Logan County, Ohio History

338 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY

CHAPTER VIII *

BELLEFONTAINE-BEGINNINGS OF THE VILLAGE -ADVANCE OF CIVILIZATION - BUSINESS PROSPERITY - GROWTH OF INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS - SCHOOLS - CHURCHES - BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.

HERE were two or three houses standing upon the site of Bellefontaine before it was laid out. A singular genius named Daniel Tucker lined near the spring, back of the Episcopal Church. He had cleared away two or three acres of Tullis' land and farmed it. Upon one occasion, Tucker rose in the morning and found his corn frost-bitten. His basis of consolation was very much the same as that which solaces many griefs fiefs throughout the world of sorrow. But Tucker had no more gumption than to speak out."Thank the Lord," said he, " if my corn is killed, everybody else's corn is killed, too; if I don't get any corn, nobody will get any." Tucker had a horse. On one occasion, a neighbor called and requested the loan of the animal. " Sammy," said Tucker, raising his right hand, " if my grandfather was to get out of his grave and ask for that horse, he shouldn't ride it from here to the gate." This man Tucker seems to be the " original Jacob Thompson," whose exploits on the Darby Ran are so graphically set forth in the truthful ballad, "Old Dan Tucker." Thomas Haines built a log house near the saw-mill before the town was located. Nathaniel Dodge lived in it after Haines.

It is proper to mention that there was a schoolhouse built on the back end of the lot on which the Presbyterian Church now stands, at a period also previous to the founding of the town. It was simply a log structure, similar to the one described elsewhere, situated in the vicinity of Belleville. The school-

* Contributed by Dr. T. L. Wright.

house now under notice was, without doubt, anterior to the town of Belleville and its school building. One of the first teachers in it was George F. Dune, who died in West Liberty a few years ago. Some of the earlier schoolmasters were more renowned for zeal than knowledge. t was related that one of those had occasion to put out to a spelling class the word "pigeon." This does not appear to be a word possessed of any astonishing proportions, but it was a serious obstacle to the teacher in hand. After a careful consideration of the case in all its difficulties and diversities, the evident conclusion was that as p - i -g, with a hard g, spelled pig, it must be that piggon presented a fair average of the various claims that could be made respecting the proper pronunciation of that word as it appeared to the natural eye. And it must be confessed that the untutored mind, after a few disastrous and ignominious defeats in its attempt at fathoming the mysteries of the spelling and pronunciation of the English language, would loot: with justifiable apprehension upon am new or strange form the enemy night take, A conclusion once formed, however, the laws of the Medes and Persians were as the yielding willow when compared with the adamantine stability of the stand taken by the ancient schoolmaster in the defence of his opinions on points of science. Intrenching himself in the stubbornness of his conclusion, if not in its righteousness, our hero boldly holds up his head and says to the spelling class, " Piggon." The word went around, but the right spelling was

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never once thought of until young Peter Powell, who had mentally solved the difficulty, after carefully spelling pigeon, also carefully and correctly pronounced it pigeon. The light was too sudden and too great for the equanimity of the teacher. He made a grab, at Pete of a hostile nature. Peter, however, was on the alert, and, springing backwards out of the door, yelled, " Come out here, you old Beesicks, and I'll - piggon you."

One of the earliest, if not the very earliest, buildings put up in Bellefontaine, was erected by Joseph Gordon. This was a round log cabin on the rear of the lot upon which Boyd's grocery is placed. A two-story brick building now stands upon the spot. Gordon occupied this house a little while, and then built the hewed log house on the corner of Cincinnati and Chillicothe streets, which remains to this day, in part, covered within and without with dressed boards, and used as a general grocery store. While occupying this building as a residence, Mr. Gordon made use of his first cabin as a stable. He soon parted with the second house, for we find Anthony Ballard occupying it as a place of public entertainment and resort as early as 1822. Gordon then built another log house on the premises now occupied by the residence of Mrs. Dawson. This he sold in a few years to Reuben Arnold. It might not be inappropriate to say lure, respecting Joseph Gordon, that he was an important local character during the war of 1812. He was a mail-carrier. He was faithful, daring and energetic. He sought no shelter, but rode and slept in the forest swarming with hostile Indians, and carried news and information from post to post, and from army to army, his life always fluttering in his hand from the beginning to the end of the war. Such was Joe Gordon, a small, slim, active man, whom pioneers knew well and trusted.

William Gutheridge was also an early settler in the new town. He built upon the lot now occupied by James Cowman as a residence. There was, and is, wood spring near the back end of that lot. William Scott built a two-story log house on the place where the Watson building now stanch. He there kept the first tavern in town. This he soon sold to John Rhodes, of Urbana, who kept the first stock of merchandise in Bellefontaine. Nathaniel Dodge kept a public house a little north of the Presbyterian Church. It is remembered that his sign bore the date 1822.. Dodge was the first shoemaker in the new town. The first saddler was said to be Justice Edwards, Martin Shields coming later. A man named Chevalier, opened a saddler-shop at a very early date. Abner Riddle worked as a journeyman in that shop as early as 1826. The first carpenter was William Powell, and he made all the coffins in the earlier tears of the settlement. He procured his walnut lumber from Marmon's Mill, on Mad River. George Blaylock left the banks of the lake, and he, with Tom Parkinson, were the first blacksmiths in town. Their shop was across the street from the Episcopal Church. The first brick-masons came from Urbana. A man named Bayles built Leonard Houtz's brick house near the town. Bugles studied law, and died in Bellefontaine, a member of the bar. William Bull's tavern, also a brick, was built some time before 1824, by Martin Marmon, a bricklayer from Mad River. John Powell was the first tailor in Bellefontaine. Tailoring for a time was not very profitable. Buckskin suits were not ! cast off at once, and the manufacture of these from deer skins, as well as the making-up of the butternut-colored homespun, was to some extent, the work of the women. Jacob Powell carried on the important calling of gunsmith. For a time he was compelled to go to King's Creek to have his gun barrels bored. Water power was established at that place,

340 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

adapted to his purpose. After a time he fixed up a mill for himself, a short distance southwest of Bellefontaine, and got his power from a small tributary of Blue Jacket creek; thenceforward he bored out his own gun barrels at home. Traces of the race can still be seen. His business was good until the Indians were removed to the West, when it declined, and Mr. Powell went to Arkansas. The writer bas used a rifle manufactured by Powell, and it was a good gun. The fiat tan-yard in the new town, was established upon the verge of the town plat upon a piece Of ground that is note bounded by the railroads approaching from the west and south. It is about 150 to 200 yards southwest of the point of junction of these roads. This was adjoining the southwestern corner of the original plat of Bellefontaine. Jacob Staley and Leonard Houtz were the proprietors.

