OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List Issue 99 ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgenwebarchives.org ************************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 05 : Issue 99 Today's Topics: #1 Fw: Tid Bits - Part 56. ["Ohio Archives EV1" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <06c601c58ce6$f55a7500$0201a8c0@margaret> Subject: Fw: Tid Bits - Part 56. Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit ----- Original Message ----- From: "Darlene & Kathi kelley" To: Sent: Wednesday, June 08, 2005 7:44 PM Subject: Tid Bits - Part 56. Contributed for Use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley June 10, 2005. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Historical Collections of Ohio And Then They Went West Know Your Ohio Tid Bits - Part 56. Notes by S. Kelly ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tid Bits- Part 56 The Islands of Erie. The Islands of Erie arrayed in full dress, Enrobe the lake scene with strange loveliness. As gorgeously decked in bright verdure they lie. In the soft mellow haze of the still autumn sky. No more brilliant gems, though landed they be. Ever gleamed 'mid the groups of the old Grecian sea. They circle the storm-brewing gates of the west To soothe the "mad spirit" of Erie to rest. And lend their slight forms to the rage of the sea To shelter the storm-tossed in succoring lee; Or. like sentinels, seem to be pointing the way To the harboring arms of bold Islands' bay. When the winds breathless sleep in their carverns of peace. How sylph-like they sit on the lake's lucent face, Or mirrored in beauty on crimson dyed wave When the sun silent sinks in her gold-tinted grave. And the purple horizon depends as a shroud, Of a tapestried mantle, in folds of rich cloud, Then deep'ning so gently upon the pale glow. So sombre and sad, scarcely seeming to know When the last flitting ray of fading twilight Merges in darkness and death gloom of night. Oh! Islands of Erie, how many a scene Of shipwreck and battle around you have seen! How many a gallant youg hero went down When Perry and sailors won glorious renown! You stand as proud monuments over the dead, Who sleep at your feet in their coffinless bed. While the winds shriek or whisper a requiem sigh, And the waves join in murmuring a fond lullaby. And the mariner, glidding along at your side, Recounts all their deeds with emotions of pride. Oh! Islands of beauty, on Erie's broad breast That smile in the sunshine like havens of rest: Or when the storm-god in his wrath wildly raves, Like " sisters " of mercy hang over the waves. E'er bloom in your freshness as lovely as now. To enrapture the eye and make the heart glow. +++++++++++++++++++++++++ Berea, Ohio Berea is located 14 miles southwest of Cleveland's Square. It is the seat of Baldwin University and the German Wallace College. It is famous for its sandstone quarries' Berea got its name by a flip of a coin back in 1836. Reverand Henry O. Sheldon, a circuit rider and later Berea's first postmaster, chose the name over another biblical name of Tabor. The naming of Berea came from the necessity of choosing a name for a post office for Middleburg. For a while the township was known as Water Town. The name of Tabor, after the lonely Mount Tabor near Jerusalem, was another name considered as was Berea as it was mentioned in the 10th and 11th verses of the 17th chapter of Acts, and that name was favored by Reverand Sheldon and one of the communities first settler, John Baldwin. A meeting on September 27, 1836, a method to select the name was agreed upon. Tabor was written on one side of a half dollar and Berea on the other. John Baldwin called out " Heads " as the coin was tossed and the name of Berea came up, to be entered in the records of the United States Post Office. John Baldwin, Sr, arrived from Connecticut in 1828 and located in Middleburg Township, Cuyahoga County, where he purchased a large tract of land, and established his home. In 1842, near his home, he noticed a thin slab of stone, with a gritty nature, leading him to believe that it would be suitable for grindstones. he took it home and shaped it into a grindstone with an old ace and after using it, found it had excellant sharpening qualities, much better than any stone he had seen in Connecticut. He started turning grindstones out on a lathe, which he operated with waterpower. For the next decade, he turned out grindstones made of " Berea Grit." From 1850 to 1870, Berea sandstone came into use as a building material and was recognized as a standard among