History of Logan County and Ohio, Part 63

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 63

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The Disciple Church was formed in the year 1839, at the dwelling of James Harrod, who lived some two miles southeast of the present site of Belle Centre village, by the Rev. William Dowling. The constituent members were James and Samuel Harrod, Samuel Jenkins, Hugh Biekham, Samuel Stillwell, Alexander Patrick, Hulsey and Obadiah Howell, Samuel Dennis, Henry Bennett, Robert Lorentz, Jesse Roberts, and John Rudicill with their respective wives, and Mary Cooper, Rebecca Hover, Nancy McIntire and Elizabeth Howell. Regular service was continued at Mr. Harrod's until his removal to his present location, in 1852. For about a year the society met in a school- house, and in 1853 removed to their church edifice just completed in Belle Centre vil- lage. The membership has greatly increased and now numbers 140. The early settled Pastors were John Stannard, Robert Lorentz, John Winters, and Quincy Randall; Richard Windbigler is the present Pastor. The church officers are: James and Miner Harrod, and John Lile, Elders; E. G. McIntire and George Finn, Deacons. A Sabbath School has been held in connection with this church, at intervals, since the first formation. Its present attendance numbers sixty; George Finn, Superintendent.

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

The following history of the Presbyterian Church at Belle Centre is from the pen of Rev. A. J. Clark : " In the year 1832 Rev. Thomas B. Clark left Eastern Ohio and settled in the northern part of Logan County, some two or three miles from the present site of Belle Contre. He devoted himself to missionary work in this and adjoining counties, and about 1833 or 1834 he organized a Presby- terian Church in this vicinity. A division of the church occurred in 1832, and in about 1839 Rev. Pogne formed a church of the New School near Richland village. Neither of these organizations had a house of worship. but met in a grove, barn, dwelling or school- house. Their services were infrequent, and, after a term of years, coased altogether. The present Presbyterian Church at Bolle Centre was formed from the fragments of the two churches and a few others who had settled in this community, by Rev. II. R. Price, J. H. Gill and Elder Samuel Ilover, on December 9, 1-52. Following are the original mem- bers: Rebecca Zimmerman, Susan Gabby, Elizabeth Hemphill. Eleanor Hemphill, Sam- uel Lambert, Eleanor Lambert. Mary Hemp- hill, Elizabeth C. Hukill, Hazzar I Hop- kius, John Zimmerman, Alvin Clark, Jane Scott, Jam's Dunlap, J. L. Hemphill. Mary J. Martin, Maria Laughlin. William Vates, Margaret.a Yates, Joseph Patton, Marga- ret E. Patton. C. t. Scott, Sarah Deer, Andrew Yates, Francis Mains and Sarth l'aitbrick. Of these only four are still mom- Irs of this church (1850): Mrs. Mary Clark, Eleanor Lambert, Jane Scott and Francis Vams. Rev. J. A. Mecks was the first Pa. tor, WE, remained until 1855. William Young the deI him for three years. Amos Bar- Low smeed charge early in 1859, an l tep hel.hi st continuously until near the if the year Ivit. I. M. Shockley was l'orto swot 120 until the close of the wear 1 ;6. Rev. A. J. Clark, the present

Pastor, began his labors here August 1, 1877. This society has always been united with the Huntsville church in one pastorate, and the ministers formerly resided there. Rev. Shock- ley was the first to reside at Belle Centre, and the present Pastor resides there. Having no house of worship, the society met for a time in the old Methodist Church, and also in the schoolhouse. Under the leadership of Elder Clark it was resolved to build. This was ac- complished principally by volunteer work, Mrs. Capt. Mains boarding the workmen with- out charge, and all giving liberally. The church is of wood, and was first occu- pied in 1854 or '53. The society has no manse or parsonage, though one is greatly neerled. Following are the names of those who have served as Ruling Elders: Alvin Clark, James Dunlap, Jantes Ritchey, Joseph Clyde, William McClain, William F. Lowrey and James S. Sherral. The present session of Elders consists of: Archibakl Jameson, Josiah R. Laughlin, Seth Taylor, Samuel Harbert and William R. Ritchey. Of this number. Alvin Clark served from the organi- zation, until his death, in August, 18;8. The list of Deacons, is as follows: William Mc- C'lain. John A. Hemphill, John L. Clark, Josiah R. Laughlin. R. B. Simpson, William loon, William Hemphill, S. H. Bergert and C. Zahler. A Sabbath School his bem held in connection with the church. prob- ably from the beginning. The membership of the church is now 165. In common with the 3,500 churches of the United States, this society holds to the system of doctrine, commonly called Calvanistic, as contained in the West- miuster Confession, and to the Presbyterian or representative form of church government."

