USA > Ohio > Brown County > Atlas of Brown Co., Ohio > Part 5
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY, OHIO-CONTINUED.
PLEASANT TOWNSHIP.
Among the early settlers in this township were Jacob Burgett, Auron Burgett, Valentine Burgett, Walter Wall, John Macklin, James Roney, John Roncy, James Culvin, Amos Moore, Sr., Wm. Lyon, James Woods, Nathaniel Woods, Henry Ralston, Robert Sample, Stepben Calvin, Robert Wright, Samuel Ellis, Sannel Ross, James Curry, Robert Curry, Edward Hall, Sr., Edward Hall, Jr., Fielding Martin, Jnmes Hamilton, Amos Mitchell, James Mc- Kinaey, James Londen from Mason County, Ky., emigrated with his mother to Adams, now Brown County, Ohio, in the year 1806, nud settled on a lcase of land belonging to Cnpt. Washburn, the same being now owned by John B. Clifton, and located in Jeffer- son Township. Mr. Louden was at that time ten years old. Among the settlers living in the neighborhood at that time, were Alexander Jolly, David Devore, Neil, and Joseph Washburn, James Works, Isaac Pritchett, Joseph Newman, John Phillips, Robert Forbus, Mrs. Londen hud a family of three children, viz., Charles, James, and Nancy, only one of whom (James) is now living, Thomas E. Allen, a native of the State of Maryland, emigrated from the State of Kentucky during the year 1800, nud settled ou the Ohio River near the town of Ripley. After remain- ing here a short time he purchased fifty acres of land on " White Oak" Creek, one mile west of Georgetown, giving in exchange for the same a horse valued at sixty-live dollars. After remaining here a few years he removed to Bethel, Clermont County, Ohio. Mr. Allea had a family of nine children. Walter Wall, a native of l'ennsylvania, came to this county aud settled in this township at aa carly day. He enme with his family in an open boat from Pitts- burg, nnd settled on the land now owned by his son, William Wall. The place where he settled wns in an unbroken forest, without so much as a cabin to protect him from the weather. Among the early settlers of this township not mentioned were Joha Liggett, John Mefford, Joshua Jordan, Thomas Rodgers, Abram Sells, Willinm, Isaac, and Amos Ellis, Archibald Tweed, John and Robert Forsythe.
The first church organization in the township was at " Free Svil Ridge," as early as the year 1800. The first church build- ing ereeted was a double-log church built by the Presbyterians. The second chureb building erected was a Methodist church called Hillman's Church, in the southeastern part of the township.
Pleasant township contains twenty-two thousand four hundred and fifty acres of land, valued at six hundred and sixty-six thou- sund three hundred and eighteen dollars, chattel property to the amount of two hundred and twenty-three thousand four hundred and thirty-five dollars, value of property in towns and villages one hundred and fifty thousand nine hundred and fifty-five dollars, mnking a total valuntion of one million two hundred and sixty thousand five hundred and sixty dollars. It also contains fifteen school districts, with an ennmeration of nine hundred and thirty- eight children between the uges of six nud twenty-one years, and a voting population of five hundred and forty-four.
GEORGETOWN.
Allen Woods was among the first settlers in this vicinity, nnd laid ont the north part of the town (on land previously purchased by him) December 10, 1819. Henry Newkirk soon niter luid out the south part of the town ; additions having since been made by J. G. Marshall nud C. A. White. The land on which the town was laid ont was at that time covered with n dense growth of onderbrush and timber, at the same time being very wet nnd marshy. David Johnson, from Hillsboro, wns the first man of business in the town; he engaging in the mercantile business as early as the year 1820. Mr. Johnson was followed by Charles White, James Clark, John J. Higgins, Thomns L. Hamer, and others. During the latter part of the year 1820, the county seat was located, and the first term of court held in the village. The first hotel wns a large building, erected by Allen Woods, on the site where the " American House" now stands. Johnson & Hughes engaged in the pork business as early as 1820. The fol- lowing uotice of their business occurred in the Benefactor, a paper published at Levannn : "We will pay $2.50 in silver, per hundred, for corn-fed pork, or $3.00 in Kentucky notes-George- town, Ohio, Nov. 23, 1820-Johnson & Hughes." The Chris- tian Church (New-light) was organized in 1825 hy Elder Gard- ner, this being the first church organization in the village. The elurch building was of brick, built by subscription, and paid for mostly in trade. The second church huilt in the town wns that of the Presbyterians, organized and built during the year 1826. The building was of briek, and was ereeted on the site of the present church of this denomination. Among the members of this church were Dr. Buekner, the Macklin and Shepherd families. The next chureh organized in the village was the Baptist Chnreh, organized during the year 1827, the principal members being Job, Eghert, Edward Thompson, and Josepb Stitt. The Methodist Cbureh was organized and a church built about the year 1827 by George Maley. The first building was of briek, and stood near the present site of the woollen mill. The present M. E. ehureh was erected in 1846; the Presbyterian church in 1853. George- town now eoatains five dry goods stores, two elothing stores, seven groceries, two stove and tin-ware stores, one saddle and harness shop, one woollen factory, one saw and grist mill, three hotels, three ehurehes, one bank, one earriage shop, five blacksmith shops, one farnitare store, two carpenters, six physicians, fifteen law- yers, one uaion school of five rooms, The village has a popula- tion of fourteea hundred.
