History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Part 53

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 53

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HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

ern railroad, and not only has a post office of its own but also serves as the railroad office for Lewisburgh and Euphemia, which are situated about three miles south. It was laid off about twenty-five years ago by Hiram Mc- Nutt.

The first house that was built in the township was erected by Tillman and Leas, in 1851. It has about one hundred and seventy-five inhabitants. It has two churches, the Methodist Episcopal and the United Brethren, besides a large saw-mill and four flourishing business houses. The saw-mill is owned by Hosefoss & Ayers.

The following list shows the business houses: Drugs, William Leas; dry goods, Horace Niswonger, and N. W. Surface; grocery, John Binkerd.

VERONA,

or West Baltimore, as it is more commonly called, is situ- ated in the northeastern part of the township, on the Dayton & Union railroad. It has about two hundred and seventy-five inhabitants. The business of Mr. David Werts, of this place, is the largest in the township. He has interests in the saw-mill and store, and also owns a large amount of land.

The county line of Preble and Montgomery counties pass through the place. The firm name of the dry goods store is D. & J. Werts. That of the grocery store is A. Doll. The saw-mill is owned by Werts & Sroup.

CHURCH HISTORY.

The first church to be erected in this township was a log one, built in the year 1817, by the united efforts of the Lutheran and Reformed churches. Of these two bodies the Lutherans were much the stronger. The lands for a building site had been donated a few years before by Adam Brown and Frederick Black, but for some reason the building of the church was de- layed until 1817. Great preparations had been made to make the day of the raising a memorable one. Each man brought his wife, sister, or sweetheart, as the case may have been, and the enthusiastic builders were re- warded for their labors by partaking of a generous feast. A good deal of pains were taken to make the building a first-class one. The logs were all hewn square, and the work was so expertly done that no dent or. chip showed that the logs had been squared with an axe. Many of the logs measured as much as twenty-four inches across the face when hewn square. Time and means were wanting to furnish the interior in the same style as the frame work. No pulpit was erected and the benches were of slabs supported by wooden pins. The first ministers in charge of this church were the Rev. Messrs. Mow and Winters. The former is a member of the Lutheran, and the latter of the Reformed church. A painful incident is connected with this pioneer church. The man to whom the contract for building the house had been given, committed suicide before completing his work, by cutting his throat from ear to ear. No cause for the act has ever been assigned.

The dimensions of the building were thirty-two by thirty-six feet. It was finally finished in 1831, by having !

1 a pulpit built and comfortable seats put in. At first the preaching was by no means regular. Often as many as eight weeks would pass without a service. In the winter months the house could not be used with any degree of comfort, on account of the incomplete finish. The cold would enter from all sides and chill the devotions of the worshippers, enthusiastic as they no doubt were. The site of this building was about one hundred and fifty yards northwest of where the present Lewisburgh Evan- gelical Lutheran church now stands. The place is now covered with graves, the lot being used as a burial place. In 1846 the two denominations had growns so that they determined upon building separate churches and the old log structure was taken down. Many of the logs were in such a good state of preservation that they were fit to be sawed into lumber.

THE SALEM EVANGELICAL CHURCH

at Lewisburgh was started in the year 1817 in connec- tion with the German Reformed church in the log church mentioned above. Their present building was erected in the year 1848, at a cost of two thousand eight hundred dollars. The Rev. G. W. Busby is the pastor now in charge. The present membership is about two hundred persons.

THE FIRST REFORMED CHURCH

of Lewisburgh built their present building in 1846. For nearly thirty years this denomination had wor- shipped with the Lutherans in the old log church known as "Black's church." The new building cost about three thousand dollars. Their present pastor is the Rev. H. M. Herman, of West Alexandria. The membership is about one hundred and three persons.

UNITED BRETHREN.

The present brick church of the United Brethren of Lewisburgh was built in 1855, at a cost of about six thousand dollars. Their first church was also of brick, costing nearly one thousand six hundred dollars. It was built in 1840. Their present building is the largest in Lewisburgh. The Rev. S. T. Koons is the present pastor.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL.

In the year 1841 this denomination built a brick church, which stood until 1874. In 1875 the present church was built, costing three thousand five hundred dollars. A class had existed in Lewisburgh for a good many years before the building of the first church. In 1841 the membership was about fifty. It now numbers seventy-five. The first pastor to take charge of the class after the building of the church in 1841 was the Rev. Samuel Brown. Their present pastor is the Rev. J. L .. Gregg. The Sunday-school was started in 1846.

THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

at Euphemia built their present building in 1854. It is a fine frame building, costing about one thousand six hundred dollars. At the time of the organization of the church the membership was about fifty. It now numbers over sixty persons. The first pastor in charge of the church was the Rev. W. C. Barnett. At present

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HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. .

the Rev. G. M. Grau has charge. Before the building of the church the congregation had the use of the build- ings of the United Brethern and the Methodist Episco- palians.

THE METHODIST EHISCOPAL CHURCH

at Sonora was organized in the house of Mr. William Brown, of section seven, in the year 1835. For twenty- five years they were without a regular church building. In 1860 their present church building was erected, at a cost of about eight hundred dollars. At the time of the organization of the class, there were about twenty per- sons. The present number is thirty-five. The preacher in charge of the circuit at the time of the building of the first church was the Rev. G. H. Kennedy. The Rev. Mr. Hammell is now in charge.

THE CHURCH OF THE UNITED BRETHREN

at Sonora was organized about 1855, with a membership of twenty-five persons. They built a church immedi- ately, the same as the one they now occupy. It is a fine frame building, pebble dashed, built at a cost of eight hundred dollars. At present the membership is sixty-five. The first pastor of the church and also the one to organize the church, was the Rev. William J. Shuey. Their present pastor is the Rev. J. D. Holsin- ger. The Sunday-school was organized in 1860.

CEMETERIES.

The burial grounds of Harrison are all in charge of the township. There are five now in the township, which are named according to their location, as follows: Eu- phemia, Lewisburgh, West Baltimore, and Tillman. The fifth cannot be properly termed a Harrison burial ground, as it is partly in Monroe township. Of the cemeteries mentioned above the one at Euphemia is the largest.

The cemetery at Euphemia is the oldest in the town- ship. It grew up around the old log church, built in 1817. The first man who was buried there was Henry Sharpe, who was buried in the place before the church was established.

ANTIQUITIES.

The Mound Builders have left several traces of their works in this township. Near the section lines of sec- tions twenty-two and twenty-three, about thirty rods north of the Verona and Euphemia free pike, there is a circular mound about four feet high, with a diameter of thirty feet. Some excavations have been made in it, but noth- ing of any interest has been found. In the southwestern quarter of section twenty-two there is a mound which is probably the work of these wonderful people.

In 1878, while engaged in digging gravel from a gravel bank, some skeletons were found, which are doubtless those of human beings. The bank was near Turner's mill, at Lewisburgh, a little distance southwest from the mill. As many as thirty skeletons were found lying in a promiscuous heap in an excavation, the bottom of which was formed of a hard, burnt substance. Some of the bones taken from the bank are now in the possession of Dr. E. P. Ebersole, of Lewisburgh.

SCHOOLS.

The first school was taught in an old carding factory, in the southern part of the township, in section thirty- four. The teachers were Jacob Kessler and his son Samuel. Jacob taught the German departments and Samuel the English ones.

In 1812, John Aikman, the father of Benjamin Aik- man, who is now living on section twenty-three, taught a school in a log cabin near his house, but kept it up only a short time, as the attendance was small. There was a school kept at a very early date on the place now owned by Jacob Horn, then the property of Rev. Henry Kumler, on section twenty-two.

One of the earliest schools was kept by a German in the old log church in Lewisburgh. This was probably used as a school-house much longer than any of the other .buildings.

The township is at present divided into three districts -the township district, the district of Lewisburgh, and a district in the central part of the township, which has seceded from township supervision. The board of edu- cation of this latter is A. S. Dye, John Siler, and F. B. Newman. That of the Lewisburgh special district is George Ruff, sr., E. P. Ebersole, and Emanuel Linck. The board of education of the school district of Harrison township is composed of the following gentlemen: Frank Lockwood, Abdiel Etzler, Simeon Hoffman, Jesse F. Burk, John F. Davis, Thomas H. Parks and Courtland Corwin. There are seven schools in this latter district, three in the central district, and one in the Lewisburgh special district.

THE MEDICAL STAFF.

The earliest physician to locate in Harrison, as far as tradition makes any mention, was a Dr. Evans, from Middletown, Ohio; and the second, according to the same authority, was Dr. John C. Fall. The township is at present well supplied with physicians, comprising ex- perienced and skilled followers of Esculapius. At Lew- isburgh reside Drs. W. B. and F. C. Gray, E. P. Eber- sole, and L. W. Kepler; at Euphemia, Dr. M. Pretzinger; at Sonora, Dr. C. Surface; and at Verona, Dr. H. Miller.

