History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Part 62

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

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Buckner Deem, the second son of Joseph Deem, an old pioneer of Preble county, was born in 1826, and in 1850 was married to Mary A. Kissling, by whom he had five children, all of whom are living in Preble county. Mrs. Deem was born in 1831, her parents being old set- tlers of the county. Mr. Deem is a resident of section three, where he owns two hundred and ninety-seven acres of land.

James Samuel Wolf was born in 1850. His father, Jacob L. Wolf, was born in 1818, and his mother, Eliza C., was born in 1813. In 1871 Samuel Wolf was married to Mary Elizabeth McWhinney, daughter of John and Cyn. thia McWhinney; she was born in 1847. To Mr. and Mrs. Wolf have been born one child, Emma Frances. Mr. Wolf lives in section ten, where he owns eighty acres of land.

Frank Swisher was born in Dixon township in 1852, and is the son of Martin Swisher, who now lives in Eaton. In 1872 he was married to Alice McWhinney, the daughter of Matthew McWhinney; she was born in 1854. To Mr. and Mrs. Swisher was born one child, Eddie M., born in 1872. Mr. Swisher and his mother- in-law, Mrs. Miriam McWhinney, run the general store in West Florence, which is kept in connection with the post office by Mr. Swisher, who is deputy postmaster.

George Scarse, son of David and Rebecca Scarse, was born in the State of Indiana, October 25, 1836. His father died at Richmond, in 1866, where his mother still resides. He settled on one hundred and sixty acres of land in section seven of Jackson township. His wife was Miss Cynthia Swisher, whom he married in 1860; she died in 1874, and was the mother of three children

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Etta, born in 1863; Vernon in 1865, and Charles in 1867. The children are all living at home.

David Morehead, born in Pennsylvania, in 1825, came to New Westville in 1851, at which place he has since resided. In 1857 he married Miss Nancy Kissin- ger, who was born in 1835. Their children --- Mary and John, are still living with them. Mr. Morehead has suc- cessfully carried on the huckster business since 1864, and has thus obtained the means to purchase eighty acres of land. Though he does not keep a regular store, he supplies his neighbors with many of the necessities of life.

EARLY EVENTS.

The wandering tribes of Indians that occasionally camped and hunted in Jackson, offered no violence to the pioneers. Hence there are no Indian raids, pursuits and bloody encounters to record. Ebenezer Paddack says that when he was a boy, the sight of an Indian pro- duced as little consternation in his youthful breast as the gobble of a wild turkey, or the swift rustle of a startled deer. But the sight of a white person outside the family circle was unknown to young Paddack, until one day, while exploring the headwaters of Four Mile creek in company with his brothers, they were astonished by the glimpse of a pale face and a shock of red hair half hidden by the bushes. This meeting was too much for both parties and they hastily took to their heels. It was afterwards learned that the stranger was James McCor- mick, the son of John McCormick, who had just settled one-half mile north of Paddacks.

One of the earliest weddings took place in January, 1818, at the residence of Andrew Morrow, at which time James Tosh was wedded to Hannah Morrow, by Esquire John McCord. As this was the first ceremony that dig- nitary had been called upon to perform, he was much frightened, and eye-witnesses say that he trembled like an aspen leaf, much to the amusement of the merry wedding party.

The first death was that of a young man by the name of Thomas Hollet, who was killed by the falling of a tree. He was the first person buried in the cemetery on the State line, in section nineteen. This was the first graveyard in the township.

The first corn was raised by Rice Price, in section thirty- two, he having cleared seven acres in the spring of 1806.

In the spring of 1807, Henry Paddack cleared twelve acres just south of his house, near the site of the present school-house. In this place he set out over two hundred fruit trees, which he procured from a man named Lud- low, who lived where Ludlow, Kentucky, now stands, opposite Cincinnati. Several of the old apple trees are still standing in the school yard.

The first wheat was raised about 1810. In those ear- liest days, the staff of life was corn bread, and wheat bread was considered a luxury almost unattainable.

The first school-house was erected in 1814, where West Florence now is. Here also was the first store, kept by John McCowen, and here, May 17, 1839, was established the first post office, of which Warren C. Emerson was postmaster.

The first public house was opened at New Westville in 1817, by George Worthington, the founder of the village.

