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 80

Author: Dills, R. S
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Dayton, Ohio : Odell & Mayer
Number of Pages: 1070


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 80


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).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89


Eliza Ann, the oldest daughter of Andrews Gregory, married William A. Phelps, from Manlius, New York. She lived, after her marriage, in this county, on a farm adjoining her father's, where she died, November 19, 1857, aged forty-three years, leaving a husband and eight children, to mourn her death. Mrs. Phelps was a lady of a broad and generous nature. She was a loyal wife, a tender and watchful mother, and a kind and benevolent neighbor. Her death was a calamity to her immediate family, and a severe loss to the community in which she was well known, as a woman of marked virtues.


Jane, second daughter of Andrews Gregory, was married to Ab- ner Drierback, of Circleville, Ohio. She survives her husband, who died in London, Ohio, in 1861, leaving her without children.


Mrs. Drierback has lived in London since 1851. In their thirty years residence in London, she has maintained for herself a char- acter eminently esteemed, and respected by all, who are fortunate in her acquaintance.


James Jones, sr., son of Isaac Jones, sr., and Doracy Jones, was born, May 3, 1813, in Pickaway County, two or three miles below New Holland. Early in childhood, he had the misfortune to lose his mother, and his home, after his father's second marriage, be- coming unpleasant, he left it, and began work by the month, at low wages, but the small capital thus earned, enabled him, in a limited


62


922


HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.


way, to embark in business, and finally prove the nucleus of quite a fortune. December 15, 1831, he married Sarah White, and set- tled on land belonging to a Mr. Brown, in eastern Fayette, where he remained until he bought property in Madison, near Yankee- town, to which he shortly removed, and on which he remained un- til his death, which occurred, October 20, 1871.


As a business man, he was generally successful, though unfortu- nate in having to pay considerable security money for others, ag- gregating fifty-three thousand three hundred dollars, besides accu- mulated interest. Notwithstanding this, he left one thousand three hundred acres of highly cultivated unincumbered land to his sons, Thomas and William, his only surviving children-his daughter dying in infancy-located on Deer Creek, between Waterloo and Yankeetown.


Mr. Jones was a member of the Methodist Church for twenty- five years, and was always a liberal contributor to the cause of christianity. After a life checkered with a great variety of inci- dents, he died, in his fifty-ninth year, leaving a large circle of friends, to whom he had endeared himself by the honest, upright, Christian course he pursued through life.


John Leavell, was born in Virginia, and served seven years in the Revolutionary war. In 1786 he started, with his family, from Culpepper County, to remove to Kentucky, but stopped in Green- brier County, where, in the winter of 1786-'87, he died, and his widow, in the spring of 1787, came on to Morrison's Station, Ken- . tucky, where her boys erected a log cabin, into which they removed. Shortly after this, the unfortunate lady was watching her elder son cutting down a tree, and imagining it would reach the cabin, in her excitement, ran under the tree, and was killed.


There were eleven children : Gabriel, Ezekiel, John, Robert, Benjamin, Elizabeth, Hannah, Malinda, Sallie, Nancy, and another whose name we have been unable to obtain, who scattered at the death of their mother, and began caring for themselves. Gabriel was killed at the defeat of St. Clair, in 1791, and Ezekiel and Rob- ert settled in Henry County, Indiana.


John, our subject, was born in Culpepper County, Virginia, December 27, 1774, and came from Kentucky to Ross County, Ohio, and squatted on congress land, on the east side of the Scioto, at the mouth of Scipio Creek, a short distance above Chillicothe, where he had expected to purchase congress land, but, in the inter-


923


MADISON TOWNSHIP.


est of speculators, these lands were offered for sale in such large lots only, that he was unable to buy, and he only remained one year, coming then to near Williamsport, Pickaway County, stop- ping with Moses Calvin, whose house he made his home for twenty- one years, in the meantime, dealing in stock, bought on Green River, Kentucky, and which he grazed in the forest of Pickaway, and the northeastern part of Fayette counties. He also served as tax collector of Ross, from 1816, to 1820. In 1816 he purchased about one hundred acres of land of Jesse Mckay, on Duff's Fork, on which his son, Benjamin, now resides. In 1822, he married Cynthia, daughter of Joshua Hedges, of Pickaway County, by whom he had nine children. At his death, which occurred in August, 1854, he owned about one thousand acres of land. His wife died in July, 1834.


