JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

     Before Rush was cut off from Wayne, and up to 1822, the name of David Hurley appears on the records as a Justice of the Peace.  But, if there were other magistrates before this, the records fail to show it.  John Shaul, Thomas Irwin and James Devore served before the year 1826.  Peter Igou was elected at the house of Jerry Baldwin, January, 1828.  His election was successfully contested by St. Leger Beck and Martin Flaherty, and a new election was ordered, which was held on the 8th day of February, 1828, when Igou was again elected, and his term of office began on the 16th of same month.  William Organ was commissioned a Justice of the Peace Feb. 1, 1830.  Peter Igou was re--elected in February, 1831.  William Organ was re-elected in January, 1833, his second commission bearing date Feb. 1, 1833.  Igou was succeeded, Feb. 1, 1834, by the election of John Stowe.  Peter Igou was again elected, at the house of John Holycross, Feb. 15, 1836.  John Stowe was re-elected Jan. 16, 1837.  David B. Williams was commissioned Feb. 25, 1839, and Robert Pennington May 24, 1839, and was succeeded by Lester Ware.  David B. Williams was re-elected Feb. 15, 1842.  John J. Harlan was elected November, 1844, and was re-elected Nov. 26, 1847, resigning Jul. 1, 1848.  He was succeeded by Andrew McBride, who was elected July 20, 1848.  C. O. Johnson was elected Aug. 17, 1850, and was succeeded by William Thomas Aug. 29, 1853.  Silas Igon was elected Apr. 4, 1853, and was succeeded by Alexander Pickard on the 7th of April, 1856.  William Thomas was re-elected, his commission being dated Aug. 29, 1856.  William R. Clark was elected Apr. 4, 1859, and resigned on the 5th of September following.  His immediate successor was John W. Barley, who was elected on the 24th of the same month.  William Thomas was again elected, his commission being dated Sept. 21, 1862.  James W. Hunter succeeded Barley, his commission bearing date ct. 15, 1864.  William Thomas served continually until November, 1874, when he was succeeded by Aaron Mitchell.  James W. Hunter was succeeded by John Middleton, Jr., Apr. 1, 1867, who was re-elected April, 1870, serving six years in all.  James W. Wells was elected April, 1873, and re-elected April, 1876, his six years ending with the election of John A. Gallaway April, 1879.  Mr. Gallaway is the present incumbent.  Aaron Mitchell served one term of three years.  He was succeeded November, 1878, in the election of F. M. McAdams, the present incumbent, who was re-elected Oct. 12, 1880.

OTHER TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.

     Of the Trustees who served the township in its early organization and previous to 1840, we find the names of Thomas Cowgill, Sr., Henry Fairchild, Silas Hale, Thomas Middleton, Thomas Irwin, James Williams, Erastus Burnham, Jeremiah Baldwin, James Devore, Sylvanus Smith, James Mitchell, Thomas Lary, Jesse Johnson, Thomas Goode, Sr., St. Leger Beck, Paul Igou, John Stowe, Aaron Gutridge, Simon Miller, Matthew Mason, John Middleton, William Organ, John J. Harlan and James Gray.
     During the same period, the office of Township Treasurer was filled by Thomas Irwin, Isaac Gray, William Organ, John Miller and Otho Johnson.
     For the same period, the names of Ezra Winget, Otho Johnson, James Claypole, Robert Cloud, Robert Stephens, John Richardson, Peter Black, Erastus Nutter, John Walburn, Ross Thomas, Allen Haines, Reuben Fairchild, Reuben Paxson, Anson Howard, William Winget, Samuel Reed, Samuel Goode, John Colwell, Andrew Hays, David Ripley, John Parthemar, Boyd Richardson, Isaac Farmer, Stephen Cranston, William Gifford, Asahel Woodsworth, Angus Clark, Solomon Black, Barney Richardson, John Wilson.  Asa Gray, Jonathan Looney, William Jenkins, William Middleton, Jonathan Morecraft, Basil Day, Simeon Morecraft, Henry Reynolds, Stephen Thompson, Moses Devore, John Spencer, Thomas Baldwin, Nicholas E. Swisher, Willis Spain, Isaac Wilson, John H. Swisher, Jeremiah Davis, Benjamin Spillers, David Parker, Thomas Wade, William Pepple, Levi Williams, Willialm Shackleford, James Middleton, Robert Wilson, William Sharp, Elijah Breedlove, Thomas Cooper, Cephas Atkinson, George Barley and William Lary appear as township officers of various kinds.

TOPOGRAPHY, ETC.

