Liberty Township

Liberty Township

Jons A. Cluxton. - The subject of this sketch is of Irish descent. His paternal grandfather was a native of Ireland and grew to years of manhood, married and raised a family there. About 1798, he, with his wife and two children, emigrated to America, three of their children remaining in Ireland. He settled in New Jersey, where he died shortly afterwards, being suddenly stricken down with apoplexy or something of that nature, while working in the field. After Mr. Cluxton's death, the widowed mother with her two children, John and Betsy, removed to Penn., and settled near Connellstown, where she lived until they grew up and married. The daughter, Betsy, married William Phillips, and the son, John, married Nancy Page. These last were the parents of John A. Cluxton, whose name stands at the head of this article. Early in 1813, all these families consisting of mother Cluxton, her son John and wife, his wife's parents, Rev. William Page and family, and William Phillips, who had married Betsy, left Peun., in company and came to Adams county. Mr. Phillips settled near Brush creek, where he andh's wife both lived and died. They are buried in Stone chapel grave yard. With them also lived the grandmother Cluxton, 'Mrs. Phillip's mother), until her decease. This old farm is now owned by a son, John Phillips. Rev. William Page, the maternal grandfather of John A. Cluxton, settled on the farm now owned by Samuel McFeeters, near Killiustown. Here Mrs. Page died - . Page afterwards married a second wife, moved to Clermont where he died of a cancer. John Cluxton settled in We3t U uion, built a house near the M. E. church, and worked some years at shoemaking, then bought a farm near Xillingstown to which he moved. He finally removed to Bentonville, where he died in 1855, and was buried in the WesV Union grave yard. Mrs. Cluxton, after her husband's death, lived a widow twenty years. Her latter days were spent at her daughter's near Ripley, Brown county,' Ohio, where she died. She was buried in the West Union grave yard, where she now sleeps, beside her husband and three daughters. She was a faithful and devoted Christian, and in' early years united with the Methodist ehtirch in West Union, and when the family removed near Brush creek, she transferred her membership to the Stone Chapel che rob in i he neighborhood of he^hOlinn; Bnt no matter where her lot was cast, she was ever the samt?, tmassnming but faithful follower Of the meek and holy Savior. Mrs. Cluxton was a devoted laborer in the Sabbath School, and no doubt many in this community yet remember her pious teachings. Truly a good mother in Israel is gane - bnt her work go* on, and many remain to bless her memory. John and Nancy Clnxton were the parents of thirteen children : William, George, Rebecca, Grecnberry J., Angellne, John A., Qavis B., James R., Nancy Jane, Susan Thomas, Samuel P., Henry B. - Two of t'iew, Augeline and Susan died In early years. The othare are all living but Rebecca Greenbury and WilUttm. Rebecca married Rev. Jedlah Foster. 8h« died In West Uhlob, with colors in 1835. John H. the subject of oar sketch was born In 'West Union, May, 14,1825, and MhrOaUrertce M. Mosier, Nov. 18, 1847. He started in life under disadvantageous circumstances. He remalnod with Ins fattier until he was twenty-one years of ago, then commenced life on bis own account, working from spring until full the first two years at $9 a month, with no extra pay for harvest work. After bis marriage Mr. Cluxton rented land and farmed, but "diligence and perseverance will overcome difficulties as is proved in this case. He slowly and steadily gained in the world until he has now a good farm and pleasant and beautiful home of his own, surrounded with all the comforts of lifo. A view of his pretty house is shown in the pages of our book. He is also fortunate in being blessed with a good wife, to whoso aid and good counsels he attributes much of his success in life. Mr. Cluxton seems to bo a nature genius in all mechanical implements and is a skillful workman in almost every mechanic art. He is the inventor of a posthole digger that will excavate post-boles with an ease and facility . never attained before. HU most recent and the greatest invention of his life, and one that seems destined to surpass all previous efforts of the kind, is his pendulum drag-saw, by which log9 of any kind or size, from the saw or shingle trees of the forest to the fire or stove wood at the door ciin be cut. In short, it can do any work that the cross-cut saw will do, and with a speed and ease that has heretofore never been equaled. This invention is secured by patent. Mrs. Catherine M. Cluxton, daughter of Jacob Mosier, and wife of John A. Cluxton, .was born October 21, 1828, near Masontown, Fayette county Pa., Her ancestors were German. Her grandfather, Abraham Mosier, was probably born in Germany! His children were John, Abraham, George, and Julia Auu^Ckfherine Betsy, Mary and Nancy. Her father was born in Penn., in 1796. He married Elizabeth Newcomer. They came to Adams county at an early day and settled on the farm now owned by John A. Cluxton, in Liberty township, where they b.oth di'ed. Mr. Mosier died in 1841, Mrs. Mosier in 1864. They both lie buried in the Kirker grave yard. They were the parents of nine children, Abraham, Jacob, Mary John, Samuel, Catharine, Nancy, George and Elizabeth. The last two died iu infancy, the othor seven grew to years of maturity, are married ana all still living. Mrs. Cluxton's maternal grandparents were Jacob and Mary Newcomer. They raised a family of seven children, Elizabeth, Jacob, Uriah, Mary, John, Nancy and Martha, but trto of these, John and Martha, now survive, tho others are dead. One of these children, Elizabeth, 'married Jacob Mosier. They are the parents of Mrs. Cluxton.

