USA > Ohio > Darke County > The history of Darke County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its cities, towns, etc.; general and local statistics; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; > Part 61
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HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY.
It is surprising to us, and creditable to the discernment of these pioneers, that in the rough of nature they should have seen the wealth of their lands and so wisely selected them. To cut away the trees and brush, and to erect a cabin, was to these woodmen their easiest labor, as all within reasonable distance were ever ready to leave their own work to aid a neighboring old or new settler, whether friend or stranger ; but how to provide for their families until the ground could be made to yield its increase was a subject uppermost in mind, and injury by weather or animals was dreaded, for they had no money to purchase supplies if their own resources failed them. Frequently, the family was left while the father or husband went upon long and wearisome journeys to the older settlements upon the Miami or the Whitewater Valleys, and, at times, to Kentucky, where supplies could be obtained from friends or acquaintances. Unavoidable and unexpected delays in their return, which sometimes occurred, would occasion alarm, and, not infre- quently, the privations of hunger were endured. Had not the first settlers possessed natural ingenuity, developed by a frontier life, their progress, situated as they were, so distant from any mercantile or manufacturing center, would have been rendered almost impossible. The "openings " with growing crops, the rattle of the bells upon the cows in the deadening or in the woods, the voices of children and the neighborly visits of settlers, presented scenes pleasant and prophetic.
When a crop had been raised, it was almost worth the meal or flour to get it ground. Daniel Riegel relates that, as late as the winter of 1842-43, he went to Covington from Butler Township with a grist, found several others ahead of him and the mill frozen up ; left his grain and returned home till the weather softened, then went back and helped to loosen the wheel, at the first revolution of which, the weight of ice that went over broke the wheel ; after which, he was compelled to take his grist to a mill on the Whitewater, below Paris, traveling, in all, going and coming, over ninety miles to get his flour. Some went down on the Whitewater, some to Stillwater, while others journeyed to Adams' mill, on Greenville Creek. These trips were prominent undertakings. They were made, mainly, on horseback, and, when the water was low, settlers traveled thirty or forty miles to mill, and some of the first settlers even went to Dayton in order to get wheat flour. A produce market was unknown ; provisions were raised and pork was fattened to eat. Clothing was not bought, but made. Ernestus Putnam, who had kept a little store at his house at Fort Black and was Supervisor, built, mainly at his own expense, a log road and bridge across the East Fork swamp. Aaron Rush was the chief contractor, and the money thus obtained probably saved his being compelled to relinquish his " claim." The Miami Canal was completed to Dayton in 1829, thus placing Darke County many miles nearer the commercial world, and causing the settlers to look forward more hopefully.
The settlers earlier named were of the better class of pioneers. Nearly every one remained upon and improved his lands. Few of them now survive. Mr. Samuel Roberts and George Roberts, who still reside where they first settled in 1817, are of the number. From Mrs. Roberts, now in her eighty-fourth year. is obtained the full, accurate statement of early settlers. Solomon Thomas and Henry Hutton [Henry Hutton died since this narrative was written-the last of April, 1880], who are now upward of ninety years of age, are residents of New Paris. There is a Mrs. Keener, residing in German Township, who was the wife of a son of Frances Harter and Solomon Harter, who was a lad when his father settled on that tier of sections which at first belonged to Harrison, and in 1820 was assigned to Butler. Such is the short roll-call of surviving pioneers.
Moral principles and intelligence have ever been known as essential factors to the stability and growth of our country, and these were characteristics of the pioneers of Harrison.
Such was John Purviance, a descendant of David Purviance, who was promi- nent in the organization of the first Christian Church in Kentucky. At his home, meetings and schools were occasionally held, as, also, at the house of Samuel
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HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY.
McClure, who was both preacher and teacher, conscientious and philanthropic-a . good man. John Forster, Isaac Mains and William Polly were all early preachers of the Christian denomination. The efforts of such families as the Tillsons, Har- lands and Pollys and of Solomon Broderick, produced a wholesome moral and religious sentiment in the southern and western part of the township. At Fort Black, lived Ernestus Putnam, a strict Presbyterian, and there were John Rush, John Downing, Judson Jaqua, Hart, and others, who were men of good character and public spirited. Jacob Miller was of marked intelligence, but his moral influ- ence was not of the best. The first house built for public worship was a log meeting-house, near where Friendship Church now stands. There are now eight churches in the township, viz .: one Presbyterian, one Methodist and one Univer- salist, at New Madison ; one Christian at Hollansburg, and one each of Christian, Presbyterian, New Light and United Brethren elsewhere in the township. It was also used as a schoolhouse, wherein John Purviance taught the first school, sup- ported by subscription. The first schoolhouse, intended as such, was built at Yankeetown, in 1819, and Moses Woods was the first teacher there. The second was built upon Section 16, and William Hill was the first to teach in it. The township now has six district schools, besides the school at Hollandsburg, which includes two districts, and the school at Madison, of which mention is later made.
