The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 101

Author: W.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1214

USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county > Part 101

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PYRMONT.

This is a town of about 300 in habitants, and is located in Sections 7 and in the northwest corner of the township. It was laid out by Daniel Mundher May 25, 1835, and named in honor of his native village in Germany. Ti first house was erected by Christopher Syler, a blacksmith, who had a she where Henry Taylor's residence now stands, and his house directly across th street from it. The first death in town was Job Hamilton, who was severe injured while shoeing a horse, and died from the effects. The first sto: opened was in 1835, by Joseph Mixwell. The post office was established abo: 1840, Jesse Harper, or Joshua Rankin, being first Postmaster. The first reli, ious sect organized in the town was a society of Methodists, numbering thi: teen members, who formed themselves into a congregation, and in 1836 bui themselves a church, which was rebuilt during the year 1872. The congreg. tion once was large and prosperous, and did a good work. The next, and on other society in the town, was the United Brethren. In 1847, they, twelve number, formed themselves into a church society, and, two years thereafte built a small and unimposing house of worship, in which they conducted the

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PERRY TOWNSHIP.

eetings until 1866, when the old church was razed, and a larger and more Immodious building erected, in which the people of this denomination now orship. They hold their meetings regularly, and continue to increase in umbers steadily. Many of the members of both of these churches are from nong the farmers of the surround ing country, and from them they derive a rge part of their support.

NEW LEBANON.

This is a town of about 200 inhabitants, lying on the southern line of the wnship, along the Dayton and Eaton Pike. It was platted June 3, 1843, by cob Grice, and an addition in Jackson Township the same day by John rouse. An addition. was also made by John Weaver in 1854. In the days stage coaches, this pike was one of the great thoroughfares of the country, id New Lebanon, being a station on it, was a place of no little importance. are the horses were changed, while the driver from his high seat looked pat- mizingly down on the bystanders and loungers, who looked up to him as a un of more than usual importance, as he saw all the outside world of which ty knew nothing, only as he condescended to tell them. He was the " lion " ( the day; nothing was too much trouble when he wanted it done. There vre also relays of horses kept here, which were used in what was called " the cbress," a line of messengers on horses, kept going at a breakneck rate of sped all day and all night. These messengers carried important mail matter ad small packages that were of importance.

That was in the days of no railroads. Things are changed now; the stage cch no longer comes lumbering up to the New Lebanon House, but in its sad, a wagon is run daily from Dayton to Eaton, not deigning to stop at this ciet wayside town, unless there is a passenger to get off. The first house lilt here was by Samuel Ludy, in 1838. It was a log house, in which he Ipt a store. The logs were hewed and work done by Aaron and Jacob Diehl. le post office was established in 1842. Lorenzo Vence was the first black- sith. He came in 1844. The town was incorporated in 1878, and N. S. Ice was elected Mayor. The present incumbent of the Mayoralty, and the o y other than Price, is O. F. Edwards. There has been a hotel here since 110, when there were but two or three houses here. The first landlord was a nn named Goode. John Andrew Gebhart is the present proprietor. He is a man Rose name should appear in the history of the township, as he is assuredly o, of its characters. He is a relic of coaching days, having been for a long t e a driver of one of those lumbering " land ships." and is in all a singular c. racter. With this town we close the history of a township now peopled by aindustrious and intelligent class of people, who owe all that they have to tl energy and enterprise of those who first started the wedge of civilization in tl Western country.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

CLAY TOWNSHIP.

BY CHRISTOPHER GISH, M. D.

