USA > Ohio > Adams County > Caldwell's illustrated historical atlas of Adams County, Ohio. 1797-1880 > Part 12
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W. B. BROWN .- The ancestors of Mr. Brown, were of Ger- man origin. His father, whose name was James, was the fourth generation of a family, that cach succeeding generation had but one son, and that son's name was each time "James. " Mr. Brown's grandfather was born in Washington county, Pennsylva- uia, where he married Jane Reed. They moved to Manchester, Adams county, previous to 1800, where they remained a year or two, then came to Cherry Fork, and settled on the farin now owned by J. W. Baldridge, Jr., about two miles below North Lib- erty. Here they both lived and died. Mr. Brown died in 1804, and is the second person buried in the Cherry Fork cemetery, as else- where stated. Mrs. Brown died March 13th, 1821, and is buried there also. James Brown, of this family of children, is the father of W. B. Brown, and was born 1802. He grew up on the old home- stead, and was married to Maria Baker. He became the owner of the old homestead, where he lived until his decease, March 22, 1832. Ile reared a family of four children, three sons and one daughter. William B., born March 24, 1824, James. R., born May 17. 1826, Jacob N., born October 19, 1828. Mary Je, born March 4. 1831. William B. Brown, the subject of our sketch, who is the eldest of these children, married Ellen Ralstin, April 12, 1848. settled about a mile from Unity, and engaged in the tanning busi- ness. Ile followed this business until the fall of 1850, when he removed to Unity, and in 1851, engaged in the mercantile busi. ness which he carried on until 1874. Ilo was succeeded by hi- sons, James W. and Henry II. Brown. Since "that time MIr. Brown has devoted his attention to the saw and flouring mill. which he had owned for some years before. He has bad a tami ly of six children, five sons and oue daughter. James W., Henry II., Lonis R., N. M., Mary M., and Carey 11., besides Hermes (' .. who died at 18 months. Henry II, married Rath MeIntire, Loui- R. married Ella Smith, N. M. married Belle Humes. Henry 11. and James W. are engaged in the mercantile business in Unity. Lonis R. is farming in Iowa. Mary M. and Carey 11. are not married, and reside with their parents. Mr. Brown has acted a prominent part in the public affairs of the township and county in which he lives. Ile was the most influential person in proeur- ing the location of the Grace's Run and Dunkinsville pike, took a leading part in securing the organization of Oliver township. Hle was elected township Treasurer, couscentively, for twenty- six years, and was last fall (1879) elected county Treasurer. Though liberal towards others in religious or political matters, his religions opinions are expressed in the creed of the U. P. church ; while in politics, he has always adhered to the principles of the Democratic party.
MARTHA HRSDA :- Mcs. Harsha was born at Chambersburg, Cumberland county, Pa., March 22, 1810. She was the daughter of William Buchanan. Her parents' removed to Washingtou county, Pa., in 1812, where she married Paul Harska, May 221. 1831. In 1844, she came with her husband to Adams county, who settled near where Harshaville wow stands. Mr. Harsha, who appears to have been an energetic business man, bought.up large quanties of land in the neighborhood, including the land on which the village that bears his name, is located. and with it the
. I. S. Kelly.
April, 1846 June, 1849
ti.
" F. Fear-supply June, 1852 Sept, 1854
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HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ADAMS COUNTY, OHIO.
mill. then owned by Se mmer wright. This mill Mr. Harsha at- forward- rebuilt and en ried on successfully to the time of his death. When Mr. Harsha th : setfled here the country was com- fornisch new, but by his enterprise, he soon made a great in- justement in its appearance, by developing and bringing out its resources. These parents reared a family of six children. Wil- liam B., Mane. D. 11., James W., N. P., and Elizabeth 11. Harsha. Bint four of them now survive. William B. has become the pro- prietor of the Harsha mills ; D. 11. is the proprietor of the Camp- hell mills, in Scott township; James W. died at the age of nine- teen : N. P. died during the rebellion, at Memphis, Tonn. ; Eliza- beth I. married C. S. Patton. Paul Harsha was born April 1, 1803. died April 1, 1876, aged 76 years, His widow ocenpies the old homestead.
