The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 69

Author: Brown, Robert C; W.H. Beers & Co., pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1180

USA > Ohio > Madison County > The history of Madison County, Ohio > Part 69

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In 1847. Charles Roberts erected a saw-mill on Little Darby, about one and a half miles below Jefferson, which has ceased to be operated. The vear 1852 marks the time when George W. Blair erected a saw-mill on Little Darby, five miles northwest of Jefferson. It was operated and did a large business for about twenty-five years, but in the meantime the build ing was once destroyed by fire and a new one erected.

JAMES L. BRADLEY. [DECEASED]

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DEER CREEK TOWNSHIP.

CHAPTER III.

DEER CREEK TOWNSHIP.

T HIS township occupies a central position in Madison County, and was one of the early organized townships. It is bounded on the north by Monroe and Jefferson Townships, on the east by Jefferson Township, on the south by Union Township and on the west by Somerford Township. We find on the records at the court house in London the following bearing date April 30, 1810 :. "At a meeting of the commissioners of Madison County, present John Arbuckle and William Gibson; ordered that all that tract of country comprehended in the following boundaries be, and the same is hereby erected into a separate town- ship by the name of Deer Creek, and is bounded as follows, viz .: Beginning on the Franklin County line, where Jefferson Township line intersects said line, and running westward to the northeast corner of John Melville's survey on the glade; thence with the south line of Jefferson Township to the north line of Mark's survey on Little Darby Creek, including all the settlement on Spring Fork to the Champaign County line; thence with said line to the East Fork of Deer Creek, at or near Levin Gibson's ; thence in a direction to strike the southwest corner of Humble's survey; thence on a direct line to the southwest corner of the Widow Taylor's plantation; thence to the northwest corner of John Melville's survey, thence to the beginning."

From the same records we find a second erection of the township bearing date June 11, 1811, as follows : " At a meeting of the Commissioners of Madi- son County, ordered that all that tract of country comprehended in the follow- ing boundary be, and the same is erected into a separate township by the name of Deer Creek, and is bounded as follows, viz .: Beginning at the southeast corner of Jefferson Township ; thence westwardly with Jefferson Township line to Darby Township line ; thence with said line to Champaign County line ; thence south with the said line, to the south boundary of Levin Gibson's sur- vey ; thence eastwardly to the south boundary of Uriah Humble's tract of land, or P. Neal's ; thence eastward to the Widow Taylor's on Deer Creek ; thence to the northwest corner of John Melville's survey; thence eastwardly to the county line of Franklin County, and from thence to the place of beginning." The line between Union and Deer Creek Townships was changed June 6, 1836, as follows: " At a meeting of the Commissioners of Madison County, on petition being presented, ordered that the line between Deer Creek Township and Union Township, be altered to run as follows, to wit . Beginning at the northwest corner of Jefferson Melville's land, and southwest corner of John Adair's land, and to run westerly to strike the La Fayette road, ten poles south of the Glade, between B. Bowdery's and D. J. Ross; thence the same course continued until it strikes the present line which divides said townships, so as to include D. J. Ross into Union Township."

SURFACE AND SOIL.

The township is generally level and the soil a deep, rich, black loam over a great portion of its territory, especially those portions which were originally in prairie, and those portions that were covered with timber and a heavy under- growth on the more flat and level portions, are a very rich black loam. Some of the land a little more rolling and broken, has a mixture of loam and clay,

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

with a gravel subsoil ; and underneath the whole is a sub-strata of limestone. When the pioneers first settled upon the lands of Deer Creek Township. they found many portions of it destitute of timber, and covered with a coarse grass, and generally very wet, some of which was covered with water a greater part of the year, and from this condition was considered by them uninhabitable, and such portions were terined " barrens." Hence we find the first settlements were made along the banks of the streams, and on the more elevated lands, where the natural drainage was such as to render it habitable. The prairies and many portions sparsely covered with trees with a thick undergrowth of hazel brush and grass were often set on fire by the Indians in dry seasons, and large sections burned over, often to the great danger and sometimes to the destruction of the property of first settlers. The timbered portions consisted principally of oak of various species, hickory, elm and walnut, the latter, how- ever, has now become nearly extinct. Of the former, white and burr oak pre- dominate. There is a slight elevation of the land a little north of the center of the township, forming a small water-shed, sufficient that the small creeks and streams on the north side flow northward, and those on the south side flow southward to the principal stream of the township.

