History of Logan County and Ohio, Part 56

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 56

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In pioneer industries the first was a grist- mill erected in about 1828 by Adam Yearn. This was a frame building, furnished with one run of stone, and stood on Cherokee Creek, about one-half mile southeast of Huntsville. This mill, greatly improved, is now owned by Jacob Instine. Jonathan Woodard built a second grist-mill further down the same stream, and soon after put in operation a saw- mill; the saw-mill is now dismantled and going to decay. The grist-mill is now owned by Samuel Stewart, who in 1835 erected a grist-mill still farther down Cherokee, which is still in successful operation. The Township of McArthur has been better supplied with distilleries perhaps than any other kind of manufactories. The first of these was built by ITugh Bickham, early in the settlement; it was a hewed log structure and stood just south of Huntsville. The second was built by Edward Harper in 1845; this was quite a respectable building; it stood near the Instine grist-mill, but did not pay, and after some five years was closed. The third and last distillery was built by William Harland and Henry Instine; this was the largest of the three. In later years it was operated by Kemp G. Carter. As before stated, Isaac Cooper put in operation the first tannery in the township; Thomas Wishart established

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

the second. This stood on the site now ou- cupied by the Carroll warehouse in Ilunts- ville. Other "first things " will be found in connection with the villages.

AAbout one mile east of the present thriv- ing village of Huntsville, on the Bellefontaine pike, is situated a little decaying hamlet of, perhaps, one dozen dwellings, the remains of the once promising village of Cherokee. The site of this town was formerly owned by Robert Edminston, Dr. Samuel 1. Morton and Alexander Thompson, who, on March 19, 1832, by the aid of James W. Marmon, County Surveyor, laid out the town. The name was doubtless derived from the princi- pal stream of water in the vicinity. Induce- ments were made to facilitate the sale of lots, and from the first the growth of the town was rapid. The Springfield & Sandusky Stage Line made this a point for "relay," and in a short time Cherokee became a bust- ling, busy village. Two large hotels, the first by a man named Baker and the second by Samuel Harrod: stores by Joseph Robb, who was also the first Postmaster, Richard S. Canby, James Langhead, Linas Cutting, and others. Three blacksmiths, two wagon-makers, and other needed artisans came, churches and a school-buildings were erected, and the tide of prosperity set bravely in. During these palmy days, Mr. Carter states, he has often seen as many as ten four-horse coaches Stop in succession for meals and relay, each with ten or twelve passengers. Whisky was as common as tea and coffee; in fact, there was more of it drank than both the others, but it was not diferent at Cherokee from any other locality. Scarcely anybody was strictly tem- " rate, though there were few habitual drunk- ards.

The lands upon which is now the vil- age of Huntsville were owned by George Hover and Thomas Wishart. Imprese- ments began hore mun dial dly after the

survey of the Mad River and Lake Erie (now (. S. & C.) Railroad was made. The plat was made by Alexander Ilarbison, county surveyor in 1846, and from the running of the first train on the railroad the village was an assured success; stores, hotels, etc., were opened, and in proportion as Huntsville in- creased in prosperity, Cherokee declined. The churches and principal buildings were re- moved to its more favored rival. The rail- road having superceded the stage coach, the hotels at Cherokee were without guest>, even the "old soakers" who hung around the bar rooms waiting for some one to ask them to drink, departed for more prosperous local- ities, and finally business of all kinds ceased and the work of decay began. The first house on the site of Huntsville was built by Thomas Wishart in 1814. Messrs. Buell and Dodson put up the first brick building in the village in 1848. It was first occupied for a store, the first, by the way, in the village. Thomas Wishart's house was the first brick dwelling, now occupied by Mrs. Mary Cooper. John Bimel's house was the second brick dwelling erected. During the year 1842 Samuel Harrod built a hotel near the depot. This was burned during the summer of 1850, but the work of rebuilding was begun at once, and the following year witnessed the opening of what is now the " Grand Central," owned at present by H. P. Ingall. J. Bimel has recently enlarged and refitted the former residence of H. Shafer, and in this now en- tertains the traveling public. 11. Shafer, a former merchant at Cherokee erected the large wooden building, now occupied in part by the postoffice, and in this he prosecuted his former avocation for some years. The postoffice, as before stated, was first estab- lished at Cherokee in about 1830. Joseph Robb was the first Postmaster. The office was removed to Huntsville in abont 1850. J. 11. Harrod is the present Postmaster, and

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to him the writer returns thanks for numer- ous favors.

