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 85

Author: Dills, R. S
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Dayton, Ohio : Odell & Mayer
Number of Pages: 1070


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 85


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Among the additions of 1844, was Robert S. Fullerton, who con- secrated himself to the ministry, and began work at once. After finishing his course of study, he made arrangements to engage in the missionary work at India. He, in 1850, married Martha White, and in February, 1851, they reached Futtegurgh, their field of labor, began studying the native language, and at the same time instructed a class of native Christian boys. Three months later, he was placed in charge of the station at Mynpoorlive, forty miles from Fnttugurgh, on the way to Agra, the capital of the North- west Provinces, where he remained nine months, and began to preach. He and his wife were next sent to Agra, to commence a school for Eurasions, as those of mixed blood were called. Here he taught and preached for six years, and after the Indian mutiny, which broke up the mission schools and scattered the native Christ- ians, was sent to Futtugurgh. While the country was so unsettled that there could be no preaching in the bazaars and villages, he studied the language, taught the native Christians, and preached and taught as opportunity afforded. When peace was restored he again commenced the high schools at Farrukhabad, and soon had the gratification of teaching three hundred young men. He or- ganized a church in an upper room, which has since been abandon- ed for a neat edifice, the membership having increased. The herculean task which he had imposed on himself proved too much, even for his robust frame, and his health gave way. He was then transferred to Dehra, but did not rest, for his health becoming more impaired, he felt that his time was short, and was anxious to work while it lasted. By the advice of his physician he contem- plated a visit to his native country, but deferred his arrangements under the pressing claims upon him for labor, until his disease re- quired a special surgical operation, from the effects of which he died; his last words being: "I would not exchange this bed of death for crowns and kingdoms."


In 1851, the increasing bodily infirmities of Father Dickey, in- duced the church to employ the Rev. R. W. Wilson as co-pastor, and as father and son, did the two work harmoniously together.


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William Pinkerton and Thomas Larrimer were ordained ruling elders in 1846, and James Stitt and D. E. Bois were, in 1859, elect- ed to the same position. In this year Father Dickey was called to a home beyond the skies, after a pastorate of forty years. In 1859, Dr. H. C. Stewart, Alexander Menary, and Joseph Pinkerton, were chosen and ordained elders. In the fall of 1865 the church was bereaved a second time, in the removal by death of Rev. R. W. Wilson, their beloved pastor for fourteen years. The total membership on the 2d of July, 1875, was nine hundred and sixty- eight. There had been five pastors and nineteen ruling elders. Twelve ministers had been sent out, three of whom labored in the foreign missionary work.


In 1830 the old log house of worship gave way to a brick of larger dimensions, on the ground where the present edifice stands. It was often assaulted by whisky and slave power mobs, and dis- cussions which brought people from a long distance were held in it. The present house, a substantial frame, was erected where the brick stood, and in 1871 was reconstructed and refurnished.


The pastors have been in order as follows: Rev. William Dickey, Robert W. Wilson, Edward Cooper, John Woods, Clark Kendall, John Moore, and Rev. Kruge, the present incumbent.


The Sabbath-school was organized in 1818, and has continued to this day without interruption. The ministers furnished by the church were all scholars in this school : Dauiel Gilmore, James S. Fullerton, Wright McCormick, Samuel Gillespie, J. Cushman, George H. Fullerton, H. S. Fullerton, J. M. Gillespie, H. S. Ustick, James Gibson, I. N. Taylor, and Rev. Charles Taylor, now in Minnesota. The average yearly attendance has been about ninety teachers and scholars. Elder D. E. Bois has been superintend- ent for the past thirty years.


Inasmuch as Rev. William Dickey, was so intimately connected with the religious history of this county and township, we insert in this connection a sketch of his life.


William Dickey was born December 6, 1774, in York District, South Carolina, and died December 5, 1857, aged eighty-three years, lacking one day-his birthday being the day of his burial. His mother died when he was but two years old, and at the age of five he had to fly before Cornwallis' army, which was encamped on his father's farm. Robert Dickey, his father, was a soldier in the revolution, and removed to Kentucky at its close.


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William, when grown to manhood, obtained an education at Nashville, Tennessee, and was licensed to preach on the 5th of Oc- tober, 1802, by the Presbytery of Transylvania, at Springhill. Soon after, he was elected a member of the General Assembly which met in Philadelphia, going thither in a plain suit of home- spun, and making an odd appearance among the broadcloth par- sons there assembled.