TT having by petition been made to appear to the Commissioners of Mon gomery County that it was necessary to erect a new township by setting ( that part of Randolph which was in the original surveyed Township 6, Rang 4 east. June 8, 1825, it was ordered by them set off and declared to be a ne township, and to be known by the name of Clay. And at the same sessic notice was given to the electors of said township to meet at the house of Jol Rohrer July 4, and elect township officers. In position it is in the extren northwestern corner of the county, and bounded as follows: On the north } Darke and Miami Counties, on the east by Randolph Township, on the sou by Perry, and on the west by Preble County. The general level of the subd vision is about 1,000 feet above the level of the sea, and about 500 feet abo low water in the Ohio River at Cincinnati. The surface of the country slightly undulating, but no elevations that can properly be termed a hill appear Much of it was once lower than at present; the low places have been fillod with humas and the debris from rains and frosts washed in from the high points, until they have reached almost the level of the surrounding countr The land thus made is called "black land," and is best adapted for corn al tobacco. While this process of leveling has been going on, the creeks an " babbling brooks" have by their erosive and transporting effects produced u dulations. by which agencies the surface is being gradually removed, so th in time it will reach the level of the sea. The surface geology of this secti! indicates that the surface rocks are sedimentary, and mostly calcareous, an that they are new Silurian, and belong to that division called Niagara. The rocks, as sand and mud, were deposited as sediment in the bottom of a de Silurian Sea. The upheavals and depressions since that period have be many. Numerous and interesting fossils are found in this formation, such characterize it elsewhere. The fauna consist principally of radiates and mq lusks. Very fine specimens of trilobites, ammonites and crinoids of osthocer and pentamerous, together with many other crustacean mollusks, are four, During this deposit, however, no vertebrates yet existed. The fauna consist of a few seaweeds, which were of a very inferior organization. Land plat were then only beginning to be unfolded. No coniferous or arboraceous tre existed. The new Silurian rocks are superimposed upon the old Silurian, Cincinnati limestone, but are not exposed anywhere in the township. T thickness of the Niagara limestone in this township varies, owing to the i equalities of the horizon of the surface rock. Neither wells nor quarries I creeks have penetrated through it, yet from outcroppings elsewhere it thought to be from one hundred to two hundred feet. The limestone of t] township is mostly carbonate of lime, carbonate of magnesia and silica, a some other chemical ingredients which make it, when disintegrated by " weaf ering" and other causes, an excellent mineral manure, which is an inexhau ible source of wealth to the owners of the soil for all time to come, as a pi of the drift is limestone pebbles and sand. This, when exposed to the air plowing, becomes disintegrated so as to be made in a condition to be used plant food. At various times since the settling of this region, lime has be burned of these stones, but the business has never been carried on persistent

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CLAY TOWNSHIP.

t, however, because of its quality, for that is good, but simply because the mand was not great, and the owners of the quarries having large farms, and nsequently much work to do. These lime kilns are located in the east side the township. The stone quarried as yet is not the best for building pur- ses. The good building stone lie beneath the level of the quarries, and will time be reached. Along the eastern side of the township, the rocks lie near 'e surface, and in Section 14, on the Solomon Worman farm, crop out. In tis section are quite a number of fine springs, and on the farm above named is e that in former years was of sufficient size to furnish power for a saw-mill. Wells dug in Sections 24 and 26, and in adjoining ones, show that the rocks within a few feet of the surface. In digging wells in these sections for (linary purposes, the rocks have to be penetrated to get a sufficient quantity. The water of wells and springs is all " hard." In the center and western rt of the township, wells dug do not reach the rock. Upon the rocks lies the (ft which is the result of glacial ice erosion centuries ago. The drift is com- Ised of clay, sand, gravel and bowlders, both foreign and native, the former pedominating in numbers and size. The clay between the red clay and rocks iblue, from the prussiate of iron, and is sometimes known as " bowlder clay," f m its having more bowlders, but not so large as those in the clays next above

