The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 102

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 102

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VILLAGES.

There are here quite a number of villages, which follow in their chronological dler: Phillipsburg, situated in the northeastern part of the township, has a pop- ution of 232. Ten lots were laid out by James Hanks. a surveyor, January 1836, for the proprietors, Philip Studybaker, John John, John Thomas and `miah Thomas, and it derived the name of Phillipsburg from Studybaker. I the year 1828, the Friends' meeting-house, before spoken of, was built here. In. Thomas was the first preacher. The denomination of Friends who here shiped are now of the events that "have been," the society having long s'ce disappeared. Peter Rhodebauch was a merchant in this vicinity in 1835. le post office was established in 1846, with Peter Smith as Postmaster. In 136, a schoolhouse was built, and in the same year the Rev. Elijah William- si, as an expounder of the doctrines taught by the Christian denomination, pached to the people in a cabinet-maker's shop. Four churches now grace t. village-Christian, United Brethren, Lutheran and Evangelical. The mer- elints of to-day are A. H. Baker and J. M. Beason. There is one saw-mill in the village. One of the two voting precincts of the township is at this point. Sith Arlington, situated near the center of the township on the National rid, was laid out November 19, 1838, by Slingsby L. Barnes, into sixteen lc, which were platted July 8, 1839. Edward Green opened the first store sin after the village was laid out. The United Brethren Church located here w; built in 1852, with Rev. Cosharine as the first regular preacher. The vil- le is now the center of a large area of tobacco culture, and in it are two beksmith and one wagon-maker's shop, and a saw-mill, built in 1841, now o rated by D. A. Baker. It was formerly one of the voting precincts of the tenship. The population is 149. Bachman, situated about one and one-half mes west of Arlington on the Dayton & Union Railroad, and on the Na- tintal road, was laid out by C. Bachman, the proprietor of the land, April 1, 182, the surveying being done on that date by W. G. George. It has a popu- labn of sixty-six. It has a store and warehouse, where is located the post office;

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

proprietors are the Hammel Brothers. One Dougherty is the "village smith The village of Dodson was laid out by B. H. Dodson, April 15, 1851, hen the name. It is fifteen miles northwest of Dayton, and at it is formed t junction of the D. & U. with the D. &. W. R. R. Its inhabitants numb seventy-seven. At this point, in 1874, the Catholics erected a church. T. people have the benefit of a post office, telegraph office, a warehouse and ge eral store kept by Messrs. Williamson & Albert.

Brookville, the principal village, located in the southern part of the tow ship, on the Dayton and Western road, was surveyed and platted by Jac Frees April 13, 1850, for Jacob Flory, the proprietor of fifteen lots. In 183 a dry goods store was kept on the site of the village, by Warren Estabroc for whom it was afterward named. Joseph Mikesell was an earlier mercha on the same site. Additions were made by one Root, and by Noah and Ben min Baker. The village is pleasantly situated on the west branch of W. Creek, and is about 250 feet higher than the city of Dayton. From this v lage diverge in almost every direction good and free turnpikes, which t township in general is well supplied with. The first funeral sermon preach where now is the village was under a forest tree, standing on the present s of the house of G. Stonebarger. In 1852, the Methodist Church was erecte and the house dedicated by Rev. A. B. Wambaugh. A little later, the Luth an Church was erected by the Presbyterian congregation, which is now lost sig of. Of the three warehouses now located here, one was built in the year 1852, Benjamin Baker. C. Burlin was the physician of 1853. The post office was tablished in 1855, with Moses Wagaman as Postmaster. The present incumbent L. S. Smith. This same year, the first regular hotel of the village was built, G. B. Adams. This became an independent school district in 1873, and the f lowing year the village was incorporated (September 9, 1874). James Smi was the first Mayor. James Stewart is now the Village Mayor. The scho house is a large two-story brick, with four apartments. The teachers a Samuel Minich, Laura Duckwall, Silas Fox and Minnie Smith. In 1879, t largest and most commodious church edifice was built by the United Brethro Rev. Mr. Miller was the first, and is still their Pastor. Revs. Mr. Grow a Michael Kaufman officiated respectively in the Lutheran and Methodist Church The physicians are Drs. J. C. Conner, A. Dove, C. Gish, William Mundhenk a Moses Pretzinger. The Village Justice is L. S. Smith, and J. Smith is t telegraph operator and ticket and freight agent. The Brookville hotel is ke by Charles Riley; the " Eureka " by Noah Baker; and the "Eagle" by J. Hidinger. Other business enterprises are as follows: A steam flouring-mi two saw-mills, a large carriage manufactory, owned and operated by H. Gagle; a wagon-maker shop, carried on by John Siebert; dry goods and groet establishments, carried on by Richard Riley, H. Albert and Samuel Barn two tin shops, by David Kinsie and Stephen Ellen; one saddler shop and c barber shop, two drug stores, kept by William Sanford and Moses Preizing and two houses where are kept agricultural implements. Jacob Overhalser a R. Roller are the blacksmiihs. The population now numbers 565. It is c of the voting precincts.

