USA > Ohio > Champaign County > The history of Champaign and Logan counties : from their first settlement > Part 20
USA > Ohio > Logan County > The history of Champaign and Logan counties : from their first settlement > Part 20
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37
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Methodists have a brick in Tremont, also in Westville-the Bap- tists have a fine brick church on the site of the old log.
Rev. Robert McFarland served as class leader, for the first class organized in this part of the township, and that met at Ezekiel Arrowsmith's. Next said class met at Stevens', and until the log meeting house was built-Bro. McFarland still serving until a so- ciety was organized in his neighborhood. His house was opened for preaching and class, until a log house was built partly on his own land, which gave place to a brick, and lately they have built one of the finest brick country churches in the county. These churches stand where the tall trees of the forest once bowed to God who bade them grow.
The men who used to bring glad tidings of great joy to the dis- consolate, should have a place in history, and be held in everlast- ing remembrance. I will give the name of some of them, and first of the Baptist brethren, to-wit: John Thomas, John Gutridge, W'm. Harper, Moses Frazee, Willis Hance, Daniel Bryant, Thomas Price, John Norman, Samuel Williams, and some whose names I do not remember ; all these I have heard preach at Nettlecreek. I will add William Fuson. Now of the Methodist brethren-Henry B. Bascom, Moses Trader, Adjet McGuire, Robert, James and John Findly, John Strange, Russel Biglow, John Collins, W. H. Raper, Augustus Eldy, George Marly, George Walker, Michael Marly, Leroy Swormsted and Daniel D. Davidson-these are all gone.
It might be matter of interest to some at least, if the peculiarities and personal appearance of some of the most remarkable of these men were given. This I do from memory, and may not be entirely correct. Yet, in the main, I think I will be nearly so. I may not give them in the order as they cune.
I take the Baptist brethren first. John Thomas was a small, light man, dark hair and complexion, deliberate, cautious, not ven- turesome, great strength and endurance for one of his size. Gut- ridge was just the opposite; fluent, bold, assuming; would dash ahead if he did run against a stump, which he sometimes did. He cared for his stomach. In a travel once he stopped with a sister for dinner, on wash day. It was about dinner time. When seated at table the lady said they had a plain dinner. Yes, said Gutridge, it is plain fare, but wholesome diet. The lady replied : "If you are a good man it is good enough ; if not, a thousand times too good." Frazee was prized by his brethren for his adherence to his doc-
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trines, and had considerable ability to defend them. Willis Hance was acceptable among his brethren. Daniel Bryant is still living. I have heard him when young, and since he has become aged, and feel it just to say that I consider him among the talented in any branch of the Christian church. For originality, is not surpassed by any of his brethren that I have heard. Thomas Price has been esteemed by his brethren for his piety; I would say a zeal, but not according to knowledge. James Dunlap was an old-times preacher. Was popular in his day. I have spoken of my Baptist brethren that I had known in youth and early manhood ; I may now speak of my Methodist brethren, of whom I know more, and can say more. Bascom was among the first. Somewhat foppish in appearance, of medium stature. He had great command of language. At the time, his audiences were spell-bound ; but soon the enchantment would evaporate, and you had only to fall back on the occasion. Trader was able, but contentious, and seemed to say lam vatch- ing you. McGuire was able, benignant, and wished you to se . the purity and appropriateness of the gospel system. Old Robert Findly had great ability, even when aged ; was strict, rigid of law and order,and drilled his flock. John Findly was mild, persuasive, and logical. James Findly was a large muscular man, bold, deter- mined, defiant, ready for combat, and was a Boanerges, and would awe into reverence. You would think he intended to try to shake creation, and yet sometimes he would touch the sympathies of his hearers. Rupel Biglow was quite small, and almost homely to deformity. When he preached, he would lay his premises as care- fully as a skillful general would arrange his forces for battle, he would comprehend the obstacles to be overcome, see that his forces were sufficient, every officer in his place, men and munitions all properly arranged, and then the word given, shell and shot, small and large arms, grape and cannister, as though the heavens and earth were coming together, and in the consternation would charge bayonets, and complete the destruction. Such seemed to
be his power over men. John Collins was spare, light and sprightly ; his method was conversational ; with rich, mellow voice, a heart throbbing with tender emotions-he would com- mence talking to you; his kindness would win on you, till you would be in his power, then he would deal out some circumstance so pathetically given, that the whole audience would weep in per- fect response to the preacher's wish. After you were seated and
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had listened awhile you could not leave if you would. nor you would not if you could. Augustus Eddy was a fine looking man, and had a clear, strong, musical voice. The intonations seemed to have a magic power over you, as he would urge to pause and think, and you would be likely to promise.
