The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 143

Author: Durant, Pliny A. [from old catalog]; Beers, W. H., & co., Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1254

USA > Ohio > Union County > The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record; > Part 143

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Jacob Reed was born in Harrison County, Va., March 14, 1807. He came to Champaign County, Ohio, in 1825, and August 14, 1828, married Eliza- beth Cameron, who was born in Pennsylvania in March, 1809. In the fall of 1829, he came to this township and built himself a cabin about one and a half miles south of Essex, on what is now known as the W. W. Smith place. While thus engaged, he voted at the first election held in Jackson Township. Re- turning to Champaign County, he moved his family in the spring of 1830 to his new home, and there engaged in the arduous labors of a pioneer. His wife died in 1835. After following farming for a short time, Mr. Reed be- came a storekeeper at Essex. He sold out his store, and in 1851 emigrated to Mahaska County, Iowa, where he died in the spring of 1880.

The permanent arrival of Joseph Cameron in the township also was in the year 1830. He accompanied his brother-in-law, Jacob Reed, to the site he had selected for his forest home in the fall of 1829, and likewise built him- self a cabin about three miles from Essex, and voted at the first election in Jackson Township. He was born in Philadelphia County, Penn., in 1807, and four years later emigrated with his father, John Cameron, to Champaign County, and was there reared to manhood. He was married to Sarah Reed, March 26, 1829; she was born in Harrison County, Va .. in 1809. Mr. Cameron continued his residence in this township up to the date of his decease, which occurred in June, 1872.

James and

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JACKSON TOWNSHIP.

Samuel Sanders was born in Maryland in 1766. In 1785, he married Nancy Reed, who was born 1767. In 1830, they settled in Jackson Township about a mile north of Essex, where he died in 1846. His wife survived him five years.

John l'rice settled about a mile north of Essex in 1830. He was born in Pennsylvania June 7, 1797, and April 20, 1824, married Phoebe Sanders, who was born November 15, 1802. Mr. Price died September 19, 1848; his wife August 25, 1854.

Jacob Collins. in 1829 or 1830, built himself a cabin and cleared a little place about two and one-half miles west of Essex. on the farm since owned by A. R. White. He was not the owner of the land, only a squatter. He also built a little blacksmith shop here and became the first blacksmith. When not engaged at the forge or anvil, he was generally hunting game, at which he was very successful. He finally sold his squatter's claim to Ebenezer Davis, who afterward removed to Washington Township and left for parts unknown.

David Carr was born in Bradford County. Penn .. in 1802, and emigrated to Champaign County, Ohio, with his father, Absalom Carr, in 1817. He mar- ried Mary Cheney February 22, 1826, and in 1831 came to this township and settled southeast of Essex, where he died May 1, 1874.

Tabor Randall was born in Windsor County, Vt., November 5, 1806. the son of Joshua and Keziah (Hawley) Randall. They removed to Essex Coun- ty, N. Y., and thence Tabor emigrated with his father in 1818 to Franklin County, Ohio, coming by team, the only way then practicable. In his youth he became a school teacher. He taught a term in Mill Creek Township in 1825, and also taught in Jerome Township and in Morrow County. In August, 1831, Mr. Randall came to Jackson Township for the purpose of teaching a school. He married Elizabeth Cheney January 1, 1832, and settled on a little place west of Essex, lately owned by Harvey Moore.

farming in summer and teaching in winter. He remained here four years,

He then removed to the village of Essex and tended store for Jacob Reed about a year: and for William Wurl about the same length of time. He also taught school and farmed to some extent until 1854, when he was elected Clerk of the Court for Union County. He removed to Marysville and retained the office fifteen years. He has since served in different capacities at the Marysville court house and is to-day a valuable and efficient official, though he has years ago passed his allotted three-score years and ten.

Jesse Bell was born in Pennsylvania August 15, 1801, and in 1822 mar- ried Margaret Sanders, who was born in 1804. In 1832, they settled in Jack- son Township and here Mr. Bell, besides farming, followed blacksmithing. In 1855, he removed with his family to Marion County, where he died in 1872.

