The Pioneer Re-Union
At no period of the history of Richland county, has there been a larger
assemblage of the pioneers than were gathered together on the fairgrounds, July
4th. Our notice of the
celebration had been given, and it was thought that, as in the past, that
comparatively few of the early settlers of the county would meet to interchange
views, everyone was astonished therefore to find that long before the hour of
commencing the exercises, teams and other vehicles were coming in from the
country bringing loads of veterans with their families, these with the additions
from town made an assemblage which by 10½ o’clock numbered at least one
thousand persons. The scene before
the beginning of the exercises was very interesting, as neighbors and friends of
years ago met, and grasped each other by the hand, many and hearty were the
greetings. It was an occasion which
seemed to unite the memories of the past with the realities of the present.
Instances were found where those who had been closely identified with the
history of the county and who by circumstances had not met for years, now found
an opportunity of renewing old acquaintance and reviving past memories.
The weather was pleasant and every surrounding seemed harmonious with the
joyful occasion. The exercises took
place at the grand stand on the east side of the grounds and at 10½ o’clock
the raised platform reserved for the officers and speakers was surrounded by as
fine a looking body of men and women as can be found in any State or Country,
among the audience youth, vigorous manhood and old age, all identified with a
county as renowned in pioneer historic incident as any in the State, the only
defect we could observe in the arrangements was that the remarks of the speakers
could only be heard by a few immediately surrounding, but this was a difficulty
that could not well be obviated. The
officers of the day were:
President – Dr. Wm. Bushnell
Chief Marshal – Robert Cairns
Vice Presidents – J. H. Cook, Madison Tp.; Jacob Claberg, Butler Tp.;
Amon S. Chew, Bloominggrove Tp.; N. S. Guthrie, Cass Tp.; Isaiah Boyce, Franklin
Tp.; Isaac Bricker, Jackson Tp.; F. M. Fitting, Jefferson Tp.; Wm. Peterson,
Monroe Tp.; John Woodhouse, Mifflin Tp.; David Johns, Madison Tp.; Thos.
Phillips, Perry Tp.; James Ralston, Plymouth Tp.; Jacob Thrush, Sandusky Tp.;
Marcus Day, Springfield Tp.; John Mack, Sharon Tp.; James McCluer, Troy Tp.;
John S. Smith, Washington Tp.; Samuel Stevenson, Weller Tp.; Tobias Andrews,
Worthington Tp.
Gen. Brinkerhoff called the association to order, stating that one year
ago it was determined to hold another meeting of the pioneers, and that he was
glad to find such glorious results. The
pioneers then sang in old style “Our days are like a Leaf,” the words were
interlined and while both tune and singing differed materially from modern
usages, yet they were not without considerable merit.
This part of the programme was under the direction of Mr. Guthrie, who
afterwards sang “Liberty,” the first line being “No more beneath the
oppressed hand,” this like the other was interlined.
A prayer was then offered by James R. Cass, of Troy township, 1812, after
which Mr. Guthrie sand, “Hail Columbia.”
Then followed one of the most interesting features of the celebration,
the reading of the valuable contribution to the history of pioneer life in
Richland county, by Miss Rosella Rice.
The
reading of the paper was listened to with intense interest by those fortunate
enough to hear the speaker’s words. The
pioneers were then called upon to giver reminiscences of the past.
Jacob Claberg responded by referring to the early history of Butler
township; he stated that his father moved into Clear Creek township in the
spring of 1816, at that time the Indians were his neighbors and wolves and bears
were plenty, sometimes as many as 20 or 30 Indians would come to his house, the
squaws bringing baskets to trade for eatables.
The first school established in the township was in
1884.
Other
townships were then called upon for reports. ‘Squire Evarts of Jefferson and
others then handed in reports which for want of space we are unable to publish.
The association adjourned for dinner, and in a short time the beautiful
grove adjoining the grounds were dotted over with parties intent upon discussing
the substantial lunches which had been prepared, enjoyment seemed to reign
supreme everywhere and both old and young were happy.
