USA > Ohio > Fayette County > History of Fayette County : together with historic notes on the Northwest, and the State of Ohio, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and all other authentic sources > Part 77
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Ann Hawkins was born August 29, 1813. Her marriage to Thomas Thompson, jr., was blessed with eight children: John David, Aden S., Clay, Coke, Elizabeth, Charlotte, and Sarah.
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, and died triumphantly. She, January 17, 1861, and he, February, 1877. His remains repose in the old Salem Ceme- tery, where all the deceased members of the family are buried.
He accumulated considerable property, and at his death owned over seven hundred acres of land, in and around the homestead, and in addition, possessed lands in Iowa and Missouri.
Elihu D. Scott, came from Ross County, in 1827, and located on land bought of William Newman, owned by Smith Chaffin, where he remained until about 1847, when he removed to Van Wert County, where he died.
Benjamin Glaze, son of George and Catharine Glaze, who emi- grated from Pendleton County, Virginia, to Ross County, Ohio, in 1818, thence to Union Township, Fayette County, near Blooming- burg, in 1817, was born in Pendleton County, Virginia, in 1805, and came with his father's family to Union Township, remaining at home until the age of twenty-six, when he married Sarah, daughter of John Core, of Ross County, on whose farm he lived until 1829, when he purchased two hundred and fifty acres of wild land, of Thomas Carey, in the Ladd and Norvell survey, number 9128, now owned by J. C. Glaze, his sou, and Allen McCoy.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
He afterwards added five hundred acres to this, which at his death was divided among his five children : John, Solomon, Ben- jamin, Isaac, and Catharine.
Mr. Glaze was the founder of the United Brethren Church, in Marion, and his life was that of a pure Christian ; his generosity becoming proverbial. His death occurred, August 21, 1862, and that of his wife, August 6, 1864.
The following obituary was read by Rev. Mr. Davis, pastor of New Holland Methodist Episcopal Church, at the funeral of an es- teemed pioneer of Marion, Mr. William Strope :
William Strope was born in the State of Pennsylvania, May 1, 1805; died in New Holland, Ohio, at two o'clock on the morning of July 13, 1881, aged seventy-six years, two months, and twelve days.
He came to Ohio when about eight years old, and for about sixty years, until within a few months of his death, was a resident of Marion Township, Fayette County.
He removed to New Holland, where he is well known, a few months ago, expecting restfully and peacefully to spend there the last few years of his life. . But years longer were not for him, but instead months of unrest and pain, and the breaking down of his remarkably vigorous constitution.
Mr. Strope was twice married; first, early in life, when only about seventeen years of age, to Miss Nancy Blue, who died in 1848; the second time, in 1854, to Eliza Brown, his now bereaved widow. He was the father of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, and twenty-two grand-children. Three sons and three daughters preceded him in death.
As testimony to the esteem in which Mr. Strope was held by his neighbors, as an honorable and upright citizen, I mention the fact that for thirty-eight years be held the office of justice of the peace in the township in which he lived. For a number of years he was an acceptable member of the order of Masons. He was never a member of any church, and was somewhat reticent on that subject, except a few expressions toward the last.
I have been told that kind attention to his family was character- istic of Mr. Strope, and rarely have I witnessed such unwearied at- tention and sacred devotion to every wish and want of a suffering, dying husband and father, as I have seen, and been affected by it, in this the case of my near neighbor. When you asked me to
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pray, as I did but a few minutes before the end, when we did all that could be done in the presence of God in that chamber of death, by the dimly burning lamp, committing unto God, who gave it, the departing spirit of your aged father, and the companion with whom you (Mrs. Strope) have walked for more than a quarter of a ceu- tury, I knew and felt how it was rending your hearts. Let us think that God, who knows best of all the inmost hearts of men, under- stood him when he said, several weeks ago, that he had tried to make his peace with his God, and that a divine whisper to his soul, unheard by us, assured him that if a man die, he shall live again.
CHURCHES.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
In 1814, the first church society was organized in Marion. It was a Methodist Episcopal Church organization, and took place at the house of George Newman's, where services were held for a period of perhaps two years, then changed to the house of George Bohrer, where they were continued till 1818, when a hewed log church, called Salem Chapel, was erected on a lot donated by Fleming Twiford, in Eggleston's survey, No. 7,359, for church and burial services. Rev. Bacon, was perhaps the first minister that first preached to this society. The Salem burial ground is the oldest within the township. This church was burned in 1822 or 1823, but was shortly afterward re-built on the site of the former building.