John Scott, who was originally from Pennsylvania, moved about 1830 to the place in the southern part of Jackson Township, now owned by Lorenzo Cheney. He was a zealous hunter and subsequently removed with his family to Van Wert County.

Ira Bennett, about 1830, came from Franklin County and settled about two miles south of Essex. He remained only a few years and then moved West.

Albert R. White was born in Bradford County, Penn., August 12, 1801. He came with his parents to near Mill Grove, Warren Co., Ohio, in 1819, and the following year they moved to Brookville Township, Franklin Co., Ind. In a short time, Albert, in company with another young man, made a trip afoot to Pennsylvania. There, in Bradford County, in 1823, he married

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

Anna Allen. They settled in Indiana, and in 1831 moved to Champaign County, Ohio, near Mechanicsburg. Two years later, they became residents of Jackson Township. Their children are Jesse A., Daniel A., David R., Anna (Cheney), Olive, who married Charles Copeland, and Delilah, wife of Jonathan Williams. Mrs. White died in July, 1853; Mr. White is still liv- ing in the eighty-second year of his age.

Jason Chapman was born in Frederick County, Va., April 13, 1793. He was married December 13, 1813, to Miss Sarah Nutter, who was born in 1797. In March, 1825, Mr. Chapman came to Ohio, and after spending two years in Jackson County removed to Champaign County, and there remained until 1833. In that year he made a journey to Jackson Township and built a cabin, and early in the following year moved into it with his family. His farm was located about a mile west of Essex, where his son Jason now re- sides. There was no clearing on the place when he came. He continued to live on this farm until his death, which occurred November 18, 1880. He was a stanch Whig and a leading member of the Methodist Protestant Church. During the war of 1812. he served eight months in the Northwest army under Gen. Harrison. He was present at the building of Ft. Meigs, and his only active service was in skirmishes with the Indians. Mrs. Chapman died in Au- gust, 1855. Of their eleven children, six died in infancy or youth; Joseph was killed in battle at Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1863; John, Jason N. and Julia A. (Benedict) reside in Jackson; Mary, wife of Lincoln Davis, re- sides at Lima, Allen Co., Ohio.

Michael Blue was born in Virginia in 1801. He was married November 20, 1820, to Eleanor Arahood, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1802. They came with their families to Jackson Township in September, 1833, and set- tled a short distance northwest from Essex, on a farm of 150 acres, which Mr. Blue had purchased previous to his arrival, from Samuel R. Sanders. A slight improvement had been made on the place. He afterward increased the farm to 352 acres. Mr. Blue died in 1857; his wife survived until 1876.

Southworth Mather was born in New Jersey, and when young moved with his father, Daniel Mather, to Virginia. Thence they came to Ohio. South- worth was married in Union Township, this county, to Philena Rice. About 1831, he removed with his wife and two children to Jackson Township, squat- ting on a piece of land about a mile west of Essex. He afterward purchased land in Washington Township and lived there for a time. He then removed with his family to Logan County and ultimately to Allamakee, Iowa, where he died. Mr. Mather was one of those restless border spirits, fond of hunting, and only content when dwelling on the extreme frontier.

Increase Mather, his wife Anna (Conine), and children, came to Jackson from Allen Center in 1831. He was a brother to Southworth Mather, and re- sided in this township until his death in the winter of 1838. Mrs. Anna Ma- ther died in March, 1832, and Increase took for a second wife Sarah Dil- saver. By the first marriage there were five children, of whom Harvey, of Jackson, is the only survivor; by the second marriage there were three, two of whom are yet living.

