Logan County, Ohio History

444 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

CHAPTER XIII

RUSH CREEK TOWNSHIP - BOUNDARIES AND TOPOGRAPHY - THE COMING OF THE WHITES-CHURCHES - PIONEER PREACHERS - SCHOOLS, ETC.

On the boundary line between Rush Creek and Jefferson Township, and near the east end is Rush Creek Lake, in the caters o: which the Indians. not half a century ago, "dipped their noble limbs," and on "whose bosom they paddled their light canoes.'' It now covers a surface of about ninety acres. A marshy region extends northward about three miles, and also southeast about the same distance. This marsh is now mostly cultivated, and the fact of its being now much firmer than it was forty years ago, conveys the impression that the lake is not much more than the one-hundredth part as large as the one on which sported the Aborigines, or the one which was first viewed by the early pioneers.

The margin of this lake in places is so miry that one attempting to wade into it would sink almost as quickly as in water. There is a tradition that two Indians, pursuing a deer into the lake, instantly sank into this mire, and disappeared like Walter Scott's hero in the Bride of Lammermoor. The lake abounds in fine fish and has been the resort for sportsmen since the township began to be settled. Here forty years ago assembled the girls and boys, and surrounded by scenery grand as ever charmed the pencil of an artist, told in whispers their honest tales of love.

Rush Creek rises in Jefferson Township, runs through Rush Creek Lake, flows northward, then northeast, through Bokes Creek Township, and into Marion county, where it finds the Scioto River. ere and there it is a clear stream, washing a sandy bottom, rippling over bowlders, and then again its waters are

* Contributed by J. R. Wylie.

muddy and scattered into miasmatic swamps. In Rush Creek Township the banks of this stream are for the most part high and the scenery romantic and picturesque. The source of Mill Creek is about three miles southeast of Rushsylvania, and flowing onward in the same direction through Perry Township, it turns eastward and meanders through Union county into Delaware. and finally loses itself in the waters of the Scioto River. The two branches of the Little Miami have their source in the western part of this township and flow in the same direction. The sources are about five miles apart and the streams meet each other in Richland Township. The above mentioned streams with their tributaries constitute the drainage of the township.

The water-shed between the Scioto and the Miami runs north and south the full length of the tow township. In some places this shed is very narrow, the opposite sides of some marshes sending tributaries to Rush Creek and the Miami. The soil is cell diversified. The high points are hard and often called "clay knobs," and in some places these are almost barren. On the lowlands and in the creek bottoms the soil is very productive, and is black and sandy. There are, however, few places in the township where the soil is of any great depth; a descent of three feet generally, but sometimes one and two, finds a hard strata of clay almost impervious to water. There are immense formations of limestone here and there throughout the township, strata piled on strata as the leases of a book, each strata telling its own story in the stony characters of the petrified forms of

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animal and vegetable life, as if chiseled in the rock by the Almighty Architect. There are several extensive quarries in the township, one of the principal ones being on the farm of William Stevenson, about a mile and a half east of Rushsylvania. There are also numerous beds of gravel. One of the most extensive of these is on the Pugh farm. This farm, of about 238 acres, has a deposit of gravel underlying at least three-fourths of it. It also possesses many other peculiar characteristics, which are ably described in a paper contributed by Mr. John Waters, of Delaware County: "On this farm are sonic of the most singular evidences of a past age. On the west part a very rich alluvial bottom of unexcelled fertility occurs. Underneath this alluvial bottom, immense beds of gravel, shells, and a white deposit which resembles lime, are found. Gravel is shown to exist everywhere by uprooted trees. A ditch, which was made from Rush Creek Lake to straighten Rush Creek. shows this deposit to be about three feet and a half thick on an average. It is made on the top of vegetation, which can be distinctly observed by leaves, seeds, etc., to the thickness of an inch. When this deposit ceases, a rich black soil commences. In this ground are cracks which are narrow at the top and widen downward. The ditch is about seven feet deep, and at its head far about one mile it continually heaves or falls from the bottom. On the Moosehead farm, where the Pugh family reside, the head of a moose was taken whilst excavating the ditch. A slim Done of the animal, about fifteen inches in length, to which the head belongs, was also taken from the ditch. A tooth six inches long, four inches square, and weighing three and a half pounds, was found in the same locality. Evidences of beavers were found in sticks of timber which bore the impress of their teeth, and also the skeleton of one of these animals. Two theories seem apparent: One that the bottom and sloping bank are the basic of a lake in whose waters the shells abounded which now so plentifully exist, or else the deposit was the result of some upheaval or convulsion which occurred at a remote period and submerged the moose, mastodon and other animals whose remains are found imbedded. A stick of timber about two feet long, and still showing the gnawing beaver, is now in possession of the family. Many others \were taken out, but this is the only one preserved. There is a peculiar feature about the shells, especially those of the snail, which present the same appearance on both sides. There is also a sulphur spring on this farm."

