History of Greene County, Ohio, Part 11

Author: Robinson, George F., 1838-1901
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 934

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John McLane came from Lexington. Kentucky, and entered the land where his body lies buried. Ile came some time pre- vions to 1803. as his name appears on the records at that date. The associate judges appointed him on the 15th of November. 1804. to be one of the commissioners in place of John Sterritt, who had resigned. We also find that he was one of the associate judges of Greene county, and while he may not have been a well educated man, he was

a man of good judgment and sterling worth. It is said of him that being a bachelor, and having no children of his own. he used to speak his mind pretty freely when speaking of our legislators, who wouldl enact a law that would compel him to pay for schooling other people's children, and de- nominated such as "a set of dung-hill gods." from which he prayed to be delivered.

VISIT TO THE GRAVE OF JOHN MC LANE.

The compiler of this sketch paid a visit to his tomb one bright day in June, 1899. and was well repaid for the visit. Leaving the cars at Shoup's Station, on the Pan- handle Railroad. I started from there due south toward Mt. Zion church, which is about two miles from said station. I stopped at the home of Capt. Benjamin Darst to inquire as to where was the tomb of John McLane, and was told that it was at least three miles from his home, and "Yonder is my horse and in that shed is my buggy : you shall not walk." and, in almost as short a time as it takes me to write about it. the captain had me seated in his buggy. "And now for the direction : keep right on the di- rection south, that you have been in coming here : cross the pike that leads past Mt. Zion. continue the same direction until you come to another pike that leads toward Dayton; turn to the right and go about two miles. which will lead you to where, on your right hand, you will find a building that used to be the "toll-gate house :" at that place near you will find a narrow lane on the right: drive north about one-half mile and in the woods on the left you will find it." I did not for- get a single direction that the captain gave me, and was soon there. And, climbing the

ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

fence. soon had transferred from the tomb- stone to my book the following: "Here lies the remains of John McLane, who died Oc- tober 21, 1848, aged eighty-three years and eleven months.

Let no one disturb my humble cot, nor break my peaceful rest .- Till corrupt earth shall be no more, and saints be continuously blest."

With the words that I have copied from his broken tombstone still ringing in my ears " Let no one disturb my humble con". it looked as though his wish had been respect- ed, and for fifty-one years no one had been near that lonely grave. Back from the lane. over the fence I had worked my way among the thick underbrush and vines, and there about twelve feet from the fence was a stone enclosure about four feet in height, the walls two feet thick, the end next to the east about eight feet from out to out, and twelve feet long from out to out, the one acre of ground that had been reserved for a burial place. It looked as though in the past the primitive forest had been cut off, and the present growth of trees had grown to their present heiglit.

The walls that kind friends had erected around where his body had been laid were broken and had fallen inward from either side, and had hid from view the grave of John McLane. Out from among the stones had sprung up grape vines at least two inch- es in diameter. The tombstone was broken, one half of which was supported and kept from falling by the vines aforesaid. The wood in which this one acre of ground had been reserved and in which was the tomb, does not look unlike it did when its owner

used to travel through it near one hundred years ago. 'Tis true the white man has destroyed the wild game that was so plen- tiful in the days of Mr. McLane but the face of nature remains unchanged : as you stand and gaze, the silence of this spot seems un- broken and while standing alone you almost expect to see some of the objects that used to be seen. to hear the cry of the wild cat. or the howling of the wolf. 'Tis a scene both wild and wierd and well repays a visit.

JOIIN C. HALE, SR.

John C. Hale was a son of James Hale, who was born in England in 1737. He first settled in Baltimore county, Maryland, in 1707. Hle removed to Blair county. Penn- sylvania. How long he resided in the latter state is not certain. Ile removed from Pen- sylvania to Mason county, Kentucky, where he died in 1801 or 1802. llis home in Ken- tucky was on Clark's run not far from Brant's Station, nine miles from Maysville. John Hale had taken to himself as wife Miss Catherine Baird, who was born in 1774, and was of Welsh descent. Of this marriage there were born eight children: Rebecca. Joseph, Lydia, John. Hannah. James, Thon- as and Silas.

