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 23

Author: Bryan, Chester Edwin
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : Bowen
Number of Pages: 1150

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 23

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In November, 1814, William Jones and wife, with one child. Job K., emigrated from Tennessee and settled in London. Later there were born to the parents, Isaac, John, William and James. The father was a blacksmith by trade and the first to follow that vocation in London. He was afterward engaged in various occupations and became very wealthy. He suffered severely in the crisis of 1837, by paying security debts, and removed to his farm in Union township; subsequently he returned to London and lived with his son, Job K., at whose home he died. He was everybody's friend and was familiarly known as "Dad Jones." Of the children, Job K., remained a resident of London until his death, which occurred on April 4, 1877. He possessed, at one time, over eight hundred acres

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of land in Union and Deer Creek townships, 'Madison county. John became a merchant in London and James a lawyer in Champaign, Illinois.

Thomas Jones, a native of Worcester county, Maryland, emigrated to Ross county, Ohio; about 1817 removed to Madison county and located in the southwestern part of Union township, where he purchased land. Later P. P. Helphienstine purchased a large tract of land of Fulton &' Creighton, of Chillicothe, from which' Mr.' Jones obtained enough to make his first purchase of one thousand acres. He remained where he first located the remainder of his long and useful life: In politics he was at first a Whig and later a stanch Republican. He served, under the old 'constitution, as an associate judge for several years, and also as county commissioner. 'He was a man of kind heart and noted for his deeds of love and charity: "His wife was Mary P. Truitt, 'a native of Maryland, by whom he had 'seven sons and one daughter: James J., who married Jose- phine Kerr; William G., who married Eliza Cryder; Edward A., who married Margery Elkin ; Doctor Toland, who married. Frances A. Toland ; John E., who married Mary McLene ; Eliza J., who married J. B. Evans (later Thomas O. Smith) ; Kendall P., who died in 1854, and Addison, who married Sarah . F. Godfrey. Mr. Jones died in 1859 and his wife in 1865. Samuel Messmore, a native of Pennsylvania, married Mrs. Michael Lohr, nee Mary C. Miller, who was born in Rockingham county, Virginia: In '1810 she mar- ried 'Michael Lohir, who died in 1818. By him she had two sons and two daughters : Margaret Ann, who married William Campbell : George W., who married Sarah F. Reeder; John, who married An Noteman, and Mary, who married Michael Carr. Mr. Messmore married Mrs. Lohr in 1819. 'In' 1820 they removed to Ohio and settled in Union' township, Madison county. He was the master of two trades; bricklaying and shoemaking, the latter of which he followed in connection with farming all through his life.' He died in Midway, this county, having moved there just a year or two before his death. " He was a man of excellent character. honest and upright in all his dealings, kind and liberal in his habits, and in his later years a devout member of the Christian church. By Mr. Messmore, 'Mrs. Messmore' was the mother of three children: Mary Catherine, who mar- ried James Gossard; Isabel, who married Alexander Wilmoth, and James Madison, who died in childhood.

.. James Garrard, a native of Pennsylvania, was born on January 28, 1780, and emi- grated to Warren county. Ohio. about 1796-97, where he married Mahitable Buckles, who was born August 14. 1772, in Virginia. They later moved to near Lisbon. Clark county, Ohio: from thence. in 1823-24, to Union township, Madison county, locating in the west part, where he purchased land and remained until his death. Their children were: Mary, who married David Smith, who died, and she married Robert Buckles; Jonah never married and died in this county about 1848; James, who married Mary Buckles, and died in this county, July 24, 1880; and Stephen, who married Nancy Davis. Mr. Gar- rard's wife died on October S, 1836. He later married Martha Hollar, by whom he had two children, Martin Van Buren and Thomas Jefferson. Mr. Garrard died on January 28. 1845. About 1829. Mr. Garrard built a grist-mill on Oak run, just above the Roberts' mill. made of hewed logs and run by water-power. Soon after he erected a small distill- ery ; these he ran until about 1840, when he sold the mill to Charles Roberts and the still was discontinued. He was an active worker in the Democratic party organization. He was soldier in the War of 1812. Dr. Simon Steers. a Yankee by birth, located in the north part of the township about 1810 and was one of the first physicians of this town- ship. He lived here until his death. He and his wife are both interred in' the ceme- tery near Newport.

