History of Logan County and Ohio, Part 69

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 69

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"A man severe he was, and stern to view. * * * *

Well bad the boding tremblers learned to trace The day's disasters in his morning face."

Ilere nearly all the youth, in what is now Zme Township, attended school in that day and learned to read by means of Webster's Speller, the Testament and Columbian Ora- tor. or were instructed in the mysteries of figures by the aid of Pike and the Western C'alenlator. This, however, was burned, and was succeeded by a frame in 1820, far in ad- vance of its times; the spaces between the studding are said to have been filled with brick laid in clay mortar. Here Edward Watt was the first teacher,

The liest brick school was built on what is the pike leading from North Lewisburg to

Middleburg, and is noted as being the first house in which a stove was used. Here, also, for the first time, the study of geography was introduced in 1838, Hiram Garwood being the first pupil in that branch. The township now contains six sub-districts, in five of which are substantial frame schoolhouses, while in the village there is a fine two-story building, erected in 1824, at a cost of about $2,:00. The two lower rooms of this building are oc- cupied by the schools of the village district, while the upper part, built by the township, is open to pupils from all the districts.

The schools of Zane Township are above average, and employ female teachers usually in the sub-districts, at an average salary of about $38 per month, continuing from seven to eight months in the year. In the township school, a good male teacher is employed, for six months in the year, at a salary of about $14 per month.

4S5

HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

CHAPTER XVI .*

HARRISON TOWNSHIP-INDIANS-SETTLEMENT-PIONEER SCHOOLS-CHURCHES-ETC.

" Their ax-strokes rang 'mid fores.s deep, Their cabins rose in every glade ; With freedom wild, their pulses heat- Those fearless souls, the truly brave.

Our domains then, a wildering wild. Of savage haunt and tangled wood, Where roamed unfettered nature's child, And forests grand, in beauty stood." -Crowell.

ESS than seventy years ago the ter- 1 ritory constituting Harrison Town- ship to-day, teeming with industry, was a dense wilderness, unvisited by the cheer- ing rays of civilization. Over these cul- tivated and fertile fields, dotted with substan- tial dwellings, surrounded by the many evi- denees of luxury and refinement, roamed savage wild beasts and a race of men more savage still than they. Here sported the timid deer, while at night the wolf made the echoes ring with his unearthly howling. In the forest the Indian sauntered along the rip- pling streams in pursuit of the game, which was almost his only sustenance. Here the romantic lover " wooed his dusky maid" in primitive simplicity. To-day the wilderness has given place to cultivated fields; the seat- tered huts and wigwams of the Indian, to the comfortable homes of an enlightened and prosperous people, blessed with abundant social, religious and educational privileges, all rendered possible by the enterprise, toil, and privat on of those noble pioneers, now rapidly passing away.

The period prior, during, and immediately subsequent to the last war with Great Britain, possesses the greatest historie interest. The Contributed by Dr. J. I. Se Cheverch.

infant settlement; the roving bands of Indians; the coming of the soldiers; the building of the block-houses; the hasty gathering of the set- tlers to the strongholds; the constant fear of invasion, and the final proclamation of peace, when the families dispersed, cach to its own abiding place, all combine to render the epoch of all-absorbing interest. The Indians, who wandered about at will, were generally on the best of terms with the settlers, and. although, when under the influence of "fire-water," they fought savagely amongst themselves. rarely, if ever, did they molest the families of the whites. and, had it not been for the constant fear their presence engendered, they would not have been disagreeable neighbors. In one particular that early period resembled the present-whisky was the bane of the Indian, as it has ever been the curse of the world. Its sale to them was strictly forbidden, under heavy fines and penalties, and yet individuals were not found wanting who, for the paltry pittance the traffic afforded, would jeopardize an entire settlement. Urbana was the near- est point where this "liquid death " was openly vended, and thither the red man " oft' went his weary way." Mrs. Carnes relates a tragie incident which came under her obser- vation, and as it so perfectly illustrates the evil effect of whisky, we reproduce it here : " Near the close of a beautiful day in the early summer of 1813, a party of Indians were riding along "Hull's trace," which passed near her cabin door. From the noise they made she knew they had been drinking, and fearing they would make her a visit, she dropped the curtain to the one small window

IHISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

in the i of lexl welling; as they drew Ovdje, mercased; ber woman's curi- xining the ascendancy she drew the paran partially aside and p oped out. Two "! the party were engaged in deadly conflict, and almost at the instant her eyes rested upon them one, the smaller of the two. rolled from his horse, dead, the hatchet of his antagonist buried in his brain. The party made but a momentary pause, and rode away, leaving the body of their dead comrad . where it fell." Howe's " llistorical Collections " contains the following: . At the breaking out of the war many hundreds of friendly Indians were col- leeted and stationed at Zanos' and McPher- wu's block-houses, under the protection of the government, who, for a time, kept a guard of soldiers over them. It was at first feared that they would take up arms against the Americans, but subsequent is ants disipating these apprehensions, they were allowed their fre 'un."

