USA > Ohio > Champaign County > The history of Champaign and Logan counties : from their first settlement > Part 31
USA > Ohio > Logan County > The history of Champaign and Logan counties : from their first settlement > Part 31
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Oh, give me hack my parents dear, As in their glorious prime; Oh let me see them once again As·in the olden time.
My brothers and my sisters, too. Let them return once more, A joyful group as when they stood Within the cottage door.
Oh, give me back my schoolmates, now In mem'ry cherished dear, Oh, let me join with them again To Fail the dawning year. Or let me see them in the class, Within the school room stand, As they were wont with teacher there To head the youthful hand.
Oh, let mesee that maiden fair, With rose bloom on her check, I met along the woodland path, My heart too faint to speak. Or give to me those riper years When she stood by my side, In snowy robe of spotless white, A youthful, loving bride.
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Oh, give me back those loved ones now. Whom we were wont to see. But years ago we laid them down Beneath the church-yard tree. In fancy's visions oft we view Them as in days of yore; Oh, give them back, that we may look Upon their forms once more.
Oh, give me back iny youthful forın, With healthful, ruddy glow, Those active limbs-then let me stand With those I used to know. Oh, give to me my youth again, If 'tis but for a night,
Ere earth's dear treasures one by one All vanish from my sight.
If what I've asked may not be given, Then let me ask once more, That I may reach that land of light. Beyond this changing shore, Where bloom and beauty nevor fade. But shine with luster bright, And day's eternal radiance Dispels the gloom of night.
HARPER, O., February 9. 1-72
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PIONEER SKETCHES OF LOGAN COUNTY.
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BY JESSE ROBERTS.
MR. JOSHUA ANTRIM :- I am seated to write down a few items for the Pioneer Association of Logan county, and will begin at
RUSHCREEK LAKE.
This is a small body of water of near a hundred acres surface, connected with a swamp extending north on each side of Rush- creek for near three miles, and south to near the Jerusalem Pike, where it crosses Mad River-making an aggregate length of about six or seven miles, with an average width of nearly three quar- ters of a mile. This whole area has evidently once been a lake connecting the waters of Mad River and Rushcreek, the former running South, and the latter North.
The stream of Rushcreek passes through this lake, which em- braces a part of each of the townships of Ru-hereek and Jefferson, and is in the track of the great tornado which passed over it about the year 1825 or 1826, and constituted what is familiarly known as " The fallen timber." This lake abounds in fish, and has ever been the favorite resort for all lovers of the finny tribes, within reason- able distance of its miry borders. It is much smaller now than when first viewed by the early pioneers of our county, and scarce one hundredth part as large as it originally was. The swamp connected with it is much more firm now than forty years ago .- The tallest corn is now grown in some places where cattle would not then dare venture. The incidents connected with this lake I
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cannot record with any great degree of accuracy. It was said the great tornado lifted the water to such an extent, that hundred- and thousands of fish could be found upon its shores. There was also a tradition that two Indians, in an attempt to wade into it from the shore, instantly sunk into the mire, and their bodies were never recovered. I give this not as a fact, but as a tradition, cur- rently talked of and generally credited forty years ago, yet I never met a person who could verify the story. Ican, however, ttest, that all around the margin of the lake, as also in the bed of Ruch- creek, so far as the swamp extends, a person attempting to wade would sink beneath the mire as quick as in the water If the In- dians pursued a deer into the water, (as wristid, they could me have escaped being buried in the mire.
In the period of forty years since I have known this lake, there has been but four persons drowned in it ; the first happened several years ago. A man by the name of Edsall, who was subject to fit-, was fishing alone in a canoe, and in a spasm as was supposed, had fallen out and drowned. He resided near Zanesfield, and the past sum - mer, his son about eighteen years of age was drowned in attempt- ing to bathe in its waters.
About ten years ago two men, Thos. Carson and Martin Long staff, were both fishing in a small canoe and were upset in the water and drowned. In early times the pioneer girls and boys would resort there in companies, and amid the sublime scenery of that secluded spot, whisper their artless tales of love, in the deep. shades of the lofty forest trees that stood on the beautiful knoll that overlooks its placid waters, and although it has since byen divested of much of its romantic grandeur, as seen in the denise forest and heard in the songs of birds, it is still one of the chief features of interest in our locality, especially to strangers who visit here.
