USA > Ohio > History of the Ohio falls cities and their counties : with illustrations and bibliographical sketches, Vol. II > Part 68
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Robert Jones was one of the first blacksmiths in the Blue Lick country; but he was never very permanently settled. John Northam had a small shop in the same section, and though the busi- ness which brought to him his living was never very extensive, he managed to meet the wants of the people very satisfactority.
A MURDER.
In 1871 one of the most atrocious murders in the annals of crime was perpetrated in Monroe township. Mr. Cyrus Park, an old gentleman, with his wife, son, and daughter, were murdered by three negroes in their house, by chopping open their heads with an axe. The negroes were ar- rested, one of theni turned State's evidence and revealed the manner of killing; they were taken to Charlestown and incarcerated in the county jail, but, owing to some delay in finding an in-
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dictment, were taken from the jail by a mob and hanged a short distance from town. Intense ex- citement followed in the township, but the gen- eral verdict was the final result was merited.
VILLAGES.
The village of Henryville is situated in the center of Monroe township. Many years before the place was laid out there was an old Indian trace running through the village, much as the Jeffersonville, Madison & Indianapolis railroad now runs. It is located on Wolf run and Mil- ler's fok of Silver creek, the former a tributary stream of Silver creek, which derived its name from the great rendezvous it furnished wolves forty years before Henryville was platted. The village lies in a beautiful valley, with hills on the east side, and in sight of the famous mounds. A little further east, on a high hill, is where the red man of the forest manufact- ured his darts, implements of war, and hunt- ing utensils. They can be seen in large num- bers now at the residence of J. L. Carr, in Henryville. Formerly the village was known by the name of Morristown, which name it re- tained for three years. It was laid out in 1850, and in 1853 was named Henryville, in honor of Colonel Henry Ferguson. The Jefferson- ville, Madison & Indianapolis railroad passes through the village, going almost due north, and leaves the place in a very irregular shape.
Mr. Joseph Biggs was the first storekeeper in Henryville. He kept his stock in a little frame house on the west side of the railroad. A Mr. Overman came next, but staid only for a short time. He kept in a little frame on the east side of the railroad. Henry Bussey & David Fish followed. Their place of doing business was where the present post-office now is. The pres- ent storekeepers are James L. Carr, Guernsey & Biggs, Augustus Schagven, James Ferguson, and Mr. Metzger, the latter of whom keeps tavern on a small scale.
Henryville has two saloons and three black- smith shops.
The post-office was established immediately after the railroad was built. The first post- master was Mr. Overman ; second, Harvey Bus- sey ; third, Mr. Lewis ; fourth, John Bolan, who acted in this capacity two years. The mails are now carried once a day each way.
The township had tanneries, as most others had, but they have now been reduced to one, and that in the village of Henryville. This is owned by the Ebberts brothers, and is in fine running order, often employing as many as ten hands.
The village can boast of a stave factory, owned by Steinburg & Company. There is one saw- mill, owned by Lewis H. Morgan. Both of the above establishments are busy during the fall, winter, and spring. Business houses are mainly on the east side of the street, while factories and mills are on the west side. The station is toler- ably commodious, and seems to show considera- ble enterprise under the management of the railroad company.
The first school-house was erected after the vil- lage was laid out. It stood in the north corner of the town, was a frame building, had two rooms, and was occupied by two teachers, Miss Wilkins being one of the first. The new and present house was put up ten or twelve years ago. It is a frame, perhaps 35 x 20, and looks neat and commodious. It also has two rooms and two teachers.
Henryville has two regular physicians-Drs. William Wisner and H. H. Ferguson; also a gen- tleman properly belonging to the transient class of professional men.
There are members of the various secret or- ders in the village, which is made up of about two hundred people. A thriving lodge of the Knights of Honor is in town. The society building is on the east side of the railroad, oppo- site the station. It is a handsome brick struc- ture, two stories high, the lower of which is used for commercial purposes. The lodge was organ- ized ten or more years ago.
