Miami County, Ohio - The whole text, 1880 (part 8 of 23)

The Troy Spring Wagon Company was incorporated in 1872, with a capital stock of $60,000, $53,900 paid in. Officers - H. W. Allen, President ; W. H. H. Dye, Vice President ; W. J. Meredith, Secretary and Treasurer. Directors - H. W. Allen. S. K. Harter, G. D. Skinner, N. Toby, W. H. H. Dye, J. H. Young, S. A. Cairns, W. J. Meredith. Employ from sixty to eighty hands ; business good, increasing annually. This manufactory covers five acres of ground ; has 87,500 square feet of floor, and contains all the latest facilities for doing perfect work.

Besides these, Troy has corn shelters with a capacity of 1,000 bushels per day ; malt establishment, patent medicine establishments, and various other industrial enterprises.

At the organization, W. B. McClung was elected President ; S. R. Harter, Treasurer ; L. T. Dillaway, Secretary ; John Knoop, S. R. Harter, N. Smithers, E. Holden, L. T. Dillaway, H. G. Sellers, H. Coleman, J. C. McCaig and W. B. Mc- Clung. A statement made by the President April 20, 1870, showed that $19,500 had been subscribed by fifty -nine names. A canal was dug from above the lock at Farrington's mill and distillery, terminating in a reservoir west of Troy, canal being thirty-five feet wide at the top, and twenty at the bottom, five feet deep, and fall of three inches to the mile, and four and one-half miles long. The reservoir is to be walled in by embankments of solid masonry, with face set in hydraulic cement. John Knoop being the principal stockholder, the property finally went into his hands, and after his death was purchased of his heirs by L. Hayner, the present owner.

The first foundry was built in 1838, by John Smeltzer, and afterward sold to Elisha T. Harker, who ran it till 1844, when he took in Orbison, then continued it till 1847, and sold to Brandruff.

Richard and Dana Shilling went into the firm till 1849, when Shilling sold out to them. Brandruff and Richard bought it all, then sold out to Shilling Brothers in 1850, who built and run it under name of Shilling & Brother for seven years. Since that time Dana Shilling is the head of the firm ; runs four or five hands ; brass casting, custom work and machinery of all kinds.

The Prs88 Of Troy

. ' C. Langdon, who in turn sold it to H. D. Stout in 1841. me paper uieu into the hands of Furnas & Little, who, with one Hunter, conducted it till 1852, when it was transferred to Marven & Munson, of whom it was bought in 1855, when it was finally purchased by E. C. Harmon in 1857, who continued its publication until it ceased in 1869.

V ' , iT®®8' ®d,t°r and proprietor. February 28, 1871, the entire estabhsh- 5* editor1' w"8 & Taljable library> was destroyed by fire, the only vestige left to ^ti^£ JT*1 PfSPH and not® ****- Mr. D. immediately resumed pubh-

^ K"' wl" chased by the Imperial Publishing *he Sentinel were puron the 3d day of April 1880 th<TfW mP^ny shortly after its discontinuance and ««tor, Kd. I ScoCm~^ th« was i8Sued : A.

- Asa Coleman, in 1833 on FiSnt-r ^ three years. A cottage was donated by oh*1' u oomfortable brick. 52x32 rank, n ^reeh A church was built the same church has suffered flv^T 3 32 L 0n a lot 66*48. No regular Pastor now The erected, services^re ^1^"'^°" "f .death' Before the church building was j, 'J?08. °ther places. The church waa* h°U8e, Methodist Episcopal Church, and «enva,n and called Trinity ChmL November 10- 1835, by Bishop

Preached for the p "?* Sunday in October, 1856, Elder James Maple The board pledgal themse^ thef Christian Conference in the court ?k°e worship could bf secn^ K^ to fur?lsh a Poacher, provided a suitable August* 1857. Eld«r« MQ^UI^'JTklcil was done, in hiring the court house until hject of bringing poor ohiM*118*1*11 Missionary Society was organized with the ^ <*> tbeXtoi^ inhl1mfri m}° the S"nda^ schooL Elder * P- Watson was umber about 400 anH and 80 continues to the present. Its members m a Prosperous condition ^ Scfa<X)1 and the church and all its adjuncts

Probytcrian Church. - The first services were held in of wMch he in 1818, by George Burgess, the first minister employed two years of^icu ue preached in the schoolhouse ; he also organized a church at " preaching was held in the court house. In 1826, they built a house on FrenKlm street, inwhich Mr. Coe preached till 1837, after which, one Harmon P^ed u^d the division of Old and New School took place, when the property was sold, a money divided, and then services were held in the new court house till -

Rice preached the first sermon to the New School. The new church w^ built m 1839, on Franklin street. Rice preached in a frame. The new bnck f were Mr. Klap, Doepken and Eidemiller. Mr. Smither and Barker donated the groumi for the first church ; Sabbath school was cotemporaneous with the churcn. - then numbering nearly 100, divided, after which he held services in the P Pj\ lian Church for one year, then bought the old Presbyterian Church. Atom n y members at present ; Sunday school every Sabbath, forty to seventy -five >

A Methodist Episcopal Church was organized at a called "J^ng * Methodist Episcopal Church, by Rev. T. Boyle, February 23, 1874 ine n succeeding services were held in the small hall of Mr. Dye, on the 1st o following. For some time the church was without a Pastor, and pray er-mee g only were held, and sometimes class-meetings. Shortly, Rev. John Dow engaged for a year, when the membership amounted to forty. The next Eas Rev. D. W. Heston, who was succeeded by Charles W. Washington, who i was succeeded by Daniel Tucker, the present Pastor.

Baptist Church. - March 27, 1834, a meeting was had at the old Franklin and Cherry streets, with Elder J. L. Moore in the chair, J- W- Merea » Clerk, at which a committee was appointed, consisting of J. L. Moore, Elijah and Amariah Smalley to prepare articles of organization ; at a subsequent mee ng, May 9, 1834, the organization was completed with thirty-one members. - *

Moore was chosen the first Pastor, June 21, 1834, E. Counts and A. Smalley, deacons ; preaching, semi-monthly. February 10, 1838, E. French was Pasto . August 11, 1838, Rev. Samuel Hervey was Pastor for three months. w November 18, 1838, Elder Z. Eaton was called. The present incumbent is " - E. Stanley. ~

The Methodist Episcopal Church in Troy, Ohio, was organized in 1838, by - M. M. Clark, with a membership of twelve ; present membership sixty. Church hui ing has been twice enlarged, and is now worth $1,500. Sabbath school of seve iy scholars and eight teachers. Rev. William Johnson present Pastor.

Fire Department

The Fire Department of Troy was organized in the fall of 1857. The com pany consisted of about seventy-five members, fifty of which belonged to the Mohawk Company, and the remainder to the hose carriage. Jack Julian was the firs foreman of the department. The present officers are : John Weatherhead, Chiei of the Fire Department, and Jesse Shilling, Chief Engineer and General Manager ; George Myers, Assistant Chief Engineer. There are now two steamers in company, viz Die Troy and the H. S. Mayo, the former having cost $7,200, and the latter $5,000 ; also one hook and ladder truck worth $890, and 2,000 feet °i hose. The force is a very efficient one, and in the most serious fire which has froy, perhaps, in the 8t*te? The^ot buildinP to be found, in a town the size of steeeanf]811 WM erected at a coat of $50 000h'CTheefbUilfing .8tands cost *10,000, ^ COmpare favorab^ ^th far more St^V^cK. "* tte ofWl ^he town at this time was aman^L ****&> was without floor or winresr^^ ^eIve PuPils. The next the roU'book showed an attendance 0. Ckrt anl.tlle seekers after knowlfXih°U8e W|&8 more Pretentious in some Clflrt ^ m As was the custom ^ e(^e were kere presided over by John Uark proceeded to " treat on such occasions, when Christmas came Mr oglin'16 °f wh'Ch was by snHttin* « "hed hl® ,PuPils in a variety of ridiculous Ae"d'?? youth with this goosequill, and flipping the nose of the filled up and used for educational purposes. Uriah Fordyce taught in the Episcopal Church in 1837, and at the same time Hiram Brooks was teaching m the old brick house on Main street A fine select school for young ladies i was taught by Miss Mary Barney in 1838. George D. Burgess taught from 1839 to 1841, at $100 per quarter, this was increased in time to $225 per quarter, part of which was paid by subscription. Mr. B. taught the boys only, the girls were put under the care of Miss Altazera Eaton, who subsequently married Rev. T. r. Childs. Mr. F. W. Burgess, brother of George D. Burgess, taught some tune in 1841. Besides the common branches, Mr. B. organized and taught classes m algebra, geometry and Latin. In 1842, Robert McCurdy taught in a small building in the rear of the Presbyterian Church, and after that in a private house, then the property of Messrs. Grosvenor & Clark. About this time the upper story of the old Presbyterian Church was fitted up and used for school purposes. Mr. Irving Gales taught there in 1843, during- which time he was assisted by Mr. Osgood, who afterward became a Presbyterian minister ; Miss Anna Jones also assisted Mr. Gates during the same time. This school was continued under the supervision of Mr. Gates, till the organization of the graded system under the law of 1849. While Mr. Gates was teaching this school, another one was in progress in the Wesleyan Church, under the charge of Mr. Bement. These schoolswere supported by rival factions, and the animosities of the parents were shared to some extent by the children. Mr. Bement's pupils called those of the other school " Gate's Hinges." How the compliment was returned, neither tradition nor history informs us, but no doubt it was delicately reciprocated in some appropriate manner.

Benjamin F. Powers, afterward a prominent factor in educational matters, taught the school in 1832, and in 1833-34-35, a flourishing school was kept by an Irishman, who went through the world with the appropriate name of Walkup. In 1835-36, G. A. Murraiy taught in the Episcopal Church. He was assisted in his labors by his sister, who afterward became Mrs. Ressler. E. P. Coles taught in the Coolidge house, otherwise known as Fort Meisinger, in 1842-43. He paid attention principally to the higher branches, the principal features of one ol his exhibitions being a Latin oration, delivered by Augustus Coleman, who served as a Colonel in the late rebellion, where he was killed. In 1846^17, a school was carried on in the old Wesleyan Church by Minor W., a son of Micajah Fairfield, and in 1845-46, a school was also carried on by Rev. Edmund B. Fairfield, who afterward became President of the State Agricultural College of Pennsylvania. He was assisted by his sister Sarah, who became the wife of Dr. N. S. Norton. As these early schools are not a matter of record, it is exceedingly difficult to give a correct history of them and their workings. Many of the teachers are most pleasantly remembered. Mr. McCurdy, especially, is spoken of as a man of broad culture, a fine scholar and most excellent instructor. Those who were his pupils in those old days never mention him but in the most laudable terms.