West Baltimore, lying partly in Preble and partly in Montgomery Cour being in the northwestern part of the township, was, surveyed by Jacob F're June 22, 1852. The proprietors of that part situated in Montgomery Coul were Peter Snyder, Isaac Schauff, Rinehard Bens., William S. Reed and Boy Fritchey & Co. In 1835, on the present site of the village, John Fritz st dry goods, and in 1839, a United Brethren Church was erected. The villa is on the line of a turnpike, running through it east and west, and at the no end of one running south.

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CLAY TOWNSHIP.

Wenger Lawn is a flag station on the Dayton & Union Railroad, one ile from Bachman. In 1876, a store and warehouse was opened by Solomon bod. The same year, a United Brethren Church was erected. Mr. Good is e Pastor. In 1853, the saw-mill now owned and operated by William Long is built by Daniel Lasure.

Clay is prominently a grass township. Figuratively speaking, grass is xing" here. The soil is well adapted to both foreign and native. The latter is jesent everywhere and, at times, takes the place of all others. It comes {rly in spring and lasts late in autumn, and is more nutritious than any her. It is best for flesh and milk. 'Tis said, " all flesh is grass." Clover ¿d timothy make the best hay, and the former is especially good for the recu- gration of the soil. About 85 per cent of the whole are plow lands, leaving (ly 15 per cent as wood and pasture land. This, in the opinion of the viter, is not right. At least 30 per cent of the whole should be left in pasture a woodland. The farmers are now understanding the importance of the I ation of crops, and of clover being one of them for manure purposes, in cisequence of which there is being brought about a marked improvement in t; agriculture of this region. Live stock is to a greater extent being in- csed in winter than in former years, which not only adds to their comfort but ieconomy to farmers. It is being understood that for every load of grain, hy, straw or tobacco taken off of a farm, a load of manure should be returned. Mnure put upon this land is like " bread cast upon the waters to be seen many drs hence," as there is no washing and an impervious sub-soil which pre- vits leaching.

As land is the basis of all human operations, either in the shape of lots, lads or farms, and as population increases, so will the value of lands and lots itrease; consequently there is an increased desire on the part of the people of tl township to own land. Every foot of it is available for agricultural and h ticultural purposes. There is no waste land in it. The soil was originally od, but now the fertility of it is being improved by ditching and tiling. zas once said, "Young man, go West." Lands here are as cheap, consider- in the locality and quality, and improvements, as they are anywhere else. By few people now move away to buy cheap lands. With two exceptions, tl roads are on section lines, and the farms square. The expense of fencing

s herefore at a minimum, costing about $92,160 to fence the township in f ty-acre lots, this being $4 to the acre, the interest on the gross amoun brag $5,529, or $3 to the individual of the rural part of the township. When tl stock law is fully enforced, as it will be in a few years (now 'tis only par- ti ly), then the cost of fencing will be less. For farm boundary fences, hedging s'ow being planted extensively.

Formerly, when the country was new, and the surface partially covered w1 timber, weeds and water, and agriculture in its infancy, malarious dis- ses were then quite prevalent. Forty years ago, when the writer of this, as a nysician, first became acquainted with the township, malarial disease was n'e or less common every year, and some years more or less of it in every "aily. But now, since it is mostly cleared and cleaned of brush and weeds, ut, ditched and fairly cultivated, it compares favorably with any other part the Miami Valley in this respect. Good housekeeping, as well as good urbandry, has done much to bring about this state of affairs. The social and mal condition of the people of this will compare well with those of any other to'nship in the county. No murder has ever been committed here, and there 18 ut little litigation. Indeed, the morals would be exceedingly good if it not for the intoxicating liquors sold.

According to the enumeration recently taken, the population of the town-

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

ship is 3,060, being 85 to the square mile, an increase of about 20 per ce during the last decade.

The village population is 1,130. This is a gain of 237 during the li decade, being a gain of 20 per cent also. In fifty years, at this rate of ga. the population of the township will be double what it is now, or 6,120. Tl of the villages will be 2,260.

