Marion County, Ohio - Green Camp. Township, 1883

Green Camp. Township

f [HIS township lies in a picturesque portion of Marion County, southwest of de the county seat. The beautiful Scioto is the principal stream flowing through this township, and, with its numerous little tributaries, drains all the territory of this region. The mouth of the Little Sctoto is at Green Camp Village. The township is of irregular form, containing about eighteen square miles as the aggregate of its area, and is bounded on the north by Big Island Township, on the east by Pleasant Township, on the south by Prospect Township and Union County, and on the west by Bowling Green Township.

Origin Of The Name

There has been some difference of opinion as to the origin of the name "Green Camp." It has been thought by some that the name was derived from a camping ground of early day near the Scioto, which was particularly a green, . grassy place. The weight of authority, however, seems to gravitate to the opinion that the region took its name from the fact that Capt. Green encamped here with a company of soldiers during the war of 1812. The exact spot is said to be the land now owned by the heirs of Frank Johnson. According to the latter theory, also, the place was called * Green's Camp" for a long time. The probability being very great that the Captain with his company encamped on a green, grassy place, the origin of the name in question could very easily be twofold, as is sometimes the case in other instances.

Settlement And Reminiscences

Daniel Markley was one of the first settlers in this township. His cabin was located near the old block-house in the northeast part of the township, a short distance from John Rayl's residence. He went further up the Scioto for awhile, but after a few years returned to Green Camp, and died there some twenty-five years ago.

Alexander Porter settled in this township in 1819, before the land was surveyed or ready for sale, near where his grandson, David H. Porter, now resides. He afterward entered eighty acres of land, since owned by Isaac C. Davis.

The same year a man named Wicks " squatted " on land now owned by the Johnson heirs. This land was entered by Levi Hammond about 1820 or 1821. A man named James (or John) Owen located a little further south about. the same time, on land now owned by Isaac C. Davis, Henry Laneous and David C. Moore. His cabin was on Davis' land.

In 1820, Armanus Ashbaugh entered the block-house tract. Among others who came within a year or two, were Andrew Sullivan, David A. Town James Murphy, Levi Perry, Ebenezer Perry and George Wright.

Wright was for a number of years an associate with the Indians at Upper Sandusky. While with them -he married an Indian woman, by whom he had two children. He finally accepted the idea that it was not right to live with a woman of such opposite color, and left her, giving her all his land, and -came to Pleasant, now Green Camp Township, and entered seventy acres of land, on which he resided until death. , He was a man who possessed a peculiar genius for invention, and manufactured many articles of his own design. He made hair combs, finger rings, and various kinds of jewelry, and at his death had such a stock on hand that it took a two-days' sale to dispose of them. The indians from Upper Sandusky would always bring their rifles to him whenever they needed repairing. Wright possessed some commendable traits of character. At his death, he bequeathed his whole farm, which is now owned by Jesse Johnson, to the township for school purposes.

John Logue, Alexander Jenkins and John Straw were squatters in 1820, but never bought or entered any land in the township. William Humphreys and Samuel Powell were early settlers.

Andrew Sullivan settled in Green Camp about 1820, on land now owned by James Coffy, but he entered land now owned by Mrs. Jacob Free, formerly Mrs. Moore.

David A. Towne settled in 1820 or 1821 on the farm now owned by Samuel Rayl. David, William and Ezra Travis entered the old Jesse Walker farm, on a part of which Alexander Porter "squatted." This portion of the Walker farm was purchased some years ago by John H. Porter for his sons; so that the old home of the squatter fell back into the possession of his descendants.

In 1820, James Murphy entered the land now owned by David R. Thomas. Levi Perry, in 1820 or 1821, entered land now owned by Isaac.Wynn. Ebenezer Perry entered land now owned by J. R. D. Morris. John Logue, Alex. Jenkins and John Straw were squatters in 1820, but none of them ever bought or entered land in the township. William Humphrey settled on the Fish lands, and Samuel Powell on the Travis lands.

