USA > Ohio > Champaign County > The history of Champaign and Logan counties : from their first settlement > Part 35
USA > Ohio > Logan County > The history of Champaign and Logan counties : from their first settlement > Part 35
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In 1825 the Legislature passed an act authorizing Judge John Reynolds, of Urbana, to drain Dugan prairie, which he accom- plished in a short time at great expense, and by this means became the benefactor of the inhabitants for many miles around. The people in that neighborhood havesuffered but little with fever and ague since then, though it occurred every summer previous to that time. When emigrants from the old States began to settle and make improvements around him, and Pere could see the light of other fires in the "clearing" at night, and hear the sound of the woodman's axe and maul by day, he concluded it was time for him to hunt a new home, as game was getting somewhat scarce. He accordingly packed up his traps and accompanied by his wife, children and dogs, he wended his way to the north and located near the head of the Scioto river, where he ended his days. It was his enstom after he left here to visit Urbana at least once a year, to dispose of his furs and skins, and as Judge Reynolds had become the owner of his old home, he always expected him to pay some
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rent, which was cheerfully done, and a pound of "pig-fail" Inharro or a calico dress pattern for his youngest pappoose was usually gis- en by the Judge, and thankfully received by Pere asample satis faction. Many amusing anecdotes of Dugan were related by the early settlers who knew him, one of which I will give:
He once purchased a bag of corn-meat from John Taylor, at his mill on Kings Creek, and as he had no horse of his own, Mr. Taylor kindly offered him the use of one to carry his mural home. The horse was a small one named Gopher. Pero thankfully nerepted the offer, and after taking an crest look, first at Gopher, then al the bag of meal, then at himself, he concluded that it would be impossible for the horse to carry both him and the bag of menl, and being impressed with the belief that "a merciful man will bo merciful to his beast," he took the bag of meal upon his own shoulder and deliberately leading Gopher to a stump, Le negated his bare back, saying as he did so that "he could carry the bag of meal and the horse could carry him," and in this way he rodo home.
FIFTY YEARS AGO.
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BY THOMAS COWGILL, M. D.
In presenting some arcount of my knowledge and experience of the trials and privations, the pleasures and friendships of the pio- neer seltlers of this country, I may not do better than to give the history of the " emigration and settlement " of our family here. The history of one is mainly the history of all the families of the early settlers, as they all had nearly the same object in view - they were in search of a home in the wilderness ; and they gener- ally had about the same means of conveyance-they moved in covered wagons, in carts, on horseback, and on foot. There was not then the convenience of railroad, turnpike, canal and river conveyance, as at present.
They traveled through the woods on the new and rough roads, and often without ro.ids, to the respective places selected for their homes. They were generally about on an equility in point of property, were mostly comparatively poor, and had sought this new country where land was plenty and cheap, to better their con- dition in life. Yet some had left comfortable homes in Virginia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, &c., and had come to settle in this coun- try, that they might be entirely free from any participation in that "sum of all villainies," - that scourge and curse of the hu- man race - human slavery.
About the middle of October, 1817, our family had made neces- sary preparation, and started on our journey toward the setting sun. leaving our family home in Columbiana county, Ohio. In the latter part of this month we traveled up the valley of Darby
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to the neighborhood where Middleburg now stands. This neigh- borhood, and north and cast of it, as far as settled, was then known as the "Beech-woods," and farther south and west, in Mingo, Kingscreek and Madriver valleys, was called the "Plans." In the east part of this State, and perhaps other places, all thh section was known as Madriver, or the Madriver country. Wo remained in that neighborhood two or three days, visiting mme relatives, and many old Virginian acquaintances of my parents, and among those old acquaintances were the E berts, Sharp, Gar- woods, Jameses, Stokeses, Ballingers, Bishops, Bainses, Inskeeps, and Warners.
