinberry, son of George Coffinberry, aged seven or eight years. and an infant child of John C. Gilkison. They died in 1810 or 1811.

The first saw-mill was built by Clement and Robert Pollock ; it was a tramp-wheel mill, propelled by three yoke of oxen, and was located a short distance south of the Presbyterian church ; the first carding mill was built by Robert Pollock, and was propelled by horse power. If Samuel Martin may be considered the first merchant, Levi Jones was the second; he succeeded Martin in the little cabin on the northwest corner of the square the first cabin. Jones brought his goods from Canton, Stark County, in wagons, and dealt principally in whisky, tobacco and groceries. The currency was silver; gold or paper being seldom seen. Coffee was worth 50 cents a pound and corn 12 1/2 cents a bushel.

At the first election, there were not enough electors to fill the offices some held two. The firstf road was opened from Mansfield to Wooster; the next, to Mount Vernon. In 1812, a mail route was established between Mount Vernon and the Huron River, passing through Mansfield. The mail was carried by one Lewis Facer, on horseback. He made the round trip in four days, Mansfield being the stopping-place for two nights.

The first post office was established on a large white-oak log that lay between the two block-houses, on the public square. Here the pioneers gathered to meet the mail carrier, get their letters and hear the news. If one of them was so fortunate as to get a newspaper, he immediately read it aloud to all his

454 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

neighbors, generally from the top of the log or a stump.

When Samuel Hill and Rolin Weldon came, in 1810, they cut a road front the Indian village of Greentown to Mansfield.

The first doctor was Royal V. Powers. He came in 1815, tore down that immortal first cabin and erected a frame building, about 18x26 feet and one story high. Here he swung his shingle, kept a few drugs and practiced medicine. Powers afterward settled in the vicinity of New Haven, Huron County, and he and his brother David laid out that place. His sister was the wife of Millard Fillmore.

During the autumn of 1812, Gen. Crooks, with 2,000 men, encamped within the city limits, and assisted the new settlement very materially by clearing off about fifty acres of land. They remained until January and were encamped first on the east side of the square ; but the ground becoming too muddy, they removed to the west side, where they cleared off a new camp.

During this winter, a windstorm blew down a tree near where the old court house stood, killing two men belonging to the army. It has been erroneously stated that Maj. Wilson was one of the men thus killed. Henry Newman says that Maj. Wilson died of disease in his father's cabin, and was buried with the honors of war. Mr. Newman describes the funeral and says Maj. Wilson's father afterward sent money to his mother (his father, Jacob. Being then dead) to pay the expenses of his sickness.

Mr. Weldon, who was one of the earliest settlers, says, regarding these early times: John Wallace and went out one day to hunt bees about a mile north of Mansfield. On the hill, near the Platt farm, we came on it den of yellow rattlesnakes. He commenced shooting them, and continued to do so until our ammunition failed. The balance of the snakes crawled into a hollow log, and we then went to work and pried it open, killing the balance with clubs. When we had finished our work, we piled up and counted the dead reptiles, which were 121, all told. One of them had two heads and three eyes. This one we brought to Mansfield and gave to Dr. Bradley. * * * He put it in alcohol and kept it several years." Rattlesnakes were numerous and among the most disagreeable enemies of the pioneers. They were frequently found in their cabins and even in their beds.

Not more than eight or ten families arrived in Mansfield before the war of 1812, and during that war, few, if any, came. Some time during the war or shortly after, the Coffinberry cabin, on the North American corner, was taken down and a frame building erected, which was occupied by Samuel Williams as a tavern. He kept a good house for those days and did a lively business. People were coming constantly, to look at and locate lands. This hotel was afterward moved to the southwest corner of Mulberry and West Market streets and thence, some years ago, to the southeast corner of Mulberry and Second streets, where it still remains and is occupied by Dr. Mera as a dwelling. Henry Roop was the next landlord after Williams on that corner, and laid the foundation of the present building.

When the war of 1812 was declared, the settlers fearing a general Indian massacre, began the erection of Block-houses for their protection. The first was erected at Beam's mill, on the Rocky Fork, where the first settlement was made. Two others were erected on the public square in Mansfield. The first was erected by a company of soldiers, under n Capt. Shaeffer, from Fairfield County. It stood nearly in the center of the west side of the square. The second was built by a company commanded by Col. Charles Williams, of Coshocton. Its location was a little south of and near the site of the old court house.

