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Richland Co., Ohio |
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Misc. Info. |
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First White Child Born in Mansfield |
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source: Peggy Mershon, 30 June 2009 |
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* see also: Andrews Scrapbook
First White Child Born in Mansfield
In 1873, a sometimes heated debate raged on the pages of the Richland Shield and Banner about just WHO was the first white child born in Mansfield. Up to that point, the accepted knowledge among many of the town’s early citizens was that Mansfield H. Gilkison, born Feb. 2, 1811, enjoyed that honor. This was challenged with a letter from Thomas B. Andrews of Butler, who claimed that Matilda, daughter of James and Margaret Cunningham, had been born in the newly created town’s only cabin in Aug. 23, 1809. Mr. Andrews, whose younger brother, John Elliott Andrews, had been married to the youngest Cunningham daughter, Sally, no doubt was well acquainted with the Cunninghams, who had moved several times since their brief stint in Mansfield but had ended up living in Worthington Township. His information, he wrote in the newspaper, came from no other than Matilda’s mother, who would live in the township until her death in 1875. The Gilkisons had remained in Mansfield, and the heir to the title was now a 62-year-old man who was not happy with Andrews’ challenge. He was supported with letters from many of Mansfield’s most respected citizens. The Cunningham claim was forwarded by several members of that family as well as Andrews neighbors and supporters. So, it turned a bit into a territorial clash, but the letters yielded valuable testimonials on the families and the town and were quoted extensively in Graham’s 1880 History of Richland County.
This debate and letters may be found in newspapers on microfilm at the Mansfield-Richland County Public Library, but Andrews also cut out many if not all of the letters and pasted them on the pages of a small book, turning it into a scrapbook of sorts, which survived in his family and now is owned by the Butler-Clear Fork Historical Society. Written in the back, most likely in his own hand, is “Thomas B. Andrews, his book, November 10th, 1879. The book also contains clippings of the obituaries of friends; celebrations of 50th anniversaries, including his own; birthday parties; and other articles of local interest. These pages were scanned for those who wish to read and copy the complete articles, and genealogical information also has been transcribed or abstracted for easier access to researchers.
Thomas B. Andrews was born May 17, 1807, near Canton, Ohio, and died Feb. 28, 1889, in Butler. He and his wife, Marilla, are buried in Independence Cemetery, Butler. He was the village’s first postmaster and is credited as coming up with its first name, Independence, when it was platted in 1848. Andrews was a justice of the peace for 21 years and served two terms as a county commissioner. He was respected enough in the county to earn the honorary title of “squire.”
RICHLAND SHIELD AND BANNER, MANSFIELD, OHIO:
The Very First
The following letter from Thomas B. Andrews, Esq., would seem to settle the question as to who was the first white child born in Mansfield.
The tradition of the town has always been that Mansfield H. Gilkison was the first. To him as such, it has been generally understood, Gen. Hedges deeded a lot, viz: Lot No. 272, now owned and occupied by Elias Troutman, Esq., Still this deed may have been made on account of his name as the first white boy born in Mansfield. Mrs. Cunningham states that she was at the house of Jacob Newman, which was the only house in Mansfield at that time.
INDEPENDENCE, Feb. 3d, 1873
GEN. BRINKERHOFF
Dear Sir: On the 31st day of January, 1873, I visited Mrs. Margaret Cunningham for the purpose of ascertaining from the family record, the true age of Matilda Cunningham, said to be the first white child born in the county of Richland and in the town Mansfield.
I found the record well written, in a plain legible hand, in a large Family Bible. The first entry is the birth of Elizabeth Cunningham, in 1805. The second is Matilda Cunningham, born August 22d, 1809. The third is Mary Cunningham, born November 16th, 1810.
Mrs. Cunningham says that Matilda Cunningham was born in the town of Mansfield in the first house built in the town, there being no other house in the town when they moved into it and where the first child was born.
Mrs. Cunningham further says that Elizabeth Cunningham, born in 1805, is a child of her husband, James Cunningham, by a former wife.
