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 69
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
this township. He was finally allowed as much territory as he had paid for, and the dividing line is two miles and a quarter north of the south line of the township, and is a little south of Dick's Creek. When Daniel Doty moved in this neighborhood there was a block-house inclosed by * pickets, and a few cabins on the south side of the prai- rie, near Dick's Creek, a little west of where the cross- roads now are. His neighbors were Mr. Brady, Mr. Carson, John Reed, and John Henry.
Thomas Irwin entered and settled, in the Spring of 1795, on the farm which he continued to own and on which he died in 1847. The lands comprising the greater part of the farms now owned by Abraham Simpson and Daniel MeClellan, and all the farin belonging to the heirs of Robert Carr, were entered by David Logan about 1795, and were settled and improved by him. These lands lie south and adjoining the Irwin farm David Logan sold to Andrew Carr (father of Robert Carr al- luded to above) in 1806. What is now called the Denise farm and also the Marsh farm were entered and settled by Joseph Williamson in 1796.
John Fisher, father of Robert Fisher, who died in Middletown about fifteen years ago, at a very great age, entered and settled that part of the Simpson farm which lies west of the Irwin farm in 1806. The farm recently sold by Abraham Sutphin to George W. Marsh, imme- diately west of what was the Williamson tract, was en- tered and settled by Alexander McConnell in 1796. The half section immediately west of the McConnell traet was entered and settled by Moses Rotter.
James McClellan entered and settled the half section south of the MeConnell and Williamson traets in 1807 or 1808. Several of his descendants now own and live on these lands, which they have rescued from an appar- ent worthless swamp, by a system of extensive draining, and brought to the highest degree of fertility. Thomas Vail built a log-house at what is now the Blue Ball, in 1821, and kept entertainment. He sold to Jonathan Emmons in 1823. who erected a sign in front of his house, which was simply a round ball painted blue. The place derived its name from this circumstance. The blue ball has been conspicuously displayed contin- uously ever since.
The earliest church in this township was the Little Prairie Church, of the Baptist denomination. Its site is now unknown. Local antiquaries, however, believe it was either near Mr. James Baird's place, north of Mid- dletowe, or at the lower end of the prairie, not far from Amanda. There is a discrepancy in the date of the ad- mission of this Church. Judge Dunlavy makes it 1800, and the minutes of the Old School Baptist Association places it in 1801. In the latter year, according to the. minutes, it bad eleven members. The messenger was Duilip Sutton. In i805 difficulties existed between this Church and Elk Creek Church, now at Trenton, which the association could not settle. This appears to be the
last notice of its existence. The present Baptist Church of Middletown was organized three years later, and has no knowledge of any earlier organization.
David Heaton was born in Morris County, New Jersey, December 15, 1742, and married Phebe .Johnson, of New Jersey, in 1776, and in 1778 removed to Mar- tiusburg, Berkeley County, Virginia, now West Virginia, where James Heaton was born, January 15, 1779. David Heaton, with his family, removed about the year 1783 to Greene County, Pennsylvania, where his son James Heaton received a common school education and studied surveying. He was married January 22, 1801. to Mary Morrell, born December 11, 1782, daughter of Jacob Morrell, of Chatham, New Jersey, and sister of Dr. Calvin Morrell of Shaker notoriety near Lehance, Ohio. Hannah W. Heaton, daughter of James and Mary Heaton, was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, December 14, 1801, and afterwards married Rev. Henry Baker in 1821, and resided for many years in Lebanou, Ohio, where she died August 11, 1839.
In the Fall of 1802 David Heaton and James Heaton, with their families, removed to Butler County, Ohio, traveling in what was known as the "Family Barge," a flat-bottomed boat, down the Ohio River from Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, landing at Cincinnati, Ohio-quite a perilous trip in those carly days -- and soon after set- tled in Butler County, near Middletown, where Mr. David Heaton purchased an eighty-aere faria, partly im- proved, where he resided until his death, which occurred on the 11th of September, 1839, aged ninety-six years and nine months-a ripe old age.
