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 37
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A gloom was cast over the thinly-settled community by the death of the child of Abner Van Meter, which was the first death to occur in the township.
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For several years after the coming of the first settler. the growth of the township was slow. Emigrants came In from the south and east. but the influx was rather seanty. By 1820 the population had increased until practically all of the lands were occupied. The growth and progress was steady from then to the present time and the farms, which now yleld large crops, were reclaimed by these sturdy ploneers.
FIRAT SCHOOL.
It is rather uncertain where the first school was located in this township, but, popular opinion among the older inhabitants seems to point to the town of New Vienna. This house was built about the year 1812. Robert Peggin was first employed to keep this school, but he was a man of Intemperance and lax morals and - was soon released. James Savage was the next employe, but, morally, he was very little better, hence he was likewise released.
The following are the others of Green township in 1915: Trustees, William Cashman. C. B. Miller and Charles Johnson ; clerk, H. L. Bower; treasurer, William H. Holmes. Population, two thousand one hundred fifty-eight.
NEW VIENNA. By A. W. Boden.
New Vienna is located between Cincinnati and Chillicothe, on the main line of the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern. It is situated within the boundary line of Clinton county but borders on Highland.
Hussey sold his interest to Joseph Starr.
"Buzzard's Glory." as the town was first called, was laid off as a village April 21, 1835, by Nathan Linton, surveyor. for Thomas Hussey father of Stephen Husseyi. It was called "Buzzard's Glory" from the fact that a man by the name of Mortimer, In the early days, about 1812 or 1813, was running a tanyard over in the "Canada" part of town. It was part of the Collohil survey No. 1.075. While thus employed. he became financially embarrassed, and his stock was levied on. The hides were taken out to the vats prepara- tory to sale and hung on poles where they remained for several days, affording bait for an innumerable throng of buzzards, and while they were thus flocking to feed on Mortimer's hides, the place was dubbed "Buzzard's Glory." Harkens T. Van Winkle gave the town Its present name of New Vienna.
Among the first settlers were Thomas and Joshua Hussey. They started a grist-mill In 1826, near where the home of John T. Wright is now located. They continued in busi- ness until the year 1833, when they purchased an engine and began running a steun grist and saw-milll.
During the year 1827, Rafe Mortimer and Stephen Hussey sunk a tanyard in that part of town now known as "Canada." This tanyard was located just between what is now known as the William Moore property and the home of William Rollison. Remains of the old tanyard enn yet be seen there. The firm continued in business until 1829, when Mr.
In 1820. Stephen Hussey and William Reese opened a store in a building that stood where the present residence of William Triplett stands This was the first business of it< kind ever conducted in New Vienna. They sold their goods to Thomas Hussey and Henry Kennedy. These gentlemen were afterward succeeded in business by George Townsend and he by Judge Isane Thornburg.
In 1820 Jonathan Haworth and Thomas Reese started a carding-mill. About the yeir 1:34. Zion Rains put in operation an off-mill for the manufacture of linseed oil.
The first hotel in New Vienna was kept hy Girard Morgan on the let now occupied by the residence of Frank W. Hadley. John E. Dalton was the first practicing physician of the village. Grenville Osborne was the first. as well as the present, tiuner of the town, and John Speers, the principal blacksmith.
Among the names of the early settlers in this community are some of the well-known
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family names of today. Their names and date of settlement are as follow: Micajab Nordyke, 1806; Jebu Ellis, 1806; Morgan Van Meter, Charles Harris, William Noble. James Johnson, John Shockley, Nathan Hockett, Joseph Hockett, John Hockett, Eleazer Johnson, Absalom Van Meter, Stephen Hussey, Sr., Joshua Hussey, Nordyke and others settled around them. When they began to hear their neighbor's dog bark they thought they were getting pretty close.
The Arst public improvement iu the new settlement was to build a house of worship. Micajah Nordyke donated three acres of land where what is now known as the Quaker cemetery is located, on the farm of Lawrence Wright. On this site was built a log house of two rooms, with one door and one window in each room. The two rooms were con- nected by sliding shutters in the partition. A stone hearth was placed in the center of each room to burn charcoal on, as stoves could not be procured at that time. This was in about the year 1809.