Extending west along the stream of Rushereck above this lake. Is a small valley surrounded by hills, known as
"LAZY HOLLOW."
The first settlers of this hollow occupied much of their time In fishing, and manifested so little energy in the improvement of the country, that the above name seemed appropriate, and hence it- christening, perhaps, for all time: and lost this name should make an unfavorable impression on the minds of future genem-
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tions respecting the first settlers of this hollow, I will say that Mr. James B. MeLaughlin, now a prominent lawyer in Bellefontaine, is perhaps responsible for the naine, and as he was a resident of the hollow himself at the time, can not reasonably claim exemption from the unfavorable impressions suggested by the title. There are also evidences of moral and intellectual improvement in the immediate vicinity of this hollow, which may be noted as among the first, north of Zanesfield. I will here give the names of some of the first settlers in this vicinity : Daniel McCoy, was evidently the first settler here, and built a cabin on a farm now owned by Mr. Jamison, in the northern part of Jefferson Township, a short distance from the Lazy Hollow School-house. This McCoy was here as early perhaps as 1810, of whom we will speak more par- ticularly hereafter. Shortly after, Stephen Leas and Haines Parker settled in this same school district, perhaps as early as 1812, the former about three and a half miles north of Zanesfield, on ( the west of Madriver, and the latter on the north of him, on the farm known as the Elliot farm, but now owned by Benjamin Shoots.
Haines Parker was what was called a regular Baptist preacher, and in connection with the venerable George McColloch, Tharp's Run, below Zanesfield, established the first church on the waters of Rushcreek. The first-meeting house was erected about half a mile east of the Lazy Hollow School-house, on the road leading from Harper to Zanesfield, near where the Bellefontaine and Wal- nut Grove road crosses the Zanesfield and Harper road. It was a log house, which stood for many years, but has since almost en- tirely disappeared. The names of some of the prominent mem- bers constituting that church were Haines Parker and his wife, Johnson Patrick, Samuel Patrick, Elijah Hull, Old Father Piatt, and some others, male and female members, whose names I do not now recollect.
In 1832 the second meeting-house was built a mile and a half further north, and was called the Rushcreek Baptist Church, after which the former house was vacated, and the latter became the regular place of meeting by the church. Connected with this second house, the first public grave-yard was established. It was donated by Solomon Cover, who then resided on the farm now owned by Lucien D. Musselman, and the first person buried there was Samuel Patrick, in October, 1831. This meeting-house was
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evidently the first house of worship erected in Rushereck Town- ship; the former house was built in Jefferson. North of Lazy Hollow, on a high hill in the south edge of Rushcreek Tow -hip. the first school house was built in Rushereek Township; it was on the Zanesfield and Harper road, on a piece of land now owned by Oliver Raymond; I can not give the date of its building, but it must have been prior to 1820.
I find I was mistaken concerning the first meeting-house built in Rushcreek Township, as stated in the above. The first meeting-house in Rushcreek township was built by the Quaker. It stood in a field now owned by John Q. Williams, near the San- dusky road, four and half miles northeast of Bellefontaine ; there is a grave-yard at the site of this meeting-house, which was laid out by old Thomas Stanfield, Sr., who was evidently the first white settler in Rushcreek Township. His first cabin stood on the north side of the old Stanfield farm, which is now occupied by Mr. Samuel Hall. It was built of very small logs, or rather poles, indicating the scarcity of hands at that period. Thomas Stanfield planted the first orchard near his cabin; many of the trees can be seen at present, (1871.) He was socially and religious- ly connected with the first settlers in Marmon's bottom, and his grandson, Samuel Stanfield, told me that he came here in the year 1805. He was here during the war 1812, and continued on the old Stanfield farm up to the year 1823, when he died and wns buried in the grave-yard which he had located. His wife, Han- nah, died in 1830, and was buried by his side. He was superadel by his son, Thomas Stanfield, Jr., who died in 1538.
There is an incident connected with the history of this pioneer family which is worthy of record. Stanfield was a Quaker, and, like the celebrated William Penn, succeeded in scouring the friendship of the Indians to such an extent that he felt compara- tively safe to remain among them during the war of Is12. They often visited his cabin, shared his hospitality, and manifes tool marked friendship for him and his family. But it seems, from some cause, they had become angry with Stanfield, and deter- mined on a certain night to massacre the whole family. They ac- cordingly concealed themselves in the bushes which surrounded the cabin about dusk in the evening, and lay there awaiting the darkness of the night, that they might carry out their fiendish plot.
