HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. - 585

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GOSHEN TOWNSHIP.

BY W. H. BAXTER.

LOCATION, SURFACE, SOIL, TIMBER, ETC.

Goshen Township lies in the southeast corner of Champaign County. It. is nearly eight miles long, north and south, and something more than four miles and a half wide, east and west, containing 22,693 acres of land, excluding Mechanicsburg corporation. The whole of the township is included in what is called Virginia Military Lands; Ludlow's line (a line surveyed by a man of that name), from the head-waters of the Miami River to the head of the Scioto River, separating the Virginia Military Lands from the Congress Lands, runs about one and four-fifths miles to four and one-half miles west of the township line. Virginia then had first ownership of all the land, and it was by that State granted, in various amounts, to individuals, who located it in such. places and shapes as best suited them. Farm lines and roads are hence more irregular and inconvenient than those on the regularly laid-out Congress Lands.

The surface of the township is neither flat nor hilly, but sufficiently rolling to insure good drainage. The higher points fall by easy descent to the lower lands, making all suitable and easy of cultivation. The eastern side of the township joins Madison County, and on that portion the surface assumes more of a level cast, being the beginning of the extensive Darby Plains, which extend for many miles into Madison County.

The soil of the township is generally good, and, with little exceptions, is considered quite fertile and easy of cultivation; the level lands being generally a rich, dark loam, while the higher rolling ground is generally of a strong, chocolate-colored soil. There is very little clay land, and that confined to a few of the higher portions of the township. The township is well watered by numerous small streams which flow in various directions through its territory, and, where there is no running stream, water can be had almost anywhere by a well of a moderate depth. Water is principally lime water.

At the time white settlers first appeared, the land was nearlv all covered with timber, which they had to clear away to make their cultivatable fields. Abundance of timber is still left, but not such a surplus that owners are anxious to get it out of the way. Walnut, which used to be abundant, has nearly all been cut out. At first it was used for burning, rails, building lumber, and anything to get it off; of late years, it has been more valuable, and has been shipped away, until now, but little is left. Oak, hickory, ash, elm and maple compose the principal timber now, though there are small amounts of other kinds. There, is no beech, and never was.

Nearly all the roads in the township-except some unimportant by roads are pike roads. These improvements were commenced in 1861, under a State law, authorizing the County Commissioners, upon petition of residents within certain bounds along the proposed improvement, to contract for said piking, issue bonds therefor, and assess costs upon land within said bounds. Four pikes, however, were built by private subscription. The Urbana, Mechanicsburg, and Jefferson, commenced in 1848, and partly built same year between Urbana and Mechanicsburg; the one beginning at the Jefferson road, about a mile from

586 - HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.

Mechanicsburg, and continuing down the London road to the county line ; the Mechanicsburg and Springfield, and the Mechanicsburg and Liverpool road, all of which had toll-gates ; but now, 1880, are all free, except the last named, which is the only toll road in the township. The road from Mechanicsburg to Catawba and the one from Mechanicsburg to Lewisburg, were the first ones in the township built under that State law; they were built in 1867.

As far, then, as this township now is concerned, there is good soil which needs no foreign fertilizer. It is not subject to extreme damage by water or droughts; farming machinery can be used to great advantage; good roads permit travel at all seasons. Nature has done much and produces abundantly to reward the laborer, yet, with all gifts bestowed, she needs to be tickled and coaxed. Without labor, no reward ; with work, the farmer here can live on the fat of the land. Wheat and corn comprise the principal crops of grain raised, although oats, rye, buckwheat and other stuff raised by the farmer yield well. Farmers also largely attend to raising cattle, sheep and hogs.

This is not especially a fruit-raising people, although all fruits common to this climate grow here. Strawberries do well about every year; blackberries and raspberries do tolerably well, but not equal to territory further south ; peaches are a fair crop about every second year ; apples generally a good round crop every second year, with a small one in the interval.

Below we give a table showing the principal crops raised in this township in 1879, and it may be depended upon as being as reliable as can be got by man, being taken from the enumerator's blanks for the census of 1880, with addition of two farms he related he had not taken

There are 145 farms in the township, ranging from four acres, the least in size taken, to 817 acres, the largest in the township. Of course there are persons who own less than four acres, but they are not included in any of the above statistics.

The wheat crop of 1879 was more than a usual one ; the crop of corn was a short one, also of oats and hay there was a short crop.

The prices for the whole of the crops of 1879, given above, are here given:

By report of Hunter & Son, grain buyers and shippers at Mechanicsburg, corn ranged from 33 cents to 40 cents, averaging about 37 to 38 cents per bushel. Oats, about 30 cents per bushel.

Staley & Baxter, shippers and millers at Mechanicsburg, paid for wheat from 90 cents to $1.32, averaging, for all they bought of the entire crop, a fraction over $1.11. The average price for the entire crop at this point, then, was from $1.10 to $1.15 per bushel.

Good hay ranged from $7 to $10 per ton delivered. In a few cases, for extra good, a little more might have been paid.

FIRST SETTLEMENTS, SETTLERS AND THEIR CONDITION.

About the years 1805 or 1806, the first settlers made their appearance within what is now the territory of Goshen Township. A few years ago it

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possibly might have been discovered exactly when the first settler came, and who he was; but, after diligent inquiry, the writer has not been able to fix the time or person to a certainty. The land at that time was held. mostly in large tracts, by grant from the State of Virginia, to persons, none of whom lived here. These persons held the land for sale, which, being an unbroken wilderness. was sold at a low price.

The first settlers came as squatters, and settled upon land where soil and locality best suited them. Some squatted for a short period and then moved on, their object being to get a living in the easiest way. It is a mistaken notion to think that the men, seventy-five years ago, were so much different from those of the present day; many sought to live easy then, and many are seeking the same thing to-day. The first settler, having selected a location, squatted and went to work to erect his mansion. Out of the abundance of materials all around him, this was no long task, but, in a few days, he had his house completed. The unhewn trees of the forest made the sides; long shingles split out of logs, laid on the top and held down by long poles laid on them, formed his roof; mud and sticks stopped the cracks between the logs ; sticks laid up outside the house, - plastered with mud, formed their chimney; windows without glass, floors without boards. Thus his mansion was without beauty, but possessed the merit of meeting his necessities, protecting and making him comfortable.

Settlers in our new country now are far differently situated than were the first settlers of this region. Railroads carry all the elements of civilization to their very doors, almost; most of the advantages of an older society accompany them, or are brought within their reach by the railroad and telegraph; everything they can raise has a fair cash value almost without leaving their farms ; information from the world at large reaches them almost daily, while they have the improved machinery of an advanced age to aid them. Not so our first settlers. The locomotive and telegraph made not their appearance among them for more than forty years after; what they had could not be sold for money without transporting a long distance through roadless forests ; for years there was but one wagon in the whole settlement. Wagons could not be used to any advantage in their situation. They were in a pathless forest-no roads, no bridges, nothing more than mere trails through the woods, over hill and valley, which sufficed for the animals they rode or led. This region was almost entirely covered with woods, all except a few wet places and small open prairies in which the wild grass grew higher than a man's head.

Our settlers then settled in the woods and opened their farms by clearing away the timber on the land. The first intimation sometimes that a settler would have of the coming of another would be the clear ringing of his ax, as, having squatted, he was felling trees to build his cabin. Generally, however, the previous settlers would welcome a new-comer by meeting on a day, cutting down timber, building up the sides of his home the first day, the next putting on the roof; and thus in two days the new-comer would be safely housed and prepared to live. Our modern women take a week after a house is entirely finished to fix things up before they will acknowledge it is fit to live in. Truly, our happiness ought to be greater than theirs, but ask those old ones and they will answer nay.

Our squatters then, having opened their farms, soon, or in a few years, bought or contracted for the land they wanted, and thus advanced a step from squatter to proprietor ; or, not wishing to buy, they, in course of time, gave way

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to those who did, while themselves moved on to squat elsewhere, or stayed to rent of the owners.

In 1805, Jacob Hazle, from Washington County, Penn., came and selected 324 acres of land in the northeast corner of the township in Virginia Military Survey No. 5,042, granted by Virginia to John Cole, who assigned to James Towler ; of Towler, Mr. Hazle bought some time after 1805, getting a deed in 1812. Having selected his location, Mr. Hazle went back to Pennsylvania, and returned in two or three years, and settled permanently. In 1806, Henry Hazle, father of Jacob, and Thomas Lawson and wife, sister of Jacob, came and occupied the land selected by Jacob Hazle.

In 1806, Joseph Cummings, born in Massachusetts, settled on the north side of Little Lake, about two and a half miles a little east of north of Mechanicsburg. About 1806, Hugh Bay also settled a short distance north of Cummings. In the same year, John Brittin settled a little more than a mile northeast of Mechanicsburg, near what is now the Milford Pike; the northwest and west portion of the township, at this early day not being disturbed by settlement. Theodorick Spain, in 1808, settled about one mile and a half south of Mechanicsburg, near where Thomas Wren now lives. About the same date, Jonathan Brown, John Pepper, John Cowan and William Frankerberger settled in the southeast part of the township, along or near what is now the Mechanicsburg and London Pike. In 1808, Richard Corbis moved from Buck Creek and located near Theodorick Spain, Corbis being the first settler on the farm now owned by Samuel Engle. Corbis had the only wagon in the settlement for quite a number of years. About the same time came also William Burnside. Joseph Porter also settled at an early day near Joseph Cummings, and was the second (the first not known) person buried in the Brittin graveyard, about a mile from Mechanicsburg, on the Brittin farm. The slab to his grave is still there. His death was in September, 1809. The first schoolhouse was built in that graveyard: The foregoing, if not all the first persons that settled here, are among the very first. Within a year or two others came quite frequently, until, within a few years, numerous settlements dotted the eastern part of the township.

When one contrasts our situation with that only seventy years ago, the difference is something wonderful. In 1812, there was not a road opened over which a vehicle could pass, except it might be a trail from Columbus to Urbana, which passed about a mile and a quarter south of Mechanicsburg, in the neighborhood of the Spain settlement. At that early time and for years after, ladies did not luxuriate in their silks or calicoes even. They were content to dress in goods of their own manufacture and make. If they wished to appear nice on a Sunday or at a rustic gathering, they made an extra dress by coloring a yellow or other striking-colored stripe down their goods. Neither did they use from fifteen to forty yards, but the amount which would make a plain, straight skirt. We do not find that their plain style interfered with a true womanly character. They were as sincerely religious as their sex now is, and died with as good a hope of heaven; they loved as strongly and as truly as now; their morality was as good, and their lives, on the average, of as much value to the world as those of the present day.

Those families were acquainted with the Indians, in their natural state, as they roamed the forests on their hunting expeditions. They were, however, peaceable Indians, and offered no special violence to the whites. There was no Indian town or permanent camp in this neighborhood, although some of them

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had a camp over near the Spain cabin, where they would frequently stop for a few days at a time, and cure the meat they had killed in the hunt. They would frequently visit the cabins of the whites and ask for a little corn bread, salt or whatever they needed, being apparently as fond of good living as the whites, giving occasionally deer meat in return. The whites were careful to accommodate them when they could. By the year 1813, what is now the township had received quite a considerable accession to its population, many families having settled here.

