Adams County, Ohio - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 10 of those read), 1880

Chapter with an unread heading (no. 10 of those read)

Wayne lies in the western tier of townships, with Liberty on the south, Winchester on the north and Brown county on the west. It was one of the original townships, formed by the Commissioners, when they re-arranged the several townships of the county at their session held December 2d, 1803. The elections were' ordered to be held at the house of Nathaniel Patton. It then embraced within its limits, a part of what is now Oliver township and the whole of Scott and Winchester. It was named in honor of General Wayne.

First Settlers

The first settler here was probably Samuel Wright, who came from Kentucky tn 1799, and located on Cherry Fork, half a mile west of North Liberty ; part of his farm is still owned by his descendants.

In 1S90, two families by the name of AIcNcil - John and Joseph - located a mile and a quarter south-east of the same village. Their farms are now owned by John AIcGovcney and John Whitney. About 1S02, Francis ArcClellan came and settled near the AIcNeils, and in 1804, Thomas Wasson located about a mil north-cast of the village, on t he farm how owned by his son. T C. Wasson, Esq. James Smith came in 1S02 or *03, and seiil* the place now owned by Nathan Plummer, one and half inii east of North Liberty. Robert Foster in 1802, settled the fa; now owned by his soil), Alexander Foster, two miles south-riM town. James Young located where Youngsvillc now stands. 1892. Among other early settlers, were William and James I i lev, John Alcln tire and James Caskey.

North Liberty

Which is the largest, was laid out by William AleVcy, March 28th, 1S48. Air. AIcaVcv was a radical abolitionist, a member of the "Liberty Party, " and loved the name liberty so well, that ho called his new town "North Liberty." This village stands on (lie north bank of Cherry Fork. Tho original survey was, fifteen lots, mi inhered from 1 to 15. commencing at tho crock and running north along the east side of the Winchester and West Union pike.

Tho first addition, was made October 2d, 1850. by Mr. Ale- Vcy, who laid off three more lots, extending the original plat northward. These lots were numbered 10, 17 and 18. A second addition of nine lots numbering 19 to 27, was made February 2d, 1853. Several parties united to make this addition, contributing the lots respectively attached to their names to-wit : A. I). Kirkpatrick. lots 1!) and 20; A. AL Gabby, 21 and 25: John Kenny, 22; Robert' Patterson's heirs. 23; Rev. James Arbullmot, 21; Mr-. Fry, 20, and Robert Quick, 27.

The third addition was liiftdo b\ . 1.08. ]i. Keighley, August I'llh, ilSi", who lnid oil' ten more lots on the north of tho second addition, numbered 2$ to 3i.

A fourth addition was laid out by William MeVey, August 19tli, 1872, of thirteen lots, which wore located on both sides of tho Youngsville road - four on tlm north and nine on the south side of that road - numbered 28 to 45, and from 50 to 55.

This village lies on the Winchester and West Union pike, about eight miles north-west of the latter place. It contains two dry goods stores, ono grocery store, two drug stores, one hotel, two wagon shops, two blacksmith shops, ono millinery store, three physicians, three churches; ono l . P., ono Methodist Episcopal, ono Baptist, (colored).

The first mill in Wayne township was built by Samuel Wright in 1799, on Cherry Fork, near the villago of North Libertv, where the present steam mill of Stewart McCormick stands. It was what they called a tub mill, which means a small affair. Mr. Wright afterwards sold it to Robert Thomas, who rebuilt, enlarged it, and attached a horse power to grind in dry weather, but subsequently put in a steam engine for that purpose. It passed through the hands of many parties, until 1877, Stewart McCormick became the proprietor, who did a successful business until his decease, December 11th, 1879. His death was caused by his clothing becoming entangled in arranging some of the belting while it was in operation. He was badiy mangled and died the same evening.

First Store

Col. Win. MeVey started the first store, probably, in the township. He commenced business at his residence on the north side of where the village of North Liberty now stands, fitting up a room in his dwelling for the purpose and opened out his store in 1S35. The elections were held at his house at that time, which, being before any town was laid out, made it the most public place in the township. Here he carried on the mercantile trade until 1845, when he removed his store to the south side of the creek, and occupied a house that now belongs to C. Helmey. After the removal, his son William took charge of the business and continued it until 1855, when he closed out and quit the trade. The son seems not to have been as successful as his father.

In the spring of 1848, A. D. Kirkpatrick commenced the mercantile trade in a house on the south side of the creek. In 1849 he removed to the north side, within the village, and continued business until the fall of 1855, when he sold out to J. N. Brown. This building has since been removed, and a new one built near where it stood, now occupied by the Kleinknecht Bro's.

The First Cemetery

The first cemetery used, was probably the one that now bebelongs to the U. P. church, on the south side of Cherry Fork, and the first interment made in it was a son of Wm. Davidson, killed by lightning in 1802. The second burial is believed to be Jas. Brown, who died in 1804.

First School House

The first school house ever built in AVayne township was a log cabin, on the farm of Mr. Baldridge, and Wm. Patton was 1 crimps the first teacher.

There arc at present nine sub-districts in the township, with good frame house in each of them, kept well painted and in good repair, where schools are kept seven months each year.

The enumeration of the. youth of school age in 1879, was : white males, 18G ; white females, 168; colored males, 12; colored females, 9. Total, 375. The colored children are taught by a colored teacher.

