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 64
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ELI JOHNSON, Company E, Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; died at home, October 17, 1862.
LEVI ATKINSON enlisted October, 1863, in Company C, Twelfth Ohio Cavalry ; mustered out in November, 1865.
CEPHAS ATKINSON enlisted August, 1862, in Company E, Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; died at Memphis, Tenn., March 22, 1865; buried as unknown at Vicksburg National Cemetery.
CLAY PETERSON enlisted in Company E, Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry August, 1862 ; died at Young's Point, La., May 24, 1863; burial place unknown.
JOSEPH SMITH, private in Company C, Twelfth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, enlisted October, 1863, under Capt. Hunter ; discharged ; called "Big Joe."
JAMES MCCAFFERTY, Sr., born in Chester County, Penn., in 1815; served in Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio National Guard one hundred and twenty days under Capt. John W. Barley ; enlisted May, 1864 ; discharged September, 1864.
WASHINGTON JONES, born in 1843 ; enlisted as a private in Company A, Sixty-sixth Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, September, 1861; was wounded in right shoulder at the battle of Antietam, September 17, 1862; suffered per- manent disability therefrom ; discharged February, 1863; pensioned.
WILLIAM MOFFITT, private Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio National Guard ; served under Capt. Barley from May, 1864, to Sep- tember, 1864, one hundred and twenty days; mustered out and discharged with his regiment.
BENJAMIN B. GILBERT, private Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio National Guard under Capt. J. W. Barley ; enlisted May, 1864, served one hundred and twenty days, and was honorably discharged and mustere l out.
EDWARD GILBERT, private in Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio National Guard; taken sick at Cumberland, Md., May, 1864, recovered and was mustered out with his company September, 1864.
T. C. HOLLOWELL, Sergeant in Company F, One Hundred and Thirty- fourth Ohio National Guard ; served one hundred and twenty days and was mustered out with his regiment.
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTI.
CHARLES N. SWISHER, Company -, Forty-second Ohio Volunteer In- fantry.
OWEN MOFFITT, born in October, 1843; enlisted in Company A. Sixty- sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, October 29, 1861, under Capt. Charles Fulton ; died at Philadelphia, Penn., December 5, 1862, is buried at the National Cem- etery at that city.
TOWNENDS WALKER, born in 1835; enlisted in Company K, Thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry (three months), being the first to enlist from the town- ship ; second enlistment in Company H, Sixty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Capt. McAdams ; wounded at Cedar Mountain by a musket ball, which he still carries in the right groin ; discharged at Alexandria, Va., in November, 1862, on account of wounds; re-enlisted third time in Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio National Guard, under Capt. Barley, and served one hundred and twenty days; has three honorable discharges; draws a full pen- sion. A daring exploit of his is graphically described by a comrade (Brand) in the Citizen and Gazette August 3, 1876, which certainly gives " Towns " prominence in daring recklessness.
MYRON JOYCE, private in Company H, Sixty-sixth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry ; served his full term, and was honorably discharged.
JOSEPH KERNS, private in Company H, Sixty-sixth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry ; died at home , 1863, of disease contracted in the service ; buried at Cable.
LLEWELLYN G. BROWN enlisted and served in Company E, Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry.
WILLIAM MIDDLETON, born in 1842 ; private in Company E, Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, enlisted August, 1862; taken prisoner at Richmond, Ky., August, 1862; made a noble record.
JOHN C. MIDDLETON enlisted in Company H, Sixty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; re-enlisted as a veteran ; served long and well.
DAVID SMITH, born in 1819; enlisted in Company E, Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; wounded at Richmond, Ky .; prisoner of war at Ander- sonville, Ga., and died on board the steamship Baltic, April 18, 1865, having been exchanged the day before.
DAVID MCCULLEY enlisted and served in Company A, Sixty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; died at Columbus, Ohio, March 11, 1865.
REES MILLER, born in 1839 ; served one hundred and twenty days, from May, 1864, to September, 1864, in Company F, One Hundred and Thirty- fourth Ohio National Guard, under Capt. Barley.