Among the first ministers that occupied the Old Salem Church, was the celebrated Henry T. Bascom.
In 1833, this church was transferred from the Deer Creek Cir- cuit to the Old Washington Circuit, and was occupied till about 1853.
The early members of this society, embraced the best citizens of the township; among whom were the following names: Jona- than Shepherd and family, Horatio Walker and family, Abel Loyd and family, Thomas Loyd and family, Thomas Holland and family, George Borher and family, Esq. Twiford and family, John Grub and family, James Tallman and wife, Borton Anderson, and Mary McClure.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.
In 1831 or 1832, a United Brethren society was organized at the dwelling of David Turnipseed, and services were held at the dif- ferent houses of the congregation till 1850, when Otterbein Chapel was built, about one-fourth of a mile northeast of Compton Creek, on what is now the Waterloo pike. This society went down dur- ing the war, and the building remained unoccupied till the spring of 1881, when a Methodist Episcopal organization was effected at this church, where occasional services are now held.
CHRISTIAN OR DISCIPLES CHURCH.
Since the dissolution of the United Brethren society, at Otter- bein, in 1862, the Christian, or Disciples Church, near New Hol- land, has been the principal, and we may add, the only religious organization in Marion, till the Methodist Episcopal organization at Otterbein in 1881. The following is from Fuller Hess, of Wash- ington, formerly a resident of Marion :
"The Christian, or Disciples Church, near New Holland, was organized under peculiar and trying circumstances.
"In 1837, I emigrated from Pennsylvania, and settled near New Antioch, Clinton County, where there was a flourishing organiza- tion of the Disciples; but having been brought up in the Baptist faith, and cherishing the prejudices common then among the re- ligious bodies against the 'Campbellites,' as we were pleased to denominate them, I felt it my peculiar mission, to lead these people into the light. The New Testament had been my school book, and thinking I possessed a fund of information on the doctrines then taught, our arguments were lengthy and sometimes tinged with bitterness; but I generally found them prepared with a 'Thus Saith the Lord' to back each argument they presented, and the consequence was it took only about one year to knock all my ex- treme orthodox notions out of me, and I soon became as zealous in defense of their doctrines as I had formerly been in their denun- ciation.
" In the spring of 1839, I moved to Compton Creek, this county, a perfect stranger in the community, but found the people gener- ous, hospitable and likewise congenial; except in the discussion of our religious differences.
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Usar . Cook.
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" The United Brethren had a small organization in my neighbor- hood, and held their services in a school house one-half mile dis- tant from my dwelling, and near the present situation of Otterbein Chapel. Believing their doctrines did not agree with the teachings of the Book, I wrote Elder James Vandovort, of Antioch, to come up and give us a meeting. He came two or three times and preach- ed on each occasion; but finally the feeling became so intense against us that the school directors forbade us the use of the school house: This obstacle, however, was easily surmounted. Having a lot of lumberon hand for the purpose of building a barn, myself and hired man at once set to work to erect a temporary place of worship, which was soon accomplished by arranging logs at proper distances, and laying plank transversely across the same for seats, and planting forks, in which we laid poles covered by green bush for shade. Samuel Mathews preached, and we had an excellent meeting.
" Up to this time, a period of five or six years, I had fought the battle alone, but finally prejudice yielded her sway to some extent in the neighborhood, and some of the best men of the township- among whom were G. C. Gamble, A. G. Wood, and Henry Bryant -joined me in my one-sided warfare, the former being the first per- son immersed into the church.
" In 1850, the United Brethren, with the help of the community, built Otterbein Church, in which they were kind enough to allow us to hold meetings occasionally, but finally this privilege was denied us. Samuel Mathews preached for us monthly, from per- haps 1854, holding services at the different school houses, and at the residences of the members, till in 1856, he effected a small or- ganization at Durham's school house, and in 1858, N. R. Furgeson, of New Holland, now a resident of Kansas City, Missouri, donated the society a lot in Marion, one-fourth of a mile north of New Holland, the east side of which, however extends to Pickaway County line, on which G. C. Gamble, A. G. Wood, Henry Bryant, and myself, with a little outside help perhaps, built the present frame church occupied by the Christians. After its erection; Sam- uel Mathews preached for us, perhaps eight years, who has since been succeeded by the following gentlemen, in the order named : T. C. Gawin, J. C. Irvin, and J. P. Ewing (the present minister), each of whom has a warm place in the hearts of the members. The society now numbers two hundred, and its power for good has been felt by the whole community.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
" But I should have said that the religious differences existing be- tween the members of our society in its early days, and those that surrounded us, never in the least disturbed our fraternal social re- lations, as the following will instance :
"At the completion of the Otterbein Church, in the fall of 1850, the Brethren held their General Conference at that place, and I en- tertained four of their ministers at my house during the entire ses- sion. Among the delegates to this conference, was a colored repre- sentative from some portion of the district, and as prejudices against the colored people were strong in those days, the perplexing ques- tion of who should entertain the colored brother presented itself; but my wife helped them out of this dilemma by agreeing to take him herself, which was accordingly done."