Deer Creek enters the township on its west border about midway from the northern to the southern boundary of the township, and takes a zigzag south- eastern course into Union Township. In its course it receives several small tributaries-Crooked Run, Coniac Run, Glade Run, etc. The name Deer Creek originated, it is believed, from the fact that in early days it was the resort of vast herds of deer, as it is said by the early settlers that this section of country abounded with that game. Glade Run drains the eastern portion of the town- ship, running south or sontheast through the section called the Glades. These were originally open tracts of land, without timber, or very sparsely covered with trees and a heavy undergrowth ; were very wet in the winter and spring, and in the summer covered with an immense growth of coarse grass.

The soil of this township is generally naturally adapted to the growth of grass, and from its abundance of water was especially adapted to the raising of stock, of which fact its settlers were quick to perceive, and entered largely into that business, some of whom own thousands of acres of fine pasture, and count their cattle and sheep by hundreds. But in later years, as the lands have be- come improved, ditched and drained, the soil has become better fitted for the raising of grain; and from year to year the people are giving more attention to the raising of wheat and corn, and there is no doubt but in a few years this will be a great grain-producing township. and the raising of stock will be left to the great Southwest, with her vast and rich prairies and mild climate, where stock can be so easily raised, and with so little expense. Deer Creek was one of the first and original townships of the county, and possessing such excellent soil and natural advantages which she has, it was not strange to find the set- tlers early taking possession of her rich lands and dotting them over with their log cabins.

PIONEERS.

The following were the early settlers of this township, who located here be- tween 1800 and 1830, and were more prominently known and more active in pioneer work and the organizing of society. Mr. Adair was probably the first to locate in this township. He came to Deer Creek and camped over night on its banks, and then selected his location; this was about 1802. John Adair settled on Deer Creek, on land now owned by James Wilson, in 1806. About the same year came William Blair and John Blair and settled on Glade Run, on the Plimell place. They were leading, active men of that day. John Blair was the first Clerk of the Township after its organization, and held other offices; and it is believed if he had lived he would have represented this district in the

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DEER CREEK TOWNSHIP.

Legislature. He died quite young. They were of Irish descent. William was a son of John Blair, and was a preacher in the New-Light Church. The same year (1806), John Barr settled on the Beals place. John McCaul and Charles Ewing settled on the Stutson land. The latter came from Kentucky, and was of Irish descent. Hle was a very honest, upright man, and an excellent citizen. John Ewing settled at the same date; was a Trustee and Treasurer of the town- ship several years, and filled other offices of the township. John and Adam Coon settled on Deer Creek just below John Adair. William Blaine settled on Deer Creek just below John Adair, and near where the town of Lawrenceville was subsequently laid out. He was a man of considerable means for that day, and often loaned his neighbors small sums of money; was a man of influence and usefulness, and served for a time as Associate Judge. He removed West about the year 1842. The above are all believed to have settled in this town- ship prior to 1806, and hence were the true pioneers of Deer Creek Township.

From 1806 to 1810 eame in the following settlers : John MeDonald came from Tennessee and with his family settled at the Upper Glade on the Stutson land in 1808, and his father, John McDonald, who died in 1811. was the first person who was buried in the McDonald, or Upper Glade Burying-Ground. Mr. McDonald's son John still survives ; was five years old when hiought to this county, and here has spent his life, a period of seventy-four years, nearly three-quarters of a century. This family have been identified with the growth and progress of the township from its first organization, and have been among her most worthy and upright citizens ; ever prompt and active in the organ- ization of schools and churches, and in the general moral and Christian prog- ress of their community. Mr. McDonald has spent a life of industry, and as a result of his untiring labors and economy, has become one of the wealthiest farmers of the township, and now owns 3,000 acres of land.

