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 55
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TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.
We are unable to present a complete list of the officers of this township from its organization to the present date. Following is a list of the principal officers from 1857 to 1880 :
1857-Trustees, James Wilson, M. Couchman, George Ziegler ; Clerk, William Bell ; Treasurer, Francis Bull ; Assessor, Joseph Wren.
1858-Trustees, M. Couchman, James Wilson, George Ziegler ; Clerk, William Bell ; Treasurer, Francis Bull ; Assessor, J. F. Wilson.
1859-Trustees, George Ziegler, Jacob' Sarver, William Crowl; Clerk, William Morril ; Treasurer, Francis Bull ; Assessor, J. F. Wilson.
1860-Trustees, Jacob Sarver, William Crowl, Daniel Melhorn ; Clerk, James F. Wilson ; Treasurer, Francis Bull ; Assessor, J. F. Wilson.
1861-Trustees, Daniel Melhorn, William Crowl, Jacob Sarver ; Clerk, James F. Wilson ; Treasurer, Francis Bull ; Assessor, J. F. Wilson.
1862-Trustees, Perry Daniels, Jacob Sarver, William Crowl ; Clerk, J. F. Wilson ; Treasurer, Francis Bull ; Assessor, J. F. Wilson.
1863-Trustees, Joseph Wren, John Craig, Andrew Wilson ; Clerk, J. F. Wilson ; Treasurer. Samuel Mustard ; Assessor, Miles W. Davis.
1864-Trustees, Joseph Wren, J. S. Craig, A. Wilson ; Clerk, J. F. Wil- son ; Treasurer, John H. Wilson ; Assessor, A. W. Holden.
1865-Trustees, A. Wilson, W. C. Kinnan, Martin Sayre; Clerk, J. S. Craig; Treasurer, John H. Wilson ; Assessor, A. W. Holden.
1866-Trustees, W. C. Kinnan, Martin Sayre, A. Wilson ; Clerk, J. S. Craig ; Treasurer, John H. Wilson ; Assessor, John B. McDonald.
1867-Trustees, A. Wilson, W. C. Kinnan, William Crowl; Clerk, Israel Davis ; Treasurer, John H. Wilson ; Assessor, Israel Davis.
Jonathan Cheney (DECEASED)
483
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
1868-Trustees, Jacob Sarver, James Wilson, W. H. Terrell ; Clerk, James H. Wilson ; Treasurer, Jacob Melhorn ; Assessor, John McIntire.
1869-Trustees, Jacob Sarver, Richard Taylor, W. H. Terrell ; Clerk, W. H. Huston ; Treasurer, Jacob Melhorn ; Assessor, James Wilson.
1870-Trustees, William Crowl, D. L. Pitman, William Emery ; Clerk, W. H. Huston ; Treasurer, Jacob Melhorn ; Assessor, James Wilson.
1871-Trustees, W. Crowl, William Emery, Jacob Melhorn; Clerk, P. Weigel ; Treasurer, D. L. Pitman ; Assessor, James Wilson.
1872-Trustees, William Crowl, Jacob Melhorn, N. Chester ; Clerk, P. Weigel ; Treasurer, D. L. Pitman ; Assessor, James Wilson.
1873-Trustees, William Crowl, John Cookston, W. C. Kinnan ; Clerk, W. H. Paul ; Treasurer, D. L. Pitman ; Assessor, James Wilson.
1874-Trustees, William Crowl, W. C. Kinnan, E. F. Lemen ; Clerk, N. P. Haines ; Treasurer, D. L. Pitman ; Assessor, Jacob Melhorn.
1875-Trustees, Michael Forry, E. F. Lemen, W. H. Terrell ; Clerk, L. P. Stine ; Treasurer, D. L. Pitman ; Assessor, Robert Huston.
1876-Trustees, W. H. Terrell E. F. Lemen, F. M. Hanger ; Clerk, J. C. Eby ; Treasurer, D. L. Pitman; Assessor, Jacob Melhorn.
1877-Trustees, William Crowl, James Wilson, Jacob Sarver; Clerk, C. A. Offenbacher ; Treasurer, D. L. Pitman ; Assessor, Jacob Melhorn.
1878-Trustees, E. F. Lemen, W. H. Terrell, Conrad Mohr : Clerk, C. A. Offenbacher, Treasurer, D. L. Pitman ; Assessor, Jacob Melhorn.