A brief sketch of New Madison will be read with interest in this connection. We have referred to the Christmas auction of lots and the few sales made. It seems that the attempted sale was made an occasion of a regular pioneer jollifica- tion, but its failure was disheartening to Smith, who, in 1819, sold his entire claim to Ernestus Putnam, who had entered the quarter-section just west of Smith. The purchaser bought up all lots sold, vacated the plat, and. in 1831, surveyed New Madison by laying off seventeen lots on each side of what is now Main street, beginning with the lot where the old tannery stands and running south on the east side of the street and back on the west side. Mr. Putnam kept the first store in the place, to which he transferred his stock from Fort Black. A Mr. Hyde was the first blacksmith. At the southeast corner of the new plat, a rectangular- shaped piece of land remained, upon which Putnam placed a log house and donated both lot and house to the people for school purposes. This was the first schoolhouse within the limits of the present corporation. He and John Wade also gave a piece of ground for a cemetery, provided public ground for a militia parade, and, when a church was needed, he gave the ground, and he and others built the pres- ent brick church and gave it for the use of the public, with the restriction that it should be used by orthodox denominations only. Before the church was built, Mr. Putnam, who was the prime mover in the undertaking, made several proposi- tions toward securing co-operation. Several gave sums ranging from $50 down- ward. The Foulkes and Hollingsheads gave $50; Mrs. Wilson (now the only sur- vivor) gave $50; Mrs. Carson, $50; Dr. Kilpatrick, $50, and the Lawrences, the Schribers, the Rittenours, etc., varying smaller amounts. The church was erected in 1847. Mr. Putnam superintended the work ; Jason Downing was one of the brickmasons ; William Biddle did a large part of the woodwork. It was not until several years after the church was built that funds were subscribed to purchase a bell. and the bell was not put up until after the German Reformed Church had possession of the building, which occurred in the latter part of 1857. After the church was built, there was for some time no regular preaching by Pres- byterian ministers, but frequent services by preachers of that and other ortho- dox denominations. Rev. Benj. O. Springer came here about two years after the church was built, and he was succeeded by Peter Crocker, who preached frequently, but did not occupy all the time, until 1855-56. In 1857, Rev. Voght, of the Ger- man Reformed Church, awakened a great interest here and organized a church, at which time Mr. Putnam joined the new organization and the Presbyterian Church was turned over to its use, he himself appointing the following Trustees, viz., Elias Harter. Robert Snodgrass and Echard Worch. Mr. Snodgrass died, and
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HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY.
Daniel Ream was appointed his successor. For over twenty-one years, the Ger- man Reformed Church held and occupied the property under quitclaim limitations, but now have the ownership in fee simple. At present, there are services every two weeks by the German Reformed and United Brethren denominations, altern- ately. A union Sabbath school is held at 9:30 o'clock A. M. every Sunday. Average attendance, seventy-five. Among the Superintendents have been Wallace Jones, L. Adair, J. M. Adair, John O. Harter, James Armacost, E. Lockett, H. Seig, David Wheeler, Elias Harter. D. Lott is the present Superintendent. The church and Sunday school are provided with an organ.
The new village was slow of growth. While Putnam did work at gunsmith- ing. Mrs. Putnam, who is reputed to have been the real business manager, attended to the business of the little store. As time went on, Putnam started a small pork house, and bought and packed pork, which was regarded by the neighbors as a doubtful enterprise. Rouk, who came in 1818, was a sort of saddler, and devel- oped a small shop. A mill was begun by John G. Putnam in 1850, and finished by Dr. Kilpatrick. It was burned in 1852, and rebuilt by P. V. Moore and Daniel Schults in 1856. The Universalists organized a church on April 3, 1859, with thirty-one members, Henry Gifford being Pastor. During the summer of 1859, subscriptions were received, and a church building was erected and dedicated in January, 1860. Christians, Universalists and Presbyterians have churches in the township. The latter, about 1821, at a meeting in which John Wooden, Thomas Carson and Jacob Miller were Trustees, the name Providence was given to their church. A lodge of F. & A. M., known as Fort Black Lodge, No. 413, was char- tered October 21, 1868, with sixteen charter members. The first Master was L. S. B. Otwell. Present membership, fifty-three.
