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 37

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 37

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).

Schools continued to be started in different parts of the township for longer or shorter periods until as late as 1830, but no regular course of teaching was had. In the summer and fall of 1828, a schoolhouse was built on the Gallaher farm, in the Tench Survey, in which Thompson Douglass taught the first school. There were then but fow schools in the township. Soon after this, however, schools sprang up in various parts of the township, and con- tinued so to do until the prosont district school system was inaugurated. There are now sevon school districts in the township, in addition to the Sabina and Reesville special districts. In the districts, exclusive of the latter two, there are 303 children of school age, for the education of whom a tax of $1, 147 way levied at the last annual levy, in 1881.

INDUSTRIES.

Among the early settlers of the township, industrios, other than those inci. dent to the cloaring and cultivating the farm, were not to bo thought of, and not the least of the many inconveniences with which the pioneer had to con. tend, was the absence of mills in the neighborhood. Families were frequently obliged to go for weeks without meal on account of the great distance to the mill and the impassable condition of the trails. In the absence of meal they lived on hominy, which was made by crushing corn between two stones. A great drawback to the building of mills was the absence of any adequate water supply, the creeks in the township being small and not rapid.

The first mill in the township, and the first industry of any kind, was a horse-mill built by Thomas Hardwick, about the year 1807, on Wilson's Branch of Rattlesnake Creek, in the Tench Survey. This mill was operated very suc. cessfully for a number of years by Ezekiel Spurgeon, and supplied a long-folt want to the neighborhood.

In the same survey a tan yard was sunk by James Gillispie in the winter of 1813-14, on the ground where the Burnt Tavern was afterward built by the same man.

In 1822, a distillery was built by William Spurgeon, in the Tench Survey. on the land that James Gallaher sold to William Cue. The distillery was run by Spurgeon for about five years, and was the cause of several bitter suite at law. It was afterward moved to the old "Cherry Jot," opposite the horse-mill. and there again oporatod by Spurgeon, but undor his brother's name. After about one year at this place, the stills were removed and the distillery dienp. peared.

The first brick-yard in the township was on ground now within the corpo ration of Sabina. It was opened in 1827, by William Lomax, who furnished the brick for many of the first brick houses in the township. The ciny for the brick was tramped out by oxen, and all the molding was done by hand. A part of the residence of Jacob Theobold, in Sabina, was built of brick from this yard. There are now two brick-yards in the township, owned respectively

181

புலவர்ணு வியல் பண்

768

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.

by J. P. and A. J. Darbyshiro. Both yards are north of Sabina, on the Plym- outh road. About three kilns of from 150,000 to 250,000 brick each are burned annually. The gentlemen.controlling these yards have boon in this business in various parts of the township for many years. They are contractors for brick work, and consume in their business most of the brick they manufacture.

There are also two tile factories in the township, one at Reosville, oper- ated by Walker & Fristo, and the other by A. J. Darbyshire, in connection with his brick-yard. The former has a capacity for manufacturing forty kilns of 350 rods each por season. They grind their material by steam, and are supplied with all the modern appliances for perfecting their work. They have been in their prosent locality since 1879. The Darbyshiro factory is al- so run by stoam. They have two kilns, one of which is a recent invention, in which the fire may be started on either or all of the four sides or under the center. They have a capacity for making and burning one kiln of 1,400 rods each week during the season. They also have shed room for ten kilns, the sheds being one 200x24 feet, and the other 100x23 foot.

The first stationary saw-mill was built near Sabina, on Wilson's Branch of Rattlesnake Creek. It was built by James Spurgeon in 1836, and stood for a short time. The first steam saw-mill was built near the same place by A. C. Mills, in 1851. It was burned down in 1857, and not rebuilt. Another was started in the town of Sabina some years later, by James Achor. It was burned down in 1875, and rebuilt by R. J. Darbyshire and A. Sellars in 1876. The saw-mill at Reesville was built by William Wilson in 1861, and soon thereafter purchased by A. Sellars, who still owns it.

The first steam grist or flouring-mill was built by Benjamin and James Jarolds, in Roegville, in 1861. It was afterward sold to Cyrus Henry and A. Bloom, the latter being now the sole proprietor. The next flour-mill was built in Sabina, in 1876, by G. B. Ely. It was sold to R. K. Greely, who en- larged it and added to it many of the modern improvements, among them being a machine for grinding and one for shelling corn, a dumping scale for ear corn, and a railroad side track to car scales of 6,000 pounds capacity. They work three runs of stone.

CHURCHES.