The population of the rural district is 1,930, being a gain of 282, or per cent since 1870. Thus we see that it takes the rural population fourte decades or one hundred and forty years to double itself, while the villa population will be double in fifty years. This is unfortunate, as village 1 is more demoralizing than rural life. The idle and profligate drift into v lages. If these were industrious and economical, they would have no troul to find homes in the country.

There are thirty-six sections in the township and 23,040 acres of land. I ing seven and a half acres to each inhabitant; 18,626 arces of this is plow lar The balance, 4,414 acres, is woodland. Much of this is used for pasture, as it all inclosed.

There is a little less than twelve acres of land to each inhabitant outsi of the villages.

The population of Brookville, the principal village of the township, is 5f being a gain of 165 in the last decade. Of Phillipsburg it is 232, being a ga of 45 in the last ten years ; of South Arlington it is 149, being a gain 25 since 1870 ; of Dodson it is 77, being a gain of 30 in the last decade ; Bachman it is 66, being a loss of one in the last ten years. At this rate decline, this village will be " wiped out " of existence in 660 years ; of Weng Lawn, it is 41, a clear gain in the last ten years.

The lands of the township have just been appraised (for taxable purpos. at $55 per acre with the buildings, and at $50 per acre without them, maki in the aggregate $1,267,200 with buildings; without buildings; $1,152,00 The buildings are valued at $115,200. This makes $415 to each inhabita for land with buildings.

The total value of the real estate in the villages of the township is $13 330, being $116 to each inhabitant of villages.

Of personal property, there are in the township 667 horses, valued $37,610, averaging $56 to the head.

Of cattle, there are 1,134 head, valued at $15,434, being a little over $ per head.

There are 19 mules, valued at $910; 313 sheep, valued at $971; 2,417 ho valued at $5,684, and 467 carriages, valued at $17,908. There are also watches, valued at $792; 37 pianos and organs, valued at $1,165 ; the avera merchandise is valued at $1,650; values of money subject to draft, $8,41 credits after deducting bona fide debts, $90,052 ; dogs, 290, valued at $175.

Total value of all taxable personal property, including cereals and tobac $418,750.

The total value of all the property in the township, real and personal, $1.717,110, being $561 to each inhabitant.

Total amount of all taxes paid in the township for all purposes is, 1 1880, $20,974, being nearly $7 to each man, woman and child, and bei nearly 82 per cent of 1 per cent of the whole amount.

There are eleven distinct turnpike roads in the township, making in t aggregate thirty-five miles, and a little over three miles to the road. The roads are all " free pikes," no toll roads are in existence in the township. the rate at which "pikes" have been made, it will not be many years till ; the principal roads will be "piked." The average cost of these free pikes

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pout $1,500 per mile. Bridging is not expensive, as there are no streams of y size in the township. The ditches on either side furnish excellent drain- re to the adjacent lands. These turnpikes are paid for by bonds hypothecat- i on a tax placed upon adjacent lands, to be paid in installments. These ads add greatly to the comfort of living and to the value of the lands. 'Tis erefore, for the farmers, a judicious investment. Two of these pikes are on wnship lines.

In the township are nine variety stores where are kept dry goods, clothing, oceries and all kinds of ware; seven warehouses or grain depots located on e two railroads that cross the southwestern corner of the township, namely: e Dayton & Union and Dayton & Western, by which is afforded excellent fa- ities for shipping the various products and for travel. A great amount of neat, corn, oats, barley, tobacco and hogs are handled annually at these ware- l uses. Five saw-mills, a large carriage manufactory, wagon-maker's shop, «ht blacksmiths, a large flouring mill, tile factory, a store where agricultural i plements and machinery are kept, eight physicians and surgeons-one for ery 382 inhabitants. Unfortunately for the morals of the people, there are Eht saloons, and four hotels, and two drug stores, making fourteen places vere ardent spirits are dispensed-one for every 218 persons. The laws for ty protection of the people from the evils of drunkenness are not enforced, r ther will they be until it is made the duty of officers in authority to see that ty are enforced.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

MIAMI TOWNSHIP.

BY JACOB ZIMMER.

