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712 - HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO. CHAPTER XXVII. WAYNE TOWNSHIP. WAYNE TOWNSHIP, named in honor of General Anthony Wayne, was organized October 12, 1816, and in 1870 had a population of 1,714. We annex its civil officers from the records. Justices of the Peace.—Dan Whonsetler, April 19, 1833 ; James Hill, April 19, 1833 ; John Hough, April 16, 1836; John Lehman, April 16, 1836 ; Dan Whonsetler, October 25, 1838 ; D. W. Laughton, April 13, 1839 ; Leonard Allaman, April 16, 1840; Jacob Ihrig, October 27, 1841; Leonard Allaman, April 13, 1843 ; Jacob Ihrig, October 16, 1844, Leonard Allaman, April 21, 1846, Seth Hollinger, October 19, 1847; T. A. Shaver, April 12, 1849; Jacob Ihrig, October 19, 1850; T. A. Shaver, April 21, 1852 ; Moses Foltz, October 27, 1853 ; John Kintner, October 21, 1854; G. P. Emrich, April 4, 1856 ; Jacob Stair, October 25, 1856 ; G.P. Emrich, April 19, 1859 : Jacob Stair, October 20, 1859; William M. France, April 21, 1862; Jacob Stair, October 25, 1862 ; William M. France, April 12, 1865; Jacob Stair, October 19, 1865 ; Daniel Stout, April 8, 1867; Jacob Stair. October 19, 1868 ; Adam Fike, April 13, 1869: Jacob Stair, October 18, 1871; Adam Fike, April 9, 1872; Jacob Stair, October 20, 1874; J. H. Hunter, April 12, 1875. 1818. Trustees—Jacob McEnterfer, Moses Thompson, Alexander Hanna ; Clerk—George Bair. 1819. Trustees—Mordecai Boon, Matthew Ryley, William Pancoast. 1820. Trustees—Jacob Ihrig, James Glass, Abraham Vanmeter. 1821. Trustees—John Hardgrave, James Glass, Thomas Beall. 1822. Trustees—Joseph Wasson, Thomas Barton, James Glass. 1823. Trustees—James Glass, Thomas Barton, T. Wasson. 1824. Trustees—Thomas Barton, Joseph Wasson, Mordecai Boon. 1825. Trustees—Mordecai Boon, Thomas Barton, Joseph Wasson. 1826. Trustees—Mordecai Boon, Thomas Barton, Joseph Wasson. 1827. Trustees—Hugh Culbertson, Jacob Plank, Sr., John Plank. 1828. Trustees—Hugh Culbertson, Jacob McEnterfer, Mordecai Boon. 1829. Trustees—Mordecai Boon, Thomas Barton, Alexander Hanna ; Clerk John Lehman; Treasurer—Isaac Cahill. 1830. Trustees—Mordecai Boon, Alexander Hanna, John Wanbaugh ; Clerk —John Lehman ; Treasurer—Isaac Cahill. 1831. Trustees—Mordecai Boon, Alexander Hanna, John Wanbaugh; Clerk —John Lehman; Treasurer—Isaac Cahill. 1832. Trustees—Thomas Barton, John Wanbaugh, Henry Bucher ; Clerk— John Lehman ; Treasurer—Isaac Cahill. WAYNE TOWNSHIP - 713 1833. Trustees—Thomas Barton, Jacob Stair, Joseph Emrich ; Clerk—John Lehman ; Treasurer—Peter Ihrig. 1834. Trustees—Joseph Emrich, Jacob Stair, John Sonnedecker ; Clerk—John Lehman ; Treasurer—David Sommers. 1835. Trustees—Henry Bucher, Hugh Norton, John Sonnedecker ; Clerk— John Lehman ; Treasurer—David Sommers. 1836. Trustees—Henry Bucher, Hugh Norton, D. Whonsetler ; Clerk—Neal `McCoy; Treasurer—James McCoy. 1837. Trustees--D. Whonsetler, Jacob Stair, Leonard Alleman; Clerk—Neal McCoy ; Treasurer—James McCoy. 1838. Trustees—Jacob Stair, Leonard Alleman, I). Whonsetler ; Clerk—Neal McCoy ; Treasurer—John Mohler. 1839. Trustees—Leonard Alleman, John Sonnedecker, Peter Ihrig ; Clerk— Seth Hollinger ; Treasurer—John McCoy. 1840. Trustees—Peter Ihrig, Thomas Bracken, Robert Eagans; Clerk—Seth Hollinger ; Treasurer—John Lehman. 1841. Trustees—Robert Eagans, Jacob Ihrig, John Stouffer ; Clerk—Moses Foltz ; Treasurer—Thomas A. Shaver. 1842. Trustees—John Stouffer, John Kintner, Fred France; Clerk—Moses Foltz ; Treasurer—Thomas A. Shaver. 1843. Trustees--Fred France, John Kintner, Henry Kramer ; Clerk—Moses Foltz ; Treasurer—Thomas A. Shaver ; Assessor—William France. 1844. Trustees—Henry Kramer, John Gaut, Robert Lusk; Clerk—Moses Foltz ; Treasurer—T. A. Shaver ; Assessor—Moses Foltz. 1845. Trustees—Robert Lusk, John Bonewitz, J. G. Troutman ; Clerk— Moses Foltz ; Treasurer—John Lehman ; Assessor—Charles White. 1846. Trustees—John Bonewitz, David Lehman, Josiah Barton ; Clerk—Moses Foltz ; Treasurer—John Lehman ; Assessor—Moses Foltz. 1847. Trustees—Josiah Barton, Seth Hollinger, Samuel Sommers ; Clerk— George Stinebring ; Treasurer—John Lehman ; Assessor—John Lehman. 1848. Trustees—Samuel Sommers, Michael Bucher, David Spiker ; Clerk— George Stinebring ; Treasurer—J. G. Troutman ; Assessor—John Kintner. 1849. Trustees—Henry Kramer, Samuel Sommers, John Sonnedecker ; Clerk—George Stinebring; Treasurer—J, G. Troutman ; Assessor—Benjamin Norton. 1850. Trustees—Samuel Sommers, John Sonnedecker, Fred France ; Clerk— J. G. Troutman ; Treasurer—Moses Foltz ; Assessor—George Stinebring. 1851. Trustees—John Sonnedecker, Fred France, John Lehman ; Clerk—Joseph Gaut ; Treasurer—Moses Foltz ; Assessor—George Stinebring. 