USA > Ohio > Fayette County > History of Fayette County : together with historic notes on the Northwest, and the State of Ohio, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and all other authentic sources > Part 72
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It will be remembered that this settlement was made prior to the organization of Fayette County; hence, the tract on which they located was then a part of Ross County. At present, however, it lies wholly within the limits of this township, and is known as the C. Wallace survey, No. 7577. That portion settled by Mr. Sollars, containing four hundred and fifty acres, has since been divided and subdivided, and is now occupied by Free, Stuckey, Harper, and McCoy. The land was purchased from Wallace, for whom it had
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been surveyed. He is said to have been a great land speculator, and made the Sollars' cabin his favorite stopping place on his travels.
Hamilton Rodgers was a native of Pennsylvania, but afterward removed to Kentucky, where he was married to Miss Mary Gibson. In 1808, the family, which now consisted of father, mother, and eight children, removed to this township, and settled at the mouth of Indian Creek, on land now owned by William S. Rodgers. There were no improvements, but instead the Indians abounded, and their huts could be seen in all directions. They were disposed to be friendly, but woe unto him who crossed their path. The rough condition of the land made clearing a difficult matter, but by their untiring efforts the family soon had quite a tract of land in a high state of cultivation.
Aquilla Jones was born in Bradley County, Virginia, June 29, 1798, being a son of Jonathan and Hannah Jones, who were natives of England. They had ten children, of which the subject of this sketch alone survives. He came to Ohio in 1821, and worked for several farmers in this township for a period of ten years, then re- turned to Virginia, remaining about eighteen months, when he · came back to his adopted country.
August 14, 1831, he married Elizabeth Garinger, and located with her on his present farm. She bore him seven children: Eliz- abeth, Hannah, Amos, Cyrene, Louisa, an infant unnamed, and David. The infant, Hannah, and Amos, are deceased. Mrs. Jones departed this life March 20, 1848, and subsequently Mr. Jones mar- ried Mrs. Jacob Arehart, nee Ann M. Higman, who bore him two children, Maria and Laura.
Mr. Jones is one of the substantial pioneers yet living, and enjoys the esteem of his neighbors. His son David, of whom mention is made in the biographical department, is remembered as being one of the active and heroic participants in the late war.
Benjamin Rodgers was born in Loudon County, Virginia, whence he removed to Ross County, on Deer Creek, in 1806, at which time there were but twelve or fifteen houses in Chillicothe. He was married, in Ross County, to Elizabeth Jackson, a native of Mary- land, who bore him eight children.
Among the pioneers of Wayne now living none is more deserv- ing of honorable mention than John Kule, son of John Kule, sr., and Mary, daughter of Peter Eyler. She was born on mid ocean
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while her parents were emigrating to the land of the free from Germany.
The subject of our sketch was born in Virginia, September 15, 1808, and when quite young his parents moved to Ross County, Ohio, settling in Concord Township in 1817. His education was principally obtained at a log cabin in Greenfield, which was also used as a store and tavern. In 1830, he was married to Charity, daughter of Moses Hopkins, who bore him eleven children, all of whom lived to maturity. By careful management and industry he has accumulated real estate to the amount of about five hundred acres, which is well improved. He has held many offices of public trust, and enjoys the confidence of his acquaintances. He has in his possession a gun which was placed in a spring when the State of Ohio was known only as the Northwest Territory.
TAVERNS.
In the pioneer days, Wayne could boast of no regular tavern, and indeed this state of affairs exists at the present time. The stranger found a friendly shelter under the roof of any cabin he might en- ter, and was scarcely ever allowed to compensate his generous host. In later years, prior to the introduction of the "steam horse," travel on the State roads became very general, and the demand for a reg- ular hostlery became very great. In view of these facts, Noah Hukill, who still resides with his son on the Washington and Chil- licothe Pike, opened his house to the public and soon established a world-wide reputation for the same. He also sold liquor, but kept a quiet and orderly house. His first sign bore the inscription : " Oats and Whisky," the next, "Inn by N. Hukill," the third read " In- dependence, Peace and Plenty." It is stated that the drivers and occupants of twenty teams and wagons stopped here at one night. The tavern was well managed and considered a home for the weary traveler. It has long since been closed, its proprietor is still among the living, but the dear old homestead where he has spent so many years, will soon know him no more. At present there is no hotel in the township, though there is a great demand for a temporary abode for the man of trunks and valises at Good Hope. At this
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place a depot is in course of construction, and at its completion we may look forward to the opening of the much desired hotel.
