ARTHUR CAMPBELL, SR., emigrated from Washington County, Pennsylvania, to Perry Township, in May, 1815.  He entered the half section, a part of which is now owned by his son, Arthur Campbell, Jr., and other parts of which are owned by JAcob Brady, Thomas Osborn, Garrett, Dorland, and Haynes, Jones.  His family, at the time of his removal, consisted of his wife and five children, namely, Mary Ann, Charles, Arthur, Margaret, and Daniel.
     Mr. Campbell was killed by the falling of a limb from a tree, Aug. 19, 1819, aged forty-five years.
     According to the recollection of Arthur Campbell, Jr., the heads of families in Perry Township, when his father selected it as his home, were Cornelius Dorland, Henry and John Pittinger, John Raver, David and Daniel Williams, Henry Worst, Thomas Johnson, and Benjamin Emmons.

The first effort at Organizing a Village in Perry Township.

     In 1815 or 1816, (about twenty years before Rowsburg was laid out,) an effort was made by John Raver to establish a town on the Wooster Road between the present site of Rowsburg and the Muddy Fork
     Beyond the naming of the village, which was called Elizabethtown, and the offering of some lots at a public sale, no progress was made in building up the proposed town,  and the scheme was abandoned..

When the place where Rowsburg now stands was a Wilderness.

     Mr. Campbell aided in clearing the land now occupied by Rowsburg, and also assisted in harvesting the first crop that was raised on the ground after it was cleared.  Michael Row the father of him who afterward became the proprietor, owned and cleared the land at the time referred to.

First Death of a White Person in Perry Township.

     The first person who died in the township was James Campbell.  His body was removed to Wooster for interment.

First Grist and Sawmill.

     The first grist and saw-mill in Perry Township was erected by John Raver, in 1818, on the present site of the mill owned by Arthur Campbell, about one-fourth of a mile north of Rowsburg, on what is known as Raver's Run.  This mill, when built, was not only the first in the township, but also the first within what is now the limits of Ashland County.  Prior to this, corn and corn meal were obtained on Owl Creek, at Odell's, and at Stibbs's, near Wooster.  The mill ran about four months in the year, and was a great accommodation to the inhabitants of Perry, Jackson, and Montgomery Townships, and to those of Chester and adjacent townships, in Wayne County.
Source: A History of the Pioneer and Modern Times of Ashland County from The Earliest to the Present Date, by H. S. Knapp, Publ. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. - 1863 - Page 445

Montgomery Twp. -
DANIEL CARTER - originally from Butler County, Pennsylvania - immigrated to Montgomery Township, in January, 1812, having previously, with his family, resided a brief time at Jeromeville.  From the latter point to the farm he subsequently selected and purchased in Montgomery Township, and which is now owned by John Mason, one mile northeast of Ashland, he cut the first road through an unbroken forest.  This journey and settlement he made with a wife and family of eight children, namely: John, William, Daniel, Richard, Elizabeth, James, George, and Anna.  He settled down, at that inclement season of the year, in an open-ended tent covered with clap-boards - living in that condition until he was enabled to cut and haul together logs suitable for a cabin house.  When he came to raise his dwelling, he was compelled to travel sixteen miles through the wilderness to obtain the fourth man required for the purpose.  Having cleared and planted seven acres in corn and potatoes in the spring of 1812, a panic was created among the settlers by the receipt of intelligence, in September of that year, of Hull's surrender at Detroit; and, anticipating that a general Indian invasion and massacre would follow this event, Mr. Carter and family deserted their new home, and sought a place of refuge near New Philadelphia, in Tuscarawas County.  Here they remained until February the following year, (1813) when they again returned to their farm,, and where they found, happily, that their premises had been unmolested; and also their crops, which they had planted, save such as had been destroyed by deer and turkey.  Here they remained until information was received at Jeromeville of the attack by the Indians upon the white inhabitants on the Black Fork; immediately upon the receipt of which information, Thomas Carr volunteered as a messenger to inform Mr. Carter's family and neighbors of the attack, and warn them of their danger.  Mr. Carter and family immediately fled, and made a successful escape to the fort.  On subsequent examination of the premises, the tracts of the same Indians were discovered that were visible in the vicinity of Newell's house, which had been burned by the Indians.  Mr. Carter's property escaped destruction, it is supposed, for reasons of past friendship.  From Carter's the Indians passed to Cuppy's house, half a mile north, which was burned; they then continued to the house of Mr. Fry, (now owned by Daniel Wertman,) one half mile west of Cuppy's, where they finished their depredations.
     At the close of the war, Mr. Carter entered the four quarter sections now occupied by his sons, David and Samuel, Mrs. Sackett, Mrs. Shearer, Thomas Elliott, Abraham Myers, and Jesse Callahan.  Upon the homestead now occupied by Daniel Carter, he died on the 7th of February, 1854, at the age of seventy-nine years.
Source: A History of the Pioneer and Modern Times of Ashland County from The Earliest to the Present Date, by H. S. Knapp, Publ. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. - 1863 - Page 181

Fidelity of Indians toward Friends.

