USA > Ohio > Logan County > History of Logan County and Ohio > Part 68
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It was a day of unusual clearness and beauty, and, as he and his father were cutting eorn, they heard the roaring of what seemed to them like distant thunder, and they considered this quite phenomenal on account of the weather, not a cloud being perceptible in any direction. It was afterwards explained to be the roar of artillery about one hundred miles away.
As early as 1825, an anti-slavery agitation was begun in this locality. Meetings were held in schoolhouses, and the matter was generally discussed by the citizens. The rea- son that the agitation assumed such propor- tions was because the slaves, on their way north, came up this way, and of necessity the people were frequently called upon to take sides, pro or con, with the runaway slaves. The poor negroes, in eseaping from their pursuers, would, in passing through here, be harbored by the Quakers. The nearest station of the underground railway was at Picker- eltown, in an adjoining township. They gen- erally eame north through London, Madison County, via Marysville, to Canada. Samuel Warner relates that he onee met a crowd of nine heading for the "big woods," as their pursuers were elose upon them.
Money was searce for many years, but, for- tunately, there was but little use for it. Counterfeiting, however, was carried on quite extensively at one time, and a great deal of bogus money was circulated. Several parties were arrested, but, after being confined in jail for some time, were discharged for want of sufficient proof.
The great earthquake of 1811, the shock of which was felt as far west as the Mississippi River and as far South as New Orleans, was distinctly perceived in this township. Sam- uel Warner recollects his father running to catch the dishes in the cupboard, as they began to go through a variety of anties, and the farmers becoming very much alarmed.
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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
The winter of 1809 is spoken of as one of most uncommon mildness, and the sugar sea- son which followed was a failure, many not opening their camps.
Two murders occurred in this township which occasioned a great deal of excitement. The first was the killing of Capt. D. S. Nor- viel by Waller Marshall, Jr., at Israel Pool's, in Middleburg, on July 18, 1868. The par- ties, having become parties to a suit, repaired thither for the purpose of settling their diffi- eulties. During a souffle between Marshall and another man, C'apt. Norviel attempted to wrest a knife which Marshall had drawn for the purpose of striking his antagonist, and in the melee that ensued received a stab in the breast from which he died in a few minutes. Marshall was subsequently tried and acquitted on the ground of self-defense. On the 30th of April, IS;8, there occurred in this town- ship one of the most shocking and deplorable. tragedies that have ever occurred in the his- tory of this county. It was the killing of George W. Rockwell, Deputy Sheriff of Lo- grau County, by Amos Inskeep. The promi- uence of both the parties, the especial regard in which the family of the latter (one of the oldest and mest respectable in the county), together with the fact that Ins- keep himself was a very talented and edu- cated man, who had cultivated himself in a broad and liberal manner, giving especial attention to the investigation of subjects of a scientific nature, made the affair one of pe- culiar sadness. The circumstances in brief were these: A judgment had been rendered in favor of Sherman against Inskeep, on a lil I suit, and a posse of officers had repaired to the form of Inskeep for the purpose of lesving ou chattes to satisfy the claim. They Wege warned of by Inskeep with threats. Rocky l. ph suant to his official authority, was leading some boiss from the stable when Inskoop shot ham with a rifle, from the ofert
of which he died in a few hours. Inskoop was arrested at Plain City, as he said on his way to make a requisition on Gov. Bishop for a company of soldiers to protect his property, taken to Bellefontaine and indicted for mur- der in the first degree. In December, 1818, he was tried, and after thirty days the case was given to the jury. After a consultation of seventy-two hours they were unable to agree, it is said being equally divided as to insanity and murder in the second degree, and were discharged. By a change of venue he was again tried in September, 1879, in Marysville, E'nion County, first as to his pres- ent insanity, and, notwithstanding the fact that as far back as 1858 he had exhibited signs of mental derangement and had been adjudged insane by the Probate Court of Lo- gan County, he was found by the court sane enough to be tried. In November, while waiting for trial, he broke jail and returned to his farm, a distance of twelve miles, where he remained about three months. He was rearrested, tried on his indictment. found guilty of murder in the second degree, and sentenced to the Penitentiary for life. where he is now incarcerated. He was ably de- fonded by the Hon. T. E. Powell, of Dela- ware, and Judge P. B. Cole, of Marysville, while Judge William West and S. L. Price as ably assisted the Prosecuting Attorney. The costs of the various suits, aside from the judgment for damages in favor of Rockwell's widow, amounted to between $16,000 and $11,000.