1 The writer has never seen a native bowlder in them, yet this does not dis- love their existence. This blue clay is the water-bearing clay, pockets exist- ig in it which are filled with sand, gravel, granite bowlders and water, and snetimes with the other contents of these reservoirs of water are found pieces of wood and arboraceous leaves. For the supply to be permanent and cool. i must be got out of these pockets, except that coming from the rocks. The ter obtained for house use in the south, west and north parts of the town -. s.p comes from this formation This clay is very compact and tough, and nstly impervious to water. When the pockets are penetrated, the waters on rise above them, and sometimes come to the surface. In Section 34, were the west fork of Wolf Creek runs on the blue clay, are numerous springs, wich, including several wells on the farm of the writer, a little above Brook- v'e, flow out at the top. Between the blue and red clays next above it, is an imer-glacial space which contains rolled and smooth limestone pebbles, sand a granite bowlders, parts of trunks of arboraceous and coniferous trees, to- gher with leaves and bark. The bowlders are round and smooth, and possess er evidences of movement. It is not known that the fossils of the large trical vertebrated animals are found in this space in this region; but it is sil that they have been elsewhere. In digging wells, more or less of the alve fossils are encountered. These accumulations are, therefore, morainal. There must have been two glacial epochs as indicated by the geology of this Enship. The red clay next above is made so by the admixture with it of car- brate of iron. Bowlders, large and small, native and foreign, are imbedded this. The natives are of Niagara limestone of all sizes, with sharp corners, w ch indicate that they have been shoved along, and not rolled as the granite oc Iders. These granite bowlders, together with much else that is of a mineral AJ earthy character that are imbedded in the clay, have been transported from

Ciada in glacial ice. The large surface bowlders scattered over the surface dobtless have been transported in icebergs from Greenland in the existence of deep post-glacial sea. There are a great many of these in the township, al of great size, which are being utilized in the construction of foundations, ceur walls, etc. In all parts of the township are found very fine specimens ofpe lithological work of the aborigines, both neolithic and lithic, the work- in ship of which surpasses our comprehension. Many of these were evidently

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

utilitarian, while others were ornamental. These pre-historic relics have n excited that attention that their importance demands as ethnological curiositi

The surface soil is superimposed upon the red clay, but, however, in plac it has an ash color. To obtain good water and in abundance one must, in di ging wells, always dig through the red clay. On account of the carbonate lime in this clay, the agriculturist should always plow a little deeper th formerly, which fact the farmers are beginning to understand. For ages come, this clay will be a source of wealth to the farmers. It makes good po tery ware, tiling and splendid brick, there being in it sufficient iron to gi them a rich, red color. In this township are several morainal gravel pits. ( the farm of Peter Razor, in Section 21, is an extensive deposit of this kin which has afforded considerable material for road making, but as it is deriv from the soft surface rock it is not very durable. The sand and pebbles this pit are limestone plainly stratified, showing that water as well as ice h something to do with its formation. Other inter-glacial deposits of this ki are found, but there is too little of it, and it is too easily changed by use a frosts into yellow clay to amount to much. The alluvial gravel is much bett but very little of it is found in this township, but exists in great quantit along Twin and Wolf Creeks. This region is drained by the three weste forks of Wolf Creek, which flow from about the center of the township in southeasterly direction, watering that locality; by the head waters of Be Creek in the south; by Twin Creek in the west, and in the north by the he waters of Ludlow Creek. This township, as is seen from the above, forms a ki of water-shed. The soil is as good as the average of the Miami Valley, a is composed of three kinds, namely, red, black and ash-colored. At the n settlement of the township, all kinds of timber peculiar to the Miami Val were found there-white, red and burr oak, white and yellow poplar, white a red beech, white and red elm, white and blue ash, white and sugar map rough and smooth bark hickory, black walnut, sycamore, wild cherry and m berry. Some years ago, the timber became diseased and died to an alarmny extent, this being mainly due to the vicissitudes of the climate, caused, in paj by the removal of a large portion of the timber, thereby exposing that si standing to the extreme changes of climate. The process of draining has l its influence, too, by withdrawing from the roots of the trees the accustom amount of water. Then, the depredations of the caterpillar were keenly fe As wil! be remembered, these insects, in the year 1873, made their apperar in our forests in almost countless numbers, and infested the trees for th consecutive years. These worms denuded the trees of leaves, which ultimat destroyed many of the finest trees, mostly of oak, hickory and elm. As leaves are to trees what the lungs are to animals, they can no more live with( them than can animals without lungs. From this larval condition, these c gusting worms rolled themselves up in a web of their own spinning on lea whose edges they drew together with the same thread. After remaining this chrysalis condition for a few days, they were then metamorphosed into white moth which lived for a brief period only. These worms or insects ca into this region from the North, and slowly disappeared, moving southwa being three years in passing a certain point. This is the only period in history of the township that our forests have been visited by them. As few healthy trees are now to be found, the woodman sho ld not forget the junction, " Woodman, spare that tree." Forest culture will soon have to resorted to if the supply is to be kept up. Permit us to proceed further this line and state that within a few years have made their appearance in t vicinity, the currant and gooseberry worm, which is likewise the larval con

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CLAY TOWNSHIP.

on of a white moth, and very destructive to the leaves of those bushes, thereby juring the fruit.