the building stones of the country. Berea Grit is sandstone which forms the middle layer of the Waverly group of geological rock formations in Ohio, outcropping in the northern part of the state. Berea Grit is sandwiched between two other layers of stone; below it lies red Bedford limestone, while immdiately above it is Berea Shale ad Cuyahoga Shale, each about 10 or 15 feet thick. Between the shale and the grit is a coat of glacial drift a few inchs thick containing ancient fossils, shells, and bones. The rock formation of which the Berea quarries are a part, extends from Central Ohio, east to Pennsylvania and West Virginia and south into Kentucky. Berea Grit is of Mississipian Age origin ( it has been 300 million years since the beginning of this age). This sandstone in Ohio is found east of a line drawn from Erie County in the north to Adams County in the south. Significantly, some of the best sandstone in the United States lies beneath Cuyahoga and Lorain counties. The sandstone John Baldwin and his neighbors found in the 1830's was very near the surface in Berea, although as the stone formation moves south, it dips at a rate of twenty feet a mile. ( In fact, the first sandstone here was seen by man because over the years, water from Rocky River had removed the covering layers and had exposed the valuable stone at the surface.) Because of its large sand grains, geologists believe that Berea Grit probably was deposited near the shore of an ancient lake. The sandstone found in Berea -- the largest sandstone quarries in the world -- is unique in that the grain runs the long way of the blocks, making it easier to quarry and more durable in its uses. Berea Grit also is famous for its eveness in texture and color. It is free from impurities that would lessen its value in the commercial market. Analysis of Berea Sandstone show that it is composed of at least 93 percent silica, four percent alumina, plus other trace elements, and weighs 140 pounds per cubic foot. Once sandstone is removed from the ground and " cured " ( that is, its water or " sap " is dried out ) it becomes impervious to water, salt, or chemicals, making it superior to other types of building stone or man-made substances. The unique quality of sandstone as a grinding stone is that as the outer surface grows dull with use, the worn particles break off, constantly exposing a fresh and sharp surface for sharpeing tools. Much work had to be done before the desired stone was reached. I the quarries Baldwin founded in the south of Berea, for example, the valuable sandstone was covered by four feet of earth, a foot of useless " black rock." and 21 feet of shale. The " Berea Ten Foot Sheet " ( or Layer ), by far the most valuable of all the area's building stone, was the third layer down the southern quarries. This grayish-white sandstone was free from pebbles and was found in sheets varying in thickness from six inches to ten feet. These layers usually had a good bed-seam, meaning they could be quarried separately and with regard to their intended use. The best layers of Berea Grit were saved for making world famous grindstones which required a smooth and even texture, neither too soft nor too hard. These layers also had to be completely free from cracks, flaws, foreign objects, or hard spots. Futhermore, stone to be shaped into grindstones or whetstones had to be easily split into desired sizes. Other less suitable grades of sandstone, if removed in large slabs, were sawed into paving blocks and flagging for sidewaks and drveways. Before the invention of the "Baldwin Blower," workers died after what was called " grindstone consumption." their lungs being found after death to be filled with a fine, flour like dust with which the air was impreginated. Now the disease is unknown. The demand soon became so urgent that John Baldwin, foreseeing its value as article of commercial industry, devting his energies to its development. Mr. Baldwin possessed a keen sagacity, downright honesty, strict economy coupled with a generosity that at times was almost a fault, imdomitable perseverance that knew no defeat, and a Christianity whose mantle was charity. When Baldwin first gave his attention to Berea stone grindstones were cut by hand, but he conceived the idea of turning them. Having no shaft or mandle suitable for such work, he made a model of basswood, and one moonlight night placed it on his shoulder and walked to Cleveland to have it made, and with but slight improvement this model is still in use. In former times much of the rock was wasted in quarrying and cutting, but little sawing