The History of Warren County, Ohio, Part 72

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

USA > Ohio > Warren County > The History of Warren County, Ohio > Part 72

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).

The record of the other township officers, up to 1826, is lost, and we can only append those that have served since that time:

Township Clerks -- Mason Seward, served from before 1826 till 1831: L. D. Leonard, from 1831 till 1834; David Fox, from 1834 till 1835: Milton Coulson, from 1835 till 1841; William Kirkwood, from 1841 till 1843: Milton Coulson, from 1843 till 1848: James Baxter, from 1848 till 1852: Milton Coul- son, from 1852 till 1859; William H. Kendall, from 1859 till 1863: D. W. Vandyke, from 1863 till 1873; A. Miller, from 1873 till 1876; J. T. Cunning- ham, from 1876 till 1877; Sam C. Bennett, from 1877 till 1879; B. D. Wel- ton, from 1879 till 1880; W. C. Van Fossen, from 1880 and still serving.

Treasurers-Stephen Bowyer, served from before 1826 till 1832: G. Bar- ton, from 1832 till 1833; James McCowen, from 1833 till 1836: Robert Thompson, from 1836 till 1859; John A. Dodds. from 1859 till 1867: W. W. Wikoff, from 1867 till 1872; P. W. Wikoff, from 1872 till 1874; R. M. Cox, from 1874, and still continues.

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Trustees-1826, William Coulson, James McCowen, Thomas McWheny; 1827, William Coulson, James McCowen, James Logan; 1828, John Ross, Thomas Hall, Henry Houk; 1829, same; 1830, James McCowen, John Bigam. James Baxter; 1831, Abram Phillips, William Kirkwood, James Baxter; 1832, Abram Phillips, R. G. Compton, James Baxter: 1833, John A. Dodds, Abram Phillips, James Baxter; 1834, 1835, 1836, 1837, same; 1888, John Waldron, Reuben Murphy, John Morrow; 1839, Richard Cox, Reuben Murphy, John Morrow; 1840, Richard Cox, Reuben Murphy, John Baxter; 1841, Richard Cox, William Miller, John Baxter; 1842, Richard Cox, James Thompson, John Willoughby; 1843, Richard Cox, James Thompson, John Ross; 1844, Richard Cox, James Thompson, James Fugate; 1845, same; 1846, Richard Cox, James Thompson, William Ross; 1847, same; 1848, Mason Seward, Levi Bowyer, William Ross; 1849, Mason Seward, Levi Bowyer, John L. Thompson: 1850, 1851, same; 1852, Mason Seward, Richard Cox, John L. Thompson; 1853, R. H. Bennett, Richard Cox, John L. Thompson; 1854, A. C. Bates, Richard Cox, John L. Thompson; 1855, P. W. Wikoff, Richard Cox, John L. Thomp- son; 1856, same; 1857, P. W. Wikoff, Richard Cox, James Baxter: 1858. P. W. Wikoff, Richard Cox, Levi Bowyer; 1859. Jonas McCurdy, Peter Walsh, Sam. Paxton; 1860, Jonas McCurdy, Peter Walsh, William Cox, Jr .; 1861. Jonas McCurdy, Bam Miller, William Cox, Jr .; 1862, T. M. Skinner, Bam Miller, William Cox, Jr .; 1863, R. M. Cox, Bam Miller, J. M. Thompson; 1864, same; 1865, R. M. Cox, P. W. Wikoff, J. M. Thompson; 1866, same; 1867, R. M. Cox, Sam. Casseday, Joseph A. Dodds; 1868, same; 1869, James M. Thompson, Sam. Casseday, Joseph A. Dodds; 1870, 1871. 1872. same: 1873, James M. Thompson, Sam. Casseday, R. M. Cox ; 1874, James M. Thompson, Sam. Casseday, A. W. Stitt; 1875, William C. Williamson. Sam. Casseday, A. W. Stitt; 1876, William C. Williamson, Sam. Casseday. J. M. Thompson; 1877, same; 1878, William C. Williamson, Sam. Casseday, John M. Voorhis; 1879, William C. Williamson, Sam. Casseday, Lee R. Randall: 1880, same; 1881, William C. Williamson, Sam. Casseday, J. M. Ralston.

