USA > Ohio > Logan County > History of Logan County and Ohio > Part 42
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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
charge bayonets, and complete the destruc- tion." Such is the description given of one of the most remarkable preachers of his day, by one who knew him and heard him preach. *.. The White Pilgrim" was another of the early preachers who sometimes proclaimed the " glad tidings" to the pioneers of Logan County. His true name was Joseph Thomas, and he was known far and wide by his white dress, which he used to say was typical of the "robes of the saints in glory." A noted evangelist, he traveled throughout the west- ern country, preaching salvation "without money and without price." How many thou- sands of people, young and old, have read those beautiful lines, entitled "The White Pilgrim." They were composed by Rev. J. Ellis, and dedicated to the Rev. Joseph Thomas. We remember singing the lines, in our boyhood days, at Sunday School :
" I came to the spot where the white pilgrim lay, And pensively stood by his tomb, When in a low whisper I heard something say, " How sweetly I sleep here alone.' "
And wondered who the " White Pilgrim " was, and where he lay. Here in Logan Coun- ty wo learn his history; that he used to preach here fifty years ago, and that when his earthly labors were ended, he was laid away to calinly sleep in the village Cemetery at Johnsonburgh, Warren Co., N. J., "where a beautiful Italian marble monument marks the spot where the White Pilgrim lays."
As early as 1817, Rev. John Strange preached at the cabins of the early settlers. We hear of one of these carly meetings at the house of Mr. Curtis, in Belleville, a little vil- lage that was in existence before the birth of Bellefontaine. Rev. Joshua Inskeep was a local Methodist preacher in the east part of the county. R.v. John Gutridge was a Bap- tist preacher and among the early settlers of
Zanesfield, where he organized the Tharp's Run Baptist Church already mentioned. Camp meetings were common in the early history of the county. The following is from a pioneer reminiscence of Union Township : "One year there was a camp meeting held on the place of Lodman E. Spry, at which there were a large number of Shawnee and Delaware In- dians-some all the way from Sandusky. Their encampment was back of the preach- ers' stand. They seemed to enjoy the meet- ing as well as the whites, and were quite as orderly. Some of them were beautiful sing- ers, and would get very happy at the night meetings."
It will doubtless be a matter of interest to many to know that the renowned but eccen- trie Lorenzo Dow once preached in Bellefont- aine. He was making the journey from San- (Insky City south, and preached every day while on his journey. The following account of his visit to this county is from Antrim's His- tory: " It seemed that Lorenzo had sent an appointment to preach at Bellefontaine at 11 o'clock of the day that he expected to arrive there. About the appointed time he arrived at Bellefontaine, riding in Phineas Hunt's wagon. I am informed that the people were looking earnestly for him. Judge N. Z. Mc- Colloch and others met the wagon in which was Lorenzo, and inquired, 'Is Mr. Dow here?' he said, 'Yes, my name is Dow.' Judge Me- C'olloch then kindly invited him to his house and eat dinner, as there was sufficient time before the hour of meeting. Without saying a word, Lorenzo directed the driver to go south a little farther, where he alighted from the wagon and laid under the shade of a small tree, and took some bread and meat from his pocket and ate his dinner in that way. Soon meeting time came, and there was, of course, a large attendance. In the course of his ser- mon, Lorenzo pointed to an old lady and said:
. William Haller.
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' Old lady, if you don't quit tattling and slan- dering your neighbors the devil will get you.' Pointing directly at her, he said, 'I am talk- ing to you!' There was a young man in the meeting that Lorenzo probably thought need- ed reproof; he said: 'Young man, you esti- mate yourself a great deal higher than other. people estimate you, (the same might be said of a great many young men of the present day); and if you don't quit your high notions and do better, the devil will get you too!' Passing out of the meeting he met a young man and said to him, 'Young man, the Lord has a work for you to do. He calls you to labor in His vineyard.' It is said that young man became a minister of the Gospel. I think the meeting in Bellefontaine was held on the seventh day, or on Saturday. After the meet- ing he came with Phineas Hunt to his house in Salem Township, Champaign County.