The village of Huntsville was incorporated in December, 1865, and in April following the first election of officers was held. Sidney B. Foster was elected Mayor; William W. Beat- ty: William T. Herron, J. II. Harrod, A. Bartholomew and Josiah Carr, Council; David Carr, Recorder, and Joseph Carr, Treasurer. The vil'age now contains one dry goods, one general, one grocery and notion, two drug, one agricultural implement, one furniture, and two millinery stores; two blacksmith and wagon, three shoe, one harness, and three carpenter shops; one steam saw-mill, two hotels, three churches and one school build- ing. The population in 1880 was 430, a gain of 30 per cent in ten years.

Northwood, a little hamlet situated upon the north line of the township, is principally noted for its school. The lands embraced in the plat were owned by Joseph Wilmuth. It was surveyed and platted by the County Sur- veyor, James W. Marmon, on May 12, 1832. The first store here was opened by Milton L. Anderson in 1838 or 1839. The goods were hauled from Dayton. A very thin grade of calico sold at that time for 44 cents per yard. In later years other stores were estab- lished here, but the village never attained mnch prominence aside from its College.

The history of the religious denominations in MeArthur Township is fraught with inter- est. Missionaries early penetrated the wilder- ness, and wherever they found a settler's cabin, proclaimed the glad tidings of salva- tion. Sleeping under the trees, the blue vaulted heavens for their canopy and the stars for their watchers, these self-sacrificing men rode their circuits for weeks at a time, swim- ming rivers, floundering through marshes, following the trail of the red mau, guided by the stars or by that instinct of wood craft, gained by long familiarity with nature in her

wildest aspect, trusting to find the cabin of some pioneer where they might break their, many times, long-enforced fast. Do the ministers of to-day, as they ride to and from their elegant churches, surrounded on every hand by ease and luxury, a munificent salary assured, ever think of those noble men, the advance guard of Christianity into the wild- woo.Is of America? The Presbyterian Church of Me Arthur, formerly known as the Cherokee Church, was organized in the year 1822. It is the pioneer church of the Calvinistic Order, formed in Logan County. Meetings were held at the house of Thomas Scott during the early summer of 1822, and in September fol- lowing the Revs. Dobbins and Roberson organized a church with the following mem- bers : Thomas Seott and wife, Peter Hover and wife, George Hover and wife, Samuel Hover and wife, Robert Edminston and wife, John Watt and wife, and James Stover and wife. Perhaps one year subsequent to the formation of this society. a bewed log meeting- house was built at Cherokee. Some years later the society built a large brick church edifice, also at Cherokee. Upon the decline of that village this buikling was removed to Huntsville; the present cost is $3,000; the present membership of this society is ninety. The first church officers were : Peter Hover, Thomas Scott, and Robert Edminston, Elders; the present are : B. S. Collins, John Hunter, James McCormick and Samuel Hover. Rev. A. J. Clark, the present Pastor, resides at Belle Centre, and in connection with the his- tory of the Presbyterian Church at that place, will be found many items of interest to the church under consideration. A Sabbath School has been in operation in connection with this church almost from the first, which has been productive of great good; John Ilunter is its present Superintendent. The average attendance aggregates some sixty children.

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

The second organization in the township was that of the Methodist Episcopal de- nomination. Some time during the summer of 1823 a series of meetings were held at the house of Solomon Richards, who then occu- pied a little log cabin some half mile south- west of Cherokee, and in this rude sanctuary the bonds of Christian fellowship were strengthened by the formation of a small class. The families of Richards, Pendergrass and Lease constituted the greater part, and possibly, all of the pioneer organization. Meetings were continued at Richards', Lease's and other settlers' cabins, in the vicinity for a few years, when the society having at- tained sufficient strength, a small frame meet- ing-house was built at Cherokee. This the society occupied until the rise of Huntsville, when it was soll, and a more commodious structure created in that village. This was built in 1866. The membership of this soci- ety is now numerous and its future encourag- ing. Rov. S. H. Alderman is the present l'as- tor. When the oldl Cherokee meeting-house was first occupied, the children were collected atl a Sabbath School formed. This has con- tinued in active operation until this time and has now a goodly membership.

