The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 71

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 71

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

onward. and improvements were rapid, and in 1836-37 the National road or turnpike was completed through this township, and the stage route and all travel from Columbus to Springfield and the West was transferred from the old mud road to the new National road. In consequence of this new and beautiful road. there was a great increase of travel. and in 1837 William Minter, who owned a large tract of land upon which the town of La Fayette is situated, com- menced to lay off lots for the town, which was named La Fayette, in honor of Gen. La Fayette.

The first house was a small frame. erected by Joseph Bell. Others were soon built. and the great amount of travel made a demand for public entertain- ment, and Calvin Anderson opened out and kept the first tavern. Soon a second was in operation. kept by John McMullen ; then a third, built by Stan- ley Watson and kept by Mr. Coleman ; and, finally, a fourth was kept by Joseph Bell. These all did a "rattling business," as stage load after stage load of passengers drove up for their hospitalities. The first store was kept by William Warner, who still survives, and now resides in London. The second merchant was Alfred Russell, and the third, Stanley Watson. These were suc- ceeded by Abraham Simpson and others. The first blacksmith was Jacob Snider, whose son was the first child born in the town, and in honor of which was named Lafayette by Mrs. Willam Minter. Dr. Samuel McClintick was the first physician, and Dr. Anklin the second. These were succeeded by Drs. Fields, Rogers, Beach, Hornback and others. The present practicing physician is Dr. Teeters, who came from Athens County. Ohio. The town now contains one dry goods and general store ; one drug and grocery store ; two blacksmith shops ; one wagon shop, and one large tile factory and saw-mill combined, run by steam-power ; one church-Methodist-and one schoolhouse. The first Postmaster was John Minter. The present incumbent is Rev. James Simpson. In 1881, the township erected a large brick town house, 30x46 feet, two stories high-a hall above and town house below. It is substantially built, on a solid stone foundation, with good shutters to all the windows. It is pleasantly located on the corner of the public square, and speaks well for the public enterprise of the citizens of Deer Creek Township. The old town of Lawrenceville, or Limerick, has long since become extinct ; the land embracing the town lots was purchased by Eli Gwynne, and turned into a pasture-field, and now not a vestige remains to indicate that there was ever a town located there. Such are the constant changes of time.

PIKES.

This township, for many years, was without pikes, or any good gravel roads, and being possessed of a very rich, deep soil, had, perhaps, more than an average of bad mud roads. But in 1836-37, was constructed through this county one of the greatest enterprises of our Government of that day. The Government of the United States commenced to build a turnpike from Cumberland. Md., extending westward through all the Western States. There were then no railroads, and no great thoroughfare from the East to the West, and the great flow of emigration Westward, and the increasing traffic and demand for better communication be- tween the East and the West, caused the Government to enter upon this project. It was a great undertaking, and would not in that day have been attempted by any power less than the General Government. This great road passed from east to west through the center of Deer Creek Township, and was the first and only pike built for many years through this township or county. It was com- pleted about 1837. It was truly wonderful the amount of travel over this road for many years ; and hotels-or taverns as they were called in that day- sprang up all along its line, and of these Deer Creek Township had its share, not less than six or seven being within her borders. There were two or three

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DEER CREEK TOWNSHIP.

in the eastern part of the township, and four at La Fayette, and all did good business. It was not uncommon to see at one time from eight to teu four-horse coaches in La Fayette loaded down with passengers and baggage. But, after the railroads passed through the country, this road lost her prestige; stages and passengers disappeared ; hotels were vacated, and the great hustle and rattle of stage coaches, and the shrill whistle of their bugle-horns were heard no more -- all this is now a reminiscence of the past ! Yet the road remains. and is one of the best ever made in our country, and will ever stand as a mon- minent to the enterprise of the Government that projected it.

Another pike, whose advantages this township enjoys, is the Urbana, Me- chaniesburg & Jefferson, which passes through the northwest corner of the township in a southeast course till it arrives at the Dun Schoolhouse. where it strikes the boundary line between Deer Creek and Monroe Townships. and continues on that line to the eastern terminus of the township and on through to the village of Jefferson. This pike was first built by a stock com- pany, and was completed about 1859. It remained a toll road till about 1876 or 1877, when that portion within Madison County was purchased and turned over to the county, and has since been a free pike. The London & Jefferson pike was built a few years later. The London & Plain City pike was built to La Fayette in 1868; thence completed through to Plain City in 1873; and now (1882), they are building a pike from London to the Union County line, known as the Beach road; also have surveyed and nearly graded one called the Lucas road, running from the National road in a northeast course to the Franklin County line. These. when completed, will give this township twenty- four miles of free pike, which will probably equal any township of its dimen- sions in the county.

