NAMES OF TAX-PAYERS IN FAIRFIELD COUNTY IN 1806.
- Continued......
Page 50

ships, and toils, and privations, and the sickness of a new and uncultivated country.  Their descendants know nothing of how they lived, and how they did, nor can a written work convey any just conception of it all.  These men and women have passed away and are forgotten; a few only are remembered - those of them who did prominent deeds.  And when another generation comes up to displace the present, the pioneer fathers, and all they did, will have been lost to the world forever.  History tells us the numbers that went into the field in the revolution one hundred years ago, but that is all; we do not know who they were, or how they appeared.  The most prominent officers are all we have any conception of - all have turned to dust.
     But the immediate descendants of the pioneer fathers of Fairfield County, many of them, are with us, and many who came at an early day, but after the settlements had made considerable progress.  From them we glean much that pertains to the early history of the county.  The times of the log-cabin ere of the Hocking Valley have not faded from their memories, but the realization is lost.
     But recurring again to the tax-payers of 1806.  They have gone from the scenes of earth forever - all they did, what they endured, how they loved, and joyed, and sorrowed, is all nothing now.  Their voices have all been hushed into eternal silence, so far as earth is concerned; their faces have faded from memory; the waves have closed over them forever more.  They were a noble, enduring race of men and women; their names and deeds ought to be carried down to posterity, far into the coming ages.  Their names have mostly faded out; only a few of them are to be seen chiseled in the cold marble or sand-stone that marks their last resting-places.  Would that their virtues and patriotism were written in imperishable script on every threshold and on every wall, the pioneers of Fairfield County.
     To one familiar with the present population of the county, traces of many of the pioneer families are recognized in all the townships and original settlements, by the names and families of their descendants, but the largest number of the families of the tax-payers are extinct in the county.  Most of the names are entirely lost; moving away, intermarriage, and death, accounts for this.  Many of the oldest inhabitants at present residing in the county came early, but subsequent to 1805.  In personal notes, elsewhere, will be found notices of such prominent early settlers, both before and after 1806, as facilities have enable me to secure.  These older citizens still cherish the memory of the log-cabin age of the county.  The house-raising, the log-rolling, the corn-husking, the quilting, the country wedding, country dance; "Sister Phebe;"  "Marching to Quebec;"  "Thus the farmer sows his seed;"  "As oats, peas, beans and barley grows;"  "Kilimacranky;" and other plays then so universal.  The hominy block, lie hominy, the Johnny cake, hoe cake, corn dodger, the tinklin cow bell, sound of the woodman's ax, the dinner born drumming pheasant, and the thousand things peculiar to frontier life sixty years ago and more; all have passed away forever, but the recollection of them is precious to the aged yet living - hallowed, priceless.  The writer has passed through all the phases of frontier life in another part of the State.  There is nothing so dear to the aged as the remembrances of the past, the long ago, of life's first young dreams, its loves, and joys, and dear associations.  It is a thrilling comfort to the aged Christian man or woman, when recollection falls back to the humble cabin with its slab benches, rude corner cupboard, and wide fire-place, and dwells upon the sincere, simple and true worship of other days, days that were before the carking cares of the world, and the follies and absurdities of fashionable life were brought in to ornament the simplicity of the religion of the great founder of the church.  Reader, did you ever let your thoughts go back to your young days, where, unbidden, the scenes of the past, with all that was precious to memory, came grouping around you?  Is there anything this world can afford that you would be willing to exchange for that hour of elysium, that bliss that is all your own, and that cannot be taken from you, honor married to enemies?  These good old days are all gone, never to return, and the old mourn unavailingly their departure.  There is really nothing now that was sixty years ago, or nothing as it was then; grey heads and bent forms, remain, and tender emotions come up, but the loves and endearments of other years have drifted back into the dim vista of the past. 
     Regarding the pioneers of Fairfield County during the first fifteen or twenty years of the present century, with all they were and what they did, they appear to the contemplative mind as a wave of humanity that laved the shores of time for a brief season, only to ebb away into the vast ocean of what, to mortals in this mundane sphere of existence, seems oblivian.  They were here and did the work of their day, but they are gone, and that is all we can say.  No visible work of their hands stands out in relief.  And what has their lives and deeds availed?  Much; but the present age fails in due appreciation.  To the busy throng of to-day, in their irrational race for riches and fame and enjoyment, the former age is oblivious.  We rush almost frantically, at best heedlessly, over their sleeping dust to grasp the baubles that even our own experiences tell us will dissolve in our grasp.  And for what?  A few more brief decades of years, and we will be as the pioneers are now - gone - forgotten.  We do not even pause an hour to remember, and possibly appreciate how much we owe to that noble and sturdy race.  By their hands the forests and jungle have been cleared away, by which the pestilential fogs and fens have been disarmed of mischief, mostly.  They did the hard work and gave us a clear soil to till.  Can we say we are carrying forward their virtues, their practical common sense, their good manners, humanity and worship?  Have we inherited their patriotism?  We have grown wiser, possibly, and gained wealth, material wealth.  Have we grown in goodness?

