USA > Ohio > Fayette County > History of Fayette County, Ohio : her people, industries and institutions > Part 31
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at South Salem. He helped survey the county into townships and located many settlers on their lands. He died in May, 1862, honored by everyone in the county. They had a large family of sons and daughters to do honor to the family name in this county.
MINOR INCIDENTS.
The wife of Judge Joseph Gillespie brought with her the first colored woman ever seen in Fayette county. She came from New York state in 1817, by wagon. She was called Ruth Platt, and lived to attain a great age, at Washington C. H.
The Funk family had many bad members within its fold. One was perhaps the meanest and most viciously cruel disposed of any man known to have resided here. It is related for a truth that he skinned a wolf, and then allowed the live animal to go forth into the forest unprotected by a covering.
THE VILLAGE OF BLOOMINGBURG.
This is the only considerable village of Paint township. Its location is in the southeastern part of the territory, running to the south line of the town- ship. At one date it was a husky rival of Washington C. H. Its present population is about six hundred, according to the 1910 census. In many ways there clusters much of historic interest about this little village. From a former record of the county, published in 1881, it appears that much pains was then taken by residents there to give a correct history, as best could be compiled at so late a date, and from this we take the liberty of quoting freely.
The village was laid out in 1815 by Solomon Bowers. It was believed at that time, as well as many years later, that it would one day become the seat of justice for Fayette county. The square on the corner of Main and Cross streets, where later stood the frame school building, was set apart for public grounds, having in mind the court house, probably. There were also thirty-seven other lots laid off. The village was known as "New Lexing- ton." The county records show this fact. Though named, legally, New Lexington, it was usually called the "New Purchase." This was on account of it being located on lands of the early purchase. Tradition has it that Doctor Gillespie wanted it re-named for his old home town in York state, Bloomingburg. While he was keeping store in the old Central Hotel build- ing, he proposed to "treat" the male inhabitants provided they agreed to the alteration. The proposition was accepted and Colonel Myers, then in the
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Legislature, introduced a bill changing its name. The act was passed Febru- ary 5, 1847, which was thirty-two years after its first platting and original naming.
The first election was held for municipal officers February 24, 1847. The officers elected were: Mayor, Joseph Counts, Jr .; recorder, J. M. Ed- wards; trustees, John Gunning, Samuel Worrell, James M. Willis, William S. Carr and J. N. McLaughlin ; George W. Worrell was appointed marshal.
In February, 1848, the corporate limits were extended eleven rods in each direction, and in May, 1878, by adding one hundred and twenty rods on the north and east, seventy on the west, and extending to the Union town- ship line on the south.
In 1876 it was voted by the citizens of the village to levy five mills tax "for sewers, drains and ditches." Four sewers were constructed. A village prison was also provided in 1876. This was a strong frame structure.
In January, 1880, the old ordinances were all repealed and new ones made to conform to the new state laws and in keeping with the times.
SOME EARLY EVENTS.
William Bryant erected the first house. It was a log building which stood where later the Central hotel was built.
The earliest residents in Bloomingburg were Matthew Gillespie, John Oliver, John Duff, Mrs. Gilmore and Mrs. Rosebone.
In 1817 there were about ten cabins, one being owned by John Rutt.
Colonel Stewart and Matthew Gillespie kept a store on a portion of the Stewart farm, and sold to all the early residents.
A Mr. Williams ran a tan-yard.
In the spring of 1817 James Dunning started a shoe shop; Thomas Cess- ler a blacksmith shop; one McCoy a hatter's shop; Messrs. Seth and Eustace were the first tailors, and William Weeks the pioneer wagon-maker.
John Oliver, a carpenter, also kept a tavern, finally in 1826 moving to Pennsylvania.
The earliest cabinet-maker was H. Bryant; the first school teacher was Doctor McGraugh, followed by Mr. Stone. Dr. George Allen was the first physician.
MILLING INDUSTRIES.
About 1833 William Carr erected a flouring mill on the east bank of Paint creek, a mile south of the county line. The building was a small struc-
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ture, but attracted wide attention and to its yard came teams and grists from far and near. The waters of Paint creek furnished abundant water-power. It was in operation many years, but eventually, as the people demanded a bet- ter drainage for their lands, the power of the stream was weakened so much that finally the mill had to be abandoned. After standing idle many more years, it was afterwards torn down. A smaller structure, however, was erected on its old site and more modern meal-making machinery was in- stalled. It was owned at one time by John Martin. It was a saw-mill and corn grinder, but no wheat burrs were added.
