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 42

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 42

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Col. Samuel Martin omigrated from Western Pennsylvania about the year 1807, together with his son John, and settled in Survey No. 996, a large por- tion of which he purchased. Col. Martin was no ordinary man; a man of fine education, a graduate of medicine, he became involved in trouble in regard to the title to the land he had purchased, which title was worthless, and he lost all, and removed, together with his son, to the West. Col. Martin was one of the prime movers in what is known in history as the Pennsylvania Whisky Insurrection, and, as the writer hereof has often heard, was second in com- mand of the forces organized to resist the Federal authority, the result of which history tells us came to naught.

Peter Tomlin, another of the early settlers in what is now Washington Township, was born in Culpepper County, Va., in 1776, and removed to Fred- erick County, Va., in 1802, and from there to Clinton County, Ohio, in 1808, settling Capt. Steel's Survey, No. 1,458, where he resided, rearing a large family of children -- seventeen in all-of whom Ruth, Asa, Lewis, Helen, Eli- jah, Andrew and Rhoda are living, part in this township and part in the West and elsewhere. Peter Tomlin was a man of largo frame and strong constitu- tion, strictly honest in all his dealings. He was a Captain of militia in the war of 1812, in which he took an active part on the Northern frontier. He quietly passed from earth in the year 1857, at the age of eighty-one years. He is buried in what is known as the Lieurance Cometery, near his old home.

Adon Clevenger was born in the year 1773, in Frederick County, Va., from whence he emigrated to Waynesville, Wafren Co., Ohio, in the year 1804, and, about 1806, moved to what was then called the Cross Roads, the same be- ing the prosent site of the village of Cuba. Opening the first blacksmith shop there, he followed his trade for a year or two, removing from there to Wilming- ton for a time, and from there back to Cowan's Creek, where he bought a small farm in Col. Ridley's Survey, No. 2,028, where he lived to a ripe old age, following his trade and farming a little. He deceased in the year 1853, in his eightieth year. His remains rest also in the Lieurance Cemetery.

Poter Lieurance was born in Ashe County, N. C., in the year 1759. Of his early life little is now known. He removed with his family from North Carolina, about the year 1800, to East Tennessee, where he resided a few years, when he again removed to the present limits of Washington Township in the year 1806; bought land in Steel's Survey, No. 1,458, where he settled. Mr. Lieurance had early identified himself with the Baptist Church, and, as there were no churches then in the country, his house soon became a place of wor- ship, which was kept up until the year 1819, when he donated a lot for church and cemetery, upon which a log church was built and a regular organization of the first Baptist Church of Washington Township was effected, which has been kept up to the present day. Peter Lieurance was a powerful, muscular

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

man, one well fitted for the trials and hardships of the early pioneer. Ho continued on the farm which he had cleared until about the year 1840, when his youthful ambition came over him, and, at the age of eighty-one years, he - sold his farm and removed to the then wild prairies of Warren County, Ill., where he lived until the year 1863, attaining the remarkable age of one hun- dred and four years.

Elijah Lieurance, the oldest son of Peter Lieurance, was born in Ashe County, N. C., and removed with his father to Ohio in the year 1806, and set. tled with his father. When the war with England broke out, in 1812, Elijah became a soldier, and was made a prisoner at Hull's surrender. Returning at the close of the war, he resided, up to 1836, on the old farm, from whenco, in that year, he removed to Warren County, Ill.

David Hays was born in the State of Delaware, near the city of Wilming- ton, in the year.1766, where he grow to manhood, which was during the Revo- lutionary war. Young Hays saw much of the "times that tried men's souls." He saw both the English and colonial armies. He had tho honor of handing Gen. Washington a drink of water a few days before the battle of Brandywine, as the army was passing his father's home. This was in 1777, ho at that time being about eleven years old. In the year 1800, he removed to Frederick County, Va., and, in the year 1805, was married to Mary Horsman, and ro. moved to Harrison County, Ohio, in the same year, where he resided until the year 1815, when he removed to the present limits of Washington Township; settled in John Steel's Survey, No. 1,458, where he resided until his death, which occurred in the year 1844. He was a man of strong common sense and kind disposition, strictly honest in all his dealings with his fellow-men, and was ever ready to give a helping hand. He was universally respected for his many virtues.

