USA > Ohio > Champaign County > The history of Champaign and Logan counties : from their first settlement > Part 22
USA > Ohio > Logan County > The history of Champaign and Logan counties : from their first settlement > Part 22
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To David Parkison-for nursing_ 3 00
To Wm. Powell-for the use of a midwife_ 2 00 To two days service for Moore and Stewart -
Gave an order to Treasurer for the use of Jany Parkison for three dol- lars, the 8th day of November, 1806. The Trustees allowed Wm.
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Powel's account for keeping poor woman and child-the account, $20 00 as per account, October 4th, 1806."
Who the poor woman and child were, is not known. The fol- lowing is copied from the township record of 1808 :
"Agreeable to the squirrel law, the Trustees of this township have laid on each taxable ten squirrel scalps, and one scalp for each and every twelve and a half cents his tax amounts to. Done the 23d day of April, 1808. Attest : David Parkison, T. C."
"July : David Parkison, town Clerk, to making out two alpha- betical duplicates of delinquents in squirrel scalps, allowed by the Trustees. David Parkison, town Clerk, to taking in squirrel scalps and giving certificates, to be allowed by the Trustees."
"October 29, 1808 : To James Turner and Joshua Baldwin, Trus- tees, their attendance in Urbana to appoint a collector for to lift the required tax of Salem township, the day and date above, $1 50."
"November 2, 1808: David Parkison, town Clerk, to one day going to Urbana to write a bond with security on George Sanders, to collect the squirrel tax, 75 cents."
In former times it was customary for the squirrels "to travel from north to south in countless numbers, about once in ten years. They made their journey in the fall of the year, about the time that corn began to ripen. They appeared in such vast numbers, as apparently to cover the earth for miles, and if not well guarded, they would clear the corn fields as they went along. They would suffer death rather than turn from their course, and would pass over houses and swim lakes, ponds and water courses. They trav- eled due south, until they would reach the Ohio river, into which they would plunge and attempt to swim over ; here an immense number would lose their lives by drowning in the river, and those that got over alive would crawl up on the bank, and after resting a short time, would resume the journey south ward. This accounts for the necessity of levying a squirrel scalp tax.
Captain Alexander Black, Moses Mellvain and others, from Ken- tucky, settled on Mac-a-cheek and Mad river, in the northern part of Salem, in the spring of 1809; at that time James McPherson, called "Squalica," by the Indians, (which means the red-faced man) was then living on Mad river, at or near the Kavanaugh farm, and there were several Indian families there at the time;
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among others, Captain John Lewis, a chief, who had in his family a white woman named Molly Kizer, who was taken prisoner when young and raised with the Indians. She was highly esteemed by the whites.
Alexander Black was a soldier, and served faithfully in the army of General Wayne at the battle with the Indians in 1794; he was an officer and served in the war of 1812, under General Harrison. John Enoch came to this township with his father's family in IS12; he was then ten years of age, having been born at Fort Washing- ton. now Cincinnati, in the early : art of 1802: he is therefore's me. what older than the State of Ohio. Abram Smith built the first cabin, and was the first white settler in what was then called the "harrens," between the settlements on King's creek and Mar-a- cheek. This cabin was "raised" in 1813, and stood a short distance east of the State road, and not far from the residence of Joseph Miller ; a few oll apple trees still remain to mark the place where it stood. Mr. Smith was a prominent and worthy citizen, and filled some of the most important township offices for several years before his death; he had a wife and two children; the whole family died of "Milk-sickness" within a few days of each other, about the year 1821.
W'm. Copes settled at the place now owned by Mr. Lidders, ad- joining the farm of Jonathan Parker, on the State road between Ur- bana and West Liberty, in the spring of 1814; here he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land from the United States, at two dollars per acre, erected a cabin and made a small improvement, but like many others of that time he came to the conclusion that the country was well named, and that it was really a barren and worthless place. He accordingly sold his farm for the same price that he gave, and bought one hundred and sixty acres in another part of the township, without improvements, for which he paid four dollars per acre ; this land to-day is worth one-fifth as much per acre as that on the State road, and no more. Mr. Thomas Thomas purchased the farm of W'm. Copes, and after the State road became a highway of some importance, and was traveled by dro- vers, teamsters, movers. &c. Mr. Thomas, after putting up a pret- ty good house, kept "entertainment," for traveler- of all kinds, and, as was customary in those days he put up his sign upon a tall post in front of the door; this sign wasa rather uncouth represents
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tion of a sheaf of wheat. Once upon a time a traveler on foot "put up" at the house of Mr. Thomas, and remained all night ; it so happened (which was common among the folks at that time) that the landlady had mush-and-milk for supper. The mush, as us- ual, was made of corn-meal ; in the morning she provided a break- fast of venison and corn-pone which she had baked in a Dutch oven. After the traveler had fared sumptuously, and paid the bill, he asked the landlord what sign that was before his door. Mr. Thomas replied that it was a representation of a sheaf of wheat. "Well," said the stranger, "I think it would be more appropriate it you would take that down and put a corn-stalk in its place." Mr. Thomas had several children by his first wife, and after her death he married a young woman of the neighborhood, by whom he had other children. This, as usual, caused trouble and strife in the family, which was carried to such an extent that his son William, by his first wife, became a desperate maniac, and had to be con- fined, either in a cell or in irons. While in this condition the fam- ily moved to one of the new States in the west. Here, as before, the young man was lef confined in a small house built for the pur- posp, a short distance from the dwelling of the family. By some means he one night made his escape from his hut, got an axe, broke open the door of the dwelling house, and entered the sleep- ing-room of his father and step-mother; on nearing the noise they both sprang up from bed, when, after a short struggle he succeeded in splitting his mother's skull and slightly wounding his father while endeavoring to protect his wife. Some of the neighbors, on going to the house next morning, found the maniac in quiet posses- sion, and both parents dead upon the floor. On being questioned he said he intended to kill his step-mother, but not his father; that he had at firstaccidentally wounded his father but slightly, but fear- ing it night become troublesome and painful to his aged parent he concluded to kill him s! once and put him out of his misery. Charles McClay settled in the fall of 1814, at the tarm afterwards owned by Joel Funk, and where the widow Funk now lives, Mr. MeClay was brother-in-law to Abram Smith, the first resident in the "barrens ;" he died many years ago and left several children; but one, Mr. Elija MeClay. is now living. Archibald Stewart, Rob't Latta and John Williams, settled on the high-land east of the State road in 1814 or 1815. Wmi. Mays, father of George and Archibald R. Mays and Mrs. Fulwider, wife of David Fulwider,
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came to this township at an early day and settled at the place where his son Archibald now lives. He was a prominent, worthy and usefulcitizen in his time. John Thomas (of Mingo) was the first settler at that place. John Thomas (Colonel) settled on Kings creek in 1809, at the place where his widow, and two of his sons now live. James Turner settled at the place where I. C. Yo- der now lives, in 1808 or 9; his wife, Mrs. Ann Turner, was the first person buried in the grave-yard at Kingston; her grave was dng by Thomas Stewart, Isaac McAdams and E. L. Morgan.
GOVERNOR VANCE.
Joseph Vance, who afterward filled many important offices in the civil and military departments of the United States and State governments, came to this township with his father's family in 1805. Governor Vance's ancestors were Irish Protestants, or what was called in former times, Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. His ances- tors came to America at an early day. His grand-father married, and raised a large family in the colony of Virginia, prior to the war of the revolution. Of this family Joseph Colville Vanee, Governor Vance's father, was the youngest son. He was a member of Capt. Saul Vail's company, in Colonel Morgan's rifle-regiment, and served through the war of the Revolution ; was married to Sarah Wilson, in London county, Virginia, in the year 1781-crossed the mountains and settled near the old Indian town of "Catfish," now the town of Washington, Washington county, Pennsylvania, where Governor Vance was born, March 21st, 1786. In 1788 the father with his family floated down the Ohio river on a cift, to a station called Vanceburg. At this place he remained year or more, and defended the place against the attacks of the Indians on several occasions. He afterward settled on a farm on Mays-creek, a few miles above Mays-lick, in Kentucky; his house was one of the stations of what was called the "Kentucky-rangers." Persons employed to scout up and down the Ohio river, and give the set- tlers notice of the approach of hostile Indians, were called "Rang- ers." It was here that Duncan McArthur and Joseph Vanco be-
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came acquinted, McArthur being employed and acting at the time as one of the Rangers. Judge Alexander F. Vance, son of Gov. Vance says when a boy, he has frequently heard them relate some of their early adventures ; one told by McArthur in his hear- ing, made a lasting impresson upon his mind. On one occasion McArthur, after passing up and down the river on his beat, and having made no discoveries of Indians, concluded to turn aside and visit a "deer-liek" he knew of a short distance from the river. On crawling very cautiously until he came in sight of the lick, and within gun shot of it, he saw a deer, and while he was making ready to shoot, a gun cracked, the deer fell, and an Indian sprang out of the brush and ran toward it. McArthur instantly shot and killed the Indian, and was immediately fired at by two other Indians. As he was alone, and out-numbered by the enemy, he started and ran for life, when several guns were fired at him. One of the balls struck his powder-horn, and knocked the splinters from the horn through his clothes into his side, causing considerable pain. The enemy being in close pursuit, he had not time to examine the wound, and the powder from the broken horn falling on the dry leaves, made a pattering noise which he sup- posed was caused by the blood from the wound in his side, and ex- pected his strength must soon fail, and he would be overtaken by the foe. After running for some time, and finding that he had gained ground, and was probably out of danger, he slackened his speed in order to load his rifle, when he found his powder was all gone, and his wound but a slight one. When he arrived at the house of Gov. Vance's father, he detached the powder-horn from the bullet-pouch, and rolling the list around it said: "I will send this to my mother, that she may see what a narrow escape I have had." Governor McArthur and Governor Vance were fast friends from this time to the day of their deaths. In 1801 Gov. Vance's father, in company with General Whiteman, and others, came to Ohio, and settled at Clifton, Greene county, and in 1805 settled near Urbana, Champaign county, Ohio, where he died on the 5th day of August, 1809. Joseph Vance was married in the town of Urbana, on the 17th day of December, 1807, to Mary Lemen, by Rev. John Thomas, a Baptist preacher. He waselected Captain of an independent rifle company in 1809 or 1810. His company was called ont several times during the troubles with the Indians, about the beginning of the war of 1812.
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He once built a block-house near the place where the town of Quincy, Logan county, now is, which was afterwards known as "Vance's Block-house." He afterward served in the Militia of Ohio as Major, Colonel, Brigadier-General and Major-General. In 1812 he was elected to the Legislature of Ohio, where he represen- ted the county of Champaign for several years. He was elected a member of the House of Representatives in the Congress of the United State- in 1820, and was re-elected and served in that (a- pacity until 1836 ; was elected Governor of Ohio and served one term ; was elected to the Ohio Senate in 1839, and served a term of two years ; was again elected to Congress in 1813, and served a term of two years. His last public service was rendered as a member of the convention to revise the Constitution of Ohio, heid in 1851. During the sitting of that convention, he had a severe attack of paralysis, from which he never entirely recovered, and from the effects of which he died on the 21th, 1852, on his farm in Salem township, two and a half miles north of Urbana, and is buried in Oak Dale Cemetery, a short distance east of Urbana. Governor Vance's educational opportunities were limited, hi- only instructors being his father and a tuition of about six months under an Irish itinerant schoolmaster, in a log hut.
He was the architect of his own character and fortune, com- mencing business in life as a woodchopper at the salt works when a mere boy, and by his industry and economy, procuring means to purchase an ox team, with which he was accustomed to haul and distribute salt to the scattered settlers of Kentucky ; and he still followed the occupation of ox-driver after his removal to Urbana, making occasionally trips to the salt works. His children have often heard him relate his difficulties and adventures during his lonely trips through the woods. Sometimes, at night, his camp was so beset by wolves and other wild beasts, as to compel him to keep up a large fire, and watch his team through the entire night ; he had at times to detach a yoke of oxen from his team, and test the fords of various creeksand small rivers before attempt- ing to cross with his wagon ; and sometimes he was compelled to wait several days until the high water abated, so as to make the fords passable, and on one or two occasions, to be without food for two or three days-and it was no rare thing for him to unload and roll his barrels of salt across swails and mudholes, and then re- load, unaided.
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While connected with the salt works, Governor Vance became acquainted with the Hon. Thomas Ewing. Their acquaintance ripened into warm, mutual friendship, that lasted through life. In 1815, Gov. Vance and William Neil purchased a stock of goods, and for two or three years carried on the mercantile business in Urbana, when Neil retired, and Vance removed his goods to Fort Maigs, now Perrysburg, where, associated with his brother Wil- liam, they carried on the business some three or four years. These goods they hauled in wagons to Fort Findlay, in Hancock county, and put them on board of what was then called Pirogues (large canoes) and floated down Blanchard's fork of the Auglaize. It be- ing in the fall of the year, after a dry summer, the water on the riffles was very shallow, and the boats would frequently get aground. On one occasion, when aground on a long riffle, and after they had worked hard for two or three days to get over, an Indian chief came to them and said, "Get heap brush ! make big fire ! heap smoke-make cloud-get rain !"
In 1818 Gov. Vance built a merchant mill on Kings creek, about a mile above where it empties into Madriver. The mill had four run of burrs, and all the improvements of modern days; the pat- terns for the castings he had constructed on his farm, and conveyed in wagons to McArthur's furnace on Raccoon creek, and the cast- ing when completed they hauled, and also the blocks for the beams by wagon to Urbana. He owned these mills until 1848, when he sold them to Reuben Hagenbach. They now (1872) belong to the Stewart Brothers.
The principal part of the foregoing biography was furnished the writer by Judge A. F. Vance, son of Gov. Vance.
Gov. Vance was a warm friend and advocate of public improve- ments, and gave his influence and votes in their favor. He was President of the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad (the first ever built in Ohio), and spent much of his time and means in his efforts to have the road made. He was a staunch advocate for the repair and extension of the National road, then called the Cumberland road, through Ohio and other States of the west. In 1827, when he was a member of Congress, there was a bill before the House of Representatives, for making an appropriation for that purpose, and on the question of its passage, Gov. Vance made an able speech in its favor. Toward the close of his speech, he bore down pretty
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hard upon some of the State's Rights chivalry, and as it was their practice then to answer the arguments of their political opponents by a challenge to fight a duel, several members of the State's Rights party held a consultation upon the subject to decide who should challenge the offender in this case. But as Gov. Vance was a military man, and what they dreaded more, a western pi- oneer, they supposed he might have a better knowledge of the use of fire-arms, and especially of the rifle, than they possessed them- selves, they concluded to postpone the issuing of the challenge until they should know something more about his qualifications as a marksman. Accordingly, one of them called upon Gen. McAr- thur the next day, and made the necessary inquiry. The General, who saw through their intentions, informed them that General Vance was one of the best marksmen in Ohio ; that he would un- hesitatingly respond to a challenge, and advised them to let him alone, as he was a dangerous man. Nothing more was said about nighting.
MARRIAGE RECORD.
Champaign County.
LIST OF MARRIAGES IN CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, BEGINNING IN 1805.
May 30, 1805, by JJonathan Mulholland, Daniel Harr to Elizabeth Ross. Their oldest son, I. N. Harr, of Westville, was the third child born in Urbana.
Feb. 22. 1805, by Rev. John Thomas, David Vance to Jennie Runyon.
March 6th, 1806, by Jonathan Dormal, Francis Rock to Sarah Fithian.
January 27, 1807, by John Thomas, James Mitchell to Elizabeth Riddle.
May 27, 1806, by Rev. John Thomas, Frederick Ambrose to Jen- nie Tanner.
June 29, 1806, by Rev. H. M. Curray, Thomas Morris to Marga- ret Dawson.
July 24, 1806, by James Bishop, Esq., Samuel Colver to Rachel Cunay.
April 21, 1807, by Robert Rennick, Esq., John Hamilton to Sarah Perring.
April 28, 1807, by Justin Jones, Esq., William Davis to Polly Wood.
May 31, 1807, by Wm. McColloch, Esq., John Gamble to Rebecca MeColloch-persons of color.
September 20, 1807, by Rev. John Thomas, Henry Weaver to Mary Chapman.
December 17, 1807, by Rev. John Thomas, Joseph Vance to Mary Lemen.
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May 5, 1808, by John Thomas, Allen Minturn, to Sallie Clark.
April 7, 1808, by Rev. Nathaniel Pinckard, Richard Bull to Ra- ghel Hunter.
September 6, 1808, by Rev. John Truitt, John W. Vance, to Peggy Lemon.
December 8, 1808, by Wm. McColloch, Esq., Samuel Sharp to Mary Stokeberry.
February 9, 1809, by Rev. John Thomas, John Taylor to Jennie Vance.
September 3, 1808, by Rev. John Thomas, James Broads to Mary Chapman.
September 27, 1808, by Rev. John Thomas, John Owen to Jane Minturn.
January 31, 1809, by N. Pinckard, Jonah Baldwin to Sarah Scott.
1808, by Rev. Hiram M. Curray, John Ross to Margaret Price.
1808, by Rev. Hiram M. Curray, Geo. Hunter to Ruth Fitch.
September 27, 1809, by H. M. Curray, Wm. H. Fyffe to Maxx- milla Petty.
November 28, 1809, by James Mellvain, Hugh Newell to Eliza- beth McNay.
November 14, 1809, by James Mellvain, Jarvis Doherty to Han- nah Marmon.
May 3, 1810, by Sampson Talbott, Esq., Abraham Stevens to Elizabeth Steinberger.
April 5, 1810, by John Thomas, Job Martin to Mary Kirkwood.
November 29, 1815, by Ralph Lowe, Esq., Jeremiah Reams to Matilda Marmon.
April 8, 1815, by Thomas Irwin, Esq., Samuel Haines to Barbara Black.
December 21, 1815, by Rev. Samuel Hitt, Martin Reynold- to Betsy Hitt.
January 1, 1816, by James McPherson, Esq., Lewi- Adam- to Susannah Rice.
March 19, 1817, by John Thomas, Esq., John MeFarland to Ann Moots.
November 5, 1815, by John Thomas, Esq., Hiram M. White to Elizabeth Williams.
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September 3, 1819, by William Lee, Esq., Matthew Cretcher to Nancy Cummins.
October 7, 1817, by Charles Fielder, J. P., Jeremiah Fuson to Jane Calubar.
December 13, 1817, by John Hamilton, J. P., Nathaniel Hill to Elizabeth West.
December 25, 1817, by Samuel Hitt, (minister), Daniel Sweet to Altilly Thompson.
December 25, 1817, by Samuel Newell, J. P., George Martin to Hannah Wall.
January 12, 1818, by Philip Kiser, J. P., Mitchell Ross to Mary Stockton.
December 29, 1818, by Benjamin Cheney, J. P., Alex. Ross to Hannah Beatty.
January 15, 1818, by John Shaul, J. P., John Smith to Katherine Blue.
January 15, 1818, by Wm. Stevens, J. P., John Wyant to Eliza- beth Motts.
January 5, 1818, by Samuel Hitt, (minister), James W. Tharp to Mary Wyse.
June 5, 1818, by Thomas Irwin, J. P., Thomas Ballinger to Pa- tience Ballinger.
June 24, 1818, by James Dunlap, (minister), Joseph McBeth to Elizabeth Newell.
July 3, 1818, by James Dunlap, (minister), Abram Smith to Catherine Long.
August 5, 1818, by James Dunlap, (minister), John Beatty to Irena Valentine.
February 5, 1818, by Wm. Stephens, J. P., Wm. Blue to Marga- ret Idle.
October 7, 1817, by Sampson Talbott, J. P., Philip Kenton to Hannah Phillips.
December 18, 1818, by Levi Garwood, J. P., Samuel Hatfield to Celia Zane.
May 8, 1817, by James Dunlap, (minister), Joseph L. Tenney to Elizabeth Gutridge.
November 18, 1817, by John Inskip, J. P., John Crowder to Elizabeth Browder.
November 6, 1817, by Joseph Morris, (minister), John Henry to Rachel Morris.
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April 25, 1817, by Ralph Lowe, J. P., Joseph Jacobs to Rachel Pope.
June 5, 1817, by Sampson Talbott, J. P., Henry Smith to Eliza- beth Smith.
June 5, 1817, by Sampson Talbott, J. P., Henry Davis to Esther Fitzpatrick.
June 5, 1817, by Sampson Talbott, J. P., James Russel to Mary Kenton.
April 24, 1817, by Saul Henkle, (minister), Micajah Philips to Nancy Dawson.
June 12, 1817, by Samuel Hitt, (minister), Wm. Taylor to Eliza- beth Morgan.
June 17, 1817, by Samuel Hitt, (minister), John Goddard to Mary Hall.
October 23, 1817, by George Fithian, J. P., Joseph Bradly to Re- becca Thomas.
November 6, 1817, by John Morgan, J. P., Daniel Baldwin to Hannah Willians.
November 13, 1817, by John Shaul, J. P., Wm. Curtis to Sarah Ellsworth.
November 13, 1817, by John Shaul, J. P., Moses Meeker to Sa- rah Curtis.
November 23, 1817, by Sampson Talbott, J. P., John Mclntyre to Esther McGill.
February 23, 1819, by John Gutridge, (minister), Aaron Gutridge to Mary Gray.
October 20, 1820, - Richard Baldwin to Eleanor Williams.
March 4, 1819, by John Owen, J. P., George Bennett to Mary Thompson.
September 5, 1819, by John Morgan, J. P., James Pearce to Mar- garet Paxson.
June 19, 1819, by John Strange, (minister), Samuel Curl to Jano Latta.
March -, 1819, by John Thomas, J. P., Joseph Downs to Esther Williams.
1
Logan County.
This Record is taken as it is found on the records of the Clerk of the Court. The orthography is verbatim as found upon the public
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records. To many readers it will call to mind many pleasant memories of by-gone days.
March 26, 1818, by Lanson Curtis, Esq., Richmond Marmon to Precilla Marmon.
April 25, 1818, by Lanson Curtis, Esq., Richard Shackly to Su- sanna Paxton.
July 9, 1818, by Rev. John Inskeep, Thomas Spain to Sarah Williams.
June 16, 1818, by Seneca Allen, Esq., Collister Jaskins to Fanny Gunn.
August 18, 1818, by David Askins, Esq., Robert S. MeMillen, to Jane Ellis.
August 27th, 1818, by James M. Reed, Esq., William Moore, to Annie Askins.
September 24, 1818, by David Askins, Esq., Griffith Johnston to Ruth Patten.
October 29, 1818, by Rev. Samuel Hitt, Thomas Marmon to Peg- gy Truitt.
October 29, 1818, by Rev. John Gutridge, Richard Dickinson to Peggy Henry.
November 17, 1818, by David Askins, Esq., George F. Dunn to Isabella McGain.
November 8, 1818, by Rev. Jno. Guthridge,* Stephen Marmon, to Mary Reed.
December 1st, 1818, by Rev. John Gutridge, Simon Kenton to Sallie Dowden.
Jan. 7, 1819, by Israel Howell, Esq., George Moots, Jr., to Mar- garet Hall.
February 1, 1819, by Rev. John Inskeep, David Norton to Eliza- Dunson.
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