Clinton County, Ohio - Chapter 14: The Military History of Clinton County, 1882 (part 5 of 14)

Robert Way,* an early pioneer teacher of this State, and probably the most widely known educator of Southern Ohio for nearly sixty years, was born at Newberry, York Oo. , Penn., July 17, 1788. In 1794, his parents removed to St. Olair Township, Bedford County, Penn., where his father built a - mill on Bobb's Creek. Here Robert grew up to manhood. An old friend of Mr. Way speaks of five of the Way brothers whom he knew in Pennsylvania, David, Robert, Samuel, James and Thomas, and says that one of his earliest recollections iB of seeing the Way family riding by his father's house to Quaker Meeting. Robert Way went to school at Ellicott's Mills, Md. , and afterward taught school in Bedford County, Penn. In the early part of October, 1813, in company with Joseph and Thomas Whinery, he came to Clinton County, Ohio, and, in November of the same year, began teaching on Dutch Creek, near Azariah Wall's residence, three or four miles northwest of Wilmington. Among his pupilB here were Judge Abner Haines, late of Eaton, and the celebrated traveler, Jeremiah N. Reynolds. The former thus describes the schoolhouse where Robert Way taught his first term in Ohio: "It stood on the east bank of Long Branch, aud on the south side of the Wilmington road, about half a mile southeast of where Azariah Wall formerly resided. It was quite a primitive structure, built of logs and covered with clapboards sustained by ridge and held down by weight poles. The old neighbors, Azariah and John Wall, Amos Lundy, John Lewis, Anthony Stanley, Jonathan Dillon, John, Jacob, Joseph and Job Haines, and others met in the primitive forest and agreed on the site. In two days they cut the logs, hauled them together, reared and inclosed the house. Azariah Wall, Amos Lundy, Anthony Stanley and Job Haines notched the ends of the logs and carried up the corners in cabin style. Jonathan Dillon rived the clapboards, and Joseph Haines did the carpenter work. Thomas Whinery superintended the stick and clay chimney. The house was about 18x20 feet, with a puncheon door on the south Bide. Two logs were removed on the north and south sides, nearly their whole length. These spaces were cross-barred by small oak stiles, to which paper was pasted, and oiled with opossum or coon grease, for the purpose of letting in the light. West of the house about one hundred and fifty yards, was the spring used by the scholars for water. Near by the spring stood a smooth beech tree which bore the name of Jeremiah N. Reynolds, and in a line just below that of Robert Way, elegantly carved in the bark by a knife. The scholars used to discuss the respective merits of these autographs, and were much divided in opinion as to which was the most elegantly executed."

Mr. Way returned to Pennsylvania and spent the summer of 1814 with his friends and relatives, but came again to Ohio in the fall, and again taught during the winter of 1814-15 a six months' term at the Dutch Creek Schoolhouse. Robert Eachus, who was a warm friend of Robert Way, with the assistance of his neighbors, built a schoolhouse about two miles northwest of

Wilmington, on Stony Ridge, which Mr. Way called Todd's Fork Schoolhouse. Here Mr. Way taught two years, during 1816-17, and again went to Pennsylvania, where, in the winter of 1817-18, he taught a six months' term at Dunning's Creek, in that State, and afterward a three months' term in Warren County, Ohio, near the residence of Isaac Wales. In the winter of 1818-19, he taught a quarter school at Springboro, Warren County. In 1817, a Masonic Lodge at Wilmington was established by a dispensation charter from the Lebanon Lodge, and Arnold Truesdell made Worshipful Master. About this time, Robert Way took the first three degrees of Masonry at Wilmington, and he remained a member of the order up to the time of his death in 1871. He was consequently one of the oldest Masons in Ohio.

In 1819, he went to the Ohio University at Athens, accompanied by Arnold Truesdell and his former pupil, Jeremiah N. Reynolds, to take a course of study. He remained there until January, 1821, when he again visited Pennsylvania, and taught at Dunning's Creek until the following September, when, in company with his old friend, Edwin A. Yickroy, who had formerly been his pupil in Bedford County, Penn., he returned to Springboro, Warren Co., Ohio. They made the journey from Bedford County to Pittsburgh on foot, and in the latter place purchased a skiff, in which they descended the Ohio as far as Belpre, stopping first at Wheeling, where Nathan Hammond, who had accompanied them thus far, left them. After spending a few days in Wheeling, they continued the journey to Marietta, where they spent a few days visiting at the hotises of Mr. Skinner and Mr. Putnam, son of Gen. Rufus Putnam, whose sons had been college mates of Mr. Way at Athens. They next visited Belpre, stopping at the home of Squire Browning, who also had a son a student at Athens. At Belpre they abandoned their skiff, continuing their journey on foot, first to Athens, where they spent a week among the students, attending the debating clubs, of which Jeremiah N. Reynolds was a prominent member, and other places of college interest. While they were in Athens a Revolutionary soldier died, and Mr. Way and Mr. Vickroy were chosen to serve among the pall bearers. After a pleasant visit at this point, they continued their journey on foot to Wilmington, spending some days in the company of their friends, Mr. Morris, Samuel H. Hale, Dr. Farquhar, James Fife, etc. Their next stopping place was near Harveysburg, whore they visited an aunt of Mr. Way, and attended Friends' meeting, where Mr. Yickroy was greatly frightened by sitting next a man who had a severe ague chill, the first Mr. Vickroy had ever witnessed.

At Springboro, Mr. Yickroy became assistant teacher. Was it fate that had led them there? For here both met as young girls the women who two years later became their wives. At this school, Robert Way met as his pupil, Abigail Williams, daughter of Ennion Williams, formerly of Randolph County, N. C. Two years later she became his wife. And here Mr. Vickroy also formed the acquaintance of Cornelia Harlan, daughter of Hon. George Harlan, of the Ridgeville neighborhood. In 1823, she became the wife of Mr. Yickroy, accompanying him to Pennsylvania, where they spent fifty -seven years of happy married life together. After his marriage, which took place at Fairfield Meeting-House, Highland County, according to the ceremony of Friends, Mr. Way taught at Clear Creek, Leesburg and Hillsboro, in that county. In 1832 and 1833, he reported speeches, in short-hand in the Ohio House of Representatives, and was consequently locatod at Columbus; but he soon returned to his old occupation, teaching, about two miles north of Hillsboro for about eighteen months, whore J udge John Matthews is said to have acted as assistant a part of the time.

school for two years. He next tried milling in Cincinnati; but this proving unsuccessful, we find him in 1843 teaching in the Butterworth neighborhood, near Foster's Crossing, then at Martinsville, then at Waynesville. In 1845, he removed to the Cadwalader neighborhood, near Morrowtown, where Beach Grove Academy was built for him, in which he taught for six years. He afterward taught a term at Selma, Clark County; and, in the spring of 1852, opened a school for boys at Springfield, that county, where he taught two years. Here a number of Wilmington boys became his pupils. In 1854, he removed to Wilmington, where he resided until his death, nearly twenty years. His old residence was built by Samuel Buck, one of the early lawyers of Wilmington, but was purchased by Mr. Way from Judge Benjamin Hinkson. Here, at his residence, he received pupils, both day scholars and boarders, for eleven years. As he was then in his seventy-seventh year, he gave up teaching, which had been his occupation for sixty years. During these years a large proportion of the early residents of this and the adjoining counties were his pupils. His life-long friend, Mr. E. A. Vickroy, of Johnson, Penn., says of him: " Of all the teachers I ever went to, Robert W ay was the model schoolmaster. ' ' He made teaching his life work; what more useful and noble calling?

To Robert and Abigail Way were born five sons and two daughters. The sons all survived their parents; the daughters died in infancy. Abigail Way died in Wilmington February 24, 1869. In the various relations which she sustained as wife, mother, matron and friend, she exerted the influence of a good life, unostentatious but benign and attractive; truly benevolent and charitable, with a deep seated sympathy which was felt by all who came within the circle of her friendship. By her sons she was held in the greatest reverence, and by all who were her friends she was best loved by those who had the most intimate'knowledge of her character. She was born in Randolph County, N. C., in 1802, and was brought by her parents to Ohio in 1804. They settled near Leesburg, Highland County, where she was married.

Forty-six years of her life were spent with her husband, and the loss of her had a marked effect upon him physically and mentally. He survived her but two years. Both are buried in Sugar Grove Cemetery, at Wilmington.

There are now in the township fourteen school districts, with as many good, substantial school buildings, the greater number of which are constructed of brick. There is also a school taught at the infirmary. Fourteen teachers are employed, and the average school year is eight months. The school tax for the year 1881, was $5,474,64; and the amount paid teachers that year was $3,489.37. The school property is valued at $15,000. The enumeration of youth in the schools of the township as given in 1881, was 693, of which number 77 were between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one years.

