USA > Ohio > Warren County > The History of Warren County, Ohio > Part 75
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No. 1,500, August 21, 1787, Alexander McIntyre, assignee, enters 200 acres of land, part of a military warrant, No. 2,959, beginning 60 poles on the river, at the upper corner of William McGuire's entry No. 520, run up the Miami to the lower corner of John P. Harrison's entry No. 1,494, thence west with Harrison's line for quantity. Surveyed by William Lytle, District Surveyor, October 16, 1796. The village of Morrow was built in this survey.
No. 1,552, February 19, 1798, Cornelius Skinner, assignee, enters 2,666} acres of land on a military warrant No. 8,788, on Todd's Fork, a branch of the Little Miami, beginning at the south corner of Stephen T. Mason's survey No. 1,211, thence S. 87 degrees E. 1,082 poles to the east corner of Benjamin Telia- ferro's entry No. 2,225, thence N. 58 degrees E. and at right angles for quantity. Surveyed by William Lytle, District Surveyor, April 25, 1814. The extreme east- ern corner of the township is in this survey.
No. 2,225, February 19, 1798, Benjamin Taliaferro enters 8,671 acres of land, part of a military warrant No. 559, on Todd's Fork, a branch of the Little Miami, beginning at the corner of said Taliaferro's entry of 995 acres, a burr and white oak, thence N. 58 degrees E. 460 poles, thence S. 87 degrees E., at right angles for quantity. Surveyed by Nathaniel Massie, District Surveyor, October 8, 1792.
No. 2,527, January 27, 1794, Elisha King enters 1,186g acres of land, a part of a military warrant No. 1,911, on the Little Miami, beginning at the upper cor- ner of William McGuire's entry No. 520, thence up the river and binding thereon to the lower corner of Alexander McIntyre's entry No. 1,500, thence with his lower line from the river to his south-east corner, thence with his back line to where it intersects the line of No. 1,494, and with the line of said survey, and from the be- ginning with McGuire's line out from the river so far that a line from each end of the given line will include the quantity. Surveyed by William Lytle, District Sur- veyor, October 16, 1796.
No. 2,529, March 28, 1797, William Nall, assignee, enters 666} acres of land, part of a military warrant No. 728, west of the Miami River, beginning at a large forked white oak in the line of John A. Binn's survey No. 1,496, and southwest corner to Elisha King's survey No. 2,527, thence with Binn's S. 4 degrees W. 850 poles, thence S. 87 degrees E. 400 poles, thence N. 8 degrees E. 856 poles, thence 8. 87 degrees W. 800 poles to the place of beginning. Surveyed by William Lytle, District Surveyor, March 29, 1797.
No. 8,798, February. 8, 1800, John Taylor enters 1,000 acres of land, part of a military warrant No. 4,911, on the waters of O'Bannon's Creek, beginning at
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the north corner of John Payne's entry No. 8,791, running with his line S. 45 de- grees E. 200 poles to his corner, thence with another of said Payne's lines S. 45 degrees W. to the line of Taylor, Lytle & Underwood's survey No. 3,790, thence with their hine S. 45 degrees E. 286 poles, thence at right angles N. 45 degrees E. 400 poles, thence N. 45 degrees W. 486 poles, thence S. 45 degrees W. to the place of beginning. Surveyed by William Lytle, District Surveyor, February 20, 1800. This includes the land in the southwestern corner of the township.
No. 8,794, February 8, 1800, John Taylor enters 1,215 acres of land, part of a military warrant No. 4,911, on the waters of the Little Miami, beginning at the north corner of his former entry No. 8,798, running S. 45 degrees E. 486 poles, thence at right angles N. 45 degrees E. for quantity. Surveyed by William Lytle, District Surveyor, February 20, 1800. Only the upper end of this survey is in Salem Township.