This first house of worship was what is kuown now as the Friends church. They occupied this building until the year 1871, when their present house was built. At that time the Friends had their principal printing office of the United States In New Vienna and sent out from here printed matter, such as weekly papers, monthlies, books, etc.
The first school in the new colony was taught on the Henry Nordyke place, still known as the Nordyke farm and lying next to the farm of Charles Miller. It was taught by Daniel Frazier. The next school, in the same house. was taught by Moses Foley. The next was taught in the log meeting house above described by Robert Ellis,
The first house built expressly for school purposes was a large building on the lot now occupied by the residence of Fred Jolison ; this was built in 1820, aud was warmed by the first store that was brought here.
A Mr. Rains erected an oil factory where Mrs. Rena Edwards now lives and was quite successful in this enterprise for a while. Silas Woodmansee and George W. Matthews opened the second store In the village.
The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in the early history of the village, probably about the year 1843. Their first house of worship was built about 1850. on a site at the edge of where their church now stands. This continued until ISTG. when the present building was erected. A Rev. C. B. Warrington was the first preacher to visit this place and at the commencement of the first meeting Mrs. Bowers was the only member in town.
The first Baptist church was erected about two miles east of the village on what is now known as the Burnett land and adjoining the old cemetery, which is still there. It Was then known as "Hard-Shell Baptist church." After a time a division occurred. when the more liberal-minded collected themselves together and kept up worship at the houses of friends until the band grew strong enough to erect a place of worship, which they did in 1840.
The Catholic church was more recently organized and at first bought and used the old school building which stood on the site now occupied by their church. This building was removed and they built the church they now occupy.
The Church of Christ has existed as an organized body since 1866. The ground work was laid by W. D. Moore, who was then a missionary at this place under the auspices of Mt. Olive. Bethel and New Antioch churches. The churches employed him for one-fourth of his time for one year, commeneing in the fall of 1859. to Inbor at New Vienna. In June. 1860, W. D. Moore and Rev. Mr. Bacon held a discussion, involving the doctrine of Universalism. This discussion, it is said, settled the question in this community of the doctrine of unconditional salvation. In the fall of 1868, from one thousand to one thousand five hundred dollars was subscribed for building a church house and the work was post- poned until spring. With spring came the War of the Rebellion and the work was not begun until the end of the war. The building was first built in 1866 or 1867, with Zephaniah Spears and Clark Dixon as overseers.
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From the time New Vienna was first laid out until 1880, it steadily Increased in popu- lation and business. In 1880, it ranked as the second town in the county and in some respects commanded a larger trade than did the county sent ..
Since 1880, New Vienna has almost remained stationary as to population, although the business conditions have been improved with the advancing times.
At the present time New Vienna is a village of about nine hundred souls
New Vienna has good cement walks throughout the town, has good streets and sup- ports a municipal water and light plant. She has two dry-goods stores, four grocery stores and one hardware store. Three of the groceries have hardware departments in connection. The town is well supplied with three first-class restaurants and confectioneries, two meut markets, two drug stores, two clothing stores, one book store and the best weekly paper in southern Ohio. It bas one Jewelry store and one bank, the New Vienna Bank being one of the two roll of honor banks of Clinton county. It has three blacksmith shops, two garages, one buggy repository, one harness shop, one furniture store, one furniture repair- ing establishment, a first-class bakery and an up-to-date dry-cleaning establishment. It has five good churches, five fraternal orders and their auxiliarles, two livery barns and three auto livery concerns.
In the manufacturing line New Vienna Is represented by one of the largest and best flour-mills on the Baltimore & Ohio South Western between Cincinnati and Parkersburg. There is also a creamery with an established reputation with all handlers of creamery butter : a tile and brick plant, an agricultural lime plant and a lumber-mill.
The New Vienna high school is one of the best in the state, as proven by the fact that the United States commissioner of education snw fit to send a representative from his office to Inspect it. It is the first school in the state of Ohio to employ a domestic science director for twelve months in the year. The town Is also favored with the county normal and a six-weeks' summer normal session.