Hair son, which is known ni on the r words of Logan County as Town ny ! and 3 sonth. Ranges 14 and 15 va t. is ! thated neur the centre of the county. It a limited north lyy Me Arthur, south by Urion and l'ab- erty, west by Washington and! Pleasant, and . It by lake, of which it forme la part until the year 1852. The sands are of the class domeninated Congress, and em plise thirty sections. The surface of the me .Ship is nerally roller, and interspersed with low- lands de prairies. The higher portions of the township are a day or limestone soil, best adopted, perhaps, to the growing of wheat, while in the bottom lands, a black Jam of I reality, prodo minatos. Aho . the In towi ship I'n. are numerous I'me- Units, & m veich large quantities of 1

- . red with water during

T .nl were shimned, being 1

considered worthless, but by a judicious sys- tem of draining, they have been rendered arable and now produce large crops of corn with comparatively little labor. Harrison Township compares favorably in agricultural productions with the best in Logan County. The uplands were originally covered with a dense growth of white oak timber, in fact, no other variety was found in the township, but a little of the original forest now remains. The only water-course in the township is the Buckongehelas Creek and its principal tribu- tary. Blue Jacket. The former rises in the extreme northern portion of Lake Township. It enters Harrison on Section 1, and after many devious turnings flows from the town- ship near the southwest corner. Blue Jacket Creek rises in the southeast corner of the township, and flowing in a general northwest- ly direction, discharges its waters into the Buckongchelas near the west township line on Section 28. These streams were formerly quite important water-powers. Their names are derived from two Indian chiefs, whose tribes inhabited this region. Buckongehelas was a village chief of the Delawares and a distinguished warrior of his time.

Situated upon a small tributary of Blue Jacket Creek. in Sections 10 and 11, is a lovely little body of water of an area of per- haps 100 acres, known as " Silver Lake." As it is becoming quite a pleasure resort, the fol- lowing items of its history may not be nuin- teresting: A short time previous to the war 1×12, an individual, a reputed counterfeiter, named George Blaylock created a small log cabin in the dense wood surrounding the out- 1 .t of this lake, and here, in utter seclusion, he passed many years of his life. From him the name " Blaylock Lake " was derived. After a form of years the name was changed " "Sp neer Lake." in honor of Alexander O. Spencer, who was the original purchaser of a great portion of the lands in this part of

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

the township. The next owner of the lands surrounding this body of water was William a Denison, who made a third, and, it is hoped, final change in the name. Silver Lake seems an appropriate designation. It is chiefly val- uable by reason . of the many thousand tons of ice annually gathered from its bosom.

The pioneer settler in Harrison Township was James McPherson, a native of Carlisle, Cumberland Co., Penn., who, with a family consisting of a wife and four children. arrived during the fall of 1811. Ile camped near the site of the present Infirmary building of Lo- gan County, and setting immediately to work, he soon completed a comfortable log cabin near by, and here, solitary and alone, this family passed their first winter in the wilder- ness. The subsequent summer, incident to the war with England, a commodious block- house was created a few rods west of Me- Pherson's cabin by a company of Rangers under command of Capt. Ilinkson. This was called the - McPherson block-house." A few months later a like structure was completed by Capt. James Manary's company. from Ross County. The site of this building was upon an elevation, perhaps one-half mile southeast of McPherson's. Here, in these two strongholds, the settlers from the sur- rounding country sought shelter at intervals until the cessation of hostilities.