Jacob Potrell, as well as his brother Peter, blared the " fiddle " very well, and this was no trifling accomplishment in pioneer times. People must have mucous and places for amusement. The mingling of the young ladies and gentlemen in the dance, and song, and play, was a most agreeable feature of the early days of life in Bellefontaine.

The progress of the new town was for a considerable time slow. For many years there was very little market for agricultural products. Money was scarce, and trading was mostly by barter. Furors were small and poorly cultivated. The must important exportations were a few bogs and cattle, which were purchased and driven to Detroit. The little wheat that was raised, was sown broadcast and covered by great branches of trees, dragged over the ground in place of barrows. The wheat that could be spared was conveyed in wagons through the woods, 100 miles to the lakes and sold usually for about 50 cents per bushel. Salt, leather and a few necessaries were brought buck. Wagoners would occasionally, as a great treat, bring back a bolt of calico or muslin for their wives.

Under such circumstances the inducements for the advent of new settlers were not very great. But every county seat pr presents a chance for political and legal preferment There are also good opportunities for speculative investments, and even under the newt unfavorable circumstances there mast always be in such towns enough inducement for new settlers to affect the destiny of the place.

The old pioneer aspect of society began slowly to change. The process at first was almost imperceptible. The giving up of old habits was very gradually effected and the introduction of more modern styles of thought and life went quietly on. To analyze all the elements engaged in a radical change in the manners of a people, is a most interesting and important proceeding It is regretted that more spare cannot be given to that subject here. We will only be permitted to notice the causes which at length entirely abrogated the old and fully established the new, in the manners and customs of the inhabitants of Bellefontaine.

These causes may be referred to under three heads: 1st. The removal of the primitive and savage surroundings which created and kept in activity certain manners and customs that naturally grew out of these environments, and which depended upon them for existence. 2d. The next element in effecting these changes in the condition of society was the inflow of new citizens from various points of the compass. These brought into view and into activity other and often more advanced habits of social life. 3d. Another element in effecting the change in society was the appearance of a rising generation of youths of both sexes, which were unacquainted with the old, and were eager to seek, under the guidance of suitable instructors, the advantages of a better education and a higher refinement

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than was compatible with the circumstances surrounding the earlier pioneers.

These influences were working, and gradually crystallizing society into a permanent and stable structure far in advance of its crude state in ancient times, when, between 1846 and 1853, the last railroad was finished, and not only society, but the material welfare of the town and county also, assumed positions at one bound abreast of the high civilization of modern time.

Concerning the first of the elements above alluded to, little needs to be said The war was over. The Indian, as a disturbing element ceased to exit. The dreadful war whoop was forever stilled. The cabin door was no longer barred at night with ponderous beams of hewn timber to protect its inmates from the sudden rush of the wild and blood thirsty foe. Game became scarce; farms were enlarged and a little better cultivated; the necessities and exigencies of pioneer life no longer existed. Its dangers were past, and it fell into disuse and decay as the welcome mantle of peace, security and law covered all.

Now the second element in promoting the advance in civil society and in refinement began to appear. Persons came upon the scene who were unacquainted with the life of the pioneer and the reasons for it. They introduced other manners and customs and speech. In 1822, Henry Snyder came into the town to live. Dr. Lord appeared upon the scene in 1823. He was from Urbana. Robert Patterson came from Licking county with a family in 1824. He sold plows, castings and hardware. In 1825, Benjamin McClure an Irishman came into the village: He taught school. The same year, also came the Rev. Joseph Stevenson, from Washington Co., Penn. He was a man of learning, a good organizer, and of excellent executive ability. His work had great influence in placing, the Presbyterian Church upon a firm basis, as well as in other directions of value to the community.

It was in the year 1825 that Logan County was visited by a severe tornado. It is well enough to fix dates, when possible, with accuracy. The date of this storm has been placed on June 24, 1825, by the author of a printed work on the history of Logan County. In attempting; to verify this date, we have met with some difficulties. One old pioneer-a child when the catastrophe occurred wishing to be very exact, says it was "just about the time the bark began to peel.'' Another says that it occurred when "Mariar was three weeks old," etc. John Houtz, who was a well-grown youth at the time, and was beside his father's house when it was destroyed by the storm, is positive that it took place on the 18th of May, 1825. This date is also given by a daughter of William Powell, who still survives, and whose memory is excellent. These two witnesses, coming independent of each other, are of undoubted authority, and the late given by them is certainty correct. Fortunately, the settlements were few and the damage done was small compared with the violence of the storm. It approached Bellefontaine from the direction of Silver Lake, demolished the brick house of Leonard Houtz, situated outside the northwestern limits of the corporation, and, continuing in its east-north-east course, it crossed Rush Creek Lake, and for thirty miles beyond destroyed all the timber in its path. It struck Bellefontaine at 12 o'clock M.

Anthony Casad, a lawyer, came from Green County in the year 1826. About the year 1827 or 1828, came William and Jackson McClure, good mechanics and intelligent men. In 1826, also, came George Shuffleton with his family, from Virginia. N. Z. McColloch, who had been here some time previously, married one of the Shuffleton girls.

342 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

Thomas Coen, a carpenter, also came at an early day. Hiram McCartney and Samuel Walker, lawyers, were early settlers from abroad. Tommy Good, a blacksmith, worked where John Canby's store note is: Then came Capt. William Watson, a brick-mason, and Thomas Armstrong, a merchant. Dr. B. S. Brown came in 1828. Ruben B. Arnold came from Harrison County in 1829. Gen. I. S. Gardner came from Virginia in 1830. Gen. Gardner established a store for the sale of merchandise. He at once took a prominent position as a merchant, which he retained until he retired. John W. Marquis came in 1832; he retained a position as a prominent business man up to the period of his death. Also in the year 1832, came John B. Miller, Abednego Davidson, R. T. and David Cook. John Miller, the silversmith, came in 1834; and also came, in the same year, Benjamin Stanton and Walter Slicer. The Hubbards came about the same time. Judge Lawrence came here in 1841. This is only a partial list of citizens who adopted Bellefontaine as their home in its infancy. Some of these gentlemen were mechanics, some merchants and some professional men, but all of them were substantial and useful men, guided in their lives by principles of honesty and industry.

