Logan County, Ohio History

HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY - 527

CHAPTER XXI.*

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - INTRODUCTION - THE LEWISTON RESERVATION - SETTLEMENT - SCHOOLS - CHURCHES - ETC.

Where fate the Indian wigwams stood,

Deep in the unbounded range of wood;

Where scarce the sun

Could penetrate the twilight shade,

Now domes of science stand displayed.

Here dove-eyed peace, triumphant reigns,

And o'er the cultivated plains.

In converse sweet gay nymphs and swains

Delighted rave,

Pierce.

It is less than half a century since the Red man held undisputed and peaceful possession of the territory now comprised in Washington Township. Forests, whose dense foliage so completely enshrouded the earth that scarce a ray of sunlight reached its virgin soil, covered the lands. Where now stands the thriving hamlet with its busy industries, its church and its school, was until a comparatively recent date, but a meager collection of wretched Indian habitations. The surroundings a wild wilderness, dense, gloomy and silent, save perhaps at night, when the fierce, piercing cry of the wolf; or the grim hoot of the owl made the solitude still less attractive. By the keen ax and the strong arms of the sturdy woodsman, a wonderful transformation has been wrought. South tracts of woodland only now remain; smooth, well fenced and highly cultivated fields appear; finale graded and graveled thoroughfares, thrifty patches of orcharding; substantial, and in some instances, elegant dwellings, and well kept schoolhouses are found everywhere. The slow, meek-eyed ox and the cumbrous

* Contributed by Dr. J. H. Se Cheverell.

wagon of the pioneer time have well nigh departed from the face of the earth, and in their place we find the trim, fast-stepping horse, with hi gold or silver-mounted trappings, and the stylish carriage, so delicately constructed that an hour's drive among the stumps and roots of a pioneer road would leave the occupant in much the same predicament as the deacon in his "one-horse shay." When it

"All at once, and nothing first.

Just as bubbles do when they burst,"

resolved itself into its constituent elements. But, however pleasant this theme may be, space admonishes us that matters of greater import should occupy our page.

The lands now constituting the Township of Washington consist of fractions of Ranges 8, 9, 14 and l5, in Townships 2, 3, 6, 7 and 8, in the original Congressional division. The boundaries are, in general terms, as follows: north by the Lewistown Reservoir; south by Pleasant Township; east by the Townships of Richland, McArthur and Harrison, and west by Pleasant, Bloomfield and Stokes. In size Washington is of an average width of two miles, east and west, by about six miles north and south. The "Greenville treaty line,'' which is fully described elsewhere in this work, passes through the township in a northeasterly direction, cutting off about one-third of the south part. North of this line was the Indian Reservation, hence the only lands in the township subject to purchase or settlement prior to the removal of the Indians were to the southward, and the close proximity

528 -HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

of the reservation prevented a rapid influx of settlers until after the year 1832.

The streams are; the Miami River, issuing from and forming the outlet of the Reservoir. From near the east township line the river flows southwest until reaching the northwest corner of Bloomfield Township, when it turns south, forming the boundary line between that township and tale none under consideration. This water-course is now of little importance. Cherokee Man's Run flows from the cast into the Miami river. Numerous small streams flow into the Miami from different portions of the township. The largest of these is Inky Creek, in the extreme southern portion of the township. None of these streams are of am value save as furnishing an outlet for the superfluous moisture in the soil. "The Lewistown Reservior" has its bulkhead in this township. Originally a large natural pond, called "Indian Lake," existed in this and the adjoining townships of Stokes and Richland. The necessity of a reservoir to supply water-power to a branch of the Miami canal presented itself several years previous to its improvement. In 1850 a resolution to establish a Reservoir was reported upon favorably by the Board of Canal Commissioners, and an act passed authorizing the sauce. The"Indian Lake" and surrounding lands were condemned, and the owners remunerated. Nine years later an amendatory act was passed, and the State entered into a contract for the enlargement of the reservoir. Subsequently, however, the State was released from the contract on payment of $90,000. The reservoir now covers an area of 13,000 acre, about 3,000 of which are in Washington Township. So says Thomas Axtell, .Government Superintendent of the works,

The soil of Washington Township is of two kinds, that in the eastern portion being largely clay, with occasional gravel, and in the west a Mack loam is found to be almost the only variety. Wheat, corn and grass are the prevailing crops, and no better yields are produced in this portion of the State. The satire varieties of timber did not differ materially from those of the surrounding townships, being chiefly oak, beech, hard and soft maple, walnut, hickory, etc. Game of all kinds, but especially the deer and wild turkey, was abundant in the early settlement of the township. Wolves were numerous, and so destructive to shed,, that it was only by the most careful attention they were kept at all. Strong pens were built of logs, and in these the sheep were confined at night. It is said the howls of the wolves, as they tramped around these enclosures, were something terrible and it was a long time before one could accustom themselves to sleep under the infliction. Occasionally a bear would pay a visit to the settlement; this was. however, by no means frequent, and usually a mint ensued in which Bruin lost his life.