     While the family were residing upon the Ohio River, the depredations upon the Black Fork were committed, and also the burning of the houses of Newell and others; and, although the cabin of Mr. Chandler lay within a few feet of the trail that this band frequently traveled, nothing about his house or premises were molested.  This forbearance is attributed to the fact that Mr. Chandler was understood by the Indians to belong to the Society of Friends; and, during the acquaintance he had made with them, on his first visit prior to the war, he had cultivated amicable relations with them, and exchanged offices of civility and kindness.  They loved to talk with Mr. Chandler about William Penn, who had paid their fathers for their land, and whom they referred to as "that good man."
     In the spring of 1814, Mr. Chandler, with his family, removed to the land he had purchased in Perry Township.  Here he remained until his death, which occurred on the 5th day of May, 1817.  He was in the sixtieth year of his age.  The surviving members of his family were his widow and ten children, namely, Rebecca, Thomas, Robert T. C., Joseph, Jacob, Shadrach, Eleanor, Henrietta, Alice, and John.
     Joseph Chandler removed with his father's family to the land above described, in 1814, and is the present owner of ninety-eight acres of the quarter originally entered by his father.

Baptist Jerome.

     This gentleman was a Canadian Frenchman, having no Indian blood, (as has been supposed by some,) and had been several years a resident of the country, when Mr. Chandler immigrated to it.  He was the owner of the quarter section upon a part of which is now the town of Jeromeville.  He had thirty-or forty acres under cultivation, and, with his Indian wife and an interesting young daughter, named Munjella, (Mary, in English,) resided in a comfortable cabin house.  His home was noted for its hospitality, and his Indian wife was, when her opportunities are considered, an excellent housekeeper.  After the war, he sold his land to Deardorff and Vaughan, of Tuscarawas County, for two thousand dollars, and the latter realized twenty-four hundred dollars from the first sale of lots.
     Mr. Jerome was a man of POSITIVE character - impulsive, generous, and brave - devoted in his friendships, and bitter in his enmities.  His natural gifts of mind were good.  He could converse fluently in French and Indian, and so as to be understood in English.  To the early settlers, he was of great service in furnishing them with provisions - some having expressed the opinion that they would have incurred the hazard of starvation, had it not bee for the aid afforded by him.  It is supposed that he was born in Lower Canada.

Captivity and Death of Jerome's Wife and Daughter.

     When General Bell passed through this country on his way West, he ordered the construction of the block-house, at Jeromeville, for the use and protection of the white settlers.  The Indians at Jerometown were also taken prisoners by him, and conveyed, under his charge, westward.  Their town was burned, it is supposed by many, under the orders of General Bell or by those acting under the authority of the Federal Government.  He perpetrated or suffered the flagrant outrage of including among the prisoners the unoffending wife and innocent daughter of Jerome.  Being dragged from a comfortable home, they were not enabled to endure the hardships and exposures to which they were subjected, and their death, within a few months afterward, was a consequence of the wrongs thus inflicted upon them.  The only excuse given by the general was, that as Mrs. Jerome was an Indian woman, she might afford aid and comfort to unfriendly persons of her race; but what reason he offered in palliation for taking off the young and helpless daughter is not known.  Jerome had a warm affection for his wife, who was the daughter and sister of distinguished chiefs; and, although he was subsequently married to a white woman, never relaxed his love for the memory of his first wife, and never lost an opportunity to express his vehement indignation of the act of cruelty by which the liberties and lives of his dear ones were sacrificed.

Johnnycake and his Wife.

     The Indian who was well known to the early settlers by the above name, was on intimate terms with the Chandler family.  He was a tall, well-built, fine-looking man, of genial temper, good moral habits, and enjoyed much the society of his friends.
     His wife was a half-breed - the daughter of a white woman who had been taken prisoner by the Indians, near Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.  Her mother, after having endured several years of captivity, made her escape, and returned to her white friends; leaving her little daughter among the Indians.  This infant child remained among the Indians - attained the condition of womanhood - married - and became an exemplary and faithful wife and mother, and remarkable for shrewdness and tact.

Laying out of Jeromeville.

     Mr. Chandler assisted in laying out the first lots in Jeromeville, in 1815.  He drove the stakes for nearly or quite all the original lots of the town.  He aided in the erection of the first house on the town plat.  This house was built by Adam Teener, the first blacksmith in the place.  The house is yet standing, on the lot recently owned by J. J. Hootman.  This building has been used for a dwelling, a store and dwelling, a prayer meeting-house, a blacksmith shop, and, finally, a wood-house, by Mrs. Goodman, the present occupant of the premises.

