History of Champaign County, Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I, Part 89

Author: Middleton, Evan P., editor
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis, B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1196

USA > Ohio > Champaign County > History of Champaign County, Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I > Part 89

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was a brick building, and was erected on a site purchased from L. Spain. This structure is still in use. Many improvements have been added, however, thus making it convenient and sanitary. Prof. F. S. Fuson, who was head of the North Lewisburg schools for several years, was a prominent educator of his day, and to him is given a great deal of the credit for placing the schools of that time on so high a plane. He left the village in 1878 to become super- intendent of the schools at Mechanicsburg where he remained for several years.

CENTRALIZED SCHOOL.

For three years prior to 1915 the school situation in Lewisburg was very much complicated. During this time there was a growing agitation for the centralization of the village and township schools. However, not until March 17, 1915, did the question of issuing twenty-five thousand dollars worth of bonds to build a centralized school building come to a vote. The proposition carried, one hundred and eighty-one to eighty-six, the village of Lewisburg giving a majority of eighty-four and the district outside, eleven.

The acquisition of a site was the next question which confronted the board. Lots 110, 111, 112, 250, 251, 355, and 359, aggregating about six acres, were purchased for a building site and playground. The contract for the building was let on May 29, 1915, to Royal Beltz for twenty-two thou- sand one hundred and sixty-one dollars. As the work progressed, additional money was needed. In August of the same year additional bonds were issued for the sum of eighty-five hundred dollars, twenty-eight hundred dollars more in September, and ten thousand dollars in November. In the following sum- mer the building was completed.

This building is one of the very best of the centralized schools in the state. The building is equipped with all the conveniences and appliances found in the city schools and represents the latest model in architectural design. The auditorium is one of the best in the state for a town the size of North Lewis- burg, having a seating capacity of nearly five hundred, an excellent stage, and well-arranged exits. Beneath the auditorium is a gymnasium, regulation in size and equipped with all the necessary apparatus. To enumerate all the com- mendable features of this building would be tedious.

C. O. Taylor has been in charge of the schools for the last four years, and the high standard which they maintain is due primarily to his efforts and influence. His assistants during the past year were the following: Florence Hunter, principal; Edith Hick, assistant principal; R. M. Hunter, seventh and eighth grades: Hazel Overfield, fifth and sixth grades: Edna Cook, fourth

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grade; Margaret Barnes, third grade ; Alice Freeman, second grade; Frances Wehe, first grade.

The names of the superintendents, other than those whose names have been mentioned, are: Joseph Swisher, Mame Cornell, W. D. Tepple, B. F. Finkle, J. Jerome Welty, D. D. Bates, W. S. Coffey, W. H. Sidebottom, H. S. Thompson, and Professor Miller.

POSTOFFICE.

Prior to 1845. the citizens of the village received their mail from Cob- erly's on Darby creek, and from Woodstock. In 1845, a postoffice was estab- lished at North Lewisburg, with Royal Jennings as the first postmaster. He served until 1853, when H. D. Gowey was appointed. He held the office for thirty-three years. Other postmasters besides those mentioned include the following: Catherine Shay, William Hunter, J. P. Overfield, John C. Mount, Eli Sherrett, and Mrs. Elizabeth Tritt, the present incumbent, who was appointed in September, 1909. One rural route serves the rural community from this office, delivering mail to three hundred and nineteen patrons. The mail service received is good, as four mails are received and three sent out daily.

ELECTRIC LIGHTS.

The village has been lighted with electricity since 1897. On May 5 of that year the city council granted a franchise to Julius Southwick. The sys- tem is a private enterprise. the city paying nine hundred and eighty dollars a year for lighting.

STREETS IN NORTH LEWISBURG.

The first streets of the town were Sycamore, running north and south, and Maple, running east and west. These were named for trees standing near them. The last old sycamore tree which stood near the railroad water- tank. furnished the shade for a Fourth of July celebration in 1840.

