Union County, Ohio - Chapter 19: Union Township, 1915

Chapter 19: Union Township

The territory now within Union township, prior to the county's organization, was enibracetl in two C(ninties, Delaware and Madison. As organized by the county conimissidners of Delaware county, it included the northern portion of its present territory and a large scope of the western portion of the present territory of Union county. The act of the Union county board, after its organization, defined the bounds of Union township at that date to be as follows: ",\greed that the county of Union be divided into townships as follows; Beginning at the southwest corner of Union county, running east fi\-e and a half miles; thence north to the north line of the count}-; all west of that line to be Union township." In 1822 Liberty township was created out of a portion of L'nion township. In 1827 another sub-division was made and .Mien township was organized from some of the territory left, until finally the territory of Union township was narrowed down to its present domain. It is now the extreme southwestern township in Union county. Its original surveys commenced in 1799. The first was for Lucas Sulli\ant and included two hundred acres. The population of Union townshiij in 1810 was 1,757.

Of the topography, soil, etc., it may be stated that former records and surveys show that the township is exceptionally level, only a small j^ortion near the Big Darby of which is in any way rolling or hilly, while the central and southern portions are famous for what is known as "Darby Plains." This is a deep, rich soil with a \ery level surface. When the first settlers came here they found this land covered with small oak openings and prairie lands, where grew the wild grass in great luxuriance. So tall did this grass grow from this wonderfully rich soil, that a jjersoii riding on horseback could easily grasp the heads of the grass on either side of his horse as he rode through and tie the two ends together abo\e the rider's head. Xot until about 1876-80 did the owners of these fertile lands (some of which were almost too flat and damp for profit) begin to ditch by tiling. Here, as in all new countries, the pioneer thought the prairie lands unfit for cultivation, hence did not care for it only as grazing land, preferring the rougher, more sandy lands along the ri\er and creek banks.

However, there was one class - those from New England - who saw in these flat lands a mine of agricultural wealth and they took up large tracts of it. For a few }ears they endured hardships and encountered the dread fever and ague, until they had partly subdued the damp soil and rank growth of vegetation. But to repay them for this, they and their children and children's children have been the owners of the most valuable land in Ohio. \\'hen first entered these lands were sold at abotit one-half the price of the rolling lands. Tens of thousands of acres were purchased at from fifty to se\ent\-five cents per acre. Today these lands are worth fully three times as much as the cla}- hill lands of the township. The township has for its streams the Big and Little Darby, with their many tributaries.

George Reed, who settled on the Big Darby, near Milford, in 1799, was beyond any ciuestion the first white man to invade this part of Union county for the purpose of making himself a home. He was a native of Pennsylvania and became a very useful and energetic citizen of the part now known as Union township, but which then was little other than a dreary wilderness. As settlers came m it was necessary to have milling privileges, and Reed erected a grist mill between i8io-i2 and later a saw mill where Milford now stands. He was in fact the founder of Milford Center. He died in 1836, at the age of sixty-seven.

In the autumn of 1800 Robert Snodgrass, who married a sister of Pioneer Reed, came from Pennsylvania. They settled on the Big Darby, in survey No. 3,311. There tliey lived, labored and finally died. He died on September 30. 1834, aged seventy-six and his wife died on January 13, 1833, aged se\-enty \ears. Herbert Reed, one of this pioneer's children, was the first child born in the township and the third in Union county. The date of his birth was December 2, 1800. His birthplace was in a cabin where later stood the railroad water tank, on the opposite side of the river from Milford Center. In his childhood he was a playmate of the Indian children in that vicinitv. He and his estimable wife celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1878, and he died in February of that year. His wife died in 187Q. They had seven children.

Paul Houston, who married Miss Reed, sister of George Reed, settled here in 1800, alxjut the same date of Mr. Snodgrass. These were perhaps the only three families within the township in 1800. In 1801 and 1802 came Samuel Reed, lirother of George Reed, and later Samuel Reed, no kin

Among the next settlers were three brothers, Richard, William and John Gabriel, all of whom located along the Darby. There has for many years been a dispute as to when these families settled, but it is certain that it was between 1800 and 1809, probably not later than 1S05. It is known of record that they took an active part in the organization of the township and general growth and prosperit)- of the community. William Gabriel became an associate judge of L'nion county. His son, John, rose to Ije a man of more than ordinary nt)te and at one date represented his count}- in the Ohio state Senate. He died in January, 1872, aged seventy-one years. William, who never married, was a man of great abilit}', but full of oddities and whims; he died in 1875, aged sixty-five )ears. He lies buried in the Alilford cemetery and his ashes are marked by a monument which was erected to his memory. Another son of the old pioneer, William Gabriel, Sr., was engaged in mercantile pursuits at Bellefontaine. There was a \ery large family of the Gabriels and most of them stood high in the community and helped to lay well the foundation stones of L'nion township and county.

