The History of Champaign and Logan Counties, from their first settlement

Front matter

PIONEEKS OF LOGAN AND CHAMPAIGN COUNTIES. 1. Elder Georpe McCollneb. 2. Hon. Judge Lawrence. 3. James Mcl'onald. 4. Pr. B. S. Brown. 5. N. Z. McCnlloHi. fi. Ex-Governor Vance. 7. K. E. Runkle. 8. M. Arrowsmiih. .. J. M. Glover. 10. Mrs. Sarah M. Moore 11. Mrs. Mary Madden. 12. Nelson Johnson. 13. lir. Thomas Cowgill. 14. Oden Haves. 1.1. Judge Pjitriek. 10. E.. L. Morgan. F. M. SMEAD, Photographer. THE HISTORY OP ŒJtamjwifjti mm Ifupw GOTJ2sT1'IE!S, FROM THEIR FIRST SETTLEMENT: BY JOSHUA ANTRIM. BELLEFONTilNE, OHIO. PRESS PRINTING CO. 1872. CERTIFICATE OF AUTHORITY. At the Yearly Meeting of the "Western Pioneer Association" held at Rellefontaine, September 7, 1871, Dr. B. S. Rrown, Joshua Antrim and Dr. Thomas Cowgill were appointed a Publishing Committee, to collate, arrange and prepare the material for our Pioneer History.

Subsequently the Committee appointed Joshua Antrim to arrange the work. We have examined his proceedings in regard to the arrangement thereof and entirely approve th« same, and advise that the work be published in book form. BENJAMIN S. BROWN, Chairman, > nnmmiitl>. THOMAS COWGILL. } Entered »orordin<?|tn Act of Congress, » the year 1872, by Joshua Ant«im, in the office »f the Libffloiava of ecn^ress at Wasbinsrtos.

Preface

. To the Reader : I have now completed the task assigned me by the Committee on Publications, appoinled by the Western Ohio Pioneer Asso ciation. The entire labor of collecting material for this work was placed on me by this Committee, and when completed, to be presented to them for their approval or rej action. In this work I have not satisfied myself in many respects, for I have reason to think I have failed in obtaining a great deal of interesting matter that should have a place in this volume, and in what I have obtained I know there are many unpleasant but unin tentional mistakes, especially in some of tbe names and dates A the first settlers. Though I obtained the most of them from the oldest inhabitants, yet I found they could not tell exactly the year of their immigration to this country, (or come of them, at least,) hence they are responsible for what inaccuracies may appear in these pages.

I have done all I could to arrive at the exact facts. All I, or any one else could expect under the circumstances was an approximation to accuracy. To those gentlemen who have kindly favored me with their contributions for this work I tender my sincere thanks for their timely aid in furnishing so much valuable matter tor this work. Your articles, gentlemen, will appear in these pages and they will speak for themselves, and will present a better tribute to the memory of their authors than anything I could say ; so, wishing each of you a long and happy life, I bid you good bye. JOSHUA ANTRIM. HISTORY OF CHAMPAIGN COUNTY. Champaign County was formed from Green and Franklin, March 1, 1805, and originally comprised the Counties of Clark and Logan. The Seat of Justice was originally fixed at Springfield, in Clark County, and the first Courts were held in the house of George Fithian.

It is said it was named from ita appearance, it being a level, open country. Urbana, the Seat of Justice, was laid out in the year 1805, by Col. Wm. Ward, formerly of Greenbrier County, Virginia. It is said by some that Mr. Ward named the town from the word Urbanity, but I think it is quite likely he named it from an old Roman custom of dividing their people into different classes — one class, the Plebeians, and this again divided into two classes — Plebs Rustica and Plebs Urbana. The Plebs Rustica lived in the rural districts and were farmers, while the Plebs Urbana lived in villages and were mechanics and artisans. George Fithian opened the first tavern in a log cabin on South Main street, formerly the residence of Wm. Thomas; but I think it is now owned by the Methodist Episcopal Church, and they in tend to improve it and make a parsonage of it.

