HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. - 497
SALEM TOWNSHIP.
BY DR. THOMAS COWGILL.
This township is situated immediately north of Urbana. Its southern boundary, at the center, is the northern limit of the city corporation. The township is eight miles long, from south to north, and six miles wide, from east to west. It is bounded on the north by Logan County, on the east by Union and Wayne Townships, and on the west by Concord and Harrison Townships. It contains forty-eight square miles, equal to thirty thousand seven hundred and
498 - HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
twenty acres of land, about fout thousand acres of this land lies east of Ludlow's s line and is in the Virginia Military District the balance is Congress land, and is laid off in sections of one mite square, containing six hundred and forty acres each, except some fractional sections. on the west side of and adjoining Ludlow's line, which are of various sizes. Mad River rubs south. and passes: through the northwest and southwest parts of the township. The south branch of King's Creek has its source in Wayne Township, and the north branch has its source in Logan County, the two branches join together near Kingston. The streams run westwardly, across Salem, and enter Mad River near the western boundary of the township. Macacheek, a tributary of Mad River, passes through the northern part of the township. All these are permanent, never failing streams, of pure, clear water. They have never been known to go dry in summer, and always furnish an ample supply of water for milling purposes throughout the year. The land is mostly level, or rolling, dry prairie, and " barrens," as it was once called, and the ridges dividing the streams and prairie are covered with timber, mostly oak and hickory. In the southeast corner of the township there is a large, low and once wet prairie, known by the name of Dugan. Prairie; it contains several thousand acres of land, and receives the drainage of the country surrounding it, equal to an area of six miles square.
When the country was first settled by the whites, this prairie was mostly covered with water the greater part of the year, having the appearance of a lake, with here and there a small island thickly covered with timber, mostly oak and hickory. The barrens and dry prairies were covered with wild grass, which, in summer, grew to an incredible height, and furnished fine pasture for thousands of buffalo, elk and deer before the intrusion of the white man upon their rich domain. After this grass became dead ripe, or was killed by the frost in the fall of the year, and became dry enough to burn, the Indians, at a time agreed upon by their chiefs, would place themselves with their guns upon the high timbered land adjoining that upon which the grass grew, and at a signal given by the Captain, the squad would set fire to the grass, and the wild animals of all kinds, which lay there concealed, would be suddenly aroused from their quiet slumbers and run for safety to the high ground, and there meet death by the rifle and the red man. Great numbers of deer were killed in this way by the Indians, even after the commencement of the settlement of the country by the whites. The Indians would invariably give the white settlers at least a week's notice of their intention to burn the grass at a certain time, so they could protect their fences and cabins by plowing a few fresh furrows around them.
According to reliable information, the settlement of that part of the township which lies in the King's Creek valley, was commenced in the year 1802 or 1803. Samuel and William Stewart came to this township with their father, Matthew Stewart, who settled on King's Creek in the spring of 1804. At that time William Powell was living near the place where Albert Jackson now lives, having settled there about a year before. William Wood, a Baptist preacher, from Kentucky, and father of Christopher Wood, who distinguished himself in the War of 1812, and is remembered by all the old settlers, then lived where. the Kingston Mills now are, having settled there about a year before. Arthur Thomas, who was afterward killed by the Indians, then lived at the mouth of King's Creek, where he soon after built a grist-mill, which was probably the first mill of the kind ever erected in this county. Joseph Petty then lived on King's Creek, on the place where his grandson, Hiram Petty, now lives, where he built a water-mill soon after.
PAGE 499 - LAMBERT POND
PAGE 500 - BLANK
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. - 501
The following-named persons came to the county about the same time, or soon after: David Parkison, James Turner, John Guthridge, Abner Barrett, William Johnson, George and Jacob Leonard. A majority of the first settlers came from Kentucky and Virginia. Matthew Stewart and John McAdams came from Pennsylvania at an early day, and lived a short time at Columbia, on the Ohio River, above Cincinnati ; from there they came to this place, and settled on King's Creek, in 1804. John Taylor came from Virginia and settled on King's Creek in 1806, at the place where the village of Kingston now is. He purchased 640 acres of land from Isaac Zane, for which he paid four dollars per acre. This land, together with two other sections of the same size, was given to Isaac Zane by the United States Government in consideration of services rendered the army under the command of General Wayne, in 1794. In 1810, John Taylor erected a grist-mill, now (in 1880) owned by Henry Wolfe & Sons. In the same year the citizens who then lived in the vicinity erected two block-houses near the mill, as a protection against the attacks of the Indians. To these houses, which were enclosed by tall pickets, the settlers would flee in times of danger. But the Indians never disturbed them there; great numbers of them, mostly squaws, were to be seen every day coming to and returning from the mill, with their little buckskin sacks filled with corn, and thrown across the naked backs of their bob-tailed ponies, upon which the squaws rode astride, some of them with their papooses fastened to a board and strapped upon their backs. On dismounting, the squaw would place the board to which the baby was tied against the wall of the mill, in an erect position, then take off and carry in her sack of corn, and immediately return and feed her papoose. The late Judge Edward L. Morgan relates that he once saw a squaw in a great hurry accidentally place her child upon the board wrong end up.
The youngster soon discovered the mistake, and, though a wild savage, its cries and screams precisely resembled those of a white child.
Salem Township was organized in 1805, the same year that the county was created. The civil jurisdiction of the county then extended from the southern boundary of the tenth range, near Springfield, to the shore of Lake Erie on the north, including a territory almost as large as some of the old States. If the census had been taken at that time, it would have shown that for every white person within its bounds, there were at least one hundred Indians. From the township record-book of 1805, it appears that Christopher Wood and Daniel McKinney were the first Trustees, and William Davis first Constable, George Johnson was the first house appraiser and lister of taxable property.
It also appears from this record, that William Johnson was the first Treasurer, Abner Barret first Clerk of this township.
By the record of 1806, it appears that Joseph Petty, Thomas Pearce and William Parkison were elected Trustees, and David Parkison, Clerk for that year. The Trustees allowed William Powel's account for keeping a poor woman and child. Who the poor women and child were, is not known. The following is copied from the township record of 1808.
"Agreeable to the squirrel law, the Trustees of this township have laid on each taxable citizen, ten squirrel scalps, and one scalp for each and every twelve and a half cents his tax amounts to. Done the 23d day of April, 1808. Attest, David Parkison, T. C."
In early times it was customary for the squirrels to travel from North to South in countless numbers about once in ten years. They made their journey in the fall of the year, about the time that corn began to ripen.
502 - HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
They appeared in such vast numbers, as apparently to cover the earth for miles, and if not well guarded, they would clear the corn-fields as they went along. They would suffer death rather than turn from their course; and would pass over houses and swim lakes, ponds and water-courses. They traveled due south, until they would reach the Ohio River, into which they would plunge and attempt to swim over ; here an immense number would lose their lives by drowning in the river, and those that got over alive would crawl upon the bank, and, after resting a short time, would resume the journey southward. This accounts for the necessity of levying a squirrel scalp tax.
Capt. Alexander Black, Moses McIlvain and others from Kentucky, settled on Macacheek and Mad River, in the northern part of Salem, in the spring of 1809; at that time James McPherson, called "Squalicee " by the Indians, (which means the red-faced man), was then living on Mad River, at or near the Kavanaugh farm, and there were several Indian families there at the time; among others, Capt. John Lewis. A chief had in his family a white woman, named 'lolly Kiser, who was taken prisoner when young, and raised with the Indians. She was highly esteemed by the whites, sixty years ago. The writer several times saw Molly Kiser riding through the woods or along a path in Salem Township, with several ponies and dogs along with her.