James Heaton, with his family, also settled temporarily below Middletown, near Dick's Creek, where for a year or two he taught school, then removing to Hamilton. and entering the service of John Reily, clerk of the Circuit Court. Here he remained for several years. About the year 1808 or 1809 he was elected a justice of the peace, and in May, 1811, was appointed to succeed Jeba Reily as recorder of the county of Butler; he also at the same time held the office of county surveyor.
In the War of 1812 he entered the army under Gen - eral William Henry Harrison, but under the immediate command of Brigadier-general John Wingate, While in the army he was, on the 8th of April, 1813, appointed by General Wingate brigade quarter-master. The army. under command of General Wingate, was stationed at Fort Saint Mary's, Ohio; and on the 13th of May. 1813, a garrison order was issued, by command of the general. creating a court-martial for the trial of such prisoners as night be brought before it. The court consisted of Lieu- temat Thomas Kirkpatrick, president; Lieutenant Jane's Sherrard and Ensign Lewis Moore, members; and Major James Heaton, judge advocate. On the back of this order is found, indorsed by the judge advocate, "On the trial held on Thomas Spencer for mutiny, etc. fi- got clear, thank God!"
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LEMON.
On the 24th of August, 1814, he was appointed brig- ade quarter-master, by James Mills, brigadier-general; and again on the 25th of October, 1816, was appointed to the same office by Daniel Millikin, brigadier-general. Indorsed on the back of this appointment is his resigna- tion, as follows :
"TO DANIEL MILLIKIN, Brigadier-general, Third Brigade, First Division, Ohio Militia:
" Sir,-Please accept this as my resignation of the office of brigade quarter-master to said brigade. Reason 1st. Because it is out of my power to procure the necessary equipage appertaining to said office, as pointed out by the adjutant-general. Reason 2. Because I can not see the propriety of wearing the black cockade, and am not able to see the likeness, similitude, nationality, or appropriate relevancy that coekade has to our national flag. Which reasons with ine are weighty. Knowing there are gentle- men with whom my first reason would be no ineon- venience, and who have no scruples as to the second, the general will not hesitate to accept my resignation.
"Muy 16, 1818.
"Accepted January 6, 1819. "DANIEL MILLIKIN, Brigadier-general."
He was also appointed, September 4, 1819, by Ethan A. Brown, governor of Ohio, paymaster of the First Regiment in the Third Brigade and First Division of Ohio militia. He was also a member of the Ohio State Senate at the time the seat of government was located at Chillicothe, and for several years after it was removed to Columbus. He was also one of the presidential electors on the Henry Clay ticket in 1824, and was appointed by the eleetors to convey the result to Washington City, D. C., which was done on horseback.
James Heaton, with his family, in 1823, removed from Hamilton to the farm on which his father, David . Heaton, resided, near Middletown, to take care of lim and his wife in their old age, where he resided until his death, March 3, 1841, in the sixty-second year of his age. Daring all the course of his active life, and in all the different positions he was placed, and in the fulfill- ment of all the duties of the various offices which he held, there were many to commend and none to censure.
James and Mary Heatou had born to them thirteen children, but two of whom are now living. Charles M. Heaton was born at Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio, March 7, 1895, and is now residing in Washington City, D. C. James Heaton, Jr., was born at the same place, November 20, 1808, and was lately residing in Craw- fordsville, Indiana. He died on the 5th of July, 1882. David Heaton, born at the same place, March 10, 1823, now deceased, entered into public life more conspicu- ously than cither of his brothers. He received an aca- demica! education, read law. and was admitted to the bar. In 1855 he was elected to the Ohio Senate: in 1857 removed to Minnesota, and was chosen to the Sen- !
ate of that State ; was twice re-elected ; was also postmas- ter at Minneapolis. In 1863 he removed to Newbera, North Carolina, where he held a position as special agent of the United States Treasury Department. In 1867 he was elected a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention, and in 1868 was chosen a representative from North Carolina to the Fortieth Congress, and served on the Committee on the Census; was re-elected to the Forty-first Congress, and served on the Committee on Eleetions, and was chairman of that on Coinage, Weights, and Measures. He was renominated for the Forty-sceond Congress without opposition but a few days before his death, which occurred in Washington, June 25, 1870. His last words were, "God bless the colored people !"
