History of Logan County and Ohio, Part 65

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 65

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The village is surrounded by a high moral influence, though like all other places it has its vagabonds and idlers. There is not a liquor saloon in the place, and, though attempts have been made to establish them, they have al- ways proved a failure. There are few towns of its size where more attention is given to public improvement. The sidewalks are of a superior kind.

Harper village was laid out in 1831 by John Q. Williams, prior to the completion of the railroad. The first building was erected by John Laporte, who, also, was the proprietor of the first store. The first church was built in 1854 by the Methodists. In 1859 the first blacksmith shop was started by Miller & Rhodes. Dr. James Morehead was the first physician, and Stephen D. Slayer was the first preacher. The business houses at this time are two-the one by R. D. Dickinson, a dry goods and grocery merchant, and the other by G. W. Hoover, also a dry goods and grocery merchant. The village contains a church, a postoffice, a blacksmith shop, a schoolhouse

and a railroad depot. It has about 100 inhab- itants. The citizens of Harper are mostly religious and almost exclusively temperate. No grog-shop is found within the village. It is surrounded by one of the most fertile farm- ing districts in the county. Large quantities of grain, wool, stock and other farm products are shipped from this place.

The Big Springs, three miles north of Rushsylvania, was a noted place long before Rushsylvania was thought of. Lanson Curtis, once a prominent business man of Zanesville, made the first improvement at the Spring. As we have already stated, there was a tavern there on the Sandusky road at a very early day. The village of Big Spring's was located in 1852, on the C. C. C. & I. Railway, about two and a half miles from Rushsylvania. Lots were first sold by Henry Rosebrough. It took its name from a noted spring. It now contains one grocery and dry goods store, a blacksmith shop, a shoe shop, a large saw and planing mill. The village contains twelve dwellings and about fifty inhabitants. Wal- nut Grove was laid out in the year 1854 by J. Slim, and was formerly called " Slim Town," after its proprietor. It takes its present name from a lovely grove of black walnut. trees on the edge of the " fallen timber." It is situa- ted on the banks of Mill Creek, and contains about a half-dozen dwelling-houses, one store, one blacksmith shop and one church. It is surrounded by a beautiful country, inhabited by enterprising people.

The first church in Rush Creek Township was built by the Quakers, and was a log structure. The time of its building is not certainly known, but it was prior to the year 1820. It stood in a field now owned by John Q. Williams, near the Sandusky road, four and a half miles northeast of Bellefontaine. An old graveyard to-day marks its site, which was laid out by Thomas Stanfield, Sr., the first graveyard in the township, and in

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which lies the remains of the first settler. In Ise the second church, built of hewed logs was created by the Baptists, about half a mile north of the first one built by the Qua- kers and was called the " Rush Creek Baptist (lurch." Connected with this church a pub- lie graveyard was established. It was dona- ted by Solomon Cover, who then resided on the farm now owned by Lucian D. Mussel- man. The first person buried there was Samuel Patrick, in October, 1831. The first minister who preached in the Quaker Church was Rev. Thomas AAntrim, and the first Bap- tist preacher was Rev. Haines Parker. Revs. George McCulloch, Hiram Hukel and a Mr. Clark were also pioneer preachers. The fol- lowing incident is related by doel Thomas, Jr., of Doctor Grayeyes, an Indian Missionary, who lived on the reservation at Upper San- dusky. The Doctor and his wife, who was a hdf Indian, came on a visit to her father, Ebenezer Zne, who had his camp on Mill Creek. On Saturday, one of Ebenezer's sons eine to Joel Thomas, Sr., and informed him that Dr. Grayeyes would preach at camp on the morrow. The next morning the Thomas boys accompanied him to camp, where Dr. Grayover preached in the Indian tongue, and after services " Aunt Hannah, " Ebenezer's wife, prepared dinner, Ebenezer had killed a bear and his wife had cooked a portion of it for dinner. All stayed and dined on bear meat and wild honey, of which there was an abundance. This shows the real state of fu ling existing at that time between the red and white men.

