A large portion of the early settlers of Richland emigrated from Pennsylvania, many of whom were of German origin, and many Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. It was first settled about the year 1809, on branches of the Mohican. The names of the first settlers, as far as recollected, are Henry M'Cart, Andrew Craig, James Cunningham, Abm. Baughman, Henry Nail, Samuel Lewis, Peter Kinnsey, Calving Hill, John Murphy, Thomas Coulter, Melzer Tannehill, Isaac Martin, Stephen Van Schoiek, Archibald Gardner adn James M'Clure.
In September, 1812, shortly after the breaking out of the war with Great Britain, two block houses were built in Mansfield. One stood about six rods west of the site of the court-house, and the other a rod or two north. The first was built by a company commanded by Capt.Shaeffer, from Fairfield county, and the other by the company of Col.Chas. Williams, of Coshocton. A garrison was stationed at the place, until after the battle of the Thames.
TRAVELLING NOTES
The name Mansfield is with me a very old memory, that of a personal acquantence, with the eminent character, Col. Jared Mansfield, in whose honor the place was named. One incident is indelibly impressed in connection with his death, which occurred in his native place, New Haven, Connecticut, February 3, 1830, now more than sixty years since. On that occaision my father had involved upon the delicate duty, to write to Mrs. Mansfield, then in Cinncinnati, of the event. And as he walked the floor to and fro pondering, he turned to me and said he was troubled to think how he could the most appropriately and gently impart the sad tidings.
The Mansfields have been eminent people. The late Edward Deering Mansfield, "The Sage of Yamoyden," Ohio's statistician and journalist, was his only son: while General Joseph K. F. Mansfield, the old army officer, who fell at Antietam, was his nephew.
Col. Jared Mansfield was rising of 70 years of age, a tall venerable silver-haired old gentleman, and one of the great, useful characters of his day. It was under his teachings that our famed military school at West Point got its start, in the beginning years of this century.
In giving him the position of Surveyor-General of the Northwest Territory the good judgement of Thomas Jefferson was illustrated. In person and qualities he resembled his own son Edward Deering; had the same strongly pronounced Roman nose, the same childlike simplicity of speech, and the same loud, guilelss laugh. This last was on of the life troubles of Mrs. Mansfield; a somewhat proud, puctilious old lady, ever mindful of the proprieties. She "wished the Colonel"-- she was always thus careful to give his title--she "wished the Colonel would not laugh so loud; it was so undignified."
Mansfield in 1846. --Mansfield, the county-seat, is sixty-eight miles northerly from Columbus,, twenty-five from Mount Vernon, and about forty-five from Sandusky City. Its situation is beautiful, upon a commanding elevation, overlooking a country handsomely disposed in hills and valleys. The streets are narrow, and the town is compactly built, giving it a city-like appearance. The completion of the railroad through here to Sandusky City has added much to its business facilities, and it is now thriving and increasing rapidly.
Lexington is eight miles south of Mansfield on the L. E. Div. of the B. & O. R. R. Population, 1880, 508. School census, 1888, 159. John Miller, superintendent of schools.
Bellville is ten miles south of Mansfield, on the L. E. Div. of the B. & O. R. R. The principal industries are the making of rattan baskets adn carriages. It is a remarkably clean and neat village, the consequence of a fire which occurred Sept. 22, 1882. Gold is found in the neighborhood. Newspapers: Independent, Independent, J.W. Dowling Jr., editor; Star, Independent, E. A. Brown & Co., editors and publishers. Churches: 1 Episcopal Methodist, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Disciples, 1 Lutheran, 1 Universalist, 1 Seventh-Day Baptist. Bank: Commercial, R. W. Bell, president; J. B. Lewis, cashier. Population, 1880, 971. School census, 1888, 308.
Independence, post office Butler, is thirteen miles southeast of Mansfield on the L. E. Div. of the B. & O. R. R. It has one Methodist Episcopal and one Evangelical church. Population, 1880, 394. School census, 1888, 190. L. L. Ford, superintendent of schools.
Excerpts from
Historical Collections of Ohio in Two Volumes. An Encyclopedia of the State: History both general and local, geography with descriptions of its counties, cities and villages, its agricultural manufacturing, mining and business development, sketches of eminent and interesting characters, etc. with notes of a tour over it in 1886.
The Ohio Centennial Edition
by Henry Howe, LL.D.
Published by the State of Ohio, C. J. Krehbiel & Co.. Printers and Binders, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1904.
copyright 1888 by Henry Howe