History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Part 63

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 63

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PHYSICIANS.

At the time of the settlement of Jackson township, there was no regular physician nearer than Eaton. Richard Morrow remembers to this day, the fright given him by a visit from Dr. Walter Buell, who, though one of the kindest of men, was by no means the handsomest. Dr. Mitchell, of West Florence, is the first resident physician

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in this township, of whom there is any remembrance. Dr. Warren B. Munger, a graduate of the Ohio Medical college of Cincinnati, came next, and remained three or four years. Dr. Irwin Boyd next came, practicing for eight years. He was very active and self-sacrificing dur- ing the terrible ravages of the cholera in 1849, and was almost idolized by the whole neighborhood. He died of cholera in 1855, being taken sick at the house of Ebene- zer Paddack while attending to the wants of some cholera patients. His loss was considered almost irreparable. Dr. P. T. Gans began the practice of medicine in West Florence in the fall of 1854. He has a large practice, and is universally respected. Dr. George E. Wilkinson was the first regular physician in New Hope. He came about 1842, and after practicing five or six years, was succeeded by Dr. Theodore Purdy, who leaving in 1849, was followed by Dr. Cruise, and May 7, 1849, by Dr. George W. Dickey, of the eclectic school. He is the present practitioner in New Hope, and has an extensive practice, being the oldest physician in the whole neigh- borhood. He has instructed the following students who practiced in New Hope a short time after their gradua- tion: Drs. L. Van Trump, O. E. Tillson, now of West Alexandria; O. W. Tobey, now at Pyrmont, Ohio; and W. A. Arrasmith, who is now located at Campbellstown, and has acquired a large practice.

In 1877 Dr. Warren B. Munger removed from Sidney, Ohio, and remained in New Hope for three years. He is now located in Indiana. There are no other physicians in the township.

MILLS.

The first and only flouring-mill in Jackson township was built about eight years ago, in section thirty-two, by Martin Swisher. There is a saw-mill attached.

About thirty years ago there was a saw-mill in section ten, but it was burned a few years ago. The mill now then, is owned by Meredith Cox. The steam saw-mill at New Hope is owned by the Kramer brothers.

There is also a steam saw-mill at Campbellstown.

Several years ago a tile factory, under the control of Eli Fisher, was built a short distance west of New Hope, but it has recently been moved to Gettysburgh, this county.

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.

This lodge which is at Campbellstown, is the only secret society in the township. The present officers are: William Parker, N. G .; Frank Swisher, V. G .; William Rhea, recording secretary; J. V. Campbell, permanent secretary; W. A. Arrasmith, treasurer. The lodge was instituted July 23, 1873.

The Grangers had a lodge of the Patrons of Hus- bandry in Campbellstown a short time ago, but it is now extinct.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

WILLIAM BULLA.

William Bulla, the eldest son and second child of Thomas and Susan Bulla, was born in Wayne county, Indiana, April 30, 1810. Rapidly reviewing the history of his family, the reader will note that the family origi- nated in Ireland. A strange and rather romantic cir- cumstance cast the lot of this family upon American soil. About one hundred and fifty years ago three boys, not more than thirteen or fourteen years of age, might have been seen playing along the sea shore. Attracted by the unwonted sight of a ship, and induced by the pressing invitation of the captain, the boys stepped on board the vessel to satisfy their boyish curiosity, and ere they knew it they were sailing away from their native land to distant America. The anguish of the boys upon learning that they had been duped by the wiley captain, and the agony of the bereft parents is hidden by the veil of forgetfulness. The boys had to work their passage, and upon their arrival at the foreign port they were sold by the captain "to pay their passage money." What became of two of these misused lads is not known. Of one, however, there is a history, for he was none other than the great-grandfather of William Bulla. It is prob- able that the little outcast found a home in Pennsylvania. Upon attaining his majority the love of his kindred and mayhap the tender remembrance of some girlish face, induced him to seek the home from which in childhood he had been so ruthlessly torn. After remaining in Ire- land a short time, long enough to find his wife, he re- turned to this country, and the young couple settled in Pennsylvania. Here William Bulla's grandfather, Thomas, was born, and in due time was married, first to Sallie Wallace, who died without children, and afterwards he was married to Esther Widows, of Chester county, Pennsylvania. They had three girls and nine boys, all of whom, exept one little girl, lived to maturity. Thomas Bulla was a member of the Society of Friends, and on this account did not take an active part in the Revolu- tionary war. After the war the family removed to Ran- dolph county, North Carolina, where, April 14, 1779, Thomas Bulla, the father of William, was born. He was a jovial young fellow, very fond of dancing and music, and was the center of the social life of his com- munity. When about nineteen years of age he married Mary Foutz, born in North Carolina, and of German descent. She died about seventeen years ago, leaving three children, two of whom lived to maturity. In 1804 Thomas Bulla and family started for the west. He stopped for a time near Germantown, Montgomery county, Ohio, at which place his first wife died.