One of the beneficial effects of these early schools, was to prepare the mind of the public for the adoption of the " Law of Forty-nine." Under that law, a call was issued for a meeting to consider it with reference to its adoption. This call was signed by George D. Burgess, Rev. Daniel Rice, William B. Johnston, Benjamin F. Powers and Joseph Pearson. Several meetings were held, and the matter was discussed with much enthusiasm. The matter was the common topic of conversation in the town for three weeks. At the final meeting, the law was adopted by a fair majority, and, in accordance with its provisions, a Board of Education was elected the first week of June. The first Board of Education conmsted of Hie following members . Charles Morris, Rev. Daniel Rice, Benjamin F. Powers, William B. Johnston, Zachariah Riley and Henry S. Mayo. Under the successful management of these gentlemen, the schools grew rapidly in public if c^zens v°ted $6,000 for the purpose of erecting a schoolhouse, the board at that time fearing to ask more. The present Edwards building was then commenced, and soon $2,500 were added for its completion and the fencing of the

MO ; Miss Bishoprick, 1200. * The salar^^iu^iS » Miss Louisa Thorne* This gentleman soon gained the hearti?*^ ^5' Edwards was increased to $1 20o' under his wise and ofXw and vacancy. Mr. ThomZn ^cuni^^ 6''1 Univereity, was chosen to fill the during which time but few changes P°"tlou of Superintendent four years not much mental »" ^ At this period of the hi^,' h has eve^^^test interest in school matters centers in the high school organized in 1852, at which h " " -* ** among its membeT K wasmon p^,.8t"<Jy was not then established^n'd**1 *f "^"ty-Ave members. The K^ ?h branche8. Soon howet^V^ °f the ,PnPiIs studied the com- Meet» 1 l888 graduated in 185fi n= there, was a regular course of study, and "Sj°huW. Morrismjd W^ter n1^ "ember8 were Augusta Brandriff, Diana oouaisted from the flrst of Th?mas- Tbe high-school course of study S*S f°rthe aecomrmSation of tSf' ?°We.v"' a three-years course has bel ^ar course; scholars seem loath toWfh<lm,?iht not have time to complete the n,"Lhl «h school owns both an ^!i to ^ e ad.vantage of this privilege as yet term^I8 f"1 ^-members ;8 hei<d^n.kDdi?Jplano' An annual re-union ofall &*t which the school is opened in th® ^T"18 buildinS during the winter 2®riptures, and prayer Ja,f. m the usual manner, by singing, reading the

States history, botany, trigonometry, Constitution of the United States, physical geography, and rhetoric are one-term studies. The last term of the senior year is spent in reviewing the common branches. Rhetorical exercises are held in high school every Friday afternoon, each member coming twice on duty, every month. The high school teachers have always been such as to give character to the school. The Superintendent has usually taught about half his time, giving the other half to supervision.

The primary rooms being greatly crowded, a new building of four rooms, costing nearly $10,000 was erected in the eastern part of the town, on Franklin street, in 1874. The primary* grades are thus doubled, the children 'east of Market street going to the new, or Forest building, those west of it attending the o building, named, by common consent, the Edwards Schoolhouse, in honor of the first Superintendent About fourteen years ago, the board erected a building for the accommodation of the colored youth ; previous to this, the colored pupils had school but for three or four months in each year. All the schools now continue in session for ten months. The first term, being the longest, begins on the first Monday in September, and continues sixteen weeks ; the remaining two terms continue twelve weeks each. , .

Among these Barton S. Kyle was Lieutenant Colonel of the Seventy-first unio Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Shiloh, in 1862 ; W. H. H. Bye served as a member of the board for many years.

Robert Furnas was deeply interested in the schools, and, since his removal to Nebraska, of which State he afterward became Governor, has occasionally sent back valuable contributions to the school cabinet. ,

Mr. Dowd has superintended the schools since 1875, during which time Miss Dora J. Mayhew has held the position of Principal. The schools were never more prosperous than at present, and, under the care of the efficient corps of teachers now employed, there is for the schools of Troy a glorious fhture, when they will have attained a degree of excellence even much beyond the elevated standpoint they occupy at the present time.

Inasmuch as Staunton was the first place of settlement permanently maintained in this county, and the nucleus around which all subsequent settlements clustered, and, by natural sequence, the starting-point and reservoir from which the greater portion of the earlier county history has been drawn, it was, therefore, unavoidably blended and absorbed in the same, leaving facts for an individual history almost as anaemic as King Psammis' mummy, in Caesar's reply to Clodius, over the Greek girl, Zoe. Staunton should not, therefore, be jealous or feel slighted if she loses the luster of individual history in the more exalted flame of the initial point of county history.

Aside from this, Staunton possesses several features taking precedence over all others in Miami County. She has the greatest length of territory, the longest sea shore, the first plotted town, the first seat of justice, the oldest graveyard, the County Infirmary, all of which are good cause whereof to be proud. Her infirmary, as a county institution, has been fully represented in the county history. The increased the stren^h 'comfort^nd^.^"^ ®-lue and Abram Hathaway who As the Indian retired and apprehensions ean^K11 °S the bttle fore8t settlement ments sprang up, clearings were made cmns^f ^ Pje!ence subsided, settleon. The soil, once cleared nf ,*ta k * Cro?8 ,put oufc and improvements carried growth of all the cereal^essan' toth£ tlmbeI' admirablJ adapted to the dame of all kinds was abundant of aa mcreasing population.

«s squirrels and coons, abound^to m«e^d> 901116 of the smaller kinds, such the small farmers, frequently destrovimr h^fU?u°n M to be a great annoyance to "- their attacks upon the few sheeD 't,li5 tbe ,Cr°P' , Wolves, also, were bold pose of manufacturing home elothine' in S brought with them for the purmen came to Staunton, or by some afith^f180^3 nUmber °f CaQadia" Frenehlocahty previous to thos^ flrsT Were ^ to have been in this were sfgglers of that nationaliU^anl tT°f Vf?' U 13 quite IikelJr that these wold Indian trader streno+hfn= « td tbe.fact tbat Peter Felix, one of them, was bsh the settlement of Staunton To^ah to to^f8! iand thi8' carried out. might estabraDd,y was also of this nimih.r S to t*1 1 more remote antiquity. Simon deeper in Staunton havino-m?^ Fe!" subsequently became the firet tavemhonse. It fa related of hfrn thlt "!?^0ff the Indians to build a good

5*25* °"t, a' the age of etohtv h T^ndnP^nded 0n' throu&h Ufe- "ntU hwt "180,6- He left thJdd State o7Vi^!? ®efrees ®nt®red 160 acres in Section 28 «te of Ohio, and lived fora JLJ 2®®k a home and wealth in the for- ^bor wrested from the'woods ."""ber of years, on the farm that his own Kentucky to this place and lt«u "«?e 8ame J'ear' Henry Marshall came from William McCamnb^lliv re W1 over ei«hty years of age. nft'thwestqnarter^^tion 22to^M7 "o Weaver by Profession, located on the settlement.* ;n r ,e?.on 22 ln 1807- He was of great benefit to th« Rurmnnit.

su^ceS SS S^tion 10, and by hard labor, combined with »ot to have pleased the eve ?f fh fortune fr°m the soil. Sections 4 and 16 seem they remained under forilt Z ^le Jfari^ P10neer> for, while all others were taken up, from PJ'^^ven^s till 1820. WiUiam and James Clark

DDtered the northwest nnu!!^ Section 27, m 1808. Nine years after, John Gilmore hy F. HUhar^ of VlnriS^i the northea8fc ^rter was taken up than fourscore TIipL^i!11 wbo bved uP°n the old homestead until more ***> in 1806. ' SeetinnTthW?t, qu^rter was Purchased by John Julian, of Maiy- , . In 1807, Uriah Blnf John Heweese, of Pennsylvania, in 1806.

Poring the same rflowT - J^8 nine yen^8 in settling on a part of Section 18. I*** of ground S Jjewi®, Deweese selected a part of Section 8, cleared out a . 1 a nnd erected a log tanneiy, and, perhaps, started

As has been said previously, the first settlements in Staunton Township were made by the Knoops and Michael Carver, who came from Pennsylvania in 1799. One year later, Carver purchased a half-section of J. C. Sy names, at $2.50 per acre. At this period, civilization had not yet reached this region, which for miles was one vast forest, inhabited only by straggling bands of Indians. There was a great spirit of rivalry manifested between this portion of the county and the upper part, in the location of the seat of justice, which was carried to such an extent as to sever the social ties in great part.

We shall give two or three interviews with old settlers, as they tell it, somewhat, so that it may savor of their own individuality and carry the reader back to

Gen. John Webb : " I was present at the first court held at Staunton. The first schoolhouse was located where the Piqua road crosses Spring Creek." owned by myself, which was often resorted to by the neighbors for protection. Father (Jonathan Rollins) bought this farm in 1815, at which time there were no meeting-houses in the township. Among the early preachers were Nathan Worley, of the Christian denomination, Samuel Deweese, Presbyterian, and Abbott Goddard, a Methodist Raper Chapel was built about thirty-five years ago. In early times, they would hold meetings wherever there was a large log-house. The Orbisons and the Frenchs were our nearest neighbors. Father came here from Vermont during the popular cry, ' Go to Ohio.' One day father sent me after the horses, which had strayed away, when I saw about ten deer in the meadow. Being but a small boy, I was very much alarmed, and ran back to the cabin and told father and mother about the animals with big horns that I saw. In those days, the game we killed furnished the most of our living. There were some bears, for I remember having seen one. It is generally supposed that at one time there were plenty of buffalo in this county.

" Two-thirds of the old pioneers wore buckskin pantaloons. I remember Tom Rogers, the great hunter, who lived in two sycamore trees in the woods. He wore long gray whiskers, a skull-cap and buckskin breeches. Rodsy Church was built over fifty years ago. I remember the high pulpit, which was first painted green.

