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 73
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Ruth V. Paullin, JJamestown, was born in Clarke County, Ohio, December 5, 1827, and was married, September 10, 1848, to Willian Paullin, who was killed, June 17, 1864, in the battle of Richmond. He volunteered to fight in defense of his beloved country, and sac- rificed his life for the perishing government. Six children are the result of their marriage, Florence D., Emma, Josephine, Edgar A., Estella, and Louis, five of whom are living; Florence died Febru- ary 26, 1876. Mrs. Paullin has a farm of eighty-six acres, well im- proved, on which she lives. Her father, William Vickers, was a native of Maryland, her mother of West Virginia. Mrs. Paullin is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Her son Florence was a volunteer in the late war, and was discharged June 5, 1865.
Thomas J. Paullin, farmer, Jamestown, is a native of this county ; was born December 23, 1827, and in June, 1855, was married to Sarah E. Gundy, by whom he had four children : Adam Gundy, Flora, David E., and Willis J., two of whom are living. Mr. Paul- lin owns a farm of one hundred and twenty-four acres, well im- proved, on which he lives, and once had three hundred and twenty- two acres of land where he now lives, but lost all but one hundred and twenty-four acres by securing friends in business transactions. He farms chiefly to grain at present, formerly to stock. Mr. and Mrs. Paullin are members of the New Light (or Christian) Church of Jamestown. Mr. Paullin's parents (David and Susan) were also natives of this county, and members of the same church.
Charles B. Pennington, farmer, Selma, Clarke County, was born May 12, 1843, and reared in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Came to Ohio in 1865, and located in Champaign County, remaining until 1878, when he came to this county. Was married to Ann Atkin-
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son, October 3, 1877. They have one child, Mary Laura, aged nineteen months. Mr. Pennington farms chiefly to grain, and has a farm of one hundred and sixty-four and a half acres, well im- proved, on which he lives. Mr. and Mrs. Pennington are members of the Friends' Church. Mr. Pennington was educated in that church in Pennsylvania, and was then a member of the " Hicksites." After he came to Ohio, he became converted to the faith of ortho- dox Friends, and united with them. He is a strictly temperate man; never chewed or smoked tobacco, or tasted intoxicating liquors, and never took the name of God in vain. His Christian life has been one of great satisfaction to him. Mr. and Mrs. Sam- uel Pennington, Charles' parents, were natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Pennington died, February 14, 1877, aged seventy-two years. Mr. Pennington is living in Champaign County.
Isaac Taylor, farmer, Jamestown, was born on the Atlantic Ocean, near New York. His parents were natives of Ireland, and were on their way to America when Isaac was born. They located in Rockbridge County, Virginia, where Mr. Taylor, sen., died, about forty-seven years after his arrival at that place. Our subject was married in Rockbridge County, to Frances Gilmore, of that county, whose father and grandmother were captured by Indians" in Rockbridge County, Virginia, and brought to where Oldtown, Greene County, Ohio, now stands, and were kept there several years, when they were rescued by some white men, and taken back to Virginia, where she lived the remainder of her life. The mar- riage of Mr. Taylor and Miss Gilmore resulted in the birth of nine, and the rearing of five children, four having died in early life. Magdalene, William G., John F., Daniel, and Isaac still survive. Mr. Taylor came to Ohio in 1827, and located in Preble County, re- maining there two years, and then came to this county, residing here ever since. He has seen this country changed from the wooden, wet country, as it was when he came here, to a pleasant, fertile state, as it is now. Mr. Taylor has a farm of two hundred and three acres, on which he now lives, and has given his children four hundred and ninety-seven acres.
John Towell, farmer, Grape Grove, was born in this county, May 13, 1818, and has been a resident of the county all his life. Was married to Catharine Routh, June 9, 1839, by whom he had eight children : Evestes F., Mary E., Sarah J., Eliza M., Martha J., John C., Miranda, and Catharine M., five of whom survive. Of these,
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all are married except Catharine M., who is still at home with her parents. Mr. Towell was elected justice of the peace in 1872, and has held the office since that time, and has held all the offices of the township. John Towell, sen., father of John, jun., came to this county in 1810; was a soldier in the war of 1812, and died in 1821. His wife died in April, 1880. They were both natives of Virginia. This county was almost an unbroken forest when they came here, and they took an active part in the labor of making this township as productive and pleasant as it now is.