Divine services were held every night, and one evening one of the aristocratic preachers suggested that Brother Dickey had not preached yet ; which provoked a general smile, for little was ex- pected of the plainly attired backwoodsman. However, he con- sented, preached to a large congregation, surprised and gratified all present, and moved many to tears. It is related that while in attendance at this session, he placed his straw hat on the window sill of the church, the window being raised, a current of air blew it out into the adjoining yard, where it was perceived by a cow and devoured. Upon learning of his misfortune, the people of the city, who had taken a great liking to the backwoods preacher, presented him with a fur hat, and also with a fine suit of black broadcloth. He came to this county, prior to its organization, and became pas- tor of the first Presbyterian Church in Washington, residing in a cabin erected by its members. About this time he purchased six- teen acres of land near Washington, of Mr. Walker of Chillicothe. As the day of payment came, he realized that he could not fulfill his obligation, and wrote Mr. Walker to take back the land. To his great surprise, the return mail brought him a deed for the property. Prior to his death he sold the same for two thousand dollars, which enabled him to purchase one hundred acres near Bloomingburg, where he spent his declining years, leaving the land to his children.


November 22, 1817, he organized a small church at Bloomingburg, where he preached part of the time. Shortly after, at the earnest solicitation of the church at Bloomingburg, he abandoned his charge at Washington, and came to Bloomingburg where he preached forty years. He lived to bury all his father's family, and at last came to his grave at a ripe age, spending his latest breath in commending to his hearers the blessed Master whom he had serv- ed. The history of his labors is written in the characters, and in the hearts of the entire community.


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UNION CHAPEL.


The citizens of the Salmon neighborhood, in about the year 1835, organized a Methodist Episcopal society in the school house. A revival meeting was held by Rev. Wolf, which was largely attended, great interest being manifested.


In about 1840, a frame structure was erected by the people, and called Union Chapel. It was generally occupied by the Method- ists ; however, a Newlight minister named Lewis Green, occasion- ally held meetings there. He was a brother of Hamilton Green, and a zealous worker. Rev. Armstrong was one of the first Meth- odist ministers. The society has never been very strong, and the organization proper, has ceased to exist, though meetings are still held every alternate Sabbath.


THE OLD SCHOOL BAPTISTS.


The Old School Baptists, in the above neighborhood, former- ly met in the various dwelling houses, then erected a small frame structure on the Bloomingburg and Midway pike. This society has long since ceased to exist.


BAPTIST CHURCH.


In 1821, Elder William Sutton and Chandler Tuttle, a licensed minister, preached at the house of Joel Wood, on Paint Creek, and afterwards at the cabin of John Rankin, on the east fork of Paint, and at various places in the vicinity. A religious revival followed, and many persons joined the Cæsar's Creek Church, in Greene County, where they remained till 1822, at which time the following persons were dismissed from the church, for the purpose of forming a separate organization : John Rankin and wife, Wil- liam Rankin, John Paul and wife, Sarah Morris, Sarah Wood, Gilbert Hurley and wife ; these were regularly constituted a church by William Sutton, Joseph Morris and Chandler Tuttle, at the house of Joel Wood, and adopted the name of " The Regular Bap- tist Church of Christ," on the east fork of Paint. Services were held in that neighborhood until 1846, when a house of worship, sixty feet long, forty feet wide and fourteen feet high, was erected


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at Bloomingburg, and was called the " First Regular Baptist Church," of Bloomingburg. Elder Chandler Tuttle was the first pastor, and continued in that capacity till his death, April 14, 1863, after which the church gradually went down.


SECRET ORGANIZATIONS.


Bloomingburg Lodge F. and A. M. was organized, under dis- pensation, September 30, 1870. The first stated meeting was held on the 7th day of October, 1870, there being at that time but ten members, who built for the use of the lodge a small, but neat room over the store room occupied by A. B. Elliott, on the northwest corner of Main and Cross streets. The lodge was duly constituted, December 23d of the same year, under a charter from the M. W. Grand Lodge of Ohio, the hall dedicated, and the following offi- cers regularly installed at the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mills Gardner acting as M. W. G. Master, C. Garis as D. G. Master, and A. J. Lewis as Grand Marshal: John Brown, W. M .; J. M. Mc- Coy, S. W .; William Noble, J. W .; V. M. Durflinger, Secretary ; Edwin Alexander, Treasurer; A. B. Elliott, S. D .; William M. Jones, J. D .; John Olt, Tyler. These gentlemen, together with D. M. Hays and C. D. Hays, constituted the charter members.


