USA > Ohio > Butler County > A history and biographical cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio, with illustrations and sketches of its representative men and pioneers. Vol. 2 > Part 23
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422
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
MORGAN.
THIS is a township lying in the south-west corner of the county. It is bounded on the north by Reily. on the east by Ross, on the south by Hamilton County, on the west by Indiana. Originally it formed a part of Ross Township, and was created on the 4th of March, 1811.
When the first settlements were made along the Dry Fork, Howard's Creek, and Paddy's Run bottoms, agne and fever prevailed to a fearful extent. The surface in Morgan Township is partly undulating, but a great deal is rough. Along the route of Dry Fork and l'addy's Run the bottoms extend on either side from one quarter to one mile in width. The former of these streams is noted for the fertile land which borders it -- the bottoms being admirably adapted to the growing of eoru and bar- ley. When the timber was first eleared off, and within a year or two after the soil was thoroughly worked over, inimense erops were raised. In the south-western corner of the township the soil is unproductive, compared with the rich Dry Fork and Paddy's Ran bottoms. The country around Scipio is favorable to agricultural pur- suits. This seetion forms the basin from which Dry Fork takes its source. All the territory in the north- east corner of the township is elevated. The valley of Paddy's Kun is a famous body of land for farmers. New London is situated in the midst of a fertile and very prosperons farming section.
Dry Fork, of Whitewater, is the longest as well as the largest creek in Morgan Township. It takes its rise in the region of Scipio, Okeana, and St. Charles, aud has for its tributaries on the east Buck Run and Kiatta Creek. The main fork rises in Indiana. Dry Fork takes its name from the fact that near its mouth there is less water than ten miles above. During a dry season there are no signs of water in Hamilton County, while in the county of Butler, ahove Okeana, there is a suffi- eient supply for all necessary purposes. Howard's Creek cuts the south-west corner of the township, and empties into Dry Fork about one mile and a half south of the county line. It took its name from a family who lived on its banks many years ago. Paddy's Run took its name because an Irishman was drowned in it. The stream is about half the size of Dry Fork, and empties into the Big Miami, a mile and a half below New Balti- more, in Hamilton County. There are numerous other streams, all of which, however, form the affluents of either Howard's Creek, Dry Fork, or Paddy's Run.
The original timber was made up of speamore, wal- nat, blue and white ash, sugar tree, aud poplar, along the streams; on the uplands, beech, hickory, some srat- tering walnut, ash to a considerable extent, large quanti.
ties of red and white oak, but principally of the latter, gum, hackberry, and a good supply of dogwood. There was also a dense growth of spice bushes, and about the beginning of the present century a luxuriant erop of pea-vines. These vines covered the face of the country along the rich bottoms, and for a number of years after the first settlements furnished all the food necessary for the cattle and sheep. A few years, however, of con- stant pasturage destroyed their vitality.
When the township received its first quota of settlers there were no roads of any kind to lead to distant set- tlements. Blaze roads soon came to be regarded as very necessary. These were often supplemented by bridle- paths, which led through the underbrash.
" After the county road was laid out and opened from Cincinnati to the Miami," says Rev. B. W. Chid- law, to whom we are indebted for many of the follow- ing faets, "a new era of transportation dawned upon the country. For niny years the settlers took the produce of their fields, poultry-yards, and dairies to Cincinnati on pack-horecs. At an early day Paddy's Run butter com- manded a quick sale and a premium in Lower Market, then the business center of the Queen City. Hospitality and sociability were cardinal virtues among the pioneers. Their raisings, log-rollings, corn-buskings and harvestings, their chopping frolies, quiltings, and wool-pickings are the memorials of their readiness to help each other."
One of the first roads in the township was called the State road; it led from Lawrenceburg, Indiana, to Ox- ford, Ohio. It struck or entered the township where the Shaker road now does. This road was also called the "post road," from the fact that it was over this route that the early mails were carried. The same road is now in usa, but is not considered as of much importance. Another early road, and a very prominent one too, fel- lowed down the creek from Scipio, and on to Venice in Ross Township. The Howard's Creek road was not so prominent. It followed the stream and united with the Lawrenceburg and Oxford road near the north family of Shakers. There was a road also which struck off at St. Charles and passed by the way of Layhigh to the Miami at Dick's ford. This was called the trace road. The oll Scipio road is now the Colerain and Brookville turn- pike, but of course the original trace is not always fol- lowed. From Scipio it formerly took down the creek and struck Okeana about where that village now stank. flere it eressed Dry Fork and took the direction of Venice. Most of the roads formed a junction at Dick's or Shaw's ford on the Big Miami, about one-half mile above where the bridge now stands, but which at that
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423
MORGAN.
time was an unthought-of affair. For some of the farm- ers to reach market who lived in the south-west corner of the township, a crossing was made at New Baltimore ia Crosby Township, of the adjacent county.
