USA > Ohio > Madison County > The history of Madison County, Ohio > Part 88
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812
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.
George Prugh was born in Maryland, but of German descent, and mar- ried Margaret Markle, a native of Maryland, and in 1812 emigrated to Ohio and settled in what was then Deer Creek Township (now Somerford), about one mile north of the village of Somerford, where they remained till their death. He died in 1841, and she in 1864. He was a very excellent citi- zen, and held the offices of Trustce, Treasurer and Justice of the Peace. Two of his sons, Samuel and G. W. Prugh, now quite advanced in years, are still residents of the township, and are most honored an ! respected cit- izens. The former was born in Maryland in 1811, and the latter in this township in 1816. William Pepper a native of Maryland, settled here on land now owned by Charles Mitchell about 1810-12, as we find by the town- ship records. He was a Supervisor in 1812. John Summers, from Vir ginia, settled here about 1813; was a blacksmith by trade, and perhaps the first settled in this township.
Shedrick Preston, from Greenbrier County, Va., settled on the tract of land purchased by John Arbuckle about 1812 or 1813, as in 1814 he served as Township Trustee. Subsequently he removed to the Big Sandy, since which nothing has been known of him. Abner S. Williard was a native of Vermont, born in 1791. He emigrated first to Canada, thence to New York, and in 1812 came to Champaign County, Ohio, and in 1815 removed to Madison County, where he lived till his death. He married Hulda Col- ver, who was born on the banks of Lake Champaign, in New York, in 1796. They were married in Madison County in 1817. He died December 16, 1872. She died June 3, 1861. He was a man of undoubted character. and esteemed and respected by all who knew him. David Colver, a native of Vermont, settled on land now owned by Reason Louck abont 1815-16. In early life he was a sailor, and followed the sea. After settling here he re- mained till his death. He was an active, industrious man, a good neigh- bor, and a firm Universalist in religious belief. He raised a large family, who are now all deceased.
John Barrett, a native of Maryland, was a brother-in-law of John Ar- buckle, they having married sisters; came to Ohio soon after Mr. Arbuckle came, and settled on the same tract of land, and lived here till his death. dying with that prevalent yet much-dreaded disease, milk-sickness. He had six children, but all have moved away and sought other homes. Jacob Steele settled where Rev. Overturf now lives about 1815. Thomas Taylor came from Chillicothe, Ohio, and settled on Deer Creek, near the grist-mill, about 1815, where he lived about five years; thence he settled on the place now owned by Thomas Woosley, on the old Columbus & Springfield stage road, and there kept a tavern in an early day. He made good improve- ments; was an excellent and intelligent man, and a good citizen. He raised a family of six children, who all became honored and worthy members of society. Late in life, he moved to the village of Somerford, where he died at the age of about eighty years.
Valentine Wilson, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1786, with his fa- ther's family emigrated, in 1790, to Clark County, Ky., where he remained a citizen twelve years, and, in the year 1802, emigrated to Ohio and settled on the head-waters of Beaver Creek, in Bath Township, county of Greene. In 1816, Mr. Wilson removed to Madison County and settled on the head- waters of Deer Creek, on land still owned by Mrs. Wilson, his widow. He was married three times, and was the father of nineteen children. He was first married in 1806, to Eleanor Judy, by whom he bad six children. She died on the 5th of September, 1818. In 1819, he married Mrs. Susanna
813
SOMERFORD TOWNSHIP.
Umble, who became the mother of four children. She died August 18, 1825. On June 18, 1827, he married for his third wife Miss Nancy Rob- erts, who became the mother of nine children. Of these nineteen children, all but one grew to maturity: and of the eighteen who arrived at maturity, all but one became heads of families. Mr. Wilson died July 2, 1855, on the farm where he first located in 1816. From a small beginning on 160 acres, bought of the man who had but recently entered it, with Congress serip, in the thirty nine years of his after life he had accumulated nearly ten thousand acres of land, and died the wealthiest man in Madison County. It is believed he erected the first brick-yard ever in Madison County. John J. Roberts settled here about 1817. He was the successor of Gabriel Mar- kle to the grist-mill on Deer Creek. He remained in this township till his death. Sutton Potee, a native of Baltimore, Md., emigrated, with his wife and three children, in the fall of 1817, to Ohio, and settled on the farm now owned by his son Gabriel, near the National road, on Deer Creek, Somer- ford Township, and here opened out right in the woods. He rented three or four years, then bought the place, and remained here till his death. He married Hannah Markle, by whom he had six children. All grew to maturity, four now living. Mr. Potee was a very active, stirring man, and devoted his whole business life to farming. He was cautious in all busi- ness transactions, of firm and undoubted character, and a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which he united when a young man.
