The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 97

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 97

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John and James Coolidge, natives of New York or New England, settled on the Big Darby, one mile northwest of Milford, on Survey 1,277, and re- mained residents here till their deaths. The former was a farmer, and James a farmer and blacksmith. They were men of character and integrity, and good citizens. Some of their descendants still reside in the county.

Samuel Galloway was born in Massachusetts, but removed to New York while young and there married Miss Achsa Witter, a native of Connecticut. In 1814, he removed with his family to Ohio, and settled in Union Township, on the place where A. A. Woodworth now lives, and erected a log cabin on the site where Mr. Woodworth's house now stands. Soon after locating, while hunting, he shot a deer, and thinking the animal dead he walked up to it with knife in hand to cut its throat, when the deer sprang up, pushed his horn into his chest and tore out some of his lungs; and there he and the deer were both found in the evening, the latter dead, and Mr. Galloway so weak he could not get home. They carried him home, and he finally recovered, so as to preach- as he was a minister in the Christian Church-but he never became able to perform hard manual labor after the injury. He made a journey to New York State, and returned. While absent on a second journey to that State, he was taken sick and died in 1820-21 from the effects of the wound made by the deer. He left eight children, four of whom were born in New York State and four in Union Township, viz .: Amanda, John, Samuel and James R. in New York; Sabrah, Elijah, Joshua and Joseph in this township. Mrs. Galloway re- mained here with her family till about 1822, when, becoming fascinated with Shakerism, she removed to their settlement in Warren County, Ohio, where she and her daughter Sabrah remained through life. But prior to their death, the other children all became dissatisfied, left the Shakers, and all married and settled in life. Amanda married David Wright; he died in Iowa, and his widow now resides in Kansas with her children. John married Matilda Cox. and died in Champaign County, Ohio, from a fall from a tree. Samuel mar- ried Prudence Babbitt, and resides in Indiana. James R. married Harriet B. Miller, and resides at Milford Center. Elijah married Sarah Jane Beatty, and resides in Iowa. Joshua married, and lives in Illinois; and Joseph married Mary Moran, and they now reside in Illinois. Samuel Galloway was a man of excellent character, and was a much esteemed and respected citizen; all his children now living are walking in his footsteps, living lives of usefulness, and doing honor to their ancestor.

James C. Miller was born December 14, 1797, in the State of New York. In 1814, he came to Ohio, with his uncle, Samuel Colver, and settled in this

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

township. on the site of Irwin Station, where he remained with his uncle a few years; he then learned the carpenter trade, also the cabinet-making busi- ness. During his apprenticeship, when about twenty years of age, he went to Kentucky, and worked at his irade about eighteen months; thence returned to this township, and here continued at his trade. In 1821, he married Selinda Burnham, daughter of Eliphas Burnham; by her he had seven children-Har- riet, who married James R. Galloway, a resident of Milford; Eliphas, married Ellen Vanness, and removed to Missouri in 1865, returned in 1869, and died in the spring of 1882; James, married Emaline Burnham, and resides near Mechanicsburg; Zelenda, married Lemuel McGrew, and resides in Delaware, Ohio; Lydia Ann, married David Clement, and resides at Mar ysville; William H. Harrison, who was twice married, first to Sarah Vanness, second to Sarah Smith, and now resides in Milford; Rebecca, married Gwynn Irwin; she now resides near Mechanicsburg. Mr. Miller has followed his trade, in connection with farming, through life. In 1865, he removed to Missouri, and in 1869 returned to this township, where, with this exception, he has spent sixty-eight years of his life. He was eighty-five years of age when the writer called to see him; he found him at his bench shoving the plane, and he remarked that he enjoyed as good health as he ever did in his life.

Joel Frankelberger, who became a settler at Milford about 1812-14, was the first tanner of the township, and perhaps the first in the county. He also served as Clerk of the first Board of Commissioners of Union County, and filled several offices of his township. About 1814-15, there came and settled in this township a large number of families, among whom were Samuel Rice and family, Jacob Fairfield, Harvey Hovey, John A. Moody, Roger Moody, Jeremiah Dee, Ebenezer Mathers, Linder Saunders, Joseph Mathers, Robert Branson, Mr. Dunton, Mr. Lyon, George A. Scott and John Mathers; the lat- ter settled at Milford, and at his house was held the first election of the town- ship, and several succeeding elections. James Guy, a native of Vermont, was born in 1795-96, and married Mary Watts. When young-about 1812-he settled in this township, where he resided till 1826. Removing with his fam- ily to Madison County, he resided there till his death, which occurred the same year-1826. His wife died in 1843. They had the following children: William, Harriet, Jane, Sylvia and James. Mr. Guy, when young, learned the blacksmith's trade, but after settling in life he gave his attention to farm- ing, stock-raising and the dairy business. He was a very industrious man, a kind neighbor and most worthy citizen.