Mrs. James Dye (now living in Troy): u I am a daughter of John M. and Elizabeth Dye. The Cumminses, Morpheys and Metcalfs were among the early settlers of Staunton Township. I was bom in 1800, and married in 1818, and settled near the Elizabeth Township line, on land now owned by Mack Hart. The Indians often came to our cabin, but never disturbed anything. We made our own sugary and would often take sugar-water, yeast, sassafras and spices and make beer, which was a favorite beverage of the Indians. At one time, my father-in-law, Stephen Dye, obtained a half-barrel of cider from a num living below Dayton, which was, perhaps, the first ever brought to this settlement, and possibly, to the county. 1 remember once, while my husband, myself and children were returning from a virit to his father's, we were attacked by wolves. We were on horseback, and the wolves were very close to their heels, and my husband barely succeeded in getting into a place of security. When he returned with a gun, they had given up the chase and skulked away. I can remember well when calico was $1 a yard." in early times, the squirrels were very troublesome here, even destroying the C01n^r0P ' 8°m,e^me8 shocks of com would seem almost alive with them, and well-beaten paths would be made through the fields, and from the shocks to the bordering forest, to which the provident little animals would carry the ears of corn ^ r? a.man. make a living and pay taxes, he was consi dered , nate* Cmcmnati was the nearest market, to which wheat and pork ,were roads through the woods. The nearest mil was

--orders, chief an!°U' 14 "aturally follows that^nm^ baa," ^ur"l9hes the richest former of *1.7°"? which « ^ 2^772 tributaries penetrate its

Still lower dowt\ is the Troy and Urbana pike, running from Troy in a broken line northeastwardly across the township. Again, on the south, extends the Troy and Casstown pike, intersecting the township transversely near the center, and passing through the town of Staunton. Still lower down passes the Troy and Springfield Pike, running through the lands of J. and J. H. Knoop and the Enyeart's. Passing from the lower end, on the east side comes the Troy and Dayton Pike, running nearly north, bearing west to intersect the former pike on the lands of Abner Enyeart, and pass over the river on the bridge near Benjamin Enyeart s.

The Dayton & Michigan Railroad enters the township from the north, in the extreme northeast corner of Section 28, and passing in a straight line a little east of south, until near the river, when it deflects to the southwest, crosses the same and passes through Troy, and on down to Dayton, connecting with railroad for Cincinnati and all other important points north and south.

The churches of Staunton Township, which formerly consisted of log huts, have been replaced by more modem structures, and the routine of transition and improvement is so generally alike in all townships, that it is not necessary to particularize. Some of the old churches have been mentioned in the interviews with Mrs. Dye, John Webb and others, and our information being limited in regard to both church history and schools in this township, we are obliged to omit a more extended notice of them in this connection. The old Staunton Cemetery, formerly situated where the Eastern School building now stands in Troy, was abandoned and most of the bodies exhumed and re-interred in the Riverside Cemetery, north of Troy, on a beautiful spot fronted by a high-rolling ridge sloping from the river toward the north. Stones may be seen of plain and unpretentious design, recording deaths as far back as 1810, when the lonely pioneer watched alone by the bedside of his wife or his child, or the mother pillowed the head of her only child as it breathed away its soul, and as its spirit took its untrammeled flight to the source from which it emanated, the grief-stricken parent watched alone the little piece of clay until it was forever laid away. We next introduce the old Baptist Church at Staunton.

" To-day, while the knell of the bell assembles a congregation of church-going people to the worship of God according to the dictates of their own conscience, where there are none to molest or make afraid, let us remember the days of our Miami, our mater familias , where the only sanctuary was the hearth-stone of a log-cabin, and worship was conducted at the peril of life. For it was amidst circumstances like these our ancestors planted the first Gospel church of Miami, and raised the banner of Immanuel at Staunton, which place afterward became the temporary seat of justice for the county.

Henry Gerard, of Pennsylvania, in connection with four others moved near the present site of Staunton in the spring of 1798, and established there a station, for the security of their families. In the following year, Nathaniel Gerard and wife tWs 8ettlement from Pennsylvania, where they held their membership in the Red Stone Baptist Church. In 1801, Mr. WiUiam Knight, and his wife Priscilla, moved from Pennsylvania to Ohio, and settled on Lost Creek, near this station. Dc the spring of 1804, Moses Winters moved his family from North Carolina to Uh!o and settled on Honey Creek not far from this little village. In 1801, Mr.

Lis^ofthai^ ltS e®cac^» imbued their hearts and minds with a deep Apostolic dootri the Church of Christ, and their duty to propagate the Christ must hp 9ecu^ar interest they felt that the cause of

Vlsit was not to secure « ** v.I8lted by Elder John Thomas. We presume this nnU8g^J^hose days. Pa8t°rate' but a mere gratuitous call, something not

?1° grantl metropolis of^lnLnISt|^' n?tllra% constituted the Baptist Church Atoneofthe regufc throu^ont the whole region round aS f ««ted the privilege T abo.ut.th,s ^e: Bro. H. Stites, was, by his own reS

The same necessity of meeting from house to house, prevailed until the year 1818, when it was resolved to build a church. Measures were taken, therefore, immediately, and a committee appointed to select a suitable location, to ascertain the price of the same, and report to the church. In April of the following year, the deacons reported that they had procured the lots of land which the church requested them to purchase, and the terms, $50 ; one-half to be paid in six weeks from date, the balance in one year from contract, the deed to be given in J une. In 1822, the house was completed, and on the 25th of May, was for the first time opened for service, and a glorious service it was.

The church was duly recognized by Elder Gutridge, who was the only minister present. On the following da}' (Sabbath), the church met and set apart Bro. Corbly Martin, to the work of the Gospel ministry, by ordination. So, now, wit.i theif new house and new preacher, the people had reasons to be encouraged aud to hope for days of prosperity.

A strange subject for Baptist people presented itself about this time, and caused considerable discussion. Some members were in favor of introducing into the service the practice of " feet washing." but, the majority being opposed, it was deferred from meeting to meeting, until it died out. A slight disagreement arose in 1824, in regard to the Philadelphia Baptist Board of Foreign Missions, which resulted in the exclusion of all the members except two, who were pro-mission ; this left the church a pure and unadulterated anti-con-missiou.

About this time, Bro. Joshua Deweese was licensed to exercise his gifts of preaching in a public manner. In 1833, Bro. Enos French was grauted the same privilege. In 1833, meetings were begun in Troy, held on the second Saturday of each month. In March, a church was established there, which was fully recognized May 10, 1834. In February, 1834, Lewis was licensed to preach. In April, 1834, the " Staunton Branch at New Carlisle" was organized, recognized in February'. In September, Bro. Enos French was ordained b}' laying on of hauds. The Staunton Church, growing weak, was removed to Casstown and the name changed to Casstown Baptist Church. This was accomplished by granting letters of dimission to all the members of Staunton Church except one, who was left; tp hold the church property and deed the same into the hands of the church at Casstown ; but we have not heard whatever became of that one, whether he united with the Casstown Church on experience, or deeded away his right and title to all churches. j ©

Some few other changes were made, and, at the present, the church in Casstown, the outgrowth of the old church in Staunton, has a neat little house, worth about $1,800, and a membership of eighty-four.

W e have given this church in full, because it was the first and the largest and the only one of which we could obtain any facts for its history. We aim not to be partial, neither are we sectarian. We have copied very nearly the minutes in the above history.

Among first things in this township, we may mention that Peter Felix was e first Indian trader, the first man who could sell a needle for a dollar, the first wuo could make an Indian believe the needle-maker had died and that he had the laat ones the first man who owned the house in which the first court was held m The Dutch Station was the first place of settlement, Staunton was thp <w 'e th(i and the first seat of justice, Jane Gerard Deweese was w^TflllT' The 9cho°l teacher was Isaac Gerard. The first ministers era Willinm -John Stapleton. Peter Landre was one of the first coopwas onJ of Amanah Smalley were the first blacksmiths. Lewis Deweese keener Tnannh Qi,^anners' was the first and Abram Dye the second tavern- routiJeonncZntewM^^ Cwk Towuship, nothing beyond the ordinary to other places, came the Sv ^ b y 8ettJement will be found. Here as be subdued by no difflculties^and trusty « and a heart' to lie nChMe' reacll®d the banks' of the' streak i himself lost after a long and unsuccesshe now saw for the fW tlle 9tream m his wanderings. It was a creek which abound everywhe^and of ttoLe1!!,1^88' 7h°86 ,SuppIy ofc°o1 water is exhaustless, Lost Creek to-dav on. J *$' l6ttler Was not slow to take advantage. State, her soil yields readilv nnH°- 6 l be8t gram-producing townships in the points with pride. - ^ ln Abundance, and to her rich acreage she justly n^L^fderedarat the'thfrtfl^iT Commissioners of Miami County, assembled at Creek, and, on the ^>5th of T ^ townablP should be known by the name of " Lost ^ahy its bounties JaiAtarfh°f succeed.ing ^ear, they proceeded to fix

First Records

The first records of the Township Clerk's office, which are still well preserved, show that at the first election held under the permanent establishment of boundaries, John Lenon, George W. Green and James Buckles were elected Township Trustees, and J. K. McFarland, Clerk. Of these parties, but one, James Buckles is living at this date. The election was held at the house of George Puterbaugh, a short distance east of the Lost Creek Baptist Church, and on the old Puterbaugh farm, now owned by Harrison Youtsey. The poll-books of that election, could they be unearthed, would show a meager poll, for the inhabitants of Lost Creek Township were " few and far between " at that time, and it would be safe to say that there was no " log-rolling " at that election. The pioneers went to the farmhouse, deposited their ballots, and, after discussing local affairs, which meant the common good, not politics, mind you, they returned to their work.

In the spring of 1820, Jonathan Yates, J. K. McFarland, Jonas Sutton and John Webb were drawn as grand, and Levi Westfall, Willis Hance and James Frazee, Sr., as petit jurors. The Township Clerk of that date denominates the last mentioned gentlemen as " petty jurors."