James MePherson's purchase consisted of 600 acres of land, embracing and contig- nous to what is now the Infirmary Farm, and in his home, erected near his first log cabin, he spent the remaining years of his life. His was an eventful life. Captured by the Indians at Longhry's defeat, near the month of the Big Miami River, he was kept a prisoner until after Wayne's treaty in 1195. Returning to civilization, he located in Penn- sylvania, where he remained until his re- moval to Logan County. Subsequently to the close of the war he was appointed Indian

Agent, and remained in charge of the Shawnees and Senecas at Lewistown until 1830. Hle was afterward appointed Associate Judge of Logan County, in which capacity he continued for several years. The next settler in Harrison was, without doubt, George Blaylock, a native of Georgia, who began his lonely, hermit-like existence here, in tiw early spring of 1812. It was generally believed that this singular person was a member of an extensive gang of counterfeiters and thieves, who infested this country at that time, from the Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, but as nothing could be found against him by way of positive proof, he went his way unmolested, shunned by. and shunning society. He eventually removed to a small hunter's cabin on the borders of an inland lake, now a portion of the Lewistown reservior, and there died. " unhonored and un- lung" Many. incidents illustrating his po- vuliarities are related, but as their publication ran serve no good purpose, they are omitted. At about the same date, or at least early in the War of 1812. James Reed settled on a farm in the southwest corner of Section G. Two sons-in-law, named Durham and Lewis, located in the vicinity. Robert Caseboalt, a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal faith, came next, and to him belongs the honor of organizing the first religious society in the township. A man named Stansbury lived for a time near Manary's block-house, and after- ward settled on the border of the lake. An- other family named Tucker occupied a little cabin on Section 5. The unsettled condition of affairs for several years subsequent to the close of the war prevented immigration into Harrison, and it was not until as late as 1820 that settlement began in earnest. Among the later settlers are, George Heath, Michael Carnes. Thomas Sutherland, Stephen Hoyt, Samuel Carter, Michael Smith, John Houtz, James M. Kauffman, John Horn. the Schulers, and possibly others now forgotten. The tide

HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

of immigration from this period flowed steadily onward, rude log cabins dotted the hillsides. trails were ent out, improved and became roads. The small " clearing's " gradually in- creased in size, and needed industries came to the front.

On Backongehelas Creek, on lands now owned by George Horn, a small log grist-mill was built, so many years since that no one re- members much of it, and no vestige now remains. A small log distillery was built in the same region, and at about the same time. It was not a success. In about 1820 a colony of Germans, of whom George Walpers was the leading spirit, erected a distillery and a small grist-mill on Blue Jacket Crock. After several years of a tive operation these manu- factories were allowed to go into decay. John Iloutz, in 1821, crecte la saw-mill on Bhte Jacket Crock -- the first frame mill in the township. The only manufactories now in the townel ip are the great and saw-mills owned by Fu derick Kaylor. They were built by Daniel Shawver. Perhaps no township in I Logan County excels Harrison in its high- 1 Wave. The first was an improvement of " Hall's Trace, " which ran in a northwest di- rection through the township, passing the block-houses. At this time a system of gray- "lod turnpikes pass through the town ship at convenient distances. It has also two lines o! rulroads. The first of these is the C'incin- utti, Sandusky & Cleveland Kadrea ), which passes across the northeast corner of the township. The Cleveland, Columbus, ('in- innati & Indianaj ohs Railroad passes through the southwest part of the townships a short distance north of Silver Lake. Gretna Sta- ton, on this road, is what its name indicates, and the nearest approach to a village with which townsh p has ever been threatened. Aside from the necessary milroad Inklings, t- lampor ting nothing except a greers ala pitel . TE loter was est. bli led

in the spring of 1829, with Adam Hover, Postmaster. The pioneer mercantile estab- lishment was under the management of lames MePherson, who kept a small stock of goods at the block-house, under Government pat- ronage, lle continued in business until the departure of the Indians for the West, since when nothing of the kind has had an exist- ence until a recent date.

It is a fact worthy of remark that in all pioneer settlements, so soon as the cabin was made comfortable, the small tract of forest cleared away, and the first erop of corn plant- od, a log building would be rolled up, the children gathered together and a school estab- lished. Our pioneer colony was no exception to the rule. Soon after the close of the war a log cabin was put up at or near the site of the present schoolhouse, in sub-District num- ber three. It was a primitive building in- deed, puncheon floor and door, and clap- boar I roof. The entire rear end of the build- ing was occupied by the fire-place. and even then it was necessary to build the chimney out-of-doors. The light was admitted by means of a window in each side of the house, made by cutting out the half of two legs nearly the entire length of the building. Sticks were placed in the opening, over which oiled or greased paper was fastened. Along each window was a rough board, resting on wooden pins driven into the logs. This was the desk at which the larger scholars sat while writing. The seats were split stats supported by wooden legs. In this manner the schoolhouses were built for a number of years in the early settlement. The first term taught in this building was by Isane Myers, an ( Acellent teacher by the way, who had but one fauit and that was an ungovernable af petite for whisky: asoften as one s each month he would quit school and go on a "regular spree." as our informant puits it. After a mumuher of Isspent in bedsly intervication he would