May 17, 1872, the lodge was notified of the death of Edwin Al- exander, who died at his father's house, near the village. On Sun- day, the 19th, the lodge met pursuant to a call, at their hall ; and from thence, together with numerous brethren from Fayette, Mt. Sterling, and New Holland, proceeded in procession to the home of the deceased, where an appropriate sermon was preached by S. A. Keen, of Fayette Lodge, after which the remains were taken to the cemetery, and deposited in the grave with the usual Masonic honors and ceremonies.


On the evening of May 20th, the lodge met in special communi- cation, and adopted suitable resolutions, expressive of the sincere esteem in which the deceased brother was held, not only as a Ma- son, but also as a Christian gentlemen, a father, and a citizen.


The lodge prospered, and enlarged their hall during the year 1873, reporting at its close a membership of thirty-three-free from debt. At this writing (March, 1881) the lodge has a member-



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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.


ship of fifty-eight (not including the one lost by death, nor the many others who, having removed to other jurisdistions, have withdrawn by permit), and is the purchaser of the entire property on which their hall is situated. In March, 1881, it was incorpor- ated, by William Clark, J. M. Noble, Henry Fulton, Henry Casey, and J. M. McCoy, trustees.


Following are the officers for 1881: J. M. McCoy, W. M .; Wil- liam Clark, S. W .; C. Sturbe, J. W .; H. L. Wilson, Secretary ; H. Casey, Treasurer; R. K. Watson, S. D .; A. A. Kerr, J. D .; L. Dill- inger, Tyler; William Noble, W. Squier, Stewards.


IN THE WAR WITH GARFIELD.


The following is the experience of a prominent citizen and brave soldier:


William F. Jones was born in this township, November 3, 1823, and has always resided in this vicinity, except eight years, when he resided in Champaign County, Illinois. After the breaking out of the war, on the 19th of November, 1861, he volunteered in the union army and was placed in Company I, 42d O. V. I., organized by James A. Garfield, our martyred president. The regiment was drilled for a period of five weeks, at Camp Chase, and on the 15th of December, was ordered to the front, took the cars for Cincin- nati, then proceeded, by boat, to Cattletsburg, Kentucky, where they were joined by the fourteenth Kentucky regiment, and took the boat up the Big Sandy River, to Paintsville, where the first bat- tle was fought, resulting in a trivial loss on both sides, and the tri- umph of the Union forces. This took place on the 8th of Janu- ary, the Rebel forces being commanded by General Humphrey Mar- shall. At this village they were reinforced by the 40th O. V. I., and the 2d V. C., pursued the rebels, overtaking them on the 12th, near Prestonburgh, Kentucky, finding them all fortified on Ab- bott's Mountain. At 12 M., the battle opened with but one thou- sand one hundred men in Colonel Garfield's command, while the rebel forces numbered four thousand five hundred men, including twelve pieces of artillery, well fortified. At the expiration of four hours the enemy was driven from their works, with a loss of sev- enty-five killed, while we lost fourteen killed and wounded. Our


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forces continued moving up the river after the retreating enemy. During this march Colonel Garfield ordered the captains of the various companies to engage their men in target practice, and re- port the result at the expiration of four days. On the day suc- ceeding this order, James McConahay and John Shanely, of Shelby County, and William Jones, of this county, shot at a target at a distance of three hundred yards, off hand, with this result : First round, hitting the center by all ; second round, all missed the mark by two inches ; third round, shooting poor, bullets lodging far from the mark. On the following day the experiment was tried again, at a distance of five hundred and one thousand yards, with flattering results. Poor Mcconahay was afterwards killed by a shot from the enemy. Shanely was struck by a ball and knocked senseless, but recovered and is still living in Shelby County, Ohio.


The forty-second next proceeded to Pound Gap, where, on March 12, 1862, they annihilated the remainder of General Marshall's command, thus closing the Big Sandy campaign.


