Julia was born at
Hocking Co., Ohio, on 9 April 1840. She was the daughter of
George Mauk and
Mary Ann Shutt. She married
George H. Fluhart at
Hocking Co., Ohio, on 9 February 1882. An article by Julia A. Mauk June 10, 1922
Four-score years, and more, have passed Since first I saw the light; It was early spring when the grass was green, And the sun shone warm and bright. The journey has been long and uneven the way, And heavy affliction's load But flowers have bloomed, birds have sung, And friends have cheered along the road. Now it is evening time, The sun sinks low in the west. The journey's end is just over the hill-- It will be sweet to get home and rest. When overtaken by affliction or old age, and all shut in, not able to little, and in a measure out off from outside associations and with think, it is then that memory carries us back to the....... Gold, halcyon, dreaming days, When life was young and fair, When all around seemed pure and good, E'er doubts had centered there. When growing up from childhood to mature years, and even to old age, close observation of things about us, and always look for the things good, and beautiful along life's journey, and lay up a goodly store in storehouse, to draw upon for pastime, when the lonely days come to us, we are all down and out. By request, I will try to write a little pioneer reminiscence of the and the little log church in the southern part of Hocking County, When my parents, George and Mary Mauk, were young, they ran a whiskey for a few years in Morgan County, Ohio. They said they were making money and might have become rich by sticking to the business, but they nefariousness of the business and said "We will quit and go into the a home on an honorable foundation." Therefore, in the spring of 1838, they, with four small children, County to Hocking County. They bought forty acres of land from Uncle east of Cedar Falls. They had a cabin home built, and a stable for cows, right in the heart of the great forest. When they came, there even a footpath leading to their home. From Logan, Ohio, they had to way and cut their roadway as they drove across the hills and valleys. Oh, the beauty and grandeur of the mystic woods before the their axes and saws to cut and slay! There were great oaks which years to grow; white oaks, black oaks, chestnut oaks, and pine oaks; walnuts, chestnuts, cherry, and the majestic poplars which grew so tall above the other trees, and so many kinds of pretty trees and numerous to name; so many kinds of pretty vines, flowers, grasses, and climbing and spreading grapevine with its clusters of delicious fruit. In the springtime the woodland hills were pretty, clothed in new green there a dogwood, a wild plum, and a May cherry clothed in pure white, apple in red, white, and pink. The whole air was redolent with the new growth all about. The woods seemed all alive with the chatter and songs of birds, and the pretty little pheasant, which sounded like distant thunder. One such a pretty little fowl could make such a loud sound. Later in the woods were alive with wild pigeons. They would fly in such large black cloud passing over, and the swish of their wings sounded like a A childhood and youthful ramble among the big trees and bushes, along the babbling brooks and down the gorge around the Cedar Falls, joy to the close observer, which always stays, even down to old age. I arbutus in a secluded place, under the shade of the evergreen trees. I fragrance and beauty until it became a part of me, and I have it memento right from the hand of the Creator. There was another little fell greatly in love with-- the little myrtle which grows among the green leaves and scarlet berries, trailing so gracefully over the take it home with me and keep it forever, but it could not live out of shady nook. But with a backward look, I can still see it growing When the shades of night had shut out the light of day, it was cabin door, or on the woodpile outside, and listen to the barking of yowl of the wildcat on the distant hills, the song of the whippoorwill the big horned owl near by. It was their nature to sleep in the day at night. The moon and stars were shining and twinkling down, casting sheen over all around, making a pretty landscape picture after night. was, from whence cometh all this life-giving energy? A still small "It was God above who formed them all." By his creative powers he the stars, the earth, and the little fragrant flowers. There is beauty in the woodland hills; There is grandeur in the plains; There is music in the rippling rills, And mystery in the mountain chains. When we can rise up out of self, And hear God's low sweet voice, And see his greatness in his works, It bids our souls rejoice. "Eye hath not seen, ear hath no heard," And nothing on earth can compare With the beauty and glory of the upper world, Then what must it be to be there? Our house was built on the south side of a hill, near the top, surrounding hills. There was no dwelling near, or none in sight. It round logs, and was eighteen feet square. It had one window, one floor, and an open fireplace in one side, which was built outside to inside. The chimney was topped out with sticks and mud, with a and a chain attached to it with a hook on the lower end to hang pots which to boil and cook things. This was the only room for all the attic, where the boys slept. They like Jacob's angels, which he ascended and descended upon a ladder. From the boy's sleeping attic honorable and useful citizens. The first was a blacksmith, a a natural genius. The second was a doctor. The third was a druggist, a preacher. Three of them were soldiers of the Civil War. One lost a of Chickamauga. Matches were not in style among the first pioneers. Each the home fire burning all the time. If it