History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Part 49

Author: H. Z. Williams & Brothers
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 559

USA > Ohio > Preble County > History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches > Part 49

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THE GREENBUSH CHURCH.

Nearly thirty years ago the members of the Congre- gational denomination living near Greenbush decided to erect a house of worship. Accordingly a neat frame building was put up. About the year 1860, owing to the small membership, it was decided to sell the church building to the United Brethern and Methodists, who had organized societies of their respective denominations a few years before. These two denominations still own the church, and their ministers preach on alternate Sab- baths. At present the United Brethern are the most numerous, although their brethern, the Methodists, are in a flourishing condition. Rev. S. Huddle is the United Brethern minister, and Rev. J. C. Ambrose is the Methodist pastor.

CEMETERIES.

For many years after the settlement of the townships no regular burying places were in existence. The dead were buried on the home farm. Possibly some three or four families would use the same spot. In some cases these small beginnings finally resulted in being regarded as regular burial places, but in the majority of cases, the graves would remain alone on the edge of a field or in the depths of some favorite grove. In 1832 the first cemetery in the township was laid out near Winchester.

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HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

The first burial was that of Richard Housel in that year. 'This burial place was used until recently, when the town laid out a new one, farther from town on the south side of the Eaton pike. It has been named Fair View, and is as lovely a spot as could have been obtained for the purpose.

Fair Mound cemetery at West Elkton was laid out in 1805. The first person ever buried on the place was Mrs. Nathan Maddock, whose death took place in 1805, and is generally believed to have been the first in the township. The place gradually grew into use until the year 1875, when it was regularly established as a public cemetery, by the township authorities, under whose su- pervision all of the cemeteries in the township have been placed.

The cemetery at Greenbush has quite a history con- nected with it. The first burial on the ground now known as Greenbush cemetery was that of Mrs. Betsey Ellis, who was buried there in 1828. John Riner, on his death-bed, wishing to have the place recognized as a public burying-ground, willed a half acre of the land, where the graves stood to the township as a permanent burying place. But in writing out the will the lawyer, instead of writing the southeastern quarter of the section, which was the quarter containing the graves, wrote the deed as alluding to the southwestern quarter. Afterwards the people wishing to have the matter arran- ged satisfactorily, gave John Chrisman, the owner of the land, a deed to the half acre left by will in the south- western quaster of the section on condition of his giving them the half acre which was the intention of old Mr. Riner to leave them, and which was the site of the pres- ent graveyard. The deed was made in the year 1875, and since then the place has been a public burying place.

THE MEDICAL STAFF.

The first physician in the township, as far as can be ascertained, was Dr. Samuel Nixon, who was stationed in Winchester. Dr. Christian Sayler who is now the oldest physician in Gratis, studied medicine under him. The latter has now retired from practice. The present mem- bers of the medical staff in the township are Drs. William Sayler, of Winchester, allopathic; Isaac Kesling, of Winchester, eclectic; J. S. Weinland, of West Elkton, eclectic; W. C. Robertson, of West Elkton, allopathic; W. S. Sayler, of Winchester, allopathic, and Daniel Kep- linger, eclectic. The two latter are just beginning their practice, having only recently graduated.

INDUSTRIES.

The buggy manufactories in the township are the chief objects of interest; of these, the establishment of Brookwalter & Fetherling is the oldest, being established in 1833, by John Bookwalter (deceased). At the age of sixteen he learned the trade of wagon making, and in the year 1833 he started his shop in Winchester. After following this business for some time, he was obliged to turn to lighter work, on account of rheumatism, brought on by a fall into a creek. He then started a buggy shop, which is still run by Josiah Bookwalter, his son. He afterwards sold out to his sons. During his business life

he accumulated a comfortable fortune, more than suffi- cient for his own needs. While under his management the shops were the most prosperous in the township, but owing to depression of business, only one set of hands are now employed. At the time of their most prosper- ous condition twenty hands were employed, and the shops had a capacity of turning out one hundred and ten new and one hundred old, or what was repairing jobs. These buildings occupy a conspicuous locality in the western part of Winchester,

The establishment of Van Trump, Talbert & Company, is the most flourishing buggy manufactory in the town- ship. The following is a hasty sketch of the business since its establishment.