The story of Jeremiah N. Reynolds'* life is probably the most romantic one chronicled in the history of Clinton County. He was born in Cumberland County, Penn., in 1799, and enjoyed but few advantages of early education. In 1807, his mother married Job Jeffries, who regarded learning as of little value. He had made his own way in life without much education, and expected the same of others. In 1808, the family removed to Clinton County, Ohio, and Reynolds attended the schools taught by Robert Way, at Dutch Creek and Todd's Fork, parts of the years 1813, 1814, 1815 and 1816, in all a little less than two years. He paid his own tuition and board, and, in order to do so, was obliged to work mornings and evenings and on Saturdays. When short of means he is known to have gone to the prairies of Clark County and engaged in ditching to accumulate sufficient means to pay his expenses at school.

of hiB, the late Judge Abner Haines, of Eaton, says: "He came to school clad in leather breeches and a linsey wamus, and recited by himself to the teacher. He was a very diligent student." Judge Haines relates this anecdote of him, illustrative of his character: " He had a step-brother by the name of Darlington Jeffries, a son of Job Jeffries, and the neighbors called them in fun ' Job's oxen,' and often ran the joke to the chagrin of young Reynolds. On one occasion there was a log-rolling at Azariah Wall's, when the neighbors were pretty generally collected and among them Darlington Jeffries and Jeremiah Reynolds. In the afternoon, Reynolds was carrying the end of a handspike opposite to Peter Wrightman, a small but well-built and compact man, and young Reynolds, though large of his age. was unable to move with the weight and broke down, which incident created much merriment among the hands, and one of them remarked that one of Job's oxen was a calf. This remark so offended Reynolds that he left the field, and, as he crossed the fence near by, he set his feet on the outside lower rails, and in the most stately attitude thus addressed them: ' Gentlemen, I have no father to guide and protect me in life, and you have had your fun with me to-day. Many of you are old enough to be ashamed of thus rallying a young and unprotected boy; but, gentlemen, you know little about him of whom you are making fun to-day, for 1 assure you the time is coming when you will feel proud that you ever rolled logs with Jeremiah N. Reynolds, and with this sentiment I bid you good-bye.' This little speech produced quite a sensation among the hands; some said it was an outburst of chagrin and spite, but others looked upon it as the outcropping of his coming manhood. But be this as it may, I myself have heard several of these men, in after life, refer to this incident in the very light in which young Reynolds expressed it from the fence." Jeremiah N. Reynolds taught two terms of common school during 1816 and 1817. He also taught several terms of writing school, making this his whole business, and he taught two terms of writing school jointly with Robert Way.

In 1818, he was made a Master Mason in Wilmington Lodge. In 1819, he was a student in the Ohio University at Athens, where he pursued a course in science; he remained there three years. Returning to Wilmington, he taught school one term, and then engaged in editing a newspaper called the Wilmington Spectator.

On the 14th day of April, 1824, Jeremiah Reynolds made and filed thiB affidavit in the case of Eliza Carrington, widow of Col. Edward Carrington, and a sister of Chief Justice Marshall, of Virginia, plaintiff, and George Carrington, et al., defendants, then pending in the Court of Common Pleas of Clinton County, in which affidavit he describes himself as Jeremiah Reynolds, e litor of the Wilmington Spectator , printed at Wilmington, Clinton Co., Ohio, and made oath that a notice of the pendency of said suit was published in said newspaper for nine weeks successively, prior to the setting of the court at the November term, 1828. Signed Jeremiah Reynolds, editor. Fee for publishing, $16. After disposing of his newspaper in Wilmington, Reynolds entered into an agreement with Capt. Symmes, of Cincinnati, to lecture jointly with him on the system of "Hollow Spheres," which system alleged that the earth was composed of several spheres, one within another and all widely open at the north and south poles. They two traveled and lectured together until they reached Philadelphia, when Capt. Symmes was taken sick and obliged to return home, and shortly after died. Reynolds persevered, however, and lectured in Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York, Boston, Portland, Providence, Hartford and other cities, always to full houses and charged 50 cents admission. He thus accumulated quite a large fund; this, with the influence and co-operation of Messrs. Rush andSoutherd, members of President John Quincy Adams' cabinet, fitted out a ship in connection with two small tenders, in order to explore the ocean toward the south pole to test the truth of the theory of " Hollow Spheres." But, on the election of Andrew Jackson to the Presidency, he vetoed the whole proceeding.

Reynolds soon found a congenial spirit in Dr. Watson, of New York. Watson being a man of wealth, he and Reynolds united their means and fitted out a Bhip and two small tenders for southern explorations. Soon the vessels were manned with officers and men, and provisioned for twelve months. They sailed in fine style, full of enthusiasm, with the idea that they would soon have the superlative pleasure of entering into the South Pole.

Their vessel, the Annawan, N. B. Palmer, Captain, sailed from New York Harbor in October, 1829. " They at length arrived in sight of land, which they afterward discovered to be a southern continent, which seemed completely blockaded with islands of ice. A landing was determined on. The long boat was launched, with a crew of twenty men. In attempting to reach the shore in the storm, while the waves were roiling mountain high, they were obliged to pass along between the shelving rocks of the shore and the heaving masses of floating ice for a considerable distance, every moment liable to be crushed to atoms. They, however, arrived at a landing-place, and immediately, with joy, drew their boat upon shore, which proved to be a solid rock. On careful observation, they found they were on an extensive continent, covered completely with solid ice, and no vegetable growth to be seen. Now that they were landed, no provisions were to be obtained, and starvation seemed to stare them in the face. But behold! Providence seemed to provide the means of support in the sea lion. He exhibited himself at the mouth of a cave, and ten men, in two squads, were sent out to bring him in. They soon returned with his carcass, which weighed 1,700 pounds. His flesh was excellent eating. By an accurate astronomical observation, they found their latitude to be eighty-twO' degrees south, exactly eight degrees from the South Pole. After some ten days of anxious delay on land, the sea becoming calm, they put out to sea in their long boat to endeavor to discover the ships. They sailed on and on for nearly forty hours. At length, being very weary, late in the night, they drew their boat upon a high inclined rock. All, in a few minutes, were sound asleep except Reynolds arid Watson. They stood sentinels over the boat's crew, and felt too anxious to sleep. About 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning, they saw a light far distant at sea. The crew was soon wakened, and all embarked in their boat and rowing with might and main for the ships. They soon arrived, and the meeting of the two parties was full of enthusiastic joy. They were convinced that they could not enter the South Pole, as it was blocked up with an icy continent; hence they were willing to turn their faces homeward. They soon arrived at Valparaiso, Chili. Here the seamen mutinied against the authority of the ship, set Reynolds and Watson on shore, and launched out to sea as a pirate ship."

Reynolds now traveled by land through the Republic of Chili, and the Araucanian and Indian territories to the south. It is said that, while among the Araueanian tribe, he was engaged as a Colonel of a regiment at war with a neighboring tribe, and, while marching through a deep and narrow gorge, was thrown from his horse and severely wounded. He was at Valparaiso in October, 1832, when the United States frigate Potomac, under Commodore John Downes, arrived there. This vessel, in August, 1831, had been sent to the coast of Sumatra to avenge the wrongs done the United States ship Friendship, of Salem, at Quallah-Battoo, on that coast, in the month of February preced- ing, the Malays having treacherously seized that vessel and massacred part of her crew, who were taking on board a cargo of pepper. After calling the treacherous Malays to account, the Potomac was to cross the Pacific and take command of the squadron on the west coast of South America. The Potomac set sail from New York August 26, 1831, going by way of the Gape de Yerd Islands and Rio Janeiro, around the Gape of Good Hope to the coast of Sumatra. After they had subdued the piratical Malays and re-established our national honor, they sailed, via the Straits of Sunda, to Java, thence to the coast of China, anchoring in Macao Road and visiting several of the principal ports, thence to the Sandwich and Society Islands, and thence to Valparaiso, reaching this port October 24, 1832. They had now more than circumnavigated the globe by one degree and forty-six minutes.

At Valparaiso, Reynolds joined the Potomac as private secretary to the Commodore, and continued in this service until they landed in Boston Harbor. Commodore Downes now sailed to Callao, Lima, the Galapagos Islands, and again returned to Callao; revisited Valparaiso on the 9th of February, 1834, having spent sixteen months on the west coast of South America. They now set sail for the United States via the Falkland Islands, again touching at Rio de Janeiro, and anchored in Boston Harbor May 23, 1834. Reynolds was selected by the United States Government to write an authentic account of this voyage of the Potomac, which, with the aid of a copious record kept day by day by one of the officers, he accomplished with great ability.

Jeremiah N. Reynolds now began the study of law in the city of New York; was soon admitted to practice, both in the Common Pleas and Supreme Courts of that State, and afterward in the Supreme Court of the United States. He soon became an able advocate. In 1848, he became a member of the stock company organized in New York for mining in I^eon, Mexico. He was elected President of the company, and, after a few years of persistent effort, he made quite a success in this field; but his health soon failed, and he died near New York City in 1858, aged fifty-nine years. He was buried in that city.

Religious Societies, Churches And Graveyards

Centre Meeting. - In the preceding pages of this work devoted to the pioneer history of Union Township, it will be seen that the first settlements made were' by the class of people styled Friends, and that they at once looked after their spiritual wants. The manner and circumstances leading to the formation of the society at the point long known as Centre is identical with the settlement there, in connection with which its inception is given, and the want of space will forbid a repetition here. Suffice it to say that the first meeting is said to have been held at the cabin of Robert Eachus, where the heads of families assembled to take steps toward tho establishment of a Friends' society. The meeting was hold at the dwelling of Mr. Eachus on account of it being more roomy than any other, in the neighborhood. James Murray's deed for fifteen acres of ground for a meeting-house and schoolhouso, made to Nathan Linton, James Moon and Isaac Perkins, Trustees of the Society of Friends on Todd's Fork, bears date of December 19, 1803. After diligent search, tho writer failed to find any record showing when the first meeting-house was built, or when either an indulged or preparative meeting was granted. The late Judge Harlan, in the sketch of Robert Eachus, says: " In May, 1805, Miami Quarterly allowed the holding of the proposed meeting, soon after which a house made of unhewn logs, without door or floor, was built, and meetings were held twice a week therein. This house is believed to have been the first house of worship erected in what is now Clinton County." Quoting again from John Leonard, in the sketch prepared by Dr. A. Jones, who says: "When I arrived at the settlement, the Society of Friends had erected a small log house at Centre to hold their meetings in. * * * " We find that the meeting-house was

A monthly meeting was granted and established at Centre on the 7th of 2d month, 1807. The log meeting-house soon became too small for the growing settlement, and another of the same material, but much larger, having two apartments, was built some eight or ten rods southeast of the present site, the old one serving as a wood house. The first quarterly meeting held at Centre was on the 13th of 3d month, 1826. The records show that application was made for a quarterly meeting in 1824, and that the visiting committee reported favorably, but there is no evidence that such meeting was estab lished before 1826. The one-story brick building now standing, a very substantial and commodious edifice, was erected in 1828. The brick work was done by William McMillan, under contract of Jonathan McMillan, and the wood work by John B. Posey. In size, the building is fifty by eighty feet, and has two apartments, and otherwise is in keeping with houses of worship of the Society of Friends.