The block-house above referred to, in the northeast part of the township, was. erected during the troublesome times between this country and Great Britain, to guard white Americans against those Indians who had been made hostile by British influence. Such a house was a sort of two-story structure, made of heavy hewed logs, the lower portion having only one entrance and that well guarded, and the upper perforated with numerous small apertures through which the refugees within could shoot at theapproaching enemy. The upper portion of the building projected beyond the lower all around, to render it difficult for the Indians to climb up on the outside. The timbers being securely spiked together, the block-house constituted a good fortification against the Indians of that day.

About 1832, a colony of Germans emigrated to this country and purchased a tract of land four miles west of the Scioto River, and settled on it. They opened a wide street through the entire tract, and built their houses on either side, extending for about one mile. They built a corn mill with twenty-four inch buhrs, which was turned by hand. In 1838, they got what is known as muk sickness, and several died. The remainder sold their land and moved away, some to Hancock County, Ohio, others to Missouri and other places in the West. À . 4

As-a characteristic early incident, it may be related in this connection that, as Mr. John Beem was returning home, in 1837, through the woods, from & visit to one of his neighbors, a violent storm came up suddenly, and not being able to reach home ahead of it, he crept into a hollow log which lay near the path. Soon after the wind blew a large tree across the log he had entered, making him a prisoner; but late in the afternoon a neighbor, happening to pass by, heard his cries, and, getting an ax, chopped him out. This was a very narrow escape, as not many travelers were upon any road in that day.

In 1838, what is now Green Camp Township had the following settlers, among others: John Sifritt, on Survey 9,965; Lewis Cookes, John Britton and Adam Imbody, on Survey 9,943 ; James Chard, on 9,985 ; James Johnson, on Section 1; D. R. Thomas and John Thatcher, on Section 13; Jacob Cooper and J. Kersey,ou Survey 9,966.

Green Camp Township has shared in the experiences of pioneer schoolteaching. The first school taught in District No. 5 was in the winter of 1838 -89. It was commenced in one of the houses vacated by the Germans, but in a short time the house caught fire and burned down. Adam Imbody had lately built an addition to his house, but had not yet occupied it, so he gave the school permission to occupy it. But a disturbance soon arose, and it again became necessary to remove, which was done to a house 12x14 feet, in which Mrs. Sifritt had kept her loom when weaving. Here the term was finished. The next winter, the directors secured another house, which was used for several years. It was built of round logs, with-clapboard roof, the boards being held in place by poles laid across the building on top of them. - The floor was made of puncheons, made by splitting large logs into slabs about three inches thick, with one side hewed smooth. The seats were made of lin logs, split apart, and legs put in them. The cracks between the logs were filled with clay taken from under the floor, and as the clay washed out each year and had to be replaced, it soon made quite a hole under the floor. The room waslighted by greased paper windows. About one-half of one end of the building was occupied by the fire-place. the back wall and jambs of which were made of stones, and the chimney of sticks and mud.

Until a comparatively recent period, the practice was followed of barring the teacher out on the day before Christmas until he would agree to treat the school on apples and cider. On that morning, the scholars would get to the schoolhouse before daylight, and by piling the benches against the door would have it securely fastened when the teacher arrived. In the winter of 1842, a young man named Cyrus Carter taught the school in District No. 5, and when the time arrived he was barred out, according to custom. But, thinking to outwit the school, he climbed upon the roof, and, removing the boards, made an opening, through which he dropped to the floor. However, he had no sooner landed than the large girls of the school caught him, and, raising one of the puncheons, put him in the hole underneath the floor, where they kept him until he agreed to treat the school.

' Until about 1854, wolves were very troublesome to settlers who owned sheep. Instances have been known of their killing sheep within six rods of an occupied house. A bounty of $8 was paid for the scalp of every full-grown wolf, $4 for that of every young wolf, or * whelp," and $2 for that of every wild eat. , By such special efforts have these " varmints" been exterminated from the land, to give place for the encroachments and occupation of the white man. The last black bear seen in this section was killed by James Chard, near the southwest corner of the township.