New Madison has a fine town hall, a brick structure, built in 1878, 70x40 feet, three stories, including basement. The middle story is used as a public assembly, lecture, concert, etc., room, also for festivals and dances. The basement, on the latter occasions, serves as culinary department, and a part of it is in gen- eral use for storage, etc. The upper story is the Odd Fellows' Hall. George Bacon was Chairman of the Committee on Construction and contractor. The building cost about $7,000. The lot was bought of Mrs. Matthew McWhinney for $600, and then sold for the same price, enough ground being retained for the erection of the town hall.
Few villages of the size and population of New Madison (population 562 according to census of 1880) have so commodious and complete a school building. It is located on the southeast side of Main street, on a lot seven-eighths of an acre in extent. The lot was bought of J. B. Schriber for $200. He purchased it at Sheriff's sale, subject to a dower of $66. The building is 50x50 feet, two stories, four rooms, and was put up by William Lindsay, lowest bidder, for $6,500. The seating, outhouses, fences and other improvements have made the total cost a little above $7,500. The building was put up in 1870. The first Superintendent was Mr. Thomas Eubanks. The following were his successors, viz., Edwin Lock- ett, Mr. Christler, Mr. Reed and Mr. Christner. Thomas Eubanks is now again in charge of the school. Miss Rebecca Riddle has taught nearly every term since the erection of the new structure, and Miss Ella Rush has also taught several terms. The lot above spoken of adjoined " the old-school lot" mentioned in the foregoing sketch and history of New Madison, and the present school grounds of course includes both. The first (log) schoolhouse, which was also used for relig- ious and other meetings, is still standing, and is now used as a stable. It was erected when the town was laid out. The second schoolhouse (of brick) is located on the same side but at the other end of Main street, near the old brew- ery, and is also still standing. It was built in 1850.
A new brick grain warehouse has just been completed. near the depot. 40x75 feet, two stories. The shipments of grain and stock from New Madison have averaged, of late years, 40,000 bushels of wheat, 60,000 bushels of corn. and
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HISTORY OF DARKE COUNTY.
3,000 head of live stock and hogs per annum. These are the aggregate figures representing the business hitherto done by Swisher & Templeton, and more recently by Swisher, now the only grain and produce shipper. The new ware- house was put up by Mr. Edward Bunch, and will doubtless be used for the pur- pose intended the ensuing fall and winter.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was built in the summer of 1878, and is a frame structure 36x50 feet ; cost about $1,100. It is located nearly opposite the Presbyterian Church, on the south side of Washington street. The lot contains one-fourth of an acre less fifty feet, and was purchased from Obadiah Hill for the sum of $100. Regular preaching by Rev. Allbright and Rev. Kerm. Average Sabbath-school attendance, forty.
The Universalist Church, more particularly referred to elsewhere, is about 40x50 feet, located on the north side of Washington street, at the southeast end thereof. The lot upon which it is situated was purchased of John B. Schriber for $75, in June, 1859, and contains 8 5. 10'0 acres. There has been no regular preaching for over two years past, but the Universalist Sabbath School is in regular session.
There are two steam saw-mills and a stream grist-mill in New Madison, all doing a good business ; one of the former has attached to it a flouring department, also a planing, flouring and bracket-manufacturing branch, and nearly every branch of mercantile and professional pursuit is represented. The village enjoys all the advantages of a railroad town, and is surrounded by a country that can hardly be surpassed and is very seldom equaled as to beauty and productiveness.
Among the older institutions and landmarks of New Madison, the New Madison Brewery, John Lantry, proprietor, must not be omitted. This ancient, yet not very old, establishment is located at the corner of Main and Franklin streets, and was commenced in 1858. Successive additions have been made until it is now 144 feet in length by 18 feet in width, about 50 feet of the front being considerably wider. It has never changed owners, but part of the time has been run by other (hired) parties than the proprietor. Since 1875, the brewery has been idle. Mr. Lantry is disabled so that he seldom leaves the premises, but is known by those who visit and converse with him to be a quaint but good-hearted specimen of the "rale ould stock," half-hermit, it is true, and afflicted, but more genial and less cynical than a casual observer might suppose.
The tannery is another representative of ye olden time. It was built by Robert Snodgrass and Thomas and Henderson Fleming, in an early day. The original building was 60x20 feet, but, in 1844, an addition was made of 15x20 feet. The business passed from the above firm into the hands of Joseph Snodgrass (son of Robert), who ran it until his death three years ago, when his widow rented it to Mr. Lewis Stolder, who continued to run it up to March, 1880, since which time it has been idle.
