USA > Ohio > Adams County > Caldwell's illustrated historical atlas of Adams County, Ohio. 1797-1880 > Part 8
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39
This Mr. Sherwood, as early as 1792 or '93, built a blockhon .. about 80 rods below the mouth of Ohio Brush Creek, on survey No. 1,622, to which he moved his family, where he lived until his death. lle was buried near the west end of the blockhouse. Th . iuroads of the river in wearing away the bank. washed out his remains, which were carried away by the waters.
ZEPHANIAN WADE.
Zephanin Wade located a farm that is now owned by John Morgan. On this farm is a splendid spring. and on that account, Mr. Wade and Jacob Yoenm both wanted this particular lot of land. To decide which should have it, they agreed to shoot at a " mark " for choice. They placed the target against a white oak tree, that stands in the boundaries of tho road, that passes near this spring and house. This free is yet vigorous and healthy and still plainly shows, though healed over, the sears where the billets were chopped out, that lay embedded in the wood. Mr. Wade won the choice, and built his house near the spring. Hereon the 20th of November, 1795, was born his daughter Christiana, now Mrs. Trenury, of Manchester, who was the first white child korn in Monroe township. Here Mr. Wade cleared up his farm reared his family. one of whom is now the venerable Caja. Wi- liam Wade, of Wrightsville, and here ke lived the renechaler of his life astoo kie dspace, les old farm and loone love pasarel
20
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ADAMS COUNTY, OHIO.
Into the linuds of strangers, noy the memories of thesn early years, with their incidents, that youorm.w bo so full of historle interest. are entombed in the endless right of oblivion.
CH PTER XL.
JEFFER IN TOWNS.".P.
At the reorganization of the townsh s of the county, in 1806, Jefferson was formed, with the followi: . boundary lines, to-wit : Beginning nt the month of Beasley - Fork ; thenee up Brush ereck to the mouth of Lick Fork ; thence east to the Scioto coun- ly 'inr : thence south along said line to the N. E. corner of Green township ; thence west along the north line of said township, to the place of' beginning. It was ralled Jefferson. in honor of Thomas Jefferson, then President of the United States. The elec- Tion- were ordered lo be held at the house of Phillip Lewis.
"The township at this time contained 78.5 square mites, by actual survey, and 50,450 acres of land. Il is the largest town- ship in the conuty.
SURFACE.
This is the most mountainous portion of Adams county. It is a snecession of hills, whose tops reach almost to the clouds. The distinctive appellation of mountain, is applied to many of them, as " Green Briar Mountain, " "Peach Mountain, " etc.
Between these hnge hilis run pretty streams of pure, clear water, with beautiful valleys along their courses, covered with nice little farms, and tasty houses, presenting the appearance of a happy people, enjoying the comforts of peaceful quiet homes, undisturbed by the busy seenes, turmoils and strifes of the outside world.
SOIL AND PRODUCTIONS.
The soil is of more than average fertility, producing good crops of wheat, corn, oats, potatoes and tobacco. The valleys are more enltivated in grain, because their level surface renders greater facilities for the farmer to plow and tend his crops, while the hillsides produce tobacco as well, and don't need as much stirring of soil, as corn and many other erops do. Hillsides that are too steep for the plow, can, on account of the mellowness of the soil, be easily cultivated in tobacco, with the use of the hoe alone, making heavy erops of that article.
Candle, hogs and sheep are raised in considerable numbers.
Newton Moore has on his farm near Brush creek, a six acre field in meadow, that was sown with timothy in 1800, without plowing the ground. This field has, without intermission, or plowing, remained in grass ever since, yielding good crops of hay for eighty years.
This was originally the best timbered township in the coun- t", its whole area, hills and valleys, being covered with a heavy growth of valuable timber, from which tl juh. bitants have de- rived no inconsiderable amount of their venne, by the sale of iminense quantities of cooper stuff, lumber and taubark, gather- ed from it. The materials are gathered and hauled to the river, and shipped to Cincinnati, and perhaps other points.
There was a large poplar tree on the farm of Finley Wams- Jny, E4q., that stood so near the Wamsleyville bridge, that fears were entertained that it might sometime fall and crush it. It wats'ent down, and when measured, the stump was found to be On feet in diameter. When chopped into eighteen inch stove .ul, it made thirty-eight cords, which would be equal to thir- i cords of wood of one hundred and twenty-eight solid feet to ยท rord.
CREEK .
The largest stream that passes through this township is Scio- to Brush Creek, which rises some siv miles from the Ohio river. runs northwardly to near the center; thence eastwardly and empties into the Scioto river.
