The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 60

Author: W. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1880
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1051

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It remained long the seat of learning in this township, and looked well on the exterior so long as it was new. It was built in 1819 or 1820, and was finally burned down, as was supposed, to prevent its occupancy during the long vacations by a disreputable family. The rubbish from its chimney, and the pit from which the mud was taken to plaster its walls, can, after a lapse of sixty years, be seen to-day. The contrast between the privileges of the youth of to-day and the

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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.

boy of pioneer times is truly wonderful. While the light of day struggled through greased paper, the light of knowledge was as dimly shed through the facilities afforded by the times to enlighten the chambers of the intellect, and to obtain a knowledge, through letters, of language, men, and things in general. In the Trot- ter's Creek neighborhood, John Barbour, who joined that settlement in 1817, initiated schools, by teaching one term in part of William Knox's dwelling about 1817 or 1820. Benjamin Dunham was the next to take up the birch and spell- ing-book on Trotter's Creek. Dunham's term of teaching was held in a vacant cabin one mile north of Knox's, in about 1820 or 1821. We learn of several other terms of teaching in the neighborhood, as a teacher or vacant house gave an opportunity, up to 1824, when a hewed-log schoolhouse was built on an acre of ground deeded by Moses Mitchell to Newberry Township, for a graveyard and other purposes. This house was a step in advance, although it, too, had greased- paper windows. William Dowler, who located in the neighborhood in 1823, was the first teacher in this house and for some years subsequent. James Perry was the first teacher in the village of Newberry, Covington, in a house previously men- tioned, built for a dwelling by John Ingle. Date of this term unknown. Amos Perry and James Hanks are spoken of as having taught in the village subse- quently. We would here remark, by way of explanation, that, while Covington existed under the name of Newberry, it never had a schoolhouse. When the first lots were laid out, No. 34 was sold by Jacob Ullery, at a nominal price, and deeded for a school lot, but the official who held the deed never had it recorded, and in course of time moved away, taking it with him; the lot was taxed, sold for the same, and never redeemed.

The earlier school teachers who are remembered are Amos Perry and his brother James, James Hanks, Joshua Sanders, David Brumbaugh, Anderson Bal- lard, John Barbour, Benjamin Dunham, Aaron Carson, - Connelly, William Dowler and David Ross. A large majority of these persons were personally known by men now living, to be men of good and influential standing, but none of them had what would now be termed a liberal common-school education.

OFFICERS.

No records show,the beginning or existence of civil government in this town- ship. It is said that Amos Perry was the first Justice of the Peace, and John Thompson the first Constable, but when they held office, tradition does not inform us. It was since 1816, however, because Perry did not become a resident until that date.

Tradition also informs us that both Newberry and Newton Townships were organized under the former name, and, when the population increased, Newton was organized separately, and Newberry retained the original name. Newberry has nest for hungry or greedy politicians, but has had an occasional representative outside her own organization.

She has four times represented Miami County in the Ohio Legislature, viz. : Amos Perry, in 1832 ; Washington N. Weston, in 1844; Col. J. C. Ullery, in 1870-71, and the same in 1876-77. One of her citizens has filled the County Recorder's office. Two terms of County Commissioners have been filled from her borders, and the present Clerk of the Court is one of her native citizens.

In the late war of the rebellion, her sons gave themselves freely to support the Union.

CHURCHES.

Dunkards .- The Dunkards, or, as they now style themselves, German Bap- tists, were the first to take the field in proclaiming the Gospel. It can hardly be said that they had a regular organization in this township previous to 1845, not- withstanding they held meetings under the leadership of Michael Etter, a resident of Newton Township, at the time of the organization of the Upper Stillwater Con- gregation, as early as 1818.

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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.

About 1845, they had a church organization, and, in the absence of any house of worship, they held meetings in private dwellings and barns. As their numbers increased, they were, obliged to seek for more suitable accommodations. Their first building was a substantial brick, known as the Upper Stillwater Church, capable of seating eight hundred persons, and containing all the appendages neces- sary for the usages of their communion services.

In 1869, they built a neat and comfortable structure in Covington, but this is not strictly the headquarters of the Covington Church.

In the last thirty years, this denomination has largely increased, and is now the strongest in numbers and wealth of any other in the township, its members being principally composed of the agricultural population.