The Methodist Episcocal church of Hen- ryville was erected in 1839. It stood on the farm of Mr. Seymour Guernsey, near the village. The class, however, was or- ganized in 1828 at the house of Mr. Robert Biggs, who lived southwest of town. The first preachers came from the Charlestown circuit, and were the Rev. Messrs. Lock and Wood. Among the early members were Abner Biggs and wife, David McBride and wife, James Allen and wife, Robert Carns and wife, Mrs. Miller, and Mrs. Townsend. The old church is yet standing, but is not used for church pur- poses. A burying-ground is connected with it,
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which was not begun till some time after the house was built. During all the church history a Sabbath-school was maintained. Some twenty years after the present house of worship was erected in the village the original members, many of whom had died, and some changed, as was then a very common occurrence, to a differ- ent faith-becoming followers of Dr. Campbell- the old-fashioned enthusiasm subsided somewhat, and left the church in straitened circum- stances. Now, however, it is in a well organized condition. Revs. James S. Ryan and Seymour Guernsey have been instrumental in bringing this church to the position she now proudly oc- cupies.
The St. Francis (Catholic) church in Henry- ville was built ten or a dozen years ago. Rev. Father John Francis was the first Catholic priest in the township. It was through his efforts that the church building was erected. The pres- ent priest is Rev. Father Schenck, who has a good class, composed mostly of Irish and Ger. mans. The building is tasty and kept in good order, both externally and internally. It shows, as Catholic churches generally do, that the mem- bers give liberally of their means to its support. The Methodist church stands near it. Both of them are on the west side of the railroad. It also looks neat and orderly.
CHAPTER XXII.
OREGON TOWNSHIP.
ORGANIZATION.
Previous to 1852 the citizens of what is now Oregon were included in the township of Charles- town. People residing in the northeastern part of the latter township found it inconvenient to attend elections at the county seat, or even nearer home. The old, original place of voting was constantly losing much of its regular busi- ness, and other towns and villages were gaining what she lost. So the residents naturally de- sired to be struck off from the old township, and to have a separate organization of their own. These, and many more influential, finally induced a petition to be circulated for signers, and to be
presented to the honorable board of county com- missioners, praying for a new township organiza- tion. The petition was written by Dr. John Covert, a distinguished resident of New Market, and mainly through his efforts the plan suc- ceeded. Within the same year, 1852, the county commissioners granted the request; and hence the present township of Oregon. It was struck off the northeastern side of Charlestown, and is four tracts wide from northeast to southwest and ten from northwest to southeast, making in all forty five-hundred-acre tracts, if they were wholly in Clark county. But the county line between Scott and Clark cuts off the northeastern corner of the township, and throws three or four tracts into the county of Scott. From this fact, the tract which would naturally belong to Oregon ex- tending further in a northeasterly direction than any of those in other townships, the name was derived. The Territory of Oregon was then the most distant body of land lying in the northwest which belonged to the United States; since there seemed to be a striking coincidence between the two sections, it was mutually agreed that the new township should be named after the new Terri- tory.
Oregon township is compossed entirely of five- hundred-acre tracts-or at least is so intended. Peter Catlett, the original surveyor, made some wretched mistakes, and there are differences of from fifty to one hundred acres in some tracts, though the deeds are generally for the same amount. Why there are such glaring irregulari- ties is, perhaps, a difficult question. The best evidence conflicts; however, the general supposi- tion is that whiskey and inexperience had much to do with the imperfections. There were no high hills or dense undergrowth to prevent ac- curacy. That hindrance lay in the townships of Utica, Monroe, Union, and Charlestown.
TOPOGRAPHY.
Oregon township is bounded on the north by Scott county; on the east by Washington town- ship; on the south by Charlestown and Owen townships ; on the west by Charlestown and Mon- roe townships.
Oregon township soil is churlish. It has a stubborness peculiar to itself. The lands are light-colored clay, wet during a great portion of the year, and invariably cold and ill-tempered.
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
Some of the farms in this township have been under cultivation for many years, and except where the crops have been frequently changed, their productiveness has been perceptibly im- paired. The soil is well adapted to clover, and excellent fruit is grown in that part nearest to the river. The easy-weathering limestones render the soil in many places well adapted to blue grass. The prevailing rocks are corniferous and cement limestone.