It was customary in the spring for farmers to mark the ears of their hogs, and turn them into the woods, where they would soon become wild as deer. When snow fell the following fall, they would generally be found in some hollow log. After fastening them in, teams would be brought, then they would be chopped out, tied and hauled home.

phalanx, as compared with the thin and straggling sojourns of the Indian. While the latter, therefore, left but little sign of burying grounds behind them, after an occupation of the land for generations, and probably for centuries, the former, within the first generation, established numerous cemeteries, wherein the remains of their beloved friends may be placed away, and marked by monuments as enduring as the rocks themselves. The first white settlers, within two, three or five years, begin the filling up of a graveyard.

The Block-House Cemetery. Among the first, if not itself the very first, of the cemeteries commenced or laid out by the pioneers of our race in Green Camp Township was that which was called the " Block-House Cemetery," as it was located near the block-house, that fortification of defense against the Indians already described. It was laid out by that prominent pioneer, Armanus Ashbaugh, who buried in it a daughter. Although there are about twentyfive graves within this sacred inclosure, there is but one tombstone, which is placed over the grave of Mr. Ashbaugh's daughter, just referred to. On this tombstone is the following inscription: "Sophia Ann, daughter of John and os Ashbaugh, died November 6, 1825, aged one year ten months and one

Green Camp Cemetery was laid out in the year 1866, under the direction of the Trustees of the township. The extent of its area is one and a half acres, and its location is just east of the corporation limits of Green Camp Village, in a picturesque locality near the river. In this secluded and sacred spot lie the earthly remains of some of the oldest pioneers of the township, many of. whom have died since the survey and dedication of these grounds. The first person buried here was Ezekiel Thatcher, who was killed by a falling tree in 1821, his remains being removed here from their old resting place. Several years elapsed before any other interments were made in this cemetery. At present it marks the burial places of many of its citizens, some of them by very fine monuments. Among those buried here is Robinson Stevens, who was a Lieutenant in the Mexican war, serving throughout that contest. He had been a member of the regular army.

Agricultural Official

At anelection held May 11, 1824, for Justice of the Peace, Joseph Boyd received eleven votes, Samuel Fish seventeen. At the State election, in the fall of that year, this township cast seven votes for Trimble and three for Morrow. The township was organized June 8, 1824. For the last ten years, the following have been the officers of Green Camp Township :

Trustees. - 1874 - J. H. Thomas, Hugh Johnston and John Weston ; 1875 - John Weston, J. H. Martin and Martin Miller ; 1877 - John Kersey, Israel Irey and J. C. Porter; 1878 - D. J. Smeltzer, Israel [rey and William F. White; 1880 - W. F. White, J. C. Riley and John Reichardt ; 1881 - Isaac Wynn and J. C. Riley ; 1882 - John F. Irey, S. A. Fish and H. B. Petty ; 1883 - W. A. Carey, Gottlieb Kellar and J. C. Martin.

Green Camp, Formerly Berwick

This village was laid out in June, 1838, by David Beach, who owned forty acres, which he had entered, and now forms the site of Green Camp. The first house erected upon this ground was a log structure, fourteen by sixteen feet in dimensions, and was situated where the Methodist Episcopal Church now stands. It was built by John Thatcher, who lived in what was afterward the eastern part of the village. This building, however, was not occupied until May, 1843, when John G. Bradshaw took up his residence in it and occupied it for a time. This man was then running the Isaac Halderman mill on the Scioto River. In 1844, he moved into Jackson Township, Union County, just over the line ; but in 1846, he returned to Green Camp Township, and in 1862 came into the village. Mr. Bradshaw was the first citizen of the village.

About 1851 or 1852, Thomas B. Berry opened the'first grocery and dry goods store in Green Camp, and he continued this store until the time of his death, which occurred in the year 1858. William Cummins then bought the stock and succeeded him in the business, which he continued until 1863, when he also died. The stock was then purchased by Hiram Tyler, who followed the mercantile business until 1865, when he sold out and removed to North Lewisburg.