Deciding to go further west, he went to Indiana by himself, and entered land in the wilderness which is now the fair territory of Wayne county, Indiana. He re- mained in the wilderness for six weeks, never hearing a human voice or seeing anything homelike. After building a cabin he returned to Germantown, where a

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HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

short time previously he had married Susie Mowry, who was born in Pennsylvania, and of German descent. They proceeded to their new home. The Indians were plenty, but fortunately they were friendly. The wolves made weird music around their cabin at night, but they never did any serious damage. There was no settlement farther west than that of Thomas Bulla, and conse- quently he endured every hardship incident to pioneer life. The nearest mill was near Hamilton, Ohio.

William Bulla, the subject of this sketch, had few edu- cational advantages, but managed to get a fair education by dint of hard study. He remained under the parental roof until about nineteen years of age, when, imitating his father's example, he took a wife. His young wife, Mary Edwards, whose parents came from Guilford county, North Carolina, in 1807, was born in 1811, and died in 1864, leaving no children. For nearly three years after his marriage Mr. Bulla lived in Wayne county, Indiana, and in 1831, near the close of the year, removed to Preble county and settled on his present farm, consisting of the southwest quarter of section twenty-one, of Jackson township. He settled literally in the woods, and worked many a day clearing his land. The first house, a hewed log cabin, is still standing north of Mr. Bulla's barn. He was married on the four- teenth of October, 1866, to Martha A., the widow of George W. Green, of Logansport, Indiana. She was born near Indianapolis, March 3, 1831. By this mar-

riage Mr. Bulla had five children, four girls and one boy, viz : Ida M. and Ada L., twins, born September 8, 1867; Dora V., born January 7, 1870; Jennie, born Oc- tober 2, 1871, and William Thomas, born November 28, 1873

Since his first vote, which was cast for Jackson, he has voted for every Whig and Republican candidate for President. He has missed voting only three or four times, and these occasions were spring elections. He is Thomas and Susan Bulla had fifteen children, of | by no means radical, and has always voted for principles, whom twelve lived to maturity. Their little daughter, Betsey, was drowned in Elkhorn creek when only two years old.

which to his mind are best represented by the Repub- lican party. He has never desired office, though at times he has been a township officer. He highly re- spects Christianity, but is naturally skeptical. Below is appended a phrenological description of the forty-two "bumps" on Mr. Bulla's head. The relative sizes are in- dicated on a scale ranging from one to seven:

Amativeness, 3; parental love, 5; friendship 4, to be cultivated; inhabitiveness, 4; continuity, 6; vitality, 7; conjugal love, 3; combativeness, 6; destructiveness, 4; alimentiveness, 5 ; acquisitiveness, 6; secretiveness, 3, to be cultivated; cautiousness, 5; approbation, 6; self es- teem, 5; firmness, 7; conscientiousness, 4; hope, 6; spir- ituality, 4; veneration 2, to be cultivated; benevolence, 5; constructiveness 4, to be cultivated; ideality, 5 ; sub- limity, 5; imitation 4, to be cultivated; mirth 3, to be cultivated; individuality, 5; form, 4; size, 4; weight, 6; color, 5; order, 6; calculation, 4; locality, 5 ; eventuality, 5; time, 6; tune 4, to be cultivated; language, 5 ; casu- ality, 6; comparison, 4; human nature, 6; suavity, 4; vital temperament, 9 degrees; motive temperament, 9; and mental temperament, 10.

JEFFERSON.