John Nutt was an early settler of Madison, and came from near Winchester, Virginia. Shortly after their arrival, he purchased two hundred acres of land of a Mr. Taylor, one-half of which he gave to his son James, who, with his family, accompanied him. C. G. Leavell now owns this land. Mr. Nutt died at the age of one hundred and one years. James M., his son, married Rachel Cart- nel, in Virginia, by whom he had thirteen children, named respect- ively John T., Sarah, Elizabeth, Catharine, Nancy, William, Re- becca, James, Hannah, Lucinda, George, Matilda, and Mordecai.


Robert Abernathy was born in Hampshire County, Virginia, in 1786. He married Mary Ann Davis, and emigrated to near Wil- liamsport, Pickaway County, in 1815, and rented land on Deer Creek, near where James Bennett now lives, in what is known as Round Bottom, where he raised two crops, when, in the fall of 1817, he bought ninety-seven acres of land of Andrew Hetrick, in Over- ton's survey, and occupied a cabin till he completed a log house, which occupied the site of the present brick residence of his son James. By hard work he cleared his land, and at his death pos- sessed quite a competency of this world's goods, owning property at Mount Sterling, where he died, in 1852. The names of his chil- dren were Mary Ann, John, Eliza, James, Cynthia, and Marion.


Ephraim Moore was born in Delaware, and came to Ross County in 1805, settling at the mouth of Deer Creek, where he rented land of Colonel Evans. Here he remained perhaps two years, when he moved six miles further up the creek, to near Yates' Mill, in Pick- away County, where he farmed about four years. From here he


924


HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.


removed to near Williamsport, Pickaway County, where he re- mained till the close of the war of 1812, when he went to Shelby County, near Sidney. In 1820, or 1821, he came to this county, and settled on Batteal Harrison's farm, in this township, where he remained five or six years, then went to live with his son Isaac, at Waterloo. He served twelve days in the war of 1812, when he was wounded, and hired a substitute to fill his unexpired time. Priscilla Ryan, his wife, was born in Delaware, and died at her son Isaac's, on Duff's Fork, December 18, 1848, aged ninety-three years and eight months. Mr. Moore also died at his son Isaac's, at the ripe age of one hundred and one years, six months, and twenty days. They had nine children, whose names were as follows : Nellie, James, Hannah, Newble, Douglas, John, Ephraim R., and Isaac, all of whom are dead except the latter, who now resides at Mount Sterling, Madison County.


William Morgan emigrated from Virginia prior to 1815, and set- tled on land which he leased, but afterward purchased, on Duff's Fork, in the Armstrong survey, now in possession of C. G. Leavell. In his day he was considered wealthy, owning at one time eight hundred acres where he lived, a farm on Big Darby, near Harris- burg, Franklin County, and another on Deer Creek, one mile fron Yankeetown, now in possession of William Jones. His wealth was made by grazing cattle, which he sold first at home, but later, drove to Baltimore and Philadelphia. His death occurred about 1855.


-


CHURCHES.


METHODIST EPISCOPAL.


In 1817, what is now known as the Pleasant Hill, or Yankee- town, Methodist Episcopal Society, was organized at John Thomas' residence, in Pickaway County, about two miles east of Yankee- town, on the Circleville and Yankeetown road.


The names of the first, or charter members of this society, were William Timmons, John Thomas, William Morgan, Leonard Jef- ferson, and Samuel Bennett. Timmons and Thomas were residents of Pickaway County, but the others were citizens of this township.


Henry B. Bascom organized the society, and was its first minis-


.


925


MADISON TOWNSHIP.


ter. Services were held at Mr. Thomas' and at Mr. Morgan's, in this township, during a period of six years, when the society built a hewed log church, one mile east of Yankeetown, on the Circle- ville road.


The ministers of the congregation up to this time, were Rev. Finley, father of Elder James Finley, and Rev. Mr. Williams.


Benjamin Mouser donated the lot on which the church was built, and it was dedicated by Rev. James B. Finley, as Pleasant Hill Chapel, in 1823, at which time the society numbered thirty-two.


The first five ministers, in the order of their appointment, who preached here after the erection of the church, were Benjamin Lawrence, one year; William Sutton, one year; Peter Sharp, one year; John C. Hardy, one year; and Joseph Hill, six months.


METHODIST PROTESTANT.


The Methodist Protestant Church Society was organized at White Oak, by Raymouth Hussey, and services were held in a school house till 1858, when a frame church was built, which is still occu- pied by this denomination.


Informal meetings have been held occasionally, at the above- mentioned school house, by the Baptists, the Friends, and the Uni- versalists.


BAPTIST CHURCH.


The Baptist society was organized by John W. Loof bourrow at Isaac Pancoast's house, one-half mile southeast of the present site of Waterloo, July 17, 1813, being the first religious organiza- tion within the present limits of Madison Township.