1852. Trustees—John Lehman, John Sonnedecker, George Stinebring ; Clerk—Joseph Gaut ; Treasurer—Moses Foltz ; Assessor—Levi Stair. 1853. Trustees—George Stinebring, John Kintner, Andrew Kramer ; Clerk— Joseph Gaut ; Treasurer—Moses Foltz ; Assessor—Moses Foltz. 1854. Trustees—John Kintner, Isaac Johnson, Henry Bucher ; Clerk—Joseph Gaut ; Treasurer—Moses Foltz ; Assessor—Jacob Stair. 1855, Trustees—Henry Bucher, Isaac Johnson, William McCoy ; Clerk—G. P. Emrich ; Treasurer—Moses Foltz ; Assessor—Jacob Stair. 1856. Trustees—Jacob Ihrig, Jacob Dague, Michael Bucher ; Clerk—William Carmony ; Treasurer—David Lehman ; Assessor—Josiah Barton. 1857. Trustees—Jacob Ihrig, Jacob Dague, John Wilson ; Clerk—William Carmony ; Treasurer—David Lehman ; Assessor—Josiah Barton. 714 - HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO. 1858. Trustees—John Wilson, Thomas A. McCoy, Josiah Mowry ; Clerk Charles E. Graeter ; Treasurer—David Lehman ; Assessor—Daniel Stair. 1859. Trustees—William McCoy, Thomas A. McCoy, C. K. Yoder; Clerk—. Charles E. Graeter ; Treasurer—Josiah Yoder; Assessor—John Peters. 1860. Trustees—Andrew Kintner, William Carmony, Moses Cherry ; Clerk– Charles E. Graeter ; Treasurer—Daniel Stair ; Assessor—John Peters. 1861. Trustees—Andrew Kintner, William Carmony, Moses Cherry ; Clerk—Charles E. Graeter ; Treasurer—Daniel Stair ; Assessor—William M. France. 1862. Trustees—Ephraim Lehman, John Stout, John Zinn ; Clerk—Charles E. Graeter ; Treasurer—A. Sonnedecker ; Assessor—Wm. Carmony. 1863. Trustees—Ephraim Lehman, John Stout, John Sommers ; Clerk—Chas. E. Graeter ; Treasurer—A. Sonnedecker ; Assessor—Wm. Carmony. 1864. Trustees—John Sommers, Ephraim Lehman, Alexander Campbell ; Clerk—J. D. Zook ; Treasurer—A. Sonnedecker ; Assessor—Jacob Stair, Jr. 1865. Trustees—C. Stoll, George Dague, E. Lehman ; Clerk—C. E. Graeter ; Treasurer—A Sonnedecker ; Assessor—Jacob Stair. 1866. Trustees—George Dague, C. Stoll, J. G. Troutman ; Clerk—Charles E. Graeter ; Treasurer—A. Sonnedecker ; Assessor—Jacob Stair, Jr. 1867. Trustees—George Dague, William France, William Barton ; Clerk—George E. Paul ; Treasurer—Fredolin Bucholtz ; Assessor—Jacob Stair, Jr. 1868. Trustees—George Dague, William France, William Barton ; Clerk—N. Yoder ; Treasurer—Fredolin Bucholtz ; Assessor—Jacob Stair. 1869. Trustees—George Dague, William Barton, E. Lehman ; Clerk—N. Yoder ; Treasurer—A. Sonnedecker; Assessor—Jacob Stair. 1870. Trustees—George Dague, E. Lehman, J. C. Brown ; Clerk—N. Yoder ; Treasurer—Joseph McCoy ; Assessor—J. D. Zook. 1871. Trustees—E. Lehman, Albert Miller, Daniel Byall ; Clerk—T, F. Stair ; Treasurer—George Dague ; Assessor—Joseph Taggart. 1872. Trustees—Eph. Lehman, Albert Miller, J. C. Brown ; Clerk—Noah Yoder ; Treasurer—George Dague ; Assessor—J. D. Zook. 1873. Trustees—T. A. McCoy, Albert Miller, Eli Snyder : Clerk—T. F. Stair ; Treasurer—George Dague ; Assessor—J. D. Zook. 1874. Trustees—Elias Snyder, L. A. McCoy, J. B. Kintner; Clerk—T. F. Stair ; Treasurer—George Dague ; Assessor—Jos. Taggart. 1875. Trustees—Samuel D. Bucher, Elias Snyder, Henry Collins ; Clerk—P. S. Ihrig; Treasurer—Joseph Troutman ; Assessor—J. D. Zook. 1876. Trustees—John F. McKee, Ephraim Lehman, Henry Collins ; Clerk— T. C. McCoy ; Treasurer—J. W. Troutman; Assessor—J. D. Zook. 1877. Trustees—Ephraim Lehman, John F. McKee, John Billman ; Clerk—T. C. McCoy ; Treasurer—J. W. Troutman ; Assessor—Simon Lehman. First Settlers.—The settlers in this township, when it was organized, were: James Glass, the Roses, the Feazles, the Clarks, the Meeks, the Turners, Thomas Armstrong, Moses Thompson, Thomas Pomeroy, Henry Perrine, George Gibson, Ralph Cherry, John and Peter Vanostran, Fred. Garver, Armstrong Davison, John Richey, John and Peter Bacher, Thomas Beall, Peter Anspaugh, Jacob Menterfer, Peter Eiker, George Bair, Henry Snider, Peter and Jacob Ihrig, William Elgin, Mordecai Boon, Peter Ev- WAYNE TOWNSHIP - 715 erly, John Bonewitz, Jacob Seifred, Benjamin Miller, Abraham Vanmeter, William Burgan, Mr. Sowey, Alexander Hanna and the Driskels. George Bair and Thomas Armstrong were the first Justices of the Peace in the township, and were succeeded by A. Hanna, in 1818 ; Peter Everly in 1820 ; George Gibson and Alexander Hanna ; George Gibson and Jacob Ihrig in 1824; Jacob Ihrig and Mr. Cahill in 1827 ; and Jacob Whonsetler and James Hill in 1830. The first saw-mill was built by Fred Garver, in 1814, and by him the first grist-mill in 1815, on Little Apple creek. Jacob Ihrig was born February 25, 1792, in Washington county, Pa. He claimed to have some recollection of seeing the army sent out to subdue the Whisky Insurrection, and was a contractor in the war of 1812, to supply provisions to the western army. He emigrated to Wayne county in 1815, settling in what is now Wayne township, and in 1816 