THOMAS LYON HAMEn was born in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, in the month of July, 1800. In or abont the year 1812 his father removed to the State of New York, and settled in the vicinity of Lake Champlain, where he remained until the year 1817, when he emigrated to Butler County, Ohio, and set- iled near the present villnge of Oxford. His son Thomas left him at the mouth of " Nine-Mile Creek," on the Ohio River, where he engaged in tenching school. At the close of his first term of school he immediately proenred another at the village of Withams- ville, nud at a later date taught school in the town of Bethel, where he boarded with the family of Thomas Morris, under whose instructions he pursued the study of law. In the spring of 1821 he was admitted to the Bar at Williamshurg, then the county seat of Clermont County. In the following August he removed to Georgetown, and began the practice of his profession. In the ycar 1825 Mr. Hamer was elected representative for Brown Coonly. In the year 1829 he was again eleeted to the Legisla- ture, and was chosen speaker of the House of Representatives. In the year 1833 he was elected to Cougress from his district. At the beginning of the war with Mexico he enlisted ns a private soldier, but was soon promoted to the command of an Ohio brigade. During his term of service in the army he was again elected (October, 1846) to Congress from his district. On tbe 3d day of December, 1846, he died near Monterey, while yet in the service of his conntry. His remains were brought to George- town, and interred February 13, 1847. Mr. Hamer was regarded as nn able and snecessful lawyer, the oracle of his neighborhood, beloved and venerated ; only an extended history would do justiee to bis memory.
JESSE R. GRANT, father of U. S. Grant, located here at an early day, nnd was engaged in the tanning business. He was also a prominent man in the " Whig party" in its day. A raey ac- connt is given in the Ohio Freeman (published at Georgetown hy John Duffey), on May 11, 1839, of the clinrter election, at which it appears Jesse R. Grant was a enndidate for Mayor, but de- feated by John Smiley. The article closes with these lines-more emphatic than poetic :-
" Float high and broad our city's banner, We're ruled no longer by a tanner 1 The despot's laws are all repeal'd, And all their folly stands reveal'd I
A tailor now has got the sway, Which he will keep until next May ; And then if he but outs and stitches plain, We'll try to make him Mayor again. But if he cuts to make a swell, And does not do his duty well, We'll serve him as we did friend G -- t, And be our Mayor again he shan't."
Here is also the home of G. W. KING, the first Prosecuting Attorney for Brown Couaty. At the organization of the county Mr. King was a resident of Ripley, but removed to Georgetown in a short time after it became the county seat. Mr. King has been an able and snecessful Inwyer, nud, although advaneed in years, still continues the practice of his profession.
LEWIS TOWNSHIP.
William Trout was born in Lincoln County, North Carolina, in 1786. In 1809 he removed from there to Clermont (now Brown) County, Ohio, nud settled on a branch of Bullskin Creek, a few miles from the Ohio River, ou the land now owned by James Miller. There was living in the vicinity at that time Joseph Clark, who afterward built a sawmill on the creek. Aside from these two men and their families, there were no other resi- dents nearer than Felicity, a distance of several miles. During the next year (1810) there came into the vicinity John Hoss, from North Carolina; the Logans nnd Wells, frota Kentucky. Robert Higgins was born in Virginia, in the year 1750, and served as captain in the continental nrmy during the war of the " Revolu- tion;" was taken prisoner at the battle of Germantowa, and was kept as such on Long Island during the Inst three years of the war. In 1796 he emigrated from the South Branch of the Po- tomae River to Brown County, Ohio, nnd settled ou a survey of 1000 acres of land, obtained for services in the army, in the south part of this township, including the present town of Higginsport, which was laid ont by him. He died in the year 1825. Jesse Printy is also an early settler ia this township. He was born nenr Trenton, New Jersey, in 1784, and removed to Mason County, Kentucky, in the year 1796. After remaining there 14 years he removed to.Lewis Township, Brown County, Ohio, and settled on Bullskin Creek, taking a lease from Richard K. Mead, on the land now in the aame of Calvin Tegnrden. There were living at that time in this vicinity Joseph Clark and John Bowd; the latter kept the first ferry between Augusta and the Ohio side of tho river. James Roney built a log jaill on White Oak Creek, in the year 1800, which is said to have heen the first built in the eounty. John Sargent, Ephraim Minor, and Nathaniel Norris were also early settlers in this township. John Bowd was the first sheriff of Clermont County; Lewis Township being a part of Clermont County nt that time (1800). Zion M. E. Church was among the first places of worship in the township; the build- ing was a hewed-log house, built for school purposes ; afterward used for a elinrch.
