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 55
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Genesee always felt a great interest in all her child- ren, even when in advanced age. After the death of her husband, which occurred in 1851, Genesce made her home with her children in Butler County, chiefly with her daughter Rachel and her son Jeremiah, at whose home Genesee died of old age, on the 16th of August, A. D. 1881, aged ninety-seven years, nine months, and sixteen days. Genesee was for many years previous to her death the oldest woman in Butler County, and up until her death retained entire possession of all her senses and faculties. Her remains rest in Green- wood Cemetery, at Hamilton. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for upward of seventy years, and was a firm believer in that faith and the promises of the Bible.
Edward Wilcox, now deceased, son of Edward and Lydia Wilcox, was born in England about the beginning of the century. He settled in this county about 1818, and was married July 19, 1827, in Ross Township, to Margaret Evans, born in Pennsylvania, February 27, 1804. Her father was William Evans, and mother Mar- tha Ellison, who came to this country in 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox had eight children. Lydia was born Sep- temiber 11, 1828; Martha, June 23, 1831 : Anna, Oc- tober 26, 1893; Nancy, June 16, 1836 ; Rebecca, Au- [ gust 29, 1838; Elward, July 17, 1842; and John,
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
December 30, 1847. Lydia died September 15, 1828 ; Martha, August 10, 1831; and Rebecen, September 11, 1815. Anna was married to Heary L. Hitchcock, October 7, 1852; and Nancy, to James R. Foster, April 18, 1860. Mrs. Wilcox had two uneles in the War of 1812, James Evans and Stephen Cumming. Stephen Evans, her brother, was in the war with Mexico, and her son-in-law, Henry L. Hitchcock, was in the hundred days' service in the last war. Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox moved on the farm now occupied by the family, August 7, 1830. All the children were born here, ex- cept the first, who was born at Millville. The two sons carry on the farm. Anna has eight children : Maria R., Caroline E., Margaret E., Samuel E., Eva J., Kalista M., Edgar B., and Cora P. One died, named John Ed- ward. Mrs. Foster's children are given elsewhere. Mrs. Wilcox has five great-grandchildren. Her husband died December 1, 1847.
Peter Weber was born in Germany, July 19, 1842, coming to this county in 1856, with his parents, Valen- tine Weber and Sophia Rausch. Both are now living in Hamilton. He was married in Hamilton on the 16th of April, 1862, to Catherine Werner, daughter of Abraham and Catherine Werner, both of whom are now dead. Mrs. Weber was born in St. Clair Township, April 19, 1843, dying at the age of thirty-six, in August, 1879. They had eight children. Peter was born June 15, 1862; Jacob, August 1, 1864; Elizabeth, October 1, 1866; Catherine,September 20, 1868; Mary, April 5, 1871; Sophia, April 13, 1874; Lewis, May 3, 1876, and Henry, November 1, 1878. Mr. Weber is a farmer. He served one term as supervisor.
John Washington Wilson, deceased, was born in But- ler County, July 4, 1820. His parents were Thomas and Isabel Wilson. Mrs. Wilson's maiden name was Smith ; she died April 15, 1856, aged fifty-seven years, two
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months, and twenty-seven days. He was married No- vetuber 9, 1849, at Hamilton, to Miss Rebecca Saunders. She was the daughter of isaac T. Saunders, an old and well-known citizen, and Rebecca Page. The latter dial November 2, 1871, aged seventy-three years. The father is also dead.
Mr. Wilson was an attorney and counselor-at-law, and. was prosecuting attorney for the county at the time of his death. He was in the late war in several regiments. coming home with the rank of captain. He was among the first who enlisted in Butler County. Mr. Thomas Wilson, his father, was born in England, September IS, 1793, and came to this county in 1797. His oldest child was John W. Wilson, who early entered upon the study of law, and after being admitted to the bar, devoted his time almost entirely to it, with the exception of about ten years, when he paid his attention to farming and con- tracting. There is a fine quarry of blue limestone on the place, and he dealt very heavily in lime and stone. He furnished all of these materials for the railroad bridge and also the free bridge, and for nearly all the churches and public buildings of the town, together with many private dwellings. Mr. Wilson was engaged in the pros- ecution of the celebrated McGehean case, and be paid so much attention to it, working night and day, that it finally brought him down.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilson had nine children. George was born April 25, 1849; Edward and John, September $0, 1850; Isane T., January 26, 1858; Thomas, July 31, 1854; Benjamin F., July 4, 1857; Rebecca S., July 14, 1859; Jonathan J., June 30, 1860, and Clara, May 24. 1865. Isaac T. died September 17, 1853, and Rebceca S., Angust 14, 1859. The oldest son, George, now car- ries on the farm, and makes a specialty of raising perches and small fruit. He is also a school director, and has been for about seven years.