Rev. Samuel Woods, father of Judge W'. W. Woods and Samuel, his brother, settled on the Big Darby in 1806. He was from Pennsylvania and was a noted preacher at an early day, becoming the first minister of the Presbyterian church at jMilford Center in 1808. It was then styled "Upper Liberty." He was ordained minister in 1808 and died in 181 5, at the age of thirty-si.x years.

David Gomer. a Penns\b.anian, settled on the Plains on survey No. 7,406, about 181 1, and was one of the first county commissioners in Union countv; he was a major in the militia and a leading man of his day.

Another emigrant from Pennsylvania was John Irwin who came here in 1806, locating in the southwest part of the township. He lost his life by being injured bv falling fmni his horse. He was a ruling elder in the old "Upper Liberty" Presbyterian church (now Milford Center). He was the leader of the singing at this church: was a teacher of music and had in his large li]5rar\- a collection nf tunes of his nwn ci'mjiosition. made with pen and ink. tie organized the first Salibath school in L'nion township, the sessions being held at his own home for some years. He was an excellent farmer and had mechanical genius. Politically, he was a Jacksonian Demo- crat. He was justice of the peace several terms. He married .Anna Steel, who. when seven years of age. was housed in a Revolutionary block-house at Harper's Ferry, Virginia. Her father was a member of the famous Minute Men in that great struggle for independence and kept his knapsack on his gun near the door ready to start at a minute's warning. Her mother was a Harper, for whom Harper's Ferry was named.

John Steel Irwin, oldest son of John and Anna Irwin, was born in Ohio countv. Virginia, aliout 1793. He married in 1816 and lived three miles below Mil ford Center on the north bank of Big Darby, where he died in 1844 of consumption. Mr. Irwin served in the War of 1812 as a teamster; he was a teamster and farmed by occupation before the days of railroads. He was a justice of peace in Darby township, and a ruling elder in the Presbyterian church at Alilford Center.

William Brisbane! Irwin, second son of John and Anna Irwin, a native of Virginia, died in 1878, aged eighty-three years. He entered the militia as the lowest commissioned officer and became a brigadier-general, resigning his commission in 1840. having served as a commissioned officer for twentysix \ears. He ser\ed as a justice of the peace tv\-enty-eight years when he m()\ed to Lebanon. Ohio. A remarkable feature of his official capacity was the fact that in no case ever tried before him was there an appeal taken to a higher court. He was county commissioner several years and held such office when the old courthouse was erected. He also held the office of county surveyor for twenty years; he. too. was a ruling elder in the Presbyterian church at Milford Center many years. He possessed great mechanical and in\enti\e genius and would frequently, while his father and brothers were taking their rest at the noon hour, steal away and devote his noon hour to the work of constructing a saw mill. This was all to the displeasure of his father, who had to call aloud man}- times in order to get him to go to the farm duties in the field. But one day, while walking along the creek, he heard a peculiar noise and upon investigation, to his utter surprise, he saw a toy saw-mill, perfect in construction and running in good order. From this time, he never dictated to his son William how he should employ his noon hours. This was the first and only saw mill ever erected on Treacle creek. In 1820 be erected a saw mill on Little Darby creek, about two miles below the mouth of Treacle creek. He had to go fourteen miles to procure help enough to raise the mill frame. On this errand he started the evening before and it was raining and the creek rising rapidly. He anticipated no damage and went on his trip. But after he was gone his thoughtful wife, l)ecoming alarmed about the safety of the timbers at the mill-site, went to tlie creek and found the timbers beginning to float about in the stream. With her own hands, slie secured the smaller timbers and went Ijack to the house, tied her balje in its cradle, look a l)ed-cord out of her l)ed, ran to the creek and made the timbers fast to the bushes on shore and secured the frame. Thus by the thoughtfulness and energy as well as braveiy of this noble wife, the entire timbers for the mill were sa\-ed. Mrs. Irwin was Anna Bigelow and was married in iSiJS. Six daughters and three sons were born to this union. The two )-oungest were sons who took part in the Ci\'il War, one being William Lee, who was discharged as unfit for ser\'ice because of impaired health. The }-oungest son was killed at Cedar Mountain, August, 1862, aged twenty-line years.