Most of the township is level. That part ad- jacent Owen and Charlestown townships is slight- ly broken, but not enough to render it untillable. In the neighborhood of Marysville and New Market, the one has an opportunity to spread in- definitely over the flat country; the other is sur- rounded by land unfit for a well-arranged town. Marysville is situated on a sort of summit, as you pass from Clark to Scott county-a kind of plateau which has few streams to give it a rolling nature or add to its general appearance. One little branch leads off into the upper country, at a sluggish gait; another turns its course toward Silver creek, which heads, in part, in this end of Oregon township. Fourteen-mile creek passes directly through the township from north to south. Its course is meandering. It has few tributaries of any size, except Poke run. This branch enters Fourteen-mile in the vicinity of New Market. It rises in the lower end of Ore- gon, and flows in a slow, tortuous way till it unites with the larger stream. From its current it derives its name. Many years ago it was slower than now, because the timber along its banks held the water and prevented it from run- ning off rapidly. Its course lies through a nar- row valley, and its bed is composed mainly of limestone rock.
Timber in Oregon township was originally made up of scattering walnut, large numbers of oak, a plentiful supply of ash, elm, and beech, with a few trees of hackberry and poplar. Much of the land was cleared by deadening, which gen- erally required less work but more time than the regular way of preparing land to farm. There was no undergrowth of any consequence. The soil made bushes short and thick, and, as far as pea vines were concerned, there was not enough strength in the ground to furnish them susten- ance. After the township had begun to fill up, and timber demanded a better price, consider-
able cord-wood was furnished the steamboats. It was placed along the river bank, and boats took it in as they ascended or descended the Ohio. This trade caused considerable competition. Finally boats were built which were anchored to the shore and loaded with wood. As steamboats came along they took them in tow and unloaded the wood without loss of time in stopping. After supplying themselves, the woodboats drifted down or poled up to their landing, to load again and wait for another ascending steamer, and to strike, if possible, a more lucky bargain. It was not till coal came into general use that this de- partment of trade fell into neglect. Now it is numbered among the things of the past.
CAVES.
On the west bank of Fourteen-mile creek is Shipstern cave. It takes its name from the striking resemblance the opening has to the stern of a,ship. The bottom is covered with a soft limestone, but soon turns into a hard, brittle, and compact body on exposure to the light for a few days. In this stone are found many of the crinoidal formations; also, on its surface are marks of dozens of cloven-footed animals. Of course these footprints go to show that it was frequented ages ago by the wild beasts of the plains and forest. Its extent is not great, and it takes little of the peculiar romance of such places unto itself.
On the eastern side of Oregon township, in the bed of Fourteen-mile creek, is a spring, which in early times furnished the settlers with salt. Dur- ing the first quarter of the present century there was a great scarcity of this much needed article. For a number of years it was worked, but as salt began to be brought down the river, it lost its importance.
ROADS.
The original roads ran to Charlestown, and to the ferry at the mouth of Bull creek, on the Ohio. There was no well-graded track. Roads followed the general direction of the place in view.
Oregon has four miles and a half of railroad. The Ohio & Mississippi branch passes through the township from north to south, and has but one station here-that of Marysville. Otisco is immediately on the line between the townships of Charlestown and Oregon, and serves the pur- pose of an interior station,
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
Going down toward the Ohio from New Mar- ket, on the road that leads from Vienna, in Scott county, it crosses Fourteen-mile creek on one of the best bridges in the county. It is a substan- tial iron structure, with solid abutments, and is, perhaps, ten years old. Above the bridge is an old,“ dilapidated family grist-mill. It is a small concern, and never did anything in the way of serving the public generally.
New Market crossing, half-way between Otisco and Marysville, is the great spot for railroad ties for the Ohio & Mississippi railroad. It is where the Vienna & New Market road crosses the Ohio & Mississippi branch. Here thousands of ties are brought yearly and scattered along the road in all directions. Otisco and Marysville are also noted for their railroad supplies.
MILLS.
