USA > Ohio > Clark County > Springfield > Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th > Part 25
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STREAMS.
Across the southeastern part of the county flows the Little Miami River. The valley is not very wide, but is quite fertile. Not far from the Greene County line east of Clifton the Little Miami River forks, and a branch called the North Fork
of the Little Miami flows up through the center of the township past Pitchin. Mill Creek flows in a northwesterly direc- tion through the northwestern part of the township. These streams cause the town- ship to be very well watered and suit- able for agricultural and grazing pur- poses.
TIMBER.
The land was originally very nearly all covered with timber, there being occa- sionally a small patch of prairie along some of these streams. This timber con- sists of white, black and burr oaks, hick- ory, walnut and ash. A very fine quality of timber was originally found on a great. deal of the land. In the underbrush was found the hazel, plum, crab-apple, thorn and grapevine. In addition to these streams of water there are some very fine springs.
CROPS.
The land is adapted for the raising of those crops which are most familiar in Clark County, to-wit: Wheat, corn and oats. The village of Clifton on the south is partly located in this township and partly in Greene County. Pitchin is the principal village and is situated a little north and east of the center of the town- ship. Cortsville is located in the extreme southeastern part. (See villages.) Green has less mileage of railroads than any other township of the county, excepting Pleasant and Pike.
ROADS, ETC.
The Columbus branch of the Panhandle crosses the extreme southeastern corner of the township, and the Springfield
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
branch the northwestern corner. The Springfield and Charleston traction line touches the northern part of the town- ship. The township is well provided with ordinary roads. A good many of them, however, are laid out in a crooked line, seemingly following the course estab- lished by the old Indian trails. The Clif- ton Pike leads directly north and south about two miles west of the center, and the pike leading from Springfield to Selma runs in a diagonal direction through the eastern part of the township. These two pikes furnish the chief avenues leading to the city of Springfield. There are fifty- five miles of roads in the township.
POPULATION.
Like other townships in the county, Green has not increased in population very rapidly. In 1850 it had 1,386; in 1870, 1,464; 1880, 1,524; in 1890, 1,532, and in 1900, 1,425.
ACREAGE AND ASSESSED VALUE.
The following table shows the number of acres of land in the township and the assessed valuation of the real estate and personal property as the same is divided for school purposes :
Acres
Real Estate
Personal Property
Total
Green
16,561 $571,840 $296,900 $
848,740
Gr. & M. T. Sc. Dist. 605
17,830
6,860
24,690
Clifton School .. 2,374
89,790
22,980
112,770
Clifton Town
. .
19
8,090
3,870
11.960
Selma School
3,024
107,560
46,680
154,240
Total
24,583 $795,110 $377,290 $1,172,400
POLITICS.
A considerable number of the early settlers came from Pennsylvania others from Virginia and Maryland. Ever since the organization of the township its vote
has been against the Democratic party. During Whig times the plurality in favor of the Whigs was usually about one hun- dred. After that party went out of ex- istence, and the Republican party came in, the majority ran as high as 250 at times in favor of candidates of that party. The township being of the same political com- plexion as the county, it has been enabled to furnish a large proportion of the pub- lic officials.
EARLY SETTLERS.
It is supposed that settlements were made in Green Township as early as 1800, but there is no evidence of any permanent settlement until 1804, at which date Abraham Inlow settled on Section 6, Township 4, Range 8. He was born in Maryland March 25, 1777, and, in 1804, came with his father, Henry Inlow, to Donnelsville, where he remained a short time, then coming to Green Township. His parents returned to Kentucky, whence they had come, and there died. Mr. Inlow was married twice, and had four children by his first marriage, all of whom are dead; his second wife was Margaret Foley, who had eight children- Jemima, Catherine, Anna and Margaret grew to maturity, but Anna is now the only survivor. Mr. Inlow died October 4, 1840, and his wife, who was a native of Kentucky and the daughter of Daniel and Catherine Foley, died November 7, 1872.
In 1805 Thomas Luse and his parents, Justice and Mary Luse, came to this township and settled on Section 32, where Justice and his wife died. Thomas was born in Kentucky in 1797 ; he was married to Nancy Funston, a native of the town- ship, born in 1816, and who is yet living
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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY
here. They had eleven children, nine of whom are yet living. Mr. Luse died in 1878, much respected.
Ebenezer Wheeler settled on Section 12, Township 4, Range 8, in 1806. He was born in New Jersey September 15, 1782, and came with his father to Cin- cinnati in 1800. He married Joanna Miller in 1803 ; in 1810 or 1811 he removed to Urbana, Ohio; thence, in 1815, to In- diana, returning to his farm in this township in 1820, where he died in 1862, in his eightieth year.