beening done. Now nearly all the cutting is by steam-power, and about twenty gangs of the most improved saws are kept at work in season nigt and day The quarries are below drainage and steam pumps are constantly at work pumping out water. Some idea of the properties of this indusry can be formed by the statement that of the 3,000 inhabitants of Berea, three fourths get their living directly or indirectly from the quarries, most of them are German, Irish, and Hungarian. John Baldwin and his good wife Mary, whose pioneering spirit, were dedicated to the teachings of the Bible, and fervor for education, created the vision for a community and for educational institution. John Baldwin founded Baldwin Institute, open to male and female, and to all races, creeds and nationalities. He personally worked to construct buildings to house classes, a chapel, and housing fr students His legacy is of enormous importance to the community as well as to the college as he developed the Berea sandstone quarries into the most important factor in the area and he gave generously of his time and his money for the betterment of the community. No charitable properties were disregarded for his friends, neighbors, workers, and students. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tid Bits continued in Part 57. -- I am using the free version of SPAMfighter for private users. It has removed 1431 spam emails to date. Paying users do not have this message in their emails. Try www.SPAMfighter.com for free now! ______________________________ ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Wed, 20 Jul 2005 00:55:43 -0400 From: "Ohio Archives EV1" To: OH-FOOTSTEPS-L@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <06d201c58ce7$49289ea0$0201a8c0@margaret> Subject: Fw: Tid Bits - part 57 B Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit ----- Original Message ----- From: "Darlene & Kathi kelley" To: Sent: Sunday, June 26, 2005 3:26 PM Subject: Tid Bits - part 57 B Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley June 27, 2005. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Historical Collections of Ohio And Then They Went West. Know Your Ohio Tid Bits -- part 57 B. by Darlene E. Kelley Notes by S. Kelly [ ] ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tid Bits- Part 57B. Continuation of Washington's Lands. [ Mt. Pleasant Twp. ] Soon after Col. Washington's visit to the lands, he secured the services of Thomas Smith, Esq., of Bedford County, leading attorney [ afterwards a justice of the Supreme Court ], to commence suits of ejectment against the parties. Suit was brought at the December term, 1784. Hugh M. Brackenridge represented the defendants. No claim was made on the part of the settlers to priority of title, and was the rights of Washington by the Virginia patent were well authenticated, and the suit was successful against the settlers. The claim brought by them was that the lands were purchased by Col. Washington of Col George Croghan, who obtained his rights by Indian purchase, which were not recognized by either the States of Virginia or Pennsylvania. Ohio was yet, not a State. The names of the settlers who had located on the Washinton Lands and against whom ejectment suits were brought were SAMUEL MCBRIDE, JAMES MCBRIDE, THOMAS BIGGET [ Bigger ], WILLIAM STEWART, BRICE MCGEHAN, JOHN REED, ESQ., DAVID REED, JOHN GLEN, JAMES SCOTT ( the elder ) WILLIAM HILLIS, and MATTHEW JOHNSON. Possession was given to Gen. Washngton, some of the parties remaining on the land as tenants, others on land adjoining. THOMAS BIGGER removed to the land in which he settled in 1773 in what is now Robinson township. Matthew Ritchie acted as local agent for Washington, and on the 1st of June, 1796, he purchased the entire tract for twelve thousand dollars. Shortly after the purchase he advertised the lands for sale, and says of it, " There are thirteen farms cleared and cultivated. The soil is of excellant quality, rich, level, well timbered, and well watered." No deeds of record to show that Matthew Richie ever sold any of the tract. He died in the spring of 1798. By his will made on the 25th of February, 1798, and probated in March that year, he devised this land to Aleander Addison and his heirs and assigns, subject to account for the profits after payment of the purchase money." The executors of the estate were John Ritchie and Alexander Addison. The records do not show any settlement of account by them, nor is there any release on file to Addison, or settlement by him for profits on sale of land. In the month of March, 1802, Absalom