506 - HISTORY OF LOG AS COUNTY. CHAPTER XIX.* BOKES CREEK TOWNSHIP - DESCRIPTIVE - THE WHITES-SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES - VILLAGES - ETC. FIFTY years ago Bokes Creek Township was almost unknown. The present fertile fields were one dense forest, where roamed the deer, the bear, the wolf and other savage animals, undisturbed save by their savage enemy-the American aborigines, Bellefontaine was already a growing village, with stores, churches and schools; almost every other township in Logan County had been settled, and legally organized before a white man reared his humble cabin upon Bokes Creek soil. Probably no settlement would then have been made, but for the opening effected by the great wind-storm of 1825, which assisted materially in preparing the way for the pioneer by leveling the timber for a broad space through the entire township. In this belt of "fallen timber" the first white man in Bokes Creek made his claim. The lowlands of the township were, from October until June, most of the time covered by water, from one to three feet deep. These deep marshes almost n holly defied the hand of cultivation. Across the northern Dart of the township, from the west side and passing out at the northeast corner, nearly describing a circle, courses Rush Creek on its way to the Scioto River. From its entrance into the township to where it leaves, it is most all the way a marshy stream, with mud banks and beds, and sides overgrown with rank weeds and shrubs. Mill Creek flows through the southwest corner on its course from Rush Creek Township into Ferry Township. Bokes Creek rises in this township from two sources. The northern * Contributed by J. H. Wylie. and principal stream rises in the western part, on the farm of Martin McAdams, and runs in a southeasterly direction into Union County. The second rises on the farm of C. Bell, in the southwestern part of the township, and curving south and nest, it joins the northern branch in Union County. This stream is one of the tributaries of the Scioto River, and, like Rush Creek, is a sluggish stream. In some places it is almost impossible to find the main current. Attempts have been made to secure its drainage at public expense, but so far such efforts have resulted in failure, and it still remains the same rnarshy, sluggish stream it was forty-five years ago. There are several important drains, however, in the eastern part of the township. which have been constructed by the enterprise of the farmers, and have been very beneficial to the localities through which they pass, Their average width is about fifteen feet and their depth from four to ten feet. The streams and their tributaries constitute the principal drainage of the township. Much has been done, and to great advantage. in artificial drainage, but much more can be done in this line of improvement with equally good results to the land. The country is low and marshy. There are few hills in the whole township, and it might almost be called a plain The soil is black and rich, suitable for all kinds of grain, and the township, with the proper draining, might be made one of the finest farming districts in the county. There is little of the yellow clay soil. The black soil is from three to eight feet in depth. The timber is of every variety and size to HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. - 507 be found in this section of the country, oak, walnut, sugar-maple, beech, elm and Lynn, being the principal kinds, The greater part of the land lies north of the Greenville Treaty line, which runs through the township some two or three miles from the line between Bokes Creek and Perry townships. North of this line the roads arc principally laid out parallel with the Treaty line road, while those south of the line were run according to the convenience and fancy of the early settlers. About the year 1834, the territory now known as Bokes Creek Township, was struck off from Rush Creek, and called Perry, together with the present township of that name. Hardin County bounded it on the north, Union on the east, Zane Township on the south and Jefferson and Rush Creek Townships on the west. Early in the year 1837, Carlisle Lewiston carried the surveyor's chain between Perry and Boles Creek, and the same year Boles Creek was legally organized with its present boundaries, which are the same as above given except on the south, where it is now bounded by Perry Township. It receives its name from Bokes Creeks a stream that has already keen described. As to how this Creek received its name reports differ. Some persons claim that there was s white man lost near it of the name of Bogy. Others say that an Indian was lost in the channel, and his friends, after searching in vain for him, gave the name Bogy to the creek, from the Indian word bogue, meaning lost. We are inclined to believe the latter, as it is the opinion of the oldest settler of the township. At any rate, the creek was once called Bogy, and was