The burying-ground here is on the Murray land set apart for church purposes in 1803. Interments were made in it as early as the summer or autumn of 1804. The first adult person here interred is said to have been John Yestal, there having been buried prior to his death twin children by the name of Hodgson. In an interview on this subject some years prior to the death of Samuel Yestal, the latter stated that his father, John Yestal, was the first adult person buried at Centre; 'that he was buried in June, 1804. He stated further that twin children, belonging to whom he did not remember, were buried there in the same year, previous to the interment of his father. The second adult person buried there was Susan Haworth. This was in 1804, but in the fall of the year. It appears that John Yestal did not make his will until July 10, 1804.

The late Judge Harlan, in his sketch of Yestal, savB that he died in the fall of 1804, and that his burial was the second in the old graveyard at Centre. There are no tombstones marking any of the graves of the above-mentioned persons. Some of the tombstones marking the graves of the pioneers have fallen down, and on others the inscriptions are almost illegible. Many graves are unmarked and others are designated by rough stones, without any inscription. Below will be found a list of names of persons buried here who were born prior to 1800, as taken from such tombstones as could be read:

Name

Dover Meeting. - Some years after the monthly meeting was estabished at Centre, the Friends of Dover settlement requested the privilege of holdingindulged meetings, which was granted by Centre Monthly Meeting, and meetings were held for a time at the dwelling of Ezekiel Frazier. The meeting was after awhile made a preparative one, and, tho neighborhood becoming thickly settled, it became necessary to have a monthly meeting, which was established in the ninth month, 1824. The first meeting-house these people erected was of round logs, and stood several rods northeast of the building now at Dover. The present one-story brick meeting-house was erected about the year 1844 or 1845, on ground deeded by Amos Hodgson to Daniel Bailey and Gayer Starbuck, Trustees for the Dover Meeting, in consideration of $3. The amount of land given was one and one-lialf acres, in Survey No. 1,236. The deed bears date of January 13, 1824. Tho recorded ministers of Dover Monthly Mooting since 1824 have been as follows: John Parson, 1845; "Wilson Carter, in it rest the remains of many of Dover's lirst settlers. Since the settlements of Centre and Dover were effected, though nearly three-quarters of a century have come and gone, the religious societies have not changed much. Those persons professing the faith of the Friend or Quaker still occupy and possess the lands. They were attracted here, no doubt, from the Carolinas, Tennessee, Virginia, Pennsylvania and other States, by the reports of the character and quality of the soil, and the prospect of independent homes in a free territory. They were a frugal and industrious people, and their principles have very largely influenced the people of the township.

Some thirty years ago, there existed in the eastern part of the township a religious society of the Christian denomination. The church building occupied by them is still standing, but it has been used for other purposes for a number of years, and the meeting is numbered with events of the past.

Beech Grove Meeting. - Meotings of the Friends of Beech Drove neighborhood, some three miles southwest of Wilmington, were held as early as 1858 or 1859, yet it was not established as a meeting of worship until the 23d of 5th month, 1861. Their house of worship was built in the fall of 1860, on ground deeded by Isaac R. McElwee to Franklin Spencer, Azel Walker and Samuel H. Hadley, Trustees of the society, and the amount paid for it was $75. The date of the deed is December 26,1864. The only recorded minister the society has had was Peter Osborn. The heads of families originally comprising this meeting were William Osborn, Peter Osborn, Rowland Green, Azel and Asa Walker, Harlan Madden, Charles Osborn, Eli Hadley, S. H. Hadley and perhaps others, nearly all of whom are now dead.

For a number of years past, the Methodists residing in the northeastern part of the township have held services in what is known as Dutch School - house, and in February, 1882, an organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church was effected, which is a part of the Bowerville Circuit. Mrs. Sarah Hawes has been active in the interests of this society, and, mainly through her efforts, a subscription has been raised and a one -story church edifice commenced, located on ground donated by John R. Pendry.

The Gaddis Graveyard, situated about three miles northeast of Wilmington, on the Prairie road, is of uncertain age. It is on land formerly owned by Col. Thomas Gaddis, and is almost, if not quite, as old as the village of Wilmington. Timothy Bennet, Union Township's first pioneer, was buried here, and, among other pioneer families, we find recorded on the cold marble the following names: Sewell, Custis, Ford, Shinn, Carroll, Russell,

In wandering through these old burying-grounds and looking upon the moss-covered and almost defaced memorials, we notice that many of the tenants have occupied these tombs for more than half a century - surely long enough to fulfill the great truth, "Dust thou art and unto dust shalt thou return."

The first mill in the township, and, most likely, the first in the county, was the Eachus Mill heretofore mentioned in the sketch of that pioneer. It stood on Todd's Fork, in the Centre neighborhood, in Survey No. 1,558, and waB built by Robert Eachus in 1805. The mill has long since disappeared, and no other has been erected in its stead. Traces of the old dam and race are still discernible. , For further particulars concerning this mill, the reader is referred to the account given of the pioneer, Robert Eachus.

Mahlon Haworth built and operated a grist-mill on Todd's Fork. It was run by both water and horse power, and was erected about the year 1805 or 1806.

George Haworth also built a grist-mill at an early day, which stood on the same stream as those above described, just west of where the Xenia pike crosses the creek, now the site of the Cline Mill.

During the war of 1812-15, William Butler, then residing on a farm west of Wilmington, built a small saw and grist mill on Lytle's Creek, one mile from the village. The mill passed from the hands of Mr. Butler to David Stratton, then engaged in the mercantile business in Wilmington. Under his ownership the mill was operated for fifteen or twenty years, when the dam was destroyed by high water and the buildings were suffered to decay; and in after years, every particle of the mill and dam were swept away, and now not a vestige of the enterprise is traceable. At that period in the history of the county, the streams were full throughout the year, and mills were operated from eight to ten months. Dr. A. Jones, who gives the above information, relates the following incident in connection with it: "On a Sunday evening in 1825, William Hale and ourself walked down to the old mill-dam, and there witnesed a most exciting scene - a young man in the act of drowning. A number of young men and boys were bathing, and among them was one who boasted greatly of his power as a swimmer. The company soon wearied of their sport; all came out of the water but the swimmer, who had ventured too far and was in the act of sinking. Elisha Doan went to his relief, and, in taking hold of the man, Doan was drawn under by him, and both were in great danger. A line of assistance was formed, and both were drawn out on the bank. The expert swimmer was, to all appearances, dead, but in a few moments, however, he was resuscitated, and able to speak, and his first words were, ' Darn you, boys, you like to let me drown! ' The fact was evident that the boasting swimmer could not swim in deep water."

About the year 1815, Nathan Stalker built a small grist-mill on Lytle's Creek, not far from the line now separating Union and Adams Townships. After carrying on the milling business for some years, he sold his land and mill to Joshua Moore, who operated it for a period of years, when it was purchased by his brother, Haines Moore, who is yet in possession of the premises, although the old mill rotted down years ago.

In 1825, Nathan Linton built a saw-mill on Todd's Fork, near the Waynesville road, about three miles northwest of Wilmington, and, about the year 1841, on the same stream and site, he erected a large four-story grist-mill, forty-four feet square. This mill was destroyed by fire during the late war.

Peyton Burton, a millwright of some note in this section of the country, built and remodeled a number of the mills of Clinton County. He erected a steam grist-mill just south of Wilmington, which, though not large, did an extensive business, as there was no mill then in operation in Wilmington. He next built another grist-mill, run by steam, on Cowan's Creek, near the vicinity of the present settlement of Burtonville, and, later, erected a grist-mill, with a water-power, on the site of the present mill at Burtonville, which was sold to Thomas Custis, and later was destroyed by fire, and the present mill erected about 1840 by Mr. Custis. It is the property of William Schofield.

Tile Factory

An important industry of the township is the tile factory of John A. Sprowle, one mile east of Wilmington, whore are manufactured all kinds of round tiling for drainago purposes. The works wore built in the spring of 1881, by the present proprietor and J. G. Starbuek. The dry houso is sixty by twenty-five feet, and the mill has a capacity for making 2,000 feet of four inch tile por day.

Concluding Notes And Incidents

"Although our county has no old ruined fort or battle-field to give it notoriety, there are two or three places in it which, in early times, were known to the settlers for quite a distance in the surrounding country. The Deserted Camp, at Starbucktown, is one of them. What circumstance gave it that name is not positively known to me, the accounts being somewhat conflicting; but, from the best information I can get, an army, during the Indian wars in the last century, had its encampment there, and its guide deserted and notified the Indians of its approach. Whether the army now became panic-stricken and deserted its camp, or whether the circumstance of the guide deserting gave the name to the location, I am unable to tell; but it was undoubtedly one or the other.* After this it was the headquarters for surveying parties, and survey lines extend from this point to a great distance in almost every direction.