aided in organizing the township. In 1816 he was elected Captain of a militia company, and in 1824 Major of the regiment, and in the same year was elected Justice of the Peace, serving until 1851. October, 1827, he was elected County Commissioner. During his term the court house was destroyed and the first county offices and the second court house was built. He served in the Ohio Legislature from December 6, 1830, to December 4, 1837 ; and in the State Senate from December 3, 1838, to December 7, 1840. In 1852 he was made District Assessor, and in 1853 he was elected a member of the Board of Equalization. He was married August 10, 1815, to Elizabeth Eberly, of Pennsylvania. In his young manhood he became a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church and remained a faithful and consistent member of the same until death, in 1877. He was one of the founders of Salem's Lutheran congregation, near Madisonburg, and has always, been regarded as the honored leader of the same. In his death the congregation has, indeed, lost one of its pillars. He died in peace with God and man, and in the blessed hope of a resurrection to eternal life. His mortal remains were followed to their last resting place, near Madisonburg, by one thousand people. James Glass was born June 22, 1772, in Washington county, Pennsylvania. In early youth he was placed among strangers, in 716 - HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO. consequence of the death of his mother, and some years later his father departed' this life, leaving his family to the tender regard of strangers. James found a home with a farmer, and when he was twenty years of age he enlisted in General Wayne's army, and served in his campaigns on the western frontier from 1792 to 1795. In 1796 he married, and moved to Columbiana county, Ohio, where, for a time, he kept a tavern on the north branch of Yellow creek. In 1814 he came to Wayne county, entering and purchasing a large tract of land in Wayne and Canaan townships, settling in Wayne, seven miles north of Wooster. Here he lived and prospered, and after 1830 took his ease until death closed his useful and eventful life, April 6, 1855. His wife, Elizabeth Edgar, of Irish parentage, was born July 13, 1776, in Carlisle, Pa. The mother of twelve children, she had many cares and labors, and her joys were at home. Her husband and five sons preceded her in death, she passing away May 31, 1856. Both were zealous members of the Presbyterian church. The names of their sons and daughters who grew to maturity are : Nancy, born December 16, 1797 ; Alfred, born April 23, 1799; Elizabeth, born July 27, 1801; Obediah, born 1803 ; Margaret, 1812 ; Jane, born 1814; James, born May, 1816; Samuel, born April, 1818 ; Reasin B., and Fulton. Alfred Glass, when sixteen years of age, came with his parents to Wayne county, and at once entered into the pursuits of the first settlers. January 25, 1821, he married Miss Jane Ewing, and built a house on land near his father. After a time he quit clearing land and engaged in the carpenter business, putting up several buildings in Wooster, and others in different places. He united with the Baptist church of Wooster in early life and remained a prominent member of the same during life. He died August 22, 1850. Samuel Glass received a, fair education and taught school several terms, after which he read medicine with Dr. Armstrong, of Hayesville, and frnished his course at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. He became an eminent physician. He represented his (Ashland) district in the Ohio Senate, and died in Ashland, Ohio, February, 1872. CHURCHES. Salem's Church.—As early as 1827 Rev. G. H. Weygandt preached in this neighborhood, and with him as pastor the Lutherans and a few German Reformed settlers laid the corner-stone of a church in 1828, on joint ground procured for church and graveyard purposes, from the land of John Lehman. This union building was dedicated in 1830. The present church was built in 1871, and was dedicated October 1, of the same year. WAYNE TOWNSHIP - 717 Geyer's Chapel was completed in 1876, though as early as 1862 the project of building a church was agitated. It was dedicated January 27, 1863, by Bishop Markwood, and the first class organized in the spring of 1863, with a membership of seven, which is now augmented to forty-two, with a flourishing Sunday-school of seventy-five pupils. Wayne Presbyterian Church, organized August 22, 1833, with thirteen members, by Rev. William Cox. Since its organization it has had 223 members taken in by the following ministers : Rev. Thomas Beer, in six years, 33 ; Rev. T. H. Barr, in nine years, 66 ; Rev. R. M. Finly, in two years, 7 ; Rev. V. Noyes, in two years,. 