The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 154

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 154

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).

Cyprian Lee, is universally accredited with being the first settler of Clai- bourne Township. He was heir to one-third of the Buller Claibourne Sur- vey of 4,267 acres, and for his share took the southern third. The exact date

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

of his settlement here is unknown, though it was some time between 1820 and 1825, and probably not far from the first-mentioned date .* Mr. Lee was from Delaware. He first came out about 1820, a young unmarried man, and to find and see the land he owned. He then returned to Delaware, married Elizabeth Cooper and returned to his backwoods home with his young wife. By trade he was a shoe-maker, and he followed the business to some extent in this township. In physique. he was short and muscular and quick in action. His was the first cabin built west of the Scioto River in this region, and the date of its erection was a gala day for the settlers on the river. It stood several miles south of Richwood on the south bank of Fulton Creek, a few rods west of the bridge on the Marysville pike. The men who helped raise the cabin were mostly from the Scioto River. Among them were John L. Swartz and his two sons, Henry and Abram, John B. and Zachariah Dilsaver,

James Cochran, Sr., John Hurd, Russell Fields and William Gallant. The occasion was one of great hilarity, and the popular beverage flowed freely. It was proposed, when the cabin was completed, that the place of the settlement of Mr. Lee should be named. John L. Swartz, an old but jovial German, said, Boys, ketch Lee." Lee eluded their grasp for some time, but finally submitted with good grace to the ordinance of christening. The ceremony was performed by Mr. Swartz, who took a flask of whisky, and pouring the contents on the uncovered head of Lee, exclaimed with all the solemnity he could assume, " Vell, ve calls it Leesburg." The name survived the occasion and was afterward given to the new township formed from this and other ter- ritory. Mr. Lee did not remain on his farm here longer than a few years. He was elected County Treasurer, and removed to Marysville, where he en- gaged in business aud became a prominent citizen.

The next three settlers were Edward Williams, Robert Cotrell and Henry

Swartz. Each of them purchased a farm from Mr. Lee and settled in a cluster, neighbors to Lee. Of the three, Ned Williams, as he was familiarly called, was the first to arrive, probably about 1822. He bought 100 acres from Mr. Lee and settled on it with his wife, Rebecca (Wilson), and children, Sally and Wilson. He was a hard working, industrious farmer, and keenly enjoyed hunting, and often engaged in it, and who was somewhat addicted to the prac. tice, then quite common, of indulging freely in the products of the still. He died suddenly while on his way with a load of wheat to Portland. Lake Erie. His widow after a time removed to other parts.

To Robert Cotrell is accorded the honor of being the third settler within the present limits of Claibourne Township. He came, perhaps in 1823. A native of Virginia, he emigrated to Ohio and tarried for a space of two or three years on the west bank of the Scioto River, in Delaware County, about two miles up the river from the mouth of Bokes Creek. He rented property here and farmed industriously, then bought 100 or more acres from Mr. Lee. He had married Elizabeth Tyler in Virginia, and had two children when he emigrat- ed to Ohio, and several were born since their arrival in this State. They were Richard, Samuel, Gabriel, Eliza (Dilsaver), Jane (Lindsley) and Su- sanna (Kaiser). Mr. Cotrell was a small, rather slightly built man, but active and fond of fun. He owned only the few chattels which his neighbors did during the first years of his settlement, but when he was in a jovial mood he took delight in recounting to strangers the large amount of stock and other property he claimed to possess. The County Assessor visited him one year, and Mr. Cotrell was not aware of his official position. To the inquiries as to the extent of his personal wealth, he answered so much in accordance with the view of humor which then possessed him that his taxes were much

* See account of Cyprian Lee in history of Marysville, this volume.

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greater than those of his neighbors. After some opposition, he paid the amount, but the experience made him more wary with strangers thereafter. All in all he was an industrious and upright man. He died on the place he first settled in Claibourne Township.

Henry Swartz was born in Pennsylvania and emigrated with his father, John L. Swartz, to Highland County, Ohio; thence they moved to the Scioto River, in Delaware County. Henry Swartz there married Ann Stevens, pur- chased a forest farm from Cyprian Lee just north of the Sidle Methodist Protest. ant Church, and built his cabin northeast of Fulton Creek. The cabins of his three neighbors-Lee, Williams and Cotrell-were south of the creek. Mr. Swartz moved over to his new home about 1823 or 1824. He is described as being a tall, well-formed man, very strong, aggressive, not the least cowardly, and. withal, a kind, clever man. He had been a soldier in the war of 1812, and understood the Indian character very well and had no love for it. He was a great hunter, killing from sixty to eighty deer in a season and cutting as many as seventy bee trees in a single fall, besides taking a considerable amount of other game. He sold the farm he first purchased in this township and bought another just north of Richwood, where he lived a few years. He was also in business for a short time in Richwood, but at last removed to De- fiance County, where he died at a ripe old age.

