USA > Ohio > Clinton County > History of Clinton County, Ohio Its People, Industries, and Institutions, with Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families > Part 36
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NATURAL FEATURES.
The Fast fork of the Little Miami river drains the southern and southeastern parte of the township. Its tributaries are mingled so thoroughly with those of the East fork of Todd's fork, which drains the northern and western portions of the township, that the securing of the outlets for the erection of farm drains has always been a rather simple matter. Large, open ditches have been built through the central and southwestern portions of the township, thus completing the natural drainage systems. The greater portion of the township is level or slightly rolling, with a gradual and general slope toward the south or southwest.
SETTLEMENT.
Tradition has it that Thomas Johns was the first to settle within the present bounds of Clark township. He is said to have located on the Fast fork, about three miles southeast of the present site of Martinsville. Nothing about the place of his birth or of the date of his settlement can be ascertained. However, it is known that Isaac Miller settled about three miles east of Martinsville. The story is told that Mr. Miller, needing a hoe, journeyed sixteen miles on foot through the forests to New Market in Highland county to make his purchase. Joseph Mckibben also settled about the same time in the same neighborhood. In 1806. John Wright came from North Carolina, bought the present site of Martinsville, for two dollars an acre, and settled there. He was mainly instrumental in the laying-out of that village and erected the first house within its limits. A daughter of his was the first person to be Interred in the Friend's graveyard at Martinsville. By the year 1808, Samuel McCulloch had settled on East fork, four miles southeast of Martinsville, and Isaac Van Meter and John Jones near the present site of Lynchburg.
Daniel and Joseph Moon, brothers, came from, Jefferson county, Tennessee, in the
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spring of 1808, and settled about one mile east of Martinsville. Samuel Moon, another brother, and John Ruth, a brother-in-law and the husband of Jane Moore, came to the same neighborhood In the following fall. In the spring of the following year, 1809, Joseph Moon, Sr., father of the above, with his family and two sons, William and Jesee, and their families, and his brother, John Moon, joined the others in the new settlement. Another brother-in-law, James Garner, the husband of Mary Moon, settled in the same limits in 1811.
In 1810, John Beales, of North Carolina, Christopher Hiatt, of Virginia, and James Puckett and Daniel Puckett, both from North Carolina, settled in the neighborhood about Martinsville. Daniel Puckett was a minister in the Friends church and was one of the first to preach the gospel in the new settlement. He afterwards moved to Indiana. William West settled one-half a mile north of Martinsville in 1811. He is the ancestor of the great family of Wests, of Clark township. Joseph Mills, Sr., of North Carolina. settled to the northeast of Martinaville In 1814. In the same year. David Hockett, Sr .. settled in that neighborhood. He died in 1842, at the ripe age of seventy-seven. Jonathan Hockett, a brother of David, settled one-half mile west of Martinsville in 1816.
Jacob Hunt and family, of Virginia, settled a short distance to the north of Martins- ville in 1816 and the following year were joined by his brother, Thomas Hunt, who settled adjoining. In 1819. Aaron Retts, of Virginia, settled to the west of Martinsville, purchasing a large tract of land.
The following names should be mentioned In a list of the early ploneers of the township. No authentic information could be obtained as to the date of their settle- ments: John Lytle, Willlam Nixon, Aaron Ruse, William and Richard Owsley, Joshua Betterton. Daniel Nordyke, Jacob Jackson, Owen West, Isane, William and Robert Jones, Gideon Mckibben. Thomas MeLin, William Chalfont, William Davis, Ashley Johnson, George Shields, William Patterson and James Hadley.
MILLS.
