Greenfield Township

Greenfield Township

Greenfield was first settled in 1799, and was incorporated as a township in 1805. Isaac Meason, father of the late Venerable John Meason, was among the first to settle in the bounds of Greenfield. At the time of his coming there is said to have been not above half a dozen of families within the boundaries of the then very large township. Their names are : Captain Joseph Stewart, father of Levi Stewart, now of Lancaster, Wm. IStcFarland, Ralph Cherry, Jeremiah Cherry, Joshua Meeks, Dorsey Meason and Samuel Randall. They expected to hold their lands under the "Tomahawk" Pre-Emption Claim, but they were subsequently sectioned and sold as Congress Lands at two dollars an acre, without any reference to " Squatter Sovereignty. "

Yankeytown and forks of Hocking were first settlements in Greenfield. The site of the former is now known as the Claypool neighborhood, and the latter as the Rock Mills.

The name of Henry Abrams, father-in-law of the late General George Sanderson, is also prominent among the first settlers of Greenfield, he having arrived in 1800, settling first, I believe, on what is at present known as the Sanderson farm.

The first election for the township was held at Yankeetown in the fall of 1805. The first tax-collector in Greenfield was Colonel Crooks, who was subsequently SheriS" of the county. Emanuel Carpenter is also spoken of as being at that time a citizen of Greenfield. His surviving friends, however, do not remember that he ever lived anywhere but down Hocking.

[A general remark is here proper. At the early times, of w^hich we write, the taxes of Ohio were collected by special collectors. The manner was as follows : A house in the township was designated, and a day named ; at that house, on the specified day, the collector remained all day to receive the taxes, it being the duty of the tax-payers to come there and take up their receipts].

Walter McFarland, John Meason and Gideon Martin, old and prominent citizens of Greenfield, deceased during the last year, aged respectively above eighty years.

Joseph Loveland and Hezekiah Smith, New Englanders, built a grist and saw-mill combined at the forks of Hocking in 1800. The place is familiarly known at present as the Rock Mill. It is on the old Columbus road, seven miles from Lancaster. These men are said to have sold goods at their mill which were brought on pack-horses from Detroit. They also sold whisky, charging one dollar a quart for it. The Indians often bought it and took a big drunk, always leaving one or two of their number sober to restrain the drinkers, a custom not observed by their more civilized brethern of the " palefaced " race.

A wrestling tournament between Isaac Meason and a stout Indian is spoken of, in which Mr. Meason was successful in three straight falls, when the Indian, in a very surprised manner, gave up the contest.

It is related that some of the first emigrants erected tents, which they roofed with bark, inhabiting them until they could find the time to put up cabins. Two or three families are said, in some instances, to have jointly occupied one cabin of small dimensions.

The second or third j'ears, after the settlements began, were characterized bj' a great- deal of sickness. A form of disease prevailed that was thought to be yellow fever. Of those who died with it are mentioned: .leremiah Cherry, Joshua Meeks and Benjamin Edgar. For their interment no better coffins could be provided than rude structures of puncheons.

The first Methodist preacher who came into the township, it is believed, was one John Williams. A Scotch Covenanter, by the name of Wallace, made ah effort in 1816 to establish a church, but failed. In 1813 the Lutherans built the first church of the township. A Union Church was built in 1840, which afterwards fell into the hands of the Methodists. It is said to be still in use. It was called Pleasant Summit. The first circuit-riders who preached in it were Hand and Milligan.

There are three villages in Greenfield. Carroll was laid out by William Tong, at the junction of the Ohio and Hocking Valley canals. Havensport, a small village on the canal, was laid oiTby Isaac Havens; and Dumontsville, four miles northwest of Lancaster, by Mr. Dumont, from France.

Greenfield ranks among the wealthiest townships of the county. It is situated north-west from Lancaster. The first man who taught school in Greenfield is believed to have been a Mr. May. The town.ship at this time contains seven churches.

An object in this township that merits commemoration, is Greenfield Academy on the Carroll Pike. It was erected in 1830 by Jacob Claypool, and was at first used for school and church purposes, and afterwards converted into an academy.

