Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/408

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��HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

��and continuing on toward Sliiloh, in Cass Township. It is now a much-traveled highway. It was along this road that the larger part of the earl}' settlers entered the township. Many of these early settlers accompanied the army of Beall, and thus saw for the first time the beauties and atl vantages of their future home. Among these were George Hackett and Peter Maring ; the former in the capacity of scout and guide, and the latter as a pioneer, assist- ing to cut the road. Some of the first settlers entered their land as early as 1813 and 1814, but no actual settlement was made, so far as known, until 1814. The settlers who came fii'st were Jacob and John Stoner, and a Mr. McCart. They followed " Beall's trail " in their search for homes in the woods ; the Stoners settling on Section 22, and McCart on Section 30. The widow of John Stoner's son now occupies the old place ; and the McCart farm is now owned by a Mr. Sowders.

In 1815, George Hackett, before mentioned, came, settling on Section 19 — his grandson, William Hackett, now owns the farm. Daniel and James Ayers, William Trucks and Richard Sloman also came, settling near the present site of the village of Ganges. In the spring of 1816, William Guthrie came from Harrison County, Ohio (formerl}' from Pennsjdvania), settling on Section 18. This farm is now occu- pied b}' his gi-andsons — Ransom F. and Arkin- son B. Guthrie. Henry Stoner came at the same time, settling on Section 1 5.

From this time forward, the township settled up more rapidly. John Wolph came in April, 1817 ; Samuel Zeigler in 1817, settling on Sec- tion 17 ; William Shurr, Section 32, 1817 ; Peter Maring, Section 7, 1817 ; Thomas Dick- inson entered his land on Section 7, in January, 1810, but did not occupy it until 1822. His son, Thomas Dickinson, owns and occupies the same farm at present. Other early settlers were Benjamin Krummel, who settled on the farm now occupied by Robert INIeeks, who came

��in 1825 ; John McGaw, John Cleland and Thomas Thompson — the last three arriving about 1822-23, and settling in the eastern part of the township. William Mclntire and Jacob Walker were here as earl}- as 1818. Daniel Quinn, Charles Saviers, Robert and John Cum- mings, Andrew Paul, Jacob Greece, Joseph Sonenstine, Henrj' Young and Wilson Lindse}' were among the earliest settlers in the vicinity of present site of Shenandoah. George Latti- mer and Christian Ehret settled near the pres- ent site of Rome.

It is believed that Mr. McCart erected the first cabin in the township, though there could have been little difference in time between the erection of his cabin and that of the Stoners.

Mr. Guthrie says, that upon his father's farm was a beautiful camping-ground, used by the Indians upon their hunting excursions. They had erected, in a sugar grove which occupied a high piece of ground, an open-ended cabin, which they used as headquarters. Here they sang their songs, danced, and smoked their pipes in the evening, and hunted and lounged during the da3^ They were happy and peace- ful, but their hunting grounds were soon taken from them and their game driven away.

He relates an adventure of his brother John with wolves, which is illustrative of pioneer times. John had been on a visit to a neigh- bor's house, a Mr. Long, who lived in the terri- tory now included in Cass Township, and dark- ness came upon him before he reached home. He was riding a spirited horse, and accompa- nied b}^ a half- wolf dog. The path was narrow and winding. Just before reaching home, his horse and dog scented danger ahead. The former snorted and was inclined to stop, and the latter whined nervously and kept closely under the horse's feet. Guthrie, peering through the darkness, observed dark forms flitting across the path, and knew he was close upon a gang of wolves. They had gathered in the path in front of him.

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