Samuel McCord opened a Dry Goods and Grocery Store in the same cabin in the same year, (March, 1805.) The first house covered with shingles was a house occupied by McDonald as a store room, on tho north corner of Public Square, west of North Main street. For a full and satisfactory description of Urbana and its surroundings, see Judge Patrick's able, minute and satisfactory his tory, found in the body of this work, in which he has placed me under many obligations, and also done himself credit, and the city of Urbana, of which he writes. I find in Howe's History of Ohio the names of a few of the first settlers in Urbana and also in the rural districts, and although most of the names found in his history will be found in the body of this work, for fearsome valuable names may be overlooked I here transcribe them.

But let the reader be assured that most of those honored and venerated names will appear in these pages. But before I proceed to record those names I wish to make a remark or two in regard to the first settlers of this county. In vain have I mads inquiry of the oldest living pioneers as to the first white man that settled here. Likewise the public records have been searched with the same unsatisfactory results. It may seem to some a matter of very little consequence who first settled a country, but we find people in all ages disposed to attach very great importance to so apparently trifling a circumstance. The Cartha ginians have their Dido, the Greeks their Cecrops, and the Romans their Romulus : so in our own country William Penn settled Penn sylvania; Boone, Kentucky, &c; and in most of the counties of this State the first settlers are known, and the date of their settlement.

I find in a very able and interesting document, furnished me for this work by an old and respteted pioneer, Mr. Arrowsmith, the name of Wm. Owens, who, he says, came to this county in the year 1797 or 1798. I think it not unlikely that he was the first white man that made this county his home. I now commence the list of names: Joseph C. Vance, Thos. and Ed. W. Pearce, George Fithian, Sam'l McCord, Zeph. Luse, Benj. Doolittle, George and Andrew Ward, Wm. H. Fyffe, Wm. and John Glenn, Frederick Ambrose, John Reynolds and Sam'l Gibbs. Those living in the country— Jacob Minturn, Henry and Jacob Vanmetre, Nathaniel Cartmell, Justice Jones, Felix Rock, Thomas Anderson, Abner Barret, Thomas Pearce, Benj. and Wm. Cheney, Matthew and Charles Stuart, Parker Sullivan, John Logan, John Thomas, John Runy>n, John Lafferty, John Owens, John Taylor, John Guttridge, Tohn Cartmell, John Dawson, John Pence, Jona than Long, Rennet Taber, Nathan Fitch, Robert Nowce, Jacob Pence and Arthur Thomas.

Joseph C. Vance was the father of Ex-Governor Vance, and was LOGAN COUNTIES. 7 the first Clerk of the Court in this County. Capt. Arthur Thomas, whose name is in the above list, lived on King's Creek, about three miles North of Urbana. He was ordered to Fort Findlay with his Company, to guard thepublic stores at that place, and on their return they encamped at the Big Spring near an old Indian town called Solomon's Town, about seven miles north of Bellefontaine. Their horses having strayed away in the night, he and his son went in pursuit of them. When they had got some distance from the encampment they were discovered by the Indians, who attacked them with an overpowering force and they were killed and scalped and left dead on the spot. Urbana was a frontier town during the war 1812. Hull's army was quartered here the same year, before taking up their line of march for Detroit.

In fact, it was a place of general rendezvous for the troops starting for the defense of our northern frontier. They were encamped in the eastern part ofthe city, and here lie the bodies of many brave soldiers mingled with their mother dust, and no monument to mark the place where they rest, nor to tell the story of their sufferings ; even their names have perished with them. All we can do now is to drop a tear over their sleeping dust and say,. "Here lie in peaceful slumbers the brave defenders of our once frontier homes." In penning these sketches, I find myself very much in the con dition of the early pioneer who had to blaze his way through a dense sorest to find his way from one place to another. Fortunately for me, however, others have preceded me and blazed the way to some extent for me.

