USA > Ohio > Madison County > History of Madison County, Ohio : its people, industries and institution with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families > Part 17
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county, thence removed to Greene county ; Luther, who married Mary Jane Reynolds and resided in Union township; John married Mary Proctor and settled at Kenton, Ohio; Catharine; William ; Elizabeth, who married John McCloud, Esq., of London; and David C., who married Mary Winget and resided at Kenton, Ohio.
James Guy, who was born in Vermont, November 14, 1779, married Mary Watts and emigrated to Ohio and settled in Union county in 1812. In 1826 he removed to Monroe township and his death occurred in September of that year. His wife died on September 6, 1842. Their children were: Harriet, who married Moses Fullington ; Jane, who mar- ried Benjamin Mann; Sylvia, who died at the age of seventeen; William and James, who married and settled in this township. Mr. Guy, while young, learned the blacksmith trade, but after settling in Ohio gave his undivided attention to farming, stock raising and the dairy business. He made stock raising a specialty and was always eager to better his strain of stock. It was necessary that he put up a large amount of hay. As there were no mowing machines in that day, the grass was cut with scythes, On a certain occasion, he and a Mr. Bidwell made a wager with their mowers, that they could cut eight acres of grass in one day. The wager was accepted, the ground measured, and the parties were to commence the next morning at sunrise. Before sunset, the entire eight acres of grass was lying in the swath, a feat which was perhaps never before or since performed by any two men. But, in addition to his great physical strength and power of endurance, he performed a conspicuous part of usefulness among the early settlers. He was also one of the great cattle buyers of that day. There were then no means of getting cattle to market, except on foot. He purchased large droves of three and four-year-oids. annually, which were driven to Pittsburgh. Philadelphia and other Eastern markets, fording creeks, swimming rivers and climbing the Alleghany mountains with his drove of bullocks. It was not unfrequently the case that the animals became frightened, the foremost ones turning back upon the others until the whole drove was in a terrible stampede, breaking down everything before them, and no human power could stop them in their mad rush, the drovers making their escape the best way possible to save themselves from being trampled to death. Mr. Guy was a very active, energetic and prosperous business man, a kind neighbor and a worthy citizen.
As we look back and see the hardships which those pioneers had to endure; their habits, modes of life, houses, household goods and the rude tools and implements we are impressed with wonder and admiration at their tireless efforts and the splendid progress which they helped to bring about. The principal social gatherings in those early days were those in which there was an interchange of labor-log rollings, husking bees, house raisings and numerous other gatherings where work was intermingled with pleasure. In that time a man of good moral habits and industry, polished with a reasonable amount of education and intelligence, whether rich or poor, was fit for any society or social position.
The subject of education has received the general attention of the people of Monroe township. As in all communities in the time of the pioneers, the first education was meted out from the rude log school houses. One of the first schools of which there is any account was in a log house of the primitive kind, with puncheon floors, slab seats, etc .. erected in 1815. Another log school house was built on Spring fork about 1820. From then up to the present time the growth has been steady and ever-increasing.
There is no railroad running through this township, but the present inhabitants are accommodated with very good roads, of which the Urbana pike and the Wilson and Winget pike are the principal ones. The advancement in the line of good roads has been as marked as any other line of improvement. The farmers are realizing that pike roads greatly increase the value of their farms and are willing to share their burden of the cost in order that this may be accomplished.
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CHAPTER X.
OAK RUN TOWNSHIP.