Constables-J. D. Slayback, served from 1826 till 1828; L. D. Leonard. from 1828 till 1829; John A. Dodds, from 1829 till 1831; J. D. Slayback, from 1831 till 1833; Cyrus Hamilton, from 1833 till 1835; L. H. Davis, from 1835 till 1837; W. C. Wikoff, from 1837 till 1839; Abraham Duvall, from 1839 till 1840; M. C. Wonnell, served 1840; William Walker, 1841; P. W. Wikoff, from 1842 till 1845; Daniel Whittaker, from 1845 till 1846; Joseph McCoy, from 1846 till 1847; P. W. Wikoff, from 1847 till 1850.

Since 1850, the Constables have been Thomas Crawford, Sam Crawford, Ambrose Mason, S. W. Logan, J. S. Scofield (two years), J. M. Duvall, S. W. Logan, Silas Ballard, Elias Meighan, W. W. Thompson, H. D. Enyart, W. G. Ammons, Garret Wikoff, J. D. Martin, Garret Wikoff, W. G. Ammons, Elias Meighan (three years), J. R. Corrington, William F. Minor, D. R. Whitaker, J. R. Corrington (three years), Gill Dom, H. T. Scott, J. A. Dodds (two years), J. R. Corrington (two years).

Assessors-The following persons have been Assessors since 1842: Felix Welton, three years; James Baxter, two years; James Thompson, three years: David Whitaker, five years. From 1857 to the present, the one elected Constable was also elected Assessor for the township. Prior to 1842, there was only one Assessor for the county, who appointed deputies at times from the several townships. But, as the county rapidly increased in wealth, the duty of assessing property was given to one from each township.

Overseers of the Poor were also elected during the first forty years of our township history. These overseers would see to the welfare of those who were citizens of the township and unable to make a living. The paupers would be

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sold out, so to speak, to the lowest bidder, who would take care of the unfort. unate one for a year. The records are full of such sales as the one we insert:

Thomas W. Clark, sold for eleven months to Mary Scofield, to be kept by her for the sum of $46.75.

Given under our hands this 20th May, 1829.

ROBERT DOING,

WILLIAM GIFFIN, Overseers of Poor.

Besides this, whenever a person or family would come into the township, and it was thought that a charge or burden would be the result, such a warrant as this would be issued:

STATE OF OHIO, Warren Co., To John D. Slayback, Constable, Greeting :

Deerfield Township. )

You are hereby directed to command John Lewis (a black man), and family ; like- wise his mother-in-law, Nancy Symmes, forthwith to depart the township of Deerfield, and of this writ make legal service and return.

Given under our, hands this 12th day of July, 1826.

WM. GIFFIN,

ROBT. DOING, Overseers of Poor.

The county officers that have been taken from Deerfield Township are David Sutton, Clerk of Court from 1803 to 1815; John Randall, Treasurer, from 1828 till 1836; F. S. Welton, Recorder, in 1859; A. B. Gooch, Recorder, from 1866 till 1871; J. D. Lowe, Associate Judge from 1803 till 1824; John A. Dodds, member of General Assembly in 1849, 1850, 1851.

ROADS.

As early as 1790, an open way was made through this region by Gen. Harmar with his several hundred men, who marched from Fort Washington (Cincinnati) to the Maumee for the purpose of attacking the Indians there This trace entered the township on the west side, and, running north and north- east, passed out of the township on the north side. The army encamped 8 short time on the bottom of Little Muddy Creek, on the place now owned by Joseph McClung on Section 32. This open way made by them was used 88 8 road for a long time by the settlers after locating in their new homes.

