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596 - HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO. CHAPTER XXI, FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP. FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, named in honor of Benjamin Franklin, was organized for civil purposes June 7, 1820. The population in 1870 was 1,302. The following is the list of the officers of the township, as appears upon the official records : Justices of the Peace—Samuel Mitchel, commissioned July 6, 182o; Jacob Nixon, July 29, 1820 ; Jacob Nixon, May 5, 1823 ; Samuel Mitchel, July 5, 1823 ; Jacob Nixon, April 22, 1826; Samuel Mitchel, April 22, 1826; Jacob Nixon, May 12, 1829 ; James Taylor, May 26, 1829; John Alexander, April 27, 1832 ; John Hughes, April 27, 1832; John Hughes, April 18, 1835; John Alexander, April 18, 1835; Nicholas Smith, April 30, 1838; John Alexander, April 3o, 1838; John Hughes, July 23, 1838 ; William Boles, April 16, 1841 ; John Hughes, October 21, 1842; James Swarts, April 25, 1844; John Hughes, October 23, 1845; James Swarts, April 14, 1847 ; David Gabriel, October 21, 1848 ; John Kimber, April 12, 1849 ; Robert Stitt, October 20, 1849 ; Joshua Wilson, April 11, 1850 ; David Gabriel, November 3, 1851 ; Joshua Wilson, April 19, 1853 ; Hugh Truesdall, October 21, 1854; Stephen Henry, November 16, 1855; Joshua Wilson, April 28, 1856 ; James Swart, October 18, 1858 ; Joshua Wilson, April 19, 1859 ; S. M. Henry, November 20, 1860; James Swarts, October 22, -1861; S. M. Henry, October 22, 1863; Cornelius Smith, October 15, 1864; Andrew Moore, October 15, 1866 ; Cornelius Smith, October 15, 1867 ; Andrew Moore, October 2o, 1869 ; Cornelius Smith, October 18, 1870 ; John R. McKinney, October 12, 1872 ; Cyreneus Geiselman, October 22, 1873 ; John Butler, April 12, 1875 ; R. A. Schmuck, April 13, 1876. At first election held in Franklin township, April 28, 1820, David Mitchell and Daniel Kirkpatrick were Judges, and John Boyd and John Brown were clerks. 1820. Trustees—David Mitchell, Samuel Vanemman, Isaiah Jones; Clerk—Michael Kanny ; Treasurer—Jacob Burgan ; Listers—Samuel S. Moore, William Thomas ; Constables—Andrew Alexander, John Floyd ; Overseers of Poor—John Boles, Robert Buckley ; Fence Viewer—James Finley ; Supervisor—Nicholas Jones. The above Trustees were sworn by Benjamin Jones, April 29, 1820. 1821. Trustees—John Hughes, S. S. Vanemman, John Miller ; Clerk—Michael Kanny ; Treasurer—Jacob Burgan; Lister—Picket Doughte. 1822. Trustees—John Hughes, S. S. Vanemman, John Miller ; Clerk—Michael Kanny; Treasurer—Samuel Mitchel ; Lister—George Wilson. FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP - 597 1823, Trustees—Jonathan Peppard, John Boyd, Samuel Vanemman ; Clerk— John McClellan ; Treasurer—David Mitchel; Lister—S. S. Vanemman. 1824. Trustees—James Hindman, Jacob Nixon, Samuel Mitchel ; Clerk—John Alexander ; Treasurer—Jacob Burgan ; Lister—John Hughes. 1825. Trustees—Jacob Nixon, J. J. Brown, Thomas Patrick ; Clerk—John Alexander ; Treasurer—Jacob Burgan ; Lister—John Smith. 1826. Trustees—J. J. Brown, Nicholas Smith, Thomas Patrick ; Clerk—John Alexander ; Treasurer—Jacob Burgan; Lister—James Bolin. 1827. Trustees—John Hughes, Isaiah Jones, Jonathan Peppard ; Clerk—John Alexander ; Treasurer—Jacob Burgan. 1828. Trustees—John Boyd, Valentine Geiselman, Jacob Nixon; Clerk—John Alexander ; Treasurer—Jacob Burgan. 1829. Trustees—Ephraim Cutter, Valentine Geiselman, Alexander Sanderson; Clerk--John Alexander ; Treasurer—Jacob Burgan. 1830. Trustees—James Hindman, William Boles, James Taylor ; Clerk—John Alexander ; Treasurer—William Norton. 1831. Trustees—James Hindman, William Boles, William Patterson ; Clerk—John Alexander ; Treasurer—William Norton. 1832. Trustees—William Patterson, Samuel Mitchel, Jacob Nixon ; Clerk—John Alexander ; Treasurer—Aaron Franks. 1833. Trustees—William Patterson, Samuel Mitchel ; Clerk—John Alexander; Treasurer—Aaron Franks. 1834. Trustees — James Hindman, Alexander Sanderson, John Hughes ; Clerk—John Alexander ; Treasurer—Aaron Franks. 1835. Trustees—John Hughes, Benjamin Lawrence, Jacob Nixon ; Clerk—John Alexander ; Treasurer—Aaron Franks. 1836. Trustees—William Boles, Valentine Geiselman, John Brenizer ; Clerk—John Alexander ; Treasurer—Aaron Franks. 1837. Trustees—John Hughes, John Brenizer, John Boles ; Clerk—John Alexander ; Treasurer—Aaron Franks. 1838. Trustees—William Boles, John Brenizer, Henry Munson ; Clerk—John Alexander ; Treasurer—Jacob Nixon. 1839. Trustees—James Hindman, Henry Munson, Aaron Franks ; Clerk—John Alexander ; Treasurer—Benjamin Lawrence. 1840. Trustees—Aaron Franks, Henry Munson, James Hindman ; Clerk—Samuel Scott ; Treasurer—Benjamin Lawrence. 1841. Trustees—Henry Munson, Jacob Harmon, Aaron Franks ; Clerk—Samuel Scott ; Treasurer—Benjamin Lawrence. 1842. Trustees—Samuel Mitchel, Jacob Harmon, Aaron Franks ; Clerk—Samuel Scott ; Treasurer—Benjamin Lawrence. 1843. Trustees—William Noland, Samuel Mitchel, Jacob Harmon ; Clerk—Samuel Scott ; Treasurer—Benjamin Lawrence. 1844. Trustees—Jacob Nixon, James Hindman, Aaron Franks ; Clerk—David Gabriel ; Treasurer—John Ernsperger. 1845. Trustees—Jacob Nixon, William Boles, Moses Lockhart ; Clerk—David Gabriel; Treasurer—George Ernsperger. 1846. Trustees—Jacob Harmon, Andrew Brothers, George Gardner ; Clerk—David Gabriel ; Treasurer—William Boles ; Assessor—Aaron Franks. 1847. Trustees—Jacob Harmon, George Gardner, James Boyd; Clerk—Daniel Gabriel ; Treasurer—Valentine Geiselman. 598 - HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO. 1848. Trustees—James Boyd, Jacob Harmon, Henry Munson ; Clerk—A. A. Bainbridge; Treasurer—Valentine Geiselman. 1849. Trustees—James Boyd, James Knox, Peter Weiker ; Clerk—Jacob Castel; Treasurer—Valentine Geiselman ; Assessor—Jacob Reaser. 