Most of the churches in the township are included in the towns of Sabina and Reesville, and as these are closely connected with those in the surround- ing country, it is deemed advisable to mention them all in the township his- tory under one head. Previous to any regular church organization, the settlers had services whenever an opportunity offered, or whenever a traveling preacher stopped in the neighborhood. These services were held sometimes in the cab- ins of the pioneers, or oftener in the woods adjoining a settlement. People came for miles around to attend these occasional proachings.

The first regular preaching in the eastern part of the township was in the house of Joseph Doan, some time previous to 1824 The preacher was Rev. Robert Dobbins, or "old Father Dobbins," as he was called He was an itinerant Methodist preacher, who traveled a circuit of many miles, preaching at the various settlements at stated times.

The Protestant Methodists commenced holding services in the house of John Harper, in the Posoy Survey, in 1830. They continued meeting there for about two years, and thon changed their place of meeting to the house of E. Roberds, where they continued to meet until 1841, when the Bethel Church was built, on the Roberds farm. This church was burned down a few years afterward, but it was rebuilt, and continued to be the place of worship for people of that denomination until 1860, when the Sabina Church was built in its stead. Among the earlier preachers of this denomination were Jonathan

Twilaudi n

الرسـ

அங்கு விரி வான

764

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

Flood. Adzod McGuire, Benjamin Ryan, Joel Dalbey, A. H. Trumbo, William Evans and A. H. Bassett. In 1860, the Protestants purchased a lot on Wash. ington street, near the center of the village of Sabina, of David Persinger, for $300, and in the same year erected their church, which cost about $3,000. The church is a one-story frame building, with a seating capacity of about three hundred and fifty. The members of Bethel Church assisted in the building of the church, and adopted it as their place of worship. The society now numbers about eighty members. The following is a list of the pastors of Bethel and Sabina Churches: R. Rose, R. T. Boyd, J. M. Young, J. H. Web- ster, R. Dobbins, A. Channell, J. J. White, S. H. Evans, J. W. Kidd, W. B. Evans, E. P. Winans, G. W. Fowler, J. R. Thompson, A. V. Shepherd, C. C. Caddy, W. E. Stubbs, J. M. Littler, M. V. B. Evans, G. W. Leadom, T. D. Howe, W. B. Warrington, Z. D. Hickman, P. F. Johnson, P. B. Chaney, O. P. Stevens, W. Ravencraft, J. Hastings, A. N. Barlow, J. W. Spring, A. S. Kingsley, J. Shepherd.

The Mothodist Episcopal Church of Sabina was organized in the school. house in Sabina, by Rev. William Smith, in 1850, with thirty members. For five years previous to this time, they had hold services in the schoolhouse, but no church organization had been effected. . Revs. George Brown, J. H. Mid. dleton and D. H. Sargent figured as pastors in the early history of the church. In 1860, the society purchased a lot formerly occupied by a still-house, of John Luddom, for $275, and in 1862, built a one-story frame church at a cost of about $3,000 .* The society now numbers about seventy-five members and is presided over by C. J. Wells, the present incumbent of the pastorate.

The Christian Church of Sabina was organized in 1843, by the Rev. John Ross, who was the first resident pastor of the church. In 1845, the society purchased a lot on Howard street, on which they built a frame church, where they worshiped until their present church edifice was erected. For some rea- son it became necessary to re-organize the church society, which was done by Rev. L. Southmaid, November 2, 1858. In 1879, a lot was purchased by the society on the corner of Washington and College streets, and a new, one- story brick church erected at a cost of $2,800. The new church was dedicated by Elder L. L. Carpenter, of Wabash, Ind., on the 18th of January, 1880. In 1882, the old frame church of the society was sold to the congregation of the Colored Baptist Church.

The Friends' Church of Sabina was organized in the Methodist Protest- ant Church, in the winter of 1878, by Mr. and Mrs. Frame, with about ono hundred members. In 1880, they purchased a lot on Elm street of Mrs. E. A. Newman, for which they paid $400. On this they erected a handsome little one-story brick church, with Sunday school room and vestibule, for $3,500. The church proper will seat about four hundred people. The total cost of building and fitting the church will amount to over $4,000.

Richland Church was organized in 1864, by Rev. P. F. Johnson. They had very little preaching until a year afterward, when the church building was erected. The society numbers about eighty members, and is in Sabina Circuit, which is composed of this church and the church at Sabina. They are under the pastoral care of the Rev. Josiah Shepherd. In the summer of 1881, the old church at Richland was torn down, and a new brick building erected at a cost of $2,500. The present church is a neat and pretty structure, and will comfortably seat about two hundred and fifty people.