MILFORD.
THIS township lies north-west of the center of the county, and is bounded ou the north by Proble County, on the east by the township of Wayne, on the south by Hanover, and on the west by Oxford. The township was organized in 1805, and originally formed a part of St. Clair.
Matthew Richardson; 1818, John White; 1819. Mat- thew Richardson ; 1821, Marsh Williams; 1822, Mat- thew Richardson; 1824, Morton Irwin; 1825, Matthew Richardson: 1827, Morton Irwin; 1828, Abraham F. Darr; 1850, Morton Irwin; 1831, Abraham F. D.ar: 1833, Morton Irwin; 1834, James Hardin; 1336, .1. Ogle and Morton Irwin ; 1839, A. Ogle. Morten Irwin. and Ebenezer Blossom; 1841, Jolin MrAuky; 1512. John Clark and Morton Irwin : 1844. Soc! . W. Herri .. and since that date Richard L. Gard, William Irwin, William I. Creme, James L. Chambers, Ants Cook.
The justices of the peace were the leading meu of the township for many years. We, therefore, give the names . and dates of these first men: In: 1800 Robert Ogle and Robert Lytle; 1809, Marsh Williams and Robert Uytle ; 1810, Matthew Richardson; 1811, Marsh Williams: 1813, Matthew Richardson; 1815, John White and , Philip Brown, Samuel Scott, James Cook, A. P. Young.
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MILFORD.
Jonathan Crowley, Jonas P. Randall, John Clark, James Shears, A. J. Erwin, Edward B. Shields, Cornelius Conarroe, J. P. Randall, S. B. Deems.
Milford Township, in 1820, had a population of 1,501; in 1830, 1,808; 1840, 1,868. Many of the early settlers of the township have passed away. Their names may be partially summed up with this list : Grimes, Glimes, Gard, Hancock, Haynes, Hlinsey, Jones, Irwin, Kreamer, Kennedy, Lytle, Lippeneott, Marshall, Markie, Ogle, MeCleary, MeMechan, Brown, MeNcal, Pughe, . Robinson, Reed, Richardson, Stout," Rynearson, Sim- mons, Seott, Steel, Simpson, Taylor, Teegarden, Walters, White, Williams, Watters, Walden, Darr, and Young.
Milford has a variety of zoils and surfaces. In the south-west Four-Mile Creek cuts a portion of the town- ship, by flowing easterly with variations for four miles and a half, then entering Hanover, and finally joining with Seven-Mile to empty into the Great Miami. Along this stream fine bottom lands produce nearly all the agricultural products in great abundanee. In early times corn was grown in large quantities, and is still raised, but the yield is not so great as formerly. Four-Mile has for its principal tributary Darr's Run, which flows from the north, and is but a short distance east of Darrtown. These two streams have here a beautiful and productive valley. Most of the western part of Milford is hilly, but produces well if properly tilled. Darr's Run drains a considerable portion of this part of the township. There are other streams of some size, but only of local im- portance.
In the north-east Seven-Mile cuts the township simi- larly to Four-Mile, though it is a stream somewhat larger in size. The valley which extends along this ereek is very productive, and in some places is over a mile wide. As the strenn begins to leave the township and enter Preble County the bottoms narrow, until finally they can scareely be called such. About Somerville the country is hilly on the north and east. Between Seven-Mile and Dary's Run a ridge divides the waters, flowing in either direction.
St. Slan's route to the north passes through Milford Township. Mr. Dennis Pottenger entered the western half of Section 2 in 1804. About the same time James Sutten entered the east half of Section 3, which two entries were the first in this vicinity. At that time Indians re- mained upon their hunting-grounds, one of whom was called Tom Killbuck, who assisted Mr. Pottenger to raise his log cabin. Mr. Pottenger was with General Wayne six months when he defeated the Indians at Fort Re- covery, and was living in 1847, aged seventy-seven years.
In 1805 Abel Stout bought and settled on Sce- tion 20 ia Milford Township. He and L. R. Couch served an apprenticeship to Stephen Decatur (father of Commodore Deentur), on board a vessel, and were on the old ship Rising Sun when she was cast away.
From 1803 to 1866 the settlers were tried by the
pinches of poverty. Most of them had to travel fourteen miles through the wilderness to mill ; McCullough's, at that time, being the principal one, which was situated on the Big Miami, about two miles above Hamilton.