Higgiasport, ia the south part of the towaship, was laid out by Robert Higgins, ia the year 1804, on a traet of land entered by him in the Virginia military land district. The towa contains 3 dry-goods stores, 5 groeeries, 2 drug stores, 3 hardware stores,
1 distillery, 1 sawmill, 10 tobacco warehouses, 2 pork honses, 4 elmurches, viz : 1 Christian, 1 Presbyterian, 1 Lutheran, and 1 Gernian Methodist; Masonir, Odd Fellow, and Good Templar Lodges, 3 physicians, 1 graded school, 2 hotels, 1 livery stable, 3 coal yards, 2 wngon nnd 3 blacksmith shops. The town contains about 800 inlinhitants; has daily communication with George- town and all points on the Ohio River.
Feesburg, a small village in the north part of the township, wns laid out in 1834, by Thomas Fee, who was engaged in the mercautile business. It now contains 3 stores, 3 churches, viz. : 1 Methodist, 1 Presbyterian, and 1 Christian ; 1 school, 2 wagon nnd 2 blacksmith shops, and post-office, and 200 inhabitants. The township has in all 9 churches and 13 schools, with an enn- merntion of 1139 children, including 350 belonging to the sepa- rate school distriet of Higginsport. It also contains seventeen miles of free turnpike, has a voting population of 525, and a tux- uble valuation of $1,270,559.
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
Jefferson Township wns originally n part of Byrd, including also small parts of Jackson and Franklin, organized in 1853. John MeMahan and George Brown were elected magistrates nt the first election, in November, 1853.
Samuel Pilson, wife, and three children, viz. : James, John, and Jane, removed from Angusta County, Virginia, in the month of November, 1807, and settled in what is now Jefferson (then Byrd) Township, where he remained until his death in 1848, nged 80 years. James, his oldest son, is now still living on the old home- stead of his father, and is the oldest person now living in the township, being in bis 80th year. He was appointed surveyor hy the court of Adams County, at the age of 20 years, and was nfterward surveyor of Brown Connty. 1n 1831 and '32 he was a member of the House of Representatives, his opponent heing Jesse R. Grant, father of the present president of the United States. In 1834 and '35 he represented Adams and Browa counties in the State Senate.
Among the early settlers of this township were George Baird, Abram Shepherd, Col. Edwards, Benj. Garner, John Mann, Levi Laycock, Bazil 'Thomas, Aleck Glaize, the Washıburns, Ken- netts, Glaziers, Brockawnys, and Shaws.
The lirst school of the township was on the land of James Baird. The first church was that of the Presbyterians, built on the land now owned by James Baird-Reuben White minister.
JERAL DONALSON was horn 1767, came to this military district in the year 1790, was taken by the Indians in 1791, made his escape about ten days afterword, reaching Fort Washington. He was with Wayne's expedition agninst the Indinns, heard the ean- non that proclaimed the passage of the " Declaration of Inde- pendenee." He died in 1860, aged 90 years.
RUSSELLVILLE,
On the Ripley and Hillsborough turnpike, is distant ten miles from the former, and seven miles from Georgetown. It was laid out in the yenr 1816, hy Russell Shaw, and named for him. Russell- ville has always been noted for its eburches, of which it contains seven. It also contains several stores and shops, one flouring laill, two hotels, and about 400 inhabitants. The township con- tains in all ten churches and five schools, with an enumeration of 300 children, exclusive of Russellville, which has aa enumeration of 168, making a total of 468. The voting population of the township numbers 256.
Taxable valnation of township, exclusive of Russellville, $426,510. Russellville, $125,465. Total $551,975.
