USA > Ohio > Clark County > The history of Clark County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men, V. 2 > Part 18
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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
given as aforesaid. Louis Ray and family emigrated from the State of Vir- ginia in the year 1512, stopping at Cincinnati, where they remained one year; then came to Clark County, locating uear Springfield, and four years later pur- chased land in the vicinity of North Hampton, Pike Township. He married Elizabeth Zigler, and raised a family of ten children, six of whom are now liv- ing. The southwest quarter of Section 3 was entered about the year 1815 or 1816, by George Overpack, another Virginian. His wife was Martha Currene, both natives of that State, which they left in the year 1807, going to Miami County on Indian Creek, thence to Springfield Township, and up into Pike as aforesaid. They were Methodists, and their house served as the place of wor- ship for years. Mr. Overpack raised a large family, consisting of the following named children: Mary, Susan, Margaret, Ruth, William, Elizabeth, Maria, Samuel, Isaac, Plebe and George, two of whom still reside in the township. Father died in January, 1846, and the mother in January, 1866. Both were buried in Asbury graveyard. William Spence and family settled in the vicinity of North Hampton in the year 1818, they having emigrated from England in 1816, stopping in Cincinnati two years. There were thirteen children born to the parents. The Bixlers, Basingers, Forgys and Leffels were also early settlers. The Basingers were from Virginia. The southeast quarter of Section 9 was entered by Obediah Lippincott, who with his wife Margaret Reed came from New Jersey about the year 1810, first stopping in Warren County; thence going to Greene County and to Pike Township. They were born in the years 1786 and 1787 respectively. Both are buried in Asbury graveyard. The Priests were early settlers, too. Jolin in an early day emigrated to Kentucky (from Vir- ginia), and thence to this vicinity, entering the northwest quarter of Section 27.
New Jersey was again represented, and this time in the person of Jesse and Sarah (Sutton) Maxon and family, who are quite early settlers in Clark County, having settled on Mud Run prior to 1815, and a few years later traded their land there for the southwest quarter of Section 15. Thus ends a meager sketch of some of the pioneers of Pike Township, who made possible the high state of civilization, and advancement she has to-day attained. It may be thought that too much prominence has been given to some and too little said of others, and very probably no mention made of some deserving prominence, but we assure our readers that under the circumstances and the meager source from which to obtain facts, the best has been done that at this late day could be. Most of the above settlers have left worthy descendants, who still reside in the township. And let us add that in the development of the material resources of Pike, there has been no check; that all have done their duty well; that no community can show better schoolhouses, better organized churches, more efficient teachers, a more moral society or a smaller percentage of crime.
CHURCHES.
The first denominations to hold religious services in the township were probably the Presbyterians and Methodists. In the early settlement of the township, the Methodists held services at the house of Adam Verdier, also at Mitchell's, and later at the present site of the Beech Grove Church. A church of the Christian denomination was early established at North Hampton. Also an organization of Seventh-Day Baptists in the same vicinity. Both of the lat- ter congregations, however, are now scattered, and the houses of worship removed or abandoned. Rev. Steele, a Presbyterian minister, also held services in the vicinity.
One of the pioneer Methodist organizations of the township was the Beech Grove Methodist Episcopal Church. It was organized in the year 1833, at the
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PIKE TOWNSHIP.
house of George Otewalt, by the Rev. Jesse Goddard, of Champaign County, a pioneer minister of the above church. The first House of worship was built on the site now occupied by the present neat chanel in 1840. The ground was donated by Sanitel Brandenburg, by deed bearing the date June 20, 1810.
George Otewalt, Joseph Stott and W. P. Black were the organizers and Trustees: Joseph Stott being the first Class-Leader. The present house of wor- ship was built in the year IS57.
The following is a list of the ministers who have served the church: Reys. Laws, Elsworth, Conry, Newson, Musgrove, Fields, Creighton, Dinkins, Will- iams, Purkiser, Brown, Black, Robinson, Peck, Whitmer, Verity, Jackson, Rec- tor, Edgar, Kirk, Fidder, Cheney, Shultz, Peak, Deam, Prince, Baker, Zink and the present Pastor, A. D. Raleigh. The above list constitutes the complement of ministers of the methodist Episcopal Church who have filled the circuit of which the Beech Grove charge constitutes a part, and whose names will be rec- ognized by all old Methodists of the township.
The German Reformed Church has two houses of worship in Pike Town- ship, one in North Hampton and one near the center of the township called Emmanuel Church. The church of this denomination in North Hampton was dedicated in November, 1858. The members of the Building Committee were Gierige Cost, D. R. Zion and Jacob Rust. The first minister who preached in. the church was the Rev. T. H. Winters, of Dayton, who is still living at a very advanced age. The church first organized with twenty-one members, which was in a few days swelled to thirty-seven. The first Trustees were Peter Marquart. Peter Baisinger and Harrison Miller. The first Elders were George Cost and Peter Marquart. The first Deacons were Peter Baisinger and Benjamin Straws- burg. The church edifice is of brick, and has lately been handsomely remod- eled. The ministers of the church have been Rev. Jesse Richards, Rev. Shaw, Rev. Swander, Rev. Winters, Rev. Shaul and the present Pastor, Rev. D. R. Taylor. The above clergymen have all been men of ability, and gave good sat- isfaction to their parishioners. The church owns a parsonage in North Hamp- ton, which is occupied by the minister, who has charge of the four churches of the Reformed faith in this vicinity.
Emmanuel Church was organized by the Rev. Jesse Stiner about the year 1854, Wiley Jenkins, Jonas Michael, Daniel R. Zinn and David Stimogeon were among the first members. The organization was effected in a log church which ยท was purchased from the Christian denomination, and it stood west of the present church building, which is a one-story frame erected in 1856. Present Pastor. Rev. D. R. Taclor; membership about sixty.
Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church. The society of Methodists at an early day worshiped at the house of George Overpack, which was the regular preaching place for years, the Rev. George Maley being one of the early min- isters. Elizabeth and Mary Ray, Elizabeth Spence and Ellen Patterson were some of the pioneer members. They were not organized into a church until about the year 1830. The first church was built about the year 1839, a one- story frame now standing in North Hampton, and used as a storeroom. This was replaced in the year IS5S by the present frame building. The church was dedicated July 4, 1858. Sermon preached by Rev. John T. Mitchell. Present minister in charge is Rev. C. C. Kalbfus. Membership about sixty. It is located at North Hamption.
The Christian Church was organized in 1839, at the house of Elijah Priest, under the charge of Rov. J. Kirby. The original members were John Priest and wife Catharine. Andrew Clark and wife Nancy, and Mary Clark. John Rich- ardson and wife Elizabeth. L. Davis and wife Sarah. At first they worshiped at the houses of the members. In 1840, a hewed-log house was built on the
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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
corner of L. Davis' land, and, in 1852, the present one-story frame building, situated on Section 34, was erected at a cost of about $1.000.
Elders McLain, Whetstone, McMillon, T. S. Wells, N. S. Rush, P. McCul- lough are among those who have served the church. The present Pastor is Lider Diz, and the membership is about seventy.
Liberty Church, Brethren in Christ. was organized at the house of Mrs. Elizabeth Ullery, by George Ullery and Isaac Noyeswander, in the year 1875. The parents of the church are John and Elizabeth Ullery. The house of wor- ship is a one-story frame situated in Section IS, built in 1876 at a cost of about $1,200. The ground upon which it stands was given by George Ullery. Pres- ent membership, about sixty. Ministers, George Meranda, George Funderburg and David Noyeswander.
The German Baptist Church was organized as early as 1816, by Elder Christian Frantz, the first Elder in this locality. The present meeting house, a one-story frame building, was their first. It was erected about the year 184-4. The present Elders of the church are Joseph Koffman and John Frantz. Other early Elders were John Frantz (just mentioned), a nephew of the first Elder, and Jacob Omert. Their membership at present is in the neighborhood of three hundred.
CEMETERIES AND GRAVEYARDS.
Of these hallowed spots there are some seven or eight, besides several pri- vate burying grounds, for it was customary among the early settlers to bury ou their farms.
The most ancient yard is what is now known as the Black Cemetery, beau- tifully situated on high and rolling ground, near a heavy piece of timber in the northern part of Section 25. Prior to the year 1814, Samuel Black gave three- quarters of an acre of ground for the purpose of a neighborhood graveyard. The site above described was selected by the brothers Samuel and Andrew Black, Sr. The former was the first person buried there, This was in the year 1814. A quarter of an acre was added to the original tract in the year 1853, purchased of Irvin Stafford, when Trustees and other officers were elected and the places of burial styled a cemetery. It was never regularly laid out into lots, but is now being surveyed for that purpose. It is graced with several fine monuments and many substantial and neat marble slabs, and is dotte I here and there with shrubbery. Here rest the remains of many of the pioneers of Pike Township.
"The breezy call of incense-breathing morn. The swallow twittering from the straw-built shed, The cock's shrill clarion, or the echoing horn, No more shall rouse them from their lowly bed."
Asbury Cemetery, near North Hampton, is beautifully situated on a ridge near Donnel's Creek. Originally it contained about one-half acre, which was deeded to the Township Trustees by George Overpack for a graveyard. Burials were made there as early as 1820. Maria Overpack and a daughter of Obadiah Lippincott were among the first interred there. In after years, an addition was made to it by John Ray. It was never regularly laid out. Many neat marble shafts and some costly monuments mark the numerous graves beneath whose moldering heap,
"Each in his narrow cell forever laid. The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep."
The Seventh-Day Baptist Burying Ground, located at North Hampton, includes about one-quarter of an acre of ground, given by Obadiah Lippincott about the year 1525. But few have been interred there, and it has long since been abandoned as a place of burial.
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PIKE TOWNSHIP.
The German Baptist Graveyard includes about one acre of ground, situated in Section 7, given by Jacob Frantz and John Near. The first person buried in it was the wife of Michael Frantz, in the year 1823. It is a pretty site.
Emmanuel Church Graveyard, ground formerly owned by Daniel Zinn, who gave about one acre for church and place of burial. The first interment there was the body of Jane Kester in 1856 or 1857.
The Christian Graveyard, at the church of that name, had its origin in 1852, by the donation of one acre of land by William Leffel. for the purpose of the establishment of a place of burial. John Leffel, dying September 27, 1852, was the first to be buried there.
The Ullery Graveyard, situated in Sections 18 and 24, comprises one-half acre of ground given to the Trustees of the township and to their successors, by George Ullery, for the purpose for which it is used. The first burial was made in 1859, and was the remains of David Ullery.
TOWNS.
The first and only village ever laid out in Pike Township is North Hamp- ton, which was platted by Peter Baisinger on the 13th day of January, A. D. 1829.
The original number of lots was sixteen. . The survey and plat were made by Reuben Miller. The population of the village is about two hundred inhab- itants. It is the present voting-place of the township. The village has always been circumscribed and dwarfed in growth by a lack of building lots, parties owning the adjoining farms not wishing to part with lots. The first merchant of the village was Joseph Smith, who removed to the State of Michigan in 1835; and became quite wealthy, dying in 1879 at Cassopolis, in that State. His first capital at North Hampton was $150. The first frame house of the place was built by him in the year 1830, and stood on Lot No. 15, but in after years was removed on Lot No. 3. In size it was about sixteen by twenty-two feet, and was used both as a store and dwelling. It is still standing, and is owned by Mrs. Turner. Other merchants of the township were Bennett & Garlough, John Ramsey, John Davis, William Spence, Spence Brothers, Conklin, French & Dickinson, Meranda & Heath, J. E. Fennimore, Jacob Overpack, Michael Hart- man, J. P. Lockett, J. M. Austin, J. & W. Morningstar and Levi Wingert. All of the above named did business in North Hampton. The first village black- smith was John Croy, who had a shop near the present site of the hotel. Thic post office was established in 1835, with Daniel Raffensperger the first Post- master. William Morningstar is the present incumbent.
DIALTON.
In the northeastern part of the township is the industrious little settlement of Dialton. It contains a good country store, kept by William Michael during the last twenty-five years or more. Also a post office of the same name, which was established February 20, 1865, with William Michael as the first Postmaster. He has ever since served in that capacity, and is the present incumbent. The hamlet was called " Dialton" for Judge Dial, of Springfield, in remembrance of his efforts in Buchanan's time to have a post office established there. The set tlement had its origin in the building of the mill heretofore spoken of. Two blacksmith-shops, run by Jacob Hartman an 1 Jacob Lehman respectively, One wagon-shop, operated by William Arnett. Also an extensive tile factory, oper ated by Rust & Welchaus. And lastly the important hub and spoke factory and bending apparatus of J. & J. Myers, which has been an important industry for many years. The factory has attached to it a saw-mill and cider-press, all operated by steam, and gives employment to quite a number of hands.
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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
HOTELS.
The first hotel in the township was built and kept by Alexander Johnston on the southeast corner of the cross streets, in North Hampton. Mr. Johnston died about the fatal year of 1843 of typhoid fever, during the prevalence of that dread disease in this township. Here he began the business about the year 1833. Lewis Hughel then started a public house opposite the former site on the north- east corner of the cross street in North Hampton. He was succeeded by Samuel Overpack, and he in turn by John Meranda, who remodeled and rebuilt the hotel property, and then sold to Madison Over, who is the present landlord. A public house was also once kept by John Olinger in the western part of the township, on the old Troy and Springfield road. In 1834, a log hotel was built two miles south of North Hampton at the cross roads, by John Thomas, who kept it twenty years, and, in 1854, was succeeded by John Meranda, who kept it ten years, since which time it has been abandoned. It was known as the "Black Horse Tavern."
TOLL PIKES.
The first graveled road was the North Hampton and Donnelsville Turn- vibe which was bornn about the year 1844, and completed a few years later. The next turnpike road was the Clark and Miami Turnpike, connecting Troy and Springfield. This road was a great aid in the development of the township, giving the farmers access by a fair road to the markets of both Springfield and Troy. It was begun in the year 1S46, and finished several years later. The capital stock was originally $25,000, but that amount being inadequate for the completion of the road, the company borrowed $10,000 to complete the work, mortgaging the road to secure the payment, and paying 10 per cent interest on the loan. The company by good management succeeded in paying off the debt, though it took many years time to do so.
MILLS
The first mill in Pike Township was the "Black " Mill, built by James Black, in the year IS14, located on the East Fork of Honey Creek. It was a small affair, having but one set of buhrs used for grinding .Il kinds of grain. either wheat, corn, rye, etc. In that early period it was designated as a "coru cracker." This mill is still standing, and is owned and operated by his son, John A. Black, who has since remodeled it. The mill has never been out of the Black name. It is now, however, only what is styled a chopping mill, and is used for grinding corn only. The first saw-mill of this township was also erected by James Black. It stood about two hundred yards above the grist-mill on the same stream. The first steam saw-mill in the township was the old "Peter Baisnger" Mill, first run by water, built by that gentleman about the year 1820 on Donnel's Creek. It was later converted into a steam mill by George Cost. It is now the North Hampton Mill, and is owned and operated by Jacob K. Minich. There is a steam saw-mill on the West Fork of Honey Creek, now operated and owned by Daniel Leffel. It was originally a water- power mill, and has only recently been changed to a steam mill. In the year 1851, Jacob N. Myers and Jonathan Lehman built a steam saw-mill on the present site of the MIvers Hub, Spoke & Bonding Mill. Within two years, Myers bought out Lehman, and operated the mill until 1860. when it was converted by him into a hub and spoke factory, and was so conducted until 1865, when it burned down. That fall it was rebuilt by Jacob N. Myers & Sons. The father died in 1866, and it has since been operated by the sons, under the firm name of J. & J. Myers. The building is a two-story frame. Twenty-two men are
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Poeulen Shellalarger MAD RIVER TP.
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employed, and an extensive business carried on. It is known as the Dialton Mill. Jacob Frantz, Samuel Sprinkle, Jonathan Brubaker and James Johnson have been associated with the mills of the township. In an early day the old Kiblinger Mill, later known as the Baker Mill, and now as Hockman's Mill, on Mad River, in German Township, was pretty extensively patronized by the peo- ple of Pike.
PHYSICIANS.
Among the earliest regular physicians of the township may be mentioned Dr. Davis, Dr. Tisdale, Dr. Louis, Dr. Stemble, Dr. J. W. Tullis, Dr. MeFerrin and Dr. J. E. Moler. Later, Dr. Hezekiah Smith, Dr. Snodgrass, Dr. Marquart, Dr. Baker, Dr. Hockett, Dr. Austin, Dr. Strawsburg, Dr. Spinning, Dr. Mitchell and Dr. Johnson.
SCHOOLS.
The first school-teachers of which we have any account were Tra Wood. Joseph Morrison, William Wilson, James Black, Archie Mitchell, David Morris. Mary Eversole, James E. Chestnut, Jacob and George Harner. The above teachers taught of course mostly "subscription " schools. They labored under serions disadvantages, compared with the teachers of the present time. The school rooms were poor log cabins, and the furniture and apparatus were of the most primitive kind. The distance to school was necessarily great in many cases, and the wonder is that the generation of that period was as well informed as they were. The above teachers no doubt did their whole duty as well as they could under the circumstances, at salaries ranging from SS to $12 per month. At the present time there are nine new brick schoolhouses in the township, each located in the geographical center of the subdistrict, the township being exactly six miles square; one of the schoolhouses-that at North Hampton --- being two-story and accommodating a graded school, employing two teachers. Wages range now during the winter terms in Pike Township from $40 to $55 per month, and during the summer term generally from 40 to 50 per cent less.
GENERAL.
The township does not support a single saloon, and industry and sobriety are the rule, and idleness and intemperance are the exception. The part that Pike Township has taken in our wars has always been patriotic. During the war of 1S12, and the Mexican war, and also through the trying period of the great civil war, Pike Township was never called on in vain. During the latter war it is still the pride of the citizens of all parties that the quota of Pike Township was always filled by volunteers, many of whom laid down their lives for the Union.
The township polls on a full vote about four hundred votes. It is Democratic usually by about twenty-five to forty majority. It will be seen by the above figures that the majority is so small as to insure a good nomination generally by the majority, else the minority will defeat the ticket. The Democratic margin is too small to take any odds. In the last two years, the Republicans have elected a Justice of the Peace and Land Appraiser. Generally the best of feel- ing prevails in the township between the contending parties, and the contests are nearly always good humored. We consider this an indication of a liberal spirit of toleration not always seen in township contests. The strength of the contending parties has been about the same relatively for nearly thirty years.
It seems that there are no township records preserved in the office of the Township Clerk of Pike Township of an earlier date than the year 1828. The first commission of James Johnson as Justice of the Peace is dated in 1830.
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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
That of John Black is dated in the year 1834, though he seems to have been in office carlier. George Cost was first elected in 1837, and Henry Long in 1838. The commission of Joseph B. Craig is dated April 10, 1843, and Sammuel W. Sterrett's first commission is dated October 15, 1844. Samuel K. Sims was elected in 1847, and James Spence in 1848. Thomas P. Thomas was. com- missioned November 23, 1855, and previous to him John Meranda served from 1845 to 1855; was again elected in 1858, and served until 1867. Thomas F. Hardacre was elected in 1859, and the commission of William K. Jordan bears the date of November 8, 1860. Samuel Mock was elected in 1866, and William Jenkins in 1867. Afterward John A. Black and John W. Cost served as Justices of the Peace, and the present Justices are Madison Over, elected in 1879, and Thomas Swonger, elected in 1880. Many of the above officers were re-elected, some for several terms. Among the earlier names of those who have filled the office of Township Clerk, cotemporaneous with the above Justices of the Peace. may be mentioned James Black, George C. Homer, Jacob Harner, John Meranda, George Cost, Simon Spence, Andrew Clark, Philip Marquart, Asher B. Heath, J. R. Lippincott, J. E. Fennimore, Jeremiah Ream, William Jenkins, P. M. Hawke, S. S. Jenkins, and the present incumbent William Myers. The above sixteen persons have served Pike Township as Clerk for the period of about My years, and have left the reputation of having been upright and efficient officers. The present board of township officers in full consists of the follow- ing persons:
Justices of the Peace, Thomas Swonger. Madison Over; Township Clerk, William Myers; Township Treasurer, Daniel Ream; Township Assessor, .S. S. Jenkins; Township Trustees, John Myers, J. L. Rust, P. S. Zinn; Town- ship Constables, William Stafford, D. S. Carmin.
BETHEL TOWNSHIP.
BY DR. H. H. YOUNG.
This is the southwest corner township in Clark County. Pike and German Townships join it on the north. Springfield Township on the east, Mad River Township southeast and south, Greene County on the south, Miami County on the west. Bethel Township contains twenty-seven entire sections in Township 3, Range 9; four whole and two fractional in Township 4, and one entire frac- tional section in Township 3, Range 8. The Mad River forms the boundary of the towship from the east line of Section 27, in Township 4; thence south- west to the southeast corner of Section 35, Township 3. Range 8. This diag- onal course of the river makes eight fractional sections to be added to the num- ber given above. The soil of Bethel Township is limestone clay, with a gravel subsoil. At several points in the township the limestone rock is found near the surface, where quarries have been opened, furnishing an abundance of the finest stone for building purposes and making lime. The soil as a rule through- ont Bethel Township is of the most productive kind, the upland is somewhat rolling, just enough for good drainage with noce or but little waste land. The bottom land both first and second of Mad River. Donuel's and Honey Creeks, are among the finest in the world. Bethel was originally very heavily timbered, there having been but very little open land in the township. In the northern part of the township, the timber was principally beech, interspersed with the differ-
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