KNOX COUNTY OHIO - Norton's History of Knox County [Chapter XXIV]

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A History of Knox County, Ohio, From 1779 to 1862 
Inclusive: Comprising Biographical Sketches, Anecdotes and 
incidents of men connected with the county from its first 
settlement: Together with complete lists of the senators, 
representatives, sherriffs, auditors, commissioners, 
treasurers, judges, justices of the peace, and other 
officers of the county, also of those who have served in a 
military capacity from its first organization to the 
present time, and also a sketch of Kenyon College, and 
other institutions of learning and religion within the 
county. 
By A. Banning Norton.

Columbus: Richard Nevins, Printer. 1862
Entered according to the act of Congress in the year 1862 
by A. Banning Norton, In the Clerk’s office of the Southern 
District of Ohio.
     ____________________________________________

CHAPTER XXIV.

SOME ACCOUNT OF THR TOWNSMPS SEVERED FROM OLD 
KNOX.--CHESTER,BLOOMFIELD AND FRANKLIN--THEIR 
HISTORY UNTIL MORROW WAS CREATED.

THE territory of Knox remained entire, notwithstanding 
extraordinary efforts had been made time and again to 
erect new counties, taking a part of her territory, until, at 
the session of the Legislature in 1848, Morrow was 
created-taking from Knox Chester, Franklin and 
Bloomfield townships.
Chester Township, the oldest of the three, was laid off 
by order of the Commissioners at their sessIon April 10th, 
1812. The first election was held at the house of Wm. 
Johnson, on the 25th of that month. The Judges of election 
this year were Joscph Duncan, Henry George, Evan Holt; 
Clerks, Wm. Johnson and Samuel Johnson. Rufus Dodd, 
first lister of taxable property, received a $3 county order 
for his services this year. In addition to the above-named, 
we find other early settlers to have been Ensley Johnson, 
John Walker, David Miller, John Parcels, Enos Miles, 
Robert Dalrymple, Isaac Norton, James and George 
Irwin, Joseph Howard, Bartlet Norton, and Daniel 
Kimbel. Moses Morris, Henry George and a few other 
Welch families, were among the number of the best 
citizens of this township, and many of their countrymen 
located

around them. The greater part of the original families were 
from New Jersey.
In 1813, at the October election, there were fifteen 
voters; among them were Joseph, William and Uriah 
Denman, Sam"l Shaw and Chism May. The vote stood, for 
Representative, Gass 15; Commissioner, Peter Wolf 9; 
Sheriff, John Hawn, Jr. 13, Wm. Mitchel 2.
The forks of Owl Creek passing through this township 
afford several good mill-seats a durable power, and furnish 
the people with facilities for gettincr breadstuffs at their own 
doors. Their lands are generally rolling and very productive. 
The citizens have ever been distinguished for industry and 
thrifty management. In 1830, the population was 778; in 
1840, it was 1,297; and in 1850, 1,620.
Chesterville, the post-office and business point, was laid 
out by Enos Miles, deputy surveyor, -. for niany years the 
post-office went by the name of Miles"s >< Roads, and the 
good tavern keeper"s name seemed for a long time likely to 
absorb the other. It was on the main thoroughfare from Mt. 
Vernon to Mt. Gilead, and on the old State road from 
Johnstown to Paris and New Haven; distant from Mt. 
Vernon 14 miles, from Fredericktown 8, from Mt. Gilead 
10, from Johnstown 23, and 30 from Paris. In 1830, it 
contained 250 inhabitants, 40 dwellings, 5 stores, 1 tavern, 
1 flour-mill, 1 sawmill, 1 tannery, 1 church, and several 
mechanic shops. This village has ever been distinguished for 
the attention paid to schools, churches, etc., and the general 
morality of its citizens; of whom we may name the Shurs, 
the Bartletts, and Hance,

who have been heavily engaged in merchandise and trade, 
Abram King, Dr. Richard E. Lord, Dan. Miles and Judge 
Kinsel.
Evan Holt, as a revolutionary soldier, served six years; 
was a native of Chester, Pa., emigrated to this county in 
1808, and lived for 39 years on land received for his 
services. He also was a pensioner until his death, in his 
84th year, leaving a large family married and settled 
around him. Evan. Jr. was a great fighter-possessed of 
bone, muscle and pluck; he fought in Morris township, 
about 35 years ago, a fist fight with John Magoogin. where 
he displayed uncommon skill. They had a difficulty at a 
camp-meeting over the creek, on James Smith"s farm, and 
then made up this fight. to come off at the first big muster 
at the Cross Roads, by Wm. Mitchell"s. A great crowd 
witnessed it. Magoogin was a stout and brisk man of much 
courage; he died a soldier in the Mexican war. The fight 
was conducted fairly, and Magoogin carried the palm.
The Dalrymple family is one of the most respected, of 
whom Charles has long been a good justice of the 
township.
The poll-book of Chester in April, 1824. concludes as 
follows :-" We certify that John Stilley had 26 votes for 
Justice, Wm. W. Evans 26. Decided by draught in favor of 
John Stilley. John De Witt, John Beebee, Jas. 
McCracken, Judges:
Enos Miles, Jas. F. Clapp, Clerks. We therefore do certify 
that John Stilley from Arrangements was duly elected a 
justice of the peace for Chester township, this 1st 
Monday, April, A. D. 1824."