Otis Green, a native of Rhode Island, settled at Milford about 1815-16, and is believed to be the second one to open a store in that village, remaining in business but a short time till he died.

Dr. Daniel Bowen, a native of Vermont, settled at Milford about 1815, and was the first physician of that town, and a popular and successful man in his profession. He died December 12, 1825, aged forty years.

Benjamin Harrington, a native of Rhode Island, emigrated to this county and township in 1817. He married Betsey Rice, by whom he had the follow- ing children: David, who married, settled and died in this county; Nelson, lives in Liberty Township; Louisa, married John Locke, both deceased; Polly, married Mr. Holycross, now deceased; and Olive, married twice, first a Mr. Shirk, who died, and second a Mr. Reed; they now reside in Kansas. Mr. Harrington was a good citizen, and an active man in the Christian Church. He died November 25, 1843, and his wife August 15, 1870.

About 1817-18. a large number of families settled here, among whom were Asahel A. Woodworth. a native of Connecticut, who came here with his uncle, Mr. Burnham, who settled in Champaign County, near the Union

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County line. With him he lived till he married, and purchased and settled on the farm where he has since resided. He is an honest and respected citizen.

Nicholas Hathaway, a native of Massachusetts, married Miss Pierce and settled on Treacle Creek, this township, purchasing several hundred acres of land, where he resided till his death. He was a physician, but desired to retire from practice, yet his friends wished his professional services and would not give him up; so, to some extent, he continued his practice through life. He was a man of great ability and merit, served the people of this county in the Legislature, and was one of the Associate Judges. He was an uncom- promising Jacksonian Democrat, yet faithful to his constituents. He died August 24, 1848, aged seventy-six years. His wife died in 1826, and he mar- ried again, by which union he had one child, Anna, now the wife of J. H. Gillespie. By his first wife he had seven children-Elnathan, Leonora and Rounceful, all now deceased; Joanna, now a resident of West Mansfield, Ohio; Catharine and Elias, deceased; and Ebenezer, who died in California. .

William Gorton, a native of Rhode Island, settled in the west part of this township, where William Webb now resides, in 1817. He was a very peculiar man, and noted as a horse trader. He had two children, Benjamin (deceased) and Mary. Mr. Gorton died on the place where he first settled.

Jacob Burnham, a native of Connecticut, settled in this township in 1817, residing here till his death, April 23, 1866. He married Eliza Meecham, by whom he had the following children: Nicholas, who married Emiline Hop- kins; Eliza, married Simeon Fairchild, he died and she is now a widow and resides at Woodstock; Hiram, married Jane Reed. and resides on the home- stead place, and Albert, deceased.

Eliphas Burnham, brother of Jacob Burnham, married Lydia Meecham, and resided through life on the same place with his brother Jacob. He was the father of the following children: Betsey, who married George Thomas, and resides in Champaign County; Harvey, married Mary Shields and resides at Irwin; Andrew, was twice married, first to Virginia Crawford, second to Nancy Amy, and resides in Champaign County; Marcia, married George Morse, and also resides in Champaign County; Ralph, married Martha Green; Dorcas, deceased; Lucas, died in the army, and Jared, who died unmarried. Mr. Burnham died February 11, 1881. Both Jacob and Eliphas Burnham were excellent citizens, much esteemed and respected by a large circle of ac- quaintances.

George Woodward, a native of Kentucky, settled here with his wife, Lydia, about 1819. He became fanatical on religion, united with the Shakers, and removed to Warren County, Ohio, where he died in 1828. His children were Lucy and George. After his death, his wife and her children went to the Shakers. Mr. Woodward was a man of good character and integrity.

