USA > Ohio > Champaign County > The history of Champaign county, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; history of the Northwest territory etc > Part 48
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1822-Total number of votes cast, fifty-four. Trustees, Ezekiel Arrow- smith, John Hamilton, Jesse Godard; Clerk, Treasurer and Assessor, Abraham Stephens.
1823-Total number of votes cast, forty-nine. Trustees, Nathan Darnall, Archibald McGrew (no record of other officers.)
1824-Election held at the house of Joseph Idel ; number of votes cast, eighty-seven. Trustees, Isaac Beaver, John Taylor, Archibald McGrew ; Clerk, Lister and Treasurer, Abraham Stephens; Justices of the Peace, John Hamil- ton, John Stephens.
1825-Election held at house of John Owens. Trustees, Archibald McGrew, Jr., William Runkle, William Darpall; Clerk, Isaac Beaver; Treasurer, John Haller ; Appraiser, Abraham Stephens.
1826-Election held at Baptist Meeting House ; votes polled, 104. Trustees, William Runkle, William Darnall, Archibald McGrew. Clerk, Isaac Beaver ; Treasurer, John Haller.
1827-Number of votes polled, 156. Trustees, Archibald McGrew, John Haller, John Hamilton ; Clerk, Isaac Beaver ; Treasurer, John Haller; Jus- tices of the Peace, J. L. Stephens, John Hamilton, David Markeley.
At the first fall election, held October 14, 1828, 174 votes were polled, as follows : Governor-Allen Trumble, 76 ; John W. Campbell, 97. For Con- gressman-John Vance, 80 ; John A. Alexander, 93. For Representative-John Wallace, 53; Adam Morgan, 107; Samuel McCord, 12. At the November election of the same year, 222 votes were polled for Presidential Electors.
1829-Votes polled at the spring election, 61; Trustees, John Hamilton, Archibald McGrew, Joseph Smith .; Clerk, William Haller ; Treasurer, John Haller (no record of other officers).
There were 169 votes polled at the October election, the election being for county officers.
1830-At the spring election were polled 121 votes. Trustees, John Taylor, Nathan Darnall and John Haller ; Clerk, William Haller ; Treasurer, John Haller.
In the fall of 1830 (October), for Governor, the number of votes cast by the Township was 160.
In 1830, John Hamilton, John Arrowsmith, Archibald McGrew and William Darnall served as Justices of the Peace.
1831-Spring election, votes cast, 56. Officers elected-Trustees, John L. , Stevens, Simon Baker, Nathan Darnall ; Clerk, William Haller ; Treasurer, John Haller. Number of votes polled at the October election, same year, 129.
1832-Spring election, votes cast, 66; officers elected-Trustees, Simon Baker, John Wiant, Nathan Darnall; Treasurer, Elijah Stanford ; Clerk, William Haller.
Number of votes polled at the October election, 213; at the November election, 283.
1833-Spring election, number of votes cast, 41. Officers elected- Trustees, John Wiant, William Darnall, David Smith ; Clerk and Treasurer, William Weaver.
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
An election for Justice of the Peace was held, August 24, 1833 ; 69 votes cast and David Smith elected.
1834-Spring election, 34 votes polled. Officers elected-Trustees, David Smith, John L. Stevens and John Wiant ; Clerk, Simon Baker; Treasurer, Joseph B. Eaker; William Darnall and Archibald McGrew, Justices of the Peace.
1835-Spring election, votes polled, 101. Officers elected-Trustees, John Wiant, David Smith and Joseph Smith ; Clerk, John L. Stevens ; Treasurer, Joseph B. Eaker.
1835-October election, number of votes polled, 141.
1836-Spring election. Officers elected-Trustees, John Wiant, David Smith, William Darnall ; Clerk, John L. Stevens; Treasurer, Joseph B. Eaker ; Justice of the Peace, David Smith.