Baird, then sheriff of Washington County, advertised the two thousand eight hundred and thirteen aces of land for sale, they being " The Lands and tenements of Col Matthew Ritchie, Deceased, in my Bailiwick." He was ordered to levy on the land, " as wel as a certain debt of $6409.20., being the last two installments due upon a mortgage which is held by Bushrod Washington, William Augusta Washington, George Steptoe Washington, Samuel Washington, and Samuel Lewis, Executors, and Martha Washington, Executrix, of Gen. George Washington," In pursuance were exposed at public vendue on the day advertised, and were sold to Alexander Addison for sixty dollars, he being the highest bidder. The sheriff's deed bears the date of May 4, 1802. Judge Addison commenced the sales of lands after this purchase, and on the 3rd of April of that year conveyed three hundred and one acres to James Scroggs, one hundred forty acres to John Cowden, and one hundred and ninty four acres to James McDowell. On the 8th of September the same year ninty nine acres were sold to Matthew Hillis. Two hundred and fifty-one acres were conveyed to John Berry, Aug 15, 1804; one hundred and fifty acres to Robert George, April 10, 1805; and three hundred and nine acres to Samuel Scott on the 4th of may the same year. Judge Addison died Nov 27, 1807, and Mrs. Addison, his widow, was executrix of the estate. She appointed John Johnson her attorney. He purchased two hundred acres of the remainder on the 1st of April, 1810, and on the 5th of April te same year Jane Addison, as executrix, sold all the residue or remainder of the two thousand eight hundred and thirteen acres yet unsold at that date, which was about thirteen hundred acres to John Johnson. Of the settlers on these Washington lands, James Mc Dowell, in addition to his first purchase from Addison, bought of John Johnson one hundred and forty acres ( also part of the Washington lands), Jan 23, 1812. This tract he sold two days later to James Campbell. The land he bought of Judge Addison was sold by his executors, Feb 5, 1828, to William Crewford, who left it by will with other lands, Feb 27, 1846, to his son James, Thomas, and Robert. The one hundred and ninety- four acres first purchased by James MCDowell was sold by James Crawford to JOHN REED. James Scroggs, who bought three hundred and one acres, lived to a ripe old age, and left two sons, James and Reynolds. The land now belonged to JOHN REED. John Cowden, who bought in 1802, one hundred and forty acres, lived on this place until his death, when the land was sold to William Crawford. He left several children, Isaac, a son, settled near Hickory, where John McBirney now owns. JOHN and DAVID REED, brothers, and sons of DAVID REED, were natives of Lancaster County. They came to tis county in 1777, and induced by the representations of agents of Col. George Grohgan, andthe offer of settlement rights by the State of Virginia on compliance with certain conditions, they settled on these lands, clearing off a small portion, and building each a cabin. In the fall they returned to Lancaster County. John was already married, and David was married on his return home. In the spring following they with their wives moved to their new homes. They lived several years undisturbed. Soon after the organization of Washinton County in 1781, John Reed was chosen justice of the peace of the district which afterwards in 1787 became the fourth, and justice of the peace of the court of Common Pleas, and was reappointed in November of 1788. On October 2nd 1783, he had purchased of David Lindsey ' all that tract or parcel of land lying and between on the water's of Miller's Run, within the county and containing four hundred acres," adjoining James McCormick and others. After the ejectment suit was decided he removed to his land in Cecil township, after owned by Mrs. Cubbage. Here he died in 1816, leaving a son David, and daugters, Catherine, Ann, Jane, and Mary. David settled on the farm and later removed and spent the rest of his time near Felicity and Rural, and buried in Mt. Pleasant, near where his grand-daughter, Belle Reed, daughter of Joseph Reed and Racheal ( Morgan) Reed raised a family of eleven children. David Reed's son John, lived on the farm many years, and sold to a party in Pittsburg, who sold to John Cabbage. Catherine became the wife of Rev. Daniel McClean, who settled at Chenango, Pa; Ann married Robert Story and moved to Mt. Pleasant; Jane became the wife of Rev David Emery, and settled at Darlington, Beaver County; Mary married the Rev. Alexander Murray, and settled for a while at