One of the curiosities of this township is its', flowing wells, which are obtained at a depth of from forty-five to sixty feet. A ma magnificent well of this de description is found on the farm of Michael George. The stream flowing from it waters the country for three or four miles below it. There are two on the farm of Job T. Pugh, one of which is sulphur, and the other with strong magnetic properties of such power that a knife blade, thrust into its waters, will attract and lift needles, pins, and other metallic substances. Its column of water is strong, and is one of the curiosities of the township. Numerous mineral springs abound along Rush Creek, the most important of which are in the vicinity of Rushsylvania on the farm of Dr. I. A. Doran. This locality is a famous. place for picnics and pleasure rambles, where lovers stroll to quench their thirst and renew or plight their vows.

A Great many varieties of timber exist here, among which are the oak, the ask, walnut, elm, lynn, beech and sugar-maple. There are I three varieties of the oak. The white oak is the largest Species of timber found in the township. It grows to a thickness of from three to four feet in diameter, and is tough and

446 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. .

durable. Next in size to the white oak is the ash, which grows to the thickness of from two to three feet in diameter. The best walnut timber has been already hunted out to satisfy the demands of trade. There are elms which even New England might be proud of, and more beech than any other variety found in the township. The sugar-maple is very abundant in some localities, and large quantities of sugar are produced.

The land is rather rolling, especially near Rushsylvania, where it is very hilly and some_ what cut into deep ravines. The country around Rash Greek Lake. and in the western part of the township, is more level, but there: are very few portions of any great extent that can be called really level. The land which is in the Virginia Military district is inconveniently divided. Few or rove of the thoroughfares and by-roads are laid off with regard to the cardinal points of the compass. Sections, half sections and quarter sections are never mentioned in speaking of land. In laying out the township our pioneer fathers followed the old Indian trails, or their natural inclinations, winding around hills and swamps, and seeking the most accessible crossings at the streams. But such as it is, the gray haired pioneers wonder if "Rush Creek Township" is a dreamy romance or a reality. Instead of the Indian war-whoop, they hear the shrill whistle of the locomotive. Where once the smoke arose from ten, twenty, or perhaps a hundred wigwams, they perchance see Rushsylvania, Harper, Big Spring. and Walnut Grove. They behold the ground stripped of its native trees, and the dense forests converted into fields ripe with golden harvests. And as they, one by one, pass from their toils into the unseen land of rest, let us not forget that the simple story of their deeds is more noble and more worthy of being immortalized than the achievements of earth's most renowned heroes.

The Greenville Treaty Line runs across the township shout one mile from its southern boundary. Rush Creek was struck off from Jefferson Township in the year 1825, and constituted a legal township in 1832. It then not only embraced the territory known as Bokes Creek Township, but also Taylor Creek Township, in Hardin County. The latter township was struck off when the boundary line between Logan and Hardin Counties was established, and Bokes Creek was legally organized into a township in 1837. Rush Creek is the largest township in Logan County. It is rectangular in shape, and is about twelve miles in length, and about ten in width. Its northern boundary is the line between Logan and Hardin counties. Bokes Creek township I lies on the east side, Jefferson on the south. and Richland and McArthur Arthur on the west. Its low lands are adapted to corn, and its once oak-timbered funds produce fine wheat. while its "clay knobs " are well adapted to grazing purposes.

Rushsylvania is located almost in the center of the township; Big springs in the northeast corner, and Harper about three miles southwest of Rushsylvania, all on the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railway, which passes through fhe township from northeast to southwest. Walnut Grove is also a small village in the southeast corner of the township. In the northwest corner is a school-house on the site where, in early days, stood a small village named North Alexandria. It was laid out in the year 1832 by Wm. White, after whom it has sometimes freer called White Town * It consisted of several log cabins, and was noted more for the roughness of its citizens than for any magnificence it displayed. A man by .the name of John Fry kept a small grocery there. This establishment, though a small concern, was large

* From Newspaper Contributions be Miss Sarah .1. Kerns, and a paper be Joseph Edwards.

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enough to break up him and his father. Felt Bowers also had a store in this place. His stock consisted of corn meal, whisky, wooden combs, powder and lead, gun flints, buttons cud other notions, It was the usual place of resort for persons who met to arrange fur squirrel hunts, to shoot at targets, drink whiskey and tell hunting stories. But North Alexandria is no more, and few remember even the name.

