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 38
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The following are the offeers of Jefferson township in 1915: Trustees, Taylor Connor, Gideon Hoggatt and Frank Brandenburg ; clerk, Harley Johnson; treasurer. W. S. Osborn. Population, thirteen hundred thirty-eight.
WESTBORO.
Westboro was laid out and platted on June 7, 1838, for Josiah Grabam, proprietor, by David Wickersham, surveyor. It is part of the John Breckenridge survey No. 3,045. This village is located in Jefferson township, on the Hillsboro branch of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, four miles east of Blanchester. It was originally the voting place for the township, and its growth did not begin until the railroad was run through the county. The Westboro woolen mills were built in the year 1868 by S. J. Spees, Tunmous & Adams. at a cost of about seven thousand dollars. The building was ninety feet long by thirty feet wide. It covers a commodious cellar, thirty by sixty feet, under that portion of the building which was originally constructed for a depot. In April, 1874, the establishment was purchased of S. J. Spees by S. Wickersham & Son, who operated the same until about fifteen years ago. It is now used as a wareroom by W. A. Hudson. While the mills were in operation they did both merchant and custom work, and their products were shipped to the following towns and supplied their respective neighborhoods with flannel, jenns and blankets: St. Martins, Fayetteville, Cynthiana, Newtouville, Edenton, Goshen, Blanches- ter, Wilmington, Cuba, Clarksville, Martinsville, New Vienna, Washington Court House and Lynchburg.
Westboro now has a population of two hundred and fifty. D. L. Woodruff is the agent for the Baltimore & Ohio railrond. G. B. Wiles is the postmaster. It has three general merchandise stores, operated as follow : C. J. Cible & Company, Harley Johnson, manager ; W. P. Hammer & Son : J. D. Hodson & Company, E. J. Hockett, manager. The four-mill is owned and operated by R. E. Burton. W. A. Hudson uses the building which was for- merly occupied by the Westboro woolen mills for a wareroom and deals in conl, cement. tile, etc. Other business interests are: Barber, Harley Johnson: stock buyer, T. W. Ifixon ; blacksmith shop. F. M. Nichols; fancy chicken fancier. J. R. Hammer. The physicians of the village are, Drs. C. A. Tribett and A. F. Dennison. Westboro is an Important shipping point for hogs, grain, wool and hay. It is also the pump station for the Hillsboro branch of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. There are three churches in the village. Friends, New Light and Methodist Episcopal. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows owns a nice building and has a very strong chapter here.
MIDLAND CITY.
Midland City is situated on the Baltimore & Ohio rallroad and the crossing of the Wilmington and Westboro pike, twelve miles south of Wilmington. It was first laid out as Clinton Valley. It is noted for being a great coaling and water station of the said rond
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and gives employment to a number of men. It is also accommodated by the Midland division of the same road. The village has a population at present of approximately four hundred people. Midland City is incorporated and the town officials at present are: Riley Davis, mayor; B. V. Moon, , clerk ; Ezekiel Walker, marshal; J. A. Walker, George Fordice, A. C. Hamilton, George Patton, Quince Henderson and Harry Hall, councilmen. Maces Foster is the postmaster and Roy Wallace the agent for the Baltimore & Ohio railroad.
The business interests of the town are as follow : General stores, Maces Foster, F. J. Martin and E. H. Osborn ; F. P. Walker runs a grocery store, Roy O. Boulwar, grocery and general merchandise; C. N. Connor, grocery and restaurant ; Ed Shaw, barber shop; F. A. Flora and J. A. Walker, blacksmith shop ; J. C. Wickersham, grain dealer; Dennis Foster. hotel ; Inez Walker, boarding house; B. V. Moon and C. C. Foster, livery ; William Badey, butcher ; Harry and Forest Bady, cement block manufacturers; A. B. Martin is the village physietan. Midland City is an excellent shipping point for the different farm products,
Big Onion is a flag stop on the Hillsboro branch of the Baltimore & Ohio. Kluck's Crossing is in the southeastern part of Jefferson township and on the Clark township line. This was a charcoal-burning station for a number of years. The ovens were the largest in this part of the state and gave employment to quite a number of men, but this industry has died out and at present Kluck's Crossing is merely a flag stop.
CHAPTER XXII.
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.