John Reed, the grandfather of William Reed, and the anecstor of the Reed family in this neighborhood, eut his way through from Pennsylvania first to Ken- tueky, in 1793, settling near Crab Orehard. His wife's brother, whose name was Brotherton, was killed by the Tories in the Revolutionary War. He remained here but a year or two, and then, with his wife and family, struck out for Cincinnati. This was in 1797, and from here he moved up the Miami, and here, three miles below Middletown, at the mouth of Dick's Creek, he located. The children were David, Robert, William, and John, Jane, Christian, Margaret, and Martha.
David Reed, the father of William Reed, was mar- ried in Pennsylvania to Miss Ruth Carricks, September 30, 1766, while yet in Pennsylvania. Her people were from the north of Ireland. Their son John, their oldest child, was born in 1794, when they went to Kentucky on horseback. They brought some fine horses with them to Ohio, but four of these were stolen one night by the Indians. David, Robert, and their father followed them two days, but failing to catch the thieves, Robert and the father returned home, and David continued the search singly for three days longer, and was gone five days and nights. Upon reaching the Miami River at night, on his return, having no skiff, he took off his clothing, lashed his gun, powder-horn, and clothes to his back and swam across the stream. He was not fond of the noble red man, and, it was said, would occasionally shoot them down without much provocation. He died in 1812, and left five sons and four daughters: John, Thomas, William, Robert, David, Margaret, Jane, Eliz- abeth, and Ruth.
John, born 1794, was a soldier of the War of 1812. He was a stock raiser, giving his attention to thorough- bred animals only. This was so of all his animals, horses and cattle, sheep, fowls, hogs, and every thing, even in dogs. Hle raised the best breeds to be found in Amer- ica, and in this way did much to elevate stock-raising in this country. Thomas C. Reed, the next son, was boru September 3, 1797, and was reputed to be the first male white child born in the county. This idea was errone-
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
ous, however; he was the earliest born in Lemon Town- ship. He was a carpenter, and was also a fine raiser of thoroughbred stock. He married Polly Dickey, and died in 1876. Robert Reed was born in 1804. He was also a lover of thoroughbred stock, and took a herd of short-horns with him to Illinois. He afterwards moved to Keokuk, Iowa. William Reed was born November 5, 1802. David B., the youngest, born June 12, 1812, is a farmer in Sangamon County, Illinois. Elizabeth, now living near William Reed, was born May 27, 1806. She was never married. Jane, Margaret, and Mary are dead. Three out of the five of these brothers were ruling elders in the Church to which they belonged.
William Reed was born November 5, 1802, on the old Reed farm, in Lemon Township. He was married to Miss Margaret Sigerson, March 28, 1820. She was a daughter of Captain Robert Sigerson. He commeneed housekeeping with the usual outfit, a spinning-wheel, a fow split-bottomed chairs, a large chest, and wooden mould board plow, but still they were happy. He sub- sequently purchased the farm of his uncle Robert Reed, in full view of where be was born, and paid abont forty dollars per acre for it. He raised a family of seven sons and three daughters: Mary, David Wallace, Robert S., Martha E., William, Naney M., Thomas E., Jane E., and Alexander C. Mary died of typhoid fever when eighteen years of age. Robert S. was in Sherman's army, and was taken prisoner and sarved in the Ander- sonville prison, from the effects of which he died July 27, 1865. Three years ago William Reed and wife celebrated their golden wedding. This was March 29, 1879. The children living were all present, except Robert S. and family, of Collinsville, Illinois, and Mrs. Bradshaw, of Mattoon, Illinois.