In the year 1860 Argerbright & Talbert started a car- riage shop. They started in an old cabinet shop, bought from Eli Stubbs for about twelve hundred dollars. They ran the business for three years, having good success. In 1863 Talbert retired, on account of his health, Daniel Argerbright buying out his interest. Mr. Talbert went to Minnesota for several months; after his return he started a carriage shop on the place now owned by Samuel Landis. After two years Mr. Talbert went to Miamisburgh and entered the same business. In the meantime Argerbright had taken into the business in West Elkton, W. S. Maddock. In 1865 he sold out to Maddock, who afterwards took in his father as partner. In 1869, I. Talbert, A. Van Trump, and D. L. Weinland bought the business. In 1871 Van Trump sold his inter- est, and in 1874 Talbert bought out Weinland's interest, and in the same year consolidated with Vantrump and Stubbs, who are the present firm, under the firm name of Van Trump, Talbert & Company. Their business is in a prosperous condition. Besides a buggy manufactory, the firm runs a saw-mill, an undertaking establishment, and a pump business. In all they employ fourteen hands, ten of whom are employed in the buggy depart- ment. The capacity of the shops is fifty new jobs a year, besides repairing, etc. The building is a large four-story brick, is situated in the eastern part of West Elkton.

EDEN LODGE NO. 147, I. O. O. F.,

was organized in the year 1850. It numbers about sixty-eight members. The present officers are as fol- lows: William Gregg, N. G .; John Flora, V. G .; Berry Flora, S. P. G .; H. C. Michael, recording secretary; R. C. Prugh, permanent secretary; J. W. Scott, treasurer. The lodge house of the society is in Winchester.

THE FIRST SCHOOL

was doubtless kept by the Friends in the southern part of the township, but the exact date cannot now be as- certained, nor the name of the teacher of the same. The earliest school of which recollection is had, how- ever, is one which was kept in the northeastern quarter of section thirty three, by Jesse Hobson, in the year 1806. The land where this school-house stood is now owned by Samuel Hetzler. The building used was a double roomed house which had been used as a dwelling house. The early schools were all taught by subscrip-

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tion. Schools were held in deserted log cabins for many years. These would be occupied during one winter term, and at the next opening the school would be located elsewhere. There are at present seven schools which are under the supervision of the town- ship. These are all large, roomy buildings, built of brick and located at some convenient point easy of ap- proach, generally at cross roads. The present board of education of the township is composed of the following gentlemen: Henry Glaze, Jacob Mullendore, Josiah Powell, Daniel Kenworthy, E. R. Taylor, Anuel Gifford and Milton Stubbs.

THE FIRST MILL.

The grist-mill of David and John Rohrer stands on the site of the first mill of the kind ever built within the limits of Gratis township. It was built by Abraham Neff, in the year 1812, in section one. The building was a frame one, built of lumber sawed at the saw-mill which was built by Mr. Neff in the year 1806. About the same time a grist-mill was built in the southern part of the township on Elk creek, by a man by the name of Ferry. The third in the township was built in section one, on Twin creek, by Samuel Taylor. It was run by a stream called Chrisman's branch. These three are all that were erected within the limits of Gratis, and of them only one is now in operation. The old Neff's mill was torn down in 1849, and the present building erected in its place. It is of brick and stone, and is five stories high, running three runs of stone. The saw- mill at Rohrer's is the only one ever run by water in the township. There are three steam saw-mills now in the township-one at Winchester, one at West Elkton and one at Greenbush.

THE UNDERGROUND RAILWAY.