Molly Kiser was married to an Indian and had two half-Indian daughters. She stayed one night at the house of Col. John Thomas, and next day traded horses with Daniel Corwin near the head of North Fork of Kings Creek; some time afterward, she came along with the horse she traded for; it had been out in a bail-storm, and had a considerable part of the hair cutoff its back. Alexander Black was a soldier and served in the army of Gen. Wayne, at the battle with the Indians on the 20th of August, 1794; he was an officer and served in the war of 1812, under Gen. Harrison. John Enock came to Salem Township with his father's family in 1812 ; he was then ten years of age, having been born at Fort Washington, now Cincinnati, in the early part of 1802 ; he is therefore somewhat older than the State of Ohio. Abram Smith built the first cabin, and was the first white settler in what was then called the "barrens," between the settlements on King's Creek and Macacheek. This cabin was raised in 1813, and stood a short distance east of the State road and not far from the residence of Joseph Miller; a few old apple-trees, I believe, still remain to mark the place where it stood. Abram Smith was a prominent and worthy citizen, and filled some of the most important township offices for several years before his death ; he had a wife and two children; the whole family, died of "milk sickness " within a few days of each other, about the year 1821. William Copes settled at the place adjoining Jonathan Parke's farm on the State road, between Urbana and West Liberty, in the spring of 1814; here he purchased 160 acres of land from the United States at $2 per acre, erected a cabin and made a small improvement, but, like many others at that time, he came to the conclusion that the country was well named, and that it was really a barren and worthless place. He accordingly sold his farm for the same price that he gave, and bought 160 acres in another part of the township without improvements, for which he paid $4 per acre; this land to day is worth one-fifth as much per acre as that on the State road, and probably no more. Thomas Thomas purchased the farm of William Copes, and when the State road became a highway of some importance and was traveled by drovers, teamsters, movers, etc., after putting up a pretty good house, kept entertainment for travelers. Thomas Thomas had several children by his first wife, and after her death he married a
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. - 503
young woman of the neighborhood, by whom he had other children. This as usual caused trouble and strife in the family, which was carried to such an extent that his son William, by his first wife, became a desperate maniac, and had to be confined either in a cell or in irons. While in this condition, the family moved to one of the new States of the West. Here as before the young man was left confined in a small house built for the purpose a short distance from the dwelling of the family. By some means he one night made his escape from his hut, got an ax, broke open the door of the dwelling-house and entered the sleeping-room of his father and step-mother. On hearing the noise they both - sprang up from bed, when, after a short struggle, he succeeded in splitting his mother's skull and slightly wounding his father while endeavoring to protect his wife. Some of the neighbors on going to the house next morning, found the maniac in quiet possession of the house, and both parents dead upon the floor. On being questioned, he said he intended to kill his step-mother but not. his father; that he had at first accidentally wounded his father but slightly, but fearing it might become troublesome and painful to his aged parent, he concluded to kill him at once and put him out of his misery. Charles McClay settled in the fall of 1814, at the farm afterward owned by Joel Funk. Charles McClay was brother-in-law to Abram Smith, the first resident in the barrens; he died many years ago and left several children. Archibald Stewart, Robert Latta and John Williams settled on the highland east of the State road in 1814 or 1815. William Mayse, father of Archibald R. and George Mayse, and David Fulwider's wife, came to this township at an early day and settled at the place where his son Archibald now lives. He lived awhile in the prairie on land now owned by heirs of Levi Cowgill, where his wife was bitten by a rattlesnake. William Mayse was a prominent, worthy and useful citizen in his time. Col. John Thomas settled on King's Creek in 1809 ; he was a native of Charles: County, Md., where he was born June 7, 1779. Sixty years ago, the writer saw the remains of a block-house standing on Col. Thomas' farm, about twelve rods south of where the mansion of his sons Ivon B. and F. M. Thomas now stand. An addition has been built to the west end, so that it formed a double log barn. Col. Thomas was peculiarly fitted for pioneer life, having a strong and vigorous constitution and enjoying good health. He was endowed with a. large measure of patience and fortitude that enabled him to successfully battle with the perils and discouragements incident to backwoods life. He was a quiet and unassuming in his manners, possessing a warm social nature, and was noted for his propriety of conduct and his kindness and benevolence to the poor and unfortunate. James Turner settled at the place where I. C. Yoder lately lived-in 1808 or 1809. This farm, I believe, is now owned by the Stewart brothers. James Turner's wife, Ann Turner, was the first person buried in the graveyard at Kingston; her grave was dug by Thomas Stewart, Isaac McAdams and Edward L. Morgan. Joseph Vance, who afterward filled many important offices in the civil and military departments of the United States and State Governments, came to this township with his father's family in 1805. Gov. Vance was born at Washington, Washington Co., Penn., March 21, 1786, and died on the 24th of July, 1852, on his farm in Salem Township, two and a half miles north of Urbana, and is buried in Oakdale Cemetery, near Urbana Gov. Vance was the architect of his own character and fortune, commencing business in life as a wood-chopper at the salt works when a mere boy, and by his industry and economy procuring means to purchase an ox team, with which he was accustomed to haul and distribute salt to
504 - HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
the scattered settlers of Kentucky; and he still followed the occupation of an ox driver after he removed to Salem Township, occasionally making trips to the salt works. Sometimes at night his camp was so beset by wolves and other wild beasts as to compel him to keep up a fire and watch his team through the entire night. In 1818, Gov. Vance built a merchant mill on King's Creek, about a mile above where it empties into Mad River. The mill had four run of buhrs, and all the improvements of that time. He owned this and a saw-mill and other fixtures connected with them until 1848. The writer inserts the following letter from his old and honored Democratic friend, B. B. Leonard, M. D., believing it is eminently suitable in this place
WEST LIBERTY, July 19, 1880.
DR. THOMAS COWGILL-My Dear Sir : Your request has been duly considered, and I hasten to comply. My father, George Leonard, was born in Jefferson County, Va., April 26, 1777, and came to Champaign County, Ohio, in the fall of 1805, and settled near Kingston, on King's Creek. My uncle, Jacob Leonard, came to the same place in 1806, and died in 1835.My father died in December, 1868, having been a citizen of the county for sixty-three years.
The first schoolhouse that I remember was a little brick one, built on the south bank of King's Creek, a half-mile west of where Kingston now is. The first teacher was Edward L. Morgan. This house was also used as a place of worship. Before its erection, religious services were held in private houses, and, when the weather admitted, at barns. I have often heard my mother say that the first time I was ever taken from home she carried me to the barn of Benjamin Byers to bear Rev. George W. Walker preach one of his first sermons. There was no Methodist Church building in the neighborhood at that time, nor until 1834, when the old brick church was built on the north bank of King's Creek, near the residence of Mr. Benjamin Byers, and on the land of Samuel Taylor, and near the schoolhouse referred to. Abraham Wademan, Joel Funk, John Mast and my father were on the building committee, all of whom, excep, one, have been gathered as ripe sheaves into the garner of the Master. they loved and served, and he, John Mast, still continues as a mark connecting the past with the present. There is a little financial circumstance connected with the erection of that church, which I often think of with pleasure. Mr. John blast had a meadow near my father's house, and had a man named Ellis mowing with a scythe. I was then a very small boy, and was employed by the owner of the meadow to spread the grass, at a compensation of 12 1/2 cents a day. I worked a day and a half, to his entire satisfaction, and received 18 3/4 cents. The church committee were going to inspect a kiln of brick which had just been burned for the building. My father suggested that it would be a good investment if I would contribute to the purchase of the church brick. In went my 18 cents, the first money I had ever received for labor. That contribution, or rather investment, has been at compound interest ever since. and has yielded a hundred fold " in its influence on mind and heart.
The first. Sabbath school ever in the neighborhood was held at the schoolhouse referred to, and Joel Funk and others of his age were the leading managers. It must have been as early as 1829 or 1830. The first time I went to the Sunday school, Mr. Funk gave me a blue ticket, and, placing his large hand on my head, he read it to me with a comment. I was too young to read, and my mother real it for me until it was so fixed in my mind that it has stood out before me all my subsequent life, the first clause of which I had engraved at the top of the monument at the grave of my sainted mother: "For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory, and no good thing will He withhold from them who walk uprightly."