I came from Berks County, Pennsylvania, in the year 1805, and settled in Fairfield County, at first fourteen miles down Hocking, then in Pleasant Township, and afterwards iVi Greenfield, where I have been residing thirty-six years. My father was Jacob Zeller Radibaugh. He died in Greenfield Township in 1841. Of those who came out with our family from Pennsylvania, were : Benjamin Boucher, Frederick Klinger, and their families. They both settled down Hocking, within Fairfield County, and are both dead. There were but few cabins in Lancaster when we came. It was all a wild wilderness country. Our neighbors down Hocking were Mr. Watts and John Zeller. In Pleasant we lived in the Ewing settlement. My husband's father was George Radibaugh. He owned the farm now belonging to William Rigby, joining Frederick Seitz on the south.

The elder Radibaughs who lived in Pleasant were Nicholas and George. They settled there previous to 1810. They have both deceased, and their descendants are largely represented in the county.

Down Hocking we lived in a small log-cabin that had oiled paper for window-lights. Newspapers were often used for that purpose, and hog's-lard and bear-grease for oiling them. We had no mills very near us, and the small ones, that were some distance away, often' failed for want of water, so that breadstuffs were sometimes very scarce. Sometimes several weeks passed when scarcely anybody in the whole neighborhood had a pound of meal or flour. In these times of scarcity we used pounded hominy and vegetables. Nearly every cabin

The first wedding I attended was Mary Cisco to Jas. Philips. The next was my own, in 1811. The first death which occurred in the neighborhood was that of Adam Sellers, a small boy.

The first religious meetings that were held in our neighborhood down Hocking, were held at my father's cabin by the United Brethren. My father was a Brethren preacher. I am 82 years old. The early settlers of Fairfield County that I knew have all passed away.

Recollections Of Jacob Sheapfer, Of Madison

His father, Samuel Sheaffer, came from York County, Pennsylvania, in company with Christly Stalter and George Dush, and settled in Madison Township in the year 1802, and when Jacob was seven years old. He has lived on the same place ever since, and is now eighty-three years of age. They came in wagons all the way - came by Wheeling, and from there over Zane's trace to Lancaster. Lancaster at that time was all forest trees, with the exception of a few rude log-cabins. They stopped over night three miles west, at the place since known as Sheafifer's tavern. There was a cabin there, occupied by a man named Swygart. From there they followed the trace to near where Amanda is, then turned south a few miles, and stoped on the same section of land where Jacob now lives. Stalter and Dush built their tents within a couple of miles. On the route between Zanesville and Lancaster there were at that time not over three or four cabins. The Swygart cabin and the Leathers House were the only structures between Lancaster and where they stopped, on Clear Creek.

At the time of the arrival of this colony of three families in Madison Township, or what is now Madison Township, there had already preceded them Martin Landis, Sr., Mike Shellenbarger, Nathan Owens, Peter Prough, the father of Mathew, John, William, Robert and Joseph Young, who lived one mile east of where M^ Sheiifi'er stopped, and a Mr. Hunter, who lived a little east.

Thev first went to Isaac SheafFer's, and the men went over and built a cabin, cutting out a single log for an entrance, throut^h which the family crawled, on their arrival. The first winter was spent in it without so much as a chink in one of the cracks. There was no other floor than Mother Earth. The fire was built in one corner of the cabin. They at once began the work of clearing off some land for a cornfield and during that winter, Mr. SheafFer testified, he believed they were the happiest people in the world.

Subsequent to the arrival of these families, there came and settled in the adjacent region, George Buzzard, old Mr. Stalter John, Nicholas and Daniel Conrad, Abram Sheaffer, father of the late Joel Sheaffer, and a Mr. Wolf. During the following ten or fifteen years the township filled up rapidly.

Mr. Sheaffer's father hired him to Martin Landis, Sr., for three dollars a month. He said he could not keep himself in clothes at such wages, and before he would be compelled to do so he would run away. Landis told his father, and he said, " Send him home." To satisfy him and keep him at home, his father gave him a horse, saddle and bridle, and he was satisfied.

The first mill in the township was built very early, by Charles Friend. Samuel Sheaffer, father of the narrator, put up a small distillery early after his arrival. Drinking men came there, and it caused a good deal of disturbance.