1837-Spring election, number of votes cast, 64. Officers elected- Trustees, David Smith, Simon Baker and William Daniel ; Clerk, J. L. Stevens ; Treasurer, J. B. Eaker; Justice of the Peace, David Smith.
1838-Spring election. Officers elected-Trustees, William Putman, David Smith and William Daniel; Clerk, William Haller; Treasurer, Joseph B. Eaker.
1839-Spring election, number of votes polled, 128. Officers elected- Trustees, David Smith, William Putman, John G. Neese; Clerk, William Haller ; Treasurer, Joseph B. Eaker.
1839-Fall election, number of votes cast, 327.
1840-Spring election, votes polled, 265. Officers elected-Trustees, William Putman, John G. Neese, David Smith; Treasurer, J. B. Eaker ; Clerk, William Haller.
1841-Spring election, 159 votes cast, resulting in the election of David Smith, John G. Neese and John Wiant, Trustees ; David Loudenback, Clerk ; and Daniel Snider, Treasurer.
1842-Votes polled at the spring election, 211. Officers elected-Clerk, David Loudenback; Treasurer, Abraham Hess ; Trustees, David Smith, John Wiant and Samuel Neff.
David Loudenback was elected Clerk in 1841, and served ten years. Isaac Neff was elected Clerk in 1851, and has continued in office to this date. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace since 1854. Following are the names of the present township officers-Trustees, Elijah Baker, A. R. Baker, Isaiah Wiant ; Clerk, Isaac Neff; Assessor; Isaac Bull ; Justices of the Peace, Simeon Taylor, Antrim Beery, Isaac Neff.
WESTVILLE.
This village is located at the crossing of the Valley and Urbana and St. Paris pikes, one-half mile north of the C. C. & I. C. Railroad. The town consists mainly of one street, and contains a population of about 150. The citizens are sober and industrious. At present, there is no dram-shop in the village, and it is probable that there will not be for some time to come. In 1816, the site of Westville was purchased by Archibald McGrew, a Pennsyl- vanian. Believing that the interests of the country demanded the establish- ment of a trading-point, he proceeded to survey the land and lay it off into town lots. The first building was erected by Abraham Stephens, in 1818, on the northwest corner of the square, formed by the crossing of the two roads.
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
Another structure was erected in the same year by Jeremiah Hoffman. A so- called carding machine was pressed into service, by one Cook, in 1818. The first carpentering establishment was erected also in 1818, by Curtis Thompson. As the first merchants we record the names of Joseph B. Acre, John L. Stephens and John Arrowsmith. The little settlement provided a want long felt, but improved slowly.
The first school was opened in 1818, in a large log building. William Allen was the first teacher. He received the sum of $2 from each scholar, and boarded alternately with the parents of his pupils. Some years ago a special district was located and a two-story graded schoolhouse erected. This affords the youth- ful inhabitants an opportunity of obtaining, at least, a liberal education.
Two churches, the Methodist Episcopal and Universalist, offer spiritual advice to the inhabitants. The history of these churches is given in the outline history of the township.
NETTLE CREEK GRANGE, NO. 244,
was organized December 12, 1873. Following are the names of the charter members : Simeon Taylor, Gideon H. Ward, L. Hoak, Elijah Hanna, Samuel K. Sowers, P. Stickley, L. A. McGinnis, N. H. Hain, Noble Osborn, W. Lou- denback, B. F. Colbert, D. Taylor, T. J. Idle, William Idle, Jasper Ward, W. Harbor, Lena Harr, Mrs. S. Taylor, Mrs. S. McGrew, Mrs. D. Taylor, Mrs. L. A. McGinnis, Ella Ward, Mattie Osborne, Josephine Osborne, Arabella Ward.
A large two-story brick building was erected by the Grange and the Sons of Temperance (now defunct) in 1876. The dimensions of the building are 33x50; its total cost aggregated $3,600. The first floor is divided into two departments, the large corner room is used by John Richardson, dealer in dry goods, provisions, etc. The smaller compartment is used by the Grange as a dining-room. The second floor consists of a public hall and ante-rooms, used for meetings of the Grange and public entertainments.
