The History of Warren County, Ohio, Part 57

Author: W. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1081

USA > Ohio > Warren County > The History of Warren County, Ohio > Part 57

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of school lands enabled the citizens to have better buildings erected and fixt- ures more fitted for the young; the length of the term was also increased and the teacher was supposed to know something besides the narrow chapter of botany which treats of the pliability of birch and kindred woods. At the present day, there are outside of the town of Franklin, Districts No. 1, 2. 3. 4. 6, 7 and 8, all having the best of buildings, fitted with the latest and most convenient seats and desks, with good blackboards, good active teachers, a good attendance, and the means of having ten months, or forty weeks. school.

The surface of Franklin Township is rolling. The valleys of the Great Miami River, of Clear Creek and of Twin Creek, in the extreme west, consist of a very rich black bottom land, with gravel beneath; this in a time of drought is not always beneficial. The hills have nowhere a very great altitude, and will, in all places, if properly cultivated, yield average crops. The uplands have a clay soil, which is a little cold and damp, but which, from year to year. produces crops equal to the bottom. The drainage is good, and the Great Miami, with its two large and numerous small tributaries, relieves the rolling country with but little artificial aid.

In the hills is found a very good quality of stone, that is used for building foundations and walls. The timber of the township, once unsurpassed, is becoming rapidly thinned out by the demands for walnut, hickory, ash, elm and other woods useful in the arts.

MANUFACTURES.

At a very early date, the manufacture of leather was carried on by Mr. Eden Burrowes, who had his tanyard in what is now a field on the farm of Mrs. Ruth Schenck, north of the lower road from Franklin to Springboro. Mr. Bur- rowes after several years removed his tannery to the Burrowes farm, about one mile north of Franklin.

Two miles north of town were the Vanderveer grist and saw mills, which were the center of a little colony, and whose patrons came from miles to get their grist ground, their lumber sawed, or to sell their surplus grain.

As corn was obtained in large quantities, and with but little labor, from so rich a soil, the supply became greater than the demand, and many farmers erected small distilleries in which they manufactured the surplus into whisky.

A very large distillery was erected south of Franklin, which, for many years, relieved the farmers of their corn and wood, and which was run until September, 1865, when it was completely destroyed by fire.

The manufacture of drain tile was commenced several years ago by Mr. L. S. Rue on his farm south of town, and has grown to an astonishing business in his hands. A ready market is found both at home and abroad.

Brooms in large quantities are made by Mr. James McLean on his farm, about three miles southeast of Franklin.

Other manufactures will be given in the history of the town of Franklin, as all such are now within the corporate limits.

ANCIENT REMAINS.

Franklin Township is not without its prehistoric remains. The chief object of this kind is a mound on the old Burrowes farm, northeast of Franklin. The mound is about twenty-five feet in height, and perhaps 100 feet in circum- ference, and being, as these mounds usually are, on high ground, is visible for miles, while from its summit the beautiful Miami Valley can be seen spread out like a panorama.

Many years ago, a number of men, then young, determined to explore this mound. Mr. Burrowes objecting because he believed it to be a place of sepul-

, they took occasion to visit the scene during the hours of night. Among

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Salathiel Luking

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the number were John M. Catrow, W. F. Smith, Isaah Blair and A. D. Reeder, with others whose names are unknown. With picks and shovels they reached the mound, and, commencing in the center of the top, they excavated rapidly, taking their turns. When they had descended several feet, Mr. Blair took his turn, and, after a few strokes, came climbing out in terror, declaring that "it sounded hollow, and he was not going to risk its letting him fall into an un- known cavity." This only made the others more anxious, and they worked very zealously for some time, but they found nothing but a few copper beads. and they shoveled the dirt back again.

No other remains of importance have been found, if we except an occa- sional skeleton of an Indian, unless a few remarkable things found by Mr. Van Horne, when constructing the Hydraulic at Franklin, which we will speak of in the history of that enterprise.

NEW JERSEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

As has already been stated, quite a number of families came from the State of New Jersey between the years 1800 and 1816 or 1817, and settled the region still known as the Jersey Settlement. These were almost all members of the Presbyterian Church, and, on August 14, 1813, we find that they organ- ized a church by assembling at the house of William P. Barkalow, opposite Franklin. The following steps were taken in organization:

1st. They resolved to form themselves into a congregation.

2d. They resolved that this congregation should be under the care and direction of the Presbyterian Church in Miami Presbytery.

