REMARKS

Chapter 1st

Before undertaking this short sketch of the Archer people and their associates from their arrival on the valley of the East Fork of Duck Creek, in what is now Noble County, Ohio, we feel that we ought to apologize to the reader, for we know so little of the history of them, and of the little incidents and stories that come down with them that we fear that we cannot write a credible story. But so many of our friends have asked us to do this, that we feel in a way, duty-bound to try.

There are older persons than I, who have a common interest in this matter, and who are better prepared to "go back," and to reproduce the legends, incidents, and happenings of the long ago than I, but who have shown no disposition to undertake the task, so we shall bring forward some of this history in the best way of which we are capable, and of what we shall have remembered, as handed down from our ancestors. And we shall give it as it shall drift into our memory -- whether connected, readable, or otherwise.

Well, James Archer, 1st., is as far back as we can go with any degree of certainty. He lived on the waters of Wheeling Creek, before he came to the "East Fork," in Ohio, and his near neighbors are said to have been Jacob Crow, (I am now giving the older ones), Captain Enoch Enochs, Archibald Morris, and Stephen Forshire, 1st, John Wetzel and some of the Girtys. (1)

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(1) James Archer, son of Patrick, b. ca. 1747; d. before 1 Jun 1830. James and his family moved from the Waynesburg, PA area to Ohio Co., WV where Wheeling Creek is located and remained there until the early 1800's according to land tax records. Their crossing of the Ohio may have been made, as Martin Archer describes, in the Moundsville area.

Martin Archer in his book, "Genealogical History of the Archer Family," F. J. Heer, Columbus, 1919 (hereafter, "Genealogical History") quotes Cornelius Archer (Joseph, Michael, Joseph, James, Patrick) reciting an oral tradition that the family settled near the mouth of Graves Creek that flowed into the Ohio River at Moundsville, WV. The "East Fork" is the east fork of Duck Creek in Stock Township, Noble Co. For a full account of James (of Patrick), see "The Archer Quarterly," Vol 1, Nos 1-2 and Vol 2, Nos 1-3.

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In 1803, or 1804, a little colony of the above families moved out from their habitations on Wheeling Creek, in Marshall County (then the Old Dominion), to their new homes (to be), through an unbroken wilderness beyond the Ohio.

They crossed on a raft, at a point near where the city of Moundsville now stands, but [neither] the Wetzels nor the Girtys were of the colony.

We think the name of the father of James Archer, 1st., must have been Patrick, as Simon Archer, a son of James 1st., had always claimed this.

When the Archers came over, they were devout Catholics, but a few years after their settlement, there came a schism in their ranks, and about half of them became Protestants, and have remained so to this day. This division has, however, been noted in a former part of this book. (2)

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(2) "This book" refers to his "Genealogical History of the Archer Family" and this reference implies that this manuscript was to have been included in that book. Martin Archer wrote no other known book where this narrative would have been appropriate, and I presume that this sketch was not intended to be a book unto itself. See p. 94 of "Genealogical" for more on the schism.

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While we are here we might say that Capt Enoch, who commanded at the battle of Captina, is the same person who is our ancestor, but his name is erroneously reported in the history of the battle, as Abram Enochs. (3)

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(3) Martin Archer is referring to an account of the Battle of Captina Creek that took place in Belmont Co., OH in May 1794 that appeared in Henry Howe's 'Historical Collections of Ohio,' Vols 1-2, C.J. Krehbiel & Co., Cincinnati, 1908 (and several other editions). See Vol 1, p. 307 of the 1908 edition.

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He did not come over with the colony, as he was detained with his militia company, but came later, and is buried somewhere, in either Elk or Stock Township, Noble County. The exact location is not now known.

The first five families were located immediately after settling, on the East Fork of Duck Creek (as we have stated) as follows: Martin Crow and his sister, Christina, on what is known as the Crow farm, one half mile above Carlisle, on the Elk Fork of Duck Creek; James Archer on lands East of the Village of East Union, and bordering the village; Stephen Forshire on lands above Elk P.O. on lands now known as the "Ene" Grandon farm; Captain Enochs on lands just below the present site of the village of Carlisle; and Archibald Morris on lands on the creek above the village of Carlisle, known now as the Jess Morris farm. These are the older persons of each family of the colony and later, but in the early part of the last century, practically all the land lying from East Union to Crumtown became the property of the 2nd and 3rd generation, and many of the 2nd and 3rd generation came over from Virginia with the colony. But we cannot now enumerate those coming over.

James Archer, 2nd, was the older of the children of James 1st., and we believe was born about 1778, while Elisha Enochs was the older of the family of Captain Enoch Enochs, and from the best information at hand, was born about 1770.

My grandfather has often told me that James, 2nd, Michael and Joseph were in the War of 1812, but I have no further evidence of this. (4)

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(4) Martin's information is correct. James, Joseph, and Simon Archer appear in a company muster roll reconstructed from memory by Lt. John Ward of that company published under the heading "Guernsey County Military Company 1812" published in an issue of the "Senecaville Times," sometime in 1908. The clipping was discovered and published in the Guernsey Co., OH Genealogy Society's "Roots & Branches," Vol 13, No. 3 (Aug 1991), p. 33. Another more complete version of this roster appeared in the "Caldwell (OH) Journal" 30 Nov 1892, p. 1 as "Muster Roll of Capt. William Lowery's Company, of the War of 1812" in which Joseph, James, and Simon Archer's names appear along with Lt. John Ward. (Ohio Historical Society film no. 24505, frame no 544.)

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The father of the husband of Elizabeth Archer, daughter of James Archer, first (Esau Harris) is said to have been in the Revolution, and this is recorded in one of the Noble County histories. (5)

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(5) The Revolutionary War solder was probably Elisha Harris, not Esau.

George Harris of Olive Twp., who married Elizabeth Archer, is listed as a son of Elisha Harris, a Revolutionary War soldier in "History of Noble Co," W. H. Watkins, Chicago, 1887, p. 325. Further, the will of Elisha Harris, dated 18 May 1824 of Olive Twp, Morgan Co. (later Noble) names George and Stephen, among others, as his children ("Monroe Co. Records," Vol 7, by Catherine Fedorchak, mimeo, p. 99). Mary (Archer) Swann's father Cornelius (Joseph, Michael, Joseph, James, Patrick), whose maternal grandfather was Stephen Harris, son of Elisha, discounted Esau as Stephen's father's name. Rather, George Harris and Elizabeth Archer had a son, Esau b. 16 Dec 1818, according to George Harris' Bible records, cited by Mrs. Swann.

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Chapter 2nd.

Enoch Enochs, better known as Little Ene, son of Captain Enochs, was a quaint and curious character, and so many stories have been told of him, that his name has become almost historical. He married Margaret Tice, (6) and they lived on Duck Creek near the site of Harrietsville, near Crows Mills. He came [over?] with the Colony.

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(6) Martin is quoting the Watkins, "History of Noble Co," p. 440, listing Margaret Tice as the wife of Enoch Enochs, Jr., son of Capt Enoch Enochs. I believe this to be in error. The Watkins account is probably based on a West Virginia newspaper account of the death of an Enoch Enochs, Jr. and reprinted by the "Caldwell Press." Compare these two accounts:

"The Caldwell Press" (date not known, but probably sometime in late April 1886):

Enoch Enochs, d. April 10, 1886, age 87, near Bearsville, Tyler Co., W.Va. Born near Berne, [i.e. Carlisle], Noble Co., OH April 4, 1799. Said to be the first white child born in what is now Noble Co. Joined the M. E. Church at the age of 75.

Watkins, "History," p. 440:

"Enoch Enochs, Jr. married Margaret Tice, and lived near Harrietsville.

In 1878 he removed to Tyler County, W. Va., where he died in 1886."

These two accounts are suspect in that they probably apply in some distorted way to a grandson of Capt. Enoch Enochs -- Henry Enochs (of Elisha, Capt Enoch). In support of this, consider these facts:

Martin Archer in "Genealogical History" says (p. 95) that Henry Enoch (Elisha, Capt. Enoch) "...was the first white child born in what is now Noble County..."

Further, Catherine Fedorchak published in her Vol 6 of "Monroe Co. Records," p. 97, a letter from Mrs. Mary Swann saying that Henry Enochs was b. 27 Mar 1807; md Jane Miller in 1848. Mrs. Swann said that Henry Enochs, [like the Enoch Enochs cited above] also lived hear Harrietsville but moved to Lawrence Co., OH in 1848, [whereas the Enoch Enochs, above mentioned, moved to West Virginia in 1878]. Mrs. Swann could not identify her sources for the above.

I verified Mrs. Swann's information to this extent:

Henry Enochs died 2 Apr 1886, in Lawrence Co, OH. age 80 years, 5 days born Monroe Co. Ohio; Jane Miller died 7 Feb 1889, aged 81 years, born in Ohio. (Lawrence Co., OH, Deaths Vol 1, p. 506.)

I conclude that the newspaper account was badly garbled but was nevertheless reprinted in 1887 in Watkins, "History," a year after Henry and Enoch's deaths. The local editors in Noble Co. did not catch the error before the book was published in Chicago.

Here is some data that eliminates many Enoch Enochs who might be identical to the Enoch mentioned in Watkins.

First, the Enoch who died in 1886 would not have been old enough to have been Capt. Enoch's son, who was a Revolutionary War solider. Rather, the Watkin's account pertains to Enoch, Jr.'s nephew, named Henry (Elisha, Capt. Enoch).

