The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 81

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 81

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These families of whom we have given the above history embrace the majority of the early settlers of Pike Township. Many others have come in and settled at a more recent date, some of whom are among the leading business men of the township, and who have taken a leading and active part in the progress and improvements of the township, and who are fully iden- tified with its interests. Among these we mention Charles Phellis, Esq .. who is the largest Jand-owner and stock-dealer in the township, a man of high and marked ability, whose honor and character stand untarnished, and is one of the township's best and mest worthy citizens. In the biographical department of this work will be found the history of many of the present prominent and enterprising families of Pike Township, to which we would refor the reader for further information.

TOWNS AND BUSINESS.

There is but one town, or, more properly, village, in the township. But before writing of it the business interests of the past will carry us back to about the year 1831-32, when one Capt. Andrews, of Chillicothe, located on the Worthington road, just west of John Weaver's place, where he pur-

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

chased about 1,300 acres of land. He was quite wealthy, and soon after locating he erected a building, purchased a stock of goods and opened out a store, which was the first ever in the township. His place he named the Rosedale farm, taking its name, we presume, from the post office, which he obtained the establishment of at his place about 1332, under the name of Rosedale Post Office, of which he became the first Postmaster. Subsequent- ly, Capt. Andrews died. and he was succeeded by A. Simpkins; finally, he was succeeded by Fox & Snodgrass, with Mr. Fox as Postmaster. About 1836. Darius Burnham surveyed and laid off some lots for a town; had the town duly platted, which was recorded at the Recorder's office in London May 19. 1836, under the name of Liverpool. There were two small log houses on the ground when the town was laid out, after which Mr. Burn- ham erected the first frame house, a part of which was used for a dwelling and the other part finished up for a storeroom, into which John and David Snyder put in the first stock of goods and commenced trade. They contin- ned business a few years and moved away. The next store opened here was by Foster Griffin, who commenced trade by putting in a small stock of goods and running a moderate trade; his leading business, to which he gave most attention, was dealing in cheese. Finally, Mr. Henry Burnham en - tered into partnership with Mr. Griffin, but remained only a short time, when he withdrew, and L. D. Mann entered into partnership with Mr. Griffin, but in a short time Mr. Mann withdrew, and Mr. Griffin continued business for several years. About 1837-38, Mr. Griffin became Postmaster, the office being moved from the country, where it was first established, to Liverpool, but retaining its original name, Rosedale, and has since remained permanently located in the town. The first blacksmith to locate in the town was a Mr. Creamer. The first physician was Dr. Curl, the next, Dr. Jeremiah Converse; then another Dr. Converse; then Dr. William Adams, Dr. J. C. Kalb and then Dr. Carter. The first shoe-maker was Edsel Carr. The first saddle and harness shop was a branch of MeGruder & Reed, of Mechanics- burg, Ohio. The town now contains a population of about seventy-five persons, with the following business houses: One general store, by J. P. Carter; one blacksmith, H. C. Yeazell; one shoe-maker, Andrew McBride; one harness and saddle shop. George Glass, and one physician, Dr. F. M. Carter.

MILLS.

It is believed that the first grist-mill ever erected in the township was in the northwest corner of the township, on the Little Darby, built by George Van Ness, about 1820. This was a three-story frame, quite an im- posing structure at that early day, and was, of course, run by water-power. But it continued in use only about two years, when the dam was washed out and never rebuilt, and consequently the building was never used again for mill purposes. About 1825. Messrs. Lockwood & Nelson erected a grist- inill on the Little Darby, in the northeast part of the township, on land now owned by Mrs. Hampshire. Subsequently, these men were succeeded in the' ownership of the mill by James Snodgrass, and he again by Albert Lombard, who was succeeded by L. D. Mann, who was the last to run the mill, after which it stood idle and went to decay. About 1830-31, George Weaver and his son John built a saw-mill on the Little Darby, on lands now owned by Joseph Weaver. This saw-mill was run about ten years and then went into decay. These appear to have been the principal early mills. In later years, there have been a few other mills, principally of the

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portable kind, which have been moved from place to place as timber and occasion required.

PIKES AND ROADS.

This township is small in territory, and containing several large stock farms, which usually contain many " by-roads," which lead from one point to another and from one road to another, makes the number of pikes and gravel roads somewhat limited in number. The main pikes are the London road and the Mechanicsburg & Liverpool pike. The northwest corner of the township is crossed by the Springfield & Delaware Branch of the C., C., C. & I. R. R., which has a length of about one-half a mile within Pike Township. This is the amount of her railroads.

