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History of Marion County, Ohio
CONTAINING
A HISTORY OF THE COUNTY; ITS TOWNSHIPS, TOWNS, CHURCHES,
SCHOOLS, ETC.; GENERAL AND LOCAL STATISTICS; MILITARY
RECORD; PORTRAITS OF EARLY SETTLERS AND PROMINENT MEN;
HISTORY OF THE NORTHWEST TERRITORY;
HISTORY OF OHIO; MISCELLANEOUS
MATTERS, ETC. ETC.
~ILLUSTRATED~
CHICAGO:
LEGGETT, CONAWAY & CO.
1883.
PART V.
CHAPTER II.
BIG ISLAND TOWNSHIP
pg. 650
BIG ISLAND TOWNSHIP was doubtless organized in
the early part of the first session that was held by the Commissioners after
the organization of Marion County, which convened June 7, 1824; but a
diligent search of the records has failed to reveal any formal entry of such
organization. But that its organization was effected then there can be
no question, for on the third day of that session the following entry in
which Big Island Township is recognized as an established township, appears:
THURSDAY, June 10, 1824.
Commissioners met pursuant to adjournment.
Present, same as yesterday. Ordered that there be made four districts
in Marion County, for the purpose of collecting the county tax, agreeable to
the following boundaries:
First District, composed of Scott, Washington, Claridon
and Canaan Townships.
Second District, composed of Green Camp, Pleasant,
Richland and Morven Townships.
Third District, Big Island, Salt Rock,
Center and Grand Prairie Townships.
Fourth District, composed of Bucyrus, Sandusky, Grand
and Whetstone Townships.
There is no entry on record defining clearly the
original limits of this township, but it at present comprises the whole of
surveyed Township 5, Range 14, which consists of thirty-three full sections
and three fractional sections of Congress lands. At one time the south
tier of sections were set off to Green Camp Township, as will be observed
from the following portion of an entry from the Commissioners' records:
MARION COUNTY, June 6, 1825.
Ordered, That the south tier of sections now belonging
to Big Island Township * * * be, and the same is hereby set off to
Green Camp Township. * * *
It also appears that this township for a time had
secured and held within its limits a portion of Marion Township - then
called Center, as will be observed from the following:
"WEDNESDAY, June 6, 1827.
Ordered, That from and after the 1st day of July next,
that part of Big Island Township belonging to Center Township shall be
considered to be set back to said Center Township.
When the boundaries of Green Camp Township were finally
fixed and determined as they now stand, the south tier of sections taken
from Bi Island in 18215, was restored as appears from the following portion
of an entry of that date:
MARCH 5 (first Monday), 1838.
Commissioners met pursuant to the statute in such case
made and provided of JOHN BRITT and others, it is ordered that the
half-mile strip taken off the west end of Township 6, Range 15, in
this county, and attached to the township of Green Camp, in said county,
also the whole of Township 6, Range 14, in this county be, and the same is
hereby detached from said township of Green Camp, and attached to the
township of Pleasant in this county. And it is further ordered that
the strip of one mile heretofore taken off of the south end of Township
5, Range 14, in this county, and attached to the township of Green Camp
aforesaid, be and the same is hereby detached from said township of Green
Camp and attached to the township of Big Island in said county * * *
[Pg. 651]
The lands of this township for the most
part are greatly diversified by hill and dale, the soil is rich, and no more
productive farm land smiles under the rays of the sunshine and answers to
the refreshing draughts of spring and summer showers with more luxuriant
grasses and golden grain than can be found here. An abundant supply of
spring water is accessible in all parts of the township, and a number of
small streams and creeks afford a good system of drainage. The Scioto
River passes along the greater portion of its southern border, and the
Little Scioto runs through the southeastern corner of the township for a
distance of more than two miles. The low lands have generally been
properly drained, and now but few waste places can be found in its entire
territory.
FIRST SETTLERS.
