History of Delaware County and Ohio : containing a brief history of the state of Ohio biographical sketches etc. V. 2, Part 20

Author: O.L. Baskin & Co. cn
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : O. L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 836

USA > Ohio > Delaware County > History of Delaware County and Ohio : containing a brief history of the state of Ohio biographical sketches etc. V. 2 > Part 20

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

good commodious farm dwellings, several of them made of brick. Seth Slack built the first brick house in this section.

The early pioneers found this township a favor- ite hunting-ground of the Indians, and numerous parties of the Wyandots roamed through the for- ests in search of game. A well-beaten trail ran along the banks of Indian Run, by which they came from their reservation. They continued to make this their hunting-ground as late as 1815, when they began to be crowded out by the whites. After this, up to as late as 1820, an old chief of this tribe, called Scionto, came to the township trap- ping, and often made the residence of Joseph Cole, in the edge of Troy, his headquarters. The old chief became quite a favorite of the family, and was remarkable for his friendliness to all whites. Wolves and deer were found in abun- dance, and an occasional bear added to the sport of the huntsman. The wolves were especially bold and troublesome, and the settlers were obliged to build a protection for their stock.

The first election under its own auspices was held in Oxford at the house of Henry Foust, and later at the house of Elisha Bishop. In 1820, when James Madison was candidate a second time for the Presidency, an election was held here, at which David Elliott, John Shaw and Henry Foust were Judges. There were two Clerks, and beside the Board there were two votes cast. The first Justice of the Peace was Andrew Murphy, who was succeeded by Ezra Olds. The latter served for thirty years. The introduction of those pioneer industries which are found indis- pensable in isolated settlements, was quite late in Oxford. There were older settlements all about, and it was not until the people felt able to in- dulge in the luxury of a convenient mill, that such an enterprise found encouragement enough to start. It was not until 1832, that Milton Pierce and Henry Riley built the first saw-mill in the southeast part of the township, at the mouth of Basin Branch. Here it stood until age rendered it too infirm for service, when it was rebuilt by Lewis Powers. It still stands, owned by Benja- min Martin, but has for the past few years been out of service. A grist-mill was built about the same time, a little further up the stream, by Hosea Waters. The buhr-stones were made of large " nigger-head " bowlders, and were run by horse power. This was rather a slow way to make flour, but it proved a great improvement on the plan of going ten, fifteen or twenty miles to mill. A tan-

nery was started by George Claypool in 1824, a few rods south of Windsor Corners. It after- ward passed into the hands of Jonas Foust, and at a still later day, into the possession of James J. Sherwood.

Another noticeable fact is the late date when the cabins began to be superseded by frame dwell- ings. It was not until 1840 that the first of these latter structures was erected for Henry Foust. A mechanic by the name of Harkness did the work, and the lumber was procured at. Joseph Cole's mill, in Troy Township. The build- ing still stands, but forty years of exposure to sun- shine and storm without the protection of paint, has given it an aged appearance.

The first death in the township was that of a child of Comfort Olds, in the year 1812. No graveyard had yet been laid out in Oxford, and the interment was made in the cemetery at Nor- ton, which was an older settlement. The grave was dug by Henry Foust. The first birth in the township was that of Job Foust.

Oxford has but one village, a flourishing little town of about eight hundred inhabitants, situated. just north of the center of the township, on the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railway. The original name of this village was Oxford, but was subsequently changed to Ashley. The ground was owned by L. W. Ashley and J. C. Avery, and was platted by them on June 15, 1849, the County Surveyor, Charles Neil, laying it off in sixty-nine inlots. On the 6th day of August, 1849, Henry Lamb and S. Finch made an addition of eighty-three inlots to the town, numbering from seventy to one hundred and fifty- two, inclusive. June 18, 1850, J. C. Avery, S. Finch and Henry Lamb made an addition of fif- teen inlots, from one hundred and fifty-three to one hundred and sixty-seven, inclusive. Two years later, Messrs. Lamb and Finch platted ten outlots, from A to K, inclusive, and, in 1860, L. W. Ashley added three more lots. Hugh Cole and John Doty made a small addition in 1877, making a total of 183 in and out lots. In May of the year succeeding the platting of the village, Lewis Purmort started a small grocery and dry-goods store on the Shoemaker farm, one-half mile east of Ashley. Later in the year, Aloy Patee built the present Ashley Hotel, and was its first propri- etor. In the fall, Purmort moved his stock of goods into what is now the gentleman's sitting- room of the hotel. He remained here for about a year, while he built a storeroom on Lot No. 33.

