Jefferson Township

Topography

Jefferson township was named after the third President of the United States. It is located in the northwestern part of Fayette county, being bounded on the north by Madison county, on the east by Paint township, on the south by Union and Jasper townships, and on the west by Greene county. Paint creek forms its eastern boundary proper, while Rattlesnake enters in the north and crosses the entire township, flowing southwestwardly, while the numerous tributaries of these streams traverse the township in different directions. According to statements of the old settlers, Rattlesnake creek is named from an old Indian chief, whose camp was often located along the banks of this stream named after him. Sugar creek, flowing almost parallel with Rattlesnake, obtained its name from the great abundance of sugar maple on its banks.

The surface of Jefferson township is generally level, with occasional ridges and low rolling hills. The soil is black and very productive and large crops of grain are harvested each year, especially between Sugar and Rattlesnake creeks. The land in this section was originally timbered heavily with elm, hickory, oak and sugar maple, but the interests of commercialism have largely removed this magnificent growth from the township.

Early Settlement

Chief among the military surveys of this township are tracts bearing the names of McArthur, two thousand acres; Washington, two thousand acres; Kearns, one thousand acres; Duff, two thousand acres; Dunn, one thousand acres; Mosely, one thousand acres. Pendleton, Spottswood and others. These surveys have been divided into small tracts and are owned principally by the pioneers and their posterity.

father and four sons, were natives of North Carolina, whence they removed to Virginia. In the year 1901 they came to this state and settled in Greene county about five miles southeast of Xenia, where they remained a few years and then came to this township, perhaps in 1804. The elder Robinson located on the present site of Jeffersonville, occupying a cabin situated on a lot later owned by Richard Fox. William Robinson, Jr., took possession of a tract of land just across the creek from the village, now known as the Wright farm. Two of the sons, Thomas and Abner, lived near, also Nicholas, another son.

Aaron Kendall and family left Stafford county, Virginia, in 1805 and settled in this township on part of the Washington survey. The father eventually traveled back to Virginia and died there. The remainder of the family grew up and scattered.

In the year 1809 or 1810, George Creamer and three sons, Michael, Joseph and David, came from Berkeley county, Virginia, and settled on Sugar creek, on land still owned by his descendants. George Creamer, Jr., came in 1813 and located in the same neighborhood. The family held prominent positions and took an active part in the development of the county. George was the first justice of the peace; David was justice of the peace and surveyor; Joseph, Michael and David participated in the War of 1812. The senior Creamer died in the year 1825.

Soon after the Creamers took their departure from their Virginia home they were followed by Marshall and Jacob Jenkins, who resided in the same neighborhood. Marshall jenkins removed to Sugar creek. He lived there about twenty years, then removed to Port Williams, in Clinton county. Jacob took possession of a tract of land and lived thereon until 1850, when he divided the same amongst his children and removed to Jeffersonville, where he died in 1865.

Prior to 1812 a Carolinian named John McKillep came here and located about two miles north of Jeffersonville, with his wife and three sons, John, William and Daniel. Mrs. McKillep was held in high esteem for her services among the settlers as midwife, and, because of the scarcity of physicians, was in great demand.

One of the two Duff surveys in the county was settled by Patrick Kerns, who emigrated prior to 1810 and cleared a piece of ground adjoining that of Jenkins and Creamer. He built a two-story log house, in appearance far in advance of his day and which was standing and occupied as late as 1874. The western survey was purchased by Peter Harness in 1811 and divided among his sons.

Joseph Hidy settled at an early day near Paint creek and owned a large tract of land in Paint township. Michael Carr owned land in this township, but lived in Paint.

John Killgore, with his wife and a large family, emigrated to Greene county, Ohio, from Kentucky in 1801 and located in the immediate vicinity of Xenia, where they remained several years, but, because of the scarcity of game, they determined to change their quarters. Accordingly the elder, accompanied by several of his sons and a neighbor named James Kent, proceeded to explore the country east of Xenia and finally entered this township. The first trace of civilization they discovered was a turnip patch near the cabin of Phillip Powell. They struck the branch called Benbow creek and followed the same through the farm now owned by Perry Killgore to its mouth at Sugar creek and here a bear was shot by one of the party. Perceiving smoke arising from near the spring on what was later the Blessing farm, they proceeded hither and discovered a party of Indians in camp. The latter were friendly and invited the Killgores to remain over night, which invitation was thankfully accepted, the bear being served for supper. On the following day they went to Madison county, selected a tract of land, erected a cabin, and moved into the same with their families, remaining until 1808, when one hundred and twenty-five acres in this township, extending from Perry Killgore's house to the road east of the same, were purchased. Here they remained until 1812, engaged in farming and hunting. At the outbreak of the War of 1812 one of the sons, James, went to Kentucky with Nathaniel Scott and manufactured saltpetre. John went to Chillicothe, enlisted in the service and died while guarding prisoners. His coffin was made by Joseph Hidy. His son, John Clark, volunteered and was taken to Upper Sandusky, where he remained until the close of the war. The Killgore farm was purchased of Thomas Posey at seventy-five cents per acre. At the death of the elder Killgore it was bought by two of his sons; one of the brothers, Clark, eventually became sole owner.