-- THOS. B. ANDREWS
NOTE: The above was transcribed from a newspaper clipping pasted in a scrapbook kept by Thomas B. Andrews, the book dated in his hand November 10, 1879. There also are a few notes written among the clippings, looking to be also in the hand of Andrews:
Margaret Myers (Cunningham) was born February 19th, 1790.
James Cunningham was born April 24th, 1781, and died August 19th, 1871, aged 90 years, 3 months, 25 days.
James Cunningham and Margaret Myers were married February 5th, 1809, and lived together as man and wife 62 years, 6 months and 14 days.
This genealogical information is abstracted from a letter by Elizabeth Cunningham Baughman, dated March 1, 1873, which appeared in the Richland Shield and Banner, Mansfield. The letter concerned the claim that her younger half sister, Matilda, was the first white child born in Mansfield. The complete letter as well as others supporting and refuting that claim have been scanned and are available on this website:
“I am the eldest daughter of Capt. James Cunningham…
I was born in Licking Co., O., March 8, 1805. My mother died when I was six months old. My father was married to Margarett Myers – his present widow – in 1808, and came to this county (Richland) soon afterwards, but I remained with my grandfather, Micheal (sic) Stateler, until 1819, then came to this county, where I have ever since had my home. I was married in 1826 to Jacob Baughman, and located first, near “Six Corners,” in Monroe Tp., but changed our location several times, then removing to the town of Belleville, where I resided for a number of years, until I came to this city (Mansfield) in 1869. My husband died March 21, 1855…..
(In the first and only cabin in Mansfield), on the 23rd day of August 1809, my half sister, Matilda, was born. Father only remained there about a year, then removed to the Greentown settlement, on the Blackfork, where, Nov. 16, 1810, the next child, Mary was born. In 1812, father returned with the family to Licking Co. He then entered the army. At the close of the war he returned to Licking Co., where he taught school one winter; then came again to this county (Richland), and located near the Kinney – now known as the Pervine & Darling – mills, on the Clearfork, about three miles below Newville, where he remained until about 1824, then removed to Worthington Tp., to what is known as the McKibben farm, where he lived for several years, then purchased the adjoining farm, where he lived until his death in August 1870….”
Yours,
ELIZABETH BAUGHMAN
This genealogical information is abstracted from an 1879 article which appeared in the Richland Shield and Banner about the 50th wedding anniversary of Thomas B. Andrews and Marilla Pollard Andrews of Worthington. The newspaper clipping was pasted in a book labeled Thomas B. Andrews, his book, November 10th, 1879, and notes by a grandchild were written on this page and appear below the abstraction. The complete article was scanned and is available on this website:
THOMAS B. ANDREWS was born May 17, 1807, in Plain township, Stark county, Ohio, removed to Canton, the county seat, soon after and remained there until the year 1821, when they removed to Wayne county; thence in April 1823 to Richland county, and settled on the north-west quarter of sec. 24, tp. 21 of range 17, the same having been entered by his father, Moses Andrews, of Wooster, Ohio, and continued to live on said land, helping to clear and fence the same for a farm, until 1825; removed to Newville and learned the carpenter trade with his father; thence to Mansfield in 1827, and in 1827-8 assisted in building the first brick Court House in Mansfield. Then learned the cabinet trade with James Smart, and while an apprentice to that trade, was, on the 22d day of January 1829, married to Miss Marilla Pollard, of Madison township, Richland co., Ohio, by Elisha D. Smith, Justice of the Peace of said township. The marriage license was issued by Elzey Hedges. Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas for said county.
MARILLA POLLARD was born in Berkshire, in the state of Vermont, on the 10th day of August, 1810, and in the year 1813, emigrated to the State of Ohio, with her parents, in company with James Johnston, and William Stewart and their families and settled near Fredericktown, Knox county, O.; thence in 1816, removed with her parents in company with William Stewart and family to Richland county, and settled on the north-west quarter of section 2, township 22, of range 18, where the two last named families continued to live contiguous to each other, until the death of the parents of both families, and where, on the 22d day of January, 1829, she was joined in marriage with Thomas B. Andrews.
