The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 172

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 172

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SURFACE, SOIL, STREAMS, ETC.

The surface is level and undulating, with very little hilly or waste land in the township. The general inclination of the lands of the township is to the east and southeast, as is indicated by the course of the streams. The princi- pal streams are Bokes Creek, which enters this township from York and flows eastward through the northern portion into Leesburg. Blues Creek rises in the western part of Taylor Township and flows eastward. Mill Creek courses through the southeast corner of the township, entering from Liberty, and pass- ing out into Paris. Along this stream and in the southeast portion of the township, were located the first settlers. The soil is deep, rich and productive; along the creek bottoms and the low, flat portions, it is a black loam, and the balance a strong clay soil. It is considered one of the best townships in the quality of land in the county. In the eastern central portion of the town- ship, east of the Asbury Methodist Church, was a locality formerly known as " The Cotton Slash," so named, it is said, from the quantities of cottonwood trees which grew there. East of that and near the center of the township is a locality formerly known as the " Beaver Pond, or Swamp," as it was inhabited

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

by great numbers of those animals who built a substantial and perfect dam across a flat strip of land so that in the winter time they could have a good pond of water and the beautiful dam to burrow in. Some portions of the dam are still there as perfect and symmetrical as though made by human hands. The principal productions of the soil are corn, wheat, oats and grass. As the lands are becoming ditched and drained, so they increase in productiveness and value, and with the natural quality of these soils to resist the effects of drought, they are capable of making the best of lands for agricultural purposes.

PIONEERS.

Such we will call them, and such they were in truth and verity, although in reference to the years of their settling here, as compared with the dates of the set- tling of other townships, it would be of but recent date; yet their labors and sur- roundings were those of the pioneers, and took the same muscle and nerve, the same self-denial, passing through the same trials and dangers, as those of other sections at earlier dates. From the fact that nearly all the first settlers have passed away from earth, and their descendants mostly removed to other parts of the country, and the lands are now occupied by another class of more recent set- tlement, we have found great difficulty in gaining as extended, or as definite in- formation as we desired; but such as the facilities that are left for us could pro- duce, we have obtained, and here present them.

We think we are safe in placing as one of the first settlers, if not the first, the name of Adam Shirk, a native of Virginia, born in Hardy County October 22, 1791; was a soldier in the war of 1812; he married Anna Dox, and first emigrated to Fairfield County, Ohio; in 1822, removed to Union County, Ohio, and settled in Liberty Township; in 1829, he removed into Taylor Township on land now owned by his son, Aaron, and here remained through life. His wife, Anna, died April 25, 1859. Subsequently, he married Charity Mann. He died July 29, 1876. Mr. Shirk, throughout his long and useful life, was recognized as one of the most per- fect and upright men of his day. Honest and just in all his dealings, kind and generous to the poor, and ever ready with his means and influence to aid every good cause, he died honored and respected by a large circle of friends and ac- quaintances. He was the father of the following children : Stephen, who married Mary Brake, and is one of the most honored citizens of Liberty Township (see his biographical sketch in this work); Daniel, married Sarah Brake; John, married the Widow Safford; Henry Aaron, married Elizabeth Baughan; and two daugh- ters, Rachel and Hannah.

Robert Maskill was an early settler, locating here about 1831-32. Richard Judy settled about the same date, and probably came from Kentucky or Virginia ; he was one of the Judges at the first election held in the township, and was the first Assessor, serving two years. James Irwin, from Ross County, settled about 1832- 33. He was the township's first Treasurer and served three terms in succession. Although having little education, yet he was a man of principle and character, a worthy citizen, and possessed the confidence of his community. He died May 19, 1858, aged seventy-six years.