The writer is indebted to Dr. M. D. Will- son for the data embodied in the following sketch of the Reformed Presbyterian Church at Bolle Centre. For many years the mem- bers of the Miami congregation, who dwelt

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

in and about Belle Centre, desired the parent church at Northwood to furnish them with preaching at least a portion of the time. This request was granted, and for a time occasion- al service was held. Prior to the union of the United Miami congregation the matter was earnestly canvassed in relation to the forma- tion of a separate organization at Belle Cen- tre, and as early as 1877 a petition with that end in view was presented to the Presbytery. This was reported upon favorably, and Rev. II. George, J. L. McCartney and James Wylie, Ruling Elder, were appointed to ef- fect an organization. This was consummated during the summer of 1877. Cornelius Jame- son, William MeClure and Dr. M. D. Willson were elected Elders, and Alexander C: Lig- gitt, Robert M. Wylie and Ebenezer Hosack, Deacons. The original membership num- bered thirty-eight. A subscription was im- mediately circulated, and the requisite funds pledged for the building of a house of wor- ship. The Deacons with J. B. Torrence and Dr. Willson were appointed a building com- mittee, and the work pushed forward so vig- orously that the building was enclosed before winter. It was not completed, however, until the fall of 1879. The building is of brick, with tower, stained-glass windows, and mod- orn furniture. The entire cost was $3,500. During the interval prior to the occupancy of the church, the congregation met in the house of the Presbyterian Society. Rev. J. Lynd was the first settled Pastor. The membership at this time (1880) is seventy-two. A Sab- bath School was formed early in 1827, and has now an average attendance of fifty chil- dren; Alexander McConnell, Superintendent. A history of the Northwood churches will be found in connection with MeArthur Township history.

The first school in Richland was taught in the Hill settlement, but of this the writer has been unable to learn anything except that the date

was prior to 1825. The only school of which anything authentic can be found, was taught by Milton L. Anderson in a little log house standing on the south bank of the Miami River, on land now owned by William Pollock, during the summer of 1839. Mr. Anderson says: "The rod was plentifully used, and in the majority of cases was merited." That primitive method of instill- ing the rudiments into the minds of the youth has happily been abandoned. Yet, whether that or the present "stuffing " pro- cess was the most commendable is a question for the parents of the present thin-chested, hollow-eyed students to determine. The present status of the school interest in the township is as follows:

Whole number of pupils enrolled. 912

amount paid teachers $1,122

humber schoolhouses. 6

Value, with furniture and grounds .. $2,500

The writer has been unable to gain any au- thentic data of the Belle Centre special school district except that given in the report of the Board of Education which is as fol- lows:

Whole number of pupils enrolled .. 242

amount paid teachers .. $1,336.80

One school building, with rooms -4

Value with furniture and grounds $2,500

Near the southern boundary of the Town- ship, on lands now owned by A. C. McClure, Esq., is the site of the ancient Indian village of Solomon's Town, which, tradition states, was, prior to the dawning of the present cen- tury, a populous community of the Wyandots. The name was given to it in honor of a ven- erable chief of the nation who resided at this point. History records the fact that, in about 1800, Tarhe, or the Crane, chief of the Wyan- dots, had an abiding place here. The resi- dence of Mr. MeClure is situated near the center of the former village, immediately across the pike, which, by the way, is con- structed on " Hull's Trace," is an extensive

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

gravel ridge of a nearly uniform height, ex- tending in a northwesterly direction. Not far from the southeastern extremity of this ele- vation is a circular mound of about 100 feet in diameter, a perfect oval, surrounded by a ditch, the bottom of which is at least six feet lower than the summit of the mound. Per- haps sixty feet to the northward, along the apex of the ridge. may still be seen the stump of a monster white oak tree. Far up in the limbs of this monarch of the forest was built a rude lookout, or sentry-box, from which a watch was kept of the surrounding country, commanding an area of many miles in every direction, Still farther to the northward the land is level for some distance, and along this the unfortunate prisoners were compelled to run the gauntlet. The statement that Simon Kenton once suffered this indignity here is doubtless an error. To the south of the mound at the distance of some twenty-five rods, stands the blackened and tottering remains of the large elm tree under which, local tradi- tion puts it, Simon Kenton was a second time placed in captivity.