SUCCESSIVE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

1812. Wm. Johnson.          1833. Enos Miles. 
1817. Rufus Dodd.           1936. Joseph Denman.	 
1819. W. Van Buskirk.       1836. Byram Beers. 
1822. W. Van Buskirk.       1839. Byram Beers.
1820. Enos Miles.           1842. Byram Beers.
1839. Daniel Beers.         1845. Byram Beers.
1823. Daniel Beers.         1835. Henry Dc Witt. 
1824. John Stilley.         1838. 
1826. John Beebee.          1842. P. B. Ayres. 
1829. John Beebee.          1845. 
1832. John Beebee.          1843. Thomas Peterson. 
1827. Moses Powell.         1846. Davis Miles. 
1830. Moses Powell.         1844. Charles Dairymple. 
1833. Moses Powell.         1847.

Franklin, the most extreme township in the north-
west corner of "old Knox," before she was shorn of 
her fair proportions by the erection of Morrow, was 
first known December 3d, 1823, by being created 
and named after the philosopher, statesman and 
printer, Benjamin Franklin. The first election came off 
on the first Monday of April, 1823, at the house of 
Thomas Axtell. The principal place of business is 
Pulaskiville.
Jamestown was many years ago a famous business 
place, projected by Allen Kelly, Esq., who emigrated 
from Northumberland county, Pa., at a very early 
day, and has ever been a prominent stock raiser and 
farmer. David Peoples, David Shaw, Wm. T. 
Campbell, Washington Strong, the Petersons, 
Hickmans, Blairs and Van Buskirks were among the 
early settlers. Of these Abraham Blair, of Perth 
Amboy, N. J., settled in 1811 upon the farm on which 
he died, in his 90th year, on the

2d of October, 1846. He served as a minute man during the 
Revolutionary War, and participated in the battles of Trenton 
and Monmouth. He was a good citizen, and much respected.
David Shaw served his fellow-citizens over twenty-one 
years as a Justice of the Peace, and was also Commissioner 
of the County nine years. He was a very clever, quaint old 
gentlc1n~l1i, whose name is ever associated with Franklin 
township affairs affairs.
Colonel Strong was noted as a military character, and a 
democrat. His patriotic party ardor sustained him in walking 
all the way from home to the State Conventions at Columbus. 
and back again. And speaking of democracy reminds us of 
the zeal of Joshua Bickford, who, for many years. was one of 
the shining lights of Franklin. One little incident is worthy of 
note. He was selected once upon a time as Chairman of a 
County Convention, and among other business was the 
appointment of delegates to a district convention to be held at 
Johnstown to nominate a candidate for Congress. One of the 
legal gentlemen of the party arose. and moved the 
appointment of a committee to select delegates to the 
Congressional Convention. &c. President Bickford put the 
question-" Gentlemen. all you in favor of the motion just 
made about delegates to the Congregational Convention 
will say aye." The gentleman who made the motion sprang to 
his feet somewhat excited, exclaiming, "The Congressional 
Convention," I said. "Exactly," said the President; "You've 
heard the motion, Gentlemen: the Congregational 
Convention I said.

