History of Logan County and Ohio, Part 35

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; O.L. Baskin & Co
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin
Number of Pages: 798

USA > Ohio > Logan County > History of Logan County and Ohio > Part 35

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" Mr. Stevenson had been Pastor of the church of ' Three Ridges,' Washington Pres- Intery, for seventeen years prior to his re- moval to this place, and he continued in charge of this church and Cherokee Run for

nineteen years, or till the spring of 1844. In the fall of 1840, Rev. R. H. Hollyday came to assist him in his work, and continued in this relation for six months, when West Liberty was separately organized, and he became pas- tor of it and Stony Creek. Mr. Stevenson continued to reside at this place after he gave up the charge of the church, and, nearly twenty years after, he ended a holy and beau- ful life by a peaceful death, February 24, 1865, aged 86 years, less a month and a day. Of the growth of this church under him, only two notes are found: A revival in 1831 added fourteen to the church, and in 1833 the number of communicants was ninety-one.

" The next stated minister of the church was the Rev. George A. Gregg. He removed here in April, 1845, and had been supplying the church for some time previous. He died of small-pox in February, 1854, while still Pastor. No record of his work here has been found, but he is remembered for his faithful- ness and self-denying labors. After him, Rev. W. Il. Babbitt, now of Glendale, Ohio, supplied the pulpit for six weeks in March and April, 1851; but the next settled minister was the Rev. E. B. Raffensperger, who began his ministry here in October, 1854, and con- tinued till June, 1859. Three things may be said of his pastorate: 1. He was the first Pastor who gave his whole time to this church. 2. A division had occurred in the church under Father Stevenson, and a second church had been formed, which had for Pastors suc- cessively, Rovs. J. A. Mecks, J. L. Belleville and J. 1 .. Polk. The practical healing of this breach occurred under Mr. Raffensperger, many of the members of the now dissolved second church coming back to the first under his ministry. 3. Extensive revivals occurred under his ministry, and many were added to the church. With no long interval, Rev. Geo. P. Bergen took charge of the church. He closed his ministry here the first Sabbath of June,

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

1863. The years between these dates were years of great political excitement; neverthe- less, the church had a steady growth under his ministry.

"On the last Sabbath of July, 1863, the present Pastor preached his first sermon here, on the invitation of the session. After preach- ing five Sabbaths, he was invited to supply the pulpit for six months from the 1st of Sep- tember. On the first Monday in March, 1864, a call was made out for his services as Pastor, acting on which the Presbytery of Sidney in- stalled him in April.

"This church has belonged to four Presby- teries, viz .: Columbus; Miami, to which it was transferred in April, 1829; Sidney, from the organization of the same, and Bellefon- taine, by act of the Synod of Toledo, recon- structing the Presbyteries. The church has built three houses of worship, all of brick, and the second church during its existence built one of wood.

" Hitherto hath the Lord helped us! May His mercy be larger still to this church, that in 1928 our posterity may, in celebrating the centenary of the church, have cause to look back on our day as the day of small things."*

Referring to the church buildings of this denomination, the one at present occupied was commenced in 1868, and was dedicated in January, 1874. It is a handsome brick of modern architecture, forty-three by eighty feet in dimensions, and cost about $30,000. The church at present has 2:5 members, and maintains a flourishing Sunday School.

The United Presbyterian Church of Belle- fontaine, the result of a union of the Asso- ciate and Associate Reformed congregations, is supposed to have been originally organized

about the year 1831, by Rev. John Reynolds, though the early history of the church here is involved in some obscurity. From a his- tory of the congregation written by Rev. John Williamson, and published in the " Ilis- tory of the United Presbyterian Presbytery of Sidney, and the Congregations," we gather most of the facts pertaining to its history. To trace the history of the two branches of the church which formed the United Presby- terian Church of Bellefontaine would take up more space than we can devote to it in this volume. We shall, therefore, give the main facts as briefly as possible.

From the sketch of Mr. Williamson, al- luded to above, we find that Rev. James N. Gamble was installed Pastor of the Associate Reformed Congregation on the 10th of Sep- tember, 1833, and that the congregation at that time numbered fifty-two members. Mr. Gam- ble, it appears, remained Pastor of the church until his death, which occurred on the 19th of December, 1842, though for some time previous he was not able to perform much ministeria' labor. Says Mr. Williamson: " His name is still remembered by many who knew him, and by some who enjoyed and appreciated his labors. To him, more largely than to any other man, the Associate Re- formed Church of Bellefontaine is indebted for its existence and influence." From the death of Mr. Gamble until the Rev. Samuel Wallace was installed Pastor, June 25, 1850, the congregation seems to have been without a settled minister.