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

He moved into his new building and continued his enterprise about three years, when he disposed of the business. Mr. Purmort has engaged in various enterprises and is still a resident of Ashley. In the spring of 1850, he and Milton Smith built a saw-mill on the railroad grounds for the com- pany. In the following year, Hiram M. Shaffer built a frame storehouse on Inlot No. 69, and the firm of Miller & Mulford, of Mount Vernon, put in a stock of dry goods. About this time a post office was established here, and J. H. Miller, one of the above firm, was the first Postmaster. Be- fore this, Westfield was the nearest place to get mail. In 1850, Adam Sherman built a small house on Lot No. 104, in which he started a saloon, and, in the same year, William B. Belknap built the first frame dwelling-house on Lot No. 29. The prospects of the village seemed flattering for a rapid and healthy growth, and enterprising men were eager to establish their business in the prom- ising little town. Among the earliest firms were Robert Morrison and Stephen Morehouse, Jr., who erected a frame storehouse on Inlot No. 4, and put in a stock of dry goods. They continued the business but little over two years, when they sold out to J. S. Brumback, who carried on the business only a short time. A year or two after the laying-out of the village, Benjamin McMaster, Joseph Riley and Israel Potter erected a grain warebouse on Lot No. 72. In 1853, Mr. Mc- Master became sole proprietor, and carried on the grain business for a few years, when he sold out to Breeden & Place. Jesse Meredith built a grain warehouse on the railroad grounds, about the same time the other one was erected, and com- bined the grain business with the duties of station agent, The warehouse was used also as a freight depot. In the same year, Adam Sherman built a store on Lot No. 73, and a Mr. Clark started a dry-goods store in it. The pioneer blacksmith-shop of the village was started in 1852, by A. B. More- house. A rake factory was started in a building erected for the purpose, by Purmort, Fitzgerald & Co., in 1853, but it only continued operations about a year. The Methodist Episcopal Church bought the building, and, moving it on to Lot No. 70, fitted up for a place of worship. This build- ing is at present used as a private dwelling by T. Chapman.

On the 3d day of March, 1855, a petition, signed by some fifty residents of the village, was filed with the Auditor of Delaware County, pray- ing for the incorporation of the village of Ashley. i

At their June session, in 1855, the Board of Com- missioners heard and granted the petition, and on the 30th day of the following August, 1855. the first election for officers was held at the school- house. James Culbertson was elected Mayor ; A. Pater, Recorder, and Jesse Meredith, S. Joy, Levi Shisler and Samuel Shisler, Councilmen, who served until the following regular spring election. At this time, L. D. Benton was elected Mayor ; J. M. Coomer, Recorder, and Solomon Joy, Samuel Shisler, S. B. Morehouse, A. G. Hall, and George McMaster, Councilmen. Benjamin F. Fry was the first Marshal. and Solomon Joy the first Treasurer. The first ordinance passed by the council was for the suppression of intemperance. In the spring of 1857, B. F. Fry was elected Mayor.

In 1862, a special school district was formed of the village, and a few of the adjoining farms, and a new school building erected, with two rooms. This building was used until 1877, when the growth of the school required more room, and a fiue two- story schoolhouse, with four commodious roomis was built. The school is now carried on with four departments, under the successful management of David E. Cowgill, whose energy and industry, to- gether with his competent assistants, have brought the Ashley schools up to a standard second to none of the surrounding graded schools.

On the 26th day of February, 1863, Howard Matthews, Grand Master of Masons of Ohio, issued his dispensation to S. Moore, J. F. Doty, J. P. Clark, J. W. Hoff, William E. Palmer, W. W. Stratton, J. L. Wray, L. A. Coomer, John Field, E. B. Morrison, J. B. Richardson, Heury Sutton and E. M. Conklin. to organize a lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, at Ashley, and on the Sth day of April. 1868, the lodge was constituted and numbered 407. At the meeting of the Grand Lodge, at Dayton, Ohio. on October 29. 1868. a charter was issued to the lodge. with the following officers : S. Moore. W. M .; J. F. Doty, S. W .; E. B. Morrison, J. W .; John Field, Treas- urer ; J. L. Wray, Secretary ; Henry Sutton, S. D .; L. A. Coomer, J. D .; James P. Clark, Tiler. Since its organization, the lodge has made about sixty masons, and changed its quarters from a small room in the third story, to a nice commodi- ous room in the second story.

