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 48

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 48

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837

WILSON TOWNSHIP.

land now owned by H. H. Hunt, which was considered one of the greatest con- veniences in the country. It was what was known as a " draft-mill," the power being furnished by horses attached to levers, the owner of the grain to be ground frequently furnishing the motive power. There was so much grinding to be done that the mill had often to be run day and night to supply the de- mand. About 1830, Elijah Jessup moved to this mill and followed his trade of hatter until his death. Absalom Douglass, on Walker's Survey, and George Jay, on Shaw's Survey, built steam saw-mills that manufactured a vast amount of lumber. In Lewisville there was a steam saw and grist mill, and a grist- mill in operation for many years. All of these mills were long since numbered with the things of the past.

On the lot owned by J. N. Douglas a tannery was carried on for many years. The first blacksmith shop was on the land of Col. Hinkson, who em- ployed a smith from Cincinnati to do the work. Since then, there have been numerous blacksmiths, shoe and carpenter shops in different localities for public convenience.

ROADS.

The Urbana trace, which Simon Kenton gave an Indian $100 to " blaze " from the Ohio River to Urbana, crossed this township. It followed pretty much the same route now occupied by the road of the same name. Other township and county roads were established as the needs of the inhabitants re- quired them. They all remained in a state of nature till the road improvement laws of the State went into effect. The Urbana road was the first one improved under the laws, at a cost of $5,200 per mile, and is now known on the records of the County Commissioners as Road Improvement No. 13. Four other roads have since then been improved, or are under contract. No good gravel pits have been found in the township, so that the cost of a road here is much more than where they abound.

IMPROVED STOCK.

A number of men living in this township at an early dato became deeply interested in improving each of the different breeds of farm animals. Absalom and Cyrus Reed were probably the first to bring in improved cattle, of the breed then known as Patten cattle, so named from the man that inade the importa- tion. John Coulter brought from near Cincinnati the first improved swine of the breed called China hogs. He also improved his neat cattle by breeding from the herd imported by Lewis T. Sanders, of Kentucky, in 1817, and, later, from animals imported by the Ohio and Kentucky Importation Company of 1834. By 1853, there was such a demand for Short-Horn cattle that the Clin- ton County Importation Company was organized. John G. Coulter and H. H. Hankins were the prime movers in the organization and soliciting subscrip- tions to the stock of the company, which amounted to $18,000. The officers elected were: President, Hon. B. F. Hinkson; Treasurer, Col. T. L. Caroth- ers; Directors, M. Rombach, Nathan Porrill, William Palmer, Benjamin Wright, David Persinger.

A. R. Seymour, of Fayette County, and John G. Coulter and H. H. Han- kins, of this township, were chosen as agents to go to Europe. They went to England early in the year 1854. A. R. Seymour returned home within a short time, leaving the others to do most of the buying. They selected, from ten of the best herds in England, twenty-six Short-Horns, which they sent over in charge of Edward 'Lawrence, an experienced herdsman. We have been una- ble to obtain a complete list of the herd, but insert a few, showing cost and selling price:

三

838

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

BOUGHT OF.

NAME.

Price in Pounds.

TO WHOM SOLD.

Price in Dollars.

R. Booth

Warrior

£126

H. H. Hankins & Co.

$1200

J. Clark

Alfred.

D. S. King

900

J. Wood.

Wellington 2d.

S. Brock

900

R. Lawson

¿ Constable

214

Company of twelve ..

3700

R. Thornton

Princess

Hawkins & Hadley ..

1060

H. Smith

§ Hope.

Tom Kirk ...

750

Emma.

William Palmer.

1000

Miss Shafto

Jesse G. Starbuck.

650

J. Robison

Louisa

James R. Mills. .

300

This, known as the "Clinton County Importation of 1854," was a loss. financially, to the company, but of incalculable benefit to the community in enabling them to improve their stock more readily than before. From it, prin cipally, sprang the herds of the late H. H. Hankins and John G. Coulter, which have had a national reputation.

SCHOOLS.