The foregoing names are believed to include all who were among the ear- liest settlers, up to about 1834-35. The following were residents of the town- ship in 1840, and probably all of them came some time between the years 1835 and 1840; Henry Bennett, Francis Baldwin, Ira Bennett, Jesse Bowen, John and Henry Baldwin, Benjamin Bradshaw. Daniel Bell, Michael Deck, John Dixon. Absalom Forbes, Samuel Grant, Jacob Honaker, Peter Hinkle, David Jones, William Lockhart, Hiram Keeler, George Kightlinger, Samuel Mer- rit, Reuben Redding, Thomas Temple, Nicholas Van Buskirk, David Wash- burn, David, Dennis and Benjamin Welch.

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JACKSON TOWNSHIP.

Only a brief mention is possible of these pioneers. The Temples and Merrits made the first permanent improvements in the western part of the township. Thomas Temple came about 1834-35 and settled in the wilderness where Joseph Temple now lives. His son, Joseph, soon after followed him and located on an adjoining place. Samuel Merrit came from the vicinity of Mechanicsburg. He always lived upon the farm he located, and died and was buried there. Michael Van Buskirk, in 1836-37, leased land from Mr. Merrit and occupied a cabin which stood near the site of the Disciple Church. He acquired no land here and changed his place of abode frequently. He died at Marion several years ago. Reuben Redding settled in the woods in the west- ern part of the township. He afterward removed to Marion County and there died. John Dixon, a Virginian, on his first arrival took a lease in the west-

ern part of the township. He and his son John then purchased a little prop. erty, and there he passed the remainder of his life. David Jones settled about a mile west of Essex. He died in the township. David Washburn occu- pied a place for awhile in the same vicinity, then removed to another county.

Jesse Bowen was born in Virginia, six miles from Harper's Ferry, Decem-

ber 18, 1805.

Bowen, to Ross County, Ohio. When eight years old, he came with his father, Jonathan

They had scarcely arrived when his father's team was impressed by the military to haul corn to Franklinton, Franklin County. About 1822, they came to Union County and settled on Mill Creek about three miles below Marysville. Jesse there married Susanna Spurgeon and in April, 1835, he removed to a farm of 150 acres, one and a half miles nortbeast of Essex, which he had purchased at Chillicothe from Allen G. Latham. At this time the eastern portion of Jackson Township was devoid of any settlements. Mr. Bowen is still a resident of the locality he first occu- pied forty-seven years ago.

Also in April, 1835, Francis Baldwin came from Madison County and es- tablished himself in a wilderness home about one mile northeast from Essex. He spent the rest of his life here. John Baldwin and his son Henry settled in the north part of the township. Daniel Bell settled about a mile north of Essex on the Larne pike.

In the northeast part of the township Samuel Grant was one of the ear- liest settlers. He came from Big Darby Creek and died here, within a few years of his arrival, of "milk sickness." This part of the township was very wet and marshy at first, and much sickness prevailed. Jacob Honaker settled in the same vicinity, first in Marion County and then in this township. He was from Virginia, and besides farming he followed gun-smithing, his trade. He died on his farm. Benjamin Bradshaw, also a Virginian, settled on the Grant farm and married Mrs. Ann E. Grant, the widow of Samuel Grant. Michael Deck, from the State of Virginia, came with Mr. Bradshaw and Mr. Honaker, and built his log cabin on a fifty-acre farm northeast from Essex. William Lockhart, from Greene County, settled on a farm soon after 1835, about two miles northeast of Essex. He died on the same place many years later.

Dennis Welch, about 1835-36, settled on the site of Essex. He afterward removed to Van Wert County and died there. His brothers, David and Ben- jamin, were also early settlers of Jackson. Hiram Keeler, a Vermonter, set- tled just east of Essex. He lost his property by some means, and afterward purchased another home deeper in the wilderness. He is remembered as a very eccentric character. George Kightlinger and his brother Abraham in 1840, or shortly before, removed from Morrow County and settled near Essex. Afterward they went to Marion County. Peter Hinkle made the first im- provement in the southeast part of the township on the road leading east from

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

the Richwood pike. He afterward removed to Mahaska County, Iowa. Ab- salom Forbes came an unmarried man from Marion County; here married Sarah Blue, settled in the southern part of the township and a few years later emi- grated to Logan County, Ill. Henry and Ira Bennett, from Licking County, settled in the southern part of the township. Henry died here and Ira re- moved to Paulding County.

