Green Township

Green Township

Clinton county was formed from the territory of Highland and Warren counties and Green township had been organized while this territory was still a part of Highland county. Clinton county was not organized until 1810 and evidently Green township was organized some two or three years prior to this date. In one of the early township books we find this record: "(1) October 28, 1809, William Noble's ear mark of his hogs, sheep and cattle is a crop and under-slit in the right ear and a hole in the left." "(2) December 4, 1809, Thomas Cox's ear mark of his hogs, sheep and cattle is a swallow fork and under-bit in the left ear and a hole in the left."

It is also a matter of record that the early citizens of this township paid tax as citizens of Green township, Highland county. Two of the tax receipts are given as evidence of the fact: "Tax receipt, October 6, 1807. Received of Micajah Nordyke $2.65 of land and county tax for the year. Received by B. W. Johnson." "November 9, 1809. Received of Micajah Nordyke his state and county tax; state tax $2.25, county tax 45 cents; 300 acres of land, No. 4,397." Therefore. we can safely draw the conclusion that this township was formed as early as 1809.

Green township lies in the southeast part of Clinton county. It is bounded on the southeast by Highland county; on the west by Clark, Washington and Union townships; on the north by Union and Wayne townships and on the northeast by Wayne township. Its form is rhomboidal. This township contains about forty-three square miles of land, or twenty-seven thousand five hundred and twenty acres. The northeast part of the township lies on the waters of Paint creek; the southwest part lies on the headwaters of the Little Miami river.

Topography

The surface of the land is gently rolling, but in some places it is very level. All of the land is tillable. The soil is excellent and the larger part is a black loam, of great depth and very productive. A large part of this township was once rejected swamps, but the energy and efforts of the early citizens have been rewarded by the value and productiveness of this land which has been reclaimed. It is drained by the smaller tributaries of the East Fork of the Little Miami river, Cowan's creek, Lee's creek and Paint creek. There are no springs in this township, but water of an excellent quality can be obtained but a few feet below the surface of the soil.

Settlement

The white man evidently made his first appearance in this township about the year 1800. The exact time when he came here is not a matter of record, and tradition is not authentic in such matters. 'The first settlers to take out land with the intention of making this their permanent home wefe Joseph Anthony, who came here from Virginia ; Abner Van Meter and Samuel Clevenger; Morgan Van Meter, who was a native of Morgantown, Virginia, and who settled in the vicinity of Snow Hill in the year 1800. Van Meter purchased two hundred acres of land, on which he erected a double log house and this was the first log cabin erected in the township.

It is thought by older inhabitants of this township that the first settlement was made a little southwest of the center of the township on the Hast fork of the Little Miami river. Micajah Nordyke was among the first settlers to locate here. He was a native of North Carolina and came to this county in the year 1804. In 1806 he sold his former claim and settled a short distance west. in the same township. The Nordyke brothers were born in North Carolina, but, while yet quite young. moved to South Carolina and remained there a short time. when they moved to Tennessee. on a stream ealled Lost creek. They came direct to Clinton county from this place and remained here until their death. They purchased their land for two dollars and fifty cents an acre of Col. A. Buford. who then owned a large tract of this region.

As one bit of living organism will attract others. so this small settlement in the far-off wilderness served as a nucleus around which many others gathered. Joshua and Stephen Hussey emigrated from North Carolina. their native state. in the year 1806-07 and bought land in this township, a portion of which is included in the present limits of the town of New Vienna. The first house built by these brothers was only a_ short distance from New Vienna. Charles Harris. who was the father of Elisha Harris. bought a tract of land in this township and began the work of improving it and getting it under cultivation. About the same time. Thomas Cox. who was the father of Vincent Cox. of New Vienna. settled here. Other early settlers who assisted in the upbuilding of the township. are Joseph Anthony, William Noble, Sr... Aaron Cox and Eliha Noble. Charles Harris built the "Snow Hill house." and opened a tavern there. probably the first opened in the county. Mr. Harris's brother-in-law. Samuel Wasson. built a house about the same time and near the Snow Hill house and commenced to entertain travelers.