There are numerous ther s "cams that wind their way through the township-for. more ] . ticular description of which the reader is referred to the m p, " trh accompanies this work.
PE' OLEUM IL,
Is sail to exist in several local .. .. , but perhaps not in quaar- tities that would pay for sinking w
EARLY SETTI ERS.
The first man who settled in township, .... liams, who came about 1792. and b it his house of Ohio Brush Creek, about sixteen rods above w .. rond from Cincinnati to Portsmouth, now crc This house stood opposite the presecut dwellin . f .15 ( 0. Bayless. It is said that the same day that Mr. **!. .... . . . into his cabin. he went out with his gun to kill stre h . fu per, and before he returned he had killed three !- :
The first children born in Jefferson were Job .. e a son of Jonathan Wiate. anl Archy Burkett, nephew offra, Joseph
Moore now of Solo coonly. Among the carly settlers were Jonathan Walte, who settled # farm now owned try Pater Wikotl, John Newman, David Newinan, Jesse E.lwards, John Prather and Jolin Beekman.
LARLA RECOLLECTIONS, BY O. H. PUSTENNEY.
In July 1817, a remarkable freshet occurred in Scioto Brush Creek, that did an immense amount of damage. It seems to have had its origin on Churn Creek, the waters of which, it is said rose twenty feet. The corn was about eighteen inches to two feet high. The bottom lands, as well as the loose ploweil diells, were litter- ally swept away, leaving nothing but a naked hard pan.
AN INCIDENT,
Occurred that is ahnost marvelous. A man named Swim, was living near the ereck, on the farm now owned by S. B. Wamsley, who, when he saw the water rising, sent his two little sons to pen the sheep, fearing they would be surroundeil by water. While the boys were taslening the sheep in, Swim dis- covered the waters had broken over the bank above, and were coming in a stream too large to be crossed, between the children and the house. Ile called to his boys, to let the sheep ont, and climb on the pen, which they did, pulling a favorite dog up with them. Soon the father saw with inexpressible horror and dis- may, the building, with his children on it, floating away with the irresistible foree of the waters. It was in the dusk of the evening, and the approaching darkness soon shut from the father's sight, his children, who were floating on their frail bark over the angry waters, with the probability that he would never see them again, but,
"God, who moves in a mysterious way, llis wonders to perform, Ile plants his footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm, "
had ordered it otherwise. They were borne upon the current over a smooth meadow, and in a short bend in the creek, were drifted in among some large sycamore trees that stood a little S. W. of where Wamsleyville is now situated. Here their house stuck fast, and was soon wedged in by some sixty cords of rails, that had been swept off the farms along Chira Creek above. Here, through all the gloomy, lonely night, with the doleful how !- ing of the wolves in the forests around them, sat these !wo chil- dren, with their faithful dog beside them, watching and wishing for the morning to appear. The father, who had spent a sleep- less night of agony, in fruitless efforts to find what fate had be- fallen his little boys, was met at the early dawn of the morning by the faithful dog, which by every sign he could make for his master to follow, leil the way back to the place where he had spent the night. On his way he met the children returning weary, cold and hungry.
CHURN CREEK-ORIGIN OF ITS NAME.
This creek rises in the southern interior parl of Jefferson. running in a northwesterly direction, empties into Blue Creek about half a mile above its junction with Brush Creek. In 1807, a party of surveyors working along this stream, became thirsty, clubbed together, raised three dollars, and employed a man named Armstrong, who lived near by, to go to Graham's Station, across the river in Ky., and buy them three gallons of whisky. This Armstrong, on account of the plentiful game in that neigh- borhood, had located himself on the farm now belonging to John Young, Esq. He was ready for anything that might turn up, and willingly took the money, and with his gun on his shoulder, was soon on his road to Graham's Station. On his way he killed a leer, which he skinned, and carried the hide and hind quarters with him to the Station. Upon purchasing the whisky, he dis- covered he had taken nothing with him to carry it back. Ile could procure no jug or vessel for the purpose, but, " where there is a will there isa way, " so he exchanged his deer skin and hams for a cedar churn, in which he put his liquor, and in that man- ner worked tus way back to the surveying party, who were re- joined to see him return, and with the thought of the " jolly good time " they would have. The first thing they did upon the arri- val of Armstrong and his charn of whisky, was to name the stream upon which they were surveying, " Churn Creek, " a name it retains to the present day. The next thing they did was to proceed to a spring near by and take a good drink. One of the party took a draught of water from a tin cup, which he then handled to another, while the third man knelt down, to drink , from the spring in that way. Just as he was rising up, he was den in the forehead by a rattle snake that lay coiled up in the Is on the back above. The rest of the party decideil, as he ons bitten above the heart, he would die within an hour. With death so near at hand. the bitten man thought he had better spend that hour in prayer-so he retired. a short distance and knelt down in prayer. After the rest of the party had all drank round, one of them went to the man who was thas earnestly engaged in devotional exercises, and insisted on his taking another drink, as he thought it would assist him to die easier. "the man of prayer did as he was advised. He thought if two drinks would make
him die ensler, moro would ho still better, so he kept on till he got on a bender, and didn'tille at all. Thus It was first discover- ed that whisky would cure the bite of'n snake.
