History of Logan County and Ohio, Part 76

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 76

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The United Brethern built a church a mile or two north of East Liberty about the year 1850. But it has not been used as a temple of worship for fifteen or twenty years. It is now owned by E. Akey, who uses it as a grain and wool warehouse. The first resident phy- sician in the township was Dr. J. W. Hamil- ton, who came in 1836. llo was an able physi- cian, and had an extensive practice until he retired from active professional life. Whil . in practice he had ten students, who road under his tutorage, all of whom became phy- sicians of considerable note, and some of them quite famous. These students were his three brothers, William R., Edward and John 1. Hamilton, Alonzo Garwood, William Sulli- van, Sr., - Johnson, Amen Davis, W. 1. Sullivan, Josiah Whitaker and S. N. James. The three Hamiltons went to Peoria, Illinois; Edward died there, and John L. is publish- ing a medical magazine in Peoria at the present time. Ile was a delegate from the United States a few years ago to the Medical Association of Europe. Dr. Garwood lives in Michigan, and has served two terms in the State Senato. Whitaker died of consump- tion. William Sullivan lives in Allen County. William J. Sullivan in Urbana. Johnson is dead, and Dr. James still lives near East Liberty, but has retired from practice, and spends his time in leisure and in entertaining his friends. Christopher Smith was an carly

541

HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

Justice of the Peace, and held the office and dealt out justice to the offenders of the law when this was Champaign County. John Garwood was also an early Justice, the next, perhaps, after Smith. The first death in the neighborhood was that of John Bishop's wife, but the date is not remembered. She was buried at what is now known as the Inskeep burying ground. The first birth and the first marriage are events that have passed out of remembrance long since.

When the settlement of Perry Township commenced there were no roads, but paths and Indian trails through the forest. The first road cut out led from Garwood's mill to Big Spring, where it intersected the Zanes- field and Sandusky road. The next road was from Garwood's mill to the Skidmore settle- ment, Garwood's mill being the most in- portant place in the county for miles; the roads all centered there, or diverged from that point. The Bellefontaine and Marys- ville road was the first turnpike built through the township. The Zanesfield and Middle- burg pike was built previous to the one above mentioned; only a half mile of it, how- ever, is in Perry Township. There is now about fifteen miles of turnpike in the town- ship, and others under contract. No section of the county is better supplied with first- class roads than Perry. A railroad is the only additional thoroughfare it really needs. Such a line of travel would be of incalculable value to the township. The hopes of the peo- ple have several times been raised to the highest pitch in expectation of getting a railroad, but so far they have failed to be realized. The Bellefontaine, Delaware & Mount Vernon Railroad, a project agitated years ago, has been graded through the town- ship, and sufficient funds have been sub- scribed to complete it. The people of Perry stand ready at any time to do their part.

The first mercantile venture was made by

Lot Inskeep, who opened a store about 1826 on the road leading from Garwood's mill to Big Spring, only a short distance from the mill. C. II. Austin succeeded him, and did business at the same place for a year or two, when, upon the laying out of East Liberty, the store was moved into the town. The first tavern was kept in the village of East Liberty, and the first postoffice was established at Gar- wood's Mill, and went by the name of the mill until the laying out of the village, when it was changed to East Liberty. Isaiah Gar- wood was the Postmaster, and the mail was brought on horseback once a week, passing this office on its way from Columbus to Belle- fontaine.

Education received due attention from the early settlers of this section of country. One of the first teachers remembered was Mathias Williams. He taught just over the line in Zane township, but his school had quite as many supporters from Perry as from Zane. The schoolhouse built at this point is in Zane township, but the district is partly in Perry, and the graveyard at the schoolhouse, lies on the line between the two townships. A man named David Reed taught in East Liberty about 1815-16. John Garwood was the next teacher. Simpkin Harriman was also an early teacher. The houses in which these carly, schools were taught were the proverbial " log schoolhouses," with mud-daubed cracks, pun- cheon floor, stick chimney, etc. The pioneer schoolhouse is another "relic of barbarism " that has passed away. In its stead we now find the handsome and commodious frame or brick schoolhouse, filled with patent desks and modern furniture, and perfectly ventilat- ed and heated. Perry. with its half dozen modern schoolhouses, compares favorably in educational facilities with any township in Logan County. Competent teachers are em- ployed, and the schools, which are taught for the usual term each year, are in a flourishing