James Rankin, one of the prominent and leading business men of the county, was born in Maryland, May 20, 1786. On February 10, 1807, he married Margaret Truitt, who was born in Worcester county, Maryland, January 1, 1788. In the spring of 1817, they

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emigrated to Ohio, and were all summer making the trip, arriving in the county in the fall of the same year. In the spring of 1818, they located on the land now known as the county infirmary farm. Mr. Rankin was a contractor and builder by profession and was one of the contractors for a county jail built about this time. However, h'e made farming his life occupation. He was a prominent member of the Presbyterian church of London and was one of its constituent members at the time of its reorganization in 1829. He was also a loyal member of the Masonic fraternity. He held the office of township trustee for more than fifteen years. Politically, he was an ardent Whig. He died on August 21, 1857; Mrs. Rankin died on December 12, 1871. They were the parents of the following children : John T.' N., who married Charity Ann Fullerton; Albert G., who married Abigail Cooper; Charlotte Ann Selby, who married William Stroup; Joshua Truitt, who married' Sarah Evans; "Mary Atkinson, who married Fulton Armstrong; James, who married Ann Eliza Warner, and Washington Purcell, who died in childhood. Edward Evans settled in Paint township, in 1813, and, a little later, located in Union township," on land belonging to the James Armstrong heirs, where he died. "He was"a native of Virginia, a good honest farmer, a worthy and respectable citizen, and a member of the Methodist church.

A cripple by the name of Jesse Paine; a' native of Maryland, settled here about 1820. He had a large family of children, of whom were John, Zadoc, Samuel and James, all good, industrious men, and who, starting 'in life poor, became thrifty farmers. In about 1818, James Rayburn, a native of Virginia, first emigrated to Ross county, thence, in the same year, to Madison county. "He first settled eight miles south of London, at Willow Springs, and about 1830 removed to near London, where he lived until his death. He married à Miss Corbit, by whom he had seven children : Henry, who moved to Indiana ; James, who became a member of the Legislature and an associate judge and later moved to Illinois ; John; William; Creighton M. and one daughter named Patsey, who married Dr. James Allen.' James Kiscaddin settled here about 1824, a good, industrious man ; he never owned property, and later removed to Marion. Ohio.' -

Samuel Carr, a native of Harrison county, "Virginia, came, when a single man, to Madison county 'and settled near Newport, purchasing 'land of Col. Elias Langham; but this he lost entirely, having a worthless title.' Thereafter he rented a farm. In 1824 he purchased what is still known as the Carr place, where his son John lived for many years, and he resided there until his death. He married Amelia Warner, by whom he had the following children : John W .; Minerva Ann, who married Robert Withrow ; Maria Jane, who died unmarried; Eliza Ruth, who died at eighteen years of age; Frances and Mary, who died in infancy; Amanda, who 'married Henry R. Dun, and Samuel, who was killed by being thrown from a horse when twelve years old. Mr. Carr came to the county prior to the War of 1812 and served in that war. He spent his life as a farmer and stock raiser, and accumulated considerable property. He died on May 18, 1864, at the ripe old age of eighty-one years; his wife died' on August 31, 1864, aged seventy-two years. William"Jackson, a native of Pennsylvania, of Irish descent, removed to Vir- ginia, and there married Nancy Rea, a native of Maryland, of Welsh descent. They came to Ohio in 182S and settled in the western part of Union township, where they resided until their deaths. Robert Armstrong, a son of Judge James Armstrong, of Ross county. was born on April 7, 1801; he married Elizabeth' Earl, and settled in this county, four miles south of London, about 1824-5. His wife died in 1844, and he afterwards mar- ried Mrs. Maria Coover, nee Cowling. He was the father of fifteen children. Mr. Arm- strong was an extensive farmer and stock raiser and very successful in business; he became the owner of fourteen hundred acres of land in Madison county and a large amount of western lands, besides a large amount of personal property. He died in 1865 and his wife'in 1873."

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Lancisco, Gideon and George Peck, sons of Gideon Peck, of Ross county, Ohio, settled on a tract of land in the west part of Union township, which was purchased by their father. They settled here about 1828. Of other early settlers known to have settled here about 1812-15, were John and George Sutherland, John and James Beatty, Henry Ward and an only son, Joseph.

ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP.

