Clinton County, Ohio - Chapter 14: The Military History of Clinton County, 1882 (part 14 of 14)

Improved Stock

A number of men living in this township at an early date became deeply interested in improving each of the different breeds of farm animals. Absalom and Cyrus Reed were probably the first to bring in improved cattle, of the breed then known as Patten cattle, so named from the man that made the importation. John Coulter brought from near Cincinnati the first improved swine of the breed called China hogs. He also improved his neat cattle by breeding from the herd imported by Lewis T. Sanders, of Kentucky, in 1817, and, later, from animals imported by the Ohio and Kentucky Importation Company of 1834. By 1853, there was such a demand for Short-Horn cattle that the Clinton County Importation Company was organized. John G. Coulter and H. H. Hankins were the prime movers in the organization and soliciting subscriptions to the stock of the company, which amounted to $18,000. The officers elected were: President, Hon. B. F. Hinkson; Treasurer, Col. T. L. Caroth

A. R. Seymour, of Fayetto County, and John G. Coulter and H. H. Hankins, of this township, were chosen as agents to go to Europe. They went to England early in the year 1854. A. R. Seymour returned home within a short time, leaving the others to do most of the buying. They selected, from ten of the best herds in England, twenty-six Short-Horns, which they sent over in charge of Edward Lawrence, an experienced herdsman. W e have been unable to obtain a complete list of the herd, but insert a few, showing cost and selling price:

To Whom Sold

This, known as the " Clinton County Importation of 181)4," was a loss, financially, to the company, but of incalculable benefit to the community in enabling them to improve their stock more readily than before. From it, principally, sprang the herds of the late EL H. Hankins and John Gr. Coulter, which have had a national reputation.

The early pioneers were enthusiastic advocates of the subject of education. Free schools were unknown. Houses had to be built and teachers paid by the voluntary contributions of the people. Yet, as early as 1810 or 1812, there were two houses built in this township for school purposes - one in Lindsey's Survey, now the property of Silas Jacks; the other, in Gr. Carrington's Survey, on the land now owned by James IToblett. Others were built as needed in different localities, one on the ground now occupied by the Peelle Cemetery, from which fact it was long known as the "Old Schoolhouse Place." These were all primitive structures, similar to those often described in print, and the course of study not extensive, but thorough. The "three R's" included the curriculum. In the winter, school hours lasted from daylight till dark, with as many classes as pupils, and with the invariable rule that one who came first should have the privilege of the first recitation. In these schools was found the true Bpirit of self-development, a system that produced a class of men capable of filling with honor any public or private position in life. Our present rigid, ironclad system could learn many useful lessons from the schools of those days.

Between the years 1850 and 1866, the Society of Friends supported an excellent select school in a frame house situated near their meeting-house. It has been removed to the farm of H. H. Hunt, and is now in use as a dwelling. There are none but public schools in the township at present.

Religious Organizations

The Baptists held the first religious services in the township at the house of Amos Wilson, with Joshua Carmen as their preacher, during the early years of the present century. For many years, the services of that denomination were frequently conducted by Amos Wilson, either at his own or James Mills' house. At present, they have no organization in the township. John Coulter, fresh from the scenes and triumphs of early Methodism in the old country, and full of pious zeal for the propagation of religious truths, made arrangements and had services at his own house, by preachers of that denomination, soon after his arrival, in 1809. The good seed then sown has borne continual fruit, as there has been one or more congregations ever since. At present, there are two Methodist Episcopal and one Methodist Protestant Churches.

At James Douglass', the Presbyterians, soon after settling here in 1816, began holding services under the name of mission work. Some of the minis- ters who officiated were William and James Dickey, from Bloomingburg; Samuel Carothers, from Greenfield; and Gilliland and Burgess, from the Ohio River. These were all active, aggressive, energetic workers for the cause of Christ, and patiently endured privations and hardships unnumbered in order to carry the glad news into the depths of this wilderness country, to its isolated inhabitants. At present, there are two congregations in the township.