When Carr's mill-the earliest mill-was built it made a little settle- ment, which increased year after year. It was finally named "Carr's Mills." In 1880 it had a population of about one hundred. Its business consisted of two blacksmith shops, one dry goods store, one exclusive grocery store, one notion house, one boot and shoe store and the mills. In 1880 a frame church was erected by the Baptist denomination, with Walter Yoeman as pastor.
About 1827 a woolen industry sprung up in the township. Philip Dod- ridge, later of Circleville, started a carding machine in the town of Bloom- ingburg, continuing a year. The machinery was driven by horse-power and a tread-wheel. He sold to Eber Patrick, a practical manufacturer, who sold to Mr. Parker, and removed to Washington C. H. Parker soon sold to Mr. Carr, who moved the machinery to Indiana.
ANTI-SLAVERY DAYS IN BLOOMINGBURG.
It should ever be remembered that Bloomingburg was a station on the "underground railroad" (a system by which slaves were secreted and at the time unlawfully spirited to the North), and along with that fact there were many interesting incidents, which if they could be published would make a volume at once interesting and valuable. Here the runaway slaves were fed and clothed and sent on their way toward the north star and freedom in Canada. It took much courage and defiance of the United States laws, at that time, to help a slave out of his bondage. These exertions were prompted by an intelligent conviction that human slavery was not right. The Presby- terians were ardent supporters of the anti-slavery cause, and in 1834 held a series of meetings at which the question was discussed. One of the settlers, James Claypole, in his blind opposition to the movement, refused to attend the meetings. Finally, one evening, urged by his clerk, he attended a meet- ing and occupied a back seat. He was soon interested and was convinced that he was wrong, and the following day himself drafted a constitution for
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the organization of the anti-slavery society-among the first, if not the first in all America.
Slave hunters had but little use for Bloomingburg after this society's organization. Here the cabin, the garret, stable, hay rack and barns, as well as the kitchen and parfor., were open to the weary wanderers in search of freedom. Hundreds of them, in need of food, clothing and money, found the true Samaritan here with open hands. When "conductors" came around there was no question asked. There were many hair-breadth escapes, many strange incidents in individual experience. The labor of getting a warm meal for the shivering fugitive, the long and cold drive in the darkness of the night, with hearts burdened by anxious thoughts, with no possible motive of a selfish character, are sufficient testimonials to the strength of the senti- ment upon which such heroic activity was based. The colored folks appreci- ated these things and after the Civil War had forever set them free, many came here and located permanently.
THE TEMPERANCE QUESTION THEN AND NOW.
It would be an error for one to think. tipon visiting Bloomingburg today, that it had always been noted for temperance and sobriety. Far from it! The pioneer came to the county, bringing along with him excellent receipts for making rum, and it was made whenever it was found necessary to re- plenish the household supply of that "necessity," for such it was then looked upon. Liquor was found in every house, indeed many in the churches re- garded the traffic in ardent spirits as consistent with Christian character. It was thought needful, as an expression of genuine hospitality. The economy of the times justified its manufacture and sale and the farmer in its use, be- cause it gave employment and opened up a market. Merchants believed it necessary to entice customers to trade through its influence.
At an early day in this locality there were numerous peach orchards, and five distilleries, in and near Bloomingburg, were required for the manufac- ture of the fruit into peach brandy. On Saturdays a number of persons were in the weekly habit of assembling at the various dram-shops, imbibing freely of the liquor, and then retire to the rear of the old Baptist church "to fight it out." This state of affairs went on for many years until the better ele- ment in the community started a reformation. Foremost in this work of exterminating the curse from town was Judge Gillespie, who gathered, at his own expense, a vast array of statistics showing the amount of money and time spent for the purpose of getting whisky. His figures were not believed,
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and the opposition took a new census, as it were, of the situation, and were then convinced that the Judge was correct. It was, however, a long, hard struggle, but gradually the evil disappeared. Some held out persistently. A member of the Presbyterian church continued to sell and to justify the moderate use of ardent spirits, and at a discussion the question was asked if Jesus would keep a rum-shop? Its bold and direct aim reached the heart of the religious whisky dealer, and that night he resolved to quite the ques- tionable traffic. The entire community then signed an article, in which they agreed to exclude King Alcohol from the community. It was a great inno- vation in Bloomingburg, and made it a different village for all time. The rule has been for decades that liquor has not been used in the community, save by the low and baser class.