Thomas, John and Eli Gwynne located on Deer Creek ; the former in 1816 laid out the town of Lawrenceville, became very wealthy and died leaving a large estate. They were very active business men, and for some years carried on quite a mercantile trade in Urbana and Columbus. A large family of the Ross name located here on Deer Creek-Angus. John. Daniel and Alexander Ross ; the former kept tavern at Lawrenceville. James Brown also located here on the opposite side of the creek from Mr. Ross. Curtis Ballard and David Foster were two settlers of this period of time. Charles Atchison was one of the prominent settlers of this time; was Township Treasurer in 1812, proba- bly the first to hold that office in the township. James Wright. and Daniel Wright were two settlers on the Glade in 1808. The latter lived a long and useful life. He served in many of the offices of the township ; was a Trustee for many years. Samuel Duncan and William Noteman settled on the west side of Deer Creek. nearly opposite William Blaine, who was on the east side. Noteman was born on the ocean, and was principally raised in Madison County, and was married September 28, 1817, and finally he settled on the place now owned by John Lohr. He died January 14, 1827. Aaron Delano, William Lawrence, Gilman Lincoln, and a Mr. Fudgy, all located in this neighborhood about this period of time. Benjamin Garrett with his family located on Coniac Run in 1808, where he built a block-house to protect them from the Indians. Soon after, he located on the Garrett farm where he died. He was a native of Virginia ; emigrated to Kentucky in 1805, came to Chillicothe in 1807, and from there to Madison County. About 1812 came Jarvis Pike, Doris Pike, and Benjamin Pike, and settled on the Glade north of the National road. Jacob Sidener, a native of Kentucky, with his father Philip Sidener, a native of Virginia, came to Jefferson Township, where he died. About 1811, Jacob, with his sister settled on the old Ewing farm now owned by George G. McDon- ald. In 1818, they settled on the place where W. Clark Sidener now lives (for

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

further particulars of his life and family, see sketch of William Clark Sidener). About 1815, John Plimell settled on the Glade. Isaac Jones and Zachariah Jones from Tennessee, James Chriswell, John Wiseman, Jesse Abbey and Henry Cay were all settlers at Lawrenceville the same year. Samuel Bowdry located where La Fayette now is iu 1815. John Davidson settled on Deer Creek in the year 1817.

Others of the early settlers who located in this township prior to 1820, we mention Asa Wright, Ira Wright, John Garby. James Logan, John McNutt, John Clernoe, Joshua Littler, Nite Adair, James Stout and Franklin Clark ; the latter, settling in the neighborhood of Lawrenceville, was a man of considera- ble prominence, and held several local offices ; was a Justice of the Peace sev- eral years. He died October 1, 1844, aged sixty-six years. William McCoy was a pioneer who deserves more than a passing notice. He came here at least as early as 1813, and we find him elected to office in 1819. In 1824, he was elected a Justice of the Peace, which office he filled a number of years. He was a man of great integrity of character, and a very worthy and useful citizen of the community. . Auother early settler whose life was fully identified with the growth and progress of this township was William Minter, who was born in Virginia ; was married in Kentucky, and in the spring of 1829 came to this county aud located about one mile north of La Fayette. He laid out the town of La Fayette ; was a man of public enterprise, and with his means and influence did much for the advancement of this community, and was a much esteemed and valued citizen ; and several of his children, who still survive and reside in La Fayette, are valued and respected citizens.

There are many names of valued citizens who settled here at a later day -from 1830 down-whose lives and labors have been spent in this township, and whose memory will long be cherished by those who knew them but to love and respect them ; but, as our effort is more especially to save to memory, from oblivion, the first settlers and their noble works and sacrifices, space forbids our further extension of the list, of those worthy old patriarchs and pioneers. But, if the reader will carefully peruse the records given hereafter, in this work, of the township officers, from 1812 to 1882, and also in another place, the names of the householders of each school district in 1826-1827, he will there be made acquainted with the greater number of all the settlers.

CONFLICTS AND TRIALS.