     The surface of the township is diversified with hill and valley.  The southern portion is high and level; the western boundary borders on Dugan Prairie, and comprises some of the finest lands in the country.  The northern part is occupied by the valley of Mingo, and is noted for its beauty and fertility.  The central part is more hilly and uneven than the other parts of the township.  In the southeast is a locality known as the "Ridge," but the surface of that neighborhood being nearly level, it is reasonable to conclude that this appellation was the result of some other cause.
     King's Creek is the principal stream.  It has its source in the marshy lands in the vicinity of Cable, a little south of the center of the township, runs a soutthwesterly direction, and empties into Mad River near the southwestern border of Salem Township.  This stream furnishes power for several mills.
     Spain's Creek is a small stream, and has its source a mile east of Mingo, flows an easterly direction and passing through the northwestern part of Rush Township, and through North Lewisburg, empties into Darby, in the edge of Union County.  The center of the township is on the Morecraft farm, a hundred yards southeast of the residence of Samuel Pennington.
     Numerous springs of excellent water abound in different parts of the township; and, in parts where springs are lacking, water is obtained by digging to the depth of from twelve to forty feet.  The surface of the land is, in many parts of the township, underlaid with excellent gravel in inexhaustible quantities, supplying the necessary material for the numerous improved roads which traverse the country in nearly every direction.

ROADS

     The original roads of the township seem to have been laid out without regard to section liens, and with the object in view to avoid acclivities and declivities as well as ponds, swamps and other hindrances to travel.  In succeeding years these errors were corrected to some extent, but even at present few of the highways traverse the country in a direct route.  the result is, that the farms in the township, many of them conforming to the roads, are irregular in shape, and have their beauty greatly marred.
     The township is traversed by several gravel roads, constructed under the "Free Pike" law.  (See Rev. stat., Sec. 4774-4828, and 4829-4864.)
     The first of these extends from west to east, and is known as the "Urbana and Woodstock Pike."  It enters the township near the "Breedlove Pond," and, running an easterly direction via Cable and Clinton's Corners, passes out at the farm of Peter Black, on the east line.  The length of this road within the limits of the township is nearly six miles.  This was built in 1868.  The north Lewisburg Pike extends from the C., C. & I. C. Railroad, west of Cable, to North Lewisburg Pike extends from the C., C. & I. C. Railroad, west of Cable, to North Lewisburg via Middletown, a distance within the township of about four miles.  This road was built about the year 1869.  The Woodstock and Mingo Pike was built in 1871.  Its length in the township is about four and a half miles, and it extends from Woodstock to the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad in Mingo; some years later (1877) this road was extended to the line of Logan County, a distance of nearly two miles.  In the summer of 187, the Mingo & West Liberty road was constructed.  Two miles of this road is within the township limits.  It was built by Joseph Chamberlin.  The Mingo & Kingston road via Kennard was built in 1877.  The Clinton-Stafford road, extending from the Clinton corners westward to near the western border of the township, was built in the summer of 1880 by Joseph Chamberlin and Cyrus Guyu.
     These roads, tough they have been constructed at a cost of more than $50,000, are the pride of the township, and have added to the value of real estate vastly, besides rendering travel pleasant and easy at all seasons.

SCHOOLS.

     The early settlers were not slow in taking measures to give their children the advantages of education.  The majority of the first citizens felt keenly the need of education themselves; it is not strange, then, that they sought to give to those who would come after them the advantages of good schools.
     Isaac Gray built, with some assistance from a few neighbors, a house which was used for a schoolhouse.  It was put up about 1813 or 1814, and was situated a short distance southeast of the present site of Carmel Church.  A description of this house would answer for the schoolhouses of that day generally.  It was constructed of unhewn logs, covered with clapboards held in place3 by weight poles.  The interstices between the logs were daubed with clay mortar.  The loft was covered with rails laid closely together, and these were plastered with mud from the upper side.  A large fire-place with an outside stick chimney was at one end; the floor was made of puncheons split from large logs and hewn into shape.  These were sometimes fastened to the sleepers by nailing, but generally held in position by their own weight.  The seats were often of split logs, sometimes of sawed slabs.  The writing desk ranged along one side, and was held in a slanting position by pins driven into the wall.  The door swung on the outside, and was fastened on wooden hinges.  The windows were destitute of glass, but in its place greased paper was used, admitting a feeble light.
     The teachers of that day were thorough in what they pretended to teach; they were determined to impart, and the pupil was as determined to learn.  A common trait in the youth of that day was an invincible determination to learn.
     Several schoolhouses of thin description were built in the township in an early day.  In the succeeding years, as a people became abler to incur the expense, they built better schoolhouses, but it can hardly be said with truthfulness, that, with increased school advantages, education became correspondingly more general.  North Salem, a house erected for and used as a Methodist meeting hose, and of which mention is made elsewhere, was used also as a schoolhouse from 1824 to 1830.
     The schoolhouses constructed during the last decade are in keeping with the progress of events in educational matters, and compare favorably with school buildings in the rural districts throughout the State.  The Board of Education has of late years adopted the practice of building pf durable material, having in view the unquestionable principle that the best is the cheapest.  There are eleven school districts in the township at present; two of these (Mingo and Cable) maintain two schools for the winter season.
     During the school year ending Aug. 31, 1880, the total amount of money expended for school purposes was $3,880.86.  Average price paid teachers per month, ladies $25; gentlemen, $37.  The same year, there were enrolled, males, 277; females, 246; total, 623; whole number of both sexes between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one, 143.  The value of school property is estimated at $7,000.  Number in the various branches - alphabet, 66; reading, 409; spelling, 422; writing, 358; arithmetic, 319; geography, 268; grammar, 138; composition, 5; oral lessons, 509; drawing, 45; algebra, 23; geometry, 6.