Antrim's history of Logan County states, after the life of Kenton had been saved by that notorious renegade, Simon Girty, in whose whole life this one act is the only white spot, he was clothed, furnished a horse and equipments, and in company with his bene- factor, roamed about the country. After some time spent in this manner, a war party of In- dians returned from an expedition to Wheel- ing, where they had suffered defeat and the loss of several warriors, killed and wounded, and full of revenge, " determined to kill any of the whites who came within their grasp." Kenton was the only white man near, and ling at Solomon's Town, with Girty, a mes- singer was sent to him (Girty), requesting his immediate att ndance at a grand council to be held at Wapatomica, and that he bring Kenton with him, " The two friends met the

messenger on their way," benee it is hardly probable they were sitting beneath the wide- spreading branches of the ehm before men- tioned, within the circular enclosure, the red men held their council. Here was discussed the great questions of peace or war. flere was the hapless victim doomed to a fate worse than death, and here occurred the traditional pow-wows and dances of the Aborigines. A few rods east of Mr. MeClure's residence is the immense spring spoken of in connection with Solomon's Town. In this vicinity for many years was held the annual muster of the militia, events upon which the few sur- viving ex-militia delight to dwell, recounting with much evident satisfaction the many bloodless battles fought on these occasions. Some five years since, when the Miami turn- pike was being constructed, the workmen engaged in hauling gravel from the northern extremity of the gravel ridge, unearthed a great number of human bones, which from their size indicated that the original owners were people of immense stature. Numbers of copper beads were also found, and one fine specimen of a stone pipe.

Two events in the later history of this township would seem to warrant more than a passing notice at our hand. The first is the never to be forgotton cyclone in the early sum- mer of 1843; the second, the still more terrible murder of Allie Laughlin, occuring two years later. May 9, 18:3, ought surely to go on the record as the " Black Friday " of Belle Centre. Between 3 and 4 o'clock on the afternoon of the date given, the dense black clouds which obscured the heavens like a pall, were rifted, and instantancons'y the storm king began his terrible work of destruction. The first evi- dence of the storm was upon the farm of Mrs. Alexander Thompson where a valuable orchard was entirely destroyed. Continuing eastward it wrought devastation at William Wallaces', in buildings and orcharding.

William Boggs

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

Next it struck the village of Belle Centre, and for a few brief moments it appeared as if the end of the world had come; the awful dark- ness; the crash of the falling buildings, mingled with the shricks of the frightened populace, made up a scene that might well appall the stoutest heart. The first damage to the village was the entire demolition of John Reagen's brick house, without injury to the wife and infant daughter. James Shafer's house was carried across the lot with but slight injury to the inmates. The Methodist Episcopal Church just completed was un- roofed, and the tower blown down; the Pres- byterian Church slightly damaged; Howell's hotel entirely demolished; Nafns' carriage manufactory and dwelling, and Bergert's wagon shop were unroofed and otherwise in- jured. The school building was rendered entirely worthless. The teachers, observing the approach of the storm, dismissed the children and thus prevented, what must other- wise have been a serious loss of life. Those were the main buildings damaged, and strange enough, no lives were lost. The following year a second storm visited the village, dam- aging the Methodist Episcopal Church to the amount of 8400 and slightly injuring other property in the vicinity.

The data from which the following sketch is written is furnished by E. E. Nafus, Esq. Perhaps the most terrible crime which has blackened the fair pages of Logan County's history occurred within the borders of Rich- land Township. Yet, while we think with horror of the fiendish brutality of the worse than savage murderer, it is consoling to know that justice, sure and certain, quickly fol- lowed. The circumstances are briefly as fol- lows: James Schell, a Canadian, had resided with his family for some years on the farm of -- Laughlin, near Belle Centre. Having contracted an intense hatred for his employer, he lost no opportunity to do him injury. Mr.

