Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/464

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��HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY

��Mansfield, upon a farm, and for many years Gen. James Hedges boarded in the same cabin- house with Jacob Newman."

The following is from James Cunningham, father of Matilda Cunningham. It was taken down in writing by the Rev. James McGaw, in a conversation with Mr. Cunningham. " Capt. James Cunningham was born in the State of Maryland, and, in 177(5, emigi-ated with his father to Westmoreland County, Penn., and afterward to Monongalia County, Va., where the father died. In 1804, James emigi'ated to Licking County, Ohio, and from there to Rich- land in 1 809, in the month of May, and landed on the Black Fork of the Mohican, where he found Samuel Lewis, Henry McCart, Mr. Shaeffer and Andrew Craig, who had landed there onl}' a few weeks before him. After landing, he put out a crop of corn, then went back, brought out his wife, and put her down in the woods along- side of a camp fire, and commenced Ijuilding a shanty over her head. This he completed in about three days, having in his employ three hands. In the following August, his wife gave birth to a daughter, being the first white child born in Richland County. In October of the same year, he moved into the only log cabin then standing In Mansfield, which had been built some months previousl}- by one Samuel Martin. This cabin stood on the corner lot of E. P. Sturges."

The above very direct testimony- of the father of the claimant goes to show that she was born on the Black Fork of the Mohican.

The following two letters are given as much for their historical interest, as for their bearing on this case. The first, written by Henry New- man, a son of Jacol) Newman, is dated March, 1873 : " I think it to be an unmixed truth, that Mansfield Hedges Cxilkison was the first child, as the truth and veracity of the very early pioneers of Mansfield and vicinity cannot be questioned or denied. They were Gen. James Hedges, my father. Jacob Newman, John Wal-

��lace, George Coflfinberry, Rolin Weldon, Michael Newman, James McCluer (one of the first Asso- ciate Judges), Capt. David Newal and John Chapman, the last better known as Johnnj^ Appleseed, and others I could mention — all re- spectable first-class pioneers, settlers in Mans- field and vicinity. They could not have been mistaken with regard to the fact, that ]Mansfield H. Gilkison was the first white child born in the town of Mansfield. I pronounce all the above- named gentlemen (now deceased), in their day, men of truth and veracit}*, and that judgment will be aflflrmed by many yet living in Mans- field and vicinit}'. I have heard most, if not all of them, speak of the fact that ^lansfield H. Gilkison was the first white child Ijorn in Mans- field. How is it possible those first pioneers could be mistaken ? How is it that I never heard the first intimation to the contrary' until latel3^ and yet lived in Mansfield and the county of Richland over fort}' years ? * * * The venerable old lady, and others who advo- cate as a fact that Matilda Cunningham was born in Mansfield, in the cabin built by Jacob Newman, or built by a Mr. ]Martin, are most certainly mistaken. * * * j never knew but one Mr. iNIartin in Mansfield, and he was a contractor under Gen. Crooks, in the war of 1812-13, and had his headquarters during the winter in Mansfield. The cabin spoken of, which they claim ^Martin Ijuilt, was close to and north of where the Sturges Block now stands. When I first came to Mansfield, Joseph Middle- ton and wife lived in that cabin ; after they left it, the cabin became a trading-shop for Lewis Jones, who kept groceries and whisky, and dealt out the same to whites and Indians. by drunken Indians, from the effects of the whisky sold them by Jones. This was yet while we lived on the farm, sold to Beam in 1810 or 1811."
 * * * C)ur family was frequentl}' annoyed

The following is from Harriet Hedges : " I have read the communication of m}' lirother,

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