"Down the creek a short distance from the Deserted Camp is a piece of bottom land, now owned by Andrew Gaddis, that the people used to call Logan's Bottom, and tradition points to it as once the home of Logan, the Mingo chief - the same Logan that made the speech to Lord Dunmore, which almost every school boy and girl has read.

"The ' Fallen Timber' was another place of notoriety, and to this belongs a tale: About the year 1806, a terrible tornado passed through Dover neighborhood. entirely destroying the timber for a distance of forty or fifty rods in width. Its track is plainly discernible to the present day. Upon the day it occurred, Timothy Bennet, who then lived upon the farm now owned by S. It. Glass, and his son Michael, were following the Indian trace from Xenia, or Old Town, to their home, and were overtaken by this terrible storm at a point near where John Prebles now resides. They found if impossible to escape; so, with an humble prayer to God for their preservation, they were compelled to face the war of elements. The most vivid flashes of lightning and deafening peals of thunder burst upon them, and a roar as if the foundations of the great deep were breaking up; then came a whirl as the fiercest typhoon that bent and broke even the strongest oak to the earth. Thus the storm passed by - but where were our friends? Standing there unscathed; no hair of themselves or their horses had been hurt, but they were standing with fallen timber on every side of them; all of a heavy forest had been thrown around them. They cut their way out and went on their way home, with their hearts raised in thankfulness to the Lord that their prayer had been answered.

"Another instance, which I have often heard one of these old patriarchs relate, in which he thought Providence had a guiding hand, I will give: It was late in the fall, and he was on one of those dreary trips to Waynesville, to mill, on horseback, with a sack of corn, also with his cache of furs, which he intended to trade for either cash or merchandise. He had to stay all night, and, in the morning, found the wind had shifted to the northeast, and was blowing a fierce gale. He was thinly clad and without an overcoat, but was away from home and must return. So, mounting his horse, on his sack of meal, and with his package of goods in his naked hands, he started. As he crossed those bleak Miami hills in a drizzling rain that froze to his thin garments, he thought he must perish; but the Father that 'tempers the wind to the shorn lamb ' was not unmindful of him, for, after traveling some distance, he chanced to look into the woods some distance from the path, and saw a little smoke. On approaching it, he found the smoldering ashes covered a splendid fire that some roving band of Indians or white hunters had left. He dismounted, thawed and dried his thin garments, warmed his chilly person, then struck into the deep woods and came safely home. I have often heard this worthy father relate this incident, and tears of gratitude would roll down his furrowed cheeks as he would express his thankfulness to the Lord for his preservation.

"A settler, perhaps more enterprising than some others, penetrated the forest in the dry season of the year, into the swamp known as the 'Crane Pond,' and built a cabin not far from where ex-Sheriff Stamatsnow resides, and, before he made any - or but little - improvement, the rains came on and raised the swamp until his house was almost surrounded by water. While things were in that condition, two men on horseback, in search of stray, cattle, came slashing through the pond and came suddenly upon this cabin. The occupants saw them stop, and one in surprise threw up his hands and exclaimed to his companion, 'My God! somebody lives here!' The other replied, 'God help the man that lives here!' "

Some time in 1809, Caleb Perkins, a son of Isaac Perkins, while out early in the morning hunting, treed a raccoon, and Richard Henderson, a neighbor, was called to the spot with his gun. After firing away all his ammunition without bringing the animal down, he finally felled the tree. A branch of the falling tree struck Caleb Perkins, mortally injuring him, and, although his death did not occur until eleven months later, during all of this time he was a great sufferer.

On the 28th of August, 1840, a young man named Calvin Rees, living in the family of James Moon, on Todd's Pork, blew into the muzzle of a rifle to see if the weapon was loaded. He discovered that it was, but lost his life upon making the discovery.

The following is Dr. A. Jones' account of the cyclone which caused the windfall known as the " Fallen Timbers:" "Soon after the beginning of the settlement on Todd's Fork occurred one of the most extensive and widespread cyclones that ever passed over the Miami Valley. Its starting-point was in the locality between the villages of Sligo and Clarksville, passing north and northeast over the country traversed by Todd's Fork, running generally on the south side of that stream. It was very irregular in width, contracting and widening frequently, while its estimated length was from ten to twelve miles. As to the date of this atmospheric phenomenon, some differences of opinion still exist, but tbe best authenticated accounts give the summer of 1806 as the correct date."

Eli Harvey, one of the earliest settlers on Todd's Fork, in an interview with Dr. Jones, Bays: "This storm occurred late in the summer of 1806. I had erected my cabin on the west side of Todd's Fork, in the dense forest. When the wind storm began, I was but a short distance from my cabin. The force of the storm was truly terrific; all the large and small timber from my standpoint to my cabin was blown down, and when the cyclone had passed over, my little dwelling could not be seen. When the storm commenced, my family were in the house; when it ended, to my eye they were covered up by the fallen timber. Approaching my cabin by climbing over the brush and fallen trees, I saw the little log house still standing, and to my loud calls my wife answered. This to me was indescribable joy, and I hastily extricated my family from their imprisonment, thanking God that they were safe and uninjured."

To many of the early pioneers, the " Fallen Timbers " storm was familial', as its great extent was unusual and an unshapen mass of trees was thrown and twisted into every form. Where the trail of the cyclone was narrow, the fallen trees and brush were the highest. At that period in the county's history, wild animals were numerous, and the £ ' Fallen Timbers " afforded them a line hidingplace from the keen eye of the hunter. Here they sought concealment and made the night hideous with their fierce cries. More than three-quarters of a century has come and gone since this cyclone swept over Todd's Fork, but in later years we have a vivid recollection of our amazement on viewing the effects produced upon the forest by this wonderful combination of the elements.*

By Hon. I. W. Quinby

ADAMS Township has an area of 14,200 acres, a fraction over twenty-two square miles. It is one of the smallest in the county. It was the twelfth township established in the county. It was named for and in honor of John Quincy Adams, who had died the year before its formation at Washington City, being stricken with paralysis while in the discharge of his duties on the floor of the House of Representatives, as a member of Congress from Massachusetts.

Its surface is diversified and undulating. Along the water-courses there are considerable stretches of rich bottom land of like kind and quality to that of the Miami bottoms. This bottom land is flanked on either side by low lines of hills that lead to the higher table-lands above. W est and north of Todd's Pork, there is a gently rolling upland of deep rich soil, in places black and loamy. East and southeast of Todd's Fork, the upland is loamy, well adapted to the growth of wheat and the tame grasses. It is also fine grazing land, the grasses grown upon it being highly nutritious.

The two principal water- courses are Todd's Fork, a tributary of the Little Miami, and Lytle's Creek, the latter of which empties its waters into the former about one mile southwest of Sligo. Lytle's Creek was named for Gen. William Lytle, of Cincinnati, who was one of the pioneers of Hamilton County, and a distinguished citizen. He was a land surveyor, and was often employed by those holding military land warrants to locate and survey their lands. In 1802, Ambrose Dudley employed him to make a survey, known as Dudley's survey, No. 2,789, containing 2,660 acres, for which and oiher services rendered, Dudley deeded him 700 acres off the north end of the survey. Asa Green has in his keeping now the original deed from Dudley to Lytle for this 700 acres. It is dated on the 3d day of June, 1802, the consideration in the deed being stated as follows: "In consideration of locating 2, 6 60 § acres of land, lying and being in the county of Hamilton, and territory northwest of the River Ohio, on the waters of Todd's Fork, a branch of the Little Miami."

Ambrose Dudley lived at that time in Fayette County, Ky., where he continued to reside as late as the year 1820. The perils, privations, and the exposures incident to making a survey of land at this early day were so great that Lytle, no doubt, well earned the tract of land with which he was rewarded for his services.

Lytle's Creek enters the township near the middle of the eastern boundary line, and flows almost due west until it debouches into Todd's Fork.

Todd's Fork was probably named for and in perpetuation of the memory of Col. John Todd, an early settler in the vicinity of Lexington, Ky., who was a noted Indian fighter. In 1782, with the rank of Colonel, he was in command of the militia around Lexington and with a portion of his command participated in the disastrous and bloody battle of the Blue Licks August 19, 1782, where he was killed while in command. In this battle Daniel Boone had a son killed, and came near being captured himself by the Indians. It flows in a southwesterly direction through tho township, entering it at 194 poles east of the southwest corner of the township.

About one-half mile east of Ogden, there is a small stream that flows into Lytle's Creek from a southerly direction, known by the name of Indian Branch. Prior to the first settlements, a portion of a tribe of Indians had made their borne upon its banks at times, probably while away from their villages on hunting excursions. Within the memory of some now living, the stumps of the trees and saplings which had been hacked down with their hatchets could yet be seen, and a small patch of land in the richest bottom cleared by the Indians; hence the name Indian Branch. About a third of a mile from the mouth of Indian Branch there is another stream that puts into it from an easterly direction, known as Jess's Run.

Dutch Creek is the name of a tributary of Todd's Fork, that flows into it from a northeasterly direction. The north line of the township crosses it not far from its mouth. Little Creek is the name of a stream that flows in a southerly direction through the northeast portion of the township and empties into Todd's Fork about a mile above the mouth of Lytle's Creek. There is another small stream that has its head near the southern line of the township and flows in a northwesterly direction and empties into Lytle's Creek, about one mile below Ogden.

