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 32
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tain; Charles J. Cunningham, Second Lieutenant; Obed G. Sherwin, First Sergeant, promoted to First Lieutenant, and wounded by the ball that killed O. S. Knote; James Page, Jesse Joseph (killed in battle), Nathan Joseph, Henry Moon, Stephen Girton, Hezekiah Little (taken prisoner), James Clark, John Girton, Lewis A. Hammer, Charles Springer. Ambrose Nott, Thomas E. Graham (died), John D. Moon, D. C. Moon (wounded), W. H. Orr, Andrew M. Dungan (captured), Wyatt Murphy (died), -- Vanoy (died), Jesse Hockett, William J. Graham, William Garrett (wounded), Jesse Fletcher, Lewis Moon (died), Nelson V. W. Burns (wounded), David Johnson, William Hammer (died), Elisha Hammer. Clement Joseph, Oliver S. Knote (killed), Elbridge Sherwin (died), Samuel Gordon (diod), G. R. Black, Moses Pierson, -- Va- noy (died), David Hockett, J. H. Holaday, Josiah D. Moon (captured), Daniel Hall, Hezekiah Black, William M. Dungan, Wesley Mays, Hiram Vanoy, Will- iam Girton, David B. Simpson.
In the summer of 1864, Company C, One Hundred and Seventy-fifth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, was organized by Capt. A. F. Deniston, and this township furnished officers and men as follows:
A. F. Doniston, Captain; Charles C. Cunningham, First Lieutenant; Thomas J. Moon, First Sergeant; George R. Jackson, Second Sergeant; Will- iam Harwood, Third Sergeant; Jury T. Jackson, Fourth Sergeant; Hodson Carey, First Corporal; Alfred T. Wood, Second Corporal; Daniel Bailey, Third Corporal; George Hudson, Sixth Corporal; Wilkerson T. Moon, Eighth Cor- poral; Henry Lee, Wagoner. Privates-George Biggs, James J. Clark, Ben- jamin Baker, William J. Durbin, Samuel Darby, William A. Darby, William B. Fisher, James Forker, William H. Hunt, William Hockett, Asa Hockett, Levi Hockett, M. M. Haines, Josiah L. Hunt, Garner Hinshaw, Peter Ham- mer, Charles Holaday, F. M. Johnson, William M. Jackson, Levi Kinney, Calvin Porter, Francis M. Phillips, George W. Shields, David Severs, Will- iam Trovillo, William H. Thornhill, John Vandervort, William T. Young, John W. Anderson, A. L. Beck, James Barnett, Robert M. Pobst, James Pat- ton, James Shaw, Paul J. Trovillo, Job Moon.
Jacob Rhonemus, Joseph H. Moon, Alexander Hoggatt; organization not known to which these three men belonged.
C. E. Hixson served three years in the Twelfth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; was the first volunteer from the township; was captured and confined in the rebel prison at Andersonville.
Isaac Hixson served three years in the Twelfth Ohio Volunteer Infantry; wounded and still carries the ball.
Samuel H. Holaday served in the Sixty-first Ohio Volunteer Infantry; wounded.
In Company C, Seventy-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, the officers and men were as follows:
B. Robinson, First Lieutenant; John Botts, Color-Bearer, killed at the battle of Peach Tree Creek, Ga., 20th of July, 1864. Privates-Samuel Go- ble, Joseph Hoggatt, John E. Andrew (wounded), Thomas Chopson, James Wolf, Isaac Schooley, A. C. Gorrell, John Stephens (wounded, lost leg), Robert Moon (wounded, lost arm), Jackson Littles, Henry Burns, William Black (died in the service). The company was engaged in thirteen battles.
The following served in Company -, of the One Hundred and Seventy- fifty Ohio Volunteer Infantry:
A. A. Hammer, William P. Hammer, L. A. Haminer (re-enlisted), Amos G. Hammer, H. R. Hammer, W. E. Brown, Jesse H. Moon (re-enlisted), John R. Moon, David Thornhill, William P. Hockett, Daniel C. Bailey, Robert W. Anderson.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
RAILROADS.
The Hillsboro & Cincinnati Railroad, the first that was built in the county, runs through this township. It was completed from Loveland to Hillsboro in , the year 1852. The Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad also runs through this township. When these roads were first built, and for some years afterward, they made an extensive market for wood, which gave employment to numerous men.
THE VILLAGE OF WESTBORO. .
