built for a preaching place, was built in Mechanicsburg in 1814. It was about that year that this first became an appointment on the Mad River Circuit of the Miami District of what was then the Ohio Conference; David Quinn was the Presiding Elder, and Samuel Brown, Senior Preacher. The first preaching here, as an appointment, was in the house mentioned, being a log building put up by the labor of friends without pay, as there was no money in the society then to pay with. The building was used both as a church and schoolhouse, and was located on the brow of the high ground overlooking the prairie back of the present church. The building was of round logs, except, after being put up, the logs on the inside were hewn down some; it was heated by a huge fireplace built up as usual in those days.

The roll of members was small at the start. William Woods, Michael Conn, familiarly called Father Conn, Henry and Christopher Millice, Thomas and Richard Lansdale, John and Philip Wyant, and Alexander McCorkle, with their wives and a few others, made the membership. In July, 1815, a camp meeting was held on the low grounds back of the log church, in what is now Orin Taylor's pasture. Bishop Francis Asbury preached at the Sunday morning service of the camp-meeting; being old and feeble, he preached sitting in nis chair, his text being, "Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." On the evening of the same day "Uncle Claudius Mitchell was converted, Samuel Hinkle having preached that evening. Mr. Mitchell says: "My conversion was the plainest and most satisfactory thing I ever experienced. I have never doubted it since, and, while I have received many blessings since, confidence in the work of my conversion has never been shaken." The camp there was a very primitive affair compared with those of the present time; sheets and blankets, or logs built up and rudely covered, made their tents. The meeting was usually held from Wednesday to Monday. This meeting was the commencement of a revival, which soon increased the membership so much that in a few years a new house became a necessity. In 1816, another meeting was held on the same grounds, followed by an increase in the church.

About the year 1819, the log house was abandoned as a meeting-house, and a new frame church was built a short distance east of the log one, on the edge of what is now the old graveyard. The new church was very much larger than th old one. It was built partly by volunteer work, and partly by subscription, aid being also received from other charges. The frame was put up and covered, the siding was of oak boards sawn out of the log and put on in the rough. The inside was not plastered, and remained for several years without any finish but the floor and pulpit but finally was ceiled and lined on the sides with walnut boards. This house was never regularly seated, the only seats used being slabs got at the saw-mill which, with the flat side up and holes bored in and stakes put in for legs, made the only seats ever used in this house. The house never had a bell. For a pulpit, a platform was built up, making the floor on which the preacher stood four feet or more above the floor of the room; a breastwork about four feet high was erected above the pulpit floor, behind which the preacher stood. This house was used until 1839, when a brick church was occupied near the old one, the church being built in 1838 and 1839.

In 1815, Moses Crume and H. B. Bascum were the preachers on the circuit, and John Sale, Presiding Elder.

Camp-meetings then were held more for the outpouring of God's convertpower upon sinners than now. The salvation of sinners lost, the object

then; the pleasure of the saint chiefly now. At camp-meeting in years following, sometimes from one hundred to two or three hundred were converted. Among those who had great power at revivals, and were very successful in awakening the unconverted, Alexander McCorkle was foremost. He was not an educated man, he could not pronounce the words of a sentence correctly, if at all difficult; his education does not account for it. His experience was a marvelous one, and he seemed at times as if inspired with help from above. All the old persons who heard him unite in describing him as the most extraordinary man in this section of country.

About the year 1825, a camp meeting was held a little north of what is now the race track at the fair-grounds, and a little back of the David Rutan dwelling. Men and preachers from towns around were there, great efforts were made, but Sunday morning came, and the morning services were held, but the people remained unmoved; the laborers were discouraged; what should be done? After a consultation, it was decided that in the afternoon, after a short sermon had been delivered, Alexander McCorkle should speak to the people. When his time came, McCorkle arose, with arms folded across his breast, and, in a sweet, clear, heart-stirring voice, began to sing the hymn commencing:

"Sweet rivers of redeeming love,

Lie just before mine eye;
Had I the pinions of a dove,
I'd to those rivers fly;

I'd rise superior to my pain,

With joy outstrip the wind;

I'd cross bold Jordan's stormy main,
And leave the world behind."

Having concluded his singing, he commenced in a simple style to tell the story of his wonderful experience; before he finished, the ice was melted, the hearts of the people were broken, and they were shouting all over the meeting. Seekers in a multitude arose and sought the mourner's bench, forty or fifty were converted, and, before the camp broke, two hundred professed conversion.

While talking to the people at a camp-meeting on the farm lately owned by Gilbert Farrington, a thunder-cloud came up behind the trees, and the people were suddenly startled by a clap of thunder. McCorkle, taking advantage of the circumstance, in his inimitable voice and manner, aroused his hearers by comparing the suddenness of God's call to the clap which had so startled his congregation. Following up with his power and appeals, the hearts of the people were broken, and great good was done. He died January 17, 1838, aged fiftyeight years and some months, and is buried in the old graveyard near the church.