FIRST COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.
(Page 52)

     The first judicial records for Fairfield County were entered in a small blank book of 231 pages.  The paper is very coarse, of a dull white color, and unruled.  From it I am able to make some highly interesting extracts.  The first dates are in 1803.  The manner of keeping the records would appear strange enough at this day.  Though one year after the State was admitted into the Union, the word Ohio occurs but seldom in the volume.  The records are strangely deficient in another respect, which is, that with the exception of the names of judges, jurors, and parties to suits, no others appear, save that of Hugh Boyl, who was appointed Clerk of the first Court.  One fails, in passing quite through the book, to learn the name of a Sheriff, or any other officer of the Court.  Another peculiarity is, that in giving the verdicts of juries - it is simply written that the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff, or defendant, as the case might be, but with few exceptions the amount of damages is not stated.  The record in this quaint old book runs over a period of six years, viz.: from 1803 to 1809; but there are no dates given to any of the entries, other than that they were a part of the proceedings of the May term, the March term, or the June term, etc.  And again, at the opening of each term it is a part of the record, that "The following jury was elected and sworn in."  Sometimes it is said the jury was impanneled; at others, that the jury appeared; and at the July term of 1806 it reads: "Came a Grand Jury."  Indictments are given, with name of accused, and crime, a few interesting examples of which will appear.
     The style of the book fo records before me is:
     "Minutes of the proceedings of the Court of Common Pleas for Fairfield County, beginning at May term, 1803."
     At this first term of the Court of Common Pleas for Fairfield County, which commenced on the second Tuesday of May, 1803, the record stands: "Before Wyllys Sillman, Esquire, President, and his associates."  The following are the names of the Grand Jurors who were sworn in at that term: David Resse, foreman; Joseph Hunter, Henry Mesner, Jacob Lamb, John McMean, Thomas Cisna, Frederick Leather, Thomas McCall, Joseph Work, James Black, John Shepler, John Mills and David Shellenberger.  "And after being duly sworn, retired to their room, and after some time returned into Court, and having made no presentments, nor found any bills of indictment, were discharged."
     Immediately succeeding is the following, which seems to have been the first action of the Court in a business way:
     "A petition, or recommendation for a tavern-license for Peter Biver was read to the Court.  Ordered, that license be granted to the said Peter Biver for one year from this term."  Following this were orders to grant license for one year from "this term" to James Black of Newark (Newark was then within Fairfield County), and Samuel Hammil, to keep tavern, "and then the Court adjourned till to-morrow morning."
     "Wednesday morning, May 11th, the Court met pursuant to adjournment."
     "The Court proceeded to the appointment of a clerk pro tem., when Hugh Boyl was duly appointed."
     A license was then granted to William Trimble to keep a public house on the road leading from Lancaster "towards the Muskingum river" (no Zane's trace).  And then
     "A petition for a road from Hunter's saw-mill was read, April term, and ordered to lay over to May term."  The quotation is literal.
     The Court then proceeded to the trial of a number of civil cases, the first of which was styled, William Austin vs. James Philips; 2nd, William Peek vs. Nathan Kennedy; 3d, Moses Reese vs. Thomas Laplana; 4th, Amassa Delano vs. Jeremiah Conway.
     The first term of the Common Pleas for 1804 commenced on the fourth day of January, and seems to have been held by the three Associate Judges, as no mention of a presiding Judge appears in the record.  The Associate Judges were: Samuel Carpenter, Daniel Vanmeter and William Irwin.  At this term a Grand Jury was sworn, but it does not appear that they did any work.  The associates proceeded to try and determine several civil cases, of which Charles Friend vs. Elijah Anderson was the first, and James Crane, vs. John Elder was the second.  At this term John Cullerton, Methodist Minister, was authorized to solemnize marriages.  Some cases of a civil nature seem to have been tried before a jury of nine; at least only nine names are recorded.  In others, twelve are entered.  Several cases were, by consent of the parties, referred to three arbitrators.  The first was George Thompson vs. George W. Shelby, referred to Elanathan Schofield, Joseph Hunter and John Irwin.
