USA > Ohio > Preble County > History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches > Part 23
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It was originally intended that this railroad should be located through Eaton, but this measure was defeated by the Dayton and Montgomery county people who had agreed to subscribe or had subscribed in the Dayton & Greenville road, and who were unable or unwilling to assist two companies. Therefore, for the sake of saving a heavy outlay, the two roads were united and used the same track from Dayton to Dodson, and from that
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HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
point westward the Dayton & Western company con- structed an independent line. The incorporators of the Dayton & Western company in Preble county were Joseph S. Hawkins and Nathaniel Benjamin, and in Montgomery county Valentine Winters, Horatio Phillips,
Jonathan Harshman, and Alexander Grimes. The direc- tors in Preble county were Nathaniel Benjamin, Ellis Marshall, A. J. Hawkins, Captain Butler, and Dr. David Cox, of New Paris.
The road was constructed in 1851 and 1852.
CHAPTER XIX. STATISTICS.
COMPARATIVE EXHIBIT OF POPULATION.
The following table shows the population of Preble county in 1820, and thereafter each twenty years:
Names of townships, towns, etc.
!No. of acres.
Value of land.
Real estate| Val. chat- val. in vil- tels & val- lages, cit- uation of Total value. ies, towns. dogs.
Jefferson
876 2, 164 1, 842 2, 244
Monroe
303 1, 176,1,807|1, 823
Dixon township.
22588
929,760
1,000
211,800
1, 142,560
Harrison.
815 1,706 2, 217 2,085
Jackson township.
21549
938,170
19,720
353,169
1,311,059
Jackson
615 1.260 1, 578 1,296
Jefferson township.
21973
915.350
8,730
317,583
1,241,663
New Paris corporation
90,945
110,852
201,797
Somers township
22009
885.790
256,670
1, 142,460
Camden corporation.
131, 110
137,748
268,858
Camden school dist.
889
49,730
34,190
83.920
Gasper township
14872
529,660
157,278
674.938
Washington township
27289
1,222,720
347,250
1,569,970
Eaton corporation.
796,454
644,069
1,440,523
Eaton school district ..
895
142,250
24,495
347.640
1,247,675
Eldorado corporation .
Gratis township.
18992
715,680
4,390
30,663
55.068
W. Elkton school dist.
1719
81,620
52,000
50,385
102.385
Winchester school dist.
2669
114,350
50,420
164.770
Lanier township.
22669
999,510
291,005
1, 290, 515
W. Alex. corporat'n ..
62,950
117,394
180,344
W. Alex. school dist ...
190
19,820
6,825
26,645
Somers ..
2,730
Winchester school dist.
161
7.990
2,495
10,485
Gasper
1,045
Twin township.
21718
832,545
10,580 60,200
77,80€
138,005
Monroe
5.351
Harrison township.
14092
581,330
81,240 63.950
87,157
151,197
820
48,140
11,746
59,806
Twin . .
1,744
Harrison
2,375
7% of township. .
7680
331,370
66, 132
397.502
268034 11, 250, 855 1, 532, 829 4, 978, 148 17,761,83ª
CLASSIFIED VALUATION OF LIVE STOCK (1880).
HORSES.
CATTLE.
MULES &C
SHEEP.
HOGS.
No. | Value.
No.
Value.
No Value
No.
Value
No.
Value.
TOWNSHIPS, PRECINCTS AND WARDS.
Dollars
Dollars
Dolls.
Dolls.
Dolls.
813
49.730
1,624
27,462
39
2.985
1,851
7.493
4.352
13.990
Dixon
697
44,265
1,395
24,870
29 2, 560
1,279
4,465
5.253
19,145
Jackson
814
48, 183|
1,388
24,215
1,050
1,976
6, 128
4,039|
13.696
Jefferson
707
43,153
1,469|
23,073
34 2,245
892
2,850
2,880
8,744
New Paris
92
5,840
64
1,259
350
708
2, 189
2,367
8.4
5.350
44
900
4 310
20
60
IOI
405
Gasper
396
24,380
786
13,824
15
552
764
2,344
1,816
5.105
Washington
951
57,513
1,572
26,645
25
1,940
1,362
5.072
3,538
12,259
Eaton
255
15.580
85
1,841
7
530
199
6,70
Monroe
757
47,340
1,417
21,895
27
1,650
815
3,105
2,735
8,660
Eldorado
41
2,230;
30
600
125
1,363
5,278
3,174
10,389
West Elkton
48
2,575
31
564
3 300
21
60
174
Winchester
50
3.150
42
645
3
220
IIQ
855
Lanier
714
46,855
1,475
22,060
30
1,735
757
2,805
3,267
8,990
West Alexandria
101
6,275
42
855
800
803
2,395
2,931
Harrison
54,500
1,302
20,913
20 1,385
817
2,584
2, 500
Lewisburgh
4,325
41
800
2
200
79
Total No.