Colonel Garfield was promoted to brigadier-general, and re- moved from his regiment, which was ordered to Louisville, thence to Cumberland Gap, where they arrived June 18, 1862, and re- mained until September 18, of the same year, having, in the mean- time, engaged in several battles, and being compelled to evacuate, because their supplies had been cut off by the enemy. Mr. Jones, and three hundred and forty-eight others, being sick, hence unable to march, were left behind and were soon taken prisoners. Prior to this, however, Jones, aware that he must soon fall into the hands of the enemy, determined that they should not have his gun, which had done him such good service. He therefor demolished the gun and cartridge box, and threw them into a stream near by. The prisoners were taken in the direction of Louisville, Kentucky, and exchanged at Danville, October 14, 1862. Mr. Jones came home and remained until the 1st of April, 1863, when he returned, join- ing the army in the rear of Vicksburg, Mississippi, and engaged in the various battles of that neighborhood.


General Grant, on the 21st of May, ordered the 13th corps, of which Mr. Jones was a member, to prepare for a grand charge on the rebel works, at 10 A. M., on the following day. The morning, at dawn of day, his company, among others, was ordered to recon- noitre, approached cautiously to within eighty rods of the enemy, hidden from the latter's view by a little knoll. They examined


66


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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.


the surroundings carefully, then proceeded to return, a difficult task, for daylight was upon them, and about one hundred and fifty yards of the distance between them and their ranks, was in full view of the enemy. Finally it was decided that they pass out singly, and thus several gained the other side safe, when it be- came the turn of Joseph W. Leedom, of Shelby County, and just as he arrived at what was supposed to be a safe distance, he was seen to fall, and heard to cry out lustily, as if in great pain, thus conveying the impression that he had been severely wounded. It became the duty of his comrades to hasten to his assistance, but no one appeared anxious to perform the hazardous undertaking, until Mr. Jones volunteered to perform the task. Divesting himself of his gun and accoutrements, he started in the direction of the wounded man at the top of his speed, followed by a storm of bul- lets from the rebel guns, but arrived at the spot in safety, and dis- covered that Leedom had fractured his knee by a fall, but was un- touched by the rebel shots. Jones then returned for his gun, but discovering that his companions had disappeared, started back, thus running the gauntlet three times in less that twenty minutes, and reached his command in time to assist in making the fearful charge. After the surrender of Vicksburg he accompanied his regiment to Jackson, Mississippi, thence to New Orleans, where he was dis- charged, July 10, 1863, and arrived home, July 22, after having been in the army two years and nine months.


BLOOMINGBURG.


This, the only important village, is situated near the southeast corner of the township, being bounded on the south by the Union Township line. It numbers a population of more than five hun- dred, and was for a long time the threatened rival of Washington, but has been outstripped by the latter in recent years.


POLITICAL.


The municipal authorities for a number of years kept but a meagre record of the public proceedings, until quite recently, when the present corporation clerk, A. J. Templin, Esq., gathered, with


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PAINT TOWNSHIP.


much trouble, the necessary data. Our historian acknowledges the courtesies extended by this gentleman.


The village was laid out in 1815, by Solomon Bowers, and de- scribed as "lying in the County of Fayette, on the main road leading from Chillicothe to Springfield, being a part of survey No. 3701, entered in the name of George Mathews, on the East Fork of Paint Creek." Main Street was sixty-three feet in width, run- ning north, thirty-five degrees west, one hundred and twenty-five poles in length. Cross and Brown streets are sixty-six feet in width, crossing Main Street at right angles. North, Union, Market, and South streets, are each forty-nine and one-half feet in width, also crossing Main Street at right angles. The alleys were cach sixteen and one-half feet in width, the lots each contained fifty square perches, ten long and five wide, the entire village, including streets and alleys, containing thirty-four and three-quarter acres.


The square on the corner of Main and Cross streets, on which is at present located the frame school house, was set apart for pub- lic grounds, it being then conjectured that the village would event- ually become the county seat, in addition to which thirty-seven lots were laid off. The new village was called New Lexington, the ac- knowledgement being made before Samuel Rawlings, justice of the peace, November 30, 1815, and recorded in deeds A, page 520, De- cember 4, 1815.


March 4, 1816, Bowers laid out and attached to the former sur- vey, two streets running parallel with Main on the east and west, called respectively Wayne and West streets, extending east one hundred and seventeen and one-half poles, west one hundred and twenty-five poles, and containing twenty lots each.