RELIGIOUS.

     Methodism in Mingo Valley. - In the year 1821, a number of persons of Methodist extraction met at the house of Alexander St. C. Hunter (where William Winder now lives), for the purpose of organizing a religious society.  Of the number was Alexander St. C. Hunter and Sarah Hunter.  Thomas Hunter, Robert Goode, his wife and mother, Lydia Russell, and her daughters Hester, Rebecca and Lydia.  These persons formed themselves into a class, as designed by Wesley, and for two or three years thereafter continued to meet at this hose for social religious worship.  By the year 1824, the society had attained numbers ad strength, and they determined to erect a house of worship for their accommodation.  Robert Good, Peter Igou, William Sharp, and Isaac Sharp served this people as class leaders.  Having determined to build a church, they were not long in carrying their resolutions into practical effect.  Money was scarce.  Few of them had any bank accounts or funds of any kind, but with them, to resolve was to do.  Material and labor was at once promised.  The house was soon built, and the society felt a pardonable pride in its possession.  But of this house let us say a word.  It was situated on the farm now owned by B. R. Tallman.  Lydia Russell gave the site.  Each of the principal members contributed labor or material.  The house is described as being of unhewn logs of the surrounding forest; the roof was of clapboards, held in place by weight-poles; a large fireplace occupied part of the south end, and a low long window on the north end.  The door was a plain plank one, with wooden hinges, swinging outward when opened, and fastened with a wooden latch fifteen inches i length, and fastening to a huge catch, like a figure 4.  The door was at the east front, and on this front was a shed or porch, designed to shelter and accommodate parts of the congregation when the capacity of the interior was overcrowded, as was often the case.  The seats were made of split logs, and made smooth on the split side and supported by pines for legs. 
     This church was called North Salem.  And who, think you, preached to this people?  Such worthies of the church as John Strange, Samuel Brown, John F. Wright, Francis Asbury, William H. Raper, Alfred Lorain, James A. Donahoe, ___ Westlick and Robert Brandreth.  This rude house was the principal house of worship for all the surrounding country, from 1824 to 1831, when it was abandoned for one of more pretensions, situated near by, on the site of the mansion of the late Thomas Hunter erected in 1866, now occupied by his widow "Aunt Nancy," and her youngest son, Hale.  This house was not built for a house of worship but for a schoolhouse, and was considered the best schoolhouse in all the land at that day.  It had a stove in the center, a shingle roof, a batten door hung with iron hinges, and the logs were hewn on two sides.  The interstices between the logs were daubed with mortar made of lime and sand, and the general appearance of the hose indicated progress.  In this house, the Word was proclaimed from 1831 to 1838 by Obadiah Johnson, Joshua Boucher, George W. Walker, Michael MArlay, David Warnock, James Smith and A. Wambaugh.
     In 1838, preaching was established at a schoolhouse situated on the right bank of Spain's Creek, half a mile southeast of the present residence of Nelson B. Johnson and was sustained with ore or less permanence until about 1847, when, the township having buit a frame schoolhouse on the farm of Highland Mead, near the present site of the "White Schoolhouse," the preaching was changed to the new house, and, up to 1851, the ministry was by Joshua Boucher, Silas Chase, Isaac B. Cartlitch (1841-42), T. A. G. Philips (1843), William Litsinger (1844-45), William Beamer (1846), Elijah H. Field, Wilson Smith, James A. Donahoe (1847) (1848), Philip Nation (1849), A. U. Beall (1850), David Warnock, and Thomas M. Thrall (1851).  Thus after years of meandering, the people of the valley were without a permanent place of worship, and for the greater part of the time, were dependent upon others for the use of a house, they determined to join with the fragment of the society of Strange Chapel (a preaching place in the southern border of Monroe Township, Logan County), and erect a church building that should meet their necessities as a society.  The result was the building of "Salem." 
     It has been with no small difficulty that the foregoing data have been gathered as to the ministers who have in all this time preached to the people of Mingo Valley.  How much greater the task, then, to tell who filled the pews and supported the work.  The Hunters, Martins, Devores, Russells, Coxes, Millers, Larys, Morgans, Everetts, Goods, Spains, Inskeeps, Sharps, Igous, Thomases, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, saints and sinners - each filled a place and discharged a duty i a way peculiarly their own.