No. 8,795, February 8, 1800, John Taylor enters 1,215 acres of land, part of a military warrant No. 4,911, on the waters of the Little Miami River, beginning at the north corner of said Taylor's former entry No. 8,794, running S. 45 degrees E. 486 poles with line of said entry, thence off at right angles N. 45 degrees E. for quantity. Surveyed by William Lytle, District Surveyor, February 20, 1800. The north end only of this is in Salem Township.
No. 4,489, June 14, 1808, William Lytle, assignee, enters 700 acres of land, part of a military warrant No. 1,841, on the waters of the Little Miami River, be- ginning at a large red oak and elm southeast corner to John A. Binn's survey No. 1,496, east corner to James Mcllhaney and others' survey 1,497, thence S. 4 degrees W. with the line of their survey, passing their southeast corner and with the line of Thomas Martin's survey No. 2,805, to the line of John Taylor's survey No. 3,793, thence N. 45 degrees E. with Taylor's line, so far that a line running east from the beginning, will include the quantity. Surveyed by William Lytle, District Surveyor, March 10, 1804.
No. 9,536, November 8, 1817, John Nancarrow, assignee, enters 300 acres of land, part of two military warrants Nos. 8,695 and 8,480, on the waters of Todd's Fork, beginning at the northeast corner of John Taylor's survey No. 3,795, in the line of John Crittenden's survey No. 980, thence with said line to the south corner of J. P. Harrison's survey No. 1,494, thence with Harrison's line to the southeast corner of Elisha King's survey No. 2,527, and from the beginning N. 45 degrees W. with Taylor's line to said King's line for quantity. Surveyed by William Lytle, District Surveyor, November 5, 1817.
Most of the land warrants were located as early as 1790, the Indians being then comparatively peaceable, but owing to a dispute about the terms of some of their treaties, they became hostile, and remained in a state of war up to their de- feat by General Wayne in August, 1794; and the treaty of Greenville, July 30, 1795, brought an end to Indian troubles in Ohio. Many Virginians having land warrants had come down the Ohio River to possess their land, but Indian hostilities caused them to settle temporarily at Columbia, or White's Station, or in Kentucky near Cincinnati. Many persons had been waiting one or two years, living in camps and block-houses, for some assurance of permanent peace to be given them. In less than thirty days after the ratification of Wayne's treaty, there was a flood of emigration to the Miami lands, unknown in the previous history of the country.
SETTLEMENTS.
Probably the first settlement in the county, south of the Little Miami River, was in the autumn of 1795, on lands now owned by William P. Mounts, three miles below the mouth of Todd's Fork. This settlement was made by William Mounts' family, and five other families. It was known as Mounts' Station. An account of this settlement was furnished by the writer for the history of Hamilton Township.
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The families making the settlement had been stopping temporarily in Kentucky and at White's Station, on Mill Creek, for about two years. As soon as the news of their safe arrival on their lands reached their friends in Virginia, where many had been anxiously awaiting the result and report of the advance, there was at once the most tremendous tide of emigration from all the east, but especially from Virginia and Pennsylvania. A few families had come with the settlers at Mounts' Station and stopped temporarily at what is now called South Lebanon. Many of the first settlers had been soldiers under Gen. Wayne in the Indian wars. Col. Paxton commanded a regiment of Pennsylvania troops, and immediately after peace was established removed to Clermont County. He had already located sev- eral tracts of land in Warren County, which had been surveyed in 1792-98. Todd's Fork took its name from Paxton's son-in-law, Robert Todd, who was one of the surveying party, and located lands on the stream as early as 1787. Another of this surveying party was Martin Varner, who afterwards settled at Hick's Station. He was the father of Jacob Varner, and the grandfather of Mrs. James Hicks. These men are thus specially noticed, not only because they were among the very earliest settlers in Warren County, but because they were here several years in advance of the first settlements, while the country was in possession of hostile Indians. Emigrants having no lands, and no money with which to purchase