pg. 357 - MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS OF
INTEREST.
In the compiling of
any work having under consideration so many topics and
subjects it becomes necessary to place them in chapters and
sub-chapters. After all this has been accomplished,
there are many items which are still not provided for, hence
the property of having a chapter of miscellaneous items,
which, nevertheless, are of fully as much vital interest and
usually more interesting than some of the regular chapters
of a book. Such is the case in the chapter now before
the reader's eyes. In it will be found a collection of
references, many quotations from old settlers and old
newspaper files, etc., which can not fail to be of much
value and interest to all readers. Such items are
properly indexed and readily found.
pg. 357 - UNIQUE ADVERTISMENTS.
The Cambridge
newspaper files have had in the many years of their
publication numerous local advertisements which are out of
the ordinary and strike one, today, as being odd and
interesting, both for the historic matter and the peculiar
manner of expression employed in the long-ago day in which
the printer set them up. Below are samples of such
unique notices:
pg. 357 - "$50 REWARD ! ! !
"Ran away from the
Subscriber on Sunday night, the 7th instant, from Mr.
Sunnafrank's, near Cambridge, a negro man named
Emanuel, about forty-five years of age, five feet three
inches high, of a very dark complexion is apt to roll up his
eyes when spoken to, his beard mixed with grey hairs.
Had on, when he ran off, a blue cloth coat, blue jean
pantaloons, and a black fur hat. He is very homely and
very humble - too with him a large wallet of clothes - the
wallet made of a blanket. The above Reward will be
given for him if apprehended, and secured in jail so that I
get him again. I shall stop near Somerset, Perry
County, Ohio.
"November 8th, 1831.
GARROTT FREEMAN."
pg. 358 - A
SLAVE CASE.
Among the
passengers who arrived at this place from Bel-Aire by the
morning train of last Friday (the train which met with
disaster near this place) was a Mr. F. M. Graham of
Fleming county, Kentucky, on his way home from Richmond,
Virginia, having in his charge two slave boys, named
Lewelman and Enoch, aged respectively ten and
eleven years. While at the station waiting for a train
to take the party west, it became known that the boys were
slaves, and thereupon one of our citizens applied to Probate
Judge Delong for a writ of habeas corpus, to the end
that the boys should be set free. The writ was issued,
and the lads were immediately taken into custody by
Sheriff Burris, and brought before his Honour. At
this state of the proceeding, Mr. Graham asked for a
postponement of this hearing of the case, on the ground that
he was not the owner of the boys and unprepared to go into
the examination then. He made affidavit to these
facts, and the Judge postponed further proceeding until
Thursday, the 21st instant. The Sheriff has the boys
in his custody.
"Mr. Graham stated that the lads were placed in
his care by Mr. N. M. Lee, of Richland, Virginia, to
be taken to Flemmingsburg, Kentucky, where said Lee
has a brother residing, and that he was instructed to go by
the rivers from Wheeling to Maysville, but in consequence of
the close of navigation, he concluded to take the Central
railroad.
"Messrs. Buchanan, Bushfield and
Ferguson are counsel for the application for freedom of
the boys, and Messrs. White and Wagstaff for
the claimant." - Guernsey Times. December 28, 1854.
At a hearing of the case of Dec. 21, 1854, the boys
were set free, and D. M. Baldfidge, of Senecaville,
was appointed their guardian, and immediately took them in
charge.
pg. 358 - THE 'UNDERGROUND RAILROAD"
Not many years ago
there was in the hands of Mrs. John R. Finley, of
Senecaville, a very old, interesting document showing much
on the subject of abolition days and the establishing of a
section of the "Underground Railroad," as the course over
which the run-away slaves were spirited away by members
of the Abolition party was called. It was found among
the papers of the late William Thompson. The
instrument last seen was time worn and stained, having been
handled by the curious for several decades. It first
page contained the following:
"Records of the Senecaville Colonization Society of
Guernsey County, Ohio, auxiliary to the American
Colonization Society of Washington.
"Pursuant to the public notice a number of the citizens
of Senecaville and its vicinity convened at the Pr.
William Thompson, Esq. Presbyterian meeting-house in
Senecaville July 6, 1829.
"The meeting was organized and chose Rev. William C.
Kiel president and chose Rev. William C. Kiel,
president for the time being and Rev. Daniel Pettay,
secretary, with David Frame, treasurer.
"It was resolved at this meeting:
"That there be a committee of three members to draft
rules for the government of the society. William
Thompson, Esq., David Satterthwaite, Esq., and
Dr. David Frame were duly appointed.
"Resolved that the chairman deliver an address at the
next meeting.
(Signed) "DANIEL PETTAY, Secretary.
"WILLIAM G. KIEL, President."
Out of this
Colonization Society grew the organization known as the
"Underground Railroad," by which the Abolitionists helped
many of the slaves to liberty. The home of Doctor
Baldridge was a depot on this line, and many a slave
found lodgement and comfort there while on his way to
freedom in Canada. Among the most prominent
Abolitionists of this locality (Senecaville) during the
thirty years following were Rev. William C. Kiel, who
left Virginia, his native state, on account of his hatred
for salvery: Doctor Baldridge, Doctor David
Frame, Dr. Noah Hill and Judge William Thompson.
During the years closely preceding the Civil war,
and before and after the passing of the Fugitive Slave law,
a number of men in Ohio and the adjoining states formed a
secret compact, whereby fleeing slaves were to be aided in
reaching their haven of safety, Canada, and protected from
the pursuit of their masters while on the way. About
the first station reached in Guernsey county by slaves
coming north was at Senecaville, where a William Thompson
took them in charge. From Senecaville the fugitives
were usually taken to Byesville, where they were placed in
the custody of Jonathan Bye, the Quaker founder of
that city. From Byesville they generally made their
way by successive stages to Cleveland, whence they found
little difficulty in penetrating to Canada.
Owning to various circumstances, however, it was
sometimes considered expedient to bring them by way of
Cambridge. When this plan was adopted, they were
brought from Byesville, and given into the charge of either
Alexander McCracken or Samuel Craig, both hearty
believers in manumission and earnest workers in the
interests of the unfortunate black men. Craig
lived where the Craig store now stands, at the corner
of Wheeling avenue and Eighth street, and the two men
sheltered many a slave during the time in which the
"Underground Railroad" operated.
Mr. Craig died some years ago, but Mr.
McCracken is still living, at the advanced age of
ninety-six years, in full possession of his faculties.