The land in the northwest part of the township was held originally in large tracts, which Congress had bestowed for military services rendered in the Revolutionary strusgle. or in repelling the attacks of the savage aborigines of the county. In consequence of this. the northern and northwestern part of the township was not settled as early as the southern and southeastern part. The pioneers of this region were brave. big-hearted. truthful, generous and kind. They left the civilization of their early homes and sought their fortunes in the wilds of the Mississippi valley. After these men had found the lands which they had bought, the first thing they did was to erect a rude structure called a eabin, for the protection of those for whom they were ready to sacrifice their lives. When suitable sites were located on which to build their enbins, they at onee began the work of construction. which consisted in the hewing and shaping of the logs and putting them together, and in a marvelously short time there would rise in the woods these embryo homes. In these crude homes, the loving housewife and playful children were afterwards to share the love and caresses, hardships and privations of their noble husbands and fathers. These log houses were usually small. with but one large room. some sixteen or eighteen by twenty feet square. eight or nine feet high. constructed of rough logs, covered with clapboards. three or four feet long and six to ten inches in width. laid in layers and held to their places with poles. The spaces between the logs were filled with pieces of timber and covered with mortar made of clay and water. The floor was rough, made of puncheons or slabs, split from the trunks of trees and smoothed on one side. In the center of one wall the chimney was constructed. which usnally took up the entire side of the house. This was constructed by cutting away three or four of the lower logs at one end of the buildings and then building them to the wall again by attaching pieces between the ends of the logs removed and parts still remaining in ihe walls. Against these logs and timbers. stones were placed. against which the fire was built. This was ealled the back wall and the chimney was constructed by laying together small pieces of timber and plastering these within and without with clay mortar. The clothing of these early pioneers was hand-made and was ealled linseywoolsey. :

A gloom was cast over the thinly-settled community by the death of the child of Abner Van Meter, which was the first death to occur in the township.

For several years after the coming of the first settler, the growth of the township was slow. Emigrants came in from the south and east, but the influx was rather scanty. By 1820 the population had increased until practically all of the lands were occupied. The growth and progress was steady from then to the present time and the farms, which now yield large crops, were reclaimed by these sturdy pioneers.

First School

tt is rather uncertain where the first school was located in this township, but: 'popular opinion among the older inhabitants seems to point to the town of New Vienna. This house was built about the year 1812. Robert Peggin was first employed to keep this school, but he was a man of intemperance and lax morals and was soon released. James Savage was tiie next employe, but, morally, he was very little better, hence he was likewise released.

The following are the officers of Green township in 1915: Trustees, William Cashman, C. B. Miller and Charles Johnson; clerk, H. L. Bower; treasurer, William H. Holmes. Population, two thousand one hundred fifty-eight.

New Vienna

New Vienna is located between Cincinnati and Chillicothe, on the main line of the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern. It is situated within the boundary line of Clinton county but borders on Highland.

"Buzzard's Glory," as the town was first called, was laid off as a village April 21, 1835, by Nathan Linton, surveyor, for Thomas Hussey (father of Stephen Hussey). It was called "Buzzard's Glory" from the fact that a man by the name of Mortimer, in the early days, about 1812 or 1813, was running a tanyard over in the "Canada" part of town. It was part of the Collohill survey No. 1,078. While thus employed, he became financially embarrassed, and his stock was levied on. The hides were taken out to the vats preparatory to sale and hung on poles where they remained for several days, affording bait for an innumerable throng of buzzards, and while they were thus flocking to feed on Mortimer's hides, the place was dubbed "Buzzard's Glory." Harkens T. Van Winkle gave the town its present name of New Vienna. 4

Among the first settlers were Thomas and Joshua Hussey. They started a grist-mill in 1826, near where the home of John IT. Wright is now located. They continued in business until the year 1833, when they purchased an engine and began running a steam grist and saw-mill.

