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 66
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The present town officers are : H. M. Bush, Mayor ; E. Calendar, R. J. Eason, H. W. Spain, J. Reames, William Hunter and R. M. Davis, Council ; H. D. Gowey, Clerk ; G. M. Smith, Treasurer, and J. K. Hawkins, Marshal.
POPULATION.
The population of Lewisburg, in 1860, was 390; in 1870, it was 735, and in 1880, it is 936 inside of the corporate limits, and about 1,000 in the village.
SCHOOLS.
There is a large and commodious brick schoolhouse. A Principal and three assistant teachers are employed. The branches taught are the common English branches, algebra, chemistry, philosophy, physiology, botany, astronomy, Latin and German. Number of scholars residents of the district, 327 ; there is also quite an attendance of larger scholars from the adjoining districts, who are fit- ting themselves for the profession of teaching in the near future.
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
RAILROADS.
The New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad runs easterly and westerly through the village, making direct communication with New York and Cin- cinnati.
POST OFFICE.
The villagers, previous to 1845, received their mail from Coberly's, on Darby Creek (now discontinued) and from Woodstock. In 1845, the post office (North Lewisburg, Ohio) was established. Royal Jennings was the first Postmaster. In 1853, the present incumbent took charge of the office, which was made a money-order office in 1871. The Western Union Telegraph Com- pany and the United States Express Company have their agents and offices here.
BUILDINGS.
The town hall, 50x72 feet, and three stories high, was built in 1870, on the southeast corner of Sycamore and Maple street, at a cost of $10,000.
Union Schoolhouse was erected in 1876, on East Maple street, at a cost of $12,000 for house and grounds.
CHURCHES.
The first church, the Friends' Meeting-House, was built in 1842. They have a fine brick edifice now, near where the old meeting-house stood, at the corner of Winder and Poplar streets.
We are indebted to Dr. J. Stokes Garwood for the following history of the Methodist Episcopal Church in North Lewisburg, Ohio: Hezekiah Spain came from Virginia in the year 1805, and settled near the present site of North Lewisburg, Ohio, then a wilderness ; and, about the year 1808, regular preach- ing, every four weeks, was established at his house, which was then within the bounds of the Lebanon Circuit. Several years afterward the circuit was divided, and this division called Mad River Circuit. About the year 1816, a small cabin was built for church purposes one mile west of the present site of North Lewisburg, on the knoll one hundred yards north of where the railroad now crosses the road running from the Urbana pike to the old North Lewis- burg and West Liberty road, and the services were then held in that building until about the year 1832, when a more commodious hewed-log church edifice was erected just north of the old one, and was known as Spain's Church. Willis Spain is, he thinks, the only man now living that helped to erect that church. The society at that time numbered about twenty members. Willis Spain, aged eighty-four years in February, 1880 (a son of Hezekiah Spain's). and his present wife, Nancy Epps, aged eighty-three years in December, 1879, who also came from Virginia with her parents in the year 1807, and settled just west of the present site of North Lewisburg (to whom he was married in the year 1815), are the only surviving members of those who formed the organ- ization at the time that church was built. Afterward Abram Spain, Lemuel Spain, Abram Holycross (who died this summer, 1880) and others whom Willis Spain does not now remember, were members of the society. Urbana desiring to become a station, the circuit was divided and this part called Mechanicsburg Circuit. In the course of time, the circuit was again divided and this part called East Liberty Circuit. In 1870, another division was made, leaving North Lewisburg a station, and it was served the first three years by Rev. George W. Kelley as Pastor. The present Methodist Episcopal Church edifice