changed to Bokes to suit the euphony of the English language. An old Yankee named Emberson, a few years after the township was organized, made an effort to have it called Salern Township. John Hill also contended that it should have its first name, and got the better of his Yankee opponent, and Bukes Creek, as a corruption of Bogy. clings to the township. On these black lands are matured the finest harvests of the husbandman's toil. In the thriving villages are busy mechanics and enterprising men of business. In the once thick and heavy timbered forests are seen the smoke of saw-mills-a territory now inhabited by 1,613 busy people, where only fifty years ago was seen here and there a savage encampment. Almost every industry of common life is here carried on. There is but one village in Bokes Creek (Tp.), and it is situated in the southeast corner. It has a population of 385. Part of the town of Ridgeway lies in this township, which is often called West Ridgeway, with a population of perhaps 120. At present, whether Ridgeway belongs to Logan or to Hardin County is a disputed point, and is pending before the courts. Logan County claims the territory for about a quarter of a mile further north than the generally designated line. This suit was begun in 1878. Both sides have offered to compromise the matter, but unfortunately for the residents in the disputed territory, when one side is in the notion the other wants to go the whole hog, or none at all. Should such a compromise be made, Ridgeway would be brought into Logan County and would be the leading village of Bokes Creek Township. This compromise would spoil the shape of the township, making it in the form of a trapezoid. At present, however, Hardin County is unwilling to make this compromise, the proposal having last been made by the attorneys for the Logan County side. As has been already stated, Bokes Creek swung loose from Rush Creek Township about the year 1834, and from Perry in 1837, and became a separate and duly organized township the same rear. At that time she had twenty-seven voters and about 120 inhabitants. 508 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. The first Trustees of the township were, John Bell, James R. Curl and William Cline; the first Justice of the Peace was Joseph Roberts; the first Constable, Henry Bell; H, C, Hathaway was the first Treasurer elected. He refused to serve, however, but as there was no money for him to take care of, he was honored by the title of that office till the next election. Moses Emerson was the first Clerk, It was sold that Constable Henry Be I having at one time levied on some property, was afraid to approach the premises, having heard that the old woman had a "corn-cutter'' sharpened for the purpose of cutting him into sausage meat, if he dared to sell a single article of the goods he had levied upon. Two miles south of Ridgeway, on the Ridgeway and Walnut Grove Turnpike, lives, in pioneer fashion, the "oldest inhabitant," and who claims to be the first settler in "old Bogey." John Hill and his father, Jeremiah hill. came from Greene Co., Ohio, in 1827, and settled in the "Windfall;" on the farm now owned by Lewis Dickinson. He has been a resident of this township for fifty-three years, and has watched with great interest its wonderful development. The great tornado had for him. two years before, laid low the trees, thus aiding him in opening a farm, Mr, Hill paid five dollars an acre for his land. This, as will be observed, was more than twice as much as some of the other settlers paid for their and, and may be accounted for by the fact that the fallen timber presented facilities for clearing land which the thick forest did not, there being no trees to cut down. Soon after Hill's settlement, Mr. Bell came, who is claimed by some to have been the first emigrant to Bokes Creek, Then the Coffelds and Cline families, and Wm. Callahan came, all of whom settled on the banks of Rush Creek, in 1839, Owing to the neglect of Mr. Hill to secure a good title to his land he was compelled to leave, after he had settled and improved it. He afterward removed to where he now lives on the banks of Rush Creek. A short distance from Mr. Hill's house was an Indian council house, about 30 feet long, made of poles and covered with Lark. The remains are still there, and the husbandman has never plowed below the depth of the ashes in its vicinity. There was what was known as the "Indian Spring;' on the corner of Mr, Hill's farm, on the banks of Rush Creek. It was about eighteen inches square. and was walled with Doles about six inches in diameter split and sunk into the ground, one above the other. After the Indians left the country the spring very mysteriously disappeared. and not a single trace of it can now be found, Perhaps as late as the year 1830 there was a settlement on the east side of the township, made by the Skidmores, E. C, Hathaway came to the township in 1831, from Bristol County, Mass, He settled on the farm where he