In the commissioners' records for the date of April 30, 1810, we find the following : "Ordered, that the following boundaries compose a township, to be known by the name of Union, and is bounded as follows, viz .: Beginning at the mouth of Oak run, thence east to the Franklin county line; thence north four miles; thence west to the line of Deer Creek township; thence west with said line to the Champaign county line; thence with said line the southwest corner of Champaign county and the north corner of Stokes township; thence with the north line of Stokes three miles; thence eastwardly to the. southwest corner of Judge Baskerville's survey ; thence direct to the beginning."

At a meeting of the commissioners on December 7, 1812, it was ordered that "the line of Union township between Union and Pleasant, running from the mouth of Oak run to the county line, be vacated; and it shall run northeastwardly to the state road leading from London to Dyer's mill, so as to leave all the inhabitants on main Deer creek in Union, and all those on Oppossum run in Pleasant township; said line to continue with the state to the county line."

On June 2, 1829, it was "Ordered by the commissioners, that the following lines, as run by Henry Warner, be established as township lines between the townships of Union. Pleasant, Range and Stokes: Beginning at the northwest corner of Samuel Baskerville's survey, running south twenty-four degrees west about fifty poles; thence south twenty- two degrees west to the line between the counties of Madison and Fayette, a short dis- tance east of McIntosh's farm, for the line Stokes and Range townships. The line between Pleasant, Range and Union, running from Baskerville's said corner north seventy degrees east to Langham's road, near Samuel Kingern's; continne the same course two hundred and twenty poles; thence north twenty degrees west forty poles; thence soutli seventy degrees east to the Chillicothe road; thence north fifty-three degrees east to Deer creek ; thence up the creek to the mouth of Oak run; thence north fifty-two degrees east to the line between the counties of Madison and Franklin."

Again, on June 6. 1836, "at a meeting of the commissioners of Madison county, on petition being presented, ordered that the line between Deer Creek township and Union township be altered to run, to wit: Begining at the northwest corner of Jefferson Melvin's farm, and southwest corner of John Adair's land, and to run westerly to strike the Lafayette road ten poles south of the Glade, between B. Bowdry's and D. J. Ross; thence the same course continued until it strikes the present line, which divides said town- ship so as to include D. J. Ross into Union township."

On March 2, 1840, it was "Ordered by the commissioners of Madison that the line between the townships of Union and Somerford be so altered as to include Daniel Wilson and the land on which he lives into Union township."

So it is seen that the boundaries of Union township passed through several changes prior to 1841, and it is to be observed that its present boundaries are still different from the above, as Fairfield township has since been erected, and with other changes which have from time to time been made, have constituted its boundaries as they now exist. The township is now about eleven miles long from east to west, from two to six miles wide from north to south, and has the honor of containing London, the county seat of Madison county.

Because of the absence of any records of the township for the first ten years after

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the erection of the township, it is possible to give only the first officers that appear on the existing records, which is for the year 1821: George Chappell, William Smith and Patrick McLene, trustees; Stephen Moore, Jr., clerk ; William Jones, treasurer; William Athey, assessor; Henry Warner, Edward Evans, and James Campbell, constables ; Henry Coon, William Jones, Edward Evans, Thomas Brown and John Asher, supervisors; Aquilla Toland and Simon Steers, fence viewers; John Moore and A. G. Thompson, over- seers of the poor; John Simpkins and Jonathan Minshall, justices of the peace.

EARLY MILLS.

In about 1829, a grist-mill was erected on Oak run a little above where Roberts' mill was later located, by Jacob Garrard. This mill was built of hewed logs and the power was supplied by the stream. Soon afterward he erected a small distillery con- nected with the mill; these he ran until about 1840, when he sold the grist-mill to Charles Roberts, who refused to purchase the distillery, and it then went into disuse and decay. Soon after the mill came into Mr. Roberts' possession, he erected a new mill on the site referred to above.

Henry Inn, in about 1840, erected a carding-mill, with a saw-mill attached, on Oak run, about one mile north of London, run by water-power. He continued the business there about five years, when he sold the property to C. K. Slagle, who continued the business for four years. when he erected a new building, two stories high, thirty by fifty feet, attached to the old building, in which he placed machinery for the manufacture of all kinds of woolen goods. This machinery he ran by steam power, and in 1850 had it in full operation, when he rented the property to William Fish, who was a practical manufacturer. Mr. Slagle then erected a tannery near the woolen mills, Mr. Fish, after conducting the business two years, associated himself with Dennis Clark and thus con- tinued two years. Then Mr. Fish retired, Mr. Clark purchasing his interest and con- tinuing the business until June 28, 1864, when the whole property was destroyed by fire, caused by sparks falling on the roof from the chimney. This fire also destroyed Mr. Slagle's tannery and all his property. The mill was never rebuilt.