Christians .- The next in the order of organization was the Christian, or New Light Church, in 1820. This church did not have a house of worship, but held service in private dwellings and barns, and the most convenient schoolhouse; was organized near Trotter's Creek and known as the Trotter's Creek Church. The preacher's name who organized it was Stackhouse, and the organizing members, so nearly as can be remembered, were William Knox and wife, William and Lemuel Templeton and their wives, John McClurg and wife, Samuel Nicholson and wife, and Mrs. David Templeton. In 1824, Caleb Worley became its Pastor, and con- tinued so for many years, when, finally, dissensions arose and its organization ceased.

Methodists .- Following the Christians in chronology, were the Methodists, who organized about 1832 or 1835 ; built a church in Covington in 1836, which was blown down May 5, 1837. This was the first church building in the town- ship. The Methodists, though noted for planting beside "all waters," and rarely failing to build up and maintain a church when once started, yet, in Covington, after three or four attempts at organization and a lapse of thirty-five or thirty-six years, have now no church organization here.

Baptists .- In 1835, the Regular Baptists organized a church and proposed to erect a building ; a lot was purchased and the framework put together on the site early in the spring of 1838, only waiting for a proper foundation to be laid, whereon to rear the frame. The work was delayed, when, finally, the lot was leased by the school district, a schoolhouse was put up on it, the first in Covington, serv- ing also the purpose of a meeting-house until 1844, and remained a schoolhouse until 1848.

It appears that when the workmen began work on the foundation, the frame had suddenly and mysteriously disappeared, although having, up to that time, lain in full view. The theory was, that some evil-minded persons had thrown it into the river during the then existing freshet, as some portions of it were found among the drift, and subsequently one participant confessed it. Thus discouraged, the Baptists ceased to exist as an organization.

The present Baptist Church was organized in 1848, and built their house in 1849. The Christian Church of Covington was organized by Rev. Caleb Worley, with seven members, in 1837, and its sturdy growth enabled its members to build & comfortable brick structure in 1846, which was the first church erected by that denomination in the township, and which subserved the wants of its members until 1870, when it was torn down and the present structure erected on the same spot, the best church building in the township.

Previous to 1840, the German Reformed and Lutherans had organizations in the northern part of the township, and in the year named they also had a building for worship.

The first organization of the Cumberland Presbyterians was made in January, 1838. While being accomplished in this township, it passed beyond its borders. The present church, organized in 1842, subsequently built a church, and ranks about third in strength and wealth in the township.

- The Presbyterian Church was organized in June, 1842, at Covington, and, in .

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the society. The building was finished in 1844, and used by both organizations for a number of years, until the Cumberlands sold out to the Methodists and built for themselves.

Summing up, we have the following places of worship in Newberry : Dunk- ards, 2 ; Christians, 3; Cumberland Presbyterians, 1; Presbyterian, 1; Baptists, 2; Lutherans, 3; German. Reformed, 2 ; Union, 1; Methodists, 1; total, 16. Six of these are in the village of Covington, three in Bradford, two in North Clayton, the others in the country.

ROADS AND BRIDGES.

There are but few things that add more to the general comfort and conven- ience of a community than good roads, or an easy method of social and commer- cial intercommunication.

Some time previous to 1816, the exact date we cannot ascertain, a road was estab- lished and,, we presume, cut out through Newberry. The Piqua & Greenville was located, perhaps some years later, crossing the northern part of the township from east to west. The Troy & Greenville, crossing the town plat on Wright street, was still later. In 1826, however, these roads were not yet all opened through the forest ; now they are either all covered by free pikes or vacated in favor of pikes constructed on more eligible localities near by.

In 1836, a project was set on foot to connect Springfield with Greenville by constructing a pike between the two places, passing through Troy and Covington. A company was formed, stock taken, the State subscribing perhaps half. In 1837, the clearing and grubbing were commenced, and perhaps some grading in New- berry, which was the first actual work on turnpikes in the township.

In 1838, the capitalists and business men of Dayton, seeing the importance of holding the rapidly increasing trade of the Stillwater Valley, which they had here- tofore enjoyed, and foreseeing the danger of its being diverted to points along the Miami Canal, then just completed to Piqua, organized the Dayton & Covington Turnpike Company, secured the necessary stock and began the work of construc -. tion in 1839.

