Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th, Part 24

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1086


USA > Ohio > Clark County > Springfield > Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th > Part 24


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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time after the change had taken place, ad- dressed him in substance as follows: "Well, so you are a 'New Light,' are you?" "No," says Mr. Chapman, "I am an old light newly snuffed." This man was one of the active and enterprising men of his day. He was well known over the county and highly esteemed by all, and whatever "Billy" Chapman said was thought to be "law and gospel." He left the township in 1818, going to Missouri, where he died in 1822. His son Jesse re- mained in this neighborhood until about 1840, then going to the Pacific coast. The daughter of the son of the last named Chapman married U. S. Grant, Jr., son of the late President and great soldier. "Billy" Chapman, as he was known far and wide, was one of the early inn or tav- ern keepers of this part of the county. Living on the direct road between Dayton and Urbana, he had an extensive custom from the wagoners.


William Ross, though not a native of the "Blue Grass" State, emigrated from Kentucky in 1797 to Ohio, stopping tem- porarily in Warren County, and remained about one year, thence moving to the vicinity of Tremont, entering a section of land just north of that village. At the age of thirty years, he was united in marriage with Winneford Rector, a sister of Charles Rector, above mentioned, which union was blessed with eight chil- dren, seven of whom were born in Ken- tucky, namely: William, Elijah, Nancy, Elizabeth, John, Presley and Mary, Charles having been born after their ar- rival. The father resided on what is now known as the north farm of Geo. W. Berry, where he built, in 1812, the first frame house in this region of the coun-


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try. It was quite a modern house, two marry in the township, being united to stories high, with a shingle roof, with tin Miss Rachel Wallace in the year 1806. score and four years. spouting, the latter being put up by He lived to the advanced age of four- Daniel Harr, a son-in-law, of Urbana. This house was still standing until a few The settlement was increased in 1801 by the coming of Jacob Kiblinger, a na- tive of Virginia, who purchased eighty acres of land and returned to his native state, and, between the years of 1801 and 1805, made four trips to this vicinity, moving several families of the Kiblingers and Pences. Among the latter was a John Pence. These all became permanent settlers in German Township. Jacob Kiblinger, Sr., father of the one above mentioned, erected the first saw and hemp mill, located on Mad River, near where the "Eagle Mills" now stand, in this section of the country. Another from the "Blue Grass" region came in 1802, in the person of Elijah Weaver, a native of Virginia. In 1807 he married Mary McKinley, and settled in the northeastern part of the township. They had a. son, Newton, born to them in 1810, who was the father of Johnson P. Weaver, still living. Elijah died three years later. Virginia again responded to the call for emigrants, and, in 1804, sent forth David Jones and family, consisting of his wife, Margaret, and the following children: Mary, Margaret, James M., Lydia and Kiziah. Mr. Jones purchased land on Chapman's Creek, about one and a half miles west of the village of Tremont. Mr. Jones died in his ninety-fifth year; his wife died in 1850, in her seventy-third year. His mother lived to be one hun- dred and nine years old. At one hundred and three she walked a distance to attend church and at that age could knit nicely. James M., a child, died at Tremont years ago. Elijah farmed this ground with his father until 1825, when he moved out of the township and Charles took his place. Later Presley bought out Charles' interest and there died in 1852. He had previously farmed the present J. S. Gard place, and John resided on the Blose land, and William, Jr., at one time on the same property. This pioneer, Father Ross, has a remarkable history. When but five years old, while fishing with a white man, he was kidnapped by two In- dians, and was about to be burned, having been sent to gather the fagots by which the burning was to be accomplished, when there happened along a French trader and interceded in the boy's be- half, giving them each a blanket and thereby saving his life. Ross was taken by the trader to Detroit, where he was made a page to the trader's daughters. In those days it was fashionable for the French ladies to wear very long trails, which were carried by pages. He had been gone for years and given up his parents as dead, when during the French and Indian war, his brother John was among the soldiers at Detroit, and there seeing the boy, recognized him and took him home. Mr. Ross was a great Methodist, and his house was the preach- ing place for that denomination for years. He was a valuable man in the community. His sons settling around him and being industrious soon made a visible mark in the forest. His son John served in the War of 1812; was among the first to


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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY


August 16, 1880, and several are in this try life and were valuable Christian men. township. S. H., a son of James M., is still living in Tremont.


