Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 51

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 51

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).

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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF

lished the Baptist church a short distance west of the village, and continued as its pastor until his death, August 14, 1839. He it was who organized nearly all the 'Baptist churches in the Miami valley. Be- sides the Baptist church, founded in 1800, Trenton has four other churches : The Ger- man Evangelical Protestant, founded in 1867, the St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran, built in 1878, the Roman Catholic, and the United Presbyterian; the latter, the finest church edifice in the village, was built during 1904 and 1905 and was dedicated by Rev. Dr. Moorhead, January 29, 1905.

The first taven keeper was named John Smith. The first store keepers were Squire Littell and Stephen Gard. Later Clark Potter engaged in the general merchandise business. Still later James Patterson and McKnight & Lee were the village mer- chants. Other merchants have been Ezra Potter, Henry Burke, Frederick M. Burke, Dill .Andrews and Joseph Eicher. Trenton is quite a shipping point, and since the con- struction of the Cincinnati, Dayton & To- ledo Traction Road business has been revolutionized and the town has grown rapidly in population and wealth.

MILTONVILLE.

The village of Miltonville was laid out nearly ninety years ago, and for many years it was one of the most important trading points in the county west of the Miami river. In 1852 it had nearly two hundred inhabitants, one church, a school house, two stores, two taverns, a grist mill, a saw mill and two potteries which made much of the pottery used in this region. The place was laid out by Richard Crane and Theophilus Egglesfield, who were first settlers. Among

the early merchants at Miltonville were Thomas Hall, Nathan Goldsmith, George Marvel, Law E. Hunt, Eli Scudder, Wil- liam Hall, and Z. Fisher. The tavern keepers in 1816 were Crane and Eggles- field. Later William Hall, Thomas Kelley, Benjamin DeBolt and David Mattix were here. A branch of the United Brethren church is located here. Probably the oldest cemetery in the county is located here. Burials were made as early as 1800. Among those buried here are Rev. Henry Kumler, a bishop of the United Brethren church, and Susannah Kumler, his wife.

HENO.

Heno is a suburb of Middletown and is located about one mile distant on the op- posite side of the Miami river from that city. At Heno is located the Middletown station on the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Rail- road, the two points being connected by a paved street, and a bridge spanning the Miami river. The village, prior to 1882, was called Madison City, but, with the establishment of the postoffice in that year, the name Heno was adopted. In 1846 a tavern was built at this point by John Mumma and was called the Madison House. Considerable grain is shipped from this point, and the town has a variety of busi- ness interests. The Miami hills west of the river at this point afford beautiful views and in recent years a number of suburban residences have been built here. The popu- lation of the village at the present time num- bers about two hundred.

WOODSDALE

is situated partially in St. Clair township, but lies principally in section 19 of Madison

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township. It was founded in 1867 by the Beckett Paper Company, at which point it erected an immense paper mill. Here also were located the grist and saw mills of Samuel Augspurger. For several years the town prospered, and an immense amount of freight was shipped by canal to and from these mills. In the latter 'seventies the paper mill was totally destroyed by fire, since which the town has lost its business importance. There is a saw mill, store and postoffice located here. Near the village is situated the Woodsdale Island, a well-known summer resort. The L. C. & D. branch of the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Rail-

road passes this point and has a station located there.

POASTTOWN.

This village is situated in section 12, township 2, range 4 east, and was laid out in 1818 by Peter Post. It was originally called West Liberty. A store was located here as early as 1815 by Christian Coon. It is a station on the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad. The postoffice was established in August, 1848. The country surrounding the village is noted for its fertility and productiveness. Tobacco is grown extensively in this locality.

MORGAN TOWNSHIP.

Morgan township was originally a part of Ross township, and was created March 4, 1811. It lies in the southwest corner of the county and borders on the Indiana line. The surface of the township is partly un- dulating, but the greater portion of it is rough. Along the principal streams bot- toms extend on either side from one-quarter to one mile in width. The uplands are not so productive as the valleys, but the soil is generally favorable to agricultural pursuits. In the region of Shandon is an extensive valley that is famous for its fertility and productiveness. Dry Fork, of Whitewater, Howard's creek and Paddy's run are the principal water-courses. The former is the longest as well as the largest stream, and has for its tributaries on the east Buck run and Kiatta creek.