In the early spring time of 1829, the above couple commenced keeping house in Mansfield, in the house afterwards known as the Phoenix Hotel, in the fall of 1829 removed to Knox county, Ohio, and in the spring of 1831, removed to Fredericktown, Knox county, Ohio, and on the 15th day of November 1833, the day after the falling of the stars removed to Worthington township, Richland county, Ohio, and settled on the south-east quarter of section 19. Township 21, of range17, where they have continued to reside until the present time, making a continuous residence of 45 years, 2 months and 7 days.
Thomas B. and Marilla Andrews, have had born unto them 11 children, 3 sons and 8 daughters, ten of whom are still living, two sons and eight daughters, who have had 58 children, 54 of whom are living, and 4 dead; four of those eight daughters have thirteen grand children, which makes eleven children, fifty-eight grand children and thirteen great grand children, lineal descendants of Thomas B. and Marilla Andrews.
Handwritten on this page:
Present at the age of 10 years, 8 months, I was far too small and unimportant to be noticed by a person as large as a newspaper. It now occurs to me to write my own record into the account of this affair after a lapse of 32 years and to state that I now have a piece of the golden wedding cake recently given me by a woman (then a little lass) after having treasured it herself for twenty eight years, out of sentimental regard for the affair of our youth.
Mansfield, O., Mar. 26th, 1911
F.P. Myers, grandchild (of) TBA
This genealogical information is abstracted from a letter by Nancy Cunningham Shively, dated March 3, 1873, which appeared in the Richland Shield and Banner, Mansfield. The letter concerned the claim that her older sister, Matilda, was the first white child born in Mansfield. The complete letter as well as others supporting and refuting that claim have been scanned and are available on this website:
“I am the daughter of the late James Cunningham; my age is 60 years….. my sister, Matilda Cunningham, was born in in the town of Mansfield, in a house built by a Mr. Martin, near the corner of the square nearest the big spring, which, according to the family record now in our possession, was on the 23d day of August 1809…..”
Transcribed from a clipping in a scrapbook compiled by Thomas B. Andrews of Butler. The clipping was from the Richland Shield and Banner, Mansfield:
FIRST WHITE CHILD OF OHIO
We received the following letter from our old friend, Thomas B. Andrews, Esq., as regards the first white child born in Ohio. If there are any others who can show an earlier date than Mrs. Andrews, speak out, as the object is to know who was the first white child:
Butler, O., March 7th, 1881
Mr. J.Y. Glessner:
DEAR SIR – In your paper of the 5th inst., I find a statement that on the 9th day of January 1794, a daughter was born to Robert Bradford and wife at Marietta, Ohio; how this is I do not know.
My mother was born on the 15th day of April 1784, near Steubenville, Ohio. Her maiden name was Patrience Capes, daughter of William Capes, who served in the Revolutionary war, and who died at Canton, Ohio, a number of years ago at the advanced age of 104 years and was buried with the honors of war.
My mother died at Iowa City, Iowa, February 23rd, 1868, aged 83 years, 10 months and 10 days.
Respectfully.
THOS. B. ANDREWS
The following is a transcription of newspaper clipping pasted in a scrapbook owned by Thomas B. Andrews of Butler and dated by him Nov. 10, 1879. The clippings also precede and follow that date. The controversy over the first white child in Mansfield appeared on the pages of the Richland Shield and Banner in 1873. Roeliff Brinkerhoff wrote a series of biographical sketches of Richland County pioneers in 1873 in the Mansfield newspaper, the Ohio Liberal. It is probable with his citation to that controversy that this article was among these. A note on the page of the scrapbook, probably by Thomas Andrews says, “This Article never was used by McGaw in his book of Pioneer History of Richland County from the fact that it was not a correct version of the matter.”
THE HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY by R. Brinkerhoff
The First White Child
From the fact that there has recently been a controversy as to whether or not Matilda Cunningham was the first white child born in Mansfield, I have concluded in this number to give the testimony I have upon this subject from Captain James Cunningham, the father of Matilda.
