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 69
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In the year 1814, August 6, dates the formal birth of Mechanicsburg. From this date the history of the village and township will be the same partly, and partly not. Excluding the previous possession of the Indians and other unknown occupants, we may say that the State of Virginia laid first claim to the ownership of Mechanicsburg's soil ; from Virginia it passed to William Rey- nolds, by Survey No. 4,747 ; thence to Robert Means ; thence to Duncan McAr- thur ; thence to John Kain, who laid out the town at above date. . As laid out, the village was 1,012 feet square, containing about twenty-three and a half acres. Commencing at the crossing of Chillicothe and Sandusky streets, there were the facings of four lots, 1152 feet square, on each side of each street; back of these, sixteen lots, ten and one-half poles square, filled out the plat. Thus twenty-eight front and sixteen back lots, with the alleys and the two streets crossing, made the first of the village plat. Next, March 15, 1836, followed Isaac Putman's Addition ; then other additions, by various persons at various times, until now (1880) the town includes more than 640 acres.
On August 5, 1865, the Council resolved to submit to the voters of the town, at the following October election, the matter of extending the corporation so as to make it one mile square, the intersection of Sandusky and Chillicothe streets being the center. October 10, 1865, by a vote of 103 to 3, the proposition was affirmatively decided, and the corporation was made a mile square. This has been enlarged somewhat by part of Ware's Addition in the west part of town.
BUILDINGS, BANK, ETC.
Before he laid out the village, John Kain built a double-log house, about fifty rods northwest of the village he platted. This was the first house ever built within what is now the corporation of Mechanicsburg. The site of the future village was all covered with timber. Everything had yet to be done to make a village. Timber had to be cut away where the two streets should be, and timber had to be cleared away to make a place to build a house. The next house to be built within the village limits, was a small storeroom put upon the southeast corner of Lot No. 11, as laid out by Kain. This small structure was built by John Owen, the timber being cut away to make a site. Owen opened a store here, being probably the first man to open a store in the village.
The following is an example of the amount and kind of business done and obstacles overcome. Among the first merchants was Samuel R. Miller. He borrowed a horse of Edmond Legge and went horseback to Cincinnati for goods, and brought them home in a bag slung across the horse. Of course, business could not have been very extensive.
A few dwelling-houses were soon put up, and a nucleus for a village formed, .a central point where the people could rally when they wished a holiday. In the year 1816, the first hotel was built, and owned by Warret Owen. This was remodeled, built upon and added to, until, on October 11, 1869, when the whole was burnt, it was like the boy's jack-knife, which had been repaired so many times, yet was called the same knife still. The present building of the Mechanicsburg Hotel Company, built in 1874, on the south corner of Chilli- cothe and Sandusky streets, and north corner of original Lot No. 11, occupies the site of the old hotel.
597
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
1
At an early day, about 1816, a bank was started. More than forty years before our national bank system was dreamed of, there were schemes for making money plenty, and so-called banks arose. The officers usually pocketed the money, and the people the loss. This, probably, wasn't much an exception. The bank, a private one, issued its notes for small amounts, which passed among the people for a short time. There being little capital, and scarcely any money among the people, the concern was short-lived. The presentment, once, of $60 of its notes for payment, created a serious drain on its metal resources, and greatly embarrassed its financial managers. Its location was in the storeroom mentioned above, put up by John Owen, and he was among the first managers, acting as President, while Samuel R. Miller was Cashier.
POPULATION AND VALUATION.
The following table of valuations shows the improvement of the village. Remarks made upon valuation of township apply here also :
1881.
1880.
1871.
1870.
1866.
1865.
1860.
1840.
1836.
1826.
Real
$378,890
$336,540 439,467
$233,100 230,817
$134,930 268,880
$104,420 134,229
$ 53,220 $ 49,690 102,106 98,722
$ 10,635
$ 6,402 10,062
$ 2,043
Chattels
4,200
Total
$776,007
$463,917|
$403,810
*$238,649
$155,326) $148,412
$ 16,464 $ 6,243
The valuation given for 1881 is the appraisement of 1880 as equalized by the County Board of Equalization, and, in the duplicate of 1881, may vary slightly by additions of new structures. The value as given above, for 1881, comprises $189,980 for lands, and $188,910 for buildings.
Below we give the population in the corporation for the years stated :
1880.
1870.
1860.
1850.
1840.
1830.
White.
1,313
887
714
667
255
98
Colored.