About the same time the Associate Reformed Congregation was joined, an Associate Congre- gation was formed in Bellefontaine, by Rev. Samuel Wilson, D. D., but was afterward incorporated with the Associate Congregation of Cherokee. "The Associate Congregation," says Mr. Williamson, "that was in Belle- fontaine in 1858, and which entered into the union forming the United Presbyterian

*We find the following note appended to the history of this church as spread upon the church records :- [Ed. " Since the foregoing was recorded, the first book of records has strange- ly turned up, from which it appears that the resolution to organize Bellefontaine church was adopted Dec. 25, 1827; three elders were elected February 11, 1828; they were ordain- ed and installed Mareh 11, 1828, and a separate enrollment of members for Bellefontaine, and the completion of its separate existence were effected August 9, 1828."

HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

Congregation of Bellefontaine, was organized by Rov. James Wallace, November 17, 1853." Rev. Joseph Mellatton, Pastor of the Asso- ciate Reformed Congregation at the time of the union, remained Pastor of the United Presbyterian Congregation until the 12th of April, 1859. He subsequently settled near Oxford, Ohio, where he remained unti! 1874-5. The congregation remained without a Pastor after Mr. Mellatton left it until 1862, when Rev. W. H. Jeffers assumed charge, and re- mained until 1865. The next Pastor was Rev. John Williamson, who is still in charge. He was ordained and installed on the 2d Tuesday in April, 1867, by the Presbytery of Sidney. They still worship in their original building, though considerable money has been spent on it in repairs, rendering it a comfort- able edifice. It is in a flourishing condition, and has a large regular attendance.

The Roman Catholic Church was organized in Bellefontaine in 1853. One of the first ministers of this Church who held services in the town, was Father Grogan, of Urbana, and used to conduct church at the houses of Cath- olic families long before the organization of a church society. Upon the organization of the Society, Rev. Father Thomas Sheahan was in- stalled Pastor. He was succeeded by Rev. J. F. MeSweeney, and he by Rov. John Coveny, who served until November, 1869, when, as will be remembered, he was assassinated. Father Young was the next Pastor, and com- meneed his labors December, 1869. The present Pastor is Father Bourion, who as- sumed charge of the church in 1828. The church has a handsome brick building in the southeast part of town, and has a large mem- bership, together with a good Sunday school. The First Christian Church of Bellefon- taine* was organized on the 23d day of May, 18. The same year the society built a hall

"The facts for this sketch were furnished by II. C. M wore, Clerk of the church.

on the second floor of a building on the north side of West Columbus street, which was dedicated to worship March 14, 1869. In May, 18:0, the society sold the hall, and bought the old brick church, which stood on North Main street, of the Presbyterian Con- gregation for $1,600, and which it still owns, but is now rented to the Reformed Presbyte- rian congregation. The Pastors of the Chris- tian Church were Revs. A. F. Abbot, T. A. Brandon, and William J. Lawrence ; the total membership was sixty, but, owing to death and removals, it is now reduced to twenty. Sabbath school was organized in the Spring of 1869, and continued until May, 1828, when preaching was suspended. The Superintendents were O. Hayes, H. C. Moore, H. T. Raymond, J. W. Harrington, and Wil- liam I. Lawrence. The society has been without a Pastor since 1878.

The Baptist Church, of Bellefontaine, was organized in 1843 by the Rev. James French, and about 1852, the church built a house of worship. At the time the church was built, Rev. Mr. Roney was Pastor. He was a zealous preacher and an exemplary Christian, and dis- played wonderful energy during the building of their temple of worship, performing the work of a regular hand. Rev. A. J. Wyant, at present Pastor of the Baptist Church of Mt. Gilead, Ohio, was at one time connected with this church. Rev. W. Il. Stringer was another of the efficient Pastors, and an able minister.

An Episcopal Church was organized in 1856, and after two years became extinct, but in 1824 was again organized under Rev. A. B. Nicholas. Meetings were held in the hall over the engine house for a time. At present, we are informed, the church is without a l'as- tor.

