548 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. CHAPTER XXIV.* LIBERTY TOWNSHIP - TOPOGRAPHY - PIONEER SCHOOLS - PREACHERS- GEOLOGICAL- WEST LIBERTY. LIBERTY TOWNSHIP was sliced from Union in 1831, Mad River enters it near the southeast corner and traverses the southern portion, skirting along the eastern and southern portion of West Liberty, down into Champaign County. McKee's Creek starts in at the northeast corner, taking a zigzag course, entering Union on the farm of A. R. Harner. In this township may be found several miniature lakes-the largest, covering ten acre, on the farm of M. Eddy. The stream, including Mad River, running through this township, are McKee's Creek-named from Col. McKee, a military man, and a British Indian Agent and Muddy Run. The timber consists of burr oak, hickory and white oak. Among the first officers of this township were Peter Stipp, Judge Wm. McBeth, David Williams and Charles Hildebrand. Wm. Henry is probably the first man who assessed the township, there being at that period but one assessor for the County. Mr. Henry is now dead. Among the first settlers were Thomas Baird and two sons, the Newall family-Samuel Newall coining from Kentucky in about 1808,-the Shields, Henry FuIton, James Walds and three son, the Hayes family, Samuel Blair, Col: John Walds, Abner Snoddy, William Gray and family, William McBeth and family, Vachal Blaylock, John Dunn, the Grindles, William Burkhardt, Gerton Bronghton, a cooper by trade, now residing in Bellefontaine twine; William Creviston, John Creviston, Judge Shelby, Henry Secrist, Sr., Lynx Wiler John K. Taylor, the Howell, Nathaniel * Contributed by H. W. Hamilton, Kelley, Thomas Newall's wife and heirs, the Culbertsons, Widow Pickering. H. M. White was probably the first sheriff of Logan County. In the year 1831 it was almost impossible to get money. People paid in wood and promises. What the farmers of this township could not dispose of in the West Liberty market, was taken by overland route to Sandusky. From east of Sydney to Upper Sandusky, and all around that country, the Lewistown Indians and white people depended upon the market of West Liberty for their flour and whisky. In those days the practice of medicine had not attained the scientific perfection of the present day, and when a man was taken down with lung fever he was almost certain to die. The usual practice was to "bleed." The first saw-mill in the township was built by John Enoch on the property now owned by E. S. Jordan, he first distillery was erected by Thomas Baird on Muddy Run, on the property now owned by Bartley Gordan. Our information shows that the first school-house erected in this township was an old log affair, built on the west side of the township on the corner of the Samuel Blair, McBeth and Yoder farms. A man named McElree was the first teacher.' Preaching was done in those days by circuit riders. The people worshiped at West Liberty when opportunity presented itself. These were the days when education was not given that importance that it is now; they had not time for the careful improvement of the mind. The mystery that overhung the endless woods was continually a temptation to the pioneer to explore the furthest regions concealed beneath NO PAGES 449 & 550 HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. - 551 their shade. Where we now live in contentment and happiness, ,there lay in those days the hunter's paradise, with every excitement necessary to savage life-from contact with wild beasts to warfare with the red man, with nothing to guide them through the dense for ests except blazed trees and the stars. These men of the wood, seated around their cozy fires in their rude log hut, recited and listened to many exciting stories that went tingling to the ears of the listener; stories of their long trail, severe trials, adventures and conflicts, all had a tendency to give a heavy time of romance to the pioneer life. his life had its advantages, together with its disadvantages, and the perils thereof had to be braved in order that the former might be enjoyed. A homestead could be easily gotten, but it would have to be obtained at the risks incident to a howling wilderness. Brawny arms and a muscular frame had to contend with trees that had swayed to the winds for centuries, and masterly warfare made they on the forests. The soil might be fertile, but it was covered over with dense forests, intersected with Indian war paths. Life in the wilderness, evidently, was one of rugged independence, free from wholesome restraint, also established customs curl laws. Such a life could furnish no security to person or property beyond the exercise of mere brute force in self-defense. It could not surround itself with those pleasant influences of civilization which call into play the finer qualities of human nature. Here, he was; surrounded by the grand old forms of nature, the pioneer felt isolated-cut off from all human associations. In the midst of savage, barbaric sights and sound, he was living beneath perpetual shade. His situation then, would have weakened the stoutest heart of this day. Trees of mammoth proportions interposed their huge trunks between him and the world. They lifted on high their umbrageous tops and shut out the heavens. But the solitude of the forest may not have been repulsive; it may have been-and to many undoubtedly was overpowering. Its terrors were probably softened by many peculiar beauties. There must have been some witchery in its swinging shadows. There was the sunshine that filtered down gently through the innumerable leaves and danced to the music of the wind. Geologically speaking, Liberty Township is made up mostly of lower strata of the Devonian age. There are numerous basins of tertiary formation, such as peat swamp, ancient lake, overgrown by aquatic vegetation. In some of the latter, have been found fossil remains of extinct animal forms, such as elk and other ancient animals. Several ancient forest beds occur in the township; one upon -the property of J. M. Glover, deceased; this lies buried below the surface some six or eight feet; the bed is covered with fallen timber, mostly cedar, and although in all probability lying buried for thousands of tears, the timber seems nearly perfect, retaining the smell of cedar even yet. The northern portion of the township is covered with drift. and has no special geological interest. The soil is almost entirely derived from drift, gravel and clay, and is rich and generous. The chief source of wealth of the township is its agriculture, for which there appears to be a special adaptation in the Mad River Valley. Beds of clay exist in the neighborhood of West Liberty, and these are being utilized to good advantage in the manufacture of brick. The farms are handsome, and the improvements for the most part are commensurate with the progress of the age. The products of the township find a liberal market at West Liberty, and the crops are generally large, whilst the stock and cattle are shipped in large quantities to the eastern markets. 552 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. WEST LIBERTY. As we take up our pen to write the history of West Liberty, we are conscious of the fact that we are situated in a locality where have been enacted some thrilling life-dramas - scenes which, if they could be properly written, might help to enrich our literature and give us a deeper insight into the character of man. These reminiscences- "That tell Of days and years long since gone by" should not be permitted to relapse into oblivion, but should be treasured up as important factors in the history of our country. West Liberty is the second town in commercial importance in Logan an County. It is located in the charming Mad River Valley on the C., S. & C. Railroad-the first in Ohio, eight miles south of the county seat, Bellefontaine. It is accessible from all points of the compass, by unrivaled free turnpike, and its trade embraces a large scope of territory all around it. It was laid out in the year 1817, on section 27, Town. 5, Range 13, the plat and survey being made by Aaron L. Hunt, surveyor of Champaign County. It was incorporated by an Act of Legislature, dated February 21, 1834. The following is a copy of said article: "An act to incorporate the town of West Liberty in the County of Logan." "SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio. That so much of the township of Union, in the county of Logan, as is comprised and embraced within the bounds of the town plat of the town of West Liberty in said county, as is now on record in the proper office in said country is hereby erected into a town corporate, to be known by the name of the town of West Liberty. "SEC. 2. That the white male persons about the age of 21 year, who have been residents in said town, at beast one year preceding the day of election, and who in other respects possess the qualifications of electors for members of the General Assembly, shall meet at some suitable place in said town on the first Saturday of April next, and on the first Saturday of April annually thereafter, at such place as the President, Recorder and Trustees, or a majority of them, may dire direct, between the hours of 1 and 5 o'clock P. M., and then and there elect, by ballot a President, Recorder and five Trustees, who shall be either freeholders or householders, having the qualifications of electors, who shall be a body corporate and politic, with perpetual succession, to be known by the name of the President, Recorder and Trustees of the town of West Liberty; and who shall hold their offices until the next annual eIection, and until their successors are duly elected and qualified. "SEC. 3. That at all the elections under the provisions of this Act, after the President and Trustees, or any two of them, shall be judges, and the Recorder, Clerk, or such person son as the judges may appoint, when from any cause the Recorder is unable to serve a Clerk; at the close of the rolls, the ballot shall be counted by the judges, and the result publicly declared, and a fair record made thereof by the Clerk, who shall notify the persons elected thereof within five days after the election; and the person so notified, shall take the proper oath or affirmation of office, and to support the Constitution of the United States and the State of Ohio. "SEC. 4. If any persons elected under the provisions of this Act neglect or refuse to take oath as presented, those who have been qualified shall appoint to fill the vacancy, who will serve until the next annual election. "SEC. 5. That the President, Recorder and Trustees shall be capable to acquire real HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. - 553 estate or personal property; that they may sue or be sued. Sec. 7. Relates to corporation seal. " Sec. 8. Gives the President, Recorder and Trustees power to appoint a Marshal. Collector, Treasurer, Assessor of Property, Surveyor of Streets and Alleys, and all such other subordinate offices as they may deem necessary, to hold office one year. "Sec. 9. Gives the President, Recorder and Trustees power to fill vacancies in their own number. "Sec. 10. Says that 'Any four of the Council shall be a durum to pass laws, &c. They may require owners of lots to pave or gravel the sidewalks in front thereof.' " Sec. 11. Relates to the keeping of the record of ordinances, and publishing the same. "Sec. 12. Empowers Council to require every male person above twenty-one and under sixty, who have resided three months in the village, to work on the streets one day in each year. "Sec. 13. Relates to return by Assessor of taxable property. "Sec. 14. The President shall be a conservator of the peace; have power of Justice of the Peace. "Sec. 15. Relates to the powers of the Marshal. "Sec. 16. Relates to fines to be prosecuted at the suit of the Treasurer before the President, and recovered by action of debt. "SEC. 17. Provides for the collection of taxes. "Sec. 18. Relates to sale of real estate for taxes. "Sec. 19. Provides that the amount of receipts and expenditures shall be published. " Sec. 20. This Act shall take effect and be in force from and after the 1st day of April, next. "Sec. 21. Speaks of future legislation. . [Signed] "John H. Keith, "Speaker House Representatives. " David T. Disney, "Speaker of the Senate.'' February 20, 1834. John M. Smith was the first Mayor of West Liberty after the organization of a municipal government. On the 19th of March, 1835, an Amendatory Act was passed, which says: "Said corporation (West Liberty) shall have use of County Jail; persons so imprisoned. shall be under the charge of the jailor of the county." John Enoch, now deceased, father of the venerable John Enoch, Sr., who resides near here was the original proprietor of West Liberty. In the year 1815 Mr. Enoch erected the first dwelling in this place. During the same year he built a grist-mill near the Mad River, and it still stands, a substantial monument of pioneer industry. This mill is in operation to this day, and is owned and operated by Samuel Armstrong, a thorough gentleman and an accomplished miller. In the pioneer time, the people of Loan and Champaign Counties were compelled to travel through dense thickets of hazel, plum and thorn to this mill to get their grinding