209
53
21
15
3
1
Total
1,522
940
735
682
258
99
At the State election, October 12, 1880, there were cast by colored voters 102 votes, every one of which was Republican. This was for the whole township and town.
CHURCHES.
The early (and the later, also) account of Mechanicsburg and vicinity, would be very incomplete which would omit mention of its religious movements. Religion was considered of first importance by the most of what are now re- garded as the most reliable of the early settlers. They held to it themselves as of eternal importance, and they labored to have others value it likewise. They had a heavy work to do, and, while they accomplished much, much they were unable to do. The foundation of a peaceable and, in the main, God-fearing community, they laid. Although the town in time, by additions from abroad to the neighborhood, became a pretty rough place, yet, but for the early church stemming the tide of wickedness, it would have become reprobate in the eyes of decent society.
As has been stated, with the advent of the first settlers came the preacher also, and, for want of better place preached in their cabins. The first house
* In 1866 appears the increase of corporation limits resolved upon in 1865.
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
built for a preaching place, was built in Mechanicsburg in 1814. It was about that year that this first became an appointment on the Mad River Circuit of the Miami District of what was then the Ohio Conference ; David Quinn was the Presiding Elder, and Samuel Brown, Senior Preacher. The first preach- ing here, as an appointment, was in the house mentioned, being a log building put up by the labor of friends without pay, as there was no money in the society then to pay with. The building was used both as a church and schoolhouse, and was located on the brow of the high ground overlooking the prairie back of the present church. The building was of round logs, except, after being put up, the logs on the inside were hewn down some; it was heated by a huge fire- place built up as usual in those days.
The roll of members was small at the start. William Woods, Michael Conn, familiarly called Father Conn, Henry and Christopher Millice, Thomas and Richard Lansdale, John and Philip Wyant, and Alexander McCorkle, with their wives and a few others, made the membership. In July, 1815, a camp meeting was held on the low grounds back of the log church, in what is now Orin Taylor's pasture. Bishop Francis Asbury preached at the Sunday morn- ing service of the camp-meeting ; being old and feeble, he preached sitting in nis chair, his text being, " Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." On the evening of the same day " Uncle " Claudius Mitchell was converted, Samuel Hinkle having preached that evening. Mr. Mitchell says : "My conversion was the plainest and most satisfactory thing I ever experienced. I have never doubted it since, and, while I have received many blessings since, confidence in the work of my conversion has never been shaken." The camp there was a very primitive affair compared with those of the present time ; sheets and blankets, or logs built up and rudely covered, made their tents. The meeting was usually held from Wednesday to Monday. This meeting was the commencement of a revival, which soon increased the member- ship so much that in a few years a new house became a necessity. In 1816, another meeting was held on the same grounds, followed by an increase in the church.
About the year 1819, the log house was abandoned as a meeting-house, and a new frame church was built a short distance east of the log one, on the edge of what is now the old graveyard. The new church was very much larger than t old one. It was built partly by volunteer work, and partly by subscription, aid being also received from other charges. The frame was put up and covered, the siding was of oak boards sawn out of the log and put on in the rough. The inside was not plastered, and remained for several years without any finish but the floor and pulpit but finally was ceiled and lined on the sides with walnut boards. This house was never regularly seated, the only seats used being slabs got at the saw-mill which, with the flat side up and holes bored in and stakes put in for legs, made the only seats ever used in this house. The house never had a bell. For a pulpit, a platform was built up, making the floor on which the preacher stood four feet or more above the floor of the room; a breastwork about four feet high was erected above the pulpit floor, behind which the preacher stood. This house was used until 1839, when a brick church was occupied near the old one, the church being built in 1838 and 1839.
In 1815, Moses Crume and H. B. Bascum were the preachers on the cir- cuit, and John Sale, Presiding Elder.
Camp-meetings then were held more for the outpouring of God's convert- power upon sinners than now. The salvation of sinners lost, the object
599
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
then ; the pleasure of the saint chiefly now. At camp-meeting in years follow- ing, sometimes from one hundred to two or three hundred were converted. Among those who had great power at revivals, and were very successful in awakening the unconverted, Alexander McCorkle was foremost. He was not an educated man, he could not pronounce the words of a sentence correctly, if at all difficult ; his education does not account for it. His experience was a marvelous one, and he seemed at times as if inspired with help from above. All the old persons who heard him unite in describing him as the most extraor- dinary man in this section of country.
