Fairfield Township (part 2 of 2)

Irene, May, 1864, now dead; Lillie Maud, April 10, 1868; and Raleigh Van Cleaf, September 2, 1872. Mr. Vinnedge is essentially a self-made man, receiving no as- He began business for himself when twenty-five years old by renting a small farm of forty acres. He rented until about 1864, when he entered into partnership with W. V. Clark, in the Mason farm of one hundred and eighty-seven acres in Fairfield Township, which he sold in 1866, and in 1867 moved to Port Union, where he went to store-keeping under the firm name of F. R. Vinnedge, and in the purchase of grain and produce, under the name of Beatty, Vinnedge & Lippelmann, in w

Source changes here: from Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio, by Bert S. Bartlow, W. H. Todhunter, Stephen D. Cone, Joseph J. Pater, Frederick Schneider, and Others, published 1905; 1,265 words in this source stream.

Fairfield City

The history of Fairfield township is very intimately connected with the city of Hamilton, which place, until March 14, 1867, was a part of the township proper. On that date the board of county commissioners, acting in accordance with the desire of a majority of the freeholders of the city of Hamilton and Fairfield township, cut off from Fairfield township the second and third wards of the city of Hamilton, which with the first ward, taken from St. Clair township, was thereafter known as Hamilton township.

The first settlement in Fairfield township was at Fort Hamilton. The settlement was originally called "Fairfield," and when the township was formally established by the court of quarter sessions, on Tuesday, May to. 1803, the original name of the settlement, that of "Fairfield," was given the new township.

Fairfield township lies wholly within the Sy mines purchase and is bounded on the north and west by the Miami river ; on the east by Liberty and Union townships, and on the south by Hamilton county.

The first roads in Fairfield township were mere bridle paths, and it was not until the settlers became more numerous that the state roads were laid out. The first road of any importance led from Hamilton to Cincinnati via Springdale, following about the route St. Clair and Wayne had taken in their marches northward to Fort Hamilton to make ready for their expeditions against the Indians. Another road of consequence in the early days was the Symmes' Corner road. Both of these roads, in after years, were macadamized and are now paralleled respectively by the Millcreek valley and the Cincinnati, Dayton & Toledo electric traction lines. These electric thoroughfares, in addition to the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton and the Pennsylvania railroads and the Miami canal, afforded to the inhabitants most valuable facilities for travel and freight traffic.

No creeks of any considerable size flow through Fairfield township, yet it is well drained bv natural streams, artificial ditches and tiling. Banklick is the largest creek in volume in the township. It takes its rise in Colerain township, Hamilton county, and is very rapid in its current. This stream takes its name from the fact that in the early settlement of the county deer frequented it to drink the peculiar water which in some places flows from its banks. Pleasant run is a stream of some size. Its course is tortuous and winding. The waters in the region of "Big Pond" flow southward into Mill creek. Many Indian murders were committed on these creeks.

The Fairfield Baptist church, established in 1800, was the earliest church in the township, and with one exception the earliest in the county. It was a hewed-log house, capable of seating about two hundred persons.

Centennial History Of

The Auburn Methodist Episcopal church was organized about 1835. It originally belonged to the West Chester circuit. Rev. John Baughman was the first regular pastor. John Rudolph and Solomon Flenner donated the land for the church structure.

The Pleasant View United Presbyterian church was organized in 1850. Isaac and Joseph Morris and others were among the organizers. The house, a brick, was erected in 1857. Revs. Eli Huffman and Wm. Nicholas were the first preachers.

The Old School Presbyterian church was organized in Symmes' Corner about seventy-five years ago. The church was the outgrowth of the Venice, Springdale and Hamilton Presbyterian churches, and was built to accommodate a sprinkling of all these societies. In the 'fifties the church organization was removed to Hamilton county, where a house of worship was erected to meet the wants of the members who lived in that vicinity. During recent years a mission has been conducted at Symmes' Corner under the auspices of the First Presbyterian church of Hamilton.

The Valley Chapel Methodist Episcopal church, at Jones Station, was begun in 1840 by ministers of different denominations holding meetings in the old school house. These meetings continued without any decided improvement until February, 1866, when Rev. Daniel Griffis, pastor of Port Union Methodist Episcopal circuit, made a protracted effort and met with such success that in September following a house was dedicated which cost one thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars.

The Methodists of Lindenwald have recently completed a beautiful church edifice and are prospering under the pastorate of Rev. S. A. Stephans. This church is the outgrowth of a mission established a few years ago by the First Methodist Episcopal church of Hamilton.

St. John's Evangelical church in East Hamilton is a prosperous congregation. It has a very comfortable church building and holds services every Sabbath afternoon. F. L. Dorn, pastor.

The population of Fairfield township in 1900 was 4,018, a gain of 1,573 over census of 1890. It is one of the few townships that made a gain in population over the former census. It is probable that the gain since 1900 has exceeded that of the decennial period between 1890 and 1900. The principal centers of population are found in the suburbs of the city of Hamilton, Lindenwald and East Hamilton, which are located in Fairfield township. The two towns have an estimated population aggregating twenty-five hundred. They have a number of manufacturing industries in operation and are thrifty, growing towns, both of which, within a short time, will probably be annexed to the city of Hamilton.

This hamlet, situated four miles south of Hamilton, along the line of the C. D. & T. Traction Company, has a population of probably two hundred people. It is surrounded by rich farming land, and the community is one of the richest and most prosperous in the county. The first settler here, Celadon Symmes, came as early as 1795, but the settlement did not assume the dignity of a hamlet until about 1830. Then a tavern, store and blacksmith shop were established. Joseph R. Symmes was the first store keeper. Benjamin Symmes was the first tavern keeper. Later, Creyton Wilcox began to entertain the traveling public, of which there was considerable in those days, from the neighborhood of Richmond, Indiana, Eaton, Oxford and other distant parts who marketed their farm products and merchandise at Cincinnati. Daniel Rosebone and Joseph Hughes were the first mechanics and conducted blacksmith shops. A postoffice was established here in 1843. The C. D. & T. power house and car bams are located here.

Jones Station

Jones Station is located in the southeastern part of the township near the Hamilton county line. It is a station on the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad, and takes its name from the owner of the land at the time the railroad was built, John D. Jones. Thomas Kirk was the first station agent, and he opened a country store here. A postoffice was established later, and was given the name of Stockton, which it retains. The Millcreek valley traction road passes near the station. The Valley Chapel

Fair Play

Fair Play, formerly a hamlet located in "Black Bottom," west of Symmes' Corner, has entirely disappeared. Before 1850, when the Alston mill and the Graham paper mill were in operation at this point, there was quite a settlement here. There was a store established and considerable business was transacted, but after the mills ceased operation the town soon vanished.

Flenner's Corner, located on the county road dividing Fairfield from Liberty township, took its name from John Flenner, an early settler ani store keeper there about 1850. In recent years the town has lost its importance, and exists only in memory.

Furmandale, commonly known as Snaptown, was formerly the seat of a large boarding school conducted by Mr. Furman. A tavern and distillery were also located here.