Liberty township was organized on July 15. 1817, but the history of this township dates much farther back than the time of organization. Liberty township lies along the northern border of the county, in the center of the northern tier of townships It is bounded by Greene county on the north. Wilson township on the east and Chester town- ship on the west. while its entire south line borders on I'nion township. It is three miles wide from north to south and aix miles long from east to west, and contains fifteen thousand four hundred and sixty acres of land. This township is afforded ample drainage through the streams which flow through the township, and these alan serve as outlets for artificial drains. The largest of these is Anderson's fork. a stream of con- siderable size and importance, which flows through the entire length of the township from east to west, and empties Its waters Into Caesar's creek about one-half mile below New Burlington. Buck run flows into Craur's creek outside the county and drains the entire southwestern part. Dutch creek also flows through a sinall portion of the southern part. These streams, with their tributaries, prove invaluable to the farmers of this locality in their drainage.
When the pioneers came to this township they found the land covered with a dense growth of timber of the following varieties, viz: White oak, burr oak, sugar tree. beech, black walnut. ash. elm, etc. These were largely used in the manufacture of wagons and farm Implements and the construction of houses. In later years the land is so completely cleared of timber that it has become a veritable prairie.
THE LAND.
The land is rolling along the different streams of the township and there are many acres of fine farming land in these bottoms. The country about Port William is level and, consequently, the streams do not have so great a fall and spread out over larger bottomk. The land in the early days was covered with water for about six months of the year. The soll is black and loose and rests upon a subsoll of clay. This land is peculiarly adapted to the raising of cereals, corn, wheat and oats being the principal products. It is thought by geologists that this townsbip was once the bed of a lake, but since its drainage the soft is of a rich. deep black loam.
Clinton Hmestone is found In abundance and of a good quality in this township. There are several quarries which are turning out stone for building purposes and are quite extensively worked. The stone from these quarries was always in big demand and large quantities were shipped to neighboring towns but, with the coming of cement and the substitute which concrete has been for stone, the business has suffered. Gravel can be found In great abundance along the streams and is used quite extensively on the roniis of the township.
THE PIONEERA.
The first white man to settle within the limits of Liberty township was Stephen Mendenhall, who was born in Tennessee in the year 170. While yet a small boy. he moved to North Carolina, where he remained until the age of twenty-two, when he took unto himself a wife, and a short time later moved to Waynesville, Oblo. In 1803 be enme to Liberty township and settled on a farm of one hundred acres on Dutch creek. The first summer they had only the native Indians for neighbors, the nearest white
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family at this time being seven miles away. At the time of his settlement the country was indeed an unbroken wilderness and game of all kinds, such as deer, bears, wolves. turkeys, etc., was plentiful. But the signal for a new dawn was ushered in with the first sounds of bis axe.
The next settler to locate in this township was Samuel Miller, who emigrated from Kentucky In 1804. Mr. Miller purchased a tract of six hundred acres on Anderson's fork and made this his permanent habitation, He was for a number of years the leading character in this section of the county and did as much. to promote the neighborhood and township as any man in this locality. He was the first justice of the peace in this township. It is interesting to note that he was first elected in 1814. two years before the township was organized, and served from that time until his death, a period of nearly thirty years. He furnished the hand-mill with which the early pioneers ground their corn. He was also chosen as the first trustee of the township. He built the second grist-mill in the township. in the year 1833, but this mill was destroyed by fire and was rebuilt by Amos C. Hyatt.
There was an addition of three familles in 1805. on Anderson's fork. Abram Ells and family moved here from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and settled just across the creek from Squire Miller's. Aaron Jenkins and family, who came to this county from Virginia, and Joseph Lucas, of Pennsylvania, were among the next settlers. Mr. Ellis was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, where he served for seven years, participating in the battles of Brandywine. Long Island and many others. He was with Washington when he crossed the Delaware and witnessed the surrender of Cornwallis.
William Ireland was the next settler in this township. Mr. Ireland was born in the country which bears his name. in 1770, and emigrated to this country when he was but three years old. He came to this county In March, 1806. from Scott county. Kentucky. He taught the first Sunday school in the township and took a deep Interest in religions matters. In 1819 he built the first brick house in the township.
Christian Stephens settled in this township in 1806 and located on Anderson's fork. Mr. Stephens was a native of Frederick county. Virginia. His father, Peter Stephens, followed his son two years Inter. Christopher Ellis and wife. Elizabeth. also come to this township from Frederick county, Virginta.
