USA > Ohio > Wayne County > History of Wayne county, Ohio, from the days of the pioneers and the first settlers to the present time > Part 57
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TOWNS IN MILTON TOWNSHIP.
Johnson's Corners, called Amwell, was named after Abner John- son, who made the first improvements in it. John Scoby, of Trux- ton, N. Y., was the first doctor in the place, and Goodsill Foster was the first postmaster. Where Isaac Bessey lives stood a log house in which Oliver Houghton sold groceries-the first store of the kind in Amwell. Adna Bessey named it Amwell.
Russell was named after the Russells of Massillon, who pur- chased the property there and gave it name. Here the postoffice is located, though the name of the office is Amwell.
Milton Station .- In 1869 the first house was erected at this place by David Shook. In July, 1870, C. M. Murdock started the
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
first business, and in the same year the postoffice was removed here from Shinersburg (New Prospect). First postmaster was Sol- omon Hann; the present incumbent is C. M. Murdock, appointed March 26, 1872.
Shinersburg .- This village got its name in this way: Michael Hatfield bought the first lot in what is now Shinersburg, from Philip Fritz, and built a house on it, starting a grocery, selling drugs, beer, whisky, etc. One day Michael, Noah-like, got drunk, and in one of his more ecstatic moods was heard exclaiming, "When I get to heaven I will shine as bright as anybody ;" hence Shine-rsburg. Lancetown, called after the Lances, exists only as a memory.
Andrew Waggoner was born in Reading, Berks county, Penn- sylvania, in 1793, and came to Wayne county in 1818, settling in Milton township. He settled in section 33, one-half mile south of where his son, John Waggoner, now lives, entering a quarter sec- tion of land. He made the passage from Pennsylvania to Wayne county in a wagon, bringing with him his wife and six children, and landing on his premises May 2, 1818. He built a cabin, cleared up some land, and planted some potatoes, turnips, etc. Forks driven into the ground, with green poles crossed, constituted the bedsteads. He was married to Susannah Feightner, of Penn- sylvania, and died January 3, 1851, his wife dying in February, 1854. He had nine children, John, Elizabeth, Mathias, Catharine, Sarah, Andrew, Jacob, Anna and Rebecca.
Thomas Dawson, a native of Virginia, was born in Mononga- hela county, May 22, 1790, where he was married to Miss Jemima Barress. His ancestry was Irish on his father's side and English on his mother's. He immigrated to Wayne county in 1814, with his wife and three children, John, Bridget and Mary. He first settled in Greene township, about two and one-half miles east of Smithville, upon a farm which he had entered. Here he lived four years, when he removed to Milton township, February 2, 1819, having entered the farm upon which he settled in 1818, and which is now occupied by his son, Eugenius B. Dawson, and where he died October 14, 1865. His wife died April 30, 1869. He was the father of the following children: John W., Bridget, Mary, Archibald, Castilla, George B., Sarah, Emily, Thomas, Jemima, Eugenius B. and Hiram Dawson. All of them grew to manhood
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and womanhood, and eight of the family are still living. George, Bridget, Mary and Emily are dead. Of the eight surviving mem- bers but four reside in the county.
Abner Johnson, a native of Southwick, Hampden county, Mass., emigrated to Wayne county in 1826 and located in Milton town- ship. Johnson's Corners, now known as Amwell, is situated upon the farm upon which he settled and which he entered from the government. He was first married to Elizabeth Gates, of Hart- ford, Mass., by which marriage he had six children, all of whom are dead save Daniel Johnson. He was married a second time to Je- rusha Nelson, of Connecticut formerly, but at the time of the union a resident of Seville. Mr. Johnson sold off the two first lots, in what is Amwell now, to Benjamin Ellsworth and a man named Hartshorn, who built upon them. Hartshorn started a distillery upon his lot, and here was the nucleus of this village in Milton township. Adam Peckinpaugh was Mr. Johnson's nearest neigh- bor.