William B. Irwin li\ed ()\er fift\- years in L'nion county and forty-three years of that time on his father's farm. He erected the first frame house in Marysville, which was for Stephen Mcl.ain.

Joseph Stewart, a natixe of Maryland, came to the countv in 1807, locating in this township. J<ihn Stokes settled in 1809, and died in 1817. Thomas McDonald, of Tennessee, settled in Darby Creek, in sur\'ey No. 6,602.

J. R. McDowell, from Pennsyl\-ania, settled here about 1808-10, and James Cochran, from the same state, located in this township in iSri. The same year came John Crawford. His daughter, Hannah H., married William M. Robinson, later of ^larys\ille, and li\'ed to celelirate her golden wedding. She died aged seventy-six years. She had ten children. They settled in Marvsville in 1844 'i"tl her husband was president of the Cnion Countv Rioneers' .\ssociation many years.

Charles Colver, a nati\e of Xew ^'ork, settled in this township in 1812, on Treacle creek. His son, Standish Colver, was a millwright and built numerous mills in his lifetime. He lived to the advanced age of eighty-five years, dving in i88j. He was in religious faith a Uni\ersalist, a good citizen and esteemed by all his neighbors.

John Parthemore, by birth a Pennsyhanian, located in this township in 1812. Levi Phelps, who came about i8ti, was an early teacher and survevor. Hugh and John ^^Jrter, natix'es of Pennsylvania, became settlers about 181 3 and 18 17, the latter coming later than the former. He became associate judge of I'nion county.

judge Robert Xelson, an<ither Pennsylvanian, came to L'nion township in 1813, locating a large tract of land in survey Xo. 6.602. He was one of the county's first commissioners. He amassed a handsome fortune: was an associate judge several years : in religion, he was a Seceder, or as one would now say, a United Presbyterian. He died in Darby township.

\\'illiam C. Piper, a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, accompanied his father's family when eight years of age, in 1814 down the Ohio river. From Portsmouth he traveled overland tlirough an unbroken wilderness, finally reaching the southern boundan,' of what is now Union county, claiming land near the east line of present Union township, on Big Darby creek. The father got the family partly settled and returned to Portsmouth for the goods needed, and was taken suddenly ill and died. It was a hard blow to the family, but being among good, Christian people, they were cared for and finally became a happy and prosperous family.

This settlement was made in 1813-14 Ijetween Irwin station and Pleasant X'alley. In a general way this settlement will be best understood by quoting from an article by John F. Sabine, published in the Marysville Tribune in April, 1882, which runs thus:

"In gi\ing a history of the settlement of the southern part of Union county, I will go back to the beginning of this century. At this time great inducements were held out to the people of the state to form settlements in eastern Canada. Consequently many persons from the neighboring state of Vermont went o\-er the line and very soon built up a flourishing settlement. They remained there, prosperous and happy, until the year 181 2, when the difficulties between the United States and Great Britain terminated in a war. These people being Revolutionary soldiers, or their descendants, had too much of the spirit of '76 in them to take up arms against their countrymen, or even to remain quiet spectators of the conflict ; so they resolved to leave the dominion of His Majesty George III. Accordingly on September 20, of that year, the first installment took up their line of march for the far West. They were composed of the following families : Russell Bigelow, Moses Patrick, Asa Plummer, Joab Hoyt, .Amos Hawley, Dr. Gideon Hawley, Peris and Joseph Walton and Nehemiah Sabine. After a tedious journey of more than six weeks, they arri\ed at Worthington, Ohio. The next summer, 181 3, in looking for a permanent residence, they made choice of the Darby plains, until then a barren waste, purchased land and built their cabins, which most of them were able to occupy late in that year or early the next. One Joseph Green, from the state of New York, was the first man to occupy his cabin ; and for a long time it was known as the 'Green Settlement.'

