Brown County, Ohio - Chapter 13: Jackson Township, 1883

Chapter 13: Jackson Township

THIS township was originally a part of Eagle Township, from which it was separated June 20, 1823, by the County Commissioners, who ordained that the line dividing Franklin from Washington Township be extended to the Adams County line, and that all that part of Eagle Township lying south of the line so extended shall constitute a new township, to be known as the township of Jackson. The land thus included contained 16,989 J acres, which now have an assessed value of $238,474, that being but about one-half of their real value. The population at the last enumeration (1880) was 966. The township in shape is nearly square, being about six miles long on either side. It is bounded on the north by Eagle Township, on the east by Adams County, on the south by Byrd and Jefferson Townships, on the west by Franklin Township. It is drained in the east, south and center by the West Fork of Eagle Creek and its tributaries, and in the northwest by a branch of Straight Creek and its tributaries. The land is so indented by the deep ravines, which mark the courses of these numerous streams, as to give it the appearance of being very hilly. The township lies in the Virginia Military District, and all the land was entered by holders of military warrants, who located tracts of fr m twenty to four thousand acres, the largest tract being 4,000 acres, surveyed for Thomas Fox by Arthur Fox, District Surveyor, February 22, 1792, and designated as Survey No. 700. The next survey in size was No. 1785, containing 2,666f acres, entered by Lewis Lansford, heir at law of William Larisford, deceased, and surveyed by Arthur Fox February 23, 1792.

The first election held in the township was at the house of Stephen Reynolds on the third Saturday (19th) of July, 1823. At this election the following first officers of the township were elected: Edward Francis, William Greathouse and John Wright, Trustees; Matthew Campbell, Clerk; Thomas Brady, Treasurer; James Crute, Constable; Adam Sellman and William Donaldson, Overseers of the Poor ; Henry Thomas and William Glendening, Fence Viewers.

On April 5, 1824, the officers elected were: WTilliam Greathouse, Ervin Cutter and Samuel Evans, Trustees; John Sellman, Clerk; Thomas Brady, Treasurer; James Wright and Samuel Pickerill, Overseers of the Poor; James Crute, Lister, and by appointment Constable; James Wright was appointed Trustee to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Ervin Cutter, in the latter part of May.

April 4, 1825 - James Wright, Matthew Campbell and John Wright, Trustees; William Tomb, Clerk; Thomas Brady, Treasurer; John Newten and Thomas Sergent, Constables; William Davidson and David McBride, Overseers of the Poor; Robert D. Tomb, Lister.

April 3, 1826 - Stephen Reynolds, Matthew Campbell and Thomas Brady, Trustees; William Tomb, Clerk; Thomas Brady, Treasurer; James Crute, Constable; Stephen Reynolds and Sylvanus Parker, Overseers of the Poor. Amos Evans was appointed Constable on April 15.

April 2, 1827 - Thomas Brady, Thomas Rickey and Matthew Campbell, Trustees; John W. Reynolds, Clerk; Thomas Brady, Treasurer; John Gregg and James Crute, Constables; Samuel Bennington, Overseer of the Poor. James Crute did not serve as Constable.

April 7, 1828 - William Greathouse. Kenneth Prine and Jacob Neal, Trustees; John W. Reynolds, Clerk; Thomas Brady, Treasurer; John Gregg, Constable; Samuel Evans and John Clark, Overseers of the Poor.

April 6, 1829 - Edward West, Robert Pollen and William Davidson, Trustees; William Tomb, Clerk; Edward Francis, Treasurer; Thomas Sergent, j Constable; Matthew Campbell and Jesse Morrow, Overseers of the Poor.

April 5, 1830 - Edward Francis, John Wright and William Davidson, Trustees; William Henderson, Clerk; Edward Francis, Treasurer; Thomas Sergent, Constable; John McKnight and John Wright, Overseers of the Poor. James Mehary was appointed Constable on December 25, to fill vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Thomas Sergent.

April 4, 1831 - Henry Sidwell, Kenneth Prine and Thomas Ricky, Trustees; David A. Henderson, Clerk; Edward Francis, Treasurer; James Crute, Constable; Henry Sidwell and Matthew Campbell, Overseers of the Poor.