It would be difficult at this late day to tell which of these highways was the most prominent, but during the Fall and Winter seasons the trace road was nnmistakably used much more by hog-drivers than any other thorough- fare in the township. There is now a free turnpike Wading from Harrison, in Hamilton County, to the Scipio and Millville pike, which for most of the way follows the section line one mile west of the Indiana line. This road caused much litigation, and was the cause of send- ing a forger to the penitentiary for ten years. There is another well used from New London to Millville. A good pike -- a toll road-runs from Scipio to Millville. Many of the roads are very good.
For forty years or more there has been an omnibus run daily between New London and Cincinnati. The Western Stage Company carried on staging thirty-five years ago. John R. Bevis was an early proprietor; from him it passed into the hands of his brother, Jesse C., who quite recently sold out to Charles Shields, who, in turn, sold to Clements Butterfield. In former days, be- fore the time of pikes, an old-fashioned leather-spring stage was run between Cincinnati and Connersville. The trip was made in three days. Frederic George was among the first and most permanent drivers.
The first land entered in Morgan Township was by Edward Bebb. It was a half-section in Seetion 27. The first blacksmith, as well as the first miller, in the neigh- borhood of Paddy's Run was James Nicholas. In 1831 he moved to Allen County, Ohio, and was one of the first settlers in that large and prosperous community of Welsh people. Jobn Vaughn built the first barn and brick house in the settlement in 1816; they are yet standing. During 1803 there settled on Dry Fork and Paddy's Run the families of Jacob Phillis, John and Samuel Harden, Bryson Blackburn, George Drybread, John Howard, and Thomas Milholland. Blackburn was a blacksmith. His customers found their own iron and steel, which he hammered into axes, hoes, buteher-knives, and so on, with a brawny arm and a skillful hand. "A clock-case, now owned by Mrs. Mary Vaughn, made for her father, Edward Bebb, by Stephen Hayden, in 1804. shows the ingenuity and taste of this pioneer cabinet- maker. It is made of cherry slabs, dressed as best he could, overcoming the want of a saw-mill with a whip- enw. For over seventy years it has been been the cozy home of a brass clock which Mrs. Bebb brought from Wales seventy-nine years ago. This venerable clock was a great curiosity to the Indians, who frequently visited Mr. Bebb's cabin. Captain William D. Jones brought the first stock of goods into the township ou a pack. horse, and opened a place of business near where the turnpike crosses Paddy's Run. His business was con-
dueted chiefly on the bartering basis, as specie was very scaree. The first physicians were Doctors Sloan, of Fair- field; Millikin, of Hamilton; and Crookshank, of Har- rison. They practiced as early as 1806, and were eminent in their profession and useful in the community. In 1808 Maxwell Parkinson officiated as justice of the peace, probably appointed by the Governor."
SCIPIO. -
The village of Scipio was laid out by Joseph Alyea. about fifty-five years ago. The original plat is entirely in the State of Indiana. When James Bartlow first came to this seetion there were remnants of Indian wig- wams in the little bottom where the Odd Fellows' Hall now stands.
William D. Jones was the first storekeeper in the vil- - lage. His place of business was in a little log-house on the Morgan Township side. After him eame Joseph Alyea, the founder of the town, in a log-house one and a half stories high, opposite the store where Frederic Oliver now keeps. This house was about eighteen by twenty feet, and is now gone. George Hubbell was au- other storekeeper in a house, part of which was frame, opposite Alyea's. William White came soon after Hub- bell, who, also, was his son-in-law. Clark & Pearson, Thompson & Hodson, were firms prominently engaged here in commercial pursuits. Then came Aaron Me- Ghaney, Samuel and James Fye, Cornelius Bartlow, Charles Fossett, Miller & Jaquish, Smith & De Armond, William R. Mercer, Fossett & Snyder, Sortman & Hod- son, and others. There is now but one store in the vil- lage, which has already been mentioned.
The original taverns of this part of the township were rude affairs. Scipio was always a great stopping point for travelers, many of whom came from near Conners- ville, and the interior counties. William D. Jones, a Welshman, kept the first tavern in the village in a two- story log-house, exactly where the publie scales are aow. His sign was a cross and compass. Reuben Conaway, in 1836, had a very large public-house which stood on the hill where Mr. John Beard now lives. The house was a two-story log building; he also sotd whisky, cigars, and tobacco; and it is worthy of remark that his accounts were kept behind the counter in full view of his enstom- ers, by the use of chalk and a blackboard. Paul Clover had a "regular tavern" in a frame house on the Indiana side, about 18442. James Johnson eame next in the same house; and then Griffin Abraham, who was the last. All these men dil a good business. James Beard had a small place of entertainment in 1836, and for three years thereafter, near the scales.