SCHOOLS.

This township being small in territory does not, of course, require as many schoolhouses as some of the larger townships. It has four regularly established subdistricts and one joint subdistrict. Most of these have frame houses, the citizens generally taking a fair interest in the subjectof schools and education. The total school funds of last year were $1,592.67. Total expenditures, $1.426.28. Enumeration of the districts as follows: No. 1, males. 36: females, 40; total, 76. No. 2, males, 14: females, 15; total, 29. No. 3, males. 7; females. 12; total, 19. No. 4, males, 18; females, 9: total, 27. No. 5, males, 3; females, 6; total, 14. Total, males, 83; fe- males, 82: total, 165. Township Board of Education: District No. 1. James P. Carter. President: No. 2. William P. Patrick; No. 3, Pearl M. Keyes: No. 4. J. M. Bradley (sub-joint): No. 5, J. S. Van Ness.

CHURCHES.

At the present time we are not aware of a single church organization within Pike Township. This condition arises probably from various causes. It is not. we presume, because the people are morally so good and perfect that they have no need of the restraining and salutary effects of churches; neither is it because they are so far the reverse of this that they repel them from their midst. But there is no town of any magnitude that forms a cen- ter and a neleus upon which to lay the foundation and draw from the sur- rounding country the necessary support. The township, as has been stated, contains several large farms, and hence is rather sparsely settled; and it is quite probable that among the scattered population there is quite a diversity of opinions on doctrinal points, and in consequence a limited number of any one faith and doctrine-too limited to secure and support a denominational church. But we find there have been church organizations in the township, and it comes within our province as historians to record upon these pages such facts as we can glean of their history in by-gone days.

Methodist Episcopal Church. - Early in the settlement on Barron Run the Methodists organized a class. and it is believed it was organized by John Rathburn, who, with the Allens, the Carrs and some others, were probably members of the first class. They held their meetings for many years in private houses and in the schoolhouse: but about 1832 -33. they erected a frame building for church purposes, which still stands on the Worthington road, but in a very dilapidated condition, and, of course, un- used. Meetings and services were held in this house till about 1865-66. At one time this society was quite large and prosperous, but from death, moving away and from other causes, the church waned and finally became

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

extinct. Among the early ministers who preached here were Rev. Morrison, Elder William Raper. Elder George Walker. Rev. Chase and Rov. Webster.

Protestant Methodist Church .- About the year 1840, a few persons, of whom John H. Surfus was the leader, caused the erection of a brick church in the west part of the village of Liverpool, in which was organized a Prot- estant Methodist society. The class embraced the following persons: John H. Surfus and wife. I. Whitcomb and wife, some of the Williams family and a few others. This society continued as an organization but a few years, as, after the death of its leader and principal support, Mr. Surfus. it dwindled away and the property was sold to the Catholics, who held services here for several years, when their organization was removed to Mechanicsburg .. since which the church building has stood unoccupied. We have been in- formed that at quite an early day there was an organization of a Christian Church on Little Darby, but it has long been extinct, and, as we failed to obtain any definite information of their organization. we simply give the above.

CEMETERIES.

There were several family burying-grounds in this township in an early day, as in other townships, and as in every early settled country. The principal ones of this kind were one near the Little Darby, on the Weaver farm, and known as the Weaver Burying-Ground; one on Barron Run, where Mr. Dockum and others of the early settlers of that neighborhood were buried; one on the land of Charles Phellis, Esq .. opposite John Weaver's residence; but this is now, like many others, all in open pasture, and no mark left of its former sacredness: and one on the Guy farm, on Spring Creek, known as the Guy Cemetery. This was first appropriated by Mr. Guy as a family burying-place, and was dedicated to the purpose by the reception of his son, Lewis F., who died November 14, 1843, after which it received the bodies of one or two others, when Mr. Guy deeded it to the Trustees of the township and their successors as a permanent ceme- tery for general interment of the dead. Subsequently, an addition of one- third of an acre was made, and the whole substantially fenced and the grounds ornamented with trees and shrubbery, constituting it a fit and pleasant depository of the dead.

