RUSHCREEK LAKE

     This is a small body of water of near a hundred acres surface, connected with a swamp extending north on each side of Rushcreek for near three miles, and south to near the Jerusalem Pike, where it crosses Mad River - making an aggregate length of about six or seven miles, with an average width of nearly three quarters of a mile.  This whole area has evidently once been a lake connecting the waters of Mad River and Rushcreek, the former running South, and the latter North.
     The stream of Rushcreek passes through this lake, which embraces a part of each of the townships of Rushcreek and Jefferson, and is in the track of the great tornado which passed over it about the year 1825 or 1826, and constituted what is familiarly known as "The fallen timber."  this lake abounds in fish,  and has ever been the favorite resort for all lovers of tthe finny tribes, within reasonable distance of its miry borders.  It is much smaller now than when first viewd by the early pioneers of our county, and scarce one hundredth part as large as it originally was.  The swamp connected with it is much more firm now than forty ears ago. - The tallest corn is now grown in some places where cattle would n ot then dare venture.  The incidents connected with this lake

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cannot record with any great degree of accuracy.  It was said the great tornado lifted the water to such an extent, that hundreds and thousands of fish could be found upon its shores.  There was also a tradition that two Indians, in an attempt to wade into it from the shore, instantly sunk into the mire, and their bodies were never recovered.  I give this not as a fact, but as a tradition, currently talked of and generally credited forty years ago, yet I never met a person who could verify the story.  I can, however, attest, that all around the margin of the lake, as also in the bed of Rushcreek, so far as the swamp extends, a person attempting to wade would sink beneath the mire as quick as in the water.  If the Indians pursued a deer into the water, (as was said,) they could not have escaped being buried in the mire.
     In the period of forty years since I have known this lake, there has been but four persons drowned in it; the first happened several years ago.  A man by the name of Edsall, who was subject to fits, was fishing alone in a canoe, and in a spasm as was supposed, had fallen out and drowned.  He resided near Zanesfield, and the past summer, his son about eighteen years of age was drowned in attempting to bathe in its waters.
     About ten years ago two men, Thos. Carson and Martin Longstaff, were both fishing in a small canoe and were upset in the water and drowned.  In early times the pioneer girls and boys would resort there in companies, and amid the sublime scenery of that secluded spot, whisper their artless tales of love, in the deep shades of the lofty forest trees that stood on the beautiful knoll that overlooks its placid waters, and although it has since been divested of much of its romantic grandeur, as seen in the dense forest and heard in the songs of birds, it still one of the chief features of interest in our locality, especially to strangers who visit here.
     Extending west along the stream of Rushcreek above this lake, is a small valley surrounded by hills, known as

"LAZY HOLLOW."

The first settlers of this hollow occupied much of their time in fishing, and manifested so little energy in the improvement of the country, that the above name seemed appropriate, and hence its christening, perhaps, for all time; and lest this name should make an unfavorable impression on the minds of future genera-

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tions respecting the first settlers of this hollow, I will say that Mr. James B. McLaughlin now a prominent lawyer in Bellefontaine, is perhaps responsible for the name, and as he was a resident of the hollow himself at the time, can not reasonably claim exemption from the unfavorable impressions suggested by the title.  There are also evidences of moral and intellectual improvement in the immediate vicinity of this hollow, which may be noted as among the first, north of Zanesfield.  I will here give the names of some of the first settlers in this vicinity:  Daniel McCoy, was evidently the first settler here, and built a cabin on a farm now owned by Mr. Jamison in the northern part of Jefferson Township, a short distance from the Lazy Hollow School-house.  This McCoy was here as early perhaps as 1810, of whom we will speak more more particularly hereafter.  Shortly after, Stephen Leas and Haines Parker settled in this same school district, perhaps as early as 1812, the former about three and a half miles north of Zanesfield, on the west of Madriver, and the latter on the north of him, on the farm known as the Elliot farm, but now owned by Benjamin Shoots.
     Haines Parker was what was called a regular Baptist preacher and in connection with the venerable George McColloch, Tharp's Run, below Zanesfield, established the first church on the waters of Rushcreek.  The first-meeting house was erected about half a mile east of the Lazy Hollow School-house, on the road leading from Harper to Zanesfield, near where the Bellefontaine and Walnut Grove road crosses the Zanesfield and Harper road.  It was a log house, which stood for many years, but has since almost entirely disappeared.  The names of some of the prominent members constituting that church were Haines Parker and his wife, Johnson Patrick, Samuel Patrick, Elijah Hull, Old Father Piatt, and some others, male and female members, whose names I do not now recollect.
     In 1832 the second meeting-house was built a mile and a half further north, and was called the Rushcreek Baptist Church, after which the which the former house was vacated and the latter became the regular place of meeting by the church.  Connected with this second house, the first public grave-yard was established.  It was donated by Solomon Cover who then resided on the farm now owned by Lucien D. Musselman and the first person buried there was Samuel Patrick in October, 1831.  This meeting-house was

