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 28
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ville. About 1827, Christopher Hiatt, built a carding machine, which was run, by oxen, on an inclined wheel. Later, John Lytle erected a carding machine near the present site of Martinsville, and Curtis Jackson built a mill near by, both of which were run by oxen on an inclined wheel. In 1833 or 1834, Amos Holloway built the first steam mill, about one mile west of Martinsville, and Isaac Pidgeon applied steam to a carding and fulling machine, to which he also attached apparatus for grinding corn. Two other steam-mills have been built since-one known as Kester's, about two miles northeast of Martins- ville, which was removed a few years ago to Farmer's Station; the other was built at Martinsville, with funds raised by subscription, about $2,000 having been obtained for the purpose. The mill was built and operated for awhile by Angus McCoy and Daniel Carey. This mill was destroyed by fire in 1860 or 1861, while owned by Jehu Davis, who erected the one now standing.
The first shingle roof was put on by Joseph Moon, Sr. The shingles were pinned on with wooden pins. The building is still standing, about one mile east of Martinsville, and the holes for the pins may yet bo seen in the sheet- ing. The first roof on which nails wore used was on a house built by William Moon. Tho nails cost 25 cents per pound. The first merchants were Lewis Garrett and Robert Grant, at Martinsville, about the time of the laying-out of the village, in 1816. It is said the main feature of their business was the liq- uor traffic. They soon failed in business -- a fact prophetic of the fate of nearly all who have engaged in like business since. They were soon followed by John Wright, with a capital of only $400 or $500. The first hotel was opened by Samuel Harbin, who was followed by Peyton Burton, who was succeeded by Samuel Hiatt. The first hatters were John Chew and Thomas Sally. Will- iam Moon was the first blacksmith and gunsmith, opening a shop as early as 1809. Asaph Hiatt was the first cabinet-maker, beginning his work about 1815. A number of articles of furniture are still in use in different families of the neighborhood. Jesse Jackson was the first to follow shoemaking as a business, and Aaron Betts was the first tanner.
In the first settlement of the country, the amount of wheat sown was so small that each farmer either cut his own with a sickle, or two or more neigh- bors joined together to harvest their grain. As the acreage increased, cradles were brought into use, the number of hands increasing as the acreage grew greater, year by year. About 1845 or 1850, reapers began to be introduced, after which the acreage rapidly increased.
Prior to 1840 or 1845, the only way of separating the grain from the straw and chaff was by the use of the flail, or by treading out with horses. About this period, Jesse Beales purchased territory and the right to manufacture a machine to be run with one horse. The attempt was unsuccessful, as was also another machine, designed to be propelled by horses on an incline, from the fact that other machines of a superior grade of construction were soon intro- duced. The old horse-power machine and " tumbling shaft," the first of which were probably operated by John Green, or by John R. Smith and William Hockett, were the first successful machines introduced. These were followed by the steamer, and last by the " traction " engine.
Prior to the settlement of Clark Township-or of the settlements within its limits-a road had been opened by the State from College Township, But- ler County, to Chillicothe. In 1835, this became the northern boundary of the . township from Morrisville eastward. So far as can be ascertained, the second
- road was one known as the Lebanon road, from Lebanon to Hillsboro. It was known as a county road by three notches cut in the trees along the route. It passed from northwest to southeast, through the present site of Martinsville. A third road was opened from the Lebanon road, starting about one and a half
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miles southeast of Martinsville, and running northwest, crossing the old State road at the present site of Morrisville; thence to Wilmington. The next road of special importance is the road from Cincinnati, passing through Martins- ville west to east, and intersecting the old State road between New Vienna and Lexington. This road was established by authority of the State, about 1835 . or 1836, the Viewers being Aaron Betts and -- Jackson, of Goshen. As necessity required, the other roads have been established at different times.
The most important improvement of the highways began about 1867 or 1868, when the law provided for the construction of free pikes. C. C. Betts was a prime mover in this work, and occupied the position of Commissioner on the Wilmington & Martinsville pike at the time of his death, in 1870. At the present time, there are about thirty miles of pike within the limits of the town- ship, and all the streams are spanned by well-constructed bridges. Perhaps no other cause has contributed more to increase the value of property, and added to the comforts of travel and the facilities for conveying produce to market, than the improved condition of the highway, within the last fourteen years.
