Jefferson Township

Jefferson Township

The formation of Jefferson township as a separate entity as it now exists, is fully set out in the chapter on Organization of the County. Suffice it to state that in 1916 the township will round out a century as now formed.

If there were any further public records of the early organization they were very meager and have not been preserved. It is proable that there was not, for several years, any real official organization, for the population was sparse, consisting only of a very' few settlers who had established themselves in log cabin homes in little "clearings" they had made in the primeval forest which covered practically the entire territory of the township. In this dense native woods were thousand of noble and giant specimens of oak, ash, walnut, poplar and other now valuable timber, and thousands of feet of it was split into rails or burned to make room for cultivation of crops. Not until 1829, so far as any available records reveal, was there a board of trustees, and this first one was composed of James Jackson, James Graham and John Campbell.

Physical Features

Jefferson is the northwest township of the county, and lies along the Indiana-Ohio state line. Darke county is on the north, Monroe township on the east and Jackson on the south.

A watershed, which passes through Somers, Israel, Dixon and Jackson township, enters Jefferson in section 33, trends nearly north into section 22 and then east and northeast into the northwest corner of Monroe, through section 12 of Jefferson. This divides the waters flowing westerly into Whitewater and easterly into Seven Mile creek, which takes its rise in section 22, in a county ditch, which runs southeasterly and passes out of the township a short distance below the hamlet of Gettysburg.

the water from the western slope of the dividing ridge, and the eastern slope of a smaller ridge running between the branch stream and Whitewater creek.

In the southwestern part a short spur of the main ridge runs west and empties its southern waters into another branch of the Whitewater and the northern waters into the creek proper.

Entering at the middle of the western boundary, and passing northeast and north through section 18, 8 and 5, is a ridge separating the waters of Whitewater on the east from those of a smaller stream on the west.

The landscape of Jefferson township is varied and very pleasing in its scenic features. The southeastern half is greatly rolling, and excellent agricultural land, while in the northwestern part, along the course of the larger streams, the surface is more rugged, the hills, in places, being suggestive of a mountainous country, though these hills are not lacking in fertility and produce good crops. Extensive and charming views are obtained from almost any one of the range of hills bordering the Whitewater in the neighborhood of New Paris. North and south may be seen the silvery thread of the stream, winding between the bordering hills, while to the west the horizon loses itself in the beautiful hills of Indiana.

All along the Whitewater and its tributaries are enormous deposits of excellent gravel, the sedimentary deposits, no doubt, of the glacial epoch. This gravel is first-class material for road buildings and has been utilized to the extent that practically all of the seventy-five miles of road in the township is good, graveled highway. These roads are well cared fof by the authorities and are known as among the best in the county. These deposits of glacial gravel are of enormous extent and many of them are yet practically untouched. Originally there extended across the township from northwest to southeast a glacial moraine of granite boulders, many of them of great size, and in places in great number, but as the land has been cleared and brought under cultivation they have been gradually removed by the farmers until they are no longer much in evidence.

In the valley in the vicinity of New Paris there is an outcrop of limestone of the Niagara group, one hundred feet in thickness and of the best quality. From very early days this has been quarried for building stone and hundreds of thousands of bushels of lime have been burned and shipped. Changing conditions, however, within recent years have led to the abandonment of both these industries, and now the stone is quarried and crushed for the market in one of the largest crushing plants of the state.

Statistics

The area of the township embraces 22,095 acres of farm land, valued for taxation at $1,610,680. Adding to this real estate of New Paris, $403,870, gives a total valuation of real property of $2,014,550. The personal property of the township is $1,118,730, and of New Paris $409,910, a total of $1,528,640, or a total valuation of the entire township of $3,543. 190-

The original settlers, who came here to divide the occupancy of the primeval forest with the Indians, arrived about 1806. They came principally from Kentucky and most largely from Bourbon county in that state. Most prominent among them were the Flemings, Irelands, Purviances, Morrisons and Mitchells. All of these families acted prominent parts in the early history of the township, and a few of their lineal descendants are still found here. Most, if not all, of these early settlers stopped in the western part of the township, along the Whitewater, but it is notable that they built their houses, not on the lowlands of the valley, which were then, no doubt, wet and swampy in most places, but on the hillsides and more elevated locations, and usually near a spring of water.

Among the very earliest settlers of Jefferson township and one of the most prominent and influential in shaping the affairs of the new country, was David Purviance. He was born in Iredell county, North Carolina, in 1766. His parents, who were strict Presbyterians, reared him in that faith and he was thoroughly drilled in the catechism. At the age of twentythree, he married Mary Ireland, who also was among the early settlers of Jefferson township. Soon after his marriage they emigrated to Tennessee and settled near Nashville. From there he later removed to Kentucky and settled on a farm in Bourbon county. His land, covered with a heavy forest and thick canebrake, was difficult to clear and presented difficulties involving much labor and privation. But here he toiled until 1791, when he was selected as a representative to the state Legislature. Then it was that his abilities were first revealed and it was discovered that he was really a great man. In 1807 he emigrated to Ohio and settled in section 31 of Jefferson township. He was a pioneer preacher and among his first activities was the organization of a church of the New Light, or Christian, faith, to which Elder Purviance had given his adherence during his residence in Kentucky'. He had not lived here long until the fame of his powerful speeches in the

Kentucky Legislature followed him. In the fall of 1809 he was selected to represent Preble and Montgomery counties in the state Legislature and served one term of two years. In 1812, the district having been changed, he was elected to the Senate by the counties of Preble, Darke and Miami, where he served four years. He was in the Senate at the time that Columbus was made the capital of the state. He was instrumental in securing the location of Miami University at Oxford, and for many years was a trustee of that institution. Although coming from a slave state, he was much opposed to the institution of slavery and while in the Ohio Legislature his vigorous support of a bill for the repeal of the "black laws of Ohio" made him, for the time, very unpopular. But he never wavered in his convictions on the subject and his efforts on behalf of the slaves were never relaxed. In 1826 he was again elected and he always took a strong interest in political affairs. In the Legislatures of Kentucky and Ohio together he served fifteen sessions, and he was also on the electoral ticket in 1812 when James Madison was re-elected President. He died in 1848 and lies buried in the old cemetery at New Paris.