and I say it again, and I know what Mr. M---- said, and 
what we all want-we want democrats to congregate at 
Johnstown, and it is a Congregational Convention." 
Joshua was in earnest in whatever he undertook, and 
seconded by the efforts of Lieut. Bernard Fields usually 
carried his points. He was noted as tavern-keeper, 
merchant and horse-trader. and was always "bobbing 
around."
In addition to the prominent citizens enumerated as 
having held official positions, we may mention the 
Swingleys, from Hagerstown, Md., Sam. Livingston, Henry 
Weatherby, Anson Prouty, Wm. Fans, Wm. Gordon, 
Benjamin Corwin, Alex. Wilson, Jonathan Olin, Wm. 
Layering, Caleb Barton.
H.	P. Eldrige, C. Sapp, Wm. Linn, B. O. Pitinan, David 
Ewers, Ebenezer Hartwell, B. and E. Lyon, Ben. Hathaway 
and Thomas Morrison.
In 1830, Franklin had over 16,000 acres of land upon 
the tax list, and the census then showed only 800 
inhabitants. In 1840, the inhabitants numbered 1,343, and 
in 1850, 1,456.
Upon the organization of this township, Wm. Van 
Buskirk, a Justice of the Peace within the territory, who had 
been re-elected in 1822, continued the functions until again 
elected in 1824. In 1824, John Truax was elected. In 1827, 
David Shaw was elected, and subsequently re-elected over 
and over again; and when the township was carried into 
Morrow county, it took the old Justice along to keep it 
straight. H. W. Strong was elected in 1834, and re-elected 
in 1837. Wm. Van Bus-kirk was elected in 1840, re-
elected in 1843, and

again in 1846; and during his term of service the 
connection with Knox was severed.
Bloomfield Township was created June 23d, 1817, 
and received its name in this wise: Several of the settlers 
were at the house of Sheldon Clark early in the Spring, 
talking about the new township, when John Bliun called 
attention to the coming of flowers upon the beautiful 
mound that they stood upon, and suggested that, as the 
field was in bloom, it should be called Bloomfield, which 
was accordingly done.
Benjamin H. Taylor was the first lister of property for 
taxation and made his return June, 1818, receiving an 
order for $5 for his services.
The family of Artemas Swetland emigrated to this 
State in 1808, and in 1812 located in this part of the 
county, where their name has ever since existed.
The next earliest settlers were the Clarks, Walker 
Lyon, Preston Hubbell, Seth Nash, John Helt, Wm. 
Ayres, John Blinn, Dr. Bliss, Samuel Whitney, Lucius 
French, Stephen Marvin, Samuel Mead, Lemuel Potter-
all industrious and substantial men. The Clarks-Roswell, 
Sheldon and Marsha], were sons of Daniel Clark, of New 
Haven co., Ct. Lyon, Hubbell, Nash, Whitney, French, 
Marvin and Mead, were also from that county. Helt and 
Ayres were from Washington co., Pa.
The first post office established was called Clark"s 
><Roads, at the intersection of the road from Johnstown 
to New Haven with the road from Mt. Vernon to 
Delaware-a central point-being 13 miles from Berkshire, 
Mt. Vernon, Chestervile

and Johnstown. The post office was subsequently styled 
Bloomfield.
The next was Sparta, upon the old State road from 
Mansfield via Frederick to Sunbury and Columbus. It is 
considerable of a trading point. From 1810 to 1850 much 
mechanical and manufacturing was carried on. Benjamin 
Chase erected quite a large woolen manufactory and ran it 
for several years; upon his death the works stopped. 
Charles Osborne was the last at the business; he moved to 
Mt. Gilead and has since gone west, somewhere. Elisha 
Cook now operates a steam saw and grist mill in the old 
factory buildings.
In 1817 there were only 16 voters. In 1840, the 
population had increased to 1,252; and in 1850, 1,395.
Of the first settlers Sheldon and Roswell Clark, Walker 
Lyon, Stephen Marvin, Samuel Mead, A. W. and Giles and 
F. M. Swetland are yet living.
Roswell Clark came to the country in 1816, with his 
wife. They have had three children-Daniel, now in Xenia; 
Eliza married John Barr, in Bloomfield; Rev. Wesley died at 
West Liberty, two years ago, aged 46 years. He was a 
preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a man of 
much worth; his widow and children live in Bloomfield. 
Sheldon Clark was married when he emigrated, in 1819, 
and has two daughters-Victorine P., married Floyd Sears; 
and Rebecca Jane, C. B. Jackson. Preston Hubbell is dead, 
and his three children are in the west. Lucius French is dead; 
his son, Andrew, and daughter, Emeline, live in Bloomfield.