In the first days of the settlement the meal for brend for the community was ground on a hand-mill owned by Joseph Moon. Sr. A short time afterwards, Isaac Nordyke built a horse-mill five or six miles away from the Martinsville settlement. The next opportunities were to take two or three bushels of grain on horseback to the mill on Cowan's creek or the Enst fork. When the water was too low for these mills to operate, a journey of three or four days was required to reach the mills on the Miami. The first mill to be built within the confines of the township was a saw and grist-mill built by William Leagitt on the East fork, followed by Isaac Jones, near Lynchburg, and the third was built by Aaron Ruse on the same stream, between Leagitt's and Jones'. William Patterson built the fourth mill in the township on the East fork of Todd's fork. half a mile northwest of Martinsville. 'A carding-mill, run by oxen on an inclined wheel, was built about 1827. by Christopher Hiatt. John Lytle later erected another carding- machine near the present site of Martinsville, as did also Curtis Jackson. The first mill within the township to use steam power was built about a mile west of that town in 1833 or 1834. Isaac Pidgeon applied steam to a carding and fulling machine, to which he attached apparatus for grinding corn a short time later. Two other steam-mills were built later-one known as Kester's, about two miles northeast of Martinsville, which was removed several years Inter to Farmer's Station : the other. in Martinaville, built with money raised by subscription for that purpose. The mill was built and operated for a while by Angus McCoy and Daniel Carey. This mill was destroyed by fire about the year 1860, while owned by Jehu Davis, who erected another building.
The following are the officers of Clark township in 1915: Trustees. Newton Davis, Albert Wood and Frank Brown ; clerk, H. A. Clark ; treasurer, Harley Rotts. The popula- tion is sixteen hundred and sixty-seven.
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MARTINSVILLE. By L. Eulass Spencer.
Martinsville is situated in the northern part of Clark township, on the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern railroad, about midway between New Vienna and Blanchester. This village was laid out and platted by John Wright, William Nixon and James Moon, proprietors, on September 23, 1816. It was part of the David Bradford survey, No. 2,391.
The first election for this township was held in John Wright's store, in Martinsville. In the year 1806, John Wright, of North Carolina, settled upon land from which the larger part of the present site of Martinsville was taken, buying the land at two dollars per acre. Mr. Wright was mainly instrumental in the laying out of the village and erected the first house within the present limits.
About the year 1828, John Lytle erected a carding machine near the present site of the village, and Curtis Jackson built a mill near by, both of which were run by oxen on an Inclined wheel. A steam mill, the first in the village, was erected at Martinsville, with funds raised by subscription, about two thousand dollars having been obtained for the purpose. The mill was built and operated for a time by Angus McCoy and Daniel Carey. This mill was destroyd by fire in 1860 or 1861, while owned by Jebu Davis. The first merchants in the village were Lewis Garrett and Robert Grant. Their store was opened up about the time of the laying out of the town, in 1816. It is said that the main feature of their business was the liquor traffic. They soon failed. They were soon followed by John Wright, whose entire capital did not exceed five hundred dollars. The first hotel was opened by Samuel Harbin, who was followed by Peyton Burton, who was succeeded by Samuel Hiatt. The first hatters were John Chew and Thomas Sally. William Moon was the first blacksmith and gunsmith, opening a shop as early as 1809. Asaph Hlatt was the frat cabinetmaker, beginning his work about 1815. Jesse Jackson was the first to follow shoemaking as a profession, and Aaron Bets was the first tanner.
About 1834-1835, Dr. John E. Dalton, of New Hampshire, became a resident of Martinsville. He was probably the first practicing physician who resided in the township. Doctor Dalton was also engaged in the mercantile business, and brought the first case of boots of Eastern manufacture ever offered for sale in the village. The issue of the Wilmington Democrat and Herald for January 31, 1834, mentioned the fact that a post- office had been established at Martinsville and Dr. John F. Dalton appointed postmaster. The Doctor must, therefore, have come to the village not later than 1833. He was suc- ceeded in the postoffice by David W. Hockett, and the third postmaster was John Hart. Others who have served this office are: Charles Cline, G. R. Moon, William Himes, Thomas Gaddis, C. C. Moon, Charles Mckenzie, C. L. Hixson and J. T. Crawford, and the present postmaster. C. W. Turner, who received the appointment in 1914. His assistant is Mra. Turner.
