USA > Ohio > Greene County > History of Greene 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 60
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THE " VIRGINIA MILITARY RESERVATION."
This irregular piece of territory lies east, and borders on the Lit- tle Miami River, and hangs to the otherwise well proportioned map of the township like a ragged patch. The irregularity of out- line of this section, is fully explained in a few words of its history. At one time, all this then "western wild" belonged to the state of Virginia, but was granted to the general government with a reser- vation, which included all that territory between the Scioto and Little Miami rivers This reservation was made by the state to pay her soldiers, to whom she was indebted for military service. Warrants were issued for a certain amount of land somewhere, and anywhere between these two rivers ; no survey being made by the state, so each claimant located his claim wherever he might choose,
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and consequently many of the claims over-lapped each other, from which arose great confusion of titles, leading to a great deal of liti- gation, ending eventually in the compromise adjustment of boun- dary lines as represented on the map.
The Little Miami River enters the township at the northeast, is a tributary of the Ohio, and flows southward to more than half the extent of the township, when it suddenly turns eastward, and en- ters Spring Valley. Little Sugar Creek, a small stream, extends from the extreme northwest, toward the center, where, at a point just south of Bellbrook, it joins Big Sugar Creek, which flows from the west. At this juncture the uniting streams become simply Sugar Creek proper, and flowing in a southeastern direction, empty into the Little Miami. From this small stream, or from the abund- ance of sugar timber of this locality, the township takes its name. The whole extent of the township is considerably broken, espe- cially along the river, but eastward and south are the high, rolling lands, with beautiful and fertile valleys interspersing "the grand old hills." The soil of the highland is of rich clay, with limestone base, especially in the north, while in the south this clay soil has a sandstone base, and is especially adapted to the production of all kinds of fruits; in the valleys or bottom lands is found the black, sandy alluvial. The principal productions are wheat, corn, oats, rye, and tobacco; considerable attention is given to the cultivation of the latter; superior grades commanding good prices are raised in this locality.
The woodlands, of which a considerable portion has escaped the woodman's ax, abound mostly in sugar, walnut, oak, ash, and poplar. The chief industries belong to the agricultural depart- ment, though there are two flouring mills on the Little Miami, northeast of Bellbrook, and at present a considerable amount of good building limestone is being quarried in the north part of the township.
Bellbrook is the only incorporated village, though there is a closely settled neighborhood in the extreme south, called Clio.
Many railroads have been projected though this township, from all quarters and at divers times-indeed at one time two surveying parties for two different routes crossed their chains in the south- western part of Bellbrook. This has always been considered a good oinen, but as yet no road has been built, nor is the future more hopeful than the past. Communications with the near cities are
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now well piked, and good gravel roads extend throughout the township.
The census of 1880 gives the township a population of 1,588, a gain of one hundred and six since 1870.
FIRST SETTLEMENTS.
The first settlement in this township, and, indeed, the first in Greene County, was made in the extreme southern part of the township, near what is now known as the village of Clio. It was here that the first white human habitation was built, and where the first page of the history of Greene County begins.
In the spring of the year 1796, George Wilson, Amos Wilson (two brothers), and Jacob Mills, came up from the neighborhood of Cincinnati, and located in the southwest part of section 4, town 3, range 5, about three-fourth miles east of Clio, on what is now known as the Gauze property. Here they built a temporary hut about twelve feet square, without floor or chimney, which was intended as a temporary shelter for these men while they were en- gaged in clearing the land. They cleared about three acres near the hut, and planted it in corn, when they returned to the vicinity of Cincinnati to care for their harvest which they had there. In their absence, Daniel Wilson, another brother, came and settled just west of Clio, on the farm now owned by his grandson, Abner Wilson, being southwest part section 10, town 3, range 5. He cleared two acres of land, and got the logs ready for his cabin. In the fall of the same year, George and Amos Wilson, with another brother, John, returned to their former settlement, and immedi- ately began to build their cabins. The first of these was built for Daniel Wilson, about sixty rods west of the village of Clio, on the farm as above described. Another was built for George, cast of this, on the farm now owned by John James; another for Amos, just north, on the farm now owned by Thomas J. Brown. After the cabins were completed, they returned to their former homes for their families. George and Amos returned again with their fami- lies, to their new homes in the wilderness, in the latter part of the winter. Daniel did not arrive until the 3d day of March, 1797.
