The history of Clinton County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; history of the Northwest territory, Volume 2, Part 26

Author: Durant, Pliny A. ed; Beers (W.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : W. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1410

USA > Ohio > Clinton County > The history of Clinton County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; history of the Northwest territory, Volume 2 > Part 26

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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685

CHESTER TOWNSHIP.

on the back as follows: "This soldier has participated in the following engage- ments: Stone River, Middleton, Snow Hill, Franklin, Shelbyville, and Nash- ville, Tenn., Chickamauga, Dallas, Noonday Creek, Lovejoy Station, Jones- boro, Rome and Columbus, Ga., Selma, Ala., Okolona, Miss., and Kenesaw Mountain; also other skirmishes in which the regiment was engaged." He was mustered out at San Antonio, Tex., December 4, 1865.

Joseph Blair was born in January, 1844; enlisted at the age of eighteen in Company B, Seventy-fourth Infantry, for a full term of three years, at Xonia, Ohio, February 24, 1862. William Brown and George W. Huffman enlisted at the same time and place, and in the same company and regiment. They left the Stato with it April 20, 1862, and arrived at Nashville, Tenn., on the 24th of the same month. They marched and skirmishod with the reg- iment until December 29, 1862, when they entered the battle of Stone River, and remained through the 29th, 30th and 31st of that month, and January 1, 2 and 3, 1863, the battle including that of Murfreesboro.

While in this engagement they participated with "the gallant Seventy- fourth" in its heroic charge over Stone River full against the rebels under Brockinridge, on the 2d of January. Then followed in quick succession Hoover's Gap, Dug Gap, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, where, on January 4, 1864, they re-enlisted as veterans, and came home with the regiment on veteran furlough; loft Ohio, March 17, with the regiment on its return to the front; started on the Atlanta campaign May 7, and " for over one hundred days the regiment was under an almost continuous fire from rebel musketry and artillery," at Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw, Chatta- hoochie River, Peach Tree Creek, and in front of Atlanta. They were with the regiment at Jonesboro, Ga., September, 1864, and took part with it in its three separate charges against the enemy. At Averysboro and Bentonville March 22, 1865. took part in the last engagement fought by the army of Gen. Sher- man in the war. Then came Goldsboro, Raleigh, Richmond, Washington City, Camp Dennison and home July 10, 1865.

G. Marion Colvin enlisted for three years in Company B, Seventy-fourth Infantry, February 24, 1862, at Xenia, Ohio; wont South with his regiment April 20, 1862, and remained with it until after the battles of Stone River and Murfreesboro, when he was discharged February 24, 1863, by reason of physical disability. Returning home, he entered Company B, One Hundred and Forty-ninth Ohio National Guards as First Lieutenant. He was called with his command May 2, 1864, for 100 days, by a proclamation from President Lincoln, entered Maryland the same month, and was stationed at Fort Mc- Henry for a few weeks. Leaving here, it crossed to the eastern shore, and while there was assigned to the command of Maj. Gen. Lew Wallace, and par- ticipated in the battle and defeat at Monocacy Junction July 9, 1864; mus- tered out with regiment September 9, 1864.

William H. Hanlan was born December 31, 1838, in Chester Town- ship, Clinton County, Ohio ; entered the service of his country as a private in Company I, Seventy-ninth Infantry, August 22, 1862, at Camp Dennison, Ohio.

"The regiment was organized under the call of 1862, in the military dis- trict composed of the counties of Warren, Clinton and Hamilton. Of the reg- iment Clinton furnished four companies."