SABBATH SCHOOLS.
UNITED BRETHREN.
The first Sabbath-school was organized at Otterbein Chapel, in 1851, at the completion of that church, and was continued till the expiration of the church organization at that place, in 1862. Thomas Roseboom was probably the first superintendent.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL.
At the organization of the Methodist Episcopal society of this church, in 1881, a Sabbath-school was also organized, with J. K. Barrett as superintendent.
CHRISTIAN.
The New Holland Christian Sunday-school was organized June 14, 1874. Volunteer superintendents: Rev. Irvin, then pastor of the Christian Church, and Daniel Morgan ; secretary : J. Vlerebome ; teachers: Jennie Vlerebome, Ella Johnson, Elizabeth Johnson, Jennie Elder, Mr. Highland, Mr. Morgan, and Mr. Johnson. The average attendance for 1874-75 was seventy-five. In 1876-77 the average attendance was sixty-five.
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The school was re-organized March 16, 1878, when the following officers were elected: Gideon Gamble, superintendent; George Matson, assistant superintendent; J. B. Parke, secretary; D. Mor- gan, treasurer. No account of the organization in 1879 is given.
May 2, 1880, J. H. Harland was elected superintendent; G. II. Matson, assistant; Eden Parker, treasurer; John Parker, secretary; Allie Dunlap, organist; Brother VanPelt, chorister. Average at- tendance for the year, forty-five.
Officers elected April 17, 1881 : Mr. Matson, superintendent; Mr. Morgan, assistant; Mattie Haney, secretary; Eden Parker, treas- urer ; John Parker, chorister; Jennie Kearney, librarian; Ellsworth Matson, assistant; Ada Johnson, organist; Mr. Morgan, J. B. Par- ker, Jennie Kearney, Mrs. Matson, and Mrs. Timmons, teachers. Average attendance, forty-five.
The school was started in 1870, by J. C. Irvin and D. Morgan ; but in the absence of necessary aid, it was deemed best to effect no organization, and thus there were no chosen officers for several years, the school being conducted alternately by Messrs. Morgan and Irvin. The attendance at the outset was greater than it is at present, though the school is quiet, prosperous, and attentive in 1881.
MILLS.
Adam Turner built a saw and grist-mill on Compton, on his own land, in 1818, which was the first and only water mill ever built in Marion, and which he operated perhaps twenty years. After his removal to Indiana, the mill was run by John Cooper for some years, when William Lucas took charge and continued a short time.
SCHOOLS.
The first school in Marion was taught by James Webster, father of Bryce Webster, in the winter nof 1812, in a cabin built for a dwell- ing, on the southwest side of the Springfield and Chillicothe road, near where John Johnson now resides.
Near this, on the opposite side of the road, a small, round log
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
school house was built, in the summer of 1813, and was occupied that winter by Mr. Webster, as teacher, when it was abandoned, and in 1814 another building was erected, not more than half a mile distant, on land belonging to Adam Turner, which was occu- pied by Webster probably four or five years.
PHYSICIANS.
James F. Wilson was the first physician who located permanent- ly at New Holland, and practiced in this township. He was born in Buckskin Township, Ross County, Ohio, October 5, 1808; read medicine with Dr. Robbins, of Greenfield, and was granted a diploma by the county society. In 1832, he located in New Hol- land village, and five years later married Miss Letitia Dunlap. In 1841, he attended lectures, and graduated at the Ohio Medical Col- lege of Cincinnati. Returning to New Holland, he soon acquired an extensive practice, which was continued until his death, January 21,1875.
Dr. Wilson was a prominent member of the Masonic order, hav- ng attained to the higher degrees. His funeral obsequies were conducted under the auspices of the fraternity. His widow still lives near New Holland, in this township. But one child blessed their union, John Milton, late United States consul to Germany, and now consul-general at Panama, South America.
POST OFFICES.
Marion Township has never had but one post-office. This was established at the tannery of Amor Lloyd, in 1851, but was discon- tinued in one year. Lloyd was postmaster.
BLACKSMITHS.