I. had two houses burned under circun- stances that pointed to Schell as the cause, but nothing was done about it. Mr. L., be- ing strictly upright, believed others the same. On Wednesday, September 22, 1815. Schell induced Miss Alice Langhlin, daughter of his employer, to accompany himself and wife to the reservoir to gather wild plums. Return-

ing late in the day, he stated that " Allie was lost." The news spread like wild-fire. and soon the country for miles around was aroused. A strict search was instituted, which resulted in finding, on the day following, the dead and brutally mangled body of the girl. Schell was arrested, and so intense was the feeling against him that it was with difficulty the excited citizens were prevented from hanging him on the spot. Better counsel pre- vailed, however, and he was taken to Belle- fontaine and logged in jail. The day follow- ing, at the inquest, Mrs. Schell testified that her husband had killed the girl for revenge on her father; that he had burned the build -. ings before mentioned, etc. A few words will tell the sequel: At about twelve o'clock Friday night a crowd of at least 1,500 people surrounded the jail. The doors were bat- tered down, Schell taken to a tree in the court house yard, a rope placed about his neck and over a convenient limb, and after a few minutes' time being given the wretch for re- marks, he was swung into eternity.

During the war of the Rebellion the Town- ship of Richland came nobly to the front. Her sons went bravely forth to battle for the right, and many never returned, while others bear sad proofs of the bloody conflict in their empty sleeves and crutches which support i their maimed bodies. The voices of freemen sleeping lowly on Southern fields, and in the prison pens, bring to mind the time when

" The valiant lines of the blue and the gray Stood ranked in proud and stern array, All eager, all ready for deadly affray."

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

CHAPTER XIII .*

RUSH CREEK TOWNSHIP-BOUNDARIES AND TOPOGRAPHY-THE COMING OF THE WHITES- CHURCHES-PIONEER PREACHERS-SCHOOLS, ETC.

O N the boundary line between Rush Crock and Jefferson Townships, and near the east end is Rush Creek Lake, in the waters of which the Indians, not half a century ago, " dipped their noble limbs," and on " whose bosom they paddled their light canoes." It now covers a surface of about ninety aeres. A marshy region extends northward about. three miles, and also southeast about the same distance. This marsh is now mostly cultivat- ed, and the fact of its being now much firmer than it was forty years ago, conveys the im- pression that the lake is not much more than the one-hundredth part as large as the one on which sported the Aborigines, or the one which was first viewed by the early pioneers.

The margin of this lake in places is so miry that one attempting to wade into it would sink almost as quickly as in water. There is a tradition that two Indians, pursuing a deer into the lake, instantly sank into this mirc, and disappeared like Walter Scott's hero in the Bride of Lammermoor. The lake abounds in fine fish and has been the resort for sports- men since the township began to be settled. Here forty years ago assembled the girls and boys, and surrounded by scenery grand as ever charmed the pencil of an artist, told in whispers their honest tales of love.

Rush Creek rises in Jefferson Township, runs through Rush Creek Lake, flows north- ward, then northeast, through Bokes Creek Township, and into Marion county, where it finds the Scioto River. Here and there it is a clear stream, washing a sandy bottom, rippling over bowlders, and then again its waters are · Contributied by J. H1 Wy lie.

muddy and scattered into miasmatic swamps. In Rush Creek Township the banks of this stream are for the most part high and the scenery romantic and picturesque. The source of Mill Creek is about three miles southeast of of Rushsylvania, and flowing onward in the same direction through Perry Township, it turns eastward and meanders through Union county into Delaware, and finally loses itself in the waters of the Scioto River. The two branches of the Little Miami have their source in the western part of this township and flow in the same direction. The sources are about five miles apart and the streams meet each other in Richland Township. The above mentioned streams with their tributaries con- stitute the drainage of the township.

The water-shed between the Scioto and the Miami runs north and south the full length of the township. In some places this shed is very narrow, the opposite sides of some marshes sending tributaries to Rush Creek and the Miami. The soil is well diversified. The high points are hard and often called "clay knobs," and in some places these are almost barren. On the lowlands and in the creek bottoms the soil is very productive, and is black and sandy. There are, however, few places in the township where the soil is of any great depth; a descent of three feet gon- erally, but sometimes one and two, finds a hard strata of clay almost impervious to water. There are immense formations of limestone here and there throughout the township, strata piled on strata as the leaves of a book, each strata telling its own story in the stony characters of the petrified forms of