William and Charles Soward, two brothers, settled on the James D. Statler land about 1817. The latter subsequently removed to Logan Coun- ty. The former remained in this township through life. They were men of character and good business ability. William started in life poor, but became quite wealthy. Amos Howard was born on Goose Island, in the Connecticut River. Grafton County, N. H., April 9, 1775. He married Mi- ran Mills, born March 18. 1774; were married March 22, 1796. In 1808. removed to Virginia; in 1809, came down the Ohio River in a flat-boat and set- tled on the site where he died. Amos Howard became a settler of the northwest part of Somerford Township about 1817-18, and lived and died there. He was burned to death about 1843. He came here a poor man, but, by in- dustry and economy. and close application to his business. he accumulated a good competency. He had two daughters and one son. The daughters never married. but died single, and the son, Amos J., and his children, be- came possessed of all the property. Amos J. settled on the home place, and lived there through life. He died April 16, 1882. The Howard fam- ily have ever been known as most worthy and respected citizens. John Cory settled in the northi part of the township about ISIS, and served as a Justice of the Peace. Eli Williams, a native of Virginia, settled on the D. Ward place about 1818-20.
Thomas Orpet. a native of Maryland, married a sister of George Prugh, and settled on Deer Creek. on land now owned by William Arbuckle, about 1818-19. Subsequently he bought seven acres near Mr. Gabriel Potee, where he died about 1861. He was of German descent, uneducated, and would never educate his children, believing it dangerous and injurious to become educated. Erastus Hathaway, a native of New York, and a ship carpenter by trade, settled with his family on land now owned by Hiram Richmond, about 1818-20, and lived and died here. He purchased his land of John Caperton, a native of Virginia, who settled here about 1814, but who, about 1832, returned to his native State. Mr. Hathaway was a man
814
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.
of character and ability, and served as Trustee and a Justice of the Peace. James and Dwyer Brown, two brothers, were natives of New York, but be- came residents of Somerford Township about 1818-20. James was born June 21. 1795. He first emigrated to Canada, and thence to Ohio. His wife. Mary Ann, was born in Virginia in 1803. They were married in Madison County. He died March 13, 1875. Dwyer Brown married a Miss McMullen, and subsequently moved West. Mr. James Brown was an ex- cellent neighbor and citizen, a useful member of society, and was intrusted with many of the offices of the township. He raised a large family of chil- dren, who became useful members of society, and whose characters are above reproach.
Ansel Bates came to this township and settled just north of Tradersville, on land now owned by Thomas Bales, about 1818. He finally died in Champaign County. Of his children, we mention Asa, Ansel. Elijah, Will- iam. Sylvanus and Zenas. The last two mentioned were twins. These sons for several years were quite prominent and well known in the affairs of the township, but finally they all emigrated to the West. William Scott settled near the Charles Rigdon place about. 1820. He married Betsey Rigdon. Subsequently, he moved to Pekin, Ill., where he died. They were a good family and esteemed citizens. Charles Rigdon came here from Champaign County and settled about the same time-1820-21. Richard Baldwin, it is believed, came here from Chillicothe and settled on the Rig- don place, in Surveys 9,285 and 10,626, about 1820, where he resided till about 1837 He moved to Mechanicsburg, where he resided till death. He was one of this township's best citizens, and served as a Justice of the Peace several years. Samuel Houston was a native of Pennsylvania, and settled here about 1820. He married Elizabeth Arbuckle, by whom he had two children, deceased. He was an intelligent and well-educated man. He taught school, and was Township Clerk, and resided here till his death. Michael Statler, a native of Virginia, settled where his son now lives, on the Urbana road, about 1824, where he died about 1842. His wife sur- vived him about thirty years. Mr. Statler was killed while cutting down a tree upon which another had lodged, which fell on him.
