Decatur Township

Decatur Township

THE establishment of this township was effected in 1820, on the petition of sundry persons not named, residents in sixth township, range eleven. Said locality was declared an incorporated town and an election district to be thereafter known as Decatur, and it was ordered that the inhabitants residing in said district were thereby entitled to the privileges and immunities of incorporated towns within the State. The electors were notified to meet at the residence of William Johnson, on Thursday, November 30, 1820, to elect town officers, but the records of this first election cannot now be found, and the names of the first officials, therefore, cannot be definitely ascertained.

At present the township is bounded on the north by Wesley and Fairfield, east by Dunham and Belpre, and on the south and west by Athens county. The boundary lines, barring eight and a half sections on the northwest, enclose a perfect square of five sections on each side, making altogether thirty-three and a half sections, or an area of over twenty-one thousand acres. The population in 1870 was fourteen hundred and thirty-seven, and the last census (1880) gives the township a population of fifteen hundred and five, an increase of sixty-eight in ten years.

The surface consists generally of very high rolling lands, broken in rugged and precipitous hills, especially in the southwest. The soil is of red and yellow clay, though in localities some sand is found. The chief productions are wheat, corn, etc., and all kinds of fruits are produced in abundance, never failing orchards being found in various localities throughout the township. In early times considerable tar was manufactured near Fillmore, and was floated down the Little Hocking in canoes to the Ohio, but now only the small local demand is

The west branch of Little Hocking river, a considerable stream, enters the township from Fairfield at the northwest, and, flowing in a southeast course, leaves the township at the extreme southeast corner. Many other minor and unimportant branches, mostly tributary to the river, drain the lands of this locality.

The abandoned branch of the Marietta & Cincinnati railroad extends across the extreme northwest corner. The principal thoroughfare is the State road, leading from Hill's Landing to McConnelsville, extending from southeast toward north through the principal settlements - Fillmore'and Decaturville. All sections of the township are also provided with road communications.

Along the water courses, and in various localities throughout the township, are found numerous outcroppings of sandstone, which is generally used for building purposes. This stone is found to make very desirable and certainly very beautiful residences, and promises to become utilized more in this way than heretofore. Specimens of these buildings are found here. Caves and deep caverns among towering hills, ribbed with the abuting sandstone and skirted with evergreen pine, are constantly in sight of the traveller, presenting a view grand and picturesque.

Early Settlement

The first settler in this township was Joseph Lovdell, who came here in the spring of 1816. He was the first to accept an offer of forty acres of land made by David Putnam, agent of the Ohio company, to any one who would locate in this township, build a cabin, and plant an orchard of one hundred trees. He located forty acres on the northeast part of the farm now owned by Joshua McGirr, at Fillmore, and built his cabin in the extreme southwest corner of what is now section three.

Another forty acres adjoining this tract, on the northeast, was first bargained for by a Mr. Frost, who never came to the township; but William Johnson, having purchased this claim, arrived here about three weeks after Joseph Lobdell, and built his cabin just northeast of his only neighbor in the then western wilderness, about fifteen rods northeast of the present forks of the road.

Among the settlers who came after these earliest ones were Able Dufer, Hiram Fairchilds, Ebenezer Bachelor, John and James Dunn, John Giddings, Andrew Ballard, and others, all of whom settled in this locality, forming what was then,known as the "Lower Settlement," now called Fillmore post office. It is located in the southeastern part of the township, on the State road, and is the centre of trade for the surrounding country. A general store, that of Mr. Russell, is kept here.

The settlement made around what is now known as Decaturville post office was then known as the "Upper Settlement," and was made soon after the original settlement.

George Ball built his cabin about fifty rods southwest of the present residence of his son, Henry L., immediately south of Decaturville, section seventeen.

Canada settlement' is located west of Fillmore, beyond Little Hocking river, and was made soon after the "Upper Settlement." Jonathan Root and Alexander Johnson were among the early settlers. This locality, though having a general name, is but a thickly settled community, having no trading place or post office, and how it received the name of Canada is not certainly known.

Abel Dufur was a native of New York, and was born in 1802: deceased 1870. He emigrated to Washington county in 1814, and was married in 1823 to Polly Fairchild, who was born in 1809 and died in 1842. Tothem were born six children - Lucy M., Eva, Abel, Edmund P., John and Abigail. He was married the second time to Eunice Bachelder, daughter of Ebon and Eunice Bachelder, who was born 1817. They had a family of two children - Eunice A. and Daniel F. Daniel F. was born in 1851 and resides in the township. He has held the office of school director and is now county surveyor. He owns a farm on section two.

Philip Schrader, jr., was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, November 12, 1808, and was married in 1828 to Clarissa Cheedle, who was born in 1810. To them were born twelve children - nine boys and three girls. Five of the boys and the three girls are now living. Hecame to this township with his father (whose history appears in Wesley) in 1837, and settled on the farm that he now owns. His father built the house in which he resides. He has lived in this township continuously for forty-four years; has held several important offices; is at present justice of the peace and postmaster.

James Smith, a native of Ireland, son of James and Jane Smith, was born in 1792, and died in 1859. He was married in 1823 to Margaret Morrison, daughter of John and Catherine (McCausland) Morrison, who was born in Ireland in 1802. They settled in this township in 1832, section twenty-four, and to them were born twelve children - Anna Jane; William, resides in Decatur; Percilla, wife of B. H. Dawson (Fairfield township); Alexander F. (Kansas); John M. (Kansas); Eliza, wife of Henry Hibbard (Kansas); James H., enlisted during the late war in the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Ohio and was killed by the explosion of an ordnance boat; Margaret, at home; Joseph A. (Decatur); Matilda, wife of

Joseph A. Smith was born in this township 1840, and was married in 1871 to Susan Dela Grange, born in 1849. They have one child - Arthur H. He enlisted in 1864 in company K, Thirty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, and was discharged in 1865; has held the office of district assessor and all the other township offices, except constable and clerk, and at present is engaged in farming, owning a farm of one hundred and eighty acres, on which he now resides as one of the respected farmers and citizens of the township, section twenty-four.