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
in North Lewisburg was erected in the year 1850, under the superintend- ence of William Audas, William Crowder, Royal Jennings, Abraham Spain, Joseph F. Gary and Caleb F. Bowron, Trustees. The building and bell cost $1,350. The church was dedicated to the service of God by Rev. James L. Grover, Presiding Elder of the district, on the 22d of December, 1850 ; text, 1 Kings, viii, 27-" But will God indeed dwell on the earth ? behold the Heaven and Heaven of Heavens cannot contain Thee; how much less this house that I have builded !" A deficiency of $500 remained at the dedication, which was more than met by a subscription of $649. At this time, Rev. Philip Nation was the preacher in charge ; Rev. Alfred U. Beall, assistant preacher ; William Audas, Circuit Steward; Royal Jennings and Caleb F. Bowron, Class-leaders. The membership of Spain's church was transferred here. The preachers that served the church here, and also at Spain's church, as far back as we could learn, are as follows : George W. Walker and Michael Marley, 1833-34; Joshua Boucher and Alexander Morrow, 1835; George W. Walker and David Warnock, 1836; George W. Walker and Samuel Clark, 1837; Samuel Clark and James Smith, 1838; Joshua Boucher and Silas Chase, 1839; Silas Chase and I. B. Cartlitch, 1840; I. B. Cartlitch and Abraham Wombo, 1841; T. A. G. Phillips, 1842 ; William Letsinger, 1843 ; William Letsinger and Valentine Beemer, 1844; Elijah H. Field, 1845; Joseph W. Smith, 1846; James F. Donahue, 1847 ; David Sharp and Edward P. Hall, 1848; Philip Nation and William Cheever, 1849; Philip Nation and A. U. Beall, 1850; David Warnock and Thomas M. Thrall, 1851; Thomas D. Crow and Wesley Denit, 1852; George W. Harris and James Kendall, 1853; George W. Harris and Thomas Audas, 1854; James T. Bail and John Vance, 1855; Samuel Brown and John M. Sullivan, 1856; Joseph W. Smith and John M. Sullivan, 1857 ; David Sharp and James Manning, 1858; N. McDonald and David Sharp, 1859; W. N. Williams and D. Sargent, 1860- 61 ; W. B. Jackson and T. E. Fidler, 1862-63; W. Webster and J. Verity, 1864-65 ; J. C. Deem and E. McHugh, 1866-67; H. M. Curry and Thomas Audas, 1868; H. M. Curry and John Shinn (afterward Staley ; Shinn's health failed and Staley supplied), 1869; George W. Kelley, 1870-71-72; A. U. Beall, 1873-74 ; J. F. Loyd, 1875-76; G. H. Kennedy, 1877-78-79; L. D. Hayward (present Pastor), 1880.
The present membership of the church is 225. Class-leaders-J. I. Cal- lendar, H. Wright Spain, Gearge Cowle, John Corbitt, William Hunter, T. Hollingsworth, J. Stokes Garwood and Luther Spain.
A neat, commodious parsonage was built on a lot adjoining the church in the year 1872.
The Methodist Protestant, familiarly known as the Middle Church, is located on Townsend street, and is a neat, well-finished edifice, built in 1870, mostly by contributions from its members, the land for the same having been donated by C. W. Lyon. The church was organized in 1867, by Rev. E. J. Wynens, who was succeeded by the following Pastors in the order named : Rev. J. W. Spring, for three years ; Rev. J. M. Flood, for one year ; Rev. A. Hall, one year ; Rev. A. M. Ravenscroft, two years; Rev. A. P. Powelson, one year ; Rev. W. M. Cramer, one year ; Rev. T. B. Graham, the present Pas- tor, who is serving his second year. The charge at present numbers fifty-two members. The church grounds are well inclosed with a neat iron fence in front, while a fine new parsonage, just completed, joins the premises.
The Christian Church on Mill street, built in 1855. Since abandoned.
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
The Catholic Church, corner of Poplar and West Elm streets, erected in 1869.
The African Methodist Episcopal Church, corner of Gregory and East Townsend streets, in 1876.
BANK OF NORTH LEWISBURG.