Prior to the year 1838 the territory now known as Washington Township was attached to Bloomfield. The Miami River flowing between the townships, was usually swollen by the fall and spring rains, and being without bridges, the attendance upon elections was not accomplished without considerable danger to the dwellers on the eastern shore.

At last it was decided to make an effort to secure a separate organization, and accordingly a petition was presented to the Board of County Commissioners at their annual session in December, asking that the "territory to the east of the Miami River, be erected a separate township," to be named in honor of the " Father of our Country" The prayer of the petitioners was granted, and early in January following (1839), an election for township officers was held, which resulted in the selection of the following : Jonathan Plumb, John H. Renick and Daniel Downs,

HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. - 529

Trustees: John Hogge, Clerk; Isaac Plumb, Treasurer; Michael H. Kaylor and William W. Rairden, Justices of the Peace. It was several years afterward before the population in the new township grew sufficiently numerous to warrant a division into road and school-districts. The township roster for the year 1880 contains the following: John Trout, Amos Cherry and Salathiel Prater, Trustees; John Ansley, Clerk; E. L. Ward, Treasurer; Lewis Martin, Assessor; W. T. G. Snyder and A. J.. Monroe, Justices of the Peace.

The Indian Reservation previously mentioned extended from the " Greenville treaty line " northward; its eastern boundary, the present township line; its western the Miami River, and thence northward; embracing an area of 40,300 acres. This reservation was granted at a treaty held at Maumee Rapids, on September 29, 1817, and was for the benefit of the Seneca and Shawnee tribes, who, in accordance with its provisions, soon established their residence thereon. They continued upon the territory until the negotiation of another treaty for their removal, on April 6, 1832, soon after which they took their departure westward. James B. Gardner, of Bellefontaine, was Commissioner at this time, and John McIlvain, successor to James McPherson, Agent. The transfer was made without difficulty, and the "exodus'' produced general rejoicing amongst the settlers in the vicinity. The following, from Howe's Historical Collections, so fully illustrates the honesty of the average Aborigine, that it is reproduced in this connection: "James McPherson, the former sub-agent, kept goods for sale for which they (the Indians), often got in Heart. Many were slow in making payment, and one in particular was so tardy that. Major McPherson urged him with considerable vehemence to pay up. The Indian inquired if he would take hides for the debt, and being answered in the affirmative, he promised to bring them in about four days, Starting into the forest, he shot several of the government cattle, a vast number of which were scattered through the woods, and delivered their hides punctually according to promise."

James McPherson was the proprietor of an extensive tract of land in the eastern part of Washington Township, given him by the Indians and, this is believed to have been the first lands owned by a white man in the township. During the residence of the Indians in the township, as early as 1820, a man named Stewart lived in a little log cabin on the river, where John Moore now lives, and another, B Benjamin Ray, lived cm land now owned by Thomas Rathburn. These were among the very first white families who lived in the township. They were doubtless squatters, and their stay brief, as no one knows anything of their subsequent history. In the summer of 1832, immediately following the departure of the Indians, u few white families came into the township and began settlement. The names of these, who were the first permanent settlers in the township, are as follows; Henry Hanford, a native of New York, purchased 600 acres of land in and around Lewistown; a daughter, Mrs, B. F. McKinnon, at present occupies a portion of this tract. Michael Carnes, a, Virginian, owned a large tract of land on the eastern boundary line, adjoining the Greenville treaty line. His widow now lives in Harrison Township. William and Alexander Kirkpatrick purchased an extensive body of land along the Miami River. William S. Lowry, settled a large tract in the north part of the territory. Abraham Cherry began an settlement on a farm in Sections 14 and 23, now occupied by a son, Amos. James Renick purchased land adjoining Lowry. Joseph Kave, Isaac Cooper and John Hogge, settler! about Lewsitown. Mrs. Plum came from Virginia, with five children, and located

530 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

on 460 acres of land southwest of Lewistown; but one son, Isaac, now resides in the township, though numerous descendants live in the vicinity. James B. McKinnon and family settled south of the "treaty line," on land he still occupies. Among early settlers were Alexander Trout, Joseph and David Dearduff, James Craig, John Williams, Samuel Firestone Daniel Downs, Isaac Clemons, ,John and George Mefford, John Price, Daniel Martin, tin, John Parish, George Strickland, Dennis Moore, John F. Amos, John P. Bronson, Philip Shade and George Weaver,