Soon after the Wilson brothers had settled, their father, John, * came to visit them, and was so well pleased with the new settle- ment, that he concluded if the "boys" would build him a house,
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he would locate with them. The proposition was gladly accepted, and they immediately erected a two-story hewn-log house, with puncheon floor and quite an extensive fire-place, which took up the whole west end of the house. The house is now standing on the site of its first erection, about three-fourths of a mile east of Clio, southwest section 4 (3. 5), and is, no doubt, the oldest house now standing in this township, if not in the county, having been built in 1800-1.
John Wilson, sr., father of Daniel, George, Amos, and John, jr., was born in Pennsylvania, in the year 1738 or 1739, and came to this township about 1800, after the settlement had been made by his sons, as above mentioned. He had purchased the lands on which the settlement had been made from John Cleves Symmes. He (Wilson) was a delegate to the convention, in 1802, which framed the first constitution of the State of Ohio. He attended as delegate from Hamilton County, to which this part of the country then belonged, as Greene County had not then been organized.
Daniel Wilson, oldest son of John Wilson, was born April 21, 1759. He came to this township in the fall of 1796, and settled on the farm, as before mentioned, where he lived until 1811, when he removed to Montgomery County. He had four sons, John S., James, David, and Andrew.
George, Amos, and John Wilson, jr., all removed from the town- ship at a very early period.
John Sutton Wilson, son of Daniel Wilson, was born in Penn- sylvania, December 29, 1786, and died May 24, 1879. He had three sons, Samuel, Abner, and David. From the papers he has left be- hind him, we gather all that is known of the early settlement of this locality. He was a pious, conscientious man, and has left, writ- ten in full, many of the hymns taught him by his mother, and which have never been printed. They were sung from memory by the early settlers in their religious worship, and thus handed down from generation to generation. Many incidents connected with early times, are found among these papers, but we regret that the want of space precludes the most of them from these pages.
James Brelsford came from Pennsylvania, in the year 1811, and purchased the Daniel Wilson farm, where he lived for the period of fifty years. He is remembered as one of the upright, substantial citizens of this locality. He had two sons and two daughters, John, William, Mrs. Jarvis Stokes, and Mrs. Jonathan Austin.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
John Brelsford left no children. The descendants of William were Horace, James R. (Dr.), Samuel, John, Mary A., and Effie J.
Daniel Clark was the first minister of the gospel in this locality. He was a Baptist, "after the strictest order of his seet," preach- ing here as often as once every month. His salary was made up of whatever the settlers could give, and consisted mostly of deer hides, which were then considered a very acceptable legal-tender, and was the common material for clothing.
In the year 1802, James Carman, also a Baptist minister, settled on the George Wilson farm. He performed many of the marriage ceremonies of these times, receiving, in some cases, the then liberal fee of two dollars. He is remembered as a zealous and faithful minister.
On the farm of Thomas J. Brown, just north of Clio, section 10 (3. 5.), then owned by Amos Wilson, was located the first mill for grinding corn in this township, if not in the county. It was pro- pelled by hand, and operated by the neighbors, as they, in turn, would grind their own corn, from which that well-known article of common diet, called " mush," was made. One of the stones of this mill is now in the possession of Mr. Brown, and is about fourteen inches in diameter.
INCIDENTS.
The first marriage of which there is any record was that of John Wilson, jr., to Miss Mills, sister to the wife of Amos Wilson. It occurred before the organization of the county, sometime prior to 1803. It seems that the lady had gone, with her sister's family, some twenty-five miles east, toward Ross County; and the inten- tion was for a party to go after her, and have the ceremony per- formed at the old John Wilson house, but objections were made by the women, that the marriage license did not extend to the terri- tory, and the party was compelled to go over the Ross County line, where, under a leaning white oak tree, while the rain poured down upon them, James Carman performed this romantic ceremony. The party then returned to John Wilson's, where the festivities of the occasion were duly celebrated.
Wild animals abounded in this locality; in fact, the early settlers depended on the large game of the forest for supplies of meat. Between the Wilson settlement and where Centerville now stands,
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was what they called a " bear wallow," a place where these animals would go and roll themselves in the mud, like hogs. Near here, also, the deer usually went for water. One evening Daniel Wilson killed two bears and one deer at these places, which was considered one of the exploits of the times.