The Indians begged " ochpon " (bread), "monako" (milk), and " quis-quish" (ment) from nearly all the settlers, and were very annoying. Some of them often appeared in full war dress, painted, and the scalping- knife by their side. Others wore the uniform of an officer, whom they had previously killed and robbed. Two of them were known by the names of Bill Killbuek and Misbawa, the latter a Shawanee chief, who is believed to have been killed at the battle of the Thames, by Colone! Jolinson's men.
In the Fall of 1804, Robert Crane and Isaac Simp- "son, who had been to mill, and who were returning home, raised the well-known Indian yell. The neigh- bors took fright, some fleeing to Robert Ogle's and others to L. R. Cooch's. Before morning the little set- tlement had colleeted for resistance, but the cause was found out, and all was quiet again.
During the same Fall a Baptist preacher, by the name of Patterson, from South Carolina, a traveling minister, preached, at the house of L. R. Cooch, the first sermon ever delivered in that part of the township.
Some time in the Summer of 1805, John Patterson, but not the traveling Baptist minister, with three or four others, came to Mr. Cooch's house, with a man tied on a horse, who they said knew where some stolen property was secreted. The conditions were, that if the thief would tell where the property was hidden, he would! be released. " Away they started, my father with them," said Mr. Cooch, "equipped with horse-blankets. gun, and tomahawk. The company took the old trace past where Oxford now stands, and so on west until they struck White- water, but found no horses. They then proceedled down the river, until they got among the hills near what is now Brookville, Indiana, and still finding no horses, begau to think they were deceived. Whereupou they stripped the thief naked, bent down a sapling, tied him to it, cut of the top, and swung him up like a dead deer. They eoaxed and threatened, but all to no purpose. They finally resorted to going off about eighty rods, cach firing two shots at him, but none of which took effect. He was finally let down, his clothes returned, and released. He said he felt the wind produced by Patterson's last bullet. The company returned, after being absent five or six days. This was the only way the first settlers had to recover stolen property, and was about the only way they had to punish crime."
During the Summer of 1806, a traveling Baptist preacher visited and preached in the western half of the township five or six times. In the Summer of the same year, Joel Collins removed from Kentucky aud settled on a part of the Beeler section, which is in Oxford Township. Here he erected a powder-mill, on what is
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
now known as Collins' Run. A year or two afterward he was elceted captain of a company of riffemen, com- posed of members from all parts of the coanty.
In August, 1812, Captain Cellins, in obedience to a call of his country, rendezvoused the troops that he had enlisted at Hamilton, and on Sunday following marched ont to a shade near the west end of the Hamilton basin, and listened to a sermon preached by the Rev. Matthew G. Wallace. Collins and his men served a six months' tour, received an honorable discharge, and returned home.
Between the first of the year 1798 and that of 1802, William Harper settled with his family, consisting of a wife and five children, on Section 19, in Wayne Town- "ship. For the purpose of hunting, he built a cabin near a large spring on the lands owned, in 1852, by Philip Ray, and not far from Wayne's old trace. The Indians were numerous, and visited Harper frequently.
In the Spring of the year a number came here for the purpose of making sugar, and an old squaw became very intimate with Harper's family, especially with little Eliz- abeth, who was about three years old. The squaw would take the little girl by the band, and seat her npon her lap, until finally they became very much attached to each other. One evening Mrs. Harper sent two of the children ont to bring in the cows, and their three-year- old sister followed. When they had gone some distance into the woods, the little girl cried for them to stop, but in their hurry they gave her no attention. After return- ing home Elizabeth was missing. Search was immedi- ately made, but the little girl could not be found. The next morning the neighbors, though few, gathered in and further search was made. The Indians were all gone, and suspicion was placed npon them at once for carrying ·the girl away. Little footprints were found in the mud where she had crossed the run, and close by them moc- casin tracks. These tracks were traced a few rods further to a sugar-tree, where they were again very plainly to be seen. In the tree the Indian made a niche with his tomahawk, where he had stuck it while picking up the little girl. These evident marks satisfied the people that the babe had been stolen, and the trail was followed for about ten miles, when it was lost, the Indians having scattered in order to baffle pursuit. The hunting party wandered about for two or three days, finally returning home without the lost child. The little girl was never found, although her father and mother visited all the Indian settlements on the Maumee, Sandusky, and about Detroit ; also most of the tribes on White River and the Wabash. The family finally became resigned to their fate. Mr. Harper died on his return from a search for his child, and his good wife in 1819. She is buried in the cemetery west of Darrtown. Mrs. Price, their daughter, was living in 1855: their son William died of cholera, in Rossville, in 1849.
