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 56
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490
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
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Mc Farland purchased of Henry Bacome the farm now owned by his son, T. S. McFarland, and, during the winter of 1811-12, reared his cabin, and, in April following, moved into it. Soon after his removal to the farm, a military road was cut out from Urbana to the Northwest Territory, passing directly through the front yard of the old homestead. In October, 1812, Gen. Harri- son and his troops passed over this road on their way to the field of battle. The General inquired of my father if he intended to settle among such large trees, and, receiving an affirmative answer, replied that he was too small a man for such large timber.
After the General had re-mounted and was about taking his leave, father remarked to him that, should it be his fortune to have a son in the future, it. should bear the name of Gen. Harrison. In February following, a son was. born, and, according to promise, was duly installed into the family as Gen. William Harrison. Twenty-eight years later, and during the ever-memorable campaign of 1840, Gen. Harrison passed over this same road from Sidney to Urbana in a carriage. As was the custom in those days, a delegation from this. neighborhood met the General and his escort at the western county line. Soon. after the meeting with the delegation from this vicinity, they came into Careys- ville, and the General made a speech from his carriage, and during his remarks. spoke of his former trip through this county in the war of 1812, but the face of the country was so changed he failed to recognize anything. A voice in the crowd answered, and said he was on the same road. At Millerstown, he made" a similar remark, when he was again informed he was on the same road, when he inquired how the gentleman knew, and, being informed that he had seen and conversed with him at that time, the General called his informant to the stand and asked how he remembered the fact, and was told that he was the man who. had promised to name a son for him. The General at once called to mind the occurrence. After inquiring for the welfare of his namesake, he remarked that, the time was when a great many children were named for him, but, since party lines were drawn, some people only named their dogs for him. Accompanying. Gen. Harrison was one Jonathan Chambers, a Kentuckian, who had been a schoolmate of Thomas Kenton, of Mad River Township. During the speech of Gen. Harrison at Millerstown, Kenton rode into the crowd and commenced shouting at the top of his voice for Chambers, until Chambers was obliged to. leave the stand in order to keep Kenton quiet.
When Robert McFarland bought the farm above alluded to, the remains of an Indian village were still plainly visible, there being fourteen huts still in a pretty fair state of preservation. These huts stood some two or three hundred yards southwest of Concord Chapel. In the first organization of the first M. E. Church in Urbana, Robert McFarland was appointed its first Class- leader, and after the organization of the Stevens' Church, at Westville, he transferred his membership, and became the first leader in that organization. He was also the nucleus around which Concord society grew, and was its first: leader.
The society familiarly known as Concord, was first organized in 1818. The meetings, both for worship and business, were held principally at the house of Robert McFarland, until the erection and completion of a log church,. in 1824. The site of the first house of worship was on the west line of the. graveyard, Robert McFarland and James Russell each giving an acre of land. for the use of the church. The house, an ordinary hewed log building, was. erected across the line, so that each of the donors had a part of the house on.
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
the land he had donated. This building was erected in 1824, the contract for its erection being given to Tid and Joshua Franklin, they agreeing to inclose the house for the sum of $50. The size of the building was 24x17, two of the logs still being in the possession of the writer. Timber for shingles was furnished by Jacob Barger, and the sawed lumber by William Harbor, who then had a saw-mill on the land now occupied by Perry Loudenback, the mill standing on the opposite side of the road and immediately in front of the residence of M. F. Pence. The house fronted south, with the pulpit on the opposite side of the building, with a four-light (8x10) window in the rear of the pulpit, which afforded ample dimensions for a congregation of wasps during the summer season. This, with a larger sized window in each end of the house, afforded the only light to the room, save what they might expect from the pulpit. The seats were made of slabs, without backs, and upon which men could not sleep, as in more modern days. The writer remembers well setting upon these seats when his feet only came half way to the floor. The building: was dedicated the same year of its erection, Rev. George W. Maley being in charge of the circuit. It served the use of the society until 1837, when the erection of a brick building was commenced. The brickwork was let to the Gearheart Brothers, and the brick was made on the ground. The wood- work was let to Joseph Hough and Valentine Russell. Its looks and dimen- sions are familiar to many who will read this work, and need not be described. at length. It was a low, flat house; one door in the west and called the "men's " door, and the other in the southeast corner, familiarly known as the " women's " door-a wonderful structure in point of architecture. The house was dedicated in 1838, by Rev. James B. Finley, and it served the congregation until 1867, when it was sold at public auction for $56 to Joseph Neer. The entire cost of the building was $1,001, and was torn down simul- taneously with the erection of the present building, in 1867. In the erection of the present house, the contract was let to William Stover, of Urbana, the. consideration being $6,300, the additional expenses increasing the amount to. $7,150. The house was dedicated on the 15th of December, 1867, the dedica- tory sermon being delivered by Dr. Asbury Lowry.