12; Rev. J, R. Cunningham, in one year, I1 ; Rev. E. Barr, in one year, 22 ; Rev.. G. R. Scott, in one year, 4; Rev. J. A. Reed, on one occasion, 5 ; Rev. C. C. Gould, in three years, 9; Rev. J. S. Atkinson, in eight years, 41 ; Rev. F. Eddy, in two years, 13. The names of original members were: James McCoy and Sarah his wife, Robert Eakin and Elizabeth his wife, Moses Foltz and Sarah his wife, Margaret Beer, Abigail Johnston, Nancy Orr, John Rose and Mary his wife, Mary Lawrence and Maria McClarran. Joseph Wasson, Sr., was born in Lancaster county, Pa., March 29, 1775, and was married near Lewistown to Jane, sister of Judge McConahay, July t0, 1800, she being born September 6, 1773. He removed to Wayne county about 1819, first settling in Greene township, the same summer purchasing the Armstrong Davison farm, now owned by his son, David Wasson. He died September 16, 1826; his wife September II, 1858. The family was as follows : John M., Joseph W., David, Henry, Joseph, Harriet, George W. and William Wasson. Joseph Wasson, son of John M. Wasson, was born June 30, 1839, two miles east of Congress Village, and until the age of 18 remained upon the farm, when he first began ventures upon the world. He has spent much of his life upon the Pacific coast, where he has achieved reputation as a writer. He has been a newspaper man for many years, acting as editor, proprietor and manager. He attended the Vienna Exposition as special correspondent of Forney's Press, writing a series of brilliant letters under the pseudonym of " Josef." On his return he was despatched to New Orleans by the Press and New York Times as correspondent. He was one of the early contributors to the Overland Monthly. He was in the campaign and within twelve miles of Custer when he was destroyed by the Indians, a correspondent of Eastern papers and furnishing the news of that region to the Associated Press. He is a brilliant writer and popular journalist, located at present in San Francisco. William Elliott was born in Pennsylvania, January 24, 1780, 718 - HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO. and was married to. Elizabeth Hays, who was born April 1, 1792. He removed to Wayne county in 1827, first living one year in Wooster, then purchased of General Spink, for $800, the farm north of Wooster on which John Elliott now lives. Here he farmed and " kept tavern " until his death, January 31, 1855. His wife died May 11, 1859. They had eight children, six of whom are living. Thomas A. Kenney, of Canaan township, married their daughter, Catharine Elliott. John Elliott, the son who occupies the homestead farm, was born May 15, 1831, and was married August 4, 1859, to Elizabeth Condry, by whom he has four children. Thomas Barton, Sr., was born in Northumberland county, Pa., and came to Wayne county in 1819, with his wife (Jane Crawford) and six children-Priscilla, Sarah, Clark, William, Rachel and Josiah ; and after they settled, were born in Wayne county, Elisha, Jackson, Mary, Jane and Thomas. William Barton was born in Northumberland county, Pa., in 1815, and came to Wayne county with his father's family in 1819. He married Lydia Sommers, daughter of Abraham Sommers, who owned the farm where John McKee now lives, and where William Barton died in March, 1871. His children are John C., Mary E. and Effie. John McKee, a popular and enterprising citizen, was married to Mary E. Barton, July 4, 1860, and has three children-Peoria, Anna and Finley. Effie Barton was married to Zeno Kenney, son of Thomas Kenney. William Barton was an able County Commissioner, serving from 1857 to 1862. Josiah Barton was born in Northumberland county, Pa., October 18, 1818, and removed to Wayne county, with his father, Thomas, remaining at home on the farm until twenty-six years of age. October 13, 1842, he married Eleanor Van Ostran, and lived in Wayne township until 1858, when he removed to Plain township, where he now resides. He is a successful farmer, the head of an intelligent family, a firm Democrat of the Jefferson stamp, and a man generally held in high esteem. He has the following sons and daughters: Nancy Jane, Priscilla, Francis Marion, Belinda E., Sanford V., Ida Irene, John Leslie, Ella G., Joanna. George Troutman was born September 20, 1816, in Berks county, Pa., and came to Wayne county with his father, Michael Troutman, in the fall of 1829, from Berkley county, Virginia. March 2, 1841, he was married to Caroline Fryberger, the union WAYNE TOWNSHIP - 719 resulting in eleven children, to wit: Sarah J., Mary, John, Michael A., Joseph, Elizabeth, Franklin, Emma, Alice, Clara and Harriet. He is a thorough country gentleman, a scientific farmer, and gives special attention to the improvement of good breeds of stock. James McCoy was born in Tuscarora valley, Juniata