forming the backwoodsmen, and were in the ascendency. They held revivals in every schoolhouse and won many souls to Christ. They built the first church in Rushsylvania. It is now used as a dwelling house, In 1848 the Reformed Presbyterians built the second church in Rushsylvania. Rev. J. B. Johnston was their first minister. He was the founder of Northwood college, and was succeeded by Rev. J. R. W. Sloane, who was President of Northwood College. In 1860 he was succeed- ed by Rev. P. H. Wylie, who was Pastor till 18;6, when he was succeeded by Rev. Il. H. George, and he by Rev. J. Lynd, who is the present Pastor. The church at present has about sixty members. The Presbyterians and Methodists built a church in 1862. The Methodists in 1820 purchased, and remodeled the old Reformed Presbyterian church, that denomination having the same year erected a new one. The Presbyterians number about sixty. Rev. J. Alexander is their present Pastor. The Methodists number about the same. The Disciples built their church in the vicinity of the Ansley settlement at a very early date, perhaps as early as 1840. In 1868 they erected a brick church at Rushsylvania. With the late Jesse Roberts as their preacher, they have increased. He died in 1879, re- spected and mourned by all. There was at a very carly period an old log church at Equali- ty, and also a graveyard. This church was hirnt to the ground in 1868, and another one has been built in its place, belonging to no particular denomination.

The temperance canse has gained many workers and adherents in the township. Al- though there were no saloons for the women to visit in the villages at the time of the great Crusade, yet many of them caught the spirit of the movement, and joined those of Bellefon- taine in the work of resening the unfortunate. The wave of Murphyi'm swept over the town,

The number of pioneer churches seems to have been few. Divine service was mostly Fold in schoolhouses. The first Sabbath School was held in the old Rushsylvania schoolhouse, There was great trouble in get- ung this organized, as different denominations wanted to have the control. The Methodists early began their noble pioneer work of res i leaving to day a few happy houses, which, but

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for it, would have been blighted by the great curse.

The first public schools were held in the old Quaker Church. Near this old log church stood a log schoolhouse of the pioneer pat- tern-greased paper for windows, a large fire- place made of wooden poles. The time when this was built is not certainly known. But prior to the year 1820, Isaac Myers and Jus- tice Edwards were the first teachers in the township. As early, perhaps, as the year 1830 there was a log schoolhouse about twen- ty feet square in the northwest corner of Rush Creek Township, in the vicinity of " White Town." Along one end of this rude structure was one log left out, and the place filled with glass panes ten by twelve; who was its first teacher is not remembered. Mr. Gregg the Presbyterian minister at Bellefontaine, used to preach here, and also taught a singing school. There was a schoolhouse at Equal- ity, built about the year 1830. It has long since disappeared, and, like all pioneer school- houses, it was a rude structure. Among its first teachers were Jesse Roberts. The wages paid the early teachers ranged from $8 to $12 a month.

Those three schoolhouses have increased to fifteen, and every morning of the school period |

sees 600 Rush Creek children flocking to school. Wages now range from $20 to $50 a month. Among these fifteen schools is the Rushsylvania Union School, which has al- ready been noticed. The following sta- tisties are from the last report of the Board of Education, made August 31, 1879: Whole amount paid teachers, $1,872.43; paid for fuel etc., 8312.69; total expenditures, $2,250.12; balance on hand September 1, 1879, $1,042.11. Number of pupils enrolled-males, 309; females, 187; total, 396. Average daily at- tendance-males, 154; females, 134; total, 288. Number of schoolhouses in township, 12; total value of school property, $4,500.

Dr. Doran, to whom we are indebted for many facts of the history of this town- ship, has quite an extensive collection of Indian relies, which he has gathered, and in which he takes considerable interest; he has also about 200 pieces of coin of different na- tions. Some of these are of very ancient late. They are of all sizes and descriptions and denominations and nationalities. The one bearing the most ancient appearance has an inscription in Greek which translated reads, " Jesus Christ, the King of Kings." Mrs. Doran also has a variety of stuffed birds, ani- mals and insects, very tastefully arranged.

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

CHAPTER XIV .*

PLEASANT TOWNSHIP-THE EARLY SETTLEMENT-SOCIAL LIFE IN THE BACKWOODS-INDUS- TRIES-RELIGIONS-ETC.

" Man's fame, so often evanescent,

Links here with thoughts and things that last; And all the bright and teeming present Thrills with the great and glorious past."