The following year emigrated from Vir- ginia Daniel Gentis, entering 160 acres of land in Section 23. He had a large family of children, the boys settling in the neighborhood, and did much to de- velop the country. Job Gard came about the year 1803, or perhaps a little later. He was a native of New Jersey, but had emigrated to Kentucky and from that State to the township of German, settling in Section 17. This family on their ar- rival was composed of eight persons, in- cluding the wife, Elizabeth, and six chil- dren-Gersham, Daniel, Simon, Rachel, Sarah and Phoebe. Quite a number of the descendants of this family are now living in the township, and are among the substantial men of the community. The father erected several mills along Mad River in an early day; was in the War of 1812; a very useful citizen, an active pioneer and business man. The settle- ment was augmented in 1805 by the fam- ilies of Philip Kizer, George Glass, Daniel Gentis and Abraham Zerkle. Kizer set- tled east of Tremont, having come from Virginia ; served in the War of 1812 as a captain. Zerkle was from Virginia, and entered land in Section 9. The Weavers, William and Christopher, were very early settlers in this locality, coming about the beginning of this century. William Haller, from personal knowledge of sev- eral of these pioneers, speaks of them as follows: "William Ross was of medium stature and had wonderful strength and endurance. Charles Rector was larger, was strong and very hardy. These men and families were fitted for a new coun-


Weaver was also a man of fine stature, an upright and Christian man."


The pioneers of 1806 were Daniel Kib- linger and Thomas Nauman, Jr., the for- mer hailing from that State in after years designated as the "Mother of Presi- dents," whence so many of our pioneers came. Nauman, too, was a native of Virginia, and came to this vicinity on horseback and made his home with Matthias Friermood, who was a settler at a still earlier date. In 1809 Thomas Nauman, Sr., and family settled in the township. He was one of the patriotic men who, just prior to the War of 1776, assisted in throwing overboard the cargo of tea in Boston Harbor. In 1810 Felty Snyder, of Virginia, effected a settlement in this locality. Benjamin Morris, from the same State, came the year previous, and, in 1810, entered 160 acres in the southern part of the township. He served in the War of 1812. He died at an advanced age. Samuel Baker and John Keller were added to the colony in the year 1811; and the next year Rudolph Baker and Benjamin Frantz, the former being from Virginia and the latter from Pennsylvania. Frantz was another who served his country in the war then waged . by the mother country.


Virginia continued to send forth her sons, Samuel Meranda emigrating in 1814, purchasing a tract of land where Jefferson Meranda now lives, and, in 1816, came Matthias Rust and Frederick Michael. Jacob Maggart, his brother David, and Philip Goodman are also numbered with the pioneers of the town- ship. At a very early day, Jeremiah Simms and family came to this section of


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the county, but the country was so new and thinly settled that they returned to Virginia and again came out in about 1806, and entered a quarter-section of land in the southern part of the town- ship (Sintz neighborhood). He was a valuable man, being a blacksmith by trade, a mechanic then greatly needed in the settlement. One of his sons, Jere- miah, Jr., was a local preacher, and preached the first sermon in Rector Church, which was delivered over the re- mains of Catharine Peck in the year 1822. George Welchans and William Enoch, the former of Pennsylvania and the latter from Virginia, settled here in 1808. John Kemp, of Virginia, and Thomas Hays, a native of Kentucky, came in 1809, the former settling on Sec- tion 14, and the latter on Section 25. In 1812 Oden Hays, a son of the one men- tioned, was lost in a snowstorm and was afterward found dead in a hollow log on Section 32. Joseph Perrin came from Virginia in 1810. Jacob, Henry and Mar- tin Baker were all early settlers of Ger- man Township, and natives of Virginia. Jacob settled on Section 14 in 1813, died in 1821, and is buried in the Lawrenceville Cemetery. His sons, Philip, Henry, Jacob, Martin, John and Samuel, as well as three daughters, resided in this town- ship. Andrew and Emanuel Circle set- tled in the southeastern part of German, on Mad River, at an early day. They were natives of Virginia, and have de- scendants yet living in the township. Benjamin Ream, of Pennsylvania, settled with his family on Section 32 after the War of 1812, in which he served; and, in 1816, John Lorton and his wife, Rachel, natives of Kentucky, settled in this part


of Clark County; also Matthias Staley, of Maryland, who was a carpenter by trade, came in 1820, and each of these last men- tioned pioneer families have descendants now residents of German Township.