The Clarks, four brothers-James, George, Henry and John-probably made the next settlement in Claibourne Township. The first three became the holders of 1,675 acres of land off the north part of the Buller Claibourne sur- vey, just east of Richwood, divided it among themselves and settled on it in 1826. They were from Amherst County, Va., and about 1822 emigrated to Miami County, Ohio, where they remained two years and then journeyed to the Scioto River in Delaware County. Two years later they entered upon their extensive land possessions. George came first. He was an old bachelor, and died on the place at the age of more than eighty years. Henry was mar- ried to Mary Fay, in 1824, in Delaware County. After residing in Claibourne Township for some time, he sold his property to Louis Hedges and removed. to Illinois, where he died. James married Sarah Wilson, sold his land to Jacob Beem and took up his residence in Delaware County, where he died. John Clark came to Ohio in 1816 and settled first in Miami County. He re- mained there until 1824, when he removed to Delaware County. Four years afterward he purchased from one of his brothers a small place two and a half miles east of Richwood and settled there. He died in Delaware County, in 1850, aged seventy-seven years.

Mrs. Sarah Touguet, a sister of the Clarks, and widow, came with her eight children to Claibourne Township in 1826, and made the cabin of her bachelor brother, George Clark, her home. Four of the eight children still survive-Clarka, the wife of Maj. John Calloway, Henry, of Logan County, John A. J., in this, and Steward in Jackson Township.

David Field, a colored man, received 100 acres of land from Cyprian Lee for two years' labor and settled on it about 1826. He was born a slave, given his freedom and brought to Delaware County when a boy by John Mark. He was a strong, muscular man, and would not bear imposition. For a while he was industrious and economical, but through sickness his farm became in- volved and he finally lost it. He never regained any property and died a pauper in an adjoining county.

Nathaniel Wilson came from Ross County, Ohio, about 1830, and settled on the Cyprian Lee farm. He was of Scotch-Irish descent and by religious affiliation a Presbyterian. His four children were Joseph, William, Elizabeth, who married William Touguet and Sally, the wife of James Clark. Mr.

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

Wilson afterward moved to Richwood, and after a time departed and took up his abode in some other locality.

John Smith, or " Buffalo Smith," as he was universally called, a large, rough character, rough in physique and rough in manners, but kind hearted, took a " squatter's " claim on 100 acres in the Lee settlement very early and lived there for awhile. He then removed to Marion County.

The Henry Swartz place, three miles south of Richwood, was purchased by Henry Shisler, a German, who came to Claibourne from Licking County about 1832. His children were John, William, Sarah (Beem), Mary (Rose), Elizabeth (Sturdevant), Lydia and Anna (Reed).

Eleazor Rose, his son-in-law, came about the same time and settled upon the same farm. He, too, was born in Licking County. After tilling the soil a number of years at this place, he removed to a farm on Rush Creek, and there spent the remainder of his life.

Basil Bridge, in 1834, bought a farm of 114 acres, now the L. Myers place, just southeast of Richwood, from one of the Clarks, and settled upon it with his large family. It was then a dense wilderness. He was a native of Canada, but moved to New York in 1812 and enlisted in the American Army, though then but sixteen years old. In 1814, he married Almira Warner, a native of Vermont, and in 1815 emigrated to Ohio, settling in Ames Township, Athens County; thence he removed to the Scioto River in Delaware County, and to Claibourne in 1834. He died in 1859 in Marion County. His widow survived until December, 1874. Of their ten children, the oldest, Sarah Jane, the wife of John Dilsaver, is the only resident of Union County.

Zerah Lindsley, in the autumn of 1832, removed to Claibourne from Thompson Township, Delaware County, but not liking the country remained only till the following spring. Fifty acres of land then sold for one horse and the labor of splitting 1,000 rails. Mr. Lindsley now residos at Richwood.