David, Asa, Elisha and James Brown, four brothers, early pioneers of Washington Township, were born in Massachusetts during the war of indo- pendence, at the close of which their father removed to Owen County, Ky., where the boys all grow to manhood. During the period from 1807 to 1810, they all removed from Owen County, Ky., to within the present limits of Washington Township, purchasing land in Steel's, Carrington's and John- son's Surveys, where they all resided for many years, rearing largo families of children. Asa deceased in the year 1843; David, in 1844; Elisha, in 1856; and James, in 1863. All of these men were fine specimens of the early pio- neer of the Miami Valley. All of them will be remembered with the kindost recollection for their honesty, integrity and goodness of heart.

David Clevenger was born in Frederick County, Va., about the year 1785, and removed to Ohio in 1808, and settled in Dix Survey, No. 619, where he resided until the spring of 1812, when he became a soldier in the American army for the defense of the Northern frontier, and was surrendered at Hull's surrender of Detroit. After the close of the war, he returned home, and rosidod for awbile on Cowan's Creek, from whence he removed to some part of the West.

Jesse Graham was born in East Tennessee in the year 1805, and removed with his widowed mother to Ohio in 1807, settling Baron Steuben's Survey, No. 2,697. Jesse has a vivid rocollection of early times, having visited the Indians at their hunting-camp many times at the spring on the Lazenby farm, also on the Townsend farm. Mr. Graham bought and cleared a farm in Stou. ben's Survey, where he resides at this time, in his seventy-sixth year, a man of great endurance and determined will, honest and upright in his dealings.

John Mitchell, one of the early pioneers of Washington Township, was born in the North' of Ireland about the year 1760, aad removed from thence to

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the State of North Carolina in his youth, where he married, and removed from there to East Tonnessee about the yoar 1790. In the year 1793, ho romovod to Fayette County, Ky. From thence he again removed to Middle Tennessee, settling in tho then small village of Franklin, whero ho opened a shop, he be- ing a wheelwright. In the year 1807, the spirit of emigration again soized him, and he removed, with at that timo a large family, to within the presont limits of Washington Township, sottling in Capt. Blackwell's Survey, No 1,. 457, just south of Cuba. His family consisted of five daughters and three sons -- John, Samuel K. and James. John and Samuel lived in this county, honored and usoful citizens. James romoved to the Wost at an early day. The daughters all married, livod and diod in Clinton County, where they left many descendants, honored and respected.

William Johns, one of the carly pionoors, born in Tennessee, emigrated to Ohio in 1808, and bought a large farm in Col. Thomas Dix's Survey, No. 619, where he resided until his death, which occurred about the year 1865. Will- iam Johns was a Captain of militia, a soldier in the war of 1812, a man of great ondurance and strong will.

William Baker, born in Kentucky, removed to Ohio with James Brown (before spoken of), with whom he lived to manhood. Mr. Baker was a man of sterling integrity and industrious habits, acquiring a large property by his industry. He deceased in the year 1875. He lived and owned a large tract of land in Johnson's Survoy, No. 2,386.

William R. Moon is one of the many of the family of Moons who reside in Clinton County, Ohio. Born in East Tennessee in 1804, he emigrated to Ohio with his father, Samuel Moon, in 1808, and settled near what was then called " Morgan Town," near Snow Hill, from whence they removed, in the spring of 1809, to near Martinsville, this county, and located on the farm now owned by David Moon. His father deceased about the year 1846. William R. Moon, at this writing, is in his seventy-eighth year, rather under the medi- um size, of strong will, a mechanic by birth, and following, in his younger day, any trade that demanded his skill; a man of strict integrity.

William Biggs was born in Virginia about 1759; married Sarah Burr (sister of Judgo Potor Burr) in 1788, and emigrated to Ohio in the year 1808; bought a tract of 640 acros of land in Col. Ridloy's Survey, No. 2,028, near Cuba, where he settled in 1811, built a large log house, and openod a house of entertainment throe-fourths of a mile west of Cuba, which business he followed for a series of years. Ho experienced much difficulty, like all early pio- noors, in getting salt, often bringing it from Lebanon on horseback and with ox teams; thore being many Indians at that time who would como and beg or bartor for salt, consequently much was used. Indians would como and say, "White man like bear moat. Indian liko salt." This was sufficient. The bear meat and salt were exchanged. William Biggs bought the town lots from Archey & Simmons after they laid out Cuba, and then sold them out. The burial lot near where the old brick church was is on a fraction of a lot. The first person buried here was Axey (Achsah) Archey. William Biggs entertained many officers and soldiers during the war of 1812. I was shown a large bowl, now in the possession of Rhoda Biggs, which was used in those days in which to make eggnog for the officers. This bowl is said to be over a century old.