county, Pa., July 4, 1786. His wife, Sarah McCoy (no blood relation), was born March 28, 1791. They immigrated to Wayne county in the spring of 1826, and settled on the farm now owned and ocoupied by their son, Thomas A. McCoy. Here he died, May 30, 1861, his wife following him June I, 1871. The following are the names of their sons and daughters, all of whom were born in Pennsylvania, except the last two : Neal, John S., M. B,, Joseph, Eleanor, Thomas A., William, Stewart, James P. and Isabella. Neal McCoy, James' oldest son, was born August 28, 1809, and married Julia Ann, sister of William and Calvin Armstrong, and by this marriage had two children, a son, --, and a daughter that died in infancy. He was married a second time, to Sarah A. Hardy, and had five children. Mr. McCoy was an excellent citizen, and during his life a prominent and popular man in the county. He was one of the Associate Judges of Wayne county as early as 1846, and was elected to the office of Sheriff in 1856, serving one term. In the positions of public trust to which he was promoted he uniformly acquitted himself with honor, He was a genial, cheery companion, characterized by great kindness of disposition and goodness of heart. Thomas A. McCoy was born April 5, 1821, and married Priscilla Stair, of Wayne township, May 13, 1845, by which union there were the following children : Neal, Elizabeth, Jacob A., Anna, Augusta, Sarah J., Mary A., Emmet, Emma E., Dora M. Mr. McCoy is a farmer, and a hard-working, honest, industrious, economical man. He was the Democratic candidate in 1875 for the Legislature of the State of Ohio, to which position he was elected, being re-elected to the same office in 1877 by a very large majority. John Lehman was born August 14, 1790, in Berks county, Pa. His father, Martin Lehman, and mother, Christina Speck, were immigrants from Germany,and were sold out to service by the captain 720 - HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO. of the vessel until their passage was paid, as the custom then was. In the spring of 1812 John married Miss C. Smith, by whom he had five children. He removed to Wayne township in the spring of 1823, settling four miles north of Wooster, where, on July 13, of same year, his wife died. In the spring of 1824 he married Miss N. Bair, who died August 23, 1867, aged sixty-five years. By his first wife there are two children living, and by the second nine. Mr. Lehman now lives with two of his daughters, and is a hale old man, whose strong mental faculties are not impaired by age, and who can look back on a long life well spent. Captain George P. Emrich, a native of Berks county, Pa., was born September 15, 1821. His father, Joseph Emrich, was likewise a native of Berks, his occupation being that of tradesman and farmer. He removed to Wayne township in May, 1831, when the subject of this sketch was in his tenth year, and settled on the farm four miles north of Wooster now owned by his son, where he purchased a half section of land from William Elgin and Mordecai Boon, the government title for these lands being yet in possession of Captain Emrich, and signed by President Madison. He was married to Elizabeth Kiser, of Berks county, Pa., by which marriage there were three daughters and one son, George P. He died August 31, 1863, in his seventieth year, his wife dying in December of the same year, aged sixty-five. G. P. Emrich remained with his father upon the farm until he was twenty-one years of age, with the exception of about eighteen months spent with J. P. Coulter & Co., in the drug store, and with Robison & Jacobs, in the dry goods business in Wooster. He has been twice married—first, May 9, 1843, to Sarah Fryberger, of East Greenville, Stark county, Ohio, who died April 15, 1863 ; second, August 24, 1865, to Kate Garver, of Chester township. By the two marriages he has six children-four by the former * and two by the latter. After leaving Wooster he returned to the country, and for three years cultivated his father's farm upon the shares, when he moved upon the west quarter of the original half section, having bought the same from his father. Here he labored eight years, and by that time paid for the farm, * Will. Emrich, Teller in the Wooster National Bank, is his son by the first marriage. He is a former student of the University of Wooster, and was a member of the scientific corps that visited the parks and canyons of Colorado under the direction of Dr. Stoddard, of the University. WAYNE TOWNSHIP - 721 when he went to the old homestead, where he at present lives. By his energy and tact in matters in which he participated he was usually amply rewarded, and in a short time he owned a half interest in the old homestead. Farming, speculating in stock, exchanging, buying