Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/691

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��HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

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��morning, and the auctioneer, John Shriver, ex- pended a wonderful amount of breath, but could get no bids whatever. At noon, Mr. Cox despaired of being the founder of a town, and offered his farm for $300, apparently disgusted with the non-success of the undertaking. No one, however, would buy his farai, even at that mone3^ In this extremity, some one hinted to Mr. Cox a matter that gentleman had over- looked, and which had been the cause of all his trouble. It was the absence of whisky. A jug of the beverage was immediately obtained, a few berries put in, and it was called cherry bounce. After partaking freely of this, the selling of lots again commenced, with better success. The services of John Shriver were dispensed with, and T. J. Bull, of Loudonville, mounted a chestnut stump, which stood about the place now occupied by the town fountain. The first lot was bid off by David Richmond, a shoemaker, for 175. At the close of the da}-.

��a mere fraction of the laud which at noon had been offered for $300, had been sold for more than twice that amount. Mr. Cox should have understood pioneer nature better than to have attempted anything in those days without the aid of whisky. As evidence of this. Dr. Will- iam Bushnell says they attempted once to raise a log barn without whisky, but it could not be done ; and the Doctor, then a bo}*, was sent to the distiller}' near Uniontown (Ashland) for a jug of the precious beverage. On this trip, the Doctor became lost in the woods, and was com- pelled to lay out over night, with the wolves for companions.

The post office at Hayes Cross Roads was established in January, 1827. Mr. Cox was Postmaster, and held the office until 1841. John Wilson was the first mail-camer.

Hayesville is now a pleasant village of three or four hundred people. There are several good stores, and the society is excellent.

��CHAPTER LXXIV.

CONGRESS TOAVNSHIP.*

Boundaries and Physical Features — Early Settlements — Village of Williamsport — Schoolhouses — Post Office — United Brethren Church — Pioneers — First Mill — Mt. Tabor Chapel — German Reformed Church — Christian Church — Schools, Etc.

��THIS territory was formerlj' embraced in the limits of Perry Township. June 6> 1825, Perry was divided, setting off a tract six miles square from the west end, and was or- ganized and named Congi'ess. This township has maintained its original form, excepting in the southwest corner, where a few sections have been set off into Gilead Township for political purposes. Congress Township, in its general appeai-ance and character, resembles Bloomfield, being rather level, yet gently undulating in some portions. The land is generally' tillable and the soil fertile. There are several streams


 * Now in Morrow County, formerly in Richland.

��coursing through this region, affording stock water and drainage. The early settlements gravitated about two points. Williamsport and West Point. The village of Williamsport is located on the northeast quarter of Section 11. The town site was laid out by William Daken, September 12, 1836. It was surveyed b}- John Stewart. The village stands upon an elevation, and is easily accessible from either side.

The first building erected upon the town site was a small frame, about twenty feet long by eighteen feet wide, and occupied by B. P. Truax as a store. On the opposite corner, di- agonallv across the street, was §oon erected a

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