Madison County, Ohio - Chapter 4: Union Township, 1883

Chapter 4: Union Township

APRIL 30. 1810, "Ordered, that the following boundaries compose a township, to be known by the name of Union, and is bounded as follows, viz. : Beginning at the mouth of Oak Run, thence east to the Franklin County line : thence north four miles ; thence west to the line of Deer Creek Township ; thence west with said line to the Champaign County line ; thence with said Hue to the southwest corner of Champaign County and the north corner of Stokes Township; thence with the north line of Stokes three miles ; thence eastward^' to the southwest corner of Judge Baskerville's survey ; thence direct to the beginning. December 7. 1812. At a meeting of the Commissioners, it was ordered, that " the line of Union Township, between Union and Pleasant, running from the mouth of Oak Run to the county line, be vacated ; and it shall run northeastwardly to the State road leading from London to Dyer's Mill, so as to leave all the inhabitants on main Deer Creek in Union, and all those on Opossum Run in Pleasant Township: said line to continue with the State road to the county line.' " June 2, 182!). -Ordered by the Commissioners, that the following lines, as run by Henry Warner, be established as township lines between the townships of Union, Pleasant, Range and Stokes : Beginning at the northwest corner of Samuel Baskerville's survey, running south 24 west about 50 poles ; thence south 22° west to the line between the counties of Madison and Fayette, a short distance east of Mcintosh's farm, for the line between Stokes and Range Townships. The line between Pleasant, Range and Union, running from Baskerville's said corner north 70 easl to Langham's road, near Samuel Kingern's ; continue the same course 220 poles ; thence north 20 west in poles ; thence south 70 east to the Chillicothe road ; thence north 53° east to Deer Creek ; thence up the creek to the mouth of Oak Run ; thence north .">2 east to the line between the counties of Madison and Franklin.'' June li, 1836, a! a meeting of the Commissioners of Madison County, on petition being presented, ordered that the line between Deer Creek Township and Union Township be altered to run as follows, to wit : Beginning at the northwest corner of Jefferson Melvin's land, and southwest corner of .John Adair's land, and to run westerly to strike the La Payette road 10 poles south of the G-lade, between B. Bowdry's and D. J. Ross ; thence the same course continued until it strikes the present line, which divides said townships so as to include D. -I. Ross into Union Township." March 2, 1840, "Ordered, by the Commissioners of Madison County, that the line between the townships of Union and Somerford be so altered as to include Daniel Wilson ami the land on which he lives into Union Township.'' Thus, it can be seen, the boundaries of Union Township passed through several changes prior to 1841 : and our readers can also observe that its present boundaries are still different from the above, as Fairfield Township has since been erected, and. with other changes which have from time to time been made, have constituted its boundaries as they now exist. The township is now bounded as follows : On the north, by Somerford and Deer Creek Townships ; on the east, by Fairfield and Oak Run Townships; on the south, by Paint and Oak Run Townships; on the west, by Paint Township and Clark County. It is about eleven miles long from east to west, and from two to six miles wide from north to south, and bas the honor of containing London, the county scat of Madison County.

This township was not as early settled as the eastern township- of the county. As the settlements were formed from the Ohio River up the Scioto and its tributaries branching off westward up Deer Creek, the Darbys and their tributaries, and thus penetrating the eastern townships first, before reaching the central and western townships of the county, it would be a natural consequence that the eastern townships would receive the first permanent settlements. And this was necessary from the fact that Chillicothe became the base of supplies for the first settlers of this county; they at first obtaining their groceries ami agricultural implements, and all the equipments for farming, and the necessities lor their families and homes from that place. And as settlements were made up these streams, northward and westward, and roads opened and communications established, so the settlers pushed on in advance, and after settlements were made in these eastern townships, it took but a few years till we find them penetrating the territory which is now embraced in the boundaries of Union Township, and soon after 1800 we find permanent settlers in this township.

Iii giving the history of the early settlers, we endeavor to arrange them strictly by the boundary lines of the townships as they now exist, ami not as they were at the time the settlements were made. With this understanding we now proceed to mention the pioneers and early settlers of Union Township; and from an extended and careful research, and consultation with most of the oldest, living residents, and making free use of the township and county records, to obtain dates and facts corroborative of evidence elsewhere obtained, we have gleaned the following, which, though not a complete list of all early settlers, and probably not without some errors and slight mistakes, yet, we believe it as nearly correct as can be gathered at this period, so far distant from the dates of the first, settlements. The persons who probably may be accorded the honor of being the first to locate within the presenl limits of Union Town-. ship, wire William Blair and James LaBarr, who probably located on Glad Kun about the same time, and that was very soon after 1800, perhaps 1802-04,1 The former was a preacher in the Christian, or New Light Church. He locate on land now owned by Josiah Melvin. The latter, James LaBarr. was a mi ler by trade, and remained here but a short lime, till he removed to the Darbys. to follow his trade in a mill which was early erected there. John Deeds, of German descent, was probably the next to locate in the township. Be, with his family, settled on Deer Creek, on land now owned by the IMinshall heirs, about 1803 5; wasa blacksmith by trade, and probably the firsl in the township, and perhaps in the county. Of his children were George. Philip, John (!. and one daughter. They remained here a few years, sold out to William Smith, and removed to I'iekaway County. Ohio. John McDonald, a native of Virginia. married a Miss Schuyler, and at an early day emigrated to Tennessee In April. 1807, he with his family, came to Madison County, and settled on the Glade, where he died in 1811. 1 1 is children were as follows: Maudlin, died in Tennessee; Thomas, died at Woodstock Champaign I '<> . I >hi<>; -lames and John died on the Glade; Samuel, died in St. Clair County. 111.: Betsey, died in Alabama; George, also died in St. Clair County. 111.; and Schuyler, who died on the Glade. Of the above, James, the third child, married in Tennessee, Miss Nancy Cook, a native of New Jersey, and with his fainih came to this county with his lather, and with him settled on the Glade Run. Their children were Mary, now Widow Ferguson, residing in Iowa: George, married Malinda Ferguson, by whom he has one daughter now living; Mar\ Ann, now the wife of

Judge Fulton, of Columbus; Phebe, now Airs. Luffburrough, residing in [owa; Elizabeth, now Mrs. John Davts, resides near California, this county; Charity, married Walker Graham, resides in [ndiana; John, died unmarried, and Maley, who resides in lown. < )f i bis numerous family, the true pioneers of this county, but one surviving son is now a resident of Madison County, George, who is now quite advanced in years, and resides in London, retired from all active business. He has lived to see the wonderful changes in the transformation of this county from its wild and primitive state, as they found it three quarters of a century ago, to its present condition of comfort and prosperity, amounting almost to grandeur, as it is now one of the best agricultural counties of the Slate. And this family of whom we have here traced their history in brief, have largely contributed to bring about this result. They have Ween pioneer workers in establishing schools and churches; in elevating the educational, moral and Christian status of their communities. And although most of them are now resting beneath the sod of the land of their early adoption, yet the rising generations in the enjoyment of all these present blessings and comforts, can but feel their hearts throb with gratitude in memory of these worthy pioneers, who have left them so rich a legacy.