Upon the organization of the township, measures were taken to hold the first election. This was heid in John Wright's store, in Martinsville. Run- ners were sent out to call a sufficient number together for the purpose. Jona- than Hockett, Sr., was chosen Moderator. A common brown earthen crock, with a cover of like material, was used for a ballot-box. Fourteen or sixteen ballots were cast. No charge of " stuffing," or of necessity for a returning board to insure a "fair count," was ever raised. Three Trustees were elected, viz., Joseph Moon, William Nixon and (probably) John Wright. William Patter- son was elected Justice of the Peace. The names of other officers cannot be ascertained. A Supervisor was elected, who had the oversight of the road from Cowan's Creek to the East Fork, a distance of nine or ten miles. These" officers served without pay.
The first religious service was conducted by Friends, in the dwelling be- longing to John Wright. A fow individuals are still living who attended this meeting. This was probably not later than 1810. The meetings held at this time were what are known in the society as "indulged meetings," and were under the care of Clear Creek Monthly Meeting. In the year 1816, a monthly meeting was established, and Christopher Hiatt was chosen Clerk. Before the establishment of this meeting, the members had united and erected a log house in a primitive style, with puncheon floor, clapboard roof and ceiling, and warmed by a bed of charcoal on a hearth in the center of the room, As the number of members increased, an addition was joined to this building, by sharpening the ends of logs and driving them between the logs of the first building. The wall between the two thus formed the partition between the men's and women's meetings, two or three logs having been taken out to ar- range for "shutters." When, in time, more room was needed, the logs were cut out on the south side of this building, a few feet from the wall, to insure safety, and a shed attached. This shed was generally occupied by the younger portion of the congregation, while the fathers and mothers occupied the older and warmer portion of the building, and, as the projecting ends of the logs on each side concealed the boys from the view of older eyes, it is said, by some who ought to know, that said boys did not always conduct themselves in & manner becoming a place of worship. A brick house, thirty by sixty, was next, erected, built by voluntary work of the members. Unfortunately, this build- ing was burned before completion. It was warmed in the same manner as the previous building. The coals were brought in on a hand-bar, an arrangement consisting of two long poles and cross-pieces, in which bent clapboards were placed. Into the hollow formed by the bent boards, earth was placed, and on
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this the bed of coals. At the close of service, four men usually took hold of these poles and carried the hand-bar out; but upon this occasion it was neg- lected, and it is supposed the boards under the earth became so heated that they took fire and from these it was communicated to the floor. This house was rebuilt and occupied until the building of the present house, in 1844. which was also built by voluntary work and contributions. These church buildings were built upon six acres of ground, donated to Friends for this purpose by Gen. William Lytle, of Cincinnati. The present church building and graveyard occupy ground obtained of Aaron Betts by an exchange of a part of the land donated by Gen. Lytle.
About the year 1838, Thomas Hogan and Daniel Rizer organized and founded the Methodist Church at Martinsville. Mr. Hogan had been a man of intemperate habits, but, having reformed in 1836, became an earnest and use- ful worker in the church and in the cause of temperance. The first meetings held under the organization were in private dwellings-sometimes, at favora- ble seasons, in the woods. Rev. James Quinn was among the first preachers who conducted these services. A house for worship was built about the year 1841, which was occupied until the building of the present house, in 1874. The first Sabbath school was established about the year 1850 or 1852.