A debating society was organized, and continued in this '° Little Brick," as it was called, which was well attended, and attracted general interest. Among the disputants who entered into the war of words, I remember Thomas Parker, Peter Walker (afterward an eminent phy sician), his brother, Moses B. Walker (who studied law, and was Subsequently a State Senator, entered the army in 1861, and rose to the rank of Brigadier General, and, after the war was closed, to the Supreme Bench in a neighboring State), Jesse Leonard, T. A. Gifford, Joseph Wademan, Russel B. Spain, I. P. Leonard, James Tolman and others, who will be remembered by the older citizens as prominent young men of 1836 and 1837.
I have hastily put the inclosed together, and therefrom you may be able to glean something to suit your purpose. Very truly, etc., B. B. LEONARD.
The late Duncan M. Vance, M. D., and his sister, Mary Corwin, children of Gov. Vance, when small children, attended school at the Little Brick spoken of is Dr. Leonard's letter. They walked two miles evening and morning to and from school, across the fields and woods. James C. Tolman, mentioned in
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. - 505
Dr. Leonard's letter, is now a citizen of Oregon, and was lately Republican candidate for Governor. He was defeated by a few votes, there being a Democratic majority in Oregon.
The following letter from Gen. Moses B. Walker, who formerly resided in Salem Township with his father's family, and now a resident of Kenton, Ohio, I deem entirely suitable for these pages
My dear Friend, Thomas Cowgill: John Walker settled near West, Liberty, with his family, in 1824, and purchased from Campbell and Neville the property since known as "Pimm's Mills." The country was very sickly, and, after living in that. place about one year, he removed to Ring's Creek, near Kingston, where the family home was fixed, and remained until 1842, when the family, excepting the Rev. George W. and Moses B., removed to Iowa, where John Walker, Sr., died in 1845, and Mrs. Walker died in 1850. The eldest daughter, Harriet, married Charles Lewis; the second daughter, Rebecca, married David little; John D. Walker married Cynthia Corwin. daughter of David Corwin, of Lebanon, Ohio; Zachariah Walker married Ann Thomas ; Dr. Peter Walker married Sarah Stokes, who died in 1856; he was again married to an Iowa lady; Jemima Walker married David Shelby, son of the late Judge Shelby, of Logan County ; 'Moses B. married, in 1842, Maria C. Van Skayck, of Germantown, Ohio, who died July 2, 1853. Two years after, he married Mary M. Hitt, of Vincennes, Ind., the granddaughter of Rev. Martin Hits, who settled in an early day at Urbana, and whose family will be remembered by all the old inhabitants of the county. Mary Walker, the youngest child of John and Mary. married Nelson Stokes. John D. Walker, Moses B., Mrs. Stokes and Mrs. Shelby, are all who are living of this large pioneer family. They all live in Iowa except Moses B., who resides at Kenton, Hardin Co., Ohio. He is a lawyer by profession, is still in the practice; but when the war of the rebellion broke out he accepted a commission in the regular army, and is now a Colonel on the retired list owing to wounds received at the battle of Chickamauga. The children of John. and Mary Walker, when grown up, during the eighteen years they lived in Champaign County, were all ambitious to improve their moral and intellectual status. As they had to contend with the want of good schools at that early day, Moses B. only of the sons received a thorough collegiate education. He began with other boys of his age in the old log schoolhouse. The opportunities for learning the schools then afforded are by no means to be despised ; and Judge Walker, though now an LL. It,, often speaks in terms of praise and veneration of his early teachers-Thomas Goode, John Waller, Robert. Findley and E I Edward L. Morgan. Only the very small boys whose heads would not yet. reach the plow handles, went to school in the spring and summer months. The winter schools were too full to give each scholar a fair opportunity to learn, and only those did learn much who put forth an earnest effort, and were very diligent and attentive. Now and then some of the teachers tried to make learning strike in on the scholars, by a sturdy application of the willow and the apple-tree; which I think, after all, was a better way than has since been found out. in the system of imprisonment often false imprisonment at that), which keeps in the child after school hours, often to the great annoyance of parents as well its children, and not unfrequently to the great prejudice of the health of the child. In old times, if a boy deserved a licking, the teacher considered it something he owed to the offender, and it was promptly paid, the debt. canceled, and the boy, whipped and cleared, felt that tie was free again, and had the world even and ready to open stew accounts if necessary Now resort is had to imprisonment of the offender. I am opposed to the keeping-its system I have not had time allowed me from other engagements to write anything worthy of insertion in your book , of which I wish a copy My daughter has extracted from print some sketches of which. should you wish, you can make use I am glad my father's family should be remembered by you arid those who read your book. Rev. M. P. Gaddis, of Dayton, wrote and published a memoir of brother George, which you will find with many Methodist families, and from which you could take extracts, if you desired, touching church and other matters. I write with a crippled hand, and will crave your indulgence if you have trouble in reading.
Kenton, July 27, 1880. Yours truly, M. B. WALKER.
Rev. George W. Walker was an elder brother of Gen. Walker. His home was for many years in Salem Township. He was an able preacher oŁ the Methodist Episcopal Church, and regarded as a good man. I append the following from the "Cyclopedia of Methodism, by Bishop Simpson, ' which was kindly copied for my use by Gen. Walker's daughter
George W Walker was born to Frederick County, Md.. November 26, 1804, and died at Delaware, Ohio- July :i1, 1856. His parents were members of the Roman Catholic Church, to which he received his religious training. In 1810, the family removed to Ohio. and his father chiefly out of curiosity, purchased a Bible. In a short time, his mother united with the Methodist Episcopal Church which held services in the neighborhood. The father was indignant but a
506 - HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
compromise was made, in which it was agreed that the matter should rest for one month, during which he was to read the Bible and pray for direction, and if, at the end of the month, his opposition remained, the mother should leave the Methodists forever. In a few days, the father was converted, and also united with the church. The son was licensed to preach in 1825, and, in 1826, entered the Ohio Conference. He had a vigorous constitution, and did effective service until the close of his life. He spent two years of his ministry in Michigan, at a time when in was a field of great privation; "but to swollen river, no dismal swamp or dangerous fen, could daunt the lion heart that beat in the bosom of George Walker." He filled important appointments in Cincinnati and Dayton; was Presiding Elder of several districts, and was engaged in agencies connected with the Wesleyan Female College. When on the Hillsboro district, be was stricken with his fatal illness. For his wife's sake, he had a desire to live, but, when he saw the physicians hesitating, he said, "Speak candidly, gentlemen ; I am not afraid to die." As a preacher, he was both argumentative and declamatory. He had a sound understanding and clear judgment. His brethren showed their confidence in him by electing him several times in succession to the General Conference, and giving him other tokens of their regard.
One of the early settlers of Salem Township was Richard Stanhope, a Virginian and a man of color. Sixty-five years ago Richard lived on the hill a little north of the late residence of Solomon Clark, deceased, 'about one mile north of King's Creek, in sight of that creek and its beautiful valley. A short distance east of the spot where Richard then lived and on the brow of the hill, which inclines to the south, lie buried the moldering remains of a number of human beings, white, red and black, without a stone to mark the place of their earthly repose. A few short years, and the place where their ashes lie will pass from the memory of man.
Richard was a member of the Baptist Church, and was converted to that faith on the banks of the Potomac more than eighty years before his death. It is said he was one of the body-guard of Gen. Washington during the Revolutionary war. Richard lived to a great age, and died a few years ago at about one hundred and twelve years. He was a Baptist preacher, and was well known to many of the people of Champaign County sixty-five years ago. At that time he was in the prime of life, and, although comparatively an illiterate colored man, was one of the ablest preachers oŁ his time. His comparisons and illustrations were mostly drawn. from living nature as it then existed, and could be easily understood by the learned scholar or the unlettered plow-boy. Judge Edward L. Morgan, deceased, relates that he once heard him preach the funeral sermon of a young colored woman, at the graveyard before mentioned. After describing the punishment of the wicked in their place of torment in another world, he spoke of the happiness of the righteous in heaven, and when he came to describe that happy place, he pointed toward the beautiful valley which lay before us, then clothed with wild prairie flowers of every color and variety that was pleasing to the eye, from the "Rose of Sharon " to the humblest "Jump-up-Johnny," and said that to us was a beautiful sight, but only a faint resemblance of the country to be hereafter inherited by the righteous. The writer frequently saw Richard Stanhope sixty years ago in his traveling round to dig wells. He dug a well for Garlant Wade on the farm where we now reside, and a well for William H. Baldwin, and for William Mayse, on the farm where Archibald R. Mayse now lives, and for John McAdams and many others. Richard was regarded as a good well-digger and a good preacher. He was a very stout, hardy, heavy-set, chunky, fine-looking man. About the year 1856, Richard was on the stand at a Fourth of July celebration at Urbana, and was introduced to the audience by the orator as the venerable Richard Stanhope, the body-guard of Washington. Thomas Anderson was a noted well-digger in Salem Township at the same time Richard Stanhope was here. He was a soldier of the war of 1812; was not as steady a man as Richard; he would sometimes "drink too much and fight too much," vet with all had many good qualities, and was well
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. - 507
known in Champaign County, and was honored as an old soldier. He has no doubt long since gone the way of all the earth, but do not quite remember the manner of his death.
In writing these pages, we copy largely form the collection of the late Judge Edward L. Morgan, believing that his descendants will not object. Judge Morgan says, what is now the King's Creek Baptist Church, was organized, and twelve years later, in 1816, a log meeting-house, 26x20 feet, was built where the large Baptist meeting-house now stands. John Taylor, a Virginian, and not a member of any church, had previously given the society one acre of land for a burial-ground, and on which to build a meeting-house. The first grave made at King's Creek was the grave of Ann Turner, wife of James Turner. We have not yet learned where the first Methodist meeting was held in Salem Township, nor who preached the first Methodist sermon in that township, but believe the first Methodist society was formed at Mount Tabor about the year 1814. The late Archibald Hopkins, Esq., says: "The first religious meeting I attended here was held at Griffith Evan's house. About the year 1816, a small log meeting-house was built at Mount Tabor. The first camp-meeting was held at Mount Tabor in 1816, which was continued there a few years. Lorenzo Dow preached at Mount Tabor in 1826. The writer's home here was near the place where Simon Kenton was once tied on a wild colt by the Indians, with the expectation that the colt would run through the plum thickets and soon tear him to pieces. Instead of that, the colt was as gentle as a lamb, and quietly followed the Indians without doing him any harm. Simon Kenton informs us that the Indians made a mound, yet standing in John Enoch's field, on which the Indian chief used to stand and see the white men run the gauntlet on the track in the prairie near by."
The first grave made at Mount Tabor, was for a daughter of Griffith Evans, buried about the year 1815. Among the first Methodist preachers in Salem Township were Samuel and Martin Hitt, Robert Casebolt and Joshua, Inskip.
A religious meeting of the Society of Friends was held regularly at the cabins of the settlers in the year 1812-John Robinson's, Jacob Stratton's and Isaac Gray's houses-and one summer the meeting was held in Silas Williams' sugar camp. Mildred Ratliff, a lady minister, resident in North Carolina, was probably the first minister of the Society of Friends who preached in Salem Township. In the fall of the year 1812, she held meetings at the houses of Jacob Stratton, John Robinson and Isaac Gray. She was an old acquaintance of Isaac Gray's family. When she was at Isaac Gray's house, in conversation with Aunt Lydia Gray, she said, " Lydia, we may not live to see it, yet in the order of Divine Providence, the slaves will be set free, and will probably have as much dominion over their former masters as their masters now have over them." This meeting was held near the northeasterly corner of Salem Township, where Silas and Mary Williams settled, in the year 1813. Phineas Hunt settled here about the same year, and William H. Baldwin in 1814. Aaron L. Hunt and Enos Baldwin, with their families, settled at the same time on what was then called the " Round Prairie," about three miles south of where the vil lage of Kennard now is. Probably in the year 1815, a small log meeting-house was built in this neighborhood, near the source of the North Fork of King's Creek, nearby where a grave-yard now is, known as the " Old Friends' Graveyard," where perhaps one hundred and fifty graves are made. The first grave made at this place was for John Williams, who died in the summer of 1815. He was the father of the late Nicholas Williams, of Logan County, and brother
508 - HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
of Hon. Micajah T. Williams, one of the first Canal Commissioners of Ohio, and long an honored resident of Cincinnati, who died about forty years ago, and brother to Hon. Jesse L. Williams, a distinguished civil engineer of Indiana, long a resident and active business man of Fort Wayne ; he is yet living, I believe; also uncle to Hon. Micajah T. Williams, now an eminent lawyer and a Judge, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Phineas Hunt and his sister, Mary Williams, fre quently ministered and gave council at this meeting in early times. Thomas Antrim was probably the first resident minister of the Society of Friends in Ohio, north of Waynesville. He was father of Joshua Antrim, the historian, and was an able preacher, and regarded by all as a good man. He spent much of his time in traveling and preaching and doing good, without any pecuniary compensation. He settled in what is now Logan County, near where West Middleburg now is, in 1803. In the year 1815, he removed to Salem Township and there spent six of the latter years of his life. He died in 1821. His moldering remains now lie in the cemetery near where he settled in 1803. Phineas Hunt was noted as a peace man ; he did not believe in using violence, even in self-defense-perhaps never met with a case where it would have done any good. His armor was justice to all men and faith in God. Phineas Hunt was of large stature; he was over six feet high, well proportioned, very muscular, rather corpulent, and, at fifty-five or sixty years of age, walked erect. His appearance was venerable, noble and commanding. He was a native of North Carolina, and crossed the Ohio River from Virginia into the Northwestern Territory some years before the beginning of the eighteenth century. He lived in the Southern part of the now State of Ohio until 1812, consequently he lived a number of years in the vicinity of hostile Indians. In the year 1812, he removed to Champaign County, and lived a year or two near where Cable now is. He then removed to Salem Township, near the present line of Logan County, on a tract of land now owned by William Scott, where he lived until the year 1830, when he removed to Northern Indiana, near La Porte, and soon after removed to Logan County, Ohio, where he died in 1836. A pioneer friend thus writes of Phineas Hunt " It was my privilege to spend a few minutes with him and his wife in their very advanced age, not long before his close. It was among the sweet moments of my life. His countenance shone with brightness, while be declared the love and mercy of the Savior, and his confidence in Him. I thought they were both very near the Kingdom." William H. Baldwin and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Phineas Hunt, settled in Salem Township in 1815. William H. Baldwin's death occurred in 1855, and his wife's death occurred in 1878, she having resided in Salem Township sixty-three years, and in what is now the State of Ohio over eighty years. Dr. John D. Elbert, Sr., who died near Mount Moriah, in Logan County, Ohio, about fifty years ago, was the first resident physician in Salem Township. He settled on Dugan Prairie in 1811, and practiced medicine there a few years. Dr. Elbert was an eminent physician, very extensively known, and regarded as being one of the best of men. His daughter Catharine, in her life-time the wife of Rev. George W. Walker, thus speaks of her father
"Beneath the moss-grown apple-tree
A sacred spot we press'd,
When we knelt in silence, by the grave,
Where our sainted father rests.
A pilgrim-angel, here below,
He seemed to mortals given,
Dispensing, 'mid earth's deepest woes,
The healing balm oŁ Heaven."
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. - 509
Dr. Elbert's wife, and son, Dr. John D. Elbert, Jr., are buried in Van Buren County, Iowa.
In August, 1818, the writer attended his first camp-meeting at Mount. Tabor; was then six years old and went with his father on second day, Monday morning. Was much interested to see so many wagons and tents around. The tents were mostly built of small logs, in the form of a three-faced cabin; but many tents were stretched with linen covers. Our attention was immediately arrested with the exercises of the meeting. A large company was collected on and around the preacher's stand ; nearly all were standing on their feet, some on benches, some on chairs and some on the ground. It seemed that all were engaged, either in preaching, singing, praying, shouting, crying or laughing ; had never beheld such a scene. The jerks were then a common exercise at the Methodist meetings; the young women were mostly affected in this way. Stout young women would be taken with the jerks, and it would seem they would be jerked to pieces; their long hair would come down on their shoulders and become disheveled, and, in their jerking, would crack like a wagon whip; and sometimes they would fall down, backward, or in any way, over the rough benches or logs and lay for hours in a state of apparent suspension of life, and, after awhile, get up all well.