HOLLANDSBURG
is located near the center of Section 5, in the northwestern part of the township, about half a mile east of the Middle Fork of the Whitewater River, and distant from New Madison five and eight-tenths miles. It was laid out in 1817. Present population about three hundred. The different businesses, religious and educa- tional interests, etc., are well represented. The adjoining country is fertile, and while the progress of the village has not been rapid, its growth in many substantial respects has been far greater than mere external evidences would indicate. The new Methodist Episcopal Church is a conveniently located and commodious structure, as well as the Christian Church, elsewhere mentioned in these pages. There are many pleasant residences, and some that may be said to be of the best class of dwellings in the county. Intelligence and thrift characterize the people generally.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
GREENVILLE TOWNSHIP.
WILLIAM ALLEN, lawyer, jurist and statesman; was born in Butler Co., Ohio, Aug. 13, 1827. His father, John Allen, was born in Ireland, and emigrated to America in 1812 ; after residing six years in the State of New York, he moved to Butler Co., Ohio, in 1818 ; he moved his family into the woods of Darke Co. in 1838, his dwelling being a log cabin with puncheon floors and a mud and stick chimney ; in the latter part of his life, he was a preacher in the United Brethren Church. Our subject was favored with no educational advantages, except those afforded by the common schools of the day, yet by making most of these, he was able to teach at the age of 15, and for several years followed that vocation ; at the age of 19, he commenced the study of law, under the late Felix Marsh, of Eaton, Ohio ; was admitted to the bar in 1849, and in the following year commenced practice in Greenville ; in 1850, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Darke Co., and re- elected in 1852; in the fall of 1858, he was elected to Congress from the Fourth District, comprising the counties of Darke, Shelby, Mercer, Auglaize and Allen, and re-elected in 1860, thus serving in the Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh Con- gress ; in the winter of 1865, he was appointed by Gov. Cox as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of the first subdivision of the Second Judicial District of Ohio, composed of the counties of Butler, Darke and Preble, to fill a vacancy made by the resignation of Judge D. L. Meeker ; in 1878, Judge Allen was nominated for Congress by the Republicans of the Fifth District, but he declined. In 1851, he married Miss Priscilla Wallace, whose father settled in Darke Co. in 1834; the issue of this marriage was four sons and four daughters, of whom only one son survives ; four of his children died of diphtheria under the most afflictive circum- stances, in the space of as many weeks ; this was in the winter of 1861, when he was summoned from Washington City to his despoiled home ; Mr. Allen, although he has risen from poverty to affluence by his own unaided exertions, is one of the most charitable of our citizens, and his integrity has never been questioned ; his positive character, while it wins friends true as steel, also makes bitter enemies, but even his enemies concede to him great ability and unflinching honesty of pur- pose ; he is at present, Vice President of the Greenville Bank, and President of the Greenville Gas Company.
MATTHEW T. ALLEN, lawyer, Greenville ; was born in Butler Township, Darke Co., Ohio, Sept. 17, 1848 ; he lived on his father's farm, and enjoyed the usual educational privileges of farmers' sons of that period (his father and mother are noticed in the sketch of his brother, Hon. William Allen) ; in the fall of 1864, he entered Otterbein University, at Westerville, Ohio ; after a partial course at that institution, he removed to Winchester, Ind., where he was employed as clerk in a shoe store one year ; he next taught school one year ; in 1867, he commenced the study of law with D. M. Bradbury, of Winchester ; after admission to practice, he was appointed Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, for the Nineteenth Judicial Cir- cuit of Indiana, comprising the counties of Wayne, Randolph, Jay and Blackford ;
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
in the summer of 1872, he came to Greenville, and continued practice as junior member of the firm of Allen, Devor & Allen. In 1878, the firm dissolved, and, subsequently, young Allen formed a partnership with Hon. John Devor, under the style of Allen & Devor. In 1878, Allen was the Republican candidate for Prose- cuting Attorney, and, such was his popularity, that he was fairly elected in a county giving 1,200 majority against his party, but was counted out by reason of mistakes in writing his initials on scratched tickets. Mr. Allen has already won an enviable distinction as a counselor and advocate, and his genial social qualities render him immensely popular with all classes. His marriage with Mary V. Whiteside, was celebrated upon the 23d of April, 1879. She was born in Camden, Proble Co .. March 17. 1860.