CEMETERIES.

Probably the first to receive interment within the township were two infant children of Thomas Melvin, on Glade run, who died in the summer of 1808, and were buried on his land, which afterward became a regular burying ground for that neighborhood and vicinity and was known as the Lower Glade cemetery. The first adult person to be interred was Thomas Melvin, the father of the above mentioned children, who died in the fall of 1807. In 1811, the body of John McDonald. Sr., was deposited in the same piece of ground. From this time the deaths and burials became more frequent, as the neighborhood of the Glade filled up with settlers, and for many years much sickness prevailed. After the death of Thomas Melvin, this land came into the possession of Charles Melvin, who fenced around about an acre of ground and donated it for cemetery purposes.

In the extreme western part of the township, many of the pioneers were buried in the Turner burying ground, just in the edge of Clark township. Also a few persons were interred on the James Garrard farm, which was, in the early days, known as the Suther- land burying ground. But it is now all in an open pasture, and not a mark left to show who was buried there. In the southern and southwestern portions of the township, many of the early dead were interred in the Watson cemetery.

At London there were two burying places quite early established-one in the north- part of town, usually known as the Methodist, and the other west of the town, known as the Presbyterian. These were used for many years and until the purchase and estab- lishment of the present grounds known as Oak Hill and Kirkwood cemeteries.

CHAPTER XVIII.

TOWNS AND' VILLAGES.

AMITY.

Amity, or West Canaan, is situated on the banks of Big Darby creek, in the north- eastern part of Canaan township. 'This is the only town within the limits of the township and as the business of mercantile trade began prior to the laying out of the town, the history will really begin with that period. Dr. Lorenzo Beach opened a store and commenced 'in the mercantile trade about the year 1826. Doctor Beach had been a practicing physician, but having decided to give up the practice of his chosen profession, decided that there was need of a store in which should be kept a general assortment of goods to supply the people of that community. He did a very successful business for several years, and there gained his first financial foothold among the early settlers as a good financier. At that time, 1826. the woolen-mill of Uri Beach was in full operation creating a concentration point for the people of a large extent of sur- rounding country. With the extensive business of the woolen-mill and Doctor Beach's store as a nucleus a little village began to spring up and there soon became quite a demand for more houses.

In view of this demand Uri and Dr. Lorenzo Beach purchased a tract of land of Dr. James Comstock embracing that upon which the town of Amity now stands, and commenced to lay out a town. Abijah Cary surveyed and laid out one tier of lots on each side of the road, thirty-three in all. The plat was made and the same recorded at London on January 3. 1833, under the name of New Canaan. In November, 1834, an addition to the town was laid out and recorded by Dr. Lorenzo Beach and Luther Lane, the same being surveyed by James Millikin, at which time the name of the town was changed to Amity, by which name it has since been known. In 1831, the first hotel was kept by William J. White, and the first blacksmith shop by P. Strick- land. The postoffice was established about 1830, prior to the laying out of the town, and was kept by Horatio Adams, on the Finch farm, and was called New Canaan post- office. This office was next kept by A. S. Stone, on the farm which was later owned by Henry Converse; then it was kept on the Nugent farm, and from thence changed to Amity, where it remained until covered by a rural-delivery mail route. In 1834-35 Luther Lane erected a distillery, which was in operation four or five years. About 1833, a Mr. Willey erected a comb factory, in which he employed several persons, and did an extensive business for four or five years.

Probably about 1832, Doctor Beach was succeeded in the mercantile business by Rev. Henderson Crabb, father of Judge O. P. Crabb, of London. In 1834, Doctor Beach and Luther Lane purchased a stock of goods and opened a store in another part of the town. At that early period Amity was one of the most flourishing towns in the northern part of Madison county. There were two good stores in the town, a flourishing woolen factory, a saw-mill, a distillery, a comb factory, besides the black- smith and minor mechanical trades. Plain City at that period did a very small business compared to Amity. But the latter's days of prosperity were numbered. The factory dam was declared a nuisance and had to be torn down, thus putting a quietus on all the manufacturing interests in Amity. Subsequently the railroad was

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built through Plain City and this gave an impetus to the growth of the, latter town, which soon became the, leading trade and business center of that section .. Since that time Amity has remained a quiet country village, doing a small but steady rural trade; the postoffice was a convenience to the community, but with the coming of the rural routes this has been adandoned. ING:

Amity now contains a population of about thirty-five, showing a decline of two- thirds in the last thirty years. There is only one store in, the. village, , which. is owned by Clyde Frazell. , Clarence Reece is the village blacksmith. !!

