History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 90

Author: R. Sutton & Co.
Publication date: 1883
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 427

USA > Ohio > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 90

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Turtle Creek Presbyterian Church

was organized at the house of William Patten, in Turtle Creek Town- ship, near Hardin, June 28, 1865, by Rev. W. M. Galbreath, J. N. Stew- art, and John Neal, members of the committee appointed by the Pres-

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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.

bytery at its last meeting to organize a church in the neighborhood of Hardin, Shelby County, by the name of "The Turtle Creek Presbyterian Church." At the time of its organization there were quite a number of persons living in the vicinity of Hardin who had been members of the Sidney Presbyterian Church for several years, and on petition of those persons this society was organized, with William Patten, Ben- nett Thomas, Edwin E. Bell, Hugh 'T. Patten, Mark Wilson, John Tho- mas, William M. Bell, Oliver C. Betts, Frank Thomas, Eli D. Thomas, Charles Quinn, Hugh Wilson, Benjamin Mills, James Quinn, Charles C. Cowan, John W. Bell, Horace E. Bell, John W. Graham, Sylvester Col- lege, Dr. Wilson V. Cowan, James Sturgeon, James Wright, James G. Marshall, Henry C. Graham, Martha E. Patten, Lucinda Patten, Ellen Quinn, Martha A. Honnell, Martha A. Marshall, Mary A. Wright, Har- riet A. Cowan, Ann R. Thomas, Eliza A. Graham, Jane Laughlin, Louisa Hamilton, Sarah A. Caldwell, Elizabeth Mills, Mary E Wilson, Ann C. Thomas, Margaret Thomas, Laura M. Bell, Susan R. Thomas, Harriet E. Ewing, Mary A. Wilson, Melinda Stroutz, Martha Marshall, Josephine H. Bell, Elizabeth A. Graham, Mary J. Cowan, Ellen Burnett, Maggie Russell, Margaret Caldwell, Sarah J. Ewing, Rebecca Zimmer, Margaret Bech, and Mary Hahn, as members of the organization. Wilson V. Cowan, Hugh Wilson, and William M. Bell were elected ruling elders. Wm. Patten, John Thomas, and Mark Wilson were appointed deacons.

Their regular place of meeting was at the residence of Wm. Patten until the completion of the building, which was dedicated in December, 1865, by Rev. Long, assisted by Rev. W. M. Galbreath. The church building is located in Turtle Creek Township, on the Newburgh Pike, a short distance north of Hardin Station. It is a brick structure 50 by 40 feet, which was erected at a cost of about $4500. Their regular pastors since the organization of the church have been, Revs. W. M. Galbreath, Samuel C. Kerr, L. Richter, Robert McCaslin, J. L. Lower, A. B. Struthers, and C. E. Tedford, who was called to the pastorate in September, 1880, and is still in charge of the congregation. The present officers of the church are as follows: Wm. M. Bell, H. C. Wilson, J. W. Graham, Sr., and Dr. Charles S. Cowan, ruling elders. William Patten, Bennett Thomas, Mark Wilson, and John Thomas, deacons; and Wm. M. Bell clerk of the session.

HARDIN.

This town was named in honor of Col. Jolin Hardin, of Kentucky, who also gave his name to a county in both his adopted State and Ohio. He was born in Virginia in 1753, and when twenty-one years of age was appointed an ensign of militia. Shortly afterward he received a wound in the knee, but while under treatment joined the expedition of Lord Dunmore. Entering the Revolution, he became a lieutenant in the cele- brated rifle corps of General Morgan, by whom he was often selected to undertake perilous expeditions. His conduct on these occasions was indicative of courage of the very highest order. On one occasion he was detailed from the Northern Army with orders to approach the enemy, and by some means secure a prisoner, so that some information might be obtained. Accordingly he set out with a small party, and while riding in advance of his men, suddenly gained the top of an abrupt hill to find himself confronted by three British soldiers and one Indian, all under arms. Nothing daunted and without betraying the least hesitation, he levelled his rifle on the party and demanded their surrender. The three soldiers at once threw down their arms, while the Indian only clubbed his musket. The Colonel, thinking assistance might be needed, turned half about to call upon his men, who were approaching without any knowledge of their commander's peril. While thus half turned from the party he had surprised, the Colonel caught a gleam of light, reflected by the barrel of the Indian's gun, and turning suddenly, found it had been reversed. In an instant his own gun was at a level, and although he had not time to lift it to his shoulder he was first to fire, and the Indian fell mortally wounded. In the act of falling he discharged his piece, the ball passing through the Colonel's hair. The three British soldiers were then marched to the American camp by the bold little party of this intrepid leader. For this exploit General Gates extended his thanks to Hardin and his men. After this war Colonel Hardin distinguished him- self in several Indian expeditions up to 1786, when he settled in Wash- ington County, Ky. He was with General Harmar in his campaign against the Indian villages of the St. Josephs, and signalized himself in the general action which made that expedition a success so far as its accomplishment of the original object was concerned. After that object was secured, two detachments, one of which was commanded by Colonel Hardin, suffered defeats by meeting overpowering forces of the savages. Still this only occurred after the main object of the expedition had been successfully terminated.