When the success of this enterprise was fully secured and under way, our neighbors of Piqua moved to connect that city with the Dayton & Covington pike in order to secure a large prospective trade from the rich farm products of the Stillwater Valley and Darke County, and, forming a company, bridged the six miles of black swamp lying between the Miami and Stillwater with the old Cov- ington pike.

In 1841, the Dayton & Covington pike was completed, and in 1843 the Piqua & Covington pike was completed between the two places, making New- berry the first in the county having two turnpikes terminating within her borders, Covington, a turnpike center, and giving it a daily mail and stage route to the north and west.

The Springfield, Troy & Greenville Company having failed, and most if not all the grading having been done, a new company was formed west of Covington, along the road to complete it from Covington to New Harrison, Darke County, which was soon accomplished, and proved a good investment to the stockholders, and beneficial to the citizens along the line.

These road enterprises were well supported by the citizens of Covington, which was the first town in the county within whose limits three pikes terminated.

At present there are fifty miles of free pike within the bounds of this township, and not one mile of toll road. These roads have all been paid for within the last ten years by the farmers living along the respective lines, The different streams that are crossed by these roads are spanned by twenty-three structures that may be properly termed bridges, not including small bridges and culverts. Six of the ' former are common wooden bridges ; eight or nine are late improved iron bridges, and not many years hence every road will be graveled and every stream spanned.

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HISTORY OF MIAMI COUNTY.

Bradford, or Bradford Junction, as the station is called, is situated in New- berry and Adams Townships, Miami and Darke Counties-Miami County having a greater portion of inhabitants by a small majority,. the whole population at pres- ent being nearly 1,400. The town only dates back to 1868, when the Cincinnati, Columbus & Indiana Central Railroad Company commenced building the round- house at the junction of their roads, which is in Miami County, and this was the starting-point of the town. It was formerly called Richmond, and Union City Junction, but, in 1868, it received its name of Bradford from Tom Bradford, a mail agent on the Cincinnati, Columbus & Indiana Central Railroad, who called it after himself, there being no other town in Ohio of that name.

At this time, Charles Rapp lived on the Miami County side, and the depot consisted of an old box car, the mail being generally carried around in Charlie's pockets. Early in 1868 the Railroad Company commenced their buildings, and soon after a boarding-house was built by Charles Dearworth, and called the "Locust House." In this same year, William Romans, master mechanic of the Cincinnati, Columbus & Indiana Central Railroad, laid out some lots on the Miami County side, and Dan Rice, who was foreman of the roundhouse, bought some land and laid out lots, which he sold, this being also in Miami County. Lots were afterward laid out by the Railroad Company, Christian Sears, Moses Wise, Wade Steel and Long. On the Darke County side, the first lots were laid out by Solomon Routzong. In August, 1868, W. H. Sowers came and put up a ware- house at the junction, engaging in the grain trade under the name of J. Bowers & Son. About this time, there was a small store on Routzong's land, in Darke . County, which was afterward burned. In the same year was built the Hoover House, by a man named Hoover, and another hotel was built a little east of the Hoover House, by Rice, and called the Bradford House. Among the first houses built in West Bradford, was one put up by John S. Moore, the same year. In 1869, J. Sowers & Son engaged in the general merchandise business, in addition to their grain trade, and, in 1869, the depot was built at the junction. In 1870, Nathan Iddings also engaged in the general merchandise business in East Brad- ford ; this he continued until he was forced to give it up on account of a sun- stroke, and has since been engaged in a general Notary and real estate business, having had more houses erected in Bradford than any other one man.