John J. Davis started a store here in 1867, and kept it till 1869. Tn 1871. J. N. Matthews, now Probate Judge, established a store in Green Camp, and conducted it alone until 1874, when D. H. Porter became a partner, and the firm continued as Matthews & Porter, who did an extensive business.

Dr. Michael S. Adams was the first physician. He located here in 1858, and practiced until 1864, when he moved to Van Wert, Ohio. Dr. Milton Patten came next, in 1860, and has since practiced his profession here. In 1864, Dr. Daniel Free came, and in 1866 Dr. J. T. Martin.

Saw- Mill. - As early as 1838, Messrs. Halderman & Fisk erected a saw-mill on the banks of the Scioto, on a site which is now within the corporation limits, and was run most of the time until 1878, when 1t was discontinued and the machinery taken away.

Berwick Flouring Mills. - These were erected in 1866 by Foster & Knable. The building is a steam mill, two stories high, has four run of buhrs, and employs four men. The above firm operated this mill a short period, and it then passed into the hands of Burk & Hopkins, and subsequently into the possession of the Porter Brothers, who in May, 1883, made an assignment, when Morgan E. Burk and T. P. Wallace purchased the mill and have since run it eis the firm name of Wallace & Burk. The property is now valued at ,000. MUNICIPAL.

Berwick continued as a village up to 1875, when it was incorporated and given the name of Green Camp. The post office also continued as " Berwick " to this time, when, on account of there being another post office oy the same name, in Seneca County, this State, which interfered with the mails, the post office at this place was designated as * Green Camp." The office was established in 1854, through the instrumentality of John H. Porter and F. W. Yoe, the latter of whom was appointed Postmaster, and served until 1866. His successors, in order, have been William Strod, two years; John J. Davis, J. N. Matthews and Dr. J. T. Martin, the present incumbent.

In 1856, Porter s Addition to the village of Green Camp, comprising two and a half acres, was made by John H. Porter, and in 1874 Isaac C. Davis made an addition of four acres.

In 1862, Green Camp was made a special school district, and in 1864 a commodious two-story brick house was erected, an octagon, at a cost of $4,- 600. It has two departments. Mr. Poling is Principal and Miss Elizabeth Stose, assistant. The present School Board consists of Dr. Daniel Free, President ; Edward Dowell, J. C. Davis, John Nebergol and S. C. Davis.

The N. Y., P. & O. Railroad, completed just after the war, crosses the Scioto at Green Camp, running southwest to Cincinnati. Below is given the amount of business done at Green Camp Station during the past two fiscal years: 1881 - Freight forwarded, 13,313,709 pounds ; earnings, $6,444.79 ; freight received, 2,930,184 pounds ; earnings, $717.14 ; passenger tickets sold, $1,127.28. 1882- - Freight forwarded, 12,774,109 pounds ; earnings, $6,053.96 ; freight received, 2,661,093 pounds; earnings, $782.50; amount of passenger tickets, $1,178.83.

" Lumber and grain are the principal articles of shipment from this depot. During the months of July and August, 1883, they shipped thirty car loads of grain per month.

Village Officers Green Camp Free-Will Baptist Church

"The Green Camp Free-Will Baptist Church was first organized in the year 1825, in Pleasant Township, on the Prospect pike, about three miles from Marion; E. Farnham, Jesse Walker and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Parrott, Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey, and others, were among its earliest members. The location was afterward changed to the Radnor road, about five miles from Marion ;

Revs. David Dudley, A. Hatch, S. Wyatt and G. W. Baker were among its early pastors. Rev. O. E. Baker and Rev. K. F. Higgins also preached to the church, and revivals were enjoyed.