Fatal Boiler Explosion .- Friday afternoon, March 11, 1870, the steam boiler in the saw-mill of Knupp & Co., near Shinersburg, Milton township, exploded, killing seven men. On the day of the accident the mill was run by Jacob Knupp, John Fritz, Lewis Hoover and his brother David. Robert McConnell and his son Frank, and David Shook, were at work on a house as carpenters a few rods west of the mill, and a rain coming on they songht shelter in the mill. In less than ten minutes afterwards the explosion took place, and all were instantly killed, except David Hoover, who lingered a few hours.
Samuel Slemmons was born in Washington county, Pa., Sep- tember 21, 1790, and in May, 1819, emigrated from there to Wayne county. Prior to his removal he was, on March 18, 1819, married to Miss Ann McKee, by whom he had the following chil- dren : Thomas, Elizabeth, Samuel M., Mary Ann, Jane, Margaret, William, John, Martha and David. He died September 8, 1877, aged 87 years, preceded to the grave by his wife on August 12, 1874, aged 80. They lived all their lives on the farm in Milton township, where they first settled in 1819. He was an excellent man and reared a fine family.
[By Rev. J. C. Elliott, of Milton Township.]
The Elliotts were pioneers in this neighborhood, and were sons of "Honest Tommy Elliott," of Jefferson county, Ohio. After his death his heirs exchanged a small farm in Jefferson county for
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
three adjoining quarter sections of wild land in Milton, which be- came the property of John, William and Andrew.
About 1827 John began improvements upon the portion he had selected, but was taken sick and died. About two years later Andrew married and settled on his portion, and there remained all his life. There were five boys and two girls in this family. One died in infancy. Thomas and Elizabeth removed to Hardin county, Ohio, and died. Jonas Denton entered the army in 1862.
Henry S. has always remained on the old farm, is grain dealer at Milton station, and Justice of the Peace. Lee is an attorney in Akron, and Alice lives with her mother in Seville. The quarter section belonging to William was transferred to his brother Thomas in 1829, for $350. The village of Milton Station is platted upon the corner of this quarter.
Thomas settled upon his claim in 1832, and remained upon it all his life. In this family were four boys and one girl. William Warren was killed at school by a club which slipped from the hand of a large boy who was trying to knock a snag from a log they were rolling down hill. Simon and Mary both died when just entering upon life.
Austin W. and John C. entered the ministry of the Presby- terian church; the former is now in Marshfield, Mo., and the latter is living upon the old homestead and preaching each Sabbath to the Presbyterian church of Seville. The quarter section owned by John Elliott was sold to William McConnell, who improved it and lived upon it till his death. The farm was then bought of the heirs by Thomas, and again sold to his nephew, so that, singu- lar enough, after forty years it again was owned by a member of the Elliott family.
CHURCHES.
German Reformed Church .- This church is situated in the south part of the township, and was built about 1851. Rev. Vermley was among the first preachers. The church edifice was constructed by Dennis Somers, and the grounds on which it was located were donated by Joseph Feightner. Philip and John Hoff and John Young were the contractors in behalf of the church.
Union Church .- This is a frame building south of Amwell. The lands were donated for the church by Amos Bessey, and, when not so used, go to the donor. The contract for the building of it was let, according to the statement of 'Squire Keeling, September 15, 1871. The church is now occupied by the Baptists and the United Brethren, services alternating every Sunday. Rev. Dunn, of Seville, supplies, at present, the Baptist appointments.
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Other Churches .- The Catholic church was built in 1858, the corner-stone hav- ing been laid July 26, 1858. The first Menonite church was erected in 1855, though the congregation was organized as early as 1825. Another, named the New Baptist Menonites, has been established. Of this neophytic organization Rev. Christian Stiner thus said to the writer: "About twenty years ago some eighteen members dropped from the original church and joined with the New Bap- tists, and about two years ago built a church. They have a membership of 40 or 50. Daniel and David Stiner are the preachers. These people think they are the only people that are converted, and nobody is saved but them. They run the Christian machine themselves, own the engine, etc., and claim it is impossible to sin after conversion." The Shinersburg church, free to all, was built by different denominations in 1862, the first preacher being Rev. Excel.