John Helt survives with two children-Casper. a son, in 
Bloomfield; and Lafayette, a soldier in the army. Wm. 
Ayres is dead, and left no children. Walker Lyon, in his 
73d year, is in Bloomfield with his son, Smith. He has two 
daughters living-Harriet, wife of Rowland Rogers; and 
Sally Jane, wife of James Howe, of Fredericktown. 
Samuel Whitney died leaving two children--Wheeler, in 
Bloomfield ; and Samuel, near Berkshire. Seth Nash is 
dead, and his children, three in number, are in the west. 
Artemas Swetland is dead; his three boys-Augustus W., 
Fuller M., and Seth, and his daughter, Mrs. Wm. Shurr, 
are living. Lemuel Potter moved into Bloomfield in 1819 
from southern Ohio ; he is dead, and left eight children-
Cassandra lives in Blooinfield, Lemuel, jr., in Urbana, and 
two of the boys are doctors in Wayne.
Among the early items of this township was the 
separation of a man and wife, by public notice given, as 
follows : "By mutual consent James C. and Rebecca 
Wilson, of Bloomfield township, Knox county, have this 
day (Oct. 21st) agreed to dissolve as being man and 
wife."
Stephen Marvin is living. He had three children; two 
survive-Charlotte, widow of Wesley Clark; and Eliza, wife 
of Dr. Page.
The first brick house in this township was built in 1823, 
by Roswell Clark, a two story building in which he has so 
long resided. The first frame house was the two story 
frame in which Sheldon Clark resides, built in 1828. Prior 
to these houses they, like other settlers, lived in log cabins. 
The

Clarks burnt the first lime in this township on hog-heaps. 
The price then was fifty cents per bushel unsacked—just 
double the present rate. Since that they have burnt many 
kilns, and made their support and fortunes. For many years 
they furnished the greater part of the lime used at Mount 
Vernon for building and other purposes.
Among the objects of sympathy, at an earls- day, was 
Samuel Collinfare, a poor little hunchback and ricketed 
spinner, who traveled from house to house and spun for 
the citizens. He was a native of the Isle of Man, and made 
his first appearance about 1819. The dwarf never would 
work for wages, but for clothes and food-was good 
society-well informed and ever cheerfully greeted where he 
called. A few years since E. W. Cotton, obeying the 
prompting of a generous heart, erected a monument in the 
burying ground to mark the spot where his mortal remains 
were laid.
The first church in this township was the Methodist 
Episcopal. at Bloomfield, on Clark street. as it is called : it 
was erected in 1839. The next Methodist Episcopal 
Church was built at Sparta in 1816.
In 1816 the Christian Church was put up in Spata. Tese 
churches are frame buildings. The first preacher in the 
township was Thomas Kerr, Methodist. A good man-long 
since departed. About 1817 Rev. -------Cooper, 
Methodist, officiated in the township ; he is also dead. 
They were both local preachers.
The Rev.-----Britton, about 1817, preached the 
Christian or Campbelite doctrine. Rev. James Smith, about 
the same time, was a voice crying

aloud in this wilderness the same gospel truths. They also 
have passed hence.
In 1850 the Wesleyan Methodists erected a small 
church about one and a half miles west of Sparta, at 
which the noted Edward Smith preached until he died at 
Harmony in 1859; his body was interred in the Bloomfield 
burying ground. The present preachers are John T. 
Kellum and Wm. Conant, Methodist Episcopal; Rev. - 
Bainam, Wesleyan Methodist. The last Christian minister 
was the Rev. J. W. Marvin.
The Rev. - Cleaver, a Cumberland Presbyterian 
minister of Bellville, occasionally holds forth in this 
township.
The first white person to die in Blooinfield township 
was Marshal Clark, brother of Sheldon and Roswell, who 
died in 1816.
Bloomfield deserves more than a passing notice for the 
respect shown to the dead. The cemetery is a sacred 
spot-neat and tastily kept. It is one mile north of Clark 
street, and contains many neat and costly monuments.
The trustees of the township have, from its first 
selection, had its keeping in charge, and they deserve 
credit for its management.
The first store in this township was kept by -Carpenter. 
The second by Dr. A. W. Swetland, who is vet in 
business at Sparta.
The other parties selling goods at Sparta are Chase & 
Co., the brothers Wm., John & E. Byron, L. Swetland, 
and Antipas Dexter; and a stock of goods is kept at 
Bloomfield by Mann Lyon.

Among the residents of Bloomfield arc thu Con-ways. 
Widow Charlotte Conway, who died in 1859, moved from 
Fauquier co., Va., with her sons Joseph, Wm. and John. 
Joseph married a daughter of Wm. Sanford in 1812; Wm. 
lives near Mt. Liberty, and John in Knox co., Missouri. The 
Manvilles, the Barrs, the Sanfords, Lovelands, Sheldons, 
Burkholders, Searses, Ashleys, Craigs, Throckmortons and 
Higginses, are also among the well known names.
The Cottons were among the early settlers and as such 
deserving of notice at our hands, more especially- since the 
name continues in the county and is familiar to our people. 
Harris W. Cotton, one of the commissioners of Fayette co., 
Pa., entered a section of land in Bloomfield, and upon his 
return home, while preparing to move, died. His sons, 
Emmet W. and Harris, brought out the mother and family. 
The old lady died in June , 1851, of cancer. The children 
were Nancy, wife of James Thompson, in  Milford; Mary, 
wife of Michael Cramer, in Union county ; Pamelia, wife of 
Elijah Crable, in Liberty ; John W. in West Brownsville, Pa. 
; Harris W. who died in Liberty in 1835, Emmet W. in Mt. 
Vernon; Louisa, wife of Thomas Merrill, who died about 
1852 in Columbus, Ill. ; Charlotte, wife of Robert Butler, 
who also died in Illinois ; and Elizabeth, first wife of M. 
Cramer, who died in Clinton township about 1833. The 
main dependence for errands and chores of the family, in 
early times, was Emmet, who has often carried two bushels 
of wheat on horseback to Mt. Vernon and exchanged it for 
one pound of

