History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 57

Author: R. Sutton & Co.
Publication date: 1883
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 427

USA > Ohio > Shelby County > History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 57

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B. Braden in 1866. J. A. Voorhees, Wm. Shaw, and J. B. Hetzler in 1867. J. A. Voorhees, Reuben Voorhees, and Thomas Higgins in 1868. R. C. Hamilton, Francis Hetzler, and Thomas Higgins in 1869. R. C. Hamilton, J. D. Barkalow, and Thomas Higgins in 1870. Thomas Stock- still, J. D. Barkalow, and Frank Hetzler in 1871. Thomas Stockstill, J. D. Barkalow, and T. J. Martin in 1872. Thomas Stockstill, G. W. Little- john, and T. J. Martin in 1873. Levi Cofield, G. W. Littlejohn, John McKee in 1874. T. J. Martin, G. W. Littlejohn, and John McKee in 1875. J. D. Barkalow, John Knoop, and F. Hetzler in 1876. William Simes, John Knoop, and F. Hetzler in 1877-78. D. M. Pruden, Wm. Simes, and J. G. Higgins in 1879. D. M. Pruden, William Simes, and Okey Voorhees in 1880. J. D. Barkalow, Fred. Pense, and W. W. Haney in 1881. Okey Voorhees, J. D. Barkalow, and Jolin B. Hetzler in 1882.

Clerks: Wm. Berry in 1819-23. John Francis in 1824-25. William Minnear in 1826. George Layman in 1827-33. John W. Valentine in 1-34-35. W. A. Carey in 1836-40. B. D. Duboise in 1841-45. Wm. M. Mendenhall in 1846. George Layman in 1847. Solomon Rhodehamel in 1848-49. B. D. Duboise in 1850-51. T. S. Patten in 1852. B. D. Duboise in 1853-55. Wm. Shinn in 1856-57. Wm. M. Knox in 1858. Wm. B. Lefferson in 1859-63. J. D. Barkalow in 1864. Lewis Ethring- ton in 1865. L. C. Manning in 1866. F. L. Bull in 1867. J. G. Robin- son in 1868-70. Wm. B. Lefferson in 1871-74. F. Hetzler in 1875. J. L. McKee in 1876-78. Samuel D. Voorhees in 1879-80. James E. Pruden in 1881.

Treasurers: Daniel Vandemark in 1819-25. George Layman in 1826. Wm. Beatty in 1827-31. Henry Musgrove in 1832-33. Wm. Minnear in 1834. David Hoover in 1835. Henry Musgrove in 1836. John Boggs in 1837. John Barkalow in 1838-44. Luke Fish in 1845-48. Daniel Rasor in 1849-54. Peter Pruden in 1855-58. John C. Simes in 1859- 60. Joseph Fergus in 1861-67. J. C. Simes in 1868. Wm. Gillespie in 1869-70. J. G. Robinson in 1871-78. John Knoop in 1872-81.

