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 25
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In 1821 the Rev. Thomas Thomas, father of the late T. E. Thomas, D. D., established a high school, in which he taught, for a number of years, advanced stu- dents in grammar, geography, arithmetie, algebra, and geometry. In 1821 the Union Library Association of Morgan and Crosby Townships was formed. In 1826, when the schools were organized under the new State law, the people were eager to avail themselves of irs advantages. 1 new school-house was built, and William Bebb, who became Governor of Ohio in 1846, was the first teacher employed under the State law.
As early as 1825 there were township examiners to decide upon the qualifications of teachers. The Hon. James Shields was the first examiner. Excepting Prof. McGuffey, he was perhaps the best educated man in the county, taking a leading part in all educational enter- prises. He was cduented at Glasgow, Scotland. He examined Governor Bebb, Evan Davies, and other noted teachers. From 1828 to 1832 Governor Bebb was towuslip examiner. Evan Davies taught here for six or seven years, commencing in 1830. He was for forty years one of the most prominent educators in Butier County, being county examiner from 1846 to 1869. After Mr. Bobb, the Rev. Benjamin Lloyd and the Rer. B. W. Chidlaw were township examiners. From 1837
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to 1840 Mr. Chidlaw taught high school here with great |. Morgan, Wm. S. Brandenburg, George Atherton, Josiah success. Gwaltney, Jolin L. Evans, James Brundage, Henry Sefton, R. W. Griffiths. At that time William B. Dodds was M. W. G. M. of Ohio, and John D. Cald- well, R. W. G. Sec'y. The hall was built in" 1856, be- ing an addition over Dr. Shaw's store-room, costing $865. At present there are thirty active members.
These eminent teachers gave a good education to those who have since furnished pupils and teachers for their schools. Among the most noted in the Rev. Thomas Thomas's school were Charles Sheldon, author of Sheldon's book-keeping, and the late T. E. Thomas, D. D., of Lane Seminary. Mr. Evan Davies built up and popularized the common schools, and prepared pupils for the high school. He taught more on the modern plan, preparing some eminently successful teachers. We mention T. F. Jones, Griffith Morris, Evan Morris, and M. R. Shields. These gentlemen conducted the schools here and in the neighboring villages with great success for many years. Mr. M. R. Shields afterwards filled the office of Surveyor in this county for a number of years. Mr. Evan Morris graduated in civil engineering in the College of Cincinnati, under Prof. Mitchel, the distin- guished mathematician and astronomer. Some distin- guished editors attended Mr. Chidlaw's school, the best known of whom is Murat Halstead, of the Cincinnati Commercial, whose father, Colonel Griffin Halstead, still lives here.
In 1852. or 1853 a new library association was formed and about one thousand volumes of standard literature purchased for it, free to all people to read.
In 1858 the academy, or high school, was organized on a more permanent basis. Twelve of the most promi- nent citizens were appointed as directors. They employed David W. MeClung as principal, at a salary of three dol- lars per day The public school was also at this time divided into two departments. The Misses Atherton were teachers for several years. Of the noted teachers in the high school we might mention the Rev. David Wilson and the Rev. Mack Williams. A large number of the principals of the high school who have been here are now filling high professional positions as preachers, lawyers, and doctors elsewhere.
In 1865 James A. Clark was employed as principal of the high school.
On December 10, 1869, the New London special school was organized, and Mesers. Joab Scheel, Evan Evans, and Thomas Appleton were appointed the first board of directors. They employed as principal Samuel MeClelland, a former papil of the high school, and a graduate of the Miami University. In 1871 a large and beautiful lot of about three aeres was purchased, and a. commodious brick school-house erected, containing four departments aud costing about $13,000.
Miss Florence Shafer was the only lady teacher ever employed in the high school. In 1872 Professor Clark was again employed as principal, and remained so antil his death in 1880. He was a man of fine ability.
The Masonic Lodge, No. 264, of New London was chartered October 25, 1855, with the following members : M. R. Shields, John G. Vaughn, Edward Jones, Edward
Edward Jones and George Atherton built the New London saw-mill in 1854. Richard M. Evans was the second proprietor; then A. H. Guthrie and George Grooms. The present owner is John L. Jones.
In 1838 Charles Lyle erected a brewery in the vil- lage, which continued to run until 1842. A portion of the machinery was bought of the Shakers, who about 1835 brewed at the Center village. **
There was a tan-yard one-fourth of a mile below the village at one time, owned by the Shields Brothers. Another occupied a site on Ruck Run, on the north-east corner of Section 15, owned by Abram Conwell.