John McNeal, from Ross County, settled in 1832-33. John McAllister set- tled here in 1833-34. Hugh McAdow, probably a native of Maryland, settled about 1833-34. James Siebold, in 1835. Samuel Wheeler came from Knox County, about 1836-37, and settled on what was known as the "cotton slash." He was the second Assessor of Taylor Township. Thomas Scott settled about 1838-39. Samuel P. G. Brown, a native of the State of New York, settled in 1837-38. Jacob Wigle, in 1838-39. In 1839-40, came Robert Wigle, Archibald Wigle, John Wigle and Benjamin Welch; also George Laughrey and Oliver Simp- son. In 1841-42, David D. Welch became a settler, also John Simpson. In 1843-44, came Richard Dildine, George Draper, John Overfield and James Welch.

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TAYLOR TOWNSHIP.

Robert C. Greene, a native of Vermont, married Ruth Draper, and in the fall of 1837, removed to Ohio; in the spring of 1838, he located in Taylor Township, on Mill Creek, near James Hamilton; in 1840, they located on land now owned by Mrs. Sanaft, on the west border of Taylor Township, where they resided till death. Mr. Greene was twice married; his first wife died January 16, 1859. He married for liis second wife Mrs. Mary Fink, who died February 26, 1865, aged sixty-three years; Mr. Greene died July 28, 1864, aged sixty-nine years. Mrs. Sallie Greene, the mother of Robert C. Greene, lived to the remarkable age of ninety-eight years, and during the last forty-three years of her life had been totally blind. Mr. Robert C. Greene was the father of the following children : Elizabeth, wife of Isaiah Sanaft; Ira, married Elizabeth Shirk; she died and he married

Phebe Heath; she died and he married for his third wife Elizabeth - , of Indiana, and now resides in Starke County, Ind .; Ruth, deceased; John C., mar- ried Amanda King; Gideon, died young; Robert B., married Eliza Johnson; she died, and he married Mary Roberts, and now resides in Kansas; Henry E., de- ceased; Sarah, married Thomas Yearsley; and Nancy A., married T. Lewis Temple, and resides in Kansas.

Gideon Draper, a native of Vermont, married Ruth Harris, of same State, and at an advanced age, in 1838, came with his family to Ohio and settled in Taylor Township, where he died the next year, November 26, 1839, aged seventy-eight years. His wife had died many years before in their native State.

James Draper, also a native of Vermont, settled in this township in 1838. He married Joanna Draper in his native State. He died October 28, 1860, aged seventy years; his wife died March 3, 1861, aged sixty years.

Ira Draper, son of Gideon Draper, married Betsey Nurse, and was a resident of this township till his death, May 14, 1859, aged seventy-two years.

James Hamilton, a native of Ross County, Ohio, married Maria Blue, a native of Virginia, and in 1835 removed to Ohio and settled on Mill Creek, on the place where his son still resides. He was among the earliest settlers, and resided here till his death, September 18, 1872, aged eighty-one years. His wife still sur- vives and resides with her son on the old home place, aged eighty-three years. When they located here they moved into a rough log cabin, and had no land cleared but a small piece upon which the trees were deadened by girdling; now they have a fine cultivated farm, a good residence and all the comforts of life. Their children were John, who married Catharine Coder, she died and he married Lucy Griffin ; Elizabeth married George Coder; Catharine married Daniel Burnham; Alexander married Delia Morse, and now resides in Illinois; James married Elizabeth Graham, and resides on the home place; David died in childhood; two infants died unnamed; Samuel never married, and died at twenty- four years of age; one infant ; Silas married Christina Turner, is deceased; and Joanna died in childhood. Mr. Hamilton was a soldier in the war of 1812.

John McAdow, a native of Maryland, removed to Pennsylvania when a boy, where he grew to manhood and married Rebecca McElhaney. Emigrating to Ohio, he lived several years in Tuscarawas and Licking Counties; in 1840, he re- moved with his family to Union County and settled on land now owned by Rogers and Thompson, remaining a resident of this township till his death, March 11, 1877, aged seventy-four years; his wife died November 12, 1869, aged sixty-nine years. Their children were James, married Mary Wheeler, and now a resident of Iowa; Jane resides in Pike County, Ohio; Rebecca married John Wheeler, and re- sides in Iowa; John C. married Hannah Dildine, and resides in Ottawa, Ohio; Hugh married Elizabeth Wolf; two children died young; William married Miss Elizabeth Clark, and Edna married John Irwin, and now reside in Hardin County, Ohio.