When Doctor Dalton and others petitioned for the office. the law required that offices should be at least four miles apart. To ascertain whether the office could be obtained, the distance to Cuba. the nearest postoffice, was mensured with a tape line, and it was found to he but very little over the required distance. Doctor Dalton also had the honor of being the first to agitate the temperance cause publicly in the community.
The population of this village, according to the census of 1880, was 355: 1890, 336; 1900. 838 ; 1910. 334. A telegraph office was opened in 1868-64 by I. N. Miller. From this station, during the fall and winter of 1881, about $100,000 worth of hogs and $20,000 worth of wheat were shipped. The valuation of town lots in Martinsville, according to the assessment of 1880, was $11.813: valuation of dwellings, $30,845; valuation of other buildings, $2,965; valuation of till property. $1,400; total value, $46,528.
The present officers are: Mayor. F. C. Garner ; marchal, Fred Aldrich; clerk, L. M. Townsend : health officer, Fred Aldrich; street commissioner, J. D. Loney ; treasurer, L. C.
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Dolph ; councilmen : President, Dr. V. T. Scott, H. B. Hunt, William Cline, George Collins, Ernest R. Hazard, II. J. Wright.
The high school has an enrollment of one hundred and seventy pupils; the following teachers have been employed for the ensuing term : Superintendent, Karl Kay ; principal, Miss Clara E. Smith ; assistants, Roy M. Black, Joe \. Deck, Miss Esther T. Carroll, Mrs. Gertrude Winters, Miss Josephine Simmons. The teachers and pupils have a splendid new thirty-five thousand-dollar building in which to do. their work. Members of the school board are: President, Dr. W. K. Ruble; clerk, J. M. West; George Townsend, Harry Greene, Homer Eaglin.
Martinsville bas a volunteer fire department, the equipment consisting of a hand engine, operated by twenty men, and one thousand feet of bose. There are five wells located in different parts of the village, which furnish an ample supply of water In time of fres. E. R. Hazard is the fire chief.
The Martinsville band was organized in 1913 by H. A. Clark. There are fourteen pieces. Their concerts on the public square every Thursday night are enjoyed and highly appreciated by great crowds of people.
The Martinsville Protective Association was organized in 1907. The officers of this organization are: President, C. B. Clelland ; vice-president, Jesse Moon ; secretary. F. W. Spencer; treasurer, W. T. Scott.
The Farmers Bank, D. D. Hunt, president ; L. M. Townsend, cashier ; capitalization, twenty-five thousand dollars, was established in 1863 by F. M. Moore and Nathaniel Hunter, who were succeeded on August 1, 1873, by Larkin Clelland and Milton Hunt.
BUSINESS INTERESTS.