The charter members were Samuel Gaskill, Lucretia Gaskill, Caleb Gaskill, Peter Timmons, Lettie Pancoast, Barzilla Rozel, Polly Rozel and Sarah Vandalar. A man named Oxford, was the first person to whom the ordinance of baptism was adminstered after the organization was effected.


On Saturday, before the third Lord's day, 1813, Peter Timmons, Samuel Gaskill and Caleb Gaskill, were chosen members of the Scioto Association, the first representation the society had in that body. On the third Lord's day, in October, 1813, Thomas Crabb and Catharine Blue were baptized into church fellowship.


926


HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.


The first regular minister of the society was Rev. Isaac McHenry, whose pastorate began in December, 1813, and continued several years, when he moved to some of the northern counties, and the church was without a regular minister for seven or eight years; but the organization was preserved intact during that time by the periodical meetings of eight or ten ladies, and deacon Thomas Crabb.


In 1826 or 1827, J. B. Moore, of Kentucky, united with this congregation by letter, was chosen its pastor, and continued in this capacity for twenty-five years, when he was succeeded by John Parker, of Hardin County, whose pastorate extended over a period of seven years. He was followed by George Tusing, who remain- ed two years, and was succeeded in 1877 by Thomas Cole, the present incumbent.


After the organization of the society, in 1813, services were held at the dwellings of the different members of the congrega- tion until 1829. From this time until 1844 they occupied a school house in the neighborhood, and an old unoccupied dwelling on the outskirts of Waterloo, when John Messmore erected the present frame church at Waterloo, at a cost to the society of about $800.


MADISON CHAPEL.


This society was organized in 1868, by Rev. David Smith. Prior to this, however, services had been held by the Methodists, Meth- odist Protestants, and Presbyterians, for ten or twelve years, but no organization had been made until the year above mentioned, when, at a meeting in the grove near where the church now stands, Henry Fulton, W. W. Satchell, and Isaac Jones, were appointed a committee to solicit subscriptions for the erection of a church. The committee went to work in earnest, and by August of the same year $1,772 were raised, which was deemed a sufficient amount upon which to begin work. A lot was bought of Harper Smith, near where Mr. Crow's store now stands, and just opposite the present site of the school house, and the work was at once commenced. The house was dedicated December 19, 1869; L. Cunningham, of Columbus, preaching the dedicatory sermon. The remainder of the money, $687.73, was raised on the day of dedica- tion, making the church cost when completed $2,459.73. Henry Fulton donated to the congregation one acre of land for cemetery


927


MADISON TOWNSHIP.


purposes, and one hundred and fifty dollars toward the erection of the church. It was made a part of the Mount Sterling Circuit.


SCHOOLS.


The first school in the township was taught in the winter of 1809, by Samuel Myers, in a cabin, near where Waterloo now stands, Mr. Myers walking two and one-half miles to and from the hut, called a school house.


The next school of which we have been able to obtain account, was on William Morgan's land, in the Armstrong survey, now in possession of C. G. Leavell. In the winter of 1824, Thomas John- son taught a term of school here, and also the winter following. He was followed the succeeding winter, at this place, by Edmund Clarridge, sen., who taught a short term each year till, perhaps, 1828, or 1829, when this building was abandoned, and a small house was built one-fourth of a mile west of Yankeetown, on land then owned by Andrew Gregory, now in possession of William McCaf- ferty. James Martin taught the first and second schools in this building, and was succeeded by Edmund Clarridge, sen., who taught three or four terms. Joseph Counts was, perhaps, the next teacher, and was followed by a Mr. McGarry, who taught three or four terms, and was succeeded by Julius Bicknell, who remained one term.


A cabin situated a mile and a half from Waterloo, on the Ur- bana road, on land owned then by Jesse Barton, now in possession of R. S. Waters, was occupied for school purposes about the time the log school house was built at Yankeetown. Clement Twiford was the first, and, perhaps, only teacher here, as it was used only one winter, when it was abandoned.


In 1829, or 1830, a school house was built on land now owned by M. Rockwell, in the W. Sanford survey, number 13135. Clement Twiford was the first teacher, and his successor was a Mr. Purdum. The building was burned, with all the books belonging to the pu- pils, during Mr. Purdum's stay, and the district was divided, one portion attending a term or two of school in an unoccupied dwell- ing, on land now owned by J. M. Anderson, and then in a cabin, on land belonging to Richard Courson, now owned by William Baldwin.


928


HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.