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HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

condition. The population of Perry from 1$40 to 1880, inclusive, is as follows: 1840. 1,011; 1850, 1,33 :: 1860. 1,110; 1870, 922: 1×50, 1,00%,*

East Liberty was laid out in March, 1831. by John Bowyer, and is located on survey 489, conveyed by John Garwood to John Bowyer. The plat is signed by James W. Marmon, County Surveyor. Since laying out the place an addition has been made to it by McClain and Robinson. Josiah Austin, Sr., built the first residence, and John Met'ally put up the second dwelling house. The first store was kept by King & Hitchens, and succeeded the one kept on the road a short distance from Garwood's Mill, already alluded to. They opened goods in October, 1834. The next store was kept by White & Allen, who were in business about 1836. The first black- smith was James Seaman. John Ewing was the first shoemaker. John MeCally opened a tannery in 1833, and continued it for ton years, when he sold it to Job H. Sharp. The latter gentleman continued it until the busi- ness of tanning became one of the lost arts. Samuel Cook was an carly saddler. The first postoffice was called Garwood's Mill, as al- trady stated. After the town was laid out the office was moved, and the name changed to the one it now bears. In place of the weekly horseback mail, a daily mail by hack passes to and from Bellefontaine. F. F. James is the present Postmaster. The first tavern was kept by S. B. Taylor in the house now occupied by Mrs. Humphreys as a resi- dener. The next was kept by Joseph Sea- man. The " Liberty House " is now in charge of E. S. Stover, an efficient landlord. Dr. Hamilton was the first doctor in the village, as well as the first in the township. By the present census, the village has a population of 22 ..

The first schools in East Liberty were taught . The pop) . Tef I ist I berty is given separately.

by John Garwood, David Roed and Simon Leaman. A log house was built for school purposes near where the present one now stands. It was used for several years, when a larger one was built, and it in its turn gave place to the present one. Still another might be built with credit to the town. It is a one story frame, and presents a rather dilapidated appearance.

The Methodist Church was the first organ- ized in the village, and was formed before the village was laid out; Rev. George Walker was one of the first preachers. A log church was built in 1835, and was used until replaced by the present frame, which was erected about the year 1850. It cost some $800 in money: much of the work and material Being donated. It is forty by fifty feet in dimension, and has but a small membership. Rov. Mr. Wells is Pastor. A flourishing Sabbath School is main- tained, of which Il. Ballinger, Jr., is Super- intendent.

The present Baptist Church was built in 1862. A log church had been built a number of years before, near the center of the village; the present edifice is a substantial frame, Rev. Mr. Whitaker is the pastor. The Sabbath School is a union school with the United Presbyterian Church. The church building of this denomination stands just across the street from the Baptist Church, and was built in 1825; it is a modern frame, and cost about $2.200; Rev. Luther Smith is the pastor. The Union Sabbath School maintained at this church, in connection with the Baptists, is large and flourishing, and is under the super- intendener of Moses Emerson.

The business of East Liberty sums up about as follows: Two general stores, une grocery store, one drug store, our blacksmith shop, one wagon shop, one cabinet and furniture shop, two shoe shops, one harness shop, one mill. one postoffice, three churches. one schoolhouse, one hotel, one Masonic lodge, and two doctors.

543

HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

East Liberty Lodge, No. 247, A. F. & A. M., was chartered October 18, 1854, by L. V. Bierce, Grand Master, and J. D. Caldwell, Grand Secretary. The charter members were Isaac B. Dutton, Jas. W. Ballinger, Z. MI. lIiatte, Isaac Johnson, T. F. MeAdam, Job Wickersham, Job H. Sharp, Jno. MeLain, Daniel MeLain, Phineas January, Joshua B. Sharp, C. B. Sharp, and H. A. Reynolds. The first officers were Isaac B. Dutton, Mas- ter; Jas. W. Billinger, Senior Warden, and Z. M. Hliatte, Junior Warden. There are sixty-one members, with the following offi- cers: J. D. Inskeep, Master; J. W. Haines, Senior Warden; W. S. Southard, Junior War- den; John McCally, Treasurer; R. R. Smith, Secretary; J. W. Harding, Senior Deacon; A. G. Heath, Junior Deacon, and Isaac Rog- ers, Tiler.