The company doing business under the above name was organized in June, 1871, by Hudson Haines, who was elected President; James Carder, Cashier ; E. S. Callender and J. I. Callender. These men conducted the business until May, 1876, when the company was re-organized and increased by adding fif- teen Directors, all residents of the county, and men of integrity. The board of officers, as re-organized, was-W. D. Sibley, President ; S. Clark, Vice Presi- dent ; E. S. Callender, Cashier ; but in June, 1879, owing to the removal of the Cashier, his place was filled by Warren Cranston, who is a young man of extra ability and of the highest degree of intelligence. Under his supervision, the bank promises to become one of the wealthiest and most successful enter- prises of the county. It is now doing business with a paid-up stock of $25,- 000, and total capital and assets of $500,000. It occupies rooms in Partridge's Block, on East Maple street, which are said to be furnished better than any other bank in the county.
STREETS.
In 1844, the village consisted of two streets, viz., Sycamore street, extend- ing north and south, and Maple street, extending east and west. It has now the following, viz .: Sycamore, Maple, Winder, Poplar, North, West Elm, East Elm, West Maple, Milburn, Cemetery avenue, Young, Water, Gregory, Rail- road, Mill, West Mill, West, Linn, Cherry, Walnut, East, East Townsend, South Gregory and Grant.
The number of electors at first election for corporation officers in 1844 was nineteen. The number of electors who voted for corporation officers this year (1880) was 217. The list of corporation officers so far as they can be obtained from existing records, is for
1844-R. B. Spain, Mayor; Joseph F. Gary, William Milligan, Caleb F. Bowron, Aaron Winder, Abner Winder, Jr., Trustees ; Harmon Limes, Marshal; John Winder, Recorder.
1845-Joseph F. Gary, Mayor; Robert Elliott, Ira Kline, Caleb Hopkins, Jesse R. Reames, Walliam Epps, Jr., Trustees; William Taylor, Recorder ; De Witt C. Hopkins, Treasurer ; Theodrick Spain, Marshal.
1846-R. B. Spain, Mayor; C. F. Bowron, Lester Ware, Caleb Hopkins, J. R. Reames, Royal Jennings, Council ; William Epps, Treasurer ; William Taylor, Recorder ; Robert Elliott, Marshal.
1847-Royal Jennings, Mayor ; Abner Winder, William Milligan, Aaron Winder, Joseph M. Wood, Jesse R. Reames, Council ; William Reames, Jr., Treasurer ; John Winder, Recorder ; James Winder, Marshal.
1848 -- Caleb F. Hopkins, Mayor; Aaron Winder, Morgan Baldwin, Will- iam Epps, Cyrus S. Hyde, George Young, Trustees; Jesse R. Reames, Treas- urer ; Joseph M. Wood, Recorder ; Lester Ware, Marshal.
1849-Same officers as in 1848
1850-Theodrick Spain, Mayor; L. Ware, John Harlan, James Hays, Isaac Prall, William Reames, Jr., Council ; Jesse R. Reames, Treasurer; R. Jennings, Recorder ; James Gregg, Marshal.
1851-Same officers as in 1850.
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
1852 -- Cyrus S. Hyde, Mayor ; John Hunter, William Reames, Jr., Adam S. Wood, Aaron Winder, E. Stewart, Council ; Jesse R. Reames, Treasurer ; W. G. Boggs, Recorder ; William D. Thompson, Marshal.
1853-H. D. Gowey, Mayor; John Winder, John Evans, Aaron Parker, Robert Elliott, Royal Jennings, Trustees ; C. S. Hyde, Treasurer; William Reames, Recorder ; James Haise, Marshal.
1854-H. D. Gowey, Mayor; J. M. Butcher, J. Hunter, R. Jennings, John Winder, R. Elliott, Council ; C. S. Hyde, Treasurer; William Moore, Recorder ; James Haise, Marshal.
1855-H. D. Gowey, Mayor; John Hunter, John Winder, E. Callender, J. R. Reames, R. Elliot, Council ; C. S. Hyde, Treasurer ; William Dickerson, Recorder ; B. F. Wright, Marshal, and E. Dobbins.