Though Westville is located within one-half mile of the railroad, it does not derive much actual benefit from the same. Urbana is but four miles and St. Paris seven miles distant. These towns attract the trading population of the vicinity, which has its detrimental effects on Westville. The inhabitants are prosperous and happy, and have no design for future greatness.
BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
John Richardson, dealer in dry goods, groceries, hardware, etc. ; Nichols & Hoak, boots, shoes and groceries ; J. H. Baker, steam machine-shop; Minnich Bros., blacksmiths; R. R. McLaughlin, physician.
TERRE HAUTE.
This village is situated on Storm's Creek, in the southern part of the town- ship, and contains a population of 125. It is surrounded by a rich, fertile country, and, but for the fact that it is minus railroad facilities, would be quite a business center. A railroad is now being agitated, and, in time, the people may have the pleasure of hearing the "toot" of the locomotive at their doors.
The village site, originally, was the : roperty of Squire George Craig, who had it surveyed into town lots in 1838. David Loudenback did the surveying,
Respectfully James D. Powell CONCORD TP
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
and was assisted by David Miller. Both of these gentlemen are still residents of the township. Mr. Craig laid off the town as a speculative experiment. Many of the new-comers did not possess money sufficient to purchase a quarter- section of land, but were financially able to buy a lot, and thus lay the founda- tion for a future home.
Abraham Rosmick built the first house-a frame-which is now used by John Neese for a carpenter-shop. The second house was erected by George Neese, the third by John Davis. David Miller built his present residence soon after. The first store was kept by John Conklin, who dealt in dry goods and groceries, in the house now in the possession of Martin Nitchman. The build- ing now owned by Morgan L. Jenkins was built for a tavern by George Craig, who was the first landlord. Jacob Shafer was the first blacksmith ; David Miller, the first wagon-maker.
A post office was established shortly after the town was surveyed. Michael Craybill was the first Postmaster. The mail was carried from Urbana once each week, by - Davis, who rode on horseback. A few years later, the route was changed to Springfield via Tremont. The mail is now received tri- weekly from Urbana. William Dermette is the present Postmaster; he received the appointment some thirteen years ago.
BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
Groceries, etc., Morgan L. Jenkins ; blacksmithing, Raper Ropp and Jacob Kiser; harness-making, Anson Smith; wagon-making, Henry Eiper; phy- sician, W. S. Hunt ; saw-mill, Isaac Evilsizer. The town contains two public halls, and one church-the Methodist Episcopal.
CONCLUSION.
In the preceding pages, we have attempted to portray an unbiased history of Mad River Township, beginning at the earliest settlement and continuing to the present day. Our source of information is exhausted, and we have but little to add. The pioneers, or most of them, have departed this life for a country that is always new, and where the trials and privations of pioneer life are unknown. Their descendants live in peace and prosperity. The recent census returns allot to the township a population of 2,000. Most of the inhabit- ants are farmers in good financial circumstances. They are industrious and contented, and are deserving of the confidence and esteem which they enjoy.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
Jackson Township is the extreme southwestern township of the county, and was formed from the three original townships of the county-Springfield, Mad River and Salem-in 1815. It is bounded on the north by Johnson Township, on the east by Mad River Township, on the south by Clark County, and on the west by Miami County. These boundaries were established in 1817. In shape, the township is square, being six miles long by six miles wide. It is the only square township in the county, and includes an area of thirty-six square miles, or over 23,000 acres. It was named in honor of " Old Hickory " Jackson, the hero of New Orleans. The land is what is known as "second bottom "
M
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
or " valley " land, being a little rolling, but mainly level. It is very rich and very deep, consisting of gravel, alluvium and peaty matter, the gravel being deeply buried in most places. There are several good beds of clay in the township, valuable for making brick and tile; and a considerable quantity of the latter are made for local use, one factory being situated within the corpora- tion of St. Paris (which has recently been extended into this township), and the other at Addison, the township seat.