Benjamin Cotton, grandfather of Wiseman Cotton, was an Eng- lishman and a relative of the distinguished divine, John Cot- ton, who died in 1652. His son, Benjamin Cotton, was born in Boston, Mass., May 14, 1758. When but two years of age his parents died, when he was bound out, but from which bondage, when the war between the Colonies and Great Britain commenced he sought the opportunity of escape. He immediately entered the military service as a soldier of the United States, in which ca- pacity he served for nine years. He participated in the battle of Bunker Hill, and was in the fight when Burgoyne was captured. His rank was that of Sergeant-Major. Once he was shot through the neck by an Indian, another time through the leg. On one oc- casion he was left, with a companion, both of whom had the small- pox, to die in the woods. To the terrible malady his comrade succumbed, Mr. Cotton barely escaping death from the disease and starvation. He emigrated to Milton township in 1836, and died July 13, 1846. He was married to Dolly Smith in Wentworth, New Hampshire, in 1785. His wife died in March 1852. His family consisted of fourteen children: Hannah, Benjamin, Solo- mon, Dolly, Lydia, Abigail, Jonathan, George, David, Theodore, Wiseman, Elizabeth, Joseph and William, four of whom, Jonathan, David, William and George Cotton, removed to Wayne county.
Isaac Bessey, son of John Bessey, is a native of Bucks county, Pa., where he was born May 31, 1810. He accompanied his father to Wayne county in 1834, since which time he has resided here. His occupation has been that of a farmer, and at present he resides in Amwell. He was married May 3, 1837, to Barbara Hoover, of Milton township, and has four children, Amos, S. A., C. and C. A. Bessey.
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
William Keeling was born in Potton, Bedfordshire, England, in 1787, July 28. He was married in 1811, on Holy Thursday, in the land of his nativity, to Miss Lucy Fullard, of Huntington- shire. In October, 1833, he came to America, bringing with him his wife and only child, Edward. After landing at New York he remained there a week, then went to Poughkeepsie, tarrying there till the spring of 1834; when emigration opened up, he took the canal to Buffalo, thence, to Cleveland, and old Portage, on the Ohio canal. He soon purchased a farm and continued to cultivate his lands until 1857, when, growing old and tired of work, aban- doned it to his son. Mr. Keeling is now past ninety, and we believe is claimed to be the oldest man in the township. His wife died October 3, 1864. He is yet in possession of his faculties, and is an excellent specimen of the old English gentleman, and lives a blameless Christian life. During his residence in Bedford he lived in sight of Bunyan's prison, and sat in the chair of the allegorical dreamer.
Edward F. Keeling, Esq., only son of William Keeling, was born in Woodhurst, Huntingtonshire, England, and came to America with his father in 1833, following his fortunes until he reached Wayne county, since which time, with slight exception, he has lived there. He was married April 5, 1843, to Miss Mary M. Johnson. He is a farmer, and a prominent citizen of Milton town. ship; has served six years in the capacity of Justice of the Peace, holds a Notarial commission, and transacts considerable legal business; is a contributor to the public press, a man of thought and action, whose accessible and generous nature, com- bined with his literary and historical attainments, make him a most interesting companion. He introduced the first sewing machine into his own family that was ever bought or owned in the town- ship, and built the first saw-mill on the Big Chippewa, in Wayne county. September 28, 1877, he began boring for water at the bottom of a well forty feet deep, and at the depth of fifty-two ad- ditional feet the auger sank, the water gushing to the top of the well, and the result is he has the finest artesian well in the county, or perhaps the State.
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PLAIN TOWNSHIP.
CHAPTER XXIV.