In 1840, Daniel Turnipseed started a blacksmith shop near where
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Otterbein Church now stands, on land now owned by Benjamin Glaze, where he carried on business four or five years.
Hatch Garrison opened a shop in 1865, on the land of Charles McRea, and continued two years.
TANNERIES.
John Myers, in about 1820, started a tannery, and continued business several years.
In 1845, Amor Lloyd built a tannery on his own land, near Otter- bein Church, which he carried on for ten years, when he sold his farm to Thomas Thompson, who closed the tannery.
FIRST ELECTION.
The first election in Marion after its organization, was held at the house of John McArthur, July 18, 1840, John P. Blue, Ralph Durham, and D. Peniwell being appointed judges, and William S. Williams and William Peniwell acting as clerks. The result of this election was as follows :
Trustees, Ralph Durham, Jacob Roades, and Benjamin Glaze ; treasurer, Smith Chaffin; clerk, William S. Williams; justices, Amor Lloyd and George Mantle; overseers of poor, Benjamin An- derson and Thomas Carey.
FIRST MEETING OF TRUSTEES.
The first meeting of the trustees of Marion took place March 1, 1841.
PROCEEDINGS.
Division of the township into four road districts and six school districts.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
Their settlement at this meeting shows the expenses of the town- ship from July 25, 1840 (time officers were qualified), to March 1, 1841, to have been as follows:
To William Hankins, for use of house for election purposes, $4. To Benjamin Glaze and Ralph Durham, for services as trustees, $3 each, and to Jacob Roades, $2.
To William S. Williams, for stationery, and for services as clerk, $5.50.
To George Strigler, for services as judge of justice election, $1. To Charles Blackmore, for services as clerk of justice election, $1. Total, $19.50.
PRESENT OFFICERS OF MARION.
At the spring election, April 4, 1881, the following officers were chosen :
Trustees, Marion Strope, Nathan Louderman, and Jonathan Chaffin; treasurer, C. C. MeRea; clerk, J. Z. Cutright; justices, W. B. Pursell and Byron Crabtree; constable, William Evans.
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LEVIES FOR 1881.
At a meeting of the trustees, March 12, 1881, the following levies were made:
For township purposes, $800; for bridge fund, $100; for turn- pike fund (for repairs of roads), $500; school funds (tuition pur- poses), $150; contingent purposes, $200.
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BIOGRAPHIICAL.
EDWARD BAHAN.
Edward Bahan, son of Edward Bahan, sr., native of Ireland, was born in Kings County, Ireland, April 18, 1824, about forty-five
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years ago, crossed the ocean, with his widowed mother, four sis- sers, and three brothers. They crossed the briny deep in twenty- one days. They remained in New York nine years, then came to Fayette County, where he has since resided-about thirty years.
November 8, 1853, he was married to Hannah, daughter of Darby and Honora Ring, a native of Ireland. They have had twelve children, of whom nine are living: James, Eliza, Mary Ann, Nannie, Bridget, Margaret, Peter, Nellie, and Katie; they also adopted John Hurley, and raised him from infancy. The deceased are two infants, and Edward. Eliza is the wife of William Foley, and resides in Pickaway County. Mary Ann teaches school to the great satisfaction of her employers. She has a bright mind, and during the recent year, taught ten months, successively, without missing a school day.
Mr. Bahan and wife are members of the St. Coleman's Catholic Church, at Washington. He is a Democrat, but does not expect office. He owns one hundred acres of land on the Glaze tract, nicely improved. He has a tile factory, the only one in the town- ship, which he started six years ago, and makes a large quantity of tile, a sufficient guarantee of good work.
NATHANIEL BLACKMORE.
Nathaniel Blackmore, son of Charles Blackmore, who was born in Pennsylvania, May 12, 1784, married Rebecca Farrel, who bore him eleven children : Our subject, James, Thomas, John Joseph, Charley, Violette, Catherine, Nellie, Sarah, and Elizabeth; several are deceased. Nathaniel, Charles, and Sarah, are known to be liv- ing. The family removed here in 1820, landing at Washington, in the month of April.
The senior Blackmore was a farmer by occupation, and died in July, 1865. His wife preceeded him to the grave, in about 1861.
Mr. Blackmore was born, October 31, 1806, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and came to Fayette County, with his parents, and has lived here since, devoting himself to farming and carpentering,
In 1827, he married Nancy Boggs, of Pennsylvania, and by her had five children : Nancy Jane, Austin, Joseph, Charles, and Emily Jane. Austin lives in Clinton County. Three of the others died of milk sickness, as did the mother also. She departed this life, July 9, 1846. Herself and three children passed away in seventeen days, a sad occurrence.
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
December 31, 1847, Mr. Blackmore was married to Mary Ann Cripps, daughter of Henry Cripps, a native of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, but latterly of Ross County, Ohio. She was previously married to Josiah Grove, and by him had three children : Henry Martin, Mary M., and Simon C. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Blackmore was blessed by four children: Nancy Jane, George, Ella, and William C .; all living.
His son Joseph, participated in the late war, enlisting in the 60th O. V. I., and contracted a sickness, from which he died in the hos- pital, at Baltimore. He had a weak constitution, and was scarcely able to bear the hardships of a soldiers' life, but with true devotion, offered his life at his country's altar.
Henry and Simon, sons of Mrs. Blackmore, by her first husband, also shouldered the gun at the first call. The former was in the Zouave service, 54th Ohio, and was killed at Vicksburg. The latter died of disease contracted while in the service.
Gladly do we, enroll on these pages the names of our heroic young men whose spirits have long since been wafted to that brighter home, where scenes of violence and bloodshed will never be seen.
Mrs. Blackmore is a member of the Bloomingburg Presbyterian Church. He is a Republican, and owns one hundred and eighty- eight acres of land, at the Junction of the Bloomingburg and Hol- land, and Columbus pikes, and farms to grain and stock.
JEFFERSON T. BLOOMER.
Jefferson T. Bloomer, son of Elijah Bloomer, was born in this township, near Pisgah [school house, February 21, 1849, where he was reared and has lived since, except a six years sojourn in the west. He went to Indiana, in 1868, and returned in the spring of 1875.
November 3, 1874, he was married to Sarah Jane, daughter of James Taylor, and a native of Crawford County, Ohio. Their union has been blessed by three children : Elijah Taylor, Chaun- cey, and Kate ; all living.
He was not old enough to participate in the war, but had four brothers in the service, nearly four years. He owns two hundred acres of well improved land, on which he raises grain and stock. He is the son of an old pioneer, a good neighbor, and respectable
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citizen. He is a Republican in politics, and has held the office of supervisor.
JOSEPH BRITTON.
Joseph Britton, son of Joseph Britton, now deceased, was born in this township, April 6, 1837, where he was reared and has since resided. In the spring of 1866, he was married to Elizabeth W. Tod, who bore him two children: Ida and Willard. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and departed this life, July 30, 1871. Mr. Britton was again married, November 28, 1871, to Anna Hess, by whom he had two children: Aulta and Mertie. She is a member of the Christian Church.
In August 22, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, 114th O. V. I., as a private. He also served as corporal. He was out three years, returning in the fall of 1865. He participated in the battles of Vicksburg, Arkansas Post, and Mobile, and was a gallant and brave soldier. At Vicksburg he was exposed to the rain six days and nights, thereby contracting lung troubles, from which he has never fully recovered. He is a Republican.
He owns two hundred acres of land, on the Washington and Circleville pike, two miles west of New Holland, all well improved. He farms principally to grain, and raises some stock.
GIBSON BRITTON.
This gentleman was a son of Joseph Britton, and was born, Oc- tober 15, 1833, in this township, where he was reared, and was mar- ried, August 25, 1854, to Samantha, daughter of Jonathan Bryant, who was born in this township. Their union was blessed by five children : Letitia, married to Joseph Koch, and resides in Wayne Township; Emma, Mary Alma, William L., and Almer, now de- ceased. In 1854 he settled on his farm, and began improving the same. He died in the spring of 1865. Several of his brothers were in the late war, and did good service. His widow and unmar- ried children occupy one hundred and fifty acres of land, nicely im- proved. They raise more grain than stock.
HEZEKIAH BROWN.
Hezekiah Brown, farmer, is a son of Hezekiah Brown, a native
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HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.
of Virginia, who came in about 1820, and settled on land now owned by his sons in this township. He devoted himself to farm- ing, and died in January, 1877, at the good old age of eighty-five. His wife still lives in this township.
Our subject was born in August, 1844, on this farmi, where he has always lived and followed farming for a livelihood. In 1868 he married Parmelia, daughter of Otho Lyons, of this township, who bore him two children : Owen Newton and Orville Guy. Mrs. Brown is a member of the Christian Church. He is a member of New Holland Lodge, No. 392, F. & A. M .; is a Democrat, politi- cally ; owns one hundred and fifty-nine acres of land on the Bloomingburg pike, which is well improved, and farms to grain and stock.
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