The following history of the Huntsville (formerly Cherokee) United Presbyterian Church is compiled from matter written by Rev. James Wallace and J. H. Buchanan. This congregation was organized in October, 1531, by Rev. S. Wilson, who was appointed to the performance of this duty by the Asso- ciate Presbytery of Miami, and was composed of the following persons: A. Eller and wife; A. Templeton and wife; W. Langhead and wife; David Dow, Peter Dow, James Hays, Isabella Hay-, Samuel Hays, John MeElrec and James Patterson. The Elders chosen were: A. Templeton, A. Elder and William Langhea l, Bv. James Wallace was the first Pastor, who says of this period: "The state of |

the country and the character of the inhabi- tants, was widely different from the present. 41 body of Indians was located in, and about Lewistown, a few miles west of the church. Most of the land was a wihler- ness. The few inhabitants, chiefly pioneers, accustomed to hunting and fishing and rough living, cared little for improvement of any kind, especially religious," Rov. Wallace continued as Pastor of the church until 1861, when, by reason of failing health, he was re- leased from the pastoral charge. The first meeting-house of this society was erected soon after the church was organized. This was a brick building, and was subsequently converted into a woolen factory. They at present meet for worship in a frame church edifice in Huntsville. Rev. Mr. Wallace says that an especial effort was made at all times against Sabbath desecration, the demon intemperance, and that terrible sin slavery, now happily no more. These were not popu- lar topies but his motto seemed to be " Hew to the line, let the chips fall where they may." At the date Rev. Wallace severed his pastoral charge, the membership numbered ninety- five. Rev. J. 11. Buchanan assumed charge of the church on the first Sabbath in October, 1820. The Pastor in the interval was R.v. W. C. Dunn, a licentiate of the U. P. Pres- bytery, of Michigan, who was installed April 11, 1865, The Elders in September, 1876, wore James R. Katon, Robert S. Reed, James 11. Renick, Samuel Stewart, W. W. Temple- ton and David Wallace. Of the history of this church since 18;6, the writer has no data, although he made diligent effort to secure it, Rev. Buchanan says: "In reviewing the his- tory thus brought to a close, it might be pro- per to say that the congregation has not been characterized by sudden outbursts of excite- ment and religious fervor, but which often die away as suddenly as they come, leaving little or no permanent fruit behind them.

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

Its growth, though more slow, has been of an enduring kind, being founded upon the laborions, faithful, and abundant expositions of God's word."

The Miami congregation of the Reformed Presbyterian Church at Northwood was formed in the year 1833, by Rev. J. B. Johnston, and consisted of the following named persons: Abraham Patterson and wife, Thomas Fulton and wife, James Fulton and wife, Henry Ful- ton and wife, Robert Scott and wife, John Young and wife, and one or two others whose names are forgotten. The society met in the schoolhouse for a few months until they had constructed a small log church on the cast bank of the Miami River, near where is now the cemetery. This log structure did duty until 1840, when it was discarded and a brick building erected near by. This was occu- pied for many years. The society now meets in a commodious wood church edifice in the village immediately south of the township line. The succession of Pastors is as follows: Rev. J. B. Johnston, J. C. K. Milligan, J. L. McCartney, who was the last Pastor of the original Miami congregation, and George Kennedy. The present membership (July, 1880) is 142. The Sabbath School, which followed the church organization, now num- bers 159 scholars. :

The following sketch of the United Presby- terian Church at Northwood is compiled from the history written by Rev. John Williamson, to which the writer was given access through the courtesy of Rev. J. W. Kerr: "The United Presbyterian Congregation, of North- wood, was organized June 14, 1839, by the following commission: Rev. James Wallace and Benjamin Waddle, with Elders William Langhead and Peter Dow. The congregation lacks but one year of being as old as the de- nomination to which it belongs. The follow- ing were the original members: Ebenezer and Martha Bain, Alexander and Margaret

Furguson, Thomas and Agnes Scott, John M. and Elizabeth J. Johnston, Mary Patterson, William and Jane G. Cook, Hannah J. Reed, Thomas and Jane Cook, Charles and Martha Ann Cook, and David Blair. Messrs. Thomas Scott, Ebenezer Bain and Thomas Cook were elected Elders, and William Cook and John M. Johnson, Deacons. With no house of wor- ship of their own, this little handful began the work. The Reformed Presbyterian Church gave them the use of their house" a part of the time. They also met in the Chapel of Geneva Hall until the fall of 1866, when their own house of worship was completed. Rev. W. H. Jeffers was installed Pastor in 1863, and remained until 1865. Rev. J. W. Taylor was the next Pastor, and contin- ued until 18:1, when failing health forced him to cease his labors. At this time the membership numbered 112. Rev. Alexander Smith was installed Pastor in January, 1812. On April 1, 1815, the membership had in- creased to 162. Rev. Smith resigned, and in June, 18:9, Rev. J. W. Korr, the present Pastor, was installed. The following persons have held the office of Ruling Elder, in ackli- tion to those first chosen: Samuel JJohnston, C. I. Brooks, Joseph T. Wright, William Stewart, W. N. Vance, J. McCune, Gilbert Newman and Alexander Milligan. Those who have held the office of Deacon are, Charles W. Cook, Noah J. Smith, S. G. Ro.lg- ers, W. N. Vance, Gilbert Newman, D. S. Brooks, J. L. Creighton and John MeKira- han. This completes the church organiza- tions in MeArthur Township at this time.