N. C. Porros .- This gentleman's auresters were natives of Rock bridge county, Virginia. His father, Jobn Patton, was born there. June 9. 1787, where he married Phebe Taylor, who was born February 2, 1794. They came from that place in 1814, and tirst stopped near North Liberty, where they stayed a short time, then bought land on Cherry Fork, about two miles above llar- -Jxville, to which they moved, and cleared np a farin ou which they lived and died. They reared a family of seven children, four sous and three daughters. named Martha, Jumes T., John E .. Lurissa. Margaret A., Nathaniel C., Elizabeth Ann, Naucy, Phebe. Caroline, and William Henry Patton, and an adopted child named Phebe G. Finley. Of these children, three died in early years, two after arriving at the years of maturity, as, also, the adopted child, Phebe G. Finley. The survivors are John E., Lurrissa (Mrs. Casky), Nathaniel C., Elizabeth Aun (Mrs. Mor- rison). and William II. Pattou. Nathaniel C. Patton, who is the subject of this sketch, was the sixth child. IIe was born in Adams county, February 26, 1826, where he grew up to manhood. IIe married March 17, 1847, Mary Ann Thompson, daughter of Daniel Thompson. She was born February 28, 1824, near Eck- mansville. They are the parents of six children, Marion M., Joliu M., Mary A., Anabel, Lizzie, and Emma Z. Two of these are dead. Mary A., who died at four years, and John M., who died in his country's service. Marion M. is married and lives ou Cherry Fork ; the others remain at home. Jolmn M. Patton enlist- ed in Co. D., Capt. Laird, 191 Regt. O. V. I. Ile died at llarper's Ferry. April 23, 1865, from cold taken in a case of measles, IIis romains are interred in Cherry Fork cemetery, near North Lib- erty. Mr. Patton now owus a form of 260 acres. Soon after his marriage, he moved on to this land, then almost a wilderness, but by persevering industry, he has improved it, brought it into a high state of cultivation, and so adorned it by beautiful buildings, that it is now one of the prettiest farms in the county.
GRO. A. PATTON, HARSHAVILLE .- John Patton, father of Geo. A. Pation, was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, in 1798. .His parents removed in 1800, to Ohio, aud settled in Liberty town- ship. near the old Governor Kirker homestead. They afterwards removed and settled ou what is now known as the Ramsey Duffey farm. two and a half miles north of North Liberty. Here John grew up to years of maturity, and about 1820, married Miss Jane MeCagne. After his marriage. John S. Patton settled about a mile and a half south of Harshaville, on a farm now owned by the Harshas. From this place he removed to the MeCagne farm, two miles north of Bentonville. In 1823, he bought land two miles south of Eckiauville, and moved to it, where his wife died. March 31, 1835. Ile married for his second wife, Sarah Morrison, of that vicinity. Mr Patton lived on this farm until 1. when he sold it and moved to Warren county, Illinois, and ttled two miles north of Monmouth, where he died July 12, 3. and where MIrs. Patton also died, March, 1877. There were : jo Mr. Patton by his first marriage, four children, two sons wodaughters, named George A., Mary J., Nathaniel Thomas, Varihn, who all grew fo years of maturity and married. in: . woof them now survive; George A. and Nathaniel Thomas. By hi- second marriage, he raised five children, three sous and two daughters. Robert S., Carey S., Eliza, John IL. and Sarah. Sarah died at the age of 12 years. The rest are all living and married.
