Clark County, Ohio - The whole text, 1881 (part 6 of 20)

Hamilton County, settled on the land now belonging to the heirs of Melyn Miller, Section 36, Range 8. A part of the farm is still occupied by the widow of Melyn Miller; also Uriah Blue, on the Hake, now the L. J. M. Baker, farm, Sectic:: 28, Range 8. About the same time and from same place came Reuben AVinget, and settled on what is now the Reuben Shellabarger farm, Section G, Range 8. The same year, Melyn and Jonathan Baker came from Butler County, the former entering Section 31, Range 0, and settled on the north part of the section, on what is known as the Daniel Baker tract. Mr. Baker came from New Jersey to the present site of Cincinnati in 1790, and bought 200 acres of laud on Walnut Hills. He afterward sold out and removed to Butler County, and thence to Clark. In those days, the log cabins of the older settlers were tlirown open to receive the families of those who came among them to settle, for such time as was necessary, with the assistance of the neighbors, to erect a similar structure for themselves. Melyn Baker, on several occasions, entertained new arrivals until they could erect and occupy their own cabins. About the year 1807, Richard Hudjul and family and Henson Reeder and family were welcomed to the hospitalities of his primitive abode during the time they were building their own equally humble residences.

Reeder came from Hamilton County, and, after trying several locations on ibb- ride of the., river. removed to Bethel Township and settled on the John Crain farm. About 1806, Dewitt settled near where the Enon Station is. now located; removed after a short time, and joined the Shakers. About the same time, Daniel Mead came from Massachusetts and settled also near the present site of the Enon railroad station. A painful incident in connection with his family is remembered. Ml-. Mead had a son about ten years old. Just across the river lived one James Templeton. Mr. Mead one day had occasion to send his son to borrow an auger of Mr. Templeton. In this connection, it is hardly necessary to mention that such a thing as a bridge across Mad River did not exist, so the boy went to the bank of the river, and, being within speaking distance, called over for the auger. Mr. Templeton took an auger and, aiming to land it across the river to one side of the boy, he threw it, and as it neared the opposite bank, the boy, seeing the auger, and perhaps mistaking tin* exact line on which it was coming, was seiztM. with a sudden impulse to get out of the way, but, as the went proved, he came directly in the way, and the auger, coining point foremost, struck him in the head, piercing the skull. Medical aid was summoned, but death soon terminated the unfortunate boy's career.

In 1805, Jacob Reeder came from Hamilton County, and settled on a tract of land adjoining what is still known as the Elder Reeder farm. At the same time came Stephen Reeder, father of Elder Geo. Reeder, and settled on a tract of about 200 acres, which included what is now known as the Elder Reeder farm. Section 1 3, Range 9. At the same time came Rule Petersen, from Hamilton County; also, John Brocaw, from Hamilton County, and also settled on the tract years ago known as the Reed farm, Section 14, Range 9, now owned bv Frederick Koblentz. In ISON, John Ambler came from New Jersey and settled on the Partington place, Section 24, Range 9; he afterward moved to Springfield and engaged in the sale of the first goods that were sold in that little villlage. At the same time, Thomas Collier, from Ireland, settled on what is now known as the Preston Love farm. Section 23, Range 8. About the same time. Benjamin Symington, from Delaware, settled on what is now known as the Cyrus Drake farm, Section 29, Range A In 1S09, Elias Vickers, a Christian minister, came to 'the township. In the same year, John Tenney,- from England, settled on what is now the Cofiield place, on Muddy Run. Section 1 1, Range S. John Rue, a native of Maryland, came about 18.12; his wife. Sarah, was from Pennsylvania, and, previous to their coining to Mad River, had lived in Greene County, Ohio.

The fu st preacher was Thomas Kyle; after him. Reuben Dooly. William Kink;- id, David Puryiance, Francis Montfort and Barton W. Stone; some of these were noted men in their day, having been able ministers in the Old-School Presbyterian Chinch, and claiming the right of private interpretation of the Scriptures, independently of the acknowledged standard of the chinch. They rejected the authority of her courts, and claimed to acknowledge no authority but the Bible alone in matters of conscience and religious duty. Barton W. Stone, above named, was a leading spirit in the controversy that ensued. He was once called to the Knob Prairie Church to explain some disputed theological questions that were agitating the chinch and threatening its stability. The Knob Prairie Church, just referred to was the first church erected in Mad River Township. It was built in .1806, by the Christian denomination, on a tract of land donated by Judge Layton for a chinch and burying-ground, situated on a rocky bluff overlooking the prairie, on the old road, now vacated, leading from Yellow Springs across what was known as the Broad Ford on Mad Iliver, to Xew Carlisle. This church was built of hewed logs; was about 24x32 feet: the floor was laid with puncheon, and the door was also made of the same matarial. Puncheon was made by splitting a log into fiat pieces, two or three inches in thickness, straightening tlieir edges and facing their fiat sides as in hewing. As the use of puncheon went out with the introduction of saw- mills, so also the term, which was only of local origin, became nearly obsolete. The windows consisted of holes cut out through the logs, and, as glass was not then considered an absolute necessity, nor was it even a procurable commodity, greased paper was pasted over the opening to admit the light into this primitive temple, where the early pioneers assembled to worship God, in a building erected for the purpose of protecting them from cold and storm, and not for style and vain show. This building vras also furnished with puncheon seats, as it was considered a great step in advance for the worshipers to have a place to sit down during divine service. This period was many years behind the . age of backs and cushions, which would doubtless have been regarded as a manifestation of wicked pride and luxurious ease incompatible with the rough and hardy customs made necessary by the exigences of those times. The building was covered with clapboards, and was, when completed, an object of pride, and considered an achievement worthy of the time and the occasion for which it was erected. The surrounding grove was once a great camp-meeting ground; the people came for thirty or forty miles, with tents, remaining several days to attend the meetings. This old log structure served its day, and was replaced by a more commodious frame structure. with plastered walls and ceiling, panel doors, and regular glass windows. This building has long since been tom away, the society having built a commodious brick building in the village of Knon. The next church was erected by the Old- School Presbyterians, about a mile south of Muddy Run, near 'the Greene County line, in IS 16, and was known as the Muddy Run Church. It was built of logs, had plank fioor, shingle roof and glass windows; was about 24x30 feet. A brick building now occupies the site of this primitive structure. The congregation wras in a flourishing condition until shattered by political animosities, growing out of the question of slavery and kindred topics. As among the early settlers of Xew England, after providing for immediate necessities, the next object of prime importance was to secure the education of the rising generation; so the Western piorteer, armed with his trusty ri fie. provided with a cabin and a small clearing for raising a few scanty provisions for maintaining his family, next turns his attention to the work of providing educational facilities for his children. If the school children of Springfield, who have been accustomed. to the commodious school buildings with which the city' abounds, were some bright morning to be summoned together to attend school in a building such as was the first schoolhouse in Mad River Township, they would not be able to express their astonishment at its extreme simplicity; even the attendants at our Enon school would be amazed at the contrast of this buildng with their own. The first schoolhouse was built in 1806, about thirty yards east of the Daniel Baker residence, on the old Dayton & Springfield road. It wa3 a log building with puncheon floor, puncheon seats without backs; glass was too expensive for lighting schoolhouses; as a substitute, greased paper was used fcr window lights. The entrance was closed with a puncheon door, hung on wooden hinges, with a wooden latch, with a string attached for opening on the outside. The warming apparatus for this building was an open fire-place, with cat-andclay chimney, as a stove for warming a schoolhouse was not thought of in those days. Perhaps it would have been better for the health of thousands of school children who have been confined in close, illy ventilated buildings, with incompetent teachers or janitors, ignorant or reckless of the' rcqu:i'3m:ntz ;f human lungs, if the idea of a stove or heating furnace had not suggested itself to the inventive genius of our advanced civilization. After the first schoolhouse was finished, the first teacher to occupy it was Samuel Gillalan, from Lexington, Ky., and, although a recommendation at this late day will be no special benefit to him, he is said to have been a good teacher. The qualifications of a school-teacher in those days required, in addition to the knowledge of a few of the primary branches, also the ability and the disposition to compel his pupils to walk in the pathway of knowledge. Compulsory education in those days was a definite, tangible, unmistakable reality, as many a young pioneer could testify with tears in his eyes and large red stripes on his back. The school term was in the winter season, and lasted three months. The expenses were paid by subscription, as we had then no public school fund provided by taxation, as now. The second school-teacher was Robert Layton. The next schoolhouse was erected near the site of the Rocky Point Schoolhouse, at what is known as the head of the cliffs. The third schoolhouse was built at or near what is known as the Center Schoolhouse. so named because near a central point of the township, and was for many years the place for holding elections and for the transaction of township business generally.

As early as 1809, when gunpowder was not only a necessity, but very difficult to obtain, Thomas Barton supplied the wants of the people in that line by manufacturing on a small scale, by hand. He was then settled on Section 34, Range 8, which has long been known as the Barton farm, on the line between Greene and Clark Counties, which farm has lately passed into the hands of Jonathan Cox.

The first Sabbah school was organized by Jacob Morgan. David Garrison and Charles Moore in a paper-mill, built by Samuel Symington, at what was afterward known as the Partington Woolen Factory, already referred to, on the North Fork of Muddy Run.