But few of the townships of this
county contained any settlers prior to 1819. Those portions of Waldo
and Prospect Townships lying south of the Greenville treaty line had
received a few settlers at an earlier date, and in some instances the
townships adjoining them had received a few "squatters," while the central
and northern townships remained uninhabited by the whites until a later date
when the lands north of the treaty line had been thrown upon the market by
the General Government. Yet, even then, there were a few of the early
settlers of these townships, who, at first, neither bought nor entered
lands, but located on them without even the shadow of a title, thus securing
for themselves the name of "squatters." Big Island Township was not
wholly free from this class of settlers, but in fact was at first
particularly favored with them. Among the "squatter sovereigns" of
this township were Jacob Croy and Joshua Cope, Sr., who came
in the latter part of the winter of 1819, built cabins, and in the spring
moved into them without chimney, floor, door or window, Mr. Cope
moving in April 5, and Mr. Croy two weeks afterward. Mr.
Cope's was a mile and a quarter north of Big Island, on the old Radnor
road, on the farm now owned by Orange Messenger. Mr. Cope
was elected the first Justice of the Peace, and Lydia Cope was the
first white female born in Big Island Township.
About the same time came the Widow Neville and
her two bachelor sons, John and William, the last three of
whom located on Neville Run and lived together for several years, employing
much of their time in hunting and paying but little attention to
agricultural pursuits. They were not skillful hunters, however, and as
the country grew older and the game began to disappear, they were compelled
to seek a more favorable location for their accustomed pursuit.
Accordingly in the summer of 1835, they left Marion County, going northwest
through the Black Swamp, cutting their road as they went, and late in the
autumn of that year arrived at the St. Joe settlement in Indiana, where they
again located and where they were last heard of.
Soon after the lands north of the Greenville treaty
line came into the market in 1819, thee were a number of families who
located in this township, and among them were those of Jacob Dickerson,
William Britton, Alexander Britton, Samuel Jones, Dr. Alson Norton and
Hezekiah Gorton. During the next two years there came several
others, of whom the following are a portion: Leonard Metz, Newton
Messinger, Col. Everett Messenger, Portius Wheeler, David Thompson, Elder
David Dudley and Caleb Johnson. Quite a settlement was thus
early formed near where the town of Big Island now stands, and although
there was no lid out or platted town there
[Pg. 652]
at the time, yet it was thought by the inhabitants, of that
vicinity that there was the most suitable site for the
government seat of the county soon to be organized, and they
strove to make it such; but they were too far from the
geographical center. The Commissioners appointed for the
purpose of selecting a suitable site for the county seat in the
year 1822, after viewing several localities, among which were
Claridon, Big Island and Marion, selected the last-named place,
which, in the judgment of a great number of the settlers of the
county at least, was then the most unsuitable and unpromising
situation of all in contemplation. The people of Claridon
and Big Island were sorely vexed and disappointed; and although
the town of Big Island was not platted until in 1826, the
settlers there and in the surrounding community contended for
the county seat, even for many years after it was established at
Marion, and the hope of success was not wholly abandoned until
at the time the court house was erected in Marion in 1832.
Then they quietly yielded to the inevitable, and the place
remains a mere hamlet to this day.
Col. Samuel Everett, one of the earliest
citizens of this township, was born in Brattleboro, Vt., in
1786, where he learned the saddler's trade as he grew up.
He enlisted in the war of 1812 under command of Gen. Hull,
and was one of Hull's men at the infamous surrender of
Detroit. He came to this county in 1825, entered a farm in
the northeast corner of Big Island Township, on Section 1, where
he lived until his death, Feb. 2, 1842. He raised a family
of four daughters and two sons. On the southeast quarter
of Section 1 is situated.
THE NOTED INDIAN FORT.
This fort is on the highest point
of land in the township. It really consists of two forts, the
principal one being surrounded by a deep ditch. The smaller one
contains about three-fourths of an acre, and is connected with the larger
one by a narrow passage. They are said by good engineer to be well
laid out. Part of the fort is still in good preservation - the ditch,
embankment, etc. - showing unmistakably the design of the constructors,
notwithstanding there are many large oaks, three or four feet in diameter,
standing in the bottom of the ditch.