The war with England having broken out, army operations were carried on in the northwest border of the State. The settlers here and farther west and north feared a raid by the Indians, who were incited by the British to attack the settlements. For their protection, a company of militia under Capt. Abner Barret was called into Governmental service, and went up into what is now Logan County and occupied Menary's block-house. While this company was there, two men, father and son, named Thomas, were killed by the Indians and brought to Urbana and buried. This was in July or August, 1813. Belonging to this company were a number of the settlers here, among whom were Joshua Shepherd, Hugh Bay, John Frankerberger, Jacob Hazle, William Burnside, William Kelley, Nelson Lansdale and perhaps others. These men were at the block-house about a month. While they were away, there was an Indian scare among the settlers, and those in that part of the township moved near to John Frankerberger's, for mutual protection, whence, in a few weeks, they returned to their own places.

Near Frankerberger's is the earliest burial-place for the pioneers in that part of the township. There many found their last resting-place, and there their mortal parts have mouldered away to dust forever. Having cast off mortality they have put on immortality, glad that no more shall they be cumbered with these poor, frail bodies. Nearly the last mark of a burial-place has been obliterated; a few years more, and the remembrance will be gone, but the old pioneers are not there. How gloriously heaven opens out to our prospect, when, having done life's duties as best we could, we all lie down at the end to sleep.

Those were primitive times in the woods and clearings here. Stoves were not known; a large fire-place served for warming and cooking. A pot, a skillet, frying-pan and a Dutch oven, made their stock of cooking utensils. Not a house had a window-glass; a hole in the wall, or at best, a greased paper over it, served as a window. What are now considered as necessaries of life but are really luxuries-they did without. Tea and coffee were not used, and they depended for sugar on what they could make from the maple trees. Some of the children had some schooling, and some not any. The school law hadn't got around yet, and what little was had was a subscription school. They were not neglected, however, as to one matter, for which, no doubt, many are even now in their eternal home, giving thanks. The Methodist preachers kept pace with the settlers, and were up with them in their cabins, encouraging them on in the "good old way." Preaching was had pretty regularly every two weeks. Before churches were built, meetings were held in their cabins.

As has been stated, the soil through most of the township was strong and rich. The kind of timber which grew on it demonstrated that fact. In addition, the land adjoining, extending for miles into what is now Madison County, was also rich, and, being mostly a rich dark soil, slightly rolling, offered to settlers a good home for the future, and farming land of great and permanent value. These

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considerations led to a rapid settlement of the township for those times. It was not a time in which railroads went in advance of settlement and civilization, as is the case in so much of our western country now ; but settlers rode on horseback or trudged along on foot, and railroads brought up the rear forty years after. Thus, in six or eight years from 1805 or 1806, the first settlement, the settler was no longer alone, but could rejoice in having neighbors quite numerous. As a further help, Urbana had become a point of some prominence by 1813. It was a point of rendezvous for troops, and the point from which military expeditions started in campaigns against the British and Indians in the Northwest. In fact, it was the frontier town, and the last town between the settlers here and the enemy. Beyond was almost an unbroken forest, save the path the army made, and blazed ways through the forests. And when, in the summer of 1813, the settlers became afraid of an Indian incursion, their militiamen were sent beyond Urbana, into what is now Logan County, to defend the extreme frontier.

Affairs continued to improve in this part of the wilderness until 1814. The possession of a little water-power within what is now Mechanicsburg, led to the making of a small mill there. This mill shortened the necessary journey by ten or fifteen miles to many families, and made it a natural point of meeting for several miles around, and hence was suggested the idea of laying out a village. Men then, as men now, enjoyed taking a vacation once or twice a week, and, meeting together, having a talk or engaging in various exercises, more of an athletic kind than at the present day. Then wrestling, running, jumping, ball playing, and sometimes fighting; now nothing of the former is ever seen on our streets or in the town, and fighting is considered disgraceful, and not an exhibition of manliness, courage or test of strength.

When Mechanicsburg was first laid out, there was plenty of game running through the forests. bunting then was a reality, and its fruits a help to the support of the family, instead of being, as now, mostly an unnecessary destruction of a few innocent creatures, whose slaughter is so often a real loss to man. Deer were plenty. There were no fences, and but little underbrush to hinder their running; but, unimpeded and free, with the branches of the noble old oaks waving majestically above them, they snuffed upon the air the spirit of liberty, and had a chance for their lives. They were frequently found in herds of considerable numbers, and the hunter who caught them unawares was shrewd indeed. Bears were sometimes seen, while wolves were abundant, making the woods echo with their yelps. Pigs were carried off by them, and sheep and lambs were secure of their lives only by being penned at night. Other smaller game was abundant.

MAKE IMPROVEMENTS, BUILD A MILL.

The people, getting a little more numerous, now began to cast about to see how they could add to their conveniences. They had to go a long journey to mill to get their corn ground. From several miles south of Mechanicsburg, they had to go to Kingston, above Urbana. This was at a loss of time, and inconvenient, although frequently children would be mounted upon their horses with their corn ; and, accompanied by a man, a number would make the trip at the same time. About the year 1812, the settlers concluded they could have a mill much nearer. A small mill was built within what is now Mechanicsburg, about a hundred yards back of the house now owned by Mr. William Wilkinson, near the railroad. The people volunteered, and dug the race, and did most of the rough work on the mill. This was a small affair, but served to grind the

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settlers' corn. Flour was not made, for there was no way to bolt it. When a settler wanted something extra, he had his wheat ground in the corn buhr, and sifted it himself to get out the bran. After, in 1818, a new one was put up, adjoining the east side of the old one, by Andrew Staley as millwright. Afterward, in 1840, Mr. Staley built, a short distance east of the old one, the mill now standing and in operation, named Goshen Mills. Mr. Staley owned this mill from its building to his death, in 1875, when it passed to his son, S. S. Staley, who now (1880) owns and runs it.

The flouring-mill now called Hunter's Mill was built in 1823 by Jonathan Cheney.

FORMATION OF TOWNSHIP, ELECTIONS, ETC.

By the year 1815, a good many families had been added to the township and village. Living within the village of Mechanicsburg, or within a mile or two of it, in 1815, in addition to those already mentioned, might be named Will iam Woods, John and Philip Winans, Christopher, Henry and George Millice, Benjamin Griffin, Jonathan Doty, Thomas and Richard Landsdale, Alexander McCorkle, Insine Mitchell, Samuel Mars, John Sherry, Ferrel Baker, William Cheney, and perhaps others. Uncle Claudius Mitchell, as he is familiarly called, settled in this year on the Liverpool Pike, near the present township line. William Woods was a local preacher, and Alexander McCorkle an exhorter, the latter possessing great power over the people in awakening them to a sense of their spiritual needs, of whom more will be said in noticing the rise and progress of the church in the village.

Previous to 1810, the whole of what is now Champaign County was included in two townships-Mad River and Salem. In March session, 1810, the County Commissioners divided Salem Township, and made Union Township, which embraced what is now Wayne, Rush, Union and Goshen Townships. Between October 11, 1814, and June 24, 1815, Goshen Township was formed out of a part of Union.

On June 24, 1815, an election was held in Goshen Township to elect three Justices of the Peace. This was probably the first election had in the new township. At that election, 31 votes were cast, of which John Brittin received 21 votes, John Owen 30 votes, William Bay 31 votes; and those three were declared elected Justices. The Judges at this election were James Owen, Benjamin Brown and John Armstrong; the Clerks were John Corey and John Kain.

October 10, 1815, an election was held for Senator and Representative. Total votes cast, 60. John Brittin, William Mars and John Cheppen, Judges; John Owen and William Peppers, Clerks.

October 8, 1816, at an election for Governor, 56 votes were cast. Thomas Worthington received 49, and James Dunlap 5. John Brittin, John Cowan and John Kain, Judges ; John Owen and Theo. Spain, Clerks.

MARRIAGES.

The following are among the earliest marriages of the settlers of the township: John Frankerberger to Elizabeth Pepper, March 17, 1808, by Rev. Bennett Maxey ; John Owen to Jane Minturn, September 27, 1808, by John Thomas; John Thompson to Polly Frankerberger, November 20, 1809, by Hiram M. Curry; Daniel Rutan to Mary Riddle, February 15, 1810, by John Thomas, Justice of the Peace; William Kelley to Rebecca Martin, September

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3, 1811, by Benjamin Cheney, Justice of the Peace; Jacob Hazle to Jean Bay, April 30, 1812, by Samuel Woods; Jesse Frankerberger to Rachel Cheney, February 3, 1814, by Benjamin Cheney, Justice of the Peace; Isaiah Cheney to Jane Corbus, March 10, 1814; William Kelley to Rachel Barnes, June 16, 1814; Ferrel Baker to Sarah Owen, March 28, 1816 ; John Mars to Polly Pepper, November 14, 1816.

POPULATION AND WEALTH.

The following is the valuation of Goshen Township for the years stated (Mechanicsburg not included). The valuation of earlier years cannot be stated, as the duplicates were not kept by townships.

It was decided, in 1865, to increase the corporation of Mechanicsburg to a mile square. The reduction in value consequent appears in 1866.

The valuations of 1870 and 1871, 1880 and 1881, are given to show the alterations in valuation by the appraisements of 1870 and 1880, which appear in the succeeding years respectively.

Of the above land for 1881, 11,181 acres are plow land, 5,852 are meadow and pasture, and 5,685 are woods and uncultivatable ; value of buildings, $64,100; and land without buildings. $888,650 ; value for 1881, as equalized by County Board.

The following is the population of the township for the years named

*1830 and afterward, village of Mechanicsburg not included.

The colored votes in the township and town cast October 12, 1880, were 102.

We insert the population of the whole county by way of comparison. In 1810, the county included what is now Clark and Logan to the lake. In 1817, Clark and Logan were struck off, thus leaving, in 1820, what is now the county of Champaign. The figures for 1880 are taken from returns of census enumerators to the County Clerk, and may vary very slightly from the figures which will be .published by the General Government when the census is fully compiled, but these figures are practically correct

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MANUFACTURE OF WHISKY.

By the closing of the war with England, all fear of Indians was removed, population increased and improvements commenced. All early township records have disappeared, if any ever were kept by the officers. Back further than twenty-five years, we have been unable to find the township records. We have a few facts and scraps of knowledge of those days, gathered mainly from personal recollections and scattered documents. In those early days, after the close of the war, about 1817, Goshen Township boasted of a distillery. Not such an one as at the present day, of huge capacity, produces a vast amount daily, but a modest one, suited to the wants of the times. This still-house was built four miles south of Mechanicsburg, on the farm now owned by Joel Burnside. After it was built it became quite a place of resort. People came to exchange corn for whisky, getting one gallon of whisky for a bushel of corn. The still was built and owned by Eli Baldridge and Merril, after owned by John Sherry. The still was abandoned about 1824.

