400 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. Lybrand was running for his second term proved too strong an argument in his favor for even the popularity of his opponent to overcome and the judge failed of the nomination. This decade of Judge Middleton's life, fr0m 1889 to 1899, was, as stated, filled with an ever increasing amount of legal business, but at its close an opportunity was presented whereby he could again enter public life. He was nominated by the Republicans of his senatorial district—Champaign, Clark and Madison counties—as their candidate for the state Senate and was elected in November, 1899. He served as a member of the seventy fourth General Assembly of Ohio until he resigned to accept the appointment of common pleas judge. As a member of the Senate he was chairman of the committee on state buildings, a member of the committees on judiciary, county affairs, common schools, school lands, insurance, federal relations and privileges and elections; The appointment of Judge Middleton on September 5, 1901, at the hand of Gov. George K. Nash was a fitting recognition of his long career as a lawyer. He was appointed judge of the court of common pleas for the second sub-division of the second judicial district, comprising the counties of Champaign, Clark, Darke, Miami and Preble, to serve until the election on the following November, Judge Clarence. B. Heiserman, the incumbent, having resigned to become solicitor for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. In the election of that fall Judge Middleton was chosen to fill the unexpired term of Judge Heiserman and in November, 1904, was re-elected for a term of five years; During this term a change in the constitution of the state extended the term of the office to six years, which resulted in his term being extended one year. He was re-elected in November, 191o, for a term of six years and in November, 1916, was again re-elected to the office making the fourth time he had been elected to the office by the people of his county. Within the past few- years the judicial and sub-districts have been abolished by constitutional changes and subsequent statutory enactments, so that at the present time he is addressed as judge of the court of common pleas of Champaign county. His present term will expire on January I, 1923. He has now been serving sixteen years and it is not too much to say that he is universally recognized as having a more extensive knowledge of law that any other lawyer' in the county. The very nature of his duties has made it necessary for him to study the law from every angle, and his written opinions on a wide variety of cases, touching hundreds of different aspects of the law, show that he has a firm grasp of its fundamental principles; CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 401 As evidence of the fact that Judge Middleton's reputation and ability as a lawyer and judge extends much beyond the limits of his own county and district, it may be stated that in the spring of 1914 he was frequently called into conference with prominent members of the bar throughout the state and with leaders of his party, who strongly urged him to become a candidate at the following November election for chief justice of the state supreme court. Had -he followed the advice of his friends in this regard, it now seems quite certain he would have been elected. Notwithstanding the fact that he was assured the party nomination without opposition, he declined to enter the contest, preferring to continue his work uninterruptedly upon the common pleas bench of his own county, to which he had devoted so many years of his life. Judge Middleton was married on December 29, 1875, to Zeppa Rippetoe, a daughter of William and Martha Rippetoe. She died on November 3, Igo', leaving three children : Lucie E., the wife of A. Jay Miller, an attorney of Bellefontaine, Ohio ; William R., now with the W. H. Anderson Company, of Cincinnati ; George S., a practicing attorney and captain of Company D, Third Ohio Infantry, -which was mustered into the federal service on September 4, 1917. The Judge was married, a second time, June 29, 1904, to Ella G. Sullivan. a daughter of William and Martha Sullivan, of Norwood, Ohio. When the writer sought from local members of the bar an expression regarding Judge Middleton's ability, the purpose 0f the question not being known, he was informed that he ranked among 'the best common pleas judges of the state ; that as a student of the law he was without a peer in the county; that as a pleader before a jury he ranked as one of the best lawyers Champaign county ever produced. Certainly, higher praise could hardly be given and it seems no more than right that this generous estimate of his fellow practitioners be recorded in this connection. During his long career as a judge he has made every effort to render absolutely fair and accurate decisions and no one has ever questioned his honesty of purpose. A judge can not always please everyone; he tries to give a just decision, but it must always be for one side and against the other; The one against which the decision is made is naturally not always satisfied, but Judge Middleton has, to an unusual degree, administered the duties of his office in such a way as to command the respect of the people of his district and county; The reader of these lines might get the idea that Judge Middleton, by (26) 402 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. virtue of his long services on the bench, was interested only in his own profession. But this is far from being the case. Some of us are so prone to keep our noses so close to the daily grindstone of our little lives that the dust often rises to our eyes and obscures our vision; we can see nothing but our own petty affairs and even, these too often become indistinct; still others find themselves so blinded by the dust that they lose sight altogether of themselves, as well as of those who are around them. The Judge has not allowed himself to lose sight of the fact that he is a part and parcel of his community. He has been a resident of Urbana since 1877, nearly forty years, and during all these years he has taken a prominent part in every movement launched for its betterment. As a citizen, he has interested himself in those affairs which make for better citizenship; as the head of a family, he has fulfilled his duties with singular fidelity; as a friend of his fellowmen, he has conducted his life so as to merit the high esteem in which he is universally held ; as a judge of the court, he has administered its exacting duties with a judicious balance of justice and mercy which has endeared him to the hearts of his people. Such a man is Judge Middleton is seen by the writer of these lines; a good man to know. No other man in the county is confronted with such responsibilities as face him from day to day in the discharge of his official duties. He deserves the co-operation of the people of the county in his efforts to make it a better county in which to live, and, in justice to his Constituency, it may be said that they have given him loyal support; In the years to come, long of ter he has been gathered to his fathers, some will pick up this volume and here read of this man. May these lines preserve for generations unborn the name and fame of this son of Champaign county Judge Evan Perry Middleton. THE PROBATE COURT.  The office of probate judge was created by the Constitution of 1851 and has been in continuous operation since that time. Prior to that year all matters of a probate nature were in charge of the court of common pleas. The Constitution of 1851 (Art. IV, Sec; 7) provided that "There shall be established in each county,. a Probate Court, which shall be a court of record, open at all times, and holden by one judge, elected by the voters of the county, who shall hold his office of three years (later amended to make tenure of four years), and shall receive- such compensation; payable out of the county treasury, or by fees, or both, as shall be provided by law." CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 403 Subsequent constitutional changes and statutory enactments have changed the tenure, defined the jurisdiction of the court and made the court an efficient working arm of the judiciary of the state. The history of this court and all the facts necessary to a thorough understanding of the court and its workings may be found in the volume of William M. Rockel, former judge of probate of Clark county, Ohio, entitled "The Complete Law and Practice in the Probate Courts of Ohio" (1912). JURISDICTION OF PROBATE COURT. The jurisdiction of the court extends to all probate and testamentary matters, the appointment of administrators and guardians, the settlement of the accounts of executors, administrators and guardians, the issuing of marriage licenses, the sale of land by executors, administrators, and guardians, and "such other jurisdiction as may be provided by law." The court also has congnizance of all matters pertaining to the care and protection of children; that is, the court, in effect, is a juvenile court. It also appoints the board of visitors; has general charge of the administration of the mothers' pension act, and determines commitments to the insane asylum, children's home, poor farm, etc; LAWYERS AS PROBATE JUDGES. There is nothing in the law which defines the qualifications of the incumbent of the office, and until within recent years many of the counties of the state elected judges who were without any knowledge whatever of the law, Champaign county, on the other hand, has elected members of the local bar in every instance with two exceptions, A; F. Vance, Sr., and Joseph P; Northcutt; Joseph Brand, who served by appointment from September 3, 1861, to October 25, 1861, was not a lawyer. Five of the former probate judges of the county are still living, Judges Todd; Northcutt, Cheney, Owen and Seibert. It seems that the duties of the office are conducive to good health and longevity. The act establishing the court provided that the incumbents should take their seats on the first Tuesday Of February, 1852, and the day happened to fall on the ninth of the month; For sentimental reasons, despite the legal provision, the change in succession has ever since taken place on the ninth of February, irrespective of whether it was Tuesday or not. Judge Gibbs, the present incumbent, took his 0ffice on Friday, February '9, 1917; A list of the probate judges since 1852 follows : Samuel V; Baldwin, 404 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO; 1852 (died in office, August, 1861) ; Joseph C. Brand, September 3 to October 25, 1861; A. F. Vance, Sr., 1861-78; David W; Todd, 1878-90; Joseph P. Northcutt, 1890-96; E. Erwood Cheney, 1896-1902; Thomas B; Owen, 1902-08; George Pearl Seibert, 1908-17; Virgil H; Gibbs, 1917. PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS. The office of prosecuting attorney under the old constitution (1805-1852) was appointive and it was not until after 1852 that the office was filled by election. The records of the common pleas court before 1852 do not in all cases indicate the prosecutor at each session of the court, four sessions usually being held each year. A few of the prosecutors were from Champaign county during these forty-seven years, but most 0f them were from other counties in the district. The first prosecutor to appear in the common pleas court of Champaign county was Arthur St; Clair, Jr., a son of the former governor of the Northwest Territory. St. Clair appeared during 1805 and again in 1807 as prosecutor, Joshua Collett appearing as prosecutor in 1806. In 1808 Edward W. Pearce, the first lawyer of Urbana, vas appointed prosecutor and made his first appearance at the May term and continued in the office until January, 1811, when Henry Bacon succeeded him; Pearce was one of the first settlers in Urbana, a man of high intellectual attainments, versed in the law, but suffered from melancholia; In fact, he was a pronounced hypochondriac and sometime during the winter of 1816 committed suicide in the woods south of Urbana. He was a bachelor and lived in a little cabin on West Water street. Other prosecutors 'from Champaign county who served in the circuit under the old regime Were Moses B. Corwin, John H. James and James Cooley. Samuel V. Baldwin was the last prosecutor before the new constitution went into operation, serving from 1850 to 1852. PROSECUTORS SINCE 1852. Since 1852 Champaign county has elected its own prosecutor and many of the strongest lawyers of the local bar have filled the office. The complete list of prosecutors since 1852 follows: Ichabod Corwin, 1852-54; John S. Leedom, 1854-56; Jeremiah Deuel, 1856-58; John S. Leedom, 1858-62; Levi Geiger, 1862-64; David W. Todd, 1864-68; William R. Warnock, 1868-72: George M; Eichelberger, 1872-76; John Frank Gowey, 1876-80; Duncan McDonald, 1880 (died, December 22, 1882) ; Frank Eichelberger, 1882-83; CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 405 E. P; Middleton, 1884-90; Clarence B; Heiserman, 1890-94 (resigned) ; David W. Todd, 1894-95 ; Sherman S; Deaton, 1895-1901 ; Frank A; Zimmer, 1901-07; George Waite, Sr;, 1907-11; Charles H. Duncan, 1911-15 ; Harold W; Houston, 1915; COURT LIBRARY. The beginning of the present court library of the bar of Champaign county dates from the spring of 1905, when the first steps were taken to incorporate an association such as was contemplated by a recent act of the Legislature; Judge Middleton called the preliminary meeting on January 16, 1905, to talk over the matter and the following week the lawyers of the local bar organized themselves as the Champaign County Bar and Law Library Association; They applied for incorporation articles on January 25, 1905. The charter members were E; P. Middleton, Henry F; McCracken, George W; McCracken, H; H. Banta, George M. Eichelberger, Louis D. Johnson, E; L; Bodey, C; B; Heiserman, Thomas J. Frank, Frank A. Zimmer, Charles H; Duncan, Charles E; Buroker and H; M. Crow. An initiation fee of five dollars and annual dues of the same amount helped to provide the initial fund for the purchase of books The law allows such an incorporated company as the above to appoint a law librarian whose salary is not to exceed five hundred dollars a year; During the twelve years that the local library has been in operation, the librarian has turned the full amount of his salary into the law library fund. In addition to these two sources, the law library fund is aided by fines from certain criminal cases. Since the library has been in operation there has been collected and expended for books and magazines the sum of eight thousand two hundred and fifty dollars; The first officers of the library were as follows : T; J; Frank, president ; George W; McCracken, vice-president ; L. D. Johnson, treasurer; George Waite, librarian; W. F; Ring, secretary; These five officials, together with C. E; Buroker and C. B. Heiserman, constituted the board of trustees. T; J. Frank continued as president until his death. He was succeeded by Charles E. Buroker, the present incumbent. S. S. Deaton succeeded George W. McCracken as vice-president; W. F. Ring and L. D; Johnson have served as secretary and treasurer, respectively, since the library was started; George Waite, Sr., served as librarian until his death