William B. Biggs, son of the above-named William Biggs, was born in Virginia in the year 1800, and emigrated to Ohio with his father, and was reared to manhood in the then frontier country, where, in the year 1818, he married Rhoda Whitaker. They had a family of ten children, some of whom reside in this county, and some in the West. William B. Biggs departed this life in the year 1873. His widow still survives, and to her I am much indebt-

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HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

ed for information in my feeble effort to obtain a fow notes of facis connected with the carly sottlomont of Washington Township. William B. Biggs was universally respected for his honesty and goodness of heart. ,

Robert Athoy was born in Virginia, noar Harpor's Ferry. About the year 1813, he settled on Cowan's Creek, in Ridley's Survey, No. 2,028, where he resided for some years, solling the same to Harvey Gallaher in the year 1820.

Martin and Jacob Roop were emigrants from North Carolina, settling on . the waters of Cowan's Creek about the year 1815, where they lived some years, selling and moving farther West ..

John Matson, born in Loudoun County, Va., in 1758, romoved to Fred- erick County, same State, where he rosided for some years, and, in the year 1817, he emigrated to Ohio and settled in Steel's Survey, No. 1,458, on the . farm now owned by James Skimming. Mr. Matson was a quiet, inoffensive man, one whose honesty no man evor questionod. Ho raised a large family of children, none of whom are now living except Francos, widow of Samuel By- ard, deceased, who rosides noar Wilmington, this county.

Thomas Woodmansee was a native of Pennsylvania, born near Lancaster about the year 1778; omigrated to Ohio in the year 1813, and settled in one of Col. Thomas Ridloy's survoys, of which ho bought somo eight hundred acres. Mr. Woodmansee was a genial, Christian gentleman, a man of strong will, en- ergetic, shrewd and far-seeing; was one of the original anti-slavery men of Southern Ohio, who darod to do and act in behalf of the poor, unfortunate slavo who chanced to come this way inquiring the road to Canada. Such always found in the subject of this sketch a helping hand. Mr. Woodmansee's family consisted of two sons, George and James-George, born in 1810; James, about 1813 or 1814-both exemplary men, who, together with their aged parents, in the year 1855, sold their large possessions in Ohio and removed to Knox County, Ill., where the parents have since deceased.

George Byard, born in Lancaster County, Penn., in 1792, and a soldier in the war of 1812, was at the siege of Black Rock and the battle of Chippe- wa; emigrated to Ohio in the year 1816, with his young wife, walking the whole distance, carrying their limited effects with them, and settling in Rid- ley's Survey, No. 2,028, where he resided for some years, afterward buying a farm in Blackwell's Survey, No. 1,382, which he cleared up and lived upon for a great many years, rearing a family of five children, two of whom are still liv. ing. He deceased in the year 1872, in the eightieth year of his age, his wife having preceded him some years.

John Crouse was of German extraction, born in Frederick County, Va., in . 1794. In 1817, he married Rhoda, one of the daughters of John Matson, and, the same year, emigrated to Ohio and settled in Steel's Survey, No. 1,458, on land now owned by James Skimming, from whenco he moved on Cowan's Crook, on what is known as the Williams farm. Remaining here until about the year 1825, he bought a tract of land in Blackwell's Survey, No. 1,382, being the farm that H. Burlin now owns. Mr. Crouse was an energetic, honost, up- right man, acquiring, during his lifetime, quite a large amount of this world's goods. He. deceased in the year 1867, in his seventy- third year, his widow following him in 1868.

Oliver Whitaker was born in New Jersey, and emigrated to Ohio in 1802, coming from Wheeling by way of the Ohio River, in a flat-boat, to Cincinnati, from whence he removed to Deerfield in the year 1804, and, the following year, to near Clarksville, this county, where he sojourned for a short time with Judge Burr. Buying a farm near Villars' Chapel, he lived upon it some years, and finally removed to a farm he bought on Cowan's Creek, in Ridley's Sur- vey, No. 2,029, where he lived until the year 1831, at which time he deceased. .

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Mr. Whitaker was a peaceable, quiet, Christian gentleman, of the old school, so to speak.

John Burk, a native of Pennsylvania, emigrated to Ohio in the year 1806 or 1807, and settled in Steel's Survey, No. 1,458, where he cleared a farm and raised quite a large family, dying very suddenly about 1831.