Constables: Samuel Marrs in 1819. Richard Bush and Thomas Mc- Kee in 1820. Philander Kitchen and Thomas McKee in 1821. Joseph Bennet and Richard Bush in 1822. Wm. Minnear and Thomas McKee in 1823. George Botkins in 1826. Thomas McLean and Wm. Berry in 1827. Jonathan Eldridge in 1829. Richard Valentine in 1830. Samuel Miller and George Layman in 1832. Aaron Young in 1833. Aaron Young and Wm. Higgins in 1834. Robert Doak and S. M. Miller in 1835. John Boggs and J. M. Shaw, 1836. James Bryan and Robert Doak in 1837. Wm. N. Keesee and J. I. Bryan in 1838-39. Daniel Val- entine and J. I. Bryan in 1840. Aaron Young and William Fish in 1841. Aaron Young and Josiah P. Harman in 1842. William Patten and Thomas C. Wiley in 1843. D. G. Barkalow and Thomas Higgins in 1844-46. Solomon Rhodehamel and Thomas Higgins in 1847-49. Sam. Stephenson and J. B. Brading in 1850. John M. Hetzler and W. A. Carey in 1851. John M. Hetzler and S. M. Shaw in 1852. Adam Lynn and John M. Hetzler in 1853. S. M. Shaw and F. L. Bull in 1854. J. E. Bush and Joseph Cooper in 1855. J. E. Bush and Thomas Proctor in 1856. B. F. Bull and John Higgins in 1857. Lewis Webster and John Higgins in 1858. J. E. Bush and R. W. C. Buchanan in 1859-60. John Faulder and R. W. C. Buchanan in 1861. George Faulder and James Wilson in 1862. Wallace Young in 1863. Win. Woolery and W. Young in 1864. J. H. Dunn and William J. Wiley in 1865. J. K. Ben- net and John F. Kiggens in 1866. R. Willson and Eunis Sherwood in 1867-68. M. T. Lane and J. Faulder in 1869. M. T. Lane and J. A. Eldridge in 1870. M. T. Lane and A. Emmick in 1871. M. T. Lane and W. Faulder in 1872. R. P. Hammond and Moses Hetzler in 1873. George Faulder and Wesley Lyon in 1874. F. Lillien Kamp and Wm. Sanders in 1875. James Smith and Wm. Sanders in 1876. Wm. San- ders and F. M. Bull in 1877. Wm. Sanders and E. Cooper in 1878. Wm. B. Lefferson and Elias Randolph in 1879. W. H. Bryan and H. A. Hubbard in 1880. H. A. Hubbard and J. G. Sarver in 1881.

Justices of the Peace: John Francis, 1819-22-31. John W. Valentine, 1832. Lewis Cooper, 1834. J. W. Valentine, April 4, 1835. Sexton Mount, December 8, 1836. John V. Higgins, November 18, 1837. John H. Wykoff, April 16, 1840. W. A. Carey, November 9, 1840. J. H. Wykoff, April 11, 1843. W. A. Carey, October 25, 1843. J. H. Wykoff, April 22, 1846. Wm. M. Mendenhall, October 24, 1846. W. A. Carey, December 18, 1847. W. A. Carey, April 14, 1854. Wm. Shinn, Jr., February 23, 1855. Lewis Cooper, April 15, 1858. D. Buchanan, April 7, 1860. R. P. Higgins, April 22, 1861. W. A. Carey, April 17, 1863. R. P. Higgins, April 23, 1864. W. A. Carey, April 11, 1866. R. P. Higgins, April 5, 1867. W. A. Carey, April 12, 1869. J. B. Brading, April 8, 1870. W. A. Carey, April 5, 1872. Christopher Hetzler, April 11, 1873. W. A. Carey, April 9, 1875. J. G. Higgins, April 8, 1876. George Frazer, April 8, 1878. Levi Cofield, April 17, 1879. Isaac Redenbo, April 14, 1880.

KIRKWOOD (OLD PONTIAC).

Pontiac was laid out for W. M. and H. S. Gillespie, and A. R. and J. G. Robinson, May 20, 1868. It is located in section 28, town. 1, range 12 M. R. S. Main Street is one chain and nine links wide, and bears south 882° east. All other lines parallel to or at right angles with Main

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HISTORY OF SHELBY COUNTY, OHIO.

Street except those bordering on the railroad. The distance in chains of regular lots is 250; that of irregular lots is marked upon the respect- ive lines. All alleys are 23 links wide.

Acknowledged by Gillespie & Gillespie, and Robinson & Robinson, May 20, 1868, and recorded April 20, 1869.

The plat consisted of nine lots, four by eight rods. It is located on the D. & M. R. R., six miles south of Sidney. The first building erected was by G. W. Holley in 1863. It was a small warehouse for the purchase of grain, but before commencing operations he sold to D. K. Gillespie, who enlarged the capacity and commenced buying grain in 1864. The next place of business was a store built by H. S. Gillespie & Thomas McKee in 1866. Gillespie & McKee were succeeded by J. G. & Andrew Robinson. The latter sold his interest to J. G. Robinson, who carried on the business for several years, then sold to J. L. McKee, who is the present occupant. Kirkwood contains only nine dwellings, and has about forty-five or fifty inhabitants. It has one store, one grain elevator, one blacksmith shop, one physician (J. J. Millhouse), one U. B. Church, and one school-house. There is not, perhaps, a shipping point in the county outside of Sidney that buys and ships more grain than this place.