Probably the first tavern-keeper in New London was John G. Randall, in 1830; his place of business was where Mrs. James T. De Armond now resides. Hamil- ton Blackburn followed from 1830 to 1835 in the same house. Then came Charles Lyle, who left in 1842. From 1842 to 1860 Job Wooley had a tavern in the house where the post-office now is. Part of the house was of logs. Since 1848 Heury Robinson has been the village tavern-keeper, in the lower end of the town, in a brick house.
ALERT.
Alert is a post-office connected with an old-fashioned country-store, on Howard's Creek, in Section 28, near the west line, equally distant from the north and south side. Somethne between 1817 and 1820 a school-house stood opposite Johin Ieminger's store, in which David Lloyd, an old bachelor, acted as one of the teacher -. The post-office was established in 1850, but not at this point. The only postmaster has been John Iseminger, who came here in March, 1842, residing here ever since, during which time he has been selling goods, with the exception of two years, in 1853 and 1854, when King De Armond filled the position. Mr. Iseminger began as an auctioneer in 1836, and has followed the business ever since. From 1856 to 1880 he has cried four hun- dred and fifty-one sales. Previous to this date no ree- ords were kept. Mr. Iseminger was born at Iseminger's mill, February 26, 1808. He attended Governor Bebb's school when he taught at Hickory Chapel; he lived all his life on Howard's Creek, and is one of the well-known men in the country. When the mails first began to ar- rive at Alert they were weekly; then, semi-weekly; then, tri-weekly; and now, daily.
Section No. 27 is a traet of land entered by Edward Bebb, father of the Governor, split into halves by Dry Fork. The red brick house in which Charles Sater now lives was built iu 1830 or 1831 by William Bebb. The
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old homestead, rather south-west of Mr. Sater's, is oeeu- pied by Augustus De Armond.
The Bebb school, which is referred to frequently, stood south of the brick one hundred yards, in the field now under a state of cultivation. Among the scholars who attended here, many of whom boarded with their teacher, was Judge Carter, now of Cincinnati, who says the "red brick house was a palace in its day," and that the "foundation-stone were brought from Dayton on the canal to Hamilton, and from there hanled to their destination ;" also, that "the governor was noted for keeping poor fires, which sometimes made it difficult to keep warm." A part of the old school-building is now occupied by William Easterbrooks. Other scholars were William Dennison, who became governor of Ohio in 1861; Hon. G. M. Shaw, of Indiana; Hon. Daniel Shaw, a member of the first Legislature of Louisiana after the late war; and Hon. Peter Melindy, of Iowa. This school was patronized by many of the wealthy citi- zens of Cincinnati and the Southern States.
In 1813 a company of volunteers was raised in Mor- gan Township, under the command of Captain W. D. Jones. The house of John Vaughn was the place of rendezvous. They marched with other troops to the re- lief of General Hull, then threatened by the British. On their way through the forest they suffered for food. Near Fort Wayne, Indiana, they captured three bushels of parched eorn, in bark boxes, seereted by the Indians, and on this they subsisted until they reached the fort. Hull having surrendered, they returned. One of their number, Samuel Harding, died of disease contracted in the service. In 1861 thirty-cight volunteers enlisted in the Fifth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, and during the war a large munber entered the army.
In 1834 the Asiatic cholera visited the township, es- pecially the easteru side, in a malignant type. About sixty died within three weeks. There was scarcely a family which was not visited. In 1852 flux prevailed as a disease, and twenty died within two weeks. On the 16th of November, 1854, six lives were lost by the fall- ing of the churchi-steeple-Nathaniel and Robert Jones instantly killed ; on the 17til, John C. Jones died from injuries; in a month, Joseph Phellis, the contractor, died ; and after lingering several weeks, Thomas Jones and Elias Williamson died. In 1856 Robert Griffiths and his family were drowned in the Ohio River, near Madi- son, while on their way to Missouri. Their bodies were recovered and buried in the oldl grave-yard. In all there were seven who lost their lives.
The men who laid the foundations of society. in this valley were intelligent, and the firm friends of knowledge. In 1821 a bill was passed in the Ohio Legislature incorporating the Union Library Association of Morgan and Crosby Townships. Sixty-five shares were taken, costing three dollars each. The books pur- chased were Plutareli's Lives, Rollin's Ancient History,
Josephus, Mungo Park's Travels, Lewis and Clark's Ex- pedition, Campbell on Miraeles, Paley's Evidences of Christianity, Butler's Analogy, and others. The library was kept at Smith's mill on Dry Fork, and the share- holders assiduously improved their opportunities to read.