INDIAN REMINISCENCES.
The following was obtained from an interview with Mrs. Scott, a granddaughter of George Scott. She often heard the story related by her mother, and kindly volunteered to impart it to the readers of this work :
By birth, Heath was a Virginian, his grandfather having partici- pated at Valley Forge with the American armies during the Revo- lutionary war; his wife was engaged in attending to the wounded after the above mentioned battle. They had three children ; one was killed by Indians while engaged in plowing.
George came to Kentucky as a scout during the Revolutionary war, and at the age of twenty-one was married to Anna Wright, who lived near the Ohio River, in Kentucky. During the closing years of the eighteenth century the young couple crossed the Ohio and came to this county, settling on Indian Creek, in this township, on land now in the possession of William Rodgers .. They had ten children. The Davises, Wrights, Hills, Brannons and Clousers af- terwards located in the same neighborhood, some of them on the opposite side of Paint Creek. Heath participated in the war of 1812 ; in what capacity is not ascertainable.
The Miamis had a camping ground near the mouth of Indian Creek, about four hundred yards from the humble home of the Heaths. During the winter, from five to six hundred redskins were encamped here-generally peaceful, though apparently very quick tempered at times. When Deborah Heath, the mother of our in- formant, was twelve years of age, a white man named Harrod shot and killed an Indian while out on a hunting expedition, and covered him up with the logs of the forest. On the morning after the killing of the savage, Heath departed for Frankfort, leaving his family unprotected. The Indians instituted a search for their missing companion, and, upon discovering his dead body, very naturally concluded that the deed had been committed by a pale- face. They became very much excited, and one of their compan- ions, who went by the sobriquet of " Wild Duck," an ugly and fero-
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cious looking savage, came to the Heathi cabin and inquired for the head of the family. He was told that the latter had gone to the mill at Frankfort. He did not depart readily upon receiving this information, but continued to inquire for Heath, at the same time brandishing his huge knife in a threatening manner, but finally was induced to depart and the terrible suspense of the family was relieved. On the morning following, the Indian made a second call, meeting Heath a short distance from the house. For more than an hour, angry words and threats passed between the two; finally, however, they dropped their weapons in token of peace. As Heath's brother had been massacred by the Indians, his hos- tility to the latter was avowed and known to them, hence he was suspected of being the murderer of their late companion. Pre- sumably he gave a satisfactory account of himself, at all events he was not molested. The entire settlement was much alarmed, and feared an attack from their savage neighbors. To insure safety, the Heaths took up their temporary abode at Frankfort, Mrs. Heath having buried the tableware in the garden before departing.
Harrod was captured by the Indians, in Ross county, and burned to death at the stake, near what is now known as Harrod's Creek. Seven white men lay in ambush and witnessed the terrible execu- tion, but were either too cowardly or had no inclination to attempt a rescue. Apparently the savages were fully revenged by the death of Harrod, as they made no further attempt to disturb the settlement.
" Wild Duck's" squaw was a daughter of the chief of the tribe, and during one of his fits of anger he took her life, which caused much grief and indignation among the rest. A number came to Heath's cabin and requested Mrs. Heath to dress the corpse for burial as was the custom of the whites. Next day her body was deposited in a rude grave, a handful of dirt thrown on the same during war-whoops, the grave being filled with cedar midst frequent war-whoops.
Immediately after this ceremony the old chief and another war- rior tied " Wild Duck," who had been secured in the meantime, to a pony and started up the creek for the " cedar hole," and shortly returned with the pony, though minus a rider. Heath inquired of the chief what disposition had been made of the wife-murderer. The chief shook his fist under Heath's nose and said: "No white man's business."
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With the tribe was a white woman who had been captured, with her little brother, in childhood, the latter was killed because he was a burden, being too young and delicate to walk. The girl grew to womanhood, became accustomed to the habits of her cap- tors, and married the chief's son. She frequently came to the Heath cabin to bake bread at the fire place. When questioned as to her early life, she stated that she knew nothing except that her name was Sallie, and that she had come a great distance.
