Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/626

 ^:

��614

��HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

��John Stewart's mill, south of Mansfield. He died on the same farm in 1842. Robert inherits the old homestead.

James Mahon came from Harrison County, Ohio, in 1815, and entered half a section of land on the " Big Hill." He taught the first school in the township in the log schoolhouse on Levi Stevenson's farm in 1816. He died in 1820 or 1821.

One of the most prominent and useful fam- ilies of early times were the Halls. They came from Westmoreland County, Penn., in 1815. Mr. Hall had five sons and three daughters, all members of the Presbyterian Church. He entered three quarter-sections of land on the Black Fork, in the southeast corner of the township, in 1815, and, having a strong force of muscular and industrious young men, soon opened up a fine farm. The oldest son married a INIiss Ralston, of Plymouth. Mr. Maxwell, late of Mansfield, married the oldest daughter, though rumor has it that it was a runaway match, but proved to be a most felicitous one. Judge Lee, of Bucyrus, married the youngest- daughter. The entire family have all passed away — the last member died more than ten years ago. The first sermon preached by a Presbyterian minister in this neighborhood was in Mr. Halls house, by Rev. James Rowland. Mr. Hall was fond of a good horse, and was re- mark able for keeping the finest lot of fat horses in the township.

In connection with Mr. Halls history, it would be proper to make mention of a terrific whirlwind that swept over his farm in the year 1824, and the only one of that character that has visited this township in sixty years. It threw down every fence on the farm, carrying fence-rails through the air.

The best barn in the township, at that time, was on this farm. It lifted the heavy, new shingled roof off as if it had been a cobweb, and, what was most remarkable, a hewed log, lying in the lane, half buried in mud, was taken

��up out of its bed and thrown eight or ten rods.

The next day, fifty men collected on the farm to gather up the debris, and collect what materials were available for further use, and bring order out of chaos.

The year 1859 was memorable on account of the unprecedented heavy frost of that year. The preceding winter had been favorable for the protection of winter wheat, and, when spring opened, the wheat was unusually fine, and the prospect for an abundant harvest was never more cheering in the entire history of this township. Some fields of corn on favorable ground was nearl}- knee-high by the 5th of June. Although slight frosts had occurred during the months of April and Ma}', no ma- terial damage had been done ; all kinds of fruit were doing well ; apples were as large as hick- ory-nuts, and wheat was all out in head and in much of it the grain was partly formed. About the 1st of June a light rain fell, after which it turned colder. The weather continued cloudy and cold for two or three daj's, and on the 4th it snowed a little during the day.

At 10 o'clock A. M. of the 4th, the ther- mometer stood just at the freezing point, a strong breeze blowing from the north.

At sunset, the wind dropped ; the sun setting- clear. By o'clock P. M., the mercury was falling very fast ; the stars were unusually brill- iant ; not a sound was heard in the air ; no whip-poor-will raised his night-song ; no chirp- ing cricket lifted its unmusical voice ; all was silent as the house of death — and the house of death indeed it was, for the '• destroying angel "" was abroad in the land, sweeping down tens of thousands of aci-es of the finest grain-fields that ever waved before the breeze, or delighted the eye of the huslnxndman.

The morning' sun rose on a scene of inde- scribable grandeur and desolation. The mead- ows, the wheat-fields, corn-fields and gardens were thicklv covered over with frost-crvstals

��^

�� �� �