George Fullington was born in Vermont in 1775, and married Rebecca Greeley. They emigrated to Ohio, and settled in this township in 1813, where they resided about eight years, thence removed to Madison County, and resided there till his death in 1835. His wife survived him many years. Their chil- dren were as follows: Sarah, married Alfred Carpenter, and moved to Illinois, where she died; Moses, married Harriet Guy, and settled on the old home place in this township, where he died; Clarriet, married William Guy, she died in 1827; Jefferson, moved to Illinois, where he married Eleanor English, and there resided till his death (his body was brought home and interred in the Guy Cemetery, in Madison County); Adelaide became the second wife of William Guy; Mary, married Truman Kimball, and raised a family of ten children; she is now deceased; Abigail, married Charles Phellis, Esq., is de- ceased; and Selina married John Burnham, and now resides at Mechanicsburg.

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

Mr. Fullington was a carpenter and joiner by trade, and although he worked some at his trade after he settled in Ohio, yet he gave his principal attention to farming and stock-raising, in which he became largely engaged. He was a man of character and integrity, and a much esteemed and respected citizen.

Nathaniel Kazer, a native of Rhode Island, settled at Milford, in this township, about 1817, and it is believed was the first hotel keeper in the town; also, it is said that the first court in Union County was held in one room of his house. Mr Kazer lived and died here; had one son, Lathrop, who mar- ried a daughter of David McCloud and moved away; is now deceased.

Christopher Cranston, who died November 8, 1858, aged fifty-five years, settled with his father on Treacle Creek about 1818. or possibly one or two years earlier.

Levi Churchill, a native of New England, settled on the Plains, on Sur- vey No. 7,789, about 1817, where he remained a resident several years; thence removed to Marysville, and subsequently to the West. He was a good citizen. and it is said made the brick for the old court house in Marysville.

Elisha Reynolds, a native of New York, married Miss Witter, and settled in this township, on Survey No. 7,789, about 1817. He became a large land owner, and a prominent trader in both stock and merchandise. His children were Sarah, deceased; Elizabeth, married a Mr. Potter, of Delaware, and died in the summer of ISS2, aged ninety years; Polly, married James Irwin, both deceased; Immer, deceased; Ira, married a Miss Chapman, of Worthington, Ohio; he died November 24, 1830; Hila, married Asahel A. Woodworth; and Lewis, married a Miss Burnham and resides in Marysville. Mr. Reynolds served two terms as County Treasurer. He died February 10, 1843, aged sixty-four years.

Nathan Burlingame. a native of Massachusetts, settled about two miles south of Milford, on Survey 7,789. about 1818-19. He was a man of marked ability; a New Light preacher. he became an enthusiast on religious matters, and finally united with the Shakers, but remained with them only a short time. He returned to Massachusetts, and there became quite prominent in the polit- ical matters of the times, and represented his county in the Legislature two or three terms.

Ray G. Morse. a native of Providence, Rhode Island, born in 1808. In 1818, he emigrated with his father to Ohio, the journey occupying forty-nine days. They located first at Milford, there then being one log cabin and a small log mill in the town. The cabin was in the brush, on the site of what is now Garwood's store. There was then not a clearing on the route between here and Delaware. Mr. Morse stated, at the first pioneer meeting, that the first slate he ever had he purchased with rabbit skins. He served a five years' apprenticeship at blacksmithing. At one time he had sold muskrat skins enough to realize the sum of 75 cents, and then expended the whole in treat- ing twenty-eight persons to apple-jack. In those times, everybody drank ap- ple-jack. He once killed two deer at one shot, and had killed five in a day. Once he was at an Indian camp, and saw an Indian doctor cure a person who had been bitten by a rattlesnake.

Martin Ballon, a native of Rhode Island, emigrated to Ohio in 1819, set- tled in Union Township, lived on the farm he first purchased for fifty years, and died November 25. 1869, at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Eliza Witter (the old homestead) He voted at every Presidential election after Washington retired from office, and cast his last vote in October, 1S69. He was an ardent Whig and Republican, a liberal supporter of educational and religious institutions, and a man much esteemed. He was eighty-nine years of age at the time of his death.

William & Henderson

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UNION TOWNSHIP.