The first school of the settlement was taught by one Richard Clark. The first remembered death, after the arrival of the Sheaffers, was that of George Lusk and child. The first marriage remembered was George Prough to Barbara Shoemaker.

For a great many years there was very little the farmers could raise that would bring cash. But the taxes had to be paid, and it was often very difficult to scrape up what little money was required for that purpose.

At first it was necessary to blaze the trees in order to go from one point to another with safety, for the country was literally a wilderness - a trackless desert. In one instance the trees were blazed between the cabin and the litte cornfield ; and also to a branch of water where they went to water the stock, though the distance was in one case but a quarter of a mile, and in the other half a mile.

The settlers made all their own clothing, on domestic wheels and looms. Every house had its hominy-block. There was in the neighborhood a hand-mill, where, people went and ground their own corn. The black-birds and crows were very destructive to the corn, both in spring and fall ; but the squirrels and raccoons were far more so. The first salt was brought from the Scioto works, and cost four and five dollars a bushel, which was fifty pounds. Pack-saddles were used. Almost everything was transported on horseback, for the want of wagon-roads.

Recollections Of John Crook, Of Berne

I am a son of William Crook, for a long time a citizen of Berne Township. My father came from Henry County, Virginia, in 1805, and settled in Berne Township, on the farm now owned by George Huffman, two miles south-east of Lan^ caster. My grandfather, Ephriam Crook, came out first and lived on the same place. My father had six brothers, who also preceded him to this county, all residing in the same neighborhood. They are all deceased.

trust. He was in the war of 1812. He went out as a Major, and was promoted to the rank of Colonel. He died at his home in Berne Township, in about 1855.

At my earliest recollection our neighbors were Thomas Stone, Emanuel Carpenter, Sr., David Carpenter, William Carpenter, Israel Carpenter, Emanuel Carpenter, Jr., John Carpenter (John Carpenter was the father of Mrs. John Van Pearce), Jacob Vanraeter, John Vanmeter, James Pearce, Abraham Ream, Jacob Ream. Sampson, William, Absalom, Abram and George Ream were sons of Abraham Ream. Jacob Ream had two sons - Philip and Jacob. Peter Sturgeon was one of the earliest settlers. Abram Walker, Nicholas Crawfish and James Mumford were also early settlers of Berne Township. Mr. Jackson, father of Thomas Jackson, Esq., and grandfather of John D. Jackson, of Lancaster, came at a very early day. The father of the late Judge Joseph Stukey and Samuel Stukey was likewise an early comer.

The first mill that I can remember was the Eckert mill. It was built by the father of Jacob Eckert, who was the father of George and Henry Eckert. The mill was built on Hocking, one mile above the Ream mill. The Ream mill was built a little later. The Kuntz mill was perhaps built first. The Shellenbargar mill was built by Samuel and Henry Shellenbarger. Samuel Shellenbarger was the father of the present Reuben Shellenbarger.

The first school I went to was on the land now owned by Mr. Prindle, two miles below Lancaster. John Adison was the teacher. This was in about 1809. He was a humorous man. On one occasion I lost my book, and did not find it until the next day. He asked me where I found it. I told him I found it in the bush. After that, wheni went up to say my lesson, he would lay his hand on my head and say good-naturedly : "This is the boy that found his book in the bush." Hocking H. Hunter afterwards taught in that house, and also a Mr. Burrows.

The Presidential election of 1828 was held where the fullingmill of James R. Pierce is, on the sixteenth section, anS afterwards at the house of Henry Ozenbaugh, who was also one of the early settlers of Berne Township.

We lived at first in a little log-cabin in the woods. It had but one room, which was parlor, sitting-room, bed-room and kitchen for the whole family. The trees were deadened, and the underbrush cleared off, and the logs rolled and burned, and the corn was raised in among the trees. The rails to fence in the fields were for the most part made from trees cut down on the clearing. (The clearing was the ground in process of being prepared for the plow).

My mother used to spread a bed before the fire in cold weather, and five or six of us little folks would lie down in a row, with our feet towards the fire. This was made necessary by the scarcity of beds and bed-clothes.

