The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1874-11-13
THE REGULIR MEETING LAST SAT.
rRDAY.
PROCEEDINGS AND SPEECHES.

PROCEEDINGS AND SPEECHES.
The regular semi-annuaI meeting of
the Hancck County Pioneer and Histor-
rical Society was held at the Court House
last Saturday afternoon. The attend
ance was quite small, a circumstance
that is to be regretted ;but notwithstand-
ing this, the meeting was not without in
terest. The society was called to order
by Richard Dukes, Esq, one of the Vice
Presidents. Mr.. Dukes, not wishing to
perform the duties of presiding officer,
Mr.. Joseph Johnson, of Portage town
shin. was chosen Chairman On taking
the chair, Mr.. johnson thanked the So
ciery for the honor of calling him to the
chair, and expressed the wish that the
organization would fully accomplish the
ends for which it was organized The
minutes OF the previous meetings were
read by the Secretary,D d. B. Beardsley,
Esq, and there being no objections to
them, they were app roved.
One new member was added to the
list Mrs Elizabeth Kara, of CasS town
ship, who came to the County in 1881
There are now - persons members OF
the society. After the preliminary bus
mess had been disposed OF, the chairman
called on those present for remarks on
the subject of their pioneer life and ex-
perience. The first speaker was
NELSON POE, ESQ,
Of Liberty township.
Mr. Poe said that lie had resided in
Hancock county for iifty-two years.
He well remembered how, when a mere
child, an Indian squaw tried to steal
him. When she picked him up and
startt d of, and Ee began TO scream. -
This attracted the attention of an older
brother and he too made such demon
strations as to frighten the hag, and she
released him. When Mr.. Poe's father
raised a crop of wheat it was first
tramped out and thrown up and down
in sheet, which, with the assistance of
the wind. separated the grain from the
chaif Next sort of windlasS or blow
er was used. This, while it was n slow
process. was better than the other. The
''hOrse milr' was one of the things that
the pioneers had TO depend on for their
bread stutfs. The grinding of grain at
one of the mills was tedious work, ,-''es-
pecially when IL was EJoved a. oxen. y
There was much sickness in the ''earIy
DAYS" of this county. The "chills and
fever was terrible scourge to the set
tiers. 1t required energy, and patience,
and fortitude on the part of the pio-
neers to accomplish what they did
There was plenty of hard work and but
little rest, yet withal, the life they led
was TO them a blessing, and they can
now look back TO their pioneer days with
pleasure.
JOHN II. WILLIAMSON, ESQ,
Although Mr. Williamson is not a
member OF the society. he has been in
the county sufficiently long to meet its
requirements.
His fafher came to Hancock County
in 1881, settling on section 6, in Jackson
township. He was born in Pickaway
county, this State, in 1920. When they
first came TO the county, there were but
few settlers. Mr.. Williamson lived four
miles south of Findlay, and his nearest
neighbor was Mr.. Chamberlin. His faith
er was principally employed in hunting,
game being exceedingly plenty in those
days.
RICHARD DUKES, ESQ,
was the next speaker. He said he had
been a pioneer all his life. He was born
in Virginia, in 1902. His father moved
to Franklin county, o., in 1906. Mr..
| Dukes remembers when there was but
| single shingled house on the site of the
| present city of Columbus. There were
| not more than a half dozen cabins there
| then. That was about the year Isle
| He remembers well the war of IS12-
| His father kept a hotel on the road lead
! ing from Columbus TO Chiiiicothe The
! American troops used to pass the house
| very frequently, often in charge of red
coats, that had been made prisoners.
! Mr. Dukes came TO this county in 1925.
| lie said he remembered the old log mill
! that stood where CarIin's Mill now
stands. At one time it stopped in June,
and did not start again until the follow
! ing March. The settlers We're compelled
| TO resort 10 their Tin graters" for meal
| to make bread, in consequence.
NJ ). HAMLIS, ESQ,
This gentleman came TO the county
when seven years of age, and has been
a resident foTty-nlne Years. He was in
! Findlay when the village consisted of
only four houses. He remembers when
there was 10 person living in jackson or
Amanda townships. His people settled
in Delaware township. Mr.. Asa Lake
was the first settler in that township
The cabin which lie built is stir stand
ing. 1t was erected fifty-six years ago.
| At The time Mr.. Hamlin's father settled
| in the township there was band of In
dians living at Mt. Blanchard. Mr..
| Hainlin well remembers when Ransbot-
tom, Helms, and other of the pioneers.
first began to clear up their farms He
related how he and some others ding up
a large quantity OF silver rings and silver
bands for the neck. ears and wrists. at
the foot cf a walnut tree, on the farm
of Don AIonzo Hamlin. The trinkets
had been buried there with the body of
a dead Indian. The value of the rings,
etc. was not known, all supposing it to
be tin. Afterward MIR. Hamlin's father
learned their value from two traders.
named Whitaker and Olmstead. at Ty-
mochtee. and exchanged them for coin
At another time large piece of gold was
| found. on which was some curiously
wrought figures. and an inscription in
French. The value of this was not
known at the time, and it eventually got
lost.
JOSEPH JOHNSON, EsQ-
Tie chairman related how he hewed
timber for the first Court House in Find
;ay, and also for the first school house.
He was enthusiastic on the subject of
pioneers meeting together and talking
over old times" and having a record of
the struggles and hardships of the pio-
neers- the work they had done, and
the triumphs they had achieved Mr..
johnson said that when Father Mckin-
mis- lived near where Mr.. Poe now lives,
an Indian had been buried with all or
naments, many of which were very val
liable
WILLIAM VANCE, ESQ.
Was called for, but declined to make any
remarks.
JOSEPH HELMS, ESQ.
OF Madison township, related how he
had assisted in rolling the ground where
Mr.. RaIston's orchard now stands, south
of town, a few miles. He remembers
very well when Indians were more plenty