). 38 1
16,678
338
13,428
39,8g€
Total value
595.299
1281,211
23.532
146,828
$
$ 1,464-393
Israel township.
22825
997,950
53.480
412,963
Washington
1, 562 2,459 3, 166 3,961 255
Twin .. .
865 1.675 1,890 1,965
Dixon
841 1, 290 1, 213 1, 161 836
Gasper.
1,096 1 618 1, 738 1, 916
Somers.
1, 171 1, 820 2,061|2, 172
Gratis
1,000 1, 931 2, 136 2, 150
Israel.
838 1, 547 1,631 1.799
Townships.
Pounds of Wool.
Israel.
9,364
Dixon.
5,775
Jackson.
6,855
Jefferson
2,532
Washington
3.781
W. Alex. corporat'n.
W. Alex. school dist.
496
31,580
31,580
Gratis
4,747
Lanier
2,335
Lewisburg corporat'n. Lewisburg school dist .. Special S. dist. No. I. . Harrison township.
Total
48,634
Totals.
$
$
$
24,258
166, 508
Monroe township
22019
875,540
46,580
37.687
188,500
908,570
W. Elkton corporat'n.
25,005
28,465
110,085
Winchester corporation
279,085
309,514
972,084
Somers.
620
40,925
1,035
20,847
27
1,795
9.736
Camden
Gratis
667
43.725
1,448
24,413
36 2,800
128
. 385
5
2
64
Twin.
625
50,405
1,388
23,530
12
875
74
VALUATION (1879).
1820.[1840.[1860. 1880.
Eaton
901 865
Lanier.
84.267
1, 122,210
Israel
18
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97
HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
LANDS AND PRODUCTIONS.
WHEAT.
RYE.
BUCKWHEAT.
OATS.
BARLEY.
CORN.
TOWNSHIPS.
Acres.
Bush.
Acres. Bush.
Acres.
Bush.
Acres.
Bush.
Acres.
Bush.
Acres.
Bush.
Israel .
3,266
57,505
2
24
7
84
1,123
31,274
15
588
4,897
169,630
Dixon ..
3,036
57.584
6
62
15
174
829
26,776
125
3,073
5,378
190, 130
Jackson.
2,297
49,293
15
105
7
40
829
28,233
56
1,921
4,433
237,480
Jefferson.
2,498
50,676
16
142
7
135
836
24,583
54
1,708
4,043
139,305
Somers
2,557
45,830
IC
15
182
1,136
108
4,116
5,025
185,690
Gasper
1,774
28,658
2.4
229
I
16
1,150
31,662
77
2,475
4,969|
149,392
Monroe.
2,247
53,809
45
607
2
28
894
34,290
140
4,740
3,812
127,535
Lanier
2,440
39, 183
2
38
I
3
707
25,927
137
5,006
2,263
79,190
Twin .
2,510
52,675
3
45
I
12
1, 113
33.495
264
9,285
3,206
108,215
Harrison.
2,646
54,020
12
150
5
I22
1,314
38,022
132
3,167
3.917
123,693
Total
30,877 589,218
135
1,450
56
862
11, 376 354,051
1, 160 37, 294 47.798 1, 712, 138
MEADOW.
CLOVER.
FLAX.
POTATOES.
TOBACCO.
TOWNSHIPS.
Acres.
Tons Hay.
Acres.
Tons.
Bushels Seed.
Acres Plowed Acres. Under.
Bushels Seed.
Lbs. of Fibre.
Acres.
Bush.
Acres.
Pounds.
Israel.
424
445
2,862
269
251
233
874
5,061
163
11,815
23
22,400
Jackson ..