Oak Run was the last township erected in Madison county, and is also one of the smallest in the territory. It is the most irregular in its contour and boundary lines and is one of the three townships that is bounded wholly by other townships in the county. It is purely a rural township, as Chrisman, the only town within the limits of the town- ship, was never platted and is at present only a small hamlet. A petition was presented to the commissioners of Madison county on March 5, 1856, signed by Robert C. Amos and others, asking for the erection of a new township, to be composed of parts of the townships of Range, Pleasant, Fairfield and Union. The boundaries were erected as follow : "Beginning at the southeast corner of the land of John Dun, in Pleasant town- ship; thence northeasterly with his line crossing Deer creek to his corner; thence with his northerly boundaries to the James Innis surveys; thence with the James Innis surveys to Deer creek; thence up Deer creek with the Fairfield township line to the north line of the land formerly owned by John Harrison, deceased; thence westerly with the line of said Harrison to the John Jones road; thence westerly with said road to the Lafayette road; from thence a southiwesterly course to the northwesterly corner of. Jesse Rea's land and corner with Maxwell Murry; from thence southwesterly with Jesse Rea's line crossing the land of. Robert Armstrong to Levi Springer's northeast corner ; thence with Springer's southeast line to the Yankeetown road; thence southeasterly with said road to the southeast line of the lands of David and Isaac McClimans, and with the west line of Joseph Morgan's; from thence to the beginning. Wherefore, it is hereby ordered by the commissioners of Madison county that the foregoing described territory be and is hereby established a township; and be it further ordered that Henry Alder, surveyor of the county of Madison, and Edward Fitzgerald meet at said Fitzgerald's on March 24, 1856, and proceed to survey and establish the lines and boundaries of said township, erecting monuments at the several. corners thereof. Ordered by the commis- sioners that the legal voters within the territory heretofore described meet at Harvey's mills on Monday, the 7th day of April next, that being the first Monday of said month, and then and there proceed, as provided by the statutes in such cases, to elect all neces- sary officers for such township."
On June 2, 1856, a petition by citizens of Oak Run township was presented to and granted by the commissioners, changing the west line of Oak Run township, as follows: "Down the London and Yankeetown road to the line of William Johnson, Sr., and William Johnson, Jr .; thence with their line to a branch of Bradford's; thence with the meander- ings of said branch to the line of Thomas Foster, and thence with the line of him and James McClimans to the west line of John Foster, bounding with I. and W. McClimans: thence with their line to John Foster's southwest corner, being two black oaks; thence in a direct line to the northwest corner of James W. Robinson and corner to land bought of said Robinson by I. and D. McClimans, near Bradford's run; thence with the line of said Robinson and I. and D. McClimans to their corner in the line of Joseph Morgan."
There is also this record: "Oak Run township, April 17, 1856-In pursuance of notice, the qualified electors of Oak Run township, Madison county, Ohio, met and organized by calling Jonathan Harvey to the chair, and Jeremiah Rea as secretary, and then viva voce declaring Jeremiah Thomas, Jonathan Harvey and Robert C. Amos,
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judges of election; Jeremiah Rea and Mitchell Lane, clerks of election. The above officers being qualified according to law, the poll book was then opened, and the electors of said township proceeded to elect by ballot the following officers, to wit: John Foster, Jonathan Harvey and Robert C. Amos, trustees; Jeremiah Thomas, treasurer; Jeremiah Rea, clerk; David Lewis, constable: Mitchell Lane and Jonathan Farrar, supervisors. and Dr. D. Warner, justice of the peace." The township was now in complete order, the boundary lines of its territory definitely and satisfactorily, and all necessary officers duly elected and qualified for the duties that might develop upon them during the year 1856. The above election was, in accordance with the orders of the commissioners, held at Harvey's mills. From the record books of this township we find that elections have been regularly held each year since 1856, at Harvey's mills, until 1881, when there was erected a good township house at the corner of Robert Rea's land, where the Harvey mill road strikes the London and Mt. Sterling pike, since which time the elections have been held at the township house.
SURFACE, SOIL AND STREAMS.