Prior to the formal organization of the township, as has already been said, a number of settlements had been made. Beside dwelling houses at that day, principally log-cabins, George Green had erected a grist-mill, with which a distillery was connected, and James Frazee had also put up a still. In 1814, John K. McFarland put up a carding and foiling mill near the site of Casstown ; but, as the new venture did not yield the desired profits, we believe it was abandoned a few years later. During this time, the several accomplishments were not entirely neglected, for, as already mentioned, Gen. Webb had taught the young idea, and John E. Cory had conducted a singing-school. Mr. Cory opened the school in his own house, in 1814, and probably numbered among his scholars, nearly all the young folks in the community. * *

The War Of 1812

During these times, the early settlers of Lost Creek Township were not wholly without fear. The outbreak of the seoond war with Great Britain was calculated to seriously interfere with their repose. The Indians were not far distant, and more than once, the pioneer and his little family cowered, as it were, in the shadows of the tomahawk. Almost within the boundaries of the township, David Gerard and Henrv Dilbone and wife fell before the merciless hatchet of the Shawanoes. Alexander McDowell, Sr., with Gen. Webb and others whose names have, unfortunately, been lost to your historian, entered the army and t*1® frontfer P06**- In 1811, Gen. Hull's troops, en route to Detroit, passed through this section of the county. A halt was made at Rogers' blockftouse, that occupied the site of George G. McDowell's dwelling, and the pioneer w<mien relieved the wants of the troops, many of whom were shoeless and in a anffOTng condition. It is supposed that anterior to this event, Gen. Wayne marched through a portion of Lost Creek Township on his way to punish the ^LatJhe -raPidB of the Maumee. After the war of 1812, our honflAH blessings of peace, and settlements rapidly increased. As

___ .jP ® uP everywhere, the distances between neighbors became lessened, acquaintance was extended, and society received the long-needed impetus.

Fir8T Churches

Among the other early Justices ware eointcrruptedly, we believe, until 1849 Pordyce and Thomas 3Shidler The laft°hn ^n0n' Abraham Buckles, James Counlj- m the Ohio Legislature gentleman represented Miami fell everywhere wifoouTmercT^d^in ^0PrP'est b°mes in the township. Its blows and chiMren were b'urted in X lnstances th»n one, husband and wife, connected with this terrible via fotfon that egTe' There are several incident^ une night a merry party of npitrhh00 tIjat ^approach the domain of the thrilling Keports from districts then rafa^Tb^the^ rf the ',t>U9e of Mr John Marti"- w^ver8?ti°n ; but, by the * uV* once became the th®e

,K ' ha,id that drew the bow tha^niLhrV161'111? f8ii v''ct'ras to the dread plague. Possessor still lives, an Led nn^, g\ basn.ot 1,fted another since, although its dwad scourge again visftwl trr en®.rated citizen of the township. In 1836, the ^nce that ch^acteriz^dUts fo^r °">°f tb? ?unt^ but did not rage with the ,d?d in Troy, and more than n n V18lt' At that time the nearest physicians cholera patient an ° ce 1 ley were hurried out on Lost Creek, to attend name was changed to Casstown, in honor of Lewis Cass, United States Senator and General, and an unsuccessful candidate for the 'Presidency. Mr. Daniel Knoop put up the first brick house in the town, a small affair, only fourteen feet square, and Joseph Green and Joseph Campbell opened the first stock of goods. Knoop also brought on a lot of goods, and continued in the business at the original stand until a few years since. He is now dead but his widow still resides in Casstown.

Casstown is noted for civility and good morals. Not a drop of liquor is sold within the corporation. It contains three churches, and one hall devoted to the I. 0. 0. F., which order is in a flourishing condition. Small as it was during the late civil war, it sent out an entire company of soldiers, who did good service around Washington, for which the}' received the personal thanks of President Lincoln. Several miles north of Casstown, and in the township, is a small collection of houses which bears the name of Sodom, or Peucetown ; but it lias no post office and is hardly called a village.

Educational

In education, Lost Creek Township has a good record. Forty years ago the total number of school children enrolled in the township was 647 ; the school build'.ngs were mostly log structures, and poor affairs at the best ; but now a substantial brick building graces every district, and the school furniture is of the latest pattern and cannot be excelled. In Special District No. 1, which includes the village of Casstown, a large and handsome brick building has been erected within the past few years. In this a thorough graded school is kept nine mouths of the year, and the result is that it ranks among the best schools in the county.

More than forty years ago, when Thomas Long was Superintendent and Visitor of the common-schools of Lost Creek Township, the system of school visitation was strictly adhered to. Mr. Long was a careful, methodical and painstaking man, and the entries in his journal exhibit the condition of our country schools at that day. Of a visit to the school in District No. 1, January 22, 1839, he says: "The order in the school is not good, too much confusion, but little government exercised by the teacher, very little exercise of moral influence, and but very little time is spent to convince the scholars of the propriety of such measures as would be conducive to their good." He found in the schools at that day not enough sysnn?1 wr*ting, the philosophy of arithmetic illy taught, and, finally, noisy schools. The Board of Education of Lost Creek Township, profiting by Mr. Long's experience, have brought the schools to a high grade, and all to-day are in a flourishing condition. ® J

_ The Lost Creek Baptist Church . - The oldest religious body in Lost Creek ip 18 the Lost Creek Baptist Church. The nucleus were members of the 0 Staunton Church, now torn down, and an organization was effected at the house w ilk8 kan Lavault, in 1816. Samuel Deweese was the first minister, and Rachel Webb was the first accession. David Archer had the honor of being the first !,ierai and John Wilson, afterward Judge, and a member of the Legislature, poa+ Jlf u?toiy of the building of the church structure has already been given. S»Tnnf.i °f u c^ur^» since its organization to the present time, have been Wnn^T' Mo8!! *razee, Robert Stapleton, Willis Hance, Thomas A. War- David F ThnlU8°?! Th0J?as J' Price> N. Martin, John Blodgett, David Scott, W. S HamHn ^ W* R* Thomas, W. A. Welsher, I. M. Chapman, no eXsT/e i^co^ of f ' Wlth ^ twelve Ambers. For the first nine years Elder JoseohTirtfv f Proceedmgs were kept. The first regular Pastor was years. WMle^his^n^ Thf<?ma? LoqS 9erved as Clerk for forty-two consecutive gregation has made no noise in the world, it has pursued the

State »nth °1 -Nfovember, 1797 mv Zth* church members before I was bom. In lowteJT admitted into the Union l*?er removed to Ohio, six years before the wheregthh° 8?Uled in the denwTilderneli"^ nearuWaynesville. - In March folt»-yof Da,ton the 'T0 Miami Rive«. near cabin in/"'1?'1 toma hawks) there until mwtiT** "j ,mark of an ax (excepting cove J ^!*,ch he put his) and brotber8 cu' logs to build £ firsteXfity rods east of our hoiiX!^J^Uatlcn'i 1 t,10ugllt *t a paradise. About HdewSte?0' but we were soon on ? -ltt ,e Prairie. in which we made our ^ fence, to keep the^er^miTd^f^' .m0 0fe il with a high 'staked and r ue aeer from destroying the fruits of our first planting. -

We had to watch our cornfields, to prevent the squirrels and raccoons from pulling up the com in the spring and from eating the ears in the fall. The wild pigeons were very plentiful and destructive, picking up the wheat almost as soon as sown.

" My father sowed the first wheat and clover seed, and planted the first apple and peach trees and built the first cabin in that region. After eight years of life there, father exchanged farms with my brother-in law, Timothy Green, and moved three miles west, near the present site of Beavertown.

" There being no school near us then, my mother taught my youngest sister and myself at home. Our main books were the spelling book, Testament and Bible. I was eight years old before I saw a schoolhouse, and never went to school in any house but a log-cabin. In 181 1 , father sold his farm of 240 acres for $2,000, intending to purchase land in this (Miami) county for his sons. One day he mounted a young, hard-mouthed horse, intending to select a location, and started off. But the horse, becoming frightened, ran a quarter of a mile, threw my father against a stump, broke his arm in two places, and crushed his shoulder and skull, of course killing him instant^. This occurred on Thursday, November 28, 1811.

" On the day following father's funeral, our family assigned to mother all the money and property that he left, and shortly afterward I purchased the land I now occuPY» two miles north of Casstown, from John Rogers, for $320. At that time Rogers owned an entire section. There were two cabins on my piece, a lot of land iqclosed ; and I gave Rogers in payment an order on my mother, for I was but eighteen years old, and engaged in "keeping" school. Two years before this I taught the first school ever held in this region.

"In the following spring, mother and I, with my brothers Elisha and Joseph, moved to this neighborhood. Joseph, having no house ou his land, moved into one of my houses. He had purchased a quarter-section of land, where John Mitchell now lives [t. e. the present Hvatt farm - Ed.], and subsequently built a cabin there. He afterward exchanged it for a quarter-section then owned by Richard Palmer, my brother-in-law, and now owned by* George Hammon and Joel Burton, adjoining the village of Casstown.

" In the latter part of the winter of 1813, 1 volunteered as a soldier, expecting to go to Detroit. But the surrender of Hull's army there, left our whole northern and northwestern frontier exposed to Indian depredations. The general Government, therefore, caused a line of block-houses to be built along the frontier of Ohio and Indiana, and called out a large portion of the frontier militia to be stationed m them. So we were marched to Greenville, Darke County, under Captain Charles Hilliard, where we remained six months. . John Sconer and Goeberry Elliott, two of our soldiers, were killed by the Indians, also Philip Taylor, an Indian trader, Mr. Rush, a settler, and two little girls, daughters of a Mr. Wilson. In August of the same year (1814) the savages killed David Gerard within a mile of our house, and the same evening Henry Dilbone and wife further up on Spring Creek.