Early in the history of the community, attention was given to education. A subscription school was opened and taught by Jonah Wright, of South Car- olina, about 1812. Pupils came to this school from their homes, now embraced in four or five districts, surrounding Martinsville, and a few came from a dis- tance and boarded. This school was under the control of Friends, and was hold in their house, Daniel Moon, John Beales and Christopher Hiatt being appointed a committee to have the oversight of it. Mr. Wright was followed by Ira Hunt, and next by John Roe, who also taught night schools, which were attended by a number of adult persons. Next came Noah Kellum (of whom some of his pupils claim a correct pronunciation is Kill 'em). A num- bor of others might be added to the list, all of whom taught subscription schools at the rate of $1.50 per scholar for a torm of three months, this being the whole number of months of school during the year. This was continued until the establishment of the free school system, about 1835. It is a matter of wonder to us, who begin to appreciate the blessings of this system, that, when the question was first agitated, and provision made by law for a tax to be collected to support free schools, that many of the best citizens of that day were bitterly opposed to the movement. A worthy citizen of this community, an early settler, a man of good judgment, of unblemished character, and occupy- ing a high position in the church, remarked, about this time, that "he would as soon have his property stolen as to pay tax to educate other people's chil- dren."
Many now living can well remember the construction of the primitive schoolhouses. Built of logs, with one end so constructed that the fire-place extended the entire width of the room, and affording space on each end of the forestick for two or three boys to sit and warm, while the light which came down the huge stick-and-clay chimney enabled them to study (or play tricks on each other). The windows were of greased paper, placed in where a por- tion of a log had been taken out for the purpose. Around the room, on pins placed in the logs, were planks, upon which the children did their writing, seated upon benches made of slabs, and without backs. It was frequently so cold in the room that the ink would freeze in the quill pen, and on this account the bottle had to be kept in the pocket. Reading, writing and arithmetic con- stituted the course of study, the pupils generally using Murray's Introduction, English Reader and Sequel for Readers, Dilworth's or Webster's Spellers and Pike's Arithmetic, or, in the absence of these, any text-book most conveniently
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obtained. The pupil who advanced as far as the double rule of three (com- pound proportion) was considered competent to teach. Grammar was first taught by Lewis Garrett, of North Carolina. Because he could teach grammar, he was considered a wonder by the people. From the time of these early schools, nothing of importance occurred in the educational interests of the township until about 1845. About this time, Milton Hollingsworth was employed, by a com- mittee of Friends of Newberry Monthly Meeting, to take charge of a subscrip. tion school, to be held in a room fitted up for the purpose, over the meeting room in the Friends' Church at Martinsville. At a re-union for officers, teachers and pupils of the schools of Martinsville, held in August, 1878, the following was given, in regard to this school, in the address of welcome, de- livered by Reuben Hunt:
"Milton Hollingsworth gave to this community its first grand impulse in the direction of a higher education, around whose pupils clusters so much in- torest to-day. I mako no invidious distinction when I note the fact that in this class is to bo found the farmer, mechanic, merchant, physician, lawyer, banker, ox-County Treasurer, editor, legislator and minister of the Gospel, representing every phase of honorable and respectable society."
The next important step was the formation of the special school district, and, somewhat later, the movement, under the privileges granted to special - districts, to build the present house and establish a graded school. C. C. Betts, Robert Fulton and Dr. John Carman, as Directors and prime movers in the en- terprise, called the patrons of the school together and submitted a proposition to build a house costing not less than $2,500 or $3,000. The proposition was carried, there being only two dissenting voices. The contract was given to George and William Janney, who built the house, which cost, when completed, about $2,800. For some years, only two departments were occupied. The first teachers employed were Mr. and Mrs. -- Adams, graduates of. Oberlin Col- lege. Mrs. Adams taught the high school, and Mr. Adams the second depart- ment. They were followed, in 1859, by Charles Oren and wife, residents of the county, but graduates of Antioch College, having been under the instruc- tion of the noted Horace Mann. Mr. Oren occupied the position of Principal, his wife taking the second department. Between Mr. Adams and Mrs. Oren, this department was for a time under the tuition of Miss Sarah Porter, of Massachusetts. Mr. Oren occupied the position of Principal for about three years, during which the school was firmly established and a reputation gained which drew pupils from every part of this and adjoining counties, and several from other States. Mr. Oren then gave his services to his country in the civil war, and entered the army as a Captain." While faithfully performing his duty, he was strickon down by a sharpshooter, on the fortification around Po. tersburg, Va., in July, 1864.