1850. Trustees—Samuel Metzler, Harvey Messmore, George Gardner; Clerk-- J. G. Castel; Treasurer—Valentine Geiselman ; Assessor—Levi Snure. 1851. Trustees—Morgan Butler, James Gabriel, Jacob Harmon ; Clerk—John Noland ; Treasurer—Valentine Geiselman ; Assessor—Levi Snure. 1852. Trustees--Peter Weiker, Morgan Butler, Robert Barnes ; Clerk—J. G. Castel ; Treasurer—Valentine Geiselman; Assessor—John Hughes. 1853. Trustees—Peter Weiker, James Boyd, Cornelius McIntire; Clerk—William Weiker ; Treasurer--Adam Hensil; Assessor—John Hughes. 1854. Trustees—James Sanderson, Aaron Franks, Peter Weiker ; Clerk— James Hoy; Treasurer—Adam Hensil; Assessor—Levi Snure. 1855. Trustees—Robert Stitt, John Firestone, Peter Weiker ; Clerk—James Hoy ; Treasurer—Adam Hensil ; Assessor—Aaron Franks. 1856. Trustees—John Firestone, Aaron Franks, Mark Taylor ; Clerk—James Hoy; Treasurer—Adam Hensil ; Assessor—Cyrus Hughes. 1857. Trustees—John Firestone, Aaron Franks, Mark Taylor ; Clerk—James Hoy ; Treasurer—Adam Hensil; Assessor—Cyrus Hughes. 1861. Trustees—Robert Barnes, A. J. Moore, Samuel Weiker ; Clerk—Andrew Butler ; Treasurer—Adam Hensil ; Asseesor—Robert Reed. 1862. Trustees—Robert Barnes, A. J. Moore, Samuel Weiker ; Clerk—Andrew Butler ; Treasurer—Adam Hensil. 1863. Trustees—Cornelius Smith, C. Geiselman, S. Weiker ; Clerk—S. M.. Henry ; Treasurer—A. J. Moore ; Assessor—Seth Smith. 1864. Trustees—Mark Taylor, Michael Moore, R. Vangilder; Clerk—Andrew Butler ; Treasurer—Jacob Half hill ; Assessor—Seth Smith. 1865, Trustees—Mark Taylor, Michael Moore, Thomas Metzler ; Clerk—A. G. Barnes ; Treasurer—Jacob Half hill ; Assessor—Finley Franks. 1866. Trustees—D. A. Lawrence, Peter Weiker, Thomas Metzler; Clerk—A. G. Barnes; Treasurer—J. Half hill ; Assessor—Finley Franks. 1867. Trustees--D. Lawrence, Peter Weiker, Finley Franks; Clerk—A. G. Barnes; Treasurer—J. Half hill ; Assessor—C. Geiselman. 1868. Trustees—Finley Franks, John Firestone, Adam Eyman ; Clerk—A. G. Barnes ; Treasurer—Thomas Metzler ; Assessor—C. Geiselman. 1869, Trustees—John Firestone, Adam Eyman, A. Rumbaugh; Clerk—Samuel Morr ; Treasurer—Thomas Metzler ; Assessor—Andrew Butler. 1870. Trustees—A. Rumbaugh, Levi Miller, Israel Franks ; Clerk—Samuel Morr, Jr.; Treasurer—C. Geiselman ; Assessor—Andrew Butler. 1871. Trustees—Levi Miller, Israel Franks, Thomas Taylor ; Clerk—Samuel Morr, Jr.; Treasurer—C. Geiselman ; Assessor—William H. Miller. 1872. Trustees—Thomas Taylor, Lewis Walter, J. B. Franks; Clerk—Samuel Morr, Jr.; Treasurer—J. C. Walter ; Assessor—W. H. Miller. 1873. Trustees—Lewis Walter, Jacob Franks, Robert Scott ; Clerk—Samuel Morr, Jr.; Treasurer—Mark Taylor ; Assessor—C. Smith. 1874. Trustees—Robert Scott, David Herman, R. A. Schmuck ; Clerk—Samuel Morr, Jr.; Treasurer—Mark Taylor; Assessor—C. Smith. 1875. Trustees—R. A. Schmuck, David Herman, Peter Lowe ; Clerk—Samuel Morr, Jr.; Treasurer—Mark Taylor ; Assessor—Seth Smith. FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP - 599 1876. Trustees—Peter Lowe, David Gettgey, Henry Munson ; Clerk—Samuel Morr, Jr.; Treasurer—Mark Taylor ; Assessor—Seth Smith. 1877. Trustees—Henry Munson, David Geitgey, Rollin V. Bowers ; Clerk— W. A. Crow ; Treasurer—James B. White ; Assessor—David Herman ; Constables ----Israel Franks, Ira A. Swat. MORELAND . This is the only village in Franklin township, It was laid out by Jonathan Butler and George Morr, January 17, 1829, on the farm of George Morr, plat and certificate recorded January 19, 1829 ; record found on page 95, volume 7, County Recorder's office. The first building in the place was erected by a man named Loux, for a blacksmith shop. FIRST SETTLEMENTS AND SETTLERS. The first settlement made, outside of Wooster, in Wayne county, was in this township, and upon the farm now owned by Thomas Dowty. James Morgan and Thomas Butler were the two first white settlers, removing there in 1808. Soon thereafter came John Boyd, Robert Buckley, John and James Cisna, Tommy Lock, Samuel Mitchell, Jacob Nixon, William Nolan, Jacob Miller, Moses Lockhart and John Hughes. James Morgan entered the first land in the township. Samuel Mitchel was the first Justice of the Peace. One of the early school-houses that we have mention of was built on the farm of Daniel Daringer (now Stephen Harrison's), who donated half an acre of land for a site, and is known as the Polecat school-house. Old William Hughes was one of the first teachers. Old Johnny Boyd had the first distillery, and it was on the farm now owned by Mark Taylor. He sold it in quantities" Yes, sir ; just as little as you want, sir." The first grist-mill was built by a brother of David Mitchel, on the farm now owned by Andrew Bucher, and was the only one ever in the township. James Morgan was of Welsh descent though a native of Virginia, and his wife was an English lady named Cox. They removed to Ohio in 1806, and settled in Franklin township in the spring of 1808, raising a crop of corn that year. He had a family of ten children, to wit : Jesse, Isaac, John, James, Joseph, William, Jonathan, Sarah, Rebecca and Hannah, not one of whom is 600 - HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO. living in Wayne county. He died of dropsy in 1822, and is buried in the graveyard on the Jacob Bucher farm. In the early days "Priest" Jones used to preach at Morgan's. Jesse, his oldest son, perished in a snow-storm near the present site of Indianapolis ; he was on horseback, the drifts overwhelmed him, he got into a swamp, became lost and died. Thomas Butler was born in Monongahela county, Virginia, but in what is now Preston county, West Virginia, August 10, 1783, and came to Franklin township in 1808, settling on the farm now owned by John and Elizabeth Butler and Isaac Munson. He entered 160 acres of land, the second land entered in the township, and being a single man boarded with James Morgan, and on April 12, 