The first mills were hand affairs, consisting of a block of wood about three feet long and eighteen inches in diameter, in one end of which a hole was made by successive burn- ings, so that it would hold a quantity of corn, which was reduced to bominy or meal by a hand pestle. An improvement on the latter part was a sweep. not unlike an old-fashioned well-sweep, into one of which was inserted
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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
an upright piece, to which an iron wedge was attached to pound the corn, while the other end of the sweep was made fast. This was operat- ed by two persons. The first grist-mill was built by Job Sharp, and was the first in Logan County. It was erected in 1803, and was the rudest kind of a corn-cracker. The lower stone was a nigger-head, and the upper a limestone, which latter, being soft, wore rapidly, and did very inferior work. A few years later, finding a flat "nigger-head," about two feet in diameter, and six or eight inches thick, by working several days he succeeded in drilling a hole through the same, and in 1807 rebuilt the mill by substituting for the brush and pole-covering a building with a clapboard roof and puncheon sides. After this, they did some custom work. Previous to this im- provement, the capacity of the mill was about one bushel of corn in twenty-four hours; now they could grind as many as four bushels per day, and frequently several bags of eoru could be found in the mill at one time. This mill, which has not been standing within the memory of the oldest inhabitant, is known only by tradition. There was no dam, but the water-wheel, which was about eight feet in diameter, was fed from two races, the re- mains of which are seen at this day, leading from two strong springs in different direc- tions, and were united, flowing through a pen- stock consisting of a poplar log, into the wheel. The first flouring-mill in the township was that built by John Garwood, at what is now East Liberty, in Perry Township, which was a part of Zane until 1831. It was used first as a corn-mill, and not for grinding wheat until 1812. Previous to this the settlers were compelled to go for flour to King's Creek, in what is now Champaign County. The mill gave the village which sprang up around it the name of Garwood's Mills. The first flour- ing-mill in what is now Zane Township was built about 1824, by Caleb Ballinger, and was
a one-story affair, about 25x30 feet, with one run of buhrs. This was purchased in 1831, by David and Daniel Eicher, and sub- sequently remodeled. It was entirely rebuilt in 1856, and is now one of the best in the county. Previous to the war of 1812, the only lumber was sawed out by hand, and Joshua Antrim, in his history of Champaign and Logan Counties, relates that the lumber for the double log house now standing on the old Sharp farm, and built in 180;, was sawed by a whip-saw. Puncheons split from logs, and worked down by hand, were mostly used. Mrs. Mary Reams has a cradle, made by John Garwood, in 180%. The boards were split from a walnut log, worked down by hand as smooth as if sawed, and then dovetailed to- gother. The first saw-mill was erected about 1815, by Joshua Inskeep, on Mitl Branch, and soon after, during a freshet, floated away. The second was made fast to a stump, and when the rains descended, and the floods came, it stood. This was followed by what was known as the Stratton Mill, on the same creek, a little above the Inskeep mill. The next saw-mill was built by lose IT. Garwood, in 1831, and is the only site of the three now occupied. The first steam saw-mill was intro- duced in this part of Ohio, and was built in Middleburg, in the winter of 1833 and 1834, by Brattany and Sellers, and was occupied about 1865, by Chesher & Son, as a bucket factory. Col. Joel Haines established a woolen factory on his farm, about one mile southeast of Middleburg, in the year 1846. IIe subsequently converted it into a chair factory.
The first distillery in the township was started a short distance from Middleburg, in 1835, by John Hellings, who manufactured peach and apple brandy and subsequently whisky. Here W. M. Hellings, now one of the most ardent supporters of the temperance cause, learned the mysterious art of distilling.
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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
1
The first tannery was started in 1808 by Daniel Garwood, on his farm, about two miles southeast of the present village of Mid- dleburg. Hle also built the first brick house; date of the same, 1818. It is said that sand was so scarce that they were compelled to mix ashes with the lime to make mortar. The first frame house was built by James Stokes in 1820, and was considered quite a curiosity. Such was the hospitality of the people of this section that taverns were not a necessity among them. It was not until 1832 that Asher Lyon opened an inn for the trav- eling public, in what is now a shingle factory in the town of Middleburg.