768
939
2, 122
467
482
90
902
4,944
113
7,662
37
43.645
Jefferson
1,142
748
1,817
387
518
105
978
5,598
54
4,957
8
6,900
Somers.
399
431
564
472
116
277
634
4,246
42
6,235
13
10,700
Gasper
386
413
249
212
82
39
527
2,743
51
4,069
31
31,995
Washington.
984
956
1,370
445
427
191
1,218
3,583
57
4,879
103
118,407
Monroe.
140
123
954
391
358
177
687
5, 192
4
310
22
18,650
Gratis.
595
621
1,465
225
312
TOC
440
2,347
2,000
71
6,025
133
121,715
Lanier
297
313
179
175
16
153
1, 115
40
4,070
316
360,668
Twin
402
410
2, 105
1,432
276
339
219
1,356
37,000
66
6,042
38c
440,700
Harrison .
504
551
1, 105
660
568
36
794
5,261
93
7,035
301
387,921
Total
6,537
6,502
15.036
5,461
3,405
1.677
8,416
47.530
39,000
834 72,6011
1,37€ 1,563,701
BUTTER
ORCHARDS.
LANDS.
TOWNSHIPS.
POUNDS
ACRES
BUSHELS BUSHELS APPLES PEACHES
BUSH.
ACRES PEARS CULTIVATED
ACRES PASTURE
ACRES WOOD
UNCULTIVATED OR WASTE
TOTAL ACRES OWNED
Israel
45,720
352
10,270
265
16,033
734
5,159
307
22,223
Dixon
50,895
331
10,882
327
10,314
6,294
5.393
38
22,039
Jackson .
54,040
265
7,055
220
9,615
3,016
3,773
1,259
17,663
Jefferson .
31,815
329
3,175
10,945
2,752
3,780
315
17,792
Somers
61,460
323
13,380
IO
14,987
5,689
3,681
1,230
25,687
Gasper
26,850
136
6,797
6,750
1,877
3,413
1,203
13,333
Washington
45,016
293
11, 562
192
16,328
1, 194
6,773
206
24,501
Monroe
35.350
126
3.870
11,650
626
3,608
IO
15,894
Gratis
40,517
339
10,030
441
4,373
3,307
4,890
I,III
17,681
Lanier
36,240
181
4,890
540
7,626
1,149
3,342
230
12,387
Twin
33,635
257
9,040
18
354
11,296
1,795
5,177
5,104
23,372
Harrison
55, 165
415
4,455
112
13,066
1,070
4,425
1, 106
19,767
Total
516,7033,347
95,406
18
2,561
136,983
29, 503
53,614
12,209
232,309
1
38
5
66
520
15,754
52
1,215
2,621
82,523
Washington
925
30,680
3,234
119,385
Gratis.
2,806
46,651
244
220
996
6,084
79
6,502
Dixon ..
496
552
C
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13
33.355
2,800
53.334
THE TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES OF
PREBLE COUNTY.
EATON VILLAGE AND WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
THE BEGINNING.
William Bruce, the founder of Eaton, emigrating from Kentucky in 1805, and seeking desirable lands, became favorably impressed with the appearance of the country now covered by the county seat of Preble, and its en- vironments. It is probable that he had in his mind from the start, the project of laying out a town, and that he was led to choose the locality which he did, because of the excellent water power which he saw that Seven Mile creek would furnish at this point. Very likely he chose during that prospecting tour the exact site of his mill, planned the town which he desired to found and pictured in imagination as he stood upon the bank of the creek, and gazed into the dark aisles of the dense forest, the home which would, if his hopes were realized, a few years later, be clustered upon this spot. Undoubtedly he had lively and pleasant anticipations of the reward which the future had in store for the pioneer of such a land as he saw around him, and his hopes sprang up from a soil whose richness warranted their flourishing to fruition, or to change the metaphor we may say that if the sturdy Scotch pioneer indulged his fancy, in building "castles in the air," those castles had at least a solid foundation in reason.
Bruce's confidence is evidenced by the fact that he selected and purchased three seetions of land.
In the winter of 1805-1806 he laid out the town plat of Eaton," and it was recorded February 20, 1806, at
Dayton. In laying out the town, Mr. Bruce gave evi- dence of those qualities of character, which afterwards became so familiar and so admirable to his acquaintances. The most liberal provisions were made for schools and churches, and the public buildings which he foresaw would be needed when the western portion of Mont- gomery county should be independently organized, as it was two years later.