Slippery Rock, Pa. David Reed the brother of John Reed,Esq., lived there till the ejection suits were decided, and purchased in Cecil township and later at Mt. Pleasant. It was at his house that Washinton dined when he came to tese lands on the 22nd of Septemeber, 1784. A David Reed was listed [ by Rev. W.A. McConnell ) on the oldest record of the session of Mt. Pleasant as one of the ruling members that bears the date of June 1, 1821, of the United Presbyterian Congregation of Mt. Pleasant. It is recognized as a congregation in the oldest minute of Chartiers Presbytery now exant, the record of Nov.10, 1801. Name's on this record is ; Messrrs, Patrick Douglas, William Nelson, Thomas Mc.Call, David Reed, Loudowick McCarrell, and John McBride. Succeding elders were installed later, with John Reed Esq, installed in 1846. The elders in charge of the congregation were of the time of this writing; John Mc Burney, Robert Jeffery, Nathaniel White, James Caldwell, Samuel Moore, J.H. Moore, T.M. Berryhill, and Alexander V. Reed. All within the limits of Mt. Pleasant Twp. Matthew Hillis was a settler here before these lands were sold. he had taken a tract of land on a Virginia certificate, one hundred and thirty acres of which he sold Dec 5, 1803, to John McKibbins. He died in 1803. He left a wife, Elizabeth, and seven daughters,-- Elizabeth ( Mrs. Hugh Dobbins), Martha ( Mrs. John McKibbens), Eleanor ( Mrs. Abraham Boyd), Rebecca ( Mrs. Ebenezer R. Donaldson), Jane ( Mrs. Charles Glass ) Agnes ( Mrs. Wm Smith ) and Mary. There were a Richard and William Hillis; the later was one of those ejected in 1784. Robert George, who purchased one hundred and fifty acres in 1805, lived here until his death. His son, bought one hundred and five acres of Thomas Cherry, March 28, 1835, about one mile from Midway, where his son Samuel lived. John Berry, a native of Ireland, came to Mt. Pleasant township, and purchased two hundred and fifty acres of the Washington land of Alexander Addison on the 15th of August, 1804. He lived on this farm till his death, and left two sons, John and William. John remained on the original tract. His son William finally owned it. John, a son of John, had four sons,--- Jonathan and John who went to Steubenville, Ohio; William, who settled on the home tract; and Samuel, who became a presbyterian minister. Of the daughters, Eliza became the wife of Alexander May, of Cecil township; Mary married Robert Riddle, Willam, the son of John Berry Sr., moved to Venice, purchased a farm in North Strabane township, where he settled , and his descendants still live. Samuel Scott, on the fourth of May, 1805, purchased of Alexander Addison, three hundred and nine acres of land, where he lived till his death. Of his sons, John settled on the homestead and died there. His son, John received the farm. J.P. Scott, of Cecil township, married a daughter of Robert Cook, and resided on the Cook farm in Cecil. John Scott, a son of Samuel, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and settled in Mount Pleasant township, where his sons, John and Joseph also resided. Of the lands John Johnson purchased of Mrs. Addison,Vincent Cockins bough two hundred and sixty-five acres, August 1, 1817, on which his son, John Cockins resided. Dr. James Irwin purchased one hundred and four acres, May 7, 1810; John Hogseed, one hundred and eighty acres, Apr.1. 1813; David McConehey, one hundred and eighty acres, Sept 10, 1817; Matthew Johnson was one of the ejected in 1784. He purchased, Mar 7, 1783, of David Long, a tract of land along the waters of Shirtee Creek.[ It is said to contain two hundred acres. ] Church meetings were at first held in private houses, and afterwards in the grove south, until the erection of the churches. Two churches therein contained were Mt. Prospect Church, The United Presbyterian Congregation of Mt. Pleasant. All within 6 miles of the residents. There does not appear to have been a building of any kind untill the church was formally organized. After they build a board " tent was first erected in the grove, which occupied by the congregations in the summer, while they started the erection of the churches, which were ready by the summer of 1826. They were built by Hugh McConaughey. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -- I am using the free version of SPAMfighter for private users. It has removed 1431 spam emails to date. Paying users do not have this message in their emails. Try www.SPAMfighter.com for free now! -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V05 Issue #99 ******************************************