In the earlier days, these streams afforded an abundant water supply. The dense growth of timber prevented the sun's rays from reaching the ground and the water that fell in the form of rain and snow did not evaporate rapidly, but was carried off slowly by the natural channels on the surface. The decaying leaves, the prostrate timber, the rotten logs, and the driftwood, tended to prevent the rapid drainage of the water from off the surface of the ground. In the year 1805, a man by the name of Mordecai Mendenhall bought a part of the Gates survey of James Murray, in whose name the survey was patented, and built a grist-mill on Todd's Fork, about one mile above the mouth of Dutch Creek. It was probably the first mill built on Todd's Fork.* March 15, 1806, he sold it with 140 acres of land to Jonathan Wright, who owned it until 1814, when he sold it to Richard Fallis. Fallis refitted and enlarged it and kept it running until 1826, when he sold it with a tract of 256 acres of land to his nephew, Jonathan Fallis. In 1830, Jonathan Fallis sold it with forty-seven acres of land to Josiah Townsend. Townsend afterward died, and in May, 1837, his administrator deeded it back to Jonathan Failis, by order of court and in payment of an unpaid balance of the original purchase money. Fallis immediately deeded it to John Hadley, who owned it until 1841, when he sold it to Stacey* Haines, who kept it until 1854. It was afterward owned by Thomas Kimbrough, Jeremiah Kimbrough, his son, William L. Hadley, Thomas Hazard, A. U. Hadley, and again by William L. Hadley. It having fallen into disuse and decay about the year 1867, he took it down.

In 1808, Eli Harvey and John Hadley, brothers-in-law, built a grist-mill on Todd's Fork about one mile below Springfield Meeting-House. It was afterward owned by John Hadley, and became widely known as Hadley's Mill. His sons, Isaac and John, afterward owned it for a time, and about thirty years ago it was purchased by Jesse Thatcher. Soon after, it caught fire and burned down. Thatcher built another mill on the same Bite, a large, three-story building, and for some time it had considerable custom. About ten years ago, he took it down and moved it to Wilmington.

In 1818, John Holladay built a saw-mill on Lytle's Creek, near where Ogden has since been built, and three years later built a grist-mill. About 1846, the saw-mill was rebuilt. The grist-mill some time afterward was en- larged, refitted, and steam power attached. This mill property has had various owners. Both the mills are still standing, but are no longer in use as such. The old mill-race has become filled up and put in cultivation with adjoining land, but it is still remembered by many who skated upon its smoothly frozen surface when boys.

It hardly seemB credible that such a small stream as Little Creek now appears to be once afforded sufficient water-power to run a mill; but such is the fact. In the year 1811, Caleb Harvey built a carding and fulling mill on his farm on said creek that was kept running for many years. It was largely patronized, the early settlers coming for many miles to get their wool carded and rolled into rolls, and their blankets and jeans fulled. So crowded was it with work that it was sometimes kept running nights. A man by the name of Alexander Montgomery was its proprietor for a long time. It stood a few rods up the creek from where the Lebanon road, now a pike, crosses the stream. Several years later, farther down the stream, a saw-mill was built. It has recently disappeared also.

About the year 1842, William B. Andrew built a saw-mill onLytle's Creek, about a mile and a half above its mouth. It was kept running much of the time for many years, but fell into decay, and is now a thing of the past. All of these mills, with the exception of the one at Ogden, have disappeared. It still stands as a memento of the sturdy pioneers. If standing and in running order as of yore, but little grinding could be done upon them, owing to the lack of a supply of water. The rainfall annually is as large, perhaps, as it was then; but it runs off quickly, the streams rising suddenly and the water running swiftly. In those days the farmer took his wheat to the mill and stored it in a granary set apart for him by the miller, to be ground into flour as needed for family use. Now, the steam-mills do most of the work. The mill-stones used for grinding the grain were quite small, the first used being only eighteen or twenty inches in diameter, and made from pieces broken from large rocks.

Timber

The whole of the territory now embraced in Adams Township was, at the date of the first settlements within its borders, a vast, unbroken forest. Great, stately- looking poplarB, like giant sentinels on guard, stood on every slope and hill-side, nodding to each other as the wind swayed them to and fro, while, on the bottom land, rich in alluvial deposits, the black walnuts reared aloft their spreading branches as if courting recognition as the kings of the forest trees. Nor were the white oaks and wide- spreading elms wanting. It was not uncommon to see trees of the species of poplar, oak, and walnut, that were from four to five feet in diameter, and devoid of limb or branch to the height of sixty feet. The timber that then stood upon certain acres of land that at that time might have been selected, would, if standing now. as if stood then, be worth hundreds of dollars per acre, while as a whole, if now standing, it would be worth vastly more than the cleared land is now worth, rating lumber at the present prevailing prices. Yet the timber could not be spared, for the early settlers, as well as those who were to come after them, must have homes and farms, and to have these, the timber must be cleared away, and the farms must be opened up for cultivation. In making the clearings, the trees were first girdled with the ax, or "deadenod," as it waB generally called, and then left standing until the branches and bodies became somewhat decayed. They were then felled to the ground, rolled into great heaps, and burned, except such as were fit for making into rails for fencing.

Family Name

The territory now embraced in the township was originally a part of Chester and Vernon Townships. The first official act of the first Board of County Commissioners of the then new county of Clinton, was to divide the county, then but recently established, into three townships - Chester, Richland and Vernon. Richland absorbed the territory that had been sliced off from Highland County, and the two others, that taken from Warren. The line between the two counties ran in a due north and south direction, immediately east of where the original town of Wilmington was afterward laid out. Grant street is now at or near the old line. Lytle's Creek was the line between the two townships of Chester and Vernon, beginning where the creek crossed the former line of the two counties mentioned, and continuing to the point where it unites its waters with those of Todd's Fork, and from their junction the line ran due west to the Warren County line. This order was made on the 6th of April, 1810, by George McManis, James Birdsall and Henry Babb, who had been elected to office but a few days before.

The boundary line between Chester and Vernon Townships remained the same as established by this order until August 21, 1813, when at a special meeting of the Commissioners, the line was moved farther north, changing it to the State road leading from Wilmington to Lebanon, Union Township being established at the same time, and absorbing portions of both townships. It seems that this order was not understood by all, and it was reiterated at the June session, 1830, as will be shown by the following entry:

At the present session of the Commissioners of Clinton County, to wit: the stated session of June, 1830, held by Joseph Roberds, John Lewis and James Sherman, Commis- sioners, a petition signed by divers citizens of the county, praying for a restoration to Vernon Township, of that part of Chester which formerly belonged to Vernon, that is, that the Lebanon State road be the line between said townships; whereupon the Commissioners aforesaid, being of opinion that said alteration is necessary, adjudge and order that the said alteration be made, and that the road aforesaid be hereafter taken and esteemed to be the line between said townships.

The village of Sligo having grown into a considerable town previous to 1849, although unincorporated, part of the village being in Chester Township and part in Vernon, there was a movement begun by its citizens and others of the vicinity, to form a new township of which it should be the business center and voting place. Accordingly, on the 5th day of March, 1849, a petition for a new township was presented to the County Commissioners, signed by John H. Moore, Simon Harvey, and others, praying for the formation of a new township out of the territory therein described, and which included parts of Chester, Vernon and Union Townships. Hiram Maden was appointed by the Commissioners to make the survey and ascertain the number of square miles in the proposed territory, which he afterward did. Having ascertained that it did not include sufficient territory required by law to constitute a new township, leave was asked to withdraw the petition and papers, which was granted. Another petition was immediately put in circulation for the same purpose,, which was on the 1st day of May, 1849, presented to the Commissioners at a special session, asking for the formation of a township, the survey this time including more territory than before.

Copy Of The Petition

Your petitioners, citizens of Clinton County, Ohio, respectfully represent that we labor under great inconvenience on account of our very remote situation from the place of holding elections, and from the place where other township business is transacted, in consequence of which we respectfully, but most earnestly, ask you to establish a township tO' be taken out of Union, Chester and Vernon Townships.

We, your petitioners, now claim it is an act of justice, as there is left in each of the townships from which the proposed new township is to be taken, ample amount of territory to still constitute a constitutional township, that our petition be granted as now asked for, and which is signed by citizens and voters in the district included in the boundary of the new township. .

Names Of Petitioners

The following is a copy^f the survey that accompanied the petition, and, having been adopted as the boundary of the township at its formation, and not having since been changed, it still remains the boundary line:

"Beginning at a point opposite Jonathan Hadley's, at a stake in Warren County line, in A. Branstrator's field; thence east 118 poles to Jonathan Hadley's, excluding him; thence to Isaac Hawkins' farm south 68° 20' east, crossing Todd's Fork at one mile and 194 poles, to the turnpike road at one mile and 290 poles, whole distance, two miles mid 40 poles, to a stake, including the said Hawkins; thence to the land line of John Osborn, south 58° east two miles and 102 poles, to a beech and tw« small mulberries; thence east 116 poles to the west line of Union Township, tp a stake and three beeches; thence south 1° west 44 poles, to the southwest corner of Union Township, to a dead beech and white oak; thence south 1° east 320 poles to a stake in said line in Peter Osborn's field; thence north 7° west, UBoaging Cincinnati State Road at one mile and 60 poles, the county road at Joshua Moore's at one mile, 312 poles, the county road at Haines Moore's at two miles and 140 poles, Lytle's Creek at two miles and 170 poles, the turnpike road at three miles and 102 polee, Todd's Fork at four miles and 280 poles, Waynesville road at five miles and 60 poles (whole distance five miles and 71 poles), to a stake; thence west 81 poles, crossing Waynesville road at 11 poles to a stake, where Union Township line crosses the county road leading from Clarksville to Centre Meeting- House; thence to Daniel Collett's, Esq., south 86 ' 48' west, three miles and 165 poles, crossing Miller's Creek at 205 poles, excluding said Collett; thence west to the Warren County line, one mile and 159 poles to a stake inlaid line; thence with the Warren County line, south 1° west two miles and 571 poles to the beginning, crossing the Lebanon road and line of Chester and Yernon Townships at two miles and 46 poles, containing twenty-two and one-quarter square miles."

