Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 50

Author: Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, Frederick Schneider, and others
Publication date: 1905
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1149

USA > Ohio > Butler County > Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio > Part 50

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).

DARRTOWN.

Darrtown was laid out in 1814 by Con- rad Darr, an early settler who purchased the half of section 28 in 1802 for one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. Abram Darr was the first resident of the town and kept store for several years. He was succeeded as a merchant by John Deen and later by William Davis. Herron and Fenton were merchant tailors here in 1827. John Cook, a blacksmith, located here in 1825. Abram Darr opened a tavern in 1817. Aaron Cham- berlain, Stephen Kendall and William Kirk- patrick kept tavern here during later years. Distilling was an important industry about 1850. Abram Darr opened a distillery in 1832. Mitchell Marshall conducted a fif- teen-barrel establishment from 1845 to 1852. James. Bradberry owned a log still house as early as 1817 which, in later years, was replaced by a stone building. The next year he built a saw and grist mill about a mile and a half below town, which he con- tinued to operate for twenty-five years. In 1816 Wallace and Bryant erected a saw, grist and fulling mill on Four Mile. Later the mill property belonged to James Smiley. In 1850 a three-story stone building was erected. The mill, which has not been in operation for several years, now belongs to Smiley's son-in-law, W. L. Lane, of Ox- ford, and is commonly known as Lane's mill.

The domestic willow, the growing of which is a leading industry with a number of people, was introduced by Dr. Wyman, of New York.

The first school was opened in 1806 in a log building located about a quarter of a mile northwest of town. This building con- tinued in use about twenty years.

1826 or 1827 to be used as a place of worship by all religious denominations. The building has fallen into decay and is used only occasionally for public or political meetings.

The Baptists organized a church in 1806. The first regular preachers were Stephen Gard and Wm. Tyner. The so- ciety flourished for only a few years.

The Methodists built a log church at the foot of "Chaw Raw" hill about the same time. It was the forerunner of the Darr- town church, which soon became very pros- perous.

The New School Presbyterians or- ganized a church in 1848, which flourished for several years. Rev. B. W. Chidlaw or- ganized the first Sabbath school in Darrtown in 1840.

The Lutheran church was organized at Jericho, four miles north of Darrtown. After the destruction of the church by fire a new church was built at Darrtown. The church is in a prosperous condition.

SOMERVILLE.

Somerville was laid out in 1831 by Jacob F. Rowe. The first merchants were John and Marsh Williams. They were succeeded by Benjamin Fox and Luther Taylor. Pork- packing was a prominent industry here about 1840. Wm. Morey, father of the late Hon. H. L. Morey, manufactured hats in the village as early as 1827. The Somer- ville mill was built in 1832. In recent years it has been conducted by the Muff Bros. The first tavern keeper was Jacob Andrews.

Somerville was incorporated in 1832. Thomas Martin was the first mayor and Benjamin Hubbard the first clerk. The town now has a population of 426, and is

The Darrtown town hall was built in quite a business center.

Digitized by Google

3521

BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO.

The Somerville Presbyterian church was organized in 1843. It is a scion of the Seven Mile church at Collinsville, organized in 1810. Services were held at Somerville under the control of the Seven Mile church in the early 'thirties. In 1834 a church edifice was erected, and in 1843 the congre- gation was organized into a distinct society. For several years Rev. Thomas Hughes filled the pulpit of the two churches as stated supply. After the death of Rev. Hughes, in 1864, Rev. James McClusky became pas- tor and remained eighteen years. In 1874

a handsome church was built at a cost of five thousand dollars. The church has a membership of about one hundred and fifty.

The Methodist Episcopal church was or- ganized here about twenty-five years ago. It is a prosperous society, and possesses a comfortable church home.

A Free-will Baptist church was or- ganized in 1835 or 1836. A church edifice was built for the use of the Baptist society, but with the understanding that all religious denominations should use it if desired.