     Salem Methodist Episcopal Church. - This house of worship was built principally in 1851, and was of brick.  Its dimensions were 40 x 50 feet.  The site was donated to the society by Joshua Spain, and was on the southwest corner of his farm, nearly half a mile south of the Logan and Champaign County line, on the east side of the road leading from Mechanicsburg to West Liberty and Middleburg.  The building of this house was a necessary result of two facts - (1) Strange's Chapel having, as a society, become too weak to be self-supporting; and (2), the Salem society of the Mingo Valley being without a place of worship suitable to its needs.
     The principal contributors to the necessary funds were members of the two societies named.  Joshua Spain, Hudson Haines, Thomas Hunter, Alex St. C. Hunter, Abram Martin, David Martin, William Evans, Isaac Sharp, John Haines, John S. Hunter, James W. Hunter, Theodoric Goode, Salmon Cole and Thomas Everett paid the greater amount.
     The contractor for the erection of the house was William Shafer, of North Lewisburg.  The total cost was, perhaps, $1,200.  The dedication took place Aug. 23, 1852, and was conducted by Rev. Michael Marley  The hymn used on the occasion was number 970, and reads:

     Mingo Methodist Episcopal Church. - This site was donated by J. B. Brinton, being the north half of Lot No. 15 of the original plat of the village.  The contract was let to Henry T. Raymond and was completed early in October, 1869.  The cost of this house was about $1,500.  The principal subscribers to the fund were Thomas Hunter, David Martin, Abram Martin, W. J. Sullivan, Jonathan L. Guthridge, Bowen Fisher, Nelson Johnson, Alfred Johnson, Sylvester Spain, John S. Hunter, Joseph B. Brinton, Simeon L. Russell, Nathaniel C. Hunter, John Lee, J. A. Ryser and C. Austin.
     The house was dedicated in 1869, by James L. Bail.
     H. M. Curry, D. R. Staley, David Whitmer, Jesse M. Robinson, Allen W. Tibbits, John S. Pumphrey and Henry Miller, have filled the pulpit since its dedication.  Jennie Sparks, of London, Ohio, conducted a wonderful revival meeting in the winter of 1879-80.  F. M. McAdams, Lorenzo F. Lary, Joseph B. Brinton and Marion Guthridge have severally acted as Superintendents of the Sabbath school, which is well sustained since March, 1870.

     Pleasant Run Baptist Church. - This society was organized at Middletown Nov. 5, 1836, Revs. Thomas J. Price, Daniel Beaver and William Fuson being present.  Jesse C. Phillips was made temporary Clerk.  Otho Johnson was made permanent Clerk on the 3d day of December the same year; and Holdridge Chidister and Isaac Wilson were made Deacons the same time.  On the first Saturday in March, 1837, H. Chidister, Isaac Wilson and Otho Johnson were made a committee to take the initiatory steps for building a house of worship, and, in December, 1838, Otho Johnson was made Superintendent of the work of building a house on a lot procured by the committee at a cost of $10.
     During the years 1839, 1840 and 1841, the society labored diligently to complete the hose, and early in 1842 it was nearly enough completed to be occupied.  The original membership of the society were John Johnson and Margaret Johnson, Holdridge Chidister and Mary Chidister, Isaac Wilson and Rebecca Wilson, David Wilson and Mary Ann Wilson; John Martin and Elizabeth Martin, Boyd Richardson and Mary Richardson, Nicholas Swisher and Sarah Swisher, Hester Morecraft and Mercy Wells, Joseph Swisher and Jane Swisher, John Doak and Rachel Doak, Elizabeth Graham, Elizabeth Holloway, Eunice Graham, John Graham, Thomas Wilson and Locke Wilson.
     For nearly thirty years, this society enjoyed a reasonable degree of prosperity, including in its membership many of the worthiest members of the society of the surrounding country, and numbering among its ministers of some of the foremost and most prominent preachers of the Baptist denomination.
     Of these, mention may be made of Price, Fuson, Carr, Bunker, Davis, Line, Martin, Thomas, Cleveland, Hale, Eppert, Williams, Chidister, Platts, Hawker, Dye and a few others, all of whom have passed to our common destiny, the grave.
     With the building of the A. & G. W. R. R. (now the N. Y., P. & O. R. R.), through the valley of Mingo, and with the laying out of the village of Mingo in 1866, it was thought best to abandon the Pleasant Run house as a preaching-point and establish a society and build a suitable house of worship at Mingo.  This was finally done, and the old brick and which had served so long and so well was purchased by Simeon Morecraft, and we believe is now owned by his heirs.  The house of late years has been used as a preaching point by the Friends.