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It seems however, that Mr. Daniel McCoy, who is mentioned in a former article, had learned of their hellish design, and deter- mined to try to rescue the family at all hazards. He accordingly communicated with the garrison at McPherson's near where our county Infirmary is now located, and proposed an expedition to save the Stanfields. The garrison was weak at the time, and could not be induced to enter on such a perilous adventure, when McCoy declared he would undertake the rescue alone, against the remonstrances of his friends. After imbibing freeley in a social glass, he mounted a gray horse and started through the forest at dusk in the evening, and proceeded alone to Stanfield's, a distance of near seven miles. When he arrived within a quarter of a mile of the cabin, he raised the yell, saying, "Come on, here they are !" then doubling on his track rode back and forth a short dis- tance several times, hallooing all the time for his men to "come on," as though he was accompanied by a legion of cavalry. Then putting his horse under full speed, galloped up to the cabin, in- forming Stanfield's of their imminent danger. The horses were immediately brought up, and the whole family, accompanied by McCoy, proceeded to Zanesfield, a distance of seven miles, where they remainel a couple of weeks. On their return to the cabin, they found it had not been disturbed during their absence. They were told by the Indians after peace was concluded, that McCoy had saved their lives in the daring manner of his approach, in- timidating them with the impression that he was supported by a strong force, as no "one man," as they said, would manifest such daring boldness.
I have been favored with the family record of Thomas Stan- field, Jr., and from it transcribe the following :
"Thomas Stanfield was married to Margaret Reames, on the 30th of the sixth month, 1814, and lived with my father two years, five months and twenty days, then moved to my own house." This will date the occupancy of the old house on the Stanfield farm, on the site where Mr. Hall now lives, about November 20, 1816, which is about fifty years ago. Adding eleven years to this, in order to reach the year 1805, the date of building the first cabin, we have about sixty-six years from the beginning of the first set- tlement in Rushcreek Township. And although sixty-six years" have passed since that pioneer family settled here, there are still traces of their early labor. The old orchard trees, one pile of rub-
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bish designating the site of the first cabin; the place where the old meeting-house stood, the old grave-yard, and many other things that serve to carry the mind back to those primitive times. In the family record already alluded to, I find the follow - ing in the hand-writing of Thomas Stanfield, Jr.
"Thomas Starfield, Jr., departed this life 5th month, the 11th, 1824, aged 76 years, 5 months and 12 days. Hannah Stinfield, his wife, departed this life 9th month, the 25th, 1são, Age not per- tainly known, but something rising eighty years."
The bodies of this pioneer father and mother, now sloop side by side in the little grave-yard already noted; with them ako sheep many loved ones, descendants of the family, as also sums of the associates of their early toils. Their graves are marked by hum- ble and unpretending monuments, reared by the hand of affection, ere pride and ostentation had corrupted society. On a grave-some of a pious grand-daughter who hes buried there, the following it- scription may be read : "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me. This rod and Thy staff, they comfort me."-Ps. xxiii: 1.
Passing through that grave-yard the other day, and trying to read the inscriptions on the moss-covered stones, my mind wao dered back to youthful days, when I stood with many who repos beneath these humble monuments, and I could but say, "they still linger in memory," calling up many pleasant scones hing mui- bered in the past, and to their memory I inseribe the following verses :
In the lolds of mem'ry linger Youthful scenes now cherished dear When we wandered in the willwood With the forms that slumber here Oft we met in social pleasure, Youths and maidens full of Neatly clad in home-pun gange Free from pride and vanity
And when sickness sad and bears Came within our forest home And their services were reeded. Ever faithful they would come Watching through night's weary Leirs In the taper's feeble ray
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From the sable shades of evening Till the dawning of the day,
Where are now those forms of beauty, Seen by us in days of yore?
Gone, all gone, we know not whither, From this ever-changing shore. Yet in mem'ry still they linger; Hope doth whisper, "Yet again We shall meet them -yes we'll greet them On the bright eternal plain."