William Gallemore, John Pearson, John Peelle and some others that settled in the western part of the township between 1810 and 1820, were either members of the Society of Friends, or had been brought up by members of that denomination. As early as 1820, they were gathered into an " indulged meeting " - i. e., a meeting under the care of the committee set apart for the duty by a superior body. This body was Centre Monthly Meeting of Friends. When Dover Monthly Meeting was "set up," in 1824, the "indulged meeting" here was given into its charge as being in its limits. The first official mention we find of it is the following minute on the records of Dover Monthly Meeting, 6th of the 11th month, 1824:

" The subject of the indulged meeting on Grassy Run coming before this body, resulted in the appointment of John Oren, Daniel Bailey, Jonah Frazer, Moses Frazer, Thomas P. Moorman, Gayer Starbuck and Charles Atkinson to sit with them from time to time, render them such advice as they may be enabled, and report to a future meeting. Also, to report a Friend for Overseer of that meeting to next meeting. "

The month following the date of the above extract, we find that John Pearson's name was proposed as Overseer, and the meeting united in his appointment to that office. Annually, for the following five years, a committee was appointed by Dover Monthly Meeting with similar powers to the above. In the year following the " Hicksite Separation," we find the following minute under the date of "the 16th of the 4th month, 1829:" "The committee appointed to visit the indulged meeting on Grassy Run made the following x-eport: We, of the committee, attended to that appointment, had a conference with the members of that meeting, and are united in judgment that the indulgence thereof has continued as long as is profitable. (Signed.) David McMillen, Nathaniel Carter, Mahlon Haworth, Charles T. Moorman, Moses Frazier, William Shields, Daniel Bailey, Phoebe Haworth and Lydia Oren, which this meeting unites with, and discontinues the indulgence of Grassy Run Meeting.

"Alexander Oren, David Bailey, Jonah Frazier and James Bryan are appointed to attend that meeting, inform them of the above proceedings and report to the next meeting." The next month, they reported, and the following was entered on the record: " The Friends appointed to attend the layingdown of Grassy Run Indulged Meeting report it is complied with." requesting for an established meeting for worship, to be held on first and fourth days in each week. Also, a preparative meeting, to be held on fourth day preceding monthly meeting week. Signed: John Peelle, William Gallemore, George Stout, Joel Hunt, Jesse Hiatt, John Patterson, William Gallemore, Jr., Cephas Atkinson, Jesse Car er, John Pearson, Lydia Peelle, Mary Hunt, Mary Gallemore, Phebe Stout, Leviey Hiatt, Dinah Wyles, Rebecca Patterson and Hannah Pearson. Which, claiming the attention of this meeting' we appoint David Bailey, Charles T. Moorman, Daniel Bailey, Joseph Doan, Jr., and George Carter to visit them, in conjunction with a committee of women Friends, endeavor to judge the propriety of granting their request, and report to next meeting.

The following month, the committee reported progress, and asked for further time. " Under the date 19th of the 11th month, 1829, we find the com mittee continued on the request of Friends living on Grassy Run for an established meeting, report they have attended to the appointment, and are free their

Center Quarterly Meeting appointed acommtttee to consider the propriety of confirming the request, which reported that " they had visited Friends of Grassy Run, had a solid opportunity with them, and, after mature deliberation, are free their request for a meeting for worship be granted, to be held on first and fourth days, except fourth day in quarterly and monthly meeting weekB, but granted not the preparative, which was united with and the meeting established 5th month, 19th, 1830."

There has not been a single failure to hold meeting on the days set apart for that purpose since the above date. For several years the Friends met for worship at the homes of the different members, principally at William Gallemore's; but in 1826 they built themselves a house of hewed logs, on a lot of land now owned by the heirs of W. P. Gallemore, which was used until 184-, when the present frame structure was erected, on a lot donated by John Peelle for that purpose, situated one-half mile northeast of Lewisville. The contract has been awarded for a brick building, to be finished the present season, which will complete the circle of kinds of houses - log, frame, brick. The name Grassy Run is taken from that of a small tributary of Anderson's Fork that passes near the first meeting-place. There has generally been a resident " recorded minister," the names of those officiating being John Pearson, Cornelius Douglass, George Carter, his sons Wilson and Cyrus E., the Douglass brothers, John Henry and Robert W., Eunice Winslow, William P. Gallemore, Lewis Hunt, John M. Pidgeon and Isaiah Peelle. At the " head of this meeting" for forty-five yearB sat John Peelle (and very rarely was his place vacant), a length of time almost unprecedented, even among as long-lived people as the Quakers. But he, with all of his pioneer associates, having successfully performed their parts in the grand drama of life, have long since gone to join the great silent majority.