The trace made by the first-comers to Bedell's Station, crossed the town- ship passing just west of Mason, and then, in a winding way northward, through Sections 31, 25 and 26. In a short time after this settlement was made, one of the most important early roads was constructed from Columbia to Deerfield, passing through the eastern part of the township, and known then by the name of the Round Bottom road, but now called the Union & Twenty-Mile Stand pike.

The State road, running from Cincinnati to Chillicothe, through Twenty- Mile Stand, was laid out in 1804. In 1834, this became a chartered pike, and was known as the Cincinnati, Montgomery, Hopkinsville, Roachester & Clarks- ville macadamized turnpike. In 1836, the company was authorized to construct a toll-bridge at Foster's Crossing, which continued as such for many years

In 1804, a road was laid out from Deerfield to Cincinnati passing to the east of Mason, and known as the Sergeant road.

In 1806, a road, starting from a mill near Deerfield, extended to the county line west of Socialville. The same year, the road running from Mason through what is known as Dogstreet to the present powder-mills, was laid out. In the latter part of 1806, the road running north and south through Socialville was laid out.

The State road, extending from Cincinnati to Xenia, through Mason and Lebanon, was laid out about 1810 or 1812, in its present place, and was noted in its early day for the extent of travel thereon.

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Nearly all the important roads of the township are now free turnpikes, and have been macadamized since the passage of the Free Turnpike Act of 1865. There are over sixty miles of pikes within the limits of the township.

CHURCHES.

The Muddy Creek Baptist Church was one of the oldest Baptist Churches in the county. It was admitted into the Miami Baptist Association in 1804. The first preaching of the society was at private houses, and afterward in a schoolhouse erected near where the Muddy Creek Graveyard is. About 1817, the society purchased a lot and erected an old-fashioned frame meeting-house. A brick building was afterward erected. The name of this society was dropped from the minutes of the association in 1854.

The Christians or New-Lights erected a log meeting-house in the western part of Section 29 about 1815, at which Rev. Isaac Dearth, Rev. Richard Si- monton and others preached. This society ceased to exist about 1820.

The Unity Presbyterian Church was one of the old churches of the town- ship. As early as 1808, the Presbyterians held services at private houses. In 1812, David Williamson and Noah Corey were ordained Elders of the Unity Church. The leading members about 1812 were George Williamson, John Vandyke, Sr., Hannah Vandyke, Mary Williamson, Peter Williamson, Hannah Williamson, John Vandyke, Mary Vandyke, Peter Vandyke, Judge J. D. Lowe, Hannah Corey, Peter Wikoff, Catharine Wikoff, John Lynn, Jane Lynn, John Monfort, Mary Monfort and others. The congregation gradually increased, and, in 1814, feeling the necessity of a public place of worship, a lot was given by J. D. Lowe to the trustees of the church, located just east of the Unity Graveyard, on which was erected a log church. About 1832, this congregation was divided, one division forming the Harmony Church at Mon- roe. The Unity Church ceased to exist some years ago, the few remaining members uniting with the Pisgah Church, in Butler County, and forming a new society called the First Presbyterian Church of Mason, which dates its existence from October 25, 1845. This church is still in existence.

The Bethel Methodist society was organized abont 1830 at the house of Augustine McNail. About 1840, the society erected a church on a lot donated by Uriah Keeler. The congregation was blessed with several successful revi- vals. In 1875, the church was burned. The location of the church was then changed to Hamilton County and a new house erected.

The Union Methodist society was organized as a class before the year 1820. Its first meetings were held at a log house called Union, about two miles northeast of the present site. In 1834, the society built a brick house on the site of the present church. The Trustees at that time were Frederick Cline, Brazilla Clark, Michael Bowman, Levi Bowyer, Stephen Bowyer, Elisha Clark. Joel Hanly and John Clap. The present brick structure was built in 1862 and cost $1,092.85.

The Socialville Methodist society originated in a class which sprang from the Bethel society, and, in 1845, a church was built on a lot donated by Henry Hageman, costing a little over $800. The first Trustees were N. Daw- son, David Bennett, Abbott Norris, Jonathan Myers, Aaron Scull, S. P. Wil- kinson and Joseph Hulse.