lands, could get a lease of from twenty to forty acres for from fifteen to twenty years, on condition that they would erect a cabin and clear the land and vacate it at the expiration of the lease. A list of the settlers in this township in 1805 would be of interest, but the following few only can be mentioned: Wm. Leggett occu- pied the farm now known as the "Stubbs farm;" Joseph and David Shawhen occupied the farm east of this; Thomas Miranda's father owned the present site of Morrow; the Irelands owned the Clement farm; the Wallaces owned the farm directly south of this; William T. Whitacre's grandfather owned 4,000 acres, beginning at the mouth of Todd's Fork, running almost to Butlerville, thence to Blackhawk, thence to the river, opposite Lambert's. He gave 1,100 acres off of the east side of the survey to have it located and surveyed. He had traded a small farm near Winchester, Va., for this warrant. The 1,100 acres from the east side was pur- chased by & Mr. Roach, of Harper's Ferry, Va., and was settled by his sons, Jonah, George, Phineas and Mahlon. The latter built the house now owned by Mrs. Ward about 1880, and also laid out the village of Roachester. Whitacre's lands were divided among his children, Moses, John, Andrew, Aquilla and several daughters. William T. lives on the site of his grandfather's first house. In 1805, when they located on the land, they lived for a time in a hollow sycamore tree on the bank of the fork, near the site of the present bridge. About the year 1808 Whitacre built the first frame house in Salem Township. It was the first shingled house between Chillicothe and Cincinnati, and was designated as "the frame house" or the "shingled-roofed" house. It was built by James Hart, the father of Tilford Hart.
Jonathan Tribbey settled on the old Tribbey farm at a very early day. The Irelands came from Virginia in 1805 and settled on the Brown farm, opposite Morrow, and afterwards on the farm now owned by W. H. Clement, west of the brewery. The original Miranda farm embraced 200 acres, including the village of Morrow, a part of East Morrow, the Miranda burying ground (now a part of the cemetery), and the land where the brewery now stands, which was known as "the old Wilson farm." Amos Tullis owned the farm now owned by William H. Clement, just above the Catholic cemetery. At his house the first Presidential election in Hamilton Township was held in the fall of 1804. The people, being entirely ignorant of the manner of proceeding at an election, ranged themselves in lines, one line representing each candidate. At this election the longest line being in favor of Thomas Jefferson, Amos Tullis was directed to go to Lebanon, as their chosen elector, and cast the vote of Hamilton Township for Thomas Jefferson,
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The above was narrated by Joseph Mounts, Sr., who was present and a voter at this election.
Thomas Watson settled on the old Shawhan farm in the year 1797-98, having emigrated with the Mounts family and lived at Mounts' Station from 1795 until he moved to this farm.
The part of Salem north of the river was but little occupied until after 1800, when Cyrenus Jennings came from Virginia to purchase land. He selected land on the hills opposite what are now the Donally, Roach and Lownes farms, paying forty cents more per acre than he could have purchased the land south of the river for.
Samuel McCray and his wife, Rebecca Douglass, came to Warren County from Jefferson County, Va, in 1799. After spending the winter of 1799 and 1800 at Bedle's Station, they removed to what was called Smalley's Settlement, on Todd's Fork, and in the spring of 1801 they settled on the west side of the Little Miami, opposite the mouth of Todd's Fork. Mr. McCray afterwards resided in Lebanon, and still later owned the mill now known as the Zimri Stubbs Mill. He was an early sheriff of Warren County.
This concludes the settlement, up to 1805, by land owners, but there were many other settlements made by lease holders.
Some of the foregoing is obtained from traditions, and is liable to slight mis- takes, but all possible care has been used to make it correct. Much has been learned from living witnesses and from the narrations of James Smith, a sketch of whose life is here given:
James Smith was born near Chambersburg, Pa., Feb. 28, 1790. His life was prolonged much beyond the limits usually allotted to man, and em- braced a period of the history of our country from that of a wilderness, inhabited by barbarous Indians, to the present.