The town was originally called Pontiac, but owing to the fact that there was another town and post-office of the same name, it was changed to that of Kirkwood in 1879, in honor of D. Kirkwood Gillespie, the proprietor of the elevator at that place.

CHURCHES. United Brethren Church.

As early as 1816 or 1817 the missionary preacher of the United Breth- ren Church came to the wilds of this township to preach the gospel to the scattered few who had found their way to this almost unbroken wil- derness. Ilere he found a few who had formerly belonged to this denom. ination ; among them the Valentines and Youngs. The first public religious service held within the present limits of this township was held at the house of Daniel Valentine about 1816 or 1817. We cannot learn that there was any class or society formed until several years afterward, when a class was formed at the house of Jacob Boyer. The class con- sisted of Daniel Valentine and wife, Jacob Boyer and wife, Thomas Young and wife, E. Boggs and wife, - Heath and wife, and - Kerns and wife. Meetings were held at the home of Jacob Boyer and others for years. In 1844 the place of worship was changed to a school-house near the present site of Kirkwood, where it continued a couple of years, then was removed to the house of Isaac Evans, near where the Berry Mill formerly stood. In 1847 they erected a frame church on the land of R. W. Valentine, near the site of the present church. This church was about thirty by forty feet square, and built by James Fergus, under the supervision of George Warvel, the preacher in charge, and was dedicated the same year. The trustees were Isaac Young, E. Boggs, Daniel and Jacob Rasor, and Isaac Evans. This house was used as a place of worship until 1876, when a more neat and commodious structure was erected in Kirkwood. This church was built under the administration of E. Counselor at a cost of about $2500. The trustees of the new church at the time of its erection were, James Fergus, Isaac Young, Milton Valentine, J. H. Valentine, W. B. Lefferson, Wm. Baily, and David Dunn. The present pastor is R. W. Wilgus.

Methodist Episcopal Church.

The first meetings established by this denomination were at a very early date, but just the time is not known. But knowing the missionary spirit that prevailed among the early Methodist preachers, and also owing to the fact that Orange Township was one of the first settled in the county-her settlement dating back as early as 1806-it is fair to presume that the pioneer minister sought out this early settlement to give to them the bread of life as early as there was a sufficient number who would associate themselves together to form a class.

The first class that we have any knowledge of being formed was at the house of John Stoker; it consisted of John Stoker and wife, Israel Post and wife, Michael Young and wife, George Berry, and perhaps some others whose names are now forgotten. This society existed for some length of time, but was finally abandoned.

In 1832 another society was formed by Rev. Daniel D. Davidson at the house of John Stoker. The first class consisted of Israel Post, - Braden and wife, John M. Bull and wife, John Stoker and wife, John Underwood, and Thomas Holmes. Meetings were held for a number of years at the house of John Stoker until his removal; they were then held at the house of Win. Minnear until 1843, when they built a frame church on the land of Israel Post. The first trustees of the church were John M. Bull, Wm. Shinn, Butler Randolph, John Hart, and Israel Post. The society is known as Orange Chapel, and has a membership of about forty. The present pastor is Rev. Young.

Wesley Chapel.

As early as 1833 the Rev. Arza Brown formed a M. E. Society in the southern part of this township. Meetings were held in private houses,

mostly within the border of Miami County. The members who consti- tuted the first class were, Henry Rhodehamel and wife, Father Kerns and wife, Jacob Tabler and family, and Amos Gray and family. In 1840 the society built a brick church in the south part of the township, near the Miami County line, and it is known as Wesley Chapel.

Spring Creek Baptist Church.