NAME.
The village was named by its proprietor, when laid off, in honor of General William Eaton, who at that time had just covered himself with glory in the Tripolitan war and won the admiration of all Americans. He was born at Woodstock, Connecticut, in the year 1764. As a boy he served in the Revolutionary war, and after its close en- gaged in literary pursuits; and desiring to obtain a thorough education, entered Dartmouth college. He was appointed a captain under General Anthony Wayne in 1792, and in 1798 was made consul to Tunis. He was also appointed navy agent of the United States, and to co-operate with Hamet Bashaw in the war against Tripoli. With Hamet Caramanly, who had been deposed from the throne, he concerted an expedition against the usurper then reigning, and obtained permission from the United States to carry out his plans. Early in 1805 Eaton met Hamet at Alexandria, was appointed General of his forces, and at the head of the small army, consist- ing principally of mounted Arabs, set out for Tripoli,
* " First-The town lots are three rods wide and twelve rods long, excepting the fractional lots and four whole lots west of Walnut street, which are one hundred links in front and one hundred and sixty-nine links long.
"Second-Barson and Preble streets are six rods wide; all other streets are four rods wide; the alleys are one rod wide.
"Third-The lines, streets, etc., are run agreeably to the sectiona] lines west of the Miami, by which the compass was regulated, except North Water street which is north thirty degrees and forty minutes west and south.
"Fourth-The width and breadth of the out-lots are marked on them. That part of Eaton west of Preble street is on section number three, township seven, range second east of a meridian, and that part of Eaton north of said street is on the southeast quarter of section thirty- four, township eight, same range. The surveyor general of the United
States has not caused this section to be subdivided, and it is probable that when he does, a small alteration will be made in the lots bounding upon the north and west boundaries of the quarter section, and will make them either larger or smaller.
"Fifth-The proprietor reserves for himself, his heirs and assigns forever, the ground between Water street and the creek, for the purpose of building mills, or water works, or if wanted for conveying water over to such mills or water works, or leaving saw-logs, piling boards, etc., as may be necessary for a saw-mill. But the said ground shall remain free, as a common, when unoccupied for the special purposes.
"Sixth-The ground marked off round the town lots on the north- east and south of the same is reserved for future disposition to be laid off in town lots or sub-lots as the proprietors may think proper. The streets are to run through the same in all respects like to the other parts of the town, to which it is attached whether town or out-lots.
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HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
making a perilous and fatiguing march of one thousand miles across the desert, and after fifty days arriving at Derne, a Tripolitan city, in the harbor of which he found the American fleet in readiness to assist him. The city was assaulted and taken after a short, sharp fight, in which many of the attacking force were killed and General Eaton slightly wounded. A few days later the Tripolitan army endeavored to regain the captured town, and al- though ten times as numerous as Eaton's force, they were repulsed. A month later the enemy was again de- feated. Just as General Eaton had reached the climax of his success, diplomatic interference closed the war and the most important results which should have been secured by General Eaton's exploits were lost to the Na- tion. General Eaton returned to the United States and died in 1811. Such, in brief, was the life of the brave man after whom this village is named. It seems rather a curious coincidence that both the county and its principal town should have been named after American officers who gained their greatest distinction in the same war, but whatever singularity there may seem in the fact dis. appears when we recall to mind the fact that the village was laid out and the county established just at the time when the exploits of Commodore Preble and General Eaton were fresh in the minds of the people.
EARLIEST SETTLERS.
The first settlers of Eaton were without any doubt John Mills and his wife Mary. They arrived on the first
"Seventh-The squares marked A, B, C and D are twelve poles square. A is for the purpose of building a court house on and other public buildings for the use of the county; B for an academy and school-house for the town; C and D for churches or meeting houses, to be divided into lots smiliar in all respects to those on the plat, and each or every congregation within the town and county that will be hereafter organized, and will build a good house for public worship on the same, shall have one, the first congregation organized to have choice of the lots, and so on. They are not to be occupied for burying-grounds. "Eighth-The lot marked E is for a burying-ground, to be divided into six equal parts by lines drawn from east to west. The northern lot shall be for the use of strangers and persons belonging to no regular congregation; the other five for use of first five congregations who may build meeting houses in Eaton. The first congregation shall have choice, and so on.