In a conversation with the late John Hunter, a few years since, he said that he had not known any of this remarkable exercise since the camp-meeting that was held at Mount Tabor in 1820. Some of the old Methodist friends remarked that Simon Kenton attended camp-meeting at Mount Tabor about this time and became so excited with the exercises of the meeting, that, without hat or coat, he ran through the woods at full speed toward the site of the present town of West Liberty, and probably made as good time as he did when the Indians were after him nearly on the same ground.
The Friends' meeting in Salem Township was frequently favored with the ministry of traveling ministers from a distance-some from Virginia, Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio and other places, who came to visit the scattered little meetings in the wilderness, and on their journeys frequently had to camp out at night without shelter, and hobble their tired horses out to graze. Among those early ministers was Christopher Anthony, an eminent preacher among the Friends in Virginia. He was grandfather of Hon. Charles Anthony, late of Springfield, Ohio. About the year 1816, he held a meeting at Jacob Stratton's house, in Mingo Valley, and in the evening of the same day, in company with Thomas Antrim, held a meeting at the house of Matthew Stewart, Sr., on King's Creek. Some time previous to this date, a lady minister, aged about seventy years, traveled on horseback through the wilderness, from her home in North Carolina, camping out mostly at night, and wherever she could find a little settlement of her own society, or others who wished to have a meeting among them, she would have them collected together and preach to the lonely settlers the glad tidings of mercy and peace. This aged and devoted Christian seemed to be willing to bear any privation or face any difficulty to do the Master's will. In passing through the woods from a meeting held in "Marmon's Valley," to an appointment at Job Sharp's house, near the site of West Middleburg, the party was overtaken by a heavy rain, accompanied by much wind, thunder and lightning. Some of her companions proposed to halt and shelter under the trees as best they could; she at once said "No, go on, go on ; we shall be too late to meeting." Her shield was faith in God. There were ere many instances of equal devotion and energy among the early ministers and
510 - HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
members of the Society of Friends. They were remarkable for their zeal and perseverance in attending their religious meetings. They were seldom deterred by cold, rain, storm or high water in the streams, which were then generally unbridged. The writer has seen his father and mother start out in the rain, thunder and lightning on horseback and travel three miles to attend their meeting in a log cabin, when, perhaps, there were very few there besides themselves. In August, 1819, I attended a camp meeting at Mount Tabor, and heard Revs. James B. Finley, Robert Miller and Martin Hitt preach to the Indians. A very large colored man named Jonathan Stuart acted as interpreter. We well remember how closely he seemed to listen while the preacher spoke a few sentences ; he would then speak almost in a voice of thunder and interpret to the Indians, with many motions and gestures ; the Indians would then give a loud grunt, I suppose, of approbation. This Stuart was of the Baptist persuasion, and spent many years as a missionary among the Indians about Upper Sandusky, and, I suppose, did much good. About 4 o'clock in the evening, a prayer meeting was held for the Indians. I heard a number of them pray ; their prayers were not interpreted ; I do not know what they said. One old chief, I think it was "Between-the-logs," sometimes seemed to be at a loss for a word. He would frequently appear to make out a sentence with a long groan. A large number of Indians attended this meeting, mostly Wyan dots, some Senecas and perhaps some of other tribes. They had a great many ponies and dogs with them.
On the 23d of August, 1880, on a visit to an aged friend, James Black, Esq., of Salem Township, the writer found the old man in his eighty-fourth year, weak and feeble in body and mind, but strong in honesty, honor and noble feeling. With the assistance of his obliging sons, John and James, he gave the following historical incidents. His father; Capt. Alexander Black, settled on Mad River, in Salem Township, in 1809. Judge McPherson, then an Indian trader, lived on what is now known as the Samuel Black farm. This point was first settled by a Frenchman named Deshicket, in 1794 ; he was probably the first resident white settler in what is now Champaign County. In the spring preceding Wayne's decisive battle, August 20, 1794, Deshicket resided near the Greenville treaty ground.
He warned the Indians that they had better remove, if they remained where they were they would have trouble. The white woman named Molly Kiser, spoken of elsewhere in this work, resided at this place in the family of Judge McPherson, as a servant or help. Judge McPherson was grandfather or great-grandfather of Gen. McPherson, who was murdered by guerrillas during the war of the rebellion. Sometimes there were five hundred Indians or more camped around McPherson, on Mad River. At one time the whole company of Indians left for Detroit market with thirty horses loaded with furs. On such trips they would return loaded with goods and rum; they would put two kegs of rum in a leathern sack and carry one keg on each side of the horse. Judge McPherson would send any number of Indians to help the white settlers raise their cabins, with strict orders that there should be no whisky on the ground. As long as there was a white man left to direct the Indians how to build the cabin they were good and faithful hands.
"Roundhead " was much of the time about McPherson's, and was a troublesome Pottawatomie Chief. "Battecast " was also at McPherson's and along Mad River a considerable portion of the time. He had a remarkable nose; it covered his face and hung down over his chin.
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. - 511
During the war of 1812, at the time when Fort Finley was besieged, Gov. Meigs, whose headquarters was at Urbana, visited Capt. Black one evening and requested him to raise his company and go immediately to the relief of Fort Finley. Capt. Black's company were almost immediately in motion, following Hull's trace toward Fort Finley. In crossing the Scioto River, the Captain ordered his men to let their horses drink, and not stop to water them any more till they arrived at Fort Finley. The next stream to cross was Eagle Creek. There was a flank trace on each side of the main Hull trace, about two hundred yards from the latter. Capt. Black ordered his men to divide in two equal numbers and march along the flank traces, about ten feet apart, in single file. Before the company approached the crossing of Eagle Creek, they noticed the grass was much tramped down. The company moved quietly over Eagle Creek on the flank traces, and soon after learned that Battecast, with eight hundred Indians, was hid in the grass on each side of the creek, waiting for the company to stop at the creek, on the main trace, to water their horses, and then intending to exterminate the company in a few minutes. The adroit management of Capt. Black in marching his men on the flank traces saved the lives of his men.
The Indians buried their dead by digging a round hole in the ground in the easiest place they could find, in gravel or sand, and would set the corpse down, feet foremost, in the hole and crowd the body down as low as they could and cover up the grave, sometimes the head was not buried more than a foot deep. James Black attended many of their burials along Mad River, on the east and west side, scattered about. The tribes carried a chief from McPherson's to Fort Finley for burial after he had been dead three days. They put him on horseback, tied his feet tight under the horse's body, then put a piece of bark round his neck and tied one end to the horse's tail, and another end to his neck. They were about three days in conveying him to Fort Finley, while the stench was very offensive.
Capt. Black, Moses McIlwain and several other early settlers of this neighborhood, emigrated from Kentucky, and were members oŁ the New Light or Christian Church. A camp-meeting of the New Light Church was held between the houses of Capt. Black and Moses McIlwain, Sr., I suppose on the old Hull trace, in the year 1813, which meeting lasted two or three days. Richard Clark, of Kentucky, was the only preacher at the meeting; about forty persons attended this camp-meeting. Joseph Thomas, or the "White Pilgrim," preached many times in this neighborhood, in Salem Township; two preachers named Caleb and Nathan Worley, Virginians, father and son, preached in this neighborhood in an early day, all members 3f the New Light Church.
The first schoolhouse built in this neighborhood was built on the Samuel Black farm, about the year 1814. I did not learn the name of the first teacher. Robert Crocket taught the second term in that schoolhouse. Among the scholars who attended the first school in this house were : William, John, Samuel and James Kavanaugh, Moses McIlwain's children, Capt. Black's children and George Petty's adopted daughter.