Mr. Red is one of the oldest men living who were born in the county, and the venerable couple have un- dergone many bardships not dreamed of by the present generation, and there are few women to-day who can show finer specimens of linen, blankets, and cove "lets, spun and woven by her own hands, than Mrs. William Reed can do. Mr. and Mrs. Reed have been consistent members of the Associate Reformed Church, near Monroc. Mr. Reed formerly had a distillery, but being satisfied of the evil of intemperance, abandoned the business, and became an organizer of the temperance movement. He also quit the use of tobacco, and has lived to see his six sons growu to manhood free from these vices, and to fill places of honor and respectability.
Mrs. Reed's grandfather was John Wallace, who was born in 1732. He left his birth-place in Virginia in 1783, and went to Kentucky, where he remained until 1800, when he came to Chio, and settled two and a half miles south-east of Monroe, on a farm subsequently be- longing to John Robinson. Polly Wallace marriedl Cap- tain Robert Sigersoa in 1801, and raised five children. The Wallice family is a large one, and now considerably
scattered. They were prominent settlers in Butler County in an early day.
John Parker Reynolds, an esteemed citizen of this township, was born in the town of Nine Partners (now Amenia), Dutchess County, New York, September 21, 1782. His paternal ancestors came from Devonshire, England, about 1650. They were stout defenders of liberty of conscience, and some of them Friends, or, as we now say, Quakers. His father, the Rev. Parker Reynolds, a Baptist elergyman, settled at Saratoga, New York, about 1790, in time for the subject of this notice to see and recollect the placing of a potash kettle to separate the water of the celebrated Congress Spring from non-medicinal water flowing into it. He was a sturdy boy, fair complexion, large, dark grey eyes, au- burn hair, and a temperament of delicate sensibility. Thrown upon his own resources at an early age, though not until he had acquired a fair education, he entered the printing-office of Southwick, Bostwick & Co., of Al- bany, New York, in which he found a fellow-worker and life-long friend, in the late John C. Wright, of Cincin- nati. While becoming a skilled practical printer, he studied the higher mathematics, some of the languages, law, and music.
ndbit AVNe
In 1805 he beeamc the proprietor of what in that day was a large printing and publishing house, with book-store attached, in Salem, Washington County, in that State, and started a newspaper styled the Washington Register, continuing it until 1817 -- the work all being done upon the old-time Ramage press. A Jeffersonian Democrat in polities, he adhered to principle, ultimately becoming a Whig. When leaving for the West, the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons conferred upon him as a parting compliment the degree of Knight Templar, Chan- cellor Livingston being then the Grand Master of the order for the State of New York.
In 1818 he came with his wife to Lebanon, Warren County, Ohio, and in 1820 to Middletown, in this county, there entering into the hotel and soon afterward into the first, forwarding and commission business in the place. As a man and a citizen he was distinguished for his nncon- promising integrity, practical common sense, intelligente, philanthropy, conscientious discharge of every mora! oh- ligation, and most thorough contempt for any thing wecan or questionable; and no public enterprise was undertaken without his participation and assistance. He retired from business in 1839, removing to Cincinnati in 1865, re- maining there until 1849, after which he made his home in Hamilton until his death, Marek 21, 1858. His life was a useful one by precept and example; his cast ef mind judicial, reflective, and philosophical. With, doubt- less, the frailties of human nature, in all matters of our- science he was emphatically the "stuff of which martyrs are made," never hesitating at any speritice when ant: called. He was a thorough believer in the doctrine of personal individual responsibility, both here and kere-
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627
LEMON.
after, a strong religious feeling manifesting itself, not in ritual, but by deep reverence for God and most practical philanthropy.
In the year 1827 the Legislature passed a law author- izing Jonathan Martin, Robert L Campbell, James F. Death, Jolmn P. Reynolds, John Shafer, Carlton Waldo, and Israel F. Gibson to build a toll-bridge over the Great Miami River at the town of Middletown. Afterwards, in the year 1829, an amendatory law was passed, changing the place at which it was to be erected, and in the year 1830 another amendatory law was passed, which resulted in the building of the bridge.
