Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/617

Rh called into requisition, as the county was once more alarmed by the cry of horse-thieves and counterfeiters. This gang was also composed of some of the actual settlers (whose descendants are living there to-day), and others at a distance. They began by stealing a horse of Mr. Taylor, on Honey Creek; next a Rockingham colt, a valuable animal, from Alexander Rice; and then robbing Mr. Hart's store on Honey Creek, three miles south of Hayesville. This alarmed the country, and the Black Cane Company were soon marshaling their forces. It seemed to be the only way of ridding the country of this band, who could easily elude, or successfully resist, the officers of the law.

In retaliation for their pursuit, the villains burned the barns of Jonathan Coulter and William Irvin, and, about the same time, cut loose from its moorings a large flat-boat, loaded with three or four hundred barrels of pork, flour and whisky, and allowed it to drift at random down the Black Fork. The boat and cargo were, however, saved. During the year the gang operated, almost every house in the neighborhood was plundered of something. By the vigilance and exertions of the Black Cane Company and the citizens generally, this gang of rascals was finally driven from the township and country. Some of them were sent to the Penitentiary.

The first temperance society in Richland County, and indeed in this part of the country, was organized in this township. It was entirely indigenous to the soil of this township, none of its members having had any previous knowledge of such an organization. They early witnessed the baleful effects of strong drink, and saw with a good deal of concern that its use among the settlers was increasing. A great number of distilleries were erected all over the township. Nearly all the corn marketed was at these distilleries, and whisky was consequently plenty and cheap. It was found by the barrel in almost every cabin, and was in daily use. A few of these early settlers saw that this must be stopped ; that if they would escape the plight of intemperance, some organized effort must be made. A meeting was therefore called on the 29th of March, 1827, at the house of Samuel Smith, in Monroe Township, near the east line of Washington, and organized by calling Thomas Smith to the chair and appointing Samuel Richey Secretary. Thomas and Samuel Smith and Alexander McBride were appointed a committee to present a basis of action, and soon presented the following :

Whereas, The common use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage is injurious to the health of the consumer, and ruinous to the morals of the community,

Resolved, That we form ourselves into a society to be known by the name of the Washington and Monroe Temperance Society, and that we adopt the following pledge for our guide:

We, whose names are hereunto attached, do pledge ourselves to dispense with the common use of ardent spirits in our families, and at our gatherings and frolics and, as far as our influence extends, use all laudable means to discourage the use of it in others.

To this were attached the names of the Smiths, including Samuel, Vernon T., Thomas Sr., and Jedediah; Henry Mosar, Lambright Larnee, Joseph Coe, Robert McDermott. Levi Tarr, David Newlon, John and Lancelot Conwell. Joseph Reed, Alexander McBride, Henry Hull. George, David and John McFarland, Andrew Schosser, James, Richard and Robert Sirpliss. Elias Hyser, and Wesley. Benjamin. John J. and John K. Barnes.

At first, the matter of getting along without whisky at log-rollings, raisings, etc.. was earnestly discussed, but it was finally determined to adopt the above pledge for one year, at the end of which time they were to meet and report progress.

To counteract this, an anti-temperance society was organized, But it did not last long; they, however, outnumbered the other in names, ten to one. This temperance society had an organ- ized existence for more than thirty years, meeting once a year, on the first night in every