The township contains une village, eight stores, four water mills, (three of them for grinding) als steam mills, (three of them flouring mills) two planing mills, iwo bucking machines, eight cooper shops, four post otllees, to-wit : Blue Creek, Cedar Mills., Wumsley and Lynx ; ten churches, as follows: one German Presbyterian, two Methodist Episcopal, two Methodist Protest- out, two Christian Union ; thirteen sub-district school houses, three fractional districts.
VILLAGES.
There is but one village in this township. It was Jald out January 15, 1874, in nineteen in-lots and one ont-lot, by William Wamsley, and called after the proprietor.
WAMSI.EYVILLE-This little village is situateil on the sonther. banks of Scioto Brush Creek, about one mile west of the Sciol .. county line. It looks bright and new, and contains three store -. one millinery shop, one shoe shop, one wagon maker, two black- smith shops, one drug store, one physician, one Odd Fellows llall, one town hall, one Christian church, and post office.
POST OFFICES.
CEDAR MILLS-This office was established August 5, 1868. with J. V. Claxton as Postmaster, who still retains it.
It received the name from the "Cedar Mills, " at that place, while the mills received their name from the creek on which they are located, the'creek taking its name from the number of cedar trees that line its banks.
BLUE CREEK-This office was established in 1844, and so named from the creek of that name, near where it is located. Isaac N. Williams was its first postmaster.
WAMSLEY-This office, so called in honor of the Wamsley family, who are leading citizens of this community, was estab- lished January 18, 1869, with William Wamsley as its first Post- master. Since that time the following persons have held the office : Dr. G. D. McCormick, George Wamsley, William Finley , Wamsley, present incumbent.
Lxxx-This office, located on what is known as Green Briar Mountain, was established May 14, 1873, with E. L. Ellis as first Postmaster.
There was some dithienlty in finding a name for it, when thinking of the wild anistals that have inhabited the wihls of the hills, the name of Lynx occurred to mind, was proposed to the Department at Washington, and adopted.
CEDAR MILLS.
Though this is not a village, it has been a noted business place from the earliest years to the present time. It was the lo- cation of the old Brush creek Furnace, that was built there in 1811, by Paul & McNichol, of Pittsburgh, who were afterward suc- ceeded by Summers & Stewart.
This furnace was carried on until 1830-40, when it ceased operations, and has now disappeared.
Although it was situated on Cedar Run. about two miles above where it empties into Brush creek, yet it was always called "Brush creek furnace"-why, is not known.
During the existence of the furnace, the company always kept a store there, which ceased when it stopped.
The furnace company, at au carly day, owned a mill that was located at the Cedar Renn falls, abont one and a fourth miles above the furnace. This was a log building and was run till it was worn out, when they built a new one near the furnace, but about the time it was completed, it burnt down, and the ma- chinery of the okl mill at the falls, was brought and put in the shed of the blast house, where it was used to grind corn until 1842. In that year William K. Stewart and John Fisher com- meneed building the present mill, which commenced operations in ISEL.
In 1849. Dugald Thompson bought the interest of Mr. Fisher, and in 1866 became sole proprietor by the purchase of Mr. Stew- art's interest, since which time he has run it alone.
There is a store in the plaer, commenced by J. V. Cluxton, in 18GS, and which he has since carried on. There is a blacksmith shop, a doctor, a post office and tive or six houses.
REMINISCENCES.
The first school house was built just above Newton. Moore's, and John Ellrod tanght the first school.
Rulmma Moore, a sister of Hosea Moore: marriedl Jas. Ken- dall, of this township. They afterwards removeil to Winchester township, where they lived and died. This lady was the mother of 21 children, 18 of whom are yet living. several of them' in Win- chester township. this county.