John Wheeler, son of Samuel Wheeler before mentioned, married Rebecca McAdow, and was Township Clerk from 1850 to 1854, inclusive ; was a prominent citizen of the township for several years, but subsequently removed to Iowa, where he now resides.

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

Joseph and Cornelius Sprague became settlers here about 1848-49. James D. Sprague came about one year later. James Turner settled on Mill Creek, near James Hamilton, about 1844-45.

Isaiah Sanaft, a native of Fairfield County, Ohio, became a resident of Union County in the fall of 1837, locating and residing in Union Township about seven years, and in the fall of 1844 located on the place where he now lives and has since resided. He married Elizabeth Greene, daughter of Robert C. Greene, before mentioned. Mr. Sanaft's fine farm has been entirely improved by himself, the site being in the forest depths when he first located upon it. They have had the following children: Irena, who married William P. Hisey; Sarepta, deceased; Marilla and Delphina, deceased ; and Isaac Walter, who married Sarah Lucretia Dixon. Mr. Sanaft knows from experience what are the hardships of pioneer life, and what it is to start in life poor, depending entirely upon his muscle and brains to make a livelihood. One of his first efforts was chopping cord-wood. He made a contract to cut fifty cords of wood at twenty cents per cord, but finding that the best trees had been culled out before he received the job, he finally ob- tained twenty-five cents per cord. Mr. Sanaft was a champion wood chopper, finding few, if any, who could cut and cord up more in a day than he. December 24, 1847, he chopped and corded up five and one-fourth cords. He also cut and split rails for thirty-one cents per hundred. In the harvest of 1839, he reaped, bound and shocked five dozen sheaves of wheat between sunrise and sunset.

Philip Miller settled near Mill Creek about 1846, and was one of the first Trustees of Taylor Township.

In the fall of 1849, two brothers, Truxton and Lorey Ford, natives of Mus- kingum County, Ohio, came to Union County with their families and settled on Bokes Creek, on lands where they still reside. The township was not then erected, but was organized in the December following. They were the first settlers in the northern portion of the township. Truxton Ford married Roanna Brummidge, of Perry County, Ohio ; she died September 10, 1859, aged fifty-six years. He married, for his second wife, Martha Maskill. He is now seventy-eight years of age, robust and healthy. He is the father of the following children : Rebecca, Sylvester, Amanda, Henry, William and Minerva. Lorey Ford married Hester Ann Miller, of Perry County ; she died June 24, 1875. Their children were as follows : Philarna, Clarissa, Minerva, Mary Elizabeth, Franklin, Matilda Jane, Lorey C., Chauney W., died in infancy ; John Sylvester, died at twelve years old ; and Hiram J. Mr. Ford cast his vote at the first election after the erection of the township. Mr. Ford has served as Trustee of the township for fourteen years.

Z. C. Pooler, who came from Licking County, Ohio, settled in this township about 1848-50. He organized the first Sunday school, it is believed, in Taylor Township, at the old Scott log schoolhouse. He was one of the leading men of the township, taking an active part in obtaining its organization, and in promot- ing its prosperity by all public improvements and in all enterprises which tended to the general public good. He filled all the most prominent offices of the town- ship, serving as a Justice of the Peace nine years. He died May 21, 1881, aged seventy-one years.

Benjamin Pierce came from Clark County, Ohio, and settled on land now owned by William Jolliff, about 1846-47, and is still a resident of the county, but at present located near Mount Victory. He married Mary Maskill, who is now deceased. By her he had the following children : Martha ; Sarah, deceased ; Wheelock, also deceased ; Charlotte ; and one son who died in the army.