Among others who we may well call pioneers were Adam Rockel, a soldier of the War of 1812, and Philip Kern, natives of Pennsylvania, who settled on Section 9 in 1822. Mr. Rockel married Polly Baker, daughter of Philip Baker, who had five children born to her, viz: Peter, Henry, William, Harriet and Mary. Mr. Rockel died at the advanced age of ninety in 1884, and his wife in 1886. Mr. Kern married the sister of Mr. Rockel, and their son, Adam, resided until his death, about 1888, upon the old place. John Beamer came from Virginia in 1816, settling on Section 13. His wife was Elizabeth Mulholland, and they had three children, viz: Thomas, Valentine and Eliza, the latter the wife of Dr. Mclaughlin, of Tremont, died in 1892. Mr. Beamer and wife died on the old homestead. An- other family well worthy of mention is that of William Ballentine, a native of Ireland, who came to Ohio in 1831, and in 1832 settled in German Township, where he died in 1851. His wife, Nancy Nail, was also a native of Ireland, where they were married. Of their union were born twelve children, one of whom is living, James V., aged eighty-four.


David Kizer was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, December 20, 1779; married to Eva Nawman, June 23, 1806; died December 31, 1847, and was buried in Green Mount Cemetery. His wife was born July 11, 1787, and died September 8, 1869.


Mr. Kizer came to Clark County in the


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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY


year 1809, and settled on Section 7, being no shipping facilities. So along Town 4, Range 10, M. R. S., in what is Mad River and Chapman's Creek there sprang up a large number of grist mills and distilleries, also carding mills, and as the land of the township was well cov- ered with timber, saw-mills were found "out" in the War of 1812, and upon the , quite frequently on these streams. now German Township (it was then called Boston), and took an active part in the public affairs of that day. He was chosen justice of the peace in 1811; was establishment of this county in 1818 was appointed its first recorder, to which office he was several times re-elected.


Mr. Kizer brought a small library of books with him, and, being inclined to scholarly habits, his house became the headquarters of the literary element of the neighborhood.


The children of this pioneer were Phoebe, born May 20, 1807; Rebecca, born May 29, 1809; Lydia, born April 15, 1811; Thomas, born December 18, 1812, who was county surveyor for more than twenty years; Susannah, born August 17, 1815, and Eli, born January 25, 1823. All are now deceased.


FIRST EVENTS.


Jesse Chapman, born in 1800, was the first white child born in this township and perhaps in the county. The first marriage recorded was that of Thomas Pence to Mary Ross in 1801. The first schoolhouse was erected about a mile west of Tremont in 1803. The first mill was built near the entrance of Storm's Creek into Mad River prior to 1810. (See mills.)


Most of the early settlements of this township were made along Mad River and Chapman's Creek these streams af- fording the mill power, which was con- sidered of great importance to the early settlers to grind their wheat into flour and convert their corn into whiskey, there


In addition to the settlers mentioned above, whose names are mostly included in Beer's History, others might be men- tioned with more or less particularity. Dr. Andrew Mclaughlin was a citizen of Tremont for many years. Born in Con- cord Township, Champaign County, Ohio, of Scotch descent, he commenced the practice of his profession in Tremont in 1836 and continued there until his death in the early eighties. Everybody in that vicinity knew Dr. "Mac," as he was familiarly called. He was a large, portly man, weighing 340 pounds. He was an expert in fever cases, his ability in this class of cases no doubt resulting from his large practice in that line in a newly in- habited country. One of his peculiar characteristics was his habit of whistling. While he whistled no particular tune, it was of such strong tone as to be heard for miles. He left no offspring. He died in the fall of 1882.


Another doctor of that vicinity about the same time was Dr. Hiram Senseman, whose widow recently (1907) died. Dr. Senseman was a graduate of Jefferson University, Pennsylvania, and settled in Tremont in 1853 and continued there un- til he died in 1883. He was a learned man and successful in his profession.


John Kiblinger, frequently called "Curly" Kiblinger, by reason of his curly hair, was long a well known resident of this township, serving upon the Agricul-


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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.


tural Board and in other positions of that character. He was born in 1816 on the farm where he died, near Eagle City, in the earlier part of the nineties. He was of very lively disposition and for some- time was owner of the Eagle City Mills.


Long time residents of this township were Adam and Christian Neff, brothers, who came to this township from Virginia in 1832, settling south of Tremont City, and resided in this vicinity until their deaths. Adam was prominent in church and agricultural matters. His first wife was a daughter of an early settler, Isaac Turman. They were both honored cit- izens in their time, and died in recent years. Adam died in 1885 and Christian in 1894.


A very noted character at this time was the Rev. "Johnnie" Pence, an ordained minister of the German Reform Church. He commenced preaching at about 1827 and continued in that avocation until his death in the eighties, although more than eighty years of age.