The Mclvin family settled on the Glade in 1808 and 1809. It appears they were natives of Virginia, although they came to this county from Tennessee. The first family of this name to settle here was that of Thomas Melvin, who located here in the spring of 1808. He was born .January - 1 . I7S2. and died in the fall of 1808, having survived only a few months after locating here He was the eldest son of John Melvin, St.. who married Jane Barnes, and with his family came to the Glade in 1809, locating on the place now owned by the Widow Marsh, and there resided till his death. Besides their eldest son mentioned above, they had the following children: Charles, Polly, Abbv. Bartholomew. Joseph. Samuel and Jefferson, all now deceased; and the only descendant of this large family, who is now a resident of this county, is John Melvin, Jr., a son of Bartholomew Melvin, who still resides on the Glade. Joseph Melvin. a cousin of the above John Melvin, Sr., settled on the Glade, with his family, at the same time of the latter. Remarried Phebe Van Vacter and the following were their children: Benjamin. John. Silas, Joseph. Sallie. Thomas and Jane, ail deceased; and the only decendanls of this family, now in the county, are t he children of John, the second son. who married Sallie Inzer, by whom he had the following children: Josiah. who is married, and resides on the Glade; Jane, married John Jones, of London; Benjamin, resides in Indiana, and Phebe. who married Isaac Jones, of London. About 1808 lb. Lewis Coon, a native of Virginia, and several of his nephews located on Deer Creek, on or near the Minshall lands, and it is probable that here the old gentleman died. Of the nephews we gather the following names: Jacob. Henry, Adam, Lewis and Abraham, who all married, and had large families, and each family had a -Jake." and to distinguish one from the other they were known in the community as " Old Jake.' - Fatty Jake.'' " Yankee .Jake.' " Fiddler Jake," " Little Jake " and " Cutty Jake." They were a family well known for their honesty, and uprightness; good neighbors and respected citizens; but most of them after several years residence, moved West, and of their families we can gather but little, except of Jacob Coon, Sr.. who resided here till about ISIS, when he removed to Missouri, and subsequently to Illinois, where he died, aged ninety-five years. He was twice married: by his first wife he had four sons and four daughters - Michael, a resident of Piatt County, 111.: Jacob, married Elizabeth Applegate, had one son- - Addison, and removed to Illinois, where he died, about 1876; William, married and settled in Illinois. where he died: Thomas, died in Missouri, while in the army during the war of the rebellion: Anna, married Klisha Moore, by whom she had four children -

Harriet, Robert, Henry and Kliza; the latter died young. Mrs. Moore, died in 1836, with milk sickness; Catharine, married John Moore, by whom she had six children, who grew to maturity; David and William, both in Missouri; .Jane, married George W. Hathaway, and resides at Dodge City. Kan.; Mary and Sarah, (twins), married two brothers - Samuel and James Morris, and settled in Warren County, 111.; Sarah, is deceased. Mr. Coon's second wife was Elizabeth Melvin, by whom he had three sons and four daughters; two of these sons died in the army, and the surviving one resides in Missouri; the daughters removed West and some are deceased. Mrs. Coon is still living in the West at an advanced age.

William Starns, from Tennessee, settled on the Glade in 1808-9, where he resided till his death, about 1830; his wife, Nancy, died a little earlier. Their children were James, Betsy. Nancy, Polly. Margaret, William, Abby. Rebecca and John. Mr. Starns was a farmer, and a man of sterling worth and integrity. William Smith, a native of Pennsylvania, came to the Glade a young, unmarried man, about 1812-13. He made his home first at James McDonald's; soon after he purchased the Deeds place. He returned to his native State, married, and brought his wife to his new home, on Deer Creek, where, about 1814, he erected a saw mill. He lived but a few years, had no children, and was buried on the place. William Aikin settled near the Melvins, on the Glade, about 1810-12. He resided there six or seven years and sold^ out to the Melvins. This new country was too sickly for them, and they moved back t<> their native State. He was a man of excellent character, and a worthy citizen.

We have thus far confined ourselves to the eastern portion of the Township; we will now mention some of the early settlers in other parts of the Township. Philip Cryder was born in Pennsylvania, but while young removed with his father to Xewtown, Va., where he grew to manhood, and married Nancy McClintick, a sister of Judge McClintick, who has since become so well-known in Ross County, Ohio. In 1800, in company with David Watson, Jonathan Minshall and others, in all thirty-nine persons, emigrated to Ohio, and first stopped at Chillieothe, and there purchased a tract of land embracing 800 acres, for which he paid about $2 per acre. Others of this company purchased large tracts of land. They then organized a surveying party under Col. Elias Langham, and left Chillieothe to survey and locate their lands. Mr. Cryder, David Watson and a few others, composed this party. They had. as may well be imagined, a very rough tour, camping out nights and coursing through the unbroken wilderness, but they accomplished their purpose, and in 1807-S Mr. Cryder located with his family on liis land, erected a cabin in which he was assisted by two neighbors, Mr. Fry ami Maj. Withrow, and two Indians, one of whom was the well-known hunter, Capt. John, who visited the early set tiers throughout this section very frequently, and who it is said was killed in combat with a deer, both lie and tin; deer lie i 114 found dead lying side by side, as they had fallen. Mr. Cryder was a recruiting officer in the war of 1812, and a Major of a horse company, yet lie was not out in the war. Once during the war il was reported thai the enemy was coming to massacre them all. and it produced a severe scare; and Maj. Cryder stalled with a company of men for Port Wayne, but while on his way he ascertained that there was no danger, and returned home. In the meantime his wife, with two Little children, mounted on horseback, and started for Chillieothe. On this place, where Mr. Cryder firsl settled, he remained through life. In the early years of their settlement here, they were in greal danger from prairie fires, and at two different times came very near Losing all their properly which was destructible by tire, but by a combined effort of the people of the surrounding country, aided by help from the citizens of London, they succeeded in 9taying the consuming flames and saving their property. But in the severe struggle Mr. Cryder became over- heated, and in sitting down cooled off too suddenly, and hud the foundation for that terrible disease, consumption, with which, in 1838, he died, aged sixtyeight years. His wife survived till, in August, 185G, aged seventy-six years. They were interred in the Watson Cemetery. Of their nine children, three died young; six grew to maturity. Mary, married Jonathan Markle; Arabella, married John Palmer; William, resides at the home place; Eliza, married William Jones. Samuel, married [sabel Watson, and Nancy, married Samuel Watson. All are now deceased, except William and Nancy. Mr. Cryder was a wagon-maker by trade, and was probably one of the first in Union Township. He followed his trade, in connection with farming, through life. He was one of the township's best citizens, and of his devoted wife we wish to remark that that she was never brought up to work, her parents owning many slaves, who performed all the work: but she made a noble helpmeet, and a brave pioneer, and endured all her many hardships with fortitude and a willing heart. In the days of the early settlers, they had no wells, and if they located where there was no permanent and lasting spring, they often had to carry water a great distance. Of .Mis. Cryder. it is said that at times she carried water for drinking and culinary purposes a distance of half a mile.

James Criswell became a resident on the Harford Toland land, about 1808-09. He was a very peculiar and eccentric man. yet honest and honorable in all his dealings, always endeavoring to meet his obligations promptly. It is said of him that one evening he was out in the clearing, quite a distance from his cabin, and it became quite dark, and at some distance from him he observed, as he thought, a remarkably thick cluster of stumps, when suddenly the dark object, supposed to be stumps, gave evidence of life, and began to approach him. and he 'struck out." with all possible speed tor his cabin, pursued by a large pack of wolves ; he barely reached his house, and thus disappointed the wolves and saved his life. Mr. Criswell was a blacksmith by trade, and moved from place to place, and after a few years all trace oi' him was lost.

Among the well-known pioneer families of Madison County, and of Union Township was the Warner family. Joseph Warner. Sr., was a native of Maryland, but. while a young man. removed to Virginia, where he married a lady, whose uiven name was Ruth, by whom he had the following children : Henry, Robert, .Joseph, .John. William. Amelia. Sarah, Margaret and Ann. About 1804. Mr. Warner, with some of his family, removed to Ohio, and first stopped near St. Clairsville ; and about 1808-10, some of his sons, among whom were Joseph and William, came to this county. Joseph purchased land where his sou Eli now lives, for which the records show that the deed was recorded in 1810 ; and afterward the whole family moved to this county. Joseph Warner, Si-., lived to the remarkable age of one hundred and four years. When one hundred years of age. he rode to Washington, I). C. on horseback, and back again ; and when one hundred and three years of age, he rode the same horse to Indiana, to visit one of his children, then residing there, where he died about a year afterward. .Joseph Warner, dr., was a carpenter by trade, which business he followed for many years, in connection with farming. IK' built one among the first houses erected in London, after the laying-out of the town, and for several years did a greal amount of carpenter work in London : subsequently moved with his family to town, but, after a few years' residence there, he moved back to tin- farm. He subsequently purchased more land, till he owned 300 acres. lb' married Sarah Atchison, by whom he had the following children : .John, who married Phebe Jefferson (has been thrice married), and now resides in Colorado ; Eli Smith, married Elizabeth Pancake (is now deceased); Charles, married [sabell Chenoweth ; Rebecca, is unmarried: Samuel, married Susan Maria Shepherd