On the east part of Maple street there were many large maple trees and a fine sugar camp as late as 1870. West street, running from Maple to Town- send, was originally the old road leading to Urbana. Gregory street, run- ning from the railroad to Gunn street, was named after George Gregory, the proprietor of Gregory's addition, through which it runs. East street, run- ning from Elm to Maple, was in Audas's addition. Linn, Cherry, and Wal-

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nut streets, in Audas's second addition, lying east of East street and running north from Maple, were named for the trees standing near them. Audas street, running from Maple to the corporation line, was named for William Audas, a prominent citizen and the proprietor of that part of the village. Railroad street, connecting Mill and Maple streets, was so named because it ran from Mill street north to the Franklin & Warren railroad, which was built in 1853. Cemetery avenue was so named because it led from the village to Walnut Grove cemetery. Tallman street which leads from the north end of Cemetery avenue to West Elm street, was so named for the proprietor of that addition. Grant street, east of Tallman, and running paralled with it, was named for Gen. U. S. Grant. Townsend street, running from Audas to West, was so named for the proprietor of the Townsend addition, through which it runs. Gunn street, the one next south of Townsend, running from Sycamore to Audas, was so named for Rhoda Gunn, the proprietor of Gunn's addition and the owner of one thousand acres originally granted to her by her father, John Asken, an officer in the Revolutionary army. Mill street, extending south from Townsend and Mill street to the corporation line, was so named from the saw-mill on it, built in 1884. Young street was named for Dr. E. C. Young, who was the proprietor of Young's addition. Winder street, extending from Sycamore to Poplar, was so named for a large family of Winders who lived here in 1840, and who at that time owned one-half of what is now North Lewisburg. Elm street, north of Winder, was so named for the large elms standing on the street; it extends from the east to the west corporation line. North street lies north of Elm street, and extends from Sycamore to Poplar street. Poplar street, so named from the poplar trees standing near it, extends from Winder to the corporation line. Milburn street, so named for the proprietor of that addition, runs from Elm street south- ward. Water street runs from the north end of Gray street to Sycamore street and ends at the iron bridge. The Erie Railroad Company now uses this street without any lease or grant from the town.

The various lengths of the streets are given as follows: Sycamore, 225 rods ; Maple, 230 rods ; West, 30 rods; Cemetery avenue, 52 rods; Tallman, 45 rods ; Grant, 45 rods; Water, 25 rods; Townsend, 120 rods; Milburn, 36 rods; Young, 35 rods: Winder, 40 rods; Elm, 225 rods; Poplar, 60 rods ; Gunn, 100 rods; North, 50 rods; Gregory, 80 rods: East, 120 rods; Audas. 90 rods ; Linn, 35 rods; Cherry, 33 rods; Walnut, 30 rods, making a total number of twenty-two streets and approximately five and one-half miles.

The incorporation limits of the village are one hundred and sixty rods, or

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one-half mile, east from the town hall on Maple street; west from the town hall on Maple and Mill streets, about a hundred and seventy rods to the west line of Mrs. M. C. Crery's lot ; north on Sycamore street, about one hundred and fifty rods to the county line; south on Sycamore street about eighty-two rods from the town hall; west on Elm street about one hundred and forty rods from Sycamore to Milburn street : east on Elm street about seventy-five rods from Sycamore street ; east on Railroad street twenty-eight rods from East street; west on Railroad street to a line parallel with the west line of the cem- etery ; south from Gunn street thirty-five rods, and east on Elm street four- teen rods.

NORTH LEWISBURG IN 1836.

There is probably no one living in North Lewisburg in 1917 who can recall the following picture of the town as described by H. D. Gowey and published in the North Lewisburg Gasette under date of September 29, 1876. The author of this article, entitled "Early Days in North Lewisburg," was postmaster of the town for thirty-three years and one of its best-known citi- zens of his day and generation. The article is reproduced as he wrote it : however, all of the buildings to which he refers are identified with their pres- ent (1917) owners. The article follows :