now lives, on Bokes Creek, about a nine and a half north of West Mansfield, He purchased the farm he now owns for $2 an acre. Jacob Keller settled in 1839 near where the town of West Mansfield mow stands, Scranton. Gardner, Lewis. Bates, Fred, Keller, Robert and David Ray, and James Hatcher, all settled here between the years 1830 and 1840. The territory north of the treaty line. and near the centre of the township, was not settled till after the, year 1840, Felix Thornton settled here in the year 1842: William Luffel in 1844; Archibald Wilson in 1844; also the same year Heavy Williams, William Furrow and Jacob Green settled in 1845. The last mentioned settlers paid $4 an acre for their land. Between the years 1835 and 1845 the following persons settled on Rush Creek, in this township: Samuel Higgins, Andrew Wilson, E, Stiles, William Richards, John Ramsey, J, Lyizgood, Wm. Wetcraft and John Wilklow. The last me mentioned purchased land at HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. - 509 $1.25 an acre. We, no doubt, have omitted a few names, but the above are all we have been able to obtain by close and thorough inquiry. There is not a single pioneer, perhaps, who would not live over again his early days, and vainly sighs "O, give me back my cabin home, Within the forest wild." Those were days when men were not wrapped up in a cloak of self, but they were neighbors in the full reuse of the word. The young men would go from five to ten miles on horseback to a corn-husking or a dance. People very often went to East Liberty and Zanesfield to get their small stock of supplies, and to get their corn ground; for in those days they lived on corn bread, hominy, wild honey, and venison. Skins were u: used as legal tender; coon skins sold for from fifty cents to one dollar, or were trades among the settlers according to their estimated values. Hunting secured the first employment. They "treed" coons day and night. Some would "tree" coons and mark the trees in the forenoon, and cut the trees down in the afternoon. They would catch as high as ten sometimes in one day. Very often they would obtain great quantities of wild honey from trees cut down for coons. They killer as high as four deer a day, and their hides sold for from five to ten dollars. The principal stock raised was the hog. Wm. Callahan sold fifty head of hogs at an average of 125 pounds each, at seventy-five cents a hundred, being weighed with steelyards. Maple sugar was extensively produced, and like hides, was regarded as a legal tender. Farming was slowly begun. he pioneers first cleared small patches for corn to feed their stock. Hunting, was, however, more profitable, and the land was at first slowly improved. The first birth in the township was that of Jeremiah Hill, a brother of John Hill, and took place in 1827. The first marriage in the township was about the year 1840, when Isaac Cline and Miss Elizabeth Hill were united in holy wedlock: by Rev. Steven Holland, one of the pioneer preachers. The second marriage was that of Christopher Cline and Lida Bushaw. The father of Lida Bushaw was a Frenchman, and was taken prisoner by the Americans at Perry's victory on Lake Erie. He was a sailor on a British ship, and when the Americans jumped on board his vessel, and demanded his sword and pistols, Bushaw stuck the point of his sword downward in the deck broke it in three pieces, and threw his pistols overboard. He finally espoused the American cause and died at Chillicothe. Lida came to this county with relatives. The first death in the township was a little girl of the name of Stilts. Her grave was dug by John Hill, on the corner of his own farm. There were afterwards ten persons buried at this spot and it was the first graveyard in Bokes Creek Township. It is now abandoned, the present burying-ground being at the Good Hope schoolhouse. The first grave in the Bokes Creek graveyard, on the farm of E. C. Hathaway, was made in 1846, when a son of Mr. Hathaway was killed by a melancholy accident. He was riding on a wagon loaded with, a saw log, and was thrown off, when the log, which also fell from the wagon, rolled over him, killing him almost instantly, Two more deaths by accident occurred soon after the one just recorded and two more unfortunate boys were laid there. One of these youths was kicked by a horse, which caused his death, and the other fell into a kettle of boiling sugar-water. The Indians were always on friendly terms with the whites. John Hill says he has engaged in many a hunt with them; has been to their camps, where he has seen as many as forty red deer skins, stretched around on the 510 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. trees and the sides of the camp. On one Saturday evening, he and several more hunters passed an Indian camp, where they were met by Indian dogs. Their master hallooed "sic, sic, sic," which so scared the hunters that they cocked their rifles, but the dogs understand "sic" in a different way to what the