They were mustered into service September 1, 1862, and left the State on the 3d of the same month for Kentucky, 859 strong, under command of Col. H. G. Kennett. It remained along the river until it was ordered to Louisville, Ky., assigned to the brigade of W. T. Ward, and, early in the month of Octo- ber, 1862, left there for Frankfort, which it occupied after a little fight, and

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

remained there until November 1, engaged in breaking up dotachmonts of John Morgan's guerrillas. In December, 1863, it reached Gallatin, Tonn., where it remained until February 24, 1864, guarding railroads, supplies, and breaking up the bands of guerrillas that infested the country along the Cumberland and Stone Rivers. On the 24th of February, the regiment was assigned to the Eleventh Army Corps, then in Lookout Valley. On the 2d of May, 1864, the effective force of the command numbered 600 men, when it be- came a part of the First Brigade, Third Division, Twentieth Army Corps, Gen. Joe Hooker commanding. From this date the real history of this gallant reg- iment began. On the 13th and 14th of May, 1864, it participated in the fight at Resaca, followed by Dalton, Dallas, Pine Mountain, Kenesaw, Mission Ridge, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Savannah, Bentonville, Averysboro, the march through Virginia, the grand review and muster out at Washington, Camp Dennison; discharged and paid off, and home in June, 1865.

Allon Bingamon onlisted in Company C, Soventy-ninth Infantry, in July, 1862, under I. B. Allon. He served with the regiment during the three years of its gallant service in defense of a country and flag; mustered out with.bis regimont June 9, 1865, at Washington, D. C.

Elam Fletcher enlisted in Company C, Soventy-ninth Infantry, in July. 1862; served three years, and was discharged with regiment at close of the war.

William Liggett, a member of Company C, Seventy-ninth Infantry for three years; mustered out with regiment.

Barkley Dakin enlisted and served three years in Company C, Seventy- ninth Infantry.

Uriah S. Jackson enlisted in Company C, Seventy-ninth Infantry at its organization in July, 1862; served faithfully in the capacity of private soldier until in July, 1864, when, while seeking shelter from a storm in a barn con- taining fixed ammunition, the building was struck by lightning. He was not killed, but has ever since been a living wreck of his former self; was discharged and sont home; draws a pension of $18 a month, with an additional $50 every three years.

Mahlon Russell enlisted in July, 1862, in Company C, Seventy-ninth In- fantry; served his country gallantly three years; mustered out with regiment at the close of the war.

James W. Collett enlisted at the organization of the Seventy-ninth In- fantry in Company D, July, 1862; served in the capacity of a private soldier faithfully until December 24, 1862, when he died and was buried at Gallatin, Tenn.

Peter DeLong was born in Canada, of English parents; ran off from home and came to Ohio in 1860. His father was a Captain of Canadian militia. In August, 1862, DeLong entered Company D, Seventy-ninth Infantry, as a private, and served his foster country faithfully and honorably until his death, which occurred at Gallatin, Tenn., in December, 1862; buried in the National Cemetery at that place.

Theodore Moore enlisted in August, 1862, in Company I, Seventy-ninth Infantry; detailed about the 2d of May, 1864, and became one of the gallant band of pioneers and pontoniers that prepared the roads and water-crossings for . Sherman on his march to the sea; mustered out with regiment at the close of the war.

Thomas Moore enlisted at the age of eighteen, in February, 1864, as a recruit in Company D, Seventy-ninth Infantry; joined the regiment at Chatta- nooga; died in April following, of measles; buried at National Cemetery, Chattanooga, Tenn. "

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CHESTER TOWNSHIP.

Theodore Ellis enlisted in Company C, Sovonty-ninth Infantry, at the organization of the regiment in July, 1862; musterod out at the close of the war.

William Miller enlisted in Company B, Fortieth Infantry, in August, 1861; sorved his flag faithfully; was mortally wounded at Kenosaw Mountain . July 25, 1864; diod in hospital the same month.

S. L. Mulford enlisted in Company B, Sovonty-fourth Infantry, February 24, 1862; took an active and honorable part in all the marches and engage- ments of his regiment; was wounded in the log at Atlanta, Ga., July 4, 1864; mustored out with regiment at the close of the war.

Chalkley Roose enlisted at Camp Chase, Ohio, in April, 1862, for a full term of three years, in Company -, Sixty-first Infantry. The regiment entored Western Virginia on the 27th of May, same year; took part in its first engage- mont, at Freoman's Ford, on the Rappahannock, with the rebels, under Gen. Longstroot; at Sulphur Springs, Va., August 23 and 24, 1862; Waterloo Bridge, 25th; second battle of Bull Run, Fairfax Court House, September 2, 1862; on the 2d, 3d, 4th and 5th of May, 1863, was engaged with his regiment at Chancellorsville. On the 1st day of July, 1863, the Sixty-first Infantry opened the battle of Gettysburg, Popn., as skirmishers, and in the general engagement that followed took its place on Cemetery Hill, and remained there throughout that memorable battlo.