The drinking of whisky and its manufacture and sale were not regarded as at the present time. Although their results were as destructive as at the present day, yet the eyes of the people had not been opened to their debasing effects. Nearly every one drank more or less then, saint and sinner, in the church and out of the church, preacher and layman. Nearly all of the best men of the day drank, such men not frequently to excess, but still they used it. and by so much upheld its use by others. A Methodist exhorter, William Bay, was at one time a partner in the business. We are sometimes referred back to old times, "when whisky was pure," as proof that the use of whisky had effects different from now, or, rather, had no effect ; but the evidence is conclusive, that whisky drinking, in every generation, has always had the same result, drunkenness, degradation, ruin, death.

WOLF HUNT.

About the year 1819, word was given out that there would be a great wolf hunt. There were settlements south and southeast of Mechanicsburg about four miles, beyond there was a vast territory with scarcely any settlers in it. It was arranged to take in about ten miles in diameter of this territory. Hunters should start from the circumference of the agreed area on the same day and hour, all directing their course toward a common point agreed upon. The company were not allowed to take fire-arms, but were armed with pitchforks, clubs, etc., except certain selected men who were to go within the circle as hunters. There were horns in the company, blown at intervals so that the positions of the hunters might be known. The hunters gradually approached each other, until they came together, but not a wolf was killed or seen, but many deer were seen.

When the hunters all came together, there was a large company. At the spot where they met, a man who went by the name of Col. Rathburn, had a large supply of whisky to encourage the drooping spirits of the unsuccessful hunters, which was sold and issued to the hunters as fast as he could deal it out. One Col. Bond claimed he had paid for a quart, which was denied by Rathburn, at which the lie was quickly passed and the two were at once ready for a fight. The whisky soon began to have its usual effect upon the hunters, to such an extent that it was not long before nearly the whole company were engaged in fighting our encouraging it. In 1821, there was another similar

596 - HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.

hunt north of Mechanicsburg, but no wolves were killed-different, however, from the other in having no general drinking of whisky ; hence there was no fighting.

MECHANICSBURG LAID OUT.

In the year 1814, August 6, dates the formal birth of Mechanicsburg. From this date the history of the village and township will be the same partly, and partly not. Excluding the previous possession of the Indians and other unknown occupants, we may say that the State of Virginia laid first claim to the ownership of Mechanicsburg's soil; from Virginia it passed to William Reynolds, by Survey No. 4,747 ; thence to Robert Means; thence to Duncan McArthur; thence to John Kain, who laid out the town at above date. As laid out, the village was 1,012 feet square, containing about twenty-three and a half acres. Commencing at the crossing of Chillicothe and Sandusky streets, there were the facings of four lots, 115 1/2 feet square, on each side of each street; back of these, sixteen lots, ten and one-half poles square, filled out the plat. Thus twenty-eight front and sixteen back lots, with the alleys and the two streets crossing, made the first of the village plat. Next, March 15, 1836, followed Isaac Putman's Addition ; then other additions, by various persons at various times, until now (1880) the town includes more than 640 acres.

On August 5, 1865, the Council resolved to submit to the voters of the town, at the following October election, the matter of extending the corporation so as to make it one mile square, the intersection of Sandusky and Chillicothe streets being the center. October 10, 1865, by a vote of 103 to 3, the proposition-was affirmatively decided, and the corporation was made a mile square. This has been enlarged somewhat by part of Ware's Addition in the west part of town.

BUILDINGS, BANK, ETC.

Before he laid out the village, John Kain built a double-log house, about fifty rods northwest of the village he platted. This was the first house ever built within what is now the corporation of Mechanicsburg. The site of the future village was all covered with timber. Everything had yet to be done to make a village. Timber had to be cut away where the two streets should be, and timber had to be cleared away to make a place to build a house. The next house to be built within the village limits, was a small storeroom put upon the southeast corner of Lot No. 11, as laid out by Kain. This small structure was built by John Owen, the timber being cut away to make a site. Owen opened a store here, being probably the first man to open a store in the village.

The following is an example of the amount and kind of business done and obstacles overcome. Among the first merchants was Samuel R. Miller. He borrowed a horse of Edmond Legge and went horseback to Cincinnati for goods, and brought them home in a bag slung across the horse. Of course, business could not have been very extensive.

A few dwelling-houses were soon put up, and a nucleus for a village formed, a central point where the people could rally when they wished a holiday. In the year 1816, the first hotel was built, and owned by Warret Owen. This was remodeled, built upon and added to, until, on October 11, 1869, when the whole was burnt, it was like the boy's jack-knife, which had been repaired so many times, yet was called the same knife still. The present building of the Mechanicsburg Hotel Company, built in 1874, on the south corner of Chillicothe and Sandusky streets, and north corner of original Lot No. 11, occupies the site of the old hotel.

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At an early day, about 1816, a bank was started. More than forty years before our national bank system was dreamed of, there were schemes for making money plenty, and so-called banks arose. The officers usually pocketed the money, and the people the loss. This, probably, wasn't much an exception. The bank, a private one, issued its notes for small amounts, which passed among the people for a short time. There being little capital, and scarcely any money among the people, the concern was short-lived. The presentment, once, of $60 of its notes for payment, created a serious drain on its metal resources, and greatly embarrassed its financial managers. Its location was in the storeroom mentioned above, put up by John Owen, and he was among the first managers, acting as President, while Samuel R. Miller was Cashier.

POPULATION AND VALUATION.

The following table of valuations shows the improvement of the village. Remarks made upon valuation of township apply here also

The valuation given for 1881 is the appraisement of 1880 as equalized by the County Board of Equalization, and, in the duplicate of 1881, may vary slightly by additions of new structures. The value as given above, for 1881, comprises $189,980 for lands, and $188;910 for buildings.

Below we give the population in the corporation for the years stated

At the State election, October 12, 1880, there were cast by colored voters 102 votes, every one of which was Republican. This was for the whole township and town.

CHURCHES.

The early (and the later, also) account of Mechanicsburg and vicinity, would be very incomplete which would omit mention of its religious movements. Religion was considered of first importance by the most of what are now re garded as the most reliable of the early settlers. They held to it themselves as of eternal importance, and they labored to have others value it likewise. They had a heavy work to do, and, while they accomplished much, much they were unable to do. The foundation of a peaceable and, in the main, God-fearing community, they laid. Although the town in time, by additions from abroad to the neighborhood, became a pretty rough place, yet, but for the early church stemming the tide of wickedness, it would have become reprobate in the eyes of decent society.

As has been stated, with the advent of the first settlers came the preacher also, and, for want of better place preached in their cabins. The first house

* In 1866 appears the increase of corporation limits resolved upon in 1865.

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built for a preaching place, was built in Mechanicsburg in 1814. It was about that year that this first became an appointment on the Mad River Circuit of the Miami District of what was then the Ohio Conference ; David Quinn was the Presiding Elder, and Samuel Brown, Senior Preacher. The first preaching here, as an appointment, was in the house mentioned, being a log building put up by the labor of friends without pay, as there was no money in the society then to pay with. The building was used both as a church and schoolhouse, and was located on the brow of the high ground overlooking the prairie back of the present church. The building was of round logs, except, after being put up, the logs on the inside were hewn down some; it was heated by a huge fireplace built up as usual in those days.

The roll of members was small at the start. William Woods, Michael Conn, familiarly called Father Conn, Henry and Christopher Millice, Thomas and Richard Lansdale, John and Philip Wyant, and Alexander McCorkle, with their wives and a few others, made the membership. In July, 1815, a camp meeting was held on the low grounds back of the log church, in what is now Orin Taylor's pasture. Bishop Francis Asbury preached at the Sunday morning service of the camp-meeting ; being old and feeble, he preached sitting in nis chair, his text being, " Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ small give thee light." On the evening of the same day "Uncle" Claudius Mitchell was converted, Samuel Hinkle having preached that evening. Mr. Mitchell says: "My conversion was the plainest and most satisfactory thing I ever experienced. I have never doubted it since, and, while I have received many blessings since, confidence in the work of my conversion has never been shaken." The camp there was a very primitive affair compared with those of the present time; sheets and blankets, or logs built up and rudely covered, made their tents. The meeting was usually held from Wednesday to Monday. This meeting was the commencement of a revival, which soon increased the membership so much that in a few years a new house became a necessity. In 1816, another meeting was held on the same grounds, followed by an increase in the church.

About the year 1819, the log house was abandoned as a meeting-house, and a new frame church was built a short distance east of the log one, on the edge of what is now the old graveyard. The new church was very much larger than told one. It was built partly by volunteer work, and partly by subscription, aid being also received from other charges. The frame was put up and covered, the siding was of oak boards sawn out of the log and put on in the rough. The inside was not plastered, and remained for several years without any finish but the floor and pulpit but finally was ceiled and lined on the sides with walnut boards. This house was never regularly seated, the only seats used being slabs got at the saw-mill which, with the flat side up and holes bored in and stakes put in for legs, made the only seats ever used in this house. The house never had a bell. For a pulpit, a platform was built up, making the floor on which the preacher stood four feet or more above the floor of the room ; a breastwork about four feet high was erected above the pulpit floor, behind which the preacher stood. This house was used until 1839, when a brick church was occupied near the old one, the church being built in 1838 and 1839.

In 1815, Moses Crume and H. B. Bascum were the preachers on the circuit, and John Sale, Presiding Elder.

Camp-meetings then were held more for the outpouring of God's convert power upon sinners than now. The salvation of sinners lost, the object

HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. - 599

then; the pleasure of the saint chiefly now. At camp-meeting in years following, sometimes from one hundred to two or three hundred were converted. Among those who had great power at revivals, and were very successful in awakening the unconverted, Alexander McCorkle was foremost. He was not an educated man, he could not pronounce the words of a sentence correctly, if at all difficult ; his education does not account for it. His experience was a marvelous one, and he seemed at times as if inspired with help from above. All the old persons who heard him unite in describing him as the most extraordinary man in this section of country.

About the year 1825, a camp meeting was held a little north of what is now the race track at the fair-grounds, and a little back of the David Rutan dwelling. Men and preachers from towns around were there, great efforts were made, but Sunday morning came, and the morning services were held, but the people remained unmoved; the laborers were discouraged; whatshould be done? After a consultation, it was decided that in the afternoon, after a short sermon had been delivered, Alexander McCorkle should speak to the people. When his time came, McCorkle arose, with arms folded across his breast, and, in a sweet, clear, heart-stirring voice, began to sing the hymn commencing

"Sweet rivers of redeeming love,

Lie just before mine eye ;

Had I the pinions of a dove, I'd to those rivers fly;

I'd rise superior to my pain,

With joy outstrip the wind;

I'd cross bold Jordan's stormy main,

And leave the world behind."

Having concluded his singing, he commenced in a simple style to tell the story of his wonderful experience ; before he finished, the ice was melted, the hearts of the people were broken, and they were shouting all over the meeting. Seekers in a multitude arose and sought the mourner's bench, forty or fifty were converted. and, before the camp broke, two hundred professed conversion.

While talking to the people at a camp-meeting on the farm lately owned by Gilbert Farrington, a thunder-cloud came up behind the trees, and the people were suddenly startled by a clap of thunder. McCorkle, taking advantage of the circumstance, in his inimitable voice and manner, aroused his hearers by comparing the suddenness of God's call to the clap which had so startled his congregation. Following up with his power and appeals, the hearts of the people were broken, and great good was done. He died January 17, 1838, aged fifty-eight years and some months, and is buried in the old graveyard near the church.