L OOKING upon the map of Logan County we find a large tract of land in form an oblong square, its longest diameter east and west; its location south of the " Greenville treaty line." adjoining the Shelby County line. This territory is designated as Town- ship 1, Range 8. of the Congressional survey, and is bounded north by Bloomfield and Washington, south by Miami, east by Har- rison and U'nion, and west by Salem Town- ship in Shelby County. The principal water- course is the Miami River, which flows in nearly a due south course through the town- ship, centrally. On the west are two small tributaries without names and unimportant. The eastern portion of the township is trav- ersed by the Buckongchelas, a stream afford- ing power for numerous mills. The soil cast of the Miami is a rich, yellow clay, slightly mixed with gravel and well adapted to wheat culture, while westward a black loam pro- dominates, yielding bountiful crops of corn and grass. The farm buildings, and improve- ments generally, are of a substantial character, and fully equal to the average in this portion of Logan County. The surface features of the township are varied, and presents to the "Ve a panorama of surpassing loveliness, Contir . from the north you pass through a trochu country perfectly level, and with the eve ption of an occasional strip of wood- land, covered with a heavy growth of golden

wheat. Southward, as you near the river, the surface becomes rolling with a gentle descent from either direction and at intervals cut by ravines, down which, during the fall and spring, flow streams of no mean dimen- sions.

To stranger eyes the name of this township, Pleasant, seems particularly appropriate, for surely no more beautiful or pleasing scenery exists in the county than is found along the valley of the Miami at this period, and imag- ination can readily paint the scene that met the view of the hardy and resolute men who first penetrated this region. They found a land fertile as heart could wish, fair to look upon, and fragrant with the thousand fresh odors of the woods in early spring. The long, cool aisles of the forest led away into mazes of vernal green, where the swift deer bounded by unmolested, and as yet unscared by the sound of the woodman's ax or the sharp ring of the riffe. All about them was displayed the lavish beauties of primitive na- ture. The luxuriant growth of the oak, the walnut, maple, beech, chestnut and sycamore, with the lesser shrubs, the dogwood, the crab- apple and the wild plum, and the heavy- hanging grape-vines, gave evidence of the strength of the virgin soil and the mildness of the climate. The forests which covered the land furnished an abundance of food for the smaller animals, and the deer, as common as the cattle of to-day, grazed upon the rich grass of the lowlands and browsed upon the verdure in the little glades. Other animals were abundant. The bear and the elk were occasional visitantes, while the forest teamed

11 De J I Se Cheverell.

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IIISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

with wild hogs, that roamed about in droves and fattened upon the abundant mast. Wild turkeys appeared in vast flocks, and in the season came the migratory fowls and tarried by the streams. The river had its share of life, and fairly swarmed with fish. But the pioneers came not to enjoy a life of lotus- eating. They could look forward with happy anticipation to the life they were to lead in the midst of all this beauty, and to the rich reward that would be theirs; but they had first to work. The dangers, also, to which they were exposed were serious ones. The Indians could not be trusted, and the many stories of their outrages in the earlier eastern settlements made the pioneers of this section constantly apprehensive of trouble. The larger wild beasts were much dreaded, and the smaller ones a source of great an- noyance. Added to this was the liability to sickness which always exists in a new coun- try, and that continual feeling of loneliness not easily dispelled. This was a far greater trial to the men and women who first dwelt in this western country than is generally im- agined. The deep-seated, constantly-recur- ring feeling of isolation made many stout hearts turn back to the abodes of comfort, to the companionship and sociability of their old homes, but such was not the intention of the rugged sons of toil who first peopled the Township of Pleasant.

Early in the month of March, 1809, James Moore and Robert Dickson, each with two yoke of stout oxen attached to heavy covered wagons in which were their families and a few necessary articles of household goods, began from the interior of the State of Kentucky, the long and tedious journey to Logan County, Ohio, a locality represented to be if not a veritable land of "milk and honey," at least, closely allied to it. After numerous mishaps by " flood and field, " the cavalcade arrived in safety at Cincinnati and was, with