Mahlon Wikoff. - The W'koff family is of German origin. The oldest ancestors who cams to America was Peter Claeson Wikoff, who emiggated from Holland to this country in 1636, but we have no certain account when he settled. Neither do we know anything about his family, other than that he has a son named Jacob. This Jacob Wikoff was the great grandfather of Mahlon Wikoff, who is the principal subject of our sketch, but all we know of his family is that he had a son Peter, grandfather of Mahlon. This Peter Wikoff, at an early day, emigrated from Va., and settled near where Washington, Ky., now stands. He there bought 1,000 acres of laud, which he lost by a defective title. He then came to Adams county and settled on Scioto Brush creek, Jefferson township. Here he again bought land and cleared up a farm on which he lived and died. James Wikoff, the son of Peter Wikoff, and father of Mahlon Wikoff, was born Feb. 11, 1782. He remained with bis father until he reached his 28th year, when he married Rachel Ellis, a sister of Col- Nathan Ellis. After his marriage, Mr. Wikoff lived on Brush creek until his decease; Sept. 18, 1818. He left four children, three sons and a daughter one of these sons was Mahlon. The widow afterwards married again, and this son was left at the age of eleven, to work his way through the world as best he could. Fortunately, however, he found a good home at the house ef his maternal uncle, John Ellis, who kept him until he was twenty-one, when he gave him atront-fitof a horse, saddle and bridle,' and a suit of new clothes. With this start in life he commenced the world. Three yoars after this he married Jemima Melvin. This lady's grandfather was an Englishman, who emigrated to this country and settled in Delaware, where he lived and died. He left seven children, four of whom were boys. George Andrew Melvin, the oldest son, emigrated at the age of twenty-eight to Kentucky, and at thirty he married Sarah A. Huffman, who was a native of Va. After thirty-five years of married life, Mr., Melvin died, leaving a family of eleven children, of which Mrs. Wikoff was the tenth. Mrs. Melvin, the mother of Mrs. Wikoff, died in 1812, at the advanced age of ninety-seven years and six months. Jemima Melvin, (now Mrs. Wikoff,) at her marriage was the owner of a spinning-wheel a«d loom, which she knew how to nse and had the will to do it - -thus, they started in life. Their industry and frugality, Soon Mai|rtb show their results in the rapid accumulation of propei^fv^Elght children have blessed tbeir union. Their oldest sony William J., died from disease contracted while attending (ihe Ohio Wesyleyan University, at Delaware. George Mlj the second son, is now farming in Mo. Cyrus F., still remains at home with his parents. Of the- daughters, Sarah A., is married, while Lon R., Mary E., Lucinda M., and Laura L., e'ill remain at home with their parents.