After the defeat of St. Clair, efforts were made to secure a peace by negotiation, and it appears that "on the 3d day of April, 1792," or eight days before the appointment of General Wayne to the chief command of the Western Army, Major Truman, then at the seat of government, was appointed by the President to negotiate a treaty with the Western Indians. The same day he received his instructions from the Secretary of War, with the further order to proceed to Fort Washington and disclose to the commander, Colonel Wilkinson, the object of his mission, with the pur-

pose of having Wilkinson concert with him as to the proper means to carry his instructions into execution. On the arrival of Major Truman at Fort Washington he found Col. Wilkinson, who had been promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General, was disposed to associate Col. Hardin with the peace mission. Accordingly Major Truman and Col. Hardin, accompanied by a guide and servant, left the fort in June and proceeded toward the Indian towns of the St. Joseph. The first report touching them was that of Colonel Vigo, who arrived at the fort on the 3d of July from Vincennes with information brought to that place by a Wea chief, that four men who had gone from an American fort into the Indian country had been fired upon by a band of Indians; that three of the men fell, killed on the spot; while the fourth, who carried a flag and had papers in his possession, was taken prisoner, but was murdered on the following day. It was further related that the papers were taken to a white man who could read, and who informed the Indians that one of the papers was a long and good talk from the great chief. On hearing this the Indians expressed sorrow for their hasty action. There could be no doubt these four men were the embassy of Truman and Hardin, and that they had been treacherously and barbarously murdered under the flag of peace.

This is the most plausible account of the many we have investigated, and bearing throughout the stamp of truth, has been adopted in the in- terest of justice. It appears Colonel Hardin expressed his belief before leaving Fort Washington, while conversing with Captain James Fergu- son, that his flag would be violated and his party assassinated, as the Indians knew him well, and had occasion to fear and hate him. The sequel shows his belief was too well founded, and his life became a sac- rifice upon the altar of his country, and in his death that country lost a noble son and gallant defender. He died in 1792 when in his thirty- ninth year, assassinated on the spot where the village of Hardin now stands, the village having been named in his honor at the suggestion of Colonel John Johnston, another hero of that troublous period which pre- ceded the settlement of this section. Such were the associations which link this spot to the past-to that past which was largely given up to the conflict between the forces of civilization and savagery, and which called forth so much patriotic heroism. The village may well be proud of the name it bears, even though its present standing does not clothe it with industrial or numerical pride.

Description and Location.

Recorder's Office, Miami County; Troy, Ohio, July 31, 1874. The streets are laid out due north and south and east and west, agreeable to the section lines. The Public Square is parallel to the streets, ten rods long and eight rods wide. The lots, both public and private, are each and every eight rods long and five rods wide. Cross and Front streets are each three rods wide, and the alleys are each two rods wide.

I certify the foregoing to be a true and correct copy of the explana- tion of the original plat of the village of Hardin, bearing date of October 5, 1816, as recorded in vol. iii., page 83, Miami County Record of Deeds.

Witness my hand and official seal the date above written. GEORGE GREEN, Rec. Miami Co., Ohio.

I certify the above to be a true copy of the plat notes of Hardin, as furnished by the Recorder of Miami County, Ohio.