In the month of March, 1815, our two houses were consumed by fire, and we removed to Roger's until I built another cabin. I was teaching school in one ow?TCa^n8 a* ^me this calami ty. During this year, Priscilla tvmght and I were married, and lived happily together for more than half a cencomPany muster, after our return from Greenville, I drilled the *he ureque8t °.f our ^Ptain. I was twenty years old at that time Cantnin m ^>een aPP°mted Orderly Sergeant, I was shortly afterward elected ante at that membership extended as far north as there were inhabitas where were a tew settlers scattered along the Miami as far was elected BriirJlw?161 ai?d Colonel successively. A short time subsequent, I was elected Brigadier General, receiving every vote in the county but one, and, by after the war of 1812, 1 receive? i»a m faI? coramission, and, many years each, and I now receto a vearlvrJn^r f°r ®!ghty 80168 of Government "In 1861, at the outbreak of the rendered the nation, hinds for the purchase of a beautiful The Patriotic ladies raised Casstown. On that day, thTmmoan^wI } *** presented the company at

Lillis Hance. He was for man 17 * ^aPtl8t Church, and baptized by Elder- Prepared its minutes for tbe Msd River Association, and his on horseback to attend °ne occ^'.on> Mr- Webb went to Columfore the Legislature. 6 b 1,816688 pertaining to the church charter be- to the calhfof Ui^Pr^ident r' ^ n° rural township replied more liberally *? enlist in 1861 and Lost Creek. Her citizens were among the first gle,8he had more than two hnn?^ntPli!fPer,od BD® ^ termination of the strugef the most sanguinary battle 8°. cber^.at tbe ^oat. They took part in some sujgle one of thefrnm^ he/iri nLTth?U-t' u80 far 88 we are able to learn, having a eh'P is justly proud anlTah!? ^ u°Utr?g-ht 0f ber war record> L°st Creek TownaTm8 « fiefe^?f D' ^iJbou,d heru61tl26" ever be called upon again to take up

A List Of The Old 8Ettler8

We here append a list, as complete as can be obtained at this late day, of the old settlers of the township : John Webb*, Elisha Webb, Asa Rogers, John Sliidler, Alexander McDowell*, Abram Cromer, James Buckles*, Timothy Green,

Of all the foregoing, only those whose names are marked with an asterisk ( ) are living at the present time. The rest have passed down the M corridors of time, and rest from the arduous labors which they performed so well. Truly, it can be said of them, when looking upon the fair land which they helped to improve, " Their works do follow them."

Recapitulation

Lost Creek Township is now in a healthy condition. The roads that bisect it are well piked, and in admirable condition for travel. The farming land is well drained, and much of it clovered in alternate seasons. Plenty of good water is afforded for stock, and all the farms are highly improved. A great deal °f c0^1 is annually raised in Lost Creek, which finds a ready market at Troy, and the acreage of wheat and other cereals is large and constantly increasing. Of her citizens, we have said much in the foregoing pages. The}' are intelligent, industrious and energetic, worthy successors to the men who cleared' the unbroken forests, and brought order and light out of " chaos and confusion." We predict that the future of Lost Creek Township is one to be envied, for her exhaustless resources are certain to place her in the first rank, of such organizations. She might well claim our State motto as her own - Imperio imperivm.

Pnor to the first election, held in July, 1807, this township was bounded as follows : On the south by Montgomery County, on the east by Champaign County, on the north by Canada, on the west by. the Great Miami River ; that portion of the county east of the Miami was known by the name of Randolph Township. At the first meeting of the County Commissioners, the county was divided into five townships ; the fourth was called Elizabeth. From the official records we extract the following : " The fourth township to be known and called by the name of Elizabeth , and bounded : Beginning at the northeast corner of Bethel Township ; thence west with the line of said township to the Great Miami River ; thence up said river to the middle of the eleventh range ; thence east, with the line through said

Beautiful springs were notic^on^^idM ^ bea^ condition of this locality toe soil, assuring its fertility - th* *1 ..des » numerous streams traversed thmn^h was wbisky, obtained, in the the uiT68-111 the township^ ife hD Sta"nt05; In later years, a number of e liquor in the honse si!!Pi jJ e<1 t le demand. Eveiy family had a quantity of was invited to attend °f m"ch ^J8' enj°yment- The entire a s^pted. UsuaHy toe the Jceremonles, and the invitation was invaorP!^T!oa' Much funusement>Ut^8 ?"»d ,ma,den8 mounted on horses and formed 0f 'he bride, sometime Z^e"VWaV".dulged in during the trip to the residence y miles distant. A bottle of whisky was plaoed on the road, at a considerable length in advance of the company. Two of the young men would then dismount and run for the bottle. The winner of this novel race was entitled to the flask and its contents. The enormous amount of labor performed from year to year required the hearty co-operation of every member of the family, consequently, there was no time for idleness, and the youngsters had few opportunities of engaging in amusements. Occasionally, they were granted a short respite, and the ball and bat were brought into service. Instead of the base ball of to-day, they were content to play " corner ball" In the fall of the year, gathering beech-nuts and hickory-nuts was considered fine sport The spinning wheel fhmished the sole amusement for the maidens.

Elizabeth was well represented in the Indian war of 1812. Several companies of volunteers were organized, of which John Williams and Jacob Mann were Captains, while John Shidecker, William Mitchell, William Shearer, Philip Sailor and others deserve honorable mention as privates. Abram Statler was compelled to go to Fort Wayne during the campaign. Here he endured many privations, fortunately returning home in safety, though much broken down in health. His father was originally detailed to perform this duty, but this the brave and noble son would not allow, under any circumstances, and went in, his stead. Such heroic conduct and filial devotion is commendable. While Capt. Williams' company was stationed at Fort Loramie, a little incident occurred which was related to the writer by one of the oldest settlers. One night, one of the soldiers had a dream. Of the nature of this dream history will ever be silent, the dreamer sleeping the sleep that knows no wakening, his lips having long been hushed in silence. Perhaps, in his imagination, he saw some horrible illusion, for suddenly a piercing shriek was heard. In an instant all sprang to their feet and grasped their weapons in alarm. Capt. Williams was thrown into a state of great fear, and, heedless of the degradation which might follow, he ran from the camp and sought refhge behind a log. A soldier, thinking he was an Indian, raised his gun and fired, fortunately missing his man. Before another shot was fired, the Captain came to bis senses and the mistake was discovered.

For many years after the first settlement had been made, the township was inhabited by the untutored sons of the forest. Generally, these Indians were inclined to be peaceable, though the pioneer was much disturbed by their numer ous visits to his cabin, begging for bread and whisky, which were never refhsed Pottawatomies, who have a close connection with the Shawnoes, were camped at various parts of the township. Mr. Henry Carver informs us that the land at present owned by him was a favorite camping-ground, at that time being k*8 father, Michael Carver, who was often the victim of their depredations. On one occasion, Michael, with two horses attached to a sleigh, was naming logs. An Indian came toward him, showing strong symptoms of an er-indulgence in fire-water, undoubtedly procured from the whites. His drunken p^oraaances frightened the horses. This so angered Carver that he extracted a 8l^> and> striking the savage with it, felled him to the ground.

conscious, he walked away without making any demon- Wa8 Car7ef molested in the future. With the tribe just mentioned, W hI«7nTan ( ier "ame we °°uld not ascertain), who had been stolen from EventnflJlv uho(K^yVania' w^en hut a child, and taken by the band to Ohio, the mother' of * wT r^onclled with her lot, married a grim warrior and became old homXl^^e/amilyu ^ later yearn, she paid a visit to her house of John^M^^wl for action. The women and children were taken to the country in search of the the imale Potion of the community scoured the by thoma aim°yance. Immediately afW 2,"^ squirrels proved another source of tune A^dS 0f these little pests often m WfS pIanted> it: was ferreted out they wo^lnr°aid Was also made upi)n tihe nece98ai7 to plant a second hunted7 the '"habitants of a dUtoic'tfo^^' Acf°7Jingly' 8 certain was Cter ^®6 of «»e fanners would ^ 1 8l?en?*d slaughter. To encourage sav » Wi,° w°uld brine in the mcT*-1*'8? 8 8?b8CnPt,on in com, to be paid tee Witt-^am* b^r l8^ Mendenha11 and Allen Ramsafc^ 8 general migration nf th* hun.te" ,n this section. The year of 1828

^of the settler. The^necMsit^^r"^0^*1^ ?*d n?t 1°"? escape tee keen obserrath^fvfrefman'8 Mm jn Monm^Tvf & ^?unng-miB became apparent, the nearest ereoHn^dant production of co TPwn8tuP' A continual demaud for whisky and erectu>11 of distiUeries a safe fZZLl **Zm year to year> guaranteed the sale investment. In 1811, the building of the first mill was commenced by John M. Dye, at the Lost Creek crossing, near the land now owned by John Lefevre. The entire neighborhood assisted in hewing the logs. Perhaps the only man living who assisted in the construction of this mill, is Andrew Sayers. The mill was not finished until the year 1813, the first wheat being ground a few days prior to the marriage of Dye's daughter, Sarah, to Abram Statler. Mrs. Statler remembers that the chief amusement of the wedding guests consisted in visiting the new mill. At that time, Dye resided on the site of the Children's Home ; but, at the completion of the mill, he erected a stone building just north of it ; the house still stands and is occupied by John Lefevre. This new improvement was but the forerunner of many others. A road was surveyed from the mill to Troy, making a direct avenue for conveying grain to and from the center. The second grist mill was built by Michael Carver, m 1823 ; this building is at present used as a cotton-mill by Henry Carver. Other mills were erected in later years, many are yet in good running order, and will be found in every part of the township.

Jacob Mann erected the first distillery ; in what year we have been unable to ascertain. The next distillery of any magnitude was built by Daniel P. Yoorhis, in 1830. The many private whisky factories throughout the township are not considered worthy of notice. A Dutchman by the name of VanCulen Hampton owned the first saw-mill, situated on the land now owned by M. Hill. Perhaps, a powder-mill erected by Jacob Prillman, on Indian Creek, in 1806, is the first manufacturing establishment ever put up in the township ; the property is now in possession of William Thompson. Some years after, a man named Lusenhall engaged in the manufacturing of hats, on the site of Levi Staley's residence. In 1825, Newman Scarlet operated a turning lathe, on the present Henry Bell property, on Indian Creek. Stores were also established as they were needed. The first store was kept by Conklin, in 1831, father of John Conklin, the Corporation Clerk of Troy. Isaac Sheets and Asa French were also engaged in the sale of merchandise.

For many years, roads were comparatively unknown. The pioneer cut a path to the house of his nearest neighbor, who, in turn cut' his way to the next cabin. Thus, it will be noticed that the roads were very irregular, and traveling was necessarily slow and tedious. The road from Dye's mill to Troy was the first laid out by the County Surveyor. The first pike built through the township was the Troy and Springfield pike. At this writing, the township is traversed by three or four free pikes, intersected by a complete network of roads.