GOOD HOPE.
The only village of importance in Wayne Township is Good Hope, which is situated on the east bank of Indian Creek, at the crossing of the Ohio Southern Railroad, and Wabash and Good Hope pike, south of Washington. It contains a population of about one hun- dred and fifty, and may truly be called an energetic little business center.
The town was surveyed on the first day of November, 1849, by Benjamin Nelson and John L. Burnett, at the instance of Robert Harper and James Sargent, the proprietors. It included parts of Thomas Marshall's survey, number 9,257, and Peter Manifold's survey, number 6,126. The tract was laid out into thirty lots : Number one beginning at a point on North Street, running thence north 87° 30' south, seven poles and two links, to a stake on the line of said street; thence south 23° east, with West Street twenty- poles and two and one-half feet to a stake ; thence with the Green- field road twenty-four poles to the beginning, containing an area of seventy poles and two and one-half feet. The remaining lots were laid out progressively, each containing forty poles, being divided by two streets, (North and Main,) running east and west, and two, (High and West) running north and south; the entire · tract being sub-divided by alleys.
Although Good Hope was not laid out till the year 1849, a por- tion of the lands embraced within the limits of the village, had been occupied a number of years previous.
In about 1830, Isaac Smith purchased of William Rodgers, five acres including part of lot one, giving as pay a rifle. Smith pre- sented the land to his son-in-law, William Merchant, who erected
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
a blacksmith shop thereon, and catered to the wants of the farm- ing community for a period of four or five years, then sold the property to Jacob Cesslar, who in turn disposed of the same to Reuben and Samuel Nichols. The latter, in about the year 1838, converted the building into a store room, and sold it to Isaac Smith, who engaged in the mercantile business for a short time, then placed it in charge of his son, James W. Smith, who in 1842, rented the property to his cousin, James Smith. He, with an eye to business, stocked the concern with liquors, and was very suc- cessful so far as actual sales were concerned.
Directly opposite lot number one, just outside of the present village limits, on the site now occupied by a wagon and carriage factory, Ira Yeoman and Robert McElwaine kept a tan yard. The former soon disposed of his interest to the latter, who did a flourishing business, tanning chiefly " on the shares ; " in that day, people furnished their own leather and had shoes made therefrom. It is said that some of the leather was recently found in one of the vats and proved as good as ever. At the death of McElwaine, the tannery was taken in charge by John C. Jones, who conducted the work till 1850, when he was appointed sheriff to fill the vacancy caused by the death of John L. Vance; after this, the in- completed work was finished, and the building allowed to go to waste.
Some time prior to the laying out of the town, a physician came to the vicinity with a view to practicing medicine; but as he left in one month, it is surmised that he was dissatisfied with the sur- roundings. He was followed by Dr. Coffman, now owning a drug store in the town of Washington, who soon enjoyed a lucrative practice. He remained ten years, then sold his property to Dr. Goldsberry, who is said to have enjoyed a large and satisfactory patronage. Dr. Harlow, at present a Washington druggist, also .practiced in Good Hope, and with success.
The first man who resided within the present limits of what is now known as Good Hope, was James Sargent, who lived therein, . and erected the house now occupied by Dr. Culy.
In 1850, a Mr. Divens removed with his family to Good Hope, and occupied a part of Sargent's house. By occupation, he was a carpenter, and proceeded to erect several houses, one, now owned by A. W. Ross, for himself, on lot number twenty-one. In the same fall he completed the houses on sites now occupied by Dr.
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Baker, Mr. Painter, John Limes, the parsonage, and several others. The timber was taken from the surrounding forests, hence the pro- cess of erecting new houses was necessarily very tedious.
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CHURCHES.
GOOD HOPE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was organized and received as a mission by the Staunton Circuit in 1857. Services were held in the school house of district number two until 1858-9, when, through the efforts of J. H. Parrett, a church was erected. At first there was a membership of only seven, and Rev. J. W. Steel had charge of the small flock. In 1858 William H. McClintock was called to the pastorate, as "minister in charge," his colleague being H. H. Miller. The new church was dedicated by J. M. Trimble, September 9, 1859. In 1860 the membership had increas- ed to thirty-five. In 1861 Rev. Mr. Westerman had charge of the church as its pastor, and served in that capacity till 1863, when he was succeeded by T. J. Ross. In 1866 Rev. Mr. Alexander had charge of the Staunton Circuit, and served till 1873, when Rev. Mr. Fegan was called to the pastorate, and was succeeded in 1876 by J. W. Wakefield, who continued till 1878, when he was follow- ed by L. C. Brooks, the present incumbent.