     Cable M. E. Church. - In the year 1853, Hiram Cable began the erection of a house of worship in the village of Cable.  He was assisted by a number of persons of various religious denominations, and it was his design to make the property of the Presbyterians, but to be free to others when not occupied by the People.  The house was built 50x60 feet, and was a frame with a basement of stone.  The stone work was done by George N. Swisher and Charles Pullins.
     Mr. Cable, not receiving the encouragement he had expected, and finding it would be a heavy financial burden on himself, concluded to sell it in its unfinished condition, and accordingly a number of Episcopal Methodists bargained for and bought the building for $350.  Prominent among these purchasers were Samuel Organ, John Morgan, W. E. Fuson, Daniel Bell, J. L. Guthridge, Frank Baldwin and James W. Hunter.  The house was completed, not without many sacrifices and difficulties, for the society was neither rich nor large, and was finally dedicated in due disciplinary Methodistic form by Rev. J. W. Weakley, of the Cincinnati Conference.  The house, from first to last, cost about $1,200,  and is a substantial frame, fished in good style, meeting the wants of the society, which has now become larger and more prosperous.  Rev. John T. Mitchell assisted not a little in the plans that led to the successful building of this house, and his name is held in grateful remembrance by the Methodists of Cable.  Since the society organized in the year above named, they have been ministered to by John G. Black, John Vance, James T. Bail, David Warnock, David Whitmer, William Paul, W. B. Jackson, Wesley Webster, Allen W. Tibbats, T. E. Fiddler, D. L. Hayward, S. W. Carey and G. H. Kennedy.  This society supports a flourishing Sabbath school.

     The Sanctuary. - This was a church erected nearly north of the present residence of Alfred Johnson, was built in a year 1842, by Isaac G. Thomas, carpenter.  It was built by a small society of Congregational Methodists, whose Pastor at the time was Andrew Williams.  It was erected on the farm of Mingo Thomas.  Polly Thomas, Joseph Johnson and wife, Mrs. Perry and her family constituted the principal membership originally.  After a few years the society grew weak, and finally went down, though during these years several noted religious revivals occurred.  From 1850 to 1860, the Protestant Methodists occupied the house by consent, and the people of the surrounding country heard the Gospel tidings as aforetime.  From 1860 up to 1866, the Baptists preached at "The Sanctuary," after which, the Mingo Baptist Church having been built, this house was abandoned as a preaching point, and was afterward removed and became a thing of the past.

     Mingo Baptist Church - This society was, for the greater part, the result of the going-down of the Baptist society of Middletown.  Mingo being a thristy village, situated on a railroad, it was natural that the abandoning of Pleasant Run house of worship would result in the creation of a society, and the building of a church here.  It seemed so ordered.  The house is a substantial frame and well built.  The building was dedicated by David Scott, on the 3d day of February, 1867, the sermon being from the 24th chapter of Matthew, 14th verse.  "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness until all nations; and then shall the end come."
     The cost of the building was about $1,200.  The principal members at the time of this organization, were Joseph Miller, and wife, Ed M. Morgan and Lizzie Morgan, Abel North, and Elizabeth North, Silas Igou and Merdie Igou, David Johnson and ELizabeth Johnson, Jonathan Johnson and Sarah J. Johnson, Hannah Gray, Elizabeth Gray, Huldah Thomas, Lizzie Johnson, and others.
     David Scott, W. S. Kent, W. R. Thomas, William Wilbur, and B. J. George have preached to the society since its organization, and the society has had a steady and healthful growth for some years past.  A vigorous Sabbath school is maintained the year round, superintended by Davius T. Runkle.

     Carmel Friends Church. -The Carmel society took shape as early as 1825; the present house was built in 1873, in the western border of the township.  Previous to this, the society occupied a meeting-house on the same site, and which was built in 1832.  Still earlier the same people worshiped at what is now known as Ryan's, in Salem Township, nearly two miles further north.  The early preaching was generally held at the house of Thomas Cowgill, St., W. H. Baldwin and John Robinson. These families, with those of John Miller, Henry Cowgill, Lydia Gray, Jesse Baldwin and others, constituted the membership in its earlier history.  Eli Cowgill and Abrilla, was wife, since 1866, have from time to time ministered to his people.  They are a progressive, spiritual society, and support a prosperous Sabbath school.