EARLY MARRIAGES.

The following were some of the early marriages, of whom one or both of the parties lived in Deer Creek Township.

John Plimell to Miss Lewis. John McDonald, Sr., to Miss Byers, John MeNutt to Miss Rossel. Bartholomew Melvin to Miss Adair, John Ewing to Miss Prugh. Jacob Sidener to Miss Ewing, Hiram Edwards to Miss MeCoy, Samuel Adair to Miss Byers. George Stout to Miss Garrett, Jesse Stout to Miss Moore, William Davidson to Miss Smith, Joseph Adair to Mrs. Coon, Elisha Moore to Miss Coon, John McDonald, Jr., to Miss Davidson, Mathias Fur- row to Miss Plimell, James Brown to Miss Smith, John Moore to Miss Coon, John Dooley to Miss Plimell, Henry Prugh to Miss Logan, Edward Adair to Miss Frederick, James Johnston to Miss Adair.

The Justice of the Peace did the marrying, generally. Of their number. Patrick McLene was very popular with the young folks.

It was fashionable for the Squire to have the groom salute the bride with a kiss at the close of the ceremony. and very often the Squire would follow suit. Whether it was sealing the ordinance with a kiss or not, there was not the amount of applications for divorces as there are at the present day. Then try the old fashion!

On one occasion. a pair of darkies were united in marriage, and the Squire told him to salute the bride. The groom replied that after him was manners, but the good Squire backed out. Some of the weddings were conducted as follows: They would invite the old and the young: after the wedding, then sup- per; then the old folk and children would go home. The young folk would stay and have a dance. if they could get a fiddler; if not, they would get some one to sing or whistle while they danced. The next day after, they went to the reception dinner all on horseback. They would start two or three ahead to get a bottle of whisky and to let the folk know they were coming; and the one who had the swiftest horse obtained the bottle, and had the honor of carrying

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

it back to the company; he would call a halt, and treat the crowd, always giv- ing the bride the first dram; then they would march on, take dinner, then have another dance, stay till morning and then go home.

AN INCIDENT.

The following is a tale of pioneer days, with, of course, no names given : A young man went to see a young lady, both of good families. The young lady had several brothers, and they kept a number of hounds to hunt coon, which was a good business in early days. Well, after the young couple had talked until time to go to bed, the young lady told the young gentleman where to retire, and, by some mistake, one of the hounds obtained an entrance into the room. The young gentleman laid his pants down on the floor ; but they being made of buckskin-which were very fashionable in those early days ; the hound, being hungry, ate one leg off his pants. In the morning, when he arose, he wished himself at home ; but she furnished him a pair of pants to wear, and sent him on his way rejoicing.

Las Comerse

UNION TOWNSHIP.

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CHAPTER IV.

UNION TOWNSHIP.