Enoch Enochs, Jr., in Martin Archer's account, and Enoch Enochs, Sr, his father, served in Capt William Crawford's Co. of frontier rangers 7 May 1792 to 12 Dec 1793, with James Archer and Enoch, Jr. served in 1794 with James, James, Jr, and Simon Archer in Capt James Seals' Co. in the Greene Co., PA area. ("Pennsylvania Archives," Ser. 6, Vol 5, p. 613-617, 642-643).

Enoch Enochs, Jr. (Capt Enoch) died before 20 Mar 1824 and, based on land and census records, was married to a woman named Sarah who died ca 1850-1860. Enoch, Jr. therefore could not be the man who married Margaret Tice and moved to West Virginia in 1878. The approximate death dates and name of Enoch, Jr.'s spouse can be shown by a chronological listing of land and probate records. (Patent)

Certificate no 33, 14 Aug 1822

To Enoch Enochs of Washington Co., Ohio West 1/2 of NE 1/4, S. 26, T. 5, R. 7, in District of Marietta. 79.79 A. (Bureau of Land Management, Dept of the Interior) Monroe Co, Oh, Court of Common Pleas, Journal 1, p. 36 March Term 1824

William Enochs, named executor of Enoch Enochs, deceased.

Elisha Enochs and Jesse Davis bondsmen.

Mathew Grey and Barton Wells and Barnett Grandon, Appraisers

US Census 1830 - Elk Township, Monroe Co., OH

Sarah Enochs Males 1 10-15; 1 15-20; 3 20-30

Females 1 5-10; 1 40-50

Further, three of the oldest male members of the household (sons?) were born ca 1800-1810, conclusively eliminating this Enoch, Jr. as the man who married Margaret Tice but raising the question that one of Enoch's sons could have been named Enoch. Recall, however, that the term "Jr." was often used in this time to denote "younger" and not necessarily the "son of" to differentiate between several men with the same name. Because there is no known son of Enoch Enochs (of Capt Enoch) named Enoch, more research is necessary to establish if there was an Enoch, Jr. who fits the description given in Watkins.

In further support that Enoch, Jr.'s wife was named, Sarah, a Sarah Enochs appears with other heirs of Enoch Enochs in a burned deed apparently selling the same property that Enoch, Jr. obtained by patent in 1822. Abraham Enoch's son also had a wife, Sarah (1850/1860 Census-below). Because Abraham's marriage date is not known and Abraham would have been 21 in 1833, it is more likely that the Sarah in the deed below was Enoch, Jr's, wife.

(Monroe Co., OH Deeds, Bk C, p. 539.)

(The top portion was burned.)

Section 26, Twp 5, Range 7

Sold to Wraithey Ingram, 31 May 1833

Signed: William Enochs

Joseph Enochs

Abraham Enochs

Sarah Enochs

Catherine Enochs

US Census 1850/1860 -

Elk Township, Monroe Co., OH/Stock Township, Noble Co., OH

(all born OH except Sarah age 69 b. VA)

Elk Twp Stock Twp -

1850 1860 1850/1860

Household Numbers 566/567 1543/1453 Abraham Enochs 38/48

Sarah 37/47

(and 7/10 children)

567/568 1020/972 Isaac Enochs 29/36

Sarah 20/32

(and 2/2 children)

Sarah Enochs 69/not listed in 1860

568/569 1542/1452 William Enochs 47/57

Louisa 47/57

(and 8/6 children)

Based on the circumstantial evidence of the censuses and the burned deed, Enoch Enochs, Jr. (of Capt. Enoch) and Sarah had probable children: Abraham, William, Joseph, and Isaac and perhaps one more male listed in the 1830 census. This is circumstantial evidence because it is possible that not all the males in the 1830 census were children of Enoch, Jr. and Sarah.

I tried to identify any other Enoch of the age of the man said to have married Margaret Tice by reviewing all the U.S. Censuses for Noble/Monroe Co. 1830- 1870. I found only one: Henry Enoch (of Capt Enoch), brother of Enoch Enochs, Jr. who had a son, Enoch, whose tombstone is in the Methodist cemetery in Carlisle that reads: Enoch Enochs b. 7 Oct 1804; d. 19 Mar 1877; Melissa, his wife, b. 13 Feb 1838; d. 7 Feb 1904. The dates and wife's name rules out this Enoch as the man described in both Watkins and the newspaper account.

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This Enoch was a rambler, and followed the river for 40 years.

In the story, "Christina," written by us, some years ago, he was one of the characters, and on one occasion (in the story) in company with Martin Crow they appeared in Marietta, and imbibing too freely of Jamaica Rum, they were arrested by the solders at Fort Harmer, and were locked up in the Fort. In the night that followed, by a clever ruse, Enoch escaped, and made his way to the edge of the river, and there watching the lashing of the water against the side of a flat boat that lay there, said, #I never seen so many soap suds in my life, I didn't.#

(Here I will quote in full from a chapter in the story.)

"The captain gave this order, 'in five minutes pull the plank.' By this time the captain had discovered him, and walking up to him, tapped him on the shoulder and said:

"Where are you bound for?" (meaning, of course, to ascertain what his fare should be.)

"But we must have your fare, and in order to ascertain what you should pay, we should know your destination."

"Can't tell; I ain't there yit. You see, me and Mart Crow and Fred Crow and Lewis Wetzel started the other morning fur to go over to the Scioto to git a lot of Redskins that had done some murderin' upon Wheelin' Creek and Fred and me got as fur as Ma- re-at-te, and a couple of fellers wearin' blue coats came up to me, and said they wanted me over at the fort. Poor Fred, he jist took to his heels and wandered off into the woods, and God knows, maybe the wolves have eat him up."

Here tears filled his eyes, and the captain became quite interested in him. Aside from his drollery he was a typical backwoodsman. His hair fell unkempt in long, yellow links over his shoulders, and scattering patches of beard were making efforts to appear on his face. He lost his gun and equipments at the fort.

"Then you have no destination, or point, where you expect to leave the boat?"

"No, Cap; we've been wandering 'round in the woods fer several days. I'm gittin' tired of that, so I am. The feller up at the fort said we was drunk, he did, and said we was outlaws and jist took me over and socked me in the cellar at the fort, he did. I jist sware pint blank I only took two mugs o' cider#strongest cider I ever seed, it was."

"Do you expect to remain here until you are carried off in a box? But what do you know about Lewis Wetzel?"

The flatboat was part of the machinery of our western civilization, and the savage had been as a great a hindrance to their free navigation as they had been to the advance of the western settlements. Wetzel was, by force of circumstances, their friend. The flatboatman was Wetzel's friend; and it followed that if this newcomer was in any way closely associated with Wetzel, they were his friends.

"Jist knowed Lewis Wetzel all me life; jist lived a short piece down the creek from Dad's clearin', they did."

"May we ask what is your name?"

"Enoch Enochs, from Wheeling Creek. They call me ' Little Ene ' to home, they do."

"Do you want to hire on this boat?"

"Well, Cap., I don't want to git into the woods again, I don't."

"Well, you may consider yourself hired, and we shall pay you eight dollars per month and found."

In this short chapter we cannot follow Enoch Enochs for the forty years he followed the Ohio and Mississippi and can only relate one or two of the adventures with which he was connected. He was by no means a coward, but when "riled' or the occasion demanded, he was as ferocious as a wild beast. He also possessed a fertile brain and had in his odd way a profound wisdom. On one occasion when the boat was tied up near a farmer's cabin, "Ene" noticed a flock of turkeys near the bank. He made a dash among them, chasing a large gobbler into the very dooryard of the cabin. "He got away, he did," and the settler and his family, thinking the gobbler had escaped from the boat, turned out and assisted him in catching the fowl, when "Ene" triumphantly carried it away amid the cheers of those on the boat. 

On another occasion, he had secured a calf from a settler in almost the same manner; but the settler from whom the calf had been taken, soon discovered his loss, when he gathered up his neighbors and made for the landing.

As the boat was nearing the landing, "Ene" saw an unusual number on the shore, and could see several hiding behind trees. He took in the situation in a moment. He procured a white sheet and covered the calf with it (the calf had been skinned and was lying on a puncheon bench.) The plank was hardly thrown, when on they came with a rush, a dozen or more. Their feet had hardly struck the boat, when "Ene" ran forward saying: "Be keerful there, stand back; he's got the smallpox, he has."

This was enough; they fell back in utter confusion; some over the plank, while others rushed pellmel over the edge of the boat and went sprawling into the water and with difficulty saved drowning themselves.

On another occasion, when their provisions were running low, "Ene" had gone a distance into the country on a foraging expedition, when he came to a cabin. The chickens were roosting on the top of the chimney, and in order to procure them, "Ene" was forced to climb to the top. The chimneys in those days, were made of split-stick, filled with mortar. As he reached for two large hens, that were occupying the topmost perch on the chimney, (he could see them in the moonlight) it caved in, and he, chickens and all, landed on the inside. In the inside of the cabin, a young man was "sitting up" with his best girl. This strange apparition, falling from the clouds through the cabin, as it seemed to them, frightened them out of their senses, when the young man threw both arms up and fell backward with the wild cry:

"Jesus Christ!"

"No tain't Jesus Christ, it ain't; it's little Enoch Enochs, and if you'll open the door, he'll go out, he will!"

On another occasion, when the boat was far down the river, a very slick gentlemen (as the boys said) came on board. He was known to be the worst gambler and meanest cut-throat on the river.

"Boys, if you play with that fellow, bet on poor hands, and beware of 'fours and fulls."