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evidently the first house of worship erected in Rushcreek Township; the former house was built in Jefferson.  North of Lazy Hollow, on a high hill in the south edge of Rushcreek township, the first school house was built in Rushcreek Township;  it was on the Zanesfield and Harper road, on a piece of land now owned by Oliver Raymond; I can not give the date of its building, but it must have been prior to 1820.
     I find I was mistaken concerning the first meeting-house built in Rushcreek Township, as stated in the above.  The first meeting-house in Rushcreek township was built by the Quakers.  It stood in a field now owned by John Q. Williams, near the Sandusky road, four and half miles northeast of Bellefontaine; there is a grave-yard at the site of this meeting-house, which was laid out by old Thomas Stanfield, Sr., who was evidently the first white settler in Rushcreek Township.  His first cabin stood on the north side of the old Stanfield farm, which is now occupied by Mr. Samuel Hall.  It was built of very small logs, or rather poles, indicating the scarcity of hands at that period.  Thomas Stanfield planted the first orchard near his cabin; many of the trees can be seen at present, (1871.)  He was socially and religiously connected with the first settlers in Marmons bottom, and his grandson, Samuel Stanfield told me that he came here in the year 1805.  He was here during the war of 1812, and continued on the old Stanfield farm up to the year 1823, when he died and was buried in the grave-yard which he had located.  His wife, Hannah died in 1830, and was buried by his side.  He was succeeded by his son, Thomas Stanfield, Jr. who died in 1838.
     There is an incident connected with the history of this pioneer family which is worthy of record.  Stanfield was a Quaker, and, like the celebrated William Penn, succeeded in securing the friendship of the Indians to such an extent that he felt comparatively safe to remain among them during the war of 1812.  They often visited his cabin, shared his hospitality, and manifested marked friendship for him and his family.  But it seems, from some cause, they had become angry with Stanfield, and determined on a certain night to massacre the whole family.  They accordingly concealed themselves in the bushes which surrounded the cabin about dusk in the evening, and lay there awaiting the darkness of the night, that they might carry out their fiendish plot.

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     It seems however, that Mr. Daniel McCoy, who is mentioned in a former article, had learned of their hellish design, and determined to try to rescue the family at all hazards.  He accordingly communicated with the garrison at McPherson's near where our county Infirmary is now located, and proposed an expedition to save the Stanfields.  The garrison was weak at the time, and could not be induced to enter on such a perilous adventure, when McCoy declared he would undertake the rescue alone, against the remonstrance's of his friends.  After imbibing freeley in a social glass, he mounted a gray horse and started through the forest at dusk in the evening, and proceeded alone to Stanfield's a distance of near seven miles.  When he arrived within a quarter of a mile of the cabin, he raised the yell, saying, "Come on, here they are!"  then doubling on his track rode back and forth a short distance several times, hallooing all the time for his men to "come on," as though he was accompanied by a legion of cavalry.  then putting his horse under full speed, galloped up to the cabin, informing Stanfield's of their imminent danger.  The horses were immediately brought up, and the whole family, accompanied by McCoy, proceeded to Zanesfield, a distance of seven miles, where they remained a couple of weeks.  On their return to the cabin, they found it had not been disturbed during their absence.  They were told by the Indians after place was concluded, that McCoy had saved their lives in the daring manner of his approach intimidating them with the impression that he was supported by a strong force, and no "one man," as they said, would manifest such daring boldness.
     I have been favored with the family record of Thomas Stanfield, Jr., and from it transcribe the following:
     "Thomas Stanfield was married to Margaret Reames, on the 30th of the sixth month, 1814, and lived with my father two years, five months and twenty days, then moved to my own house."  This will date the occupancy of the old house on the Stanfield farm, on the site where Mr. Hall now lives, about Nov. 20, 1816, which is about fifty years ago.  Adding eleven years to this, in order to reach the year 1805, the date of building the first cabin, we have about sixty-six years from the beginning of the first settlement in Rushcreek Township.  And although sixty-six years have passed since that pioneer family settled here, there are still traces of their early labor.  The old orchard trees, one pile of rub-