WILLIAM BRUCE.
STATE OF OHIO, MONTGOMERY COUNTY, S. S.
"Personally appeared before me, Daniel C. Cooper, one of the justices of the peace of said county, and the above named William Bruce, proprietor of the town of Eaton, and acknowledged the plat and description as set forth to be agreeable to the original of said town. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twentieth day of February, 1806.
SEAL.]
DANIEL C. COOPER.
"Examined and delivered to owner February 24, 1806.
DAVID REID, Recorder of Montgomery county.
THE STATE OF OHIO, - MONTGOMERY COUNTY, S. S.
"I, Warren Munger, recorder for the county aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing plat of the town of Eaton, in the county of Preble, and the State of Ohio, and the descriptions and explanations, is a true copy of the record now remaining in my office at Dayton, in said county. Given under my hand, and I have hereunto affixed the seal of the recorder's office of said county of Montgomery, this twenty- seventh day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five.
[SRAL. ]
WARREN MUNGER, Recorder of Montgomery county."
day of April, 1806, and located on the ground which we can but designate as the northwest corner of Main and Beech streets. On their arrival they immediately built a small cabin of poles or very light logs, such as could be easily handled by two pairs of hands, for they had no assistance whatever in the work.
David E. Hendricks and some members of his. family came to the site of the village, the day after Mills arrived, April 2d, and located in a rude log cabin, intended only as a temporary shelter, on the spot now known as the old brewery lot. After finishing the little cabin which was to afford his family shelter, Mr. Hen- dricks returned, on the same day, to his home, on the site of Camden, which he had occupied two or three years, to get those members of his household who had not already moved to the new settlement. It is related that during his absence his daughter, Julia, the late Mrs. Geutte, undertook a visit to the cabin of their only neighbor, for the purpose of getting a pail of water, but owing to the density of the underbrush, lost her way. She wandered about for some time but could not find the cabin for which she had started, nor discover the way by which she had come from her father's. Ar last, after she had almost given up hope, and taken into as calm consideration as possible, the idea that was forced upon her, that she must remain all night in the woods, her dispair was suddenly dispelled by the sound of an axe, and very sweet music must the reverberating strokes have made for her ear. Guided by the sound, she made her way through the thick brush to Mills cabin, and the wood-chopper guided her home. This happened very near the site of the court house. Mr. Hendricks returned the following day with the remainder of his family, among the members being George D., then a very young child, carried in the arms of his mother, who was mounted upon a horse.
Both Mills and Hendricks not long after their arrival built log houses which were designed to serve as perma- nent abodes, and constructed in a very substantial man- ner. Mills' cabin was completed just in time to be the birth place of his first child-the pioneer baby of Eaton. The child, which was named Polly, was born May Ist. Nothing is known of the Mills family except that at an early day they removed from the settlement. Whether they returned to the older settlements or pushed forward to the not far distant frontier, there perhaps to become the first settlers of another village, is a matter upon which we can only speculate. It is most probable, however, that the latter is the correct supposition, for settlers in the western country seldom turned back and many led by the spirit of adventure or by expectation of bettering their condition, were almost constantly advancing, even in the foremost wave of the ocean of population. Al- though Mills arrived upon the site of Eaton one day previous to David Hendricks, it is doubtful if the dis- tinction of being the pioneer of Eaton may not be more appropriately and justly conferred upon the latter than the former. One thing is sure the Hendricks family were the first settlers of the village who became permanent residents. There is no indication that Mills intended to
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HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
make this settlement his permanent home while proof that David E. Hendricks had such intention from the very first is afforded by the fact that he erected as soon as he was able not a simple log cabin but a two-story heavy log house-the same which is now the residence of S. H. Hubbell.
. William Bruce, the proprietor, with four men he had employed, two of whom were named Ringer and two Rogers, came on at the latter part of April and began digging the mill race, which is still in use. On the first day of May, 1806, there was a public sale of lots, and on that day Bruce brought to the town his sons Hardin and Charles, and other members of his family. A Mr. Wise- man and two brothers named Coapdick were among the early arrivals, as were also John Liston and William Drake, both from the vicinity of Middleton. A Mrs. Harper came in and built the third cabin on the town plat. A Mr. Ferguson and David and Abram Eaton, older brothers of Daniel F. Heaton (they spelled their names differently), came from the Great Miami and lo- cated in the vicinity of the village. About the same time came other settlers, among whom may be mentioned Colonel Samuel Hawkins and his sons Joseph C., John J., Benjamin F., Samuel, and Bird Hawkins, Isaac Smith, Elias Rien and Eden Hardin; all from Little Twin, in Montgomery county; also Samuel Watts, Elias Dawson, Richard Hardesty, Samuel Carr, Henry Whitesell, John Banfill, sr., with his sons Enoch and John.