About 1842 a gentleman who was a near neighbor of
Harper's, and who was well acquainted with the family, saw Elizabeth ; he knew her by the family likeness which they all possessed in a very remarkable degree. She had been married to an Indian warrior and had two children. She afterward went with her tribe west of the Missis- sippi, and was never heard of again. As to the truth- fulness of the above story there is not a shadow of doubt.
When this township was first settled snakes were com- mon, but the only or principal poisonous one was the yellow rattlesnake, which was found in considerable numbers. They were from three to four and a half feet in length. Some dens were found from which large quan- tities were taken. One of these wintering places was found by Jedediah Johnson, who settled on the north- west quarter of Section 12, at the foot of a hill near a spring which passed from beneath large flat rocks. Under these rocks, secure from frost, the snakes were located. Another den was found on the south part of Section 23. From it one to two hundred snakes were taken early in the Spring before the animals went abroad.
As soon as the township began to fill up with settlers there were roads opened, the first and principal ones leading to Hamilton. The road from Darrtown followed pretty much the same route as the present pike. So also did the pike leading from Somerville via Collinsville and Seven-Milc.
COLLINSVILLE.
Matthew Richardson, in 1802, entered the land on which Collinsville now stands. Richardson was a Mary- lander, and came to this part of the county with a five- horse team, overland, bringing three colored people-two men and one woman. One of the men was afterward drowned while coming from Hamilton, in attempting to cross the stream near the old Matthew Hucston farm. This was the beginning of what is now Collinsville-the entering of the land by Richardson. The first lot sold was bought by Charles Collins, an Englishman, a wagon- maker by trade, from whom the town received its name. He immediately began to work at his trade, and in 1839 sold out to W. H. Crume. Collins now lives in Preble County, where for many years he carried on the wagon- making business, and was also an undertaker.
Colonel Andrew P. Young was an early store-keeper. He was succeeded by James Steel, who was also the vil- lage postmaster with Young. Eli Murphy and James Crozier, a Scotchman, opened a blacksmith shop in 1837. The latter removed to Morning Sun, in Preble County, and afterward to Texas, where he engaged in the cattle trade. David MeMechan opened a dry-goods store; he sold ont to Thomas Brown. who built a new house oppo- site. Johnson Davis built, about 1843, the dwelling- house and store-room now occupied by John Sbeger, a German.
The first school teacher in Collinsville was an Irish- man by the name of William Hewett, who taught here in 1818, continuing for about twenty years. For many
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MILFORD.
years he was a leading member of the Presbyterian Church. William Simpson, Moses Dougherty, William MeMechan all taught in the old log-house. This build- ing had a fire-place in the middle of it, while a brick chimney carried out the smoke through the rafters. The second house, a frame, was erected somewhere in 1838. Joel Harris was a teacher in it. The third and present building was erected in 1876, a handsome two- story briek.
Collinsville's first physicians were Dr. Robinson, of Preble County, who remained with the people for about three years and then removed to Iowa ; Dr. Kline came next, who stayed for two years, followed by Dr. Smiley, an Irishman, from Hamilton, here not to cxeced three years. He married a daughter of Samuel Davis, and nov. resides in Pickaway, Ohio, where he still practices medicine. Dr. E. C. Wooley was the most prominent of all the early physicians. He came from Symmes's Corner, and was a wagon-maker by trade. He is now in Paris, Illinois. Dr. Silver, of Clermont County, came here some six or seven years ago.
James Young's saw-mill was built in 1811. The grist- mill was erected three years afterward, and though often repaired, the old frame is yet in the present structure. The first saw-mill was destroyed by fire. This mill has always remained in the family, but since 1860 has been abandoned. In 1836 Mr. Young had a large log distil- lery close by, where he fattened many hogs. The build- ing is now gone. As early as 1813 Oliver Smith had a saw-mill on Seven-Mile, two miles below Collinsville. It was run by an undershot wheel. He also erected a grist- mill at the same place in 1808, but which in 1820 was destroyed by fire. About 1828 David Young built a saw-niill, carding-machine, and oil-mill on Seven-Mile on the east side, in the north-east corner of Section 25. The former of these establishments stood below the latter. All were sold after the death of Mr. Young, in 1848, to Joseph Hursh, who continued to do sawing until about 18: 3. Samuel and David Young built an undershot saw-mill one mile below Somerville, about forty years ago. The latter also had a fulling-mill and carding- machine at the same point; all have disappeared.