Dances and country plays were practiced by the young people. There were little or no distinctions among the people ; every well-behaved person was as good as anybody else. Money made no difference then, for we did not have enough of it to get up an aristocracy upon. Of one thing I am sure - everybody then had better manners than they have now ; and there was real friendship and sociability amongst all classes. Everybody was ready to help each other whenever help was needed. And I think everybody was honester than now - a man's woid was worth something. I love to think of those good days, departed never again to return. Our associations, and loves, and friends, are nearly all lost in the now fast-growing dim vista of the past, and we can only strain our eyes towards the better land, where, by faith, we expect to meet them all again.

Source changes here: from Pioneer Period and Pioneer People of Fairfield County, Ohio, by Wiseman, C. M. L. (Charles Milton Lewis), published 1901; 652 words in this source stream.

Greenfield Township

Greenfield township was settled in 1798 and 1799. Isaac Meason was one of the very early settlers. Walter McFarland and his father came about the same time. Joseph Stuart, Ralph Cherry, Jeremiah Cherry, Joshua Meeks and Samuel Randall were here before Meason. Gen. James Wells, a distinguished man, of a very distinguished family, came here about tne year 1801 and settled where Hooker station is located.

Jacob Clay pool came in 1808, but did not bring his family until 181 1. He became one of the distinguished men of the county ; farmer, drover, banker, legislator and an all round good business man. This township was the seat of the famous Greenfield Academy, where so many young men were educated by that famousscholar and teacher, Dr. John Williams.

An Historic Ohio Mill Rock Mill, At Hookers, Ohio

Among the other Ohio flouring mills, few are to be found in a better state of preservation than the Rock Mills, shown in the engraving. It is located at the upper falls of the Hocking river, near the village of Hookers, Fairfield County, about seven miles from Lancaster. It occupies (nearly) the site of the first mill erected (1799) on Hocking river, built by Loveland & Smith. They located directly below the falls, the grists being taken into the mill at the gable by ropes from the top of the clifif.

The present building was erected in 1824. It has the heavy frame timbers of that period and is four stories high. It was built by a man named Barrett, as a combined grist and woolen mill, but the woolen machinery was never put mto the building. The premises have since been owned successively by Abraham Bookwaiter, Christian Morehart, Joseph Knabenshue (father of Samuel Knabenshue, editor of the Toledo Blade), Philip Homrighous and John Foor, who in the spring of 1899 became a member of the firm of Solt, Alspach Bros. & Foor. They completely remodeled the mill, putting in Nordyke & Marmon Company's machinery and the Swing Sifter System. It has since been running successfully, doing a comfortable business. The firm is now styled Solt & Alspach. C. Mingus is the head miller.

Tlie waterfall shown in the engraving is located immediately to the right of the penstock. Below the falls for half a mile or so, the river is confined within a narrow gorge some 50 to 60 feet deep, which is shaded bv a heavy growth of timber. It is a favorite resort for searchers for the picturesque in that part of Ohio. The wide gorge resembles the body of a bottle and the narrow stem above the falls, the neck, hence the name "bottle-river" or Hock-Hocking. Grogan, one of the first white men to visit this valley ( 1751 ) records this name. - American Miller.

Clear Creek

The Shoemakers, John and Jacob, were undoubtedly the first settlers of this township, as early as 1797, Charley Friend and Michael Nye came in 1800. In 1807 the men destined to become the leading men of the township settled in Clear Creek. John Leist was born in 1784, in Northampton county, Penn. He was a soldier of the war of 181 2 and a member of the Ohio Legislature from 181 3 to 1820. He was distinguished for his integrity and rare good common sense. He reared a large family O't children.

Rev. Jacob Leist, a pioneer Lutheran preacher, was his brother. Near John Leist's home in Dutch hollow the first church of the township was built. A flourishing society of Lutherans has worshipped there for ninety years. Judge John Augustus was a prominent man in Clear Creek.

The early settlers of Bloom township were Abraham Courtright, Jesse D. Courtright, Z. Drake, C. Merchant, M. Allspaugh, Levi Moore and Christian Crumley. Abraham Courtright taught the first school in Bloom township; this was in 1805. It is claimed that a church was built in this township by Presbyterians in 1807, on the old Columbus road.