J. Sowers & Son continued their business for some time, till in 1875, W. H. Sowers purchased the Hoover House, when the firm continued under the same name, another son taking his place, and they are still engaged in the grain business at the Junction. W. H. Sowers is, at present, Postmaster of Bradford. The Rail- road Company at first completed twelve stalls of their roundhouse, afterward in- creasing the number to twenty-four, and there is a probability that the entire circle may be filled out, which would give forty-eight stalls for engines. Bradford, after its commencement, continued to improve quite rapidly, numerous houses and stores being put up on both sides of the county line. In 1870, the first schoolhouse was erected, on the Miami County side, which was used until the completion of the present fine school-building in 1876, on the West Side. The contractors were Den- nis Dwyer and George Manix. The cost of the structure was about $28,000. It is four stories high, including the basement. Its ground dimensions are 75x56 feet, with two towers additional, twenty-two feet square base and seventy feet altitude. The building is finished in fine style, and is an ornament to the town. . A hall in the fourth story is well furnished, and will seat 600 persons. There is a good school-bell, and heating is done by steam. The school enumeration is 410. The present School Board are Solomon Routzong, D. J. Smith, William Weaver, N. Iddings, Valentine Staley and R. T. Hughes. D. S. Meyers has been Superin- tendent from the first, a fact creditable to all parties. The other teachers have taught the same period. They are M. J. Hunter, Mrs. D. S. Meyers, Miss Minnie Garber, Miss Clara Gulick and Miss Jer.nie Baumgardner. The old school-building is at present used as an agricultural store. by Henry Klinger. The first hardware and tin store was opened by John Clark, who came in 1870, and was the first .

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Justice in Bradford. He is still in the hardware trade, his store being in Darke, and his house in Miami County.

At present, Bradford does considerable business, principally or to a large extent with the railroad and its employes, but there are a number of firms who do a considerable business with farmers living in the vicinity. Among the most prominent business houses and men on the east side or in Miami County we would mention : Fink & Bro., general merchandise ; W. H. Sowers, Postmaster and sta- tioner ; Solomon Urbansky ; J. M. Little & Co., drugs ; E. Baker & Co., grocery ; E. B. Maurer, grocer, and Henry Klinger, agricultural implements.

The Hoover House is now kept by Ogden & Co .; the Bradford House by C. M. Yost.

The corporation is a unit; that is, there are not two sets of civil officers, and there is but the one post office. Moore was Postmaster in 1869 ; then W. H. Sow- ers held the office, which was then removed to the East Side, where it has since remained. The first Mayor of Bradford was Peter H. Smith ; Clerk, Ed Davidson; Marshal, George Doll. The present officers of Bradford are J. A. W. Smith, Mayor ; M. J. Williamson, Clerk ; H. W. Smith, Marshal ; and the members of the Council are D. J. Smith, John Gettz, and Messrs. Beck, Kinney and J. M. Fink.

There are four church edifices in Bradford-three in Miami County, and one in Darke County. The first church building was put up in Miami County by the Baptists in 1870, who organized a society that year. Their first preacher was Northrop, from New Madison. Their first regular pastor was a young man named Tuttle ; afterward, J. R. Deckard, - - Abrams, -Gardner, - Smith and the present Pastor, Matthews. Next in Miami County the "Reform Church " erected a church. Among their first Pastors were John Stuck and Mr. Gough ; their present Pastor is J. E. Dingledine. After them came the Methodists, who built their church in 1872, which is also in Miami County. Their first preacher was Brad- ley ; then Pilcher, Staley, Powel, Oldfield, and Matthews, the present Pastor. The Cumberland Presbyterians have a society, organized on. June 3, 1876, by James Best, assisted by H. D. Onyett. Previous to this, they had had occasional services by F. G. Black and H. D. Onyett, of Covington. Their present Pastor is James Best, and they rent the Reform Church, where they hold service one-half the time. The Catholics erected a church in 1875, in the Darke County portion, and their first services were held by Father Shelhamer. They have no resident priest.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

BROWN TOWNSHIP.

JOHN ADLARD, retired silversmith ; P. O. Fletcher; was born in En- gland March, 1823, and is a son of John and Mary (Norton) Adlard ; his father was born about 1776, in Louth, Lincolnshire, England, died in 1828; his mother was 15 years his junior, and died August, 1848. Our subject was raised to town and city life ; in early life, in Horncastle, Lincolnshire, England, he learned watch-making, which remained his occupation during his life in England. In 1845, he married Elizabeth Colton, who was born at Marhan-on-the-hill, near Horncastle, England, eight days his junior ; she is a daughter of Peter and Eliza- beth Colton. John, Jr., and wife, in 1847, embarked for the United States ; after their arrival, they located in Waterford, N. Y., where they remained one year ; thence removed to Canal Dover, Ohio, where they remained about twenty years ; there he engaged in his former trade a portion of the time; the remainder was spent in various pursuits ; after which a change or two was made, and about 1869 he located in Fletcher, Brown Township, where Elizabeth (his wife) died in 1875. They were the parents of eight children, of whom five are now living ; Mr. Adlard married for his second wife Mrs. Eliza Looker, who was born in Bucks Co., Penn., in 1830, and emigrated to Ohio in 1852, and in the same year married Gipson R. Looker; Mrs. Adlard is a daughter of John and Eliza (Harvey) Johnson, who were both natives of Pennsylvania.