The merchants usually carried on a general merchandise business; that is, they kept pearly all classes of goods-groceries, hardware, dry goods, leather, shoes and provisions: Much of the merchandise sold by them was purchased in Baltimore and brought over the mountains in wagons.

3d. We now come to the consideration of the third element, active in producing the change in social and domestic life that was going on for a series of years, from the time of the early pioneer until that generation of people ceased to exist. That element was the new generation that came upon the stage as the old times passed away. The people we have mentioned had families more or less advanced in years. They early applied themselves to procuring good teachers for their children. Some of the first of the new class of teachers, if we may designate them thus distinctively, were Mary Pierce, a relative of the future President of the United States, Mrs. Mason and John Wheeler. This gentleman seemed to have taken a strong hold upon the affections and imaginations of his pupils. He had the faculty of making the road to knowledge smooth, and of inspiring the students with a lore of knowledge for its own sake. Subsequently, Miss Mary Ladd taught a select school. Daniel Hopkins was another select school-teacher. The distinguished poet, Coats Kinney, taught a high school in Bellefontaine at one time.

It is hardly necessary to say that the churches haying became organized and permanently established, began to exert upon society, both in its older and younger members, a beneficent influence. The families of the new comers, with their various accomplishments and peculiarities, together with the growing children of the alder citizens, being educated in an entirely new school, became in their habits of life and modes of thought, to say nothing of their subjects of reflection, very different from the pioneers composing a generation then passing away.

It will be remembered that the original pioneers have all gone to their last repose, froth thirty to fifty years ago. These were the men of the " Golden Fleece'' the "Argonauts," whose lives were full of romance and adventure. Time has mellowed the asperities of their character, and of their deeds, and enveloped them in a haze of purple and golden light. The generation of men who settled in the limits of Bellefontaine in the first fifteen years of its existence, have gone only recently, or linger yet for a moment to

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look their last upon the green fields of time. Their children are the business men and women of to-date. Many of the citizens of Bellefontaine of the present time, up in middle life, some of them, and some past it, belong to the new generation of children and youths just under consideration. Of .them we have the Marquises, the Pattersons, the Stevensons, the Lords, the McCollochs, the Gardners, the Davidsons, the Kennedys, the Newells, the Cooks, the Arnolds, the Powells, the Millers, the Adamses, the Lawrences, the Hubbards, the McLaughlins, the Kerrs, and many other leading, substantial, and enlightened men and women.

Between the years 1849 and 1851, Messrs. James Wall er, James Kernan, and Wm. H. West, settled in Bellefontaine. These gentlemen, with the assistance of William Lawrence and Benjamin Stanton succeeded in wresting entirely the legal practice from the hands of lawyers from Urbana and Springfield, who had done a considerable business in Bellefontaine from the formation of the county.

From the social and intellectual development of Bellefontaine, it is but a step to the consideration of its material advancement. Although the progress in intelligence and the accomplishments was creditable and stench under the influences we lace named, the town presented up to 1846 rather a poor appearance. Although it had increased somewhat in area as time progressed, the character of the improvements were still of an interior quality. The town seemed to have swelled rather than to have grown. The buildings were very plain; the streets were muddy, and the sidewalks unimproved, except in a very limited degree. Very much of that improvement consisted merely in laying down flat slabs of limestone, without much attempt at symmetry or neat fitting joints.

As early as 1840 the projected Mad River and Lake Erie railroad was a subject of consideration. Liberal subscriptions were raised in the town of Bellefontaine to aid in that enterprise, but the documents are not at hand which will disclose specified sums. This road was not completed until 1847, but in anticipation of its completion, the affairs of the town began to assume a more promising aspect. In 1846 William Rutan came to Bellefontaine, and purchased certain desirable lots, amongst others the corner lot upon which is located the Peoples' National Bank. Mr. Rutan was the partner of Abner Riddle, who moved his family here in 1848. These men at once began improving their property. They moved the old building s from the corner to localities farther west, and erected a three story brick house, with a frontage of fifty-five feet. This they occupied partly as a hotel for a time, but finally converted it entirely into business room.

In 1853 the Bellefontaine & Indianapolis Railroad was completed. The town and county began to advance rapidly in prosperity. Andrew Gardner and others built the Metropolitan Block, and several other valuable buildings went up. The surrounding country quickly responded to the central im pulse. Warehouses were at the doors of the farmer; the wheat market was removed from a distance and brought into the neighborhood of the husbandman. No longer receiving fifty cents a bushel at Perrysburg and Detroit, he received one dollar a bushel for wheat at home. Brush fences quickly disappeared in flame and smoke; land was cleared; new fences were made, and old ones improved fields ceased to be shapeless patches; calicoes, and even laces and silk, invaded the region so long held by home-spun in the cabin of the farmer The cabin itself gave way to a new house; prosperity spread like a flying glint of sunshine over the whole land, and schools and intellectual and artistic improvements

344 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

drove away the ignorance and loutishness of a retired, solitary and laborious life in the country. As more acres were cultivated, agricultural machinery improved and multiplied, until the farmer, from being the dependent of the town, begging a little credit and forbearance, became the lord of the land, owned the soil he cultivated, and had money to lend.

So the affairs of the town and the country alike were moving satisfactorily along. In the town business became in a great measure settled, classified and systematized. The stores were no longer magazines of general merchandise. Taylor & chambers and Andrew Gardner were dry goods merchants: J. N. Allen had a hardware store; others were dealing in boots and shoes, some in drugs, and some in groceries ; and all were gliding swiftly and smoothly on to fortune.