James Turnbull, farmer, is a native of Davidson County, Ten- nessee; came to Montgomery County, Ohio, with his parents, in 1809; removed to this county in 1815, and has been a resident ever since. Was married, December 22, 1831, to Susan Bull, by whom he has had ten children, six of whom are living. Mr. Turnbull is a member of the United Presbyterian Church; as was also Mrs. Turnbull, who died April 10, 1879. William, James' father, died in Warren County, Illinois, May 17, 1834; his wife in Montgom- ery County, Ohio, August 27, 1811. About eighty years after William Turnbull was married, his descendants numbered two hundred and five-one hundred and two males, and one hundred and three females. Of these there were at that time sixty-nine males and seventy-one females living. William reared a family of seven sons and two daughters, of whom there are but two living. James has a farm of one hundred and fifty three acres, on which he lives. Has two sons and one daughter at home, two daughters married, and one son (James, jr.) in Kansas, preaching.
SILVER CREEK TOWNSHIP.
INTRODUCTION.
It was the vice of the old-school historians that they dealt only with the public affairs of nations. It was their theory that events were nothing unless projected on the heroic scale; and yet the dif- ference between the heroic and the Quixotic was often undiscover- able. The most obscure annalist felt the necessity of making, mounting, and marshaling his characters, and set them all a-joust- ing. The world was a tournament, and human life a ceremony. Here was a king, there a priest, and yonder a warrior. Here was a senate debating, there an army marching, and yonder a city sacked by invaders. The picture presented a scene differing entirely from the real dispositions and purposes of life-a pageant of idealities, rather than a drama of facts.
With the coming of a new era, the historical writings have been changed. Upon the boundless bosom of History's undercurrent, are borne the destinies of all men. Now have the lowly found a voice, the weak man a tongue, the poor man an oracle. The dis- covery that manners and customs are the vital parts of history, has at last been made. It is evident that what people think about and hope for, is more important in the records of nationality, than the story of intrigues, debates and battles." The story of the settle- ment of our own homes, cannot fail to be of special interest to us. A record of the trials of the early pioneers, the subsequent success of themselves and posterity, together with the many reminiscences of ye olden times, deserve preservation. In the following pages the writer has aimed to portray accurately the incidents which have occurred in this township. It is the purpose of the publish- ers to preserve and present, in a compact and attractive form, the story of some important facts, already but half discoverable through the shadows, and soon to be lost in oblivion unless preserved in some such record as this.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
PRESENT BOUNDARY.
Silver Creek occupies the center of the extreme western portion of the county, and is bounded on the north by Ross Township, on the cast by Fayette County, on the south by Jefferson, and on the west by New Jasper townships. The southern boundary is irregu- lar in form-the corners protruding, respectively, about one-half mile, and one mile further south; an extension of about one mile is also added to the eastern portion of the southeast corner. The township is about six miles long, from cast to west, and about four miles wide. The surface is generally level, with a slight eleva- tion in the southwestern portion. Sufficient drainage is afforded by several branches of Cæsar's Creek, which have their origin in close proximity to the northern boundary, and flow diagonally through the township. Travel is facilitated by the Dayton and Southeastern Railroad, which crosses the township from cast to west. Xenia, Washington and Cedarville pikes, and their numerous branches, furnish ample means of egress and ingress in every di- rection. Originally, the township was nearly all timber, oak pre- dominating. With the rapid strides of civilization, almost every trace of the forests has disappeared, and in their stead innumerable aeres of corn, potatoes, and grain have appeared, as if by magic.