and selling horses, until the breaking out of the war, constituted his chief employment. After the Rebellion opened he was commissioned, August 15, 1862, as Captain of Company D, 120th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. During his military service he was subjected to all the bitter experiences of his regiment. He withstood the malaria of the Mississippi swamps and the disaster of Chickasaw, where his company was without Lieutenant or Orderly, all being sick or detailed. He was at Arkansas Post ; in fact participated in the vicissitudes of the army until the spring of 1863, when, on account of illness and disability, he was discharged, after which, for several years, he was in delicate health. Since 1866 he has been continuously in the banking business, and is at present President of the National Bank of Wooster. In 1856 he was elected Justice of the Peace of Wayne township, re-elected in 1859, being the first Republican elected to that office in Wayne township, and having no successor. Moreover, he is one of our progressive, public-spirited men. He has not only subjected his land to the highest cultivation and in other ways improved and adorned it, but he has constructed on North Market street, in Wooster, one of the finest and best-appointed private residences in the city. But he prefers the sober sweets of the rural life to the din and dust and confinements of the city, believing with Cowper, "that God made the country, but man made the town." If there is a political meeting to get up he is on hand ; if there is a railroad project before the people he takes hold of it. What he undertakes to do he does with all his might. He is as full of energy as his best horses are of mettle. He is proverbially courteous and polite in his intercourse with society ; has a warm friendship for his friends, to whom the well-known hospitality of his house is ever open. He has ever been a strong advocate of our present system of common schools, and believes in the universal diffusion of knowledge by every means of education, from the common school to the university. Probably no man in the county took a bolder and more decided stand for the Wooster University when its building was first agitated than Captain Emrich. He not only subscribed 46 722 - HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO. and paid $500 to the institution, but contributed liberally of his time and influence to procure funds for the same. He attended meetings, made speeches and aided in obtaining $65,000 toward its subscriptions. He is a worker wherever you place him. He has sought to do his duty to the world and the world has not cheated him. He is of that temperament which inclines always to accept situations. He can exclaim with the great Goethe : " What I don't see don't trouble me; And what I see might trouble me, Did I not know that it must be so." THE DRISKELS AND BRAWDYS. Halt ! villains, halt ! nor dare to flee The swift law's stern command ; Here in this wood thy Tyburn see, Now strikes the vengeful hand. —Messinger. The Driskels were settlers of Wayne county prior to 1812, but how much earier than this they came to Wooster and its vicinity we are unable to state. John Driskel was one of the first Supervisors of Wooster that we find 0n record, and was acting in that capacity during the above-named year. He had three brothers, Dennis, William and Phenix, and a sister, Sally, who married Bill Gibson. His family consisted of four children, Bill, Pearce, Dave and Reasin. They emigrated from Columbiana to Wayne county, and for a time after their arrival lived upon Apple creek, near the old Stibbs mill. For a number of years after their settlement in Wayne county old John Driskel was regarded as an honest and honorable man, though much addicted to intemperance, and inclined, when drunk, to be quarrelsome. Dennis, his brother, was a respectable, industrious, enterprising man, and bore that reputation wherever he was known in Wayne county. He was one of the Trustees of Plain township, in company with John McBride and Abraham Runyon, in 1829, and owned and conducted the old grist-mill at Springville, in Plain township, which he sold in 5832. For some years after his coming to the vicinity of Wooster John Driskel owned farms and made exchanges in real estate. The first suspicion of crookedness upon him occurred when Horace Howard was keeping the hotel called the Eagle House, on West Liberty street. A party had gathered in the bar-room of Mr. Howard's hotel one evening, among whom was John Driskel, and the excitement becoming too boisterous, the proprietor ejected the inmates from the premises. As Driskel went out of the bar-room he picked up a candlestick and carried it outdoors with him, but, it seems, immediately threw