Another of the eccentric preachers of pio- neer times was old "Father Hopkins," who lived in Champaign County, and sometimes came up and preached in what is now Logan County. Dressed in tow-linen breeches and tow-linen shirt, barefoot and barcheaded, he would preach with great power, and was very popular with the people. We might go on, however, and enumerate instance after in- stance of the pioneer preachers; how they preached from house to house, when there were no church buildings, and no railroads to carry them to their appointments; how their zeal for their Master's work prompted them to face the storms of winter and the heat of summer, and ride for miles on horseback through the pathless forests, swimming the streams, to fill their appointments, but deem it unnecessary. Our aged readers who were here fifty years ago, will readily recall the truthful pictures. The present generation have far more extensive church privileges than did the early settlers of the country.
Logan County is well supplied with hand- some church edifices, not only in every town- ship, but in every neighborhood, and in the township histories which follow, they will be written up more fully than we ean do it in this chapter.
The early schools of the county next claim attention. The right of the State to maintain the free school system is founded upon the idea that where "ignorance predom- inates viee and crime are its inseparable con- comitants," and that by education the " masses will be elevated, society benefited, offenses lessened, and good government promoted." But the main incentive to its establishment in Ohio was the great necessity that efficiency be infused into the cause of education, and the awakening of the people to an apprecia- tion of its importance. Many old and deep- rooted prejudices against it existed in the State, one of which was taxation for this purpose. This prejudice had to be eradicated, the judgment of men as to its power and rightfulness was to be convinced, ignorant parents were to be enlightened, and teachers of the requisite qualifications and earnestness obtained.
A writer upon the school laws of Ohio says: "The nest-egg of the free school system of Ohio was laid by the Legislature of 1824-25, the same that inaugurated the canal policy of the State. Previous to that time, in 1821, a law passed allowing the people to unite, if they felt inclined to do so, in building school- houses and employing teachers. The law of 1825 made it compulsory. The first law said the people may; the second law said they must: It commanded a tax to be levied for school purposes. Its title was 'An act to provide for the support and regulation of Common Schools.' This was during the presidential administration of James Monroe, when parties had disbanded and, of course,
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there was no party in it. It is impossible at this day to realize the fixed and bitter oppo- sition to the law. The father of the writer was in the Legislature and voted for the law, and although sustained for the active part he took in the passage of the canal law, which traversed nearly the length of this county, he was badly beaten for a re-election. The tax payers would not support him because the law compelled them to support 'pauper schools,' and the poorer classes because he voted to make ' pauper scholars ' of their children.
The law alluded to in the above extract as passed in 1824-25 was altered every session until it seemed to be a perfect chaos, none being able to explain its provisions. Adjoin- ing distriets were often found acting under different laws. On the assembling of the Legislature in 1852, Gov. Wood in his message, strongly urged a thorough revision of the law on common schools. Upon the adoption of the new Constitution about this time a school law was finally passed, which with some further amendments and improve- ments has given to Ohio the very liberal and perfect school law of the present day.
The first schoolhouses in Logan County, as in all other new counties, were built, of logs, and were very rude cabins at that. They have been so often described in pioneer sketches, that a description here is unneces- sary ; they were very different from the com- fortable and commodious schoolhouses of the present day. The first school in the county was, perhaps, taught in the old log Quaker t'hurch, built in 180;, and which stood about a mile from Middleburg. Who was the first teacher then we did not learn, but did learn that a school was taught there very early. Giverge F. Dann, we are told, taught the first s hool in B Hefontaine, or Lake Township. Dr. Thomas Cowfill gives the following sketch of a school taught about a mile from
his father's, who lived near the town of East Liberty : "During the winter of 1812-18, a school. was taught by the late Judge Daniel Baldwin, about one mile south of our house, in a house similar to our dwelling, except there were some joists and an upper floor. This school was largely attended by the young men and women of the neighborhood-a mim- ber of them coming four miles to school. There were at least ten young men attending this school over six feet high and large in proportion, and weighing about 200 pounds each. There were about the same number of young women attending this school; verily there were giants in those days. And those large and tall young men exhibited more signs of humility than some of the smaller scholars, for in walking across the floor, they must bow, or they would bump their heads against the joists every time. A number of these young men and women were in their spelling books ; the young women were neatly clothed in home-spun, mostly the work of their own hands. Their educational privileges seemed to be poor; yet they were highly favored of nature ; they were fair and comely, and I never beheld a more beautiful company of young ladies. The school books consisted of Webster's Spelling Book, Lindley Murray's Works, the Introductory English Reader, So- quel, and the New Testament, with Walsh's and Pike's Arithmetic. I think there was no one studying English Grammar or Geography. I have taken some note of the subsequent history of the young men and women who at- tended this school. With a few exceptions they have all gone to the house appointed for the living, and with the exception of one or two prodigals, they all did well in life, we're mostly bright ornaments to society, lived useful lives, and died respected and la- mented."