The church, commenced in 1838 and finished in 1839, was used until 1858, when the one now (1880) in use was built, which is yet sufficiently commodious and suited to the wants of the people, having been in 1879 put in thorough repair at a large expense. This continued as an appointment until 1861, when it became a station, with Stephen F. Conrey as preacher. The preacher in charge for the year commencing September, 1880, is J. W. Cassett, with three hundred and seventy-nine members in full connection, and twenty-four on probation, making a total of four hundred and three.

In 1840, through the efforts of James Woodward, a Baptist society was organized here. For five or six years the society was without a church building. In 1846, the church back on Locust street was dedicated. We all remember how regularly "Uncle Jimmy" used to ring the bell on the old house, as long as he was able. He was at the birth of the organization, and almost saw it breathe

its last. When the old man died, in April, 1872, aged eighty-three, a palsy seems to have struck the church. The old church was sold for the avowed purpose of building a better one, but a better one has not been built, and the society is now about extinct.

There are, also, in active existence, an African Methodist Episcopal Church and an African Baptist Church.

At the suggestion of the Rev. A. H. Bassett, the Ohio Annual Conference, Methodist Protestant Church, at its meeting in September, 1852, took steps to establish a mission, to be called Mechanicsburg Mission. Rev. S. P. Kezerta was appointed to the work. and, on February 13, 1853, he organized the Mechanicsburg Methodist Protestant Church, with a membership of ninety

two.

On February 26, 1853, the following officers for the society were elected : Trustees, W. D. Henkle, J. R. Ware, F. A. Finley, William Purtlebaugh and H. M. Snodgrass; Stewards, David Raudebaugh, Alexander McConkey and George Wolf; Committee of Examination, W. D. Henkle, David Raudebaugh and Rev. S. P. Kezerta; Building Committee, Rev. S. P. Kezerta, Lewis Brittin and F. A. Finley; Class-Leaders, F. A. Finley and Joseph Coffey.

Although the church suffered heavily from deaths, removals of members and other causes, the work was pushed forward with a good degree of success. The organization demonstrated its right to be by what it did.

After many experiences common to other organizations, the church succeeded in erecting the building now used as its house of worship, being joined and assisted in the work by the Masons, who built and now own a hall above the audience-room of the church building. In the meantime, Mechanicsburg Mission was united with Catawba Circuit, in 1855, and remained so until 1865, when it was organized as a station.

In 1858, while Mechanicsburg Church was a part of Catawba Circuit, the church house at Mechanicsburg was completed and dedicated, the Rev. W. R. Parsons preaching the dedicatory sermon, Rev. T. B. Graham being Pastor. This event is remembered by the surviving charter members as one of the best and happiest of their experience. With varied success, the church has continued to the present time.

In the summer of 1879, considerable improvements were made upon the house of worship, giving it an attractive and tasty appearance.

During the past year, 100 were added to its membership. The total number of members now is 308.

In all, the church has had sixteen Pastors, whose time of service ranges from six months to three years. The church is now prospering.

INCORPORATION OF MECHANICSBURG.

On February 27, 1834, the Legislature passed an act of twenty sections, the first section of which is as follows:

SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That so much of the township of Goshen, in the county of Champaign, as is comprehended in the plat of the town of Mechanicsburg, together with such plats as have been or may hereafter be recorded as additions thereto, be and the same is hereby created and constituted a town corporation by the name of the town of Mechanicsburg.

FIRST TOWN ELECTION, OFFICERS, VALUATION, ETC.

In pursuance of the above act, the first corporation election was held April 5, 1834, which resulted in the election of Joseph S. Rathburn as Mayor; Isaac

Putman, Recorder; Ebenezer Owen, J. H. Spain, William Neal, David L. Tullis and Isaiah R. Ware, Trustees.

The Council met for the first time on April 11, 1834. The Council then elected John Shepherd, Marshal, Dr. E. Owen, Treasurer; John Shepherd, Street Commissioner; William Kelley, Assessor. The town was now started full-fledged on its onward career. On July 10, William Kelley was made Collector, and a levy was made of one-fourth of 1 per cent upon the taxable property for corporation purposes. The taxable property, real and chattels, was $13,928, and the tax produced by the above rate levied was $34.82. The Council of the present day, perhaps, would smile at these figures, but remember that those were days of simplicity.

As an evidence of being a day of small things, and the contentment of her citizens with little returns, the following motion was passed by the Council, April 10, 1841 :

"On motion, D. F. Spain's bill for services as Treasurer from May, 1839, to April, 1841, amount $3, was allowed."

In the valuation given above is included McCorkle & Ware, merchants, capital $900; Owen & Dye, merchants, capital $1,000; while the possessions of most of the citizens were counted in-what would now be considered figures.

very small

In 1836, two years later, our Council began to get their eyes open. They levied a tax of one-half of 1 per cent on $16,464 valuation, of which $6,402 was real estate, $232 live stock, and $9,830 merchants' capital and money at interest, of which Joseph C. Brand had $3,000, Jesse S. Bates $1,000, Obed Horr $4,000, and McCorkle & Ware $1,800. These were the capitalists of those days, if the assessment is any index. Since then, our valuation has traveled on until now it is nearly $800,000.

