USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I > Part 112
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And here is another old friend: Ayer's Cherry Pectoral was engaged in the laudatory work of "arresting the prevailing disease and terror of our. climate-consumption." This same concoction was in the same "arresting" business until the pure food and drug act of 1906 came into existence, and is still on the market. That consumption had its victims in 1849 is strik- ingly set forth by a perusal of the columns of this paper of 1849. Here in another column may be seen in startling headlines "Upward of ten Thou- sand Cured !!- Consumption Can be Cured." Then follows beneath this sooth-
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ing statement a glowing account of the efficiency of Dr. Rodgers' Com- pound of Syrup of Liverwort and Tar. A number of people testify to the fact that they had been "cured of a continual spitting of blood", "snatched from a premature grave", and saved when "even my physicians thought I must die of consumption."
But enough has been given to show that the patent medicine we have today is not a recent thing in the realm of wit and humor. Witness this heading: "Joy to the World. Perry Davis' Pain Killer In the West". Dr. Townsend consumes a half column in order to inform the female public that his Compound Extract of Sarsaparilla is "A Wonder and Blessing, the Most Extraordinary Medicine in the World". To read his advertisement one would be led to believe that there would be no women left in this world if he had not appeared on the scene with his medicine. "Six times cheaper, pleasanter and warranted superior to any sold." $1.00 per quart. Dr. Myers has a "Detergent and Diuretic, Sarsaparilla, Wild Cherry & Dandelion Com- pound", which cured everything from dandruff in the hair, consumption of the lungs, gravel in the kidneys and bowel complaints to sores on the feet. It must have been what its advertiser called it-"The Universal Medicine".
The merchants of the town in 1849 included the following: Stadler & Brother, clothiers; Hitt & Wilson, dry goods; Pickard & Morgan, dress good ( Bareges, tissues, etc., for summer dresses) ; A. & L. H. Magrew. "Stock of Goods"; Kauffman & Nelson, druggist; Patrick & Wiley, furni- ture ; Stevenson & Crabill, furniture; Amos Rupert, harness and saddles ; D. & R. C. Talbott, hats and caps ; Isaac N. Pence, merchant tailor; Weaver & Brothers, hardware: W. D. & C. McDonald, dry goods, groceries, queens- ware; Mosgrove & Moore, druggists.
REMINISCENCES. By E. Ward, 1887.
Among my early schoolmates of my early boyhood days, I note that three of them are now residents of Urbana, namely: A. P. Vance, John Vance, and Mrs. Elizabeth Arrowsmith. Besides these there are possibly a half dozen okl pioneers such as Squire Burrower, of St. Paris: Jackson Loudenback, P. W. Prince and David Kite, also of St. Paris.
To recite my labors as an educator from 1846 to 1887 would fill a volume of a thousand pages. Suffice to say that the harvest was a com- mendable crop of ministers, doctors, lawyers, educators, county officials, carpenters and farmers.
Regarding the superficial aspect of the county seventy-five years ago
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I think I am safe in saying that nearly, if not entirely, two-thirds of the west- ern half of the county was in heavy timber, and many of my boyhood days were spent in the clearing, gathering and burning the brush and trash in preparation for the plow. Then we heard the familiar bang of the flax brake, the hum of the spinning wheel, and the thump, bump of the loom at almost every farm house. The goodly mothers and fair daughters prepared sump- tuous meals without cook stove or range, and the sturdy fathers and sons with the old single-shovel plow and home-made hoe filled the barns and cribs with the bountiful produce of the soil.
In those days the forests abounded in wild turkeys, the gray and black squirrel, and occasionally a black bear. Those have disappeared and in their place have corne the beetle, the cabbage worm and the currant worm.
Arriving at almost school age, I remember going one day to John Putnam then about two weeks to Harris Faulkner, then came in succession Noah Ward, John Donovan, Samuel Goldsmith, Jacob Barger, and finishing my collegiate course under the direction of Thomas Crawford in the imposing new log edifice in the Vance school district in Mad River township. Those sedate old schoolmasters generally procured their police regulators from the spreading branches of a beech tree, which never fails to impress upon the mind of the unruly, that "the way of the transgressor is hard."