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

animal and vegetable life, as if chiseled in the rock by the Almighty Architect. There are several extensive quarries in the township, one of the principal ones being on the farm of William Stevenson, about a mile and a half east of Rushsylvania. There are also numerous beds of gravel. One of the most extensive of these is on the Pugh farm. This farm, of about 238 acres, has a deposit of gravel underlying at least three-fourths of it. It also possesses many other peculiar charac- teristics, which are ably described in a paper contributed by Mr. John Waters, of Dela- ware County: "On this farm are some of the most singular evidences of a past age. On the west part a very rich alluvial bottom of unexcelled fertility occurs. Underneath this alluvial bottom, immense beds of gravel, shells, and a white deposit which resembles lime, are found. Gravel is shown to exist everywhere by uprooted trees. A ditch, which was made from Rush Creek Lake to straighten Rush Creek, shows this deposit to be about three feet and a half thick on an average. It is made on the top of vegeta- tion, which can be distinctly observed by leaves, seeds, etc., to the thickness of an inch. When this deposit ceases, a rich black soil commences. In this ground are cracks which are narrow at the top and widen downward. The ditch is about seven feet deep, and at its head for about one mile it continually heaves or falls from the bottom. On the Moosehead farm, where the Pugh family reside, the head of a moose was taken whilst excavating the ditch. A slim bone of the animal, about fif- teen inches in length, to which the head be- longs, was also taken from the ditch. A tooth six inches long, four inches square, and weigh- ing three and a half pounds, was found in the same locality. Evidences of beavers were found in sticks of timber which bore the im- press of their teeth, and also the skeleton of one of these animals. Two theories seem

apparent: One that the bottom and sloping bank are the basin of a lake in whose waters the shells abounded which now so plentifully exist, or else the deposit was the result of some upheaval or convulsion which occurred at a remote period and submerged the moose, mastodon and other animals whose remains are found imbedded. A stick of timber about two feet long, and still showing the gnawing beaver, is now in possession of the family. Many others were taken out, but this is the only one preserved. There is a pecu- liar feature about the shells, especially those of the snail, which present the same appear- ance on both sides. There is also a sulphur spring on this farm."

One of the curiosities of this township is its flowing wells, which are obtained at a depth of from forty-five to sixty feet. A magnificent well of this description is found on the farm of Michael George. The stream flowing from it waters the country for three or four miles below it. There are two on the farm of Job T. Pugh, one of which is sulphur, and the other with strong magnetic properties of such power that a knife blade, thrust into its waters, will attract and lift needles, pins, and other metallic substances. Its column of water is strong, and is one of the curiosities of the township. Numerous mineral springs abound along Rush Creek, the most import- ant of which are in the vicinity of Rushsyl- vania, on the farm of Dr. I. A. Doran. This locality is a famous place for picnics and pleasure rambles, where lovers stroll to quench their thirst and renew or plight their vows.

A great many varieties of timber exist here, among which are the oak, the ash, walnut, elm, lynn, beech and sugar-maple. There are three varieties of the oak. The white oak is the largest species of timber found in the town- ship. It grows to a thickness of from three to four feet in diameter, and is tough and

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

durable. Next in size to the white oak is the ash, which grows to the thickness of from two to three feet in diameter. The best walnut timber has been already hunted out to satisfy the demands of trade. There are elms which even New England might be proud of, and more beech than any other variety found in the township. The sugar-maple is very abundant in some localities, and large quan- tities of sugar are produced.

The land is rather rolling, especially near Rushsylvania, where it is very hilly and some- what cut into deep ravines. The country around Rush Crock Lake, and in the western part of the township, is more level, but there are very few portions of any great extent that can be called really level. The land which is in the Virginia Military district is incon- veniently divided. Few or none of the thor- oughfares and by-roads are laid off with regard to the cardinal points of the compass. Sie- tions, half sections and quarter sections are never mentioned in speaking of land. In laving out the township our pioneer fathers followed the old Indian trails, or their natural inclinations, winding around hills and swamps, and seeking the most accessible crossings at the streams. But such as it is, the gray- haired pioneers wonder if "Rush trock Township" is a dreamy romance or a reality. Instead of the Indian war-whoop, they hear the shrill whistle of the locomotive. Where once the smoke arose from ten, twenty, or perhaps a hundred wigwams, they perchance se Rushsylvania, Harper, Big Spring and Walnut Grove. They behold the ground stripped of its native trees, and the dense for- istsconverted into fields ripe with golden har- Vests. And as they. one by one, pass from their toils into the unseen land of rest, let us not forget that the simple story of their derds is more noble and more worthy of bring im- mortalized than the achievements of earth's most renowned heroes.

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History of Logan County and Ohio, Part 63

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