Sickness and death, in their varied forms, were constant visitors to the early settlers. This flat, wet country was full of the germs of miasina. But one of the most dreaded of the diseases of that day was the " trembles, or milk sick- ness," which carried off' many of the first settlers. Of those who died of this disease, we mention William Adair and wife, Mrs. Samuel Adair, Mrs. Joseph Adair, Samuel Bowdry, Aaron Delano, and five persons of the Cady family. But, as the country became improved, this terrible disease disappeared. The mode of burying the dead was to get a four-horse wagon and team, if they could be had, to go after the coffin and to haul the corpse to the grave. In the early days, farming was carried on in a very limited manner; utensils were scarce, and of the most rude kinds. They had the " bar-shear and shovel-plow," and wooden-toothed harrows ; wagons were very scarce ; horses were worth $35 to $50; cows, from $7 to $11; three-year-old steers (fat), $8 to $11 per head ; fat hogs, $1 to $1.50 per hundred weight; potatoes, 10 to 15 cents per bushel ; hay, $2 to $3 per ton ; salt, $6 per barrel ; and no coffee was kept for sale in the country.

The greater part of the barrens and much of the timbered land was lying out, and the wild animals roamed at will over this domain. Deer and tur- keys were plentiful ; forty to fifty deer could be seen in a day, and often

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DEER CREEK TOWNSHIP.

seventy-five to one hundred turkeys in a flock. There were gray and black wolves, wild cats, foxes, coons, polecats, minks, porcupines, opossums, and wild hogs. The latter wintered ont and grew fat on nuts, acorns, and plums, which were in abundance. Preachers received from $75 to $85 per year ; school-teachers, from $10 to $15 per month ; and laboring hands from $7 to $10 per month ; and all the above generally paid in trade.

EARLY CONDITIONS.

With the first settlers, when the greater portion of this country was in its wild, unimproved state, and cattle, sheep and hogs were allowed to roam at large, and often were not seen for weeks and months by their owners, it became necessary to protect them in their just claims to their own stock ; to distin- guish, beyond any doubt, one man's stock from that of his neighbor, and, to accomplish this, legislation came to their aid and enacted laws, declaring that each owner of stock, by having his own special mark branded upon his stock, and having the same recorded by the clerk of the township where he resided, should thus be protected in his ownership, from any claims of any other person or parties, to the stock bearing such said mark. This privilege was embraced by the first settlers of Deer Creek Township, and was continued in use for many years.

In the Township records, in 1810, we find recorded the following : John Arbuckle's mark for neat cattle is-" An under clop in each ear." Recorded June 2, 1810. Tobias Shields' mark for cattle, sheep and hogs is-" A swallow fork in the left ear, and a slit in the right." Recorded June 3, 1810. Charles Atchison's mark for cattle, sheep and hogs is-" A crop of each ear, and an upper bit in the left." Recorded July 12, 1810. John Adair's mark for cattle, sheep and hogs is-" An upper half erop in each ear." Recorded September 5, 1810. Samuel Ewing's mark for cattle, sheep and hogs is-" A crop of the left ear, and a slit and under bit in the same." Recorded October 21, 1810. William Blaine's mark for cattle, sheep and hogs is-" A swallow fork in each ear." Recorded September 20, 1810. And thus the records continued, ad libitum, with stock owners for many years.

EARLY ELECTIONS AND TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.

From the township records, the first election we find was held in the spring of 1812, and from that date to the present year (1882) we find regular elections held and recorded, with few omissions, and from these records we find the ofli- cers duly elected as follows:

Trustees .- For the years 1812-13. John Arbuckle, John Wilson and John Shields; 1814-JJohn Barrett, John Wilson and Shedrick Preston; 1819-G. Markly, Samuel Culberson and Charles Atchison; 1821-Andrew Shields, David Colver and Erastus Hathaway; 1822-Richard Baldwin, John Davidson and Erastus Hathaway; 1823-Charles Atchison, Erastus Hathaway and John Da- vidson; 1824-John Arbuckle, Angus Ross and Benjamin Pike; 1826-John Arbuckle, Benjamin Pike and Valentine Wilson; 1827-John Arbuckle, Ben- jamin Pike and John Roberts; 1828-John Arbuckle, John Cory and Benja- min Pike; 1829-John Arbuckle. John Cory and John Davidson; 1830-John Davidson, George Prugh and Abner S. Williard; 1834-John Davidson. George Prugh and John Thomas; 1836-John Davidson, John Roberts and William Hull; 1837-William Hull, John Davidson and Joseph C. Gear: 1838-William Hull, John Ewing and Joseph C. Gear; 1839 -- Daniel Wright, John Ewing and Reason Lotspeich; 1840-Daniel Wright. J. W. Davidson and H. G. Sothoron; 1841-William Minter. John Davidson and Thomas Croshaw; 1844-Abraham Simpson, Thomos Croshaw and George G. McDonald; 1846-Stanly Watson, Daniel Wright and William Snodgrass; 1847-Daniel Wright, William Snod-

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

grass and James W. Tallman; 1848-Daniel Wright, G. G. McDonald and James W. Tallman; 1850-Daniel Wright, G. G. McDonald and John McDonald, Junior; 1851-Daniel Wright, James Wright and John Plimell; 1852-Daniel Wright. G. G. MeDonald and C. W. Martin; 1853-Daniel Wright, Adam Saunders and C. W. Martin; 1855-Daniel Wright, W. B. Rafferty and C. W. Martin; 1856- Daniel Wright. George Lohr and C. W. Martin; 1857-Daniel Wright, John Lohr and G. H. Busick; 1860-Daniel Wright, Jesse Smith and C. W. Martin; 1861-Daniel Wright, W. T. Davidson and D. W. Williamson; 1862 -- Daniel Wright, G. G. McDonald and William Curtain; 1863-James Dun, Jessie Smith and William Curtain; 1864-John A. Amos, W. H. C. McCoy and J. B. McDon- ald; 1866-C. W. Martin, W. H. C. McCoy and J. B. McDonald; 1867-James Dun, James Plimell and W. R. Fox; 1868 -- James Dun, James Plimell and George Kaufman; 1869-William Curtain, James Plimell and George Kanf- man; 1870-William Curtain, James Plimell and A. B. MeMurray, 1871-T. B. Wilson, James Plimell and William Jones; 1872-Edwin Dun, James Plim- ell and William Curtain; 1874-William Beals, James Plimell and T. B. Wil- son; 1875-William Beals, James Plimell and Allen W. Thurman; 1876-Will- iam Beals, James Plimell and T. B. Wilson; 1877-William Beals, James Plimell and William Curtain; 1878-W. H. Jones, James Plimell and William Curtain; 1879-W. H. Jones, William Bierbaugh and George Kaufman; 1880 -George Kaufman, Alexander Husk and William Bierbaugh; 1881-W. H. Jones, Alexander Husk and William Bierbaugh; 1882-T. B. Wilson, L. Headley and George Kaufman.

Treasurers .- 1812-18-Charles Atchison; 1819-21-George Prugh; 1822- 23-John Ewing; 1824-28-Angus Ross; 1829-30-John C. Wagoner: 1831 -37-Erastus Hathaway; 1838-41-Joseph Bell; 1842-45-Calvin Anderson; 1846-47-John MeMullen; 1848-62-Abraham Simpson; 1863-John Min- ter; 1864-66-James Simpson; 1867-78-William C. Minter; 1879-80-Al- fred Willett; 1881 -- William Dillow; 1882-Alfred Willett, the present ineum- bent.