But there was now impending an unforeseen and terrible calamity. On the night of November 1, 1856, at 10 o'clock, there went forth the cry of fire. The stable or barn behind the Rutan building was discovered to be in flames. The weather was and had been dry; there were no public cisterns or fire department; private wells and a little spring branch were the main sources of supply for extinguishing a hideous conflagration. The people worked hard hour after hour; two acres were burned over; thirty-one business places were destroyed; goods of every description were pied upon the streets and public squares. Happily, no lives were lost. The great, proud Rutan building went down in ruins. Scarffs row, where the Watson Block now stands, was reduced to ashes. The buildings on both sides of West Columbus street. were burned up; the main buildings north of Columbus street, upon the west side of Cincinnati street, were also consumed. Many other buildings took fire, but were extinguished. The next day (Sunday ) was one of gloom and despondency. The winter was at hand, and no successful effort at resuscitation was made; but when spring came, and the genial season of renewed life and renewed growth came, the elasticity of human hope asserted itself, and the process of building new and building better began Rutan and Riddle led the way. These people had amassed some capital by means of honest industry and honorable trade. They had lost over $20,000; they held the ownership of certain large tracts of land, bought low for the purpose of speculating in the rise of property. These they sold as best they could, and from the proceeds the building where the People's National Bank now is, and the row of business houses extending westward to and beyond the alley were built. Others followed their example, and enterprises, more or less co-operative, resulted in the erection of Allen's Block and the Melodeon building, with a hall for public exhibitions. Soon alter the Watson and Lawrence corner and the long row of excellent buildings west of it followed; then came the Buckeye Block, the Empire Block the Tremont Block, and other valuable blocks of buildings. At the present time, tlrerc is in course of erection the Opera House Block, containing ten of the most elegant business rooms of which any town of the grade of Bellefontaine can boast.

By far the greatest individual enterprise that has distinguished the citizens of Bellefontaine in the way of building was drat of Thomas Miltenberger, in the erection of the hotel bearing his name. The building is of the most substantial description, is finished in the best style, and contains all modern improvements. It is 57 feet one way and 130 the other. It is three stories high, and cost in round numbers $45,000.

Having thus completed our review of the early material development of Bellefontaine and Lake Township, it will be proper to

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notice several topics which are not essential to the narrative in general. We will first give a brief account of the several additions that have been made to the area of the town at various times. Its incorporated limits are so extensive and its external borders so attenuated, that the following enumeration seems necessary in the way of explanation. J. S. Dawson made an addition to the southeast part of the town in 1845. It is proper to say that the gentlemen making additions to the southern part of tile corporate limits were public spirited enough to add thirty feet to the southern corporation street, making what is now Auburn street sixty feet wide; while all the other old corporate limits remain as at first, thirty feet wide. The single exception is in the south-western angle of the old corporation just south of the Round House. The old thirty-foot street remains for the length of a single lot only. Gardner's addition was made in 1849. Walter Slicer laid off an addition to the southern part of the town in 1849. Beddow's addition was made in 1850. He made a second addition: this was to the south-western portion of the town. McColloch's s addition was made in 1851. Western addition was made by Gardner in 1851. Powell's first addition to the northern part of town was recorded in 1851; he made subsequent additions. Aylesworth made his addition on the west in 1851. Stanton laid our. an addition in 1856. He made subsequent additions, this was on the north-east. Julia Powell made the trans-depot addition in 1866. D. W. Hoge made the East Grove addition in 1869. Lawrence made an addition in 1870 on the west. Rambo's addition was made in 1871. Howenstine's addition was made in 1872. Eslie Powers made an addition in 1878. There were outer additions, the records of which are not attainable, as: Nelson's addition. McBeth's addition, etc.

In the year 1871, there was a renumbering of the lots of the whole town. The several additions, each comprising a, few lots only, had made the distinction of lots as numbered, difficult. The lots of the entire town, including the additions, were numbered over again; so that by consulting a schedule in the office of the County Recorder, the old number, with the corresponding new number of every lot can readily be seen.

While considering isolated topics connected with the history of Bellefontaine, ', which are complete in themselves, but which are also of importance as associated with that history in the abstract, the subject of the Fire Department should receive attention. As might be expected, soon after the destructive fire of November 1, 1856, a movement was made toward establishing a fire department. The munificent sum of $18.75 was appropriated to pay for 150 feet of ladders. In due time committees reported on eight fire ladders, but they were not painted. It was ordered that these ladders be painted a "cheap and durable color." Also certain fire-hooks, with roil chain attached, were debated upon in council. The gross amount of expenditure on behalf of the new Fire Department, was in the neighborhood of $28 or $30. But in order that these valuable adjuncts to the extinguishment of conflagrations should not be lost or stolen, it was ordered that a carpenter should build a shed behind the court house, for the safe keeping of the above named fire extinguishers. The material and work expended in the erection of this shed cost $24.24.

This was a miserable business altogether. The much wagging of the sagacious heads of members of council had not yet resulted in any phenomenal climax. But the time came when it was clear to men of sense that money must be expended or there would be no defense against fire. Accordingly, we find that upon March 8, 1858, an order was made that "$1,500 be given to the Committee on Fire

346 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

Engine, Hose and Hose Reel," to pay for the machines therein described. This engine was worked by hand, and was, no doubt, a fair sample of such machines. But it was very hard to move, and very hard also to work. There was no paid department, although there was a formal organization of a fire company, still it was rather up hill work. It was difficult to get sufficient force together quickly to more the engine, and equally difficult to get enough hands to work it readily. Nevertheless, it did valuable service on many occasions. There was a smaller, and more portable engine introduced by the youths of the town, that in several emergencies, by reason of its lightness and facility of handling, did excellent service when the other and stronger engine was not available.

There were also some Look and ladder companies, which were, and are yet, most valuable auxiliaries to the Fire Department. These were independent companies, and, as a rule, supported by the citizens, although the Town Council would occasionally extend some aid.

In the meantime cisterns were being sunk for a supply of water, in case of fire. On the 11th of October, 1858, $345 was ordered to be paid to J. D. Lindsay for six "town cisterns." There are now twelve town cisterns.

It became evident, as time passed, that the Fire Department was inadequate to the growing possibilities requiring its services. After much consideration an ordinance was passed, December 23, 1875, purchasing a steam fire engine, which, with certain hose, but without hose-reel, cost $4,300. The reel was, of course, bought afterwards. This engine will throw three streams at one time, and has proven itself to be reliable. Three horses belong to the Fire Department, two of them go with the engine proper and one with the hose-reel. They are well trained, and know their places and duties. The Fire Department is now strictly a "pay" institution. It consists of nine men. The Chief gets $100 per annum. Three of the men receive an aggregate of $1,140 per annum ; the other fire men, for sleeping in the engine house, receive each $20 per annum, making a grand total of $1,340 per annum.