The church, commenced in 1838 and finished in 1839, was used until 1858. when the one now (1880) in use was built, which is yet sufficiently commodious and suited to the wants of the people, having been in 1879 put in thorough repair at a large expense. This continued as an appointment until 1861, when it became a station, with Stephen F. Conrey as preacher. The preacher in charge for the year commencing September, 1880, is J. W. Cassett, with three hundred and seventy-nine members in full connection, and twenty-four on probation, making a total of four hundred and three.

In 1840, through the efforts of James Woodward, a Baptist society was organized here. For five or six years the society was without a church building. In 1846, the church back on Locust street was dedicated. We all remember how regularly "Uncle Jimmy ' use(: to ring the bell on the old house, as long as he was able. He was at the birth of '- e the organization, and almost saw it breathe

600 - HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.

its last. When the old man died, in April, 1872, aged eighty-three, a palsy seems to have struck the church. The old church was sold for the avowed purpose of building a better one, but a better one has not been built, and the society is now about extinct.

There are, also, in active existence, an African Methodist Episcopal Church and an African Baptist Church.

At the suggestion of the Rev. A. H. Bassett, the Ohio Annual Conference, Methodist Protestant Church, at its meeting in September, 1852, took steps to establish a mission, to be called Mechanicsburg Mission. Rev. S. P. Kezerta was appointed to the work, and, on February 13, 1853, he organized the Mechanicsburg Methodist Protestant Church, with a membership of ninety-two.

On February 26, 1853, the following officers for the society were elected Trustees, W. D. Henkle, J. R. Ware, F. A. Finley, William Purtlebaugh and H. M. Snodgrass ; Stewards, David Raudebaugh, Alexander McConkey and George Wolf; Committee of Examination, W. D. Henkle, David Raudebaugh and Rev. S. P. Kezerta ; Building Committee, Rev. S. P. Kezerta, Lewis Brittin and F. A. Finley; Class-Leaders, F. A. Finley and Joseph Coffey.

Although the church suffered heavily from deaths, removals of members and other causes, the work was pushed forward with a good degree of success. The organization demonstrated its right to be by what it did.

After many experiences common to other organizations, the church succeeded in erecting the building now used as its house of worship, being joined and assisted in the work by the Masons, who built and now own a hall above the audience-room of the church building. In the meantime, Mechanicsburg Mission was united with Catawba Circuit, in 1855, and remained so until 1865, when it was organized as a station.

In 1858, while Mechanicsburg Church was a part of Catawba Circuit, the church house at Mechanicsburg was completed and dedicated, the Rev. W. R. Parsons preaching the dedicatory sermon, Rev. T. B. Graham being Pastor. This event is remembered by the surviving charter members as one of the best and happiest of their experience. With varied success, the church has continued to the present time.

In the summer of 1879, considerable improvements were made upon the house of worship, giving it an attractive and tasty appearance.

During the past year, 100 were added to its membership. The total number of members now is 308.

In all, the church has had sixteen Pastors, whose time of service ranges from six months to three years. The church is now prospering.

INCORPORATION OF MECHANICSBURG.

On February 27, 1834, the Legislature passed an act of twenty sections, the first section of which is as follows

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General -Assembly of the State of Ohio, That so much of the township of Goshen, in the county of Champaign, as is comprehended in the plat of the town of Mechanicsburg, together with such plats as have been or may hereafter be recorded as additions thereto, be and the same is hereby created and constituted a town corporation by the name of the town of Mechanicsburg.

FIRST TOWN ELECTION, OFFICERS, VALUATION, ETC.

In pursuance of the above act, the first corporation election was held April 5, 1834, which resulted in the election of Joseph S. Rathburn as Mayor; Isaac

HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. - 601

Putman, Recorder; Ebenezer Owen, J. H. Spain, William Neal, David L. Tullis and Isaiah R. Ware, Trustees.

The Council met for the first time on April 11, 1834. The Council then elected John Shepherd, Marshal, Dr. E. Owen, Treasurer; John Shepherd, Street Commissioner; William Kelley, Assessor. The town was now started full-fledged on its onward career. On July 10, William Kelley was made Collector, and a levy was made of one-fourth of 1 per cent upon the taxable prop erty for corporation purposes. The taxable property, real and chattels, was $13,928, and the tax produced by the above rate levied was $34.82. The Council of the present day, perhaps, would smile at these figures, but remember that those were days of simplicity.

As an evidence of being a day of small things, and the contentment of her citizens with little returns, the following motion was passed by the Council, April 10, 1841

"On motion, D. F. Spain's bill for services as Treasurer from May, 1839, to April, 1841, amount $3, was allowed."

In the valuation given above is included McCorkle & Ware, merchants, capital $900 ; Owen & Dye, merchants, capital $1,000 ; while the possessions of most of the citizens were counted in what would now be considered very small figures.

In 1836, two years later, our Council began to get their eyes open. They levied a tax of one-half of 1 per cent on $16,464 valuation, of which $6,402 was real estate, $232 live stock, and $9,830 merchants' capital and money at interest, of which Joseph C. Brand had $3,000, Jesse S. Bates $1,000, Obed Horr $4,000, and McCorkle & Ware $1,800. These were the capitalists of those days, if the assessment is any index. Since then, our valuation has traveled on until now it is nearly $800,000.

The following is the succession of our city Mayors: Joseph S. Rathburn, April 5, 1834, to January 21, 1836 (resigned) ; John Owen, January 21, 1836, to May 8, 183T; John Baker, May 8, 1837, to April 6, 1839; John Owen, April 6, 1839, to October 21, 1840 ; Richard D. Williams, October 21, 1840, to April 8, 1841 ; Asa Kirkley, April 8, 1841, to April, 1845 ; Charles H. Newcomb, April, 1845, to April 11, 1846; Azro L. Mann, April 11, 1846; John H. Spain, April 7, 1849, to April 6, 1850; Richard D. Williams April 6, 1850, to April 5, 1851; William Safley, April 5, 1851 (elected, but would not serve); Thomas Morgan, May 20, 1851, to April 3, 1852 ; F. E. McGinley, April 3, 1852, to April 16, 1853 ; William B. Owen, April 16, 1853; David T. Jones, April 7, 1856, to April 5, 1858; W. G. Fowler, April 5, 1858, to April 4, 1859; James L. Magruder, April 4, 1859, to April 1, 1861; Frank P. Bates, April 1, 1861, to April 6, 1863; Abram L. Shepherd, April 6, 1863, to April 4, 1864; Frank P. Bates, April 4, 1864, to April 2, 1866; W. B. Owen, April 2, 1866, to April 1, 1867; Abram L. Shepherd, April 1, 1867, to April 6, 1868 ; Theodoric S. Cheney, April 6, 1868, to April 4, 1870; John D. Raudebaugb, April 6, 1870, to May 9, 1871 (resigned) ; Theodoric S. Cheney, May 9,1871, to April 3,1872; Thomas E. Ogborn, April 3, 1872, to present time.

THE VILLAGE ABOUT - 1840.

For many years Mechanicsburg had the reputation of being a pretty rough place. This name was not altogether undeserved, for there was much drink ing, quarreling and general roughness This was apparent as much probably

602 - HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.

between the years 1830 and 1840 as at any time. About that time there seemed to be enmity between the people of different localities. For instance Clover Run, a settlement south of the village, felt moved to exhibit hostility toward Sodom, a settlement north of Mechanicsburg, in Union Township; and Sodom arrayed itself in battle against Clover Run, so that when the hostile braves got sufficient of the ardent aboard, meeting in the village, there would likely be trouble before they parted. Besides, many got into trouble from the love of it. About the year 1838, the boys took a hand in the general fun, and, encouraged by their elders, helped to make drunkenness frequently much more disagreeable than funny. Eggs were very cheap and abundant. Towards the latter part of the day, when a man, a little too full, was seen, the boys, getting their eggs, gave the poor inebriate the benefit of them without cost, until he was glad to get away. Obed Horr, keeping store then, seeing the boys standing around, would sometimes say, " Boys, eggs are cheap, help yourselves." Whoever knows boys, will not doubt what followed. Another way the older boys had sometimes of curing the disease: Catching a man too full, they would take the fore part of a wagon and tie him to it, haul him to the race, run the wheels into the water, turn the axle over, and give the wretch a thorough ducking, and repeat it, if necessary, until he was ready to cry out for release.

Fun then was at a premium, and sometimes got in funny ways. A. B. Cowan was going along the street one day carrying his hat full of eggs, when Joseph Baker, passing along, took one. Passingquietly on, he turned around and hit Cowan square in the back with the egg; now Cowan's fun came, when, pursuing Baker, he ceased not until he gave him the benefit of his hatful of eggs, covering him over with broken eggs.

Jesse Weldon was a character in those days. He enjoyed getting drunk, and frequently, when drunk, whipped his wife. One night in 1841, Jesse came home drunk, and commenced his common pastime of whipping his wife. A couple of medical students, John Pearce and Joseph Baker, had a room next door, and determined to teach Jesse a lesson; so, disguising themselves, they caught him and poured his hair full of melted rosin they had for making plasters. The next morning, Jesse's hair was a complete mat, and, in great distress, he came to J. L. Magruder's harness-shop for help. "Yes," 'Dad ' said, "I can help you if you can stand it, but it will be very severe." Jesse caught at the chance, so " Dad " sharpened his knife, and, taking hold of Jesse's back hair, commenced to cut the hair off next the scalp, and continued to cut until he had taken his hair with the rosin all off.

Looking over the Mayor's docket of those years, the eye meets the familiar names of some of our oldest, most sober and dignified citizens-few living, many dead. We will not perpetuate those trifles, for they have been repented of and perhaps forgotten years ago, and the actors became staid examples for the rising generation. Requiescant in pace.

RAILROADS.

Soon after 1850, an important work was agitated for the improvement, profit and convenience of the people of Mechanicsburg and all the surrounding country. This work was the Springfield, Mt. Vernon & Pittsburg Railroad. Subscriptions were taken along the route in aid of the road, and the people subscribed as individuals, and, in addition, Goshen Township subscribed $15,000 of conditional bonds, on which the township was to pay the interest for a term of years, at the expiration of which, on application, the loan was to cease

HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. - 603

and obligations be returned. By some operation. or technicality of law, however, the township was held liable for the principal of the bonds, and, although the matter was carried up to the Supreme Court, it was there decided against the township, which had to pay up the principal and all back interest. The Township Trustees during several years levied a tax for the liquidation of the debt, and about the year 1871 the last bond and interest were paid. Altogether, the whole matter cost the township more than $30,000. The railroad was built only from Springfield to Delaware, and was finished in 1854, in which year trains for the first time ran over the whole route. Although the road cost the township $25,000 more than necessary, yet it is of great value to this people.

In 1872, June 24, a petition of 162 citizens was presented to the Township Trustees, requesting that an election by citizens of the township be had to determine whether the township should issue $20,000 of bonds, and construct a railroad within her limits to connect with a similar road to be built from her western line to Urbana, and to connect with one on the southeast to be built in Madison County, the whole to make a continuous road from Urbana through Mechanicsburg to Columbus. This proceeding was had under an act of the General Assembly passed April 23, 1872. An election was held July 31, 1872, at which the vote in favor of the railruad was 335; against it, 51. Advertisement was made for bids for the construction of said road, bids to be received until November 2, 1872. The road was never built. The act under which authority was given was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of the State.