and James F. Wilson, court bailiff, was then appointed as his successor. When Joseph Moses succeeded Wilson as bailiff, he took over his honorary duties as librarian. Practically all the lawyers of the county seat are members in good stand- 406 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. ing of the library association. The library is now located in the rooms adjoining the office of the common pleas judge, but when the new addition to the court house is completed, it is planned to establish the library in the second story of the addition. The library has four thousand well-selected volumes, including state reports, court decisions, text books and miscellaneous volumes of a legal nature. The best legal magazines are always found in the reading room. The lawyers are unanimous in their praise of the great benefit the library has been to the local bar. It has been used constantly since it was started; and, with the annual increment of seven hundred dollars' worth of books to its already considerable number of volumes, the library promises even far greater value and utility; At its present rate of growth, the local law library will, within the next decade, rank with the best in any of the counties of this size in the state; CHAPTER XXII: CHAMPAIGN COUNTY JOURNALISM; The history of journalism in Champaign county may be traced back more than a hundred years and during all these years the newspaper has been an active factor in the building up. of the county in all lines of endeavor; It is impossible to estimate the benefit of a good newspaper to a community; the statement so frequently made that our country's civilization is moulded by the press, pulpit and platform indicates in some measure the value placed upon the newspaper.. Men have frequently tried to sum up in a pithy paragraph the function of the newspaper, and perhaps no more apt summary of the place it occupies in our civilization has ever been written than that which came from the hand of Joseph H; Finn, a newspaper man of Chicago. The part of his apostrophe to the newspaper given below was given by him in an address before the Associated Advertising Clubs of the World in the spring of 1915. I AM THE NEWSPAPER; Born of the deep, daily need of a nation, I am the Voice of Now—the incarnate spirit of the Times—Monarch of Things That Are. My "cold type" burns with the fireblood of human. action; I am fed by arteries of wire that girdle the earth; I drink from the cup of every living joy and sorrow; I know not day nor night nor season. I know not death, yet I am born again with every morn—with every noon—with every twilight. I leap into fresh being with every new world's events. Those who created me cease to be. The brains and heart's blood that nourish me go the way of human dissolution; Yet I live on and on. I am majestic in my strength, sublime in my power, terrible in my potentialities; yet as democratic as the ragged boy who sells me for a penny. I am the consort of kings, the partner of capital, the brother of toil, the inspiration of the hopeless, the right arm of the needy, the champion of the oppressed, the conscience of the criminal. I am the epitome of the world's comedy and tragedy. My responsibility is infinite. I speak and the world stops to listen. I say the word and battle flames her horizon. I counsel peace and the war lords obey. I am greater than any individual, more powerful than any brute. I am the dynamic force of public opinion; Rightly directed, I am the creator of confidence,, a builder of happiness in living; I am the teacher of patriotism. I am the hands of the clock of time—the clarion voice of civilization. I am the newspaper. 408 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO FILES OF EARLY PAPERS MISSING. It is impossible to write a detailed history of the press of Champaign county for the reason that the files of all of the early papers of the county have long since disappeared and the only way to write the history of a paper is to have access to the files of the paper itself. There are at least a score of papers which have appeared in Urbana during the past one hundred years concerning which little more is known than their names, and not even that much information has been preserved about the men who started them. A number of papers have been started by men who came from parts unknown and departed to regions of the same kind. Definite information concerning the papers of Urbana prior to the Civil War is unobtainable. The dates and names of papers which have been seen by the historian are definitely indicated. Fairly complete files of the two leading papers of the county are kept in the county auditor's Office. In other cases the names of the papers and their editors or publishers are given on the authority of local parties. One of the best-known of the early newspaper men of the county Joshua Saxton, who was identified with the newspapers of Urbana from 1837 to 1879, a period of forty-two years. In 1880 he was askyears;prepare1880article on the newspapers of the county and the historian of theesent volume is indebted to him for much of the information herein given ncerning the newspapers of the country. THE FARMERS WATCH TOWER. There seems to be no question that the first paper in Champaign county made its bow to the public in 1812. Howe is authority for the statement that the name of this paper was the Watch Tower, and that it first appeared on July 4, 1812. Saxton states that its name was the Farmer's Watch Tower, but he does not attempt to give a definite date in 1812, for its initial appearance. The proprietors of the infant sheet were Moses Corwin, a young lawyer, and one Blackburn, who was to furnish the practical knowledge necessary to run the paper: He performed the triplicate duties of type-setter, proof-reader and pressman. The absence of any copies of the paper render it impossible to give the successive changes in ownership, but it seems that Blackburn soon retired in favor of Allen M. Poff, but how long Corwin and Poff continued their partnership history does not record. Tradition is responsible for placing their little printing shop in a log cabin at the corner of Church and Walnut streets. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 409 THE SPIRIT OF LIBERTY; Sometime before the twenties Poff became the sole owner of the Watch Tower, and he evidently tried to improve its wavering fortunes by rechristening it. At least he appears as sponsor for a sheet known as the Spirit of Liberty and it was undoubtedly the legitimate successor of the first sheet. Changes of newspaper names and editors follow in such confusion up to 1837 that it is impossible to trace them with any degree of certainty. MANY PAPERS OF MANY NAMES BY MANY MEN. The period between 1820 and 1840 is filled with the births and deaths of a group of papers which were evidently the product of the political conditions of the times. So many years have elapsed since that time and so little contemporary evidence has been preserved as to local conditions that the historian can only inferentially explain the rise and fall of the many newspapers of the period. The Spirit of Liberty soon succumbed and it was presumably succeeded by the Farmers Friend, the title of the new paper indicating that its editor intended to rely on the farmers of the county for most of his support. Saxton states that the Friend was established by Daniel S. Bell in 1824 but the records of. the commissioners for 1820, (Journal No. 2, p. 26.) have a reference to .the Farmers Friend, thus clearly establishing its existence four years before the date assigned to it by Saxton. The farmers did not seem to furnish the support for the paper that the editor had figured upon ; that is, if the change in name of his paper is any indication of the worth of their support; Bell sought to gain a wider patronage by having a more comprehensive title for his paper, and accordingly one week his subscribers were startled to see in bold glaring type across the head of his paper the new title of Ohioan and Mad River Journal. The Mad River Courant appeared before 1825 under the proprietorship of Martin L; Lewis. It may have been the immediate successor of Poff's Spirit of Liberty; Shortly after the paper was started Dr. Evan Banes became associated with Lewis in the ownership of the paper. There is an indication that a paper by the name of The Urbana News-Letter was in existence prior to 1825 and that it was consolidated with the Mad River. Courant in the spring of 1825. The appearance of a paper bearing the long and illuminating title of The Urbana News-Letter and Mad River Courant 410 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. in May, 1826, points to a consolidation of two papers bearing these two respective titles. A copy of this paper, dated May 26, 1826, (Vol. I, No. 4) is in the collection of newspapers of the Springfield Historical Society; The title is set in two lines at the head of the sheet, the titles being united by the word and, thus indicating apparently that the paper was a consolidation of two previously existing papers. A paper bearing the curious title of Country Collustrator was established in June, 1831, by Robert Barr and Dr. Wilson Everett. A copy of this paper dated August 11, 1831, (Vol. I, No. 8) is in the collection of W. F. Ring of Urbana, and, dating back, supposing that the paper was issued regularly each week, its initial issue appeared on Thursday, June 23, 1831.. Sometime before the eighth number had appeared Barr had disposed of his interest in the paper to Dr. Evan Banes, who previously had been connected with the Mad River Courant. FURTHER CONFUSION IN RECORD. The newspaper confusion is further increased by the appearance of a paper about 1830 entitled Country Collustrator and Mad River Courant. A copy of this paper, dated November 1, 1834 (Vol. IV, No. 20, Whole No. 176.) from the collection of W. F. Ring, was owned and edited at that time by Alexander T; Hayes. It is probable that Banes & Lewis had charge of the paper when it started its career as a union of the two previously existing papers. The Urbana Record appears on the hazy newspaper horizon sometime in the early thirties. Hays & Raymond are credited with being its progenitors, but they soon turned it over to the tender mercies of James H; Bacon, who guided its uncertain career for a while and then quietly laid it to rest. Bacon was a lawyer and this may account for his connection with it, and also his desire to let it die. No fewer than ten papers have been enumerated thus far, and Saxton is authority for the statement that Urbana had no paper at all from 1831 to 1838, his connection with the newspaper history of the country dating from the latter year. However, he is mistaken, since it is' certain that the Country Collustrator and Mad River Courant was running in November, 1834. There is also the evidence of John A. Corwin to the effect that he and Decatur Talbott, the latter a practical printer, started a small paper in the thirties bearing the inspiring title of The Rattler. This sheet seemed to be born only to die and it soon rattled out 0f existence. The absence CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 411 of a regularly printed sheet during this decade (1830-1840) led to the establishment of a stinging sheet bearing the name of The Wasp. This was a curious paper started by some of the young men of Urbana and, strange to say, appeared entirely in long-hand. It satirized the follies of the day and appeared to have been especially concerned with setting forth the hirsute adornment of one Samuel Miller, a young fop of the town, who wore his hair in a queue; Miller's capetial appendage came in for some keen sarcasm, so keen, in fact, that he was moved to cut off the "skillet-handle." as The Wasp chose to designate his queue. History does not record when The Wasp closed its career, but tradition is responsible for the statement that. when Miller de-queued himself the paper at once suspended. THE WESTERN CITIZEN AND URBANA GAZETTE. The early newspapers of United States delighted in long names and Urbana papers of the anti-bellum days bear striking witness to this fact; In the spring of 1838, there came to Urbana a man who was destined to establish the first permanent newspaper in the city; For some time prior to 1838 the city had been without a paper and upon the representation of a number of citizens that he could depend upon a subscription of five hundred Joshua Saxton came to Urbana and started the Western Citizen and Urbana Gazette in April, 1838. From the day it was started until December, 1879, Saxton continued as editor and either sole owner or part owner of the paper. No other man in this county has ever had such a long connection with a local paper and but few men in the state have had a longer connection with one paper. The Western Citizen and Urbana Gazette has continued publication from the day it was started in 1838 down to the present time and with only a slight change in name. Becoming a Whig paper when that party came into existence, it transferred its allegiance to the Republican party in 1856, and for the past sixty-one years has given its support to that party. Sometime between 1845 and 1849 the heading of the paper was changed to the Urbana Citizen and Gazette. On June 7, 1850, the paper carried a notice to the effect that John D; Burnett, a lawyer of Urbana, had bought an interest in the paper. He remained with it until February 10, 1852, when he sold his interest in the paper t0 Saxton. William A. Brand, a son-in-law of Saxton, returned from a three-years service in the Civil War in the spring of 1865, and the paper in its issue of July 6, of that year, states that Brand had purchased a half interest in it. Brand sold his interest in the 412 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. paper on February 1, 1879, to Charles T. Jamieson, of Batavia, Ohio, and in the following December Saxton disposed of his interest to Jamieson; The plant cost Jamieson about twelve thousand dollars. Jamieson was a graduate of the University of Wooster, had been admitted to the bar in 1877 and previous to acquiring a half interest in the paper, had been superintendent of the Cincinnati & Eastern Telegraph Company and later paymaster on the Cincinnati & Eastern railroad. With no previous newspaper experience he quickly grasped the details of the profession and soon had the paper in such a prosperous condition that he felt justified in establishing a daily edition. The first issues of the Urbana Daily Citizen made its appearance on Monday evening, March 5, 1883, and has continued regular publication since that time. FURTHER CHANGES IN OWNERSHIP. Jamieson sold the paper on September 15, 1888, to Zachary T; Lewis, but the new owner was a financier rather than a newspaper man and his connection with it was of short duration. The connection of Lewis with Urbana is better remembered because of his banking career than his journalistic effort. In another chapter the spectacular career of Lewis is given more extended notice. In this connection it is sufficient to state that he was in the newspaper business in Urbana for about three years; About the time that he came here, or rather in the summer of 1888, Dr. P.. R. Bennett had started a newspaper known as the Herald, issuing both a daily and weekly edition. It :was evident that