Richard W. Fields was born in Virginia in 1831, and settled in this township in 1847. He was married in 1851 to Mary J. Richards, born in Pennsylvania in 1831, died in 1878. Mr. Fields has a family of sixteen children, all living - Abdallah, Thornton, Mary, Joseph W., Amanda, Maria, George W., Sarah L., Martha; Frances E., Lydia, Ruth, Joshua R. G., Benoni, Arthur, and Jesse. Mr. Fields is a prominent member of the Baptist (colored) church, and one of its most liberal and earnest supporters, and has by his own industry made himself possessor of a farm of eighty acres, where he now resides a highly respected representative of his race - section twenty-three.

Richard Irwin was born in Ireland in 1810, and died in 1858. He was married in Ireland to Jane Wilkinson and settled in Decatur township in 1850. They hada family of five children, four now living - Richard J., Robert M., Sarah J., William G., living in the township. William G. Irvine was born in this county 1853, and was united in marriage in 1879 to Sarah A. Lyde, who was born in 1855. He is now elder in the Presbyterian church and has a farm on which he resides - section eleven.

William Gamble was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and was married to Elizabeth Corns. They had a family of nine children, eight now living - Amos L., William, Walter, Joseph, Harley E., Randolph E., Camby and Reese. William Gamble, jr., was born April 15, 1851; and was married to Sarah E. Nist (daughter of George Nist) who was born 1858. They have one child, Cornelia E. Mr. Gamble has been trustee for three years, and has a farm on which he now lives - section seven.

Henry Welch was born in 1804, and was married to Barbara Smith, who was born in 1806. They came to Washington county in 1841, and first settled in Wesley township. 'To them were born ten children, five now living - Peter, Susan, John, James, and George H. Peter Welch was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1830, and was married in 1852 to Hannah Gilmore - daughter of Torrens and Polly Gilmore - born 1834. Mr. and Mrs. Welch had a family of thirteen children - John, Noah, Emily, wife of Isaac Bradenberry, Martin, Barbara (now Mrs. Charles Weaver), McClellan, Warren, Estella, Lucy, Ella, Dow, George and Marion. He has served as trustee, and now owns three hundred and twenty-five acres of land on which he resides - section twenty-two.

Elijah Sawyer, born in North Carolina in 1800, became He married Maria Kendall, who is still living. Three of their children survive, viz: R. F. in Belpre township, and William H. and James K. in Decatur township. Of these R. F. Sawyer married Elizabeth Tate, by whom he has one child. Mr. Sawyer is running on the river, and has his residence in Belpre.

Conrad Miller was born in Stark county, Ohio, in 1806, and was married to Elizabeth Burk, who was born in 1802, They had ten children, eight now living - Daniel, now living in Iowa; Emanuel, Decatur township; Conrad, Decatur; Nancy, wife of Samuel Lee, Wesley; Elizabeth, wife of R. Weir, Athens county, Ohio; Magdaline, Decatur; Jadida, wife of Robert Martin, Pennsylvania; Emeline, wife of David Martin. Emanuel Miller wes born in Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1827, and came to this township with his parents in 1840, and was married in 1850 to Eliza Sharp - daughter of Isaac and Lydia Sharp - who was born in 1832. To them were born fourteen children, twelve now living - Elizabeth M., wife of J. Fish, lives in Decatur township; Lydia, wife of T. D. Meek, Fairfield; Isaac A., at home; Mary B., wife of D. B. Brooks, Belpre township; Henry B., at home; Enoch, Thomas, Samuel, Addie, Joel, Wyatt and Lucy, all at home. Mr. Miller served nine months in the late war, and is now possessor of one hundren and sixty acres of land on which he resides as a general farmer and respected citizen - section thirty-six.

Charles Russell was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, in 1808 and died in 1880. He was married in 1837 to Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Reigel, who was born 1809. To them were born eight children. All but one (Sarah) are now living - Emanuel, Mary M., Washington, Solomon, Elizabeth, Charles, Lucretia.

Emanvel Russell was born in 1838, in Coshocton county, and was married in 1867 to Frances E. Gearhart, daughter of Jacob and Mary, who was born in Carroll county in 1847. Mr. and Mrs. Russell have a family of three children - Eva, Ella, and Alfred. Mr. Russell has held the office of treasurer for twelve years, justice of the peace nine years, and is now postmaster at Fillmore. He enlisted in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion, August, 1862, in the One Hundred and Sixteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, company I, and was a prisoner in the well known rebel prison pen of Andersonville for six months where, with thousands of his fellow comrades, he endured the horrors of hunger, thirst, and inhuman treatment, the details of which are too atrocious to be repeated, but, like the sufferings of the martyrs, will live in the annals of our country's heroic history forever. He is now engaged in the mercantile business at Fillmore, a highly respected and deserving citizen.

Dr. Edward Hamilton Trickle was born in Belmont county, Ohio, July 1, 1836; removed to Coolville, Ohio, in 1854 where, in 1857, he was married to Jane Hamilton, who was born in 1838. His family consists of five children - William Arthur, Mattie Jane, Frank Hamilton, Bessie Evelyn, and Phoebe Luella. He began the study of medicine in 1859, which was interrupted by the late civil: war, in which he was engaged as member of company E, Fourth West Virginia volunteer infantry, and during the siege of Vicksburgh, Mississippi, was promoted to lieutenant. He was engaged in the battles of Charleston, West Virginia, the capture of Jackson, Mississippi, Mission Ridge, Lynchburgh, and the ensuing campaign under General Sheridan, and was discharged after a service of three years and three months, much impaired in health. He immediately resumed his medical studies, and in 1867 attended the Ohio Medical college at Cincinnati, and after practising his profession two years at Parkersburgh, West Virginia, he returned to Cincinnati and received a diploma from the Miami Medical college. He then returned to Racine, Ohio, where, with the exception of one winter in the hospital in New York, he practiced his profession until 1879, when he came to his present location at Cutler station. On his removal to this place he resigned the position of examining surgeon of the United States bureau, and also the presidency of the Meigs County Medical society.