Michael McCarty was the first blacksmith in this re- gion. His shop was on the Indiana side, near the foot of the hill. He was here again some ten or twelve yours after he first left. Joshua Nye had the second shop, op- posite Jeremiah Conu's present residence. Then came
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
James Thompson, in a stone shop opposite Oliver's store. The present shop was built by Elias Gaston, and is now occupied by I. P. Linning.
: A carding-mill was owned by William D. Jones, which stood on the Ohio side, and which was run by horse.power. As early as 1830 George Hubbell had a grist-mill on Dry Fork, a quarter of a mile below town. He soon added a flaxseed oil-mill, which was run for five or six years. The oil-mill was a frame, while the grist-niill, of course, was a log building. The oldest mill in this part of the township was built in 1810 by Jere- mialı French, three-quarters of a mile below Scipio. It had an overshot wheel eighteen feet in diameter, and stood on the east side of the creek. At first the mill stood on posts, which in time rotted; and in order to build a saw-mill, stone were used for a foundation. John Hydee succeeded French, who also was followed by Jesse Smith and Hollibut, both of whom were Yankees. Smith was a mill-wright by trade. The old French mill eeased running. more than forty years ago. Below French's mill a few rods, Levi Sparks built a stone still- house. He had his corn ground at the mill above. Mr. Thomas Shroyer kindly furnishes the following :
"On Howard's Creek, near the Hamilton County line, there was a distillery run by Joseph Boggett, and about twenty rods north was another by Janics Charlton, Sen. One mile further up the creek was one by John Hommer, Sen. About one mile north of this one, near where the Macedonia Church now stands, John Misner bad a still-honse. From there we go to the head- waters of Dry Fork, near the State line, just south of Scipio; here was one by Smith & Hollibut, and a little further down, one carried on by Rouben George, Sen. Near where the new bridge on the Biddinger Turnpike crosses the creek was anether by James Jenkins, and near the residence of Jacob Keen was one more by Reuben George, Jr. Just west, one mile of this one, on the old Hanly farm, was another, owned by John Phillips. Below Okeana were two more, belonging to Charles Shields and Alexander De Armond. Two miles further down was another, owned by Jacob Brandenburg. Mr. Brandenbing was scalded to death at his distillery more than forty-five years ago. The old site is now on the farm owned by Jonathan Hall. . One-half mile below was another, on the property of Hugh Smith. John Iseminger was the originator of this. The whisky was made in large copper stills, six bushels per day being the capacity of each house. Twelve gallons of the real old-fashioned whisky was a good day's work. The price was twelve and eighteen cents per gallon. Besides the above list of still-houses, there was a still on the Van- trees farm, where a superior article of peach brandy was made. Neighbors took their peaches here for miles around, and had them made up on the shares. This brand is reported to have been of a superior quality."
It is well to state that peaches grew here spontane-
ously early in the present century. There were large quantities of apples raised also, which were turned into apple braudy. Wild pluins, wild gooseberries, wild eur- rants, haws, and wild erab-apples were seattered over the country in great abundance.
Jabez Hamilton, William Ludlow, and Harvey Hann were carly distillers in the immediate vicinity of Scipio. The old Reuben George distillery, opposite where James Gwaltney now lives, closed with James Davis. Below the Jenkins still-house was a fulling-mill by Mr. Thomas, who made many a wedding garment for the young men of this township in early times. This mill was converted into a dwelling-house.
Scipio had for its first school-house a log building. The school was taught by John Cavender, who was an excellent penman, in 1822. This house was in the upper side of the town. Rev. Moses Hornaday, one of the early Baptist preachers in the Miami and White- water Valleys, was a school-teacher here after Cavender. James Osborn, an Irishman, was also one of the first teachers. Some of his scholars were Joseph P. Jones, Anna Jones, Newton Butler, and John Beard. The old school-house was used for about fifteen years, then being converted into a wagon-maker's shop. The Davis dis- trict, as it is commonly called, was among the first to have a system of popular education.
Seipio can hardly boast of a resident physician dur- ing her eventful history. Dr. James was for many years a physician living on the Indiana side. He was an ex- cellent man. Dr. Thomas, a resident of New London, was one of the first practitioners in this vieinity. Dr. Berry, who now resides near Brookville, is one of the oldest men in his section. He practiced medicine here many years ago.