John Strong I had forgotten. He was a slender, tall man, pre- possessing in appearance ; when speaking he would throw out his shrill, strong voice, till he would arrest attention, then he would hold you in a kind of suspense as though some commotion in na- ture was in expectation. The sinner would be in state of alarm, then he would summon all his strength and pierce the wicked as though a well-aimed gun had sent a ball to pierce the heart, and sometimes sinners would fall as if shot in reality.
William H. Raper was perhaps as fine a looking man as I ever looked on. The attention of the audience would never fail to be attracted by the noble dignity of the preacher, and the inevitable conclusion would be, "that you are a finished gentleman and a wise counsellor," and you would cheerfully take a seat near the speaker ; his clear logic and profound thought so modestly given, would pre- possess you in his favor; you would begin to desire his companion- ship, and thus he could lead you against your preconceived opin- ions.
George Marly was the most remarkable for native eccentricity of any in my knowledge. He had good preaching abilities. His audience would alternate between laughing and crying, just at Marly's pleasure, and it was perfectly natural-it may have been unavoidable. He was desired to preach once at each conference.
George Walker was a large, stout man, with a strong voice, ve- hement in his manner. His assaults were made as by storm ; his spirit was to kill or be killed ; not compromising, nothing daunt- ed or impeding, but onward to victory. His mantle has fallen on but few. Leroy Swarmsted traveled here when a young man, or rather, a white-headed boy; he was medium in stature; I only ro- member that he was quite able. Daniel D. Davidson was a lean, long man, of good size, and very fine voice and good preach- ing abilities - a faithful pastor, and able divine.
Michael Marly, (the last of a catalogue that I now notice) was a well made hardy man of good size. His appearance indicated a man of thought and fixed principles, and seemed to say "Treat me and my views respectfully, for they are sustainable by the highest
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authorities." And when put to the test he never failed to make good his purpose. I think I have never known the man that could go into the depths of theology equal with Michael Marly, and he was a student to the end of his life. He would remind one of a man stationed at divergent roads in the wilderness, all unsafe but one, and a departure would hazard life, and it was his business to set them in the safe way. He was able to reconcile apparent conflict- ing passages of scripture, showing their meaning as they stood connected with other scriptures, thus clearly bringing out and presenting truth ; and when in his strength he had great ability to enforce and apply his logical conclusions.
On hearing Alfred Cookman I thought he might be equal to Marly in this respect, but I only heard him twice, and in this he seemed quite able to bring up those deep thoughts that seemed beneath the surface, aud to apply them ; and I regret that these great men have gone, and that we can hear them no more.
The difference between them as it strikes me, is this ; that Cook - man would point to the safe road, all strewn with flowers and beautified with evergreens, and make the impression that all the flowery paths were paths of peace, and then he would go out with that grateful smile and thus win the misguided to that peace- ful way ; while Marly would describe the safety and security of his way, and then point to the danger of those divergent roads, and send out his thrilling warning voice showing the dreadful re- sults, reaching out through countless ages, so as to alarm the fears of the guilty.
I could wish to have known some of the valuable Ministers of other orders or branches ofthe Church, the Presbyterian, Luther- an, the Friends (Quakers), and others, but in early life I only knew the Baptists and Methodists, as there was no organization of any other near us. Of late I have become acquainted with some valua- ble Ministers of whom I could say much of their gentlemanly do- portment and christian character. I hope however some one will rescue from forgetfulness some of those venerable departed spirits, that I did not know. But little more than 60 years since and Ohio was an unbroken forest, the home of the numerous and powerful war-like savage tribes. The fine soil and climate presented unusual inducements to emigration. Some enterprising pioneer found homes for themselves and families among wild beasts, and
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war-like savages, in the bosom of this fertile country. The anticipated danger incident, prevented capitalists from early emigration.