INDIANS.

The Indians lingered among their hunting grounds in this vicinity until 1833. Traces of their former occupancy have been revealed in several burial grounds. On the farm of Jason Chapman, in a gravel bed situated between the road and the creek, six skeletons were dug up in 1834, and other evidences were discovered of an Indian camping place. On the farm settled by Joseph Cameron, now owned by W. F. Cheney, was a large mound which had served as an Indian graveyard. The mound or knoll was composed of sand and gravel, and on the north, east and south rose rather abruptly, while on the west it sloped gradually to the loamy soil below. It covered perhaps two acres. When the gravel and sand was removed for roads and building purposes, a number of skeletons were exhumed. Arrows. beads and other trinkets were also discovered.

The Indians who inhabited this region were the Wyandots. They were expert bee-hunters. Ebenezer Cheney, while on a bee-hunting expedition, once found a large bee tree. The hive, however, was in an upper limb and inaccessible to him without chopping down the tree. which was the usual course adopted by white hunters. While debating in mind whether it would pay to fell the mammoth oak, an Indian hunter approached and obligingly offered to procure the honey for him. The offer was gladly accepted. The brave drew his tomahawk and felled a small sapling, so that its top fell against the lower branches of the bee tree. He ascended on this to the lower branch of the oak and then proceeded to cut and trim a limb with a hook at one end. He caught the hook in a limb overhead and climbed up to it hand over hand. Throwing away the hooked limb he cut off the branch contain- ing the honey. Then balancing himself, he leaped down to the lower limb and descended to the ground by the same means he had employed in ascend- ing.

On another occasion an Indian appeared at the cabin of Ebenezer Cheney and desired to obtain a gun lock, to replace his own which was lost. He ex- changed a cotton shawl for one, and when he had finished hunting, returned to the cabin and wanted to " trade back." Only a daughter of Mr. Cheney was then present, and to the demand of the red man she exclaimed "no swap." "Swap any how," said the hunter, and taking the shawl from the wall he drew down the gun-lock and strode out of the door. Miss Cheney, displeased with this procedure. set the dogs at the retreating Indian, but the boys working in the field and not knowing the cause of the disturbance, called them off.

Many of the Indians became Christianized. After the race had about disappeared from the township, an Indian minister, named Manonku, camped out in the woods, and while here attended a Methodist meeting. then in prog- ress, and at his own invitation participated in the religious exercises.

When grain was first produced here, the only market for it was at Lake Erie. The only highways were mud roads. Wheat ranged in value from per- haps 60 to 75 cents per bushel, and the farmers usually teamed it to Port- land, taking from thirty to forty bushels at a load, and consuming an entire week in making the trip.

David Price was the first shoe-maker in the township; Albert R. White the second. The first blacksmith was Jesse Bell. The first marriage was

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JACKSON TOWNSHIP.

that of Tabor Randall to Elizabeth Cheney, January 1, 1832. The first child born in the township is said to have been Harvey Cameron, March 8, 1830. The first ground prepared for seed was dug by John Cheney with a mattock and sown in beets. Daniel A White brought the first tile into the township.

MILLS.

Though Jackson was one of the last townships to be settled, milling facilities were no better for its pioneers when they came than they had been in earlier set- tled districts. It was not unusual for the first few families to unite and send a four-horse wagon filled with grain to mill near Mechanicsburg, thirty miles distant. After a few years, however, mills were built nearer home, and for awhile a mill on the Scioto at Millville, sixteen miles away, was patronized by this community.

Within the limits of Jackson there have been no mills of note. It has, however, had several "corn-crackers" that were employed only in preparing coarse meal, and only then when the streams ran high. William Britt, about 1840, built a small grist and saw mill on Rush Creek, about a mile below Es sex, and operated it for a few years. Several years later, Warner Bridge con- structed a saw mill about two miles west of Essex, and soon after attached a small pair of buhrs, which, during high waters, were able to reduce grain to a coarse meal.