General Wayne, on his expedition against the Indians (1793-'94), passed through what is now Waynesville, along the Clio road, on to Dayton, clearing out what since has become Wayne Street, for the passage of his forces.
During the war of 1812, General Johnson led a reinforcement of two thousand men, over this same route, to the aid of General Har- risou. They encamped on the southwest corner of T. J. Brown's farm, at Clio, and during the night a heavy snow storm fell, and covered the tomahawks and other war implements of the soldiers, so they were compelled to leave them, and they were afterward found in great numbers.
EARLY SETTLEMENT AT BELLBROOK.
In the early spring of 1797, Daniel Wilson, as he was returning to settle permanently near Clio, overtook Joseph C., and John Vance, in the valley south of where Lebanon now stands, who were then on their way to this locality, and hence they were the first settlers. Josephi entered the land extending along east side of what is now Main Street, Bellbrook, being part of sections 31, 32, (3. 5). He built a long cabin on the site now occupied by the carriage manufactory of Willoughby and Davis, on the southeast corner of Main and Walnut Streets, Bellbrook. This was the first building in this locality, and was erected sometime in the year 1797. It also was the building in which the first store was kept by James Gowdy, who came from Xenia, but owing to scarcity of money in the neighborhood, soon returned. The first hotel was also kept in this same house by James Clancey. Joseph C. Vance removed from this locality after surveying, and laying out the city of Xenia. In the fall of 1803, he went to Champaign County, where he died in 1843. His son Joseph Vance, was elected governor of Ohio, in 1836; was defeated in 1838 by Wilson Shannon. Among the old settlers of this county, were Nathan Lamme, James Snowden, Ephriam Bowen, John Hale, Joseph Hale, James and Robert Snod-
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grass, James Barrett, John McLain, Stephen Bell, James Clancey, Boston Hoblet, and Henry Opdyke.
Nathan Lamme came from Virginia, some time in the year 1797, and entered lands in sections 33, 27, (3. 6), northeast of Bellbrook. HIe built a cabin on the hill, just north of Washington Mills. He served as volunteer in the Lord Dunmore war, and participated as captain in the battle of Point Pleasant, at the mouth of the Great Kanawha, under General Lewis. He also served as captain in the revolutionary war. He had five sons: Josiah, William, James, Samuel, and David; also two daughters, Anna and Martha. IIe died in 1835, and was buried in the " old grave-yard," north of Bellbrook. It is related of him that he was intimately ac- quainted with the famous General Simon Kenton, whom he had often entertained for weeks in the log cabin above mentioned, as the "old pioncer" passed to and from Kentucky, to his lands in Champaign County. David Lamme, succeeded his father on the home place. Samuel lived where Jesse now lives, while the other brothers removed from this locality.
James Snowden settled just northwest of Bellbrook, about 1799. He came from New Jersey, and built a cabin just north of the pre- sent residence of Henry Harman, being southeast of center of sec- tion 2, (2. 6). His lands embraced all of east part of the above section, being then all of western part of Bellbrook, which he afterwards sold to Stephen Bell and Henry Opdyke. He was one of the first associate judges of the county, and attended the court regularly, walking from his home to the county seat, through the then almost unbroken forest. He had great aver- sion to riding, but once he was persuaded to take a horse, and on starting, it seemed he neglected to mount; but slip- ping the bridle rein over his arm proceeded to walk, leading the horse; the judge no doubt fell into deep cogitations of legal lore, and the horse concluding his company more ornamental than useful, slipped his bridle, and turned his attention to the more pleasing prospect of the then unexplored pastures of the Miami bottoms. In the meantime, the judge pursued his way alone, until reaching the end of his journey, he found the empty bridle dangling on his arm. He removed from this locality to Indiana where he died.
Ephriam Bowen, and Joseph Hale, both came from Kentucky in 1802. The former settled where Andrew Holmes now lives, south- east section 3, (2. 6), and the latter where Daniel Holmes lives,
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northeast section 3, (2. 6), to which Jacob Huffman succeeded, of whom Mr. Holmes purchased. They both removed from this local- ity at an early period.