Concord Township has within its limits two other Methodist Episcopal Churches. Neer Chapel, situated in the northwest corner of the township, was named for the Rev. Samuel Neer, a deceased minister of the Cincinnati Con- ference, and a former schoolmate of the writer. The house was dedicated on the 15th of August, 1858, just one year after the death of the man for whom it was named. Rev. D. Warnock preached on the above occasion. The other church is that of Northville, erected and dedicated about the same year as that. of Neer Chapel. These are the only church buildings ever erected in the town- ship.
The first schoolhouse in the township was built on the farm of William Harbor, south of and near the Harbor Graveyard. It was erected about the- year 1820. Near the site of this old house is a singular excavation in the earth, resembling the track usually made by circus shows, wherein they exhibit their ponies. It is, however, not so broad, and yet deeper. It was known to be there in the first settlement of the country, but by what means, and for what purpose, will perhaps forever remain a mystery. Long before the population of the township warranted the construction of school districts, an old house, standing near the northeast corner of Valentine Russell's farm, was used as & schoolhouse. Soon after this, a house was built on the farm of John Miller, at.
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
the northwest corner, designed for a schoolhouse, but some contention arising as to the location, the house was torn down and removed to the west side of the John Shriver farm, a quarter of a mile south of the present Concord School- house. In this house the writer learned his letters, under the guidance of D. H. Neer and William Mouser. This house was vacated in 1838, and the school then removed to the hewed-log house on the site of the present building. The township contains seven schoolhouses, all brick buildings, after the most ap- proved style. No township in the county can boast of such schoolhouses, and we doubt if they are excelled by any in the State.
The township contains no incorporated village, and never has so as far as we know.
Northville obtained the most prominence of any village in the township. It was laid off by James D. Stevens and Jacob Davis. It contains, at this writing, one Methodist Church, a schoolhouse and a defunct Grange hall. Mr. William Downs, a prominent citizen, and Mr. Howard Smith, the village blacksmith, are the sole occupants of the town at this writing. It lies in the northeast corner of the township, on high table land, a beautiful location for a town of greater magnitude. The citizens of the neighborhood surrounding Northville are, without exception, we believe, among the best in the county. In this locality, we may mention N. D. McReynolds, S. J. Mccullough, Daniel Bru- ner, James Russell, George Kennedy, Wallace Downs, Thomas Stevens, G. W. Barger, and others of equal standing.
Many years ago, a village was laid off near the present residence of F. N. Barger, by Orsamus Scott, and was named Scottsburg. Some two or three houses were erected that are remembered by the writer, though few of our peo- ple of this day remember anything of the town.
Gourdville, three-quarters of a mile south of Concord, was never incor- porated, its citizens generally being transient comers and goers. It never con- tained more than three houses at a time. The families of Tubal Woodard and James Blue now constitute the entire population of the village.
Heathtown, near the northwest corner of the township, was named for John Heath, a native of New Jersey, who came West about 1838. He set up a shoe- shop in the first place, and soon afterward added a dry goods store, and, subse- quently, succeeded in getting a post office, known as Muddy Creek. The vil- lage afteward contained a blacksmith-shop, owned by John Detrick, and a shoe- shop, owned by J. R. McFarland. But the glory of the town has passed away and it now exists in name only. In the days of Know-Nothingism, the order had its headquartes in the village. The events of 1854, in this connection, will long be reverted to by members of "Muddy Run Council, No. 343." In the neighborhood surrounding the village are a number of excellent men, of whom we might mention the names of J. D. Wilson, Joseph Harbor, Crockett Journell, Peter Baker, Levi Johnson, Ed Baker, D. F. Johnson and others. The original proprietor of the town removed to Iowa in 1854, where he died a few years since.