In 1877 was organized, and, in 1878 and 1879, effort was made to construct, a narrow-gauge railroad from Urbana through Mechanicsburg to West Jefferson, thence to Columbus, to be called the "Columbus & Northwestern Railway Company." The company was organized, route surveyed, and considerable stock subscribed. The amount subscribed in Goshen Township, including, of course, Mechanicsburg, was about $9,000. The work of building the road was also let to an Eastern firm ; but the railroad company failed to comply with their part of the contract, and the other party very gladly retired from the work, as the material advanced so greatly that their contract would have been a bad one for themselves.

UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.

We have come now to the consideration of a railroad of quite a different kind from that first above mentioned. On that those persons could boldly travel, whom a certain great section of the nation declared were made by God as a superior order of beings, and were endowed by Him with authority over their fellows, created as themselves were, and in their image, but with a skin differing from their own in color. On that road there was gayety and laughter. Happy parties of youth in the morning of life started out on their bridal tours, while their friends crowded around them at the station, and with a merry good bye wished them a happy return. Boldly the trains on that road, filled with travelers, dashed through the country, with a great noise, anxious to announce their coming. Wives sat in safety with their husbands, and innocent little children were prattling on their mother's lap. What could be added !

But this road was a different affair. No noise announced the departure of its travelers. In all the long, dark years of its use, there was not a single merry good-bye between the ones going and staying . there was never a wish for the return of ore of its departing ones ; its stations were hiding-places ; the

604 - HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.

beginning of those journeys was in the secrecy of the night; there were no happy bridal parties on that road, and little children clung in terror to their mothers at the slightest noise. But who were the travelers on this road, and what was this road that its patrons were so often in such fear and terror? Hist ! Let it be whispered, lest we add disgrace to our already too-much disgraced country. This was the Underground Railroad, and its travelers were those who the highest tribunal of the nation said "had no right which the white man was bound to respect." Writing with the light thrown upon `those times, it is no wonder that God soon let loose His hand of vengeance upon a people whose cup of iniquity was so nearly full. The young man of to-day reads the accounts of those things as tales of fiction; but they were true, every word; and, though a thousand books were written, a small fraction would hardly be told.

Just think of it! the whole people, under heavy penalties, were by law ordered to become hounds upon the track of those who, as fellow-beings, were as much entitled to liberty as their pursuers. The travelers on this road were those whose backs had been cut by the lash at the whim of an owner. There were mothers on this road who cut their children's throats rather than that they should be taken back. On this road capture meant wives to be separated from husbands, little children from parents, while all were sold away from each other forever into the cotton-fields of the Gulf. Fathers and mothers, how would it be with you, as your little children play about your knee, were you at the mercy merely of a man, and, at his whim, your wife or children could be taken before your eyes and brutally beaten, or sold away from your sight forever ? Yet this was the law of the land enacted at the command of a Solid South. No wonder people began to refuse submission in horror to this sum of villainies. Goshen Township had much to do with these things, and now we will tell you a little merely

At Ripley, Brown County, Ohio, near the Ohio River, opposite the Kentucky shore, lived many Quakers whose sympathies were with the slave. At this point, many persons escaping from slavery, crossed the river, and met friendly aid and direction at the hand of the Quakers there. Passing thence under guide or direction, they soon reached another station, where, like wise, they received aid to another station, and so on. Many slaves came to South Charleston as a station ; thence, in the earlier years of the road, to Springfield, Urbana, Marysville, Delaware, Allen Creek, etc., to Canada. As early as 1840, if not before, slaves came through Mechanicsburg and adjacent country on their way to Canada, and there were then men who aided them.

East of Mechanicsburg three or four miles, were men who heard the story of the poor black with compassion. Among these were Orin Mann, a very zealous helper, Levi Patrick and "Dad " Collins, who are dead, and Newman Mitchell, who died many years ago, P. W. Alden and Coung Patrick, who are still living. At Mechanicsburg, there were Azro L. Mann and David Rutan, who are dead, and J. R. Ware, Charles Taylor and Levi Rathburn, who are living. We do ' not pretend to give all who sympathized with the slave, or who occasionally befriended him ; we give only the most known and active of his friends. There was no regularly organized society; there was simply a common sympathy and agreement upon what was duty before God touching the claims of individuals upon them under circumstances of distress. They acted, and slaves were helped to be free.

Until 1851, help had been given slaves as they came along, but probably not until that year was this considered such a point as that they would be guided

HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. - 605

personally, or carried on to a further point. In that year, a unique character entered upon the scene here, in the business. That man, Udney H. Hyde, did much more of personal labor than any other one man at this point, to effectually further on their way more than half a thousand slaves. He could outswear any man in Champaign County, and, if any man in the world could beat him, his vocabulary would contain nothing else. He was fearless, shrewd and bold, a good horseman, and determined to help the slave along.

In 1851, Jacob Pearce, living near South Charleston, came to Mechanicsburg to see if four darkies could not be cared for and taken further on their way, as it was not safe to take them to Springfield. Hyde was sought out, and he agreed to take them. They were sent to him, and he kept them one night and early the next morning he started with them, and three others who came from Urbana, for Delaware. He took them lying down in the bottom of a wagon-bed, and covered up with hay. This, the first load taken by Mr. Hyde, was taken September 20, 1851, and was the beginning of a regular and more extensive work here. Among the four whom Pearce brought was a man by name of Penny. Penny related his story, which we give in short

Penny was a free negro, living in Ripley. Falling in love with a slave woman belonging to a Baptist preacher in Kentucky, he sought the master and wished to buy the girl. No, the master wouldn't sell, but if he, Penny, would work a year for him, he would give the girl her freedom. The year was worked, but, when Penny asked to have the girl go free, the master, in anger, threw at him $40 for his work, and ordered him to clear out. Penny took the money, bought fire-arms and on Saturday night he went to the master's place, and, taking his wife and her sister and husband, and another man, started for the Ohio River. Arriving at the river, two men, sent by the master, were at the river to arrest them. In order to get away, Penny was obliged to shoot one of the men in the arm, while one of the slave men was wounded.Leaving the wounded man in Ripley, the other four finally, passing through Mechanicsburg, landed in safety. This is only one story of thousands, many of them exceedingly tragic, and would have called forth the condemnation of an outraged people had the poor creatures so pursued been anything but black.

After that, during several years, Mr. Hyde took numerous other loads, and, all told, carried away 513 fleeing slaves. The largest lot taken by him at one time numbered twenty-four, of whom eleven were men, eleven women, and two children ; the women and children rode while the men walked.

ADDISON WHITE DIFFICULTY, 1857.

We now come to another event, which at the time created great excitement in this community. This event was the natural outgrowth of that state of things indicated by what has just been related. The Missouri Compromise of 1820, which resulted in the admission of Missouri into the Union, in February, 1821, as a Slave State, but under the solemn agreement and enactment of law that slavery should not be introduced into the territory north of latitude 36° 30', had been broken and rescinded in 1854; all the territory acquired from Mexico, except California, had been opened to slavery as the price of a free constitution for California in 1850; also, the odious fugitive slave law had been enacted in obedience to the demand of the Solid South ; also, the Supreme Court, in answer to the same demand, ignoring justice, humanity, God, had made that barbarous Dred,Scott decision, the promulgation of which was delayed more than a year, lest it might affect Buchanan's election, This decision was promulgated a short

606 - HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.

time after his inauguration, March 4, 1857, and a few weeks before the event we shall relate happened. The Kansas struggle had also commenced, and everything conspired to arouse up a people who were naturally opposed to the extension of the slave power.

In 1856, Addison White came to Goshen Township. He was a large man of great strength, a slave, belonging to Daniel White, of Flemingburg, Fleming County, Ky. Loving freedom better than slavery, he escaped the latter and came direct to Mechanicsburg, arriving August 31, 1856. Instead of going on to Canada, he stayed at Udney Hyde's and worked

The trouble commenced in next spring. Charles Taylor, living in Mechanicsburg, wrote for Addison a letter to his wife, who was in Kentucky. They sent this letter to Springfield, Ohio, to be mailed, thinking thus to give no clew to his whereabouts. Not long after, a closed carriage drove into town one night and stopped in an alley near Mr. Taylor's house. A man got out, went to Mr. Taylor's house and knocked at the door ; after a little parley, Taylor opened the door, when the man inquired if he could see Addison White. Mr. Taylor replied he could not, and inquired what he wanted with him. The reply was that he had White's wife in a carriage in the alley up the street. Mr. Taylor's suspicions being amused, he said that he could get word to White in two or three days, and requested them to bring his wife into the house, and he would keep her until Addison could be informed. No, nothing would do but to see Addison, and they would take his wife back unless they could see him. They drove down street, but Taylor followed, and at the square asked to be permitted to speak with Mrs. White. In answer to a question put, a man's voice in imitation of a woman's answered from the closed carriage. The ruse failed, and they drove off without the slave.

Addison was living then with Mr. Hyde, about two miles southeast of town on the West Jefferson road, on the farm now owned by John Howard; the log house Hyde lived in being located where Howard's house now stands.

By means of a spy who came from Cincinnati, and other means, Addison's place and habits were discovered. John Churchill and Elliott, Deputy United States Marshals, and seven other men as a posse, went through Mechanicsburg in the night of May 14, or early in the morning of the 15th, 1857, and stopped somewhere :n the neighborhood of Hyde's house. Early on the morning of May 15, while he was drawing on his boots (Mr. Hyde being in bed not able to walk on account of a crushed heel), Addison saw through a window several men approaching. In a moment Addison sprang up a ladder into the low loft above, while soon the men, without knocking, broke the latch to the door, and rushed in. Elliott, as he entered, saw a board move overhead, and fired both barrels of his gun, heavily loaded with buckshot, making a large hole in the board above; but missed White. Immediately he started to go up the ladder, when bang went a pistol, fired by the colored man. Elliott fell back, crying that he was a dead man. His life was saved by the ball glancing from the gun .barrel he had before him, and making a slight wound on his ear. When Elliott was shot, all the others rushed for the door to escape. Here was war. The men dared not go up, Addison dared not go down. Death awaited either party if he went too far. Hyde knew he had plenty of friends in Mechanicsburg. "that black Abolition hole," as it was called. He must get word to them; so he sent a young son, Rheuna, to tell his son Russell, who lived near by, to go to town, but the officers drove him back into the house. Soon he sent his daughter Amanda,

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who, by a ruse of feeding her chickens, got beyond the men, and, when ordered to stop, commenced to run. They threatened to shoot her, but, possessing then enough of the dare-devil, she kept right on, pursued by one of the men, told Russell, who, going to a neighbor, Nelson Downing, borrowed his horse, hastened to town, informed the people, when soon a crowd was at Hyde's. Hyde stormed, swore and threatened; the officers swore and threatened, all without avail, for Addison was not surrendered. Finding themselves so greatly outnumbered, and knowing they never could capture the darky, the officers folded their tents and glided away, so to speak. Addison was run off into Canada, and the first scene was closed.