REILY TOWNSHIP.

Reily township was created out of the James Stevens, John Smith, Daniel Trem- territory of St. Clair on December 8, 1807. ley, Ithamar White, Gideon Wilkinson, John Wehr, David Wing and Obadiah Welliver. Others who settled here a little later were of the name Baldwin, Burget, Beard, Clem, De Camp, Gray, Hancock, Montgomery, Miller, Pierson, Ross, Sample, Everson, Vanness, Hand, Port and Larison. The population in 1820 was 1,451; in 1830, 1,832; in 1840, 1,758; in 1890, 1,244; in 1900, 1,113. The action creating the township was taken by the county commissioners, James Black- burn, Matthew Richardson and James Smith, upon receipt of a petition of some inhabitants of St. Clair township. The township of Reily, as originally formed, in- cluded two tiers of sections on the east that now form a part of Hanover township, the same having been deducted from Reily township in 1811, when Hanover was The principal stream is Indian creek, which passes through the township from northwest to southeast. Its principal tribu- taries are Little Indian, Reserve run, Chase's run and Boon's run. The Indian creek bot- tom lands are famed for their fertility. The township is rolling, and is generally well adapted to farming. It is provided with well-improved roads and has about thirty miles of good turnpikes. One of the first roads laid out in the township was the In- dian Creek road, which led through the Indian Creek valley from Millville via formed. Reily township was named after John Reily, the first clerk of court of Butler county. Among the first settlers of Reily township were George Allhand, William Anthony, John Boothe, James Beard, Thomas Burke, Joseph Bradley, Isaac Clark, Valentine Chase, Jonathan Covalt, Robert Denny, James Deneen, John Fye, Owen Davis, Henry Garner, John Israel, Jonathan Jones, Joseph King, Elisha Landon, Robert Luse, Isaac Lindley, William Mitchell, John Morris, James Post, Maxwell Parkerson, 22c

Digitized by Google

3522

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF

Bunker Hill and Reily to Indiana. In the New Jersey settled north of Bunker Hill early days this was one of the popular routes to Cincinnati from the Indiana border. An- other road was the old Oxford post-road, leading from Lawrenceburg via Harrison, New Haven, Okeana, Reily to Oxford. The mails were carried over this route every two weeks by a man on horseback. The county road from Oxford to Hamilton cut the northeast corner of the township, one fork taking the direction of Oxford from Still- well's corner, the other following the town- ship line between Oxford and Reily town- ships to the state line.

In the early days milling was a very im- portant industry along Indian creek, which then furnished an abundance of power. As early as 1808 Robert Denney built an under- shot saw mill at Bunker Hill. A grist mill was built by John Kinsey near the saw mill of Mr. Denney. Later the mill passed into the hands of Obadiah Welliver and still later it was conducted by Elias Sayers. About 1810 or 1812 David Dick built a grist mill near where the present mill structure is lo- cated in the town of Reily. In 1830 Lewis Enyart came in possession of the mill prop- erty by purchase. In 1855 he sold the mill to Sayers and Agnew. Later the property passed into the possession of William J. Salmon who, in 1860, sold the mill and thirty-seven acres of land to J. P. Hidley and Thompson Gray. Later Hidley became absolute owner and conducted the mill until his death a few years ago. The mill had been repaired many times, and until recent years was very profitable.

The first school house in the township was erected in 1809. It was a log house and stood in the valley near Bunker Hill. A little later a community of immigrants from

and a school was opened. It was called Jerseytown, and the school district still re- tains the name. In 1816 a union school was opened in the northwest part of the town- ship. Maxwell Parkerson, a settler who came from Virginia in 1806, donated two acres of land in the southeast corner of sec- tion 6, and the community built thereon a log school house which continued in use until about 1840. The present brick building, in school district No. 3, is almost on the same site. Some of the early teachers of this school were John Elliott, Robert Riggs, Alfred Chamberlain, Winson Lusk and John Ferguson.