About the year 1825, a camp meeting was held a little north of what is now the race track at the fair-grounds, and a little back of the David Rutan dwelling. Men and preachers from towns around were there, great efforts were made, but Sunday morning came, and the morning services were held, but the people remained unmoved ; the laborers were discouraged ; whatshould be done ? After a consultation, it was decided that in the afternoon, after a short sermon had been delivered, Alexander McCorkle should speak to the people. When his time came, McCorkle arose, with arms folded across his breast, and, in a sweet, clear, heart-stirring voice, began to sing the hymn commencing :
"Sweet rivers of redeeming love, Lie just before mine eye ; Had I the pinions of a dove, I'd to those rivers fly ; I'd rise superior to my pain, With joy outstrip the wind ; I'd cross bold Jordan's stormy main, And leave the world behind."
Having concluded his singing, he commenced in a simple style to tell the story of his wonderful experience ; before he finished, the ice was melted, the hearts of the people were broken, and they were shouting all over the meeting. Seekers in a multitude arose and sought the mourner's bench, forty or fifty were con- verted, and, before the camp broke, two hundred professed conversion.
While talking to the people at a camp-meeting on the farm lately owned by Gilbert Farrington, a thunder-cloud came up behind the trees, and the people were suddenly startled by a clap of thunder. McCorkle, taking advantage of the circumstance, in his inimitable voice and manner, aroused his hearers by com- paring the suddenness of God's call to the clap which had so startled his con- gregation. Following up with his power and appeals, the hearts of the people were broken, and great good was done. He died January 17, 1838, aged fifty- eight years and some months, and is buried in the old graveyard near the church.
The church, commenced in 1838 and finished in 1839, was used until 1858, when the one now (1880) in use was built, which is yet sufficiently commodious and suited to the wants of the people, having been in 1879 put in thorough repair at a large expense. This continued as an appointment until 1861, when it became a station, with Stephen F. Conrey as preacher. The preacher in charge for the year commencing September, 1880, is J. W. Cassett, with three hundred and seventy-nine members in full connection, and twenty-four on proba- tion, making a total of four hundred and three.
In 1840, through the efforts of James Woodward, a Baptist society was organ- ized here. For five or six years the society was without a church building. In 1846, the church back on Locust street was dedicated. We all remember how regularly " Uncle Jimmy " used to ring the bell on the old house, as long as he was able. He was at the birth of the organization, and almost saw it breathe
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
its last. When the old man died, in April, 1872, aged eighty-three, a palsy seems to have struck the church. The old church was sold for the avowed pur- pose of building a better one, but a better one has not been built, and the society is now about extinct.
There are, also, in active existence, an African Methodist Episcopal Church and an African Baptist Church.
At the suggestion of the Rev. A. H. Bassett, the Ohio Annual Conference, Methodist Protestant Church, at its meeting in September, 1852, took steps to establish a mission, to be called Mechanicsburg Mission. Rev. S. P. Kezerta was appointed to the work, and, on February 13, 1853, he organized the Mechanicsburg Methodist Protestant Church, with a membership of ninety- two.
On February 26, 1853, the following officers for the society were elected : Trustees, W. D. Henkle, J. R. Ware, F. A. Finley, William Purtlebaugh and H. M. Snodgrass ; Stewards, David Raudebaugh, Alexander McConkey and George Wolf; Committee of Examination, W. D. Henkle, David Raudebaugh and Rev. S. P. Kezerta ; Building Committee, Rev. S. P. Kezerta, Lewis Brittin and F. A. Finley ; Class-Leaders, F. A. Finley and Joseph Coffey.
Although the church suffered heavily from deaths, removals of members and other causes, the work was pushed forward with a good degree of success. The organization demonstrated its right to be by what it did.
After many experiences common to other organizations, the church suc- ceeded in erecting the building now used as its house of worship, being joined and assisted in the work by the Masons, who built and now own a hall above the audience-room of the church building. In the meantime, Mechanicsburg Mission was united with Catawba Circuit, in 1855, and remained so until 1865, when it was organized as a station.
In 1858, while Mechanicsburg Church was a part of Catawba Circuit, the church house at Mechanicsburg was completed and dedicated, the Rev. W. R. Parsons preaching the dedicatory sermon, Rev. T. B. Graham being Pastor. This event is remembered by the surviving charter members as one of the best and happiest of their experience. With varied success, the church has contin- ued to the present time.
In the summer of 1879, considerable improvements were made upon the house of worship, giving it an attractive and tasty appearance.