As the records of Pike Township officials from its organization up to about 1860 have all been either lost or destroyed, we cannot, as we usually do. give the early officers of the township, except those who have served as Justices of the Peace, which we obtained from the records at London, and are as follows: 1815, Nicholas Moore: then from this date up to 1835 no record could be found. but from that on they were as follows: 1835, Jacob Weaver: 1837. William Guy: 1838, Charles Phellis; 1841, William Guy and Charles Phellis: 1843, Matthew Y. Patrick; 1844, Charles Phellis: 1846, Lester Hunt and Matthew Y. Patrick: 1848, John R. Stokes and Henry Burnham: 1850, Robert Guy: 1851, Henry Burnham and L. Koyes: 1854, L. D. Mann and Ebenezer T. Roseberry: 1855-58. Ebenezer T. Roseberry ; 1858, L. D. Mann: 1859. John H. Burnham: 1860, Benjamin Taylor; 1861, Gilbert Farrington and L. D. Mann: 1864, L. D. Mann and J. M. Kennedy.

yours Truly Jacob the real)

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MONROE TOWNSHIP.

CHAPTER IX.

MONROE TOWNSHIP.

M ARCH 16. 1819. "At a meeting of the Commissioners, present. Burton Blizzard, Ira Finch and Patrick McLene, on petition being presented, ordered that the following bounds compose a new township, to be known and designated by the name of Monroe: Beginning on the present line, between Deer Creek and Pike Townships, at the upper corner of Wallace's survey, run ning eastwardly, so as to cross Little Darby at the mouth of Barron Run, to the original line between Pike and Darby Townships; thence with the original line until it intersects Jefferson Township line af. Mark's survey, then to Henry Camp's lower corner; thence northwesterly with the new road leading to Ur- bana, including the same as far as to where said road crosses the London road; thence in a straight line to the place of beginning." In constituting Phelps Township (row Canaan), in June of the same year, and subsequently in enlarging Pike Township by taking a portion off of Monroe Township, its boundary lines were changed from the above description to its present lines and limits. This township, in size, is one among the smallest in the county, and in shape is nearly that of an obtuse triangle. It is bounded as follows: On the north by Pike Township, on the east by Canaan and Jefferson Townships, on the south and west by Deer Creek and Somerford Townships.

SURFACE. SOIL, ETC.

The surface of this township is very level, except along the creeks, where it is somewhat broken and hilly. The principal and only streams are Little Darby and Spring Fork. The former courses through the entire township, in the central eastern portion, passing in a southeastern direction into Jefferson Township; the latter, Spring Fork, enters Monroe Township from its northwest corner, and meanders in a southeastern course, nearly through the township, and empties into the Little Darby about one mile north of the south line of the township. Along Little Darby, on both sides for a little distance from the creek, the surface is quite broken, and in some places quite hilly. East of the stream, and between the Little Darby and Spring Fork, the surface is very level, and after you pass westward over a little undulating portion along Spring Fork, then all westward is very level. In the western and central portions of the township, also in the southeastern part. are large farms, consisting of prairies and oak openings, which are most beautiful lands, and peculiarly adapted to grazing purposes. The soil of these portions is generally a black loam from one to three feet deep. It is being more or less ditched, tiled and drained, and when this work is carried to completion it will produce all kinds of grain n abundance, and will vie in richness and productiveness with any lands in the State. Along the creeks where the surface is undulating. the soil is generally a clay, but very strong and productive, and as a whole we may safely say that Monroe is one among the best townships of the county for stock or grain raising. The principal productions are wheat, corn, potatoes and hay. The timber is in variety about as other townships in the county. On the oak openings, burr oak, hickory and elm are the principal varieties, the former predominating. On the streams are some walnut, and the uneven and hilly portions, where the clay

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

soil predominates, white, black and red oak, hickory. ash and some beech abound. But here, as elsewhere, the timber has been of minor importance, except to get it off of the land so as to produce good pasturage and tillage.

PIONEERS.