A PRIL 30. 1810, " Ordered, that the following boundaries compose a township, to be known by the name of Union, and is bounded as fol- lows, viz. : Beginning at the mouth of Oak Run, thence east to the Franklin County line ; thence north four miles ; thence west to the line of Deer Creek Township ; thence west with said line to the Champaign County line ; thence with said line to the southwest corner of Champaign County and the north corner of Stokes Township; thence with the north line of Stokes three miles ; thence eastwardly to the southwest corner of Judge Baskerville's survey ; thence direct to the beginning. December 7, 1812. At a meeting of the Com- missioners, it was ordered, that " the line of Union Township, between Union and Pleasant, running from the mouth of Oak Run to the county line, be vacated ; and it shall run northeastwardly to the State road leading from Lon- clon to Dyer's Mill, so as to leave all the inhabitants on main Deer Creek in Union, and all those on Opossum Run in Pleasant Township ; said line to continue with the State road to the county line.'" June 2, 1829, - Ordered by the Commissioners, that the following lines, as run by Henry Warner, be established as township lines between the townships of Union, Pleasant, Range and Stokes : Beginning at the northwest corner of Samuel Baskerville's survey, running south 24' west abont 50 poles ; thence south 22º west to the line between the counties of Madison and Fayette. a short distance east of McIntosh's farm, for the line between Stokes and Range Townships. The line between Pleasant, Range and Union, running from Baskerville's said corner north 70° east to Langham's road, near Samuel Kingern's ; continue the same course 220 poles : thence north 20° west 10 poles ; thence south 70 east to the Chillicothe road ; thence north 53' east to Deer Creek ; thence up the creek to the mouth of Oak Run ; thence north 52' east to the line between the counties of Madison and Franklin." June 6, 1836, "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 Melvin's land, and southwest corner of John Adair's land, and to run westerly to strike the La Fayette road 10 poles south of the Glade, between B. Bowdry's and D. J. Ross ; thence the same course continued until it strikes the present line, which divides said townships so as to incinde D. J. Ross into Union Town- ship." March 2, 1840. "Ordered, by the Commissioners of Madison County, that the line between the townships of Union and Somerford be so altered as to include Daniel Wilson and the land on which he lives into Union Township." Thus, it can be seen, the boundaries of Union Township passed through several changes prior to 1841 ; and our readers can also observe that its present boundaries are still different from the above, as Fairfield Township has since been erected, and, with other changes which have from time to time been made, have constituted its boundaries as they now exist. The township is now bounded as follows : On the north, by Somerford and Deer Creek Townships ; on the east, hy Fairfield and Oak Run Townships; on the south. by Paint and Oak Run Townships ; on the west, by Paint Township and Clark County. It

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

is about eleven miles long from cast to west, and from two to six miles wide from north to south, and has the honor of containing London, the county seat of Madison County.

This township was not as early settled as the eastern townships of the county. As the settlements were formed from the Ohio River up the Scioto and its tributaries branching off westward np Deer Creek. the Darby's and their tributaries, and thus penetrating the eastern townships first, before reaching the central and western townships of the county, it would be a natural conse- quence that the eastern townships would receive the first permanent settle- ments. And this was necessary from the fact that Chillicothe became the base of supplies for the first settlers of this county; they at first obtaining their groceries and agricultural implements, and all the equipments for farming, and the necessities for their families and homes from that place. And as settle- ments were made up these streams, northward and westward, and roads opened and communications established, so the settlers pushed on in advance, and after settlements were made in these eastern townships, it took but a few years till we find them penetrating the territory which is now embraced in the bound- aries of Union Township, and soon after 1800 we find permanent settlers in this township.

PIONEERS.

In giving the history of the early settlers, we endeavor to arrange them strictly by the boundary lines of the townships as they now exist, and not as they were at the time the settlements were made. With this understanding, we now proceed to mention the pioneers and early settlers of Union Township; and from an extended and careful research, and consultation with most of the oldest living residents, and making free use of the township and county rec- ords, to obtain dates and facts corroborative of evidence elsewhere obtained, we have gleaned the following, which, though not a complete list of all early settlers, and probably not without some errors and slight mistakes, yet, we be- lieve it as nearly correct as can be gathered at this period. so far distant from the dates of the first settlements. The persons who probably may be accorded the honor of being the first to locate within the present limits of Union Town -. ship, were William Blair and James LaBarr, who probably located on Glad Run about the same time, and that was very soon after 1800, perhaps 1802-04 The former was a preacher in the Christian, or New Light Church, Hle locate, on land now owned by JJosiah Melvin. The latter. James LaBarr, was a mi - ler by trade, and remained here but a short time, till he removed to the Darby's. to follow his trade in a mill which was early erected there. John Deeds, of German deseent, was probably the next to locate in the township. He, with his family, settled on Deer Creek, on land now owned by the Minshall heirs, about 1803-5; was a blacksmith by trade, and probably the first in the township. and perhaps in the county. Of his children were George, Philip, John G. and one daughter. They remained here a few years, sold out to William Smith, and re- moved to Pickaway County, Ohio. John McDonald, a native of Virginia. married a Miss Sehuyler, and at an early day emigrated to Tennessee. In April, 1807. he with his family, came to Madison County, and settled on the Glade, where he died in 1811. His children were as follows: Mandlin, died in Tennessee; Thomas, died at Woodstock. Champaign Co., Ohio; James and John, died on the Glade; Samnel, died in St. Clair County. Il .; Betsey, died in Ala- bama; George, also died in St. Clair County. Il .; and Schuyler, who died on the Glade. Of the above. James. the third child, married in Tennessee, Miss Naney Cook, a native of New Jersey, and with his family came to this county with his father. and with him settled on the Glade Run. Their children were Mary, now Widow Ferguson, residing in Towa; George, married Malinda Fer- guson, by whom he has one daughter now living; Mary Ann, now the wife of

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UNION TOWNSHIP.