Elder Levi Purviance was the oldest son of Elder David Purviance and was a worthy successor to him. He was bom in Iredell county, North Carolina, in 1790, and moved with his parents to Tennessee, and thence to Kentucky. At the age of sixteen he came with his father to Jefferson township and assisted him in the work of clearing his land. During the first year he cleared six acres and put it in corn, and this was probably the first com ever raised in the township by white men. In 18 11 he was married to Sophia Woods, of Wayne county, Indiana. In 1812 he volunteered and served in the army at Fort Nisbet under the command of Capt. Silas Fleming. Fort Nisbet was located just across the north line of Jefferson township, on the edge of Darke county, and was one of the numerous forts erected in this section as defenses against the Indians. In 1823 he was ordained a minister of the gospel and continued in this work until the time of his death. All this time, except ten years spent in Illinois, was spent in Ohio, five years in Miami county, five in Warren and the remainder in Darke and Preble counties. Elder Purviance was the constant 'attendant of his father, and when David died Levi took up his mantle. About 1852 he removed to Morristown, Illinois, and after ten years returned to Ohio. After preaching for

David Ireland was born in 1765 in North Carolina. His father, John Ireland, was a native of Ireland and his mother of Irish descent. They emigranted to Tennessee, whence they came to Jefferson township in 1808 with their son. David was bom in North Carolina and was a Revolutionary soldier, being only seventeen years of age when he enlisted, and was elected captain of a company. He died in 1847. His last surviving son, James Ireland, died nearly thirty years ago, at a good old age, at his home a short distance north of New Paris.

John Harvey was another pioneer who came from Tennessee in 1808 and settled on a farm in sections 4 and 5. John Wasson came from Kentucky in 1810. James Fleming came from Kentucky about 1808. He was one of the most enterprising citizens of the new community and was noted for being closely identified with every enterprise calculated to promote its interests. He was one of the founders of New Paris. His brother, Judge Peter Fleming, who was also closely identified with every interest of Jefferson township, settled about the same time just over the line in Indiana between New Westville and Richmond.

John Mitchell, born in North Carolina in 1784, emigrated to Kentucky, and in 1810 came to Jefferson township and settled in section 14. His sons, Franklin and Samuel, the last remaining members of his family, died here, the former in 1905 and the latter in 1909.

Lewis Mitchell was born in Kentucky in 1796 and emigrated to Jefferson township with his parents, Elijah and Sarah Mitchell, in 1807. He died here in 1857.

Adam Reid, who was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, about 1788, settled in this township about 1810, where he died in 1840. His son, William B. Reid, who was the last survivor of a family of five children, was a well-known citizen of the township until his death, in 1891. In his earlier manhood he conducted a hatter's shop in New Paris, and later was a successful and prosperous farmer, and for many years owned and operated the farm now owned by his grandson, E. R. Clark, in section 32.

John Curry, progenitor of a numerous family, many of whom yet remain, was born in Pennsylvania in 1804 and emigrated to this township in 1814. In 1832 he married Nancy Ann Brinley, who was born in New Jersey in 1808.

Tennessee at a very early day and entered two hundred and forty acres of land in section 8 of Jefferson township. They arrived here before the woodman's axe had touched the native forest, and built a cabin, but the Indians were so troublesome that they returned to Tennessee and remained there until the close of the War of 1812, when Mr, Porterfield returned and cleared his land.

It is notable that nearly all of these pioneers came from Southern . states, which were then slave territory, and, almost without exception, they held the strongest convictions against the institution of slavery, a fact which doubtless accounts in a large part for their emigration to the wilderness north of the Ohio, which was free from the hated institution. Thus was founded new communities in which were sown seeds of the conflict which, fifty years later, culminated in the elimination from the nation of this relic of barbarism.

Hugh Marshall, was born in Kentucky in 1789. In the year 1813 he emigrated to Ohio and settled in section 16 of Jefferson township. He had married Elizabeth Pitts in 1811 and his wife and child were his only companions during the journey. It is related of them that their only possessions were a horse, a kettle and a feather bed. The latter was used by Mrs. Marshall as a saddle, as she rode, carrying the baby and the kettle, her husband performing the journey on foot by her side. They had a family of eleven children, one of whom, Hannah, married James Brown. Her son, W. A. Brown, still resides in New Paris.

Michael Hahn, who was born in Cincinnati in 1794, emigrated to Jefferson township in 1816 and settled in section 7. He was the father of Joseph Hahn, who was bom in 1812 and came here with his parents at the age of four years. The remainder of his life was spent in the township, most of it on the old farm, but in his later years he removed to New Paris, where he died in 1889. He ,s yet remembered by many of the older citizens as a man distinguished for the uprightness and probity of his life.

John Brinley, who was born in New Jersey in 1782, emigrated to Butler county, Ohio, in 1811, where he remained until 1816, when he removed and settled in section 14 of Jefferson township.

James Norris, bom in Maryland in 1781, afterward moved to Pennsylvania, whence he moved to Ohio in 1816, settling in section 35 of Jefferson. His son, John McD. Norris, succeeded him on the old place.

county, Ohio, in 1804, thence removing to Butler country and in 1818 to Preble county, where he settled in section 1 1 of Jefferson township.

Andrew Scott w*as born in Ireland in 1819, and, when only two years of age, emigrated with his parents, Robert and Jane Scott, to Rockbridge county, Virginia. In 1829 they came to this township and settled in section 19.