Among the first settlers were Edward Bebb, James Nicholas, John Vaughn, Jacob Phillis, Bryson Blackburn, George Drybeard, John Howard, Thomas Millholland, William

D. Jones, Maxwell Parkinson, William Jenk- ins, Martin Simmons, William Evans, King DeArmond, Peter Youmans, Ephraim Car- mack, David Lee, Brant Ignene, Hugh Smith, William Gwilyms and Abel Apple- ton. Other early settlers were named Ab- bott. Bell, Faucett, Wynn and George.

The first roads were blazed through the forests and were often supplemented by bridle paths. The first state road led from Lawrenceburg, Indiana, to Oxford, Ohio. This road was known as the "post road" from the fact that over this road the early mails were carried. Another prominent road in the early day followed the Dry Fork valley from Scipio to Okeana, and thence to Venice. It is now about the present route of the Brookville branch of the Colerain turnpike. Before pikes were built, for many years a stage-coach line was conducted over this route between Connersville, Indiana, and Cincinnati.

Edward Bebb, father of ex-Governor

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Bebb, was the first settler to enter land in Morgan township. It was the half of sec- tion 27. The first store keeper was William D. Jones, a Welshman, who conducted a bartering stand for a time on Paddy's run, near the present site of Shandon. James Nicholas was the first blacksmith, as well as the first miller in the neighborhood of Paddy's run.

The villages of the township are Alert, Okeana, Scipio and Shandon.

ALERT.

Alert is a small hamlet on Howard's creek in the southwest corner of the town- ship. John Iseminger kept store here from 1842 for over forty years. Amos Jones suc- ceeded him in the business. About 1818 a school house was built here near the pres- ent site of the postoffice and store of Amos Jones. David Lloyd was among the early teachers. The first land entered in the town- ship was on the adjoining section No. 27, by Edward Bebb. His son, William Bebb, conducted an academy or preparatory school near the Bebb homestead in the 'twenties and early 'thirties. Among the scholars who attended the Bebb school were the late Judge Carter, of Cincinnati; William Den- nison, afterwards governor of Ohio, and Hon. Daniel Shaw, a member of the first legislature of Louisiana after the Civil war.

OKEANA.

Okeana, a station on the Chicago, Cin- cinnati & Louisville Railroad, was originally called Tariff postoffice. The postoffice was created as early as 1828, and continued under the name Tariff until May 27, 1858, when it was changed by petition to Okeana. Okeana was the name of the daughter of

the Indian chief, Kiatta, whose remains lie buried near the mouth of the stream bear- ing his name, Kiatta creek, which empties into Dry Fork at a point about a mile north of the village. Okeana was laid out by Rev. Benjamin Lloyd, who owned the land where the village stands. The first store keeper was Alexander Lloyd. Charles Shields kept store here in 1845. Alexander DeArmond and Joseph Smith sold dry goods and gro- ceries about 1850 and also Jenkins and Evans were early merchants. William Wright was another business man, who oc- cupied a one-story house which stood in the lower end of the town at the forks of the road. Henry Brandenburg did an extensive business here in the early 'seventies. He built the store room later occupied in turn by Phellis Bros., Perry Clawson and Boutcher & Garner. William Mercer kept store in the room later occupied by J. W. Phellis. The present merchants are Charles Wagner and Jeff Boutcher.

In the early days of the township Wil- liam Jenkins kept a tavern in a log house a half mile below the present site of Okeana. Jenkins' tavern was the first voting place and the seat of justices of the township. Jenkins also conducted a distillery, of which there were nearly a score in operation at one time in the township about 1825 or 1830. Among the blacksmiths in Okeana have been James Bowman, who was here in 1845; William Pierce, Alex. Frost, Thomas Hughes, John Looker, Henry Span- gler, Stephen Mullen and Louis Wilhelm. The first resident physician was Dr. Ben- jamin Morris. Dr. Eli Parkhurst, Dr. H. L. Armstrong, Dr. Newton and Dr. H. H. Smith were later physicians. Dr. Frank J. George is the present medical practitioner.

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The Okeana Methodist Episcopal church was founded in 1851. The place of worship was built and dedicated in 1853. The dedi- catory sermon was preached by Rev. Thomas A. Goodwin, of Brookville, Indiana. Prior to the founding of this church the Methodists worshiped at Hickory chapel after 1849. Before that date the church was known as the Ephraim Carmack So- ciety, founded in 1817. In 1829 the place of worship was changed to the house of Peter Youmans, one mile northwest of Shan- don. The Okeana society has been pros- perous, and is now constructing a splendid new church edifice to take the place of the old house of worship which has been in use for over half a century.