This portion of Montgomery County was not settled as early as other lo- lities, for it was not until the year 1804 that we have any evidence of arriv. g emigrants. This year from Virginia came Joseph Rohrer, with family, d settled a little to the northeast of the center of the township, entering nd in Section 14, which is considered the best in the township. The records wow that prior to 1810, Mr. Rohrer had entered 480 acres of land in Sections

and 14, namely: the southwest quarter of Section 13, and the southeast ¿'d northeast quarters of Section 14, and also the northwest quarter of Section , and that the land was in his possession that year. In 1805, from the same tate emigrated John Spitler, who in a few years married a daughter of Mr. hrer, and settled on Section 14, where both passed the remaining years of teir lives. A daughter of Mr. Rohrer rode from her native State on horse- Ick, when the family came out. About the year 1805, one of Pennsylvania's sas, in the person of Michael Baker, effected a settlement in Section 26, which ction he entered. In 1810, Nicholas Beesecker owned 100 acres of this lid located in the northwestern quarter of that section, and George Emert (med the sixty acres of that tract referred to. On this section there was an Jdian camp when Mr. Baker arrived. Here, on these lands, the parents sred life's joys and cares together until silvered had become their hair, and Tre claimed by death. From the same State came Jacob Michael, who, in 10, possessed 400 acres of land in the southern part of Section 25. This Id had been entered as early as the year 1805, by John Bowman, who had Etered, in addition to Section 25, forty acres in the southeast corner of Section

2 The latter, in 1810, was owned by Frederick Smith, and 250 acres in the

The Michael tract is now in rethern part of Section 25 by Daniel Razor. Issession of Jacob, Jr., who was born on it. A little later than 1805, the I thwest and southeast quarters of Section 34 was entered by Daniel Gripe, aPennsylvanian. In 1810, the former quarter section was owned by Daniel Iler. Mr. Gripe lived to a green old age, and before death settled a son and sı-in-law, the latter Joseph Mikesell, on parts of the original tract.

About the year 1805, Andrew Lasure entered and moved on the north- etern quarter of Section 33. During the same year, John Pippenger settled i Section 35, entering the northeast quarter of the same, but soon thereafter sd it to John Minich. Daniel Krider entered a portion of Section 24. He i migrated to this locality in 1808, and in a short time sold the land to John Iwonger and entered a tract in Section 36. This land he improved and led thereon until death, Daniel Krider, a son, is now occupying the old pmises. All the above entries were located on the three western branches of Olf Creek, in consequence of which the land was well drained and the springs, vich were numerous, every farm having one, were never failing; and, again, t se tracts were nearly all in the southeastern portion of the township. The cins of these sturdy old pioneers were generally erected close by the numer- 0, springs above mentioned. John Niswonger, prior to the year 1810, en- ted 320 acres in Section 23, as follows: The northwest and southeast quar- ts. The latter quarter section was owned in 1810 by Samuel Niswonger. wonger (John) also entered the northeast quarter of that same section, nking in all 480 acres entered by him. David Miller, 80 acres situated in t northern part of Section 30, which in 1810 was owned by Elijah Wood. Mler also entered 80 acres in the southern part of the same section, which in 1.0 was owned by Robert Wood. A Mr. Replogel entered quite a body of lad in Sections 27 and 34, which in 1816 was the property of Daniel Gripe. L vis Circle was the original proprietor of the southwest quarter of Section

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

23, and Daniel Razor of the northwest quarter of Section 13. Among oth pioneers were Abram Wambanch, Christian Somers, Charles Fiet, Camdo Riley and Jacob Horner, all settling in the southwestern part of the tow, ship. In the northern part a number of families by the name of Thomas, wl were connected with the Society of Friends or Quakers, settled early. Em grants kept coming in from various quarters, and settlements were mar throughout the suodivision. The Government land was all disposed of ar taken up prior to 1830.