Source changes here: from History of Fairfield County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, by Miller, Charles Christian, published 1912; 2,283 words in this source stream.

Greenfield Township

Greenfield township is bounded on the north by Liberty, on the east by Pleasant, on the south by Hocking, and on the west by Bloom. Its surface is level and it was settled early, as its green fields attracted the settlers who had come to New Lancaster, as Lancaster was first called.

Settlements were made as early as 1798 and in 1799 numerous families had settled on the Hockhocking, in the Claypool neighborhood, then called Yankeetown. Among the early settlers we find the rjames of Isaac Meason, Capt. Joseph Steward, William

McFarland, Ralph Bright, Jacob Dumont, Henry Abrams, John Bailar, Adam and John Westenberger, John McArthur, John Morgan, and Alexander Sanderson. Capt. Joseph Steward settled in 1799 on the Columbus pike, two miles south of Lancaster. His son, Levi Steward, was born in 1800 and was the first white child born in the township. James Wells settled on the present Hooker land in 1799. Alexander Sanderson came in 1798. The first school was erected in 1802 on the Shufif farm and was taught by Mr. May.

Greenfield township was laid out in 1805. Prominent men in this vicinity were Colonel Crook, Jacob Claypool, Solomon Smith, Henry Holmes, Samuel Cofifman, D. C. Keller, and Isaac Meason. Jacob Claypool built the Academy, which was built for school and church purposes, the date of erection being 1830. The buildings are still standing on the Claypool farm five miles from Lancaster. A further account of this noted academy will be found in Chapter 14. There are four villages in Greenfield township - Carroll, Havensport, Dumontville and Hooker.

The Hocking Valley railroad enters the township at Carroll in the northwest corner and traverses the township diagonally. It has a station at Carroll and at Hookers. The Scioto Vliey Traction Company follows the general direction of the Hocking Valley. The Ohio Canal passes through the northwest corner of Greenfield township, and Carroll was the town where the Ohio and Hocking canals united. There are two pikes across the township, one from Lancaster through Dumontville to Baltimore and one from Lancaster throusrh Hooker to Carroll.

Hooker And Dumontville

Havensport, one and a half miles northeast of Carroll, was platted by Isaac Havens at the time of the completion of the canal in 1 83 1. Dumontville was named from James Dumont. Both these towns now are a mere collection of houses.

Carroll was laid out by William Long after the completion of the canal. For a good many years it was a thriving little town, because of the grain market. At present (1912) it is in a flourishing condition. In Carroll the following carry on a good business: M. J. Blackstone and Harry Brandt, general stores; J. C. Bowman, hardware; J- H. Ruff and W. J. Green, meat markets; F. O. Parrish and A. Bender (who has been in business 40 years in the same place) have well equipped blacksmith shops.

Carroll has a new $25,000 High School and employs six teachers. E. C. Dilger, superintendent; Leroy Soliday, principal of the High School ; E. A. Schmidt, assistant principal ; O. C. Moore, grammar department; Miss Bertha Macklin, intermediate department; Miss Mayrue Kester, primary department.

The High School is a first grade High School. There are two churches at Carroll - the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Rev. J. C. Peitsmeyer is pastor, and the United Brethren Church, with Rev. O. A. Wright, pastor.

H. A. Brown, M. D., of Carroll, Ohio, was born March 15, 1854, at Sugar Grove, Fairfield County, son of R. H. Brown, M. D. He is a grandson of Benjamin Brown, a native of Maryland and of English extraction. He graduated from Starling Medical College of Columbus, Ohio, in 1875; practiced one year at Sugar Grove, Ohio, and came to Carroll, Ohio, in 1876, where he has remained ever since. He belongs to the County, State and National medical societies, and fraternally is an active member of Mount Pleasant Lodge, No. 48, F. & A. M., of Lancaster; the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of Carroll. He is a member of the local school board, now serving as president, and is a member also of the village council. He married Emma E. Ackers, daughter of Ephraim .Ackers, once auditor of Fairfield County. Two sons were born to Dr. and Mrs. Brown - Robert H. and Archie A., of whom the fomier is now deceased. The latter is a practicing physician associated with his father. Dr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Methodist Church.