On the 22d day of June. 1869. Lodge No. 421. 1. O. O. F., was instituted, with the following officers : Washington Granger, N. G .; C. C. Smith, V. G., D. H. Clifton, Secretary ; T. M. Leeds, Per. Sec-

HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

541

retary : I. Barton, Treasurer. The following were charter members: J. L. Wray, A. A. Wood, H. L. Cross ; G. Carpenter, A. P. Oliver, Thomas N. Barton, L. P. Slack, H. Baxter, William Eve- rett, and W. S. Porterfield. The lodge is in flour-ishing condition, and has about fifty mem- bers.

On June 21, 1870, an encampment was insti- tuted, with the following officers and charter mem- bers : W. Granger, C. P .; E. M. Conklin, H. P .; A. V. Conklin, S. W .; S. A. Smith, J. W .; L. E. Hyatt, Scribe, and A. A. Wood, Treasurer ; members, Samuel Llewellyn and W. E. Palmer.

The growth of the village for the last thirty years has been steady and uniform, and has come up from a cross-roads settlement in the woods to a thriving village, second to none of its kind in the county. At present, the village contains three dry-goods stores, three grocery and provision stores, one hardware and implement store, one drug store, one jewelry store, one grain ware- house, one clothing store, two boot and shoe stores, two harness-shops, two saloons, one flouring-mill, two carriage-shops, two emblem factories, three blacksmith-shops, one hotel, one distillery, two saw- mills, three planing-mills, and two cooper-shops. Three churches have their places of worship here- the Methodist, Presbyterian and Baptist. There is, perhaps, as much stock shipped from this sta- tion as any other way station on the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railway. During the past year (1879) there were loaded and shipped from Ashley, 249 cars of stock, con- sisting of 80 cars of cattle, 83 cars of sheep, and 84 cars of hogs; in all, 1,400 head of cattle, 16,679 head of sheep, and 4,910 head of hogs.

The earliest church organization in Oxford Township was the Methodist Episcopal Church. Tradition is authority for the statement that a society of this denomination was organized at Winsor Corners as early as 1815. They accommo- dated themselves with such rude structures as the circumstances of the case afforded until : 1857, when they built a neat frame building, which was dedicated by Elder Wilson, then presiding over that conference. In February, 1839, Rev. E. S. Garitt, of this denomination, came from Mus- kingum County and bought the Houston farm, situated about three-quarters of a mile southeast of Ashley. In the following year, with consider- able ministerial enterprise, in company with the Shoemaker family, he erected a log cabin a few rods north of his house. The logs were hewn

square on the inside, while the furniture and fit- tings for church service profited by the attention of a mechanic, Mr. Samuel Shoemaker. Mr. Garitt dedicated the building and has conducted services in it and about here for the last forty years. He is universally respected, and there is scarcely a family that has fairly gained a residence within a radius of five miles of his home, but that sometime has called upon him to marry che living or bury the dead.

The church thus organized held its services in the old log house until the spring of 1852, when the meetings were transferred to Ashley. Here the church occupied the log house built by Robert Brown for a dwelling, and afterward the town schoolhouse until April, 1855, when they bought the building now used by T. Chapman as a resi- dence. In December, 1866, the church sold this building, and, from that time until 13CS, they used the Presbyterian place of worship, which they finally bought, using it up to the present time. The first regular Pastor was the Rev. L. Warner. Their present minister is the Rev. S. L. Yourtee. In 1861, Rev. Mr. Banaam organized a Wesleyan Methodist Church from the remains of an Episcopal Methodist society, which had existed for some years in the Alum Creek District. A little later, they put up a place of worship, which is known as the Oxford Church, and is situated about three miles southeast of Ashley.

The Baptist Church was organized in the Ach- ley neighborhood in June of 1835. by Rev. Daniel Thomas. Seven years later, the society built a frame building near the present site of the ceme- tery. Here they worshiped until 1851, when they moved their building to Ashley, where it still serves them as a place of worship.

On April 27, 1852, a committee, consisting of Rev. Henry Shedd, Rev. John W. Thompson, Rev. William S. Spaulding, and Elders John Mateer and John McElroy, having been appointed by the Franklin Presbytery to go to Ashley to establish a Presbyterian Church, met and pro- ceeded to organize a society as directed. The first Elders were Z. P. Wigton and Henry Slack. On May 24, 1857, James M. Eckles was added to the list of Elders. Rev. Henry Shedd was the first minister of the church. In the summer of 1853, the society purchased Lot No. 27, in Ashley, and two years later built a place of worship, which they used until 1868. Six years later, the society sold this building to the Methodists and erected a neat brick building, in which they still worship.

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

There is a membership of about forty persons. The present Pastor is Rev. W. E. Thomas.