W. T. Jay, dry-goods, boots, shoes, carpets and groceries, started in business in 1897, in a room twenty by eighty feet. Mr. Jay conducted this business until 1901, when be shipped his stock to New Albany, Indiana. But realizing his mistake in leaving this prosperous town. he returned within a year and opened up a store in the same room be had occupied before. He is now doing business at the old stand. Mr. Jay has been suc- cessful, as the number of years he has been in business will testify. The Clinton Supply Company, 8. S. Montgomery, proprietor. deals in dry-goods, notions, boots, shoes and carpets. In 1910. S. S. Montgomery and William Hunt purchased the stock of dry-goods, notions, boots and shoes of Kester & Moon. Immediately upon taking possession they closed out at auction a part of the stock purchased of Kester & Moon and replenished with new and staple stock. In 1914, the firm dissolved partnership, Mr. Montgomery taking over the entire business. He has an extensive installment business, which keeps one man on the road all the time. M. E. West, groceries, hardware, paint, harness, etc., has been in business since 1903. Eight of these years he was associated with F. W. Hadley, but In 1911 this partnership was dissolved. Botts & Dolph sell groceries, hardware, paints, harness, etc. In 1906 Harley Botts purchased the above line of Alva Florea. Later in the Anme year Mr. Botts sold out, Mr. Florea again becoming the owner. In 1907. Mr. Botts repurchased the stock of Mr. Flores and was the sole owner until 1910, when L. C. Dolph bought a half interest. in the business. . F. W. Spencer, restaurant and confectionery, com- menced business in 1902. He manufactures his ice cream, having a power plant of one hundred gallons per day capacity. By persistent effort and courteous treatment be bas established a successful business. J. E. Thrusher. jeweler, also handles shoes and does shoe repairing. Odis Wood opened a barber shop in 1912. A. M. Penle is a painter and paperhanger, also cobbler. W. A. Denius, baker, started in business in 1914. and from all indications it will be a permanent establishment. Mrs. J. L. Loney, milliner and dress- maker, is assisted by her daughter, Ethalyn. Simmons Sisters handle millinery. Ernest R. Hazard, lumber, feed and conl, moved to Martinsville in the spring of 1910, having purchasd. the business of H. J. Wright. : Mr. Hazard-has one of the most up-to-date lumber
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yards for a small town in the state. When the new addition to Martinsville was opened up Mr. Hazard purchased some lots and built a handsome residence for himself and family. Clinton Hotel-H. J. Swearingen & Son conduct this popular hotel. H. J. Swearingen & Son, livery and feed and auto service, have been in business since 1903. Dr. H. A. Clark, dentist, enjoys a lucrative business. Dr. W. T. Scott located in our town in 1880, and Dr. W. K. Ruble bas been in practice since 1800. S. M. White, undertaker, located here in 1914. The Martinsville Creamery Company is a stock company, operated by George Neffner and managed by F. N. Swith. George Harris, blacksmith, woodworker and gen- eral repairing, became the successor to P. M. Webb in March, 1915. F. N. Smith, coal and grain, moved to Martinsville in 1914. R. II. James, tinsmith, located here in 1909. West & Townsend, real estate, farming implements and plumbing, located bere in 1800. A. F. Shaper & Son have a large machine shop in course of construction, which will be in opera- tion in the near future. Lewis Pfister, blacksmith, one of the pioneers of the town, began manufacturing buggies in 1885, under the firm name of Vance & Pfister. This firm did an extensive business at the time. Buggies can still be seen that were made by themu twenty-nine years ago. In 1874 George Harris became a partner with Mr. Pfister in the blacksmithing department, the firm name being Pfister & Harris. They conducted the blacksmithing business until 1903, when the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Pfister con- tinuing the business.
Other business interests Include: W. W. Townsend, plumber; H. J. Swearenger, livery : Clyde Herron, dry cleaning ; B. W. Williamson, O. Guy Rbonemus, decorators and painters; Will Christ, veterinary ; W. J. Kirby & Son and Christopher Savage, stock buyers; Mack Brown, who resides in this township, is a breeder of fancy Poland China bogs: he is also an excellent judge of hogs and bas taken many prizes on his hogs at the state fairs of Ohio and Illinois: Scott Brender is a White Orpington fancler, and is also the owner of " Patsy Dumas," the great racing mare, which bas a mark of 2:10. "Patsy Dumas" is a pacer and has won considerable money in this and neighboring states.
Martinsville has quite a reputation for her trained bloodhounds. They are the property of W. T. Scott and C. W. Turner. These hounds are noted in this part of the state for their efficiency. William Pracht is the agent for the Baltimore & Ohio railroad at present.
The religious interests of the town are taken care of by the following churches: Church of Christ, Methodist and Friends. The town also supports three temperance societies, the Woman's Christian Temperance Union proper and Young People's Branch and Loyal Temperance Legion, branches of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. These societies are ever ready to help the poor and administer to the sick. In fact, they aid in every way they can to cheer and bless humanity. This society has at present fifty-four members.