"Ene" was no slouch at straight poker (this was the game in those days). He had learned this game at the fort at Wheeling. He had been an apt scholar and could look sour and disappointed when he had "fours" or a "full." Not long after this slick gentleman had taken passage, the boys got an invitation to engage in a "social" game of poker, and like the "Wooing Widow," they all said "no."

"Ene" was the last to be invited to the game. He declined, but as the gambler was turning away, "Ene" called him back.

"Say, mister, if you jist won't cheat, we'll try you for a small stake, we will."

It was a beautiful evening, and the last rays of the western sun were disappearing in the horizon, as the company were being seated around a table in the middle of the boat. A bountiful supply of pine knots were lighted for the occasion. Several hands had been run off and had been won by different ones around the board, except our slick gambler, who had not won a single hand. He appeared to look chagrined and disappointed. As the cards were being tossed in for a new deal, "Ene" noticed the gambler slip a card in his sleeve, at the same time scanning his own, he discovered an ace. With one hand, he cast in four cards, secreting the ace in the palm of the other hand, and as he pretended to adjust his stool, he slipped the ace between his thigh and the stool. In like manner he purloined from the deck all four of the aces, keeping a steady a steady eye on the gambler to ascertain when he should do the same with his own hand. The gambler knew, of course, that if #Ene# should get a good hand, those of his associates would back him for all that could be raked up around the boat. He had not taken the four aces himself, for the reason that the suspicion of crooked dealing would be more easily allayed in taking four deuces. The pot had been passed out until it contained a nice roll. He ran "Ene" three kings and two jacks (these from the bottom of the deck where he had placed them). The first four cards were two kings and two jacks. "Ene" knows what is coming, and as he reached for the fifth card, his hand trembled visibly, (this, of course, he put on), and as he raised the fifth card, which was a king, he involuntarily straightened back with a look of profound joy (and this was put on also). He now with two hands catches his stool, and leaning forward, adjusts it nearer the table, and in doing so he exchanges the "full" for the "fours." It is the man first to the left of the gambler who must start in the betting. His hand only a moderate one, and he casts in a Spanish dollar. "Ene," who was opposite the gambler, called to give him a chance to raise. The man to "Ene's" left called also, when the gambler slipped in a Spanish dollar, and in addition, laid in a gold eagle.

"I make it twenty harder."

The two players, sitting on either side of him, threw their hands to the center # using the gambler's slang.

"It's no use, he's stole the deck."

"Throw 'em in, 'Ene,' and save your money."

"I sware pine blank, afore I'll throw these cards in, I'll jist chance my hope of the new Jerusalem, I will."

Which the gambler followed with this jolly -- "and that would not call my bet."

By this time the boys had gathered around "Ene," and knowing that four aces was the best hand in the deck, they divined what had happened. "Ene" unbuckled his belt and making the $20 good, raised the gambler $100, all the money he possessed. As he put in the $100, he laid his cards face down on the table and plunged a huge dirk through them, into the table, which was the custom in those days when a large stake was up.

"Anchor," shouted "Ene," now getting in deep earnest. The gambler pulled a large dirk and anchored his cards as "Ene" had suggested.

Then each laid a large horse-pistol by the side of their cards as a reminder that the anchor should not be lifted.

The gambler is flush with money, having just returned from a big winning at New Orleans.

The boat people possessed quite a sum of money in the aggregate, besides they were carrying in the strong box a large amount of money going into the Western settlements, all of which was placed in "Ene's" hands for the occasion. Raise after raise came from each as they glared at each other like two wild beasts. At last, when "Ene" and his friends had piled in a sum equal to $10,000, the gambler called him and almost intuitively reached for the pile. Clutching his pistol a little harder and pressing his teeth a little closer, #Ene# said:

"Jist hold on, pard; show your hand."

The gambler threw down four deuces with an air of triumph and haughtiness.

"Sorry to tell you, pard, but they ain't good; I've four ones," and he thrust them on the table.

The gambler said not a word, (for he knew he had been beaten at his own game), but straightened up from his chair, walked to the prow of the boat, and placing his pistol to his temple, sent a tiny bullet into his brain. He reeled from the boat and falling into the swirl, was carried under and was never seen again.

But to your story -- Enoch Enochs had gone with his boat for several days, down the river, when a leak sprung, and they were obliged to pull in for repairs, and while this was being done, Enoch hired on another boat which was returning up the river, which at the end of several days returned to Marietta.

As they pulled up to the landing, Enoch noticed a young man standing on the bank whom he recognized as Stephen Forshire, Jr. (7) (Marietta was the trading point for the new colony.)

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(7) The surname today is spelled FORSHEY in Noble Co, as will be seen in comparing the FORSHIREs listed in the Franklin Twp, Monroe Co. U.S. Census of 1830 with the 1850 census for Franklin Twp, Noble Co. There are many Forshey-Enochs marriages recorded in the earliest records of Guernsey and Monroe Counties.

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For some reason "Ene's" boat was to be delayed for several weeks. He was told by young Forshire that his people had moved into Ohio, and that he was soon going back to the new settlement.

"Steve, I'll jist go up to the new settlement and see how things are goin' and where your're at, I will."

So, on the very night on which Nancy Archer and Christina Crow bounded so lightly from the Archer cabin to meet McBride, and the Crow boys, Enoch Enochs and Steve Forshire, Jr. were at the cabin of Steve Forshire, Sr.

Chapter 3

Elisha Enochs, son of Captain Enochs, married Nancy, daughter of James Archer, 1st., and was probably the leading and most influential man of the settlement, (mention is made of him in a former part of this book.) (8)

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(8) This probably refers to Martin Archer's, "The Genealogical History of the Archer Family," but this narrative was not included in the final, printed version of that book.

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He built the first Methodist church building in what is now Noble County, Ohio. In erecting the county of Monroe, Enoch Township was named in his honor, and it is said that he was Treasurer of the County at one time.

He was a preacher and preached for the congregation that he organized for years, and it appears that there were several years immediately after, about 1820, that the priest did not attend at services at St. Michael's Church, (9) and in this period some of our Archer people were induced to attend services at the #Lish Enoch# church on the lands where Carlisle now stands. At these meetings three of the older Archers were converted to the Methodist faith, viz: James 2nd, Jacob and Joseph.

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(9) St. Michael's Catholic church was a one-room building located about half a mile north of Carlisle established in 1841 by Michael Archer, brother of the three Archers converted to Methodism. This church was torn down, about 1903, and some of the bricks were used to build the chimney of the present- day St. Michael's wooden frame church that is on the opposite side of the road from the old Methodist church established by Elisha Enochs. See "Catholic Church Record in Monroe and Noble Counties, Ohio" in this issue of "The Archer Quarterly."

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These men had married Methodist girls. It is said that on the night when they joined "Uncle Lish's" church, he made a supreme effort to arouse the greatest interest and at his close when there was a religious enthusiasm which "knew no bounds," and all joined in the fervent exercises.

In the story "Christina," we reproduced a sermon, (closing part), and gave credit to a character in the story, but in fact the basis for this sermon was the closing of the one on this memorable occasion by "Uncle Lish."

We will give here the closing peroration of the sermon in the story.

"We must free ourselves from the world and all its contaminating influences; forsake wife, husband, father, mother, sister, brother, friend, and follow Him. The time has come when some of us have had the last call; some of us shall never have another opportunity to put away our sins -- forsake all for Him and follow Him.

"It soon shall be said of some of us, 'Let them alone; they have joined to their idols! '

"Now is the appointed time; will you come? You have had opportunity after opportunity, you have had line upon line, you have had precept upon precept, and yet you halt. If you reject the offering tonight the doors may be closed, and you may be forever barred. Tonight the chains are being forged, and your souls are being fettered, the fires are being kindled, and your eternal damnation is being sealed. Will you flee from that everlasting doom? Tonight, in the very hall of pandemonium, the orgy is going on in hilarious expectancy of your addition, and demon spirits are reeling in the glow that your names may soon be placed upon its shadowy and darkened walls.

"I see you inadvertently falling into the dark caverns and into the blazing chasms of the miserable. Oh! I see forked flames of fire belching forth from the depths of hell, consuming the multitude of sinners as though they were chaff. I see you falling on your faces in that awful doom in the midst of imps and demons, whose shrieks and hisses are hideous, and the horrors of which hell no pen could picture, no tongue could tell. Will you come tonight, before it is eternally too late?"

His son, Abraham was a Methodist preacher, known far and wide as "Preacher Abe."

Elisha Enochs was the grandfather of General William Henry Enochs.

When Abe Enochs had a seeming non-appreciative audience or one that did not seem to enthuse under his appeals, he would ofttimes say, "Brethren, if I am getting the fodder too high in the rack, say so, and I will put it lower down."

We have lost trace of the Forshires largely, and only now remember a single incident that would seem worthy to repeat.

On an occasion when a protracted meeting (Methodist) was in progress, in some country district on the Little Muskingum River in Monroe County, and when the meeting seemed to lag, Stephen Forshire, 3rd, was called upon to lead in prayer.

Now Stephen 3rd was a very energetic as well as a very devout Methodist, and warming up to his subject, and hoping to awaken some enthusiasm, closed with this appeal, "Lord, come down tonight, -- come in your workin' clothes, and with the harness on, and give yourself a name on the Little Muskingum."

Archibald Morris was an old man when he came over with the colony. He had two sons, Robert and Isaac. Isaac remained on the lands his father had "squatted on," and reared a large family. His brother, Robert, acquired 200 acres of land near Fulda, by gift from his father, and erected a cabin on it, but remained on it for a short time, when he abandoned it, saying that he could not make a living on it (this land was owned recently by Peter Rupple and his descendants), and moved west, and we have no trace of his people.