Roy C. Hale is the present postmaster. O. C. Borden is the agent for the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. The present town officials are: John W. Matthews, mayor ; R. J. Rulon, clerk ; John B. Swingley, marshal : William H. Curtis, J. L. Michael, L. G. Morton, Fred S. Johnson. William Foreman and Thomas Hodson, councilmen ; John F. Schuler, George M. Neffner and W. R. Pemberton, board of public works: O. C. Borden. E. E. Haynes, C. O. Bernard, John Edingfield and C. N. Carey, school board.
NEW ANTIOCH.
New Antioch is but a hamlet, of probably one hundred and fifty inhabitants, situated a half-mile to the northeast of the New Vienna and Wilmington pike, and about eight miles from the former place. It was platted by Charles Underwood, surveyor, for Paul Hulls, Jr., David Marble and others, on February 28, 1851. It is part of Johnson and others' survey No. 2.386. Its buildings are all frame, but good and substantial, and takes on an appearance of thrift. Two pikes pass through the town.
The early Industries consisted of a mill, operated by John Duchane: two stores, run by the Layman Brothers and the Rulon Brothers. John Barrett was the early shoemaker. and Pressley Rulon necommodated the enrly citizens with harness. The present business and professional interests consist of one general merchandise store, owned by C. V. Murphy; one grocery store, owned by J. W. Summers; three blacksmith shops. Thomas Devers, Elmer U'rton and William Arrsmith operating them; Nelson Hall Is the village barber: James Hobson runs a shoe shop: J. W. Durham owns and operates a flour and saw-mill, and V. E. Hutchins is the village physician.
Snow Hill Is the only other hamlet in this township, and is one of the early towns laid out in the county. It was platted and laid out for Charles Harris, proprietor. November 11, 1817, on the William Talifairo survey. No. 192.
(18)
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Morgantown is a defunct town of Green township. The village was first laid out on what is known as the Washington Spear farm near Snow Hill, now owned by the Swingley estate. This settlement was called Morgantown and there were but a very few houses built there.
This village was platted on February 23. 1816, and laid out for Isaac Pearson, Jr., and Mary Van Matre, the proprietors. This was part of the William Tallifairo survey No. 1,101. It remained a town but a short time, and was then vacated and reverted back to farm land.
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CHAPTER XXI.
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
Jefferson township was organized in the year 1839 from the territory taken from Clark and Marlon townships. This is one of the three townships which lie along the southern border of Clinton county. It is bounded by Brown county on the south, by Clark township on the east, by Marion township on the west and by Washington town- ship on the north. The survey of this township was made in the winter season by one of the pioneers of the county, Peyton West, who was elected and served as county surveyor for several terms. Jefferson township took its name from the third President of the United States, This township contains about twenty-three square miles, or fourteen thousand seven hundred and twenty acres.
NATURAL FEATURES.
The surface of Jefferson township is generally level,. but is susceptible of drainage at a reasonable cost. The only broken Innd in the township lles along the West fork of the Miami river and near the Brown county line, but this portion of land may be cultivated without difficulty and is now under a good state of cultivation. Jefferson township is drained by the West fork of the Miami river, which is the only stream flowing through this township, although it has as its branches and tributaries Plum run. Dry run, Moon's branch, Hale's branch, Lick branch. Sugartree branch and Bee branch. The West fork, as it is known to the natives, enters the township in the northeastern part and runs in a southwesterly direction to a point near the village of Westboro, where it bears south, crossing the Brown county line, and continues about one and one-halt miles in the same direction and empties into the East fork of the Little Miami river.