Aaron Reems built the first cabin and made the first rails on the Sutherland farm, as early perhaps as 1814. The Dickey farm on the Sandusky road, was first settled by Thomas McAdams. The farm of Mr. Tadman, by Billy Stanfield ; the Williams farm by the Baldwins. (Daniel and Richard.) North of Greenville treaty line, on the west of Rushcreek and South of the Sandusky road, about the year 1825, we find Jonathan Sutton who came from Kentucky and settled on what is known as the old Sutton farm. He built a sawmill on Rushcreek in 1833 or 1834, just above Sutton's. On the creek we find two old Pennsylvania Dutch farmers, Solomon Cover and Michael Musselman. They were brothers-in-law, and spent their days here. Lucien D. Musselmen now owns the Cover farm and also part of the Musselman farm. Old aunt Cover, widow of Solomon Cover, is still alive ; she is over ninety years old, and for several years her mind has been demented.
Later than 1830, we note the arrival of other settlers on the west of Rushcreek. On the farm of Mr. James Ansley, about the year 1832, we find James McMahill building a cabin. He came from Kentucky, with his amiable little wife Annie. He moved into his cabin. His old flint lock rifle was placed above the door on the rack. One Sabbath morning the fire was out. He took down the rifle to "strike" fire. It was loaded. He was a Baptist, and would not discharge his rifle on the Sabbath; he plugged up the touch hole, filled the pan with powder, the tow and "punk" ready, the gun across his lap, the muzzle pointing in the direction where little Annie was sitting in a split bottom chair, putting on her shoes ; he pulls the trigger-"bang" goes the rifle, the ball entering the high post of the chair on which his wife was sitting, lodging in fast below the chair buttom. Little Annie has long
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since taken her place amid the "Angel band." Her husband, James McMahill, is now in Cabletown, Champaign county, and doubtless has not forgotten the incident. The old chair was seen by the writer many years afterward with the rifle ball still in it, and may be still preserved as an antique relie by Mr. MeMahill.
Thomas Stanfield, Sr., noted above, immigrated from Tennessee. He had ten children-nine daughters and one son (Thomas Stan- field, Jr.). Old Wm. Reams, father of Mr. John Reams, in Lazy Hollow, immigrated from North Carolina, and settled in or near Marmon's Bottom, near the beginning of the present century, but moved to Lazy Hollow on the farm now owned by his son, John Reams, about the year 1816. This Wm. Reams also had ten chil- dren-nine sons and one daughter (Margaret). The latter was married to Thomas Stanfield, Jr., May 30th, 1811. This couple ve- cupied the old Stanfield farm, Rushereck township, where they also raised ten children-six sons and four daughters; one of the latter died at the age of twelve years.
Abner Cox, who died in Lazy Hollow-first settled below Zanes- field-took a seven years' lease on the land of old Jarvis Dougher- ty, on Tharp's Run, but subsequently moved to Lazy Hollow, and settled on the east of the Reams farm as early, perhaps, as the year 1814. This Abner Cox died here, and was buried ou a hill a little north of where his cabin stood. His widow married a man by the name of Stilwell, who also died prior to 1831. The widow Sul- well's was a noted place forty years ago. Singing-schools, reli- gious meetings, and youthful parties were frequently held at her house. She had four sons by her first husband (ox): Almer, John, Ike and Sam, all stout, hearty fellows, rather slack in busi- ness, but what was termed good-hearted fellows, fond of company, and ever ready to entertain visitors. The old lady'was rather a good worker, and equally fond of company as her sons ; hence her house was rather a favorite place of resort for the lovers of svil pleasure in that day. She also had four children by Stilwell, among them a deaf and dumb boy, called "Billy," whose penhar igns and motions in communicating ideas were indeed novel to those familiar with him. Her oldlest daughter, "Patty Stilwell." was rather a fine model of a healthful, and lively pioneer young lady, reared up in the forest, where schools and school-houses. like angel's visits, were "few and far between." She wa cher- ful and kind-hearted, frank and artless in her manners, above me-
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dium size, rather graceful and easy in her movements. Not what the world would call a beauty ; yet good-looking enough to attract a fair share of attention from the beaux, without incurring the envy of her sex. She was "Patty," and nobody else ; uniformly the same every day. She was the first youthful bride Lazy Hol- low produced; I mean the first one born, reared and married there, and her wedding may be noted as among the important events of that period. It was about the year 1833, a beautiful day in summer, or early autumn ; the assembly was large and promis- cous ; old, young, middle-aged, married and single, male and female, were present, many who had never seen a wedding before. The bridegroom was a Mr. Win. Dunston, brother to James Duns- ton, rather a portly, good-looking young man. The bride's waiter was a Miss Patty Parker, daughter of Rev. Haines Parker. Mr. Joseph Dunston was waiter to the bridegroom. The officiating magistrate was 'Squire Wm. McAmis. It was his first experience in legalizing the "ancient covenant," and his nerves gave evi- dence of the weighty responsibility laid upon him. During the ceremony, a death-like silence pervaded the spectators, until the concluding sentence, "I pronounce you man and wife," was heard, when Mr. John Reams, called out at the top of his voice : " Now where's my dollar?" (the legal fee of the magistrate at that period.) This was responded to by a hearty laugh from the whole assem- bly, after which the congratulations of the guests were tendered to the bride and bridegroom. Many, doubtless, who will read this article, will remember the time when Patty was married. She shortly afterward left the scenes of her youthful years, and with her husband moved to Michigan, where after a few years she was called to follow to the grave, him who had won her youthful heart.
The names of the first settlers in this section who have not been noted, are as follows: John Moore, settled immediately west of Win. Reams, in 1818; Old Billy Tinnis, settled on the Whitehill farm, 1816 ; Old Thomas Dunston, settled on the farm where his grandson, Mr. Jaines Dunston now lives, perhaps as early as 1817. Thomas Dunston was a Revolutionary soldier. John Reed first settled on what is now the MeLaughlin farm, about 1815; he was succeeded by Samuel Ayers; Old Johnson Patrick settled on what was once known as the Patrick farm, now owned by Joseph Kitchen. Stephen Marmon was the first settler ou the Kitchen farm
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immediately west of the lake, in 1815. The "Line Bullar ' Firm now owned by Dick Kitchen, was first settled by Moses Reams and David Norton, in 1815. The first ministers of the compel the preached in this section are as follows, so far as known to theori- ter : Haines Parker, George McColloch, Mr. Vaughn, and Tommy Price. These were of the Baptist order, and preache lin the old meeting house north of the Parker farm. as here thore no- ted. I will here transcribe a text read by Tommy Pylon - foundation for a discourse in this old meeting-house: "\011 w as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire, and them Doit had gut ten the victory over the beast, and over his image, amicover los mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the car of guess. having the harps of God." Rev. xv:2. Of the metarihi tipo di- ers, Robert ( asebolt and Thomas Sims, both preached at old widow Stilwell's frequently. Perhaps there are other- petter membered now by the writer.
In the vicinity of the old Baptist Church ind mor gant vu the west of Rushcreek, Thomas Sutherland cattled on The all Sutherland farm as early as 1816. His wife, Phche, webuich ter of old Thomas Stanfield, Sr., remarkable for her indu- did perserverance. She was what was called a midwife, and in bispe fession had a wide practice. She was faithful in her ministralos to the sick, and if a death occurred in the neighborhood, -he could generally refer to some sign or token by which she ond been previously warned of the sad event. She earned many dollar- by digging "seng" after her location on Rushererk.
About the time of the arrival of James MeMabill, as noted above. Mr. Joseph T. Ansley, also from Kentucky settled on the Ansley farm. Dr. Tom Green made the first improvementsin this farm. He was also the first local physician in Ro-herck township. At this time (1832) Rushsylvania was not laid out for was therea single building on the site. Mr. James Clage, who settled in the farm now owned by Mr. Qua, first conceived the idea of a tien there. He was an old Virginian-a man of con-identity intelli. gence and enterprise. and laid out the town about the vous ist. It was nick-named "Clang Town." in honor to it- proprietor, fast whether he felt particularly complimented by the title Huge mit Ad- vised. Thompson Hews erected a tavern where the drug store now stands; James Elam kept a tavern and store on the erier where the post office is now kept : Robert Stephenson kept av
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ern and smith shop on the corner of Ansley & Day; Jacob Nibar- ger kept a tavern where Heller's new house stands; he also sold goods. Ben Green had the potter shop; Wm. Gipson preceded S. B. Stilwell in the wagon shop. Rushsylvania was the seat of elec- tions, petty musters, and was the center of commerce in Rushcreek township.
For several years whisky appeared to be a leading commodity in trade. The presence of the bottle on the table of the Judges of election on election day, was not very rare; neither was it a very rare occurrence to see a dozen men divested of their coats, appa- rently anxious to fight on a public day. And while there are many citizens in the town who deplore the evils that exist now let them console themselves with the thought that the town has made great improvement in morals, literature and religion.
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