This testimony was taken fifteen years ago (1858) by the Rev. Ja’s McGaw by my request, and although it may not settle the point in question it is a very interesting account of the earliest pioneer period of the county. We give it just as it was written.
Captain James Cunningham
Captain James Cunningham was born in the State of Maryland, an in 1786 emigrated with his father to West Morland County Pennsylvania, and afterwards to Mongahela Co., Virginia where the father died.
In 1804, James emigrated to Licking County, Ohio, and from thence to Richland in 1809, in the month of May, and landed on the Blackfork of Mohican, where he found Samuel Louis (sic: Lewis), Henry McCart, Mr. Shaeffer, and Andrew Craig, who had landed here only a few weeks before him. After landing he put out a crop of corn, then went back, brought out his wife, and put her down in the woods alongside of a camp fire, and commended building a shanty over her head. This he completed in about three days, having in his employ three hands.
In the following August his wife gave birth to a daughter, being the first white child born in Richland County.
In October of the same year he moved into the only log cabin then standing in Mansfield, which had been built some months previously by one Samuel Martin. This cabin stood on the corner lot of E.P. Sturges, Lot number ninety seven (No. 97).
Mr. Cunningham was influenced to move into this Cabin by the promise of Mrs. Jacob Newman one of the proprietors of the town to give him said lot provided he would open up a boarding house for purchasers who came there to buy the Virginia Military School Lands, which were then offered for sale. Mr. Cunningham, reposing confidence in the integrity of Newman, commenced the first boarding house I Richland. In about two weeks the sale closed; but Mr. C. remained there until Spring, when he became aware that Mr. Newman would not comply with his word. He said Mr. Larwell and Mr. Hedge(s) were opposed to his giving him the property, and without their consent he could not grant Mr. C. the property.
In the following Spring Mr. C. removed from Mansfield to that portion now known as St. John’s Church neighborhood.
Here he rented a small patch of cleared land and put out a crop of corn. In the Spring of 1811, Mr. C. moved to the Blackfork of Mohican, one mile south of Greentown, a small village of Delaware Indians consisting of the wolf and turtle tribes.
Mr. C. informs us that each of these tribes possess a distinct political feature, though under the jurisdiction of one governing chief. In the acquisition of horse or cattle property each tribe would brand the animals with the proper emblem, wolf or turtle.
Mr. Cunningham remained on the Blackfork till after the murder of the Seymour family. In the meantime Capt. Cunningham received orders to take charge of the property of the Indians, (whom Colonel Kratzer had taken from their village through Mansfield to Piqua). Mr. C. invoiced their goods, which consisted of brass and copper kettles, old gun barrels, steel traps and sundry other articles, almost useless and fit for nothing.
During the time of his Captaincy, Mr Cunningham attended an officers muster at Berkshire, Delaware Co., Ohio
Just as the company was about to break up three suspicious looking soldiers made their appearance on the parade ground. They were immediately arrested as deserters and subjected to a critical examination separately. They each protested their innocence and declared that they had been out on duty as a fatigue party under Col. Root, and on hearing that Hull had surrendered his army, they had determined to make good their escape, which they did, and in order to prove what they affirmed they told the examining officers that Col. Root was now at home, a distance of about nine miles from Berkshire.
Col. Kratzer, then present, called around him his officers, told them the story of the soldiers, whose intelligence concerning Hull’s surrender made them almost frenzied with anxiety, and asked the services of some one to carry and express from him to Col. Root; but no one would comply
At this time Elm Creek, near whose banks the officers were parading, had swollen from recent heavy rains. The waters had overflown the banks, and covered the bottoms on either side. It was necessary to cross the stream to go to the residence of Col. Root. The water was running most rapidly, and the width of the creek and bottom was about forty rods.
Again Col. Kratzer called upon his officers. “Who,” said he, “will cross that creek and bear a message to Col. Root?” A moment’s pause waited their reply, when several voices almost simultaneously responded, “I will.”
About six or eight immediately mounted their horses and plunged into the rolling flood. Timber and rubbish were floating down the stream offering dangerous obstacles. The company had not proceeded far until they retreated, declaring that no man could cross that stream in safety.