On the morning of November 1st we started, and traveled in the laid-out road from Urbana to Garwood's Mills ( now Eist Lib- erty ), and at about 11 o'clock, A. M., on that day, bring the sc. ond day of the week, arrived in Mingo Valley, at the spot which was since that time the home of my parents during their lives, and still belongs in the family. The place was entirely in tho woods, except a small cabin, 17x20 feet, which had been built and used as a school-house, by a fine spring of water. The logs of this house were of large oak and hickory trees split in two, and the building was five logs high to the square, with puncheon floor, or slabs about four inches thick, split out of large trees, and hewer n little where they were too rough. The fire-place occupied the en- tire south end of the house-ahout seventeen fect = with a back- wall of round stone and clay, built up about five feet high agains! the log wall. At the top of the square a log was laid across abou: three feet from the south wall, and on this log and the wall the chimney was built of sticks and day; that is, a little house was built up there, about three by four feet, a little higher than tho roof, and the cracks filled up with mortar ; there was no upstairs to the house, and the roof was tolerably that. In this house our family of ten persons lived about eighteen months, During the winter of 1817-18, a school was taught by the late Judge Danlol Baldwin, about one mile south of our house, iu a house similar to our dwelling, except there were some joists and an upper floor. This school was largely attended by the young men and women of the neighborhood -a number of them coming four miles to school. There were at least ten young men attending this & hool over six feet high and large in proportion, and weighing about
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two hundred pounds each. There wer . about the same number of young women attending this school. Verily, there were giants in those days. And those large and tall young men exhibited more signs of humility than some of the smaller scholars, for in walk- ing across the floor they must bow, or they would bump their heads against the juists every time. A number of these young men and women were in their spelling-books. The young wo- men were neatly clothed in home-spun, mostly the work of their own hands. Their educational privileges seemed to be poor, yet they were highly favored of nature; they were fair and comely, and I never beheld a more beautiful company of young ladies.
The school books consisted of Webster's Spelling Book, Lindlay Murray's Works, the introduction English Reader, Sequel, and the New Testament, Walsh's and Pike's Arithmetic. I think there was no one studying English Gramm ir or Geography. The lato Nicholas Williams, his two sisters and several brothers at- tended this school.
I have taken some note of tha subsequent history of the young men and women who atten ied this sono dl. With a few excep- tions they have all gone to the house appointed for the living, and with the exception of one or two prodig.ils, they all did well In life, were mostly bright ora iments to society, lived usotul lives, and dial respected and lamented.
A little incident occurred which may be worth relating ns an evidence of the care and protection of Divine Providence. Cn a beautiful sunshiny Sabbath day, in the spring of 1818, all of our family, except my mother and I, and three smaller children, had gone to a meeting about three miles from home. About noon mother was walking in the yar] near the door, and no doubt that she folf lonesome, when a man came running through the woods towards our house. In passing by, in sight, he discovered that our cabin was on fire ; at the junction of the clap-board roof with the stick and clay chimney the fire had kindled and was burning in a blaze. In a moment he wason the roof, and with a bucket of water soon put the fire ont. If this good man had not been passing by at the time there is no doubt that our home would have been destroyed in a few minutes.
I think it was Samu 'I Adams, in speaking of the history of the early settlement of this country, who said : "These things, my
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countrymen, should not be forgotten. For the left of rer ehillren ani those who come after them, they should be r added in history."
One object with me in writing these notes i- to in the given a the early settlers still living in ou favor lemaire, on note their experience of early times' in order that they may be pop miguel in history for the benefit of thee . why live affer is Al ue each one who can, bringing their with's into the one" may call to mind miny plessint soms nav Drive (np an1 gone.
"And here our pilgrim father- to . .. In fervent faith and pray er."
I propose to give an ace rit of two mini-ter: the zoogel, Moto Society of Friends, who visited this country in cal dy. 1. lieve many of the pioneers prid tan f attention to the jovenslen of religion, to founding churches and building meth.
"For angels of merev oft met with us hore, In the wilderness bo no that we love !. "
One of those ministers was a lady over seventy veer- ofder re siding in North Carolina. Thisarel and dovuti christian nes. eled on horseback through the wilderness Fro n ber boundin North Carolina, on her gospel mission to the people of this to 9 til country, mostly camping ont at night, and where the count a little settlement, holding meetings and preaching the year lings of mercy and peace to the lonch settlers. In passing through the woods from a meeting held in "Marmon's Bitten," io t- ment at Job Sharp's house, near where Middlebire For stinils, the party was overtaken by a heavy rain, acconti d' plough wind, thunder and lightning, and her companyore comprend in halt and shelter under the trees as best they could. So far said, "No, go on ; go on, w . shall be too late to mommies" ller mission and desire seemed to be to do the will ofher Ding Mangler.