James Wilson, a native of Virginia and one of the early pioneers, removed to the present limits of Washington Township about the year 1804 or 1805, and settled on Cowan's Creek, near the bridge, on the Cuba & Wilmington pike, where he, about the year 1809 or 1810, built a mill, perhaps the first mill built on said creek-at least, the venerable George Mann informs us that Mr. Wilson lived and operated the mill above referred to in the year 1812, when he first came to this township. Of Mr. Wilson, little, at this day, is known, save and except that about the year 1815 he removed farther West.

Thomas Johns was a native of East Tennessee, emigrated to Ohio about the year 1808, and settled on the East Fork of Todd's Fork, in Col. Dix's Sur- vey, No. 619, on the farm now known as the Bond farm, near the iron bridge, where he lived some years.

Thomas Pennington, a native of Pennsylvania, born near Lancaster, emi- grated to Ohio about 1813 and settled in Col. Ridley's Survey, No. 2,029. Mr. Pennington, at the time he came to Ohio, had a large family of children, some of whom were nearly grown, among them being Josephus, Isaac and James Pennington. Thomas Pennington deceased about the year 18 -. Josephus, his oldest son, deceased about the year 1857. Isaac, the second son, deceased in 1879, in his eightieth year. Father and sons were all early pioneers. Isaac, through his economy and honest toil, accumulated quite an amount of this world's goods. His corn-cribs were always well filled, and, no matter how scarce corn was elsewhere, Uncle Isaac Pennington always had plenty and to spare, and I venture to say that no man ever called on him for that needful article but that he went away well supplied. His widow still survives, living . at his old home on Silver Creek.

H. M. Green, born in Frederick County, Va., in the year 1803, emigrated to Ohio with his parents in 1810, the family coming from Brownsville, on the Monongahela River, to Wellsville, on the Ohio River, by flat-boat, the father coming over the mountains with a team and joining them at the latter place, from whence they came by wagon to their destination, on Todd's Fork, where they settled. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood there, removing to Washington Township the year it was organized (1835), where he has resided almost all the time ever since. Mr. Green is a blacksmith by trade, which he followed for many years. He also held the office of Constable, being one of the first for the new township of Washington, which office he held from time to time for many years. He is at this writing in his seventy-eighth year, hearty for a man of his years. To him am I indebted for what information I have obtained as to the first organization of the township.

Jacob Mann, born in Rockingham County, Va., in 1766, emigrated to Nicholas County, Ky., about the year 1788; was a soldier in Gen. Wayne's army during the Indian campaigns in the Northwestern Territory, in which he took an active part; removed with his family to Ohio in the year 1812, settling for one year in Chester Township, from which he removed, in the year 1813, to the present limits of Washington Township, and settled in Baron Steuben's Survey, No. 2,697, on the farm that the venerable George Mann now resides on, where he lived an exemplary, quiet, honest life until the year 1840, when he deceased, in his seventy-fourth year, and is buried with the partner of his bosom on the farm that he reclaimed from a howling wilderness. The remains of the venerable couple are handsomely inclosed by a solid wall of masonry,

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the work of skilled hands, through the instrumentality of their son, George Mann.

George, Henry and John Mann, sons of Jacob Mann, are all early pioneers of Ohio, having removed with their father from Kentucky, where they were all born, George in 1796, Henry in 1799, and John in 1803. Of the girls, Elizabeth was born in 1801, Mary in 1806, Margaret in 1808, Rhoda in 1811 and Malinda in 1816. Of this family there is still living George, in his eighty- sixth year; John, in his seventy-eighth year; Mary, in her seventy-fifth year; Margaret, in her seventy-third year; Rhoda, in hor seventy-first year. Henry deceased in March, 1882. This exhibit shows a family of rather remarkable longevity.

Robert Brown, son of David Brown, heretofore mentioned, was born in Owen Co., Ky., in the year 1803, and emigrated with his father to Clinton Co., and set- tled within the present limits of Washington Township in the year 1807 in Capt. John Stool's Survey, No. 1,458. Robert is at this writing in his seventy-ninth yoar, as stout as mon usually aro at that ago. He has a vivid recollection of early timos, remembering to havo soon his father and others returning from Blue Licks with salt, which they carried on pack-saddles, in sacks, the brine dripping thero. from, as the salt was in a slushy condition. Mr. Brown informs me that, at the time of their coming, Wilson was living in a three-sided cabin in Col. Carring- > ton's Survey, where he had been living for four or five years; this cabin having no chimney, simply three sides, the fourth answering as a fire-place, where large logs were drawn by horses in cold weather and a regular log-heap built, which kept the three-sided inclosure comfortable. This was the rude habitation of James Wilson, perhaps the first white settler of Washington Township.