1879-Trustees, W. H. Terrell, Conrad Mohr, W. T. Stauffer ; Clerk, C. A. Offenbacher ; Treasurer, D. L. Pitman ; Assessor, Jacob Melhorn.
1880-Trustees, W. H. Terrell, D. A. Sharp, J. C. Miams; Clerk, C. A. Offenbacher; Treasurer, John McIntire; Assessor, James Wilson.
Tradition has furnished us with a complete list of the Justices of the Peace, from the organization of the township to this date, as follows : William Lee, Askins, Isaiah Fuson ; Andrew McBeth, Benjamin Davis (continued in office thirty-four years), Mathew Cretcher, Timothy Terrell, William Morrow, Holden, Amos Couchman, John C. Eby and William H. Terrell. The two latter are the present incumbents.
POLITICS.
Harrison Township is red-hot, politically. The two great parties are so evenly divided in number that it is next to an impossibility to foreshadow the result of an election. For a number of years the Republicans predominated largely. Twenty-five years ago there were but six Democrats in the township. In 1872, Grant received a majority of seventy-two. In 1876, Hayes carried the town- ship by a majority of two. At the spring election of 1880, the Democratic ticket triumphed by an average majority of fourteen. All contests, local and national, are prosecuted bitterly, and voters are generally solicited to cast their ballots for measures, not men.
SPRING HILLS.
This, the only village in the township, is located at the base of the hills in the northeastern part. It is surrounded by a number of natural springs, / hence its name, Spring Hills. The town is located principally on two streets, formed by the crossing of the Urbana and Wapakoneta with the West Liberty and Sidney pike. The little village contains about one hundred and fifty inhab- itants, who are industrious and enterprising. It contains two stores, one hotel, -
P
484
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
three blacksmith-shops, and several other industrial institutions. The inhabit- ants are not enjoying the advantages offered by a railroad, but are confident that, ere many years have passed away, they too will be accorded the privilege of connecting themselves with the outside world by rail. The Bellefontaine, Troy & Evansville Railroad, if completed, will pass through the corporate limits of Spring Hills, and excellent shipping facilities will be afforded the growers of produce in the surrounding country.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
Although the roads above mentioned were laid out during the Indian troubles of 1812, no actual settlement was made here until a number of years there- after. Joseph Woods laid out the town in 1832, J. L. Morgan acting as sur- veyor. The surrounding country felt the need of an inland trading-point, and Mr. W. proposed to supply this want by laying out the land into town lots and selling them at a reasonable figure. Originally forty-seven lots, and one re- served for the church, were included in the survey. The lots sold rapidly, at prices ranging from $7 to $40.
The first house was built by John Vance, in 1832, and used as a store. An addition was added by Dr. Pringle, and used as an apothecary-shop. This: building is now occupied by Dr. Wilson and family. One year later, a log- house was erected by George Shaw; this building is still standing. Joseph Irvin erected the first blacksmith-shop of any importance, in 1838. The first. tavern was kept by George Bell, in the Dr. Wilson building. The large two- story brick, now used for a store and tenement house, was built by Mathew Cretcher, Isaac Eads and others.
At first the village was called Middleburg. When application was made for the establishment of a post office, it was ascertained that in Logan County there was a town by the same name. Accordingly, a bill providing for a change of name was introduced by Hon. J. C. Phillips, to whom belongs the honor of re-christening the town. The post office was established soon after the town was laid out, and John Vance appointed the first Postmaster. Since that time, it has undergone a number of changes. John Espey is the present Postmaster. Mails are received tri-weekly.
CORPORATION OFFICIALS.
Under a recent law, a village must contain a population of -- to be incor- porated. Although Spring Hills has not the requisite number, her citizens pro- vided for an incorporation before the recent laws went into effect. We append a list of the principal corporation officials, from 1849 to 1880, inclusive :
1849-Mayor, William Perren; Clerk, G. Mayne; Council-Mathew Cretcher, William Stremmel, James Trison, C. Anderson, Marinus Kinnan.
1850-(Special election)-Mayor, Dr. T. Pringle ; Council, John Melhorn, vice C. Anderson, deceased.
1850-Mayor, John Leonard ; Clerk, John Melhorn ; Council-George Marks, Mathew Cretcher, Charles Fuson.
1851-Mayor, John Melhorn ; Clerk, James A. Smith ; Council-Mathew Cretcher, Thomas Pringle, William Perrin, Philander Jones, George Marks, Isaac Eads.
1852-No records.