Reverting to Isaac, the story is told of him that one night he heard hogs making loud noises in the pen, when he procured a large knife and proceeded in the darkness to the pen. There was a large black bear pulling one of his hogs out of the pen. He made a dash for the thief, and inflicted a deep cut, but Bruin went on his way with the plunder, but Uncle Ike kept up the fight till he had filled the bear so full of deep wounds that he fell limp from loss of blood and the hog was liberated.

This Isaac was the great grandfather of the writer, as well as of Albert Maywood Morris, (now deceased), of this County.

Chapter 4

The Crows

It would take a large book indeed to tell the story of the Crow family, and we shall undertake to relate only a few of the incidents connected with them after their settlement in Ohio, as well as on Wheeling Creek in [West] Virginia. But before we get to the settlement we might say that all the Crow family were murdered by the Indians before they came to Ohio, except Martin, Christina and Frederick. 

Jacob was the head of the family on Wheeling Creek. He and his wife and two sons are murdered in their own cabin and the cabin burned over them, and three girls one of whose names was Christina, had gone to hunt wild flowers, and were overtaken by three Indians and a white renegade by the name of De La Mater, (10) and murdered except Christina, who escape after being tomahawked and scalped.

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(10) Louis De La Mater was the fictional name that Martin Archer used for Simon in his serialized novel, Christina. There is no historical evidence that Girty was resentful or instigated the Indian attack on the Crow sisters. Martin Archer's story seems based on an elaboration on the fact that Girty incited the Indians to attack white settlers on behalf of the French during the French-Indian wars. Whether Girty's motives were personal or political is not known with certainty, leaving Martin Archer free to pen his "imaginative and colored description."

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A highly imaginative and colored description of this tragedy is found in Chapter 18 of the story, "Christina," which we here reproduced.

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The shades of evening were casting their shadowy arches across the heavens in a still greater degree, and De La Mater is reminded that the execution must soon commence or total darkness will be upon them. He has placed the two Indians in their positions, and he should give the signal three times (that of hoo-hoo-hoo), in imitation of the hoot of the owl when they were instantly to spring from their cover and seize the girls, he the larger [Christina], and the Indians, the two smaller girls. The two smaller were to be dispatched while Tener was to be taken prisoner and carried back to the Indian village.

"Hoo!" comes from the bushes. It is heard by Tener, and it startles her. There is something about it doleful that boded evil. The younger girls hear it and reach out their arms as if to pull themselves closer to their older sister.

"Hist! It is only an owl." She tried to quiet their fears. One quarter of a minute fleets away when again it rings upon their ears, now louder and more dreadful than before (to them).

It is not an owl. She has heard their mournful "hoo-hoo" before, but it does not sound like this. They are in the act of rising when there comes another and last "hoo."

They cast a glance at each other quivering from head to foot when almost instantly there springs from the bushes in three different directions three Indians, as they supposed.

As they come forward in leaps and bounds, three wild and hideous yells come from their throats. The girls leap to their feet bewildered and attempt to run in different directions, undertaking to carry out the instruction that Tener had given them. About the same moment all are overtaken by their captors.

The affrighted screams of the girls pierce the forest, but the demons pursue their deadly purpose. Cyntha Crow is first caught, and seeing her Indian captor raising his deadly tomahawk above her head, she breaks his hold on her and folds her pretty white hand above her head when, with a swish, the tomahawk is sent through them. The skin on her head is hardly pierced, but several fingers are severed, which fall to the ground, and the blood spurts from several arteries in profusion. For an instant she holds out her hands in front of her as if to protect herself and ward off death for a few fleeting moments longer. The very eyes of the brute are blinded with her blood. Another swish of the cruel instrument, and it is buried in her face, entering her left eye. The cries of the poor girl get faint, and she reels back when a heavy blow sinks the tomahawk into her brain to its eye. The soul of this innocent girl has now taken its flight; the cares of the earth are now no more to her. She is at rest.

No less struggle is going on between Mary and her captor. As the other Indian came near her, she, perhaps, more intuitively than otherwise, raised the club she still retained in her hands and felled the brute with a powerful blow upon the head. He staggered for the moment, but regaining his momentum, pushed on as she was raising her club for another blow. He seizes it and wrenches it from her hands. He is now too close to use his tomahawk, so he pulled a long knife from his belt, and began to strike at her breast, which is now bare. In the struggle he had torn her clothes away.

She threw up her hands and for a time, warded off his blows, although her fingers and wrists were chopped into shreds. After several attempts to pierce the network of her fingers and arms, the wicked, cruel blade sinks deep into her white chest, entering the heart cavity, and the innocent thing falls limp at his feet. It is over, and another angelic soul enters into the realms of bliss.

De La Mater had elected to capture the big girl. It is his intent to save her from harm and to carry her into captivity, ostensibly to make her his wife, but maybe to subject her to every cruelty that is possible to inflict. But she must be carried away alive.

This is why De La Mater undertakes her capture as his part of the plot. He feared that the ferocity of the Indians might, in the moment of excitement, carry them off their feet, and they might inflict some harm to her. He sprang upon her, seized her by the arm and, for the moment, seemed to overpower her, but she fought him back with an almost superhuman strength and liberated herself from his grasp. Now he rushes again at her and seizes her by the throat and seeks to weaken her so that she might be bound and secured. She sinks to the ground when he releases his grasp, intending to fasten her hands and feet. He had no sooner released his grasp when she rises before him, her eyes blazing with fire, and with all the fury of a lioness. The words she spoke to him ought to have burned into his cheek.

"Louis De La Mater, you are a murderer; you are a fiend. How helpless we are, and how foully we are murdered! I shall soon join my sisters. Do your work -- finish it."

As she spoke these last words she noticed a long dagger hanging from his belt. In an instant she snatched it. She raised it quickly and plunged it toward his breast. At that moment she caught his eye and fully recognized him. He slunk away from her like a cowed dog and would have met his just deserts at the hands of this powerful woman had not one of his Indian dogs come quickly to his rescue.

As that long bladed dagger was coming toward the heart of Louis De La Mater, directed and supported by the strong arm of Tener Crow, the tomahawk of one of the Indians fell upon her head with such force that her arms fell, but the great momentum carried the dagger beneath his buckskin shirt and deep into his flesh.

The tomahawk had not penetrated her brain, but she fell limp to the earth when instantly she was scalped by the Indians. She fell on rather a steep incline on the ground and while being scalped she was rolling toward the cliff. The Indians supposed that she was naturally carried down this incline because of the surface conditions.

She had indeed been stunned by the lick, but as she struck the ground she began to revive, and as if by inspiration, she divined to roll to the cliff and over. It was only death at any rate.

When she rolled to the cliff, which was fifteen or twenty feet away, she supposed she was going over, which would have been forty or fifty feet in a perpendicular height. Instead of rolling over the cliff, she rolled into a crack opening out into the precipice below. Her feet dropped into the chasm first, and her hips wedged into it a distance of six or seven feet from the flat above.

If these Indians had a mere animal instinct for fair play they should not have interfered. Why should not Providence have stayed the hand of that brute, that hireling, until the keen blade of that dagger had entered the heart of that cowering dog as he slunk from what he more than justly deserved? Then poetic justice would indeed have been completed.

He walked to the cliff expecting to see her in a broken mass below, but no, she had fallen into the crevice. It was not yet so dark that he could not see her. She was bent forward, head and arms hanging limp and apparently lifeless. As he stood there, apparently meditating, the two Indians followed to his side. They, too, looked upon her supposed lifeless form. At last one of them said, "Crow girls all gone -- Crow girls good, give Indian bead, give Indian corn."

They had indeed given these same Indians bread and corn. Their father had sheltered them in his own house. How sad it all is! Maybe they are brothers -- maybe one of them is a father of the dusky maiden who brought back to life the demon soul of Louis De La Mater. How does all this scene fall upon him? Will he now relent and retrace his steps? The hope of carrying Christina Crow away with him is now vanished. What craving has he still in his heart that is not satiated by the blood spread out before him? What shade of lurid spectacular glare is yet to be added to the drama -- the tragedy?

They all lay on the ground, De La Mater thinking soberly, deeply. It is all over, and he has decided in his craven heart to murder the remaining Crows, burn their home and take into captivity John McBride, and burn him at the stake. The same is imparted to the two Indians, who hang their heads. They look towards the two dead bodies lying only a few paces from them and seem sorry for what they have already done and seem to be desirous to be released from the second still bloodier tragedy still to be enacted. One of them looks De La Mater square in the face and suddenly remarked, "Indian no kill any more; white man up the creek good to Indian."

For many years after the last Indian had been moved back from Wheeling Creek and Southeast Ohio, there were reservations on the Sciota and in the Northwest part of the state. But for as many years (in summer time), they returned from their new locations to the old haunts on Wheeling Creek and father East on fishing and hunting expeditions.

The settlers on the "East Fork" knew them before they had been moved to their new reservations, and as they passed in their yearly migrations, they would often stop with them, and pay friendly visits.

On one occasion, an Indian and his squaw stopped with my grandfather overnight getting their supper and breakfast, and before they started back for the Sciota, the Indian cut a fish on a rock in grandfather's orchard and told him that the tail pointed to a lead mine somewhere about where the village of Fulda now stands, but grandfather never discovered the mine. But this was a sort of cheap camouflage, and Uncle Jim could stand it better than being buncoed by the slick scoundrel who sells a gold mine at a fabulous price for cash.

Distance lends enchantment, and some people thrive on it and seem never to be satisfied unless they are yielding up the lambs' fleece.