A. S. MARSHALL, Rec. S. Co., O.

The original plat to which the foregoing description applies consisted of thirty-six lots, exclusive of the public square, which embraced two town lots, and one lot each set apart for seminary and church uses, and which were left unnumbered. The original proprietors of the site and founders of the town were Thomas McClish, Joseph Steinberger, and James Lenox, all of whom were intimately associated with the material development of the county as well as the growth of the town. As the town was located prior to the organization of Shelby County and its attendant subdivisions, it may be well to observe it is located in the cor- ners of sections 30, 29, 32, and 31 in Turtle Creek Township, being cen- trally located, measuring east and west, and one mile from the south line of the township. Beyond this it is needless to go, as its boundaries are illy defined in the absence of incorporation.

Accidental Events.

At the organization of the county in 1819, Hardin became the seat of justice, and here the first Court of Common Pleas and session of the com- missioners were held. This dignity was maintained during several con- secutive terms, or until 1820, when the seat of justice was established at Sidney, leaving the old town of proud memory to contemplate with a sigh the "what might have been" of its existence and history. Still, robbed as it was of this distinction, and disappointed in its highest hopes, it did not, like Cynthian, submit to adverse circumstances and unfriendly forces without a vigorous resistance. But its better life, for which it hoped, was doomed, and while it struggled on, it struggled without the substance of hope, and without a well-defined purpose, and so suffered, and still endures the fate of hopeless and purposeless under- takings.

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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.

Incidental Events.

The first buildings erected after the town was laid out were a small frame, in which a store was started by Robert Aldrich and Aaron Hark- ness; a log building in which a hotel was kept by Hezekiah Stout; a log cabin by William Herr, in which he had a cabinet shop; a cabin by Lewis Steinberger, which was partly used as a carpenter shop; and vari- ous other cabins used as dwellings. In 1819 a school-house was erected on the bank of Turtle Creek, and in this building one or more sessions of the Court convened. It was only a small log building, eighteen by twenty feet. Robert Brodrick built a blacksmith shop at a very early date, and Daniel Williams became the workman. The first wagon shop was built and operated by Joseph Jackson in 1840, in which business he is still engaged. C. P. Lenox and W. H. Stephenson erected shops at an early day, in which they worked at the shoemaking trade. The vari- ous changes, introductions, and removals which have effected the men and industries of the town cannot be fully traced. Many came, entered business for a season, and then either changed business or moved away. This is particularly applicable to those merchants and tradesmen who enter a town of this character, while of the hotel keepers it may as well be admitted they have departed apparently without a thought of return. At all events they were all absent during our late visit to the town, and no slate was seen telling either of their departure or return. While looking for a hotel, however, we found the town now contains one gene- ral supply store, one blacksmith shop, one wagon shop, one boot and shoe shop, and one steam sawmill. It also constitutes an independent school district, with a building within the town. The Methodist de- nomination has a church within the village, while the professions are represented by two resident physicians and surgeons.

Hardin M. E. Society

is, without doubt, the oldest M. E. society in Shelby County. It was organized some time prior to the year 1819, but the exact date of the organization cannot be ascertained, as there are no records of the organi- zation in the church books. It was organized at the residence of Cephas . Carey, by the Rev. Goddard, with about eighteen members, viz., Ceplias Carey and wife, Abraham Davenport and wife, Jeremiah White and wife, William Bush and wife, David Carter and wife, John Stephen and wife, Ebenezer Stephens and wife, Thomas Shaw and wife, James Thatcher and wife. In 1819 Richard M. Cannon and, a few years later, Joshua Cole and wife connected themselves with the church. The society met at the residences of its members alternately for several years, or until some time between the years 1832 and 1834, when they erected a church in the southeast part of Hardin village, on a lot donated by Thomas McClish. It was a brick structure, thirty by forty feet, with an eleven- foot story, and was erected at a cost of about $600, not including the volunteer labor performed by some of the members. In this building they held their meetings for many years, or until the completion of their present edifice, which was dedicated in August, 1865, by the Rev. William S. Paul, assisted by Rev. Philip A. Drown, then their pastor in charge.

This building is located in the north part of Hardin village. It is also a brick structure, forty-six by thirty-four feet, with a sixteen-foot ceil- ing, and was erected at a cost of about $3000. Their present member- ship is about sixty. The officers of the church are as follows : Anthony Allen and W. R. Wheatly class leaders; Joseph Jackson, Robert McCol- lough, Alfred Coon, T. S. Cannon, and Richard A. Lenox, trustees; and Broad Cole recording steward of the circuit. The first class leader of the society was Jeremiah White, and the second leader was Abraham Davenport.

