History of Fairfield County, Ohio, and representative citizens

Preface

We seldom forget the dreams of our youth — they are too dear to be forgotten. One of the youthful dreams of the author was the writing of this history. He longed for the time when he might tell the story of his native county — the county he loves so well. That dream has been realized, and here is offered, for the con- . .,

sideration of the public, the work, imperfect as it is, not of youthful years, but .^, j|^ ..-.

of the calm, sober period of life. It is offered with the hope that it will give the reader as much real pleasure in the reading as it has brought the author in the

writing. . , „ ■ r

To write the history of a people, and to mterpret the full meanmg of events, is not an easy task. An earnest attempt has been made to record the facts, and to render due appreciation unto the humblest actor in the drama of this life-story. It is said we live in the century of achievements, and this is certainly true. But the Twentieth Century will produce nothing so great as its men and women. This volume is the history of men and women who have built a Commonwealth out of Nature's own material— and they builded wiser than they knew.

No historian can write history unaided and alone, he must depend upon those who have made the records, or upon those who were a part of the events narrated He must consult the living and the dead— must weigh m the balance, impartially, the statements from whatever source, accepting or rejectmg as the evidence warrants. Hence the author of this History has consulted many records, and has been the recipient of much help from many sources. In all cases his requests have been honored and for this he feels especially grateful.

It is impossible for the editor to enumerate here all to whom he feels a deep sense of gratitude for assistance rendered and kindly interest taken in this work. He is under especial obligation to Mrs. Ellen Brasee Towt, whose deep interest in her native county and intimate knowledge of events have made her a most valuable aid in the compilation of this history. She has rendered important service in the preparation of the chapter on the "Bench and Bar, for her knowledge of many facts there narrated came to her first hand from her distinguished father, Judge John Scofield Brasee. To Judge John G. Reeves Judge b. K Holland, Hon. James Pickering, and the late H. C. Drinkle, the editor is greatly indebted for direct assistance, as well as for encouragement and advice

The editor'? earnest thanks are also due to the various county officials, superintendents of schools, township clerks, officials of the lodges, and benevolent orders, the Grand Army of the Republic, the post masters, editors of newspapers, Kraemer's "Lancaster" (1901), and to the old historians Henry Howe,^ Hervev Scott A. A. Graham and C. M. L. Wiseman ; and to a host of personal friends whose names cannot, for want of space, be mentioned here, much as the editor would like to do so. . ,

Others, who have contributed special articles are named therewith and are

not separately mentioned here. • , . , ui i:„„o

This work is dedicated not only to the many distinguished and noble lives that have brought undying fame to the county o Fairfie d-but as well to the housands of men and women in the humbler walks of life, vvhose sturdy character and noble aspirations have formed the warp aii.l vvoof of the public fabric, and have given to the county her stability and her worth. c C M

Baltimore, Ohio, April 15, 1912.

m

CHAPTER I The Old Northwest i9

The Value of History — Character of the Men and Women who Have Made History in this Section — Obligations of the Author — Fairfield County a Part of the Old Northwest — The Famous Ordinance of 1787 — State of Ohio Created — Organization of Fairfield County — The Five States of the Old Northivest — Their Sice, Importance and Population — Their Wealth and Resources — Character of the Citizenship — Ohio's Prominent Place in'the Political History of the Country — The Indians — The Ordinance of 1787 Forbids Slavery and Provides for the Support of Education^School Sections— The State Universities— First Colony in the Wilderness — Settlement at Marietta — Gen. St. Clair Appointed First Governor of Northivest Territory — Ohio's First County Organized— Ohio's First Court Opened — Establishment of Law and Order — Gen. George Rogers Clark; His Famous Campaign and Invaluable Services to the Country— Captures British Forts and Saves the Northivest Territory to the United States — Rewarded by Ingratitude— His Death— Conflicting Claims Betiveen the States to Ownership of Northivest Territory— Their Final Settlement— Unfair Treatment of the Indians — Black Hawk — His Wrongs — His Interview with President ] ackson— Disappearance of the Indians— The Wilderness Subdued— Character of the Pioneer Settlers— The Hardships Endured and Results Accomplished— The Pioneers' Most Enduring Monument.