PLAIN TOWNSHIP.
PLAIN TOWNSHIP was organized in 1817, and was so named from the plains, or glades, which, to a large extent, constituted its timber growths at the time of its first settlement, and which cover large areas of its surface at the present time. Its population in 1870 was 1,837. The list of officers of the township appears on the records as follows :
Justices of the Peace-George McCauley, July 12, 1832; William Kean, April 19, 1833 ; Benjamin Rogers, May 30, 1835; William Kean, January 20, 1837; Clinton Wilson, January 30, 1837; James A. Hill, June 4, 1838; C. Wilson, Janu- ary 13, 1840; H. Edwards, January 13, 1840; Jonas May, January 13, 1840; H. Edwards, December 17, 1842; L. H. Upham, December 17, 1842; M. Kauffman, December 24, 1842 ; M. Kauffman, December 20, 1845; Eli Jones, December 20, 1845 ; C. Wilson, April 12, 1848 ; M. Kauffman, December 16, 1848; Benjamin Eason, December 16, 1848; James Henry, April 11, 1850; George Young, October 19, 1850; J. H. Downing, November 5, 1852; James Henry, April 19, 1853 ; D. C. Martin, December 1, 1853; James Henry, April 28, 1856; B. F. Zercher, No- vember 12, 1856; G. W. Horn, April 22, 1857; Abram Soliday, April 19, 1859 ; B. F. Zercher, October 20, 1859; A. Funk, April 17, 1860; J. K. Forbes, April 13, 1861; James Henry, April 21, 1862; A. Funk, April 17, 1863; D. C. Kean, April 15, 1864; James Henry, April 12, 1865; H. W. Walton, April 11, 1868; Samuel B. Kelley, October 20, 1869; H. W. Walton, April 10, 1871 ; S. B. Kelley, October 12, 1872; Abram Soliday, April 15, 1873; H. W. Walton, April 14, 1874; William Mellinger, April 12, 1875; Abram Soliday, April 13, 1876.
1817. Trustees-William M. Mckinley, Alexander Culbertson, John McBride; Clerk-Thomas McMillen ; Treasurer-John Nimmon ; Constable-James King.
1818. Trustees-Alexander Culbertson, William Mckinley, David Myers ; Clerk-Thomas McMillen ; Treasurer-John Nimmon ; Constables-Samuel Larra- bee, Thomas Culbertson.
1819. Trustees-Alexander Culbertson, William Mckinley, David Myers ; Clerk-Thomas McMillen; Treasurer-John Nimmon ; Constables-Aaron Ball, Isaac Shinneman.
1821. Trustees-Alexander Culbertson, Thomas Wilson, Absalom Runyon ; Clerk-Thomas McMillen ; Treasurer-John Nimmon ; Constables-James Robison, Philip Yarnell.
1822. Trustees-Absalom Runyon, William Goodfellow, John Tryon ; Clerk-
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
Thomas McMillen; Treasurer-John Nimmon ; Constables-Philip Yarnell, Isaac Sbinneman.
1823. Trustees-John McBride, William Goodfellow, Aaron Bell; Clerk- Amariah Wilson; Treasurer-John Nimmon ; Constables-Peter Hines, James King.
1824. Trustees-William Goodfellow, John H. Pile, William Meeks; Clerk- John Tauner ; Treasurer-John Nimmon; Constables-Francis McHall, Jeremiah Rogers.
1825. Trustees-William Goodfellow, John H. Pile, William Meeks; Clerk- Jobn Tauner; Treasurer-John Nimmon ; Constables-A. Cochran, William Smith.
1826. Trustees-Thomas Wilson, William Meeks, John Felger; Clerk-John Tarr ; Treasurer-John Nimmon ; Constables-John McFall, Aaron Bell.
1827. Trustees -- John Tyler, John Lykes, Philip Arnold; Clerk-John Tarr ; Treasurer-Joseph Runyon ; Constables-John Kennedy, Stephen Williams.