During the past year, 100 were added to its membership. The total num- ber of members now is 308.
In all, the church has had sixteen Pastors, whose time of service ranges from six months to three years. The church is now prospering.
INCORPORATION OF MECHANICSBURG.
On February 27, 1834, the Legislature passed an act of twenty sections, the first section of which is as follows :
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That so much of the township of Goshen, in the county of Champaign, as is comprehended in the plat of the town of Mechanicsburg, together with such plats as have been or may hereafter be recorded as addi- tions thereto, be and the same is hereby created and constituted a town corporation by the name of the town of Mechanicsburg.
FIRST TOWN ELECTION, OFFICERS, VALUATION, ETC.
In pursuance of the above act, the first corporation election was held April 5, 1834, which resulted in the election of Joseph S. Rathburn as Mayor; Isaac
601
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
Putman, Recorder ; Ebenezer Owen, J. H. Spain, William Neal, David L. Tul- lis and Isaiah R. Ware, Trustees.
The Council met for the first time on April 11, 1834. The Council then elected John Shepherd, Marshal, Dr. E. Owen, Treasurer; John Shepherd, Street Commissioner ; William Kelley, Assessor. The town was now started full-fledged on its onward career. On July 10, William Kelley was made Col- lector, and a levy was made of one-fourth of 1 per cent upon the taxable prop- erty for corporation purposes. The taxable property, real and chattels, was $13,928, and the tax produced by the above rate levied was $34.82. The Council of the present day, perhaps, would smile at these figures, but remember that those were days of simplicity.
As an evidence of being a day of small things, and the contentment of her citizens with little returns, the following motion was passed by the Council, April 10, 1841 :
" On motion, D. F. Spain's bill for services as Treasurer from May, 1839, to April, 1841, amount $3, was allowed."
In the valuation given above is included McCorkle & Ware, merchants, cap- ital $900; Owen & Dye, merchants, capital $1,000; while the possessions of most of the citizens were counted in-what would now be considered very small figures.
In 1836, two years later, our Council began to get their eyes open. They levied a tax of one-half of 1 per cent on $16,464 valuation, of which $6,402 was real estate, $232 live stock, and $9,830 merchants' capital and money at interest, of which Joseph C. Brand had $3,000, Jesse S. Bates $1,000, Obed Horr $4,000, and McCorkle & Ware $1,800. These were the capitalists of those days, if the assessment is any index. Since then, our valuation has trav- eled on until now it is nearly $800,000.
The following is the succession of our city Mayors : Joseph S. Rathburn, April 5, 1834, to January 21, 1836 (resigned) ; John Owen, January 21, 1836, to May 8, 1837 ; John Baker, May 8, 1837, to April 6, 1839 ; John Owen, April 6, 1839, to October 21, 1840; Richard D. Williams, October 21, 1840, to April 8, 1841 ; Asa Kirkley, April 8, 1841, to April, 1845; Charles H. Newcomb, April, 1845, to April 11, 1846 ; Azro L. Mann, April 11, 1846 ; John H. Spain, April 7, 1849, to April 6, 1850 ; Richard D. Williams April 6, 1850, to April 5, 1851; William Safley, April 5, 1851 (elected, but would not serve); Thomas Morgan, May 20, 1851, to April 3, 1852 ; F. E. McGinley, April 3, 1852, to April 16, 1853; William B. Owen, April 16, 1853; David T. Jones, April 7, 1856, to April 5, 1858; W. G. Fowler, April 5, 1858, to April 4, 1859; James L. Magruder, April 4, 1859, to April 1, 1861 ; Frank P. Bates, April 1, 1861, to April 6, 1863; Abram L. Shep- herd, April 6, 1863, to April 4, 1864; Frank P. Bates, April 4, 1864, to April 2, 1866; W. B. Owen, April 2, 1866, to April 1, 1867; Abram L. Shepherd, April 1, 1867, to April 6, 1868 ; Theodoric S. Cheney, April 6, 1868, to April 4, 1870; John D. Raudebaugh, April 6, 1870, to May 9, 1871 (resigned) ; Theodoric S. Cheney, May 9, 1871, to April 3, 1872; Thomas E. Ogborn, April 3, 1872, to present time.
THE VILLAGE ABOUT 1840.