One of the finest features of East Liberty is its flowing wells, which are objects of more than common interest. A plentiful supply of pure water is above earthly price. The lofty columns of Persepolis are mouldering into dust, but its eisterns and aqueduets re- main to challenge our admiration. Although the glory of East Liberty is on the wane, its flowing wells are not surpassed by the spark-

ling fountains of Tadmor in the wilderness. The flowing wells in and around East Liberty abound in the most plentiful profusion. Water is obtained at a depth of from twenty to sixty feet. It often rushes up with a force that will carry it into the second story of houses, through pipes, in the same manner of eity water-works. The "race " of McCally's mill is fed by several of these wells, one of which flows up through a three-inch pipe a continual stream. Some of these wells are strongly magnetic, while others are tinctured with iron. All that is wanting to make East Lib- erty a famous resort and watering place, is a railroad, a little capital, and a moderate sup- ply of energy and enterprise.

North Greenfield is located on survey No. 4,210, of military land. It was surveyed and laid out by S. A. Harbison, County Surveyor, for the proprietor, Henry Van Vheris, June 24, 1847, and the plat recorded November 12, 1848. The place consists of a collection of perhaps a dozen houses, one store, two or three shops, a church and a postoffice. The town was originally called " Mudsock," from the immense quantity of mud which used to ap- pear there in the winter season.

CHIAPTER XXIII .*

STOKES TOWNSHIP-THE LEWISTOWN RESERVOIR-PIONEER SETTLEMENT-THE WARWICK COLONY, ETC.

"Let others praise their climes of sun or snow, Thou art the land of green, majestic groves, Where fresh seas shine, and endless rivers flow."

A LMOST the first statement made to the searcher after historical data, on inter- viewing one of the " last lingering representa- tives " of the backwoods pioneer, is, " It was all woods around here when I came." This sen- *Contributed by Dr. J. H. Se Cheverell.

tence is big with import, and conveys a world of meaning; still, after listening to the same thing weeks, months and years in succession, it obviously loses somewhat of its novelty, be- comes monotonous, so to speak; hence, one can imagine the feeling of peaceful, calm con- tent felt by the writer when for the first time his eyes rested upon the dense forest, still covering a large portion of the territory,

5.41

THSTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

Low known as Stokes Township. Although t! . . til ment of this territory was begun son a ber the Indian "exodus," we find that in Isro the population did not reach 600, and three or four years later, when it became nec- ossary to draft men to fill the ranks of our depleted army, it decreased very materially from oven that small figure. While there are many substantial frame residences scattered about in different portions of the township, yet the primitive log cabin, with its clap hoard roof and massive out-door chimney, is not by any means an infrequent sight.

Stokes is described upon the records of the connty as parts of Townships 6 and 7 south, in Ranges ? and & east. Its location is in the extreme northwestern part of the county and its, boundaries as follows: North by Auglaize and llardin Counties, south by the Townships of Bloomfield and Washington, east by Wash- ington and Richland, and west by Shelby and Auglaize Counties. The territory under con- sideration is well watered. The Little Miami River empties into the reservoir from the northeast, and the two branches of the Mnebinippi Creek, which flow across the southwest portion of the township, are the principal streams. The larger of the two branches of the last mentioned stream for- merly afforded water-power of considerable importaner. The Lewistown reservoir coyers several thousand acres of land in the castorn part of the township. In the centre of this there existed originally a small body of water called Indian Lake. This was surrounded on all sides by low. marshy lands. When the construction of the reservoir was authorized. a lever was built sufficiently high to present overflow, enclosing an area of 13,000 acres, a portion of which was sparsely timbered. To- day one cannot well imagine anything more drama and desolate than this spot. this vast sofmerrel plain, thickly studded with the bare and darkly decaying trees, whose leaf-

less branches spread abroad as if to warn the unwary of the dreadful miasma lurking be- low. Quinine ought certainly to be at a pre- mium in the locality surrounding this " cess- pool of pestilence." The surface of the township is a generally low, level plain, and for the most part requires draining to fit it for the purposes of agriculture, yet when this is done the soil becomes very productive. Corn and grass are the principal erops, though the past year many acres of wheat was grown. The inhabitants are strictly an agricultural people, and imbued with the characteristic enterprise of Logan County farmers, it is only a question of time when Stokes shall take equal rank with the average townships of the county.