Before the war of 1812, the outlines of an ancient fort were distinctly marked on the George Petty farm. This fort contained four and a half acres, in a right-angled square form ; on the outside, the wall was four and a half feet, perpendicular ; on the inside, it was gradually sloping; free from grass on the inside surface. A large burr-oak tree, three feet in diameter, growing on the wall of this fort, which tree may have been five hundred years old.
512 - HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
The Indians who inhabited this country eighty years ago, at the first settlement of the whites, have no knowledge when this fort was made. In the war of 1812, Government cattle were herded on this farm, when George Petty was proprietor. The cattle then horned and trampled down the wall of this fort, so that George Petty afterward plowed and leveled down the wall. An orchard and part of a corn-field now occupy the site of this ancient fort. A mound of considerable size still stands a little south of the site of this ancient fort ; excavations have been made in this mound, but no bones or Indian relics found. This is a suitable field for our scientific association at Urbana to labor in.
Moses McIlwain, Sr., built a brick house on his farm in 1817. Martin Marmon was the builder of this house, which was the first brick house built in Salem Township. Capt. Black built a brick house in 1818; a man by the name of Whitus was the builder.
The Indians and Indian chiefs frequently stayed all night with Moses McIlwain, Sr., and Capt. Black sometimes camped around the house and sometimes stayed in the house. Tecumseh frequently visited Capt. Black, and tarried with him through the night, and was a quiet, orderly, well-behaved man.
The first post office in Salem Township was established at Kennard in 1866; Thomas A. Cowgill, Postmaster.
About ten rods north of the residence of Thomas A. Cowgill are the remains of a log schoolhouse, which, it is supposed, was built in 1815-the mark of the old fire-place, which occupied the east end of the house, is yet plainly to be seen. This was among the first schoolhouses built in Salem Township. Among the builders were Isaac Gray, Enos Baldwin, John McAdams, Aaron L. Hunt, William H. Baldwin, Nathan Moffitt and Col. John Thomas. Around the site of this old schoolhouse, linger many pleasant memories of the past. I cannot name the first teacher of this school. Among the early teachers were Judge Daniel Baldwin, Judge Edward L. Morgan, John Organ, Henry Cowgill and Jesse Baldwin.
In 1855, the late Duncan M. Vance, M. D., built a mill on King's Creek, about one mile west of Saratoga Mills, near the mouth of King's Creek. This mill was burned down a few years since. The site is now owned and occupied by a gentleman named Smith.
Kenton Mills are situated near the mouth of King's Creek, and were built, I think, about forty years ago; these mills are now owned by a Mr. Arrowsmith, who is related by marriage to Rev. William Haller.* Rev. William Haller was a very early settler of Mad River Township, and, about fifteen years ago, removed to Salem Township and settled at Kingston, where be still lives, at an advanced age.
Friend Haller has been a member and minister of the Methodist Church for many years. He has spent much of his time and means to promote morality and religion in the community in which he has lived. He is now in the enjoyment of a peaceful old age, looking back upon a well-spent life, devoted to good works.
In 1842, Rev. Benjamin Gehman bought the John Walker homestead, near Kingston. On this farm he has since lived. He is a wealthy and prosperous gentleman. Since his settlement in Salem Township, he has been a member and minister of the Methodist Church. Like William Haller, he spends much of his time and contributes his money liberally to promote morality and religion and all good works. Benjamin-Gehman has, in the past few years, paid
*Rev. William Haller died Dec. 2,1880. See obituary notice following Salem township history.
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. - 513
large sums of money for the building of two houses of public worship in Salem Township ; be has patiently borne the burden and heat of the day in sustaining them, sometimes under discouraging circumstances.
LUDLOW'S LINE.
The above name was given to a line running from the head of Scioto to the source of Little Miami River, dividing the United States land on the west from the Virginia military land on, the east. This line was run by Israel Ludlow about the year 1800. By virtue of a charter given by James I, King of England, in the year 1609, all the country west of the Ohio River to the Pacific Ocean was ceded to the State of Virginia. After the close of the Revolutionary war, the State of Virginia, ceded to the United States the greater part of this vast domain, and, at the same time, made certain reservations, and among them she reserved all the land lying between the Little Miami and Scioto Rivers, in what is now the State of Ohio. Nearly four thousand acres of this Virginia military land lies in the northeasterly corner of Salem Township. The remainder of Salem Township is composed of United States lands, which, about the year 1800, were laid off in blocks of four miles square, by Israel Ludlow, and, about 1802, said blocks of land were divided into sections and quarter sections by Lewis Cass. The sections are one mile square, containing 640 acres each. Six miles square of this land form a township. The Virginia military lands are not surveyed into townships or any regular form, but any individual holding a Virginia military land warrant could locate it wherever he chose within the district, and in any shape he pleased, where the lane land not previously located. In consequence of this deficiency of regular surveys, and the irregularities with which the several locations were made, and the consequent interference and encroachment of some surveys upon others, more than double the litigation arose between the holders of adverse titles in this district than occurred in any other part of Ohio of equal extent, in regard to land titles, Those difficulties were mostly settled more than forty years ago.
The following will give an idea of how a law-suit was prevented fifty years ago in Salem Township: About the year 1824, it was found the title was not good to Military Survey No. 4520-Richard Osborn, original proprietor. This land is situated about nine miles north of Urbana. anti mostly to Salem Township, adjoining the farm on which the writer lives, and embraces a tract of nearly one thousand acres. It was also discovered. at the same time, that about three hundred acres of land, lying immediately south of the Osborn tract, was vacant land, and these three hundred acres hail, before that time, been thought to be included in the Osborn survey. A part of the occupants of the Osborn survey were James Thomas, Silas Williams, Phineas Hunt, Richard Williams, Benjamin Johnson, Asa Williams, John Robinson, Col. John Thomas and Jacob Stratton. The occupants of the vacant land were Jacob Stratton, John Robinson and Garlant Wade. This affair occasioned, for a time, much trouble and uneasiness, as the occupants would probably be involved in a tedious lawsuit, and be subjected to much difficulty, and might lose their homes. Upon examination it was found that the defect in the title of the Osborn survey was with some of the representatives of Richard Osborn, one of whom was Maj. Hugh Boyle, then Clerk of the Courts of Fairfield County, at Lancaster. It. was agreed by the parties interested that Col. John Thomas an honored name should be deputed to visit Hugh Boyle at Lancaster, and see if some arrangement could be made to quiet the title of this land, Col. Thomas accordingly
514 - HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
had an interview with Hugh Boyle, and, after mutual explanations of the case on both sides, Maj. Boyle, without any hesitation, went to work and removed the difficulty entirely, and he and his wife gave Col. Thomas a power of attorney to make proper conveyances to the parties interested of their respective shares of this land, as they had before occupied. At that time, it was sometimes customary for a woman, on signing a deed with her husband, to ask fur some present, as a dress etc. When Maj. Boyle's lady signed this conveyance, Col. Thomas asked her what present he should make to her. She replied, as she was raised and educated a member of the Society of Friends, and as several of the families living on this land were members of the same church, she wanted the ladies living in the land to make and send her a plain cap, such as the elderly women Friends usually wear. This request was handsomely complied with by Aunt Esther Downs and other ladies interested. Aaron L. Hunt, then County Surveyor of Champaign County, laid a land warrant on the three hundred acres of vacant land and had it regularly patented, and the title secured in his own name. He then surveyed this land into lots, giving the same occupant the same land he then occupied, including improvements and timber, and sold and conveyed the land to the occupants at $2 per acre. which was only a very little more than it cost him to secure the title to himself. This land was then worth about $8 per acre, and A. L. Hunt had the genuine title, and could have conveyed it to whom he pleased.
It seems A. L. Hunt had deeded some of the land to parties before they paid for it, without taking any security.
Jacob Stratton at one time went to Aaron to make a payment on his share. He had probably paid at several times previously, without keeping an account ' of the amount of his payments. Aaron said, "Jacob, I think thee has paid e enough already. and maybe too much; thee may stop now- needn't pay any more." And so the matter ended, I believe, to the satisfaction of all parties.