He relates that upon one occasion he had in his keeping two
negro men, closely pursued by their owner. The usual
road by which Mr. McCracken conducted the slaves in
his charge to the next station was called the Newcomerstown,
or Birmingham road. But upon this road there lived a
man who frequently played the spy upon the "railroaders,"
and, fearing that he would inform upon him. Mr.
McCracken placed the men in a wagon, making them lie as
flat as possible, and covering them with a buffalo-robe, set
off about ten o'clock at night, taking the Steubenville
road. About three miles out he came to the place where
the Newcomerstown road intersects that upon which he was
traveling. By taking this latter road he was able to
get to the next station without difficulty, and by this manoeuver
was able to outwit the malicious spy. He reached the
next station, Daniel Broom's, about four miles north
of Cambridge, delivered this charges, and returned to
Cambridge, arriving about daybreak.
From Broom's slaves were taken to Adam Miller,
six miles from town on the Newcomerstown road. From
Adam Miller's to Peter B. Sarchet's, the next
station, was about two miles. From Sarchet's to
David Virtue, who was the next "railroader," was
about eight miles. Virtue took them to the
Steward tavern, on the Newcomerstown road, from which,
leaving the Newcomerstown road, they went directly north to
Newport, a town on the Ohio canal, about ten miles east of
Newcomerstown. This will show the system by which the
runaways were smuggled through Guernsey county. Their
ultimate goal was, of course, Canada, but from this county
they made for Cleveland.
It is related that two prominent men in Oberlin, Ohio,
were found aiding in the escape of runaway slaves and were
sentenced to spend two years in the penitentiary. A
petition was circulated, however, and was signed so
universally that their release followed within a few days,
and they were spared the degradation attendant upon prison
exile.
There were seldom more than two slaves at a time being
spirited through. Various were the means of concealing
them from the wrathful eyes of their pursuers, such as
hiding them in shocks of corn, in dark cellars, and other
likely places of concealment. Sometimes those who were
antagonistic to the "railroaders" would impede their
progress by piling the roads full of logs, thus obliging
them to make wide detours in arriving at their destinations.
Sometimes negroes found it so pleasant to live without
labor, well fed and comfortable, that they would return
secretly, and run the circuit of "underground stations"
again. When suspected, they lulled suspicion by glib
falsehoods and fictitious tales as to their identity.
Nevertheless, the "Underground Railroad" was productive
of much good, and despite the precarious methods employed,
the constant danger, and the sacrifice of time and labor,
those who were active in the service never regretted their
part in alleviating the sufferings of the unfortunate
runaway slaves.
pg. 361 - SOME PECULIAR NOTICES
The following
appeared in the Guernsey Times for Mar. 30, 1826.
It is here reproduced as a convincing illustration of the
scarcity of money which prevailed in those days, and the
necessity a merchant was under of publicly dunning his
impecunious debtors:
pg. 361 - "NOTICE,
"The subscriber is
now determined to close his books, and therefore all those
that know themselves to be indebted to him, either by note,
book accompt or otherwise, are required to come forward, &
discharge the same, as no longer indulgence will be given.
The following kinds of trade will be taken, if delivered in
the course of this month.
Pork
Wheat
Flax Seed
Deer-Skins
Feathers
Whiskey |
Bees-Wax
Tallow
Rags
Linen
Lard
Butter, &c."James Hutchison |
"Cambridge, January 5th, 1826,"
More ludicrus,
however, were some of the advertisements of runaway
apprentices, and the dazzling rewards promised those who
should apprehend the apprehend the delinquents. The
following are fair specimens:
"SIX CENTS REWARD ! ! !
"Runaway
from the subscriber on Wednesday, the 4th inst., a bound boy
named
"JAMES HITE
"About sixteen
years of age. All persons are forbid harboring or
trusting said boy on my account. The above reward will
be given for returning him, but no charges will be paid.
"WM. McDONNELL.
"Cambridge, April 9, 1827."
- Times, April 13, 1827."
"ONE CENT REWARD ! ! !
"Absconded
on the 15th instant, Cyrus E. Cook, an indented
apprentice to the carpenter and joiner business. Said
boy went off without any just cause or provocation.
All persons are forwarned from hiring , harboring or aiding
said boy in making his escape, as the law will be put in
force against them.
"ZEPHANIAH C. SUITT
"Cambridge, September 22, 1838."
pg. 362 - SHERIFF'S SALE.
"By virtue of two
writs of Execution to me directed, from the Court of Common
Pleas of Guernsey County, at the suit of Nicholas Shipley,
against William Bernard, I will offer for sale
at the late residence of the said William Bernard, in
Londonderry Township, in said county of Guernsey, on the 7th
day of April next at 10 o'clock A. M., the following goods
and chattels, to-wit: One bedstead and chaff bed,
three barrels, one tub, one table, one churn, two crocks,
one cream jug, one funnel, one pair of hand bellows, five
chair, one reel, two small bags of flax-seed, a few bushels
of corn, eight brooms, a few bushels of potatoes, nine
geese, five hogs, one flax beak, a quantity of hay in the
barn, a few bushels, of wheat in teh sheaf, one cow, one
sheep, one pot, one shovel and one hay fork.
"WM. ALLISON, Sheriff G. C.
"Sheriff's Office, Cambridge, March 22d,
1826."
Another absconding
apprentice was thus disposed of by his irate master, this
advertisement appearing in the Times for July 19,
1834:
pg. 363 - "FIVE CENTS REWARD
"Ran away
from the subscriber, living near Washington, Guernsey
county, Ohio, on Sunday, the sixth instant, an indebted
APPRENTICE, named EDWARD KIRK, eighteen years of age,
about five feet, six inches high, with brown hair and gray
eyes. He is somewhat pompous and foppish in his
manners, and had on and took away with him a light,
cotton-drilling roundabout, a black home-spun cloth coat, a
black fur and a fine Palm-leaf hat, one pair of Angola
cassimere, and three pairs of Pittsburg-Cord Pantaloons, a
Valencia vest and three shirts. The above mentioned
reward shall be paid to the person taking up and returning
said boy to me. Any person harboring and employing him
may expect to be prosecuted therefor.
"SAMUEL BIGGER.
"Washington, July 17th, 1834."
Probably there is
no one who has not heard of the curiosities known as the
"Siamese Twins." These peculiar freaks visited
Cambridge in December, 1832, while making their tour of the
United States. The following advertisement appeared in
the Times of November 30, 1832:
"SIAMESE TWINS
"For Two Days Only.
