History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Part 67

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

USA > Ohio > Preble County > History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches > Part 67

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The first regular practitioner was Dr. Clement Fergu- son, who came into the township in a very early day, as early as 1814. He was the first resident physician in New Paris, and lived for a number of years where Sam- uel W. Richey now resides. Dr. Ferguson was one of the first school teachers in the township, and afterwards became a very successful physician. He died in New Paris in the year 1833, and is buried in the North cemetery.

Dr. James Knox came in 1817, and Dr. David Cox in 1820

Prominent among the early physicians were the Whit ridges-Drs. John and Peleg Whitridge, who practiced separately and in partnership for many years. They con- trolled a large practice, and were universally liked.

Dr. Samuel Ferris practiced at New Paris, and at New Westville for a short time, about the year 1850, and then removed to Newcastle, Indiana.

His brother, A. B. Ferris, graduated at the Cleveland Medical college in 1850, and in the winter of 1850 at- tended a course of lectures at the Ohio Medical college. He commenced the practice of medicine in 1852, in New Paris, where he has been ever since.

The above physicians were of the allopathic school. After them there were quite a number of physicians of the physio-medical or botanic school.

First of these was Dr. Kepler, a steam doctor of the above named school.

Twenty or thirty years ago Dr. Terry practiced in New Paris. He is now professor of the Eclectic Medical col- lege in Cincinnati.

Dr. George Wilkinson practiced about 1840.

Dr. Moses Swank came about 1850, and remained for several years. He now resides in Indianapolis, and makes the treatment of cancers a specialty.

Dr. Eaton, who came to New Paris about fifty years ago, was of the old school. He now is in Cincinnati, and makes the treatment of the eyes a specialty. Dr.

George Bruce practiced in New Paris about thirty years ago, and is now located in Winchester, Indiana.

About the same time Dr. U. G. Miller, who is now in Lawrence, Kansas, commenced to practice in Paris.

Dr. Lesh, of the Botanic school, left the village six or seven years ago.

Dr. C. F. Braffet, the present representative of the Eclectic school, is a graduate of the Physio-Medical col- lege. He has been practicing in New Paris since 1847.

Dr. Hampton, a Homoeopathic physician, practiced ten years in New Paris and moved away in 1880.

Dr. Haynie located in New Paris in October, 1878, and is a graduate of the Cincinnati College of Medicine.

QUARRIES.

Geology indicates and experience proves that Jefferson township is very rich in abundant deposits of lime-stone, and as a matter of course, the most extensively worked quarries in Preble county are located at New Paris, along the Whitewater, where the surface of the rock has been exposed by the action of the water. The upper mem- ber of the Niagara series is well developed, and is easily reached. The building stone courses are also accessible. But the main interest, however, is the production of lime. Large quantities of the best of lime are annually burned here, and distributed mainly to the westward by railroads leading out of Richmond, Indiana. Patent kilns are in use and the business is carried on successful- ly, and economically managed by Thomas J. Smith, the proprietor of the quarries, which are three in number. One of them is on the creek, south of New Paris, one- half mile. The northern part consists of building and lime-stone, and is owned by Mr. Smith; and the other end, owned by Leander Marshall, abounds in big flag- stone rock. Just south of town two lime kilns are run- ning, and north of town there is another quarry. Mr. Smith employs about forty men. This year he has ship- ped about four thousand perch of building stone, four thousand yards of flagging stone, and ninety thousand bushels of lime. In the manufacture of the lime are consumed about one thousand eight hundred cords of wood annually. The constant burning of lime is a good antidote for chills.

CEDAR SPRINGS.

Before the white man had set foot on the soil of Jeffer- son township, it was inhabited by bands of the Pottawat- omies, Miami, and Wyandot Indians, who lingered in the native forests in search of the deer, wild turkey, bear and other game with which the region abounded. Even after the first white settlements had been made it was no uncommon sight to see the wigwam of the Indian in some well favored spot in the valley of the Whitewater, or in some more secluded ravine. Through the ravines leading to the creek was the distinct path made by the deer and other game on their way to the water. About a half-mile south of where New Paris now stands, might have been found, in a secluded glen, one of the most popular camping grounds of the Indians, and one of the principal drinking places of the wild animals; for here were several strong springs of water, pure and cold.