The following is the succession of our city Mayors: Joseph S. Rathburn, April 5, 1834, to January 21, 1836 (resigned); John Owen, January 21, 1836, to May 8, 1837; John Baker, May 8, 1837, to April 6, 1839; John Owen, April 6, 1839, to October 21, 1840; Richard D. Williams, October 21, 1840, to April 8, 1841; Asa Kirkley, April 8, 1841, to April, 1845; Charles H. Newcomb, April, 1845, to April 11, 1846; Azro L. Mann, April 11, 1846; John H. Spain, April 7, 1849, to April 6, 1850; Richard D. Williams April 6, 1850, to April 5, 1851; William Safley, April 5, 1851 (elected, but would not serve); Thomas Morgan, May 20, 1851, to April 3, 1852; F. E. McGinley, April 3, 1852, to April 16, 1853; William B. Owen, April 16, 1853; David T. Jones, April 7, 1856, to April 5, 1858; W. G. Fowler, April 5, 1858, to April 4, 1859; James L. Magruder, April 4, 1859, to April 1, 1861; Frank P. Bates, April 1, 1861, to April 6, 1863; Abram L. Shepherd, April 6, 1863, to April 4, 1864; Frank P. Bates, April 4, 1864, to April 2, 1866; W. B. Owen, April 2, 1866, to April 1, 1867; Abram L. Shepherd, April 1, 1867, to April 6, 1868; Theodoric S. Cheney, April 6, 1868, to April 4, 1870; John D. Raudebaugh, April 6, 1870, to May 9, 1871 (resigned); Theodoric S. Cheney, May 9, 1871, to April 3, 1872; Thomas E. Ogborn, April 3, 1872, to present time.

THE VILLAGE ABOUT 1840.

For many years Mechanicsburg had the reputation of being a pretty rough place. This name was not altogether undeserved, for there was much drinking, quarreling and general roughness. This was apparent as much probably

between the years 1830 and 1840 as at any time. About that time there seemed to be enmity between the people of different localities. For instance: Clover Run, a settlement south of the village, felt moved to exhibit hostility toward Sodom, a settlement north of Mechanicsburg, in Union Township; and Sodom arrayed itself in battle against Clover Run, so that when the hostile braves got sufficient of the ardent aboard, meeting in the village, there would likely be trouble before they parted. Besides, many got into trouble from the love of it. About the year 1838, the boys took a hand in the general fun, and, encouraged by their elders, helped to make drunkenness frequently much more disagreeable than funny. Eggs were very cheap and abundant. Towards the latter part of the day, when a man, a little too full, was seen, the boys, getting their eggs, gave the poor inebriate the benefit of them without cost, until he was glad to get away. Obed Horr, keeping store then, seeing the boys standing around, would sometimes say, "Boys, eggs are cheap, help yourselves." Whoever knows boys, will not doubt what followed. Another way the older boys had sometimes of curing the disease: Catching a man too full, they would take the fore part of a wagon and tie him to it, haul him to the race, run the wheels into the water, turn the axle over, and give the wretch a thorough ducking, and repeat it, if necessary, until he was ready to cry out for release.

Fun then was at a premium, and sometimes got in funny ways. A. B. Cowan was going along the street one day carrying his hat full of eggs, when Joseph Baker, passing along, took one. Passing quietly on, he turned around and hit Cowan square in the back with the egg; now Cowan's fun came, when, pursuing Baker, he ceased not until he gave him the benefit of his hatful of eggs, covering him over with broken eggs.

Jesse Weldon was a character in those days. He enjoyed getting drunk, and frequently, when drunk, whipped his wife. One night in 1841, Jesse came home drunk, and commenced his common pastime of whipping his wife. A couple of medical students, John Pearce and Joseph Baker, had a room next door, and determined to teach Jesse a lesson; so, disguising themselves, they caught him and poured his hair full of melted rosin they had for making plasters. The next morning, Jesse's hair was a complete mat, and, in great distress, he came to J. L. Magruder's harness-shop for help. "Yes," 'Dad' said, “I can help you if you can stand it, but it will be very severe.' Jesse caught at the chance, so "Dad" sharpened his knife, and, taking hold of Jesse's back hair, commenced to cut the hair off next the scalp, and continued to cut until he had taken his hair with the rosin all off.

Looking over the Mayor's docket of those years, the eye meets the familiar names of some of our oldest, most sober and dignified citizens-few living, many dead. We will not perpetuate those trifles, for they have been repented of and perhaps forgotten years ago, and the actors became staid examples for the rising generation. Requiescant in pace.

RAILROADS.

Soon after 1850, an important work was agitated for the improvement, profit and convenience of the people of Mechanicsburg and all the surrounding country. This work was the Springfield, Mt. Vernon & Pittsburg Railroad. Subscriptions were taken along the route in aid of the road, and the people subscribed as individuals, and, in addition, Goshen Township subscribed $15,000 of conditional bonds, on which the township was to pay the interest for a term of years, at the expiration of which, on application, the loan was to cease