There is a considerable outcrop of blue limestone along the West fork, Dry run and Moon's branch, and large quantities of this have been taken to different parts of the county and utilized in the stone work of buildings and miscellaneous purposes. Some of the quarries along the creeks, where the stone comes near the surface. have been opened and considerable stone taken out and utilized In the macadamized roada of this section The heavy growth of timber. which covered almost every acre of the township, bas prevented the rapid settlement and improvement. Oak, hickory, white maple, elm, with specimens of almost all other varietles common to this part of Ohlo, were the distinguish- ing varieties of timber found in this locality by the early settlers. The value of the white oak was great and, owing to the fact that it was very extensive and of a good size and growth, made the early settlers quite wealthy in itself. Much of it was made into planks, shingles and staves and taken to other parts of the county for use. A large portion of the oak was of a tough variety and was well adapted for the manufacture of plows and wagons, for which purpose grent quantities were shipped. Much of the ash and hickory has also been used by wagon and buggy manufacturers. The white maple has been chiefly used for house building. But a great amount of the timber was ruth- lessly wasted in the clearing of the land for cultivation. In the pioneer days only the finest timber could be sold and there was not a ready market at all times, In consequence the only expedient was to cut down and burn the trees, or deaden and finally burn on the ground, In order that the fields could be plowed.
STOBM.
Clinton county was visited by a great tornado. May 22, 1860, which was especially destructive to Jefferson township. It made havoc with the timber, much of which was
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broken down and toru up by the roots, or bent and damaged. This storm also did much damage to bulldings and orchards, many houses and barns being unroofed. A portion of the brick school house at Westboro was blown down while school was in session, but, thanks to Him who "tempers the wind to the shorn lamb," no one was injured; also a portion of the Methodist Episcopal church at Westboro was blown down. This storm was probably the most remarkable meteorological occurrence that has been witnessed since the settlement of the township.
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The most of this township may be regarded as fairly productive, with some portions as quite fertile. All cereals are successfully raised and the soil is regarded as parti- cularly well adapted to the cultivation of the potato. On the level portions, which include by far the greater part of the township, it has been proved quite profitable to tile, owing to the compact nature of the soll.
EARLY BETTLERS.
Samuel Jackson bears the distinction of building the first house in this township about the year 1812. Mr. Jackson had emigrated from Tennessee In the year 1800, and had settled In the enstern part of what is now Highland county. on Rocky fork. Hunting was his chief occupation and during the year 1801 be killed two panthers and quite a number of deer and bears. Brush creek and Sun Fish bills were his chief hunting grounds for a number of years. He removed to the southwestern part of the township in 1818 and there settled on the lands which were later owned by Alfred Daugherty and known as the Lyons farm. Soon after this time Mr. Jackson returned to Tennessee and Inter he moved to Cass county, Texas, where he was still living at the outbreak of the Civil War.
A Mr. Hale was the first settler in the Hale's branch neighborhood. He made the selection of a buliding site while in the company of John Randall. John Bunson and Ephraim Jones. This party, which was engaged In shipping salt from the sult works wear Pittsburgh to Cincinnati, on flat-bottom boats, was returning on foot across the country, about the year 1818, as was their custom. They encamped for the night in what was then a beautiful onk forest, near a branch not far from where Wilson Bailey lived. The following morning, as one of the party related, when about to break camp. Hale remarked that the place was so attractive that he Intended to return and settle there. True to his word, he did return, built a enbin, cleared a field and resided here a short time but soon became dissatisfied and left. Jesse Hockett was the next settler, and. in fact, the first permanent settler. as Mr. Hale's sojourn had been only temporary. He settled on the same branch and became a permanent resident.
The first hewed-log house built in the township was erected by Joseph Hockett, who emigrated from Tennessee and cleared the lands near Hixon's school house, but soon afterward bought land in the Hale's branch neighborhood. to which be removed and there remained until his death, In 1843. The early settlers In the Bee branch neighbor- hood were John Garner, Thomas Comer and Mr. Brunson, John Starr, Richard Starr, William Starr and John Thornhill were among the first settlers in the vicinity of West- boro.
William Hamer, while looking at the country in 1916. killed a large black bear. Whether this had any influence on Mr. Hamer's location or land we cannot say, but It Is a fact that the following year he settled in the southern part of the township, not far from where he encountered the bear. During the years 1817-18. William Hamer and John Thompson built a saw-mill on the West fork. This was the first saw-mill in the township and was operated with some degree of success for a number of years, but in the time of a great freshet, the dam, which was made of logs, washed away and was never rebuilt. The foundation loga were still left as a monument to these men, who
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were esteemed for their honesty and Integrity, and as further evidence of their industry and perseverance.