In Boke's Creek neighborhood, one Simpson
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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
Ilariman was an early teacher, and is said to have taught them some twenty years alto- gether. But our space will not allow a full description of all these early schools. Like the churches, they will be given in the histo- ries of their respective townships. We will add a few statisties for the benefit of those interested in schools, which are taken from the State Commissioner's last report. Amount received within the year:
Balanec on hand Sept. 1, 1878. $47,358 12
State tax. 12,713 57
Irreducible school fund. 1,694 84
Local tax for school and school house pur-
poses 47,168 06
Fines, licenses, and from other sources .....
822 98
Total $109,757 57
AMOUNT. EXPENDED.
Amount paid teachers. $38, 115 53
Managing and superintending. 1,950 00
Sites and buildings. 12,493 74
Other expenditures.
21,028 12
Total $73,887 39
Balance on hand September 1, 1879 35.170 18
Amount paid to counties. 12,558 00
Amount received from counties. 13,749 30
Excess of receipts from counties. 1,191 30
Population of Logan county in 1870. 23,028
· Enumeration of Logan county in 1879. 8,406
Per cent of population in 1879. 36
Number of townships in Logan county .. 17
Number of subdivisions. 120
Number of separate districts.
Q
Number of school houses erected within
the year 4
Cost of same $11,661 00
Number of school houses in Logan county.
183
Total value of school property
130,323 00
NUMBER OF TEACHERS.
Primary-Male.
107
Female. 127
Total 234
Separate districts-Primary-Males. 3
Females ... 30
1ligh-Males 8
Females
Total 43
Grand Total 277
AVERAGE WAGES OF TEACHERS PER MONTII. Townships-Primary-Males. $34 00
l'emales 24 00
High-Males 15 00
Separate districts-Primary-Males. 63 00
Females 33 00
lligh-Male 61 00
Females 47 00
NUMBER OF PUPILS ENROLLED.
Townships-Primary-Males 2,336
Females. 1,030
Total
2,099
Separate districts-Primary-Males. 837
Females. 881
Iligh-Males 175
Females 206
Total, 4,266
Grand Total
6,365
AVERAGE DAILY ATTENDANCE.
Townships-Primary-Males 1,226
Females
1,105
Total
2,331
Separate districts-l'rimary-Males. 524
l'emales. 558
lligh-Males. 114
Females ... 142
Total
1,338
Grand Total
3,669
COLORED AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
Teachers employed in township colored schools.
Teachers employed in separate district colored schools. 1 Teachers employed in separate district private schools. 2
Total 5
HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
PUPILS ENROLLED IN COLORED SCHOOLS.
Townships-Males 65
Females
Total
135
Separate districts-Males
12
Females
31
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Total 73
Grand Total. 208
An educational institution, known as Geneva College, located at the little village of North- wood, and recently removed to Pennsylvania, entertained in its day a high reputation as a seat of learning; but as its history will be more fully given in that of the village and township where it was located, we will not go into details here.
A few extracts from the State Commission- er's last report, which we deem of considera- ble importance, may be appropriately given. Ile says: " As the pupil masters words and their meanings, he is getting into his posses- sion the tools with which he may dig in books for further knowledge, make his own knowl- edge more useful to him as a social being, and secure a body for his thoughts, without which incarnation they are as little subject to con- trol as the weird fancies of a dream.