The school continued to prosper under the Principalship of M. L. Hunt. The second department was in charge of Miss Mary Hunt at this time, and the third had been opened, and had been taught by Miss Josie White, followed by Miss Ella Behymer, then by Miss Sue A. Hunt. About 1865, A. J. Hixson became Principal, who was succeeded, in a year or two, by T. J. Moon, who occupied the position for nearly the whole time until 1879. During a short interval of this period, the school was in charge of Edward Ellis. The inter- mediate department was under charge of different teachers, and the primary was taught for the greater part of the time by Mrs. Lida Moon. Under the instructions of Mr. Moon, a large number of teachers were qualified and se- cured positions in the schools of this and adjoining counties. Mr. Moon was followed by the present Principal, Edwin P. West, whose education began in this school, under M. L. Hunt, and who graduated in Wilmington College in
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the class of 1878. Tho intermediate department is taught by Mr. Pago, of Westboro, and the primary by Mrs. Laura Stratton.
Interesting and profitable literary associations were sustained at different periods. The alumni, composed of students attending, and especially of those who had discontinued school, was held quarterly for some years, the annual meetings, held in September, being occasions of much interest and profit. We are sorry to add that all these seem to have come to an early death by a slow decline. About the year 1865, a public library was organized. By the assist- ance of a bequest from Clarkson Moon of $50, a library of over one hundred volumes was collected, worth about $220, nearly all of which are still pre- served. The facilities for education and for acquiring information at present, compared with that of the early settlers, present strange contrasts. During the war of 1812, only one paper was taken within the limits of Clark Town- ship. This was the Western Star, published at Lebanon. It was left at Lacy's Tavern, now Cuba. In 1808, the nearest post office was Hillsboro, which was also the nearest place of business of any importance. The first railroad pass. ing through the township is the Hillsboro road. The M. & C. road was com- pleted and the first train passed in 1854 .* Prior to this, the surplus produce of the country was hauled away and goods brought back in wagons. During the day of wagoning, two enterprising and adventurous young rats of the Nor-". way species-then but little known in this country-being tired, as we sup- pose, of city life, and possessed with the idea that fun and food in abundance could be found in some rural district, embarked at Cincinnati in a wagon belong- ing to Robert Ellis, and succeeded in reaching the village of Martinsville. But, before effecting their escape to a secure retreat, where they would realize their long-cherished day-dreams of well-filled granaries, and rovel amid the. luxuries of the farmer's barn, their presence in the wagon was discovered, and, being unwelcome visitors, though the first of the kind ever seen in the com- munity, they were doomed to instant death. Such is the history of the first Norway rat hunt in Martinsville.
About the year 1834 or 1835, Dr. John E. Dalton, of New Hampshire, became a resident of Martinsville. He was probably the first practicing phy- sician resident in the township. Being also engaged in mercantile business, he brought the first case of boots of Eastern manufacture ever offered for sale in the village. At this time, there was no post office nearer than Cuba. Mr. Dalton was instrumental, with others, in obtaining the first office, and was the first to hold the position of Postmaster." He was succeeded by David W. Hockett, and the third was John Hunt. When Mr. Dalton and others petitioned for the office, the law required that offices should be at least four miles apart. To ascertain whether the office could be obtained, the distance to Cuba was measured with a tape line, and it was found to be but very little over the re- quired distance. The law also required that security should be given that the office should not be an expense to the Government. The rates of postage on letters at this time was from 6 cents to 25 cents between any two points in the United States according to distance. Each separate piece of paper included in the communication was subject to these rates.
At this time, a cook-stove was a thing unknown in the country. Mr. Dal ton and Samuel Collins bought a patent right for forty counties in Ohio to manufacture a cook-stove invented by an Eastern gentleman by the name of John Moore. This stove was made mostly of sheet iron, and was soon dis- placed by superior articles. Mr. Dalton also had the honor of being the first to agitate the temperance cause publicly in the community. In this connec-
* See Chapter IX.
t The issue of the Wilmington Democrat and Herald for January 31, 1834, mentioned the fact that a post office had just been established at Martinsville, and Dr. John E. Dalton appointed Postmaster. The Doctor must therefore have come not later than 1833 to the village .- P. A. D.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
tion it may be stated that the first advocates for the abolition of slavery in this vicinity were Christopher Hiatt, Aaron Betts and David Sewell. The cause met with the usual opposition, though no violence was often manifested toward its advocates, further than that some traveling speakers, stopping overnight at Christopher Hiatt's, had their horses' manes and tails trimmed.