Owing to the few streams of any size, except Fourteen-mile creek, there were but few mills in Oregon township at an early day. Besides, the township was a part of Charlestown up to 1852, and it was a necessary result that much of its history would be like that of the parent. Houk's mill, which was among the first in the county, occupied a site fifty-odd years ago on Fourteen- mile creek, grinding flour and meal for the sur- rounding country. It was of the undershot pat- tern, and ran one set of buhrs. Nothing remains of the structure now, except an old mill-stone, lying rather lonely in an out-of-the-way place, and one or two old walls, which are rapidly fall- ing to pieces. The old building was a frame, and after years of service was finally abandoned. In the western part of the township a saw mill is in active operation, under the control of Mr. Shafer. The township has had many portable saw-mills, which were moved from place to place as the timber was cut up and lumber demanded a better price. Much of the oak timber was used for the steamboats which were built at Jef- fersonville. East of Marysville a saw-mill is act- ively engaged.
TANNERIES AND STILL-HOUSES.
Oregon township was never noted on account of tan-yards and distilleries. Of the former there were few, so few that even the oldest settler does not recall them to mind. Still-houses had a transitory existence. A few of the larger farmers managed to have private stills that supplied the
demands of the family; but, like mills, they were few and far between.
SCHOOLS.
In a primitive age the educational system is necessarily imperfect. Teachers are often unfit for their trust, possessing few traits that endear them to their scholars. The log houses resem- bled the hog-pens of to-day more than anything else with which they can be compared.
Among the first school-houses ever put up in Oregon township was one that stood on Poke run, about one mile from New Market. Wes- ley Browning, William Pitman, and William M. Murray were the first teachers. These men taught their scholars to teach, and from 1836 to 1860 they carried on the educational inter- ests of this section. Dr. John Covert was per- haps their most successful scholar. He taught for twenty-one years. J. W. Haymaker, James A. Watson, Elias Long, Dr. James Kirkpatrick, Allen Hill, Ambrose Fitzpatrick, and the Wil- liams brothers, Jonas Albright, Asa Martin, George Matthews, and Jefferson Neal were from the early schools, and they afterwards de- voted most of their younger years to school- teaching.
CHURCHES.
The United Brethren church, commonly known as the Beswick chapel, stands on the New Market and Lexington road. It came into ex- istence through the efforts of Revs. Thomas Lewellen (a pioneer preacher who afterwards rode the circuit for over fifty years), Jacob House, and Isaac Echels. Their services were first held in the dwellings and school-houses of the neighborhood. After several years of active labor, at which all persons labored faithfully, the promiscuous preaching was abandoned, and a comfortable meeting-house erected. The best evidence places the first preaching at the houses of James Smith and Robert Henthorn. Among the members were William N. Pangburn, John Donnan, David Courtner, and James Smith, who are all dead. Many years ago a great camp- meeting was held on the New Market and Lex- ington road, one half-mile from New Market vil- lage. Many people attended and great good was accomplished. Its effect was felt in the commu- nity for many years afterwards. Since the old log school-house, which served a double pur-
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HISTORY OF THE OHIO FALLS COUNTIES.
pose, gave up to the elements, the class put up a neat frame building, 35 x 50 feet. To it is at- tached a burying-ground, but is not inclosed by a fence. The church is in good running order, and has a well-supported Sabbath-school.
On the Charlestown and Lexington road a United Brethren church, built of logs, has a scattering attendance. It was erected about 1858. The furniture is old fashioned, and re- minds one very much of pioneer religion. God- trey and Frederic Koener were the founders. They came from Germany, and belonged to the strictest sect of this respectable denomination. The southwest corner of Oregon township is made up mostly of Germans. From these peo- ple is derived much of the present prosperity of the township.
Beswick chapel is also used for the Methodist Episcopal denomination. Rev. Mr. Tucker was their first preacher, and Alexander McClure, Oliver Mahan, and Abram Vest their first mem- bers. This ancient and most honorable body of worshipers appears to be losing much of its former energy in this neighborhood.
Above Beswick chapel, on the same road, a German Methodist Episcopal church was erected in 1858. It is a hewed-log house, 20 x 40 feet. On the inside the logs were hacked and plastered. It presents a very respectable appearance. The Rev. John Helser aided more than any other person in its establishment. He was a prominent and distinguished member of this sect for many years. John Amick, Jacob Strack, John Fuchs, and Jacob Lindenmyer were very influential, too, in having this church erected, and for twenty or more years since managed so as to give credit to the cause of religion.
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SECRET SOCIETIES.
