USA > Ohio > Franklin County > History of Franklin County [Ohio]: > Part 12
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Mr. Samuel Baughman has been a resident of that township ever since, and whilst his friends and pioneer companions have paid the debt of nature, he is still living, and enjoying good health and all the comforts consequent upon industry and prudent economy.
Amongst the early settlers, but subsequent to those above named, were Lorin Hills, Jesse Byington, Gilbert Waters, William Yantes, Abraham Williams, Joseph Moore and others. The land was not regarded as being
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HISTORY OF
of the best quality, but the water was good and the location healthy, and the increase of population regular until it is now densely settled, and the improvements generally good. There has, however, as yet been no flouring mill in the township, but some half dozen or more saw mills. Daniel Kramer erected the first on Rocky Fork about the year 1827 or '28, since which Archibald Smith, Christian Bevelheimer, Daniel Swick- ard and some others have erected saw mills.
Of religious denominations, the Methodists are per- haps, the most numerous in this township. They have a good brick meeting house, erected about 1837 or '38, in the northern part of the township, called ." Plain Chapel," and a good frame meeting house in the town of New Albany, erected about 1847 or '48. The United Brethren are also tolerably numerous. They have a brick church near the center of the township, erected about the year 1836 or 37. The Albrites, German, have a good wooden church building about one mile west from Plain Chapel. The Presbyterians have a small wooden church in New Albany, congregation small.
In 1826, Lorin Hills and Lester Humphrey laid out a town on the Granville road near where New Albany now is, which they called " Lafayetteville," and had the plat recorded, etc., but it never improved, and was finally vacated.
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In 1835, Francis Clymer laid out a town on his farm which he called " Mount Pleasant," but this also was a failure, and was abandoned.
In May, 1837, Noble Landon and William Yantis laid out the town of New Albany, not as partners, but one owned the land on one side of the main street, and the other on the opposite side, and they had it all platted together, but each one held or disposed of his own lots at his pleasure. It is now a thriving village, and quite an advantage to the country around. The town is incorporated, and in April, 1856, they held their first charter election, at which the following gentlemen were elected, to wit: S. Ogden, Mayor ; C. S. Ogden, Recorder ; R. Phelps, Marshal ; F. Johnson, J. McCurdy, C. Baughman, A. B. Beem, S. Stinson, Councilmen.
The population of this township, agreeably to the census of 1840, was 1264. In 1850, it was 1561. In 1853, the township contained twelve school districts, and an aggregate of 653 youth between the ages of five and twenty-one years. In 1857, the aggregate of such youth was, as returned to the Auditor's office, six hundred.
There is but one post office in the township of Plain, and that is in New Albany. It was established in 1838, and is named " Hope."
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HISTORY OF
Noble Landson, Esq., first postmaster, commissioned May 15th, 1838, and continued by reappointment until April 15, 1853.
Daniel Horlocker, Esq., second postmaster, appointed April 15, 1853.
Jacob Ullery, Esq., third postmaster, (present incum- bent,) appointed January 22, 1855.
SUCCESSIVE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1810. John Scott and Simeon Moore, elected.
1811. Jacob Tharp, in place of Scott.
1814. Simeon Moore, reelected.
1815. Jacob Smith and Thomas B. Patterson.
1817. George Wells, elected.
1818. Thos. B. Patterson, reelected.
1819. Asa Whitehead, elected.
1820. John Davis,
1821. Thos. B. Patterson, reelected.
1823. John Davis, reelected, and Abraham Williams. 1826. Davis and Williams, both reelected.
1829. Daniel Swickard and Joseph Moore.
1832. Swickard and Moore, both reelected.
1835. Swickard, reelected, and Paul Farber, in place of Moore.
1838. Swickard, reelected, and Joseph Moore, in place of Farber.
FRANKLIN COUNTY. 225
184 -. Daniel Hamaker and Isaac Williams, in place of Swickard and Moore.
1844. Hamaker and Williams, both reëlected. 1847. 66 66 66
1850. Hamaker, reelected, and Daniel Horlocker, in place of Williams.
1853. Hamaker, reelected, and James Carpenter, in place of Horlocker.
1856. (In spring,) George Wagner, in place of Hama- ker.
