The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 66

Author: Warner Beers & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : Warner Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1076

USA > Ohio > Hardin County > The history of Hardin county, Ohio > Part 66

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

years, and is now one among the oldest resident pioneers, a worthy citizen and a stanch member of long standing in the Pisgah Methodist Episco- pal Church. in which he has served as a class leader for twenty years.

Lewis De Moss settled on the Scioto River, about one-half mile below Joshua Cope, in 1834; resided there several years, but finally sold out and moved away.

Miles Van Fleet was born in Ontario County, N. Y., in 1805. He mar- ried Elvira C. Knapp in 1832, and in June of the same year removed to Ohio to enter land upon which he commenced the battle of life. At that time he had a brother residing in Big Island Township, in Marion County, Ohio, whom he called to see. They visited the forests of Hardin Coun- ty, and, after looking around for some time at different locations, he con- cluded to locate where he still lives. After returning to Marion County, he was informed that unless he entered his land before 9 o'clock Mon- day morning, another party intended to enter. So on Sunday morn- ing Mr. Van Fleet started for the land office at Tiffin, and, arriving there after a long ride through the forests, on Monday morning early, he aroused the agent from his slumbers and secured his land. In the spring of 1834, he moved with his family upon his homestead. The first election of the township was held that fall, and he had the pleasure of depositing the first vote in the ballot box, and also serving as Clerk of the election. Mr. Van Fleet has been three times married, and is the father of eighteen children, of whom twelve are deceased, He is a stanch Jacksonian Democrat, and cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson. He always votes an unscratched Democratic ticket, and is proud of bis political record, and frank and de- cided in his opinions. Mr. Van Fleet is now, next to Mr. Cope, the oldest resident pioneer of Dudley Township.

A Mr. Harper settled on land now owned by I. B. Mouser, on Section 13, about 1834 or 1835, but, after a few years' residence, moved away.

Hiram Shutz settled on land now owned by Isaiah Potter, on Section 11, about 1835, but remained here only a short time and moved away.

Gardner Hatch, from the State of Maine, settled on the same tract of land on Section 11, in the same year-1835-but subsequently sold his property and moved to near Ridgeway, where he died in 1881.

Amasa Farnum, a native of Vermont, settled on land now owned by Joseph Ward, on the southeast quarter of Section 11, where he lived till his death, which occurred September 27, 1839. His family are all either deceased or moved away.

Peter Spracklin, born in England. December 20, 1774, settled on land now owned by Mr. Mouser, on Section 13, about 1835, where he resided till his death, October 26, 1845. His wife Betty was born June 6, 1771, and died November 13, 1860. Their children were Alfred, Anna, Eliza- beth, Permelia and George.

David and Anson Clement, two brothers, natives of Vermont, lived on land now owned by Mr George Clement, a son of the above David, in 1835. Anson Clement never married, and subsequently removed to Iowa, where he died. David was married when he came here, and remained a resident here till his death. He died July 26, 1871, aged seventy-seven years. His wife, Nancy, died January 16, 1877, aged seventy-eight years. They had four sons and one daughter, of whom two now survive, George and Anson, both married and residents of Dudley Township.

Elias L. Lownes, believed to be a native of Virginia, settled on Section 8, on the place now owned by N. Glock, in 1835 or 1836, but, after over

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DUDLEY TOWNSHIP.

twenty years' residence here, removed to Missouri. Mr. Lownes was a man of character, a good and reliable citizen, and served this township as Trustee many years.

David Ward was a native of England, but emigrated to America when a young single man, and came to Marion County, Ohio, where he married Margaret Pangburn, and in December, 1836, settled on land in Section 12, of Dudley Township, Hardin County, where he resided till his death. Mr. Ward kept a " tavern " on his place about twenty-five years. He was a good neighbor and a valued citizen, kind and generous, yet a keen, shrewd business man, and acquired a large amount of property, owning 700 acres of fine land. His wife still survives, and resides upon the old homestead" place. Their children were Joseph, John, Vesta, Henrietta, Harriet, George and David, and two who died in childhood.