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY

resume school again. The following are some of the pupils of this school: Margaret, Maria, and Anna Smith, James and John Hill, Heury MePherson, Peter Powell, Alexander Long, Silas Moorehouse, James Reed and James Roberdi. A second term was taught in this house by a man named Scott. The south part of the township was without a school- house until about 1830, when a hewed log- house was built on John Roger's land. In this Sebastian Keller taught a term of school during the winter of 1830-31. Fol- lowing is the report of the Board of Echuca- tion for the year ending August 31, 1819: whole number of scholars, 329; whole amount paid teachers, $1,1:6; number of school- houses, 1; value with grounds, 83,000.

Early in the formation of the permanent settlement, subsequent to the close of the war, Rev. Robert Casebolt, held meetings at the cabins of the settlers, and as early as 1825 a small class was formed at the pioneer school- house. Of this pioneer organization the writ- er has been unable to gain any definite data. In about 1830 a class was formed at the house of ME. O. Wood, Esq. It was composed in part of M. O. Wood and wife, Thomas Powell and family. Joseph Peach and wife, and Joseph Gordon and wife. This class was attached to Bellefontaine Circuit, and in time acquired a numerous membership, but deaths and re- morals ensued until at last the class was dis- solved, the remaining members going to other churches. A small class meets at the Houtz schoolhouse, at this time, and this is the only organization of the Methodist Episcopal faith in the township. The only church edifice now within the limits of Harrison is that : known as the "Flat Branch" Christian Church. This was erected during the summer of 1865, upon lands donated for the purpose by James McPherson and Henry Buckwalter. It is a substantial wooden structure, and cost $1,000. The society was formed the same summer by

Rev. C. T. Emmons, now at West Liberty. The constituent members were John, William, Anderson and John W. Noer and wives, Henry Seymour and wife, and Henry Buck- walter and wife. Meetings were held, a short time prior to the completion of the church, in the schoolhouse on Section one. The pres- ent membership numbers twenty. The Pas- tors who have presided over this church are C. T. Emmons, Jesse T. Hunt and Joseph D. Marsh. A Sunday School was held in connec- tion with this church for a few years. Another Christian Society (the Mennonites) mrets in this edifice. The organization of this society was effected in 1875, and it now numbers thirty members. The pulpit is supplied by local talent.

Near the County Infirmary building is an old grave-yard, which would seem to deserve mention at our hands. Here are buried a goodly number of " native Americans." who died while under guard at the block-houses, and, also, within the same enclosure, sleep many whose once strong hands have helped to rescue these broad acres from the primeval forest. The first white interment here was a child of Mrs. Bennett, buried in 1812. The first white adult, whose remains were con- signed to this lonely woodland burial place, was Joseph Smith-date 1820. The fune- ral services were conducted at the house of the deceased by Rev. - Lane, of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, at East Middleburg. At this time there are numerous public and private cemeteries in the township.

The Infirmary farm, containing 160 acres of land, and which is situated in sections : and 13, is fully described in another portion of this work.

Being strictly an agricultural people, it is but natural that anything calculated to benefit the farmer should be generously patronized. Early in the winter of 1823-4 many prominent citizens of the township became interested

HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

490

in the matter, and a charter, was soon pro- cured authorizing the organization of llarri- son Grange. No. 318, Patrons of Ilusbandry, with a constituent membership of twenty- nine. The society met for a time in the schoolhouse in sub-district No. 5. The line hall, now occupied by this society, was erected during the summer of 18:1. It is sit- uated on the Sidney turnpike, about one mile west of Bellefontaine, is two stories in height and cost $1,000. Present membership is eighty-five; regular meetings are held on Thursday evening of each week. The suc- cession of Masters is as follows: J. M. Porter,

J. R. Norton, George E. Emery, John F. Kay- lor and John S. Crary.

The carly records of Harrison Township having been destroyed, the writer is unable to give any data in reference to the organization, save that the township as at present bounded, was cut off from Lake Township in the year 1832. The township officers for 1880 are : Conrad Moots, Absalom P. Conard and Thomas G. Ewing, Trustees; Henry W. Cord- rey, Clerk; Thomas J. Turner, Treasurer: W. D. MePherson. Assessor: D. S. Moots and J. S. Horn, Constables, and Thomas J. Turner and W. D. McPherson, Justices of the l'eace.

IIISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

491

CHAPTER XVII.

MONROE TOWNSHIP-DESCRIPTIVE AND TOPOGRAPHICAL-PIONEER HISTORY-EARLY INDUS- TRIES - SCHOOLS - CHURCHES - VILLAGES, ETC.

T THAT portion of Logan County treated of in this chapter is rich in historical lore, and teems with that romance which lingers in mournful memories around the fated red man. Long before the Anglo-Saxon came with his education, refinement and civ- ilization, tradition tells us, and it is borne out by historical record, that this valley was oc- cupied by another race of people, and the surrounding hills echoed with the busy hum of human life. How long they inhabited this region we are unable to say; what ab- original sage led them to this " land of prom- ise" is unknown to us. The Romans pre- served in consecrated temples lasting memo- rials of the founder of their empire, and the enlightened Greeks, availing themselves of the art of sculpture, perpetuated in marble the sages and heroes of their race; but here, no rude pyramid of stone or " mis-shapen tomb," with traditional narratives transmitted by hereditary piety from age to age, inform- ing the unlettered savages of the gratitude they owed to the hero of their tribe, or the law-giver of their nation is found, to tell the exact period of time when they made this val- ley the last home of their own choosing. We know that a remnant of the once fierce and warlike tribe of Shawanoese were found here by the whites. Deprived of their hunting grounds elsewhere, they had been pressed backward, step by step, and had commenced their sad and mournful journey towards the setting sun. But here they were not allowed to remain in security and repose, Dark clouds were gathering over them ominous of the coming storm. White men were thirst-

ing for their lands, and again they were forced to give way before his superior intelligence. Their council-fires paled in the growing dawn of the nineteenth century, and then went out forever in the Mad River Valley. Retreating before the advancing tide of immigration, they have passed away, and are swallowed up in the distant West.

We find much in the Indian to loathe and condemn, and much, too, to admire and honor. Barbarians as they were, and savage by na- ture, yet it is universally true, that when they were treated honorably, as by William Penn, they never betrayed the confidence reposed in them. While admitting their savage cruel- ties, we should acknowledge the provocations were great, and that more civilized beings were often just as relentless as the Indians themselves.

In a preceding chapter of this work; the Indian history is given in detail, and the towns and villages, known as the " Macka- chack Towns," which were once situated in this township, are fully and completely writ- ten, rendering anything that might be said in this chapter but a repetition of what has al- ready been given. It is there noted how Simon Kenton was captured by the warlike Shawanoese, and made to run the gauntlet in front of the towns of Mackachack, and many incidents related of this celebrated borderer. With this general reference to the subject, we will pass to the topography of this town- ship.

Monroe Township lies in the extreme south part of the county, and in the east tier of townships but one. It is bounded on the

HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

492

north by Jefferson Township, on the east by Zane Township, on the south by Champaign County, on the west by Liberty Township, and is nearly five miles square. It was legally organiz .d. March 5, 1822. On that day we find from the Commissioners' records that they ordered a new township to be surveyed, which was called Monroe. It was taken off of the sonth end of Jefferson, and the first election was ordered to be held at the house of Conrad Ments, on the first Monday in April, of the same year, for township officers. The surface of Monroe Township is more uneven than any other township in the county, perhaps, except Jefferson, much of it being broken and hilly, with few bottoms or valleys, and these small in extent. The hilly land is mostly lime- stone, with a clay soil, and produces excellent grazing, as well as fine crops of grain. The bottoms have a black loamy soil, and are highly productive. The principal production of the township is grain, though a number of farmers pay considerable attention to stock, with good results. The timber is such as abounds in this section of the State, viz .: dif- ferent varieties of oak, hickory. elm, walnut. sugar-maple, etc. Sugar-maple is quite plenty, and a number of sugar orchards, or " camps," receive due attention each year, and produce large quantities of sugar an ] molasses. The principal stream is Mad River, which enters on the north line near the center of the town- ship, and flowing in nearly a southwesterly direction passes out of the west line, a little south of the center. Mackachack Creek has its smrer in the township, and also flows in a southwester's course. It has numerous small tributario , which head in the township, and with the main stroom drain the land well, " that the all of artificial means,

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History of Logan County and Ohio, Part 69

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