Since writing the foregoing pages, I have learned that, in the year 1810, Griffith Evans and Martha Evans, his wife, with a few children, emigrated from Greenbrier 'County, Va., and settled near the site of Mount Tabor, on a large tract of excellent land that he previously bought from the owner, Alexander Dunlap, in Virginia. In the year 1811, an infant daughter of Griffith Evans and wife, was buried at the place now occupied by the large cemetery at Mount Tabor. This was the first grave made at this consecrated place, and Griffith Evans' family was probably the first Methodist family in Salem Township. It seems that Griffith and Martha Evans, with almost prophetic vision, selected this beautiful spot in the .wilderness, on their own land, as a burial-place for their loved-child, long before any arrangement had been made for using this ground for church purposes. From the year 1810 to 1814, several other Methodist families removed from Greenbrier County, Va., and settled near what is now the north line of Champaign County.
In 1814,a little Methodist society was formed at this place, and met at Griffith Evans' house for worship. This house was furnished with an earthen floor and puncheon seats. In 1816, a little log-cabin meeting-house was built at Mount Tabor, and Rev. Saul Henkle preached the first sermon in that house. John Hunter, father of Nathaniel C. Hunter, the last of the pioneer band who built that little meeting-house in 1816, departed this life February 28, 1878. Another noble act of Griffith Evans and wife, I think ought to be here recorded. Martha Evans' maiden name was Martha McNeal; at the time of her marriage
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY - 515
to Griffith Evans, she was possessed of considerable wealth; among other property, her father left her several slaves. At or before the time of their emigration to this county, their slaves were all set free, and I believe all followed them to this country. I have frequently seen Martha Evans' former slaves about her house, and she used them as kindly as if they had been her own children.
Mennonite or Amish Church. -In the spring of 1845, Joseph N. Kauffman, in the summer of same year, his brother-in-law Jacob Hooley, in the fall of same year his father David Kauffman, all settled in Salem Township. The first meeting of this sect in Salem Township, was held in 1849, at Christopher Yoder's house, on the large farm now owned by Stewart brothers. Their first meeting-house was built in 1857, immediately west of Ludlow's line, adjoining Jacob Hooley's farm. At this meeting house, there is a beautiful cemetery, in good order; the house is now used on funeral occasions. In 1877, this society built a large meeting-house, about one mile northwest of the cemetery above named. The membership of this church amounts to about one hundred and ten. There is generally a large attendance at this meeting from other congregations of the same church in Logan County. The society seems to be in a. prosperous condition. The members of this church are remarkable for their care in keeping their homes and farms in beautiful and excellent order, and for their industry, economy and prudence in managing their business. It is pleasant to speak of the prosperity of this quiet and inoffensive people.
Noah Troyer, a member and remarkable minister of the Amish society, lived in Salem Township from 1847 to 1862-fifteen years. In September, 1880, he visited his old home and neighbors in Salem Township. Since some time in the year 1878, he has been strangely held by nervous or other peculiar symptoms. About 4 o'clock, P. M., every day, he is generally attacked with severe spasmodic action of the muscular system, which continues to grow worse until about 7 o'clock, when he is thrown into a deep sleep or trance; soon after, he will partly arise from his bed and kneel and offer a short and impressive prayer; then stand upon his feet and speak or preach for from one hour to three and a half hours, then appear to swoon away and sleep soundly, generally until 4 o'clock A. M., waken up and appear to be sound and well in the morning, and not remember anything that took place during the night. This was about the course with him every night while he was here for two weeks.
Jacob Hartzler was the first preacher at the Amish Church in Salem Township. Since him there have been Joseph Kauffman, John Wary, John King, Moses Stutzman, Rufus A. Yoder, and perhaps others who have officiated as ministers.
Nathaniel and Ann Hunter, with their nine children, four boys and five girls, started to remove from their home in Greenbrier County, Va., on the 15th day of September, 1811. They stopped and settled six miles south of London, in Madison County, Ohio, where they remained three years. In 1814, they removed to Salem Township, Champaign County, Ohio, and bought a large tract of excellent land, three miles southeast of where West Liberty now is The parents of this family were members of the Methodist Church. In 1816, Nathaniel Hunter and his four sons all helped liberally to build the first meeting house at Mount Tabor. They all helped liberally to build two brick meeting houses at the same place since that time.
The four sons and five daughters all joined the Methodist Church at Mount Tabor at an early age; all lived and died members of the same church; all were of high social standing in life; all did much every way to advance morality
516 - HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
and religion in the community in which they lived; and all, parents and children, are buried at Mount Tabor.
At a re-union of the Hunter family in Salem Township, in 1873, twenty-six members of the family connection were present. Now, in 1880, Nathaniel C. Hunter and his family are all of this once large family connection that remain in Salem Township.
About the year 1817 Ezra Read and Lyman North settled on King's Creek, in Salem Township. They were natives of Connecticut, and, I think, emigrated from that State about the time they settled in Salem Township. They both joined the Baptist Church at Kingston about the year 1840. Nancy Read, wife of Ezra Read, died in 1820. Ezra Read and Lyman North were good and useful citizens, and ardent friends of education, always willing to bear their share of the burden to promote schools. They both raised large families of children, some of whom were among the best scholars of their time. Daniel Read, eldest son of Ezra Read, still lives, and is professor in a college in Minnesota. Burleigh Read, the youngest son, is living in Logansport, Ind. All the remainder of that once large family are in their graves. John and Abel North live in Salem Township; William lives in California; their sisters, Sarah and Lucy Ann, live in Allen County, Ohio ; the other children of that once large family are deceased. Ezra Read and Lyman North both died about 1862. Lucy North, wife of Lyman North, died a few years since. She was one of the excellent women of the earth. Ezra Read and his two wives and Lyman North and his wife are buried in the Baptist cemetery at Kingston.
William and Huldah Downs, and many of their descendants, emigrated from New Jersey about the year 1816, and settled on King's Creek, opposite to where Lyman North lived. The old people were buried nearly sixty years ago in the cemetery near Alfred Johnson's mansion, in Wayne Township. Some of their descendants still live in Salem Township. William and Joseph Downs, nephews of the above named William and Huldah Downs, about the same year (1816), settled on King's Creek, a little north of Ezra Read's home, where William erected a woolen factory, and died at that home fully sixty years ago, and was buried in the Johnson Cemetery above named. Joseph Downs died in the year 1858, on his farm, adjoining Mount Tabor, and was buried in the old Friends' Cemetery, one mile east of Mount Tabor; his venerable widow, aged 85 years, now lives in North Lewisburg. In 1818. Robert Reed and family, his son Joel Reed and family, emigrated from New Jersey and settled on King's Creek, one mile west of Lyman North's home, where they lived many years. The older members of the family are now all deceased ; some of their descendants live in Urbana.
In the winter of 1826-27, Dr. Samuel A. Latta taught school in a log cabin schoolhouse on the farm now owned by David Fulweider ; he also taught a grammar school at night, which schools were both largely attended. This was the first grammar school I attended. An exhibition was held on the last day of this school, which was attended by a large concourse of people. At the close, Dr. Latta preached an able sermon, and very good order was observed. In 1818, Mr. Cowgill opened a smith-shop near the east line of Salem Township. Among his regular customers were William H. Baldwin, Nathan Moffitt, Enos Baldwin, Isaac Gray, Jehu Gray, Asa Gray, Matthew Mason, Isaac Mason, James Craighill. Matthew Stewart, Archibald Stewart. John McAdams, Isaac McAdams, John Taylor. William Taylor David Taylor, Ezra Read, Lyman
PAGE 517 - PICTURE OF BENJAMIN NORMAN - JOHNSON TP.
PAGE 518 - BLANK
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. - 519
North, Aaron L. Hunt, Col. John Thomas, Alexander Thomas, Griffith Evans, Isaac Evans, Isaac Thompson, Joseph Downs, William Mayse, Thomas Humphreys, Nathaniel Hunter, Alexander Hunter, Thomas Hunter, and Bethuel Samples. This was the beginning of a friendship with Mr. Cowgill and each and every one of the venerated persons above named, which continued through life.
LOST CHILD IN THE WOODS AND PRAIRIES IN 1821.