much vexations delay, ferried across " La Belle Rivere," an achievement not unattended with danger, in its then swollen condition. From this place northward to Urbana, the route was, for the most part, but a blazed trail, dodging about, first this way and that, wherever convenient, and scarcely passable at all, at this season of the year, Urbana was reached at last, and from here, to the place selected for a home, the journey was made through an almost trackless wilderness. At last the "Mecca" of their pilgrimage was reached, and a rude encampment made upon the east bank of the Miami river, a short dis- ance above the site of the present hamlet of Logansville. The land, previously purchased, consisted of a fractional section, embracing some 300 acres, including, and extending north along the river northward from Logans- ville. In the division Mr. Moore became the proprietor of the north half of this tract; his pioneer log cabin was erected not far from the site of the old homestead, was occupied by Newton N. Moore. Mr. Dickson's cabin stood nearly one-half mile to the southwest. Forced to rely entirely upon their own efforts, these pioneer houses were, of necessity, little more than huts; made entirely of small logs, roughly put together, they answered for tem- porary shelter, until the arrival of other settlers, by whose aid more substantial dwell- ings were built. Mr. Moore's family at this time consisted of a wife and four children, only one of whom is now living in the town- ship, Dennis, whose head is -

"Thickly silvered o'er with care,"

and round whose pathway naught now re- mains, as a reminder of those early days, save perhaps, the "silent city of the dead " upon the home farm, where rest the remains of many whose strong hands have helped to sub- due the mighty forest. The family of Mr. Dick- son consisted of a wife and three children, new all deceased, though many descendants

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

of the family still reside in the vicinity of Logansville. Two years pass away, and still these two families are the sole white or- enpants of the territory embraced within the limits of what is now Pleasant Township; the hardships and privations they endured during this period would have discouraged less de- termined ones. The nearest grist-mill was at Urbana, at the same place was also a store, where the commonest goods were sold at. enormous prices; tea, $2 per pound; salt, 85 per bushel of fifty pounds, and calico, which now sells at eight cents, sold readily for $1 per yard. During the fall of 1811. Alfred Math- ews and John Means, each with large families arrived in the township, and made settlement, the former upon a tract of land some two miles cast of Logansville, and the latter about one and one-half miles to the south of Mr. Moore's, on the west bank of the river. Al- fred Mathews, Jr., is the only surviving mem- ber of these families now residing in the township. These four families constituted the entire white population of the township until after the close of hostilities with Great Britain.

Among the settlers who arrived immediato- ly subsequent to the close of the war were: AAl xander Piper and family, who came from Nicholas County, Ky., in the fall of 1818. The farm upon which they first settled is now owned by Dennis Moore. William D. Piper is the only one of the family living in the township. Robert Ellis, also from Ken- tucky, made settlement upon lands, still occu- pied by the family, to the northwest of Lo- gansville. Robert MeMullen, purchased a tract of land adjoining Mr. Piper's. These are believed to be all who became actual resi- dents prior to the year 1820. This locahty, as is every newly settled country, was infested with a class of nomadic people, known as squatters, whose sojourn was usually brief, yet whose departure was heartily welcome.

The next settlers were: Peter Hanks, Addison Henderson, John Hill, Samuel Geise, Daniel Mckinnon, and possibly others whose names are forgotten, but as the settlement soon be- came general we will not follow it further.

During the war of 1812. the utmost alarm and uneasiness prevailed in the scattered set- tle ments, by reason of which the Government ordered a company of soidiers into the vicin- ity for protection. Immediately on their arrival they proceeded to the erection of a " block- house." Its location was upon a high point of land, about one mile cast of the present vil- lage of Logansville. The structure was com- posed of two buildings, some twenty feet square, connected at the second story and well provided with port-holes. It was of little im- portance, however, as the troops were with- drawn soon after its completion.

As the settlement increased the asperities of life were softened, its amenities multiplied. Social gatherings became numerous. The log-rolling, harvesting and husking bees for the men, and the apple-butter making and quilting parties for the women, furnished fre- quent occasions for social intercourse. The carly settlers took much pleasure and pride in rifle shooting, and as they were accustomed to the gun as a means, often, of obtaining subsistence, and relied upon it as a weapon of defence, they exhibited considerable skill, and "shooting matches " were of frequent occur- rence. These trials of skill were not governed, as are the "rifle clubs " of the present day, by a complication of "rules," by which, perhaps, the best shot in the team makes the " poorest string," but the best marksman won. The event of most importance, however, in the sparsely settled new country was a wedding. The young people had every inducement to marry, and generally did so as soon as able to provide for themselves. When a marriage was to be celebrated, the settlers within a ra- dins of several miles turned out. All went