For several years after the first settlement had been made there were no roads in the township, and the bridle-path was the highway. About the year 1810 the State road was built, passing from Eaton through Jackson township in a northwesterly direction, in a course almost coincident with that of the Eaton and Richmond pike. This was the mail route between Columbus and Indian- apolis. The mail was first carried through on horseback, then in the old "mud wagon," and afterwards in the four-horse coach. This road was superseded by the turn- pike which was built about 1840. This road soon became the thoroughfare from Cincinnati.

In 1853, the Cincinnati, Richmond & Chicago railroad was put through the township, entering the east line in section twenty five, passing parallel with the pike, and crossing the State line in section seven. There are three stations: New Hope, Florence, and Westville.

The first and only distillery was built by Jacob Gep- hardt, in section one, in 1839. He run it four years, and finding it unremunerative, gave it up. Since then no whiskey has been made in the township. There was considerable drinking in the early days, but whiskey was " purer then. At present there is no saloon in the town- ship.

EARLY SCHOOLS.

The first school-house in the township was built of hewed logs, and stood where West Florence now is, op- posite the old store. It was erected in 1814. John Tay- lor, familiarly called "the little Scotchman," offered to become the teacher, at a salary of one hundred and twenty dollars per annum. But the sturdy pioneers found accumulating work for their sons and daughters, and it was with great difficulty that twenty-five scholars were at last assembled in the little log school-house. Under the management of the little Scotchman the school prospered. Ebenezer Paddack, the only one of the original twenty five scholars now living, says that the pastime of the boys, when they wanted a little fun, was to chop and haul wood from the present site of the old store to the school-house near by. John Taylor afterwards taught school in the Elkhorn settlement.

Jesse Hopkins taught the next school in 1807, in a rough log house, with saplings split open and shaved for seats. This building was located in the western part of the township.

The next school was in an old deserted log cabin, a short distance north of Richard Morrow's farm. It was continued for only one quarter, under the management of Alexander Barr, a Pennsylvanian, who afterwards be- came the father-in-law of Richard Morrow, who married his daughter, Sarah, in 1832.

About the year 1818 a log school-house was built, and several years afterwards a frame building was put up, one and one-half miles east of the old school. It afterwards became a district school. Alexander Barr taught in the neighborhood for many years.

According to law section sixteen was reserved for school land, and, owing to their proximity to this section,

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the sections numbered fifteen, twenty-one, and twenty- two were sold at four dollars an acre.

. There are at present nine school districts, with as many substantial and well furnished buildings.

CHURCHES.

Probably the first preaching in Jackson township was in the Elkhorn settlement, about the year 1807, by Elder David Purviance, who was one of the founders of the Christian church, more familiarly called, the New Light church. Soon afterwards Parson Whitehead, of the Baptist denomination, held meetings at the house of John Bozworth.

Judge William Curry, now of Eaton, remembers a meeting held at his house in 1814, by a Methodist cir- cuit rider, the Rev. James Finley.

The followers of Elder Purviance organized a society, about 1810, and soon afterwards built, just across the State line, a frame building which they dedicated as

SHILOH CHURCH,

which, though beyond the line, was supported al- most entirely by residents of the township. It was situated immediately north of what is now the inter- section of the Cincinnati, Richmond & Chicago rail- road with the State line. It has long since fallen into decay, and the old graveyard, in which many of the first settlers of the township are buried, is overgrown with bushes. Among the ministers were William Gordon, John Adams, Reuben Dooley, Josiah Conger, and George Shidler. The church rapidly increased, but gave way, in later years, to other churches.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

About the time of the organization of the township, a small company of Methodists held meetings in section three, on the farm now occupied by Buckner Deem. Among the first preachers who visited them was Rev. John Durbin, who afterwards became very eminent in the Methodist church. About 1825 a church was built near by on the Morse farm. The house has long since gone to ruin.

NEW WESTVILLE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

This church was next founded. Robert McCord, a local preacher. had much to do with its founding. It is situated a short distance south of town, upon land form- erly owned by Thomas J. McWhinney, who lies buried in the adjoining graveyard. In the early days this church was one of the strongholds of Methodism, and some of the most talented ministers have preached to this congre- gation.

Rev. Werter Davis, one of the most active religious pioneers in this county, was among the first ministers. Rev. W. H. Raper was the first presiding elder who preached there. At present there is no regular preach- ing. Rev. Young was the last pastor.