The land was included in the Military District, and purchased generally of agents. One Galloway was the original owner of the largest portion of the township. So-called congress land was pur- chased at two dollars per acre, and, in order to compete success- fully with congress land offices, the agents representing military grants disposed of their land at the same figure. After the memo- rable war of 1812, when money was scarce and buyers few, the price of land was reduced to $1.25 per acre. The fertility of the soil was, undoubtedly, the chief inducement to settlers. During the wet season, the eastern part was pretty generally covered with water. A superior system of drainage, however, has caused it to be the most productive tract of land in the township.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The first persons to make a home here were Martin Mendenhall, Thomas Moorman, Noah Strong, and Thomas Browder, who came
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in 1806, from Virginia and North Carolina. From these states came most of the early settlers. Mendenhall settled on the south side of what is now known as Jamestown, on a tract of about one hundred and fifty acres. The northern half of the town was owned by Thomas Browder. On the Maysville and Urbana road, one-half mile east of Jamestown, Noah Strong settled in 1807, with eight children. Strong was a native of Vermont, and left his native land about 1804-5. They lived at Cincinnati one year, then . located at Cedarville; after living there a short time, they removed to the present farm of his grandson.
In 1811, Mr. Strong built a log house, one and one-half-story high, which has since been weather-boarded, and is still in a state of preservation-being now used as a barn. Its present owner in- formed the writer that, without any exception, this is the oldest building in the township, and declares that it shall stand until suc- cumbing to the ravages of time. Grandfather, Noah Strong, pur- chased his tract of land-one hundred acres-of one George Reed- er. We were shown the original deed for the same, dated 1798. There seems to be conflicting opinions as to the date of the actual settlement of Strong. The land was purchased, in 1798, and yet, Mr. Sylvester Strong, a man of excellent memory, and whose ver- acity is unquestionable, has stated that his grandfather (Noah Strong) did not settle in this township until 1807. Purchasing lands some time before settling on them, however, was not an unusual occur- rence in those days, and it is quite probable that Strong received a deed for his lands some years prior to his occupancy of the same; this will account for the hiatus between the purchase and settle- ment of the land. That Strong was not only one of the first set- tlers, but the first settler in his portion of the township is an un- deniable fact.
One by one the surveys were inhabited by the whites. Some of them settled across the township lines, and are mentioned in the histories of the different townships. Others left for parts unknown after sojourning here for a short time only; the decendants of others have become extinet, or are unknown to tradition, the only source of information insomuch as it relates to pioneer history.
Harkness Turner, settled on what was then known as the George Posey survey. In the year 1807, John Campbell settled where Todd. Sheley now resides. A little later, we note the arrival of Isaac Gutten, who located two miles south of Jamestown.
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
John Sheley and family, who were friends and near neighbors of George Washington, came here from Virginia, in 1807, and set- tled on land one-half mile south of town. His descendants are yet living in this vicinity. Mr. Sheley and his wife, besides pos- sessing amiable dispositions, undoubtedly were favored with strong constitutions-we are informed that they lived to the ripe old age of nearly one hundred years.
Charles F. Moorman, a descendant of the Moorman's, who came from Ireland to America, in about the year 1690, was born in Campbell County, Virginia, June 25, 1795. On his birthday, at the age of twelve years, in the year 1807, he, with his parents, started to move to the State of Ohio. Having relatives in High- land County, they stopped with them awhile, five miles south of Leesburg, where they raised one crop. From thence they moved to this county, and settled one mile east of Jamestown, in the spring of 1809. In his seventeenth year he was converted to the Christian religion ; and in his twenty-first year, November 5, 1816, he was married to Matilda Watson, youngest daughter of John Watson, Esq., by whom he had thirteen children, eight sons and five daugh- ters; two died in infancy, and eleven were raised to man and woman- hood-seven boys and four girls; all living, except the oldest daughter, who died in her twenty-fourth year. Matilda, his wife, died December 31, 1870, aged seventy-four years, four months and seven days.
In moving from Highland to this county, they had to clear a road for the wagons to pass. Part of the way there was no wagon road, only an Indian trail or path, along which a single person or horse only could walk through the dense forests. Before leaving High- land County, preparatory to moving, they had cleared a few acres of ground and built a cabin, which was twenty feet square and one story high.
In the year 1816, the subject of this sketch, hewed the logs that built a story and a half house, adjoining the first one on the north side. This cabin is now standing on the southwest corner of Church and Railroad streets, opposite the depot, in Jamestown; bought of Charles T. Moorman, sr., by Volen Stephens, and put up where it now stands. It is sixty-six years old.