Jacob Mitzel was a Pennsylvanian, who emigrated to this township in 1852, and in 1860 was married to Elnora, daughter of Adam Neff. He is still living a short dis- tance west of Tremont City and is one of the best farmers in the township.


.


ested in the welfare of the township gen- erally.


John E. Lorton was township treasurer for some years and lived near Lawrence- ville, having been born there in 1827; he died a few years ago.


C. F. Rohrer, an active member in local affairs in this township for a number of years, who lived a few miles north of Tremont City, died recently.


Emanuel Hause was for many years a blacksmith and still lives in 'Lawrence- ville. He came from Pennsylvania in 1848. He lived for a time in Lawrence- ville and afterwards moved onto a farm and again back to the village.


Jesse Mead, a farmer, active in fine stock, lived east of Tremont City along Mad River until his death in 1880.


The Adam Baker family came from Pennsylvania in 1836 and settled near Eagle City Mills. This family was prom- inent in Clark County. Two of their sons, William and Cornelius, and one grandson, A. J., having been sheriffs of the county.


Some of the old pioneers of the town- ship now living are James V. Ballentine, 84; Silas Baker, 84; George Ramsey, 80; David Enoch, past 82, and Henry Deam, over 80.


Adam Rockel, the ancestor of the Rockel family of this county, came with his father, Peter Rockel, to this township in 1822 and settled one mile south of Tremont City, where he lived until his death in 1884. His son Henry, now past seventy years of age, resides in Tremont.


The Gard family is rather a noted one of this township, the father, Gersham Gard, having come to this township as early as 1805. He had a large family, all of whom now are deceased except Eli, who still resides in Tremont. Silas H., deceased some years ago, lived south of this village, and Dr. John S. north. Emerson E., the owner of the Tremont POLITICS. City elevator, is a son of Silas H. They German Township being Democratic in were an active, progressive family, inter- politics did not furnish many county


13


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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY


officials; however, the elder Adam Baker was a county commissioner in 1849. In 1871 John H. Blose was elected a member of the constitutional convention, and in 1874 he was elected as a Democrat for one term as county commissioner. Mr. Blose is still living, and perhaps we might say is one of the most, if not the most, distinguished residents of this township.


Mr. Blose was born in Champaign County in 1838 and was married in 1857 to Caroline, daughter of David Stein- barger.


In 1903 Joseph H. Collins was elected county commissioner as a Republican. He was re-nominated for a second term in 1905, and died before he had filled the full length of his first term. Mr. Collins was a Virginian by birth and came to this township in 1860, and in 1864 mar- ried Mary E. Rockel, daughter of Adam Rockel.


The following persons have served in the past as justice of the peace: John Goble, Hugh H. Frazier, John McCauley, Philip Kizer, William Enoch, Peter Min- nich, George Michael, Joseph Underwood, Elias Darnell, Samuel Bechtle, J. S. Gard, Thomas Elliott, Michael Bowman, Jacob Argobright, Peter Mclaughlin, William W. Lee, Eli Kizer, Alexander Michael, L. Bechtle and James V. Ballentine.


Justices of the peace since 1871 :


Alexander Michael


.1871-1874


John H. Blose .1872, resigned 1878-1890


Jacob Argobright.


.1872-1875


John S. Gard 1873-1876


Lafayette Bechtle 1876-1879


James V. Ballentine


1880-1886


John H. Hartman 1886-1892


Jacob Hartman .1892-1895


W. S. Neese


1893-1902-1905


D. R. Shuman 1895-1898


Perry E. Circle


1898-1901


A. L. Rust


1899-1905


F. P. Blose


1904-190S


J. B. Minnich


1904-190S


C. E. Zerkle (elect )


For a number of years past Dr. J. H. Reynolds, of Lawrenceville has been township clerk, D. Benton Jenkins was township clerk, 1894-1898, and Americus James, treasurer, 1895-1897, and the fol- lowing have served as township trustees :


John E. Lorton 1881, 1883, 1884


J. P. Weaver


1882,


John Wilson


1883,


Peter Snyder


1883-1892


Michael Shawyer


1883-1885


Henry Titer


1885-1893


Samuel Arthur


1886-1888


David Enoch


1889-1890


Henry Fisher


1891-1900


C. H. Bailey


1893-1901, 1905


Harvey Bowers


1902-1904


H. C. Fisher. 1902-1905


(Resigned and C. H. Bailey appointed. )


Emanuel Mitzel


1894-


N. B. Wagoner


1905-


Michael Rader


1905-


Oscar J. Rockel (elect) .