The prairie in those early times was covered with a heavy growth of tall grass, and in the night season the deer would come down from the timber, in which they took shelter in day-time, in quest of \vater and to mow the tall grass, and also to eat a certain kind of moss that abounded along the border of the big pond, as it was then called. But since then, the spade of the Hibernian in the construction of two railways along the border, as also a number of ditches, has deprived it of much of its original character. This pond was a resort for deer at night, and it also abounded with fish. The deer and fish attracted thither the hunter with his rifle, and the fisherman with his hooks and rets. In taking the deer on dark nights, the hunier would carry ligthed torches, and by this means could approach very near the deer, its eyes being blinded bv the glare of the torch and, reflecting back the light thus thrown, formed a splendid target for the hunter's rifle, and many a deer was thus deluded to its death by the glare of the hunter's torch in the darkness in those early days along the borders of this pond, when hunting and fishing were as really a visible means of support as is farming or any other legitimate calling at the present day. About 1812, William Donnels built the first tavern in the township, about a mile and a half west of where the village of Enon has since been located, on the old Dayton & Springfield Hoad. This tavern was built of hickory logs, and hence it bore the appropriate title, and was known far and near, as the " Hickory Tavern." Travelers through this region in those days were glad to avail themselves of the accommodations furnished by the landlords of those log- cabin hotels, as they were the best the country afforded. The internal arrangements of this tavern were in harmony with the external appearance, but a genex v>ciu iiObpioailuj supplemented style, and the traveler, leaving the threshold of this temporary abode realized that, while his entertainment was not princely, it was nevertheless up to the times and the circumstances of a new settlement not yet initiated into the mysteries of foreign trade and commerce. This hotel, with its proprietor, has long since passed away. The next hotel was built in Enon, by Franklin Cook, in the year 1838. It was built of stone and rough cast, and has been in constant operation, under various proprietors, ever since, and is still the only hotel in the village. This hotel has at different times been under the management of, first, Franklin Cook, the first landlord; next, Judge Hunt, Hagenbuch, J. H. Barringer, Dr. H. C. Foster, J. R. King, Frederick Drexler, Jacob Dunkle and T. P. Brewer, the present landlord. A central point for the transaction of business from 1818 to 1838 was at what is now known as Snyder's Station. About 1818, John and James Leffel erected a grist-mill at this point, and John Leffel died soon after, and James run the mill. Previous to this time, the nearest mills were at Clifton, in Greene County, or at Harshman's, in Montgomery County. Great inconvenience was experienced in the early days for the want of grist-mills at convenient points. At one time, the people here were entirely destitute of flour or corn-meal, and could not procure it - t any price. The occasion of it was an unexpected and sudden cold change that froze up the mills before the people had laid in a supply for winter, and, as there were no flour stores then, and no place to get flour but directly from the mill, the people for several weeks subsisted on hominy and pork. To go to mill in those days was a two- days journey, including the time required to grind a grist. The grists were usually carried on horseback, partly on account of the roads, and for the want of other means of conveyance. Hence, the erection of the Leffel mill in 1818 was of great advantage to the people of this community, and, as the mill got into operation, and a great many people came there with their grists from a distance, it finally grew into a favorable point for general traffic, and here were established the first dry-goods and grocery store in this community. The first store was started by Mr. Mills, father of the late Judge Mills; he was succeeded by Knott & Johnson; Isaac Wilson succeeded them: William Johnston moved to Clifton and was for a time one of our County Commissioners. Afterward, a store w*as established at Brotteusburgh, and about 1837 a post office was established there, with J. R. Miller, Postmaster; previous to this, the' nearest post office was Springfield. Brottensburgh was built on the old Springfield & Dayton road, on what is known as the Roberts, or Stilwell, place; was built mainly of logs, and was peopled principally by persons who were employed in some capacity or other in connection with the mill under its various managements, either as coopers, distillers, teamsters, or some other kindred occupation. This Brottensburgh tract was once the property of the noted and eccentric Lorenzo Dow.

The mill referred to was run until about 1831 by Mr. Leffel, and sold to Minard. who made some additions to the property, among the additions being a large brick distillery. Mr. Minard ran the mill about three years, and. being unfortunate. the property fell into the hands of the Sheriff, and was bought by Daniel Hertzler. who ran the mill and distillery successfully for about twenty years, amassing a large fortune. The property has changed hands several times since, but for nearly twenty years past has most of the time been lying idle. The village of Enon. to which reference has already been made, was founded in the year 1838. it being on the direct road from Springfield to Dayton, and nearly a central point between Springfield and Fairfield, and at the intersection of the road leading from Xenia to Xew Carlisle. Enon was established simultaneously with the location of the Springfield & Dayton Turnpike, which at this point followed nearly along tlieline of the old Dayton & Springfield road. The town was first started by Ezra D. Baker and Elnathan Cory, their land joining, and being divided by .the range line passing through the town from north to south on what is known as Xenia street. Additions were afterward made to the town by David Cross, who succeeded to the Cory' tract, and also by David Funderburgh, along South Kansas street, on the east part of town. This Kansas street has a local history, as the name suggests. YYhen this street was new and unnamed some of the denizens along the line of this unnamed street were disposed to quarrel with each other, and a street light was no uncommon affair, and the Kansas war being at its height, some ingenious person, associating the condition of this street with the condition of that gory young embryo State, named it Kansas street. Although both have laid aside their belligerent characters, yet the name remains, and will ever be a reminder of the struggles of the squatter sovereigns of Kansas with the border ruffians over twenty years ago. The first chinch erected in the place was a Methodist Episcopal, corner of Broadway and Pleasant streets; is still occupied by them, and is in a good state of preservation. This society was organized about 1840, in a sin all' log house which stood in a grove between the village and what was then the residence of Eza D. Baker, now the John Hamaker residence. The grove and the log house have long since disappeared, as have also all who constituted the society in its first organization. The first regular ministers of this society were Levi P. Miller and Noah Huff. The sermon on the dedication of the church referred to above was preached by Mr. YYalker, who. it was said at the time, was educated within the pale of the Catholic Church, with the priestly office in view, but apostatized from the Catholic faith and became a Methodist minister. The first local minister resident of the village was Frederick Snyder. The next church erected in the village was by the Christian denomination. The first resident minister of this denomination was Elder Ladly, who removed to Yellow Springs, where he resided until his death, a few years ago. The first schoolhouse erected was built on North Xenia street, was built of brick, one story, and is still standing; is now occupied as a dwelling. The next schoolhouse was built on South Xenia street; is a two- story brick building, has three rooms - two below, one above, the upper room being occupied by the highest classes, the rooms below by the intermediate and primary classes. The school is not entirely under the control of the village, but is sustained by an incorporated district, extending, for school purposes, outside of the corporate limits of the village. The village has usually been favored with good schools of a common grade : but little effort has been made of late years to establish a school of as high a grade as should be sustained by this community. This lack of interest on the part of the citizens in the cause of education has doubtless been very detrimental to the development of the best interests of the village and its surroundings. The health of this locality is such that no fatal epidemic has ever gained a foothold here, nor have the honored disciples of Eseulapius been able to reap large harvests here from the ills that flesh is heir to in less favored localities. This place is also r ->vorcd with convenient railroad, mail and telegraphic facilities.

The first-house in the village, was erected by Jesse Rhodes. The first merchant was John It. Miller. He came here in an early day with a stock of goods and the post office, he having been previously established in Brottensburgli, where was located the first post office within the township. After Mr. Miller, Stephen Wilson came from Hertzler's Mills, now known as the Bank, or Snyder's Station, with a stock of goods. In those days, our merchants usually went twice a year to Philadelphia or. New York to lay in a stock of goods. They went by stage, canal, and sometimes a portion of the route by steamboat, it requiring several weeks to make the journey, and still longer for the goods to be transported to their destination. Opening out a lot of goods, then being only a semiannual occurrence, and not daily, as now, was an occasion of universal interest to the people generally, and especially to the ladies, who are always interested in the very latest New York and Paris styles. Other merchants were Melyn Miller, Conrad Kurtz, Robert Gaston, who came with his two sisters and uncle from Ireland and Bought out the stand formerly occupied by Stephen Wilson. Tevtbf and. Gardner were for a time engaged in the business here; their storeroom was oil what has long been known as the burnt corner, being at or near the northeast corner of Mr. Hagar's lot; the establishment was burnt out, supposed, to have been by an incendiary. J. L. Conklin afterward established a store in the village, and was also burned out. David Zeigler was also engaged in the business; Smith A Old wine. John II. Littler, Anthony Beam, John Goodwin, Miller & "Wolf, H. Strauss, John Wallace, and others.

Enon has been favored with quite a line of citizen tailors. .Among the number were Mr. Kennedy. Miller Baker, Mr. Robinson and John Wallace.

Among the blacksmiths, Joseph Sipes was the first; after him was Nelson Hardman, T. J. Barton, John Hall, William Pottle, Franklin Rock. James- Vanostran, -who was also a plow-maker, was for a time engaged with William D. Miller in the village in the manufacture of the vrell-known " Miller plow." The first resident shoe-maker was Mi*. Weaver; after him, J. R. King, Davidson Maple, J. Blackert. J. Hammond. William Maple and others. Cabinet-makers, the first was Hitchcock: after him. Conrad Kurtz, who also for a time engaged in the undertaking business. At that time, it was common to run a hearse with a single horse. Mr. Kurtz followed the usual custom in this respect. Among the early residents in the cooper trade were William Barton, Silas Chappell. Peter Miller, Edwin Barton and others.