In the immediate vicinity of the Killgore home were pioneers made of such as the following: Philip Powell came during the years intervening between 1801 and 1804 and afterwards removed to Indiana, where he died. He was a Kentuckian by birth. Solomon Green remained a short time. It is said of his son William, that he brought from Kentucky and wore the first pair of boots ever brought to this settlement, which gave him the name of "Bill Boots." David Polly and Mr. Risdon were early residents of the neighborhood. The latter married Elizabeth, a daughter of John Killgore, Sr. In about the year 1815 Stephen Hunt removed to the farm which had been lately vacated by Polly. He was a carpenter, surveyor, blacksmith and justice of the peace. He eventually moved back to Illinois. Samuel Hornbeck occupied the farm later owned by Abram Blessing. Being subject to frequent attacks of fits, his wife was told that a permanent cure might be effected by taking off his under garment and burning the same. At the next attack the remedy was given a trial, resulting in the loss of the garment, but a failure as a cure. Moses Thomas settled on Sugar creek in 1825 and engaged in blacksmithing. Just below Moses Thomas lived James and Andrew Wicker, who were natives of North Carolina. William and John Horney settled early in the township and devoted most of their time to hunting. John Mock, from North Carolina, came first to Greene county, Ohio, and assisted in the erection of the first dwelling house in Xenia. In 1853 he came here and settled. He died in 1862. Joseph Kent, who came with the Killgores, remained with them until 1808, then removed to Madison county, where he lived the rest of his days. OFFICIAL ANNALS.

The following officers were elected on the Ist day of April, 1816, and sworn in on the 6th day of the same month: Justice of the peace, Thomas. Robinson; trustees, Jacob Jenkins, Joseph Kendall and Nicholas Robinson; constables, William McCandless and Price Landfare; supervisors, Samuel Wicker, John Miller, George Pence and James Sanderson; treasurer, John McKillep ; lister, William McCandless; overseers of the poor, Patrick Kernan and John Williams; fence viewers, Jacob Jenkins and David Creamer, the latter being appointed at a subsequent meeting of the trustees; clerk, David Creamer.

John Miller, supervisor one year, $3.00; Samuel Wicker, received $5.25 for a like service; Jacob Jenkins, trustee, one year, $6.00; for serving in the capacity of supervisor one year, James Sanderson and George, each $2.25; Joseph Kendall, trustees, $4.00; Joseph Creamer, per cent. of funds, 98 cents; David Creamer, clerk, $4.00; following which appears this entry: "Settled all accounts with treasurer and there remains $1.22 in the treasury."

On March 21, 1818, John Fenel was paid $2.621% for his services as deputy supervisor; the fraction was paid in "sharp shins" or "cut money."

The trustees, on May 24, 1834, bound to James Fent, as an apprentice, George Seamer, aged eleven, until he shall attain the age of twenty-one; conditioned that the said Fent shall clothe, maintain and educate said Seamer and at the expiration of his term of servitude shall present him with a Bible and two suits of clothes. This is the first transaction of the kind on record.

Patrick Kerran, or Kerns, was the first blacksmith and followed his trade for many years. He brought his forge with him and was assisted by his wife in striking the iron.

Thomas McGara was the first physician. He lived at Washington and visited his patients on horseback. He enjoyed a good reputation and afterwards served his county as associate judge and representative. James F. Boyer and George Sharrette were the pioneer brickmakers; D. McCoy, the first merchant; Joseph Hidy and Stephanus Hunt, the first carpenters.

The counterfeiters who infested this county in the early days frequently victimized the citizens of Jefferson township, though there was no organized gang within the limits of the township. In later years, when Alfred Walston removed to the blacksmith shop occupied originally by Moses Thomas, he found concealed in the same a mold for the production of bogus silver dollars.

Richard Douglass, of Chillicothe, and one of the first practitioners at the Washington bar, owned a tract of land in Jefferson township, containing about twelve hundred acres, which was in charge of his brother, an exsea captain. Richard, or Dick as he was called, was very quick of temper, but usually regretted his outbursts the next moment. One winter he purchased a large flock of sheep and put them in his brother's care, who managed to preserve half of them; the others died from sheer neglect and were placed in a heap and covered with straw. On the following spring, Dick visited his farm and upon discovering the dead sheep exclaimed, "What in the hell," but, regretting the hasty remark, lifted his eyes and added, "God forgive me."