GEORGE A. PATTON, who is the subject of this sketeb, is the oldest son of John Patton, by his first marriage. George A. Pat -. lon was born near Bentonville, Adams county, September 20, 1826. He lived with his parents until he was twenty-three years old, when he bought a lot in Harshaville, on which he erected a -mall building, in which he opened a store, November 13, 1819. In the summer of 1850, he erveted the dwelling Louse in which he www resides, and November 13th, of the same year, he married Si -- dane MeIntire, daughter of General William MeIntire. On .bily 15, 1863, Morgan and his men, ns fliey moved through Ohio, on their ever memorable raid, passed through the village of Har- shaville, and pillageil Mr. Pation's store of goods to the amount of'about $2.000. In 1867, the building in which he had sold goods So many years was removed and its place supplied with a more enpacions establishment, que more suitable to the requirements of hi- enlarged business. These parents have had born anlo them right children, three sons nud Ive daughters, named Macy Cath- arine. Sarah Albertine, Willinm MeIntire, BIzertha Belle, John Carey, E-pie Jane, Andrew Elvas, Adelln .. George, Three of
them are dead. Sarah Alberfine, William Melufire, and John Carey. Three of them are married. Sarah Albertine married John P. Casky, a farmer on Cherry Fork, where she died. Mary Catharine married William McVey, who lives in Cincinnati. Martha Belle married Oscar B. Kirkpatrick, a farmer near Har- shaville. Mr. Patton has been engaged in the mercantile business for thirty years, and from a small beginning, has by strict integ- rity and honest dealing, accumulated a handsome property, and seenred the confidence and respect of all who know him.
HARSHA MIT.I.S.
The first mill in Oliver township was built af this point. In 1817, General Samuel Wright, one of the early pioneers, put up a log building for a mill, which he run until 1824, when he built a frame. He, in ISI9, started a carding machjue, which he carried on unfil 1833, when it was discontinued. The mill he continued to run until 1816, when he sold it to Panl Harsha. There was, down to this time, but one pair of burrs, but Mr. Harsha, being a man of enterprise. the next year, 1847, put in two additional pair of burrs. In 1858, he removed the old frame building, and put in the present substantial one. Mr. Marsba died in 1876, and his sou. W. B. Harsha, became the proprietor of the mills, which are still carried on with their accustomed energy.
MURDER OF WILLIAM H. SENTER AND HIS WIFE.
In 1855, flere lived about a mile and a half southeast of Unity, a man named William II. Senter, and his wife, Nancy Seuter. They were some forty-five or fifty years of age, honest, quiet. inoffensive, simple hearted people. They owned a farm of one hundred acres, of rather thin, poor laud. They were without children, and in this retired place, were peacefully living in their Inunble log cabin, when a young man named Alexander Milligan made his appearance in the neighborhood, sometime in the fall of that year. Milligan seemed to be rather looking for a piece of land, became acquainted with Senter, and after a while contrated for his farm, agreeing to pay him $1,000, the first of December. HIe then made his home with Senter, and perhaps worked some in repairing the farm. About the latter part of November or first of December. Senfer aud his wife were missing from the neighborhood. Milligan stated he had paid them their money, had bought their personal property and they had left, and he did uot know where they had gone to. Suspicion was presently aroused, Milligan was arrested and a pretty thorough search in- stituted, when the mangled bodies of Senter and his wife were found buried in the spring run, near the milk house, with a lot of logs piled over the place. An examination showed that their heads had been ernshed with an axe, and their bodies then dragged with their night clothes only on. to the place of conceal- ment. Their hair was mafted with burrs, showing that they had been dragged through a burr patch between the house and spring. Milligan was indieted, and at the November terin of Court, 1856, convicted of murder in the second degree, and sentenced to the penitentiary for life. After serving a few years he became insane and died. Who Milligan was, or where his ancestors lived, was never known. The court flat tried this case were : Judge, S. F. Norris. Attorneys for the State, J. W. MeFerren, Proscentor ; assisted by J. McCormick and T. J. Mullen. Counsel tor pris- oner, J. M. Wells, Thomas MeCauslen, J. II. Thompson and J. R. Cockerill. The jury were, George W. McGian, Jefferson 1p. ; Daniel Keuyon, Greene ; Starling C. Robinson, Greene; Michael Roush, Sprigy ; Simeon Dunn, Jefferson ; James Abbott. Greene ; Samuel 11. Phillips, Sprigg ; James M. Vandergrift, Sprigg ; John Seoft. Jefferson ; John Plummer, Sprigg ; JJames M. Middleswart. Monroe ; Joseph McKee, Greene.