This township assumed its present proportions in 1809. Its name was given it by the admirers of Thomas Jeffer- son, whose second term of office was just expiring. At this time the first settlement of the township was only three years old, and the density of surrounding forests made it necessary for the pioneers to toil night and day in the labor of clearing a spot where they might raise the necessaries of life. They had no time for civil duties, and, fortunately, there were very few duties of that kind to be performed. Hence, the records, if there were any, were very meagre, and do not go back more than fifty years. However, it has been ascertained that in 1829, the township trustees were: James Jackson, James Gra- ham and John Campbell. The present officers are: Joseph Miller, W. A. McWhinney and W. H. Kirkpatrick, trustees; L. W. Richey and Jacob Middaugh, justices of

the peace: William J. Hohn, treasurer; S. V. Henkle, clerk; William Patterson and J. T. Cox, constables. The official center of the township is New Paris, where the elections are held.

PHYSICAL FEATURES.

This township is the most northern of the first range, and the northwest township of the county. Indiana is on the west, Darke county on the north, Harrison town- ship on the east, and Jackson township on the south, The surface of the township is the most broken in the county. The dividing ridge of the county, which passes through Somers, Israel, Dixon and Jackson townships, enters Jefferson in section twenty-three, passes in a direc- tior nearly north into section twenty-two, and then east and northeast into the northern part of Harrison town-

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ship, through section twelve of Jefferson. This water- · shed presents an eastern and a western slope to Seven Mile creek, and Whitewater, respectively. Seven Mile creek takes its rise in section twenty-two, and its waters are conducted by way of a broad and deep ditch, dug by order of the county commissioners, in an easterly direc- tion until the Murray farm, in section twenty-three, is reached, when the course of the stream turns southward, and flows out of the township below Gettysburgh.

The most easterly branch of Whitewater, known as Little creek, draws its supply of water from the western slope of this dividing ridge, and from the eastern slope of a smaller ridge running between the branch stream and Whitewater creek.

Elkhorn creek has its source just east of the main ridge, and leaves the township in section thirty-four at the southern boundary of the township.

In the southwestern part, a spear of the main water- shed runs west, and empties its southern waters into another branch of the Whitewater, and its northern waters into the creek proper.

Entering at the middle of the western boundary, and passing northeast and north through sections eighteen, eight and five, is a ridge separating the waters of White- water on the east from those of a smaller stream on the west.

Thus is the township watered by two main streams and a number of smaller branches.

A birds-eye view of the surface of Jefferson township reveals the boldest landscape in Preble county. The elevated ridges are studded with hills standing out in bold relief, and skirted with glens and valleys, through which course numerous rivulets, tributary to the larger streams in the broader valleys beyond. The southeastern portion of the township is the only considerable area of lowland. The hills are so abrupt as to be suggestive of mountainous country, and so symmetrically moulded as to be suggestive of the artificial.

One of the most extensive and charming views is ob- tained from any one of the girdle of hills surrounding New Paris. North and south may be seen the silvery thread of the Whitewater losing itself in the distance, while on the west the horizon loses itself in the beautiful hills of Indiana.

Another fine view may be obtained in the northwestern corner of the township. But it is impossible to locate the centers of fine scenery, inasmuch as the whole land- scape is beautiful to the eye.

As an agricultural region Jefferson township ranks with the average townships of the county. As in all up- land country, the soil is clayey, and requires considerable draining to cause it to produce its maximum crop. The majority of the farms are well drained, and their produc- tiveness proportionally increased. Though much corn is raised, the soil is best adapted for the growth of small grain. The principal productions are wheat, oats, corn, hay, with some tobacco and sorghum. Stock is raised, but stock raising is not a specialty.

The area of land embraced in this township is six miles north, and nearly six miles wide, and contains about

twenty-two thousand and five acres. Of this land : thirteen thousand three hundred and sixty is plow land ; three thousand six hundred and eighty-four acres, mead- ow land; and about four thousand nine hundred and sixty acres, wood land. The total value of all this land is seven hundred and sixty eight thousand and thirty-one dollars, nearly. The houses are valued at seventy-one thousand nine hundred and seventy-five dollars; the mills at eleven thousand one hundred dollars, and the barns and other building at thirty-eight thousand three hundred and twenty-five dollars. The population of the township is two thousand two hundred and thirty- two.

SETTLEMENT.