The association then reassembled and pioneers present were called upon to
register their names, date of birth and date of arrival in county.
For the year 1809 there was no response although James and Samuel McCluer,
are the veterans of that year but were not present to answer.
1810
– no response.
1811
– Lewis K. Leedy, born in Pennsylvania 1807, came to county in this year.
James
Williams, also came to the county at the same time.
1812
– James R. Gass, born in Brook Co., Va., in 1796, came to Ohio in 1812,
locating near Bellville.
1813
– no response.
1814
– James Ralston, born in 1799, came to this county in 1814; Nathan Amsbaugh,
born in 1806, and David Johns, born in 1808, also came in this year as did
Nathaniel Mitchell who was born during the year.
1815
– Calvin Clark, born, Aug. 1802; David Long, born 1811; Robert Cairns born in
Mansfield Feb. 3rd 1815; Marcus Day was born in 1808; D. M. Snyder
1808; John Doty 1810; Robert Larimer, in Fairfield Co., O. 1807; S. Steele, in
Bucks Co. Pa. In 1798; Clemens Day in Washington Co. Pa. 1814; Henry Cook in
Washington Co. Pa. 1814; A. L. Grimes in 1812 Nathaniel Pittinger, of Weller Tp.,
1804 and J. O. Hagerman, Belmont Co. O. 1811; all of these are pioneers now
living who came to the county in 1815.
Among
the most remarkable of the pioneers of this year was Mrs. Eleanor Day who was
born in Hagerstown, Md. in 1787. This
aged lady was on the grounds and seemed as lively as many of those of younger
years, her faculties are well preserved, her sight and hearing being
comparatively good, and her memory retentive; this family is one of the largest
in the county, Mrs. Day is 92 years old and came to the county in 1815.
1816
– James Morrison, born in Erie, Pa. 1807; Calvin Stewart, born 1811; John
Stephenson, born in Allegheny Co., Pa. 1811; M. S. Guthrie, born in Harrison
Co., O. 1816; Reuben Evarts, born 1809; Samuel Bennetts, born 1796; Jacob
Claberg, born in Fairfield Co. in 1814; Wm. Garrison, born 1802; Cynthia
Garrison, born 1808; Marietta Andrews, born 1810; Samuel Stephenson, born in
county 1816; J. H. Cook, born in county 1816; Sarah Finney[LJB3],
born in Washington Co., Pa., 1808; John Smith, born in Washington Tp. 1816.
This ended the chapter of those who came in 1816.
1817
– John Peterson, born in county 1817; Edward Wilkinson, born in Pittsburgh,
Pa. 1811; Isaac Hall, born in Co. 1817; Thomas Pollock, born Fayette Co. Pa.
1802; William Hagerman, born in county 1817.
1818
– C. C. Coulter, born in Green Tp. 1818; John Meredith, born in Coshocton Co.,
O. 1809; Andrew Frounfelter, born 1809; Henry Post, born
****,
S***** *****, born in Mahoning Co., O. 1814.
1819
– Elizabeth Baughman, born in Licking Co. O. 1806; Adam Linn, born in Franklin
Tp. 1819; Enos Miles, born in Knox Co. 1819; John Ward, born in England 1816;
Asa Hosford, born in Massachusetts 1799; Mary Welty, born in Allegheny Co. Pa.
1819; Mrs. H. Pulver, born in Washington Tp. 1819.
1820
– John F. Lewis, born in Springfield Tp. 1820, and afterwards moved to Madison
Tp.; John Bishop, born in Virginia 1811; John Finney, born in Fayette Co. Pa.
1801; John Woodhouse, born in England 1808; Josiah Moore, born in Washington Co.
Pa. 1809; Barnabus Burns, born in Fayette Co. Pa. 1817; John Bradley, born in
Mercer Co. Pa. 1809; Dr. Wm. Bushnell, born in Hartford, Conn. 1800, and came to
Ohio in 1805; Perry Smart, born in Monroe Tp. 1820; H. W. Patterson, born in
Allegheny Co. Pa. 1820; Moses Walters, born in Fayette Co. Pa. 1800; Wm.
