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 39

Author: Albert J. Brown (A.M.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : W.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1108

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 39

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Reuben Gillls was another early settler of this township. He was born on the Elkhorn, eleven miles north of Lexington. Scott county, on August 8, 1789. His father brought him to Ohlo in May, 1799. when he settled in Warren county. From here the son later moved to Clinton, near where Blanchester now in, and where he continued to reside until bis denth, in 1877. When he came to the Blanchester neighborhood, Jonathan

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Baldwin, Galvin Morrison, William Liston. Sr., George Crossen, the widow Kate Crossen, Edward Crossen, William Clark, Mr. Stanberry, Elisha Whitacre, Nicholas Burns and William Caudle were already living on . Second creek.

The first white child born in the township was Benjamin Baldwin, who was born on October 15. 1815, and who for years lived on a farm near Blanchester and is still remembered by the residents of that community. At this time the nearest neighborhood was about Collins' tavern, now called Villar's chapel, a distance of seven miles.

Galvin Morrison emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1815, and located in this township on what was later known as the William Zimmer farm. Soon afterward Elisha Whitacre; Recompense Stansbury, from New Jersey ; Hiram Anderson, William Liston and Edward Crossen settled in the township. Among the early pioneers should also be mentioned Jeremiah Rowan. John Cooper, William Crossen, Mrs. Henry Shank, Wilfred Cusick, Hartwell Gilliam, Reuben Murphy and Gertrude Newell.

FORMATION OF THE TOWNSHIP.

This township was formed by an act of the county commissioners, August 5. 1830. The first election in the township was held in the woods near the cabin of Tobias Barnett (sometimes called Bernard), on September 4, 1830, when the following officers were elected : John Mitchell. John Stephens and John Salisbury, trustees; Hiram Ander- son. clerk, and Edward Crossen, Jr., treasurer. The farm on which this election was held is on the Twin pike, leading from Blanchester to Wilmington, about one and a half miles northeast of the former place. John Cooper was elected Justice of the peace the following November. The following composed the electorate of the township at this election of the justice of the peace: Jonathan Baldwin, G. Morrison. Hiram Anderson, Recompense Stansbury, John Salisbury. Nicholas Burns, Thomas Elsey, Jonathan Kirk, William Brown. Irwine Garrison. Benjamin Garrison, James Bryant, William Clark. William Hudson, Salby Hudson. Jeremiah Rowan. John Caddle. Lewis Nebber. Reuben Gillis, John Smith. Azel Lyon, Elisha Whitacre, Edward Crossen. Israel I.idles, Isaac Coons, William Sharrow, John Trump. Benjamin Murphy, James Cochran. David Fisher nnd Isaac Martin.

EARLY SCHOOLS.

The Orst school house in the township was a log house built on a half acre of land donated by Hiram Anderson for that purpose, and the first school taught in it was by James Cochran, an ex-soldier of the Revolutionary War. This site was afterwards used as a burial place. Catharine, the wife of Galvin Morrison, was the first person to be interred here. It is now filled with the graves of the early settlers of the township. The next school building was a log house on the south bank of Second creek. It was taught by Benjamin Baldwin, the father of Jonathan Baldwin and also a soldier in our war for independence. This site is now within the confines of the town of Blanchester. A third school building was built on the farm of William Crossen.

Compared with our modern, well-planned and well-built school buildings, even in the remotest rural districts, these early log school houses were crude affairs indeed. They were heated by fire-places, requiring logs five or six feet in length. The sents consisted of slabs, three to four inches thick. six to eight inches wide and eight to twelve feet long, hewed on the upper side. They were set about eighteen inches above the floor. so high that most of the children's feet did not touch the floor. School was in session most of the day, but the children never complained, living In the hope that some day their feet would touch the floor. But few even realized that dream, for they were almost always taken from school at an early age and put to work on the farm. helping their parents. The writing desks were made by placing plank along the wall at the sides of the room, with a strip fastened at the bottom.

These schools were operated and maintained by subscription, each settler subscribing

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so many pupils; at from a dollar and twenty-five cents to a dollar and a half per pupil, for a quarter of about sixty-five days. Twenty students were considered a large school and but few branches were then thought necessary. Some paid their subscriptions fn money -and some in produce. However, many paid in wood and this was cut near the school building. The teacher boarded around among the patrons, dividing his time among them. When a pupil had advanced as far as the single rule of three, with a slight knowledge of Peter Parley's geography, he was considered as having a sufficient educa- tion, and would be taken from school and put to work in a clearing. Usually the girls were not so far advanced, as it was deemed more necessary to educate them in the kitchen and household dutles, and it was thought, too, that they had not the faculties of learning as had the boys.