The first settler in this township was Thomas Stanfield, who with his wife and ten children, nine daughters and one son (Thomas Stanfield, Jr)., immigrated from Tennessee in 1805, and settled on the farms now owned by John Q. Williams and William Hall. Soon ;titer, William Reams came from North Carolina, and settled near Marmon's bottom; this Reams also had ten children, nine sons, and one daughter; the latter was married to Thomas Stanfield, Jr., May 30,1814. Thomas Stanfield; Sr., was a Quaker, and, like William Peon. gained the friendship of the Indians to such an extent That he was unmolested with one exception, during the war of 1812. They were often welcomed to his cabin, received his hospitality, and manifested marked friendship for him and his family. At one time, however, they became enraged at Stanfield, and set a certain night to massacre him and his whole family. Concealing themselves in the bushes that grew around the cabin, they lay there awaiting the gloom of night w accomplish their fiendish plot. Daniel McCoy, a settler who lived near Zanesfield, learned of their design, and determined to rescue the family. Failing to secure the aid of troops, and taking a hearty drink of good old rye," he mounted, at dash, his gray horse, and galloped along through the forest in the direction of Stanfield's. Coming within a quarter of a mile of the log cabin whose inmates were unconscious of the danger so near them, he yelled, "Here they are; come on!" as if he gave the command to 50,000 armed troops. He then rode back and forth, all the time shouting "to come on." Galloping to the cabin, he told the Stanfields of the danger awaiting them, who, together with the brave McCoy, fled to Zanesfield. On their return, some time afterward, they found the but had not been disturbed in their absence. When peace was concluded, the Indians told them that McCoy, by his daring conduct, saved their lives. Thomas Stanfield's cabin was the first in Rush Creek Township, and stood near the site of William Hall's house. The bodies of this pioneer and that of his wife rest in Rust Creek Township's first graveyard. Here moss-covered stones, reared by the hand of affection, mark their resting plates. In the family record is found the following, written by Thomas Stanfield, Jr.: "Thomas Stanfield Sr., departed this life the 5th month, the 11th day, 1824 aged 76 years, 5 months and 12 days. Hannah Stanfield, his wife, departed this life the 9th month, the 28th day, 1830, age not certainly known, but something rising 80 years.''

In 1811, a man by the name of Dalles purchased the farm now owned by Aaron Grabiel, clearing about forty acres. He then left and never returned. As early, perhaps. as 1814, Aaron Reams built the first cabin on the Sutherland farm, near the old Baptist church and graveyard, and where Thomas Sutherland settled in 1816. His wife, Phoebe, was a daughter of Thomas Stanfield, Sr., and was noted in those days for her industry and benevolence, Few or no other settlements were made prior to 1820, and even then emigration to this section of the country appears to have been slow. The following list of settlers contains the names of all the writer has been able to ascertain: About the year 1823 old man Richardson settled on the farm now owned by J. L. Foutts; John Wolf, on the farm

448 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

of William Stephenson. On the farm of Mr. Osaias settled old man Rodaker. After the township was legaly organized, John McClure settled on the farm of Jacob Arbegast. Joel Thomas, Sr., settled on the Roberts' farm in 1824, John Wilson on the Jasinsky farm, and the Pugh farm by John Prater the same year. The farm of Johnson Ansley by William Smith in 1825. The farm of Martin McAdams by Conrad Collins in 1826. The farm of Peter Kautzman by Nelson Tyler in 1828. The farm of Martha Bronson by Benjamin Green in 1823. The farm of Clark Williams by Samuel Ruth in 1825. The northwestern section of Rush Creek Township was settled as follows: In 1823 the farm of William Stewart by Calhoun. In 1827 the Crawford farm was occupied by Young. The Hopkins farm by Hazard Hopkins in 1828. In the same year the Clark farm by William Holt; the Anderson farm by John B. Anderson; the farm of W. K. Newman by Silas Thrailkill in 1826. Jonas Fry took the farm west of Joel Thomas in 1829. The farm of John Kerns by Jacob Kerns.

Among the first Trustees of Rush Creek Township are Nicholas Beal, James Roberts and John Hull. John Wolfe was the first Clerk. George Rodaker was the first Justice of the Peace, and Benjamin Corsin the first Constable. A circumstance occurred once in connection with the office of 'Squire Rodaker worthy of note. About the year 1833 the Township Trustees sued a man living on Taylor Creek, on account of some stray animals they had taken up. Anthony Casad was engaged as counsel for the defendant. After the evidence, pro and con, had been heard, Casad arose to make his plea. The 'Squire told him he would allow no "speechifying " in the case, remarking;, "We have no lawyer on our side, and you shall make no speech on your side." Casad, however, persisted, and after many interruptions from the 'Squire, succeeded in making the points intended, remarking that he had now "said all that he desired," when the 'Squire replied, "Yes, and I decide against you.''