     Jenkins Chapel - This church was built in 1863, and was dedicated in April, 1864.  It is a frame, 46x50, and cost $1,200.  This house is the successor of "Clinton's Meeting-House," which stood 200 years further east, and was built about the year 1842, as a result of the missionary efforts of Andrew Williams, a Congregational Methodist preacher of great zeal in his day.  James Sheward, Oliver Jenkins, David Edwards and some others, each of whom contributed labor and material for its construction.  In this meeting-house the United Brethren and the Methodist Protestants worshiped harmoniously for several successive years.  Fredric Hendrix and Samuel Downey were the principal United Brethren preachers before 1845.  Thomas Howe, of the Methodist Protestants, formed a class about 1845, of which Milton Beck, Oliver Jenkins and wife, Mr. Outram and wife, with a few others, constituted the number.  The United Brethren society also maintained a small class under the leadership of two societies in one, and the society became strictly of the Methodist Protestant order.  John Lawson, Abbot, Callahan, Plummer, S. B. Smith. O. P. Stevens, A. Trumbo, T. W. Spring, A. C. Hall, E. W. Winans, H. M. Ravenscroft, W. M. Creamer and T. B. Graham have preached to this society during the latter years.
     The society repainted and carpeted their house in the fall of 1879.  It sustains a flourishing Sabbath school.

     Cable Christian Church - Was organized about 1860, but preachers of that denomination had labored in the vicinity at intervals for several years previous.  Michael Riddle, of Ashland, was the first preacher, his labors lasting four years.  The house is a substantial brick, and well situated.  The original cost was not less than $1,500.  Alexander Pickard, Evans Perry and John C. Guthridge was the first Elders, and Alfred Whitridge, Clerk.  John C. Guthridge, George McCulley and James Durnell are its present Elders.
     The original membership was about twenty; its present strength is near eighty.  The church sustains a flourishing Sabbath-school, David Perry, Superintendent.
     The following ministers have preached to the society since its organization: Michael Riddle, Noah Walker, John Durnell, Benjamin Lockheart, James Goodwin, James Mathews, William Mathews, A. Clark, James M. Henry, Frank Parker, George Morse, John Erritt, S. A. Griffin, A. H. Moore, W. H. Martin, Jesse Roberts, Q. A. Randall.

     Mount Olivet or Sodom Camp Ground - Half a mile to the north of the village of Cable, is the site of Mount Olivet, or Sodom Camp-meeting Ground.  The lands are now owned by the heirs of James Morecraft, deceased.  The association was established in 1833, and held its annual meetings in the monthly of August each year, until 1839, when it was discontinued.  The attendance at these meetings was usually very large, especially on the Sabbath.  The meetings were in charge of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the membership and ministry of this denomination from far and near tented on the ground, and usually remained from beginning to end.  The preaching, as it is usually the case at camp meetings, was of a high order, coming from such distinguished divines as William H. Raper, George W. Walker, R. O. Spencer, John F. Wright, Joshua Boucher, Michael Marley, A. Wambaugh, Silas and Ebenezer Chase, and many others, who, though dead, continue to speak in the influence for good which follows the life of the servant of God.

POLITICS, POPULATION, ETC.

     The first election held in the township was held October 8, 1811, but the record fails to show the drift of political sentiment at taht time.  The number of electors at that election was thirty-one.  In the year 1840, the voting strength of the township was 245, of which, as shown elsewhere, teh Harrison electors received 191 votes, and the Van Buren Electors fifty-four votes.
     In the years preceding and up to the present date, the vote has stood:
     1875 - Governor, William Allen, Dem., 118; R. B. Hayes, Rep., 226; total, 344.
     1877 - Governor,W. H. West, Rep., 247; R. M. Bishop, Dem., 107; total, 354.
     1878 - Secretary of State, Milton Barnes, Rep., 238; David R. Paige, Dem., 98; total 336.
     1880 - Secretary of State, Charles Townsend, Rep., 276; William Lang, Dem., 119; Prohib., 5; total, 400.
     The above figures give the political complexion of the township, and serve to show the very slow rate at which the voting strength of the township has increased in the past sixty-nine years.  The annual increase has been less than five votes.
     The political pot never simmers in Wayne; it always boils.  The campaigns of 1840, 1863 and 1880 gave evidence of the very intense heat to which political feeling can be aroused, and many incidents might be recounted showing the extent of party enthusiasm.  In 1840, the people ran wild in their log-cabin demonstrations, and all the ordinary and extraordinary means known to the manipulators of political machinery were used to forward the cause of the respective candidates.
     Some of the songs of the time have been handed down to us, and we give below the principal one:

THE BUCKEYE LOG CABIN SONG.

POPULATION.

NUMBER AND NAMES OF ELECTORS.

CHARLES LINCOLN
(Deceased)

SKETCHES OF THE PIONEER FAMILIES.

