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whether we have made improvement upon those of our ancestors; in
days of yore friends and neighbors could meet together to enjoy
themselves, and with hearty good-will enter into the spirit of
social amusements. The old and young could then spend
evening after evening around the fireside with pleasure and
profit; there was a geniality of manners and a corresponding
depth of soul to which modern society is unaccustomed. Our
ancestors did not make a special invitation the only pass to
their dwellings, and they entertained those who called upon them
with a hospitality that has became almost obsolete. Guests
did not assemble then to criticize the decorations, furniture,
manners, and surroundings of those by whom they were invited;
they were sensible people, and visited each other to enjoy
themselves and promote the enjoyment of those around them; they
had clear heads and warm hearts; they believed in the
earnestness of life, and in the power of human sympathies.
We may ignore obligations to the pioneer race, and congratulate
ourselves that our lot has been cast in a ore advanced ere of
mental and moral culture; we may pride ourselves upon the
developments which have been made in science and art; but when
we view our standard of elevation as immeasurably in advance of
that of our forefathers, we should stop and consider if in all
these assumptions we are not as we are in many other things that
belong to our generation, "too fast."
The type of the Christianity of that period will not
suffer by a comparison with that of our own day. If the
people of the olden times had less for costly apparel and
ostentations display, they had also more for offices of charity
and benevolence; if they had not the trappings and splendors of
wealth, they had at leasat no infirmaries, and no paupers - very
few lawyers, and very little use for jails. The command to
"love thy neighbor as thyself" was then more faithfully observed
than now. Has it never occurred to you, reader, that we
may be largely indebted to the characteristics of our pioneer
fathers for that vigor and valor which have stimulated their
descendants to go forth and fight our country's battles?
The vain and thoughtless may jeer at their unpretending manners,
customs, and costumes; but in all the elements of true manhood
and true womanhood, it may be safely averred that they were more
than the peers of the generation that now occupy their places.
That race has left its impress upon our times in more ways than
one. Rude and illiterate, comparatively, they may have
been; but they were undoubtedly men of strong minds in strong
bodies, made so by their compulsory self-denial, and their
privations and toil.
It was the mission of many of them to aid in the
formation of our noble commonwealth, and wisely and well was
that mission performed. Had their descendants been
faithful to their teachings there would have been harmony now,
where violence and discord reign throughout our land.
The "pioneer times" have the greenest spot in the
memories of those who lived in them - their very privations and
sufferings are consecrated things in the memory of the
survivors, among whom are Oliver Shremplin, John Shremplin,
Killbuck township; Edward Carpenter, Hardy
township; James Liggett, Sen., Washington; Thornton
Boling, Knox; John Corbus, Millersburg; Dr. E. K.
Enos, Millersburg; _____ Calhoon, Millersburg;
Linus Chapman, Killbuck; Roswell Chapman, Killbuck;
O. K. Chapman Killback; Jacob Miller German; David
Troyer, German, and many others we could mention if space
would permit, who have witnessed all the stages of our material
development - the gradual redemption of our wilderness condition
to our present full estate of national prosperity - and having
by hears of industry and economy gathered about them all the
comforts and luxuries of modern life, are passing serenely the
evening of their days in the place that witnessed the active
life of their earliest and matured manhood. Their busy
memories must often recur the scenes by bygone days, and to the
men of pioneer times.
The last two years have been peculiarly destructive of
life among the aged. Twenty or more of the pioneers of our
county have within that time been gathered to their fathers; the
last will soon disappear from among us. May the present
generation, who should be in the enjoyment of the fruits of the
valor and toil of their predecessors, ever nourish a grateful
sense of their obligations, and never omit opportunity to offer
kindly obligations, and never omit opportunity to offer kindly
ministrations to those who survive, and smooth their pathway to
the tomb. May no neglect furnish occasion for a future
poet to write the last of the pioneers in the spirit of Scott.
How much different is it at the present age to settle a
new country with the modern improvements - something that the
pioneers were deprived of fifty years age, in the early
settlement of this county. At the present rate of
improvement we find cities that are built in one year, in the
west.
Those who first settled the States and Territories
north and west of us, themselves and families, stock of
clothing, farming implements, merchandise, and abundant supplies
of provisions, embracing even the luxuries of life, have
conveyed from their tramon_ane: home to within a stone's throw
of their places of destination in the "far west," by means of
the modern facilities which steam employs on natural and
artificial channels, performing in a single day a distance
which, fifty years since, would have occupied nearly or quite a
month to accomplish. These transportations, too, were
conducted on a scale of cost corresponding in reduced amount
with the difference in time employed. Thus comparatively
have time, space, and expense been equally annihilated by the
magical improvements of the utilitarian era which has had its
dawn since the first white settler commenced his improvements of
the soil within our limits. Had anything essential to
comfort been forgotten by the pioneer family of the country west
of us, commerce met them almost at the doorway of their cabin,
and supplied the needful commodity. The privations of the
pioneer life as it formerly existed the accidental adventurer
may have heard of or read of, but it is a matter altogether
outside of his own experience. Pioneer life in the States
and Territories west, as compared with that of Ohio, has been a
mere holiday affair.