Wild Beasts, Snakes, etc.

     Wolves, bears, and wild cats were numerous, and destructive to the domestic animals of the pioneers.  The wolves destroyed several hogs, and a three or four year old cow, belonging to Mr. Chandler.  On the morning after the attack by the wolves, and remains of the cow were found about thirty rods from the house, her flesh being nearly consumed.  Hogs were attacked within fifteen rods of the house.  The first season that Mr. Chandler mowed the little prairie which formed part of his land, there were killed over two hundred massasauger or black rattlesnakes.  In mowing they would often encounter a snake on an average of every rod of their progress.  It was the custom of those whose business called them to the meadows or other places where snakes congregated in considerable numbers, to protect their feet and legs by wrapping them with bandages of hay or straw.

Loss of Clement V. Dorland.

     This child, an account of whose loss will be found elsewhere, was found about one and a half miles northeast of Mr. Chandler's by Jonathan Hayes, and was brought, nearly lifeless from fatigue and hunger, to Mr. Chandler's mother, who bathed it in warm water, fed it with sweetened cream, and otherwise tenderly cared for the little fellow so judiciously that his restoration was effected.  It was in the morning when the child was found, and Mr. Hayes brought it to Mrs. Chandler wrapped in the coat which he had taken form his own person, in order to protect it from the chill, and prolong life until more effectual restoratives could be obtained.

About Esquire Newell.

     It was an oft-repeated dogma of Esquire Newell that "a man should always be a man - living or dying - fearless of all consequences."  It occurred, however, that the strong man became prostrated upon what he and his friends supposed would prove his dying bed.  Among the sorrowing group who took the old man's threatened dissolution much to heart, was his son Zacharaiah.  His demonstrations of grief, on beholding the glazed eyes and other indications of rapidly approaching death, which had settled upon the features of his father, were given forth in very audible sobs and groans.  The sufferer, with great effort, reached his hands to his face, and adjusted the lids over his own eyes.  At this movement, Zachariah's grief became yet more uncontrolable, and the room was filled with his wails.  The old 'squire, reviving somewhat by the noise, opened his eyes, and, turning his angry face upon Zachariah, commanded, in a husky but stern voice, that he cease his howling, and show himself "a man-living or dying!"  This proved not to be the 'squire's "last illness," and he lived to narrate the story himself.
Source: A History of the Pioneer and Modern Times of Ashland County from The Earliest to the Present Date, by H. S. Knapp, Publ. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. - 1863 - Page 447

Roughing it in the Bush.

     The first night of their arrival upon their land was passed by the family in their wagon.  On the second day a linen tent was erected to afford shelter for the family in their wagon.  On the second day a linen tent was erected to afford shelter for the family until a cabin could be constructed.  His mare (the only one he had) broke loose, and, after a two-mile chase, Mr. Cole drove her into an angle formed by a tree top and the fence of Martin East, and from which she could not extricate herself.  In order to relieve her, he let down the fence, when she passed into the field and again eluded his efforts to secure her.  There was blazed timber leading to the house of Jonas H. Gierhart, and these blazes he followed, and procured another horse for the purpose of tolling his own into a stack yard, and thus enabling him to secure her.  This plan, after considerable delay, was successful.  By the time he had returned the borrowed horse to Mr. Gierhart, however, and reached home with his mare, the second day of his experience in wilderness life was nearly closed.  The third day was Sunday, and was passed beneath their linen tent.  With the night came a heavy rain and to add to their discomfort, their child became ill.  To secure the little one from the rain which beat through the canvas, Mr. Cole sat upright in bed, with the covering resting upon his head, his body thus forming a "center pole," and making a more secure tent, until the storm had abated.  On the following morning, his child was convalescent.  The succeeding days of the week, until Saturday, were spent chiefly in collecting materials for his cabin.  On that day, by the aid of neighbors from his own and adjacent townships, he had his cabin raised.  Several days elapsed, however, before the house was sufficiently completed to afford shelter.  The family of his brother, Stephen Cole, occupied the cabin with him during the first year.
     About the commencement of October, Mr. Cole made a visit, on horseback, to the house of Mordecai Chilcote,in Orange Township, seven miles distant, to procure a bag of oats for his horse.  While there his neighbor insisted upon Mr. Cole visiting his potato field, and taking home a bag partly filled.  The detention thus caused prevented his reading home, as night overtook him in the woods, and he found it impossible to proceed.  He had dismounted, and while engaged in searching out the path, leading his horse meanwhile, the saddle turned, unobserved by him, and the bag of oats slid off.  When he discovered his loss, he made his beast fast to a tree, and returned to look for his bag of oats, but his search was fruitless.  Taking his saddle from his horse, he placed it beside a tree and used it as a pillow for his head, until about midnight, as he supposed, when a rain commenced falling, and, being thinly clad, he turned the flaps of the saddle into a covering.  When day appeared, he recovered his lost bag of oats, and pursued his travel homeward.
     In the year 1840, Mr. Cole was licensed by the Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church as a local preacher, and his license has been renewed annually since.  Before being licensed as a preacher, he had been for many years an exhorter in the church.
Source: A History of the Pioneer and Modern Times of Ashland County from the Earliest to the Present Date by H. S. Knapp - Publ. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. - 1863. - Page 480