During the year 1827, Rafe Mortinier and Stephen Hussey sunk a tanyard in that part of town now known as "Canada." This tanyard was located just between what is now known as the William Moore property and the home of William Rollison. Remains of the old tanyard can yet be seen there. The firm continued in business until 1829, when Mr.

In 1829, Stephen Hussey and William Reese opened a store in a building that stood where the present residence of William Triplett stands. This was the first business of its kind ever conducted in New Vienna. They sold their goods to Thomas Hussey and Henry Kennedy. These gentlemen were afterward succeeded in business by George Townsend and he by Judge Isaac Thornburg.

In 1829 Jonathan Haworth and Thomas Reese started a carding-mill. About the year 1834, Zion Rains put in operation an oil-mill for the manufacture of linseed oil.

The first hotel in New Vienna was kept by Girard Morgan on the lot now occupied by the residence of Frank W. Hadley. John E. Dalton was the first practicing physician of the village. Granville Osborne was the first. as well as the present, tinner of the town, and John Spears, the principal blacksmith.

family names of today. Their names and date of settlement are as follow: Micajah Nordyke, 1806; Jehu Ellis, 1806; Morgan Van Meter, Charles Harris, William Noble, James Johnson, John Shockley, Nathan Hockett, Joseph Hockett, John Hockett, Eleazer Jobnson, Absalom Van Meter, Stephen Hussey, Sr., Joshua Hussey, Nordyke and others settled around them. When they began to hear their neighbor's dog bark they thought they were getting pretty close.

The first public improvement in the new settlement was to build a house of worship. Micajah Nordyke donated three acres of land where what is now known as the Quaker cemetery is located, on the farm of Lawrence Wright. On this site was built a log house of two rooms, with one dvor and one window in each room. The two rooms were connected by sliding shutters in the partition. A stone hearth was placed in the center of each room to burn charcoal on, as stoves could not be procured at that time. This was in about the year 1809.

This first house of worship was what is known now as the Friends church. They occupied this building until the year 1871, when their present house was built. At that time the Friends had their principal printing office of the United States in New Vienna and sent out from here printed matter, such as weekly papers, monthlies, books, etc.

The first school in the new colony was taught on the Henry Nordyke place, still known as the Nordyke farm and lying next to the farm of Charles Miller. It was taught by Daniel Frazier. The next school, in the same house, was taught by Moses Foley. The next was taught in the log meeting house above described by Robert Ellis.

The first house built expressly for school purposes was a large building on the lot now occupied by the residence of Fred Johnson; this was built in 1820, and was warmed by the first stove that was brought here.

A Mr. Rains erected an oil factory where Mrs. Rena Edwards now lives and was quite successful in this enterprise for a while. Silas Woodmansee and George W. Matthews opened the second store in the village.

The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in the early history of the village, probably about the year 1848. Their first house of worship was built about 1850, on a site at the edge of where their church now stands. This continued until 1876, when the present building was erected. A Rey. C. B. Warrington was the first preacher to visit this place and at the commencement of the first meeting Mrs. Bowers was the only member in town.

The: first Baptist church was erected about two miles east of the village on what is now known as the Burnett land and adjoining the old cemetery, which is still there. It was then known as '"Hard-Shell Baptist church." After a time a division occurred, when the more liberal-minded collected themselves together and kept up worship at the houses of friends until the band grew strong enough to erect a place of worship, which they did in 1840.

The Catholic church was more recently organized and at first bought and used the old school building which stood on the site now occupted by their church. This building was removed and they built the church they now occupy.

The Church of Christ has existed as an organized body since 1866. The ground work was laid by W. D. Moore, who was then a missionary at this place under the auspices of Mt. Olive, Bethel and New Antioch churches. The churches employed him for one-fourth of his time for one year, commencing in the fall of 1859, to labor at New Vienna. In June, 1869, W. D. Moore and Rey. Mr. Bacon held a discussion, involving the doctrine of Universalism. This discussion, it is said, settled the question in this community of the doctrine of unconditional salvation. In the fall of 1866, from one thousand to one thousand five hundred dollars was subscribed for building a church house and the work was postponed until spring. With spring came the War of the Rebellion and the work was not begun until the end of the war. The building was first built in 1866 or 1867, with Zephaniah Spears and Clark Dixon as overseers.