This survey was made by Hiram Maden, a man of much experience as a surveyor, ani a resident of Adams Township after its formation, until his death a few years ago. Of the territory within the lines of this survey Chester Township contributed ten and one-half square miles; Yernon Township contributed eight and one-quarter square miles; and Union Township contributed three and one-quarter square miles. On the 1st day of May, 1849, the matter was considered by the Commissioners, and the order made by them establishing the township.

Commissioners Order An Election

On the same day, the Commissioners directed that an election should be held for said township on Saturday, May 12, 1849, and gave notice of the same, directing the legal voters to meet at the shop of John H. Moore, in Sligo, on that day, and then and there proceed, as required by law, to the election of the township officers of said township, to wit: Three Trustees, one Clerk, one Treasurer, one Assessor, and one Constable. The County Commissioners at this time were Azel Walker, Joseph Hoskins and Jesse Doan. Thus was

I Adams Township established. Thirty-three years have since elapsed - a third of a century. The length of time that marks a generation has passed away. This flight of time has widely separated and scattered the actors of that day. Of the 130 that signed the petition, less than thirty are now residents of the township. The tide of emigration carried many westward. A few are residents of other townships of the county. Probably fully one-half have paid the debt of nature and been gathered to their fathers.

This was on the 12th of May, 1849. It was held at the shop of John H. Moore. Henry Harvey, David Jenks and W. B. Andrew were the Judges. The following officers were elected:

Trustees, Jeremiah Kimbrough, David Jenks and Peter Osborn; Clerk, Jonathan D. Hadley; Assessor, Dr. W, W. Sheppard; Treasurer, Simon Harvey; Constable, James H. Elkins. On the 10th of October, in the same year,

1854 - Trustees, W. B. Andrew, Jonathan Hadley and John Hadley, Jr.; Clerk, Jonathan D. Hadley; Treasurer, Simon Harvey; Assessor, Eden Andrew; Constable, William A. Oyler.

1861 - Trustees, Joseph T. Coate, Joseph W. Slack and Ephraim Urton; Clerk, A. M. Haney; Treasurer, Simon Harvey; Assessor, Isaac Schooley; Constable, Isaac Schooley.

1862 - Trustees, J. W. Slack, A. T. Moore and Adam Osborn; Clerk, A. M. Haney; Treasurer, Simon Harvey; Assessor, Isaac Schooley; Constable, Isaac Schooley.

1868 - Trustees, Adam Osborn, A. T. Moore and George Madden; Clerk, A. M. Haney; Treasurer, Simon Harvey; Assessor, J. M. Brazil; Constable, J. M. Brazil.

1864 - Trustees, George Madden, Adam Osborn and H. H Hadley; Clerk, A. M. Haney; Treasurer, Simon Harvey; Assessor, I. W. Quinby; Constable, Robert Hazard.

1865 - Trustees, H. H. Hadley, George Madden and Adam Osborn; Clerk, A. M. Haney; Treasurer, Simon Harvey; Assessor, Amos Huffman; Constable, Jobe Southard.

1866 - - Trustees, George Madden, H. H. Hadley and J. W. Slack; Clerk, A. M. Haney; Treasurer, Simon Harvey; Assessor, A. M. Haney; Constable, A. J. Pennington.

1868 - Trustees, John H. Moore, Samuel Pyle and J. W. Hadley; Clerk, A. M. Haney; Treasurer, J. W. Slack; Assessor, D. H. Ogborn; Constable, Jobe Southard.

1869 - Trustees, John H. Moore, Samuel Pyle and I. H. Osborn; Clerk, A. M. Haney; Treasurer, J. W. Slack; Assessor, D. H. Ogborn; Constable, Jobe Southard.

1870 - Trustees, Samuel Pyle, I. H. Osborn and J. C. Green; Clerk, A. M. Haney; Treasurer, J. W. Slack; Assessor, Elwood Curl; Constable, J. R. Southard.

1872 - Trustees, Hiram Coate, William Hale and Joseph Anson; Clerk, Albert Stratton; Treasurer, J. W. Slack; Assessor, D. H. Ogborn; Constable, A. J. Pennington.

What may be termed the first road in the township was along Todd's Fork, the early immigrants following the water-courses, and cutting out the brush and logs as best it could be done. There were bridle- ways for horseback travel, and blazed ways from house to house of the early settlers, but nothing worthy the name of roads until after 1810. Soon after Wilmington was laid out, there was a road established from Wilmington to Lebanon, passing for some miles through what is now Adams Township. It is still known as the Lebanon road. Under an order of the County Commissioners, George Richards, William Butler and Joseph Roberds, Viewers, with Nathan Linton, Surveyor, laid out a road from Centre Meeting-House down Todd's Fork, by Follis' Mill, Eli Maden's, Jacob Hale's and Joshua Nickerson's, near John Hadley's Mill, to intersect the road leading down Todd's Fork, near William Hadley's. Their report was made April 3, 1819, afterward approved, and the road ordered opened. September 27, 1819, under order of Commissioners, Robert Eachus, Mahlon Haworth, Viewers, with Nathan Linton. Surveyor, proceeded to lay out a road from John Shields' Mill, on Cowan's Creek, by the way of Joshua Moore's Mill and Lytle's Creek Meeting-House, to Fallis' Mill. They reported October 19, 1819. The length of the- road was five miles and 310 poles.

The road from Columbus to Cincinnati, known as the State road, was surveyed in October, 1822, under a resolution adopted by the General Assembly of Ohio, February, 1822. The resolution named John Matson, of Hamilton County, and Joseph Brown, of Knox County, as Commissioners for that purpose, who selected R. G. W. Howe as surveyor. The direction from Wilmington toward Cincinnati for the first eight miles was south 53° west. The whole length of the road was 101 miles. This road was never opened all the way. The high bluff south of Cowan's Creek prevented travel on it from that point south for several miles. Its location was not satisfactory to the people of Clinton and Fayette Counties. Accordingly, on the 27th of January, 1823, an act of the Legislature was passed naming Joseph Doan, of Wilmington, Jesse Millikan, of Washington Court House, as Commissioners to resurvey the State road from Columbus to Cincinnati, and authorizing them to view the route by Washington, Wilmington, Clarksville, mouth of Todd's Fork and Hopkinsville to Cincinnati, and to compare as much of said route as lay between Wilmington and Cincinnati, with the route located by John Matson and Joseph Brown, and determine which of said routes would be of the most general and public utility. The survey was made in October, 1823. They reported in favor of the route surveyed by themselves by the way of Washington Court House, Wilmington, Clarksville, mouth of Todd's Fork, Hopkinsville and Montgomery to Cincinnati. Jesse Millikan was the surveyor from Washington to Cincinnati. The bearings on this road changed frequently, the line being mainly on the divide between Todd's Fork and Lytle's Creek. It was on better ground, and through a much more populated locality, and was of easy access from the settlements along both streams. The whole length of this route was 105 miles.

In March, 1827, a road was laid out and established from College Township road to Holaday's Mill on Lytle's Creek, from near where Villars' Chapel now stands. It ran by or near where the following-named persons now reside : Eden Andrew, Joseph Carson, Mahlon Stratton, Joseph Anson and Mary Turner. From Anson's, it ran on that line between Jenks and Howell to Holaday's line; thence between Holaday and Jenks nearly north to Gaskili; thence between Gaskili and Jenks west about forty rods to the corner of what is now known as the Hale farm.

In 1828, a road was established from Pyle's Mill, in a northerly direction to the Lebanon State road by Branstrator's; distance, two and one-half miles, less than a mile of which lies in Adams Township.

In 1838, the road from the State road, near Peter Osborn's, in a northerly direction along the line between Benjamin Howell and John Osborn, across Holaday's land, afterward Isaiah Quinby's, between Conrad Smith and Caleb Moore, and past Hiram Maden's, was established.

Space will not permit an allusion to the location of all the roads of the township Suffice it to say that by the year 1840 the roads of the township had generally been established.

In the year 1835, a charter was granted by the Legislature for building the Goshen, Columbus & Wilmington pike. Work was begun on the southwest end of it the following year. The portion in Clinton County was built mainly in 1839, but not completed until 1840. It was never completed the whole distance, that part in Clinton County stopping two miles east of Wilmington. The line from Clarksville to Wilmington was in the main built on the route of a road laid out by Doan and Millikan in 1823, but on a more direct line, cutting off many of the angles. The building of this pike was looked upon at the time by the people of Clinton County, and especially those residing along the line, as an event of great importance in the history of the county. It facilitated travel and gave the farmers a broad, macadamized highway over which to trasport their grain and produce to market at Cincinnati. It shortened the time of the trip fully one-half. It gave the people of Adams Township, and indeed of the whole county, the benefit of a stage line, with daily coaches each way; also greatly increased mail facilities. A line of telegraph was established along the pike, which remained until the 0., W. & Z. Railroad was built. This was the first pike in the county. Toll-gates were erected at various points, and tolls taken. A toll-gate house was built at the hal E-way point between Wilmington and Clarksville, which might be termed the nucleus of the village of Sligo.

In 1867, the Legislature passed two different acts giving the County Commissioners authority to order the construction of free pikes, and to let out the grading and graveling of the same in sections, to the lowest bidder. They became known as the free pike laws. One authorized the construction of the same on a petition of a majority of the resident land-owners residing within the boundary of the road improvement. The tax to raise the construction fund was levied upon real estate only, according to the supposed benefits received, within two miles on either side of the line. This was known as the two-mile law. The other taxed both realty and personalty within one mile on either side of the same, and was known as the one-mile law. Under these acts, various lines of free pikes were established and built, until all the principal roads in the township had been widened, straightened to some extent, graded and graveled. It has made a very marked improvement in the roadways, and greatly facilitated public travel. This free pike system revolutionized road making. Nature has been generous and provided an abundant supply of gravel and stone for the purpose, generally easy of access.

