The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-11-04
The Pioneers of Montgomery.
TIE RALSToNS.

J, Robert Ralston, Sen. was born III
Lancaster county, Pennsylvania and
was of Irish extraction, his father,
who was born in Ireland. having set
tied in that county uver one hundred
years ago. His father subsequently
located with his family i'll Washing
ton county in the same state. where
lie died. Robert Ralston, Sen, en-
grated TO Richland county, now Ash
land county Ohio, in the spring OF
1914 with his family. He came by
the way Of Jeromeville. jerome, the
halt French Indian, was then residing
at that place and entertained My.
Ralston and family. ct that PERIOD
there were but few families north of
Jeromevillc. William Ewing resided
one mile northwest, Mr.. W llliams,
two and a half miles, John and Thorn
as Carr just north of Williams, Rob
ert Newell still further up the creek,
on what is 10Y known as the Nc
CURE farm, four miles trcm jerome
vile, and Dan Ell Carter, Sen above
Newell some three miles on what is
now known as tie Lang farm, and
Mr.. Mickey on the Mason faIm.--
Mr. Ralston and family stopped the
first night after leaving Jcromeville
ut Mr.. M.ckey's who they found
living IN n camp, engaged IN building
& cabin. Mr. RalSton settled on what
was then called .'Fry's Caht,' now
The Wertman farm, one ms Il half
mics North of Ashland, on the Troy
road, About this time the settle
ment was enlarged by the arrival of
Thomas 1fickie, brothers and family
who located on the present Markiy
farm, Benjamin Cuppy on the David
Sloan farm, jacob Heller on the Lang
farm, Conrad Kline on the Peter
Thomas farm, James huykendall on
the Coup farm, Henry Gamble on
his farm within the corporate limits
OF Ashland, and John McNaull on
the Men ull farm on the Jeromeville
road. Patrick Murray and family on
the Daniel Carterfarm, Henry Baugh-
man, and Jacob Young. During the
winter of lS14-15 the settlement WAS
frequently visited by the Indians ard
n large party encamped On the knoll
where the house Of Jno. A McClusky
is now located, trading ven.son and
other game to the whites for corn,
mich &c. The first settlers had
many difficulties to encounter The
roads were mere paths and travel
with teams almost impossible. Food
for the first year or W was extreme
" scarce and dear. Mr.. Ralston and
son were compelled the first sumner
to 90 within four miles of the White
Woman to purchase corn They
brought it up the Jerome folk of the
| Mohecan i'll a canoe and landed it ut
Finley's Bridge, five miles below Je-
bonneville, and then packed it home
on horses. For a time, the first in
habitants lived upon very plain food
wild oauIc, homony, eorn bread, and
pork being the chef Injuries Of the
country. To these they added maple
sugar !; maple molasses and occasion
ally, a little coffee and tea. Hospi-
tally. and warm fricndSh p character
lied the first settlers; for they often
went five, ten, and sonnet mes fifteen
miles, to help each other raise cabins,
roll logs, and clear UP the forest.
MILLS.
The first mill being a hand mill,
was constructed by Conrad Kline, on
the land of John Mason, and was
used by himself and ne ghbors,. The
next, was Thomas Grams, small mill,
which was built by John Brown, and
was t e first water mil in the town
ship, and was located on or near the
nresent site of Ritter's mill. Thomas
Ford afterwards built a horse mill in
Clearcrcek township Martin Mason
also, about the same time, constructed
a small mill in Orange township.
William Montgomery next built a
small water mill, subsequently owned
by John Jacobs, on the present site
of Rectors mill. in South Ashland.
hese occurrences took place. 1916
1883 and 1920.
FIRST
The first school was taught hy
John wagart, son-in-law of Jacob
Young, a short distance east of
Young's Bridge in Orange township,
in the winter of ISL ;. The next
school was on the farm of Henry
Baughman, and the teacher Robert
Ralston, in the " inter- of 1916. A
school was organized during the
fall of1S17 in the neighb0rhood of
Abraham Hufman's farm in Clear
creek township. and taught b" Rob
ert Ralston, during tie winter fol-
lowing. .