done. Here it was that the John Enoch, Sr., now alive, who is prominently identified with the pioneer history of Logan and Champaign Counties, was taught the modus operadi of trading with the Indians to gain their confidence. Mr. Enoch was always instructed by his father, that when weighing a sack of meal for the Indians he must never take from the meal, but always keep dropping in until the scales went down-then the red man could not say, "White man cheat poor Indian." Mr. Enoch, Sr., received his instruction in the premise, from Col. McPherson. The first store in West Liberty was kept 554 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. by Hiram M. White, long since " gathered to his fathers." White also kept the postoffice and tavern, the latter having been patronized several times by Senator Blaine. The first postoffice was kept by Samuel Newall, The present competent incumbent is Mr. C. E. Darlinton. The fist regularly organized church in West Liberty was the Methodist. In the year 1830 this society built a church, which is still standing, being occupied as a residence by E. Meyers. We learn that the following gentlemen subscribed the amounts placed opposite their respective name, to aid in the erection of this temple of worship: Riddle & Rutan, $20, in lathing ; Dr, John Ordway, $15 ; John William, $5, in srnithing ; John Strange, $10 ; Amos Jackson, $5, in lime and sand ; Stephen Jackson, $5, in work ; John Poisdell, $5, in lumber ; J. B. Conklin, $10, in plastering R. E. Robert, $5, in tailoring ; John Strange, $5, in hauling ; Isaac Hatcher, $2, in plastering ; John C. Garwood, $1, in lime : Truman Wolfe, $2, in shoes ; total, $90. In those days the little congregation worshiped in their church with as much earnest Christian fervor as characterizes the larger body now. Then, with the same deep spirit of Christian interest as now, the zealous man of God fed the starving souls with the bread that comes from Heaven, directing and warning the unwary, lest they, by falling into the bottomless pit, plunge themselves into the direst and most irretrievable ruin ; soothing the troubled conscience ; guarding against the insidious approach of doubts and fear, extracting the seeds of cite and endless misery and sowing the seeds of virtue and happiness. The regions of immortality alone will disclose the full amount of success which has c owned the efforts of these pioneer preacher, for in their hands they held the infallible dictates of eternal truth-the unerring guide imparted by Heaven-within whose sacred folds are contained those exalted and inspiring truths through which, alone, we can be made wise unto salvation, wherein are exhibited, in all their rich simplicity and overwhelming grandeur, those illustrious doctrines which revelation can alone discover, The first church organized in this part of the country, and for some years after, was the Christian Church, organized in the year 1814, by Rev. Richard Clark, at Bethel, or as it was generally known, the Muddy Run Church, which was located about one-half mile west of West Liberty, adjoining the farm now owned by Dr. John Ordway. This was a large log meeting-house, which stood on part of what is now known as the Muddy- Run graveyard. At that early day large camp meetings were held in the grove near by, attended by all the people, old and young, traveling on foot or horseback. As there was no other means of conveyance, it was quite common for the husband to place his wife and children on a trusty horse while he walked by their side, often for twenty miles, to attend these meetings, which are spoken of by the old settlers (a few of whom are still living) as seasons of great social and religious profit, and many were converted under the faithful and zealous preaching of the gospel, and were generally directed to unite with any branch of the Church they desired, the object being not so much to build up a separate organization as to hate men and women converted. The following statement is found in the old church book : "We, the members of the Christian Church, at Bethel, have hereunto subscribed our names, taking the word of God for our doctrine, discipline and government promising subjection to each other in the Lord, according thereunto, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fourteen. HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. - 555 Names-Richard Clark, James McIlvain, Thomas Baird, John Wall, Robert Crockett, William Newell, Betsey Newell; Alexander Black, Patty Crockett, Moses McIlvain, Flora McIlvain, Nellie Baird, Nancy Clark, Netty Well, Peggy McIlvain, Sr., Peggy McIlvain, Jr., Jane Clark, Polly Wall, Jane Black, Polly Cartmill, Jane McNay, Nancy McNay, John Williams, Jane Williams, Jane Lecher, Malinda Wall, Patsey Crockett. Samuel Coyington, Mary Covington, James Wall, Rhoda Shields, Thomas Clark, Robert Clark, James Steel, Moses McIlvain, Jr., John G. McIlvain, William Hopkins, Elizabeth Hopkins, Betsey Baud, Abner Snoddy, Sally Snoddy, William Boyd, Ann Boyd, Peter Stipp, Elizabeth Stipp, fully Leeper, Priscilla King, Hannah Snoddy, Aaron Rhodes, Elizabeth Rhodes, Polly Rhodes, Sarah Robertson, George F. Dunn, William Miles, Jeremiah Fuson, Jane Fuson, Catharine Snoddy, Betsey Vickers, Betsey Rhodes, Samuel Collins, Pattie Baird, Celia Baird, Robert McIlvain, Benjamin Wall, Mary Kelley, Sarah Kelley, Jane Petty, Isaac Davis, Susanna Moore, Ann McIlvain, Margaret Henning, George Petty, Eleonora Baird, Garland Crockett, John L. McIlvain, Jacob Snoddy, Josiah Napkins, James Stackhouse, Polly Stackhouse, Cartmill Crockett. Houston Crockett, Asenith Crockett, Louisa Crockett, and many others. The large majority of these came from near Cane Ridge, Kentucky, and some from North Carolina, Among the first preachers were Richard Clark, Caleb Worley, James Hayes, Matthew Marvin, David Purviance, Levi Purviance, D. F. Ladley, Mahlon Baker, Hallett Barber, Richard Simonton, Hiram Simonton, Isaac N. Walters, Samuel Fuson, James Fuson, Jeremiah Fuson and Joseph Thomas, generally known as the "White Pilgrim," on account of his peculiarity in wearing none but white clothing summer and winter. Elder Thomas although eccentric and peculiar in this respect, was a great preacher, a man of deep convictions and large piety and devotion to the work of the ministry, He traveled on foot and horseback through Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky, preaching everywhere and thousands were converted under his preaching, always refusing pay for his services. In 1835, he took a long journey on horseback through tire Eastern States, continuing everywhere to proclaim the gospel. On his return homeward, he was taken sick at Johnsonburg, New Jersey, and died in the prime of life and usefulness, aged forty-four years, and was buried in the cemetery at that puce. Rev. John Ellis, a Christian preacher, afterwards visited the cemetery and there composed the following beautiful lines (POEM NOT INCLUDED) 556 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. The poem was put to music by J. W. Cheney. In the year 1844 the church divided. part of the members organizing a church, and building a house of worship where the Glady Creek Church now stand, in Champagne Co., (the old house having burned down). The balance of the members organized a church in West Liberty, and built a house of worship the same year. The following are tire names uniting with the West Liberty Christian Church: Archibald Prater, Sally Prater, A!exander Black. Jane Black, John Johnson. Caroline Johnson. Sarah McIlvain, Susan Clark. Benjamin Ginn, Jane Ginn, Mary Ann Crockett, Henry J. Robertson, Jeremiah Fuson, Jane Fuson, Ellen Martin, Daniel V. Martin, Elizabeth Baird, S. Cope, Mary Martin, Hannah Martin. Sarah Jane Martin, Archibald Hopkins, Robert Hopkins, Angeline Miller. Sarah Hopkins, Elizabeth Johnson, R. Wade, J. Stevenson, Joseph Craft. Louisa Crockett. Lydia Stillwell. The following are the names of the Pastors of the church: Jeremiah Fuson, Hiram Simonton, Prof. William H. Doherty, Henry Z. Rush, C. T. Emmons, J. W. Week, Daniel Griffin, S. W. Hutchinson, J. T. Lynn, W. A. Warner, William J. Lawrence; B. F. Chrisman being the present Pastor. The Church at Glady Creek. three miles west, and the West Liberty Church, form one pastorate, Rev. B. F. Chrisman being Pastor of both churches, preaching at each place every alternate Sabbath, the total number having ' belonged and still belonging to said church being about 700. Nearly all who went into the organization at Bethel or Muddy Run Church have died. All of the ministers who then preached to the church have died, Hiram Simonton being the last, who died in July, 1880. The Methodist Society erected the first temple in West Liberty in 1830. The ground was purchased of Thomas P. Miller. and thereon they built a church commensurate with their means and the enterprise of that day. It stands to-day on Baird street and is occupied by E. Myers as a residence. The first preacher was the Rev. Mr. Findlay, and the heroic little congregation of thirty souls wielded a power for good. Among the original members there were Dr. John Ordway, Thomas P. Miller, Rev. John B. Magruder, John William, James McDonald, Maria Hawkins, At that time. and since, this was a two-weeks circuit, and the residence of the then active, now venerable Doctor Ordway. was the chief resort for the ministers. The Doctor and his good wife always had the latch-string hanging out, and at their cheerful fireside and generous table these ministers were always delighted to assemble. The Doctor has all through these long years closely allied himself with the Methodist Church, and has been, and is now-although his hair is whitened with the frosts of age-one of the strongest pillars. His example through life is one which our young men would do well to emulate, if they hope to gain a crown similar to that laid up for him. When he is called up higher his work will be left as a monument of his unselfish, Christian devotion to the church and his God, and thereon will be inscribed: "He has not lived in vain." In 1849 this congregation built a more stately house of worship, which they hare occupied ever since. The membership numbers about 140. The present minister is the Rev. Arkinson Perry, a godly man, full of love for his work, and interest in the salvation of many souls. He is a practical man in every sense, an able, argumentative expounder of the gospel, and is highly esteemed for his many good qualities, social and religious. The Methodist Sunday school has a membership of about 150, exclusive of teachers, and is in good working HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY - 557 order, with a Mr. John M. Hunter, a stirring Superintendent,, at the helm, assisted by an able corps of teachers. The circumstances which led to the organization of the Presbyterian Church of West Liberty are many, though not different in their nature from those which have attended similar organizations in other places. The first organized body of professing Christians was that known as the Christian Church: Their numbers were considerable, embracing a large portion of the inhabitants of West Liberty. T he same class of people were found in considerable numbers in various parts of the surrounding country. The next organized religious society was that of the Methodist-being organized in 1830. Up to this time but little was done by the Presbyterians to establish themselves as a church here. The Rev. Joseph Stevenson, who came into Logan county from Pennsylvania at an early day seems to have been the first Presbyterian minister who located himself in the county Mr, Stevenson organized the First Presbyterian Church in Bellefontaine in 1829, which he served as Pastor faithfully and efficiently until the time of his death, which occurred in February, 1865. In the absence of any or organized Presbyterian Church-except a feeble one at Cherokee, now the Huntsville church, which seems at some time previous to have been organized by an itinerant minister Mr. Stevenson labored in various destitute places in this and adjoining Counties, ant-1 that with no inconsiderable degree of success. West Liberty was made a point to which he directed a part of his labors. For a length of tune he continued his labors at stated intervals - preaching in the house of a friend in the immediate vicinity of this village. In time, the avenue opened for the organization of a church in Bellefontaine. of which we have spoken, and also at Stony Creek, now Spring Hills, and the work of Mr. Stevenson became concentrated upon these two places, in connection with the Cherokee Church. After this Mr. Stevenson gave but little of his time to West Liberty, During the years 1830-31, the Rev. Mr. Garland, a minister from New England, labored in this place the one-half of his time, during six months or a year. The prospects for a church at that time, however, were not very flattering A minister named Peregrine, of Welsh descent, also labored in West Liberty a portion of his time, for six months, or a year, during the years 1836-37, but without much marked success. This, as late as the autumn of 1840, appears to have been the amount of labor performed on the part of the: Presbyterians here, except as a sermon was occasionally preached by a passing minister. One fact should here be noted. Previous to the fall of 1840, Presbyterian families had resided in this place, but some had removed, owning, in part at least, to the fact that there was no Presbyterian church here, and with a desire of locating themselves in a place where they could enjoy the means of grace in a church of their own connection. Some individuals-members of the Presbyterian Church-feeling it a duty to be in connection with some branch of the visible Church of Christ, had united with the Methodists; other, however, few in number, remained anxiously waiting and desiring the time when a Presbyterian church should be organized in the town, and it is a fact eminently worthy of note (with few exceptions), they were pious and devoted females. There is another circumstance worth remembering , as having been linked with the organization of a society in West Liberty, For years there had been much solicitude on the part of some of the friends of Christ in neighboring 558 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. churches, for the organization of a church in this place, and to the influence of these, in on small degree, must be attributed the putting in train some of those causes which preceded, and eventually led to, the establishing of this church. This is only the mean, for man is at best but the instrument in the hand of God in accomplishing His work. 