     The number of civil cases tried in a single term of the Common Pleas at this early day, is surprising.  At the January term of 1804 alone, there were on the docket no less than forty-three cases.
     At the opening of the April term of 1805, Robert F. Slaughter appears first on the bench.  He is styled the "President."  His associates at that term were William Irvin and Robert Cloud.  Here a Grand Jury of twelve were discharged from further attendance on the ground of not having been legally summoned.  The first case tried was Levi Merrit vs. Jacob Resler; the fifth was Thomas Hart vs. Alex. Sanderson.  During this judicial year there were docketed 136 civil suits on forty pages of the small book of records.  No names of counsel appear, and the awards of juries or amount of damages are named but in a few instances.
     The March term of 1806, Robert F. Slaughter, President, and Henry Adams and Jacob Burton associates, opens its proceedings with the hearing of several criminal cases.  We quote from the docket literally, thus:  "State of Ohio vs. William Long;"  "same vs. Samuel Chaney;"  "same vs. Reason Reckets;"  "same vs. same;" "same vs. same;"  "State of Ohio vs. James Lambert."  In no instance is the nature of the offense or crime specified.  Wm. Long was fined one dollar and costs; Samuel Chaney was acquitted; Reason Rickets was fined in one case three dollars and costs; in the two others he was acquitted.
     At the March term of 1807, Hon. Leven Belt was presiding Judge, and the Grand  Jurors were Elenathan Schofield, Abraham Miller, John Johnson, John Carpenter, James Love, John Shepler, Thomas Ijams, Abraham Heistand, Elijah Spurgeon, Abraham Courtright, John Brinkley, Peter Fetter and Jacob Shellenbarger.  At this term the Grand Jury indicted Susan Pealt for larceny, and were discharged.  George Renie sued Emanuel Carpenter in attachment.  The record says: "the defendant being called three times and defaulted."  Further on is a case, "State of Ohio vs. Daniel Reese, John Elder, John Edgar, James Taylor, Joseph Barr, George Reese, Benjamin Feemen and John Baker."  The offense was for non-attendance as Petit Jurors, and the entry has it; "David Reese and John Elder, under attachment, thereby appeared and is discharged."
     At the June term the Grand Jury were, Timothy Sturgeon, Joseph Work, Andrew Barr, Edward Murphy, I. Maclin, Sampson Ream, Christian King, Thomas Ijams, John Beery, Elijah Spurgeon, Johnathan Simpson, Jno. Stalter and Daniel Thompson.  This jury presented several indictments, viz.: "One against each other; one against John Tent and John Fogleson for assault on each other; one against Abraham Johnson for keeping a public house and retailing spirituous liquors; one against Samuel Taylor and Samuel Pot for assault on each other; one against John Spencer for assault on Oliver Stoker; one against Joseph Cunningham for assault on Oliver Stoker; one against Morris A. Newman for disorderly conduct in his own house."
     In February, 1808, Judge Belt was still on the bench.  Associates at this term: Leonard Carpenter, Henry Abrams and Jacob Burton. Two indictments were found: one against John Inks and Peter Pence for assault and battery on one another; one against John Fisher, for what offense is not stated.  During this year, as in the Courts of the four preceeding ones, a great number of civil suits were entered on the docket.
     Through the proceedings of the sessions of the Common Please for the six years, viz.: 1803 and 1808, inclusive: are found a great many indictments for retailing spirituous liquors without license.  Other offenses against the State, so far as specified, are mostly for assault and battery.  In addition to the usual business of the Courts, orphans, guardianships and the like, received due attention.
     The foregoing is but a very brief synopsis of the constitution and operation of the early courts of Fairfield county.  The reader will comprehend that a fuller account would be incompatable with the bounds this volume must assume.