The earliest church organization was the Indian Creek Baptist church. It was or- ganized in 1810 at the home of John Mor- ris. Occasional services in that neighbor- hood had been held earlier. After the church was organized services were conducted for a short time at the Union school house, but in 1812 a log church building was erected on land purchased of Valentine Chase. Three acres were purchased for nine dol- lars and a portion of it was set apart for grave-yard purposes. The church, which was organized with twenty-two members, grew very rapidly under the preaching of Elder Tyner, the first pastor, who preached in this vicinity as early as 1809. The mem- bership increased about one hundred in a period of eighteen months. Other early pastors of the church were Elders Thomas, Thompson and Sparks, and those in later years were Benjamin Martin, Samuel Bil- lings, Moses Hornaday, Judas Shirk, Daniel Briant, Joseph Flinn, John Brady, Jonas Roberson and Abraham Thurston. In 1830 the old hewed log house was torn down, and

Digitized by Google

3523

BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO.

a brick structure, thirty by fifty feet, erected. In 1860 the church was abandoned for regu- lar services and the Reily Village Baptist church was established and a frame church building erected. The society in recent years has dwindled to a few members, though it holds regular monthly services.

The Washington Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1819 by Russel Big- low at his residence in Morgan township. For several years the church members wor- shiped at the home of Mr. Biglow, but later services were held in the log school house in St. Charles, just west of where the pres- ent church building is located. In 1834 Washington chapel was erected on ground donated by Matthew Moorehead. The build- ing was constructed of brick and stood about half a mile east of the present church on the opposite side of the road. Rev. Ben- jamin Lawrence was one of the pioneer preachers, and after his death, which oc- curred September 7, 1855, his remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at St. Charles. Another of the early preachers was Rev. Aaron Powers, who afterward became a Mormon elder. During the Civil war the church was neglected and became very much out of repair, but in 1868 it received at- tention, and was replastered and repainted. In 1886 a handsome new church edifice was built adjoining the cemetery in St. Charles. The lot on which it stands was donated by Samuel Fye. Rev. Dr. Joyce, now Bishop Joyce, preached the dedicatory sermon. The Washington charge is one of the most pros- perous on the Venice circuit.

The Walker Chapel Methodist Episco- pal church was organized about 1830. Services were held in the neighborhood by the Methodists as early as 1818 at the home

of George Allhands. Dr. Andrew King and James Stephens were the principal origi- nators of the society. About the time the church was organized it received a lot ad- joining the one on which the school house, in district No. 3, stands for church purposes. Until 1845 the society worshiped in the school house, when the lot belonging to the church was sold and the proceeds applied in payment of the lot on which the chapel now stands. This lot, including the graveyard adjoining, was purchased of James Ste- phens. The church was erected in 1845 and was dedicated by Rev. George W. Walker, for whom the chapel was named. In 1895 the old church was torn down and a new one built. The Walker charge is connected with Union, at McGonigles. Among its pastors in recent years have been Revs. Shannon, Shively, Hershey, Stabler and Dyer.

The Bunker Hill Universalist church was organized in 1845 or 1846. The land on which the church stands, as well as where the graveyard is, was donated by Alexan- der Deneen. The church edifice was built in 1857. Prior to the building of the church, the congregation worshiped in a school house that stood at the foot of the hill near the present residence of County Commis- sioner Jacob Conrad. The Universalists were formerly quite numerous at Bunker Hill, but in recent years many of them have died or moved away and of late regular services have not been held.

The Reily Presbyterian church was or- ganized in April, 1836. with thirty-six mem- bers. Its organizers were originally mem- bers of Bethel church near Millville. The membership of the church now numbers about a hundred. The house of worship,

Digitized by Google

3524

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF

which is a brick structure, was built in 1840. The church has been remodeled several times, and though an old building, it still affords very comfortable accommodations for the society. Among the pastors have been Revs. Gilland, Weaver, Howell, Hughes, Raymond, DeLamater, Green, Engstrom, Grandstaff, Olmstead, Raber, Hale and Scott.