The surface of Oak Run township is generally level. the western and southern por- tions being particularly flat and uniform, while the northern and eastern portions are undulating and, in some localities, especially along the creeks, rather' hilly. " The princi- pal streams are Deer creek and Oak run, from which the township took its name, and Bradford's fork, with their small tributaries. The former passes through the northeast portion of the township, in a southeasterly course, entering the township from Union .by passing through the farm, originally, of Joseph' Bell and striking in its course the boundary line of Fairfield township, there it 'takes a south course and for some distance forms the boundary line between Oak Run and Fairfield townships, then again enters Oak Run township through the 'Chenoweth farm and reaching the north line of the Jesse Rea farm; turns east, reaching the Dun tract of land"again takes a south course and passes into Pleasant township. In its course through this township, it receives its first tributary in what is called Nigger run; then its next tributary is Glade run, which enters the northeast corner of the township, passes through several farms, and empties into Deer creek, as above mentioned. The next tributary is Oak run, which enters the township and flows' southeasterly, receiving in its course Walnut run. Turkey run also forms one of the tributaries of Oak run and empties into it a little below where Oak run empties into Deer creek. In the south part of the township, and forming for a consider- able distance the boundary line between Oak Run and Range townships, is Bradford's fork, the main stream having a general southeastern direction, receiving as its tributaries North fork and Barron run. These numerous streams and their tributaries furnish an abundant supply of water to all portions of the township and also furnish excellent drainage for the township.' The west and south portions of the township possess a very deep. rich soil, principally a black loam, and, as originally found by the white settlers, consisted mainly of oak openings and prairies, upon which grew a sedge so tall that a man riding through it on horseback could take the grass from either side and tie the tops together over his horse's back. The northern and eastern portions and along the creeks, where the surface is undulating and hilly, possess principally a loam and clay soil, and, although some small portions of it is a thin' soil, yet the larger percentage is strong and productive, and is excellent for either grass or grain. .
EARLY. SETTLERS
. William Jamison, seems to have been the first settler in Oak Run township, at least he is the first of whom any record can be obtained, as settling within the present limits of this township. He came to this, county from Kentucky and settled south of the mouth
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of Glade run, about 1805. He purchased two hundred acres of land. on which he resided until his death. Mr. Jamison became quite a prominent and prosperous farmer of that day. He was married to Ann Brown, of Brown county, Ohio, by whom he had three sons and three daughters, namely : Ira. who became a minister in the Methodist Episco- pal church, and died in Hancock county, Ohio; the second son died while young ; William. the youngest son, emigrated west after reaching his majority and resided at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. The three daughters were: Zelah. who married Mr. Ferguson; Cynthia, who married Levi Poulston, and the third daughter, whose name it has been impossible to obtain, married a Mr. Foster.
John Simpkins, a native of Maryland, came to this county about the same time as the Gwynnes, as early as 1808. He purchased land in Oak Run township, on Walnut and Oak runs, and settled here. He improved his land and became quite an active man in the secular affairs of the township and county; served as treasurer of the county in 1816: collector in 1817; held the office of associate judge and later was elected justice of the peace, which latter office he held for several years. He finally moved to Missouri, remaining there but a short time, when he returned to this township and entered upon the mercantile business. which he followed through the greater part of the remaining years of his life. He had two brothers, James and Thomas; the latter was stabbed and killed on the streets of London; the former subsequently returned to his native state, Maryland.
Elias and Van De Lashmut, two brothers, natives of Maryland, came to Madison county, it is thought. as early as 1810. They purchased land on Deer creek, on the boundary line between Fairfield and Oak Run townships. At the same time there came to this township John De Lashmut, a cousin of the above; also two brothers, Otho and Nelson De Lashmut, the latter a brick-maker by trade. Elias was the principal active man among them; was sheriff of Franklin county in 1807-09, and it seems owned the greater part of the land purchased by the brothers. After a few years he entered upon the mercantile business, and was one of the early merchants of London, where he carried on his business for a number of years. John De Lashmut subsequently moved west. and settled on the Red river.
John Jones came from Franklin county and settled on Oak ruu, one mile above its mouth, about the year 1808; he resided here some eight or ten years, opened up the farm and made considerable improvements, and then moved west. Thomas Nash, a native of Kentucky, settled near the mouth of Oak run about 1812; after residing there for a few years he removed to Indiana. William Sly settled on Turkey run, on surveys No. 10,904 and 12,364, at an early day, and was becoming somewhat prominent as an active, energetic man, when he moved to Sandusky and died a short time later. John Lindsay. a Virginian, settled on Oak run, one mile above its mouth, on the land first settled and improved by John Jones, about 1818. He resided here about six or eight years; was quite active and energetic, gained some wealth and moved to Sandusky, where he pur- chased some land and later died, leaving a large estate.