"The ladies and
gentlemen of Cambridge and its neighborhood are very
respectfully acquainted that the
SIAMESE TWIN BROTHERS
will be at Mr. Metcalf's hotel, in that Town, on
Tuesday and Wednesday next, the 4th and 5th of December.
"The Twin Brothers are in their twenty-second year, in
the enjoyment of excellent health - and have caused much
surprise in this country, as well as in Europe, from the
extraordinary manner in which their bodies are joined
together.
"The price of Admission will be Twenty-five Cents.
"Their room will be open from 2 o'clock till 4 in the
afternoon, and from 6 to 8 in the evening.
"November 30th, 1832.
"Pamphlets containing an historical account, and a
likeness of the Twins, can be had in their room only -
price, 12½ cts."
p. 364 -
STATE OF DACOTAH.
p. 364 -
CAMBRIDGE MARKETS.
pg. 365 -
CAMBRIDGE MARKET, 1837
pg. 365 -
MARKET PRICES AT LATER DATES.
pg. 366 -
PRESENT PRICES.
pg. 366 -
CALIFORNIA GOLD FEVER HERE.
The following was published in the centennial history of
this county in the columns of the Jeffersonian, in
1876, and the author here makes use of it again:
"At once after the discovery of gold in California, the
fever for emigration to the new Eldorado broke out in
Guernsey county. Her people have the reputation of
being restless and ever on the move, which fact may be
traced to her former inefficient agricultural state and to
the then and now want of manufacturing enterprise. It
has become a saying that Guernsey county people are found
everywhere. Go where you will, some of them are sure
to confront you, and in connection with the California
emigration of 1849-50, she shares the early honors with
Posey County, Illinois, and Pike county, Missouri.
"Posey county wagons will long be remembered, and a
Pike county, Missouri, reminiscence of those days will long
live in the song of Joe Bowers, in which is related
the terrible account of a black-headed Californian having
borne to him a red-headed baby. This doggerel will
live as long as the more pretentious poems of Joaquin
Miller and his imitators.
"Guernsey county gave to California many names for
sites of towns, placers, valleys, etc., and Moore's
Flat, named for Gen. J. G. Moore, who led the first
Guernsey company, will be remembered as long as there is a
California history to relate how the many worn and hungry
emigrants poured down from the mountains to the hospitable
and generous cabins of the Cambridge-California Mining
Company, for by that name was the organization known, having
for its object, 'the accumulation of gold and silver by
mining and trafficking in the gold regions of California and
New Mexico.'
"The company was organized March 31, 1849, and was to
continue two years. It was the first company, we
believe, which was organized in the state for this purpose.
The shares of the stock were one hundred dollars each, and
all members were to share alike in the accumulations, no
matter if they became physically unable to labor.
Members we4re permitted to send delegates, the agreements
with whom were to be filed with the secretary. No
division of the accumulations was to be made until the
proposed return in 1851. It was stipulated that no
service was to be performed on the Sabbath day, except for
the protection of the lives or property of the members of
the company, and that members should recognize each other
brothers, by being affable and gentlemanly in their
deportment."
"No amendment was to be permitted to the constitution
of the company, except in 'full meeting and without one
dissenting voice.' Gambling, either among themselves
or with others, was prohibited, and the use of intoxicating
drinks, except under medical advice, was forbidden.
This was perhaps the first prohibition movement ever
inaugurated in the county. These stipulations were not
rigidly adhered to by some of he members and delegates.
Many of the members never came back, some died, and others
made California their permanent residence, and their
families have there become honourable members of society,
and been elevated to many official places of great trust.
The company as originally organized consisted of the
following persons: Zaccheus Beatty, J. G. Moore, Joseph
Stoner, Andrew Hanna, C. D. Bate, N. L. Wolverton, Sol.
Sunnafrank, George Chance, John Boyd, Henry Shively, James
Kirkpatrick, John McKelvy, Samuel M. Roberts, John Clark,
Samuel Johnson.
(Members who
sent delegates.)
Members |
Delegates |
Eliza Turner
......... |
Benjamin |
Boaz Lofland
......... |
William Lofland |
William Shaw
......... |
James Allison |
M. Green ......... |
John Beall |
A. E. Cook
......... |
Alfred Cook |
J. P. Tingle
......... |
John Hutchison |
William Abell |
" |
Noah Hyatt
......... |
John N. Davis
Jacob Ferguson |
John Sunnafrank
......... |
William M. Rabe |
Jenkin Mulvane
......... |
Seth J. Dickinson |
John Mulvane
......... |
" |
O. H. Davis
......... |
Aron Patterson |
William H. Craig
......... |
" |
E. Steese ......... |
J. Ax |
C. Basset ......... |
" |
William K. Davis
......... |
James V. Davis |
Charles Armor
......... |
" |
pg. 368 -
BOUND FOR THE LAND OF GOLD.
(Guernsey Times, March 26, 1852.)
"On Tuesday last the following persons departed from
this place, bound for California, by the overland route:
Jeremiah Jefferson, Cambridge; Milton Jefferson,
Cambridge; Franklin Jefferson, Cambridge;
Josiah Morgan, Cambridge; Thomas Bryan,
Cambridge; John Morrow, Cambridge; Andrew
Cowen, Cambridge Township; John Black, Cambridge
Township; Alex, McNary, Cambridge Township; Daniel
Burton, Cambridge Township; John McCulley, Knox
Township; Alex Johnston, Knox Township; J. W.
Dennison, Senecaville; William Rigg, Jackson
Township; Jesse Huggins, Jackson Township; George
Murphy Westland Township; Spear McKinney,
Westland Township; John Elliott, Rich Hill,
Muskingum; William Hutchison, Rich Hill, Muskingum;
Roseman Cox, Rich Hill, Muskingum."
(Times, April 2, 1852.)
"On Monday last the
following named persons left this place for California, by
the overland route: W. K. Davis, wife and five
children; Joseph Stoner, John Wharton, George W. Curtis,
James Hammond, Francis Hammond, Israel Jackson, Charles
Scott, James Cochran, John F. Ellis, James Pollard.
All go in the employ of Messrs. Davis and Brown,
who design driving a large number of stock across the plains
to California."
pg. 369 -
THE PENNYROYAL REUNION SOCIETY.
What has come to be a very interesting reunion in this
county, is known as the Pennyroyal Reunion, which was
organized and the first meeting held in 1880. The
Guernsey Times of August 26th of that year speaks of its
history as follows:
"For
Pennyroyaldom, my friends,
For Pennyroyaldom!