These block-houses were garrisoned until after the battle of the Thames. The one on

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY. - 455

the west side was of round logs: the other was of hewed logs, and was afterward used as a court house and jail.

In 1815, John M. May, the first lawyer settled in the new town. He was born in Conway, Hampshire Co., Mass.: moved to Washington County, N. Y., and came to Marietta in 1811; thence to Lancaster, Ohio, where he studied law. When admitted to the bar he came directly to Mansfield, where he continued to reside until his death, in 1869. His son, Manuel, is his successor in his practice. There were about a dozen families in town when he came. On the east side of the square, a little north of the present Methodist Church, was a little dwelling-house, owned and occupied by James Moore, then Deputy Sheriff of the county. James McCluer, one of the Judges, lived on the northwest corner of Main and Fourth streets. There was a hewed-log house on the present site of the Wiler House, occupied as a dwelling. Andrew Coffinberry lived on the southeast (corner of East Diamond and Fourth streets: Samuel Carrothers* and family, on the northwest corner and a little below, on Fast Diamond, lived David Stevens, John C. Gilkison (t) lived on Main street, a little north of the Wiler House. Rolin Weldon lived on Fourth street west of Main. John Garrison lived on the present site of the opera building and, a few years afterward. opened a store. Joseph Cairns had a rough-log house on the McFall corner and, soon after went into the mercantile business. The block-house, on the west side of the square was used in 1816, for a school, taught by Miss Eliza Wolf. Many of the original forest trees were standing in the square at that time.

The first lawyer who came after Mr. May was Asa Grimes, father of A. L. Grimes. He only lived a few months after his arrival. The nest lawyers were Col. William Cotgrave and Wilson

* Samuel Carrothers died Jane 20, 1865, aged eighty-five.

(t) John C. Gilkison died June 22, 1856.

Elliott, who came in 1816. A few years after, James Purdy, Jacob Parker and James Stewart came. The first law student admitted to tile bar was Andrew Coffinberry, who studied with Mr. May. In those days, lawyers traveled with the court from county to county. Among those from abroad who attended the courts at Mansfield were William Stansberry,* of Newark; Hosmer Curtis and Samuel Mott, of Mount Vernon, and Charles T. Sherman, of Lancaster. Curtis was the first Prosecuting Attorney, and was followed by Mr. May in 1816.

In 1815, E. P. Sturges came from Fairfield, Conn., and opened a little store in a log cabin, directly opposite the present site of the Wiler House. Soon after he bought out Dr. Powers, and that corner, where the first cabin was erected, has ever since been known as the "Sturges corner." A Mr. Buckingham Sherwood came with him. They soon did a thriving business. The nest year (1816), they enlarged their storeroom, and continued doing business together until 1823, when E. P. Sturges' brother, Edward Sturges. Sr., carne, bought out Mr. Sherwood, and the firm became E. P. & E. Sturges. Mr. Sherwood went to Newark. The Sturges firm continual to do a profitable business, made money rapidly, and became wealthy. In 1862, E. P. Sturges died, the firm was dissolved. H. H. Sturges stepping in and continuing the business. It soon became the wholesale dry-goods house of Sturges, Wood & Witter. E. Sturaes, Sr., engaged in banking and various financial enterprises, and in 1869 engaged in the wholesale grocery business with his son, E. P. Sturges, with whom he continued until his death, in September, 1878.

Indians were quite numerous around Mansfield, in its early life, but not hostile until the war of 1812. They frequently came into the village for traffic, bringing game, furs; berries; etc. Huckleberries and cranberries were very

* This gentleman died in Newark, Ohio, January 23, 1873, aged eighty-five.

456 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

plenty in Ashland County and the New Haven marshes as they still continue to be. The Indians usually came in companies and when in liquor, as was usually the ease before leaving were very noisy and troublesome. Their custom, however, was to appoint two or three of their number to keep sober while the others wire drunk. The squaws, text would take away and secret the knives and tomahawks of those who appeared to be getting; dangerous. In these drunken frolics their yells could be heard for miles. The yell of an Indian is peculiar to itself: and cannot be exactly imitated by a white man. It has a shrill and metallic ring about it, that is wholly unlike any other sound and could be recognized anywhere, and at any time The amusements common among the settlers were feats of strength, running, jumping. wrestling, pitching quoits, playing ball, and fist fighting. The crowning day was muster day as "fun " would be plenty. A great deal of whisky would be drank and the "more fights the more fun." Different sections of the county seemed to be arrayed against each other, as is the case in all early settlements. The Mack Forkers were always boasting their superiority over the Clear Forkers, and whenever these two factions met there was sure to be a fight, especially when whisky was plenty. The Clear Forkers were happy whenever they were fortunate enough to "clean out " the Black Forkers. and cice versa.