In about the year 1841 a camp meeting was held on Cherokee Man's Run, south of the present site of MIuntsville. Rev. Thomas H. Wilson was the leading preacher, though many others were present. A vast number of people convened, the settlers for many miles around turning out. A most extraordinary revi- val took place and hundreds became Christians.

HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

The writer has been unable to learn any- thing in relation to the first school in the township. At an early day a term of school was taught by Henry Shelby, in a little log cabin in the extreme southwest portion of the township. Doubtless the first school was held in the Harrod settlement. The Huntsville Special School District was organized at about the same time the village was incorporated. The matter is now being actively canvassed in relation to the enlargement of the territory, and should this be successful it is highly prob- able that a school building will be erected that will accommodat . the wants of the dis- triet. The report of the Board of Education for the school year ending August 31, 1819, is as follows, for the township: Whole num- ber of pupils enrolled, 111; whole amount paid teachers, $1,694.05; whole number of school houses, 9; value, with grounds, etc., $6.000. Ihuntsville Special District: Whole number of pupils enrolled, 150; whole amount paid teachers, 8620; whole number of school rooms, 2; value, with grounds, etc., $1,000.

The greatest interest is centered at North- wood, tlu former location of a classical and scientific school under the anspices of the Re- formed Presbyterian Church, known as Ge- nova College. Rev. J. B Johnston, Pastor of this church, was the originator of the project to form a school of this character here, and in 1817 he took the initial stop in that direction by the formation of a small class which con- voned at his study. The subsequent year, fuld, were raised and a small brick building treated. The soon proving inadequate for the wants of the rapidly increasing attend- ine , was adde ] to, and the present hall was te men't. In after years a female depart- gut was added to the school, and to secure th . mat ou of the sexes, a large brick Bu lding was built by Rev. Johnston for the tu ive use of the ladies. Two large board- ing ha'ls were also constructed. In 1952, J.

R. W. Sloanc, A. M., was inaugurated Presi- dent of the institution, an able faculty chosen, and a full course of study adopted. Prof. Sloane continued in charge four years, resign- ing in 1836. The college now became aca- demic in form, and continued thus until 1864, when the building was purchased by the Re- formed Presbyterian Synod. In 186:, S. J. Crowe, A. B., was chosen President, and con- tinued in that capacity until 1820, when he resigned. Rev. W. Milroy was his successor, who was in turn succeeded, in 1872, by Rev. II. HI. George, of Cincinnati, Ohio. The course of study adopted embraced science and the arts, and compared favorably with the best colleges in the land. During the last session of the Synod it was decided to remove the college to Beaver Fails, Penn .. which is now being accomplished. A project is now being successfully canvassed to establish at Northwood a normal school with a classical. scientific and commercial course of study. This will also be under control of the Re- formed Presbyterian Church.

During the war of the Rebellion the patri- otie citizens of Me Arthur Township did their whole duty. Her soldiers suffered and died in the noisome trench and in the infected hos- pital; they starved in Andersonville until they became almost driveling lunatics under the brutality of a Wirz; they chafed in Libby, Belle Isle, and Salisbury; they fell in the skirmish, on the picket-line, and in the charge, amid the roar of cannon and the rattle of musketry. They made the sacrifice, Inuit their works shall follow them to the end of recorded time; and living or dead, maimed or scathless, all honor to the soldiers of the Union.

" By fairy han Is their knell is rung, By forms unseen their d rge is sung ; There Honor comes, a pilgrith gray, To bless the turf that wraps their clay And Freedom shall awhile repair, "To dwell, a weeping hermit, there."

Charlotte Easton

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CHAPTER XI .*

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP-TOPOGRAPHY-ORGANIZATION AS A CIVIL DIVISION OF THE COUNTY -PROMINENT CITIZENS-CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.

