Deavertown, Ohio

To Levi and Reuben Deaver belong the honor of being the first white settlers within the present limits of York Township. Levi, the older and more conspicuous of the two brothers, was born in Middletown, Md., about twentyfive miles from Harper's Ferry. In 1809 they started for the Ohio country on horseback on a tour of exploration. It was their intention at the time to settle in the vicinity of Dayton, and it is said that they made locations and returned to their homes with the idea of making permanent settlement in the following spring. Rumors of the hostility of the Indians induced them to change their plans, and in the spring of 1810, with their household goods and the family of Levi, which consisted at the time of his wife and one child (Mahala Hunt), they started for what is now Deavertown. Their journey was devoid of any incident worthy of mention, and they arrived at their destination after a tedious journey by wagon through an almost uninhabited country. Levi entered the east half of section thirty-five, and built, for the accommodation of himself and family, a double log cabin on his purchase. He also constructed, for the use of those who might follow him into the new countrv, two cabins for their use until such time as they could build for themselves. Reuben, at the time of his emigration, was a young man of twenty-four, lie remained but a few years, when he went to Putnam, where he followed his trade, that of millwright, until 1825, when he returned to York, where he resided until his decease, in 1858, in the seventy-fifth year of his age, leaving a family of fourteen children. Three of his sons reside in the township - Rev. G. W., John and James. Reuben II., Jonathan and William reside in Kansas.

Passage source: History of Morgan County, Ohio, with Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men, published 1886.

In 1815 Levi Deaver laid out the village which afterward bore his name. For many years it was called New Market, but by common consent it eventually took the name of its founder. In the disposal of the lots he placed the price at five dollars, and to all purchasers he would give a lot. He was a millwright by trade, and built several mills. Although he was possessed of only a very limited education, he was a man of more than ordinary intelligence and discernment. He was a man of powerful physique, and a generous nature. For many years he was the village magistrate, and a worthy member of the Christian Church. Shortly after his settlement in Deavertown, a brotherin-law, Thomas Allison, came with his family and settled on an adjoining farm. Mrs. Allison was a native of Maryland. Desiring to visit the home of her childhood, she started on horse- back, carrying an infant child in her arms. She made the trip safely and returned in the same way. The family staid but a few years. Levi Deaver left a family of eleven children, eight of whom are now living - Mahala, Abraham, Melinda, Matilda, Levi T., Nancy, Sally, Bazael, William, Henry II. and James.

Passage source: History of Morgan County, Ohio, with Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men, published 1886.

Thomas L. Grey came from Alexandria, Va., in 1833. He was reared to the trade of a saddler, and was born in Prince William County, Va., January 16, 1815. His father, John G., was a merchant and did business at Maddox Cross Roads. Owing to reverses in business he removed to Alexandria in 1822. In 1834 Thomas L. came to Putnam where he followed his trade until his removal to Deavertown in August of 1835, where he has done business for over a half century. In 1836 he married Miss Fidelia Bagley. A family of four children were the result of this union, Samuel C., Edgar W., Emily E. (Minton) and Mary E. (Havener). In ante-bellum days Mr. Grey was one of the active anti-slavery men. He took a prominent part in the operation of the Underground Railroad and many an unfortunate slave was piloted to freedom and happiness through his efforts. In his religious and political affiliations he is a Methodist and an earnest republican. Samuel Bagley, father-in-law of Mr. Grey, was a native of Rhode Island, and came from Vermont to Athens County in 1819, and from thence to Deavertown in 1S25. He was by trade a tanner and currier and died in Deaverton in 1863. He reared a family of fifteen children, eleven of whom are living. James B. the historical oracle of I ieavertown and Mrs. Grey was highly esteemed. II is children Samuel C. Grey was born in 1838. were Nancy, Margary and George W. lie learned the trade of a saddler, which John Morgan was born in Frederick vocation lie has since followed. In County, Va., in 1809. From thence he April, 1861, he enlisted in Co. II, 17th

Passage source: History of Morgan County, Ohio, with Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Pioneers and Prominent Men, published 1886.

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 York Township - it names this place 7 more 7 times.