For a history of the schools and churches and lodges of this village and the township in which it is situated, the reader will be referred to general chapters giving the history of all of these.
THE POSTOFFICE HISTORY.
The various postmasters at Bloomingburg who have served since the establishment of that office in 1819 are as follows: Archibald Stewart, ap- pointed March 22, 1819: P. B. Doddridge, June 4, 1825; James Stewart, March 22, 1833: J. F. Claypool, October 20, 1834: Smiley Hughes, Decem- ber 8, 1835; George S. Fullerton, April 3, 1839; H. C. Stewart, February I, 1841 : William R. Southward, April 23, 1842; A. C. Putnam, June 7, 1845; William R. Southward, October 23, 1846; James Gunning, July 14, 1849; William R. Southward, May 1, 1850; T. B. Sheets, December 29, 1854; George W. Gordon, May 10, 1859; Orville Gunning, July 23, 1860; James Gunning, December 7. 1861 ; William D. Gibson, May 6, 1865; M. W. Stew- art. November 17, 1869; William J. McCoy, June 23, 1874; J. Y. Stitt, April 2, 1883: Lucius O'Brien, December 2, 1885; George W. Gordon, June 13, 1889; Isaac N. Hanna, September 5, 1893 : Lucius O'Brien, October 5, 1895 ; James F. Sheets, June 18, 1897; F. E. Whiteside, January 16, 1911. This is a fourth class postoffice and the last fiscal year it transacted a business amounting to nine hundred fifteen dollars and seventy-one cents. It has two rural delivery routes and is a well conducted postoffice.
+IMPLE
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MASONIC TEMPLE, BLOOMINGBURG.
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MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.
Bloomingburg, first known as New Lexington, was incorporated in 1847 and the Legislature changed its name to Bloomingburg. Its earlier records are not at hand, hence we give the list of mayors from 1880 or for a period of thirty-four years, which runs thus: 1880, James Judy, who served to 1890; 1890-98, C. T. Lynch; 1898-1908, J. W. Yore; 1908-1910, L. D. Minnix ; 1910-1I, J. W. Yore; 1911-12, Theodore Allen; 1911 to pres- ent date, O. W. Creath. F. M. McCoy has been town clerk for the last four- teen years.
The 1914 officers are: O. W. Creath, mayor; F. M. McCoy, clerk : J. M. Jones, L. D. Minnix, L. Willinger, L. D. Exline, Mr. Dickey and Mr. Yeoman, councilmen. The only protection against fire is a bucket brigade of volunteers who use water from near-by wells and cisterns. The streets are well cared for.
The lodges and churches at present are: The Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian and colored Baptist churches and the "Holy Rollers," as termed, and the Masonic, Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America lodges. There is also a strong Grange lodge.
1914 BUSINESS FACTORS.
Attorney-Humphrey Jones.
Agricultural Implements-Hester & Son.
Bank-The Peoples Bank (private).
Blacksmiths-Charles Storts, Charles Groff, F. M. McCoy, W. T. Elliott.
Barbers-Henry Walters, G. H. Caster.
Coal-Frank McDowell, Leach Exline.
Drugs-J. Y. Stitt.
Dray-Grant Leach.
Department Stores-Scott Brothers, Taylor Brothers, J. N. McClure. Elevator-W. A. Howland.
Groceries-Scott Brothers, Taylor Brothers, J. N. McClure, W. N. Harris, Lohr & Foster.
Hotel-The Enterprise, by Mrs. Vance & Sons.
Hardware-Hester & Son, J. M. McClure.
Harness-Hester & Son.
(22)
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Livery-Thomas Lee.
Millinery -- Mrs. E. S. Tanner.
Meat Market-William Friend.
Physicians-Drs. G. W. Holdren, E. H. McDonald.
Plumber -- C. J. Noble.
Pressing and Cleaning-Jacob W. Washington.
Restaurants-Jess Stewart, P. Allen, M. O. Rison.
Stock Dealers-Sherman Wilson, W. J. Jefferson, G. W. Gardner, Jo Yeoman.
Shoe Repair Shop-Calvin Austin.
There is a building and loan company in the town that is over a quarter of a century old and has paid as high as fourteen per cent. annual dividend. H. A. Pinkerton is the secretary.
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CHAPTER XXVIII.
MADISON TOWNSHIP.