Another well-known settler in the southern part of this township was Thomas Sermon, who had served in the Revolutionary War. Mr. Sermon came from Kentucky and settled on the lands of James Taylor, who would not sell to anyone as long as the old veteran desired to occupy it. An incident is told of his regard for the old soldier. A party was desirous of buying some land of Mr. Taylor and, when he refused, they assigned as a reason why he should sell "that the old fellow was cutting timber where be pleased and doing no good generally." This provoked the wrath of Mr. Taylor, who replied, in substance, with his usual warmth when aroused, that "such a man as the applicant was not worthy of being a landowner, and that he would not sell land to a man that sought to dispossess or disturb an old soldier, who had gone, as it were, with his life in his hands, and suffered to secure the liberty we enjoy."
Peter Shick made the first settlement north of where the Baltimore & Ohio railroad now runs. Mr. Shick was a Baptist minister and settled here in 1830. Among the other early settlers of the township who came here and became permanent and prominent settlers were, William Garner. Joseph Hinshaw and Granville Haines, who settled in the Westboro neighborhood : Thomas Moon, Nathan Hoggatt, Jesse Hockett and others, in the Hale's branch neighborhood; Joseph D. Moon, Daniel H. Moon, John Holaday, Thomas B. Johnson and John W. Johnson, who settled on or near the old road leading from Martinsville to Woodville.
MILLS.
William Moon built a saw-mill on the West fork about the year 1831. which proved to be a success and was a great public benefit to the early citizens, as large quantities of lumber was turned out from this mill, which was needed for building purposes and the manufacture of wagons, plows and other implements. This mill continued in operation until about the year 1855. In the year 1850, two brothers, Lewis and Thomas Hockett. built the first steam saw-mill in the township. It was operated with great success by them for a number of years and was later sold to Jacob Rhonemus, who continued to run it for a time, but it was afterward owned by several parties and continued in opera- tion for quite a number of years. Jonathan Vandervort built the first flouring.mill, in the year 1858. It was located at Westboro and was still in operation in the early nineties, at which time it was owned by Settles. Lacock & White. In the year 1838 Jobn Hamer built and put in operation the first carding machine. It was located on the west side of the West fork. a short distance from where the village of Westboro now stands; to this he had a grist-mill attached, and continued to run the same for quite a number of years, but it proved his financial downfall.
8. J. Spees, Tummouse & Adams built the Westboro woolen-mills in the year 14%S at a cost of about seven thousand dollars. The building was ninety feet long and thirty feet wide and covered a commodious cellar, thirty hy sixty feet. This portion of the building was originally built for a railroad depot. In April, 1874, the establishment was purchased of S. J. Spees by S. Wickersham & Sons, who continued to operate it for a time. When running. elght hands were employed, and both merchant and custom work was done by this factory. The products were shipped to all the towns in this Immediate locality and the following towns have been supplied with jeans, flannels and blankets from this mill: St. Martins, Fayetteville, Cynthiana. Newtonville. Edenton. Goshen, Blanchester, Wilmington. Cuba, Clarksville, Martinsville, New Vienna, Wash- Ington Court House and Lynchburg,
The first church organization in the township was that of the Friends, about the rear 1825. In 1838 the I'nited Brethren organized a society made up of the citizens of Plum run and Westboro neighborhoods. The later changes in the church history will be taken up in full in another chapter of-this book.
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The military history of Jefferson township will also be taken up in another chapter, as it would require more space than can be here allowed to give even a synopsis of the many deeds of valor and heroism that were performed in the late Civil War by her volunteers.
There are two railroads passing through this township, both of which are now controlled by the Baltimore & Ohio line and give the citizens of Jefferson ample train accommodations, both for travel and also as a means of transporting their products to the foreign markets.
The first school taught in the township was conducted by Thomas Abbott In the year 1823, in a cabin on the West fork. This was only a short distance from where the village of Westboro now stands. The next teacher was probably Jesse Hockett. The Arst school house was located on the north bank of the West fork, opposite the lands of John W. Jackson. This was also used as a meeting house by the society of Friends. The Inter changes will be taken up under the Educational chapter.
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