REMINISCENCES.
IN the earlier days of the settlements here wild beasts and game of all kinds fairly swarmed through the forests. It was a perfect paradise for hnufers and daring spirits who delighted in wild, dangerous adventures. Wolves and bears were often caught in fraps. Gen. Samuel Wright, one of the pioneers, was a man of stout frame, and a great hunter. He, one morning; found a wolf' caught in a frap. This animal, for some reason, he desired to take home alive. In cogitating upon some way to do it, he ap- proached too near to it, and was attacked, by it. With a freuen- dons blow of his -powerful tist, he knocked the beast down. Where there is a will, however, there is a way. The general, by getting poles over the wolf's neck, pinioned him down, and with cords, tied his legs aud mouth. Mr. Wright was on horseback. and the next thing was to get the wolf on the horse. To do this. he found a tree blown out by the roots, that had not fallen quite that, but remained at something of an angle, To this tree he pull- ed his wolf, and placed it far enough up the log to be on a level with his horse's back, then he mounted his horse, road him np beside the log, pulled the wolf ou before bim and carried if home ulive. This ocenrred on the farm uow owned by Mr. Harsha. It was carried about one and a half mites, Mr. Wright on another occasion, attacked an old bear with fwo cubs, and single handed, with an axe killed them all.
J. II. B. CRISWELL .- James Criswell, futher of J. I. B. Cris- well, was born in Hartford county, Maryland, April 16th, 1791. In the year ISIS, he, with his two brothers und one sister, emi-
grated to Ohio, and settled in Adams county, one anda half miles N. E. of Inity, in what is now Oliver township, on the property now owned by W. C. Dunn and George Frreland. On the 11th of March, 1819, he married Isabella Edgar, danghter of Jours Edgar. of York county, Pennsylvania. tle raised a family of tive children, four of whom grew to years of maturity, and are yet living. Mary, William, J. I. B. and Eliza E. Mary @married David Clark ; William and Eliza E. are yet single. J. I. B. Cris- well, the fourth child, was born in Oliver (then Wayne) township, in 1826, where he grew to years of manhood, after which he went. to Pennsylvania, where he remained some fifteen years, when he returned to Ohio, in 1866, and purchased the farm on which he now lives. On the 9th of June, 1868, he was married to Miss Elizabeth A. MeCourtney, of York county, Pa., and settled down on the firm on which he now resides. This farm, which lies on the Grace's Run and Dunkinsville pike, about one and a half miles east of Unity, bas been put in a good state of cultivation ". Mr: Criswell, who has improved and beautified it by good bui ings, where he now lives, surrounded by the comforts of # Mr. Criswell was the first to introduce Sulphur Phosphate of li. . into Adams county, as a fertilizer, in 1867 on corn. In 1872 . .. first tried the experiment on wheat, by using two hundred ant fifty barrels to the acre, on eight acres, in a field of lifteen, which was attended with satisfactory results. He continued his experi- ments some time before many others would venture to try it, but now the use of these fertilizers has become general all over the county, no less than five hundred tons being shipped to Winches- ter alone in 1879.
CHAPTER XVI.
GREENE TOWNSHIP.
