USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I > Part 41
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115
The St. Paris Telegram was started by Markey B. Neff in December, 1901, and led a more or less stable existence for nine years. It was printed during most of the time by Brown & Wiant. The editor himself finally died in an asylum. Brown & Wiant established the St. Paris Press in September, 1906, and continued it until they purchased the Newes and Era-Dispatch from L. M. Ross in November, 1909. It was then consolidated with the other papers and discontinued as a regular sheet. T. Spear Dixon and E. V. Rhoads established a paper in the latter part of the seventies and continued it for two or three years.
Digitized by Google
425 .
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
MECHANICSBURG NEWSPAPERS.
There have been at least eight newspapers in Mechanicsburg at some time or other since the first paper made its appearance in the latter part of the seventies. The history of the papers of the village is difficult to trace owing to the absence of the files of most of the papers. The first paper of which any record has been preserved is the Mechanicsburg Review. It was established by Ezekiel Mettles sometime during the fore part of September, 1870, if its first issue was dated fifteen numbers from the one seen by the historian. Vol. I, No. 15, was dated Thursday, December 15, 1870, and this would place the first number back in the first of September.
The Review lasted for about two years and then quietly disappeared from view and for a while the town seems to have been without a sheet of any kind. The successor of the first paper was undoubtedly the Central Ohio News and since Vol. III, No. 20, was dated Thursday, March 16, 1876, it appears that its initial issue must have appeared in December, 1872. This would indicate that it followed close on the heels of the Review. It is not known who started the second paper, but the number quoted was in charge of O. C. Wheeler. Before the paper was discontinued it passed into the hands of Church & Church, the name of this firm appearing at the head of the issue of December 20, 1875. It was probably succeeded by the Mechanics- burg Herald.
The Herald was started in April, 1878, and O. C. Wheeler was evidently the proprietor, the same man who had been connected with the Central Ohio Notes in the town a few years previously. The one fugitive copy of the Herald which came to the notice of the historian was dated Friday, July 2, 1880, Vol. II. No. 11, and Wheeler was the guiding genius at the time. In February, 1881, Wheeler became dissatisfied with Mechanicsburg and loaded his entire plant into a wagon and left the town for New Washington, Ohio.
The flight of the Herald left the town with a paper which had been in operation for some years under the title of the Screw Driver. If the paper was half as original as its hardware title would lead one to suspect it must have been worthy of the support which it received. The title itself appeared across the head of the page in large type, the letters of which were composed of screws. The editors. C. C. Jones and J. W. Ellingham, subscribed them- selves as "Drivers" and took the precaution of setting forth their peculiar designation with quotation marks. They were driving the paper in the issue
Digitized by Google
426
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
of Vol. IX, No. 41, Wednesday, October 10, 1883, and this dating would indicate that the sheet was in its ninth year, placing its establishment back to the latter part of 1873. The paper was evidently the progenitor of the News, which made its appearance in January, 1884.
The Mechanicsburg Newes was started by C. C. Jones, formerly with the Screw Driver. Jones later retired in favor of the firm of Morris & Slater and they were in possession when the Newes and Item were consoli- dated by O. E. Shaw in 1903.
The Mechanicsburg Item was established by O. E. Shaw with the issue of June 4, 1894, and was conducted by him until 1903. With the issue of January 8, 1903, the News and Item became the sole property of O. E. Shaw and he issued the paper under the name of the News-Item. It is still being issued under the same name and by the same editor. It is a weekly paper of six columns and has a subscription list of one thousand five hundred. At the time Shaw bought the News from Morris and Slater, the latter started a daily paper under the title of the Morning Telegram and it has continued to come from the press regularly since the day it was established. Slater is still the owner and editor. The paper has a circulation of four hundred and has proved sufficiently remunerative to its owner to warrant a continuous career of fourteen years. In 1917 the town has the two papers: News- Item, weekly, and the Morning Telegram, a daily.
NORTH LEWISBURG PAPERS.
The first paper in North Lewisburg was fittingly called the Experiment and made its initial appearance on December 29, 1860, under the manage- ment of H. D. Gowey. The paper was true to its title and proved to be an unsatisfactory experiment for its founder. In March of the following year the same printer relegated the Experiment to journalistic oblivion and started what he chose to call the Lewisburg Weekly Magasine, "designed eventually to be a Cosmopolitan Hebdomadal." Six months later this second venture was laid away with its predecessor, and the village was without a paper until the summer of 1868.