One of the chief sources of our education during the early days was the debate. These debates occurred with regularity and debating teams from other places in the county were met. One of the most memorable debates that occurs to me was on the subject : "Resolved that bull fighting is a greater curse and more demoralizing to a community than the liar." I was picked on the affirmative side and got completely mixed by the liar side. This was quite unsatisfactory and I sought relief by expressing my views in the newspaper. This little circumstance started me out as a newspaper writer, being in April, 1847. This was the beginning of a long newspaper experience, during which I wrote for several of the papers in Columbus, Springfield and Dayton.
SYSTEM OF INDENTURE.
The early settlers, not only in this county, but in the entire country, considered it necessary that their children should be taught a trade under the supervision of an artisan. In order that their children might receive such instructions without expense to them, and with as little trouble as possible, the children were given over to tradesmen and oftentimes to farmers to learn,
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as it were, a trade by which they could earn a livelihood. Contracts were entered into by the parents of the children and with the tradesmen whereby the children were to receive training for definite periods of time, usually without compensation. The spirit that actuated parents to enter into agree- ments for such a purpose was doubtless all right, but as conditions actually existed, the system of indenture was nothing more than licensed slavery. To give the present generation an idea of what these indentures really meant exact copies have been made from the records of Goshen township as it was necessary according to law that such indentures be made and recorded with the township trustee. The copies follow :
Indenture of apprenticeship between Louis Rigdon and G. W. Hupp and Eliza Rigdon, witness aforesaid that the said Eliza Rigdon, aged 11 years on the 11th day of July, 1845, by and with the consent of Louis Rigdon, her father, hath and doth hereby bind herself as an apprentice up to the said G. W. Hupp until the 1st day of March, in the year 1853, to learn the trade and occupation of housekeeping and that the anid Eliza Rigdon for herself and by the consent of her father doth hereby covenant to the sald G. W. Hupp to faithfully serve him and constantly demean herself during the term of her apprentiship, and the said G. W. Hupp does hereby covenant the said Louis Rigdou and Eliza Rigdon and each of them that he will teach the said child the trade and occu- pation aforesaid and will provide her with lodging, medicine, food and clothing, and at the expiration of said term of apprenticeship the said Eliza Rigdon shall receive a new Bible, a dress of common wearing apparel to be worth not less than $10.
The above contract was entered into in March, 1845. Asa Kirkley was township clerk and the fees attached were thirty-one and one-half cents.
Indenture made this 10th day of April, 1:39, witnesseth that Abarilla Grubb of Goshen township, Champaign county, Ohio, hath and by these presents put and placed his child Amanda Grubb, aged 11 years on the 27th day of February, last as an appren- tice to Richard Williams of Goshen Township in state and county aforesaid to learn the trade and occupation of housekeeping, with wife, and in the family of, and with said R. D. Williams, as an apprentice, to dwell and serve from day and date aforesaid until the 27th day of February, 1844 at which time said Amanda Grubb will be eighteen years of age if she so long lives, during all of which time, said apprentice shall perform all duties that shall be required of her by her master, and according to the best of her abilities. And further said Amanda Grubb doth hereby covenant and agree to and with the consent of sald R. D. Williams that she the sald Amanda Grubb will be responsible for the performance of all duties and work required by R. D. Williams and in case of non-performance the said R. D. Williams on his part doth covenant to agree to use whatever means he deems necessary to bring about the performance of said duties. That he with the assistance of wife are to Instruct and train and Amanda Grubb in all the arts of housekeeping, after the best way and manner of the wife of R. D. Williams and that he will provide for the said Amanda Grubb good clothing, lodging, and other necessities proper and suitable for an apprentice In sickness and health during the time of apprenticeship, and cause said Amanda Grubb to be taught to read and write well and at the expiration of said apprenticeship to furnish Amanda Grubb with a new Bible and in addition to give a decent suit of clothes and $10 in money.
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At the time this contract was made John Owen was clerk of the town- ship.
MAD RIVER NAVIGATION COMPANY.