On another occasion three Indians were returning from Wheeling Creek and remained overnight with James Archer, 2nd, and before leaving presented Aunt Becca (11) and two of the girls with each a pair of finely beaded moccasins. They were friendly Indians and were paying a visit to the man who had been their friend on Wheeling Creek. These were also Christian Indians. About this time Martin Crow was assisting Mr. Archer in building a corn crib, and he observed the Indians, and he immediately began to frame an excuse to get away. Mr. Archer remarked to the women that he should have secreted the Indians from the knowledge of Crow.

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(11) Rebecca Enochs, daughter of Capt. Enoch Enochs. See "History of Noble," Publ. by L.H. Watkins, Chicago, 1887, p. 443 and "Genealogical History," pp. 8,87.

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These Indians never returned to the settlement again, and the following summer Michael Archer (called St. Michael), pulled an Indian out of a drift in the creek below the James Archer farm.

About the year 1825 John McClintock and his two sons went down into Egypt (as they called it), (12) to get corn, and put up at the cabin of James Archer, 2nd. Before returning, the corn was brought in and was shelled and placed in long linsey bags, placed on their horses and carried home. As they were ready to start on their return home, McClintock pulled out a long weasel skin and emptied out several pieces of English gold and offered to pay Mr. Archer for the corn.

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(12) Mrs. Wheat recalls that Egypt was the local slang for East Union in Stock Twp. and was still used when she was a girl. The origin of the name is unknown.

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The old man refused, saying, "Jist God knows we must have the corn back, for we may need it were selves."

In the fall of that year, McClintock returned the corn and still offered to pay some interest on the loan, but Mr. Archer said, "No, I have all my corn back, and why should I take more?" Of this James Archer (2nd), Uncle Henry Craig tells a good story --

The Archers, by reason of being Catholics (as we have already said), were an isolated set and had endured so many slights and persecutions that they had, to some extent, become estranged from their Protestant neighbors and took little interest in politics or the social and public affairs outside their church. But in the early times (as now), there were political and sectional factions, and in old Union Township it was divided between the East and West.

The Sarahsville and Whigville ends were arrayed against the Summerfield and Carlisle ends, and in Township elections the bitterness and contentions were fast and furious, and neither end had anything to brag of.

At one particular spring election the agitation was at white heat and it did not seems safe to be on either end. Dr. Craig (13) who was a wise man in his day, and who was a candidate for "Squire"), conceived the idea of bringing in the Archers on the basis of splitting on the spoils.

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13. Dr. Joshua Craig, an Irish immigrant and early settler in Summerfield, arriving with other families about 1819. See "History of Noble," L.H. Watkins, Chicago, 1887, p. 404.

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He said, "We will put Uncle Jim Archer on our ticket for Trustee, and this will get the whole clan; besides they will feel that they are part of the community."

The voting place was about one mile south of "Stone Schoolhouse," and on lands now owned by Daniel Morrison. It embraced all of Summerfield and a part of Carlisle and a part of Sarahsville, and contained 36 square miles.

Midnight caucuses were the order and the Doctor had his men organized as only a Scotchman [sic-Scotch-Irish] could do.

On the day of the election, the clatter of horses hoofs could be heard for a long distance down the valley of the East Fork, and a string of Archers (and their relatives), appeared on the scene that would have made the Klu-Klux-Klan or the Kentucky Night Riders jealous indeed. Dr. Craig's ticket won by a few votes, and the night that followed was a scene of great rejoicing.

And as Uncle Henry finished his story, he remarked, "We wa'nt none too sober either."

But let us for the moment revert to a story told of Elisha Enochs, by our grandmother, Cynthia Morris Archer, "Aunt Cyntha." (14)

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14. Cynthia Morris, daughter of Isaac Morris, who md. James Archer (James, James, Patrick). See Watkins, "History," p. 460; 'The County of Noble," by Frank M. Martin, Selwyn A. Brant, Madison WI, 1904, p. 132; Archer, Genealogy, p. 10.

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Now in reproducing this story I feel that I run a great risk of losing my reputation for truth and veracity, but it belongs to a store of stories, and I feel that I ought to keep it alive. I would not do so but this angelic woman had such an exalted name for being truthful (as we older ones well know) that I feel at ease in telling it.

On the first night after Elisha Enochs had built his cabin at the outer edge (where the bottom land touches the foot of the hill) of what is known as "Ene's Middle Bottom," something occurred which might have been a tragedy, but fortunately is now remembered as legendary and only an Enochs story.

On this spot of ground is where the members of the colony first camped in what is now Noble County, and here beneath the somber depths of the giant oak and sycamore is where they parceled out the different tracts of land that was to go to each family of the settlement.

Elisha drew the allotment embracing the spot where they had camped on the first night. The cabin was so arranged as to allow a large flat rock to remain and serve as a hearth stone.

The first night was a chilly one, and a fire was built in the fireplace. Now about the middle of the night the hearth stone warmed up and a den of rattlesnakes were aroused form their slumber and crawling out of their ancient home began to make explorations about the changed premises. A large one crawled up the wall and in its stealth gently wended its way across Uncle Lish's face.

Lish knew very well the nature of the Virginia rattler, and almost intuitively divined what had invaded the sanctity of his domicile, so in an instant he snatched the monster from his face and dashed it into the slumbering fire. This started a blaze, and he could plainly see the floor covered with snakes. He and Nancy (15) climbed the wall to the roof and raising the boards, escaped.

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(15) Nancy Archer, daughter of James Archer (Patrick). This event

probably took place before the birth of their oldest, Henry, born 27 March 1807. (Lawrence Co., OH Death Records, Vol 1, p. 506). Their marriage date is not known.

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Now to return to the Archers -- they were a hardy race of men and the earlier ones took great pride in their physical strength and prowess. At the "raisings" and log rollings, they were always at the front with exhibitions of their physical manhood. In fact this in those days generally counted for more than excellence in any other direction.

They were giants, but we cannot here fitly describe the battles in which some of the giants among them have engaged; besides, this would seem now to be a lost art and would not be interesting. In those days men came together in these contests like wild beast, of the forest, and they grappled in an almost deathlike struggle.

Once a man among them who was known as "Big Nate,"(16) who on returning home from a visit to his best girl, was halted in the middle of the road by a very ferocious bull dog, but as the beast leaped for his throat, he caught him on either side of his jaws with his hands, and swinging him above his head, brought him full length to the ground smashing almost every bone in his body.

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(16) "Nate" is Nathan (Joseph, James, Patrick) b. ca. 1828, Monroe Co., OH; d. 19 Mar 1888, Jackson Co, WV. md. 1. Lydia Harris b. ca. 1828; d. 7 or 31 May 1866, Noble Co., OH (9 children); and 2. Mary Henry 13 Apr 1867 (no known children). Nathan served in Co. G 186 OVI. Martin Archer identifies Nathan's brother as "Lame Mike," below. (Names and dates from Nathan's Civil War pension file certificate 284554 (Nathan) and 282714 (Nancy) and Noble Co. Marriages Vol 1/2, p. 684).

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It is said that he carried across the Old Mill floor, at East Union, 16 bushels of wheat.

Once when about 18 years of age, he accompanied his father to Zanesville with wheat, and there he observed the bully of the town break a man's jaw with a single blow with his fist. (This man had terrorized all for miles around with his threats of personal violence.) Our young man immediately told him that no one but a coward would treat another as he had without a cause. This was a challenge to the brute, and they fought such a battle as had not been seen in Zanesville at any time, but the big one was vanquished, and the fellows about the streets quickly made up a purse and bought our hero a new suit from head to foot. It will be a long time yet before the name of "Lame Mike" (17) is forgotten, and he was a brother to "Big Nate." His battle with a man by the name of Farley is now almost historical, but ever afterward they were friends.

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(17) Lame Mike is Michael Archer (Joseph, James, Patrick) born with a club foot (Mary (Archer) Swann, from her father, Cornelius G. Archer (Joseph, Michael, Joseph, James, Patrick).) Michael was born 14 Apr 1809; died 19 Sep 1876, age 68 and is buried in the East Union Cemetery in Noble Co. (LDS Patron Book; tombstone.)

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James Archer of Joseph of James 1st., known as "Possum Jim" was a prominent man in the early days. (18)

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(18) He was James Archer b. ca 1807; d. 12 Sep 1863; He md. 1. Catherine Headley b. ca. 12 Aug 1813; d. 28 Mar 1851 age 37 yr, 7 mo. 16 da. Both are buried in the East Union, Noble Co., OH cemetery ("Genealogical History," p. 15; tombstones). He md. 2. Hannah Sweeney, widow of Enoch Archer (Michael, James, Patrick) on 27 Aug 1861. (Noble Co., Oh Marriages, Vol 1/2, p. 12)

Martin Archer described him as "prominent" because he was a merchant and mill owner in East Union, a member of the Ohio state legislature, a member of the Know-nothing Party. ("A Biographical History of Central Kansas," Vol II, Lewis Publ. Co., New York, 1902, p. 1374 (biography of Stephen S. Archer, son of James Archer and Catherine Headley.))

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He was a hustling man and accumulated several hundred acres of land, as was well to. The mania known as getting rich overtook him and he went into merchanting and running a big flouring mill and lost all his substance.

He was a good-hearted, noble man and could never say no. He would often tell his clerk, "Don't charge that bill, for that fellow will never pay for it." He bought eggs at 3 cents per dozen and then threw them in the creek. But as long as the name of "Possum Jim" Archer is remembered, it will be revered.