Forty years ago the country now the site of our little village was an unbroken forest, where deer were found in abundance. The sturdy pioneer had planned his cabin home on its outskirts. The sound of his ax and the crowing of the cock were then only traces of civilization. Gray Gary. Its founder, with many that shared the trials and privations of opening up the wilderness, have gone to rest. Their children have grown to be men and women, while the burden of years has made them gray. In 1837 Aaron Winder kept a hotel on the sight where the beautiful and commodious business building of John R. Wilson now stands. In one end he kept a country store. The building, lot and stable on the site were purchased by him in that early day for $200. Boarders were kept at one dollar and fifty cents per week, and translent men were entertained at from fifty to seventy-five cents per day, according to the quality of entertainment. The sign before the door read: "Lewisburg Hotel-Aaron Winder." Just opposite, and where Town Hall now stands, was a small frame building with a warehouse attached, in which Joseph Everett kept store. A frame bullding was erected where Fisher's grocery stands, but never finished. It was used as a shelter for hogs. The corner, occupied by Bookwalter's hardware store, was vacant. In 1840, during the political canvass, a publie dinner was given there. and the people were addressed by William Lawrence, of Marysville, and Moses B. Corwin, of Urbana. Its unfortunate owner was compelled to cancel his board bill by giving a deed of his property. The creek was crossed by a foot-og which was tied with ropes to keep it from washing away in time of high water. A blacksmith shop. owned by Lester Ware, stood were J. J. Mercer's junk yard now stands. His dwelling was a little log house near the residence of William Doland. A one-story log house, known as the Black Horse Hotel, and kept by Nehemiah Green, occupied the site of H. D. Gowey's home. Abner Winder.

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Sr., owned the old saw and woolen mill that stood where S. M. West's house stands. In the winter he taught a district school and was considered the best mathematician in the country. He was also township constable. Hw sad and strange it seems to see the mind once so gifted dethroned of reason; wandering in his native town, among his old friends, and yet a stranger there. A little school house, with slab benches, was situated near the place where Mrs. Mary Stoke's house stands. It was used for church and all kinds of public meetings. The Methodists were the first religious denomination to find their way to the new town. Soon they built a church in the Spain settlement. The old church on the hill is in ruins now and the many tombstones surrounding it reminds of the days and friends of other years. The Presbyterian minister of Milford Center came occasionally to preach in the old school house-a family or two of Presby- terians lived here at that time. The Friends bullt their first church. a little log one, just opposite Abner Winder's present home. The old school house was exchanged for one more elegant and commodious on the hill. It is now occupled by Mr. Donahoe as a private residence. It was in this building that W. R. Warnock, of Urbana. taught school. The house now occupied by Samuel Hutchinson was built by Gray Gary and considered a very fine one in its day. The sheriff walked back and forth between the store of John Everett and Mr. Winder as he cried the sale. Thus the flight of years had changed with Its magic wand the wilderness into a beautiful town, and the prosperity enjoyed by the people of today has dimmed in many minds the memory of the past.

The foregoing article relates the changes which took place in the first forty years of Lewisburg. Yet these changes cannot be compared to those that have taken place in the last forty years. A great many of the old build- ings are still standing, but others have been torn down to make room for mod- ern structures. In 1876 the Partridge house occupied the site of the new bank building. The building spoken of in 1876 as being occupied by L. E. Skinner was later used as a blacksmith shop and was torn down in 1906. It was situ- ated where the Cranston bakery and restaurant later stood.

Hunter Brothers' store was where Fisher's grocery was later conducted. Berry's cabinet shop is the building now used by J. C. Mercer. The William Dolan residence was on the same site as the present dwelling of T. R. Tay- lor. John Callender's residence sat in the place now occupied by the dwelling of Seth West. The Friends' church at that time was just opposite from where it now stands. The house occupied by Samuel Hutchinson is now owned by W. S. Coffey, the present county auditor, and is occupied now by his son, Clark. The house has been rebuilt since those early days, and there is nothing about it now that betrays the fact that it was built by the first man who pen- etrated the wilderness and settled on the place which afterwards became North Lewisburg.

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NORTH LEWISBURG SIXTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO. By Edward C. Young.

It was in the winter of 1850 that I had my first visit to North Lewisburg, and the following autumn that I became a resident. My occupation was teaching and for several years my schools were conducted in the Friends meeting house,-the old house which stood near the site of the present building. In the extreme south end of the village, on what was known as Gunn's Field, stood two small square buildings, con- siderably dilapidated, where the public school was kept. Fidella Courier, of Woodstock, sister of Mrs. Erastus Martin, was the teacher, and for that day she was a most efficient one. My school was in a great measure under the direction of the Friends church, and a great many gave it patronage who came from other places, until I had an en- rollment of fifty or sixty, many of them young men and women. Among the things that were taught was grammar, higher arithmetic. philosophy, physiology, chemistry and meteorology. We opened school in the morning at eight o'clock and closed in the evening at five. At that time Lewisburg was but a small hamlet of perhaps three hundred people.