During the war of the Rebellion an institution existed in southern Ohio which was the cause of considerable ill feeling between the opposing factions in that part of the State. This was an organization known as the " Un- derground Railway," and was organized with a view to rendering assistance to any fugitive slaves who might cross the Ohio river, and were desirous of reaching Can- ada. The society was splendidly managed, and it is a matter of pride with those who were members, that not a single slave was ever captured when once he had ob- tained a pass on the "Underground Railway." The modus operandi was somewhat as follows: The organiza- tion had members stationed along the banks of the river, and it is even shrewdly surmised that agents were some- times on the southern side of the stream. As soon as a slave crossed the river he sought protection in the houses of these members, and was immediately sent north to the next station. From this point they were hurried by friendly hands to the next station, provided the road was clear; otherwise they were kept in safe hiding until the "train" could be carried through in safety. One of these stations was near West Elkton, in Gratis township, and was under the charge of one of the leading citizens in that part of the county. This gentleman, whose name is retained, declared that he had often had as many as five

or six fugitives on his hands at one time, waiting for a safe pass northward. The transportation was generally done at night, but urgent cases sometimes occasioned an exception to this rule. The agents ahead were at once instructed if there should be any pursuit, to immedi- ately place the northern bound passenger in hiding for a season. The slave was instructed to watch for a cer- tain sign, and if given him at at any time to follow without questioning. This association often received threaten- ing letters, but pursued their humane work regardless of outside enmities. They claim that the number of fugi- tives who arrived in Canada in safety, through the assist- ance of the society, reached into the thousands.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

At the present day this township is strictly temperate. As was remarked before, no dram shops of any kind are tolerated; but in days gone by this was not the case; distilleries could be counted by the score, all through the northern part of Gratis, although, owing to the influ- ence of the Friends, few, if any, ever were erected below the line of West Elkton.

The first distillery of which any record can be obtained was built in the northeastern part of the township, about the year 1811, by Christian Fall. This was only run for a year or two. Daniel Chrisman started one in the same part of the township, in 1824, which was kept in opera- tion for over six years. About the same time one was started in the same neighborhood by Peter Riner. Around Winchester it is stated that as many as fifteen could be counted within a circuit of two miles.

This country was settled by families from the Caroli- nas and Georgia, all of whom were familiar with the work of distilling, and each man who could afford it had a copper still on his place. The article produced was of the best quality. Each man used his own grain. Those who could not afford a still of their own were accustomed to exchange grain for whiskey. It was regarded as in- dispensable at every log-rolling or house-raising, and it required a man of strong determination to refuse the liquor to the workmen. It was gradually done, however, until finally any attempt to manufacture the article was frowned down by the majority of the citizens.

The first death in the township was that of Mrs. Na- than Maddock, who died in the year 1805, and was buried in Fair Mound cemetery, near West Elkton. She was the wife of one of the earliest settlers in the town- ship.

The marriage of Walter Roberts, in the year 1806, was the first in Gratis. He is now living in Indiana.

THE FIRST WHITE CHILD

born in the township was Rebecca, daughter of Hezekiah Philips. She afterwards married Jonas Brubaker, and is now living west of Winchester, on the Eaton pike. She has reached the age of seventy-six years, and is the mother of five or six children. Besides being the first white child born in the township, Mrs. Brubaker has the honor of being the first female child born in the county, Mr. George Hendricks, of Somers, being the first male child.

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HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

EARLY INCIDENTS. .

No incident of a stirring nature seems to have occurred during the infancy of the township. The settlers were too close to the settlements along the Maimi river to have very great fear of the Indians. These latter were often seen passing through the township, but always in a peaceable manner. They were always stopping to beg food, and seldom failed to express gratitude.

The only event which seems to have impressed itself on the minds of the early pioneers was a severe fall of snow in the winter of 1803-4. It was the heaviest ever witnessed in the country, in many places reaching the depth of thirty-two inches.

THE PRESENT OFFICERS

of Gratis township are: Noah Brower, F. I. Raikes and Daniel Gifford, trustees; G. W. M. Brookwalter, clerk; J. M. Matthews, treasurer; J. G. Thomas and Lewis Mc- Kay, assessors; H. C. Michael and James Robinson, constables; A. Stiver and Nathan Hornaday, justices of the peace; P. S. Brower, W. S. Vickers, E. R. Taylor, C. Platt, S. Eckhardt, James Robinson, S. Stonebraker, M. Stubbs and George Hauger, supervisors.