John Johnson and wife, Susanna, enme from Virginia to Highland county, Ohio. In 1505, and the next year settled in Liberty township. The first election in this town- ship was held at Mr. Johnson's house. John Unthank emigrated from Guilford county. North Carolina, in 1507 and settled on the banks of Anderson fork. Mr. Unthank built a grist-mill where the town of Port William is now located. This was the first mill built in this section of the country, and settlers for miles around enme to I'nthank's mill. The township elections for several years were held at this mill. Great public gatherings were also held at this mill and it was a sort of gathering place for the early settlers.
David Fairfield, an Irishminn, emigrated to this section from Kentucky with his family In 1810, The same year Isaac Haines and wife came from New Jersey and loented here. David Adkinson and family. from York county. Pennsylvania, settled here. Owing to defective titles, Isaac Haines, Joseph Adkinson. Henry Hester, David Fairfield and others, owning to the amount of one thousand acres of land in W. Nelson's survey, lost all.
In 1812 Josiah Borton moved here from New Jersey. In the same year John Strickle and wife. Susanna. emigrated from near Winchester, Virginia, pud settled near Chillicothe; after remaining a year. they removed to the farm of Jacob Strickle. John Strickle was perhaps the first blacksmith to ply his trade In this township. William Toblet moved with his family. in 1812. to Liberty township and took up his permanent residence, He was one of the first trustees of the township. Mir. Hohlet was a manner by trade and carried on his business of tanning on his farm for a number of years.
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Benjamin Bangham, who was a native of England, purchased a tract of two hundred acres and settled bere with his family on March 13. 1812. In the east end of the town- ship, in the same year, Isaac Jones and wife, Phoebe, purchased a tract of one hundred acres and moved here from Greene county. Tennessee. Solomon Stanbaugh (or Stan- brough) was another early settler in this part of the township. Jonathan Hoskins came to this section from Guilford county, North Carolina, and settled on what was known as the Thornburgh place, about the year 1814. John Woolman and wife, Polly, emigrated from New Jersey about the year 1810 and settled in this township. Samuel Wilson and wife, Sarah, purchased a tract of three hundred acres and settled here in the year 1817. but, owing to defective titles and failure to meet the payments, they moved out of the township in 1821. John Oglesbee came to this township in 1817 aud, two years later. moved onto a farm on Anderson's fork. Isaac Constance came in 1817 from Kentucky. William Constance, who also settled here with his father, was a soldier in the War of 1812. Isaiah Oglesbee, father of John Oglesbee, emigrated from Frederick county, Virginia, with his family, in the year 1817. Jacob Beal came from Pennsylvania and settled on the creek above Port William. About the same time bis brother, Isaac Beal, emigrated to this township. Another early settler to this section was John Copeland and wife, Judith. Other settlers were Daniel and Solomon Early, David Hoblet. Ashley Johnson, Samuel Mitchell, Charles B. Williams, John King, David Shields, Henry Wooley, Henry Welch. Zachariah Moorman, Obed Walu and James Burden.
EARLY CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS.
The first house of worship ererted in this township was completed in the year 1818, by the Methodist Episcopal denomination and was denominated "Salem." It was built of logs and, although the comforts which the present generation of church workers enjoy were lacking, still the early zeal of the pioneers was shown in their long and ardnous worshipping.
The first school house was built in 1812. Henry Hester was the first teacher. This building was erected from round logs and served as a seat of learning until 1530, when a hewed-log house was put up on the site of the old one. The Rev. Griffield, a Presbyter- lan minister of Wilmington, taught the first school in this building. The second school in the township was built in 1816 and was known as the Salem school house. Aaron Jenkins donated the land and a log house was erected. Samuel Hyde was the first teacher. The first school house In the eastern end of the township was erected In 1827 and Aquila Dorsey was hired to teach the first school.
The old state road was the first Inid out in this township. It was established by the first Legislature that convened in Ohio. in 1802, and was opened soon afterward from Chillicothe to Old Town. This road entered the township about the center of its south- ern line and, taking a northwesterly course, enters Greene county near Lumberton.
Shadrach Thornburgh and William Stanley built a pottery kiln in this township in 1827. They burned sugar pots for the early settlers. At that time there was a sugar camp on nearly every farm and they did quite an extensive business with their kiln. There were also many copper stills on Anderson's fork. Robert Stanley, John Oglesbee, James Babb, Josiah Borton, Samuel Miller, William Ireland and Jacob Peterson each owned one. Whiskey was sold for eighteen cents per gallon and was freely used. The Arst store was started in a log house on Anderson's fork about 1828, by Samuel Smith. This, the first store of any Importance in the township, was managed by Jackson Walker. Aaron Weller began the manufacture of drain tile in 1856. the tile being made on a wheel by hand. In the same year Allen Hiatt put in the first tile ditch. In 1858 Mr. Weller erected a modern file factory and has furnished hundreds of miles of tile which has been laid in this section.