The country is drained by creeks or tributaries of Mad River, principally. These streams, rising in the highest and most rocky parts of the country, and fed by unfailing springs, are strong, constant and rapid, furnishing many good mill sites. Each of these creeks has innumerable branches, which cover the township with a net-work of small streams. A glance at the map will show the character of the surface of the ground, the multitude of small, crooked streams clearly showing the swampy nature of the ground, which was so very swampy that the early settler never expected it to be settled to any great extent; but it has been cleared of the dense growth of timber, and drained, until now no better farm land can be found in this whole country of ours, which is noted for its rich land.
In this liberally watered region, wells are sunk only deep enough to reach the clear gravel below the level of the river, where a full supply of water is ob- tained, and there is among the people very little knowledge of the rock that underlies them. There is but one place in the township where stone has been found in position, and that is in the southwest quarter of Section 15, where a quarry was worked some forty years ago, but it has not lately been used. The table lands, of which this township is composed, are said to be over 1,300 feet above tide-water.
The timber found here is principally sugar and beech, with some walnut, oak and hickory, and until lately there were a good many poplar trees, but these have now been almost exterminated.
Underlying the gravel, which is covered by the rich earth of this township, there is a stratum of water-limestone, which extends down from Logan County. This stone resembles the Helderberg that was taken from the quarry of Mr. McCoursey, in Section 2, Salem Township. The ground is almost covered in some places with large granite bowlders of glacial deposit. These are used by farmers in foundations for houses and barns, in building houses, fences, and for other domestic purposes.
But the one great source of wealth in Jackson Township is, and must ever be, its unsurpassed farming lands. Nowhere east of the Prairie State can such broad expanses of meadow be found, and even Illinois cannot furnish richer soils ; while, in the important matter of water supply, few places can compare with it. Its streams and springs are clear and strong, and its wells unfailing. Whether it uses its fields for pasture or for tillage, their capacity for producing wealth is enormous. At present, there seems to be a tendency to enlarge farms, and devote them to grazing rather than to tillage. Whether this is wise and profitable, is a question for the political economist and for time. The clay found in this township is well distributed, the supply is large, and in quality it is good enough for brick, drain or sewer tile, and the commoner wares. The large de- posits of gravel distributed throughout the country insure a perfect system of good roads.
In connection with this, mention might be made of a mound on the farm of Lot Noe, Esq., which seems to be a relic of that mysterious people known as
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
Mound Builders, and about whom so little is known. The mound in question is one of those curious hills of sand and gravel that are to be found in all parts of the United States, and that seem to have been built by the ancients as places in which to bury their dead. This one covers an area of between five and six acres, and is about forty or fifty feet deep in the deepest part. In 1874-75, when a pike was being made through this place, the gravel for it was taken from this mound, and in the excavations thirty human skulls were found in one day. Over ten thousand loads of gravel have been taken from it, and yet only one side is taken away. Could this piece of ancient workmanship tell its tale, this paragraph in Jackson Township history would be interesting and important to an incalculable extent.
For a long time previous to the settlement of this township by the whites, an Indian medicine woman occupied a wigwam on the top of this mound. Ow- ing to some tradition or belief, she and her people thought that it bore some- charm, or was in some way hallowed, and that medicine made on it or herbs pulled from its sides had peculiar efficacy in curing their ailments.' They would never fight on or near it, and even in the chase they would go round rather than across it. But the entrance of the whites drove these savage but sincere believers away from their medicine mound, and it was soon cleared of the tim- ber that grew over it, and still later the pick and shovel of the white man proved that the traditions of the red men were not without foundation, and that. this was indeed hallowed ground.
EARLY SETTLEMENT.