Luther Newcom, a Yankee, settled here about 1820, and was among the first teachers. William Harber. a native of Virginia, and the only surviv- ing one of his father's family-who were all killed by the Indians when he was but a child, he having escaped by secreting himself in the tall grass- grew to manhood, married, and settled in the north part of this township about 1825. He raised a large family of children, but who, in after years. all moved away, since which nothing is known of them. Samuel Wilson came here from Paint Township, and settled in the west part of this town- ship, in Survey 6.078, about 1825, but remained here only five years, when he removed to Illinois, where he died about 1872. He was a very moral and worthy citizen, and, while residing in Illinois, he became a devoted member and worker in the Methodist Church. William Kirkley settled in the north portion of the township, on land owned by Thomas Bales, about 1825-30. He died on the farm now owned by D. Ward. He married Mary Cowan, who was an excellent Christian woman. Peter Smith, a native of Clark County, Ohio, settled here abont 1825. Subsequently he became quite noted as a school-teacher and as a literary man. He removed to Illinois about 1842, where, in ISSO, he was killed by being run over by a train of cars. Samuel and John H. Kennedy, natives of Virginia, settled here quite early, probably about 1815-20. The latter became a prominent and useful
R.elle. Johnson
817
SOMERFORD TOWNSHIP.
citizen; was a Justice of the Peace forty years; also Probate Judge from 1864 to 1876.
Jonathan Markle, a brother of Gabriel Markle, it is supposed, came here and settled at the same time of his brother, and lived and died near where his son Philip now lives. Ezra Markle, of same family, was also an early settler, and they were all worthy citizens, and among the true pioneers of this township. A few others who were here prior to 1830, we mention the following: John Nagley, Asa Owens, George Vance, Bennett Warren, Benjamin Hull, Levi Umble, Jobn Osborn, John Groves, Henry Groves, Noah Marsh, Newman Mitchell, Joseph Geer, James Geer and John Osborn.
Still later, from 1830 to 1840. we find the following settlers, who have been quite prominently connected with the growth and prosperity of the township: Gardner Lewis and his son, Schuyler, who were natives of New York, but settled here in 1836. He died in 1862. Mr. Schuyler Lewis is now one of the prominent and large land owners and stock-dealers of Mad- ison County, and a good neighbor and respected citizen. Rev. Eli Adams. a native of Maryland. settled in the extreme west part of this township. where he died in 1870; was a most excellent man and minister of the Gos- pel. A. J. Clingan, a native of Maryland, settled in Somerford in 1839, and has now resided here forty-three years; is a tailor by trade, which bus- iness he has followed many years. He has at different times had intrusted to his care all the important offices of the township, and is now a Justice of the Peace. John M. Houston, a native of Kentucky, emigrated to Clark County, Ohio, in 1814, where he married Maria E. Cartmell, a native of Clark County. They settled in this township in 1837; removed to London in January, 1877, where he died January 29. 1879. He served as a Justice of the Peace and as a Trustee of the township for several years. He was an active member of the Methodist Church, and a Steward in the same for many years.
Although the above may be an imperfect list of the pioneers or first settlers of Somerford Township. and some of the dates of their settlement may not be exact, yet we feel that. at this distant day, with the limited sources at hand, the above is so complete as to give to the rising genera- tions quite a comprehensive view in retrospect of the noble men and women who entered this then unbroken wilderness, braving all dangers of Indians and wild beasts, and the miasmas and malaria with which the atmosphere was then filled; baring the brawny arm to give the stroke of the ax to fell the mighty "kings of the forest;" living in the rude log structures called houses, with but little to wear and but little to eat. and that of the roughest kind, and enduring trials and deprivations innumerable -and all this for what? That their descendants might see. possess and enjoy the beautiful homes and fine farms of the present day. with their attendant comforts. And yet how comparatively few of the present generation have a true ap- preciation of the toils and labors of those devoted ancestors! And hoy many there are who take an interest in recording upon the pages of history their names and noble works. to commemorate them and save them from an irretrievable oblivion.
ELECTIONS AND TOWNSHIP OFFICIALS.
It appears that all records of elections of this township from its organ ization in 1839 up to 1858 are either lost or destroyed. From 1858 to 1875, we find the following officials duly elected:
Trustees-1858. James W. D. Statler. Alexander West and John B.
818
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.