The above were all early settlers on the Congress lands north of the Scioto River and in Dudley Township.

We will now make mention of some of the first settlers on the Virginia military lands on the south side of the Scioto. It is believed that the first to break the quietude of the forest here was James Peaver, a native of Ohio, who settled on land now owned by Warnock Williams, about 1830 or 1831, where he cleared up a good farm with good improvements, but finally sold his place and located on the Kenton & Marysville pike, where he died, and his remains now rest in the Mentzer Cemetery.

Henry Jackson, a native of Clermont County, Ohio, became an early resident of Madison County, where he married Mary Latimore. In the spring of 1834, he removed to this county and settled on land now owned by Robert Thompson. Here he resided till his death, August 14, 1845, aged forty years. His wife survived him, and died May 24, 1881, aged seventy-seven years. Their children were William, John, Angeline, Sarah Jane, Margaret Jane, Lydia Ann, George, Precilla and Martha Ann.

Henry Burris also came from Madison County, where he married Hes- ter Latimore, and settled on the Robert Thompson place, where he died. Their children were Margaret, Elizabeth, Frank, Mary, William, Rebecca, Martha, Amanda, John, Henry, Rachel and Sarah-all living but three, Frank, William and Sarah; and all are married and settled in life, and are prosperous and worthy citizens.

George Thurman came from Highland County, Ohio, and settled on land where his son, Zachariah, now lives, in 1834, where he died. Their children were Joel, Mary, Rebecca, William, Jane, Mahala, Matilda and Zachariah; all are living and residents of this county.

John Car came from Madison County, where he married Sarah Lati- more. In 1835, he located on the place now owned by Andrew Miller, where they resided several years, thence removed to Iowa, where they died.

John Kern settled on land now occupied by Joseph Wood, but after a few years sold out and moved away.

John Latimore, a native of Kentucky, but raised principally in Cler- mont County, Ohio, where he married Margaret Horner, settled in Madi- son County, about 1818. In the fall of 1836, they removed to Hardin County and located on the south side of the Scioto, opposite the Judge Wheeler place, and remained a resident of the township till his death in 1857. His wife died about 1853. Mr. Latimore was a soldier in the war of 1812, and passed through Dudley Township, with Gen. Shelby's troops in 1813. He was the father of the following children: Mary, Hester, Eliza- beth (who married Henry Shanks, is now a widow and resides in Iowa),

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

Sarah, Francis (who married Arminta Richardson, and is still a resident of this township), Lewis, John (who enlisted in the war of the rebellion, and was killed in the battle at Gettysburg), Nancy, Martha, Amanda, Jesse, Samuel and James Alexander, all of whom are deceased, except Elizabeth and Francis; the latter has made a continued residence upon the place where he now lives since the spring of 1837. He has had a family of ten children, who all grew to maturity, all married and settled in life, and are all still living, prosperous, worthy citizens.

John Peaver settled on the south bank of the Scioto, where Mrs. N. Brown now lives, and resided there until his death.

Thomas Bramble, a native of the State of Delaware, with his family, of whom were William and Thomas, two sons, settled on land on the south · bank of the Scioto, where the father died at the advanced age of one hun- dred and seven years. The son William is still a resident of this township, now aged eighty-nine years.

It appears that Anthony Banning came into Dudley Township from Knox County, Ohio, prospecting for land, in 1833, and having selected his location, returned for his family. Mr. Banning was soon after taken sick and died, leaving his widow with a large family of children. About 1836 or 1837, she, with her family, removed to this township and settled upon the land selected by Mr. Banning, and here, in the almost unbroken wil- derness, reared her children, who, in return, became helpers in subduing the mighty forests, cultivating the fields and rearing a home, right out of the wilds, which was made " to blossom as the rose" and yield to them the comforts and pleasures of life. Although the mother has long since passed to that "undiscovered country, from whose bourn no traveler returns," yet sev- eral of her children are still residents of this township and county, and are among its most honored and worthy citizens. One of her sons-Anthony- a namesake of his father, who now resides in Kenton, served as Treasurer of the county from 1861 to 1863, and was Probate Judge from 1867 to 1870.