The voting-place in the township, is situated on the Hillsboro Branch of the Marietta Railroad, four miles east of Blanchester; is a village of about 200 inhabitants; has two dry goods and grocery stores, one drug store, railroad, ticket and telegraph office, and is the most convenient station for St. Martin's and Fayetteville. It is an important shipping station for hogs, grain, wool and hay. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows own a nice building, with hall in second story, the lower story now being occupied by Villars & Thomp- son, dealers in hardware and agricultural implements. The village contains a very good two-story brick school building. a Grange hall, two blacksmith shops, one wagon-maker shop and one shoe shop.
CLINTON VALLEY.
Clinton Valley is situated on the Marietta Railroad, at the crossing of Wilmington & Westboro Free Turnpike, twelve miles from Wilmington, and is noted for being a great coaling and water station for said road, which gives employment to a number of men. It contains about 100 inhabitants; has two good stores, which are patronized with a lively trade; one steam saw-mill; also a good brick schoolhouse.
SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
The first school taught in the township was taught by Thomas Abbott in the year 1823, in a'cabin on the west side of the West Fork, not far from where the village of Westboro now stands. Jesse Hockett was probably the next teacher in the township.
The first schoolhouse built in the township was on the north bank of West Fork, opposite the lands of John W. Jackson, which was also used for a meeting - house by the Society of Friends. After the organization of Jefferson Town- ship, it was divided into four districts, viz. : The Bee Branch neighborhood, as a fractional district, to which was attached a fraction of Clark Township; the Hale's Branch District; the James Thornhill District, and the West Fork Dis- trict. In the latter, a dissension arose about where the house should be lo- cated. There appeared to be three parties, and, as the house had to be built by voluntary contribution, each party built a house, and schools were taught from time to time in each house until the re-organization of the districts, about 1844, when another district was formed and a new frame house built at Westboro.
The township is now divided into six subdistricts and one spocial dis- trict, the latter including the village of Westboro and territory adjacent thero- to. The house is a two-story brick building, with spacious grounds surround- ing it, which are ornamented with numerous shade trees, transplanted from the native forest. . With the care that the enterprising citizens will no doubt take of the building and its surroundings, it will be an ornament to the village and country. In connection with the schools, in December, 1881, the litorary and social society of Westboro, through the instrumentality of N. B. Van Win- kle, M. D., and John T. Bishop, Principal of the school, was organized, with John
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T. Bishop, President; Miss Lettie F. Jackson, Secretary, and Miss Laura Jack- son, Treasurer. The membership consisted of Misses Ada L. Sargent, Cora M. Aiken, Emma Hockett, Sallie Kumler, William Kumler and Benjamin E. Page. The object of the society is the cultivation and improvement of the social and literary tastes of the young people. The public schools of the town- ship are generally in a prosperous condition. This township has been noted for the number of distinguished teachers and professional and business men it has furnished. The obvious reason of this is that it contained no wealthy families and that the young men had to rely upon their own exertions for suc- cess.
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
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LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.
BY HON. JESSE N. OREN.
L IBERTY Township is in the center of the northern tier of townships of
1 Clinton County. Its entire northern line borders on Greene County. It lies immediately between Wilson Township on the east, and Chester, which is wost of it. Its entire southern line borders on Union Township. It is three miles wide from north to south, and six milos long from east to west, and con- tains 15,460 acres of land. Anderson's Fork, a stream of considerable impor. tance, flows through the entire length of the township from oast to west, and discharges its wator into Caesar's Crook about one-half milo below Now Bur- lington. Dutch Crook flows through a very small portion of the southern part. Buck Run drains the southwestorn part, and flows into Caesar's Creek outside the county. Those streams, with their numerous tributaries, afford amplo nat. ural drainage, and serve as outlets for artificial drains.
Along Anderson's Fork, bolow Port William, the country is rolling, alter- nating with fine bottom lands. The waters of the creek are clear, and flow rapidly over a bed of stone and 'gravel. Above Port William, the country in level and the current sluggish. It is sufficiently rolling, however, to carry off the surface water. Goologists claim that this section has at one period beon a shallow lake. It is now a deep, rich black loam.
The southern, central and southwestorn portions are very much of the santo nature-level, black land. In fact, almost the entire township, except along the streams, is level and, in a state of naturo, was covered with water for more than six months of the year. The soil, boing black and loose, and routing upon a clay subsoil, is peculiarly adapted to the cultivation of the coronla- corn, whoat, oats, etc.