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STATISTICS.
There was no listing of personal property by townships until 1826. At that time, the only personal property listed for taxation in this township was cattle and horses. This township reported 143 horses, valued at $5.720, and 211 neat cattle, valued at $1,688, making a total of $7,408. Horses were valued at a uniform price of $40 a bead, and cattle at $8 a head. The value of the real estate was $32,614, making a total of $40,022. In 1881, the value of the property, real and personal, in the township, was $813,175. The population in 1880 was 1,382; in 1890, 1,299; in 1900, 1,253, and in 1910, 1,089.
The following are the officers of Liberty township in 1915: Trustees, Dennis Stephens, J. W. Brackney and Charles M. Stephens: clerk, F. M. Strickle; treasurer, E. P. Gordin. Population, one thousand and eighty-nine.
FORT WILLIAM.
Port William is the largest town in Liberty township and the chief town in the northern part of the county. This village was first started on the west side of Todd's fork, in 1816, by John Unthank. It was first called West Liberty. It is located on the Dayton, Toledo & Ironton railroad. Only a few houses were built before 1829 and the town was not platted until October 13, 1×32, for Michael Jenkins, the proprietor. It is a part of surveys Now. 4,366 and 1,728.
A log house, evidently the first in the hamlet, was erected by Jesse Dillon, son-in-law of U'nthank, not far from the old factory. Garland Johnson also erected a log house. among the first, in 1829, and in the same year he started the first store in the town. A few years later he built an addition to his dwelling and moved the store into a room of the same. The first blacksmith shop was erected in 1828. Among the early business men of the town were: Addison Mills, grocer: Anson Massie, saddler: Marshall Jenks, mer- chant : Samuel Johnson, tanner ; James M. Hoblet, merchant.
In 1825. Steel Taylor built a fulling-mill below and on the opposite side of the creek from where the old woolen factory stond. The woolen factory was erected In the spring and summer of 1846, by Lewis Clark, who owned the same. It was later owned by Moon & Crooper, who did an extensive business in their line for a number of years, Jonathan Perkins started the first saloon in 1838. The building in which it was kept was where Hugh Johnson later kept a beef shop, and which was burned down a short time later.
Since the opening of the railroad in 1878, it has been a good market for all farm products. Thousands of bushels of wheat and corn are shipped from this point ench year.
The following is a business directory of Port William: Banks, Port William Bank- Ing Company : barbers, D. R. Powers, F. M. Conklin ; blacksmiths, Charles Conklin. J. H. Thomas: coal yards, Faulkner & Burnett ; elevator, O. W. Linkhart & Son : flour-mill, W. O. Beam; garage. J. C. Beal: general merchandise, Rowland & Gordon, F. L .. Barlow. G. H. Clark ; hardware. J. A. Stevens; hotel, A. D. Sanderson ; Ilvery, A. B. Reed & Son: milliner. Mra, Bernice Sanderson ; ment market. O. A. Mason: pool room. J. A. Conklin & Son: physician, P. D. Eshey : restaurant and lee cream parlor. Jenkins Bros. : snw mill. flabaugh & Son: veterinary. Earl Starbuck.
J. C. Ellis is the present postmaster. F. M. Strickle Is the agent for the Dayton. Toledo & Tronton railroad. J. A. Gilbert is the mayor and N. J. Conklin is marshal, The town has a population at present of three hundred.
LITMBERTON.
Lumberton Hes on the northern edge of the county between New Burlington and Port William, and on the Wilmington and Kenia pike. This village was called Lumber- ton for a town of that name in New Jersey. The first house built in the village was used for a wagon shop by Samuel Woolman, about 1820. About the same time he built
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a log house on the lot where Doctor Crawford resided for a number of years. Later John Borton built a small frame house on the oppwite corner. The 'Arst store was started by Joshua C. James In 1830). Tunis Conkling was the first blacksmith.
Although this town was settled and named early, it was not platted until May 20. 1×53. The business interests in 1880 consisted of one grocery store, a cooper, two black- smiths, one wagonmaker and a stonemason ; one physician attended the ills of the set- tiers. The general merchandise store is owned and managed by Elmer Lewis. The two blacksmith shops are run by C. H. Hanwell and Jacob Oglesbee. The population at present is about seventy.