1856-Officers same as in 1855, except Henry Jackson, Recorder.
1857-Officers same as in 1856, except T. S. Good, Recorder.
1858-H. D. Gowey, Mayor; J. I. Callender, T. B. Hood, I. W. Prall, William Reames, G. W. Hinds, Council; T. S. Good, Treasurer ; Harvey Pim, Recorder; William Milligan, Marshal.
1859-C. B. Winder, Mayor; John Hunter, T. S. Good, H. Jackson, A. Winder, L. Kirk, Council; C. S. Hyde, Treasurer ; H. D. Gowey, Recorder ; Barney H. Davis, Marshal.
1860-Levi Kirk, Mayor; John Hunter, John D. Bower, T. S. Good, Aaron Winder, John Evans, Council; Morgan Baldwin, Treasurer; Thomas Spain, Marshal; H. D. Gowey, Recorder.
1861-Levi Kirk, Mayor ; Charles Osborn, Joseph Hunter, I. W. Prall, Thomas Spain, Robert Elliott, Council ; J. I. Callender, Treasurer ; H. D. Gowey, Recorder; J. M. Danforth, Marshal.
1862-Aaron Winder, Mayor; William Elliott, J. M. Butcher, Charles Osborn, Levi Hollingsworth, Jonathan Haines, Council; Elisha Callender, Treasurer ; H. D. Gowey, Recorder ; Hollis S. Amy, Marshal.
1863-Aaron Winder, Mayor; Joseph Miles, Charles ()sborn, J. L. Smith (J. M. Danforth, vice Smith), Joseph Hunter, J. D. Bower (Samuel Hutch- ans, vice J. D. Bower), Council; George Lynas, Treasurer; H. D. Gowey, Recorder ; Levi Hollingsworth, Marshal.
1864-Aaron Winder, Mayor; John Hunter, J. I. Callender, L. Kirk, S. Hutchinson, D. Chapel, Council; Joseph Miles, Treasurer; H. D. Gowey, Recorder; Thomas Good, Marshal.
1865-Aaron Winder, Mayor ; B. A. Haines, S. Hutchinson, H. Kezertee, E. G. Miller, A. E. Wait, Council ; Joseph Miles, Treasurer ; H. D. Gowey, Recorder; L. D. Warner, Marshal.
1866-C. G. Bullock, Mayor; Levi Kirk, Aaron Sharp, E. G. Miller, A. C. Humphreys, Thomas Good, Council; Joseph Miles Treasurer ; H. D. Gowey, Recorder; Thomas Spain, Marshal.
1867-H. H. Wolfe, Mayor; C. W. Lyon, W. A. Gunn, W. G. Evans, J. Snyder, E. B. Dillon, Council ; J. I. Callender, Treasurer ; H. D. Gowcy, Re- corder ; H. Murphy, Marshal.
1868-James H. Bullock, Mayor; C. W. Lyon, E. B. Dillon, W. G. Evans, W. Dolan, H. H. Wolfe, Council ; J. I. Callender, Treasurer ; H. D. Gowey, Clerk ; Thomas Spain, Marshal.
1869-J. H. Bullock, Mayor; D. A. Williams, Levi Kirk, C. W. Lyon, H. H. Wolfe, William Dolan, Council; J. I. Callender, Treasurer; H. D. Gowey, Recorder ; Thomas Spain, Marshal.
576
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
1870-J. H. Bullock, Mayor; C. W. Lyon, Levi Kirk, William Dolan, H. Wright Spain, E. S. Callender, William Hunter, Council; J. I. Callender, Treasurer ; H. D. Gowey, Clerk; Wilson Young, Marshal.
1871-M. H. Mumford, Mayor; C. W. Lyon, L. Kirk, W. Dolan, H. W. Spain, William Hunter, Ed. O. Miller, Council; J. I. Callender, Treasurer ; H. D. Gowey, Clerk; A. G. Wood, Marshal.