Joshua Holland enlisted in Company B, Seventy-fourth Infantry, February 24, 1862, at Xenia, Ohio, for a full term of three years; left the State with his regiment April 20, 1862. He remained with his company and performed his duties faithfully up to and including the battle of Jonesboro, Ga., September . 1, 1864, whon he had the misfortune to lose by a single shot the first two fingers of his right hand, and receive a severe wound in his right shoulder. He was mustered out by reason thereof, and returned home some months in advance of his rogimont.

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John W. Haydock, J. Wosloy Smith, Henry Miller and A. W. Rooves, enlistod in June, 1862, at Camp Chase, Ohio, in Company K, Eighty-fourth Infantry, under Capt. Gregory, to serve three months. On the 11th day of June, the regiment left Ohio for Cumberland, Md., where they served out their term of service, and returned and were musterod out at Columbus in August, 1862. J. Wesley Smith afterward enlisted in Company H, Second Heavy Artillery, in August, 1863; was promoted to Orderly Sergeant, and from that to Second Lieutenant of Company I, same regiment, September 26, 1864; mus- tered out with his rogiment, and discharged at Columbus, Ohio, August 29, 1865. Henry Miller again enlisted in Company H, Second Heavy Artillery, in August, 1862, for three years; served to the end of the war and was dis- charged with his regiment at Camp Chase, August 29, 1865. A. W. Reeves again enlisted in his country's service, the last time in Company D, Eighty - eighth Infantry, August 12, 1863, at Camp Chase, Ohio; served until July 3, 1865, as a guard of prisoners at that place, and was mustered out with his regiment at the close of the war.

Robert Reeves, James Mershon, William Lister enlisted October, 1862, at Camp Chase, Ohio, in Company D, Eighty-eighth Infantry, under Capt. Par- ker. They were discharged with the regiment (which was guarding prisoners) July 3, 1865, at the close of the war.

William Ellsberry and Peter Brown enlisted in August, 1863, in Company D, Eighty-eighth Infantry, at Camp Chase, Ohio, under Capt. Parker; dis- charged July 3, 1865.

Enos Finch enlisted in his country's service and died a martyr to the cause of freedom. His regiment and company are not known to the writer.

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

Levi Disbro, John Disbro, Isaiah Kirk also served the country in its hour of need.

Henry H. Hollingsworth entered the service in June, 1863, in the Ohio and Mississippi Gunboat service, on board the "Exchange," under Capt. Gib- son. He served two years on patrol service below Memphis, or on the " Lower Mississippi." Thomas and Henry Williams were also members of the same service, though not of the same crew, and gave two years' faithful duty on the Lower Mississippi; mustered out at the close of the war.

John H. Colvin, David Kearns, James Johnson, Allen W. Fletcher, Rich- ard L. Harrison, William H. Harrison and Henry G. Cartwright enlisted in Company H, Second Heavy Artillery, in August, 1863, at Camp Chase, Ohio, under Capt. John H. Horbort; loft the State same month for Kentucky and Tennessee. Discharged with regiment at close of the war. Mustered out and paid at Camp Chase, Ohio ..

Thomas C. Haydock and Charles E. Mulford onlisted at Xenia, Ohio, the former on the 28th day and the latter on the 7th day of December, 1863, for three years, in Company I, Ono Hundred and Twenty-eighth Infantry, Austin MeDowoll, Captain; stationed on Johnson's Island, Sandusky Bay, Ohio (as guards of prisoners), with their regiment; mustered out 13th and discharged and paid off the 17th of July, 1865, at Camp Chase, Ohio.