CHURCHES.


Formerly churches were organized in various parts of the country districts, but in later years the tendency has been to abandon these country churches and centralize religious worship in villages and cities. Thus we find that at this time the principal churches of the town- ship are in the villages of Tremont and Lawrenceville.


The congregations now controlling the Methodist Episcopal Church in Tremont is the successor of that congregation that in 1820 built a log church just over the county line north. This church was after- wards succeeded by a frame building, which is still standing, not far from the Valley Pike, north of Tremont City. The congregation, however, moved itself to Tremont City in 1838 and there built a brick structure, which was taken down in 1880 and replaced by the present struc- ture. It has recently been remodeled and is now in good condition, the Rev. Wiant being the present pastor.


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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.


Sometime before the log church above referred to was built, the Methodists in church. the southern part of the township had an organization and in 1852 they built a log meetinghouse. This structure was after- wards torn down and the present church, which is known as Simms Chapel, was erected in 1854. There is a cemetery ad- joining this church.


The Lutheran and German Reform people built a union church at Lawrence- ville about the year 1821 and continued to use it jointly until 1844, at about which time the Lutherans built a church on the Valley Pike, opposite from the Eagle City Mills. This Lutheran church was afterwards destroyed by fire. There is a cemetery surrounding its former location. The German Reform Church at Lawrence- ville is in flourishing condition at this time, having recently been remodeled and reconstructed. The Rev. J. C. Paul is the present pastor.


In 1863 the German Reform Church or- ganized a congregation in Tremont City, the Rev. Jesse Richards being the organ- izer. This church is still in flourishing condition, a cemetery surrounding its location, and the Rev. Woerner is pastor.


About 1827 or '28 the Rev. John Pence, heretofore referred to, commenced preach- ing in the neighborhood a few miles this side of Dialton, and this resulted in the formation there of a church of the reform denomination. It was called Jerusalem. The first structure was a huge log one; this was afterwards torn down and a brick one built and this was likewise de- stroyed by fire, and a few years ago the congregation built a new church in the village of Dialton. There is a cemetery


surrounding the location of this old


SCHOOLS.


The schools of German Township have been recognized for some time as being equal to any in the county. This town- ship was among the first, if not the first, to have a township high school, such a school having been established in 1874 at Lawrenceville. It still affords advanced educational privileges for the pupils of the township. The first schoolhouse was built in this township a short distance north of Tremont City upon the lands of Mr. Sager. This was in 1803, and it is said that Peter Oliver, of Kentucky, was the first schoolmaster. In recent years the sub-district formerly comprising the locality in which Tremont City is situated has been laid off to itself as a special school district. The lower part of the township forms a joint sub-district with the schools of Springfield township. The following constitute the present school board of the township: Charles Smith, president; O. J. Rockel, clerk; S. S. Snyder, E. Z. Zerkle and W. H. Shawver.


The following are the teachers for the present year: Superintendent, J. W. Coleman; assistant high school teacher, Clyde Xanders; No. 1, Jackson, Orris Haulman; No. 2, Mt. Zion, F. P. Blose; No. 3, Eureka, Irwin Baker; No. 4, Lawrenceville, A. L. Rust; No. 5, Willow Dale, G. W. Kohler; No. 6, Beech Center, W. G. Griest; No. 7, Beech Crossing, Miss Jessie Miller ; No. 8, Beech Knob, Grover Circle; No. 9, Deers, A. W. Blose; No. 10, Fairview, Miss Carol Hutchinson.


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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY


TREMONT.


Superintendent, T. J. Heck; high school, assistant and seventh and eighth grades, F. E. Peneton; fourth, fifth and sixth grades, W. S. Neese; first, second and third, Mary Hutchinson.


Enumeration of pupils for 1907 : Males, 237; females, 186; total, 423.


Tremont City : Males, 63; females, 59; total, 122.


GREEN TOWNSHIP.


BOUNDARIES.


Green Township is located immediately south of Springfield Township, west of Madison and east of Mad River Town- ships and north of Greene County. In the greater part of the township the land is laid out as Congress land, only that south of the Little Miami River being a part of the Virginia Military Reservation. The township was formed in 1818, upon the organization of the county. It takes its name from Greene County, it being territory that upon the formation of Clark County was taken from Greene County, the line between this and Spring- field Township having been the former line between Greene County and Cham- paign County. When the territory in this county was a part of Greene County it formed a part of Bath Township.




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