'Tis God alone who can turn the hearts of sinful man, and build up His kingdom and establish it in the world. In the autumn of 1840 Robert H. Hollyday, a licentiate then under the care of the Presbytery of Chillicothe, through the influence of Rev. Joseph Stevenson, came into this region, and labored the one-half of his time for the coming winter in the first church in Bellefontaine, then under the pastoral charge of Mr. Stevenson; part of his remaining time was spent in West Liberty, where he preached once each alternate Sabbath. During this time many encouraging indications of success were discovered. After the 1st of May, 1841, the labors of Mr. Hollyday were divided between West Liberty and Stony Creek-one-half to each place. About this time it was considered desirable that some special effort should be made to open the way, if possible, for the organization of a church here. The second Sabbath of June following was appointed as the time for holding a communion season-a series of meetings to precede that service. As it was necessary to have the services of an ordained minister, the services of the Rev, H. R. Price, of Buck Creek, were secured. Through the blessed influences of the grace of God upon the labors of his servants upon that occasion, the meeting proved to be one of much interest. Throughout these meetings much solemnity and deep feeling were manifest. The communion was held through the session of the Stony Creek Church, the Elders of that church receiving the member, and aiding in the distribution of the elements of the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. The following persons were received as members of the Stony Creek Church until a church should be organized here, viz.: Harriet Reynolds, John M. Glover, Isabella Glover, Clarissa Stewart, Nancy Jane Kirkwood, Caroline Iiirkwood, Laura Beebe, Eve Eliza Runkle, Sarah Chapman, Sarah Miller, Jane Hildebrand, Dorothy Secrest, Rachel Elliott, John W. Ingram, Caroline Ingrain, Jane McClay, Maria White, Samuel Taylor and Aaron Mitchell. The way seemed now to be open for the organization of a church With a view to this, a meeting for prayer and consultation was held, and it was agreed by the members present immediately to send up a request to the Presbytery of Sidney to be regularly organized into a church, to be known and designated as "The First Presbyterian Church of West Liberty:" The request being laid before the Presbytery, at their meeting in Sidney, on the last of June, was taken into consideration by the Presbytery, and the request was granted. The Presbytery appointed Rev. Joseph Stevenson and Rev. John A. Meeks a committee to organize the church if the way be clear. Friday before the first Sabbath of September, 1841, was appointed as the time for the organization to take place. To members who were to compose this infant church, this was a time of deep interest, and one, the arrival of which had long been desired. On the day appointed, the committee of the Presbytery were on the grounds. In addition to those persons who were received at the communion in June, the following persons reported themselves and gave evidence of their membership in the church, viz.: Isabella McBeth, William Iiirkwood, Mrs. HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. - 559 Kirkwood, Marquis Wood, Mary Ann Wood, Jane Morris, Margaret Andrews and, Henry Secrest. These persons-twenty-seven in all-were by the Presbytery, through it's committee, organized-into a church, to be called the "West Liberty Presbyterian Church." John M. Glover and Marquis Wood were unanimously elected Ruling Elder, and were regularly ordained and set apart to this office and installed over this church. Thus was accomplished what many of the friends of Christ in neighboring churches desired to see, and for which the few members of the Presbyterian Church in this place had long wished and prayed. Thus, as will be seen, the church was organized under very favorable circumstances. Twenty-seven Christian men and women united with a purpose to pray and labor for the extension of Christ's kingdom, was no inconsiderable force. The result of the organization soon began to show itself in the increased zeal of the member, and in the conversion of sinner, plainly indicating that the Lord owned, and would bless the labors of His people. All this was regarded as earnests of future rich and abundant blessings. Of the twenty-seven persons constituting the church at its organization, eleven have died; thirteen have been dismissed, leaving three of the original members- still remaining. From the very organization of this church here, Rev. Robert H. Hollyday preached every alternate Sunday up to the 18th day of November, 1841, when he was regularly ordained and installed as pastor, for one-half of his time. Being without a house of worship of their own, through the Christian courtesy of the brethren of the Methodist Church, the congregation met in the little brick Methodist Church (now owned as a residence by E. Myers). After the lapse of a few month, it was deemed best to procure a place of meeting of their own, when Thomas P. Miller tendered the use of the old stone distillery, situated in the southern extremity of the town opposite the flouring mill, and the lower room of this structure was fitted up and opened for preaching in January, 1842. April 27, 1842, Mr. Hollyday resigned his pastoral charge, and to this, it is said, is to be attributed the small increase in 1842-but three persons were added to the membership. From April 1842, to April, 1843, the church had no pastor, during which time, one member was lost by removal to the bounds of other churches. In April, 1843, Rev. Milton A. Hacket, was called to the pastoral charge, and on July 6 of that year he was ordained and installed pastor for two-thirds of his time. During brat year twenty-three persons were added to the church. In 1844 twelve persons were added to the church. On November 12, 1844, the Presbytery of Sidney met in West Liberty and dissolved the pastoral relation of Rev. Mr. Hackett and the church; this was another reverse. Mr. Hackett was held in high estimation by the congregation. He served one year and eight months. In 1845 the congregation resolved to, and did, erect a temple of worship, and opened it in November, 1845. This year the church had no regular Pastor, but seven new members were added. In 1846 Rev. James H. Gill, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Maine, visited the church acid was afterward called to the pastorate of the church, and on the 14th of June following he was ordained and installed pastor for one-half of his time. Nine members were added this year. In 1847 eight members were added. In 1848 eleven persons were added. In 1849 ten new members were added. In 1850 twelve new additions were made to the church. In 1851 the church membership was increased 560 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. . by twenty accessions. 1852 notes thirteen additions. On the 24th day of July, 1853, the Presbyery dissolved the pastoral relation of Mr, Gill at his own request, he having served seven and a half years. By this time the congregation had grown in cumbers and increased in influence. From July, 1853, to the spring of 1854, the congregation was without a regular pastor. In April, 1854, Rev. William Perkins was engaged as stated supply, and continued his work until October, 1854. In 1853 fifteen were added, and in 1854 ten were taken in. The church suffered greatly during this period from emigration. From October, 1854, to May, 1855, the church was again destitute of a regular minister, at which time the Rev. L. I. Drake, a licentiate of the Presbytery of Cincinnati, visited the church, at the repeated invitations of the church session, and in May, 1855, he came, and, having spent one Sabbath, consented to return and hold a series of meetings. The session invited to be present during these meetings Rev. H. R. Price, of the Buck Creek church. During these meetings Rev. Mr. Price and Mr. Drake preached alternately, Mr. Price administering the sacrament on Sabbath, and Mr. Drake preaching in the Methodist Episcopal Church on that day, by invitation, the pulpit being vacant. On Monday following, June 18, 1855, at a meeting of the congregation moderated by Per. H. R. Price, a unanimous call was made for the pastoral labors of Mr. Drake, and on the second Sabbath of July following he entered upon his pastoral work. On the 30th day of November, 1855, the Presbytery of Sidney met is this church, and; according to previous arrangement, ordained and installed Mr. Drake over this congregation. The church has made rapid progress under the zealous ,labors of Mr. Drake, who is the present Pastor, having ministered to his people over a period of twenty-five years. It will be observed from this resume of the history of this church, that the whole number received into the communion of the church since its organization in September, 1841, is 445 ; this in the face of the difficulties which grew out of the unsettled state of many who became members, partaking of the spirit which induced many to seek homes in the West. Mr. Drake has served his people faithfully and ably, and for his reward he says "I shall count it my highest reward if, when from flower-strewn graves and quiet resting places, all who have mingled in these holy labors shall rise and stand before the Great White Throne, I shall be permitted to enter the Pearly Gates and thread the golden streets of the New Jerusalem." The first religious exercises conducted by a Lutheran minister in West Liberty were held about the year 1847. At the request of a few families who were members of that church, Rev. J. G. Harris, of Bellefontaine preached for them occasionally, at the same time doing missionary work preparatory to the organization of a Society. Many of these services were held in private houses, but the faithful few clung so zealously to the church of their fathers that they, were willing to bear with almost any inconvenience rather than be deprived of their own preaching. The results of the work of Mr. Harris were such as to give the little band some assurance that, by clinging together, they might be able in the near future to effect an organization Mr. Harris having been called away from Bellefontaine, Rev. J. Brickley, his successor there, continued the work which was begun, giving as much time to the West Liberty people as he could spare from his work at home. Mr. Brickley was much beloved by the church, but his death occurred just at the period when it might have been HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. - 561 practicable for him to give the Society the assurance of permanency. His successor at Bellefontaine, Rev. J. W. Goodlin, preached occasionally for them until some time during the year 1856, when, chiefly through the efforts and zeal of Mrs. E. M. Fisher and Mrs. Dr. Leonard, they succeeded in getting Rev. N. B. Little to preach for them with a view of becoming their regular pastor. The first permanent organization was effected by Mr. Little on the 11th day of April, 1857. Forty-eight members were duly received and celebrated the Lord's Supper on that occasion. It was a day of rejoicing and thanksgiving - a day for which many of them had often prayed and had anxiously awaited. The following constituted the first Church Council; Elders, Jacob Ziegler and Stephen Packer; Deacons, Peter Bowman and Charles Moots. 