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bish designating the site of the first cabin; the place where the old meeting-house stood, the old grave-yard, and many other things that serve to carry the mind back to those primitive times.  In the family record already alluded to, I find the following in the hand-writing of Thomas Stanfield, Jr.
     "Thomas Stanfield, Jr., departed this life 5th month, the 11th 1824, aged 76 years, 5 months and 12 days.  Hannah Stanfield, his wife, departed this life 9th month, the 28th, 1830, age not certainly known, but something rising eighty years."
     The bodies of this pioneer father and mother, now sleep side by side in the little grave-yard already noted; with them also sleep many loved ones, descendants of the family, as also some of the associates of their early toils.  Their graves are marked by humble and unpretending monuments, reared by the hand of affection, ere pride and ostentation had corrupted society.  On a grave-stone of a pious grand-daughter who lies buried there, the following inscription may be read:  "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me, Thy rod and They staff, they comfort me." - Ps. xxiii:4.
     Passing through that grave-yard the other day, and trying to read the inscriptions on the moss-covered stones, my mind wandered back to youthful days, when I stood with many who respose beneath these humble monuments, and I could but say, "they still linger in memory," calling up many pleasant scenes long numbered in the past, and to their memory I inscribed the following verses:

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since taken her place amid the "Angel band."  Her husband James McMahill, is now in Cabletown, Champaign county, and doubtless has not forgotten the incident.  The old chair was seen by the writer many years afterward with the rifle ball still in it, and may be still preserved as an antique relic by Mr. McMahill.
     Thomas Stanfield, Sr., noted above, immigrated from Tennessee.  He had ten children - nine daughters and one son (Thomas Stanfield, Jr.).  Old Wm. Reams, father of Mr. John Reams, in Lazy Hollow, immigrated from North Carolina, and settled in or near Marmon's Bottom, near the beginning of the present century, but moved to Lazy Hollow on the farm now owned by his son, John Reams, about the year 1816.  This Wm. Reams also had ten children - nine sons and one daughter (Margaret).  The latter was married to Thomas Stanfield, Jr., May 30th, 1814.  This couple occupied the old Stanfield farm.  Rushcreek township, where they also raised ten children - six sons and four daughters; one of the latter died at the age of twelve years.
     Abner Cox who died in Lazy Hollow - first settled below Zanesvield - took a seven years' lease on the land of old Jarvis Dougherty on Tharp's Run, but subsequently moved to Lazy Hollow, and settled on the east of the Reams farm as early, perhaps on a hill a little north of where his cabin stood.  His widow married a man by the name of Stillwell who also died prior to 1831.  The widow Stillwell's was a noted place forty years ago.  Singing-schools, religious meetings, and youthful parties were frequently held at her house.  She had four sons by her first husband (Cox): Abner, John, Ike and Sam, all stout, hearty fellows, rather slack in business, but what was termed good-hearted fellows, fond of company and ever ready to entertain visitors.  The old lady was rather a good worker, and equally fond of company as her sons; hence her house was rather a favorite place of resort for the lovers of social pleasure in that day.  She also had four children by Stilwell, among them a deaf and dumb boy, called "Billy," whose peculiar signs and motions in communicating ideas were indeed novel to those familiar with him.  Her oldest daughter, "Patty Stilwell," was rather a fine model of a healthful, and lively pioneer young lady, reared up in the forest, where schools and school-houses, like angel's visits, were "few and far between."  She was cheerful and kind-hearted, frank and artless in her manners, above me-