This is the extreme northeastern subdivision of Fayette county. Madi- son civil township was one of the original townships made at the organization of the county in 1810. Its history, then, goes back one hundred and ten years as a precinct of the county. It is bounded on the north by Madison county. on the east by Pickaway county, on the south by Marion township, and on the west by Paint township. Its population in 1910 was reported as being one thousand two hundred and thirty-three.
SETTLEMENT.
It appears that 1807 was the date of the arrival of Samuel Myers, the first settler to locate in the then wild district of what is now Madison town- ship-that being three years prior to the organization of this county. By birth Myers was a Pennsylvanian, born on June II, 1776. Later the family moved to Virginia, and in 1807 the son Samuel emigrated to this county, at the age of thirty years. He located on Deer creek, near the mouth of Duff's fork, in this township, and in the northern part of survey No. 463, entered in the name of Thomas Overton. After remaining until 1816, he moved to Compton's creek, in Paint township, where he became a heavy farmer and stock raiser. He drove his cattle, after fattening them on the rich grasses, to Lancaster and Chester counties, Pennsylvania. When the War of 1812 was started, he was commissioned captain of militia, November 11, 18II. During the siege of Fort Meigs, and for gallant conduct, he was elected major on the field. He represented Fayette county in the General Assembly of 1813 and again in 1818. He was also a justice of the peace for over thirty years, and taught the first school in Madison township, near the site of pres- ent Waterloo, in the winter of 1809, walking almost three miles to and from the little hut of a school house.
John Baldwin, a native of Virginia, born in 1749, espoused the cause of the colonies in the great struggle for national independence. He was a captain of militia, which company he raised himself and also equipped it for
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service. He further paid his own men for the term of their enlistment, which almost exhausted his goodly fortune. This was returned in shape of continental money, but it was so depreciated that it was almost valueless. He received a large tract of land in the Virginia military reservation, which he located partly in Madison county and partly in Madison township, Fayette county, Ohio. It is known as the Wallace-Baldwin survey, No. 9721. His wife died before he left Virginia. He had twelve children by her. A few of his sons accompanied him to this county ; also one of his sons-in-law, the remainder of his sons coming in a little later. Jonah settled in Madison township. He died in September, 1850, aged seventy-seven years. William, born in Virginia, settled on his father's land in Madison, soon after his father's arrival'here. He died in 1823, aged fifty years. Richard Carson, the son-in-law of John Baldwin, born in 1781, came from Virginia with Baldwin and settled on lands given him by Baldwin.
Edmund Clarridge. born in Maryland, in 1789, moved with his father in 1798 to Ross county, Ohio. Edmund enlisted near the close of the War of 1812 and served until its close. He had just moved to Madison township before his enlistment, and at the end of his service returned and there spent the remainder of his life. He served for many terms as a justice of the peace, and was also clerk and treasurer of his township. He died in 1868, owning a finely improved farm of a hundred and sixty acres. He and his wife were the parents of sixteen children, whose names and life-work in this county are well known.
Col. Joel Gregory, a New Yorker, moved to Athens county. Ohio, at a very early date, bought property and started a grist mill, saw mill and carding machine just below the town of Athens. There he was made a colonel of the militia. In 1815 he sold his property in Athens county and moved to Madison township, Fayette county. He owned a large amount of land in this county and divided it among his sons, as they desired. He was in the Revolutionary War. He was elected to the Legislature here two terms, when that body yet convened at Chillicothe. At the age of sixty-five years, he died in this county, greatly esteemed by all. Nearly every other member of the Gregory family made their mark in this and adjoining counties, and had to do with the development and military protection of the frontier country, through and after the War of 1812.
James Jones, Sr., was born in Pickaway county in 1813, at a point about three miles below New Holland. In early boyhood he had the ill fortune to be bereft of his mother, and after his father's second marriage, his home be- coming unpleasant, he left and began working for others by the month.
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Wages were very low and capital hard to accumulate, but, in a limited way, he was able to start in a business of his own, which eventually led to his good circumstances in life. He died in 1871, having lived in and near Yankee- town many years. He had the misfortune to have to pay the debts contracted by others to the large amount of fifty-three thousand dollars. Yet at death he left a landed estate of thirteen hundred acres of highly cultivated land to his sons. He was a devout Methodist for twenty years. He was greatly missed by his community when called by death.