The first school-house was a log building erected about ten rods north of the old Methodist church. This school was first taught by Oliver Root, and after him was Abel Stanton. The early schools of this township, like all the early schools, were supported by special subscription, and the history connected therewith is identical with the schools generally of this period. Section sixteen of this township was reserved for school land, and the rents of this land were devoted to the support of the schools, thus rendering very material assistance to the needy settlers in furnishing educational facilities to their children. Time has brought many changes to the educational advantages in this township, and there are now ten school districts all supplied with teachers and school buildings at the expense of the general public, where the means for the common school education are amply provided for the rich and the poor alike. Ifthe rising generation do not surpass their forefathers it will not be because the means for their advancement have not been provided.

Methodism planted the first Christian standard in this township leading the wayas the pioneer church. Preaching was held in the woods, in the log cabins or in the schoolhouses. Whenever the pioneers found a lodgement in the wilderness, Methodism followed with a church. The first church building in this township was the old log meeting-house located in the eastern part of the township, built about 1840-5. Andrew Ballard was the leading member of this early church, and he often officiated as local preacher. This old house was the general place of meeting for the neighborhood, and all the religious organizations of the locality were effected within its walls. The early members have all passed away, and for some reason have left no one upon whom the mantles of succession in the religious work have fallen - and the society has been allowed to go down - and the churches of the township are now abandoned or occupied by other denominations. The Canada M. E. church was built some time

United Brethren Church

The first services of this denomination were held in the house of Mrs. Philip Schrader's father, now where George Dunsmore lives, northeast part of section seventeen. About 1850 Jonathan Root was the leading member of this church, and Joshua Montgomery is remembered as the first minister. They now occupy the house built by the Methodist Episcopal society, near Decaturville, of which Henry Bennett and Lucius Root are the present trustees. This denomination also has another class which meets in the Methodist Episcopal church west of Fillmore. Both congregations are small and are supplied as missions. The present minister is Rev. George Geiger.

Presbyterian Old School Church

located one mile east of Decaturville, was organized in 1847 in the old log Methodist church, under the ministry of Rev. Moses Hoag. The first elders were William Bennett and William Campbell, and the first regular preacher was Rev. William Farris. The church building was first erected in 1849 and was rebuilt in 1856. The present building is a frame twenty-four by thirty. The congregation now numbers about seventy-five, under the ministry of Rev. Robert C. Stewart, and eldership of Philip Bennett, John P. Knox, Robert Cray, William Campbell, William Scott and William G. Irvine. Services and Sabbath-school every Sunday. - is located in the northern part of the township, northwest corner of section twenty-three. The first minister was Nathan B. Henry, and first trustees John Williams, James A. Harris and R. W. Field. The first house in which this society met was built in 1856, and was used for the colored select school was situated about twenty rods south of R. W. Fields - section twenty-three. The present board house was built in 1860, and the society was reorganized by Revs. Atkins and Pierce. During the agitation of the slavery question this society withdrew from the regular Raptist and became what was known as Anti- Slavery Baptist. Present membership twenty-six ; services once every month ; Sabbath-school every Sunday, Rev. William Norman, present pastor. MILLS.

The first flour mill in this township was the one erected by Hiram Fairchild about 1822, and was located in the northwest part of section one, south of Fillmore. About the same time another mill was built northwest of the first one, but it has long since been abandoned. On the site of the original mill Dion Neal now operates a flour mill, having two run of stone with the usual capacity, The building is a frame of two stories and hip roof; the local demand only is supplied. The flour mill now known as Root's Mill, is located on west branch of Little Hocking river and is now operated by Rufus Root. This mill was first erected in 1860, but Mr. Root has made many improvements; it is now a substantial frame building about thirty-six by forty feet, having two run of stone, with a capacity of one hundred and seventy-five bushels per day. The power is derived from a forty-horse power engine. The trade is mostly local custom, which requires the full capacity of the mill to supply.

inent men of this locality were engaged in this work. Many incidents in this memorable struggle for freedom occurred here, but among them the following is perhaps the most noted, and will better illustrate the spirit of the contest:

On the night of July 9, 1845, a party of Ohioans from this locality went to Hall's Landing, on the Ohio river, for the purpose of assisting a party of six slaves, belonging to John W. Harwood, who lived just below Blennerhassett island, to escape. They were unarmed, and just the bushes, rushed out and captured five of the slaves and three of their intended liberators. The three Ohioans were Peter M. Garner, Crayton Loraine and Mordecai Thomas, and they were taken by force of arms and lodged in the Parkersburgh jail. The Virginia officials claimed that the Ohio citizens were ''felons," amenable to Virginia law for an alleged offence not known in Ohio law. Bail was refused the prisoners, and all intercourse

August 16, 1845, a public meeting was called, to meet in the court house at Marietta, 'to take into consideration means for liberation of Ohio citizens confined in the Parkersburgh (Virginia) prison, and the vindication of the rights of Ohio citizens." This call brought forth quite a concourse of citizens, and the indignation of the friends of freedom was freely expressed, while the interest in the all-absorbing question deepened. September 2nd the prisoners were taken from the jail to the court house

On the seventeenth of the following November their trial was held, and they received a verdict of guilty. The case was taken to a higher court on the question of jurisdiction. 'The case was argued before the court of appeals, December 1oth and 13th, and the court divided equally on the question whether the State line was the low or high water mark, the prisoners having been captured at the low water mark. At the following special term, at Parkersburgh, the men were admitted to bail on their own recognizance, and were set at liberty. January 10, 1846. Thus ended a very exciting local episode in the history of African slavery.