The following have been the justices of the peace : Henry Weaver, William McClure, 1803; William Squier, Squier Littell, 1805; Ezekiel Ball, William Barkalow, 1806; Thomas C. Wade, 1807; Steplien Clark, James Tapscott, 1809; James Clark, Daniel Strickland, 1810; William Harvey, 1813; James Clark, 1814; William Harvey, James Clark, 1816; William Harvey, James Clark, 1819; Ezekiel Ball, 1821; William McClure, James Clark, 1822; Thomas Irwin, 1823; Israel T. Gib- son, 1824; James Clark, 1825; John Clark, Thomas Irwin, 1826; David Clarkson, James Heaton, 1827; Thomas Irwin, 1829; James Clark, James Heaton, 1830; Thomas Irwin, 1832; James Clark, James Heaton, 1833; Thomas Irwin, 1835; James Clark, Israel T. Gibson, 1836; William Cotterell, 1838; Thomas Irwin, Hugh Alexander, 1839; Benjamin Cox, 1840; James Cook, Hugh Alexander, Anthony Noble, William W. Light- foot, 1842; David H. Tullis, 1844; and since that date, James Cook, Anthony Noble, William Lightfoot, David H. Tullis, John H. Gordon, John L. Todhunter, David Heaton, P. P. LaTourrette, Daniel Helwig, Samuel B. Holmes, Thomas N. Russell, A. M. Sentney, John Mc- Clelland, A. Crider, R. D. Booth, M. Simpson, HI. L. Henkle, John S. Todd, Edward Kimball, W. B. Hed- ding, James A. Johnson, F. W. Whittaker, William B. Murphy.
The postmasters have been :
Middietown - Ezekiel Ball, April S, 1819; John Hughes, April 11, 1825; John Shafer, September 1, 1827; John M. Barnett, June 24, 1841; Jacob P. Achey, January 12, 1843; John J. Storms, January 13, 1844; William S. Storms, August 24, 1844; Isone Rob- ertson, March 8, 1845 ; David Heatou, April 27, 1849; John Harnish, December 24, 1852; Charles H. Brock, April 3, 1861; Lewis L. Lambright, February 5, 1872. . Blue Ball-Robert MeChesney, August 15, 1844; John Auld, November 1, 1845; James R. Morrison, January 19, 1853; James Logan, September 4, 1854; Jesse Bond, July 30, 1858; Jones Logan, May 6, 1861; Benew D. Shurte, February 28, 1868; Elder W. Piper, June 22, 1868; Peter D. McChesney, May 10, 1869; Sanford Young, September 9, 1870.
Clinton-James Ayers, May 17, 1826. Discontinued November 27, 1827. This post-office was erected at the 1
solicitation of Colonel James Ayers and other contractors on the Miami Canal, and moved with the work.
Excello .- J. T. Gardner, November 10, 1870; discon- tinued 'September 11, 1871; re-established October 12, 1881; Robert Y. Magenerty, October 12, 1881.
Lesourdsville .- Benjamin Lesourd, May 11, 1838; Thomas Ward, Sen., August 28, 1839; discontinned February 4, 1842; re-established May 11, 1850; John S. Hankins, May 11, 1850; Wesley B. Hedding, April S, 1851; Jacob Simpson, July 9, 1853; Lewis Emmens, October 10, 1855; John S. McCrary, September 3, 1857; Squire Berry, December 27, 1859; Perry Wright, Jani- ary 7, 1861; James K. Webster, July 30, 1862; discon- tinued April 23, 1864; re-established November 10, 1870; Albert Potter, November 10, 1870; discontinued Sep- tember 29, 1871z
Lemon .- Joseph S. Page, March 18, 1878.