0f the forty - eight who organized the church only six are now members. Nearly all the rest have passed away and are now, we trust, members of the church triumphant. Through the kindness of the officers of the "Christian" Church, the first regular services were held in their building. Shortly after the organization, however, regular services were held by the ''Christians'' in their own house and the Lutherans were compelled to find a place of worship elsewhere. A hall on Main street owned by Mrs. Roberts, was rented, and here they first organized a Sabbath-school, with M. J. Roger as superintend. The next removal was to an upper room on Baird street. These were dark days for the church, yet many precious meetings were enjoyed under circumstances which lacked almost all the comforts and conveniences which now seem necessary for church worship. Prayer meetings were held at the houses of different member, and the hopes of those faithful hearts were constantly strengthened by these delightful seasons of consecration and prayer. The greatest trouble of all was in regard to a church building. Late in the fall of 1857 a meeting was called for the purpose of discussing what steps should be taken in regard to the future. It was either disband, buy or build. The latter was decided upon and a building committee consisting of the following persons were appointed: Thomas Piper, Charles Moots, David Ziegler. M. J. Royer, P. Bowman, Jr., and Jacob Ziegler. It was a great undertaking, for there were not a dozen male members in the church, and most of these were in very limited circumstances. Yet, with stout hearts and unwavering faith, they went to work, and the following summer was laid the corner-stone of what is now by far the finest church edifice in West Liberty. Few churches are built under circumstances as trying as this one was, but all worked and gave cheerfully and liberally, and the result of their labors is a striking testimony of their devotion and self-sacrifice. Then too most of the work was carried on without the aid of a regular Pastor. Rev. N. B. Little left the charge during the year 1858. The church enjoyed a very reasonable degree of prosperity under his administration. Many new members' were added from time to time and the organization and project for building were both erected through his efforts. Owing to the great money panic and failure of crops throughout the State and country the new church building was not dedicated to divine service until the 18th day of March, 1860. The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. F. W. Conrad, of Dayton. Ohio, by whom also the services were conducted, assisted by Dr. Sprecher, president of Wittemberg College. A call was then extended Rev. C. A. Gelwicks, who immediately assumed the duties of pastor. Mr. Gelwicks remained in charge for two years when he left to labor elsewhere and the church was again without regular preaching. 562 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. In the summer of 1863, Rev. A. R. Howbert, who resided at Bellefontaine, took charge of the congregation and continued to serve them for the period of thirteen years. Two other churches known as Peank's Church and Jerusalem Church, were also served by him and these two with West Liberty were then made to constitute one charge. A good degree of prosperity attended the efforts of Mr. Howbert and the Church was only beginning to enjoy relief from the burden and expense of building, when a storm blew off part of the roof and threw one end over into the church, making ruins of that which, little by little, had risen through the untiring' efforts and sacrifices of faithful hearts. This occurred on the 29th day of April, 1865. The following note by the secretary appears on the church records: "During the prevalence of a violent storm, a whirlwind struck the northwest corner of our church building and, tearing away nearly half the roof, crushed in the gable end of the building, which carried everything with it into the basement, smashing pulpit, platform, furniture, all the front pews, with half the ceiling, and nearly half the floor, also cracking the corners and whole west end of the brick wall. The damage estimated is from two to three thousand dollars. As the congregation is very weak, and only now clearing up the old debt on the church by carrying stock in the building association the misfortune seems an exceedingly heavy one for us to sustain, but we hope, through the mercies of a Providence that has never failed us in time of need, to rebuild at once." A congregational meeting was called, and a committee, consisting of Rev. A. R. Howbert, Samuel Taylor (of Presbyterian Church), and Dr. L. M. Jones (of Methodist Episcopal Church), was appointed to solicit subscriptions for repairing the church. The people of West Liberty and friends of the church responded liberally, and on Sabbath morning, December 19, 1875, Rev. M. W. Hamma, assisted by Prof. J. H. W. Stuckenberg, re-dedicated the church to the worship of God. In the summer of 1876, the Church Council, acting upon the advice of their Pastor, Rev. A. R. Howbert, signed a petition written by him to the other churches, and to the Synod, ; asking that this church be released, and be permitted to constitute a separate charge, with power to select and call a pastor. The petition was granted, Mr. Howbert withdrawing from the pastoral duties of the West Liberty Church. Mr. Howbert did good work in behalf of this congregation. He was with it, and stood by it in some of its darkest days, and labored with untiring zeal, to repair the building, after it had been crushed by the storm. On the first day of June, 1877, Rev. J. M. Cromer entered upon the duties of Pastor. His labors as such extended over the period of one year, and as a result many of the young from the families of the church and others were added to its membership. On the first Sabbath of June, 187 8, Rev. E. K. Bell, of the Wittenberg Theological Seminary preached as a supply and continued as such until June 1, 1879, when he was unanimously elected Pastor. During the past year thirteen persons have united with the church, increasing the present membership to ninety, which is the highest it has ever attained. A new organ was purchased as well as chandeliers and pulpit lamps, and at the close of the year the Pastor's salary was all paid as well as every other local indebtedness of the church. With a spirit of consecration pervading the members and the same spirit of self-sacrifice which has always characterized this church, there seems to be no good reason why its future should not be a bright and prosperous one. The present church council consists of the following persons: E. K. Bell (Pastor), HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. - 563 President; D. M. Ziegler, M. J. Rover, Cyrus Ziegler and Robert Park, Eiders; A. B. Sieg, J. A. Boy er, Paul S. Davis and Ira Kirkwood, Deacons; John Sutphin, M. J. Rover and Charles F. Fox, Trustees; A. B. Sieg. Secretary; and D. M. Ziegler, Treasurer. The first school was taught here prior to the laying out of the town, by John Askins and Doctor Herrin. The education of the children in the early history of our pioneers was not looked upon with the same degree of importance as now. Then, the highest ambition of the scholar was to learn how to read, write, and cipher-three very important factors in education. The student, however, was "Never taught to stray, Far as the solar walk or milky way." The desires of his mind then scarcely arose above the irrational creation. is anxieties were limited to the mere knowledge of ordinary mental acquirements, and to provide against the ravages of cold and hunger was the very acme of his hopes and aspirations. e was not taught then, as now, that it is education that brings up the pearl from its hidden depths in the wild, chaotic ocean of untutored thought, and reveals to the daylight and to the wrapt gaze of the admirer. its beauties. He was not taught then, as now, that it bursts open its rocky encasement and lets forth the imprisoned brilliancy of the mental diamond upon the world. The pioneer scholar did not know that it was education that would draw forth latent energies, which would lie dormant forever without its arousing and stimulating power; that it raises up the noble purposes of the soul to a higher standard of elevation, and trains every sprouting and expanding branch of thought with vigilant care, and in an appropriate direction, as the skillful gardener trains the tendrils of the vine. The truth of these assertions stand out in bold relief, and with forcible impressiveness, when the clear. strong light of contrast is thrown upon the experiences of the pioneers hereabouts and that of the present advanced era of civilization. In those days of mental darkness, no scenes. glowing with rich lines and beauties, which alone make immortality desirable to the rational, ever loomed up before the pioneer mind. No endless perspective of ceaselessly increasing knowledge ever burst upon his mind with overpowering glory. No burning thoughts of poesy ever flamed up from the altar of his intellect the disadvantages in procuring an education prevented the development of the hidden powers of his mind. And such are the benefits of the present over the past-such are the results of colleges and academies-to the pioneer unknown. To illustrate: Of one merchant in this town, in the days that are past, it is said. so deficient was his education, that in sending East for a new stock of merchantise, he would mark a circle on a sheet of paper to represent cheese. and a circle with a dot in the center to represent grindstones, fold it up and then have some friend address it for him. This was Hiram N. White. It finally came to pass that a certain man moved to town who could read and write, and he opened a store, with this advantage over his competition-being qualified by an education (?) to order what he wanted. This is said to be an extract from one of his orders, verbatim et literatim, et punctutim: " Siend to boalts uv musslyn An 3 sax uv Kaughphy Bi jhon Cumminzizoks teem, and oblege yewrs." West Liberty has a school history of its own, and each successive step in the growth of the community found its counterpart in the progress of the schools. As from the rude log cabins that constituted the homes of the brave men who came early to Ohio to I plant the seeds of her after greatness, came 564 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. the commodious dwellings that adorn West Liberty, as the Queen of the Valley, so the old schoolhouse of frontier years, when the big boys of the "deestrict" thought it fine fun to bar the master out on a cold Christmas morning, has gradually given step to the de veloped system of to-day. Few of the rising generation will ever realize much of the crude state of matters in that long ago, but the old veteran of half a century, or more, can recall the times of which we write. The old log building, with its ample fire-place, windows of greased paper, and split slab benches, the deer engraved names and marks of the busy jack-knife, the old Webster's Elementary and the famous copies the master wrote at the head of the home-made writing book, the well seasoned switches in the log crannies, and whereby hangs many a tale, all, if they yet remained, could tell much of the school-days of our forefathers. The school-master of then, fully competent to teach the "three R's," and carry his pupils to the Rule of Three, was by no means an unimportant factor of early society. He was the oracle of the "districts" and, "All declared how much he knew; 'Twas certain he could write and cipher too; Lands he could measure, terms and tides presage. And e'en the story ran that he could gauge; In arguing, too, the parson owned his skill; For e'en though vanquished, he could argue still; While words of learned length and thundering sounds Amazed the gazing rustics round. And still the gazed, and still the wonder grew, That one small head could carry all he knew." "But passed is all his fame," and so, as with the onward march of time, the old school-house disappeared from off the green, up in its stead rose the building of another era. This house is still standing on Baird street, near the bridge, and is occupied as a dwelling by E. Myers. In those early days it was also used as a church. Some years afterward the house west of the Presbyterian Church, on Columbus street, was erected for educational purpose, and for a time, school was here held. But the rapid growth of the village demanded mantled more ample accommodations, and so in the year 1848, the main part of the present Union School building was erected on the hill amid the trees of native oak. The first teacher here was the Rev. Luther Smith, who, as a venerable patriarch, with the white loch of more than three-score-years-and-ten, still lives to relate incidents of his life as a teacher. Mr. Smith taught a good school and his reputation as a scholar drew mans to seek instruction at his hands. He was followed by Coates Kinney, who figured conspicuously as superintendent of instruction, while publishing a paper here during the years 1850 and 1851. Rev. John Fulton, now a noted divine of New York City, but during the war, famous for his arrest at New Orleans, by Ben Butler, for omitting to pray for the President of the United States, was also connected with the schools for a time. Then there was another individual of whom sundry stories have come down to these later years. We will not mention his name, but he much resembled the celebrated Ichabod Crane, of Sleepy Hollow. It is said that his appearance was somewhat striking. He was a large man, and invariably