3d. That they apply to said Presbytery at the next October meeting, for one-half of the ministerial services of Rev. Francis Monfort.

4th. That Hendrick Lane and Tunis D. Van Derveer be appointed to represent the congregation before Presbytery and prefer their petition.

5th. That they make out a call for Mr. Monfort, and present it at the next meeting of Presbytery.

6th. That to this end Daniel Dubois and Jonas Bowman be sent with a request to the Rev. Daniel Hayden to attend the congregational meeting and preside in moderating a call. 7th. In consideration of the pastoral labors of Mr. Monfort, they promise to raise him $150, in half-yearly payments; and

8th. Immediately thereupon proceeded to raise the required sum by annexing their names and subscriptions to a paper, heading which are the names of Hendrick Lane, George Lane, Tunis D. Van Derveer and others.

It is not certain that there were religious services at the time these reso- lutions were passed, but it is probable that such services were held, as Mr. Monfort had been preaching to this people since the preceding March.

After this meeting, and until the meeting of the Presbytery, in October, nothing definite is known concerning the infant church, but it is thought that Mr. Monfort served them; and in the October Presbytery, the following record was made: "A petition was received from a newly congregated people, on the west of the Great Miami, opposite Franklin, calling themselves New Jersey Congregation, and praying the Presbytery to grant one-half of Mr. Francis Monfort's labors for one year, which was granted." ·

On April 2, 1814, at a meeting at the house of Tunis D. Vanderveer, Messrs. Vanderveer and Zebulon Baird were elected Ruling Elders, and were ordained on the 3d, which was Sabbath. Mr. Monfort was ordained and in- stalled pastor June 14, 1814.

The first members received were Mrs. Jennett Street, Abraham Street and Sarah, their daughter, July 31, 1814, and also the wives of the two Elders. On the 8th of September, George Lane, Elanor Lane, Hendrick Lane, Catha- rine Lane, Margaret Lane and Cornelia Ten Eych, by certificate; Gilbert Lane, Anky Wykoff, Anna Sutton, Maria Lane and John McKean, by exami- nation; on the 9th, Peter Poast and Sarah Poast, by certificate, and Mary Wykoff and Mary Denise, by examination.

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The congregation met at different houses, and in the barns when the houses were too small, but the most frequented place was the barn of Hen- drick Lane, near where the Hydraulic Dam now is.

In the spring of 1815, a church building was talked of and three sites were under contemplation-one on William P. Barkalow's farm, opposite Franklin; another on the farm of Hendrick Lane; the third, the place where the church was afterward placed. The Presbyterians who resided in Franklin were naturally desirous that the first site should be chosen, but a misunderstanding arose, and Daniel Dubois having in the meantime made an offer of two acres of ground, the latter site was selected. Even after the materials for the build- ing were on the spot chosen, the Franklin people offered to haul them to the site they preferred, but the Jersey people adhered to their resolution of building on the Dubois land.

The house was built after the model of the old Tenant Church, in New Jersey, and was known far and near as one of the finest buildings in this region.

In this building, cost was not thought of. The various parts were con- tributed or paid for by the different members as follows: Tunis D. Vanderveer furnished the frame-work ; George Lane, the weather-boarding ; Hendrick Lane, the floor; Michael Van Tuyl sawed the material; John McKean built the pulpit, and each man furnished a bench as best he could.

The building, however, was a mere shell, and, as there were no stoves, they resorted to charcoal fires, which " soon smoked them out," so they were obliged to resort to meeting in barns until spring. After completion, the church contained a gallery across the west end, and the pulpit being about on a level with the gallery, the minister literally sent down his sermons to the people, while they all looked up to him. In refitting the church, benches of a uniform pattern were made, and the pulpit was lowered several feet, still leaving the minister far above the people, and necessitating somewhat of an ascent ere he reached his station.

After a pastorate of seven years, Rev. Mr. Monfort was succeeded by Rev. John Ross, who served this people but about a year. The membership at this time was sixty-four in number.

After this time, there was no regular pastor for three years. Matthew G. Wallace gave them one-fourth of his time until the spring of 1826, when Rev. Adrian Aten began to preach a part of the time, and, in October, was regularly appointed by Presbytery to supply the New Jersey Congregation one-third of the time and Franklin one-third.

In 1827, the Sabbath school was first organized here.

Rev. Adrian Aten preached his last sermon September 22, 1833.

After this, Rev. John Hudson supplied the New Jersey and Franklin Con- gregations for one and one-half years, and there was no certain arrangement for six years.