1828. Trustees-John McBride, William Meeks, Abraham Runyon ; Clerk- John Tarr; Treasurer-Joseph Runyon ; Constables-John McFall, Stephen Wil- liams.
1829. Trustees-Abraham Runyon, John McBride, Dennis Driskel; Clerk- William Kean ; Treasurer-Joseph Runyon ; Constables-Alexander Culbertson, Jacob Troxel.
1830. Trustees-William Lovett, Dennis Driskel, Amariah Wilson; Clerk- William Kean ; Treasurer-Absalom Runyon , Constables-John Rouch, Frederick Fishburn.
1831. Trustees-Green Yarnell, Elijah Yocum, Stephen Williams ; Clerk- William Kean ; Treasurer-Absalom Runyon ; Constables-John Munhall, Thomas Beaman.
1832. Trustees-Green Yarnell, Thomas Culbertson ; James Whitcomb; Clerk -William Kean ; Treasurer-Absalom Runyon; Constables-Thomas Beaman, Frederick Fishburn.
1833. Trustees-William Sidle, Benjamin Rogers, Jacob Wachtel ; Clerk- John Tryon ; Treasurer-Absalom Runyon ; Constables-John Munhall, Samuel Mckinley.
1834. Trustees-William Mckinley, Job Yarnell, Clint Wilson; Clerk-Wil- liam Kean ; Treasurer-Absalom Runyon; Constables-Thomas McCauly, Samuel Mckinley.
1835. Trustees-Clint Wilson, Nathan Warner, William Goodfellow ; Clerk- William Kean ; Treasurer-Clint Wilson ; Constables-Brook Lytle, John Leighty.
1836. Trustees-William Mckinley, Peter Troxel, Job Yarnell; Clerk-Wil- liam Kean; Treasurer-Clint Wilson ; Constables-Thomas McCully, William Wagner.
1837. Trustees-David Phillips, Henry Swartz, Jacob Wachtel ; Clerk-F. H. Foltz ; Treasurer-Alexander Culbertson ; Constables-Thomas McCully, Alexan- der Freeman.
1838. Trustees-Robert Moorhead, Henry Swartz, Daniel Black; Clerk-F. H. Foltz; Treasurer-William Kean ; Constables-Alexander McCully, William Mason.
1839. Trustees-Robert Moorhead, Samuel Zimmerman, Jacob Soliday; Clerk-Homer Edwards; Treasurer-Henry Swartz ; Constables-Alexander Mc- Cully, Jacob Nye.
1840. Trustees-Robert Moorhead, Jacob Soliday, Daniel Black; Clerk-Lu- cius H. Upham ; Treasurer-William Kean ; Constables-Alexander McCully, E. R. Fox.
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1841. Trustees -- Jacob Rouch, Jacob Soliday, William Reed; Clerk-J. K. Forbes; Treasurer-William Kean; Constables-Alexander McCully, Mathias Heath.
1842. Trustees-Jacob Rouch, Alexander Culbertson, Robert Eason; Clerk- J. K. Forbes; Treasurer-Robert Moorhead; Constables-J. R. McBride, John Grimes.
1843. Trustees-Alexander Culbertson, Willam Kean, Robert Eason ; Clerk- J. K. Forbes ; Treasurer-Robert Moorhead ; Constables-J. R. McBride, Benja- min Grimes.
1844. Trustees-William Kean, D. W. Langdon, John Mellinger; Clerk- J. K. Forbes; Treasurer-Jacob Soliday ; Constables-M. Heath, Eli Jones.
1845. Trustees-D. W. Langdon, John Mellinger, James Henry ; Clerk-M. C. Shamp ; Treasurer-Jacob Soliday ; Constable-M. Heath.
1846. Trustees-James Henry, Hugh Funk, John Sidle; Clerk - Michael Kauffman ; Treasurer-Jacob Soliday ; Constables -- William McMillen, William Lytle.