There is also an Academy cr High School in the village, but no one can be found tlmt ca : tell its history. As nearly as can be gathered it was organized as a joint stock company, a building erected in 1857 and competent teachers employed, who conducted the schools for some years, but from some cause the investment proved unprofitable to the ompanv, and it was sold about 1868, to Prof. Smith, who has since that time successfully conducted the institution, either in person or b, others under his management.

Early Settlers In Tiie Neighborhood Of Eckuan8V1Lle

1803, and temporarily stopped nee. where North Liberty now stands. He, however, soon bought a tract of land near where Eckmnnsville now is. This land is now owned by his son, Willis® Morrison. William and James McKittriek came about

1804. Their property is now owned by Thomas Aliisan. Daniel Marlatt settled in 1801 also. Hie son, Silas Marlatt, new own a the old homestead, one mile north of Eckmansvillt . In 1306, Wm. John sod Daniel John, settled. Samuel Alexander now owns the fhrm sf the former aud James Johns' heirs owu the latter property. John and James Ross also settled about tho snino time. Their property If now owned by It. M. Alexander. John Thompson and James AV fight came a few years later.

Eckman'Sville

In 1824, Wm. Eckman settled where this village now stands, lie was a blacksmith, built a shop and worked at his trade. In 1833, James Cros9 started a store in a house that is now owned by Robert Fulton's heirs. Amos Gulick bought out Foster in 1835 and continued the business in the same room9 until 1838, when he was succeeded by Mr. Eckman, who carried on the mercantile trado until 1854, when he sold to Daniel Baylcss, who occupied the house now used by Mrs. Matthews as a hotel.

On July 9th, 1850, Mr. Eckman laid out the village which bears his name. It is located on the Ripley pike, about two miles south-west of North Liberty. The town lies north-east and south-west, and was surveyed into 42 lots. John Morrison and perhaps one or two others, were joinod with Mr. Eckman as proprietors.

A building now owned by John L. Gibbony was for many years - 1840 to 1865 - occupied as a store. It was successively used by James Walker, Wm. Stewart, Robert Manning and Samuel Fitch. Since 1865 it has not been occupied as a store.

John Morrison commenced the mercantile business in the fall of 1837, and has continued it at the same stand ever since. In 1865, he associated his son, A. JJ. Morrison, with him in business, since which it is known under the name of John Morrison & Son. This is now one of the oldest mercantile establishments in the country, having been carried on by the same proprietor for fortythree years.

This village was never surveyed or regularly laid out, but the proprietor, David Young, sold lots of all sizes to suit the purchaser, until it has grown to be something of a village. There are now two dry goods stoics, one drug store, two blacksmith shops, one shoe maker shoo, one doctor, one hotel, and contains a population of 125.

There is a meeting house here that belongs to no religious organization, but is free to all religious denominations. It was built by non-professing Christians, who desired to have some place where their children could receive moral instruction.

The first store in the place wa$ started in 1840, by David Young. It was a small affair. James Young next started in the mercantile business in 1845. He was succeeded by W. and J. F. Young with a good establishment. This firm continued business until 1864, when they closed out.

Soil And Productions

Wayne is probably the best agricultural township in the county. Its surface is not as hilly and broken as most other portions of the county. The soil is mostly of a reasonable fertility, with well improved and neatly cultivated farms, that give it a pleasant appearance.

Tho principal stream of water is the Cherry Fork, that meanders through the township from west to cast, passing the village of North Liberty.

First Church At North Liberty

The Associate Reformed church, of Cherry Fork, near North Liberty, was the first religious organization formed in Wayne township. It was first constituted on Eagle creek in 1803, but as a considerable portion of the members lived near Cherry For k a congregation was formed there in 1805, and the Eagle creek church soon ceased to exist. Their first place of worship was a hewed log house, " chinked " with stone and " daubed " with lime and sand-mortar. It was thirty feet squaie and had neither fireplace or stove. Each family furnished the slabs for its own seat9. This building was used until 1833, when a new brick edifice 50x50, took its place. This new house had a four sided roof, twelve feet ceiling and costal, 200. The third aital present house was built in 1854. It is of brick and is 48x70, with twenty-two feet ceiling. Its total cost was $3,600.

The first pastor was Rev. David Risk, who preached a few years. In 1809, Rev. William Baldridge took charge. They promised Mr. Baldridge a salary of $165, for one-half his time;

* one-half of this sum was to be paid in "merchantable produce." A committee, of which Mr. Morrison was Chairman, appointed " to transact the congregational business, rated the price of produce paid into Mr. Baldridge," as follows :

Such facts as tho above show how our forefathers lived in tho early years of our country. Yet no doubt they lived as happily, perhaps more so, than their descendants do.

Mr. Baldridge preached for this church until his death, in December, 1830. After the death of Mr. Baldridge, there was a vacancy of about a year, when Rev. Robert Stewart took flic pastoral charge of the church and served it until his decease in 1852. Another vacancy of a j^nr ensued, when Rev. David MncDill took charge in June, 1853. Mr. MacDill remained with the congregation until 1876, when he removed west. After another vacancy of a year, Rev. Jno. S. Martin, the present pastor, was called to take charg?.

This was called the Associate Reform church until 1858, wh- n a union was effected with the "Associated church," since wh; U time it is known as the United Presbyterian church. It nov (1880) numbers 265 members.

Post Offices

There arc four churches: U. P. church of Cherry Fork ; one M. E. church, and one Presbyterian church at Eckinansville ; one M. E. church at North Liberty.