Dangers of the "Fat in the Fire."

     One evening while engaged in cooking supper for Mr. Carr (who was then at work for him) and himself, the vessel containing his meat capsized, pouring its whole contents into the blazing fire.  No sound from wolves had been heard before this, according to Mr. Cory's recollection, but then evidently snuffed the good living afar off, as within twenty minutes after the accident the beasts appeared to be approaching from all directions, making the earth almost tremble with their fierce howls, and the men were glad to betake themselves to their camp supperless.  The wolves serenaded the occupants of the camp with their hideous voices till dawn of day, but their dread of the fire which blazed in front of the camp deterred them from an attack.

Rattlesnake Den.

     It is supposed, from the large number that were discovered and killed in the vicinity, that a rattlesnake den existed in a ledge of rocks near the northwest corner of the quarter owned by Mr. Cory.  On one occasion, in this neighborhood, Isaac Johnson and David Scott encountered and killed seven, when the men became sick, and discontinued the slaughter, although others were yet in view.

George Hamilton.

   This Indian was well known to Mr. Cory during his residence in Tuscarawas County.  He was of unmixed blood, but not as is supposed by some a chief.  He had fought against Wayne during the Indian war, but in the last war with England acted as spy under Gen. Harrison.

Phillip Ignatius.

     This noted Indian was also an acquaintance of Mr. Cory  He, with another wild and savage-looking Indian, are the same who are referred to in the statement of Hugh Carr and Thomas Newman having visited the cabins of Mr. Bryan and Mr. Collyer, on their route from the Huron River country to Tuscarawas County.  He has often listed to the description by Philip of the fight on the Black Fork.

Probably the Oldest Bible in the County.

     Mr. Cory has in his possession a duodecimo copy of the Bible, printed in Oxford, England, 1727, which was originally the property of his father's grandfather, Joseph Freeman, as appears by his name, written on a blank leaf, bearing date Nov. 30th, 1729..  The volume is remarkably well printed and bound, gilt-edged, and silver clasps, and in a remarkably good state of preservation.

The First Sermon and First Prayer.

     The first sermon and first prayer ever heard by Mr. Cory, were from the lips of Rev. James B. Finley, in Tuscarawas County.  He was, at this time, ten years of age.  This sermon is thus referred to by Mr. Finley in his autobiography,, page 196:  "at one time I made an appointment on Sugar Creek, but when I came to it there was no house for me to preach in.  Accordingly I called the people together under a large oak in a small prairie.  The people, however, would not come near me, but stood in the plum bushes around, and I preached to them, in their hiding-places, Jesus Christ and the resurrection.  At my second appointment they seemed less fearful, and I gained so much on their confidence that I ventured to make an appointment for my next round at Mr. Cory's house.
     In the immediate vicinity of where Mr. Cory resided, Mr. Finley was the first preacher who had appeared in the neighborhood.  The Moravian missionaries had confined their labors exclusively to the Indian towns, some miles distant.
Source: A History of the Pioneer and Modern Times of Ashland County from The Earliest to the Present Date, by H. S. Knapp, Publ. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. - 1863 - Page 453

Mr. Coulter's Public Life.

     Mr. Coulter was the first coroner of this county, and the first assessor of the eastern half of the county.  He was twice elected justice of the peace in Green Township; twice in Washington Township; served twice in the legislature, and once on the State Baord of Equalization.
     Besides the cabin which he helped to erect for his father, Mr. Coulter aided his companions to put up two others the same fall - one for Mr. Crawford, which was located on the present site of Perrysville, Ashland County, and one for Tannehill, which stood on the land now occupied by his son, Melzer Tannehill.
     These cabins were in the midst of a dense wilderness and delightful hunting country.  The nearest settlement was about three miles distant, and was composed of the following named prisoners: James Cunningham, Henry McCart, Andrew Craig, Samuel Lewis, and David Davis.
Source: A History of the Pioneer and Modern Times of Ashland County from The Earliest to the Present Date, by H. S. Knapp, Publ. Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co. - 1863 - Page 320