1847. Trustees-Hugh Funk, John Sidle, Robert Baird; Clerk-M. Kauff- man ; Treasurer-Samuel Montgomery ; Constable-William McMillen.
1848. Trustees-R. C. Baird, Cyrus Baird, Joseph Overholtzer; Clerk-M. Kauffman ; Treasurer-John Sidle; Constable-William Lytle.
1849. Trustees-R. C. Baird, Cyrus Baird, John Mellinger; Clerk-John H. Philips ; Treasurer-John Sidle; Constables-Ephraim Miller, H. W. Donaldson. 1850. Trustees-Jacob Soliday, David Horn, George Young ; Clerk-H. H. Hostler ; Treasurer-John Sidle; Constable-J. B. Hileman.
1851. Trustees-Jacob Soliday, David Horn, William B. Anderson ; Clerk- Benjamin Eason ; Treasurer-David Frease; Constable-Samuel Wile.
1852. Trustees-J. H. Alexander, John Moon, John McKee; Clerk-H. H. Hostler; Treasurer-David Frease; Constable-Samuel Wile.
1853. Trustees-John Sidle, John Moon, Andrew Romich; Clerk-Jesse Crull; Treasurer-David Frease ; Constable-Samuel Wile.
1854. Trustees-R. C. Baird, J. M. Miller, C. Mellinger ; Clerk-Jesse Crull ; Treasurer-David Frease ; Constable-D. A. Moon.
1855. Trustees-J. A. Lawrence, E. Smyser, Jonathan Montgomery; Clerk- M. H. Dodd ; Treasurer-Jacob Rouch ; Constable-John H. Wise.
1856. Trustees-Jonathan Montgomery, A Soliday, C. Mellinger, Clerk- Benjamin Zercher ; Treasurer-David Frease ; Constable-John Shamp.
1857. Trustees-A. Soliday, John Crumlick, C. Mellinger ; Clerk-P. S. Ba- ker ; Treasurer-David Frease; Constable-George Mullen.
1858. Trustees-D. C. Kean, Joseph Yocum, David Hagerman; Clerk- P .S. Baker ; Treasurer-John Sidle; Constable-Henry Walton.
1859. Trustees-D. C. Kean, Joseph Yocum, D. Hagerman ; Clerk-P. S. Baker; Treasurer-John Sidle ; Constable-Henry Walton.
1860. Trustees-Jacob Smyser, J. A. Lawrence, Jefferson Sellers ; Clerk-P. S. Baker ; Treasurer-John Sidle ; Constable-Henry Walton.
1861. Trustees-John Gruey, A. Soliday, Aaron Baird; Clerk-J. B. Myers ; Treasurer-J. H. Alexander ; Constable -- Samuel Anderson.
1862. Trustees-Mark Wilson, D. W. Lilley, J. A. Raudebaugh ; Clerk-H. Hostler ; Treasurer-N. W. Smith ; Constable-H. W. Walton.
1863. Trustees-Robert Wallace, J. G. Yocum, Mark Wilson ; Clerk-H. H. Hostler ; Treasurer-N. W. Smith ; Constable -- G. W. Grindel.
41
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HISTORY OF WAYNE COUNTY, OHIO.
1864. Trustees-A. Raudebaugh, Robert Wallace, Mark Wilson ; Clerk-H. H. Hostler ; Treasurer-N. W. Smith ; Constable-H. W. Walton.
1865. Trustees-A. Soliday, Joseph Hare, William Miller ; Clerk-J. B. Myers ; Treasurer-David Frease ; Constable-Peter Starn.
1866. Trustees-Robert Wallace, A. B. Ebright, Jacob Smyser ; Clerk- Augustus Kean ; Treasurer-Christain Fair ; Constable-Peter Starn.
1867. Trustees-Robert Wallace, A. B. Ebright, George Strock ; Clerk-Au- gustus Kean ; Treasurer-Christian Fair ; Constable-H. W. Walton.