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dium size, rather graceful and easy in her movements.  Not what the world would call a beauty; yet good-looking enough to attract a fair share of attention from the beaux, without incurring the envy of her sex.  She was "Patty," and nobody else; uniformly the same every day.  She was the first youthful bride Lazy Hollow produced; I mean the first one born, reared and married there, and her wedding may be noted as among the important events of that period.  It was about the year 1833, a beautiful day in summer, or early autumn; the assembly was large and promicous; old, young, middle-aged, married and single, male and female, were present, many who had never seen the wedding before.  the bridegroom was a Mr. Wm. Dunston, brother to James Dunston, rather a portly, good-looking young man.  The bride's waiter was a Miss Patty Parker, daughter of Rev. Haines Parker.  Mr. Joseph Dunston was waiter to the bridegroom.  the officiating magistrate was 'Squire Wm. McAmis  It was his first Experience in legalizing the "ancient covenant," and his nerves gave evidence of the weighty responsibility laid upon him.  During the ceremony, a death-like silence pervaded the spectators, until the concluding sentence, "I pronounce you man and wife," was heard, when Mr. John Reams, called  out at the top of his voice:  "Now where's my dollar?" (the legal fee of the magistrate at that period.)  This was responded to by a hearty laugh from the whole assembly, after which the congratulations of the guests were tendered to the bride and bridegroom.  Many, doubtless, who will read this article, will remember the time when Patty was married.  She shortly afterward left the scenes of her youthful years, and with her husband moved to Michigan, where after a few years she was called to follow to the grave, him who had won her youthful heart.
     The names of the first settlers in this section who have not been noted are as follows:  John Moore settled immediately west of Wm. Reams, in 1818; Old Biily Tinnis, settled on the Whitehill farm, 1816; Old Thomas Dunston, settled on the farm where his grandson, Mr. James Dunston now lives, perhaps as early as 1817.  Thomas Dunston was a Revolutionary soldier.  John Reed first succeeded by Samuel Ayers; Old Johnson Patrick settled on what was once known as the Patrick farm, now owned by Joseph Kitchen.  Stephen  Marmon was the first settler on the Kitchen farm

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immediately west of the lake, in 1815.  The "Tine Bullar" farm now owned by Dick Kitchen, was first settled by Moses Reams and David Norton, in 1815.  The first ministers of the gospel who preached in this section are as follows, so far as known to the writer: Haines Parker, George McColloch, Mr. Vaughn, and Tommy Price.  These were of the Baptist order, and preached in the old meeting house north of the Parker farm as heretofore noted.  I will here transcribe a text read by Tommy Price as a foundation for a discourse in this old meeting-house: "And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire, and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God."  Rev. xv:2.  Of the methodist preachers, Robert Casebolt and Thomas Sims, both preached at old widow Stilwell's frequently.  Perhaps there are others not remembered now by the writer.
     In the vicinity of the old Baptist Church and grave-yard on the west of Rushcreek, Thomas Sutherland settled on the old Sutherland farm as early as 1816.  His wife, Phebe, was a daughter of old Thomas Stanfield, Sr. remarkable for her industry and perseverance.  She was what was called a midwife, and in this profession had a wide practice.  She was faithful in her ministrations to the sick, and if a death occurred in the neighborhood, she could generally refer to some sign or token by which she had been previously warned of the sad event.  She earned many dollars by digging "seng" after her location on Rushcreek.
     About the time of the arrival of James McMahill as noted above, Mr. Joseph T. Ansley, also from Kentucky settled on the Ansley farm.  Dr. Tom Green made the first improvements on this farm.  He was also the first local physician in Rushcreek township.  At this time (1832) Rushsylvania was not lai8d out, nor was there a single building on the site.  Mr. James Clagg, who settled on the farm now owned by Mr. Qua, first conceived the idea of a town there.  He was an old Virginian - a man of considerable intelligence and enterprise, and laid out the town about the year 1834.  It was nick-named "Clagg Town," in honor to its proprietor; but whether he felt particularly complimented by the title I am not advised.  Thompson Hews erected a tavern where the drug store now stands; James Elam kept a tavern and store on the corner where the post office is now kept; Robert Stephenson kept a tav-