April 2, 1832 - Samuel Pickerill, Joseph Shaw and James Wright, Trustees; Samuel Bartholomew, Clerk; Edward Francis, Treasurer; James Crute, Constable; William Davidson and Robert Patton, Overseers of the Poor.

April 1, 1839 - William McColgen, William Greathouse and John Parker, Trustees; John Anderson, Clerk; Edward Francis, Treasurer; William Lane, Constable. William Lane resigned, and William Burns was appointed; he resigned, and John Sedwill was appointed; he resigned, and William Ball was appointed.

April 6, 1840 - John Cox, James Wright and and^John Francis, Trustees; William Cox, Clerk; Edward Francis, Treasurer; John McGregor, Constable. '

April 4, 1842 - David Kendall, John Parker and William McColgen, Trustees; Robert McKnight, Clerk; Edward West, Treasurer ; John McGregor and Stephen Parker. Constables; Edward Francis, Assessor.

April 6, 1846 - John Brady, Aaron Purdom and Jesse Kendall, Trustee; F. Inskeep, Clerk; Robert Moore, Treasurer; R. W. McKee, Assessor; McCord Brady, Constable. McCord Brady refused to serve, and Ellis Sidwell was" appointed Constable. He in turn resigned, and Thomas Sergent was appointed.

April 5, 1847 - Jchn Brady, Aaron Purdom and David Thorp, Trustees; Fountain Inskeep, Clerk; Robert Moore, Treasurer; R. W. McKee. Assessor. Thomas Sergent, Constable, resigned, and Henry Streight was appointed.

xApril 3, 1848 - Aaron Eyler, David Thorp and John Brady, Trustees; F. Inskeep, Clerk; Robert Moore, Treasurer; R. W. McKee, Assessor; Henry Streight, Constable. R. Moore died, and Edwards West was appointed Treasurer December 22.

April 3, 1854 - E. West, Jesse Kendall and John Brady, Trustees; R. Parker, Clerk; A. Potts, Treasurer; S. Dixon, Assessor; J. W. Sergent, Constable.

April 2, 1855 - E. West, S. McNown and William McColgen, Trustees; R. Parker, Clerk; A. Potts, Treasurer; John Brady, Assessor; Andrew Henderson, Constable.

April 7, 1856 - E. West, Aaron Eyler and Benjamin Brady, Trustees; R. Parker, Clerk; A. Potts, Treasurer; John Brady, Assessor; A. Henderson, Constable. R. Parker left the township, and F. Inskeep was appointed Clerk.

April 6, 1857 - S. McNown, Oliver Reynolds and Anthony Shaw, Trustees; William Campbell, Clerk; A. Potts, Treasurer; Cornelius McColgen, Assessor; George M. Davis, Constable.

April 5, 1858 - A. Shaw, B. Brady and O. Reynolds, Trustees; A. Henderson, Clerk; A. Potts, Treasurer; C. McColgen, Assessor; G. M. Davis, Constable. O. Reynolds refused to serve, and S. McNown was appointed Trustee.

April 4, 1859 - A. Shaw, S. McNown and H. Parker, Trustees; A. Henderson, Clerk; A. Potts, Treasurer; Kenneth Rhoten, Assessor; G. M. Davis, Constable.

April 2, 1860 - -A. Shaw, S McNown and H. Parker, Trustees; A. Henderson, Clerk; William Campbell, Treasurer; H. Rhoten, Assessor; G. M. Davis, Constable.

April 7, 1862 - E. Long, V. Wagner and W. P. Custer, Trustees; E. A. Pindell, Clerk; W. Campbell, Treasurer; C. Reynolds, Assessor; G. M. Davis, Constable.

April 4, 1881 - F. Inskeep, Henry Wohlleber and John W. Eyler, Trustees; C. A. Kleinknecht, Clerk; J. A. Schwallie, Treasurer; R. B. Dunn, Assessor; A. Reed, Constable.

Justices Of The Peace Statistics

In 1824, the real estate of Joseph Reynolds, deceased, was valued at $8 per acre, a cow at $7 and a mare at $50. At the Presidential election of 1832, 122 votes were cast - 103 for Jackson and nineteen for Clay. At the Presidential election of 1836, seventy-seven votes were cast for Van Buren and sixty - nine for Harrison. At the October election, 1837, 119 votes were east. In 1840, there were 483 youth of school age in the township. In 1845, there were 219 males in the township between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, and 105 of them were liable for militia duty. The township no^v has a voting population of 174.