The early pioneers were enthusiastic advocates of the subject of education. Free schools were unknown. Houses had to be built and teachers paid by the voluntary contributions of the people. Yet, as early as 1810 or 1812, there were two houses built in this township for school purposes-one in Lindsoy's Survey, now the property of Silas Jacks; the other, in G. Carrington's Survey, on the land now owned by James Hoblett. Others were built as needed in ' different localities, one on the ground now occupied by the Peelle Cemetery, from which fact it was long known as the "Old Schoolhouse Place." Those were all primitive structures, similar to those often described in print, and the course of study not extensive, but thorough. The "three R's" included the curriculum. In the winter, school hours lasted from daylight till dark, with as many classes as pupils, and with the invariable rule, that one who came first should have the privilege of the first recitation. In these schools was found the true spirit of self-development, a system that produced a class of men capa- ble of filling with honor any public or private position in life. Our present rigid, ironclad system could learn many useful lessons from the schools of those days.

Between the years 1850 and 1866, the Society of Friends supported an ex - cellent select school in a frame house situated near their meeting-house. It · has been removed to the farm of H. H. Hunt, and is now in use as a dwelling. There are none but public schools in the township at present.

RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.

The Baptists held the first religious services in the township at the house of Amos Wilson, with Joshua Carmen as their preacher, during the early years of the present century. For many years, the services of that denomination were frequently conducted by Amos Wilson, either at his own or James Mills' house. At present, they have no organization in the township. John Coulter. fresh from the scenes and triumphs of early Methodism in the old country, and full of pious zeal for the propagation of religious truths, mado arrangementa and had services at his own house, by preachers of that denomination, soon after his arrival, in 1809. The good seed then sown has borne continual fruit, as there has been one or more congregations ever since. At present, there are two Methodist Episcopal and one Methodist Protestant Churches.

At James Douglass', the Presbyterians, soon after settling here in 1516, began holding services under the name of mission work. Some of the minin.

§ Wellington 1st.

150

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WILSON TOWNSHIP.

ters who officiated were William and James Dickey, from Bloomingburg; Sam- uol Carothers, from Greenfield; and Gilliland and Burgess, from the Ohio River. These were all active, aggressive, energetic workers for the cause of Christ, and patiently endured privations and hardships unnumbered in order to carry the glad news into the depths of this wilderness country, to its isolated inhab- itants. At present, there are two congregations in the township.

William Gallemore, John Pearson, John Peelle and some others that set- tled in the western part of the township between 1810 and 1820, were either members of the Society of Friends, or had been brought up by members of that denomination. As early as 1820, they were gathered into an "indulged meeting "-i. e., a meeting under the care of the committee set apart for the duty by a superior body. This body was Centre Monthly Meeting of Friends. When Dover Monthly Meeting was "set up," in 1824, the "indulged meeting" here was given into its charge as being in its limits. The first official mention wo find of it is the following minute on the records of Dover Monthly Meeting, 6th of the 11th month, 1824:

" The subject of the indulged meeting on Grassy Run coming before this body, resulted in the appointment of John Oren, Daniel Bailey, Jonah Frazer, Moses Frazer, Thomas P. Moorman, Gayer Starbuck and Charles Atkinson to sit with them from time to time, render them such advice as they may be en- abled, and report to a future meeting. Also, to report a Friend for Overseer of that meeting to next meeting."

The month following the date of the above extract, we find that John Pear- son's name was proposed as Overseer, and the meeting united in his appoint- ment to that office. Annually, for the following five years, a committee was appointed by Dover Monthly Meeting with similar powers to the above. In the year following the "Hicksite Separation," we find the following minute under the date of " the 16th of the 4th month, 1829:" "The committee ap- pointed to visit the indulged meeting on Grassy Run made the following report: Wo, of the committee, attended to that appointment, had a conference with the mombers of that meeting, and aro united in judgment that the indulgence thereof has continued as long as is profitable. (Signed.) David McMillen, Nathaniel Carter, Mahlon Haworth, Charles T. Moorman, Moses Frazier, Will- iam Shields, Daniel Bailey, Phobo Haworth and Lydia Oren, which this meet- ing unites with, and discontinues the indulgence of Grassy Run Meeting.

" Alexander Oren, David Bailey, Jonah Frazier and James Bryan are ap- pointed to attend that meeting, inform them of the above proceedings and re- port to the next meeting." The next month, they reported, and the following was entered on the record: "The Friends appointed to attend the laying- down of Grassy Run Indulged Meeting report it is complied with."

Three months after, the following petition was forwarded:

To DOVER MONTIILY MEETING, TO BE HELD THE 16TH OF 7TH MONTH, 1829.