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IIISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

on horseback, if able, riding in single file along the narrow trail-a couple often riding upon one horse. After the ceremony came the dinner, a substantial backwoods feast of bear or deer meat, pork or fowls, with such vegetables as could be procured, during the discussion of which the greatest hilarity pre- vailed. After dinner the dancing begun, and was usually kept up during the entire night. The pioneer wedding in Pleasant Township occurred in 1812. Sarah Leonard and David Mathews were the "happy pair." An event of some importance in the annals of our col- ony was the advent, during the early summer of 1810, of a youthful stranger into the family of James and Catharine Moore. It was a girl, thus verifying the oft-repeated statement that this sex "are always first, everywhere." No doubt the little lady ruled all the inmates of that humble home quite as regally in her dress of calico as does the elegantly attired " baby " of the present time with its nurse, mother and aunties, not to mention its dear "par," and the rest of mankind, dancing at- tendance to its real or imagined wants. The little Miss Moore grew to womanhood, became the wife of John Moore, and eventually located in Zane Township, where she died some years since. The circumstances attending the first visit of the grim monster, Death, to the in- fant colony, are touchingly sad. It was dur- ing the summer of 1810, soon after the birth before referred to, that William, son of James Moore, was taken violently ill with a fever. He grew rapidly worse. The nearest phy- sician was at Urbana, and thither a messen- ger was dispatched to summon him. Ile came at once, but only arrived in time to witness the death of his patient. A rude coffin was prepared of plank split from a tree near by, and tender hands made ready this rough re- ceptacle for all that remained of the bright, beautiful boy. A grave was prepared in the adjacent forest, and here, amid the dim soli-

tude, the sunlight casting slanting rays through the branches of the trees, with no minister of God to pronounce the solemn ritual, no funer -. al choir to "chant the last sad requiem," he was laid to rest, there to peacefully sleep on and on until that last great day when the sea, shall give up its dead."

The greatest inconvenience was eaused, perhaps, by the absence of grist-mills. The nearest was at Urbana. The only road lead- ing thereto was a blazed trail, nearly impassible with a wagon, hence, it was customary to put a bag of grain upon a horse, mount one of the younger boys on top, and start the whole for Urbana. Arriving at the mill, which was a rude affair, with small capacity, it was fre- quently the case that a previous arrival woukd occupy the mill for the remainder of the day, and a stay until morning was rendered neces- sary, but as the folks at home were prepared for such emergencies, rarely any uneasiness was felt, or, as was sometimes the case, the boy would get his grist ground just before night, and starting for home, be overtaken by the darkness and the wolves. Sometimes it became expedient to tie up and spend the intervening hours, till daylight, among the branches of a friendly tree, but usually an extra amount of birch was applied to Dobbin, and the family roof-tree gained in safety. In about 1819-20, James Moore put in operation the pioneer grist-mill in Pleasant Township. The building was of logs, and stood on the west bank of the Miami River. A short time subsequent Mr. Moore constructed a frame saw-mill adjoining the first. These pioneer industries were of the greatest importance to the settlers in the vicinity, not only in pre- paring the crude elements for bread, but fur- nishing lumber for the floors, doors, etc., of the cabins. These mills have been several times rebuilt, and are now owned by John Long. In 1825 Mr. Moore built a distillery near the mills, thus furnishing a market for

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

much of the corn grown in the neighborhood. It was in operation some fifteen years. The second grist-mill in the township was built by Washington Firestone, on Indian Run. It was only in operation a few years. Thompson Dickson built a tannery just west of Logans- ville in 1826, which was successfully con- dueted for many years. In those early days the general hospitality exhibited rendered hotels superfluous. The - latch-string " was out at every cabin, and the weary traveler was always sure of a welcome and the best the house afforded; but as the settlement grew older, and the desire for wealth became pre- dominant, that genial, social welcome ceased, and the tavern came into existence. To meet this want, John Dickson, in about 1835, opened a house of entertainment at Logans- ville. It was quite a commodious affair. 1 few years later Joseph Davison became the host of a second hostelry, in the same hamlet.

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History of Logan County and Ohio, Part 65

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