In the early history of the county the people lived almost exclusively by trading. A man would load his wagon with wheat, start for Sandusky, get perhaps a barrel of salt, a roll of leather, and such necessary articles, reserving enough money to pay his tales. If he got 50 cents a bushel for his wheat he thought. he was doing well. After the Sandusky road was opened the old Conestoga wagons carried much of the produce to market. A story is find of one of those teamsters, by the name of Marquis. It appears that bees-wax was of great value at that time, and this Marquis, having procured a great quantity of the article, covered cakes of tallow with it. He was, however, discovered Lay one of the cakes thus covered being broken, and hued heavily for attempted fraud. The name "Bees-wax Marquis " ever after chum to him The wages for work hands ranged from 50 to 60 cents a day. The pioneers' boys would work for 37 1/2 to 50 cents. or from $8 to $1 a month. Scenes of mirth and pleasure were generally preceded by those of labor. The chopping, the log-rolling, the corn-husking and quilting were always before the dance or play.

Among the first marriages were Joseph Stephenson to Delilah Fry, and John Fry to Nancy White, by Squire McAnis. "Big Lewis," a noted chief, was buried in 1810. He was the father of Little Lewis, who was chief of the Shawnee Indians. When these Indians left the Logan County reservation, the tribe numbered about 1,100, and had 700 ponies. Jacob Goods, Daniel Hall and another other blacksmith by the name of Joseph Ellsworth shod their ponies, the ponies being thrown upon their backs and tie d with ropes. Rush Creek was in the course of the tornado

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which swept through Logan County in 1825, from southwest to northeast. in a direct line for many miles. Its track was about half a mile wide. The following is a description of it, given by Joel Thomas, Sr. "This terrific storm occurred about 9 o'clock in the morning At sunrise, distant thunder was heard, Soon after, a greenish-colored cloud commenced coming up from the southwest, rising higher and higher, until the roar of the approaching, storm could be distinctly heard. It soon came in terrible majesty and force, and passed furiously on, tearing down trees of all dimensions in its pathway, those in the centre falling backward and those on the skirts falling forward. Its general average was about half a mile in width. It entered the township at the northeast corner, passed over the south end of Rush Creek, and on toward where Wannut Grove now stands, and thence into Bokes Creek Township. A door was carried from a house which was demolished by the storm, and picked up on the farm of Clark Williams, and afterwards used by him. The cattle of Joel Thomas, St., were completely surrounded by the fallen timber, but, strange to say, not one was injured. Enoch Lundy's cabin was in the centre of this path of destruction, and a tree fell on the corner of his cabin, having fallen contrary to the direction of the storm. It was three days before he could extricate himself, and had carried his household goods on his back from this remarkable scene of danger. Himself, wife and four children were in the cabin at this time, not one of whom were injured. It is claimed that mud from the bottom of Rush Creek Lake was dashed against trees for a quarter of a mile away from the lake. A considerable amount of timber has sprung up in the track of this great storm since: its occurrence.

In the early history of the settlements, near "White Town," in the northern part of Rush Creek Township, and also on Taylor Creek in Hardin County, an epidemic known as the " milk sickness'' begun its ravages about the year 1827-28. This disease was fatal to both man and beast. It was claimed by some drat it was in a weed which grew in "deadnings," and as the country became better cultivated it disappeared. By others it was claimed to be a mineral poison found in the water of certain springs, and stock or persons drinking this water became infected with the disease. There were two springs in the locality spoken of above to which stock having had a free access took the "trembles." These spring's were afterwards fenced in, and as long as they remained tints. there were no " trembles" in the neighborhood. It is told, on good authority, that the poison in the milk, at one time, in this section of the country, was so great that a silver five-cent piece left in a bucket of milk over night would be turned to a deep green. Near ,the residence of William Roberts. John Dearwester laid out a graveyard, known as the "Miami Graveyard," in the year 1832, and was himself the first person to be buried in the graveyard which he had laid out. John Basil, wife and one' child were the nest unfortunates. Melcher Crook. his wife and one child, George Crook and Anna Crook soon followed. John Frye and two children, Lorenzo Taylor, John Blair, the wife of George Irving, two of the Youngs, four of the White family, one of Joel Thomas' children, and many more, whose names can not now be recalled, died with this terrible disease. Some of those who were affected with it never wholly recovered. It should be noted that nearly all who took the disease at its first appearance in the places mentioned became its victims. This may be accounted for on the ground, perhaps, that physicians did not then understand the proper treatment.