Simmons, born in Worthington Tp. 1820; Wm. M. Kerr, born in Washington Co. Pa.
1810.
1821
– Wm. S. Young, born in Bloominggrove Tp. 1821; John M. Swigart, born in
Monroe Tp. 1821; Mary A. Cook, born in Mansfield, O, 1821; Wm. W. Drennan, born
in Canton, O., 1820; David Taylor, born in Bedford Co. Pa. 1821.
1822
– Thos. Dickerson, born in Harrison Co. 1822; Hiram Arnett, born in Belmont
Co. 1810; G. W. Darling, born in Monroe Tp. 1822; Caroline Morrison, born in
Virginia 1817; James Neely, born in Fairfield Co. O., 1807.
1823
– Thos. B. Andrews, Esq., born in Canton, Stark Co. 1807, removed to
Worthington Tp. in 1823; Samuel Curtis, born in Athens Co. 1821; H. S. Moser,
born in Monroe Tp. In 1823; Mrs. Jane Lamley, born 1821; Elizabeth Curtis, born
1823; Samuel Case, born in New Jersey 1814; L. W. Andrews, born in New York
1818; James Crooks born in Madison Tp. 1823; Amon S. Chew, born in Harrison Co.
1811; Jacob Musselman, born in Allegheny Co., Md. 1820; Mrs. Ann Miles, born in
Steuben Co., N.Y. 1809; Charles Boals born in Washington Co. Pa. 1814.
1824
– Henry Dickson, born 1820; Thos. Phillips, born in Rochester Co. Md. 1800;
Duper, born in Cumberland Co. Pa. In 1811, and settled in Washington Tp. in
1824.
1825
– John F. Murphy, born in Stark county 1818, came to Madison Tp. In the spring
of 1825; Levi Zimmerman, born in Union Co. in 1815, settled in Mansfield 1825;
Geo. Caller, born 1810, settled in Madison Tp.; E. W. Smith, born 1825; Dimon
Sturges, born Oct. 21st in Mansfield; Ephraim McFall, born April 26th
in Mansfield; J. W. Wigton, born in Beaver Co. Pa. 1819, settled in Monroe Tp.;
Samuel Clark, born in Mansfield Nov. 17th, 1825.
There
are no doubt many omissions in above list of names.
The enumeration comprises only those who reported; there are doubtless
hundreds of others who properly should have their names enrolled as pioneers
under the different classes. The
report from the nature of things must necessarily be imperfect and the same also
may be said as to data. The list as
presented is subject to addition and correction and as many of those mentioned
above have been readers of the old SHIELD for almost half a century, we trust
they will supply any deficiency as to dates or names and the corrections will be
cheerfully made. It will be
observed that Pennsylvania furnished a large proportion of our early settlers,
although Maryland and Virginia provided a fair quota.
After the call for pioneers had concluded the next phase of the
celebration was illustrations in the life of the early settlers. Uncle John Finney showed how they used to clean wheat and
performed his part to perfection. Our
old friend Robert Larimer then illustrated the manner in which it was threshed,
and did it as well as though he was a pioneer 20 years of age.
The other pioneers looked wistfully on as though they would also like to
take a hand, but all things must come to a close and it became necessary for the
good old boys and girls to separate for their respective homes.
The parting in many instances was affecting for ere another year rolls
around, some will be laid away to rest from the trials of this world.
A meeting like this is well calculated to impress itself upon the mind of
even the most callous. Let us hope
that at the next anniversary meeting of the worthy pioneers of Richland county,
we may meet the same faces, and that Providence may mercifully deal with them
and that the lives of all may be spared, not only until the 4th of
July 1880, but for many similar celebrations thereafter.
No one of the younger generation who witnessed this gathering
could fail to be impressed with the glorious examples set before them by the
sturdy pioneers, and the scenes like these are well calculated to result in
lasting benefits to the community. After
re-electing the old officers, the association adjourned to meet at the same
place July 4th, 1880.