The first mill on Ohio Brush creek was built by Thomas Lewis and George Sample, just below the Satterfield bridge, in 1897 or 04. It has tong siner disappeared.
:
21
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF ADAMS COUNTY, OHIO.
My father. Philip Lewe . came to defferson township in 1797, andI settled in Blow Creek, wear, where it empties into Sciola Brush creek.
He tmtilt the saw and geist mill the same year. Jumes' nind do-rph Williams w re here when luther come. They had come the year before. They were squatters, followed hunting, and Iv- ed lu shanties about fourteen feet square, and withunt floors. Old man Foster was also a squatter, who had, settled where Wash. Metin, now lives, Jesso Edwards, who killed the hlg levis came the same year that father did. Ilo was u Rovolution- ary soldier, and lived where David Callings now does. Ho illed at the age of one hundred and ten years. Tunt beer was killed on an ash tree, above our place, right across the run, on the left ha.l. as you go up, just ope quite the house whero Clark Comp- lot: lived up the run. It weighed something over three hundred ant eighty pounds Mir. Edwards divided it with my father. There was nothing to suhsist on in those days but wild meat. Salt was brought here and sold by measure at $4 per bushel. and pall for in bear bacon, at what they called an eloven penny bit pe. peund.
These Williams' peddled salt which they bought at the Scioto Salt Licks. for $2 a bushel, then carried it on horses to the three islands, (Manchester) and sold it for $4 a bushel, taking their pay in bear bacon.
The mill father built was washed away by high waters June 16. 1814: he rebuilt it the next year. Father died in 1835, aged eighty-six years. The mill was burnt in 1849, and John Brooks commenced rebuilding the same year, but did not get it com- pleted till the next year.
After father's death John Brooks became the owner. This was about 1837. It was burnt down in 1819, but Mr. Brooks re- built it, putting up a good frame building. JIe run the mill until he died. in 1873. John Rupert soon afterwards became the owner, and continues the milling business to the present time-
CHURCHES.
NOORES' CHAPEL .- This is believed to be the first Methodist meeting house ever built in Ohio, or west of the Allegheny m contains.
A settlement was made near Manker's mills, about 1797-98. In 1799 Joseph Moore, who was a Methodist Minister, settled on the farm that is now owned by Oliver Jones aml Weller Cara- way. When he came, he found Mr. Waite, James and Joseph Williams, two brothers already here. There came about the same time that Mr. Moore did, Peter Wikoff, John Newman, David New man. Jesse Edwards, John Prather, John Beckman and a few others. The first Methodist society was organized at Moore's hons., in 1799. Mr. Moore probably preached the first sermon in this settlement.
On August 6, 1800, the neighbors met and resolved to build a meeting house, which was done the same fall. It stood on Breedlove's Run, oue-fourth of a mile from Seioto Brush Creek, at the present grave yard. The society was mostly maile up of the finnilies just mentioned. The house was made of hewed logs-not large, lott sufficient for the congregations that assem- bled. The house having been used as long as it was fit for such " fairpose, the congregation dissolved, und organizeil another church. An effort is making to reorganize and build a new LonsC.
MOUNT UNGER BAPTIST CHURCH .- This church is situated in the -ontheasterly portion of the township, not for from the Scioto county line.
The first Baptist preaching in the neighborhood, was by the Rev. William Eller. In the spring of 1872, Rev. G. W. Thomp- sun. missionary from the Strait Creek" Associ :tion commenced preaching in the neighborhood, and on July 27th of that year, a church was constituted with 31 members, and receive:l by the recognition council, with the Rev. G. W. Thompson as pastor, Joel B. Compton. deacon ; John N. Compton, clerk ; Samuel Un- ger, S. S. Brown, and Samuel Rechinan, trustees. Mr. Thompson served as pastor two years, in which time the church had inereas- ed to Go members. Ile was succeeded by Rev. G. A. MeMannis, fur one year. After the expiration of that time, tho church, was without a pastor nutil November, 1878, when Rev. S. G. Lindsey was cumplayed by the Association to preach for the congregation.
When Mr. Lindsey came, ho found the church in a very dis-, organized condition. In May, 1879, it was reorganized with six members. Since Elder Lindsey has had charge of it, thirty-fivo members have been added.
S. Unger, C. Irvine and A. Carter, are the present trustees.
WHITE OAK CHAPEL, M. E. CHURCH .-- This church is located in the Northwestern portion of the township, in Distrlet No. 1. It was organized abont 1815.