Rev. J. S. Weaver was regularly called in April, 1845, and preached until 1858. During his pastorate, in 1856, an attempt was made by some of the congregation to have the old building removed, out this failed, owing to the reluctance of the older members to part with their old place of worship.

Rev. J. H. Clark was pastor from the summer of 1858 to the fall of 1861, and during this time the parsonage was erected.

Rev. F. M. Wood became pastor in 1862. During his pastorate, the mag- nificent brick building used by the congregation was erected at a cost of $16 .- 350. The corner-stone was laid May 12, 1866. The old building was last used December 1, 1867, and the new was first used December 8, 1867.

The present building consists of a main building, 71x43 feet, and a rear

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room, used as a Sunday-school room and vestry, 29x56 feet. In front, two towers stand. the southeast 128 feet in height, being a conspicuous object for miles; the other, or southwest tower. being but slightly elevated above the roof. The main room contains a gallery, 9x21 feet, and the ceiling has an elevation of twenty-eight feet at the sides and thirty-five in the center. The windows are fitted with stained glass and the walls frescoed.

Rev. F. M. Wood, through whose instrumentality this building was erected, served the people until about 1868. Rev. Samnel Findley, after a year or two, succeeded him, and he in turn was succeeded about two years ago by Rev. W. Gowdy.

OLD SCHOOL BAPTIST CHURCH. 1

This congregation was organized in 1814 with the following members: John Marsh. James Tapscott, James Holmes, William Martin, Joseph Tap- scott, Nancy Marsh, Mary Berry, Mary Tapscott, Mary James, James Wheat- field and Elizabeth Wheatfield.

A site for building a church edifice was obtained through the kindness of James Tapscott, who deeded to the church one acre of ground, with a space, one rod wide, leading from the chapel south to the road.

On this was built a brick meeting-house. and on this spot the congrega- tion, composed largely of descendants of the original members, still assemble to serve God. The name Tapscott Meeting-House was given it in honor of the donor.

Although organized at so early a date, the incorporation did not take place until December 11, 1830, when John Cox, James T. Barkalow and John Marsh became Trustees, and John Underwood, Church Clerk.

In 1833, Joseph Tapscott was elected Clerk; John B. Moses, Treasurer, and J. N. C. Schenck acted as Clerk of the Election.

John B. Moses was the first Deacon, ordained by the laying-on of hands, November 27, 1830.

In 1836, a split occurred on doctrinal points, and those leaving formed the Baptist Church of Franklin, the history of which will be given in its proper płace.

The first minister ordained was Elder Peter Poyner, who served from 1814 to 1820; Elder Jacob Mulford, who served from 1820 to 1830; Elder Stephen Gard, who served from 1830 to 1838, with the exception of part of the year of 1836, during which Elder Robertson served; Elder Samuel Will- iams, from 1838 to 1870, during a part of which time Elder Benjamin Lamp- ton supplied the pulpit; Elder John McDonald, a short time in 1870; Elder Ephraim Barker, from 1870 to 1875; Elder Wilson Thompson Pence, from March, 1875, to 1876; Elder Edward Stephens, from 1876 to 1877; Elder John M. Thompson, from October, 1877, till the present time.

This church has services generally once a month, and the pastor has no regular salary. but simply accepts the voluntary contributions of the congrega- tion.

During this year, the heirs of Thomas Shinn gave one acre of ground, just south of the church, bordering on the road from Franklin to Carlisle Station, on which has been erected a parsonage building of six rooms and kitchen, costing $1.300, and other improvements which will amount to $500.

The members of this church have always been, and are still, characterized by their attachment to their branch of the church, and, being in good circum- stances, always have everything in good condition. The church building has lately been enlarged and put in thorough repair. To the east of the church is a burying-ground, where repose the remains of some of the first settlers.

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CARLISLE STATION.

This country town and station has been, since 1813, the central point of interest for the New Jersey Settlement. Here was the Presbyterian Church, the history of which has been given, and here was the blacksmith-shop which is always a center of interest to the farming community. The survey of the line of the C., H. & D. R. R. passed just at the foot of the hill on which the church is situated, and, as this road was commenced about 1848, from that date we may trace the history of the station, which received its name from Hon. George Carlisle, of Cincinnati. This gentleman, being interested in the C., H. &. D., purchased quite a large tract of land, and, throwing it into lots, offered them for sale at a moderate rate. A post office was established, and a store, soon followed by another, furnished the citizens with the supplies ne- cessary. The freight depot, containing large storage room, caused the grain market of this place to assume large proportions, and, although there may never be a large city here, the rich soil and the thrifty character of the farming com- munity will make it a place of business. The amount of grain, hogs, cattle and tobacco shipped here is large. It is the station for Germantown and & large part of Montgomery County adjacent to it.