THE FARMERS OF HOLMES COUNTY
Are undoubtedly far in advance of many counties enjoying
facilities superior in almost every regard for the development
of those farming properties that attract most largely the public
admiration. The industry of the people, the interest they
take in all branches of husbandry, without particularizing, and
the general interest manifested in matters of this kind,
demonstrate quite plainly the font rank the citizens of Holmes
County are determined she shall occupy in all that is conducive
to the happiness of any people. While we are thus
satisfied of her agricultural prosperity, in mineral resources
Holmes County is among the first in the State. While her
valleys yield bountifully to the labor of he husbandman, her
hills are rich in coal, limestone, iron ore, fire-clay, and
soupstone - the latter of which is used largely in the
manufacture of rubber - also coal, which in itself is a source
of boundless wealth, while it affords ample means of enlarging
her business interest and giving scope to mechanical enterprise.
Since the completion of the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon, and
Columbus Railroad, Millersburg has improved rapidly, and thrift
is generally characteristic of every portion of the town.
New buildings are springing up, and the click and clatter of
machinery makes music that speaks well for the citizens of
Millersburg. This town is situated in the midst of coal
and iron that is in abundance, and will make a
manufacturing town when thoroughly developed.
MECHANIC TOWNSHIP
Township 8 of Ranges 7 and 6, the centre, is military land, and
divided into the second and third quarters; the rest of Congress
land. This township is hilly, the soil is fertile,
producing good crops of wheat, oats, corn, hay, and potatoes,
and fine fruit; coal underlies a great portion of the township;
also, limestone, and sandstone for building purposes. It
is well watered by numerous steams and springs. The
Cleveland, Mount Vernon, and Columbus Railroad passes across the
northwest corner.
GERMAN TOWNSHIP
This is Township 8 of Ranges 5 and 4; 32 full sections and three
half sections in this township. Farmerstown, on Section
12, is a small place, but an immense business is done by Mr.
Smith in dry goods, groceries, and all kinds of farming
implements. The township is in a high state of
cultivation, soil fertile, producing good crops of all kinds of
grain and fruit. Coal underlies a great portion of the
township; also, iron ore of a very good quality..
SETTLEMENT OF GERMAN TOWNSHIP AND OF THE OMISH CHURCH.
- Mr. Jacob Miller, in 1814, was among the first of the
Omish, and in a few years Mr. David Troyer and others
came, when they began to settle quite fast, and by their strict
attention to business and honor in their dealings, they have
grown in wealth until they own at least one-half of the
township.
SALT CREEK TOWNSHIP
North of the Indian boundary line are Townships 15 and 14 of
Range 12; south of the line is Township 10 of Ranges 6 and 5,
which is divided into quarter, third, fourth, and third.
The township is in a good state of cultivation, improvements
good, the surface rolling, the soil fertile, producing good
crops of all kinds of grain and fruit. There is abundance
of coal and limestone. The Cleveland, Mt. Vernon, and
Columbus Railroad passes across the northwest corner. It
was settled by Pennsylvanians, Germans, and French. They
are a very industrious people. This township is bounded on
the west by Prairie; south by Hardy and Berlin; east by Paint;
north by Wayne County.
WALNUT CREEK TOWNSHIP
Township 9 of Ranges 5 and 3, half sections Nos. 1, 2, and 3,
are of Township 8 of Range 4. This township was first
settled by Pennsylvanians and Germans. The surface of this
township is rolling, the soil productive, producing excellent
crops of wheat, oats, corn, potatoes, and fine fruit, wheat
being the chief production. Coal underlies the most of the
township; limestone on most all of the ridges.
HARDY TOWNSHIP
This is Township 9 of Ranges 7 and 6, and has three quarters,
first, second, and third; the balance is Government land.
It is the township of very fine land in a high state of
cultivation, like the rest of the county, producing all kinds of
grain and excellent fruit. The surface is rolling; the
coal beds are fine. This township produces annually many
tons of coal, which is taken from Mr. Saunders' and
Mr. Horn's Banks, 3½ miles southwest of Millersburg, and
Mr. Collier's Bank, northeast of Millersburg, the opening of
which is on Mr. Wheaton's farm, in Prairie township.