Garner lived in-this township, at the Cross-roads, on the northwest corner, where the store now stands. He was born June 14, 1808, and died at Columbus, Ohio, at the age of sixty-one years. Loraine lived one-fourth of a mile west of Fillmore, but has since removed to IIlinois, where he is now living. Thomas resided west of Loraine, but is now living in Belmont county, Ohio.

time after, in removing the debris, the charred remains of a man were found, which afterwards proved to be the body of a stranger who had come into the neighborhood the day before the fire, and was noticed as being very peculiar in his actions. An open razor was found with the body, and it is supposed that he fired the house and then cnt his throat with the razor.

In early times a "'refined" young man from New York purchased what he supposed was a desirable mill site, on one of the chasms of Little Hocking, and brought several first-class workmen with him to construct a dam. But no human genius could construct a framework that would withstand the sudden rush of water down any of these hill branches, and the grand enterprize became the laughing-stock of the practical settlers of the neighborhood, and the young man from New York was compelled to return whence he came, a wiser but somewhat poorer man.

It is related that one Christmas, J. D. Chamberlain, William Chute, Isaac Palmer and James Lawton were surveying a road through this township and that night overtook them in the wilds of hill and forest, and, as the cabins of the settlers were very few, and separated by long distances, and the roads were little better marked than the blazes on the trees indicated, they were compelled to seek shelter in one of the caves. They finally found one suitable for the purpose, and it was located on the steep brow of a hill nearly one hundred feet from the bottom of the ravine below. To this cave they made their way, pulling themselves over the rocks by branches of scrub oaks and pine. They lowered the wood for a fire from above to the shelf of a rock protruding from the cave. A hunter of the party easily procured a deer. The venison was soon on the fire, and the party, in true hunter style, passed a Christmas night in the cave, retiring at last with their saddles for pillows, and overcoats for blankets, while the glare of fire reflected from the rocks, illuminated the ravine below, where the horses of the party were quietly feeding.

Additional Personal Notes

Colonel Levi Barber was born in Connecticut in 1777 and emigrated from Vermont to Marietta, Ohio, in 1799. He settled in Harmar, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1833. His wife was Eliza Rouse, whom he married about 1802. She was born in died in 1830. To them were born five children, viz: David, living in Carthage, Illinois ; Elizabeth, deceased ; Austin, residing at Pittsfield, Illinois; Levi, who died in infancy, and a second son Levi, living in Harmar.

David Barber, nephew of Colonel Levi Barber, came to Harmar in 1819 from the State of New York, where he was born in 1799. In 1827 he married Miss Lydia N. Stanley, who was born in 1807, in Connecticut, and whose parents emigrated from that State in 1813, settling at Marietta. To Mr. and Mrs. David Barber have been born nine children, of whom four survive: Eliza, widow of Oscar D. Chapin, lives in Saginaw, Michigan; Levi A. resides in Bay City, Michigan ; Julia is at home; and Electa W. is the wife of A. B. Chapin, of Saginaw, Michigan. In 1823, Mr. David Barber entered into mercantile business in Meigs county, Ohio, and, after remaining there nearly twenty-three years, returned to Marietta and continued in business, first with Levi Barber and then with his son Levi A. Since 1875, he has been a retired merchant, quietly enjoying the reward of his toil.

Hugh and Celia Brenan, natives of Ireland, emigrated to this country from the West Indies in 1840, and settled in Marietta. He was engaged here in general merchandise until his death, in 1869. They had twelve children, of whom Joseph, William, Francis R., and Celia (Mrs. Van Buskirk), are living. The three brothers are engaged in the grocery business in Marietta, each having a store of his own. Joseph was born in the West Indies in 1829, and was eleven years old when he came to Marietta. Since 1852 he has been engaged in the grocery business.

William Corner, who came in 1795, was from Macclesfield, England, where he was born February 3, 1789. He died August 17, 1878. He worked two years for General Israel Putnam. His wife's name was Sally Maxon, born in 1782, died in 1854. Of the children, Henry W. married Lucinda Robb, and is in Kansas ; Lucy married James Anderson, who is now dead; Celinda married J. P. Sandford, and Mary E. was the wife of Benjamin Posey. Twochildren died in youth. The first land cleared on the Little Muskingum was by William Corner. Mrs. Sandford says that Henry Maxon cut the first tree in Ohio.

Another of the very early settlers was George Corner, who came to the township in 1795. He was born in England in 1783, lived with General Putnam when a boy, was a surveyor, and married Susanna Burlingame, who was born in 1790. She was a granddaughter of General Putnam. 'The places of residence of the living members of the family are: Persis R., Barstow, Iowa; George S., Marietta township; John B., Viryinia; Mary S. Leggett, Iowa; Edwin L., Oregon; Susan B. Mackey, Newport township; Elizabeth P. Rood, Marietta. Henry H., Rebecca, Maria Racer, Sarah F., and Melville R., are dead.

Joseph C. Cole was another old resident, who came in 1802. He was born in 1769, in England, and engaged in farming and especially in raising small trees and nurseries. His wife, Polly Case, lived from 1781 to 1847, while he survived her until 1866. Children: Mary E., still lives on the old homestead; Candis is dead, as is Joseph C.; F. C. married Mary S. Dye, and Richard C. was unmarried; both are now dead.

Jacob Ebinger was born in Sweigern, Germany, in 1825, came to New York in 1847, lived for two years at Pottsville, Pennsylvania, and then came to Marietta, since which time he has been in the harness business. In 1849 he married Catharine Abendschan, who died in 1876. Eight of their nine children are living.