John Leavell, a native of Virginia, who served seven years in the Revolutionary War, started in 1786 with his family, from Culpeper county, to remove to Kentucky, but stopped in Greenbrier county, where, in the winter of 1786-87, he died, and in the spring his widow went on to Kentucky, where her sons erected a log cabin. While watching her son fell a tree near the cabin, she became excited for fear it would fall on the house and running away was caught by the falling tree and instantly killed. There were eleven children in her family. One son, John Leavell, born in Culpeper county, Virginia, in 1774, came to Ross county, Ohio, and squatted on Congress land. on the east side of the Scioto, a short distance from Chillicothe. He did not remain over one year and, not being suited with the outlook, he went to Pickaway county, near Williamsport, where for a year he dealt in stock. He was collector of taxes in Ross county in the period from 1816 to 1820. In 1816 he bought land on Duff's Fork; in 1822 he married and to this union were born nine children. He died in 1854, owning a thousand acres of valu- able land.
John Nutt, an early settler in Madison township, came from near Win- chester, Virginia. Shortly after arriving in this township, he bought two hundred acres of land, a half of which he gave to his son James, who, with his family, occupied the same. Mr. Nutt died aged one hundred and one years of age. The son married in Virginia and had a family of thirteen chil- dren. It will be observed that the early settlers were, for the most part, in the habit of having extremely large families : race suicide had not become a national curse, as it has in more recent years.
Robert Abernathy, a native of Virginia, was born in 1786 and when grown up he married and emigrated to Williamsport, Pickaway county, Ohio, in1 1815, rented land on Deer creek on Round Bottom, where he raised two crops. In the autumn of 1817 he purchased ninety-seven acres of land in Overton's survey. He made a good farmer and capable citizen, and at death left a good property at Mt. Sterling, where he died in 1852.
Ephraim Moore, born in Delaware, came to Ross county, Ohio, in 1805,
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settling at the mouth of Deer creek, where he rented land of Colonel Evans. After about two years he removed six miles further up the creek, near Yates mill, in Pickaway county, where for four years he farmed. He next moved to Williamsport, remained till the close of the war of 1812, then moved to Shelby county, coming to Fayette county between 1820 and 1822, settling on the Batteal Harrison farm, in Madison township. Later he resided with his son at Waterloo. He had a service of twelve days in the War of 1812, when he was wounded, and hired a substitute to fill his unexpired time. He died at his son Isaac's home, aged one hundred and one years of age. He was the father of nine children.
Sometime prior to 1815, William Morgan emigrated from Virginia and settled on land first leased and later purchased, on Duff's fork, in the Arm- strong survey. He was considered a wealthy man, owning eight hundred acres where he lived, a farm on the Big Darby, near Harrisburg, Franklin county, and another on Deer creek, one mile from Yankeetown. He made his wealth by grazing cattle, which he drove to the Baltimore and Philadel- phia markets. He died in 1855.
EARLY STORES AND SHOPS.
The first store in Madison township was opened by Adley Gregory, in 1815, at Yankeetown, which he conducted until another was opened in 1825, a half mile north of Yankeetown, on the Mt. Sterling road. John Johnson operated the last named store in one part of his dwelling. He continued in trade until his death, some six years later. About this date, for three years, near Yankeetown, Robert Leach conducted a general store. He was suc- ceeded by others, the same stock changing hands frequently.
Between 1864 and 1867 James Graham started a dry goods store at Madison Mills, continued a year and sold to George Franklin. The store was destroyed by an explosion of a keg of powder in the cellar, the loss of the stock being complete. The evidence of a pre-arranged plan was so thorough that he never tried to collect his insurance.
David Harrison opened a grocery store at Madison Mills in 1860, con- ducted it two years, then sold to George Ladd, an Englishman. Crow and Sons were running the store there in the late eighties.
The early blacksmiths were Joseph Withrow, 1823, near Yankeetown; Otho Williams, in 1834: David Saint, in 1874; Alexander Clark, 1860; Thomas Scott, 1864.
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MILLS.
At some time just prior to 1817 John Gilmore built a water-power mill on Deer creek, one mile to the north of Waterloo, which he operated for a number of years. He was succeeded in that project by Samuel Pancoast. who continued to run it fifteen years longer. The mill was then sold to Colonel Sharp, who attached a distillery to the plant. He continued eight years and sold to Samuel Pancoast, Jr., and he in turn to John Messmore, who owned the property in the eighties. After a few years he tore down the old mill, erected a three-story frame mill and put in two sets of burrs, one being intended for wheat and one for corn. In 1879 a patent purifier was added. and then "new process" was added, allowing him to produce first class patent flour, as it was termed. Both he and his son, R. W. Messmore, after- wards did an extensive business there.
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