A hundred years ago it was thought that Mad river could be made navigable and pursuant to an act of the Legislature approved on February 27, 1816, a company was organized which bore the nautical appellation of the Mad River Navigation Company. The legislative act was drawn for the purpose of effecting the organization of a number of companies which should see to the cleaning out and straightening out of the Little Miami and all of its tributaries which might be made navigable.
Champaign county was very much interested in the navigation of Mad river through its confines and joined with Springfield and Clark county in 1818 in the agitation for some definite action.
Preserved in the archives of the auditor's office are two age-worn, weather-beaten documents relating to this scheme. One contains a list of citi- zens who signed a petition asking an investigation into the possibilities of the scheme; the other was evidently prepared with a view to giving a roseate account of a meeting which was held to boost the proposition. The meet- ing was held at Springfield and Judge Fithian, of Urbana, was chairman. A committee composed of George Croft, Micha French, Peter Cents and Uri Marten was appointed to take donations for the work and have general charge of the expenditure of all the money collected. William Bunker, of Urbana, was selected to "clear Mad river from the forks as far north as Kyser's mill". As far as is known nothing further was done and the com- pany organized for such a laudable purpose was soon disbanded.
AN OLD-TIME ROMANCE.
An innocent document in the shape of a first and final account, which was filed in the probate court, December 21, 1898, contains a pretty story of sentiment and romance.
Away back in 1860, John Caraway, a wealthy resident of the county died, leaving a large estate. In the will left by Caraway two hundred dollars was left in trust for Hetty Smith who was to draw the interest on that sum and at her death the executor was to do what he saw fit with the money. The real romance of the story is due to the fact that this Caraway met Hetty Smith while driving along the dusty road in the vicinity of Woodstock one hot summer day. The girl was drawing water from an
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old well and the old gentleman, pulling up his horse, asked her if she would give him a cool drink of water. She in her bashful and timid way complied with his request. The old man was so enraptured with her win- some manner that he asked her name. Reluctantly she told him and then he drove on and the incident was entirely forgotten by the child. This man, Caraway, frequently referred to the incident in talking with his family, and when he made his final will he left two hundred dollars in trust for Hetty Smith, the little girl who had won her way into his heart by giving him a drink of cool, sparkling water.
Caraway died in 1860, and it was not until then that Hetty Smith knew that she had been remembered in the will. James D. Powell was made executor of the Caraway estate and for thirty-eight years had charge of the fund paying her the interest year by year. Hetty Smith married when she grew to womanhood and died in December, 1897. On Decem- ber 21, 1898, Powell as executor of the Caraway estate, filed his first and final account showing what disposition had been made of the trust fund which had been left to Hetty Smith.
THE HISTORY OF "O. K." By Charles E. Gaumer.
In the good old days of the thirties, Urbana was famed throughout this region for its political conventions and demonstrations, and on many occa- sions business was almost wholly suspended and public attention was entirely devoted to making the affair a success to be talked about for months and years to come.
Perhaps of all the conventions ever held in this city, the one of 1840, in the Harrison campaign, is the most noted. The older residents, at any rate, are very decided in their claims that its equal has never been known hereabout, either before or since. One fact is certain, that bright day of September 15. 1840, gave to this country one of the best known phrases that we have today : that of "O. K."
The demonstration was one that was planned for weeks in advance and a thorough organization was perfected to handle and feed the great throngs that were expected, but when at last, after many days of anticipation and hurried preparation, the great day came, the crowd was so large that it was with difficulty that any semblance of order was maintained. The town was in gala attire and flags and decorations were everywhere in evidence. The young ladies donned their prettiest dresses and their presence was a pleasing
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picture of loveliness. The day was one of great hilarity and excitement. Several hours before the dawn delegations were on the road from surround- ing counties and before the forenoon was far advanced the town had swelled to abnormal proportions. The delegations came from all directions and in every conceivable mode of conveyance. The hero of the day, of course, was General Harrison, who had addressed the people of Piqua, a thriving city thirty miles west of Urbana, the day preceding. The railroads at that time being a matter for the future to develop, the only means of travel was by horseback-a means that was necessarily slow-considering the large number of people who accompanied him.
Growing weary of waiting, the vast congregation of people started out on Miami street to meet the general. When the two cavalcades met, a pro- cession was formed that was almost two miles in length, and as he entered the city excitement was at fever heat, and today as the old resident recalls the stirring scene his face lights up with youthful vigor.