While the town is loyal to the religious work at home, yet it does not neglect the work elsewhere. The Christian Women's Board of Missions Auxiliary is a branch of the Christian Women's Board of Missions, whose headquarters are at Indianapolis, Indiana. They support missionaries in foreign fields, schools in the mountains and xso for the negrues of the South; furnish Bible charts to the state universities and also look after the foreigner as soon as he comes to our Innd.
The Young People's Branch, a branch of the Woman's Christian Temperance I'nion. are doing splendid work. They meet every two weeks at the home of one of the members, and enjoy a social hour after the business session of the meeting. They can boast of being the largest Young People's Branch society in the county. having an enrollment of alxty-five members. The motto of this society is "Others." Their colors are blue and white.
The Martinsville Good Reading Club was organized in March, 1912. The club consists of twelve members and Its object is to promote good reading and social enjoyment. After
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the business session of each meeting a program of readings and music is enjoyed. Refresh- ments are then served by the hostess. The motto of this society is, "Speak no evil, hear no evil, see no evil." The colors are red, white and blue.
FARMER'S STATION.
Farmer's Station is a stop on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, about midway between Martinsville and New Vienna. This town was never platted, and evidently sprang up after the building of the railroad through this part of the county. J. F. Mckibben is the present agent for this railroad. Kibben also owns and runs an up-to-date general mer- chandise store in the village. A produce house is also kept in connection with the store. R. E. Ellis and Benjamin Drake have a blacksmith shop and do general repair work of all kinds. F. M. & Ed Achor are dealers in buggles and farm implements. There are two coal yards in the village, operated by Mckibben & Preston. The population at present comprises about twenty families.
JONESBORO.
Jonesboro is the last town started in Clark township. This little hamlet is situated just south of Martinsville, on the Martinsville and Westboro pike. It is merely a cluster of houses on the cross roads and was never platted. There are no business or professional interests at present.
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CHAPTER XX. GREEN TOWNSHIP.
Clinton county was formed from the territory of Highland and Warren counties and Green township had been organized while this territory was still a part of Highland county. Clinton county was not organized until 1810 and evidently Green township was organized some two or three years prior to this date. In one of the early township books we find this record: "(1) October 28, 1809, William Noble's ear mark of his hogs, sheep and cattle is a crop and under-slit in the right ear and a hole in the left." "(2) December 4, 1800, Thomas Cox's ear mark of his hogs, sheep and cattle is a swallow fork and under-bit in the left ear and a hole in the left."
It is also a matter of record that the early citizens of this township paid tax as citizens of Green township, Highland county. Two of the tax receipts are given as evidence of the fact: "Tax receipt, October 6, 1807. Received of Micajah Nordyke $2.65 of land and county tax for the year. Received by B. W. Johnson." "November 9, 1809. Received of Micajab Nordyke his state and county tax; state tax $2.25, county tax 45 cents: 300 acres of land. No. 4.397." Therefore, we can safely draw the conclusion that this township was formed as early as 1809.
Green township lies in the southeast part of Clinton county. It is bounded on the southeast by Highland county : on the west by Clark, Washington and Union townships; on the north by Union and Wayne townships and on the northeast by Wayne township. Its form Is rhomboldal. This township contains about forty-three square miles of land, or twenty-seven thousand five hundred and twenty acres. The northeast part of the township lies on the waters of Paint creek; the southwest part lies on the headwaters of the Little Miami river.
TOPOGRAPHY.
The surface of the land is gently rolling, but in some places it is very level. All of the land Is tillable. The soil is excellent and the larger part is a black loam, of great depth and very productive. A large part of this township was once rejected swamps. but the energy and efforts of the early citizens have been rewarded by the value and productiveness of this land which has been reclaimed. It is drained by the smaller tribu- taries of the East Fork of the Little Miami river. Cowan's creek, Lee's creek and Paint creek. There are no springa in this township, but water of an excellent quality can be obtained but a few feet below the surface of the soil.