The first trial, either civil or criminal, we ever witnessed was held in the old schoolkouse, and the case, as near as memory serves, was this: M illiam Barton, with a hand, were working in the shop together, disagreed and came to blows, and the hand struck Mr. Barton near the shoulder blade with a cooper adze, penetrating almost to the lungs, inflicting a dangerous wound. A charge for assault and battery with intent to kill was brought, the party was arrested, brought before Squire Coffield; the trial was held at night, in the old brick schoolhouse in Enon. then occupied in day-time for a common school, and taught by Blair Wilson, afterward Col. Wilson, of the Forty - fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, who was then a young man teaching school and studying law.

Spirited arguments were made on both sides; the defendant was sent to jail, hut. the wound not proving serious, as at first supposed, he was finally released. About IMF), a friendly Indian, encamped on the head- waters of Mill Creek, near the present site of Emery Church, was visited by three men from this township. The visit was made in the guise of friendship; they were kindly received and entertained; they engaged the Indian in shooting at target, and, taking advantage of him when his gun was empty, shot him down without any other provocation than the fact that he belonged to the hated Indian tribe. One of the parties to this transaction. Maj. Bracken, met a sudden and tragic death the same year, under the following circumstances: He had a financial difficulty with a man by the name of Roberts, and, to simplify the question and bring it to a speedy termination, he notified Roberts to leave the settlement within a specified time or he would terminate his earthly career. Roberts, not daring, under the circumstances, to resort to law, had about completed his arrangements to leave. He was staying then at Parmer's, whose house stood a few rods north of the Stilwell Springs, and just across a ravine north from the former site of the old log schoolhotise of District No. 6. The dwelling was a log building, and the spaces between the logs above the upper floor were not filled and plastered, but were left open. AVhen Roberts was about ready to leave. Bracken made his appearance, with two other men, Jacob Robinson and another person, two of them armed with guns, the third with a heavy club. They approached the house bv a narrow path, single file, Bracken in front. Roberts, seeing them coming, and knowing their errand, ran up to the loft, and, taking a loaded gun, placed himself at an opening covering their approach, and, allowing them to advance within easy range, he took deliberate aim and fired. The charge entered the right breast of the leader, Bracken, who, turning round to his comrades, exclaimed, " I am a dead man! " and fell, bleeding profusely. He was carried into the house ana soon expired. The settlers were speedily notified, and gathered to the scene. Ezra D. Baker, then a boy, remembers seeing him, his breast stripped open where the ball entered, the blood oozing from the wound, and Judge Layton wiping away the crimson fluid from the ghastly opening. His wife reached the scene after lie had expired, and her first view was the fatal blood-stained opening in the bosom of her dead husband. A son, born about three months afterward, carried the mark of that fatal wound on his right breast to manhood, and, if living, can doubtless still exhibit the same proof of his father's tragic fate. When Bracken's two comrades saw thei pleader was fallen, they fled. Roberts took another loaded gun - Parmer having no less than five or six - and, mounting a horse, bade a final adieu to this settlement. Bracken's residence was at Braekensford, on the north bank of Mad River, at the mouth of Donnels' Creek. About the first death known to have occurred in this' settlement was a Mrs. Broadus, from Kentucky. She was buried in the Knob Prairie Graveyard, and. on account of rocks, a sufficient depth could not be reached until they had tried three different locations for the grave.

The young men in those days who were the best marksmen were depended on to supply the table with wild game, such as deer, bear and turkey. Among those who were considered good in those times were the late Daniel Baker, who died 1868. He shot the last bear known to have been killed in the settlement about 1810 or 181 1. In Kate's Bottom, near the Jacob Kissler spring, on the David Funderburgh farm, one exploit of his housed to relate, although the result of accident rather than skill, was the killing of four deers at a single shot. The object aimed at was a doe; beyond the doe was a yearling; the ball passed through the doe and brought down the yearling; with the doe were two unborn twins, making in all four at a single shot; the last wolf known to have been killed in the settlement was killed by Thomas Drake, in the Killdigan woods. An object of curiosity and of unknown origin is the Knob Prairie Mound, an artificial elevation, originally about forty-nine feet in height, and covering about an acre. Among its early attractions was a wolf's den. An indentation on the northwest side indicates the place of entrance to their quarters in the interior of this mysterious structure. This mound was, in the early settlement of this place, covered with forest trees of the ordinary size and kind found in this locality. It lay immediately on the line of march of Gen. Clarke's troops on the way to the memorable battle of Piqua, the centennial of which was celebrated in August, Isn), on the ground where the battle was fought. A portion of Gen. Clarke's light horsemen rode to the top of this mound as they were on the march to the battle, from which they obtained an extensive view of the surrounding country. But this tower of observation was not elevated enough to give them a view of the village, about two miles away, that was so soon to fall before their superior powers. Their iine of march lay from this point along the line dividing the lands of Susan Funderburgli and William T. Hill, and thence along the foot of the bluff at the head of the prairie, thence to the Mad River at or near Snyder's Station. Mad River, which embraces the smallest area of any township in Clark County, furnished her full quota of men for the army during the great rebellion. No drafted men were sent to the army from Mad River, nor has she ever sent 'a representative to the Ohio Penitentiary. And when we come to make up a list of men of note, we can point to this and to that man and say, " He was born in Mad River." Among those who have gained a national reputation, we claim the Hon. Samuel Shellabarger, who was born and raised on his father's farm on Muddy Run; was educated at Oxford; studied law and entered the legal profession.; soon rose to prominence. One of the cases that engaged his early attention was the noted Randolf will contest in Greene County. He was twice elected to Congress, where he soon became a leading character.

William S. Furay was born south of Muddy Run, in the Hagan settlement; was educated at Wittenberg and Antioch Colleges; engaged in journalism, and was, during the war, one of the most noted war correspondents, being then engaged with the Cincinnati Gazette , under the title of 44 Y. S."

The Hon. George Arthur was one of the leading attorneys of Springfield, was born on the farm now owned by A. Dillalmnt; was educated at Gambier and Antioch, Ohio, and Union College, New York, and was once a prominent candidate for Congress on the Democratic ticket against the Hon. J. W. Keifer, Republican.

John B. Hagan, born near the same place, received a college education; his father designed him for the ministry, but, being inclined toward the legal profession, he embraced it, located at Cincinnati, where he died some years ago. He was at one time Principal of the Western School, Springfield. He was Ad jutant of the One Hundred and Fifty- fourth Regiment Ohio National Guards.

John Patten, raised in Mad River, was educated at Wittenberg, studied law in Springfield, removed to Indiana; was Captain of an Indiana cavalry company, and was killed in battle.

Politically, Mad River is, and has been for some years. Democratic, although aliout all the national parties, and those which aspire to nationality, have had representatives among us; even the old and now extinct Abolition party had its representatives here among some of our best citizens. The old revenue tariff <eid internal improvement Whig party embraced nearly half the balance of - citizens. The old anti -revenue tariff, anti -internal improvement Democratic party comprised the other half. Thus we were politically until the disruption <ff the Democratic party in the National Convention at Charleston, S. C.. in Then wo had Douglas Democrats, Breckenridge Democrats, Republicans and Bell and Everett Conservatives, with Lincoln and Douglas leading candidates.

Our people are slowly but surely learning that in local politics, when no great national principles are involved, that experience, honesty and executive ability are more important requisites in a candidate than a Democratic or Republican pedigree, although it reach back in an unbroken line for generations.

An event, the remembrance of which was indelibly* impressed upon the memory of those who witnessed it, was the great hurricane of April 1.1, 1S33. This terrible storm was preceded by an exceedingly hot, clear day. A few incidents of the storm in this vicinity are still vividly remembered.

At the residence of Ezra D. Baker, now John Ham alter 's, at Enon, a traveler stopped soon after noon of that day, and asked the privilege of remaining a few hours, until after the hurricane, which he assured them would be along that afternoon, as he professed to be acquainted, in a more Southern latitude, with the indications preceding such terrible exhibitions of atmospheric phenomena. Mr. Baker was hauling stone about half a mile distant, with oxen; the stranger told him he had better put away his oxen and be ready, as the storm would likely be on soon. He also advised the family to make their arrangements to repair to the cellar on the approach of the storm. Mr. Baker had no cellar under his dwelling house, it being a log structure, but had an outhouse with a cellar. "When the stmm came in sight, he took his family into the cellar, where the stranger also took refuge, and Mr. Baker stood outside and watched the movements of the funnel-shaped cloud, which seemed to be coming in the direction of his house, but it passed about a quarter of a mile south, and between his residence and that of his brother, Melyn Baker. The cloud is described by those who saw it as an awful, black, funnel-shaped cloud, the smaller end extending to the ground, the larger end extending outward and upward into the atmosphere to a very great height.

After the storm had passed, the neighbors soon gathered to take an inventory of the damages. The house of Dr. Bessev, which stood near the present residence of David E. Shellabarger, but on the opposite side of the road, was swept clear to within one log of the lower floor, and everything in the house was swept away except a jug of " Xo. 6 " the Doctor had for use in his practice. Himself and family escaped in a marvelous manner. The Doctor had just returned from visiting a patient; he was sitting in the house reading; his wife was ironing. All at once it grew dark. One of the family observed what a curious- looking cloud was coming; the Doctor went to the door, and, taking in the situation at a glance, be turned and picked up one of the little children, telling his wife and family to follow, which they did, and as they vacated the house, the' storm took it up and scattered the logs of which it was composed to the four winds of heaven. One of his little boys was bounced up and down and carried some distance by the storm, brt was finally dropped without serious injury. Another house about a quarter of a mile northeast of the Doctor's was also carried away without fatal results.