arrayed his person in lavender pants, coat of peculiar cut, yellow gloves and white cravat. When his white hat was raised from his classic forehead it revealed the barren waste of a school boy's ideal desert running clear back. From a delicate border land stretching all around his cranium a fringe radiated upward and toward a common center. His appearance was more youthful than his tears, and, like Ichabod he had his experiences, but, it is to be hoped, without so tragic an ending. His connection with the school was not of great duration. R. E. Pettit, now Probate Judge HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY - 565 of Logan County, served a long experience as teacher in various positions. Mr. Pettit and Miss Isabella Hildebrand wore identified with the schools longer than any other two persons. In fact there are few native adults in the place: who were not for some time under their instruction. Miss Hildebrand was one of the teachers for over twenty years. G. W. Walker, now the able superintendent at Lima, Ohio, was employed for several years, and many are the stories told of his devotion to his work and the hold he had upon the pupils and people. The other superintendents are many, of whom the following may be mentioned: Quincy Gwynn Hamilton, M. K. Turner, --- Gardner, I. W. Legg, J. M. Drake, Duncan McDonald, F. N. Mattoon and A. J. Surface. In the summer of 1877, Prof. P. W. Search was employed by the Board of Education as Superintendent. From the beginning of his administration there dawned a new era in the history of the West Liberty Schools. thorough course of study was laid down and the schools reorganized and classified from top to bottom. Since then the pupils have been enthused with new life; the people, well pleased with the moral and intellectual improvement of the children; the teachers, reinvigorated and the entire scene about the schoolhouse changed into one of thrift and energy. In the High School excellent instruction is given in Arithmetic, Bookkeeping Ahgebra, Geometry, Grammar, Rhetoric and Composition, Latin, (three years course), General History, English Literature, Physiology , Zoology, Philosophy, Botany, Astronomy, Physical Geography, Chemistry and Constitution of the United States. The High School is well attended, the scholars are wonderfully imbued with the spirit and enthusiasm of the teachers, and their advancement is rapid and substantial. A good laboratory has been furnished by Prof. Search, which is well stocked with a telescope and all the, modern philosophical and chemical apparatus. For over three years a first-class literary society has been in existence in the school the Philomathean. The meetings are held every Friday might and the influence of this effective rhetorical drill is being felt throughout the entire community. Up to the present time there are ten graduates of the school; Class of 1875, Mary Kavanagh; 1879, Minnie Smith, Mamie Drake, Carrie Davis, Annie Maxwell and Ben Harrop; 1880, Mamie Cornell, Estie E. Drake, Ora E. Brown and William Jordan. The entire course of study covers a period of twelve years, represented by as many different grades. The annual enrollment is nearly 300. The various departments are under instructors as follows: high school, Miss Emma C. Sayre; grammar, Miss Mary Kavanagh ; intermediate, Miss Madge Fitzgerald; secondary, Miss Lou Boyer; Primary, Mrs. M. L. Fishbough. Prof. Search is now serving his fourth year. At the close of last year he was re-elected Superintendent for a term of three years, at a salary of $l,200 the highest paid in the county, of the success of his administration we will add nothing more. The mere fact of his retention so much longer than his predecessors and the vigorous efforts made by the citizens to hold him permanently, speaks in language stronger than words, This recapitulation would not be complete without a few words in praise of the worthy President of the Board of Education, Dr. B. B. Leonard. For many years he has been connected with the Board and faithfully has he performed his duty as member and officer. To him much credit is due for the present rank of the West Liberty Schools among the educational institutions of the State. In 1828 the following persons resided in this town, and for the most part on Detroit street, near the center of the place: Dr. John 566 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. Ordway, physician, (single); H. M. White, hotel-keeper and merchant; John Vaughn, farmer and Baptist preacher; William Vaughan, tailor and Baptist preacher; John William, blacksmith and local Methodist preacher; Benjamin Ginn, tailor (single man); Robert Crockett (apprentice with Vaughn), tanner (single); William Kenton; William Moore, wheelwright and painter; Thomas Hubbard, carpenter; Abner Tharp, wagon maker; Simon Robinson, miller; Tillman Longfellow (apprentice to John Vaughn) tanner, (single), and Mrs. Polly McCulloch and family, The residue of the town was at that time in a complete state of nature, grown up in brush and wild-plum thickets, and where the depot now is, the thicket was so impenetrable that a man could scarcely ride through it. Here, circled with all that exalts and embelishes civilized life, "the rank thistle then nodded in the wind, and the fox dug his hole unscared." Not many years before, the same sun that rolled over the heads of the twelve solitary families then in West Liberty shone upon the Indian hunter as he pursued the panting deer, gazing upon the same moon that now sheds its soft lustre over this beau tiful little village. On the site where this place now stands, the wigwams once sheltered the tender and helpless, and the councilfire gleamed on the wise and daring. Here they once worshiped, and from many a hard bosom went up a pure prayer to the Great Spirit. The tide of population that has since rolled in has swept all these scenes away. The buildings in West Liberty, at that time, were very inferior, mostly cabin, but they were in keeping with the progressive spirit of that age. Wm. Jerkins kept the first livery stable of any note, in 1853. The building is the same now occupied by Ed. Jackson for the same purpose. John Enoch erected the first dwelling house in 1815. The first hotel was built by Hiram M. White, on the corner of Baird and Detroit streets-a portion of the building running north on Detroit street-which of late years was owned by Dr, B. B. Leonard and Os. Miller, but which was destroyed by fire on the 13th of May, 1880. The next hotel was erected by Benjamin F. Ginn, in 1832. It was a frame building and is still standing, being located opposite the Lutheran Church, on Detroit street. It was called the Buckeye House. John Newland was the first landlord. Joseph Frazell took the house in 1837. Mr. Ginn took the house in 1838, running it successfully for six years; since which time it has been used as a private house. Mr. Ginn is still doing a successful business keeping hotel. In 1853, Mr. Ginn sold the Buckeye House to Henry Van Ortrich. The property is now owned by Harvey Shugh. Among other old landmarks now standing is the house now occupied by Miss Sadie McDonald and Mrs. Hanger as a residence, it having been built in 1821, by John Moore, blacksmith. Moore afterward moved to Marion, Grant Co., Indiana, where he died. The house now used by John R. Crockett as a tannery, is one of the marks of pioneer enterprise. It was put up in the fall of 1828, by Mr. Houston Crockett, now deceased, for a dwelling. The Giraffe Building, now owned by George F. Bailey, Esq., and known as the Liberty House, was erected by Ira Reynolds, in 1837. It is a good, substantial building, and will stand the storms of ages. "Grand View " Cemetery, at West Liberty, although it has never been the theme of the poet's inspiration, or the orator's eloquence, yet it is a spot of which the citizens of the town are justly proud. From this towering hill-top is presented a scene in the far-famed valley of Mad River, wherein the most gorgeous genus fancy can revel, and all that can entrance and bind down the most vivid imagination NO PAGE 567 & 568 HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. - 569 The appearance of "Grand View" is elegant and neat, displaying all kinds of architectural taste. There is seen the rough hewn stone and the light peering cone of the chaste obelisk the lowly turf of retiring poverty, and the gaudy monument of boasted affluence on this, perhaps, a mother mourn, in a few simple word, the bereavement of an only child; on that. exaggerated eulogy belies and ridicules the pretended virtues it would perpetuate- on this, beauty is blasted in its blushing ripeness-on that, wisdom sinks in the drooping of age. The striking beauty and variety of surrounding art rather fascinates than saddens the heart. One naturally in looking on the marble that in time will decay, shudders at the analogy of his own form to its lingering corroding, and saunters in mournful contemplation and attractive delaying in this last common tenement of flesh the sad chronicler of time's victories. But the design of genius-the skill of art-the rock and the chisel, put away the superstitions and melancholy incidental to a cemetery. Why shun the tomb? Why dress the last effort of life in the terror of despair? Would we live forever? Is life happiness? In life we hate, slander and even commit murder. In death are we guilty of them? Does the inanimate corpse need food, drink or raiment? No! It feels-smiles-weeps ne'er more. Insult, defame it, it has no anger. It resents not. Turn your eye now on the world. Is happiness there? There, time mildews the whitest blossom of hope, youth droops for attainment old age laments the moment of attaining. The atmosphere of the world is misery-its sun may shine, but darkness will follow. Life has no perpetual spring, it must have winter. Tacitus writes of the Thrasi, that they " wept at the birth of their children, and rejoiced at their death." The venerable Grecian historian wrote wisely in these words: "Whom the gods love, die young." We would not mock the dead, nor ridicule the virtue of pensive and religious meditations. We would divest the tomb of its horror, its superstitious fears and childish ignorance. If we weep, then let us weep for the worthy -if we fear, let us fear rationally and reflectively if we admire, let our admiration be impartial. "Grand View" contains twenty acres, and is on an elevation of over one hundred feet above the level of our little city. The land was purchased of J. M. Glover, Esq.. December 15, 1871, under an act of the Legislature of Ohio, passed May 7, 1869, and took effect July 1, 1869, paying therefor $1,750. The next step was an election of a Board of Trustee, which occured April 1, 1872, resulting in the choice of Enos Baldwin for three year, R. N. Jordan for two year, and R. E. Rankle for one year. After taking the oath of office, this Board met at the Logan County Bank, April 16 following. for organization, at which meeting R, N. Jordan was chosen President, R. E. Rankle, Treasurer, and R. E. Pettit, Clerk. May 4, 1872, the Board contracted with J. N. McMullen, and Reed & Steelman to build a fence around the grounds, at seventy-five cents per panel. At this meeting the Board employed J. Duncan McLaughlin to survey and plat the ground, at five dollars per day. The cemetery was dedicated June 2, 1873, Dr. Leonard delivering an eloquent oration upon this occasion. After the ceremonies, a number of lots were sold. Mr. Rankle haying died in February, 1874. Dr. D. H. Garwood was elected to fill his unexpired term, (of two years), at the following spring election, and at the same election. R. N. Jordan was chosen for three years. April 6, 1875, Enos Baldwin was elected for three year, and his official term expiring in the spring of 18x8. O. S. Miller was elected to succeed kiln, for three years. The Board now consists of R. N. Jordan. D. 570 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. H. Garwood and O. S. Miller. A building for the occupancy of the Superintendent of the Cemetery, has been erected at a cost of $848.42, the contract having been awarded to E. S. Jordan, July 26, 1877. That which is capable of producing much good, is also likely to effect much evil, when perverted from its laudable purpose. Of this nature is the press in a community. It is a powerful engine to operate on public opinion, and has a great influence over the morals and the motives of society. The reason for this is, because it is expected to be consistent with truth and reason, and it should not subject itself to a suspicion of falsehood or sophistry; it. is looked upon as the leading public instructor, and, as a natural consequence, obtains a degree of respect like that which an attentive pupil entertains for his teacher. It is easy to observe with what degree a respectable, honorable newspaper in a community influences the minds of its readers. The newspaper occupies nearly the same relation to its readers as the teacher does to the pupil, and is largely responsible for the principles it inculcates. When an editor prostitutes his talents for mercenary purpose, his conduct is as base as would be the behavior of a. scholar whose venality should induce him to sacrifice his trust at the shrine of Mammon. The time has been