1872-M. H. Mumford, Mayor; Henry Bishop, William Dolan, C. G. Bul- lock, Ed O. Miller, William Hunter, H. W. Spain, Council ; J. I. Callender, Treasurer ; H. D. Gowey, Clerk ; Oliver Ewing, Marshal.
1873-M. H. Mumford, Mayor; A. N. Hurd, G. W. Conner, S. Igou, A. L. Williams, William Dolan, H. Bishop, Council; J. I. Callender, Treasurer ; H. D. Gowey, Clerk ; O. Ewing, Marshal.
1874-M. H. Mumford, Mayor; William Dolan, Charles Osborne, H. H. Wolfe, G. W. Conner, S. Igou. A. N. Hurd, Council ; J. F. Hunter, Treas- urer ; H. D. Gowey, Clerk ; W. P. Palmer, Marshal.
1875-M. H. Mumford, Mayor; A. N. Hurd, Jordan Downs, William. Hunter, William Dolan, H. H. Wolfe, C. Osborne, Council; J. F. Hunter, Treasurer ; H. D. Gowey, Clerk ; W. P. Palmer, Marshal.
1876-A. N. Hurd, Mayor; J. H. Pence, George W. Conner, R. J. Eason, J. Downs, William Hunter, A. L. Williams, Council; J. F. Hunter, Treas- urer; H. D. Gowey, Clerk ; Thomas Spain, Marshal.
1877-A. N. Hurd, Mayor; H. W. Spain, William Inskeep, J. N. Em- brey, H. M. Bush, J. H. Pence, R. J. Eason, Council; E. S. Callender, Treas- urer; H. D. Gowey, Clerk ; Thomas Spain, Marshal.
1878-John Clark, Mayor; J. H. Pence, William Hunter, J. L. Long, H. M. Bush, William Inskeep, J. N. Embrey, Council ; E. S. Callender, Treas- urer ; H. D. Gowey, Clerk ; J. R. Jones, Marshal.
1879-John Clark, Mayor; H. M. Bush, Elisha Callender, H. Wright Spain, J. H. Pence, William Hunter, J. L. Long, Council; G. M. Smith, Treasurer ; H. D. Gowey, Clerk ; J. R. Jones, Marshal.
1880-On first part of record of officers of the incorporated village.
SOCIETIES, ETC.
Star Chapter No. 126, Royal Arch Masons .- Warrant granted to W. H. Wagstaff, Amos Underwood, J. Miles, D. W. Harris, L. M. Crary, Charles Hill, Ed O. Miller, Shepherd Clark, William McAdams, Marion Guthridge, W. H. Crary, Levi D. Warner and William Austin by Charles C. Keifer, Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Masons of the State of Ohio, on the 28th. day of November, 1870.
The companions held the first regular on December 6, 1870. The charter was granted on the 26th day of September, 1871, and Comp. W. H. Wagstaff was installed as first H. P .; Amos Underwood, first K .; James Miles, S .; J. C. Butcher, C. O. T. H .; L. M. Crary, P. S .; Charles Hill, R. A. C .; Ed O. Miller, G. M., 3d V .; S. Clark, G. M., 2d V .; William McAdams, G. M., 1st. V .; M. Guthridge, Secretary ; L. D. Warner, Treasurer ; D. A. Millice, Guard. By Comp. Charles C. Keifer, M. E. Grand High Priest ; first mem- ber admitted, H. D. Gowey. Officers for 1872: W. H. Wagstaff, H. P .; M. Guthridge, Secretary. 1873-H. D. Gowey, H. P .; G. M. Mumford, Sec- retary. 1874-W. H. Wagstaff, H. P .; Ed. O. Miller, Secretary. 1875- L. M. Crary, H. P .; H. D. Gowey, Secretary. 1876-W. H. Wagstaff, H. P .; H. D. Gowey, Secretary. 1877-W. H. Wagstaff, H. P .; H. D. Gowey,
577
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
Secretary. 1878-L. M. Crary, H. P .; H. D. Gowey, Secretary. 1879- W. H. Wagstaff, H. P .; C. Wes Lyon, Secretary ; H. D. Gowey, P. T. 1880-H. D. Gowey, H. P .; W. H. Wagstaff, Secretary. Present number of members, thirty-four.