The five men receiving the $20 per annum for sleeping in the engine-house also receive $1.50 for each run upon the alarm of fire.

These sums, together with the necessary horse feed, light, fuel, etc., will not fall short of $2,000 per annum. This does not include repairs. There are attached to the Department two hose reels-one drawn by horsepower, the other by hand. There are 1,600 feet of hose in good repair. From an alarm of fire until the horses are ready to fly to the scene of disaster, the time does not exceed thirty seconds. This is altogether an important and substantial improvement on am volunteer activity, no matter how reliable. Everybody knows that a great thing in fires is to be at the scene early; and that great desideratum is assured by the Fire Department now in existence. The ordinance reorganizing the Fire Department, and adopting its present form' was passed January 10, 1879.

In the year 1859, it was determined m build a suitable house for the fire engine and the other appurtenances of the Department. Accordingly, bids were received, and finally, on December 13, 1859, the house was formally accepted, by a committee appointed for that purpose, from the hands of its builders. The price paid was $1,335. The room is now occupied by the steam fire engine, the old hand machine having been sold and taken away.

On the 8th day of August, 1856, the corporation limits of the town were extended. The various additions, made and in prospect, to the area of the town, had rendered this movement imperative. By the authority of

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an ordinance, a survey was made, and the new limits established. The area of the town proper was made to reach one mile and a half from east to west, and one mile from north to south. The form of the outline was an oblong square, the opposite lines being equal and parallel, and the angles right angles. The center of the town was not moved, but remained the same as at first, namely: the crossing of Cincinnati and Columbus streets, northwest of the public square.

The school fund collected in 1870 in Bellefontaine amounted to $7,543.90. The same fund collected in 1875 was $7,617.80, while the same fund in 1879 was $11,443.74. The increase is accounted for by the augmented expenses incident to the building of the new house for union school purposes in the eastern part of the town. The condition of the school fund in Bellefontaine on the 31st of August, 1879, was as follows

Cash an hand.........................................$10,634.99

State ..................................................... 1,650 00

Lard tax................................................... 11,443 74

From foreign scholars............................. 78 25

Teachers` salaries.................................... 5,668 75

Superintendent's salary............................. 1,000 00

Fuel and incidentals................................... 4,459 81

Cash on bonds for school buildings............ 6,880 00

The statistics of the property and the expenses of the schools of Bellefontaine are as follows:

Number of schoolhouses, including colored

school.............................................. .... 3

Number of rooms.................................... 16

Value of school property.......................$50,000

Number of teachers................................... 16

Wages : Ladies, primary department, per

month................................................ $37

Gentlemen, primary, per month.................. 35

High school, ladies, per month.................... 45

" " gentlemen, per month................... 65

Duration of school per year, in weeks........... 36

Number of pupils enrolled, white.................. 903

" " " colored........... 73

Total number of pupils................................... 976

The number of pupils engaged in the study of sciences not included in the common school course are:

In composition.............................................. 700

Drawing........................................................ 712

Map drawing .............................................. 162

U. S. history................................................ 113

Physiology ................................................. 33

Physical geography...................................... 30

Book-keeping.............................. ................. 14

Latin................................................................ 21

Natural philosophy......................................... 14

Algebra.......................................................... 32

Geometry...................................................... 17

Trigonometry.................................................. 13

Chemistry..................................................... 14

Botany.............................................:.............. 14

In addition to these, there are classes in moral and mental philosophy, astronomy, logic and rhetoric.

The statistics of Lake Township, not including Bellefontaine, as to school finances on the 31st of August, l879, were as follows: Cash on hand, $889.41; State tax, $321; local tax, $629.21; amount paid to teachers, $642; fuel and contingent expenses, $137.57. The schoolhouses in Lake Township, of course, are not many in number. It will he remembered that the township consists of but a few square miles altogether. Exclusive of Bellefontaine, the number of school buildings in the township is three; the number of school rooms, three; number of teachers, three; wages, ladies, per month of four weeks, $35; gentlemen, $40; number of pupils enrolled, 307 ; value of school property, $2,500.

It is due to the citizens of Lake Township to say that they contribute scholars to the High Schools of Bellefontaine, and that they are entitled to the credit of an ambition for a high school education. This fact the statistics of the township does not show.

In contrast with the above, we present some figures derived from the public records, show: ing the facts connected with the schools of Lake Township in 1861 the earliest report connected with that subject available. It should be remembered that this date was several years after the Union School system had been in successful operation in Bellefontaine. In that year the school funds of Lake

348 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

Township were in the condition following:

Cash on hand................. ......................$134 17

State tax......................:......................... 294 36

Irreducible school fund......................... 98 39

Local tax.............................................. . 260 00

Pay of teachers...................................... 543 56

Fuel and incidentals.............................. 104 59

Number schoolhouses........................... 6

Number pupils enrolled......................... 124

For the same year the school affairs of Bellefontaine were reported as follows:

Cash on hand.......................................$1,048 48

State tax.............................................. 1,152 36

Local tax............................................. 1,826 60

Paid teachers......................................... 3,203 30

Fuel and incidentals ............................. 605 98

Number school rooms.......................... 9

Pupils enrolled including colored ........ 808

Value of school property........................ $10,000

The first Union School building was finished in 1853. It cost, including the ground upon which it stanch, between $11,000 and $l2,000 For a number of years before this building was erected, the citizens of the town had been making efforts to maintain a select school, with but partial success, and considerable inconvenience. In addition to names already given of prominent: school-teachers, Miss Frizzell taught a school, not only giving instructions in the sciences, Lot in "manners," also. The hardest task some of her pupils encountered was the "Good evening, Miss Rheny Ann," which she compelled her pupils to say with a bow or courtesy upon dismissing school at night.

In 1854 the Union School was organized and started with a Superintendent and full corps of teachers, and has continued to prosper up to the present time. After twenty years, it became apparent that the old school building was oat sufficient to accommodate the children of the growing town. As usual, a good deal of talking was indulged in, but in 1878 the new school building situated about one square east of the old corporation line, and on Columbus street, was received from the hands of its builders: The contract price was $26,500, but heating apparatus, seats and other furniture, grading and improving the grounds, putting up an excellent iron fence, increased the expense to about $35,000. It is a very handsome and commodious structure. The seats and desks are of the latest and most approved pattern. The building is allotted to the primary pupils, in the east half of the town, and to the high school students of the whole town, while the old school building is sit apart for the primary scholars of the western half of the town only. One Superintendent is employed for the entire school department.