The following sketch of this church is taken from one written by Rich- ard A. Denman for the Miami Union Association in 1879. This society originally was known as the Salem Church, and dates its existence from about 1816, at which time they met in private houses for worship; but eventually built a log cabin on the banks of Spring Creek, which served the purpose well for a time, as the settlement was sparse.

There were a number of the members of the church living in Piqua and its immediate vicinity who had no means of conveyance of their own. Therefore a move was made to remove the place of meeting to Piqua. It was objected to at first, but upon due deliberation the country members withdrew their objections, and decided to go to town. At this time Elder Willis Hance was pastor of Salem Church; he was so much of a pioneer woodsman that he could not consent to go to town as pas- tor, and preach to the lawyers, doctors, and gentry; but put him in the log cabin or leafy grove, and he could wield the sword of the spirit with power.

The Rev. Daniel Bryant became the first pastor, and preached the first sermon to the church in its new location. At this time Elder Bry- ant lived in Hamilton, Ohio. The distance was so great, and having to travel on horseback, he soon gave up the pastorate, and Elder J. L. Moore was called to fill his place. The church in Piqua now having become numerically strong, and the members of Spring Creek not having lost their preference for country life, some twenty-one of them counselled together as to the propriety of asking letters of dismission from Piqua, in order to join in a church constitution on Spring Creek. On the first day of August, 1840, letters were granted, and on the 22d of the same month they held their first meeting, and resolved to go into a constitu- tion on the 9th of October.

On the 17th of October the church met for the purpose of electing officers and calling a pastor. The first call was made to Elder Eaton, of Troy, to which he agreed, and entered upon his duties, which he filled until July, 1842, when Elder Fuson accepted the pastoral care of the church. Previous to this time the church had occupied a log cabin school-house most of the time as a place of worship. An effort was made to build a suitable house. A kind neighbor leased a lot of ground, upon which a neat church was built.

Elder Fuson continued to labor in the pastoral office of the church until March, 1846, when he declined serving the church any longer as pastor. Robert Duncan, a licentiate of the church, then served as pastor until January, 1847. Evan J. Thomas was then called, and served acceptably until July, 1849. David Scott then accepted a call, and labored until 1851. In May, 1851, Elder E. W. Clark was called, and accepted the charge of the church, but remained but a short time. In September, 1852, James Jackson, a licentiate of the church, was ordained to preach, and served the church until August, 1854. Elder Mason Pearce served from this time to 1855. He was succeeded by Samuel Bower, who con- tinued to serve until 1859. Newton Frazer served from February, 1860, until April, 1862, when J. W. Icenberger was called to the pastorate, and served until July, 1864. In May, 1865, Elder Daniel Bryant accepted the pastoral work. It was during Rev. Bryant's pastorate that the sub- ject of building a new church edifice more centrally located was agitated, a number of the members living south of the church having changed their location a more central place for the church was desired. After mature deliberation a lot was given by John F. Hetzler, just north of the Shelby and Miami Company's line, upon which they built a sub- stantial frame house. It was built in a neat but plain style at a cost of $3500. It was dedicated Sunday, December 15, 1867. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Elder Daniel Shepherdson. Elder Bryant con- tinued as pastor for some time after the completion of the church, when he was succeeded by G. W. Taylor, who labored for some time. He was followed by Rev. Christy, and he by Elder Z. Ross. Afterward the pulpit was filled by Elder W. R. Thomas, who served as pastor until February, 1879. The society has licensed and sent forth to preach four ministers, viz., Robert Duncan, James Jackson, Samuel De Weese, and Abner Denman, all of whom are now dead, and gone to their reward.

BIOGRAPHIES. THE VALENTINE FAMILY.

Away back during the colonial period, back almost a century prior to the Revolution, back about the year 1680, the Valentines were found among those sturdy Dutch immigrants who sought the hospitality of the western world, which was as yet too young to have reared oppres- sion, tyranny, or persecution. On reaching America they settled in New York, but a little later drifted to New Jersey, where several generations of the family name have passed their lives, and where the descendants

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of the original stock may still be found. In the course of years the Revolution was fought out, and its close inaugurated a new era of im- migration, for the "star of empire" at this period resumed its westward course.