About the year 1830 a man named Buckminister kept a hotel on the Sandusky

450 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

Road near the pr, sent town of Big Springs. It stood on the farm of Henry Rosebrough, and was partly built of logs and was partly a frame. John May also kept a hotel near where the Sandusky Road crosses the railroad, on the farm now owned by D. Anderson. It was a stage stand, a postoffice, and a general resort for travelers. May's successor was James Partial. A man named Bowers kept a hotel near "White Town," and there was also a tavern kept on the farm of M, Ozias, on the Sandusky Road.

The first saw-mill in Rush h Creek Township was built on the farm now owned by Mr. Ozias, by Rodaker in 1830. In the year 1832 a water saw-mill was built by a man of the name of Sutton, about a mile east of the pike leading from Bellefontaine to Rushsylvania, and about the same time John Basil built a saw-mill on the Miami. About the year 1830 "Old Billy" Rubart built the first grist-mill in the township adjacent to Rodaker's sawmill. John Basil also built a grist-mill near his saw-mill; and constructed his own purrs out of bowlders. When James R. Adams first landed on the Miami, he went to this mill, where Samuel White, John Dearwester, and John Basil were at work, and inquired of them if there were any girls in that section of the country, and was answered by John Basil that there were "lots of ,hem." Going to Basil's house, he there found his " old affianced " in the person of Mary Myers. She accompanied him to her home, and, ten days after, they were married.

The first tannery was by James Clagg who first settled on the Miami. He sold his farm there to Enos Pickering and purchased the land where Rushsylvania now stands, laid out the town in 1834, and the same season opened and operated a tannery, the first in the township.

The following incident occurred in the northwest part of Rush Creek, at the tavern of Mr. Howell, near the town of North Alexandria: Two men pursued a couple of runaway slaves into Hardin County, where they arrested them and brought them back. Arriving at Israel Howell's tavern, they stopped for the night. In the morning, one of the negroes seized a cane belonging to one of his captors, and struck him over the head, shivering the cane, a piece of which struck a little girl of Mr. Howell's in rite eye, destroying the eyeball entirely. The negroes both broke and run, one of whom escaped. The little girl afterward became the wife of Peter Frye, an early settler of Rush Creek.

At an early period in the history of this country, there was an Indian trail leading from Lewistown via Brugler Springs to upper Sandusky. The fiat stage road in the township was the Bellefontaine and the Detroit road. As early as the year 18:i0, there was a sort of blazed road to the Cherokee mill, running nearly west, where is now the road from Rushsylvania to Huntsville.

The Sandusky road was opened shout the year 1824. At that time. John Tinnis made a contract to cut out six miles of this road: The evening this work was completed, a young man named Heath came to a violent death in the vain attempt to outrun a falling tree. This road was the coach and mail route, the mail being for some time carried on horseback. As the township was settled and improved, other roads were laid out. The first pike in the township was the Zanesfield and the Hardin County pike. The Rushsylvania and Bellefontaine pike, which was made in the year 1874, was the next. In 1875 the Bellefontaine and Rushsylvania pike was extended to the Hardin County line, on the Bellefontaine and Sandusky road. At present, the enterprise for constructing nihcs is at its highest pitch, and the probabilities are that ten years hence there will not be a single dirt road in Mush Creek Township.

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In 1867, the iron bridge across Rush Creek, about a quarter of a mile east of Rushsylvania was erected, costing the township the sum of $1,200.

The C. C. C. & I. Railway, or what was then called the Bellefontaine and Indiana Railroad, w~s completed in 1853. While this road was being built through this township, one of the workmen was killed in a fray among the hands and was buried, and like Moses of old, no man knows to this day where he was laid. Every one, however, is certain that he was not concealed by an unseen hand, and though he is not expected to appear again in person, yet many claim to haw. seen his ghost hovering around the, "Big fill," looking grim, ghastly, and terrible.