Thomas Andrews, a German, came from Licking County about 1830 or 1832 and settled on what is now the Elijah Harris place, about one and a fourth miles south of Richwood. His wife was Phoebe, a sister of Ebenezer Rose; his children were Hiram, Peter, Phoebe and Elizabeth. Mr. An- drews sold his farm and removed to Marion County. He ultimately emigrated to Iowa and died there.

Adam Andrews, a cousin of the above, came about the same time and from the same place. He settled on a farm just south of Richwood, now owned and occupied by J. A. Phillips. He soon after sold it to Adam Dil- saver and moved West.

Adam Dilsaver came to Claibourne about 1832 from Fairfield County, after stopping a short time in Delaware County until he could look up a good location. His wife was Sally (Winstead), and his three children, Harrison, Elizabeth, and Ann Maria. After living for a few years on the place he had purchased from Mr. Andrews, he removed with his family to Winnebago Coun- ty, Ill.

John Dilsaver, in December, 1835, settled on the farm which he still owns, about two miles south of Richwood. He had married Jane Bridge July 14 preceding. He was born in Fairfield County in 1806, and about 1812 emi- grated with his father, Michael Dilsaver, to the Scioto River in Delaware County. John remained here, working out some, however, in this township, until his marriage and settlement on his own farm. He was reared on the frontier, and in his youth wore deer-skin clothes, the usual garb of the back- woodsmen of that day. From the earnings of manual daily labor, he saved means enough to purchase his land, and has since accumulated more. He raised his family on this farm and is still a resident thereon, one of the old and highly esteemed pioneers of this locality.

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CLAIBOURNE TOWNSHIP.

Adam Imbody, about 1835, settled about three miles south of Richwood, north of Fulton Creek, on the farm now owned by D. A. Bigelow. He was a German, and had emigrated from the State of New York. He brought with him his wife and four children, and reared a large family. He moved after - ward to Marion County and died there.

As will be noticed, all the above settlers occupied farms on the Buller Claibourne Survey. Most of the other surveys were not yet in market, the proprietors doubtless withholding them for higher prices than were then cur- rent. Between 1835 and 1840, the settlements became more scattering, and at the later date dotted all parts of the township.

Among the most important settlements was that of the Grahams. Samuel Graham, son of John and Jane Graham, was born in Jefferson County Novem- ber 3, 1800. From Jefferson he removed to Carroll County, and from it to White-Eyes Township, Coshocton County, with his parents, while yet in his youth. He was married October 16, 1821, to Sarah Butterfield, who was born in Fayette County, Penn., July 22, 1803, and came to Carroll County when two years old, with his parents. Mr. Graham remained in Co- shocton County, engaged in farming, until 1836. In June of that, year, he purchased 100 acres, just northwest of Richwood, from Henry Swartz, and in the following September moved to it with his family. He continued to reside on this farm until his death, which occurred by accident on the railroad, April 13, 1864. Mr. Graham had occasion to visit Marion. The railroad was then in process of building and he received permission to travel on the construction train. On his return trip, the weather was severe and the car upon which he was riding, with others, an open one. He was walking back and forth from one car to another to dispell the numbing sensation of cold, when a sudden jerk of the cars threw him beneath the wheels and he was instantly crushed. He had been an upright man, and was a consistent member of the Methodist Protestant Church for thirty-three years. Of his twelve children, three died young; John, is a Methodist Episcopal minister at Richwood; Margaret is the wife of William Fisher, of this township; Thomas B., a Methodist Protestant minister, is now at North Lewisburg, Ohio; Samuel P .. died in Illinois in 1865; Francis M., died two years ago; Lydia Ann, occupies the old homestead; Joel D., resides in this township; William J., enlisted in the service and died in the Louisville, Ky., Hospital; Martha, wife of Benjamin A. Snowden, re- sides in Claibourne Township.

In 1837, John and Jane Graham, the parents of Samuel, moved from Coshocton County and settled on a farm of 100 acres in the woods about one mile southwest from Richwood. Mr. Graham was born in Pennsylvania, and was of Scotch-Irish descent; his wife was a native of Ireland, emigrating to America when seven years old. Both were members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Graham died about 1848 or 1849. His wife preceded him to the grave two years.

John P. Graham, in September, 1836, accompanied his brother Samuel from Coshocton County and settled on an adjoining farm of 100 acres. It was then wholly unimproved, and he paid for it $3 per acre. Mr. Graham died at this place. His widow, Mrs. Eliza Graham, still survives. Their children are Jane, Abigail, William, Hannah, Margaret, John L., Isaac, Francis and Marion, some of whom lived in Claibourne Township.