66 (In fall,) Daniel Hamaker, again in place of Car- penter.
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CHAPTER XXII.
MIFFLIN TOWNSHIP.
THE first settlement of what is now Mifflin Township was commenced about the year 1799 or 1800, by emi- grants from Pennsylvania. Amongst the first settlers, were William Read, (afterward Judge Read,) William Simmons, Frederick Agler, George Baughman, Daniel Turney, Matthias Ridenour, then Ebenezer Butler, and others. In the division of the county into townships, in 1803, this territory was included in, and formed a part of, Liberty Township. In 1811, the township was established and organized with its present boundaries, and named after their old Pennsylvania Governor-Mif- flin. It consists of just one of the original surveyed townships, of five miles square, and is designated as township number one, in range number seventeen, of the United States Military Lands. There was nothing re- markable in the settlement of the township; the popula- tion and improvements progressed regularly.
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There has not yet been any flouring mill erected in this township, but several saw mills-some that have done a good business, and others that appeared to do well for a time, but were then suffered to run down. Amongst the former, are Dean's old mill, erected over thirty years ago, and now owned by Judge Heyl, and Park's mill; and amongst the latter, was one erected by Mr. Janney, on Walnut Creek, about the year 1835 or '36, and afterward owned by J. M. Walcutt, Esq., and one erected by A. McElvain, on Alum Creek, about the year 1838 or '39. There is but one town or village in this township, and that is Gahanna, or Bridgeport, laid out part by John Clark, Esq., in 1848 or '49, and called Gahanna, and part by Jesse Baughman, Esq., in 1853, and called Bridgeport. There is a post office in this place, established in August, 1849. Thos. Young, Esq., was the first postmaster, and continued until July, 1853; when John T. Baughman, the present incumbent, was appointed. There is another post office on Alum Creek, at Park's saw mill. This was established in 1851. The first postmaster was Jeremiah Lasure, who continued until 1853, when he was succeded by James Parks, Esq., the present incumbent.
The population of this township, agreeably to the census of 1840, was 825. In 1850, it was 1,095. In 1853, the township contained nine school districts, and
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HISTORY OF
an aggregate of 446 youth between the ages of five and twenty-one years. In 1857, the aggregate of such youth was 458.
There are two churches contiguous to the village of Bridgeport, one a good frame building, belonging to the Presbyterians, and the other a brick, belonging to the Lutheran and German Reformed congregations.
SUCCESSIVE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1811. Frederick Agler and John Scott, elected.
1815. John Scott, reelected, and Stephen Harris, in Agler's place.
1816. Stephen R. Price and Henry Hawken, in place of Scott and Harris, removed from township.
1819. S. R. Price, reelected, and Samuel Gillet, in place of Hawken, declined.
1822. Price and Gillet, both reelected.
1823. John Hawken, in place of Gillet, deceased. 1825. James Smith, in place of Price, and same year Hugh Ijams in place of Smith, removed.
1827. Wm. Dalzell, in place of Hawken.
1828. Hugh Ijams, reelected. 1829. David Beers, in place of Dalzell, removed.
1832. David Beers, reelected, and James Price, in place of Ijams.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
1835. David Beers, reelected, and John Starret, in place of Price.
1838. Beers and Starret, both reelected.
1841. Beers, reelected, and James Price, in place of Starret.
1844. Beers and Price, both reelected.
1847. Beers and Price, " 66
1850. Beers, reelected, and John Starret, in place of Price.
1853. Beers, reelected, and A. W. Jeffries, in place of Starret.
1855. Henry Ridenour, in place of Jeffries, resigned.
1856. David Beers, reëlected.
1858. (Apr.) Philip Keim, elected, commissioned and resigned, all in the same month.
CHAPTER XXIII.
CLINTON TOWNSHIP.
