History of Logan County and Ohio, Part 64

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 64

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The Greenville Treaty Line runs across the township about one mile from its southern boundary. Rush Creek was struck off from Jefferson Township in the year 1825, and constituted a legal township in 1832. It then not only embraced the territory known as Bokes Creek Township, but also Taylor Creek Township, in Hardin County. The latter township was struck off when the boundary line between Logan and Hardin Counties was established, and Bokes Creek was legally or- ganized into a township in 183 ;. Rush C'rock is the largest township in Logan County. It is rectangular in shape. and is about twelve miles in length, and about ten in width. Its northern boundary is the line between Logan and Hardin counties. Bokes Creek Township lies on the east side, Jefferson on the south, and Richland and MeArthur on the west. Its low lands are adapted to corn, and its once oak-timbered lands produce fine wheat, while its "clay knobs " are well adapted to grazing purposes.

Rushsylvania is located almost in the center of the township; Big Springs in the northeast corner, and Harper about three miles south- west of Rushsylvania, all on the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railway, which passes through the township from north- east to southwest. Walnut Grove is also a small village in the southeast corner of the township. In the northwest corner is a school- house on the site where, in early days, stood a small village named North Alexandria. It was laid out in the year 1832 by Win. White, after whom it has sometimes been called White Town .* It consisted of several log cabins, and was noted more for the roughness of its citizens than for any magnificence it displayed. A man by the name of John Fry kept a small grocery there. This estab- lishment, though a small concern, was large

From Newspaper Contributions by Miss Sarah A. Korns, und a imper by Joseph Edwards.

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

enough to break up him and his father. Felt Bowers also had a store in this place. His stock consisted of, corn meal, whisky, wooden combs, powder and lead, gun flints, buttons and other notions. It was the usual place of resort for persons who met to arrange for squirrel hunts, to shoot at targets, drink whiskey and tell hunting stories. But North AAlexandria is no more, and few remember even the name.

The first settler in this township was Thomas Stanfield, who with his wife and ten children, nine daughters and one son (Thomas Stanfield, Jr)., immigrated from Tennessee in 1805, and settled on the farms now owned by John Q. Williams and William Hall. Soon after, William Reams came from North Caro- lina, and settled near Marmon's bottom; this Reams also had ten children, nine sons, and one daughter; the latter was married to Thomas Stanfield, Jr., May 30, 1814. Thomas Stanfield, Sr., was a Quaker, and, like William Penn, gained the friendship of the Indians to such an extent that he was unmo- lested, with one exception, during the war of 1812. They were often welcomed to his cab- in, received his hospitality, and manifested marked friendship for him and his family. At one time, however, they became enraged at Stanfield, and set a certain night to massa- ere him and his whole family. Concealing themselves in the bushes that grew around the cabin, they lay there awaiting the gloom of night to accomplish their fiendish plot. Daniel McCoy, a settler who lived near Zanesfield, learned of their design, and deter- mined to rescue the family. Failing to se- cure the aid of troops, and taking a hearty drink of " good old rye," he mounted, at dusk, his gray horse, and galloped along through the forest in the direction of Stanfield's. Coming within a quarter of a mile of the log cabin whose inmates were unconscious of the danger so near them, he yelled, "Here they

are; come on!" as if he gave the command to 50,000 armed troops. He then rode back and forth, all the time shouting "to come on." Galloping to the cabin, he told the Stanfields of the danger awaiting them, who. together with the brave McCoy, fled to Zanesfield. On their return, some time after- ward, they found the hut had not been dis- turbed in their absence. When peace was concluded, the Indians told them that McCoy, by his daring conduct, saved their lives. Thomas Stanfield's cabin was the first in Rush Creek Township, and stood near the site of William Hall's house. The bodies of this pioneer and that of his wife rest in Rush Creek Township's first graveyard. Here moss-covered stones, reared by the hand of affection, mark their resting places. In the family record is found the following, written by Thomas Stanfield, Jr .: "Thomas Stan- field, Sr., departed this life the 5th month, the 11th day, 1824, aged 16 years, 5 months and 12 days. Hannah Stanfield, his wife, de- parted this life the 9th month, the 28th day, 1830, age not certainly known, but something rising 80 years."