1809, married Rebecca, daughter of Mr. Morgan (first marriage in the county). He built a cabin and moved therein, but which was fired and destroyed when he was at Mr. Morgan's, by the Indians. Mr. Morgan had eight children, to wit: Sarah, Jane, Elizabeth, Morgan, Jonathan, Isaac, John and Andrew. Truly indeed was the county a wilderness when Butler and Morgan entered it. The bottoms of the Killbuck then abounded in plum thickets, cherry and sycamore trees and considerable walnut. For years Mr. Butler kept his wheat in the trunks of sycamore trees. Bears were plentiful and wolves numerous, Mr. Butler on one occasion killing one within half a mile of his house. Mr. Butler was a great talker, a pioneer of the true type, and performed a brave part in the early settlement of the county. Jonathan Butler, his brother, was a native of Virginia, and emigrated to Holmes then, but Wayne county now, as early as 1818, and was the builder of the famous Butler mill. He died in Indiana. His father, Thomas Butler, Sr., an early settler likewise, died at Jonathan's. Samuel Mitchel was born near Chambersburg, Franklin county, Pa., June 5, 1776. His father was a farmer, and with him Samuel remained until he was twenty-one years of age, the family having removed to Washington county, Pa., where the subject of this sketch remained a few years with his parents. In the spring of 1812 Samuel Mitchel emigrated to Wayne county, settling in Franklin township, on the farm now owned by his son, Samuel Mitchel. On his arrival he entered 160 acres of land, and soon FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP - 601 thereafter purchased a quarter section more. He immediately put up a cabin in which to find shelter, and set himself to the task of clearing spaces for cultivation. In this rough diminutive cabin, built in haste and true primitive rudeness, the family lived for eight years, when he erected a more comfortable frame dwelling, in which they resided for twenty years, when in the same yard he built a still more commodious brick. He was married January 6, 1808, in Washington county, Pa., to Mary McGugen, by which marriage he had four children, Jesse, Ann, Maria M. and Samuel. Jesse was a merchant in Fredericksburg, where he died February 7, 1839. Ann, the oldest daughter, died at the age of nine years, September 3, 1818. Maria M., the second daughter, married John McClellan, and lives in Wooster. He died on his farm in Franklin township, March 18, 1864. Mr. Mitchel was identified with the interests of Franklin township for over half a century, and saw its transformation from a howling waste to pleasing and productive fields. He and Jacob Nixon were the two first Justices elected after the organization of the township, June 7, 1820. He was elected Commissioner of Wayne county, in 1814, or two years after he came to the county. He was drafted in the war of 1812, but hired a substitute in the person of Caleb Bundy, whom he paid $100, Few of the backwoodsmen had more varied experience than he, but whether dealing with the treacherous Indians or fighting the bears and wolves that carried away his pigs and lambs, he ever managed to escape without serious harm. His home was in the deep and solitary woods ; there were no roads or avenues of travel ; no near neighbors to come in case of danger ; no markets and no money, Wooster existing but in name, with its few and scattered houses. It required the soldier's courage to encounter the situation. Among the desperate inhabitants of the forest whom he met was Simon Girty,* " the white savage," " Whose vengeance shamed the Indian's thirst for blood ; Whose hellish arts surpassed the Red Man's far ; Whose hate enkindled many a border war." On one occasion he came to Mr. Mitchel's house and made * Girty was the son of an Irishman, and for twenty years was the Raw-head and bloody-bones of the border, produced when nature was in hell and disciplining herself to her worst mischief. He was a besotted human devil, a grog-burnt fiend, whose wife could no longer endure him, and who was killed by his paramour. 602 - HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO. inquiry for horses, which was the source of indescribable dread and terror to the family. Mr. Mitchel was originally a Presbyterian, but when he came to Wayne county he united with the old Seceder church at Wooster, then under the pastorate of Rev. Samuel Irvine. He subsequently united with the Associate Reformed body, under Rev. James Peacock, and when, in after years, the two churches united and consolidated into what is now known as the United Presbyterian church, he became a member of it. Samuel Mitchel, his youngest child, was born in Franklin township, September 28, 1820. His occupation until within several years has been that of a farmer. He remained with his father on the old homestead, which he now owns, until his death, continuing thereafter upon it until 1868, when he removed to Wooster. He was married May 24, 1849, to Mary A. McClellan, sister of John McClellan. He has been a hard-working, industrious, frugal man, and by the exercise of economy and care has accquired a competency which enables him to live in comfort and retirement. He is a quiet, unassuming, upright citizen and honest man. He united with the Presbyterian church in 1859, since which time he has been a member. John Hughes was born in Fayette county, Pa., March 13, 1785, where he lived with his father and followed the occupation of a farmer. He married Jane Fleniken, of Greene county, Pa., from which marriage resulted the following children: Minerva, James F., William, John, Cephas, Robert, Cyrus, Alford, Jane and Helen. His wife died July 23, 1835, and he was married again in June, 1836, to Jane Boyd, of Greene county, Pa. The following were the children of his second marriage : Samuel B., Mary Ann, Sarah