"The f(jllowing" year, 1814, another installment from the same place followed in the wake of their predecessors, and settled with us, to-wit : Israel

Cone Howard's boyhood home and tlie birthplace of his children. The first corn planted in Union Cotinty by the Indians was on this farm, which was formerly known as the "Indian Field Farm."

Log Cabix Ix Which Coxe Howard Was Borx

Lockwood, James Dockum and Stephen Jackson; also Ephraini Keys, Obadiah Janes, from \'ermont ; Uriah Wood and Col. Jacob Fairfield from New- York state. These families then constituted what was known as the Green Settlement, on the Post Road in what is now known as Union township. Another east of this, on the same road, in Darby township, was formed at the same time, and was styled the "AlcCloud Settlement,' the two extending from Irwin Station to Plain Uity, a distance of eleven miles. This Post Road was established during the War of iSu for the purpose of conveying the mail from Wurthington to Urbana, then very important towns in Ohio. There were but two intermediate postoffices, Darby Creek and Dublin. The former was kept by James Ewing. one of the first settlers, and was for a long time the only postofiice in what is now Union county. Most of the families composing the Green settlement were very large, many of them numbering from ten to twelve souls. By this it will be seen that we were not destitute of material to receive the benefits of free schools, which were soon put in operation, my father being the first teacher. But sickness soon made its appearance among us to an alarming extent, in a short time decimating the inhabitants by death. This state of afl:airs continued until the country became rid of its poisonous malaria. It is now one uf the healthiest portions of central Ohio. About 1817, another colon}- ivom the state of Connecticut settled in our immediate neighborhood, known as the "Burnham and Howard settlement." They, together with the first settlers, helped very materiallv in fornnng the future character of the people of this portion of the county.

"The habits and customs of our earliest settlers differed \-er\- much frcjui the latter. Intercourse and associations had a powerful tendencv to smooth down the rough places and ijoints of Ijoth, and produce a sinfilarit\' of character, so that at this day it is impossijjle to distinguish any difference from their language and address."

This ends the description of Wr. Sabin's account of the first settlement in the to\vnship now under discussion. Suffice it to say that the sons and daughters of the above named colonists from Canada and New England and "^'ork state ha\-e ahvays been the prime factors in the carrying on of the township government and in building up her most progressive and excellent systems of sch(iols and roads. It is true that Penns^'lvania, V'irginia and Alarylantl have all had nnich to do in such improxements. but the solid foundation stones were laid as above noted. Then, the War of 181 2 was a good thing for Union county as w-ell as for the United States in general.

Samuel Galloway, born in Massachusetts, removed to York state when a young man. He there married and mo\'ed to Ohio in 1814, settling in this township. Soon after locating and erecting his cabin, he went out hunting, shot a deer and thinking the animal dead he walked up to it with his hunting knife to cut its throat. The deer suddenly sprang up and pushed its horn into his chest, tearing out a part of his lungs ; and there he and the deer were found in the e\ening, the latter dead. Mr. Galloway was so weak he could not get home. He was carried home and finally recovered sufficiently to preach - he was a minister in the Christian church. Howe\er, he never l)ecame strong enough to do manual labor. While on a return trip from New York state, he was taken ill as a result of the wound in his lungs and died in 1820 or i8_M. He left eight children, four of whom were born in this township. Sabrah, E'.lijah, Joshua and Joseph. The others were natives of York state. The widow became interested in Shakerism and removed in 1822 to Warren county. Ohio, and there, with the daughter Sabrah. lived and died.

loel Frankelberger settled in Milford in about 1813 and started the first tannery in Union township. He was clerk of the first board of county commissioners.

George Fullington, born in Vermont in 1775, married: settled in Union township in 1S13 ; li\'ed eight years and then moved over into Madison county and resided until his death in 1835. His wife survived him many years. By trade he was a carpenter but never followed it in this county.

Ray (1. Morse, a native of Providence. Rhode Island, born in 1808, settled in Ohio in 181 3, being forty-nine days on the road. They first located at Milford, which place then had a log cabin and a mill in operation. The cabin was in the thick underbrush. There was not a clearing on the route between here and Delaware. Mr. Morse stated at the first pioneer meeting that the first slate he ever had he purchased with rabbit skins. He served a five-\ear apprenticeship at blacksmithing. At one time he sold enough muskrat skins to realize the sum of seventy-five cents which he took and paid for the treats to twentv-eight persons to "aj^ple jack." In those days everybody drank He also told of .seeing an Indian medicine man cure a snake bite from an immense rattler.

