The History of Warren County, Ohio, Part 76

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

USA > Ohio > Warren County > The History of Warren County, Ohio > Part 76

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FREDERICKSBURG.

Fredericksburg is situated on the north bank of the Little Miami River, oppo- site the mouth of Todd's Fork. It was laid out in 1818 by Nathan Howell, and contained fourteen lots. A more unfortunate site could not have been selected, as it is subject to the overflow of the river and the wash of the hills surrounding it; yet it had at one time two drygoods stores, kept by T. J. Snyder and Alexander Crawford, and for many years was a town of considerable trade. A bridge was made across the river at this place, a few rods below the present one, in 1815. It was probably the first bridge in the county.

MILLGROVE.

Millgrove was settled early in the present century. It contained a grist and sawmill, a drygoods store, and a paper mill-the latter giving employment to a number of hands. For many years this was a thriving village; but after the

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construction of the Miami Canal, about 1845, the manufacture of paper was discon- tinued, on account of the river mills not being able to compete with the mills along the canal. Since then the village has dwindled to a mere shadow of its past im- portance. An effort was made to revive its waning fortunes by the erection of saw and gristmille, but without success.

MORBOW.

Morrow was laid out in August, 1844, by William H. Clement, George Keck, and Clark Williams, who were engaged in building the railroad that was completed to Morrow in that year. The plat contained forty-nine lots, and was recorded in January, 1845, when the town received its present name, in honor of Governor Morrow. The site on which the town was built was, in 1848, a farm owned by James Miranda, whose house stood opposite the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was torn down in 1881 to make room for the residence of Joseph Ludlum. The house was built in 1805, and was an elegant structure for its time. The Shawhan property, at the lower end of the village, belonged to Amos Shawhan, and was for many years a tavern. The founders of the village laid out five additional lots in 1845. They also platted additions in 1847-8-9. Septimus Hazen's addition of thirty-seven lots was made in 1852. Since then the following additions have been made: W. T. Whittacre's addition of 20 lots in East Morrow, 1861; J. W. Thompson, 28 lots, 1865; J. W. Thompson, 80 lots, 1869; B. A. Staley, 11 lots, 1866; S. Smith, 24 lots, 1870; J. B. Clement, 86 lots, 1874. These additions fairly indicate the steady growth of the village, which now has a population of 946. Its growth has been substantial, and many elegant residences deck the suburbs and crown the hills that surround the village. The names that appeared most prominently in the early business enterprises of the village were: Alfred Watts, David A. Saunders, W. H. Clement, S. Hazen, O. P. Moore, J. C. Dynes, L. Fair- child, H. Hopkins, and J. S. Couden.

The first building erected in the town was the old warehouse just east of the present depot. It was used as a freight depot, warehouse and general store, under the direction of Alfred Watts.

Prior to the construction of the Marietta and C. & M. V. R. R.'s, Morrow was a point from which large quantities of grain were shipped. The town was then the terminus of a stage line from Lancaster, via Circleville, Washington Court House, and Wilmington.

The second building erected in the town was the Morrow House, built in 1844. After this merchants and mechanics from the neighboring villages moved their business here; a new impetus was given to business; farm lands almost doubled in value. Money was plenty, and, for the first time in this section, became the ordinary medium of trade and exchange a system of barter and exchange of com- modities, with a large basis of credit, common to the early settlers, having pre- vailed previous to this time. Educational interest, previously sadly neglected, was encouraged, and almost a new civilization was brought about.

There is in the village a fine public hall, the first story being used for business rooms, the second for the public hall, and the third story for two fine halls occu- pied by the Odd Fellows and Masonic bodies, each having a membership of over fifty, and the Masons a Chapter membership of about fifty.

The present churches are good, substantial edifices, and the societies are in a flourishing condition.