The first Sabbath school in the township was or- ganized in a small log house in the Alum Creek Dis- trict, on the farm of James Mc Williams, by James M. Eckles in the year 1841. Mr. Eckles was especially interested in this work, and conducted this school for ten years. In 1851, he organized another in Garitt District, and conducted it some three years, when it was removed to Ashley and united with others to form the Union Sabbath School, which is still maintained. Their services are held in the Presbyterian Church building, and Mr. Eckles is still in his favorite service, as Assist- ant Superintendent. Four Sunday-schools are maintained in the township; one at the M. E. Church at Winsor Corners; one at the M. E. Church in Ashley ; the united school of the Presbyterian Church at Ashley, and one at the Wesleyan Church at Oxford.

Schools began rather late, the first schoolhouse being erected about 1826. There are conflicting traditions as to where it was situated, but the weight of evidence seems to be that a spot within two or three rods of the residence of Thomas M. Leeds is its site. It was a round-log affair, 18x22 feet, and furnished with the rude necessities of a frontier school. Levi Phelps, a Baptist minister, was the first teacher. About the same time, a school- house was erected a few rods south of Winsor Cor- Ders. This building was used a few years, when it was replaced by a hewed-log cabin. In the course of a few years, this building gave way to a frame, which was used until 1857, when the Methodist Church bought the site. Besides the special school district in Ashley, there are six school districts, four of which are supplied with good, substantial brick schoolhouses. The other two are furnished with wooden structures. All are supplied with modern school furniture.

We cannot refrain from giving a few words to the military and political record of the town-

ship, even with the risk of adding to a subject fully treated elsewhere. At the breaking-out of hostilities in 1861, Oxford was among the first to respond to the call of the Governor. As early as May 1, 1861, Capt. Jesse Meredith, who gained that rank in the Mexican war, had raised a com- pany, and reported to the Governor as ready for duty. The company was soon ordered to report to Camp Chase, and on June 15, 1861, was mus- tered into the service as Company C, of the Twenty-sixth Regiment of Ohio Volunteer In- fantry. The commissioned officers of the company at its organization were Jesse Meredith, Captain; E. A. Hicks, First Lieutenant ; William Clark, Second Lieutenant. The company re-enlisted, and re- mained in the service during the war. Of this company, twenty were killed and fifteen were car- ried off by disease, counting about one-third of the company who did not survive the service. On August 1, 1862, a second company was raised in Oxford, which was officered as follows: Captain, Samuel Sharpe; First Lieutenant, Joseph A. Schebles ; Second Lieutenant, S. B. Morehouse. This Company was mustered into the service as company D, of the One Hundred and Twenty- first Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Aug- ust 13, 1862, and served until the end of the war. It is but just to say that surrounding townships contributed members to these companies. Politi- cally the township has been Whig, and, later, has given a regular Republican majority, varying from sixty to eighty. Several of Oxford's children have reached distinction politically, among whom may be mentioned, William P. Reed, now deceased, formerly a prominent member of the Delaware bar, and represented this Senatorial District in the State Legislature. Ezra Riley served several years as an infirmary officer ; J. F. Doty, as Au- ditor from March, 1869, to November, 1873; John Chapman, as Clerk of the Court, being elected in 1873 and again in 1878, and Cicero Coomer, as County Treasurer, being elected in 1879.

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXIV .*

THOMPSON TOWNSHIP - TOPOGRAPHY -EARLY SETTLEMENT- MILLS, BRIDGES AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS-INCIDENTS-RELIGION AND EDUCATION-POST OFFICES.

" That tells Of days and years long since gone by."

T' THOMPSON TOWNSHIP, named after one of the earliest Governmental surveyors, com- prises within its boundaries a portion of those lands described in this work, under the title of Virginia Military Land. It was erected into a separate township June 5, 1820, by the granting of the following petition descriptive of its bound- aries : Beginning at Delsaver's "Ford," on the Scioto River, thence due west to the Union County line, thence north on said county line to the old Indian boundary line, thence with said boundary line east to the Scioto River, thence down said river to the place of beginning. The boundaries as thus described were not altered in the least, until February 24, 1848, when, by the specific act of the Legislature, the new county of Morrow was formed, and a portion from the north- ern part of Thompson was given to Marion County. The present boundaries are as follows : On the north by Prospect Township in Marion County, on the east by Radnor, on the south by Scioto Township, and on the west by Union County. The Scioto River forms the eastern boundary line of the township, and presents in its winding course and geological formation the char- acteristic features found to be possessed by it in the other townships. There are the same bold, rocky cliffs, and solid channel-bed of limestone, and the huge granite bowlders scattered here and there tend to make the appearances identical. The river receives as tributaries from the west, Tau Way Run and Fulton's Creek. Most of its way through the township, the river is narrow, and in some places quite deep. At " Broad Ford" it suddenly widens, and here we have an illustration of what the river might have been, were it not for the rock-bound cliffs that control its waters. In the spring and fall, the river often becomes very deep from the rains and melting sDOW, when it goes " booming " along its course ;