Chapter 5

About the year 1820, there came into the valley two families from Rhode Island, by name, Young and Stone.

John Stone settled on lands two miles above the present site of East Union, on the creek, and Young settled about one fourth of a mile west of the village.

John Stone and Wm. Young (19) were the head of these families, and a long line of descendants follow these men. They were Yankees and were in the cotton business in Providence # they drove to these parts with two ox teams.

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(19) A John R. Stone was listed as a taxpayer of 82 A. in S. 18 of Center (then Union Twp., Monroe Co.) Twp in 1833 and also listed as a resident of Marion Twp (then Union/Seneca Twps of Monroe Co) before 1851. See Watkins, "History," Chicago, 1887, pp. 338, 408

William Young came from Rhode Island and settled in Stock Twp in the fall of 1825. He descended from parents who emigrated from Scotland.

Ibid., p. 443.

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They were thrifty men and ere long had builded good houses (for these days). Wm. J. Young, Henry Young, Robert Young, Thomas Young were the sons of Wm. Young, and they need no new introduction even now. They built what was called, in those days, Yankee cottages, and of course excelled any of the rude cabins of those days.

These Yankees aroused in the community a spirit of enterprise and pride in "fixing up." Possum Jim was the first to get the fever, and he said he would not allow any Yankee to excel him in a good house, so he went to Pittsburgh and employed a couple of brick makers and started a brick house. This house stands to this day, and had it been kept in proper repair, would favorably compare with any of today. The inside finish was hewn and carved out of solid walnut, and the work was superbly artistic.

Preacher Jim was caught in the swirl and said he would beat Possum, and he would have a modern frame, and he got his lumber sawed in the city of Pittsburgh, and floated down the Ohio, and up the Muskingum, to Beverly, and hauled across the country, literally cutting a road across the hills to the valley. That house stands to this day on the lands owned by M. B. Archer.

This improvement craze went on until Judge Billy Smith, Enoch Grandon and many others along the valley had modern houses.

This wave of bettering conditions continued to the fifties. About this time (1850), the idea dawned upon them that they should have a modern flouring mill, (they had heretofore gotten their milling done at Beverly, Marietta, and other far away places), so a meeting was called and $12,000 subscribed to build a modern mill. In those days that sum was equal to probably $60,000 at this time.

Those of today well remember the "Big Mill," but it was not a success. More than 25 years ago it was dismantled, and the timbers went into barns on the lands of C. M. Archer and Taylor Hague. (20)

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(20) C. M. Archer was Cicero Matheney Archer (Stephen, James, James, James, Patrick), b. 12 Aug 1871; d. 6 Apr 1945 md. Martha Jane Archer (Simon, Stephen, James, James, Patrick) b. 24 Mar 1872; d. 7 Oct 1960. Both Buried in the East Union cemetery. Taylor Hague was William Taylor Hague who on 14 Nov 1895 md. Cicero's sister, Rosa Archer b. 6 Jul 1869; d. 1920. (Mary Swann, sources not given; Noble Co. Marriage records, Vol 7, p. 397.)

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There were several tragedies in this mill. One day a young girl went to the mill on an errand, and while standing near the main shaft, her clothing was caught and winding her up her brains were dashed out against the wall of the mill. On another occasion, the huge boiler burst, emptying out its contents of steam and boiling water into the engine house. Elza Archer (21) was scalded to death, and John Rossiter and Daniel Powell well nigh but finally recovered. James Brown superintended the building of this mill, and Dick Robinson was the millwright.

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(21) This was Elza Archer, daughter of Nathan "Nate" (Joseph, James, Patrick) who died 8 Mar 1872, age 15, in a steam mill accident. Parents: Nathan and Mary Archer (Noble Co., Death Records, Vol 1). Mary Archer was Nathan's second wife, Mary M. Henry, whom he married 13 Apr 1867 in Noble Co., OH (Noble Co., OH marriages Vol 1/2, p. 684.) His first wife, and mother of Elza, was Lydia Harris b. ca. 1828; d. 7 or 31 May 1866. Nathan and his second wife moved to Jackson Co., WV about 1875. Nathan died there 19 Mar 1888 having 18 children, 9 by each wife. He was a Civil War veteran serving in Co. G, 186 OVI and drew a pension. See note 16 above.

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About this time Henry Archer of James 2nd of James 1st., laid out the village of East Union. And also about this time a post office was procured, and largely through the influence of one McCleary, whose name was adopted for the new post office. (22)

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(22) The McCleary post office was established in 1859, but oddly there are no persons named McCleary in the 1860 census for Noble Co., and of those who had the surname, McClary, none lived in Stock Twp.

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James Brown, however, gave the village the name of "Bragadocia," because he said the native East Forker was the greatest on the "brag," he had ever known. (23)

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(23) Mrs. Wheat recalled that during her childhood, many called East Union by its popular shortened name of "Docia," "Bragadocia" being too long to pronounce.

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The Archers being Catholics, adopted Bible names, and it followed that the descendants must of necessity take after the names of the parents, and as a matter of distinction, they were known as the sons of certain of the older and given additional names for convenience; for instance in the James names, we have Grandad (meaning James 2nd), "Preacher Jim,", (24) "Possum Jim," Simes Jim (or Slim Jim), (25) "Enochs Jim". (26)

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(24) This was James Archer (James, James, Patrick) d. 2 Mar 1875, age 69, 10 mo, 18 da.; d. md. Cyntha Morris d. 5 Mar 1884, age 74 yr, 4 mo. 20 da. (Noble Co. Death Records, Vol 1.; Watkins, "History," p. 460.) (25) This was probably James W. Archer son of Simon (James, Patrick), as there were no other known James' with a son named Simon. James W. Archer baptized 10 Dec 1835, St. Mary's Catholic Church, Temperanceville, OH; d. 16 Sep 1900, Murdock, Swift Co., MN; md. 21 Sep 1856, Noble Co., Mary McGovern, b. Jul 1835; d. 6 Sep 1918 Murdock, Swift Co., MN. She was the daughter of Patrick McGovern and Mary McGuire (Noble Co., OH, Marriages Records, Vol 1/2, p. 229; Watkins, op. cit, p. 462; James Archer pension file.) James was a Civil War veteran of Co G., 186 OVI. 

Several Noble Co. Catholic families resettled in Minnesota about 1878 to form Catholic missions at the urging of an Archbishop promoting Catholic expansion in the west. (26) This was probably James Enoch Archer (Enoch, James, James, Patrick) b. ca. 1843; d. 1925; md. 1. 25 Oct 1863, Noble Co., Rebecca Morris daughter of James Morris and Susan Archer (Simon, James, Patrick), d. 4 Apr 1871, age 24. 2. Jennie Archer (Vincent, Simon, James I) b. ca. 1860; d. 1921. All are buried in East Union Cemetery; (Noble Co., OH Marriage Records, Vols 1/2, p. 523, Vol 6, p. 75; Noble Co. Death Records Vol 1, p. 36.)

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Then there is Uncle Sime, (27) Sime up the creek, Steve's Sime, (28) Sime's Sime (29) and Nathan's Sime. (30)

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(27) Simon (James, Patrick) b. 31 Jul 1793; d. 1 Aug 1868; md. 15 Sep 1815, Guernsey Co., OH, Rhoda Enochs, b. ca. 1806; d. 22 Apr 1870, age 72 yr., 10 da. daughter of Henry Enochs and Rebecca. Simon and Rhoda are buried, Old St. Michael's cemetery. (Guernsey Co., OH Marriages Bk A, p. 39; tombstones) (28) This is probably Simon Peter Archer (Stephen, James, James, Patrick) b. ca. 1850; d. (4 Jun?) 1929, Winfield KS; md. 5 Mar 1871, Noble Co, OH Harriet E. Barnes b. 1853; d. 1937. Simon and Harriet are buried in Highland Cemetery, Winfield, KS. All of their 10 children were born in Noble Co. The parents moved to Cowley Co., Kansas sometime after 1907. (Noble Co., OH Marriage Records, Vol 5, p. 70. and family records of Mrs. John (Clarice Marie) Steele (Cicero, Stephen, James, James, James I). (29) Simon Archer (Simon, James, Patrick) b. ca. 1826. He married 8 Oct 1845, St. Mary's Catholic Church, Temperanceville, OH Sophia Archer (Nathan, James, Patrick) b. ca. 1828; baptized 7 Mar 1833, St. Mary's Temperanceville OH. By 1880, Simon and family had moved to Steele Dist., Wood Co., WV. Simon's death date is not certain. There is a Simon who died in Noble Co. d. 17(?) Mar 1896, Stock Twp, age 70 yr, 2 mo, 5 da. Mary Swann (source not identified) gives Simon's death as 1907, age 81. (St. Mary's Catholic church registers; U.S. Census; Noble Co., OH death records Vol 3.) (30) Simon Archer (Nathan, James, Patrick) b. ca. 1821, OH; d. 1907, Noble Co. OH; md. Elizabeth Deloger/DeLozier/DeLosier (Leasure?) b. 25 Mar 1824, MD; d. 15 Aug 1885 age 60 yr, 4 mo, 20 da., daughter of Richard De Lozier who md. in Port Tobacco, MD. She is buried in the old St. Michael's cemetery. (Margaret Archer (William, Belcarius, Simon, Nathan, James, Patrick) from records in Charles Co., MD.; obit of Elizabeth Archer, "Caldwell Journal," 21 Aug 1885, p. 5)

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Uncle Mike (St. Michael), (31) Lame Mike, Joe's Mike, (32) Daniel's Mike, (33) and so it went through the family (of the older one.)