William C. Hampton was born in Bridgetown, now the city of Rah- way, Union Co., N. J. His father, Joseph Hampton, was a native of En- gland and a brother of the noted Wade Hampton, of South Carolina. Will- iam C. received from the hand of his father a good liberal education, and early manifested a natural taste and talent for drawing, painting and per- spective. At the age of eighteen years, he was placed as a student with the New England Bank Note Company, situated in the Merchants' Ex- change on Wall street, New York, where he showed such tact and ability that he was soon employed on a salary, though small at first, yet at the end of three years was employed as their designer for three years for $4,000. At the expiration of this time, a great fire occurred by which the company were burned out, and the prospects and course of Mr. Hampton's life were entirely changed, the result of which was that, in the summer of 1836, he emigrated to Ohio and settled right in the woods of Dudley Township, on the land where he still resides. Unaccustomed to manual labor and unac- quainted with pioneer or even farm life, here he began the, to many, dis- couraging work of opening out and making a home and a farm right from the green woods. He has now been a resident here for forty-seven years, has a fine farm of 253 acres, and seems to enjoy well the pleasures of rural life. He has taken great interest in the cultivation of fruits and orna- mental trees, flowers and shrubbery; has been greatly interested in and spent much time at the study of botany, and is one of the experienced flor- ists and botanical collectors of Hardin County.

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DUDLEY TOWNSHIP.

William and Abraham Mathews, two brothers, natives of New York, who, it appears, came to Ohio about the same time as Mr. Hampton, settled on the same tract of land. Subsequently they purchased land. William Mathews is still a resident of the township, in which he has served as Justice of the Peace. Abraham subsequently returned to his na- tive State, where a few years ago he died.

ELECTIONS AND OFFICIALS.

The first election was held in the fall of 1834. The Judges at this election were Joshua Cope, Sr., Asa Davis and Abram Jones. There were twenty votes cast, ten for Lucas and ten for McArthur, for Governor of Ohio. The township records are not to be found prior to the year 1839, for which, and all years since that, the officials have been as follows:

Trustees-1839, John W. Edgar, Anson M. Clement and Elias L. Lownes; 1840, John W. Edgar, Thomas Bodine and Joshua Cope; 1841, William Carter, David Ward and Hanson Roby; 1842, David Clement, David Ward and William Carter; 1843, Samuel Hopkins, E. L. Lownes and William Carter; 1844-45, William Young, E. L. Lownes and Eph- raim McLain; 1846 to 1848, W. C. Hampton, Albert Dean and S. C. Smith; 1849, J. C. Smith, W. C. Hampton and E. L. Lownes; 1850-51, E. L. Lownes, Samuel Hopkins and David Ward; 1852, Paul E. Davis, B. L. Boynton and Anthony Banning; 1853, Peter Johnson, Benjamin Kelly and E. Davis; 1854, Benjamin Kelly, W. C. Hampton and Elijah Davis; 1855, Benjamin Kelly, Hanson Roby and W. C. Hampton; 1856, Hanson Roby, E. L. Lownes and W. Mathews; 1857, E. L. Lownes, Jesse Williams and Samuel Hinton; 1858, William Lee, Samuel Hinton and Joseph Wheeler; 1859, William Lee, Anthony Banning and Benjamin Kelly; 1860-61, William Harriman, Amos Wheeler and David Ward; 1862, Joseph Mori- son, Joshua Cope and W. D. F. Mathews; 1863, W. D. F. Mathews, An- derson Morison and Joshua Cope: 1864, Joshua Cope, William Lee and Edward Kelly; 1865, Joshua Cope, James Morison and Edward Kelly; 1866, Nathan Smith, Joseph Morison and Elijah Davis; 1867, Elijah Davis, James Morison and Alonzo Harvey; 1868, William Lee, James Mor- ison and Amos Wheeler; 1869, James Morison, Joshua Cope and Joseph T. Ellyson; 1870, Joseph T. Ellyson, William Lee and Israel Brobeck; 1871, William Lee, Israel Brobeck and Edward Kelly; 1872, Edward Kelly, Israel Brobeck and A. W. Burnison; 1873, A. W. Burnison, Thomas Ballinger and James E. Smith; 1875, Anson Clement, William H. Davis and Ira Williams; 1876, William H. Davis, A. W. Burnison and J. C. Marshall; 1877, George Banning, George W. Wright, and James H. Linger; 1878, William H. Davis, Peter W. Lame and T. R. Young; 1879, J. C. Marshall, John B. King and John Burris; 1880, Thomas Kearse, S. H. Cook and John Burris; 1881, Joshua Cope, Thomas Kearse and William Hinds; 1882, William Hinds, S. M. Smith and Joshua Cope. Clerks: 1839, Asa Davis; 1840, Portius Wheeler; 1841, Alexander Young; 1842 to 1844, John G. Marks; 1845 to 1848, John Wheeler; 1849, William Will- iams; 1850 to 1852, Miles Vanfleet; 1853-54, E. C. McLain; 1855. Amos Wheeler; 1856, P. J. Picket; 1857-58, Isaac Roby; 1859, R. D. Morison; 1860 to 1864, Joseph T. Ward; 1865 to 1877, Anderson Williams; 1878- 79, S. G. Harriman; 1880 to 1882, M. M. Thompson.