Jacob Hubble settled on the same sec- tion as Mr. Wheeler in 1806. In the same year Samuel and John T. Stewart settled on Section 15, Township 5, Range 8, where they bought and improved 500 acres of land. They were natives of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The for- mer was born in 1775, and was married in 1807 to Elizabeth Elder. He was at Hull's surrender as a captain of a militia company, and died on his farm in this township in 1854. John T. was born in 1781; was married in 1815 to Ann Elder, who became the mother of ten children, nine of whom are living. He died in April, 1850, and his widow in September, 1880.
In 1808 James B. Stewart, a brother of the former two, settled in Section 6, Township 5, Range 8. He was also from Pennsylvania, born in 1777, and was mar- ried to Anna Beaty in 1807, in Butler County, Ohio. He lost his eyesight when a young man, and died in 1828; his son, John B., resided on a part of the farm, moving to Pitchin before his death.
In the same year as James B. Stewart came, the whole of Section 18 was pur- chased by John H. Garlough, a native of
Germany, who emigrated to Maryland, there married, and with his wife came to Ohio about 1790, and to this township in 1808. His descendants still own nearly all of his purchase. He was killed in 1820 by a vicious bull while engaged in building a grist-mill. His son Jacob fell heir to the homestead; he was born in 1796; married Nancy Luse, daughter of Justice Luse, about 1821, and died in 1878, aged eighty-two, leaving many descend- ants who do credit to his name. The fam- ily are noted for longevity, all living to ripe old age, much beyond the allotted time of man.
Samuel Kelly and Timothy Stratton came in 1808, the former settling on Sec- ton 30, Township 5, Range 8, and the lat- ter on Section 29.
Gabriel, George and William Albin came about 1810, settling in the western part of the township. George was in the War of 1812, and died in 1872.
In 1811, Seth Smith located on Survey 615. His son Seth was born in Tennes- see in 1798, and died on the farm his father purchased seventy years ago, in 1876, leaving four children. The whole family were peace-loving Friends, and did much for the moral welfare of this com- munity, their descendants being now prominent in social and business circles.
Arthur Forbes, a patriotic Irishman, who fled from English oppression, set- tled on Section 27 about 1811. He reared a large family and lived to a ripe old age, dying about 1848. Like all Irishmen, he loved liberty and hated tyranny.
Thomas Mills settled on Section 23, where his son John now resides, in 1812. He was born in Virginia, in 1785, and in 1790 came with his parents to Kentucky,
.
SINKING CREEK CHURCH, SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP
GEN. WHITEMAN'S OLD STONE HOUSE, CLIFTON
HOME OF JOHN THRASHER, LAGONDA, SPRINGFIELD
HOUSE BUILT BY JOHN PAUL, FIRST SET- TLER IN CLARK COUNTY (The spot on which man and woman are standing was the site of his first cabin, built in 1789)
THE OLD CARTMELL RESIDENCE, PLEAS- ANT TOWNSHIP (Over 100 years old)
OLD MILL AT NEW CARLISLE (Built by Mayor Reyburn's grandfather )
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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
where he was married, thence to Ohio at the date above mentioned, dying in 1865. He was prominent in township affairs at an early day.
Early settlers in this township were William and John Goudy, who came in 1808; they were natives of Pennsylvania, who first settled in Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1803, whence they came to Clark. Many of their descendants are living throughout the county.
Robert Elder, Sr., came from Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, in 1813, and bought from Mr. Funk fractional section No. 10, which contained about six hundred acres, on which he and his family settled; this land is yet owned in the family. Mr. Elder died October 3, 1825, and his wife September 20, 1827. Two of his sons yet reside in the township-Robert and John, the former being in his eightieth and the latter in his seventy-fourth year, and the name is largely represented by worthy descendants.
James Stewart, a cousin of those pre- viously mentioned, came in 1813, and bought the land upon which his sons, Elijah, James F. and David, now live. He was born in Pennsylvania about 1782, and there married to Jane Elder, a sister of Samuel and John T. Stewart's wives, and died on the homestead in Green Town- ship, in 1852, aged seventy.
In 1816, William Estle settled in the township; he was born in New Jersey in 1791, and there married in 1813, eight children being the fruits of this union. He died in 1859, and his wife in 1877.
farm where his son Abraham has resided for more than half a century. Stephen went to Illinois, and was there drowned in the Illinois River.
