Clinton, Ohio

Ok the 2d of March, 1812, upon petition of several citizens this to\ynship was laid off, and an order issned for an election to be held at the house of Benjamin Rush for township officers. A majority of the early settlers being natives of Morris county, ^ew Jersey, caused the name of Morris to be selected. The officers of the election, this year, were Wm. Douglass, Daniel Cooper, Wm. Thrift, judges ; James Trimble and John Wheeler, clerks. The township was listed by K. C. Boalse, who was paid a $6 county order for his services. At a special meeting of the Associate Judges, March 14, 1812, three justices were allowed to this township at the election ordered by the Commissioners. There were fifty voters. James Trimble was chosen Township Clerk ; Scott Durbin and James Miller, Constables ; and James Loveridge, Treasurer. At this period, this may be said to have been the foremost township in the county. Clinton was then in its prime, the country around was settled by the very best kind of people ; the upper branches of Owl Creek, uniting within its limits, gave them some of its richest bottom lands for cultivation, and the flow of emigration brought much substantial population. At the election of 1816 there were 83 voters. In 1819, Smith Hadley listed tlie township, and received an $8 order for the same. The foregoing names, together with those in the list of justices, rej)resent many of the most prominent families in this township from its organization. The names of Smith, Cooper, Loveridge, Douglass, Bonar, Coleman, Trimble, Thrift, Wheeler, Durbin, 'Nye, Ball, Banning and Bush, frequently occur in these pages in connection with events in our past history. Several of the families have not a single representative now in the county. The heads of families have died, and the descendants gone to other parts. The most active of the Clintonians long since left the field. Samuel H. Smith, the head of that settlement, drew around him many mechanics and laborers ; he was an energetic, intelligent business man, and has no one of his blood within the county at this time.

Passage source: A History of Knox County, Ohio, from 1779 to 1862 Inclusive; Comprising Biographical Sketches, Anecdotes .., published 1862.

S. H. Smitli, of Erie co., who we observed a few days since contributed f 100 to the war fund of his township, is the only one of his children in Ohio. He is a farmer, and the largest tax-payer in that county, as we have been informed. Ichabod 'Nye, brother-in-law of Smith, is dead, as also his wife. Henry Smith, the Barneys, Glasses, Enoses, Yeomans, Marshals, Harrison and Dickinson, are also gone. Alexander Enos moved to Bichland co., and Wm. C. has gone to parts unknown. Balph Granger, who sold goods in Clinton in 1815, died long since.

Passage source: A History of Knox County, Ohio, from 1779 to 1862 Inclusive; Comprising Biographical Sketches, Anecdotes .., published 1862.

The Coopers, Carey, Daniel and Elias, were brothers. In 1809 Daniel moved from Butler co., Pa., with his family, and was followed shortly after by Carey and Elias. The latter was unmarried. Carey's sons were Charles, Elias, Hugh, John and Lewis, of whom Charles and John alone survive. His two daughters are also dead. Daniel had seven children - Thompson, Wm., George, Henrietta, and Jvilia, Mrs. John Eay, in this county, Josiah living in Chillicothe, Mo., and Mrs. Sarah Bushfield. Elias Cooper, the old gentleman, is yet living ; another Cooper of the early times was "cousin Charley;" they were all natives of New Jersey. Thompson recollects how xu'osperous Clinton was in 1813, Avith its four taverns with their inviting signs swinging in the breeze - kept by Ichabod Nye, Alfred Manning, John Barney and Samuel Yeoman. In the war times whisky flowed freely down the throats and business was very brisk. "God's barn" was then the great place of gathering for devotional purposes. The old settlers have a lively recollection of the pious labors of father Scott therein ; when, in the summer time, the hogs of the whole village collected together under the floor, whicli was about two and a half feet from the ground, and Avould frequently set up such a grunting and squealing as to render inaudible the voice of the good minister. It was a great harbor for fleas, and Cai)t. Douglass was conspicuous in the meeting with his large feet, bare, endeavoring to catch the marauders who violated the sanctity of the place. He moved to the Wabash country and is dead, as also his son, Aaron ; his daughters - Sally, wife of James Rogers ; and Phoebe, wife of Richard Ewalt, are living.

Passage source: A History of Knox County, Ohio, from 1779 to 1862 Inclusive; Comprising Biographical Sketches, Anecdotes .., published 1862.

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 Morris Township - it names this place 22 more 22 times.