On one occasion, when Joseph Cairns kept a small store on the McFall corner, an old Indian chief, by the name of Mooney, threw his tomahawk, from Miller's corner, at Cairns. It stuck fast in the door ,frame within a few inches of Cairns' head.

The first brick house in Mansfield was built on the site of the Opera House Block. It was first occupied by Clem. Pollock, a wheelwright by trade, and a son-in-law of Judge McCluer.

Rev. James Rowland writes thus of Mansfield when he came in 1820: " Mansfield, in 1820. numbered about two or three hundred inhabitants. The houses were few and far between. There were a few tolerably good frame buildings, and one brick house on the lot where H. R. Smith's store yet remains. H. R. Smith's Opera Block now occupies the site of that brick house or nearly so. It did not stand on the street, but back some distance. The second brick house was the Hedges dwelling, on the northeast corner of the square, still standing, and the third was down on East Market street-it is also standing. There was no building bordering on the east side of the public square, except a round-log cabin used as a butchers shop and standing where now stands the brick building of F. Hedges, Esq. The greatest number of houses and shanties were on West Diamond street, and the next greatest number on East Diamond street. There was a log house on part of the present site of the Wiler House, kept by the jovial and enterprising John Wiler, for his own benefit and that of the emigrants, to this county and further west, there were two dry-goods stores: one on the northeast corner of the square., kept by Sturges & Sherwood, and one a little further north by Robert McComb. In 1821, there was but one physician, A. G. Miller, until I think, about the close of that year, when his brother, G. B. Miller, came to this place. They were associated in practice and were highly esteemed as citizens and physicians."

He thus describes the old court house: "In 1820, about the center of the public square, a little south from where the present court house stands, there was an edifice about 30x20 feet, and two stories in height. The lower story was constructed of hewed logs, that had been originally used in another part of the town for a block-house. The second or upper story, was frame work, and the house was weather-boarded on all sides, both above and below. The stairway leading to the entrance of the second story, was outside the building, on the north side, and the building

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY. - 457

was not painted either inside or out. This edifice served for various purposes. and was a kind of an omnium gatherum (thus last word is not to be found in any ancient Latin dictionary). People of all denominations, except the Methodists, who had a small frame church in the northeast part of the village as early as 1820, worshiped in the upper story. There too the county courts were held and public meetings generally. On the east and west sides of thus room were fireplaces and a stove right in the center and often in the coldest weather by reason of the flues drawing downward instead of upward the fuel had to he carried out or the fire quenched, or the inmates suffered by smoke. In that room I preached every alternate Sabbath for two or three years. The Judge's bench was on a slight elevation above the floor, and the fixtures in front of it and the appearance around the bar, were is perfect harmony with the appearance of the room and house. The lower story was divided into three apartments; the west half being used as a jailer's residence. and the south apartment of the east half as a cell-a close, tight place where criminals were confined and were said to suffer considerably sometimes by the rats : the north part of the east half was a place of confinement for persecuted debtors." Mr. Henry Newman, still living; at Bryan, Ohio, adds the following regarding this : "The hewed log block-house was built in the fall of 1813 about three rods east of the main street in the direction of the old court house. The logs that formed the upper story were dovetailed : the under and upper floor laid with hewed logs. The under story after the war, composed the first jail: the upper story projected eight inches on every side and was large enough for a court house for the county. It had one twelve-light window, 8x10 glass, on the gable end (north end) and port-holes above and below." It may be added that the lower part of this edifice was of double logs, with a space between filled with stones; at least such is the evidence of several old settlers though Judge David McCullouh. still living on east Market street and who came in 1822, thinks this a mistake. He says the logs were nicely hewn, and laid very closely together, but the wall was not double. Mr. Rowland says maple sugar was from 4 to 6 cents per pound; land from $2 to $6 per acre: wheat 37 1/2 cents per bushel and wood from 75 cents to $1 per cord.