PLAIN CITY.

Plain City is the largest village in Darby township, and was laid out by Isaac Bigelow in 1818, according to the following record; "July 8, 1818. The plan of West- minster, situated on the south side of Big Darby creek, in Darby township, Madison county, on the road leading from Worthington to Urbana. The above road, which is Main street from letter. B, runs east, and is sixty feet wide; the alleys are thirty links wide, and run from Main street north, The lots on the north side, of Main street each measure, north, twelve poles, and east, four poles and eleven links. The lots. on the south side of Main street, measure each, south, ten poles, and west, five poles and one link.

"June 11, 1818.

DAVID CHAPMAN, Surveyor."

. There were no other official acts until 1823, in which year the records disclose that the previous survey was resurveyed, additional territory was incorporated and the original name was changed from Westminster to Pleasant Valley. It is also revealed that, from 1823 to' 1851, the original' proprietor made six additions to the' village, besides additions subsequently made as follow : Barlow's, Sherwood's First and Second, Amonn's First and Second, Marshal's, Hager & Lombard's, Black & Mooney's, and E. I. Bigelow's additions. The name of the village was again changed from Pleasant Valley to Plain City.

For a' time Plain City was superseded as a trading point by Amity,"in' Canaan township. 'The former town, however, possessed advantages due to location, it being situated on the Post road, an important west-bound thoroughfare, over which much of the emigrant travel passed. ' This, in connection with natural advantages, rendered it much more important and desirable as a business location. From 1818 to 1850, the growth of Plain City and her business developments were characteristic of doubt' and uncertainty as to her future prospects among those of her rivals. But in the latter year, the location of the trunk-line railroad through her borders removed all uncer- tainty and the impetus thus given to her growth, business and manufacturing develop- ments were truly' flattering.

The first hotel was kept by Clark Provine, in a log building located on the' same lot as the old National Hotel. This primitive 'inn was surrounded by under- brush, hazel and plum thickets; but, as the weary traveler neared the spot, he read with delight the invitation over the door, "Traveler's Inn." The first dry-goods and grocery store was that of the proprietor of the town, Isaac Bigelow. The first blacksmith was James Goldsberry. 'The first church was a small brick building belonging to the Meth- odist denomination. The first school house was a log hut on lot No. 14,'and Susan Fudger taught the first school.

PRESENT INDUSTRIES AND ADVANTAGES.

Plain City, located on the main line of the Pennsylvania railroad, has a popula- tion of about 1,500. It is well laid out, having broad, well-paved streets, cement side- walks and many beautiful residences and splendid business blocks. It is well lighted

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by electricity and has cluster lights through the main part of the town. The city has most excellent water and all the advantages of a place many times its size. It has a splendid school building, several fine churches and other public buildings and has a class of people that for hospitality and sociability cannot be excelled anywhere in the land.

Located in a splendid farming country, amid prosperous and progressive farmers, Plain City is a good shipping point and tens of thousands of dollars worth of live stock and produce is shipped from that place every year. It has some manufacturing institutions and a flour-mill and grain elevator. Plain City has two banks, an opera house, a newspaper, picture shows and beautiful chautauqua grounds where a chau- tauqua is held every year. Another great yearly event is the corn show which is held in October and is attended by 'large numbers of visitors from over the country. The Plain City Matinee Club comprises many noted horsemen and nearly all the promi- nent business men in the town are interested in it. J. W. Price a well-known resident of Madison county is one of the leading members of this club and a prominent breeder of road horses. B. F. Thomas, F. B. Mccullough, C. M. Jones and many others are members of this club, which has a fine half-mile track.

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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 23

Author: Bryan, Chester Edwin Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : Bowen Number of Pages: 1150

Author: Bryan, Chester Edwin
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : Bowen
Number of Pages: 1150