Lauck: 1859, wanting; 1860. A. J. Kennedy, Alexander West and Wash- ington Wilson; 1861, Alexander West. Washington Wilson and John H. Markle; 1862. Washington Wilson, Henry M. Comfort and John H. Mar- kle: 1863, A. H. Lewis, A. J. Howard and Henry M. Comfort; 1864, Wash- ington Wilson, William Allen and John M. Houston; 1865, Washington Wilson, John M. Houston and Gabriel Prugh: 1866, missing; 1867, Isaac Fox, John B. Lauck and G. M. Potee; 1868, W. Wilson, John B. Lauck and S. Kennedy; 1870. J. M. Williard, M. V. Fox and S. H. Markle; 1873, J. B. Lauck, J. M. Markle and George Prugh; 1874, George Prugh, G. Bales and J. W. Cartzdafner; 1882. William Soward, J. Potee and T. F. Lauck.
Assessors-1858, John H Kennedy; 1859, A. H. Lewis; 1860, J. M. Kirkley; 1861, Laban Guthrie; 1862, J. M. Kirkley; 1863, A. J. Kennedy ; 1864, Laban J. Guthrie; 1865, N. M. Lauck; 1866. S. F. Saunders; 1867, T. J. Guthrie; 1868, V. H. Prugh; 1870, Laban J. Guthrie; 1871, James Arbuckle; 1874, James Williard; 1875, Laban J. Guthrie; 1882, Harris P. Markle.
Treasurers-1858, A. H. Lewis; 1859, Clinton Taylor; 1860, George W. Prugh; 1863, J. V. Melvin; 1864, George W. Prugh; 1866. Washing- ton Prugh: 1868, George W. Prugh; 1870. V. H. Prugh; and 1882, pres- ent incumbent, William Clingan.
Clerks-1858, A. S. Clingan; 1859, Elijah Hull; 1863, J. W. D. Statler: 1864, A. J. Clingan; 1870, James Arbuckle; 1872, Etherial Wil- son; and 1882, D. W. Coberly, present incumbent.
Justices of the Peace-1859, Alexander West; 1860, E. Hull; 1861, A. J. Kennedy; 1864, Hamilton Wilson; 1867, A. J. Clingan; 1870, A. J. Clingan; 1871, Isaac Fox; 1873. William Soward; and 1882, A. J. Cling- an. the present official.
Constables-James H. Palmer and Eli Williams, 1858; James H. Pal- mer and Argus W. Kirkley, 1859: A. W. Kirkley and J. D. Henderson, 1860; James H. Guthrie and J. D. Hendeson, 1862; J. W. Geer and John West, 1863; John West and Sutton Potee, 1864; James H. Guthrie and A. J. Clingan, 1865; A. J. Clingan and Charles Yardly, 1866; Charles Yardly and F. M. Candler, 1867; Charles Yardly and John D. Henderson, 1868; George McCorkle and Jasper Candler, 1870; John Bigelow and David Lamplin. 1871; JJasper Candler and John Bigelow, 1872; James Dillow and John Bigelow. 1873; Andrew J. Clingan, 1875; and the present in- cumbent, George Barber and John Neer, for 1882.
SCHOOLS.
The early settlers of Somerford Township to a great extent were from Virginia and Kentucky, having been raised in those States, where slavery was a legal institution, and where there was no free school system and no encouragement or support given by their governments to the work of edu- cation; hence the masses of the people were generally uneducated, and among this class of honest, yet illiterate people were many who were dis. satisfied with the institution of slavery and its incubus of ignorance, and were anxious to free their children and their posterity of their baneful effect. They learned of the rich and fertile soil of Ohio and its freedom from slav- ery, and a flood of emigration set in, and these then Western wilds were rap- idly peopled by these sturdy yeomanry, and Madison County and Somerford Township were the recipients of a goodly number of them. Here was the untutored savage, and the primitive wildness of all his surroundings, and
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SOMERFORD TOWNSHIP.
the white settler here stood as " master of the field." He felt the responsi- bility that rested upon him in the work before him, of preparing homes and creating political institutions, whose benign influences should bless his pos- terity for ages to come; and he fully realized his lack of education to fill intelligently the various political offices of this new yet rapidly growing country. Hence we find them early taking steps for the education of their children. There were no schoolhouses, and the first settlers were generally poor. and it was about as much as they could do at first to keep " body and soul together." But as soon as was possible, a few neighbors would unite in their efforts, by each subscribing a certain amount toward hiring a teacher to hold school in one of their houses, a rude log cabin, where he would re- ceive the children of said subscribers, and from the most primitive books teach them the first rudiments of an education. These first teachers were usually paid from $8 to $12 per month, and " boarded around." For many years schools were supported entirely by subscription, till finally the peo- ple saw a necessity of a public and general provision for educating the masses. As by the first process of supporting schools by subscription, many were too poor to contribute, and others were too ignorant or penu- rious. and hence the children of such were deprived of all advantages of schooling. So, through the legislative power of the State, laws were enact- ed. and. from time to time, provisions made, until the present free school system of Ohio has been reached, and now no child is debarred from the privilege of attending school from six to twenty-one years of age.