From Massachusetts emigrated William Fay, in 1832, who died at home in 1866. For many years he was deacon in the Congregational church. In 1812 he married Elizabeth Lankton, who was born July 23, 1790. Their children were: Levi L., who married Caroline Hill first, then Minerva Batchelor; Elizabeth, wife of Dr. Gillman, and now dead; Bula S., now Mrs. Dr. James Tenney, of Toledo; William A., married, and in Springfield, Ohio; Solomon P., in Boston, married to Marie Brigham; Catharine A., in Marietta, and wife of Archibald Ewing; Eunice S., wedded to Dr. Johnson.

In 1863, section nine furnished a home for Jacob Hendershot, who was a native of this State and born in 1825, although he came to Marietta from Virginia. He had a farm there on which several oil-wells were drilled, but sold out and came here. His wife was Mary S. Joy, born in 1835 and married in 1855. One child died young; another, Ella Adaline, is now at home.

Stephen Hildreth, father of Calvin, came to Washington county in January, 1814, having left Shirley, Massachusetts, the November previous. He wasa son of John Hildreth, and a descendant of Richard Hildreth, who came to this country from England in 1650, and settled in Massachusetts. John Hildreth was a native of West- ford, Massachusetts. He was twice married. His second wife was Elizabeth Gates, by whom he had six children, viz: Simeon, Sallie, Stephen, Lemuel, Betsey and Polly.

Stephen Hildreth was born July 15, 1777, and mar- Tied Miss Cynthia Brown, who was born October 9, 1783, in Shirley, Massachusetts. On coming to this county, he bought the farm now occupied by his son and grandson. He died here in 1858, his wife having preceded him, dying in 1823. They had four children - Caloin, born April 1, 1804, in Shirley, Massachusetts ; Mary, born February 10, 1806, in Bath, Maine; Rebecca Ann, born August 29, 1808, in Charlestown, Massachusetts ; Louisa, born August 4, 1811, in Shirley, Massachusetts.

Calvin married in 1830 Miss Susan E. Maxon, who was born in Fearing township, this county, in 1807. There have been born to them two children, Stephen B. and Cynthia, the latter dying in infancy. Stephen B. was born on the old farm October 19, 1831; married in 1856 Miss Oladine S. Hill, who was born February 26, 1834. The issue of this marriage is one child, Zenas Brownhill, born August 21, 1878.

Thomas Hutchinson was born in the block-house at Marietta, in 1794. He married Nancy Warren, who was born in Massachusetts in 1802, and is still living, having been a widow since 1841. Four of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson are living: William resides in Harmar; Susan, wife of Rev. Irwin, lives in Kansas; Dudley is in Iowa; and Julia resides in Kansas. The eldest son, William W. Hutchinson, born in Harmar in 1822, married Phoebe Sutton, born in New York in 1821. Two of their six children are living, both in Harmar. Mr. Hutchinson has been a farmer during the most of his life, but is now in the grocery business in Harmar.

Lewis Lehnhard came to Marietta in 1838, having emigrated from Germany, where he was born in 1818. He has always followed the carpenter business for a livelihood. He married Elizabeth Cimmer, born in Germany in 1821. Four of the five children of this marriage are living - Lewis C., Lucinda, wife of Harman Angart; John H., who married Carrie L. Miller; Mary E., wife of Lewis Blohm. Mr. Lehnhard and his brother, John, are the only surviving members who organized the Evangelical church.

John Lehnhard was born in Germany in 1809, and married Christina Bescardor, a native of Prussia. In 1836 he landed in Baltimore, where he was married to Catharine Philipina Bock, by whom he has had twelve children, seven of whom survive. In 1838 Mr. Lehnhard came to Marietta. He has been a carpenter during his whole life.

Jacob Lorenz, a native of Germany, born in 1817 came to this country in 1846. Soon after his arrival at New Orleans he went to Louisville, Kentucky. In 1847 he married Catharine Reiter, and after a residence of two or three years in Louisville he moved to Marietta and settled in Union township. Mrs. Lorenz came to the county with her mother, Magdaline, who died here in 1859, aged eighty-nine years. Her father died in

Germany. Henry and Mary Lorenz, the parents of jacob, died, he in 1855 and she in 1861. To Jacob Lorenz have been born ten children, six of whom are living: Henry, Charles, Catharine (Shafer), Jacob, David, and Wilhelmina. Mr. Lorenz now lives in Marietta.

William W. Lucas was born in New Jersey in 1844, and came to Marietta in 1860, and after remaining but a short time went to Athens, where he was employed by the Marietta & Cincinnati railroad company for two years, when he left for Philadelphia, and in 1864 was again employed at Marietta, where he has since been ticket and freight, and, since 1877, exgress agent of the Marietta & Cincinnati road. In-1875 he married Marion Curtis. They have three children.

Emery Luthringer, sr., was born in Alsace, France, in 1809. Heemigrated to America, and lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, until 1857, when he removed to Marietta where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1871. His wife, Agatha Dryer, is living with her son Joseph. She was born in Alsace in 1805. 'Their two sons are Emery and Joseph. Emery is in the tin business in Harmar. He was born in 1839 and married Mary M. Shilshott, who was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1842. Joseph, born in Germany in 1842, came to Marietta with his parents. He married Margaret Henn, born in New York city in 1846. Five of their seven children are living. Since 1867, Mr. Luthringer has been in the tin and hardware business in Marietta.

In the year 1815 came William McAllister from New Hampshire, and settled on section sixteen. He was born in 1768 and died in 1819. A son of this farmer, John, was born in 1807, and married Olive F. Owen in 1834. Mrs. McAllister was born in 1815, and is still living. Mr. McAllister died in 1880. Their daughter, Mary, became Mrs. William Cecil in 1867. Mr. McAllister was much interested in meteorology, and kept a record of semi-daily observations for twenty years. Another son, Madison, married Sallie Whitehouse in 1842, and his second wife, Harriet Posey, in 1867. Two children - Kennett and Mahala. William's wife died in 1865, at the extreme age of ninety-three. Other children are Rebecca and Irene, now Mrs. Ebenezer Buell.