Montgomery Wilson was one of the early settlers of the township; but little is known of his ancestors or his early life. except that he was a blacksmith by trade and located temporarily where his business or inclination led him.
Joseph Rea. was born in Pennsylvania in 1754; on January 16. 1783, he married Elizabeth Conn, who was born January 27, 1762. They first emigrated to Virginia ; thence. in 1810, to Ross county, Ohio; and thence to Madison county, about 1818. and settled on Oak run, where they died about 1829. They raised a family of nine children, all reaching the age of maturity. Their son, Matthew, who was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia. in 1793, became a resident of London in 1818. He married Ann Amos, who was born in Maryland, November 15. 1802, the marriage being performed in London
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by Patrick McLene, Esq. In 1835 they settled in Oak Run township, where he became a successful farmer and stock raiser and accumulated a goodly portion of the worldly goods. Matthew died in 1873 and his wife died in 1857.
James Foster came from Ross county and settled on the north side of Bradley's fork, about 1820; a few years later his brother, John, came to this township and settled near him. They married sisters by the name of Bougher. They both became prosperous farmers and large landowners; active in business interests and filled many offices of trust in the county and township, James serving as county commissioner for a number of years.
Jonathan Farrar was a native of England, but became a settler in Oak Run town- ship about the year 1825. Mr. Farrar was an excellent man and a great admirer and fancier of thoroughbred stock. He, with Charles Phellis, Esq., and Mr. Browning, were appointed a committee by the Stock Breeders' Association of Madison county to go to England and purchase a quantity of fine blooded stock. John C. Robinson, an English- man by birth, possessed of a good education and a teacher in his younger days, came from Pennsylvania to Madison county and, about 1831-32, located in Oak Run township. He erected a saw-mill on Oak run, since known as the Harvey mill and Gregg mill. He sold the mill to Jonathan Harvey, and thence removed to Kentucky, where he entered upon the teaching profession, and while engaged in this profession was stabbed and killed by one of his scholars.
CHAPTER XI.
PAINT TOWNSHIP.
Paint township occupies a southern position in the western tier of townships in Madison county, being bounded on the north by Union township, on the east by Union and Range townships, on the south by Stokes township and on the west by Clarke county. While the territory enclosed within the boundaries of the present Paint town- ship began to be settled as early as 1804, it was the last township but one to be erected. From the commissioners' records we quote the following, under date of June 7, 1853 :
"A petition was presented to the commissioners, asking for a new township, to be called Paint township, to be composed of parts of the townships of Stokes and Union. Beginning at the county line near Peter Slaughter's, thence running an easterly direction to the line of Range township; thence a northerly direction to the line of Range town- ship; thence a northerly direction with the original township line to the corner of Stokes and Union townships; thence northeast so as to include Baskersville's, and to continue in that direction far enough to include Robert Reed, or some point so as to get enough territory ; thence a northwesterly direction to the line of Clark and Madison counties at some point north of William T. Jones'; thence a southern direction with the county line to the beginning. Therefore, it is hereby ordered by the commissioners of Madison county, that the foregoing described territory, or as near as may be deemed proper, be, and is, established a township, which shall be known by the name of Paint ; and be it further ordered that Henry Alder, surveyor of the county of Madison, and John T. Maxey proceed to survey and establish the lines and boundaries of said town- ship, erecting proper monuments at the several corners thereof. Ordered by the com- missioners that the legal voters within the territory heretofore described meet at the residence of James Phifer, on Saturday, the 25th day of June, 1853, and there and then proceed, as provided by statute in such cases, to elect all necessary officers for said township."