Judge Fulton, of Columbus; Phebe, now Mrs. Luffburrough, residing in Iowa; Elizabeth, now Mrs. John Davis, resides near California, this county; Charity. married Walker Graham, resides in Indiana; John, died unmarried, and Maley, who resides in lowa. Of this numerous family, the true pioneers of this county, but one surviving son is now a resident of Madison County, George, who is now quite advanced in years, and resides in London, retired from all active business. He has lived to see the wonderful changes in the transformation of this county from its wild and primitive state, as they found it three quarters of a century ago, to its present condition of comfort and prosperity, amounting almost to grandeur, as it is now one of the best agricultural counties of the State. And this family of whom we have here traced their history in brief, have largely contributed to bring about this result. They have been pioneer workers in es- tablishing schools and churches; in elevating the educational, moral and Christian status of their communities. And although most of them are now resting beneath the sod of the land of their early adoption, yet the rising gen- erations in the enjoyment of all these present blessings and comforts, can but feel their hearts throb with gratitude in memory of these worthy pioneers. who have left them so rich a legacy. .

The Melvin family settled on the Glade in 1808 and 1809. It appears they were natives of Virginia, although they came to this county from Tennes- see. The first family of this name to settle here was that of Thomas Melvin, who located here . in the spring of 1808. Ile was born January 21. 1782. and died in the fall of 1808, having survived only a few months after locating here. He was the eldest son of John Melvin, Sr., who married Jane Barnes, and with his family came to the Glade in 1809, locating on the place now owned by the Widow Marsh, and there resided till his death. Besides their eldest son mentioned above, they had the following children: Charles, Polly, Abby. Bartholomew, Joseph, Samuel and Jefferson, all now deceased; and the only descendant of this large family, who is now a resident of this county, is JJohn Melvin, Jr., a son of Bartholomew Melvin, who still resides on the Glade. Joseph Melvin, a cousin of the above John Melvin, Sr., settled on the Glade. with his family, at the same time of the latter. He married Phebe Van Vacter, and the following were their children: Benjamin, John, Silas, Joseph, Sallie. Thomas and Jane. ail deceased; and the only decendants of this family. now in the county, are the children of John, the second son, who married Sallie Inzer, by whom he had the following children: Josiah, who is married, and resides on the Glade: Jane, married John Jones, of London; Benjamin, resides in Indiana, and Phebe, who married Isaac JJones. of London. About 1808-10. Lewis Coon, a native of Virginia, and several of his nephews located on Deer Creek, on or near the Minshall lands, and it is probable that here the old gen- tleman died. Of the nephews we gather the following names: Jacob, Henry, Adam, Lewis and Abraham, who all married. and had large families, and each family had a " Jake," and to distinguish one from the other they were known in the community as " Old Jake," " Fatty Jake," " Yankee Jake." " Fiddler Jake," " Little Jake " and " Cutty Jake." They were a family well known for their honesty. and uprightness ; good neighbors and respected citizens ; but most of them after several years' residence, moved West, and of their families we can gather but little, except of Jacob Coon, Sr., who resided here till about 1848, when he removed to Missouri, and subsequently to Illi- nois, where he died, aged ninety-five years. He was twice married; by his first wife he had four sons and four daughters-Michael, a resident of Piatt County, Ill .; Jacob, married Elizabeth Applegate, had one son-Addison, and removed to Illinois, where he died, abont 1876; William, married and settled in Illinois. where he died; Thomas, died in Missouri, while in the army during the war of the rebellion; Anna. married Elisha Moore, by whom she had four children-

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

Harriet, Robert. Henry and Eliza; the latter died young. Mrs. Moore, died in 1836, with milk sickness; Catharine, married John Moore, by whom she had six children, who grew to maturity; David and William, both in Missouri; Jane, married George W. Hathaway, and resides at Dodge City, Kan .; Mary and Sarah, (twins), married two brothers-Samuel and James Morris, and settled in Warren County, Ill .; Sarah, is deceased. Mr. Coon's second wife was Elizabeth Melvin, by whom he had three sons and four daughters; two of these sons died in the army, and the surviving one resides in Missouri; the daughters removed West and some are deceased. Mrs. Coon is still living in the West at an advanced age.