Dear Friends: The Friends of Grassy Run having conferred together, are united in requesting for an established meeting for worship, to be held on first and fourth days in each week. Also, a preparative meeting, to be held on fourth day preceding monthly meeting week. Signed: John Peelle, William Gallemore, George Stout, Joel Ifunt, Jesse Hiatt, John Patterson, William Gallemore, Jr., Cephas Atkinson, Jesse Carier, John Pear- . son, Lydia Peelle, Mary Hunt, Mary Gallemore, Phebe Stout, Leviey Hiatt, Dinah Wyles, Rebecca Patterson and Hannah Pearson. Which, claiming the attention of this meeting, we appoint David Bailey, Charles T. Moorman, Daniel Bailey, Joseph Doan, Jr., and George Carter to visit them, in conjunction with a committee of women Friends, endeavor to judge the propriety of granting their request, and report to next meeting.

The following morth, the committee reported progress, and asked for fur- ther time. " Under the date 19th of the 11th month, 1829, we find the com- mittee continued on the request of Friends living on Grassy Run for an estab- lished meeting, report they have attended to the appointment, and are free their

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840

HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.

request be granted, which roport is united with by this and women's meeting, and diroots the request forwarded to the quarterly mooting."

Center Quarterly Meeting appointed a committee to consider the propriety of confirming the request, which reported that " they had visited Friends of Grassy Run, had a solid opportunity with them, and, aftor mature deliberation, are froo their request for a meeting for worship be granted, to be held on first and fourth days, except fourth day in quarterly and monthly meeting weeks, but granted not the preparative, which was united with and the meeting estab. · lished 5th month, 19th, 1830."

There has not been a single failure to hold meeting on the days set apart for that purpose since the above date. For several years the Friends met for worship at the homes of the different members, principally at William Galle. more's; but in 1826 they built themselves a house of hewed logs, on a lot of land now owned by the heirs of W. P. Gallemore, which was used until 184-, when the present frame structure was erected, on a lot donated by John Peelle for that purpose, situated one-half mile northeast of Lewisville. The contract has been awarded for a brick building, to be finished the present season, which will complete the circle of kinds of houses-log, frame, brick. The name Grassy Run is taken from that of a small tributary of Anderson's Fork that passes near the first meeting-place. There has generally been a resident "re- corded minister," the names of those officiating being John Pearson, Cornelius Douglass, George Carter, his sons Wilson and Cyrus E., the Douglass broth. ers, John Henry and Robert W., Eunice Winslow, William P. Gallemore. Lewis Hunt, John M. Pidgeon and Isaiah Peelle. At the " head of this meet- ing" for forty-five years sat John Peelle (and very rarely was his place vacant). a length of time almost unprecedented, even among as long-lived people as the Quakers. But he, with all of his pioneer associates, having successfully por. formed their parts in the grand drama of life, have long since gone to join the great silent majority.

108

' PART V.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

РЕНЭТАЖ? ДАОНЧАЯЗОТ

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

UNION TOWNSHIP.

HARVEY H. ABELL, of Stagg & Abell, proprietors of West House, Wil- mington, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, September 10, 1857. His father was William J. Abell, a native of Philadelphia, Penn., and a book-binder by trade. He worked at that business during life, and was largely interested in the business. He died at Cin- cinnati in December, 1877. Mr. Abell's mother was Ordelia Fitch, a native of Coopers- town, N. Y. She resides with our subject, and is engaged in teaching musie, being a proficient musician. " Harvey" was taken to New York City by his parents soon after his birth, and lived in that city till fifteen years of age. He was educated in the : publie schools of the metropolis, and soon after served a three-years apprenticeship as a printer and wood engraver, with Stillman & Adams, of Cincinnati. His health failed him, and he had to resign his position. Since then he has been engaged in the hotel business at various places, and, in 1878, became a member of the present firm. Mr. Abell's parents were members of the Presbyterian Church, and our subject is a regular attendant on the services of that denomination. He is a member of the Hotel men's Mutual Benefit Association, and neutral in politics. Harvey is well known to the peo- ple of Clinton County, and the traveling public, and is highly esteemed for his court- cous manners and lively nature.