Treasurers-1839 to 1848, Portius Wheeler; 1849 to 1851, John Wheeler; 1852 to 1860, Portius Wheeler; 1861 to 1864, John Wheeler; 1865 to 1872, William Harriman; 1873, Robert Morison; 1874 to 1876,

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

Robert Thompson; 1877-78, Thomas Ballinger; 1879-80, William Davis; 1881-82, Frank Wheeler. In 1841, the Treasurer's commission was $5.87}. In 1881, it amounted to $55.73-quite an increase in forty years.

Assessors-1856, R .; D. Morison; 1857, William Mathews: 1858, An- derson Williams; 1859, J. B. Wheeler; 1860-61, R. D. Morison; 1862, Anderson Williams; 1863 to 1865, John S. Bowers; 1866-67, George W. De Long; 1868, Joseph Morison; 1869, J. S. Kelly; 1870, Joseph Mori- son; 1871, J. S. Kelly; 1872, Joseph Morison; 1873-74, J. S. Kelly; 1875, Oscar Harvey; 1876, George W. Wright; 1877, Oscar Harvey; 1878-79, Wright Head; 1880-81, Alfred Fisher; 1882, George W. Wright.

ROADS AND PIKES.

This township is generally well supplied with gravel for constructing gravel roads, but as yet it has not been brought into very extensive use for this purpose. There are an abundance of roads coursing in almost all di- rections through the township, but are all mud roads except two. The Ken- ton & Marion pike has been built several years, and is an excellent road. Of more recent construction is the pike from Mount Victory, connecting with the first mentioned pike at the Judge Wheeler place. Other roads need graveling, and doubtless will receive the attention of the people to that end, erelong. The township has one railroad, recently completed, the Atlantic & Pacific, which passes east and west through the township on the north side of the Scioto River, along its valley to Kenton. "On the south half of Section 10, on the farm of Mr. Hopkins, is a fine gravel bank, and while constructing the railroad, which runs through this farm, the company tried to buy a few acres of this gravel for their use, but, as it was in the central portion of the farm, Mr. Hopkins would not sell it, and finally the company bought the whole farm, lying south of the Kenton & Marion pike. Here they have erected a depot and established a regular station. They have platted and laid out a portion of the farm into lots, streets and alleys, for a town. As there is no town or village within the township, we have no doubt that their project will meet with favor and suc- cess, and the establishment of a town and post office here, with the various branches of mercantile and mechanical industries, will be of great advan- tage and convenience to the surrounding community.

SCHOOLS.