Dr. Goff, an Englishman, was at one time a resident of the village. Dr. Cleaver, of Drewersburg, was a cit- izen of the village at one time; also Drs. James, Chit- wood, Van MeHenry, and Boyd. Dr. Carnahan was here in 1838. There are no rer dent physicians at present. Adjacent towns supply this need.
The Scipio Odd Fellows' Lodge was chartered in Sep- tember, 1875, with the following members: F. Oliver, A. B. Hodson, Paul Applegate, Marion Smith, Marion Davis, John Wynn, W. R. Jenkins, W. R. Hodson, and John Mceum. This lodge is an ontgrowth of neigh- boring lodges. About $500 of the money which built the hall was given by similar institutions. A. B. Hod- son advanced the funds and acted as contractor, the members paying him for the use of the hall, which is over one of the old stores. There are now about forty members; officers are as follows : Paul Applegate, N. G .; F. Oliver, V. G. ; A. B. Hodsou, Treas., W. R. Jenk- ins, Sec.
William JJones was the first postmaster in Seipio, or more properly Philanthropy. Scipio is wholly on the Indiana side, while Philanthropy is on the Ohio side.
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MORGAN. 425
Jones had the post-office in his old tavern. About 1840 it was removed to the store kept by Reuben George and John A. Applegate. The next move was across the street, in Thomas Watson's tailor-shop. From there it went to Boyd's store, and in turn to the store under the Odd Fellows' hall, about 1850. Since the last move there have been various changes, most of the time re- maining on the Indiana side. There is no other post- office in the United States by the name of Philanthropy. A list of the postmasters is found under the head of Reily. The town lies on the dividing line.
The Scipio church was built in 1860, by four different denominations, the Methodist Episcopals, Presbyterians, . Baptists, and United Brethren. Of these churches the Methodist is the oldest. Their first place of worship was in Indiana, principally in the houses of the early settlers. The Rev. Mr. Bigelow was among the first of their preachers. Some of the members were Edward Blacker, Isaac Woods, James Bartlow, Matthew Sparks, James MeKaw, and Benjamin Woods. The Baptist church is second in age. For their first preachers they had Moses Hornaday, who lived near Harrison, in Ham- ilton county ; Wm. Tyner, Mr. Gard, and Joseph Flint. Among the members were Lot Abraham, James Beard, and John Smith, Sen. Their first place of worship was in Reily Township, at the old Indian Creek Baptist church. The Presbyterians and United Brethren have little in the shape of history. Their original members have re- moved to other localities or died.
The following are inscriptions from the Scipio cemetery, which lies near the church, embracing about three acres of land:
John Fye, born February 3, 1781; died November 10, 1825. Catharine, his wife, died November 18, 1878, aged 88. These two persons are among the pioneers of this lo- cality. Dr. A. B. James, died May 23, 1871; aged 68. Dr. James was for many years a prominent physician in this neighborhood. James L. Davis, died August 23, 1856; aged 59. Sarah Jane Davis, died March 24, 1869; ager 71. Pat- rick Blacker, died April 26, 1879; aged 77. Margaret Blacker, died April 27, 1875; aged 72. Robert Blacker, died March 1, 1810; aged 63. Nancy Blacker, died March 18, 1850; aged 88. These two persons were from Ireland, and were the original founders of the Blacker family in this section.
The original road from Hamilton to Brookville passed through Scipio. James Beard was the first supervisor on this highway. He "blazed" the road from Anburn to Scipio. Mr. Beard is now dead. He lies in the Bevis Cemetery, in Colerain Township. His widow is now the wife of Samuel P. Withrow, of Seven-Mile, both in the full enjoyment of ripe old age.
OKEANA.
Before this village was regularly laid out it went by the name of the Tariff Post-office. Some of the early settlers, disliking the name, had it changed, by petition, to Okeana. Okeana was the name of the daughter of
the Indian chief, Kiatta. The Rev. Benjamin Lloyd, a native of Wales, and a son of Rev. Rees Lloyd, platted the village on land which he owned at that time, and gave the place its name. The town, as it now is, stands mostly in School Section No. 16, which was bought by Charles Shields, but who in turn sold a portion of the section to Mr. Lloyd.
