History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions, Part 36

Author: R. E. Lowry
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 985

USA > Ohio > Preble County > History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions > Part 36

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

In the absence of records we are compelled to depend on recollection and impressions, but all seem to agree that the first term of school was taught by William Sherman, the second by David Williamson, and the third by the founder of the town, William Alexander, in a log cabin built by Jacob Par- ker, the first settler of Lanier township, at, or near, the northwest corner of the old graveyard, west of Salem Evangelical Lutheran church, on East Dayton street. This building was supplanted by a small frame building erected by Mr. Alexander, about the year 1818. He purchased a part of the materials at Cincinnati. Later. Henry Kissling, who laid out the north part of the town, donated a lot on East Second street for school purposes, upon which a small brick house was built, which was later displaced by the two- room brick building, which has been converted into a dwelling, owned and occupied by Scott F. Wilson.

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In the year 1871 a three-story brick mansard roof building, occupying the site of the present building, was begun and Hon. Oscar Sheppard was the first principal to occupy the new building, costing thirteen thousand dollars, serving until 1878. Algebra, geometry, physiology, natural philoso- phy, history and English literature were among the branches taught. In 1879 M. D. Tyrell succeeded to the principalship and was followed by J. W. Halley, E. P. Vaughan, C. O. Howell, Joseph Brouse, W. T. Heilman, B. A. Landis, Lon Disher, F. E. Rinehart, Douglas Brouse, C. H. Carey and C. A. Matheny, the present superintendent. A. J. Surface was the last teacher in the building on Second street. He was immediately preceded by Billy Barn- hiser and C. C. Featherling. Hon. John M. A. McNutt and John Graham, author of the Graham arithmetic, were early teachers of West Alexandria public schools. A northwest wing was added to the school building and, in 1904, the east wing was built; but the growth of the schools necessitated the building of the present house, which has few, if any, equals in towns of like size in the state and is by far the finest and most commodious school build- ing in the county.

Superintendent Matheny is ably assisted by the following principals and teachers : Clara Smith, E. A. Holcomb, John Winkleman, and the grade teachers : Minnie Bohlman, Carrie Roselius, Alfred Schell, Ida Drene, Hazel Weier and Marie Sheppard, with Miss Zetta Huber, normal teacher.

LODGES.

King Hiram Lodge No. 88, Free and Accepted Masons, was chartered March 19, 1842, with the following members: N. Benjamin, H. M. Eidson, Jacob Stotler, Josiah Davis, Dr. N. Donnellan, Dennis Kelly, Henry Garber, Jacob W. Swerry, Thomas Hill, William McChesney and James B. Dix. The officers were: N. Benjamin, worshipful master; H. M. Eidson, senior warden; D. N. Donnellan, junior warden; J. W. Sweeney, secretary; Josiah Davis, treasurer ; Jacob Stotler, senior deacon; Henry A. Garber, junior dea- con; Thomas Hill, tyler; James B. Dix, steward. The lodge room was in the Huston block, until its destruction by fire, in 1863, and after the erection of the Stotler-Glander block, in 1866, they took up quarters there; but, in 1905, it moved into its own temple, the third floor of the J. H. Jordan building. Its present officers are: Raymond Hornbeck, worshipful master; Earl Cloyd, senior warden; Andrew Rupp, junior warden; J. B. McLean, secretary ; J. E. Davis, treasurer; Eli McGregor, senior deacon; H. M. Brewer, junior deacon; James Coffman, tyler.

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The Eastern Star Gleaners have an organization, but records were not available owing to a recent fire that visited it.

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.