Blazing Star Lodge, A., F. & A. M .- A dispensation for Blazing Star Lodge, No. 268, A., F. & A. M., was granted to Brothers William Inskeep, B. F. Wright, George Morse, G. W. House, Eason Johnson, H. D. Gowey and H. S. Amy by Most Worthy Grand Master William B. Dodds, and the first meeting was held July 16, 1855. The first officers elected, November 5, 1855, were : William Inskeep, W. M .; B. F. Wright, S. W .; George Morse, J. W .; J. S. W. House, Treasurer ; C. B. Winder, Secretary ; John A. Gunn, S. D .; H. D. Gowey, J. D .; H. S. Amy, Tiler. A charter was granted by the Grand Lodge of Ohio, William Inskeep, B. F. Wright, George Morse, Caleb Winder, John House, John Marshall, H. D. Gowey, Hollis S. Amy, Amos Williams, E. Johnson and Silas Igou, dated July 9, 1855, being the charter members. The Masters succeeding William Inskeep were : H. D. Gowey, elected November 5, 1859; W. H. Wagstaff, elected February 8, 1868 ; Ed O. Miller, elected November 13, 1875; W. H. Wagstaff, November 7, 1877; I. Willett, elected November, 1879. Present number of members, fifty-one.
NEWSPAPERS.
The first publication was a small pamphlet printed in Lewisburg, and was called the Experiment, by H. D. Gowey, December 29, 1860, and in March the next year was started the Lewisburg Weekly Magazine, by the same printer, which was continued six months. July 1, 1868, the Boomerang was commenced by P. G. Mitchell and M. C. Gowey, and continued by the latter to November 1, 1869, when it was discontinued. From the Lewisburg Weekly Magazine we append the following of the Lewisburg market of July 3, 1861 :
" Wheat, 90 cents ; flour, $5; corn, 20 cents ; oats, 18 cents ; butter, 5 cents ; eggs, 5 cents ; lard, 7 cents ; dried apples, 62 cents ; beans, 75 cents ; bacon, 8 cents."
It will be recollected that this was at the commencement of the war of the rebellion.
From the Boomerang of July 15, 1868, we transcribe the following market report :
" Wheat, $1.79; flour, $12; butter, 20 cents; oats, 50 cents; eggs, 15 cents; lard, 15 cents ; bacon, 15 cents ; hams and shoulders, 18 cents ; sugar, 16 to 18 cents ; potatoes, new, $2."
The Magazine was " Designed eventually to be a Cosmopolitan Hebdoma- dal," and the Boomerang's motto was, " Hic et ubique."
In January, 1876, J. H. Fluhart started the North Lewisburg Star. It was discontinued after six months.
In January, 1876, Vaugh & Sherrett commenced the publication of the North Lewisburg Gazette. It was continued only eleven months.
The village at present contains three dry-goods stores, three meat-shops, three drug stores, two saloons, two hotels, three billiard halls, four groceries, one clothing store, three milliner stores, five boarding houses, five blacksmith- shops, three wagon and carriage-shops, one jeweler and book store, one coal and lumber yard, two grain warehouses, two steam and one water saw-mill, one steam and one water grist-mill, one bakery, five physicians, two dentists, three lawyers and one bank-the Bank of North Lewisburg, Ohio-which commenced
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
business in the spring of 1871. It also contains the following lodges, orders and societies : a lodge of Free and Accepted Masons; a Chapter of R. A. Masons; a lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; a lodge of Knights of Honor; a voluntary observer's office of Signal Service Station of the United. States Army, and the office of the Central Ohio Mutual Life Insurance Com- pany, whose main office and headquarters are located here.