Cincinnati was the nearest trading-point for a number of years. After harvest, wheat was taken to the mill and ground ; if there was a surplus of flour, it was taken to Cincinnati, by wagon, and exchanged for leather, coffee and other indispensable necessaries. Sometimes a small amount of cash was received, which was saved for the tax-gatherer. The leather was usually converted into shoes by roaming shoemakers. Horses were often taken to South Carolina and sold at a, 8°^d figure. A cargo of flour and pork was placed on a raft and floated into me Miami, thence to the Ohio, down to the Mississippi, thence onward to New Orleans. Here the cargo was disposed of, and the pilot returned on foot, some three or four months being consumed in going and returning.

A new impetus came to the homes of the pioneer in 1830. This year witnessed the erection of frame dwellings ; new arrivals came from the Bast, and geneml prosperity crowned the efforts of the inhabitants. On and after this date, no 8teP? wefe taken ; the population was on a rapid increase ; instead of i u forest, beautiful fields of golden grain were seen ; blazed roads had

« ^versed the country in 1835, selling their wares at a high w^TintSShLH, e^i}fld fV>m *25 to *76 for » common efghtday clock. Stoves accustomed to aif0 * 5*®' *®^1 created somewhat of a sensation. To the pioneer, it and warm by the dear old fire-place from infancy up, it seemed

We wish to remark while writing on this subject, that religiously, Elizabeth is unsurpassed by any township in the county. The family Bible occupies a conspicious position in nearly every household. In the cares and pleasures of daily life, devotional exercises are never forgotten. The examples set fourscore years ago have passed from generation to generation. That religion and morality will ever have a finn foothold is a foregone conclusion. So mote it be.

One of the prime objects of the pioneers was the establishment of suitable schools for the children. Pennsylvania, to whom the township owes her earliest settlers, offered poor and uninviting educational facilities. John M. Dye, it is said, left his native State for that reason. Obstacles in the way of establishing suitable schools were many. There were, as yet, very few people in the district ; money was scarce ; able and efficient teachers could not be obtained ; much labor was required in building a suitable house for educational purposes. But, in spite of all these difficulties, the pioneer did not waver. A site was selected, logs were hewn, and erelong the house was ready for occupancy. A teacher was procured who received a small compensation, and boarded " round." The original schoolhouse was situated on the farm of Christian Knoop, near the Staunton line. The first person to officiate therein as schoolmaster was John Enyeart, who combined with the duties of pedagogue that of Justice of the Peace. Later on a schoolhouse was built near the present Staley mill, in what is now known as Bethel Township.

In 1812, the schoolhouse on the Lost Creek Crossing was taught by John Schell, when he was sober. For charts, rude boards on which were inscribed in rough caricatures the alphabet and easy monosyllables, were used. Noah Webster s spelling book, Dilworth's arithmetic, the Bible, or any other book obtainable, completed the outfit. Under careful, economical management, the educational interests of this locality progressed graduallv and satisfactorily. As the general surroundings advanced in civilization, the population increased ; the pioneer was slowly placing himself and his interests on a firm financial basis, thus enabling him to afford his children better facilities for obtaining a good common-school education. Prior to 1840, there were but two schoolhouses in the township. To-day, eight fine brick structures, erected at an average cost of $2,000, bear testimony to the rapid strides made in this direction.

. ^ stranger is impressed by the numerous graveyards located in nearly every .ion of the township. They are not populated very thickly, but their number and location show a change induced by . the absence of roads, and strengthen the idea that each family buried its own dead on the home place. No costly monument was erected in ye olden times, a plain, rough sandstone, simply inscribed, marking the silent resting-place. The oldest known grave is that of Mrs. Lowder, x? £ *he burYing-place in the rear of Charles Voorhis' residence. The Methodist Episcopal cemetery is the oldest public burving-ground in the township.

Mitehell was the first person buried here ; July *19, 1815, is the date. In this arJL <*ead reP°9e soldiers of all American wars, a singular coincidence. We i ^ t ^v°l<*ionary war, Samuel Mitchell, John Bums; war of J°hn Wmiam Mitchell; Mexican war, John French; field'^ge-route! h ne^rerhouL^i * 8tofPin8'P°int on the Troy and Springcooper-shop. In 1860 "it was ZZhJt TuM^ PhiliP Dick, and used 8tand > tavern is closed at piULt^TSte Dl't*y' and chanSed "»to a tavern A post office has be*n established - in wh«t 6 town bas a P°PDlatio» of about 150. earned from Trov via this nio^ V ^^Lba^ea^, we could not ascertain Mail is Thursday and Saturday of eJch we^k C^1!?81burgj ^"Paign Co., on Tuesday, the land donated* by on^oThTrfom6*1 h°T '® situated in this township, and on *> Present a brief sketch of U,e fon^w"1^ prominent citiz«". we will endeavor ®any years, the subject of buildin^I^,^^?"18^ men.t of thi<s institution. For nh-i ? wbo bad ^en deprived suitable asylum for the accommodation of philanthropists of this counts v be comforts of a home, had been agitated by «t that decisive steps must1 be token tot. '* became more and »PP»- Jhe matter was first brought l H tW?T? Jhe accomplishment of this object. to> of whom it may TX Women'8 Chri9tia" AssiTa-

Report of March, 1877 the Dinvtftn passer-by. In their official semi-annual Wrongest terms, the wtoWtehm^? °i the ?0Unty Infinnaiy advocated, in the whom were at that time nS £ £. h°me for de8titute children, a number of attention to the bad examnb^^v^r tha.ma!la?er8 of the Infirmary. They called tohon and urged that thePevil infWn^i? ht?? ones, while inmates of that instiertoly lead to bad results. Uences by which they were surrounded would

Elizabeth Township - oo^toinVna"«L07?Sl by W8 brother Jacob and himself), in Buildings '' are howioS^ rL ^ 16°- acres of la"d, on which the " Home

"e qualified electors of vL The Commissioners authorized the Auditor to notify 2 'toe questionTbuildiX< 'rfi& wou'd ^ called upon to vote The resultof this election wfs «f 8 Som®' a* the October election, of 1877.

"Um£XmLWtK^fotoIL«nASprini 0f 1878' the Commissioners visited a construction of thes#> in®f;?U5 tbe Wltb a view of gaining an insight into the *bo drew up the plans and ?' W* Gibbs' of Toledoi wa8 selected architect,

1878, the cont^t ^ specifications of the proposed building. On the 8th of bes at a cost of *16 970 on coRstr^ctlpS the building was awarded to various parswelled the total cost t^'*Qn additional work and many improvements have bte following ffentlpmon *^0,000. January 15, 1878, the Commissioners appointed Bohrer, Tippecanoe tw^° 96rVe ^ ^rU8tees 5 p- Spiker, Piqua, one year ; Jacob ppeeanoe, two years ; Samuel K. Harter, Troy, three yeare. January

21, 1879, Washington Barnes, of Troy, was appointed Superintendent. On the 30th of the same month, the building was completed and ready for occupancy.

Having decided upon giving the readers of this work a detailed account of the manner in which this institution is conducted, we repaired to the home. Upon ringing the door-bell, we were ushered into the cozy reception-room by a servant, a few moments later we were greeted by the genial Matron, to whom our wants were made known, and who kindly offered to conduct us through the building. Adjoining the reception-room is the office of the Superintendent and also of the physician ; across the hall is the parlor, through which we pass into the sitting-room. Everything presents a neat and inviting appearance. The children's dining-room, linen-room, etc., are also found on this (ground) floor. On the second floor is located the hospital, Superintendent's private apartment, spare room, girls dormitory, baby -room, occupied at this writing b}' eight sweet little cherubs, under the watchful eye of a nurse. The girls' sleeping apartments, and the dormitories and sleeping apartments of the boys, are also on this floor. The chapel and servants' apartments are on the third floor. In the basement is the employees dining-hall, kitchen and storerooms. Back of the main building is the engineroom, laundry and bakery. The building is heated by steam and illuminated by gasoline. . An inexhaustible spring furnishes water, which is forced to all parts of the building. Healthy bath-rooms have been provided, and the children are bathed once a week - Saturday. Visitors are admitted from 1 to 4 o'clock, P. M., daily, except Saturday and Sunday. Those who wish to attend the Sabbath school will be welcomed. The Trustees meet on the first Monday of each month. The friends of the children are also allowed to call on them on that day.

The total number of children who are inmates at this writing, is sixty-nfne. The following is the number of employes, and the character of their duties : One teacher, two cooks, one baker, three laundry girls, three nurses, one chambermaid, one maid-of-all-work, one engineer, three laborers. The Matron has been much encouraged by favorable comments made bj' visitors, and well she might ; a person more fitted for the responsible position could not be found. The Superintendent also takes an active interest in the welfare of all connected with the institution. Kecently, the Female Bible Societies, of Troy and Piqua, presented the home with . "?!e8' . ^ Sabbath school has been organized, and is visited by friends of the institution from far and near. Thus is the seed of morality and religion sown in these young hearts, and the Divine injunction, " Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid them not," is literally obeyed.