sketch, Paniel and Esthor Cockorill, wore natives of V«. They emigrated to Ohio in 1837, and settled in Scott township, on u farm about a milo east of Youngsvillc, on a farm that uow belongs to William Allison, of Penn. They reared n family of six children, four sons ami two daughters. Daniel (Jockcrill soon became a prominent and influential citizen. Ho represented Adams county in tho Legislature in 1846-47, and also ill 1849-50- These parents are long since decoased, and botli lio interred in Mount Leigh cemetery. Col. Cockerill, who is more particularly the subject of this article, was the oldest in this family of children, and was born in London county Va., Jan. 1, 1819. He came witli his parents to Adams county in 1837. He became one of the most conspicuous and popular citizens Adams county over had, and made a name that stands honorably recorded in the pages of his county's history. From the age of twenty-one until he was tweuty-five, he taught school. In 1840, he was elected County Surveyor, and in 1846, was appointed Clerk of the Court ofCommou Pleas, which office he held until the adoption of the present constitution in 1851. He was elected a member of tho first Legislature that met under the new constitution. In 1853, he commenced the practice of law, which was soon found to be extensive, though his other public duties finally engaged 8® much of his attention and occupied so much of his time that the law business was necessarily greatly neglected. In 1856, be was elected to represent his district in Congress, in which body he served one term. At the breaking out of the rebellion he was among ;he first to enlist in the service of his country. He was appoint -d, in 1861, Col. of the 70th Regt., O. V. I. This regiment, part'eipated iu the battle of Shiloh, April 6 and 7, 1862, and it, at d its commander, Col. Cockerill, are honorably mentioned in history, and by the commanding Generals for good conduct in the terrific fight. Whitelaw Reid, in his " Ohio in the War," says of this regiment which Col. Cockerill commanded : " After the entire line to the left of the Shiloh church had been completely turned, and not a soldier of any other regiment was to be seen on the original line of battle, the regiment fell slowly back, fighting every inch of the ground during the entire day, and lay in front of the enemy at night over half the way from Shiloh church to the landing. On Monday the regiment took part in the action during the whole day, and established an enduring name for bravery and endurance. " General Sherman, under whose eye they fought, in his report of the battle said: "Col. Cockerill behaved with great gallantry, and held together the largest regiment of any Col. in inv division, and stood by me from first to last." In Nov. of the next year he was appointed by Gen. Sherman, commander of a brigade in the first Di visit n of the Ffteenth Army Corps, where he remained until 1864, when he resigned and came home. In 1867, he was chosen to represent Adams county in the Ohio Legislature, and re-elected in 1864. At the meeting of this Legislature, he was chosen speaker pro-tem. He was ranked as the leader of his party (the Democratic) in both of the Legislatures of 1867 and 1869. Col. Cockerill was a man of generous impulses. Ever ready to relieve the wants of the needy and minister to the comforts of the afflicted, he was never appealed to in vain to aid in charitable enterprises. He wa9 generous to a fault. Added to his noble, frank and manly nature, he possessed a fine personal appearance, and was a fluent, earnest and forcible speaker. These qualities rendered him one of the most prominent men of his time. He died of heart disease, Oct. 23,1875, leaving a wife (since deceaed) and two children - a son and daughter. Of this once prominent family, not a member uow remains in the cdunty.

Source changes here: from A History of Adams County, Ohio, from Its Earliest Settlement to the Present Time, Including Character Sketches of the Prominent Persons Identified with the First Century of the Country's Growth .., by Evans, Nelson Wiley, published 1900; 921 words in this source stream.

Liberty Township

Liberty Township was organized December 6, 1817, from territory taken from the north end of Sprigg Township. Under the territorial organization what is now Liberty was included mostly in Manchester Township, the western portion however was within the limits of Cedar Hill. The first election in Liberty Township was held at the house of David Robe in April, 1818.