Among the first residents of the village were the sons of Benjamin. Lloyd, Samuel, William, and Alexander, the latter of whom was a storekeeper on the corner where J. E. Boze now resides. Charles Shields was a storekeeper here in 1845, in the house now occupied by James Applegate. Jenkins & Evans were here as com- mercial men in the Bozo residence before Lloyd. Will- iam Wright was another business man in Okeana, in a one-story house which stood in the forks of the road. The building was removed, and afterwards was occupied for a dwelling, but is now deserted. Henry Branden- burg, one of the noted storekeepers of the place, bought the store goods and real estate of Samuel Lloyd, and in 1873 or 1874, erected the present fine building where the Phellis Brothers keep. William Mercer was a store- keeper here at one time; he was followed by Samuel Gwaltney. Thomas and Charles Jones were here also for some time, in the old Shields property. William De Armond had a little store in the yard of the Shields es- tate. Then came Jeremiah Day in the same house. In 1850, or thereabouts, Alexander De Armond and Joseph Smith were here engaged in selling dry goods and gro- ceries. The present storekeepers are J. W. Phellis and Perry Clawson.
One of the first places of entertainment in sight of the village was kept by William Jenkins, in a log-house where Charles Shields now lives. The tavern stand was made up of log barns and stables with clapboard roofs. Jenkins also had a still-house. Mr. Joseph Clawson, of the village, says there was a time when sixteen still- houses were in active operation in Morgan Township. Four of them were on Dry Fork between Okeana and Scipio. Most of them had disappeared before 1845. One of the most remarkable of these mills was built by David Griffith, on Dry Fork; it was used principally for sawing, and was what is known as a tub-mill -- at that day a very uncommon affair.
The blacksmiths in Okeana have been James Bow- man, who was here in 1845; William Pierce, Mr. Ro- land, Alex. Frost, Mr. Stoughton, Thomas Hughes, a Welshman and a tine mechanic; John Locker, Mr. Doty, who now resides near Venice; Stephen Mullen, who is here at present; and Louis Williehn, but now in other parts. There were helpers frequently, who came to re- main but a few months during the Summer season.
Dr. Benjamin Morris was, perhaps, the first resident physician within the boundaries of the village. Dr. Mor- ris was here about 1847. He died in this township six or eight years ago, and is buried at New London. Eli
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426
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
Parkhurst was another physician. He moved to Cum- minsville, Hamilton County, Ohio, four or five years since, and died in 1881. Dr. H. L. Armstrong was here later. He married Miss Ella Fitzpatrick, of New Baltimore, in 1880, and is now living in Indiana. Dr. Martin, from Kentucky, was also a resident physician, and a good man; he is now in the West. Dr. Newton, formerly of Mt. Carmel, Indiana, is the present physician.
Many of the first township elections were held at Wm. Jenkins's tavern. In time the voting-place was changed, and the ballots cast at the residence of James De Armond. Several years before the late war the town- ship house was built by a special tax. Since its erection it has been used by the shows which travel over the country ; for village singing-schools and concerts; and, during the Winter of 1881 and 1882, for a school-house for the small children of the district.
The earliest, record of Methodism in this field was found in the possession of A. Jackson Youmans, a mem- ber of the Venice Church. The record was begun and kept for many years by Peter Youmans, who was a prom- inent lay member of the Church when Methodism was being planted in the Whitewater and Miami Valleys. The Youmans record dates back to 1817, when the terri- tory now included was embraced in the Whitewater eir- cuit. The Ohio Conference then contained all of Ohio, portions of Virginia, Kentucky, Michigan, and Indiana. All the country at that time lying north of the Ohio River, and between the Great Miami and Whitewater Rivers, was embraced in one circuit.
In 1817 Moses Crume was appointed presiding elder, and Benjamin Lawrence preacher in charge. In 1818 that part of the cirenit which was between the Ohio River on the south, and the Miami River on the east, and the State line on the west was detached and em- braced in the Miami circuit.
The probabilities are that the Okeana Church was or- ganized at the residence of old Peter Youmans, who re- sived at that time on Paddy's Run, above New London, near the Brookville road. One authority says, preach- ing was held at Mr. Carmack's before Youmans's was made a regular place of worship. The Church, at that time, 1817, went by the name of the Ephraim Carmack Society. In 1829 the place of worship was changed to the house of Peter Youmans, one mile north-west of New London. In 1849 the place of worship was removed to Hickory Chapel. In 1851 a subscription was taken to build a church in Okeana. The house was built and dedicated in 1853. M. Kauffman was the pastor in charge. On the day of dedication, the Rev. Thomas A. Goodwin, of Brookville, Indiana, delivered the discourse. The Hickory Chapel Society was then removed to Okeana, and since has been known as the Okeana Society. In 1857 a powerful revival was conducted under the Rev. M. Bitler and the Rev. D. Griffis. A great many were admitted into the Church. This Church, says the record,
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