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HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

The Indians recognized in this water curative properties that far exceeded those of the healthful Twin valley they loved so well. Indian medicine men effected won- derful cures by sending their patients to the springs in the vicinity of Whitewater.

After the advent of the white man, for a number of years the settlers were too busy with their multiplied cares and labors to take much notice of the springs. But a school-house happened to be put up near them at an early day, and it was noticed that weak school-ma'ams and masters, after teaching there awhile, became remark- ably healthy.

For many years, however, only those in the immediate neighborhood thought anything of the water, save that the springs were valuable for agricultural purposes.

The glorious forest trees which stood near by on the surrounding hills fell victims to the axe of the woodman, who little thought that he was shearing those hills of one of the elements most necessary to the perfection of the picturesque. But, happily, this ruthless destruction was stopped, when, in 1875, Marshall, Wetheral & Co., com- menced the building of a large five-story frame hotel, and proceeded to fit up the grounds and make the water accessible.

Rapidly did the fame of the water go abroad, and almost from the first there was a crowd waiting to be healed. The pristine qualities of the water had in no wise deteriorated, and many remarkable cures were chronicled. In the fall of 1877, the property was pur- chased by Eli and Dr. A. F. Haldeman, and in 1878, Dr. Haldeman and Oscar Gale, esq., became the proprietors.

The grounds are well located, and are, from time to time, being improved, and in time it is hoped that this may become one of the most charming resorts in the country.

The springs are five in number and are varied in their medicinal properties. They have an inexhaustible flow, aggregating nearly ten thousand barrels a day. The Washington spring is the largest and most important, and is valuable as a curative in diseases of the liver, kidney, bladder, stomach, bowels, and in all blood diseases.

The following is the analysis :

GRAINS.

Bicarbonate of magnesia.

1.295 Bicarbonate of soda 0.408 Bicarbonate. of iron 0.228 Bricarbonate of lime 0.712

Chloride of sodium 0.121 Sulphate of soda 0.023

Alumina 0.027

Sulphate of lime 0. 155

Phosphate of lime

0.266

Total 3.302

The water of this spring compares favorably with that of the Bethesda, at Waukesha, Wisconsin, and the Spa, in Belgium.

The Sedlitz spring is cathartic; the Chalybeate, near the Washington, is a promoter of digestion, and the Glycerine spring, twenty feet from the Washinton, is used only in the adjoining bath-house and has in it much healing power.

With proper management this will become one of the most popular health resorts in the country.

BUSINESS HOUSES.

The enterprise that has ever characterized New Paris has developed and sustained quite a number of flourish- ing business houses. As is noted elsewhere, the first store was opened in a building opposite McWhinney's place of business. Its character was that of a general store, in which merchandise of all kinds was sold. Every village of any pretensions to business prosperity, is well supplied with general stores. Means & Johnson and J. & W. A. McWhinney are the proprietors of the gen- eral stores now in New Paris. Although Richmond is so near, they are able to maintain themselves in a good trade. W. L. Hazeltine, Samuel Beelman, and Warren Swerer are the grocers. The first floor of the Odd Fel- lows building is used by Jacob Reinheimer, dealer in hardware, tinware, and agricultural implements. The druggists are S. W. Richey, G. B. Roberson, and Mc- Whinney & Morton. Of these apothecaries S. W. Richey is the oldest in the business. R. A. Richey is the busi- ness manager of the north grain house, and the lower one is under the control of the railroad company. W. G. Hahn is the proprietor of the harness and saddler shop in the rear of the post office building. Thomas L. Por- terfield, W. V. Whitley, and Alfred Calkins make carriages and wagons. A. P. Johnson and B. F. Kemp are the tailors. The physicians are elsewhere mentioned. The dental surgeons are C. F. and James L. Braffett and Charles Wilcox. The millinery shops are kept by Mrs. C. Johnson and Mrs. L. Hazeltine. There are two hotels, the Washington house by Mrs. E. Thomas, and the Parisian by John Corr. Mayor L. W. Richey is the only notary public in the township; he is also the fire and life insurance agent. There are several good livery stables in town. Joseph Burgoyne is the proprietor of an extensive tanyard. J. S. & W. C. Smith do a good business in their flouring-mill in the north part of town. The saw-mill is run by J. H. Middaugh.

THE OLD CEMETERY.