happened to go out, they flax tow, or punk, a flint and a piece of steel a struck a fire from a so quickly done as with a match, but was more interesting. There were no fenced-in pasture fields in those days. The owners their cattle, sheep, and hogs, and turned them into the free-for-all Each owner had his mark recorded at the county seat. Father's mark swallow-fork in the left ear. Some of the poor animals had both ears away by the mark of their owner. They put a bell on the best leader that kept the flock together. They put a loud sounding bell on the come home at evening time, they could more easily find her. In the fattened themselves, ready for butchering, on acorns. The early settlers mostly lived quite a distance apart, but were bond of a common brotherhood and sisterhood, and the spirit of possible they united together and built a little log schoolhouse, to get book learning, that they might grow up to be more intelligent There was a community doctor, a German, by the name of Flaxbeard. good surgeon and a pretty good doctor. There was also a community Katie Haas, who looked after the women and babies when they needed Bainter was the "Tooth Doctor." He pulled teeth by the cant hook anyone had a tooth which became an unbearable burden, he could lift it all, free of charge. William Large was the first undertaker in that community. He made order as needed, of the best cherry or walnut lumber he had. There caskets, or fine hearses to bear them to the tomb, but the departed respectable burial. They received kindly remembrances and flowers could appreciate them, rather than having them heaped upon their upon their newly made mounds in the graveyard. Aaron Hainesworth, for the cemetery, joining the church lot. His child was the first one wife was next. A few years later, his father, Aaron Hainesworth, Sr., there in September of 1849, at the age of 76 years. His works do sowed the good seed from which others have gathered a rich harvest. righteous when he dies." In the year 1855 his wife, at the age of 78, side. On a beautiful Thanksgiving Day in the year 1888, William and useful life of 99 years and 9 months, was laid away in the beside his estimable wife, who preceded him thirty years. The young people were always cheerful and glad. They seemed to joy from living so near to nature, with its great beauty and mystery. clear the fields, cultivate the crops, and gather in the harvest. By casting their mite into the foundation on which our great nation is seasons of recreation, and good social times at each others homes. schools where they met to spell, and singing schools where they were community dances, but church members and the refined class of attended them. In our home, the long winter evenings mostly found us all at home pleasant time together with books, slates, pencils, copy books, and working out the problem of things about us and planning for Father would play the fife soft and low, and Mother would keep time her little spinning wheel. When bedtime came, Father would read a or lead in singing some good inspiring hymn, and he or Mother would prayer of thanksgiving for past blessings, and a petition for future guidance. All the people, old and young, were then learning the gospel of self-reliance, but were lacking, and needing Christ's gospel of the thing which would lift men and women up to their best selves and make state, or a nation a safe and desirable place in which to live. Aaron Hainesworth, Sr., then living in the community, and filled and missionary spirit, went to my parents and asked if he could hold a at their home, to which they willingly consented, although they were members of any church, and had very little house room. So he held a number attended them. He sang and prayed and read the Scriptures them to follow its teachings. As the people took quite an interest in a preacher to come and help him. One by the name of Brock came and them, and organized a class of six members-- Aaron Hainesworth, Sr., James Reed and wife, and George Mauk and wife. This constituted the Perry Circuit, Scioto Conference, of the United Brethren Church, and to the services of the circuit preacher. The first who came was preached once in four weeks, part of the time on week days. The quit work for a few hours and attend the meetings. Occasionally, they meetings in the schoolhouse, then school was not in session. Our meeting place for about twelve years-- six years in the cabin. Then more land and built a larger house of hewed logs, so then we had more ourselves and the meeting folks, too. About that time Barney Eidson community from North Carolina, and united with the church and they workers, and had the preaching at their house part of the time. There was a nice little grove only a few rods from his house, were held in summer when the weather was fair. Sometimes they would three day meeting. At night, they hung their candles and lamps on the light to the audience. Those meetings were mostly true love feasts, and spiritual uplift. Father had the gift of song, and was chosen leader of the singing, filled until he passed away at the age of 73. The church people had been talking for quite awhile about building and the time had come when something more must be done. So they met and organized a board of trustees and planned for building. Mr. church lot, the land owners gave the time, and Mr. William Large, who sawmill at Cedar Falls, sawed and finished the lumber. Mr. Stuckey for the roof. They chopped down some of those beautiful, and majestic poplar into logs for the house. Then they scored and hewed them, and hitched them and dragged them to the place of building. They set a day when raised the house. The men did the building and the women prepared the rustic table in the woods nearby. After a time, they