WIE territory comprising Jefferson Town- ship is about six miles square. Its north line is about eight miles south of and parallel with the north line of the county, and its cast line is about four and one-fourth miles west of and parallel with the east line of the county. It is the middle township of the second tier from the east side. Mad River is the princi- pal stream, and, although its headwaters are entirely within the limits of the township, it becomes a respectable mill stream before it erosses its southern boundary. It has two small tributaries from the east and three from the west. Sugar Creek, the largest, which drains Hadley's Bottom, originates in the hills which intervene between the waters of Mill Creek and Mad River, and empties into the latter near Dickinson's lower mill, a short distance northeast of Zanesfiekł. Another stream, which, so far as we can learn, has never at- tained to the dignity of a name, though at times it assumes large proportions, takes its rise in the northeast corner of Monroe, but immediately runs into Jefferson, near the southeast corner, and finds its way to the head of Marmon's Valley, where it toys awhile with a branch of Otter Creek, from which it is only separated by a narrow road, and then takes its course directly through the beauti- ful valley to Mad River, into which it empties about three-fourths of a mile south of Zanes- field. Flowing from the west, we find a small stream, taking its rise in the hills surrounding the head of McKee's Creek, but seeking an outlet in an opposite direction through a re- markably rough and broken section, it reaches

the Mad River Valley near the northern boundary of Calderwood's Survey. No. 3,139.

Goose Creek heads a little north, and Tharp's Run a short distance south, of Belle- fontaine pike. They have in general a south- east direction, and empty near the southern limits of the township. They are separated through nearly all their course by a high, broken and irregular ridge.

Of the streams that do not flow into Mad River, the head branches of Rush Creek drain the northwestern and north central part of the township, and flow into Rush Creek Lake, a small part of which is in the township. Mill Creek drains the northeastern, Otter Creek a portion of the southeastern, and Mckee's Creek the southwestern parts of the township.

The soil in the valleys is generally black loam, underlaid with limestone gravel-the gravel cropping out on the surface in places. In the upper parts of the valleys, in places, a large admixture of shale or slatestone is found, deposited from the ravines above. On the hills the soil is mostly elay, intermixed with loam, sand and gravel, and underlaid with blue clay. The soil in the valleys is gener- ally very productive. Fifty, sixty and even seventy years of constant, and, in some in- stances, not very judicious cultivation, having falied to exhaust its productive energy. The soil on the hills is much less fertile. Though producing good crops when first brought under cultivation, but with a constant succession of crops without liberal manuring, it in time be- comes exceedingly sterile and unproductive; it is also liable to serious injury from wash- ing when cultivated every season. It is,

$ Contributed by B. S. Scott.

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IHISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

however, highly valuable for pasture, and finely adapted to the cultivation of fruit.

With the exception of a small portion of prairie in the Mad River Valley, the land was originally covered with a heavy growth of timber, consisting of Oak, Hickory, Poplar, Ash, Lind, Ehn, Sugartree, Beech, Walnut and Wild Cherry, on the hills and broken lands, with an undergrowth of Hickory, Iron- wood, Dogwood, Waterbeech, Sassafras, and in some of the coves Spicewood and Papaw, while in the valley the prevailing growth was Walnut. Sugartree, Red Elm, Hickory Elin. Burr-Oak, Hickory, Lind. Huckberry, Sycamore and Wild Cherry. Wild Plums and Crabapples were abundant along the bor- der of the prairies, and mulberries and service- berries were found on the hills. Wild grapes were found both on the hills and in the val- leys. Wherever clearings were commenced in the forest, elders, blackberries and raspberries sprang up in great abundance.

The Mad River Valley, in connection with the upper part of the Rush Creek Valley, or the low lands lying immediately south of Rush Creek Lake, extends entirely through the township from north to south, and affords a large body of fine farming land, except a small portion in the south, and, perhaps, a lit- ile bordering on the lake, which is too wet for cultivation. The Sugar Creek Valley, known in early times as Hadley's Bottom, ex- tends from the Mad River Valley a short dis- taner above Zanesfield, in a northeasterly direction, comprising the southeastern part of Calderwood's Survey, No. 3.130, the principal part of Bra Iford's Survey, No. 3.136, and the southwestern part of Holt's Survey, No. 2.6; 1, affi rolig a fine section of farming land about 0 n 1 and one-half long and one-half a mile in width, and lying principally south of the road lea ling to North Greenfield.

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History of Logan County and Ohio, Part 56

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