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ern and smith shop on the corner of Ansley & Day; Jacob Nibarger kept a tavern where Heller's new house stands; he also sold goods.  Ben Green had the potter shop; Wm. Gipson preceded S. B. Stilwell in the wagon shop.  Rushsylvania was the seat of elections, petty musters, and was the center of commerce in Rushcreek township.
     For several years whisky appeared to be a leading commodity in trade.  The presence of the bottle on the table of the Judges of election on election day, was not very rare; neither was it a very rare occurrence to see a dozen men divested of their coats, apparently anxious to fight on a public day.  And while there are many citizens in the town who deplore the evils that exist now let them console themselves with the thought that the town has made great improvement in morals, literature and religion.
     The Big Spring, three miles north of Rushsylvania, was a noted place long before Rushsylvania was thought of.  One Lanson Curtis, who used to be a prominent business man in Zanesfield, made the First improvement at the Spring.  It is said that Curtis started in business on a cargo of tinware which he borrowed from the Eastern capitalist, in rather a novel manner:  He was employed in the East to peddle the ware, and in one of his circuits he became bewildered, and after traveling for several days, found himself with his cargo in the wilds of Logan county, where, by "Tin Panning," he soon became a leading spirit in commercial and financial departments of our new county, and gained many devoted, ardent admirers, who were much astonished when he afterwards was called upon to return the original "loan" (?)
     The earliest improvement in the vicinity of Big Spring, was just South of the old tavern stand - on what was originally known as the "Shepherd farm," - now owned by the widow Brugler.  A man by the name of Shepherd first settled here, and his location was the first of any northwest of Rushsylvania.  He had his leg and thigh mashed by the falling of a log in raising a barn on the Stamats farm near Cherokee.  This accident caused his death.  Dr. B. S. Brown, then a young man, was present when his leg was amputated, several days after the accident.
     While Northwood established the principal depot on the line of the underground railroad, Rushsylvania, in a early day, ever stood ready to bring abolitionists to grief should they intrude

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their odious sentiments on her community.  Eggs, tar, feathers, and rails were spoken of in connection with temperance and abolition lecturers.  Whether these articles were ever used as "regulators" and protectors of the public weal, I leave for others to say, whose experience might enable them to speak more positive, contenting myself with the narrative of the following incident as an index to public sentiment thirty-five years back.  In the Northwest corner of Rushcreek Township, in the vicinity of "White Town," on the Miami, the following incident occurred:
     Two men from Bellefontaine pursued a couple of runaway slaves into Hardin county, where they arrested them, and started back.  When they arrived at Israel Howell's, where Wm. Stewart now lives, they halted and staid all night.  In the morning one of the negroes took up a cane belonging to one of the captors, and struck one of the white men a blow on the head, shivering the cane, a piece of which flew and struck a little girl of Mr. Howell's in the eye, as she lay in the trundle-bed, destroying the eyeball entirely.  The negroes both broke and run; one taking up the river and the other down.  Both white men started in pursuit of the one who had taken up the river, learning by this time that difficulties attending negro catching, demanded at least two white men to one negro.  Thus we see that not only Rushsylvania, but even Bellefontaine, was afflicted with the mania of negro catching at that day.  The little girl spoken of, who lost her eye in that fray, is now the wife of Peter Fry, near Rushsylvania.
     Another incident connected with negro catching happened late.  A man by the name of Covert kept the Big Spring Tavern; he had a log rolling.  Jesse Bryant, the first military captain in Rushcreek Township, was among the hands.  Three runaway slaves came along the road, and the "Big Captain" (Bryant) organized a force and arrested them.  He, with his accomplices, started with their black prize to Kentucky.  When they arrived at West Liberty, some of the citizens there demanded of them their authority for holding the negroes in custody.  Bryant replied that the negroes had acknowledged they were runaway slaves, and on this acknowledgement they held them.  This did not satisfy the impertinent citizens of West Liberty, who obtained a warrant and had Bryant and his company arrested on the ground of man-stealing.  And while they were held in custody, the negroes got

