The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 84

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 84

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Roswell Beach, who purchased land in Darby Township, where Solomon Cary now lives. observing the prosperity of his brothers in the woolen mill, and the population round about Amity rapidly increasing; that there was a growing demand for greater and more extended facilities to meet the demands and wants of the people, in order to meet these requirements, he, with his two younger twin brothers, Obil and Oren, selected and purchased a site on Big Darby, below Amity, on what was known as the Stone farm, now owned by Francis Nugent. Here they built a dam and erected a building for a factory, purchasing the machinery of the older one of their brothers, also a new set of cards and other machinery necessary for an extensive operation in a new coun-

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try like this. In connection with this factory, Mr. Fulton, a son-in-law of Ros- well Beach, put in operation a pair of buhrs for grinding corn. It was expected by the proprietors of this enterprise that large profits would be realized as a recompense for their outlay and labor. But here was a striking illustration of how soon the smooth sea of life may be ruffled with her rolling billows, ready to dash in against the reefs and rocks of adversity. For a few years ony was this factory in operation.

Amity had greatly increased in population, and with each returning au- tumn the inhabitants of this little town suffered greatly from malarious dis- . eases. It was suggested that the stagnant water produced by the erection of the factory dam across the Darby was the existing cause of the sufferings of the inhabitants of Amity; consequently a petition was circulated and signed by many citizens of this place, asking the court to declare this property a public nuisance. Every effort was made by these petitioners to substantiate the claims set forth in said petition. This was the first case of the kind ever brought before our courts of justice. It was evidently a question of science, and the burden of proof rested upon scientific researches. There were three leading questions to be settled in the controversy. First, " What is malaria?" second, " Will stagnant water produce malaria? " and the third, " What are its effects on the human system?" After hearing all the testimony in the case, the court de- clared this property to be a public nuisance; consequently this obstruction across the Darby was torn out in the early part of the summer. The facts are that during the autumn of that year there was more suffering from sickness than in any previous year. The effect upon the proprietors of this factory. can well be imagined. But there were a few citizens interested in the financial welfare of these men, who gave them something to relieve their embarrassments. They however became disheartened and discouraged, sold their effects and re- moved to the West, where, by industry and frugality, they recovered from this financial shock. Roswell settled in Iowa; Obil and Oren settled in Kansas. In 1863, the latter died.

Dr. Charles MeCloud was born in Vermont February 2, 1808, and moved with his father. Charles McCloud, to Delaware County, Ohio, and soon after to Madison County, where his father, in 1814, purchased a farin one mile east of Chuckery and here they settled, and here young MeCloud, who was then only six years of age, was raised. Possessed of but an ordinary common school education, he studied medicine with Dr. Alpheus Bigelow. of Galena, Delaware County, Ohio. and on the completion of his studies located in Amity, Madison County, Ohio. The first year of his residence here his professional duties evidently were light, as he engaged to teach the village school one or more terms ; but in a few years his practice became very extensive, his patrons being scattered all through the Darby Plains, up Big Darby and on Sugar Run in Union County. and in the neighborhood of Dublin in Franklin County. In 1844, he was the Whig member of the Lower House of the Legislature of Ohio, and in 1850 a member of the convention to revise the Constitution of Ohio. In figure he was slight. never weighing probably over 150 pounds, and with a slight stoop in the shoulders. His complexion was dark. In manner he was grave almost to severity. This gravity was not assumed but natural to the man, and rarely left him even in the family circles. He was an inveterate reader, and in his younger days must have been a hard student in his profession, as he had a well worn library. Later in life. from ill health, he gave up his profession and entered upon merchandising, but still kept up his habit of study. At one time he took up the study of astronomy, and later, when past middle life, became an enthusiastic student of geology; so much so was he interested in the latter science, that he delivered several lectures upon it, illustrated by maps of his own drawing. A few years before his death. his reading took another direction,