The year 1811 was memorable for the appearance of a wonderful comet. During the Summer a fearful pesti- lence visited the township, and all who were smitten by the disease died. People called it the "cold plague." After the pestilence came a terrible hail storm, the ground in some places being covered with pieces of ice of irregular shape, six inches in circumference. In 1812 an earthquake convulsed the country and filled the people with terror. Dishes were shaken from their places, and the limbs of the trees swayed back and forth in a very remarkable manner.
The first deathi in the township is said to have been a daughter of Benjamin James, a squatter on Dry Fork. A ecffin was made by splitting a black walnut log and dressing it with a broad-ax and drawing-knife. The slabs were fastened with wooden pins, and the body laid in the first grave dug in the township in the neighbor- hood at what is now known as Race Lane. Mrs. Black- burn, mother of William Blackburn, was the first who died on Paddy's Run. Her remains were buried on the hill west of where Mrs. Margaret Sefton now resides. John Merring, a distinguished Sunday-sehool worker, was kicked to death by a horse at the Fairview Church, many years ago. The Indian chief Kiatta is buried on the stream which bears his name, a few rods above where it empties into Dry Fork. Nothing marks the grave.
In June, 1880, a terrible hurricane passed over the township, entering it two miles east of Scipio, and going in a south-easterly direction. Entire forests were de- stroyed, barns and houses were unroofed, fences swept away, and an immense amount of damage done in vari- ous other ways.
The first three hewed log-houses erected in Mergau Township are yet standing in a good state of preserva- tion. One is located on the California Pike near Biddiu- ger's saw-mill, and is owned by Sammel De Armond. It was built by Reuben George. The other is in Okeana on North MeLain Street, occupied by Nancy De Armond. It was built by Alexander and King De Armond. An- other is on the old Atherton farm, north-west of New London, owned by J. P. Jones. It was built by Patter- son Blackburn of blue ash logs that would face from fifteen to twenty inches. It has been weatherboarded, and is now used for a barn.
The postmasters of this township from the beginning have been :
Okeana .- Samuel D. Lloyd, May 27, 1858: Heury Brandenburg. May 3, 1866: Perry Clawson, January 13, 1876. Before being known as Okeana it was called Tariff, and under this cognomen had the following post-
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masters: William Jenkins, January 14, 1828; Joseph P. Jones, May 17, 1833; Evan Jenkins, March 17, 1834; John Iseminger, June 3, 1835; John Cregmile, April 14, 1836; John D. Evans, December 15, 1837; William Jenkins, March 24, 1838; Charles Shields, September 28, 1842; Alexander H. De Armond, May 14, 1847; Alexander R. Lloyd, November 19, 1849; William Wright, February 16, 1855; Samuel D. Lloyd, May 21, 1857.
Alert .- John Iseminger, July 16, 1850.
Paddy's Run. - William Vaughn, June 10, 1831; Henry H. Robinson, January 20, 1848; John L. Evans, March 15, 1852; Henry H. Robinson, August 8, 1853; John L. Evans, July 25, 1861 ; Alexander H. Guthrie, December 4, 1871; W. C. Vaughn, October 16, 1879; Aun T. Price, November 3, 1870.
The following were the justices of the peace: Will- ian Jenkins, King De Armond, Brant Ignene, William D. Jones, Hugh Smith, Ephraim Carmack, William Bebb, James Jenkins, Stephen Talkington, John C. Jones, Edmund Simmons, Daniel W. Shaw, Griffin Hal- stead, James D. Davis, Andrew MeCain, G. W. Shaw, James L. Davis, John Thompson, Archie H. Foster, R. J. Bell, James W. Shields, Samuel Patterson, King De Armond, Joseph A. Smith, Samuel De Armond, Will- iam Mercer, Joseph Davis, Absalom MeKean, Samuel Shields, James Brundage, Benjamin Lyle, Orrin S. Wal- ling, Amos Jones, Stephen M. Everson.
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.
Elder Knowles Shaw-a name familiar in many west- ern households-was born near New London, in Morgan Township, on the 13th of October, 1834. His mother's maiden name was Hullah Griffin, and by both of his parents he was of Seotch extraction. His early life was spent in Rush County, Indiana, where he first began to play the violin, furnishing the music for many a dance. While the ball was going on he was converted, ceasing to play in the middle of the picce he was performing. Very soon thereafter he entered the ministry of the Christian Church. On the 11th of January, 1855, be married Miss Martha Finley. Most of his time after en- tering the ministry was spent in the. West and South, and! os account of his wonderful vocal powers he was called the " singing evangelist."