The Indian trails through this township leading from Franklinton, now part of Co- Iumbus, came up the Big Darby to Garwood's Mills, now East Liberty, by way of the site of Eicher Mill and the Springs on the old Sharp farm, which the Indians frequently visited, and which was a favorite camping- ground with them. In early times there were no roads except bridle paths; hence, we find the residences on the oldest improved farms of the road, beside some spring or some other natural advantage. This is so striking that strangers would scarcely suppose this town-hip inhabited, so few of the residences being seen from the roads. The first road was that from Garwood's Mills to Urbana, and was laid out by John Garwood, Jr., as early as 1815. This was followed by one from Mil- ford to Zanesfield. The Zanesfiehl and to- humbus pike, extending from the Union County line to the head of the Marmon Val- les, a distance of six and one-third miles, was begun August 12, Is6;, and finished in ISit, and cost, exclusive of bridges, 82.050 for mile. This was followed by one from the Champaign County line to Mt. Moriah Church. buil in Is; 1. Ly subscription, at a cost of $1.135.5 per mile, and is a little over two and three-fourths miles in length. The New-
ton pike was Imilt in 18:5, and cost $2,500. The bridge across Garwood's mill-race cost 8:50. All the pikes are free.
'The first bridge was the one across Big Darby on the Newton Pike, and was built in 1850, at a cost of about $1,100. It was boarded up and covered in the fall of 1829.
The first postoffice in what is now Zane Township, was kept by Jose Garwood, at his house, and was established about 1825. There was a mail route from Marysville to Bellefon- taine, an l over this route George Kelleyman carried the mail on horseback, except when the roads got bad, when he took it through on foot. Ile was succeeded by a boy named James Simpson, and he by Bob Gibson, who carried a bugle to give warning to the Postmaster of his approach. In 1833 Jose Garwood resigned, and the postoffice was removed to Middle- burg, and kept by Dr. John Elbert, dr., and went by the name of Elbert Postoffice. The name was finally changed to West Middle- burg.
The village of Middleburg was laid out, and the plat recorded May 24, 1832. It is located on Survey 3.155. Columbus street runs east and west through the center, and Urbana street north and south, also through the center. All the lots west of Urbana street were on the land of Levi Grubbs, and all the lots east of said street on the land of William Grubbs. James W. Marmon was the County Surveyor. At this time there was a small store kept by Elias D. Gabriel and one or two other buildings. Soon after the frame store building, now a part of the store room of T. J. Hellings, was erected, and was followed by other residences and shops, until quite a village grew up. Two of its carly citizens figured prominently in its rise and progress. The first was Arthur ( riffield, who came here soon after it was laid out. He was a man of uncommon energy and more than ordinary talent. He was a minister of
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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
the Disciple, Church, and his progressive spirit is evinced in his starting in April, 1836, a newspaper, called The People's Palladium, and the Union, Hardin, Allen and Logan County Advertiser. The editing and type- setting for some time was wholly done by him. T. Chesher has in his possession a copy of an issue dated July, 1836, in which he hoists the name of Martin Van Buren as can- didate for President. The terms of the paper were $2.00 a year in advance, and $2.50 if not paid in six months, and $3.00 if not paid for until the end of the year. Various kinds of country produce were taken in exchange, if delivered at the office. His paper was sul- sequently changed to a religious monthly, and called the " Heretic Detector," and was finally moved to Cincinnati. The second man prom- inent in the history of this township and section was Edward Allen, who came to the township about 1832, and opened a store with an uncle, named Worrell, about one mile northwest of the village, where he soon after failed. He subsequently opened a store in Middleburg, where, by his prudence and energy, and strict attention to business, he built up an enormous trade, covering a radius of twenty-five miles. Ile dealt largely in hardware, as well as gen- eral merchandise, adding to his business that of beef and pork packing and shipping. He is spoken of as a very exact and honest man. Starting with a few hundred dollars, in the short space of ten years he had accumulated forty or fifty thousand dollars. The tax on his strength was too great and his mind gave away under it. One morning, in 1851, he was found hanging to a tree near a neighboring town, but as to whether he committed suicide or was fouly dealt with, is a mooted question. Many best acquainted with the circumstances are strong in the latter belief. The location of a land office at Lima sent a great amount of travel through the village and several tay- erns sprang up with their usual concomitants