Shakespeare asked "What's in a name," and a perusal of the names applied to early newspapers leaves one in a state of wonderment as to the purport of the many queer names which were born in the fertile brains of newspaper men. One of these enigmatically-named papers made its appear- ance in North Lewisburg on July 1, 1868. Just what induced P. G. Mitchell
Digitized by Google
427
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
and M. C. Gowey, the owners of the new sheet, to inflict upon it the unfortu- nate name of Boomerang will probably never be known. This Australian weapon is a dangerous instrument in the hands of the unskilled, and its application to the paper above mentioned proved disastrous to its progenitors. The paper led a more or less precarious existence until November 1, 1869, when it was suspended.
Thus far three papers appeared in the village only to die. Seven years were to elapse after the suspension of the Boomerang before another editor had the courage to step in and make the fourth attempt to establish a paper. In 1876 three courageous men appeared on the scene and two papers suddenly appeared on the horizon of the village. J. H. Fluhart screwed his courage to the sticking point and launched the North Lewisburg Star in January, 1876, but its radiance was never very brilliant and its light completely flickered out after six months of fluttering. About the same time that the Star began beaming another paper appeared in the village bearing the title of Gasette. It was backed by two patriots, Vaughn & Sherrett, and being two in number there is an explanation why their paper lasted about twice as long as the Star. The Gasette lacked about one month of celebrating its first birthday and the close of 1876 again found the village without a newspaper.
The village seems to have been without a local paper until the Town Talk began its existence on Saturday, September 10, 1881, Gowey & Wagner being the editors. In the editor's preface he stated that the paper was to be devoted to the interests of its patrons and that its columns should be the avenues for the expression of their sentiments, and that the paper was to represent the communal interests without favor or partiality. The paper was a three-column edition and in make-up was quite characteristic of the papers of that time. After an existence of one year the editors, for reasons mostly their own, changed the name of the paper to the Tri-County Daily, and under this cognomen the first paper was issued on Wednesday, Septem- ber 27, 1882. It endured a rather checkered existence for about two years and finally succumbed to the diseases most common to the newspapers of that time.
The North Lewisburg New's was a local sheet which began shortly after the suspension of the Tri-County Daily but its existence was so short and its importance so small that a mere mention of the paper itself is amply sufficient.
The North Lewisburg Reporter, started by J. C. Mount, and now owned and edited by Levi Millice, has enjoyed a continuous existence since its inception. The paper has been owned and edited by numerous parties, some
Digitized by Google
428
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
of whom had little or no newspaper experience and whose success as news- paper editors would be questioned by the reader of today. Mount was in charge several years, selling the plant entire to W. S. Coffey, the present county auditor, for four hundred dollars. Coffey struggled with it for four years and was glad to sell it to Samuel B. Callon for as much as he paid for it. Callon soon took in a man of the name of Alexander as partner and the latter eventually took over the paper. Alexander sold to the firm of Crawford & Darling and they soon unloaded it on Chauncey Spain. Millice came in after Spain and later associated himself with Ralph O. Payne. Payne finally bought out Millice and for a time managed to keep the paper going alone. The effort was too much and he soon sold the paper back to Millice, the present owner. The paper is now more prosperous than it has ever been and bids fair to continue its successful career. After many years of buffeting about it seems to have found a hand sufficiently strong to guide its destiny.
CHRISTIANSBURG NEWSPAPERS.
The first paper at Christiansburg, Tri-County News, was established in 1904 by D. F. Shriner & Son and concluded its history after a wavering career of thirty-five weekly issues, the last number being issued in April, 1905. The editor was evidently not impressed with the support which he received in the community, if his valedictory may be taken as giving his estimate of the people who had been on his subscription list. His parting words tell the story of a disappointed man : "Certain persons in this locality, who after taking our paper for six months, and not paying for it, refuse to take it out of the postoffice when urged to pay up. The penitentiaries are full of better and more honest men, and that other place is supposed to be provided for the unregenerate after death, why-well-perhaps."