From the time New Vienna was first laid out until 1880, it steadily increased in population and business. In 1880, it ranked as the second town in the county and in some respects commanded a larger trade than did the county seat.

Since 1880, New Vienna has almost remained stationary as to population, although the business conditions have been improved with the advancing times.

New Vienna has good cement walks throughout the town, has good streets and supports a municipal water and light plant. She has two dry-goods stores, four grocery stores and one hardware store. Three of the groceries have hardware departments in connection. The town is well supplied with three first-class restaurants and confectioneries, two meat markets, two drug stores, two clothing stores, one book store and the best weekly paper in southern Ohio. It has one jewelry store and one bank, the New Vienna Bank being one of the two roll of honor banks of Clinton county. It has three blacksmith shops, two garages, one buggy repository, one harness shop, one furniture store, one furniture repairing establishment, a first-class bakery and an up-to-date dry-cleaning establishment. It has five good churches, five fraternal orders and their auxiliaries, two livery barns and three auto livery concerns.

In the manufacturing line New Vienna is represented by one of the largest and best flour-mills on the Baltimore & Ohio South Western between Cincinnati and Parkersburg. There is also a creamery with an established reputation with all handlers of creamery butter; a tile and brick plant, an agricultural lime plant and a lumber-mill.

The New Vienna high school is one of the best in the state, as proven by the fact that the United States commissioner of education saw fit to send a representative from his office to inspect it. It is the first school in the state of Ohio to employ a domestic science director for twelve months in the year. The town is also favored with the county normal and a six-weeks' summer normal session:

Roy C. Hale is the present postmaster. O. C. Borden is the agent-for the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. The present town officials are: John W. Matthews, mayor; R. J. Rulon, clerk; John B. Swingley, marshal; William H. Curtis, J. L. Michael, L. G. Morton, Fred S. Johnson, William Foreman and Thomas Hodson, councilmen ; John F. Schuler, George M. Neffner and W. R. Pemberton, board of public works; O. C. Borden, E. FE. Haynes, C. O. Bernard, John Edingfield and C. N. Carey, school board.

New Antioch

New Antioch is but a hamlet. of probably one hundred and fifty inhabitants, situated a half-mile to the northeast of the New Vienna and Wilmington pike, and about eight miles from the former place. It was platted by Charles Underwood, surveyor, for Paul Hulls, Jr.. David Marble and others, on February 28, 1851. It is part of Johnson and others' survey No. 2.386. Its buildings are all frame, but good and substantial, and takes on an appearance of thrift. Two pikes pass through the town.

The early industries consisted of a mill, operated by John Duchane; two stores, run by the Layman Brothers and the Rulon Brothers. John Barrett was the early shoemaker, aa Pressley Rulon accommodated the early citizens with harness. The present business and professional interests consist of one general merchandise store, owned by C. V. Murphy; one grocery store, owned by J. W. Summers; three blacksmith shops, Thomas Devers, Elmer Urton and William Arrsmith operating them; Nelson Hall is the village barber: James Hobson runs a shoe shop; J. W. Durham owns and operates a flour and saw-mill. and V. E. Hutchins is the village physician.

Snow Hill is the only other hamlet in this township, and is one of the early towns laid out in the county. It was platted and laid out for Charles Harris, proprietor, November 11, 1817. on the William Talifairo survey No. 192.

Morgantown is a defunct town of Green township. The village was first laid out on what is known as the Washington Spear farm near Snow Hill, now owned by the Swingley estate. This settlement was called Morgantown and there were but a very few houses built there.

This village was platted on February 23, 1816, and laid out for Isaac Pearson, Jr., and Mary Van Matre, the proprietors. This was part of the William Tallifairo survey No. 1,101. It remained a town but a short time, and was then vacated and reverted back to farm land.