In the fall of the year 1844-5 a party of emigrants who were on their way from Virginia to a Western state, encamped in the woods on the Washington and Jamestown road, on the site of West Lancaster. With them were two young men named Martin and McClung, who were prospecting and, having overtaken the emigrants, concluded to accompany them to the West. It was on the evening of the fall election and two young men, named re- spectively Hiram Hosier and Henry Smith, were returning from the polls at Jeffersonville in a jolly mood and on horseback. One of them, it is alleged, upon arriving at the camp conducted himself in such a manner as to insult the women and arose the indignation of the men, who proceeded to chastise them. The party attacked retreated about two hundred yards, then charged upon the assailing party. In the melee which ensued Hosier encountered . McClung and struck him on the head, inflicting a dangerous wound, from the effects of which he died in a few hours. Hosier was arrested. The case, however, was postponed from time to time. It was finally brought to trial and Martin, the prosecuting witness, having been bribed to abscond, the jury disagreed. Thus the case was struck out.

On April 20, 1843, a party of young men went to a wedding at Straley's, then in Jefferson, but now in Jasper township, to "bell." They were attacked -by those inside and Antrim Rankins, son of Thomas R. Rankins, was shot . and died on the following day. John Hidy was arrested and charged with the deed. He'was admitted to bail, left the country and never returned.

The pioneers of Jefferson township, as in other localities, enjoyed no _ opportunities for trading at home. Grain and other products were conveyed to Cincinnati, Springfield and Oldtown, much time and labor being required in making these trips. It soon became apparent that nothing could be gained so: long as there were no facilities for grinding the grain into flour and various devices were invented.

Perhaps the first mill was erected by William Robinson on Sugar creek. It was a very crude structure. Another water-mill was erected on the same creek by William Blackamore and used for grinding corn. Jacob Creamer, ' in 1840, erected a saw-mill within the present limits of Jeffersonville, where . the covered bridge stood, and afterwards added a corn-cracker. During the wet season lumber was shipped across the creek on a raft and taken to the village. The lumber, which was white and burr oak, was used extensively. . Edward Gray had charge of it and in the spring, when the water was low, frequently put his shoulder to the water gate in order to put the machinery in motion. David Creamer had a saw-mill on the land later owned by Wallace Creamer. These dams have long since been abandoned.

Towns And Hamlets

Jefferson township is not noted for many villages of importance. The present ones are Jeffersonville, with a population of seven hundred and sixteen; West Lancaster, with one hundred and forty-two; Parrott, with a population of fifty, and a mere hamlet, known as Blessing. Another earlyday village was Pleasant View, of which a mention is made in this chapter. The total population of Jefferson township, together with that of the village of Jeffersonville, was, in IQ10, two thousand seven hundred and eighteen.

Jeffersonville is beautifully situated on the banks of Sugar creek, eleven miles northwest from Washington C. H., and eighteen miles from South Charleston. It is on the Detroit & Southern railroad, running northwest and southeast, while the same system has a line, originally dubbed "Grasshopper road," extending northeast and southwest. The old State road in its direct east and west course runs through Jeffersonville. As long ago as 1880 it was said of this village, "For the last year business in the village has | made rapid strides, and at this writing there is not a vacant dwelling house in the place. The railroad has brought new industries and enterprises, and good mechanics are employed at steady wages."

While William Robinson was a resident of the land where now stands Jeffersonville, he cannot be called the first real resident. It was in 1831, when Walter B. Wright and Chipman Robinson, who owned a hundred acres of the present platting, believing that the farming community of this township needed a trading post of some kind, laid off town lots, in March of that year, and disposed of them at five dollars each.

The first house was built by Robert Wiley, on Main street. This was platted as Lot No. 1. Among the people there at that time - all that year or the next - were William Devault, Reuben Carr, Jacob Jenkins and M. B. Wright. Then followed Edward Gray, a native of Morgan county, Virginia, who came to Ohio in the fall of 1836, with his father Michael and the family. They came over the completed National road. He purchased land in this township, at three dollars per acre. It was all a dense forest and very diffcult to clear up. Edward moved to town a few years later and engaged in mercantile pursuits, which were conducted by himself and later by his son. The first store in the village, it is thought by many, was that of Edward Popejoy. Reuben and Jesse Carr were early dry goods dealers. Hiram Duff was the pioneer blacksmith, Joseph Garnes the first tanner, and Doctor

Boarer the first physician. In 1840 there were seventeen buildings, most of which were log, and altogether the village did not present any too attractive an appearance to the passing stranger. H. H. Pearson came in about 1843 and started a grocery and liquor store. He had a large trade in both commodities and made a fortune in a few years; he finally went to Defiance, Ohio, and there lost most of his wealth. He then emigrated to Iowa.