The following is from the ])en of that excellent and reliable old pioneer, Eliphas Burnham. who described customs and conditions thereabouts in the long-ago times :

"When I came to I'nion tnwiishii), tliere were a set of religious fanatics in Rice City who were called 'Farnhamites.' Douglas Farnham being their leader. They generally had preaching on Sunday unless Farnham was away. They held night and sometime day meetings through the week ; some of them were quiet sociable prayer meetings; some for confessing their sins and some for hugging and kissing each nther. The majority of their confessions would look decidedl}^ l)ad in |)rint. 1 attended their meetings occasiunally, not expecting to he benelited, but out of curiosit\'. I will relate an incident that took place at one of their meetings which 1 attended at the log school house where the brick meetinghouse later sti-)od on the pike from Milford to Irwin, as I became interested in the proceedings. There was no preaching: they occtipied their time in singing, prayer and exhorting till finally one of the sisters had a re\-elation from the Lord (so she said) to deliver a short exhortation and to hug and kiss each individual in the house; and she proceeded forthwith to oljey the command. She began at the end of one of the slab benches, ga\-e the exhortation, the hug and the kiss, then took the next in rotation. She had to perform (ju fifteen or twenty before mv turn would come, so that 1 had ample time to decide how to act and the decision was that I woidd resist; not because 1 was a\'erse to emliracing a female or to kiss one either; on the contrary, I rather liked it - indeed was fond of it on all proper occasions as _\-oung men ahvays are, but there was nothing especially charming or fascinating in this one. When ni\- time came she deli\ered the exhortation and then raisetl her hands to come around for the hug. 1 took her by the wrists - mv arms were then pretty strong and I had a ])o\\'erful grip in m\' hands - and ga\e the wrists tlie full lienefit of all the strength there was in me. Her countenance changed iustanth', and she said. 'What?' Don't \'ou want to g(.i t(j hea\en "^' 1 replied that 1 was in hopes to get there sometime, ])ut did not belie\e I should get there any sooner for letting her hug and kiss me. The grip was kejit on the wrist till [ was satisfied she would not make a second effort; then I let her go antl she took her seat without a word. 1 was teased by the bo>s and girls a good maiTi' times on account of the athenture, but it passeil away in time, antl so did the fanatics."

Continuing, pioneer Rurnham writes: "We had no fruit except the native plum; they were generally abundant, but did not last kmg. But in a few years we began to have peaches, and in a few more \ears apples, and we enjoyed them all the better for having been deprived of them for a while. For about fifteen }ears peaches were a very sure crop - more so than apples are now. As I ha\e said, we handled but ver}- little money, and sometimes it was pretty hard scratching to get enough to pay our taxes, though they were not much compared to what they are now. I recollect one fall I had failed to pay my taxes in time and it made a lasting impression on my mind. It was the only time I ever failed to pay my taxes in season. I had but fewhogs that fall and sold them at one dollar and twenty-five cents per hundred net weight, just equal to one dollar on foot and I had a sale note out which was due and it took all the money to pay the note. I had nothing left to make the money out of to pay my taxes, except three yearling steers and there were no buyers: so it went on till about the tenth of January, when I heard that Elisha Reynolds (ex-treasurer E. L. Reynolds' father) was buying steers. I w ent to see him immediately : he said he would come over the next morning and look at them and buy them if I would take what they were worth. When he saw them he said that he would give me three dollars and fifty cents a head for them, 1 to dri\e them over; he said he had not paid but three dollars for any, but the}- were Ijetter than any he had bought. I drove them over, got the money, ten dollars and fifty cents, paid the taxes, eight dollars and had two dollars and fifty cents left and I don't think I have ever felt richer since. I did not owe any person a dime, and had two dollars and fifty cents in my pocket : and as the Irishman said, "What more did I want' ? I ha^-e never failed to pay my taxes in good time since.

"I have assessed the chattel property of Union township thirty-two years and 1 ne\er failed once to return the assessment to the auditor's office in good time. The commissioners never had to adjourn the board of equalization because 1 had not made my return. I'here were one or two years that I had to hurry things a little more than I liked in cunsequence of the delay in getting lilanks."

