Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1933-03-30

rest of the township we did not
know just where this farm is. At
ter we started to write this story,
we began to ask questions, then
little by little the tale has unfold
ed--or rather is unfolding; but we
are not yet satisfied; but we have
got to the place where we can get
the rest of the story when we get
to the records in the county record
er's office. The farEl mentioned
was owned by Absalom Ridgely
One informant said the Ridgelys
lived in West Virginia. Another
gave their residence as Cincinnati
William Cool was agent for them,
and looked after the farm and rent.
ing Of the same. After his death,
Richard Adams took his place.
Samuel Harper and family moved to
the farm in the spring of 1878, and
moved away in the fall of 1885.
They paid $3.50 cash and SIS in
work, and in the less than eight
years they saved something over
$4,000, which they bought farm
with in Union township we believe.
Not so bad on 166 acres. All
farmers who have done as well in
the past eight years may hold up
your hands. 1t is said the farm
was rented for 100 years. At one
time Loren Devol went to the home
of the Ridgelys to try to buy the
farm. When he got there he found
Mrs. Ridgely was attending a ball in
New York City A son told Mr..
Devol that they did not care to sell
the land, that they were wealthy.
In corroboration Of this statement,
he showed Mr.. Devol some 20 silk
dresses which belonged to his moth
er, and which she had worn only
once or twice.
The last year Harper's were there,
they raised 1000 bushels of corn.
Some of the folks who lived there:
John Wallace and family, C. r.
Flanders and family-in fact if our
informant is not mistaken, Enoch
was born there; Webster Anderson
and family. We remember of hear
| ing folks tell that when Web moved
there the place was overrun with
copperhead snakes. Web went into
1 the hog business on large scale, as
it was said the hogs would kill the
Snakes. For some reason, perhaps
there were too many snakes-o1
not enough hogs, or the hogs got
tired of the sport-at any rate, Mr.
! Carrel, the present owner, tells us
that there were still plenty OF
snakes when they got the farm
After they got it they kept it stock.
ed with sheep, and the snakes left
perhaps got wool in their teeth
so they could not bite. The Devols
had the farm rented for several
years, but did not live there un-
/ less. and we believe we are right
when we say Ben and Becky lived
there James Boyd and his wife
Lucetta also lived there. We un-
derstand Mrs Boyd now lives in
Iowa
We find that when the farm was
sold, Florence Delaplaine entered
suit against Samuel Kelly for par
tition of the premises. The court
appointed commissioners TO divide
the estate. After they looked the
farm over, they reported that il
could not be divided The court
then ordered it appraised and sold
After being advertised so days, III
was offered and sold at the front
door of the court house. Jas. Eas
lick, who had been one of the ap.
praisers, and was barred by law or
that account from bidding, got the
late w. f. Lighthizer to buy it fol
him. The deed from Lighthizer tc
Easlick is dated Aug. %, 1898.
Charley Harper, son of Samue
and wife, was with his parents here
and went with them to the west
| side, where he still lives. Charley
was the only child of this family
but the Harpers raised Sadie White
who married Mr.. Price of the west
side. Mrs. Price died some time
ago.
The present owners OF the farm
Mr.. and Mrs VIM. Carrel do not
and never did live on it. They own
and live on an adjoining farm. Mr.
Carrel was born in Meigs township
Muskingum county, coming to Bris-
tol in 1897. At first he worked by
the month for Ephraim Roberts,
then farmed on the shares. In the
spring of 19Onhe bought the farm
where he has since resided. For a
couple of months he bached I'VE
did not inquire whether he couldn't
stand his own cooking or whether
Nina took pity on him (that would
| have spoiled this part Of our story
At any rate. that spring he and
Nina, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
| Jas. Easlick, were married, and
since that Will hasn't had to worry
about the cooking. We could not
get the history Of the house where
they went to housekeeping. Mrs.
Easlick said about the time of her
death that it looked just as 1t did