John Mitchell, Jr., emigrated from Cumberland County, Penn., to High- land County, Ohio, in 1818, and five years later-1823-removed to Union County*

Stephen and Jesse Bagley, natives of Rhode Island, settled at Milford about 1816-18. Edward and Anthony Moran, natives of Connecticut, settled in this township about 1819. Benjamin Hopkins, a native of Pennsylvania, settled here about 1821. Joseph Gibson, from Pennsylvania, settled about 1827. Michael Davis also came from Pennsylvania in 1829, and in the same year Elijah Witter, from New York. The above constitutes the greater por- tion of the early settlers of Union Township.

The following is a quotation from the writings of the worthy old pioneer, Eliphas Burnham, which portrays early times, and which may give future gen- erations some knowledge of the lives of their forefathers.

Mr. Burnham writes: "When I came to Union Township there were a set of religious fanatics in Rice City, who were called Farnhamites, Douglas Farnham being their leader. They generally had preaching on Sunday, un- less Farnham was away. They held night and sometimes day meetings through the week; some of them were quiet, social prayer meetings, some for confessing their sins, and some for hugging and kissing each other. The ma- jority of their confessions would look decidedly bad in print. I attended their meetings occasionally, not expecting to be benefited, but out of curiosity. I will relate an incident that took place at one of their meetings I attended at the log schoolhouse, where the brick meeting house now stands, on the pike from Milford to Irwin, as I became personally interested in the proceedings. There was no preaching; they occupied their time in singing, prayer and ex- horting, till finally one of the sisters had a revelation from the Lord (so she said), to deliver a short exhortation, and to hug and kiss each and every in- dividual in the house; and she proceeded forthwith to obey the command. She began at the end of one of the slab benches, gave the exhortation, the hug and the kiss, then took the next, and so on in rotation. She had to perform on fifteen or twenty before my turn would come, so that I had ample time to de- cide how to act, and the decision was that I would resist; not because I was averse to embracing a female, or to a kiss either; on the contrary, I rather liked it-indeed was fond of it on all proper occasions, as young men always are, but there was nothing especially charming or fascinating in this one. When my time came. she delivered the exhortation, and then raised her hands to come round for the hug. I took her by the wrists-my arms were then pretty strong, and I had a powerful grip in my hands-and gave the wrists the full benefit of all the strength there was in them. Her countenance changed instantly, and she said, 'What! don't you want to go to heaven ?' I replied that I was in hopes to get there some time, but did not believe I should get there any sooner for letting her hug and kiss me. The grip was kept on the wrists till I was satisfied she would not make a second effort; then I let her go, and she took her seat without a word. I was rallied by the boys and girls a good many times on account of the adventure, but it passed away in time, and so did the fanatics."

Again we quote from Mr. Burnhanı: " When we settled here, the terri- tory of Union Township belonged to Madison County. I went to London in the fall of 1819, to a regimental muster, and we had a jolly time mustering. The boys were from a good many different States; some of their idioms sounded very odd and funny. In the winter of 1819-20, Union County was set off, and when the log jail was raised I carried up one of the corners.

* Mr Mitchell kept a hatter's shop for many years in Milford Centre. He removed to Marysville in the spring of 1882, and died soon after.

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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.

" Marysville had at that time but few cabins in it; in fact, it was but just out of the wilderness-and now what a contrast! * * The most of the territory of the county at that time was certainly a wilderness -and now what a change; it really does one good, who can appreciate the dif- ference, to ride over the county now, and look at the fine farms on every hand,

and the splendid dwelling-houses on them, and the gravel roads.