CLARK TOWNSHIP
Is one of the original townships of Brown County, from which Pike township was stricken off Marel 23, 1823. Thomas West was born in Pennsylvanin, in 1785. In 1788, at the nge of three yenrs, he emigrated to Kentucky with his grandfather, and settled in Bourbon County. After remaining there twelve years, they emi- grated to Ohio, and settled in Clermont County, on the land where David Hoover now lives, ja Franklin township. In 1808, he wns married to Barbara Gray, and in 1814 they removed to Lewis township, in Brown County, and settled on the land now owned by Solomon Bolander. They had a family of tea children, three hoys and seven girls, seven of whom are now living. Mr. West now resides with his son, Z. West, in Clark township, his wife having died in 1866, at the age of 75 years. He is probably the oldest man now living in the township, having attained the age of 90 years. He is still a vigorous and aetive man for that age, nnd cnn readily see to read the finest print without the aid of spectaeles.
Among the early settlers of the township, were John Frazee, Jolin Brooks, Matthew Coulter, Amos Stevens, Jnmes Duncanson, William Neal, Sr., John Hester, George Flake, Nathaniel Moore, Lonis Thompson, David Ogden, Thomas Early. David Ogden was from New York, and eame to Ohio in- 1815, and settled in Hamilton County, where he remained two years, and then removed to this township in 1817, and settled on the Innd now owned by Dr. Robinson. Brooks was from North Carolina, Duncanson from Long Island. Thomas Early was a native of Virginia, where he wns born in 1785, from whence he removed to Ohio in 1816, and settled in Clermont Connty ; after a period of four years he removed to Brown. He is said to have been the first man to haul produce to Cincinnati from Brown County ia a wagon.
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HISTORY OF BROWN COUNTY, OHIO-CONTINUED.
HAMERSVILLE
Was laid out in the year by Nathaniel Moore and George Flake. It now contains 4 stores, 1 stirrup factory, 3 shops, 1 church, 1 school, post-office, 1 saw mill, 2 physicians, Odd Fellows' and Good Templars' lodges, and one "Order of the Patrons of Ilusbaudry."
The township bas 3 churches, viz., one Christian Union, one Christian, und one M. E. It also contains seven schools with an enumeration of 547, a voting population of 207, and a taxable valuation of $520,707.
HUNTINGTON TOWNSHIP.
This township was organized prior to its being stricken from Adams Connty. Its position is in the southeast part of Brown, bordering on Adams County, and the Ohio River, the surface is very much diversified, the land bordering on the river is compara- tively level, while in the interior, and north, rough and hilly.
Benjamin Beasly, Sr., was the first settler within the limits of this township. He was a native of Virginia, from whence he re- moved to Kentucky in the yenr 1789; nfter remaining there seven years he removed to Ohio, and settled on what is now known as Beasly's Run in the year 1796, on the land now owned by Mrs. Grimes, his granddaughter. During the next year, there came James Parker, from Penna., Wm. Gilberts, Uriah White, John and William Hiatt, John Evous, John Housh, John Cruse, Geo. Harrison, John Gunsaulus, Ellis Palmer.
Evan Campbell, a native of Redstone, Penna., emigrated to Kentucky, and settled at "Brooks Bar" three miles above Lime- stone (now Maysville), some years prior to 1800. In or about the year 1800, he purchased a tract of land in Ohio opposite Maysville, Ky., and moved upon it. There was living at that time, upon the present site of Aberdeen, Natlinn Ellis, who owned the land uow occupied by the town. Ellis afterward established the first ferry between Ohio and Kentucky, in this vicinity, which he kept for a number of years. He also planted an orchard in the river bottom where the town wow stands, which is supposed to have been the first planted in Brown County. Previous to the organization of a school on this side of the river, the children were sent across the river to Mnysville. In 1817, a log school house was erected on the land of Evan Campbell, one mile north- east of town, a Mr. Calderwood being employed to teach the first school for $2.50 per sebolar, for a term of three months. Previous to a church organization, the people attended services in Ken- tucky. The first church organization in the township was by the Rev. Wood, in the year 1800, said organization being Baptist. A few years afterward, n Methodist organization was effected at the house of James Dennis, on the land now owned by John Brookover. Among those who belonged to this organization, were the Campbells, Deunis', McCauleys, Kilgores.