The first public school taught in Morrow was in an old brick building which was also used for religious services. It was built on a lot donated by the founders of the town for church and school purposes. The school at this time consisted of but . one room presided over by a Mr. Reed. In 1849 John Starkey became the teacher. The school at this time numbered about 100 pupils, and was considered unusually

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prosperous. James B. Irwin took charge of the school in 1858. He was very highly spoken of, and indeed did a pioneer work in the schools of the village. He inaugurated a series of meetings similar to a teachers' institute, which was attended by teachers from the various parts of the county. During his term of service the school was divided into two rooms, the primary department being assigned to Miss M. B. Hart, now Mrs. Dr. Couden. Dr. W. A. Johnson became the principal in 1856. In 1860 the present school building was erected; three years later W. P. Harford took charge of the schools. He was succeeded by A. Dwinell in 1866. Since then the following is a list of the principals, with the dates of their service: John C. Ridge, July, 1867; John C. Kinney, October, 1867; H. Breckenridge, 1870; A. W. Cunningham, 1871; E. J. Godfrey, 1874; T. J. Wyscarver, 1875; E. B. Cartmell, 1877; Addison Ludlum, the present incumbent, 1880. In 1881 a complete course of high school study was adopted, and at the close of that year the following five scholars, Millie Holzlin, Tutonia Opes, Ada Cadwallader, George Smith, and Hattie Reece, constituted the first class to graduate from the High School. During this year the school purchased a library and a complete set of philosophical and chemical apparatus. The school now consists of six depart- ments, with an enrollment of over 300 pupils, of whom forty are in the High School.

-- On the range of hills south of the village are the homes of William H. Clem- ent, E. F. Fuller, E. W. Woodward, Samuel Woodward, Marshall Mounts, Mrs. J. R. Kibby and A. W. Cadwallader. Some of these men are identified with the management or construction of several railroads, and were pioneers in these enterprises. On the hills east are the homes of W. T. Whitacre and J. L. Wilson. Col. Thomas Worthington has long lived the life of a recluse on the west side of the Little Miami, in this township. He is a son of Gov. Thomas Worthington, graduated at West Point in 1827, and served in the Mexican War. In 1861 he published a work on military tactics. Early in the civil war he raised a company, and was afterwards commissioned Colonel of the 46th Ohio. At the battle of Shiloh he commanded this regiment. Col. Worthington has published a history of the battle of Shiloh, and many pamphlets in which he claims that his regiment was, without notice, transferred from the center to the extreme right of the Union line, far detached from the main army; that its right being suddenly threatened, the 46th, by a prompt change of front, attacked and repelled a superior flanking force, till ordered back about 2 P. M., April 6, thus holding the extreme right of the line long enough to make advancing aid available; that this regiment, being a part of Gen. Sherman's division, that officer obtained credit for this service, to which has been imputed the rescue of the Union army from imminent destruction, and to this service is due Gen. Sherman's past promotion and present position. A few months after the battle of Shiloh, Col. Worthington was tried by a court martial on several charges, one of which was the publication of extracts from his diary, containing false and libelous matter, designed to injure his superior officers, Col. McDowell, Gen. Grant and Gen. Sherman. The result of the trial was his dismissal from the service; but the sentence of the court was afterwards declared null and void by the Judge Advocate General, and he received an honorable dis- charge from the service. In many pamphlets published by Col. Worthington, he has charged Gen. Grant and Gen. Sherman with falsehood, negligence and mis- management. Being in reduced circumstances, Congress, recently, notwithstanding his repeated attacks on men who stood high in the confidence of the nation, passed a special act granting him a pension.

E. D. MANSFIELD.

This distinguished editor, author and statistician long resided on the north side of the river near Morrow. His beautiful and picturesque home was called Yamoyden, a name derived from the title of a romantic poem by Robert O. Sands and