coffee. At that time the only improvments on the road to 
Norton"s mill were, first, a little clearing------Higgins ; the 
next at the old Norton farm, now owned by Frazier; the 
next at Chapman's next an old cabin, on the Gotshal 
place, where -Wolford lives; and these were all on the 
now thickly settled road from Bloomfield to Mt. Vernon.
Idon V. Ball. born in Brownsville, Pa.. in 1805 married 
Catliarine Woods, of that place : moved to Bloomfield in 
Sept. 1811, and settled on the place he has since resided 
upon. H has had one daughter and eight sons ; six of his 
boys now survive. For twenty years he has been engaged 
in farming and entertaining the public Many a wayfaring 
man has fared sumptuously at his stand, and many have 
been the happy parties of pleasure- seekers from Mt. 
Vernon and other points, who have been hospitably 
entertained by Mr. Ball and his excellent lady.
William McKinstry and John Brocaw are among the 
prominent farmers of Bloomfield, both from from 
Hunterton county, New Jersey, and came to Knox county 
with the family of Matthias McKinstry, in
1831.
John Lincweaver came in 1827, and still lives in it, with 
a considerable family. Harvey Lounsbery is another old 
settler. Antipas and Chauncey Dexter, good millwrights, 
are also among the present inhabitants.
Thomas Osborne and his wife Olive, emigrated from 
Rhode island in 1818. He (lied in 1853, in his 74th year 
she is at the old homestead. in her 74th year. They had 
nine children. Those now

living are all in Bloonifield, but Orilla, wife of Jesse 
Severe, in Liberty. John H. married Nancy Severe ; James 
M.., Sophia Thatcher ; Amanda is the wife of David Coyle ; 
Sarah Ann the wife of John Dustin ; Wm. N. married 
Harriet Dustin, and George R., Purilla Roberts. The old 
gentleman had been a sailor and soldier, and did good 
service in his day and generation.
Samuel Westbrook was a good rough carpenter and 
joiner ; he moved to Michigan, and is now dead. The 
Westbrooks were among the old settlers of this township ; 
none of the name now live in Knox county.
An aeronaut, by the name of F. H. Westbrook, met with 
a terrible end on the 4th of July, 1862.There was a large 
concourse Of people at Sparta, in commoration of the 
national anniversary, who were addressed by Rev. Mills 
Harrod, W. L. Bane, and A. Banning" Norton, and at 5 
o"clock P.M., as previously announced, a balloon  went up 
with Westbrook to the distance of perhaps five hundred 
feet, when it burst in pieces and fell to the earth, killing the 
reckless navigator. It was a miserable rotten old fabric, and 
was the most foolhardy
operation we have ever witnessed. About three thousand 
people were estimated to have been present, witnessing the 
sad termination to an otherwise joyful occasion. What a 
sudden transition from life to death ! Within five minutes of 
the time he ascended, waving his hat amid the hurrahs and 
shouts of the people, he fell a corpse, leaving a wife and 
several children to mourn his exit. For their benefit B. L. 
Swetland at once

started a subscription, which was liberally responded to 
by good citizens.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

June 23d, 1817, the Court of Common Pleas allowed 
Bloomfield one justice, to) be elected at tIe house of 
Timothy Smith, and Matthew Marvin was chosen in 1818.

1819. Walker Lyon.      1824. James Thompson.
1822. Walker Lyon.      1827. R. Clark.
1820. John Manrihlo.    1833. James Thompson.
1823. Stephen Dodd.     1837. John Beebee
1824. David Bliss.      1840. John Beebee
1827. John Manville.    1836. James Shumate.
1830. John Manville.    1844. Jacob J. Thompson.
1834. David Bliss.      1846. Wheeler Ashley.
1837. David Bliss.      1848. Charles M. Eaton.
1840. David Bliss.      
1843. Jared Irvine.     1846. Charles M. Eaton.