It is probable that among the first white people to settle within the limits of Monroe Township were the Bradley family from Virginia. There were Jo- nah, David and James Bradley, and two sisters, Susan and Nancy, of whom we give an account. They came here about 1804-5. Jonah settled on Spring Creek, where Sarah Ann Bradley now resides ; he married Susan Powers, who was also a native of Virginia, by whom he had the following children : Alfred, who married Jemima Morrow, and settled in this township, she died, and he married a Miss Lee ; subsequently he moved to Mercer County, where he re- sided several years, and where his second wife died, after which he returned to this county, where he remained a resident till his death, although his death oc- cnrred by accidental drowning while on a visit to Mercer County. He was the father of six children, four grew to maturity-David, John M., Elizabeth and . Jemima : the latter is now deceased ; Elizabeth resides in Union County, Ohio ; David settled in Illinois, where he died ; and John M., married, and is still a resident of this township. David and John (brothers of Alfred), married, set- tled and spent their lives till their death in this township ; and Jonah was the fourth son. There were five daughters-Elizabeth, Mahala, Mary, Sarah and Susan-of whom Susan and Mahala now survive, and residents of Illinois. Mr. Bradley followed farming and milling through life. A few years after lo- cating here, he erected a grist mill on Spring Fork, run by water-power, which was one of the first mills in this vicinity ; prior to his building this mill, they went to Chillicothe to do their milling and to buy their groceries. This mill was one of the great improvements of that day, and was a great convenience to the people of this new settlement. Mr. Bradley was a carpenter by trade, and built his mill with his own hands, and to a great extent made his own wagons and implements for use on his farm, thus bringing his trade and skill into good use in that early day, when such articles were then so difficult to ob- tain. Mr. Bradley died in April, 1865, aged eighty years. David Bradley, brother of the above, first settled near Georgesville, in Franklin County, but soon after moved here to Monroe Township, where he resided till his death. He was the father of four sons-James L. and William deceased, David M. resides on the home place of his father, and Shelton resides in Tazewell County, Ill .; and three daughters, Elsie and Jane, deceased, and Cassie, wife of Newman Mitchell, residing in Somerford Township. James Bradley, also brother to the above Jonah, settled here at same date, and remained here through life. He had at least four sons-Hiram, Washington, James and Jonas ; but all moved away, and all are now believed to be deceased.

James Marks was born in Kentucky on February 14, 1782. and married Nancy Van Kirk, who was born in Virginia November 25. 1787 ; they were married September 3, 1809. Mr. Marks came to Monroe Township in 1807 or 1808, and purchased a tract of land on the east side of the Little Darby. upon which he settled, and commenced in a log cabin without any floor, door or chimney, and had no furniture. But they had the will. energy and strength, and went to work in earnest. Success followed their efforts, and he became owner of nearly 1,000 acres of land in Madison County ; also a large amount of Western lands. On his home place he made fine improvements ; had a good brick house and other good buildings, with a fine fruit orchard, and everything comfortable and convenient around them ; quite in contrast to their condition when they first settled here. He served as Justice of the Peace several years. They were members of the Baptist Church. Their children

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were Washington ( who married Hannah Hayden), he died September 19, 1868, being killed by the cars; Eliza (married John Taylor) ; Elizabeth (married James I .. Bradley) ; Jefferson (died in infancy) ; Sarah (married William Foos, and resides in Springfield) ; Lucinda (married Rev. JJesse Ferguson, is now de- ceased) ; Jackson (died in childhood) ; Matilda (married Gustavus Foos, is now deceased) ; James (died young) ; and Mathias (married Jennie Long, of Lon- don, is now deceased). Robert Powers, a native of Virginia, settled on Spring Fork soon after or about the same time as Jonah Bradley, where he resided till his death. He was married in Virginia. Their children were as follows : John, Joseph. Abner, Edward. Senath, Dorcas and Fanny ; the latter married Mr. Harmon, and resides in Iowa ; Joseph and Edward reside in Union County ; all the other children are deceased. Nicholas Moore, a native of Virginia, is believed to be one of the first settlers on Little Darby ; he located on land which is now owned by John Weaver, Jr. About 1820, he, with his family, removed to Illinois, and thence to lowa, where he died. He married Sarah Downing, by whom he had the following children, born while residing here : William, Catharine. Hannah and Athea. John Downing, a native of Virginia, became one of the carly settlers of Jefferson Township about 1808-10, and a few years after moved into Monroe Township, and settled on land just above J. M. Bradley, now owned by Mr. Weaver. In 1822, he removed to Logan County, Ohio. He married Hannah Frakes, by whom he had the following children : John, Josiah. Robert, James, Sarah, Hannah and Mary. Robert and James reside in Logan County ; Mary married John Van Devender, and re- sides in Kansas; all the others deceased. Henry Kampf, a native of Penn- sylvania, settled on the Little Darby, near James Marks', about 1809-10, and resided here till about 1850 he removed to Illinois. He married Mary Travis, who died in this township. Their children were John, Mathias, Robert, Henry, Hannah, Sarah and Mary, all now deceased. Peter Paugh, a native of Virginia, settled where Arthur Bradley now resides, about 1804-6, and remained a resi- dent of the county till his death. He married Mary Johnson, by whom he had the following children : John. Abraham, Henry, Peter, Solomon, Sarah, Mary and Rebecca. Henry lives in Iowa, Peter in Illinois, and Mary (now Mrs. Dillon) resides in Indiana ; all the others are deceased. Mr. Paugh was a blacksmith by trade, which occupation he followed through life.