The English Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized in the old courthouse in 1849, by Rev. J. P. Bickley. Rev. J. W. Goodwin

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

succeeded Mr. Bickley. The church has had several Pastors since that time. The congre- gation is at present building a new temple of worship, and when completed, will be one of the finest church edifices in the city. The church is in a flourishing condition, and num- bers among its membership some of the most prominent citizens of Bellefontaine.

There are, in addition to the churches men- tioned above, two colored church organiza- tions in the town, viz: The African Metho-

dist Episcopal Church and Colored Baptist Church, but we have been unable to obtain any particulars in regard to them. The meager notice of some other of the churches of Bellefontaine results from our inability to obtain the facts. Application was made to the different Pastors for sketches of their respective churches, but some failed to re- spond, and we were forced to get what infor- mation we could from other sources.

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

008

CHAPTER III.

THIE MIAMI AND MAD RIVER VALLEYS-INCENTIVES TO IMMIGRATION-THE COURSE OF EM- PIRE-SETTLEMENTS WITHIN THE LIMITS OF LOGAN COUNTY-ORGANIZATION OF CIVIL DIVISIONS-INSTITUTION OF GOVERNMENTAL FUNC- TIONS-PUBLIC BUILDINGS -- POLITICAL.

T DO the early colonist, Ohio was the land of promise. The reports of the early ex- plorers who had been sent to spy ont the land were such as to stimulate the rapacity of greedy adventurers to the highest pitch, and Ohio beeame at once the center of attraction, not only to that class, but also to the pioneer settlements of the cast. The spirit of land speculation was fostered by the system of royal charters and favoritism, and colonial officials were rapidly acquiring titles to large fracts of the fertile lands of the northwest. George Washington, it is said, owned 50,000 acres in Ohio, and Lord Dunmore, who repre- sented the crown in Virginia, had made ar- rangements to secure a large portion of this territory, which were only frustrated by the precipitation of the revolutionary struggle. In all these operations the rights or interests of the Indians were ignored. Might was the measure of the white man's right, and in the face of formal treaties very favorable to the whites, the lands reserved to the natives were shamelessly bought and soll. Titles thus secured were obviously of no value if the in- tegrity of solemn treaties were to be respected, but so generally had the public mind been corrupted by the greed for gain, that this con- sideration offered no hindrance whatever to this sort of traffic in land titles. It could hardly be expected that a poliey so shame- lessly pursued and openly avowed would long escape the jealous observation of the Indians, whose very existence was thus threatened. It was not long before any such illusion that

may have existed, was eruelly dispelled by the terrible war that was opened all along the frontier. The savages sought to make the Ohio river the boundary of the white settle- ments, and for years delayed the advance of immigration. The story of this struggle, with all its attending barbarities, is an oft told tale. The line of settlements firmly established along the Ohio from Pittsburg to the Falls began to advance, and with every step slowly but surely pressed back the In- dian race to extinction. The main lines of this advance were up the valleys of the Mus- kingum and Miami Rivers, forcing the sav- ages into the northwestern corner of the State, where on the headwaters of the Miamis, the Maumee and the Scioto they made their last desperate struggle for their "altars and their fires." In this dernier ressort the Shaw- anoes, the head and front of the Indian oppo- sition, dwelt on the Mad river and in the ad- jacent valley of the Miami. Against the villages of this nation were projected most of the expeditions that made up the military op- rations of the whites for some forty years. Through these expeditions, made up princi- pally of volunteers from the frontier settle- ments of Virginia and Kentucky, the knowl- edge of these valleys, abounding in magnifi- cent situations and teeming with prodigal abundance, became wide-spread, and gave rise fo a flood of immigration that was only held in check by the savage vigilance of the lords of this land. But the "anointed chil- dren of education proved too powerful for the

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

tribes of the ignorant," and in 1:95 the In- dians signed away their birth-right.