TN the latter part of the year 1795, a surveying corps under the charge of Da iel C. Cooper, located a road through the dense forest up the east bank the Miami, from Fort Hamilton to the mouth of Mad River, and early in 179 the territory now embraced in this township began to be settled, as in th year William Hole located on 150 acres of land in Section 25, east of t present town of Miamisburg. In the following winter his parents, Zachari and Phoebe (Clark) Hole, came from Virginia, accompanied by their fami and located on the same section as his son William. The children were follows: William, who married Ruth Crane; Daniel, who married Polly Beed Dr. John, a sketch of whom will be found in Washington Township; Zac ariah, who married Hannah Delay; Polly, who became the wife of David Y zell; Sarah, who married a Mr. Eaton; Betsy, who became the wife of Jo Craig and Phobe, who also married a man named Eaton. All were born Virginia. In the summer of 1799, a block-house was erected on a part of Zad ariah Hole's land, around which was thrown a stockade for protection agai: the Indians, and this became known as " Hole's Station." It was soon rec nized as a point of considerable importance, a kind of headquarters for all w. came to this region while prospecting for or locating land. The elder H and wife died and were buried in the vicinity of the station, while the young members of the family subsequently removed to other portions of the cour and State.

During the latter part of 1797, or early in 1798, Maj. George Ada! Anthony Chevalier, William Van Arsdale and James Drew settled in this to ship. Of the two latter little is known, only that Drew lived at Hole's Stati and Van Ausdall with his family lived southwest of the mouth of Ho Creek. Maj. Adams entered a large tract of land in the present vicinity Carrollton along the bank of the Miami River. He played a prominent p in the war of 1812 in defense of the frontier settlements, and bore the sc. of many battles. Previous to his settlement in this county, he had lived Butler County, from where he removed to Montgomery. Chevalier was a tive of France, one, of those intrepid bands of patriots who left their nat land under the leadership of the gallant Lafayette, to fight for American in pendence. He served throughout that struggle against English oppression, ; at its triumphant close settled in Virginia, where he married Rachel Scot, cousin of Gen. Winfield Scott; lived subsequently in Kentucky, and from th came to this county. He settled at Hole's Station, from whence, after a years' residence, he removed to Section 15, and is yet well-remembered many old citizens.

In the early part of the year 1800, Col. William Dodds and family set in Section 21, near where the town of Carrollton is now located. He w: native of Pennsylvania, who there married Isabella McGrew, and toward close of the eighteenth century came to Cincinnati, where he lived a few ye thence to this township ; with him came his wife and seven children, Joseph, who was killed in the war of 1812; William, John, James, Marga Polly and Catherine ; two were born subsequently, Thomas and Martha. the same time, his brother Joseph and family also located in this towns

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MIAMI TOWNSHIP.

Jol. Dodds and wife lived and died on the farm which they settled, leaving any descendants who honor their memory. He was a man of vigorous mind, ho did much toward the speedy settlement of this portion of the Miami alley. Another of the pioneers was Alexander Nutz, of Pennsylvania, who rith his family located on Section 36, one mile south of "Hole's Station," in 300, and who is well remembered by old men now living in the township, who ere small boys during the war of 1812, and who vividly recollect that Mr. utz had a good orchard as early as that struggle. In the fall of 1802, Will- um Lamme with his wife and five children came from Kentucky, and settled a Section 9, in the northeast corner of the township. He erected the first rist-mill in this locality, in a narrow gorge between the hills on Hole's Creek, hich site was long ago abandoned, and a more suitable place selected, where is eldest son, David, built and operated a mill. He was also a native of Ken- icky, and was about eighteen years old when his parents came to Montgomery county, and here on the 7th of August, 1804, he was married to Margaret odds, a daughter of Col. William Dodds, who is spoken of previously. She as born in Pennsylvania, and came to this county with her parents. Of this ion were born two sons and eight daughters, only two of whom are living, z., William J. and Katy E. David Lamme was a Justice of the Peace for any years, and in 1840 was elected to the Legislature ; he was one of the ommissioners under whom the court house at Dayton was built, and died ugust 22, 1855, his wife dying December 28, 1868. In 1802, John Craig id family came to this township, and erected a log cabin on the site of the resent residence of H. C. Hunt, on the Springboro road. The same year muel Boltin, a Dunkard preacher, settled in Section 35, on the west bank of e Miami River. He was born in Philadelphia in 1767, and there married lizabeth Brown of that city, and about 1795 removed to Kentucky, and two ars later to Clermont County, Ohio, thence in 1802 to this county. He ought with him his wife and five children, viz., William, Mary, Jane, Sarah id Henry; after coming to this county, four others were born as follows: ewart, Annie, Samuel and Phoebe. Mr. Boltin, besides preaching the Gospel, as one of the pioneer school teachers of this region of country, and died in $39, his wife surviving him a few years. Phoebe Makain, the widow of mes Makain, is the only one of his children now living, and Henry's three ns, Samuel, Cornelius and Henry, are the only members of the family me residing in Montgomery County.