The Reesville Methodist Church was organized in 1872, by Rev. J. J. Taggart, with about twenty members. It was organized in a schoolhouse,

* The church has a capacity for seating about two hundred and twenty-five people. Among the more recen pastors have been A. Rolley, J. I. Taggart, A. M. Griffith and N. W. Darlington.

765

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.

which they afterward purchased and converted into a church. The church is a part of Bowersville Circuit, and numbers between sixty-five and seventy mem- bers.

The Colored Baptists of Sabina have a church organization, which was effected in 1881. They worshiped in the Colored Schoolhouse until 1882, when they purchased the old frame building erected by the congregation of the Christian Church. The society is still in its incipiency, and numbers but a few members.

BURYING-GROUNDS.

Many of the settlers had family burying-grounds on their own lands, . and this custom is still adhered to by some of the farmers in the township. The oldest of these family graveyards have disappeared, while the others are too numerous and too obscure to be noticed in this sketch.

The first graveyard in the township was the Spurgoon Graveyard, in the Tonch Survoy, which was opened soon after the time of the first settlements, in 1805. It was a small and strictly neighborhood burying-ground, but has sinco coasod to be used as such.

The next regular graveyard was known as the Doan Graveyard, in the Posey Survey, on the Mcclintock & Smith farm. The Jand was purchased by Elisha Doan, who donated about one acre for burial purposes. The first per- sons buried were Daniel Hillman and Effie (Higgins) Hillman, his wife, both about 1822. Mrs. Hillman was buried thore first, and after her death her husband went to Kentucky, and in the same year returned to his old home, where he died, and became the second person interred in the Doan Yard. From the number of bones found in this burying-ground, it was supposed that it had been a place of burial for the Indians. The ground is still used as a place of interment, being now incorporated as such.

The old Sabina Graveyard, which occupied about half an acre of ground on the south side of the town and in the present corporation, began to be used before the town was laid out, and about the time the settlement of the country around the town was commenced. After the town was laid out, and for some years after it became a town of some size, the place was extensively used for burials. It is no longer used as such, however, and most of the bodies have been taken up and re-interred in the new cemetery.

The Sabina Cemetery is owned by a joint-stock company, with a capital stock of $1,500. The company was organized April 6, 1872, with the fol- lowing Board of Directors : D. C. Harrison, President; H. H. Thorp, Secre- tary; W. H. Ferrill, Treasurer; A. C. Mills, E. Roberds and H. H. Johnson. Fifteen acres of land were purchased of William Custis, at $100 per acre, and improvements costing about $1,500 made. The grounds are beautifully locat- ed on a hillside, with sufficient elevation to be nicely drained by natural means. They are laid off in sections and lots, of which over one hundred and thirty lots have already been sold. Many beautiful monuments deck the grounds in different places as mementoes of respect paid by the citizens of the township to their departed friends. It is the intention of the company to make this the most beautiful cemetery in the county, and, with the natural advan- tages of their grounds, this will not be a difficult task. The present Directors are: Jacob Theobold, President; H. H. Thorp, Secretary; A. Custis, Treas- urer; B. J. Darbyshire, Henry T. Burnett and Samuel Love.

SABINA.

The town of Sabina was laid out by Warren Sabin, after whom it was named, in 1830, on land originally entered by P. Neville. The original plat of the town was recorded on the 6th of December, 1830, and contained thirty-

பார்க்கு

المعد

أبطل الصلاة وإساءة

766

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

seven lots, numbored consecutively from one to thirty-soven-one street, How- ard, and one cross-street, Washington. There were twenty lots on the north side of Washington street, and ten on the south side. The streets were five poles wide, and the alleys, of which there were four, were one pole wide. The lots fronting on Washington street were five poles wide in front and ten and a half poles wide in the rear. Those fronting on Howard street were five and three-quarters poles front and ten poles in the rear. In addition to these, there were three odd lots --- one containing forty-five and a half poles, one forty. one and fourteen-hundredths poles, and one twenty and three-fourths poles. Additions have been made to the original plat as follows: Thomas Hollman's Addition, January 11, 1856; John S. Drake's Addition, January 9, 1873; R. Curtis' Addition, July 6, 1874; D. Giffin's Addition, December 15, 1875; J. Theobold's Addition, September 11, 1876; J. Roberds' Addition, December 4, 1876; J. W. Curtis' Addition, June 19, 1879; J. W. Curtis, another addition, Decomber 30, 1879.

The corporation of the town was extended to include additional territory August 9, 1873. In 1859, the town was incorporated, and M. Morris appoint. ed Mayor. He served but a short time, not to exceed a month, when he re- signed the office, and Jacob Theobold was appointed to fill the vacancy. The following is a partial list of the Mayors of the village since then, it being im- possible to give a full list, with dates of service, on account of the books of the corporation being lost: John Bridwell, Jacob Leir, C. P. Gallaher, David Giffin, W. H. Dakin and J. L. Johnson.