James and Moses Collier, had first lease on land entered by Nathan Lamme; they lived in a cabin near the present residence of John Kable north of Bellbrook, being central part of section 33, (3. 6). Moses is remembered as the first assessor of the township. James Barrett came from Virginia, and settled on the land now owned by Robert Tate, northwest of Bellbrook, being south part - of section 9, (2. 6). He was one of the associate judges of the first court of this county, in 1803.
James Snodgrass settled on the farm where John C. McClure now lives, just west of Bellbrook, southwest section 2, (2. 6). He was a soldier in the revolutionary war; and refused to receive the pension awarded by the government, on the ground that a truly loyal, and patriotic man would not receive pay for fighting in de- fence of his own liberty.
Robert Snodgrass settled where John Bigger now lives, west of Bellbrook, northwest section 7, (2. 6). His cabin stood near the spring south of his present residence.
John McLane came from Lexington, Kentucky, and entered the land where William Huston now lives, north section 4, (2. 6). He was a confirmed bachelor, and was much given to complaint against the school laws, which compelled him to school other people's chil- dren. He denominated the members of the legislature who passed these laws, "a sett of dung-hill gods" from whom he prayed for " deliverance." He succeeded James Snowden as associate judge, in 1810. He lived to be eighty-three years of age, and was buried as he had lived, in a lone grave on his land north of Bellbrook.
John Hale came from Kentucky in 1802, and entered land now owned by his son, Silas Hale, northeast of Bellbrook-southeast section 3 (2. 6). He built a house where the present farm house stands. The floor of this cabin was made of plank sawed by hand, the log first being hewed square, then raised on a scaffold high enough for one man to stand under, with another man on top, and they both using the saw together. He had five sons, James, Bowen, Silas, Harmon, and Lewis, all of whom, except Silas, soon removed from the township. He (John) built a tannery just east of his cabin, which he operated until 1838, when he removed to Indiana, in which state he died.
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Silas ITale. [See Beaver Creek Township, page 601.]
James Bain settled the land now owned by heirs of Archibald Berryhill, north of Bellbrook-northeast section 32 (3. 6). He built a cabin near the present farm house, about the year 1802 or 1803; subsequently he erected a malt house west of the cabin. He was also a school-teacher, combining the two avocations of teaching school and brewing beer. He is remembered as a man combining many other seemingly uncongenial professions. It is related of him that he would rise very early in the morning, proceed to his " clear- ing" work until his good wife would blow the horn for breakfast, after which he would proceed to his school, and the faithful horn would call him to his dinner; so at evening the sound of the horn echoing through the woods gave welcome warning to the boys that the dreary, hard day's work of school was done-but called the " master" to his clearing, and the maul and wedge.
Stephen Bell came some time in 1803 or 1804, and bought the land adjoining Bellbrook on the west. He had six sons, John, William (doctor), Charles, Aaron, Benjamin, and Frank.
Samuel Brewster entered the land adjoining Bellbrook on the south, extending around east, including the farm now owned by George Harman-north, section 1 (2. 6) ; formerly the farms of his sons, Nathaniel and Francis. South of this, Boston Hoblet settled, and built a cabin near the present residence of James and Martha McClure-southeast, section 1 (2. 6). In 1813 Alexander Berry- hill bought six hundred and forty acres of land south of Bellbrook, on which his sons subsequently settled. The deed for these lands was signed by James Madison, then President of the United States, and is now in the possession of Franklin Berryhill.
William Morris, Michael Swigert, Thomas Bigger, John C. Murphy, Jonathan Austin, and Jeremiah Gest, subsequent settlers, are remembered as prominent men in their day.
THE PINKNEY ROAD
Was the first beaten track through the wilderness, leading from Cincinnati through Lebanon, extending through what is now Main street, Bellbrook, north toward Alpha, past what was then known as Pinkney Pond, from which the road is supposed to have taken its name.
Over this road the early settlers received their supplies of salt
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and iron, and such other commodities as they could not produce for themselves. It required long absence from home and laborious travel to go to Cincinnati then with a load of ground corn, and exchange it for salt, and return home again. . After a time this road became more of a thoroughfare, the demand for supplies for the growing settlement continued to increase, and large teams of belled horses began to make regular trips, carrying loads of flour and returning with merchandise.