when the orator was the power omnipotent in the land. At the command of his eloquence nations congregated. Brought within the circle of his magnetic influence, he laid his hand upon their heartstrings and woke at will responsive echoes, thrilled them with the passions that burned in his own breast, vibrated them with the power of his purpose, till the multitude swayed to and fro, like the mountain waves of the storm-tossed ocean, bore them upward on the majesty of the thoughts that filled his wrapt mind with living words, burning with the ardor of his own impassioned soul, warmed them to enthusiasm, moved them to madness, fired them to frenzy, inspired them with a lofty ambition, unconquerable courage, indomitable fortitude; molded their destiny, fashioned their future, sent his impress on the widening circles of succeeding generations. But the revolution of ages has changed all this. The press is now the greatest, power in modern civilization, and with its instruction or information, should be wreathed morality and the social virtue, and they should be twined around as the ivy embraces the oak or clings to the venerable ruin; or if we pursue the metaphor, may it not be said, as the ivy takes root and adheres to the wasting walls of the decaying structures of religion, so ought morality to be planted, and have its root in religion itself, that never decay, and from which alone it can derive an indigenous permanency. West Liberty, judging from the list of journals which have passed into oblivion-no, not oblivion, for these pages will resurrect a memory of their past history-is proverbially a newspaper town. Notwithstanding their untimely and unfortunate decease, " Yet 'tis a joy-though hallowed by team, To look back thro' the vista of by-gone years" In 1840 a printer boy of 18, one R. B. Warden, was induced, through the counsel of his friends and his own hopes, to come to West Liberty and establish a Democratic campaign paper. Having enjoyed the luxury, of those day, of a canal-hoax passage from Cincinnati to Dayton, on arriving at the latter point, he decided to economize, and, after two days pedestrianizing, he reached West Liberty, He soon established his paper. The office was in the White building, once situated on the northwest corner of Baird and Detroit street, but destroyed by the great fire of May 13, 1880, from which was issued, rather irregularly, the Democratic Club. It was printed on an old Ramage press; so small. HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. - 571 was its bed and platen, that it required four impressions for the printing of his little sheet. The proprietor generally speaking, was proprietor, general business manager, typographer, although he was pretty regularly assisted by Donn Piatt, who edited the Club, and who could "do up" press-work, and by A. S. Piatt, who adjusted the movable alphabet in good style. William Hubbard, once the editor of the Logan Gazette, printed at Bellefontaine, was also a compositor in the Club office. Messrs. Piatt and Warden did the press-work and rolling alternately. The Club, though unpretentious, acquired quite a fame, though not a very desirable one with the Whig party. It is said to have been replete with everything that would excite the ire of that party. Even Tom Corwin, Ohio's noblest and best orator, and greatest statesman, once condescended to pay it an unfavorable notice; it gave the "Wagon Bay" a scouring once, and Corwin returned the compliment. He was in his prime then, and in a speech delivered at Urbana, during the existence of the Club, he stigmatized it as a "Dirty Democratic sheet, published in a saw-mill way up in the benighted regions of Logan County." As a financial success the Club was a failure, and its career was brief, having expired for want of support immediately after the campaign of that year. The gentlemen connected with this little paper afterward became famous in history, each having occupied prominent public position's, and distinguished themselves in their respective callings. Judge Warden was elected to the Supreme Judgeship, which place he filled with eminent ability. Mr. Hubbard in the editorial chair was able and accomplished, both as a political writer and a poet; and Col. Donn Piatt is in the front ranks in his profession, and enjoys the reputation of being one of the most brilliant of American editors. To hold good rank among self-made men, who have illustrated the journalism, literature and the material progress of our country, is an honor of which any man may justly be proud. This is the only aristocracy allowable under our Democratic institutions. Col. Piatt is of Logan County birth, and she should be, and is, proud to own his talent. He is a polished gentleman, liberal and humane almost to a fault. He is essentially a hard-working journalist, and a hard-working friend of the workingman. He believes in, and defends the toiling million, and they undoubtedly repose confidence in him, judging from the immense circulation of his sharp, witty journal, the Washington, D. C., Capital. His style as a writer is vigorous and humorous. He has distinguished critical ability, power of analysis, and unusual comprehension of human nature. He reads character like a book, and readily discovers the good and bad elements. His prejudices are strong, and his preferences are equally well marked. He is a good friend, a strong opponent and a sturdy foe, particularly of the politician of to-day, many of whom quail beneath the power of his pen; for where infamy exists, it expose, and where virtue preside, it lauds. The next paper primed here was the West Liberty Banner, a literary journal of much excellence. It was first issued Sept. 28, 1850, and was published by Kinney & Barringer Coates Kinney. On the 29th of March, 1851, Kinney withdrew, leaving the Banner in the able hands of the popular, genial, good-hearted Barringer, who published it to the end of the second volume, at which time "he threw up the sponge." Mr. Barringer is now residing in Bellefontaine, conducting a job-office; he is an honest, whole-souled, conscientious man; is a. close geological student, and is a logical and pungent writer. In 1856 the Banner office was taken by Syd. Shaffer 572 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. and W. H. Gribble, who conducted it for a short time. The West Liberty Budget set sail on Saturday, the 15th day of September, 1860, with J. W. Houx as its editor, publisher and proprietor; the first number having been published, as the editor say, "after much toil, exertion, and vexation of spirit." It was independent in tone, flying at the masthead the time-honored adage: " The greatest good to the greatest number." The Budget was a lively, interesting paper, refusing to be cajoled or intimidated by either parties or partisans. During the existence of the Budget the Mac-a-cheek Press was born, and the rival papers had the field for a while. The Press having the greatest power of endurance, the Budget succumbed to the pressure, and died heroically. The Mac-a-cheek Press was both a literary and a political paper of much merit. W. H. Gribble was the publisher-Col. Don Platt being astride the editorial tripod. The Press became widely known through the influence of the pen of its able editor, and it hung fire for probably five ,years, being discontinued on account of Col. Platt and his associates going to the war. Mr. Gribble subsequently removed the office to Bellefontaine, transforming it into the Bellefontaine Press. Then followed The Weekly Enterprise, a twelve-column paper, published entirely at home (no patent) by B. S. Leonard and H. S. Taylor-both gentlemen occupying the editorial chair-both wielding impulsive pens. The motto of the paper was, "Que Prosunt Omnibus." Wright Smith was the business manager. Now comes J. H. Fluhart and W. P. Marion, still later, and scatter among the people The West Liberty Independent, a patent outside paper, twenty-eight columns. Mr. Fluhart at the same time was conducting the Bellefontaine Press. The Independent flourished like a rose for awhile, then wilted and died. Succeeding the Independent was The West Liberty Press, edited and published first by W. P. Marion and Charles Davis then edited by J. H. Ayres and published by Joe K. Scott, and subsequently Scott assumed the responsibility and hove out into the turbulence of a journalist's life, but the effort necessary was too great for him, and he gladly, after a. very brief experience, stepped down and out, and right glad was he of the opportunity. On or about May 1, 1876, W. H. Gribble determined that the newspaper fame of West Liberty should not become extinct, and issued the first number of the Weekly News. It was quite a newsy sheet, being published in Urbana by Gribble, and localized here for the most part by J. Clarence Hildebrand, a young man of talent and promise. On the 31st of December, 1877, it died for want of support. In the year 1878 matters changed. A new era seemed to have dawned upon the journalistic history of the town. It was found, when reducing the problems of these failures down to philosophic fact, that many obstacles had been in the way which might have been overcome. These it is impolitic for the writer to name. On the 16th day of January, 1878, The West Liberty Gazette made its appearance, with H. W. Hamilton as its editor and proprietor, and a has secured the united support of the business men of West Liberty, as also in Urbana and Bellefontaine ever since, and is flourishing like "a green bay tree," being about to enter upon its fourth year. On the 30th day of January,1878, Mr. D. C. Bailey joined Mr. Hamilton as publisher, and they jointly took up the cudgels and fought their way through to a successful issue. On the 18th day of June, 1879, Mr. Bailey retired from the firm, and Prof P. W. Search came in, completing such arrangements as continued Mr. Hamilton HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. - 573 as editor and subsequently as a full partner. The Gazette is read far and wide; is Republican in politics ; is bold and fearless, capable of coping with any of its compeers. This is the history of West Liberty newspapers in a nutshell; the regret is that the many excellent papers that have died here in the past, are not STILL ALIVE to greet hundreds of patrons, but they are dead beyond a resurrecting power. West Liberty is entitled to the honorable sobriquet of the " Garden Spot " of the county of Logan. It is located amid surroundings sublimely grand. Here the sun seems to pour around Greater glories of the day-here the moon seems to hang with more beauty in her silver crescent at the evening hour-here the stars that bested God's diamond throne (the hosts of heaven, whose everlasting march is one enduring triumph, the divine memorials on the amethystine arch of nature graven by God,) appear to shine with a brighter luster than elsewhere. Was ever a pen gifted with an eloquence that would describe it? Inspired poets write of Italian skies and Italian sunset, but if they are grander than the scenes around West Liberty they must .be supernal indeed. Turn which way you will, a panorama of unparalleled gorgeousness, splendor, magnificence, greets the eye. In the days of many of our pioneers this fertile valley around West Liberty was the heritage of the savage, and the haunt of wild beasts. Strong hearts were they which subdued the one and exterminated the other; strong men were they who lifted up the axe against the thick trees of the forest-strong-hearted women were those who shared their destiny, and reared their children by the cabin hearthstone, shrinking from no toil, fainting before no danger. As a result, what have we? A lovely town skirting a pretty hill, in the very midst of a superb landscape enveloped with a drapery of bewitching beauty, which she displays with such grace drat the eye is never satisfied with looking at her, nor is the heart ever pained by communing with her. It was at one time the most important town in Logan County, there being a large competition in trade, but the county seat eventually became the loadstone with strong magnetizing power, and a majority of the moneyed men of the town left and took up a permanent residence in Bellefontaine. But it partially survived this loss, and with recuperative energy such men as Samuel Taylor, William R. Fisher, Dr. H. F. Kurfurst, George F. Bailey, O. S. Miller, Dr. D. H. Garwood, Theodore F. Miller, J. W. Woodward, F. N. Draper, William Fishbough, H. J. Miller, A. B. Sieg, James D. and W. T. Stanton, Dr. John Ordway, Enos Baldwin and Benjamin Elliott, and a host of other, determined that the town should live and prosper, and their efforts have not been in vain. Improvements were made both in private dwellings and business houses, and the march of industry and increased trade moved steadily on to a further condition of happiness. On the 13th day of May, 1880, the town was visited with a holocaust which, within the space of two hour, laid the principal business portion thereof in ashes, sweeping into oblivion thirty-one business rooms and eight places of residence, involving a loss of $200,000, and rendering homeless, houseless, s, and penniless, a number of persons. To give the fullest statement of facts concerning this terrible