The following list will show the names of some of the regular pastors in charge since the organization of the society: Revs. George Getts, James B. Finley, William H. Raper, Robert O. Spencer, D. D. David- son, James Smith, David Kemper, Peter Sharp, David Warnock, Sam- uel Lynch, who came on the circuit in 1840, and remained two years, Revs. Jacob A. Brown, William M. Spafford, Edward Williams, Thomas H. Wilson, William B. Brandeberry, Rev. Hanson, Rev. John S. Calb, Revs. Philip R. Roseberry, Henry Burns, Arthur Elliott, and some others who were on the circuit prior to the erection of their church building in 1865. Rev. Philip A. Drown was the pastor in charge during the erection of said church building. Then Rev. A. Berry was on the circuit one year; Rev. B. L. Rowan one year; Rev. Caleb Hill one year; Lemuel Herbert one year; David Bulle one year; Jabez S. Blair two years; P. P. Pope two years; J. R. Colgan three years ; R. D. Oldfield one year; B. W. Day one year ; D. B. Rinehart, who is now on his third year of pastoral labor on the Hardin circuit.

Sawmill.

In 1854 William and Hugh Patten erected a sawmill on the bank of Turtle Creek near Hardin. The building was twenty-eight by fifty feet, and the power was a sixteen-horse power engine. After a number of years it passed into the hands of F. Wilson, who sold it to Henry Wil- son. It then passed through different hands until 1868, when it was destroyed by fire. The next year William, Jolin, and Frank Thomas formed a partnership, and rebuilt on the east bank of Turtle Creek,

which mill is still operated under the firm name of Thomas Brothers. The building is thirty-five by eighty feet, with a thirty-two-horse power engine. It is also supplied with machinery for cutting spokes and rims. In its several capacities it is being successfully operated by Thomas Brothers, who are also purchasers of all kinds of hard wood timber.

Hardin Station.

A short time after the completion of the C. C. C. and I. Railway the company established a station one mile south of the old village of Har- din, and gave it the name of Hardin Station. The first business was undertaken by Samuel M. Cowan, who opened a store about 1853. He was soon succeeded by Cowan & Davenport, who conducted the busi- ness for some time, dealing in grain at the same time. They were suc- ceeded by Marshall & Burress. Soon afterward they sold out to Fleming Hall, who, in turn, sold to Wilson & Co. in 1860. Seven years later J. G. Marshall became proprietor, while Logan Marshall con- ducted the grain trade. In 1869 the grain trade passed into the hands of Isaac Betts, and the merchant's stock was handled by M. McVey, who sold to Betts in 1871. The latter then conducted both branches of the business until he sold the buildings and stock to Samuel Wright, who had the business managed by I. R. Wilson. Two years ago Robert Ewing bought both buildings and stock, and is still conducting the grain and mercantile business.

A post-office was established a short time after the building of the railroad, and for the most part the merchants who at different times con- ducted the one store of the place, acted as post-master as well as station agent. Although a ticket office was once established, it was long since abandoned.

The town was never regularly laid out nor organized, and so has no history as such, and is chiefly important as a shipping point for stock and grain, and as a station for the village of Hardin.

Spoke and Bent Wood Works.

This industry was established at Hardin Station by Ewing & Dins- more in 1880, the buildings being two stories, twenty-four by fifty-six feet, with a wing one story, twelve by forty-five feet. The machinery is operated by an eighteen-horse power engine. The manufactures consist of spokes and bent wood work of all kinds. In October, 1881, Dins- more disposed of his interest, and since that date the factory has been operated by Ewing Brothers.

BIOGRAPHIES.

RICHARD M. CANNON.

Some time prior to the Revolution of 1776 a lad of fifteen found his way from Ireland to the United States. This lad was James Cannon, who, on reaching this country, became a tanner's apprentice for about two years. He then joined the Continental army and served throughout the great war for independence. During this service he was cominis- sioned as first lieutenant for meritorious conduct, and was part of the time under the immediate command of General Washington. At the close of the war be located in Sherman's Valley, Ligonier County, Pa., where he soon afterward married Miss Mary Long. About the year 1795 they moved to Ohio and settled in Franklin, Warren County, where Mr. Cannon built a tannery, which he operated about four years. In 1799 he moved to a farm which he purchased, near Franklin. Here he re- mained until 1806, when he moved his family to Shelby County, or rather to land now embraced in this county. This land is now within the limits of Orange Township. He remained here about eight months and then moved to land near the mouth of Loramie Creck, where he lived until late in the year 1808. At this time he moved to land which afterward became the town site of Sidney, his family being possibly the first white settlers who made improvements on the present town plat. The family lived here until late in the year 1815, when they moved to lands already entered in section 28, Turtle Creek Township, near the present site of the village of Hardin. At this place he lived a number of years. His death occurred in Clinton Township in the year 1828, having survived his wife about three years, her death having occurred while she was visit- ing one of her sons at Fort Wayne, Ind., in the year 1825. Their chil- dren were named, Abraham, Catharine, Margaret, James, Susanna, Richard M., and Daniel.

RICHARD M. CANNON, the only survivor of the family of James and Mary Cannon, was born in Butler County, O., on the 12th day of October, 1796, and so was a mere child when his parents came and settled within the present limits of Shelby County. He is thus entitled to rank among the very earliest of our pioneers. Assisting his father, he helped to clear land and gather the scanty crops of those first years of settlement, which are always and everywhere distinctively the years of toil. He thus as- sisted in clearing the land now occupied by the town of Sidney. In the spring of 1813 he entered the American army as a substitute, and served until the close of the campaign of 1814. Since the settlement of the

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family in Turtle Creek Township in 1815 he has been a resident of this township. On June 3, 1818, he married Miss Mary, daughter of Robert and Pamelia Brodrick, which was probably the first marriage solemnized in this township. Miss Brodrick was born in New Jersey March 11, 1800, and came to Shelby County on the occasion of her parents' removal here in 1816. After marriage Mr. Cannon settled on his father's home farm in section 28, where he lived two years and then moved to a farm a little distance north of Hardin, where he lived until 1823. He then purchased land in section 19, to which he moved his family, continued improving the land, and has ever since resided here. Mrs. Cannon laid down the burden and care of a life of seventy years on the 11th of De- cember, 1870. Her death was mourned by an extended circle of acquaint- ances and friends. Mr. Cannon was remarried February 14, 1872, to Miss Calesta M., daughter of William and Eliza Davis, of this township. She was born in this township April Ist, 1827. Mr. Cannon early en- joyed the confidence of his neighbors, as attested by his election in 1820 to the office of justice of the peace, which office he retained during the fifteen ensuing years. Ile also filled the offices of treasurer and trustee of the township. He reared a family of nine children, named Parmelia, William B., Caroline, Charles W., Sanford A., Thomas S., Daniel, Rich- ard W., and Nehemiah F. Of these Parmelia died in 1861, Charles and Nehemiah in the late war, while the other five survive.

THOMAS S. CANNON was born in this township October 4, 1832. With the exception of about six months' schooling at Sidney, his education was obtained in the little log schoolhouse which stood on his father's farm. In 1850 he began teaching, in which profession he labored during the winter months of about six years. On the 2d of October, 1856, he married Miss Lavinia Roadarmer, daughter of William and Mary Road- armer. She was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, December 5, 1835. They settled on the farm now owned by John Campbell in section 21 of this township, where they lived until April, 1863, when Mr. Cannon pur- chased one-half of his father's home farm in sections 19 and 20, where he has since resided. His family consists of three sons and four daugh- ters. He has filled the office of township clerk a period of nine years.

WILLIAM DAVIS,

deceased, was born near Maysville, Ky., October 18, 1797. He was a son of William and Elizabeth Davis. His father died when William Davis, the subject of this sketch, was yet a small boy. When he had attained the age of eighteen years, or in the spring of 1816, he came to Shelby County, Ohio, and located in Turtle Creek Township. He en- tered a piece of land a short distance west of Hardin, on which he erected a cabin, and cleared some land during the summer, and in the full of the same year (1816) he returned to his native State, and brought his mother with four children, viz., James O., Tuble C., Hiram A., and Elizabeth, to their new home in Shelby County. Mr. D. remained on the land with his mother for a number of years, and assisted her in taking care of, and providing for, the younger members of the family. He was a man of unusual strength ; his equal was hardly known in Shelby County. He was considered one of the leading men of the county in his time. He was always found among those who were in favor of any- thing that was for the benefit of the neighborhood, and for the advance- ment of education or religion. He was elected to different offices, but never accepted any of them higher than township trustee.

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History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 90

Author: R. Sutton & Co. Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Number of Pages: 427

Author: R. Sutton & Co.
Publication date: 1883
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 427