The Cincinnati, Wilmington & Zanesville Bailkoad

In 1852, work was begun in Adams Township in the construction of the Cincinnati, Wilmington & Zanesville Railroad. Adams Township, at an election previously held, had voted in favor of the county issuing bonds to the amount of $200,000, to assist in building it.* The first station or stoppingplace for trains in Adams Township was at Andrew's Mill. In 1855, the station was changed by the railroad company from Andrew's Mill to a point on the road a half-mile farther east, near Burton's Mill, formerly Holaday's, Asa Green donating to the company sufficient land for a switch and other needed railroad purposes. The building of the railroad was another great event to the citizens of Adams Township and Clinton County, and marked a new era in the history of both. It reduced the time required to make a trip to Cincinnati to less than three hours, so that one could make the round trip in a day and have several hours for business in the city. All were greatly gratified with the building of the railroad, except the regular wagoners. They made a business of hauling produce to the city, and of bringing back a load of merchandise for the merchants at the towns in the interior. They argued that the facility and rapidity of transportation by rail would throw them out of their usual employment. And so it did. They had to dispose of their teams and wagons, and find other pursuits in life. Heretofore, the surplus products of the farms were hauled to Cincinnati in wagons, the teamsters and farmers finding bed and board at the wayside taverns, where, after their wagons were securely placed in the wagon-yard and the teams stabled, fod and watered, they gathered in groups around the fire and spent their evenings in interchange of ideas and in telling stories and cracking jokes, varied occasionally by a drink all around at the bar of the inn. But the genius of steam came and put a stop to it all. The country taverns along the pike, in the bar-rooms of which at night, around the blazing fires, many a good story had been told and many a joke and jest and laugh went round, were closed for want of custom. No wonder that Henry Clay, the " mill-boy of the slashes," and Tom Corwin, the "wagoner's boy," were popular with these sturdy men of the past generation. Tom Corwin, as the old couplet had it in the campaign of 1840,

There are only two villages in the township, Sligo and Ogden, neither of which is incorporated. Sligo had no existence prior to the building of the Goshen & Wilmington Turnpike. A man by the name of George Taylor, a hatter by trade, had a shop there on a lot in the forks of the road long before the town was laid out. This lot was afterward owned by John Kimbrough, on which he built a house in 1841 or 1842, the first two-story house erected in the town. In this building he kept hotel for several years. A toll-gate house (the first one) was built by John Shields in 1840. The lot is now owned by the heirs of John Murphy. The second toll-gate house was built by Rebecca Kersey, sister of Thomas Kersey, but the gate was kept by the Widow Beach. The toll-gate was taken down several years ago, but the house is still standing. John Swindler was the first blacksmith at Sligo, and John Hawthorn the next. Hawthorn left in the spring of 1839, and went to Eaton. John Kimbrough commenced smithing in the same shop, a log one, in 1839. It -stood north of the pike, but on the south side of the old road. That shed was torn down, and a brick one built by Kimbrough, in 1841.

Soon afterward, George Slack built a two-story brick residence on the south side of the pike and occupied it until he moved West. It is now owned by Stillings. Simon Harvey settled on his farm and lived there long before Sligo was a town. The town got its name from the brand of iron that was used at the smithshop at the time, it having been made at the Sligo Mills, in Pittsburgh, they probably having taken the name from a town of that name in the northern part of Ireland. Matthias O'Neall, who owned a farm south of the pike, sold to John Kimbrough an acre and a half of land July 1.2, 1841, and a year later sold him three-fourths of an acre more. This was afterward divided up into smaller lots by Kimbrough, and sold to various persons. lie built his smithshop on one of the lots. Kimbrough, in 1842, also bought three-fourths of an acre of Rebecca Kersey. She had some years before bought seventeen acres of William Hadley. She afterward sold lots to Calvin Andrew, J. W. Slack, H. S. Slack, Delos Ferris and Mary J. Hadley. O'Neall afterward sold lots to E. & J. Hadley, Deios Ferris and Simon Harvey. William S. Riley sold a lot to E. K. Howland April 17, 1848, and afterward sold lots to Jesse Thatcher and Cyrus E. Carter. Edward S. Davis sold fourteen and a half acres to Mary S. Hadley, in December, 1848, and later sold two and a fourth acres to William Henson, and one- fourth of an acre to Sarah Hardesty.

Jesse Thatcher built the house now owned by Samuel Furgeson. William S. Riley built the house owned by Evelyn Moore. John J. Longshore built the house now owned by the Widow Lancaster. Of the earlier residents of Sligo, there were John Kimbrough, John H. Longshore, Delos Ferris, George Slack, J. W. Slack, Allen Hazard, John H. Moore, Dr. W. W. Sheppard, Simon Hadley, Simon Harvey, Calvin Andrew, William S. Riley, Jesse Thatcher, Ira Kimbrough, John M. Brazil, Isaac Schooley, Edward S. Davis, David Thatcher, Cyrus E. Carter, Henry Harvey, John P. Black, Elihu Hambleton, Henry Hazard, Alfred Hollcraft, Jabez H. Hadley, Egbert K. Howland, Will- jam Henson and Ira Ferris. Allen Hazard, Jacob Hadley, William L. Hadley, John H. Moore and James Haney, were some of the earlier storekeepers. Joseph W. Slack for many years was engaged in the manufacture of carriages, buggies and wagons, sometimes giving employment to as many as fifteen men.

Ogden had no existence until some years after the railroad was built. It was first called Linden, but there being a station on the Marietta & Cincinnati road by the name of Lyndon, many mistakes occurred in shipping freight out from Cincinnati, causing confusion and delay in receiving them. The name, therefore, was abandoned, and that of Ogden substituted, being named for Ogden on the Pacific Railroad. It was made a passenger and freight station in 1855, by the railroad authorities; $700 were raised by the citizens of the vicinity and donated to the railroad company for the purpose of getting the station established at that point, the stopping-place for passengers, therefore, being about half a mile farther west, at Andrew's Mill. Afterward, there was some land donated to the company for stockpens, switch, etc. To Asa Green belongs the credit of getting the station established there more than to any other person. He put up the first building in Ogden. It was used as a station-house and storeroom, and has been occupied ever since as such, some additions having been added since. He also put up the freight depot with the assistance of some other parties of the neighborhood. A small house, built by Peyton Burton, was moved across the creek to a lot and used for a residence by John Marsh, the first station agent. John Wisman built the second residence in Ogden He was a miller by trade Asa Green laid off five lots in 1857, on the south side of the railroad, on land bought of John B. Carter. In 1859, Jacob Beard built a residence. In December, 1860, Carter laid off four lots on the north side of the railroad, and Asa Green five. In June, 1866, there was a meeting-house lot and five others laid off by Asa Green, making twenty in all. In the spring of 1864, David F. Carter built a residence, now owned by Joseph Smith, and in March of that year I. W. Quinby bought the corner lot of Asa Green, and moved a two-story frame building from Sligo upon it. He used the lower story for a storeroom, and fitted up the upper story for a residence. In October of that year, he and Amos Huffman, under the firm name of Quinby & Huffman, opened a store in the lower room. In 1864, Abraham Haney built a residence since known as the Joseph Coate property. Various other residences were built from time to time. Adam Osborn built the first blacksmith shop about 1864, and has occupied it continuously ever since. The station and railroad agents have been as follows, and in the following order: John Marsh, Jacob Beard, Isaac Roberts, Huffman & Osborn, Jeremiah Kimbrough, George W. Owens and Clare & Colter.

Post Offices

There have been two post offices in Adams Township. The first was at Sligo, established the 13th of March, 1844. This post office remained located at Sligo until the 8th of September, 1865, when it was removed to Ogden by order of the Post Office Department in order to avoid the expense of conveying the mail from the station at Ogden to and from Sligo, and to afford better mail facilities. The following are the names of the various Postmasters, and when appointed:

In the year 1808, the first schoolhouse was built in the township. It was erected on the land of Isaac Harvey, about one-fourth of a mile north of Todd's Fork. As early as 1812 or 1813, there was a small log schoolhouse built on the Nathaniel Carter farm, a short distance west of the present residence of Elijah Coate. As early as 1814, there was a schoolhouse built on the Isaac Stout farm, near his north line, about one-fourth of a mile east of Lytle's Creek Meeting-House. In 1813 or 1814, a schoolhouse was built on the farm of George Carter, who had recently purchased it of Jeremiah Kimbrough. It was built by the neighbors, of logs, Jeremiah Kimbrough, Thomas Kersey and Nathan Mendenhall assisting Carter in the work. Other schoolhouses were built from time to time, as the farms were opened up. About 1820, there was a schoolhouse built in the woods near Lytle's Creek Meeting-House, and soon after another on the road leading from the Lebanon road to the Maden settlement, on Todd's Fork. The first schoolhouse at Springfield was bnilt by the Friends of Springfield Monthly Meeting, in 1835. It was under their control and management for many years, and afterward became a district schoolhouse. There was a schoolhouse built at an early day on Isaac Chew's land, more latterly known as the McKnight farm. In 1834, there was a frame schoolhouse built on what was then the Holaday farm, afterward and since known as the Quinby farm. It was weather-boarded on the outside, and ceiled overhead on the inside. Between the studdings in the sides and ends, mortar made of clay had been filled in to make it warm and answer instead of plastering. These walls were whitewashed from time to time with blue clay. Around the room next the wall were placed rudely constructed benches made from slabs obtained at the saw-mill. Built out from the wall all around, and supported by brackets underneath, were wide boards that answered the purpose of desks. The scholars sat facing the wall, except the smaller children, who were seated around the stove that occupied the center of the room. About the year 1845, there was a neat frame schoolhouse built at Lytle's Creek Meeting-House, by the Society of Friends. After several years, it became a district schoolhouse, under the control of the Boards of Education of Adams and Union Townships. All these schoolhouses have passed away. Scarcely a vestige of them remains to mark the spots where they once Btood. With the adoption of the school law of 1853, a different system of maintaining schools from that which had before prevailed was inaugurated. The township was divided into subdistricts, and redistricted throughout. The old schoolhouses were generally abandoned, new sites procured, and new schoolhouses erected. These were in the main commodious and comfortable, and furnished with properly-sized and substantial desks, with folding seats. In this respect the schoolhouses of the present day are in marked contrast with those of the early days. The log fireplace, the greased paper windows, the stools and seats without a support for the back, the absence of blackboard and maps were common then.

