The History of Warren County, Ohio, Part 77

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

USA > Ohio > Warren County > The History of Warren County, Ohio > Part 77

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The Rossburg and Morrow Turnpike Company was 'incorporated about 1860, and built and completed their road about the same time. It has also become s free road, and there is now no toll road in the township.

In the last few years several new pikes have been constructed under the assess- ment laws of the State, and several are now in process of construction, making this township compare very favorably in this respect with other townships in the county.

RAILROADS.

The Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad, as now known, runs in a south- westerly course through the township. It was constructed about 1851 and 1852, and now constitutes a part of the Baltimore and Ohio system of roads, and affords the people of the township direct shipping and traveling facilities East and West. Pleasant Plain and Level are the stations on this road in this township.

The Muskingum Valley Railroad, leading from Cincinnati to Zanesville, touches the township on the north, and was built about 1855. Hicks is the only station on this road in Harlan Township.

TOWNS AND VILLAGES.

Rossburg acquired its name from one Enoch A. Ross, who started a tannery there about 1820, the first in this township. It is situated near the boundary be- tween Salem and Harlan Townships. It was never laid out as a town.

The first church erected in Harlan Township was built here by the Methodist Episcopal Society about 1822. It stood on the north side of the turnpike and immediately opposite the late residence of Abram Butler, deceased.

The first store, also, it is believed, was started here by Daniel Holmes and brother, as early as 1824 or 1825; but this is not certain, as Lewis Sever kept a tavern and store about the same time near the old site of Edwardsville. Prior to these stores, the nearest trading points were Salem (now Roachester) and Lebanon.

The first postoffice in Harlan Township was established here it 1839, Jeffer- son Stevens being the first postmaster. In 1838 this office was changed to But- lerville.

The first Free Will Baptist Church was erected here about 1840.

With all these conveniences and advantages it can well be imagined that Rossburg became a village of no small importance in the early history of this town- ship. Other towns, however, possessing superior advantages, superceded it, and its half dozen or more buildings remain to recall the early activity of the place.

The first town regularly laid out in what is now Harlan Township, was Ed- wardsville, on the line of the old State road of 1822. It was laid out by Edward Thomas in March, 1824. The town, as indicated by the plat recorded, consisted of forty-two lots-twenty-one on each side of the road, which was dedicated Main Street. These lots are represented in the plat by continuous lines, and in the rear of these lots, on each side, is a row of lots inclosed by dotted lines, corresponding to those laid out on Main Street, which lots, the surveyor adds, "are back lots and for the present merely surmised," evidently anticipating a rapid growth for the newly projected village. His hope was never realized, and the record alone exists to mark the place as the site of a proposed town.

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BUTLERVILLE.

Butlerville was laid out by Abram B. Butler, April 20, 1838, the Goshen, Wilmington and Columbus Turnpike, on which it was located, being in process of construction at the time. On September 3, 1889, and May 17, 1841, respectively, he made additions to the town, and in November 19, 1844, an addition was made by J. W. Doughman, which he named in the plat thereof, Texas, and which com- prised all that part of the village south of the old patent line.

The village was established under auspicious circumstances, and several in- dustries early sprung up, which for many years made it a prosperous and active country town. It was incorporated in 1851, and is the only incorporated village in the township. The first election of corporation officers was held March 11, 1851, when the following officers were elected, to wit: Mayor-Sullivan F. Stevens; Council-A. G. Walden, James Coddington, Hiram St. John, James Starry and Geo. W. Starkey. Butlerville was established as the voting place for Salem Township about 1841, since which time it has been the regular place of holding township elections.

The frame church on Back Street was the first church built in the town, and was erected by the Methodist Episcopal organization about 1839. The brick church on Main Street was built by the same society in 1857.

Among the early merchants appear the names of Sullivan F. Stevens, Isaac Lemmon, Henry Morgan, William Vaughn, Elias L. Runyan, Hiram L. Runyan and Hiram St. John.

Hiram St. John, about 1843, engaged in the manufacture of carriages and wagons, etc., in Butlerville. His first shop was a frame building which soon gave way to the more commodious and substantial brick building now occupied by H. W. Price, Esq. The business proved a success, and for several years from fifteen to twenty-five mechanics were constantly employed. His carriages and buggies acquired a considerable reputation, and were extensively sold in this and surround- ing counties. He quit the business about 1860.

Henry Runyan established a plow and wagon factory and repair shop here in ` September, 1847. The enterprise was successful and furnished several mechanics with employment. He manufactured a very large proportion of the farming im- plements purchased and used in that vicinity. He retired from the business in September, 1860.

Thornton Thompson, carpenter and builder, engaged in business here about the same time, and gave employment to several mechanics. He retired from the business about 1860.

In addition to those mentioned above, there were several other industries, in- cluding a tannery, which was established by J. St. John, who conveyed it to Wil- liam Spence. He sold it to John Morsback, who carried on the business until about 1878, when it was abandoned.

These little industries so healthy to a community have been here, as else- where, almost swallowed up by the economy of labor-saving machinery, concen- trating them in large manufacturing communities; and the thrift and activity which characterized the early years of the village are greatly diminished.

At present Butlerville has a hotel; a carriage and wagon shop, H. W. Price, Esq., proprietor; a blacksmithshop, by M. Keller, Esq .; and one general store, by Daniel S. Bird, Esq.

OSCEOLA.

Osceola was laid out by Lewis Fairchild and Benjamin Baldwin, on the lands of the latter principally, on June 11, 1838, on the G. & W. Turnpike. Forty- one lots in all were laid out, situated on both sides of the pike, which consti- tuted Main Street. Water and Powell Streets and Indian Alley were also named

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and dedicated by the plat. The residence of :Hon. Benjamin Baldwin was neu this place.

BLACK HAWK.

Black Hawk was laid out in 1838, August 7, by George B. Whitacre and Elisha Barber, on the line of the G. & W. Turnpike. The lots, twenty-six in num- ber, were vacated by order of court, 1879.

MIDDLEBOROUGH.

Middleborough is on the Goshen and Wilmington Pike, about five miles north- east of Butlerville. It was laid out by George Bowman in August, 1898. For many years Truman Holmes, now deceased, kept a general store at this place. There are now two stores here, of which A. C. Bowman and Henry Krekler are the respective proprietors.

PLEASANT PLAIN.

Pleasant Plain was laid out by Samuel Craig, November 13, 1852, and was origin- ally named by him New Columbia. The name was changed to Pleasant Plain by an act of the Legislature about 1860. An addition was made by him October 2, 1854. January 23, 1872, Thomas Hill laid out an addition of eleven lots on the east side of the village, and on December 5, 1873, Ira Dudley, Esq., added seven lots on the south.

This village is on the Marietta & Cincinnati R. R., and is the principal station on that road in the township. Pleasant Plain has two churches, a hotel, by J. M. Fox; a general store, by Peter C. Spurling, Esq., and a drug store and grain ware- house. This is the chief shipping point in the township. The only steam flour- ing mill in Harlan Township, erected by W. H. Greeley, Esq., about 1861, and now operated by Mr. Stewart, is located here.

LEVEL.

Level is a station on the M. & C. R. R., and is about three miles east of But- lerville. It was not laid out as a town. It has a general store, grain warehouse, express and postoffice, etc.

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS.

Methodist Episcopal Church. The first organization of a Methodist Church in Harlan Township dates very early, and is probably coeval with the first settle- ments. It is probable that the earliest settlers were members of that church, and that meetings for worship were held at private houses. As early as 1810 an organiza. tion had been perfected, and meetings were regularly held at the house of John Liggett, a rudely-built log cabin, on the farm now known as the Hitesman farm; and perhaps this was the first place of holding regular service. This continued for several years to be the regular place of worship until about 1814, when it was changed to the residence of Henry Runyan, who lived on what is now the farm of Alexander Hutchison, Esq., near Pleasant Plain. About 1818 the place of wor- ship was changed to the house of Joseph Bennett, on the farm now owned by John Kamp, Esq., near Rossburg. It continued here until about the year 1822 or 1825, when the first church in the township was erected at Rossburg.

On the 4th of October, 1825, James Taylor conveyed one and one-fourth acres for church and school purposes to John Collins, Jacob Collins, William Little, Oliver Wallis, Joseph Bennett, and Amos Tullis, as trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and William Bennett, William Crossen, and Isaac Runyan, School Directors. The church was built on the land conveyed by this deed, and

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probably about the date of the conveyance. The church may have been erected prior to this, as some of the old settlers yet living fix the time as early as 1822. The building was constructed of hewn logs, with a pulpit very high, made of puncheons, and seats of the same without any backs. In this rudely-constructed building, where there was less luxury, but perhaps as much piety as in our average modern church, the society held its meetings, until the organization was removed to Butlerville and built a church there in 1841. This was the frame church now occupied by the German Lutheran Reform Church. This building was afterwards sold to the Free Will Baptists, and the Methodist Episcopal society in 1857 built the brick church on Main Street, which they now occupy. This church has now about eighty-seven members.

Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church. This was organized by Jacob Jackson, Joshua Thompson, and others, about 1846, and was a branch of the Butlerville church. The church is about one mile southeast of Level. The membership of this society now numbers about ninety-three.

McKendrie was also a branch of the old Butlerville Methodist Episcopal organi- zation, and was organized by Ala G. Starkey, Lemuel Jackson, Stephen Jackson, Adam Huffman, and others, about 1852. They have a substantial brick church about two miles southeast of Pleasant Plain, and have a membership at this time of sixty-two members.

Pleasant Plain Methodist Episcopal Church was organized by John G. Oonk, Thomas Hill, Benjamin Benn, and others, of the Butlerville Church, in 1875, and now has a membership of about forty-seven.

The first : Freewill Baptist organization in the township was at Rossburg, about 1899, John Tufts, William Coddington, Jefferson Stevens and others being the organizers. About 1848 this society erected a brick church there which for some years past has been occupied as a dwelling house. About 1856 this or- ganization purchased the frame church in Butlerville, of the Methodist Episcopal society, which became and continued to be the place of worship until about the year 1870, when it was sold to the German Lutheran Reform Church, and the Baptist society was moved to Pleasant Plain, where they erected a neat and sub- stantial brick chapel, which is the present place of holding worship.

The German Lutheran Reform Church, about 1870, organized and purchased the frame church in Butlerville, and handsomely repaired and refitted it, which they still occupy. This society is perhaps the largest society in the township, and is & wealthy and prosperous church.

Other denominations have been organized, and held services in the township, among them the Presbyterian and Universalist churches, but they never succeeded in establishing a permanent society.

SOCIETIES.

Butlerville Lodge No. 135, F. & A. M. On April 12, 1846, a meeting of Mas- ter Masons was held at the house of Dr. Albert G. Walden, in Butlerville, to consider the propriety of organizing a new Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons at Butlerville. Jolin Hill was elected chairman, and Thomas Adams secretary of this meeting. A resolution in favor of forming said lodge was passed, and a petition for a dispensation prepared and signed. A dispensation was granted April 27, 1846, and the first regular communication was held June 4 following, at the house, probably, of Dr. Walden. The Lodge was chartered October 23, 1846, Albert G. Walden, Sullivan F. Stephens, Isaac Leming, Thomas Adams, John Hill, Stephen F. Stewart, George B. Rohrer, Samuel P. Hunt, and David Hunt being charter members. The first officers were, Stephen F. Stewart, W. M .; Samuel P. Hunt, S. W .; Isaac Leming, J. W. During some time after its organization the lodge meetings were held in the second story of the dwelling house of Mathias Huffman, immediately opposite the site of the present Masonic Hall. In 1847 the

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lodge erected the hall which they still occupy. The lodge now has about twenty- five members, and is the only Masonic order in the township.

Pleasant Plain Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 656, as the name indicates, is located at Pleasant Plain. This lodge, having for some time worked under a dispensa- tion, was finally chartered and instituted, August 15, 1876. Among the charter members are the following: Peter C. Spurling, Jerry Hutchinson, John G. Oonk, Levi Felter, Isaiah Doughman, Michael Kellar, John R. Hitesman and others. The first officers were as follows, to wit: P. C. Spurling, N. G .; Jerry Hutchinson, V. G .; John G. Oonk, R. S .; Levi Felter, P. S .; Isaiah Doughman, Treasurer. At present the lodge numbers about thirty-one members, and is the only lodge of this order in the township.

Sons of Temperance. This society was organized and met in Butlerville in the Masonic Hall as early as 1848 and 1849. No records of the division remain, and little knowledge of the order can be ascertained; but it appears that the order did not flourish for some years after it was instituted. About 1856, however, the society was re-organized, and its membership largely increased, and about 1861 built a hall over the brick store room now occupied by D. S. Bird, Esq. The society met with reverses, however, and finally, about 1865, disbanded, and the hall was sold, and has since been used as a dwelling.

EARLY ELECTIONS.

The earliest settlers in what now constitutes Harlan Township, for several years. perhaps as late as 1812, voted at the house of James Miranda, near the mouth of Todd's Fork, near where the village of Morrow now stands. The first election held within the limits of this township was probably at the house of James Goodpast- ure, on the hill near the present residence of Daniel Carroll. They were held here until about 1818, when, for several years following, they were held at the house of John Goodpasture, near Crosson's Cemetery. Afterwards they were held at an old log school house on the farm now owned by Peter S. Templin, Esq. In 1833 the place was changed to the house of George Florey, which stood near the resi- dence of George N. Jones, Esq., at which place they were held until 1835, when the residence of David H. Smith, Esq., was fixed as the voting place. Elections were held here until about 1841, when Butlerville was selected as the place of holding elections, and the transaction of the business of the township.

The frequent changes made in the place of holding elections during the early history of the township are accounted for by the fact that there was then no town or village, and the population being small and scattered over a large district, it became necessary to hold the polls at some private residence to be selected by the judges of election; and the judges changing from year to year, it is probable they consulted their own convenience as well as that of the public in fixing the voting place.

As to the manner of conducting the early elections, or rather of the conduct of the people attending them, it can not be said that there was the same order and propriety then as now, and while the purity of the election itself was not to be questioned, yet the day and place were, by certain classes, too often made the scene of disgusting conduct, such as drunkenness, fighting, gaming and horse racing, and by the pugilistic residents of the community, it was set apart as the day for the settlement of old grudges.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

The date of the first settlement in this township can not be definitely ascer- tained. There is a tradition that permanent settlements were made here as early as 1795 to 1800. But this is thought to be a mistake, as there is no evidence of any permanent settlements being made earlier than 1805; and the absence of roads

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as late as 1807 has been thought by some to warrant the assertion that no perma- nent settlers had located here prior to that date.

The best information places it beyond any doubt, that in the year 1805 per- manent settlements were made in this township. Whether any had preceded them is not now known, but there is a traditionary account that when they came they found permanent settlers here, who had apple orchards bearing fruit, etc. But the absence of all evidence supporting this account, and the fact that it would . make the date of these settlements antedate the treaty of peace by Gen. Wayne with the Indians of this part of Ohio, it is undoubtedly an error, and we are satisfied that the settlers of 1805 were among the first who permanently settled in this township.

In that year, 1805, William Runyan and family, John Layman and family, James Hill and family, Henry Runyan and family, Isaac Runyan and family, John Goodpasture and Solomon Goodpasture and families, David Randall and family, and perhaps others, settled in this township.

William Runyan came from Harrison County, Virginia, where he had emi- grated from New Jersey. He settled on the farm just south of Butlerville, known as the Doughman farm, and now owned by Samuel Craig, Esq. Little knowledge of his life before he came to Ohio can be ascertained, the family records, together with every thing he had, having been destroyed by the Indians, who attacked and burned his dwelling while he resided in Virginia.

He was born in New Jersey about the year 1757, and was married to a Miss Custer, (the marriage occurring, probably, after he came to Virginia). There were born to this marriage several children, who came with him to Ohio, Henry and Isaac having been married before coming to this state.

William Runyan continued to reside on the land where he first settled, until his death, which occurred in 1833, his wife having died in 1826.

John Layman, (or Leaman, as it occurs in some records,) who came the same year, 1805, with his family, located on the land adjoining the land occupied by William Runyan, and now known as the John Brown farm, where he resided for many years. He also came from Virginia. His name appears on the record as one of the viewers of the Smalley's Mill Road, one of the first roads established in this township.

John and Solomon Goodpasture and their families, who came about the same time, perhaps in the same party, settled on the farm near Crosson's Cemetery, on First Creek. It is believed they were originally from Virginia, but came from Ken- tucky to this State.

James Hill settled on the farm now or recently owned by Jonathan Fox, Esq., about one-half mile north of Pleasant Plain. He was, perhaps, the first Justice of the Peace in the township. He also came from Virginia.

David Randall ( or Randolph ) also came from Virginia, and located on the farm now owned by Mrs. Quick, south of Butlerville.

John Martin settled here about the same year. He located on a part of the land near the residence of David H. Smith, Esq., on the creek, which was after- wards named after him, Martin's Run. He resided here many years, and built and operated the first distillery, perhaps, in the township.

After the year 1805 the population increased very rapidly, and little more can be attempted here than to mention the names, merely, of some of those of whom it has been possible to learn any facts.

In 1806, it is probable that Bernard Crosson, Lewis Severs and Joseph Severs and others settled near Edwardsville in this township. Lewis Severs for many years kept a tavern and store, perhaps the first in the township.

William Crosson, Sen., came to Ohio during the year 1806, and settled in or near Edwardsville, in this township, with his parents, about that time. He was born near Gettysburg, Franklin Co., Pa., in 1795, and was about eleven years of

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age when he came to this township. At the age of seventeen he enlisted and served as a private in the War of 1812, in a cavalry company, commanded by Col. John Hopkins, late of Hopkinsville, of this county. The company being discharged at Urbana, Ohio, he returned home, and on February 1, 1814, he hired at Lebanon as a substitute in a company of infantry, commanded by Capt. John Hughes from near Sharon, Ohio, and at this time was the youngest man in his regiment. On February 2, 1814, the company left Lebanon, and through snow and ice marched to Lake Erie. Archie Clinton, Esq., John Carroll and Solomon Shaw were mess-mates of Crosson, and were all from Harlan Township. They were afterwards taken to Detroit, where they were stationed when peace was declared.

After returning home, William Crosson was employed by Samuel Paxton as a hand to go to New Orleans on a flatboat. For several years he followed this busi- ness on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. In 1818 he loaded a flatboat with pro- duce at Stubb's Mill, on the Little Miami River, and went to New Orleans, and after disposing of his cargo walked home, reaching Cincinnati in twenty-one days.

In 1820 he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Simonton, whose father was one of the first settlers near Loveland. He engaged in farming after his marriage, and about 1830 he purchased the farm known as the Crosson Home- stead, (and now owned by his son, William Crosson, Jr.,) and remained there while he lived.

He was elected and served as Justice of the Peace twenty-seven years in suc- cession, when, in 1855, he declined a re-election. He always took a great interest in the militia, and for about ten years was captain of a Rifle Company. In 1856 he was one of the Electors on the Presidential ticket for this Congressional Dis- trict, but failed of an election.

As executor and administrator it is probable that he settled more estates than any other man in Warren County. In 1880 he and his wife united with the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, and both, during life, remained consistent and exemplary members.

Eight children were born to them, five sons and three daughters, two of the daughters dying in infancy. Capt. John Crosson, the eldest son, was killed in the battle of Jonesboro during the late Rebellion, commanding the 38th Ohio Regi- ment. George, William and Perry reside in Warren County. James, who has lived in Clerment County for nearly thirty-five years, has twice served as Sheriff of that county, and represented it in the State Legislature.

William Crosson died on April 3, 1879, in the eighty-fourth year of his age, his wife having departed this life in 1874, at the age of nearly seventy-five years. They lie in the cemetery given by him to the public near his old home. Some time prior to his death William Crosson requested his friend, Gen. Durbin Ward, if he survived him, to say something at his funeral, and in obe- dience to this request, Gen. Ward was present and delivered an eloquent and touching tribute to his memory, from which I quote the following extracts:

"This brief sketch of the venerable pioneer's life is all the occasion calls for, but gives very little idea of the nobility of his character. Official position is but the tinsel of life and is often only accident. He was too modest to press his own claims, and held political opinions, which, in Warren County, excluded him from higher public service. But his sterling worth was so well known as to make him the nominee of the State Convention of his party, though he sought not the place. All that is mortal of this sterling old man is no more. But what an example to us all is his life. True to every obligation, public and private, he has gone to his long home; faithful to his family, to his friends, to his country; raising respect- able children; brave in defense of the right and gentle to the erring; plain and un- ostentatious; clear-headed and wise in that wisdom higher than books-the wis- dom of thoughtful experience; full of years and crowned with the respect of all who knew him; he was the noblest work of God-an honest man."

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The History of Warren County, Ohio, Part 77

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