There were two principal streets-Sycamore, extending from "Osborn's corner" on the north to the Gunn farm on the south, and Maple street, which extended from the property owned in later years by F. E. James to the Methodist church. Townsend street had just been laid out and the west part of it was called the Urbana road. Winder street was simply a road without buildings, and the farm of Griffith Lewis cornered onto the residence in later years occupied by William Lane. There was a fine row of sugar trees occupying much of the ground on the west side including the Butcher cemetery. East of the Methodist Episcopal church was another beautiful grove of sugar trees, where Sunday school picnics and Fourth of July celebrations were usually held.

The streets were, at best, very straggling ways, bordered with many vacant lots. which were well grown over with dog-fennel and other weeds. These even ventured to claim place to the very edge of the driveway, and seldom did anyone venture to molest them. The houses were nearly all small cottages and not much effort was made to ornament the grounds about them with shrubbery. There were graveled walks except Just about the corners, but there were no graveled streets or turnpikes near us. The nearest railroad was at West Liberty, but work began on what is now the Panhandle road about this time.

We had two general stores, pretty well stocked for a village. One of them stood on the corner occupied by the town hall, and was conducted by Royal Jennings. The other was on the corner now occupied by Fisher's grocery, and was owned by William Boggs. The postoffice was kept by Jennings in his store. We got mail once a week : it was carried on horseback from Woodstock. There were two church bulldings, helong. Ing to the Methodist Episcopal and the Friends churches. At this time the Friends were a comparatively new organization in the village. During the winter of 1850- 1×51. a very serious epidemic prevailed, which took a great number of the more promi- nent members of the Friends church. Thus their membership was greatly reduced. This unfortunate circumstance was followed by the removal of several other families to the state of Iowa.

At that time of which I write. the woollen-mill built by Abner Winder was com- pleted : but as Winder had fallen a victim to the epidemic, it was rented to Ephriam Stewart. It was a very important adjunct to the business of the village. but in the

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hands of renters it soon lost much of its importance, was later sold to Andrew Beltz and converted into a grist-mill. There were two saw-mills-one steam, Royal Jennings proprietor ; one water, known as Audas's mill. There was also one tailor shop of which Adam Wood was the proprietor; two harness shops, shoe-shops, tinners, blacksmiths, etc.

The old resident physician, Doctor Bowren. Jeft for the West very soon after the epidemic, and Doctor Butcher and Doctor Hyde had the field for a time between them. One of the old prominent citizens at this time was Bigelow Spain, who brought his bride, Mrs. Olive Spain, Into the village and became a permanent citizen. But the husband soon fell a prey to the malignant disease and left her a widow. She was an unusual woman, and continued to reside in the village for a number of years.

For several years we hnd no election precinct. but had to go to Woodstock to cast our votes. Often the mud made it a serious matter, and the minor elections were not so well patronized.

It was at this time that the slavery question was shaking the country from center to circumference, and both of the old parties were at war with the Abolitionists. We were ou the line of the "underground railroad," and the Quaker homes were very apt to be looked upon with suspicion as depots. A great many slaves were sheltered and helped to freedom from this point. At one time sixteen -- men, women and children- were quartered at the home of the writer for a short time. Only once did I .act as conductor for those poor unfortunate negroes. I landed them safe in Marysville at the next depot. and in a few weeks heard of their safe arrival in Canada.

There were no open saloons in the village when I came, but liquors were sold over the counter in the hotel kept by Robert Elliott ; William Boggs was the chief bartender. Johnston's distillery was running full blast between this place and Milford, and there was evidence often seen on our streets that those desiring liquor could easily get it. One Benjamin Wright. a teamster, was engaged in hauling barrels of whiskey from Johnston's distillery to the railroad at West Liberty. He not infrequently left his wagon standing loaded in the street in front of his residence. After he was cautioned against this repeatedly. he persisted in doing so until one night all of the barrels, six I believe, were tapped for him. On the next morning he had left only two casks, and the hogs In the street were so drunk that they were unable to walk.