And to none, perhaps, am I under more obli gations than to Mr. Howe, in his History of Ohio; and he is not entirely reliable, for I have been obliged to make some corrections in his statements of facts in the history of this country. For in stance, the time of settlement of Logan County, putting it in the year 1806, when in fact it was settled in the year 1801. Also, the names of the first settlers. Of course he had to rely on others for information, and they did not know ; but in the main, however, I believe he is correct. I now resume my sketch of Urbana : On the corner of Public Square and North Main street — now McDonald's Corner, but in the war of 1812 called Doolittle's Tavern— were the headquarters of Governor Meigs. On the opposite corner — now Armstrong's Bank— stood a two-story brick house, and on the end fronting the i Square, could be seen the date of its erection— 1811.

This was oc cupied for many years by D. & T. M. Gwynne as a store-room . All the old settlers of Champaign now living, will call to mind the once familiar face of Robert Murdock, with his obliging and gen tlemanly manners, who was then a partner in the firm. The above described building was the place where the commissary's office was kept during the war of 1812, and is the one to which Richard M. Johnson was brought wounded after his per sonal and deadly conflict with the renowned Tecumseh at the battle ofthe Thames. Urbana was visited by a dreadful tornado on the 22d ot March, 1830. Passing from the South-west to the North-east, it leveled the Presbyterian Church with the ground, and unroofed the M. E. Church, throwing it down to witin'n a few feet of its foundation. Both of these buildings were substantial brick edifices; also, a great many private residences were either unroofed or wholly de molished, killing three children and crippling others.

Fora more satisfactory account, see Judge Patrick's history of Urbana in this work. I can not leave Urbnna without (riving a short account of the old Court House, built in 1817. I have neverseen a description of this then imposing structure. It stood in the center of the Public Square, now called, I believe, Monument Square, fronting North and South, built of brick, two stories high, the roof having four 6idcs, coming to a point in the center, surmounted by a cupola and spire on which wasa^lobe and a (ish that turned with the wind. The main entrance was on the South. This, for the time in which it was built, was an elegant and commodious public building. How many pleasant and interesting memories cluster around this, to the old pioneer, almost hallowed spot! Here, too, or near this spot, many a soldier breathed his last and bade adieu to all earthly conflicts.

And the soldier mounted on the pedestal on the spot where the old Court House stood, surveying with dowu-cast eyes and in solemn and impressive silence the battle-fields of Get tysburg and Shiloh, may drop a tear over the graves of those heroes that freely shed their blood in the defense of our country in the war of 1812. LOGAN CO UNTIES. 9 SIMON KENTON. Simon Kenton, whose name will appear frequently in these pages, was an early settler in Urbana. I quote from Judge Burnet's letters as found in Howe's History. In bis letters he says that when the troops were stationed at Urbana, a mutinous plan was formed by part of them to attack and destroy a settlement of friendly Indians, who had removed with their families within the settlement under assurance of protection. Kenton remonstrated against the measure as being not only mutinous but treacherous and cowardly.

He contrasted his knowledgeand experience of the Indian character with their ignorance of it. He vindicated them against the charge of treachery which was alleged against them as a justification of tho act which they were about to perpetrate, and reminded them ofthe infamy they would incur by destroying a defenseless band of men, women and children, who had placed themselves in their power relying on a solemn promise of protection. He appealed to their humanity, their honor and theirduty as soldiers. Having exhausted all the means of persuasion in his power, and finding them resolved to execute their purpo*", he took a rifle and declared with great firmness that he would accompany them to the Indian encampment and shoot down the first man that dared to molest them ; that if they entered their camp they should do it by passing over his corpse.

Knowing that the old veteran would redeem his pledge they abandoned their purpose and the poor In dians were saved. Though he was brave as Cæsar and reckless of danger when it was his duty to expose his person, yet he was mild, even tempered and had a heart that could bleed at the distress of others. General Kenton lived many years in Logan county, on what was called the old Sandusky road, about four miles north of Zanes fleld on his farm, where he died April 29th, 183G, aged 81 years and 26 days. His remains were removed to Urbana by a deputation of citizens from that place I think in 1865, and buried in the cemetery about three-quarters of a mile east of the city in a lot of ground appropriated by the city for that purpose containing about seventy-five or one hundred feet in a circular form with a view of erecting a monument at some future day.