Rushsylvania was laid out in the year 1834 by James Clagg, who settled on the farm belonging to the heirs of James Qua. He was a Virginian by birth, and inherited much of hi; native activity and enterprise. His town was nicknamed "Clagg Town," in honor of its proprietor. The first hotels were kept by Thompson Hughes, James Elam, Robert Stephenson and Jacob Niglebarger. Thompson Hughes kept a store in connection with his hotel on the corner where J. Q. A. Bennett's drug store now stands, the hotels of James Slam and Robert Stephenson being on the opposite corners. Niglebarger also had a store in connection with his tavern. Robert Stephenson was succeeded in the year 1846 by Thomas Carson. Benjamin Green had a, pottery shop. William Gibson preceded S. B. Stilwell in the wagon shop. Samuel Stilwell was the first blacksmith. Thomas Hughes and Jacob Niglebarger first kept the postoffice. Dr. Dorau succeeded to the office in 1848, and still retains it. He is one of the oldest postoffice masters in the State, and, during his term of service, has handled over a. million of letters. The first doctors ;were Thomas D. Green, who was also a preacher, and Dr. Kingston. Dr. Fulton began the practice of medicine in Rushsylvania in 1840, and Dr. Doran in 1849. Dr, Doran says that he has rode horseback enough in his practice, to go around the world twice, sod partly the third time. Their early field of practice was very extensive, and malarial sickness was the principal disease for treatment. They sold as high as one hundred (4 oz.) bottle: of quinine in one summer.

"For several years," says one who remembers the pioneer days, "whisky appeared to be a leading commodity of trade. The presence of the Mottle on the table of the leading and prominent people, was not a rare sight, nor was It uncommon to see a dozen men divested of their coats on a public day, apparently anxious for a fight." While there are many citizens in the town why deplore the evils that now exist, let them console themselves with the thought that the town has made great improvement in murals and society.

The first schoolhouse stood near the railroad crossing, not far from where the old one now stands. It was a log building, almost one entire end being a great wooden chimney; in fact nearly all the houses were made of logs. The first frame house was built by John Basil for Thomas Hughes. He furnished the material, and built it for fifty dollars. The weather-boarding was of spayed clapboards.

In 1857, must of the business portion of Rushsylvania was burned to the ground. The fire commenced in a grocery across an allay from Thomas Carson's tavern, and spread in bath directions, consuming nearly all the business houses. The town has never fully recovered from the effects of this calamity. Souk of the old buildings have been replaced by new ones far handsomer than the old log huts which were' burned, and which gave it a rather dilapidated appearance in other days. But some of the business men left for other

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locations, and the town thus lost some of its most enterprising citizens. While making brick to rebuild his hotel, Thomas Carson, with his work hands, on a rainy Saturday (June 20, 1857), went on a fishing excursion to Rush Creek Lake. While engaged in this sport he, with Martin Longstaff, was drowned. They were upset from the same boat from which a man by the name of Edsal, in a fit to which he was subject, fell and was of this drowned but a year before. In 1870, a son Edsal, while bathing in the Lake, was also drowned.

The saw and grist mill of Rubart was purchased by Jacob Pvmn and greatly improved. In 1862, the Pymn Brothers built the stone mill in Rushsylvania. In 1866 Robert Porter purchased the mill and run it till 1873, when it was purchased by the Day Brothers, the present owners. It is operated by steam, has three run of burrs, and a capacity for making seventy-five, barrels of flour a day. It is one of the important public industries of the village, and the enterprising and gentlemanly proprietors are well qualified for the business in which they are engaged.

In the fall of 1866, James Adams came from lows, and in the spring of 1867 started a woolen factory in the building of Jacob Pymn's first grist mill on Rush Creek. This mill was for one season operated with great success, being kept constantly running night and day. In the spring of 1868, a heavy freshet swept away the dam across Rush Creek. It was no sooner rebuilt than it was washed away again. Adams was so disheartened by this that he gave up the idea of ever again running the mills, and went back to Iowa. The mills were purchased and operated for three summers by William George. In the spring of 1870 they were set on fire by an incendiary and burnt to the ground. They have never been rebuilt. This loss was a calamity not only to the owner of the mills, but also to the community.

Mr. John McCullough was the first. depot master. In the winter of 1869, the present depot was finished. Mr. McCullough was succeeded in his position of depot master in 1877 by Mr. Roberts, who is one of the leading men of the place. He is a gentleman in every respect, and the village is indebted to his influence in securing the present telegraph office.

There are at present in Rushsylvania two dry-goods store s, kept by William Campbell & Cues and J. R. Day; two drug stores by George Brockerman and J. C;. A. Bennett; one hardware store by William Vance; three grocery stores by L. Gregg, Esquire Elder, grid Rev. Black; one furniture store by the Wright Bros.; one jewelry store by J. A. Riley; one steam mill by the Day Bros.; one saw mill by Lewis Kramer; one bank (cashier O. R. Pegg); two livery stables by George Brockerman and Clark Slater; three blacksmith shops, one by Heller & McCullock and the other two by J. S. Cross and Robert Shaw; one shoe shop by A. Jones; two saddler shops by F. Holiday and A. Richards; one meat shop by Ed. Aldrich. There is one hotel by Marion Southard. The physicians are Drs. Brockerman, Doran, Edwards, Fisher, Goodlove and Wallace, and Mrs. Howard. There are four churches: one Disciple, one Methodist, one Presbyterian and one Reformed Presbyterian.