Another road, leading from this one, just north of Bellbrook, to'- Dayton, was called the Beer Road because it was used, mostly, by James Bain to transport his beer to market. The main road crossed the Miami at what is now the "upper " flour mill, and passed north of where Bellbrook now is, and extended toward Centerville. Over this route the mail was carried, and the news-boy made his weekly journeys to the Xenia postoffice.
BELLBROOK,
The only incorporated village, is centrally located. It was first laid out in 1816, by Stephen Bell, Henry Opdyke, and James Clancy, who owned the land, the latter the east and the former the west side. Pinkney road separated these lands, and ran on the dividing line between sections 2 (2. 6) and 32 (3. 6); the southern border of these sections formed the southern boundary of the original plat, the south corner-stone being in the middle of the Pinkney road. On both sides of this road (which became Main street) the lots running north were laid out two deep, four rods wide, and ten rods long, first forty lots inclusive, to where they made the first cross-street, called Franklin, sixty-six feet wide; then proceeding north twenty- four lots to Walnut street, sixty-six feet wide; thence north to High street, sixty-six feet wide; the east boundary of these lots was called East, and the west boundry West streets; next proceeding west on Franklin from West street, sixteen lots, making in all one hundred lots in the original plat. Additions have since been made on the west, north, and south, and Maple street, next south of Franklin, was made by widening the alley. The village now being located, a name for it seemed to perplex the pioneer progenitors of the coming metropolis, and we can best imagine that it was after very long and serious cogitation that finally produced the original cognoman, Bellbrook, after one of the founders, Stephen Bell, and,
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it is supposed, the brook, Little Sugar, which skirts the eastern bor- der of the town. The only house within the limits of the plat was the Clancy tavern, being the first house built in this locality, as be- fore mentioned. In the following year after the plat was made, the auction of the lots began, presided over by a worthy genius in the profession, Aaron Nutt, whose fund of anecdote and wit seems to have been wonderfully drawn upon to make this sale attractive in many more ways than simply the acquisition of real estate. The first lot sold was number one, southwest corner Main and Frank- lin streets, then proceeding south, crossing and coming north again. The first house built in the new town was erected by James Webb, near the northwest corner of Main and Franklin, on Main street. The oldest house now standing, is on the last lot south, on the east side of Main street, and was built by David Black, in 1817, and is now occupied by David Rape.
In the year 1832, Dr. William HI. Frazier, at the suggestion of Dr. Bell and R. E. Patterson, drafted a petition to the legislature, praying that the town might be incorporated, which was granted that same year. At the first election, following soon after, William Bigger was elected mayor; Abner G. Luce, recorder; Silas Hale, marshal. . The business of the village was as follows: John Sow- ards had a hatter shop on the corner of the first alley, north from Franklin, on the east side of Main; Silas Hale, cabinet-maker, on Main, near the northwest corner of Franklin, in James Webb's house; William Holmes, blacksmith, in the southeast of town, northeast of where David Rape now lives. At present, there are two dry-good stores, one drug store, two groceries, one carriage manufactory, one livery stable, one cabinet-maker, three black- smiths, two wagon-makers, two barbers, one pump manufactory, two coopers, and two shoe shops; also, one Methodist Episcopal, one Methodist Protestant, one United Presbyterian, and one Old School Presbyterian Church; also, a graded union school of three departments.
In 1850, the population was 502, but in 1870 was only 369, while in 1880 it reached 425. Many public institutions have flourished here. The I. O. O. F., some years ago, was one of the prominent ones; also, the Cadets of Temperance, the Sons of Temperance, and others, perhaps; but they have all long since been numbered with the things of the past. The "Grange" is the only organiza- tion of this kind now in operation here. It was first organized in 1874, and is now in but moderate prosperity.
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INCIDENTS, ETC.
The first and only case of homicide in this town, or township, was committed by Andrew Kirby, who stabbed John Stanton with a butcher-knife, on the 20th day of February, 1858. It occurred in the house now, as then, occupied by Mrs. Cusic, in the southeast of town, on East Street. Kirby, after the deed, about 10 o'clock P. M., immediately ran to the present residence of Silas Hale, who was then justice of the peace, and gave himself up. Stanton lived a short time, perhaps a day, when he died. At the trial, Kirby was defended by Hon. Thomas Corwin, but was sentenced to a life term in the Ohio penitentiary.
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