The only thing that now marks his grave is the same plain stone slab that stood at the head of his grave in Logan county, with this inscription: "In memory of Gen. Simon Kenton, who was born April 3d, 1755, in Culpepper County, Va., and died April 29th, 1836, aged 81 yearsand 16 days." His fellow citizens' of the west will long remember him as the skillful pioneer of early times, th° brave soldier and honest man. TECUMSEH. There were several Indian councils in Urbana at a very early day. They were hold in a grove on or near where the old grave yard is north-east of town, Distinguished chiefs from various tribes took part in these councils. Mr. Howe says in his history that Tecumseh in the spring of 1795, took up his quarters on Deercreek near the site of Urbana, where he was engaged in his favorite amusement, hunting, and remained until the following Spring.

There never was any creek by the name of Deercreek near the site of Urbana. I think there is a creek by that name in Madison county but I do not think it reaches Champaign. I find Tecumseh's biographer makes the same mistake. I now quote from his biography : "While residing on Deercreek an incident occurred which greatly enhanced his reputation as a hunter. One of his brothers, and several other Shawnees of his own age proposed to bet with him that they could each kill as many deer in the space of three days as be Tecumseh promptly accepted the overture. The par ties took to the woods and at the end of the time stipulated returned with the evidences of theirsuccess. Noneof the party except Tecumseh had more than twelve deer-skins, and he brought in upward of thirty, near three times as many as any of his competi tors.

From this time he was generally conceded to be the greatest hunter in the Shawnee nation. In 1799 there was a council held about six miles north of the place where Urbana now stands, between the Indians and some of the principle settlers on Mad River, for the adjustment of difficulties which had grown up between those parties. Tecumseh, with other Shawnee Chiefs, attended the council. He appears to have been the most conspicuous orator of the conference, and made a speech on the occasion which was much admired for its force and eloquence. The interpreter, Dechauset, said that he found it very difficult to translate the lofty flights of Tecumseh, although he was as well acquainted with the Shawnee language as with the French which was his mother tongue. Sometime during the year 1803, a stout Kentuckian came to Ohio for the purpose of explorinsr the lands on Mad River, and lodged one night at the house of Capt. Abner Barret, resit lino; on the head waters of Buck Creek.

In the course of the evening he learned, with apparent alarm, that there were some Indians encamped within a short distance of the house. Shortly after hearing this unwelcome intelligence, the cloor of Capt. Barret's dwelling was suddenly opened and Tecumseh entered with his usual stately air; he paused in silence and looked around until at length his eye was fixed upon the stranger who was manifesting symptoms of alarm, and did not venture to look the stern savage in the face. Tecumseh turned to his host and pointing to the agitated Ken tuckian, exclairtied— "A big baby, a big baby." He then stepped up to him and gently slapping him on the shoulder several times, repeated with a contemptuous manner, the phrase, "Big baby, big baby!" to the great alarm of the astonished man, and to the amusement, of all present. CHARACTER AND HARDSHIPS 01 TF1B PIONEERS OF OHIO.

Chapter I

Thomas Cowgii-l, M. D.— Bear Doctor:— fir. Antrim, of Logan County, called on me a few weeks ago with an urgent request that, as I was an old pioneer of Ohio, I should prepare and send to your address in some readable form, some scraps ofearly pioneer history, connecting with them such incidents and facts as came within my own knowledge, embracing the times up to about 1820, for the purpose of incorporating them with a proposed history of the early settlements, and more particularly within my own early localities. This seemed to me at the time, more than my physical strength, owing to a general nervous prostration of my system, would war rant, and I excused myself with a partial promise to comply, if sufficient strength permitted, and will therefore, inpencil sketches, make the effort, hoping you will, in their transcription, so mould and remodel as to make them presentable to your readers.

My first acquaintance with men and things in this State com menced in 1806. My father, Anthony Patrick, having emigrated when I was ten j ears old from New Jersey to lYumbull County, purchased and improved a small tract of wild land in Brookfield township, two miles west of the line between Ohio and Pennsyl vania, and two and one-half miles west from Sharon, which is now one of the most distinguished CENTERS for the manufacture of Iron in this country. I could here delineate the hardships and privations of that early day among the few settlers in that vicinity, but it would be traveling out ofthe objects you seek in your circular. I will, however, as a common specimen of pioneer life, state that from 1806 to 1808 the settlers there labored under many discourage ments, even after openings for cultivation were made ; such as want of teams and farming implements, and the want of means to procure them.