Vegetables of all kinds grown in this latitude grow to perfection. The grassos commonly grown in this part of the State do well, especially clover and timothy, which grow luxuriantly. Good grass and numerous streams of water, with plenty of living wells, where the streams are not easy of accom, make this a very paradise for cattle.
TIMBER.
This township was originally covered with a dense growth of timber of the following varieties, viz. : Burr oak, white oak, sugar treo, boech, black walnut, ash, olm, otc. Some of these varieties are becoming scarce -- in fact, almost extinct, and all are unmistakably passing away. Each year adds to the acreage of cleared land, and the increased velocity of the wind observable reminds us more and more of a prairie country.
STONE AND GRAVEL.
Stone of a good quality (Clinton limestone) is found in abundance. There are three quarries that are extensively worked -- one on the farm of W. F. Oglesbee, one on the farm of Franklin McKay, and one on Franklin Oglesboo'n farm. The stone from these quarrios is in great demand, and large quantition are shipped each year to neighboring counties. There is also plenty of gravel for the construction and improvement of roads. There was no listing of per sonal property by townships until 1826. At that time, the only personal prop- erty listed for taxation in this township was cattle and horses.
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This township reported 143 horses, valued at $5,720, and 211 neat cattle, valued at $1,688, making a total of $7,408. Horses were valued at a uniform price of $40 a head, and cattle at $8 a head. The value of the real estate was $32,614, making a total of $40,022. In 1881, the value of all the property, real and personal, in the township, was $813,175. The population in 1880 was 1,382.
EARLY SETTLERS.
Liberty Township was organized July 15, 1817, but the history of this part of the county commences at a much earlier date. Stephen Mendenhall was the first white man who settled within the limits of what is now Liberty Township. He was born in 1780, in Tennessee. At the age of nine years, he moved with his father to Guilford County, N. C., where he remained until 1802, when he was married to Ann Boll, a native of that county. She was born in 1781. In 1802, they moved to Ohio, and stopped at Waynesville until the spring of 1803, when they moved onto a farm of about one hundred acres on Dutch Creek. The farm is now owned by John Antram. The first summer, their only neighbors wore a few Indians. There were no white families living noarer than seven miles. They raised a family of seven children, who were all born on this farm, as follows: Mahala, Absalom, Joab, Susanna, Mary, James and Sarah. But two of these are now living-Absalom and Susanna. In the fall of 1803, there were several families settled in the northern part of what is now Union Township. Mahala, the oldest child, was born April 9, 1803, and hers was the first birth in what is now Liberty Township. She died in 1838. Absalom, the second child, was born October 25, 1805, and was per- haps the first male child born in what are now the limits of this township. He succeeded his father in the ownership of the farm, and lived upon the same until the year 1851, when he sold out to Samuel Miars and moved to Rich- mond, Ind., where he at present resides. At the time Mr. Mendenhall settled here, the country was indeed an unbroken wilderness. A few Indians yet re. mained, and game of all kinds, such as deer, bears, wolves, turkeys, etc., were plenty. But the sound of his ax was the signal for a new era, that was then but just dawning.
Stephen Mendenhall was a largo-framed, rather raw-boned man, near six feet high, sandy complexioned and gray eyes, a hard-working, peaceable man, and one well calculated to help subdue the wilderness. He built the first frame barn that was built in the township. He died in 1840, and was buried in Centre Burying-Ground. He belonged to the religious denomination of Friends.
The second family to locate here was that of Samuel Miller, who emigrated from Kentucky in 1804, and settled on Anderson's Fork, on a tract of 600 ; acres. He located on that part of the tract where William Peacemaker now lives. Samuel Miller was born in Scotland in 1780; emigrated from there to Kentucky. He was married, in 1802, to Martha Scott. Three children were born to them-William, Polly and Abram. None of these are now living. He was married a second time, to Matilda Jenkins. Four children were the fruits of this union-Martha, Jane, Elizabeth and James. These are all liv- ing. He died April 13, 1843. Martha, his first wife, died August 4, 1823. They, with their children, are buried in Miller's Burying-Ground. Samuel Miller was for forty years a leading character in this section of country. From the time of his settlement here until his death, he did as much, perhaps, as any one man to promote the interests of his neighborhood and township. He furnished the hand-mill upon which the early settlers ground their corn. He was the first Justice of the Peace of this township -- in fact, was chosen Jus- tice in 1814, two years before the township was organized, and from that time until his death, a period of nearly thirty years, he held that position. He was
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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
also one of the first Trustees of the township. In religion, he was a strict Presbyterian; in politics, a Whig. He was a large, muscular man, full six feet in height, and capable of great physical endurance. As a neighbor, be was kind and obliging. He was very positive in his convictions, and possessed great force of character. He built the second grist-mill that was built in the township, in 1833. This mill was burned down a few years ago, and was re- built by Amos C. Hiatt, who at present owns the same. During the thirty years that he served as Justice of the Peace, there was but one appeal taken from his decision, and that was not sustained. As illustrative of his character as an officer and a man, I will relate the following incident which was given by an eye-witness: A certain case was being tried before Squire Miller. One of the parties had employed a lawyer, Mr. Buck, of Wilmington. After the witnesses had been examined, Lawyer Buck arose and took off his overcoat preparatory to making an argument in the interest of his client. Squire Mil. lor, pon in hand, looking up from his paper, said, "Mr. Buck, while you ad- dress the court, I will write out the judginent." It is said Mr. Buck did not make his speech.