In 1829 John C. McCoy came to Harmar from Richland county, and engaged in the tailoring business. He moved to Athens county in 1856, where he died in 1875. He was one of the first Abolitionists in the county of Washington. He was born in Virginia in 1792, married Mary Comley born in 1799, and died in 1829. Two of their six children are living, viz: W. W. in Harmar, and Asa S. in Bloomington, Illinois. William W., born in 1822, came with his parents to Harmar. He was married in 1850 to Elizabeth Davis in St. Louis, Missouri. Six of their ten children are living. Mr. McCoy isa contractor and does a large business. His father was the mayor of Harmar about 1843. His brother Asa graduated from Marietta college in 1849, and is nowa Methodist minister. : and in Cincinnati until 1855, where he was engaged in the tanning business. Coming to Marietta he went into partnership with Ebinger and Killinger. He afterwards became a partner of A. Roemer. He now has a business aggregating about thirty thousand dollars per annum. In 1844 he married Elizabeth R. Stuhr, born in Germany in 1824. Eight of their twelve children are living, all in this county.

John Miller, father of Robert T. Miller, was born in Westchester county, New York, in 1777 andcame to Washington county in 1806. He died in 1840. His wife was Jane J'aylor, born in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1769. They had three children, one of whom only survives: Robert T. He was born in 1809 and in 1838 married Marietta Fuller, who was born in Rhode Island, in 1812. Her parents, Charles and Nancy Fuller, were early residents of this county and died here. Mr. Miller was county infirmary director from 1854 to 1860. His farm east of Marietta was entered by Colonel Robert Taylor, who came to the county from Rhode Island in 1799.

Jacob Miller came to Marietta in 1858, and started a bakery and confectionery and a mineral water establishment. Born in Germany in 1830, he emigrated in 1847, stopping first at Erie, Pennsylvania, and then removing to Cincinnati, where he lived ten years prior to coming to Marietta. From 1874 to 1880 he was a member of the board of education. In 1859 he married Mary Keller, born in Germany in 1842. By her he has had seven children, six of whom survive, and all at home.

Of the later additions to the population of the township, was John W. Miller, who married Margaret J. Scott, and had a family of five young children, namely: Fannie, Abbie, Bertha, John and Sarah. The father, however, died some time ago.

Another citizen of the township, Mr. C. A. Miller, married Margaret Bell in 1869. He served two years and ten months in the Seventh Ohio volunteer corps.

Marcellus J. Morse was born in the town of Marietta, in 1812, and died in 1880. He married Louisa Shankland, who was born in Virginia in 1813. They had five children, but two of whom are living: Kent, residing in Indianapolis, and William M., of Harmar. The latter was born in 1843 and married Charlotte Palmer, born in 1843. To them have been born three children : Jennie, Laura and Frank. Mr. Morse has been an engineer on the Marietta & Cincinnati railroad since 1861. He is at present a member of the city council of Harmar, and is also a member of the school board. The elder Mr. Morse was sheriff for two terms, also a member of the council and board of health at Harmar. During Grant's administration, he was inspector for this country in May, 1860. Soon after his arrival in Marietta the war of the Rebellion commenced, and Mr. Otterbein enlisted as private in company F, Thirty-ninth regiment, and was mustered out of service as a commissioned officer in August, 1865. Soon after his return to Marietta he opened a meat market, which he carried on

Richard Pattin, sr., was born in 1806, married Miss Mary Smith, who was born in 1807, and was the father of six children, three of whom are living: Sabra, widow of Luther Burlingham, living in Harmar; William S. residing in Portsmouth, Ohio; and Richard, jr, of Harmar. He was born in 1839, married Amanda Wells, born in 1844, and has three children living and one dead. Mr. Pattin is the superintendent of the Lubricating Oil Company.

Among the colonists of 1788 was Azariah Pratt, who married Sarah Nye, by whom he had ten children, three of whom survive. Their son Elisha was born in 1798, in the block-house standing on the corner of Second and Washington streets. In 1826 he married Lydia Smith, who was born in 1800, and died in 1851, six years before the death of her husband. Their only child, Sarah M., was married in 1852, to Alexander McGirr, born in 1825. They have four children, all living at home. Mr. Mc- Girr entered the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Ohio national guard, company A, as sergeant, and was honorably discharged in September, 1864.

Benjamin Racer was one of the very first settlers, for he came to Marietta in 1789, and settled in Newport township. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1785, and died in the township in 1872. His business was farming and hunting. For many years he lived in the garrison at Marietta, and has mentioned that he heard the gun that killed Robert Warth. His wife, Susannah Holdren, was born March, 1784, and died in 1833. Their son David married Maria Corner, and afterward Susan Flagg; Francis D. is single; William P. married Hattie Fulton, and is in Marietta; Charles' wife is Margaret Day; E. O. married Jane Posey; Susan is the wife of S. B. Smith; all these live in Marietta. Grace's husband is James Stanley, of Salem; Cynthia is Mrs. John A. West; and Annie is the widow of Thomas Alcock; Dennis, Benjamin, Dudley, Mary, Sophia, Rachel, and Elizabeth are dead. LE. O. is a farmer on the old homestead, living in a house built in 1831.

In 1811, Joseph Leonard Reckard emigrated to Marietta township from Massachusetts, where he was born in 1795. He engaged in the blacksmith trade and the manufacture of axes. In 1816, he married Delilah Jennings, born in Pennsylvania in 1798. Six of their eleven children are living. Mr. Reckard opened the first livery stable in Marietta, in which business he continued until his death, which occurred in 1870. His son, Joseph L. Reckard, who continued the business, was born in 1839; he married Mary E. Morse, who was born in 1839. They have two children.

Alfred J. Richards commenced the dry goods business in Marietta in 1875, having for six years prior to that time been in the employ of W. H. Buell. He was born in 1849, and married Sarah Eggleston, born in Philadelphia in 1853. 'They have one daughter.