Several years were to elapse before a second attempt was made to estab- lish a paper in Christiansburg. R. O. Whittaker began the publication of the Christiansburg Herald, September 7, 1916, and has built up a circulation for his paper of about eight hundred. It circulates in Champaign and the adjoining counties of Clark and Miami. The editor is an experienced news- paper man and his paper has proved to be a profitable venture.
THE WOODSTOCK RUSH LIGHT.
The first and only newspaper ever published in Woodstock was the Rush Light which was started in April, 1907, by Fred T. Crawford. The paper
429
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
started out with four hundred and fifty subscribers and seemed to prosper, as was evidenced by the fact that at one time the paper had seven hundred and seventy-two paid-up subscribers. The office of the paper was in the Odd Fellow building and was in charge of three assistants, Fred T. Craw- ford being the editor and owner. On account of other business interests and a desire to seek another location Crawford saw fit to discontinue the paper in October, 1915.
Digitized by Google
CHAPTER XXIII.
CHURCHES OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
The three social institutions which touch the individual more intimately than any others are the home, the church, and the school. Of these the church occupies a position in importance second to the home. Its precepts were raised on a foundation made of the hardened blood of the martyrs of old, and their sufferings have not been in vain when we view the blessings we have derived from the heritage they left us. The influence of an active denomination in a community is always obvious, for the wholesome spirit of that community is, in the main, traceable to that source. It has been more than a hundred years since the first settlers of Champaign county made their homes here; and among the first things they brought with them were the seeds of the Christian religion which sprouted and flourished under their faithful cultivation. The church is always found in the vanguard of civiliza- tion. A survey of the conditions of the county at present reveals the fact that the sufferings and hardships of these devoted men and women in further- ing Christianity have not been in vain.
COMPARISON WITH "GOOD OLD DAYS"
There are some who maintain that the pioneers outstripped the present generation in religious zeal and endeavor, and that the religion of modern times bears no comparison to that of "the good old days." The effectiveness of religion cannot be measured by human standards. Of course there have been many church organizations abandoned in Champaign county; but this fact does not mean that people now are any less religious, nor does it mean that their religion is pitched on a lower plane than that of the forefathers. There are many factors entering into the disappearance of the rural church, and an important one has been the movement of the population to the towns and cities. Again, the improved means of communication enables the farmer to take his family to town on Sunday for worship. For this reason there are also thousands of abandoned rural school buildings in Ohio. This does not mean that people are becoming any the less educated; nor does it mean
Digitized by Google
431
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
that they are any the less religious. In this respect, however, Champaign is unlike many of the counties of the State; for it does not have the usual large number of abandoned churches. The beautiful sentiment of worshiping at the shrine of the forefathers seems to lie deeply in the hearts of the people of the county.
On the other hand, it cannot be said that there is no room for religious improvement in the people of Champaign county, yet it must be admitted that they are today living more closely to the principles laid down in the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount, than ever before. We are prone to paint a picture of the pioneer forefathers which is too ideal, for history reveals that they were not always as good as they are pictured. Could we see them in their daily life, we should be surprised at some of the things they did. Some of them drank-drank whiskey; many of them were profane; they settled their differences in fisticuff encounters; they grafted when in public office, just as has been done since; they had many shortcomings which we have not been in the habit of associating with them. Yet. they were religious.
PICTURE OF A PIONEER CHURCH SERVICE.
What a quaint picture did our farefathers present as they filed to church on Sunday morning in the early days of the country's settlement. If the weather permitted, the congregation were for the most part without shoes. Some wore moccasins; others fringed-buckskin breeches and hunting shirts, with 'coon, fox or 'possum-skin caps on their heads. For adornment many had 'coon or fox tails attached to these caps. The swain did not have the opportunity to hear the sermon at the side of his buxom sweetheart in her Sunday linsey-woolsey, for the men sat on the left side of the center aisle and the women on the right. Hymns were "lined out," as it was then called. Two lines would be given out by the minister or clerk, then sung by the con- gregation ; then two more lines would be read and sung, and so on to the end of the hymn. The tunes were simplified, because they were sung according to "long or short meter."