Mrs. Mariah H. Smith, still living in a for house (weatherboarded over) on South Main street. came to town in 1823 and moved shortly afterward into that same house. She says the old original Wiler House was moved up on South East-Diamond street, where it still remains. There was a small Block-house at that time on South Main street. on the south side of the run, where Roop's, and afterward Ritter's tan yard was located. Jacob Newman's cabin was further up the hillside, where Mrs. Ritter now lives. Andrew S. Newman, son of Jacob Newman, the first settler in Richland County- died January 31, 1872. He was born in Richland County in 1811, and always resided in Mansfield. She remembers attending the Methodist Church on Water street near the big spring, and that site went through the hazel brush to get to it. There was a carding-mill where the waterworks are now located, which carded the wool that was spun and woven into cloth by the settlers for their clothing.

Mrs. Elizabeth Grant, formerly Carothers, who still lives on Fourth street, came in 1815. Her statement is interesting but as it is a repetition of what has already been written, it is not given fully. She says that on the southwest corner of West Market and Mulberry streets was a pottery, where crocks, etc., were made, kept by a man named Locke, an uncle of "Petroleum V. Nasby." She has now in her possession some of his pottery; she has also a small tub made by the first cooper-a Mr. Maxwell, who kept a shop near the big spring. This Carothers family was one of the earliest in

458 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

town and in some respects, a remarkable one. They are all now living except Rebecca, who died in November, 1879 and with this exception, and that of the father and mother, no death has occurred in the family for seventy-four years. These children were born very near each other the youngest being now sixty and the oldest seventy-one.

Mr. James Purdy still living on West Market street in the eighty-seventh year of his age and in full possession of his mental faculties came to Mansfield in 1823. He was born in Hopewell, York Co., Penn., July 24, 1793. The following are a few of his personal recollections. He has always been prominent in the town and city, and in the active period of his life, identified with its material growth and prosperity: "When Gen. Hedges laid out the town, he donated a square of ground on each corner of his plat for public purposes. This square was equal to three lots. The one on the southwest corner (where the First Ward Schoolhouse is now located) was donated to the Presbyterians for a graveyard. This graveyard was abandoned many years ago most of those buried having been removed to and re-buried in, the present cemetery. The square on the southeast corner was donated to the town for a graveyard; and those on the northeast and northwest corners, for school purposes. One of the first schoolhouses was erected on one of these the one on the northeast corner, where the soap works now stand. At that time, Robert McCombs* kept a store on the southwest corner of Third and Main; Hugh McFall opposite, on the northwest corner; a Mr. Ewing, opposite the North American, and Sturges and Sherwood on the Sturges corner. There were three hotels the Wiler House, the Williams House (on the site of the North American) and a small

* Robert McCombs was born February 17, 1787, in Washington Co., Penn., and came to Mansfield in 1817, engaging in the mercantile business. Retiring from this business in 1842, he became interested in railroads, and was a Director of the Sandusky, Mansfield & Newark Railroad until his death, April 20, 1865.

house kept by a widow lady one door south of McComb's store.

"In 1816, a bank was started opposite the North American on Main street. It was called a bank. but never had a charter, and closed up in a few months, but lasted long enough to ruin most of its stockholders. The next bank was started in 1846, by Messrs. Patterson Co. on the west side of the square, on the spot where the Farmers Bank is now located. It did business a good many years, but was not permanent. The first permanent bank was started by Mr. Purdy himself, in 1847. The lawyers were Coffinberry, Purdy and Burr. May had a little 8x10 frame office on the southwest corner of Market street and the public square. There was quite a frog pond in front of his office. It was called Lake May. It was occupied extensively by frogs in summer, and used by the boys in the winter for a skating-rink.

"James Moore was Sheriff and also a Captain of militia. Harry Wilcox was Sheriff after Moore. The doctors were Bradley, R. V. Powers, two brothers by the name of Miller, and Dr. Sweney, before the arrival of Dr. William Bushnell in 1828. Ellzey Hedges Was Justice of the Peace.