The Mason Universalist society took the first steps toward the erection of a church on the 15th of August, 1835. On this day a meeting was held and the following resolution adopted:

First. That the meeting have determined to build a house of public worship in the town of Palmyra, and that the house be a frame one.

Second. That said house be built, 30x40 feet.

Third. The meeting proceed to appoint three Trustees to contract for, and superin- tend said building ; also a Treasurer and a Clerk.

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David Hoffman, George G. Murphy and Peter Wikoff were duly appointed Trustees; James Fugate, Treasurer, and John McKinney, Clerk. The house was soon erected, and the society has ever since been in a flourishing condition. The Mason Methodist Church, in 1837, numbered thirty members, and in that year took steps toward erecting its first house of worship. A lot was donated to the society by Rev. J. J. Hill, and a house of worship costing $2 .- 000 was erected thereon. The Trustees at that time were Thomas White, Will. iam White, John Randall, William Morris and Enoch Harker. The society prospered for many years and maintained a good Sabbath school. Subsequent to 1860, services were for a time discontinued, and the church became dilapi- dated. In 1880, a new house was erected at a cost of $2,500.

The Somerset Presbyterian Church, is in the extreme southern part of the township. The congregation was organized about 1820, and, in 1822, Rev. Ludwell G. Gaines became pastor of this church in connection with the Presby- terian Church at Montgomery. The church is still in existence and generally has had its pastors in connection with the church at Montgomery or Mason.

SCHOOLS.

When the early settlers established their new homes, they did not forget that their minds could be cultivated in a wilderness. As early as 1805, houses were built for this purpose. They were constructed of unhewn logs, covered with clapboards held in their places by weight-poles. The open places be- tween the logs were chinked and daubed with clay mortar. A large fire-place with an outside stick chimney was at one end. The floor was made of punch- eons split from large logs and hewn into shape; these were notched on the underside and held in position on the sleepers by their own weight. The seats were mostly of split logs, sometimes of sawed slabs. The writing desk was placed along one side, and was held in a slanting position by pins driven obliquely into the wall. The door opened outward, swinging on wooden hinges and fastened by a latch-string. The windows were small and not of glass, but in its stead greased paper was used, admitting but a feeble light. The teach- ers in those days were determined to impart and the pupils as determined to learn. The schools were conducted on the subscription plan. Then the course of study was in the American Preceptor, English Reader, Testament, Webster's Speller and very limited lessons in arithmetic. School government was directly under the charge of the birch.

Time has changed the school system. Now nine months take the place of the original four; teachers receive their salaries from the public school fund, arising from a tax levied on all property. Brick buildings have replaced the log ones; a broader field of knowledge is required of all instructors. Yet, with all these, the system is far from a perfect one, for, as Garfield says, "it is to . me a perpetual wonder that any child's love of knowledge survives the outrages of the schoolhouse."

Our schools are seven in number, besides the Mason Special District. No. 1, Students' Hall, has already had four houses, the first being a log one located in the center of Section 26; the second being the famous "Old Stone." standing several rods south of the present site. This was one of the most popular places of former days. Singing schools, literary societies and Sunday meetings were held there, thus bringing together people from far and near, to chant the melo- dies from the "Old Missouri Harmony." Two brick structures have been in use since, the last having been built in 1873 at a cost of $3,000. Three have been built in No. 2, Mound, better known as " Dogstreet," the first being at & place a half mile south of the present one. No. 3, Union, has had four houses. No. 4, Twenty Mile Stand, has had four; the last, built in 1879, is one of the

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finest in the county. No. 5, Lick, has had three. No. 6 has had three, the' first standing where the Muddy Creek Graveyard is. No. 7, Unity, has had four. Mason, also, has had four, the first standing about half a mile north of the town; the second was a frame; the last two have been brick.

Our school buildings are among the best in the county. In 1840, the average wages were $21 per month; now they amount to $50. The enumera- tion in our schools has been gradually on the increase.

In 1878, a Township Superintendent was employed by the Board of Edu- cation, whose duty it was to make the school work in the different districts more uniform. A general examination was held in each school, and the merits and demerits of the different teachers were made visible. This proved detri- mental and was immediately dispensed with.

SOCIETIES.

Many organizations have been formed within our limits. Some were only of short duration; others have been longer kept up. The temperance people have at different times organized societies, but none are now maintained.

The Horse Rangers has been among the most noted orders. It has for its object the maintenance of the laws of our land, by detecting villainy and out- lawry in its various forms. It was organized in 1849, but not until 1850 was it ready for emergencies. Its early members were James Bowyer, P. W. Wi- koff, Garret Wikoff, William Kendall, J. M. Duvall, Alfred Voorhis, Joshua Cox, William McVay, R. H. Cunningham, William Harper, Ralph Moore, William C. McVay, J. A. Dodds, Aza Coleman, Thomas White, Jos. Dodds, William Cox, Peter Faust, W. W. Howard, J. Ross, W. W. Van Hise, J. F. Thompson, A. J. Hoff' and S. Voorhees. Since then its work has been well done. More than twenty horses have been stolen from its members, but, by its quick work and detective force, they have never lost a horse, and, in most cases, have captured the thieves. Sometimes the expenses of recovering a stolen horse would amount to $500 (which is always borne by the company) when the horse stolen probably was not worth $50. The number of members now is 164. The present officers are: P. W. Wikoff, Captain; J. M. Voorhees, Lieutenant; R. H. Bennett, Secretary; R. M. Cox, Treasurer. An order of this kind established five years ago at Twenty Mile Stand now has seventy members.

Mason Grange, No. 49, P. of H., was organized May 10, 1873, by S. H. Ellis, then Master of State Grange. There were about twenty charter members. R. H. Bennett was chosen as Worthy Master, and B. F. Lee as Worthy Over- seer. This organization is still in existence, but interest in it is rather on the decline and the number of members greatly reduced.

Mason Lodge, No. 209, I. O. O. F., was instituted February 21, 1853, by J. Hamilton, Grand Master, with six charter members and the following officers: John Loree, N. G .; Joseph A. Dodds, V. G .; D. R. Whittaker, Recording Sec- retary; J. M. Duvall, P. Secretary; F. T. Bundy, Treasurer. These, with William McAulley, were the original members. The number of initiations from the instituting of the lodge to the present time is 180; those admitted by card, 22. The present membership is 52. The officers now are: J. C. Bennett, N. G .; J. M. Wood, V. G .; L. L. Dodds, P. and R. Secretary; S. K. Bowyer, Treasurer.

Favorite Lodge, No. 118, Knights of Pythias, was instituted at Mason, Ohio, October 23, 1879, by E. Kuhn, P. G. C., and acting as G. C., with twenty charter members, viz., J. C. Bennett, A. C. Recker, D. W. Bishop, William Randall, S. K. Bowyer, L. R. Randall, W. S. Bowyer, H. J. Sausser, G. W. Sausser, R. Mount Cox, L. L. Dodds, Christ Erbeck, J. H. Vallandigham, J. M. Vandyke, J. W. Fibbe, B. F. Welton, T. F. Hall, M. C. Wikoff, John Kohl,

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Mont McVay. The exercises incident to the instituting of the lodge com- menced at 9 A. M. and closed at 10 P. M. The first officers were: J. M. Van- dyke, P. C .; A. C. Recker, C. C .; L. R. Randall, V. C .; G. W. Sausser, P .; L. L. Dodds, K. of R. & S .; J. C. Bennett, M. of E .; S. K. Bowyer, M. of F .; M. C. Wikoff, M. at A .; J. W. Fibbe, I. G., W. S. Bowyer, O. G .; G. W. Saus- ser, Representative to the Grand Lodge. The present membership is thirty. six.

MILLS AND DISTILLERIES.

Our first settlers had to go to Columbia to get their grists ground, but, as time moved on, mills were built along the Little Miami. One was built by William Wood about 1799, where the King Powder-Mills are. It passed into the hands of Hunt & Lowe; then under Isaac Stubbs' control, where it re- mained until the mill ceased running, in 1877.

Piercy Kitchel built a mill at Foster's in 1806. It passed into the care of Phillips & Clark, who used the mill until it burned, in 1844. Seventeen years afterward, it was rebuilt by S. B. Greeley, who still runs it. Shortly after the building of this mill at Foster's, one was erected by Gov. Morrow about a mile below.

In 1858, one was built in Mason by Kendall & Van Fossen, which, after a few years, was burned.

A woolen and carding mill was kept busily at work for several years at Gainesboro. One was built by Richard Sibbet, in 1823, at Stringtown, south of the "Old Stone" Schoolhouse. This was run awhile and then converted into an incubator; but failure was the consequence and business soon stopped

In early days, many distilleries were scattered over the township. Some four or five were around Mason; one was north on the McClung farm; one to the east, on the Lewis farm: one southeast, on the Dogstreet road, on the Dill place; one to the west, on the Randall farm. In fact, they seem to have been within calling distance from each other. Of course, these stills were small affairs, yet they converted nearly all the corn raised into liquor. These have all been stopped and none are now running in the township.

In 1877, A. King purchased the grist-mill property from the Stubbs' estate and began immediately to erect the many houses necessary for the manufacture of powder. Everything was soon in readiness and to-day it is one of the most extensive powder-mills in the country and the leading manufacturing estab- lishment in the county. It is known far and wide and goes by the name of the Great Western Powder Mills.

GRAVEYARDS.

One of the oldest burying-grounds was the now unused part of the Unity School lot. It was set apart about the year 1800, when the first bodies were buried there. In 1813, J. D. Lowe gave a lot, adjoining the one he gave to the Unity Church. In this many bodies have been interred, but it is no longer ased as a burying-place.

In 1803, the Union yard was opened for the interment of the dead. This is in the Bowyer community, about a mile north of the present Union Church. About the same time the Muddy Creek Graveyard was started.

Just after Mason was laid out, a yard was commenced on the north edge of the town. Besides these yards, many private family burial places dotted the township.

In 1868, a move was made to form a common place of burial for the town- ship. The Trustees purchased ten acres of ground from P. W. Wikoff for $2,- 000, to be used as a cemetery under the control of the township. The grounds were immediately prepared, divided into lots, graded and sectioned. Hundreds

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of bodies were taken from the old graveyards and moved to this. Many have been buried there since. Monuments of the most beautiful design have been erected to these dead ones by their living friends. The greatest care has been taken to make it one of the most beautiful of places. This has been done, and no "city of the dead " in this county is more beautiful than this.

POST OFFICES.

Prior to 1820, the citizens here had to go to Lebanon for their mail, that being the nearest point where there was an office. In those days but little mail was received, the postage being 18 cents for every letter.

The first office was at Judge J. D. Lowe's stand, the place being a half mile east of where Students' Hall now is. It remained there till the early part of the decade of 1830, when it was moved to Mason. Here it was called, for a short time, Kirkwood; then the name was changed to Palmyra; but, as there was another such office in the State, the name Mason was given it.

POLITICS.

In the earlier period, no political strife troubled the minds of the people. Every one attended to his own individual business and not to public affairs. Jackson's campaign was the sprout of partyism. The Democratic element was fostered early, which still survives and lives in the majority. At but very few of the times have they been placed in the minority. The vote of the township at different periods is given below. The names of Democrats are printed in Italics:

1856-Buchanan, 207; Fremont, 137; Fillmore, 36, for President.

1860-Thomas Corwin, 139; William B. Telfair, 166, for Congress.

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The History of Warren County, Ohio, Part 72

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