A stationary steam saw mill was built at Essex by John B. Stout. Sprague & Hayes purchased it and added a grist mill. It is still in opera- tion. For a short time, a distillery was operated in connection with it.

Jacob Collins, about 1838, operated a small horse mill about three miles west of Essex. It ground only corn.

William Callahan, in Essex, owned and operated a saw and grist mill for some time, probably twelve years ago.

EDUCATIONAL.

Elizabeth Cheney taught the first school, in 1830 or 1831. It was a sum- mer school of three months' duration, and contained twelve or fifteen pupils. It was held in a log cabin, which stood on David Allen's farm. Tabor taught the next school, in the same house. He began the term in August, 1831. The pupils were David and Elizabeth Allen, Worret, Joseph and Ebenezer Carter, Frank and William Cheney, Simpson, Levina and Levi Price and a few others. At that time schools were not held in every settlement, and the pioneers sometimes sent their children to schools five or six miles distant. This schoolhouse was about fifteen by eighteen feet in size, built of logs, with clap- board roof, and the customary paper windows. Reading, writing and arith- metic were the branches taught; the text-books were Webster's Elementary Spelling Book and Pike's and Smiley's Arithmetics. Mr. Randal next taught on the Francis Baldwin place, and elsewhere a little later. Thomas Cheney was the next teacher. His school was held in a new school building, some- what larger than the old, and provided with better accommodations. In the old log schoolhouse, just north of Essex, Keziah Jane Randal and Caleb Roberts were early teachers. There are now ten school districts in the town- ship.

CHURCHES.

The pioneer religious society within the bounds of Jackson was a small Methodist Episcopal class, organized about 1830 at the cabin of Ebenezer Cheney. Prior to this date, two exhorters, Mr. McCorkle, an Irishman, and John Millise, a German, from near Mechanicsburg, held meetings here,

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

which, though unattended by any conversions, left a good impression in the community. The class organized with Thomas Cheney as leader. It included the names of Ebenezer Cheney, Thomas Cheney and wife, Benjamin Carter and wife, Mary and David Carr, Jacob Reed and Joseph Cameron and wife. Some of these had been members of other Methodist congregations before their emigration to Jackson. Others joined it, without any religious experi- ence, from a desire to see the community, which they were forming, a Chris- tian one. Within a short time after the organization, regular services were held, once in two weeks, at Ebenezer Cheney's house, and afterward at the cabins of David Carr and others. Schoolhouses were then brought into requisition. The present church, situated on the Hamilton pike, about two miles southwest from Essex, is located on land donated to the church by Jonathan W. Hedges. It cost about $1,640. Lorenzo Cheney, John W. Hedges and Daniel Herron were the heaviest contributors to its erection. Rev. Andrew J. Frisbie was pastor in charge at the time. It was dedicated by Rev. Samuel Roberts, then of Lima, Ohio. Rev. John Graham is the pres- ent pastor. The membership exceeds one hundred. A Sunday school was held in the schoolhouse before the church was built, and has been regularly maintained during the summers ever since. It has a membership of about sixty.

The Essex Methodist Protestant Church was organized in 1840, by Rev. John Hunt, at the house of John Cheney. It started with only six members -- John Cheney and Sarah, his wife, Thomas Chapman and Hannah, his wife and David S. Allen and his wife Elizabeth. Services were continned at the residence of Mr. Cheney for a few years, and were then transferred to the Essex Schoolhouse. A log meeting house was built in 1846, on a lot situated just east of the present Essex Schoolhouse. It was donated to the church by Thomas Chapman. The church here erected was a large hewed-log building, and the material was furnished, and the greater part of the labor performed, by the members. Thomas Chapman received, for finishing it, the sum of $60, which included the hardware bill. The congregation continued to worship in this church until 1869, when the present frame church was built. Its cost was about $1,400; the cost of the lot upon which it is erected, $100; and the cost of the bell, $125. It was dedicated in May, 1870, by Rev. J. H. Hamil- ton, of Tuscarawas County. The members who contributed most liberally to the new church were J. A. White, John Chapman, Rev. T. B. Cheney, D. A. White, D. R. White, Jason Chapman, George Temple. Jonathan Cheney, R. R. Randall and H. Roberts.