In 1802 the widow came to what was then the Northwestern territory with her children and settled in that part that is now known as the great state of Ohio, county of Greene and Sugarcreek township. In the first enumeration of the male inhabitants over the age of twenty-one taken by James Collier and completed August 10. 1803. we find the names of three of Mr. Hale's chil- dren, who were of the required age, name- iy: Joseph, John and Thomas. James

ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

Hale's name appearing first on the list of voters October. 1805, and Silas, the last seit. voting for the first time in April. 1825. After 1810 none are left in the county save John and his son, Silas Hale. Jr. In the year 1802 John Hale built a log cabin on the present site of the residence of William Lansing. In this cabin our late venerable friend, Silas Hale, Jr .. was born, and near it, when a child, he made a narrow escape from being devoured by a hungry bear, but through the efforts of his mother he was rescued. The floor of this cabin was made vi planks sawed out by hand, there being a: that time no sawmills in the neighbor- hood, and but few in the county. This cabin was afterward torn down, hauled to. Bell- brook and re-erected by Joseph Gillespie at the rear of the house in which Mrs. Vaughn used to live. The method of sawing plank in that day was novel ; the log was first hewn square, then lined on two opposite sides, one end of it was raised to a scaffolding, so that it stored on such an incline as to admit of ·ne standing under and another on top of the log both using the saw with ease. Those days have passed and gone, and the savage "swish" of the saw as it is drawn by steam of water power is now heard in the land. John Hale, the subject of this sketch, re- moved from the county to Kosciusko county. Indiana, in 1838. He was born November 25. 1775. and died in Kosciusko unity September 25, 1845, and was burial in the D'inkard graveyard in Jackson town- Sip, that county.

Six- Hale, Jr., son of John, took unt himself as a wife, Miriam Updyke, daugh- ter di Henry and Catherine Updyke. A sketch of Henry Uplyke as one of the foun- ders of the town of Bellbrook appears in

this book. To Silas Hale and his wife were born ten children. seven sons and three daughters. Mr. Hale was born August 26. 1803, and died June 20. 1889. Mr -. Hale. the widow of Silas, was born February 5. 1814. and was in 18gg still living, and it is hoped that she will be left for many years to be what she ever has been, a source of pleasure to her numerous friends, children and grandchildren. To the descendants yet living of this family it is a pleasure to meet them, and kindly thoughts of them you will have when you say goodbye.

MOSES WALTON.

Moses Walton, one of the pioneers of Greene county, was born on the 27th day of June, 1800, in what is now Spring Valley township. His parents were Edward Wal- t. n and Deborah Allen. His father was one of the earliest pioneers of Greene county, coming in 1806 frem Virginia. He was born on the 30th of January. 1777. in Shen- andoah county. Virginia, and belonged to a family who bore their part in the Revolution. The Walton family, of four brothers, orig- irally came from England, and in 1of set- tled near Philadelphia. They were the ad- vince of William Penn's Quaker colony. The Walton family to-day, on both sides. hold to the creed of their forefathers. The father of the subject of this sketch departed this life on the roth day of April. 1807. in Spring Valley township, having reached the advanced age of ninety years and seven months, and was buried in the Caesarscreek Friends' churchyard, south of New Burling- ton. Hle had through life been a farmer. and a man of stanch integrity and useful- ness in society. At the age of twenty-two

ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

Meses began life on his own resources as a farmer, in Spring Valley, where he ever afterward resided. On the 30th day of Oc- tober, 1834. he was united in marriage to Mary Cook, a daughter of John Cook. one of the first pioneers of Warren county. She died March 15. 1844. aged twenty eight years, leaving five children. On the ist of October Mr. Walton was united in marriage to Rachel Reagon, a daughter of Reason Reagon, one of the carly pioneers of War- ren county, Ohio. She died April 20. 181 ; aged twenty-three years, leaving one child. Mr. Walton was united in marriage to De- Loral Johnson, a daughter of Joseph .I. Johnson, an early pioneer of Highland comun- ty, on the 19th of September, 1849. Mr. and Mrs. Walton were the parents of eight children. Mr. Walton died January 8, 1887. in his seventy-seventh year.