Joseph C. Hull, a native of Maryland, settled first in West Virginia, and in the fall of 1849 came to Union County and settled on the tract of land where he still resides. He married Jane Fulton, by whom he has had the following chil- dren : Frances Anna, Thomas, Rosalind, Florence, and one infant, deceased. Mr. Hull's father, John C. Hull, also came to this county with his son, and died here. Mr. Hull is a very active and enterprising man, and takes pride in ornamenting

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his home with flowers and shrubbery, and has everything comfortable and beauti- ful around his home.

Henry Crist was born in Sullivan County, N. Y .; he settled in Taylor Township, Union County, in 1848, but left his native State in 1836, settling in Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1836, where he resided about twelve years. He mar- ried Miriam Hollister, of New York. He resided on his farm in Taylor Township twenty-eight years, and about 1876 removed to Marysville, where he now resides. The above mentioned names embrace the larger portion of the earlier settlers of this township. Below we give additional names of persons who settled prior to 1850, and before its erection as Taylor Township, to wit : B. Burgess, Amos Beard, Samuel Cousin, Joseph Carter, Lemuel Carter, Edward Gray, C. Goodrich, William Graham, Hezekiah Hodges, Joseph W. Hisey, Henry Hisey, Thomas E. Lockwood, Stephen McLean, William McMonegal, John Parker, Benjamin Pearl, Sylvanus Smith, Simon Shirk, Joseph Simpson, Daniel Shirk, Tellatiah Safford, Daniel San- ders, Jesse Taylor, John Turner, William Taylor, Corbin Wigle, Thomas Wigle, Charles Wilson, John A. Welch and Oliver H. P. Ward.

MILLS.

About 1854-55, Thomas and James Yearsley built a steam saw-mill, just west of the village of Broadway, which was the first mill in Taylor Township. The above parties continued to run this mill most of the time until it went out of use, about 1868. This mill did an extensive business, sawing nearly all the lum- ber for the first frame houses of this neighborhood and vicinity. At one time they had attached a " corn-cracker," which did considerable business for a few years. About 1857-58, Messrs. Brown & Shaw erected a steam saw-mill, located about five miles south of Broadway, on the Marysville pike, which continued in operation till about 1867, when it was burned down and was never rebuilt.

In 1867-68, Messrs. Goff & Ray erected a steam saw-mill one mile east of Broadway, on the Marysville pike, near the railroad, which is still in operation ; it · is a good mill, and they are doing a prosperous business. In 1881, Messrs. Morris & Albaugh erected a grist and saw mill combined, on the east bank of Blues Creek, near the east boundary line of Taylor Township. This is called a No. 1 mill, and is doing a good business.

SCHOOLS.

Taylor Township, at a regularly called meeting of the Trustees, on March 4, 1850, was divided into road and school districts. It now (1882) consists of eleven subdistricts, with an enumeration of scholars as follows :

Subdistrict No. 1, males, 19 ; females, 12 ; total 31. Subdistrict No. 2, males, 37 ; females, 35 ; total, 72. Subdistrict No. 3, males, 32 ; females, 13; total, 45. Subdistrict No. 4, males, 16 ; females. 15 ; total, 31. Subdistrict No. 5, males, 25 ; females, 28 ; total, 53. Subdistrict No. 6, males, 14 ; females, 13 ; total, 27. Sub- di trict No. 7, males, 13 ; females, 4; total 17. Subdistrict No. 8, males, 19 ; fe- males, 8 ; total, 27. Subdistrict No. 9, males, 21 ; females, 12 ; total, 33. Sub- district No. 10, males, 61 ; females, 51 ; total, 112. Subdistrict No. 11, males, 31 ; females, 18 ; total, 49. Total males, 288 ; females, 209 ; grand total, 497.

REPORT OF BOARD OF EDUCATION.

Balance on hand September 1, 1881. $1,489 33

State tax. . 405 75

Irreducible school funds. 53 70

Township tax for school and schoolhouse purposes 1,026 33

Amount received August 26, 1882. 1,288 19

Total receipts. $4,263 30

EXPENDITURES.