William Starns, from Tennessee, settled on the Glade in 1808-9, where he resided till his death, about 1830; his wife, Nancy, died a little earlier. Their children were James, Betsy, Nancy, Polly, Margaret, William, Abby, Rebecca and John. Mr. Starns was a farmer, and a man of sterling worth and integrity. William Smith, a native of Pennsylvania, came to the Glade a young, unmar- ried man, about 1812-13. He made his home first at James McDonald's; soon after he purchased the Deeds place. He returned to his native State, married, and brought his wife to his new home, on Deer Creek, where, about 1814, he erected a saw mill. He lived but a few years, had no children, and was buried on the place. William Aikin settled near the Melvins, on the Glade, about 1810-12. He resided there six or seven years and sold out to the Melvins. This new country was too sickly for them, and they moved back to their native State. He was a man of excellent character, and a worthy citizen.

We have thus far confined ourselves to the eastern portion of the Town- ship; we will now mention some of the carly settlers in other parts of the Township. Philip Cryder was born in Pennsylvania, but while young re- moved with his father to Newtown, Va., where he grew to manhood, and mar- ried Nancy MeClintick, a sister of Judge McClintick, who has since become so well-known in Ross County, Ohio. In 1806, in company with David Watson, Jonathan Minshall and others, in all thirty-nine persons, emigrated to Ohio, and first stopped at Chillicothe, and there purchased a tract of land embracing 800 acres, for which he paid about $2 per acre. Others of this company pur- chased large tracts of land. They then organized a surveying party under Col. Elias Langham, and left Chillicothe to survey and locate their lands. Mr. Cryder, David Watson and a few others, composed this party. They had, as may well be imagined, a very rough tour, camping out nights and coursing through the unbroken wilderness, but they accomplished their purpose, and in 1807-8 Mr. Cryder located with his family on his land. erected a cabin in which he was assisted by two neighbors, Mr. Fry and Maj. Withrow, and two Indians, one of whom was the well-known hunter, Capt. John, who visited the early set- tlers throughout this section very frequently, and who it is said was killed in combat with a deer, both he and the deer being found dead lying side by side, as they had fallen. Mr. Cryder was a recruiting officer in the war of 1812, and a Major of a horse company, yet he was not out in the war. Once during the war it was reported that the enemy was coming to massacre them all, and it produced a severe scare; and Maj. Cryder started with a company of men for Fort Wayne, but while on his way he ascertained that there was no danger, and returned home. In the meantime his wife, with two little children, mounted on horseback. and started for Chillicothe. On this place, where Mr. Cryder first settled, he remained through life. In the early years of their settlement here, they were in great danger from prairie fires, and at two different times came very near losing all their property which was destructible by fire, but by a combined effort of the people of the surrounding country, aided by help from the citizens of London. they succeeded in staying the consuming flames and saving their property: But in the severe struggle Mr. Cryder became over-

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UNION TOWNSHIP.

heated, and in sitting down cooled off too suddenly, and laid the foundation for that terrible disease, consumption, with which, in 1838, he died, aged sixty- eight years. His wife survived till, in August, 1856, aged seventy-six years. They were interred in the Watson Cemetery. Of their nine children. three died young; six grew to maturity. Mary, married Jonathan Markle; Arabella. married John Palmer; William, resides at the home place; Eliza, married Will- iam Jones; Samuel, married Isabel Watson, and Nancy, married Samuel Wat- son. All are now deceased, except William and Nancy. Mr. Cryder was a wagon-maker by trade, and was probably one of the first in Union Township. He followed his trade, in connection with farming, through life. He was one of the township's best citizens, and of his devoted wife we wish to remark that that she was never brought up to work, her parents owning many slaves, who performed all the work; but she made a noble helpmeet, and a brave pioneer, and endured all her many hardships with fortitude and a willing heart. In the days of the early settlers. they had no wells, and if they located where there was no permanent and lasting spring, they often had to carry water a great dis- tance. Of Mrs. Cryder, it is said that at times she carried water for drinking and culinary purposes a distance of half a mile.

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The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 71

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