A., Nancy, Lucretta, Josephus and Ellen. Mr. Hughes was among the first settlers. He came to Wayne county in the fall of 1816, and entered two quarters of land, the same now owned by his son Alford Hughes, in Franklin township. He also bought a quarter second-handed, the one now owned by his heirs, and now occupied by his son Samuel. In that year did some clearing and built his cabin, 18x25 feet, then returned to Jefferson county, Pa., and in April of 1817 he brought his family to Franklin township, where he continued to reside until his death, April 18, 1861. Mr. Hughes was in many respects a more than ordinarily valuable citizen, and was possessed of considerable enter- FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP - 603 prise. He was one of the early settlers of Franklin township, serving as Justice of the Peace for many years. Hugh Morgan, Sr., was born on Cheat River, Va., January 1, 1759, his wife, Mercy Ayers, being born December 15, 1763. He immigrated to Wayne county 1814-15, settling on the farm now owned by John Brown, on the west side of the township. Here he lived and died in 1844, his wife surviving him three years. He had ten children, viz : Stephen, Dorcas, Phoebe, Mary, Jane, Margaret, Elizabeth, Priscilla, Rebecca and Temperance. All were girls save one, all were born in Virginia, all grew to womanhood, all lived in Wayne county at one time, and all are dead. Hugh Morgan, son of Stephen Morgan, and grandson of Hugh Morgan, was born January 26, 1821, in Clinton township, and lives within T00 rods of where he was born, although in Franklin township. He pursues the occupation of farmer, though he followed teaching regularly in the winter, and occasionally in the summer, from 1843 to 1857, since which time he has been devoted to agriculture, and more recently giving some attention to the nursery business. He was married, May 28, 1857, to Sarah Weiker, of Franklin township, and has seven children, to wit : Florence, Floraette, Almada, Mary E., Linnet, Sarah E. and Rhoda J. Morgan. Mr. Morgan is a gentleman of culture and education ; was a successful teacher ; is a believer in books, libraries and the general diffusion of intelligence among the masses. Moses Lockhart, Sr., was born near Romney, Hampshire county, Virginia, in 1788. He was married in Virginia to Phoebe Morgan, daughter of Hugh Morgan, of Wayne county, in 1812. He came to Ohio in 1813, settling in Franklin township, on the farm where his son Moses now lives, where he entered 400 acres of land, all in woods and prairie bottoms of Killbuck. The cabin was built near the site of the present house, the latter built in 1820. Here Moses Lockhart lived until his death in March, 1839. He had six children, four of whom survived him-three daughters and Moses Lockhart, Jr., the bachelor, now residing on the old farm. Elizabeth, the wife of James Moore, of Clinton township, is one of the surviving daughters. Moses Lockhart, Jr,, was born April 14, 1821. His grandfather, William Lockhart, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, participated in the battle of Brandywine, etc., and died in Warren county, Ohio, 604 - HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO. The Munson Family. —Isaac Munson, Sr., removed with his family from Connecticut to New York, where his wife Eleanor Andrews Munson died in August, 1815. Soon after her death he, with his son Henry, started for the west, passing the winter of 1815 in Holmes county. In the spring of 1816 they came to Wayne county, settling on the farm now owned by Henry Munson, buying the farm of 16o acres second-hand. Here Isaac Munson continued to live until death, July 10, 1830. He was a soldier under Washington in the Revolutionary War, entering the service as a volunteer at the age of fifteen, for which he drew a pension, getting it paid at Chillicothe. Until 1821 Isaac ,Munson and his son Henry kept bachelor hall, when Henry, on November 15, married Mary Cutler, of Holmes county now, but Wayne county then. From the time Henry came to this farm he lived on it until 1861, when he removed to Shreve, remaining there five years, then returned to the old homestead, where he made his home with his son Henry until the period of his death, which occurred December 1, 1867. His wife died May 4, 1872. They had seven children, four sons and three daughters, viz : Ezra, Isaac, Samuel, Eleanor, Mary, Elizabeth and Henry. All the daughters are dead. Isaac Munson was born September 19, 1823, and was married to Eliza A. Lowe, from which union there were three children, Mary, Phcebe and Jacob. His wife dying, he re-married in the fall of 1856 to Miss Susan Thomas, and by this marriage has a son, Charles. Henry Munson, Jr., was born in Franklin township, February 12, 1837. He was married to Miss Rebecca Jones, daughter of John Jones and granddaughter of Isaiah Jones, February 15, 1861, and by this marriage had five children, viz : John Henry, E. N., James K., William B., and one that died in infancy. His wife Rebecca died September 28, 1874, and on November 30, 1876, he was re-married to Martha McCartney. Eleanor, the oldest daughter of Henry Munson, Sr., married Jared Barker, of Summit county, and died September 9, 1856. Mary married Isaiah Jones, of Holmes county, and died in 1862. Elizabeth died, unmarried, October 12, 1856. Samuel C. Munson, son of Henry Munson, lives in Medina county, and is married to Jane Hughes, daughter of John Hughes, of Franklin township. Ezra Munson resides in Caldwell county, Missouri, and was married to Ann Eliza Wycoff, of Franklin township. The Munson family are noted throughout for their sterling FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP - 605 character, their industry, hospitality, courtesy and general good qualities as neighbors and citizens. Henry Munson, Sr., in 1816 or 1817, opened up and