"There were two tanneries, one kept by John Pugh, on Main street just below the site of the City Mill, and the other by Edward Grant, on the run, west side of South Main street. Three hatters were here-John Mann, the first one, on Main below the Wiler House; Nattie Bryan, in the hollow on South Main, and Henry Bell, near the southwest corner of the square. The cabinet-makers were James Smart, a little below the Wiler House; Jacob Lindley, on the northwest corner of West Market and Walnut, where the Baptist Church now stands, and Samuel Wolf, on the southeast corner of West Market and Mulberry, where Mr. John Wood's dwelling stands. Lindley afterward, about 1830, built a brick tavern on his lot and called

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it the Mansion House, kept by himself. In the winter of 1827-28, there were 270 people. men, women and children in the town, by actual enumeration.

"The early settlers were without transportation for their grain part of which was worked up into whisky by a few small distilleries, and sent by way of Sandusky to Detroit and sold to the Indians to assist in their civilization. Furs, pelts, gentian, smoked venison hams and rags were taken in trade by Mansfield merchants and sent to Pittsburgh in four-horse wagons. Jerry Jaques, Jim Downs, Tom Cantwell, Sam and John Creigh were the teamsters in those days." Mr. Purdy gives much other valuable history, which will be found elsewhere in its appropriate place.

Mansfield H. Gilkison is responsible for a few items following: Stephen Curran went out one day, near the spring to make clapboards, and. while he was at work, left his dinner on a stump. Happening to look in the direction of the stump during his labor, he saw a large black hear helping himself to his dinner. Curran, finding he could not scare bruin away by yelling at him, attacked him with his as. The bear showed fight, but Curran was also plucky, and finally the bear beat a retreat ; but ran directly toward the public square. where he was overtaken by Curran, who seized him by the tail. The Irishman had, in the mean time, been making considerable noise. and quite a crowd had collected. The bear whirled rapidly about; Curran holding to the tail for some time, until, his hold slipping, he was thrown several feet away, and, notwithstanding the crowd; or. very likely because of it, the bear ran away down the ravine behind the North American, and escaped.

He says the first show in town was that of a lion. exhibited in a barn on the alley in rear of the former location of the Farmer's Bank. opposite the North American. He thinks the first sermon was preached by the Rev. Van Eman, a Presbyterian, on South Main street, where the Lexington road forks. He spoke in the open air, and stood on a platform made entirely of round logs. Other logs were lying about for the use of the audience. Jacob Lindley was first Mayor and John G. Peterson first Marshal of the town.

At a Methodist Episcopal Conference, held in Mansfield in 1872, the famous old Methodist circuit rider. Mr. Harry O. Sheldon, was present, and made the statement that he assisted in organizing the first temperance society in Ohio. It was organized in the old log court house on the square, and himself and Rev. James Rowland. then living, were the only surviving members of that society. He also stated that he organized the first Sabbath school ever held in Mansfield. He was at that time (1872), editor of the Oberlin New Era. He must have followed very closely the Rev. William James (not Jones), who was the first Methodist preacher, and, very likely, the first preacher of any denomination in Mansfield. It cannot be certainly ascertained whether it was James or Van Eman, the Presbyterian preacher. James was gored by a bull belonging to himself, and killed.

Hotel-keeping seems to have been the principal business in those early days. Abort every other cabin was used at one time or another for a "tavern." A great many people were coming and going; looking at and entering lands surveying, etc.. and nearly all the earliest settlers became tavern-keepers. Mr. John Wiler; who is still living, was among the first of these. He came to Mansfield in 1819 a single man. He understood baking and brewing, and rented of a Mr. Styers. who lived in the country, near town; the log building then standing on the site of the Wiler House, probably the same building erected by Murphy. Here he started a bakeshop, and after a time started a brewery, or a small establishment down on the flat, which he

462 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

called the "Devil's Teapot," where he manufactured ale or beer, and perhaps spirits. and kept a saloon in addition to his bakery. He soon did a good business and made money. He was a hearty, go-ahead jovial fellow, and those who indulged in the "ardent" (and there were few who did not in those days) liked to patronize Wiler, partly on account of his genial disposition and partly because he always laid a nicely sugared cake on top of each glass as he handed it out. He was thrifty and paid Mr. Styers the rent promptly. After a time, he concluded he could make more money by keeping a hotel in addition to his other business but he was a single man, a serious obstacle to his plans. He was not a man however, to let difficulties so small as that stand in his way. Mr. Styers. his landlord had several girls, and one day, when Wiler went to pay his rent, he asked Styers for one of them for a wife. That gentleman brought out his oldest daughter, arrangements were soon made and in a short time the Wiler House came into existence. This lady proved to be one of the best of wives. The marriage took place in 1819. Mr. Styers assisted the young couple by presenting them with the property and in a short time the enterprising and industrious Wiler added to it and in 1831 built a two-store brick which is yet a part of the Wiler House. Additions have appeared from time to time until the building reached its present grand proportions. It has been well managed, always considered a first-class house and so remains at present.

