Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/605

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��HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

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��the family. He then returned to Knox County for his famil}', and located them in their new home on the 23d of April. During the succeed- ing summer, Calvin Culver, Wesley Spratt and Francis Mitchell each erected a small cabin, and brought his family. These were probably the only families in Troy previous to the spring of 1814. A brief sketch of these hardy pioneers may be of interest to the survivors. Amariah Watson was formerly of Luzerne County, Penn.; he had owned and sold a farm near Frederick- town, Knox Count}', before coming to Troy. The family consisted of two sons and one daugh- ter at the time of their arrival, and subsequently one daughter and three sons were added to the circle. Mr. Watson was a millwright by voca- tion, energetic, industrious and possessed of con- siderable ingenuity. He was the original pro- prietor of the town site of Lexington ; was active and prominent in building up the ma- terial interests of the village. Having lost his wife, he removed some years afterward to Illinois, where he died. His brothers, Noah and Samuel, were partners with him in his building- enterprises, and also removed to the West.

Elisha Robins was from the same count}*, and had married Mr. Watson's sister. Mr. Robins and wife were already elderly people ; Ijoth had been previously married and reared families, and the fruit of this union was two sons and two daughters. The children removed to Illinois, and the parents, after surviving some 3'ears, died in Troy.

William Gass was a native of Franklin County, Penn. ; he emigrated from Western ^^ir- ginia to the Northwest Territory in 1800 ; set- tled in Fairfield County, and thence removed to Knox County in 1806, and finally to Richland County in 1812. His family consisted of his wife and four sons — Renjamin, James R., John and William— and a bound girl named Charlotte Hedrick. In the spring of 1817, Mrs. Gassdied, and the following year Mr. Gass was married to Mrs. Rebecca Merideth.

��In the spring of 1814, quite a tide of immi- gration set in to the shores of Tro}*. Among these was a sturd}', pious man, who became prominent in the community, Noah Cook, afterward known as " Uncle Noah," on account of his numerous progeny. He settled in the woods, on the farm now occupied Ijy his onl}- surviving son. Mr. Cook was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and was zealous for the success of moralit}- and godliness in the new settlement. He organized the first pra3'er- meeting in the township, and secured its success under peculiar circumstances : At the ap- pointed hour and place, '' Uncle Noah " was present, but no other soul of the settlement. He hesitated onl}* a few minutes, then wor- shiped alone, b}- singing, prayer, and reading a sermon. Some curious passers-by peeped in the window, and went their way. The follow- ing appointment, a few days after, witnessed a large compau}- gathered for worship. From this humble beginning, the religious interests of the settlement advanced, until it has become noted for morality and good order.

Mr. Cook reared a famil}* of thirteen chil- dren, of whom Jabez Cook, of Mansfield, was the third son, and Thomas Cook, of Lexington, is now the onl}' surviving member.

Calvin Culver was from Luzerne Count}-, Penn. His family consisted of three chil- dren — Sterling. Caleli and Julia. They re moved to Washington Township in earh- times.

Wesle}- Spratt was from Knox Count}-. His wife was a sister of Mr. Watson. They were young people, and the location proving sickly for them, after a sojourn of four years, they returned to Knox County.

William and Daniel Cook came from Wash- ington County, Penn., in 1815. William settled one mile west of Lexington, on the farm after- ward owned by Mr. Chamliers. Daniel settled two and a half miles west of Mansfield. They put in their crops, and in the fall returned to bring their families. A large wagon, drawn bv

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