While searching for data relating to the legal formation of the township, the writer learned the following : During the years 1861 or 1868, a descrepancy amounting to some $300 was found to exist between the books of the Clerk and Treasurer. The Town- ship Trustees, after much vain effort to reach a balance, ordered that both books be burned. This was accordingly done. Comment is per- haps unnecessary. Tradition says: Stokes Township was originally a part of Washing- ton and Bloomfield, and that it was, by order of the Board of County Commissioners, oreet- ed a separate township during the winter of 1839. The first election was held at the house of John Hover on the first Monday in April following. Samuel Hickenbottom was elected Clerk; William Fenton, Treasurer: Jacob Horner, Assessor: John Fenton, Justice of the Peace; and Daniel Hull. Constable. Elections were held at the Van Horn school- house for several years. At this time the Houtchens' schoolhouse, near the centre of the township, serves as a voting place.

The Lewistown Indian reservation extend- ed into the southern portion of Stokes. In the southwest part, upon the cast bank of

545

HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

Muchinippi Creek, stood the " council house " of the reservation; numerous paths extended into the forest in divers directions, by which the " braves" were wont to find their way to this rude congress. The building was of logs, in size some twenty by forty fert, without chimney, floor or windows. It stood upon land now owned by the Wright heirs. Through this section passed, at an early period, the thoroughfare now known as the Bellefontaine turnpike, and along this, no doubt, the first settlement was made. So far as the writer has been able to learn, a man named Newman was the first white settler in the township. He built a small log cabin near a spring on the farm now owned by Samuel Hill. This spring was possessed of such peculiar properties that, it is said, the cattle which drank from it were seized with what was termed the "trembles; " this, how- ever, soon passed off. The spring is now un- used. Newman did not tarry Jong in the . wilderness, but was succeeded by a man named Hall. Among others who came to this locality were George Harner, Joseph Wright, Peter Bruner, Martin Penso and Shockley Marsh.

Soon after the departure of the Indians, a settlement was made in the northeastern part of the township. William Fenton, afterward a prominent man in the township, was among the first. He came from Ross County, and wrought from the dense woods the farm now owned by George Walters. The log cabin he formerly occupied is still standing, and is the last of the original dwellings now extant. Morgan Toland occupied the farm where David Richie now lives. James Fenton owned lands adjacent. He planted the first · orchard in this part of the township. bring- ing the trees from Champaign County. Many of these trees are still alive. John B. Stamatz arrived in October, 1835, and male a settlement upon 200 acres of land,

still occupied by his widow and family. John Hover settled where George Morris now lives. Ile was a famous hunter, and occu- pied a hunter's cabin, on the margin of Indian Lake, long before there was a white settler in the township. William Knott and Jacob Curts settled near Mr. Hover's. George Ometz, Henry Schoonover and Thomas Powell found houses in the west part of the township. William Van Horn located on a tract of 360 acres, about one mile northeast of the Center, in November, 1838. Of this family, then con- sisting of ten children, five now reside in the township: Jacob, Job, John, Eli and Wil- liam. Andrew N. Gullett settled on lands now owned by Job Van Horn. He eventually removed to Huntsville, and engaged in mer- chandising. Job Van Horn, Sen., settled on land now owned by Robert Houtchens. Among others who are entitled to mention, as carly settlers, are: John Hendershot, George Henninger, Alexander West, Solomon Shaul, William Bodkins, John Taylor, Daniel Ilul!, Abraham Gardner, and George Taylor. These are all who became permanent settlers prior to 1840. From this date forward the settle- ment increased more rapidly; log cabins became numerous; openings in the forest enlarged; roads were cut through, and the wilderness homes rendered as con- venient as possible. Still, many things were lacking. The want of lumber was severely felt, and it was to meet this that Benjamin Driesbach, in about 1845, began the erection of a saw-mill. Its clumsy machinery was propelled by the waters of the Muchi- uippi Creek, and after a time a run of stone was added. These industries were in operation until 1868, in June of which year the waters of the creek rose to an unheard-of height, doing considerable damage to buildings along the stream, and sweeping away entirely the dam and both mills, even to the foundation. David Ghormley put in operation the second

546

HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

mills in the township. These were located on a small spring run, called "Hog Swamp Branch." Numerons portable steam saw- mills have been in operation in the township. Sabes did not reach the dignity of a store and post-office until 1850. The former was under the ownership of Frank Downs, and Moms Smith was the first postmaster. The store and post-office were in the southwest part of the township. Alexander McCoy was the pioneer merchant in the center settlement. The postoffice was finally discontinued for want of patronage. Job Van Horn is the proprietor of the only store in the township at the present time. Situated about one and one-half miles north of the center, it is sur- roun led by a few dwellings. Here, also, is a shingle manufactory, wagon, blacksmith and shoe-shop.