The following are the officers of Marion township in 1915: Trustees, 8. A. Losh, I. Tedrick and James Reeves: clerk, H. C. Reed; treasurer. Clay Watkins. Population, two thousand five hundred and thirty-three.

BLANCHESTER.

Blanchester was laid out by Joseph and John Blancett and the pint was recorded on March 23, 1832. There were originally twenty-four lots, four poles by eight poles square. The lots were numbered consecutively from 1 to 24, distributed along the main street, Howard, which ran northwest and southeast, and one cross street. Broadway, which ran northeast and southwest. The courses of the lots were north forty-five and one-half degrees east by south, forty-five and one-half degrees east. This village is situated in the southeastern part of Marion township and is the only town in said township.

On March 6. 1865, the necessary proceedings were taken and the town duly incor- porated by the county commissioners under the laws of the state of Ohio. On August 9, 1873, the incorporation was extended to include contiguous territory, on a petition signed by property owners within the territory to be annexed, and recommended by the authori- ties of the town. Anshutz & Patterson's addition, including the school lot and also Clark. High and Columbus streets, was platted on February 2, 1874. J. H. Trickey's addition, with Central avenue and South Broadway street, was platted on November 16, 1877.

Blanchester is located at the junction of the Blanchester and Hillsboro branch of the Baltimore & Ohlo Southwestern railroad. The interurban line from Blanchester to the suburbs of Cincinnati affords the people of this community excellent train service. Wilson's run and Second creek surround the town on three sides and connect at the eastern edge of the corporation.

The first merchant to locate here was Joseph Blancett, who occupied a hewed-log house. He kept a general line of groceries, notions and such other articles ax would be found in a country store of that day. Blancett was followed by Isaac Frazier and William H. Baldwin. The former kept his store in a log house in the village, but the latter occupied a stand at a point outside the present corporate limits. William Bundy was the first blacksmith, and had his shop in a log building, where he plied his trade here many years before any other blacksmith came to this community. Bryant Trickey was the first wagon-maker and also plied his trade in a log shop. On the 24th of March, 1870. S. R. Nickerson began the publication of the Blanchester Herald, and continued eighteen months, when he sold it to James 8. Turk, who, in a short time, changed the name to the Marion Independent, the publication of which ceased about October 1, 1872. The history of Inter papers may be found in the chapter on newspapers.

Blanchester has suffered the greatest disaster that has ever been visited upon any town in Clinton county. This prosperous little village was overtaken by a serious calamity on October 18, 1805, and: within the brief apace of six hours the business portion

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of the town was almost entirely consumed and a number of her most enterprising citizens were financially ruined.

The fire broke out at 1:30 P. M. in an old stable in the rear of the livery barn of W. W. Burke. There was no definite knowledge as to the origin of the tire, though the most generally accepted theory was that some person had carelessly thrown a cigar stub either in or near the stable and that the conflagration started from that apparently trifling act. . From this, the brick livery stable of W. W. Burke was ignited. Not until the fire got under good headway in the stable of Burke was it discovered, and soon a general alarm was given. The streets were soon fairly alive with people doing what they could prevent the spread of the Hames. Blanchester's fire department was a volunteer brigade, under the captaincy of Jacob Baldwin, and their only equipment was an old hand engine, while the only available water was such as could be pumped from wells and cisterns, and in many of them the water was very low. Within a very short time, fanned by a stiff wind, the flames spread so rapidly that it became apparent that the town was doomed unless outside aid could be speedily secured.

Mayor Foote telegraphed Hillsboro. Lynchburg and Loveland, all of which responded at once and, transportation being at hand, were soon on the ground. By the time of the arrival of outside ald the square bounded by Main, Wall and Church streets and the railroad tracks, and that bounded by Main, Wright, Cherry and Broadway, were Involved in the flames. Everyone who could carry a bucket assisted the firemen in fighting the still-spreading flames But the cisterns and wells became exhausted of their supply of water, and the only recourse was to get .water from the creek, a distance of five squares.

By seven o'clock in the evening the three business squares were largely destroyed and the residence portion of the town was seriously threatened. Then followed the most intense excitement. People became frantic in their efforts to get their household goods to places of safety ; but in a number of Instances they were compelled to abandon the work of roseue, the flames spreading too rapidly for them.