Archie A. Brown, M. D., of Carroll, Ohio, was born December 31, 1888, at Carroll, Fairfield County, Ohio, a son of H. A. Brown, M. D., and grandson of R. H. Brown, M. D. He was graduated from Stirling-Ohio-Medical College, at Columbus, Ohio, in 1909, and has been associated in practice with his father ever since. He is a member of the village council, of the Ijoard of health and the County, State and National medical societies. While attending the medical school he was a member of the Phi Delta Medical Fraternity, the Starling Loving Society, and Alumni Association. He is still single.

C. A. Barrow, M. D., of Carroll, Ohio, was born in England, March 21, 1865, and received a common school education before entering medical school. He was graduated June 21, 1893. He practiced medicine in New Straitsville, Ohio, for eighteen years, and for fourteen years he was also engaged there in mining coal. He has been president of The Martin Bank Company for the past three years.

The Carroll Village Public School, formerly sub-district No. 4, of Greenfield township, became a separate school in April, 1863, soon after there was added to the village district territory from Violet, Liberty, Greenfield and Bloom townships. It became a High School in 1886. In 1 90 1 it was advanced to a second grade by the State Department of Education. In 1906 it received a charter as a high school of the first grade. It has a great list of teachers and superintendents, beginning back in 1874-5, as follows: G. W. Laub. two years; R. F. Brown, one year; W. H. Hartsough, six years; Charles I. Blosser, two years; H. C. Bailey, three years; M. C. Smith, two years ; D. C. Arnold, two years ; A. D. Groves, two years ; F. P. Schisler, one year ; T. Franklin Johnson, one year; Perry R. Wolfe, one year ; Clarence Balthaser, two years ; William F. Brandt, four years; W. H. Ackers, five years; and the present superintendent, E. C. Dilger, six years.

class rooms, two laboratories, library room, superintendent's office, teachers' consultation room and a large auditorium, which will seat over 400 people. There is a school library of about 600 volumes, a well equipped physical laboratory and also a well equipped chemical laboratory.

This school is recognized as a school of the first grade by the Ohio State University and all other colleges of the state and by the State Department of Education. The present board of education is as follows ; Arthur A. Cofman, president; C. E. Kistler, clerk; Dr. H. A. Brown, Dr. J. G. Nau, and G. J. Metzger. The present corps of teachers is as follows : E. C. Dilger, superintendent; Leroy M. Soliday, principal ; E. M. Schmidt, assistant principal and eighth grade; O. C. Moore, sixth and seventh grades ; Miss Bertha Macklin, third, fourth and fifth grades ; Miss Mayme Kester, first and second grades.

The following is a list of the graduates of the Carroll High School : 1887, Mrs. Jessie Gundy (nee Wilson), Grace Martindale (deceased), Geo. Touill, now teacher of Columbus schools ; W. C. Bates, of Columbus ; Belle Carpenter (nee Lewallyn now of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Wallace Kistler, of Columbus, Ohio; Harry Justice, of Columbus, Ohio; Frank E. Willson, of Lancaster. 1904 - Orin Shank ( deceased), Ralph Claypool (deceased), Mary Coffman (nee Lewis), Faye Wildermuth, now superintendent of Kingston schools ; Russell McFarland, now a senior in O. S. U. ; Mary Jordan, of Carroll. 1905 - Harold Nau, now principal of schools of Plain City, Ohio; .Archie A. Brown, now doctor at Carroll. 1906 - Mayme Kester, primary teacher afCarroll; Dora Cooper, (nee Cofman). 1908 - Russell McFarland, senior at O. S. U. ; O. W. Schaefer, freshman at O. S. U. ; E. M. Schmidt, assistant principal at

The business firms of Carroll are the following : Harry Brandt's general store ; Blackstone & Son, general store ; J. C. Bowman, hardware and implements; J. H. Ruff, meat market; Wm. J. Green, meat market; H. L, Gierhart, harness shop; M. O. Young restaurant ; Bishop & Miller, undertakers ; J P. Gundy, flour mill and grain elevator; J C. Shaeffer, grain elevator; Anthony Bender general blacksmith ; T. O. Parrish, general blacksmith; J. H. Smith, barber; Charles Ash, barber; Carroll Manufacturing Co., manufacturers of dust pans and cuspidor holders ; The Farmers & Merchants Bank Co. (L. T.