(was twice married), is now deceased ; Rachel, married James Scarf and resides in Greene County, Ohio. Mr. Warner was a member of the Methodist Church, an energetic pioneer, and became a prosperous farmer, sustaining an unblemished character, and was u much esteemed and respected citizen. He died

Levi II. Tost, settled two and a half miles westof London, on the Springfield Pike, at a very early day ; but of him we can learn but little, as it appears that after a few years' residence here, he moved away. By the county records he served as Treasurer of the county from 1811 to 1815. Daniel Brown, a native ol' Virginia, settled southwest of London, near Philip Cryder, about 1808-10. He erected a windmill for grinding corn, but it failed to work satisfactorily, and he then run it by horse-power. As a man of character, honesty and conscientiousness in all his business transactions, he had hut few if any equals: as was exhibited in his dealings with dames Withrow. his neighbor on the south. Mr. Withrow owned land adjoining Mr. Brown, who owned land on the south of Mr. Withrow, and they concluded it would be mutually beneficial to each of them, to exchange ownership in these two tracts of land , consequently the trade was made, ami the deeds duly executed and exchanged ; and thus the business was consummated. Finally owv day. Mr. Brown called to see Mr. Withrow, and informed him that he had reason to believe that the title to the land he had deeded to him was defective, and as neither i>{' them had recorded their deeds, he proposed that the trade be made null and void by the destruction of tin1 deeds, which was accordingly done ; subsequently it proved that his fears were not without foundation, and in a short time after he lost the land. Thus by the honesty and unselfishness of Mr. Brown, Mr. Withrow was saved from loss or trouble. Mr. Brown by his wife Kachael. had several children, of whom we learn of Betsey, married to Samuel Watson ; Uachael. married Walter Watson ; Daniel and Ruth. Some of the children moved West, and married there, whose names are not remembered.

William Wingate, was born in 'Fairfax County, Ya.. eighl miles from Washington City ; he married Margaret Warner in 1800 ; in 1805, removed to Belmont Count v. Ohio, ami in 1809 to Madison County, but did not remove his family here till 1811, locating on Walnut Run, near David Watson. In 1815, he purchased the farm where his son now lives in the north part of Union Township. His purchase of fifty acres of Col. Langham, he lost on account of a defective title after having paid one half the purchase-money, and had to pay for it the second time. On this land where he located in 1 SI,"), he remained nil his death. November 19, 1862, aged nearly eighty-four years. His wife died in 1834; their children were Ruth, married Thomas Bea. and died in Indiana, had four children : Nancy, married David Dye, and died at Yellow Springs ; Amelia, married Joseph Ward, became a widow, and died in April, 1882, at the house of her brother William, who is the fourth child and resides on the old homestead, unmarried ; John, Elizabeth and Margaret died unmarried, in the month of October. 1834, with milk sickness; Sarah Ann, sxl older than Margaret, married Richard Hern, and settled in Illinois, where she died, leaving five children. Mr. Wingate served in the war of 1812. He was an industrious man. of undoubted integrity, and possessed the entire confidence of his community. He united with the Methodist Church in Belmont County, in 1807, and remained a devoted member till his death, a period of fifty-five years. When he united with the church he could not rea 1 a word ; inn so great was his desire to read the Bible, that he at once purchased <>ne. also a hymn book ; and when visited by his neighbors would get them to teach him to read, and soon he became able to read ; and before his death he had memorized and could repeat nearly one-half the entire Scriptures. He 9erved many years a- Class Leader, Steward and Trustee in the church. His son Will- iara, is walking in the footsteps of his venerable father ; has been a member of the same church for forty live years; a class leader twenty years, and a trustee lour years, bul from ill-health has had to resign all offices.

Benjamin Kirkpatriek, of Irish descent, with his wife Mary, settled one and a half miles west of London, where :i few years idler, he died. lie located there about I suit, was a good, honest farmer and a member of the Presbyterian Church. The Kirkwood Cemetery was named after him. He died December 5, 1821. Of his children were the following: .John and James, who died with milk sickness in 1822; Joseph married Ellen ("only, and soon after died ; William married Harcy Hammond: Harriet, who died from the effects of the bite of a rattlesnake: and Samuel. Ile/.ekiah Mayless. who it is understood, was a native of Virginia, with his wife. Sarah, settled on land now owned by the Widow Gray, aboul 1810 as he was known to lie here during the war of 1812. Mr. Bayless resided here several years, then removed to Champaign County,

Ohio, where he died. They had several children of whom we obtained but two names. Sarah and .John. The above we give as the true pioneers, ami now we follow with a number of early settlers, who on accounl of the hardships endured, labors performed, and prominent spheres in which they have acted are some of them, more fully identified with the improvements, growth and progress of the township and county, than many who settled earlier

David Groves, a native of Loudoun County, Va., married Elizabeth Stipp, of the same county. Aboul L805, he emigrated with his family to Ohio, and settled in Pickaway County ; aboul 1811, he came to .Madison County and set tied in Union Township, on land now owned in Mrs. E. Armstrong. Soon after settling here, he erected a tannery (being a tanner by trade), which was said to lie the first in the county. Here he remained and carried on this business, in con nection with farming, till aboul 1827, when he rented his farm and moved to London and erected a tannen there, and carried on business oik; or two years, when his wife died, and soon after he sold his property in town and moved Lack to the farm an I resided till 1846, when he sold his farm to James Jones and again located in town, purchasing the property when- his daughter, Mrs Neff, the Methodisl Church for many years. He served as a soldier in the war of 1812, under (leu. Ilarri on. and was near by at the surrender of Hull's army at Detroit. He was the father of eight children - Keturah, who married Charles Soward, and settled in [owa : Sarah, who married Wilson Dungan, is now deceased; George died, unmarried; Letitia married Squire Knight, of Greene County, Ohio: Rachel married A. A. Hume, is deceased; Mary married Absalom

Net?', and sell led in Pickaway County. A few years before his death he removed to London, where lie died in 1861. They had one son. Francis Rodney, who married and resides in London, on the same property with Mrs. Neff; .John Wesley died, unmarried, at Woif Lake, hid.; and Joseph Lrantz. who married Louise Strong, ami settled on tin- old homestead place of his father, where he died .July l!». 1816. They had one son. .John Wesley who was killed by the cars when thirteen years of age. John Moore, a nativeofthe Stateof Virginia, married a Miss Smith, and in 1811 emigrated to Ohio, remaining one year in Ross County, and in 1812 settled in Madison County, locating in the northern part of Union Township on the Littler farm. Mrs. Moore died, and he subse quently married Sarah Littler. By his firs! wife he had two children, both deceased ; by his last wife he had nine, two now survive. Mr. Moore was <pnte a reserved, unpretentious man, yel full of fun and quick.with repartee, and enjoyed life well. He followed farming through life ; a man of kind heart and a substantial and worthv citizen.