Thomas Moorman, sr., settled on a tract of land which he bought of Colonel Wats, one thousand acres, being part of an original sur- vey, which was granted by the government of the United States to
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him for services in the Revolutionary War. Wats made Thomas Moorman agent, to sell land in this county, giving him the privil- ege of using the money at six per cent. In the course of a few years the colonel died, and a general settlement had to be made; and as he was not successful in his land speculation, he was not able to pay his debts without selling all the land he owned. The last sixty acres had to be sold, and Charles F. Moorman, sr., bought it at a high price, twelve dollars per acre, in order to secure a home for himself and family, and for his now aged parents. Thus his early manhood was severely taxed by assuming a debt of over seven hundred dollars, at six per cent. per annum, with little or noth- ing to commence life with. By a strenuous effort, he placed hin- self on a firm basis ; spending the remainder of his life in peace and comfort. He died the 30th of September, being eighty-five years, three months and five days old. His descendents are living in this and the surrounding counties.
INDIANS.
Prior to the first settlement in this county, the Indian hostilities had ceased ; hence but little trouble was apprehended from them. That Indians dwelled here in large numbers will not be questioned. Indeed, it is asserted by some of the oldest residents, that when the spot, where stands the old house built by Noah Strong, was excav- ated, numerous Indian skeletons were found, and the belief that there had once been located a burying ground on the site mention- ed became general. In 1812, 1813 and 1814, the Shawanoes, a friendly tribe of Indians, camped in this vicinity. Mr. Sylvester Strong and others frequently visited them, exchanging corn dodgers for venison hams. An old chief named Chieske, who was too old to be a warrior, lived with the Strong's, and instructed Sylvester in the Indian language.
TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION.
This township was organized in 1811. Peter Price, was one of the first justices of the peace.
The following is a list of township officials for 1880 :
Trustees, Alfred Johnson, James T. Robinson, A. G, Carpenter; clerk, S. A. Harper; treasurer, Al. Wickersham; assessor, William
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
Blain ; justices of the peace, Charles Chaney, S. O. Davis; consta- ble, P. G. Mooreman.
MILLS AND DISTILLERIES.
For some time our earliest settlers were compelled to crush their wheat and corn as best they could. The first grist mill was invent- ed by Singleton Farmer, and consisted of two stones, between which the grain was crushed-the machine being turned by hand. In 1830, Childs Mooreman, living near the Friends' Church, erect- ed the so-called tramp corn-eracker, which was operated by the treading of horses on a large wheel, which, being revolved, set the machinery in motion. This process was very slow, requiring nearly one day to grind a sack of corn. In 1835-40, the mill now owned by J. W. McMillan, Jamestown, was erected and used jointly as a saw-mill and distillery. It was built by Merrick and MeBride, be- ing the first manufacturing institution in the township which used steam. Some years after, it passed into the hands of one Kendall, who converted it into a flouring-mill. The mill was purchased by its present owner in about 1860. He has greatly improved the same, and it now ranks as one of the most extensive flouring-mills in the county.
RELIGIOUS MATTERS.
It is a fact ever to be remembered, that in the midst of trials, daily labor, and hours of apparent misery, our forefathers never for a moment forgot the God they loved, and who had ever protected them from the wiles of the evil one. They ever remembered the Sabbath day, to keep it holy; and though at first they were de- barred from the pleasures attending the weekly reunions of the Lord's people, yet in the privacy of their own chambers did they join in glad thanksgiving to Him from whom all blessing flow.
Caesar's Creek Baptist Church .- This, the oldest organized church in the county, and the surrounding country as well, is located on the dividing line between Jefferson and Silver Creek townships. Inas- much as a majority of its members reside in this township, we deem it but just to incorporate it in the history of this township. The exact date of its organization is unknown, as none of the original members are now alive. We have the authority of Father Stephen
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Scott, that it was probably organized in 1803. Mr. Scott became a member in 1820, and has since been a faithful worker in the cause to this day. At the time of Mr. Scott's connection with the church, Rev. Cottrell was the minister. Revs. Sutton and Tuttle were licensed ministers at that time, but had not been ordained. The first building used was a log cabin. Even at an early period the attendance was very large, and, to use Mr. Scott's own words, "In that old log house we had many happy times." Rev. Sutton was a great preacher and a successful revivalist; his words, like bread cast upon the waters, were gathered after many days. During his ministration he baptized a great number of converts. An Eng- lish preacher named Jones, was also considered an interesting talker. He usually dwelt at some length on the religious persecutions of England, and never failed to arouse the sympathies of his audience.