SYLVANUS ALLEN, retired farmer; was born in Mason Co., Ky., Feb. 10, 1797; when 8 years of age, he with his parents emigrated to Montgomery Co., Ohio, settling ten miles south of Dayton, on what is now the Dayton and Lebanon pike, where they lived and died, the father, Jeremiah Allen, in the 82d year of his age, and the mother in her 62d year ; they were the parents of twelve children, of whom six are now living, our subject being the second; in 1830, he emigrated to Miami Co. and bought his present farm, the southwest quarter of Sec. 1, Brown Township ; for this he paid $700, and was soon located thereon, where he has since resided ; the farm was but little improved when he settled here, contrast- ing greatly with the well-cultivated fields and substantial buildings of to-day, which change has been brought about by hard work and industry, and the assist- ance of his noble family. In the early part of Mr. Allen's life in Miami Co., they had no post office conveniences nearer than Piqua or Urbana, a distance on either side of from twelve to fifteen miles ; the mail at that time was carried past his house, on horseback or otherwise ; owing to the inconvenience of mail facilities for him and his neighbors, he made application to have an office established at his residence, which was granted, and was a great accommodation, this office being the first one of its kind in Brown Township ; he held it for several years until the village of Lena was laid out and a small business established, when he of course was willing to have it moved to a more public place, which was done ; in honor of Mr. Allen the office took its name ; thus, Mr: Allen has passed through the frontier and pioneer

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life of Miami Co. In November, 1821, in Montgomery Co., Ohio, he married Miss Han- nah Beckhorn, who was born in New Jersey April 11, 1803; by this union they had ten children, of whom seven are now living. Mrs. Allen's death occurred Jan. 31, 1875. Mr. Allen now resides with his son, A. J., who was born May 17, 1846, and June 3, 1873, married Miss Nora Brecount, who was born in this county Jan. 23, 1847 ; they have one son, Edward H., born June 15, 1874.

R. B. ANDERSON, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Fletcher ; son of John and Nancy Anderson ; was born in Bucks Co., Penn., Dec. 24, 1825. John Anderson died in 1826. Our subject being left fatherless when almost an infant, he was placed in the care of his grandfather, David Anderson, upon whom the duty de- volved of raising him ; in 1829, he with his grand-parents emigrated to Ohio, loca- ting in Warren Co .; and the following winter they pressed onward to Miami Co .; there David Anderson entered a large tract of land, of which 80 acres was entered for R. B., which is his present farm in Sec. 15, Brown Township; he remained with . David Anderson until 1843, at which time he took a trip East to see his mother, whom he had not seen since 1829 ; there he devoted his time to his mother's society for a few weeks, when he returned and soon after engaged in coopering in Warren Co .; farming was taken in connection with his trade, which was followed in Warren and Montgomery Cos., Ohio, until 1851, when he settled on his farm ; here he has since resided and made great changes in the general appearance of the same ; now there are 70 acres under cultivation. Aug. 27, 1850, he married Miss Marim Dickensheets, who was born in Bellbrook, Greene Co., Ohio, in 1826 ; they by this union have five children, of whom three are now living, viz. : Clara B, born June 17, 1851, now Mrs. M. Kemp ; Emma E., Dec. 15, 1852, now Mrs. G. Friling ; and A. Caroline, Aug. 14, 1854, now Mrs. Joseph Cyphers. The deceased are Charlie R., died Aug. 3, 1858, and Fannie C., born Dec. 3, 1858, died Aug. 4, 1879.

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The History of Miami County, Ohio, Part 60

Author: W. H. Beers & Co. Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1051

Author: W. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1880
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1051