Clarence Wall, Amos Farquhar, James . F. Hamilton, Isaac H. Hurley,; Creighton Hurley, Howard Haynes, Edward Williams, Dakin Vanderburg, James Linton, Levi Peirson, Jonathan Rockhill, William H. Mann, Marion Van Tress, James Morgan, Monroe Haynes, Philip Anderson, James Reese, Elwood Reese, Charles Harlan, Calvin Whinery, William Wooley, Henry Reese, Cyrenus Rockhill, were members of the Fifty-fifth Battalion, Ohio National Guards of Clinton County. The battalion was called into service, organized and mustered into and consolidated with the Twenty-seventh Ohio National Guards, on the 8th of May, 1864, under the number of the One Hun- dred and Forty-ninth Regiment Ohio National Guards. The regiment left the State on the 11th of the same month for Baltimore, Md .. and remained until the 29th of May, when it proceeded to the eastern shore of Maryland, and from there distributed to several points on detached service. About the 4th of July, the regiment was consolidated and ordered to Monocacy Junction. where, on the evening of the 8th, it took a position on the extreme right of Gen. Lewis Wallace's army (to which it was attached), or at the stone bridge on the Baltimore & Frederick pike, where, in the engagement that followed the next day-9th of July-the regiment held its own ground until, compelled by the retreat of the left wing of the army, it took part in the disaster that fol- lowed. Clarence, who had faithfully and honorably borne his share of the fight, fell to rise no more. His body was sent home and laid away to rest in Sharon Graveyard. The regiment returned to Ohio and was mustered out at Camp Chase, Ohio, August 24, 1864.

One hundred and ten of the patriotic band are here recorded, but I feel satisfied that I have not secured the names of all. Would that it had been possible; but it is not. For in the twenty years that have come and gone since then, the world has rolled on and on in its unceasing journey. Time, too, the great leveler of mankind, has not been idle, but has wrought many changes, and, as we look back to-day through that long vista of years, they are easily discernible. These men, then in the early years of manhood, and in the first flush of ambition-men to whom the killing frosts of after years had not yet come, and for whom naught but flowers had bloomed, or sunshine marked their pathway-were first to hear the dread sound calling the people to " arms," and quickly obeyed the call.

689

CHESTER TOWNSHIP.

Four years came and were gone. The war was over. Poaco, the glad harbinger of joy, had been proclaimed, but at what a cost! The people then realized what the sacrifice had been; what it had cost to restore the flag again to its place among the nations of the earth, and they rose up as one body and as one soul, and welcomed with tears of joy the returning heroes. Then, bow- ing themselves to the earth, they wept for the heroic dead.

The following is a list of those who, while yet the smoke of contending armies arose and darkened the orb of day, gave their lives that their country might live:

Absalom Wall, died at Camp Chase, Ohio, October, 1861.

James W. Collett, died at Gallatin, Tenn., December 24, 1862.

Richard B. Carr, died at Tullahoma, Tonn., 1863.

William Miller, wounded at Kenesaw Mountain July 25, 1864; died in hospital same month.

Warren Shidaker, killed in action at Decatur, Ga.

Potor De Long, died in hospital at Gallatin, Tenn., in March, 1863.

Thomas Moore, died at Chattanooga, Tenn., April, 1864; buried in Na- tional Cemetery.

Quincy Austin, killed in action in front of Kenesaw Mountain July 27, 1864.

Hiram Mckay, mortally wounded at Kingston, Ga., March 10, 1865; died on 13th inst.

John Northup, killed in action.

Morgan Wood, killed in action.

If the question was asked, where are the men to-day that returned to this township at the close of the war? it could not be answered. They are too widely scattered, and until the final roll-call, will remain unknown.