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(31) Michael of James (Patrick), d. 19 Jul 1847, age 55 yr, 4 mo, 4 da; buried Old St. Michael's cemetery (tombstone read in 1964); md. Rhoda Grandon (Washington, Co. OH Marriages) d. 23 Jun 1847 (Burial Book, St. Joseph's Church, Miltonsburg); Rhoda is also buried in Old St. Michael's cemetery. 

(32) Michael (Joseph, James, Patrick) b. 14 Apr 1809 md. 1. Ann Miller b. 14 Sep 1811; d. 20 Oct 1844; md. 2 Aug 1827; 2. Sarah Young b. 13 Apr 1824; d. 5 Jun 1861 md. 2 Sep 1845; buried East Union cemetery, daughter of Andy Young; "Genealogical History," p. 15 and dates from "The Family Record of Michael Archer" written by Stephen Morris Archer (Martin, Michael, Joseph, James, Patrick) that appears to have been taken from a Bible record. 3. Harriett Hendricks 31 Oct 1861 (Noble Co. Marriages Vol 1/2, p. 457 and Stephen Morris Archer "Record"). Two of Michael's children, Asbury and Martha Ann (md. George A. Alexander) went to Jackson Co., WV, so it is possible that Michael died there, however, no death date or place has been discovered.

(33) Michael Francis Archer (Daniel, Simon, Michael, James, Patrick) b. 29 Aug 1869, Carlisle, Noble Co., OH; d; 29 Mar 1949, Woodsfield, OH,; md. Etta Virginia Thompson b. 30 Aug 1869, Stock Twp, Noble Co, OH; d. 18 Jul 1943. both are buried in Oaklawn Cemetery, Woodsfield, OH. She was the daughter of William F. Thompson and Mary Elizabeth Neiswonger. He was known as "M.F. Archer" and was the owner-operator of the flourmill in Woodsfield from 1900 until 1929 and then a feed mill at the same location until his retirement in 1943. ("Spirit of Democracy,"  Woodsfield, OH, 8 Jul 1915, 16 Feb 1939; obits (Etta Virginia Thompson) 22 Jul 1943; (Michael F. Archer) 31 Mar 1949; family records of William F. Archer (Fred, Michael, Daniel, Simon, Michael, James, Patrick).)

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John McBride, who came over with the colony, was the ancestor of the McBride people, He married Christina Crow, sister of Martin Crow.

The story is told of him that on a certain occasion a jumping and running match occurred on Wheeling Creek, when he was one of the contestants. Now Johnny was very fond of Christina Crow, and he was sure to exert the last ounce of strength he possessed to gain the admiration of this beautiful blond.

In those days to excel in some of the sports or in some physical prowess was a greater achievement than to win in a spelling match or in an oratorical contest; besides Christina (Tener) had prompted him by telling him the could be her husband if he should win in the jumping contest.

Now to be prompted in this way by the girl he loved almost gave him wings, and he felt he must win. So he shaved out a long pole and practiced alone for days in every way that he thought would give him any advantage in the contest.

The day of trial came on, and all the youngsters of the valley were present. Our boy was on hand in the pink of condition, and his best girl was there with words of encouragement and good cheer.

He was of short stout build, and as elastic as a rubber ball. He easily matched all the others in the hop and single leap but it was supposed that with the pole he would fall short, but he was there to win the girl, and if it took superhuman effort, he felt equal to the task, and "courage is half the battle." The pole jump is with a pole, leaping up, and the distance up on a perpendicular line is the measure of your leap. In this way several trials were had, and our boy seemed to fall short of the mark, that should make him the winner, when he noticed standing immediately to the left of the object they were undertaking to leap, an old fashioned covered wagon, which was about 20 inches higher than the mark any had attained, and the thought of leaping over it seized him, and he turned from the object where they were contending, sprang several paces firmly placing the end of his pole to the ground, clutching it near the top with his hands and with quickness and strength of a tiger, he bounded over the top of the wagon, cover and all.

As he landed on the solid ground on the other side, he broke his leg, but he had cleared 12 feet and had won all the prizes including the Crow girl.

It is said that for weeks she nursed him until he had fully recovered. And this is the boy who founded the village of Carlisle.

Reverting now back to the Enochs line, I must tell a little story told me by "Uncle John Robinson," (who was also a native of the "East Fork"). He says that when he was a small boy two men came into Carlisle, each wearing knit caps with tassels on them.

They were Elisha Enochs and a man by name of Miller, who was related to the Enochs' and each more than 90 years and each riding mules with a sheep skin for saddles.

The younger generations gathered around them and started the stories of the pioneer life when foot racing came in, when someone said, "Uncle Lish, you never run any foot races any more do you?"

He replied that he did not but just for a joke said he could outrun Miller. Miller replied, "Lish, I kin jist beat you runnin' from here down to Ene's Middle Bottom -- I kin, and if you don't think so, jist put up your mule." Lish was a preacher and we suppose this dissuaded him from the contest.

Reverting again to the Enoch branch of the family -- we desire to call attention to some mistakes in Howe's historical sketches; (34) they are these:

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34. This is a reference to Henry Howe's "Historical Collections of Ohio," Vols 1-2, C.J. Krehbiel & Co., Cincinnati, 1908 (and several other editions). See note 3. above.

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In the description of the battle of Captina, the name of the commander is given as "Abram Enoch," and in his biography of Governor McArthur in the Ross County section he gives the name of Enochs as Capt. Wm. Enochs, when in fact his name was Enoch Enochs, and my information comes from the older persons of my relatives, Capt. Enochs being my great, great grandfather. He was, as we have said, the great grandfather of Gen. W. H. Enochs of the Civil War.

<> General William Henry Enochs <>

Gen. Enochs was born in what is now Noble County, Ohio, March 29, 1842 and died in the city of Ironton, Ohio, July 13, 1893. He was of Holland descent, on this father's side and Capt Enoch Enochs is said to have been born in Holland.

Young Enochs attended the country schools in boyhood, and graduated at the Athens University. He enlisted in the 22nd. Ohio Volunteers, to serve in the Civil War, and again re-enlisted in the 5th West Virginia Volunteers, in Company "K." "He was a dashing soldier," as described by Gen. Grosvenor in his remarks on the occasion of the memorial services in Congress. He became a Lieutenant in December, 1861, and in April 1862, he became Captain of Company "E," then, Lieutenant Colonel.

At the close of the war, he was breveted Brigadier-General.

He practiced law in Ironton; served in the Legislature, and was elected to Congress, where he served two terms.

Gen. Grosvenor also said in his memorial address in Congress, "He was an uneducated, untrained, and undisciplined Phil Sheridan. He had all the ardor of that great leader, all the push, all the courage, all the patriotic devotion." Gen. Grosvenor further said, "I attended his funeral at Ironton.

On a beautiful Sunday we assembled at the home he loved so well and witnessed the ceremonies incident to that solemn occasion. I never witnessed a greater demonstration of love, affection, confidence and esteem of a greater constituency than was manifested at the bier of Gen. Enochs on that occasion.

Now again reverting to Capt. Enochs, it is said by Mr. Howe (in his historical collections), that Capt Enochs was killed at the battle of Captina, and that his bowels were torn out, which is incorrect, for as we have related, he finally settled on the waters of the East Fork of Duck Creek and was buried there.

<> Early Methodism <>

In the early days of Methodism what was known as the "Circuit Rider' was the person in charge of a large area of territory # for instance, the Rev. J. B. Finley who was located at Zanesville had a circuit embracing probably most of Muskingum, Noble, Morgan and Guernsey Counties. Then under the Rider there were "local preachers," who went through the settlements, and held meetings in winter, what was called protracted or "big meetings."

These "local preachers" made no charge and "boarded" and lodged with the members. Of those who ministered to the spiritual wants of the Methodist followers on the East Fork were Elisha Enochs, Fredrick A. Spencer, James Archer 3rd. (Preacher Jim), Stephen W. Archer, (35) Michael Archer (of Joseph), and Silas Farley, and in these local "big meetings" it required singers as well as preachers, and men and women were drafted in to do the singing, and of those we now remember James Lincicome, William Barnes (Uncle Billy), Shed Burton.

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35. Stephen W. Archer (James, James, Patrick) b. Stock Twp, Noble Co.; d. 31 Dec 1894, Stock Twp, Noble Co., age 77 yr, 5 mo, 27 da. (Noble Co., OH Death Records.) md. Cyntha Archer (Simon, James, Patrick) b. ca. 1820 (Martin Archer, "Genealogical History", pp. 11, 17.)

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By nature these were strong men, but untutored, and in their illustrations they often used some symbol or the very substance of things to get to their hearers.

Once when James Archer [3rd.] was demonstrating the degrees of merit or moral makeup of persons, or what men should be, he closed with these words, "You should be strong, you should be good like me and Dad and Uncle Lish."

Let us remark here that poor Shedrick Burton in his old days caught the vision of the glitter of gold and went to California in '59, and there drew out from the caverns of the Rockies, $12,000.00 and set his face to the East -- to home, -- and wife and children whom he loved, and to the old log church. What visions of his enlarged conditions for ease and comfort and usefulness, "but alas to human hopes," for he never returned, and was never heard of.

His efforts were laudable and worthy, but one of the innumerable lessons which teach the sublime truth that worldly things are mere chaff. The story of his effort for gold will be forgotten, but the impress that he cast out in his religious efforts will live on and teach on to the end of time.

<> Back to the Archers <>

It has already been said that the Archers, when they came over from Wheeling Creek were all Catholics. Their nearest Catholic neighbors were at Crows' Mills, Virginia.