For many years Mechanicsburg had the reputation of being a pretty rough place. This name was not altogether undeserved, for there was much drink- ing, quarreling and general roughness. This was apparent as much probably
1
602
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
between the years 1830 and 1840 as at any time. About that time there seemed to be enmity between the people of different localities. For instance : Clover Run, a settlement south of the village, felt moved to exhibit hostility toward Sodom, a settlement north of Mechanicsburg, in Union Township; and Sodom arrayed itself in battle against Clover Run, so that when the hostile braves got sufficient of the ardent aboard, meeting in the village, there would likely be trouble before they parted. Besides, many got into trouble from the love of it. About the year 1838, the boys took a hand in the general fun, and, encouraged by their elders, helped to make drunkenness frequently much more disagreeable than funny. Eggs were very cheap and abundant. Towards the latter part of the day, when a man, a little too full, was seen, the boys, getting their eggs, gave the poor inebriate the benefit of them without cost, until he was glad to get away. Obed Horr, keeping store then, seeing the boys standing around, would sometimes say, "Boys, eggs are cheap, help yourselves." Who- ever knows boys, will not doubt what followed. Another way the older boys had sometimes of curing the disease : Catching a man too full, they would take the fore part of a wagon and tie him to it, haul him to the race, run the wheels into the water, turn the axle over, and give the wretch a thorough ducking, and repeat it, if necessary, until he was ready to cry out for release.
Fun then was at a premium, and sometimes got in funny ways. A. B. Cowan was going along the street one day carrying his hat full of eggs, when Joseph Baker, passing along, took one. Passing quietly on, he turned around and hit Cowan square in the back with the egg ; now Cowan's fun came, when, pur- suing Baker, he ceased not until he gave him the benefit of his hatful of eggs, covering him over with broken eggs.
Jesse Weldon was a character in those days. He enjoyed getting drunk, and frequently, when drunk, whipped his wife. One night in 1841, Jesse came home drunk, and commenced his common pastime of whipping his wife. A couple of medical students, John Pearce and Joseph Baker, had a room next door, and determined to teach Jesse a lesson ; so, disguising themselves, they caught him and poured his hair full of melted rosin they had for making plasters. The next morning, Jesse's hair was a complete mat, and, in great distress, he came to J. L. Magruder's harness-shop for help. "Yes," 'Dad ' said, "I can help you if you can stand it, but it will be very severe." Jesse caught at the chance, so "Dad " sharpened his knife, and, taking hold of Jesse's back hair, com- menced to cut the hair off next the scalp, and continued to cut until he had taken his hair with the rosin all off.
Looking over the Mayor's docket of those years, the eye meets the familiar names of some of our oldest, most sober and dignified citizens-few living, many dead. We will not perpetuate those trifles, for they have been repented of and perhaps forgotten years ago, and the actors became staid examples for the rising generation. Requiescant in pace.
RAILROADS.
Soon after 1850, an important work was agitated for the improvement, profit and convenience of the people of Mechanicsburg and all the surrounding country. This work was the Springfield, Mt. Vernon & Pittsburg Railroad. Subscriptions were taken along the route in aid of the road, and the people subscribed as individuals, and, in addition, Goshen Township subscribed $15,- 000 of conditional bonds, on which the township was to pay the interest for a term of years, at the expiration of which, on application, the loan was to cease
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HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
and obligations be returned. By some operation or technicality of law, how- ever, the township was held liable for the principal of the bonds, and, although the matter was carried up to the Supreme Court, it was there decided against the township, which had to pay up the principal and all back interest. The Township Trustees during several years levied a tax for the liquidation of the debt, and about the year 1871 the last bond and interest were paid. Altogether, the whole matter cost the township more than $30,000. The railroad was built only from Springfield to Delaware, and was finished in 1854, in which year trains for the first time ran over the whole route. Although the road cost the township $25,000 more than necessary, yet it is of great value to this people.
In 1872, June 24, a petition of 162 citizens was presented to the Township Trustees, requesting that an election by citizens of the township be had to determine whether the township should issue $20,000 of bonds, and construct a railroad within her limits to connect with a similar road to be built from her western line to Urbana, and to connect with one on the southeast to be built in Madison County, the whole to make a continuous road from Urbana through Mechanicsburg to Columbus. This proceeding was had under an act of the General Assembly passed April 23, 1872. An election was held July 31, 1872, at which the vote in favor of the railroad was 335; against it, 51. Advertisement was made for bids for the construction of said road, bids to be received until November 2, 1872. The road was never built. The act under which authority was given was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the State.
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