"Her shield was faith in God."
The above relation was given to me by some of of the party settlers of this country, and I can not now give the Let's hope as the incident took place before we removed to this entry
About the year 1820, Joseph Hogy. « bon line I think of th the State of Vermont, in the conra. of a religions vist to the jes- ple of the South and West, wasa guest at my father's and
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held meeting for Divine Service at our meeting-house, and also held a number of meetings in the vicinity, mostly with the mem- bers of his own church. He wasa remarkable man-a first cousin to Lorenzo Dow-and spent about sixty-five years of his life in traveling and preaching the gospel ; his wife also spent about the same length of time in the same service. He had nine children, all married, and all his children and children-in-law, with two ex- ceptions, were able ministers of the gospel, of the same church with him. Several of his children became public preachers before they were fifteen years of age. At the time he visited my father's house he had been traveling through the Carolinas, Tennessee, Kentucky, In.liana, and other States. He related to my father how the Kentuckians treated him. At Lexington he was taken sick, and Henry Clay removed him to his house and treated him in the most kind and friendly manner until he recovered from his illness. Being unable to travel for some time, he held several meetings in the neighborhood of Lexington, and preached to the people. When he was about to take his leave, the Presbyterian Church sent a committee to him, inviting him to remain with them as their pastor for one year, offering him a house, furnished as he desired, and every convenience about it that he wanted, and fifteen hundred dollars per year (which was considered a great sal- ary fifty years ago,) and if that was not satisfactory, they wanted him to say what would be, as they desired him to remain with them.
He stated tothem that he felt that his duty was discharged to them -- that his mission was to visit other churches and people, and that he must leave them and travel on. The committee evinced much feeling on the occasion and proposed that if he could not remain with them, that he would accept a purse of one hund- red dollars to enable him to pursue his journey. He thanked them for their kindness, and said that if he needed help he would be as willing to receive help from them as any other people, but as he was prepared to pursue his journey, he desired that they would help other persons, if they met with such that were need- ing belp, and they would not lose their reward.
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SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF *MRS. MARY MADDEN.
BY ED. L. MORGAN.
Mary Madden was the oldest daughter of Matthew and Eliz - beth Stewart, who became residents of Salem township, Cham- paign County, Ohio, in the spring of the year 1801, and settled upon Kings Creek, where Mr. Stewart purchased from the Unite I States, the north-east quarter of section number nine, of township number five, of range twelve, for which he prid two dollars per acre. His youngest son, Matthew Stewart, now owns und lives upon the same farm.
Mary was born on the 19th of May, 1800, and was consequently four years of age when her parents settled on Kings Cork, and there, and in the adjoining township of Union, she prutsixty years of her lite. She was married to Nithiniet W. Croghill, in the year 1819, and by him she had five daughters: Elles, now the wife of John Beatty, of Kennard, this county ; Nancy, the wife of Mr. Joseph Miles, of Lewisburg, this coun y; Mary, the wife of Mr. Richard Gill, who lives near Sandusky ; Margaret, Ure wife of Mr. Bell, of California. These tour are still living. E iz dluth, the youngest, died some years ago, on the road to California
Mr. Craighill died on the 3rd of September, 1826, aged twenty-seven years, at the place where Mr. Martin Dirkison now lives; and Mary was left a widow with five small children to maintain, to feed, to clothe, to educate by means of her own Libor, for they were too young to render their widowed mother any na terial aid. Shortly after the death of her husband, she moved to a small farm on the east side of Dagan Prairie, and adjoining the farm now owned and occupied by her sister Elemnor's ha-band,
$ See Photograph.