Monroc .-- Andrew Boyd, May 22, 1822; George P. Williamson, October 27, 1825; John P. Williamson, January 12, 1831; Reuben Thompson, April 30, 1833; George P. Williamson, August 9, 1833; Thomas Armont, August 8, 1835; William A. Sackett, July 27, 1837; William W. Caldwell, September 16, 1841; Peter Vlere- borne, June 3, 1845; Edward Kimball, October 24, 1849; Peter Vlereborne, November 21, 1853; Abra- ham Hoagland, January 5, 1858; Reuben V. Roll. Au- gust 9, 1859; Samuel W. Wilson, February 14, 1872; Henry C. Hill, April 13, 1874; David Keyt, November 5, 1874; David Caldwell, April 28, 1875.
MIDDLETOWN.
The original town plat of Middletown, laid out in 1802 by Stephen Vail and James Sutton, reads as follows. "The above town is laid out in the fractional scetion No. 28, in township and fourth range, between the Miami Rivers. Each lot is six poles one way, agreeably to the plan, except the lots Nos. 43, 46, 47, and 50, which are six poles square. The streets are each four poles wide. The course of those running from the river is south, sixty degrees east. Water and Main Streets cross the other at right angles. North Alley and South Alley are each two poles wide. East Alley and West Alley are each one pole wide. The alleys are parallel with the streets. The streets and alleys to be perpetually kept open for publie use. The lots Nos. 10 and 11, which are colored green; are set aside for the public, to be appropriated to county purposes. First, Second, and Third Streets are always to be kept open to the river."
In 1816 the first addition was laid ont, as follows: "In addition to Middletown, in the county of Butler, the subscribers have laid off' fifty-seven lots, of the same di- mensions of the whole lots in the old plat, excepting Lot 65, containing one hundred and fifty-six poles and four- fifths. Broad Street is tive poles wide. What was called South Alley is made three poles wide and called Fourth Street, and the one south of it three poles wide and
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HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
called Fifth Street. What is called East Alley, in the | tenth day of September, 1790, he left his bome in the old part of the town, between the lots on Broadway State of New Jersey and proceeded to Fort Pitt (now Pittsburg), from whence he descended the Ohio River to Columbia, six miles below Fort Washington, situated where Cincinnati now is. He landed at Columbia on the twenty-third day of October following. At that time there were but two hewed-log houses in the town. They stood near the bank of the Ohio River. One of thein was occupied by Major Benjamin Stites, the other by John S. Gano. Gano was captain of the militia, and Ephraim Kibby was lieutenant. The company con- sisted of about seventy men, good and true, who were willing to risk their lives for the defense of the country. Street and Main Street, is continued at one pole wide and called Middle Alley; and the one cast of the lots, on the east side 'of Broadway, is one pole wide and enlled East Alley. The streets and alleys are parallel with those of the old town plat, as recorded, and are to be opened at any time a majority of the subscribers may think necessary, as witness our hands this the twenty- seventh day of March, 1816. Broad Street is to be continued at each end thereof the same course until it intersects the county road to Franklin and the one south to Middletown, leading to Reading and thence to Cinein- nati." This is signed by Hugh Vail, Shobal Vail, John Cummings, Daniel Doty, and Abner Enoch.
Among the first settlers of Middletown are names yet familiar -- Ezekiel Ball, Daniel Doty, Stephen Vail, Gar- ret Van Vost, Moses Potter, and David Enoch. All these except Enoch were from New Jersey. He came about the year 1800, and settled on Section 23 and a fraction of 24, with his father. Abner Enoch obtained these lands by a deed in 1816, from James Monroe, then the President of the United States. Abner Enoch was one of the most remarkable men in this part of the country. He possessed natural abilities, was very ener- getic, and had an unusual tenacity of purpose. He en- gaged in manufacturing and farming. He built one of the first milis ever on the Miami River, which consisted of a saw-mill, grist-mill, and a woolen factory, and he also built a distillery. All these mills received water from the same race. Abner Enoch married first a Miss Piper, who died early. He then married her brother's widow. ITis first wife's father kept a hotel in Middle- town, on the corner of Second and Main Streets. In the same house Mr. Enoch had a store at the same time. The hotel and the store were about the first of the kind in the town.
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