SETTLEMENT.
The white man evidently made his first appearance In this township about the year 1800. The exact time when be came here is not a matter of record. and tradition is not authentic in such matters. The first settlers to take out land with the intention of making this their permanent home were Joseph Anthony, who came here from Virginia ; Ahner Van Meter and Samuel Clevenger; Morgan Van Meter, who was a native of Morgantown. Virginia, and who settled in the vicinity of Snow Hill in the year 1800. Van Meter purchased two hundred acres of land, on which he erected a double log house and this was the first log cabin erected in the township.
It is thought by older Inhabitants of this township that the first settlement was made a little southwest of the center of the township on the East fork of the Little Miami river. Micajah Nordyke was among the first settlers to locate here. Ile wns
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native of North Carolina and came to this county in the year 1804. In 1806 be sold his former claim and settled a short distance west, in the same township. The Nordyke brothers were born in North Carolina, but, while yet quite young, moved to South Carolina and remained there a short time, when they moved to Tennessee. on a stream enlled Lost creek. They came direct to Clinton county from this place and remained here until their death. They purchased their land for two dollars and fifty cents an acre of Col. A. Buford, who then owned a large tract of this region.
As one bit of living organism will attract others, so this small settlement in the far-off wilderness served as a nucleus around which many others gathered. Joshua and Stephen Hussey emigrated from North Carolina, their native state. in the year 1806-07 and bought land in this township, a portion of which is included In the present limits of the town of New Vienna. The first house built by these brothers was only a short distance from New Vienna. Charles Harris, who was the father of Elisha Harris, bought a tract of land in this township and began the work of Improving it and getting it under cultivation. About the same time. Thomas Cox. who was the father of Vincent Cox. of New Vienna, settled here. Other early settlers who assisted In the upbuilding of the township. are Joseph Anthony. William Noble, Sr .. Aaron Cox and Ellha Noble. Charles Harris built the "Snow Hill house," and opened a tavern there, probably the Arst opened in the county. Mr. Harris's brother-in-law. Samuel Wasson, built a house about the same time and bear the Snow Hill house and commenced to entertain travelers.
The land in the northwest part of the township was held originally in large tracts. which Congress had bestowed for military services rendered in the Revolutionary strug- gle. or in repelling the attacks of the savage aborigines of the county. In consequence of this, the northern and northwestern part of the township was not settled as early as the southern and southeastern part. The pioneers of this region were brave, big-hearted. truthful, generous and kind. They left the civilization of their early homes and sought their fortunes in the wilds of the Mississippi valley. After these men had found the lands which they had bought, the first thing they did was to erect a rude structure called a cabin, for the protection of those for whom they were ready to sacrifice their lives. When suitable sites were located on which to build their cabins, they at once began the work of construction. which consisted in the hewing and shaping of the logs and putting them together, and in a marvelously short time there would rise in the woods these embryo homes. In these crude homes, the loving housewife and playful children were afterwards to share the love and caresses, hardships and privations of their noble husbands and fathers. These log houses were usually small. with but one large room. somme sixteen or eighteen by twenty feet square, eight or nine feet high. constructed of rough logs, covered with clapboards, three or four feet long and six to ten inches in width. laid in layers and held to their places with poles. The spaces between the logs were filled with pieces of timber and covered with mortar made of clay and water. The floor was rough, made of puncheons or slabs, split from the trunks of trees and smoothed on one side. In the center of one wall the chimney was constructed. which usually took up the entire side of the house. This was constructed by cutting away three or four of the lower logs at one end of the buildings and then building them to the wall again by attaching pieces between the ends of the logs removed and parts still remaining in the walls. Against these logs and timbers, stones were placed, against which the fire was bullt. This was called the back wall and the chimney was constructed by laying together small pieces of timber and plastering these within and without with clay mortar. The clothing of these early pioneers was hand-made and was called linsey- woolsey.
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