CHAPTER n

The Famous Hocking Valley 3^

Great Valleys of the World— Valley of the Hocking— Its Great Fertility— Dunmore's War— The Famous Logan Elm— First Attempt at Settlement in Ohio— General Harmar Sent Against the Miamas—St. Clair's Defeat— Fort Defiance— Battle of the Fallen Timber— General Wayne's Great I'ictorv—Siege of Ft. Meigs— Col. George Croghan and the' Defense of Ft. Stephensotir—End of the War of i8i2—Early Struggle for Possession— Wild Game an Alluring Prize— The Economic Work of the Beaver— The Ohio Company— France Attempts to Take Possession of the Ohio Valley— The French and Indian War— The Fertility, Wealth and Substantial Citizenship of the Great Hocking J 'alley.

vi CONTENTS

CHAPTER III Indian Occupation 48

The Life Story of Simon Kenton — Simon Girty, the Renegade — Gen. Anthony Wayne, the "Chief Who Never Sleeps" — Celebrated Treaty of Greenville — Gen. Arthur St. Clair — St. Clair's Defeat — Teciimseh, the Most Gifted American Indian — Tecumseh's Death — Tecmnseh's High Ideals of Justice — Capt. Joseph Brant, Chief of the Mohawks and Head of the Iroquois Confederation — Cornstack, Sachem of the Shawnees and King of the Northern Confederation — Geronimo, Apache Chief, the Worst Indian that Ever Lived — Tarhe, Chief of the Wyandots — The Indian of Today — Haskell Institute — Carlisle Indian School — Logans Speech — Villainy of the Government's Indian Agents — Spraguc's I'ieii' of the Indian and His Destiny.

. CHAPTER IV

Dawn of Civilization in the County 82

Organisation of the County — Its Size When Organised — Number and Names of Toivnships — Why Called "Fairfield" — Population — Principal Cities — Counties in the State and their Rate of Increase — Character of the Inhabitants of Fairfield County — Ebenecer Zane, the Pioneer and His Work — His Rezvard — His Highivay — Capt. Joseph Hunter, Founder of the County — First White Child Born in the County — First White Woman Settler — Mrs. Ruhamah Green (Mrs. Chas. Builderback) and Her Adventures — Charles Builderback — -Historical Paper by Gen. George Sanderson — The Log Cabin — First Funeral — Fourth of July Celebration in 1800 — "Johnny Appleseed" — Roster of County Officials- — Senators and Representatives.

CHAPTER V Lancaster — The County Seat } 102

The Beginning of Things — History of Location, Name, and Sale of Lots by Ebenezer Zane — First Born — First Schools and Teachers — Mail Routes, Post Office and Postmasters — Commercial Lancaster — Board of Trade — Members of Public Boards — Water Works — Fire Department — The Famous Lancaster Bar — A Historic Structure — Pictures on Memory's Walls — Remarks on Hocking H. Hunter by John T. Brasee, Sr. — Lancaster's Distinguished Visitors — Lancaster Public Library — Municipal Officers — List of Mayors from i8ji to ipi2 — Lancaster Country Club — Lancaster, the City Beautiful.

CHAPTER VI Townships and Towns 126

History of Each Township — Schools — Teachers — Churches — Noted Incidents and Events — Local Industries — Historical and Descriptive Sketches of the Various Towns and Villages.

CONTENTS vii

CHAPTER VII Economic Forces 203

^ Geological History of the County — The Three Geologic Periods —

Geologic Formations — The Streams and Drainage — The Soil — Botany of Fairfield County — Oil and Gas Fields.

CHAPTER VIII Transportation 238

Canals — The Ohio and Erie Canal — The Miami and Erie Canal, Formed by the Miami, the Wabash and Eric and the Miami Extension Canals — The Ohio and Hocking Canal — Toast of Senator B. W. Carlisle — Original Stockholders of Lancaster Lateral Canal — Abandonment — • Value Today — Roadways — Railroads of the County — Story of Their Development — Electric Traction Lines — Recent Development — Railroad and Traction Line Statistics as Relating to Lancaster.

CHAPTER IX Manufactures and Commerce 261

Busy Workshops — The Hocking Glass Co. — The Cole Glass Co. — The Lancaster Glass Co. — The Lancaster Window Glass Co. — The Columbus Plate and Windoiv Glass Co. — The Columbus Window Glass Co. — The Motherzvell Iron Works — Lancaster Shoe Manufactories — Total Daily Output, 10,000 Pairs of Shoes — The A. Get:: Shoe Co. — The Lancaster Shoe Co.— The Fairfield Shoe Co.— The Ohio Shoe Co.— Hotels— A Classified List of Lancaster's Business Enterprises Including the Professions.