Samuel Livingston, from Coshocton County, about 1839 settled on a small farm one and one-fourth miles southwest from Richwood, where he is still living at a venerable old age. He followed farming and blacksmithing. His wife was Jane Graham. Mr. Livingston furnished five boys for the service during the rebellion, and all returned uninjured.

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

Daniel Swartz, in October, 1834, purchased from Philip Plummer fifty acres of land, situated just north of Richwood, and he moved to it at once. He was born in Pennsylvania, but had emigrated when quite young with his father to Highland County, near Hillsboro. He died March 9, 1842, of con- sumption, aged forty-two years, leaving. a wife and five children. The former. Mrs. Susan Swartz, aged eighty-three years, is still residing at the old place ..

Peter Grace, in March. 1837. came from Licking County with his wife Nancy, and children, and settled one and a half miles west of Richwood, where he still owns and occupies a small place. He was at one time a minister of the New Light Christian faith, but afterward became a Methodist, Protestant, and later of the Disciple Church.

In the western part of the township one of the earliest settlements was made by John Cahill. He there accumulated a large property and became one of the leading, energetic and influential citizens of the northern part of the county.

William Hamilton was one of the early pioneers of Claibourne Township and for a period of almost thirty years one of the foremost men of Union County. He was born near Morgantown, Va., in 1789. In 1807, he emigrated with his father, William Hamilton, Sr., to Muskingum County, Ohio, arriving at their pioneer home on his eighteenth birthday. Here his energies were de- veloped by his assistance in clearing the densely timbered land and reducing it to a well-improved farm. He acquired extensive possessions, and in 1837 sold his large farm with the expectation to locate farther in the west, For one season he tarried in Licking. He then purchased from Cadwallader Wallace his survey of 1,000 acres, northwest of Richwood, paying $3,600 for it, and reached Claibourne Township, April 30, 1838. The survey was afterward- found to contain nearly 1,400 acres. Mr. Hamilton remained at Richmond until he could build a log house, when, he at once moved into it and remained its occupant till his decease. This large tract was as yet untouched by the woodman's ax, and the arduous labor of again developing a farm devolved upon him. He was a man possessed of energies greatly superior to those of average mankind, and carried an enthusiasm and determination into whatever enterprise he undertook which insured its success. In physique he was large and powerful. Though not cultured, he was thoroughy honest and public spirited, and was perhaps more influential in creating a healthy moral at- mosphere in. his community, by his example and teachings, of his withering de- nunciation of whatever was mean and contemptible, than any other individual. His spirit was chivalrous, and to the weak or oppressed he was unusually kind. He was a member of the Methodist Protestant Church and for nearly forty years a local minister of this faith. In politics, he was strongly Whig, and later in life a Republican. He had served in Muskingum County as Com- missioner and filled the same office in Union County. It was to his exertions and labors, largely, that the Infirmary farm was purchased and building erected. His death occurred August 12, 1867. Mr. Hamilton had been twice married. By his first wife, Miss Ewing, he had four children -- Elizabeth, Samuel, William and Benjamin. Elizabeth, married Jacob C. Sidle, a prom- inent farmer of Claiborne; Samuel, is a farmer in Marshall County, Ill .; William, a farmer at Wenona, same county; Benjamin, died in Claibourne Township. The second wife was Lydia Springer. By this marriage there were eight children-Cornelius S. (deceased), an attorney of Marysville; John W., Professor of Surgery at the Columbus Medical College; Joseph H., a Methodist Protestant Minister, now at Mount Vernon, Ohio; Isaac N., a phy- sician, at Marysville; Horatio C., of Richwood; George B., a farmer of Clai- bourne; Susan R. (deceased): and Thomas B., a physician, who enlisted as

Jeary Coder

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CLAIBOURNE TOWNSHIP.

Surgeon in the One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Regiment, and died at Memphis, Tenn., in 1865.

Lazarus Hartley accompanied Mr. Hamilton from Licking County, con- veying his family and effects to the new home in a two- wheeled cart. He leased a farm on the Hamilton tract and assisted greatly in clearing it. Mr. Hartley was illiterate but possessed a remarkable memory. Whatever he saw or once heard was always remembered, and it became quite a custom in the neighborhood where he lived to refer any disputed matter of fact to him for settlement. He after awhile acquired a farm in Claibourne and some of his children now occupy it. His death occurred a few years ago.