the town could not support two dailies and Lewis promptly bought out Bennett and consolidated the two papers; Lewis then proceeded to obtain the services of George A; Talbott, later treasurer of the county and now mayor of the city of Urbana, as manager, and Joseph P. Smith, later state librarian of Ohio, as editor of the paper. Talbott and Smith were excellent newspaper men, Talbott having been connected with the paper for fourteen years previous. Smith came to the county in 1888 from Adams county with the reputation of being a forceful newspaper writer. That he had real ability is evidenced by the fact that he became the trusted friend and adviser of Governor McKinley. The career of Smith is set forth in the chapter on "Citizens of a Past Generation." The triangular combination—Lewis, Talbott and Smith—lasted until December I, 1891. Lewis had been having some financial troubles and was perfectly willing to sell the paper if he could find a buyer; On that date H. R. Snyder bought the plant for sixteen thousand dollars and at CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 413 once formed a partnership with Jonathan Burgess, the latter acting as business manager while Snyder occupied the editor's chair; The firm of Snyder & Burgess was maintained until September, 1893. Meantime things had been happening in the political world. RIVAL REPUBLICAN PAPER APPEARS. Politics will lead a man to do strange things ; hence the rise of another Republican paper in the spring of 1891 in Urbana, and not only a weekly, but a daily also; Early in 1891 George A. Talbott, H. H. Williams, Martin B. Saxbe and Howard Pennock formed a company and started the publication of the Champion Republican, a weekly, and the Urbana Daily Times. The two Republican papers bid for the patronage of the county and both of them found that the effort to maintain their existence was going to overtax their resources; The Republican and the Daily Times continued to come from the press until the summer of 1892, although the plants of the two Republican papers were consolidated in September, 1892; For about two years and a half thereafter the ownership of the papers is followed only with extreme difficulty; Even the editorial page, where one usually looks to identify the paper with someone or something, leaves the delver into journalistic facts in a state of uncertainty. A definite date which stands for a definite turning point in the history of the Republican press may be set down as May 24, 1896; On that date there was a consolidation, an amalgamation and a reincorporation of the two plants; The new company, known as the Urbana Publishing Company, was capitalized at forty-two thousand dollars. The incorporators were H; R. Snyder, Jonathan Burgess, George A. Talbott, Howard Pennock and Sherman S. Deaton. When Pennock received an appointment in Washington, D; C;, Judge C; B. Heiserman succeeded Pennock on the board of directors. Snyder was the editor, Burgess the business manager, Frank B. Patrick the city editor, and Frank F; Frazier foreman. The new firm held forth on the second floor of the First National Bank building on North Main street; CONDITIONS THAT SPOKE FOR THEMSELVES. The history of the Citizen during the past twenty-one years has not been a flowery bed of roses. Its editors have often been sorely pressed and its owners financially distressed. To the careful observer who stands apart from the passing throng and views the two leading papers of the county, 414 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. there is nothing but wonderment as to why a Democratic paper in a strong Republican county has. twice the circulation of the paper representing the political party in power. Other things being equal, the average man will take the paper reflecting his own political views—but it is not so in Champaign county; The historian is forced to explain the disparity in the circulation of the two papers by assuming that the Democrat paper is the best news and advertising medium. A newspaper is as whimsical a creature as a woman, and needs to be handled with all the deference used towards the fair sex. Horace Greeley said that a newspaper had to be coddled and petted and apparently the Republican paper of Urbana has lacked this necessary caressing. The ownership of the Citizen has been hidden under an elusive "company" title for the past two decades, although for several years the editor of the paper has been nominal director of its political policies. In order to follow the devious path of the Urbana Citizen it is necessary at this point to pick up the story of the Democratic paper of Urbana, and also to bring in the brief careers of other local papers; The historian does not place the blame for the tangled and mangled history of these papers at the door of the newspaper men themselves ; the blame lies with the politicians. But it is all a part of local history and let the tale be told. The reader is taken back_ in years to the middle of the forties for the beginning of the first Democratic paper. THE WESTERN DOMINION. The first effort to establish a purely Democratic newspaper in Champaign county was made during the campaign of 1844, when Judge John Taylor, a disciple of Andrew Jackson, launched a paper bearing the enigmatical title of Western Dominion. A Democratic newspaper in a Republican county (Whig up to 1856) must have considerable virility to maintain itself and during the early history of the Democratic press of the county its editors met with many reverses. Judge Taylor was a better lawyer than a newspaper man. and as a result he was soon found devoting most of his time to the profession for which he was originally trained. He either sold the paper, or .gave it away, to a man of the name of Reed and the latter in turn transferred it by sale or gift to D. M.. Fleming. Since all of these editors have long since disappeared, together with the files of the paper which they published, it is impossible to trace the shifting ownership of the sheet. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 415 The Citizen and Gazette in its issue of April 27, 1849, referred to Fleming as the manager of the late Dominion adding that he was about to start a Democrat paper at Piqua. The word "late" is one of the mildest adjectives which the Citizen and Gazette bestowed upon the DoMinion; In those days newspapers handled derogatory adjectives with a reckless .abandon which transcended all bounds of politeness and courtesy as these newspaper virtues are understood today. It is not certain what disposition was made of the plant of the defunct Dominion, but the way it was hawked- about would seem to indicate that it was not of much value. The five years prior to the establishment of the present Champaign Democrat in 1855 witnessed a determined effort, albeit an unsuccessful one, to establish a .Democratic paper in the county. Without the files of the papers which appeared during this half decade it is impossible to give their appearance in sequence. About 1851 a printer of the name of Boggs from Springfield sent a printing plant to Urbana and began the publication of the Urbana edition of the Springfield Expositor, and the paper evidently bore the title of the District Expositor. The editor of the new venture was Enoch G. Dial, but the editorial chair evidently did not appeal to him and in a short time the Citizen and Gazette informed the public that Dial had found his duties too onerous and had resigned to accept a position in the state auditor's office. Dial presumably severed his. connection with the paper in December, 1851. A fugitive reference to the Democratic paper in the Citizen and Gazette, in its issue of December 5, 1851, states that "W. F. Mosgrove has sold his interest in the District Expositor to C. D. McLaughlin and the paper will be conducted by McLaughlin & Coverdill." No other reference has been seen to either McLaughlin or Coverdill, and evidently their connection with the local press was short-lived. They were presumably in charge until. the paper suspended with the issue of July 30, 1852. A CHARACTERISTIC "OBITUARY" BY "SPECS". When the Expositor retired from the field The Citizen and Gazette, in its issue of August 20, 1852, took occasion to bemoan the untimely demise of its competitor. A perusal of its obituary, as prepared by "Specs," shows the peculiar affection. which the Whig sheet had for its Democratic adversary. This obituary, with its pathetic references to the earthly career of the departed sheet, is reproduced verbatim as it appears in the Citizen and Gazette of August 20, 1852: 416 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. It is at length our melancholy duty to announce the decease of The Expositor, a paper formerly in the enjoyment of the full tide of insect life. Though politically opposed to us, we bury in its untimely grave all feelings of animosity. It was, to the extent of its limited abilities, a zealous and untiring co-worker with its Loco Foco friends in the task of regenerating the world. As usual, in all great reforms, some individuals are required to do the menial drudgery, while others more adroit succeed in obtaining direction of the vast system of spoliations, and reap the rewards and honors. It is not known that the deceased ever received either. Like unto the similitude of a mill, some of the machinery is used in cleaning filthy grain, some for grinding and some for bolting, according to their capacities. The toiling deceased labored in the character of a smut mill. "If felt the pulses of the stars, To find out agues„ coughs, catarrhs; And told what crisis did divine, The rot in sheep, or mange in swine; In men, what gave or cured the itch; What made them cuckolds, poor or rich; What gains or loses, hangs or saves; What made men great, what fools or knaves?" Through courtesy to its friends on this mournful occasion, we give a recital of the symptoms and last illness; in extolling Mr. Pierce for the prospective Presidency, the Expositor was seized with faintness and severe griping of the guts.—A number of young practitioners administered purges and pukes in the enthusiastic notion of curing the ailment. "That belly which so oft did ache, And suffer griping for their sake;" During its last hours it did not seem to distinguish friends from foes. Its best friend, an officer too, received an indignant kick in the gizzard by an outstretched leg, from the effects of which he has not recovered. The Expositor lingered with a consumptive wheezing until July 30th, when it expired. Several abortive trials were made by its attached friends to create a gal-. vanic life in the stinking remains, though nothing but spasmodic contortions could be elicited; The attendants were obliged to fumigate the office with a burning State man and brimstone. The deceased having "thought the Democratic platform so unsafe to stand on, found it good enough to lie on," and was deposited on that plank which reads— "That, the constitution does not confer on the general government the power to commence and carry on a general system of internal improvement." Its last will devises a lot of Gooses bridges to the whippersin of its party, and directs the following inscription to be placed over the remains of the Expositor: "These bones have rattled, and this head Hath oft in Loco quarrel bled." In conclusion the Expositor is gone, and with it is gone subscription list and official advertising; Like a savory barrel of soap grease the fat is fried out, and nought remains of it but the cracklings that held the mass together. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 417 OTHER DEMOCRATIC PAPERS. Following the interment of the Expositor it appears that the county was without a Democratic organ until the spring of 1855. Judge John A. Corwin and Col; W. F. Mosgrove, of Urbana, secured the services of Charles B. Flood, at the time associate editor of the Columbus Statesman and on the 26th of April of that year there appeared the first issue of the Ohio State Democrat. Flood was a man of unusual talent and his brilliant editorial articles were widely copied throughout the country. He was in fact too big a. man for Urbana and he resigned to become the editor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer; The issue of April 9, 1857, announces his departure and marks the installation of Robert B; Wright as editor; Wright continued as such until the paper suspended sometime in 1859; The decade following 1855 was a trying one for newspapers in the United States and particularly for Democratic papers;. Even the most loyal papers in the North, if edited by Democrats, were often unjustly accused of disloyalty to the Union; Thousands of Democratic papers were forced to suspend and those of Champaign county were no exception to the rule. This decade was marked by the most violent and bitter accusations through the medium of the newspapers. Harsh names were the order of the day ; never in the history of our nation has there been such lingual murdering as was done by the newspapers from 1855 to 1865. And Champaign county had a share in this newspaper warfare. On August 6, 1857, a dodger was circulated by one of the political parties which carried the information that a paper by the name. of the Champaign Statesman, would be issued weekly from that date until election for the small sum of thirty-five cents; furthermore, the public was informed that the paper was being issued "to furnish an antidote for the poison industriously distributed by the Black Republican press"—and its salutatory left no doubt as to which party was going to issue the paper. Nor was this extravagant outburst the only one of its kind during this decade ; spades were called spades; black was black, and white was white in these ante-bellum days. The papers did not scruple to handle their political enemies without gloves, and as one editor belligerently remarked in response to a wordy challenge from his competitor "I will not only not wear gloves, but I will see to it that my boots are well defended with hob nails." This statement concern (27) 418 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. ing his pedal defenses indicates that he intended to use both his hands and feet on his enemies. Truly the days and the times have changed and nowhere more strikingly than in the newspaper world. FURTHER CHANGES IN NEWSPAPER FIELD. In 1860 Owen B. Happersett 'and William A. Sampson started the Urbana Free Press, but it had only fairly started when it suspended publication. Sampson enlisted upon the first call for troops and Happersett went to Kenton, Ohio, where he became connected with the Kenton Democrat. The plant of the Free Press was acquired by Col; John H. James in 1862 and he installed John W. Houx as editor of a Democratic paper which bore the name of Urbana Union. Before the close of the war Colonel James retired from the ownership in favor of the Urbana Union Printing Company, and, at the time the company was organized, A. R; Candy became the editor. Candy gave way to William H. Kernam, a brilliant writer, who soon left to become a member of the editorial staff of the Indianapolis Sentinel. This brings the career of the Democratic paper up to about 1870. When Kernam left, George B. Hunter became the editor and he was in charge when the paper became the sole property of E; T; Harkrader in February, 1872. The new