Samuel King, bom in Warren county in 1808, came to Preble county in 1818 and settled in Monroe township. His son, Samuel King, Jr., afterward lived for many years on the farm in section 34 of Jefferson township, the same that is now occupied by his son, James A. King.

James Woofter was born in Virginia in 1796 and emigrated to Ohio at the age of nineteen. He came to Preble county in 1827. In 1833 he built a flouring-mill a short distance north of New Paris, and this was afterward operated for many years by his son; Daniel F. Woofter. The latter finally lost his life in the mill by a fall through a hatchway. He was captain of Company F of the One Hundredth and Fifty-sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the summer of 1864.

Thomas Miller came from Ireland in 1824 and settled on a farm in the very center of the township. His children, Robert and Joseph Miller and Mrs. Mary Graham, were well-known and respected citizens of the county, but are all now dead.

Arthur Duffield, bom in Pennsylvania in 1810, settled in Gettysburg, in this township, in 1838. For eighteen years he kept a general store and finally became an extensive land owner.

John Harshman was born in Virginia in 1792, and came to Jefferson township and settled in section 26 about the year 1822. He was the father of Franklin, William and Daniel Harshman. The latter served as county commissioner and in other official positions.

Daniel Jaqua, unlike most of the pioneers of Jefferson township, was not from the Southern States, but was born near Kinderhook, New York, in 1787. After various removals to Pennsylvania and Cincinnati, Ohio, he finally, in 1824, reached this county and located on a farm in Jefferson township, from which he cleared the native forest. He died in 1871. His son, Reuben Jaqua, was one of the early school teachers of the county and is yet well remembered by many of his former pupils.

Martyred For His Principles

One of the best remembered of the early citizens of Jefferson township was Thomas Barber, who became martyr to his anti-slavery principles in 1858 or 1859. He emigrated to Kansas about that time, just as the breaking out of the "Kansas troubles,, over the question of the extension of slavery. True to his principles, he took an active part in the contest there and soon became known as one of the hated "abolitionists." He was shot by an assassin. The poet, Whittier, thus honored his memory:

Coming down to later times in the history of the township and bridging the period between the days of the pioneers and the present, we may mention a few of the citizens who were more or less prominent in the business and political life of the township.

Samuel Smith came from his native state of Pennsylvania in 1838 and settled in section 20 of Jefferson township, on the farm adjoining the east corporation line of New Paris. In 1840 he bought the mill here formerly built and owned by Peter Fleming, and for thirty-three years operated it.

In those days almost every mill had as an adjunct a distillery, or, as they were generally known then, a "stillhonse," and Smith's was no exception. (18)

However, after a few years this feature of the enterprise fell into disuse and was abandoned. Mr. Smith was also engaged for many years in the stone and lime business and owned and operated the extensive quarries and kilns located on the northern outskirts of New Paris. He was succeeded in business by his sons, Thomas J. and William C. Smith, the latter operating the milling business, while the former conducted the stone and lime enterprise on an extensive scale for a number of years during the seventies and eighties. Mr. Smith died in 1879.

Thomas J. Smith, who was born in 1841 and married Nellie McPherson in 1863, was prominent in the township for many years for the large employment he gave to labor in the extensive lime and stone business which he conducted. He it was who first conceived the improvements in the New Paris quarries, which finally led up to the extensive crushing plant now in operation there. It was while engaged in making the excavation for the railroad track leading into the quarries in 1892, that he lost his son and business partner, Nathan J. Smith, who was killed by the fall of a large derrick. This was a hard blow to Mr. Smith and his own death followed in 1893, largely the result of exposure and overwork, leaving his cherished plans incomplete and to be carried into execution by others. Mr. Smith is, perhaps, best remembered by his useful devotion and incessant labors through many years in the temperance cause. Himself a victim, in his earlier years, of the liquor habit, he became interested in 1877 in the "Murphy movement." For the remainder of his life he remained true to the total abstinence pledge which he then took. For years he was the official head of the temperance organization in New Paris, always present at the numerous meetings that were held, frequently visited other localities to organize and assist the work, and, though one of the busiest of men in his large business activities, he was never too busy to lend a helping hand in the work of the reform which was ever nearest his heart. Of him it may truly be said that he was one of those "whose good works do follow them."

Saul Thomas came to western Ohio in 1817, where he lived until his death, in 1880. Most of that time was spent in or near New Paris. He was a veteran of the W ar of 1812 and for seventy years was an active business man.

Dr. Albert Hawley, born in Warren county, in T822, after graduating in medicine in 1846, settled at Gettysburg, where he continued in the practice of medicine until a few years before his death, which occurred in I9T3*

Duval Swain, who was bom in Pennsylvania in 1810, came with his parents first to Jackson township, whence they afterward removed to section 22 of Jefferson. Here he died in 1888.

Guy Bloom, son of Joseph and Rebekah Bloom, was bom in Pennsylvania in 1816. He came to Ohio with his parents in 1827, and they settled in Darke county. In 1845 he married Hannah Frances Jamison and they settled on a farm in section 34 of Jefferson, which he improved and made one of the best in the township. His death occurred in 1883 and that of his wife in 1889.

John Coblentz was bom in Maryland in 1825, and came to Darke county, Ohio, with his parents in 1829. In 1869 he removed to Jefferson township, locating on a farming in section 4 and 5.

In the War of 1812, Jefferson township furnished her full quota of soldiers, and in the Civil War it was almost depopulated of able-bodied men, nearly all of whom responded to the call to arms.

The Schools

The first school house in Jefferson township was built on the McGrew farm, two miles north of New Paris. It was a log structure of the characteristic type of the rude architecture of that day, having a puncheon floor and puncheons around the sides for writing desks. There was a fireplace seven feet wide in one end and it is related that in cold weather, when sufficient fire was maintained for comfort, a volume of flame rolled from the low mud chimney. Economy of fuel was not then necessary to be considered. John Ireland is thought to have been the first teacher, and he was succeeded by Clements Ferguson, then a young medical student who afterward became a leading physician of the community. Among other early teachers was Thomas Buman. In 1838 the township was divided into ten sub-districts.