We'll take the sup of kindness yet,
For Pennyroyaldom!"
"The long anticipated Pennyroyal Reunion of the natives and
former and present residents of Oxford township took place
last week. The following is a brief program of the
proceeding:
"First day, Tuesday morning - About ten o'clock
President J. O. Grimes came forward and announced that
the time had arrived for the commencement of the exercises,
and, after prayer was offered by Rev. I. N. White, in
the absence of Rev. Hugh Forsythe, he introduced
Hon. Newell Kennon, who delivered a splendid address of
welcome. He spoke feeling and with much dramatic
intensity of the early pioneer days, now buried in the past,
recalled a number of interesting customs, detailed several
reminiscences, and succeeded in rousing the enthusiasm of
those present. To his effective address, Rev. D.
Paul, D. D., of New Concord, responded in an energetic
and affecting manner. Doctor Paul's marked
style of oratory has often been noted and admired, but never
were his powers used to better purpose than on hits day.
He succeeded in deeply impressing the audience gathered
around the stand, all scions of old Pennyroyaldom, a manly,
noble race indeed.
"President Grimes made a short but pleasing
speech at this juncture, thanking the managers of the
association for the high honor bestowed upon him in electing
him to the presidency of a social reunion such as this.
He felt honored above his brethren, and did not know why he
had been singled out from others worthier and better fitted
than himself. He spoke of the palmy days of the
National pike, Oxford's only public improvement, and
recommended further improvement of the roadway. The
meeting was then adjourned for dinner, and a more joyful
crowd of men and women never before picnicked in old Oxford.
The spirit of reunion and happiness seemed to pervade the
assembly, and five hundred happy people gathered under the
forest trees, bringing up the memories of by-gone days, and
diligently making away with the chickens and other 'fixin's'
prepared for the occasion.
MORE TO
COME....................
pg. 372 -
A CURIOUS OLD PAPER.
pg. 373 -
EARLY HIGHWAY ROBBERY.
pg. 375 -
HENRY CLAY IN CAMBRIDGE.
pg. 375 -
COLONEL SARCHET'S SEVENTY-THIRD BIRTHDAY BANQUET.
pg. 379 - EARLY GUERNSEY COUNTY MARRIAGES
(From the Times in 1903.)
"The first marriage ceremony performed by a minister in
Guernsey county was that of Thomas Sarchet, Jr., to 'Catty
Markim,' September 11, 1809, by Rev. James Quinn,
elder Methodist Episcopal church, both of them of Cambridge,
Muskingum county, Ohio. There was some bad spelling by
the elder or clerk of record. This was the first
marriage in Cambridge and should read: Thomas Sarchet,
Jr., to Catharine Marquand.
"The first marriage in Guernsey county was James
Boler to Sally Leunce, September 11, 1810, by
Thomas Henderson, justice of the peace, of Oxford
township.
"We give some of the first marriages at Cambridge.
John Robin to Mary Hubert, September 20, 1810,
by Thomas Knowles, justice of the peace, both of
Cambridge.
Cyrus P. Beatty to Nancy Sarchet, June 11, 1811, by
David Kirkpatrick, justice of the peace, both of
Cambridge.
Lloyd Talbot to Nancy Sarchet, November 10, 1811,
by David Kirkpatrick, justice of the peace, both of
Cambridge.
Thomas Lenfesty, Jr., to Cartaretta Hubert,
January 9, 1812, by the Rev. William Lambdin, of
Methodist Episcopal church, both of Cambridge.
Thomas Ogier to Rachel Marquand, May 28, 1812,
by the Rev. William Lambdin, of the Methodist Episcopal
church, both of Cambridge.
Thomas Metcalf to Sarah Gomber, March 17, 1814,
by David Kirkpatrick, justice of the peace, both of
Cambridbe.
Thomas Bryan to Joannah Olive, October 17, 1814,
by David Kirkpatrick, justice of the peace, both of
Cambridge."
pg. 379 - THE HUMAN TEAM.
" A Novel
Spectacle, and, we may add, a moving one, was witnessed in
this place ten or twelve days since, exemplifying in one of
the strongest points of view a state of bodily degradation
most painful and revolting to the feelings of human nature.
It consisted of a wagon filled with such articles of
furniture, etc., as usually belong to an emigrating
establishment bound for the 'Far West,' drawn by two men and a
boy, all duly harnessed, acting in the capacity and doing the
work of a team of horses! The individuals thus engaged
appeared cheerful and patient in the exercise of their
laborious employment. They were ascertained to be
emigrants from Germany, on their way to the distant regions of
the West."
~ Times, October 19, 1833.
pg. 380 - METEORIC SHOWER OF 1833.
The following
appeared in the Times, by Mr. Sarchet, in
November, 1890:
"The old house now being torn down on North Eleventh
street, at the divergence of the street through the
McCracken and Matthews additions, is one of the
early houses built in Cambridge.
"It was built by Peter Sarchet, Sr.
It was a freak of architecture, a frame, the intervals between
the studding being filled in with brick, and was plastered on
the outside in imitation of stone. Another house in the
same locality, which stood on the northwest corner of Eleventh
street and Steubenville avenue, was of similar build, except
that it was lathed on the inside and plastered. This
house was built by John Torode. Neither of these
houses stood the test in our variable climate, and soon began
to look ragged and unsightly, by reason of the bond in the
mortar or cement giving way and falling off, but both, when
new, were attractive looking houses.
"But it is to relate an incident well known in history,
in connection with the house then occupied by a Mr. George
Clark, that we began this reminiscence. In November,
1833, quite a number of citizens of Cambridge assembled at
Clark's, as was a custom, to engage in 'fighting the
tiger.' During this frolic and carousal, toward the 'we
sma' hours,' one of their number went and returned with the
alarming declaration 'that the world was coming to an end, and
the sky falling in.' These midnight revelers looked upon
a meteoric scene that led them to think that home, rather than
a gambler's den, was the best place to be when the 'sky was
falling in.' So for home they made as best they could,
so suddenly awakened from a drunken debauch, to be ever after
during their lives living witnesses that the 'sky fell in.'
"The New American Cyclopedia gives this description of
that November night, 12th and 13th, 1833: 'But the year 1833,
on the night of November 12th and 13th, is memorable for the
most magnificent display on record, and was visible over all
the United States, and over a part of Mexico and the West
India islands. Together with the small shooting stars,
which feel like snowflakes and produced phosphorescent lines
along their course, there were intermingled large balls of
fire, which darted forth at intervals, leaving luminous
trains, which remained in view several minutes, and sometimes
half an hour or more.'