In 1811, a man by the name of Dalles pur- chased the farm now owned by Aaron Grabiel, clearing about forty aeres. He then left and never returned. As early, perhaps, as 1814, Aaron Reams built the first cabin on the Sutherland farm, near the old Baptist church and graveyard, and where Thomas Sutherland settled in 1816. His wife, Phoebe, was a daughter of Thomas Stanfield, Sr., and was noted in those days for her industry and be- nevolence. Few or no other settlements were made prior to 1820, and even then emigra- tion to this section of the country appears to have been slow. The following list of settlers contains the names of all the writer has been able to ascertain: About the year 1823 okl man Richardson settled on the farm now own- ed by J. L. Foutts; John Wolf, on the farm

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

of William Stephenson. On the farm of Mr. Orias settled old man Rodaker. After the township was legally organized, John McClure settled on the farm of Jacob Arbogast. Joel Thomas, Sr., settled on the Roberts farm in 1824. John Wilson on the Jasinsky farm, and the Pugh farm by John Prater the same year. The farm of Johnson Ansley by William Sinith in 1825. The farm of Martin MeAdams by Conrad Collins in 1826. The farm of Peter Kautzman by Nelson Tyler in 1828. The farm of Martha Bronson by Benjamin Green in 1823. The farm of Clark Williams by Samuel Ruth in 1825. The northwestern section of Rush Creek Township was settled as follows: In 1823 the farm of William Stewart by d'alhoun. In 1827 the Crawford farm was occupied by Young. The Hopkins farm by Hazard Hopkins in 1828. In the same year the Clark farm by William Holt; the Anderson farm by John B. Anderson; the farin of W. K. Newman by Silas Thrailkill in 1826. Jonas Fry took the farm west of doel Thomas in 1829. The farm of John Kerns by Jacob Korns.

Among the first Trustees of Rush C'rock Township are Nicholas Beal, James Roberts and John Ilull. John Wolfe was the first Clerk. George Rodaker was the first Justice of the Peace, and Benjamin Corsin the first C'oustable. A circumstance occurred once in connection with the office of Squire Rodaker worthy of note. About the year 1833 the Township Trustees sued a man living on Tay- lor Creek, on account of some stray animals they had taken up. Anthony Casad was on- graged as counsel for the defendant. After the evidence, pro and con, had been heard, C'asad arose to make his plea. The 'Squire told him he wonkl allow no " speechifying " in the case, remarking, " We have no lawyer on our side, and you shall make no speech on your side." Casal, however, persisted, and after many interruptions from the Squire,

succeded in making the points intended, remarking that he had now "said all that he desired," when the Squire replied, "Yes, and I decide against you."

In the early history of the county the peo- ple lived almost exclusively by trading. A man would load his wagon with wheat, start for Sandusky, get perhaps a barrel of salt, a roll of leather, and such necessary articles, reserving enough money to pay his taxes. If he got 50 cents a bushel for his wheat he thought he was doing well. After the San- dusky road was opened the old Conestoga wagons carried much of the produce to mar- ket. A story is told of one of those teamsters, by the name of Marquis. It appears that bees-wax was of great value at that time, and this Marquis, having procured a great quan- tity of the article, covered cakes of tallow with it. He was, however, discovered by one of the cakes thus covered being broken, and fined heavily for attempted fraud. The name " Bees-wax Marquis " ever after clung to him. The wages for work hands ranged from 50 to 60 cents a day. The pioneers' boys would work for 324 to 50 cents, or from $8 to $10 a month. Scenes of mirth and pleasure were generally preceded by those of labor. The chopping, the log-rolling, the corn-husking and quilting were always before the dance or play.

Among the first marriages were Joseph Stephenson to Delilah Fry, and John Fry to Nancy White, by Squire MeAnis. " Big Lewis," a noted chief, was buried in 1810. Hle was the father of Little Lewis, who was chief of the Shawnee Indians. When these Indians left the Logan County reservation, the tribe numbered about 1,100, and had 200 ponies, Jacob Goods, Daniel Hall and an- other blacksmith by the name of Joseph Ells- worth shod their ponies, the ponies being thrown upon their backs and tied with ropes. Rush Creek was in the course of the tornado