RELICS.
(Page 56)
(From the Ohio Eagle, sixty-one years ago.)

     ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD! - Ran away from the subscriber, living near Moorfield, Hardin County, Virginia, on the 29th of April last, a negro man, named Berry.  He is about twenty years of age, five feet eight or nine inches in height, round-shouldered, rather slender made; he is active and undaunted, but not viciously inclined; reddish lips; stutters when closely examined.  Whoever will secure said slave, in any jail in the United States, so that I can get him again, shall receive the above reward, and all reasonable charges paid, if brought home.                                                                                    WILLIAM CUNNINGHAM, SR.
    July 31, 1815.

____________

     GINSANG WANTED. - I am now buying ginsang on every Saturday, at my tan-yard in New Lancaster, and giving seen cents per pound.
     The ginsang must be sound, clean washed, and the curls taken out.
                                                                                                DANIEL ARNOTT,
                                                                                                 for M. HEYLIN.
     Mr. Heylin is also buying it at this time, at the above price, on every day of the week, at J. Bush's store in Toby Town.
     August 17, 1815.

____________

     BOOT AND SHOE-MAKING - Jacob Embich (late of Hagerstown), respectfully informs the inhabitants of Lancaster and its vicinity, that he has commenced the Boot and Shoe-making business in all its various branches, in the house lately occupied by Christian Neibling as a tavern.
     September 7, 1815.

     MR. PRINTER:  Please insert the following ticket until the next election.                         A. VOTER.
     Assembly - Richard Hooker; Jacob Claypool.

BY MANY SUBSCRIBERS.

     Assembly - Jacob Claypool; Benjamin Smith; Peter Reeber.
     Commissioners - Michael Garaghty; John Huber.
     _____, 1815.

____________

     MARRIED - On Sunday last, by Thomas Fricker, Esq., Mr. John W. Giesy, of this town, to the amiable Miss Magdalen Hensil, daughter of Mr. Michael Hensil, of Berne township.
                           

THE OHIO EAGLE.
(Page 57)

     There are some slight discrepancies among old citizens now resident in Lancaster, as to the exact year in which the Ohio Eagle was established.  Its present issue fixes its origin in 1809, as will be seen by reference to number of volume at the top of first page.  It is possible, however, that its first beginning as a German paper was a little earlier.  I am told by a citizen, that General Sanderson told him, that it was first issued in 1807.  The history then may be given briefly thus:
     A little previous to 1810, Jacob D. Detrich began the publication in Lancaster of "Das Ohio Adler, and continued it for some time as a purely German paper; subsequently the establishment fell into the hands of Edward Shaeffer, who continued the publication during the war of 1812, in the English language.  It was at that time a very small sheet, of coarse, dull, white paper.  Some of its literature at that time will appear a little odd to the present age.  Here are a few specimens copied from a number before me, of the date of 1815:
     "A QUANTITY OF upper and sole leather will be exchanged by retail for good merchantable wheat, rye and corn, at Carpenter's Mills, by ISAAC KUNTZ.
     January 25th, 1815."

