Near Cloverdale in Putnam County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Home-In-The-Wilderness 1821-1870
Photographed By Craig Doda, April 20, 2022
1. Home-In-The-Wilderness 1821-1870 Marker
Seven years after Sebastian's death in 1830, Mary wed Judge John Perkins, Brunersburg Mill owner, and leased her Auglaize River home. Pearson B. holden, Christian Union Church pastor, and wife, Priscilla (Ridenour) were operating this double log home as a tavern housing up to thirty travelers a night in 1846, when Henry Howe sketched the Home-In-The-Wilderness for his Historical Collections of Ohio.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1826.
Location. 41° 1.168′ N, 84° 17.222′ W. Marker is near Cloverdale, Ohio, in Putnam County. Marker is at the intersection of Ohio Route 114 and Ohio Route 694, on the right when traveling north on State Route 114. Located in a roadside park on the east side of the road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cloverdale OH 45827, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Samuel Myers, Sr., Grist Mill 1834-1860 (a few
this page online
More about this marker. A beautiful spot, known as The Cascades.
Regarding Home-In-The-Wilderness 1821-1870. HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF OHIO by Henry Howe. p. 465
"The view, 'A Home in the Wilderness' represents a log tavern in the western part of the county, on the road to Charloe. It was built about thirty years since by two men, assisted by a female. It has long been a favorite stopping-place for travellers, as many as twenty or thirty having, with their horses, frequently tarried here over night, when journeying through the wilderness. The situation
Photographed By Michael Baker, January 12, 2017
2. Home-In-The-Wilderness 1821-1870 Marker
TRAVELLING NOTES
"The foregoing comprises about all my old account of Putnam county. Indeed, the entire county then was largely forest and water. The most interesting point is my picture of the 'Home in the Wilderness.' That picture proved to be one of the most attractive things in my old book. It seemed to touch a chord in the hearts of multitudes who had begun life in the midst of such scenes. It is noteworthy that now, after the lapse of forty-three years, I should receive a letter from a stranger,
Photographed By Michael Baker
3. Home-In-The-Wilderness 1821-1870 Marker
Here is the drawing Howe made of this house and setting.
His letter is from Dawn, Darke county, Ohio, dated April 2, 1889, and signed S.S. Holden. It gives some interesting things about the old home, long since vanished. It was prompted partly by learning that the painter of an oil painting of it had put in the claim that his painting was an original design of his own.
We quote:
"I am by profession a minister of the Gospel, of the United Brethren Church (in Christ). I will be qualified that the picture on your letter-head is a picture of the man who drew the sketch of our home about the year 1846. I am a son of P.B. Holden, whose name appears on the sign as you drew it. I was then 14 years old, and recollect it about as vividly as if it had occurred but yesterday--your riding into the yard on horseback; getting off your horse; laying your paper, pencils, etc. about you on the old sled or mud boat, which lay in the yard at that time, and is shown in the picture, and watching you draw the scene. Such an occurrence was too rare not to make an impression on a boy like me. A man named Sebastian Srouge built the house. He died and was buried near there. Two of his sons were named George and Albert--the latter was a school teacher. His widow married Judge Perkins, and they moved to Williams county. While you were making the sketch, my mother and a lady school teacher sat in the open space between the two rooms, sewing. Before you had completed it my brother and a Mr. Whiting came through the yard where we were sitting, having been to a deer lick; One of them carried his gun at trail arms and the other carried his gun on his shoulder, and with them was our dog Tyler. It was well the dog was along. His name marks the era of the event and helps to confirm the truth of Mr. Holden's statement. The hard-cider campaign had only passed a few years before, when the old Whigs had sung "For Tippecanoe and Tyler too." Hence it was natural for them to thus name their dogs "Tip" for Tippecanoe and "Tyler" for Tyler too. Humor comes from incongruous associations so Mark Twain named his jumping frog Daniel Webster--both were heavy-weights: one from brains and brawn, the other from shot. The "Home" was on the main route from Kalida to Charloe, about five miles northwest of the former. The Samuel Holden, who lived there as stated, was an United Brethren clergyman. So the home seemed to have done service as both parsonage and tavern. Later, as I have been told, the Rev. Branson Good made it his home, and the building stood until about thirty years since. Since receiving the letter from his son, I find in the Pioneer Reminiscences of the county a statement by Mr. George Skinner which leads me to believe that this was the first house built in Putnam County. He says: "The first building that could be designated a house was erected by two men and a woman in section 21, Perry township, by Sebastian Sroufe." He then states it was on the Auglaize, and that he was buried close by.
Additional commentary.
1.
One of my favorite markers, for a variety of reasons, including the beauty of the area mentioned, and that it references Henry Howe.
— Submitted December 9, 2014, by Michael Baker of Lima, Ohio.
Additional keywords. Home Wilderness Henry Howe
Credits. This page was last revised on May 23, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 9, 2014, by Michael Baker of Lima, Ohio. This page has been viewed 988 times since then and 66 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 21, 2022, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 2. submitted on January 15, 2017, by Michael Baker of Lima, Ohio. 3. submitted on December 9, 2014, by Michael Baker of Lima, Ohio. • Al Wolf was the editor who published this page.