His grandfather, Col. Thomas Paxton, commanded a regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers in the Indian war in Ohio and Kentucky, and in the year 1789 visited Ken- tucky, and in the year 1790 emigrated to that State, accompanied by his sons-in-law, John Ramsay, Silas Hutchison, and James Smith, (the latter being the father of the subject of the present sketch, who was then a child). A family history says: "They made the trip down the Alleghany River to Pittsburg, by flat-boat, where, for greater security, they were detained until a fleet of sixteen flat-boats had been organised. These boats were lashed together and worked with oars, under cover, with port-holes through which to fire on the Indians, who were known to live on the banks of the river, but no attack was made until they arrived at the islands called 'The Three Sisters,' when they had a severe battle, resulting in the killing of several savages and the wounding of some of the whites. Without further molestation the fleet reached Limestone, now Maysville, in safety, where they were met by friends and escorted to their new home on Elk-Horn Creek, Fayette Co., Ky., near the village of Lexington."
Col. Paxton having visited Ohio in 1795-96, assisting in surveying the Virginis Military Reservation, and having purchased several tracts of land, in 1798 moved to Ohio, locating on the Little Miami River, on O'Bannon Creek, near the present site of Loveland; and his son-in-law, James Smith, located at Deerfield at the same time, and removed to his lands near Morrow in the year 1799, where his son, James Smith, resided until his decease.
The subject of this sketch served as an apprentice in the printing office of the Western Star under Judge John and Nathaniel McLean in 1807-8, and enlisted in the War of 1812 as an Indian scout and ranger. The original agreement of enlistment recites that he is to receive' one dollar per day, to furnish himself with a good horse, saddle and bridle, and to arm himself with a good rifle, tomahawk and scalping knife; for this service he afterward, for many years, received a govern- ment pension. After the war he made two trips, on foot, over the mountains to
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his old home in Pennsylvania; afterwards worked on his farm during the summer and run flat-boats to New Orleans in the winter, returning home on foot-this being before the age of steamboats. In 1820 he married Jane, daughter of Thomas Ireland, who died Nov. 1, 1857. In 1860 he married Mrs. Dickey who died in September, 1864, since which time he made his home with his children and grand-children.
He was not, to appearances, physically, a robust man, but was of a long-lived race-his father and mother both reaching near the age of ninety. He was regu- lar and temperate in his habits, unassuming, quiet and retiring in disposition, ยท calm and deliberate in all his undertakings, and positive in his religious convic- tions. He retained his physical and intellectual faculties to a remarkable extent in his extreme age. His long life of industry, prudence and economy, resulted in the accumulation of a considerable estate, which he, many years previous to his decease, divided among his children, retaining, however, a competence for his own wants. Until a few days preceding his death he was able to ride on horseback, visit- ing his children and superintending affairs on his farm.
After a brief illness, he sank quietly and peacefully to rest on the 80th day of August, 1881, aged ninety-one years, five months and seven days.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
The following are the names of the persons commissioned to the office of Jus- tice of the Peace in Salem Township, with the dates of their commissions:
James McMannis, September 11, 1818; Abraham Bowman, November 19, 1818; James Hill, September 11, 1818; James McMannis, September 11, 1816; James Hill, September 11, 1816; Abraham Bowman, September 11, 1816; Amos Tullis, September 7, 1819; Job Peacock, September 7, 1819; Mahlan Roach, April 17, 1820; Benjamin Baldwin, August 27, 1822; Amos Tullis, August 27, 1822; Mahlan Roach, April 7, 1828; Benjamin Baldwin, August 6, 1825; Amos Tullis, August 6, 1825; James Hill, Jr., March 26, 1826; Benjamin Baldwin, July 28, 1828; William Crosson, July 28, 1828; Amos Tullis, February 17, 1829; William Crosson, July 25, 1881; Archibald Clinton, July 25, 1881; Benjamin Baldwin, February 15, 1882; William S. Mickle, March 22, 1884; Archibald Clinton, August 1, 1884; William Crosson, August 1, 1884; John Shawhan, March 27, 1887; William S. Mickle, August 19, 1887; William Crosson, August 19, 1887; Jolin Trimble, April 25, 1889; John Shawhan, March 26, 1840, Wil- liam Crosson, August 12, 1840; John Trimble, April 25, 1842; Jolin Shawhan, March 20, 1843; William Crosson, August 19, 1848; James Turk, April 21, 1845; John Shawhan, March 14, 1846; James Turk, May 8, 1848; William McFerren, June 10, 1848; William Henry, March 24, 1849; William Crosson, August 25, 1849; Benjamin B. Getzendenner, January 18, 1851; James Turk, May 10, 1851; William McFerren, May 10, 1851; William Crosson, August 21, 1852; Benjamin B. Getzendenner, January 17, 1854; William McFerren, May 3, 1854; James C. Dynes, May 3, 1854; George Nixon, August 15, 1855; Hiram St. John, Decem- ber 5, 1856; Benjamin B. Getzendenner, January 12, 1857; James C. Dynes, May 1, 1857; John W. Rice, May 1, 1857; James Ferguson, January 17, 1860; James C. Dynes, May 15, 1860; James C. Dynes, May 14, 1868; Coulson P. Thompson, October 24, 1863; Abraham Brant, May 11, 1865; W. T. Whitacre, May 9, 1866; James C. Dynes, April, 1867; Joseph C. Newport, May 12, 1868; Benjamin F. Wilson, April 8, 1870; E. S. Gilson, May 3, 1871; Frank M. Scant- len, April 10, 1878; Benjamin F. Wilson, April 10, 1874; Daniel Collins, April 10, 1876; James Ireland, April 6, 1877; Daniel Collins, April 10, 1879; James Ireland, April 17, 1880.
CHURCHES.
The Friends Meeting House, a one-story brick building at Roachester, was . erected about the year 1818. The ground upon which it was built, one acre, was
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deeded October 17, 1816, by James and Mahlon Roach to Isaac Thomas, Jr., Benjamin Nincle, Jonah Cadwallader and Andrew Whitacre, Trustees of the Friends of "Hopewell Meeting." It was given for both church and burial pur- poses. The following-named persons were the heads of families then belonging to this society of Friends: Benjamin Butterworth, Robert Whitacre, Thomas Cadwallader, Ruth Tribby, Elijah Thomas and Jesse Williams. Years prior to the building of the meeting house, Robert Whitacre was instrumental in the or- ganization of this meeting, which was called Hopewell, after a meeting of Friends in Virginia. They worshipped for some time in a small log house which stood about three-quarters of a mile southeast of the present building. About the close of the late civil war, the society became weak and the meeting was "laid down." In 1872 it was revived, but again suspended in the Spring of 1882. Since the di- vision in the Society of Friends, it was a Hicksite congregation.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, in the same village, a one-story brick, was erected prior to the year 1880, upon ground deeded to that congregation by Mah- lon Roach. It was one of the early religious societies of Salem Township. It is now a part of the South Lebanon Circuit, and has a membership of forty. The minister in charge is Rev. G. M. Hammell.
Shiloh Methodist Episcopal Church, situated in the eastern part of Section 14, was organized as a mission in the year 1844 or '45, and the first meeting held at the residence of Joseph Keever, in the vicinity of the present church building. Among the original members were Elijah Trovillo and wife Mary, Joseph Keever and wife Mary A., and Jackson St. John and wife. For a number of years the congregation worshipped in an old wagonmaker's shop, which stood not far from the present church, and was fitted up for that purpose, and in a log schoolhouse, then standing about a half mile distant toward Morrow. In five or six years after the organization of the society, the one-story frame building, still standing, was erected on ground donated to the church by Jackson St. John. It was originally "Merritstown Mission." It has since been in a number of different circuits, and on several occasions has been attached to some of the neighboring stations, now being a part of the South Lebanon Charge.
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The first church built in the town of Morrow was a small structure, built previous to 1847, by private subscription. It was known as a union church, and was occupied alternate Sundays by the different denominations then existing in the village. After the completion of the railroad to Morrow, a large number of men were employed in work along the line of the road. Many of these were Cath- olics, and St. Malachy's Catholic Church was organized by Rev. Blake, in 1849 or '50, with a large membership. They held their services for some time in the union church and school building. In 1854 they erected at a cost of about $2,000, a small one-story brick house, with a seating capacity of about 800, on a lot donat- ed by William H. Clement. In 1866 a tower and belfry was added at a cost of $8,000. In this a bell weighing 1,400 pounds, donated by the section men on the railroad, was hung. In 1864 the congregation bought a building which stood near the church and was used for a private schoolhouse, and converted it into a large and commodious parsonage. The society now includes about twenty families, and is under the pastoral charge of Rev. O'Donohue, who has served the church in this capacity many years.
The Presbyterian Church of Morrow was first organized about 1848 by Rev. Hicks, with the following eight members: Dr. James Scott and wife, Mrs. Abbey Dynes, Miss Sarah Newall, Miss Lettie Newall, Miss Martha Newall, Mrs. Gordon, and another lady whose name cannot now be learned. Dr. Scott, the only male member, was elected Elder. The society did not prosper and soon ceased to exist as a church. In 1857 it was reorganized through the personal efforts of Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Mansfield, with seven members, among who were Mr. and Mrs. Mansfield, Mrs. Abbey Dynes and Mrs. Fairchild. In 1858 a church was built at a cost of between
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$8,000 and $4,000. The pulpit has been filled mostly by stated supplies; the only installed pastors of whom any record can be obtained, being Rev. G. S. J. Brown, Rev. C. P. Taylor and Rev. E. T. Swiggett, the present incumbent. Mr. Swiggett has had charge of the pastorate since December 11, 1879. Mrs. Abbey Dynes, who still resides in the village, is the only surviving member of the original organization.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, of Morrow, was organized about 1848, with about ten members. They commenced building a church soon after their organiza- tion, and until it was completed held their services in the union church. A lot was donated to them by William H. Clement, which they afterwards sold and purchased the lot where the church now stands. The church now numbers 240 members. As the early records of the society are lost, only a few of the more re- cent incumbents of the pastorate can be named. Rev. N. C. Parrish, from Au- gust 29, 1870, three years; Rev. William Young, September 19, 1878, one year; Rev. B. F. Dimmick, September, 1874, three years; Rev. G. W. Dubois, Septem- ber, 1877, three years; Rev. V. F. Brown, September 6, 1880, still in charge. A successful Sunday School, under the present Superintendency of G. W. Davis, is conducted in connection with the church. It averages in attendance about 175 scholars.
ROACHESTER.
Roachester was the first village laid out in the township. The first plat con- tained forty lots, owned by Mahlon and James Roach, and was recorded October 12, 1816. It became a thriving country village of 800 inhabitants, containing two or three drygoods stores and groceries, a postoffice, three hotels, cabinet, blacksmith, and wagon-making shops, and physicians and lawyers. The following were some of the leading citizens about 1840: Lewis Fairchild, merchant; James Turk, gun- smith; Isaac Patterson, cabinet-maker undertaker; Drs. Thacker, Hunt, Starbuck, Leever and Roach, and Dr. James Scott, our present Representative in the Legis- lature; J. Phillips and S. Parker, blacksmiths; John Harford, shoemaker, and Judge Mickle, Joseph Thacker, and Captain Gilham, hotel-keepers. Roachester was then notorious for its musters. Muster days were not only devoted to instruc- tions in the science of the drill, but to the settlement of all personal difficulties by fisticuffs; and on these occasions blood and whisky flowed freely. After the village of Morrow began to be settled, there was a general exodus of all business to the Dew village, and Roachester became almost deserted. The ravages of time and fire have destroyed about half of the buildings. The town now contains a population of about 100 inhabitants, two groceries and a blacksmith shop.
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