Cephus Atkinson - Pg. 541
Richard Baldwin - Pg. 545
Elijah Breedlove - Pg. 545
William Clinton - Pg. 544
Eli and Abrilla Cowgill - Pg. 546
Jefferson Dempcy - Pg. 544
James DeVore - Pg. 538
Isaac Everett - Pg. 543
Isaac Gray - Pg. 539
Alexander Saint Clair Hunter - Pg. 541
Peter Igou - Pg. 540
William Johnson - Pg. 538
Ezra Lamborn - Pg. 545
William Lary - Pg. 545
David and Abram Martin - Pg. 542
Matthew Mason - Pg. 541
John Middleton, Sr. - Pg. 543
William Middleton - Pg. 543
Hester Morecraft - Pg. 539
John B. Paden - Pg. 545
Boyd Richardson - Pg. 542
Jack M. Sally - Pg. 544
Willis Spain - Pg. 537
David Wilson - Pg. 544
Thomas Wilson - Pg. 544

THE WAR RECORD.

MIDDLETOWN.

is the oldest village in the township, and is situated at the crossing of the Urbana and North Lewisburg pike with the Woodstock and Mingo pike, and is nearly a mile west of the center of the township.  The original plat was made by John Miller in the year 1833.  Previous to this, a man named Holycross kept a small grocery at the crossroads.  As the town is now only a fragment of its former self, it can only be described as a thing that has come and gone.  A post office which was called "Brinton" was established about 1838, and Amos Brinton, Benjamin Moffit, R. Simpson, John T. McCartney and others filled the office of Postmaster up to 1872, when the office was abandoned.  The principal corners were called after those who improved on them and carried on business.  The southeast corner was the Walker corner; the southwest the Frizell corner; the northwest the Moffit corner, and the northeast the Pearce or Igou corner.  The merchants during the years of her prosperity were Benjamin Dillon, D. & T. M. Gwynne, Holmes & Apple, Austin & White, Rhoades & Ware, Hallowell & Rhoades, Benjamin Moffitt, and Jacob S. Bailey.
     Gould Johnson, George W. Crawford, McCann & Forshea practiced medicine.  Allison Walker, Robert Frizell, Silas Igou, Isaac Brown, Aaron Pearce, George Bedford and Charles Hill were the hotel and boarding house keepers.  John J. Harlan served the pubic as a blacksmith.  David Smith carried on wagon-making.  He died in the army.
     The construction of the C., C. & I. C. Railroad through the township about 1854, and the subsequent building of Cable, together with the laying-out of Mingo, in 1866, proved the overthrow of Middletown, and from a live, busy town it has declined year after year until little of its former prosperity remains.  The elections are held here.

MIDDLETOWN BUSINESS DIRECTORY
 

CABLE.

     The village of Cable was laid out by P. S. Cable in 1853.  It is located on the south side of the C., C. & I. C. Railway, eight miles on an a__line north-east of Urbana, and on the Urbana and Woodstock free pike.  In 180, it had a population of 131; in 1880, its population was 172.  the railroad was constructed in 1854.  It contains two churches - the Methodist Episcopal and Christian; two schoolhouses, passenger depot, telegraph office, freight depot, express office, two dry goods stores, one restaurant and other branches of business.

CABLE BUSINESS DIRECTORY.

MINGO.

     This village was first called Mulberry, and was laid out by Ebenezer C. Williams in the year 1866.  At the earnest protest of Thomas Hunter the name was changed to Mingo.  In 1844, Alex St. Clair Hunter met Rev. B. W. Gehman on the highway, and, in his characteristic manner, said "There will be a railroad through this valley some day, and right by that mulberry tree will be a village."  The words proved to be prophetic.  the A. & G. W. R. R. was constructed, and the village came as a consequence.  The original plat comprises los from 1 to 27, lying west of the Woodstock and Mingo pike, and south of the railroad.  The Spain and Tallman Addition was laid out at nearly the same time, and consists of eight lots, numbering from the railroad south, and ___east of the pike before mentioned  This pike is on the line of the Calderwood and Denny surveys.  Joshua Spain and B. R. Tallman are the parties who laid out this addition.
     The Guthridge saw-mill, on the north side of the railroad, was built in 1864, and before the town was laid out.
     The first house built was the property now occupied by Mary Guthridge, in the fall of 1865.  The next was the Biggs House, on Lot 6, the same fall.  The third building was by Jonathan Guthridge, on Lot 1; Rees Miller built on Lot 4 the same fall.  The large business house on the main corner was built by David Williams and J. L. Guthridge, in 1866-7.  The Stevenson Flouring Mill was built by E. C. Williams, in 1865, and sued as a warehouse and railroad office for nearly a year.  The machinery was put in in 1866.  Henry T. Raymond built the storeroom immediately west of the mill, and moved into it with a stock of goods in the winter of 1866, having Simeon L. Russell for his business partner.  The John S. Hunter House was built by E. C. Williams and occupied late in December, 1865.  The Williams residence on the hill, owned by the widow of E. C. Williams, was built by her late husband in 1866, and occupied June 4, 1867.  Frank Pearl built the Mitchell property, in 1867.  The schoolhouse was built by the township in 1868, and Nellie P. Gilbert taught in it first in the winter of 1868-69.  The storeroom owned by F. M. McAdams, on Lot 3, was built by H. T. Raymond, in the summer of 1867.  The Brinton property was built in 1867; the Baptist Church was built in 186; the M. E. church in 1869.  The carpenter work for both churches was done by Raymond & Marks.
     J. L. Guthridge and J. B. Brinton established a grocery store on the corner east of Main Street, in the fall of 1865.  The post office of Mingo was established, and J. L. Guthridge commissioned Postmaster, in the winter of 1866.  The hotel building north of the railroad was built by Mrs. Crain,  in the winter of 1866.
     Mingo in 105 miles from Cincinnati, and 343 miles from Salamanca, N. Y., the eastern terminus of the N. Y., P. & O. R. R.  this road was built in 1864; the track rails were laid through the valley of Mingo on Sunday, April 24, 1864.
     The village has two churches, one schoolhouse, three dry goods establishments, one grocery and drug store, express office, passenger depot, saw-mill, flouring-mill, three blacksmith-shops and other industrial interests.