1853-Mayor, P. Jones; Clerk, John Melhorn; Council, G. Mayne, J. O. Smith, G. Bell, A. Piatt, M. S. Lantz; Treasurer, Isaac Eads. .
485
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
1854-Mayor, P. Jones ; Clerk, J. S. Skeen ; Council, Mathew Cretcher, A. Piatt, G. Mayne, W. B. Haines, J. M. Fuson ; Treasurer, James A. Smith ; Marshal, Joseph Edwards.
1855-Mayor, W. B. Haines ; Clerk, A. Trout; Council, John Richards, W. Morrow, Dave Stauffer, A. Piatt, J. A. Smith ; Marshal, E. P. Terrell ; Treasurer, T. S. Crosson.
1856-Mayor, W. B. Haines ; Clerk, W. Morrow; Council, A. Piatt, D. Stauffer, L. Mathis, Joseph Forry, Frank Bull.
1857-Mayor, W. B. Haines ; Clerk, W. Morrow ; Council, F. Bull, Allen Mathis, A. Piatt, J. O. Smith, J. S. Skeen ; Marshal, Joseph Forry.
1858-Mayor, Alexander Bull; Clerk, William Morrill; Council, A. Piatt, J. A. Smith, A. Mathis, J. S. Skeen ; Treasurer, Frank Bull.
1859-Mayor, W. B. Haines ; Clerk, J. S. Skeen; Council, I. Hopkins, A. Piatt, F. Bull, Jacob Melhorn, William Morrill.
1560-Mayor, James F. Wilson; Clerk, Isaac Eads; Council, Wm. Bell,
A. Piatt, W. B. Haines, A. Mathis, H. Melhorn ; Marshal, L. H. Cretcher. 1861-Mayor, J. F. Wilson ; Clerk, R. L. Skeen ; Council, A. Piatt, S. D. Strayer, D. L. Pitman, S. B. Twadell, W. B. Haines ; Marshal, S. B. Twadell.
1862-Mayor, William Bell ; Clerk, L. H. Cretcher ; Council, Henry Melhorn, William Morrill, S. Jackson, Joseph Forry, I. Cretcher ; Marshal, J. L. Brownfield.
1863-Mayor, W. Bell; Clerk, L. H. Cretcher; Council, D. L. Pitman, William Heller, John Burkhardt, Moses Curl, William Huskamp ; Marshal, Simeon Jackson ; Treasurer, Frank Bull.
1864-Mayor, L. H. Cretcher ; Clerk, John C. Eby; Marshal, Harvey Brown ; Treasurer, Frank Bull ; Council, William Huscamp, John Burkhardt, Sol Haymer, D. L. Pitman, C. R. Anton.
1865-Mayor, J. C. Eby ; Clerk, J. A. Brown; Marshal, Simeon Jack- son ; Treasurer, Frank Bull; Council, D. L. Pitman, J. Melhorn, L. H. Cretcher, John Tully, William Huscamp.
1866-Mayor, W. B. Haines ; Clerk, Benjamin Sweet; Marshal, Daniel Lyons ; Treasurer, Jacob Melhorn ; Council, D. L. Pitman, William Huscamp, A. Piatt, Joseph Lemen, James Wilson.
1867-Mayor, A. L. Smith ; Clerk, D. L. Pitman ; Marshal, D. W. Lyons ; Treasurer, Jacob Melhorn; Council, A. Piatt, Joseph Lemen, A. Mathis, J. F. Wilson, Henry Melhorn.
1868-Mayor, John C. Eby ; Clerk, D. L. Pitman; Marshal, Michael Billet ; Treasurer, Jacob Melhorn ; Council, William Huscamp, Sanford Sweet, Daniel Lyons, William Brownfield, Joseph Brownfield.
1869-Mayor, L. H. Cretcher ; Clerk, D. L. Pitman; Marshal, William Runyan ; Treasurer, Jac. Melhorn ; Council, W. H. Cretcher, D. W. Lyons, A. Piatt, J. A. Brownfield, William Huscamp.
1870-Mayor, P. M. Morgan ; Clerk, W. A. Cretcher ; Marshal, George Sutherland; Treasurer, Jac. Melhorn ; Council, J. A. Brownfield, D. W. Lyons, William Huscamp, D. L. Pitman, A. Piatt.