James Todd came in 1818; was mar- ried in 1819 to Betsy Garlough, of which union four sons and five daughters are the fruits; the sons are John H., W. Brand, Samuel A. and James, and the daughters are all living near the old home. Mr. Todd was born in Pennsylvania in 1797, and his wife in Maryland in 1799. He came with his parents to Ohio in 1806, settling on a stream in Warren County, which has since been known as Todd's Fork. Thence he came to this township, where he was mar- ried, and settled on Section 18, in the northern part of the township. He died in 1863. His widow is yet living on the old homestead, being now in her eighty- third year. He was a soldier in the war of 1812; was a millwright and carpenter, and had an extensive acquaintance.
Thomas Tindall was born in England in 1786, and came with his family to Green Township in 1819, where he died in 1856, his widow dying in 1872. They left a large family of children, who are well known in the county.
In 1824, James and John Anderson, na- tives of Scotland, but claiming no re- lationship, came here from Greene Coun- ty, where they had settled in 1819. James settled on section 33, and John on 28, both living to a ripe old age, leaving large and prosperous families. James died in 1864, aged eighty-four; his son "Squire" James Anderson died in 1906, and was a man of moral worth and strict integrity. "Among the other early settlers of
Stephen Kitchen, a native of Pennsyl- vania, settled in Warren County, Ohio, at an early day, and in 1818 came with his family to this township, settling on the Green were William Barnes, on Section
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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY
33; George Weaver and George Hemple- man, on Section 10; David and Thomas Littler, Robert Laing, Lewis Skillings (who lived but a short time in this town- ship, moving across the line to Springfield Township), John Baldwin, Gideon, and Charles Bloxam, Josiah Bates, William Marshall, John Wade, Wesley and Jack- son Allen, John Nagley and James Mason, nearly all of whom were from Virginia, and came for the purpose of making a home in the then dense forest of Ohio. Those men must have had rare courage, to undertake such a task, and posterity will ever honor their memory."
EARLY EVENTS.
The death of John H. Garlough in 1810 was the first and his grave is the oldest in the Garlough Graveyard. A Mrs. Wil- son, of a family run in by the Indians, who killed one child, died by over-exer- tion and fear in 1813.
The first frame house raised in the township was Seth Smith's in 1817. The mill at Clifton was built about 1800. John Stewart built the first brick house in 1823. Other brick houses were built by James Stewart in 1828, Gabriel Albin in 1830 and Ebenezer Wheeler in 1833.
The Baptist organization built a rough log church house in 1807, on the north bank of the Little Miami, a short distance from John Whiteman's house. The In- dians vacated the township about the com- mencement of the War of 1812. Their last camping ground around here was on the south bank of the Little Miami just below where the north fork entered that stream.
Very little of manufacturing or mill in-
dustry appeared at any time in this town- ship. At one time there was a saw-mill over at Allentown, also one at Pitchin and on the Little Miami.
The market for the farmers' products at this time is principally in Springfield although in the southeastern part some of the products are taken to Selma, and in the southwestern part to Yellow Springs.
RECENT INHABITANTS.
Among the present old pioneers of the township are Mrs. Eichelberger, aged 88; John G. Hatfield, 86; John Weller aged 90.
The persons active in the affairs of this township to date are descendants of the pioneers that are mentioned in the ac- count above given, which is taken from Beers' History and was complied by Perry Stewart, son of John T. Stewart, than whom no one was better prepared to write such a history. Perry Stewart was born in Green Township on June 6, 1818, and was the eldest son of John and Anna (Elder) Stewart. His father came to this township from Pennsylvania in 1806. His mother the daughter of Robert and Ann Elder who came to this town- ship in 1813. This Stewart family was a remarkable one in more than one re- spect, there having been born as brothers and sisters of Perry Stewart (Perry be- ing the eldest), E. R. Stewart, still liv- ing aged 86; Samuel Stewart, Charles Stewart, James M. Stewart, still living, Thomas E. Stewart, Julianna Stewart Anderson, Oscar N. Stewart, still living, and W. C. Stewart, still living. Perry, or, as he was usually called, Captain
247
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
Perry Stewart, died in the fall of 1906. He was married in 1844 to Miss Rhoda Wheeler who was also born in this town- ship and had a large family of children, Charles F. being the present township clerk, and Pearl having been treasurer of this county. Captain Stewart acquired his military title in the War of the Re- bellion, having been commissioned cap- tain of the ninety-fourth O. V. I. He was afterwards, in 1865, chosen county com- missioner, and in 1867 representative to the General Assembly from this county. His brothers were all good citizens, James having been probate judge of Greene County, and Charles in his lifetime a member, for a number of years, of the County Agricultural Board.