The war of 1812 ( 59 years since ) not only checked emigration, but spread consternation among those that had settled. Some re- traced their steps to their former homes, while others, rather than lose their all, collected in forts of their own construction, for per- sonal protection. The Government, as we have seen, was mostly in possession of the land, and sold in tracts of 160 acres and up- wards. The purchaser paid eighty dollars in hand, per 160 acres, and the remainder in equal annual payments, till paid. In de- fault of meeting any of the back payments as they fell due, the land was forfeited to the Government, subject to re-entry, or sold to the highest bidder. Some settled on land, and commenced building and clearing, but failed to meet one or more of the back payments, and lost the money paid, their improvements, and land in the bargain, as before mentioned. But those who suc- ceeded in making payments, were debtors to the Government for several years for their land. Let those of the present day remember that the pioneers of this country first cleared, then cultivated their land with their own hands, and sold the products : if wheat, at 25 cents per bushel ; if corn, at 10 cents per bushel ; and pork at $1.50 por hundred weight. Great inconvenience was experienced for want of good roads. It was a matter of great inconvenience to haul grain a long distance, over bad roads, for such prices as named. Our farming implements, too, were quite inferior, and money was mostly paid for Government lands, and sent out of the country. Those living in the interior lacked channels of trade. But the last thirty-nine years has changed the figures in Ohio ; and this is the true basis of calculation; and how stands the ac- count? Well, in that brief period she has rivaled States several times her own age, and is now acknowledged on all hands to be third in the constellation of States, in point of wealth, population and importance.
Of an ordinary season, Ohio can send abroad about $150,000,000 worth of surplus. This calculation is made in the absence of sta- tistics, but it may be in the neighborhood of truth. Few States are equal to Ohio in quality and variety of soil. She is capable of a more dense population than any State in the Union. Her vast beds of iron-ore and stone-coal are fast becoming available. Some
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of her territory is yet unsettled. Much of the distant travel frou east to west, and from north to south, will doubtless pass our bor- ders. Our State produces all the grains, vegetables and northern fruits necessary to comfort, every species of stock in general de- mand, and all the profitable varieties of the grape. When all our re- sources are fully developed, and all our railroad facilities, all of Ohio will be a garden spot.
AARON GUTRIDGE.
The following sketch of pioneer life, from the pen of Mr. Aaron Gutridge, is given in his own style, with a few alterations in or- thography and syntax. It shows a good memory, and practical good sense, for one that is eighty years old. He now live- in Mechanicsburg, Champaign County. with his amiable lady, for- merly Miss Mary Gray, pre-eminent for her social virtue -. Ev- erybody honors Aunt Mary .- [ED.
My father, John Gutridge, was born in Virginia; from there he went to the State of Maryland. While there, in the year of 1766, he married a lady by the name of Elizabeth Turner ; remained there until after the close of the Revolutionary war ; from there he moved to the State of Pennsylvania ; lived there till the year of 1785. He and others moved down the Ohio river in flat boats, to what was then called Lime Stone, but is now known as Mays- ville, Mason county, in Kentucky, and settled at Washington, near Kenton's Station. For a few years they were much annoyed by the Indian tribes, by killing of men, women and children, and killing their cattle and stealing their horses. I learned from my father, that one dark, wet night the Indians stole his last hor -. , which was tied to the door-cheek of the house that they lived in. Often the men would follow them across the Ohio river. At one time the white men were about to overtake them. They had taken a negro boy prisoner, cut his throat, and left him bleeding in their path ; then they scattered and made their escape among the drift wood of Eagles Creek, near what was called Logan's Gap. Tho