The first school house in New Paris was 'built very shortly after the founding of the town, for those early settlers were men of intelligence and believed in affording their children facilities for obtaining the best education possible, though at that time this was meager enough as compared with the courses now. The "three R's" comprised about all that the average pupil was expected to acquire, and grammar and geography were regarded as the higher branches. This first school house was located in the western part of the town at the comer of what is now Main street and Whitewater avenue, about where the residence of Miss Frances Kirkpatrick stands. It was, of course, of logs and primintive to the last degree in every appointment. A few years later it was decided to build a larger and better school house, and, accordingly, a frame building was erected on Cherry street, nearly opposite where the Christian church now stands. It consisted of two rooms and was considered quite a fine building. It was doubtless as much a source of pride at that time as a twenty-five thousand dollar building would be now. It served as the educational center of the town for many years, until 1868, when it was sold and converted into a dwelling.

In the year just mentioned, the need of a better gradation and more room for the ever-growing school having become urgent, the local board decided to erect a two-story brick building. This was done, on the large lot in the east part of the town. Ten years later, in 1878, an addition of equal size was added to it. The idea of the high school, and a more extended course of study, was then coming into prominence, and the enlarged building afforded scope for its development. Among the earlier superintendents of the enlarged school were Abner Hahn, James McNeill, E. J. Thomas, and others. In 1884 F. S. Alley, a native of Union county, Indiana, was employed as superintendent. He served in that capacity until 1891, when he removed to Ripley, Ohio, to take charge of the schools of that city. To Professor Alley, perhaps, more than anv other single individual, was due the credit of the organization and development of the New Paris schools, which has made them among the best in the county. He it was who revised the course of study and systematized the work of the high school, which had not previously reached the stage of real organization. Professor Alley was succeeded for several years by E. L. Thomas, and he by C. R. Coblentz, himself a graduate of the school. In 1900 Superintendent B. S. Dairs took charge and continued until the close of the term in 1914, when he resigned to accept the district superintendency. Superintendent Glenn J. Noggle is now at the head of the schools.

Mills And Factories

The water power afforded by Whitewater creek was liberally utilized at an early day. About 1814, John Ireland erected the first grist-mill in the township on the creek below the town and near the state line. The remains of the foundation of this old mill are yet to be seen. The New

Shortly prior to 1835, James Woofter built a grist-mill about a mile north of New Paris, which he operated during his life-time, after which it passed into possession of his son, Captain Daniel F. Woofter.

More than eighty years ago Robert McGrew put up a "com cracker" a few hundred yards south of the Doloff mill. This afterward became a regular grist-mill and a distillery was also carried on there.

On the bank of the creek in the western environs of New Paris a woolen-mill was erected at any early day and was operated by the Barber brothers, Thomas and Oliver, until it was destroyed by fire some time in the fifties.

Robert Snodgrass had a tan-yard just above this mill at a very early day. Another tannery was installed about 1820 on Washington street in New Paris by one Crampton, who operated it for many years. Somewhere near i860 it was acquired by Joseph Bourgoyne, who continued to operate it until it was destroyed by fire about 1882.

There were three saw-mills not far from New Paris, the Coblentz mill, about three miles north of the town, one owned by Thompson Fleming, near the Woofter mill, and one that was owned and run by Joshua Mackey, a mile south of town.

Owing to the changed industrial and commercial methods and conditions, all those old mills have long since ceased to exist. The very sites of some of them would be difficult to locate, and the water power of the creek is no longer utilized.

New Paris

In the first settlement of Jefferson township, James Fleming entered the southwest quarter of section 20, and, soon afterward, Andrew Ireland bought land in the northwestern quarter of section 20. In 1816 Mr. Fleming, doubtless impressed with the beauty of this valley as a desirable site, and the need of a community center for the new settlers, now increasing in number from year to year, conceived the idea of establishing a town, and platted a portion of his land to that end. In 1817 Mr. Ireland, whose land adjoined his, joined him in the plan. Inasmuch as both the founders had come from the vicinity of Paris, Kentucky, it Avas decided that the name of the new town should be New Paris. The respective plats of the two were separated only by the as yet imaginary main street and they embraced the territory between the present Cherry street and the first alley north of Main street, north and south, and from High street to Whitewater avenue, east and west This original plat of twenty lots was acknowledged August 18, 1817, before Isaac Stephens, justice of the peace, and New Paris sprang into legal existence. To stimulate the beginning of building of their new towns, the two promotors offered a lot free to whoever would build the first house. John H. Cottom was the man who accepted the offer and he immediately proceeded to erect a square log house on the southwest comer of Main and Washington streets. In this house he opened a hotel in 1817. A man named Pryor soon after erected a frame house on the northwest corner, opposite Cottom's hotel. Here the first store in the town was opened and kept, and this corner has been so occupied from that day to this. Robert Sprowls built a large frame house on the southeast corner, where the First National Bank is now located, and Robert McGill's house and blacksmith shop was established on the northeast corner, where the K. of P. building now stands. Thus was the little hamlet started, and as new settlers continued to arrive, dwelling houses were erected and it grew and prospered and for many years more business was transacted in New Paris than in the neighboring town of Richmond. A very extensive business was carried on by Chadwick's pork-packing establishment, which was located just north of Main street opposite the tannery. Afterward George W. Vanneman purchased the business and engaged in the packing of pork on Main street, the packing house being located where the residence of L. C. Ashman now stands. The slaughter house was located on the opposite side of the lot, on Cherry street, where the handsome residence of W. E. Roberts was recently built. For a number of years more pork was packed and more goods sold in New Paris than in Richmond or any other neighboring town.