Sixteen cabins were built during the first season of Eaton's existence.
In the spring of 1807 the few residents of the embryo village made a "log rolling" to "clear up" Main street from Colonel Hawkins' tavern, east of the public ground, west to the creek. Men, women, and children joined in the work of gathering and burning the logs and brush, and it is asserted that when the day's work had been con- cluded all of the men who had been engaged at it aban- doned themselves to a general drunk, and manifested their satisfaction by casting their wool hats and coon skin caps upon the burning log heaps.
William Shiffeel, brother of Judge Shiffeel, of Penn- sylvania, came out in 1806, and returned in 1807 with his family. He was a shoemaker and travelled through the village and surrounding country, from cabin to cabin, to perform his work, a modus operandi known in those days as whipping the cat. He built a cabin in the rear of the lot where the Presbyterian church stands, but re- mained there only a short time, being succeeded by Will- iam Steele, a cabinet-maker, who removed to Indiana in 1819, and in after years represented his county in the legislature.
Alexander Mitchell and Alexander C. Lanier both ar- rived in 1807. The former, who was from Kentucky, died in Eaton of cholera in 1849. He was a cabinet- maker by trade, and for many years county treasurer. Lanier was from North Carolina. He was one of the prominent men of his time, but did not remain in the town, leaving in 1817 for Madison, Indiana, where he died in 1820. His son, James F. D. Lanier, became a very prominent New York banker, and his son, Sidney
Lanier, who drifted back to the State from whence his grandfather emigrated, became well known as a poet, magazinist, and general man of letters. His fame rests largely upon his National anthem, produced in 1876.
. Cornelius Vanausdal and his brother Isaac came in about this time, and the former began operating in the fur trade, and opened a general store.
Christian, John and Phillip Helm settled in 1807, and the first named died in 1810. The other two were sad- dlers, and long followed their trade in the village.
Mr. Griffith, a wheelwright, came in 1808, and set up a shop on the southeast corner of Beech and Wadsworth streets.
Dr. Walter Buell came in 1808 from Kentucky and built the "long row"-four log cabins end to end, which were used as a barracks during the War of 1812. William B. Wilson, also from Kentucky, came in 1808, but soon moved into the country west of town. He was a cabinet- maker. Charles Hand, who married a daughter of Cap- tain David E. Hendricks, came the same year, as did also Joseph Wasson, blacksmith. He was a native of South Carolina, a man held in very high esteem, and a good citizen. John Shaw, the first butcher, came in a little later. His brother-in-law, George Worthington, whose wife was a daughter of Colonel Samuel Hawkins, arrived about the same time. Worthington, after leaving Eaton, laid off the village of Westville, and in later years removed from there to Attica. James Butler, a major of militia, and after the war a colonel, came to the settle. ment about the same time as the above, and left in 1818. John Gentle, who married Julia Hendricks, was another early settler. He removed from town to a farm where he died in 1825. William Castor and his wife Polly originally from Pennsylvania, but a settler in Cler- mont county, Ohio, about 1800, came to Eaton in 1811. After a short time he removed to a farm on Seven-mile, north of Eaton. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and performed distinguished service. He was born in 1783, and lived to be upwards of ninety.
Isaac Stephens, father of A. H. Stephens, M. D., a native of Virginia, born in 1786, came to Eaton in 1812, from Tennessee. His father, John Stephens, came later, and died in the village in 1819. Isaac Stephens was a prominent and very useful man. He was the second postmaster, and served for a very long term of years. He was also justice of the peace and county collector. He married, in 1817, Elizabeth McCauley, who died in 1827. He was married twice after her death, his second wife being Berthena Stephens, and his third, Julia Ann Wilson. He died in 1865. Isaac Stephens' brothers, David Lewis, Jesse B., Peter, Joseph, William and John, were all residents of the village after 1819.
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