____________

     "TAKE NOTICE. - I take this method of informing the public that I do not offer for sale any tickets in my lottery for personal property, nor do not know that I shall dispose of any in the State of Ohio, but that I am aboutto draw a lottery in the State of Pennsylvania, of property in Ohio.                                                     WILLIAM DUFFIELD.
     LANCASTER, May 20th, 1815."

____________

     Beyond current news, advertising and other printed matter belonging to county newspapers, the Eagle has been a strictly political partisan sheet.  In 1832, under the editorial control of T. U. White, it supported the claims of Andrew Jackson for the Presidency, and in 1836, those of Martin Van Buren.  It will be remembered, that during the campaign of 1832, the Jackson party assumed the name "Democratic Party," and from that time to the present the Eagle has been the county organ of that party.  During most of the time it has been ably conducted, and has stood high among the Democratic papers of the State.
     With some trouble and research I have been able to procure a list of the editors of the Eagle, from 1809 to 1876, which I believe are here put down in the order of their succession.  They may be a single exception or two, but the list may be accepted as about correct.  I am indebted for the information to Mr. John Wright, who has been identified with the press of Lancaster for more than half a century, and to the courtesy of Thomas Wetzler, the present editor, in referring to his files.  Thus: Jacob D. Detrich, Edward Shaeffer, John Hermon, T. U. White, John and Charles Brough, Dr. Casper Thiel, Samuel Pike, Robert, Robinson, F. M. Ellis, John Tuthill, Charles Roland, Baker, Zahm, Thomas Wetzler.

LANCASTER GAZETTE.
(Page 58)

     The Gazette was established in 1826 by General George Sanderson.  Like the Eagle, it has been a partisan political weekly.  In the Presidential campaign of 1828, the Gazette supported John Quincy Adams.  And as the Jackson party took the designation "Democratic party" in 1832, so the Adams and Clay party took the title "Whig party" in the same year, and the Gazette was the Whig county organ until 1854, when that party disbanded to give place to the American, or Known Nothing party.  During that year the Gazette advocated the Know Nothing ticket.  In 1856 it adopted the Philadelphia, or Republican weekly of the State.  Its succession of editors compare favorably with any similar weekly publication in Ohio.  I have before me some of its earliest issues, from which a few extracts are taken, that will recall to the mind the earlier day of Fairfield County.  The following samples will suffice:

CANAL CELEBRATION.
WASHINGTON VOLUNTEERS, ATTEND.

     You are ordered to parade in front of Mr. Reed's tavern, at Monticello, on the Fourth of July, at nine o'clock, for the purpose of saluting the canal boat "Hebron," which will be the first to run on the Ohio Canal.  By order of the Captain.
                                                                                JACOB BOPE, S. O.

____________

     AN ORDINANCE, entitled an ordinance for levying a tax for the year 1827. - Be it enacted and ordained by the President, Recorder and Trustees of the town of Lancaster, that a tax of three-eighths of one per centum, or thirty-seven and a half cents on every one hundred dollars, be levied on the assessment for the current year, for the use of said town.  Done in Council, this 25th day of May, 1827.
                                                                              JACOB D. DETRICK, President
     G. STEINMAN, Recorder.

____________

     MILLINERY. - MRS. ELIZABETH DEITRICH respectfully returns thanks to her friends, and the public generally, for the very liberal encouragement she has heretofore received, and informs them that she continues at her dwelling-house the making of plain dresses and Calash Bonnets.  Also, Leghorn and Straw Bonnets bleached in the very best manner, and altered to any fashion desired.
     LANCASTER, May 22, 1827.

____________

     The editors of the Gazette have been: George Sanderson, Wm. J. Reece, D. L. Moler, James Percivill, George Weaver, Thomas Slaughter, George McElroy, Joshua Clark & Son, Dr. H. Scott, Robert Clarke, A. P. Miller, and S. A. Griswold, present incumbent. 