REILY.

The principal village, Reily, has a popu- lation of about three hundred. It was laid out by Pierson Conklin, Joseph M. Conk- lin and Samuel Gray, October 25, 1848. Years before the town was platted it was a place of considerable importance to the township, for here the people did their trad- ing, cast their votes and received their mail. Reily was a postoffice as early as 1825. The town in those days stood on the east side of Indian creek in section 15. Now it is mostly in sections 21 and 22. The early settlers and land owners hereabouts were Lewis Enyart and Thomas Burke. One of the first settlers in Reily was a Mr. Boyer, who was a furnituremaker by trade. About 1812 David Dick built a grist mill, and later added a carding mill. Ferdinand Everhardt was a wagonmaker here as early as 1837. The residence of S. P. Riker was originally Mr. Everhardt's shop. Felix Conklin con- ducted a tannery near the west end of the village from 1833 for several years. He was succeeded by John Watkins. Elias Gas- ton located here in 1833, and afterwards en- gaged in the mercantile business. His brother, A. L. Gaston, was the first store keeper. His store stood on the east side of Indian creek, one hundred yards above the mill. Later Moses Burk conducted a

store in the room vacated by Gaston. In 1835 A. L. Gaston built the store house which stood near the residence of Samuel Gray and which was subsequently removed to another part of the Gray lot, and con- verted into a carriage house. After A. L. Gaston came Elias Gaston, Samuel Gray, Amos Smith and Arthur Gray, all of whom kept store in this building. In 1838-43 A. G. Smith kept store on the site of the Hos- field tavern. Later Gaston, Pierson and Clark were store keepers here and were suc- ceeded by Gaston and T. B. Smith. The merchants, after 1880, were John A. Lesley, King Carson and Nelson Urmston and still later Charles Wagner, Duncan & Hidley and O. W. Dyer. Those engaged at pres- ent in the store business are H. L. Roll, who located here about 1887, Hiram Heard and Charles Bess. M. B. and F. P. Apple- gate were wagon and carriage manufactur- ers here as early as 1849. Later Wm. Lutz and S. P. Riker came. The latter now does repair work only, and devotes his attention chiefly to the undertaking business, in which he is asociated with his son. Riker & Son undertakers, have an extensive patronage in this locality.

The first tavern keeper here was James Larison, who was succeeded by Samuel Davis, who kept tavern in the house occu- pied by the late Henry Schwarm. Later tavern keepers were T. B. Smith, John W. Fiske, John Duigfelder, W. O. Pierson, Charles Silverlake and Frederick Hosfield.

Mr. Barrot worked at the saddlery trade here in 1840. Later Thomas Smith and John Luich came. L. C. Addison kept a harness shop here from 1847 to 1899. John Becker now works at the trade.

One of the earliest blacksmiths was

Digitized by Google

3525

BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO.

John Miller, who came in 1830. Samuel Davis located here in 1835. James Bridge came in 1840, and Thompson Gray in 1843. Later blacksmiths have been Hugh Roll, Milton Sasher, Elmore Gray, George Hu- ber, William Huber and Harry Grissom.

The first school house in this vicinity stood near the residence of Elias Ross, and west of the pike leading to Riofrio. This house was built about 1810. In 1839 a brick school house was built on the site of the township house. In 1860 an addition was made to it. Some of the teachers who taught here were Captain Mustin, Thomas Lawrence, J. C. Snow, William Salmon, Alexander King, Dr. J. M. Trembly, F. A. Coleman, Emily O. Cumback, Lucretia Jones, D. Bassett, William Gwaltney, John R. Clark and James T. Bartlow. In 1877 a new school house was erected at a cost of $3,000 on an acre lot purchased of Samuel Gray. The house, which is a two-story brick structure, is still in use.

BUNKER HILL.