Lanier Lodge No. 521, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was insti- tuted July 11, 1872, with Peter Smith, David Yohe, Dr. O. E. Tillson, Rev. H. M. Herman, Samuel Mowery, L. V. Motter, Luther C. Black, Jos. M. Kinsell, John Swisher, David Wood, George T. Sauer, David Wolf, Nahlon Karn, Josiah Rape and H. C. Burns, as charter members. The following officers were elected: Peter Smith, noble grand; Doctor Tillson, vice-grand; Elijah Fonta, recording secretary; David Wolf, treasurer; L. C. Black, financial secretary ; D. G. Naeff, conductor ; David Yohe, warden; M. Karn, right supporter noble grand; L. V. Motter, left supporter noble grand; J. M. Krissel, right senior supporter; J. E. Motter, left senior supporter; David Wood, inner guard; Samuel Mowery, outer guard; Josiah Rape, right sup- porter vice-grand; George T. Sauer, left supporter vice-grand; H. M. Her- man, chaplain. The present officers are: T. H. Rule, noble grand; J. L. Emlet, vice-grand ; J. M. Saylor, recording secretary ; George M. Fritz, finan- cial secretary ; J. E. Motter. Jr., treasurer : John Block, right supporter noble grand; L. A. Deardorff, left supporter noble grand; S. P. Geeting, warden. Its lodge room was and is in the old Stotler-Glander building.

REBEKAHS.

Priscilla Lodge of Rebekahs was organized, October 29, 1902, with the following charter members : J. E. Van Ausdal, E. C. Fouts, John Herman. S. B. Smith, Ida C. Van Ausdal, Eva Smith, Anna Harmon, David Yoke, Sarah F. Yohe, S. P. Geeting, Amanda Geeting, J. H. Fritz, Nettie Fritz, O. E. Tillson. Caroline Tillson, Julia Holland, George M. Fritz, Samantha J. Fritz, Melissa Wolf, John W. Saylor, Lucinda Saylor, Louise Deckwitz, Minnie Campbell. Alonzo Strader, J. M. Saylor, Anna M. Klinger. Delilah. Harry, Lon. E. Fouts, H. E. Van Ausdal, George W. Bickel, Adda Gregg, Eliza N. Hoffman, T. E. Hoffman. The following were the officers: Louise Deckwitz, noble grand; Emma Saylor, vice-grand: Adda Greeg, recording secretary : Julia Holland, financial secretary : Melissa Wolf, treasurer ; Eliza- beth Hoffman, conductress; Caroline Tillson, warden; Delilah, right sup- porter noble grand: Nettie Fritz, left supporter noble grand; Eva Smith, inner guard; Lon E. Fouts, outer guard; Ida Van Ausdal, chaplain. The

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present officers are: Anna M. Klinger, noble grand; Eva Smith, vice-grand; Minnie Campbell, recording secretary; E. Saylor, financial secretary; Nettie Fritz, treasurer; Clara Libecap, conductress; Jane Riley, warden; Grace Marke, right supporter noble grand; Idella Deardorff, left supporter noble grand; Julia Holland, inner guard; S. P. Geeting, outer guard; Jennie Fouts, chaplain; Elizabeth Hoffman, right supporter vice-grand; Emma Kelley, senior supporter vice-grand.

KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.

Royal Lodge No. 320, Knights of Pythias, was chartered May 21, 1889. The following were charter members: Rev. H. L. Hart, D. E. Stubbs, A. H. Campbell, J. M. Saylor, W. L. Burtner, H. O. Kirkpatrick, L. M. Wolfe, M. A. Burke, S. M. Myers, F. J. Swartsel, W. I. Aydelotte, E. M. Sauer, O. E. Paullens, E. S. Saylor, J. Strader, H. H. Dirfenbaugh, A. G. Albaugh, Henry Huette, J. P. Stock, Corwin Smith. Lewis Wachtel, James Carroll, Sebastian Deem, J. N. Lanier, Lon Ozias, G. M. Shower, McClellan Saylor and F. E. Hoffman. The officers were: J. M. Saylor, chancellor com- mander; W. J. Aydelotte, vice-chancellor; H. L. Hart, prelate; F. S. Say- lor, master at arms; Corwin Smith, master of finance; Ferd J. Swartsel, master of exchequer; D. E. Stubbs, keeper of records and seal; Sebastian Deem, inner guard; Henry Huette, outer guard; E. M. Sauer, L. M. Myers and Lewis Wachtel, trustees. A. H. Campbell, past commander and repre- sentative. The present officers are: Charles Blose, chancellor commander ; Delmer Crouse, vice-chancellor; John Bower, prelate; Harry Windle, mas- ter at arms; Roy Jellison, master of work; George Huber, keeper of records and seal; N. L. Paxson, master of finance; F. J. Plander, master of ex- chequer ; F. E. Rinehart, Walter Copp and J. S. Emlett, trustees.