Again, on June 6, 1855, we find the following among the commissioners' records : "A number of citizens of Union township presented a petition that the line dividing the townships of Union and Paint be so changed that they may be included within the bound- aries of Paint township, to wit: Beginning at the angle in said line between the resi- dence of Washington Withrow and H. Langham; thence north so as to include John Ham, Sr .. John C. Jones and Job Coberly, Sr .. in Paint township; thence near a straight course to. the junction of the Midway and London turnpike road and the old Xenia road, that being the Paint township line, or near that place where Paint township lines strikes the old Xenia road." This petition was granted, and Nelson Baker appointed to survey the line.
SURFACE, SOIL AND STREAMS.
The surface of the township is generally level and in its original state contained large and extensive prairies and oak openings. the western, southern and central. por- tions possessing but little timber. Bordering along Walnut run, in the northern part, and along the eastern side of the township. the surface is more undulating, with here and there portions that approach a slightly hilly condition, the most of which was originally heavily timbered. The principal species of the trees of the forests were white, black and red oak, hickory, walnut, elm and maple. In the oak openings, burr oak prevailed. The township is well watered by Walnut run and Paint creek and their tributaries. Walnut
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run enters the township from Union township and flows almost due east through the northeastern portion of the county into Union and on into Oak Run township, where it empties into Deer creek. Paint creek consists of two forks, the West and East fork, the former of which finds its source in Clark county, enters Paint township near its north- west corner, takes a southeast course, and unites with the East fork in the south central portion of the township, then flows into Stokes township. The East fork rises in the extreme northern part of the township, flows southeast to about the center of the town- ship, then turns to the southwest to join with the West fork, as described above. The soil of this township is exceedingly rich and fertile, the oak openings and prairies possessing a deep black, loamy soil, while the more undulating portions of the north and eastern parts of the township are a mixture of clay and loam. Underneath these is a stratum of blue clay, mixed with limestone, and through these one reaches a bed of gravel, the structure and composition being favorable to the retention of moisture and protection from long-continued droughts. It is a very strong and productive soil, well adapted to the raising of grass and grains.
THE PIONEERS AND EARLY SETTLERS.
From the best available sources it appears that the first pioneer of Paint township was Andrew Sifrit, who was born near Winchester, Virginia, in 1750. When a young man he enlisted in the army and served for eight long years with the American forces during their struggle for independence. As a reward for these services, he afterward received a warrant for two hundred acres of land. He married Susan Shrock, by whom he had nine children. She died and he later married, for his second wife, Hannah Morrills, also a native of Virginia, by whom he had twelve children. Thus he was the father of twenty-one children. In 1803 he, with his family. emigrated to Ross county, where he remained for one year and then, in 1804, pushed on to Madison county, settling in Paint township, on land later owned by John Paulin, on what is known as Sifrit run. He, it is believed, was the first white settler in Paint township as it is now known, but at that date it was in, Darby township, in Franklin county. Here he and his family erected a double log cabin and commenced to make a farm and home. They had willing hands and hearts and knew how to use them, and from year to year their comforts and conveniences increased, neighbors began to appear, and everything began to put on a more comfortable and pleasing aspect. Mr. Sifrit died at the advanced age of ninety- eight years.
Peter P. Helpenstine, a native of Virginia, received a grant for a large amount of land for his services as a major during the Revolutionary War. He started for Ohio, in October, 1805, and, arriving at Chillicothe, he became acquainted with Col. Elias Langham, who was going up into the "Barrens" to lay some warrants. David Watson had accompanied Mr. Helpenstine from. Virginia, and now they associated themselves with Colonel Langham and came with him up to Madison to locate and lay and survey their land. About February 14, they finished their work and returned to Chillicothe, where they remained until September, 1806. They returned to Virginia and at once made preparations to return to their new lands. Mr. Helpenstine and family, Jonathan Minshall and family and Walter Watson and family, with their connections, to the number of thirty-nine persons, with six or seven wagons, started for their new homes in the wilds of Ohio. This caravan arrived at Chillicothe by the last of October, 1806. There they left their families, while Mr. Watson, with his family, located on a place which his son David had previously rented for him. Mr. Helpenstine proceeded to his land and, with the assistance of David Watson and others, erected a cabin, in his new and permanent home, and here he remained through life, being. it is believed, the second settler in Paint township.
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