This was known by the name of Iron Ridge township in the days of the territorial government. It was reorganized by the Commissioners, December 3. 1806, and named in honor of Geu. Greene, of revolutionary tame. It is in the south-eastern part of the county. Beginning at the mouth of Brush creek, it runs up that stream to the mouth of Beasley's Fork, thence on a direct line to the head of Black's run, thence on the highlands of Ohio and Scioto Brush creek to the east line of Adams county, thence south along. said county line to the Ohio river, thence down said river to the place of beginning. It has twelve miles of river front.
It contain 495 square miles, and 31,730 acres of land. The elections were ordered to be held at the house of Obadiah Stonf.
SURFACE.
A large portion of this township is high, lilly and rough land. The highest point of land along the Ohio river within the State, is said to be within this township. It also contains quar- ries of the best building stone in the State, or perhaps in the United States.
This is the Waverly sand stone, and is quarried and shipped in large quantities to various parts of the United States. The Burnet House and Grand Hotel, of Cincinnati, as well as many of the best houses in that city, are made of this stone. The Cu. tom Houses of St. Louis and Chicago are built of it. It shipped to New York a.id Boston.
The road leading from Rome to Buenavista passes along tl base of hills that lie a little distance back from the river, and ri- seven or eight hundred feet above it at low water mark.
These hills are for a good part of this distance, faced wit perpendicular walls of rock, several hundred feet in height. Tl: action of the elements and frost have from time to time, detacher minuy fragments of these rocks, some of them of huge proportion -. which have been precipitated to the valleys below. The resist- less impetus given to these blocks by their rapid descent. ha- propelled them across the road and into the adjoining field -. some of which are thickly covered with them!
CREEKS.
The principal stream of water is Stout's run, named from Obadialı Stout, the first settler upon its banks. This ruu, which is not of any considerable size, is fed by numerous small tribu- taries that have their sources in the many springs that issue from the gorges of the mountainous hills that rear their tops in the ad- jacent country.
The narrow valleys along the little streams, as well as the hillsides facing the north, norta-east and east, are rich and pro- ductive. The timber: poplar, basswood. chestnut, sugar, oak. hickory and spice brush, while those facing the south and south- west, contain a great deal of ornamental rock-work, and are col- ered with pine, cedar. laurel, black gum and sourwood shrubbery. with huckleberry bushes and winter green as an undergrowth.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ADAMS COUNTY, OHIO.
The river tudom up low ards flocks . le, arequires a consider- Possibile as well as the marries valleys stong the greeks, yield wel heavy proje of corn ail wheat, white the richer hillsides prolure excellent tobacco, potatoes and I'ruits. The enttivation id'tobbaco is receiving consideralde attention of latr.
The inhabitants derive considerable revenue from the sale of staves for cooperage, tan-bark and hoop-poles, which they gather frin the forest- that still cover many of the more barren hills .. und which they haul to Rome and ship or sell there.
FIRST SETTLERS.
The fire white settler in Greene township. was Obadiah Front, who was a native of New Jersey, and served through the 1; w 'tionary war. After the war was over, he moved to Red- .... l'; . and from that place to Blue Lick, Ky. ; from there he . : 1 . Manchester Island, and thence to Graham Station, nt p / h hod two children tomahawked and scalped by the .1.2 ... In the year 19& or '97 he moved to this township and He'sa Puntary's Fick of Stout's run, on a mound near where de Rang and West Caiou road crosses the run. This is the farm now os ned by Noah Tracey. Tradition has it that there was a -nul! Indian cornfield just north of this mound, which was the ilneement to settle at that particular point.
Mr. Stout had ten children, seven sons and three daughters; Thoma. S., Charity Hubbard, Rachel Pettitt. Josiah S .. Isane S .. Sarah fole, Jesse S., Obadiah and John ; the last two were the ote- killed by the Indians at Graham's Station.
In 1793. Obadiah Stout. granilson of Obadiah, and son of William Stout, was born-the first white child in the town- -hip.