"The writer of this, then a boy seven years old, well
remembers the eventful night when the 'stars fell.' At
our home we were all engaged in the annual fall custom of
making apple butter, which generally partook of the nature of
a neighborhood frolic, paring and cutting the apples and
stirring the butter until late into the night. Some one
of the number going out, returned with the cry that the 'stars
were falling.' We all looked upon the scene with wonder
and amazement, and one of the number said, 'What's the use of
making apple butter, when the world is coming to an end.'
"But the the world did not come to an end, nor as yet
have wonders ceased. People come and go; one builds up,
another tears down, and out of all we see the onward march of
destiny.
pg. 381 - VARIOUS CYCLONES.
The Times of
June 25, 1885, speaks as follows of a roaring cyclone:
"The village of Byesville was visited by a genuine
cyclone last Sunday evening. It was a veritable
'ring-tailed ripper and roarer,' to appropriate the graphic
description of an impressed Byesvillian. It was of the
old-fashioned ortrhodox funnel-shape, with the little end
down, and the big end several hundred feet up in the air.
It carried in its swirl boards, limbs, small trees and general
debris. It ambled in from the southwest at the rate of
about five miles an hour, and after a deliberate but rude
caress to the orchards at the edge of town it came hopping and
hitting and skitting and slipping along through the village,
leaving destruction behind, going off to the northeast when it
grew tired.
"It was after four o'clock when something unusual was
detected by the villagers. The June afternoon was
sultry, and the atmosphere oppressive. A dead stillness
pervated the air, and the sun shone bright and hot. Then
there came a low rumbling sound from the southwest, growing
rapidly into an angry roar, that drew the villages from their
homes to look and listen. Far to the southwest the tops
of the trees were bending and breaking. A dark-hazel
cloud, compact and threatening, was flying above the tree tops
toward the town. A monster freight train seemed crashing
through the forests. Some few divined the cause and,
foreseeing destruction, fled for refuge to cellars. The
consternation spread and, panic-stricken, the people rushed
for the cellars. It struck, and the angry roar was heard
for miles. The town of Byesville more than likely owes
its escape from total destruction to the fact that the cyclone
only struck a corner of the town, and did not strike it with
its full volume. It unroofed stables and demolished
outhouses, carried away boards and timbers, as it was, and one
house was moved eight feet off its foundation. The house
was occupied by Mr. Shields, the saddler, with his wife
and little daughter. They had fled to the house at the
approach of the cyclone, but had barely entered when the windy
monster took the house in his grasp, lifted it, and jammed it
down. The shock loosened the chimney, and the bricks
came tumbling down into the room. All three were
injured, more or less, but none severely. These are the
only injuries reported.
"The cyclone moved slowly, and there was something
awful in its deliberate majesty. All the way the
hazel-cloud seemed topping it, going on before. It
struck the tall trees on the creek banks, bent them low, broke
them or tore them up, dipped dry the creek as it passed, and,
and struck the hill that lies to the northeast, as a sentinel
over the village. The shock demoralized the cyclone, as
no further damage of consequence is reported. Its path
was about fifty yards wide when it passed through Byesville.
It uprooted trees and nearly destroyed several orchards in and
about the town, among them the orchards of Henry Wilson
and Jesse Linkhorn. Shortly after the passage of
the cyclone, a terrific thunderstorm broke over the town, and
for a little while the people fancied that the long predicted
judgment day was come."
pg. 382 - CYCLONE OF 1890.
(Jeffersonian, May 1, 1890.)
"The first genuine
cyclone that has visited Guernsey county for many years passed
through Monroe township Saturday evening. About four
o'clock the citizens were aroused to a sense of danger by the
appearance of a small funnel shaped cloud approaching from the
southwest at terrific speed, accompanied by lightning and a
terrible noise. The first account we have of its
devastation is when it struck what is known as the Lytle
farm, on Irish ridge. Here it leveled the
barn and stable, unroofed and crushed in one end of the brick
residence; then, striking Commissioner John Thompson's farm,
a large amount of timber and fencing were blown down and one
steer killed; fences and timber were destroyed on
Philip Randal's farm, but his buildings were outside the
path of the revolving terror and escaped. Mrs.
Yarnell's farm next lay in its path, and nearly all the
timber and fences were leveled to the earth and scattered
about; Mrs. Hollingsworth's farm met the same
fate, but the buildings on both farms escaped, being outside
the tract of the storm. Jonathan Colly's farm was
stripped of about five hundred panels of fence and two acres
of timber were leveled to the north. The path of the
storm was a short distance from his buildings, and they
escaped serious damage. It then passed over the farms of
Weston and Asbury George. On the former,
the fences were leveled and the barn unroofed, and on the
later an addition recently built to his residence was blown
away, together with milk house, corn cribs, wagon shed and the
grain scattered in every direction, the sheep house removed
from its foundation, six hogs killed, their mother's back
broken and a bureau carried from the part of the house blown
away, to a distance of about fifty years, where it was lodged
against a fence. All the buildings on David Meek's
property were unroofed, and a large orchard swept away, only
four trees left standing. A large amount of timber was
destroyed along Laurel creek. The storm passed on in an
almost direct line to the northeast. The path of the
cyclone varied in width from ten to twenty-five rods. It
seemed to bound along like a ball of India rubber, passing
over spaces, and wherever it struck the earth carrying
everything with it. Wheat was shaven off as by a scythe,
the furrows where sod had been broken, lifted and scattered
about, in some places lodged at quite a distance away."
pg. 383 - A HAIL STORM IN 1826.
(Guernsey Times, July, 1826.)
"A most tremendous
storm of hale passed through this county on Saturday, the 1st
inst., in a direction from northwest to southeast, about five
miles north of this place. Much injury as been sustained
upon those farms which were within range; fortunately, however
the vein was very narrow, from a half mile to a mile in width;
many of the hailstones were nearly the size of a hen's egg.
We have heard of some farmers who had every vestige of their
crops destroyed - corn that was nearly ready to tassel had the
stalks entirely cut to pieces, to within six inches of the
ground; wheat ready to harvest was completely threshed, and
the straw cut to pieces and tangled together, so as to destroy
it entirely; tobacco was wholly cut up, so as to appear as
though it had never been planted; the trees in the woods and
orchards were stripped of their leaves and fruit. We
have not been able to ascertain the extent of the injury in
full, but from the best information we can receive, there
certainly never has been so destructive a visitation to the
citizens of this community, in proportion to its width."
pg. 383 - COLD WEATHER STATISTICS.