The temple of their lodge is in the Ehler block, built in 1893 by the late A. A. Unger, on the corner of Main and Dayton streets.

PYTHIAN SISTERS.

A charter was granted, March 10. 1899, to Sincerity Temple No. 132, Rathbone Sisters. Since its organization, the name has been changed to that of Pythian Sisters. The members meet in the temple of Roy Lodge No. 320, K. of P. building.

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JUNIOR ORDER UNITED AMERICAN MECHANICS.

The Junior Order United American Mechanics, was organized, Novem- ber 23, 1910, with the following charter members: W. A. Davis, J. S. Long, H. Newport, Harrison Long, J. Tipton, John Wilt, W. A. Robbins, C. H. Price, J. L. Emlet, J. W. Gilmer, V. S. Singer, Clarence Wade, V. B. Furrey, Carl Furrey, Willard Swartz, George Mikesell, Samuel Wiley, William Greggs, J. E. Greggs, Elmer Emrick, Charles Mars, George G. Long, Ola Albaugh, Frank Roberts, and Dr. H. Cloyd. Meetings are held on Friday nights, in the Mills building.

PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.

West Alexandria Grange No. 363, Patrons of Husbandry, was organ- ized, January 12, 1874, and among its charter members were David and Julia A. Lowman, Catherine Gale, Jacob, San and Catherine Eby, James and Caroline Campbell, Samuel and Sarepta Crouse, James M., J. E. and Emma Van Ausdal, Joseph, Miriam and Emma Copp, N. S. Hart, R. J. W. Ozias, J. E. Emrick, Ezra Sigler and H. Campbell. Its first master was Squire Campbell, but the records up to 1878 are missing, when the following officers were elected: Jacob Eby, master; Darnel Eby, overseer; James M. Van Ausdal, lecturer ; J. W. Wampler, steward; J. Black, chaplain; Joseph Copp, treasurer; N. S. Hart, secretary ; J. E. Van Ausdal, gate-keeper; Julia A. Lowman, ceres; Emma Copp, pomona; Emma Van Ausdal, flora; Sarepta A. Crouse, lady assistant steward. This organization disbanded in the early eighties.

MACCABEES.

At a preliminary meeting called at the Commercial Club rooms for the purpose of organizing a tent, thirty-two applications for membership were received, as follows : James Mountcastle, Frank Pitman, John Cordell, Oliver Keimkle, Floyd Layman, Oliver Oswalt, George Reid, H. H. Carter, C. E. Parker, Mark Boor, S. S. Hawley, Forest Myers, Raymond Shank, Omer Slifer, Ellis Shiflett, Jacob Kabler, Charles Mountcastle, F. M. Roach, Charles Elliott, Harry Windle, George Faddler, Clifford Craig, Orlando Jackson, Irvin Clark, James Bineger, Walter Copp, Ed. Longmecer, Harry Gephart, Scott Shiflett, James Frinley, Alvin Cunningham and J. S. Emlet. The organization was effected under the name "Twin Valley Tent" of the Knights of the Maccabees No. 538, through deputy C. O. Fife, and the following officers were elected : J. L. Emlet, commander; S. S. Hawley, lieutenant-

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commander; Oliver Oswalt, chaplain; Walter Copp, record keeper; James Mountcastle, master at arms ; F. M. Roach, sergeant; Charles Elliott, master commander; Earl Hutte, record keeper; Francis M. Roach, master at arms; Ervin Burnett, sergeant; J. L. Emlet, chaplain; Oliver Oswalt, first master of guard, and William Kenworthy, second master of guard. Their tent is in the Mills building on North Main street.

LADY MACCABEES.

A Lady Maccabee society has recently been organized, but sufficient facts to write a history of their organization were not available.