At the Ohio Annual Conference, held at Columbus, September 30, 1878, Rev. L. C. Brooks was appointed pastor of this circuit. His labors were attended with good results. Each year witnessed extensive revivals, and at the end of eighteen mouths the acces- sions to the church had averaged one each week. The member- ship at present is about two hundred. Immediately after his ar- rival he commenced agitating the construction of a new building, but found that the people gave him but little support, because of the financial crisis through which they were passing. In the spring of 1880 the matter was again discussed, in due time a meet- ing was called, and the congregation decided to begin the erection of the proposed structure. A plan was secured, and in the fall of the same year the ground-work was commenced. In the summer of 1881 the house was finished, and dedicated with imposing cere- monies.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
The building is in the shape of a Roman cross, and consists of the audience room, class room on both sides, and school room for infants; all rooms being connected with the audience room by folding doors. The vestibule is in the tower, on the corner of the church. Dimensions: Across the wings, sixty feet ; from front to rear, seventy feet, containing in all two thousand eight hundred and fifty square feet of flooring. The tower is sixty-seven feet high, of which thirty-eight feet are of brick.
We append a list of the church officials : Building committee, George Ireland, Sanford Sayre, F. M. Gibson, James M. Davis, Samuel Goen, and William Davis; class leaders, Rev. A. Baker, George Ireland, Samuel W. Goen, Calvin Boyd, Emmet D. King, James R. Kuhl; stewards, J. S. Divens, and F. M. Gibson ; trus- tees, George Ireland, William Davis, James M. Davis, Sanford Sayre, Calvin Boyd, F. M. Gibson, James Harper, Henry Slagle, George W. Tutwiler.
Good Hope Circuit was organized from Staunton Circuit, Sep- tember 24, 1873, and embraces the societies at Good Hope, Sugar Grove, Cochran, and Martinsburg. Prior to the division, the mem- bership, as reported by Rev. Ewens, was two hundred and twenty ; stewards, Joseph S. Divens, James Smith, Rev. William King, J. M. Johnson, and Jacob Kneadler; recording steward, Rev. Wil- liam A. King; district steward, Calvin Boyd; class leaders, A. Baker, Calvin Boyd, Henry Lease, Charles Painter, Reese Binegar, and Jacob Kneadler; exhorters, George Ireland, Charles Painter, and Jacob Kneadler; Sabbath-school superintendents: Good Hope, Francis M. Gibson; Cochran, Charles Painter; Sugar Creek, William Orr; Martinsburg, Elmer Welsheimer.
During the year 1874, forty-four accessions were made to the circuit. Repairs were made on all parts of the building, at a cost of $1,000. . A debt of $400 on the parsonage was cancelled, and at the close of the year the membership was two hundred and eighty- two. In the year 1875, forty-one were received on probation; the total being ninety, and the full membership, three hundred and nineteen. At the close of the following year the circuit was re- ported in a flourishing condition, the additions numbering sixty- four, and the total number of members being three hundred and forty, which decreased to three hundred and twenty-four in 1877. An interesting revival was held in 1878, which increased the mem- bership to three hundred and seventy-two. In 1879-80, the total
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number of members was three hundred and ninety-one. During these years, $500 were devoted to repairing the church property, and the movement to erect a church at Good Hope inaugurated.
FAIRVIEW GERMAN BAPTIST CHURCH.
Peter Eyman, now deceased, was the first Dunkard who moved within the limits of this township, and in all probability he began to agitate the question of organizing a church in his neighborhood. The society was founded by John Cadwallader, and meetings held at the house of Eyman.
At or prior to the year 1844, ground for a school house, in the Hukill neighborhood, was donated by James Bryant, a member of the church, with the express understanding that the German Bap- tists were to have the use of the building, to be erected, at least once a month for church purposes ; and in 1844, Rev. Cadwallader began preaching in the new school house.