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Mr. Jesse C. Phillips. Here, in a small log cabin, with her family of five young female children ; with a fortitude and firmness that is seldom egnaled, she toiled on, through "thick and thin," through thelongtedious daysofsummer and the long, stormy, dreary nights of winter. But she was equal to the emergency, and when she was not employed in other household dutis, the constant whir of her spinning-wheel might be heard as she was preparing thread for the manufacture of linen or cloth for the comfortable clothing of her children who were merrily playing around her. At this time Polly (for by this name she was known), was the owner of a fine, large, black mue, named "'Sook," which was pur- chased from my brother George. This mare was of a quiet, docilo disposition, reliable and safe at all times, and under all circum- stances. In time of winter when there was snow on the ground, Polly would do her visiting and church-going with her children, in a "jumper," drawn by Sook. In summer she frequently went to church, riding upon the back of the old mare, equipped with an old-fashioned side-saddle, and a blind-bridle. Behind her mother, snugly seated sideways, might be seen the oldest daugh- ter, while the youngest child was safely seated on its mother's lap. Over the back of the animal was placed a wide strap of leather, and to each end of this strap was securely fastened a large, strong basket. In one of these was placed two of the children, and in the other the remaining child, with a small basket of cooked victuals in its Jap to make them balance. A lovelier sight upon earth has never been seen than this family group, as they passed along the road. The cheerful smiles and happy countenances of the well-clothed, clean-washed youngsters, with their well-combed heads, bobbing above the brims of their baskets, was a sight both beautiful and interesting, that can never be excelled.
On the 8th day of January, 1832, Mary was married to Perry G. Madden. Mr. Madden is still living. He is a nativo of Virginia, was born in Harrison County, on the 5th of July, 1809; came to Ohio in August, 1830. Perry and Polly (for by these familiar names they were known to everybody), commenced life together at the lowest round of fortune's ladder. Neither of them was blessed with what is called a liberal education, for the means of obtaining it were extremely limited in the days of their youth. But they possessed what then was, and still is of much greater value, healthy, robust constitutions, and a will to labor.
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It is an old adage that "where there is a will there is a way," and in this case it proved true, for by nuremitting tool, honest in- dustry, and the judicious investment of the proceeds of their labor, they eventually became wealthy. Mary Mad Ien, wife of Perry G. Maddon, died on the Ith of May, 1861, agirl sixty-four years less eight days. By her last marriage the hard Man children, five of whom were living at the time of her death. It son Nathaniel, who married Miss MeParlan, has since die, lav. ing a widow and twosons. Sarah, the oldest daughter, married George Reams, and lives at the old homestead. Som minial David Perry, and lives near Dugan Prairie. William marunt a daughter of Martin Dickison, and lives on a tarm in that reich- borhood. Martha married John Parep, and livos at Kounant. All own good farms. Two of their children died in infancy. Perry Madden, who is known to everybody in this region of country, is now sixty-three years of age, farge and well formed, weighs about two hundred and forty poupas, and is somewhat of a favorite among the ladies, always jovial and full of fun. Tho welcome visitor at the hospitable marsion of Perry Madden is -pro to enjoy the comforts of a rich joko, a hearty hugh and a goal dinner. Mary Madden had two sisters and six brothers, He: sister Elizi is married to Win. bonz, and her sister Bermr mn Jesse C. Phillips. Asa model wife, mother and neighbor, she had few equals, and surely none were her superiors.
JOHN CHESHER.
Died, at the residence of his son, in West Middleburg. Ların county. Ohio. December 26, 1859, Mr. John Chesher, aged Byeirs, Y months, and 12 days.
The deceased was born in Prince William County, Virginia. May 14, 1766-was nine years old at the time of the battle of Iss. ington, and ten when the Declaration of Independence was made -and though too young to take an active port, he was an eye witness and participant (as nearly all the inhabitants were ) ul wany of the trying scenes and hardships of the Revolution. He wasneat
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enough the Battle of Yorktown, to hear distinctly the roar of the cannon. He afterward joined the army, and marched, under the command of Gen. Morgan, to suppress the flames of civil war that had broken out in Pennsylvania, known as the "Whisky Rebell- ion." On their way, they were met, at Morgantown, by Wash- ington, who passed their lines, and remarked to them "that they were a brave looking set of heroes." He also took part in the struggle of 1812; was forced morched (after the battle of Bladens- burg) to defend Washington City ; but arrived only in time to see the capitol and other public buildings in ruins. He was also at the bombardment of Fort MeHenry, and in several other less impor- tant engagements. In 1816, he removed from Virginia to Todd county, Kentucky, and thence, sometime in the fall of 1823, to Clarke county, Ohio, and finally, in the spring of 1825, to Logan county, and settled in the vicinity of what is now West Middle- burg, to which village he removed shortly after it was laid out, and continued to be an inhabitant thereof, during a greater part of the time np to his death. During the last few years of his life, age and affliction weighed heavily upon him, and he was for the most part, confined to his room. Yet, though for years he had been tot- tering on the verge of the grave, his death was sudden and unex- pected.