Whole amount paid teachers in common schools. .$2,399 17

Amount paid for fuel and other contingent expenses. 760 41

Total expenditures.

$3,159 58

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

Balance on hand September 1, 1882 $1,103 72

Number of subdistricts. 11

Number of schoolhouses. 11

Total value of school property. $8,800 00

Number of teachers to supply schools. 12

Average wages of teachers, males.

$28 00

Average wages of teachers, females 20 00

The following persons constitute the present Board of Education : Subdistrict No. 1, W. H. Ford; No. 2, J. McDonald ; No. 3, S. McAdow , No. 4, S. B. Scott ; No. 5, S. R. Griffin ; No. 6, J. M. Hamilton ; No. 7, J. A. Welch ; No. 8, J. B. Warner ; No. 9, J. C. Hull (President of Board) ; No. 10, I. F. Gates; No. 11, C. E. Morris ; with P. J. Wyeth, Clerk.

CHURCHES.

Christian Union Church, on Mill Creek, was organized about 1839-40, at a meeting held in the grove near Peoria, with eight members, to wit : James Hamil- ton and wife Maria, Jesse Judy and wife Althea, Nathaniel Stewart, Theodore Greene and John Judy and wife. Meetings continued to be held in private houses and in schoolhouses till about 1857-58, when they erected the present frame church edifice, which was probably dedicated in 1859, Elder Josiah Knight preach- ing the dedicatory sermon. The following have served as pastors of the church : Elders Caleb Morse, Sr., Erastus Powers, Daniel Long, Daniel Griffin, C. T. Em- mons, William Webb, Andrew Hanger, C. A. Williams and E. W. Humphreys, who is the present pastor in charge. The Deacons have been as follows : Jesse Judy, Nathaniel Stewart, James Hamilton, Samuel Judy, Isaiah Sanaft and John Hamilton, the last two being the present incumbents. Present membership of the church is about one hundred and thirty. A Sabbath school was established at an early day in the schoolhouse, where it continued to be held till after the erection of the church, since which time it has been held at the church regularly through the summer seasons. The school is in a prosperous condition, with an average attendance of about forty.

Methodist Episcopal Church .- About one mile east of Broadway, in 1854, was organized a class consisting of the following persons : P. Safford, Thomas E. Lock- wood and wife, Julia A .; Hiram Danforth and wife, Matilda ; Mrs. Hannah Tem- ple, Z. C. Pooler, and perhaps a few others. They were supplied with preaching for a few years by Rev. Johnson, Rev. Webster, and Rev. Southard ; thence they had regular pastors as follows: Revs. Good, Lawrence, Mounts, DeLiel, Mathers, Bethards, Schultz, DeKalb, Powell, Carter, Jaggers and Parlette. The church be- came diminished in numbers by death and removals, and was so enfeebled that after the services of Rev. Parlette, the organization was abandoned and the few remaining members united with other churches.

Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church .- About 1843, a class was organized at the schoolhouse by Rev. David Davis, and some of its members were as follows: Mrs. Rebecca MeAdow, John McNeal and wife Elizabeth, Peter Little and his wife. They had preaching occasionally for several years in the old schoolhouse, but the society was weak and few in number, and finally ceased as an organiza- tion. In the meantime, some ministers of the United Brethren Church commenced to hold meetings here, awakened quite a religious interest, and soon organized a church, which at one time had quite a large membership, but they never erected any church edifice, and finally dwindled away and became nearly extinct as an organization. In the winter of 1865-66, Rev. Thomas Mathews held a series of meetings in the schoolhouse and a large revival resulted; the organization of a Methodist class was again effected, and the society grew and increased till it numbered about 100. In the summer of 1866, the present frame church building was erected, and duly dedicated November 25, of the same year, by Rev. Mr. Walters, of Delaware, Ohio. Since that time, there has been preaching regularly every two weeks. The church remained prosperous and flourishing for several