CHAPTER X Banks and Banking ^jy

The Bank in History — The Fairfield National Bank of Lancaster — The Lancaster National Bank — The Farmers and Citizens Bank of Lancaster — Tlic Hocking Valley National Bank of Lancaster — The Farmers and Merchants Bank Co. of Amanda — The First National Bank of Baltimore — The Bank of Basil— The Millersport Bank Co.— The First National Bank of Bremen — The Bremen Bank Co.— The Farmers and Merchants Bank of Carroll — The Pickerington Bank — The Pleasantville Bank — The Rushville Banking Co.— The Bank of Sugar Grove— Bank "Notes."

CHAPTER XI Bench and Bar 285

-V The Majesty of the Law—Iustice Gray — Wendell Phillips and Rufus

Choate — Lawyers of "Ye Olden Times," Their Fun and Their Work — The Giants of the Lancaster Bar— None Greater— Sketches of Laivyers and Judges — A Long List of Highly Educated and Brilliant Men, Past and Present — Fairfield County Juvenile Court.

viii CONTENTS

CHAPTER XII The Medical Profession 303

A' Brief History of Medicine — Doctors of the Old School — Medical History of Fairfield County (by Dr. H. M. Hacclton) — Sketches of Drs. J. H. Goss, Geo. W. Boerstler, Tom 0. Edwards. Michael Effinger, F. L. Flowers, P. M. Wagenhals, Hervey Scott — List of the Physicians and Surgeons in the County — The Dentists — The Park Street Hospital — The Lancaster Medical Research Club.

CHAPTER XHI

Religious Development 318

Sketches of the Various Churches and Religious Societies in Lancaster — The Lancaster Camp Meeting and Assembly — Rev. Geo. H. Leonard, D. D. — Tullius Clinton O'Kane.

CHAPTER XIV Education 332

The Lancaster Public Schools — The Old Greenfield Academy — Fairfield Union Academy — Crawfis Institute — Boys' Industrial School — John C. Hite — Torvnship and l^illage Teachers of Fairfield County — Boxtvell— Patterson Graduates — Then and Now (Log and Red Schoolhouse Times) — The Old Spelling School — Enoch Barry Seitc — Geo. IV. Welsh — W. C. Brashares — Lancaster Literary Society — Historians of Fairfield Countv.

CHAPTER XV Public Institutions and Public Buildings 366

The Court Houses — City Hall — County Infirmary and Poor Farm — Fairfield County Children's Home — The County Fair — Old Cit\ Burial Ground, with List of Names as Recorded on Gravestones — Telephones and Telegraph.

CHAPTER XVI Fraternal and Benevolent Societies 385

Masonry and its Various Branches and Lodges in Lancaster — The Independent Order of Odd Felloivs — The Knights of Pythias — The Elks — The Eagles — Daughters of the American Revolution — Ladies Auxiliary Sons of Veterans — Etc.

CHAPTER XVII Military History of the County 397

The County's Military Record — Rez'olutionary Soldiers Buried in Fairfield County — The County in the War of i8i2-i~i—The Mexican War

CONTENTS ix

— Fairfield County in the Civil War — Lancaster in the War — Death of Maj. H. H. Giesy — The Grand Army of the Republic — Woman's Relief Corps — Sons of Veterans — The Spanish- American War — Muster Roll of Co. F, 7th Regt. Inf., O. N. G.

CHAPTER XVIII The Press 413

The Power of the Press — The Ohio Eagle — "Items of Ye Olden Time" — The Lancaster Gazette — The Democrat — The Messenger — Fairfield Pickaway News and The Amanda Herald.

CHAPTER XIX Great Lives and Noted Events 418

^ Group I — Thomas Ewing, Sr. — Hugh Boyle Ewing — Gen. Thomas

Ewing, Jr. — Charles R. Sherman — General Sherman — Hon. John Sherman — John Trafford Brasee — John Scofield Brasee — Hon. Chas. D. Martin — Gov. William Medill.

Group II — The Sanderson Family — Elizabeth Sherman Reese — Capt. A. R. Keller — Hon. Henry J. Booth — Dr. Henry C. Eyman — Nettie Kagay Gravett — Hon. John G. Reeves (see index) — Mount Pleasant.