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away, and the company lost their prize.  Bryant and his company were detained until they could have witnesses brought from home to establish their innocence.
     In concluding this article, I will give the names of the first settlers of the Miami, and dates, as far as I have been able to learn them: 182, the Israel Howell farm now Wm. Stewart's, was first settled by Calhoun, who was succeeded by Simeon Ransbottom - next by Israel Howell who held the first post-office there, about the year 1825, or 1826.  The Crawford farm was settled by Young, in 1827; the Hopkins farm, by Hazard Hopkins 1828; the Dunlap farm, (formerly White Town) by Wm. White, 1829; the Hervey or old Irvin farm by Wm. Patterson 1828; the Clark farm by Wm. Holt 1828; The Laughlin farm, by Hiram Hukill 1829; the Anderson farm, by John B. Anderson; the farm of W. K. Newman, by Silas Trailkill 1826 - succeeded by Arthur Roberts, 1828; the K. H. Howell farm by Wm. Patterson 1829; the Richey farm by James Stephenson 1827 - succeeded by Wm. S. Johnston 1830; the Simon Ensley farm settled by Almond Hopkins 1828 - succeeded by Moses West, Wm. Creviston, Linus Cutting, John Roberts, and Simon Ensley;  the Wm. Roberts farm, settled by Henry Fry, 1828; Melcher Crook settled the Thomas farm, 1830; Ben Carson settled the Hume farm, 1829; Jonas Fry settled the farm west of Joel Thomas 1829 or 1830; the farm of John Kerns, by Jacob Kerns; the Beaver farnm bt Mr. Bower, 1832.  Besides the above names in this locality, we have the Derwesters, or Whacters, as they were familiarly known.  Among them the noted Ben Whacter, whose muscular strength was that of a giant; and who came to his end by a blow inflicted with a pair of fire tongs, by the hand of a female whom he had undertaken to abuse.
     I will mention some incidents connected with the first school taught by the writer, 1837-38.  The school-house on the south-east  corner of Jerome Musselman's land, in District No. 5, Rushcreek township, has long since disappeared, and was rather a rude structure when new; yet I confess that could I see it to-day as it was in the fall of 1837, when I first engaged in the responsible occupation of instructing the youth in that locality, it would be of farm more interest to me than the most costly and well-arranged school-house that has been built in our township since that time.  Its rude floor, a clap-board roof, mud and stick chimney, six foot fire-place,

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bench-seats, slab writing desks, paper windows and rough door hung on wooden hinges are all treasures in memory, and, viewed through the lapse of nearly forty years, they seem more vivid than scenes of but yesterday.  But who lived here then?  Henry Rosbrough lived on the Jerome Musselman farm, in the old house which stood near the old log meeting-house, near Mr. Ticen's.  Rosbrough sent tree children to school, John, George, and little Mary.  to say they were good children is certainly due to the memory of their sainted mother, "Aunt Peggy," as we were wont to call her, who has since then taken her place in the mansions above.  Old man Richardson settled on the farm where Rosbrough then lived, sometime between 1820 and 1825.  On the farm of William Stephenson lived the old widow Hews; John Wolf was the first there.
     The widow Hews was a pious Presbyterian lady, correct in her department.  Hiram and Perry, her twe sons, young men at the time, and Phebe and Eliza, her two daughters, young women, were with her.  Perry and the two girls came to school, and it is but just to say my acquaintance with this family is a source of many pleasant reflections on the scenes of olden times, when they bore a part with us in them.  On the Barney Kautzman farm old Jamie McAmis who married the widow Rosbrough, (whose first husband, Hilkiah Rosbrough first settled t his farm.  "The Big Spring" here is the source of Millcreek;) lived with Aunt Susie.  Here was little George Rosbrough, Pete, and Tom, all pupils in the school, good fellows, and ever dear to memory and hope.  A little to the east was old Benny Hodge, and Abraham Deardorff, Bill Hodge, Jesse, Jim, Henry, and little Betty all pupils in the school.  And again, Abe Deardorff, John and Susan; count them also.  A little nearer the fallen timber on the King farm, we find old Jake King, six feet high, of at least two-hundred pounds avordupois*, and as terrible as he was big.  Here were his four oldest children - Julia Ann, Nancy, Martha and Bill - the two former nearly grown.  None could fail to see the parental unkindness had so discouraged them, that youth was but a dreary bondage, only endured by the hope that some day they would be free from the galling parental yoke.  They came to school.  that the teacher was "partial" to those children is not unlikely, yet all others would say such partiality was demanded in the case, and none felt that it was wrong.

---------------
     *Sharon Wick's note:  Avoirdupois (abbreviated as avdp) is the standard system of weights and measurements used for general merchandise in the United States and countries historically following the British Imperial system.