The business of this village in 1914 is about as follows: Attorney, U. G. Creamer; agricultural implements, Frank Vanorsdall, R. A. Horney ; auto garage, Jefferson Auto Company; blacksmiths, C. W. Spangler, John Boone, David Davis; barbers, J. L. Spellman, Ira Mosier ; banks, Citizens and Farmers. banks; dray lines, Albert Inskip, O. G. Glaze, McKalip Coal and Supply Company; dentist, Dr. G. M. Hines; drugs, J. B. Davis; elevators, Threllkeld and Blessing; furniture, Janes & Company; groceries, W. A. Reid, F. A. Horney, C. D. Bush, Sears & Son, Wood & Duff and Frank Coe; dry goods, Hull & Company, W. W. Routson; hardware, Boobo Hardware Company ; harness, M. F. Hudson; hotel, "Mecca," by C. F. McAuliffe; jewelry, G. H. Follett; lumber, C. C. French; livery, F. C, Vanarsdoll, C J. McGrew; millinery, C. Maude Wood; mills, The Jefferson Milling Company; newspaper, The Citizen; restaurants, Maggie Wilson, Lester Allen; physicians, Drs ETE Wilson, |. French, Ef. V. Lusher realestate, Gi Cart stock dealer, A. C. Shepard; veterinary, Dr. F. J. Mofris; meat market, T. W. Mock; racket store, W. O. King; tinning and roofing, A. E. Moon; cement blocks, R. E. Thornton; bakery, Charles Miles; pool room, John Rowell; merchant tailor, J. C. Tudor; undertaker and funeral director, F. C. Morrow; . fire insurance, F.C. Morrow; coal dealers, O. J. Glaze, McKillip Coal and Supply Company; clothing, Harry Frieds.

Municipal History

Under authority of the state of Ohio, the town of Jeffersonville was duly incorporated in March, 1838. The corporation limits were materially extended in April, 1880.

Ordinances passed at various dates included some which seem curious to the reader of today. The first was dated April 26, 1838: "That if any person or persons shall run a horse or horses in any of the streets or alleys within the limits of said town, they shall, on conviction, be fined in any sum not more than five dollars, nor less than one dollar, at the discretion of the mayor." pose of selling liquor by the dram or less than one quart (except for medicinal purposes) shall be fined in any sum not more than five dollars, nor less than one dollar for such offense."

August, 1852: It was ordained that there should be no more liquor sold in the place, and the marshal was instructed to close certain places of immoral resort within the place.

The last named year it was alsov»ordained that some suitable person be appointed to sell spirituous liquors for medicinal and mechanical purposes.

In 1879 the council ordained that "Hereafter all places where intoxicating liquors are sold shall be closed at nine o'clock each evening and remain closed until six A. M." A fine was fixed as a penalty in the sum of from ten to fifty dollars.

The municipal officers in 1914 were: Mayor, U. G. Creamer; clerk, Othelo Wade; treasurer, R. L. Saunders; council, J. B. Fent, chairman, G. M. Hiner, O. C. Glaze, J. C. Tudor, D. J. Charles, S. C. Morrow; health officer, William Bergdill; marshal and street commissioner, O. M. Allen.

Jeffersonville has a chemical fire engine and a volunteer company, but no water works system. It is supplied with electric lights from Washington CHEL

Postal History

According to recent figures received from Washington, D. C., the following have served as postmasters at Jeffersonville (office established in 1834): Jacob Creamer, Hanes 1s34 4k. lak Skillman, December, 1839; E. H. Crow appointed September 25, 1841; H. K. Pearson, August 6, 1845; W. B. Logan, March 6, 1863; Lewis Goldman, June 5, 1863; J. W. Haymaker, March 5, 1864; Edward Gray, January 15, 1872; Fred Higgins, December 8, 1881; L. A. Elster, February 26, 1883; A. J. Lewis, August 3,

1885 ; Jesse M. Bloomer, June 13, 1889; R. N. Scott, August 24, 1893; James Straley, September 14, 1897; Warren W. Williams, October I, 1901, and present incumbent. Two rural free delivery routes go out from this point. Jeffersonville was one of four places of a thousand and under in Ohio which the government two years ago installed as "free delivery" as an experiment, and two and three deliveries are made daily. This was instituted at the instigation of Postmaster Williams. It is altogether a success and will doubtless be followed by many more.

A large, two-story brick town hall and corporation building was erected here in 1898 at a cost of about eighteen thousand dollars. It includes a fine opera house. The place now has a population of almost eight hundred. Its churches are the Methodist Protestant, the Methodist Episcopal, the Universalist and Church of Christ (in Church Union) and two colored organizations. See Church chapter. The lodges include the Masonic, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics.

The streets are well kept, the side walks are an honor to the town and the class of business houses and residences do credit to the enterprising citizens.