By Pekp.Y Stewart

Tliis township lies immediately south of Springfield Township, and its entire southern line borders upon Greene County; on the east lies Madison Town ship, and on the west Mad River Township. It is composed of fractional Township 5, Range S, of .lands between the Miami Rivers and six sections of Township 4. Range 8, and also of nearly 4.000 acres of the Virginia Military Reservation, and contains in all about 28,200 acres.

It was formed in ISIS, upon the organization of the county, and takes its name from Greene County, of which it was originally a part, and was then called Bath Township. At the time the change was effected, the southern line, beginning at the half-mile jog north, one mile west of the Madison Township line, ran due west to the southwest corner of Section 32, then north two miles to the section corners of 33. 81 and 4, then west to the southwest corner of Section 10, on the Mad River Township line. Shortly after the organization of Clark County, Gen. Benjamin Whiteman, with a. few7 others, desiring to remain citizens of Greene County, petitioned the Legislature to have the line changed, which wTas done, and it was made to run in a northwest course to a point on the west line of Section 32, one-third of a mile north of the original corner, the house of Gen. Whiteman remaining south of the line, in Greene County.

If we would take into consideration the history of Green Township as it was first formed, Mr. O. Davis, wrho built the mill on the Miami where Clifton is now located about 1800, and Gen. Benjamin Whiteman, who married a daughter of Davis, would be the pioneers of the township; but as these gentlemen were citizens of Clark County only until they succeeded in getting the line changed, the honor of being the first settlers cannot justly be accredited to them.

It is supposed that settlements were made in Green Township as early as 1800, but there is no evidence of any permanent settlement until 1S04, at which date Abraham Inlow settled on Section 0, Towmship 4, Range 8. He was born in Maryland March 25, 1777, and, in 1804, came with his father, Henry Inlow, to Doimelsville,' where he remained a short time, then came to Green Township, his parents returning to Kentucky, whence they had come, and there died. Mr. Inlow was married twice: had bom to him four children by first marriage, ail of whom are dead; his second wifewras Margaret Foley, who had eight children. Jemima, Catherine, Anna and Margaret grew to maturity, but Anna is now the only survivor. Mr. Inlow died October 4, 1840, and his wife, who was a native of Kentucky, and the daughter of Daniel and Catherine Foley, died November 7, 1872.

In 1805, Thomas Luse and his parents, Justice and Mary Luse, came to this township and settled on Section 32, where Justice and wife died. Thomas was bom in Kentucky in 1797: was married to Nancy Funston. a native of the township, born in IS 10, and who is yet living here. They had eleven children, nine of whom are yet living. Mr. Luse died in 1878, much respected.

Ebenezer Wheeler settled on Section 12, Township 4, Range S, in 1800. He was born in New Jersey September 15, 1782; came with hK father to Cincinnati in 1800; married Joanna Miller in 1803; in 1810 or 181 1, removed to

Jacob Hubble settled on the same section as Mr. Wheeler in 1806. In the same year, Samuel and John T. Stewart settled on Section 15. Township 5, Range 8, where they bought and improved 500 acres of land. They were natives of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The former was born in 1775, and was married in 1807 to Elizabeth Elder; was at Hull's surrender as a Captain of a militia company, and died on his farm in this township in 1854. John T. was born in. 1781 ; was married in 1815, to Ami Elder, who had born to her ten children, nine of whom are living. He died in April, 1850, and his widow in September, 1880.

In 1808, James B. Stewart, a brother of the former two, settled in Section 6, Township 5, Range 8. He was also from Pennsylvania, born in 1777; was married to Anna Beaty in 1807, in Butler County, Ohio. He lost his eyesight while a young man, and died in 1828; his son, John B., resides on a part to the

In the same year as James B. Stewart came, the whole of Section IS was purchased by John H. Garlough, a native of Germany, who emigrated to Maryland, there married, and with his wife came to Ohio about 1790, and to this township in 1808. His descendants still own nearly all of his purchase. He was killed in 1820 by a vicious bull while engaged in building a grist-mill. His son Jacob fell heir to the homestead; he was born in 1796; married Nancy Luse, daughter of Justice Luse, about 1821, and died in 1878, aged eighty- two, leaving many descendants, who do credit to his name. The family are noted for longevity, all living to ripe old age, much beyond the allotted time of man.

Gabriel, George and William Albin came about 1810, settling in the western part of the township. George was in the war of 18.12, and died in 1872; his widow is yet a resident of the township, and draws a pension for her husband's services during the national peril.

In 1811, Seth Smith located on Survey 615. His son Seth was born in Tennessee in 1798. and died on the farm his father purchased seventy years ago. in 1876, leaving four children. The whole family were peace-loving Friends, and did much for the moral welfare of this community, of which their descendants are now prominent in social and business circles.

Arthur Forbes, a patriotic Irishman, who. fled from English oppression, settled on Section 27 about 1811, raising a large family and living to a ripe old age, dying about 1848. and, like all Irishmen, he loved liberty and hated tyranny.

Thomas Mills settled on Section 23, where Ills' son John now resides, in 1812; he was born in Virginia in 1785, and in 1790 came with his parents to Kentucky, where he was manned, thence to Ohio at the date above mentioned, dying in 1865; he was prominent in township affair's at an early day.

Early settlers in this township were William and John Goudy, who came in 1808; they were natives of Pennsylvania, who first settled in Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1S03. whence they came to Clark; many of their descendants are living throughout the county.

Robert Elder. Sr., came from Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, in 1813, and bought from Mr. Funk fractional Section 10, which contained about six hundred acres, on which he and family settled; this hind is yet owned by the family. Mr. Elder died October 3, 1825, and his wife September. 20, 1827. Two of his sons yet reside in the township - Robert and John, the former being in his eightieth and the latter in his seventy -fourth year, and the name is largely represented by worthy descendants.

James Stewart., a cousin of those previously mentioned, came in 1813. and lxuudit the land upon which his sons. Elijah. James F. and David, now live. He was born in Pennsylvania about 1782, and there married to Jane Elder, a sister of Samuel and John T. Stewart's wives, and died on the homestead in Green Township, in 1852. aged seventy.

In 1816, William Estle settled in the township; he was born in New Jersey in 1791, and there married in 1813, eight children being the fruits of this union. He died in 1859, and his widow in 1877.

Stephen Kitchen, a native of Pennsylvania, settled in Warren County, Ohio, at an early day, and in 1818 came with 'his famliy to this township, settling on the farm where his son Abraham has resided for more than half a century. Stephen went to Illinois, and was there drowned in the Illinois River.

James Todd came in ISIS; was married, in 1819, to Betsy Garlough. of which union four sons and five daughters are the fruits; the sons are John H., W. Brand, Samuel A. and James, and the daughters are all living near the old borne. Hi'. Todd was born in Pennsylvania in 1797, and his wife in Maryland in 1799; he came with his parents to Ohio in 1806, settling on a stream in Warren County which, has since been known as Todd's Fork, and from there to this township, where he was married, and settled on Section 18, in the northern part of the township, dying in 1863; his widow, in her eighty-third year, is yet living on the old homestead. He was a soldier in the war of 1812; was a millwright and carpenter, and had an extensive acquaintance.

Thomas Tindall was born in England in 1786; came with his family to Green Township in 1819. where he died in 1856. his widow dying in 1872. They left a large family of children, who are well known in the county.

In 1824, James and John Anderson, natives of Scotland, but claiming no relationship, came here from Greene County, where they had settled in 1819. James settled on Section 33, and John on 28, both living to a ripe old age, leaving large and prosperous families. James died in 1864, aged eighty -four; his son, " Squire" -James Anderson, is yet residing in the township, and is a man of moral worth and strict integrity.

Among the other early settlers of Green were William Barnes, on Section 33; George Weaver and George Hempleman, on Section 10; David and Thomas Littler, Robert Laing, Lewis Skilliugs (who lived but a short time in. this township. moving across the line to Springfield Township), John Baldwin, Gideon and Charles Bloxam, Josiah Bates, William Marshall, John Wade, Wesley and Jackson Allen. John Nagiev and James Mason, nearly all of whom were from ^ irginia, and came for the purpose of making a home in the then dense forest of Ohio. Those men must have had rare courage, to undertake such a task, and posterity will ever honor their memory.

Green Township is mostly level. Its western portion is drained by branches nf Mad River, while the Little Miami traverses the eastern part, passing in a southwesterly direction. The North Fork of the Little Miami empties into the Little Miami about two miles east of Clifton. About the year 1820, these two streams were carefully measured, under the direction of Gov. McArthur, to ascertain which was the main stream, and- also depositions of early settlers were taken before John T. Stewart. Esq., as evidence, of which was called the main stream, the ultimate object being to locate the head- waters of Little Miami, and Hereby fix the line between the Congress and Virginia Military Lands. A never 'ailing stream of water, called u Skillings' Ditch," empties into the Little Miami,

* ringing water from Springfield, Harmony and Madison Townships. It is in Oie eastern part of the township, and flows through a prairie, which in early tunes, was extremely wet and miry, being covered with a heavy growth of coarse grass, fiags and weeds, a secure shelter and an admirable retreat for wild animals, wild geese not. infrequently staying here all summer. A ditch known as "Stewart's Ditch" is situated in the central part of the township. Its course is south, and empties into the North Fork of Little Miami.