The stirring music of the old-time drum-and-fife corps was heard on every hand. Inasmuch as the general's early days were spent on a farm, with a humble log cabin for a home. it was fitting that in the parade there should be numerous floats illustrating his early life. Log cabins made of buckeye logs, on wheels, were numerous, while many huge wagons bore small trees in full leaf, with coons perched along the limbs; many miniature corn fields, crowing roosters, fences with calabashes or gourds dependent there- from, cider barrels containing the real stuff, and every idea illustrating the early career of the famous general was to be found in the parade. One wagon contained twenty-six young ladies of Urbana, in honor of the twenty- six states of the Union. Each young lady was adorned with a bonnet made of shavings from a buckeye tree. The bonnets were made by Mistress Arrowsmith, who then lived in the house later occupied by Rev. Dr. Thomp- son on West Market street. Many were the campaign songs sung that day, and perhaps the best known among the number was the following :
Where, tell me where, Was your buckeye cabin made ? Where, tell me where,
Was your buckeye cabin made?
'Twas built among the merry boys That wielded the plow and spade,
Where the log cabin stands In the bonnie buckeye shade.
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Oh what, tell me what Is to be the cabin's fate? Oh what, tell me what, Is to be the cabin's fate? We'll wheel it through the capital And place it there elate For a token and a sign Of our bonnie Buckeye State.
Every delegation carried flags and banners, and mottoes were to be seen on every side. Chief among these was a rustic banner borne by a prominent county delegation, bearing the information that "THE PEOPLE IS OLL KORRECT."
The inscription met with a hurrah, and the phrase soon became known far and wide: today the letters "O. K." are familiar to every person in the country. Indeed, it would be difficult to find a substitute containing so much significance and brevity.
Twelve tables. each three hundred feet long, had been built in the grove in the southwest part of the town on the property of John A. Ward, father of the famous sculptor, John Q. A. Ward. The tables were laden with pro- visions, oxen and sheep were barbecued and the cider was passed about in the grove with a liberal hand. General Harrison was introduced by Moses B. Corwin. cousin of the famous Thomas Corwin, of Lebanon, Ohio, and spoke for two hours. In the evening addresses were made by Richard Doug- las. Chillicothe : Mr. Chambers, of Louisiana, Arthur Elliott, and ex-Governor Metcalf. of Kentucky, who wore a buckskin hunting shirt.
In short. it was a red-letter day in the history of Urbana, and today it is the delight of the aged residents to relate the circumstances under which the famous letters "O. K." came into existence .- From the Champaign Daily Journal of July 13. 1899.
THE ADDISON WHITE SLAVE CASE.
Mechanicsburg in the days of the "underground railroad" was one of the regular depots for the fleeing fugitives from slavery. Her people were noted for their abhorrence of the institution, and never failed to give such shelter and protection. In 1857. when the fugitive slave law was in opera- tion, an attempt was made by the United States authorities to seize Addison White, a runaway slave who had found a home with a farmer in the vicinity
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of the village. The circumstances, as told in Beer's "History of Clark County" are here narrated.
Ad White, a fugitive from Kentucky bearing the surname of his master, made his way to the place of rest for the oppressed, and, thinking he was far enough away, had quickly settled down to work on the farm of Udney Hyde, near Mechanicsburg. His master had tracked him to the farm of Hyde, and obtained a warrant for his arrest at the United States court in Cincinnati. Ben Churchill, with eight others, undertook his capture. Ad was at that time a powerful man, able and willing to whip his weight in wildcats, if necessary, and had expressed his determination never to return to slavery alive. Churchill and the other men had been advised of this, and make their approaches to Hyde's house cautiously, informing some people in Mechanicsburg of their business, and suggesting to them to go out and see the fun, which invitation was promptly accepted. Ad slept in the loft of Hyde's house, to which access could only be obtained by means of a ladder, and only one person at a time.