John F. Armstrong was bom in Kentucky March 13, 1772 ; he served a short time in the war of 1812; he married Elizabeth Warren, a native of Pennsylvania, of Welsh descent; in 1813, he came to Madison County, and located on land now owned by Hiram EUchmon. He made (arming and stock-raising his business through life, and was quite successful. He owned 300 acres of land in this county, besides quite an amount of Western lands. He was the lather of twelve children ; six survive - Eliza (wife of Andrew .Jackson), Warren. Samuel, Francis. William H. (now a resident of Kansas), and John F. Mr. Armstrong died August 16, 1863, and his wife September 3, 1867. James Porter, a native of .Maryland emigrated to Koss County, Ohio, about 1800, ami there married Elizabeth Kibourn. He served in the war of 1812, and very soon after - or about 1815 - settled in this township, on the place now owned by his son. dames G. Here he erected his cabin, and very soon after set out an orchard, from trees he raised by planting the seeds from some rotten apples which he brought to the county. This was one of the first orchards in this neighborhood, and some of the trees are still standing in the old orchard. His wife died in October. 1829, with the "trembles, or milk-sickness.' lie was then left with six young children, whom he took to his brother, in Ross County. Subsequently, he married Mary Bradley, and, in 1835, brought his children back, and then resided upon the farm, where he first located, till his death. The children by his first wife were John, who married Mary Timmons, is now deceased ; Peter, removed to Illinois, where he married Mary Jane Ayers, is now a resident of Kansas ; Amelia Ann. married John Troud, is now deceased ; James G. ; Samuel, deceased, and Lucretia, also deceased. The children by his last wife were Nancy, Joshua. Malinda and Malissa (deceased), Harriet (married A. J. Coover, and resides in London), and William H. (resides at Parsons, Kan. - he served through the late war of the rebellion). Mr. Porter was :; very large, robust man, measuring six feet and four inches in height, and his average weight was two hundred and fifty pounds. His wife died in 1849. He died in 1852, aged sixty-three years. George Boocher, believed to be a native of Maryland, married Gatty Truitt, and settled near where the Infirmary is now located, about 1814-15, where he resided till his death. Tie had one child. Mahala. who married Charles Warrington, and now resides in South Charleston, Ohio. Robert Smith, a son of James Smith, and a native of Virginia, came to this county about 1815, and settled on what js known as the Phifer place. He was married in Virginia to Ann Littler, in the year 1800. < >f their children, one now survives - S. L. Smith, residing in Northern Indiana. Mr. Smith died in 1816. Tn 1817, his widow married William Nbteman, an early settler of Deer Creek Township. By this second husband she had one child, now the wife of John Lohr. Mrs. Noteman died in 1826.

In November, 1814, William Jones and wife, with one child. Job K.. emigrating from the State of Tennessee, and settled in London. Later there were born to the parents [saac, John. William and James. The father was a blacksmith by trade, and was the first to follow that occupation in London. He was subsequently engaged in various occupations, and became very wealthy. He was a very liberal man. gave a great deal to various charitable purposes and assisted those needing financial help. lie suffered severely in the crash of is:;?, by paying security debts, and removed to his farm in Union Township, but subsequently returned to London, where he lived with his son, Job K.. at whose home he died. He was extensively known, and loved by every one. He was everybody's friend, and was familiarly known as -- Dad Jones." Of the children. Job K. remained a resident of London until his death, which occurred April 4. 1877. lie possessed, at one time, over 800 acres of land in Madison County (Union and Deer Creek Townships). John is now a retired merchant of London, and James a lawyer in Champaign, 111.

Thomas Jones, a native of Worcester County. Md., emigrated to Ross County, Ohio ; about 1817 removed to Madison County and located in the southwest part of Union Township, when; he purchased land. Subsequently, P. P. Helphenstine purchased a large tract of hind of Pulton & Creighton. of Chillicothe, from which Mr. Jones obtained enough to make with his first purchase 1,000 acres. Here, where he first located, he remained through bib. He was quite an active politician, first as a Whig, then a Republican. He served as Associate Judge under the old constitution several years, and also as County Commissioner. He was a man of kind heart and noted for his deeds of love and charity. He married .Mary I*. Truitt, a native of Eastern .Maryland, by whom he had seven sons and one daughter; James J. married Josephine Kerr, and resides in San Jose, Cal. ; William G. married Eliza Cryder, both deceased; Edward A. settled in Illinois, and married Margery Elkin, now resides at Decatur, -111. ; Dr. Toland, who married Frances A. Toland and resides in London ; John E. married Mary McLene, is deceased ; Eliza J. married J. B. Evans, who is deceased, since which she married Thomas 0. Smith, who is also deceased - he died in California where his widow still resides : Ken dall P. died in 1X.">4. when young ; and Addison who married Sarah V. Godfrey and resides on the old homestead. Mr. Jones died in 1859, and his wife in 1865. Samuel Messmore, a native of Pennsylvania, married Mrs. Michael Lohr, nee Mary C. Miller, born in Rockingham County. Va. She married Michael Lohr in 1810; he died in 1818. By him she had two sons and two daughters - Margaret Ann, married William Chappell, is now a widow and resides in London ; George W., whose sketch appears in another part of this work ; John, married Ann Noteman ; and Mary, who married Michael Carr, and now resides in Fayette County, Ohio. Mr. Messmore married Mrs. Lohr in 1819. In 1820, they removed to Ohio and settled in Union Township, Madison County, on land now owned by William Cryder. He was master of two trades, a brick-layer, and a shoe-maker, the latter of which he followed in connection with farming through life. He died in Midway, this county, having moved there just a year or two before his death. He was a man of excellent character, honest and upright in all his dealings, kind and liberal in all his habits, and in his later years a devout member of the Christian Church. Mrs. Mess more was a model wife, mother and neighbor, and kind to the sick and afflicted, and benevolent to all worthy of her charity. By Mr. Messmore she had three children - Mary Catharine, now the wife of James Gossard and. resides in Illinois; Isabel, now Mrs. Alexander Wilmoth, and resides in Kentucky ; and James Madison who died when in childhood.

Jacob Canard, a native of Pennsylvania, was born January 28, 1780; emigrated to Warren County. Ohio, about 1796-97, where he married Mehitable Buckles, who was born Augusl II. 1772, in Virginia. Subsequently, they removed to near Lisbon. Clark Co., Ohio: thence, in 1823-24, settled in Union Township, this county, locating in the west part, where he purchased land and remained till his death. They had the following children : Mary married David Smith, who died and she married Robert Ruckles, removed to Indiana, thence to Illinois, where she is now a widow, aged eighty-three year-. ; Jonah, never married, and died in this county about L848 ; James, married Man Buckles, and died in this county July -i. L880, Ids wife died Augusl 7. 1881. they had six children; John 1>. and David T. reside in London ; Eliza, married John Forbes, and in 1854 removed to Illinois; -John, married Leah Buzick, and in L854 also moved to Illinois, he was serving as County Commissioner when he moved West, and was a Colonel in the Slate Militia many years : he died in January. 1870 ; Jacob, the fifth child of James Garrard, died young: and Joseph, the youngest, married Lucy Allen, and subsequently, moved to Marysville. Union Co. Ohio, where he died on Thanks- giving Day. November, 1880. Stephen, the youngest child of Jacob Garrard, married Nancy Davis, and subsequently moved to Columbus, where he died in June, 1874. Mr. Jacob Garrard's wife died October 8, 1836. Subsequently he married .Martha Hollar, by whom he had two children - Martin Van Buren, and Thomas .Jefferson - the former died in the army in the war of the rebellion, in South Carolina ; the latter resides at Indianapolis. Mr. Garrard died Januuary 28, 1845. He gave his leading attention to stock-raising ; was a great hunter in those days when game was in abundance, and enjo3'ed the sport greatly. So well did he enjoy the sport, that at times feeling unwell and unfit lor business, if he was able to mount, his horse and ride out on a hunt, it was an effectual remedy for his ailments, and he would return to his business much invigorated. About 1829, Mr. Garrard erected a grist mill on Oak Run. just above the Roberts' Mill, made of hewed logs and run by water-power. Soon after, he erected a small distillery ; these ran till about 1840, when he sold the mill to Charles Roberts, and the distillery was discontinued. He was a great politician and took an active part in all campaigns, working for the success of the Democratic party. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. Dr. Simon Steers, a Yankee by birth, located in the north part of the township about 1810, and was one of the first physicians of this township. He resided here till his death. He raised several children, some of whom died here and some removed to the West. The Doctor and his wife were both interred in the cemetery near Newport.