The grove just north of the corporation line of New Paris, in which the first religious services were held, was chosen as the city of the dead. The first burial was that of Levi Moore, who was buried about the year 1810. Alexander Penland, a lad who was drowned in a neigh- boring spring, was the second person buried in the old cemetery. Since then more than a thousand citizens of Jefferson township have laid down to rest in this silent city, for this old graveyard has long been the storehouse of death. Herein are buried the first fathers of the com- munity, those staunch old leaders who moulded the so- cial and religious character of the township. They do rest from their labors, but a glance from their tombs, up and down the surrounding valley proves, that their works do follow them. When the pioneers were slowly thread- ing their way through the mountains to their new homes, they little thought that one day they would sleep on either side of that great thoroughfare -- the railway. But it happened that the old cemetery was in the path of the

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HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

locomotive, and now many times a day do the trains rush through the " silent " city, for the track of the Dayton & Western road is directly through the graveyard. Here sleep such men as Elder David Purviance, John Adams, John H. Cottom, Drs. John C. and Peleg Whitridge, Drs. Ferguson and Knox, Andrew, David, William, and John F. Ireland, Robert McGill, Samuel R. Chadwick, the Flemings, Mitchells, and Morrisons, and very many others.

THE CATHOLIC CEMETERY

is just west of the old burying-ground, and is used ex- clusively by the members of the church whose belief will not allow Catholics to be buried in any but "consecrated ground." The cemetery is new and there are not many buried in it.

THE NEW PARIS CEMETERY,

as well as the north cemetery, is under the control of the township trustees. About ten years ago, inasmuch as the old cemetery was about full, and inasmuch as it was cut up by the railroad, it was deemed advisable to establish a new cemetery near New Paris. Accordingly a committee of citizens was appointed to examine the several pieces of ground offered for the new graveyard, and the instruc- tions were to select the one thought to be the most desir- able. The committee, after due consideration, reported in favor of the ten acres just south of New Paris, not far from the lime kilns. David Culton, who was a member of the committee, was the first person buried in the new cemetery. Quite a number were removed from the north cemetery, and many have been buried there since. It is now the main burying-ground of the township. It is laid off with broad gravel drives, bordered with smooth lawns, and presents a very attractive appearance. Many handsome monuments have been erected, and the peo- ple of New Paris may well be proud of their cemetery.

GETTYSBURGH

is the only community in Jefferson township, beside New Paris, that can boast of the name of village. It is situ- ated in the northwest corner of section thirty-six, on what is known as the old national road. The town was laid out in the fall of 1832, by John Curry, a native of the State of Pennsylvania. The maiden name was Har- risburgh, which in late years became Gettysburgh, after Gettysburgh, Pennsylvania. Of course, Gettysburgh was always intended to be the largest town on the road, and the founder determined that it must outstrip the neigh- boring hamlet of Orangeburgh, and the stillborn Belfast, laid out in the same year of 1832.

Orangeburgh was laid out by G. Johnson and Thomas Norris. Belfast has always been a "paper town." Both towns were laid out in section thirty-four. Of Orange- burgh it may be said that the town cannot be seen for the houses, and of Belfast, the houses cannot be seen for the town.

But Gettysburgh has not passed into oblivion. The house in which Abraham Dine resides is the first house that was built. It was put up by a man named McKey. Fifty years ago Semuel Paxton put up a tavern where B. F. Morgan now lives. This hostelry was well patronized

at that early day, when there was considerable travel over the national road. McClure's store was put up shortly after the town was laid out. A man named Wright built a store about the year 1834, which was aftewards kept by George Watt.

Dr. Watt was the earliest physician. Gettysburgh has one hundred and seventeen people, all told.

Ebenezer is the name of the post office, which was es- tablished in Gettysburgh July 2, 1866, with W. L. Curry, postmaster. The only resident physician is Dr. Albert Hawley. B. F. Werhly is the proprietor of the general store, and is also the postmaster.

The tile factory and saw-mill which are located in the village are owned by William Price. The tile factory was moved from Jackson township, near New Hope, in the winter of 1879-80. The saw-mill was started about thirty-two years ago. It was a steam mill with an "up and down" saw, but has since been provided with a cir- cular saw.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Old father Alexander Porter never allowed himself to get very far away from a United Presbyterian church. When he went outside of Israel township, and could not take a United Presbyterian church with him, he was wont to gather material and found a new church. More than sixty years ago Mr. Porter founded such a church near where Gettysburgh now stands. The old church stood in the graveyard just south of Gettysburgh in sec- tion thirty-five. The building was of log, and has now entirely disappeared. For some time after the house was built it was without a floor, and the congregation used to sit on the sleepers.