The earliest death remembered was that of Jacob Curts, which occurred in August, 1836. The body was interred on the George Taylor farm. Sarah Hendershot and John Fenton were the principal parties to the first marriage contract solemnized in the township. The date of this interesting vecasion was in the early spring of 1838.

During the spring of the year 1839 the set- tlers within a radius of perhaps five miles gathered near where is now the Van Ilorn burying-ground, and in due time erected a small log builling for a schoolhouse. During the summer it was furnished with a huge lire- płace across the rear. A wide-throated stick chimney furnished ample outlet for the escape of the heat, if it did smoke furiously at times. Puncheon floor, seats and a door were pre- pared, and two small real glass windows were added. Early the subsequent winter, or as soon as the boys could be spared from the Jabors of the farm, Wilbur Earl was July in- stalled pe lagogne. This school was conduct- ed upon the principle of " main strength and stupidity." Our of the pupils, now nearly

sixty years of age, remembers with painful distinctness the one great feature of Mr. Earl's system, viz .: the free use, upon the slightest occasion, of the " birchen rod." She says, "If any children were 'spoiled' that winter, it was not because they were 'spared ' the rod." Ezekiel Davis taught the second term in this house. The report of the Board of Education for the school year ending Au- gust 31, 1849, shows:

Whole number of children enrolled. .... .352

Whole amount paid teachers .$1,532.12

Whole number of schoolhouses. S Value of the same, with grounds .. .$2,923.00

It is a fact worth remembering that in nearly every pioneer settlement, the advent of the school and church follow each other in rapid succession. Stokes Township is no ex- ception to the rule, however much it may dif- fer in other particulars. Soon after William Fenton had begun his life in the wilderness, a preacher of the Methodist Episcopal faith, named Davison, who was engaged in mis- sionary work, held a meeting there, at which all the settlement was in attendance. Soon after the Fentons, Bodkins, and perhaps others. now forgotten, united in the formation of a small class, Meetings wore continued here for several years, In about 1846 Rev. (. G. Pogne, who was then stationed at Cherokee, began a series of meetings at the house of David Ghoriley, and here was formed the pioneer Presbyterian Church in the township. The constituent members of this organization were in part, David Chorm- ley and family, C. I. Brooks and wife, Aaron Collet and wife, and E. Durkee and wife. After the formation of the Church, services were transferred to the Van Horn school- house. In 1819 a small church edifice was . built, and the minister settled here. The membership gradually increased until the sickly season, incident to the building of the Lewistown Reservoir, ensued. The rapid

547

HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

increase of ague, chill and other fevers created a panic in the settlement, which eventually resulted in the removal of the minister in charge, and the greater part of the member- ship. At this time nothing remains of this once flourishing organization except the church edifice, now crumbling to decay. The United Brethren Church was formed in 1850, at a series of meetings held in a schoolhouse on James Coleman's farm, by a mission preacher named Nichols. Archibald Car- lisle, wife and daughter, and Charles Boyer and wife, constituted the first class. After about one year Rev. Mr. Lay came for a short time. In 1852 Rev. Thomas Downing as- sumed charge of this class, and under his ministry many names were added to the Church. On the breaking out of the rebellion the membership numbered seventy-five. Un- ion and disunion sentiment ran high, a di- vision of the Church ensued, and the organi- zation virtually ceased. A few years since a re-organization was effected, and services are now held at the Center schoolhouse. Rev. George Woods is the minister in charge. The Methodist Protestant Church was formed during the latter part of the winter of 18; 8-9, at a series of meetings held at the Van Horn schoolhouse, by R w. B. F. Tucker. The first members were Eli Van Horn and wife, G. MI. Clover, wife and daughter, George Wal- ters and family, and Lloyd Thomas and wife. Services are still held in the schoolhouse. The membership is eighteen; present Pastor, C. Phimmer. A Sabbath School is held in connection with this church during the sum-

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History of Logan County and Ohio, Part 76

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