EARLY BUILDINGS.
The first frame house built in Lewisburg (yet standing) was built by Gray Gary, and is now occupied by Rev. Samuel Hutchinson. Before that house- was built, Gary occupied a cabin near where A. G. Winder's house now stands, and near the little grist-mill of Gary's, which stood on the bank of the mill- pond west of where the brick grist-mill of A. Beltz' now is.
There were also cabins built where J. Carter's home now is, one where Beltz' brick dwelling is, one where J. I. Callender now lives, one on the op- posite side of the street, two cabins where William Inskeep now lives, one- north of it near the alley, one where William Dolan's dwelling is, one where Dr. Wagstaff's brick building is, one just south of Hoisington's drug store, one near where the post office now is, one on what is now the corner of Maple and Gregory streets, and one near the Methodist Episcopal Church. The last-men- tioned one was erected there in 1849, and is still standing and occupied by Mrs. Murphy. The old log schoolhouse stood on the lot now owned and occupied by John Hunter.
The next schoolhouse, a frame, was built on a lot donated for that purpose- by Gray Gary, near the creek and west of Mrs. Gandy's dwelling.
The next schoolhouses were built, one on the south side of West Elm street, then in the woods, and the other on the west side of South Sycamore street, about a quarter of a mile from town, which last is yet standing and occupied as- a dwelling. After these went into disuse, the schools were in the brick build- ing on the south side of Mill street on the hill, which building is now used for dwellings.
WOODSTOCK.
This pleasant village is situated near the geographical center of the town- ship, and on the C., C. & I. C. Railroad, and at the last cencus, in 1880, contained 384 inhabitants. It was laid out in 1832 by Sylvanus and Phoebe Smith, and consisted of twenty-five lots of about one-fourth acre each, of which the former laid off fourteen lots, numbered 1 to 14, and located in the northwest corner of the Milford, Urbana, Mechanicsburg and Bellefontaine roads, and the latter eleven lots, numbered from 15 to 25. The town first took the name of Hartford, but afterward finding there was a post office in the State by the same name, they changed it to Wood- stock, in order to have the name of post office correspond with the town. When the town was laid out, Phoebe Smith's house came on Lot No. 24, and therefore was the first in town. The first house built after the village was laid out was on Lot No. 3, by David H. Hall, a shoemaker. The second one on Lot No. 2, by William B. Linell, a blacksmith, who also built a shop on Lot No. 15. During the next three years houses were built on Lots Nos. 5, 4, 16, and 1. On the last-named lot a dwelling-house and store-room was erected.
In 1836, B. D. Sibley made another addition to the town in the south- east corner of the cross street, and these lots were numbered 26 to 35.
579
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
In the same year, some two or three houses were built on that part of the town. About the same time was added in the southwest corner six lots, from 36 to 41. There has been two additions to the original since that time- one by Elias Smith and one by E. M. Bennett, both in the southwest corner of the cross roads.
The town is very irregular in shape, and some of the streets cross at right angles. This arises from the fact that the first land sold to settlers was bounded by old Indian trails through the plains, and, at the time Hartford was laid out, Sylvanus Smith owned the northwest angle of the cross roads, Phoebe Smith the northeast, Isaac Marsh the southwest, and B. D. Sibley the southeast. It -was agreed that they would lay out a town, and they would make it with streets crossing at right angles. Sylvanus Smith engaged the County Surveyor to do the work, and when he came on Sibley and Marsh refused to have anything to do with it, and by that means defeated their plan. Woodstock now contains one hotel, one livery stable, two dry goods stores, one bakery, three groceries, one carriage-shop, two saloons, four blacksmith-shops, one tile manufactory, one drug store, one harness-shop, one meat store, one boot and shoe store, two physicians, one grain dealer, two milliner stores, and two saw-mills.
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