For nearly twenty-five years Rev. Richard Boyce preached at Gettysburgh, in connection with the church at Richmond, Indiana. Rev. James McNeal was the next preacher, and for a time after he left the church de- pended upon occasional supplies.

The next thing that happened to this church was its change of name. At this time Rev. John Wiseman, a Presbyterian minister, commenced to preach to the Get- tysburgh congregation in the afternoons, as he passed through from Camden to New Paris, the two churches of his care. The people liked Mr. Wiseman, and soon came over to the Presbyterian faith, dropping their orig- inal name, United Presbyterian.

About the year 1847 the present frame building was erected at Gettysburgh. About four years ago the church was repaired, and is now a very neat little struc- ture. Rev. David Tawney, Rev. Caleb Jones and Rev. David Green, have supplied the church during the last few years. There are now about fifty members. The present eldorship is as follows: John Mc D. Norris, Henry Petry and George Miller.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

About the time of the organization of the old United Presbyterian church, the Methodist church was organ- ized. The first meetings were held in the log barn of Jonathan Porterfield, situated north of Gettysburgh, on the farm now owned by Daniel Harshman. Robert

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EDWARD S. STOTLER

was born February 13, 1825, in Somerset county, Pennsylvania. His father, Jacob Stotler, removed to Preble county with his family in the fall of 1833, and settled on the farm now owned by William Campbell, east of West Alexandria, where he resided until his death. Edward's educational advantages were quite limited, attending only the com- mon schools of his neighborhood. He remained on his father's farm until the fall of 1849, when, with a number of others from the same vicinity, he went to California. The journey was a very tedious one. He went by the Panama route, and made the trip on a sailing vessel, being nearly three months on the water. Many of the passengers were stricken with cholera, and a number died of the dreadful disease. He remained in California nearly a year, during which he was in poor health much of the time. A short time after his return his father died, and the farm was subsequently bought by our subject and a sister.

Sometime afterward Mr. Stotler sold the farm and located in West Alexandria, and for several years following was not engaged in business. In the spring of 1857 he rented for one year, in company with Mr. J. H. Gale, the Halderman mill, on Twin creek. This ven- ture proved quite profitable, and in the fall of 1858 he formed a part- nership with Mr. Gale and Deitrich Glander, under the firm name of E. S. Stotler & Company, and erected a grist-mill on Twin creek, east of West Alexandria. At Mr. Gale's death the other members pur- chased his interest and continued to operate the grist-mill and saw- mill for a number of years, when Mr. Stotler succeeded to the owner- ship. He continued the business until the spring of 1880, when he sold the flouring-mill to J. M. Kinsel & Company. During this time he was also engaged in farming, having bought the Johnson farm, on

Twin creek. In 1866, in company with Mr. Glander, he erected the brick block on the southeast corner of Dayton and Main streets, and was associated with Mr. Glander and E. S. Derby, in the dry goods trade, for a short time. Of late years he has been principally engaged in the lumber trade in connection with his saw-mill, and in the growing of tobacco, being one of the largest producers of tobacco on Twin creek. He has been treasurer of Twin township for a number of years, and is a member of the town council of West Alexandria. Mr. Stotler's business life has been a remarkably successful one, having from a moderate beginning acquired independence. His success is plainly attributable, not to fortuitous circumstances, but to the possession of an abundant capital of energy, industry and business sagacity. The writer has met few men more actively industrious than he, and he has never yet found it necessary to have a law-suit. Mr. Stotler was married on the thirty-first of May, 1857, to Sarah A. Halderman, and settled in West Alexandria, where Mr. Derby now lives. His wife died four years afterward, April I) 1861, at the age of twenty-seven years, ten months and nineteen days. She bore her husband two children: John H., born June 16, 1858, and Sallie E., born October 26, 1860, died July 20, 1875. The accident which caused the death of this beautiful child, was an extremely sad one. She was in the grist- mill with other children, when in some manner her clothes became entangled in the king shaft. When extricated :he was crushed in a terrible manner, the bones in her limbs protruding through the skin. The shock caused paralysis, so she suffered little or no pain, but death soon followed.