The first priest to administer to the Duck Creek settlement was Father Ward of Waynesburgh, Pa. He came over in winter for several winters and taught at a parochial school located in the valley.

When he returned to Waynesburgh not to come again the pioneers were indeed in a quandary, but they soon conceived the idea of enlarging the colony by means of bringing in persons of their faith from the Waynesburgh country.

They purchased lands from the Government and built cabins on each tract, and the tracts were generally parcelled in 40 and 80 acre lots.

Michael Archer (St. Michael) was the chief mover in this enterprise, and the lands purchased embraced a block from the hill overlooking the East Fork back to the Little Creek country in which the present site of Fulda is located.

These settlers were of course all Catholics. The Archer settlers would load up with cured meat and corn and other farm products and drive to Wheeling and Waynesburgh where they would find sale and would bring a family back.

The writer himself can remember the old fashioned "Duck Belly" that made these trips. Their bottom was fashioned like the bottom of a boat and large enough to hold a whole family (goods and all), and all four to eight horses pulled them, owing to the load and number of persons on board.

These settlers coming over to the Fulda country were of foreign extraction: German, French, Switzers, Hollanders, etc. They prospered and added very largely to the material development of that section. Later they built a very large and costly church and parsonage. (36)

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36. This was St. Mary's Church in Fulda, Enoch Twp. St. Mary's began as a mission served by priests based at St. Joseph's near Somerset, Belmont Co., and St. Dominic's (now St. Mary's) at Temperanceville. By 1853 there were enough parishioners in Enoch Twp to erect and dedicate its first church. See "The Archer Quarterly," (Fall 1991), pp. 702-704.

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<> Solomon Wolf <>

Solomon Wolf was one of the early blacksmiths # he had those early pioneers for customers. Corn, wheat, potations and pelts from wild beasts were legal tender in payment for work done in the shop.

Yet in some instance real money was paid. Solomon could not write. His wife, who was a daughter of one of the pioneers, was secretary-treasurer of the firm, and in daytime she was generally busy darning socks and doing the housework, and she did not attend to or enter accounts only at night. Solomon would keep his work "in his head" during the day and at night he would report to the secretary-treasurer when she would fix up the books.

On one occasion when Sol. had exhausted his memory, yet he felt that he had forgotten some item, he ran back item by item, but still he could not remember the person but felt quite sure it must be 25 cents.

All at once he straightened back and with a sigh of relief told his wife to charge Elisha Enochs with 25 cents with the remark, "Uncle Lish will never miss this and we cannot afford to." This is a story the old timers tell but we do not vouch for its truth.

<> Enoch Grandon <>

Enoch Grandon was a very prominent man in the early days and produced very great crops. Twenty acres of tobacco was not a large crop for him and 100 acres of corn.

He was the owner of several hundred acres of the finest land on the east fork [of Duck Creek].

It is said that he did not stop for rain or snow or weekday or Sunday.

Once he came to Carlisle late Saturday night to lay in a supply for the next week and after taxing his memory for all the items he would need, felt that he had forgotten something and turning to Mr. Penn, (37) said, "Put in 5 pounds of 'Big Navy' tobacco."

He recokoned whatever he had forgotten, the 5 pounds of tobacco would even up, as he was a great user of tobacco. Enoch was a diamond in the rough.

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37. Benjamin F. Penn (b. 8 Jun 1832, Anne Arundel Co., MD; d. 1908). In August 1854 bought out S. J. Boyd's interest in the store in Carlisle.

See Watkins, "History of Noble," pp. 458- 459. He was very prominent in Carlisle (P.O. Berne) being its postmaster from 1 Jun 1854 to 13 Sep 1860 and serving as Township officer in various capacities. On 16 Oct 1853, he married Martha Enochs (Abraham, Elisha, Capt Enoch) b. 23 Jan 1834; d. 1913. (Noble Co. Marriage Records, Vol 1/2, p. 110; Methodist Church cemetery, Carlisle, OH; National Archives, Post Office Dept., Register of Appointments of Postmasters, Record Group 28.)

Enoch Grandon b. ca. 1800; died 30 Sep 1864, age 63 yr, 11 mo, 19 da (tombstone). The administration of his estate was protracted with the second and final accounting submitted by the administrator, John Grandon, his son on 13 Aug 1870. (Noble Co., OH Estate papers, Box 41, case #399, Jan 1868). He married Nancy ______. Martin Archer in his Genealogy, p. 20 lists Susan Enoch, daughter of Elisha Enochs, as Enoch Grandon's wife, and Nancy Enoch as the wife of Jacob McBride. The U.S. censuses for 1850-60 list Nancy as wife for both Enoch Grandon and Jacob McBride. There is not enough evidence to establish Nancy's maiden name.

After Enoch's death Nancy Grandon moved in with her son Samuel living in Stock Twp. in 1870 and by 1880 moved with him to Steele Dist, Wood Co., WV and probably died there. In the 1880 census Nancy listed her age as 72 b. PA and father b. MD and mother b. in PA. There is no proof as yet that she was a daughter of Elisha Enochs.

Both Benjamin Penn and Enoch Grandon are buried in the Carlisle (Methodist) Cemetery.

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He was not a church-goer and did not make any profession of religion but had a great heart and always held up the hands of those in distress. His father was the well known Barnard Grandon of whom it is told that in his youth, having been denied some favor by his mother, jumped with both feet (barefoot) into a hot pone. This experience peeled off from a large pair of feet a covering far beneath the outer cuticle, and with a loud yell he exclaimed, "Pone burnt, by Jesus!: And Barny carried the name of "Pone Burnt" the balance of his days.

On Sundays it was a feast always at Enoch Grandon's. He would kill a sheep or a calf or a bunch of turkeys or chickens and a barrel of cider was always on tap, and the neighbors would gather in for the feast. And Enoch was not averse to hanging up a few houses of tobacco or cutting a field of corn or anything else that would push his farm work along. He was a diplomat and handled those around him to a good advantage. But at nightfall everybody was loaded up with things to eat and generally were well paid for every exertion in advancing the farm interest of "Uncle Ene." And though his ambitions did not consist altogether in advancing the code of moral ethics, he was missed in the neighborhood # missed by those who did not possess the cunning and the faculty of possessing the goods of this world, and to them Enoch Grandon was a benefactor.

In the great economy of moral ethics who is a benefactor? It is the man who teaches the rules with a fine flow of rhetoric, of pure grammatical phraseology, or him who out of the abundance of a great soul see immediate needs and supplies them without any hope of reward?

Who made the greatest impress on the ages, -- Caesar in his pageant of triumphal return, or the savage who carried the body of his tutor and teacher, David Livingston, a thousand miles through the blistering sands of the Sahara on its return to civilization?

In our rambling for items of interest of our little colony we must not forget Peter Barnes. While not related to any of the five families of the pioneers and not coming over with them, he was contemporaneous with them, and for a long lifetime associated with them -- he was a shoe maker.

He had a very large nose with a wart on the center, just over the bridge. Pete was somewhat of a sport and would on some occasions, imbibe too freely of the corn juice of the early day. He was very fond of the great American game (Poker), and once upon a time when a dispute arose over a jackpot, when an able bodied native about the size of Gladeny Hesson lit heavily upon Peter's wart, and caved in his proboscis. When it re-exerted itself, wart and all was bulged up to an extreme mound about the size of a potato hill, and he carried it around the balance of his natural days.

Peter Barnes was a wit, a genius, and a philosopher. He had a fine sense of the ridiculous, and in his sarcasm and irony, spared no man. His wife once appealed to him to quit some of his improper habits and thought to reach the better and higher man in him. She told him that his ways had attracted the talk of the neighborhood and that everybody was talking about him when he replied, "Let 'em go it; I am giving them h--ll all the time."

Once a prominent doctor (who by the way, was a very stylish fellow) was passing through Carlisle on his way to see a patient, when Pete came from his shop and hailed him. This doctor, by the way, wore long hair, and it was of a silky, flaxen nature, and Mr. Barnes asked him when he would cut it. He told the Doctor that he wanted some of it for shoe thread. At about the age of 90 years he made ready to move to West Va. and remarked to a friend that he was going to help Elliott (his son who lived in West Va.) clear up his farm and then he was going to move to Kansas and take up a homestead.

In addition to mending shoes, he was a sort of a "medicine man" and in particular he manufactured a salve called No. 6, which was used far and wide. Pete claimed that he could cut a dog's tail off and apply some of his No. 6 on the piece detached, and a new dog would grow on the detached end.

A very prominent farmer of that section went to Pete's shop one day for some work and finding him in a poor condition to accommodate him, remonstrated with him and remarked, "Mr. Barnes, you must straighten up and be a better man; you are too valuable to debauch yourself in this way." The old man roused from his stupor, and came back at the farmer ## "Mr. your are born, but you are not dead. You have plenty of time yet to use your advice on yourself and remember that 'every dog takes his own hide on the market.'"

We are told that this particular farmer became a dissipator, and before his death dissipated all his property.

No, we cannot tell; sometimes influences over which we have no control insidiously steal into our being and wreck us, body and soul.

Sometimes we have not charity for the weakness of others. If we have not, then we are the easy victims of conditions and circumstances, that would drag us down. If we have not, then charity deserts us in the very time when we most need it, and the great law of compensation carries us on into the swirl that engulfs us. (38)

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38. This is a reference to one of Ralph Waldo Emerson's essays, "Compensation," in which he describes a sort of moral law of dynamics: for every action there is compensating and countervailing reaction that restores the natural balance to unbalanced forces.

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