This part of the county was occupied as early as 1806, by pioneers, who came from Kentucky. Jackson town- ship below was rapidly filling up with settlers from the south, and very naturally the settlement extended north- ward and beyond the Jackson township line. The first settlement in Jefferson was small, made up of not more than four or five families. In the infancy of this century Indians were very numerous, and one of their favorite camping places was in this township near Cedar springs, their favorite resort. But the white man soon reached this territory, and the Indians were pushed across the adjoining State line. There may have been a few ven- turesome squatters in advance of the pioneers, but no trace of any can be found.

The States of Kentucky and Tennessee have the honor of having furnished Jefferson township with its earliest settlers. Among these original settlers were the Flemings, Irelands, Purviances, Morrisons and Mitchells.

The first settlements were made about the year 1806. Many of the pioneers of Jefferson, like those of Israel and other townships, lett the south because of their hatred of slavery.

Bourbon county, Kentucky, from which many emi- grated, is often called the garden of the State, and even at an early day the region was very productive. Through the labors of such men as David and John Purviance, B. W. Stone, Andrew Ireland, William Cald- well and others, churches had been founded, and with Paris as the center the community was the most promis- ing in the State. But led on by the spirit of emigration, whose impulse was the bettering of their condition, a number of families started for Ohio, and after weary days of travel their wagons stopped in the vicinity of the east fork of Whitewater, where to-day their descendants are enjoying the fruits of their labors. The representation of these first families is very limited, and from them only could any account of the settlement be obtained.

John Purviance was born April 12, 1793. He married for his first wife Margaret Woods, who was born in 1799 and died in 1824. One of the two children born by this marriage is living. In 1838 he married Cynthia Adams, who was born in Wilson county, Tennessee, in 1810, whose parents emigrated to Ohio in 1816. To Mr. and Mrs. Purviance were born six children, four of whom are living. Mrs. Purviance is still living on the old place in section thirty-one.

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One of the earliest settlers in Jefferson township was David Purviance, the pioneer preacher of the New Light church, and the founder of many of the societies of that denomination in Preble county. He was born in Iredell county, North Carolina, November 14, 1766. His par- ents, who were strict Presbyterians, reared him in that faith and drilled him in the Westminster catechism, larger and shorter. He received the rudiments of a clas- sical education under the tutelage of Dr. Hall, a Presby- terian preacher who was compelled to cease study on ac- count of ill health. He taught for a while, and wrote in the clerk's office in Salsbury, North Carolina. When twenty-three years of age he was married to Miss Mary Ireland, daughter of John and Mary Ireland, a sister of David Ireland, who was among the first settlers in Jeffer- son township. Soon after their marriage they removed to Tennessee and settled on the Cumberland river, near Nashville. But the Indians were bad then, and killed his brother John, besides committing numerous depreda- tions. David Purviance moved to Kentucky and settled three miles south of Caneridge meeting-house. His land, covered with a thick forest growth and a thick canebrake, was hard to clear. Here Mr. Purviance toiled, and it was not known until he entered the Kentucky legislature in 1791, that he was a great man. He made his debut in public life in a speech against the courts, which were ably defended by the eloquent John Breckenridge. He won in this, his first effort, and this victory was but an index of his future success. In 1807 Mr. Purviance em- igrated to Ohio and settled in section thirty-one of Jef- reason township. His efforts in establishing the church at New Paris are noted below. He could not live in Preble county long before the fame of his powerful speeches in the Kentucky legislature overtook him and became known to his friends. In the fall of 1809 he represented the people of Montgomery and Preble coun- ties in the State legislature, and served one term of two years. In 1812, the district being changed, he was elected to the senate by the counties of Preble, Darke and Mi- ami, which counties he served four years. His labors in the legislature were incessant. He was in the senate at the time that Columbus was made the capital of the State. He was instrumental in securing to Oxford the location of Miami university, and for many years was a trustee of that institution. His vigorous support of the bill introduced for the repeal of the "Black laws of Ohio" made him for the time unpopular. His defence of the black people was very strong.

He was again elected in 1826, and always took a strong interest in political affairs. He served the legisla- tures of Kentucky and Ohio fifteen sessions. He was also on the electoral ticket in 1812, when James Madison was re-elected.