James Rankin, one of the prominent and leading business men of the county, was born in Maryland, Ma}- 20, 1786. On February 10, 1S07. married Margaret Truitt, who was born in Worcester County, Md., January 1, 1788. In the spring or summer of 1817, they emigrated to Ohio, and were all summer making the journey, arriving in the county in the fall of the same year. That winter they sheltered at what is now the sugar camp of Mary Truitt, the entire party, consisting of fourteen persons, sleeping in one room of the log cabin. In the spring of 1818. they located on the land now known as the County Infirmary Farm. Mr. Rankin was a contractor and builder by profession, and was one of the contractors for a county jail, which will be mentioned elsewhere, lie. however, made farming his principal occupation through life. He was a prominent member of the Presbyterian Church of London, being one of the constituent members of its re-organization in 1S20: and also a worthy member of the Masonic fraternity. Politically, he was a Whig; he held the olfice of Township Trustee fifteen years or more. Mr. Rankin was a man possessed of a high moral and Christian character and a most worthy citizen. He died \ugust 21. 1857; Mrs. Rankin died on December 12. 1871. Their children were as follows: John T. N., who married Charity Ann Fullerton, and resides at South Charleston; Albert <i.. married Abigail Cooper, she died leaving one child. George W., who grew to manhood, noted for his moral and Christian character, and although taken from life just in tin1 bud of manhood, when his plans for usefulness were scarcely matured, as lie was preparing for the ministry, yet in his death he showed his devoted Christian and charitable spirit, by bequeathing in his last will and testament $10,000 to the Board of Education of the Presbyterian Church of the I nited Slates (Mr. Albert <!. Rankin married lor his second wife. Margaret A. Withrow. by whom he had several children): Charlotte Ann Selby, the third child of .lames Rankin, married Samuel Withrow; Eliza White, died young and unmarried: Caroline Matilda; married William Stroup, and died ai South Charleston, Ohio; Joshua Truitt, married Sarah Evans, and resides near the homestead place: Mary Atkinson, married Fulton Armstrong, is deceased; dames, married Ann Eliza Warner; and Washington Purnell, who died in childhood. Edward Evans, settled in Paint Township, in 1813, and a little later in this township, on land belonging to the James Armstrong heirs, where lie died. He was a native of Virginia; a good, honest farmer, and a worthy and respectable citizen, and member of the Methodist Church.

Jesse Paine was a native of .Maryland, and settled here about 1820; was a cripple and unable to do much manual labor, fie had a large; family of children, of whom are John, Zadoc, Samuel and James ; all good, industrious men, and from starting in life poor, have become thrifty farmers. John Rayburn, a native of Virginia, first emigrated to Ross County, thence about 1818 came to Madison County, and settled first eight miles south of London, at Willow Springs, and about 1830 removed to near London, where he resided till his death. He married a .Miss ('orbit, by whom he had seven children, all now deceased. Henry, moved to Indiana at an early day and died there; James became a member of the Legislature from this county, and was an Associate Judge; but about 1844 removed to Illinois, where he died in the summer of 1882; John remained a resident of this county till his death; William also died here ; David diet! here; Creighton M. (.lied in London; and one daughter named Patsey married Dr. James Allen, who lived and died in London. All of the above family were very worthy citizens, of high moral character, and members of the Presbyterian Church. James Kiscaddin settled here about 1824, a good, industrious man; never owned property, and removed to Marion, Ohio.

Robert Armstrong, a son of Judge James Armstrong, of Ross County, was born April 7, 1801. married KJizabeth Earl, and settled in this county, four miles south of London, about 1824-25. His wife died in 1844, and he subsequently married Mis. .Maria Coover, nee Cowling. He was the father of fifteen children; nine now survive - Fulton, Thomas. James, Elizabeth, John T., Richard. Iowa and Missouri (twins, tne latter deceased), Edward and Benjamin K. Several of these now reside in the West; the balance reside in this county, and are among its leading business men. Mr. Armstrong was an extensive farmer and stock-dealer, very successful in business, became owner of 1,400 acres of land in Madison Count\r, and a large amount of Western lands, besides much personal property. He died in 18G5, and his wife in 1873. Samuel Carr was a native of Harrison County. Va., and while a young, single man came to Madison County and settled near Newport, purchasing land of Col. Hlias Langham, hut which he lost entirely, having a worthless title. Thence he rented the farm now owned by Mr. Blue. In 1824, he purchased the farm where his son John now lives, and there resided till his death. He married Amelia Warner, by whom he had the following children: John W.; Minerva Ann. married 1! 'bert Withrow. is now deceased; Maria Jane, died unmarried; Eliza Ruth, died at eighteen years of age; Francis and Mary, died in infancy; Amanda, married Henry R. Dun, resides in Bloomington, 111.; and Samuel, who was killed by being thrown from a horse when twelve years of age. Mr. Carr. who came to the county prior to the war of 1812, served in that war. lie spent his life as a farmer and stock raiser, and accumulated a good property. lie was a man of unimpeachable character, and much respected by all who knew him. He died May 18, 1864, aged eighty-one years. His wife died August 31, 1864, aged seventy-two years. William Jackson, a native of Pennsylvania, of Irish descent, removed to Virginia, and there married Nancy Rea, a native of Maryland, of Welsh descent. In 1828, they came to Ohio and settled in the western part of Union Township, where they resided till their death.

Lancisco. Gideon and George Peck, sons of Gideon Peck, of Ross County, Ohio, settled on a tract of land in the west part of Union Township, which was purchased by their father. They settled here about 1828. Gideon has since died, and George removed to Illinois. Lancisco still resides on the home place, where he lias resided more than half a century, a ver\ honest, upright man, and a prosperous farmer. Of other early settlers of whom we did not succeed in obtaining any special account, yet were known to have settled here about 1S12 15, were John and George Sutherland, John and James Beatt}-, Henry Ward and an only son. Joseph. The above, we think, will embrace a reasonably thorough accounl of most of the first settlers of Union Township, as its boundaries now exist. Some early settlers have no doubt been omitted, not intentionally, but from an impossibility, with the limited resources now left us after a lapse of more than three-quarters of a century, to gain information of every one. Neither do we claim no mistakes in what we have given, but we have endeavored to gather as carefully and correctly as was possible.

Surface, Soil, Etc

The surface of this township is generally level, and considerable portions of it were originally oak openings and prairies. Along the streams and creeks, the surface is rolling, and. in a few localities, somewhat hilly. The principal streams are Glade Run and Deer Creek, in the eastern part of the township, crossing it from north to south; Oak Run. which rises in the northwest part of the township, flows eastward, and thence southeast through London and the central portion of the township, and on through Oak Run Township and is a branch of Walnut Run, which rises a little south of the source of Oak Run, and courses in a southeast direction into Paint Township, leaving this township on the Elijah Peterson farm. The southern neck of this township is crossed from west to east by Walnut Run, a distance of about two and one-half miles. The southwest and western portions of the township are quite level. On the tributary of Walnut Hun, and the head-waters of Oak Run, the surface is rolling; between said tributary and Oak Run is a large extent of very level and beautiful country, and also the same condition between Oak Run and Deer Creek. The most uneven and hilly locality, and in fact about the only portion which can with propriety be called hilly, is the southern portion, along Oak Run and "Walnut Run. The entire township possesses a rich, strong, and productive soil. The more level portions generally consist of a black loam, with here and there a small admixture of clay. The rolling and hilly portions are a clay and loam soil. Almost the entire township is especially adapted to grazing and the raising of stock, which has ever been a leading business with the most prominent farmers. Where the farmers have given attention to tiling and draining their land, it produces abundant crops of wheat and corn. and during the last few years much attention has been given to draining the lands, and it is greatly increasing the productiveness and value of farms. Prom the above description of the course of the streams, it will be clearly visible that the west and northwest portions of the township have the greatest elevation. In the building of the Pittsburgh. Cincinnati iV St. Louis Railroad, which passes in a northeasterly or southwesterly course through the center of the township, it was said that the highest altitude between Columbus and Cincinnati, is just west of William Cryder's residence. The Township is well watered, and good wells, with lasting water, are obtained from fifteen to fort} feet below the -uii'ace. At the County Infirmary, which is located on this hind above spoken of. possessing such :i high altitude they have (lowing wells, and the water is impregnated very strongly with iron, and perhaps other minerals. Therefore, there musl be extensive subterranean courses, which are supplied with water from some distanl source of very high elevation, and this source, or somewhere along the subterranean course, before it reaches the surface at the infirmary, musl lie abundantly supplied with iron. The water appears to lie of excellent quality and, without doubt, conducive to health. The variety of timber is aboul the same as in other portions of the county. On the more level portions, and in the oak openings, burr oak predominates, with some hickory and elm ; in some wet portions elm rather predominates. In some places, and along the the creek bottoms, were formerly found considerable walnut. On the more elevated lands, with clay soil, were white, black and red oak, hickory and ash, as the prevailing species. The prairies, as first occupied by the pioneers, were found with an exuberant growth of grass, which formed excellent pasturage for their stock, the grass often growing seven and eight feet in height. I tut late in the season, when it became very dry. it became as dangerous an element as in the early part of the season it was beneficial to the settler; for, often the grass would be set on fire, and burn and destroy everything of a destructible nature which lay in its course, and, when once started, with a brisk wind it would travel at railroad speed, and many a farmer had his buildings, grain and everything swept away by the burning element in a few minutes of time. Sometimes, by a combination of neighbors making a hard and continued right with the fire, before it reached too near their homes, they would succeed in saying their property. But in the fall of the year it required a continued watchfulness and care on the part of the settlers to guard against these destructiyc fires.