In addition to the two Union School buildings, there is a very good brick structure, of sufficient size, set apart for the colored school. This department is instructed by a colored teacher, and is a very creditable school. It embraces not only the subjects of study belonging to elementary branches, but it has a high-school grade also.

There are two banks in Bellefontaine. The Peoples' Bank was established in March 1854, by Messrs. Riddle, Rutan and Lamb, It did a general banking and exchange business, both foreign and domestic, discounting paper and receiving deposits for twenty-six years. The first day of July, 1880, it was re-organized under the name of "The Peoples' National Bank:." Its capital is $100,000. The officers of the bank are: President, Abner Riddle; Cashier, Robert Lamb; Directors, A. Riddle, P. Lamb, J. M. Piddle, J. M. Dickinson, R. B. Kellar, J. B. Williams.

The Bellefontaine National Bank opened for business April 1, 1871. The officers were President, William Lawrence; Cashier, James Leister: Assistant Cashier, Charles McLaughlin; Directors, William Lawrence, W. V. Marquis, J, N. Allen, J. B, McLaughlin, S. W. Goe. Capital, $100,000.

There have been a number of milks of various kinds established in Lake Township

HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. - 349

at different periods of its history. It may be mentioned here that John Horn built a sawmill on Tucker's Run, a little more than a mile due north of Bellefontaine, about half a century ago. It fell into decay many years since, and has entirely disappeared. N. McMichael built a steam saw-mill on the Roberts property, on the Rushsylvania road, at about the same time. This was rather more than two miles a little east of north of Bellefontaine. This mill also long since ceased to exist. David Cook and David Robb, about the year 1833, built a grist-mill on Blue Jacket, the remains of which may still be seen a few rods north of the Fair Grounds. Another mill in Lake Township, a grist-mill mostly for custom work, is situated on Blue Jacket Creek near the point where it enters Harrison Township. It is the property of D. W. Kaylor.

Reuben V. Green is the proprietor of the oldest existing saw-mill in Lake Township. This mill is located in the north-eastern portion of Bellefontaine, a square beyond the original corporation line. It was built in 1848. It has been greatly improved recently, employing from five to eight hands. Its capacity is from five to eight thousand feet of lumber per day. It requires $2,000 to pay for the labor necessary to carry it on per year. C. A. Walker established in 1879, a saw, scroll and planing mill in the north-western part of the town. This mill employs seventy hands with a weekly expenditure of $1,500. It saws lumber and furniture stuff. The market for this class of material is found mostly in New York and Boston. Fifty horses are employed in hauling logs. A great many logs are also brought from a distance on the cars. Railroad freights against the mill are about $600 per month on the incoming material, and about $1,000 per mouth on that which is exported. This difference is explained by the local teams hauling logs in large quantities from the neighboring country. Thirteen acres of land are connected with this mill and about $18,000 invested in it. Two extensive side tracks connect this mill with both the railroads.

There are two planing-mills and lumber-yards in the town. That of Thatcher & Dickinson is located between the railroads. In the whole business are invested about $13,000, and it employs from six to eight hands. The annual sales amount to from $50,000 to $75,000,

The lumber-yard and planing-mill of Williamson & LeSourd is in the eastern section of the town. The proprietors employ nine hands at an expense of $80 tier week. For the six months ending July 1, 1880, the sales amounted to $60,000. Capital $13,000.

There is an extensive woolen mill located in the town. This mill at the present time is engaged exclusively in the manufacture of hosiery. Sixteen machines are running on this work. The establishment employs fifty hands. The expense of running the mill exclusive of stock, is in round numbers $700 per week. They use about $100 worth of wool a day.

Colton Brothers, proprietors of the Bellefontaine steam flouring mill, estimate their capital at $25,000. Their mill has five run of buhrs. There are eight men employed in the establishment. The capacity of the mill is 500 barrels of dour per week.

There are three establishments engaged in the carriage manufacturing business. The Miller Carriage Company manufactures bodies and the other wood work of carriages and buggies exclusively. This company employs thirty hands. Miller Brothers are the patentees and proprietors of the "Eureka'' carriage body.

O. S. Goodwin manufactures finished work; he employs fourteen hands. His expenses are about $550 per month. He turns out about fifty finished jobs per annum, at an average value of $175 each.

350 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

The establishment of Falte, Green & Co. use material to the amount of $5,126 per annum. They pay for labor $3,598. Their manufactured work is worth about $6,500 per annum, and their repair jobs amount to $3,500. There are two foundries and three machine shops in the limits of the town, one in the south-western part of the town-was originally established in 1849: another establishment is owned by Joseph Humphrey, in the northeastern portion of the town. Mr. Humphrey is well known as an accommodating gentleman and an ingenious machinist.

Bowman & Son are the proprietors of another excellent establishment of the same kind in the southern part of the town. Besides these, a considerable number of manufacturing enterprises are carried on in the township and town, such as cooper shops, rile factories, brick-yards, potteries, furniture, cigars, etc.

Three firms are engaged in purchasing wool in Bellefontaine. The amounts bought by these firms respectively for the year 1879 were as follows: E. Patterson, 173,000 pound.; value $62,000. James R. Gardner, 101,000 pounds: value, $29,000. Kerr Bros., 61,490 pounds; value, $22,146.40. Total pounds, 337,490. Total value, $123,146.40. The amount of wheat bought for the same year by Messrs. Boyd & Sons, Colton Bros., and Kerr Bros., was 232,20O bushels; value, $274,480. Other grains and seeds, estimated, $40,000; hogs, estimated, $100,000; cattle and horses, estimated, $50,000. Grant: total of agricultural exports, $587,626.40. It will be observed that there is no milling or other manufactured or mechanical products included in this estimate.

The public buildings in the town were erected, of course, by the county at large, and a statement of the facts concerning them belongs to another department of this work. The buildings of the town proper were the outcome of private enterprise and capital; but there were certain improvements that were the work of the municipal authorities. Of these we have noticed the Fire Department and the Public Schools. The street improvements, the gas works. and the free turnpikes centering in the town, were the offspring of the corporate authorities. These remain to be described.