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that of fiction and poetry. He read the works of Charles Dickens with great interest, and was not only a great reader of Shakespeare, but became a critical student of the great poet. He was a good debator and a writer of more than ordinary force. He was in no sense a politician. and what positions of honor he occupied were unsought; he was called to them and entered upon the discharge of his duties with clean hands. As a physician. he was cautious and conscien- tious: and in his diagnosis and prognosis of disease remarkably accurate, which secured to him the confidence of the people to a degree rarely equaled. Al- though doing a large practice. it appears he never accumulated but little means from his profession, as he was a poor collector and his charges astonishing low. Dr. McCloud, in all the relations of life, was honest, unright and pure ; his character was absolutely above reproach. He married Mary Jane Carpen- ter, by whom he has four children living-Sophronia, Rodney, Newton and Mary. The Doctor died of obstruction of the bowels in Plain City, April 1, 1861, aged fifty-three years.

William D. Wilson was the son of Valentine and Eleanor Wilson, and was born February 27, 1807, and was principally raised in Somerford Township, being but nine years of age when his father settled there on Deer Creek. Soon after arriving at his majority, he married Miss Nancy Moore, and purchased 200 acres of land on the Darby Plains in Canaan Township, at 80 cents per acre. This purchase amounted to $160, to meet which he borrowed the money, his Uncle Daniel being his bondsman. Much of his purchase was under water nearly half of the year, but it produced an abundance of grass during the sum- mer and fall. He was not an early settler of Canaan Township, having located here about 1829-30. Ile at once built a cabin. and very soon entered quite largely upon the stock business, as his land was better adapted to grazing at that day than to tillage, and from his future success it seems he was peculiarly adapted to dealing in stock. As a financier and a trader, he was a remarkable success. Shrewd and careful in all his transactions, economical and industrious, and carefully investing his gains in more land, he soon became the owner of a vast amount of the best of land upon the Darby Plains, counting his aeres by thousands and his dollars by thousands upon thousands. He died at his home- stead place March 25. 1873, aged sixty-six years. He was the father of eight children-Alexander, who married Martha Jane Millikin; Ellen, married Benja- min Morris, she died childless, December 3, 1857 ; James Monroe, married Achsa Burnham; La Fayette. married Sarah Temple ; William M., married Mary M. Slyh ; Sarah, married John Price ; Washington, married Miss Wilson, of Kentucky ; Taylor, married Eliza Daily, he died February 17. 1875.

A man by name of Martin, probably a native of Pennsylvania, settled on land now owned by Mrs. Huber, about 1812. He had the following children : George, Rachael, William. Benjamin, Susan and John. After several years residence here, they removed to Champaign County. Ohio. A Mr. Richey, of Irish descent, settled on land now owned by Losson Calhoun about 1810-12. He finally removed to Union County, Ohio, where he died. Ralph Knox set- tled on land now owned by the Wilsons about 1816-18. Joseph and Isaac Bidwell settled about the same date. Among other early settlers of whom we learned no important history were David Harris, Paul Alder, a brother of Jonathan, Christian Adams, Joseph Loyd, John Johnson, David Ellis. J. Phelps and Patrick Johnson.

James Millikin, the third child of James and Dorotha (McFarland) Milli- kin, he a native of Ireland, and she of Massachusetts, was born in Washing- ton County, Penn., July 12. 1782. Ile married Elizabeth Cook, and in 1830 with his family removed to Ohio, and settled in Canaan Township, Madison County. Col. Millikin, as he was familiarly known, purchased 700 acres of land where William M. Wilson now resides. in the year 1826. and in the fall of