" The art of silent reading deserves more attention in school-practice in grasping the meaning of a passage in the shortest possible time, and reproducing it with pen or tongue. But along with this, in its earlier stages, and for a short time preceding it, is the oral read- ing exercise, wherein the reader must serve as eyes to the listeners, so that they may, through his voice, see the printed page. How much inspiration is there in this work when cach listener has the page before his own eyes! The translation of a written sentence into a spoken sentence is much more than the mere translation, in their right order, of the words of the written sentener; and to do this well requires, besides the names of the writ-
ten characters, culture of voice, training of eye, quickening of emotion. To serve as a medium through which others may know the printed page, catching its syllables upon the car, is not low art. To breathe life into dead words, and to send them into the depths of the moral and intellectual nature of the hear- er, and that with power to convince, to arouse, to subdur, greater than if the hearer had been his own interpreter, is high art indeed. *
" Another language lesson of great value is committing to memory -- learning by heart, well phrases it-choice selections, gems of thought and expression, culled from the best writings of the best writers. These should be judiciously selected, so as not to be too much beyond the easy comprehension of the pupil. They should, above all other requisites, be pure, healthful, inspiring. The teacher should add interest to the work by relating incidents in the life of the authors. We know with what tenacity the memory clings to the simple rhymes learned in childhood. If this work he continued as it should be, who can deny its lasting effects upon life? A refined taste and quickened intellect may be hoped for as the result of drinking in and assimilating beauti- ful thoughts in chaste, musical language- words of warning or of approval, flashed by the memory upon the judgment in the time of temptation, of resistance thereto.
" One very good result of increased atten- tion to literature in the schools, is the marked increase in the amount of wholesome reading -history, biography, travels, poetry, popular seience, and the lessened demand for dime novels and other low fiction. Few questions are, in their bearing upon the future of our country, more important than this: ' What are the boys and girls reading?' I would not have less time spent in our schools upon lan- guage, but teachers may well look into the subject and see whether that time is spent to the best advantage.
John Instreet_
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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
" The public regard arithmetic, par excel- lence, as the practical study. It is the prac- tical educator's strong tower, and we have it taught in season and out. The nine digits seem to have taken the place of the heathen gods, and their demand for offerings know no cessation. Measured by any definition of the practical, as a means either to fit one directly for bread-getting in the common business of life, or as a means for mental culture and dis- cipline, a large part of arithmetic, as found in our books and taught from them, falls short. Instead of introducing at an early stage the science of geometry, we fritter away valuable time upon annuities and allegation and pro- gressions; and as for interest, one would think that mankind in general made a living by sqaving each other's notes. Children begin early to develop the science of numbers. It concerns matters of their daily life. The ele- mental steps of writing and reading numbers, or the symbols of numbers, naturally follow, and usually are not difficult of acquirement. But there is such a gap between the condi- tions needed for the ready learning of these things, and the more mature judgment, and that knowledge of business and the world, de- manded in the intelligent solution of ordina- rily difficult problems in discount, and certain other branches of applied arithmetic. Back and forth across this stretch the boy's mind must swing like a pendulum, repelled by what it cannot comprehend, and by what it has grown tired of. Ile marks time when he could so readily oblique into some other study, and march forward. Then, by and by, if these advanced parts of arithmetical science are needed, their acquisition would be easy. Meanwhile, the child may give increased at- tention to literature and be learning interest- ing and profitable lessons about this world into which he has come, and in what body he came, and how to take care of it. While
these priceless practical lessons are in pro- gress, one can fancy that the arithmetic itself would enjoy the rest.
"In the time which can be saved, also a few short steps could be taken in some other branches now much neglected. The reason for and the practical mode of doing many things which are to be done in real life by the citizen, the man of business, the manager of a household, might be taught in the schools. Something of the nature of the materials which we eat, drink and wear, and economy in the buying and using, would be excellent lessons. If he is a benefactor of mankind who causes two blades of grass to grow where one grew before, the language does not fur- nish a name for him or her who shall cause the laboring man to know how to make one dollar produce the good results for which he must now expend two. No matter whether we re- gard the school as established primarily for the good of the children, or for the preservation of the State, we must admit that the most valuable result of all education is the building of good characters. This, to speak definitely, is to instill correct principles and train in right habits. Citizens with these 'constitute a State.' Men and women with these are in possession of what best assures rational hap- piness, the end and aim of human life. Pure sentiments. generous promptings, love for God and man, should be the fruits of a liberal edu- cation. If the child grows into this inheri- tance, he has riches which he can keep and yet give away, which he will carry out of the world yet leave behind, to build his noblest monument. These truths aid in forming an idea of what a teacher should be."
