Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1858-07-14
Historical Sketches Of Carroll
COHnty..-.BrOWn Township.
ny 0Eo. HARDEsTY.
CHAPTER w.
(COatinued.)

and settled upon the tract Of land on which
he still resides, little south east Of Oneida.
On this tract there was a fine spring Of
running water, AfOrding an excellent site
for a distillery; and as there was in sue.
cessfull operation grist mill at Pekin, it
was thought by the neighboH, that the
rsxt important improvement would be the
erection Of distillery in the township
Accordingly the next year Mr.. Eakin yield
ed to the wishes Of bis neighbors,and built
one near where bis barn now stands. The
first whiskey manufactured at this distil-
lery, was sold for one dollar and fifty cts.
per gallon, and the demand was always e.
quail to the supply. Rye and corn were
worth one dollar per bushel, thus it will be
seen that distilling liquor at that early day
was profitable business. Mr.. Eakin con.
tinued to run his distilIery for number Of
years, and what is peculiar in bis case, is,
that although be is now seventy two years
Of age, and in the enjoyment Of excellent
health, and has raised a large family of
sons and daughters, not one Of the fam
lily ever became addicted 10 the intemper-
ate use of ardent spirits, being almost an
Anomely in the case Of distiIlers and tav.
ern keepers.
Although the price of liquor at this ear.
ly period in the settlement of the township
was so high, and tue means of procuring
it so limited, yet it was kept as an article
Of entertainment in almost every family,
and no one thought Of calling his neigL.
bors together to assist him, either at a rails
ing, log rolling, husking, or Jrollick" of
any kind without furnishing it literally.
These .frollicEs," as they were then cal.
led, were generally the occasion Of great
deal of sport; jumping, wrestling, pitching
quoits, throwing the rail, &C., were freely
INDUCED in, even after a laborious days
work. And when cuttings were connec-
ted with the frolIick. as was often the case,
aud the wives and daughters of the men
were present, the night was generally spent
n playing aRd dancing. There were bu'
few cases Of neuralgia, dyspepsia, or liver
complaint Id these days, aud the presence
of Doctor was rarely seen in the families
OF the early settlers.
Rev. Thomas Rigdon-brother Of Sid,
ney Rigdon of Mormon notoriety--preach-
ed the first sermon in the township, in the
year 1915, in an unfinished building 10
Pvkin, afterwards occupied as tavern by
Mrs. EIlenor Barr, and recently torn down
in the construction of the railroad. Mr.,
Rigdon was a regular baptist minister and
a man of considerable intelligence. He was
afterwards elected Representative from
Columbisna county to the Ohio Legisa-
ture.
The township was organized in the year
1915, and was named after Mr.. Jehu
Brow n-uncle to Rev. Jehu Brown, late
of Waynesburgb, now Of Iowa-whdlheu
resided in Pekin, a mill-wrigbt, who built
the first mill in the township. In its first
organization, the township was but six mile.
square, but in the erection of Carroll CO.,
two miles off the east end of Sandy town
ship were added to it, making it six miles
wide and eight miles long, which is its
present dimensions.
The first election, for township officers
after the organization OF the township, was
held in the spring Of 1916. James Reed
and Thomas Latta, we're the opposing can.
didates for Justice Of the Peace. Every
voter in the township was present at the
election. TUenty nine votes we're polled
in all. James Reed had fourteen, Thos
Latta fourteen, and one blank. As the
candidates we're "tisd," the Judges Of the
election proceeded to determine the mat
ter by lot, and James Reed was declared
the first Justice Of the Peace for the town
ship, which Office be held for tsCsRty on,
years In succession.
In those days there were but few irtri
cate questions Of law to be settled by Jus
tees Of the Peace. Almost every kind o
action, except murder and horse stealing
was considered proper subject for comprO
mise between the contendipg parties; anC
it was not an unusual thing for cases o
assault and battery, and other offences a
gainst the criminal laws of the State, to b
thus disposed Of. The prosecuting witness
acting as he agent of the State Of Ohio
was supposed to have full power, to settl
and discontinue any action be may hay
commenced in behalf of the State.
AS general thing, cases Of assault an,
battery were settled,and the parties "draul
friends" before prosecution was commeu
ced; but when a case Of this kind did e
before Justice, the most intense interef
was excited upon the part of the friends G
each party, and general turmoil of th
whole neighborhood was the result. Th
merits Of the case were fully discussed AN
propositions made to snake friends" an
let the case "drap."
The question "who struck first, "alway
had an important bearing upon the SETTLE
ment OF the case. and when that point WI
once settled, the case was pretty well throug
with, for the proposition generally follow
ed, that he should treat the whole crowt
and pay the costs Of suit, and they wouI
all part "good friends" which propositic
was almost invariably accepted, aud IL
case ended.
Early in the spring of 1914, paint
occurrence took place in the township
Mr.. Aaron Pugh, fatherin-law to WiiIial
Woods, with bis family. bad settled on th
tract Of land, 10 Harrison tp., afteEwayt
owned and occupied BY Mr.. w, at the tin
ofhisdeath, In the last of February or fir
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