Bunker Hill was never platted, but it has been a postoffice since 1852, except for a period of a few years before 1876, when the office was abandoned. Stores have been opened here at various times, but have never proven profitable. In the early settlement of the township several mills were operated in this vicinity. The place is notable as the birth-place of "Lucky" Baldwin, the Cali- fornia multi-millionaire.

WOODS' STATION.

Woods' Station is a small village near the northeast corner of the township. It is a station on the C., H., I. division of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad,

and was named after John Woods, the first president of the railroad. The land on which the station stands was originally settled by Jonathan Jones. The railroad was built in 1858, and the town' dates from that time. The first citizen was Hiram Pierson. L. D. Hancock was the first store keeper. Others who have kept store here are Hiram Pier- son, Taylor Salisbury, Silas Baldwin, Charles Urmston, Ed Simpson and George Gardner. The latter has been located here as station agent and store keeper for over thirty years.

ST. CHARLES.

St. Charles, in recent years, has lost much of its importance as a village. The older inhabitants have nearly all died or moved away. There is a church, school and postoffice located here. The town was named after Charles Stewart, an early and a pious resident of the community.

PEORIA.

Peoria is a small village located three miles west of Reily on the state line between Ohio and Indiana. The early settlers here- abouts were named Armstrong, Applegate, Anthony, Baird, Smith, Fort, Wood, Lackey, Luse, Reese, Conn, Matthews, Montgomery, Heard and McClellan. The town was or- ganized about sixty-five or seventy years ago. It was originally called Ingleside, and was formerly the seat of a famous school, or academy, founded by Prof. Wm. Rust in the early 'fifties. Early store keepers were James Fye and George Boyd. Later W. R. Jenkins conducted a store here for nearly a quarter of a century. John Smith carried on wagonmaking here before and after the Civil war. Blacksmiths who worked here

Digitized by

Google

3526

CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF -

were Thomas Applegate, James Rowe, much grain and live stock are shipped to Henry Spangler, John Addison, Sidney market from this point. Pyle, Knoles Barbin and others. The town now has a store, postoffice and hotel on the NEWKIRK. Indiana side, and a blacksmith shop, a saw Newkirk is a station and shipping point on the Chicago, Cincinnati & Louisville Railroad, located in section 32, but has not attained to much importance. mill and a grain elevator on the Ohio side. The Chicago, Cincinnati & Louisville Rail- road maintains a telegraph station here, and

MADISON TOWNSHIP.

Madison township was originally a por-

Other settlers who came before the war tion of Lemon. The Miami river flows of 1812 were Abraham Miller, John Sny- along its eastern and southern border, and der, Sr., John Miller, Jeremiah Miller, separates it from Lemon township. It is bounded on the north by Preble county, and on the west by Wayne township. Abraham Marts, Jacob Francis, Jacob Snyder, Samuel Snyder, John Snyder, George Snyder, Daniel Kemp, John Kemp, The surface of Madison township in the northern portion is hilly, while the southern part is a wide alluvial plain. The soil is fertile and agriculture is carried on ex- tensively. Jacob Kemp, Philip Kemp, Nathan Dough- erty, Adam Deem, John H. Deem, John Sarver, John Chambers, Alexander Cham- bers, Andrew Garison, Jacob Widner, John Widner, Samuel Widner, John Lingle, Sr., John Lingle, Jr., Philip Leffler, Solomon Leffler, Leonard Lingle, Michael DeBolt, Henry Weaver, John Thomas, Joseph Hin- kle, Elias Compton, Thomas Israel, William Weaver, John Lucas, David Banker, Jacob Temple, Christopher Reed, Andrew Wag- goner, Henry Hoffman, John Francis, Christian Coon and John Webber.