secured carpenters to do the roofing, lay the and windows, make the seats and a stand for the preacher. While they their wives cooked and carried many dinners one and one-half miles to built a little stone fireplace, where they boiled water and made near the church and the workmen went there for dinner part of the work was donated, and all the dinners. The church was lighted by tallow candles, four on each side, set the wall, and two in candlesticks set on the preacher's stand. The and snuffed the candles a time or two during services. The evening at "early candle lighting." The seats were benches made of slabs, one complained of uncomfortable seats. The pioneers were made up of endurance. While they were trying to make things for the better, they make the best of what they had, and cheer the neighbor by the way. The church was named "Fairview" on account of its location upon a land. Before the church house was ready for services, one night some the woods on fire nearby and the men and women had to go out and fight to keep the church from being all burned up. A great forest fire grand sight. In the spring of 1852, the house was near enough finished to hold The chinks in the wall were not closed up, but the weather was warm, along very well. We were a happy set. Reverend Cocklin and Reverend the preachers then. In June there was a great spiritual revival and Sunday School was started up. There was a good attendance at all the walked, some rode on horseback, and some came in their farm wagons. buggies or spring wagons. In winter they went in sleds and sleighs. world, there were from four to six weeks of good sleighing snow nearly When there was no snow and the nights were dark, the people lighted way with pine torches. It was a pretty sight to see dozens of them darkness across fields, along footpaths through the woods and along looked like so many "will-o'- The-Wisps." In summer time a little in through the chinks in the wall and built herself a nest up under day when we met for worship, she came out and sat on the cross beam sweetest song I ever heard in a church. She sang a solo first, and the congregational singing. Our home was the weary itinerant's stopping and resting place. often, and were always welcome. They came with a good cheer, whether and left with a "God Bless You" till we meet again. They got a share hand. The corn pone and biscuits which mother baked by the fire, and pies baked in the Dutch oven built in the yard, along with the good eggs, fruit, and vegetables, was a meal good and wholesome enough to or good Queen Victoria. I remember one time a preacher by the name of Joe Fink stopped rest. I was about eight years old. In the evening, we were all bright hickory wood fire in the open fireplace. I was sitting at one older people talk. The preacher took notice that I had a severe cold nose and said to me, "Sis, I have something here that will help your small bottle from his vest pocket, removed the cork, and held the took a big whiff. It took my breath and I fell off my chair onto the my head a hard bump. Then he laughed and made fun of my big nose, not like, but said nothing, but learned right then that preachers are folks. It is well that they can see the funny side of things, to help and difficult problems which they have to meet. When I was quite the preacher coming, I always knew he was a preacher by his traveling all good horses and saddles, leather saddle-bags thrown across the and an umbrella strapped to the back part of it. They had cloth gartered around over their trousers to keep them clean, and a rough hat, and gloves. It took over a month to ride around the circuit and appointments. There were generally two of them--the preacher in colleague. The preacher in charge got three hundred dollars a year colleague, one hundred dollars. He was always a single man. They and got their lodging and boarding free, as they traveled around the nearly all the preachers had a little home of their own somewhere in plains, which they visited occasionally. Some of the first preachers whom I remember were Reverend Lewis Reverend Conking, Reverend Perkins, Reverend Waters, Reverend Thorny, Price, Reverend McDaniel, Reverend Brundage, Reverend John Deaver, Shessler, Reverend Romig, and Reverend Barges. When the Civil War Broke out, so many of the best men an boys went rescue. It was very discouraging for those at home. We still had a few optimists kept the fire lighted on the prayer meeting altar. When the war closed and the men and boys returned home, the people courage. But so many never came home, and some came in their caskets. for their country, true, loyal, and brave, that all might be free, and Reverend Noah Lohr came to us fresh from the war, as full of zeal for souls as he was for the salvation of our country. We had some great ingatherings into the church, so that our congregation outgrew the it was torn away and a new frame built in its place. It was dedicated 1868, by Bishop David Edwards. When memory's vision carries me back To the happy scenes of childhood, No place more sacred appears to my view, Than the little log church in the wildwood. Where the pioneer families met together, To worship Jehovah, above, And tell the sweet story, how Jesus came, To redeem them from sin, by his love. They toiled in the field when laborers were few, And the work was humble and hard; But they strove with a purpose, strong and true, To build up the cause of the Lord. How many of them sleep in the churchyard nearby Their mortal forms moundering to dust. Their spirits have gone to the haven of rest, To the home prepared for the just. At the end of life's journey there's a home for the Which the Saviour has gone to prepare, But those only who strive, and are pure in heart, Are worthy to enter in there.