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HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.

McCord, a local preacher, had much to do with the or- ganization. Rev. - Chalfant preached for a time in the old log school-house, in the north part of Gettys- burgh. Soon after the organization, the church, a frame building, was built. The present pastor is Rev. T. H. Fiddler, who also has charge of the New Paris church.

The Sunday-school is a union one, with the Presby- terians, and is in a flourishing condition.

CEMETERY.

The Gettysburgh cemetery was started as soon as the church was organized. The first person buried therein was Robert Curry, who died in 1816. This cemetery contains the ashes of most of the settlers of the part of the township in which it is situated. Herein are buried James Norris, John Curry, William Thomas, Elder Rufus Harvey, John McCord, David A. Wehrly, James Melling, J. S. Preble, Alexander Barr, and many others, whose graves are unmarked.

BRINLEY'S STATION

is on the Dayton & Western road, in section eleven, about three miles and a half north of Gettysburgh. In 1855 Sylvester Brinley donated the ground upon which the station is built, and it received his name. January 23, 1860, the post office was established, and Sylvester Brinley made the first postmaster. The office was kept in Mr. Brinley's store, which was erected in 1858. The store is now owned by J. C. Minnick, who purchased it in 1875. Mr. Minnick is the present postmaster.

PLEASANT HILL UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.

Among other denominations represented among the early settlers was that of the United Brethren in Christ.

The class was organized in a school-house on the State line, about a mile and a half south of the church build- ing, which is located in the northwestern corner of Preble county, in section six of Jefferson township. The church was organized by Rev. Isaac Robinson, who was then a missionary of the United Brethren church. There were originally fourteen members. James Alexander was the first class-leader, and James Trammel was steward. Feb- ruary 14, 1844, the deed of the church property was wit- nessed. The building is of frame, and is regularly opened for public worship. There is a graveyard adjoining the church, which was started about 1845. Mrs. Elizabeth Baker, mother of Thomas Baker, was probably the first person therein buried. The cemetery has recently been fixed up.

The pastors of the church have been Revs. Isaac Rob- ison, Frederick Bonebrake, William Ault, Adam Hetzler, John Huffman, J. R. Brown, G. L. Gilbert, J. D. Bottles, G. L. Gilbert, two terms, J. C. Miller, T. F. Bushong, D. E. Myers, F. M. Fowler, W. K. Albright and E. H. Kay- lor. There are at present about eighty members. A great many have gone off from time to time to the Friend- ship, Madison and Palestine churches in Darke county.

In the neighborhood of the Pleasant Hill church there is an extensive

TILE FACTORY,

which was started in 1878. It is owned by James Baker, and a very large business is carried on. The land in Jef- ferson township has been greatly improved by draining during the last few years, and great thanks are due to both this factory and the one at Gettysburgh, previously mentioned.

LANIER.

Lanier lies in the east range of townships and is bounded on the north by Twin, on the south by Gratis, on the east by Montgomery county, and on the west by other townships of Washington and Gasper. It was set off and organized as a separate township in 1811, and was named for Alexander C. Lanier, the first clerk of the court of common pleas of the county. Being unable to find the early township records, we cannot give the names of the first township officers elected, with the ex- ception of the clerk, who is said to have been John Hal- derman, sr. Among the early justices of the peace were Martin Ruple, William Swisher, James Wilson, Peter Van Ausdal, and James Dennison. James Campbell, the present incumbent, was first elected in the spring of 1858, and has served continuously since, with the excep- tion of three years, during which D. J. Naeff held the office.

PHYSICAL FEATURES.

The surface of the township is generally level, except in those portions traversed by Twin creek and its tribu- taries, Aukerman's creek and Banta's fork, where it is somewhat broken. Twin creek, the principal stream, flows a north and south course through the township, entering it a short distance east of West Alexandria. It discharges its waters in the Miami river, in - county, and has its source in Darke county. Banta's fork and Auker- man's creek are western branches of Twin, the former in the northern part of the township, and the latter in the extreme southern part. They are so named from the settlement of Abraham Banta and John Aukerman upon them respectively. Lanier probably contains as large a proportion of good soil as any other township in the county, the bottom lands along Twin creek being unsur- passed in fertility and productiveness. The raising of

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History of Preble County, Ohio, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, Part 67

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

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