CHURCHES.

The First Brethren church of West Alexandria was organized soon after the division in 1883, probably in 1884-5. Meetings were held at the homes of members and at the Baptist church north of New Lexington, con- tinuing until February 26, 1888, when a new frame church, built the pre- ceding year on the site of the present church, was dedicated by Rev. Ed. Mason. J. M. Tombaugh of the Bear creek charge, preached for this congre- gation afterward, succeeded by the following ministers: S. H. Bashor, A. A. Cober, M. Richards, Martin Shiveley, George Copp, Josiah Keim, J. M. Mackey, C. J. Shock, and J. A. Garber, during whose ministry an addition was built to the church and the house rededicated in October, 1908, by Dean J. A. Miller of Ashland College, Ohio. He was succeeded by George Ronk, Harley Wolford, C. E. Kobb, and, in 1911, Rev. Garber was recalled by this congregation and has served it since. The state conference of Brethren churches was held in this church during the last week in March, 1915.

REFORMED.

The first church services of the German Reformed denomination were held at the members' homes and in the open air, and the first church building of which we find any account was the log church which stood west of a graveyard, near the site of the dwelling of John I .. Emlet. This was built in 1816-17, and known as the "Union" church, being used jointly by the German Reformed and Lutheran denominations, until about 1853, when the first named, under the pastorate of Rev. John Rike, built a new and substan- tial church on the site of their present church building, which was erected

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in 1893, under the pastorate of Rev. Reuben Keller. Rev. Thomas Winters was the first pastor of the Reformed congregation in the old "Union" log church, and continued to serve it until 1840. Rev. A. Leis succeeded him for a year, when Rev. John Kercher took up the work for a couple of years, after which Rev. Thomas Winters returned to their charge for a period of five years. In 1880 Rev. John Rike began a four-year pastorate, during which the first brick church in West Alexandria was built. He was suc- ceeded by his brother, Levi Rike, who served two years, and was followed by Rev. A. C. Kendig, who preached to this congregation until 1891, when Rev. Harry M. Herman (who died March 10, 1915, at his home in Dayton, Ohio), became its pastor, serving twenty years. He was succeeded by Rev- erend Shoemaker, and the latter was followed by Reverend Schulmberger. Then Rev. H. L. Hart officiated, followed by Reverends Keller, Goeckler and the present pastor, Reverend Miller. This congregation continues to grow and, as one of its auxiliaries, the Sunday school is wide awake.

LUTHERAN.

Salem Evangelical Lutheran church, as has already been stated, jointly occupied the old "Union" log church built in 1816-17, under the pastorate of Reverends Man, Morgan, Esbich, and Henkle, until 1830, when Rev. Jacob Gruber was called as its pastor. He served it until about 1848, when Rev. Andrew Henkle was recalled, serving them until June, 1850, when Rev. George Baughman took charge and served it for forty years. During his pastorate, a commodious brick building was built in 1860, and the congrega- tion kept pace, there being about three hundred communicant members when he laid down the work. Rev. E. F. W. Stellhorn, a young minister, fresh from college, succeeded Reverend Baughman, and, marrying during his pastorate, the congregation bought the Sheppard residence on the northwest corner of Main and Oak streets for a parsonage. While he served this society, efforts were going forward toward the erection of a new church, but the church at Marion, Ohio, called him to its pastorate before the accomplish- ment of his plans. It fell to the lot of his successor, Rev. S. Schillinger, the present incumbent, to carry to completion the building proposition, and in June, 1906, its people saw it dedicated, one of the finest, if not the finest, churches in the county.

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SALEM EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH, WEST ALEXANDRIA.

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METHODIST.

The absence of records compels us to depend upon obtaining facts by reminiscence. It seems that, in the earlier settlement of West Alexandria, those of the Methodist faith met for worship in the first school house in the town, which stood near to its present site, on the opposite side of the street. At the home of Doctor Gray, in 1841-2, a class of, perhaps, a dozen was organized by Reverend Davis, which was increased, as the result of a revival held in the summer of 1842. After the formation of this class, services were held in the brick school house, on the site of the present dwelling of Scott Wilson, on East Second street, and later in the Protestant Methodist church, just east of the brick school house, which has since disappeared. A small, one-story brick church building was built about 1850, which was re- placed by the present house, in 1878, at a cost of about three thousand dollars. Rev. R. C. Moon has been serving this congregation the past few years.