The following mention is made of a few of the early settlers who located in the township between the years 1801 and 1820. There may have been many others who merit mention in this place, but if such there were the most diligent inquiry has failed to discover even their names.

Stephen Reynolds, a native of New York State, emigrated to Ohio in 1801, and located about half mile south of where the village of Carlisle now stands, in Jackson Township, where he remained until his death in August, 1842. His son Oliver, who was born in 1794, married Zylpha Middleswart in May, 1810, and by her had ten children, eight of whom are now living. After his marriage, he removed to Ash Ridge, north of Carlisle, where he remained till 1854, when he moved to the extreme northern part of the township. He par- ticipated in the war of 1812, and for some time was a Trustee of his township. He died in 1866, leaving his widow, who still survives at the age of eightythree years.

John Glendening came to Jackson Township about the year 1803 or 1804, and settled on over 100 acres of land in what is now the western part of the township, part of his farm being in Jackson, and part in Franklin Township. He was a native of Scotland, and emigrated to America at an early day. He located and for a number of years lived in Virginia, where he married Jenett Wilson, a native of Ireland. At the time of their emigration to Ohio, they had nine children - six girls and three sons - one son having died in Virginia. Their children are now all dead, and their sole representatives in the county are four grandsons and one grand- daughter. A grand- daughter also lives in Highland County and a grandson in Missouri.

James Inskeop was born in New Jersey in 1766 of English parents. He moved to Virginia, and there married Delila Delaney, who died leaving two children, and two preceded her to the grave. In 1805, Mr. Inskeep emigrated to Ohio, and settled in what is now Jackson Township, where he remained until his death. Shortly after settling here, he married Elen or, daughter of John Glendening. By this marriage he had eleven children, of whom seven are now living, viz., John, born in 1811, married Sarah Haynes and settled on part of the home farm, where he raised four children - girls; Joshua, born in 1812, married Nancy Heed and settled on the home farm, where he raised three boys and six girls; Joseph, born 1813, settled on the home place, and married Martha Hill, by whom he had four boys and several girls; he now lives in Missouri; Job, born 1819, settled near the home farm, and married Susan Myers, who died without issue; Fountain, whose biography appears elsewhere in this work. The sons, with the exception of Joseph, all reside in Brown County. The father died in 1824 under the following circumstances: On the 24th of May, while returning from West Union, where he had been attending court, he attempted on horseback to ford Eagle Creek, which at that time was swollen by recent rains; but by some accident was thrown from his horse and drowned. His widjw died in 1861.

Anthony Shaw was born in New York State near the borders of Massachusetts. He married Sarah Niles, by whom he had twelve children, the majority of whom are still living. In 1810, with his wife and two children, he emigrated to Brown County, Ohio, and settled about one mile southwest of Carlisle Village, where he remained perhaps eight years. After living in different portions of what are now known as Jackson and Franklin Townships, he finally settled in the southern portion of Franklin Township on Straight Creek, where he remained until his decease. He had served as Trustee of Franklin Township, and was by the community surrounding him highly respected. He died in June, 1840. His son, Andrew J., who was born in this township in 1816, is now living in the northern part of the township, where he moved with his family in 1859.

Sylvanus Parker, a native of Maryland, emigrated to Ohio with his parents. Peter and Rachel (Harper) Parker, and located in Jackson Township in 1812. They lived in Pennsylvania, Virginia and Kentucky before their emigration. Sylvanus married Nancy Feeley, by whom he had two children - John, who married Sarah Patton and had six children, and Elizabeth, the wife of Josiah Ross, the mother of two children, both surviving.

Terry Wormacks emigrated from Virginia to Ohio, and in 1813 located in Jackson Township, on part of the land owned by James Inskeep. He married Roxy Reynolds, and by her had a large family of children.

and located in Jackson Township. He married Anna Glendening, and had a family of nine or ten children, all of whom are now dead or have left this county.