THIS township consists of just one of the original sur- veyed townships, of five miles square, and is designated on the original plats as township one, range eighteen, United States Military Lands. Amongst the first set- tlers in this township, were the Fultons- Hugh and Robert-John Hunter, Samuel McElvain and family, John Lisle and family, Mr. Henderson and family, and the Hesses ; and about the year 1804 or 1805, David Beers and family.
In 1811, it was organized as a township. In 1814, Roswell Wilcox moved into the township, and erected the mills long known as "Wilcox mills," but of late years known as the "Piatt mills," and now owned by the Messrs. Hess, which have been doing a useful business over forty years. Farther up the creek, are George Whip's mills, also doing a good business; and there are three distilleries in the township doing a pretty extensive business manufacturing liquor, and fattening hogs, etc.
1
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
About the year 1846 or '47, Alanson Bull, Esq., sold a few building lots on the road side, which were bought and improved by mechanics. He did not have any plat of his lots recorded, nor did he design it for a regular town, but merely to afford residences for a few mechan- ics, for the benefit of the neighborhood. It however soon grew into a village, and assumed the name of " Clintonville." There was a post office established here in Oct. 1847, and James Ferguson appointed postmaster, who was succeeded by his son J. M. Ferguson, the pres- ent postmaster.
In 1852, Messrs. Solomon and George W. Beers, laid out some lots on the roadside between Clintonville and Columbus, and had their plat recorded, and named the place "North Columbus ;" in which some considerable improvements have been made.
There are in this township three churches and three cemeteries - a Methodist Church and burying place on the Worthington plank road, near the residence of Rev. Jason Bull ; and another about five miles from Colum- bus, on the Lockwin plank road, near the residence of G. S. Innis, Esq .; and a church at Clintonville, belong- ing to the Christian denomination ; and a burying place three or four miles north of Columbus, on the west side of the Olentangy.
In 1840, this township contained 969 inhabitants. In
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HISTORY OF
1850, it contained 1,186. In 1853, it constituted ten school districts, and contained an aggregate of 370 youth between the ages of five and twenty-one years. In 1857, the aggregate of such youth was 430.
SUCCESSIVE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1811. Wm. McElvain and Wm. Drody, elected. 1812. Daniel Hess, in place of McElvain, removed.
1814. John Smith, in place of Drody. 1815. John Hunter, in place of Hess.
1817. John Smith, reelected.
1818. John Hunter,
1820. Elam Jewett, in place of Smith.
1821. John Hunter, reelected, and Aristarchus Walker, in place of Jewett, deceased.
1824. Hunter and Walker, both reelected.
1827. Jason Bull, in place of Hunter, deceased, and A. Walker, again reelected.
1830. Jason Bull, reelected, and Jacob Slyh, in Wal- ker's place. .
1833. Bull and Slyh, both reelected.
1836. Samuel Kinnear and Washington Lakins.
1839. Kinnear, reelected, and Truman Skeels.
1842. Kinnear, reelected, and Joseph Pegg, in place of Skeels.
·
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
1845. Edward A. Stanley.
1848. Stanley, reelected, and Eli M. Lisle.
1851. Stanley and Lisle, both reelected. 1853. Joseph Pegg, elected - (died in 1854.) 1854. Samuel Kinnear and G. S. Innis.
1857. Kinnear, reelected.
1858. Moses Beers, in place of Innis.
CHAPTER XXIV.
BLENDON TOWNSHIP.
THIS township was stricken off from Sharon, and es- tablished the 6th of March, 1815, by the name of Har- rison, (the original Harrison Township, described in Chapter II, having been chiefly stricken from Franklin County in the formation of Pickaway County, in 1810, and the remaining part of it being included in the town- ships of Hamilton and Madison.) In 1825, the County Commissioners changed the name from Harrison to Blen- don. The township consists of just one original sur- veyed township, of five miles square ; being township number two, in range seventeen, United States Military Lands. The settlement of this township was not com- menced quite as soon as some of the surrounding ones. The first settlers here, were Messrs. Edward Phelps and Isaac Griswold. They arrived here from Windsor, Con- necticut, in 1806; the former is said to have cut the first tree ever felled by a white man in the township. Mr.