In the early days two churches were built on section 32, in the southwest part of the township; Mt. Tabor church, by the Methodists in 1818, and the Lutheran Fair- view church by the Congregationalists. These churches have long ago fallen into de- cay.

In 1840 the Christians began holding services among the people in the neighbor- hood of Macedonia. Later religious serv- ices were conducted by Elder Rude, of Har- rison, in the old school house of District No. 4. In 1850 a church was built, which was recently replaced by a new structure. Among the pastors who have had charge of the church are the following: Elders Rude, Balaridge, Campbell, Patterson, Henry, Land and Brown. Elder Knowles Shaw, the distinguished evangelist, often visited here.

The oldest church in the township stood on the county line in the middle of section 34. In 1817 it was an old church. In con- nection with it was a burying ground. The

last interments were made in 1827. It is said that Adam Poe, the renowned Indian fighter who fought with Big Foot, is buried here.

SCIPIO.

Scipio - Philanthropy postoffice - was laid out in 1827 by Joseph Alyea. Philan- thropy postoffice, established February 15, 1823, was the first in the township and Capt. William D. Jones, a tavern keeper and merchant, became the first postmaster. Captain Jones was a sol- dier of the war of 1812, having organized and commanded a company from Morgan township. His place of business was a two- story log house which stood on the site of the town hall. Joseph Alyea, the founder of the town, lived on the Indiana side and kept a store in a log house which stood on the site of Mrs. Hodson's residence. He was succeeded by George Hubbell, and later by William White, a son-in-law of Hubbell. Other merchants here were Elias Gaston, Clark & Pierson, Thompson & Hodson, Reuben George, William Mixer, William Sortman, Samuel and James Fye, Cornelius Bartlow, Charles Faucett, Smith & De- Armond, Miller & Jaquish, Thomas Wat- son, George Boyd, F. W. Oliver, John Phel- lis, H. W. Clark, James Beard, J. D. Stout and Milton F. C. Perry.

The first blacksmith was Michael Mc- Carty. Later Joshua Nye worked at the trade. In 1830 James Thompson, a son-in- law of William D. Jones, conducted a shop on the Ohio side. The present shop was built by Elias Gaston, which in recent years has been occupied by Isaac Liming, Charles Roberts and Court Rymond.

Abram Boyd was a cabinetmaker. Mc-

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Cormick Bartlow, a carpenter, located here the 'eighties it was changed to Glendower, in 1834, and W. H. H. Bartlow in 1835. During recent years Cates & Sons con- ducted a wagonmaking and carpenter shop. About 1830 George Hubbell had a grist mill on Dry Fork, just below Scipio. A half a mile below Hubbell's mill was Jeremiah French's mill. These mills ceased running more than sixty years ago.

In 1820 a log school house was built in the upper side of the town which stood near the present residence of John Bowers. It stood for about twenty years and was used sometimes for church purposes. John Cav- ender, James Osborn and Moses Hornaday were early teachers.

The Scipio church was established in 1860 and was built by four denominations ; Methodists, Presbyterians, Baptists and United Brethren. The church was de- stroyed in March of 1884 by a cyclone, which also nearly wrecked the town. Later the church was rebuilt at a cost of three thousand dollars. The Christians or Camp- bellites took the place of the United Breth- ren in the construction of the new church. Among those who have preached here as pastors are Moses Hornaday, William Ty- ner, Joseph Flint, Abram Thurston and Rev. Williams, Baptist; Revs. Bigelow, D. Ryan and Black, Methodist; Revs. Moore, Olm- stead and Rayber. Presbyterian; and Eld- ers Land and Brown, Christian.

SHANDON.

Shandon, originally known as New Lon- don, is the oldest village in the township. It was settled as early as 1803. The town was nicknamed "Bagdad" by the boys at Bebb's school. The name of the postoffice has undergone several changes. For many years it was called Paddy's Run. During

and soon thereafter this name was dropped and that of Shandon substituted. The set- tlement about Shandon has been augmented frequently by companies of immigrants from Wales, who have added much to the general wealth and progress of the commu- nity. Of the families that came from Wales may be mentioned Jones, Morris, Breese, Davis, Williams, Humphreys, Evans, Owens, Davies, Griffiths, Watkins and Roberts.