CEMETERY.

Fairview cemetery, just south of town, is the property of this village. It is laid out on a slight knoll, on the west side of the Winchester pike. The town laid a cement sidewalk from the corporation line to the cemetery gate, drilled an artesian well, built an arch over the drive-gate and put in a water- ing trough by the roadside. For the time, about ten years, that it has been open, it has been beautifully kept.

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CHAPTER XXVII.

HARRISON TOWNSHIP.

The history of the formation of this township is given in the chapter on Organization of the County.

Harrison township presents a variety of soil, the bottom land along the streams being a rich loam, while in the western part of the township, and the northeastern part, the land, in an early day, was swampy and has required drainage. The balance of the township, and the greater portion, may be described as rolling land. Along the streams there is some broken land, but as soon as the hills, on either side of the stream, are climbed, the land presents long slopes of rolling land. The soil generally may be described as clay, but there are few hillsides that are not cultivated.

There are four principal streams: Twin creek, with its source in Darke county, flows across the corner of Monroe township and enters Harrison town- ship from the west in section 6, then flows southeasterly, and easterly, but trending to the south, to nearly east of Euphemia, where it turns and flows a south course into Twin township, being joined, practically at the bend to the south, by Millers fork from the north, and Swamp creek from the north- east, both of which latter streams have their sources in Darke county.

Price creek, with its source also in Darke county northwest of Eldorado, flows southeasterly across section 31, of Harrison township, across Twin township and into Twin creek. The outcrop of stone along the banks of Twin creek, and where the small tributaries break down from the higher land to * the creek, from the earliest times have been a source of profit to many people. Down to within the last fifteen years many quarries furnished building stone for houses and public work, and from the quarry northwest of Euphemia much stone was shipped to other counties for such constructions, while there was a considerable home demand for the stone from all quarries; also south and east of Lewisburg and northwest of Euphemia were built and operated large lime kilns that burned great quantities of lime of the very best quality, which was hauled and shipped to many of the neighboring towns and cities. This burning of lime for many years furnished a ready market for the wood cut by the farmers. But times and business changed, and now the lime kilns

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are all blown out; many of the quarries abandoned as quarries, while the larger ones, notably the ones northwest of Euphemia, have installed large stone- crushing plants, into which the stone is fed, crushed, dumped into waiting cars and sent out, some to distant cities, for concrete or macadam work and road construction.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first settler in the township is generally conceded to have been George Leas, who arrived about 1801 or 1802, and settled near Twin creek, in sec- tion 21.

In 1804 the Tillmans located land on Swamp creek, in the eastern part of the township, and in 1805 Tobias Tillman, with his family, a large one, came from Tennessee and settled, forming a strong colony. The next year came Tillman's son-in-law, Alexander McNutt, who settled near Twin creek. Both men had been soldiers during the Revolution and both left large families, McNutt having thirteen children in his family. He was elected as the first surveyor of the county.

About 1804 John Singer came from Virginia. He is said to have walked in and later settled in section 34.

In 1805 John Locke, from Maryland, settled where Euphemia is now laid out and later built the mill at the stone-arch bridge over Twin creek. The same year came Abraham Hapner, from Virginia, and in 1807 Jacob Werts came from Pennsylvania and settled in section 21.

In 1809 John Aikman came from Pennsylvania and settled in section 23. Thomas Wilson and John Ott also becoming residents of the township in that year.

In 1810 Patrick McGriff came from South Carolina and found a home in section 6.

Jacob Kesler, in 1811, settled about a mile south of Lewisburg.

John Wikle came from Pennsylvania and settled at Lewisburg in 1812.

Henry Horn, born in Germany, in 1815, settled in section 27, and became the founder of Lewisburg.