We have thus reviewed the history of our township as far as circumstan- ces have permitted the collection of items of interest. Let us close by noting down, for future reference, some items of the present condition of the town- ship. The population of the village of Martinsville, according to the census of 1880, was 355. It contains three dry goods stores, two of which keep gro- ceries, besides two drug stores, which also keep groceries; one saloon and grocery, one hotel, one harness shop, four blacksmith shops (which include two carriage manufactories and repair shops), one wagon shop, two shoe shops, one bakery, one mill, one cabinet shop and three physicians. A bank was es- tablished in 1863, by F. M. Moore and Nathaniel Hunter, who were succeeded, August 1, 1873, by Cleland. & Hunt.
A telegraph office was opened about 1863 or 1864, by I N. Miller. From this station, during the fall and winter of 1881, about $100,000 worth of hogs were shipped, and $20,000 worth of wheat.
The valuation of town lots in Martinsville, according to the assessment of - 1880, was $11,813; valuation of dwellings, $30,345; valuation of other build- · ings, $2,965; valuation of mill property , $1,400; total value, $46,523. In the township, the number of acres of plow land is 13,153.16; number of acres of meadow land, 4,361.06; number of acres of woodland, 5,523.88; total, 23,038 acros. The valuation of this land by the last assessment was $613,390; val- uation of dwellings, $53,485; valuation of other buildings, $22,845; valua- tion of mill property, $1,200; total value, $690,920; adding value of real es. tate in Martinsville, $46,523, makes a total valuation of real estate in town- ship of $737,443. In the township there are five houses for worship: The. Friends', at Martinsville, valued at $825; the M. E. Church at Martinsville. valued at $2,000; Universalist Church at Farmers Station, $1.500; West Chapel (M. E.), $500; Pleasant Hill, $250; total value, $5,075. There are ten schoolhouses in the township, valued at $4,410. The population of the town- ship in 1870 numbered 1,877. In 1880, it was 2,007, an increase of 130. At the Presidential election in 1880, 492 votes were cast. The township has fur- nished two Probate Judges, three County Treasurers and one Representative in the General Assembly. According to the statement of a Trustee, there have been 120 paupers sent to the infirmary during the last twenty-seven years, of whom the main cause of pauperisin, for at least two-thirds of the number, was whisky and tobacco.
It is regretted that the number of soldiers furnished during the war, and the number lost in battle or by sickness, cannot be ascertained. The first vol- unteers were Elsworth Rizer, Zach Johnson and - ,who answered the first call for ninety-days men.
One peculiar feature of our history was the long-continued residence of many of the early settlers and their immediate descendants in this vicinity; then the great change which took place during a few years following the close of the war, by removals to the West and by deaths. So great a change was thus produced that, at the time of writing this history, but few individuals remain who were witnesses of the early events of our history. Soon the dark vale shall inter- vene between us and these, and the last link which connects us with the char- acters who figured in early days shall be severed; but their footprints have been left upon the sands of time, so indelibly impressed by the character of their lives and work, that an imperishable monument of gratitude will ever re- main in the heart of every true citizen to their memories.
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GREENE TOWNSHIP.
GREENE TOWNSHIP. BY C. C. BOWERS, ESQ. LOCATION.
G REENE Township lios in the southeast part of Clinton County, Ohio. On the north, it is bounded by Union and Wayno Townships; on the northeast by Wayne Township; on the southeast by Highland County; and on the -west by Clark, Washington and Union Townships. Its form is rhomboidal. Its' most northern point a little west of north of a straight line drawn from the center of the southeast line bordoring on Highland County. This line is about six miles long. The southeast lino is six miles in length. The irregular line on the west side is about eight miles. The line bordering the north and north- east is about eight miles in length. It contains about forty-three square miles of surface. The northeast part of the township lies on the waters of Paint Creek; the southwest part on the head-waters of the Little Miami River.
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