The following gentlemen have administered to the spiritual wants of the church since its organization : Cottrell, Tuttle, Sutton, Reeves, Hummer, Mann, Stephens, and Smith. Rev. Samuel H. Smith is the present minister. Years ago, when it became evident that the old log was inadequate for the accommodation of the members, a small brick structure was erected. This continued as the house of worship until 1873, when the present brick building was erected. This is one of the largest and finest country churches in the county. Years ago, a Sabbath-school was organized, which is still in a very flourishing condition, the attendance being very large. A cemetery is located near the church, whose first burial dates far beyond the recollection of the oldest settler.
Cæsar's Creek Baptist Church, No. 2 .- In 1837, on account of a difference of opinion on religious matters, there occurred a division in the old Caesar's Creek Baptist Church, and about twenty mem- bers withdrew. They organized a new society, under the leader- ship of Rev. George Reeves, who served as their regular minister for a term of eighteen years. Their present house of worship-a frame, located on the southern part of O. S. Hatch's farm, in the southern part of the township,-was erected in 1859. At that time there were about thirty-three members. On account of deaths and removals from the neighborhood, the membership has decreased to seventeen. Services are conducted by Rev. Elias Reeves, son of Rev. George Reeves, once each month. There is no Sabbath-school connected with the church.
Campbellite Christian Church (located one mile east of Jamestown,
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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY.
on the Washington pike) .- This church owes its origin to the old Campbellite Church, organized at Jamestown, by Oliver Hixon, who, with Dr. Winans, assisted in the building up of the same. At a very early day, this section of country was visited by Walter Scott, who, with Rev. A. Campbell, originally founded this denom- ination. As is stated in the history of Jamestown, meetings were held at that village for a number of years, until the departure of several of the most influential members necessitated the dissolution of the body. Some nine or ten years ago, a few believers in the faith made arrangements to hold occasional meetings in the school house, not far from the present church building. In 1873, an or- ganization was effected, and shortly after, the present structure, a frame, 30x40, was erected. Rev. John Irvin was the first minister after the completion of the new church; the church consisting of about fifty members, which number remains unchanged. The members meet every Sunday to participate in the sacramental rites. Regular services are held once each month, conducted by Rev. Bingaman.
The Society of Friends was organized in the year 1812, by Thomas P. Mooreman and others, Mr. Mooreman being the first clerk. The membership was composed of the Friends (or Quakers) residing in this and the surrounding country. They met regularly, at the house of Thomas Mooreman, sen., though for some time with- out a regular minister, the pulpit being supplied by the occasional " traveling preacher." Ere long a log house was erected, on ground about three-quarters of a mile southwest of Mooreman's, or one mile southeast of town. At times there were about fifty members. In 1836, or 1839, the log was torn down, and a frame erected in- stead. Thomas Arnett, an able minister, who traveled very exten- sively in the church interest, frequently visited and preached for this organization. He died a few years ago, at the advanced age of fourscore years and ten. Joseph Doan was another prominent divine, who frequently preached to the congregation. Father Mooreman, aged eighty-six years, was one of the early officers. Services are held on Wednesday and Sunday of each week, by Rev. M. F. Mooreman, who has been minister since 1866. The present building, a frame, 35x45, was erected in 1873, and is located on the Washington pike, one mile east of Jamestown. The society now numbers about one hundred members.
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SILVER CREEK TOWNSHIP.
RAILROAD MATTERS.
When the construction of a railroad, from Dayton via James- town to Belpre was agitated, this township, with commendable liberality, subscribed ten thousand dollars towards defraying the expenses attending the construction of said road. Nine thousand dollars were collected. The road was graded from Dayton to this place about twenty-four years ago and then abandoned. In 1875, about six years ago, the policy of building a narrow-gauge rail- road, from Dayton to the southern Ohio coal fields, was again dis- cussed. When it was determined to lay the iron on the old grade, Silver Creek, through a legislative grant, donated the remaining one thousand dollars to the enterprise. The road was built, and has added a new impetus to the energy of the citizens. The road
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