The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-08-04
THE OLDEN TIMES.
Early Recollections-COntinued.
Number 10.

Number 10.
These general reflections have contin-
ued far beyond my original design; but
there is something continually spring
ing up In my mind which seems TO be
agoniEing to get on paper; so have
ventured on, noting one thing and an
other which may not always be interest
ing 10 the reader, vet which make up the /
som Of my historical recollections Of
the topography and incidents Of the ear
ly days Of Somerset I have been think |
ing IL / could have the assistance OF
two or three Of The quite old residents
Of Somerset, who are still living, 10 a.
sist me in reaching back to the gencra-
ton beyond mine, how much could
add to the interest Of these papers. but
the reader must be content with what
am able to give, and look to those whose
history il identified with the beginning
Of your village history to supply that
which i am unhoIe 10 give
Somerset, like most Of the old towns
Of Ohio, has turned out fair share Of
sur, ,,lus population to people the "Great
West" Her sons and daughters and
their descendants may be found scatter
cd in almost every county in this State,
and in almost every county in all the
Western States. The fact that occas-
ionally wanderer becomes homesick,
and returns to the place Of his nativity,
must not be attributed to any particular
charming virtue that exists in the wa
iers Of "Finks Spring" for every other
village in the State under that ruling
might lay claim to a similar "spring."
There are those in every locality who
would rather die near their "old home
in poverty, than live sumptuously in
strange land. This is but the outcrop-
ping Of feeling which all men possess
to n greater or less degree, and we do
not wonder that it overcomes few and
sends them back to the place of their
nativity. Home is q blessed retreat. Its
hallowed associations coil around mems
souls, and remind them continually OF
other and happier days, and we can no
more shake them off than we can shake
OF our own nature. 1t is natural for
men, as they approach thoshady side Of
life, to linger upon the past, rather than
be anxious for the future. Upon this
principle, we can readily see why such
men as George Brunner, John F. Mains,
VIM. +. Finck, Roswell Keenan,, Joe.
Walker, and others in whom the home
feeling is largely developed, prefer to
linger at their old posts instead Of sever
ing their old associations and entering
into new and untried fields. The old
store-box or salt-barrel in front Of the
stores has a charm for social gossip
which would not be yielded for all the
romance the rover might find in his
peregrinations over the world. We
live in the past because our early i'm
pressions cannot be forgotten. They are
the eternal associations that grow with
our growth and strengthen with our
strength. And why should they grow
dull to us when we grow old and our
strength begins to fail? And when will
all these tender ties end? Are there nc
lessons in all this for us to profit by in
the way Of reminding us of better
hOmef Should. they not inspire us tc
reach out after that eternal hope which
shall end in the fruiiion OF happier
state that shall know no change Of time
or body? Are not all these deep seated
instincts to eliminate finally in tha
grand central gathering where all earth
weary stf==gglsrs shall find homef Ar,
they no, our reminders that earth can
not long afford us an abiding place?
let us take brief survey of the gen
Grafton Of men who resided in Somerse
in 1s39-40-about thirty-seven year
ago. Thirty to thirty. three years ar
usually counted as comprising gener
alton. will recall the names Of abou
260 persons who then resided within tn
corporation Of the town, and immedi
ately near it, who were then old enougI
to be voters, and running up to old age
Let us. name them, and see what has be
come Of them. There wsre:-
Henry Dittoe, Daniel Griggs, Patric
Mcdonald, Thomas Hood, VIM. +
Moeller, Adam Humberger, Georg
Morris, Daniel Parkinson, sr., Marti
Scott, John Sergeant, A. w. Mcclure
Adam Fink, Augustus J. DeLons
James Hewitt, John b. Orton, Jaco
Fink, Isaac Davis, Jacob Noles, job
4. Linn, VIM. Jackson, Jacob Gonglof
David Whitehead, Alfred Adams, A. ,
Kinney, Abraham Hamisfar, Josep
Lavenburg, VIM. Lane, William i
Beard, John l.. Williams, Williar
Mussellman, Richard Griggs, Richar
Caywood. Andrew Keenan,, John Lent
David Church, Joseph Kalenbach, job
Beckwith, Joseph Denfenbaugb, Jamt
s. Rigby, Col. VIM. Spencer, Isaia
Beckwith, George Beckwith, Thomi
Smith, John !. Johnson, ]. Ferguson
VIM. d. Harper, George B. Furry, Wn
Shank, Anthony Finck, James w. Shi
ley, Samuel Shearer, William Binckle,
John Miller (printer), John Mill
(hatter), John Miller (tailor), Hira
Shaw, Washington Dodd, o. Ii. Moe
Ter, Patrick S. Slevin, William Wrigh
J. $. Glover, John Poorman, Nichols
Ziegler, f. X. Magruder, James Johl
son, William johnson, c. c. Hood,
w. Donovan, Nicholas Gonglof, Charl
Elder. Augustus Barnitz, John
Hearholzer, John Law, George A. Croo
Phillip Maxwell, Turner Z. Moorehea
G. w. Moorehead, Jacob Swineheal
Peter A. Smith, Louis c. Miller, Jol
p. Wilson, George jackson, sr., Geor,
jackson, jr.. John Higgins, Andre
Arndt, ar, Andrew Arndt, ir., Thorn
Hamisfar, Thomas Wiles, Enos We
BENZ. g. Moeller, William Russo
Jonathan Foy, Daniel Mohler, Jacob