NEW HOPE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

A great revival took place, in the winter of 1847, among the Methodists in the vicinity of New Hope. The meetings were held in the wagon-shop of James Beggs, which stood nearly opposite the spot where the

present church stands. During the revival the following persons became members of the class which was then formed: Samuel Null and wife, John C. McManus and his wife Catharine, John and Jacob Weist, with their wives; John Wolf and family, Mrs. Harriet Scott, and others. In the spring of the same year efforts were made to build a house of worship, and by fall this had been accomplished. Services have been held there ever since, though not in the same house. December 23, 1878, the old building was destroyed by fire, and the lit- tle band of workers were well nigh discouraged. But by a strong and united effort they were enabled to re-build their house of worship, and now they have a neat and commodious frame building. Rev. Young has been preaching for them for several years. There are about twenty-five active members. The following is a list of the officers: Trustees, William Renner, W. L. Mitchell, and C. W. Baker; class-leaders and stewards, W. L. Mitchell, and William Renner.

BAPTIST CHURCH.

As has been previously mentioned, the Baptists held their first meetings at the house of John Bosworth, in section nineteen. In 1817 a Baptist church was built of logs, in the northern part of Dixon township, in section five, on Four Mile creek. Soon afterwards the congre- gation removed their place of worship, and built a church on the farm of Marcus McWhinney, in section twenty, west of William Bulla's residence. The society was known as the regular old-fashioned Baptist church. Rev. William Williams was the first minister, and Rev. Josh- ua Moore was the last. The church was deserted in 1845, and at this day there is not a vestige of it left. Ebenezer Paddack is the only member living. There is no other Baptist society in the township.

UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST-NEW HOPE CHURCH.

The United Brethren of Jackson and surrounding town- ships were wont to worship in the barns of Fathers Bone- brake and Dawald, of Washington township. In 1815 Revs. Zellers, Jacob Antram, and Henry Kumler, held meetings in a log church, which was built about that time.

In 1830 a house was built close to the Jackson town- ship line, in Washington township, not far from New Hope. This was the second church of the denomina- tion in Ohio. There were about thirty members, among whom were John Melling, David Mason, and Jacob My- ers, of Jackson township. Rev. George Bonebrake was the minister there in 1847, when the society concluded to remove to New Hope, and accordingly the present brick church was built, and the society removed to Jack- son township. Since then the ministers have been Revs. Isaac Robinson, George Bonebrake, Henry Kumler, Sam- uel Adams, Asa Cohee, Jacob and Henry Surface, and Henry Tobey. Rev. Samuel Huddle is the present pastor.

There was a great revival during the pastorate of Henry Tobey, in January and February, 1867. At this time sixty-five persons united with the church. In 1877, in the pastorate of Rev. Huddle, about forty were added.

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There are at present one hundred and eleven communi- cants. The following are the officers: Trustees, John Melling, George Izer, Jacob L. Surface, Jacob Cline, and William Bonebrake; clerk, John Griffis; class-leaders, Jacob Cline and John Griffis.

The Sabbath-school organized at the old church in 1836, now numbers about eighty members. Rev. Henry Surface and Matthew Brann were the first superintend- ents. Daniel Strader and O. P. Conley now have charge of the school.

EDWARDS CHAPEL,

in section thirty-four was built by subscription in 1878, and is under the control of the United Brethren. A number of Methodists living in the neighborhood united with them. They are supplied by the pastor of the New Hope church. In the spring of 1878 the chapel was for- mally dedicated by Revs. Charles Miller and Daniel Flickinger, of Dayton. There are at present nearly forty members.

CHRISTIAN CHURCH-UNION CHAPEL,

in section twenty-five, was dedicated to the worship of God, September 21, 1851, and February 29, 1852, a so- ciety was organized with the following members: Jacob Cline, Michael Powell, John Spacht, William Green, Mary Frame, Elizabeth Street, Margaret Frame, Eliza- beth Ammerman, Welthy Frame, Susannah Whitsell, Wilmina and Catharine Miller. Elder James Neal ef- fected the organization, and continued in the pulpit four- teen years. The ministers since then have been Revs. W. A. Gross, five years; James Neal, three years; C. C. Philips, one year; and Rev. Peter Mccullough, who has been supplying the church since last May.

PEOPLE'S CHURCH.

