Germantown, Ohio

Germantown is situated in the Twin Yalley, with Little Twin Creek on its ide, and Big Twin on its west and south sides, being in the forks of these r| ns. It was laid out by Philip Gunckel, who, on the 4th day of October. G certified that the plat as recorded was correct. The first sale of lots oc- October 21, 1814, and the second sale November 15, 1815. It was -1 Germantown because the people who built up the town and lived around f e Germans. Howe, in his " Historical Collections of Ohio," says " Gern iwn was named from Germantown, Penn.," but in this he is mistaken; the n was given for the reason just stated. Its site, as well as its surfings, are in a high degree beautiful. The valley immediately around H Yn is on almost all sides inclosed by hills, which are in large part cov- "iet|)y trees, forming a forest- crowned wall, presenting a very pleasing pict- are.* The town is regularly laid out; its streets are wide, well graded and m adamized. The climate is most salubrious, the drainage admirable, malark diseases unknown, and the health of the people excellent. The post office v established in October. 1818, Peter Shaeffer being the first Postmaster. G mantown has no railroad, but has, nevertheless, good railroad facilities means of omnibus lines to the C., H. & D. and C., C. , C. & I., at Carlisle g Miamisburg, which points are each but four miles distant. The town posses good public buildings ; the schoolhouse is a very substantial, three-stor structure, overlooking the valley, containing twelve rooms, four on each He the Town Hall is an edifice that would do credit to a much larger town; g the armory, originally built for an academy, engine house and prison, are quite new, capacious and attractive. There are four churches of good arc tectural style, some of them finished and furnished with taste and elegan The town also has what many large places lack - a public park, contain; about five acres of ground, which has been but recently laid out. Germanfco has at present three dry goods stores, four grocery stores, two hardware, t furniture, two tin and stove stores, a number of other mercantile establishme possessed by such towns, three hotels and one banking house. The Exck;u!i Bank was established by Col. John Stump, and did business a few years, wl it was merged into the First National Bank of Germantown, which was org ized July .18, 1868, by Christian Rohrer, William Gunckel, John Stump, J< F. Kern and others, beginning business September 1 of that year, with a ca tal of $50,000, which has since been increased to $75,000. John F. Kern i; elected President, and John Stump, Cashier; the former serving as Presid! of the bank until January 10, 1882, when he resigned, and was succeeded ,j Joseph W. Shank. Col., Stump was succeeded as Cashier by J. H. Cross, vl was elected January 16, 1869; began his duties February 1 of that year, wlf position of trust and confidence he has filled up to the present. During m;| years, the German was the only language spoken among the people of it town, but the English language has almost entirely supplanted it as a inedi of social and business intercourse. - (

Passage source: The History of Montgomery County, Ohio, Containing a History of the County;, published 1882.

Sunsbury is but a small village of about forty dwellings; is separaj from Germantown by a space of .about a quarter of a mile, and is located rectly south of the latter town, on the Carlisle & Germantown piko. It very old place, being the first point settled in German Township, and f<| number of years was the only village or place of business in the Twin Val It was not, however, platted until March 18, 1825, according to the cod records. Its people form, to some extent, a community by themselves, yet t. interests are largely identified with those of the people of Germantown. £ though small in size and population, some of the most prominent men in township have lived here, such as the Emericks, Catrows and Liggets. It never given much prospect of growth, and to-day has no more houses tka had forty years ago. and is beginning to show its age by its external appj a nee.

Passage source: The History of Montgomery County, Ohio, Containing a History of the County;, published 1882.

The first white settlers came to this township in the year 1798, from Kenicy, but they were not all natives of that State; perhaps but few of them up. Some were natives of Pennsylvania, others of Maryland, "Virginia and hth Carolina. The names of some of these people have been preserved, and follows: Benjamin Smith, James Griffith, John Pauly, William Cutler, aes Hatfield, Robert Hardin, Lickum Hardin, James Hardup, James Porter, .i'ge Worthington, Samuel Hawkins (who had been a Colonel in the Revoll'.nary army, and was a man of superior intelligence), John Winegardner, 7 iam Polk, John Bundaker, Richard Brown, John Herman, William Eastol, Eden Hardin, John Cutler, Martin McGrea, Nathaniel Lyon, Conrad ; i e, Anthony Richard and Abraham Hartzel. These people were not actual urs, but squatters only, but as soon as the land was ottered for sale, some ii based. Many were too poor, and had not the means to buy, whilst others ii the means, but were not willing to purchase and to remain. These, as >i as circumstances permitted or necessity impelled, moved away and made k for those who became actual settlers. The land upon which Germantown i: subsequently laid out was entered and owned by James Hatfield and Robtlardin, who sold it to Philip Gunckel in the year 1804, at the price of $10 :cre.

Passage source: The History of Montgomery County, Ohio, Containing a History of the County;, published 1882.

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 German Township - it names this place 97 more 97 times.