As a singer he was considered, in some respects, equal ta Sankey and Bliss. Reporters of the press all spoke of' bis singing as something wonderful. Soon after beginning to preach, he began to compose and to write music. His first song was "The Shining Ones," still popular. He published at different times five singing-books: "Shining Paris." " Golden Gate," "Sparkling Jewels," "The " epoi Trumpet," and the " Morning Star." " Bringing in the Sheaves " was one of the last songs from his hand.
| Dallas to Mckinney, on the 7th of June, 1878. During his ministry he baptized over eleven thousand persous.
Henry Sefton, the father of a large posterity, was born- in Hamilton County, Ohio, February 19, 1812. On the 22d of March, 1838, he married Margaret Jones, daugh- ter of Morris and Ann (Bebb) Jones. His wife was born. in Ross Township, Butler County, Olio, January 11, 1814. This union produced eleven children, seven of whom are living, two dying in their youth, and one at the age of twenty-seven years, killed in a well. Milton, the oldest of the family, was born on the 12th of April, 1839. He is married and lives in Preble County, Ohio. Elizabeth, who is single, was born on the 13th of May, 1840. Martha Ann was born February 21, 1842. She is the wife of John R. Bevis, of Reily Township, one- half mile west of Ogleton. Everett was born on the 14th of January, 1844, and was killed in 1871. Louisa was born February 22, 1846. Euphemia was born July 21, 1847, and died young. Cornelia was born August 17, 1849. She is the wife of William Baughman, of Har- rison Township, Hamilton County, Ohio. Emma S. was born April 13, 1851; she is unmarried. Helen was born March 19, 1854, dying early in life. Gilbert was born February 15, 1856.
After his marriage Mr. Sefton farmed in Hamilton County for a few years on his father's place, and about 1645 moved to Morgan Township, on Paddy's Run, where he purchased one quarter section of land, on which he resided until his death, August 15, 1856. Mr. Sef- ton was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, and in all the enterprises of a public nature took an active and consistent part. His son, Milton, was drafted for the war, but secured a substitute. Everett enlisted in the Fall of 1861 in the Fifth Chio Volunteer Cavalry, Company H. He served three years, was discharged, and then taken prisoner. Mrs. Sefton, with the family, a portion of which is yet at home, carries on the farm successfully. They are among the solid people of the county, having accumulated a handsome competency.
John P. Jones was born in Montgomeryshire, North Wales, April 20, 1810. On the 9th of June, 1834, he married Mary (Jones), widow of John Swancott, of this township, who was born in Montgomery, North Wales, October 16, 1794. This marriage produced two children-Elliott, born May 24, 1835, and who died May 5, 1867, and Michael, who was born August 13, 1838. He is married and lives in New London. Mr. Jones came to America in the Fall of 1832, settling in Morgan Township, on Paddy's Run. When first tak- ing up his residence here he was a poor man. He at once went to work by the month ou a farm until his marriage. He then purchased one hnadred and twenty- obe acres of land, part on ume. Since his arrival from the mother-country he bas, by careful management, ac- cumulated a large property, ranking at present as one of
His last meeting was held in Dallas, Texas, in May, 1878. He was killed by a railroad accident, going from | the wealthiest citizens of the township. Of the minor
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offices of the township he has held several. He is also a faithful member of the Congregational Church. In polities he was a Whig till about 1856, from which time he has ranked as a Republican. His first vote was cast for General Harrison. Michael, the second son, married Miss Parthenia Wilkins, June 2, 1881, who was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, September 22, 1848. He was a member of the Fifth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, Company B, being stationed in the Kanawha Valley, West Virginia. He was also a member of the "one hundred day" company ; took part in Morgan's raid; and has been a school-teacher for three years each, in Morgan and Ross Townships.
A well-known man in Morgan Township is William Augustus De Armond, who was born August 17, 1846, and married Ada Brown, daughter of H. W. Brown, of Okeana, November 28, 1878, who was born February 3, 1860. Mr. De Armond is one of the present township trustees, which office he has held for three terms. He has been assessor for two years; he is also a member of Harrison Encampment Odd Fellows' Lodge. Mr. De Armond resides at the ohl Bebb homestead, Section 27.
John Shroyer was an undertaker for forty years in this section of country, during which time he buried over one thousand persons. The first hearse in this township was a common one-horse farm-wagon. After several years it was replaced by a one-horse spring-wagon. In 1855 another took its place, with window glass eight by ten inches on each side. It did service until January 13, 1864, when Mr. Shroyer died, aged sixty-six. He was buried at his request in a coffin made by himself, as really he was his own workman. His prices ranged from two dollars to eight dollars per coffin and attend- ance. There have been eight children, the eldest dying in infancy. The others are, Nelsou, Delilah, John, who died May 26, 1868, aged twenty-five; Catherine, Thomas, Lydia, and George, who died in his youth.