The pacification of the Indians and their settlement upon well-defined reservations at. once removed the only barrier to the tide of immigration that was pressing up the valleys foward this Indian paradise. Seventeen days after the treaty of Wayne, arrangements were made for two settlements on the Mad river, and before the close of the following year there were the requisite 5,000 inhabitants in the "Northwest," which entitled it to repre- sentation in the National Congress. In 1802 the people under the enabling of Congress took necessary steps for organizing a State Government, and on February 19, 1803,* the State of Ohio was admitted into the Union. The counties formed at the birth of the State, and recognizal in the Constitution, were Washington, Hamilton, Adams, Jefferson, Ross, Clermont, Fairfield, Trumbull and Bel- mont. This was Ohio in the carly part of 1803. One of the first acts of the first Legis- ture, however, was the erection of seven new counties-Gallia, Scioto, Geanga, Butler,

There has been considerable discrepancy in the dates assigned by different writers, as the one on which Ohio was admitted tothe Union. Seven early publica- tiens give seven different dates, varying from April 28, 1802, to March 2, 1>03. In the annual report of the Secretary of State for IS7D, President I. W. Andrews, of Marietta College, very satisfactorily points out the errors in these dates, nud settles the question in favor of the date in the text. After disposing of all but two dates, the article continues as follows ;

" The question of date of admission in the case of Chio is between November 29, 1802, and February 19, 14033. The first is the day of adjournment of the Con- vention that formed the Constitution, and the second is the day when was passed the first net of Congress in nny w y recognizing the State. In the ense of every other state, Congress hay either passed a distinct and definite net of a Imission, dating from the day of enact- mient or frem a fiture day named, or has provided for un nlmission on the issue of a proclamation by the President. Ohio, then, torms a case by itself, belong-

Warren, Green and Montgomery. The growth of the State during this period was very rapid, and two years later Champaign County was formed, including the territory now embraced by Clark, Logan and the pres- ent county of Champaign. In this year Urbana was laid out, and began to grow rap- idly in importance. The " Mad River coun- try " attracted the deepest interest every- where. Those already on the ground wrote to their friends representing the valley as a " land flowing with milk and honey," and it was facetiously declared that "roasted pigs were running at large, with knives and forks stuck in their backs, squealing out ' come and cat.' " It was hardly necessary to stimulate immigration with such stories, where the spirit of emigration seemed to have been born in the pioneers of Kentucky and Virginia. The result was a general "exodus" to this new land of plenty, that threatened to depopu- late some of the older settlements. From one settlement in Trumbull County, not less than thirty families sacrificed their improve- ments and came to this section. This influx

ing to neither of these classes." After discussing the proposition thus laid down, he concludes as follows :

" In view of all the facts, we seem shut up to the conclusion that the State of Ohio was not admitted into the Union on the 29th day of November, 1802, when the Constitution was formed, but on the 19th of Feb- ruary, 1803, when Ohio was first recognized as a State by Congress. It is proper to state, also, that a few months since I made inquiry at the State Department, at Washington, and received the following memoran- dum : 'Enabling net of Congress for formation of the State of Ohio, was approved April 30, 1802. See Stat- ntes at Large, Vol. 2, p. 13. An act to provide for the due execution of the laws of the United States, within the State of Ohio, was approved February 19, 1803. By this act Ohio was admitted to the Union. Statutes nt Large, Vol. 2, p. 2u1.' We may infer, then, that the Department of State of the General Government ree- ognizes the 19th of February, 1803, as the date of the admission of Ohio into the Union."

George Talons

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

of immigration did much for the lower part of the Mad River valley, but the breaking out of hostilities among the Indians prevented its reaching the country now included in the lim- its of Logan county, and it was not until the general pacification at the end of the war of 1812, that this county felt the influence of this tide of civilization.

Preceding this influx of permanent settle- ment, however, was a class of pioneers which is found only where the Indian erected his wigwam, and for the last time and made his last struggle for his lands. This class was the connecting link between the supremacy of the Indians and permanent settlement of the white-the adopted white children of the In- dian tribes. Of these none gained such infa- mous notoriety as that " hateful brood," Me- Kee, Elliot and the Gertys. To the vindic- tive, remorseless butchery of the untutored savage, they brought a fiendish malignity, a cowardly, brutal insolence, that "out-Herods Herod," and only comes when the last drop of the milk of human kindness turns to gall. Logan county was, unfortunately, too often the scene of their operations. Alexander Me- Kee was, perhaps, the least offensive and the least known of the three. He was early iden- tified with the British interests, and had served as an agent for the authorities at De- troit among the Indians. Coming into the hands of the Americans, he had been permit- ted to go at large upon parole. Early in 1218, he escaped from the lines at Fort Pitt, and in company with a number of deserters made his way to Detroit, where he was again given service in connection with the Indians. Being of a thrifty turn of mind, he united with his character of "agent" the business of trader, and for some time about two miles out of the Indian town Wapatomica, in the southern part of the county. lle was quite influential with the Shawanoes, attended their councils, and exhibited the most malig-

nant hatred toward the colonial captives that were brought within the sphere of his influ- enee. He wore the gokl-laced uniform of the British service, and lost no opportunity to thwart any movement among the Indians for peace, in the interest of his employers. Ile was present at the different important battles between the Indians and the forces sent against them by the colonies, but always at a convenient distance from danger.