burned the first lime, and had the first kiln in Wayne county, burning the first lime in a log heap to test its quality. People for fifty miles around came to him for it. He furnished the lime used in building the old Wiler House, in Mansfield, hauling it there by oxen at about fifty cents per bushel, at nights sleeping under the wagon, and turning the oxen out to graze. CHURCHES OF FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP. Jacob's Lutheran Church was built in 1844 on lands donated by Jacob Herman, and was named Jacob's church by Jacob Snider. Rev. Kline was the first preacher. George Moore, Jacob Snider, Michael Schaff, Philip Moore, Adam Geitgey and his sons Adam and George Geitgey, George Reinard, and others, with their families, were the first that belonged to this church. Before it was built they went to Wooster and listened to Father Sonnedecker and Rev. Weygandt. The Church of God.—This was built at Moreland in 1843, Adam Weiker, Isaac Tate and Samuel Metzler being the principal movers in the religious enterprise. Messrs. Weiker and Tate designed the building and superintended its construction. The first preachers after the church was built were Archibald Megrew and Jonathan West. Present ministers—Revs. Martin Beck and Samuel Deckerhoff, with a membership of about thirty. William Metzler furnished these facts. M. E. Church.—The first Methodist Episcopal church was built in Moreland about 1830—a one-story frame building, 30x30, located on Robert Buckley's lands, donated by him for that purpose. The names of the first Methodists in the vicinity were John Floyd, wife and daughter; William Force and Sarah, his wife ; Peter Kiser and wife ; Jacob Kiser and wife ; Hannah Force and Abraham Force; Michael Kinney and wife, and Robert Buckley and wife. For fifteen years before this church was built Methodist service was held at the private house of William P. Force. The first preachers were Rev. Evans, Rev. James Wilson, Rev. Abner Goff, Rev. Harry 0. Sheldon, and Rev. Russel Bigelow, who was the first Presiding Elder. The second Methodist church was built in the summer of 1863. Present minister—Rev. McCartney, with a congregation of about ninety and a prosperous Sunday-school. Trinity English Lutheran Church.—The church of this congregation was built in 1861, on land donated by David Lawrence. Individual members furnished the material, cut the timber, hauled the logs, etc. David Geitgey was the principal carpenter, D. J. Snider and David Lawrence his assistants. The existence of this church is due to a discussion and difference between the members of the old Jacob's church, as to whether there should be German and English preaching. The first members of the Trinity came from Jacob's church, and were Jonathan Snider and his sons, John, D. J., Joseph and Jonathan, and Jacob and William Patton and their families. Rev. J. B. Baltzley, was their first preacher, and organized the church with eighteen members. Then came Rev. W. W. Lang, who remained pastor for seven years, who was succeeded by Rev. E. B. Crouse; then Father Sloane, of Wooster, as a supply for a year ; then Rev. Fryberger. There is now a membership of about fifty. An excellent Sunday-school, with one hundred pupils, is connected with the church. Superintendent of the Sunday-school, Jacob H. Snider ; officers, Israel Franks, Henry Kauffman, S. P. Chase, D. J. Snider. 606 - HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO. Jacob Harmon was born in Montgomery county, Pa., December 31, 1791. father, Conrad, was a shoemaker, with whom Jacob worked for many years, never having- but two months English schooling in his life. He came to Wooster township in the spring of 1818, then a single man. He was married to Catharine Hoff; October 10, 1820, and has had ten children. She died April 27, 1872. When he came to the county, he says, there were Indians to be seen, and he remembers seeing Simon Rice, accompanied by his brother William, spear and kill a bear near the farm of ex-Judge John K. McBride. He is now eighty-seven years of age, and is a member of the Lutheran church. Stephen M. Henry, son 0f John and grandson of Stephen Henry, was born in Wayne county, September 8, 1825. He has been twice married ; first, March 7, 1850, to Delilah Burnett, and second, to Catharine Burnett, half-sister of his first wife, and has lived in Franklin township since April 1, 1858. Mr. Henry is an energetic man, with positive and pronounced opinions, and a Democrat of the old Jacksonian type. He is a public-spirited, influential citizen, has served nine years as Justice of the Peace, and six years as Commissioner of Wayne county, in all of which positions he acquitted himself with honor. Thomas Dowty, the father of Thomas Dowty, was a South Carolinian, born about 1785. His grandfather, David Dowty, was a farmer and dealer in blooded horses, and removed to Kentucky, and thence to Athens county, Ohio, where he died. His son,. Thomas Dowty, emigrated to Wayne county in 1811, settling on a farm east of Wooster, on the State road. Here he entered eighty acres of land and remained a few years, when he went to Franklin township in 1814, where he entered 160 acres of land, now owned by the heirs of Adam Weiker. He settled in the woods, built a cabin, lived in it without a floor, etc., and staid to 1830, when he removed to the farm now owned by his son, Thomas Dowty, and here his death occurred in 1842. He was married to Rosa Sowards, a Kentucky lady, and raised six children. He was re married to Hannah Young, of Holmes county. Thomas Dowty, his son, was born November 27, 1806, in Athens county, Ohio, and was married October 20, 1836, to Sarah Ann Cavenee, of Columbia county, Pennsylvania. David Dowty, we were informed by Thomas, who was his cousin, was the first white boy born in FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP - 607 Wayne county, that event transpiring in Wooster, his father's name being Daniel Dowty. The farm upon which Thomas Dowty now lives is said to be the first one entered in Franklin township, and by old James Morgan.