Here he had provided himself with such articles of defense as a rifle. a double-barrel shotgun, revolver, knife and axe, and had the steady nerve and skill to use them suc- cessfully if circumstances forced him to. Churchill and party arrived at Hyde's and found the game in his retreat. They parleyed with him for some time, coaxed him to come down, ordered old man Hyde to go up and bring him out, deputized the men who followed them to go up, but all declined, telling them that five men ought to be able to take one. White finally proposed, in order to relieve Hyde of danger of compromise, if the five marshals would lay aside their arms and permit him to go into an adjoining field, and they could then overpower him, he would make no further resistance: but so long as they persisted in their advantage he would remain where he was, and kill the first man who attempted to enter the loft.
Deputy-Marshal Elliott, of Cincinnati, was the first and only one to attempt to enter where White was, and as his body passed above the floor of the loft he held a shotgun before him, perhaps to protect himself, but particularly to scare White. But White was not to be scared that way. He meant what he said when he warned them to let him alone, and, quick as thought, the sharp crack of a rifle rang out in the air, Elliott dropped to the floor, not killed, but saved by his gun, the ball having struck the barrel, and thus prevented another tragedy in the slavehunters' path. This was the only effort to dislodge White, and after consultation they left for Urbana, going thence to Cincinnati. The gentlemen who had followed them out to Hyde's rallied them con- siderably on their failure, and in all probability were not very choice in their English to express their opinions of "slavehunters."
Chagrined and mortified by their failure, and smarting under the sharp rallies of the bystanders, Churchill and Elliott made their report to the court at ('Incinnati, and made outh that Azro L. Mann, Charles Taylor. David Tullis and U'dney Hyde bad Inter- fered and prevented the capture of the negro White, and refused to assist when called upon. Warrants were issued for their arrest. and a posse of fourteen men. headed by Churchill and Elliott, went to Mechanicsburg and took them into custody. The men were prominent in their community, and their arrest created intense excitement.
Parties followed the marshals, expecting them to go to Urbana to board the cars for Cincinnati, but they left the main road, striking through the country, their notions creat- Ing additional excitement, causing suspicion of abduction. A party went at once to Urbana and obtained from Judge &. V. Baldwin a writ of habenx corpus. commanding the marshals to bring their prisoners and show by what authority they were held. John Clark. Jr., then sheriff of Champaign county, summoned a posse and started in pursuit, overtaking the marshals with their prisoners Just across the county line. at Catawba.
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when the two parties dined together. In the meantime Judge Ichabod Corwin and J. C. Brand went to Springfield with a copy of the writ, and started Sheriff John E. Layton, of Clark county, and his deputy to intercept them at South Charlestown. They reached there just as the marshals passed through, and overtook them balf a mile beyond the town.
In attempting to serve the writ, Layton was assaulted by Elliott with a slung-shot, furiously and brutally beaten to the ground, receiving injuries from which he never fully recovered. Layton's deputy, Compton, was shot at several times, but escaped unhurt, aud when he saw his superior stricken down and helpless, he went to him and per- mitted the marshals to resume their journey. Sheriff Clark and his party came up soon after, and Sheriff Layton was borue back to South Charlestown in a dying condition, it was supposed, but a powerful constitution withstood the tremendous shock, although his health was never fully restored.
The assault on Sheriff Layton was at once telegraphed to Springfield and other points, causing intense excitement and arousing great indignation. Parties were organ- ized and the capture of the marshals was determined on in earnest. Their track now lay through Greene county. Sheriff Lewis was telegraphed for, and joined the party. On the following morning, near the village of Lumberton, in Greene county, the state officers, headed by Sheriff Lewis, overtook the marshals, who surrendered without resistance. The prisoners were taken to Urbana, before Judge Baldwin, and released. as no one appeared to show why they were arrested, or should be detained.
The United States marshals were all arrested at Springfield, on their way to Urbann. for assault with intent to kill, and, being unable to furnish security, were lodged in jail over night. James J. Christie was justice of peace at the time. and issued the warrants for the arrest of the marshals. The excitement was so Intense that the examination was held at the old court-house, which proved too small for the crowd. Mr. Christie was one of those who were obliged to attend at Cincinnati. The marshals again returned to Cincinnati and procured warrants for the arrest of the four persons released upon habeas corpus, together with a large number of the citizens of Mechaulesburg and Xenia. who participated in the capture of the marshals.
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