1871-Mayor, H. M. Burns ; Clerk, D. W. Lyons ; Marshal, John Dick- ensheets ; Treasurer, D. L. Pitman ; Council, William Huscamp, A. L. Smith, B. F. Pheneger, J. M. Terrell, Jacob Melhorn.
1872-Mayor, C. A. Offenbacher ; Clerk, N. P. Haines ; Council, W. Hus- camp, H. M. Burns, A. L. Smith, J. M. Terrell, B. Phenegar.
486
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
1873-Mayor, J. C. Eby ; Clerk, W. H. Paul; Treasurer, J. M. Terrell; Council, J. F. Wilson, John Cretcher, Benjamin Phenegar, Jacob Melhorn, W. H. Brownfield ; Marshal, Joshua Kemp.
1874-Mayor, J. C. Eby ; Clerk, W. H. Paul; Marshal, Joshua Kemp ; Treasurer, J. M. Terrell ; Council, C. A. Offenbacher, John Cretcher, J. F. Wilson, Henry Newfarmer, Benjamin Phenegar.
1875-Mayor, J. C. Eby; Clerk, W. H. Paul; Marshal, Joseph Kemp ; Treasurer, J. M. Terrell ; Council, B. Phenegar, W. H. Brownfield, H. New- farmer. John Cretcher, J. F. Wilson.
1876-Mayor, H. M. Burns; Clerk, C. A. Offenbacher ; Marshal, Wade Wren ; Treasurer, J. M. Terrell ; Council, J. F. Wilson, Henry Newfarmer, D. L. Pitman, G. O. Kemper, B. Phenegar.
1877-Mayor, A. L. Smith ; Clerk, C. A. Offenbacher ; Treasurer, J. M. Terrell ; Marshal, W. H. Kemp; Council, Conrad Mohr, John Cretcher, W. Brownfield, H. Newfarmer,. B. F. Royer.
1878-Mayor, A. L. Smith ; Clerk, C. A. Offenbacher ; Treasurer, J. M. Terrell; Council, John Cretcher, Conrad Mohr, W. H. Brownfield, H. New- farmer, D. L. Pitman ; Marshal, William Kemp.
1879-Mayor, R. A. Elliot; Clerk, C. A. Offenbacher ; Treasurer, J. M. Terrell ; Marshal, William Kemp ; Council, D. L. Pitman, H. Newfarmer, T. T. Hale, Conrad Mohr, John Cretcher.
1880-Mayor, J. C. Eby; Clerk, C. A. Offenbacher ; Treasurer, Ed Piatt ; Marshal, Joseph Bricker ; Council, J. F. Wilson, T. T. Hale, D. D. Fielder, H. Newfarmer, F. M. Davis, A. L. Smith.
CONCORD TOWNSHIP.
BY T. S. M' FARLAND.
A history of the above township, more than seventy-seven years subsequent to the time when its first permanent resident located on the southeast quarter of Section 8, is no easy task, first, because the pioneers have nearly all passed away ; and, secondly, because there are few records of much that would be requisite to make up a complete history. This is much to be regretted. So far as they can serve, such records have been used as were at hand; beyond this, much has been collected from living witnesses who have been life-long citizens of the township. Personal history, incidents and anecdotes, together with pioneer reminiscences, have been collected as far as possible. Much of that which would be valuable is lost, because those who first broke the forest and planted civilization in this part of the county, passed away long before the writer had an existence. We take this occasion to say, that this is pre- sented to the public as a pretty full, and we believe as nearly correct history as it is possible to reach.
The township is composed of thirty sections of land, the most of which is under a fair state of cultivation. It is centrally located, being the middle town- ship of the first tier west of Mad River, and is known as Town 4, Range 12. It was included in Mad River Township, being separated from it in 1818. The record shows that Sampson Talbott was for a number of years a Justice of the Peace prior to the separation of the townships, and Joseph Hill and Thomas Stretch were Constables. Joseph Hill was the first permanent settler, having settled on the farm now owned by his son-in-low, James D. Powell, in Feb- ruary, 1803. He was the father of Joseph Hill, Superintendent of the Pan
487
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
Handle Railway, with headquarters at Logansport, Ind. At the time of his removal to the pioneer farm, Isaac Anderson, a " squatter " was found on the farm, but the lines not falling in "pleasant places " to him, he gave up his im- provement. Anderson was noted for his laziness, and, from the fact that he was the first white man that lived upon the banks of Anderson Creek, the stream took its name after him.
Adam Wise was also among the early settlers, and lived on the farm of Oliver Taylor. He was the grandfather of the venerable James Stevens, of Kingston, now in his ninetieth year.