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1827, he brought his two oldest sons, Samuel and Daniel, who were then sin- gle, to his land, furnishing them with team and farming utensils. But they re- fused to remain, and returned with their father to their old home; but Mr. Millikin was not discouraged ; he sold his old homestead and came with his family, and built a comfortable log house out of two old squatter cabins that were on the place, and fenced in a large pasture ; he bought more land, till in all he owned 2,200 acres ; finally, gave each of his nine children 200 acres, reserving 400 acres for himself. The first purchase cost 75 cents per acre, and the balance $1.25 and $1.75 per acre. Mr. Milliken was a practical surveyor, and surveyed and laid out the town of Jefferson and the addition to the town of Amity. He served in many of the offices of his township, and was one of the most prominent and reliable fariners of Canaan Township. Their children consisted of six sons and three daughters as follows : Samuel, married Sarah Sntzer; in 1856, they removed to Iowa ; Samuel died in 1877, leaving four children. Martha, the second child, married James Boyd, who died in 1831 ; his widow still resides here ; she had four children-Robert, living in London ; James and Daniel, in Plain City, and Mary, married Mr. Kilgore. Daniel, the third child, married Isabel Mullen, and in 1843 removed to Iowa, where he, his wife and two children died the same year. John, the fourth child, married Rachael Bane, had four children .- James B., Robert, John and Annie, who all reside in this county ; Mr. Milliken died in January, 1882, aged sev- enty-five years. Jacob. the fifth child, married Sarah Cary, is a retired farmer, resident of Canaan Township, a wealthy man, with all this world's goods that heart need desire, with but two children, William and Sarah. Elizabeth, the sixth child, married Henry Alder, a son of Jonathan Alder, she died in 1874. Annie, the seventh child, married Solomon Cary, who died in June, 1882, and she is now a widow and resides in Plain City. James, the eighth child, married Rachael Cary in 1840, removed to Jefferson in 1879, where he is engaged in the hardware trade ; they have six children. Andrew Milliken, the young- est child, married Sarah A. Armstrong, and now resides in Norwich Township, Franklin County, Ohio. He is in very prosperous circumstances, with his children all settled around him.

We have given above, most of the pioneers and carly settlers of that por- tion of Madison County known as Canaan Township. Some of them settled here several years before the erection of Madison County, and more than twen- ty years before this township was organized. On the records at London we find the following : "June 7, 1819. At a meeting of the Commissioners, present, Burton Blizzard, Ira Finch and Patrick McLene, on petition being pre- sented, ordered that the following bounds compose a new township, to be known and designated by the name of Phelps: Beginning at the northeast corner of Madison County, running south on the line between Franklin and Madison Counties five miles for a corner of Darby Township; and thence con- tinue south five miles further and corner for said new township ; thence west to the east line of the townships west, and corner ; thence north five miles and cor- ner for Darby, and the new township ; thence east between Darby and said new township to the place of beginning." En a very short time the name of Phelps was changed to Canaan. Since the above erection of the township, the forma- tion of Pike Township and Union County took place and a change in the boundary of Darby and of the line between Madison and Franklin Counties have brought Canaan Township to its present boundaries.

SURFACE, SOIL, ETC.

It is probable that there is no township in Madison County that presents a more beautiful aspect than Canaan Township. It has but one principal stream, the Big Darby, which enters the township from the north about one

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and a half miles west of its eastern boundary, courses southward till it reaches the Franklin County line, and continues its southerly course forming the bound- ary line between Franklin County and this township, till it reaches the south- ern limits of Canaan Township. In the north part of the township it receives a small tributary, known as Mammouth Run, which enters the northwest corner of the township, takes a general easterly course entirely through the township till it empties into the Big Darby. In the south part of the township it re- ceives Three-Mile Run, which takes its rise in the southwest part of the town- ship, courses almost directly east till it empties into Big Darby. There are a few very small creeks which empty into the Darby from the west, situated be- tween the two mentioned above, but they are small and insignificant, and many of them have no names. The surface along the Big Darby is somewhat un- even and broken, but almost the entire township west of the Big Darby is one extended plain, very level, and originally, as the settlers found it, consisted of oak openings and prairie, much of which was covered with water several months of the year.

In early days the superabundance of water was the principal hindrance to the successful settlement and profitable cultivation of the "Big Plains," as they were then known ; so extremely wet were they that it produced great sickness, and some of the settlers moved away, considering them as almost uninhabita- ble. And of those who remained, many a one found an early and premature grave. But time, and the prolonged struggle of the settlers in ditching, drain- ing and working out this surplus of water. has brought the greater portion of it into good grain-producing land, capable of being tilled and cultivated for all farming purposes ; and in a few years more, with the rapid improvements being made, this section will be some of the finest farming land that ever the sun shone upon. With a rich black loam from two to three feet deep, its product- iveness is almost inexhaustible, and the subsoil of clay and disintegrated lime- stone render it almost proof against an ordinary drought. Along the Darby and the creeks, where the surface is more uneven, the soil is more of a clay. vet very strong and productive. The timber consists of the same varieties as found in other townships. Through the plains, burr oak predominates, with some hickory and elm; along the ereeks some walnut. white, black and red oak. Maple, ash and hickory are the principal varieties. Much attention is given to the raising of stock and to the dairy business ; these, with the cultivation of wheat and corn, constitute the main productions and business of the inhabitants of this township.