Transportation Facilities

About the year 1851 the Dayton & Western railroad was built and New Paris found itself on this new line of transportation. This was hailed with joy by the business men of the town at the time, but Richmond, only six miles further west, became a center of converging lines and forged ahead of its Ohio rival. Shortly prior to i860, another line of railroad, connecting Indianapolis and Columbus, was built through the town, thus giving it passenger and freight transportation facilities excelled, or even equalled, by very few small towns in the country. This favorable situation was still further augmented in 1903 by the building into the town of a branch of the Dayton & Western division of the Ohio Electric Railway.

The small original plat of the town was soon filled and many additions have since been made from time to time. On March 26, 1829, James Fleming and L. Ginger added sixteen lots to the north part of the town. In the same year S. J. H. Ireland added fourteen lots, as he had previously added sixteen, in the southeast part of the town in 1822. The fourth addition to the rapidly-growing town was made by Samuel Mitchell in 1832, when he added twenty-six lots in the northeast part. John F. Ireland added fourteen lots on south Washington street in 1835, and in 1870-72 three additions were made, two by the assignees of Beam & Jay and one by the executors of John F. Ireland. On June 21, 1879, Henry O. Hutton made an addition of inlots Nos. 184 to 203. In 1884 Joseph Hahn added eighteen lots to the southeastern quarter of the town, on each side of what is now Pearl street, and this is now one of the prettiest residence sections.

Incorporation And Improvement

The early growth of New Paris was quite rapid and in 1832, fifteen years after its founding, it was deemed wise to incorporate it. Accordingly a petition was presented to the Legislature and by a special act it was regularly incorporated. Lewis Davis was chosen as the mayor and R. S. Tillman, marshal. Many of the early records have been lost, but, as nearly as can be ascertained, the following named have officiated as mayor since Lewis Davis : John G. Jameson, David Cottom, John Cowgill. David J. Mauzy, Peter Fleming, R. S. Tillman, Levi Johnson, A. P. Johnson, John F. Ireland, R.

P. Mills. Several of these served a number of terms, sometimes in succession and again at intervals of several years. W. H. McClure is the present mayor.

In 1898 a movement for the improvement of streets and sidewalks had its conception in New Paris and gradually developed. As usual in such matters, considerable opposition was met for a time, but this gradually subsided and within the following four or five years practically all the five or

Previous to 1909 the streets were lighted with the old-fashioned and inefficient oil lamps, set on posts, but in that year electric lights were installed, fed by current from a central station at Richmond, and the streets are now well lighted at all times. This system is also much used in lighting business places and private residences.

In 1914 natural gas from the West Virginia fields having been piped through this section of Ohio, a branch line was run to New Paris, as to many of the towns along the line, and this convenient fuel is now very generally used in the town for cooking, and in many cases for heating and lighting.

New Paris has a population of about nine hundred. Its location in the beautiful valley which it occupies is one of the most charming to be found, is very healthful, and this, with the modern improvements noted, makes it one of the most desirable places of residence.

The Quarries

Mention has already been made of the enormous layer of limestone which outcrops in the valley at New Paris. In drilling a well more than a thousand feet deep in an unsuccessful search for natural gas, in 1889, it was found that this stratum of stone is about one hundred feet in thickness. No records remain by which to determine just when the quarrying of this stone w*as first begun, but it was at a very early day. Crude kilns were erected to supply the local demand for lime, and when the log cabin era had passed the quarries were still further opened to supply building stone for foundations, bridge abutments and the like. Later on, and after the railroad came, a number of improved lime kilns were built, and enormous quantities of lime were shipped to all parts of the country. During the many years while this was the leading industry of New Paris, hundreds of thousands of cords of wood were consumed in burning lime. This afforded the farms of the township a good market for their surplus rough timber while they were clearing their lands for cultivation. In the earlier days of this industry it was operated by the Irelands, who operated the south quarries and kilns, and Boyd, who quarried in the north end. Later, Samuel Smith, and after him his sons, operated in the north, and Jacob Middaugh also conducted the industry there for a few years. Finally, the industry passed into the hands of Thomas J. Smith and he transferred his activities to the south quarries and those in the north were abandoned. Leander Marshall also opened a quarry a little to the west of Smith's and did some business in building stone. About 1871 or 1872, James Dwyer opened a quarry just east of South Washington street, near the Rocky Ford branch, and built a lime kiln. In all, four quarries have been opened and the large excavations made attest to the magnitude of the business which has been done.

After the death of Thomas J. Smith, in 1893, there was a lull in the business for a time, but in 1900 the main quarrying passed into the hands of the Reinheimer Stone Company, a local concern. By this time cement began to supplant stone as a building material and the new company prepared to meet the increasing demand for crushed stone for concrete and road building purposes. A modern crushing plant was installed in 1904 and improvements, such as compressed air drills, and a steam shovel for handling the blasted rock to the crusher, have been added from time to time. The plant has a capacity of fifteen or twenty cars of crushed rock per day.

Richard Danily succeeded to the Dwyer quarry in 1888 and operated it in the production of lime for several years, but it was finally absorbed by the lime trust and was abandoned in 1911.

At the present time the north quarries have been leased by a company which is preparing to install machinery for grinding the stone for agricultural purposes.

Cedar Springs

A little more than a half mile south of New Paris, in a somewhat secluded and beautiful glen opening into the valley of the Whitewater, are the fountains known as Cedar springs. Prior to 1875 these springs were known only locally, but the water was recognized as of unusual purity and excellence and was believed to possess medicinal virtues. There were traditions that the Indians made long journeys to encamp here and drink of the water. In the year just mentioned Marshall & Wetherall built a hotel and opened it as a health resort. In 1877 it was purchased by Eli and A. F. Haldeman and in 1878 A. F. Haldeman and Oscar Gale became the proprietors. Within a few years it was purchased by a company of capitalists, principally from Dayton, who still own and operate it. It has been operated most of the time since it was opened, with varying fortune, and during several years the water was bottled and shipped in large quantities.