The only society now in successful running order in the county is the grange on Dry run. It holds its meetings in the Brenton school- house. Here the members meet regularly and discuss the social and agricultural interests of the farmer, and about once every month hold a session of feasting and speech-making.
NEW MARKET.
This village was laid out by Robert Henthorn in 1839. The streets are sixty feet wide, avenues thirty feet, alleys ten feet. It is situated in the southern part of survey or tract number one
hundred and ninety-six on the west bank of Fourteen-mile creek. In 1850 Gabriel Phillippi made an addition of twenty-two lots on the southeast corner of the original plat. Round about the village the country is rolling. In the northern part of the first plat the ground is broken and not well adapted for a thriving busi- ness place. The eastern half of the village juts out on the high banks of Fourteen-mile creek. Here the road leads up the bluffs as it follows up the dividing line between the tracts.
For many years previous to 1839 New Market was a rendezvous for market wagons, which made it a stopping point on their way to the towns on the Falls. People soon learned to bring their produce here,-eggs, butter, poultry, calves, and dressed hogs,-and to receive in exchange gro- ceries and dry-goods. From this fact the village derived its name of New Market. The first man who engaged in buying and selling country pro- duce, and who lived in New Market and sold all the articles common in country stores, was An- derson Ross. After him came Wesley Bottorff, Mr. Garner, J. W. Haymaker, Dr. Benson, and Alexander Ruddell. Between 1840 and 1850 there were three stores in the town at the same time. There was an old-fashined saloon here about 1845, which dealt out all kinds of drinks, from hard cider to the Kentucky bourbon. A prosperous blacksmith and cooper shop about the same time gave the village an appearance of considerable business. In the place now there is but one store, keps by Joel Amick, who also is the postmaster.
POST-OFFICE.
New Market became a post-office about 1845. Mails were formerly carried through the eastern end of Oregon township on their way to Bethle- hem and Madison, from Charlestown. Poke Run was the only office for many years in the township. Dr. John Covert was postmaster here for fourteen years. The way of carrying mails was on horseback with a pair of saddle-bags; or in summer, a light vehicle was sometimes used, when a passenger might be picked up along the route. After the Ohio & Mississippi branch was built, Poke Run ceased to be a post-office. New Market had grown sufficiently to gain the right of having an office within her limits. Accordingly the old route was abandoned and and a new one established, which ran from Charlestown to New
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Washington via New Market. The first post- master was John W. Haymaker. After him came Sisney Conner, D. M. Turner, and James A. Watson. These men filled their positions satisfactorily. It was only a change of President that could make a new appointment. Now the mail-route begins at Otisco and goes via New Market, Otto, and Bethlehem. It is tri-weekly.
CHURCHES.
The Christian or Campbellite church at New Market has a history of variable circumstances. It is made up of so many parts that nothing but an extended review would present all the troublous times through which it has passed. This church sprang from a combination of influences. The Arians or New-lights, the followers of Stone and Marshall, and the Dunkards, had a church early in this century in what is now Owen township. It is known by the name of Olive Branch chapel. Revs. Messrs. John Wright and Mr. Hughes, the former a Dunkard and the latter a New-light, united, and formed a union which afterwards became the Christian church of New Market. Rev. John Wright, who came from North Carolina, had but few followers, and of course it was an easy matter to go over to the new faith. The great hindrance to a coalition with the Dunkards was their mode of worship. But the union dispensed with triune baptism, or dipping three times, which according to their discipline was a necessary part of their religion. Feet-washing, too, was discarded by Rev. Mr. Hughes, and between them both a satisfactory settlement of conflicting views was made. Since this adjustment the Dunkards and New-lights have never regained their former strength.
The first preaching of these two denominations was held in the homes of the pioneers. During the summer months big meetings were often held in groves. The people came from all sections. It was not till 1845, after a series of meetings at Olive Branch church, that the Christian church in New Market was placed on a substantial foundation. Revs. Milton Short, Byron, Josiah, and Thomas Walter, brothers, created much ex- citement about this time in the townships of Oregon and Owen in regard to religion., There sprang up several thriving classes throughout this section, but which have in time succumbed to the inevitable influences of loose morality. Ex-
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