It has long been a much-disputed question as to who was the first white settler in this township, but it is finally settled by matter of record, and to Charles Dorsey belongs the honor of first braving the savage Indians, and the more savage beasts, and alone entering the unbroken forest that then covered the country. He came from Virginia in 1802, in the forty-fourth year of his- age, entered 160 acres of land, took the first patent from the Government, built. him a cabin, cleared a small plat of ground, and then went back to his home in Virginia. He came back again in a year or two with his family. The land. he entered was what is now known as the "old Circle farm." He was an energetic man, a fearless pioneer and a good soldier .* He died July 14, 1811, aged over fifty-three years. His body was buried on the " old Grafton farm," and the stone marking his last resting-place can still be seen there. None of his descendants can be found, and a complete history of him cannot be obtained. While Dorsey was in Virginia, just previous to his coming here the second time, John Cane and William Lemmon came. They emigrated from Virginia, and settled in the eastern part of the township. Cane entered the land com- posing Dorsey's farm, at his death. William Lemmon came from Virginia in 1804, and entered a quarter-section of land now known as the old "Lemmon farm." Here he built him a round-log cabin, and, after clearing a small patch of ground, he went back to the East and returned shortly afterward with his wife and four children. None of them are now living in this vicinity, but they all contributed toward clearing the farm and making this fair township what it. now is. Soon after this, the number of settlers was considerably augmented by the appearance of several families, among whom were George Wilson, Sampson Kelley, Thomas Cowie, Thomas Grafton and Joshua Darnell. Of these, George
*Having fought under Gen. Wayne in the war of 1776.
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
Wilson came in the spring of 1805, from Virginia, and entered a half-section of land in Section 36, being the land now owned by Mary Howell, William Kelley, G. Richison, and partly covered by the town of Addison. He cleared a large tract of land, built a commodious log cabin, and started his farm in good shape .* Sampson Kelley was born in Ireland in 1773 ; he came to this country in 1791, aged eighteen years, and settled in Virginia. In 1806, he came to this town- ship and settled on Chapman's Creek, entering the southwest quarter of Sec- tion 3, where William Merritt now lives. He brought his family, consisting of a wife and four daughters. His three sons, Joseph, William and Robert, were all born here. Joseph, the first named, was the first white child ever born in the township. His father cleared his farm and built a small cabin on it, but lived only a short time after his youngest child was born. After his death, his land was sold at administrator's sale, and only brought between $5 and $6 an acre.
Thomas Grafton was born in Virginia, Rockingham County, and came here in 1806. He always held that his name was "Old Tommy Grafton," and that he was so christened. His wife's name before marriage was Esther or Hester Couden. They came to this township and entered a quarter-section of land, being the southeast quarter of Section 3. They brought with them a family of eight children, whose names in their order were James, Ambrose, Susan, Eliza- beth, John, Sarah, Thomas and Amelia. The boys and the father built a cabin and commenced clearing the land, all settling on the home place. Of the boys, Ambrose and James were the only two who enlisted and fought in the war of 1812, and Thomas was the largest land-holder of his day, having bought more than a section. The old farm is still called "Tommy Grafton's place," and is occupied by Ambrose Grafton, a grandson of the old man. The children did not all stay in this part of the country ; some of them have died, some moved to other parts, but there is still a large circle of the old man's descendants occu- pying farms in different parts of the township. They all seem to partake of the energetic, sturdy qualities of their ancestor, who died in the ninety-second year of his age, August 12, 1851. His body lies on the farm of one of his grand- children, in a little secluded family burying-ground. Thomas Cowhic came in the same year, but a little earlier in the year than Mr. Grafton. He entered the "Cowhic farm," of eighty acres, near the Big Spring. He has passed away, and so has his posterity, and nothing save the above can be learned of him. About this time, the tide of emigration set in very strong toward Ohio, and pushed steadily forward into the country forming this township. The woodman's ax could be heard in all directions; the wild animals became very shy, and scarcer from day to day; the Indians looked with jealous eye upon the increasing numbers of their enemies; and still the sturdy pioneers from Virginia and Kentucky braved all dangers, and entered with alacrity upon the work of clearing the land. As the forest disappeared, the ground seemed more rolling, and the absence of the heavy timber and thick foliage allowed it to dry out, until the swampy nature of the ground was so far overcome that very little drainage was required of the farmer. One very noticeable fact was manifest in this connection, viz. : The first settlers-those who had the whole country from which to choose their land-made the poorest selections. The Virginians, especially, would settle near a brook, creek, or spring, without regard to situa- tion, quality or condition of land, evidently thinking a water supply of the first importance.