The very excellent hotel, now known as the St. James, also has something of a history. Samuel Bukias before mentioned as the first tinner, had his shop on that corner. He owned two small frame houses then standing together in one of which he lived. These caught fire and burned down. During this fire Mrs. Bukias escaped from the burning buildings and ran through the crowd to the Wiler House ; then remembering her baby ran back, caught it up wrapping it in her apron and again pushed her way through the crowd to the Wiler. Being greatly excited she had dropped the babe in the street, and did not miss it until she came into the house almost frantic she ran back again and found it in the street unhurt, among the tramping rush and confusion of the excited crowd. Bukias afterward died, and his widow married a man named Felix Leiter, who started the first hotel there in 1830 or 1831. The building was frame and was also destroyed by the fire. In 1844, a Mr. Teegarden built a small brick hotel there which he called the Teegarden House the beginning of the present structure. It has changed hands and names many times being called her it long time the Weldon house. Mr. James Weldon. son of Rolin Weldon, being its owner and proprietor. He died February 20, 1872. He came to Mansfield in 1810, when he was six years of age, remaining here until his death. He learned the blacksmith's trade with his father and afterward dealt largely in stock with John U. Tanner. In early days he made sugar every

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spring just east of town, his camp being located where the Mennonite Church now stands. From the public square to the creek on the east was at that time, one of the finest sugar-tree groves in all this region. Old settlers remember the wooden bowl which he always kept well filled with sugar, tree to all comers. After the return of Gov. Bartley from Congress he and Weldon engaged in the dry-goods business together. He was in the mercantile business nearly forty years. The St. James has been remodeled and added to from time to time. About 1860, it was purchased by its present owner and proprietor. Mr. Lewis Vonhoff, and some time after its name changed to St. James. It is first class in every particular.

The Phoenix Hotel, which occupied the corner of North Park and East Diamond streets, was one of the oldest in the city. It was destroyed by fire on the night of November 23, 1866, some of its inmates barely escaping with their lives. It had not been used as a hotel for some years before it was destroyed, but had, just before the fire been repaired by its owner, H. C. Hedges and generally been made over into storerooms and offices. After its destruction. Mr. Hedges built a brick block on its site, which was also destroyed by fire soon after its completion and in 1872 he erected the present substantial and roomy structure.

The old Mansion House was among the earliest hotels. It occupied the corner of West Market and Walnut streets was erected and kept by Jacob Lindley the first Mayor of the town. The Baptists purchased it, pulled it down and erected the present substantial church.

Among the later buildings for hotel purposes, is the Atlantic House foot of Main street, erected in 1864, by the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad Company, and was opened for business in January 1865, by C. C. Townley. its first proprietor. Four years after, in 1869, Barnard Wolf erected a fine brick hotel, on the corner of Fast Diamond and Fourth, which lie called the Barnard House. It is brick, four stories and will accommodate about 150 guests. It now bears the name of the Sherman House. In addition to these there are the European, Tremont, North American, and several other hotels, of more or less importance. Next to the Wiler, the North American stands without a rival in age. It is a question which is the older of these two but the probability is, the first "tavern" stood on the site of the North American. This building has been added to, from time to time. until it is quite spacious. About 1873 it was purchased by Mr. Jabez Cook (since deceased) and Mr. Ritter. These gentlemen remodeled and rebuilt it in its present shape. It is still an excellent hotel kept at present, by Homer Wright. Mr. Ritter, one of the owners of it, and his brother, carne to this country in 1818, landing at Baltimore. William died, November 8,1873, aged sixty-one ; Joseph lived nearly a year longer dying October 20, 1874,. aged seventy-nine. They came from Brakerl, Westphalia, Germany. Joseph worked at his trade (tanner) in Baltimore until 1822, when he removed to Canton, Ohio and from there to Mansfield. in 1833.