Hon. John Graybill

John Graybill was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, January 22, A. D. 1785, and emigrated with his father to Fairfield County Ohio in 1800. They settled on a large tract of land purchased by the father, Samuel Graybill, located in Greenfield Township, about one and a half miles northwest of the present corporate limits, of the City of Lancaster, and where Judge Graybill continued to reside until August 29, 1867, when he fell asleep, full of years, loved, honored, and respected by the entire community.

During the early years of his residence in Fairfield County Mr. Graybill was engaged in the business of hauling produce, and merchandise to and from Philadelphia, Pa. to Lancaster, Ohio - in "Conestoga wagons," having several wagons with teams of four and six horses, employed in that service, and making the trips over the mountains at frequent intervals. Fairfield County, at that time, considered as the "far west," was largely settled by emigrants from Lancaster County, Pa., and the village, or town, of Lancaster, Ohio - was named b\' them after the City of Lancaster, Pa. - and in those days was known as "New Lancaster" which name it retained for a number of years, when the "New" was dropped.

Mr. Graybill served as a private in the War of 1812, and took an active interest in the State Militia for many years after the close of the war. His commissions as ensign of the first Company, Second Battallion of Fourth Regiment, Third Brigade, dated August i, 1 813, signed by Return J. Meigs, Governor, and as first Heutenant of the same Company, dated January i, A. D. 181 6, signed by Thomas Worthington, Governor, still occupy a place on the walls of the library of his grandson. Judge J. G. Reeves.

He served as Justice of the Peace in Greenfield Township over twenty-five years, and a number of his commissions signed by Jeremiah Morrow, Allen Trimble, Duncan Mc- Arthur, and a long line of the early Governors of Ohio, are still preserved as relics. He served two tenns as commissioner of Fairfield County, and 1836 and 1837, with William Medill, (afterwards Governor of Ohio), represented Fairfield County in the Ohio Legislature. In the spring of 1838 he was elected by the Legislature, Associate Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Fairfield County for the term of seven years, his commission dated March 9, 1838 signed by Joseph Vance, Governor, is still preserved by his grandson, J. G. Reeves, whose commissions as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas are dated November, 1900, 1 90 1, and 1906, the first over sixty-two years thereafter.

Judge Graybill was a Democrat of the Jacksonian type, and took an active part in the politics of his County and State. He was the warm personal and political friend of Governors William Medill, and William Allen and of David Tod, and John Brough during their adherence to the Democratic Party.

On May 19. 1818, in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, John Graybill was married to Susanna Lightner Eckert, and a few days thereafter they bid adieu to their friends in Lancaster County and started on their bridal tour across the mountains, in a Conestoga wagon, for his home in Fairfield County Ohio

- then the "far west." As a memento of this trip their grandson still possesses one of the bridal presents, an old fashioned china tea set, consisting of tea pot, sugar bowl, cream pitcher, and twelve cups and saucers, all perfect, without a nick or crack therein, notwithstanding their long journey in the Conestoga wagon, neatly packed in a brand new feather bed, another present from the mother of the bride ; and their subsequent usage on "state occasions."

From its earliest history the City of Lancaster and vicinity has been noted for the high social standing, intelligence, and hospitality of its citizens, and in this favored community Mrs. Graybill soon took a prominent social position, which she maintained during her entire life, all recognizing her high social, intellectual, and Christian character. She was an earnest and consistent member of the Presbyterian Church, having united with the old Leacock Church near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, when only sixteen years old, and continued in that faith. She was the orphan's friend, many of whom reared under her care, lived to call her blessed, and with her many friends mourn her loss, when on March 19, 1876, she was laid to rest.

This union was blessed with only one child, Martha S. Graybill, who married Josiah Reeves, both of whom died leaving their surviving children, John G. Reeves, and Samuel L. Reeves, to the tender care, and Christian guidance of their grandparents, who nobly fulfilled the sacred trust reposed in them.