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

which swept through Logan County in 1825. from southwest to northeast, in a direct line for many miles. Its track was about half a mile wide. The following is a description of it, given by Joel Thomas, Sr .: "This terrific storm occurred about 9 o'clock in the morn- ing. At sunrise, distant thunder was heard. Soon after, a greenish-colored cloud com- menced coming up from the southwest, rising higher and higher, until the roar of the ap- proaching storm could be distinctly heard. It soon came in terrible majesty and force, and passed furiously on, tearing down trees of all dimensions in its pathway, those in the centre falling backward and those on the skirts falling forward. Its general average was about half a mile in width. It entered the township at the northeast corner, passed over the south end of Rush Creek, and on toward where Walnut Grove now stands, and thenee into Bokes Creek Township. A door was carried from a house which was demol- ished by the storm, and picked up on the farm of Clark Williams, and afterwards used by him. The cattle of Joel Thomas, Sr., were completely surrounded by the fallen timber, but, strange to say, not one was in- jured. Enoch Lundy's cabin was in the cen- tre of this path of destruction, and a tree fell on the corner of his cabin, having fallen con- trary to the direction of the storm. It was three days before he could extricate himself, and had carried his household goods on his back from this remarkable seene of danger. Himself, wife and four children were in the cabin at this time, not one of whom were in- jured. It is claimed that mud from the bot- tom of Rush Creek Lake was dashed against trees for a quarter of a mile away from the lake. A considerable amount of timber has sprung up in the track of this great storm since its occurrence.

In the early history of the settlements, near " White Town," in the northern part of Rush

Creek Township, and also on Taylor Creek in IJardin County, an epidemic known as the " milk sickness " begun its ravages about the year 1827-28. This disease was fatal to both man and beast. It was elaimed by some that it was in a weed which grew in " deadnings," and as the country became better cultivated it disappeared. By others it was claimed to be a mineral poison found in the water of certain springs, and stock or persons drinking this water became infected with the disease. There were two springs in the locality spoken of above, to which stock having had a free access took the "trembles." These springs were afterwards fenced in, and as long as they remained thus, there were no " trembles" in the neighborhood. It is told, on good authority, that the poison in the milk, at one time, in this section of the country, was so great that a silver five-cent piece left in a bucket of milk over night would be turned to a deep green. Near the residence of Wil- liam Roberts, John Dearwester laid out a graveyard, known as the " Miami Grave- yard," in the year 1832, and was himself the first person to be buried in the graveyard which he had laid out. Jolin Basil, wife and one child were the next unfortunates. Melcher Crook, his wife and one child, George Crook and Anna Crook soon followed. John Frye and two children, Lorenzo Taylor, John Blair, the wife of George Irving, two of the Youngs, four of the White family, one of Joel Thomas children, and many more, whose names can not now be recalled, died with this terrible disease. Some of those who were affected with it never wholly recovered. It should be noted that nearly all who took the disease at its first appearance in the placesmentioned became its victims. This may be accounted for on the ground, perhaps, that physicians did not then understand the proper treatment.

About the year 1830 a man named Buck- minster kept a hotel on the Sandusky

HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

Road near the present town of Big Springs. It stood on the farm of Henry Rosebrough, and was partly built of logs and was partly a frame. John May also kept a hotel near where the Sandu-ky Road crosses the railroad, on the farm now owned by D. Anderson. It. was a stage stand, a postoffice, and a general I sort for travelers. May's successor was James Partial. A man named Bowers kept a hotel near " White Town," and there was also a tavern kept on the farm of Mr. Ozias, on the Sandusky Road.

The first saw-mill in Rush Creek Township was built on the farm now owned by Mr. Ozias, by Rodaker in 1830. In the year 1832 a water saw-mill was built by a man of the name of Sutton, about a mile east of the pike leading from B .Hefontaine to Rushsylvania, and about the same time John Basil built a saw-mill on the Miami. About the year 1830, " Old Billy " Rubart built the first grist-mill in the township adjacent to Rodaker's saw- mill. John Basil also built a grist-mill near his saw-mill, and constructed his own burrs out of bowlders. When James R. AAdams first landed on the Miami, he went to this mill, where Samuel White, John Dear- wester, and John Basil were at work, and in- quired of them if there were any girls in that section of the country, and was answered by John Basil that there were "lots of them." Going to Basil's house, he there found his " old affianced " in the person of Mary Myers. She accompanied him to her home, and, ton days after, they were married.

The first tannery was by James Clagg, who first settled on the Miami. He sold his farm there to Enos Pickering and purchased the land where Rushsylvania now stands, laid ont the town in 1834, and the same season opened and operated a tannery, the first in the township.