In 1816 John Etzler, from Maryland; John Brown, from North Carolina; William Swisher, from Pennsylvania; Henry Cassell, from Virginia, with others, now not remembered, settled in the township. Within the next five to fifteen years John Schlosser, Peter Studybaker, Christian Disher, Daniel Wolf and Peter Homan became citizens. Christian Disher was the father of Capt. Mathias Disher, and of Christian Disher who ran a quarry and lime kiln for many years on the old homestead, in section 35, near Lewisburg.

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About the same time came Andrew Zeller, Elias Bunger, Jesse Smith, David Hoffman and Samuel Dinwidie. Nearly all of those early settlers left large families and the names given are among the most common in the town- ship today.

About 1807 Zachariah Hole is said to have settled on Twin creek and in 1809 he built the first mill, later owned by Henry Horn; later yet by Perry Turner, and now by E. C. Crider, on Twin creek east of Lewisburg. It has been remodeled several times and is still doing good work.

TROUBLESOME REDSKINS.

In 1812 the Indians began being troublesome and a block house was built on the northwest quarter of section II, and a greater or less force was sta- tioned there for some two years, among which were companies from the central and southern parts of the county, as well as nearly every able-bodied man in the township. No fighting followed, but scouts were kept out, some- times going long distances to discover signs of the red man, who, also discover- ing them, sought other places where danger to himself was less. A transcript of the discharge given those who served in this home defense is set out in the chapter on the War Record.

At different times, an Indian sneaking through the woods, tried to shoot William Myers, and again John Aikman, but in each instance the flint failed to ignite the powder and the snap caused the white man to seek cover before a second effort could be made. It is said that, later, Myers buried an Indian on his farm, and it may be that he got the drop on the Indian next time, but the Indian couldn't tell and Myers never would.

At one time an Indian tried to break into the house of Mr. Abbott, on Miller's fork, and was brained by Abbott. In 1812 Rebecca Sharpe, a girl, was captured by the Indians and taken north into Darke county, where she was kept about a year, at the end of which time she was brought back and released.

GRAVES AND GRAVEYARDS.

The cemeteries are five. The Union cemetery was located along the west line of the township, and in 1871 grew across the line into Monroe township. The cemetery originally called the United Brethren cemetery, lying just east of the town, was started by the United Brethren about the year 1835.

The Lewisburg cemetery, located at the northwest corner of Lewisburg, is the oldest in the township, having been started about the year 1815. Prob-

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ably the first grave dug there was for the burial of Henry Sharpe, a brother of Rebecca Sharpe, the maiden named above. This burial place is well known over the county as Lewisburg cemetery. It is frequently stated that a daughter of Daniel Boone is buried there, but there are no records showing that the historic character known as Daniel Boone ever had a daughter who migrated to this county. There was a Daniel Boone, however, a nephew or cousin of the hunter, who, in an early day, settled about a mile south of Gratis on a branch, which still is called Boone's branch. He had a number of children, among them daughters, and it may be that one of his daughters is buried there.

The Verona cemetery or West Baltimore cemetery is of more recent origin and is located near the center of section 12. It was laid out in 1871, by deed record; but it is said there were a number of graves there earlier.

The Tillman cemetery, located in section 3, was laid out in 1831, by John Tillman, who deeded a half acre of land therefor.

SCHOOLS AND RAILROADS.

The first school in the township is said to have been kept in a building on section 24, about the year 1810. Soon after this, schools were started in sections 28 and 22 by the settlers thereabouts. Some forty-five years ago, the central section of the township got a law passed by the Legislature creating a special school district, No. I, of a strip of territory two miles wide across the middle of the township, east and west, which continued until two years ago, when the present school "ripper" law was passed. The county school board is now dividing the township up differently, but until then there were three school houses in the north third of the township, three in the middle third, and four in the south third, besides the Lewisburg school, the middle third being controlled entirely by their own directors.

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History of Preble County Ohio: Her People, Industries and Institutions, Part 36

Author: R. E. Lowry Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Number of Pages: 985

Author: R. E. Lowry
Publication date: 1915
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 985