The story of Samuel Britton and his siege by the
wolves is given in the first chapter.
One of the ancient relics of this township is an Indian
graveyard, on the farm of James Harraman.
BIG ISLAND VILLAGE IN EARLY DAYS.
The principal hotel in Big Island
in 1837 was the brick building then kept by Mr. Morgan, afterward by
D. Thurlow, John R. Knapp, Sr., Peter Frederick, Hiram Halsted, etc.
Willey Fowler also kept a hotel, and after his death he was succeeded
by Daniel Thurlow nd he by his widow. Later, William Wiley
erected a fine frame building on the site of the edifice known as the "Old
Mansion."
The first dry goods store of any importance was opened
by Messrs. Norton, Royce & Topliff. John
Hudson at a very early period kept a grocery in the frame building
opposite the brick tavern; it was log ago torn away. Later, Ira
Halsted ran a grocery store in one corner of the brick
building, and Jacob Young a dry goods store in the Norton
building.
The early blacksmiths were David Ross, Levi
Hammond, John Grice and James Lefever. Israel Jones and
Dexter Pangborn were the wagon-
[Pg. 653]
makers. Maj. Pangborn, a patriot of the Revolution,
was the oldest citizen and was highly respected. Royal
Miller and Alfred Walker were shoemakers. Old
Mr. Awkinbaugh also made shoes - at least, says Mr. Knapp
"he made Jakee wear shoes in hay-making time to prevent
his biting himself mit a snake.' " Jonathan and George
O. Ross were coopers. The chief carpenters were
Milton Pixley and Samson and Paul Jones.
The physicians, Dr. Alson, and John C. Norton and
Russell C. Bowdish. Tailors, Joshua S. Batch
and James Green.
Some of the most prominent and
widely known citizens of Marion County were natives of Big
Island Township. Among the number may be mentioned Col.
Everett Messenger and Judge Isaac E. James both of
whom were members of the State Legislature; John R. Knapp,
for many years a leading editor of the county, now of
Washington, D. C., and H. T. VanFleet, a prominent member
of the Marion County bar.
In militia muster days, the village of Big Island was a
favorite point of rendezvous on Saturday afternoon, when
drinking and fighting constituted the chief attractions.
On one Christmas Day in Big Island might be seen at one moment
thirteen fights going on! Imagine twenty-six men, all
"paired" and stripped, and fighting at one time! It was
what was called a free fight, and "outsiders" therefore did not
attempt to check its progress or interfere in any way. To
have "commanded the peace" that day would have been considered a
breach of decorum unpardonable, and, indeed, not a safe
undertaking.
CHURCHES.
Free-Will Baptist Church of Big
Island - This church was organized, according to the old church records,
by the Rev. David Dudley at his house, July 6, 1822. The first
members were Rev. David Dudley, Betsey Dudley, Robert and
Nancy Hopkins, John Page, Margarette Page, P. Wheeler and wife, Mrs.
E. James, Benjamin F. Wheeler, Asa Davis, John Bates and wife, John
C. Bates, Mehala Thomson, George Southwick and wife and D. Thompson
and wife. The society grew in numbers and subsequently erected a small
church building on the northeast quarter of Section 12, which they used for
several years, but which has since been destroyed. They afterward
helped building the old Union Church, R. Hopkins donating the site,
one and one half miles east of Scott Town, on the northeast quarter of
Section 5, in 1842, and it has ever since been their regular place of
meeting. It has been used by the Methodists and Presbyterians also.
In 1868, they helped build the Pleasant Hill Union Church, on the northeast
quarter of Section 10, and in 1873 they built at Big Island Village their
present church, four miles from the Union Church edifice, which was
dedicated July 6, 1873. The church holds regular services at both
places.
The Rev. David Dudley acted as the pastor of
this church for about eighteen years after its organization. He was
followed by Revs. E. Hutchings, _____ Bradford, David Marks, Aaron
Hatch, John B. Wallace, G. W. Baker, Isaac Dotson, Oscar E. Baker, Gideon
Moon, Kendall Higgins, John Collier, S. D. Bates, R. J. Poston, W. Whitacre,
J. F. Tufts and Rev. J. A. Sutton the present pastor. This
church has been a "tower of strength unto the Lord" for upward of sixty
years and numbered among its members many of the most worthy pioneer
settlers of Big Island Township.