SECRET ORGANIZATIONS.

There are five secret societies in this township: One lodge of Masons, two of Odd Fellows, one of Grangers, and a branch of the Sons of Temperance.

THE LIBANUS LODGE OF MASONS,

No. 80, Free and Accepted Masons, has at present forty- four members. The date of its dispensation was April 18, 1845; it was chartered in October of the same year. The following were the charter members: William Collens (deceased), W. M .; James Bolens (deceased), S. W .; W. B. Gray, J. W .; J. A. Bolens (deceased), John C. Werts, A. L. P. Varine, Irwin E. Freeman, Andrew McCampbell (deceased); and John Singer (de- ceased). The present officers are: John Yohe, W. M .; J. R. Emens, S. W .; Randall Ayers, J. W .; A. E. May, secretary; Charles Albert, treasurer; M. G. Hollinger, S. D .; George Ruff, jr., J. D., and Jacob Yohe, tyler.

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HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

The Masons have a fine lodge building, erected in 1866.

LODGE NO. 67, INDEPENDENT ORDER ODD OF FELLOWS was organized the ninth of September, in the year 1880. The present officers are: Henry Heck, N. G .; Levi Werts, V. G .; Silas Laird, S. P. G .; James Bennett, re- cording secretary ; William Bater, permanent secretary, and William Leas, treasurer. The lodge has about forty- five members.

LODGE NO. 571, INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS was organized the sixteenth of June, in the year 1874. It is at present officered as follows: G. H. Earhart, N. G .; Hugh Garrett, V. G .; Samuel T. Zellers, R. S .; Samuel McNutt, P. S .; and A. Frankman, treasurer. The lodge has about fifty-six members.

THE LEWISBURGH SONS OF TEMPERANCE

were organized in 1880. They have twenty-five members. Their officers are: S. T. Zeller, W. P .; Emmie Brown, W. A .; Z. T. Stevenson, P. W. P .; Oliver Boerger, sec- retary; J. W. Etzler, treasurer; and A. E. May, chap- lain.

THE GRANGERS.

The Twin Valley Grange, No. 657, was organized on the seventh of March, 1873. The first officers were: Mathias Disher, W. M., and F. M. Demott, W. S. The present officers are: J. D. Schlotterbeck, W. M .; C. B. Dye, overseer; A. P. Zeller, lecturer; Jacob McNutt, chaplain; Samuel I. Bunger, steward; A. E. Bunger, assistant steward; M. Disher, treasurer; David Bixler, secretary; Daniel Hapner, gate keeper; Mrs. Sophia McNutt, ceres; Mrs. Susan Schlotterbeck, pomona; Mrs. Vienna Bunger, flora; and Mrs. A. J. Bixler, lady assistant steward. The lodge-house of the Grangers is at Lewisburgh. It is a fine two-story frame building, the upper half of which is used as a lodge-room; the lower half is occupied by Zehring & Binkerd, dry goods mer- chants.

THE FIRST MILL IN THE TOWNSHIP

was built by Zachariah Hole, according to local tradition. He located at an early date on Twin creek, and erected his mill of logs and covered it with clapboards. This is supposed to have been as early as 1809. It was built in section twenty seven. The present mill, owned by Tur- ner, stands on the site of this primitive log mill. The second mill was built by Dennison, where the one owned by Bowman & Thompson now stands, in the southwestern quarter of section twenty-one. Report says a mill was once built by Abraham Lock's grandfather, about two miles up the creek from Hole's mill, but whether it was the same as the present Dennison mill is uncertain. The first stone mill built in the township was erected by Mr. Leas, on section twenty-one, or near the site of the first Dennison mill. There are at present three flouring- mills in the township, all of which are doing a large busi- ness. One at Lewisburgh, owned by Perry Turner; one at Rock Ridge, owned by Bowman & Thompson; and one at Verona, owned by Werts & Grupe.

The mills at an early day were generally located at or

near some point where the stream had been backed up by the accumulation of drift-wood. These drifts were made to do duty as dams, by a little additional work. When any break occurred at the end of the drift the only thing necessary was to fell a tree across the weak spot and the damage would soon repair itself.

THE BLOCK-HOUSE.