The Oakland Academy was taught in the winter of 1849-50 by I. S. Mor- ris in a log house, which stood on the farm now owned by James Campbell, of Oakland, then the property of Dr. Brook. It was weather-boarded on the outside, and in the interior had a row of seats on each side and a blackboard at the east end. It was the first and only academy ever established in Chester Township. The following were the attendants as recollected by Jesse H. Kirk, now of Liberty Township: Ladies-Martha M. Dakin, Rebecca Van Tress, Eliza- beth Morris, Rebecca Morris, Lydia Vandeberg, Carrie Brook, Lydia Hollings- worth, Hannah Birdsall, Jane Snowden, Marcia Hynes, Sarah Carroll, Martha Morris. Gentlemen-Jacob Allen, Isaac Allen, Robert Snowden, Frank Whip- ple, Solon Carroll, Joseph Carroll, Elisha Davis, Charles Oren, Henry Snow- den, Watson Bean, Benjamin Haynes, Benjamin Franklin Constent, James Dakin, Henry Brook, Edward Birdsall, Jesse H. Kirk.

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690

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

CLARK TOWNSHIP.

BY FRANK L. HOCKETT.

THIS township is situated in the southern part of Clinton County, and ex- tends farther south than any other portion of the county. It is very irregu- lar in form. The greatest distance between the northern and southern bound- aries is about nine miles. A line drawn from east to west near the middle of the township-about one mile south of Martinsville, would give the greatest width, and would measure about six and a half miles. This line would be an extension of the boundary line between Washington and Jefferson Townships on the west. and would intersect the western boundary of Clark Township at its most westerly point-just north of the M. & C. R. R., two and a half miles southwest of Martinsville, and striking the eastern boundary about one mile northwest of the most easterly point, which is about two and one-quarter miles southeast of Farmer's Station, From these extreme points east and west, the width of the township decreases until at the southern boundary it is only one mile in width. From the extreme point east the boundary line extends in a southwest direction to the East Fork of the Little Miami, striking this stream about one and one-quarter miles north of Lynchburg, thence with the stream about three miles to the southeast corner. Northward from the extreme east point the boundary angles twenty-five or thirty degrees west of north to the northeast corner. From the extreme point west, the western boundary ex- tends west of north to the Cuba road, thence nearly northwest to Morrisville; thence the northern boundary extends eastward with the old State road to the northeast corner. The township is bounded on the northeast by Greene Town- ship, on the southeast and south by Highland County, on the north and north- west by Washington Township, and on the southwest by Jefferson. It con- tains 23,038 acres of land, exclusive of school lots and cemeteries. This sec- tion is embraced in the Virginia Military District, and, prior to the organiza- tion of Clinton County, in 1810, the eastern portion was embraced in High- land County, the western in Warren County, the boundary between the two being about one-half mile west of the present site of Martinsville. From 1810 until 1817, the portion east of this line was included in Greene Town- ship, that west in Vernon. July 14, 1816, a petition having been received by the County Commissioners, signed by many of the citizens of this section, the new township of Clark was organized with the same boundaries as at present, except that it extended northward to Cowan's Creek, thus including all the eastern portion of Washington Township. It was reduced to its present limits by the establishment of Washington Township, in 1835.

The northern and western portions of Clark Township are drained by the East Fork of Todd's Fork. The southern and southeast by the East Fork of the Little Miami. Tributaries of these streams so completely intersect the country, that but little difficulty has been encountered in securing outlets for drain ditches. In the central and southern portions a few large, open ditches. have been constructed by tax levied upon the parties benefited.

The soil is generally good, producing corn, grain and grass, and a large number of hogs are annually raised and shipped. Near the streams the sur- face is somewhat broken, but the greater part is level, or slightly rolling. Nearly all the southern part slopes to the south or southwest. , Stone of good quality is found on the Stone Quarry Branch, in the northern part of the town-

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CLARK TOWNSHIP.

ship. Extensive gravel beds have been opened, where it was long thought none could be obtained. For many years great quantities of valuable timber every - where abounded, but have been largely consumed. But few springs exist in this section, but excellent water is easily obtained, as a general thing.

The township contains but one incorporated village, besides which there is but one railroad station and shipping point-both on the M. &. C. R. R. The Hillsboro branch of this road passes through the southern portion. The northern portion was originally settled by immigrants from Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee. In the southern portion, known as the "boot- leg," a number of families of German descent are found. Their settlement is of comparatively recent dato.

Although the material for these records was not to be gathered from the "misty mountain tops of remote antiquity," yet much much difficulty has been experienced in obtaining full and authentic information in regard to many items of intorost to the present and future generations.