The first schoolhouse erected in Dudley Township was on the place of one of its first settlers-Moses Dudley. This was of the most primitive kind-round log, stick and mud chimney, puncheon floor, slab seats and greased paper windows. The first teacher was Hampton Wood and the second Benjamin Boynton. Soon after, the schoolhouse known as the Kelly Schoolhouse was built, constructed in the same rough, primitive manner. And thus, from settlement to settlement, from time to time, sprang forth the pioneer schoolhouses; and as wealth and comfort were vouchsafed to the people, the rude log houses were replaced with good, neat and com- fortable frame houses, until now (1883) the township is divided into ten sub-school districts, with an equal number of good schoolhouses. The to- tal receipts of the township for the year 1882 for school purposes were $3,384.34; total expenditures for the same year, $3,116.21; balance on hand September 1, 1882, $235.13; average wages of male teachers, $34; average wages of female teachers, $24; average number of weeks, schools were in session, twenty-seven; number of teachers necessary to supply schools, ten; total value of school property, $10,000.

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DUDLEY TOWNSHIP.

CHURCHES.

The first to effect a religious organization here were the Free-Will Bap- tists. At the house of William Salmon, in 1834, Rev. David Dudley or- ganized a church with the following seven constituent members: William Sal- mon and wife Mary, Asa Davis and wife Jane, John G. Marks and wife Jane, and a Mrs. Gardner. Their meetings and services were held in pri- vate houses and in schoolhouses until about 1866-67, when, as many had died and others moved away, the membership had become so reduced that services were discontinued, and they ceased to exist as an organization. The following ministers served this church as its pastors: Revs. David Dudley, Isaac Dodson, Aaron Hatch, George Baker, Kendal Higgins, John Wallace, Mr. Cope, O. E. Baker, James Aldrich and D. D. Halstead. John G. Marks and Benjamin Boynton served the church as its clerks.

Pisgah Methodist Episcopal Church .-- It is thought by some that this society was organized prior to the above Free-Will Baptist, but whichever was first, it is evident they were both organized near the same time, and perhaps in the same year. The first class of this society consisted of Solo- mon Goss and wife, Uriah Williams, Mary Williams, William Williams and wife, Sarah Young, Elizabeth Elzy, Josiah Roby and wife, Matilda Roby, Mary Ann Roby, Daniel Cable and wife, Abel Allen and Rebecca Allen, with Josiah Roby as leader. Their meetings were held in private houses and schoolhouses until the spring of 1843, when they erected a hewed log house, 25x30 feet, for church purposes. This house served them till about 1858. The present frame edifice was erected at a cost of about $1,000, and the same was dedicated to service. The erection and dedication of this house was accomplished during the services of Rev. James DeLiel as pas- tor. Among the early pastors of this church were Revs. Harvey Camp, Mr. Nation, Archibald Fleming, Samuel Shaw, Mr. Bell, Mr. Day, Mr. Wareham, Mr. Bissell, Mr. Welch, William Boggs, Samuel Boggs, Mr. Ray, Mr. Roberts and Mr. Mathers. Early Class Leaders were Josiah Roby, Daniel Cable, William Plugh, Henry Badley, Hanson Roby and William Williams. At one time, this church reached a membership of about sixty. Sickness and death and moving away have decimated their num- bers, till at the present time they have a membership of about thirty, with Jefferson Williams as pastor and Solomon Cook as Class Leader. They early established a Sabbath school, which was conducted through the sum- mer seasons for many years, with good attendance, but of late years it has greatly decreased in attendance and interest.

Reinhart Chapel, Methodist Episcopal, was organized in 1839 by Rev. Enos Holmes, at the old log schoolhouse. The class consisted of Francis Latimore, Araminta Latimore, Henry Jackson, Mary Jackson, Henry Bur- ris, Hester Burris, Frederick Kemper, Jane Kemper, Henry Shanks and Elizabeth Shanks. They held services in the old schoolhouse till it was burned down, then they were held at the house of Francis Latimore. Subsequently, a new schoolhouse was erected, in which they held serv- ices until the summer of 1873, when the present frame edifice was erected for church purposes at a cost of $1,400. The house was dedicated to serv- ice in August of the same year, Rev. Thomas Harvey Wilson preaching the dedicatory sermon. The following have served as pastors: Revs. Enos Holmes, Mr. Santly, John K. Ford, James McNabb, Zephaniah Bell, Mr Godman, Thomas Harvey Wilson, Mr. Morris, Mr. Frisbee, Mr. Wareham Samuel Boggs, Lemuel Herbert, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Brigley, Caleb Hill, Will iam Boyer, Mr. Shaffer, Mr. Bull, Frank B. Olds, William Dunlap, Jame

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HISTORY OF HARDIN COUNTY.