From this period the arrivals in this section increased with hopeful rapidity-the era of peace and prosperity had surely arrived. Progress was slowly, surely made; the log houses became more numerous and the clearings increased rapidly in area. Frame buildings began to appear; the pioneers, assured of safety. laid better plans for the future, resorted to new industries, enlarged their possessions, and improved the means of cultivation. More commodious structures took the place of the old ones; the large double cabin of hewed logs took the place of the smaller hut; log and frame barns were constructed. Next, society began to form itself; the schoolhouse and the church appeared, and though rude, unsightly and decidedly uncomfortable withal, net they were a long stride onward. Still there remained a vast work to perform, for as yet only a beginning had been made in the Western woods. The brunt of the struggle, however, was past, and a way opened into the wilderness,

In this, as in all pioneer settlements, great inconvenience was experienced for the want of means by which to convert the grain into a condition suitable for bread-making. Foremost in the appliances for that purpose was the "stump mortar;" following this was the hand-mill, a slow and tedious process of preparing one's " daily bread," still it was an improvement on its predecessor. Next came the grist-mill propelled by horse-power, or perhaps by the waters of some convenient creek, rude and far from perfect as compared to the mills of to-day, yet its advent was far in advance of anything preceding it. The pioneer mill in Washington was built in 1835. by E. G. Hanford. upon a small stream some three-fourths of a mile east of Lewistown. This pioneer industry was a great convenience, and was widely patronized for some years, but has now, one to decay. Subsequently a steam saw-mill was erected by Hanford, Stamats and Conley, on the east line of the village, and to this, one run of stone for grinding corn was added. The present steam saw-mill in Lewistown was completed during the fall of 1873, and is now owned by John Rood and H. Clay. During the year 1862 Washington Township was blessed (?) with a distillery. Jacob Westenhaver was the proprietor of this questionable addition to the prosperity of the community. It subsequently became the property of John and Jacob Ball, who failed to make the returns required by law, and the establishment was confiscated by the Government. This, with a tannery, not a vestige of which now remains, mains, concludes the industries of the township. The hamlet of Lewistown is said to have: been named in honor of "Captain" John Lewis, "a somewhat noted chief of the Shawnee tribe, who was living within the recollection of the earliest settler," in a log horse standing on the site of the present residence of Dr, B. F. McKinnon; in fact, a portion of this log house is now incorporated in Dr. McKinnon's dwelling. This Lewis is spoken of as being fully as lazy and filthy as the average Aborigine; a white woman, named Polly horsey, lived with him to " do his drudgery."

Quite a collection of log and bark huts stood along the bank of the small stream

HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. - 533

skirting the eastern portion of Lewistown, and possibly this suggested the idea of making a plat of the ground; at least the fact remains that in 1832 Harvey Hanford caused a survey and plat to be made embracing twenty-five acres of land in the vicinity, and soon after Elijah Brunk erected the first building by civilized hands on the town plat. It was constructed of hewed log, and became the home of the builder. The first frame house in the " village " was built by a man named Conly, who was the pioneer shoemaker in the place. A few years subsequent to the making of the plat Mr. Hanford erected a building, and in this opened a stock of goods. A postoffice was next established,, and he became Postmaster. The mails were carried on horseback, arriving and departing once each week, and as much oftener as the state of the streams and roads would admit. A semi-weekly hack-line now runs from Bellefontaine to Anna Station, via Lewistown. J. Springer is the present postmaster. The pioneer " tavern " was under the management of John Pell, who began to " take in " the traveling public as early as 1840. The hotel building was of logs and frame, and stood on lands now owned by George W. Berry. The first disciple of AEseulapius to find an abiding-place upon the historic soil of Lewistown was Morehead. He did not remain long, and was succeeded by a Dr. Lewis, who, it is alleged, became connected with a gang of counterfeiters-at least he eventually "took himself off" by suicide. Dr. Pollock came next, and he, in turn, gave place to B. F. McKinnon, the only physician now in the township, and who is said to be a practitioner of more than average ability. Lewistown now contains one dry goods and two grocery store, two blacksmith, one harness and one shoe-shop, a hotel, church and school. Situated immediately west of Lewistown is an ancient burial place, probably occupied for the purpose of interment long before the white man gained a footing in this vicinity, The remains of Lewis McCauley were the first civilized interment.