RICHARD CUNNINGHAM, A SOLDIER OF THE REVOLUTION.

His name is found upon the records of Greene county, Ohio, first in the enumera- tion of the inhabitants of Sugarcreek town- ship of the year 1820. At that time he was the owner of lots Nos. 9, 10 and 28 in the town of Bellbrook, and afterward ran a hotel in that place, and was also constable in Sugarcreek township. "On the 30th of April. 1827. personally appeared in court ithe court of common pleas for the county of Greene, being a court of record in the seventh circuit of the state of Ohio) Rich- ard Cunningham, a resident of said county. aged seventy years, who first being duly sworn, according to law, doth on his dath say and make the following declaration in order to obtain the provision made by the

acts of congress of the 18th of March. 1818, and the 18th of May, 1820, "That he, the said Richard Cunningham, enlisted for the term of three years, some time in the spring of the year 1777, in Franklin coun- ty, in the state of Pennsylvania, in the com- pany commanded by Captain Crawford. in the regiment commanded by Colonel Dun- lap, in the line of the state of Pennsylvania on the military continental establishment. As well as his recollection serves him. he knows that at the battle of Brandywine he was commanded by Colonel Dunlap, but at the battle of Germantown he was under the command of General Armstrong. Then when that part of the army to which he he- longed went into winter quarters at Valley Forge he was detained to drive a public team, which he followed for a considerable time, after which he was attached to and dill duty in a rifle company under various of- ficers, in scouting or spying parties: the names of these latter officers he does not How recollect. That he continued to serve in this latter species of service until the ex- piration of his term of service, when he was honorably discharged at the town of Lan- caster. in the state of Pennsylvania, having previously received a certificate in the state of New Jersey. Soon after his discharge he volunteered his services for one year, and served as a rifleman for that time in scouting, spying, etc. He was afterwards out for nine months in General Melntosh's cam- paign against the Indians as a pack-horse man, and served one year in the late war ( 1812) under Lieutenant John Hopkins, of the corps of rangers ( I think from Warren county, Ohio)." He had one son by his sec- ond wife. Richard S. Cunningham, who at this time ( 1827) was fifteen years of age.

ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

His pension was allowed, and he was placed on the roll May 4, 1833. His pension com- menced March 4, 1831. at the rate of eighty dollars per year.

SACKETT FARM. IN ONE NAME. FROM 1799 TO 1899.

The following is taken from the "Bell- brook Moon :" "One hundred years ago Cyrus Sackett, accompanied by his wife and three children, came from Kentucky and set- tled on what has been known in later years as the Alexander Sackett farm. Mr. Sackett bought this farm of one hundred and fifty acres at two dollars per acre. They arrived there on October 17, at three o'clock in the afternoon. The land was then covered with dense forests. He, however, cleared a small space, where they pitched their tents made of bed clothes, in which they managed to live for some time. Mr. Sackett then built a log cabin, which was called a round-log cabin, in which they lived for several years. He then built a large hewed-log house. which was at that time considered very fine. Here Mr. Sackett and wife spent the re- inainder of their lives. After their death the farm was divided into two parts and soldl. Alexander Sackett bought the eastern part containing eighty acres, and Preston Poague bought the remainder of the farm, which is now owned by the heirs of the late Benjamin Vaughan. Alexander Sackett held this farm in his possession until his death. which oc- curred April 10. 1893. The farm was then purchased jointly by Phineas Wilson and Emily Sackett, grandchildren of Cyrus Sackett. The farm remained in their pos- session until the end of the year 1899. when they sold it to Jacob Carey. Thus it passed

out of the Sackett name after being in their possession one hundred years, two months and eighteen days. This is a very rare oc- curance."