* Upon his premises, and near his house, in 1874, he constructed a beautiful fish-pond, supplied from a strong spring, in which are many varieties of fish. He is a generous and warmhearted man, characterized by a true Southern hospitality, sociableness and friendliness of feeling. John McIntire, the father of Cornelius, was born in County Derry, Ireland, in 1755, and immigrated to America in 1782, settling in York, Pa., as a farmer. He remained there fifteen years, then removed to near Steubenville, on the old Mingo Bottoms, Jefferson county, Ohio, and in 1820 came to Franklin township, Wayne county. He had eight children—John, James, Smith, William, Archibald, Cornelius, Sarah and Catherine, none of whom survive, except Cornelius. Cornelius McIntire was born in Fayette county, Pa., July 20, 1800, and came to Wayne county with his father in 1820. He immediately went to clearing land, and the same season had four acres in wheat. January 24, 1828, he was married to Nancy Rayl, who was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1811, and moved in 1819 to Franklin township, the marriage resulting in thirteen children, to wit: Mary Jane, George (dead), Reasin, Hannah, Sarah A, (dead), Sophronia (dead), Cornelius, William, Ezra, Elizabeth, Susan, John W. (dead) and Jacob (dead). The family at this time is considerably scattered, The old folks celebrated their golden wedding, the fiftieth anniversary of their married life, on January 24, 1878, by a grand dinner, to which relatives and neighbors were gathered, and all had a happy time in talking of old times and eating off a table that Mr. and Mrs. McIntire had had ever since their marriage. He is a solid, substantial and industrious citizen. His son, William McIntire, born February 10, 1843, is married to Sarah King, of Franklin township, and has two sons, Warren and Jacob. Killing a Bear.—Shortly after coming to Franklin township, Cornelius McIntire killed a bear that weighed four hundred pounds. In relating the incident, he * Mr. Dowty says John Larwill so informed him. 608 - HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO. says that a neighbor boy discovered the bear's track and told him about it, and he was soon after bruin with his gun and dogs. The bear took to a swamp, from where the dogs drove it finally, Cornelius giving it a shot, but not killing it. He pursued it to Little Salt creek, and then his brother James joined him, and they followed the bear to Newman's creek swamp, where they killed it, sold the meat to neighbors around there, carrying some home, together with the bear's hide, which they kept as a trophy of the chase. Ephraim Cutter, a native of New Jersey, was born in 1789, and came to Holmes county as early as 1816, removing to Wayne county in 1827, settling north of Moreland one half mile, on the farm now owned by Solomon Tate. He eventually removed to Huntington county, Indiana, where he died twenty years ago. He was married to Sarah Edgar, of Columbia county, Pa., and had eleven children. John Cutter was born in Northampton county, Pa., January 8, 1793 ; came to Holmes county in 1818, and removed to Wayne county in 1831, settling on the farm where he now lives. He was married in Holmes county, April 20, 1824, to Hannah Peterman, of Columbia county, Pa., and has had seven children — Charity, Mary and Elizabeth, James, John, Ephraim and A. B. Cutter. Ephraim is in Australia, whither he went in 1852. A. B. lives in Holmes county ; James in Franklin township ; and John W. Cutter married M. A. Sellers, of Holmes county, and lives with his father. His wife died October 9, 1868. Ephraim and he were both soldiers in the war of 1812. Mr. Cutter is distinguished for his kind and generous nature and his many good and noble qualities of head and heart. Samuel Cutter was born in Columbia county, Pa., in 1803, and removed to Holmes county, Ohio, with his father in 1820. In 1822 he went to Wooster and was married to Deborah Sprague, of that city. He was a blacksmith, learning his trade with Mason & McMillen, of Wooster. He was elected Sheriff of Wayne county in 1846, afterwards removing to Wayne township and thence to Medina county, where he now lives. Aaron Franks, a native of Fayette county, Pa., where he was born in 1801, emigrated to Wayne county in 1827, landing April 11 at his brother Jacob's, then living in East Union township, with whom he staid for nearly a year, when he removed to Franklin township, settling upon the farm where he now lives. FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP - 609 Philip Smith was the first owner of this farm, Mr. Franks being the fourth, he having erected upon it all the present improvements. He has been twice married ; first to Rebecca Sulifend, October 18, 1823, of Fayette county, Pa., and by this marriage had nine children ; second to Angeline, daughter of Peter Zaring, Esq., of Jefferson, Plain township, August 31, 1875. His first wife died February 11, 1868. Mr. Franks is a good business man, and, in his younger days, a public spirited, active citizen. He is a man of intelligence, worth and reliability ; has accumulated a competence, and, in his older years, has every comfort of life surrounding him. He is social, communicative, and will probe you with a joke, and in conversation will trap you or set you on the brink of a pitfall, without previous admonition. His relations to the public have always been beneficial, and his career as Coroner of Wayne county was marked by ability, shrewdness and economy. John Harrison was born August 1, 1796, in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, seven