The first schoolhouse north of the Greenville treaty line was located in Lewistown. It, was of unhewn logs and rough in its construction, yet it is presumed the birchen and cut as deeply, and the "young idea" learned as effectually "to shoot," within its bark covered walls as in the more pretentious school buildings of the present day. This building was erected in 1833, and was occupied until 1840, when it gave place to a comfortable frame schoolhouse. This is now the dwelling of Jacob Grouse. The Lewistown special school district was formed in 1874, and the following directors elected; Jacob Harner, B. S. B. Stamats and Amos Cherry, A neat school building with two rooms was erected during the summer of 1874, and the school organized with primary and grammar departments. The writer has been unable to learn the date of the erection of the first schoolhouse in the southern portion of the township. Following are the school statistics for Washington Township, including the special district, for the year ending August 31, 1879:

Whole number of scholars........................ 308

Amount paid teachers................................ $1,674

Number of schoolhouses............................... 7

Value, with grounds.........,......................... $2,500

Early in the settlement of the township religious services were held in the cabins of the pioneers and later in the schoolhouses. Thus was an interest in the cause of Christ awakened, and the formation of a church soon followed. James B. McKinnon, Esq., furnishes the following data : The first church formed in what is now Washington Township was of the Methodist Protestant faith; the period, during the latter part of the year 1836; the place, a little log-cabin standing on the

534 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

farm then belonging to Gabriel H. Banes; Rev. John B. Lucas in charge of what was then Springfield Circuit, conducted the meetings here, assisted by Rev. David Moore and Lewis Hicklen. Among the first members were : G. H. Banes and wife, Josiah McKinnon and wife, Mrs. Mary Harrison. Mrs. Catherine Smith and daughter, Mrs. Jonathan Plumb and Mrs, Shade. In March, 1837, J. B. McKinnon and wife located near and became members, and in June of the same year William Black and wife, late of Pennsylvania united with the Church. Services were held in the log house about referred to, for perhaps one year, when by reason of the sale of the property, the place of worship was changed to the dwelling house of G. H. Bane, and after a time to the schoolhouse on James B. McKinnon's farm; next at the house of Jonathan Plumb and afterward at the schoolhouse in Lewistown. During the summer of 1853 the society erected the meetinghouse at this village they still occupy. This is a wood structure and cost some $700; Jonathan Plumb, James B. and Daniel W. McKinnon were the building committee. Of the constituent members of this church, but one now remain, Mrs. Catherine Smith, who now lives in Lewistown. Since the completion of the church edifice a Sunday School has been in continuous operation, and has now a. total enrollment of eighty scholars. The membership of the church now numbers eighty (June 1880) Rev. B. F. Tucker is the present Pastor. For many years subsequent to the formation of this society, no effort was made by any other denomination to form a church in the township.

During the winter of 1852-3, a series of meetings were held in the Kaylor schoolhouse, on Section 35, by Rev. William S. Paul, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and early in the last mentioned year a small class was formed. This consisted of : Morton C. Wood and wife, Harvey Sutherland and wife, John Nichols and wife, William Rairden and wife, Andrew Coulter and wife, John Denny, and Francis Bridgeman. Services continued to be held at the schoolhouse for two or three years, when the membership having become too numerous for the limited accommodation, the neat church edifice, situated on section thirty, was constructed; this is appropriately named " Pleasant Grove." The membership of this society is now (1880), 100. (contemporaneous with the formation of the Church was the Sabbath School, which is still in active and effective operation. Following are the ministers of Pleasant Grove Church from its organization : Revs.. William S. Paul, R. D. Oldfield, M. Longfellow, P. A. Drown, A. J. Stubbs, W. S. Ray, A. Berry, J. A. Wright, Charles Farnsworth, and S. H. Alderman, who at present presides.

The Evangelical Church was organized by Rev. Rhinehold about the year 1853, at the schoolhouse in Section 11. The constituent members were as follows: George Fuson and wife, Moses Sager and wife, Harvey y Ray and wife, James Wicks and wife, and Thomas Corner and wife. The schoolhouse was occupied as a place of worship until the year 1865, when the present Church edifice of this society was erected. It is a commodious frame building, and cost $1,400. The present membership of this society is seventy-two. Rev. William Bates is the present Pastor. In connection with the Church is a flourishing Sabbath School. Ministers of other denominations have held occasional service in the township at interval, but no church organizations have ever existed, except those spoken of. Some years since the society known as the Patrons of Husbandry effected an organization at Lewistown, but it did not attain much prominence, and has now passed into obscurity.

During the war of the Rebellion Washington Township was patriotic, brace and

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earnest. The people faltered not as the long years passed wearily by, but the gaps in the ranks, made by disease, or torn open by shot and shell, were filled and refilled until the bloody and dreadful struggle was over, and let this be placed to her credit: Every. male citizen of the township, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five year, either became a soldier himself or furnished a substitute; of these many never returned, their lives went out for the flag, and beneath the skies of the Sunny South, where the orange and magnolia shed a ceaseless perfume, the spot perhaps unknown, they "sleep the sleep that knows no waking."

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