The next week, the Marshals came to Urbana again, for the purpose of going to Mechanicsburg to make arrests of citizens for resisting officers. In the night preceding the day they came, Joseph C. Brand came from Urbana, and warned Charles Taylor that the Marshals were coming. They failed to arrest Mr. Udney Hyde ; for, being afraid of surprise at night, he had not slept at home since the difficulty, and that night had stayed at Doty's, about two miles from town, on the Woodstock road.

For nearly nine months he was, as he expresses it, a fugitive, not from justice, but injustice. He remained away, a part of the time in the State, and a part out of the State, until the whole case was settled.

The officers and posse came next day, as was foretold. They arrested Charles Taylor, Russel Hyde, Edward Taylor and Hiram Guthridge. During this time the excitement ran high, and James Gill was chased into Williams & Bros.' store by William Culbertson, for having, as the people believed, acted as informer on the citizens.

When the Marshals had the prisoners in a wagon waiting to start away, William C. Pangborn stepped up to them, and said, "You needn't go unless you want to. Just say the word and we will let you go free." One of the Marshals, on hearing this, said, "By God, that's talk !" However, the prisoners replied that the officers had agreed that if they would go peaceably they would take them to Urbana, where they could get a writ of habeas corpus. When the Marshals reached Clark's Hill, about half way to Urbana, with the prisoners, they turned off south, thus breaking their agreement. David Rutan and Oliver Colwell followed them up, and, when the officers turned off, they also turned. Then the officers threatened to shoot Rutan and Colwell, and, seizing their horse, turned it round, and drove them back. They also threatened to kill the prisoners, and manacled Charles Taylor and Hyde together.

Citizens now became alarmed, and sent out parties to different points to keep track of the prisoners. Samuel V. Baldwin, Probate Judge of Champaign County, issued writs of habeas corpus, and gave them to John Clark, Sheriff of Champaign County, to the Sheriff of corpus., County, and to the Sheriff of Greene County, for the purpose of recovering possession of the prisoners.

The officers passed through Catawba Station to Catawba, thence to Summerford, where they told Clark, Sheriff of Champaign County, that they would not give up the prisoners ; thence to South Charleston, where they assaulted and severely beat the Sheriff of Clark County; thence through Cedarville, in Greene County, to a point east of Xenia, where they inquired for the nearest road to the Ohio River. The prisoners and their friends now became alarmed for their safety. They feared the officers intended taking them to the Ohio River; thence across the river into Kentucky, and seek Cincinnati by coming down the Kentucky side. Once or. the Kentucky side, the prisoners knew they would be

610 - HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.

mobbed and killed. Rather than cross the Ohio River, Charles Taylor and his brother Ed had determined each to seize an officer and jump into the river.

A warrant was issued for the arrest of the Marshals for assault and battery upon the Clark County Sheriff, with intent to kill, and placed in the hands of a Constable at Charleston for service, who then pursued the Marshals. After leaving Summerford, Clark, Sheriff of Champaign County, went to Xenia, and, with the Sheriff of Greene County and a posse of men, also sought to find the Marshals. The Constable and posse and the Sheriffs and posse met at a small place called Lumberton, east of Xenia, where they overtook the Marshals. The Sheriffs served their writ of habeas corpus, and took the four prisoners, who were taken by Sheriff Clark before Judge Baldwin, at Urbana, and released. When the Sheriffs with the rescued prisoners reached Xenia, the city was alive with excitement. When the Sheriffs took the four men from the Marshals, the Constable arrested the Marshals on his warrant, took them to Charleston, where they were bound over to appear at court at Springfield, but, being unable to give bail, were lodged in jail at Springfield. Next day, the United States Court at Cincinnati served a writ of habeas corpus upon the Sheriff of Clark County, who produced the Marshals before that court, which set them at liberty.

Several times after, Marshals were at Mechanicsburg to arrest the four who were released and other citizens. The four finally surrendered, went to Cin cinnati and gave bail. The whole case was finally dropped by our citizens raising $500 as part pay for Addison, Urbana and some other point raising some more. John Corwin, attorney at Urbana, acted as agent in the matter. In fact, all parties, the Government and citizens, were glad to have the case closed up. Afterward, Corwin sued a large number of our citizens for $3,000, for services as attorney in the matter, but he was justly beaten, as he could make out no contract of hire. The foregoing shows somewhat the state of the public mind in the Free States, in the conflict between the slave power and the more humane ideas of the majority of the free citizens of the North.

Thus ended an event which, being repeated in part of its features all over the North, was one of the causes which led on to a most stupendous tragedy, compared with which events like the foregoing, are not more than the light of the smallest star discovered by our greatest telescopes to the full blaze of the noonday sun. To the present day, a good portion of the history of our race, indirectly or directly, is a history of a struggle for freedom. For years the people of the North had bowed before the demands of the slave power; for years, under threats of dissolving the Union, people had yielded, and the spirit of that power had grown haughty, insolent, defiant. For years, through compromises made and broken ; through the struggle between freedom and slavery; through the barbarism of the fugitive slave law; through the inhumanity of the Dred Scott decision; through the blow of the bludgeon in the assassin's hand in the halls of Congress ; through Kansas struggles ; through threats and passions-the storm came, and broke in fury in 1861, and relentlessly rolled its waves of terror for four years over our country. The voice of Goshen Township was no uncertain sound in that conflict. The education and sentiment of her people left no doubt whether she would be found arrayed on the side of progress, liberty, the nation, or on the side of traitors in arms, seeking to found on the ruins of their nation a kingdom whose corner-stone was slavery. The vote of this township for years before the war had been on the side of humanity, and never since has she swerved. We insert the vote from 1851 to 1880, that our people may see at a

HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. - 611

glance where the township has stood during the past thirty years. The table is a gratifying one, we take it, to both Republicans and Democrats. To the former, that the township has unswervingly stood for the right ; to the latter, that they are now enabled to point to an undivided nation, which they could not do had their votes been successful on several occasions

VOTE OF GOSHEN TOWNSHIP.

1851-Governor, Samuel F. Vinton, Whig, 143; Reuben Wood, Dem., 67.

1852-President, Winfield Scott, Whig, 203 ; Franklin Pierce, Dem., 60.

1853-Governor, Samuel Lewis, Free-Soil, 144; Nelson Barrere, Whig, 79 ; William Medill, Dem., 67.

1854-Supreme Judge, Joseph R. Swann, Know N., 295; Shepherd F. Morris, Dem., 27.

1855-Governor, Salmon P. Chase, Rep., 175; William Medill, Dem., 35; Allen Trimble, 77.

1856-President, John C. Fremont, Rep., 276; James Buchanan, Dem., 65; Millard Fillmore, Amer., 13.

1857-Governor, Salmon P. Chase, Rep., 258; H. B. Payne, Dem., 74. 1858-Supreme Judge, William V. Peck, Rep., 230; Thomas W. Bartley, Dem., 72.

1859-Governor, William Dennison, Jr., Rep., 251; Rufus P. Ranney, Dem., 77.

1860-President, Abraham Lincoln, Rep., 330 ; Stephen A. Douglas, Dem., 81 ; John C. Breckenridge, Dem., 8 ; John Bell, 3.

1861-Governor, David Todd, Rep., 264; Hugh J. Jewett, Dem., 39. 1862-Supreme Judge, Franklin T. Backus, Rep., 268; Rufus P. Ranney, Dem. 80.

1863 -Governor, John Brough, Rep, 335; Clement L. Vallandigham, Dem.. 52.

1864 -President, Abraham Lincoln, Rep., 317; George B. McClellan, Dem., 49.

1865-Governor, Jacob D. Cox, Rep., 280; G. W. Morgan, Dem., 47.

1866-Secretary of State, William H. Smith, Rep., 340; Ben. Lefevre, Dem., 50.

1867-Governor, R. B. Hayes, Rep., 318; A. G. Thurman, Dem., 75.

1868 -President, U. S. Grant, Rep., 355; Horatio Seymour, Dem., 74.

1869-Governor, R. B. Hayes, Rep., 295; Geo. H. Pendleton. Dem.. 67.

1870-Secretary of State, Isaac R. Sherwood, Rep., 303 ; William Heisley, Dem., 81.

1871-Governor, E. F. Noyes, Rep., 340; G. W. McCook, Dem., 91.

1872-President, U. S. Grant, Rep., 374; Horace Greeley, 103.

1873-Governor, E. F. Noyes, Rep., 270; William Allen, Dem., 71; G. T. Stuart. Pro., 54.

1874-Secretary of State, A. T. Wikoff, Rep., 237; William Bell, Jr., Dem., 68; John R. Buchtel, Pro., 42.

1875-Governor, R. B. Hayes, Rep., 425; William Allen, Dem., 155 ; J. Odell, Pro., 8.

1876-Secretary of State, Milton Barnes, Rep., 458; William Bell, Jr., Dem., 163; E. S. Chapman, Pro., 3.

1876-President, R. B. Hayes, Rep., 468; Samuel J. Tilden, Dem., 172 ; G. Clay Smith, 4.

612 - HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.

1877-Governor, William H. West, Rep., 441; Richard M. Bishop, Dem., 155.

1878-Secretary of State, Milton Barnes, Rep., 415; David R. Paige, Dem., 159; J. N. Robinson, Pro., 59.

1879-Governor, Charles Foster, Rep., 497; Thomas Ewing, Dem., 137; Gideon T. Stuart, Pro., 37.

1880-Supreme Judge, George W. McIlvaine, Rep., 536; Martin D. Follett, Dem., 139; William F. Ross, Pro., 13; Charles A. Lloyd, Greenback, 1.

1880-President, James A. Garfield, Rep., 548 ; Winfield S. Hancock, Dem., 127; Neal Dow, Pro., 15; James B. Weaver, Greenback, 2.

IN THE WAR.

When Sumter was attacked, the spirit of the people here was fired, in common with all the loyal North, with the determination to protect the Government and suppress the rebellion. How much was done by the people of this township, can never be known. Almost like a dream seems the recollection of those years. At the first call of the President for 75,000 men, a number of our citizens offered their services, and the writer remembers well, though it seems a long age ago, the departure of the first volunteers under that call. John F. Horr was the first man to enlist, in this township, under the President's first call for 75,000; James Edward Taylor, the second ; Thomas M. Owen, the third ; then followed Carp Groves, Isaac Groves, Peter Hardman and Melvin Kenfield. Others enlisted at the same time, but these are the only ones that were accepted. These were in Company K, Second Ohio, three months' serv ice. Sumter was evacuated Sunday, April 14 ; the President made his call on Monday, the 15th ; these men enlisted on Tuesday, the 16th, went to Urbana on Wednesday, the 17th, and thence, same day, to Columbus; thence, at 3 o'clock, A. M., of the 18th, to Harrisburg, Penn., where the regiment was organized. Other men who enlisted under this call were organized into the three years' service.

Goshen honored the first call upon her patriotism, and from that time onward, to the end, she met every demand, and no draft was ever seen in her limits. How many soldiers she furnished to the army, will likely never be known. The long list of her soldier dead attests to the large number that must have gone, to have furnished so many victims.We remember the red-shirted home guards that drilled in Orin Taylor's pasture, back of his house, and up in the woods of John Baker, northeast of the schoolhouse, now built up, then not a house there.