This township is all timber land, with occasionally a small prairie along the water- courses. The timber is white, black and burr oaks, hickory, walnut and ash. The timber growth of Green Township was rank; the underbrush of hazel, plum, crab-apple, thorn and grapevine, in their corporate density rendered penetration very difficult.

There are many good springs of water in the township, principally in the eastern part A strong sulphur spring is on Section 15, where Samuel and John T. Stewart settled. On Mr. Thomas P. Millers farm is the famous " Little Spring," which has a very large flow of water, never varying in vol nine. On the hill close to this spring, while digging a cellar in 1832, the workmen found, about four feet deep, seven wedges, heaped carefully together, and, when ground, showed a deep yellow color, and weighed about three and a half pounds each. Mr. George Tindall, the tinder, after all present had examined them, laid them back near where they were found, covering them lightly with clay: in tim morning, he could not find the wedges, nor has the writer seen them since.

Tb:' Indians vacated the territory of this township about the commencement of the war of 1812. Their last camping-grounds were on the south bank of the Little Miami, just above and below the junction of North Fork with the Little Miami. The Indians who were here when the pioneers began settlements were friendly and quiet. Hunting and iisliing were their occupations* We give here an incident which 'will illustrate their dislike to manual labor. A company of Indians were fishing near the residence of Gen. Benjamin "Whiteman, when one of them became engaged in a wrestling match with a mulatto in the General's employ. The Indian proved to be the better man. giving the mulatto a heavy fall, after which he was unable to get up. The Indian became anxious as to the effect of the accident, and asked of the General, " What you do with me if me kill Ned?" The General replied, " You must work in his place." The Indian, looking at Ned and thinking the matter over, replied, " Me would rather you would kill me. General."

Congress lands were sold at two prices; first-class at $-1, and second-class at $2.50 per acre. An entry, with the payment of 81 per acre, would secure a warrant. Failures to pay the balance were quite numerous. Congress, in 1822, lengthened out the time eight years for the payment of dues on land. At the expiration of this time, many were still unable to cancel their debts, in consequence of which Congress passed an act to effect that all persons holding land warrants would become entitled to land deeds by paying 25 cents on each acre, and all lands not already sold should beheld at $1.25 per acre. The last entry of land in the township was made by John T. Stewart, in 1832 or 1S33, embracing the northeart quarter of Section 3d. Mr. Abraham Kitchen bought, at public sale, the northeast quarter of Section 11. in 1832, for $300.

The Limestone street road, the Yrellow Springs road and the Hillsboro road, all centering at Springfield, and also two county roads running east on either side of the Little Miami from Clifton (or formerly Davis' Mills), were opened about the same time, soon aft^r the formation of pioneer settlements. The township now has sixty-six miles of roads, fifty-two miles of common roads in good condition, nearly one-thinl of which is graded and graveled, ten miles of toll roads, and four miles of free improved roads. There are also two miles of railroads - one mile across the northwest corner and one across the southeast corner. The township is abundant in gravel, out of which all the roads can be made passably good.

breadstuff's as pioneers generally. They were favored with a good mill, which was erected by Mr. Owen Davis about the year 1800, on the Little Miami, on the site of E. 11. Stewart's mills. The dam and race now used by Mr. Stewart are the same as erected by Mr. Davis for his grist-mill. This mill became known as 44 Patterson's Mill," and all grains going into it were carried from the horses or wagons on the shoulders of the millers. This mill is just across the line in Greene County.

Salt was not easily obtained. To supply the wants, settlers would club ton-other and have the salt brought from the salt works south of Chillicothe, on packhorses.

Cincinnati early became the market for all salable articles of the produce kind from this vicinity, and likewise the point at which to make purchases. Several of the farmers in company would load their wagons with whatever produce they could spare for market, and, with feed for man and horse, make a journey to Cincinnati, thereby effecting a change which met every want of. the pioneer.

Farms were opened slowly. The typical log' cabin, with its puncheon floor and clapboard roof, was found upon every pioneer farm. The log cabin, as a rule, had but one room, which served as kitchen, dining-room, bed-room and parlor; tuid at one side a large open lire -place was erected, which served the double purpose of heater and cook-stove. One door and one window made the list of embellishments complete. An ax, saw and auger were the carpenter's outfit in those days. Usually, a rail pen served the purpose of stable. To- open out a farm after the erection of cabin and stable, the underbrush was grubbed out, rails made sufficient to fence the fields, and the standing trees girdled.

These primitive landmarks of the pioneer were ultimately superseded by more convenient frame and brick dwellings and more extensive bams. Mr. Seth Smith is supposed to have built the first frame house, in Is 17; John Stewart the first brick, in .1823. These were soon followed by other frame and brick houses. Brick houses were built respectively by James Stewart in 1828 ; W ill - iam and Gabriel Albin in 1830; Ebenezer Wheeler in 1833: and also Philip Marquart, Mr. Hensbarger, Justice Luse, James Todd and others, built brick houses at an early day.

Among the wild animals were red deer, which was a beautiful animal, and numerous in these parts up to 1825; the last one known in the township was a <doe that remained on the north half of Section 16 during the summer of 18-13, and was killed by Mr. Benjamin Allen in November of that year. Other animals were the gray fox, red fox (first seen here about 1844), raccoons, opossums, skunks, minks, muskrats, rabbits, gray and black squirrels, red squirrels (first seen here in 1850), blue- rats (the pioneer rat), the Norway rat (which immigrated here about 1838), brown bear (one found as late as 1825), the gray wolves. Elk horns were found, and yet are found in the lowlands, but the animal became extinct prior to settlements. The last gray wolf was killed about 1820, by Abraham Inlow, he being at quite a risk. Mr. Inlow was crossing the open prairie now -owned by Charles Stewart, northeast quarter of Section 30; just as he entered the prairie, the wolf jumped from the grass and ran in the direction he was going. His horse started after and soon overtook the wolf, when it turned and started back. The horse stopped suddenly, turning also. Mr. Inlow, now excited, urged his horse and overtook the wolf before it reached the timber; when overtaken the second time, it turned short, turning again into the prairie; when overtaken the third time, its squatted in the long grass'. Mr. Inlow now slipped quietly from his horse and grabbed the wolf by both hind legs. He soon saw he had his hands full, the wolf snapping furiously at his legs and arms; having no knife or other weapon, he started backward for the timber, tw isting and kicki

Among the birds were the brown turkey, which was very numerous, and not exterminated until 1857 or 1858; pheasants, formerly were numerous, but now are few; quails, about as plenty now as formerly; wild pigeons, almost extinct, and wild ducks often found in cur streams and ponds by thousands.

Wild fruits - plums, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, hickory-nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts and acorns - were originally found in abundance. Hogs were often fattened by being turned loose to feast upon the nuts and acorns in the fall of the year.

The health of this township was always reasonably good. However, ague and fevers - diseases common. to Ohio - would, during some seasons, attack many. The " milk sickness," " trembles " or " sick stomach," a very dangerous disease, was known here. Persons attacked with it seldom recovered; those not dying at once were sufferers from its effects for years. Many of the early settlers died of this disease. The cause of. the disease was thought by some to be a shrub growing in low. rich lands, in the shade and around ponds of water. This shrub resembled the poison-oak vine in foliage, yet grew but from two to four feet high. It kept green until late in the fall. Cattle eating this shrub would soon show symptoms of the disease, and if they were milch cows, the calves would be affected first with the trembles, losing the use of their limbs, yet retaining good appetites. Young cattle running out in the locality of this shrub would look well, yet, upon being driven so as to get their blood heated, would suddenly show signs .of the trembles,, and fall to the ground and be unable to get up, living for weeks in that condition, but eventually dying. The only known cure was plenty of green corn. Persons using the milk or butter from cows exposed, though showing no signs of disease, would contract the disease, flogs eating the flesh of animals dying from it were certain to die. This shrub was found in the north paid of the township, and would soon die out when the locality in which it was found was cultivated or , closely pastured by sheep. This disease has entirely disappeared, the last fatal case being Mr. John AYlieeler, who died in 1858.

able to "read, write and cipher." The first schools were paid foe on the subscription plan. The person wishing to teach school would circulate a subscription paper in the neighborhood where lie desired to teach; if lie secured subscriptions sufficient to pay 88 or $10 per month, school would commence. These schools usually cost 81.50 per scholar for thirteen weeks. No examination of the teacher was made, except by the patrons of the school. After the formation of the school districts in 1819, and election of Directors, subscriptions were secured by them, and about 1880 some public funds were added to the subscription. Schoolhouses were built on the donation plan up to about 1840. School districts were independent of each other until 185*2; the change that year, making a townslrp a school district composed of subdistricts, -soon enabled the people to have good schoolhouses and good schools. Female teachers were unknown until about 1828 or 1880.

The pioneers of this township represented almost every phase of religious belief; yet the Baptists were the first to organize, and, with the help of Pres by - terians and others, to build a "meeting-house." This rough log house was built in 1807, on the north bank of the Little Miami, about eighty rods east of Gen. Benjamin Whiteman's house, and on his farm. It was warmed from a lire- place in one end. about ten feet wide. The Baptists occupied this house for occasional preaching up to 1880. Peter Clyde, a Scotchman, often walked from Xenia, twelve miles, to exhort the people. Peter, one Sabbath, was a little late, and made the following as an excuse to the congregation : His neighbor, the Rev. Hugh McMillan, had let him have a horse to ride, and he got along very well until he came to the Burn Creek at Old Town, which the horse did not want to cross, and he did not want to contrary the horse, so he took it back to Xenia and walked.