Peter Baker, a native of Virginia, was known to be an early settler, locat- ing on land now owned by La Fayette Wilson, probably as early as 1812, but of him or his family we get no further account. We find his deed for land recorded in January, 1817. Three brothers, Jonas, James and Joseph Heath, became settlers here about 1815. Jonas settled on Spring Fork, on the London & Marysville road ; James settled in the forks of Little Darby and Spring Fork ; and JJoseph settled just north of his brother James. Ralston Williams settled on Spring Fork where Joseph, his son, now lives, about 1825. Ile mar- ried a Miss Goodin; he was a good farmer, an honest and worthy citizen. Their children were JJoseph. Marion. Jane. Elizabeth, Evaline, Rebecca and Eliza. The two sons served in the war of the rebellion ; Marion was killed at the battle of Chickamauga, and Joseph, who was a Lieutenant, was severely wounded at the same battle. Mr. Williams' wife died, and he married for his second wife the Widow Canada. Mr. Williams died at Irwin Station. Fletcher Pratt, was not a pioneer, but settled here about 1830, and resided here through the remainder of his life. His children were Jolm. Sallie, Samuel, Eliza, Eli, Peter and Anna. John Aylor, a native of Virginia, settled on the Little Darby, on the Wilson land, about 1825. He erected a saw mill; subsequently he moved to Iowa. David Link, a native of Virginia, settled here same date, 1825 ; he erected a grist mill on the Little Darby, and subsequently he removed to Somerford Township and purchased the Roberts Mill; thence he moved to the

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

West. These mills they built on the Little Darby, did quite a large business for several years, but have long since gone to decay. William Winget, a native of Pennsylvania, married Mary Tomlinson. a native of Maryland. They settled on Spring Fork on land now owned by La Fayette Wilson, about 1828. He was the father of the following children : Mahala, married R. T. Burnham, and settled in Champaign County, but subsequently moved to Iowa, where they now reside ; Mary, married Joseph McCampbell, and settled in Union County, thence removed to Greene County, Ohio, where they now reside ; Luther, mar- ried Mary Jane Reynolds, and resides in Union County ; John, married Mary Proctor, and settled at Kenton. Ohio, he is deceased ; William, deceased ; Catharine, married John C. Robinson, and is now deceased ; Elizabeth, married John McCloud, Esq., of London ; and David C., married Mary Winget, widow of John Winget, deceased, and resides at Kenton. Ohio.

James Guy was born in Vermont, November 14, 1779, married Mary Watts, and emigrated to Ohio and settled in Union County in 1812. In 1826, removed to Monroe Township, this county, and settled on the place where his son James now resides, and here resided till his death. September 8, 1826 ; his wife died September 6, 1842, aged sixty years. Their children were Harriet, who mar- ried Moses Fullington, both deceased ; Jane, married Benjamin Mann, is now a widow ; Sylvia, died single at seventeen years of age; William and James are both married and residents of this township. Mr. Guy, while young. learned the blacksmith trade, but after settling in Ohio gave his attention to farming. stock-raising and the dairy business. He made stock-raising a specialty. This made it necessary for him to put up a large amount of hay. As there were no mowing machines in that day, all the grass was cut with scythes. On a certain occasion, he and one Bidwell made a wager with his mowers. that they two could cut eight acres of grass in one day. The wager was accepted, the ground measured, and the parties were to commence the next morning at sunrise ; and before sunset the entire eight acres of grass were lying in the swath, a feat which was perhaps never before or since performed by any two men. But in addition to his great physical strength and power of endurance, he performed a conspicuous part of usefulness among the early settlers. He was one of the great cattle buyers of those days. There were then no means of getting cattle to market, except on foot ; he purchased large droves of three and four year old cattle, annually, which were driven to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and other eastern markets, fording creeks, swimming rivers and climbing the Alleghany Mountains with his drove of bullocks. It was not unfrequently the case that they became frightened, the formost ones turning back upon the others until the whole drove was on a terrible stampede, breaking down everything before them and no human power could stop them, the drovers making their escape the best way they could to save themselves from being trampled to death. Mr. Guy was a very active, energetic and prosperous business man, a kind neighbor and a worthy citizen.

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The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 81

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