So late has this work been entered upon that nearly all of those who were active participants in the events of our early history, who endured the hard- ships and privations of pioneer life in our community, and thus opened the sources of our wealth and prosperity, and laid the foundations of our moral and intellectual progress, have joined

" The innumerable caravan which moves To that mysterious realm where each shall take His chamber in the silent halls of death,'

and with these much of importance and interest has passed into utter oblivion, and is forever lost to us. Even the official records of our township are missing, leaving no resource except the memory of a few individuals who came to the community in early childhood, and have observed the growth and development of the various interests of the country, and noted the many changes which time, labor and progress have made during more than three-quarters of a cen- tury. Surely the effort to reclaim from oblivion the records of the past, and to commemorate the names and deeds-with the virtues-of our forefathers, whose toil made life enjoyable to us, is but a just demand upon their descend- ants. It is well for us in this age when the names and deeds of the mighty men of earth are made as familiar to us as "household words," to remember that the humble backwoodsman, as he battles with the stern obstacles which surround him, if he faithfully performs the duties of life as they devolve upon him in his humble station, and builds up an honest and noble character, which proves that he possesses the attributes of a moral hero, is as much a worthy example for imitation as he who by a fortunate combination of circum- stances may have been thrown upon the tidal wave of popular applause, and borne to the dizzy heights of fame. It is the possession of merit, manifested by an honest discharge of duty in whatever station of life one may be placed, that entitles an individual to honor and esteem, and not the circumstances which may have lifted him above the common herd. The Chinese are said to have a proverb to the effect that no man's life is a success unless he " builds a house, writes a good book, or becomes the father of a son," thus conferring a benefit upon those who should live after him.

If he who causes the earth to produce "two blades of grass where but one had grown" is to be regarded as a benefactor of mankind, surely those who, leaving the associations and endearments of their homes in older communities, take upon themselves the privations and rough experiences of pioneer life and thus make "the wilderness and solitary place to be glad, and the desert to blossom as the rose," should be classed among those who have conferred great and lasting benefits upon generations yet unborn. ,

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692

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

Let it be remembered that the ring of the pioneer's ax is but the prelude to the merry chime of the school bell; the crash of falling timber, the presage of rattling trains laden with the produce of well-cultivated fields and valleys; . the curling smoke of the " cabin " and " clearing" foreshadows that of thrifty villages, hamlets and cottages; the humble worshipers in humbler sanctuaries are the sires of a generation who will transform the spreading oaks of the for- est into the substantial edifices, with towering spires pointing heavenward. Let us not forget, while we laud the great of earth whose brilliant career daz- zles and astonishes our minds, many of whose names soon shall perish as an earth-born meteor in the darkness of oblivion's night, let us not forget to give due honor to those who, "while to fortune and to fame were unknown," and whose history-with but little exception-is " the short and simple annals of the poor," yet who among unremitting toil and perplexing cares found oppor- tunity for the exercise of those virtues which, instilled into the hearts and lives of their children and childron's children, have formed the basis of all that has beon of value in a social, business, intellectual or religious sense, and caused the history of our community to bo porvaded with an atmosphere of a pure and healthy moral tone. Out of the rough and unhewn stone our forefathers, by patient endurance and persistent effort, carved a statue of majestic and noble mien, but to us they left the work of tracing the lines of more minute expres- sion-of molding into perfection of form and symmetry-and adding the grace of posture and beauty of finish, that shall command the admiration of behold- ers. Let us beware lest, amid the haste and excitement of this busy age, the well-begun work should be marred by any feature of sordid gain, of narrow- minded prejudice, or of cold and selfish-hearted worldliness. To the youth of to-day has been left the rich moral legacy that

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The history of Clinton County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; history of the Northwest territory, Volume 2, Part 26

Author: Durant, Pliny A. ed; Beers (W.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago : W. H. Beers Number of Pages: 1410

Author: Durant, Pliny A. ed; Beers (W.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago : W. H. Beers
Number of Pages: 1410