TOWNS AND VILLAGES.

As there is but one town in this township, and as the business of merchan- dising commenced prior to the laying-out of the town, we will revert back to about 1826. At this time, the woolen factory of Uri Beach was in full opera- tion, creating a concentration of the people from a large extent of the sur- rounding country, and Dr. Lorenzo Beach having decided to give up the practice of his profession, concluded that there was need of a store in which should be kept a general assortment of goods to supply the people of that community. Consequently, at about the above date, he opened a store and commenced in the mercantile trade. Ile did a very successful business for several years, and here gained his first financial foothold among the early settlers as a good financier. With the extensive business of the factory and Dr. Beach's store, a httle village began to grow up around this business as a nucleus, and there was quite a demand for more houses.

In view of this demand. Uri and Dr. Lorenzo Beach purchased a tract of land of Dr. James Comstock, embracing that upon which the town of Amity now stands, and commenced to lay out a town. Abijah Cary surveyed and laid out one tier of lots on each side of the road (now the pike), in all thirty-three

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lots. The plat was made and the same recorded at London on April 11. 1831, under the name of New Canaan. In November, 1834, was recorded an ad- (lition to the town made by Dr. Lorenzo Beach and Luther Lane, the same being surveyed by James Millikin; and now we find the name of the town changed to. Amity, by which name it has since been known. In 1831, the first hotel was kept by William J. White, and the first blacksmith, P. Strickland. The post office was established about 1830, prior to the laying- out of the town, and was kept by Horatio Adams, on the Finch farm, and called New Canaan Post Office. The office was next kept by A. S. Stone, on the farm now owned by Henry Converse; then it was kept on the Nugent farm, and from there located in Amity, where it has since remained. In 1834 35, Luther Lane erected a distillery, which was in operation about four or five vears. About 1833, a Mr. Willey erected a comb factory, in which he employed several persons, and did a large business for four or five years.

Probably about 1832, Dr. Beach was succeeded in the mercantile trade by Rev. Henderson Crabb, father of JJudge O. P. Crabb, of London. In 1834, Dr Beach and Luther Lane purchased a stock of goods and opened a store in another part of the town. At this period Amity was one of the most flourish- ing towns in the northern part of Madison County. Here were two good stores, a flourishing woolen factory. a saw-mill, a distillery and a comb factory, besides a blacksmith and minor mechanical trades. Plain City then did very little business compared with Amity. But alas ! her days of prosperity were limited. As given elsewhere in the history of the Beach family and of the woolen factory, the factory dam was declared a nuisance, and was torn out and a quietus put upon all manufacturing interests in Amity. Subsequently the railroad was built through Plain City. and it received a great impetus to its growth and prosperity, and became the leading trading and business town of this section; since which, Amity has re- mained a quiet country village, doing a small but steady country trade; its mechanies, stores and post office being a convenience to the community Amity now contains a population of perhaps 100, and embracing the following business: One general store by David Martin; one grocery by William Thomp son; two blacksmiths and wagon-makers (John McGuigon and Augustus Fra- zell), and one physician, Dr. William II. Jewett. In addition to the above business, abont one and one-half miles below Amity is quite a flourishing general store kept by M. Worthington, who has a good brick building, situated on the corner, on the pike and the road leading to Fuller's mill.

SCHOOLS.

Among the early teachers was one Phelps, who figured here quite prominently prior to 1820. Somewhat later, Dr. MeCloud was a teacher at Amity. But as the subject and character of the primitive schools and school- houses have been fully treated upon in the general history of the county, and as the description of them there is equally a description of their character here, we will not repeat the matter in the history of Canaan Township. This town- ship is now divided into seven school districts with as many good schoolhouses. The present Board of Education are: Subdistrict No. I, C. M. Butt; No. 2. Lemuel Marshall; No. 3, M. Worthington, President; No. 4. John S. Wilson; No. 5. A. J. Greenbaum; No. 6, J. F. Kilbury; No. 7, Daniel Anderson, with G. E. Spring, Clerk.

