Solomon Baughman

Biography

The following biography was submitted by Ralph Brown.

Solomon Baughman Born: March 20, 1800 Died: February 18, 1887

  Solomon Baughman was born March 20, 1800, at Ten Mile Run, Washington County, Pennsylvania. Solomon was the son of John Baughman - for whom Baughman Township, Wayne County, Ohio is named - and his mother Elizabeth Weygandt. Twelve years after John and Elizabeth were married in Washington County the couple moved to Wayne County. 
  In Solomon Baughman’s reminiscences he recalls “My father was born on Ten Mile, Washington County, Pennsylvania. His father, whose name was John also, removed to what is Baughman Township now, with his wife and family, in 1810. He settled on the east side of the township on the farm known as Baughman Hill. My father, by way of explanation, once said to me. "When you buy a farm be sure to get one that has sugar trees and a spring on it.’ We had, however, been out before the family was brought, and built a cabin 12 x 12, but which had no chimney and a roof made of chestnut bark. We came on horseback, bringing some clothes, tools, etc., though father walked most of the way. The second time they came out they hired a pair of horses and wagon to bring the family, riding and packing their own ponies. Father entered the land, 160 acres, in connection with John Weygandt, father subsequently owning it all. His farm was an excellent one, and it had thirty-seven springs on it, and apples when there were none anywhere else. We lived in two cabins for about eight years, then we erected a house twenty or thirty rods north of them. Here father lived and died. Times were pretty hard then, and the country wild, but not as wild as now, I believe; there were fewer ‘fusses’ then, and less ‘stagger juice’ consumed. For years he was a member of the Presbyterian church, but latterly joined the United Brethren. He had ten children, seven sons and three daughters, but three of whom are living. Indians, bears, and wolves were plenty when we came out. Some of the Indians could talk English and told us that a big war was coming, and a part of the family, out of fear of the Indians, went toward Canton. We had a good many Indian scares but managed to get through without personal harm. When the Indians got drunk they were dangerous. Whisky was sometimes carried in deer skins."
  On November 2, 1826 Solomon married Luthena Black in Stark County, Ohio. According to the 1889 Commemorative Record Wayne County Luthena was born in Maryland and her family moved to Stark County, Ohio, but Federal Census records give her birth location as Pennsylvania. Luthena was born in 1811 and only 16 when she married 26 year old Solomon. Shortly after their marriage the couple moved to Dalton, Ohio and for the remainder of their lives they lived in that Sugar Creek Township location. Dalton in those days was in its infancy, and forest trees covered almost the entire present town site. The only streets were the state road and cattle paths. The home in which Solomon and Luthena lived was built from timber surrounding the spot chosen for their home.
  Solomon’s vocation was that of a wagon maker. The 1850 Federal Census Non-Population Schedule 5 Products of Industry for Sugar Creek lists Solomon Baughman, wagon maker, with a capital investment in his business of $450. His inventory consisted of lumber valued at $50 with no machinery and 2 employees. The employees were Solomon and his son James. His annual output for both wagon making and repair came to $500.
  Solomon and Luthena had four children three boys John W, James, and Jacob and one daughter whose name is not known. The parents outlived three of their children as the Hon. John W. Baughman was still living at the time of their death and was Wayne County’s State Representative. On the early morning of Friday February 18, 1887, a sad and tragic occurrence took the lives of both Solomon and Luthena. The Dalton Gazette of February 24, 1887, described the tragedy in considerable detail.
  “Again are we called upon to record the work of the death angel in our midst, and at this time to chronicle the death of two of Dalton’s oldest and best known people, Solomon Baughman and his wife Luthena, which occurred under peculiarly sad circumstances. Friday morning last at half-past one o’clock Mrs. Cameron, who lives just across the street from the Baughman residence awakened and discovered flames issuing from the large chimney at the rear of the Baughman house and gave the alarm. The startling cry of fire soon brought a crowd of people. Those first on the scene attempted to enter the kitchen where the aged couple slept, but were driven back by the suffocating smoke and flames that filled the room. They succeded (sic) in breaking in a door and a window and after fighting the flames forced their way to the bedside of the unconscious victims just in time to rescue them alive. Five minutes longer would have been too late as within that time they would have been smothered or burned to death. Mr. Baughman was carried to Mrs. Cameron’s residence and attended by Dr. Roebuck, but lived but an hour and a half after he was carried out of the house which had been his home for many years. Mrs. Baughman was taken to the residence of Mr. L. Conold and everything done for her that sympathetic neighbors and friends could do, but it was of no avail. She lived until Saturday Morning about nine o’clock when her spirt passed to its giver. Both were unconscious when carried out of the burning house and remained in that condition without a sign of recognition until death claimed them.
  The aged couple occupied separate beds in the same room and when the doors were forced open Mrs. Baughman was found lying across the foot of her husband’s bed on her face with a quilt tightly wrapped about her head and the supposition is that she had awakened and gone to her husband’s bedside to waken him or try to rescue him and being overcome by the smoke had fallen in the position in which she was found.
  It is thought the fire caught from coals falling from the stove. Very little damage was done to the building, the fire being confined to this one room, the floor, wood box and mantel being about all that was burned, and was soon extinguished. When the doors were burst open the furniture, walls etc., were so hot as to almost burn when touched and in a few moments would have broken out into flames.
  The double funeral, which was one of the largest ever in Dalton, took place Sunday afternoon at two o’clock from the U. P. church, the discourse being preached by Rev. J. G. Madge. It was a mournful and unusual sight, to see husband and wife, who had journeyed down life’s pathway together for more than sixty-three years, borne to the grave the same day.
  Mr. Baughman was a Democrat of the most pronounced type and in his earlier days frequently held office in the township, serving the people from 1838 to 1841 as Treasurer, and for years after that as a Trustee. Mrs. Baughman or “ Auntie “ as she was familiarly known, was an estimable lady, loved and revered by all who knew her. Both were members of the Disciple church.”

References

• Sources:
  • Douglass, Ben History of Wayne County, Ohio Page 701
  • 1889 Commemorative Record Wayne County
  • Dalton Gazette February 24, 1887 Page 3