The following incident occurred in the northwest part of Bush Creek, at the tavern

of Mr. Howell, near the town of North Alex- andria: Two men pursued a couple of run- away slaves into Hardin County, where they arrested them and brought them back. Ar- riving at Israel Howell's tavern, they stopped for the night. In the morning, one of the negroes seized a cane belonging to one of his captors, and struck him over the head, shivering the cane, a piece of which struck a little girl of Mr. Howell's in the eye, destroy- ing the eyeball entirely. The negroes both broke and run, one of whom escaped. The little girl afterward became the wife of Peter Frye, an early settler of Rush Creek.

At an early period in the history of this country, there was an Indian trail leading from Lewistown ein Brugler Springs to upper Sandusky. The first stage road in the town- ship was the Bellefontaine and the Detroit road. As early as the year 1830, there was a sort of blazed road to the Cherokee mills. running nearly west, where is now the road from Rushsylvania to Huntsville.

The Sandusky road was opened about the vear 1821. At that time, John Tinnis made a contract to cut ont six miles of this road. The evening this work was completed, a young man named Heath came to a violent death in the vain attempt to outrun a falling tree. This road was the coach and mail route, the mail being for some time carried on horseback. As the township was settled and improved, other roads were laid out. The first pike in the township was the Zanes- field and the Hardin County pike. The Rushsylvania and Bellefontaine pike, which was made in the year 18;4, was the next. In 1875 the Bellefontaine and Rushsylvania pike was extended to the Hardin County line, on the Bellefontaine and Sandusky road. At present, the enterprise for constructing pikes is at its highest pitch, and the probabil- ities are that ten years hence there will not be a single dirt road in Rush Crock Township.

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

In 1867, the iron bridge across Rush Creek, about a quarter of a mile east of Rushsyl- vania, was erected, costing the township the sum of $1,200.

The C. C. C. & I. Railway, or what was' then called the Bellefontaine and Indiana Railroad, was completed in 1853. While this road was being built through this town- ship, one of the workmen was killed in a fray among the hands and was buried, and, like Moses of old, no man knows to this day where he was laid. Every one, however, is certain that he was not concealed by an un- seen hand, and though he is not expected to appear again in person, yet many claim to have seen his ghost hovering around the " B'g Fill," looking grim, ghastly, and terri- ble.

Rushsylvania was laid out in the year 1834 by James Clagy, who settled on the farm belonging to the heirs of James Qua. He was a Virginian by birth, and inherited much of his native activity and enterprise. His town was nicknamed "Clagg Town," in honor of its proprietor. The first hotels were kept by Thompson Hughes, James Elam, Robert Stephenson and Jacob Niglebarger. Thomp- son Hughes kept a store in connection with his hotel on the corner where J. Q. A. Bennett's drug store now stands, the hotels of James Elami and Robert Stephenson being on the opposite corners. Niglebarger also had a store in connection with his tavern. Robert Stephenson was succeeded in the year 1846 by Thomas Carson. Benjamin Green had a pottery shop. William Gibson preceded S. B. Stilwell in the wagon shop. Samuel Stilwell was the first blacksmith. Thomas Hughes and Jacob Niglebarger first kept the postoffice. Dr. Doran succeeded to the office in 1848, and still retains it. He is one of the oldest post- masters in the State, and, during his term of service, has handled over a million of letters. The first doctors were Thomas D. Green, who

was also a preacher, and Dr. Kingston. Dr. Fulton began the practice of medicine in Rushsylvania in 1840, and Dr. Doran in 1849. Dr. Doran says that he has rode horseback enough in his practice, to go around the world twice, and partly the third time. Their early field of practice was very extensive, and malarial sickness was the principal disease for treatment. They sold as high as one hundred (1 oz.) bottles of quinine in one summer.

" For several years," says one who remem- bers the pioneer days, "whisky appeared to be a leading commodity of trade. The presence of the bottle on the table of the leading and prominent people, was not a rare sight, nor was it uncommon to see a dozen men clivested of their coats on a public day, apparently anxious for a fight." While there are many citizens in the town who deplore the evils that now exist, let them console themselves with the thought that the town has made great improvement in morals and society.

The first schoolhouse stood near the railroad crossing, not far from where the old one now stands. It was a log buikling, ahnost one entire end being a great wooden chimney; in facet nearly all the houses were made of logs. The first frame house was built by John Basil for Thomas Hughes. He furnished the material, and built it for fifty dollars. The weather-boarding was of shaved elapboards.