GARLAND MILLER, born in 1832; served in Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio National Guard, from May, 1864, to September, 1864, one hundred and twenty days, under Capt. Barley.
RICHARD STOWE served in Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio National Guard ; Capt. Barley's company.
DAVID MARTIN private, Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio National Guard ; served one hundred and twenty days under Capt. John Barley.
DANIEL M. VERTNER, private, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio Nat- ional Guard ; served one hundred and twenty days under Capt. Barley, from May 4, 1864, to September, 1864.
THOMAS A. KERNS, born in 1837, enlisted first in the Eighty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company H, in May, 1862, and served four months ; dis-
2,2, branston RUSH TP.
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
charged September, 1862; re-enlisted, September 14, in Company -, Twelfth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry ; mustered out November 14, 1865; total service two years and six months.
JACOB KERNS, born in 1848, enlisted and served in Conpany F, One Hun- dred and Thirty-fourth Ohio National Guard, under Capt. Barley ; served one hundred and twenty days; died October, 1866; buried at Carmel.
JOHN H. SWISHER, Company B, Sixty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. Palmer ; born in 1821, enlisted October, 1861; was captured at Winchester, Va., June, 1862, and died in prison at Lynchburg, Va., July 23, 1862, and is buried in Poplar Grove National Cemetery, at Peters- burg, Va.
DAVID ISENBERG served in Company H, Sixty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. McAdams ; afterward served as a "hundred-day " man in Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio National Guard.
HARRISON THOMAS, served under Capt. Barley, Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio National Guard, May to September, 1864; service one hundred and twenty days.
JOSHUA WILSON enlisted and served in Company -, Sixty-sixth Ohio Vol- unteer Infantry ; afterward served one hundred and twenty days as a " hun- dred days' man " in Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio Nat- ional Guard.
FRANCIS M. Cox, company and regiment unknown.
JOHN W. STOKES served in the hundred-day service under Capt Barley, from May to September 1864 ; honorably discharged.
WILLIAM R. CLARK, First Lieutenant, Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio National Guard, from May, 1864, to September, 1864 ; served one hundred and twenty days.
NATHANIEL JOHNSON served as Second Lieutenant in Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio National Guard, under Capt. John Barley, from May to September, 1864 ; discharged with the regiment.
RICHARD WATSON BALDWIN, Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio National Guard; died at Hampton, Va., August 22, 1864; buried at Hampton National Cemetery, and subsequently removed to Oakdale Cemetery, Urbana.
ADAM LINVILLE, private Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio National Guard; enlisted May, 1864; served one hundred and twenty days under Capt. Barley.
B. A. LINVILLE served under Capt. John Barley from May, 1864, to Sep- tember, 1864, in Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio National Guards ; term of service, one hundred and twenty days.
CHARLES SHIELDS, Corporal, Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio National Guard ; enlisted May, 1864, and was discharged September, 1864 ; served one hundred and twenty days.
JOHN SHIELDS a member of Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio National Guard; served one hundred and twenty days uuder Capt. Barley.
JACOB RHINESMITH, Company G, Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; died at Milliken's Bend, La., June 26, 1863; burial-place unknown.
LEVI ROMINE served as private in Company K, One Hundred and Thir- teenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; enlisted December, 1863 ; killed at Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., June 27, 1864 ; buried on the field.
T
556
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
C. M. SMITH served in Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio National Guard ; died at Portsmouth, Va., July 28, 1864; buried in Hampton National Cemetery.
JEREMIAH RICHWINE enlisted in Company E, Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; died July 27, 1863, on board the hospital steamer Nebraska, of wounds received at Vicksburg, July 2, 1863.
JOHN MCCUMBER enlisted in Company E, Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; was a prisoner of war at Andersonville, and died at home after being exchanged.
GEORGE W. SMITH enlisted in Company H, Sixty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; died at Camp Candy, Md., February 2, 1862; Townends Walker brought his body home ; buried in Morecraft's Graveyard.
PETER M. BLACK enlisted in Company C, Twelfth Ohio Cavalry; wounded at Cynthiana, Ky., and died of his wounds July 25, 1864, at Mount Sterling, Ky. ; was brought home by Townends Walker and buried at Morecraft's bury- ing ground.