In 1812, at the time of the hostilities with the western Indians, a block-house was built on the northwest quar- ter of section eleven, and every man in that part of the settlement was required to serve a period of six months. No fighting was ever done in that portion of the county, but an armed force of men were kept there during the winter to intimidate the Indians. The little garrison was commanded by Captain Simon Phillips. As many as sixty men served there during the winter. A copy of the discharge issued to every man at the expiration of his term of service is given below. It may not prove unin- teresting to some of the descendants of those early set- tlers who assembled in this fort for the defence of the settlement. It was issued to Jacob Miller, and is now in the possession of his son, Dr. James W. Miller, of Ve- rona.

"I do certify that Jacob Miller, a sergeant of my company of Ohio riflemen, in the battalion, under the command of Major Alexander Lanier, has served a regular term of duty (six months), and is hereby honorably discharged.

"Given under my hand this fifth of April, 1814." .

At this date all of Captain Phillips' men were dis- charged, and no further use being made of the block- house, it gradually fell to decay. The place is now owned by Mr. Daniel Wolf.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS.

The first store opened in the township was by Corne- lius Van Ausdal. It was situated in Lewisburgh, where the dry goods store of F. J. Wilson now stands. It was opened some time before the year 1816, but the exact date cannot be ascertained. In this store the first post office in the township was held, in the year 1825. The first postmaster was Henry Espich. There are at pres- ent four post offices in the township-one at Lewisburgh, one at Euphemia, one at Sonora, and one at Verona. The two latter post offices being on the line of railroads, have the regular mails, but that for Euphemia and Lewis- burgh is brought over in a hack twice a day from Sonora, the nearest railroad station. When the post office at Lewisburgh was first started the people were forced to be content with one mail a week.

The first distillery in the township was run by Henry Horn, in 1811, at Lewisburgh. One was afterwards opened at Hole's mill before 1816, and in 1835 James Fraser had one where the tannery in Lewisburgh now stands. Six distilleries have been run in the township at different times, but there is only one at present, which is at Lewisburgh, but is not now running.

The first man married in Harrison was David Price, who married Catharine Vantz. The first death in the township was that of Henry Sharpe, a native of Scotland. After spending a great part of his life in Germany, he came to Ohio, and died in Harrison township about

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HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

1814. He was buried in the Euphemia graveyard, and is said to be the first man buried on the spot now covered with tombstones. The second death was that of Peter Black in 1814.

There are two railroads in the township: the Dayton Western, and the Dayton & Union. The latter is the oldest, being built in 1849. The Dayton Western was built in 1851, and it is to its presence that Harrison township owes it rapid growth and active trade. A rail- road was once laid out through the township, which raised the hopes of the inhabitants to a high pitch. It was the Evansville & Lake Shore railroad. It crossed the southeastern part of the State, passing through Euphemia and Lewisburgh. After completing the grad- ing and bridging as far as the State line between Ohio and Indiana, and spending immense sums on the prepara- tion, the company broke up in 1855, and nothing more has ever been done to it. In Euphemia they have left a lasting proof of their work. Across the National road they built large arches for an iron bridge. These are finished in fine style, and nothing is wanting, but the body of the bridge. The stone work is solid and well put together, and will last for years.

EARLY INCIDENTS.

A great deal of trouble was experienced with the hostile Indians, both prior to and during the War of 1812. Most of the mischief was done by small bands, as there would have been too much danger of capture had raids been made by very large bodies of men. Their depredations were confined mostly to running of horses and killing cattle. Tradition mentions two attempts to murder whites, which failed through the failure of the guns to explode. A man by the name of Myers had stepped out on a back porch, and while there, he heard what he at once recognized to be the snap of a flint- lock. The gun of the Indian failed him, and before he could aim a second time, Myers had escaped into the house. He afterwards saw the very Indian who had at- tempted his murder, and who mentioned having snapped at him on a certain morning as he was standing on his porch.

At another time John Aikman's life was attempted by a hostile Indian. He was tying fodder when he heard the snap of the flint against the steel. He did not stop to interview his dangerous neighbor, but in the words of the aged narrator he "cut for the house lively." Every precaution was used to ensure safety by night against the attack of the wily foe. Every one slept with some weapon at hand, ready at an instant's alarm to start up and battle for life. Traces were often found where the Indians had been prowling around during the night, probably only restrained from committing injury by their fear of the white man's vengeance. Although no record exists of any white being killed by an Indian in the township, reports to the contrary are found.

At one time an Indian came to the house of the Ab- botts on Miller's fork, and demanded admittance. Upon its being refused him, he attempted to force his way into the dwelling, but was killed by Mr. Abbott by a fearful

blow on the head with some heavy instrument. An In- dian was buried by William Myers in the swamp near his house. Although no one can assert positively that he met his death by violence, nevertheless Myers was always regarded as the author of his death, but such was the dread in which the red man was held that no questions were asked. Any one who could dispose of an enemy so cruel and cunning, was held to have done the country a service timely and praiseworthy.