The cemeteries of this township include, among the older ones. Wood cemetery, Hathaway cemetery. Teeter's cemetery and Milford cemetery. Proloably the first of these burying grounds was the first named, which was situated a mile and a half east of Milford on the north bank of Big Darby creek. Some cjf the tombstones show burials to have been made there as early as iSi^, and no doubt several were made prior to that time. Here lie many of the Woods, Reeds, Gabriels, Gills, Erwins and others. For many decades these sacred grounds were taken the best of care of by the friends of the departed dead. »

First Election

The first election in Union townsliip after the organization of Union county was heltl at tiie house of jnhn Mathers, in Alilford, October 10, 1S20.

The Town Of Mifford Center

The origin uf the name Milfortl is rather Cjueer and probably few nuw living know its real origin. In the first few years of the nineteenth century a number of brave frontiersmen located on both sides of Big Darby creek, and, desiring to cross with their teams and wagons in the interest of their business and social intercourse, they cleared out the brush and trees from the stream, and this place was then known as a ford. So the stranger and settler used to talk about crossing at Darby Ford. A little later on came George Reed and erected a mill, hence the name was changed to ]\Iill-ford, and when the town sprang up it became natural that it should be called Millftjrcl, and in time one "l" was dropped, lea\"ing it ^lilford. The place got a postoffice in 1809 and Aaron Watson was made postmaster. Then, along in the twenties. the place was looked upon as the town of the county, and aspired to be the county seat. It was then that it put on more dignity and was called "Mil ford Center."

When the postoffice was established here letter postage was tw'enty-five cents : now it is two. At first there were no stamps, but all had to be paid in advance and letters marked "Paid" at sending place. There were no envelopes used in the world then, ami so paper was neatlv folded and it was then held together by means of a sealing wax wafer. Vast the changes in Union county and also in postal facilities since that long-ago period.

This town was laitl out and platted by George Reed on land then situated in Delaware count}-, near Reed's Alill, in Survey Xo. 3016. The plat is recorded in \"ol. Ill, pages 402-03, and the date thereof was April (), iSifi. It appears that a postoffice was established at this point in 1809. with Aaron \\'atson as postmaster. It so remained until 1829. when the office was changed in name to ;\Iilford Center, with William Cialiriel as postmaster. From Juh . 180:;, to January, 1866, it was calleil Flint (that is, the postoffice was), then changed back to Mil ford Center, same as today.

In 1837 the Oliio Gazette, published at Columbus, gave the following account of ]Milford: "A post town of L'nion county, situated near the center of Union township, on the south bank of Big Darby creek, five miles southwest of ^Iarvs\-ille, thirtv-two miles northwest of Columbus, and twenty-two southeast of Bellelontaine, on mail route No. i,6i6, carried on horse hack <ince a week from Columbus through the place to Bellefontaine and back. The name of the postoffice is Milford Center. The town contains thirty dwelling houses, three stores, one tavern, one grist mill, one saw mill, one physician, two meeting houses - Presbyterian and Methodist - and sex^era! mechanics' shops."

Municipal History

}ililf(ird was incor])orated as a \illage in 1853, as the result of the petition of F. (jarwood, K. L. Reynolds and forty others, praying to the county commissioners for such an incorporation. For a time this village government went forward, but when the Ci\il War came on, and many went to the front in defense of their countr\-, the corporation was at a standstill until 1866, when it was re-incorporated.

The 1914 town officials are as follows: Dr. W. H. Wills, H. E. Mc- Connell. Frank Brigler, Lewis F. Erb (chairman), Edward Mackan and Charles S. Haines, members of the council. Edward H. Morgan, clerk; A. J. Huffer, treasurer; Oscar Miller, marshal; police justice, John A. Kennington; deputy marshal, Fred Stoll.

Postoffice History

The record as sent from Washington, D. C. (especially for this work) gi\es the following list of postmasters for this office, with the various changes in names: Office estaljlished June 27, 1S09; first postmaster, Aamn Watson; the next commissioned was William (ial)riel, Au^tiust 4, 1823; name changed from Milford to Milford Center, July _'(j, 1829, with William Gabriel as postmaster: Xornian Chipnian, Septenil)er 10, 1832; David Burnham, February 4, 1842: O. I'. Kennedy, July 23, 1843: name changed to Flint, July, 18O5, and so continued until January, \H()f), then, changed back to Milford Center, with O. C. Kennady as postmaster; Dwight Webb, January 24, 1870; l.arkin Smith. Jul\- 2(k 1871 ; William AI. Snodgrass, September 29, 1873; J. W. Fleming, l)ecember 11, 1885 ; Charles Rice, December 13, 1886; John B. Cranston, June 20. 1889; (ieorge F. Bennett, October 14, 1893; ]*". R. Hathaway, Se|)teni1ier 24. i8()7; Fouis C. Burnham, August 25, 1904. There are now two rural deli\ery routes from this oflice.