Prominent in the vicinity of Northville in an early day, were John, James and Samuel Mitchel. Their father was James Mitchel, Sr., a very old man when the family came here in 1806. Mr. Joseph Longfellow, of whom a more extended account appears in this work, was a man of very small stature, yet a man of wonderful physical endurance. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died in 1865, in his one hundredth year. Mr. Longfellow, in common with his neighbors, was seriously troubled with the squirrels. In order to more securely preserve his corn, he hauled it to his house one season and stacked it around his yard. Coming out of his house one morning, he found perhaps a hundred squirrels at his corn. In his effort to drive them away, sixteen of them beat a retreat up the well-pole. Mr. L. cast his first vote for Gen. Washington, in Delaware, and voted at every Presidential election from the foundation of the Government until the second term of Abraham Lincoln. Henry Bacome entered the farm now occupied by Simeon Rinaker, in 1810, and removed his cabin three different times to avoid milk-sickness, believing it came from the water. He finally died with the disease on the same farm.
Alexander Dunlap entered and lived upon the farm now owned by M. F. Pence. He was noted for his many peculiarities. I have in my possession a copy of an announcement made by Mr. Dunlap in 1830, when he became a candidate for the Legislature. The announcement is in his own writing, and we give it verbatim et literatim :
TAKE NOTICE .- That I offer as a candidate to represent Champaign county in the next leg- islative session of Ohio in the ensuing election October next. I am a republican, I am against the black and colored people being on the same footin as the whites is. I am in favor of gin- eral Andrew Jackson being president to take seat in march next. I adds no more at present, but remains a candidate. ALEXANDER DUNLAP.
Aug 4th 1830.
Felix Rock was the original settler on the home farm of Daniel Kizer, and was for many years a highly esteemed citizen. In 1844, he removed to Iowa, where he and his entire family soon afterward died. John Tipton entered the farm now owned by John Taylor, and sold it to John Daniels, in 1814. The man- ner of conveying lands in those days was by means of what was termed "patent," a thing almost unheard of by the present generation. This " patent " is yet in the possession of Mr. Taylor, and shows that Edward Tiffin was Commissioner of the land office. It also bears the signature of James Madison, President of the United States. These transfers were made by virtue of an act passed by Congress, providing for the sale of lands in the Northwest Territory, north of the Ohio River and above the mouth of the Ken- tucky River.
John Duckworth, whose widow still survives, was an Englishman by birth, and came up from Warren County in 1815. He paid for his farm by cutting wood at 25 cents per cord. Philip Kenton, a nephew of Gen. Simon Ken- ton, was an early pioneer, and lived on the farm east of and adjoining Concord
488
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
Chapel. James Russell subsequently owned the farm, but removed to Illinois in 1854, where he died.
Jesse Harbor came in 1805, from North Carolina. He lived one mile west of Heathtown, where he died, in 1863. Mr. H. was the father of thirty-two children, and gave each child eighty acres of land, or its equivalent, when they arrived at the age of maturity. Mr. Harbor was for a number of years a Jus- tice of the Peace, in an early day. William Harbor, his brother, came also from North Carolina the same year. John Wilson, the father of our esteemed fellow-citizen, J. D. Wilson, near Heathtown, came in 1809, and was one of three of the original Free-Soil or Abolition voters of the township.
Thomas Tipton lived on the farm now owned by Peter Baker, and died at the advanced age of one hundred and eleven years. During the last few years of his life, he laid between two feather beds, both summer and winter.
The farm now owned by John Stevens had more owners prior to 1820 than any farm in the county-certainly in this part of it. The land was entered by Joel Harbor, and afterward owned by Joel Fuson, James Bacon, William Snod- grass and William Werden, late of Springfield, who first introduced a metal mold-board for plows. This was in 1819.
Samuel and John Hogg entered the farm now owned by the Jesse Neer's heirs, which afterward was sold to a Mr. Taylor, and subsequently to George Gideon, and finally to John Shriver, who died in 1851.
David Pence settled in the extreme southwest corner of the township in a very early day.