miles south-west of Uniontown. His father's name was Peter Harrison, a farmer, who was raised in Maryland, but removed from there to Fayette county, and from thence to Columbiana county, Ohio, and again to Harrison county, where he died. Peter Harrison had fifteen children, all of whom but the oldest and youngest lived to be men and women. John and Elisha Harrison are the only two of that family who came to Wayne county to live. John came in May, 1816, having been married April 30, preceding, to Margaret Dysert, of Virginia. He and his young wife came to Wayne county on horseback, packing 150 pounds of flour in his wife's bed, seventy miles, from Harrison county, Ohio, and settled down in the woods, within a mile of their present residence in Franklin township. They were the parents of eleven children, six of whom (three sons and three daughters) are living. Mr. Harrison is one of the best citizens of Franklin township. William Harrison, his uncle, came to Franklin township as early as 1813, and settled on the farm now owned by the widow of James Finley. Recollections of John Harrison.—Salt was worth six cents per pound when I came here. Bought a two-horse wagon from old Billy Poulson, about 1826, and paid for it in salt ; went to Cleveland for it ; obtained one barrel there and one barrel ten miles out of the city. These two barrels of salt paid for the wagon—price, thirty dollars. A bushel of wheat would pay for a pound of coffee, the former being of 610 - HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO. little cash account until the canal was opened. There were some Indians about— plenty of them on Martin's creek. Old chief Dan. Lyon remained after the other Indians left ; he would make wooden ladles and exchange them for bacon ; had smart children. Old Jonathan Grant lived on the Holmes county side of the line, but in Wayne county then. He was a sort of spy, and an agent to look after the interests of first settlers. The Government had him employed, and donated him one hundred and sixty acres of land where he lived. He lived in true aboriginal style—in an open shanty, between the logs of which dogs could jump ; had no floor, and was covered with bark ; was a great hunter ; bear and deer-skins covered his shanty ; prayed and swore in the same breath. The Larwills waited on him in his last sickness ; died of cancer, over fifty years ago. Thomas L. Smith was born in Westmoreland county, Pa., May 17, 1811, and is a son of Thomas Smith, whose occupation was that of farmer. Mr. Smith emigrated to Wayne county in 1842, arriving at Fredericksburg in August of that year. He was married in July, 1845, to Mary A. Powers, of Allegheny City, Pa., and has seven children. He was a member of the old Seceder church, united with this organization under the ministry of Rev.', Samuel Irvine at Fredericksburg, upon his arrival, and at present is a United Presbyterian. Mr. Smith is an intelligent, industrious farmer, distinguished for his earnestness in all good work, and for his purity of life and integrity of conduct. William P. Force, a citizen of New Jersey, removed to Pennsylvania, thence to Wayne county, Ohio, in 1821, settling south of Moreland, on the farm now owned by Adam Weiker. Here he lived until his death in 1830, and was the first person buried in the Moreland graveyard. He had ten children. He was a member of the Methodist church, an excellent and pious man, whose house was open to every one and whose liberality was great. William Force, his son, was born January 3, 1804, in Columbia county, Pa., and came to this county with his father in 1821 and was married September 1, 1825, to Lucinda Sowards of the State of Kentucky, who was born February 4, 1808. Mr, Force, like his father, is a member of the Methodist church, has been a class-leader for 25 years, and an exhorter for twenty years in that church. He is a farmer, an upright, high-minded man of enlightened views and independent judgment. Moses McCammon was born in County Down, Ireland, and immigrated to America in 1819, landing at Boston. In the New England States he remained three years teaching school, when he FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP - 611 removed to Cadiz, Ohio, From there he went to Kendall (Massillon), and worked in a cloth factory for a Mr. Thomas Roach, and soon removed to Wayne county, where he found employment in Stibbs' woolen factory, and where he worked six years. He then removed to a farm east of Moreland, where he lived thirty years; but selling it, he went to Moreland and resided there three years, when he removed to Ripley township, Holmes county, and purchased a small tract of land, his wife dying September 16, i1863. After her death Mr. McCammon returned to Franklin township, and spent the remainder of his days with his daughter Mary, wife of Jonathan Saunders, where he died August 30, 1868, aged 86 years. He was married in Ireland to Sarah Brown, of County Down, and had nine children. Mr. McCammon was, in many respects, a remarkable man, and possessed a wonderful fund of intelligence. He enjoyed a remarkable familiarity with the old English, Scotch and Irish poets. He believed that he, too, was a poet, and has written enough verse to make considerable of a volume. Some of it does not rise above the level of galloping doggerel ; much of it possesses sterling poetic merit and will bear comparison with the better products of our accepted and popular writers. He seems to have been a rhymer by nature, and his lines jingle like sleigh-bells on a winter morning. Burns has been his especial favorite, and why should ht not have been ? He has imitated The Twa Dogs, his Lines to a Mouse, his epistles, epitaphs; has been humorous, pathetic, contemplative, splenetic, saturnine and sentimental. He has sung of Venus, Mars and Momus. He is mirthful, hilarious, and at