The following list of pastors in charge of this church was prepared by two of the old and leading members, and is, perhaps, as free from errors as any list that can now be obtained: John Hunt, 1840-41; J. I. Devore and John Inskeep, 1841-42; J. I. Devore and O. P. Stephens, 1842-43; Revs. Edwards and O. P. Stephens, 1843-44, James Webster, 1844-45; Isaac Ens- minger, 1845-46; J. B. Peat, 1846-47; T. D. Howe, 1847-48; O. P. Stephens and J. M. Flood, 1848-49; J. M. Flood, 1849-51; O. P. Stephens, 1851-53; J. W. Giddings, 1853-54; W. B. Warrington, 1854-55; E. J. Winans and J. Kain, 1855-56; R. Hussey and T. T. Kendrick, 1856-58; O. P. Stephens and A. M. Ravenscraft, 1858-59; I. N. McVay and O. P. Stephens, 1859-61; W. B. Evans and George Brown, Jr., 1861-62; W. B. Evans, 1862-63; R. Hus- sey, 1863-64; Daniel Kinney, 1864-65; R. Hussey, 1865-66: Revs. McDon- nell and Stephens, 1866-57; J. M. Adams, 1867-69; J. W. Case, 1869-70: J. W. Shultz, 1870-73; A. M. Hall, 1873-74; A. M. Ravenscraft, 1874-75; W. S. Sansom, 1875-76; T. H. Wilson, 1876-77; T. B. Graham, 1877-79; J. W. Spring, 1879-81; C. Cadwallader, 1881-82. William Hamilton, of

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JACKSON TOWNSHIP.

Claibourne Township, was a local preacher of considerable note in early times. The church belonged to the Richwood Circuit till 1870, when it and the Davis church were united and denominated Rush Creek Circuit. In 1877, Rev. I. N. McVay conducted a revival, under the influence of which more than one hundred accessions were made to the church. The present membership: is about one hundred.

A Sunday school was organized about 1842, by John Cheney and Margaret Chapman, in the Essex Schoolhouse. It was the first Sunday school ever held in the village, and for many years was under the control of no one denomi- nation, but was purely " union " in its character. It has been maintained every summer since. Mr. Cheney remained in charge till 1849, when M. M. Camp became Superintendent. Under his guidance, the school was very successful and prosperous. Within a few years it has been under the management of the Methodist Protestant Church.

Union Regular Baptist Church, located in the western part of Jackson Township, was organized a few years preceding the war of the rebellion, by Rev. Jacob Dye, with a membership of eleven. The earliest meetings were conducted in an old log schoolhouse, situated in Washington Township, for ten or twelve years, and then in the frame schoolhouse, which succeeded the log house, in the same district. About 1870, the church building now in use was erected on a lot donated to the society by Joseph Temple. The cost of the edifice was about $1,000. The congregation has flourished and maintained a large and active membership. A few years ago, a branch or arm was formed at Bell's Schoolhouse, north of Essex. A subscription paper was circulated, and a large fund secured for the erection of a house of worship in that vicin- ity, but there are no present prospects that this will be done soon, and it now seems probable that all the members of the branch will return to the parent church, as many of them have already done. Rev. David Thomas is the pres- ent pastor. A Sunday school is one of the leading features of Christian work in this society. It is held only during the summer.

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The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 143

Author: Durant, Pliny A. [from old catalog]; Beers, W. H., & co., Chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1254

Author: Durant, Pliny A. [from old catalog]; Beers, W. H., & co., Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1254