“Yes, there is,” cried a voice in the midst of the crowd on shore; and snatching the message from the hands of the officer, he mounted his charger and plunged into the flood. The noble animal, as if conscious of the importance of the occasion, and the distinguished honor resulting from the success of the enterprise, struggled with the power of a giant, against the heaving waters as they rolled down that turbid stream; while from the shore, his brother officers stood gazing upon him expecting every moment to see him sink to rise no more, beneath the heaving floods. But no; he gained the opposite shore in safety and proceeded through a dark and dreary wilderness, nine miles, to the residence of Col. Root. The Col. verified the statement of the soldiers, and dispatched forthwith an answer to Col. Kratzer requesting him to dismiss the prisoners. On receiving this the officer mounted his horse and again entered the forest and retraced his steps to the banks of the stream, which he recrossed the next morning and arrived safely in camp amid the cheers and hearty congratulations of Col. Kratzer and his officer. The name of the bold and gallant backwoodsman is James Cunningham, the subject of this biography, and is now (1858), living near Newville.
On returning home from the officer’s muster, Mr. Cunningham commenced raising men for the defense of the families along the Black Fork. He called about forty men together at his house, and after laying before them the condition of the country, succeeded in raising a company of six men. The remainder were left to guard their families from the incursions of marauding savages. Mr. Cunningham at the head of his six men, marched to Mansfield, and camped on the public square. Here they remained for two or three days, and were joined by other soldiers, and then marched to Detroit to form a new army.
Mr. Cunningham was left at home, his services not being needed. He remained here till after the murder of the Seymour family, when business called him to Licking County. In leaving Richland county he sacrificed his command; and while in this (Licking) county he enrolled himself in the common ranks, and was one of the number sent out to the relief of Col. Cochran. On reaching Upper Sandusky, however, the company were informed that their services were not needed. He remained then about forty days, when he was discharged with the rest of the company and returned home.
INDIAN FESTIVAL IN 1809
In the fall of 1809 Mr. Cunningham attended an Indian festival at Greentown. A great many Indians were present and also several white settlers. Ample provisions had been making for several days beforehand.
The first intimation Mr. Cunningham had of the festival was on his return home from Owl Creek, a day or two previous. He had been to mill, and on his way home, was startled by the whoop of a solitary Indian. In a moment the Indian was answered by half dozen others in different directions through the forest. Presently the one whom he first heard made his appearance, laden with wild meat, covered with green flies, and on arriving at home he heard there was to be an Indian festival at Greentown in a day or two. He determined to be present on the occasion, and if possible learn the object of the festival. Accordingly, he went on the evening of the day on which it commenced. Several others had accompanied him.
On arriving in the village he found the women out before the counsel house, boiling their meat. Curiosity led him to make an examination of the contents of the pots, which he found to consist of chunks of meat and maggots, boiling in a most delightful manner. Tempting the appetite and regaling the olefactories with a peculiar odor. “Too much meat,” ejaculated Mr. C. as he turned his face in an opposite direction, and his feet following the movement of his face in an opposite direction soon conveyed him to a more seasonable location. On entering the council house the men went one way, the women another. Of course he entered on the same side with the men, and found a place prepared and awaiting his reception.
The instrumental music on this occasion consisted of pots, across or over the mouths of which the dried skins of animals were stretched. On these they beat with small sticks. After the ceremonies were opened by this pot music, a tall and graceful Indian arose to address them. A deep, death-like silence followed – all eyes were tuned upon him. “Indeed,” said Mr. Cunningham, “I could not help admiring the savage myself – there were gracefulness and case about his movements, and his keen black eyes sparkled with the fire of life and ambition, which told that he was no ordinary man. He opened his mouth, and for some moments, poured forth his soul in the most impassioned eloquence. I, of course, could understand nothing of what he said; but there was something in the sound and manner of his address, which made me feel that the occasion was a solemn ne. I was informed that the speaker was none other than Captain Pipe, of Jeromesville.”
As soon as the speaker had finished his oration the whole assembly arose, an commenced dancing; the men by themselves and the women by themselves.