Though named New Lexington, the new village was generally known by the cognomen of "New Purchase," applied on account of being located on an early purchase of lands.


Tradition relates, that Dr. Gillespie, anxious to change the name to correspond with that of his native town-Bloomingburg, New York-while keeping a store in the Central Hotel building, pro- posed to " treat " the male inhabitants provided they agreed to the alteration. The proposition was accepted, and Col. Myers, then a member of the legislature, introduced a bill which provided that the village should henceforth be known as Bloomingburg, which bill became a law.


An act passed by the State Legislature, February 5, 1847, declar-


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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.


ed so much of Paint Township, this county, as is included in the town of Bloomingburg, an incorporated village, and provided for the future government of the same.


The first election for municipal officers was held February 24, 1847, the judges being William R. Southward and Joseph Devolin ; G. W. Worrell acting as clerk, which resulted as follows: Mayor, Joseph Counts, jr .; recorder, J. M. Edwards ; trustees, John Gun- ning, Samuel Worrell, James M. Willis, William S. Carr and J. N. MeLaughlin, who were sworn in on the 27th of the same month. On the following evening the first organized meeting of the trus- tees was held, at which Geo. W. Worrell was appointed marshal.


The first ordinance passed June 7, 1847, provided that whoever should, at any hour of the night, throw about store-boxes or other things, or throw them across sidewalks, or make unnecessary noise, should be fined. It is quite probable that the shins of the dignified Solons came in contact with obstructions placed across the side- walks by mischievous boys, and that the " city fathers " passed the ordinance for self-protection. At this meeting, a tax of five mills was levied on the taxable property of the corporation, and the marshal employed to collect the same at four per cent.


February 8, 1848, it was enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, that all adjacent territory within eleven rods of the corporate limits of Bloomingburg should be attached to the same. The incorporation was increased May 11, 1878, by adding one hundred and twenty rods on the north and east, seventy on the west, and extending to the Union Township line on the south.


At the spring election of 1876, the citizens voted an additional tax of five mills for " sewers, drains and ditches," which levy being insufficient, two hundred dollars additional was issued in bonds. Four sewers were constructed, and the village now enjoys an ex- cellent system of drainage. The village prison, a strong frame structure, was built in 1876.


January 5, 1880, the old ordinances were repealed, and new ones conforming with present general laws, and meeting the wants of the present generation passed in their stead.


The installment for the year 1880, is about five hundred dollars, a fair average of the expenditures of recent years. Within the last six years a spirit of improvement has taken possession of the people, which has resulted in the bringing about of a high standard of health and morals.


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PAINT TOWNSHIP.


EARLY SETTLEMENTS.


As has been noted, the town was originally owned by Solomon Bowers, and laid out by him.


It is stated that William Bryant built the first house within the present limits of the village. It was a log, and stood on the pres- ent site of the Central Hotel.


The first residents of the town are given as Mathew Gillespie, John Oliver, John Duff, Mrs. Gilmore and Mrs. Rosebone.


In 1817, some eight or ten cabins were erected, one of which was owned by John Rutt.


Colonel Stewart and Mathew Gillespie kept a store on a portion of the farm now owned by George Stewart, and there did the early residents make their purchases.


One Williams, opened a tanyard on the lot now occupied by Dr. Hugh Stewart as a residence.


In the spring of 1817, James Gunning or Dunham, started a shoe- shop. Thomas Cessler, of Virginia, was the first blacksmith ; one McCoy, the first hatter. Stith and Eustace were the first tailors, while William Weeks carried on the first wagon shop.


John Oliver was an early carpenter ; kept a tavern for some time, and removed to Pennsylvania in 1826.


The first cabinet maker was H. Bryant; the first school teachers were Dr. McGaraugh and Mr. Stone, and the first physician Dr. George Allen.


This is in brief the chief business representation of Blooming- burg in its younger days. A number of changes have been made since that time, most of which will be mentioned in other parts of this work.


BLOOMINGBURG AND SLAVERY.


Bloomingburg was well known for its anti-slavery influence, and its generous activity in the management of what was called the under-ground railroad, long before the anti-slavery society was formed. Here the dusky fugitives from bondage were fed, clothed and sent on their way, encouraged and rejoicing with the hope of gaining their freedom by reaching the free soil of Canada. It took no ordinary degree of self-sacrifice to meet the responsibilities of




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