William Rowland came to Newport township in 1816, originally from Maryland, where his birth occurred in 1790, but immediately from Pennsylvania. He died in

He was a farmer and trader, and _ held the office of justice of the peace several times. His wife, Ann E. Clark, born in 1799, died in 1876. Several children were born them: Eliza J. is now Mrs. William Thorniley; Thomas married Amanda Neal, and with Charles, whose wife was Jane D. White, and Lewis C., who married Barbara McKibben, is in Newport. Virginia A. married J. B. Hovey, of Marietta; George W. married Paulina Ann Corner and lives in Marietta township. Rufus H. is the husband of Charlotte Rood, and resides in Kansas. William (dead), was wedded to Catharine P. Cline and went to Illinois. The rest died young.

In the year 1820 Thomas J. H. Sandford arrived from England and made his home on section four of Marietta township. He was born October 15, 1776, and died in 1823. He had served in the British navy, was paymaster on board a British man of war in the East Indies. His wife was Mary Broadhurst, who was born in 1790, and died in 1867. His son, J. P. Sandford, married Celinda Corner, and has had nine children. Eliza C. is unmarried; S. H. married Caroline Haas. Seven children died young.

John Schneider was born in Germany in 1827, and came to this country in 1846, and has since been engaged in the brewery business in Buffalo, Cincinnati and Harrison. In 1879 he opened a brewery in Marietta. In 1853 he was married to Elizabeth Zapf, by whom he has five children. Mr. Schneider's aged father is still living in Germany.

Henry Schwitzer, born in Prussia in 1821, came to Baltimore in 1848, then to Wheeling, and shortly afterward to Harrison county, where he worked at his trade for two years. In 1851, coming to Marietta, he engaged in the wagon-making trade. He was married to Elizabeth Lehnhard, born in Germany. They have three girls and three boys, of whom two are at home.

Edward Shaldon was born in New Jersey in 1789, and died in 1847, m Marietta township, where he settled in 1818. Of the six surviving children, Elizabeth, wife of Caleb Thornily, lives in Marietta township, as does Eliza. Sarah was born in Gallia county in 1836. She marrried Henry Reckard in 1857. He died in 1872.

Mr. George P. Stevens came to this county from Portage county, in 1867. He engaged in the mercantile business in 1870, in which he continued for six years. In 1879 he was elected a member of the board of education of Harmar, and in the spring of 1880 was elected mayor of Harmar, which office he still holds. Mayor Stevens and his father, Dr. Stevens, who is still living in Harmar, established and mainly built up the rolling-mill, which was successfully conducted while it had their attention. In 1863 Mr. Stevens was married to Harriet Harmond, and has one child.

John D. Strauss, born in Germany in 1819, emigrated to Virginia in 1848, coming to this county on foot in 1850. He lived, until 1851, on land purchased in West Virginia, and has since lived in Marietta. Until 1861 he worked at the cabinet-making business, and then bought the mill in partnership with F. Coleman, and in 1873 he retired from the firm. In 1878 he again bought the flouring-mill, which is now operated under the name of the Buckeye Flouring Mill, by Strauss, Elston & Co. In 1853 he married Caroline Zimmer, who came to this county with her parents, who died several years ago. Seven of the eleven children of Mr. Strauss are living, six being at home. Mr. Strauss has been in the city council for two terms.

John Strecker, born in Germany in 1804, came to the United States in 1846, and settled in Pittsburgh, and after one year had passed he came to Marietta. His wife was born and died in Germany prior to Mr. Strecker's emigration. Their son, George, came to this country with his father. In 1856 he married Johannah Abenchoen, Eight of the nine children are living. George Strecker, in 1868, started the Harmar boiler works, which are still in operation.

Ernst Styer was born in the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, in 1798; emigrated to this country in 1837, and afterwards came to Marietta. Here he has resided since, except two yeare when he lived at Vicksburgh, Mississippi, working at his trade, that of carpentering. William, a brother of Ernst, came over from Germany in 1838, and to this county in the spring of 1839. He was born in 1806. His trade has also been that of carpentering, and he also spent some months in Vicksburgh. His oldest son William has been a druggist in Cincinnati, and now resides in Marietta.

William Thornily was born in England in 1774, and in 1795 emigrated to New York city, where he was soon afterwards married to Elizabeth Markham, born in London in 1775. Soon after their marriage they emigrated to Ohio, and settled on a farm in Marietta township. Mr. Thornily was at one time in the merchandige business, both at Marietta and Pittsburgh. Of a family of seven children, but one survives, viz., Augusta Beswick, living in Iowa.

Philip Van Thornily was born in New York city, in 1799, and came with his parents to Marietta township. In 1830 he married Nancy C. Martin, who was born in Virginia, in 1811. Eleven children have been born to them, seven of whom are living. Farming and boatbuilding have principally engaged Mr. Thornily's attention, but for some time previous to his death he led a retired life upon the garden spot of his large farm, which from year to year he distributed among his children. He died April 26, 1881, after an illness of a few weeks, in his eighty-second year.

William Thorniley, another son of William Thorniley, sr., was born in the township, section two, in 1808, and died in 1853. His business was that of shipping produce. He married Esther A. Smith, who was born in 1813. There were born to them: Samuel, who married lrances Middleswart; Thomas J., who died young; Elizabeth M., who is now Mrs. Samuel King; Augusta B., who is Mrs. George Harness ; Eliza D., who is the wife of Daniel Reynolds, of Warren; and Laura J., who married Timothy Buell, of Marietta township.