MINGO BUSINESS DIRECTORY.

TOWNSHIP OFFICIAL DIRECTORY.

Trustees, George Barley, H. C. Breedlove, John N. Hess
Treasurer, John Donavan.
Clerk, John A. Gallaway
Justices of the Peace, F. M. McAdams, J. A. Gallaway
Constables, John T. McCartney, William Thompson

BOARD OF EDUCATION.

     J. Swisher, J. F. Stone, Coleman Spain, Hale Hunter, H. C. Breedlove, S. C. Gladden; Ezra L. Dempcy, J. R. Diltz, Joseph Hurd, F. M. McAdams.

CABLE LODGE, NO. 395, I. O. O. F.

     This lodge was chartered July 20, 1867.  The charter members were T. W. Grove, W. E. Fuson, Henry Nincehelser, Heli Widdoes, Thomas Middleton, J. H. Craft, Lemuel Shaul, James W. Wells and John M. Shaul.  The installing officer was w. F. Slater, S. G. M.
     The unofficial original members were John F. Morgan, William B. Hackett, J. W. Johnson, J. F. Stone, J. H. Clark, H. C. Breedlove, t. B. Stone, Charles Guthridge, James Grace, J. C. Light, L. G. Brown, D. B. Hale, C. A. Barley and Llucas E. Pearce.
     The officials for 1880 were Charles M. Graham, N. G.; G. W. Swimley, V. G.; Lewis M. Gallagher, Sec'y; J. A. Miller, Per Sec'y; Henry Nincehelser, Treas.  The present membership is forty-one. 

MEAD'S MILL.

     Joel Woodward and Stephen Hannum built a flouring-mill on the headwaters of Spain's Creek, on land now owned by Darby Bahan, the source of the water-power being on the lands of Nelson B. Johnson.  After a short time, these men sold out to Hiram Mead, and thereafter it was known as Mead's Mill.  It was subsequently owner by Samuel Child and David Smith, respectively.  Thomas Hunter purchased the lands finally, and preferring not to incur the expense of some needed and costly repair, sold the machinery, and the mill became a thing of the past.  It was built in 1840? and operated nearly twenty years.

MASON'S MILL.

     This mill was built in the year 1830, by Matthew Mason, Thomas Baldwin and David Williams on King's Creek, near the west line of the township; it was a sixteen feet overshot wheel, and, in that day, was reckoned among the best of its kind in the county.  Soon after the mill was completed, Mr. Williams sold his interest to Mason & Baldwin, and retired from the partnership.  For about four years, Mason & Baldwin ran the mill as partners.  Baldwin then sold out to Mason, who attached a distillery to the mill, and for nearly twenty years operated it successfully.  the machinery at length gave out, and both mill and distillery stood idle for some years.  After the death of Mason, which occurred in 1869, the mill was sold by James Taylor, administrator, to W. D. & J. A. Linville, and was by them improved, repaired and remodeled.  They removed the old wheel, and putting in two turbine wheels added steam to the power.  After operating with the mill nearly two years, at considerable loss, the Linvilles sold to Henry Wolf.  Mr. Wolf owned it but a short time when he sold it to Cuykendall & Kirtland.  These parties operated the mill for more than a year, and then sold to H. Kesler.  Kesler moved the steam machinery, put in a sixteen feet overshot wheel, and is now operating the mill with every prospect of success.

END OF CHAPTER OF WAYNE TOWNSHIP          NEXT TO RUSH TWP.