pale face's dogs did, and they were immediately quelled. Mr. Hill and his band approached the camp, where an Indian met him, and said, "You no hunt on Sunday?" to which Mr. Hill replied, "No." The Indian then answered, "Me no hunt on Sunday either." He saw there an Indian squaw kneading bread on a bear skin, "shortening" it with bear oil. Often when deer were shot they would fall into the water and strangle before the hunter could get to them, the water in the swamps being so deep. "Old Archy " Wilson used to say, he had told the Lord if he would get him away from Bokes Creek he would never ask anything of him again. The early settlers were so honest that they would go clear to Rushsylvania to put in their two days cork on the roads. John Hill went as far as Rushsylvania to find hands to help him raise his first cabin. Such were the privations the early pioneers endured to open to future generations the unexplored and unknown lands of the West. In the southwest part of the township, there is an extensive colored settlement, called the Flat Woods. The first colored man who settled here was Christopher Wiliams, who came from Fayette County, Ohio, in 1854. Others have since settled there, both before and since the war. They purchased their lands from Jerry Dawson, General Taylor's Agent in Kentucky. They erected a schoolhouse about the year 1864. Among the first teachers was Solomon Day. A Baptist meeting-house was erected about the same time; this was a log building. There is now a frame church, built the year 1879, used by both Baptists and Methodists. This settlement is noted for its camp-meetings and revivals. There were no taverns previous to the year 1848. There was little need for any, as there were then few early travelers, and no coach or mail routes. The first saw-mill was operated perhaps as early as the year 1830, by Alexander Ramsey, on the banks of Rush Creek. near where Squire Callahan now lives, He also ran a "corn cracker" in connection with his saw-mill. These mills were run by water, and had overshot wheels. About the year 1840, Andy Murdock had a saw-mill near where he now lives. There was also a saw-mill at a very early day, where West Mansfield now stands, perhaps as early as 1845. There were few early stores within the present bounds of the township. Alexander Ramsey kept a small stock of goods, consisting of two or three good cart-loads; at any rate, the stock, large or small, almost broke the proprietor up. As we have already stated, trading was done chiefly at West Liberty or Zanesfiekl, and as the settlements grew older, and roads were opened, much of it was done at Rushsylvania. The first blazed road in the township led from the "fallen timber'' to West Liberty. A man by the name of Sumpters went ahead, winding around hills and swamps, and blew a horn to direct others who followed him blazing the trees and clearing away logs and brush. The road was cleared wide enough for a man to ride along on horseback, and if he carried his grist in a bag to mill with ends projected too far from the side of the horse, woe to that bag when its ends were dashed against a tree on each side of the road. In such cases, the man was left growling on the ground be hind the horse. The Painter Creek road was also opened in the same manner. In the year 1838, John Bell and Henry Bell, his son, succeeded in obtaining a grant for the first State HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. - 5l1 road. This was run from West Liberty to the Sandusky road. The trees were cut in the month of June by the settlers; the water was then so high over the ground that the logs were easily floated out. On this road was built the first pike in the township in 1877, and is a double track. In 1840, the Jerusalem and Bellefontaine road was laid out; for some, time before it was a blazed road. The trees were cut and cleared by the settlers. The same year the Bokes Creek and East Liberty roads crossing the Jerusalem and Bellefontaine road at West Mansfiekl, was cleared. It had been twice before laid out, and in two different directions, one running to the Skidmore settlement and the other to. the Bates settlement. It now runs from Mt. Victory to East Liberty. As the different portions of the township were settled, other roads were blazed and the trees cut out. The Bellefontaine and Jerusalem road was piked in the year 1877. There is now in construction a pike leading from the Hardin County line to East Liberty. In this section the pike enterprise is raging, as it is all over the county. In 1848, Levi Southard laid out the town of West Mansfield, and began the sale of lots. He was an enterprising farmer, ant enlisted as a soldier in the late war, and died in the hospital in 1861. Mr. Southard, at the time he laid out the town, had a son one year old whom he called Mansfield; he named the town West Mansfield, whether to honor his son, or the town, is not known. The town, however, is no disgrace to the young gentleman, neither is he a