Sohool-Teacheks

The first school in what is now Adams Township was taught by William Holaday, in the Harvey Schoolhouse, in the year 1808, soon after it was erected. George Carter began teaching as early as 1812 or 1813. He taught in a schoolhouse on his own farm for several terms, and afterward at Lytle's Creek, and various other places in the county. Warren Sabin, Joseph Doan, son of Joseph Doan, Sr., John Harvey, son of William Harvey, James Dakin, Henry Harvey, Eli Harvey, son of William Harvey, Thomas Kersey, Hiram

Maden and James Osborn were teachers of the early days, in point of time ranging from 1808 up to 1825. Among what maybe termed the second generation of teachers, were William Cooper, James Crawford, Thomas Green and Henry Zimmerman. William Cooper owned an acre of land on the State road, in the Osborn neighborhood, on which he built a small house in which he taught a few of the children of the neighborhood, occasionally teaching some district school. He was a bachelor, and lived entirely alone. Of him it can be said emphatically that he ruled by love, and the same may be said of George Carter. Cooper was a kindly-hearted and benevolent man, making at times sundry little presents to his pupils, in a quiet way that was sure to win their esteem. The little house in which he lived so long, and in which he gathered around him his little flock, is still standing, although removed to the opposite side of the road from where it formerly stood. James Crawford was also a bachelor. He was a strict disciplinarian, requiring good order on the part of the pupils, and neatness and exactness in their work. He taught much at Lytle's Cr^ek, and for many years in what was known as the Quinby Schoolhouse. Henry Zimmerman was the great grammar-school teacher of forty years ago. He knew Kirkham's grammar by rote. He was the author of a grammar. He was an itinerant teacher, eccentric in manner and disposition, and voluble of speech. His memory was wonderful. Any one might read a verse from the Bible at random, and he could immediately give the number and chapter of the verse, and probably repeat the next verse.

All of the first generation of teachers are gone. But few of the second generation yet remain. Of those who taught in Adams Township, or lived init from 1835 to 1860, may be mentioned Rachel Lomax, William Bates, Jacob Connor, Jesse G. Starbuck, Jabez Hadley, Amos Coffman, Thomas Hinds, Josephine Quinby, Thomas M. Quinby, Elwood Hollingsworth, Joseph Moore, J. M. Moore, Jesse H. Kirk, Obediak Allen, Miriam Quinby, Wilson Hobbs, Joseph Hale, Aaron Harvey, Cyrus Green, Jeptha Garner, Rebecca Harvey, Eliza Ogborn, Susan Thornberry, Jeremiah Howell, E. B. Harlan, Hannah Quinby, I. W. Quinby, David S. Pyle.

About the year 1809, an indulged meeting of the Society of Friends was held in the Harvey Schoolhouse, the request for the same having been granted by the Centre Monthly Meeting. In 1812, the first church in the township was built at Springfield, and a preparatory meeting established. The ground on which it was built was the graveyard ground near by, being donated for that purpose by Isaac Harvey. In 1818, the privilege of holding a monthly meeting was granted the society, which has been held there continuously ever since. The meeting-house at Springfield was built in 1850, it being the third one built at that locality.

In 1817, the Friends' Church at Lytle's Creek was built by the Friends of that vicinity. William Jones and Eli Millikan were the carpenters. Three acres of land were donated by Richard Fallis for a church site. It is no longer used as a church, having been sold to Emer McMillan, to whose farm it was removed about ten years ago. It was used as a house of worship until 1869. In the year 1866, two new churches were built by contributions from the membership of the Methodist Protestant Church, in the way of subscriptions in money, material and labor, under the direction of the Rev. Winans, assisted by Thomas McDonald, an influential member of the Methodist Protestant Church. The one at Ogden was known as the Ogden Methodist Protestant Church, and that at Sligo by the name of Union Chapel. In 1869, the membership having become very weak, and the Society of Friends at Lytle's

Creek Meeting-House being desirous of changing their place of meeting to that locality, the Trustees sold the church at Ogden for a merely nominal consideration to the Society of Friends and deeded the same to them through the intervention of a third party. They have occupied it ever since as a house of public worship. For several years, dating back as far as 1842, there were Methodist meetings held at intervals at the Quinby Schoolhouse. These meetings were conducted by the Rev. James Yillars, who is still living, and who, some ten years ago, built Yillars' Chapel, in Yernon Township.

Politically, Adams Township has been strongly Republican since the formation of the party in 1855. Prior to that it was a Whig township. It has been so overwhelmingly Republican that in township elections but little attention has at times been paid to the politics of certain candidates for office. When it came to a State or county election, her Republican majority was immense, considering the number of her electors. For years, the Democratic vote did not embrace one -tenth of the total vote cast. At one time, it ran down as low as thirteen during the time of the war. In 1876, the township gave at the Presidential election 175 votes for Hayes, and 29 for Tilden. In 1880, the vote for Garfield was 191, and the vote for Hancock 23.

The township responded nobly to the call for troops at the beginning of the war, and ever afterward until its close. There were always enough volunteers to fill the township's quota of troops and keep it clear of the different drafts of men that were ordered. A young man by the name of Isaac Tyson is said to have been the first volunteer. The company and regiment in which he enlisted are difficult to ascertain, as he left no relatives in the township. It is not now known that he lived to return from the war. The following is a list of the names of the soldiers who volunteered in the service, from the township so far as can be ascertained, with the company and regiment in which each served, if now known:

Of these Wesley Andrews, Joseph Hale and Henry Harvey died in the service from sickness. The latter two were brought home for burial, and were interred at Springfield. Hale was the Sergeant Major of the Seventy- ninth Regiment. He died at or near Frankfort, Ky,, and Harvey near Louisville. Garland Jobe was killed in battle in West Virginia. Seth Osborn, after being discharged from the Seventeenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry on account of sickness, re-enlisted in the One Hundred and Ninety -third Regiment shortly before the war closed. B. H. Simpson was transferred to Company I, First United States Veteran Volunteer Engineers. It would be interesting to trace the history of each of these soldiers while in the service and since, but space forbids. Some are dead, and some are living. Some are yet in the county and township, while others have sought homes farther west. Wherever they are, may success and prosperity crown their efforts, and happiness and enjoyment center in their breasts, and, as their country's defenders, may they ever be remembered.

Under an act to organize and discipline the Ohio militia, passed April 14, 1863, those liable to military service in the township under a general order from the Adjutant General of the State, met on the 4th of July, 1863, at Sligo, and proceeded to elect officers of the company. J. M. Gorrelle was elected Captain, P. R. Osborn, First Lieutenant and Samuel Denny, Second Lieutenant. The company numbered 120 men. It is to be regretted that the muster-roll cannot be obtained, so that the names of all the members of the company could be given.

At the time of the Morgan raid in August, 1863, the company, with many otherB of the county, was ordered into the service of the State to aid in the capture of Morgan, or to drive him out of the State. In a few hours after the order was promulgated, through the daily papers as it was, it reached the township and the different members of the company were ordered to meet at once to go to Camp Dennison, there to procure arms, and then to follow after Morgan. Considerable time was consumed in getting the company together and in awaiting transportation, so that by the time it reached Camp Dennison, Morgan was on his way up the river hotly pursued by Hobson. After being in camp a few days, the company was ordered to return home, Morgan being captured about this time.* The writer has made considerable effort to procure a roll of the officers and men of the company, but without success.

Family History

Before closing this historical sketch, it is well to give mention of some of the early settlers and their families, and of some of the more prominent persons of a later generation. With biographical sketches, the writer has nothing to do. In some instances, in order to show family connections, mention has been made of parties who are not now nor ever were residents of the township.

The first resident of the township was Samuel Lee, who, in the year 1804, or prior thereto, built a cabin in the vicinity of Springfield Meeting-House, on what afterward became the land of Isaac Harvey. The following year, Archibald Edwards and Peter Dicks settled in the same vicinity. The same year (1805), Isaac Harvey came to Ohio with Peter Dicks, who was his brother-inlaw; Jacob Hale and John Hadley accompanied them. Harvey afterward returned to North Carolina for the purpose of purchasing the Pollard tract of land, consisting of 2,000 acres, which he did in connection with his brother, Eli. Pollard resided at Richmond, Va. In the fall of 1806, he returned to Ohio, bringing with him his brothers, Eli, Joshua and Caleb and their families, who, with others who accompanied them, made about one hundred in all. The Harveys all settled in the vicinity of each other, on what was known as the Pollard land, and together formed what became known as the Harvey settlement, which was the nucleus of a large settlement afterward. Their brother, William, a few years afterward, followed them from North Carolina, and settled on Todd's Pork, whore Thomas Daugherty now lives.