Pike8 And Roads

Two railroads pass through this township, the Pittsburg, Cincinnati & St. Louis, and the Indianapolis. Bloomington & Western (formerly Springfield & Columbus Short Line). The township is well supplied with pikes, or good gravel roads, radiating in all directions from London, the only town in the township ; i he principal of which are, the Somerford pike, the Springfield pike, the south Charleston pike, the pike leading to Newport and Midway, the Mount Sterling pike, the Lilly Chapel & Georgesville pike, the Jefferson pike, the Lafayette pike, and now building, the Beach Road pike, all of which add greatly to the business interests of Loudon, and to the comfort and convenience of the people throughout the entire country. Besides these pikes above mentioned, many of the cross and connecting roads have been more or less graveled, and made nearly as good as pikes, so that we may say that this township has superior roads and facilities for travel, comfort, and convenience.

It is probable, in fact we may say very certain, that the first church organization in Union Township was on (Hade Run, and is known as the Lower Glade Methodist Episcopal Church. About 1808-9, several persons met at a log house on the farm now owned by Preston Adair, situated between what is known as the Lower Glade and the Upper Glade, and here, by Rev. Mr. Pavey, a class was organized consisting of the following persons: John McDonald, James McDonald, Charles Ewing, Samuel Ewing, John Ewing, Jacob Sidener, John Adair, James Wright. Eliza Wright. William Brwin and his mother, Charles Melvin, John Melvin. Benjamin Melvin, Joseph Melvin, and their wives. Isaac Wright. James Wright, William Kagan. Abby Melvin, Schuyler McDonald, Phebe Melvin, Henry Coon and wife and Polly McDonald. While they continued to hold their meetings at this log house, they were administered to by the Revs. Pavey, Smith, Bacon, Roberl Findley, dames Findley, William Sutton and William Simmons. About 1812, by mutual agreement, for the convenience of the members, the class was divided, those who lived in the vicinity of the Upper Glade, forming a class, which was the nucleus of the McDonald Church, or the Upper Glade Methodist Episcopal Uhurch, and those who resided in the vicinity of the Lower (Hade constituted a class, ami the beginning of the church of which we here give a history. This class consisted of the following: James McDonald, William Krwin and his mother, Schuyler McDonald, Charles Melvin. John Melvin, Benjamin Melvin, Joseph Melvin, Henry Coon, and their wives. Abby Melvin. Phebe Melvin. Adam Bennett ami wife, Jacob McCuen, Samuel Adair and wife, and John Harrison and wife, numbering twenty-six members in all. They held services in the house of James McDonald, and the houses of others, and in the sehoolhouse until about 1831, when they erected the old log meeting house, which at that time was considered a fine structure, and it was probably dedicated the following year by Rev. William Simmons. The people worshiped in this log house for some time without a floor, the minister preaching to the people from a platform of boards laid upon some of the hewed joists. Many years afterward, this log building was weather-boarded and repaired, and made to take on quite an improved appearance. Thus fitted up, this house continued to serve the people till 1881, when arrangements were perfected to erect upon the same site a substantial brick edifice, which was built by Mr. James Self, of London, and is a fine specimen of workmanship. The house is thirty-two b}' fifty-four feet, with an eight feet square tower projecting in front, making the extreme length sixty-two feet. In the interior, the house is neatly and tastefully furnished ; the arrangements for lighting the church are, perhaps, unsurpassed by any church of its size, and presents a very pleasing appearance. The seats which are of heavy ash wood, trimmed with walnut, were furnished b}- the Excelsior School and Church Furniture Company oi Cincinnati. Probably, no church in the county is better seated. The whole cost of the building is a little over $2,700. The house was dedicated to service June 11, 1882, by the Presiding Elder of this district, Rev. J. F. King. The sermon was delivered on Sabbath morning at 10 o'clock from the text, "We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, even of Thy holy temple" (Psalm lxv, 4th verse). There were present two of the former pastors, Rev. A. M. Alexander and Rev. B. Tressenrider, also the Rev. J. W. Peters, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church at London, all of whom participated in the services. At the close of the discourse, a financial exhibit was made by the pastor, and the congregation were asked for $625, the amount necessary to liquidate the indebtedness of the church. The response made to the call by the Elder was both generous and general, and in a half hour or so, the membership and friends had contributed about $810. Several friends who were not present had remembered the church, and had sent subscriptions. This liberality had enabled the church to pay all its indebtedness, and to provide itself with a good bell. After the subscrip tion, the church was presented on the part of the Trustees, b}' Brother J. .1. Melvin, and was then formerly dedicated to God as a house of worship, according to the ritual of the church. The Trustees at the present time (1882 are Thomas Peddicord, J. J. Melvin. Andrew Rupert, Josiah Melvin and l>a vid Rupert. The class leader is John J. Melvin. The present pastor is Rev. John W. Waite.

The above is the only church in Union Township, outside of the limits of London, except a German Baptist Church, situated a little north of Roberts Mill, which was recently built, and consequently its history would be but brief, and of which we have lew facts or data.

CEMETERIES. The first burial-places were usually upon the land where they lived, or that of some neighbor at no great distance, as it was many years before regular interment grounds or cemeteries were established. The first to re ceive interment within the present limits of Union Township 'were, probably, two infant children of Thomas Melvin, on Glade Hun, who died in the summer of 1808, and were buried on his land, which has since become a regular burialplace for that neighborhood and vicinity, and is known as the Lower Glade Cemetery. The first adult peison to be interred was Thomas Melvin. the father of the above-mentioned children, who died in the fall of 1808. In 1811. the body of John McDonald, Sr., was deposited in the same piece of ground

And from this time deaths and burials became quite frequent, as the neighborhood of the Glade filled up with settlers, and for many years much sickness prevailed, and many a family tie was sundered by the "grim messenger, Death." Subsequently, after the death of Thomas Melvin, this laud came into the ownership of Charles Melvin, who fenced around about an acre of ground and donated it for cemetery purposes. It has now been used for nearly seventy-five years, and contains a large concourse of the dead. A few persons have been buried in other places, but nearly all who were interred in the eastern portion of the township were buried in the above cemetery. In the extreme western part of the township, many of the pioneers were buried in the Turner Burying-Ground," just in the edge of Clark County. Also, a few per sons were interred on the James Garrard farm, which was, in the early days known as the Sutherland l>urying-Ground. But it is now all an open pasture. and not a mark left to show who were buried there. In the southern and southwestern portions of the township, many of the early dead were interred in the Watson Cemetery. At London there were two burying-places quite early established - one in the north part of the town, usually known as the Methodist, and the other west of the town, known as the Presbyterian. These were used for many }-ears, and until the purchase and establishment of the present beautiful grounds known as Oak Hill and Kirkwood Cemeteries. These were both established by associations, organized under the laws of the State, as follows ;