The Press

The first newspaper printed in New Paris was established by Daniel Winder in 1844. It was called the Neivs, New Paris Post atui State Line Sentinel. It consisted of four pages and was devoted to miscellany rather than to news. Lack of patronage soon terminated its career. Mr. Winder then started another paper, which he called The Reformer , but it, too, was short lived.

No further attempt was made to publish a newspaper in the township until 1877, when C. W. Bloom, who owned and operated a farm in section 33, in June of that year started a little sheet of four six-by-nine pages, which he called The Amateur. It was published semi-monthly and, as the name indicated, was designed as a sort of toy newspaper. It was published six months and was followed by The Business Mirror of the same general form, but comprising a larger number of pages, varying from six to twenty. It was published monthly and one thousand copies were distributed gratuitously, its principal purpose being advertising. In 1879 The Keynote , a little campaign paper in the interest of the Prohibition party, was published at the same time with Th-e Business Mirror , These papers constitute the only instance known to the writer of newspapers issued from a farm.

Early in 1882 C. W. Hane came to New Paris from Utica, Ohio, and established a small job printing office. In a short time he bought Mr. Bloom's miniature paper and plant, and continued the publication in the same manner and form until March 1, 1883, when he changed the form to a five-column quarto, "patent inside," and commenced publishing it weekly a! one dollar and fifty cents per year. This he continued for a year, when Mr. Bloom bought the entire outfit, removed to town and resumed the publication of the New Paris Mirror, as it was now called. The paper prospered and grew, and about 1886 was enlarged to a six-column quarto and a little later the "patent inside" was discarded and it became an "all home print" paper. In 1898 the proprietor erected a new building on north Washington street, exactly on the site of the old tannery, for the accommodation of his plant, and a second story for the use of the local lodge of Odd Fellows, they joining him and taking a perpetual lease on the same. In 1902 Arch R. Raney came to New Paris from Portland, Indiana, and bought a half interest in the paper, and four years later he acquired the other half interest and has since published it as sole proprietor.

steady growth in improvement. The equipment at its conception was about as crude as any that Ben Franklin ever worked with, while now it is "set" on a linotype machine and printed on a modem drum cylinder press, and while its regular size is eight pages, editions of double that number are not infrequent.

Other Enterprises

During all the earlier part of its history, New Paris depended upon neighboring towns, principally Richmond, for its banking facilities, but in 1889 Horace G. Bloom established the first bank. After a few years, in 1892, he removed this to New Madison, Darke county, but maintained a branch in New Paris. Meantime, Albert Peele started one, known as the Peoples' Bank, in 1900. After the death of Mr. Peele, in 1908, this was reorganized as the First National Bank. Mr. Bloom died in 1906, and the institution founded by him is still in existence, in connection with the bank at New Madison, as the Farmers Banking Company.

In 1899 Mr. Bloom laid the foundation for the present telephone system by building a private line to connect his bank at New Paris with the one at New Madison. It was but a short time until he established an exchange and the growth of the system was so rapid that it was not long until practically every farm house in the township, as well as the business places of the town, were connected in the New Paris Home Telephone system.

The first regular medical practitioner was Dr. Clement Ferguson, who came into the township as early as 1814. Doctor Ferguson was one of the first school teachers of the township, and afterward became a physician. He died in 1833.

Dr. Samuel Ferris practiced at New Paris and New Westville for a short time about 1850, and then removed to Newcastle, Indiana. His brother, A. B. Ferris, began practicing in New Paris in 1852 and continued until his death, about 1889.

Other physicians of the earlier times were Doctors Kepler, Terry, George Wilkinson, Moses Swank, Eaton, George Bruce, U. G. Miller and Lesh.

Haynie, Williamson, Williams, Jones, E. L. Carleton, Louis Dunn, Adams, Lyne, Finley, Guthrie, White, B. F. Beane, C. A. Hawley, E. E. Bevington and C. H. Garris. The three last named are the present resident physicians.

In a very early day a tract of ground just north of the corporation line of the future New Paris was chosen as a cemetery, and the first burial therein was that of Levi Moore, who died about 1810. Herein are buried the pioneers of the township, the men and women who did so much to mold the character of the community. Here sleep such men as Elder David Purviance, John Adams, John H. Cottom, Drs. John and Peleg Whitridge, Drs. Ferguson and Knox, Andrew, David, William and John F. Ireland, Robert McGill, Samuel R. Chadwick, the Flemings, Mitchells, Morrisons and very many others.

About 1870 a new cemetery, embracing ten acres on the beautiful grounds adjoining the south corporation line, was laid out. David Cultom, who was a member of the committee that selected the site, was the first person buried in this cemetery. The Catholic cemetery is located adjoining and west of the old cemetery.

Just south of Gettysburg, in the eastern part of the township, another cemetery was located at an early day, and Robert Curry, who died in 1816, was the first person buried there.

Gettysburg is the only village in the township besides New Paris. It is located in the northwest corner of section 36, on the old National road. It was laid out in 1832, about the time the National road was projected, by John Currv, a native of Pennsylvania. It was first called Harrisburg, but this was later changed to Gettysburg, after Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It was one of the many towns projected along the line of the National road, for the railroad was then undreamed of, and it was supposed by these early promoters that the National road would be a great national artery of communication which would eventually be thronged with travel. Accordingly, prospective towns were located every few miles, and a "tavern" was built in each among the first buildings. Only a little more than a mile west of Gettysburg, Orangeburg was projected, and a number of houses were erected, but Gettysburg outstripped it. Doubtless, if the early expectations had been realized, many of these towns would have become places of note, but within a few years the railroad was developed, it was seen that it would revolutionize transportation, the government dropped the further construction of the National road and the hopes of all these rudimentary towns were blasted. The half dozen or so buildings which once constituted Orangeburg have all disappeared but one. The town plat was long since cancelled, and it is now simply a crossroads and a farm house, though the name still clings to the locality. Gettysburg still survives as a pleasant little hamlet, with a store and two pretty churches, one Methodist and one Presbyterian. It will never, however, realize the dreams of its founder.