Last enumeration: Subdistrict No. 1., males, 28; females, 30; total, 58. No. 2 .. males. 11; females, 6; total 17. No. 3, males. 23; females, 21; total, 44. No. 4, males, 20; females, 28; total, 48; No. 5. males. 9. females, 10; total, 19. No. 6, males, 9; females, 11; total, 20. No. 7. males, 21; females, 20; total, 41. Total males, 121; females, 126; total. 247. Total receipts: Bal-

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ance on hand September 1, 1SS1, $3,303.10; State tax, $333 .; irreducible school funds, $21.88; township tax for school and schoolhouse purposes, $1,682 .- 06; total, $5,340.04. Expenditures: Amount paid teachers, $1,908.90; inter- est and contingent funds, $1.050.01. Total, $2,958.91. Total value of school property, $8,000.

CHURCHES.

The first church organization in Canaan Township, and one of the earliest in Madison County, was the Big Darby Baptist Church. This was constituted in the year 1810, by Elder John Thomas, of Champaign County, Ohio, who was a traveling minister through this then almost unbroken wilderness .. He col- leeted together a little band of seven brothers and sisters, who first constituted the Big Darby Church, and Elder Thomas preached on the occasion. In 1812, the Mad River Baptist Association was organized at the house of Abijah Ward, on Buek Creek, near Springfield, where the following churches were represented: Kings Creek. Little Beaver, Nettle Creek, Antioch and Big Darby. Ministers present, Elders John Thomas, James Johnson and Lemuel Cottrel. There is no doubt but that Elder John Thomas was the first pastor of this church. The church at this time had no regular settled place of meeting; sometimes they would hold their meeting at the house of one of the brethren, and at other times when two or more ministers met together, they would hold a meeting in the barn of some brother. Brother Jehu Guthridge, an Elder of the Baptist denomination in that early day, was the second pastor of this church, and the successor of Elder John Thomas. In 1813, we find his name among the list of ministers added to the association, only one year after its organization. Elder Jehu Guthridge was succeeded by Elder Thomas Casto, who preached for the church as pastor or supply. In 1828-29, Elder Miller served the church as pastor, and was succeeded by Elder Hess, who served the church one year. Some time subsequent to this, the church was served by Elder Peters. During the early history of the church, among the ministers who frequently visited and ministered to them were the following brethren: Ellers William Sutton, Chand- ler Tuttle, T. J. Price and William Fuson. About 1834-35, Elder Isaac Jones was called to take the pastoral care of the church. He was a faithful minister and highly esteemed. He served the church until removed by death. In 1841, before the death of Elder Jones, Elder William Fuson visited this church and commeneed to labor with them in a protracted effort. The meeting continued for several weeks and fifty confessed faith in Christ and were added to the church.

After the death of brother Jones, Elder V. E. Bunker was called as a pastor of the church. He was from New Hampshire, a man much esteemed for his excellent qualities of heart. During his pastorate, a period of trial was passed over by the church. The new members became dissatisfied with the old declaration of faith, and what was known as the declaration of faith of the Baptists of New Hampshire was introduced and adopted by them, which caused dissatisfaction among the old members. The difficulty was finally adjusted by both parties agreeing to refer the matter to two brethren-Elders Enos French and T. J. Price-with a request that these brethren would pay them a visit and furnish them a declaration of faith in which they could unite. Brother French not being in good health did not visit the church, but he and Brother Price met and agreeing upon a declaration of faith, Brother Price visited the church in December, 1844, and induced the church to lay aside the two sets of articles upon which they could not agree, and adopt those he and Brother French had agreed to recommend. These were unanimously adopted by the church. Thus through the wise and prudent advise of these brethern, discord and division that threatened the life of the church were removed, and peace and harmony restored. Eller V. E. Bunker resigned the pastoral care of the church July,

Oramell Kennedy,

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The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 84

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