That company, called together by the thrilling notes of the fife and drum (the fife so faithfully played by Samuel Cheney Davis, now grown too old to be a boy again), never was called upon for duty; but its preliminary work was well done, in inspiring the young and old to range themselves on the side of right. That company furnished many a man to the army after that, many of whom gave their lives as the price of a nation undivided, traitors defeated.

Of the scenes which followed, those who have had experience, know; those who have not, can never be told. The post office was daily thronged at the opening of the mails, all anxious to hear something from those who were away in the South. Hope lightened the heart; fear made it sink as lead. The war went on, man after man enlisted; call after call was made by the President, and met by this people ; battle after battle was fought and lost or won; soldier after soldier died, until it seemed the end would never come. But finally the waiting.

HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. - 613

suffering, anxiety, fear, hope and determination of the people were gloriously rewarded by complete triumph.

The people were very liberal, during the war, to the families of those who were away in the army. There was probably not a single case in which such had not a comfortable living; if any such there was, it was only because it was not known. Those who would not make their needs known, were sought out, and help given them. Wood, clothing, meat, fruit, money and all necessary articles were distributed with no mean hand. Persons were not kept in luxury and- idleness, but it was the care of the committee that every family should be comfortable.

Soon after the war broke out, and men left their families to go into the army, and when the necessity of some organization was seen, a war committee was appointed by the citizens, to look after families needing help. This committee was rather the head of the work, to whom many subscriptions of supplies and money were reported, and by it distributed as needed, although much was taken direct to the families, without oversight by the committee. There were days appointed to bring in wood and provisions. The like was never seen here before or since. Van Davis was a genius then, as now, in his way, and determined to excel all others, on one occasion, by bringing in atone load, four cords of wood.

The committee were John W. Runyan, David Rutan and James L. Magruder, the two first now dead. This committee was a first-rate one, composed of thorough Union men, whose sympathies were with the soldiers and their families.

We would be glad if we could include all of our citizens among the patriots whom we have been speaking of; but there were a few who were glad when the rebel arms were successful. For a particular account of those times, we refer our readers to a full history of them ; suffice it to say, that in 1863, in the contest between John Brough and C. L. Vallandigham for Governor, Goshen gave the latter fifty-two votes.

Goshen Township assisted the Government by her sympathy, by meeting every call without a draft, by encouraging volunteering, by making comfortable the families of those who did volunteer. The money value of all she did cannot be learned. Her citizens raised over $10,000 as a donation to the citizens who volunteered, and to those who might be credited to her. This does not include about $2,800 which was raised and refunded by taxation. In addition to the above, seventeen or more citizens procured, at their own expense, substitutes.

When, in the fall of 1863, men who were already in the service and had served two years or more were invited to re-enlist for another term of three years, thirty-six of Goshen's soldiers, at various times after the call, responded. Those thus re-enlisted were called " Veteran Volunteers," or "Veterans." These thirty-six were in the regiments as follows: The Thirty-second O. V. I. had 15; the Thirteenth, 3 ; the Sixty-sixth, 17 ; the Eleventh, 1.

Could all else be accurately counted, weighed or measured, there is a part of her story that can never be told. The days and nights of anxiety for absent ones-some sick, some in prison, some in the front, all in danger, some wounded, some dying, some dead-this part of the story can never be told. Many carry in their hearts to-day a secret load on account of those things. The world cannot long bother itself with the cares of others, and so those things have long been buried out of sight ; vet there are people who go about our land to-day, on whom the scenes of these years rest with a heavy weight. That part

614 - HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.

of her story must remain untouched. Her long list of dead speaks for itself. We gladly and sadly insert that list, that, in a compact form, their names may be preserved to the knowledge of people in years to come.

SOLDIER DEAD, 1861-1865.

The following is a complete list, as we believe, of the soldier dead of Goshen Township. The list embraces only those who properly belong to Goshen, as being residents and citizens at the time of enlistment and would be entitled to credit nowhere else. There are others who were born and raised in the township, and when we speak of them we mention them as our citizens, but who, having removed to other States or places within this State (some but a few months before enlistment), lost their residence here, and are not included in the following list. Also, none are included who, at date of death, were not yet in the United States service, although there are a number of men who died a short time after discharge from disease incurred in the service. These are not included

Dwight Horr, Co. I, 66th O. V. I; wounded at Port Republic, Va., June 9, 1862 ; died from his wound at Washington, D. C., July 7, 1862; buried at Mechanicsburg, Ohio.

Henry Milton Snodgrass, Co. I, 66th O. V. I.; died at Philadelphia, Penn., November 28, 1862, of disease; buried at Mechanicsburg, Ohio.

Stephen Baxter, 1st Sergeant Co. I, 66th O. V. I. ; wounded at Port Republic, Va., June 9, 1862; died June 13, 1862. The wounded falling into rebel hands, he was taken to the little log stable a few yards in front of the coal bank." On Thursday, 12th, he was taken to Col. Samuel Lewis' brick house, near the battle line, where his leg was amputated the same day. Next day, he died. All Port Republic dead that are buried anywhere are in the National Cemetery at Staunton, Va.

Clifton Sewell, Co. D, 66th O: V. I. ; killed at Port Republic, Va., June 9, 1862. '

Wilson S. Brittin, Co. I, 66th O. V. I. ; died of disease at Harper's Ferry, October 22, 1862; buried at Winchester as unknown.

Francis M. Brittin, Co. I, 66th O. V. I. ; died at Nashville, Tenn., November 20, 1864, of wounds received at Peach Tree Creek, near Atlanta, Ga., July 20, 1864 ; buried at Nashville National Cemetery.

Jas. Edward Taylor, Co. I, 66th O. V. I. ; killed at New Hope Church, Ga., May 25, 1864; buried at Marietta National Cemetery, Ga., as unknown.

Joseph Canady, Co. I, 66th O. V. I.; died of disease at Strasburg, Va., May 14, 1862 ; buried at Winchester National Cemetery, Va., as unknown.

Samuel C. Brinnon, Co. I, 66th O. V. I. ; killed July 20, 1864, at Peach Tree Creek, near Atlanta, Ga. ; buried at Marietta National Cemetery.

John Kohler, Co. I, 66th O. V. I. : died October 14, 1862, of wounds received at Antietam, Md., September 17, 1862 ; buried at Antietam National Cemetery, Sharpsburg, Md.

Granville Lawler Chidester, Co. A, 66th O. V. I. ; killed at Port Republic, Va., June 9, 1862.

James Boulton, Co. I, 66th O. V. I. ; died of disease at Alexandria, Va., August 9, 1862.

Joseph H. Newcomb, Co. K, 113th O. V. I; wounded at Kenesaw Mountain June 27, 1864; died of his wound July 24, 1864, at Nashville, Tenn. ; buried at Mechanicsburg, Ohio.

HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. - 615

Henry C. Brittin, Co. K, 113th O. V. I.; died of disease at Chattanooga, Tenn., July 6, 1864; buried at Chattanooga National Cemetery.

Azro Mann, Co. K, 113th O. V. I; died of disease at Nashville, Tenn., October 31, 1864; buried at Nashville National Cemetery.

Robert Osborn, Co. K, 113th O V. I.; wounded at Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., June 9, 1864 ; died of his wounds at Chattanooga, Tenn., August 22 ; buried at Chattanooga National Cemetery.

Ezra Allen, Co. K, 113th O V. I.; killed at Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., June 27, 1864 ; buried at Marietta National Cemetery, Ga., as unknown.

Alexander Henry, Co. B, 113th O V. I.; killed June 12, 1865, in Maryland by falling from the cars.

Harrison Walburn, Co. E, 113th O V. I.; died at Nashville, Tenn., March 5, 1863; buried at Treacles Creek, Goshen Township, Ohio.

E. Channing Horr, Co. B, 32d O V. I.; died of disease at Beverly, W. Va., December 29, 1861; buried at Mechanicsburg, Ohio.

Orlando D. Lawler, Co. B, 32d O V. I.; died of disease at Marietta, Ga., September 25, 1864; buried at Marietta National Cemetery, Ga.

John M. Lane, Co. B, 32d O. V. I.; died of disease at Marietta, Ga., October 19, 1864; buried at Marietta National Cemetery, Ga.

Joseph H. Shepherd, Co. B, 32d O. V. I.; died of disease at Clifton, Tenn., May 6, 1864.

Reuben M. Alden, Co. C, 134th O.N. G.; wounded near Petersburg, Va., June 17, 1864; died of his wound June 24, 1864; buried at Mechanicsburg, Ohio.

William E. Tullis, Co. C, 134th O. N. G.; died of disease July 9, 1864, at Claysville Hospital, Md. ; buried at Mechanicsburg, Ohio.

Mason Tucker, Co. E, 95th O. V. I.; died of disease at Milliken's Bend, La., July 2, 1863.

Peter Miller, Co. E, 95th O. V. I.; killed by an explosion of the steamboat Sultana on the Mississippi River, April 27, 1865.

John W. Cawood, Sergeant, Co. E, 95th O. V. I.; killed at Guntown, Miss., June 10, 1864 ; buried as unknown in Vicksburg National Cemetery.

Samuel A. Jones, Co. E, 95th O. V. I.; died at Memphis, Tenn., March 15, 1863; buried in Memphis National Cemetery.

Ira A. Sergent, Co. E, 95th O. V. I.; killed at Vicksburg, June 19, 1863.

George A. Sergent, Co. E, 95th O. V. I.; died at Chickasaw Springs, Miss., June 27, 1865; buried as unknown in Shiloh National Cemetery, Pittsburg Landing, Tenn.

Thomas Hudson, Co. G, 95th O. V. I.; died at Vicksburg, Miss., October 22, 1863 ; buried at Vicksburg National Cemetery.

Melvin Kenfield, Co. A, 2d O. V. I.; captured at battle of Chickamauga, Ga., September 20, 1863, and died in Libby Prison, Richmond, Va., date unknown.

Zane Stephenson, Co. C, 13th O. V. I.; killed at Pumpkin Vine Creek, Ga., May 27, 1864.

George Huffman, Co. H, 26th O V. I.; died of disease at Camp Dennison, Ohio, in the spring of 1862.

William H. Miller, Co. H, 26th O V. I.; died at Columbus, Ohio, March 6, 1865.

Taylor Darrow, Co. A, 60th O V. I.; killed near Spottsylvania Court House, Va., May 9, 1864.

616 - HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.

Samuel Johnson, gunboat service; died at Cincinnati, Ohio, February 20, 1865; buried at Mechanicsburg, Ohio.

Isaac Groves, Co. F, 100th Ind. V. I. ; died of disease at Chattanooga, November 7, 1864, and is buried at Chattanooga National Cemetery. This soldier is properly placed in this township, having enlisted in Indiana while there only on a short visit.

Wilson S. Brittin, Francis M. Brittin and Henry C. Brittin were brothers, being sons of Abner Brittin.

Ira A. Sergent and George A. Sergent were brothers.

Summary of above.-Died of disease, 20; mortally wounded, 8 ; killed, 11 ; total deaths, 39.

SCHOOLS.