Many of the pioneers of Jefferson township were men and women of strong religious convictions, and very early in the history of the township their activities along this line resulted in the establishment of churches. One such man was Alexander Porter, who, as early, perhaps, as 1820, founded a United Presbyterian church near where Gettysburg now stands. It was located in what is now the cemetery. The building was of logs and has long since disappeared. It is said that for some time after the house was built it was without a floor and that the congregation sat on the sleepers to listen to the sermons. Later, about 1847, a frame church was built in Gettysburg, and in the sixties Rev. James McNeal was its pastor for several years. Still later, under the pastorate of Rev. John Wiseman, the congregation came over to the Presbyterian faith. Rev. David Tawney, Caleb Jones and David Green were pastors.

About the time of the founding of the United Presbyterian church, the Methodist church also was organized. The first meetings were held in the log bam of Jonathan Porterfield, a little north of the present site of Gettysburg. Both these organizations are still in existence and within the past few years the Presbyterians have completely remodeled and rebuilt their edifice and the Methodists have erected an entirely new artificial stone church, and both are now modem and up to date, a great credit to this enterprising community.

The other church center in the township is at New Paris. Elder David Purviance, who had been reared in the strictest tenets of the Presbyterian faith, during his sojourn in Kentucky embraced the doctrines of the New Light, or Christian, faith. He came here with others in 1807, fresh from a remarkable revival at Cane Ridge meeting house in Kentucky, and immediately proceeded to organize a church. The first meetings were held in a grove just north of where New Paris now is, and this was the first church in the township, and one of the first in the county. Meetings continued to be held here until about 1820, when a house was erected near where the grove meetings had been held. Among the first members were the Irelands, Purviances, Flemings and Mitchells. Before this time the southern wing of the congregation became so numerous that it was thought advisable to organize the Shiloh church, which was located near the state line in Jackson township. The New Paris church continued to prosper, and in 1839 James McVey, a disciple of Alexander Campbell, came to New Paris, and ere long there was a division in the church, and henceforth the two organizations were known as the New Lights and Campbellites. Neither party, however, was willing to acknowledge any sectarian name, but desired to be called Christian. In later years these two elements seemed to merge again, and for fifty years or more have been represented in one organization known as the Christian church.

About 1837 James and Eliza Cochran donated to the public a lot on East Cherry street in New Paris, on which to erect a "public meeting house," on condition that it be free for the use of all denominations and creeds. It was built by public subscription and cost one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars. Of the one hundred and fourteen subscribers, eighty-three belonged to no church and thirty-one were members of various denominations. It was used for many years by the Christian congregation, but about 1872 this body erected a substantial and commodious structure of their own on the opposite side of Cherry street, and a little farther west, which they have since maintained,

During all its later history' the Public church was much used for gatherings of all sorts, including political meetings. All the meetings for the re cruiting of soldiers from this township during the Civil War were held here. Practically' all of the remarkable series of meetings held in the township during the several years of the historic "Murphy temperance movement" were held in the Public church. It is still maintained, but it is no longer used for religious purposes. For several vears it has been utilized chiefly as a moving picture theater.

An active organization of the Universalist church was effected in New Paris alxmt i860, although its real inception was prior to that date, possibly fifteen or twenty' years, when Rev. J. C. McClure held meetings to that end. Its real working organization, however, was consummated at the time stated through the efforts of Rev. S. P. Carlton and T. J. Guthrie. The latter was its first pastor and the congregation worshipped in the Public church, using it alternately with the Christian congregation. Some differences arose over the control of the building and its furnishings, with the result that both withdrew and erected houses of their own, the Christians, as stated, on Cherry street, while the Universalists erected a large frame church on South Washington street, in 1870. This congregation flourished for many years, but the multiplicity of churches in the town so divided support that the Universalist finally languished, its services were discontinued in 1912, and in 1914 the building was sold to Whitewater Valley Grange, which now uses it as a hall for its meetings. Among the ministers who served the Universalist church during the years of its existence may be named : Revs. T. J. Guthrie, S. P. Carlton, Doctor Tucker, J. H. Blackford, Lottie D. Crosley, O. P. Moorman, Harvey Blackford, Sarah L. Stoner, J. A. Stoner, O. G. Colegrove, Leon P. Jones and Martha Jones.

In 1830 there were about a dozen Presbyterians in the New Paris community, who organized as a church. Rev. John Ross ministered to them ' for a number of years. Among the first members were Adam Reid, Peyton Ervin, James Brown and others. The organization was first called Beulah - church, and the first primitive building was located southwest of the town near the state line. In 1841, Rev. Franklin Berryhill became the pastor. He stirred his flock to the necessity of building a new house of worship, and very soon this was done, locating it on High street in New Paris. Rev. Berryhill continued to preach there until 1851, when failing health compelled him to resign. Among the ministers following him were Rev. David Greene, Rev. John Wiseman, Rev. Tawney and Rev. T. J. McClelland. About 1892 Rev. A. Orudorff assumed the pastorate and, following a very successful revival and a large accession to the membership, the proposition to build a new and modem church edifice was broached. It met with enthusiastic acceptance and a lot off the northwest comer of the school grounds was purchased, and the present elegant frame structure was erected in 1894.

There were a number of Methodists among the early citizens, and occasional services were held by the "circuit riders" who came that way, but it was not until 1840 that they felt able to build a church. John Cottom, James Fleming, Jr., and Robert McCord and others were instrumental in organizing the church and building a house of worship on the south side of East Main street about the year 1840. The first preacher was Rev. James Smith. In 1908, during the pastorate of Rev. C. E. Grauser, the old building was razed and a commodious modern building of artificial stone was erected. Rev. F. Kneisley is the present pastor.