GURNEYVILLE.
Gurneyville is situated in the southwestern part of Liberty township, on the Liberty and I'nion township line. This little hamlet was platted for David McMillan, propri- etor, March 2, 1647, and is part of the Nelson survey No. 1735. It was named by Mr. McMillan in honor of Joseph John Gurney, a noted member of the Society of Friends. Andrew Haughey built the first house in 1947 and in the following year John Grant started a store in this building. Mr. MeMillan's ambition was to build up a town here. but he never lived to realize his ambition. There are only a few houses to mark the site at present. The general store Is operated by C. H. Smith and the blacksmith shop by Dallas Carey.
M'KAY'S STATION.
MeKay's Station is a flag stop on the Dayton, Toledo & Ironton railroad. It was never platted and has sprung up since the railroad came through. It was named in honor of Alfred MeKoy, who gave most of the lots to those who would put up good houses on the same. This was quite a shipping point for grain and live stock, but at present is nothing more than a fing stop. George Hamilton bas a general merchandise store and does a nice business. Clare was formerly the name for the postoffice.
MT. PLEASANT.
Mt. Pleasant at present consists of a voting precinet and is located on the Dayton. Toledo & Ironton railroad. By a special act of the Legislature in Isi5, the trustees of the township were authorized to divide the township into two voting precincts. Previous to this time the township voted at Port William. The trustees, under this authority. established a voting precinet at Mt. Pleasant.
Mt. Pleasant is also the center for one of the consolidated school districts of this township, This building was erected at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars. It has three rooms and three teachers in the high school. Professor Hodson is the district superin- tendent. There were twenty eight enrolled in the high school and thirty in the grades. There were three in the 1915 graduating class.
An elevator marks the spot for Oglesby Station, which is located on the Dayton, Toledo & Ironton railroad. Wilbur Oglesby is the manager of this elevator, hence the name for the place. It was never platted and no attempt was ever made to establish a town bere.
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CHAPTER XXIII. MARION TOWNSHIP.
Marlon' township occuples the southwestern corner of Clinton county and is bounded on the north by Vernon township, on the eust by Washington and Jefferson townships, on the south by Brown county and on the west by Warren county. For the most part, the surface of the township would be called undulating, but in some places it is very level. The soil is productive and in some parts of the township is underlaid with a stratum of fine gravel at a depth of from six to eighteen feet. The principal streams are Second creek, running from the northeru part of the township to the west side near the center; Lick creek, running west through the southern part and out at the west side near the southern corner, and Whitacre's run, which flows from east to west, south of the center. A vast quantity of the land was formerly swampy and too wet for cultiva- tion, but, by the use of modern systems of ditching and draining, these lands have been made tillable and very fertile.
BETTLEMENTO.
The settlement of this township began long before Its organization and soon after the organization of the county. It has been definitely established that Jonathan Baldwin was the first to settle within the limits of Marion township. Baldwin was born at, or near. Morgantown, Monongalia county, Virginia. November 30. 1786, and remained with his father until 1804, when he emigrated to Ohio and settled in Guernsey county. Two years later he removed to Warren county, near the present town of Morrow, and engaged in working by the month, building flat-boats for William Whitacre, with whom he remained until 1811. In that year he married Harriet Blancett and removed to near Springboro, in Warren county. In 1812 he enlisted in the army and served in the campaign of that year under Gen. William Henry Harrison. Hle then returned home, where he remained until 1814. when he came to Marlon township and settled on a tract of land of one hundred and thirty acres on Second creek, this land being the residue of four hundred acres previously purchased by him of General Lytle. Immediately upon his arrival, Mr. Baldwin, with the help of his two brothers. Samuel and Benjamin, cut the logs and erected the first dwelling in the township. His nearest neighbor at this time was four miles away, the intervening distance being covered with a heavy forest. On the completion of the cabin, the brothers left Jonathan to clear the land and they returned to their home in Warren county. This was in February, 1814, and by the spring of 1815 he had six acres of land cleared and ready to be planted with corn for that year's use. He died on August 28, 1868. In his eighty-second year. He was married twice; his first wife died on October 27. 1834, and his second wife. Mary, on July 25. 1856. His son. William H. Baldwin, who died on November 19, 1862, when fifty-two years of age, was for many years one of the most prominent citizens of the township. He was township clerk. justice of the peace, postmaster, general of the county militia, state senator, and judge of the second Judicial district of Obio.
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