Miami County may well be proud of her Children's Home. Situated on the grounds donated by descendants of her earliest settlers, built by the almost unanimous consent of her people, and managed by some of her most charitable citizens, she may ever point with pride to the Knoop Children's Home.

shiD eighteeath century, and prior to the year 1807, this townaccurateY^oLtart i *he ®xttensive territory then known fis Elizabeth, which is £? oSStaSSL the* hl3fry of ®li?abeth Township. At the first meeting of was the first and hm, *** divided into five townships, of which Bethel f0ll0W9 : Bering at the southeast comer of the said river to the line hot c°untJ' ''ne to the Great Miami River, thence up the to the countv Imp than W6en n*ntk aQd tenth ranges, thence east with a line

^stedby^Ci^^^hT bheing dotted by numto the many springs is rich deeD and nr!SLt^ ' ^,ch owe tbeir existence wuntoy in the State These 'advantages any other 860110,1 of sumably induced the permanent 8etuSi^,? S tv, th P,cturesque aspect, pre- "* «®Pt from the almost im^Sffo^ti * Til The land was tiers were devoted almost exclush-eiv to the ®ret yea^ of the setmll be admitted, when we state, upon the authority- Jhat 'H8 P1??688 w«s tedious 1820, not more than ten acres ,onty of an old resident, that, up to But as time rolled on it 8ettler in the township time a Dute^^p* brought 'to^anS0 Ameri.can 80,1 dates back to 1620, at which colonists. Year after yew' this^nhumn "tmfflTh AfHcan8' who were sold to the slavery .existed in all of the Southern £ecame more general, and, in 1784, opposition to this system was manifested iw ,®ven at this early date, a violent a»d prospered without totemSinn ^' but'\e °PPressors were in a majority but were powerless to prevent* it sousrhTn^ hh0S6 Wb° fondemned 11 severely, these was Thomas StocksfflT n T^ht n6w homes in the Northwest. Among holder. Though enjoS a l fe of lnxM^^ who8e ^ler was a wealthy slave8 to his sire's mode of LcumuIatinV »nd ease Thomas formed a violent dislike mof forever. He was but sixteen flnalJ resolved to quit the parental rations destined to attend h'teMn^T f age',and "nused 10 the trials and privered. The dailv seerT» - T ew °°untry i but the noble lad never wacould be endured no longer if t° ?bicb the slaves were subjected P «g of a horse, and traveled in th^r *> *"- native soil, mounted an old Cincinnati. His entire ouS ^nsistS T °f ^ 'V*abio#°°' now known as chisels and two or three thumbri^E? wb,tC!?thes he wore> one broadax, three Performing odd jobs of 6tS' Tltb the8e tools he supported himself, mofed a barn, using wooden^totT8 °"i tho road- Somewhere in Kentucky he dnUing the holes with a thunK ^fT."ai1SZTUlere were no Mils in those days - when the work was finish^ he imHnn«rf^,*-kept him busy for 80016 tlme, and «ml condition having been somo^w - ^ hlS i°Ur^.ey Wltb "ore celerity, his finant°°> the owner of one of the six eahinafhPr>Ved' - b*9 arrlval at Fort Washingsame for his horse.. Stockstib ^,'"8.that constituted the fort offered to trade the the site of the Queen Citv of tLb\vg. 8"°ra?t10f the glorious future in store for short time, and, flnX after ^ rejected the offer He remained here for a what is now known as OlarkT r ' ^b° ^ ln the eitreme southwest comer of he married Hain's dauirhto^ p« ti T ^ wa8 in 1796' In the following year, eoa. J. L. Stockstill iff the nnrth lenoe' ftnd settled on the land now owned by his settlement made in the totn^heaSj COrner °f this township. This was the first , . David H !j|££ %r Tb ?' an<? °"e of 0,6 flrat 1,1 the county, lutionaty war. He afWwo J;3 ln New Jersey, and participated in the Revosurveyor. While travelinJ ^.wentt° Cincinnati, where he was detailed assistant the apparent fertility of the tbl? count-v; he was favorably impressed by township. The land i« n-eJ- 8C?i' a,lcl subsequently located in Section 23, in this At the Winning th-e P0886881011 of his grandsons, came from Pe^yh"gifantrJ!"6te?n'h century, Robert and John H. Crawford the young days of thi. "" Bottled here. These men held important positions in history of the county COUnty' ®*ey are prominently mentioned in the general lived there for near),- another old pioneer, settled on Section 24, and we believe still ^ half a century. John Ross settled here in 1810; his son,

Maryland, whenoe he came to Dayton, and, upon leaving there, came to Bethel, and settled on the southwest corner of Section 28. Here he built a log cabin, which has since been weather-boarded, and is yet standing. James Fergus came from Virginia. He represented Miami in the Legislature, and was universally esteemed.

David Puterbaugh came to Ohio in 1809, settled here in 1813. His wife is still living at the advanced age of eighty-four years, and apparently enjoying good health.

John Clayton, a son of the Emerald Isle, crossed the waters of the Atlantic in the closing days of the eighteenth century. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and at its close purchased a farm upon which he quietly passed his days.

William Ellis squatted on Section 22, but soon changed his home for one west of the river. He was a Kentuckian by birth, and, tike Thomas Stockstill, left his native soil because her authorities permitted the barter and sale of human lives. He went to Loramie's in 1835 and there died.

David, John and Abraham Studebaker immigrated to Bethel Township from Maryland. They invested largely in land, and their descendants are at the present time in possession of some of the finest farms in the county.

John Newcomb, with his brother Daniel, came from Scotland. After stopping at various places, they arrived here in 1814, and purchased .whatisnow known as West Charleston.

Pioneer Hardships

The early pioneers of this township were not excepted from the privations surrounding the settlement of a new country. As a greater portion of Bethel is rolling, and traversed bv streams of refreshing waters, the inhabitants were in a salubrious condition. The northeastern comer, however, is low and marshy. At that time no system of drainage existed ; water stood at one place during the entire year, and its foul stench produced much sickness. People were attacked by the fever and ague, scarlet and typhoid fevers and similar diseases. The occasional physician examined the patient, introduced the lance, forbade the use of cold crater, prescribed pounds of calomel, shook his head and departed. Result - many of the patients died, some of them for the want of a cooling drink of water. The Pjon^®rl^afi discouraged ; those who survived in the fall knew not whether they snould live through the coming summer and made no preparations on their lands. I nomas Stokstill, a carpenter by occupation, devoted much time to making rough coffins and burying the dead, and, with that charity and good nature which was a cnaractenstic part of his nature, reftised all compensation from the poor and needy. Ha aX,yeM?> a compl®te system of drainage was introduced, the angel of death aeparted, and marshes and swamps gave way to fields of golden grain. . .

whioh nJ^L^°°re ; a* °ne time, wolves carried off a hog belonging to Stockstill, aJa£rk2? advance 111 toe price of pork - in thatfemily. The com p estroyed by the squirrels, who visited the fields in great numbers.

Looki^ out^auLnsh ahe r8 apM' At last' the "ornin« be£m to dawZ that her cabin hnH hai ' be f Sf° that no one was in sight, and concluded closed the Lt that thT byu-he redskins- Farther investigation disseen before it run-f. gh boring cabin remained untouched, A woman was handsy of her hus^^Th^ w,f®' wh?. was 8uP!»rted by a huge cudgel in the an attempt to mmn d^ ^bos were they kept at ba}\ Again, should they make were lighted The q°Wt the fireplace was filled with feathers, which time o??nd^ftn Shif -r^k8tdLWas .obtained this curious incident: "During a seriously wounded ' a wblt?T ^rl nam^d Hacker was attacked by them and ered, and in rW 6 WaS Ie ieve<^ ber scalP an(* left f°r dead. She recov- * afterward married & !ec?n<1 croP of beautiful hair grew upon her head. She the Indian remmrin W<! ? family." With the passing of time, peace returned, still and David TT to^ard tbe Great West. The descendants of Thomas Stockwere pitchod tuff Mornf stl^ point to portions of their farms where at one time r me tents of the red men.

Game

of 8quirrrfln1h,?t game abounded in the forests. The hunters killed large numbers encountered n Pbeafants' etc- Wolves, bears and panthers were frequently morning Thio* ^atcJ* that ^av*d H. Morris, Sr., killed three panthers in one boys to nw»ns« u.? °^d pioneer was very fond of hunting. He required his the ears was th sbooJ'bl^ daily ; when their record was poor, a general boxing of and difficult, 6 uf8-11*' Ammunition, though in active demand, was expensive every f 0Dtain* obviate all embarrassment, it became customary for sable artinlo his own powder. In after years, when this indispencould be obtained at a nominal figure, the old custom was abolished.

Early Mills, Etc

fnmishwnJi8* ^ WaS erected by one Teller, and called an ox mill, i. e., power was °xen. M<Jd a wbeel, about thirty feet in circumference, which was trod by not be a8cej^Pa^d^endenba^ erected a mill in early times - the exact date could

In 1815, a mill was built on the mouth of Honey Creek by David Staley. This mill enjoyed an extensive trade ; people from all directions flocking to the mill night and day. It was operated by the Staleys until 1831, when it fell into the hands of Daniel Babb, who operated it for many years. This gentleman established a store in its immediate vicinity for the accommodation of those who had their grain ground at his mill. In addition to this, he erected cooper and blacksmith shops. The various inhabitants formed quite a settlement, which was called Babbtown, in honor of its founder. On account of old age, Mr. Babb was compelled to cease running the mill in 1873, and since that time it has been idle. The location being a good one, however, the day may not be far distant when active work will be resumed. The shops and store have long been closed, and the former greatness of Babbtown exists in memory only. Simultaneously with the erection of the "Staley Mill" was constructed the Crawford Mill, which was rebuilt, in 1838, by one Cable. Corey's mill, on Honey Creek, was built prior to 1811. David Smith built upon the site of this old mill in 1835. A man named Earhart had a saw-mill on Honey Creek, in 1832, and a few years after, John Brier erected a saw and hominy mill on the same stream. The first steam saw-mill was put up, in 1840, in the village of Brandt At present it is owned by Albert Black. * In 1862, another mill of this character was put up, below Charleston, and is now in a flourishing condition.

Many distilleries prevailed in pioneer times, and many families did their own stilling as well as their own tanning. Henry Atkins established the first custom distillery in 1808, although Jacob Rudy manufactured liquor from corn, in a small establishment on Spring Branch, as early as 1806. James Stafford put up the first steam distillery on Lake Branch, in 1830. The site is now owned by Gustave Allen. At present there is not a "whisky shop" in the township. James Ferguson was one of the first tanners. He kept a small shop, built " in the bush," north of the present site of Charleston. He was also a shoemaker.