At the conclusion of these exercises, a chief named Armstrong, walked to the center of the ring, holding in his hands the shell of a “tarapin,” containing quite a number of beads, which he emptied on the ground, whereupon a scuffle took place, among a specified number of the Indians, to see who could pick up the most, as Mr. C. supposed, in the shortest time. After gathering them up, they were handed back to the chief – “hereups9n,” says Mr. C. “the whole audience sent up the most melancholy howl I ever heard: after which the meat was handed around, indicating the close of the feast; a piece of which was given to men; but nothing short of actual starvation could have induced me to have partaken of it. I managed to secrete it until I had an opportunity of casting it away.”
An old negro woman acted as an interpreter. She had been stolen when a girl and raised among the Indians. She was at this time living on Owl Creek, and had been sent for by the Indians to act as interpreter.
AN INDIAN ASSAULT
An Indian, under the influence of liquor, one day attacked Mr. Cunningham with a huge club; but Mr. C. managed to elude his pursuit and immediately called upon Armstrong, the chief, stating the object of his mission.
The next morning Mr. C. met his assailant before the chief. The Indian stated that a Mr. Craig ha offered him four gallons of Methegling, flavored strongly with spirits, if he would kill Mr. Cunningham, and that he had consented to do so, but was sorry for it, and would behave better hereafter.
Mr. Cunningham expressed himself satisfied with the penitence and confession of the repenting savage, but determined to keep his eyes on him ever afterwards. He often afterwards met him, and the savage invariably treated him with the greatest respect and friendship.
Now for the reasons why Mr. Craig sought the death of Mr. Cunningham. It appears that Mr. C. had been elected constable directly after he came to the county, and had taken a mare and colt from Mr. Craig to satisfy the demands of one of his creditors. This was the offence. Mr. Cunningham an Mr. Craig ha ha some dealings with each other, but on finding that the latter had sought his life, he determined to have his dealings mutatus mutandus as the schoolman says, and after paying him the following receipt, which he caused him to sign:
“Received October 9th, 1810, of James Cunningham, all debts, dues and demands, from the beginning of the world to the present day. ANDREW CRAIG”
Attest: ARCH’D GARDNER
Mr. Craig, afterwards – forgetting he had given this receipt – sued Mr. Cunningham and was thrown into the cost.
Mr. Cunningham cut the first crop of grain that was ever cut in Richland county. This was for Mr. Jacob Newman, one of the original proprietors of the now thriving city of Mansfield.
Mr. C. was an excellent marksman, and often tried his skill upon the different wild animals which then infested the forests. He represented the county along the Clear Fork, at an early day as being extremely lovely and romantic. “No man, said he, “but an actual observer could realize the soft and dreamy beauty of the magnificent primeval forests, which once stood along the banks of this lovely stream of water. When vernal Spring dressed up the forest in its garment of living green, and the mingled songs of the woodland minstrels were echoing in the glen, it was delightful to wander along the banks of the stream, listening to their soul-reviving music, and feasting the eye upon the rich contrast of variegated forest flowers.”
CHASED BY WOLVES
The following anecdote was told by our friend, William B. Carpenter of Newville:
A Mr. Thomas F. Simmons, at an early day, in the history of old Richland, received an invitation to a “pioneer’s regular hoe down,” which in those times took the place of cotillions, waltzes, polkas, etc. Thomas was a lover of backwoods hoe downs, and would sacrifice almost anything to be present on such occasions. Accordingly he started a distance of several miles though the forests. It was after midnight when the frolic ended, and Thomas started home. On his return he was pursued by a gang of wolves. He was alone, in the heart of a dark dense wilderness, and without any means defense. The animals were gaining fast upon him, and their howling grew fearcer and more horrible the nearer their approach. He procured a club. At length they came upon him, and the conflict, not a bloodless one, commenced. Thomas stood his ground, dealing out heavy blows on every side, until he finally succeeded in beating back his fearful enemies. It was broad daylight before Thomas arrived at home much rejoiced on finding himself out of the power of his bloody enemies.
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