Oxen and cows were with few exceptions the only teams used ; horses were rare; rough sleds were (he vehicles of travel and transit, rough ploughs with wooden mould boards, with iron nosings attached for coulters, barrows all of wood even to tho teeth, were their best implements, and the man that had these with a yoke of oxen or even cows was called rich. The man that had even one cow to harness for farming purposes was considered fortunate ; and those that had none of these advantages, but had to put in their crops with manual toil, were the poor, which indeed was very common in that day. Yet with all these conflicts in tho start, about 1808 they began to realize relief in return for their toils in products from the rich soil. But up to this time they had to endure in many cases much suffering; flour and meal commanded fabulous prices, and could not be procured nearer than Pittsburg, and for want of means many families had to resort to roots and wild game entirely for^subsie tence, using spice-wood and sassafras for teas, and when they could procure it, rye was their coffee, sweetened with sugar of their own make.

Salt was also very scarce and dear, so much so, that many families who had pork bad to let it remain without salting all winter, using it by cutting from the whole hog as they needed it for cooking during the cold winters. The above are some of tho facts connected with pioneer life more than three scores of years ago in the upper end of this State. In this connection it should be stated that there was one characteristic trait plainly prominent in that early day among the people. When it was made know* that any one was in need of help, they for miles around would con gregate, and if it wasacabin to be raised it was done. If assistance to roll logs was needed in a new clearing it was bestowed. And in many instances under my own observation when any one from age, bad health or poverty was unable to open his clearing or provide shelter for himself and family, they would on a given day lor miles around come together, bringing with tnem their own provisions at an early hour, with axes, cross-cut saws, teams such as they had, and such other implements as were necessary for the occasion.

If the object was to open up a small clearing, a leader was appointed who gave general directions ; some were assigned to cutting up the large down timber into logs, others to hauling them together, others to rolling them into heaps ready for burning, others to cut or grub out the under-growth, and either carry it to the edge of the ground and pile it in rows for a fence, or in heaps for consumption by fire, others to felling timber and split ting it into rails, and building fences where there was no brush fence, especially in front of the cabin, with a slip-gap for egress or ingress. And in some instances after the ground was cleared from debris, they would break patches and plant such vegetables as would come early and afford relief to the occupants; and indeed it was frequently the case that a dense forest in the morning, would by night-fall, present quite a little field, with the standing timber girdled, surrounded with the uncouth fences already described.

Chapter II. Building The Log Cabin

If a cabin was to be built from the forest, as in the case before intimated, the leader, as aforesaid, who was always a man of experience, and dubbed Captain, would, as an initiatory step, classify the congregated masses, and assign to each their respective duties, about in this order : 1st. He would select four of the most expert axe-men as corner men, whose duty it was to first clear off the site, square it, and place a boulder at each corner to build upon after, being duly leveled, then saddle and notch down the logs in good, workman-like order. 2d. He would assign a sufficient number of suitable men to select as near the site as possible, the best large-growth, straight-grained white-oak tree for clap-boards, whose further duty it was to fell it, and cross-cut it into suitable lengths, split the cuts into square bolts, and with a fro rive them.

Another branch of this classifica tion was required in like manner to prepare puncheons for floors, doors, windows and chimney-corner jambs, out of such timber as was best adapted for the purposes, such as oak, chestnut or ash, as all these abounded in that part of the State, and were, when properly selected straight-grained timber, and could be made of sufficient length and width to make a good solid floor, when spot ted on the under side at the ends out of wind ; and to rest upon sleepers placed at proper distances apart, with dressed, straight upper surfaces, and which, when top-dressed by a skillful adz-man, made a good substitute for plank, which at that early day could not be procured for want of saw-mills. 3d. He would then select and detail such a number as seemed necessary to cull out as near the site as possible, straight, suitably sized standing trees, and fell them and chop them off at suitable lengths for the proposed structure, with teamsters to haul them in as they were logged off, in the then usual way of dragging them on the ground hitched by a chain with a hook at one end of tbe log.