No records of the early elections of the township can be obtained. They have either been lost or else are laid away in some corner among the papers of some early pioneer, as there is no recollection of them now. The first election was probably held at the residence of that settler whose house was easiest of access to all. There is no town house in the township. The elections are held at the office of the township clerk in Winchester.

POPULATION AND VALUATION.

The present population of the township, according to the last census, is two thousand three hundred and nine (2,309). The value of property in the township, accord- ing to the returns of the assessors, is eight hundred and sixty-six thousand eight hundred and thirty-eight dollars ($866,838). Of this amount, seven hundred and forty- nine thousand six hundred and three dollars ($749,603) is the value of the lands, and the remainder-one hun- dred and seventeen thousand two hundred and thirty- five dollars ($117,235)-of the buildings etc. The above valuations include those of the three towns in the town- ship, Winchester, West Elkton and Greenbush. The property valuation of Winchester is fifty-seven thousand nine hundred and forty-eight dollars ($57,948); that of West Elkton is thirty-one thousand eight hundred and seventy dollars ($31,870), and of Greenbush, four thou- sand two hundred and twenty dollars ($4,220).

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JOHN CHRISMAN.

This venerable citizen was born September 13, 1797, in Guilford county, North Carolina, and is consequently now in his eighty-fourth year. His grandfather, Jacob Chrisman, was born and reared in Pennsylvania, and afterwards removed to Guilford county, North Carolina, where, in 1775, his son Daniel was born. Subsequently the Chrisman family removed to Rowan county, North Carolina. Daniel Chrisman married about the year . 1785, Mary, the daughter of John and Elizabeth Ozias, who had emigrated from Pennsylvania to North Caro- lina some years ago.

As has been stated, the subject of this sketch was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, where his father, Daniel Chrisman, continued to reside until the year 1803, when, in company with his son and his wife's parents, he decided to remove to Ohio. The little party was six weeks on the tedious journey through the moun- tains, and they were very weary when at length they ar- rived at their destination, Warren county, near Spring- borough. Grandfather Jacob Chrisman lived in Warren county during the remainder of his life. The Ozias subsequently removed to this county and settled on Twin creek. The former was an active minister of the Gospel and a life-long member of the old Presbyterian church. He commenced preaching many years before his emigration to Ohio. He travelled extensively, and could speak fluently in both English and German. As early as 1801 he made a trip to Ohio, and was undoubt- edly one among the first Presbyterian ministers who preached in Ohio. After his emigration to this State he frequently preached in this county. Being a very heavy and not a very strong man, he was often compelled to sit down while speaking. He died in 1810, aged sixty-six years, six months and six days.

In August, 1805, Daniel Chrisman, having decided to settle in Preble county, removed thither with his family. He had to cut a road part of the way through the dense forest, which on every side surrounded the spot in Gratis township where the new home was to be built. The first three days after their arrival were spent in a tent made of the wagon cover, while the neighbors gathered from all sides and assisted in the building of a rude pole shanty, which served as a house until Mr. Chris- man could find time to build a more substantial log house, in which he lived for some years, and afterwards built the one that is still standing on the old home farm, in which Mr. Chrisman, sr., continued to live during most of his life. He entered the northeast quarter of section eleven, and in the early days of his residence in this county he undertook the manifold hardships and discomforts which fall to the lot of the pioneer. He died February 12, 1861, surviving his wife ten years, the latter dying March 2, 1851.

They left a family of five children, of whom John is the oldest. Eliza, the only daughter, is the widow of

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HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

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HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

John Crouse, and lives in Indiana; Solomon married Elizabeth Shuey, and both are dead; Jacob married Julia A. Riner, and Daniel married Eliza Ann Fudge.

John Chrisman has been a farmer all of his life, and in early boyhood commenced to "make his hand " in the field. His school days were brief. He lived on the old home place with his father until the year 1820, and on the twentieth of February, of that year, was united in marriage to Mrs. Susan Hall, the widow of Richard D. Hall, who emigrated from Newmarket, Maryland, in 1809, the year of his marriage. Mrs. Chrisman, whose maiden name was Fishbourn, was born in Frederick county, Maryland, February 8, 1791. When a little girl she removed with her parents to Baltimore, and after- wards she became a resident of Newmarket, Maryland, whence she came to Ohio, and settled with her first hus- band on the farm where John Chrisman afterwards mar- ried her, and where they lived until her death, which oc- curred June 10, 1877, at the advanced age of eighty-six years, four months, and two days.

