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Big Spring Twp. -
JOHN YOUNG
settled in the woods about half
way between Springville and New Reigel, in the spring of 1833. He
came from near Canal Dover, where he hired a four horse team to bring
him here. It took him three weeks to get here, and the few
inhabitants of Springville were about one-half whites, and the others
Indians. Here Mr. Young met a man whom he once knew
in Stark county, by the name of Jacob Gwyer who offered to pilot
young to his land, and said he lived near Springville, and
pretended that he had to go home first to get the number of the section;
but instead of going he lingered around, and he seen several times
peeping into the big wagon, no doubt watching for a chance to get into
the big hest. When Mr. Young told him that it was time to
get the map, he went away and never returned, but was seen by some
hunters sneaking around the camp the following night, dressed in an
Indian costume.
On the next day Mr. Young moved out onto his
land, where the family was left in the woods, and the teamster returned
to Jenkins' to feed. Jenkins kept a sort of
trading post at the Spring. To get onto the land was no small job.
There was no road that way, and the swales were full of water.
Night overtook them before the land was reached. They unhitched,
cut some wild grass for the horses, and ate and slept in the wagon.
Mr. Young's family consisted of himself, his wife and three small
boys. His father and his wife's brother came out here with him to
see him get started in the woods.
At night the men took turn about in watching.
They kept up a large fire, and had a Newfoundland dog with them, who
saved their lives, as will soon appear. On the next day they
reached the land, about two o'clock, where they hastily unloaded, to
give the teamster time to return to Springfield to feed his starving
horses. The men then put up a temporary shanty by planting four
forks into the ground, upon which poles were laid, and covered with
clap-boards in a very rude manner. This "Grand Hotel de Young"
answered the purpose about ten days, when the other house was ready to
move into.
Just as the family were about to retire on the first
night in this shanty, the big dog sprang out into the darkness, barking
very fiercely. He saw a man, and would have taken hold of him had
not Mr. Young called him away. Mr. Young thought it
was some hunter or friendly Indian that wanted to see the new-comers,
but the man walked away, and Mr. Young concluded that it was
Gwyer. Mr. Young's horse was let loose, and the cow was
driven away that night. This created the fear in Young's mind that
this plan would make the men run after the lost animals next day, and
give the villain an opportunity to rob the shanty. There was no
money in it, however, for Mr. Young had used it about all to pay
for his land. Gwyer some time afterwards confessed the
whole plan. The men were on the lookout, and kept themselves well
armed.
This Jacob Gwyer was afterwards arrested for
murdering a man named Boyd, near Bucyrus. When his arrest
took place in Detroit, he confessed the murder and several robberies,
for which he had never been blamed; also his attempt to rob Samuel
Young. Before the day arrived for the execution, he and three
horse-thieves made their escape to Ohio, and Gwyer was
re-arrested near Dayton, where his wife lived. While there in
prison he cut his throat with a knife.
Samuel Young was born in Washington county,
Pennsylvania, Aug. 13th, 1794. He was a cooper by trade. He
married Isabella Sutton, Nov. 17th, 1818. He was five feet six
inches high, ha black hair and deep blue eyes, light complexion short
stubby nose, small mouth and chin, and was rather delicate in his
features. He spoke some German, and was always very lively in
conversation. He was a pleasant and peaceable man and esteemed for
his good qualities and christian bearing. He served on juries
often and refused several times to serve as a township officer. He
died many years ago. Mrs. Young is still living at her home
in Adrian. She is now 78 years old and enjoys the love and respect
of all her neighbors and especially that of her children and
grand-children, who annually gather around her with their smiles and
congratulations.
Mr. Young was 63 years old when he died here in
1859.
Mrs. Young was born Dec. 31, 1802, and enjoys
very good health for a lady of her age. She is the mother of ten
children.
In those early days a large family was a pride and a
glory. The sin and crime of avoiding to have a family, are the
children of these later days; sins and crimes that are not punished by
law, and again which the church shuts both eyes, but the victims may be
counted by the thousands.
What will the world come to when this dreadful crime
reaches the masses and religion fails in her mission to save.?
Source: History of Seneca County : from
the close of the Revolutionary War to July, 1880 - Springfield,
Ohio: Transcript Print. Co., 1880 - Page 489 |