disgrace to the town, but he is a jolly, sociable little man, known to all by the name of Mansfield Southard. The hereafter will decide whether Mansfield Southard perpetuates the fame of the town of West Mansfield, or the town of West Mansfield perpetuates the name of Mansfield Southard. The village, however, often receives the appellation of "Fip Town.'' This name was given to it in its early days, when a company of surveyors called at its only store for a lunch of crackers and cheese, which demand the storekeeper could not supply, "Well," said one of them, " we will call this place Fip Town," and to-clay Fip Town is known where the title of West Mansfield would be understood as referring to some far off place. The first house was built by Bliss Danforth, near where Susan Keller now lives. It was of round logs eighteen by twenty, one story, and covered with clapboards. This house was built the same year the village was laid out; two others were soon afterwards built by Ellis and Henry Baldwin. The first tavern was kept by John Cousins; this was a frame building thirty by twenty, and one and a half stories high, and stood where George Harshfield's house now stands. The first store was kept by Samuel Danforth and William Keller; this store was a log building about sixteen by eighteen feet. Notions of all kinds and groceries were here sold. The first shoe shop was kept by James Wilgus. The first blacksmith shops were operated by Mark Austin and John Cousins. The first postoffice was kept by John Robinson. At present it is kept by J. T. Robinson, and the mail is brought every day by hack from Bellefontaine. A paper contributed by Dr. Skidmore gives the piston and standing of the Odd Fellows' lodge as follows: "White Lodge, No. 576, I. O. O. F., was instituted June 23, 1874. The names of charter members were W. S. Akey, J. R. Baldwin, Edwin Bates, A. C. Bayliss, David Logan, C. L. Hathaway, Ebenexer, Hathaway, W. E. Powers, J. S. Rea, James Rheulen. First officers installed were Edwin Bates, N. G.; Eben Hathaway, V. G.; J. S. Rea, Rec. Sec.; A. C. Bayliss, Per Sec.; W. S. Akey, Treas.; R. S. N. G., David Logan; L. S. N. G., R. W. Southard; R. S. V. G., D. H. Harriman; L. S. V. G., J. Dickinson; Warden, 512 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. W. E. Powers; Conductor, J. R. Baldwin; R. S. S., David Rea; L. S. S., P. Smith; O. G,; James Rheulen. The names of the present officers are C. C. McGee, N. G.; T. B. Harriman, V. G.; E. D. Vance, Rec. Sec.; U. L. Mann, Per Sec.; G. H. Dowell, Treas.; Warden, L. E. Laying ; Conductor, Ira Gwynn; R. S. N. G., William Reams: R. S. V. G., George Bates; O. G., T. B. Wilgus; J. G., Walter Painter.'' The first religious denomination was the Wesleyan Methodist, which, in 1843, held divine service in the old schoolhouse on the farm now owned by Robert Southard. They had few adherents, and did not hold out longer than three years. Their preachers were Cooley and Glading. The United Brethren, as early as 1845, held divine services in the old schoolhouse. They built the first church in West Mansfield in 1852. It was a frame building, about thirty by forty feet and occupied the same site on which now stands their new church. They then had abont thirst members, and their first preacher was Rev. F. Hendricks. In 1877, they built their present house of worship, which ,is a comfortable building, about forty by thirty feet. Their membership has not increased any of late years. Their present pastor is Rev. J. Mulholland. The Methodist Episcopal denomination organized a church in 1869, when they built the house in which they now worship. This is a commodious building, sixty by forty feet. Their membership is about forty person, and their first minister was Rev. E. McHugh; their present pastor is Rev. C. J. Wells. The present schoolhouse is a two-story frame building, forty by twenty-eight feet, and was built in 1873. There are two hotels in the village, kept by Henry Hathaway and V. Southard, respectively; two dry-goods stores, J. T. Robinson, and Marsh, Skidmore & Co.: one drug store, by Carson Bros.; one notion store, be Newton Reans; one hardware store, by Harriman Bros.; one wagon shop, by Painter S Son; two blacksmith shops; one shoe shop, by Wm. Ballinger; one harness shop, by Rufus Heisler; one saw-mill, by Wm. Bushong & Ham McDonald. In the year 1871, Loring &; Co. erected a steam mill at the south end of town. This was afterwards purchased by the firm of Wilgus S Robinson, who, in 1876 sold it to J. N. Wilgus & Son, the present owners. It is a large two-story building, and has two run of burrs. The town was incorporated in 1879, and the following; officers elected: Wm. Ballinger, Mayor; Dr. Skidmore, Clerk; Dr, Maris, Treasurer; Ham McDonald, Marshal; and J. T. Robinson, F. Carson, J. N. Wilgus, Councilmen. The first physician was D:. Robert, who came to the township in 1853, and left in the year 1856. The next was Dr. Reames, who came to West Mansfield, in 1854: Dr. Skidmore also