Timber Run History
by Noah Williams

    Thomas Williams, the first settler on Timber Run, served as a Captain in the war of 1812, with great efficiency. At one time he and his men were sent to a certain point in Western Ohio, to build a block house. On arriving there, with nothing but men, they dragged the logs by means of ropes and constructed the block house. Just as he had completed the defenses he was attacked by a force of British regulars and Indians, but although the works had been hastily constructed, the enemy were unable to take them and were compelled to retreat. He got an honorable discharge at the close of the war; returned to Timber Run and spent the remainder of his life there. Every one who knew Captain "Tommy" always spoke of him as an honorable, upright man.

    During this war I'was about 10 years old, and having caught some tactics from seeing my uncle drilling his men, I determined to organize a company. It did not require a draft to get them either. As soon as we got organized the question of uniforms arose, and we concluded to sew on our own coats as many pieces of colored cloth as we could procure. When we put on our uniforms we would rival Joseph of old. For caps we sewed on strips of tanned sheep skin, alternately black and white. For bugles we got long weeds from 10 to 12 feet, and which would, when properly fixed, sound a great distance.

    One day, after holding a council of war, we concluded to march into town. We went along very quietly until the edge of town was reached, when the command of "sound the bugle" was given. I have no doubt that the people thought that Gabriel had come, for sure, for the noise created was loud enough to waken the dead, if such were possible. Some of the people locked their doors and took refuge in the upper story of their houses. I don't know whether any of their hair turned white or not. Afterward it was found that it was only the Timber Run boys on a lark, and that explained the whole matter.

    About seventy five or eighty years ago, on the farm now owned by our Treasurer, Daniel Willey, there was a saw and grist mill, owned by Nathaniel Tharp. This mill was thought to do a good business in that day, and yet you would have to get there very early in the morning to get two bushels of corn ground before noon. Perhaps Mr. Willey doesn't know that there was a salt well on his farm, but such is the case one was opened and operated there, in the early days of this country. The Tharp's lived in what was then known as a double log cabin, and in the winter time the family would move into one end of the cabin, while the other end, one of his sons would teach a subscription school, charging from $1.50 to $2.00 a scholar.

    I think there is some difference in teachers getting certificates now, from then. I once knew a teacher who went to Zanesville to be examined, and all the question asked him by the Examiner was, "How much is twice two?" On being answered four, he granted a certificate for one year.

    The Timber Run boys all seemed to sow their "wild oats" in their youth, and when they grew up to manhood the country never produced better hearted, better natured men than Timber Run. With but few exceptions they have acquired a goodly share of this world's goods.

    And if traveling, you run across a Timber Run boy, you may depend upon it that you will get a hearty welcome.

Noah Williams