The township had few settlers before 1802. The first compact settlement was at Bloomfield, now known as Trenton. Among the earliest settlers were Samuel Dickey, who came from Franklin county, Kentucky, in April, 1799, and settled on section 28, township 2, range 4 east, where Isaac Dickey was born in the same year, being the first white child born in the township. He was followed by Jesse McCray, Edward and Job Gee, in 1799; Joel Martin, Llewellyn Martin, Llewellyn Simpson and Bambo Harris, colored, in 1800; Alexander Cham- bers and William Baldwin, 1801; Adam Deem and Thomas Israel, in 1803; Daniel Drake, in 1804; Andrew Wagner, Henry Huffman, Noah Long, Gideon Long and David Long, in 1805.

The first grist mill was built on Elk creek in 1801 by Bambo Harris. The first saw mill was built on Elk creek the same year by Joel Martin. In 1810 a Mr. Gunkle built a mill near the mouth of Elk creek, which was constructed of hewed logs. It had a saw mill attached. In 1814 a flour- ing mill, with a saw mill attached, was built at Miltonville. The third mill on Elk creek was built by Jacob Snyder on the northeast

Digitized by Google

3527

BUTLER COUNTY, OHIO.

quarter of section 18. Flour from the Craig, Thomas Thompson, Mr. Ball, a dog Snyder mill was shipped to New Orleans in the early days by flat boats.

The Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad passes through the township and has stations at Trenton and Heno. The Cincinnati, Dayton & Toledo Traction Road crosses the lower end of the township and has its car-barns located at Trenton.

About eighty-five or ninety years ago, at a point where the old State road, a thor- oughfare from east to west, met the Miami river, a ferry was maintained by Davis Ball. The ferry was located about half a mile south of the bridge at Trenton, and was familiarly known as Ball's ferry. The set- tlement there was called Brownstown, but in after years its inhabitants died or moved away and the place and ferry would, per- haps, be entirely forgotten except for a tragedy which happened there in March, 1819. The river at the time was at a great height and the current at the ferry crossing was very formidable, when one morning a party of several men and boys, with a young lady, came down from Seven Mile and asked to be put over. Mr. Ball, the ferry- man, at first refused, declaring it would be dangerous to attempt to cross the stream at that time. They insisted and he finally consented. The men promised to help him work the boat, which was operated by the force of the water pressing sideways upon it. A rope reached across the river from bank to bank, on which were two pulleys, with ropes passing from them to the boat. Before consenting to take his load, Mr. Ball made a condition that the girl should be left behind. The boat started with its freight, consisting of Captain Aul and his son, Thomas Wilson, William and Daniel

and two horses. When near the middle of the stream the ropes suddenly snapped in two and the boat overturned, spilling the party into the raging current. All attempts made by bystanders to save the passengers were unavailing and the entire party was drowned except young Aul, who succeeded in getting on top of the boat and floated down with it to a place of safety. The dog and the two horses were also drowned.

TRENTON.

The largest village in the township is Trenton. It is situated on the adjoining corners of sections 5, 6, 31 and 32, on the road leading from Seven Mile to Middle- town. Its population in 1900 was 847. The town was originally called Bloomfield, after Governor Bloomfield, of New Jersey, from which state the first settlers of the town im- migrated, in the year 1800, under the leader- ship of Deacon Michael Pearce and Elder Stephen Gard. The village was platted in 1815, but there was a number of houses there previously. Several additions have been made in recent years. In 1831, when the postoffice came to be established, it was found that there was another postoffice in Ohio by the name of Bloomfield and so the name of Trenton was substituted, also in honor of New Jersey. Since 1898 the vil- lage has been incorporated, and is governed by a mayor and village council. The earliest church organization in Butler county was founded near this place. It was of the Old School Baptist type and is still in existence. Elder Stephen Gard and Dr. Squier Littell, respectively, the first resident minister and doctor of the county, lived at Bloomfield in 1800, and in that year Elder Gard estab-

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.

Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 50

Author: Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, Frederick Schneider, and others Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1149

Author: Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, Frederick Schneider, and others
Publication date: 1905
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1149