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     Near the line of Bokescreek township, old Hezekiah Starbuck lived.  He had his second wife; his step-children, Eliza and David Adams, came to school.  Eliza was nearly grown, David younger.  They were pleasant in their disposition and highly esteemed in school.  But close to Starbuck's was found Lawson Rudasill.  He came from the high  hills of Old Virginia, and settled in the level country.  He was a school director, and rather a well informed man to be found so far out in the woods.  Religiously, they called him a "Campbellite" - ot a very great compliment at that day.  Wesley and Winfield, two of his boys came to school.  I always lived them for their independence and dignity, and as I was teaching for ten dollars a month and boarding with the scholars, I often went home with these boys.  It was here and about this time that I concluded to engage in a new enterprise.  This Rudasill had a girl at home that he did not send to school; she was perhaps seventeen or eighteen years old - born and reared on the high hills of Old Virginia.  It looked rather hard that she should wear out her life amid those "gloomy swails," and therefore, for these and other considerations, which may be guessed by the reader, I persuaded her to accompany me to a more elevated locality.  This arrangement was consummated during the stormy scenes of "Tippecanoe and Tyler too;" and as my old friend (silversmith) John Miller was a very acceptable "Campbellite" preacher at that time, his services were solicited and thankfully received on the occasion, and though he has wandered far from where he stood then, I must confess that he did a good strong job - tied a knot that has held for more than thirty years, and I have no longer to go from home to find a school, as we have now one of our own that requires most of our attention.  John Miller claims rank among the progressive "Spirits," and I shall not here call in question what he assumes or claims in this respect.
     On the farm now owned by William George, on Rushcreek, old man Rodaker settled.  He was the first 'Squire in Rushcreek township.  An incident connected with his official duties is worthy of note:  About the year 1833, the trustees of the township sue some man on Taylorcreek on account of some stray animals those men had taken up.  Suit was brought before Rodaker; Anthony Casad was engaged as counsel for the defendants.  After the evidence pro and con had been heard, Casad arose to make a speech.  The 'Squire told him he would allow no "speechifying" in the case, remark-

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     Old Billy Rubert succeeded Rodaker on this farm, and built a grist mill on Rushcreek, perhaps the first grist mill built in Rushcreek Township.  This Rubart did not find his "affinity" in his first wife, and after raiding several children, left her and sought a more congenial spirit.
     In reviewing the series of Pioneer Sketches which I have written, I find some errors, and withal, a want of systematic arrangement in noting the early settlers of the locality for which I am writing.  And should the pioneer book be published it is desirable that it should be as correct in its details as our facilities for collecting material will allow.  Although born and reared in the woods, I will say with William Hubbard, that I am scarcely old enough for a correct reminiscent, especially so far as Logan county is concerned, as my location here was fifteen years to late to record experimentally the scenes and incidents of olden times.  True, I could tell something about Logan county forty years ago, when Zanesfield and Bellefontaine would almost have envied Harper, as she is now, for her magnificence and grandeur; when Job Garwood kept the tavern stand in Zanesfield, where S. Y. Leas now owns.  It was there we stayed all night, in the fall of 1831, as my father with his family moved from Clinton county, Ohio, to my present home on Rushcreek.  I could speak something of the genteel and aristocratic Lansing Curtis, who kept a store in Zanesfield then.  I could tell how this dignified personage accommodated my father, and other new comers, by loaning them money at the moderate and charitable rate of twenty-five per cent interest.  I could tell about hump-shouldered Charles Amy, who clerked in the store of Curtis; some said he was lazy, but I rather liked him, and will not hand down to posterity so odious an impression.  Let me suggest to those who may still remember his sleepy manner of getting around, that perhaps after all "he was only born tired."  I could tell of Dr. Crew.  He was here then, and also Dr. Marmon and with the old doctors of Bellefontaine, Brown, Lord and Hartley, whom to the old settlers, whenever the names of these pioneer physicians are mentioned, there arises in the heart emotions of veneration and gratitude, for their vigilance and faithful ministrations when disease and suffering fell within the forest home.  And while those who knew them not then may pass them by to-day with seeming indifferences, as though the world was no better off