The first building built upon the land where the town stands was a log structure, little better than a pen, built by Elisha Evans long before the town was contemplated. It stood near where Andrew Glassglow's residence now is. The first house in the town after it was platted was a pole log house, built by Elijah Sabin, near the present site of Jacob Theobold's residence. Andrew Love was the first settler, first Postmaster and first tavern-keeper in the town. He located here soon after the town was laid out. William McMillen and Warren Sabin were the first store-keepers of the place. They opened a gen- eral store as soon after the town was laid out as they could get a building erected. McMillen's store was where Jacob Theobold now lives. Jacob Theo. bold was the next merchant to commence business in the town. He opened a store about the year 1841. An early blacksmith, and by some said to bo tho first, was Isaac Haines. Floyd Farris opened the first shoe shop in a build. ing near the site of Flower & Tobin's bakery. The town has continued to grow from the time of the first settler until the present. Physicians came into the town, stores were opened and various kinds of business commenced as soon as the rapid growth of the place demanded. There are now in the village throo dry goods stores, three drug stores, two hardware stores, three clothing stores, nine groceries, one furniture-dealer and undertaker, one bank, two saddler shops, two grain-dealers, two butchers, one. bakery and confectionory, two tailor shops, one silversmith, one carriage shop, three blacksmith shops, ono wagon-maker, three shoe shops, two tin shops, four doctors, three lawyers, two ministers, two hotels, one printing office, three saloons, a flour-mill, a post office, a telegraph office, an express office, two milliners, two mantua makers, eleven carpenters, two lumber dealers, three plasterers, two painters, three brick makers, five brick masons, a livery stable, two stock dealers, a coal mor- chant, a barber shop, a tile mill, a real estate agent, two insurance agents, and a brass band of fifteen pieces.

The township and town, in conjunction, recently built a large two-story brick building, with a town hall in the second story, and offices for the town and township officials and a town prison on the first floor. In addition to

132

767

RICHLAND TOWNSHIP.

this, there are two other halls, an Odd Fellow and Masonic, which will be spoken of in their proper places.

The Sabina Bank commenced doing business February 17, 1875, with a capital stock of $50,000, and the following board of officers: E. A. Lewis, President; D. Edwards, Cashier; I. Lewis, E. A. Lewis and William T. Hay- dock, Directors and stockholders. It is a private bank, operated under the banking laws of the State of Ohio. In 1880, the board built the handsome building in which their offices are now located. The capital stock of the bank has been increased to $80,000. The present board of officers is as fol- lows: Isaac Lewis, President; E. A. Lewis, Cashier; William T. Haydock, C. E. Lowis, I. Lewis, E. A. Lewis, Seth W. Smith, Directors.

Sabina Lodge, No. 324, F. & A. M., was organized in the Rapp House, Sabina, August 4, 1860, with thirteen charter members. The first officers were: R. Nowman, W. M .; D. Giffin, S. W. ; J. D. Achor, J. W. ; Josoph Rapp, Treasurer; S. A. Christy, Socrotary; Jacob Thoobold, S. D .; R. Custis, J. D. ; D. Chanco, Tilor. Tho lodgo now numbers eighty members, and meets in a room twenty by sovonty foot, which they added to a two-story brick build- ing, corner of Howard and Sycamoro stroots, in 1871, at a cost of $1,600. The present officors are: S. B. Lightner, W. M .; Elihu Hiatt, S. W .; J. M. Wood- mansoo, J. W .; R. Custis, Treasurer; A. Arnold, Secretary; J. J. Stover, S. D .; S. E. Curtis, J. D .; W. G. Hutchings, Tiler.

Sabina Lodge, No. 501, I. O. O. F., was organized September 5, 1871. with eight charter members, and instituted by Grand Master Ira Baird. The first officers were: James Van Pelt, N. G .; H. H. Thorp, V. G .; D. C. Har- rison, Secretary; John Gilliland, Treasurer. The lodge now numbers sixty- five members, and meets in Odd Fellows' Hall, corner of Howard and Wash- ington streets. The hall consists of a third story, which was put on a two- story brick building by the lodge in 1874, at a cost of $1,200. The present officers are: James A. Hughey, N. G .; A. J. Gaskin, V. G .; Elijah Sebers, R. S .; John Britton, P. S .; H. H. Thorp, Treasurer. In connection with the lodge. a successful encampment of Odd Fellows is conducted. The latter is Sabina Encampment, No. 182.