A little daughter of Mr. Cowgill's, then about four years old, had been in the habit of going with some of the family to the nearest neighbor's, William H. Baldwin. She one afternoon assumed the responsibility of going alone ; she went straight to the neighbor's, when Aunt Elizabeth soon started her home, and went with her near to the crossing of the Urbana road, and watched her along the path until she thought the little girl would surely get safe home. Somehow, she missed the way, and took down south along the Urbana road, which was then a mere pathway. Her track was seen in the road, but, as it happened, she was not seen by any one until after sundown. She had traveled partly along the Urbana, and along paths and through woods, barrens and prairies, and crossed King's Creek, which is said to have been one-third larger fifty years ago, than at present. In the evening, after sundown, she was found along a cow-path, among the plum and hazel bushes, near the present home of Matthew Stewart, Esq. A man named Lyman Olds then lived near Kingston ; his boys were out hunting their cows, and met the little girl along the path ; they asked her where she was going, she said "goin' home." The boys took her home with them, their father talked with her, and she told him where she had been, told him her name, and answered every question directly and to the point. Lyman Olds made ready as soon as he could and took the little girl to the house of John McAdams, Esq. AS soon as it was ascertained that the child was lost, almost the whole neighborhood turned out to search for her, a number of women were of the company. Near 11 o'clock at night, several men were stopped about one-fourth mile south of where Kennard now is, consulting about the best mode of search, when some one said, "Listen, I hear a call." We listened, and at the distance of about one mile we plainly heard a loud, clear call borne upon the quiet air of that calm, clear night in August, Isaac McAdams said, That is mother's voice. I know the child is found."The men then started on a run in the direction of the call. Soon after, tin horns sounded from several of the neighboring houses; it seemed to be a time of great and general rejoicing the child was found. Lyman Olds said the little girl talked to him incessantly on their journey that night, told him what each member of the family were doing when she left home, the names of all the horses and cows on the farm. She arrived at home about midnight, to the great joy of her parents and the family, her mother being sick at the time. A company of Indians were camped a few days before on the east fork of King's Creek, near where Cable now stands. It was feared by some that the Indians had taken the child.
RAILROADS.
The Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad was the pioneer road in Ohio; it was surveyed in 1832, and finished building in 1848. It is now known as the Cincinnati, Sandusky & Cleveland Railroad. It is now one of the most noted thoroughfares in the State; running across Salem Township from a point south of Saratoga Mills to Logan County line, near West Liberty.
520 - HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY.
The New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad, first known as the Franklin & Warren Railroad, afterward as the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad, was surveyed in 1855, and trains first ran on this road through Salem Township in 1865. This road is now about equal in commercial importance with the Cincinnati, Sandusky & Cleveland Railroad. It crosses Salem Township from a point at about the junction of King's Creek and Mingo Valleys, running down King's Creek Valley to join the line of Urbana Township, near Urbana. The Pan Handle Railroad, now known as the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad, was surveyed in the spring of 1852, and built immediately thereafter. A great business is now done on this road. It is probably equal in importance to any road in this part of Ohio. It crosses the east line of Salem Township at a point near " Round Prairie," on the south Fork of King's Creek, running down the beautiful valleys of King's Creek and Dugan to join the line of Urbana Township, very near the line of the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad.
TOWNS.
The town of Kingston was not regularly laid out. It has been growing seventy-five years, since 1805, when Salem Township and, Champaign County were established. The writer was at this town sixty-three years ago; a blockhouse was then standing near Taylor's Mill, which mill was built by John Taylor, a Virginian, in 1810. In 1814, and for some years thereafter, Simon Kenton lived near the mill, and used frequently to come here to mill, riding on his pony with a bushel and a half of corn under him to get ground to make his pone of. Kingston is now a flourishing village of about 300 inhabitants, containing two fine churches and two good schoolhouses near. Rev. Benjamin Gehman lives near this village.
There is a post office at this village, and a depot on the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad lies one-half mile east of the village.
The village is surrounded by a rich country. The late Judge Edward L. Morgan lived one mile east of this village.
Kennard is situated on the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad, seven miles north of Urbana. Samuel H. Robinson was proprietor and laid out this town in 1864. The village contains near 200 inhabitants. One good church, one good schoolhouse, one large grain warehouse and one post office, which was the first post office in Salem Township.
A good country surrounds this village. The classic "King's Creek" runs in sight.
William and Alex Madden, brothers and native Virginians, reside near this town. William is about eighty years of age, in very feeble health. Alex is aged about seventy years, and is strong, robust and healthy.
[Since the writing of Salem Township history, Rev. William Haller has passed away. , He took a deep interest in the Champaign County History, and assisted in placing on record many interesting historical facts known only to himself. The following obituary notice appeared December 9, 1880, in the columns of the Critizen and Gazette, of Urbana, Ohio, and is so fitting a tribute to the man and his works that we gladly make place for it. - PUBLISHERS.]
"Rev. William Haller, an old and highly esteemed citizen of this county, died at his residence in Salem Township, Thursday morning, December 2, aged about eighty years. The deceased was one of the early pioneers of the county, having resided here for some sixty-five years, and was highly appreciated by
HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. - 521
all who knew him for honesty and integrity. In early life, he embraced religion, and for some sixty years has been a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church. His life has been one of activity and usefulness, and at a ripe old age has been gathered to his fathers. Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace.' For many years, the deceased has been a contributor to the columns of the Citizen and Gazette.
"Since the above has been put in type, the following has been received from the pen of T. S. McFarland
"The subject of the following sketch was born at Mayslick, Mason County, Ky., on the 5th day of August, 1801. In 1812, his father came to Ohio, at a time when the war cloud was gathering between this and the mother country; and landed in Urbana on the 12th of October of the above year; William then being a lad of eleven years of age. His father, John Haller, subsequently, in 1814, settled near the mouth of Nettle Creek, where William grew to the years of manhood. He had, prior to his leaving Kentucky, at the age of nine years, professed conversion, and shortly after his emigration to Ohio, at the age of thirteen years, he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church under the labors of Rev. Robert W. Finley. At the age of nineteen years, he was licensed as an exhorter, and three years later as a minister. In 1825, he married Sarah, daughter of Ezekiel Arrowsmith, who died ten years later, leaving him three children-Fletcher, Lewis and Emily Jane. The year following her death, in 1836, he married Jane, his former wife's sister, who died in 1851, leaving him two children, Sarah and Lavenia. In 1855, he married Myrtilla Bishop, his now bereaved widow, by whom he had one child, who appropriately bears his father's name. Shortly aster his first marriage, he built his first cabin at the old homestead, in Mad River Township, now occupied by his son-in-law, Elijah Hanna. Here be continued to live until after the death of his second wife, when he removed to the hill one mile west of Urbana. He finally removed to Kingston, where he lived either in the village or vicinity, until the day of his death, December 2, 1880. Coming into the county as he did, when the country was a comparative wilderness, he grew up to years of manhood, and watched with more than ordinary interest the rapid development from time to time. He was a man of more than ordinary attainments, and always imparted his information for the benefit of others, with great pleasure. He was a modest, unassuming, self-sacrificing man, and the people of the Mad River Valley are indebted more to him than any other man for its moral and religious element. He was for many years a contributor to the paper which contains this notice of his life and death. In this he will be missed, as in all other circles of society, for, though dead, his works do follow him. His funeral services took place in the Methodist Episcopal Church at Kingston, under the direction of the venerable Rev. D. Warnock, assisted by Rev. S. F. Conrey, Rev. B. Gehman, and the Pastor, Rev. G. H. Kennedy. The Hymns 979 and 990 were sung by the choir in a manner never to be forgotten by those present. A very large and sympathetic congregation was present to show their regard for a man who had no enemies. His remains were borne by request, by his old neighbors west of the river, namely: J. D. Powell, J. M. McFarland, F. N. Barger and T. S. McFarland. Thus has a good man passed away, whose memory will be revered for generations to come. His remains were at his request laid in the Talbott Graveyard, beside those of his second wife. Peace to his ashes."