it over into Mr. Howard's garden, who, not knowing this, caused Driskel to be arrested the next morning. Michael Totten* was one of the jurors in the case. The evidence was not of that character to exhibit intent to steal on the * We are indebted to Michael Totten, Esq., for these facts, he having personal knowledge of the Driskel family. THE DRISKELS AND BRAWDYS - 723 part of Driskel, and he was acquitted. This was ten or eleven years after Driskel came to Wayne county, and this was the first suspicion upon him, and the first arrest. Steve Brawdy, a brother-in-law of William, a brother of John Driskel, was sent to the penitentiary from Wooster for stealing a heifer from Jacob Shellabarger, at Naftzger's mill, near Burbank. The warrant for his apprehension was issued by Squire Bristow, and Jacob Crawford, Constable of Congress township, assisted by Michael Totten and Moses Loudon, arrested him. Brawdy was a strong, powerful man, and in the melee he plunged a knife into Loudon's thigh the full length of its blade, but which only made Loudon the snore determined, and Mr. Totten and the constable more resolute. He was taken before Squire Bristow, had a hearing, was bound over, received his trial at Wooster, and was sentenced to three years confinement in the Ohio penitentiary. The fact of Brawdy's relationship to the Driskels, induced many suspicions, and the vigilance of the citizens and the officers soon led to the discovery of a gang, in which John Driskel was the central actor. About this time General Beall had a yoke of oxen stolen and taken to Cleveland and sold. A young man named Ben Worthington, was arrested, and tried for this offense, and sent to the penitentiary. The revelations of this trial established the complicity of Driskel and Brawdy with the Worthington theft. John Driskel was finally arrested for stealing horses in Columbiana county, Ohio, and brought back from Beaver county, Pa., where he was caught, tried, found guilty and sentenced to the penitentiary from New Lisbon. This was about 1829-30. He, however, managed soon to make his escape, the particulars of the same being as follows : Convicts were at that time permitted to labor, under guard, on the public works at Columbus. Driskel, with a chain and a fifty-six weight fastened to his leg, had charge of a wheelbarrow, and was conveying dirt upon the Ohio canal. He concluded he would make an effort to escape, and picking up the ball in his hands, started to run, and was immediately fired upon by six guards, wh0 unfortunately missed him. He had shrewdly selected a period well on toward night for his dangerous attempt. Arriving at a farm residence, he sought the wood-pile, and there finding an ax, severed the ball from the chain. Having dispensed with this impediment to travel, he leisurely made his way back to Wayne county, to where his family lived, near Burbank, where he filed the clasp of the chain from his leg. Mr. Totten says he heard him frequently relate his escape—the cutting off of the iron ball by the farmer's ax, and the filing of the chain, etc. Driskel would tell it and laugh over it until he could be heard for half a mile. The authorities hearing of his appearance in Wayne county, an effort was made to re-capture him, when, to elude his pursuers, he led, for a time, a roving life, stealing horses and concealing them in thickets, burning barns, houses, etc., finally leaving the county. Shortly afterward he was captured in Mohican township, Ashland county, and committed to the charge of two men named Patterson to take him back to the Columbus penitentiary t0 serve out his sentence, but when stopping over night at Sunbury, Delaware county, the old man, by shrewdness and force, : effected his escape and never again appeared in Ohio. He was next heard of in the West, where his family and confederates joined him and continued their criminal pursuits for some years. In time the Regulators of Northern Illinois rose upon them, capturing old John, his son William, and others of the gang. These were immediately shot, and his youngest son, David, was soon afterward caught and hanged to a tree by Judge Lynch. It is the opinion of Mr. Totten that this gang of outlaws, composed of the 724 - HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO. Driskels, Brawdys and others, originated in Wayne county, and this is likewise corroborated by the statement of Hon. L. D. Odell, of Clinton township, one of the most intelligent of the early settlers of the county. They had no long or settled residence at any point in the county, living, at different periods, in Wooster, Wayne, Chester, Congress and Plain townships. They were a gang of bad, bold, dangerous and daring men and desperadoes, a terror to peaceful, law-abiding citizens, whom