Elder James Neal, with twenty-four members, organ- ized the old church at West Florence in the fall of 1842. The building still stands at the rear of Frank Swisher's store. Rev. James Neal was the pastor for about seven years, and was followed, after a brief vacancy of the pul- pit, by Rev. T. M. McWhinney, now of the Herald of Gospel Liberty, at Dayton. Eli Conger, Matthew Mc- Whinney, William Kendrick, Thomas M. McWhinney, John Kendrick, William McWhinney, Robert Swisher, with their wives, and Mrs. Elizabeth McWhinney, were among the first members. Prior to the year 1859, Rev. T. M. McWhinney conceived the plan of the members of the Christian denomination uniting with the Universal- ists and Methodists of the neighborhood in the building of a new house of worship, to be called the People's church, and accordingly, in 1859, the commodious brick building which had been erected by general subscription, was dedicated by Revs. T. M. McWhinney, of the Chris- tian denomination, and Rev. James Foster, a Universalist, of Indianapolis. Naturally enough, both denominations desired the lead, and on the day of dedication, upon a vote of the congregation, it was decided that Mr. Mc- Whinney be followed by Mr. Foster. Strangely enough, both ministers had chosen the same text. There has always been a controversy between the denominations for supremacy. The Christian denomination is the

stronger element, and since the dedication of the church they have had their own ministers, among whom were Revs. T. M. McWhinney, Joseph Weeks, James Sloan, Hiram Simonton, W. A. Brodrick, Levi Purviance, Z. T. Sullivan, and Peter Mccullough. For eighteen months the church has been without a pastor. The house is situated just east of West Florence, about three hundred yards from the old church.

THE NEW WESTVILLE CHURCH

was organized by Elder James Neal, about eight years ago. For a time it was very prosperous, but of late years it has not succeeded quite so well. Preaching is still kept up there by Rev. Neal. There was a church of the same denomination at New Westville more than thirty years ago, but it has disappeared.

GERMAN EVANGELICAL SOCIETY.

This society was organized in 1859, by Rev. Philip Swartz, of Darke county. There were, originally, fifteen members, but at present there are but seven. The meetings are occasionally held in the United Brethren and Methodist churches of New Hope. They never had a building of their own. Rev. A. O. Raber, of In- diana, occasionally preaches for them.

EARLY BURIAL PLACES.

The first graveyard in the township is in section nine- teen, on the Indiana line, on the farm now occupied by Jacob Crowell. It was laid out by the pioneers of the Elkhorn settlement. The first person buried there was a young man named Thomas Hollett, killed by a falling tree. Here are buried John Bozworth, Michael Crowell, Elijah Wade, and others of the fisrt settlers. Recently the cemetery has been remodelled, and it presents an at- tractive appearance.

In the earliest times there was a graveyard in sec- tion ten, on the farm of Jacob Wolf, just north of the Eaton and Richmond pike. Jacob Wolf was the first person buried there. Rebecca Wells and Elizabeth Davisson were among the first persons buried in this graveyard, whose only monument is a large wild cherry tree, which can be seen from the pike.

What is known as the Frame graveyard is situated about a quarter of a mile southwest of Union chapel. July 16, 1816, the infant daughter of John and Polly Frame died, and there being no graveyard in the neigh- borhood it was thought best to bury the child near the house. Accordingly Silas, the brother of John, and father of Daniel Frame, dug a grave in a secluded spot a short distance northwest of the house. When the little procession of relatives started for the place of burial, it was with the utmost difficulty that they could find the grave, so thick was the heavy growth of bushes. A plain freestone slab now marks the little grave, which, in the course of time, has been surrounded by the silent inhab- itants of the silent city that has grown about the lonely grave of the wilderness. Here were buried: Jeremiah Frame, December 9, 1828, aged seventy-six; his wife, Elizabeth, December 9, 1828, aged eighty-eight; Isham Lanier, January 2, 1823, aged sixty-six; John Frame, September 26, 1828, aged forty-four; Polly Frame, De-

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cember 30, 1840, aged thirty-nine; Silas Frame, October 2, 1864, aged sixty-three; John C. McManus, 1852, aged sixty-five; John R. Williams, April 22, 1863, aged seventy- three; his wife, Catharine, April 15, 1863, aged seventy. two; John Ammerman, June 22, 1856, aged seventy- nine; his wife, Rachel, July 19, 1859, aged seventy; his first wife, Malchariot, July 30, 1849, aged twenty-five; Rev. William Williams, a Baptist minister, February 19, 1841, aged eighty; John Miller, November 26, 1864, aged sixty-nine; Henry Miley, June 21, 1868; aged sev- enty; and Henry Lanier, October 6, 1879, aged seven- ty-nine. The above were the first settlers of the south- eastern part of the township.