Chase Stewart, an attorney in the city of Springfield, is the son of Samuel, who moved to Hardin County. Earle, the present representative from this county to the Legislature, is the son of Thomas E.
Descendants of the Stewart family are inter-married in this township, so that there is a very large family connection, the present representative, James Hat- field, and County Commissioner R. N. Elder, recently deceased, having married daughters of Captain Perry Stewart.
Another family that has left a very Jarge connection in this township was the Garlough family. John P., a life-long resident of this township and for many years squire, died in 1905. James T., son of Jacob Garlough, born in 1834, having held numerous township positions, died in 1904.
The Kitchen family, of which Abraham was the ancestor, is still represented in the township by the children of E. J.
Kitchen, the brother I. N., who died in 1898, having lived near Selma in the southern part. J. S. Kitchen is still liv- ing and resides in the City of Springfield.
Robert Tindall, born in this township in 1825, the son of James and Sarah Tin- dall, is still living and in good health; so is John Weller, who was born in Mary- land in 1817, and came to this township in 1836.
Squire James Anderson, who was born in 1815 in Scotland, came to this town- ship when four years of age and lived here until his death in 1906. He was one of the recognized prominent farmers of the county. He held a number of public positions in the township and was known to be a careful, shrewd, thoughtful man. He was particularly prominent in the or- ganization of the Farmers' Mutual In- surance Company, of which he was presi- dent for a number of years. He left a large fortune but no direct descendants.
The Elder family is another family which has a large connection in this town- ship, R. N. Elder having been county com- missioner. The Todd family is another one of distinction in this township. James Todd, the father of Captain S. A. Todd, who was county recorder, came to this township in 1818. Captain Todd was born in 1836; his mother was Elizabeth Garlough. Mayor James M. Todd, of this city, is connected with the Todds of this township.
James R. Littler was likewise a lifelong resident of this township, having been born in Clifton in 1837.
He is still living, is a veteran of the Civil War, and for the last thirty years has conducted a blacksmith shop in the village of Pitchin.
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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY
POLITICAL.
By reason of the township being strong- ly in accord in political matters with the majority of this county, a large number of the public officials have come from this township.
COUNTY OFFICIALS.
In 1838 Stephen M. Wheeler was coun- ty auditor and was likewise representative in 1840 and 41. John T. Stewart in 1837- 8 was associate judge of the Common Pleas Court. Perry Stewart was county commissioner in 1866-1867, and repre- sented this county in the legislature in 1868-1869. William D. , Johnson , was county commissioner in 1869-1875. J. S. Kitchen was county commissioner 1880- 1886. R. N. Elder was commissioner, 1889-1895. Samuel Todd, recorder 1883- 1891; George Elder, representative 1894- 1898. Others closely connected were Chase Stewart, prosecuting attorney 1889, and later representative; Earl Stewart, at present representative; James M. Todd, treasurer 1895, and at pres- ent mayor of the city; P. M. Stew- art, treasurer in 1889; James Hat- field at present member to the General Assembly. In addition to these, while not living in the township at the time of their election yet generally recognized as Green Township products, were T. E. Lot, sheriff 1892-1896, and Thomas Shocknes- sey, 1896-1900.
TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.
Clerks-In township affairs Thomas E. Stewart was township clerk from 1882- 1889 and C. F. Stewart from that time to the present date; S. G. Stewart (elect).
Treasurers-Oliver Garlough, 1883-
1889; James Hatfield, 1889-1893; and M. A. Hatfield to this date. S. T. Luse, elect.
The following is a roster of trustees from 1882-R. N. Elder, 1882-1885; D. B. Shaffer, 1882-1883; B. F. Garlough, 1882-1884; H. C. Johnston, 1884-1889; C. F. Stewart, 1885-1889; R. F. Marshall, 1885-1888; M. E. Hatfield, 1886-1891; Michael Shocknessy, 1888-1899; James Cowan, 1889-1895; James T. Garlough, 1891-1902; N. H. Wright, 1895-1897; Sam- uel Harris, 1897-1903; H. C. Johnston, 1899-1905; E. K. Nave, 1903-1907; O. D. Estle, 1903-1907; C. F. Tindall, 1905- 1907; Chas. Wise (elect).
Justices of the Peace from 1871-J. F. Stewart, 1871-1877; J. S. Kitchen, 1871- 1879; Thomas E. Stewart, 1877-1880, 1894-1903; J. P. Garlough, 1879-1900; John B. Patton, 1880-1886; William H. Shafer, 1884-1887; R. T. Kelley, 1885- 1891, 1900-1906; Wm. O. Paden, 1903- 1906; Wm. H. Coon, 1903-1906; E. W. Stewart, 1905-1908.