even-handed Justice pursued slowly, but finally visited with most fearful retribution. They were men of invincible courage, of powerful physical strength, and enjoyed nothing so well as a carouse and a knock-down. Their leading villainies consisted in burglaries, incendiarism and horse-stealing. They concealed their stolen horses in the dense thickets of the woods, stole corn from the farmers to feed them, and at a suitable opportunity, conducted them out of the county. Old John Driskel was a blustering, swaggering, bullying Drawcan-sir, and when drunk was constantly provoking disturbances and putting society into a ferment of alarm and apprehension. Few men whom he encountered were his equals in the brutal conflicts which he induced. On the occasion of a public muster in Lisbon, Columbiana county, he became terribly boisterous and flung his banter to the assembled crowd. Like Caleb Quotem, in the Wags of Windsor, he was bound to have a place at the reviews. Timid men feared him, and stouter ones desired to avoid collisions with him. Driskel's rule was, if he could not provoke a quarrel by general boasting, blowing and threats, to select a large, muscular-looking man and challenge him to a fight, and if he refused to accept, to hit him at the time or watch an opportunity and deliver a blow. On this occasion he selected Isaac Pew, a large, bony specimen of a man, and after offering him sundry indignities and without any warning, hit him a terrible blow, springing instantly upon him and biting off Pew's ear. This occurred at the tavern in Lisbon, then kept by Christian Smith, at one time a resident of Wayne county, and one of the Associate Judges of the Common Pleas Court of Wayne county. Pew was a man who kept his own secrets, and felt amply able to defend himself against Driskel or anybody else, if he had a fair showing. When next general muster came around Driskel was present, as was also Pew, the latter having remarked, " He has my ear, now I'll have his nose." Seeing Driskel he approached him, but suspecting his intentions, he retreated, Pew following him closely, who was interrupted by Bill Driskel, John's brother ; hut rushing past Bill, and John, seeing he was about to be caught, turned about, when Pew instantly sprang at old John and bit his nose off. On a certain occasion old John was parading the streets of Wooster talking boister ously, and shouting that he weighed 208 pounds, and no man could whip him. Smith McIntire,* who was clearing off some land on the Robison farm, south of Wooster, came to town in his shirt sleeves to procure tobacco. Being a very muscular looking man, General Spink and Mr. McComb approached him and asked him if he * Smith McIntire was born in Fayette county, 1789, and married Catherine Larkins, of Harrison county, Ohio. He removed to Wayne county in 1819, remaining until about 1847, when he went to Seneca county and died. He was a good and quiet citizen, industrious, honest and honorable. He induced no quarrels, but woe to the man who provoked his anger, for he possessed a giant's strength, and when he employed it against an adversary his manly tist cracked with certain doom. THE DRISKELS AND BRAWDYS - 725 thought he could whip that man—pointing toward Driskel. McIntire said, " I can whip anybody, but I don't know that man, and I am a stranger here, and more than that, I am a peaceful man," whereupon he started back to his work, when Spink and McComb called to him to return. He obeyed their summons, and after some entreaty consented to whip Driskel, upon the consideration of preserving quiet and establishing order. Spink remarked to Driskel that here was a man (pointing to McIntire) that he had not yet whipped, when Driskel rapidly advanced toward him and said, " Do you think you can handle me?" to which McIntire responded, " I do." Driskel said, " Well, let us take a drink, and then to business." McIntire responded, " I want nothing to drink." Driskel took his drink and faced McIntire, and when the word "ready" was given McIntire hit him one blow that knocked him insensible, and so serious was the result that Dr. Bissell had to be called, and it was several hours before he rallied from the prostration. Not satisfied with this encounter, in a short time afterwards he challenged McIntire to a second test, which he accepted, having General Spink and Colonel James Hindman for his seconds, Driskel choosing for his backers one of his sons and his son-in-law, Brawdy. The contestants met, and with a similar result. McIntire, after his adversary was on the floor, picked him up like a toy and started with him toward the fire-place exclaiming, "I will make a burnt offering of him," but which rash purpose was prevented. This fight occurred in the bar-room of Nailor's tavern. |