Joseph McManis was born in Pennsylvania in 1796, and in 1815 emigrated to Ohio with his parents, Charles and Ellen McManis, who located in what is now Jackson Township. After living in Brown County several years, they removed to Adams County, where they resided until their deaths. Joseph was three times married - in March, 1819, to Jane Donaldson, by whom he had nine children; in May, 1840, to Mary Bishop, by whom he had three children, and in November, 1847, to Buth Mathias, by whom he had seven children. He died in Livingston County, 111., in November, 1872. A more extended sketch of him will be found among the biographies of this township.

Capt. John Rice emigrated to Ohio and located in Jackson Township in 1816. His father, James Rice, with his family emigrated from Ireland prior to the American Revolution. Capt. Rice was born in Philadelphia, where he married Jane McNight, who emigrated from Ireland with her parents at an early day. He had charge of a company of cavalry in the war of 1812, and also served on the frontiers of Ohio and Indiana and in the engagement at Tip pecanoe. He had a family of thirteen children, some of whom are now living in Washington Township, to which he moved in 1820, and where he died in September, 1843.

Brice Rukey was born in New Jersey about the year 1809. About the year 1817, his parents, Thomas and Hester Rukey, emigrated to Brown County, Ohio, and settled near Eagle Creek, in the southern portion of what is now known as Jackson Township, near where Thomas B. Rukey at present resides. Brice was here reared amid the stirring scenes of pioneer life, and received but a rudimentary education. He married Elizabeth Greathouse, by whom he had nine children, five of whom are living, viz., Lucinda, Mary J. , Ellen, William and Thomas B. Mr. Rukey was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died in October, 1877, His wife died some time before him.

Edward Francis was born in Ireland, and when three years of age came to America with his parents and located in Jackson Township, Brown County, near Ash Ridge. He married Elizabeth Plummer, of Adams County, by whom he had four children. After his marriage, he settled on the farm now occupied by his son James W., where he resided until his death in November, 1870.

Josiah Rhoten with his wife Mary (Prine) and three children emigrated from Kentucky to Ohio, and in 1814 located in Jackson Township. He purchased fifty acres of land where the village of Carlisle now stands. He died in 1865 and his wife in 1855. They had six children bom to them after their settlement there. Of their nine children, Christopher, William, Huston, Hannah and Catharine live in Brown County, Thomas, Prine and Jane are dead, and Kenneth lives in the State of Illinois.

William McNown was born in Ireland, and at thirty years of age emigrated to America and settled in Pennsylvania. In 1818, he came to Jackson Township, and located on Eagle Creek. He brought with him his wife, Mary (McKnight), and five children and had one child born after his settlement. Of his children, one married S. L. Fenton, of this township; Robert is in Dexter, Iowa; William in this township, and the rest are dead.

William McColgen was another early settler, but we are unable to give the date of his settlement. He came from Virginia with his wife, Isabella, and several children. He died in this township, and his children have all left the county. He occupied several township offices during his life, and was a man of prominence in the community.

About the years 1815 or 1816, a Methodist class was organized with thirteen members in the western part of the township, in what was then called the Mahappy neighborhood, and class meetings and occasional church services were held at the houses of the members, but mostly in the house of Mr. Mahappy, whose house stood on Eagle Creek, in the edge of Adams County. Previous to the organization of this class, a class was formed at the house of Samuel Evans on Ash Ridge. Among the first members of this class were Samuel Evans and wife, Robert Patton and wife, Josiah Rhoten and Mary, his wife, John Crute and Elsie, his wife, and John Nelson and wife. Services were held in the houses of Robert Patton and Samuel Evans. In 1819, these two classes united and formed White Oak Station, more recently known as Ash Ridge Church. About 1824, ground having been obtained of Samuel Evans for that purpose, a log church was built by the people of the neighborhood. In this church the society worshiped until the fall of the year 1856, when they built a one-story frame church in Carlisle at a cost of $1,100, in which they still worship.

About the time of the breaking-out of the rebellion, a division of the church took place, and about fifty members withdrew, and formed the Christian Union Church. They took possession of the old log church/ which had been deserted when the congregation moved to Carlisle, and worshiped in it until they built the present one -story frame building that stands on the ground near the old log which is still standing. The church building belongs to the society, and their preachers are employed by the congregation, as the church is independent of any conference or other higher court.

Mount Olivet Methodist Church is the outgrowth of meetings held on the border of the township at the houses of James Pendill, William Davis and others about the year 1832. The meeting place was afterward changed to a schoolhouse that stood near the site of the present church. In 1835, a half acre of ground was donated to the church by John Francis, and on it the society built a small log church, in which their services were held until it was replaced by the present frame structure.