IRA A. SERGEANT, private in Company E, Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; enlisted July, 1862; killed at Vicksburg, Miss., June 19, 1863; place of burial unknown.
ELLIS LINVILLE, born in 1834, enlisted as a private of Company C, Forty- fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; served three years; wounded at Knoxville, Tenn. ; discharged with his regiment June 15, 1865.
LILLBURN BROWN enlisted under Capt. Corwin and served three months at the outbreak of the war; re-enlisted in Company K, Ninety-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. Kendall ; was left sick at a house in Louisiana and probably died, as he has never been heard of since.
JOSEPH LANCASTER, born in 1838, enlisted in Company I, Thirty-first Ohio Infantry ; wounded at Chickamauga, September 20, 1863; recovered and served his full three years ; afterward served for a time in the United States Navy on Red River.
RICHARD McCUMBER enlisted in Company E, Ninety-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, August, 1862 ; was a prisoner at Richmond, Ky., August, 1862; served to the end of the war.
MARION GUTHRIDGE, Co. F, 134th O. N. G., under Capt. John Barley ; served 120 days and was honorably discharged.
DAVID MOODY, a member of Co. I, 66th O. V. I., under Capt. V. Horr.
THOMAS B. HORR enlisted and served in Co. A, 66th O. V. I., October, 1861 ; served his full time; re-enlisted as a veteran ; made a good record.
WILLIAM H. HORR enlisted in August, 1862, in Capt. Riker's Company E, One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry ; served in Second Brigade, Second Division, Fourteenth Army Corps.
ELIAS VERTNER, private in Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Ohio National Guard ; served from May, 1864 to September, 1864, under Capt. Barley.
MIDDLETOWN.
is the oldest village in the township, and is situated at the crossing of the Urbana and North Lewisburg pike with the Woodstock and Mingo pike, and is nearly a mile west of the center of the township. The orig- inal plat was made by John Miller in the year 1833. Previous to this, a man named Holycross kept a small grocery at the cross-roads. As the town is
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
now only a fragment of its former self, it can only be described as a thing that has come and gone. A post office which was called " Brinton " was established about 1838, and Amos Brinton, Benjamin Moffit, R. Simpson, John T. McCartney and others filled the office of Postmaster up to 1872, when the office was abandoned. The principal corners were called after those who im- proved on them and carried on business. The southeast corner was the Walker corner ; the southwest the Frizell corner; the northwest the Moffit corner, and the northeast the Pearce or Igou corner. The merchants during the years of her prosperity were Benjamin Dillon, D. & T. M. Gwynne, Holmes & Apple, Austin & White, Rhoades & Ware, Hallowell & Rhoades, Benjamin Moffitt, and Jacob S. Bailey.
Gould Johnson, George W. Crawford, McCann & Forshea practiced medi- cine. Allison Walker, Robert Frizell, Silas Igou, Isaac Brown, Aaron Pearce, George Bedford and Charles Hill were the hotel and boarding house keepers. John J. Harlan served the public as a blacksmith. David Smith carried on wagon-making. He died in the army.
The construction of the C., C. & I. C. Railroad through the township about 1854, and the subsequent building of Cable, together with the laying-out of Mingo, in 1866, proved the overthrow of Middletown, and from a live, busy town it has declined year after year until little of its former prosperity remains. The elections are held here.
MIDDLETOWN BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
Kendall & Wells, dealer in groceries and notions.
John P. Williams, boot and shoe repair-shop.
CABLE.
The village of Cable was laid out by P. S. Cable in 1853. It is located on the south side of the C., C. & I. C. Railway, eight miles on an air line north-east of Urbana, and on the Urbana and Woodstock free pike. In 1860, it had a population of 131; in 1880, its population was 172. The railroad was constructed in 1854. It contains two churches-the Methodist Episcopal and Christian ; two schoolhouses, passenger depot, telegraph office, freight depot, express office, two dry goods stores, one restaurant and other branches of business.