Mills And F.Vctokies

Between about 1810 and 18 12. George Reed erected a log mill on the Big Darby at Milford. This was about the first mill in the county - the one at Plain Cit_\' being built about this date, some say a few \ears before the one at Milford. It was destroyed b\' fire in 1818 Init rebuilt 1>\- Mr. Reed, who immediatel}' constructed a frame mill on its site. Other owners of this mill property were William Parkinson. Jacob b'airfield. Standish Cnlver, Timothy and John Flwell. who added a carding machine to the grist-mill. Later. James Reed, then Moore & \\'eller, who were succeeded bv W^eller & Xeal, who in 1870 erected a better mill in front of the old one. They were succeeded by Price & \\'aldron, who sold to S. 1). l-'lliott. who owned the propert\' in 1883. It has long since gone the wav of most of the mills in Ohio in the smaller towns - to ruin and decay. The milling industry has materially changed and is now controlled and centrali;^ed in larger cities b}' great milling syndicates. In connection with the pioneer grist-mill, Mr. Reed also had a saw mill which cut much of the early lumber in this section.

.\t an earh' dav there were se\eral distilleries in this township. These were run on a small scale and after a few years went out of business, .\mong these was the one o]jerated by Richard ( iabriel on his farm: also one l)y Harvey and David Burnham, near Milford.

About 1815, Joel Frankelberger started his tannery, which he sold to George Reed in 1818. Warren Rose carried it on until too old and feeble to further undertake the work. For many years this tannery was operated to its full capacitv and supplied leather for Urbana and man}- surrounding

About 1845, Childs & Coher erected a building at Milford for the manufacture of fine carriages and wagons. It was carried on until 1855, when Charles Erb succeeded them. He made a large addition to the first buildings and ran on a large scale many years. After his death the work w'as carried on b\' his sons, who turned their special attention to heavy farm w-agons. This, like other industries, has changed with the time and larger factories in great centers make most of the wagons produced in the country.

Business Interests Of I9I4

In November, 1914, the following business and professional interests were represented at Alih\)rd Center. The population was about seven hundred and fifty :

The lodges of the town are the Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias fraternities. The churches are the Methodist Episcopal, Presbyterian, Christian. Episcopal and African Methodi.st Episcopal. There has been a Baptist church, but nf late it has discontinued services.

Irwin St.Vtion

This little \-illage now has about one hundred and twenty-five residents. Jt was made a station on the Big l-'our railroad, as now known, and is situated five miles southwest of ^Milford Center. It was named in honor of a \-ery earlv settler, who became a prominent citizen in the township. The first house erected here was that of James ^Miller; the first store was owned by John Parkinson; the pioneer blacksmith was \\'illiam Phelps: David Clements was the first postmaster. In the eighties this was a great hay and straw shipping point : also an extensive business was done in buying and selling \\ood. In 1880 a large luick school building was erected at a cost of si.x thousand dollars. This place has not grown to be one of anv great impcirtance, but has the usual number of small sh(.ps and stores fomid in villages of its size. It is particularly noted for soldiers' reunions each year, with free dinners furnished to all - numbering thousands - 1)\- its citizens.

Homer was another hamlet in this township and at one time was a sprightly business point, but with the passage of years it went down. The county records say "Surveyed, October to. 1834, for Elisha Reynolds, Surveys No. 7,789 and 4.946, on the waters of Little Darby creek. Filed and recorded No\-ember i. 1834, F. B. Smith, recorder." In 1880, there were only a half dozen tumble-down houses left within the \illage. where at an early date there was a good .saw mill propelled by the waters of Little Darby, a large general store, a furniture factory, a wagon and carriage shop (first in L'nion coinit\' for the making of buggies), one cabinet shop, a shoe shop and a woolen and carding mill with a spinning jenn\-. In 1840 it was at the zenith of its glorw (26) ^