The Collinsville Methodist Episcopal Church was or- ganized in 1843. Among the early members were David Simpson and James Gray, the latter of whom was one of the early class-leaders. At the time of organization this Church was on the Germantown, but is now on the Camden Cirenit. The house was begun in the Spring of 1844 and completed in the Fall of the same year. The Rev. William H. Sutherland was the first minister. Jere- miah B. Ellsworth and John W. Steel were preachers in charge in 1844. Prior to 1844 the Church worshiped in the frame schval-house which stood half a mile south of Collinsville, on the Hueston road. The log school- house stood ten rods west of the present Presbyterian Church. About ten years ago the Methodist Church was
abandoned, on account of deaths and removals. In its best days this Church had about forty-five members.
The Seven-Mile Presbyterian Church at Collinsville was erected or organized in 1810. It was a frame building and stood eight rods west of the present house Some of the early members were Samuel Davis, Robert Irwin, Sen., Matthew Richardson, Ralph Brown, Robert Swann, Oli- ver Smith, father of Samuel Smith (who now lives in Seven-Mile, eighty years of age), John Armstrong, and Samuel Young. The land on which the house stood was given for this purpose-two aeres, including the grave- yard-by Matthew Richardson: The house was about thirty by forty feet, and was furnished with slab seats, with legs for supports, from James Young's saw-mill. In the course of time better seats were put in, and the pews were sold, but this practice was soon discontinued, because of the dissatisfaction which it caused. For the choir-leader the class had Daniel Corson, who stood close to the pulpit and "lined" the hymns, and Matthew J. Richardson, who pitched the tunes. The Rev. Francis Monfort was one of the first ministers.
Subjoined are a few inscriptions from the Collinsville cemetery :
Philip Ray, died October 7, 1849; aged 61. Samuel Davis, died March 27, 1843; aged 72. David Young, died August 21, 1849; aged 52. Rev. James MeMechan, Sen .. died Octo- ber 1, 1819, in the 50th year of his age. Mary MeMechan, died in April 1813, in the 40th year of her age. Alexander Young, born September 22, 1784; died July 13, 1861. James E. Young, died February 6, 1873; aged 60.
DARRTOWN.
Conrad Darr and Robert and William Ogle, all from Pennsylvania, entered Seetion 28, on which Darrtowu stauds, in 1802. After making the entry, they returned home, and in 1803 brought their families with them, and divided the section. Darr took the south half; William Ogle, the north-west quarter; and Robert Ogie, the north-east quarter. The section cost $1.25 per acre. In 1814, April 4, the former of these gentlemen laid out Darrtown, and called it after himself.
Abram Darr was the first resident of the village. He kept a store on the east side of the street, near the center of the town, in a frame house. This building burned down in 1820. John Deen built the second house, about 1817, which is now used for a grocery by William Shears. In 1825 Willis Davis was in the house as a store-keeper, also as a saddler. In 1820 Henry Watts built a log-house in Darrtown, opposite the Davis property. Herron & Fenton were in this log building in 1827 as merchant tailors. The venerable building has long since disappeared. Mr. Persails. a hatter, from Hamilton, was here many years ago. John Cook, a blacksmith, from Pennsylvania, came here. in 1825, with a large family; remained fifteen years, and died in this county. Stephen Cook, his son, followed. i in the same business, for five or six years. David and
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
John Knce were also early blacksmiths. Abram Darr built a frame honse, where Zimmerman now keeps, in 1817, and began the tavern-keeping business. He con- tinued for ten or twelve years. In 1832, he opened a still-house, two hundred yards east of where Hiram Darr now lives. His corn was ground at the old earding-mill on the corner south of the Lutheran Church. This dis- tillery continued for a number of years. Mr. Darr re- moved to Iowa, in 1844, and in 1852, while in Cinein- nati, died very suddenly.
. Aaron Chamberlain, a native of New York, rented a store-room in 1826, and began to accommodate the pub- lie. His store stood on the east side of the street in the middle of the village. He afterward opened a tavern in the store building, continuing for six years. Hc also worked at the wagon-making business for some time, and died in Pike County, Illinois, some time after 1840. Henry Branner was a blacksmith in Darrtown from 1817 co 1827, in a log shop opposite Chamberlain's tavern. Patterson and Martin had a store, in 1828, where Zim- merman's saloon is. Stephen Kendall came to Darrtown in 1825, built a tavern in the lower end of town, and continued until 1844. He was by trade a shoemaker, carpenter, and wagonmaker. William Kirkpatrick kept a tavern in Darrtown in 1845 in the house now occupied by his son Samnel as a tavern and saloon. Henry Krig- ger was another blacksmith from 1826 to 1832, south of the widow Carnahan's house on the cast side of Main Street.
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