The Ohio Valley, with the vast expanse of territory north and west, was yet an almost untracked, unknown, and inhospitable wild. Obeying the same irresistible law to which the celestial stars are subject, the "star of empire" of migration moved westward, until it paused for a moment and shed its benignant beams upon the valley of the Ohio, until that valley became the home of teeming thousands.

It was at this period of general agitation and public ferment that Daniel Valentine was born in New Jersey. His natal year was also that of the nation, for he was born in 1776, the year in which the nation sprang into being. His youth was spent amid the excitements incident to the Revolutionary War and the western expeditions of Clarke, of Harmar, of St. Clair, and ere he had attained his majority General Wayne had dictated terms of peace to the Indians of the Northwest. He had heard and read of all these stirring occurrences in the Northwest, and looked upon the admission of Ohio into the sisterhood of States from his distant home in New Jersey; bnt, in 1805, the tide was too strong, and he was carried with it to the Mad River Valley, of which he had read and dreamed for years. In 1799 he had married Rachel Winans, and six years later they were found within the present limits of Champaign County, where they remained about four years.

In the year 1809 they moved within the present boundaries of Orange Township, near where the old Berry mill was afterward erected. At this time the family consisted of four small children, and this family proba- bly constituted the fourth within the township, the other three, as nearly as can be ascertained, being the Cannon, Berry, and Phillips families, who probably settled here prior to 1809.

Daniel Valentine entered land immediately upon his arrival here, but was only able to make partial payment, and so was under the necessity of borrowing the greater portion of the purchase money. Still he was not dependent upon the farm alone, for he carried with him the skill of a shoemaker, and at the outset found himself in command of this trade for an area greater that which is now comprised within the whole county. In 1820 his wife died, and a few years later he married Isabel Jameson, who survived him several years, his death having occurred in 1849.

From the date of his arrival here in 1809 up to the time of his death he continued a permanent resident of Orange Township, and was one of the leading spirits of the settlement.

One of his sons, Richard W. Valentine, an honored pioneer of this county, is now living a retired life, somewhat enfeebled, but surrounded by the comforts of life, and in the full enjoyment of the respect of the whole community.

He was one of the four children already mentioned as comprising his father's family in 1809, and was born in Champaign County in 1806. He was thus three years of age when his parents took their second step west- ward, and settled in a country largely occupied by the red man and ani- mals of different species His education was such as was diffused by virtue of short school terms held in the proverbial log house, so charac- teristic of the early days of every Western community. When he reached his sixteenth year he was apprenticed by his father to a blacksmith, named Alexander Moreland, with whom he remained until he reached bis majority.

In 1828 he opened the first blacksmith shop within the township at the old site of Berry's mill. The following year, or 1829, he married Miss Annaliza, daughter of William and Betsy Cecil. She was born in Virginia in the year 1811, and was brought to this county by her parents in 1814.

After his marriage Mr. Valentine continued working at his trade, until failing health compelled him to abandon his forge and seek other employ- ment. He had purchased fifty-five acres of timber land, which he cleared, and to which he has since added about two hundred and fifty acres, making about three hundred acres in his home farm, while elsewhere within the county he owns some five hundred acres, making in all about eight hundred acres. Such is the reward of industry, perseverance, and economy, that no man in the enjoyment of health should know such word as fail. Mr. Valentine may be said to have battered and drilled those acres out of his anvil, for at the outset he stood with empty hands. The rewards of industry and honesty are his to-day, as evidenced by his com- fortable home surroundings, and the esteem in which he is held by a whole community. He has reared a family of seven children, five of whom are still living. Their names and dates of birth are as follows: Samuel, born 1832; John, born 1836; Rachael, born 1840; William, born 1843; and Mary, born 1856.

Since writing the above we learn of the death of Richard W. Valentine. He died April 12, 1882, and was buried at Wesley Chapel, April 14th, by the Masonic fraternity, of which he had been a consistent member for many years.