CABLE BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
W. R. Shaul, dealer in general merchandise.
, Donavan & Crisman, dry goods, boots, shoes and hardware.
J. A. Gallaway, Justice of the Peace, Township Clerk, depot restaurant.
Charles M. Graham, saw-miller, dealer in hard lumber.
W. E. Fuson, agent Ohio Farmer's Insurance Company.
Hardman & Hess, dealers in grain.
Wesley Hardman, agent C., C. & I. C. Railroad, and United States Express Company.
Jacob Miller, carriage and wagon-maker, repair-shop.
ยท Albert Gray, carriagesmith, blacksmith and repairer.
Martin V. Keeseeker, boot and shoe maker.
Nincehelser & Son, blacksmiths and wagon-makers.
Hess & Organ, stock-dealers.
Charles Wallace, wagon-maker ; makes and repairs farm implements.
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
G. W. Swimley, physician and surgeon. S. C. Moore, physician and surgeon. John M. Larue, veterinary surgeon. Philander Guthridge, telegraph operator. Richard Johnson, leader cornet band.
Samuel Riley, plasterer and mason.
John Andrews, carpenter and joiner.
MINGO.
This village was first called Mulberry, and was laid out by Ebenezer C. Williams in the year 1866. At the earnest protest of Thomas Hunter the name was changed to Mingo. In 1844, Alex St. Clair Hunter met Rev. B. W. Gehman on the highway, and, in his characteristic manner, said, "There will be a railroad through this valley some day, and right by that mulberry-tree will be a village:" The words proved to be prophetic. The A. & G. W. R. R. was constructed, and the village came as a consequence. The original plat. comprises lots from 1 to 27, lying west of the Woodstock and Mingo pike, and. south of the railroad. The Spain & Tallman Addition was laid out at nearly the same time, and consists of eight lots, numbering from the railroad south, and. zing east of the pike before mentioned. This pike is on the line of the Calder- vood and Denny surveys. Joshua Spain and B. R. Tallman are the parties who laid out this addition.
The Guthridge saw-mill, on the north side of the railroad, was built in 1864, and before the town was laid out. .
The first house built was the property now occupied by Mary Guthridge, in the fall of 1865. The next was the Biggs House, on Lot 6, the same fall. The third building was by Jonathan Guthridge, on Lot 1; Rees Miller built on Lot 4 the same fall. The large business house on the main corner was built by David Williams and J. L. Guthridge, in 1866-67. The Stevenson Flouring Mill was built by E. C. Williams, in 1865, and used as a warehouse and railroad office for nearly a year. The machinery was put in in 1866. Henry T. Ray- mond built the storeroom immediately west of the mill, and moved into it with a stock of goods in the winter of 1866, having Simeon L. Russell for his business partner. The John S. Hunter House was built by E. C. Williams, and occupied late in December, 1865. The Williams residence on the hill, owned by the widow of E. C. Williams, was built by her late husband in 1866, and occupied June 4, 1867. Frank Pearl built the Mitchell property, in 1867. The schoolhouse was built by the township in 1868, and Nellie P. Gilbert taught in it first in the winter of 1868-69. The storeroom owned by F. M. McAdams, on Lot 3, was built by H. T. Raymond, in the summer of 1867. The Brinton property was built in 1867 ; the Baptist Church was built in 1866; the M. E. Church in 1869. The carpenter work for both churches was done by Raymond & Marks.
J. L. Guthridge and J. B. Brinton established a grocery store on the corner east of Main street, in the fall of 1865. The post office of Mingo was established, and J. L. Guthridge commissioned Postmaster, in the winter of 1866. The hotel building north of the railroad was built by Mrs. Crain, in the winter of 1866.
Mingo is 105 miles from Cincinnati, and 343 miles from Salamanca, N. Y., the eastern terminus of the N. Y., P. & O. R. R. This road was built in 1864; the track rails were laid through the valley of Mingo on Sunday, April 24, 1864.
559
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
The village has two churches, one schoolhouse, three dry goods establish- ments, one grocery and drug store, express office, passenger depot, saw-mill, flouring-mill, three blacksmith-shops and other industrial interests.