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TAYLOR TOWNSHIP.

years, but for some time past it has been diminishing in numbers, by deaths, re- movals and other causes, until at the present time it is in a weak condition. The principal preachers who have administered to this people have been Revs. Thomas Mathews, Dwight Cook, Mr. Ray, Christian Wolf, Benjamin Powell, Joseph Beth- ards, J. Schultz, John Kalk, Mr. Carter, Taylor Jaggers and Rev. John Parlette. The Class Leaders have been John McNeal, James Whitcraft, Jesse Vanatta, Jacob Nash, and a few others. A Sabbath school was organized soon after the church, which has been continued through the summer seasons to the present time, and is in a flourishing condition.

Baptist Church (Colored) .- About 1859-60, the colored people organized a church about one mile west of the Asbury Church. They erected a hewed-log house, and at one time probably had fifty to sixty members. Soon after the war of the rebellion began, some enlisted in the army and many were killed; others moved away, and the organization ceased. The church property wassold and the money deposited in the bank at Marysville, anticipating at some future time to erect a church at that place.

Free-Will Baptist Church of Broadway .- About 1866, by a subscription by the people of Broadway and vicinity, money was raised and the present church edifice erected, at a cost of about $2,200. In this house, services were regularly held once a month by the minister of the Newton Church, for two or three years, as there were several members of that church residing in this vicinity. In 1869, a society was organized here consisting of the following persons: William Jenkins, Sewell G. Hartshorn, Lucretia S. Ball, Mary S. Robins, H. P. Goff, Harriet Harts- horn, Henry Fulton, Adaline D. Goff, John A. Welch, Lockey Garrett, John B. Hisey, Sarah Jenkins, Mathias Pheasant, M. A. Cranston, Sopronia R. Yearsley, John Yarrington, Albert. T. Hitt, Nancy A. Pheasant, William Hinton, Ruth M. Hisey, John Predmore, Sarah Hartshorn, William McDermott, Minerva Ford, Ed- ward F. Welch, Jane Predmore, Tra Welch, Sylvia Disbennett, William Cartmell, Lydia Welch, Caroline Yarrington, William H. Goff, Sylvia J. Goff, Climenia E. Yonkin, Martha Safford, Lois B. Welch, Sarah Yearsley, Cordelia Garrett and El- mira Garrett, with B. F. Zell, pastor, and Sewell Hartshorn, as Deacon. October 9, 1870, the church was dedicated by Rev. S. D. Bates, of Marion, Ohio. Mr. Zell, as minister, was succeeded by Rev. A. H. Whitaker, who served the church three years. There are now more than one hundred enrolled on the church record, with H. P. Goff as Deacon. At present they are without a pastor. A Union Sabbath School was organized several years prior to the building of the church, and was held in the schoolhouse. After the erection of the church edifice, the Sunday school convened in it, and continues in a flourishing condition. It is said to be the largest Sunday school in the county. Its enrollment last year was 250, with an average attendance of 160, with P. Cranston, Esq., as Superintendent.

CEMETERIES.

Union Christian Church Cemetery .- This was probably the first burial place within Taylor Township. The ground was donated for the purpose by James Hamilton, Harrison Shaw and John Turner, about 1836-37, and it received the body of an infant child of James Hamilton as its first occupant. After, or about the time the church was built and dedicated, this cemetery, which embraces about one acre of ground, was deeded to the trustees of the church, and by them is kept fenced and in repair.

Asbury Church Cemetery .- This piece of ground was donated by Richard Dil- dine, about 1855, as a burial place for the church and the neighborhood. Prior to this, all the dead from this neighborhood were taken to Marysville and interred. This is now in care of the Township Trustees. There are two cemeteries on Bokes Crcek. One is located near the east line of the township, on the south bank of said creek, and in it are buried a large number of the early settlers of this neigh- borhood. It is located on the land of James Maskill, but has not been used as a

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The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 172

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