conflagration the writer hereof presents the following details, written by himself, and printed in the West Liberty Gazette extra, on the next morning after the fire, and also in the Weekly Gazette of May 9, 1880, to-wit "At about 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon the cry of `fire! fire!' rang through our street, supplemented with the thrilling cry 574 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. that the entire business portion of West Liberty was a perfect mass of flames. The report proved, in a very few moments, to be too true. The very thought itself thoroughly electrified the entire populace, and everybody left his or her home and fled precipitately to the scene of disaster, full of interest and sympathy for the unfortunate, and of a desire to reader all possible aid. " The fire originated in a stable in the rear of Dr. H. F. Kurfurst's block, at 3 o'clock, on the lot of Mrs. Lyman Cook. It was unquestionably the work of foul incendiarism. The incendiaries are, at this writing, unknown. The report, as first circulated, involved Mrs. Cook's youngest son, Judge, but later investigation does not fully justify the rumor, as reliable parties saw this boy down the race at the time the fire began. Still later reports complicate Lyman Cook, but further information proves the fallacy of this rumor, as this boy is known to have been on Baldwin's prairie-when the fire started. A tramp was noticed traveling out the Mac-a-cheek road at a rapid rate, at about 3.30 o'clock, and he should have been arrested, but in the excitement the fellow was lost sight of. His connection with the origin of the fire cannot be established. Some parties say that they saw some boys playing; cards in the stable of Mrs. Cook; and thus do rumors fly, some unfounded and others reasonable enough to warrant some severe criticism, yet nothing definite can possibly be ascertained. "The flames leaped with mad fury from the barn to Dr. Kurfurst's ice house, then to the building where the doctor had large quantities of goods stored away, consisting of oil, chemicals, etc., most of all which caught and fed the flames with ferocious fury, The progress of the furious flames was rapid, and they swept, everything before them relentlessly, completely licking up the entire square from the Bailey block to the corner of Baird and Main street, brushing out of existence in a moment, as it were, eight or. nine business house, with their contents. Apparently not satisfied with the ruin already wrought, the holocaust vaulted across Main street, and in its mad career it laid in ashes the entire block, commencing with Mrs. Hildebrand's business block and residence, and ending with the demolition of every building in that square and a small summer kitchen of G. W. Gorton's. In the meantime help was telegraphed for to Bellefontaine and Urbana. In fifty minutes from the time the dispatches were sent the steamers were at the depot, and as soon as it was possible, the engines with reel, were upon the scene of action. "Each town sent in a large relay of men, who, with willing hearts and ready hand, went to work earnestly to help save all the property possible. Every urge, woman, and child, assisted in transferring goods from the stores and residence, and piling them hurriedly out in the street, in a great indistinguishable mass. The people were panic-stricken. Strong-hearted men shed tears of sorrow for the unfortunates women screamed, and children added no little mite to the terrible clamor. Such a wail of woe was never known here before. Truly, could West Liberty have been called, for the time being, a young Chicago. The great pang suffered here touched the hearts of every town around us that could come here to spew their sympathetic kinship. There were not wanting many evidences of the grandeur of human nature amid the very ashes of what was but a few moments before beautiful and prosperous. The fire departments of Bellefontaine and Urbana flew to our rescue, as if on the wings of wind. Each as quickly as possible, turned heavy streams of water upon the fierce $awes, subduing there at several point, thereby preventing a total annihilation of our town. Grandly, heroically, did they work! HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. - 675 "The gratitude of our people recognizes no confines. Long, earnestly, unremittingly, did these grand men struggle to prevent a further catastrophe than that already accomplished, and their labors were blessed with brilliant achievements. In this connection, let us give the Bellefontaine folk, who are known to have uttered complaints about having a "paid fire department" put upon them, a word of advice. The necessity of its organization has never been so wonderfully apparent until this fire occurred. For Heaven's sake, gentlemen, SUSTAIN your "Fire Department," and Do IT WELL, for they are a noble band of workers. Of the Urbana Fire Department as well, too much cannot be said eulogistic of the magnificent work done by them with one hose reel. At about six o'clock the fire was conquered. The buildings in close proximity to the property destroyed, as described above, were saved by the superhuman efforts of the firemen, and the herculean endeavors of men upon the Gazette building, belonging to George F. Bailey, Esq. "Great crowds of excited people poured in here from all points of the compass, to view the disaster, and some, we are sorry to say, for the purpose of thieving. Any man who would steal upon such an occasion and in the midst of such a calamity, ought to be hanged by the neck to the nearest post or tree until he is dead. No man guilty of such a deed at such a time should be given any mercy. Every honorable stranger put his or her shoulder to the wheel, and worked valiantly. The crowd probably numbered over 2,000 who witnessed the conflagration. "The scene presented to the eye of the observer on the morning after the fire was sickening. What was twenty-four hours previous to the penning of this article a handsome business street, is now a fearful scene of desolation and ruin. But it is well it was not worse, and the fire departments saved us. Business men are in the street, families are homeless and homeless, with everything gone, a total wreck. What a disaster! Crowds of people from all directions are perambulating around the ruin, discussing it excitedly in all its varied phase, and tendering their greatest sympathy for the sufferers. "The losses are terrible to contemplate. Below we give a reliable statement of the losses sustained, and the amount of insurance in each case : "O. S. Miller & Co., loss $40,000; insurance $20,000. Aspinall & Son, loss $4,000; insurance $2,000. B. B. Leonard, loss $6,000; insurance $3,000. Drugs not insured. Logan County Bank, loss $300; insured ; valuable papers all saved. J. S. Packer, loss $700; no insurance. O. P. Longfellow, loss $500; no insurance. John R. Steelman, loss $2,500; insurance $1,000. J. Wood Brown, loss $300; no insurance. Mrs. Jane Hildebrand, loss $5,000; insurance $2,000. Thos. P. Miller, loss $500; no insurance. H. F. Kurfurst, loss $28,000; insurance $14,000. George F. Bailey, loss $4,000; insurance $2,000. Odd Fellows, loss $2,000; no insurance. James Henderson & Son, loss $2,500; no insurance. D. W. Gill, loss $1,000; no insurance. G. W. Gorton, loss $1,000; no insurance. Fishbough & Gribble, loss $200; insured. H. J. Miller & Co., loss $800; insured. Chas. Darlinton, loss $2,000; no insurance. James Cook, loss $2,500; insurance $350. I. S. Miller, loss $100; no insurance. J. C. Muzzy, loss $100; no insurance. J. A. Boyer, loss $75; no insurance. J. H. Deck & Co., loss $2,000; insurance $1,600. I. G. Thomas, loss $2,500; partially insured. Cyrus Ziegler, loss $100; no insurance. Ziegler & Jackson, loss $2,500; partially insured. Jas. Artis, loss $200; no insurance. M. C. Keith, loss probably $100; no insurance. D. H. Garwood, loss $4,000; partially insured. Dr. W. C. Kavanagh, loss $100; no insurance. Dr. H. P. Kelly, loss 576 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. $100; no insurance. H. S. Taylor & Co., loss $3,000; insurance $1,000. W. A. Gill, loss $800; no insurance. Forsyth Bros., loss $100; no insurance. F. N. Draper, loss $400; insured. Chas. Pittenger, loss $200; no insurance. Mrs. C. Bender, loss $400; no insurance. J. W. Woodward, loss $4,000; insurance $3,500. Arthur Wallace, loss $25; no insurance. Mrs. S. E. Cook, loss $1,000; no insurance. John Ordway, loss $3,500; insurance $2,500. E. Myers, loss $50; no insurance. James Knight, loss $1,000; no insurance. Elisha Steelman, loss $200; no insurance. John M. Hunter, loss $50; no insurance. "Our business men who have been displaced by this fire can be found in the following places: H. S. Taylor & Co., grocery, in Ordway's ,block; J. W. Woodward, boots and shoe, in Ordway's block; J. H. Deck & Co., notion, Taylor & Couchman's building, Baird street; Logan County Bank, Corporation Clerk's office; Post-Office, adjoining Ginn House; O. S. Miller & Co., Town Hall; Thos. P. Miller, meat market, next door to Stanton Bros.; James Henderson is above Stanton Bros'. store; Ziegler & Jackson, with C. F. Fox; I. S. Miller, in Fishbough & Gribble's basement; R. Aspinall & Son are in the room next to George W. Gorton's. "O. S. Miller & Co., George F. Bailey, Esq., and Dr. H. F. Kurfurst, each will re-build as quickly as possible. Let some enterprising man open a brickyard here at once; it will not only inspire building but it will give poor men work, and compensate fully any man who will engage in the business. "Must we lie dormant and let the ruins remain untouched? No, never! Let all who suffered cheer up with what is left, and we shall come out all right. We have life left, and true grit, and we must rise, Phoenix-like, above the ashes. Cheer up! In the midst of calamity without a parallel in this town, looking upon the ashes of years and years of accumulation, let us be resolved to enter into a new era, with redoubled vigor. As there never has been such a calamity here before, so has there never been such cheerful fortitude in the face of desolation and ruin. "Thieves were scattered all over town yesterday, and some plundering was the result. No account can be given of the goods stolen. An extra police force was swore in by Mayor Kavanagh, and the result was a lot of roughs were calaboosed and will receive the attention of the Mayor. Several fights occurred, but all disturbances of this nature were promptly put down by manly men. "The Gazette could hardly give a fuller report of the conflagration than was contained in the "extra" gotten out at this office last Friday morning, which we reprint. It embodies about all that the pen could picture relative to the fire and its consequences. There are some corrections, however, that we desire to make in this article. Dr. Kurfurst's loss is $38,000, instead of $28,000. The Odd Fellows' loss is reported at $2,000, but recent developments show the amount less than $1,000. Ziegler & Jackson's loss is $600, instead of $2,500, on which there is no insurance. H. S. Taylor & Co.'s loss reaches $3,000; but they received $1,100 insurance from the Etna, and their salvage will, probably. amount to $500. Charles W. Pittenger's loss is $450, instead of $200. F. N. Draper's loss is $388.50, which is insured. Mrs. M. L. Fishbough's loss is $300, on which there is no insurance. She is not reported in the "extra.'' The reading room is a thing of the past. "As to the origin, nothing new has disclosed itself. There are many, very many, that give credence to the rumor that Judge Cook is the author of the devilment, and it will devolve upon Mrs. Layman Cook, the mother of the boy charged with the incendiarism, to produce some evidence that is reliable, that Judge was not near the stable at or near the time HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY - 577 of the starting of the fire, to wit, between the hours of two and three o'clock in the afternoon of that day, in order to convince the public mind of her son's guiltlessness in this matter, otherwise he must lie under a very serious charge-one that will pursue him to his grave. We sincerely hope Mrs. Cook can do this. Liberal responses have been made to appeals for aid for those who have been utterly bankrupted by the fire, by our sister towns. Springfield, Urbana, De Graff, Bellefontaine and. Marysville, so far as we have learned, have raised about one thousand dollars. The great crowd of strangers from these, and other places, whilst here last Sunday, opened their purses with a willing hand. Here is what is still being done in Bellefontaine, as our friend, Joseph H. Lawrece, Esq., writes: "BELLEFONTAINE, O., May 18, 1880. "H. W. Hamilton, West, Liberty, O.: "At a meeting of the citizens of Bellefontaine, held Monday night, a committee of sixteen was appointed to canvass the town, to raise money to aid the citizens of West Liberty, who have suffered loss by the late fire. The committee are now at work. "JOSEPH H. LAWRENCE. "Prof Search went to Marysville last Monday, to secure some funds, and he got $165, of which Hon. Judge Porter gave $50. Long may he be remembered, as well as his town. With this money, and that that is to come, great relief can be given the sufferers. "The fire is replete with