* * Uncle William Porter tells me that only the southern portion of Union Township belonged to Madison County, and that Milford belonged to Delaware County, and I presume he is correct, but if so, our company mus- tered in Delaware County in 1819, for I remember well that our company in May, and again in September, mustered in Milford, and when we were dis- missed we were ordered by our Captain, David Comer, to meet in London on the day of the regimental muster. The early settlers of our township were subjected to some privations; but, on the whole, I don't think we have ever enjoyed life better since than we did the first ten years after we came here; for myself, I am sure that I have never enjoyed life better since. We had but little money, but we managed to get along well enough without it; we could get but little for our surplus, and some articles we had to buy were very cost- ly; for instance, we paid for a barrel of salt, in the fall of 1818, after we arrived in Rice City, eighteen silver dollars. Jacob Hazle had taken a load of wheat to the lake, and exchanged it for salt. You may be sure that barrel of salt was carefully husbanded; one year from that time. we could buy for just half that. A great source of annoyance to us was the distance to the post office. There were none nearer than Urbana or Plain City. In this neighborhood. we went to Urbana. However, we soon managed matters better than to go there every week for our mail; fourteen of us clubbed together to get the Urbana paper, which was four cents a copy. We drew numbers, and number one went to Urbana. paid 56 cents for fourteen copies, and distributed them. Number two did the same, and so on. Once in every fourteen weeks, each one had to get the papers and distribute them, and the next thirteen weeks they were delivered at the door free of cost. We went on thus for about two years, more or less, when a post office was established in Milford. We felt like having a jollification over it. " We had no fruit, except the native plum; they were generally abundant, but did not last long. But in a few years we began to have peaches, and in a few more years apples, and we enjoyed them all the better for having been deprived of them for awhile. For about fifteen years peaches were a very sure crop, more so than apples are now. As I have said, we handled but very little money, and sometimes it was pretty hard scratching to get enough to pay our taxes, though they were not much compared to what they are now. I recol- lect one fall, I had failed to pay my taxes in time, and it made a lasting im- pression on my mind. It was the only time that I ever failed to pay iny taxes in season. I had but few hogs that fall, and sold them for $1.25, net weight, just equal to $1 per hundred on foot, and I had a sale note out, which was due, and it took all the money to pay the note. I had nothing left to make the money out of to pay my taxes, except three yearling steers, and there were no buyers; so it went on till about the 10th or 12th of January, when I heard that Elisha Reynolds (ex-Treasurer E. L. Reynolds' father) was buying steers. I went to see him immediately; he said he would come over the next morning and look at them, and buy them if I would take what they were worth. When he saw them, he said that he would give me $3.50 a head for them, if I would drive them over; he said he had not paid but $3 for any, but they were better than any he had bought. I drove them over, got the money, $10.50, paid the taxes, $8, and had $2.50 left, and I don't think I have ever felt richer since.

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I did not owe any person a dime, and had $2.50 in my pocket; and, as the Irishman said, 'What more did I want?' I have never failed to pay my taxes in good time since.

"I have assessed the chattel property of Union Township thirty-two years. and I never failed once to return the assessment to the Auditor's office in good time. The Commisioners never had to adjourn the Board of Equalization because I had not made my returns. There were one or two years that I had to hurry things a little more than I liked, in consequence of the delay in get- ting blanks "

SCHOOLS.

The class of people who first settled in Union Township were energetic, enterprising men and women, and, as has already been stated, many of them had large families, the younger members of which needed to be educated and fitted for the duties of a new country. State and church demanded men of in- telligence and education: counties and townships were to be organized, laws enacted, and churches instituted, for the regulation and protection of the peo- ple who were so rapidly filling up this wilderness of a country, possessed of untold wealth of soil. The old, gray headed sires must soon pass from the field of action; and especially was this true here, under the hardships of pioneer life, and the fatality which existed from malaria, milk sickness and other prevailing diseases; and the rising generation must be fitted to assume the duties soon to devolve upon them. Many of the fathers had come from New England, the land of schools and colleges, and they knew and appreciated the value of education. Hence, from such a class of settlers we might expect just what was the case -- early establishment of schools and institutions of learning. Just what year the first school was started is at this distant day difficult to ascertain. But it is believed that in the Reed settlement a school was taught as early as 1806-08. Of course here, as elsewhere, the first schools were individual, or subscription schools. The first building erected for school purposes was a round-log cabin of the most primitive kind-chinked and daubed-with puncheon floor, slab benches and greased paper windows. This house was succeeded by another log one, and this, again, by a good. comfort- able, hewed-log building, which served the people for many years. Some of the first teachers were David Chapman, Jeptha Peasely, Ralph Phelps and Thomas Cratty.

It is probable that the next school started was in the " Green settlement." on the post road. The first school taught here was by Nehemiah Sabine, in the winter of 1814. Mr. Sabine died before completing his labors in the school, and his son, Hiram, taught the remainder of the term. Other teachers, who followed Mr. Sabine, were Henry Mathews, Levi Phelps and William Burn- ham. This settlement was made up of New England people, and they estab- lished the first free school in the township. As the settlements increase these early schools were multiplied, until. in the spring of 1826, the township was officially divided into school districts, as follows:

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The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record;, Part 97

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