Oak Will Cemetery Association was organized at a called meeting of the citizen? of London and vicinity, on August 6,1860, with the following mem bers : Richard Cowling, Toland Jones. Jeriah Swetland, James Q. Lotspeieh. A. A. Hume, Richard A. Harrison, A. Shanklin, Oliver P. Crabb, Henry- \V. Smith and Benjamin F. Clark. Of these. Alexander A. Hume. Richard A Harrison and Jeriah Swetland. were duly elected Trustees ; and Henry W Smith; Clerk. On August 9, 1860, Richard Cowling, Esq., and his wife, Man Cowling, conveyed by deed to said Oak Hill Association, eight acres and ninety - six poles of land. This land lies north of London, where said cemetery is located, and was a donation by said grantors. The ground was laid out in three divisions : Division No. 1, contains sixty-eight lots ; Division No. 2. contains sixty-nine lots; and Division No. '.'>. contains fifty-three lots. The Soldiers Monument is in Division No. 1, and was donated by Richard Cowling, Esq The donor is buried near the Soldiers' Monument. Richard Cowling, Esq., in his last will and testament, devised to said Oak Hill Cemetery Association fifty- four and three-fifths acres of land adjoining the eight acres and ninetysix poles of land first donated. The following persons have been the Trustees of said Association : Richard A. Harrison, Alexander A. Hume, and Jeriah Swetland, from the organization. August 6th, 1860. to August 3. 1868 ; at the latter date the following persons were elected Trustees: R. Cowling. J. Swetland, and A. A. Hume, who continued as Trustees till Augusl 4, 1ST.'!, when R. Cowling. S. H. Cartzdafner and A. A. Hume were elected Trustees. October:;, 18715, H. Cowling. Esq.. died. On June 14. 1875. Jeriah Swetland was appointed to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of R. Cowling, Esq. August 16. 1875. Peter Peetrev. E. R Watts and S. II. Cartzdafner. were elected Trustees. August 7, 1876, S. H. Cartzdafner, E. R. Watts and John Kinney. were elected Trustees. August ti. 1879, the following persons were elected Trustees : Benjamin F. ("lark. Samuel P. Davidson and Preston Adair. H. W. Smith, Esq., was elected Clerk and Secretary. August ti. 1860, and has been continued by re-election to the present time. A. Shanklin was elected Treasurer. August 6, 1860, and continued to hold said office until August S, 1877, when he died, and is buried in said cemetery. August 17, 1877, the Trustees appointed Thomas J. Bolds Treasurer, who qualified and held said office till August (i

1879 ; when John Jones, I]sq., was elected Treasurer. Every lot owner is a member of said association. The Trustees have planted the avenues with shade trees, graded and graveled the avenues, fenced, ditched and otherwise improved the ground. In 1876, they completed the erection of a nice brick house in the cemeterj' for the Sexton, have dug a well and cistern, and made other improvements. The cemetery is in a pleasant location, neatly and tastefull}' laid out, and is a beautiful place for the burial of the dead. There are several fine monuments in the cemeteiy; and that of the soldiers will ever commemorate ils donor.

St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery. - This cemetery is located southeast of London. It consists of four acres of ground, which was purchased of Dr. Toland for $-100. and for which a deed was executed in favor of Archbishop Purcell, and the same duly recorded in London, April 7, 1865. The grounds were laid out in lots under the superintendence of Father Conway, and the cemetery duly consecrated to the purpose intended ; since which many interments have been made there. Prior to the purchase of this cemetery, most of the deceased of the Catholic families were interred at Springfield, Clark County. Since the purchase of the above cemetery, many bodies have been removed from Springfield and interred in this burial-ground. This cemetery is handsomely located, and the land is well adapted for burial purposes. Many nice monuments have been erected, and in a few years, when the shade trees have grown, it will doubtless add much to the beauty of its location.

Kirhwood Cemetery Association. - At a meeting of the citizens of London and vicinity, at the law office of R. A. Harrison, in London, on December 26, 1868, the following persons subscribed their names as members of said association : Mathew Rea, Jesse Rea, Maxwell Murray, Toland Jones, Fulton Armstrong. Joshua T. Rankin, Joseph Rea, Owen Thomas, Jeremiah Rea, Robert Rea, Richard A. Harrison, A. S. Jones, Robert Boyd. Jonathan Farrar, James Rankin, C. Pancake and Harford Toland. The officers of the association have been as follows : Trustees - Toland Jones served 1868-77 ; Robert Boyd, 1868-72; Jeremiah Rea, 1868-71 ; Owen Thomas, 1868-73 ; Jonathan Farrar. 1868-71 ; William Riddle, 1871 - ; Fulton Armstrong. 1871-77 ; James Rankin, 1872-77 ; William Curtain. 1873-76 ; Joseph Rea, 1873 - ; Robert Rea, 1872-77 ; Daniel T. Fox, 1876-77. Presidents - Toland Jones, 1868-72; William Curtain. 1873 - ; Fulton Armstrong, 1874 - 77. Treasurers - Harford Toland, 1868-77 ; Robert Rea, 1873. Clerks - R. A. Harrison, 1868-70 ; Noah Thomas, 1871-77. Toland Jones, .Jeremiah Rea, Richard A. Harrison and others having, on November 7, 1868, purchased of Eli G. Warner twentyfour and a half acres of land for cemetery purposes, the Trustees of Kirkwood Cemetery Association, at a special meeting of said association, held September IS. 1869, were instructed to purchase said twenty-four and a half acres of land of said Jeremiah Ilea and others, for the use of said association ; which was accordingly done The said land lies in a southwesterly direction from London, and the grounds were laid out by George Wiltz, of Circleville, Ohio, an accomplished architect and engineer, ami were appropriately dedicated on July .'!, 1869. The Trustees have erected a neat brick house on the grounds for the sexton. On June 26, 1874, they appointed Green Roberts as watchman of said cemetery grounds, who was sworn to perforin all the duties required and authorized by the State law enacted for the protection of cemeteries, during his continuance as watchman. In L882, a morgue was luiilt. under the superintendence of Fulton Armstrong and Auburn Smith, at a cost of about £3,300, and is a beautiful and spacious structure lor the purpose for which it was erected. In October, 1832, Auburn Smith died, and was the first person to be laid in the morgue, in the construction of which be had been a superintendent. and had but a short time previous to his death completed the work. This cemetery has a beautiful location, high and dry, and u soil well adapted to the purpose. The laying out of the grounds is artistically done, and avenues and shade trees so arranged as to give a very pleasing appearance, and it appears to be all that could be desired as a final resting-place for the dead.

About 1829, Jacob Garrard erected a grist mill on Oak Run, a little above .vhere Roberts' mill is now located. This mill was constructed from hewed logs, and was run by water-power. Soon after he erected a small distillery connected with the mill: these he run till about 1840, when he sold the gristmill to Charles Roberts, who refused to purchase the distillery, and it then went into disuse and decay. Soon after the mill came int.) Mr. Roberts' ownership, he erected a new mill on the present site of the Roberts' Mill. This mill has been run by Mr. Roberts and his heirs ever since its erection, or at least has been run under their ownership, and at one time it did quite an extensive business for that day.

Carding Mill: - About 1840, Henry Zinn erected a carding mill, with a saw mill attached, on Oak Run, about one mile north of London, run by water-power. He continued business there about live years, when he sold the property to C. K. Slagle, who continued the business about four years, when he erected a new building, twostories, 30x50 feet, attached to the old building, in which he placed machinery for the manufacture of all kinds of woolen goods. This machinery he ran by steam power, and in 1850 had it in full operation, when he rented the property to William Fish, who was a practical manufacturer. Mr Slagle then erected a tannery near the woolen mills. Mr. Fish, after conducting business two years, associated with himself Mr. Dennis Clark, and thus continued two years, when Mr. Fish retired, Mr. Clark purchasing his interest and continuing the business till June 28, 1864, when the whole property was destroyed by lire, caused by sparks falling on the roof from the chimney. This fire also destroyed Mr. Slagle's tannery and all his property. They never rebuilt the mill.