MINGO BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
J. L. Guthridge, merchant and Postmaster.
Lewis C. Guthridge, dry goods and produce.
Marion Guthridge, saw-miller, dealer in hard lumber.
Mary Guthridge, Pioneer Boarding House.
Benjamin A. Linvill, teacher and surveyor.
Aaron Mitchell, dealer in grain, salt, coal and seeds.
Charles H. Hubbell, dry goods, groceries, queensware and provisions.
Darius T. Runkle, Agent United States Express Company and Agent New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad.
Stout & Searl, blacksmiths; general repair shop.
Leroy R. Marshall, harness-maker ; work done to order.
F. M. McAdams, teacher ; Justice of the Peace ; produce dealer.
Wesley Y. Smith, carpenter ; dealer in lumber.
Winfield S. Runkle, physician and surgeon.
Willard Leonhard, wagon-maker ; general repair-shop.
Patrick A. Callahan, drugs, medicines, groceries and liquors.
S. B. Weddell, boot and shoe maker.
Henry Miller, Pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Cincinnati Con- ference.
James Curl, sorghum factory ; cisterns and pumps.
Ed O. Stevenson, proprietor Mingo Flouring Mills.
Nathan O. Eleyet, blacksmith and wagon-maker.
Charles F. McAdams, teacher ; Assistant Postmaster.
Judiah S. Evans, agent for C. Aultman's machinery and agricultural amplements.
James M. Lary, blacksmith and general repair shop.
TOWNSHIP OFFICIAL DIRECTORY.
Trustees, George Barley, H. C. Breedlove, John N. Hess.
Treasurer, John Donavan.
Clerk, John A. Gallaway.
Justices of the Peace, F. M. McAdams, J. A. Gallaway.
Constables, John T. McCartney, William Thompson.
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
J. Swisher, J. F. Stone, Coleman Spain, Hale Hunter, H. C. Breedlove, S. C. Gladden, Ezra L. Dempcy, J. R. Diltz, Joseph Hurd, F. M. McAdams.
CABLE LODGE, NO. 395, I. O. O. F.
This lodge was chartered July 20, 1867. The charter members were T. W. Grove, W. E. Fuson, Henry Nincehelser, Heli Widdoes, Thomas Middle- ton, J. H. Craft, Lemuel Shaul, James W. Wells and John M. Shaul. The installing officer was W. F. Slater, S. G. M.
The unofficial original members were John F. Morgan, William B. Hackett, J. W. Johnson, J. F. Stone, J. H. Clark, H. C. Breedlove, T. B. Stone, Charles
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
Guthridge, James Grace, J. C. Light, L. G. Brown, D. B. Hale, C. A. Barley and Lucas E. Pearce.
Its officials for 1880 were Charles M. Graham, N. G .; G. W. Swimley, V. G .; Lewis M. Gallagher, Sec'y ; J. A. Miller, Per. Sec'y ; Henry Nincehelser, Treas. The present membership is forty-one.
MEAD'S MILL.
Joel Woodward and Stephen Hannum built a flouring-mill on the head- waters of Spain's Creek, on land now owned by Darby Bahan, the source of the water-power being on the lands of Nelson B. Johnson. After a short time, these men sold out to Hiram Mead, and thereafter it was known as Mead's. Mill. It was subsequently owned and managed by Samuel Child and David Smith respectively. Thomas Hunter purchased the lands finally, and prefer- ing not to incur the expense of some needed and costly repairs, sold the ma- chinery, and the mill became a thing of the past. It was built in 1840 (?) and operated nearly twenty years.
MASON'S MILL.