The first name on the list of members wRe Joseph Freeman, who had been a member of Moore's Chapel. Mr. Freeman open- ed this house for regular preaching and in 1841, denated a lot of land on which to build a meeting house, but before it was com-
jdeted, he died nud was the first person buried in the cemetery thore, thut now contains sixty-three graves.
The church was completed and dedleated In 1865, hy Rev. Alexander Maharry.
This building is mado entirely of white ouk logs. In 1878 11. was weather boarded. re-rooted, ceiled inside and painted, and is now a comfortable honse.
CHRISTIAN UNION .-- This church, situated withlu a few rods of White Oak Chapel, was organized in 1865. They have a very good frame meeting house.
M. E. Commeu, WAMSERVVILLAS-This church is slinated uenr the village of Wamsleyville. IL is an old church. When Moore's Chapel, nenr Manker's Mills, was dissolved, that portion of the members living In the Wamsleyville neighborhood united togoth- er and organized this society. At what date this occurred i's not known, but, it is probable, it wus some where from 1815 to 1820.
They built a log meeting house which was used until about 1859, when they builtu new frame church, which is their present place of worship.
CHRISTIAN UNION CHURCH, WAMSLEYVILLE .- The asperities growing out of the war, caused divisions in churches, as well as in families and communities. This church had its origiu in those antagonistic principles. A considerable number of the members of the old Methodist church withdrew and organized a separate church, with the above name. Some six or eight years ago they built a neat frame meeting house. The church appears to be in a prosperous condition. It is to be hoped, however, that the canses that produced these estrangements, being removed, the wonuded feelings of the brethren will be healed and the old church again united, with renewed efforts for the advancement of a common cansc.
GERMAN LUTHERAN CuUEcu .- This church is located in the eastern part of the township, near the Hamilton school house. No history or statistics furnished.
LABEUTY CHAPEL, METHORIST PROTESTANT .- This organiza- tion ilates back to about 1830. One efforts to obtain information in regard to its history, were unsuccessful-nothing reliable could be gathered. It is situated on Green Briar Mountain near Lynx post office.
ILL's CHAPEL .- This was a log meeting honse built a few years ago about a mile and a half east of Liberty Chapel, and a church organized, that never prospered. A new organization, sumetimes known as United Baptists, has recently rame into exis- tence, in the neighborhood, that now ocenpies the house.
CHRISTIAN Carken, MANKER'S MILLS .- This church costing $1138, was built in 1871, ky S. D. Newman, at his own expense. It is a good frame building 40x50.
Andrew J. Wood was the first preacher.
M. P. Cinmen .- This is a new organization. A neat frame house was built in 1879, about a mile south of the Hamilton school house.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JACOB PI.E .- IIonry Pile, father of Jacob Pile. was born in Somerset Co., Pa., and marriedt Miss Rebecca Sample, emigrated from there to Adamis connty in 1800; settled on Soldier Run where he remained two years, then moved to Killinstown. He served in the war of 1812 and on its conclusion moved to what is now Winchester township, where he died. When Mr. Pile came to Monroe township, James Carson, was living where Mrs. Black Now resides. Ile moved into the house with Mr. Carson until he conld build a cabin. which was soon done. This house is still standing, after a lapse of eighty years. Mr. Pile reared a family of ten chillren, of whom but twa now survive, Jacob Pile, the subject of this sketch, and a daughter. Jacob Pile is Postmaster at Bine creek, where he is engaged in the merchandizing.
The Bear Hunt .- In the early settlement of the country, bears, wolves. and wild game of all kinds wero plenty. The set- tlers supplied a considerable portion of their provision by hunt- ing, and many ways were resorted to to obtain it. Bears were sometimes caught in traps, sometimes followed with dogs that would check them in their flight, until their pursuers could come up und shoot them. On one occasion, Mr. Pile with his dogs fol- lowed a bear from Ohio Brush creek, to Scioto Brush creek; where it was treed on an ash tree. Mr. Pile came up and shot it As it was late in the day he went to the house of Philip Lewis an carly settler, with whom he stayed all night. The next day, he took his bear home, not forgetting to divide with his friend Lewis.
The last bear killed in Jefferson township, was shot by Wil- liam Williams, near the mouth of Blue ereck, in the full of 1830.
JESSE WAMSLEY .- The grandfather of the subject of this sketch, Isane Wamsley, was born in Germany and came to Amer- ica sometime previous to the Revolutionary war. At the samo time he embarked, a brother took passage ou another vessel for this country. This last ship was lost at sea. and nothing was ever heard of it, or its crew.' The vessel that Isane Wausley came in landed at New York, and Alr. Wumsley settled near that city
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.