The town of Bellefontaine was incorporated by an Act of the Legislature, dated February 19, 1835. The copy of this Act belonging to the town was destroyed, with other papers, in the great fire of 1856. As the Acts of Legislature, previously to 1840, were not alphabetically indexed, several failures attended our attempts to acquire exact information on this subject. We are indebted to the efforts of Hon. James Walker for our final success. We have spoken of the great and sudden improvement in the town and surrounding country, growing out of the building of the railroads that traverse the county and intersect at Bellefontaine. While these roads unproved the country, as a whole, in an eminent degree, and while they greatly augmented the importance of Bellefontaine in every material respect, still they had a certain influence in retarding tire advancement of that town. The very facilities afforded by these railroads enabled small villages in the interior of the county, situated upon them, to compete with the county seat in the way of trade of every kind. These little towns pad good mercantile establishments. They bought goods in the East, and exported directly to the eastern market every kind of produce the country afforded. So far this was a loss to Bellefontaine. This advantage was maintained by these several stations of trade through the fact that the highways of the county were extremely bad for at least fire months in the year. Much of the surface of Logan County is of clay, and the roads are simply impassable in the winter and spring for loaded wagons.

NO PAGES 353 & 352

HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. - 353

Henee, an immense amount of trade was confined to the local marts in various parts of the county. There was a great amount of timber in remote parts of the county, which was really an incumbrance, and was remorselessly cut down and burned in Log heaps Now comes a record of a great stride forward in the prosperity of Bellefontaine.

It is incontestable that the last ten years of the growth of the town has been out of all proportion to its earlier promise, or even great advancement upon the establishment of railroads. This fact is owing to the building of a grand system of free turnpikes, nearly all centering at Bellefontaine. It is true some of them point in other directions, but even then the country tapped by them has also ready access to the county-seat. The authorities of the town by some inspiration perceived the usefulness of these pikes, and acted upon that knowledge. On the 17th of May, 1867, the Town Council appropriated $50,000 to assist in building such pikes as entered directly into the town. Hence we see certain appropriations made and paid, as for instance, $800 per mile for the Northwood Pike, $800 per mile for the Huntsville Pike, $500 per mile for the Jerusalem Pike, etc. In fact, every pike entering the town has been liberally aided by it. Now people haul wood, timber, grain and other products a distance of eight, ten or fifteen miles, which, before the pikes were built they could not do. These pikes have also invited trade of every conceivable description, from the remotest limits of the country, to an amount that has surprised the most sanguine. The consequence is, that the advancement of the town in wealth and prosperity is extremely gratifying. And these advantages have been fully reciprocated, for the lands of the remote districts are steadily rising in value, and the people are growing in enterprise and enlightenment The streets of Bellefontaine, until a very recent period, were in a poor condition; so, also, were the sidewalks. For many years, teams found it difficult oftentimes to pull through. Little by little, the town, in a feeble way, improved in respect to the those things. Grades were nowhere established, but a little gravel was thrown here and there in the worst places, and dog-fennel spread over the greatest part of the street area. The side walks were in a condition that it is hard to describe. True, they received some attention at the hands of the citizens at quite an early period, but the utmost that was attempted was the laying down of a few poor bricks in the business part of the town, reaching a few hundred yards only, in extent, There were now and then a few feet of sidewalk laid down with flags of limestone, drawn from the quarries near at hand. But these flags were treacherous, and as the trusting pedestrian vaulted from stone to stone, keeping is view only a general progressive movement, he betimes would assume an attitude the reverse of dignified. In other words, the flag-stone upon which he based his hopes would slip from under his confiding heel and he would lay supine, configuring upon the receptive earth that appearance so dear to the heart of the patriot, namely: the spread eagle.

In June, 1856, the question of street and gutter improvements began to be seriously agitated. July, 1857, grades on Detroit and Chillicothe streets were established. August, 1857, there were several prominent points on Cincinnati, Columbus and Chillicothe streets designated as grades, In 1858, other point; of grade were established, and from that period to the present grades have been established at various points in the public streets, and improvements have followed. There was a good deal of expensive filling and excavating for a number of years..

The bricks manufactured from the clay in this vicinity were not very good, and the

354 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

walks made with them were not durable. After the establishment of the grades, improvements of the streets bean to assume a more valuable and permanent character. Banks of gravel were purchased by the town authorities, and the contents lavishly spread upon the streets. They thus became, at a rather late day, it is true, thoroughfares creditable to the place. They were in fact, better than the sidewalks. But in the fall of 1871 Mr. A. G. Wright, an official on one of the railroads, laid down a sidewalk in front of his lot, fifty-five feet in length, with flagstones from the quarries of Berea, Ohio. These flags were about five feet long, and from three to four feet wide. They were rectangular in shape, and when laid down presented a beautiful, smooth surface, with a depth of four or five inches. This walk at once attracted the attention of property owners generally. It was ascertained that such a sidewalk could be laid down about as cheaply as the old, ankle-spraining brick walks. '.f The result was, Mr. Wright was importuned to procure flags for his neighbors. He went, at length, into the business, and he laid down over six miles of Berea stone sidewalks. Afterwards, others pursued the same calling, and the result is that the town is now thoroughly pared with beautiful and durable sidewalks.

In the year 1873 the corporate authorities contracted with R. T. Coverdale, of Cincinnati, to build gas works. This was strictly a municipal undertaking, and the works yet be long to the corporation. The price paid was $35,000. A little more than 400 tons of coal are consumed in the manufacture of gas per annum. These works are in a healthy condition, being more than self-sustaining. Besides seventy odd street lamps, there are over 200 private consumers. There are 209 meters set. There are over four miles of mains. The amount of gas manufactured at the present time is a little more than half a million feet per annum. The works are under the control of a superintendent who, with several laborers, are paid by the corporation.

An important enterprise undertaken and completed by the public spirit of private individuals was the purchase of grounds and laying out of a new cemetery. The old lots donated by the proprietors of the town for the burial of the dead had Become inadequate to fulfill the purposes for which they were in tended. On the 14th of March, an association was formed with the view to the establishment of a new cemetery. The names of the incorporators were: William Fisher, Jared S. Dawson, James W. Fisher, and S. L. Taylor. Under the supervision of this body, twenty acres of land were purchased on a rising ground nearly a mile northeast of the public square.