In the fall of 1805, there was an addition of two or three families on An- derson's Fork. Abram Ellis and family, from Lancaster, Penn., settled just over the creek from where Squire Miller settled the year before, on what is now known as the Thomas Linkhart farm. Aaron Jenkins and family, from Virginia, settled on the farm afterward owned by his son Aaron; and Joseph Lucas settled where George Hiney now lives. Abram Ellis was born in Lan caster, Penn., in 1750. His father, Joel Ellis, came from Germany. The birth of Abram Ellis dates the farthest back of any pioneer in this township. He served for seven years in the Revolutionary war; participated in the bat tles of Brandywine, Long Island and many others; witnessed the surrender of Cornwallis, and helped guard the prisoners there taken; was with Washington when he crossed the Delaware. At some time during the war, he received a severe bayonet wound. He was honorably discharged at the close of the war, and soon afterward married Catharine Joel, daughter of Henry and Nancy Joel. and grand-daughter of an Austrian Princess of the House of Hapsburg. There is a little bit of romance connected with the life of this Princess, that, for the benefit of the numerous descendants in Clinton County, we take the liberty of inserting here:
Becoming enamored with the son of her father's gardener, whose name was Notel, she eloped with him and came to America and settled in Philadel. phia, choosing rather to endure the privations of the New World with her true love than to share the courts of royalty with another. In the course of time, poverty overtook them. Her husband (Mr. Notel) returned to Austria, with let tors from his wife to her royal relatives, asking assistance. They sont her many valuable presents. He returned to New York, converted the presenta' into money, and spent the same in riotous living. For this ungrateful art, Mrs. Notel renounced her true love and refused to claim him as her husband. She had two daughters, Nancy and Rosanna. Both were well educated Nancy, the elder, married Henry Joel, an Austrian nobleman. There being a legacy coming to Nancy from the estate of her mother's relatives in Austria, her husband, Henry Joel, was sent with proper authority to receive the same, He collected it, but, on the return voyage, he, with all his possessions, wns lost by shipwreck, in sight of land. Catharine Joel, their daughter, became the wife of Abram Ellis, the subject of this sketch, soon after the close of the Revolutionary war. In November, 1805, they emigrated to Ohio and settled on the farm above named. They raised a family of eight children-four sous and four daughters. Henry, the oldest, was also one of the pioneers of this
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township. He was born in 1781, and came here with his father; was married June 20, 1810, to Charity Harper, of Fayette County. He served in the war of 1812, was a surveyor, and helped to locate the Xenia & Wilmington road. Anna, his oldest daughter, married Jacob Strickle, who came to this State with his father-in-law, and settled on the farm where William Gannan afterward lived. Mr. Strickle moved to Wilmington at an early day, and was for many years a prominent citizen of that place. He was the grandfather of Mrs. Bickham, of the Dayton Journal, and Mrs. Col. Corbin, of Washington, D. C. Mr. Ellis' daughters, Rosanna and Margaret, married James and John Car- man. Eli and Isaac were also his sons.
William Ireland was next in the order of early settlers. He was born in Ireland in 1770, and emigrated to this country with his parents when he was but three years old. Catharine, his wife, was born in 1771. In 1806, they moved from Scott County, Ky., and settled in what is now Liberty Township, on 100 acres of land, which is still known as the Ireland farm.