It is said that Governor Thomas Kirker was the first settler, but it is more accurate to say he was among the first of the pioneers of this region. His cabin was erected on Zane's Trace on what is 'known as the old Kirker farm in the southeastern part of the township. James January came as early as 1796 and one year later opened a tavern on the Trace at the foot of the hill west of West Union on the Swearengen farm. About this date also came Needham Perry, Alexander Meharry, Richard Askren, John Mahaffey, Rev. Thomas Odell, David Robe, George Dillinger, Bezebel Gordon, Col. John Lodwick, Daniel Marlatt, James Wade and Joseph Wade. And later, James McGovney, John Stivers^Conrad Foster, and Lewis Coryell. These were mostly Revolutionary soldiers from Virginia, and to perpetuate among their descendants the memory of the cause for which they had struggled, the name Liberty was given to this township when formed. Land warrant number one issued to Richard Askren, was laid in this township.

As indicative of the frugality and integrity of the citizens of Liberty Township, a chronicler of local history in the year 1880 noted the fact that there had never been an assignment made by any of its citizens.

The surface is rolling and in localities bordering the streams somewhat hilly. Bald Hill and Cave Hill, in the northeastern part of the township, are remarkable elevations, the first about 650 and the second over 700 feet above low water at Cincinnati. They have the same geological position as the elevations on which West Union stands and are "outliers" of the cliff limestone. Cave Hill is one hundred feet higher than West Union, and was one of the stations in the United States Geodetic Survey. The western portion of the township is in the Cincinnati or blue limestone belt and the soil is generally fertile, producing good crops of com, tobacco, wheat, oats and clover. The surface is furrowed by numerous streams, tributaries of Eagle Creek, the largest of which is East Fork which receives the waters of Hill's and Kyte*s Forks in this township.

Fairvi^w, near the Brown County line on the old Cincinnati turnpike, was laid out by William Mahaffey, March 15, 1844, on a plot of nine lots. Benjamin Whiteman kept a store there previous to that time, and a postoffice named Hill's Fork had been established with Robert Patton as first postmaster. The village contains one store, one church, a blacksmith shop and a few residences.

The first church in the township was a log structure erected by the Christian Association or "New Lights" near the old Kirker Cemetery in 1800; but the Associate Reformed Presbyterian congregation held meetings at the house of James January as early as 1797. See history of U. P. Church under Wayne Township.

Briar Ridge M. E. Church. This is one of the pioneer churches of the township and county. A log house was erected there in 1804, and afterwards a small brick, which was replaced by the present frame building. Near here on the creek, Rev. Odell and Rev. Robert Dobbins founded the first Methodist class in, this part of Adams County. Peter Cartright, afterwards a celebrated Methodist divine, used to preach at Odell's in this locality.

Christian Union Church. About 1868 a division in the M. E. Church at Briar Ridge took place over questions of politics growing out of the Civil War, and many members joined the new Christian Union Association, and about 1873 erected a comfortable frame church house near the site of the Methodist edifice.

German M. E.' Church. Some years before the Civil War, a small colony of German families settled in the vicinity of Hill's Fork. In 1853 they built a house of worship at Fairview where services have been held, with slight interruptions, to the present time, but not as formerly in the German tongue.

Liberty Chapel, M. E. This church is on the North Liberty and Manchester pike at the crossing of the old Cincinnati road. It is a frame erected in 1879, at a cost of eight hundred dollars.

It is said that the first schoolhouse in this township stood on the Kleinknecht farm and that an English woman, Mrs. Dodson, was the first teacher in 1803. There was a schoolhouse on East Fork near January's tavern as early as 1805. We are inclined to the belief that William Dobbins, a son of Rev. Robert Dobbins, was one of the first schoolmasters in this township.

The old campmeeting ground on the Noleman farm was a favorite retreat for the Methodists in early days. There such famous pulpit orators as John Collins, Henry Bascom, Peter Cartright and William Mc- Kendree preached in "God's first temples" and led repentant sinners to the "house of the Lord/'

There were many Indians in this region when the first settlers came, after the treaty of Greenville, and they annoyed the pioneers greatly by begging and pilfering, and occasionally stealing horses. William Crawford, in order to protect a valuable horse from being stolen, built a stable in one end of his cabin in which he secured the animal at night.