Knox, 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.

Among the names of long standing is that of Bonar. In 1812, Barnet and Matthew, brothers, emigrated from Washington county, Pa. ; about the same time came a cousin of theirs, named Matthew, and a brother-in-law, Dr. John Byers. The latter-named Matthew moved some years ago to Illinois, where he was living at last accounts. The brother of Barnet was a bachelor, and died about 1815. Barnet died in May, 1811, aged 81, and his wife in 1858, aged 89. They had the following children : David, who died about 1816 ; Matthew, living in Richland county; John, who died in 1859 ; William, at the old homestead on Granny's Creek; Ann, wife of Gavin Mitchell, of Richland county, died in 1835, leaving a considerable family; Martha, wife of Adam Rinehart, living in tliis township; Sarah, wife of E. P. Young, died about 1810 ; Isabel, who died about 1828 ;

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

The Duhamels, Amos and Henry, in 1824, emigrated from Frederick, Md. Henry now lives near Maumee City ; Amos in Eranklin, 111., with his third wife. By his former wives he had eleven children ; number by the present not known. Of these we have the following account : Peter 0. resides in Morris township ; Emily, wife of Geo. W. Litt, in Pike township ; Prances Jane, wife of James Logsden, is in Iowa ; Louisa Ann, wife of David Spickler, in Allen county. Peter 0. learned the carpenter trade witli Pobcrt Spears, Belville, and works at it. The Cosners were very industrious citizens. Old "Uncle Philip" was noted as being one of the most successful tobacco-growers. Peter Rush is another of the old stock of farmers. The Winterbothams were a highly intelligent family, none of whom are now in Knox. Of tlie number of children is Mrs. Ann S. Stephens, the accomplished authoress, residing in New York ; John H., an energetic business man, in Port Madison, Iowa ; Robert, in Columbus ; Samuel, in Iowa ; and William, in Wisconsin. Adam Rinehart, another valued citizen, with his familv, re- sides here ; also the Cassels, Swans, Pearres, John Lamb, and Henry Johnson. Benjamin E,ush, of Morris county, ^. J., with his wife, Margaret Logan, also of said county, emigrated with their children. Job, Andrew M., Mary, Johannah and Margaret, to this township, from Morris township, Washington county. Pa. The two latter are dead ; other children, born in this township, were Eunice, Sarah Ann and Lucinda. Benjamin died in March, 1849, in his 80th year, and the old lady in October, 1858, in her 85th j^ear. They were among the best citizens. Richard Ayres, Jolm Erwin, and Mrs. Galloway, were also early settlers. Of these, the only remaining trace in this county, is Erwin's daughter, Mrs. Mary McFarland. John Wheeler, a carpenter, married a daughter of Mrs. Galloway, and moved to Sandusky, taking with him Mrs. Galloway and her son. John Sawyer, first blacksmith at Clinton, and a good horse-shoer, emigrated to Indiana, and died. His only descendant in this county is Mrs. W. O. Johnson. In 1830, the population of Morris was 812, and 13,066 acres of land were listed for taxation. In 1810, there were 1,079 inhabitants ; in 1850, 1,028 ; and in 1860, 1,013.

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 13 more 13 times.