CHURCHES.
The first church that was organized was of the Baptist denomination. Assisted by Presbyterians, the Baptists built a church for a meeting house in 1807 a short distance north of the old Gen. Ben- jamin Whiteman's house. This was a log structure. The Baptists occupied it un- til 1830. In 1811 the Presbyterians or- ganized a church, the Rev. James Welsh having been instrumental in the organi- zation. In 1827 a brick church was built near the west fence of the cemetery, and in 1854 the present church was built in Clifton. The former pastors of this church were Peter Montfort, 1813-1817; Andrew Poague 1817-1840; Moses Russel
249
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
1840-1863; A. R. Colmary 1864-1869; T. M. Wood 1870-1871; E. S. Weaver 1871-
In 1818
the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized and had a church south of Springfield on the Yellow Springs Pike, afterwards another church was built a short distance north in 1837, on what was then Adam Mayne's farm and afterwards this organization built Emery Chapel, which is in Springfield Township, in 1852.
In 1845 the old Ebenezer Church still standing on the west side of Yellow Springs Pike, was built by the Christian Church organization, which was estab- lished in 1839. This property has been recently sold and the church organization abandoned.
At an early date Melyn D. Baker, Isaac M. Walker, and Jacob Reeder were pastors of this church, the Rev. N. Sum- merbell having been its last pastor in 1880. The church at Pitchin, of the Meth- odist Protestant denomination, was or- ganized in 1833 by Rev. Saul Hinkle. It was known as Concord church and is still in active use. The Rev. M. M. Campbell is the present pastor.
In 1840 the Free Will Baptist Church was organized on a lot owned by Abra- ham Kitchen, known as Pleasant Grove. The church is still standing which was built in 1859. The Rev. Titus is the pres- ent pastor.
1
In 1844, an anti-slavery Methodist or- ganization built a church at Cortsville and afterwards a Free Presbyterian organi- zation was established here. This church in recent years has been occupied by the colored Baptist Church organization.
In 1860 on the Yellow Springs Pike in
the extreme southwestern part of the township was organized "Wones" Chapel named after the Rev. Timothy Wones who was its organizer. This has been aban- doned for a number of years.
SCHOOLS.
The township was formed into school districts as early as 1819. The schools were established principally and carried on by subscriptions, and the school- houses were built on the donation plan up to 1840. The schools of the township are in a flourishing condition.
The following is a list of teachers for the coming year. Superintendent C. C. Kail. No. 1 and 2 became a part of Selma District: No. 3 Pleasant Ridge, Esther Mattison; No. 4, Liberty, closed, and the pupils transferred to Pitchin; No. 5, Pitchin, principal, Jane McCartney; pri- mary Mabel Knott; music, George Zeigler.
Special District --- No Superintendent. Miss Alice Patton, Hopewell; Allentown, open; Peacock, A. B. Sparrow.
Clifton- Superintendent, H. C. Ault- man; assistant high school teacher J. C. Marshall; intermediate, Emma Spahr; primary, Lucy Stewart; music, George Zeigler.
Enumeration of pupils for 1907-Males 77; females 62; total 139. Special Dis- trict-Males 53; females 54; total 107. Clifton-Males 88; females 86; total 174.
HARMONY TOWNSHIP.
BOUNDARIES.
Harmony Township is east of Spring- field Township, south of Pleasant and north of Madison Township, and bounded
250
HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY
on the east by the Madison County line. been from Virginia with a considerable Territorially it is the largest township sprinkling of Kentuckians. in the county. It existed in name and formed a part of the township in Cham- ROADS. paign County prior to the establishment of this county. How it received the name of Harmony is not now known. The western part of the township consists of Congress lands. The eastern part of Military land, being that part which is east of the Ludlow line, which appears a little to the northwest running through the township from a point about one mile west of its southern boundary. Both Beaver Creek and the Lisbon fork of the Little Miami have their source in the eastern part of the township.
CREEKS.
Beaver Creek flows in an westerly direc- tion, leaving the township not far from the village of Harmony. The Lisbon fork of the Little Miami flows southwesterly past the village of Lisbon. In addition to these streams, the north fork of the Little Miami extends out close to Plattsburg. These various streams make the town- ship suitable for either agriculture or grazing, and these we find are the leading industries. In the extreme eastern part of the township the land is quite rolling, but in no place is it sufficiently hilly as to become untillable.
SOIL-CROPS.
The valleys of these little streams are quite fertile and the township contributes largely of the staple products of this coun- ty, the sheep industry being extensively conducted in the eastern part.
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