By the official acts in recording the marks for stock, it appears that from 1810 to 1812. the time of the first record of an election officially recorded, John Blair performed the work of Township Clerk, and since that election the Clerks have been as follows: 1812-15 -John Blair: 1816-20-Angus Ross; 1821- George R. Pearce: 1822-23-James Brown; 1823-24-S. Houston; 1824-25 -Franklin Clark; 1825-36-Daniel Ross; 1837-MI. Stateler; 1838-39-A. Simpson; 1840-Franklin Clark: 1841-43-A. K. Adair; 1844-48-E. Mc- Cormack; 1849-53-J. II. Badley; 1854-55-W. H. C. MeCoy; 1856-62-J. H. Badley; 1863-L. C. Hendren; 1864-65-J. H. Badley; 1866-S. E. Baker; 1867-S. N. Marsh; 1868-76-B. MeCampbell; 1877 -L. W. Nufer; 1878-B. MeCampbell; 1879-82-Wesley Crouch, present incumbent.

Justices of the Peace .- The first whose election appears upon record was George Prugh, who was commissioned September 26, 1818, since which the records give elections as follows : September 1, 1821, George Prugh and John Shields ; October 2, 1824, John Cory and William McCoy ; October 9, 1827, George Prugh and William McCoy ; October 12, 1830, John Kennedy and Franklin Clark, and re-elected October 8. 1833; October 13, 1835. Ansel Bates, Jr. ; August 2, 1839. and August 13, 1842, Franklin Clark ; October 11, 1812, John McMullen; November 1, 1844, A. Simpson ; October 25, 1845. John McMillen ; November 6, 1847. A. Simpson ; October 10, 1848, John MeMullen: October 30, 1850, A. Simpson ; October 12, 1852. James S. IInme; October 29, 1853, A. Simpson ; April 5, 1858, J. H. Badley ; December 18. 1862, A. Simpson ; April 23, 1861. J. H. Badley and D. W. Will- iamson ; April 2, 1866, W. H. C. McCoy ; April 1. 1867. Hamilton Wilson ; April 5. 1869, A. C. Sager ; April 4, 1870, Christian Volea ; April 3, 1871,

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Carl Stewart ; April 1. 1872, A. C. Sawyer ; April 6, 1874, Hamilton Wilson ; April 6, 1875, A. C. Sager ; April 2, 1877, L. W. Nufer ; April 6, 1878, A. C. Sager and J. C. Martin ; April 7, 1879, A. Husk ; April 5, 1880, A. Arbogast ; April 9, 1881, Absalom Sager ; April 3. 1882, S. C. Teeters.

Early Constables .- 1812-William Noteman and William Atchison ; 1813 -John Ross and James Ballard ; 1819-Alexander Ross and Jacob Steele ; 1821-Asa Wright and James Brown ; 1822 -- Alexander Ross and James Brown ; 1823-James Brown and G. W. Pike ; 1824-David Ross and James Brown. The present incumbents, 1882, are, Edward Temple and Charles Smith.

We now give a few of the officers known in that day as Fence Viewers : 1812-John Arbuckle and Thomas Gwynne ; 1813-Thomas Gwynne ; 1819- Thomas Gwynne and Alexander Ross ; 1821-Isaac Jones ; 1822-Alexander Ross and Joseph Adair ; 1823-Gilman Lincoln and AAlexander Ross ; 1824-25 -John Clernoe and Thomas Groves ; 1826-Jolin MeDonald and Samuel Houston.

In the days of the pioneers, and for many years after the settling of this country, there was no County Infirmary or other public provision made by the county for the care of the indigent or the infirm ; but the noble-hearted fathers of that day never let the poor or infirm suffer for the necessities of life. and we find them early making provision for such through official authority of the townships, and on the records of Deer Creek Township we find from their first elections a class of officers known as Overseers of the Poor, whose duty was to look after and provide for all such needy and unfortunate persons. This office, according to the records, was filled by the following persons : 1812-Daniel Ross and William Marp ; 1813-Curtis Ballard and Thomas Gwynne; 1819-Jacob Steele and D. Foster ; 1821-Sutton Potee and Angus Ross ; 1822-24-Charles Ewing and Gabriel Markle ; 1825-John Roberts and John Shields; 1826-George Prugh and John Shields. This office was finally abolished. and for many years no such office has existed.

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The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 69

Author: Brown, Robert C; W.H. Beers & Co., pub Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, W.H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1180

Author: Brown, Robert C; W.H. Beers & Co., pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1180