WILLIAM C. VALENTINE, a son of Richard W., was born in 1843; was married to Mary C. Higgins in 1865. She died in 1872, leaving two children, viz., Estella E. and Frances R. In 1874 he married Sarah C.

Fergus, a daughter of Joseph Fergus. By this union they have one child, Mamie B. Mr. Valentine is a resident and owner of the old home- stead of his father, a view of which is shown in this work.

THOMAS H. FERGUS, a son of Samuel M. and Eliza A. (Hull) Fergus, was born in Shelby County in 1854. Married Mary A. Valentine, a daughter of Richard W. Valentine, in 1876. They have three children, Frank P., Lottie E., and Leonard C. They reside on section 23, near Kirkwood, on part of the Valentine farm.

DAVID VALENTINE, the fifth of the family of Daniel Valentine, was born about two years after his father settled on the banks of the Great Miami. He was born May 12, 1811. He lived on the farm with his father until eighteen years of age, when he went to learn the blacksmith trade with his brother Richard. He served an apprenticeship of three years, then continued to work at his trade for six years. During this time he taught one term of school, for which he received $6.25 per month. In 1837 he bought a small piece of land from Thomas Young, in section 23. March 14, 1838, he married Nancy Cecil, a sister of Mrs. Richard W. Valentine. They shortly afterwards settled on this little farm. It was not long before he had added to his home fifty acres more land. In a few years he, together with his brother Richard, bought the home place of his father; then a few years later he bought his brother's interest, and moved on to the old homestead. They raised a family of five chil- dren, as follows : Cynthia A., Milton, Lewis, John H., and Ellen. Only three are now living.

Mr. Valentine was an industrious and energetic man, and lived to accumulate a fine property. Before he died he was the owner of about 700 acres of land in the county, he being one of the wealthiest men in the township at the time of his death. He died in 1867 on the same farm on which he was born. His widow is living on the old homestead, where her husband was born, with her son, John H.

WILLIAM CECIL, the father of Mrs. Richard W. and Mrs. David Valen- tine, was married to Betsey Guthrie in 1809, in Virginia, and came to Shelby County in 1814, and located on what is now the Infirmary farm.

MILTON VALENTINE, a son of David Valentine, was born in Orange Township in 1844. He was raised on a farm, and educated in the com- mon schools of his neighborhood. In 1869 he married Matilda Myers, a daughter of Harman and Matilda Farrow Myers. She was born in Shelby County in 1853. Mr. Valentine is located on section 23, where he has one of the best improved farms in the township. In fact it is a model farm.

JOHN H. VALENTINE, another son of David Valentine, was born in 1849. He also was raised on a farm. In 1872 he was married to Sarah `Jane Taylor. By this union they have four children, viz., Anna B., born 1873; Otella M., born 1876; Maggie D., born 1879; and Joseph C., born 1881. John H. is now the owner of the old homestead of his grand- father and his father, it being one of the first settled farms of the county, settled in 1809.

THE CAREY FAMILY.

For the history of the ancestry of this pioneer family of Shelby County we go to the Carey Memorials, published by General S. F. Carey. From this we learn that Jolin Carey, the first of the name to come to America, was born in Somersetshire, England. He joined the Plymouth Colony, about 1634. Also one James Carey joined the Massachusetts Colony about 1635, and settled on a farm near where Boston now is located. It is still known as the Carey farm.

We will not attempt to trace the genealogy of this large family name in a chronological order, but will skip to the fifth generation from John Carey, and come down to Ezra Carey, who was born in Morris County, N. J., 1735; he married Lydia Thompson, and removed to Western Penn- sylvania in 1777; from thence to Western Virginia, and from there to the territory of Ohio about 1795; crossing the river near Marietta ; he remained here until 1810, when he came to the present limits of Shelby County, where he died in 1828, at the age of 93 years.

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History of Shelby County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 57

Author: R. Sutton & Co. Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Number of Pages: 427

Author: R. Sutton & Co.
Publication date: 1883
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 427