In 1852, most of the business portion of Rushsylvania was burned to the ground. The fire commenced in a grocery across an alley from Thomas Carson's tavern, and spread in both directions, consuming nearly all the business houses. The town has never fully recovered from the effects of this calamity. Some of the old buildings have been replaced by new ones far handsomer than the okl log huts which were burned, and which gave it a rather dilapidated appearance in other days. But some of the business men left for other

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

locations, and the town thus lost some of its most enterprising citizens. While making brick to rebuild his hotel, Thomas Carson, with his work hands, on a rainy Saturday (June 20, 1857), went on a fishing excursion to Rush Creek Lake. While engaged in this sport he, with Martin Longstaff, was drowned. They were upset from the same boat from which a man by the name of Edsal, in a fit to which he was subject, fell and was of this drowned but a year before. In 1820, a son Edsal, while bathing in the Lake, was also drowned.

The saw and grist mill of Rubart was pur- chased by Jacob Pymn and greatly improved. In 1862, the Pymn Brothers built the stone mill in Rushsylvania. In 1866 Robert Porter purchased the mill and run it till 1843, when it was purchased by the Day Brothers, the present owners. It is operated by steam, has three run of burrs, and a capacity for making seventy-five barrels of flour a day. It is one of the important publie industries of the vil- lage, and the enterprising and gentlemanly proprietors are well qualified for the business in which they are engaged.

In the fall of 1866, James Adams came from lowa, and in the spring of 1867 started a woolen factory in the building of Jacob P'yin's first grist mill on Rush Creek. This mill was for one season operated with great success, being kept constantly running night and day. In the spring of 1868, a heavy freshet swept away the dam across Rush ('reck. It was no sooner rebuilt than it was washed away again. Adams was so disheart- "und by this that he gave up the idea of ever agrain running the mills, and went back to lowa. The mills were purchased and operat- ed for three summers by William George. In the spring of ISTO they were set on fire by an incendiary and burnt to the ground. They have never been rebuilt. This loss was a calarejey not only to the owner of the mills, but also to the community.

Mr. John McCullough was the first depot master. In the winter of 1869, the present depot was finished. Mr. Mccullough was succeeded in his position of depot master in 1817 by Mr. Roberts, who is one of the lead- ing men of the place. He is a gentleman in every respect, and the village is indebted to his influence in securing the present telegraph office.

There are at present in Rushsylvania two dry-goods stores, kept by William Campbell& Sons and J. R. Day; two drug stores by George Broekerman and J. Q. A. Bennett; one hardware store by William Vance; three grocery stores by L. Gregg. Esquire Elder, and Rev. Black; one furniture store by the Wright Bros .; one jewelry store by J. A. Riley; one steam mill by the Day Bros .; one saw mill by Lewis Kramer; one bank (cashier O. R. Pegg); two livery stables by George Brockerman and Clark Slater; three black- smith shops, one by Heller & McCullock and the other two by J. S. Cross and Robert Shaw; one shoe shop by A. Jones; two sad- dler shops by F. Holliday and A. Richards; one meat shop by Ed. Aldrich. There is one hotel by Marion Southard. The physicians are Drs. Brockerman, Doran, Edwards, Fisher, Goodlove and Wallace, and Mrs. Howard. There are four churches: one Disciple, one Methodist, one Presbyterian and one Reformed Presbyterian.

Rushsylvania has always ranked high in spirit and enterprise. When the news of the war of secession first thrilled the blood of every patriot, she raised her flag-staff on the old schoolhouse grounds, around which gath- ered some of the first volunteers, anl pledged themselves and their lives to their country. Bands of music paraded the streets, followed by long, enthusiastic processions. Eloquent men discussed the leading topics and mo- mentous issues of the hour. The town turned ont many volunteers.

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

In matters of education Rushsylvania is up with the times. As teacher, Rev. W. W. Wright stands almost without a rival; his energy and talent have made him one of the most popular instructors. There is a fine new school building in the village, on a high eminence commanding a view of the town and the surrounding country. There are four departments in the school, and about 200 scholars in the special district. The directors are: Dr. Goodlove, D. L. Roberts, John Taylor, William Vance, Rev. W. W. Wright and E. Zimmerman. The following statistics are from the last report of the Board of Edu- cation : Value of school property, $3,235; amount paid teachers per month, males, $50, 1 females, $20; number of pupils enrolled, pri- mary, males 54, females 46; high, males 15, females 26; average daily attendance, males 38, females 41.

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History of Logan County and Ohio, Part 64

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