1868. Trustees-Peter Spangler, S. S. Aylesworth, George Strock; Clerk -. A. B. Ebright ; Treasurer-Jacob Rouch ; Constable-T. W. Kendall.
1869. Trustees-Peter Spangler, S. S. Aylesworth, George Strock; Clerk-A. B. Ebright ; Treasurer-Jacob Rouch; Constable-T. W. Kendall.
1870. Trustees-C. H. Palmer, Daniel Webster, J. P. Henderson ; Clerk- Eli Zaring ; Treasurer-N. W. Smith ; Constable-George Arnold.
1871. Trustees-C. H. Palmer, Joab Scruby, J. P. Henderson; Clerk-Eli Zaring; Treasurer-N. W. Smith; Constable-Samuel Fishburn; Assessor-Rob- ert Wallace.
1872. Trustees-C. H. Palmer, Jacob Smyser, Christian Fair; Clerk-S. B. Kelley; Treasurer-Thomas McKee; Assessor-Eli Zaring; Constable-Peter Starn.
1873. Trustees-Jacob Smyser, John Soliday, Philip Rouch; Clerk-S. B. Kelley; Treasurer-Thomas McKee; Assessor-Eli Zaring ; Constable-Peter Starn.
1874, Trustees-Philip Rouch, Benjamin Low, William M. Gill; Clerk-S. B. Kelley; Treasurer-Peter Spangler ; Assessor-Robert Wallace; Constable- Peter Starn.
1875. Trustees-Benjamin Low, John Sparr, Andrew Raudebaugh; Clerk- S. G. Gill; Treasurer-John Shelly; Assessor-W. H. Sidle; Constable-D. R. Houser.
1876. Trustees-John Sparr, Joseph Martin, Daniel Acker; Clerk-D. C. Kean ; Treasurer-Thomas McKee; Assessor-Peter Sparr, Jr .; Constable-H. W. Walters.
1877. Trustees-Daniel Acker, N. W. Smith, J. H. Willour; Clerk-D. C. Kean ; Treasurer-Thomas McKee; Assessor-Peter Sparr, Jr .; Constable-H. W. Walters.
FIRST SETTLERS.
John Collier is supposed to have been the first white settler in what is now Plain township, locating on the James Childs farm. William Meeks, a native of Virginia, was the second, and settled on the farm now owned by John Sidle. Cyrus Baird was the first Justice of the Peace. George and David Lozier settled upon the prairies in 1814, south of Blachleyville. They owned farms, and came from Pennsylvania. Benjamin White, a shoemaker and preacher, who settled where George Felger lives, and old Dan. Mil- ler, who occupied the farm now owned by William Nirods, and built a saw-mill as early as 1815, were among the early settlers. He built the first house in Blachleyville, where Swain's hotel
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stands, kept tavern, sold whisky, went to Indiana and began prac- ticing medicine. Augustus Case came in as early as 1814. John Cassiday was the first school-teacher in that settlement. Elder French (Baptist) was the first minister.
William B. Blachley, M. D., was born in New Jersey, from which State he removed to Washington county, Pa., where he remained twenty years, when he emigrated to Plain township in 1816. He was twice married, and was the father of nineteen chil- dren. He practiced medicine in Blachleyville nineteen years, when he removed Valparaiso, Indiana, where he died at the age of seventy-four years. He was a graduate of Princeton, and a mem- ber of the Baptist church. The village of Blachleyville was named after this family. His son, William Blachley, M. D., was born in Washington county, Pa., November 27, 1799, and came to Plain township with his father, with whom he read medicine and began practice. He was married in his twenty-fourth year, to Ab- igail Wells, a native of New England, and had twelve children, ten of whom are dead-two daughters only remaining. The eldest daughter, Abigail, is married to Dr. Hunt, of Shreve, and the youngest to Captain Benjamin, son of Constant Lake, of Wooster.
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