It is believed that the first school ever held in what is now Somerford Township was in the Arbuckle neighborhood. The first house erected for school purposes was about 1818, when a round-log house was built on the place now owned by C. Arbuckle. This was of the most primitivo kind, with greased paper for windows. This house was succeeded by several others, each a little better constructed than its predecessor, till abont 1850 a neat and comfortable frame house was erected near where the present house stands. This frame house was occupied till about 1872 when the present brick house was erected. This is known as District No. 3. It now enumer- ates thirty-six scholars. Present Board of Directors: Martin Gowens, M. Goodyear and -- Gardner. Another early established school was the one in Mr. Potee's neighborhood. The first session of school held here was about the year 1823, which was in an old round-log house, built by Mr. Umble for a dwelling. About 1825, a good hewed-log house was erected on the northwest corner of Valentine Wilson's farm, for school purposes, which remained in use for at least fifteen years, when it was burned down. Then another hewed-log house was erected on the same farm, which had been built for the purpose of a church, but was never used but little as such, and was appropriated for school purposes, and remained in use as such till 1859, when a frame house was erected on My. Potee's land. which was used till 1873, when the present neat brick house was erected. The present Board of Directors are James Prugh, William Tingly and Philip Markle.
The above schools in Districts No. 3 and 4 are an illustration of the beginning and progress of the schools of the township from its first settle. ment down to the present time. Now the township has six good school- houses-four brick and two frame. The schoolhouse at Somerford is a two- story brick, having one room above and one below. It was erected in 1872. This had been preceded by two frame houses, the last of which was built in 1870, and, in two years after. caught fire and burned down, and then the
820
HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.
above-mentioned brick house was erected. Present Board of Directors are Dr. E. G. Kieffer. M. V. Fanver and James Arbuckle.
This township can now compare favorably with any other in the county in the quality of her schoolhouses, and in the condition and progress of her schools. And what a contrast in the school privileges of to-day and those of seventy-five years ago! It would be useless to attempt to portray it; language is inadequate to express it, and the minds of the rising genera- tion can but imperfectly realize it. Then the child had to go miles through the woods, and over almost impassable mud roads; enter a rough log schoolhouse; sit upon a slab seat; warm before a fire-place which occu- pied all one end of the house, where were piled logs which it took two or three big boys to roll in; learn what little he could from the simple and primitive books of that day: all that was his privilege. just for a few days in the winter, when his father had nothing for him to do at home, or when the weather was so bad and inclement that it was impossible to work out of doors. And further, if in participating in the above the child's conduct or behavior did not come up to the standard which the teacher thought it ought to, he had the sure privilege of a thorough application of a good hickory switch, which were then very plentiful, and in the dextrous use of which the schoolmaster of that day was very proficient. The child of to- day has a fine brick schoolhouse near his father's fine residence, or but a short distance from it. over a solid gravel road, where he enters and en joys the finest of furniture, and the room heated by a good coal stove to any de- gree of comfort: has the best improved books, from which the lessons are explained and illustrated by charts, maps, globes and other apparatus to elucidate and make clear to the mind of each child the subject of the les- son. And not only this, but these privileges are extended to him from six to nine months every year. The rod is seldom used by the teacher of to- day. He studies the mind of his pupil. understands his nature, gains his confidence and controls him by love. Truly, the child of to-day, as com- pared with that of seventy-five years ago, lives in a golden age.
CHURCHES.
The political philosopher recognizes our schools and free school system as the bulwark of the nation, but the young mind, as well as the more ma- ture, must be molded and tempered by the Divine Instructor, in order that the great power given by the acquired intelligence obtained by our grand educational institutions may be rightly directed, so as to promote the great- est interests of our people and nation, to make them truly great and happy. And from the earliest dawn of our nation. created by the wisdom, courage and intellect of our forefathers. has been recognized the value and impera- tive necessity of churches. that their benign power and influence may go hand in hand with all intelligence and progress; being to the intellect as the governor to an engine, or the rudder to the vessel, to direct and con - trol. The pioneers of this township realized this fact, and they early pro- ceeded to organize churches.
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