In 1838, a school house was built at White Oak, and occupied about ten years, when a new building was erected on the site of the old. This was also abandoned in 1877, and an elegant frame school house erected. This is now an independent, or special district.


SECRET ORGANIZATION.


Madison Grange, No. 229, was organized November 27, 1873, by' John Brown, of Clarksburg, Ross County, at James Noble's house, one-half mile south of Madison Mills, on the Waterloo road.


The names of the charter members were as follows: F. L. Smith, Joshua Mahan, William Clawson, J. M. Noble and his wife, Maggie, Levi Martin, Henry Fulton, his son, Shreve, and two daughters, Maggie and Polly, Libbie Harrison, S. B. Yeoman, T. M. Jones and wife, Lucy, Daniel Wood, James Smith, J. L. Smith, Sarah Smith, Hugh Smith, Caleb Tillet, Joseph Taylor and wife, Mary E., James Abernathy and wife, Lettie, C. W. Jones, William McCafferty and Elizabeth McCafferty.


The original officers were as follows : Master, F. L. Smith ; overseer, James Abernathy; lecturer, Stephen Yeoman ; steward, F. M. Jones; assistant steward, Shreve Fulton ; chaplain, J. M. Noble; treasurer, Henry Fulton; secretary, William Clawson ; gate keeper, J. W. Taylor ; ceres, Sarah J. Smith ; pomona, Mag- gie P. Noble; flora, Libbie Harrison ; L. A. S., Maggie Fulton.


Madison Grange owns an elegantly finished hall over Mr. Crow's store room, at Madison Mills, which was built, in 1874, at a cost of about seven hundred dollars. The Grange was incorporated under the laws of Ohio, January, 1881.


The present officers are as follows : Master, J. M. Noble ; over- seer, James Abernathy ; lecturer, E. W. Clarridge; steward, Wilson McCafferty; assistant steward, S. E. Parrett: chaplain, D. B. Saint; treasurer, Henry Fulton; secretary, R. G. Jefferson ; gate keeper, T. P. Noble ; ceres, Emaline Shufflebarger; pomona, Lillie Pancoast ; flora, Dora McArthur ; lady assistant steward, Duck McCafferty ; organist, Ada Parrett.


At present, the Grange has a membership of seventy-five, and is in a highly flourishing condition.


929


MADISON TOWNSHIP.


PHYSICIANS.


Dr. Martin was perhaps the first physician that located in Mad- ison, coming from New England early in the settlement of the township, and opening an office near Yankeetown. Here he re- mained four of five years, when he removed to Bloomingburg, and continued in active practice till 1854, removing then to McClain County, Illinois.


Dr. J. N. Clark came from Harrisburg, this state, in the spring of 1873 to Buena Vista, Green Township, where he remained till the spring of 1874, when he opened.an office at Madison Mills, and now has an extensive practice.


BLACKSMITHS.


Joseph Withrow, in about 1822 or 1823, started a blacksmith shop, about one-half mile from Yankeetown, and continued till his death, which took place in about 1834, when Otho Williams opened a shop here, and carried on the business twelve or fifteen years. Williams was succeeded by Zebulin Fisher, who remained perhaps three years, when the shop was abandoned.


David Saint started a shop at Yankeetown, in 1874 or 1875, and still continues in business.


A blacksmith shop was started by Alexander Clark, at Madison Mills, in 1860, in a building erected by David Harrison, which he carried on for two or three years, when he was succeeded by Thomas Scott, who continued one year, the shop then being closed. Some time after this Clark returned and began business, but soon built a shop in which he still works.


STORES.


The first store of Madison, was started by Adley Gregory, in 1815 or possibly earlier, at Yankeetown, which he kept up till another was opened, in 1825, one-half mile north of Yankeetown,


930


HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.


on the Mt. Sterling road, by John Johnson, in one portion of his dwelling, where he continued till his death, five or six years later.


About the time of this event, perhaps a little later, Robert Leach opened a stock of goods in a frame building erected by himself near Yankeetown, and carried on business two or three years, when the goods were sold to Abner Dressback, who removed them to a room built by Adley Gregory, near the site of the present dwelling of William McCafferty, where he continued about one year, when the goods passed into the hands of Amos Benton, who removed them to the brick building now occupied by George Em- erson. Benton continued in business in this building several years, and those who have occupied this building since are in the order of their succession as follows : Joseph Counts, Cook & Bailey, Gregory & Phelps, Drury Brothers, Clarence Parvin, Gregory & Wichman, and George Emerson, the present incumbent.