The Methodist church and three residences adjoining, thought to be at a safe distance from the conflagration, were ignited by- burning embers being carried three squares through the air and over intervening dwellings The church was gutted and the three residences, including the pretty home of Lyman Simonton, were entirely destroyed.

The loss was estimated at one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, with insur- ance of less than twenty-nine thousand dollars-a little more than one-fourth. Hence the unfortunate people suffered a loss of nearly one hundred thousand dollars, besides the loss sustained by tradesmen while preparing for a resumption of business. The extent of the damage wrought can be more fully comprehended by the reader when we state that seventy-two bulldings, including dwellings and barns, were destroyed, and that nearly the entire business portion of the town was swept away. Fortunately. no one was killed or seriously injured by the disaster.

On Saturday, Mayor Foote called a citizens' meeting to be held at the Universalist church for the purpose of organizing a committee for the relief of the sufferers. A large number of citizens responded. The meeting organized with the following officers: Pro- fessor Cadwalinder, chairman; C. B. Watkins, secretary : E. D. Smith, treasurer; J. M. Fisher, Rev. Hamilton, A. Crosson. J. W. West, Mayor Foote and J. S. Dewey, executive council. A committee of fifteen ladies and men was appointed to solicit aid from the hundreds who visited the fire-stricken town on Sunday. The good people of the county were very loyal and generous in coming to the aid of their stricken neighbors. A rote of thanks was tendered the fire department of Hillsboro. Loveland and Lynchburg. all of which battled nobly against the fire fiend; also, to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company for their prompt action in furnishing transportation to the fire companies of these towns

A clipping from the Clinton County Democrat, commenting on the fire, wald: "The

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situation at Blanchester is almost appalling and will require a long time for the village to recover from the effects thereof. Comparatively few business rooms remain, and not much headway can be made before next spring." The fire, while a great calamity and an inestimable loss to many of the citizens, was really a blessing in disguise, for within less than two years the business section was completely rebuilt with modern brick buildings. Where once frame buildings stood, their places are now filled with fire-proof structures.

The Clinton County Democrat of November 28, 1895, printed the following: "After having risen Phoenix-like from the ashes of the late terrible fire, Blanchester was visited Monday night with a terrible and destructive wind storm, and quite a number of the new buildings in the course of construction and those left standing by the fire were damaged to a greater or less extent. The wind blew a perfect gale the entire night, and many people had to seek places of safety. thinking that any minute the houses they occupied would be blown from their foundations. The entire roof was blown from the Carnahan block. The north fire wall on the new Rice building was blown off and went crashing through the roof of the new building just completed and occupied by the Snyder & Anderson Hardware Company. The walls of the Methodist church, left standing from the fire, were blown over. and completely buried the material, doors, windows, etc., belonging to Mrs. Willoughby, who had Just had them placed on the ground preparatory to constructing a new dwelling to replace the one destroyed by fire. Window glass was blown from the fronts of the store room of H. L. Day, druggist; Z. T. Peddicord, furni- ture, and Doctor Anshutz, dental parlors. The walls of the old Broadway livery stable were blown down and the roof of a large warehouse near the railroad, belonging to James Gustin, was blown off.

"But, undismayed, every one is at work this morning clearing off the debris, It was, indeed, a night for terror to many of the citizens of this community, and one that will never be forgotten. The peculiar color of the sky was a feature of the storm, the west having a dull, red bue."

BUSINESS DIRECTORY.