(From the Jeffersonian, February, 1899, by Colonel
Sarchet.)
"Some time ago you
said: 'Can you give us a little cold weather history?'
"We will go back to the beginning of Ohio history as a
state. The winter of 1807-8 is known in Ohio history as
'the cold winter.' We are unable to give the cold by
degrees, as thermometers were not then in general use.
"My grandfather then resided in a cabin on the north
end of what is now the Guernsey National Bank lot, on North
Seventh street. We have heard our oldest uncles, who
were then aged seventeen and thirteen years, say that they had
two ways of keeping warm; one was to cut and carry in wood to
keep up the fire, the other was to carry water to throw on the
mud and stick chimney, to keep from burning up the cabin.
The water was carried from a spring, west of Sixth street,
near the residence of Hon. David D. Taylor, on North
Fifth street.
"The next was the winter of 1817-18. We have
heard it said it was so cold that a bucket of water thrown
into the air would be frozen to ice before it could fall to
earth.
"The next was the winter of 1835-6. This comes
within our recollection. There was snow from two or
three feet deep. We well remember wading through it when
it came well up to the waist. My grandfather then had a
thermometer which he kept hanging on the south side of his
house. He came to our house on the coldest morning, and
said to me: 'Boy, it's colder than you are old.' I was
then eight years old."
The writer then gave the temperature for the winter
months from 1850 to 1865, but we will simply abridge and give
his figures for the coldest day of the several years:
In 1850, coldest day was ten degrees above zero; 1851, in
December it was seven degrees below zero; 1852, January 20, it
reached seventeen below; 1853, January 27, one below; 1854,
January 23, at zero, 1855, December 27, two above; 1856,
January 9, twelve below; 1857, January 26, six below; 1858,
February 23, seven below; 1859, February 1, five below; 1860,
January 5, four below; 1861, February 8, zero; 1862, February
16, seven below; 1863, January 18, four above; 1864, "the
coldest New Year's day." the thermometer indicated a change of
forty-six degrees from nine in the evening until six in the
morning, and went as low as eight below, and in the following
month reached nineteen degrees below.
The subjoined table shows the coldest weather from 1841
on to 1871, in Cambridge, Ohio:
January 8, 1847, four degrees below zero
December 4, 1849, two degrees below zero
February, 1850, two below zero
December, 1851, seven degrees below zero
January 7, 1852, seventeen degrees below zero
January, 1853, one degree below zero
January, 1856, twelve degrees below zero
February, 1856, fourteen degrees below zero
February, 1858, seven degrees below zero
January, 1860, four degrees below zero
January 2, 1864, eight degrees below zero
January 7, 1864, four degrees below zero
February, 1866, four degrees below zero
January, 1867, ten degrees below zero
December, 1870, one degree below zero
December 24, 1871, thirteen degrees below zero, making
it among the coldest days on record in the county.
pg. 385 - THE OLDEST MAN IN THE COUNTY.
The oldest man
who ever lived in this county is supposed to have been
Benjamin Berry, who died here in 1877. At that date
many of the elderly people here remembered him in their
childhood as the middle aged man during the war of 1812-14.
Enquiry was made at his death and it was learned that his age
was one hundred and eleven years, having been born in 1765, as
determined from the muster rolls of the war of 1812, in which
he took part as a soldier. He also served in the Indian
war prior to the war with England. It is not believed
that an older man has ever lived in this county and but a few
in Ohio have attained so great an age.
pg. 385 - GRAVE ROBBING IN GUERNSEY COUNTY.
(Jeffersonian, December 11, 1879.)
"In 18__ there was
considerable grave robbing in Guernsey county. An
incidental account is remembered of a body being brought
through a toll gate on the National road in a sleigh, head
upright, between two men. The body had an old coat
thrown over it, and a hat put over its head. The gate
keeper was completely deceived. The body of a woman was
also taken from a cemetery within ten miles of the place from
whence this body was brought. One night, during some
dissecting by medical students and others, some woman
approached the place, probably with some suspicion of what was
going on, and moved by a curiosity to know the facts.
They came so near, and their knowledge was so apparent to
those present, that the solidly frozen head of a man was
rolled toward them. They screamed and ran away. It
was afterward discovered that they had seen nothing and knew
nothing, beyond suspicion, and it was explained to them that a
pumpkin had been rolled toward them in the dark. If they
had more suspicion, it was allayed, or their dread remembrance
of the scene, or other considerations, kept their mouths
closed.
"Many readers of this will remember that, some years
ago, an old barrel lay by the side of a public road in this
county. The stench that same from it was so
indescribably horrible that no one who ever passed by will
fail to call it to recollection now when they are told that
the nauseating smell was from fragments of human flesh, which
had, in the colder weather, been thrown into the barrel and
hauled away in the night time and tumbled down by the
roadside."
pg. 386 - THE FIRST MAILS.
We take the
following account of the first mails of the state from an
article written by Col. C. P. B. Sarchet for the
Cambridge Daily Sun:
"The first mails carried in Ohio was in 1798, from
Wheeling over the Zane Trace to Limestone, now Maysville,
Kentucky, and from Marietta to McCullough's cabin at
the ferry at the crossing of the Muskingum river, now
Zanesville. These were weekly mails, intersecting at
McCullough's cabin. He had the authority to open and
assort the mails. The postoffice was opened at
Zanesville in 1803. In 1805 John Beatty, at the
cabins at the crossing of big Wills creek, had the authority
to open the mails. In 1807 Cyrus P. Beatty was
appointed by Thomas Jefferson as postmaster at
Cambridge, in Muskingum county, Ohio. He held the office
for a number or years. In these early days there was but
little letter writing. The postage was so much that only
business letters passed through the mails. We have in
our possession old letters showing postage paid of six an
one-fourth, twelve and one-half, eighteen and three-fourth,
twenty-five and twenty-seven and one-half cents. There
was no prepayment, and many letters were sent to the dead
letter office, because the person addressed didn't have the
money to pay the postage. Letters were sent by travelers
from town to town. This came to be done to such an
extent that Congress in 1817 passed a law making it a criminal
offense for anyone but mail carriers to carry letters.
The next postmasters were Nicholas Blaithache, Jacob
Shaffner, William Ferguson, Isaiah McIllyar, William Smith,
Robert Burns, James M. Smith, James O. Grimes, Francis
Creighton, Edwin R. Nice, William McDonald, C. L. Madison, D.