Our pioneer fathers had much to contend with, and necessarily unde went great privations. They lived far away from the sources of suppl The market for what little they had to sell was distant and the roa thereto mere bridle paths and indicated by blazed trees only. The necessari of life were only obtained by hard labor, and such things as luxuries we unknown to them. Their wants were few and hard to supply. Their mutu dependencies made their social ties strong. They were neighborly and ve. social. Frequent were their visits to each other's cabins. They met often assist one another in the erection of cabins and stables, in log raisings and lo rollings. They were hospitable to new-comers-the "latch string" of tl cabin doors was ever out. In illness they were dependent upon their medic resources, which seem to have been efficacious, as their lives were characteriz by great longevity. Instead of being then cursed with too much profession medicine, as are the people of to-day, they by their arts assisted nature, wbi is now by too much medication often thwarted. Then each man was his ow physician and priest, and every one was a law to himself. There were Do v grants or vagabonds among them. They had no use for court houses or jai Religious sectarian dogmas and political dissensions did not disturb the! Far and near the people would go to visit the sick and dying. Everybor went to funerals in that day, and the sorrow manifested thereat was real al heartfelt. No particular etiquette was then observed. It was not so expe sive to die then as now. Now it is too expensive to live, and costs too much die. They were unostentatiously honest and charitable to a fault. Th wore what they earned. ate what they got, knew no such word as ha and envied no man's goods. The first settlers of this region have all paid th debt from which none are exempt. Of them it might be truthfully sai "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Many, too, of the first born the township have grown old in it and have been gathered to their father These pioneers have made themselves worthy of the township in which: th resided. They have made their mark. Their work is as "bread cast npon t. waters, to be seen many days hence." From a personal acquaintance al intercourse with many of these the writer can testify to their merits.

The first schoolhouse of which we have been able to get any knowled was one that stood in the northwest corner of the southwest quarter of Secti 13, on the present site of the cemetery there. It was built about the ye 1815, and was constructed of unhewn logs. Within, in the way of heath apparatus, was an improvised brick furnace or stove located in the cente Slabs were used as desks and for seats or benches. The first schoolmaster the house and the first teacher of the township was a German, by name Jol Holsmiller. Not long after the erection of this house, was built another Section 26 on the Michael Baker land, about one mile northeast of the prese village of Brookville. A few years later, another house was built near t center of Section 34. This was probably about the year 1820. All of the houses were built on the same plan, which did not differ from the usually ru log schoolhouse of pioneer times, full descriptions of which will be found els where in this work. In these schools were taught no German, nor geograph

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CLAY TOWNSHIP.

or geometry, but certainly good manners and morality were, and the youth structed beneath the old " clapboard roof " became splendid men and women, hose lives were characterized by honesty, industry and economy. Two sec- ons of land were reserved for the support of schools. These have been sold id the proceeds, with the local and State tax, are amply sufficient for the pro- sion of good schools, with which the township is well supplied, there being w nine substantial brick schoolhouses, three of which are two stories high, id in them are taught graded schools. Two of these, at Brookville and Phil- osburg, are independent as special districts. The furniture of these houses of the best. There are now in the township 1,000 youth of school age, ich is an average of 111 to each schoolhouse. For the year 1880, $6,458 re expended for school purposes, or $6.50 to each pupil; that, together with e interest of the money expended in the construction of the houses, makes it t less than $8.50 to each scholar per annum; the maximum wages of teachers $3.25, and the minimum $1.25 per day. The first "meeting house " built in 18 township was erected in the vicinity of the present village of Phillipsburg the Society of Friends; however, this was not until, comparatively speaking, ; ate day, in 1828. Prior to this, all denominations worshiped either in the peting-houses of the neighboring townships or in schoolhouses, each other's (bins or barns, and in the summer in the woods. Among the early families stling in the southern part of the township were quite a number of the Ger- un Baptist persuasion. There are located here now some thirteen churches, 1) greater number of which are situated in the villages. Thus is afforded a luse of worship for every 235 inhabitants of the subdivision.

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The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 101

Author: W.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1214

Author: W.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1214