but this swollen state lasts but a few days, and its fall is as sudden as its rise. The sudden increase and decrease in the size of the river is accounted for by farmers upon the theory that the land, being now so thoroughly cleared from the brush and logs which acted in former times as a natural dam to the waters, has nothing to govern the action of the creeks and artificial drains, conse- quently the water rushes off in a perfect torrent for a few hours, and then subsides. The river, depending upon the tributaries, must follow the same law of rise and fall.

Tau Way Run rises in Union County, and, after pursuing a southeasterly course across Thomp- son Township, flows into the Scioto River a short distance north of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Tau Way is the name of an Indian tribe who, at an early date, occupied the banks of the river. This tribe belonged to the Wyandot Nation, and were noted for their peaceable disposition and friendly feelings toward the whites. Fulton's Creek also rises in Union County, and, flowing almost parallel with Tau Way Run, empties into the Scioto River about two miles and a half below the run. Fulton's Creek was named from a Mr. Fulton, and the circumstances connected with its designation are of a sad character. Fulton was a person universally liked by all his fellow-pioneers, and accounted one of the most successful hunters of his day. The Indians coming down to the little settlement situated where Pickrell's Mills now stand, to do their trading, would invariably ask after Fulton, the " great hunter." One day, he shouldered his rifle and started for the forest, telling his friends that he was " off for a hunt ;" that he would return soon and bring them a deer. His favorite hunting-ground being on and near this creek, he started in its direction. As he reached the edge of the forest, he stopped for a moment and waved his hand to the Indian trader, who stood watching him from the door of his shanty. He turned and entered the dark woods. This was the last time he was ever seen. The fol- lowing day, some of the settlers inquired if Fulton

* Contributed by H. L. S. Vaile.

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HISTORY OF DELAWARE COUNTY.

had come in, but none having seen him, it was concluded that he had gotten so far from home, and night coming on, he had camped in the woods. The day passed and the next, and a week went by, but still, from the known disposition of the man, no great anxiety was manifested. It was not until the middle of the second week of his disappear- ance that the neighbors and friends began to feel alarmed. It was concluded to wait until the first of the next week and then, if Fulton remained absent, a party should be organized and go in search of him. This was accordingly done and, striking the trail where he had entered the forest, it was followed to the creek. At this point, all trace of him was lost, and, although parties scoured the country for miles in every direction, he was never found or trace of him discovered. Of course, many conjectures were indulged in. Some thought that he had been killed and his body burned by the Indians, they being so envious of his reputation as a hunter. Others imagined that he had left the settlement of his own volition, while a few advanced the opinion that, while pur- suing game, he might have sunk in a swamp or bed of quicksand in or near the creek. As a lasting tribute of respect, the stream was named after him.

A long narrow ridge follows the west margin of the Scioto River, in many places being deeply cut by ravines which have been washed out and gorged by the many small streams from the back lands in finding an outlet into the waters of the river. West of this ridge the land becomes more level. In the northwestern portion of the township the Jand is very low, only broken here and there by clay knolls. Drains six or seven feet deep are the only means by which these low, wet lands are ren- dered tillable. In the northwestern portion of the township, there are found stratified beds of sand and gravel. Between Tau Way Run and Fulton's Creek there seems to be a natural basin in which at an early date were found elm swamps. The land bordering the creek is clayey, while back from them are " bottoms " of loam. The country in some localities is well wooded, but along the river the land has been considerably cleared. This is accounted for from the fact that the ridge was well drained and seemed the best adapted for building sites, consequently the adjoining wood- lands were cleared first. The land bordering on the river still seems to be the favored ground for farming purposes and the interior to this day re- mains thinly settled though now rapidly filling up.

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History of Delaware County and Ohio : containing a brief history of the state of Ohio biographical sketches etc. V. 2, Part 20

Author: O.L. Baskin & Co. cn Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : O. L. Baskin & Co. Number of Pages: 836

Author: O.L. Baskin & Co. cn
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : O. L. Baskin & Co.
Number of Pages: 836