came in 1844; Dr. Sevan came in 1866: Dr. Maris. in 1877, and Dr. Whitaker in 1879. The present physicians are Drs. Reames, Skidmore, Maris, and Whitaker. Considering its jack of advantages, such as railroad, West Mansfield outstrips every rival. Situated as it is, in a long neglected corner of the counts and township, ten miles from a railroad, independent of its far-away competitor, who called it in derision, "Fip Town," it has held its own in a manner that deserves commendation. A short sketch may be here given of Ridgeway, as a part of the village lies in Bokes Creek Township, and there is a faint probability of its being, at some future time, a village of Logan County and Bokes Creek Township, instead of astride the line as it is now. In May, 1852, the town was laid out by Samuel McCulloch and a man of the name of Bogs, and on the 20th day of the same month there was a sale of lot, at which HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY - 515 about eighty lots were disposed of. The town was named Ridgeway in honor of a man by that name who lived in Liverpool, England, and owned 2,000 acres of land, and the spot upon which the town was laid off was in this tract. The highest lots sold for $100; the lowest at from fifteen to twenty dollars. Dr. Wooley erected the first building, which was a one-story frame house. The second was erected by Robert Stephenson who kept the first hotel in the village. He still keeps tavern in the same building, which is a two-story frame house. The first dry goods store was kept by W. P. Hughes. Benjamin Gin kept the first postoffice. Michael Printz the first blacksmith shop. The Methodists built the first church, which was a little frame building 22x26 feet. Henry Snell was the first preacher. The schoolhouse was a frame building 22x26 feet. The town was incorporated in 1860. The following is a list of the business men, furnished by Lee Pash: Stephenson & Co. - Flouring Mills. Kopland & Rumer - Sawmill, and lumber dealers, T. J. Cottrell, Merchant-Dry goods and groceries. J. W. Calhertson " " " C. McElhany " " " H. Yarington, " " " J. Lake " Grocery J. Lime " Grocery L. Pash, Merchant - Hardware, stoves and tinware. John Davis, " " R. J. William, Merchant - Harness, A. D. Bailey, " - Drug store. J. Printz - Blacksmith shop. L. Stephenson. " M. Orimsly " C. Rourch - Pump factory. Robert Srephenson - Hotel. John Ewing - Restaurant. R. Edwards - M. D. J. Sieg - Justice of the Peace W. M. Newill - Mayor J. Endsley - Clerk Town Councilmen - E. B. Crowe, H. L. Push, J. M. Thomas, R. J. Williams, W. M. Riley, John Williams. There was a lodge of the I. O. O. F. organ ized June 29, 1880, by Peter Kautzman. There are two fine village churches, belonging to the Presbyterians and Methodists. The school building is a two-story brick. They have, however, bargained for a fine new school building, to be finished at the cost of $5.000. The village is on the C., C., C. & I. Railway, shout thirteen miles from Kenton and sixteen miles from Bellefontaine. The first divine services in Bokes Creek Township were held by the Methodists at the cabin of John Hill, which was used as a preaching place for seven years. There was s society formed of that denomination in the section of the township. Andy Wilson was their class leader. Rev. Steven Holland was one of the first preachers. Doctor Green also frequently preached at .Mr. Hill's house. About the year 1840 a man by the name of Allen held the first revival in the Rush Creek settlement. At the close of the revival he went to Grassy Point where he eloped with another man's wife. After this circumstance he was called the "corn-stalk preacher" by settlers. But what signification the name has in connection with the erring evangelist we cannot say,Services were held for some time in the old brick schoolhouse. There is still a small society of about a dozen members in this locality. They now use the old White Swan schoolhouse as a place of worship. In 1847 there was a society of Methodists organized in Bokes Creek. The first meetings were held in Thomas Simpson's house. The same year there was an old fachioned schoolhouse built, sixteen by eighteen feet in which they organized. Wm. Furrow was appointed class leader which office he has held for thirty years. William Knapp and William Wareham were the first Pastor. Here they worshiped for ten years and during the time had one of the most spirited revivals ever known in the backwoods. The number of membership was increased from about ten to sixty-two. In 1858 a new frame church was built on the banks of Bokes Creek, forty-five by thirty-five feet. 516 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. The membership was then sixty; the present is about thirty, and Rev. John Graham is the Pastor. In the northeast corner of the township is an organization of Quaker, consisting of about forty members. This society was begun about 1860. They first held their meetings in a private house which they purchased and changed