Clement, William LaMaster, Leonard Cook, Mr. Bowers, and Joshua Longfellow; Class Leaders, Henry Jackson, Frederick Kemper, Joseph Munger and John Smith. Present membership, about sixty-five, with Rev. William Day as pastor, and Thomas Ballinger and Frederick Kemper as Class Leaders. Trustees, Robert Powlson and Raymond Ballinger. A Sabbath school was organized about 1850, and has been continued through the summer seasons ever since, with good interest and attendance, averag- ing about sixty-five, with Thomas Ballinger as Superintendent.

Otterbein United Brethren in Christ .- This church was organized in March, 1850, by Rev. Robert Weeks, at the house of Benjamin Kelly. The class consisted of the following persons: James H. Lingo, Emeline Lingo, Benjamin Kelly, Martha Kelly, Benjamin Kelly, Jr., William Kelly, Isabel Kelly, Henry Burris, Hettie Burris, Margaret Burris, John Latimore, Sarah Latimore, Francis Latimore, Frederick Kemper, Jane Kemper, Sarah Kemper, Sanford Kemper, Henry Shanks, Elizabeth Shanks, and others, to the number of about thirty. Services were held in the Kelly Schoolhouse until the summer of 1875, when the present frame church edifice was erected at a cost of about $1,400, and the house was dedicated in Angust of. the same year, Bishop Weaver preaching the dedicatory sermon. The fol- lowing have served as pastors: Revs. Robert Weeks, Mr. Powell, P. P. Landon, Mr. Lay, F. B. Hendricks, Mr. Forbes, Samuel Fairfield, Mr. Marks, Mr. Hall, Thomas Downey, T. W. Hughs, C. Bodey, James Wilkinson, Jacob Kiracofe, Reuben Moore, J. W. Wentz, Jacob Parthamore, David Davis and J. C. Montgomery. Class Leaders, Benjamin Kelly, James H. Lingo, John Thompson, Parker Lee, Samuel Linton, Oscar N. Harvey and James Lingo, Jr. Present membership, 116, with J. C. Montgomery as pastor and Samuel Marshall as Class Leader; Trustees, Joseph Kelly, John Kinney and James H. Lingo. A Sabbath school was established soon after the organization of the church, and has been continued through the summer seasons to the present, with good attendance, averaging about sixty, with Vincent Kinney as Superintendent.

CEMETERIES.

There are three established places of interment in Dudley Township. The first was the one now known as the Lee Cemetery, which is located on the Kenton & Marion pike, in Section 9. The ground was donated by John Henry, and contains about one acre of ground, pleasantly located on a high, elevated position, and is now and has been, for several years, in the care of the Trustees of the township. This was dedicated to use by the reception of the body of Samuel Codner, who died March 30, 1833, since which, it has received the mortal remains of many of the early settlers and others of this neighborhood and vicinity. The next established, was the one located about one mile and a half west of the Lee Cemetery, also on the Kenton pike on Section 8. This is smaller in size, but is also in care of the Trustees. The third is the Otterbein Cemetery, situated on the west and adjoining the Otterbein United Brethren Church. This consists of one acre of ground, which was donated to the church by John Latimore in 1850. It remained in care of the Trustees of the church till about 1866-67, when they deeded it to the Trustees of the township, who have surrounded it with a good substantial board fence, and, under whose supervision, it is now expected it will receive due care. The first to be interred here was a child of a Mr. Hockingberry.

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The history of Hardin county, Ohio, Part 66

Author: Warner Beers & co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago : Warner Beers & Co. Number of Pages: 1076

Author: Warner Beers & co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago : Warner Beers & Co.
Number of Pages: 1076