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Phelps died in 1840, aged eighty-one years. Mr. Gris- wold has resided in the township ever since 1806, and still (1858) is in the enjoyment of a sound constitution and good health. In 1808, Messrs. George Osborn and Ethan Palmer, from Windsor, and Francis Olmsted and his family of sons, (of whom Gen. Philo H. is one,) ar- rived from Simsbury, Connecticut; and about the same time Cruger Wright settled here, and John Mattoon and Reuben Carpenter, from Vermont, Henry Hone, from Pennsylvania, Isaac Harrison, John and William Cooper, from Virginia. Subsequently, Capt. John Bishop, Tim- othy Lee, Esq., Gideon W. Hart, Esq., the Westervelts, and others.
There are in this township two villages : Westerville, laid out by Matthew Westervelt, in July, 1839; and Amalthea, or Central College, laid out by the College Board of Trustees, on the lands of T. Lee, Esq., in 1849. There are three post offices in this township: The one at Blendon Four Corners, was established in 1824, and first called Harrison. In 1825, after the name of the township was changed, the office was called Blendon Cross Roads, or Four Corners. Isaac Griswold, Esq., was the first postmaster, and continued by reappointments until 1853, when he resigned, and his son Cicero Gris- wold, the present incumbent, was appointed. The Wes- terville office was established about the year 1846. Ja-
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HISTORY OF
cob B. Connelly, Esq., first postmaster; W. W. White- head, second; W. Brush, third; W. W. Whitehead, fourth ; Henry Dyxon, fifth; N. M. Hawthorn, sixth ; James Westervelt, seventh; Milton H. Mann, the present incumbent.
The Blendon Institute post office was established in 1841-changed name to Central College in 1842. Aus- tin Stibbins has been the postmaster from its first estab- lishment until the present time.
The different denominations of professing Christians in the township, are Old School and New School Pres- byterians, United Brethren, and Methodists; all of which have their several places of worship.
The population of this township, agreeably to the census of 1840, was 972. In 1850, it was 1,303. In 1853, the township contained thirteen school districts, and an aggregate of 548 youth between the ages of five and twenty-one years. In 1857, the aggregate of such youth was 547.
SUCCESSIVE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1815. Cruger White and Isaac Griswold, elected. 1818. Timothy Lee and Reuben Carpenter, in place of Wright and Griswold.
1821. Lee and Carpenter, both reelected.
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1824. Gideon W. Hart and Robert Jameson, to succeed Lee and Carpenter.
1826. Abram Phelps, in place of Jameson, resigned.
1827. G. W. Hart, reelected, then resigned - Jameson also resigned.
1828. Abram Phelps and G. W. Hart, both reelected.
1831. Phelps and Hart, both again reelected.
1834. Hart, reelected, and Cruger Wright, in place of Phelps, deceased.
1837. Welch Richey, in place of Hart, and Jared W. Copeland, in place of Wright.
1840. Easton Sherman, in place of Richey. Randal R. Arnold, in place of Copeland.
1843. Easton Sherman, reelected - died same year. Alexander Arrison, in place of Sherman.
Jacob B. Connelly, in place of Arnold.
1844. Number of Justices increased to three, and IIo- mer M. Phelps, elected.
1845. Timothy Lee, in place of Arrison, resigned.
1846. R. R. Arnold, in place of J. B. Connelly.
1847. Homer M. Phelps, reelected.
1848. Timothy Lee, 66
1849. Thomas J. Alexander, in place of Arnold.
1850. H. M. Phelps, reelected -resigned in 1852.
1851. Timothy Lee, reelected.
1852. Wm. H. Grinnell, in place of Phelps, resigned.
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HISTORY, ETC.
1852. Thos. J. Alexander, reelected-resigned in 1853.
1853. Ezra Munson, in place of Alexander.
1854. Theron Lee, in place of Timothy Lee-resigned same month.
Asa Bills, in place of Theron Lee.
1855. John Knox, in place of Grinnell-resigned 1856.
1856. Wmn. H. Grinnell, in place of Knox, resigned.
Ezra Munson, reelected.