In the old Baptist graveyard about one mile south of the village of Bellbrook lies all that is mortal of Cyrus Sackett, Sr. Many more of historic worth also are buried there : among the number are Rev. Josiah Carman. the veteran pioneer Baptist preacher. Cap- tain Ammi Maltbie, who made a name for himself in the war of 1812, Andrew Byrd. Sr., and others. Mr. Cyrus Sackett. Sr .. died at his home July 13. 1846. aged eighty- three years, leaving his wife. Nancy, and the following children : sons. Alexander, Jo- seph, Samuel and Cyrus Sackett. Jr. : daugh- ters. Sarah Hand, Mrs. Anna Hoblet and Mrs. Poague.

GEORGE HINEY, A SOLDIER OF THIE REVO- LUTION.

Was born in 1754 and died May 21, 1849, at the good old age of ninety-five years. He was a native of Pennsylvania, and at the time of the Revolutionary war was a private soldier in the Pennsylvania militia. The records on file in the pension office at Wash- ington, D. C., show that he was drawing a pension, and was then a resident of Greene county, Ohio. His annual allowance was seventy-six dollars and sixty-six cents. He applied for the pension May 4. 1831. being at that time seventy-nine years old, and he was placed on the roll October 12. 1833. After the close of the war he removed first to Virginia, and from that state in 1820 to Ohio, settling in Greene county, where he continued to live until his death.

He had quite a large family. His sons

ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

were a hard-working, honest set of men. Just over the line in Clinton county, near Lumberton, is a beautiful little cemetery ; in that lies all that is mortal of this old hero, George Hiney. At his side lies his wife. Mary, who died September 22, 1858, aged eighty-one years. His son Henry also lies there: he died September 24, 1869. at the age of eighty years.

FIRST COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.

The gathering of the pioneers of Greene county in what is known as Beavercreek township, August 2, 1803. The wheat har- vest had been gathered by many of the early pioneers in the young county. Work by many had been laid aside. and some had re- ceived notice to appear at the house of Owen Davis, which was situated five and one-half miles west of the now city of Xenia, on the farm now ( 1900) known as the Harbine farm. Others came out of curiosity : some few had come in the night before, and were the guests of mine host. Peter Borders, who was at that time the tenant of Owen Davis. who was ready to supply the wants of both man and beast with the necessities of life and comfort. Some had traveled far through the trackless forest. Tomorrow would be a great day in the history of the new made county and of Beavercreek town- ship. Three months previous there had been a gathering, May 10, 1803. for the purpose of organizing the county into townships and other matters pertaining to starting the wheels of the county government. But this day had been spoken of among the few hardy settlers as they would meet to assist each other in the erection of their cabin homes in the few townships then organized ;

tomorrow would be a chance to meet hardy men like themselves, representatives from the four townships which constituted Greene county. This day was to be a county re- union.

It was to be a great day in the county, and the people were gathered in large num- bers : here was the presiding judge, and his associates, prosecuting attorney and grand jury; here was the court house and jury room, and also the tavern of Peter Borders. whose bar was well supplied with whisky. What was the meaning of this gathering? The first court of common pleas for the new made county of Greene was to meet to-day. And it had been said on one occasion previ- ous to this, "there were giants in those days," so could it be said of the court and grand jury truthfully that had assembled at the house of Owen Davis on this oc- casion. And as the court has met, and the business of the day commenced, we will step inside and proceed to introduce the members of the court. First, the presiding judge is the

HON FRANCIS DUNLAVY, OF WARREN COUNTY.

This is his first visit to Greene county, which is one of the points on his circuit, which he continued to travel until 1817. . 1 Virginian by birth. he was born near Win- chester. December 31. 1761. His father, Anthony Dunlavy, came from Ireland in 1745, and took for a helpmate Hannal White, sister of Judge Alexander White, of Virginia. Of this marriage there were four sons and four daughters. Francis was the oldest son. He was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, was also twice a member of

ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

the legislature of the Northwestern terri- tory, and also a member of the convention that formed the first constitution of the state of Ohio, and was also a member of the first legislature of Ohio. The next member of the court is the