HENRY ALTER, farmer and stock-raiser. Sec. 12; P. O. Greenville ; was born in Washington Co., Md., March 18, 1833 ; he was a son of Jacob Alter, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1799; emigrated to Maryland, and in 1866 came to Darke County ; and after residing in Greenville one year, made his home with his son until his decease, which occurred in May, 1875. He was married, in 1819, in Maryland. to Eliza Tice ; she was born in Washington Co. in 1806, and is now in her 73d year, and makes her home with her son. Henry Alter went to Clark Co., Ohio, in 1858, and followed farming there until 1866, when he came to Darke Co. and located upon his present place. His marriage with Elizabeth Ilges was cele- brated in 1864; she died in 1870 ; one child was born to them-Mary L., born Ang., 18, 1866 ; his marriage with Mary Clew was celebrated Dec. 17, 1874; she was born and raised in Darke Co., and is a daughter of D. B. Clew, one of the early pioneers of Darke Co.
JOSEPH AMANN, JR., deceased. The subject of this memoir was born in Dayton, Montgomery Co., Ohio, in 1840, and was a son of Joseph and Francis Amann ; in early life he learned the blacksmith trade ; in 1853, he came to Darke Co. and followed farming and blacksmithing until the breaking-out of the rebellion, when he enlisted and served four years in the Union army ; after being mustered out of service he returned to Greenville, and in 1867 was married to Barbara Caron ; six children were the fruits of this union, viz., Nora, Louisa, Joseph, Katie, William and Barbara. He engaged in business in Greenville soon after his return from the army, and in October, 1873, he purchased his brick buildings on Third street, and followed the restaurant and saloon business until his decease, which occurred in October, 1879. The business has since been conducted by his widow.
JOHN ATEN, farmer ; P. O. Jaysville. The subject of this memoir was born in Twin Township, Preble Co., Ohio, April 1, 1823, and is a son of Adrian Aten, who was a native of Kentucky but came to Preble Co. in 1822. John Aten was raised to agricultural pursuits upon the home farm, and, upon the 6th of April, 1854, was united in marriage with Lavina Russell, who died Sept. 19, 1875 ; nine children were the fruits of this union, viz .: Abraham R., born June 30, 1855 ; Adrian, April 29, 1856 ; John H., Oct. 3, 1857 ; James F., Jan. 25, 1859 ; Theo- dore C., Oct. 20, 1860 (died Aug. 8, 1863) ; Emma, July 11. 1862 (died June 29, 1863) ; William, Jan. 6, 1864; Charles, Oct. 23, 1865, and George W., June 1, 1867 ; upon the marriage of Mr. Aten, he continued farming upon the old home- stead three years, when he purchased a farm in Preble Co., and, in the fall of 1860, purchased property at Arcanum, Darke Co., residing here five years ; he then pur- chased the saw-mill at Jaysville, selling the following year, and, in 1866. purchased his present property where he has since lived ; he has 110 acres upon his home farm. a large part of which he has reclaimed from a swamp by means of a ditch and tiling until it is now as productive as any land in the county. He is one of the self-made men of Darke Co., and has by his hard labor and correct business habits placed himself among the large landholders and successful farmers of Darke Co. He was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in the King Hiram
.
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GREENVILLE TOWNSHIP.
Lodge, at Alexandria, Sept. 25. 1850. and is now a member of the order of A., F. & A. M. at Greenville.
J. B. AVERY, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Woodington ; an old settler of Darke Co .; born in New London Co., Conn., Aug. 27, 1826 ; at 17 years of age, he com- menced farming and school teaching until 1847, when he came to Darke Co., and, in the following year, purchased his present place of 80 acres, where he has since lived for a period of thirty-one years ; upon locating here, there were some 7 acres only partially cleared ; no building, no fences ; he first put up a small frame house in which he lived several years, and to which he has since attached a much larger residence ; he has cleared some 55 acres of his place and brought the same to a good state of cultivation by his own hard labor. His marriage with Marcella Earhart occurred Nov. 14, 1848. She was born in Darke Co. Jan. 10, 1827, and has always lived within one mile of the place where she was born ; she was a daughter of Samuel Earhart, one of the early pioneers, who was born in Warren Co., Ohio, in 1802, and came to Darke Co. in 1820, and located on Sec. 10, Green- ville Towhship ; he died January, 1854 ; he married Elizabeth Scribner ; she was a daughter of Azor Scribner, who was the first permanent settler of this county ; he established a trading post in Mina Town in 1806 ; Mrs. Earhart died March, 1873, at the age of 67 years. The children of J. B. and Marcella (Earhart) Avery were five in number-Prudence M., born Sept. 20, 1849 ; Franklin P., born Jan. 21, 1852 (died May, 1869) ; Emily M., born Oct. 8, 1858 ; Lizzie M., born July 28. 1862, and Ira J., born Feb. 28, 1869. Mr. Avery has been a member of the Presbyterian Church for upward of thirty years ; his wife, for a period of thirty- eight years, and all the children, save the youngest, also being members of the same church.
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