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by them having lived, we can never, never be so inconsiderate.  They have reared a monument of affection and gratitude in the hearts of those who shared with them the toils and privations of pioneer life that will outlive the wastes of time and the ravaging scenes of death.
     I could tell of Col. Mart. Marmon, as he was mounted on his noble charger, in full uniform, as he, with stentorian voice, gave command at general muster at Zanesfield or Bellefontaine, on the third Friday of September.  I could tell of old Billy Henry, who was riding around among the citizens, listing their personal property for taxation, when the uniform price of horses was forty dollars per head and colts thrown in, and cows eight dollars per head.  I could tell when the roads on the east and west of Mad River, leading north were only narrow cart ways, walled in on either side by mighty forest trees for many miles.  I could tell when the head of Mad River near the Jerusalem pike was a lake, when "dugouts" were rowed over it, but now its bed is cultivated by Mr. Easton.  I can well remember seeing Jack Parkinson, who first settled on the farm where Simon Kenton was buried.  And also Jim Parkinson, who first settled on the Sabert Wren farm.  Old Jamie Watkins lived on the Lloyd farm.  Henry and William Watkins his sons, and Harriet, his daughter, were well known then.  Old Billy McGee with his young folks, Joab, Sally and Jane all come up in memory as but of yesterday.  Old Ralph Low, and that oddity of a Sam Suris is still fresh in memory.  Also Joe Collins, Sam and Jonathan Pettit, with George Parker - four rather adventurous spirits, who were permitted to occupy the old county jail for a period of ten days, in consequence of having disturbed the slumbers of old Stephen Leas as an unseasonable hour.  There was Brice Collins also, who once built a house on Rushcreek Lake, but was so haunted by the "chills," despite the whisky he sold, he abandoned the enterprise in disgust.
     On the farm of Jacob Rudy, we find Nicodemus Bousman, 1826; on the farm of Oliver Corwin we find my grandfather, John Roberts, 1830; also a little later we find James Logan, 1832.  Old Joel Thomas, father to Joel Thomas of Rushcreek Township, was the first settler on grandfather Roberts' land in 1824.  Enoch Lunda was there about the same time.  Wm. McAmis settled in this neighborhood on the McAmis farm in 1830.  On the farm of Jacob Arbegast, old John McClure settled, about 1824.  His son Jacob

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was on the Grimes farm.  Old John Wilson first settled on the Jasinsky farm about 1824; Thomas Dickinson settled on the Dickinson farm in 1830 and 1831; Benjamin Butler, the Nieper farm in 1832; Robert Dickinson, the Wm. Wren farm in 1833; Joseph Tenry first settled the Brockerman farm where Isaiah Corwin now lives, in 1832; Tenry was succeeded by McNeal.  Robert Wilson settled on what was once Downingsville, and kept a small store there, perhaps the first store in Rushcreek Township, in 1832 or 1833; Wm. Roberts and Andrew Roberts first settled Wilson McAdams' old farm in 1830.  The old Pugh farm was settled by John Prater, 1824; the Johnson Ansley farm by Wm. Smith, 1825; the George Ansley farm by Mr. Keneda, about 1829 or 1830; the farm of Martin McAdams by Conrad Collins, 1826.  This man also first settled on the farm of Mr. Barber, 1832.  The farm where David Pugh now lives, was settled by the Baldwins in 1832; the Johnson farm was settled by Jacob Johnson, in 1832; the farm of Peter Kautzman by Nelson Tyler, in 1828; the farm of Matthew Hale by Wm. Riley, in 1828; the farm of Nathan Hocket by Abraham Deardorff, in 1828; the farm of Clark Williams by Samuel Ruth, in 1825; the farm of Martha Bronson by Benjamin Green, in 1823.  Walnut Grove was first occupied by William Trent, in 1836.  He did not succeed in finding his "affinity" when he married his wife, but lived with her near twenty years before he met the congenial spirit.  Elijah and Jesse Fawcet settled on Millcreek about the year 1833 or 1834.  Andrew Roberts settled on the farm of W. W. Sutton, about 1838.  Old Natty Monroe settled on the Monroe farm about 1834.  Old Sterling Heathcock, the first colored resident in Rushcreek Township, settled on what is known as the Sterling farm, in 1833.

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