HON. WILLIAM MAXWELL,

One of the associate judges, who was not unknown to the presiding judge. for both of them had been members of the first legis- lature of Ohio, which had met March I. 1803. at Chillicothe. Mr. Dunlavy was a member of the senate and Mr. Maxwell a member of the house, but in matters which called for a joint session were brought face to face. This explains another item of his- tory. Mr. Maxwell being a member of the body that formulated and passed the act creating the new counties of Butler, Warren, Montgomery and Greene, whilst in the leg- islature had received the appointment of as- sociate judge, along with Benjamin White- man and James Barrett, and while there had taken the oath of office. When the court met May 10, 1803. he administered the same to his two associates. Mr. Maxwell was also a soldier, and he is said to have pub- lished the first paper printed in Cincinnati. He was a'resident of what is now known as Beavercreek township. Greene county, at the time he is credited as being a representative from Hamilton county, Ohio.

Mr. Maxwell resigned as associate judge and accepted the office of sheriff of Greene county, in place of Captain Nathan Lamme, who had first been appointed and served six months. Ile continued to act as sheriff until 1807. when he was relieved by Colonel James Collier, who had been his faithful

deputy. It was while Mr. Maxwell was sheriff, in 1806, that the notorious fight oc- curred between Ben Kizer and Aaron Beall. Mr. Maxwell in his attempt to uphold the majesty of the law rushed into the ring to stop the fight, received a blow that sent him reeling and bleeding from the ring.

The next one sitting near Mr. Maxwell is one upon whose face if you once gazed you would look again, attracted by his fine military look and bearing : that man was the companion of Daniel Boone and Simon Ken- ton, and is well known by all present as a brave soldier.

GENERAL BENJAMIN WHITEMAN.

Another of the three associate judges of Greene county, and son-in-law of Owen Davis, the owner of the building in which the court is being held, which building General Whiteman had erected for his fa- ther-in-law in 1799. He is at this time in the prime of life in his thirty-fourth year. He was born on the 12th day of March. 1769, in the city of Philadelphia. Pennsyl- vania. When but thirteen years of age he had emigrated to Kentucky, about seven years after the first white settlement had been made by Colonel Daniel Boone, and settled near Limestone ( now Maysville ). He himself says he came to Beavercreek township in 1799.

The next and last associate judge sitting near Mr. Whiteman is

JAMES BARRETT, OF SUGARCREEK.

He was a native of Virginia, and on coming to this township in 1802 his family consisted of his good wife Elsie and four

ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

children, two sons, James and Philip, and . daughters Eleanor and Hannah. He was at this time well up in years, and the infirmities of age were beginning to show that he had reached the top of the hill and had com- menced going down. In coming into the township he located on the land better known as the farm of Robert Tate, northwest of the present village of Bellbrook, being south part of section 9 ( 2.6). His boys were hale, hearty fellows. James at this time being twenty-one years old, and Philip nineteen, and as they all had their home in common the father and mother were well cared for. Mr. Barrett and his family in first coming to Hamilton county settled on Dick creek in what afterward was Butler county.

The next member of the court that at- tracts our attention is that distinguished looking man that is present to act as pros- ecuting attorney, the

IJON. DANIEL SYMMS,

.A former native of New York, who had emigrated early to the Northwestern terri- tory, and had settled in what proved to be Hamilton county. He had been chosen to represent Hamilton county in the first ses- sion of the legislature which met at Chilli- cothe. March 1, 1803, and was a member of the senate of said body, and here it was that "Hon." was first prefixed to his name. He makes the fourth member of that honor- able body that is now present at this first court of common pleas, which met at the house of Peter Borders .. The others are His Honor Francis Dunlavy, of Warren coun- ty : John Paul, the efficient clerk of the court and whose home was at this time at what is now known as Trebein's Station, where he

first settled when. in 1800, he came to Greene county. Here Mr. Paul had, as it were, har- nessed the waters of the Little Miami to run his sawmill, and it was known at the time as "Paul's mill." These three. a short time before, were members of the senate. and William Maxwell, of whom we have spoken before, was a member of the house of that first legislature.

Over the hill southeast of where the hon- orable court is now sitting is the home, and was when he was in this first legislature of Ohio, of William Maxwell. "Honor to whom honor is due." History says that Messrs. Paul and Maxwell were members from Hamilton county, which was in part true, nevertheless they were residents at the time of what is now known as Greene county.