D. Taylor and W. H. H. McIlyar.
"Of these, nine were appointed as Whig, or
Republican, and seven as Democratic. We were acquainted
with all of these but the first, and received mail
through their hands."
pg. 387 - DARING MAIL ROBBERY.
"On the night of
Friday, the 17th inst., as the mail stage was going from
Zanesville to Wheeling, one of the large mail bags was stolen
from the boot about one mile east of Washington in this
county, the bag cut open and the contents scattered in all
directions. The robber, or robbers, however, made but a
water-haul, as fortunately the bag in question contained only
newspapers. We have not heard of a clue having been
found yet, likely to lead to the detection of the daring
perpetrator of this deed.
~ Guernsey Times, June 25, 1836.
pg. 387 - POSTOFFICES IN 1895.
In the year
1895, before the many rural mail routes had been established,
the following was a list of postoffices and remuneration
received at such offices by the postmaster in charge:
Antrim $190; Blue Bell, $41; Brown, $142; Byesville,
$283; Birds Run, $59; Brody, $50; Buffalo, $76; Cambridge,
$1,700; Cumberland, $444; Creighton, $36; Claysville, $104;
Dysons, $103; Danford, $6.00; Fairview, $265; Flat Ridge, $25;
Galligher, $62; Gibson, $92; Guernsey, $65; Indian Camp, $65;
Kimbolton, $88; Londonderry, $125; Lore City, $136; Midway,
$35; Middlebourne, $84; Millinersville, $176; New Salem, $54;
Odell, $37; Oldham; $27; Quaker City, $465; Salesville, $167;
Senecaville, $270; Sutton, $20; Spencer Station, $104; Sugar
Tree, $37; Tyner, $32; Washington, $385; Clio and Prohibition,
amount not give.
pg. 387 - GUERNSEY COUNTY'S MAN-WOMAN.
"Florence
Goldsborough's adventures as a woman in man's clothing
through a period of sixteen eventful years cannot fail of
partaking of the strangeness of fiction and the wildness of
romance. Such is the character of the history of
Florence F. Goldsborough, whose masculine name is
Johnny Howard, and whose wild and reckless career has been
partly spent in Guernsey county.
"She was born near St. Clairsville, Belmont county, in
1847. Her father being a farmer, she was taught to work
in the fields.
"When about sixteen years of age, she was suspected and
pronounced guilty of stealing sixteen dollars from an uncle.
For this crime, she served three months in the county jail.
While admitting many other crimes, she has ever protested her
innocence of this first charge. When she was released
from jail, she donned man's clothing, and left home.
"Upon coming into this county, she first hired to work
as a farm laborer, for Rev. George W. Wharton, a
Baptist preacher who resided north of Middletown. During
the six months she remained with Rev. Wharton, she had
the benefit of morning and evening devotion, but without any
apparent effect upon her spiritual nature. At any rate,
she had the benefit of early rising in order to get the work
done in time for prayers, and her health may have been made
the better for it, if nothing more.
"Quitting Reverend Wharton's place, she hired to
labor on the farm of Andrew Morton, a short distance
west of Middletown, and she continued with him about a year.
During all that time, her sex was never suspected, and she
regularly slept with Jacob Ducker and other farmhands
who worked for Mr. Morton.
"But soon she grew tired of farm life, and set out
for Columbus, where she found employment as a street car
driver. She continued in that vocation for some time,
but at last he had fight, and was sent to the station house
for thirty days. When she was released, she went to
Bellaire. While there, she was arrested for stealing
money from Mr. N. B. Hayes, the late well known stock
dealer of this county. For this crime, she was convicted
and sent to the Penitentiary for three years. Here her
sex was discovered for the first time after leaving home in
1863, and she was placed in the female department.
"When her term had expired, she went to Cincinnati, and
engaged as second clerk on the steamer "Alaska,' plying
between that place and New Orleans. After making three
trips, the falling in the river once, she quit boating, and
returned to Columbus.
"Since her return to that city, she has been variously
engaged as bartender, bell boy, and farm hand and was served
sentences to station-houses and jails, in addition to two
other terms in the penitentiary, the first one for and the
second one for three years. Both crimes were stealing
money, the last one in 1875. The amount taken was five
hundred dollars.
"Her term having expired on the 8th of the present
month, she now sooner got out than she put on her male attire,
was arrested for so long, and put in the station house.
She protests that she is now going to live a better life, but
will not give up men's clothing, as she prefers it to the garb
of women. She looks very much like a small, beardless
boy, and the only quality apt to betray her sex is her small
had. She is thirty-two years old, carries her age well,
and keeps good health for one who has endured so rugged a
life."
~Jeffersonian, 1878.
pg. 389 - DAYS OF MOURNING.
Cambridge, in common with al the country, has had her days
of true mourning and here will be given brief accounts of
how the citizens met these national calamities and how they
were affected at the death of her fallen statesmen and
military heroes:
When James Monroe died in 1831, the column rules
of the Times at Cambridge were turned, as an
indicatino of deep sorrow.
Upon the death of Hon. Henry Clay, June 29,
1852, and upon the decrease the Daniel Webster, the
great New England statesman, on October 24, 1852, the same
paper was deeply set in double-column turned rule.
pg. 389 - DEATH OF PRESIDENT WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.
President W. H. Harrison
died at Washington on the 4th of April, 1841, thirty minutes
before one o'clock in the morning. Everywhere the
national bereavement was deplored by Whigs and Democrats
alike, and services were held throughout the length and
breadth of the land. In Cambridge, according to the
Guernsey Times of April 10, 1841, a discourse upon the
life, public services and character of Willilam Henry
Harrison was delivered by Rev. James Drummond, at
the Methodist Episcopal church, on the evening of Wednesday,
April 14th, at early candle lighting. pg.
389 -
PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION.
"On Saturday last, about eight o'clock A. M., the sad
intelligence of the death of President Lincoln
reached this place. Sorrow was depicted upon every
countenance as soon as it was known that the chief
magistrate of the nation was no more. All felt the
common calamity and men of every shade of political opinion
mourned the loss of the dead President. The bells of
the village, whose iron tongues the day before had rung out
their joyful peals, now tolled a solemn requiem through the
weary hours. Flags that had floated gaily were clothed
n mourning and drooped listlessly upon the sodden air.