The property cost $600. The purchase money was raised by sixty citizens contributing $10 each. This contribution conferred the right on these gentlemen to the first selection of lots. The final organization was effected in 1851, at a meeting of the proprietors, of which Gen. I. S. Gardner was President. The directors then chaser were Benjamin Stanton, William G. Kennedy, James B. McLaughlin, B. S. Brown, N. Z. McColloch and William Fisher.

N. Z. McColloch was elected President of the Board of Directors; B. S. Brown, Secretary, and William G. Kennedy, Treasurer. The ground was surveyed and the lots laid off and numbered. The Town Council prohibited people from burying their dead in the abandoned graveyard. The new cemetery was improved at once with walks and highways, and it is now a handsome and secluded spot, abounding in costly monuments and rare shrubs and flowers. The present Directors are: E. Bennett, President: I. S. Gardner, Secretary; G. B. Thrift, Treasurer; Edward Patterson and R. P. Kennedy.

HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. - 355

The history of Bellefontaine would be incomplete without some notice of the secret and benevolent societies-organizations that exert a widespread influence throughout the country. The Masons, Odd-Fellows and Knights of Pythias are the most prominent of the secret societies represented in Bellefontaine. The Masons, the most ancient of these, trace their origin back to a remote antiquity, and claim for their order an organized existence at the building; of King Solomon's Temple. But it is not our province to go into the antiquity of the Order, and we shall confine ourselves to its history in this town.

Bellefontaine Lodge, No. 209, A. F. & A. M., was organized October 28, 1851, William Fisher, W. M.; E. M. Shelby, S. W.; G. T. Appleton, J. W. Present officers: William McElree, W, M.; J. D. McLaughlin, S. W.; Isaac Ivens, J. W.; R. B. Kellar, Treas.; George W. Rife, Sec'y; William J. Lawrence, S. D.; M. Koogle, J. D.: George P. Johnson, Tiler. The Lodge numbers at present 127 members:

Lafayette Chapter, N o. 60, Royal Arch Masons, organized October 4, 1854, G. B. Thrift, High Priest; James Moore, Jr., King; R, T. Cook, Scribe. Present officers: W. H. Martin, H. P.; R. T. Cook, King; Sidney Nichols, Scribe; William McElree, Capt. of Host: I. N. Zearing, Treas , George H. Allen, Sec'y. Number of members at present, 120.

Logan Council, No. 34, Royal and Select Masters, organized October 20, 1860, Joseph W. Evans, T. I. G. M.: B. S. Brown, Dept. G. M.; Cyrus W. Fisher, Cond. of W. Present officers: R. T. Cook, T. I. G. M.; M. M. McCracken, Dept. G. M.; William McElree, Prin. Cond. of Work; Sidney Nichols, Capt. of Guard; C. F. Braden, Cond. of Council; William McCoid, Treas.; George H. Allen, Secretary. Number of members at present, 117.

The Odd Fellows lost their records in the fire of 1856. There have been certain changes and reorganizations in that order in Bellefontaine which has caused the surrender of original papers and the substitution of more recent ones. The first Lodge of the I. O. O. F. was organized in the year 1847, and was called Logan Lodge, No. 72 The names of its first officers cannot be now ascertained with entire accuracy. The present organization of the order is as follows: Bellefontaine Lodge, No. 72 - L. B. Barker, N . G.: Al. Starchman, V. G.; George F. Brandon, R. Secy.; R. B. Kellar, P. S.; Andrew Peebles, Treas. Number of members at present, 149.

Bellefontaine Encampment, No. 73, has for its officers: Eslie Powers, C. P.; Al. Starchman, S. W.; John P. Cost, Scribe; John Dushane, H. P.; A. Peebles, Treas.; David Kerr, G. W. Number of members at present time 53.

Wilfred Lodge, K. of P., was instituted May 5, 1874, by James Swope, Grand Chancellor. The officers were: R. H. Brown. P. C.; O. C. Knapp, C. C.; Isaac Ivens, V, C.; W. H. Cretcher, Prelate; F. O. Batch. M. of II; W. A. Arnold, M. of E.; S. M. Shurr, M. of F.; George T. Brandon, K. of R. and S.

The present officers are: A. English, P. C.; A. Bodey, C. C.; P. F. Tremain, V. C.; Frank Fox, Prelate; Walter S. Roebuck, M, at A.; John Kennedy, M. of E.; George Brandon. M. of F.; Frank Valentine, K. of R. and S. N umber of members, about 80.

We have now concluded the work allotted to us. We are conscious of many defects. Sometimes the dates and coloring of facts may be to some extent erroneous. It has been impossible to verify all things. Satisfactory records were often wanting; but it is hoped and believed that errors, if and exist, are only of minor importance, and that the substantial points in our history have been correctly stated.

356 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

It is the work of the historian, usually, to commence his narrative in the infancy of society, and with the advancing centuries unfold in painful story the moulding influences of civil and religious customs, of wars, of revolutions, and of intercourse with foreign nations in establishing a civilization pertinent to some particular State or nation.

Our task has been different. We have commenced our story at a tune within the memory of men now lining. We find our characters at first surrounded by difficulties, dangers and hardships. We have found man with hands and brain alone placed in the midst of an unbroken wilderness, subjected to the peltings of the elements, the dangers of savage foes and wild beasts, and in the short space of seventy or eighty years we find him surrounded by all the refinements acrd luxuries of the oldest and most civilized people. This implies an existence in the midst of a surging and whirling change, in personal and civil life, bewildering to contemplate. and assuredly very trying to the physical; mental and moral nature of man: Undoubtedly, such rapidity of change exhibits the protean nature of mind and soul, just as the unfailing abundance of the products of the soil proves its inexhaustible capacity and implies its unfathomable history. For example, place within the earthy soil the germs of the sweet cane, the bitter wormwood, the beneficent corn and the deadly night-shade; and, while all the science in the world will fail to detect the elements of either, in the air or in the earth, then will all grow and increase according to their kind, side by side. In a manner analogous, the facts of our history, as we bane portrayed them. show the inexhaustible and illimitable qualities of the human mind. It is not only sufficient for the exigencies and Changes of a single generation, but it cannot be hailed or even satisfied with the inflowing wealth of many generations of ordinary life, leading it up in so brief a space from poverty and nakedness and ignorance to the affluence of the richest luxury of physical and mental and esthetic enjoyment.

NOTE.-The history of the Churches of Bellefontaine, belonging in this chapter, having been misplaced, will be found in Chapter II, page 217.

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