In 1853 or 1854, a building was erected at the junction of the New Holland road, and the Chillicothe and Washington pike. It was a frame structure, 40x60. Meetings were held twice each month.
PAINT CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH.
The Scioto Predestinarian Baptist Asssociation, was organized in 1805, Pleasant Run being the first church.
In 1818, Paint Creek Church was organized, and in 1840 the association, the membership of which had reached five hundred and forty-five and embraced eighteen churches, met with this church. During the war there was an unfortunate split of the members, which has never been healed.
GOOD HOPE BAPTIST CHURCH.
We are indebted to Rev. S. C. Tussing for the following histo- rical sketch :
The record of the proceedings of this church from its organiza- tion to the year 1854-a period of twenty-two years-was destroyed by fire. The writer is indebted to sister Rebecca Cory (the only
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
one of the original members now living) for the facts herein pre- sented respecting the early history of this church.
The gospel was first preached by Baptists in the vicinity of what is now known as the village of Good Hope at an early day, and, per- haps, where "the groves were God's first temples." Among the first that came preaching the Word, was Elder Snelson, who visited a few scattered Baptists monthly, and worshiped with them at va- rious places.
After Elder Snelson closed his labors, occasional visits were made by Elders Nathan Cory, and Peter Sperry, under whose labors " God was pleased to save them that believed."
About the year 1828 a meeting house was built on a site two miles northwest of the place where Good Hope now stands. Here the church worshiped for several years previous to the division among Baptists. When said church was organized is not known. Elder Burnet was their first regular pastor. He visited them monthly. During his pastorate perfect harmony prevailed among the members ; prosperity attended all their labors of love, and many happy converts were added to their number. Joyfully did the lit- tle band of Christians attend upon the means.of grace, while Elder Burnet alone had the pastoral care of the church; but ere long a portentous cloud arose. Elder Burnet not being able to devote more than one-fourth of his time to this work, the church deemed it best to call an assistant pastor, which they did in the person of Elder John R. Moore. Each of these brethren visited the church once a month for a year or two, when contention was bred among them, and they entered upon a period of their history to which we refer with great reluctance. The cause of all this trouble was as follows :
Elder Burnet preached during his pastorate according to the spirit of the commission given by his Lord and Law-Giver: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature;" while Elder Moore taught that it is the duty of the church to cultivate the " home field" only, and of the minister to " feed the flock." In short, the former advocated the missionary cause, and the latter the anti-mission ; whereupon schism entered the church. Soon they resolved to have but one pastor; an election was held, at which a majority supported Elder Moore.
Elder Burnet and the minority of the church (who were nine in number), having refused to indorse the sentiments of Elder Moore,
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and to co-operate with him, were forthwith excluded from the fel- lowship of the above named majority.
The division took place in the year A. D. 1832. Those of the anti-mission party held the property and records of the church ; yet Elder Burnet continued his monthly visits, the aforesaid nine members co-operating with him.
The following year (1833) these nine members organized then- selves into a body, which assumed the name of " Good Hope Bap- tist Church." Their names were as follows : John Harper, Deli- lah Harper, Susannah Brakefield, James Cory, Rebecca Cory, Greenup Campbell, Jane Campbell, Elizabeth Bainter, and Parenee Brannon. The Lord was pleased to bless the united labors of this little church and its pastor, Elder Burnet, and converts were added to their number.
Soon after its organization the Good Hope Baptist Church be- came a member of the Strait Creek Association, but in the year 1856 they procured a letter, and united with the Cæsar's Creek (now Clinton) Association.
The church was soon denied the use of the house held by the anti-mission Baptists; and so, having gained strength by many ac- cessions to their number, they resolved to erect a house of their own, in which they might worship God unmolested. It was built about one mile and a half southwest of its present site, where it stood for several years, after the lapse of which, and during the pas- toral labors of Elder James Sargeant, it was removed to its present location, about which the village of Good Hope has since been built.
The writer of this sketch finds an accurate record of the pro- ceedings of the church for a period of nineteen years only, from December, 1855, to the present time. During this time nothing was recorded of great interest, more than that which evinces an earnest effort on the part of the church and pastor to sustain the ordinances of the Lord's house, and to hold forth and "contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints."
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