In the same neighborhood, since the glories of Heathtown have passed away, the village of Crayon has been inaugurated. It has contained for a number of years a dry goods store, owned by various parties. The post office, Crayon, is the only one in the township, and was established about two years ago. James W. Heath is Postmaster. The village contains some four or five dwelling- houses, besides a blacksmith-shop, now owned by Ira Poffenbarger. Simeon Harbor, S. J. Neer, T. H. Ford, John Clark, Jacob Sarver and David Pool
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
compose the leading citizens of the vicinity. The first election held in the town- ship after its organization in 1818, was held at the house of Robert McFarland. James Russell also provided for the election a short time, until they were re- moved by common consent to the house of Thomas Stretch, on Daniel Kizer's western farm. About the year 1840, they were held for a year or two in the old log church. They were afterward removed to McFarland's Schoolhouse, and remain so to this day.
In the first election of officers, which was held in 1818, John Daniels was elected Township Clerk. The year following, Robert McFarland was chosen Clerk, and held the office for thirteen consecutive years, after which, Joseph Hough, Stilly McGill, James Russell, D. H. Neer, L. M. Steward, Philip Comer, Austin Heath, John Russell (late Secretary of State) and R. G. Allen filled the office. Philip Kenton, George Robinson and John Bouseman were the first Trustees. John Dagger, Jesse Harbor, Joseph Hough, L. M. Stew- ard, James T. Kite, Philip Comer, James Russell and Daniel Kizer have each served as Justice of the Peace. Joseph Groves and N. D. McReynolds are the present incumbents of that office.
Among the early records of the township, we find where one of our citizens took up a flock of sheep, which were duly appraised at 37} cents each. Also, one sheep taken up by John Duckworth, reported by the Appraisers as being three-fourths blooded, and appraised at $2, which shows conclusively that " blood would tell" even in the earlier days of our country.
About the time of the organization of the township, there lived on what is known as the " Joseph Russell farm," near Concord Chapel, a family named Foley, consisting of the parents and four sons, ranging in age from eighteen to twenty-six years. These young men were noted for nothing except their dis- position to quarrel and their huge, muscular frames. It became a kind of fixed habit with them, whenever they got into a crowd, to get into a quarrel, and then into a fight, in which they always proved victorious.
. There lived about this time, in Salem Township, on the "McBeth Hill," a family named Wilkinson. In this family was a son, named Thomas, who was also noted for his great muscular power, but not inclined to be quarrelsome. On learning of the success of the Foleys, he remarked that he would like to try one of them.
This remark soon reached the ears of the Foleys, and they resolved to give Wilkinson an opportunity to try his strength. In the month of July, 1819, and during harvest, the Foley boys went to the farm of Felix Rock, now the home of Daniel Kizer, ostensibly for the purpose of assisting in the harvest- field, when in reality they went there to whip Tom Wilkinson. After dinner, their object in coming was made known and Wilkinson invited to fight. All four of the Foley boys were present, and Wilkinson being asked which of the four he wanted to fight, replied the best man they had.
They accordingly repaired to the shade of a large maple-tree, yet standing in Esquire Kizer's yard, and at it they went. But little time served to show that the Foleys had met their match. His brothers, discovering that they had waked up the wrong passenger, called out to Daniel (the brother's name) to strike Wilkinson an underhanded blow. This suggestion was taken in due time by Wilkinson and improved. But a single blow, and Foley fell across the root of the maple-tree. Wilkinson attempted to follow up the advantage thus gained, but was prevented by the Foley Brothers, one of whom (William) struck Wilkinson a hard blow. This being considered foul play, according to
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
rules governing such pugilistic efforts in those days, William was duly in- formed by Wilkinson that the next time they met his time would come. Dan- iel Foley was carried from that yard a ruined man, and, on the ninth day fol- lowing, died from the effects of the fight.