In 1856, quite a step in improvement was taken in the school affairs of the town. In that year, a new school building was erected on about two acres of land, bought of John C. Baker, on the north edge of the village. The schools, which had been held in several rooms in different places in the village, were, on completion of the new building, brought together under one roof, and placed under the more immediate supervision of one Superintendent.

In 1871, the house was repaired by building an addition in the rear, and a school hall on top of the original structure, and other improvements, at a cost of about $8,000.

At present, there are seven rooms in use, and nine teachers employed, one being a music teacher. The youths of a schooling age, in the corporation, between six and twenty-one years of age, number 460, of whom 392 are white and 68 colored. The colored pupils attend the same schools as the white. Between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one, there are 112. This is the enumeration of 1880. The average attendance, for the year ending June, 1880, was 276, on an enumeration of 449, between six and twenty-one years, taken in 1879. School property is valued at $15,000.

In the township, outside the limits of the town, there are now eight school districts. These have good, commodious and nice brick buildings; a ninth district has already been laid off, and a site for a house selected, which house will be brick. These houses, scattered as they are in every part of the territory, afford an opportunity to every youth to have schooling convenient and without price. The eight houses already built, with their furniture and sites, are valued at $13,600. The number of youths between six and twenty-one years, are 323, of whom 290 are white, and 33 are colored. There are seventy-eight youths, sixteen to twenty-one years of age. Seven months' teaching is had in the year.

Taking all the township, the spirit of intelligence generally prevails.

The general spirit of the people of the township is for improvement, which is evidenced by the many good roads, drainage of lands, new fences, old houses replaced by new and in many other ways.

CENTRAL OHIO FAIR ASSOCIATION.

On Thursday, November 5, 1868, a meeting at Jones' Hall, Mechanicsburg, was held of those interested for the purpose of forming a Union Agricultural Society, comprising counties of Champaign, Clark, Madison and Union. A committee, consisting of R. G. Dunn, Charles Phellis and Thomas Davis, was appointed for the purpose of examining grounds with a view of purchasing. Subscriptions were reported, amounting to $7,000.

HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. - 617

At a meeting, December 12, 1868, a constitution was adopted, and the following officers elected: President, James Fullington, of Union; Vice President, W. A. Dunn, of Madison; Secretary, Thomas Davis, and Treasurer, R. D. Williams, both of Mechanicsburg.

On January 16, 1869, a revised constitution was adopted. John C. Baker's grove, a tract of about fifty acres of land on the northwest edge of the corpora tion, was contracted for, on which to hold fairs. The compensation allowed Mr. Baker was ten per cent on the gross proceeds of the fair, himself retaining use of the grounds when the fair should not be in session. This contract remains until the present time. Stock was also fixed at $10,000, with privilege of increase to $20,000.

The first fair was held September 21, 22, 23 and 24, of 1869.

January 10, 1871, the articles of the association were amended, and territory extended so as to include the counties of Champaign, Clark, Madison, Union, Logan, Delaware, Greene and Franklin, under the name of "The Central Ohio Fair Association."

Fairs have been held yearly since the first one. The grounds are somewhat remarkable for the natural adaptability of location for fair purposes. A fine grove of large oaks gives abundance of shade for man and horse, while there is level ground without timber, for a race-track. On one side of the track, the ground rises as a natural ampitheater in the edge of the grove, and affords a very fine view of the whole ring to the thousands present, while they can sit or stand, as they choose, in the shade. A very large spring near the timber' furnishes water enough for a city, and, being forced to a high point within the timber, is thence distributed all over the grounds, furnishing abundance of good cool water for visitors and stock.

TOWN HALL.

March 11, 1878, the Council of Mechanicsburg resolved that they would submit to the voters of the town the question, whether they would authorize the Council to build a town hall. A hall had been greatly needed for several years. There was no place of sufficient size in which to have a public meeting, and there was felt to be a need of such a hall, for the convenience of the people and their education in several ways. Accordingly, on April 2, 1878, a vote was had, and by a large majority the hall question carried. A lot had already been purchased at a cost of $975. By a special act of the Legislature, the town was authorized to issue $8,000 of bonds for paying for building. Afterward the Legislature authorized $2,500 more for furnishing, etc. The whole cost of the building as it stands to-day, including furniture, heating apparatus and all, is about $12,000, to which add value of lot, and we have a total of about $13,000. The building includes a hall, jail, large council- room, and a good drill-room and armory for Company H, Seventh Ohio Militia.

To pay for the hall, $10,500 of bonds were issued, $8,000 at 8 per cent, and $2,500 at 7 per cent; the balance of cost has already been paid by taxation. The bonds were in amounts of $500 each, a bond coming due each six months, while interest on all is paid semi-annually. The first bond came due March 1, 1879, the last will fall due March 1, 1889. The formal opening of the hall was April 22, 1879, date of first public use of it.

GAS WORKS.

On September 18, 1878, a vote of the electors of the corporation was had on the question of permitting a gas light company to lay down pipes in the

618 - HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.

streets. This vote was taken in accordance with a resolution of the Council September 2, 1878, to submit such question. Such use of the streets was permitted. Street lamps and private and public houses are now supplied with gas by the Mechanicsburg Gas Light Company, with a chartered stock of $16,000. The first lighting up of the town by gas was about the middle of February, 1879. For several years previous, the streets had been lighted with coal oil.

MANUFACTURES.

In the way of manufactures, the most important enterprise in the township is the Mechanicsburg Machine Company, located at Mechanicsburg. This company was organized and incorporated in February, 1875. During the same season, shops were built and preparations made for making the "Baker Grain Drill." In 1876, the company began work, and have continued to the present time. They have a successful and growing business. The season just closed, the company made and sold 1,600 drills.

CEMETERY.

On September 5, 1856, the Trustees of the township resolved to submit to the voters at the election to be held October 14, the question whether $1,000 should be levied, in three annual installments, for the purpose of buying ground for township cemetery. The report of the election is silent as to this matter, hence, the proposition must have been defeated.

About eight years after the above failure, a public meeting was held in Jones' Hall, Mechanicsburg, for the purpose of taking measures to provide a cemetery. About $4,000 of stock was subscribed for such purpose, but, owing to some disagreement, the project was never carried out.

The previous talk about and efforts to secure a public cemetery, finally took a more tangible shape in spring of 1869. Urged by a petition numerously signed, on Tuesday evening, April 20, 1869, a joint session of the Town Council and Township Trustees was had, for the purpose of taking steps for the purchase of cemetery grounds for joint use of town and township. At this meeting were present T. S. Cheney, Mayor; P. W. Alden, V. Hunter, William Martin and John W. Legge, of the Council, and John W. Runyan, E. A. Guy and Lewis Brittin, Trustees. John W. Runyan was made Chairman of the joint body. This body resolved to purchase grounds for joint use, and appointed T. S. Cheney, P. W. Alden and Lewis Brittin as a committee to view different locations, prices, etc., to report April 22, 1869.

At the joint meeting, April 22, report of several locations was made by the committee. One of eleven acres, belonging to Thomas Morgan, adjoining corporation on southeast, at $2,500 for the tract; another, possessed by J. C. Baker, west of the corporation, being the west end of the present fair grounds, at $300 per acre; another, belonging to N. Sceva, northeast of town, fifteen acres at $200 per acre; another, belonging to W. C. Pangborn, the present cemetery, thirty acres at $106 1/3 per acre, and right of way fifty feet wide to the Mechanicsburg and Springfield pike without cost.

The joint body unanimously accepted the last proposition, and a committee was appointed to close the contract with Pangborn.

On May 13, 1869, the committee reported the land purchased, and deed got. A motion was adopted to levy a tax of $4,500 on the township and town. The Trustees afterward becoming dissatisfied with the joint levy, the Council at a subsequent time agreed; as a compromise, to levy $900, independ-

HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. - 619

ent of the township, and let the remaining $3,600 be levied on the township and town jointly. Even this compromise was not carried out by the Trustees. Afterward $2,552 of bonds were issued by the Trustees to be paid jointly by the township and town, and in addition, the town issued $846.50 of bonds to be paid by the town alone.

The location of the cemetery is south of the town, and about a mile from center of town. The location is a beautiful one naturally, and, with attention and reasonable expenditure of money, can be made very pleasing to the eye. Much has already been done in that direction, and much credit is due the Superintendent, T. S. Cheney, for his faithful and steady attention to improving the grounds. Though stinted in means, the grounds are gradually becoming attractive and interesting. Parsimony and withholding help in such matters, will never beautify the grounds. A small tax should be levied by the whole township each year and expended in improving them.

About nine acres of the grounds have been surveyed, platted, and lots offered for sale, roads made, grounds improved, etc. One acre has been fenced in, in a good location, and is open for free burial of those too poor to buy a lot.

About $900 have been expended this season, 1880, upon the grounds open for use. This money was the accumulations of several years from lots sold. Next season there will be very little money for improvements.

The total number of interments to October 1, 1880, is 518, of which 267 are removals from other graveyards. There are buried in the free grounds 33 colored and 7 white; there are buried on lots sold, 466 white and 12 colored. William and Elizabeth Tway, husband and wife, died the same day, and were buried April 22, 1871, being the first interments in the new cemetery.

Total number of lots sold to date, about 212, there being 485 laid out. There have been received about $4,700 from sale of lots. This money has been spent in fencing, surveying and general improvements.

WAR RELICS.

There are now on a pedestal of stone in front of the town hall, some interesting relics of the war. These relics are two large bombshells, a case of grape-shot, and a large shell ; these all are relics of the contest for Vicksburg, and were picked up by the boys of Company B, Thirty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and sent home. The Town Council and citizens paid for their transportation and cost of pedestal. By resolution of March 16, 1864, the Council met their part of the expense. These serve to set our young boys to inquiring about them, and cause them to grow up with some knowledge of the great contest, and the inquiry incites to patriotism.

ANCIENT REMAINS.

On the southeast portion of Mechanicsburg corporation, partly within and partly without, in A. M. Cheney's lot, a few feet to the right of the road leading from Mechanicsburg to West Jefferson, there are the evidences of some ancient workers. These remains are two circles, one about two hundred and fifty feet in diameter, the other about one hundred and twenty-five feet in diameter. The small one is not within the large one, but the circles are joined so that they lap a little, and a small segment of each is cut off where they lap. These circles have almost been obliterated by leveling. Years ago, they were four or five feet high. They were simply, as seen then, elevations of earth enclosing the quantity of ground indicated. The earth had been thrown up

620 - HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.

from the inside, making a ditch on the inside. They could not have been intended for a fortification, for they were built on a side slope of ground with the entrance into them on the south side looking up hill, while on one side, the ground ascended, so that the works were on the side of a gentle slope, instead of being on top ; besides, the ditch on the inside instead of outside precludes the thought. These rings were old when our first settlers came, and their location, together with the known habits of the Indians, leads us to conclude that another race than they built them.

CONCLUSION.

In conclusion, it must not be thought that the foregoing facts and statements given, include everything connected with Goshen Township. Wishing to limit all we should say to a moderate space, we have related only such matters as would be of general interest to readers within and without the township, and such as would best show to our people of to-day, the character, habits and condition of their predecessors; and show those to come something of what is now present. No facts or persons have been omitted for purpose of slighting them, but impartiality has been our aim.