Thomas and William Stretch lived for many years on the western farm of Daniel Kizer, and each, for a term, served as Constable, when this township was yet included in Mad River. We have in our possession the original copy of the bond which they executed before entering upon the duties of their office. As but few men now live who ever witnessed such an instrument of writing, we herewith produce it. We give it just as it stands in the original record :
Know all men by these presents That we Thos. Stretch and Wm. Stretch of the township of Mad River county of Champaign and State of Ohio, are held and firmly bound to Eze- kiel Arrowsmith Treasurer, or his successor in office in the just sum of four hundred dollars, for which payment well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves, our heirs, Executors and Administrators, firmly by these presents and sealed with our seals and dated this 10th day of October 1809.
The condition of this obligation is such that, if the above Thos. Stretch and Wm. Stretch or his certain attorney do, and shall in all things well and truly observe and perform and faith- fully and impartially act, which on the part of them the said Thos. Stretch Constable for the above mentioned township and county in the time, manner and way the law directs during the time he, shall remain in office-Then this obligation to be void and of no effect, otherwise to re- main in legal force.
WITNESS.
THOS. STRETCH, WM. STRETCH.
It would seem from the above, judging from the style of language, that more importance was attached to the office in the early settlement of the coun- try than now. The remains of both Thomas and William Stretch lie in the Talbott Graveyard, near the river, the first dying January, 1818, and the latter date unknown.
While this township was identified with Mad River at an early day, when the law provided for an office known as "Lister and House Appraiser," the record shows that James Burns was the first to fill the position, with William Ross, Jr., assistant. James Reynolds was the first Clerk, and by him the vari- ous officers were sworn into office.
489
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
Archibald McKinley was the first Constable, and was sworn into office by an Associate Judge, but the Judge fails to sign his name, hence the reader as well as the writer must forever remain in ignorance as to who this Judge was. James Mitchel was the second and Job Gard the third Constable.
This same record contains the articles of agreement between the Township Trustees and various parties who leased the different school sections. George Stonebarger was the first to lease a part of Section 16, Town 4, Range 11, the lease extending over a period of fifteen years, which was provided by law. Each man was required to clear so much land, and plant so many apple-trees, and sow so much timothy and red clover seed. Each man was prohibited by his contract from making any useless waste of timber or stone from the different premises. Think of it-a man required to stay his hand among the almost un- broken forest of this country seventy-five years ago !
Caleb Carter and Isaac Anderson were the first Trustees of the township. John Clark's name also appears as one of the early Trustees of the township. George Mahin and Joseph Hill's names appear as witnesses in connection with the leasing of school lands. Also Daniel and Charles Rector were among the prominent men of their day. James Montgomery, we believe, was a Method- ist minister and an associate of the Rectors. John Kain enters the first record of a stock mark. Mr. Kain lived then on what is known as the Strother Smith farm in Jackson Township, in the identical house in which the writer's grand- father died in 1811. This same house is now occupied by William Kesler, and the chimney still plainly bears the mark of an earthquake which took place in December, 1811. The date of Mr. Kain's mark is July 13, 1805. Elijah Weaver was among the early officers of the township, with William Weaver and Joseph Diltz as his securities.
On the 2d day of March, 1812, in the settlement of the Trustees of the township, with Arch Mckinley as Treasurer, the treasury was found to contain $1.35. Nathan Darnall, David Bayles and Peter Boone were at that time Trust- ees, and the public expenses of the past year for the township were $6.75. In another business matter, the names of Randall Largent, Thomas Cowhick and Basil West appear. Joseph Hill served as Constable by appointment, while Henry Been was one of the Trustees. More than a hundred names appear in this record, most of whom have left a long line of descendants, who occupy prominent places in society.
Robert McFarland, the father of the writer, was a native of Rockbridge County, Va., and recollected distinctly seeing Gen. George Washington in 1793. He was taken to Tennessee in early life, but subsequent settled on Indian Creek, near Cynthiana, Ky., from whence he removed to Champaign County in 1807, having come here one year earlier on an excursion tour with Martin Hitt and Joseph Diltz. His chief object in emigrating was to free himself from the con- taminating influences of slavery. In October of the above year they landed in the woods on the farm since owned by Simon Ropp, in Union Township, and unloaded their goods beside an oak log, on Tuesday of the same week, and on Friday following they moved into their cabin. But half of the floor was laid, and that with a very rough style of puncheon. Their beds were laid on clapboards, supported by forks driven in the ground between the puncheon, and in this manner the two families (his father-in-law, Joseph Gray, had come with them) lived until spring, when they removed to a point near the side track, between Urbana and West Liberty. They subsequently settled on the "Neese " farm, two and a half miles southeast of Westville. In the fall of the same year, Robt.
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