Wilkinson's avowal that he would whip William Foley became a great topic, and the people looked forward to the event with as much anxiety as a certain class now look forward to a prize fight. The following fall, at a corn-husking at Joseph Longfellow's, the parties again met, and, after supper, by mutual consent, entered into combat, which resulted in the defeat of Foley again. In 1822, at a general muster on the home farm of George Kite, in Mad River Township, these Foleys all got badly whipped by Reuben Louden- back and Isaac Moody, after which they left the country for their country's good.
In the earlier settlement of the country, numerous Indian relics were found on the Johnson farm, on Mad River, indicating at one time a large Indian vil- lage. Opposite Northville, on the farm of William Downs and on the banks of Muddy Creek, was also an Indian village.
In the first appraisement of houses for taxation, while Johnson was yet included in Concord, but three houses were appraised, namely, Sampson Tal- bott's, Joseph Hoak's and David Comer's. Joseph Comer was at this time " House Appraiser," and Jacob Hoak, Assessor.
One incident that served to stir up the community and create an alarm among the inhabitants, was the murder of Arthur Thomas and son in August, 1813. It will be remembered that Thomas and son had left their company to look after their horses, some five miles from Bellefontaine, and not returning, were found next day murdered by the Indians, and hung up by the heels and their intestines hanging around their necks. These bodies were taken by a deputa- tion of citizens the following day to Urbana and interred in the old graveyard. Mr. Thomas lived in Salem Township on the same spot now occupied by his grand-daughter, Mrs. Celinda Bates. Many of the settlers on the frontier retraced their steps to safer quarters after this event became known.
Concord Township, like its sister townships, has produced some men of note. Among these we may note the name of the late Hon. John Russell, late Sec- retary of State. Mr. Russell was born at the old homestead about fifty years since. Early in life, he qualified himself for teaching, and engaged in that pursuit for a number of years. He was elected Clerk of the Court about the year 1855, and served in that position for a number of years with great accept- ability. He was subsequently appointed Secretary of State to fulfill an unex- pired term. When he died in 1869, he was Senator-elect to the General Assembly from this district. He was a self-made man, and an uncompromis- ing advocate of the Government during the war. His kindness to the soldiers, both in the field and hospital, will long be remembered and cherished by the " boys in blue."
Rev. Samuel Neer was for a number of years an acceptable minister of the Cincinnati Conference, and died while at his post in 1857. He was an excel- lent penman, which, together with his other qualifications of both head and heart, rendered him a very useful man in his day. His brother, Rev. Jesse Neer, was also a member of the Central Ohio Conference, and lived a life of usefulness for many years before leaving the township. He died in De Graff, Logan County, January, 1864, and his remains rest beside his brother at Con- cord Cemetery.
495
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
Prof. R. W. McFarland, of the State University, at Columbus, is a native of this township. He was born in the year 1825, at the old homestead. Early in life, he gave promise of great aptness in learning. At the age of five years, he was pronounced a fair reader, and at the age of eight years was capable of working any sum found in any arithmetic in the schools of that day. With nothing to go upon but a determined will, he engaged in teaching at the age of fourteen years. He attended school one year at Augusta, Ky., and spent a brief period at Westerville, Franklin County, and subsequently graduated at the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, in 1847, at the age of twenty-two years. He filled for seventeen successive years the Chair of Mathematics at the Miami University, at Oxford, and since the suspension of that school, he has been Professor of Mathematics at the University, at Columbus, since its organization. His thorough scholastic abilities are known far and wide. His lectures on astronomy are listened to by thousands of people with great eager- ness. As a mathematician, he stands second to none.
Col. Joseph Hill, of Logansport, Ind., who for many years has been Super- intendent of the Pan Handle Railroad, is a native of Concord Township. His aptness and ability as a civil engineer brought him into notoriety as a railroad man, hence the responsible position he occupies to-day. He controls over four hundred miles of railroad, and handles the rolling stock of the same with the same ease that characterized his earlier life.