The forefathers in Champaign county did not worship in such beautiful and artistic structures as the people now have; but gathered in their own homes, in workshops, in barns, in school buildings, and even outside in the shade of the trees if the weather permitted. The very first services, however, were held in the cabins of the settlers when the itinerant preacher made his circuit, or a chance preacher came along. The earliest settlers soon attracted
Digitized by Google
432
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
to their neighborhoods their kinsfolk and acquaintances from the old home back east across the mountains. As a result settlements, usually named after the first settler or the most distinguished person, were formed. Soon the religious need of the settlement came uppermost, and some good brother or sister of the neighborhood generously opened up his home as a temporary house of worship. As soon as the little colony felt itself strong enough to build a church, it did so without waiting for pecuniary aid from outside sources. Really this was not necessary, for all around them grew a wealth of timber, each pioneer had his ax : and, with all the men of the neighborhood working, it did not take so long to raise a rude little log church, which sup- plied the immediate needs of the community. Before many years there were chapels located at Mt. Tabor, St. George. Pisgah, Nettle Creek, Concord, and a few other places.
CAMP-MEETINGS OF OTHER DAYS.
As time went on and the county became more populous, larger meetings became a need of the settlers. The old-fashioned camp-meetings supplied this want, and generally they were well attended. The structures for this purpose were of the most temporary and rude character, but, in the absence bad weather, they met the easy requirements. People came from miles around to attend these meetings, to hear the ministers of more than local reputation, to meet old friends, to make new ones, and to hear the news. People, in general, thought of these meetings, in a sense, as the present generation thinks of a county fair-not, however, with a sense of hilarity and pleasure, but as a season of enjoyable rest and worship. These camp-meetings were a feature of the early life of the county until the destruction of the old camp- meeting buildings just south of Urbana. Such meetings were held in several places in the county.
Not many years could these rude little log churches suffice in this buoy- ant, growing. progressive West. Larger frame structures soon supplanted the rugged little houses of worship that were hewed out of the forest and fashioned by the devoted hands of the pioneers. Later, the church felt that it must be abreast of the times and must supply facilities for a greater and more modern service. Now, where the forefathers had their old-fashioned basket dinners, are beautiful churches, correct in architectural design and fitted with complete kitchens and dining rooms.
Digitized by Google
-
-
433
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
BUILDED UNSELFISHLY, BEAUTIFULLY AND WELL.
In the retrospect of Christianity in Champaign county, our satisfaction with the present is not unmixed with longing for a taste of the past. The struggles of those devoted Christians back in the early days, induces in us a most reverent veneration for them. In their humble meetings-and often their little bands did not number more than a dozen-they thanked God for what He had vouchsafed them, and prayed the continuance of His blessings to them. And who is there to say that they did not do all they could to advance on earth the Kingdom of Heaven? To them we owe the possibility of the present. They builded unselfishly, beautifully and well.
The Methodists, Presbyterians, and Baptists were the first denomina- tions to be represented by churches in the county. However, small societies of other churches were feebly maintained in various neighborhoods at a com- paratively early date; among these were the Universalist and Christian churches. The number of denominations in the county has increased until today there are twelve represented by sixty-six active societies which are most zealously carrying on the business of the Master.
The historian has attempted to obtain the history of every church organ- ization, past and present, in Champaign county. Immediately following is a list of all these churches, which have been classified into groups of active and discontinued or dormant churches.
ACTIVE CHURCHES.
Methodist Churches-The First Methodist Church, Urbana; Methodist Episcopal Church, Mechanicsburg : Methodist Episcopal Church, North Lew- isburg ; Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, Urbana ; Mount Tabor Methodist Episcopal Church, Concord Methodist Episcopal Church, First Methodist Episcopal Church, St. Paris: Westville Methodist Episcopal Church; Grafton Methodist Episcopal Church: North Salem Methodist Episcopal Church ; Terre Haute Methodist Episcopal Church : Christiansburg Methodist Episco- pal Church ; Methodist Episcopal Church, Kings Creek ; Treacles Creek Meth- odist Episcopal Church; Newsoms Chapel; Kennard Methodist Episcopal Church : Cable Methodist Episcopal Church: Fountain Park Methodist Epis- copal Church; Mutual Grace Methodist Episcopal Church; Local Preachers' Chapel; Union Methodist Episcopal Church: Methodist Episcopal Church, Pleasant Hill; Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church, Urbana : St. Paul African
(28)
Digitized by Google
434
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
Methodist Episcopal Church, Urbana; African Methodist Episcopal Church, Mechanicsburg: Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, North Lewis- burg; Methodist Protestant Church, Mechanicsburg; Methodist Protestant Church, North Lewisburg : Jenkins' Chapel.