of loafers and whisky, and for a number of years Middleburg was noted for the lawless character of those who were accustomed to congregate here, and death, in one instance at least, is attributed to one of their drunken carousals. At one time the bar-keepers were greatly surprised by the visit of the State In- spector, who, on examination, found all the casks of liquor adulterated except one, and ordered their contents poured into the street. A division of the Order Sons of Temperance was organized here on June 12, 1848, and a lodge of Good Templars in 1855, which dis- banded only when the local necessity of such an organization had ceased. For the past nineteen years the village has been noted for its sobriety and the high moral character of its citizens, and was wholly without a saloon, except in a single instance, and in this case the saloon-keeper was prosecuted with so much vigor, that he was glad to leave. A flourishing Grange was maintained here for several years, and was only disbanded when the general object for which the Order had been instituted had been attained. There is yet alive an active branch of the Order in the southwest part of the township, known as Jericho Grange, No. 212, and was established December 19, 1843, with George Creviston, Master; Isaac M. Sharp, Steward; J. W. Stokes, Secretary. The present membership is eighteen and the present officers are W. 1. Bishop, Master; Orville Stokes, Steward; T. J. Creviston, Secretary. Maple Grove Grange, No. 460, was instituted May 27, 1814, near Mt. Moriah Church. The first Master was David Alexander; Treasurer, Job Bishop; and Secretary, Henry Bishop. The present officers are Master, John R. Wilson; Treasurer, Job Bishop; and Secretary, Henry Bishop. Mid- dleburg contained, according to the census of 1880, a population of 212. It has two general stores, one drug store, one carriage factory, two blacksmith shops, two shoe shops, one
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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY,
saddlery shop, one shingle factory, one pottery and tile factory. The latter enterprise was started abont 1850. to meet the great demand for sugar crocks, and is carried on at present by the Marquis Brothers. The town also contains a fine township house, built in 18;9, at a cost of $1,150, and including the furnish- ing $2.250. It is a frame structure. the upper part of which is a hall, while the lower part is used in part for holding elections and trans- acting other township business. There is also a very fine hotel in the town, now under the «ficient management of Col. Joel Haines, un- derlying which is a thick vein of limestone of which there is a fine quarry near. The town is on an eminence. and great difficulty is ex- perienced in finding a supply of water. Re- cently Nelson Devore sunk a shaft to the depth of ninety-six feet, over seventy-five of which was through solid limestone before striking a good flow. A few years ago the eu- terprising citizens of the village placed a hy- draulic ram in one of the springs on the okl Sharp farm, about half a mile distant from the town, and now a good supply of water is forced through pipes up into the central part of the town, where it pours a refreshing stream sufficient to supply all the citizens,
The first church was that of the Friends. Imilt about half a mile northeast of the pres- ent town of Middleburg, and was built about Isto. It was a double log structure, with puncheon floor. This was occupied until after 1825, but was finally abandoned. There the first school was taught, and in the graveyard adjoining the first burial was mad .. The what gravestone now to be found is that of Cer. wife of John Garwool. od b ar date Tel das of the 12th month. Isfl. It is a one slab. Col. Haines, when a ton, and, time after time, Tinti 1ML . I fire on the brick hearth tl to be The bo tre of the church. Th. regional that he got was 9 cents for
several months work. This structure was also occupied at times by the Methodists, un- til they built a church of their own, about eighteen feel square, at what was known as Inskoop's mill-dam. This latter church was built abont the time of the war of Is12. This church was on what was known as the Mad River Circuit, and had preaching on week-day. Meetings were held once in six weeks. This church was used as a place of worship until about 1830, when it was used for a short time by the Protestant Methodists. The third church erected was that of the Methodist Episcopal, and was known as the Mt. Moriah Church, and its building dates 1829. It was a howed log structure, built by voluntary contributions of labor. The first members were Dr. John Elbert and wife. John Inskeep and wife, Thomas Ballinger and wife, Joseph Euans and wife, Benjamin Weatherby and wife, Allen Sharp and David Sharp: the latter, in all probability, was the first minis- ter. This building was succeeded, in 1851. by a brick structure, which