The first church built in the townsbip, wns Bethlehem Church, built by the New Lights on Slickaway Creek, in 1829. 'The building was of brick, and was blown down by a storm in 1860, and replaced with a frame building the same year. The Presby- terian church at Huntington was the second church erected in the township, built about the year 1830. The M. E. chureb iu Aber- deen was erected in 1845. Jesse Ellis, son of Nathan Ellis, is now the oldest man living in the township, he being in bis 96th year. Nathan Ellis was the first "justice of the peace" in the township, after whom Thomas Shelton was elected, who held tbe office for 44 successive years. He was born in Stafford Connty, Va., 1776, and in 1812 emigrated to Brown County. In 1816, he was elected justice of the peace for Huntington township, which office he held without interruption until his death (1860). He was perhaps the most remarkable man of his section, from the fact that he had officiated at the solemnization of more marriages than any person in the United States. It has been estimated that he has united in the bonds of wedlock over four thousand persons.
Hundreds of young people, whose parents were unfavorable to their plans, have flown to the old "Squire" and found bis services an efficient remedy for their misfortunes. He always claimed that the majority of his marriages were happily made, and if they turned out to the contrary, he consoled himself with the reflection that his own part was well done, and he was not to binme. The old gentleman, for many years previous to his death, had a peculiar passion for buying or trading watches, and it was said that he seldom made a good trade. He has purebased as many as six watches within a week, and traded them for others within that same time. He was a zealous and lifelong demoerat, taking great interest in the progress and prosperity of his party, and never voting any other ticket. After the death of Shelton, Massie Beasly was elected justice of the peace, whe has remained in office until the present time.
ABERDEEN.
This town was laid out July 5, 1816, by Nathan Ellis, James Powers' addition iu 1832, Jno. Bensly's Ist addition 1841, 2d 1845, 3d 1850. The first man of business in the town was Arthur Mitchell, who was in the mercantile business. Succeeding him were Andrew Scott, James G. Lane, and Wm. Parker. The town now contains 2 drygoods stores, 2 blacksmith shops, 1 wagon shop, 1 tannery, 1 hotel, 2 livery stables, lumber and coal yard, and 1 commission house, 1 school, 2 churches, Masonic, Odd Fellows, aad Good Templar lodges. The township contaias in all 5 churches, viz., 2 Christian, 1 Baptist, 1 Presbyterian, I M. E.
No. of school districts 13, with nn enumeration of 809. Separate distriet of Aberdeen 311, voting population 135.
Taxable valuntion of township $757,164 134.727
= " Aberdeca
Total taxable valuation .
$891,891
PIKE TOWNSHIP.
This towaship, originally a part of Clark, wns organized March 3, 1823; the survey being made by John MeBeth. The first, sunn who came to this township was John Allen, who came here in 1810, while it was yet a part of Clermont County. Mr. Allen settled on Sterling Creek near the centre of the township on the land now in the possession of the heirs of Mrs. Blair. Ile was soon after followed by Joshna Archer, Willinm Still, and George Sheik. These men were known as " squatters," and located four miles from New Hope, which was the nearest settlement. John Allen was the first to make a purchase for a permanent settlement, buying 1200 aeres of land in the survey of Benj. Holmes." Mr. Allen bought of the ngent of Holmes in the year 1824, paying two dollars per acre for his land. He continued the purchase of land by the survey until he was the owner of 3100 Beres, lying on both sides of Sterling Creek. This he sold in quantities to suit purchasers at different periods ; unfortunately for him the pur- chasers were compelled in a short tinie to pay $3.00 per acre for the land which they had bought of Allen for $2.00, in consequence of bis title to the same not being genuine.
In 1824 Mr. Allen was appointed colonel of a regiment of militia, and so rapidly had the county been settled that he mus- tered on the farm, where he had settleil ns a squatter fourteen years before, his regiment of men, numbering eight hundred rank and file. Joseph Keethler, Christopher Day, Robert Allen, Vinson Brown, Robert Allen, Ilutchins Allen, Jasper Shotwell, from Ky., John Earhart, from Pennsylvania, Joshua Lambert, Henry Moyer, Jumes and Jonathan Hunt, were among the early pioneers of this township. The first church organization was a Methodist. church ou Sterling Creek in 1823, services being held at private houses ; those of Joseph Keethler and John Allen being the most prominent. John Allen was the first justice of the peace in the township, elected in 1824, which office he held for twelve years. Vinson Brown and Martha Allen were the first persons united in marriage in the township, aud the child first born in the township was Sanford Allen, son of John Allen, boru in 1810. The first seltool was tanght by Joseph Ralston in n log-enbin on the land of John Allen in the year 1817. The same was taught by subscription, the tnition being $1.25 per quarter, and the number of pupils twelve, making $15 per quarter, or $5.00 per month for his services. The sebool was supported by John Allen, Joseph Keethler, Christopher Day, Samuel Jones, and Vinson Brown. Robert and Charles Brown of this township were among tbe pupils of said school.
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