Mr. Ireland's brother assisted them in crossing the Ohio River, and then the Ireland family took up their line of march alone through the wilderness for their new home. They had two wagons, drawn by two horses each, two cows, with their calves, and six sheep. For some miles, Mr. Ireland, with his older boys, wont before with their axes and cut away the underbrush so the wagons could follow. In March of 1806, they arrived at what was to be their future home. A dense wilderness surrounded them. Squire Miller, Abram Ellis and the Lucas_family were the only settlers near. The underbrush was cut away to make a place for the wagons to stand. Four forks were set in the ground, poles were laid across, and these were covered with bark and brush. The boys slept in one wagon, the girls in another; father and mother occupied the tent. Pens were built of poles in which to keep the cows and sheep to protect them from the wild beasts. Large fires were built at night to keep off the wolves, that were then plenty, and made night hideous with their howls. At times in the morning, the bed-quilts under which Mr. and Mrs. Ireland slept would be covered with snow. They raised a family of eleven children, as follows: John, William, Sally, James, Nellie, Margaret, Samuel, Jane, Catharine, Alexander and Nancy. But two of these are now living-Nellie . Wilson, who .is now in her eighty-third year, and lives in Wilmington; and Alexander, a few years younger, who lives in Indiana. Mr. Ireland was a tall, muscular man, fair complexion and blue eyes. He was a strict Presbyterian, and took a deep interest in religious matters. He taught the first Sunday school in the township. In 1819, he built the first brick house. He was a man well informed for that period, and, like those who had preceded him in help- ing to found a new State, peculiarly adapted to the work. He died January 15, 1850. Catharine, his wife, died March 22, 1839. They lie buried in the Mil- Jer Burying-Ground, near where they commenced life in the wilderness.
Christian Stephons emigrated with his family from Frederick County, Va., in 1806, and settled on Anderson's Fork, on the farm afterward owned by David Stephens (deceased). His father, Peter Stephens, from the same place, followed his son two years afterward (1808), and settled where his grand- son, Henry Stephens, now lives.
John Johnson and Susanna, his wife, emigrated from Campbell County, Va., to Highland County, Ohio, in 1805. In 1806, he moved with his family to the farm now owned by Silas Mathis. He spent the first winter in a camp. Mr. Johnson was a noted hunter, and for years supplied his family with meat with his gun.
They raised a family of twelve children. Four of them are still living- Ann Scutt, James, Polly Johnson (widow of J. M. Johnson) and Susan Bodkin. The first election in this township was held at Mr. Johnson's house.
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John Unthank emigrated from Guilford County, N. C., in 1807, and set- tled on the banks of Anderson's Fork, where John Moorman lived and diod. He was married, in his native State, to Mary Stanly. They raised a family of nine children. He was a half-brother to Hezekiah Hiatt, who came to this State with him. Mr. Unthank built a grist-mill where the present mill at Port William stands, in 1808. This was the first mill built in this section of coun. try, and settlers for many miles came to "Unthank's Mill." The township elections were for several years held in this mill. It was also a great place of resort for the early settlers, who would congregate here.on Saturday eveninga and engage in sports common at that time, such as jumping, wrestling, foot- racing, etc. This mill was of such importance to early settlers that roads were opened to it. The road from Port William to Wilmington was opened at an early day, so the settlers could get to Unthank's mill. Mr. Unthank removed to Indiana with his family in 1833.
Christopher Ellis and Elizabeth, his wife, emigrated from Frederick County, Va., to Ohio in 1809. He bought 600 acres of land in what are now Groono and Clinton Counties. This tract of land included the farm now owned by William Donaldson. It was upon this part of the tract that Ellis. settled. Christopher Ellis was a brother to Abram Ellis, who had emigrated here four years before, and was then living on the creek in a cabin. Even at this date, settlers were so scarce that Christopher Ellis had to go many miles to get enough hands to raise the log house.
In 1810, David Fairfield, an Irishman by birth, emigrated from Kentucky with his family and settled on the farm now owned by Robert Oglesboo. Mr. and Mrs. Fairfield raised a large family of children. They were hard-working. peaceable citizens, and performed well their part as early settlers, and are both sleeping side by side upon the farm they reclaimed from the wilderness, with not even a headstone to mark the spot.
About the same time (1810), Isaac Haines_and wife, from New Jersey. settled whore Joseph Whinery now lives. David Adkinson and family, from York County, Penn., settled where Nicholas Harlan lived and died. Henry Hester married a daughter of David Fairfield, and settled on the farm now owned by John Hempstead. Owing to defective titles, Isaac Haines, Joseph Adkinson, Henry Hester, David Fairfield and others, owning to the amount of 1,000 acres in W. Nelson's Survey, after they had paid for the same and wore just beginning to be so situated as to enjoy life, lost all.
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