'The following is a list of the business interests at Blanchester: Architect. George Baldwin; attorneys, Savage & Savage, B. S. Scott and Joseph Brant; agents, Baltimore & Oblo. F. O. Allison, Cincinnati & Muskingham Valley, Mrs. David Curless; banks, First National, Merchants and Farmers; barbera, H. A. Baldwin and Thomas Hewett; Palace, T. J. Warning, proprietor; Arcade, Bowen & Mullenix, proprietors; H. W. Osborne. Blacksmitha, C. W. Smithson & Son, L. H. Watkins, A. Leonard, Houck & Gilliland, Hottinger & Burroughs, William Greenfield : brooms, Ratchford Brothers, C. A. Moon, Edward Espy ; carpenters, Milton Laymon, Harry Hall, Vernon Spencer, John Spencer, John Klock, Lewis Achor, Albert Achor. Homer John; chiropractor, O. I. Ben- nett : coal. Craig & Oberlin. Amos Foote, A. N. Williamson; contractors, Dewey Brothers & Company. A. Crosson ; confectioneries, J. E. Reeder, Clarence Frye, Clyde Daugherty, Mrs. O. L. Haworth, W. H. Frey : creameries, A. Curless Sons & Company ; dentist, B. F. Wade. J. H. Shank. J. A. McPhail, J. W. Anshutz, R. S. Spickard; drugs, G. V. Losh, Day & Son, H. E. Katzenmeyer : dry-goods, 8. Haines & Company, Rice Brothers, The Mercantile Company ; factories, Overalls, Hershey & Rice. Southern Ohio Handle Fac- tory, Star Hames & Company. Hames and Cast Saddle Trees, Blanchester Canning Com- pony ; fish market, Pearl Hendry; fruit store, John Cafeo; furniture. Reed & Robertson; garage, W. W. Reeves, John Carr, John Howe; gardeners, John Pommert, C. P. Starkey ; groceries, People's Cash Grocery, Frank Rudell, Guy Irvin, W. N. Hunter, I. J. Long. C. M. Riley, E. D. Wing. Harry Griswold; hardware. P. E. Snyder, Hampton & Shank, Anderson & Brant; harness, Jobn Hudson; hotels, Arcade, Brindley ; insurance, George

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Sulder, John Frazee and Henry Hagadorn ; Andrews & Laymon, L. S. Lorish; jewelry, H. C. Reed, George Deck ; Junk, Walter Powers; laundry, Model Laundry ; livery, Harley Richardson, Leo King; live stock, Brown & Fritz; machinery, Collins & Arbogart, W. H. Carnahan; meat markets, Penquite Brothers, Earnest Whitenack ; millinery, Lillian Norton, R. L. Moon & Company, Jackson Sisters: milling. D. W. Hogan; music, Mrs Icle Shawhan; newspapers, Blanchester Star Republican. Blanchester News; painters and decorators, Frank King, Elias Wilkins, Clem Baldwin, J. W. Hottinger, C. L. Shumard, William Osborne, George Kelsey, O. E. Hawthorne, H. Lieka ; physicians, F. M. Baldwin, J. H. Norman. L. J. Spickard, Robert Conard, Raymond Watkins; plumbing, W. I. Gebhart : pool. J. W. Smith. A. B. Gilliland: shoe repairing, S. C. Ross, W. W. Homan; studio, Arthur Studio; tailors, A. E. Eskew, Corliss; theaters, Dreamland, Pastime; undertakers, A. I., Hannah, Harry Frey, Burk & Eichelberger; upholstering. Alton Mckinney ; variety store. George Taylor.

The present officials of Blanchester are as follow: J. W. Gustin, mayor; W. I .. Hixson, clerk ; J. M. Brant, solicitor; A. Titus, health officer; H. F. Hudson, trensurer ; Ed Anderson, fire chief; T. J. Walker, marshal ; H. M. Hall, John Carr and J. H. Shank, board of public affairs; H. E. Katzenmeyer, clerk of public affairs; Amos Foote, Aetna Laymon, Jacob Kohlbagen, C. M. Day, J. R. Ross and J. O. Norman, council.

CHAPTER XXIV.

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.

Richland was one of the three original townships into which the county was divided by the commissioners on April 6, 1810, and was erected in words as follows: "Ordered, that all that part of Clinton county east of the old boundary line of Warren county shall be one township known by the name of Richland." This was the preliminary act, but the township was not surveyed nor Its, boundaries described until August 10, 1813, at which time the original boundaries were fixed as follow: "Beginning at large hickory at the corner of Green township, In the line of Union township, thence running with the line of Green township, to the southerly corner of the county and at the corner of Fayette county, thence north with the county line to the northeast corner, thence west with the county line to the original line of Warren county, thence south with said original line of I'nion township, thence with the line of I'nion township to the place of beginning." The township originally comprised all of that teritory now included in Wilson, Wayne and Green, in addition to Its present territory, also parts of Liberty, Union and Clark.

CHANGES IN AREA.

The township has been cut down four times. The first was on August 21, 1813. when a part of the township was cut off from the west side to form I'nion and Green townships; on July 15. 1817. another part was taken from the same side to form Liberty ; the third change came on March 4. 1837, when a part was taken to form Wayne township: and the last change came in August. 1850, when Wilson township was formed. The township, as it now exists, is of an irregular shape, being in its longest part, east and west, about eight miles long, by four miles wide, and containing twenty- one thousand two hundred and ten and seventy-two hundredths acres of land.