The elements were in harmony with the general grief, and the
sky was overcast with dark and lowering clouds, which
mingled their tears with those of the bereaved people.
"In the afternoon a prayer-meeting was held in the Town
Hall, where solemn and impressive prayers were made by
Reverend Milligan and others.
"On Sabbath day another meeting was held in the same
place, when speeches were made by Reverends Ellison,
Forsythe and McConnell. The remarks of the
former gentleman were well-timed and appropriate, but we are
sorry to say that in the midst of the general grief, Mr.
McConnell indulged in remarks better suited to a
political meeting than the solemn occasion for which the
people had assembled." pg. 390 - DEATH OF
PRESIDENT GARFIELD.
For the second time in the history of this county, the
citizens were called upon to mourn the death of a President,
who had fallen at the hands of an assassin. It was in
September, 1881. The news spread quickly and sorrow
was intense. All business was suspended in Cambridge.
Public memorial services were held. The bells of the
city tolled and the streets were draped in mourning emblems
for the dead president - a beloved citizen and native son of
Ohio. Services were held at the United Presbyterian
church and at the Presbyterian church. These places
were heavily draped in black, intermingled with the flag/
A motto was displayed reading: "God reigns, the nation
lives," which were Garfield's words in New York city
in trying to quell the mob after the assassination of
Lincoln, and which words now became appropriate in his
own case. Remarks were made by Professor McBurney,
Reverend Young, Rev. Hyde Forsythe, Rev. B. Y. Siegford,
Reverend Darrow, Judge Tingleand Col. C. P. B.
Sarchet. This was at the United Presbyterian
church.
At the Presbyterian church impressive services were
held and the Masonic bodies were out in force. Prayer
was offered by S. J. McMahon, Esq. and by Rev.
Milligan. A song was rendered by Prof. John H.
Sarchet entitled, "We'll Not Forget Our Buckeye Boy;" he
was assisted by the Masonic Glee Club. Benediction was
pronounced by Rev. E. S. Hoagland.
Services were at the same time held at the African
Methodist Episcopal church, Reverend Johnston
officiating and made the point clear that mourning was not
for a white man's President, neither a black man's
President, but for "our President."
pg. 390 -
PRESIDENT'S GRANT'S MEMORIAL SERVICES.
When General U. S. Grant, the soldier President and
retired fellow citizen another son of Ohio soil had passed
to the other shore, this county, in common with the entire
country, were again in deep sorrow. Though not as
sudden as other public calamities, for ex-President Grant
had log suffered and his death was thought to be inevitable,
yet here in Guernsey, where there were so many of his old
army comrades and political friends, the news was hard to
realize - the man of an iron will who had marched to victory
on many a well fought field, and he who, after the war
closed, had said: "Let us have peace" - the man who
had been around the globe and admired by all peoples and
tribes, finally had to succumb to the cold hand of death.
On August 8, 1885, at the hour when his body was being
lowered into the grave, memorial services were being held
throughout the entire country. At Cambridge the bells
all tolled while Grant's remains were being lowered to the
earth at Riverside, in New York. Soon after two P. M.
the Grand Army of the Republic, with draped banners and
flags, fell into line, headed by the Cambridge Band.
They passed to School Park, where a stand had been erected.
There might have been seen a picture of the illustrious
American soldier-President, surrounded by flags and crepe.
The orator of the occasion was Capt. J. B. Ferguson.
Prayer was offered by Reverend Jennings.
Dispatches were read from time to time, as the body of
Grant was being taken to its last resting place and
while it was being lowered to the vault at Riverside.
Like services were held at Byesville, Cumberland,
Fairview, Quaker City and other places in the county.
pg. 391 - DEATH OF PRESIDENT WILLIAM M'KINLEY.
Again, in September, 1901, President McKinley, in
extending his hand to a supposed friend, while visiting the
great Pan-American Exposition, at Buffalo, New York, was
shot by an assassin and only survived eight days, the date
of his death being September 14, 1901. Memorial
services were held in this county. In Cambridge, at
the Methodist Episcop0al church, old and young filled the
house to overflowing. Many of these present had met in
like services at the death of the lamented Lincoln
and Garfield. Church bells tolled solemnly, and
black and white draperies were in evidence throughout the
entire city. Mayor Baxter had charge and
welcomed the speakers. The front seats were reserved
for the old soldiers, including the Grand Army of the
Republic, with its banners draped in black. Doctor
Milligan spoke touchingly of the unspotted life and,
above all, of his beautiful love and tenderness for Mrs.
McKinley, during the years of her long illness or
infirmity.
Resolutions were passed which contained these words,
significant in themselves:
"Resolved, Most sincerely do we record our confidence
and pride in him as a man; our admiration for his unspotted
life and character, and above all, our love for him because
of his tender care of Mrs. McKinley during her longs
years of infirmity.
"Resolved, That in his death our hearts are filled with
an untold sorrow. In this sad hour we have ceased to
be Republicans, Democrats, Prohibitionists and Populists -
Northern, Southern - but are simply American citizens of a
bereaved country, mourning a common loss."
pg. 392 - SARCHET BROTHERS AND THEIR BIBLE.
"It is well known here that the Sarchets, who were
among the first settlers of Guernsey county, came from the
isle of Guernsey, but we have an item of their history
beyond that. The original Sarchets were natives
of France, and during the Huguenot persecution two of the
brothers were converted from Catholicism and purchased a
Protestant Bible, Calvin's translation to the French.
Information was given to the priests that they were in
possession of this book, and to avoid arrest and punishment
by the Inquisition they fled with the "Word" to the island
of Guernsey for safety. From these heads sprang the
two branches of Sarchet family in this county, and
all of the name that we know anything about. To this
day that same old Bible remains intact, and is in the
possession of Mrs. R. M. Beatty in Cambridge.
It is fully three hundred years old, and was brought to this
place by the oldest Thomas Sarchet known to this
country, in 1806, who was in the line of descent of the two
brothers and who was awarded the custody of the same.
It is considered of great value as a family relic, and the
older members still inquire for the 'old book' whenever they
visit Mrs. Beatty." - In the Times,
January, 1875. pg. 392 - AN OLD BRIDGE.
Just where the Cumberland and Senecaville creeks unite to
form Wills creek, on the old Pike road, between Buffalo (or
Hartford) and Derwent is a very old bridge, said to be
almost as old as the famous old bridge in Cambridge.
The details of its construction, its exact age, or any data
concerning it are unknown to the writer. It will be
torn down the coming season and a new steel bridge
constructed in its place. |