R. E. ANDREW, of Hinshaw & Andrew, dealers in dry goods, South street, Wilmington, was born in Jefferson Township, Clinton County, July 18, 1851. His father was William A. Andrew, a native of this county, and for many years a promi- nent agriculturist of Jefferson Township. He was killed by the accidental discharge of a gun in his own hands December 15, 1856, when our subject was but five years of age. Mr. Andrew's mother was Ruth Garner, also a native of this county. She now resides on the old homestead in Jefferson Township. Our subjeet lived on the farm till seventeen years of age, when he commenced teaching school. He taught at various places and times for five or six years, and then changed his vocation to that of the dry goods trade, commencing at Westboro. In November, 1879, he formed a co-partner- ship with Garner Hinshaw at Wilmington, and since then has resided in that village. Mr. Andrew is a member of the Royal Arcanum, of the A. F. & A. M. Lodge at Mar- tinsville, and the Grange Society. He has a birthright in the Society of Friends, and is a " dyed-in-the-wool" Republican. He was married, October 8, 1875, to Clarinda Van Winkle, a native of this county.

JOHN M. ANTRAM, farmer, P. O. Wilmington, was born in Clinton County June 19, 1825, and has resided here all his life with the exception of six years spent in Warren County. He is the son of Hiram and Sarah ( Whitson) Antram, of Irish descent, the former a native of Frederick County, Va., and the latter of Center County, Penn. They were married in Clinton County, where both came at an early day. His father was a farmer, but kept a hotel and store in Harveysburg, Warren County, for a number of years. Our subject is a successful farmer and now owns 138 acres of land. He was married in 1851 to Catharine Babb, a native of this township, and daughter of Azel and Hanna (Hollingsworth) Babb. They have two children- Arthur D. and Frank, both married and farming. The family are all Friends. Mr. Antram is a Republican, and, though no office-seeker, he has held some of the minor offices in the township. He is highly spoken of as a farmer, gentleman and citizen.

ЗАПОТЕЛЬ ЈАЛІНЧАЯЗОЇЯ

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :

HAMILTON F. ARMSTRONG, farmer, P. O. Wilmington, was born in Ham- ilton County, Ohio, on January 1, 1820. His parents were William Arinstrong, a native of Virginia, of Irish descent, and Naomi (Norris) Armstrong, a native of Mary. land, of English descent. The father was a successful miller, who emigrated to Ohio in 1800 and located in Hamilton County. Our subject received a common school edu- cation and chose the occupation of a farmer, in which he has continued. He was mar- ried, in 1852, to Miss Ipatia Corey, a native of Indiana. Her father was a native of New York, and her mother of South Carolina. She was educated in Oberlin College, Ohio, and, for several years prior to her marriage, was a teacher. By her marriage, three children were born, of whom two are living-William H., who is married and living in Randolph County, Ind., and Alma C., who is one of twins, the other being named Halla. They both graduated from the Wilmington High School, and Halla died August 30, 1881, two years after graduation. Mr. Armstrong is a Republican in politics, and, for eight years served his county in the capacity of Superintendent of Infirmary, resigning the office at the expiration of that time. The family are all of a literary turn, all well educated and highly respected in the community in which they live.

WILLIAM R. BABB, of Babb & Osborn, dealers in fresh meats, East Main street, Wilmington, was born in Union Township February 23, 1833. He is a son of Thomas Babb, a native of Frederick County, Va., Scotch ancestry, and a farmer by occupation. He was born June 28, 1793, and located in this county in 1808, in Union Township, where he resided till his death, June 9, 1866. Mr. Babb's mother was Mary Babb, born in Virginia August 26, 1797. She departed this life April 23, 1858, Thirteen children were born to this union, of whom our subject was the eleventh child and fourth son. Of this large family, three sons are the only survivors. W. R. Babb was reared on the old homestead farm, and obtained a fair education in the public schools. He resided with his father till his twenty-eighth year, making a trip to the West in the meantime. In 1861, he enlisted in Company H, Thirty-ninth Regiment Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, George H. Groesbeck (and subsequently Edward F. Noyes), colored, commanding. Mr. Babb served three years in the army, being honorably discharged as First Lieutenant of his company in September, 1864. The same year, he went to Kan- sas, and was employed in freighting for the Government until his father's death in 1866 called him home. He was made executor of the estate, and spent some time in settling up affairs. In 1869, he removed with his family to Livingston County, Mo., near Chillicothe, where he was engaged in farming and carpentering for about four years. He then removed on a farm, near Greencastle, Putnam Co., Ind., where he resided two years. In 1876, he came back to Union Township, this county, and was a farmer there five years. Subsequently, in company with Edward F. Osborn, he purchased the meat shop and trade of Thomas Patterson, where he has since done business, and met with good success. Politically, Mr. Babb is an earnest Republican. He was married in the spring of 1869, to Eliza W. Ford, a native of Baltimore, Md. Of the five children given them, four sons are living-William R., Jr., Thomas W., Marion E. and Charles Foster.