That our forefathers were a pious, churcn-gomg people will never be forgotten by this and the coming generations. For six days they labored diligently from early mom till late at night, but on the Sabbath Day, the Divine command, " Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy," was never violated. At the close of the eighteenth century , when the settlers in this township were few and far betweeh, no opportunities for holding the general church sendees of the present day were afforded. Instead, was the family sendee of reading the Scriptures and commenting thereon, interspersed with song and prayer. A few years later, these sendees were held alternately at the different cabins of the pioneer. In 1807, the first society was formed by the Methodists, at the house of Rafe Stafford, on Indian Creek- Rev. Joseph Tatman was the officiating minister. Thomas Stockstill was one of the first Class Leaders and Stewards of this organization. In 181 0 or 1 81 1 , the society built a frame structure, which was called Palmer s Chapel, and served its purpose until 1830, when the brick building still standing was erected. By this time the membership had increased with the population of the county, and the building was crowded with eager listeners, who came from far and near, to hear Rev. William H. Raper preach the dedicatory sermon. The year 1820 marked the putting up of the first stove in the old church. Meetings are held here each alternate Sabbath. tw er mu.haiT 18 'embraced in the Brandt Circuit, of which Rev. N. H. Prince is the rv "«"???. 18 s*tuated on the extreme northeastern comer of the township wna Methodist Episcopal Church. - The first building erected by this society T& built t.he ground presented by David H. Morris, Sr., who also DaWdnlk!!8 con8tructlon- This was in 1825. William H. Raper, James Finley and brick wi prI!ILam°n?uthe. earl? ministers of this church. In 1850, the present Sourish^ Slte 0f the old building- The society is not in a very buS® The ol^tomtetone mw tobe /"T®1 ty'e was ^ first person buried ouding, a one-story brick struetnl to be. fo"nfi. >» dated 1818. The first church wgular minister Wa? bu,lt in 182e- »ev. David Winters was

1869, and by Rev. J. M. Lefevre, in 1870. The latter gentleman served very acceptably for ten years, and was followed in April, 1880, by the present Pastor, Rev. J. T. Hale.

This being the first church in all the surrounding country, it has always had a good membership. By 1840, it enrolled a hundred or more members of firstclass and leading citizens of the township and surrounding country, and has kept up its membership to about the same number, and from prominent members of the community. The churchyard adjoining is probably the best kept up of any country cemetery in the county.

The many incidents, ad well as the many difficulties that surrounded the establishment of early schools, are mentioned at some length in the history of the county, and a repetition is unnecessary. We will, therefore, locate at once the early schools of this township : On the Rudy farm, Section - , was erected the first schoolhouse, in 1802. In 1804, a rude log house was erected on Section 23 ; the first school was taught by one Keelan. Many of the early teachers received a monthly salary of $5 in addition to their board. These schools were conducted on the subscription plan. In 1830, the township was divided into six school districts. At present there are nine districts, each one containing a substantial brick schoolhouse ; four of these are graded, and contain two rooms each. Several years ago, the question of establishing a central high school for this township was violently agitated by the supporters and enemies of the system. The Trustees finally appointed a day on which the people could vote their sentiments as regarded this question. It was hoped that the measure could be carried ; but, on the contrary , the friends of the system met with overwhelming defeat. Educationally, Bethel stands without a peer among the rural townships of the county. Over seventyfive teachers have received their education within her boundaries. From an independent standpoint, a central high school seems to be a public necessity, and we believe that the day of its establishment is not far distant. Under a recent law, townships are empowered to employ acting managers, now called superintendents, who have a general supervision of all the schools. This township has taken advantage of the provisions of this act. In 1866, N. H. Albaugh was appointed Superintendent; in 1874, Hiram Brown was appointed to assist him. In 1876, Hiram Brown was appointed Superintendent and 8. R. Fergus Assistant, who are the present incumbents. To the gentlemen just mentioned, and to Mr. Samuel Dinsmore, who has been a member of the School Board of his district for twenty years, are due the thanks of the people for the excellent condition of the Bethel Township schools.

- . ®OI?e years agty at a fire at West Charleston, were destroyed the early records or the township ; consequently, we are unable to publish the list of township officials pnor to 1858. Following is a complete list since that time :

OWk - To/Jh gk I)ean'ni' C* McConnaughey, A. J. Allen, Trustees ; J. C. Mitchell, Cierk Jm>ob Shrover, Treasurer ; Jamls S Stafford, Assessor.

*nd David Morris Jr Sfl were joined in holy wedlock to Joseph Stafford tion utterly unknown' nni^176^' The village newspaper was then an the affair, nor are we fthle We m unable to &ve any accurate instituassertion, ho^Jw^f bow the brides were dressed. We will venture Bloom of Youth " J bat satins, laces and that indispensable article, the

The first orchard was planted by Jacob Price. It is not now remembered who was the first person born in the township. J. L. Stockstill, who resides in the northeastern corner of the township, is perhaps the oldest man now living who was born here.

On Tuesday, March 18, 1879, a deplorable accident occurred in this township. Jesse Albaugh, son of N. H. Albaugh, was hauling a load of fruit-trees from the Albaugh nurseries to Tadmor. While going down the hill, the rub-lock of the wagon was broken, and the horses became unmanageable. Young Albaugh was thrown to the ground and dragged some distance. When assistance arrived, life had fied, his neck having been broken.

This village, of about 250 inhabitants, is situated on the National road, in the eastern part of the township. It was laid out in August, 1839. John Dinsmore erected the first tavern, whose landlord was Thomas Forbes. The next tavern was kept by David Hepner. The present brick building was built by John and David Arnold and sold to Thomas Dover. The Voorhis brothers were the original proprietor! fof the town. Thomas Wilmington (father-in-law of ex-Clerk J. W. Cruikshanks) and Benjamin King, plow manufacturers, were the first inhabitants. It i& stated that, after their business was fairly established, they manufactured 1,500 plows per annum. The first store was kept by Michael Heffner in the property now owned by Jacob Siegman ; the stock of goods was small and unpretentious. The first store of any importance was kept by a rnnn named Bacon, in 1844-45. Brandt owes its existence to the construction of the National road, from Baltimore to Springfield. When this road was first Surveyed, there were but few other roads in the township. Travel on this became very general, and Brandt became a favorite resting-place for the weary traveler. Shortly after the completion of the road, however, pikes were being built through all parts of the township, and the number of travelers on the National, were correspondingly less ; and, since the introduction of the " iron-horse," Brandt has lost most of its former greatness.

In 1868, the school-building was erected, a substantial two-story brick edifice. The total cost exceeded $3,000, not including the ground. The educational facilities are ample. The youth of the village require but their own industry to obtain a first-class education. The primary department is in charge of Miss Amanda Swallow ; Mr. John W. Black is Principal of the intermediate grade. Spiritual instruction and consolation are offered by the Methodist Episcopal and Lutheran Churches, under the respective ministrations of Revs. N. H. Prince, and J. C. Zimmerman. The industrial and business interests of the little village are well represented as the following will attest :

Ilotel, Mrs. Schmidt; dry -goods, groceries, etc., Mrs. Schmidt, Jacob Hawn, B. *. Blessmger ; blacksmithing, Boyd Gowdy, Joseph Bechtold, Martin Gantz; wagon-making, John Bodiker, J. M. C. Dean ; basket- making, John W. Stremmel ; saw-mill, Black & Hower ; grower of small fruit and flowers, J. D. Tredway ; phjmcian, L. H. Humphreys ; shoemaker, John Motz ; Brandt -nurseries, D. and H. Jirown. The latter gentlemen enjoy an excellent patronage, employing from fifteen to twenty men at certain seasons of the year. Hiram Brown is lawyer, Justice of the Peace, Township Clerk, Township Superintendent of the Schools and i Enumerator, and, although comparatively a young man, has the energy an(* ability to discharge his duties in a satisfectory manner to Dayton. This road was cut out by Mad Anthony Wayne and his men, when on tneir way to Cincinnati. A number of pioneers from the surrounding country joined the army white they were engaged in cutting out the road at this point.

a so early tavern-keepers. There was a constant stream of travel, and hotel-keepmg was very profitablefor a number of years. As late as 1840, three hotels were required to supply the demands of the traveling public. To-day another state of a airs exists. The building of the canal and railroads has let the ambitious town i ^,1Iv0 ft provincial hamlet. For unknown reasons, the name of the town was ***» Jriendtown to West Charleston, now taking the Christian name of . . .ut half a century ago, the first frame was built by Caspar Young l Pres^m ^ 18 in the possession of. J ohn Baker. Kneislev erected one of the first one of the] firsf^ys***1 ^^^smithing. Dr. E. L. Crane, now of Tippecanoe, was

.on, Z8 itussell deserve mention as being among the first " engineers" of this np*- Tk1? eooyey ance. Now mail is received three times a week from Tip- Hhrlrin ^he following have held the position of Postmaster since 1839 : Samuel nf - 'KfJ!. H°gland, Jacob Waltz and Joseph Benham, who took charge whi^hf k d!stance from West Charleston are located the " Charleston Falls," wat or beauty of sceneiy outrival all similar works of nature in the county. The visit thp urni8hed hy the numerous springs in this locality. Hundreds of people sceneiy wafcers eveiY summer and enjoy the cooling breeze and picturesque anntlIJe 8fhoodloU8e was built in 1865, and consisted of one room. In 1871, how tn ah!?' ^as.^ed an<J the rooms graded. Here the young idea is " taught sixtv-fivah , rin& nine months of the year. This spring, there were about Dedaffftffii 8C t}ndei[ the general supervision of William Senseman, a veteran tion id oaf* Pf°yide for the spiritual wants of the inhabitants. The total popularly nnated at 150. The following is a showing of the business interests : Coshwo dosePh Benham ; blacksmiths, Solomon Funderburg, Martin P.

ow arrive at the conclusion of the history of Bethel Township. But ' Fourscore of years of its existence have passed away. Could we rn^tl°wf °°untry eighty years ago, this grand change would be more lzecl. Where once was a continued forest, interpersed here and there with 6 .^e ^ew ^ttlers, scarcely a landmark remains. The trees ? ago been extirpated j in their stead have appeared thousands of acres of oncir ' , ?^ns have been torn down to make way for handsome edifices of is asaistS^!111^ ^ hoautiful lawns and beds of delicious flowers, whose growth seeds nl® wi PumPod by a monstrous automatical wind-engine. The apple incr*!, inted hy our fathers have grown into extensive fruit-farms, which are being UDon ?^r. ^ear' The blazed road has made way for graveled pike, a?e of rk Ctl heaviest loads are drawn with comparative ease. Verily, this is an renoflo®10^8881-011* ^nd ^he old pioneer, where is he ? Under the cool sod he hischnii 8Uent m death* A rough sand-stone marks his resting-place. Many of onstefiri 11611 j rema^n > hut their hair is white as the driven snow, their step is y, and ere long, they, too, will fall into everlasting slumber.