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white man's living was deer and buffalo meat. The first settlers of Kentucky underwent many privations and hardships ; but many of them lived to see better days. There my parents buried their oldest son at Washington, Ky. My father was soon put in as Justice of the Peace and Judge of the Court, which office he filled as long as he remained in that State. My brother, Jesse Gutridge, was said to be the first child born, in 1786, in Mason county, Ky., white or black. My father still resided there. In a few years times became better ; he followed farming and teaming on the road from the Ohio river to Lexington, Danville and other points. My brother John was teamster, and was called the wagon boy. Times were fast becoming much better and prosperous. By this time my father got his mind placed on what was then called the Western Territory, north of the Ohio river, and in the year of 1798 moved with his family into the territory. My parents raised twelve children, nine sons and three daughters, and all settled in the territory on a stream of water called Fishing Gut. My father in a few years was elected Justice of the Peace in Adams county, which office he filled until he moved out of the county. In the year 1807, he moved to the Madriver country, and settled on the east side of Dugan prairie, on the headwaters of Buck creek, in Champaign county, Ohio. The people soon became alarmed about the Indians, and built a fort at John Taylor's mill, on Kings creek, north of Urbana, but the fort was never occupied by the people. At that time, the Indians were quite plenty in the Mad river country but seemed to be friendly. I think it was in the year of 1809 we had a celebration at Urbana on the fourth of July. The people of our town met in mass, under the shade of one white-oak tree that had a large spreading top. The crowd was not large, but their friendship was never excelled ; see stranger- meet, then a strong grasp of the hands, with the words "What is your name, where do you live? Do come and see me, and bring all the family." At a proper time, Joseph Vance, Sr., addressed the little crowd, and read the Declaration of Independence. Then Joseph C. Vance sang a song ; after that Wm. Fife, of Urbana, and a Wm. Lemon, sang a song called the Black Bird ; then men, women and children partook of a bountiful dinner of roasted beef, potatoes, good bread and other luxuries of the day. All this time there was little said about schools-it took a large bound to get scholars enough to make up a school. Our schoolrooms were little cabins, with paper
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windows to let in a little light. I know it was a poor chance to learn much.
We would suppose that the youth of those days did not know much. We will say nature did a great work for them. About this time my father was appointed Judge of the Court held at Ur- bana, Champaign County, Ohio, which office he held until his health became impaired by sickness, then he resigned, and lived a retired life from business of any kind. In the year 1812, Moses Corwin printed the first newspaper that ever was printed in Urbana, Champaign County, Ohio. About this time came the news of a war between the United States of America, and Great Britain. The army was soon made up, and organized at Dayton. Gen. Wm. Hull marched the army from Dayton to Urbana : a council was held with the Indians, but no good grew out of it. My brother, Joseph Gutridge, was a member of the Spy Company, commanded by Capt. Wm. McColloch. * Wm. Gutridge, and a brother-in-law, Wesley Hathaway, were members of Hull'sarmy. All landed safe at Detroit; there the Spy Company was dis- charged, and my brother Joseph returned home safe and well. In the month of August, 1812, Hull surrendered the whole army to Proctor, as prisoners of war. They were sent home on parole ; the most of them got home during the fall months. We had a dark and discouraging time through the fall and winter of 1812-13, and in the spring of 1813 there was a great call for men to guard the frontiers of our country. My brothers older than myself were all out on the war-path : they all returned home in harvest, in the month of July, 1813. My father led in the harvest-field, and eight sons followed him, all good reapers, making their hands, with sickles. After harvest there was a call for more men. I had six brothers out in the war, all at the same time. On account of a spell of sickness I was compelled to remain at home. In the fall my brother Wm. Gutridge went northeast, and joined Gen. Brown's army. While there he got an unlucky fall down a steep bank, from which injury he never got well. He drew a pension through life. My brother John Gutridge was a baptist preacher for many years before his death. My brothers were all farmers on a small scale. I remember of hearing my mother count her
# William McColloch lived near Zanesfield, in what is now Logan Count and is the father of Judge McColloch, now of Bellefontaine .- [ED.
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children. The number was twelve children and twelve grand- children. The great-grand-children, perhaps, would overrun that number. I have seen many and great improvements in old Cham- paign County since the year 1807. I am now living in the town of Mechanicsburg, Champaign County, Ohio, Goshen Township, on the head-waters of Little Darby. There are two grist-mills and two saw-mills, one woolen factory, and a good railroad. I am in possession of the family record and dates of all the births and deaths of my brothers and sisters. They are gone, I hope to a bet- ter world than this. I was raised on corn and potatoes that grew in the fields that were plowed with long, wooden mould-board plows, then the cast plow ; but the best of all is the steel-plow of the present day. The improvements in farming are great, and good, and far exceed those of other years. Many places where we used to hear the howling of wolves, and the hunting of the red- man, we can hear the Gospel preached on Sunday, and often on week-days, In 1807 farm-cabins were scarce and far between, but now our country is almost a dense population, dotted over with good farms and good buildings, flourishing towns, and many splendid churches. In the settling of the northern part of Ohio, the people had to labor under many disadvantages. The corn got frost-bitten, but the forest afforded us plenty of wild meat. Deer, bear, and turkeys were plenty. My brothers were sure shots, and killed an abundance of game. I have omitted many things of importance, on account of being a poor writer at this age of my life. I was born in Mason County, Kentucky, in the year 1793. I have written these few lines without the use of glasses. Per- haps but few are living that had the Dilworth Spelling Book for their school-book.
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EARLY RECOLLECTIONS.
BY MRS. SARAH M. MOORE.
The first settlers of what is now Union township, Logan county, were Robert Moore, Samuel and James McIlvain, Robert Porter, William and Archibald Moore, David Askern, Robert Newel and his sons, Samuel, William, Hugh and John, William and Joseph McBeth, Robert Crocket, David Kirkwood, Billy Gray, John and James Wall, Martin Shields. Subsequently, Hiram White, James Stackhouse, Adam Rhodes, Jonathan Norton, Henry Culp and others settled in the bounds of the township. In those days we had what was termed overseers of the poor, and fence viewers, who were duly elected at the annual township election. The duties in- cumbent on the overseer of the poor was to order them out of the township if they were deemed villainous or vagabonds ; otherwise. in case of destitution, the children were bound out to servitude, until capable of taking care of themselves. The duties of fence viewers was to examine the condition of fences. There were no picket or board fences in those days in our place ; but split rails were fashionable, with a slip-gap, or pair of bars at best. Accord- ing to law, a fence must be in a condition to turn stock of any kind, or else the owner could recover no damage- for the breach, or the spoiling of his crops by stock that was running at large. The wild woods and prairies were our pastures in those days. . A laughable occurrence happened at the spring election one year. The men. wishing to have a little fun, elected Adamı Rhodes, he being a remarkably tall man, and Hiram White, a small man, as fence viewers. Adam was to chin the fence, and Hiram to look after the pig holes.
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RAISING HOGS.
Two neighbors got into a dispute about the ownership of a cer- tain hog, which they both claimed. One being more shrewd and less scrupulous about honesty or truth than the other, got a man to swear before a Justice of the Peace, that he knew it to be his, be- cause he knew that he raised it. It was afterward ascertained that the way he raised it, he stooped over a low fence and lifted it off its feet by the bristles (hogs had bristles in those days.) A lean shoat could well be compared to a fish, the bristles answering to the fins on the back, and the sides as flat, with mutton hams.
Stealing, or killing hogs in the woods, was a very common oc- currence. Very frequently hogs would come running home with torn and bloody ears, (being dogged,) and one or two missing. The poor Indian had to bear the blame often, when the deed was done by some white sinner. Robert Moore suggested that the (then) new county should be called Bristle county.
It was a common thing for cattle to come up with one missing, and upon search being made would be found swamped in the mud somewhere. Neighbors would assist each other, and with hand- spikes and ropes, pry up and drag out. Sometimes the poor crea- ture could stand, after it would get on solid footing ; sometimes it would have to be lifted to its feet for days and weeks. Each . owner of stock had to have his own peculiar mark, which was done by slitting and cropping, and cutting the ears, and then hav- ing their mark recorded in the public records of the county. Men used to have a cruel and silly practice, of what they called docking their horses. The manner by which it was done, was to part the hair about six or eight inches from the point of the tail, then take a sharp ax, and set the pole on the horse's rump, turn the tail up over the edge of the ax, and then with maul or heavy mallet, strike hard. It took four men to do it; one to hold the head, one to hold the tail, one to hold the ax, and the fourth was the execu- tioner.
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