into a church. About twelve years ago they built the house they now occupy ; it is a small, plain little church, built in old Quaker style, and in it they meet every Sabbath. Rev. Mr. Moore occasionally preaches for the Disciples in the township. There is, however no organization of drat denomination. Mr. Moore is an earnest, eloquent and effective minister. The first sabbath school was held in Solomon Smith's house, in the Rush Creek Settlement. It was superintended by James Doby, who was also a common school teacher. Sabbath school was also held in the old brick schoolhouse in the same locality. There are now five or six different sabbath schools in Bokes Creek Township. The first abolition speeches were made by Chase, Bowcher and Emerson. The two former were Methodist Episcopal preachers, and were afterwards silenced. Moses Emerson and Jacob Keller were the first two abolition voters in the township. The cause here at first met few friends and many strong enemies. There never was, however, any violence or insult heaped on the early agitators. There were mane threats made of mobbing them, but cool judgment always kept sway. There was a Know Nothing society organized by Doctor Doran in the year 1856. This society was secret, and held its meetings at private house, in Bokes Creek Township. Its President was J. W. Green; Vice-President, C. H. Thornton; Treasurer, Thomas Simpson; Secretary, Christie Williams; Chaplain, William Furrow. The members of this society claim that they had a grand and object in view, and that they, haying gained this object, quietly disbanded. We know that their motto was "Americans ought to rule America," but what the great object was they achieved is to this day a mystery. At the beginning of the war the anti-slavery spirit and loyalty to the Union cause were at their highest pitch. In 1862 the sympathizers of the Rebellion obtained a spot in the north end of West Mansfield to hold a mass meeting. On the appointed day there was a large, enthusiastic delegation of all the Tories and disloyal roughs Newton could collect and form into a lice. As they approached the village of West Mansfield one of their marshals rode ahead and inquired of some boys where the grounds were to which he was to conduct his procession The boys told him on the west side of the town. He accordingly led his procession in that direction through the town, until he discovered his mistake. When he had turned his line and was leading it round the corner where J. T. Robinso's store now stands, he found the street blockaded by boys. He rode up to one of them, cocked his pistol and told him to give the road. He was then informed by men on the opposite side that he had better not shoot for there were plenty more to return his fire. After they had arrived at the grounds the boys fired old logs and brush around the stage, which smoked them so badly that the speakers grew hoarse and dizzy, and the hearers were so affected (by the smoke) that the tears streamed down their cheeks. On their way homeward, in passing through the town, they were met by Union boys who blockaded the road and kept them at a stand-still for more than two hour, swearing and threatening, with loaded rifle, revolvers and shot-guns cocked, ready for a fight. Finally they were told if they would go peaceably out of town they could go home. These conditions they were too glad to comply with, and their HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. - 517 marshals' were Iced to the edge of the village by the citizens, followed by the procession. The first school teacher in the township was, perhaps, John Doby, who taught school in Solomon Smith's house, as early as 1843. In 1845 Mr. Hill hewed the logs for the first schoolhouse, which was 20 x 18 feet, and stood on the farm now owned by Trig McAdams, It had a pole chimney six feet wide. Perry Hughes taught the first school in this house. About ten years after this house was built, there was a brick schoolhouse erected about three hundred yards from where the first stood. In 1870 the Good Hope schoolhouse was built, and the old brick and log school-house of other days have disappeared. In 1847 a round log schoolhouse was built on Bokes Creek. The first teacher in the house was a lady by the name of McAdow; the first male teacher was M. Chase. They received $45 and $25 for their services. In 1856 there was a frame schoolhouse 24 x 18 feet, built on a corner of the farm of William Saffel. This was the schoolhouse for twenty years and in it were held some spirited literary societies, a pastime for which this section of the township, had a taste. In 1876 there was another building erected on the farm of James Crane. As this was built in the Centennial year, the school is called by the same name. "The Centennial.'' About the year 1850, there was a log school-house built in the northeast corner of the township. A few years after on the same site there was a frame house built, but was burnt to the ground a few months