Arcanum, Ohio

The early settlers have nearly all been called from their toils and privations to final rest. Peace be to their memories, green grow the grass over their gravis. May the present generation preserve inviolate, and carry to perfection, the sacred heritage bequeathed by them. In this as in nearly all newly settled countries, the industries dependent upon trade were slow of development. Pioneer wants were proportionate to their abilities to satisfy them. Milling was done at the Stillwater and Big Twin, at the Lewisburg settlement, for many years. The first mill - and this appellation is scarcely applicable to it - was erected upon a branch in Section 32, by John Osbrook. This was the old-fashioned corn cracker, and cracked corn then constituted one of the staple articles of food. The daily capacity was limited to a few bushels, and the mill ran but a short period of the year. The first saw-mill built was on Miller's Creek, near Ithaca, by the enterprising John Colville. This man was an early settler, and by energy and enterprise did much for his neighbors and for the township. This mill, like the preceding, was imperfect and rude, but answered its purpose and well fulfilled its work. As the country increased and the wants of the townsmen demanded more pretentious manufactures, these were supplied by remodeling the old mills or by building others. The water-power of the country was defective and difficult of being utilized. Steam power had to be introduced. The first steam grist-mill was erected in Ithaca, by Caswell Sharp. This marked an epoch in the milling line of this section of country. The mill is still in use, being owned and operated by Watson West, and doing good work. In order to preserve the health and spirits of the community, a copper still was erected in the southern part of the township by Daniel Phillips. It was probably the only one ever operated in Twin Township. How long this "venomous worm-' was operated, or what was its capacity, it is not known, but it was inefficient to meet the local demand. If ever intemperance reigned and ruined in after-times in the history of the township, but little harm can be charged to this still. There are now in the township three grist-mills of good capacity and four saw-mills, three of which are circular, with large capacity. These, with several manufactories in Arcanum to be mentioned hereafter, now mark the improvement which the industry and enterprise of a half century have wrought in the township. Almost as soon as the settler had provided a shelter for himself and family, he took counsel with his neighbor for the erection of a place for public worship. From house to house the preacher traveled until increased numbers permitted a house, and as time wore on this was kept in repair, until increased wealth enabled the worshipers to erect churches in cost and character in accord with the times.

Passage source: The History of Darke County, Ohio, Containing a History of the County; Its Cities, Towns, Etc.; General and Local Statistics; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men;, published 1880.

The first ones to bear the glad tidings of salvation to the settlers of Twin Township were Abraham Sneethan and Levi Purviance, of the Christian society. Who came first is not known, and a third name, that of John Williams, is given as a cotemporary with them. This trio were early engaged in the work of disseminating (lospel truths. The first church built in the township was by the Christians, on land now owned by W. H. Tillman. At a later period, they erected another church, just one mile south of Arcanum. Both of these have gone down years ago, and now the denomination which was seen to have planted the first germs of practical religion in Twin Township has no organization within its boundaries. The United Brethren in Christ had the next regular organization. They built their first church in Ithaca, where the present one now stands, which building was the second of the kind raised in the township, nearly fifty years ago. The church interest is strong and healthy at both Ithaca and Arcanum.

Passage source: The History of Darke County, Ohio, Containing a History of the County; Its Cities, Towns, Etc.; General and Local Statistics; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men;, published 1880.

The Methodists, progressing with the van of civilization, were here, as elsewhere, early promulgators of the Scriptures in Twin Township. The first organization was effected at Ithaca, in 1840, with forty-two members, and two years subsequently, their present house of worship was erected, the first in the township. They now have three societies - one at Ithaca, one at Gordon, and the third at Arcanum. Four other organizations, two of them Lutherans, one German Reformed and one Baptist, complete the list of the religious associations in Twin Township.

Passage source: The History of Darke County, Ohio, Containing a History of the County; Its Cities, Towns, Etc.; General and Local Statistics; Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men;, published 1880.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Twin Township - it names this place 31 more 31 times.