The first minister who preached in this locality was Rev. John W. Browne, of Cin- cinnati, a Congregationalist from England. In July, 1803, a committee was appointed to draft a constitution and articles of faith for the proposed religious society, and pre- sent it before the people. On September 3, 1803. at the house of John Templeton, on Dry Fork, near New Haven, the report of the committee was adopted, and the society was called the Whitewater Congregational church. Other ministers were Rev. Rees Lloyd and Rev. Thomas Thomas. Until 1825 the services were held in the cabins of the members, in the school house, and when the weather was favorable in the open air, beneath the shade of the forest trees. In that year the old meeting house was com- pleted. It was a brick structure thirty by forty-three feet. The church has prospered under the pastorates of Rev. Thomas Thomas, Rev. Thomas G. Roberts, Rev. Evan Roberts, Rev. B. W. Chidlaw, Rev. Ellis Howell, Rev. Mark Williams and Rev. Joseph H. Jones. Later pastors have been James W. Pryse, D. W. Wilson, J. M. Thomas, H. R. Price, J. C. Thompson, George Candee, John L. Davies and Rev. M. P. Jones.

St. Aloysius Catholic church was built

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in 1878. It is a small parish, but is pros- perous. The services are conducted by a priest from Cincinnati. The old church burned in 1900, but was rebuilt soon after- ward with money contributed by the mem- bers and the friends of the church residing in neighboring towns and cities.

Shandon has long been an educational center. The first school house in the town- ship was built in 1807, in section 35, and was taught by Miss Polly Willey. A Mr. Jenkins succeeded her in 1808. In 1810 the people of Paddy's Run built a log school house near the village. Here the children were taught the three R's. This school was kept going until 1819, when David Lloyd, a college graduate, was employed to teach. He introduced grammar and geog- raphy, and classified his scholars. In 1821 Rev. Thomas Thomas established a high school. In 1826 a new school house was

built and William Bebb, who became gover- nor of Ohio in 1846, was the first teacher employed under the state school law. Evan Davies, B. W. Chidlaw and other noted teachers taught here. In 1858 the academy, or high school, was organized on a more permanent basis. D. W. McClung was the first principal. Notable among his succes- sors were Rev. David Wilson, Rev. Mark Williams and James A. Clark. On Decem- ber 10, 1869, the New London special school was organized, with Samuel I. Mc- Clelland as principal. In 1871 the present school building was erected at a cost of $13,- 000. In 1872 Professor Clark was again employed as principal, and remained so un- til his death in 1880. The principals during recent years have been James R. Bickley, Franklin T. Du Bois and J. A. Goshorn, all graduates of Miami University, and teach- ers of excellent ability.

OXFORD TOWNSHIP.

Oxford township was originally a part of St. Clair, but with the organization of Milford in 1805 the territory now compris- ing Oxford was included in that township. On August 5, 1811, upon petition of inhab- itants of Milford a new township was cre- ated by setting off the western half of the territory, and naming it Oxford, after the town of Oxford, which was laid out the year before on the Miami College lands as the seat of Miami University. The Miami Col- lege lands, which were located in the north- west corner of Butler county, in lieu of a township of land which had been granted by congress for the endowment of an "academy and other seminaries of learning," and

which it was intended originally should be reserved in Symmes' purchase between the Miami rivers, comprise the entire township of thirty-six sections, except section 25, and the west half of sections 11, 14 and 24, which had been sold previous to the location. To supply their place sections 30 and 31, in Milford township and the west half of section 6 in Hanover township, were se- lected.

After the organization of the township, the first election was held at the house of Sylvester Lyons on August 24, 1811. The population of the township in 1820 was 1,653; in 1830, 2,928; in 1840, 3,388; in 1890, 3,689, and in 1900, 3,766. Some of

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the early settlers of the township were named Beeler, Collins, Keely, Dorsey, Mor- ris, Ludlow, DeWitt, Alger, Minor, Lyons, Bond, Hughes, Wadley, Chittenden, Austin, Adams, Mccullough, Greer, Chancy, Tem- ple, Blackleach, Hoag, Weller, Horner, Freeman, Crawford, Ratliff, Doty, Lee, Gir- ton, Hueston, Taylor, Lytle, Hall, Slack, Craven, Dorsey and Webb.

The surface of Oxford township is ele- vated and rolling. and the soil is well adapted to agricultural pursuits, though not so productive as some other parts of the county. Grazing, wheat growing and fruit culture are considerably engaged in. The bottom lands along the Indian and Four Mile creeks are very fertile and yield abun- dant crops. The lands belong principally to Miami University, and are leased to the holders for a period of ninety-nine years, renewable forever, subject to the annual payment of a quit-rent of six per cent. on the purchase money.