Thomas Shroyer is well known in both Hamilton and Butler Counties. He is of a literary disposition; has filled the office of Sunday-school superintendent, organist in the United Brethren Church of New Haven, and has for a number of years been a leading correspondent for newspapers.
Hugh Williams was born in Anglesea, Wales, March, 1806, and married Eliza Gwilym, widow of Ahner Francis, Sen., in 1833. Mrs. Williams was born Feb- ruary 5, 1809, in Morgan Township. This union pro- duced eight children, three of whom are living: Mark, born October 28, 1834, married, and serving as a mis- sionary in China; Jane. born June 17, 1844, the wife of D. Gaston Boyd, of Newtown, Ohio; Hannah, born May 2, 1848. the widow of Professor James 1. Clark, now of New London. Mr. Williams came to America in 1829, stopping in Pennsylvania for one year, then coming to Paddy's Run and beginning business as a blacksmith, which trade he followed until 1845. In 1847 he pur-
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chased a farm of one hundred acres, on which he lived until his death in March, 1870. He was one of the prominent men of Morgan Township ; was identified with all public improvements; and was a prominent member of the New London Congregational Church, of which "he was deacon, for more than forty years. Mark Will- iams married Isabella Riggs, daughter of the Rev. S. R. Riggs, the distinguished missionary. He graduated at Oxford in 1858, went to Lane Seminary in the Fall of the same year, where he remained for three years, joining the ministry in 1861. After his theological course he preached for a short time in Illinois and Wisconsin, and in 1866 was sent to China by the American Board of Missions, where he has since resided.
Abner Francis, Jr., was born February 18, 1829, in Ross. Township, and is the son of Abner Francis, San., and Mrs. Williams, who was a widow at that time. Mr. Francis married Martha A. Vaughn, which mar- riage has given birth to eight children. William was born February 7, 1858; David, July 8, 1859; John, February 15, 1862: Mark, March 19, 1863; Eliza, December 30, 1865; Mary, November 12, 1868; Ed- ward, March 27, 1872; Annie, October 6, 1875. Mir. Francis has been active in all the industrial and educa- tional pursuits of his township and county. He is one of the directors of the Cincinnati and Brookville turn- pike, along with James A. Bevis and Amzi MeGill; is a member and deacon of the Paddy's Run Chuich, and for a number of years has been chorister of the Sunday- school.
The Gwilyms, of whom Morgan is the progenitor on this side of the Atlantic, came to America in 1768. and married Elizabeth Evans, in Butler County. His brother William came to America in 1795, and stopped on the Red Stone River, in Pennsylvania, for a few months, where he aided in making the first iron west of the Alleghanies. In 1798 he came down the Ohio and took up his residence as a squatter on Blue Rock, in Colerain Township, Hamilton County. Ohio, and in 1802 settled on Paddy's Run, in Morgan Township. He died in 1815, and his wife in 1862. The nurriage produced five chil- dren, all of whom were daughters.
The Vaughns came to America in 1801, and in 1802 removed from Pennsylvania to Morgan Township. Mr. Vaughn married for his second wife Ruth (Crosby) Com- stock, of Yankee extraction, in 1807. She was born in Connecticut, 1766, and died August. 5, 1825, leaving no family. He married the third time, to Mary Wardell. June 14, 1828, widow of William Brightwell. Mrs. (Wardell) Vaughn was born March 17. 1765, and died June 24, 1853, without issue. By his second wife he had no children. Mr. Vaughn died September 4, 1845. Ilis son, William, was born August 16, 1802, in Morgan Township. Be married Mary Bebb, November 4. 1825, who was born January 12, 1806, in this township. This marriage resulted in five children, one dying in infancy ;
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four of whom grew to maturity. John Green Vaughn was born January 21, 1827, and is married and lives in Marion County, Illinois; Martha Anu, born November 12, 1832, is now the wife of Abner Francis, of Ross Township; William Crosby, born February 25, 1835, is unmarried, and lives with his mother, in New London ; Mary Bebb, born October 28, 1846, is the wife of Rees If. Evans, of this township. William Vanghn received from his father about ninety aeres of land, on which he commenced life for himself, rising constantly in the esti- ination of his fellow-citizens. He was chosen captain of the State militia, and served as the first postmaster of Paddy's Run, which office he held until about 1847. At the time of his death, November 22, 1851, he owned two hundred and twenty acres of land.
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