Bryan Church of the Evangelical
Association was incorporated May 15, 1879, by the election of Trustees.
The German Methodist
Episcopal Church is situated on Section 17.
RAILROADS.
Big Island Township is now
traversed by two railroads, running the entire length of it east and west.
On the Indianapolis Division of the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati &
Indianapolis Railroad - the oldest railroad in the county, being built about
thirty years ago - are Bryan and Gurley stations, and on the Chicago &
Atlantic Railroad, just completed, are Hords and Espyville. The
Columbus & Toledo Railroad nearly touches the northeast corner of the
township.
AGRICULTURAL STATUS IN 1883.
The following is an annual report,
made in the summer of 1883:
Wheat, acres sown, 2,423; bushels produced, 30,452,
number of acres sown for harvest of 1883, 1,587. Oats, acres sown,
513; acres son for crop of 1883, 270; bushels produced, 10,113. Corn,
acres planted, 3,451; acres planted for crop of 1883, 3,556; bushels
produced, 135,250. Meadow, acres, 1,604; tons of hay, 2,026.
Clover, acres, 204; tons of hay, 234; bushels of seed, 166. Potatoes,
acres planted, 77½ acres for crop of 1883, 65;
bushels produced, 6,945. Butter, 39,505 pounds. Bees, 144 hives;
pounds of honey, 1,445. Eggs, 16,065 dozen. Apples, acres
occupied, 179; bushels produced, 2,630. Lands, number of acres
cultivated, 5,553, number of acres pasture, 6,200; number of acres woodland,
3,074; total number of acres owned, 15,652. Wool, 36,483 pounds.
Milch cows, 171, Stallions, 1. Dogs, 75. Sheep killed by dogs,
72; value, $168. Sheep injured by dogs, 50; value, $30. Hogs
died, 207; value, $1,234. Sheep died, 64; value, $175. cattle
died, 20; value, 430. Horses died, 18; value, $1,410.
BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCHES FOR GRAND TOWNSHIP.
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The following personal notices form
an important feature of the history of Big Island Township. They
contain the chief facts connected with the lives of those who, by their
industry and energy, cleared up and improved it to its present prosperous
condition:
DR. RUSSELL C. BOWDISH
ALBERT J. BRADY
B. D. BRADY
JOHN BRICKER
JAMES BRITTON
MRS. MARY S. BRITTON
C. COONS
JOSEPH B. COUTU
A. O. CRANMER
ALLEN DAY
BENJAMIN P. DUTTON
J. B. FISHER
HIRAM K. FOOS
H. C. FRAME
CHRISTOPHER GRACELY
J. F. GRAY
J. H. GUTHRIE
AARON HARRAMAN
JACOB HECKLER
JOHN HEINER
FREDERICK G. HETTLER
ENOCH HOCH
ARCHIBALD HOPKINS
MRS. SARAH A. HUDSON
WILLIAM G. JOHNSON, SR.
W. G. JOHNSON, JR.
ELMUS LONGACRE
DANIEL LUVISI
JOHN MATTHEWS
MRS. ELIZABETH M. MESSENGER
EVERETT MESSENGER
ORREN MESSENGER
MRS. PATIENCE MESSENGER
REUBEN W. MESSENGER
LEONARD METZ
JOHN PFEIFFER
J. W. REDDING
GEORGE RHOADS
HORACE W. RILEY
JOHN A. SAPPINGTON
J. K. SMITH
JOSEPH SULT
JOHN A. UNCAPHER
JOHN G. UNCAPHER
THOMAS J. UNCAPHER
JOHN WIXTEAD
WILLIAM WIXTEAD
F. M. WOOD
GEORGE S. WOOD
HAMPTON WOOD
WILLIAM B. WOOD
MRS. MARY O. YAUGER
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