Between the years 1864 and 1867, James Graham started a dry goods store, at Madison Mills, in a room on the site of the build- ing now occupied by Peter Dempser as a saloon, where he continued about twelve months, when he sold to George Franklin, who kept one year, when the building was destroyed by the explosion of a keg of powder in the cellar, and the entire stock of goods was de- stroyed. Evidences that the accident had been pre-arranged were so convincing, that Franklin never tried to collect the insurance.


David Harrison opened a grocery at Madison Mills, in 1860, which he kept two years, when he sold to George Ladd, an En- glishman, who continued perhaps two years, his successor being George Emmerson, who was followed in about five years by Eliza- beth Crow & Sons, they buying Mr. Emmerson out, and still con- tinue in business, carrying a full line of dry goods, boots and shoes, queensware, groceries, etc., etc.


MILLS.


John Gilmore, prior to 1817, built a water-mill on Deer Creek, one mile north of Waterloo, which he operated several years, when it came into the hands of Samuel Pancoast, who run it about fifteen years. Colonel Sharp then purchased the property and attached a distillery, and after operating both about eight years, he sold to


931


MADISON TOWNSHIP.


Samuel Pancoast, jr., who sold to John Messmore the present owner, who in three or four years after, tore down the old mill, and built a three story frame building, and put in two sets of burrs, one for wheat and one for corn. In 1879, he added a purifier and " new process " attachment. It is now being operated by his son, R. W. Messmore, who is doing an extensive custom and merchant business.


Gilmore, in about 1832, after losing the above mentioned mill in litigation with Pancoast, built a mill two and a half miles above, on what is called the Island Branch of Deer Creek, on land now owned by the heirs of Newton Morgan, in the Overton Survey, No. 463. He continued about ten or twelve years, when he was suc- ceeded by a colored man, named Sylva, who operated the mill only a short time till it was abandoned.


William Harrison built a large steam flouring mill, called " Mad- ison Mills," in 1859, and did an extensive business for four or five years, when he sold the mill property and about eight acres of ground to Andrew Shriver, of Ross County; who failing to meet payments, was relieved of his obligation by John and Harrison Adams, to whom he transferred the property, they becoming re- sponsible to Mr. Harrison. The Adamses operated the mill about five or six years, when they sold the machinery and apparatus to Robinson and Sims, who removed it to Stuckey's Mill at Wash- ington ; but the grounds and building were sold to Abraham Lind- sey. In 1880, John Lindsey and his son, A. C., bought new machinery and apparatus at a cost of $5,000.00, put into this mill, and are now doing an extensive custom and shipping business.


Thomas Lindsey located a portable saw-mill, on the East Fork of Paint Creek, one mile southeast of Madison Mills, in March, 1881, where he continued till May of the same year, when he re- moved to land owned by Jachomeyer Baldwin, one mile northwest of Whiteoak.


WOOLEN MILLS.


Samuel Pancoast started a single carding machine at Pancoast- burg in 1822, and continued with the one single set of cards for some six or eight years. In 1828 or 1829 he secured a partner, a


932


HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY.


Mr. Muzzy, of Springfield, Ohio, who added fulling and finishing machinery. Soon after, they secured the services of John Mess- more, a skilled workman in manufacturing, aud he becoming a partner, added another carding machine. About ten years later they procured hand spinning machines, known as "Billie and Ginnie."


Soon after this the business passed entirely into the hands of J. Messmore. Near 1835 he added a condenser and spinning-jack, and thus continued the business of carding, spinning, fulling, dye- ing, and finishing, until the year 1860, when, as an addition to the water power, that sometimes failed in a dry season, he added largely to his facilities for increased work, by putting in steam power, so as to run all the year round, and by adding another set of machines and condensers, and four narrow and one broad loom. This he operated for some five years, and then sold to his son, R. W. Messmore, and within a short time he sold to Abner Mouser, who run only about one year. Mouser sold to Appleton Mowry, who still owns the premises, but finding the property of greater value to be used otherwise, destroyed the larger part of the ma- chinery and sold it for old iron, reserving a small part to run at intervals for the manufacture of stocking yarn.


WATERLOO.


Waterloo, situated in the southeastern corner of Madison, on the road leading from Chillicothe to Urbana, was laid out by Isaiah Pancoast and Jesse Woodson, June 20, 1816, and occupies a part of James' survey, No. 470. No lots were sold, however, until 1829, when Mr. Pancoast had the town re-surveyed, and fixed a day of sale in September of that year, on which some eight or ten lots were sold. Nathan Loofbourrow built the first house after the town was re-surveyed, but prior to this, a log house was built, which is still standing. John Messmore built the second house in Water- loo, in 1833 or 1834. This was a brick structure, and is still standing.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.