Kirker Covered Bridge

Jons A. Cluxton. - The subject of this sketch is of Irish descent. His paternal grandfather was a native of Ireland and grew to years of manhood, married and raised a family there. About 1798, he, with his wife and two children, emigrated to America, three of their children remaining in Ireland. He settled in New Jersey, where he died shortly afterwards, being suddenly stricken down with apoplexy or something of that nature, while working in the field. After Mr. Cluxton's death, the widowed mother with her two children, John and Betsy, removed to Penn., and settled near Connellstown, where she lived until they grew up and married. The daughter, Betsy, married William Phillips, and the son, John, married Nancy Page. These last were the parents of John A. Cluxton, whose name stands at the head of this article. Early in 1813, all these families consisting of mother Cluxton, her son John and wife, his wife's parents, Rev. William Page and family, and William Phillips, who had married Betsy, left Peun., in company and came to Adams county. Mr. Phillips settled near Brush creek, where he andh's wife both lived and died. They are buried in Stone chapel grave yard. With them also lived the grandmother Cluxton, 'Mrs. Phillip's mother), until her decease. This old farm is now owned by a son, John Phillips. Rev. William Page, the maternal grandfather of John A. Cluxton, settled on the farm now owned by Samuel McFeeters, near Killiustown. Here Mrs. Page died - . Page afterwards married a second wife, moved to Clermont where he died of a cancer. John Cluxton settled in We3t U uion, built a house near the M. E. church, and worked some years at shoemaking, then bought a farm near Xillingstown to which he moved. He finally removed to Bentonville, where he died in 1855, and was buried in the WesV Union grave yard. Mrs. Cluxton, after her husband's death, lived a widow twenty years. Her latter days were spent at her daughter's near Ripley, Brown county,' Ohio, where she died. She was buried in the West Union grave yard, where she now sleeps, beside her husband and three daughters. She was a faithful and devoted Christian, and in' early years united with the Methodist ehtirch in West Union, and when the family removed near Brush creek, she transferred her membership to the Stone Chapel che rob in i he neighborhood of he^hOlinn; Bnt no matter where her lot was cast, she was ever the samt?, tmassnming but faithful follower Of the meek and holy Savior. Mrs. Cluxton was a devoted laborer in the Sabbath School, and no doubt many in this community yet remember her pious teachings. Truly a good mother in Israel is gane - bnt her work go* on, and many remain to bless her memory. John and Nancy Clnxton were the parents of thirteen children : William, George, Rebecca, Grecnberry J., Angellne, John A., Qavis B., James R., Nancy Jane, Susan Thomas, Samuel P., Henry B. - Two of t'iew, Augeline and Susan died In early years. The othare are all living but Rebecca Greenbury and WilUttm. Rebecca married Rev. Jedlah Foster. 8h« died In West Uhlob, with colors in 1835. John H. the subject of oar sketch was born In 'West Union, May, 14,1825, and MhrOaUrertce M. Mosier, Nov. 18, 1847. He started in life under disadvantageous circumstances. He remalnod with Ins fattier until he was twenty-one years of ago, then commenced life on bis own account, working from spring until full the first two years at $9 a month, with no extra pay for harvest work. After bis marriage Mr. Cluxton rented land and farmed, but "diligence and perseverance will overcome difficulties as is proved in this case. He slowly and steadily gained in the world until he has now a good farm and pleasant and beautiful home of his own, surrounded with all the comforts of lifo. A view of his pretty house is shown in the pages of our book. He is also fortunate in being blessed with a good wife, to whoso aid and good counsels he attributes much of his success in life. Mr. Cluxton seems to bo a nature genius in all mechanical implements and is a skillful workman in almost every mechanic art. He is the inventor of a posthole digger that will excavate post-boles with an ease and facility . never attained before. HU most recent and the greatest invention of his life, and one that seems destined to surpass all previous efforts of the kind, is his pendulum drag-saw, by which log9 of any kind or size, from the saw or shingle trees of the forest to the fire or stove wood at the door ciin be cut. In short, it can do any work that the cross-cut saw will do, and with a speed and ease that has heretofore never been equaled. This invention is secured by patent. Mrs. Catherine M. Cluxton, daughter of Jacob Mosier, and wife of John A. Cluxton, .was born October 21, 1828, near Masontown, Fayette county Pa., Her ancestors were German. Her grandfather, Abraham Mosier, was probably born in Germany! His children were John, Abraham, George, and Julia Auu^Ckfherine Betsy, Mary and Nancy. Her father was born in Penn., in 1796. He married Elizabeth Newcomer. They came to Adams county at an early day and settled on the farm now owned by John A. Cluxton, in Liberty township, where they b.oth di'ed. Mr. Mosier died in 1841, Mrs. Mosier in 1864. They both lie buried in the Kirker grave yard. They were the parents of nine children, Abraham, Jacob, Mary John, Samuel, Catharine, Nancy, George and Elizabeth. The last two died iu infancy, the othor seven grew to years of maturity, are married ana all still living. Mrs. Cluxton's maternal grandparents were Jacob and Mary Newcomer. They raised a family of seven children, Elizabeth, Jacob, Uriah, Mary, John, Nancy and Martha, but trto of these, John and Martha, now survive, tho others are dead. One of these children, Elizabeth, 'married Jacob Mosier. They are the parents of Mrs. Cluxton.

Passage source: Caldwell's Illustrated Historical Atlas of Adams County, Ohio. 1797-1880, published 1880.

It is said that Governor Thomas Kirker was the first settler, but it is more accurate to say he was among the first of the pioneers of this region. His cabin was erected on Zane's Trace on what is 'known as the old Kirker farm in the southeastern part of the township. James January came as early as 1796 and one year later opened a tavern on the Trace at the foot of the hill west of West Union on the Swearengen farm. About this date also came Needham Perry, Alexander Meharry, Richard Askren, John Mahaffey, Rev. Thomas Odell, David Robe, George Dillinger, Bezebel Gordon, Col. John Lodwick, Daniel Marlatt, James Wade and Joseph Wade. And later, James McGovney, John Stivers^Conrad Foster, and Lewis Coryell. These were mostly Revolutionary soldiers from Virginia, and to perpetuate among their descendants the memory of the cause for which they had struggled, the name Liberty was given to this township when formed. Land warrant number one issued to Richard Askren, was laid in this township.

Passage source: A History of Adams County, Ohio, from Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Including Character Sketches of the Prominent Persons Identified with the First Century of the Country's Growth .., published 1900.

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 Liberty Township - 3,153 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.