Mr. and Mrs. Chrisman began life together in the old log house, which for many years occupied the site of the present substantial brick residence, which has stood as it now is for full thirty years.

Mr. and Mrs. Chrisman were blessed with two chil- dren-daughters-Elizabeth and Catharine. Elizabeth married Henry Riner and resides near her father. She has three children: Charles W. and Susie, the widow of Edward P. Johnson, and resides in Cheyenne, Wyoming territory. John C. resides near his parents' residence. Mr. Chrisman's second, and youngest daughter, Catha- rine M., married Jacob F. Stover, by whom she has had one son, John C., who is living with his parents, at Mr. Chrisman's. Although Mr. Chrisman's father and grandfather were Presbyterians, he saw fit to connect himself with the German Baptist or Dunker church, of which for many years he has been a faithful member. He has never engaged in the vexatious turmoils of polit- ical strife, and has always lived a quiet and industrious life. Thus he has accumulated not only a large property but has also won the love and respect of the whole community. Although having completed the full measure of his days, his four score years, his bodily and mental powers are still well preserved. While waiting to join loved ones on the other shore, how fitting that in this, the evening of his life, he hand down to his posterity the impress of his features and the record of his life's history, which other- wise would be lost to the many loved ones who may sur- vive him.

CHRISTIAN SAYLER, M. D.

Dr. Christian Sayler, of Winchester, Gratis township, was born in Franklin county, Virginia, January 4, 1804.

His father, Martin Sayler, was born in Fredrick county, Maryland, about 1775. He moved to Virginia in 1800, and to Preble county in 1809. He was a millwright by trade, and many of the earliest mills in this part of the county were built by him. He died June 21, 1852. Our sbject began the study of medicine at the age of twenty- three years, having first gained as good an education in the common branches as was possible in the early days of the settlement. He read first with Dr. Samuel Nixon, and afterward attended the Ohio Medical college at Cin- cinnati, from which he graduated, and began the practice of his profession in the year 1830. He has now been in practice fifty-one years, and although not as actively en- gaged as he was a few years since, obeys all calls for his services. He lives in a house which he built before he was married, and has occupied no other during the long period that has elapsed since that dwelling place was new. He was a captain in the early day militia, and also the surgeon of a regiment. Politically, he is a Republican. He has voted for fifty-five years, and has never missed a single annual election. The following presidential candi- dates have received his ballot, viz : in 1828, Adams; in 1832, Clay; in 1836, Harrison; in 1840, Harrison; in 1844, Clay; in 1848, Taylor; in 1852, Scott ; in 1856, Fremont; in 1860, Lincoln; in 1864, Lincoln ; in 1868, Grant; in 1872, Grant; in 1876, Hayes, and in 1880, Garfield. Dr. Sayler has been twice married. His first wife, Esther Lyning, of New Jersey, died August 14, 1834, after the birth of her second daughter. On March 31, 1836, he married his present wife, Catharine Bence. Six children have been the offspring of this union. Dr. Sayler's eldest son, by his first marriage, James Sayler, is a prominent politician of Ohio, having been four years in the assembly, and two in the senate. His oldest son, by his second marriage, William Sayler, studied medicine with his father, graduated from the Ohio Medical college in 1871, and has since been actively engaged in the practice of medicine in Preble county, with his home at Winchester. The youngest son, Win- field Scott Sayler, is also a graduate of the Ohio Medical college, the same institution from which his brother and his father graduated, the latter, more than half a century ago. He graduated in the spring of 1880, and is now located at Winchester.

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History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Part 49

Author: H. Z. Williams & Brothers Publication date: Publisher: Number of Pages: 559

Author: H. Z. Williams & Brothers
Publication date:
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 559