Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/613

Rh It will be seen that one of the earliest, if not the earliest, family in the township, was the Watson family. Noah Watson was one of the claimants at the ax presentation in Mansfield, Febrnary 10, 1858. The following letter was written by Mr. Watson on that occasion :

Washington Township, Richland Co., January 8, 1858.

To Jabez Cook, Umpire :  I, Noah Watson, certify that I helped to build the first two cabins in the vicinity of Lexington, and also did a job of clearing on Amariah Watson's first field, commencing about the 8th of March, 1812. I also entered the southeast quarter of Section 7, Range 18, Township 20, in which I now live, and commenced clearing in 1818.

Mr. Watson was elected one of the first Con- stables in the township. At the close of his term, he concluded to make an estimate of the amount of business transacted and the pecuniary emoluments arising therefrom. After a careful examination of the docket and other records, he found he had served two summons and two warrants, for which he had received no fees. He was not, therefore, under the necessity of employing an accountant to get his business in shape for final settlement.

He volunteered, in 1813, in Capt. Ichabod Nye's company, and started for the relief of Harrison at Fort Meigs. The siege was raised before their arrival, and their services were not needed.

John Stewart also became prominent in the township and county, being the first Justice of the Peace, and continuing in that office six consecutive years. In 1820 or 1821, he was appointed Auditor of the county by the Legislature, and, in the fall of 1 822, was elected to the same office by the people, serving eight consecutive years. In the fall of 1810, after the organiza- tion of the township, he was appointed County Surveyor by the Court, and held this office about eighteen years. In all, he served as a Justice of the Peace twenty-two years.

Although Jedediah Smith did not settle permanently in the township until 1810, he was here as early as 1812, when he came to enter land. He was a great hunter, and many deer, wild turkeys, bears and other animals fell before his unerring rifle. He remembers, on his first visit, talking to Chief Armstrong of the Greentown Indians. The chief told him he believed Wayne was a spirit, " For,'" said he, " I had three shots at him with a dead rest, and could not bring him down; I could have killed a buck at twice the distance." He directed Mr. Smith to the Zimmer cabin for a night's lodging. This family then consisted of father, mother and a son and daughter, and the romance of this visit is that Mr. Smith fell in love with the beautiful daughter, Kate, and they were engaged to be married, when the Zimmer family was murdered — all except the son, Phillip, who happened to be absent. Mr. Smith had entered the land he afterward occupied, and returned to his home in Washington County, Penn., where he was when the tragedy occurred. He remained single until the family came out here four or five years later.

Calvin Culver was also a great hunter, as was nearly all the early pioneers. On one occasion, he was pursued by wolves in the evening, and ran for the two cabins, then standing on the site of Lexington. He was unable to reach them, however, and was compelled to climb a tree, where he remained until morning.

Some weeks after Mr. James Sirpliss settled in the township, he, in company with one of his brothers, happening in the woods one day, half a mile from their cabin, came suddenly upon a black bear. Jowler, the dog, immediately gave chase, and the bear, being pushed, ascended a large poplar-tree. Being unarmed, the brother returned to the cabin for his rifle, while James and Jowler remained to watch. Before the brother returned with the gun. bruin, as if comprehending the situation, commenced descending. James and the dog immediately prepared to give him battle. upon alighting, the bear elevated himself upon his