Baptist Churches-First Baptist Church, Urbana; First Baptist Church, St. Paris; Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church ; Colored Baptist Church, Mechanics- burg; Myrtle Tree Baptist Church; Kingscreek Baptist Church; Millerstown Baptist Church; Mount Zion Baptist Church; Honey Creek Baptist Church; Second Baptist Church, Urbana; Mingo Baptist Church.
Presbyterian Churches-Presbyterian Churches of Urbana and Buck Creek; Spring Hills Presbyterian Church.
Lutheran, and Reformed Churches-Evangelical Lutheran Church, Urbana; Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, St. Paris; Zerkel Lutheran Church, Thackery ; St. John's Lutheran Church, St. Paris; Reformed Church, St. Paris; Reformed Church, Millerstown.
Christian Churches-Christian Church, Cable; Christian Church, Carys- ville.
United Brethren Churches-Rosewood United Brethren Church; Salem United Brethren Church; Bowlusville United Brethren Church.
Universalist Churches-Universalist Church, Woodstock; Westville Universalist Church.
Episcopalian Churches-Church of the Epihany, Urbana; Church of Our Saviour, Mechanicsburg.
Catholic Churches-St. Michael's Catholic Church, Mechanicsburg; Immaculate Conception Church, North Lewisburg: Sacred Heart Catholic Church, St. Paris; St. Mary's Catholic Church, Urbana.
Friends Churches-Friends Church. Urbana; Mt. Carmel Friends Church: Friends Church, North Lewisburg.
Miscellaneous Churches-Church of the New Jerusalem, Urbana; Men- nonite Church, Salem Township.
DISCONTINUED AND DORMANT CHURCHES.
Methodist Churches-Rector's Chapel, St. George's Chapel, Northville Methodist Church, Cable Chapel, Diltz Chapel, Pisgah Methodist Episcopal Church, Neer Chapel, Spring Hills Methodist Episcopal Church, Wesleyan Chapel, the Sanctuary.
Baptist Churches-Mad River Baptist Church, First Baptist Church (Urbana Township), Hickory Grove Baptist Church, German Baptist
Digitized by Google
435
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO.
Church, Walnut Hill Baptist Church, Harmony Baptist Church, Pleasant Run Baptist Church, Buck Creek Baptist Church, Mechanicsburg Baptist Church.
Presbyterian Churches-United Presbyterian Church, Sharon Presby- terian Church.
Lutheran and German Reformed Churches-Salem Lutheran and Ger- man Reformed Church.
Christian Churches-Christian Church, Urbana; Christian Church, Christiansburg; Bethel Christian Church; Gladys Creek Christian Church; Christian Church, Woodstock.
United Brethren Churches-United Brethren Church, Carysville; United Brethren Church, Antioch; Zion United Brethren Church.
Universalist Churches-Universalist Church, St. Paris.
Miscellaneous Churches-The Shakers, the Howard Weaver Mission.
METHODIST CHURCHES.
The first Methodist organization in the county was that of the Metho- dist Episcopal church at Urbana, but little of the first organization has been brought down to the present generation. What is now Urbana was a preach- ing point before an organization was perfected, in 1805. The first Meth- odist circuit to include this section of the state was known as the "Scioto and Miami" circuit in 1800. In 1803 the circuit was divided, and a part of it was called Miami, and in 1805 this circuit was called Miami and Mad River.
It was from these circuits that the station at Urbana received its preach- ers, and quite numerous they were, too, because in those days a preacher was not supposed to remain longer than one year in a place. Services were very irregular; there were no Sabbath schools, and no musical instruments. With- out any of the modern attractions which are now deemed a necessary part of the church, they worshiped in a simple, unostentatious manner. Often weeks must pass before the circuit rider could come again, and during the interval, some pioneer would conduct the services; if not in strict accordance with the ritual, yet with true Christian spirit.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.