Richard Ward came from Muskingum County with Mr. Hamilton and lived in the vicinity for ten or more years.

About 1835, Peter Jackson removed from Pickaway County and settled on a farm in Survey No. 7,00S, on Peacock Run, three miles south of Richwood. His son occupied a portion of the same farm. After a few years, both, with their families, returned to Pickaway County.

Junkin Mulvain came about 1839 from White-Eyes Township, Coshocton County, and settled on a farm in Survey No. 6,307, about two miles west of Richwood. He was a large, tall man, and a good citizen, and died in this township.

Jacob Beem was born in Alleghany County, Md., and when twelve years old emigrated with his brother's family to Jersey Township, Licking County. He there married Phoebe Rose and in 1834 came to Claibourne Township, settling on a farm about two and one-half miles south of Rich- wood. Mr. Beem possessed a strong and hardy character, well fitted to cope with the difficulties incident to pioneer life. He remained a life-long and well-esteemed citizen of the township. His death occurred in December, 1878.

John Beem removed from Licking County to Claibourne in 1832, but a few years later sold his farm to Jacob Beem and emigrated to Webster Coun- ty, Iowa.

Aaron Beem settled early, about one and one-half miles southeast of Richwood. The following settlers entered the township at some time prior to 1840, some of them several years before.

John Atwood was originally from Virginia, but came here from Muskin- gum County. He died on his farm about one and a half miles south of Rich- wood.

Alexander and George Cowgill, father and only son, came from Ross County, and dwelt for a time on Bokes Creek. They then settled in the south- east part of the township, where the father, Alexander, died. George re- moved to Jackson Township, and his family still resides there.

Michael Cramer from Knox County, settled just south of Richwood on land now embraced within the corporation limits. He was a farmer and died here. His son Michael removed to Marysville.

Abraham Decker was a Pennsylvanian by birth. He emigrated to this township a widower, with his children, and settled two or three miles east of Richwood. In a few years he removed to Mercer County.

Benjamin Fisher, now a resident of Richwood in his seventy-fifth year, in April, 1836, removed from near Mount Vernon, Ohio, to a farm one and a fourth miles west of Richwood. He had come the fall before with five or six men and built a cabin on the place. His brother-in-law, Atticus Neil, took immediate possession of it. Mr. Fisher occupied it during the spring of his removal until he had constructed a hewed-log house. At this time there were no settlers living between his farm and the village. He purchased 160 acres, paying for it $2.50 per acre. The York road was opened about the

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

time he came. There had previously been a trail to the Miller settlement in York Township. His father, Larkin Fisher, came a few years later, but re- sided most of the time in Richwood.

Isaac Gearheart about 1835 took possession of a farm about a mile south of Richwood. He subsequently moved to Rush Creek, where he passed the re- mainder of his life.

Sylvester Grindle, formerly a resident of Pickaway County, settled about three miles west of Richwood, and by economy and frugality acquired consid- erable property.

Elisha Higbee was an early settler. He was a cooper by trade, and removed to Kenton. Subsequently he went to Hancock County.

Isaac Headley, from Coshocton County, settled about one and a half miles northeast from Richwood, and remained on his farm of 100 acres there through life. He followed carpentering to some extent in connection with farming.

Joseph Murphy in 1836 came from Allegheny County, Penn., and settled on the Joynes Survey, in the southwestern part of the township, near the site of Claibourne Village. He pursued the avocation of farming, and died on his farm in 1857. His widow, Mrs. Rebecca Murphy, still survives. A brother, Samuel Murphy, accompanied him to this home. He was an old bachelor, hunted a great deal, and died at Richwood in 1882, aged eighty-one years.

Charles Morse, probably about 1839, settled on a farm of 100 acres just north of Richwood. He was a Yankee, and afterward removed to Marysville.

Samuel Moses in 1835 changed his place of residence from St. Lawrence County, N. Y., to Cuyahoga County, Ohio. The year following he came to Jerome Township, Union County, and soon after settled on a farm in the eastern part of Claibourne, where he still resides aged eighty-one years. His wife, Sally, died in 1882, aged eighty-two years. Of their eleven children, eight grew to maturity.

Abraham and James Moses, brothers, and distantly related to Samuel Moses, were also early settlers of Claibourne. Abraham died about a mile east of Richwood and James moved to Mercer County.

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The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 154

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