Major John Thorniley came to Marietta township in 1795, from Cheshire, England. Born July 17, 1780, he died in Marietta township, August, 1844. He was in in Washington county militia, and one of the seven members who formed the first Baptist church in Ohio. His wife, Mary Compton, was born in 1788, and survived her husband till 1875. Their children married as follows: William, to Eliza J. Rowland; Mary Ann, to Aaron Howe, of Illinois; Thomas E., to Mary C. Ralston; John, to Jane Temple, Harmar; Elizabeth, to Lemuel Wells, in Missouri; C. S. to Betsy Sheldon, in Marietta; Adaline, to James C. West, in Marietta township; James is unmarried, and lives in Marietta; John, Thomas, and George are dead. William T. is now seventy years old, has never lain on a sick bed, and all his teeth are as sound as ever. His marriage was in 1834, and the living children are Minerva A., wife of M. B. Gates, of Ironton; Rinaldo R., married to Mary Snyder, in Newport township; Alice, now Mrs. H. Scott, of Marietta; Newton I., married to Clara S. Kidd, also in Marietta; John R. died young.

Colonel William West settled in Marietta township. section eight, in 1829. He was born in 1796 at Bull Run, Virginia, and served six months in the War of 1812. He married Elizabeth Compton, born in 1794 in Virginia, near Winchester. Four of their nine children are living, viz: John A., James C., William W. and Thomas J. The elder Mr. West served two terms as county commissioner, was infirmary director, and held other important offices. During the war he was a strong Abolitionist, and made the first speech of that character in the county. He owned three hundred and ninety-five acres of land. Of his children, the eldest son, John A., was born in 1821 in Virginia ; and married Cynthia Racer, who was born in 1819 in this county. Two of their three children are living: Henry C. and Leslie C. Their daughter Lelia (Hoffman) died in 1880, leaving one son. _ Mr. West owns a farm at the mouth of the Little Muskingum. He has been trustee of his township nineteen years. His son Henry C. married Phebe McKibben, and has two children. Leslie C., the second son, married Arvilla Middleswart and lives in Kansas. James C., the second son of William and Elizabeth West, was born in 1824, married Adaline Thornily, who was born in Marietta township in 1832. Their sons, George F. and James W. are living. Mr. West has been an important officer in his township. He owns a farm of nearly two hundred acres of land.

Robert Williams was a native of Carnarvonshire, North Wales, where he was born October 31, 1762. He emigrated to this country with his wife and three oldest children, in 1794, and after living some ten years in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, removed to Washington county in 1804, The following year he located on a farm four or five miles east of Marietta, in what afterwards became known as the 'Fuller settlement,'" - several members of a family of the name of Fuller settling there, whose farms adjoined one another. Robert Williams built himself a substantial log house, the best for many miles around. He was naturalized a citizen of the United States in 1808, and the naturalization papers are now in posession of his daughter, Mrs Greene. Mr. Williams first married Jane Roberts, who died in 1816. He afterwards married Mrs. Mary H. Needham, widow of Noah Needham. He had six children by his first wife. David, the oldest, was a Methodist minister. Thomas was a farmer of thiscounty. Of the four daughters, Mrs. Dickinson and Mrs. Baker removed to the west several years ago; Mrs. Winters, at her death, resided in Cincinnati, and the other died in childhood. By his second marriage there were five children, three daughters and two sons, twins. The two oldest daughters, Mrs. Susan W. Greene and Mrs. Mary A. Rood, reside in Marietta. The other daughter (Margaret) died quite early. One of the sons, Rev. John Williams, lives in Ottumwa, Iowa; the other, William, died in 1860. Robert Williams died April, 1843, aged eighty-one, and his wife, Mary, in 1857. Of the children of Mrs. Williams, by her first husband, only one lived to years of maturity, the late M. H. Needham, of Marietta, a well known architect, who died in 1878.

John Willis was born in Washington county, in 1839. In the year 1859 he married Rosa E. Grimes, who was born January 13, 1835. To this couple were born six children, four of whom are still living, viz: Osmer M., who is attending medical college at Columbus; Arthur C., Lemuel C., and Freddie N. Mr. Willis was elected superintendent of the county infirmary in 1877. This infirmary was erected in 1841, on land (one hundred and sixty acres) purchased for that purpose in 1839. Mr. Willis has been for nine years a pastor in the Methodist Episcopal church, but for the greater part of his life has been a farmer.

Stephen Wood was born in Tyler county, West Virginia, in 1809. He came to Marietta in 1829, and worked in the Pheenix mills, and was also connected with a ferry boat across the Ohio. He married Elizabeth Kennedy, who was born in 1811. Eight children still survive, viz: D. H., A. S., W. W., B. F., Mrs. Mahala Oliver, Mrs. Sarah J. Akerson, Mrs. Mary O. Bunch, and Mrs. Martha S. Pflug. Mr. Wood died in 1876. He was a temperance man from 1846 until his death. He joined the United Brethren church in 1856.

Source changes here: from History of Marietta and Washington County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, by Andrews, Martin Register, published 1902; 183 words in this source stream.

Decatur Township

Decatur township was established November 30, 1820. The first settler, Joseph Lovdell, came in 181 6, soon followed by the Johnsons, Dufer, Fairchild, Bachelor, Dunn, Giddings and Ballard families who formed the "Lower Settlement" now known as Fillmore P. O. on the State road. The "Upper Settlement"' Decaturville P. O., was made soon after. The Methodist Episcopal Church first entered Decatur township, a log cabin being built in the eastern part of the township about 1840. The United Brethren began a society here before 1850, two classes holding services in the abandoned Methodist Episcopal buildings at Decaturville and west of Fillmore. The Presbyterian Church was organized in 1847, ^ building being erected in 1849 '^"^ rebuilt in 1856. A Baptist church (colored) was erected in 1856. The first flouring mill was erected by Hiram Fairchild about 1821, south of Fillmore. In this township lived Peter M. Garner, Creighton J. Loraine and Mordecai E. Thomas, whose abduction by Virginia officers in 1845 almost caused a war between the States of Ohio and Virginia,. A history of this celebrated case is found in Chapter VI.