The post office of the village was established there almost as soon as the town was named. The following is as full and accurate a list of the Postmas- ters as can now be obtained: Andrew Love, John L. Perkins, Harrison Jeffs, Jacob Theobold, Fairfax McFadden, Banner Burtley, Jacob Theobold, Evan Campbell, William H. Farrill, C. B. Hill. These gentleman served in the order named, with may be one exception-that of Harrison Jeffs, who may not have immediately succeeded Perkins.

The school of Sabina is in what is known as a special district. It is a graded school of five departments, presided over by a Principal and four teach- ers. The house, a two-story brick, was erected in 1871, at a cost of from $5,- 000 to $6,000. It was built on a lot of an acre and a half of ground, pur- chased for $100 per acre. The building consisted originally of four rooms, but in 1879, four rooms were added, at a cost of $3,000. The estimated cost of the building and improvements is over $10,000. For this district, a tax of .

$2, 746.42 was levied at the last annual levy. There is also in the town a school for the exclusive use of colored pupils. It was opened to them during the year 1879, and is still in successful operation.

THE SABINA UNION AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

In 1874, a general meeting of the citizens of Clinton and surrounding counties was called to be held at Sabina to consider the advisability, and, if thought advisable, the means best adapted to the formation of an agricultural

ads Callper #

768

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

or fair association. At this meeting, it was decided to undertake the formation of such an organization, and committees were accordingly appointed to solicit subscriptions in furtherance of the object. After these committees had ob- tained $5,000 in subscriptions to the stock, another meeting was held, at which the following board of officers was elected: E. B. Martin, President; J. R. Amos, Vice President; D. C. Harrison, Secretary; H. H. Thorp, Treasurer; and S. B. Lightner, B. J. Darbyshire, John Kirk, John Borum, U. M. Mor- gan, H. B. Reed, C. M. Luttrell and J. W. Carter, Directors. Thirty-five acres of ground on the Washington pike, and adjoining Sabina on the east, were then rented of A. C. Mills, a lease for ten years being taken by the so- ciety. Work was at once commenced on the ground, and, during the first year, $7,000 was expended in improvements to the grounds. The first fair, held in the fall of 1874, was a great success, financially and otherwise, and since then the society has continued to reap annually the reward they so well merit for their enterprise in the undertaking. Improvements are being made upon the grounds from year to year, the books of the society showing that fully $1,000 are expended annually for that purpose. In 1881, the grounds wore enlarged to forty acres. A half-milo track, sixty feet wide, has been made, and shed room for fully two hundred horses erected. In addition to this, the society has built commodious cattle pens, a floral hall, agricultural hall, dining hall, music hall, band stands, judges' stands, etc. The M. V. R. R. Company built a very fancy little stand for the use of their officials while attending the fair. It is just opposite the judges' stand, and contains tele. graph instruments by means of which the officials can attend to the business of the road while attending the races. Seating room for fully five thousand peo. ple has been erected in amphitheater form around one side of the ring. The fairs of this society are growing yearly in the popular favor. Large sums of money are annually paid in premiums, and lawful competition is always en- couraged by the society. The different railroads approaching the grounds run excursion trains to and from the grounds each day during the fair. The pros. ent officers of the association are: A. Sellars, President; H. A. Haynes, Vice President; R. Curtis, Treasurer; I. Roberds, Secretary; S. B. Lightner, C. B. Vaniman, A. J. Gaskins, H. B. Reed, A. J. Wilson, C. E. Custis, B. J. Darbyshire, C. Rhonemus, Directors.

REESVILLE.

The town of the above name was originally called the Cross Roads. It was laid out by Moses Reese in 1857, the plat being recorded on the 11th of July of that year. The town plat originally consisted of twenty acres and seventeen and seventy-five hundredths poles of land, divided into twenty-five lots, lying along the Muskingum Valley Railroad, with the Urbana road run. ning through it as a cross-street. It lies in the western part of the township. about two and a half miles west of Sabina. An addition was made to the town December 9, 1868, by David Puckett, and another, January 17, 1874, by C. Rhonemus. A post office was established in the town soon after the rail- road was completed, and J. E. Barr installed as first Postmaster. The first merchants in the place were Jonathan and Henry Ruckers, who kept a general notion store previous to the platting of the town. Their store was afterward successively owned by Samuel Reed, Baron Douglass, William Wilson and William Lyons. Christian Rhonemus came to the town in 1858 and engaged in mercantile business. Since then, he and his family have been prominently identified with the business interests of the town. Robert Mcclellan, who came to the town in 1858, was the first and only tailor ever carrying on business in its limits. There are now in the town four dry goods stores, a drug store,

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 37

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