owner thought that a change of name might help the paper and he issued his first number under the name of the Democratic Plain Dealer. Harkrader did not prove a success; six months after he acquired this paper he left the city like the Arab who folds his tent and silently steals away; He not only stole away, but, according to reliable .accounts, he stole everything else that he could carry away. The historian graciously drapes the mantle of charity around the form of the founder of the Plain Dealer and leads him from the stage. The sudden suspension of the erstwhile Plain Dealer left the Democrats without a paper. In 1873 Gen; Benjamin P. Runkle and Daniel Flannegan resuscitated the paper and started it off again, this time calling it the Urbana Union. Flannegan withdrew in the fall of 1874 and the firm became Benjamin P. Runkle & Company. In 1875 Flannegan, who in the meantime had secured the Buckeye Democrat, acquired the Urbana Union and at once consolidated the two papers under the title of the Urbana Union-Democrat; The next change in ownership took place on April 1, 1875, the paper at that time passing into the hands of Charles H. Haywood and W; H; Gulick. The new owners were so. confident of their ability to establish and CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 419 maintain a daily paper that they promptly started the Daily Union, the first daily paper in the county. The daily and weekly editions were continued by Haywood and Gulick until April 3, 1879, when the plant was sold to James K. Newcomer, a newspaper man of many years experience. CREATION OF PAPER'S PRESENT TITLE. Newcomer changed the name of the paper to its present title with the issue of' January 1, 1880. The new owner continued in charge until 1883, when Dr; T; M. Gaumer purchased it and operated it for about a year, disposing of it to James T. Irvine; Dr; Gaumer discontinued the daily edition during the year he was connected with the paper. Irvine placed his son, Frank, in editorial charge and the latter continued to direct the paper until 1887; During this period (1883-1887) .Doctor Gaumer and his brother, D. H. Gaumer, bought the Zanesville Signal and Doctor. Gaumer occupied the editorial chair of this paper until he purchased the Champaign Democrat; His salutatory appears in the issue of May 5, 1887. The connection of Doctor Gaumer with the paper marked the beginning of a new epoch in its career; The previous career of the paper had not always been marked by prosperity. It had often been in the hands of men who were not sufficiently endowed with ability, or else of men not conversant with local conditions. A survey of the men connected with the successive Democratic papers from 1844, when Judge Taylor launched the Western Dominion, down to 1887, when Doctor Gaumer assumed control of the Champaign Democrat, reveals some men of exceptional newspaper ability and some with only a modicum of that necessary quality. These democratic editors succeeded each other in the following order : Judge John Taylor, _______ Reed, D. M. Fleming, _______ Boggs, Enoch G; Dial, W; F; Mosgrove, C. D. McLaughlin, Judge John A. Corwin, Charles B. Flood, Robert B; Wright, Owen B. Happersett, William A; Sampson, Col. John H; James, John W. Houx, A. R. Candy, William H. Kernam, George B; Hunter, E; T. Harkrader, Gen. B. P. Runkle, Daniel Flannegan, Charles H. Haywood, W; H. Gulick, James K. Newcomer and James T. Irvine. These twenty-four men were connected at one time or another with the Democratic papers of Urbana, either as owners or editors, or both, between the years 1844 and 1887; During this same period the Democratic paper had borne no less than nine different names and there may have been more. But the year 1887, as has been stated, marks a turning point in the history of the Democratic press of the county seat; The Champaign Demo- 420 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. crat has been in the hands of the Gaumer family since that year and history must record that it has outstripped its Republican competitors, both as regards circulation and general news value; Doctor Gaumer served in the editorial chair of the Democrat until his death on September 30, 1893. His widow at once assumed the management of the paper and directed it until her eldest son, Charles E. Gaumer, was seventeen years of age. He then became the manager of the paper and served in that capacity until January 1, 1899; At that time Frank C; Gaumer, a brother of Charles E,, became manager and is still at the head of the paper. Charles E. Gaumer went to Illinois and purchased the. Monticello Bulletin, which he published until May, 1901, when he returned to Ohio and bought the Middletown Daily Signal. He remained there until in August, 1908, when he returned to Illinois and became connected with the Champaign Daily News. In May, 1910, he returned to Urbana and again became associated in the management of the Champaign Democrat. LATER PROGRESS OF THE DEMOCRAT. On August 28, 1910, the weekly Democrat was changed to a twicea-week issue; In September, 1910, The Gaumer Publishing Company, with an authorized capital stock of twenty-five thousand dollars, was organized under the laws of Ohio and took over the business, the company being composed of Frank C. Gaumer, Charles E. Gaumer, their mother, Eliza M; Gaumer, Billy S. Clifford and Clarence A. Coon, the two last named holding only a small interest. At once the semi-weekly paper sprang into popularity and its circulation list began to mount rapidly. The paper adopted a policy of printing all the news, without 'fear or favor, regardless of the social or business standing of the persons involved, and the paper built up a large clientele despite the competition of another newspaper, The Daily Citizen, having a more frequent issue. On September 21, 1913, The Urbana Democrat was started as an every-other-day publication, published on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays. The twice-a-week edition was continued also and is still published and widely read. On November 15, 1915, the thrice-a-week edition was changed to a daily, known as The Urbana Daily Democrat, Frank C. Gaumer being its business manager and Charles E; Gaumer being its managing editor. The daily has grown in circulati0n and advertising patronage, having in CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 421 June, 1917, three thousand six hundred and ten readers, while The Champaign Democrat still finds one thousand one hundred readers who have not yet felt the need of a newspaper of more frequent issue; OTHER URBANA PAPERS. In 1905, Rev. Van Fleet located in Urbana and started a weekly independent newspaper in connection with a small job-printing plant. In 1906, the business was acquired by John H. James, son of the John H. James previously mentioned in this narrative, and in 1907 The Urbana Daily Tribune was launched as a morning newspaper. It was Democratic in politics and ultra-radical in its denunciation of. Republican leaders; built up a sizable list of readers but proved financially unprofitable was a "thorn in the flesh" to Republican politicians, as well as a menace to the Champaign Democrat. In the winter of 1909-1910 an option was secured separately on the Urbana Daily Times-Citizen and on The Urbana Tribune by Frank C. G;aaumernd George McConnell. They formed a new company, the Urbana News Company, which purchased both newspapers and on March 1, 1910, merged them into The Urbana Daily Citizen. Frank Gaumer later disposed of his interest in the Citizen and from the years 1910 to 1917 the company employed as editors and managers in rapid succession Frank B. Patrick, Frank B. Wilson, C. M. Davidson, F. Myers, Amherst Eaton and Vern Talbot. On April 21, 1917, the controlling interest in The Urbana News Company was purchased and taken over by Frank C. Gaumer and he started upon the difficult role of publishing both a Democrat and a Republican daily newspapers. He solved the problem, however, by placing the political policies of the Daily Citizen in the hands of Frank W. Todd, its city editor, a member of the Republican party, who was advanced to the position of managing editor. In August, 1917, Charles E. Gaumer retired from the Democrat and became assistant managing editor of the Marion, Ohio Daily StStar; On April 1, 1917, The Gaumer Publishing Company began construction of a two-story brick building on South Main street. On July I, 1917, both newspaper plants were moved into the building. The Democrat is issued as an evening newspaper and the Citizen as a morning paper. Both companies are maintaining their separate indentities and the two newspapers their separate policies, although having business interests largely identical. This marks a decidedly original era in Urbana journalism. 422 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. THE PROGRESSIVE WEEKLY. An Urbana newspaper with a brief existence known as the Progressive Weekly, made its first and last appearance on March 13, 1914. It was a four-page sheet and its subscribers, which numbered about five hundred, were made up principally of members of the Independent Club and their sympathizers. The paper was edited in the office of Joe Flaugher and was printed in Springfield. The editor of the paper was a young man named Francis Fennessy, a nephew of the late John T; Fennessy; In the advertising columns the paper carried the advertisement of eleven Urbana business concerns, most of whom were the supporters of Mayor Green and his administration. THE MACKACHACK PRESS; A short-lived paper which appeared in Urbana in the latter part of the sixties was the Mackachack Press; The paper was an exotic as far as Champaign county was concerned and this may account for its brief career in Urbana; It was established by Donn Piatt at West Liberty, in 1867, and was taken by its owner to Columbus shortly afterwards. It is to be presumed that the new surroundings were not conducive to prosperity; at all events, a few months in Columbus found the owner ready to seek greener pastures. At this stage in the career of the paper, its progenitor moved it to Urbana, but the anemic sheet was doomed to die—it quietly passed away less than a year after it was brought to Urbana. THE CORNERSTONE. A paper bearing the substantial name of the Cornerstone was established in Urbana in 1904 by J. A; Van Fleet; The paper was the official state organ of the Prohibition party and was published for about one year; The editor, a Methodist minister, had more religious than journalistic experience and consequently had difficulty in keeping the paper in existence as long as he did; He even had visions of revolutionizing the community through the medium of the newspaper and to this end he started a paper by the name of the News. His zeal in reforming the city so far exceeded his ability to finance his paper that he was soon in hard straits. His creditors became clamorous; unpaid bills rolled in and piled up ; and finally the distressed editor conceived the idea of writing on the margin of .his paper a request to CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 423 his subscribers that they pay up their arrears. He soon found out that he had leaped from the pot into the fire—the postoffice department began to investigate his peculiar methods of collecting accounts. The result was that the distrait old minister-editor was arrested, found guilty of infractions of the postal regulations, but on account of his advanced age, and the undoubted fact that he was absolutely ignorant of the fact that he was committing any offense whatever, the federal court recommended leniency. He was finally let off with the payment of a fine. Needless to add the News suddenly ceased publication. ST. PARIS NEWSPAPERS. St; Paris has had a complicated journalistic history since the Independent, its first paper, appeared in the village in the spring of 1870. The paper was established by the Vaughn brothers and maintained a more or less prosperous career until the spring of 1871. Evidently its patronage was insufficient to keep it alive, since in March, 1871, the plant was removed from the town and no immediate effort was made to establish another paper. In June, 1872, the second paper appeared bearing the gossipy title of the St. Paris Informant; Its publishers, O'Haver & Stawn, steered the frail craft until the squalls of winter hit it, when they pulled their sails and decided to sever their connection with it. They disposed of it to Musson & Taylor and the new owners tried to better its fortunes by changing its name to the New Era; In April, 1873, Taylor became the sole owner, but in the following November he sold it to the firm of Musson & Company; The next change of ownership occurred in January, 1877, at which time it passed into the hands of. H; H; Hall; On October 28, 1879, the plant was visited by a destructive fire which resulted in the loss of all the files and records. In May, 1880, C. R; Musson took charge of the paper, this being .the third time he had been connected with it. The New Era later passed into the hands of J; E. "Walker who was connected with it for a number of years. In the latter part of the eighties a paper by the name of the St. Paris Era-Dispatch came into existence and the name indicates that its first editor had combined the New Era with an already existing paper by the name of the Dispatch. The Era-Dispatch continued its independent career under various owners until July 13, 1901, when it was bought by Rev. J; W. Yeisley; The St; Paris News had been established July 13, 1888, by G. P. Shidler, who continued it until July 13, 1901, on which date Rev. J. W. Yeisley secured control of both the Era-Dispatch and the News, the former a Democratic and 424 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. the latter a Republican paper. Yeisley announced that after September 1, Ig0', both papers would be independent in politics; He continued as owner and editor of both papers until 1907, when he disposed of them to L. M. Ross. In November, 1909, they passed under the control of Brown & Wiant, the present owners and editors. In addition to the newspapers above mentioned there have been a few other papers which have come into existence at St. Paris only to disappear; Probably the most important of the ephemeral group bore the wavering title of the Quiver. This sheet was a religio-temperance paper and was established by Rev. J. W. Rushbridge and I. E. Rhynard in February, 1888; Its existence was due to a jumble of religion and politics, or, to be more exact, of church wrangles and local political squabbles. In the fore part of 1888 the temperance question was a live issue in the town and Reverend Rushbridge, an ardent temperance advocate, allied himself with Rhynard and began issuing the Quiver in order to stir up sentiment in favor of abolishing the saloon. The local politicians did not want the matter brought into local politics, neither by way of the pulpit, and certainly not by way of newspaper agitation. The preacher, however, was determined to make himself heard, not only in the pulpit, but also through the medium of a paper if he had to start one himself; He induced a wealthy farmer in the vicinity of St. Paris, L. E. Rhynard, to back him in a paper, promising to place a son of Rhynard in charge of the paper. Hardly had the paper started when the preacher suddenly left the town, forsaking his farmer friend, the latter's son, who had just taken hold of the paper—and the very cause for which he had been fighting. The paper lead a truly quivering existence for sixteen issues, about four months, and was then purchased by G; P. Shidler, July 3, 1888; The new owner completely overhauled the plant and on July 13, 1888, issued the first number of the St. Paris News, continuing at the head of the paper until July 13, 1901, as above stated. The St. Paris Telegram was started by Markey B; Neff in December, 1901, and led a more or less stable existence for nine years. It was printed during most of the time by Brown & Wiant. The editor himself finally died in an asylum. Brown & Wiant established the St. Paris Press in September, 1906, and continued it until they purchased the News and Era-Dispatch from L; M; Ross in November, 1909; It was then consolidated with the other papers and discontinued as a regular sheet; T. Spear Dixon and E. V. Rhoads established a paper in the latter part of the seventies and continued it for two or three years. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 425 MECHANICSBURG NEWSPAPERS. There have been at least eight newspapers in Mechanicsburg at some time or other since the first paper made its appearance in the latter part of the seventies. The history of the papers of the village is difficult to trace owing to the absence of the files of most of the papers. The first paper of which .any record has been preserved is the Mechanicsburg Review. It was established by Ezekiel Mettles sometime during the fore part of September, 187o, if its first issue was dated fifteen numbers from the one seen by the historian; Vol. I, No; 15, was dated Thursday, December 15, 1870, and this would place the first number back in the first of September. The Review lasted for about two years and then quietly disappeared from view and for a while the town seems to have been without a sheet of any kind. The successor of the first paper was undoubtedly the Central Ohio News and since Vol. III, No. 20, was dated Thursday, March 16, 1876, it appears that its initial issue must have appeared in December, 1872. This would indicate that it followed close on the heels of the Review. It is not known who started the second paper, but the number quoted was in charge of O. C; Wheeler; Before the paper was discontinued it passed into the hands of Church & Church, the name of this firm appearing at the head of the issue of December 20, 1875. It was probably succeeded by the Mechanicsburg Herald; The Herald was started in April, 1878, and O. C. Wheeler was evidently the proprietor, the same man who had been connected with the Central Ohio News in the town a few years previously; The one fugitive copy of the Herald which came to the notice of the historian was dated Friday, July 2, 1880, Vol; II, No. 11., and Wheeler was the guiding genius at the time. In February, 1881, Wheeler became dissatisfied with Mechanicsburg and loaded his entire plant into a wagon and left the town for New Washington, Ohio; The flight of the Herald left the town with a paper which had been in operation for some years under the title of the Screw Driver. If the paper was half as original as its hardware 'title would lead one to suspect it must have been worthy of the support which it received. The title itself appeared across the head of the page in large type, the letters of which were composed of screws. The editors, C; C. Jones and J. W. Ellingham, subscribed themselves as "Drivers" and took the precaution of setting forth their peculiar designation with quotation marks. They were driving the paper in the issue 426 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. of Vol; IX, No. 41, Wednesday, October 10, 1883, and this dating would indicate that the sheet was in its ninth year, placing its establishment back to the latter part of 1873; The paper was evidently the progenitor of the News, which made its appearance in January, 1884. The Mechanicsburg News was started by C. C; Jones, formerly with the Screw Driver. Jones later retired in favor of the firm of Morris & Slater and they were in possession when the News and Item were consolidated by O. E; Shaw in 1903. The Mechanicsburg Item was established by O; E; Shaw with the issue of June 4, 1894, and was conducted by him until 1903; With the issue of January 8, 1903, the News and Item became the sole property of O. E. Shaw and he issued the paper under the name of the News-Item. It is still being issued under the same name and by the same editor; It is a weekly paper of six columns and has a. subscription list of one thousand five hundred; At the time Shaw bought the News from Morris and Slater, the latter started a daily paper under the title of the Morning Telegram and it has continued to come from the press regularly since the day it was established. Slater is still the owner and editor; The paper has a circulation of four hundred and has proved sufficiently remunerative to its owner to warrant a continuous career of fourteen years. In 1917 the town has the two papers : News-Item, weekly, and the Morning Telegram, a daily. NORTH LEWISBURG PAPERS. The first paper in North Lewisburg was fittingly called the Experiment and made its initial appearance on December 29, 1860, under the management of H; D; Gowey; The paper was true to its title and proved to be an unsatisfactory experiment for its founder. In March of the following year the same printer relegated the Experiment to journalistic oblivion and started what he chose to call the Lewisburg Weekly Magazine, "designed eventually to be a Cosmopolitan Hebdomadal;" Six months later this second venture was laid away with its predecessor, and the village was without a paper until the summer of 1868. Shakespeare asked "What's in a name," and a perusal of the names applied to early newspapers leaves one in a state of wonderment as to the purport of the many queer names which were born in the fertile brains of newspaper men; One of these enigmatically-named papers made its appearance. in .North Lewisburg on July 1, 1868. Just what induced P. G; Mitchell CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 427 and M. C. Gowey, the owners of the new sheet, to inflict upon it the unfortunate name of Boomerang will probably never be known. This Australian weapon is a dangerous instrument in the hands of the unskilled, and its application to the paper above mentioned proved disastrous to its progenitors; The paper led a more or less precarious existence until November 1, 1869, when it was suspended. Thus far three papers appeared in the village only to die. Seven years were to elapse after the suspension of the Boomerang before another editor had the courage to step in and make the fourth attempt to establish a paper; In 1876 three courageous men appeared on the scene and two papers suddenly appeared on the horizon of the village; J. H; Fluhart screwed his courage to the sticking point and launched the North Lewisburg Star in January, 1876, but its radiance was never very brilliant and its light completely flickered out after six months, of fluttering; About the same time that the Star began beaming another paper appeared in the village bearing the title of Gazette. It was backed by two patriots, Vaughn & Sherrett, and being two in number there is an explanation why their paper lasted about twice as long as the Star. The Gazette lacked about one month of celebrating its first birthday and the close of 1876 again found the village without a newspaper. The village seems to have been without a local paper until the Town Talk began its existence on Saturday, September 10, 1881, Gowey & Wagner being the editors; In the editor's preface he stated that the paper was to be devoted to the interests of its patrons and that its columns should be the avenues for the expression of their sentiments, and that the paper was to represent the communal interests without favor or partiality; The paper was a three-column edition and in make-up was quite characteristic of the papers of that time. After an existence of one year the editors, for reasons mostly their own, changed the name of the paper to the Tri-County Daily, and under this cognomen the first paper was issued on Wednesday, September 27, 1882. It endured a rather checkered existence for about two years and finally succumbed to the diseases most common to the newspapers of that time. The North Lewisburg News was a local sheet which began shortly after the suspension of the Tri-County Daily but its existence was so short and its importance so small that a mere mention of the paper itself is amply sufficient; The North Lewisburg Reporter, started by J. C. Mount, and now owned and edited by Levi Millice, has enjoyed a continuous existence since its inception. The paper has been owned and edited by numerous parties, some 428 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. of whom had little or no newspaper experience and whose success as newspaper editors would be questioned by the reader of today. Mount was in charge several years, selling the plant entire to W. S. Coffey, the present county auditor, for four hundred dollars. Coffey struggled with it for four years and was glad to sell it to Samuel B. Callon for as much as he paid for it. Callon soon took in a man of the name of Alexander as partner and the latter eventually took over the paper. Alexander sold to the firm of Crawford & Darling and they soon unloaded it on Chauncey Spain; Millice came in after Spain and later associated himself with Ralph O; Payne. Payne finally bought out Millice and for a time managed to keep the paper going alone. The effort was too much and he soon sold the paper back to Millice, the present owner. The paper is now more prosperous than it has ever been and bids fair to continue its successful career. After many years of buffeting about it seems to have found a hand sufficiently strong to guide its destiny. CHRISTIANSBURG NEWSPAPERS. The first paper at Christiansburg, Tri-County News, was established in 1904 by D. F. Shriner & Son and concluded its history after a wavering career of thirty-five weekly issues, the last number being issued in April, 1905. The editor was evidently not impressed with the support which he received in the community, if his valedictory may be taken as giving his estimate of the people who had been on his subscription list; His parting words tell the story of a disappointed man : "Certain persons in this locality, who after taking our paper for six months, and not paying for it, refuse to take it out of the postoffice when urged to pay up. The penitentiaries are full of better and more honest men, and that other place is supposed to be provided for the unregenerate after death, why—well—perhaps." Several years were to elapse before a second attempt was made to establish a paper in Christiansburg; R. O. Whittaker began the publication of the Christiansburg Herald, September 7, 1916, and has built up a circulation for his paper of about eight hundred. It circulates in Champaign and the adjoining counties of Clark and Miami. The editor is an experienced newspaper man and his paper has proved to be a profitable venture. THE WOODSTOCK RUSH LIGHT. The first and only newspaper ever published in Woodstock was the Rush Light which was started in April, 1907, by Fred T. Crawford; The paper CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 429 started out with four hundred and fifty subscribers and seemed to prosper, as was evidenced by the fact that at one time the paper had seven hundred and seventy-two paid-up subscribers. The office of the paper was in the Odd Fellow building and was in charge of three assistants, Fred T. Crawford being the editor and owner. On account of other business interests and a desire to seek another location Crawford saw fit to discontinue the paper in October, 1915. CHAPTER XXIII. CHURCHES OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. The three social institutions which touch the individual more intimately than any others are the home, the church, and the school. Of these the church occupies a position in importance second to the home. Its precepts were raised on a foundation made of the hardened blood of the martyrs of old, and their sufferings have not been in vain when we view the blessings we have derived from the heritage they left us. The influence of an active denomination in a community is always obvious, for the wholesome spirit of that community is, in the main, traceable to that source. It has been more than a hundred years since the first settlers of Champaign county made their homes here ; and among the first things they brought with them were the seeds of the Christian religion which sprouted and flourished under their faithful cultivation. The church is always found in the vanguard of civilization; A survey of the conditions of the county at present reveals the fact that the sufferings and hardships of these devoted men and women in furthering Christianity have not been in vain. COMPARISON WITH "GOOD OLD DAYS " There are some who maintain that the pioneers outstripped the present generation in religious zeal and endeavor, and that the religion of modern times bears no comparison to that of "the good old days." The effectiveness of religion cannot be measured by human standards. Of course there have been many church organizations abandoned in Champaign county; but this fact does not mean that people now are any less religious, nor does it mean that their religion is pitched on a lower plane than that of the forefathers. There are many factors entering into the disappearance of the rural church, and an important one has been the movement of the population to the towns and cities. Again, the improved means of communication enables the farmer to take his family to town on Sunday for worship. For this reason there are also thousands of abandoned rural school buildings in Ohio. This does not mean that people are becoming any the less educated ; nor does it mean CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 431 that they are any the less religious. In this respect, however, Champaign is unlike many of the counties of the State; for it does not have the usual large number of abandoned churches. The beautiful sentiment of worshiping at the shrine of the forefathers seems to lie deeply in the hearts of the people of the county. On the other hand, it cannot be said that there is no room for religious improvement in the people of Champaign county, yet it must be admitted that they are today living more closely to the principles laid down in the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount, than ever before; We are prone to paint a picture of the pioneer forefathers which is too ideal, for history reveals that they were not always as good as they are pictured. Could we see them in their daily life, we should be surprised at some of the things they did; Some of them drank—drank whiskey; many of them were profane; they settled their differences in fisticuff encounters; they grafted when in public office, just as has been done since ; they had many shortcomings which we have not been in the habit of associating with them. Yet, they were religious; PICTURE OF A PIONEER CHURCH SERVICE. What a quaint picture did our farefathers present as they filed to