A few words in conclusion of the school history on " Compulsory Education " may not be out of place. It is a subject that is re- ceiving considerable attention in many parts of the country at this time. Referring to it,
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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
the State Commissioner, in his report in 1818, says: "Concerning the right of State or Government to pass and carry into effect what are known as compulsory laws, and require parents and guardians, even against their will, to send their children, there does not appear to be much diversity of opinion. Concerning the policy thereof, dependent upon so many known and unknown con- ditions, there is the widest diversity. I can write no history of the results of the act of March 20, 18:2, for it does not seem to have any. A great good would be wrought if the wisdom of the Gen- eral Assembly could devise some means which shall strengthen and supplement the powers of boards of education and enable them to prevent truancy, even if only in cases where parents desire their children to attend school regularly, but parental authority is too weak to secure that end. The instances are not few in which parents would welcome aid in this matter, knowing that truancy is often the first step in a path leading through the dark mazes of idleness, vagabondage and crime.
" Whatever may be said of young children working in mills or factories, youthful idlers upon the streets of towns and cities, should be gathered up by somebody and compelled to do something. If they learn nothing else, there will be at least this salutary lesson, that society is stronger than they, and, without in- juring them, will use its strength to protect itself. While we are establishing reform schools for those who have started in the way to their own ruin and have douned the uni- form of the enemies of civil society, it would be a heavenly importation to provide some way to resene those who are yet only linger- ing around the cump."
country. The daily paper, by the aid of the telegraph, which connects all points of civili- zation like spider-webs, gives us to-day all the news that transpired yesterday in the ut- termost parts of the earth. The deerces of the autocrat at St. Petersburg, the diplo- matic strokes of Bismarck, or the womanly wisdom of the English Queen are known to us, almost as soon as to their own subjects. And the county press, the faithful exponent of the county's interest, is the intellectual cri- terion for the masses, and the most popular channel of general information. It is also a true record of the county's history; the very advertisements in local papers eventually be- come historical facts, and it is to be regretted that so few persons seem to appreciate the value and importance of their county pa- pers. Said Daniel Webster: " I eare not how small and unpretending a newspaper may be, every issue contains something that is worth the subscription price." And to-day journalism is recognized as a power in the land, a power before which the evil-doer and the corrupt official stand in awe. The legiti- mate press, hokling as it does this acknow]- edged position, its history forms an interest- ing and worthy part of the history of the county.
The first newspaper published in Logan County was by Joshua Robb, who started a paper in Bellefontaine in 1830. There is at this day, some question as to the name of this first paper. However, he did not long con- tinue its publication. but was succeeded by Iliram B. Strother, who is described as a writer, who " paid less attention to the beau- ties of rhetoric than to the desire of bringing his statements within the comprehension of his readers." Strother changed the name of the paper to the Bellefontaine Gazette and Logan County Advertiser. William Penn
The newspaper and the printing-press of the present day constitute one of the most important features of the time, and of the | Clark succeeded Mr. Strother, and published
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the paper several years. Clark was an able writer, and finally went to Iowa where he be- came distinguished in politics. Two or three other changes occurred in the ownership of the Gazette when it became the property of Judge Lawrence. In 1845 he engaged Wil- liam Hubbard to take editorial control, and in 1847 Mr. Hubbard purchased the paper of Judge Lawrence; after his purchase of the paper, his brother, Thomas Hubbard, who was also a printer, went into partnership with William Hubbard, and together, they conduct . ed the paper until 1854 as a Whig organ; they sold it then to Judge West, who es- poused the Know-Nothing cause. The Hub- bards sometime after bought back the paper, and in 1856 came out for Buchanan for Pres- ident, since then it has been an organ of the Democratic party. In 1863 it was discon- tinued for a time, and its editor, Thomas Hub- bard, was connected with the Dayton Daily Empire, but returned in a year or two to Bellefontaine and re-established the Gazette. In 1870 he sold it to William P. Cotter, but bought it back again in a short time and changed its name to the Examiner, under which name it is still published. It is the Democratie paper of the county, and is on a sound basis financially. Mr. Hubbard, its ed- itor, is a veteran in the business, and an able and forcible writer. The following of Wil- liam Hubbard, one of the oldest editors of Logan County, and one who has passed away, was written by Judge William Lawrence: "Early in the year 1832, he took his first lesson in the ' art preservative of all arts,' the printing business, in the office of the Logan Gazette, a newspaper then edited and conducted in Belle- fontaine by Hiram B. Strother. Ilere he served with fidelity, and skill, and industry, for seven years, when early in 1839, he be- came the publisher of the paper, and contin- ued as such for a period of six months. Dur- ing all this time, as, indeed, in the years
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