Within and around New Paris are a considerable number of citizens who are adherents of the Catholic faith. About 1870 they built a very crcdit- able brick church on the comer of Walnut and High streets, in the north part of town. While it is not a large building, it is substantial and well appointed. While the congregation is not strong enough to support a settled priest, it is supplied at intervals by priests from Eaton and other points.

There are a number of colored people in and around New Paris, who have a church organization and a small building across the railroad from the main part of the town, and here they hold services from time to time at irregular intervals. They have no settled pastor.

Oldest among the fraternal bodies of Jefferson township is Fellowship Lodge No. 106, Free and Accepted Masons. The charter was granted October 21, 1841. This lodge held its first meetings in the second story of a frame house on East Cherry street, but in a short time leased the second story of the frame building belonging to Richey & Haseltine. In April, 1856, they purchased the three-story frame building on the west side of North Washington street, which they still own and occupy. The present officers are as follows: Worshipful master, Ed B. Reid; secretary, E. H. Young.

The ladies' branch of this order, the Order of the Eastern Star, was instituted here in May, 1909. The first worthy matron was Mrs. Laura Hawley. The present officers are : Worthy matron, Mrs. Anna Berington; secretary', Mrs. Fannie Ashman.

New Paris Lodge No. 303, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized May 26, 1856, and for several years met in a second floor hall above a store on the northeast corner of Main and Washington streets. In 1872 the old building was moved off the lot and the lodge proceeded to erect in its stead a substantial three-story brick building, with two good business rooms on the first floor, a public hall on the second and a spacious lodge room on the third. This enterprise involved the lodge considerably in debt, financial difficulties arising, and they were finally compelled to sell the property. In 1898, as has been previously mentioned, the lodge joined with C. W. Bloom, who was then erecting a building for his printing office, and secured a perpetual lease on a second-floor hall there. The lodge has a membership of nearly one hundred members and is very completely and conveniently equipped for its work. Its present staff of officers is : Homer Morrison, noble grand; Robert Rollev, vice grand: C. \V. Bloom, recording secretary : M. H. Pence, financial secretary.

Bloom was the first noble grand and Mrs. Anna Bennett, secretary. It has been from the beginning one among the strongest and most flourishing of the fraternities. Its present officers are: Mrs. Nellie Bice, noble grand; Mrs.

Harmony Lodge No. 396, Knights of Pythias, was instituted early in 1890. For a few years it rented the Odd Fellows' lodge room as a meeting place, afterward removing to the second-floor room of the Samuels building on South Washington street. About 1902 it purchased the brick block formerly owned by the Odd Fellows, which it has since occupied. Forest Pierson is the present chancellor commander and C. E. Samuels, one of the charter members, is keeper of records and seal. The ladies' branch of this order, the Pythian Sisters, was organized about 1903, and has flourished since. Miss Grace Samuels is the present most excellent chief.

Within a few years after the close of the Civil War a post of the Grand Army of the Republic was organized in New Paris and most of the surviving veterans of the war residing in Jefferson township were members of it. 'It was known as Graham-Thompson Post. It flourished for several years, but finally suffered a decline and for a few years was practically disbanded. But it was again reorganized, this time as Caleb Marker Post. It is still maintained by the few remaining veterans, but its membership, of necessity, is small. Eli Pierson is the present post commander and C. W. Bennett is adjutant.

In 1912, Whitewater Valley Grange No. 1837, Patrons of Husbandry, was organized in New Paris. It was composed of farmers residing in Jefferson township, assisted, however, by quite a large number from the northern part of Jackson township. C. L. Jones was the first master ; R. E. Morrow, overseer, and W. D. Arnold, secretary. For the first two years the meetings were held in the Odd Fellows' hall, which was rented for the purpose.

In 1914 the Grange successfully negotiated with the authorities of the Universalist church and purchased the abandoned church property, which they repaired and put in good condition, and now have a commodious and wellappointed house of their own. The officers at present are : Worthy master, Adam Reid; overseer, John Noakes; secretary, W. D. Arnold.

Temperance History

In the early days of Jefferson township, it is said that in the two or three distilleries then operated a tin cup always hung near a barrel of whisky, kept for the purpose, where all comers could help themselves as freely as they chose. Up to the late fifties of the last century the grocery stores of New Paris and Gettysburg kept liquor as part of their stock and sold it the same as other goods kept in such stores. About this time, however, the evils growing out of this traffic were so manifest that a sentiment began to develop against it, with the result that it was gradually banished from the trade. For many years the township was free from the curse, until, in 1868, cnc George Clatterbuck decided to defy public sentiment and opened a saloon on Main street. A wave of indignation and protest swept over the town. There was then no law which could be invoked, but the women were equal to the emergency. They organized, divided into two shifts and laid siege to the enemy. They took their knitting and crocheting and took possession of the place, where they knitted and chatted, one company relieving the other, until the proprietor was glad to capitulate. The men raised a fund, bought his stock, which was taken beyond the town limits and poured out, and on Saturday night the erstwhile defiant saloonkeeper was initiated into the Good Templars. In 1877 the "Murphy movement," which swept over the entire country, was inaugurated in New Paris, and these meetings were maintained for months almost nightly, with the result that the number of those in the entire township who were not wearing the blue ribbon badge was an insignificant minority. The movement did not spend its force for ten years. During all these years a saloon in Jefferson township was simply an impossible proposition. Within about another decade the sentiment had somewhat cooled, and a couple of saloons were started and operated for a while, but soon the sentiment again rallied and they were ousted by invoking the local option laws then in force, and for many years the township has been free of them, with no prospect that they will ever return.