Pleasant Hill Christian Church was organized by Alexander McClain, in the house of Daniel Robbins, in Adams County, in 1836, with nine members, among whom were Daniel Robbins and Sarah, his wife, Isaac Edgington and Sarah, his wife, and Emily Edgington. In 1843, they built a frame church on the hill above the present church on an acre of land procured of Nathaniel daze. In 1839, they purchased a half-acre of land of Dodridge Smith, on which they built the present church. Among the pastors who have served this congregation are John McMillan, Newman Dawson, Jackson Daugherty, Samuel Gray, Rufus McDaniel, Walker Mefford, Benton Sellman, Margaret Wallace, and since 1861, George W. Mefford.

Emanuel Chapel (Christian) was built about 1857 on land donated by J. Brady. The society was organized and services were held as early as 1850. The meetings until the church was built were held in a schoolhouse that stood near the site of the present church. The church was built by subscription. Soon after the war the zeal of the society flagged, and the services were for a time discontinued, but were commenced again about 1875, under the ministrations of Rev. Harrison Toll, and now they are having occasional preaching.

In 1817, a small three-cornered schoolhouse was built on the branch of the creek above James McNown's residence, in which Samuel McKee and James Thompson taught school in early days. This is supposed to have been the first schoolhouse built in the township, schools that were held prior to that date being in private houses. There was also a log schoolhouse built on Ash Ridge at a very eary day, in which Stephen Morris, Samuel Swan and a teacher named May taught a number of schools. In 1820, a schoolhouse was built in the eastern part of the township on Eagle Creek, in which Isaac Gantz was the first teacher. Prior, to this, he taught in the house of Mr. Mahappy, and in a little log church in Adams County, in the same neighborhood. In 1824, n school was taught in a log hut on Eagle Creek by William Brown. Another pioneer schoolhouse stood just north of the present site of Carlisle.

There are now in the township six districts, with a good schoolhouse in each and an enrollment of 107 boys and 122 girls. The total value of the school property in the township is assessed at $2,100 or $350 in each district The amount expended annually for the support of these schools is about $2,000, of which $1,500 is for the salaries of teachers, and the balance for fuel, repairs and other contingencies.

Carlisle

The town of Carlisle was laid out by John Anderson and John Anderson, Jr., May 30, 1834. The plat, recorded June 16, 1834, contains thirty-one lots, eight poles long by four poles wide, two streets, Main street and Cross street, ani fifteen cross alleys one pole wide. Main street is sixty-six feet wide and seventy-six poles long, and bears north 40 degrees east. Cross street is sixtysix feet wide and twenty poles long, and bears north fifty degrees west. The alleys run parallel to Cross street, and divide the lots into squares of two lots each. The town lies on the Ripley & Hillsboro pike, which runs through Main street.

The post office, which is called Ash Ridge, was established soon after the platting of the town. Among the Postmasters have been Ethan A. Pinaell, who occupied the office in 1857, and for a number of years afterward, Andrew Potts, William Parker, Jacob S. Campbell. The present incumbent of the office is Mrs. Jane L. Campbell, who was appointed at the death of her husband in February, 1882.

The industries of the town are not extensive. -Samuel Mitchell opened a tavern on Main street in 1853, and continued it several years, but finally sold out and left the town. Some time prior to 1850, a carding and fulling mill was built in the northeastern part of the town by David Ross. He sold it to Thomas Prine, a ad he to George Davis, in whose possession it was burned down, but was afterward rebuilt by him, and operated a number of years. The machinery was finally taken from it and sold, and the building left to decay. A saw- mill was built south of town by Addison Williamson in 1854, and operated by him several years. It is now owned by Job Inskeep. The enterprises of the town now are two saloons, two shoe shops, two blacksmith shops, three general stores, one hotel, iEtna House, and two secret societies.

Ash Ridge Lodge, No. 492, I. O O, F., was chartered May 10, 1871, and instituted August 19, 1871, with ten charter members. William Parker was the first N. G., and George P. Tyler the first Secretary. In 1875, the lodge built a second story on a large frame building at a cost of $700, and now occupy it as a lodge room. There are now twenty-four members.