David and Mary Purviance were the parents of seven children, of whom but one, Mrs. Margaret Day, who re- sides in Paxton, Illinois, is living. David Purviance died in 1848, and is buried in the old cemetery at New Paris.

Elder Levi Purviance was the oldest son of Elder David Purviance, and was born in Iredell county, North

Carolina, November 7, 1790, and died in 1873, aged nearly eighty-three. He moved with his parents to Ten- nessee, and thence to Kentucky. At the age of sixteen he came with his father to Jefferson township, and as- sisted him in the work of clearing his land. During the first year Levi Purviance cleared six acres of land, and put it in corn. In 1811 he was married to Sophia Woods, of Wayne county, Indiana. In 1812 he volun- teered and served in the army at Fort Nisbit, under the command of Captain Silas Fleming. In 1823 he was ordained a minister of the gospel and continued in this work until the time of his death. All this time, except ten years spent in Illinois, was spent in Ohio; five years in Miami county, five in Warren, and the remainder in Darke and Preble counties. Elder Purviance married for his second wife Mrs. Eliza Adams, of Darke county. After her death, in 1865, he married Mrs. Elizabeth Cox, of Covington, Miami county, Ohio. Elder Purviance was the constant attendant of his father, and when David died, Levi took up the mantle. About 1852 he moved to Morristown, Illinois, and after ten years returned to Ohio. After preaching for some time in Covington, and Franklin, Ohio, he accepted a call to Eaton, and died there April 9, 1873, in his eighty-third year.

Elder Purviance published a biography of his father, and brief sketches of nine other Christian ministers, together with the history of the great Kentucky revival, and the formation of the Christian church.

Patterson Purviance was born in Jefferson township about the year 1828. He married Dorcas Porterfield, whose parents were among the early settlers of this town- ship.

Eli Purviance, the only surviving child of Patterson Purviance, resides with his parents three miles north of New Paris.

David Ireland was born in 1765, in the State of North Carolina. His parents were John and Mary Ireland. His father was a native of Ireland, and his mother was of Irish descent. They emigrated to Tennessee, whence they came with their son, David, in 1808, to Preble county. David Ireland was born in North Carolina, and with his father removed to Tennessee. He was a Revo- lutionary soldier, being only seventeen years of age when he volunteered, and was elected captain. He was mar- ried to Miss Nancy Mitchell, who was born in 1766, and died in 1875. Four daughters and five sons were born to them, but one of whom, James, is living. He was born in Tennessee, in 1805, and in 1808 came to this county with his parents, who located in section seventeen of Jefferson township, at which place his parents died. David Ireland died in 1847. James Ireland married Miss Ursula Purviance, daughter of Colonel John Purvi- ance, who was born in 1807. To them were born five children, three of whom are living: Mary Jane, widow of Jacob P. Jones, resides with her father and mother; Louisa, widow of Thornton P. Thomas, lives at New Paris; and David P. Ireland resides at home. The latter was in the war of the Rebellion, and fought in twenty- four battles. He was wounded at Chickamauga, suffer ing injuries from which he has not fully recovered.

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James Ireland is one of the oldest residents of the township. He now lives on the slope of the hill over- looking New Paris from the south, whence can be ob- tained one of the finest views in the township.

John Harvey migrated to Ohio from Tennessee, about the year 1808, and settled in Jefferson township, on the farm in sections four and five, near the old mill.

John Wasson, who came in 1810 from Kentucky, set- tled in section twenty-nine.

About this same time Andrew Morrison came to Preble county, and settled in this township, on the farm now owned by Eli Brawley.

James Fleming came from Kentucky about the year 1808, and settled in Jefferson township. He was during his whole life identified with every enterprise tending to increase the welfare of the community. He was one of the founders of the town of New Paris. His brother, Judge Peter Fleming, who was closely identified with every interest of Jefferson township, settled about the same time, just beyond the confines of the township, between Richmond and New Westville.

John Mitchell, a native of North Carolina, born in 1784, emigrated to Kentucky, and in 1810 came to Ohio and settled in Jefferson township. He died in 1845. His wife, Elizabeth Bilbee, was born in 1789, and died in 1870. She was a native of New Jersey. Of their ten children Sarah, Mary, John, Franklin, and Samuel are living.

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History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Part 63

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

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