times his pen is a fountain, out of which gushes and bubbles merriment and laughter. He passed up and down the aisles of the world singing, obscurely, it is true, sometimes, but nevertheless in the moods and with the gifts of song. He was a genial, social, rare old Irish gentleman ; lived a good and quiet life, blameless in his ways before men ; and if Fame did not press her trump to her fickle lips and blow him to the world, he died with the solace that he was not a stranger to books—that he had held soul-relations with dead but mighty thinkers. He had but limited education, and believed more in the "spark o' Nature's fire" than "A' your jargon o' your schools, Your Latin names for horns and stools, If honest Nature made you fools," 612 - HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO. We regret that our space forbids the publication of the pathetic Scotch poem in Our possession, but will introduce the following : CONTEMPLATION. Come, Contemplation, lonely Power, That loveth the still and solemn hour, Come gaze upon those orbs that roll In silence round the glowing pole; The sparkling planet's borrowed beam, The fixed stars less refulgent stream, And meteors that with lurid glare, Shoot sudden through the parting air, And robed in transitory fire Ere thought can reach their course, expire. Fancy expand thy wings of light, And speed thro' heaven my lofty flight ; I see ten thousand systems rise, And other orbs gild other skies— And quicker than the solar ray, I shoot along the Milky Way, And various unknown world's explore, And wander all their beauties o'er. Thence as I gaze with curious eye, Far o'er the regions of the sky, Earth seems to float in ether bright, A trembling spark of moving light ; In silent course around her twines The silver moon, and fainter shines; The sun himself, now viewed afar, Seems but a more refulgent star. 0! could I run my airy race Amid the boundless realms of space— Till all these systems glittering here, In distance lost would disappear— Even then, before my wondering eyes, New globes would glow, new stars arise, New suns with radiant glory stream, New planets glitter in their beam ; And by resistless impulse hurled, New comets blaze from world to world. EPITAPH—Here, underneath, lies honest Chubb Who drove his wheels thro' many a dub ; Him sober saints no more shall snub Or zealots jeer him ; Their hearts they'd need to cleanse and scrub Ere they get near him. FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP - 613 REMINISCENCES OF JOHN BUTLER, A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE OF FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP. The Indians Burn Thomas Butler's Cabin.—Mr. Butler being absent at his father-in-law's, the Indians burned his cabin. The cause was presumed to be as follows: Butler had raised considerable corn in the bottoms, and had a good many hogs. A gang of Indians passed one day, and shot one of them. Mr. Butler followed after and found them encamped in the region of the present site of Shreve. He went to the Chief and told him the circumstance, and that he must pay him ; the Chief going to the thief and telling him he must pay for the hog. He asked him what he killed the hog for, whereupon the Indian replied, " I wanted grease." The Chief made him pay for the animal, Mr. Butler receiving in pay therefor two deer skins, which the Indian indignantly kicked toward him. It was soon after this that Mr. Butler's cabin was burned, and he claimed that gang of Indians did it. He now erected the hewed log house that stands exactly on the spot of the early conflagration. Here Mr. Butler lived, raised his family, and died March 17, 1837. The Morgan Block House.—This Fort stood on the Thomas Dowty farm, and but a few rods from his house, and was quite a large structure, and a source of protection to the pioneers. During the summer of Hull's Surrender a company of soldiers was stationed here from Tuscarawas county. A would-be brave soldier of this company was ever boasting of his courage, and ached for an opportunity to have a fight with the Indians. The boys concluded they would accommodate him. They caused to be painted and decked in true Indian costume one of their number, and had him secrete himself in a swamp close by. The company proceeded on one of its scouts and passed by this swamp, when the mythical Indian sprang out, yelling, and pointing his gun, took after this Sir Valiant soldier, who rushed at the top of his speed and concealed himself in a marsh. The company and the painted gentleman rapidly returned to the Block House. Soon thereafter the would-be Indian-fighter, who had lost his shoes in the swamp, returned. Some of the boys went in search of his shoes and brought them to camp.* Old Chief Lyon Delivers his "Checks."—Alexander Bell, of Holmesville, informed 'Squire Butler that when he was a boy he went to old Lyon's camp, near the mouth of the Butler Spring run, and found him in a sick condition in his hut. Lyon asked Bell to take his camp-kettle and bring him some fresh water, which he did, when Lyon asked him to look at his tongue. Bell told him how it looked, when the old Chief said, "Me dead Indian." Bell said, "I will go and tell Jess Morgan, if you wish me to," to which old Lyon consented. Jess came, accompanied by Bell, and found the old Chief very sick, whereupon he repaired to Sandusky and communicated the facts to his Indian friends, when several of them came along back with Jess. They took the old Indian upon one of their ponies, but in a few days the news was received of his death. Throughout the entire county we have heard vague recollections expressed concerning this old chief. The early settlers all knew him, as he visited their cabins, and frequently was a source of terror to women and children. * For further particulars inquire of John Butler, Esq. |