Limestone is in abundance, also iron ore and fire-clay.
Big Killbuck runs through the centre of the township, the valley
of which is mostly very fine rich land. Millersburg, the
county seat, is 84 miles northeast of Columbus, on the
Cleveland, Mt. Vernon, and Columbus Railroad, and 10 miles
south from Cleveland, situated in the centre of the county and
township, on the east side of Killbuck, on a fine elevation.
MONROE TOWNSHIP
North of the Indian line is Township 17 of Range 14; south of
the line is Township 9 of Range 8, and divided into quarters,
first, second, third, and fourth. This township is west of
Hardy, bounded on the south by Killbuck and Richland; on the
west by Knox; on the north by Ripley and a portion of Prairie
townships. There are no large streams in this, but it is
well watered by numerous springs and small streams. the
surface of this township is mostly rolling; a large part of it
is underlaid with coal, limestone, iron ore, and fire-clay.
The soil is productive. Its chief productions are wheat,
corn, oats, clover, and timothy. It is also excellent for
fruit.
KILLBUCK TOWNSHIP
This is Township 8 of Ranges 8 and 7, and contains 30 sections.
This township is bounded on the north by Hardy and Monroe; east
by Mechanic; south by Coshocton County; west by Richland
township. It is well watered by Killbuck, Black Creek,
Wolf Creek, and Shrimplin's Run. This township is somewhat
hilly, except along the streams there is some fine bottom land.
The soil is good, producing fine crops of wheat, corn, oats,
hay, and excellent fruit. Coal underlies the eastern and
northern parts of the township; limestone in abundance on all of
the ridges; fire-clay east of Oxford. The Cleveland, Mt.
Vernon, and Columbus Railroad passes through this township.
The Dresden branch road, now under construction, intersects the
main road at the village of Oxford, which affords a good market
for the products of the country. The Holmes County Coal
Bank is in the east part, on Mr. Shepler's farm; the
Hardy Bank is on Mr. Uhl's farm, in the north part of the
township. Some of the first settlers of this township
were, William, Abraham, and Oliver Shrimplin, who
came from the State of Maryland and settled here in 1811;
Moses Chapman came from Pike County, Pa., in 1822; John
Carpenter in 1822; Andrew Emrick came from Somerset
County, Pa., in 1814; Jacob Frey from Westmoreland
County, Pa., 1823. In 1812 the Indians were troublesome to
the pioneers, and they all went back to Owl Creek except
Abraham Shrimplin, who staid till the scare was over.
PRAIRIE TOWNSHIP
North of the Indian boundary line are Townships 14 and 13 of
Range 13; south of the line is Township 10 of Range 7 and 6; it
contains small portions of the third, fourth, and third
quarters. This township is well improved and in a high
state of cultivation; the surface is undulating, the soil a
sandy loam, with some excellent bottom land in the valleys,
through which pass Big Killbuck, Salt Creek, and Paint Creek,
producing fine crops of wheat, corn oats, barley, hay, and
fruit. Holmesville, the only village in the township, is
situated about the centre, on the Cleveland, Mount Vernon, and
Columbus Railroad, affording a good market for the produce and
stock of the country. Coal abounds in the greater part of
the township, and there are some very good banks opened.
PAINT TOWNSHIP
North of the Indian boundary line are Townships 15 and 14 of
Range 11; south of the line is Township 10 of Range 5 and 4,
which is divided into the third, fourth, and third quarters.
It was settled by Pennsylvanians, Germans, and French; they are
a very industrious people; their improvements are good.
The surface of the township is rolling, the soil fertile; wheat,
oats, corn, and potatoes are raised in abundance, wheat being
the chief production. Coal underlies the most of the
township. Weinsberg* is a very handsome village, and a
place of considerable business. It is located near the
centre of the township.
--------------------
* NOTE: Weisnberg
is spelled Winesberg on Google Maps.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP
This
is Township 20 and 19 of Range 15. The part 20 formerly
belonged to Lake township, Ashland County. The surface of
this township is a gravelly loam; the northern part
comparatively level; the southern rolling; and it is in a good
state of cultivation, producing good crops of wheat, corn, oats,
barley, hay, and fruit of all descriptions. The Pittsburg,
Fort Wayne, and Chicago Railroad passes through the northern
part of the township, affording a good market for the products
of the surrounding country. This township has two
villages, Nashville, in the southeast corner, and Lakeville, in
the northeast, on the railroad at the outlet of Odell's Lake,
which is noted for excursion and Sunday-school parties.
This town-
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