From the absence of any records of the township for the first ten years after the erection of the township, we commence our account with the year 1821, the first which appear;? on the records:

Trustees. - 1821 - George Chappell, William Smith and Patrick McLene; 1822 -George Chappell, Amos G. Thompson and John F. Chenoweth; 1823 - George Chappell, Thomas Rea and John F. Chenoweth; 1824 - James Cessna, John F. Chenoweth and George Chappell; 1825 - George Chappell, John Moore and John F. Chenoweth; 1826 - Thomas Cessna, John F. Chenoweth and George Chappell; 1827 - John Moore, Joseph B. Melvin and George Chappell; 1828-29 - John Moore, Jonathan Minshall and J. B. Melvin; 1830-33 - Joseph B. Melvin, Nathan Bond and Jonathan Minshall; from 1833 to 1841 no rec- ord« appear; 1841-43 - James Rankin, John J. Melvin and Joseph Rayburu 1844 - James Smith. James Rankin and Paul Custer; 1845 - James Rankin James Smith and Maxwell Murray: 1846-48 - Maxwell Murray. David Dunkil and James Rankin; 1849 - James Rankin, Joseph Rayburn and Stephei Moore; 1850-51 - James Rankin, John C. Jones and Stephen Moore; 1852- Roberi Armstrong, Harvey Fellows and Christian K. Slagle; 1853-54 - Harve; Fellows, Robert Armstrong and John C. Jones; 1855-56 - James Rankin, Mux well Murray and Christian K. Slagle; 1857 - A. A. Hume, Maxwell Murray am C. K. Slagle; 1858 - C. K. Slagle, John Jones and Maxwell Murray; 1859- C. K. Slagle, Maxwell Murray and Peter Peetrey; 1860 - Maxwell Murray James Garrard and Isaac Horn beck; 1861-62 - David M. Pelton, Lemtbn Mount and Isaac Hornbeck; 1863 64 - Lemt'ord Mount, E. D. Whitaker am J. 1m W. Carr; 1865 - John VV. Carr, L. Mount and J. F. Chenoweth;.1866- L. Mount. J. W. Carr and Peter Peetrey; 1867-69 - L. Mount. J. W. Carr am Samuel Sidener; 1870 - James W. Carr. S. Sidener and James Lilly; 1S71 71 - Robert Boyd. S. Sidener and S. Watson; 1873-76 - Robert Boyd, Williai Farrar and S. Sidener; 1877-78 - James Rayburn, A. Stroupand W. II. Chami ler, Jr.; 1879 - William H. Chandler, J. R. Hutchinson and Alfred Strouj 1880-81 - J. R. Hutchinson. W. A. Evans and M. W. Dungan; 1882 - Marti W. Dungan, William A. Evans and Jonathan M. Smith.

Constables. - 1821 - Henry Warner. Edward Evans and James Campbell 1822 - Ilenn Warner. Roberl McLaughlin and Edward Evans; 1823-25 - Henr Warner, Roberl McLaughlin and Halloway; 1826 - Josiah James; 1827 - Amo Evans, dames 8. Campbell and William Warner; 1828 - William Warner, J. I Campbell and Amo-, Minshall; 182'.) - William Warner. J S. Campbell and Jo Coberly; 1830 - William Warner. James Parker and Job Coberly j 1831 - Jo Coberly, D. Reaves and J. 8. Campbell; L832 33 William Jones, J. S. Cam] bell and Peter P. Belphenstine ; 1834-55 do not appear on record ; 1856- Williain Turner. Henry < 1. Sothoron and Benjamin Woolheather; 1857 - D. lias

Supervisors. - 1821 - Henry Coon, William Jones. Edward Evans. Thomas Brown and John Asher ; 1822 - Thomas Brown. John Asher, Edward Evans, Robert Hume and John Melvin ; 1823 - Hugh Montgomery, Jacob Moore, James Kiscadden, Amos (J. Thompson and J. W. Simpkins ; 1824 - George Phifer, Henry Coon, Abraham Coon, Thomas Chapman and Benjamin Buzick ; 1825 - John W. Simpkins, and Benjamin Buzick; 1826 - James McDonald, P. P. Helphenstine, Henry Coon and Thomas Bond ; 1827 - James Wilson, William Baskerville, Jacob Gibson, .James Rankin and Benjamin Bond ; 1828 - J. B. Croney, William Baskerville, Jacob Weaver, Charles Melvin, Jacob Rankin and Mathew Rea ; 1829 - Amos G. Thomson, Charles Melvin, William Baskerville, -John Linsey. William Simpkins, George Chappell and James Rankin ; 1830 - Hugh Montgomery, George Campbell, Samuel Watson, John Linsey, John Harrison, Jacob Garrard and D. Reaves. As the number increased from year to year, we give only the above as the earliest.

Fence Viewers. - 1821 - Aquilla Toland and Simon Steers ; 1822 - Robert Hume and John Morris ; 1823 - Nathan Bond and Stephen Moore, Jr.; 1824 - Robert Hume and Alexander A. Kaiff; 1827 - David Dunkin and Stanley Watson; 1828 - Philip Lewis and Joseph Warner ; 1829 - James M. Thompson and E.J. Hazle; 1830 David Dunkin and William Baskerville; 1831 - Levi Murphy and George Booher , 1832 - Samuel N. Kerr and John Rouse; 1833 - Jackson Allen. Philip Lewis and A. A. Hume.

Overseers of Poor. - 1S21 - John Moore and A. G. Thompson: 1822 - Aquilla Toland and David Groves; 1823 - Sealey Waite and Aquilla Toland; 1824 - Ephraini Dawson and John Hull; 1825 - -Stanley Watson; 1826-27 - John Hull and Ephraim Dawson; 1828 - David Groves and Robert Hume; 1829 - David Groves and David Reaves; 1830 - David Groves and Philip Lewis; 1831 - David Reaves and David Groves : 1832 - Philip Lewis and David Reaves ; 1833 - Johnson Horrell and William -Jones.

Justices of th Peace. - 1810 - John Simpkins and Jonathan Minshall ; 1812 - John Murlin and William Irwin; 1813 - Robert Hume; 1815 - John Simpkins ; 1819 - George Chappell ; 1821 - Patrick McLene and Joseph Rea ; 1822 - George Chappell ; 1 824 - Patrick McLene and J. F. Chenoweth ; 1830 - Patrick McLene and Joseph B. Melvin ; 1831 - Job Coberly ; 1833 - Patrick McLene; 1834 - George Chappell; 1836 - Patrick McLene; 1837 - Joseph Melvin and Job Coberly; 1839 - Patrick McLene; 1840 - John J. Melvin; 1841 - George Kiler ; 1842 - Patrick McLene; 1843 - John J. Melvin and Joseph McKelfish; 1844 - George Defenbaugh and Job Coberly; 1845 - James F. Freeman; 1846 - Joseph McKelfish ; 1847 - John C. Jones and George Defenbaugh ; 1848 - John J. Melvin; 1849 - William B. Slyh and Joseph Mc- Kelfish ; 1850 - William Coberly, David Ray burn and Thomas W. McCoy . 1851 - John M. Christian, James H. Merrill and Joseph T. Lacy ; 1852 - Joseph McKelfish ; 1853 - William B. .Baskerville ; 1854 - John Sifrit, Albert Downing and John Jones ; 1855 - John Melvin. Mitchel Lane and John Mel vin ; L856 - James Q. Lotspeich; L857 -John Jones andJohn Kanneaster; 1859 - John Mr(i;ittv and Edward McCormack; I860 - John Jones and Christian K. Slagle; 1862 - -Robert M. Hanson. JamesS. Bume and B. M. Van Harlinger ; 1863 - A. J. Coover; 1868 - Lovin Willoiurhby; L869 - 0. P. Crabb, John Jones and James Porter; 1872 - John Jones, John M. Thomas and A. L. Brown; 1873 - William A. Athey and E. McCormack; 1875 - John McCartney and C. T. Bryan; 1876 - James M. I Ion-ell ; 1878 - Noah Thomas and John McCartney ;' 1879 - John D. Maddox ; 1880 - William Athey ; 1881 - John McCartney