In 1812 Rebecca Sharpe, a sister of Henry Sharpe, was taken prisoner by some wandering Indians while visiting the Abbotts. She was carried to Darke county, and afterwards brought back to Preble county by her captors, who stopped on Swamp creek and made salt. They had a salt pit there which they guarded jealously from the whites. Miss Sharpe fixed the place in her memory, and after her release, which occurred at Green- ville soon after, she came back and gave information concerning the salt pit. After the Indians were through with their salt making, they were accustomed to stop the mouth of the pit with large stones and then strew it over with elm bark.

Jacob Potter bought up a large tract of land in the neighborhood and went to work to make salt. He had dug down a good ways, when some one, who was either jealous of his prospects or who was a personal enemy, filled up the shaft with pieces of steel and iron and put an end to the work. Potter was out of funds, probably, and could not proceed with his work. At any rate, he sold out and made no more attempts at salt manufactur- ing.

At the time of Rebecca Sharpe's capture there were only four men in the township who were not drafted into the army. These four were John Lock, Jacob Werts, John Vantz, and William Lower. This act of the In- dians in taking Miss Sharpe prisoner, caused such a fright that every one but old Vantz left in haste for the block-house at Lexington, leaving stock, crops, and everything to the mercy of the Indians. Vantz said that he had come all the way from Pennsylvania to find a home and that now that he had one he didn't propose to leave it to the mercy of "them pesky Injuns." They might kill him if they wished but he would not run. He was never molested during his stay, although the stock of the other farms were run off and the crops destroyed.

Upon her release Miss Sharpe went back to Tennes- see. Four years later her relatives went after her and persuaded her to accompany them back to Ohio. She consented, but died on the journey when ten miles north of Cincinnati, within fifty miles of her destination.

THE FIRST ELECTION

was held in the year 1816. In 1815 the present town- ship was severed from Twin township, and the first elec- tions were held in the following year. There is no township house, but the elections are held either in the council room at Lewisburgh or the hotel at Sonora. The results of the first election were as follows: Trus- tees-Jesse Swisher, Daniel Rec and John Vautz; clerk-Daniel Leas, Lester and Asa Sherman; treas-

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HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

urer-Martin Rice; supervisors Daniel Rec and John Lock, jr .; constables-John Aikman and Christian Kiser. The latter was also elected appraiser.

Overseers of the poor, Tobias Tillman and John Lock, sr .; fence viewers, John White and Jacob Ringer; justices of the peace, Jesse Swisher and Daniel Leas. The present officers are: James P. Reynolds, Hiram Gay, and A. S. Dye, trustees; A. E. May, clerk; William Leas, treasurer; Abdael Etzler and David Werts, asses- sors; Hiram Weiland and W. C. McGrew, constables, and James R. Dinwiddie, and Simeon Hoffman, justices of the peace.

POPULATION ..

The present population of Harrison township is two thousand five hundred and forty-five persons. Of these, over six hundred are voters. At the last election the township went Republican, the town of Lewisburgh go- ing Democratic.

PROPERTY VALUATION.

The valuation of property in the township, according to the latest assessor's returns, is as follows : The land and chattels are valued at eight hundred and seventy- four thousand, nine hundred and ten dollars, that of the buildings is one hundred and sixty-six thousand, five hundred and fifty dollars; a total of one million, forty-one thousand, four hundred and sixty dollars.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

THE OTT FAMILY.

The family of this name, which first settled in Preble county, emigrated from Rockbridge county, Virginia. They were among the first settlers of Harrison town- ship, locating near where Euphemia now is. They had not been here long when some vague rumors of Indian depredations induced them, with the exception of the son John and an older brother, who remained to winter through the stock, to return to Warren county, Ohio. The following spring the family returned to Harrison, where they made a permanent settlement. At the time of the emigration of the family from Virginia, John Ott, sr., previously mentioned, and father of John Ott, whose portrait appears on another page, was a young man, having been born August 1, 1785. He married June 22, 1815, Mary Magdalena Lock, who came from Maryland in an early day. She was born October 12, 1783. After marriage John settled on the dry fork of Twin creek, not far from where his son John now re sides. He lived in Euphemia during the later years of his life, and died there May 22, 1857. His first wife

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History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Part 53

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

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