The town contains a town hall for public uses. Carlisle being near the Montgomery County line, the school was for many years in what is called a fractional district, part of the pupils being in Warren County and part in Montgomery County, and teachers drew part of their pay in one county and part in the other. The school increased in numbers until May 24, 1872, when the Board of Education of Carlisle Separate District, No. 6, gave notice to the qualified voters of said district that there would be a vote taken at the hall on the 11th day of June, 1872, at 4 P. M., for or against a tax of $5,000 or $6,000, for building purposes. Great feeling was manifested both for and against the tax.

This bitter feeling lasted for some time, if it is not yet in existence, but the house was finally erected on a fine lot southeast of the church. The build- ing contains four rooms and halls, with spacious cellarage and large play- grounds. There are but two departments at present, under charge of Mr. Geo. P. Price and Miss Hannah Ely. The studies pursued embrace a part of the high school studies, and, under the care of Mr. Price, the school has made good progress. Carlisle is the only town besides Franklin that is wholly in the township. Blue Ball, about five miles south of Franklin, being partly in Butler County.

THE TOWN OF FRANKLIN.

This town was founded by Gen. William C. Schenck, who had emigrated, in 1793, to Marietta, Ohio, and, in 1794, to Cincinnati, and then up the Miami in the interests of himself and parties in New Jersey-Mr. Cumming, Judge Jacob Burnet and Mr. Longworth, of Newark. In 1796, he again came to Cin- cinnati, and, in that year, he surveyed and laid out the town of Franklin, as appears from the following record, taken from the original records in Cincin- nati:

The town of Franklin was laid out by William C. Schenck and Daniel C. Cooper. 88 they thought, in the south part of the fractional Section No. 32, in the Second Township and Fifth entire range of townships between the Miami Rivers. In the year 1800, William C. Schenck became sole proprietor, by purchase from Daniel C. Cooper, and, in the winter of the same year, the Legislature passed an act to provide for the recording of town plats. Partly by reason of the uncertainty of the tenure by which the lands purchased of Judge Symmes north of his patent was held ; but mostly on account of the existing doubts with respect to the boundaries of these tracts, it became a matter of dispute who was the pro- prietor of the town, and therefore impracticable to comply with the requisition of the above law. By the law of the United States, establishing the posts or corners, run under the

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direction of Judge Symmes, the late decision of the Commissioners appointed by that law, and the recent survey made by the Surveyor General, it appears that William C. Schenck is proprietor of only a part of the town of Franklin, and that Robert Ross hath become owner of the other part, the subscriber thereof wishing, as near as may be, to act confor- mably to law, hath caused the plat, hereunto annexed, to be made of record, together with this statement, and the following description of the town of Franklin :

The town is laid off in squares or blocks of twenty-four poles ; each block is divided into eight lots, agreeable to the plan ; each lot is eight poles one way and twelve poles the other. The streets are each four poles wide, except Fourth street, which is five poles wide. The course of the streets, running parallel with the river, is N. 26° E. ; the other streets run at right angles from them ; the spaces between Second and Fifth streets, and between Front street and the river, is given to the inhabitants of the town for a common, to be per- petually kept open for that purpose. Lots numbered 39, 40, 51 and 52, are given for the purpose of erecting thereon public buildings ; those are painted green ; the partly colored lot at the upper end of Fourth street is reserved for a church, and is 18} poles front, and 12 poles rear.

The out-lots contain four acres each ; are 8 chains, 66 links one way, and 4 chains and 62 links the other way, excepting the lots No. 16 and 17. which contain upward of 6 acres each. The division between the subscriber and Robert Ross is designated by the red line.

I certify the above to be a true description of the town of Franklin, and desire it may be recorded the 1st day of July, 1802. (Signed), W. C. SCHENCK.

Hamilton, ss. : Before me, James McCashen, one of the J. P. of said county pre- viously appeared W. C. Schenck, etc., etc. (Signed), JAMES MCCASHEN.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN : Whereas, by the decision of the Commissioners appointed by the act of Congress, granting the right of pre-emption to certain purchases of land from John C. Symmes, north of his patent, I have become the proprietor of a part of the town of Franklin.