On the 16th of March, 1811, a number of persons met at the house of James Miller, Sr., and petitioned Miami Presbytery to organize a church on the third Sabbath of August of the same year. The Rev. James Welch met with the petitioners and organized a church, of which the following persons were members: Sebastian Shrofe and Thomas Patton, Elders; William and Margaret Ward, William Bull, George Browne and wife, Samuel and Elizabeth Sewart, Thomas and Sarah Townsley, James Johnson, William and Elizabeth JunkinXJohn T. Stewart (Clerk), Agnes Shrofe, Jennie Patton, Ann Marshall, Isabella Berry, Ann Wilson, Isabella Wilson. James and Rebecca Miller. John Humphries, Rebecca Garrison and Sarah Reed. Of this church, Peter Montfort was Pastor from A 31 3 to 1817, when Rev. Andrew W. Poague became Pastor, and was faithful to the church until his death, in 18-10. In November, 1.84.0, Rev. Moses Russell was established as Pastor, and served until his death, in 1863. In August, 1864, Rev. A. R. Colmary was elected Pastor, and he resigned in i860, on account of illhealth. Rev. T. M. Wood was chosen Pastor April 25, 1870, who preached for one year, but was not established Pastor. April 5, 1871, Rev. E. S. Weaver was made Pastor, and is now serving as such. This church built its first house of logs soon after its organization. Its site was near the east fence of the cemetery, and near the middle, north and south.

In 1827, a brick church, 45x55 feet, was built near the west fence of the cemetery, whose foundation is yet visible, in 1854. The present church was built in Clifton, and in Green Township, of brick, being 45x75 feet. The membership of this church for the last thirty years has averaged about two hundred.

The Friends, or Quakers, held meetings at Seth Smith's residence and a schoolhouse near by as early as 1816. Christian Anthony was their preacher, and organized a society which is in existence yet, and have a large church at Selma, in Madison Township.

About the year 18 i8 or 1820. a chinch was built on grounds donated by Gabriel All fin, in which a Methodist Episcopal Church was organized. This chinch remained until about 1837, when a frame church was erected on Adam Maine's farm, about one mile north. This organization built Emery Chapel, in Springfield Township, in 1852.

In 1839, 1). F. Ladley. an Elder in the Christian Church, organized the " Ebenezer " Church in the old house on Gabriel Albin's lot. In 1845. a brick chinch was built on a lot adjoining the old house, it being removed and the lotused for a cemetery and hitcliing-ground. Melyn D. Baker, Isaac N. M alter, J acob Reeder, with others, have had pastoral charge of the Ebenezer Church. Dming 1879 and 1SS0, Rev. N. Summerbell was its Pastor.

The old church, when first built, was heated in a singular manner. Four puncheon boards, four or five feet long, were fastened together so as to make a pen. then placed on the church iioor, in which was placed some clay; this was hollowed out, and in the hollow was built a charcoal lire.

The Rev. Saul Heukle, in 1833. at the- house of John Budd. organized a Methodist Protestant Church, which bought a lot on Section 17. from Mr. Thomas Jefferson, in 1841, using the dwelling-house for worship until 1840, when it built a frame church. This church was repaired and improved in 1877, while Rev. Rose had charge of the circuit to which it belongs. This church is known as Concord Church. Rev. Spark is in charge in 1880 and 1881.

Rev. Cyril-- Dudley, in 1810, organized a Free-Will Baptist Church, which built a liewed-Iog house, 24x82 feet, on a lot donated by Abraham Kitchen, on a hilltop now known as Pleasant Grove. In 1850, the old house was removed and a large brick church erected in its stead. The church is in good condition, with Rev. B. F. Zell Pastor. This society was removed from Harmony Township, where it worshiped before locating in Green.

An Anti -Slavery Methodist organization was effected in 1844 at Coi'tsville, known as the Wesleyan Church, which built a church on a lot given by David Littler, and, after a few years of good work, was abandoned. In this church in 1850 Rev. A. L. Rankin organized a Free Presbyterian Church. This organization, in 1852, built a frame church on a lot donated to it by John Hume, at Clifton, on a hill in Green Township, and in 1859 it was merged into a new organization of the United Presbyterian Church, with Rev. W. A. Campbell; Pastor, who acted as such for sixteen years. Since 1878, Rev. R. C. Wyatt has had pastoral care. In 1859, a line brick church was built, and is warmed by means of the modern improvement- - a furnace in the basement.

Won os' CLaiiol was built in 1860, on the Yello w Springs Pike, and a church organized as a branch of the Methodist Episcopal Church. It was organized by Rev Timothy Wones in 1858.

Of cemeteries or burying- grounds, many are unknown, others are known but entirely neglected, and still others, which are inclosed but abandoned. Some are in good repair, among which are Bloxum Grounds, near the southeast corner of the township; the Pleasant Grove lot, adjoining the Free-Will Baptist meeting-house; the Garlough Cemetery, on Section IS: the Presbyterian Cemetery, just over the west line in Greene County; and the Ebenezer Bnrying-Grounds. Of those inclosed but abandoned are the Ebenezer Lot, the Stratton and Bogle Lot, the William Miller Lot, and a few graves are the Concord Church, on Section 17. The burving-plaees known but neglected are at the old site of Emery Chapel; here 'was buried Robert Davis, a pioneer schoolmaster; also the Pearsons, and others; a few graves on. C. A. Estle's farm; some on the section line between Sections 17 and 23; at the southwest corner of John Hep's farm, and at the southeast corner of J. S. Kitchen's farm. It was quite common for pioneers to bury the dead of their respective families on their own farms; consequently, new owners of the lands neglected to preserve the graves. In the cemeteries and burying-grounds, many graves of old pioneers are unmarked.

Robert Cort, about J 830, began to make the residence and carpenter-shop of William Marshall, on the farm now owned by Isaac X. Kitchen, a depot for his business of exchanging groceries and other articles for butter, eggs, cheese and other farm produce which he could proiitably convey to Cincinnati in wagons. In .1835, William Marshall became his partner, and then the firm built a small storehouse at the road- crossing, and, soon after, a large one, which became a flourishing coVmtry store; trade extended so as to include the purchase and packing of wool and pork. Mr. Cort and Mr. Marshall died about 1843, the business passing into the hands of Robert Marshall and John Holmes. Marshall dying in 1846, John M. White and William Story succeeded as owners. About 1852, on the death of these partners, the business was abandoned. Gortsvilie is composed of one blaeksmitli-shop, one grocery store, the Colored Baptist Church,

The first building at Pitcliin was owned by Green Porter in 1845, who erected a residence and blacksmith -shop. In 1846, the Methodist Protestant Church was built, and, about the same time, other houses' and shops. In 1854, George Hansbraugh built and operated a steam saw-mill* which was run for twelve years, John G. Hatfield and Aaron Dean being the later owners. The population of Pitchin, including the farm suburbs, in 1880, was 120. Pitchin at this time (1881) includes John H. Todd's grocery store, James M. Littler's blacksmith -shop, Job Evans' wagon-shop, James 51. Gregg's shoe-shop, Andrew and Adam Fink's slaughter-house, Dr. Dillehunt's office, twenty residences, Methodist Protestant Church, and schoolhouse.

The introduction of machinery was not effected until about 1830. The cast mold-board plow was introduced about 1820. The first of these was the Peacock plow, made at Cincinnati, and was a right-hand plow. About 1837, the left-hand Franklin plow was introduced. "Wooden harrow-teeth were used until about. 1820. Wheat, rye and oats were reaped with the sickle up to 1830, when the cradle was introduced. In 1852, the McCormick reaping machine was intro duced, a machine which cut seven feet wide, and drawn by four horses. The grass was mown with a scythe until about 1850. The revolving hay -rake, made by Pearce A Son, near South Charleston, came into use about 1830. Wheat drills were introduced about 1856, and corn chills, corn planters and check-row planters soon after. Threshing was done with the flail, or tramped out by horses on the ground, or on barn floors. Mr. Rowan introduced the. first threshing machine in 1835. His machine simply shelled the grain from the straw, and then the separation of the straw from the grain was done with hand rakes; afterward, the grain was separated from the chaff by the wind-mill. Pitts' separator was first used here in 1S47, by Abraham Kitchen.

The Franklin cooking-stove was the pioneer stove here, introduced about 1S35. Before its introduction, the reflector was the only change from the open fire, the cranes, Dutch or brick ovens, pots and skillets being used. Sewing machines were introduced here in 1858 or 1859.

Robert Watkins opened a tannery on what is now Israel Hollins worth's farm about 1815. and was run up to about 1830. Another tanvard was built about 1836. by Peter Knott Sc Co., near Clifton. This yard lias been in operation up to 1880. In 1834 or 1835. Mr. Aaron Allen erected a steam saw-mill at what is now called Allentown, which was kept in operation by himself and sons until 1852, v hen it burnt down.

The first Trustees of the township, after it became a part of Clark County, were Samuel Stewart, Thomas Mills and James Stewart. John T. Stewart was the first Clerk. These gentlemen received for their services for the first year the following; flames Stewart, 84; Thomas Mills, 83.50; Samuel Stewart. $3; John T. Stewart, $2.75. The first Justices of the Peace were Robert Stephenson and John T. Stewart.