Rushsylvania has always ranked high in spirit and enterprise. When the news of the war of secession first thrilled the blood of every patriot, she raised her flag-staff on the old schoolhouse grounds, around which gathered some of the first volunteers, and pledged themselves and their lives to their country. Bands of music paraded the streets, followed by long, enthusiastic processions. Eloquent men discussed the leading topics and momentous issues of the hour. The town turned out many volunteers.

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In matters of education Rushsylvania is up with the times. As teacher, Rev. W. W. Wright stands almost without a rival; his energy and talent hare made him one of the most popular instructors. There is a fine new school building in the village, on a high eminence commanding a view of the town and the surrounding country. There are four departments in the school, and about 200 scholars in the special district. The directors are: Dr. Goodlove, D. L. Roberts, John Taylor, William Vance, Rev. W. W. Wright and E. Zimmerman. The following statistics are from the last report of the Board of Education : Value of school property, $3,235; amount paid teachers per month, males, $50, females. $20; number of pupils enrolled, primary males 54, females 46; high, males 15, females 26; average daily attendance, males 38, females 41.

The village is surrounded by a high moral influence, though like all other places it has its vagabonds and idlers. There is not a liquor saloon in the place, and, though attempts have been made to establish them, they have always proved a failure. There are few towns of its size where more attention is given to public improvement. The sidewalks are of a superior kind.

Harper village: was laid out in 1851 by John Q. Williams. prior to the completion of the railroad. The first building was erected by John Laporte, who, also, was the proprietor of the first store. The first church was built in 1854 by the Methodists. In 1859 the first blacksmith shop was started by Miller & Rhodes. Dr. James Morehead was the first physician, and Stephen D. Slayer was the first preacher. The business houses at this time are two-the one by R. D. Dickinson, a dry goods and grocery merchant, and the other by G. W. Hoover, also a dry goods and grocery merchant. The village contains a church, a postoffice, a blacksmith shop, a schoolhouse and a railroad depot. It has about 100 inhabitants. The citizens of Harper are mostly religious and almost exclusively temperate. No grog-shop is found within the village. It is surrounded by one of the most fertile farming districts in the county. Large quantities of grain, wool, stock and other farm products are shipped from this place.

The Big Spring's, three miles north of Rushsylvania, was a noted place long before Rushsylvania was thought of. Lanson Curtis, once a prominent business man of Zanesville, made the first improvement at the Spring. As we have already stated, there was a tavern there on the Sandusky y road at a very early day. The village of Big Springs was located in 1852, on the C. C. C. & I. Railway, about two and a half miles from Rushsylvania. Lots were first sold by Henry Rosebrough. It took its name from a noted spring. It now contains one grocery and dry goods store, a blacksmith smith shop, a. shoe shop, a large saw and planing mill. The village contains twelve dwellings and about fifty inhabitants. Walnut Grove was laid out in the year 1854 by J. Slim, anti was formerly called " Slim Town,'' after its proprietor. It takes its present name from a lovely grove of black walnut trees on the edge of the '` fallen timber." It is situated on the banks of Mill Creek, and contains about a half-dozen dwelling-houses, one store, one blacksmith shop and one church. It is surrounded by a beautiful country, inhabited by enterprising people.

The first church in Rush Creek Township was built by the Quakers, and was a log structure. The time of its building is not certainly known, but it was prior to the year 1820. It stood in a field now owned by John Q, Williams, near the Sandusky road, four and a half miles northeast of Bellefontaine. An old graveyard to-clay marks its site, which was laid out by Thomas Stanfield, Sr., the first graveyard in the township, and in

454 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

which lies the remains of the first settler. In 1827 the second church, built of hewed logs was erected by the Baptists, about half a mile north of the first one built by the Quakers and was called the "Rush Creek Baptist Church." Connected with this church a pub lic graveyard was established. It was donated. by Solomon Cover, who then resided on the farm now owned by Lucian D. Musselman. The first heron buried there was Samuel Patrick, in October, 1831. The first minister who preached in the Quaker Church was Rev. Thomas Antrim, and the first Baptist preacher was Rev. Haines Parker. Revs. George McCulloch, Hiram Hukel and a Mr. Clark were also pioneer preachers. The following incident is related by Joel Thomas, Jr., of Doctor Grayeyes, an Indian Missionary, who lived ins the reservation at Upper Sandusky. The Doctor and his wife. who was a half Indian, came on a visit to her father, Ebenezer Zane, who had his camp on Mill Creek. On Saturday, one of Ebenezer's sons came to Joel Thomas, Sr., and informed him that Dr. Grayeyes would preach at camp on the morrow. The next morning the Thomas boys accompanied him to camp, where Dr. Grayeyes preached in the Indian tongue, and after services "Aunt Hannah," Ebenezer's s wife, prepared dinner. Ebenezer had killed a bear and his wife had cooked a portion of it for dinner. All stayed and dined on fear meat and wild honey, of which there was an abundance. This shows the real state of feeling existing at that time between the red and white men.