John Burk, born in Pennsylvania, emigrateil to Ohio in 1810, and settled in Steel's Survey, No. 1,458, where he resided for many years.

Joshua Lazenby, a native of Virginia, emigrated to Ohio in 1817, and set- tled on lands now owned by his sons, Henry and Rezin Lazenby, situate in Sur- veys No. 2,697 and 619, where he resided for many years. Mr. Lazenby was a man of great personal worth and genuine integrity. His kind-hearted dis- position and neighborly qualities will long be remembered by his many friends.

Henry Cowgill, born in Virginia about the year 1781, emigrated to Ohio in the year 1811 or 1812, and settled on the College Township road, a short distance east of Morrisville, in Harvey's Survey, of which his wife's father, William McDaniels, bought a large part. Mr. Cowgill built his log cabin and opened a farm, which, for fertility and productiveness, is not surpassed any- where in the Ohio Valley. Here he lived a long and peaceful life, rearing a large family, all the members of which are honored and useful citizens. He quietly passed from earth at an advanced age.

The following are the names of early pioneers whose nativity the author has been unable to ascertain, who settled in Washington Township between the years 1803 and 1820: Daniel Beals, Jacob Beals, settled in Survey No. 2,697; Thomas Johns, Israel Johns, settled in Survey 619; Ebenezer, John and Christopher Brown, settled in Survey No. 619; William Mabury, Daniel Clus- ter, settled in Survey No. 2,697; Michael Rodabaugh, James Haworth, settled in Survey No. 2,697; Charles McGrue, John Jack, in Survey No. 2,386; John Dale, Samuel Ruble, settled in Survey No. 996; Thomas Ludington, settled in Survey No. 996; George Shannon, Amos Hankins, Empson Wright, George Richards, Walter Starkey, exact place of settlement unknown.

The following is a list of the various township officers, as far as can be as- certained: The township was organized in June, 1835.

The first Trustees were Enes Clevenger, James Roberts and John Mitchell; Clerk, Joseph R. Moon, who served in this office from 1835 to 1853; Thomas

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Thatcher, from 1853 to 1858; S. S. Cast, from 1858 to 1859; Thomas Thatch- er, from 1859 to 1863; John R. Moon, from 1863 to 1864; Peter Clevenger, from 1864 to 1882, present incumbent. The Justices of the Peace from the organization of the township up to the present are as follows: Horatio Cast, served from 1835 to 1844; Micajah H. Moore, from 1835 to 1847; James Christy, from 1835 to 1836, resigned; John Fuller, from 1836 to 1838; Enos Clevenger, from 1844 to 1856; Walter Bond, from 1847 to 1853; Thomas Thatcher, from 1858 to 1867; Henry Mann, from 1852 to 1862; William H. Young, from 1865 to 1866; Peter Clevenger, from 1866 to 1882, present in- cumbent; John R. Moon, from 1867 to 1870; William Biggs, from 1870 to 1873; James Cowgill, from.1873 to 1882, present incumbent.

CHURCHES.

Of these the information to be obtained at this day is very meager. The first church organization in this township was effected by the Baptists, about the year 1818, at what is known at this time as the Licurance Graveyard. Here the venerable Peter Lieurance donated a lot of ground for a cemetery and church, on which was erected a rude log church, and, in the year above indi- cated, the first Baptist Church of this township was organized, the Rev. Hiram Burnett officiating, and acting as the minister for a number of years. After him came Jacob Layman and James How. About this time (1835), Elliott Raynes, a noted Reformer from Kentucky, made his appearance in this neigh- borhood, and, by his eloquence, succeeded in getting up quite a revival, which, to a great extent, divided the Baptist Church here, out of which was organized the Christian Church, which grew to considerable prominence, and is to this day the leading church of the township. Rev. Elliott Raynes, John Rodger and James How were the prime movers in this reformation. Some years after this, the Baptist society which was here organized removed its church to the present site, in the eastern part of the township, near the residence of Alex- ander Lieurance, where the same is kept up, and is now in a flourishing con- .dition. The Christian organization built a new log church near the present site of Bethel Church. The Methodists organized a church in Cuba about the year 1838 or 1839, building a brick house, which stood on a lot in the south part of the village. This organization was kept up for a number of years. Amongst the early ministers of this denomination were the Rev. William Aus- tin, Rev. George W. Malay [Malary], Rev. A. F. Baxter, Rev. Ambrose Jones. The present organized churches of the township are one Baptist, one Meth- odist, two Christian and one Universalist, all of which are in a prosperous and flourishing condition ..

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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 42

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