*He was the first shoemaker in the town of Addison, as well as in the township.
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
Therefore those who came after them, although they were later, did not have to take poorer land, but in most cases had farms far superior to the very first settlers. Among the early settlers who made good selections, mention might be made of Joshua Howell, who came here in 1808, with his wife, Mary, and a family of eight children, named respectively, Joshua, John, Thomas, James, Daniel, Jeremiah, Abigail and Nancy. With his large family, he entered a quarter-section in Section 31, a part of which is now occupied by William McCrea. He built him a log hut or cabin in the style of that day, and, with the assistance of his family, cleared enough of land the first year to furnish them with food until more could be cleared. He was a devout Chris- tian, and a member of the Old-School Baptist Church. His children all left the neighborhood, and he died at a ripe old age in Indiana. Daniel Howell, a son of Joshua, came in 1810, with his wife, Phoebe, whom he married in Vir- ginia, and entered eighty acres of land, now the " Hulde-Howell farm," built him a round-log cabin, clapboard roof, with poles, and pole-weights to hold the roof on ; and, after getting this farm in good trim, he entered eighty acres more about a mile east of the present site of the town of Addison. On this he also built a cabin after clearing a goodly portion of it. A year after this, or in 1810, David Field came here from near Bowling Green, Ky. He settled on one hundred and sixty acres of land just below the present site of Addison. After building a cabin and making a clearing and otherwise improving his land, he sold it to Joseph Sills, and, in 1820, bought one hundred and seventy- four acres just north of Addison, of one Stocket West, and built him a log house, which was merely a double log hut. At this time houses in the town- ship were few and far apart. The farmers sometimes neighbored ten miles. John Fitzpatrick, another old pioneer, was born in Maryland, emigrated to Virginia, was married at Harper's Ferry, and some time about the year 1810, came to Champaign County and settled in or near Urbana, on John Reynolds' farm. In 1816, he came to this township and entered the southwest quarter of Section 10. He had a wife and three boys and three girls. His farm is now occupied by Rebecca Fitzpatrick, one of his descendants, of whom there are quite a goodly number, all living in this and adjoining townships. About this time, or from 1812 up, the settlers began to have much trouble with the. Indians, who commenced to perpetrate all kinds of outrages upon them. It was no longer safe to go out unless well armed, day or night. In 1815, two men, named Bowyer and Morgan, were living together, and, one day when Morgan was absent hunting, the Indians fell upon Bowyer, and, murdering him, scalped him with a tomahawk. He was buried by his friends in a spot now on Allen Pence's farm. There were twenty Indians to one white man, and their villages dotted the country in all directions. They had quite a village on Chapman's Creek, and occupied it for a long time. The wigwams were deserted, but still standing as late as 1821. There are few if any incidents that could be narrated relative to the intercourse between the whites and Indians in this township. When the Indians were first warring with the settlers, there were none here for them to fight, and, after peace had been restored, and before there was more fighting, the whites were so strong in point of numbers that the reds did not dare attack them. They would frequently come into the cabins of the pioneers and by motion show that they wanted something to eat, and they were rarely turned away without it; but if refused, they would merely give a grunt of dissatisfaction and try it at the next cabin. The people at this time did not have the abundance of food that they now enjoy. The land was new, and the
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