The following is a list of Jurors selected in 1819: Grand Jurors - -Benjamin Whiteman. J. Branson, David Littler. Stephen Kitchen and Abraham Inlow. Petit Jurors - Mu Mice Luse, John A. Swarngen, John Gar lough and Alexander Forbes. Ten years later. 1N2S, we find the following: Grand Jurors - Joshua

The township officers and their pay for services for 1828 were as follows; trustees, Samuel Stewart, $3.75; Thomas Mills, $3.75; Edmund Hartin, $3; treasurer, James Stewart, paid by percentage. Supervisors - Thomas Barnes, ^l.oO; Allen Barnes, 75 cents; John Garlough, 75 cents; Joshua Marshall,

£1.50; -John Anderson, $2.25; Thomas Elder, 75 cents; John T. Stewart, 75 cents; making as total costs, $19.40. Township receipts from County Treasurer, $18.93!. Received of John T. Stewart, $1, being a line collected from Robert Ga) for swearing. Again we find that in 1831 the payment for township officers' services amounted to $20,084.

The following citizens from this township have held important offices in the county and State: Stephen M. Wheeler, County Auditor in 1838 and 1839, and also Representative in 1840 and 1841; John T. Stewart, Associate Judge of Court of Common Pleas in 1837 and 1838; Perry Stewart, County Commissioner in 1806 and 1867, and Representative in the Fifty-eighth General Assembly of Ohio in 1868 and 1869; William D. Johnson, County Commissioner from 1869 to 1875. J. S. Kitchen, one of the present County Commissioners, is a native of the township, but was a resident of Springfield when elected.

Since the organization of Green Township, it has been politically Whig and Republican, voting four-fifths of its vote for the candidates of those parties. From 1842 to 1852, the Liberty and Free-Soil parties received from this township one half their votes polled in the county. The vote of 1880 was the largest ever polled - 316 Republican and 81 Democratic.

During the rebellion, Green Township sent promptly to the front her quota ui vuiuiiteex'ft, ucJiioiisli at'iiig Uuil treason lound no sympainy among lier citizens, 175 men from this township giving their services .to help preserve the Union, the names of whom will be found elsewhere in this work. Of these, twenty-three died in the service or since the war ended: ninety-live have removed from the township; and fifty-seven are yet residents of it, and relate with pride the achievements of the gallant boys in blue.

Madison Township occupies a position in the southeast part of the county, and is bounded north by Harmony Township, east by Madison County, south by Greene County and west by Green Township. Its width from north to south is five and a half miles, and its average length from east to wrest is seven and twosevenths miles. Its area is forty and one- fourteenth square miles, containing 25,650 acres. Some of this territory was originally a part of Madison County, from which its name is taken, and, previous to 1819, it was called Vance Township. When and for what reason the name was changed does not appear on the records, but it retained the name of Vance for about two years after the formation of Clark County. It is reasonable that the original name came from a family of that name who were of the earliest and most prominent settlers.

The lands of Madison Township are, for the greater part. Military lands, and lie south of the Little Miami River and east of Ludlow's line. This line has its southern terminus at the source of the Little Miami, in the northeastern part of the township. The value of real estate in 1850 was $335,962; in 1860, it was $624,026; in 1870, $984,410; in 1880, $1,069,462.

The Little Miami River has its. source in the northeastern part of the township, and flows westerly. Massie's Creek rises in the southeastern part of the township, Hows southwesterly. Willow Branch, in the southwestern part of the

South Charleston is the principal town, and is situated near the center of the township, at the crossing ui the T. 0. <&, St. E. R. It, and the Springfield Southern Railroad. It contains three churches - Methodist Episopal, Presbyterian and Catholic. The Union School building, Town Hall and the Ackley House are public buildings deserving mention.

Selma is a small village in the extreme southwestern part of the township, five miles from South Charleston, on the P. C. & St. L. R. R. It contains good society and has a fine school building with three departments. The Orthodox Friends, American Methodist Episcopal and Methodist Episcopal religious societies have each an organization and a house of worship. The Hicksite branch of the Friends' Society have a church in the vicinity. Selma, in ante-bellum davs, was a noted station of the underground railroad.

From the records, it would appear that the township of Madison was made up of territory taken in part from Greene Conn t,y and in part from Madison County, but the exact extent of each section cannot be accurately stated. The record of the County Commissioners reads:

"April *25. ISIS. - Ordered by the board that as much of that part taken from Ike county of Greene and now comprised within the said county of Clark, and formerly known by the name of Yance Township, be a separate and distinct township, and it is hereby organized into a separate and disinct township, to be known by the name of Yance Township." tf-Segiiming on the north boundary of the 8th Range, on the line dividing the counties of Madison and Clark; thence south with said line to the southeast corner of said county of Clark; thence westwardly with the south boundary of Clark County to the east line of Green Township; thence north with said east line of Green Township to the north boundary of the 8th Range; thence east with said range line to the beginning. And the election for township officers shall be holden on the 19th day of September next, at the house of George Searloit, in Charleston."

The inhabitants of Madison Township are principally to the manor born. The original settlers were from Yirginia and Kentucky, with a few from other States.

The Methodists, Presbyterians, Quakers and Catholics have well -organized Societies.' Infidelity and skepticism have found little root and Ess fruit. Schools flourish and the child of this day without a practical education has despised tlie offered opportunities.

Agriculture is the leading pursuit. Wheat, corn, oats, hay, potatoes and fruit are the main products of the land. Stock-raising receives much attention, and some of the foremost and most prominent breeders of fine cattle, sheep, horses and swine wdthin Clark County are residents of Madison Township.

The timber of the township is of good quality, and of sufficient quantity for practical purposes. Oak, asli, hickory and elm are the principal kinds of timber. The early settlers found very little timber here in the beginning of the nineteenth century, and therefore the timber found now is mainly the growth of the present century. Previous to the settlement of the land by the whites, the Indians annually fired the long grass which covered the country. This thev did m facilitate hunting, and the result was the almost entire destruction of the small growth of timber. The surface of the country is generally level, but it is sulii cienty rolling to make drainage by artificial means practically cheap and easy.

The records at hand are at fault to show who wore the early officials and their succession in office. Between the years 1810 -and 1855, the followingnamed citizens" served in various official capacities: William Holloway, Robert

1 810, September 14 - Peter Monahan and Richard Baldwin were elected Constables of Vance Township, and Alexander Ross was a Constable at the same time, having been elected the previous April.

1818, April - -James Pringle gave bond as Constable of ATance T^miship " and part of Stokes attached to Yance." Bond, 8500, " current moneY'M the State of Ohio."

1819, October 25 - James Donaldson, having been appointed Constable of Madison Township, gave bond in the sum of 8500, "good aud lawful money of the United States." Charles T. Arthur was Treasurer at this date.

1844, December 20 - A. Waddle appointed by Mordecia Bartley, thirteenth Governor of Ohio, to cast the proxy vote of said Governor on the stock of the Jefferson, South 'Charleston A Xenia Turnpike Company.

The original roads seem to have been laid out regardless of section lines and cardinal points of the compass. The exceptions to this statement are few, and this fact mars the shape of many of the finest farms of Madison Township.

The West Jefferson, South Charleston A Xenia Turnpike was built by a stock company about the year 1844. The Springfield A South Charleston Pike was finished in I860. The Charleston, West Jefferson A Washington Pike was f - ' ' ;.=! iv. 1868. The average cost of these improved roads is put down at $2,000 per mile. *

Of The Early Settlers

The early settlers of Madison Township, like the pioneers of other parts of the great State of Ohio, were a peculiar people, and seemed providentially designed dor their parts in life's great drama. They were men and women of rude and - vifpolished manners, yet they were not lacking in the nobler qualities that fitted them to become the antecedents of a more polished civilization. The following brief mention is made of some of these families, who, braving the privations of frontier life, laid the foundations of society, on which their descendants have built and flourished:

George Buffenberger was a Virginian. He and family came to Ohio and settled in Madison Township as early as 1807, locating on the head- waters of the Little Miami. He owned a large tract of valuable land, raised a large family of children, and was characterized as the most eccentric nan of his generation. He possessed great wealth, yet was careless, and often shabby in his dress, and defied the ordinary customs of civilized life.

Christopher Lightfoot was a man of fine education, and a Scotchman. He settled where William Watson now lives, south of the Little Miami depot, some years before South Charleston was laid out, and was one of the prejectors of that village. He was a school-teacher and surveyor.

Elijah Pratt was probably the first physician of Madison Township. He was practicing as early as 1818. He lived northeast of South Charleston. Pie was from Xew England.

John Kolso w as among the first Justices of the Peace of the township. He lived on the Jamestown road, on lands now owned by Paullin's heirs. He reared a large family of children, all of whom are non-residents of the township.

William Holloway was an early settler near Selma, on the McDorman farm. He was a Quaker, and for many years tilled the office of Justice of the Peace creditably.

William Willis was an old and devout Quaker, and kept a hotel two miles west of South Charleston, on the Suite road from Xenia to Columbus, where Caleb Harrison lives. This place, being on the commonly traveled road from Cincinnati to Columbus, it was widely known, and was a favorite stopping-place for the distinguished men of the early times. Between the years 1839 and 1840, while Tom Corwin was a member of Congress, and was compelled to reach the national Capital on horseback, he made this hotel a regular stopping-place. He was sometimes accompanied by Henry Clay, of Kentucky, on similar trips, and the high old times had at the u Old Willis Hotel " by these distinguished guests often tried the patience of the quiet host. The house, a one-story log building of three rooms, still stands.