CALVIN W. BABB, farmer, P. O. Wilmington, was born in Union Township May 10, 1833. He is a son of Henry and Matilda (Woodruff) Babb, natives of Ohio, the former of Scotch descent. They were members of the Society of Friends. Mr. Babb grew to manhood on the old homestead, receiving a limited education in the old log school house by the wayside. He has been a farmer the greater part of his life, and owns 100 acres of well improved land one and a half miles northwest of Wilmington, which he has accumulated by his own efforts. Mr. Babb is a Republican, and is serv- ing his second term as Trustee of Union Township. From 1860 till 1865, he was foreman in a pork-packing establishment at Wilmington. In 1857, Mr. Babb married Ruth Doan, a native of this township, and a daughter of Jesse Doan. They have nine children living-Eugene, William, Anna, Jesse, Mary, Olive, Minerva, Viola and Ruth, and one, Alonzo, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Babb are members of the Society of Friends.

JOSIAH BAILEY, farmer, P. O. Wilmington, was born on the farm where he

845

UNION TOWNSHIP.

now resides, in Union Township, Clinton County, June 30, 1818. He is the son of Daniel and Mary (Haworth) Bailey, he of English and Welsh descent, and she of English and Irish descent. His mother was born in Tennessee, and came to this county with her parents in 1803. His father came from Virginia to Clinton County at an early day, and entered from the Govern- ment the survey in which our subject lives, and in which he was born and raised. He was educated in the common schools, and has followed farming during the greater part of his life, but operated a saw-mill for about five years. He was married, in 1842, to Mary Jenkins, a native of Virginia and a daughter of Jacob and Hannah Jenkins, of English descent. This union has been blest with the following children-Hannah, wife of David A. Pidgeon, Albert I., superintendent of iron bridge construction, and Arianna, the wife of William Starbuck. Mr. Bailey is a prominent and influential farmer, who stands high in the esteem of all who know him. He was one of a family of ten children, of whom six are now living in this township. He and his family are members of the Society of Friends. He has given his children a liberal start in life, and now has sufficient means comfortably to support him in his declining years.

JONATHAN BAILEY, farmer and real estate dealer, P. O. Wilmington, was born in Prince George County, Va., February 24, 1819. His parents, David and Syl- via (Peebles) Bailey, were natives of the Old Dominion, of Scotch and English descent. They emigrated to Ohio in 1822, and located in Union Township, two miles north of where our subject now resides. He has been a successful farmer during his life, and since 1874 has conducted a real estate business in connection with his farming. He was married, in 1842, to Rebecca T. Frazier, a daughter of Jonah and Mary D. (Hadley) Frazier, he a native of Tennessee, and she of North Carolina. They came to Clinton County in 1806, and in Union Township of that county Mrs. Bailey was born in 1821. Mr. Bailey has had by his marriage three children-Marianna, the wife of Thomas C. Hunt, a farmer of this county ; Edwin F., who is married and has been a farmer, and is now a printer and a grocer in California, and James W., a son who is now married and farming in this township. The family are all Friends. Mr. B. is a quick, ener-' getic business man, well known and well thought of by all.

ALBERT I. BAILEY, Treasurer and Superintendent of the Champion Bridge Company of Wilmington, was born near Dover Springs, four miles north of Wilming- ton, June 15, 1846. His father is Josiah Bailey, a native of that neighborhood, and a prominent agriculturist there at present writing. Mr. Bailey's mother was Mary Jenkins, a native of Virginia, near Winchester, Frederick County. She is still living. Mr. Bailey grew to manhood on the farm, and, when seventeen years of age, went to Earlham College, Richmond, Ind., where he remained two years. He then returned to the farm. When twenty-nine years of age, he came to Wilmington, and, in company with others, engaged in the manufacture of iron bridges. When the company was incorporated in 1878, Mr. Bailey became the Treasurer and Superintendent, which posi- tion he has since efficiently filled. A sketch of the business done by this company will be found in the chapter on Industrial Interests. Mr. Bailey is a member of the Royal Arcanum, and has a birthright in the Society of Friends. His political faith is largely Republican. Mr. Bailey was united in marriage, September 26, 1872, to Mary E. Hussey, a native of Port William, Liberty Township. Mrs. Bailey is a member of the M. E. Church.

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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 48

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