This mill was built in the year 1830, by Matthew Mason, Thomas Baldwin and David Williams on King's Creek, near the west line of the township ; it was a sixteen feet overshot wheel, and, in that day, was reckoned among the best of its kind in the county. Soon after the mill was completed, Mr. Will- iams sold his interest to Mason & Baldwin, and retired from the partnership. For about four years, Mason & Baldwin ran the mill as partners. Baldwin then sold out to Mason, who attached a distillery to the mill, and for nearly twenty years operated it successfully. The machinery at length gave out, and both mill and distillery stood idle for some years. After the death of Mason, which occurred in 1869, the mill was sold by James Taylor, administrator, to. W. D. & J. A. Linville, and was by them improved, repaired and remodled. They removed the old wheel, and putting in two turbine wheels added steam to the power. After operating with the mill nearly two years, at considerable loss, the Linvilles sold to Henry Wolf. Mr. Wolf owned it but a short time. when he sold it to Cuykendall & Kirtland. These parties operated the mill for more than a year, and then sold to H. Kesler. Kesler removed the steam machinery, put in a sixteen feet overshot wheel, and is now operating the mill with every prospect of success.
RUSH TOWNSHIP.
BY M. C. GOWEY.
Four score years have passed and are engulfed in the unyielding past since the first descent was made and a settlement effected in what is now known as Rush Township. Yes ; eighty years ago, the works of nature in this local- ity were undisturbed, yet slumbered in that awful stillness which characterizes nature's tranquil sleep, awakened only by the howl of the wolf, the screech of the panther, the rapid flight of the timid deer or the whoop of the red man to. break the enchanted stillness that reigned supreme in nature's wild dominion.
Years, in their rapid flight, had chased each other around the dial of time until centuries had been denoted on its face; yet the monarch of the forest- sentinels of ages-marked no change.
561
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
Suddenly, as if by magic, the white man appears on the scene, and is des- tined to become a prominent actor in the great drama which is to be enacted. The sound of his ax is soon heard, and the blue-wreathed smoke from his cabin is seen ascending through the tree-tops-evidences that civilization has secured a foothold, and the work of transformation is begun.
To man, nothing exerts a greater degree of influence than the unexplored resources of nature's solitude. Here he is awed by the sublimity and grandeur of the panorama that everywhere meets his wandering gaze ; his very soul is imbued with the magnificence of his surroundings, and he finds himself impelled by a motive over which he has no control to penetrate deeper, and still deeper into the interior of a forest in whose winding labyrinths lurk dangers of every kind.
Howsoever sweet and beguiling may have been the charms, his purpose was not to be deterred by seductive influences, but, like the gladiator of the arena, he bares his arm for the impending struggle, and with cool, deliberate and measured strokes he hews his way into the home of the untutored savage, whose condition to-day is such as should command commiseration rather than censure.
Glances of retrospection running back over the long distance of eighty years bring back to the retentive memory of man the names of Spain, Black, Glendenning, Lincoln, Cranston and others, who endured all the privations and hardships incident to pioneer life, and to whom their descendants are under as great a debt of gratitude as are we to the heroes of 1776, who gave us liberty and rights, and the old pioneers-God bless them !- gave us homes in which to enjoy these great blessings.
Could our forefathers, weary by their tiresome journey from the far-off fields of the classic East and New England's rock-bound coast have viewed the tract of land now comprising the township of Rush in its present state, we can readily see with what emphasis would be exclaimed, "Eureka," for it is surely one of the most beautiful and fertile districts of the West. Its general surface can almost be termed a perfect plain, for the greater portion of the entire township is so level that were a dispute to arise, its settlement would call into question the spirit-level. The surface in the north might properly be classed as slightly undulating and billy, but with this exception the township is the level plain above described. In the early history of the county, the southern part was covered by a dense growth of prairie grass, interspersed here and there with swamps covered with a profusion of rush. These swamps in later days have been tiled and drained, and now form some of the richest farms in the town- ship. The character of the soil is of that rich black quality generally found in our bottom lands, saving that in the north on the slightly hilly and undulating portions where it is of a sandy and clayey nature. In fertility, it is second to none. The land is well timbered, there yet remaining probably one-fourth of its acreage in forests, and those being pretty equally distributed over the town- ship. The timber of the northern part consists of a variety, such as beech, hickory, oak, maple, linden, ash, elm, sugar, black and white walnut, etc., etc., while that of the southern portion is mostly oak, with here and there a shell- bark hickory.
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