Mr. Symms continued to represent Ham- ilton county, and was the speaker of the senate for the years 1804 and 1805.

THE FIRST GRAND JURY OF GREENE COUNTY.

Over in the corner sit the members of the grand jury, a fine looking body of men. Sugarcreek township is well represented on said jury. Out of the fourteen. Sugarcreek has seven, namely, Joseph C. Vance, John Wilson, William Buckles, Abraham Van Eaton, James Snodgrass. Robert Marshall and Alexander Armstrong. Mad River township for some cause was not represented on this first "grand jury." Caesarscreek was represented by William 1. Stewart, who was chosen as foreman, and Martin Men- denhall and Joseph Wilson. Beavercreek township, in which the court was being held. was represented by John Judy, Evan Mor- gan, John Buckhannon and Harry Martin.

ROBINSON'S HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.

REV. MOSES SHOUP, 1812. He was married to Miss Mary Cad- well in Northumberland county, Pennsyl- Son of George and Charlotte Shoup, was born in Frederick county, Maryland, on the Ist day of October. 1793. and emigrated to Greene county in the spring of 1805. His life was one of usefulness, and his kind and genial disposition won for him the good will of all. He was a faithful minister in the German Baptist church for more than fifty years. He was married to Elizabeth Mil- ler in the year 1818, and with whom he lived more than fifty years. She died in 1877. Mr. Shoup died May 7, 1880, in his eighty-seventh year, and is buried at Mlt. Zion churchyard. His grandfather, Martin Shoup. was a native of Switzerland, and his three sons, George and Solomon settled in Beavercreek township, whilst Samuel made his home in Bath township the short time at his home in Bath township, July 18, 1812. aged fory years, and is buried along side of his wife, Dorothy, who died March 28, 1837, at the age of sixty-four years. Both are buried in what is known as the "Cost grave- yard." in sight of Fairfield. Bath township, Ohio. George Shoup. Sr., father of Moses Shoup, was the father of the following chil- dren : Moses, George. Solomon, David. and one daughter, Mary Hawk, living in Frederick county, Maryland. Rev. Moses Shoup's children who arrived at adult age consisted of the following : One son, Daniel M. Shoup, and daughters, Mrs. Charlotte Coy: Mrs. Catharine Gearhart, Mrs. Sarah Wampler, Mrs. Harriet Brubaker and Mrs. Rebecca Ann Darst. vania. December 17, 1816, and in the fall of 1820 he, with his wife and two children, emigrated to Ohio, settling first in Franklin, Warren county. They came in true emi- grant style with wagon and four horses at- tached, and were six weeks making the jour- ney. After residing in Franklin two years the family removed to Beavercreek town- ship, Greene county, in the year 1822, and settled near what is known as Harbine's Station, and continued to live there until the year 1834, when they removed to Shel- by county, Ohio, into what might be termed then the back woods of Ohio, and for a number of years endured all the hardships of frontier lite. Mr. Allison died and was buried in Shelby county. For a while when they lived in Beavercreek town- that he lived after coming to Ohio. He died . ship they resided in that ever to be remembered house, the house of Peter Borders. Greene county's first place of holding courts. And here in this house some of their children were born. After the death of Mr. Allison the mother was left with a family of nine children, the care of which was thrown upon her, and well did she do her part. Mrs. Allison's parents emigrated from the north of Ireland in 1782 to Cum- berland county, Pennsylvania, and were of the highest type of Scotch Presbyterians, and she inherited all the traits of character peculiar to that race of people to a very high degree. In 1882 six of her children were living. three sons and three daughters. James, the eldest, when quite a boy, learned the mercantile business with Samuel Puter- baugh: William, the well known insurance SAMUEL ALLISON, SR. agent ; and Samuel, manufacturer of binder Mr. Allison was a soldier in the war of twine: also another son. Robert, who emi-

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History of Greene County, Ohio, Part 11

Author: Robinson, George F., 1838-1901 Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Publishing Company Number of Pages: 934

Author: Robinson, George F., 1838-1901
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 934