church on Sunday morning in the early days of the country's settlement. If the weather permitted, the congregation were for the most part without shoes. Some wore moccasins; others fringed-buckskin breeches and hunting shirts, with 'coon, fox. or 'possum-skin caps on their heads. For adornment many had 'coon or fox tails attached to these caps; The swain did not have the opportunity to hear the sermon at the side of his buxom sweetheart in her Sunday linsey-woolsey, for the men sat on the left side of the center aisle and the women on the right. Hymns were "lined out," as it was then called. Two lines would be given out by the minister or clerk, then sung by the congregation ; then two more lines would be read and sung, and so on to the end of the hymn. The tunes were simplified, because they were sung according to "long or short meter." The forefathers in Champaign county did not worship in such beautiful and artistic structures as the people now have; but gathered in their own homes, in workshops, in barns, in school buildings, and even outside in the shade of the trees if the weather permitted. The very first services, however, were held in the cabins of the settlers when the itinerant preacher made his circuit, or a chance preacher came along. The earliest settlers soon attracted 432 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. to their neighborhoods their kinsfolk and acquaintances from the old home back east across the mountains. As a result settlements, usually named after the first settler or the most distinguished person, were formed. Soon the religious need of the settlement came uppermost, and some good brother or sister of the neighborhood generously opened up his home as a temporary house of worship; As soon as the little colony felt itself strong enough to build a church, it did so without waiting for pecuniary aid from outside sources. Really this was not necessary, for all around them grew a wealth of timber, each pioneer had his ax ; and, with all the men of the neighborhood working, it did not take so long to raise a rude little log church, which supplied the immediate needs of the community. Before many years there were chapels located at Mt; Tabor, St. George, Pisgah, Nettle Creek, Concord, and .a few other places. CAMP-MEETINGS OF OTHER DAYS. As time went on and the county became more populous, larger meetings became a need of the settlers. The old-fashioned camp-meetings supplied this want, and generally they were well attended. The structures for this purpose were of the most temporary and rude character, but, in the absence bad weather, they met the easy requirements. People came from miles around to attend these meetings, to hear the ministers of more than local reputation, to meet old friends, to make new ones, and to hear the news. People, in general, thought of these meetings, in a sense, as the present generation thinks of a county fair—not, however, with a sense of hilarity and pleasure, but as a season of enjoyable rest and worship. These camp-meetings were a feature of the early life of the county until the destruction of the old camp-meeting buildings just south of Urbana; Such meetings were held in several places in the county. Not many years could these rude little log churches suffice in this buoyant, growing, progressive West. Larger frame structures soon supplanted the rugged little houses of worship that were hewed out of the forest and fashioned by the devoted hands of the pioneers; Later, the church felt that it must be abreast of the times and must supply facilities for a greater and more modern service. Now, where the forefathers had their old-fashioned basket dinners, are beautiful churches, correct in architectural design and fitted with complete kitchens and dining rooms. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 433 BUILDED UNSELFISHLY, BEAUTIFULLY AND WELL. In the retrospect of Christianity in Champaign county, our satisfaction with the present is not unmixed. with longing for a taste of the past. The struggles of those devoted Christians back in the early days, induces in us a most reverent veneration for them. In their humble meetings—and often their little bands did not number more than a dozen—they thanked God for what He had vouchsafed them,. and prayed the continuance of His blessings to them; And who is there to say that they did not do all they could to advance on earth the Kingdom of Heaven ? To them we owe the possibility of the present. They builded unselfishly; beautifully and well. The Methodists, Presbyterians, and Baptists were the first denominations to be represented by churches in the county. However, small societies of other churches were feebly maintained in various neighborhoods at a comparatively early date ; among these were the Universalist and Christian churches. The number of denominations in the county has increased until today there are twelve represented by sixty-six active societies which are most zealously carrying on the business of the Master. The historian has attempted to obtain the history. of every church organization, past and present, in Champaign county; Immediately following is a list of all these churches, which have been classified into groups of active and discontinued or dormant churches. ACTIVE CHURCHES. Methodist Churches—The First Methodist Church, Urbana; Methodist Episcopal Church, Mechanicsburg; Methodist Episcopal Church, North Lewisburg; Grace Methodist Episcopal Church, Urbana; Mount Tabor Methodist Episcopal Church, Concord Methodist Episcopal Church, First Methodist Episcopal Church, St. Paris ; Westville Methodist Episcopal Church ; Grafton Methodist Episcopal Church ; North Salem Methodist Episcopal Church ; Terre Haute Methodist Episcopal Church ; Christiansburg Methodist Episcopal Church; Methodist Episcopal Church, Kings Creek; Treacles Creek Methodist Episcopal Church ; Newsoms Chapel ; Kennard Methodist Episcopal Church ; Cable Methodist Episcopal Church ; Fountain Park Methodist Episcopal Church ; Mutual Grace Methodist Episcopal Church ; Local Preachers' Chapel; Union Methodist Episcopal Church; Methodist Episcopal Church, Pleasant Hill ; Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church, Urbana ; St; Paul African (28) 434 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. Methodist Episcopal Church, Urbana; African Methodist Episcopal Church, Mechanicsburg; Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, North Lewisburg; Methodist Protestant Church, Mechanicsburg; Methodist Protestant Church, North Lewisburg; Jenkins' Chapel. Baptist Churches—First Baptist Church, Urbana ; First Baptist Church, St. Paris; Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church; Colored Baptist Church, Mechanicsburg; Myrtle Tree Baptist Church; Kingscreek Baptist Church; Millerstown Baptist Church; Mount Zion Baptist Church; Honey Creek Baptist Church; Second Baptist Church, Urbana ; Mingo Baptist Church. Presbyterian Churches—Presbyterian Churches of Urbana and Buck Creek; Spring Hills Presbyterian Church. Lutheran, and Reformed Churches—Evangelical Lutheran Church, Urbana; Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, St; Paris ; Zerkel Lutheran Church, Thackery ; St. John's Lutheran Church, St; Paris; Reformed Church, St; Paris; Reformed Church, Millerstown. Christian Churches—Christian Church, Cable ; Christian Church, Carysville. United Brethren Churches—Rosewood United Brethren Church; Salem United Brethren Church; Bowlusville United Brethren Church. Universalist Churches—Universalist Church, Woodstock; Westville Universalist Church. Episcopalian Churches—Church of the Epihany, Urbana ; Church of Our Saviour, Mechanicsburg. Catholic Churches—St. Michael's Catholic Church, Mechanicsburg; Immaculate Conception Church, North Lewisburg ; Sacred Heart Catholic Church, St. Paris ; St. Mary's Catholic Church, Urbana. Friends Churches—Friends Church, Urbana ; Mt. Carmel Friends Church ; Friends Church, North Lewisburg. Miscellaneous Churches—Church of the New Jerusalem, Urbana; Mennonite Church, Salem Township. DISCONTINUED AND DORMANT CHURCHES. Methodist Churches—Rector's Chapel, St. George's Chapel, Northville Methodist Church, Cable Chapel, Diltz Chapel, Pisgah Methodist Episcopal Church, Neer Chapel, Spring Hills Methodist Episcopal Church, Wesleyan Chapel, the Sanctuary. Baptist Churches—Mad River Baptist Church, First Baptist Church (Urbana Township), Hickory Grove Baptist Church, German Baptist CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 435 Church, Walnut Hill Baptist Church, Harmony Baptist Church, Pleasant Run Baptist Church, Buck Creek Baptist Church, Mechanicsburg Baptist Church. Presbyterian Churches—United Presbyterian Church, Sharon Presbyterian Church. Lutheran and German Reformed Churches Salem Lutheran and German Reformed Church. Christian Churches—Christian Church, Urbana; Christian Church, Christiansburg ; Bethel Christian Church; Gladys Creek Christian Church; Christian Church, Woodstock. United Brethren Churches—United Brethren Church, Carysville; United Brethren Church, Antioch ; Zion United Brethren Church; Universalist Churches—Universalist. Church, St. Paris. Miscellaneous Churches—The Shakers, the Howard Weaver Mission. METHODIST CHURCHES. The first Methodist organization in the county was that of the Methodist Episcopal church at Urbana, but little of the first organization has been brought down to the present generation. What is now Urbana was a preaching point before an organization was perfected, in 1805. The first Methodist circuit to include this section of the state was known as the "Scioto and Miami" circuit in 1800. In 1803 the circuit was divided, and a part of it was called Miami, and in 1805 this circuit was called Miami and Mad River. It was from these circuits that the station at Urbana received its preachers, and quite numerous they were, too, because in those days a preacher was not supposed to remain longer than one year in a place. Services were very irregular; there were no Sabbath schools, and no musical instruments. Without any of the modern attractions which are now deemed a necessary part of the church, they worshiped in a simple, unostentatious manner; Often weeks must pass before the circuit rider could come again, and during the interval, some pioneer would conduct the services ; if not in strict accordance with the ritual, yet with true Christian spirit. Since the days of the circuit rider, who had little or no education but simply felt the call to preach, the churches of the county have been supplied with ministers trained and educated in their professions. Along with the bettering of the personnel of the ministry, has come the spread of the sect in the county; Besides the large number of Methodist Episcopal churches, there have been organized one Congregational Methodist church and three Methodist Protestant churches, one at Mechanicsburg, one at North Lewis- 436 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. burg and one at. Jenkins' Chapel. In so far as it is possible for the historian to ascertain, there have been thirty-nine Methodist societies organized, and of these twenty-nine are still active. Histories of these various organizations are given in this chapter. FIRST METHODIST CHURCH AT URBANA. The First Methodist Episcopal church at Urbana bears the distinction Of being the first Methodist Episcopal church organized in Champacounty;nty. The society, of of which grew the present church, was organized in 1804 with the following charter members : Saul Hinkle, Nathaniel Pickard, Abner Barret, Frederick Ambrose, James Davison, Thomas Moore and JReynolds.lds. At this time -Urbana was one of the preaching points on the Mad River circuit which included most of the settlements of several counties. Church Buildings—The first house of worship was a hewed log structure and stood on what is now the southeast corner of Ward and Locust streets. This building was erected in 1811 when the little congregation was just beginning to take on form. This little pioneer log church was occupied until 1816, when a brick building, thirty-five by fifty feet, was erected on the northwest corner of Court and Locust streets. The interior arrangement and decoration were unique and bore a sharp contrast to that of today. The platform on which the preacher sat was quite high, and was approached by a flight of winding stairs on each side. The pulpit was a narrow semi-circular desk and was entirely too limited for the demonstrative efforts of the pioneer ministers. The pews were long wooden benches with straight backs and without cushions.. Across the south end of the building was an anteroom from which led two stairways to the balcony that extended on three sides of the church. Against the walls and to each of the pillars that supported the balcony were affixed or hung on a nail a tin candlestick or socket with a tin back to perform the' double purpose of a reflector and to guard against fire. The house was lighted with talcandles;les. With very few exceptions all of the older men in the congregation chewed tobacco, and to provide for their comfort and convenience wooden boxes filled with sawdust "graced" each pew. The minister was supposed to preach, not with the use of notes or manuscript, but by inspiration. The congregation believed that he as called by God to preach and any preliminary, preparation on his part would not have tolerated. The choir sat in the gallery opposite the pulpit, but the singing was done mostly by congregation. In 1835 parts of the building showed evidences of decay. The congre- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 437 gation also was showing rapid growth and a new building was regarded as necessary. In 1836, a more commodious and convenient building was erected on the corner of North Main and Church streets. With some alteration this building was used until 1901 when it was entirely remodeled, at a cost of thirty thousand dollars, and is today one of the handsomest churches in the city. Among the very early records of the church is an advertisement that appeared in one of the local papers asking for a sexton, who, among his other duties, would call on the different members of the society in succession and collect seven candles from each. Among his other duties he was to light the candles, keep the seats and boys in order and the dogs out of the house. For his remuneration he was to receive fifteen dollars a year. The Pastors—From the time of organization until 1834 Urbana Was a charge on the Mad River circuit and the ministers who preached here were the following: John Sale and Joseph Oglesby, 1804; John Meek and Abraham Moses, 1805 ; John Thompson, 1806; Ajet McGuire and Isaac Quinn, 1807; T; Milligan, J. Davidson and W. Mitchell, 1808; Hezekiah Shaw, William Young and S; Henkle, 1809; S. Henkle and Hector Sanford, 1810; John Chugan, 1811; John Collins, Moses Tatman and John Crume, 1812; Joseph Tatman, 1813; Joseph Oglesby, 1814; Abbott Goddard, 1815; Moses Crume and Henry B. Bascon, 1816; Walter Griffith and William Williams, 1817; no record, 1818 ; John Sale ;and John Strange, 1819; Russell Bigelow and Robert W; Finley, 1820; Robert W; Finley and A. McLean, 1821 ; Thomas S. Hitt and George Maley, 1822; James Collard and John P. Taylor, 1823; William Lamdin and John Taylor, 1824; James T. Wells and George Gates, 1825 ; Augustus Eddy and Levi White, 1826; Augustus Eddy and J. F. Wright, 1827; Burroughs Westlake and Alfred M; Lorrain, 1828; Levi White and Elias Partes, 1829; W; H. Raper, James E. Donahue and Jacob W. Regan, 1830, W. H. Raper, Richard Brandriff and J. J. Hill, 1831; Richard Brandriff and O. Johnson, 1832 ; George Walker and Richard Marley, 1833. In 1834 Urbana was made a station and the following ministers have served the congregation : George Walker and Richard Marley, 1834; Joshua Boucher, E; Morrow and E; Tritt, 1835-36; William Young, 1837; Isaac L. Grover, 1838-39; William B; Christie, 1840-41; Alfred B. Lorain and Asa B; Stroud, 1842-43 ; Cyrus Brooks, 1844-45; David Kemper, 1846; Michael Marlay, 1847-48; John S. Inskeep, 1849-50; William Horr, 1851; John T. Mitchell, 1852-53; David Warnock, 1854-55; A. Lowry, 1856; M; Dustin, 1857-58; G. Moody, 1859; C. Sears, 1860;. David Warnock, 1861-63; W. I: Fee, 1864-66; William Fitzgerald, 1867-70; James Stevenson, 1870-73; W. 438 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. H. Sutherland, 1873-75; S. D. Clayton, 1875-78; J. F. Marley, 1878-81; W; N. Brodbeck, 1881-83 ; F. G. Mitchell, 1884-86; C. W; Rishell, 1886-89; J. P. Porter, 1889-92; G. W. Dubois, 1892-96; M. B. Fuller, 1896-1900, ; George Dart, 1901-03; J. E. Abrams, 1903-07; G. H. Smith, 1907-12 ; J. H; Denney, 1912-17; The church has a membership of five hundred and ninety-two and a Sunday school composed of seven hundred pupils, of which Isaac T. Johnson is the superintendent; Other auxiliary societies are the Young People's Society composed of ninety members, of which Glen Dalton is the leader, and a Missionary Society of two hundred members. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, MECHANICSBURG. By F. Ray Brown The earliest information which can be gained from any source concerning the church at this place dates back to about 1806. At this time the country was in a wild and uncultivated state, and the settlers had various ideas as to the possible future; The Delawares and Shawnees were trailing over these plains, worshipping the Great Spirit; During the years from 1805 to 1812 there came men and women from the different states, in whose hearts the seed of Methodism had already taken root. They chose to meet in God's first temple, the groves, and next in the rude log cabins. They came from their various walks in life to hear the word which was so precious and dear to them in their native land. It is said in recorded history that the first sermon preached in the Mad River valley, then called the Wilderness of the Northwest, was at the house of Ezekiel Arrowsmith, delivered by the Rev; James Davidson, brother of Daniel Davidson, who was at one time a member of the Cincinnati Conference. Before this part of the country was organized into the conference, there was a Western conference from which traveling preachers were sent to this vicinity. Among the first preachers who came to preach in this new land were Alfred Trader and Bennet Maxey, preaching being conducted at the various homes, among which may be mentioned those of William Frankbeger, Thomas Pearce, Theodore Spain, Henry Warner, John Lafferty and John Kain; The appointments of these preachers were of necessity not very frequent, but the religious zeal of these pioneer people was not to be doubted nor was it to be overcome by such a handicap. In the absence of a preacher prayer-meetings were held quite frequently at the homes of Alexander McCorkle and Jonathan Brown, both of whom were exhorters. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 439 ORGANIZATION AND EARLY PASTORS. The Ohio Conference was first formed in 1812 and the Mad River circuit seems to have been instituted about the same time. The Mad River circuit was bounded on the south by a portion of country known as the Deer Creek circuit, whose limits extended as far south as Chillicothe, while Mad River circuit covered a portion of country to the north including Urbana, Bellefontaine, Zanesville, Springfield and Mechanicsburg. The following is a list of the pastors sent out by the Ohio conference to the Mad River circuit from 1812 to 1820: Joseph Tatman, 1812; Joseph Oglesby, 1813 ; Abbot Goddard, 1814; Moses Crume and H; B; Bascom, 1815 ; Walter Griffith and William Williams, 1816; John Sale and John Strange, 1817; John Strange, 1818; Russell Bigelow and R. W. Finley, 1819. As will be noted from the foregoing, Joseph Tatman was the first preacher sent to the Mad River circuit. He was therefore one of the circuit riders and according to tradition his. experiences were many. According to this story of these pioneer preachers they met with all kinds of hardships, traveled on horseback and through all kinds of weather, often until hunger would compel them to dismount and catch fish which they would broil in order that their hunger might be temporarily satisfied. The names of the constituent members which formed the nucleus for the present society cannot be ascertained, but among the families were the Kains, Woods, Cheneys, Warners, McCorkles, Millices, Spains, Owens, Bays and Wyants; As the circuit preachers could not be with the little society but once in every four weeks, resident preachers took it upon themselves to satisfy the spiritual needs of the flock; As has already been stated, services were held at the home of John Kain, the man who laid out the village of Mechanicsburg, in the autumn of 1814. His house stood a few rods west of the main street of the village and served as a gathering place for most of the local meetings held at that time; About 1814 and 1815 a number of families moved into what is now Goshen township; Among these settlers were some devout Methodists, namely, William Wood and wife, Michael Conn and wife, and Henry Conn; With the coming of new Methodists and regular preaching, a desire was manifested for a church house. With the assistance of the Reverend Goddard the little society secured a plat of ground with the intention of erecting a church in the summer of 1815; It was about this time that a noted revival 440 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. camp-meeting was conducted by Reverend Goddard, Reverend Sale and Bishop Asbury. At this meeting eighty persons were converted, a great many of whom became members of the Methodist society. In 1816 another camp-meeting was held, at which time the society was again increased in membership. Primitive House of Worship.—The pioneers were aware of the advantages of education and provided a log school house in the village of Mechanicsburg. It was in this school house that many of the religious services were conducted, but as the society grew in strength and numbers the little log house became too small. They then began to plan for a building of their own, but not until 1819 or 1820 was the little log school house abandoned for a more pretentious structure—a new frame church, which was not completed for several years. This church was built, as most church houses were in those days, some giving work, others money, outside societies giving whatever assistance was possible. A brief description of this building may prove interesting to people of this generation. The structure was not provided with a bell; It had wood-pillared walls, rough slabs were used as benches and a four-foot inclosure, which more resembled a jail cell than a pulpit, served as a point from which the minister delivered his discourse. If tradition is to be relied upon, a kettle of coals served as the first means of heating this little house; A story is told of how one of the dear sisters when "filled with the spirit" went gliding about the room; Losing her footing accidently she fell into this kettle of coals, but when taken out she said, "They did not burn." When the weather was very cold services were conducted in the homes of the various members, but not many years passed until a small stove was provided. If the test of membership were applied at the present time as it was then, it is doubtful whether the majority -would successfully pass. If a member missed his class without a lawful excuse he was to be dropped. The society kept what they called "closed doors" at the time of the periodical "love feast," and members were admitted only by ticket, none others than "seekers" being admitted to these occasions; Flowers and bonnets were absolutely forbidden and "trails" on skirts were not tolerated; Development of the Church;—By 1824 the church at Mechanicsburg was gaining considerable prominence and was one of the strongest on the circuit; The church building had .been completed and was considered a model of its kind at that time. The village of Mechanicsburg itself was growing, having a mill, a store, a church and other improvements. About three miles from the village was a distillery, of which one of the exhorters of the society was a part owner. The liquor traffic was not regarded then as it is now, the CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 441 church people as well as those out of the church being drinkers of pure whiskey. Camp meetings were held every summer, most of them being held on the grounds of what is now Matinee Park, and among the preachers were Bishop McKendrie, John Collins, Alexander McCorkle and many others. In 1831 Rapier, Brandriff and Hill, were sent to a circuit of which Mechanicsburg was a part. With these preachers on the scene services were held at the various stations every two weeks and in most instances Sunday schools and temperance societies were organized about this time; The preachers on the Mad River circuit from 1820 to 1830 are given as follows : R. W. Finley and Alexander McClain, 1826; Thomas Hitt and George W. Maley, 1821; James Collard and J. P; Taylor, 1822; William Landding and J. P. Taylor, 1823 ; J. T. Wells and George Gatch, 1825 ; Augustus Eddy and Levi White, 1825 ; J. T. Wright and Augustus Eddy, 1826; Burris Wesley and A; Lorain, 1827-28; Levi White and Elias Pattie, 1829. The congregation continued to worship in the building already mentioned until 1838, when a new brick structure was begun, the same being dedicated on December 15, 1839; This served the needs of the church for a period of twenty years, or until in 1859, when a third building was erected. This latter building was occupied by the congregation until 1904, and is now occupied by the colored Baptists. By this time the congregation had grown to such an extent, along with the need of a new building, that a fourth building was erected. This last and present building was completed and dedicated on April 29, 1904. It is a modern brick edifice, ornamented with stone trimmings, and cost twenty-eight thousand two hundred and forty dollars, including the lot. The pastors from 1830 to the present date follow : J. W. Ragan, 1830; W; H. Raper, R; Brandriff and J. J. Hill, 1831 (Mad Rier circuit) ; R. Brandriff and Obadiah Johnson, 1832; George W. Walker and M. Marlay, 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 H. Chase, 1839; Joshua Boucher and Robert Cheney, 1840; James Armstrong and Orin Stimson, 1841 ; John Fitch and J. B. Ellsworth, 1842; Ebenezer B. Chase and John W; Keeley, 1843 ; Ebenezer B. Chase and William Sutton, 1844; John \V. Young and Wesley Rowe, 1845 ; Stephen F. Conrey and C. B. Warrington, 1846; Joseph McDowell and C. B. Warrington, 1847; E. Estell and D. H. Sargent, 1848; P. F. Holsinger, 1849; T. A. G. Phillips, 1850-51 (removed on February 7, 1852 ; unexpired term, E. Owen, M. D.) ; David Sharp, 1852, 442 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO; (E. Owen, supply) ; David Kemper, 1853, (E. Owen, supply). King's Creek circuit David Kemper and D. Sharp, 1854. Kings Creek and Mechanicsburg: E; C. Merrick, D. Sharp arid E. Owen, supply, 1855; J. T. Bail, H. S. Sellman and E. Owen, supply, 1856; J. T. Bail and J. Vance, 1857; W; N; Williams and D. Warnock, 1858; W. N. Williams and J. C. Kingsley, 1859; J. Fitch and W. B. Jackson, 1860. Mechanicsburg: S; F. Conrey, 1861-62; John W. Cassatt, 1863-65; John W. Mason, 1866-67; Thomas J. Harris, 1868-69; David Warnock, 1870; Edward T. Wells, 1871-72; William Fitzgerald, 1873-74; Michael Kauffman, 1875-76; Francis M. Clemans, 1877-79; J. W. Cassatt, 1880-82; Alfred H. Beall, 1883; M; M. Kugler, 1884-86; James Stephenson, 1887-88; Merrick E. Ketcham, 1889-90; D; D; Cheney, 1891-92; James Murray, 1893-95; Edgar H; Cherrington, 1896-97; Albert N. Sparr, 1898-1901 ; Owen M; Sellars, 1901-02; Charles H; Haines, 1903- 05 ; John W. Gaddis, 1906-08; Homer H. Curless, 1909-15; Norman Sweat, The present membership of the church is three hundred and eighty-four METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, NORTH LEWISBURG. The first regular services of the Methodist Episcopal church of North Lewisburg and vicinity were conducted at the house of Hezekiah Spain, one and one-half miles southwest of town, and regular preaching was conducted there every four weeks: This was then in the bounds of what was called the Lebanon circuit, the organization of which was effected in the year 1808; A few years afterward the circuit was divided and this division was called the Mad River circuit; About the year 1816 a small cabin was built one mile west of town on the present site of Spain's' cemetery and was used for church purposes until the year 1832. Then a more commodious hewed-log structure was erected, just north of the old one, and was known as Spain's church. The society at that time numbered about twenty Members. In the latter part of the forties a movement was set on foot which resulted in the erection of a substantial frame church at this place in the fall of 1856. The work was done under the supervision of William Audas, William Crowder, Royal Jennings, Joseph F. Gray, and Caleb F. Bowen, the cost of the building being about thirteen hundred and fifty dollars; The church was dedicated on December 22, 1850, by James L. Groves, who was presiding elder at that time. A deficit of five hundred dollars was more than met by a subscription of six hundred and forty-nine dollars. The member- CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 443. ship of Spain's church was at that time transferred here. The old building was sold in 1881 and removed to make room for the new brick church. It was located nearly where the church now stands and was forty-two by fifty-two feet in size, with large covered entrance and gallery in front. The old building is still standing and may be seen on the premises of Frank Bales; The erection of the present edifice was commenced under the pastorate of Rev. D; L. Hayward and was completed under that of Rev. W. Q. Shannon; The cost of the church is unknown and seems to be a riddle which no one has ever been able to solve. A fair estimate would place it at about nine thousand dollars. The cornerstone was laid on October 31, 1881, but the building was not finished and formally dedicated until November 19 of the following year. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev; C; H; Payne, then president of Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware. The first considerable amount raised for the erection of the church was seventeen hundred dollars, which was contributed by the ladies of the church They obtained this sum from a boarding-house venture at the Urbana camp-meeting grounds; They further augmented the fund by the addition of about one hundred and fifty dollars raised in a like manner at the Mechanicsburg fair. A debt of several thousand dollars confronted the members as the time of dedication approached, but the full amount was raised with an excess of eleven hundred and fifty dollars when that day came. But the church was unfortunate in several respects and not until after twenty-one years was the debt finally removed. List of Pastors—The preachers who served the local church and also the one at Spain's, in so far as can be ascertained, follow : 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 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 Thomas Thomas, 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 444 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. 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 (Reverend Staley supplied for Reverend Shinn), .1869; George W. Kelley, 1870-72; A; U; Beall, 1873-74; J. F. Loyd, 1875-76; G. H. Kennedy, 1877-79; L. D. Hayward, 1880-81; W. Q. Shannon, 1882-84; C. F. Gowdy, 1885-87; Daniel Carter, 1887-90; H. J. Bigley, 1890-95; J. W. Miller, 1895-97; C. W. Hoffman, 1898-1900; J. A. Spykee, 1900-02; J. F. Newcomb, 1962-04; E. H. Snow, 1904-05 ; R. E. Carter, 1905-07; G. C. Mosher, 1907-09; J; F. Richardson, 1909-10; Michael Yeagle, 1910-14; J. W. Horne, 1914 to the present time. The membership roll of the church contains the names of one hundred and seventy-five members. The Old Church Bell—There are a few reminiscences connected with the church bell that are interesting. This bell was cast at Cincinnati and was shipped from there to Urbana in the fall of 1850. From there it was brought to this place by Thomas Spain on a log wagon. When within one mile of the village, Spain began to ring the bell, and by the time he reached the public square all the inhabitants of the village had gathered to welcome their new acquisition; The bell was in due course of time raised to the belfry of the church just then being completed, where it remained for thirty years; The bell was then carefully lowered to the ground, only to be elevated to its new position in the belfry of the new brick church. For a number of years after the bell was first placed in position it rang regularly every evening at nine o'clock as a curfew bell, warning the villagers to put out their lights and retire for the night. At this time it was also the custom to toll the bell on the death of any of the inhabitants, usually giving one stroke for each year of the departed. The first death that the bell announced was that of Mrs; H. D; Gowey, the mother of M. C; Gowey; On the evening of April 18, .1861, this bell sounded to the village the first note of alarm of the Civil War, calling for volunteers in defense of this country. An excited and tumultous meeting was held, at which two of the boys, S. H. Kennedy and William Jackson, volunteered. Before noon of the following day eleven more had signed the muster roll, thus making thirteen who enlisted as a result of that meeting. After this, the calls of the bell in this respect were frequent, as the church served as headquarters for the gathering of supplies and a place in which the women gathered to sew and make bandages for the soldiers in the- field. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 445 GRACE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, URBANA. The Grace Methodist Episcopal Church was the second one of that denomination to be organized in Urbana; In 1854 the organization was brought about and in the next year, under the direction of Rev. John Mitchell and several prominent laymen, a substantial brick edifice was erected on Water street; After this building had been occupied for twenty-four years, the congregation, under the direction of Rev. A. N. Spahr, determined to erect another structure. The later one, which stands on the corner of Main and Market streets and is occupied at the present time, was built in 1879 and was dedicated on June 22 of the same year by Bishop Bowman. Thereafter the church was known as the Grace Methodist Episcopal church. The pastors who have served the congregation include the following: John T; Mitchell, just a few months; James F. Chalfant, 1855-57; Isaac F; Kingsley, 1857-59; J; J. Thompson, 1859-61; Jesse C. Robinson, 1861-63 ; William L. Hypes, 1863-65 ; L. F. VanCleve, 1865-68; J; F; Conrey, 1868- 70; Charles Ferguson, .1870-73; George H. Dart, 1873-76; A. N. Spahr, 1876-79; James Murray, 1880-82 ; T. H; Pearce, 1882-85; E. T. Wells, 1885-88; S. O; Royal, 1888-92; E; Burdsall, 1892-93; J; C; Vaught, 1893- 98: E; H; Cherington, 1898-1904; C. W. Sullivan, 1904-06; C. M. Van Pelt, 1906-08; Marion Lesourd, 1908-11; Warren J. Durnham, 1911-13; C; C; Kennedy, 1913-15; W; J. Hagerman, 1915-(present pastor). The membership of the congregation numbers about five hundred and fifty. HISTORY OF MT. TABOR METHODIST CHURCH; By N. C. Hunter. In the years from 1810 to 1814 a few families emigrated from Virginia and Pennsylvania, and located in the northern part of Champaign county, Ohio, which was then the frontier and an almost unbroken wilderness; If one can imagine a country without churches and schools, such was Champaign county at this time. Among the brave pioneers were a few Methodists who, after establishing homes, sought a place of worship; The most convenient plae was the house of Griffith Evans with its earthen floor and puncheon seats. Here the little band, worshiped for a period of four years, but as the little society grew in numbers and strength, a church edifice became. a necessity; One acre of land was secured at a very nominal price, the site being 446 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO. the one on which the present church now stands, and, a log cabin was erected for religious purposes. The cabin was also used for school purposes for a number of years; The church house was a unique pioneer church. The house was built with five corners and in the fifth was a fireplace which was built above the level of the floor. Charcoal was the first fuel used, much to the annoyance of the preacher and the discomfort of the audience, as the smoke and gas were almost beyond endurance since there was no chimney. The first campmeeting in the history of the church was conducted west of the meeting house, in 1818. This revival was followed by another in 1819, and among those attending were about three hundred Indians, who came to worship with, their white brethern and neighbors. Among the families composing the first organized. society at Mt; Tabor were the Evanses, Hunters, Scotts, Latties, Thompsons, Casebolts, Burgesses, Mayses and Humphries. The first preacher was Saul Hinkle. The log church house was destroyed by fire in 1824, but the little society and the friends of Methodism arose to the occasion and soon built a commodious brick structure, thirty by forty feet. This edifice was occupied until 1845, when a larger and better building was erected on the same site; It was about this time that the society enjoyed a gracious outpouring under the labors of Philip P. Nation. The society was very fortunate in having sent 'to them during the early times such able and capable preachers as J. Strange, William Raper, T. E. Findley and George Walker; Through the labors of these men of God, local preachers and laymen, the wilderness has truly bloomed and blossomed as the rose. The most gracious revival in the history of the church was in the winter of 1842, under the labors of T. A; Philips. One hundred and twenty-five persons joined the society, many of whom were 'heads of families; The church enjoyed another revival in 1860, under the labors of N. McDonald. About seventy-five members were added to' the church at that time. Other memorable revivals were conducted in 1863, due to the efforts of .W. Webster and J. Verity ; and in 1867, through the preaching of J. C; Deeme and E. McHugh. At the close of the conference year 1870, the society at North Lewisburg desired to become a station, and the request was recognized in 1871. But before the division of the circuit was made N. C. Hunter brought forward a resolution which stated that in case of such a division, the societies at Mingo and Mt. Tabor should receive what was justly due them CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 447 with respect to the parsonage; This action saved the two societies four hundred and seventy-five dollars. Rev. David Whitmar was sent by the conference as the first pastor of the new charge, but there was no parsonage in which he could live. Something had to be done and Lewis S. Seaman, William Scott, W. C. Hunter, John Lee and William Enoch, of Mt; Tabor, and Thomas Hunter, F. M. McAdams and J. L. Guthridge, of Mingo, purchased the neat and convenient property of L; C. Guthridge for one thousand two hundred dollars. At the quarterly conference held on November 11, 1871, action was taken to buy the property from this company of men and make a permanent parsonage of it. The required amount of money was raised and the property was deeded to the Mingo and Mt. Tabor charges; with Lewis S; Seaman, William Scott, N; C; Hunter, of Mt. Tabor, and J. G. Guthridge and E. McAdams, of Mingo, as trustees. A new edifice was erected in 1881 but was not completed and dedicated until July 16, 1882. Bishop Joyce conducted the dedicatory services, and was successful in clearing the society of all indebtedness. The entire cost of the building was three thousand six hundred dollars. The church is one of the few in the county to enjoy a continuous existence. At the present time services are conducted twice each month by the pastor, Rev. C. E. Howard. Mt; Tabor Cemetery.—The site of the cemetery seems to have been laid out as early as 1802, but the first interment was made in 1801, upon the death of an infant daughter of Griffith and Martha Evans; On July 20, 1820, one acre of ground was deeded to the church trustees for the sum of twelve and one-half cents. Additions have been made until the cemetery now comprises four acres. EARLY SUNDAY SCHOOL AT MT. TABOR. By Dr. Thomas Cowgill. I attended the Sabbath school at Mt. Tabor on the 21st of July (year not given); I am willing to offer some thoughts which occupied my mind during that pleasant day, spent in commemoration of the Sabbath School cause; It may be of some interest to my friends at Mt. Tabor; The first Sabbath School I ever attended was at Mt. Tabor in the summer of 1821, if I remember rightly, when I was about nine years old. I repeated eight verses of the second chapter of Acts, which read as follows : "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all 448 - CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO; with one accord in one place," etc. The order of the school was nearly the same as at present. The scholars were expected to commit to memory during the week as many verses as they were able, recite them on the Sabbath, and then read the Testament in classes; Asking scripture questions of the scholars, I believe, was not then practiced. The pillars of the church then at Mt. Tabor seemed. to be Griffith Evans, Nathaniel Hunter, Samuel Scott, Thomas Humphreys, William Hopkins, a number of younger men, and perhaps other old men that I do not now remember; Nathaniel Hunter was then superintendent of the Sabbath School, assisted by several others in teaching—old and young, male and female. I believe the persons above named were among the first settlers at Mt. Tabor, and many of the descendants or most of them yet reside in that neighborhood; The Sabbath School was very largely attended by the people of the neighborhood, old and young, and was held in a log cabin meeting house, which stood about where the brick church now stands. A few graves were there inclosed by a common rail fence. Some of the scholars recited very large portions of Scripture, Among others prominent in the school Samuel A. Latta, deceased, late of Cincinnati; His brothers James and William, and his sisters Mary and Sarah, were regular attendants; At the close of the exercises of each school, the superintendent or some other person would read the number of verses repeated by each scholar. At one time he read—"Mary Latta, 263 verses." 1 She stated that I 00 verses had been omitted, as she had repeated 363 verses. Upon counting it was found that she had repeated 363 verses, or about nine chapters, and all said to have been committed to memory in one week. Her memory was about equal to that of George D. Prentiss. "When I remember all The friends thus linked together, I've seen around me fall Like leaves in wintry weather, I feel like one  a Who treads alone Some banquet hall deserted." In all that large assembly at Mt. Tabor on the 21st, I believe William Scott and myself are the only representatives of the Sabbath School held at that consecrated place forty-nine years ago. CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, OHIO - 449 The remains of many members of that school, both teachers and scholars, now lie buried in the grave-yard at Mt; Tabor. [This sketch by Doctor Cowgill appears in the history of Champaign and Logan counties which was issued in 1872;] CONCORD METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The first meetings at Concord were at the house of Robert McFarland, who settled just west of. the present church building in the spring of 1812. Jacob Barger, who afterwards became one of the stalwart workers of the church and lived a mile up the creek, had preceded McFarland into the neighborhood about a year, but left the community on account of the Indian trouble in 1812. He returned to the neighborhood in 1813 and was largely instrumental in the organization of the society; Two other men who aided materially in instituting the society were Joseph Hill and William Harbor. Among other men identified with the church during the earlier days were James Russell, Robert Russell, Zacariah Heath, John Dagger, Abram Bryan, Christian Miller and John Duckworth; Several of these men and their families were members of the Westville church, known at that time as the Stevens church. 'After the coining of James Russell into the community, he having settled just east of the site of the church, the society met alternately at the homes of Russell and McFarland; The first steps toward the organization of the society were taken at the home of Robert McFarland in 1818, when the following persons became members of the new society : Robert McFarland and wife, William Harbor and wife, Christian Miller and wife, Mrs; Jennie Jackson,. Henry Bacome. and wife, Sarah Taylor, and a man by the name of Thomas and wife; With the growth of the society and the community the need of a church edifice became urgent. These circumstances influenced Robert McFarland. and James Russell, each to give an acre of land for the benefit of the church. The site chosen was on the west line of the old graveyard on top of the hill, the grave of the lamented Rev; Jesse Neer being near the center of the spot covered by the building; The contract was awarded to Joshua and 'rid Franklin, both of who were well-known carpenters of the community. The building. when completed was twenty feet wide and. twenty-four feet long; It was constructed of hewed logs, and had a shingle roof; In June, 1824, it was dedicated by Rev. George W. Maley, the grandfather of George Eichelberger. The only entrance to the building was a door (29)