1857. J. L. Westervelt, in place of Bills.
CHAPTER XXV.
JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP.
THIS township was established the 6th of September, 1816, by its present name and boundaries; it is just five miles square, being the first township in the six- teenth range, of the United States Military Lands. It had originally been part of Liberty Township, and sub- sequently part of Plain. Its first settlement commenc- ed about the year 1802 or 1803. A large proportion of the early settlers were from the State of New Jersey. The first, or north-east quarter of the township, was pat- ented to Gen. Jonathan Dayton, of that State, in 1800, and he had it platted into lots of one hundred acres, and sold a number of them in New Jersey to persons who had never seen the land. It is said that those thus purchasing determined their locations by lot.
Amongst the early settlers in this township, were Daniel Dague, Moses Ogden, Peter Francisco, Win. Headly, Michael Stagg, Abraham Stagg, Jacob Tharp,
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HISTORY OF
Jacob Smith, John H. Smith, and Jonathan Whitchead ; and subsequently, Joseph Edgar, John Kelso, Michael Neiswanger, Shuah Mann, etc.
About the year 1811 or '12, Jacob Tharp erected the first grist mill on Black Lick Creek, which was afterward known as Somerville's mill, and is now owned by Thomas Rees. The third, or south-west quarter of the township, was held by the heirs of L. Brien until 1850, when it was sold and conveyed by them to David Taylor, Esq., at ten dollars per acre. In 1853, he laid out a village on this land, erected a ware-house, saw mill, etc., and named the place Grahamsville, though it is generally known as "Taylor's Station." The great body of his purchase he sold out in suitable farm lots, at a handsome profit.
The village of Smithville was laid out by Wm. A. Smith, in the year 1852. There is a post office at this place, called " Black Lick post office." It was estab- lished in 1852. Thomas McCollum was the first post- master, and continued until 1856, when he was succeed- ed by C. S. Morris, Esq .; and in 1857 Morris was suc- ceeded by Ezekiel Compton. There is another, and older post office in this township, at Headley's Corners, called " Ovid post office." It was established in 1832. Dr. Ezekiel Whitehead was the first postmaster. He
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
held the office a few years, and was succeeded by Wil- liam Headly, Esq., the present incumbent.
In 1840, this township contained 1,040 inhabitants. In 1850, it contained 1,236. In 1853, the township contained eleven school districts, and an aggregate of 534 youth between the ages of five and twenty-one years. In 1857, the aggregate of such youth was 559.
SUCCESSIVE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1817. Jacob Smith and William Dean, elected. 66 Henderson Crabb, 66 1818. John Inks,
1820. Jacob Smith, reelected.
1821. Isaac Painter, in place of Inks.
1823. Jacob Smith, reelected.
1824. Andrew Allison, in place of Painter.
1826. Jacob Smith, reelected.
1827. Andrew Allison, "
1828. George Beals, in place of Allison. who removed.
1829. Abraham Stagg, in place of Smith.
1831. George Beals, reelected.
1832. Michael Neiswender, in place of Stagg.
1834. George Beals, reelected.
1835. Isaac Painter, in place of Beals, deceased, and Neiswender, reelected.
16
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HISTORY, ETC.
1838. Peter Mills and Jacob Smith, jr.
1841. Jacob Smith, jr., reëlected, and Shuah Mann.
1844. Shuah Mann, reelected, and John Painter.
1847. Mann and Painter, both reelected.
1850. 66 66 66 1
1853.
66
1854. Charles L. Morris, in place of Painter, resigned.
1856. Shuah Mann, reelected.
1857. Wm. S. Armsted, in place of Morris, removed.
CHAPTER XXVI.
NORWICH TOWNSHIP.
THIS township was laid out and organized by its present name in 1813; but it then extended across the river, including what is now the south end of Perry. In the original division of the county into townships in 1803, what is now Norwich constituted a part of Franklin Township; and when Washington was set off and established in 1809, it then constituted a part of that township, and so remained until 1813. There never was any village in this township until after the Columbus, Piqua and Indiana Railroad was estalished, and then the village of Hilliard was laid out in the fall of 1853, by John R. Hilliard. The place is generally known as " Hilliard's Station." It is quite a small village of probably a dozen families, two grocery stores, and a post office. The first post office in this township was established in the spring of 1852, at Smiley's
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HISTORY OF
Corners - David Smiley, Esq., postmaster. In 1854, it was discontinued and an office established at Hilliard, and Thomas W. Dobyns, Esq., the present incumbent, appointed postmaster.
There is one grist mill and several saw mills in this township. The grist mill is on the Scioto, erected by Joseph Corban some twelve or fifteen years since. A saw mill at the same place had been erected by Samuel Wilcox, some years before. These are now known as " Howard's mills." There is a steam saw mill at Hil- liard, and one or two others in the township.
Amongst the oldest residents of the township at this time are Benjamin Britton and family, Wm. Armsted and family, Asa Davis, Asa Wilcox, John and Moses Hart, David Thomas, and some years after came Daniel Buck, Ezekiel Lattimer, David Smiley, Daniel D. Lat- timer and others.
The leading religious denominations in this township are Methodists and United Brethren. The Methodists have a church building called " Wesley Chapel," near the residence of David Smiley, Esq., and some two or three other preaching places in school houses. The United Brethren hold their meetings at Carter's school house.
In 1840, the population of this township was 731. In 1850, it was 1053. In 1853, it was divided into ten
.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
school districts, and contained an aggregate of 460 youth between the ages of five and twenty-one years. In 1857, the aggregate of such youth was 491.
SUCCESSIVE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
1813. Daniel Brunk, clected.
1814. Thomas Baekus and Ebenezer Richards, elected. 1816. Daniel Brunk, reelected, and Robert Elliot, elected.
1817. Amaziah Hutchinson, elected.
1819. Daniel Brunk and Robert Elliot, both reelected.
1822. D. Brunk, reëleeted, and John MeCan, in place of Elliot, declined.
1825. L. L. Lattimer, in place of Brunk, and John MeCan, reelected.
1828. John Weeden and George Black, to succeed Lat- timer and MeCan.
1830. David Smiley, in place of Black, deceased.
1831. Miner Pickle, in place of Weeden.
1833. Miskell Saunders, in place of Smiley.
1834. Henry MeCracken, in place of Pickle.
1836. Miskell Saunders, reelected.
1837. Henry McCraeken, 66
* When this township extended over the river - until 1820, there were three Justices ; after 1820, there were but two, until 1851, when the number was again increased to three.
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HISTORY, ETC.
1839. Miskell Saunders, reelected.
1840. Benjamin Scofield, in place of McCracken.
1842. Miskell Sanders, reelected.
1843. Benjamin Scofield,
1845. Miskell Saunders,
1846. Benjamin Scofield,
1848. Miskell Saunders,*
John T. Britton, in place of Saunders, deceased.
1849. Benjamin Scofield, reelected.
1851. John T. Britton,
Henry McCracken, elected, additional.
1852. Benjamin Scofield, reelected.
John Caldwell, in place of McCracken, removed to the west.
1854. John T. Britton, reelected.
1855. James H. Ralston, in place of Scofield.
John Caldwell, reelected.
1856. Thomas W. Dobyns, in place of Ralston, removed. 1857. John T. Britton, reelected.
* 'Squire Saunders died Oct. 16, 1848, in the 58th year of his age. On his tomb stone is this rather singular inscription : " He died a Christian and a Democrat."
CHAPTER XXVII.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP.
THIS township was set off and organized by its present name and boundaries in 1815. It had origi- mally been part of Franklin Township. Amongst the early settlers in this township were William Brown, Nicholas Haun, Jonas Orders, William Badger, Woolry Conrod, William Sinnet, the Brackenridges, the Borers, the Straders and the Goldsmiths.
Until of late years, this township suffered much inconvenience from the want of direct and good roads to market; but since the construction of the Harrisburg turnpike, the Franklin turnpike and the Cottage Mill turnpike, all passing through this township, that incon- venience has been removed, and the township is increas- ing in population as fast as any other in the county.
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