solemn warnings, and in another column we urge the Council not to forget their existence, and to give us a steam fire engine without delay. "The insurance companies are settling up as fast as the stocks left can be invoiced. They have all been remarkably prompt, and will, as we learn, pay up in full. "The work of re-construction has already begun. Dr. Kurfurst has carpenters at work erecting a temporary frame structure, 28x30, on the east end of his corner lot, and expects to be in it, with a stock of drugs, by Saturday next. Tthe building will also have a room for the Postoffice. The doctor also has a large number of men and boys cleaning away the debris, and cleaning and piling up the brick. preparatory to the erection of a fine business block, at once. George F. Bailey, Esq., will erect a two-story brick, with two handsome business rooms, at once. Mrs, S. E. Cook will put up a like brick structure adjoining Esquire Bailey. O. S. Miller will not delay the erection of a handsome business block, which will be modern in every respect. Robert Aspinall thinks it doubtful about his erecting a business block on his lot, but we are safe in predicting that he will ' change his plans,' and put up a. good building. Other buildings will be put up commensurate with the enterprising spirit of our town. Dr. Ordway will be apt to build, as will Mr. Henderson, Dr. Garwood, Dr. Leonard and Mrs, Hildebrand. New impetus will be given the business of the town, more money will be exchanged, and West Liberty will boom." There being no fire department in the town, great risk was shouldered and suffered from the omission, and the Gazette, in an editorial of the 14th of May, also expatiated upon this grave matter, as follows: "OUR LESSON. "A WORD TO THE WISE. Our hardest trials sometimes teach us great lessons of wisdom that we are not apt to allow to go by unheeded. Times of general calamity and confusion have ever been productive of the greatest minds, even as the purest ore is produced from the hottest furnace, and the brightest thunderbolt is elicited from the darkest storm. A wise man is generally led to wise acts by some severe lesson, 578 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. and we think that our people and our Town Council have drawn some hunks of wisdom from our recent terrible conflagration. "The Gazette, in a note of the Baldwin fire, remarked that fatal accident was "full of suggestions," and the asseveration has proved too true. We have repeatedly urged the Council of West Liberty in these columns to provide us some means for protection in case of fire, but no attention has been paid to our appeals. Enough property was destroyed last Thursday to pay for forty steamers, at $5,000 each-for a good steamer can be purchased for that amount of money, and less. Now look at the result ! Here we are in ruins, and still at the mercy of another holocaust. Citizens of West Liberty, and tax-payers, can we afford this longer? Can we afford to run the risk of being totally annihilated for fear of a little tax: Let the answer come in tones of thunder, No! No! No! Then let us awake to our danger and have no further delay. Let us have a prompt meeting of our Council, and quick action. " Mr. F. N. Draper, a heavy tax-payer, and a strong advocate for a fire engine, who is fully sensible of our real peril, has received a proposition from the La France Fire Engine Company, who agree to furnish a steamer complete in all particulars, and warranted, together with 700 feet of best rubber hose, four ply-five ply ends-guaranteed to stand a pressure of 400 pounds to the square inch, with any coupling preferred; also, one fine finished, two-wheeled balance hand hose reel, made from Nest quality of wrought iron, for the sum of $3,900; the engine to be capable of throwing one 1/8 inch stream 225 feet, and to be capable of discharging 325 gallons of water per minute. This engine is guaranteed for a period of twelve years, and also to surpass any other make of equal capacity made in this or in any other country. "We do not urge the Council to buy THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE, but in the name of the people who must have protection, in the name of the innocent who have been rendered moneyless, homeless, and homeless by the late catastrophe-in the name of others who have suffered the severest blow of their live, who have had the accumulations of years and years swept away by the very fiend with one fell swoop-in the name of the reputation of our town which we must ever hold sacred, we DEMAND a fire-engine, capable of protecting the property of our town, and we cannot afford to have this matter overlooked. Let there be some decisive steps taken this week. Such exigencies arise in this matter as to admit of no combating. The people will look anxiously and earnestly to the Council now for expeditious action. In the meantime, let everybody be careful to-avoid a similar disaster in the future.'' At the next meeting of the Town Council, held May 21, Mr. F. N. Draper introduced the following resolution, to wit Resolved, That it is decided to purchase a steam fire engine and all necessary fire apparatus to give our town full protection against fire, provided, upon investigation, we have a legal right to issue bonds for the same. The resolution was adopted by a full vote. But there was another matter of the utmost importance to be attended to, in order to get the money to pay these ponds without distressing a few to benefit a large number, and that was the annexing of certain contiguous territory to the town, for fully three-fourths of the people belonging to the town proper, at this writing, live outside of the corporation. The Council passed an ordinance, June 12, 1874, providing "for the extension of the limits of the Incorporated Village of West Liberty," but this was opposed by remonstrators on the ground that there was a conflict in the laws then in existence, the Legislature having passed a new law on the subject, HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. - 579 inadvertently omitting to repeal peal the old one, and the proposition met with a Waterloo. The old law required a petition to extend to be signed by three-fourths of the owners of property sought to be annexed; now it only requires a majority of the adult free-holders residing on such territory. The latest efforts at annexing the territory desired, is very liable to result successfully, the Council having employed R. N. Jordan, Esq., an able, cautious, vigilant attorney, to conduct the ease. It is safe to predict a purchase of a steamer at an early day. Has West Liberty risen "from its ashes?" To answer this question, it is only necessary to point to the monuments of enterprise that now stand where the buildings stood on the 12th day of May, that on the day following crumbled beneath the power of the fiery fiend. For these magnificent evidences of enterprise that adorn the business portion of the town, there will cluster around the hearts of the rising generation bright memories of the names of Oliver P. Taylor and Henry Couchman, H. S. and F. P. Taylor, H. F. Kurfurst, William Fishbough, James Henderson, R. & T. Forsyth, James Cook, George F. Bailey, William Gill, Dr. John Ordway and J. W. Woodward, and the members of the lodge of I. O. O. F. It was these gentlemen who settled the question. The secret societies of this town comprise the Masonic and Odd Fellows' Lodges. The Masonic Order is known as Mad River Lodge No. 161. The charter was issued and dated September 28, 1848, being originally petitioned for by Joel Funk, Z. B. Tennery, Seneca Lapham, William B. McIlvaine, John Wader, William Lapham, James C. Tumor, and H. M. White. Second charter was issued, dated October 22, 1873. wherein Joel Funk was appointed Master; T. B. Tennery, Senior Warden ; and Seneca Lapham, Junior Warden. It was signed by Asa H. Battin, M. W. G. M. ; Chas. A. Woodward. R. W. G. M. ; Sam'l Wardle, R. W. S. G. W., and S. Moore, R. W. J. G. W. It was attested by John D. Caldwell, R. W. G. Secretary. Before the charter was ranted, the first meeting was held March 13, 1848, under dispensation, Joel Funk being Master ; Z. B. Tennery. S. W.; S. Lapham, J. W., these having been appointed by the Grand Master of Ohio. The following brethren were appointed by the Chair : W. Lapham, Sec'y H. M. Black, Treasurer; A. D. Frazell, S. D. : and W. B. McIlvaine, Junior Deacon. The charter members were: D. D. Ogden, James Stafford, Jacob C. Kizer, Zachary Provotty, A. B. Turner, Geo. W. Kizer, Z. B. Tennery, John Wade, Wm. B. McIlvaine, Nathan Hammond, W. R. Stafford, David Underwood, John M. Scott. The lodge is in a flourishing condition, and has a membership of fifty. The present officers are: Joseph Miller, W. M.: D. B. Hale, S. W. Frank P. Taylor, J. W.: M. G. Rover, S. D.; John F. Kizer, J. D.; Volney Thomas, Tyler: Job Saldkehl, Treasurer ; Henry F. Kurfurst, Secretary. The I.O.O.Fellows also have a good lodge. It is styled Liberty Lodge, No. 96. The charter was granted William Hamilton Joseph C. Brown, John Maps, William Elliott, Jams Broadwell Jerome M. White and Benjamin Ginn, November 20, 1847, and was signed by Thomas Spooner, M. W. G. M.; Albert G. Day (pro tem.), R. W. D. G. M.: Joseph Roth (pro tem.), R. W. G. W.; Isaac Hefley, R. W. G. Rec. Sec'y; H. N. Clark, R. W. G. Cor. Sec'y; David T. Snelbaker, R. W. G. T.; William Chedsey, R. W. G. G.; W. D. Neilson, R. W. G. C.; Samuel L. Adams, R. R. G. C. The lodge has a membership now of eighty-one members, and is officered as follows: William J. Rule, N. G.; 580 - HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY. John Kirkwood, V. G.: George Feather, R. S. N. G.; John Fulwider, L. S. N. G.; Ira Kirkwood, R. S. V. G.: William Petty, Sec'y; W. R. Fisher, Treas.; W. K. Ruland, I. G., and John Maxwell, O. G. This society is now erecting a handsome building on the corner of Baird and Detroit streets, in which they are arranging a beautiful hall to be finished in the highest style of art. Among our veteran physicians vve must notice Dr. I. C. Taylor, who has been practicing medicine in this town since January, 1844, He is the oldest physician in the practice in this place, and next to the oldest in the county, He is a skillful surgeon. Then there is Dr, D. B. Allen, who has been practicing medicine here since 1851. The doctor is blessed with a wide range of practice, and is a well-read physician. Leonard & Jones are enjoying a large practice. Dr. Leonard commenced about twenty five years ago. Dr. Jones' partnership practice dates back from 1868. These gentlemen are well versed in their profession, and make a specialty of surgery, Dr. D. B. Hale practices allopathy very successfully, Dr. Ben S. Leonard has just launched out into the practice of medicine, with bright hopes an d happy anticipations. Ben is a graduate of the Ohio Medical College, from which institution he emerged with flattering honors in the spring of 1830. The business of West Liberty is represented by one printing office, two dry goods store, six groceries, two drug stores, two boot and shoe store, two clothing stores, two tin store, three stove store, one large wholesale lotion establishment, one provision market, three meat market, two harness shops, one retail notion store, two hotels, two millinery store, two saloon, one jewelry store, one large warehouse where grain is purchased, one grist mill, one furniture store, one undertaking establishment one marble shop and two blacksmith shops. There is one Presbyterian church, one Methodist, one Christian, one Lutheran, and one Catholic church. The corporation united with the Trustees of Liberty Township in the erection of a handsome town-hall in 1868, expending thereon $7,000. It is a substantial structure, and is a credit to the town. The corporation and township officers are in the first story, The corporation officers are: Dr. W. C. Kavanagh, Mayor; James Ewing, Clerk: Dr, H. Garwood. Treasurer; D. B. Allen, Enos Ballwin, F. N. Draper, W. R. Fisher, W. M. Fishbough, Stephen Jackson. In 1871, the West Liberty Wheel Company was organized, with a capital stock of $32,000; F. N. Draper. President. It conducted the business of manufacturing carriage wheels and carriage material; Mr. Draper continued in office one year, after which, W. R. Fisher served as President until the company closed up its business in 1876. At the beginning: the prospects of the company were excellent, and their business a fair one, but owing to the pressure of hard times later on and mismanagement, it met the fate of thousands of other enterprises of a similar character, The post-office is ably and carefully presided over by Mr. Charles E. Darlinton, and his estimable wife both of whom make many sacrifices to please the public, and their efforts in this direction have won for them enviable popularity. There is no hue and cry for a "change" in their department of Government service, and well it is that there isn't. They demonstrate that they are public servants in fact. NOTE.-The writer of this history of West Liberty is indebted to R. N. Jordan, Esq.. F. N. Draper. Dr. John Ordway. J. W. Woodward. Dr, H. F. Kurfurst. Dr. L. J. Drake, Rev. E. K. Bell and many others for valued information. (RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE)