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 23
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Green Township is mostly level. Its western portion is drained by branches of Mad River. while the Little Miami traverses the eastern part. passing in a sonthwesterly direction. The North Fork of the Little Miami empties into the Little Miami about two miles east of Clifton. About the year 1520. these two streams were carefully measured, under the direction of Gov. McArthur, to as- certain which was the main stream, and also depositions of early settlers were taken before John T. Stewart. Esq., as evidence, of which was called the main stream. the ultimate object being to locate the head-waters of Little Miami, and thereby fix the line between the Congress and Virginia Military Lands. A never- failing stream of water. called " Skillings' Diteh." empties into the Little Miami, bringing water from Springfield. Harmony and Madison Townships. It is in the eastern part of the township, and flows through a prairie, which in early times, was extremely wet and miry, being covered with a heavy growth of coarse grass, fags and weeds, a secure shelter and an admirable retreat for wild animals,
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wild geese not infrequently staying here all summer. A ditch known as "Stewart's Ditch " is situated in the central part of the township. Its course is south, and empties into the North Fork of Little Miami.
This township is all timber land, with occasionally a small prairie along the water-courses. The timber is white, black and burr oaks, hickory, walnut and ash. The timber growth of Green Township was rank; the underbrush of hazel, plum, crab-apple, thorn and grapevine, in their corporate density rendered penetration very difficult.
There are many good springs of water in the township, principally in the eastern part. A strong sulphur spring is on Section 15, where Samuel and John T. Stewart settled. On Mr. Thomas P. Miller's farm is the famous " Little Spring," which has a very large flow of water, never varying in volume. On the hill close to this spring, while digging a cellar in 1532. the workmen found, about four feet deep, seven wedges, heapel carefully together. and, when ground. showed a deep yellow color, and weighed about three and a half pounds cach. Mr. George Tindall, the finder, after all present had examined them, laid them back near where they were found, covering them lightly with clay; in the morning, he could not find the wedges, nor has the writer seen them since.
T !:: Indians vacated the territory of this township about the commencement of the war of 1$12. Their last camping-grounds were on the south bank of the Little Miami, just above and below the junction of North Fork with the Little Miami. The Indians who were here when the pioneers began settlements were friendly and quiet. Hunting and fishing were their occupations. We give here an incident which will illustrate their dislike to manual labor. A company of Indians were fishing near the residence of Gen. Benjamin Whiteman, when one of them became engaged in a wrestling match with a mulatto in the General's employ. The Indian proved to be the better man. giving the mulatto a heavy fall, after which he was unable to get up. The Indian became anxious as to the effect of the accident, and asked of the General. " What you do with me if me kill Ned?" The General replied, " You must work in his place." The Indian. looking at Ned and thinking the matter over, replied, " Me would rather you would kill me, General."
Congress lands were sold at two prices: first-class at $4, and second-class at $2.50 per acre. An entry, with the payment of $1 per acre, would secure a warrant. Failures to pay the balance were quite numerous. Congress, in 1922. lengthened out the time eight years for the payment of dues on land. At the expiration of this time, many were still unable to cancel their debts. in conse- quence of which Congress passed an act to effect that all persons holding land war- rantswould become entitled to land deeds by paying 25 cents on each acre, and all lands not already sold should be held at $1.25 per acre. The last entry of land in the township was made by John T. Stewart, in 1532 or 1833, embracing the northeart quarter of Section 30. Mr. Abraham Kitchen bought, at public sale. the northeast quarter of Section 11. in 1832, for $300.
The Limestone street road, the Yellow Springs road and the Hillsboro road, all centering at Springfield, and also two county roads running east on either side of the Little Miami from Clifton (or formerly Davis' Mills), were opened about the same time, soon after the formation of pioneer settlements. The township now has sixty-six miles of roads, fifty-two miles of common roads in good condition, nearly one-third of which is graded and graveled. ten miles of toll roads, and four miles of free improved roads. There are also two mile; of railroads-one mile across the northwest corner and one across the south- east corner. The township is abundant in gravel, out of which all the roads can be made passably good.
The settlers of this township experienced not so much trouble in securing
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breadstuffs as pioneers generally. They were favored with a good mill, which was erected by Mr. Owen Davis about the year 1800, on the Little Miami, on the site of E. R. Stewart's mills. The dam and race now used by Mr. Stewart are the same as erected by Mr. Davis for his grist-mill. This mill became known as " Patterson's Mill," and all grains going into it were carried from the horses or wagons on the shoulders of the millers. This mill is just across the line in Greene County.
Salt was not easily obtained. To supply the wants, seitlers would club to. gether and have the salt brought from the salt works south of Chillicothe, on packhorses.
Cincinnati early became the market for all salable articles of the produce kind from this vicinity, and likewise the point at which to make purchases. Several of the farmers in company would load their wagons with whatever prod. uce they could spare for market, and, with feed for man and horse, make a journey to Cincinnati, thereby effecting a change which met every want of the pioneer.
Farms were opened slowly. The typical log cabin. with its puncheon floor and clapboard roof, was found upon every pioneer farm. The log cabin. as a rule, had but one room, which served as kitchen, dining-room, bed-room and par- for; and at one side a large open fire-place was erected, which served the double purpose of heater and cook-stove. One door and one window made the list of embellishments complete. An ax. saw and auger were the carpenter's outfit in those days. Usually, a rail pen served the purpose of stable. To open out a farm after the erection of cabin and stable, the underbrush was grubbed out, rails made sufficient to fence the fields, and the standing trees girdled.
These primitive landmarks of the pioneer were ultimately superseded by more convenient frame and brick dwellings and more extensive barns. Mr. Seth Smith is supposed to have built the first frame house, in IS17; John Stewart the first brick. in 1823. These were soon followed by other frame and brick houses. Brick houses were built respectively by James Stewart in 1828; Will- iam and Gabriel Albin in 1830; Ebenezer Wheeler in 1833; and also Philip Marquart, Mr. Hensbarger, Justice Luse, James Todd and others, built brick houses at an early day.
Among the wild animals were red deer, which was a beautiful animal, and numerous in these parts up to 1525; the last one known in the township was a doe that remained on the north half of Section 16 during the summer of 1543, and was killed by Mr. Benjamin Allen in November of that year. Other animals were the gray fox, red fox (first seen here about 1814), raccoons, opossums, skunks. minks, muskrats, rabbits, gray and black squirrels. red squirrels ( first seen here in 1850), blue-rats (the pioneer rat), the Norway rat (which immigrated here about 1838), brown bear (one found as late as 1825), the gray wolves. Elk horns were found, and yet are found in the lowlands. but the animal became extinct prior to settlements. The last gray wolf was killed about 1920, by Abraham Inlow, he being at quite a risk. Mr. Inlow was crossing the open prairie now owned by Charles Stewart, northeast quarter of Section 30; just as he entered the prairie, the wolf jumped from the grass and ran in the direction he was go- ing. His horse started after and soon overtook the wolf, when it turned and started back. The horse stopped suddenly, turning also. Mr. Inlow, now ex- cited, urged his horse and overtook the wolf before it reached the timber; when overtaken the second time, it turned short, turning again into the prairie: when overtaken the third time, its squatted in the long grass. Mr. Inlow now slipped quietly from his horse and grabbed the wolf by both hind legs. He soou saw he had his hands full, the wolf snapping furiously at his legs and arms: having no knife or other weapon, he started backward for the timber, twisting and kick-
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ing the wolf all the while. Upon reaching the timber, he dispatched the animal by throwing it against the standing trees.
Among the birds were the brown turkey, which was very numerous, and not exterminated until 1S57 or IS5S; pheasants formerly were numerous, but now are few; quails, about as plenty now as formerly; wild pigeons, almost extinct, and wild ducks often found in our streams and ponds by thousands.
The fish of Green Township are of " small fry; " occasionally a " good-sized sucker" is beguiled by hook and line.
Wild fruits-plums, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, hickory-nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts and acorns-were originally found in abundance. Hogs were often fattened by being turned loose to feast upon the nuts and acorns in the fall of the year.
The health of this township was always reasonably good. However, ague and fevers-diseases common to Ohio -- would, during some seasons, attack many. The " milk sickness." "trembles " or " sick stomach," a very dangerous disease. was known here. Persons attacked with it seldom recovered; those not dying at once were sufferers from its effects for years. Many of the early settlers died of this disease. The cause of the disease was thought by some to be a shrub growing in low. rich lands. in the shade and around ponds of water. This shrub resembled the poison-vak vine in foliage, yet grew but from two to four feet. high. It kept green until late iu the fall. Cattle eating this shrub would soon show symptoms of the disease, and if they were milch cows, the calves would be affected first with the trembles, losing the use of their limbs, yet retaining good appetites. Young cattle running out in the locality of this shrub would look well, yet, upon being driven so as to get their blood heated, would suddenly show signs of the trembles, and fall to the ground and be unable to get up, liv- ing for weeks in that condition, but eventually dying. The only known cure was plenty of green corn. Persons using the milk or butter from cows exposed, though showing no signs of disease, would contract the disease. Dogs eating the flesh of animals dying from it were certain to die. This shrub was found in the north part of the township, and would soon die ont when the locality in which it was found was cultivated or closely pastured by sheep. This disease has entirely disappeared. the last fatal case being Mr. John Wheeler, who died in 1858.
Schools soon appeared. and were in keeping with the times and place. Empty cabins for schoolrooms. teachers with no qualifications other than to be able to "read, write and cipher." The first schools were paid for on the sub- scription plau. The person wishing to teach school would circulate a subserip- tion paper in the neighborhood where he desired to teach; if he secured subscrip- tions sufficient to pay $S or $10 per month, school would commence. These schools usually cost $1.50 per scholar for thirteen weeks. No examination of the teacher was made, except by the patrons of the school. After the formation of the school districts in 1819, and election of Directors, subscriptions were se- cured by them, and about 1830 some public funds were added to the subscrip- tion. Schoolhouses were built on the donation plan up to about 1840. School districts were independent of each other until 1852; the change that year. mak- ing a township a school district composed of subdistricts,-soon enabled the people to have good schoolhouses and good schools. Female teachers were unknown until about 1828 or 1830.
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The pioneers of this township represented almost every phase of religious belief: yet the Baptists were the first to organize, and, with the help of Presby - terians and others, to build a "meeting-house." This rough log house was built in 1807, on the north bank of the Little Miami, abont eighty rods east of Gen. Benjamin Whiteman's house, and on his farmu. It was warmed from a
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fire-place in one end, about ten feet wide. The Baptists occupied this house for occasional preaching up to 1830. Peter Clyde, a Scotchman, often walked from Xenia, twelve miles, to exbort the people. Peter, one Sabbath, was a little late, and made the following as an excuse to the congregation: His neighbor, the Rev. Hugh McMillan, had let him have a horse to ride, and he got along very well until he came to the Burn Creek at Old Town, which the horse did not want to cross, and he did not want to contrary the horse, so he took it back to Xenia and walked.
On the 16th of March, 1811, a number of persons met at the house of James Miller, Sr., and petitioned Miami Presbytery to organize a church on the third Sabbath of August of the same year. The Rev. James Welch met with the pe- titioners and organized a church, of which the following persons were members: Sebastian Shrofe and Thomas Patton. Elders; William and Margaret Ward, William Bull, George Browne and wife, Samuel and Elizabeth Sewart, Thomas and Sarah Townsley, James Johnson. William and Elizabeth Junkin, John T. Stewart (Clerk), Agnes Shrofe, Jennie Patton, Ann Marshall, Isabella Berry, Ann Wilson, Isabella Wilson. James and Rebecca Miller, John Humphries. Rebecca Garrison and Sarah Reed. Of this church, Peter Montfort was Pastor from 1813 to 1817, when Rev. Andrew W. Poague became Pastor, and was faithful to the Ahmuch until his death, in 1910. In November, 1840, Rev. Moses Russell was established as Pastor, and served until his death, in 1863. In August, 1864, Rev. A. R. Cohary was elected Pastor, and he resigned in 1869, on account of ill- health. Rev. T. M. Wood was chosen Pastor April 25, 1870, who preached for one year, but was not established Pastor. April 5, 1871, Rev. E. S. Weaver was made Pastor, and is now serving as such. This church built its first house of logs soon after its organization. Its site was near the east fence of the ceme- tery, and near the middle, north and south.
In 1827, a brick church. 45x55 feet. was built near the west fence of the cemetery, whose foundation is yet visible. in 1854. The present church was built in Clifton, and in Green Township, of brick, being 45x75 feet. The membership of this church for the last thirty years has averaged about two hundred.
The Friends, or Quakers, held meetings at Seth Smith's residence and a schoolhouse near by as early as 1816. Christian Anthony was their preacher, and organized a society which is in existence yet, and have a large church at Selma, in Madison Township.
About the year ISIS or 1820, a church was built on grounds donated by Gabriel Albin, in which a Methodist Episcopal Church was organized. This church remained until about 1837, when a frame church was erected on Adam Mayne's farm, about one mile north. This organization built Emery Chapel, in Springfield Township, in 1852.
In 1839. D. F. Ladley. an Elder in the Christian Church, organized the " Ebenezer " Church in the old house on Gabriel Albin's lot. In 1845. a brick church was built on a lot adjoining the old house, it being removed and the lot used for a cemetery and hitching-ground. Melyn D. Baker, Isaac N. Walter. Jacob Reeder, with others, have had pastoral charge of the Ebenezer Church. During 1879 and ISSO. Rev. N. Summerbell was its Pastor.
The old church, when first built, was heated in a singular manner. Four puncheon boards, four or five feet long, were fastened together so as to make a pen, then placed on the church floor, in which was placed some clay; this was hollowed out, and in the hollow was built a charcoal fire.
The Rev. Saul Henkle, in 1533. at the house of John Budd. organized a Methodist Protestant Church. which bought a lot on Section 17, from Mr. Thomas Jefferson, in 1841, using the dwelling-house for worship until 1846,
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when it built a frame church. This church was repaired and improved in 1877, while Rev. Rose had charge of the circuit to which it belongs. This church is known as Concord Church. Rev. Spark is in charge in 1880 and 1SS1.
Pov. Corus Dudley, in 1810, organized a Free- Will Baptist Church, which built a hewed-log house. 24x32 feet, on a lot donated by Abraham Kitchen, on a hilltop now known as Pleasant Grove. In 1859. the old house was removed and a large brick church erected in its stead. The church is in good condition, with Rev. B. F. Zell Pastor. This society was removed from Harmony Township, where it worshiped before locating in Green.
An Anti-Slavery Methodist organization was effected in 1844 at Cortsville, known as the Wesleyan Church, which built a church on a lot given by David Littler, and, after a few years of good work, was abandoned. In this church in 1850 Rev. A. L. Rankin organized a Free Presbyterian Church. This organiza- tion, in 1952, built a frame church on a lot donated to it by John Hume, at Clif- ton. on a hill in Green Township, and in 1859 it was merged into a new organi- zation of the United Presbyterian Church, with Rev. W. A. Campbell; Pastor, who acted as such for sixteen years. Since 1978, Rev. R. C. Wyatt has had pas- toral care. In 1859, a fine brick church was built, and is warmed by means of the modern improvement --- a furnace in the basement.
Wones' CLapel was built in JS60, on the Yellow Springs Pike, and a church organized as a branch of the Methodist Episcopal Church. It was organized by Rev. Timothy Wones in 1858.
Rev. Shoecraft organized a Colored Baptist Church in 1868, which now owns and uses the old Wesleyan Church at Cortsville.
Of cemeteries or burying-grounds, many are unknown, others are known but entirely neglected, and still others, which are inclosed but abandoned. Some are in good repair, among which are Bloxum Grounds, near the southeast corner of the township; the Pleasant Grove lot, adjoining the Free-Will Baptist meet- ing-house; the Garlough Cemetery, on Section IS: the Presbyterian Cemetery. just over the west line in Greene County; and the Ebenezer Burying-Grounds. Of those inclosed but abandoned are the Ebenezer Lot, the Stratton and Bogle Lot, the William Miller Lot, and a few graves are the Concord Church, on Sec- tion 17. The burying-places known but neglected are at the old site of Emery Chapel; here was buried Robert Davis, a pioneer school naster; also the Pear- sous, and others: a few graves on. C. A. Estle's farm; some on the section line be- tween Sections 17 and 23; at the southwest corner of John Hep's farm, and at the southeast corner of J. S. Kitchen's farm. It was quite common for pioneers to bury the dead of their respective families on their own farms; consequently, new owners of the lands neglected to preserve the graves. In the cemeteries and burying-grounds, many graves of old pioneers are unmarked.
This township is without a post office, though at J. H. Todd's store, in Pit- chin, mail is received and distributed by parties interested.
Robert Cort, about 1830, began to make the residence and carpenter-shop of William Marshall, on the farm now owned by Isaac N. Kitchen, a depot for his business of exchanging groceries and other articles for butter, eggs, cheese and other farm produce which he could profitably convey to Cincinnati in wag- ons. In 1835, William Marshall became his partner, and then the firm built a small storehouse at the road-crossing, and, soon after, a large one, which became a Hourishing country store: trade extended so as to include the purchase and packing of wool and pork. Mr. Cort and Mr. Marshall died about 1843, the business passing into the hands of Robert Marshall and John Holmes. Marshall dying in 1846, John M. White and William Story succeeded as owners. About 1852, on the death of these partners, the business was abandoned. Cortsville is composed of ono blacksmith-shop, one grocery store, the Colored Baptist Church,
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twelve or fifteen residences, and toll-gate. The real estate valuation of it is about $1,660.
The first building at Pitchin was owned by Green Porter in 1845. who erreted a residence and blacksmith-shop. In 1546, the Methodist Protestant Church was built, and, about the same time, other houses and shops. In 1854, George Hansbraugb built and operated a steam saw-mill, which was run for twelve years, Jolm G. Hatfield and Aaron Dean, being the later owners. The population of Pitchin, including the farm suburbs, in ISSO, was 120. Pitchin at this time (1881) includes John H. Todd's grocery store, James M. Littler's blacksmith-shop. Job Evans' wagon-shop. James M. Gregg's shoe-shop, Andrew and Adam Fink's slaughter-house, Dr. Dillchunt's office, twenty residences, Methodist Protestant Church, and schoolhouse.
The introduction of machinery was not effected until about 1830. The cast mold-board plow was introduced about 1820. The first of these was the Pea- cock plow. made at Cincinnati, and was a right-hand plow. About 1837, the left-hand Franklin plow was introduced. Wooden harrow-tecth were used until - about 1820. Wheat. rye and oats were reaped with the sickle up to 1530, when the cradle was introduced. In 1852, the MeCormick reaping machine was intro- duced, a machine which cut seven feet wide, and drawn by four bourses. The grass was mown with a seythe until about 1850. . The revolving hay-rake, made by Pearce & Son. near South Charleston. came into use about 1836. Wheat drills were introduced about 1856, and corn drills, corn planters and check-row planters soon after. Threshing was done with the flail, or tramped out by horses on the ground. or on barn floors. Mr. Rowan introduced the first threshing machine in 1835. His machine simply shelled the grain from the straw, and then the separation of the straw from the grain was done with hand rakes: after- ward, the grain was separated from the chaff by the wind-mill. Pitts' separator was first used here in 1847, by Abraham Kitchen.
The Franklin cooking-stove was the pioneer stove here, introduced about 1835. Before its introduction. the reflector was the only change from the open fire, the cranes. Dutch or brick ovens. pots and skillets being use.l. Sewing machines were introduced here in 1858 or 1859.
Robert Watkins opened a tannery on what is now Israel Hollinsworth's farm about 1815. and was run up to about 1830. Another tanyard was built about. 1936. by Peter Knott & Co., near Clifton. This vard has been in operation up to 1880. In 1934 or 1835. Mr. Aaron Allen erected a steam saw-mill at what is now called Allentown, which was kept in operation by himself and sons until 1852, when it burnt down.
The first Trustees of the township, after it became a part of Clark County. were Samuel Stewart. Thomas Mills and James Stewart. John T. Stewart was the first Clerk. These gentlemen received for their services for the first year the following: James Stewart. $4: Thomas Mills, $3.50; Samuel Stewart, $3: John T. Stewart. 82.75. The first Justices of the Peace were Robert Stephenson and John T. Stewart.
The following is a list of Jurors selected in 1819: Grand Jurors-Benja- min Whiteman. J. Branson. David Littler. Stephen Kitchen and Abraham Inlow. Petit Jurors -- Justice Luse. John A. Swarngen, John Garlough and Alexander Forbes. Ten years later. 1828. we find the following: Grand Jurors -- Joshua Marshall, Thomas Mills, John T. Stewart and Edmund Hartin. Petit Jurors --- John Anderson. Samuel Stewart and Thomas Littler.
The township officers and their pay for services for 1928 were as follows: Trustees, Samuel Stewart, $3.75; Thomas Mills, 83.75; Edmund Hartin, $3; Treasurer, James Stewart, paid by percentage. Supervisors -- Thomas Barnes. $1.50; Allen Barnes, 75 cents; John Garlough, 75 cents; Joshua Marshall,
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HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
$1.50; John Anderson, $2.25; Thomas Elder, 75 cents; John T. Stewart, 75 cents; making as total costs, $19.40. Township receipts from County Treas- nrer, $18.933. Received of John T. Stewart, $1, being a fine collected from Robert Gay for swearing. Again we find that in 1831 the payment for township officers' services amounted to $20.083.
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