With the better class of citizens, there was a strong temperance sentiment, and their earnest efforts were made to check the drinking custom. Our county had a large temperance alliance and through it considerable good was accomplished.

The retrospect of the intervening years since the occurrence of these events, is both interesting and for the most part instructive to the writer. We have had our trials and disappointments in common with others, but we can now, in the eventide of life. say God has all along heen good to us.

A METHODIST REVIVAL MEETING IN 1882.

About the first of February, 1882, there began a Methodist revival in North Lewisburg that created more than local attention. The revival was so extraordinary that the Cincinnati Enquirer sent a special correspondent to the village to get information concerning it; and in the issue of March 14, 1882, that paper devoted nearly two columns to a general and minute description of this religious awakening. With a few omissions and a few revisions the sub- stance of the article is herein reproduced.

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"It is the work of the Devil. There is no religion about this flummery. By your disgraceful actions you have put the Methodist church in this town back twenty years. Get out of here, every one of you!"

Thus spake Elder Brewster, of Urbana. to a number of members of the Methodist Episcopal church in North Lewisburg, about ten days ago. His wrath was called forth by the actions of the prime movers in a series of revival meetings, that had been in progress for nearly six weeks, during which the manifestations of a dozen or so of fanatics were the most remarkable on record. Religious frenzy could no further go. Had a company of lunaties been let loose from à insane asylum, they could not have discounted the antics of this lot of alleged sensible citizens. It is a topic of conversa- tion within a radius of ten miles of this place, and the excitement in regard thereto is but just subsided, although the occurrences about to be related took place nearly two weeks ago.

The pastor of the church is Rev. D. L. Hayward, a native of Warren county. Ohlo, who has presided over this congregation for the past two years. He has always been considered a level-beaded man and a fair preacher of the gospel. His family consists of a wife and two children. she being in very delicate health. Her health was so precarious, in fact, that she was unable to attend the meetings over which her husband presided with such startling results.

QUEER SORT OF WAY TO "SAVE" SINNERS.

The meetings were begun nearly six weeks ago, and in point of attendance were very successful. One peculiarity of the gathering was noted from the start; the Reverend Hayward did not attempt to preach. but contented himself by doing sensa- tional "stunts"-posturing, groaning, throwing himself prone upon the rostum. rolling up his eyes, and walking about the platform on his knees .- all the time giving vent to unearthly sounds and yells, occasionally interspersed with lamentation; the sepulchral tones of it seemed to come from the bottom of his boots. This struck the ungodly. and even some of the faithful, as a queer sort of a way to save sinners; but the prencher was running that machine, and nobody interfered. This "ground and lofty tumbling business" was kept up for several days, and. in the meantime a number of good sisters began to be infected. The preacher kept on in his maniacal mode of proselyting, and, before the first week had gone by, a half dozen ladies of the church were as cranky as their pastor. Among these ladies was Sallie Cowle. the daughter of George Cowle, a well-to-do citizen of this place. She is not particularly attractive in personal appearance. but one whose devout manner and hitherto Christian conduct made up for lack of personal charms. This lady was among the first to succumb to the mesmerism. or whatever it may be called: and her conduct was most remarkable. She would walk up and down the aisles with arms outstretched, eyes rolling and in the greatest mental and physical excitement. Singling out someone in the audience. generally a man. she would go up to him, and with a voice supernaturally grave. would point her finger at him and say, "The Lord wants you." This would be con- tinued in some Instances for fully five minutes, the victim of her attention during this trying ordeal quaking with embarrassment and shame. When she grew tired, she would return to the rostrum on which the pastor had thrown himself, and who in the meantime had kept up his agonizing groans. Clasping him in her arms, she would endeavor to raise him to his feet. A singing band of seven or eight women, headed by a Miss Kemp who was here visiting Mrs. Garwood, kept things awake by their shouting and singing. Miss Kemp, an attractive girl of twenty-five summers, was an able ally of Miss Cowle and it was difficult to say which had become possessed of the

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History of Champaign County, Ohio, Its People, Industries and Institutions, Volume I, Part 89

Author: Middleton, Evan P., editor Publication date: 1917 Publisher: Indianapolis, B.F. Bowen Number of Pages: 1196

Author: Middleton, Evan P., editor
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Indianapolis, B.F. Bowen
Number of Pages: 1196