During this year, or the year following, Alexander Scott and family, of entucky, settled northwest of the station, but subsequently sold out and oved to Indiana. In 1804, George V. Stettler, wife and five sons -- William, enry, Daniel, George and Jacob-natives of Berks County, Penn., located one le southwest of "Hole's Station," where George V. died April 23, 1915. s son, Daniel, was born in Berks County, Penn., in June, 1773, and about 10 was married to Catherine Gehres, also a native of the Keystone State, It who came to Butler County, Ohio, with her family in 1805. She was born i 1783, and had four children by her union with Mr. Stettler, only two, Philip i'd Hannah, now living. Daniel was in the war of 1812, and died in Miami wnship in June, 1853, his wife surviving him until November 27, 1863. It 's at the cabin of the Stettler's where one of the early churches was organ- id in 1806, which organization is yet, in existence ; during 1804 came Jacob d John Ungerer, who settled in Section 30; Andrew Small, who located a Ile east of the Ungerer's, and who was an old Revolutionary soldier, and c of the pioneer school teachers of the Miami Valley; and James Pettigrew William Long with their families, who settled southeast of the station; also bias Whetsel, his wife, Catherine, with five sons and two daughters, came

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

from North Carolina and settled in the vicinity of the Gebhart Church, when · they had born to them after coming, one son and two daughters; Mary ar Catherine are now the only survivors of this large family.

It was in the spring or summer of 1804, that John Shupert, wife and si children, Christopher, Frederick, Jacob, Eva, Peggy and Tena, came fro Berks County, Penn., locating about one mile southwest of " Hole's Station, where he and wife lived until death. Christopher was married and had or son, John, when the family located here, the latter of whom is now residin in the township. In the same colony from Berks County, Penn., came Pett Gebhart, wife and two children, John and Elizabeth, settling a short distance southwest of the station, where Peter died the same year. His son, Johr, no a very old man, is still a resident of Miami Township. Most of this colony fro Berks County settled in German Township, and the record of their settlemner will be found under that heading. Henry and Mary Strader, natives of Nort Carolina, also came in 1804. Their son, Samson P., was born in Guilfor County, N. C., in 1796; married Mary Benner in 1817, a native of Maryland born in 1796, and daughter of Jacob and Mary Benner, also early settle of this township. They had five children.

In the fall of 1804 came one of those men who have done so much towar building up the moral interests of this valley, and who have molded and cry tallized its religious sentiment. His name was John Jacob La Rose, a mini ter of the Reformed Church, and a native of Lehigh County, Penn., born i February, 1755. His parents were John L. and Anna K. La Rose, natives ( Germany, of French extraction, who came to America about 1740. Early life, young La Rose manifested a deep interest in religious matters, which de veloped with the passing years, and in the meantime he learned the tailor trade, which he followed for a livelihood. In September, 1776, he enlisted i the army of Washington, underwent the sufferings at Valley Forge, and pa.f ticipated in the memorable battle of Trenton, N. J., December 26 of tha year.

In 1777, his term of enlistment having expired, he went to North Carol na, finally settling in Guilford County, where about 1780 he married Mary I. Gift, to whom were born five sons and three daughters, viz., Philip J., Lou V., Jacob, Daniel, John, Barbara, Elizabeth and Catherine. Here William I Rose followed tailoring, farming and teaching school, and in 1795 was license to preach the gospel by an Ecclesiastical Body of the Presbyterian Church, then being no such body of the Reformed denomination nearer than Pennsylvani. He had, however, acted in the capacity of a preacher of the Word long prev ous to receiving his licentiate, and for seven or eight years subsequent preached for the Reformed Church in Guilford County. In September, 180- he started with his family, in a four-horse wagon, for Ohio, arriving at " Hole Station " November 4, of that year, and immediately entered 160 acres of lar about one mile south east of that point, upon which he erected a log cabin, ar began his life in the valley of the Miami. In the early part of 1805, he ri sumed his ministerial duties by preaching to the scattered pioneers, whereve and whenever he could gather a few to listen to the Word, and thus he passe several years preaching and teaching throughout this region of country. I 1812, he removed to Highland County, Ohio, where his wife died in 1813, ar the following year he returned to this township, and made his home with h son-in-law, Emanuel Gebhart, who then resided on the " old homestead," which Mr. La Rose had entered; he afterward lived with his children in Preb County, Ohio. On the 22d of May, 1820, he was examined and ordained by committee of ministers, appointed by the Synod of the Reformed Church f that purpose, and until 1826 was engaged on missionary work in Ohio, Ind

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The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 102

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