To thi3 force were added other teamsters, provided with rough wood sleds to haul in the clap-boardR, puncheons, and such other materials, as would be necessary in the completion of tho cabin. These preliminaries being all successfully arranged and being carried into effect, the leaderwould take hisstationand make proclamation to the balance ofthe forces, directing them to forthwith prepare smooth skids, the necessary number of forks with grape-vine or hickory withes around the prongs, and two or three strong cross sticks inserted through holes bored in the lower ends to give hand hold to push by ; and also provide a sufficient number of hand-spikes, of tough, small, round hickory, dog-wood or iron-wood, some four feet long, with ends shaved smooth to bo used by the men to bear up the logs while in transit to the corner-men, or to the foot of the skids, as the case might be.

Then the order would be promulgated that no one but the Captain should give any direction in the further progress of the enterprise ; and as the logs would be hauled to the spot, he, with a glance of tho eye would make the necessary directions; and which would by his order he conveyed to the corner-men upon hand-spikes with sturdy men at the ends walking abreast on both sides ot the log, bearing it up to its destination ; then the second log was borne in like manner, each being placed afær being spotted flat on the under 6ide, so as to rest level upon the corner-stones, as the end logs of the structure equi-distant apart between the ends, then the ends would be prepared by the corner-men with what was familiarly known as the saddle, which consisted in this: The expert corner-men would chamfer or bevel off at an angle of say forty-five degrees each side of the ends of the log, the two chamfers meeting at a point on the top-center of the log, presenting an end view of the upper half of the log.

This preparation is to receive tho transverse logs notched at each end so as to nicely fit over the saddles. The two end logs having been placed and fitted as above desciibed, the leader would select the two largest logs being straight for the front and rear bottom logs; being sills, these two logs when in the hands of the corner-men would be notched deeper than the other logs of the building, so as not to throw the floor too high from the ground. The corner-men at each end of the log would cut their notches so exactly at the same angle, and at the same time so as to exactly fit their respective saddles, that when put to the proper place would make a solid fit and out of wind. This dexterity in corner-men no doubt gave rise to the old aphorism, "He cuts his notches close." The four foundation logs having nil been properly notched and saddled and in their places, and upon tbe usual tests being found square ; the next thing to be done was to cut in the sills the slots, or gains to receive tho sleepers, which if on the ground and prepared as already intimated by being scotched straight on upper sides, vere cut to right lengths and fitted at the ends, so as to rest solidly upon said slots, and put in their places; though this was frequently done after the building was raised.

All things prepared for the superstructure, the leader still at his post, with a shrill emphatic voice selects a log, and his forces bear it to the corner-men asalready intimated, resting one end of the handspikes on the top log already placed, rolling it upon the two saddled logs ; it was then fitted and prepared in proper manner and placed plumb on the wall by the practiced eye, aided by the pendulous axe helcl loosely at tip of helve, between the thumb and forefingers ofthe experts.

This routine being continued, un il the building was too high to reach and rest the handspikes as heretofore described upon the wall ; then, the skids resting on the ground at the but-ends would be reared up to the corners on the I side and one end of the building, nearest the collection ofthe hauled-in timber; the logs one by one selected as afor nld be carried as before to the foot of the appropriate skids, ai on them, and rolled up as farasthemen could conveniently reach ; and being stanchioned and helcl, the necessary number of forks were placed under each end ofthe log inside of tho skids, with lower ends held firmly down to tbe ground, were by the order of the leader manned at the cross-handles already described r ' end of the log, which was at a given word of said lender, slid up the skids by the uniform motive power thus applies', to the top, where, by the leverage of handspikes in the hands of the e men, it would be thrown on top ofthe already saddled logs, and by them rolled to the back wall ; then the next log in like m would be shoved up and received by the corner-men tor the wall upon which the skids rested: these being fitted as indicated, tho two logs intended as transverse would in like manner be placed on the ends of the last two logs, all being done with exact uniformity and celerity, and with dispatch and neatnef-s fitted to their respec tive places in the wall.