Thus has passed away from our midst another of that venerable race of men, who, in the langu ige of the immortal Webster, "had come down to us from a former generation ;" one, the period of whose life extended back to a time when our present proud and glorious Republic was a colonial dependency of the British Crown, numbering little more than two million inhabitants; when the Valley ot the Mississippi was-with the exception of a few French trading posts-an unbroken wilderness, trodden by the Indian and the buffal ), and echoing to the scream of the panther, and the war- whoop of the savage; one that was a witness of the seven years' struggle between Might and Right, that resulted in the birth of our glorious liberty-one that had lived under the administration of every President of the Republic ; and one, too, whose arm had been lifted in defence of the liberty which we enjoy; who tore himself from the bosom of his friends, left his home, braved many dangers, and periled his life in his country's cause. May his good deeds be long remembered with gratitude, and his defects be hid with him in the grave.
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* HENRY WEAVER.
At the ripe old age of eighty-four years, the wealthiest man In this county has been gathered to his fathers.
Henry Weaver was born in Berkely county, Virginia, May 6th, 1788, and while yet an infant was brought to Kentucky with his father's family, residing in that State until 1802, part of the timo near Maysville, and Liter near Lexington. In 1822 ho cuno with his father to this county, settling in the south-western portion of Mad-River township. In 1807 he was married to Nancy Chop- man. He moved to Urbana in the winter of 1818-11, begin ung business in a small shop that then stood on Scioto street where E. B. Gaumer's dwelling stands. He was then a practical shoemaker, and plied his vocation diligently, and branching out into merem- tile pursuits in a small but profitab'e way, entering fully into the legitimate store business (as it was called in those days)only when his son Lemuel became old enough to attend the counter.
He successfully owned and occupied the Gaumer sep, the Guthridge property and, in 1821, built the Bassett house, wer th Square, on Scioto street. In 1824-25 he occupied a stere roce 18 what is now the City Hotel; afterwards, and for about two years, tho Campbell corner, now called Glenn's corner, on the Square.
In 1821 he was appointed Tax Collector for Champaign erunty, at which time the collector traveled the pomly over, visitel ouh tax-payer, and was armed with the special powers and privileges of a constable to distrain and onforce payment if uece siry.
In 1833 he purchased from Wm. Neil the site of the prosent I. Weaver building and removed the old britlings (one of which may yet be seen) to lots on Church and Court streets. Hecreated at once a building which was in that layan orm unent to the town, and one of the finest brick blocks west of Columbus.
He built the house occupied by O. E. Lowis & Co. ma leather store, and the Weayer dry goo Isstore room, finishing his work on
* The above sketch of the life of Mr. Weaver I clip from the Urlana Citizen and Gazette .- [E. D.
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Monument Square by the completion of the large and elegant Weaver House, a building unexcelled for beauty of architecture and attractive style by any house in the State.
He had built a number of dwellings, two of which, neat brick cot- tages on South Main street, remain unfinished.
In 1859 he was elected President of the Campaign County Bink, a position he held several years, and we believe until the reorgan- ization of the bank under the National Bank laws.
Mr. Weaver was a man of purely business habits. His mind was thoroughly engrossed and occupied with business and his at- tention was not easily drawn aside from his daily routine. With vigilant eye he observed his gradual and constant increasing fortune, meeting with little adversity, yet surmounting difficulties with vigor and energy. Within a few days of his death he was on the street and at his store at bis accustomed hours, transacting the usual business connected with his large property, retaining his usual vigorons strength untilTuesday, February 27. On that day he was attacked with congestion of the lungs and suffered severely until Sunday evening. March 3, when hedied, at 8:25 o'clock. He retained his consciousness to the hour of death, though at times under the influence of powerful opiates administered to alleviate pain.
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