The number of pioneer churches seems to have been few. Divine service was mostly held in schoolhouses. The first Sabbath School was held in the old Rushsylvania schoolhouse. There was great trouble in getting this organized, as different denominations wanted to have the control. The Methodists early began their noble pioneer work of reforming the backwoodsmen, and were in the ascendency. They held revivals in every schoolhouse and won many souls to Christ. Then built the first church in Rushsylvania. It is now used as a dwelling house. In 1848 the Reformed Presbyterians built the second church in Rushsylvania. Rev. J. B. Johnston was their first minister. He was the founder of Northwood college, and was succeeded by Rev. J. R. W. Sloane, who was President of Northwood College. In 1860 he was succeeded by Rev. P. H. Wylie, who was Pastor till 1876, when he was succeeded by Rev. H. H. George, and he by Rev. J. Lynd, who is the present Pastor. The church at present has about silty members. The Presbyterians and Methodists built a church in 1867. The :Methodists in 1870 purchased, and remodeled the old Reformed Presbyterian church, that denomination having the same year erected a new one. The Presbyterians number about silty. Rev. J. Alexander is their present Pastor. The Methodists number about the same. The Disciples built their church in the vicinity of the Ansley settlement at a very early date, perhaps as early as 1840. In 1868 they erected a brick church at Rushsylvania. With the late Jesse Roberts as their preacher, they have increased. He died in 1879, respected and mourned by all. There was at a very early period an old log church at Equality, and also a graveyard. This church was burnt to the ground in 1868, and another one has been built in its place, belonging to no particular denomination.

The temperance cause, has gained many workers and adherents in the township. Although there were no saloons for the women to visit in the villages at the time of the great Crusade, yet many of them caught the spirit of the movement, and joined those of Bellefontaine twine in the work of rescuing the unfortunate. The wave of Murphyism swept over the town, leaving to-day a few happy houses, which, but

HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. - 455

for it, would have been blighted by the great curse.

The first public schools were held in the old Quaker Church. Near this old log church stood a log schoolhouse of the pioneer pattern-greased paper for windows, a large fire-place made of wooden poles. The time when this was built is not certainly known. But prior to the year 1820, Isaac Myers and' Justice Edwards were the first teachers in the township. As early, perhaps, as the year 1830 there was a log schoolhouse about twenty feet square in the northwest corner of Rush Creek Township, in the vicinity of "White Town." Along one end of this rude structure was one log left out, and the place filled with glass panes ten by twelve; who was its first teacher is not remembered. Mr. Gregg the Presbyterian minister at Bellefontaine, used to preach here, and also taught a singing school. There was a schoolhouse at Equality, built about the year 1830. It has long since disappeared, and, like all pioneer school-houses, it was a rude structure. Among its first teachers were Jesse Roberts. The wages paid the early teachers ranged from $8 to $12 a month.

Those three schoolhouses have increased to fifteen, and every morning of the school period sees 600 Rush Creek children flocking to school. Wages now range from $20 to $50 a month. Among these fifteen schools is the Rushsylvania Union School, which has already been noticed. The following statistics are from the last report of the Board of Education, made August 31, 1879: Whole amount paid teachers, $1,877.43; paid for fuel etc., $372.69; total expenditures, $2,250.12; balance on hand September 1, 1879, $1,042.11. Number of pupils enrolled-males, 209; females, 187; total 396. Average daily attendance-males, 154; females, 134; total 288. Number of schoolhouses in township, 12; total value of school property, $4,500..

Dr. Doran, to whom we are indebted for many facts of the history of this township, has quite an extensive collection of Indian relics, which he has gathered, and in which he takes considerable interest; he has also about 700 pieces of coin of different nations. Some of these are of very ancient date. They are of all sizes and descriptions and denominations and nationalities. The one bearing the most ancient appearance has an inscription in Greek which translated reads, "Jesus Christ, the King of Kings.'' Mrs. Doran also has a variety of stuffed birds, animals orals and insects, very tastefully arranged.

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