Shortly after Mr. Stout settled, other families came and lo- rated in the neighborhood, among whom were the Colvins, the Pettitts, Montgomerys, Samuels, John Russell, Geo. 11. Puntney and his father-in-law. William Hamilton, who taught the first
George Hollingsworth Puntney was a son of Joseph Puntney, whose father was a French llugenot. who was compelled to leave le- native home in France on account of his religions principles. Ily left Rochelle, France,, two weeks before the elder Marion . f.l. : of Francis Marion of Revolutionary tame), emigrated also ... . same place on account of his religious principles. The ship l'at carried the Puntney family, landed them on a barren, monn- tainov, i-land in the West Indies, caffed Eustatia. They soon became dissatisfied wich it, and the first opportunity, embarked the tihen in Holland ; from there they soon went to Oxford, Eng- land. where Joseph Puntuey married Mary Hollingsworth. From there they emigrated to America, and settled at Little Gun Powder F. 'Is in Maryland. At the breaking out of the Revolu- Boaary War. George 11. Puutney was fourteen years old. His father died in the second year of the war, and his property was sold to the administrator for $22,000, which was paid in conti- ti entaf money that soon became worthless. The family then moved to Braddock's old battle-field in Pennsylvanin, and George 11. Puntuey became a scont. He afterwards became a trader with the Delaware Indians, and subsequently connected with a surveying party in the Greene river country, Kentucky. He przed Cincinnati twice before there was a stick of timber cut on ty sar of that city. He presently married and settled in Bour- . . comty. Kentucky. He moved to Greene township in March o thel settled on what is now known as the Puntney farm. tul- farm, James Puntney was born, September 1, 1800. Geo. . inthey died in 1853, at the age of 94.
EMBLY ERCOLLECTIONS.
At the first settling of Green township, it was the hunter's paradise. It abounded in bear, deer, turkeys, and all the game ratunon to a new and hilly country. , William Stont, while hunt- ing cuons one night near where Rome stands, killed a mother Far and two cubs, with his dogs and an ax. One of the Colvins killed a woll' with an ax-handle, that he was using as a stall ar
Deer weso plenty in the hills of Stout's run, Long L'ek and Twin vreck down to 1853, or as late a: 1857. They are now all pour.
At the time William Hamilton taught in the township, which was in Is01. there were four distilleries, one school house and no "Surch, There are now tive churches, thirteen school houses med but one distillery.
VILLAGES.
There are two villages, Rome and Commercialtowu.
HOME,
Which is the principal town, was laid out by William Stout, Sr .. March 46, 1835, with thirty lots. It is situated on the banks of the Ohio river, and is a shipping point for a considerable scope of cenutry back from the river, embracing most of Greene and J. derson, with a portion of Meig- townships. It is the great Jopping plice for the -taves, tan-bark and hoop-poles which
those regions supply. Twelve coopers ship their aler front here.
Romo contains three dry goods stores, two tafftigery estaba- lisbments, one confectionery store, two shoe shope, our barnes shop, one tin shop, one blacksmith shop. one stemm aw - mill, two cooper shops, two carpenter shops, a boat yard. where barges are built ; u whart boat, n telegraph office, a union select with three departments, two churches; one Methodist Episcopal, som Pre- byterian, and a population of about 40.
ROCKVILLE.
This village is situated about six miles above Rompe, on the Ohio river, near the stone quarries, hence the name. ti. was laid ont Jannary 11, 4830, with a [dat of twenty-six lots ; S. B. MeC'all, proprietor.
.lolin Longhery, an enterprising citizen, who lived adjoining or within the village, not liking the class of citizens that had set- tled in it. bought ont one by one the lot owners, petitioned the court for and obtained an order to vacate the place. The several houses yet remaining are occupied by tenants, but there is no business carried on any more in the place. The ocenpants of the houses are mostly laborers, who work in the quarries.
Mr. McCall, bound not to be thwarted in hisdesire for o town, soon after laid off' another village, alnost adjoining Rockville. This town he called
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