after. School was afterwards held in an old log house, now belonging to Ross Williams. In the year 1870, the house was built which is now standing. Its size is twenty-two by twenty-eight feet. The burning of the schoolhouse above mentioned, was supposed to be the work of a man in the fallen timber, whose object was to bring the school within the reach of his family. There was accordingly a schoolhouse built on the corner of the farm now owned by Robert Early, but has been abandoned, there being a schoolhouse built in that settlement about the year 1876, called the "Quaking Ash School." The following is the last school report, made to the County Auditor: Amount paid to teachers, $2,056, amount paid for fuel, etc,, $2,367.36; number of sub-districts, 9; number of schoolhouses in township, 10; total value of school property, $3,000; number of teachers to supply the schools, 11; number of different teachers employed during the year males, l3; females, 8; total, 21. Average wages paid teachers per mouth males, $3l; females, $20. Number of pupils enrolled-males 199; females, I63; total, 362. We are indebted to Dr Doctor Whitaker for the following history of the West Mansfield Schools: "When the village first began to assume the appearance of a town there was no school. The children then went to the nearest country schools, which were in existence long before any town was known here. The Chase Schoolhouse, three-fourths of a mile north of the town, being the nearest. The Skidmore School, two miles south of town, in Perry Township, was the school of pioneer times, a sort of parent to the other schools which sprung up around it. The first schoolhouse in the village was the house now occupied by Mrs, Robinson, and the first and only term taught in it was by Alonzo Harvey. This, was, perhaps, twenty-five years ago. Subsequently a schoolhouse was built at the north end of town (size twenty-four by twenty-six), and the first teacher was Rounce Hathaway, a thorough-going, rough-and-ready old gentleman, who chewed a "fip's worth'' of "dogleg" tobacco every day: the motion of his jaws being almost incessant. He made the big boys toe the mark and explode the vowels like pop-guns. Other teachers were 518 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. Alonzo Harvey, Louis Harvey, and others whose names are not now recalled. The schools were generally full, for this part of the country increased fully as rapidly in population as in improvements. At a later day the schools was taught by Louis Votaw, Wm. Reid, Emanuel Whitaker, James Skidmore, and others equally as meritorious, whose names are not remembered. In 1873, in consequence of the rapid growth in numbers, the old schoolhouse, it was decided, was too small for the proper instruction of the pupils, and a new two-story building was erected, seated with the improved patent seats and desks, and costing about $1,400. The first two terms were taught by E. Whitaker, Principal, and Miss Ella Elliott (now Mrs. W. Southard), as teacher of the Grammar Department. These rooms were almost over-filled from the first, and a deep interest was manifested by the pipils in their studies. Punctuality, order and good lessons were the requirements of the teachers, and were faithfully lived up to by the pupils. Since then William J. Watkins and Alice Inskeep; Coleman Inskeep, Lewis Votaw, Knowlton Keller, R. S. Plotner, Lydia Maris, William M. Carson, Laura Carson, John Hamilton, Joseph H. Wylie, Ella Votaw, Harvey G. Sutton and Maggie Embry, have severally taught, most of whom were professional teacher, and have had good success. Mr. Sutton has taught the past two terms as principal and gives good satisfaction. The school is at the present time in a flourishing cmdition, and it has been decided by the Board to build another room for the benefit of the increasing number of pupils. At the commencement I went of the past school year the school was separated from the control of the Township Board and established into a village school, under the law establishing and maintaining village school districts, The present members of the Board are James T. Robinson, J. R. Skidmore, Nathaniel Grant, Jerry Benedict, Samuel f and P. M. Keller, Prices paid teachers are $50 a month in the higher department, and $25 and $20 in the intermediate and primary departments. . The people are intelligent, enterprising, thrifty, and generally religious. There has not been a murder committed in the township since its settlement. Considering the late period of its settlement, and numerous disadvantages and drawbacks, the improvement and development of Bokes Creek Township has been more rapid than any other township in Logan County. It has surmounted every obstacle, and rose above every difficulty, till to-day finds the forests that were so dense fifty years ago that the settler could find no bare spot on which to erect a cabin turned into green fields and productive farms. (RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE)