USA > Ohio > Logan County > The historical review of Logan County, Ohio > Part 9
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SAMUEL WALKER.
Came to Logan county about 1831: he was a lawyer of fair capacity but was not the equal of MeCartney and others with whom he was compelled to compete: he be- came a justice of the peace, and was recog- nized as a fair-minded and honorable man. He was perhaps the foremost among the ab- olitionists of that early day, and did not hesitate to do everything within his power to bring slavery into disrepute : he was es- pecially active in the Under-ground Rail- road and never failed to render assistance to the flying fugitives.
ROYAL T. SPRAGUE.
the people and he went to that golden Eldo rado. He became judge of the courts of California, and died about 1880.
BENJAMIN STANTON.
Was born in Belmont county, Ohio, and came to Logan county in 1834: he had leen a tailor in his younger days, and stid- in law while pursuing his trade on the tail- or's bench. He had not been favored by great early opportunities, but was a man of great force of character and a natural born orator: he almost immediately took his place as one of the leading lawyers of the county, and with MeCartney and Canby was regarded as a strong and able advocate at the bar: he succeeded McCartney as prose- chting attorney, an office which at that early day appeared to be the stepping stone to legal success: he was re-elected, and at the cik! of his second term in 1841 was chosen State Senator.
He was one of that legislature and among the members who resigned in order to defeat a most unpopular bill, unfairly and unjustly redistricting the congressional dis- tricts of the state, he was overwhelmingly returned by his constituents and thus prop- erly endorsed. In 1850 he was a member of the constitutional convention which framed the new constitution of Ohio, and in the same year was elected to Congress.
He remained in Congress for four terms and was regarded as one of the most forceful and able members of that body. In 1861 at the breaking out of the war he was so unfor- tunate as to make a speech in Congress in which he used the term: "Let our erring sisters depart in peace."
This sentence Mr. Stanton was unable
Came to Logan county about 1840. and remained until the California fever seized to explain to his constituents whose loyalty
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HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY.
was of the strenuous kind, and he was de- 1846 he was elected a member of Congress. feated for renomination.
He was afterwards elected Lieutenant- Governor of Ohio, in 1862.
He removed to West Virginia in 1865. and engaged in a large and lucruative prac- tice in the state and United States court. .
Governor Stanton was one of the most forceful and ornate speakers it has ever been the fortune of the writer to hear; his command of language was fluent and choice. and his style of oratory impres-ive.
As a campaign orator he was regarded as especially strong and convincing : he at one time took occasion to answer Clement L. Vallandingham, who had just made a speech in Bellefontaine, and from the steps of Edward Patterson's residence, just south of the court house, completely annihilated his opponent.
His defense of West Virginia, in a speech replying to attacks upon the new state, was one of the most beautiful and elo- quent it was ever the fortune of the writer to hear. Mr. Stanton was a cousin of the great Secretary of War. Edwin M. Stan- ton. He died in Wheeling, West Virginia, in 1873.
RICHARD S. CANBY.
Richard S. Canby was born in Warren county, Ohio, and came with his father to Logan county. He was given every oppor- tunity to secure a collegiate education. and was a very scholarly man. He first en- gaged in mercantile pursuits, opening a store in Cherokee, and afterwards removing to Bellefontaine. He studied law and in 1839 was admitted to the bar: soon after he was elected prosecuting attorney and served four years, after which he was elected to the legislature and served one term. In
served one term and declined a re-election. After his return from Congress he retired to a farm near Rushcreek lake where he lived for several years. He again removed to Bellefontaine, and engaged in business. conducting a flouring and oil-mill: in this business he was not successful and in 1800. 1cmoved to Olney, Illinois, where he was af- terwards elected as judge of the court, and for many years was regarded as a distin- guished jurist. He died but a few years since, full of years and honors,
After the coming of Casad. Canby, Mc- Cartney and Stanton. the practice in the county was almost entirely confined to home lawyers, and the foreign contingent grad- vally melted away.
C. W. B. ALLISON.
Mr. Allison came from Union county to Bellefontaine. He married a daughter of Benjamin Stanton, and the firm of Stanton & Allison had a large practice: Mr. Alli- son was a fine office lawyer, but was not much of a talker: he was elected to the Legislature in 1865, and almost immediate- ly thereafter removed to Wheeling. West Virginia, where he died in 1876.
JUDGE WILLIAM LAWRENCE.
Came to Logan county from McConnells- ville in 1840, and began the practice of law. Bellefontaine was at that time but a small village, but the energy of the young lawyer soon won him a lucrative practice and a rep- utation for ability : he continued to practice for many years, and accumulated a large fortune.
He was a most active and successful pol- itical leader and held many offices at the hands of the people : he was prosecuting at- torney, reporter of the Supreme Court of
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HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY.
Ohio, member of both branches of the Ohio ords will be found in another part of this legislature, and for nine years served as work, it is eminently fitting that one who has been so long and so prominently identi- fied with the bar, and with the public and political interests of the county. should be taken notice of in a general review of the legal fraternity.
judge of the Common Pleas court: was ten years in Congress and afterwards served as first comptroller of the United States Treas- ury, and died in IS99. A more extended no- tice of Judge Lawrence appears in another part of this work.
JAMES WALKER.
Among the most prominent members of the Logan county bar was James Walker who came to Logan county from Knox county. He was born in Washington coun- ty. Pennsylvania. April 4. 1826, and studied law with Columbus Delano at Mt. Vernon. Ohio, and came to Bellefontaine about 1850 and was twice elected prosecuting attorney. in 1854 and 1856; was United States .As- sessor from 1862 to 1865: in 1867 was elected Mayor of Bellefontaine, and was af- terwards a member of the legislature four terms. In company with Judge William H. tion, 1873: was a candidate for Governor in West, they established the Bellefontaine Re- 1877, but was defeated. publican newspaper. in 1854.
He was a most fearless and able attor- ney and never hesitated to express his opin- ions upon all public questions.
When it was extremely unpopular to be recognized as such. James Walker was an outspoken and determined abolitionist and never failed to render assistance and to speak in behalf of human freedom. He was a man of firm convietions and a most loyal and devoted patriot .
JUDGE WILLIAM H. WEST.
An account of the Logan county bar would be incomplete without a notice of Judge West. although it is not the purpose of the writer to speak for the living, who are here to speak for themselves, and whose rec- 5
Judge West was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, February 9. 1824. and was educated at Jefferson College. Pennsylvania: he came to Bellefontaine alout 1850, and studied law with Judge Lawrence, and was admitted to practice in 1851: he entered into partnership with Judge Lawrence and became an active and successful practitioner: was prosecuting attorney from 1852 to '54; was a member of the legislature from 's8 to '60, and from '62 to '64. and State Senator from '64 to '66: was Attorney-General of Ohio from '66 to '68, and judge of the Supreme Court. member of the last Constitutional Conven-
Judge West is the Nestor of the Logan county bar .
He is a man of great legal knowledge and a elose student of all public affairs ; his opinions and judgments are always entitled to command the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens: as a lawyer he has always been distinguished for his carefui and close attention to the principles of law. and has always been clear and forceful in making application of them.
As an advocate at the bar Judge West has had few equals and has always com- manded the attention of legal lights both at home and abroad.
I am not expressing my opinions alone when I say that Judge West at this time stands preeminently at the head not only of
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HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY.
the bar of Logan county but of the state as well.
Judge West was one of the foremost m the organization of the Republican party in the United States, and has ever since been a inost ardent and consistent member of that party.
I have frequently said that in appear- ance, in stature. in address and in general forceful expression Judge West resembles, in many respects, the gifted and immortal Lincoln.
As a political orator Judge West has few equals, and his voice has been heard from the hustings in all parts of the coun- try: one of his greatest efforts was the presentation of Blaine at the National Re- publican convention of 1884, for nomination for President.
He has been called "The Blind Man Elo- quent." and while unfortunately deprived of his sight it would appear as if his mental vision has been only the more fully en. hghtened, and his wonderful reasoning powers the more fully developed.
His long and useful life is drawing to a close, but during more than half a cen- tury he has been a member of a bar that has been recognized throughout the state as one of exceptional ability, and has taken part in some of its greatest legal contests.
JOHN A. CORWIN.
One of the many who came from a dis- tance to practice at the Logan county bar. at a later date, was John .A. Corwin, of Urbana : he was a most gifted man. of fine personal address, and of sweeping and convincing oratory ; his appeals to the court or jury were short. but were generally snc- cessful. He was as fine a specimen of phys- ical manhood a- I remember to have seen,
faultlessly dressed in broadcloth, with a lofty and superb carriage: I distinctly recall that he was to my youthful mind the very perfec- tion of manhood. He was a supreme judge of Ohio when only twenty-four years of age, but quickly fell under the influence of drink, and went unhonored and unsung to a drunkard's grave: the last time I saw him he was a physical wreck, and in fear- ful contrast with the ideal of my boyhood.
JAMES KERNAN, SR.
I must not close this notice of the Logan county bar without speaking of one who for more than a quarter of a century was an active and successful practitioner: he was born in Ireland in 1814, and came to Logan county in 1840, and died in 18;8. He was a most pains-taking and carein! lawyer and withall a most polished and companionable gentleman: he embodied within himself the culture and the address of his Irish birthright, and in his daily walk and conversation, was a splendid ex- emplification of the polish which had come down through the long line of Irish ances- try. He died suddenly, stricken with pa- ralysis, while attending court in our neigh- boring county of Hardin.
The bar of Logan county has always been distinguished for its ability, and has for many years been regarded as one of the strongest bars in the state.
RUTAN AND RIDDLE.
Among the men who perhaps did more for the town and its improvements than any other of its business men were William Rutan and Abner Riddle: they came to Bellefontaine from West Liberty in 18+ ;. and at once took an active part in the im- provement of the new village.
1
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HISTORIC.IL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY.
They were both saddlers having work- Powell. one of the original proprietors of Bellefontaine. Mr. Carter was a most en- tertaining man with a splendid memory and store-house of anecdotes relative to early times : his recollection was clear and dis- tinct of the older settlers, who came to turn this wilderness into a home. The first meet- ing held in his neighborhood was held in ed at this trade in West Liberty, but had also had been quite extensively engaged in stock dealing ; at that early day the quality of the stock was not of the best, and it had to be gathered up over quite a large extent of territory; they frequently bought a drove of cattle and hogs from the adjoining coun- ties of Champaign. Shelby. Allen. Auglize. . the house of Samuel Carter; he was for Hardin, Hancock and Union, bringing them together and found market for them in Cin- cinnati, the eastern markets, or sold them at home to butchers and others. many years a member of the church and was one of the first to assist in its organiza- tien. The road which ran from Beheville to the Manmee passed near his house. He served in the war of 1812, and was a most loyal and patriotic man, and a good citizen.
For many years not only before, but after coming to Bellefontaine they were the most extensive dealers in all this section of Ohio.
Shortly after coming to Bellefontaine they purchased the lot where the People's bank now stands, and built a large brick hotel on the corner. called the Rutan House. and also store-rooms on Columbus street west of it : and in 1852 started a bank under the name of Riddle & Rutan.
These buildings all burned dewn in the fire of 1856, but they were almost im- mediately re-built. and they continued the largest property-holders in the town.
Their business grew and extended itself and with it they continued their public im- provements, and for many year- were active in all matters connected with the growth of the city.
Mr. Rutan died quite suddenly, in 1878. and Mr. Riddle in 1888.
SAMUEL CARTER.
One of the old residents of Logan coun- ty was Samuel Carter: he came with his father to Logan county in 1809: for many years he lived just south of Bellefontaine and was an honored citizen of the county. He married Nancy, the daughter of John
CHAPTER VIII.
THE TOWNSHIPS - MONROE TP. - M'ARTHUR 1P. - CHEROKEE-NORTHWOOD -- UNION TP .- THE BRETH- REN AND AMISHE OR MENNONITE CHURCHES-RUSH CREEK TP .- RUSHSYLVANIA, PERRY TP .-- LIBERTY IP .- GRAND VIEW CEMETERY-BLOOMFIELD TP .-- HARRISON TP .- BORES CREEK TP .-- STOKES TP .- WASHINGTON TP -PLEASANT TP .- RICHLAND TP.
Upon the organization of Logan county. which was taken from Champaign in 1817. the first county commissioners were Robert Smith. Solomon McColloch and William McBeth, they held their first meeting at Belleville. April 14, 1818, and appointed Martin Marmon treasurer and Nicholas I'ickerell sheriff of the county.
On the 144th day of August, 18IS, the commissioners, by resolution, divided the county into four townships, Miami. Lake. Jefferson and Zane; it was the purpose to divide the county so that the four townships
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HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY.
should be. as near as possible, of equal size, and they were about seven miles wide and extending north and south the entire length of the county.
In 1820, when Union county was or- ganized, about three miles were taken off of the east side of Zane township and added to Union county : by reason of this loss Zane township had less territory within its limits than the other three towaships. These townships were formed by dividing the county by lines running north and south into four parts.
If you will take the map of Legan cou .- ty this demarkation of the four original townships, will clearly appear. the present townships of Miami, Pleasant. Bloomfieldi. Washington and Stokes were all included within the original township of Miami.
The townships of Union, Liberty, Har- rison, Lake. McArthur and Richland. were all within the Boundaries of Lake.
The townships of Monroe, Jefferson and Rush Creck were within the boundaries of Jefferson. while Zane, Perry and Bokes Creek were within the boundaries of Zane.
The most populous of these townships was Jefferson: at the first election, held in 1818, immediately upon the formation of the county, seventy-three persons voted in Zane township. one hundred and thirty- two in Lake, one hundred and ninety-two in Jefferson and thirty in Miami: it will thus be seen that nearly one-half of the pop- ulation of the new county was in Jefferson township.
Jefferson township and Zanestown had Leen the central points to which the early settlers had been attracted and the lands in the Mad river valley had been the first to le taken up and located. To this point came the McCollochs, and the Virginians who had
been induced by the wonderful stories which were carried back to the east to come to this marvelous eldorado of the west.
Isaac Zane had many years before cast his lot with the Wyandots. and here had reared his family and had been the central figure in the formation of this part of the county for more than a third of a century.
OTHER TOWNSHIPS FORMED.
From time to time other townships were formed from the original townships as the outlying settlements began to fill up. and it hecame inconvenient to go such long dis- tonces for the purposes of transacting bus ;- ness and attending elections.
MONROE TOWNSHIP.
The first township to be formed from the four original townships was Monroe. which was cut off from the southern end of Jefferson, March 5th, 1822, and the com- missioners ordered an election to be held a! the house of Conrad Moots on the first Monday in April for the election of town- ship officers. Some of the early settlers of this township were Samuel and George Mc- Collech. fr an Virginia in 1803. Robert Frake, from Kentucky in 1810. Nathan Gil- liland. from Virginia in 1810. Thomas Athy. in 1809. Zebedee Randall. from New York in 1810. George Connard and Charles Moets, from Pennsylvania in 1809. George Green, from Kentucky in 18to, Willian Henry and Obediah Williams, from Vir- ginia in 1814. Err Randall in 1810, Nich- olas and1 Henry Pickerell, in 1813.
The first settlement was made around and near Pickerelltown and named after Henry Pickerell one of its early settlers. Robert Smith came from Virginia in 1811.
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HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY.
and was one of the first associate judges in the county.
Among those who settled in this neigh Lorhood of Pickerelltown, was a strong sprinkling of Quakers, a most admirable and peaceful people: they included the Pick- erells. the Williams, the Randalls, the Pax. tens, the Greens, the Johnsons and many others, and this settlement became in after times one of the central stations of the Un- derground Railroad: the slave escaping from bendage and fleeing for the north star, found ample protection and safe transit when once within their keeping.
The Indians for many years made this section along the Macachack and the Mad River their dwelling places: one of their villages destroyed by General Logan's ex- pedition in 1786 was on the farm of John Nash. On the farm of the late John Nash is a rock called "Squaw Rock," where an Indian maiden waiting for her dusky lover is supposed to have been shot by a white hunter who mistook her for a warrior; it was near to this spot that General Simon Kenton was compelled to run the gauntlet and where Simon Girty interceded for the life of his friend.
It was to this point that John Slover, one of the captives taken in Crawford's de- feat, was brought, and from which he es- caped to carry back to Pittsburg the story of the disaster.
Here the Macachack finds its way to the Mad River, and it was in this beautiful val- ley that Donn Platt lived to make it famous with his poetry and wit.
M'ARTHUR TOWNSHIP.
The township of Me. Arthur was estab- lished in 1823, and was taken from the orig- inal township of Lake; it was in early
times in the center of that section of the country which was held and occupied by the Indians as their hunting ground: it was between the Macachack towns and Sol- cions town and was near the town of Buck- ongehelas.
General Duncan McArthur who was not only a distinguished sollier and a good pol- itician was honored in the naming of this township: he was quite a fore-handed man and had made it his business while prose- cuting his military campaigns to pick out some good lands for entry and purchase. and he was a large land owner in this town- ship.
General Hull when moving towards De- treit camped in this township just north of Cherokee, on the lands owned by David Wallace, and near the twin springs; it was long afterwards known as Hull's encamp- mient.
The first white settlements were made and the first land purchased in 1814 by Pe- ter Stamats, of Pennsylvania. In the year 1820 John and Samuel Herrin and John Watt came into the township, and in 1823 Peter and Samuel Hover. Robert Edmund- son and Samuel Lease settled near the pres- ent town of Huntsville: in 1827 one Ad- cock Carter came and settled on one thous- and acres of land entered in the name of Joseph Carter: Reverend James Wallace came from Pennsylvania in 1832; David Wallace came with his family in 1835: John Coulter removed from Bellefontaine and settled upon a farm on this township in 1835: John Shelby, who had come from Virginia in 1809 and settled in Union town- ship, upon the removal of the Indians. in 1832, went to MeArthur township and purchased nearly five hundred acres of land. and built a one-story brick house on the
HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY.
edge of Cherokee; it is still standing: he was the pastor; the meeting house was was long a power in the county; was a built of hewed logs. member of the legislature for ten years and one of the associate judges, as well as com- mander in chief of the militia.
Abram Elder settled in the township in 1835, and became an associate judge of the courts.
A mill was built in 1828. by Adam Yearn, and the township had in due time three distilleries, the first by Henry L. Bick- ham, the next by Edward Harper in 1845. and the third by William Harland and Hen- ry Instine.
CHEROKEE.
In 1832 the town of Cher. kee was laid out and became in due time a most thriving center of business: it was on the stage route from Springfield to Sandusky: two hotels were built and it had half a dozen stores : Joseph Robb. Richard S. Comby, James Langhead. and Linas Cutting. all kept store there: it had three blacksmith shops and two wagon-makers.
When the Mad River and Lake Erie railroad was located it was an independent village, and the inhabitants would lend no assistance for its construction as they thought the road must come to their town anyhow: the railroad people were just as independent and located the road a mile away, and Cherokee died in a single night. and the town of Huntsville sprang into ex- istence like Jonah's gourd: about all there was left of Cherokee for many years, was Kempt Carter's hotel where the boys and girls used to go for dancing and merry-mak- ing "in ye olden times."
The First Presbyterian church in Lo- gan county was established in Cherokee and organized in 1822: Rev. Joseph Stevenson
In 1823 the Methodists organized a church, and in 1831 the United Presbyte- rians established a church and Reverend James Wallace continued for many years its pastor.
NORTHI WOOD.
The town of Northwood was surveyed and platted in 1832, and in 1833 Reverend J. B. Johnston and others established the Reformed Presbyterian church, commonly called the Covenantor church, at that place.
At Northwood this church. in 1847, 1111- der the leudlership of the Reverend Johnston. established a college and a seminary which for a number of years were very flourishing institutions, and drew their students from all over the country: they were both re- moved some years since to Beaver Falls. Pennsylvania.
The founders and professors of these institutions were learned and able men, and were recognized as theologians and able teachers : among them were the Reverend J. B. Johnston and Professor J. R. W. Sloan, who became President of the college. Professor Sloan afterwards preached for a number of years in Pittsburg; he was a very eloquent pulpit orater and a man of great learning and ability; his son, who was a young boy at Northwood. is the author of a life of Napoleon and is now Pro- fessor of history in Columbia College.
UNION TOWNSHIP.
Union township was organized in 1820, Leing cut off from the south end of Lake.
Among its earliest settlers were Robert and Raphael Moore, Samuel and James Mc- Hvain. William and Archibald Moore, Wil-
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HISTORICAL REVIEW OF LOGAN COUNTY.
liam and John Carter, John and Thomas Makemsom, John and Benjamin Schooler. David Askren, Robert Newell and his sons Samuel, William, Hugh and John : William and Joseph MeBeth, Robert Crocket, Wil- liam Gray and otliers. The Mellvains came in 1810. William Carter came from New York about IS11; his son, Camtiel Carter. who lived just south of Bellefontaine en- listed in the war of IS12, and served until peace was declared : Samuel married a daughter of William Powell: Robert Moore catne from Pennsylvania and located in Lo- gan county in 1806.
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