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James W. Eastburn, published in 1820, and now little read. It was at this place that Mr. Mansfield wrote his contributions to the Cincinnati Gazette over the initials, " E. D. M.," and to the New York Times over the signature, " Veteran Observer." Edward Deering Mansfield was born at New Haven, Ct., in 1801. His father, Jared Mansfield, was a teacher and scientific man. In 1802-08, and again from 1814-28 he taught at West Point, and for nine years intermediately, beginning with 1808, was Surveyor-General of the United States in Ohio. He was appointed by Jefferson to supersede Gen. Rufus Putnam, of Marietta, on the ground that the latter did not understand the establishing of meridian lines. The removal of Gen. Putnam, who was a Federalist, was at first regarded by the people of Marietta, who largely shared the same views, as a partisan act, but they soon grew to like the Mansfields. Edward accompanied his parents on their long and toil- some journey over the mountains, and among his earliest recollections was probably the great Ohio River flood of 1805. He also remembered the Blennerhassets. In October, 1805, the family removed to Cincinnati, of which he writes in his mem- ories: "One of the dirtiest little villages you ever saw. The chief houses at that time were on Front Street, from Broadway to Sycamore; they were two-story frame houses painted white." The Mansfields did not remain in the city, but occupied the house built by Col. Ludlow at Ludlow Station, and until lately, at least, stil standing in the midst of Cumminsville. "It was then a large two-story dwelling with wings-the best looking, and, I think, the largest house then at Cincinnati." In 1809 Edward accompanied his father to the East, and at New York saw & steamboat for the first time. On their return the family removed to the Bates place, two miles nearer Cincinnati than their former residence. In 1811 Edward received two quarters' schooling in a log house, all that he had until 1818. At the close of one of these quarters, he came off victor in a spelling match, after which the master escorted the whole school to a neighboring tavern and treated the children to cherry bounce. In 1812 the Mansfields returned East, where the father served in a military capacity for two years, and then took up his residence at West Point. Edward was sent to the Episcopal Academy at Cheshire, Ct., and in 1815 was appointed a cadet at West Point. În 1819, when not quite eighteen, he grad- uated fourth in his class, and was commissioned in the engineer corps. He de. clined the appointment through his mother's influence, and entered Princeton College, from which he graduated in 1822. He studied law at the famous school kept by Judges Reeve and Gould, at Litchfield, Ct., and in 1825 came to Cincin- nati to practice his profession. He soon rose to prominence, and he enjoyed the friendship of the best people in the city. His relationship to the Drakes was of much help to him. He continued in active practice until 1886, and during that and the following year filled the chair of Professor of Constitutional Law and History in the Cincinnati College. In August, 1838, he contributed to Judge Hall's Western Monthly Magazine an article favoring the building of a railroad to Knoxville, Tenn., and thence to Mobile. His intelligence and enterprise bore fruit over forty years later in the Cincinnati Southern Railroad, the virtual, though not detailed, realization of his idea. He had few superiors as a newspaper contributor, but we should do him a great injustice were we to limit his reputation to this field. He was trained in military and legal science, was thoroughly versed in politics, pos- sessed much historical and antiquarian knowledge, and was for sixteen years (1886-52) editor of the Cincinnati Chronicle and Atlas, and later of the Railroad Record. Among his best known works are: "Cincinnati in 1826," in which he was associated with the late Dr. Drake; " Political Grammar," 1885; "Treatise ou Constitutional Law," 1885; "Legal Rights of Women," 1845; "Life of General Scott," 1846; " American Education," 1850; " Memoirs of Daniel Drake," 1855, and " Personal Memories, 1808-48," 1879. He also delivered many addresses, one on " The Utility of Mathematics," and several on educational topics.

Mr. Mansfield was tall, erect, and muscular, though spare. He was capable

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of great endurance, for his constitution was very elastic. He was of a sanguine and mercurial temperament, but was always firm in his adhesion to duty. Politi- cally he was first a Whig, and afterward a Republican. He worked for principles, not for pay, and never asked for or received a national office. He served the State of Ohio for several years as Commissioner of Statistics, and in this capacity ren- dered excellent service. Religiously he was a Presbyterian, and was a ruling elder in his church. In the days of their separation he acted with the New School body as against the Old, but his sympathies embraced all that was commendable in every denomination. He died at his home near Morrow, October 27, 1880.

HARLAN TOWNSHIP.

BY J. A. RUNYAN.

Harlan Township lies in the southeast corner of Warren County, and as a political division, dates from March 16, 1860, being the most recently organized township in the county.

Upon the first organization of Warren County the territory forming this town- ship was included in the township of Hamilton, which it soon became necessary, because of its large territory and increased population, to divide into two townships. This was done June 24, 1818, and the township of Salem created, which in- cluded within its boundaries all of the territory now constituting Harlan.

The integrity of Salem Township was preserved for nearly half a century, when again a diversity of local interests demanded that a new township be carved out of the territory comprising it. By an act of the Legislature, passed March 10, 1858, Salem Township was divided into two voting precincts, the boundaries of each being practically as they now exist between the two townships. Questions frequently arose which provoked much feeling between the two precincts, and made it desirable to the people of each to have the township divided.

In 1859 a petition was presented to the Legislature, and on March 16, 1860, the following act was passed. (Vol. 57, page 135, O. L.):

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, that Salem Township. in the County of Warren, be, and the same is, hereby divided into two townships; the eastern to be called Harlan and the western to be called Corwin.

Section 2. The division line shall commence at a point in the west bank of Todd's Fork where it intersects the line dividing the townships of Salem and Washington in said county. thence down Todd's Fork with the meanderings thereof, to the mouth of Second Creek: thence in a straight line to the mouth of Wolf's Run: thence up said run to the forks thereof; thence up the west fork of said run to the line dividing the lands of Robert C. Shurts and Allison Mounts: thence on a direct line to a point where the county road leading from Rossburg to Camargo crosses the line dividing the townships of Hamilton and Salem in said county.

Section 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.

The new township created by this act was named Harlan, in honor of Hon. Aaron Harlan, who at the time the act was passed, resided in Xenia, and repre- sented Greene County in the Ohio Legislature, and who had represented this Con- gressional District in the National Congress, from 1858 to 1859, having been succeeded in the latter year by Hon. Thomas Corwin. (The act, it will be observed, gave the name of Corwin to the western township. This was changed to Salem, June 15, 1860.)

The division line, as defined by the above act, constitutes the northwest boundary line of Harlan Township, making the township triangular and irregular

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in shape. It is bounded on the north by Washington Township, on the east by Clinton County, on the south by Clermont County, and on the west by Hamilton Township. The area of the township, as shown by the land records, is about 28,000 acres, or 45 square miles.

That portion of the township bordering on the northwest boundary, is consid- erably broken and diversified by Todd's Fork of the Little Miami River, and the several streams tributary thereto. In the south and central part, much of the surface is level and flat, and until artificial drainage was resorted to, was in places wet and swampy. These lands, however, were drained with little expense and difficulty, and are now all cultivated, and constitute the most valuable and fertile farming lands in the township.

The soil is generally good and easy of cultivation. In recent years farmers have given more attention to the improvement of the soil, and in 1875 an effort was made to introduce the dairy business by establishing a creamery and cheese factory. Sev- eral meetings were had and an organization partly 'effected, 'but for some reason the enterprise failed.

The principal streams of this township are Lick Run, Second Creek and First Creek, all of which flow in a northwesterly course through the township and empty into Todd's Fork. These streams for many years furnished power for several small mills, but since the general drainage of the lands in their vicinity, are dry most of the year.

The land in Harlan Township forms a part of the territory comprised in the Virginia Military District, and is included in twenty-six surveys and a few frac- tional surveys, each of which is known and designated by number, and usually by the name of the person who originally entered it. These surveys are irregular in shape, and vary in size from 2,666} to 140 acres. The earliest entries were made in 1787, five having been made in that year. The latest was made by John Shawhan, Esq., April 28, 1881, which was also the smallest, containing 140 acres only. Cornelius Skinner entered 2,666 acres, survey No. 1552, in February, 1798. These two names, Shawhan and Skinner, are the only names of the original purchasers own familiar in the township, and it is probable that few, if any other of the orig- inal owners, ever in fact occupied any of the lands.

The want of'system in the plan of Virginia in disposing of these lands has caused great irregularity and confusion in lines and boundaries, and in many cases boundaries dependent on the original survey lines can not be definitely ascertained. The want of uniformity in boundaries is a great source of annoyance, also, in lo- cating roads, and in many instances the value of lands is greatly impaired and their beauty marred .by that which otherwise would improve and adorn them.

ANCIENT REMAINS, ETO.

Ancient remains or fortifications are found in the central portion of the town- ship. About two miles northeast of Butlerville, on the lands of Jackson Clinton and Peter S. Templin, are found the remains of two earthen mounds, one on the south and one on the north side of Second Creek. They are situated in the high- est points in the vicinity, and have a commanding view of the surrounding country; and from their peculiar location and construction, it would appear that they had been lookouts, or sentinel posts.

A few years ago the writer assisted in exploring one of these mounds, and at a depth about level with the earth surrounding the mound, a broken flint arrow- head and quantities of charcoal were discovered. No other remains were found.

On the farm of William Reed, Esq., a short distance east of these mounds, and on the bank of the same stream, is found what is, or was, supposed to be an ancient burying ground. Nothing remains which would now indicate that the field had ever been used as a burial place, as the land has been cultivated for many

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years. But there is a traditionary account that in the early history of the town- ship, there yet remained undoubted indications which satisfied the pioneers that the field had been the site of an ancient burial place, used by the Indians, or those who preceded them.

The writer is not aware that any effort has ever been made to determine the accuracy of the tradition connected with this supposed cemetery. Such a thing would not be attended with great difficulty, and possibly might lead to valuable discoveries. As it is, the above is given as narrated to the writer by individuals residing in the vicinity.

Generally throughout the township, flint arrow-heads, stone axes and other implements and relics of stone are found in considerable numbers.

EARLY ROADS.

When the first settlers of whom we have any account came to this township, they found the land covered with forests, and in most parts with a dense under- growth of " bush," as it was called by them; and to reach the interior of the town- ship, "ways had to be cut through this ' bush.'"

In 1807, when John Liggett and party settled in this township, they were compelled to " hack a way through this bush " from near Mounts Station on the Little Miami River to near where Rossburg now is. It is probable that these ways continued to be used as highways until permanent roads were established.

The earliest road established by authority of law, in the township, of which there is any record, was laid out in 1809, about four years after permanent settle- ments are known to have been made. In that year a road was laid out by the County Commissioners from Waldsmith's Mill, near Milford, to Smalley's Mill, on Todd's Fork, near where Clarksville now is, William Runyan, James Hill, John Leaman and others being petitioners for the same. A survey and plat of this road are preserved, but as the monuments were "mile trees," which no longer exist, the exact hine of the road as laid out is not certainly known. The writer has recently had occasion to examine carefully the records of the early roads in this vicinity, and it is his opinion that this road, which was known as Smalley's Mill Road, was laid out practically on the line afterwards followed by the old State Road of 1822.

In the same year. 1809, a road was laid out from McCray's Mill (now Stubb's Mill, three miles west of Morrow,) " by way of First Creek to the Salt Works in Clermont County." This road followed First Creek from a point near Rossburg to the Clermont County line, and passing through what was then the most popu- lous part of the township, was instrumental, no doubt, in drawing considerable custom to the mill of McCray & Co., by whom the road was probably projected and obtained.

This condition of things, which contributed so liberally to the interests of Mo- Cray & Co., was destined, however, to be of short duration, for, in the following year, 1810, we discover the enterprising spirit of Isaac Stubbs, who owned & mill at Millgrove, petitioning for and obtaining a road from his "mill by way of Salem," (Roachester,) "Todd's Fork, Second Creek, to Goodpastures on First Creek, and there to intersect the road from McCray's Mill to the Salt Works," etc., thus tap- ping the feeder to McCray's Mill, and, undoubtedly, drawing largely on his trade, as Salem was the chief trading point south of the river. This road still remains.

The old State Road (now abandoned) from Columbus to Cincinnati, was sur- veyed and established through this township October 10, 1822. A small portion of this road from near Black Hawk, by way of the residence of Israel Lundy, Esq., and the old site of Edwardsville, yet remains. The general line of the road was a little east of the present turnpike, and the old grade is in many places easily traced. This road was abandoned and vacated when the Goshen, Wilmington and Columbus Turnpike was built.

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The first macadamized road constructed in the township was the Goshen, Wil- mington and Columbus Turnpike. This company was incorporated by an act of the Legislature, passed March 22, 1897, and the road was completed in 1840 through Harlan Township. It was a toll road, and constituted one of the most important thoroughfares in Southern Ohio, until supplanted by the railroads. In 1879, by & legal proceeding, the right of the company in the road was declared forfeited, and in 1880 proceedings were had making it a free pike under what is known as the one mile assessment system.

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The History of Warren County, Ohio, Part 76

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