In the graveyard adjoining the New Westville Meth- odist Episcopal church were buried: First, Lucy Ann, wife of Henry W. Price, September 8, 1815, aged twenty- five; afterwards, Thomas J. McWhinney, September 11, 1846, aged thirty-six; Andrew Morrow, July 21, 1847, aged eighty; his wife, Rebecca; Dr. W. M. Jackson, Au- gust 21, 1849, aged thirty-seven; and others, whose graves are not marked.

VILLAGES.

West Florence, New Westville, New Hope, Campbells- town, and Crawfordsville are the hamlets of Jackson township.

WEST FLORENCE.

In 1816 John McCowen laid off in section thirty-three, at the middle of the southern boundary of the township, a plat of ground divided into lots, calling the proposed town Knoxville, after his native Knoxville, Tennessee. The plat was not recorded until March 18, 1835. It was then called Florence, and at the time of the establish- ment of the post office, in 1839, the name was changed to West Florence. The first store was built in 1816 by John McCowen, on a spot immediately in front of Dr. Gans' barn.

Warren C. Emerson became the first postmaster, May 17, 1839. Frank"Swisher now keeps the store, and is the deputy of Dr. P. T. Gans, the present postmaster.

As is stated elsewhere, the first school-house in the township was built in 1816, opposite the old store. The old frame Christian church is still standing in the yard back of Swisher's store. Until 1850 part of West Flor- ence was in Dixon township, but at that time William Swisher bought that part lying south of the line, and the four or five houses were moved across into Jackson town- ship. There is now in the village a store, a blacksmith and a wagon shop. Dr. P. T. Gans is the resident phys- ician. There are at present fifty inhabitants.

NEW WESTVILLE.

. Until the establishment of the post office of New Westville, June 4, 1840, the town was known as West- ville, and letters were sent to McCowen's cross roads. July 16, 1816, the west half of section number five was surveyed, and a plat, containing sixty-four in-lots and eight out-lots, was acknowledged by Isaac Stephens, J. P. The store was built by James McCowen. George Worthington, the founder of the town, opened the first tavern in the township in 1817. For a time the pro-

jected town grew, and at first it was ahead of Richmond, which was founded in 1818. It reached the zenith of its prosperity soon after the building of the Eaton and Richmond pike, and after the construction of the rail- road, became dead to enterprise. The present postmas- ter is Nicholas Huth. It now has about one hundred and twenty-five inhabitants.

NEW HOPE

was laid out June 11, 1841, by Daniel Hawk, and addi- tions were made October, 15, 1842, in the southeast part of the present town by Abraham Leedy, and by Jacob Cline in August, 1847, comprising all that part now lying west of the intersection of the pike with what is known as "the short line." The village is situated on the Eaton and Richmond pike, about five miles northwest of Eaton. It contains nearly one hundred and fifty people. The post office is Upshur, with W. I .. Mitchell postmaster, and Jacob Cline acting as his deputy. The first post- master, William Brown, was sworn in April 2, 1844. He kept the first store, opposite Renner's hotel. The village store was kept successively by Adam Surface, Rev. Asa Cohee, Rev. Henry Tobey, and at present is kept by Jacob Cline. Abraham Leedy opened the first tavern, which being on the stage line from Dayton to Richmond, was well patronized by travellers and teamsters. Stuart Hoon afterwards kept the Five Mile house where Henry Adler now lives. The present hotels are kept by William Renner and George Stemple. There are two churches- the Methodist Episcopal and the United Brethren. Dr. G. W. Dickey is the physician. The blacksmith and wagon shop is owned by Henry Ashinger and his son, Ed- ward. James Kinkade keeps a small store opposite that of Jacob Cline.

CRAWFORDSVILLE

was laid out December 10, 1842, by Conrad Frey, and for a time had as bright prospects as any of its neighbor- ing hamlets. It has now only seven families. It is situ- ated in section twenty-four, on the eastern township line. Daniel Strader is the oldest inhabitant.

CAMPBELLSTOWN

is the name of the post office at Florence station, on the south side of the Cincinnati, Richmond & Chicago rail- road. Lots were sold from time to time but they were never platted. Soon after the building of the railroad Harvey McWhinney opened a store, and the packing of pork was very successfully engaged in. Henry Swisher, the railroad agent, keeps a store and warehouse. Jacob Cooper keeps the post office in his store. The first post office was established June 1, 1854, and Matthew Mc- Whinney was the first postmaster. The warehouse kept at New Hope station by charles McManus was burned December 22, 1879. John Williams keeps a store there.

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History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Part 62

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

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