Richland township is situated in the extreme northeastern corner of the county and Its boundaries are as follow : On the north by Wilson township and Fayette county ; on the enst by Fayette county ; on the south by Wayne township, and on the west by Wilson and I'nion townships. It is not definitely known from whence the name was derived. but it is supposed and rather well warranted, that it was so named on account of the rich soil of the territory originally comprised within its border.

NATURAL FEATURES.

The township has good drainage through the waters of Lee's creek in the sonth and Rattlesnake creek in the northeast corner. As tributaries to this latter creek and serving as an excellent drain for the eastern part. are Palmer's branch. Wilson's branch and Grassy branch, and the western part is drained by Anderson's and Todd's fork.

On almost a due line with the old Urbana rond, extending through the full width of the township, from north to south. is a water shed. This shed has an elevation of about one hundred feet and divides the waters of the Scioto from those of the Miami, the streams of the east running into the Scioto. through Rattlesnake creek and Its tributaries, while those of the west flow into the Miami river. Anderson's fork, running north-northeast empties into Caesar's creek in the extreme northwest corner of the county. at New Burlington, and a branch of Todd's fork drains the western limit of the township.

Richland township has a rather level surface. There are no bills or breaks of any

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kind, although the grade in the eastern part is about six feet to the mile, ascending to the table lands or water shed. The slope on the western alde is much less. The land is somewhat rolling between Anderson's fork and the water shed, but resumes the level appearance from Anderson's fork to the western side of the township. This township is blessed with a lack of waste land; there are no swamps, bogs or land under water; no broken, billy country, and no stone lands, and, in fact, no untillable lands. Even the beds of the streams are so narrow that they occupy a very small acreage of the land as compared with those in adjoining counties.

80LL

Richland township. in the beginning of the nineteenth century, was little better than a buge swamp of bog. Timber covered the ground with such a heavy growth that the fallen timber, leaves and undergrowth were unable to dry out and lay in a half- decayed mass of several inches in depth. The earth was wet and almost covered with pools of standing water and the rays of the sun were prevented from penetrating the thick foliage and reaching the sodden earth. This made it undesirable on the part of the early settlers, who preferred locating on more elevated lands, free from water, and it is not bard to see why this township was slow in beginning its growth. But with the clearing of this land and the introduction of drain tile, this has become one of the banner townships of the county.

The soll of Richland township is of a rich, alluvial formation and is based on a clayey subsoli. In some places this has a stratum of stone underlying it at a depth of . from four to six feet. An example of this underlying stone is the bed of Anderson's fork. It is composed entirely of this stone, a stratum of which underlies the creek, extending about a mile from the strenm on the west side and about a hundred yards from it on the enst. This is a limestone formation and belongs to the group called Clinton, which is found quite extensively throughout the county. This limestone is used for buliding purposes and macadamized road material; it also produces a very good grade of lime, which, although the color is not pure white, is just as good for building purposes as the whiter grade. The land of the township is particularly well adapted to the raising of corn and grass, but until recently it has not been as profitable for cereals as other townships of the county. However, with the Improved system of drainage and the Introduction of drain tile, it is rapidly moving to the front in the raising of all farm products.

The timber of the township covered a wide variety and quality. Some of the timber grew to a great size and was used in the manufacture of different products. Elm and maple grew in great abundance in the lower lands and clearly indicated the richness of. the soil on which they grew. The burr oak and sugar tree grew In great profusion on the higher lands and, in fact, in all parts of the township. Other trees of a wide and varied variety peculiar to this locality could be found .. The black walnut and blue ash was used by the settlers to make rails from and today would be of great value if still standing. There was also a great growth of underbrush and vines through which a passage could only be cut with great difficulty and labor.

LAND ENTRINO.

The whole of this township is in what is known as the Virginia military district. This is composed of surveys entered by holders of military warrants, which were issued, by the government for payment to the Revolutionary warriors who were not regularly enrolled In the army, but were a sort of militia. The government at that time did not have money to pay their soldiers for their services and in consequence would issue them tracts of land as payment. The following is a list of the entries and surveys made in this township:

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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 39

Author: Albert J. Brown (A.M.) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : W.H. Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1108

Author: Albert J. Brown (A.M.)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : W.H. Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1108