The principal streams are Indian creek, which passes through the southwest corner of the township, and Four Mile creek, which cuts the township diagonally from north- west to southeast. The latter has several good-sized tributaries, among which are Cotton's run and Harker's run. In the early times mills were established at con- venient places along all the leading water- courses. One of the famous old mills was the Girton mill, on Indian creek, built by Christopher Girton in section 31. The earliest grist mill was that of Aaron Austin, on Four Mile, which was three stories high, and was of frame. It was built in 1815 and stood for thirty years, when it burned. It was rebuilt a year or two after the first mill was destroyed by fire. Soon after James

Broadberry purchased the mill and property, which he conducted for about three years, after which Samuel Mollyneaux was in pos- session for a time. The last proprietor was J. B. Pugh, who purchased it about 1868 and conducted it until his death in the latter 'eighties. Since that time the mill has been standing idle.

Before 1850 there were several prosper- ous church organizations in Oxford town- ship. in addition to the societies in Oxford and College Corner. The Methodists had at least three distinct societies in connection with the old Oxford circuit, all of which have now become a memory. Besides these there was a Baptist, and also a Chris- tian church. both of which have ceased existence.

The Salem Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1832 at the house of Peter Butler by the Rev. John Stewart, pastor in charge. A year or two later a chapel was built, about two and one-half miles west of Oxford, which was utilized for many years. Among the first members of this church were the following : Isaac and Jane Crume, Peter Butler and wife. Joshua Leech and wife. Miller and Ann Dorsey, Lucretia Proc- ter, James Finkbine, John and Eliza Duke and Dr. John Keely and wife.

The Zion Methodist Episcopal church was organized at the house of Elisha Fay, in 1829, by Rev. Elijah H. Fields. The first church building was constructed in 1834 under the pastorate of C. W. Swain and John Waterman. The church was built of logs and was used as a place of worship until 1843, when it was destroyed by fire. The same year a new church was built about three-fourths of a mile east of the old church site at a point on the township line

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near the Reily and Oxford road. It was dedicated March 22, 1844, by Rev. Zach- ariah Connell. At this time and for several years thereafter the church was prosperous, but for the last third of a century there have been no regular services held.

The Bethel Methodist Episcopal church was organized before 1820. The society first worshiped in a log church which stood about a mile southeast of College Corner. In 1841 the second church, a frame building, was erected. The society flourished until 1860, when it disbanded, a part of the mem- bers going to Oxford and part to College Corner. Some of the early members of Bethel were John Brown and wife, William Shera and wife, Margaret Ridenour, Broomfield Boone and Joseph Kitchen.

About 1825 a Baptist church was erected on section 31, which stood near the old Girton school house. It was a frame structure and was used by all denominations. The congregation was usually administered to by the pastors of the Indian Creek Bap- tist church in Reily township. Rev. Firm Vanness, of Indiana, a Methodist minister, preached here occasionally.

The Christian church in the Doty set- tlement, northeast of Oxford village, was organized in 1844 by Herrick Burdsell. Samuel Doty, Joel Collins, Job Smith, Samuel Ware and Mrs. Joseph Morris were among the active members. The church, a frame structure twenty-four by thirty-six feet, was never finished. In connection with the church property was a burial place, on which there have been several interments. The society never had a regular pastor, but the Rev. Henry Prickett, a son-in-law of Herrick Burdsell, often preached here.

COLLEGE CORNER.

The village of College Corner was laid out May 5. 1837, by Gideon T. Howe. The village, as it was originally platted, belongs to Butler county, but later additions have extended it into Preble county, Ohio, and Union county, Indiana. The town has a population of one thousand and ninety-six, of whom about four hundred reside in Ohio, and about one-half are residents of Butler county. The village is incorporated in both states, there being two municipal govern- ments maintained. The high school build- ing, which was erected a few years ago, and which stands one-half in Ohio and the other half in Indiana, is under the control of a joint committee representing the two school boards. The school is maintained by the taxpayers of the joint district, those of each corporation contributing equally to its sup- port. The principal and teachers are re- quired to obtain license for teaching in both states. The early settlers hereabouts were : John Miller. Tobias Miller, Jacob Bake, James Huston, Samuel Huston, John Pat- terson, Peter Ridenour, Samuel McDill and David Bonner.

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Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, Part 51

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