OTHER PAPERS.
(Page 58)

     There have been a number of other weeklies and campaign papers started in Lancaster at various times, and one daily; but none of them were of long continuance.  We mention the "Independent Press," of 1812; the "Enquirer," by P. Vantrump; "Telegraph," King & Gruber; "Fireside," by A. P. Miller; "American Democrat," by W. S. Beaty; "Union," by Miller & Fritter.

PHYSICIANS.
(Page 58)

     The following are the names oaf the physicians who have practiced in Lancaster from its organization up to the year 1876.  To Dr. Charles Shawk and Dr. Paul Carpenter, old physicians of the place, and both still living, I am indebted mainly for the information.  The list may be relied on as entirely correct.  It has not been possible, for the lack of data, to fix the exact time of settlement of the early practitioners.  The list, however, begins with those who are known to have settled first in the place, Dr. John Shawk being the first who came to Lancaster and erected his cabin in the woods.  Thus: John M. Shawk, Dr. Edwin, Dr. Carr, Dr. WIlcox, Dr. Florence, Dr. Robert McNeal, Dr. James White, M. Z. Kreider, Dr. Clark, Dr. H. H. Wait, Dr. Deepe, Dr. Wolfley, John M. Bigelow, Dr. Paul Carpenter, Dr. Wilson, Dr. Saxe, Dr. Goucher, Dr. Brecker, M. Effinger, Dr. Lynch, A. Davidson, G. W. Boerstler, T. O. Edwards, P. M. Wagenhals, J. M. Lewis, Geo. K. Miller, Geo. Boerstler, Dr. Turner, Dr. Jackson, Dr. Frampton, O. E. Davis, Dr. Dawson, Dr. Kinsman, Dr. Goss, Dr. Flowers, Dr. Harmon, Dr. Myers, Chas. Shawk and Dr. Shrader.
     Of these, the following are still resident practitioners in Lancaster, Viz:  Paul Carpenter, Dr. Lynch, Charles Shawk, M. Effinger, Geo. Boerstler, J. M. Lewis, Dr. Turner, Dr. Jackson, Dr. Goss, Dr. Flowers, and Dr. Harmon.
     Of those who have removed to other parts, and are known to be still living, are: J. M. Bigelow, O. E. Davis, P. M., Wagenhals, Dr. Shrader and Dr. Kinsman.  Dr. Andrew Davison purchased the drug establishment of George Kauffman on Main street, where he still continues.
     Those who are known to have deceased previous to 1876, are:  John M. Shawk, James White, Robert McNeal, M. Z. Kreider, Dr. Clark, H. H. Wait, D. Deppe, Dr. Wolfley, Dr. Saxe, Dr. Goucher, Dr. Brecker, Geo. W. Boerstler, Dr. Dawson, George Miller, Dr. Erwin, Dr. Carr, Dr. Wilcox, Dr. Florence, Dr. Myers, and T. O. Edwards.
     I have not at my command the facilities for learning the names of all the physicians who have practiced in the villages and other parts of hte county since its organization, but mention the following from memory:  Baltimore: Dr. Gohegen, Dr. Helmic, Dr. Horr and Dr. Sprague.  Lithopilis: Dr. Minor and Dr. Eels.  Jefferson: Dr. Tolbert.  Royalton: Dr. Paul, Dr. Dawson, and Dr. Reed.  Amanda: Dr. Daughterty, Dr. Peters, and the brothers Hewitson.  Oakland: Dr. Shaeffer,  Clear Creek: Dr. Porter.  Sugar Grove: Dr. Brown, Dr. Foster, Dr. Sharp and Dr. Brooks.  Bremen: Dr. Evans, Dr. Holcom, and Dr. Frampton.  Rushville: Dr. Ide and Dr. Turner.  West Rushville: Dr. Dolison and Dr. Lewis.  New Salem: Dr. Brock and Dr. Yontz  Pleasantville: Dr. Goss.  Millersport: Dr. Brison & Son.  Basil: Dr. Maines.  Carroll: Dr. Aldred.  Dumontville:  Dr. Mills and Dr. Bright.
     I am aware that this list is not quite complete, but it is as nearly so as my possibilities will permit.