Now, these presents testify that I do hereby request that this plat of the town of Franklin may be recorded, and I do obligate myself, my heirs and assigns, to grant and convey unto different persons, who have contracted with W. C. Schenck and D. C. Cooper for lots in that part of said town, of which I have become proprietor as aforesaid. All the lots so contracted for (whether in-lots or out-lots), in the same manner and on the same terms as the said W. C. Schenck and D. C. Cooper were bound to do as aforesaid. Witness my hand this 2d day of August, 1802. ROBERT R. Ross. [His mark- .]

Sworn before the Justice of the Peace was the preceding statement of Gen. Schenck, and completed as follows:

I do further obligate myself to leave an alley open above and north of the in and out-lots. Witness my hand this 2d day of August, 1802. (Signed), W. C. SCHENCK. and sworn before James McCashen.

The above copy of the records of Warren County was transcribed from Hamilton County records, Book E, No. 2, pp. 178, 179 and 180, April 27, 1852.

The original documents are on file in Hamilton County, as Franklin was then in it. The plat above mentioned is filed with the other papers, and shows the division between the lands of Gen. Schenck and Robert Ross. Robert Ross died soon after; his will was probated December 21, 1803. He had at least three children-Benjamin, John and Austin.

The following are some of the. persons to whom Gen. Schenck conveyed property up to the time of his death, January 12, 1821: John McCashen, Aaron Reeder, John Morris, Daniel Hawn, Benjamin Dubois, Tunis Vanderveer, Sam- uel Cockayne, Isaac Harrison, John Gordon, Samuel Campbell, James Mc- Ewen, Daniel Storms, Joseph Troxell, Sawyer McFadden, Edward Death, Nicholas Dows, William Mott, Aaron Goforth, Nancy Banker, Finley Russell, Andrew Gebhart, Michael Long. Daniel Writs. Garvin Johnson, William Drake, John Robinson, Lewis Davis, Firman Smith, Samuel Caldwell, Benja- min Morris, Philip Wier, Martin Baum, J. J. and N. Ross, Samuel Walker.

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By the heirs of Robert Ross to James Keho, William Harrison, Joseph Catrow, D. Hawn, S. Reeder, Joseph Troxell, Matthias Young, John Winters, John Leopold. Harry Gassaway, William Harrison, Daniel Fisher, Lewis Davis, Benjamin Dubois, Charles Long, James Ainsworth, Thomas Thompson. Robert T. James, George Gillespie, William Noble, Samuel Roads, John C. Death, Samuel Caldwell.

These are deeded between the years 1800 and 1808.

The streets as described in the above record were afterward named. be- ginning with the cross streets at the north, First, Second, Third, Fourth, Fifth and Sixth streets, respectively. On the north of the town as then platted, Gen. Schenck had given a two-pole alley extending parallel with the aforesaid cross streets, but, after the battle of New Orleans, he increased its width to four poles, and, in honor of the hero of New Orleans, called it Jackson street. The street next the river was called Front street and the next to the east, Center street.

In a copy of the old records of Franklin (furnished by Dr. O. Evans, Sr. ). we find on March 29, 1814, that an election was held at the house of Mrs. Reeder, widow of Aaron Reeder. This house was situated on or near the southeast corner of Front and Sixth streets, and was probably the first hotel of the town. The following electors took part:

Jacob Hawn, Garret A. Schenck, John N. C. Schenck, Henry Emde, Jo- seph Troxell, Martin Earhart, James Tapscott, William C. Schenck, Philip Rossman, Winthrop Emerson, Daniel Storms, James McEwen, John Winters, Joseph Ralston, Joseph Crain, Stephen Reeder, William Harrison, Luther Rus- sell, Christian Petifish, James Blackburn, Alexander Cumming, Lewis Davis. James W. Lanier.

The following were the town officers from 1814 to 1836, soon after which the town received its charter, dated March 9, 1837:

1814-President, Samuel Caldwell; Recorder and Justice of the Peace. James W. Lanier; Trustees, William C. Schenck, Luther Russell, Charles Lang, William Harrison, Lewis Davis; Treasurer, J. N. C. Schenck; Assessor. Martin Earhart; Collector and Town Marshal, Stephen Reeder; Supervisor, Joseph Troxell.

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The History of Warren County, Ohio, Part 57

Author: W. H. Beers & Co. Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Number of Pages: 1081

Author: W. H. Beers & Co.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 1081