The church worshiped in schoolhouses till about the year 1845, when a commodious house was erected on a site given by Jesse Walker. In 1865, the building was moved two miles to its present location in the village of Green Camp, on New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad, and enlarged under the direction of Rev. S. D. Bates, who was then pastor. The name was changed from "Pleasant" to "Green Camp," the name of the village and township. Since the year 1858, Rev. S. D. Bates was pastor nine years; Revs. C. O. Parmenter and W. Whitacre, three years eacb, and Rev. J. A. Sutton, five years, who is pastor at the present time. Revivals took place and additions were made under the labors of all these pastors.

The dispensation was received and lodge instituted July 18, 1876,* with with the following membership : J. F. Sifritt, J. N. Matthews, Nelson Walker, J. C. Porter, Reuben Hopkins, John Kersey, S. C. Davis, D. H. Porter, J. W. Sifritt, R. R. «Bradshaw, Albert H. Kersey, E. D. Leach and David Vestal. The first officers were: J. F. Sifritt, N. G. ; J. N. Matthews, V. G.; E. D. Leach, Rec. Sec. ; David Vestal, Per. Sec. ; Nelson Walker, Treas. The place of meeting has always been over C. L. Patten's drug store. Present membership, forty-seven, and financial condition good. The lodge meets each Saturday evening. Present officers: Joseph Wall, N. G.; A. S. Somerlot, V. G. ; J. W. Wynn, Rec. Sec. ; A. C. Johnston, Per. Sec. ; W. P. Rayl, Treas.

Patriotic Order Sons Of America

Washington Camp, No. 48. - The first members of this order in Green Camp were: A. L. Slack, E. D. Leach, J. W. Elsroad, W. A. Showen, B. F. Fulton, Dr. O. W. Weeks, George W. Showen, George M. Clark, T. T. Rathell (deceased), C. T. Rathell, D. F. Uncapher, William Hyatt, Jobn Gillett, Frank Thomas, J. A. Leaverton, T. J. McNeal, A. Schlosser, William Thatcher and 8S. M. Lyon. The organization was effected February 22, 1881, by George L. Phelps, District President.

For nearly two years, the lodge met in the Temperance Hall, and since then in the Patriotic Order Sons of America hall above the township hall There are now thirty-two members, and as a society is in a prosperous condition. Meets every Friday evening. Present officers : John Doran, President; Robert W. Johnson, Vice President ; J. A. Leaverton Past President ; S. A. Fish, M. of F. & C.; W. B. Kesler, Treasurer ; F. M Dice, Financial Secretary ; Charles E. Uncapher, Recording Secretary ; W. R Collins, Conductor ; Byron Uncapher, I. G.; I. J. Petty, O. G.; R. W. Johnson Chaplain.

Sons And Daughters Of Temperance

Division No. 71, S. and D. of T., was organized in the spring of 1879, by Rev. A. M. Collins, traveling lecturer for the Order, at the close of a series of lectures. The charter was dated April 7, 1879, and signed by Harriet N. Bishop, Grand Worthy Patriarch, and E. G. Morris, Grand Scribe. The charter members were Messrs. A. B. Morris, D. W. Narrance, Thomas L. Ray), Wesley Free, James Maddox, C. R. Summerlot, John W. Elsrode, James B. Berry, J. W. Gambrie, William Thatcher, Isaac A. Leaverton, D: J. Smeltzer,

The membership afterward increased to about seventy. Several public meetings were held. A public celebration was held in Rayl's Grove, which was addressed by Gen. W. H. Gibson and others. In the courseof something over three years, however, the division went down.

On Monday evening, June 25, 1883, Mrs. S. M. Perkins, of Cleveland, Ohio, lectured in Green Camp upon the subject of temperance, at the close of which a " Woman's Temperance Union" was organized, having the following roster of officers: President, Mrs. Ruth A. Bebout; Vice President, Mrs. Julia Stallsmith ; Secretary, Mrs. Elizabeth Martin ; Treasurer, Mrs. Ella A. Sutton. This organization maintains its regular meetings, and bids fair for long life and prosperity.