cost $1.225. This edifico was burned in a very mysterious man- ner, at midnight, August 24, 1821. How the fro originated was never definitely known. but was generally supposed to have been set on fire. It was rebuilt. however, the follow- ing year, at a cost of $1.425. and was furnished at an outlay of some $300 more. In April, 1860. a severe storm unroofed it and blew in a gable end, which necessitated an additional outlay of $350. There is adjoining the church a graveyard, where sleep the early mem- bers of this church. The first interment was that of Mary, wife of John Painter, carly in 1828, and in the same year she was followed by Samuel Sharp, Mt. Moriah Church now has a membership of about thirty. The Pastor is Rev. t. T. Wells. A Sunday school has been maintained in its convection since 1850, with an average attenduure of about twenty or twenty-five. G. W. Taltman is the present
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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
Superintendent. The church was followed by another Methodist Episcopal Church, which was built in the village of Middleburg. in 1834, then but recently laid out. The build- ing committee consisted of Daniel Garwood and Thomas Ballinger. The church was built of logs, and volunteer labor raised the struc- ture. It would have cost, in all probability, about $300. It was abandoned as a church about 1840, and is now used as a dwelling. The decline of this church was no doubt owing to the defection of a large body from the Methodist Episcopal Church, who severed their connection with the parent church for the purpose of establishing the Methodist Protestant Church. The Christian Church at Middleburg followed next, being erected in 1835, and was the first frame church built in the township. It was the only church of this denomination within fifty miles, and Arthur Criffield was the first minister. The cost of the structure was about $400. The present buikling, a frame structure, was erected in 1810. at a cost of $3.200, completely fur- nished. It was dedicated by the Rev. N. A. Walker. The present membership is ahout seventy-five, and is now without a regular pastor. Connected with the church is a Sab- bath school, with an attendance of about sixty- five. This is under the superintendency of William A. Ballinger. The Methodist Pro- testant Church was built in the town of Mid- dleburg in 1836. at a cost of about $1,200, and was a frame structure. The membership consisted largely of those who had been prom- inent in the Methodist Episcopal Church. The old church at Inskeep's Mill was used a short time by the new organization, when they decided to build a structure far eclipsing anything of the kind in the vicinity. The prime mnovers were those who had figured prominent- ly in the early history of the township-name- ly, Capt. Joseph Euans and John and Joshua Inskeep. Both Euans anl Joshua Inskeep
had saw-mills, and contributed largely to the building. It is said that Joshua Inskeep, who was a man of most remarkable pluck. con- tributed more than half the funds to build it. The building, however, was on a more elaborate scale than the times and condition of the congregation demanded, and as a con- sequence was never finished, but continued to be used until a smaller one was built, when it was sold, and is now used as a carriage fac- tory by Eurem Carpenter. The present Meth- odist Protestant Church was built in 18:3. It is a substantial frame, surmounted by a bel- fry, containing an excellent bell, and cost, when finished, $1,650. It was dedicated by Rev. P. T. Johnson, and the first minister was Rev. A. C. Ilall. It has a membership now of about seventy-five, and a Sunday school the year round of about sixty-five scholars. J. W. Young is the Superintendent.
Union Chapel is situated in the southwest- ern part of the township on the line of Mon- ro . Township, and was organized September 1. 1844, and was dedicated November 22, 18;4. with Rev. J. M. Robinson, Pastor. The church was formed by a part of the member- ship of the old Salem Church, one mile and a half below. in Monroe Township, when the latter was abandoned as a place of worship. The original members were: Elizabeth Stuart, N. M. Stuart, Catharine Stuart, Jane Sharp, J. M. Sharp. Catharine Sharp, T. W. Haines and Phebo Haines. The church cost, includ- ing the furnishing of same, $2.200, and both the church and Sabbath school are in a flourish- ing condition. The membership is about sixty, and the Sabbath school about the same number. The present Pastor is John S. Pumphrey. The Superintendent of the Sab- bath school is James Seamon.
The first schoolhouse was located near Joshua Inskeep's. It was a log building of the rudest sort, with puncheon floor and huge fire-place, with greased paper pasted over an
HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.
aperture, as a substitute for glass. Here pre- sided. as first teacher, William Seger, who is mentioned among the carliest settlers.
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