The oldest person in the township is Mrs. Mary Russell, mother of John Russell, above referred to. She is now in her ninety-third year, and was born in Loudoun County, Va., in May, 1788. She was a schoolmate, in early life, of Malinda Horn, who afterward became the wife of Andrew Hellman, and was by him murdered-a scene partially connected with the history of Logan County. She is now the mother of five living children, the youngest of whom is more than sixty years of age.
The Logan and Champaign County Pioneer Association have held their an- nual re-union in Neal's Grove for a number of years, under the direction of its Secretary. The meetings are of rare interest, and are at times attended by large crowds of people. Its officers at present are Dr. Gilcrist, President; Hugh Mc- Donald, Vice President; V. Thomas, Treasurer, and T. S. McFarland, Secretary.
The family of the late Robert McFarland was composed originally of nine- teen children. Of that number, thirteen are still living, whose combined ages now make seven hundred and thirty years, or an average of about fifty-six years. The family circle has remained unbroken by death for more than forty- four years, a record that perhaps has no parallel.
Mr. James D. Powell, one of our leading farmers, deserves more than a pas- sing notice. In 1845, he married a daughter of Joseph Hill, the pioneer settler of the township. At that time, he was worth about $500, but, by economy and industry, has accumulated a handsome competency, and is now the happy owner of nearly one thousand acres of fine land. The pioneer farm is included in this amount of land. It lies in the eastern part of the township, and affords a fine view of the Muddy Creek and Mad River Valleys.
Mr. F. N. Barger is one of our leading mechanics, and has the reputation of being one of the finest gunsmiths in the country. He resides near the eastern part of the township, where he is always ready to treat his friends to one of the tunes of "auld lang syne.".
Ebenezer Wilson, of the same locality, is one of our leading farmers, and is now filling his second term as Infirmary Director. He is a responsible man in every respect, and enjoys the reputation of attending to his own business.
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
Philip Comer, Esq., of the west end of the township, has filled the office of Justice of the Peace for a number of years, and is now acting as Notary Public. He filled the office of County Commissioner one term with honor to himself and great satisfaction to his constituents. Two of his sons perished in the army while subduing the rebellion.
Oliver Taylor, near the Arrowsmith Mills, is a farmer, and also President of the Citizens' National Bank of Urbana. He owns a fine farm of several hundred acres on the river, and has filled his position in life, both as a citizen and an officer, beyond the average of his fellow-men. He is worthy and honest.
Among the most remarkable men who have lived among us was Richard Stanhope, who was a servant of Gen. George Washington. He lived for many years on a farm now owned by Levi Johnson, and his remains lie in the John- son Graveyard. He was born at Fredericksburg, Va., on the 1st day of March, 1748, and died September 20, 1862, aged one hundred and fourteen years six months and twenty days. He was, beyond all question, one of Gen. Washington's servants, and had in his possession, until a few years prior to his death, a certificate in Washington's own handwriting. He was at the bedside of his master when he died, in 1799, being then more than fifty years of age. He was with Gen. Washington during several of the hard-fought battles of the Revolution, and showed honorable scars which he received in the bloody con- flicts of that day. He was also with the army in the war with Great Britain, in 1812, and was present at Hull's disgraceful surrender, and was at the time driving a four-horse team. When ordered to drive his team to a certain point, for delivery to the British, he positively refused to comply, but unhitched his saddle-horse and made his way back to this county.
Mr. Stanhope was the father of twenty-eight children, most of whom were living at the time of his death. He was a resident of Champaign County for more than fifty years, and always sustained his character of an honest, upright man. He was a member of the Baptist Church for upward of ninety years, having joined it in 1772. He retained the use of his mental and physical fac- ulties, to a surprising degree, to the time of his death. He would relate inci- dents that had transpired more than a hundred years prior to his death, of which we have no account except in history. He was a remarkable man, rev- erenced by all.
Perhaps no cemetery in the country contains the remains of two such aged persons as that on the farm of Levi Johnson, the combined ages of Mr. Stanhope and Mr. Tipton making more than two hundred and twenty-five years.
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