Mungo Murray was a Scotchman, and located on Section 12, on the northern border of the township, in 1817. His sons, James, George and Peter, were gentlemen of rare business qualifications. The last named built the u Murray House," of Springfield, and was at one time one of the foremost of the business men of that city. The elder Murray died in August, 1830, at the age of fiftyfive years.

John McCollum was a native of Virginia. He settled two miles south of South Charleston in 1814, on the farm now owned by D. V. Pringle. He was tv, fice married. By the second marriage he became the father of eight children - Rebecca, Henry, John, Alvira, Ev aline, Minerva, Seth O. and Russell B. He died in 1848, aged seventy-three ; his wife died in December, 1871, aged eightyseven.

David Vance was a Kentuckian. He settled in Madison Township in ISOS or 1609, one miie west of South Charleston, the farm now owned by James Pringle. He was a cousin of Joseph Vance, tenth Governor of Ohio. His sons - Ephraim, John, Daniel, Joseph, Elijah and Elisha - were worthy citizens. The last two were twins.

James Pringle, Sr., came from Kentucky and settled in Madison Township in 1812, on Section 16, now owned by D. O. Heiskell. His wife was a Vance. They raised a large family of children, who in after years filled well their several stations in life. Their sons were Thomas, David, William and James. Mr. Pringle died in August, 1867, aged eighty-four.

Isaac Davisson, about 1810, settled a short distance east of South Charleston. He married Sarah Curl in ISOS. His father, Isaac Davisson, Sr., was an early settler of Warren County. Isaac, Jr., and his bride, made their wedding tomr on horseback, Mrs. Davisson using a feather-bed for a side-saddle. They passed through Springfield on their way from Todd's Fork, in Warren County, to their new home, near Catawba. At this time, Springfield hacl but a few houses, and these were in the brush. After spending the first three years of their married life in Pleasant Township, they located in Madison, as stated. He purchased fifty acres of land, and in time added several hundred acres to his estate. He was of Methodistie stock, as well as his wife, and, in the years that followed their coming to the neighborhood, the early preachers held meetings in their humble cabin, and to the end of his days his devotion to the Master and his zeal for the church never waned. His wife still lives, and has passed the ninetieth milestone in the eventful race of life. They raised a large family of children; twelve of these lived to become married; they were William, Obadiah. Lemuel, Mary, Elizabeth, Xancy, Sarah J., Margaret, Julia Ann, Maria, James G. and Daniel.

Phillip Hedrick and his wife (Foley) settled on the north bank of the Little Miami in 1811, on the farm now owned by K. P. Truitt. Mr. Hedrick was a Kentuckian? his wife, a Virginian. He bought 600 acres of land at $1.25 per acre. The husband and wife died in 1838 and 1825 respectively. They were married in Kentucky, and five children were born to them in that State. Their children were Samuel, Lewis, David, Isaac, Henry, Joseph, Anna, Mahala and Rebecca. He assisted to lay out South Charleston in 1815.

Charles Paist was a native of Delaware County, Pennsylvania. He married Abigail Perkins, of Wilmington, Ohio. He settled on the head- waters of

Green Tp

M a gio's Creek, on the Columbus and Xenia road, in 1S.15, and there built a store and carried on merchandising several years. He was the hrst merchant of Mad-

Township. He moved to South Charleston in 18*24, and there continued merchandising for some time. He served one term as Associate Judge of the (kart of Common Pleas, and was one of the leading Abolitionists of his time, Ix-iiig far in advance of the public sentiment of that day. The first anti-slavery address ever made in South Charleston was made from the porch of his residence, <<n Columbus street. He was a medley of contradictions, being a Democrat, a Quaker, an Abolitionist, and an ardent follower of Tom Paine. His children - Pane, William, Ch aides and Mary (Mrs. D. O. Heiskell) inherited the sterling qualities of the father. He died in 1358, aged sixty. His wife died the next year, aged fifty-eight.

Robert Houston was born in Scott County, Kentucky, April 1 1, 1800. At the age of twelve years, he came to Ohio with his parents. He studied medicine at Springfield. Ohio, and began the practice of his profession at South Charleston in July, 1821. He married Eliza Pearce November 25, 1822, and became the father of twelve children. lie continued the practice of medicine forty four years successively in this village. In 1865, he removed to Cham - rvion City. Ill-, where be died July 11, 1872, aged seventy -two years. He was an ardent Whig, a zealous Republican,' and tor nearly fifty years was a consistent and useful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Samuel Thomas and family came to Madison Township about 1814, where he remained until his death, in 1867, his wife dying in 1871- He was a native of Delaware, bom in 1785, and was married, in Warren County, Ohio, to Mary St. John, a native of NewT York, born in 1783. They had nine children, and their eldest child, John, is now residing in the township, at the age of seventytwo.

A Reminiscence

In 1828 or 1829, a debating society was held in s small brick sclioolhouse that stood very near the place where now stands the Methodist Episcopal Church. Capt. Brown was fond of debating, and was seldom absent from the meetings of the society. The subject of railroads and telegraphs wras just beginning to attract some attention in the Eastern States. Capt. Brown took up this theme one night, and, enlarging upon it, said the time was not far in the future when railroads would be laid all over the West; that one would reach from Cincinnati to Lake Erie which would not run far from the place where he stood. He added that men would yet travel fifteen miles an hour, and heavy burdens be pulled ove: these roads by steam power.

The Methodists were then in the dominance in the village. They, voted Capt. Brown a visionist, a castle-builder, and denounced his railroad theory as the rankest infidelity, and contrary to God's revealed word. They claimed that if God had intended his creatures to travel in the marvelous way spoken of, he would have foreshadowed it in the prophecies. Of those who were most outspoken in denouncing the Captain's theory, mention is made of John Mitton, Sarah Mitton, Eli Adams and wife, Susan Mitton, Joshua D. Truitt, Benjamin Truitt, James Woosley and his wife, John McCollum and wife, Asbury Houston and wife, Laughlin Kinney and wife, Horatio Murray and wife. No better nor more honored Christian people ever lived in Clark County than these above named; many of them lived to travel by railroad, and the news of the death of more than one of their number was flashed across the land by telegraph.

Reminiscence Of The Past

"In the year 1835, a man named Eastman, from one of the New England States, sent an appointment to address the people of South Charleston on the question of the abolition of slavery. At that time, there were barely a dozen souks in the village who sympathized with the anti-slavery movement. The existing political parties were alike indifferent, but the pulpit and the press had sounded a note of warning, which began to echo in the ears of a few Quakers here, and there. When Eastman arrived, he was met by a previously appointed committee, consisting of several of the best citizens of the place, who notified him that presence in the village was obnoxious to its citizens, and under no circumstances would the people consent that the slavery question should be discussed from the Abolitionist's standpoint.

14 Nlr. Eastman answered courteously that he was accustomed to such receptions, and that, notwithstanding the warning of the committee, he should certainly carry out the object of his visit and deliver his address; that he recognized a higher law than any statutory enactment, and that he feared God more than man. There was a good sclioolhouse and a church in the village, but had they been a thousand miles distant they would have served Eastman as well as now. Xo one dared to open the door of a public house to the agitator! But Charles Paist, a staid old Quaker, said. ; Thee may speak at my house,' and accordingly it was announced that the speaker would speak that evening from the porch of Charles Paist, on Columbus street. When the hour of the meeting arrived, the speaker found in front of him in the street a large crowd of men and boys whose demeanor meant trouble. They were all supplied with eggs, which had been provided by the merchants and grocers of the village, and nothing was better understood than that Eastman was to be egged. This was known by Eastman, and by Mr. and Mrs. Paist. So, when the speaking began. Mrs. Paist quietly took a position in front of the speaker, and so contrived, during the whole time of the speech, to shield Eastman from the egging that threatened him. Mrs. Paist was greatly esteemed, and no one dared throw an egg which would endanger her. At the conclusion of the speech, the speaker was conducted by a back way through a corn-field to the house of a man named Smith, where he was safe from the mob. The seed sown on this occasion took root. Twenty-one years later, when the Deputy Marshals of the United States, carrying off citizens of Champaign County under authority of the fugitive slave law, passed through the village of South Charleston, and by their overt acts set at defiance the local civil authorities. Judge Ichabod Corwin, by a strong antislavery speech in the street, enlisted the people in pursuit of the Marshal and his posse; the livery stock of the village was put at the disposal of the crowd; rifles, muskets, revolvers and other firearms were brought forth for use; the principal citizens joined in the pursuit, and were in at the capture of the Addison White rescuers."

South Charleston Agricultural Society

One of the first fair associations of Ohio, outside of Hamilton County, was organized at South Charleston in the fall of 1837, and the society held its first fair October 1(J and 20 of that year. The premiums offered to exhibitors ranged from 81 to 810, and aggregated 81 2-h Rowland Brown was President, and A. Waddle, Secretary. Among the exhibitors appear the names of Cyrus Reed, William Osborn, Silas Henkle, George Chamberlin, E. Hutton, Robert Houston, George Linson. Samuel Arthur, G. W. Sabin, Kendall Truitt, Jacob Landis, David Littlei, George Linson, Rowland Brown. James Woosley, James Johnson, Benjamin Moore, Francis Brock, J. W. Pope, Matthew Bonner. David Harrold, W. D. Pierce, A. Waddle, Benjamin Browning, John Watson. Innis Townsley, Jackson Jones, W. L. Warner, Eli Gummere, Milton Brown, Henry Bretney. 'b'mes H. Ryan, I«aac C. Dun, Milton Brown, Samuel Mormon, Mary LittJer and Hannah E. Pierce.