Matthew Elliot was an Irishman. "At the commencement of the Revolution he lived in Path Valley, Pennsylvania. A number of tories resided in his township, among whom Elliot was a leader. But, as hostilities in- creased, the place became too warm for him, as a large portion of the population was Whigs. Elliot fled to the West, where he was well known as an Indian trader. On the 12th of November, 1226, he made his appear- ance in one of the missionary establishments of the Moravians, upon the Muskingum, with a number of horse-loads of merchandise, a female Indian companion, and a hired man, on his way to the Shawanoese towns upon the Scioto. Elliot left the next day, but was fol- lowed by a party of six warriors from San- dusky, and made prisoner, his goods being distributed among the Indians. He would have been murdered but for the interposition of some Christian Indians who had followed the warriors, purposely to intercede for him.

"Elliot was taken to Detroit, where he soon succeeded in convincing the commandant out of his Tory proclivities, who gave him a com- mission as captain, and sent him back to Pittsburg as a spy. He remained some time, and finally in company with MeKee and a number of deserters, fied to the Indian country, and as an officer of the Indian De- partment, at Detroit, he served during the Revolution, vibrating between that post and the country of the Ohio Indians, as his service seemed to be needed. In 1782, he was in full

IIISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

command of the allied Indians, assembled to resist the march of Crawford's expedition, and it is said on good authority, was present at the burning of that gallant soldier.

"At the close of the war, we find him at D. troit; and on the 9th of November, 1,85, Hamilton, who was that year governor of Canada, issued an order that no one should disturb him in possession of a lot near the dockyard by the water side, without produc- ing titles. When the Indian war of the Northwest was renewed in 1290, Elliot, who was married to a squaw, took sides with the savages. He was present at St. Clair's do- feat. but kept himself at a respectable distance from danger. He was owner at this time, in conjunction with MeKce, of a considerable tract of land cleared ready for cultivation, on which were several houses on the cast, or Canada side, of the Detroit river, just above its mouth.

". He took part in the last war with Great Britain on the side of the English, holding a Colonel's commission. He was then an old man, and his hair was very white. He had mnich of the savage look, notwithstanding his age. He probably died soon after in Canada, holding at the time the position of agent of Indian affairs by appointment from the British government. Elliot was an uncle, by his father's side, to Commodore Elliot, of the United States navy, and had a son killed on the Maumee, in the war of 1s1 ?. "* Of the Girly brothers, there is no lack of record upon the pages of the history of the pioneer times in Ohio. The foremost of these in all Hainy. Simon, was born in northwestern Pennyslvania. Ilis father was an Irishman, and a beastly, intemperate man. " His sottich- ness false quotation is from the same authority cited above) turned his wife's affections. Ready for se lection, she yielded her heart to & michboring rustic, who, to remove all

obstacles to their wishes, knocked Girty on the head, and bore off the trophy of his prowess. There were four children at the time of the father's death-Thomas, Simon, George and James. During the Old French War, the three latter were taken prisoners by the Indians. Simon was adopted by the Senecas, and became an expert hunter. His Indian name was Katepacomen. It must be passed to his credit that his early training as a savage was compulsory, not voluntary, as has generally been supposed. Ilis tribe roam- ed the wilderness northwest of the Ohio; and when the expedition under Colonel Bouquet, at the close of Pontiac's war in 1764, marched into the western wilderness to punish the Ohio Indians, one of the hostages delivered to that commander by the latter was Girty. He escaped, however, soon after, and returned to savage life. But as one of the conditions of peace was the yielding up by the Senecas of all captives willing or unwilling, Girty was compelled to return to the settlements, making his home in the vicinity of Pitts- burg.

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History of Logan County and Ohio, Part 35

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; O.L. Baskin & Co Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin Number of Pages: 798

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Battle, J. H; O.L. Baskin & Co
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin
Number of Pages: 798