Marion Township

Marion Township

Marion township occupies the southwestern corner of Clinton county and is bounded on the north by Vernon township, on the east by Washington and Jefferson townships, on the south by Brown county and on the west by Warren county. For the most part, the surface of the township would be called undulating, but in some places it is very level. The soil is productive and in some parts of the township is underlaid with a stratum of fine gravel at a depth of from six to eighteen feet. The principal streams are Second creek, running from the northern part of the township to the west side near the center; Lick creek, running west through the southern part and out at the west side near the southern corner, and Whitacre's tun, which flows from east to west, south of the center. A vast quantity of the land was formerly swampy and too wet for cultivation, but, by the use of modern systems of ditching and draining, these lands have been made tillable and very fertile.

The settlement of this township began long before its organization and soon after the organization of the county. It has been definitely established that Jonathan Baldwin was the first to settle within the limits of Marion township. Baldwin was born at, or near, Morgantown, Monongalia county, Virginia, November 80, 1786, and remained with his father until 1804, when he emigrated to Ohio and settled in Guernsey county. Two years later he removed to Warren county, near the present town of Morrow, and engaged in working by the month, building flat-boats for Williarh Whitacre, with whom he remained until 1811. In that year he married Harriet Blancett and removed to near Springboro, in Warren county. In 1812 he enlisted in the army and served in the campaign of that year under Gen. William Henry Harrison. He then returned home, where he remained until 1814, when he came to Marion township and settled on a tract of land of one hundred and thirty acres on Second creek, this land being the residue of four hundred acres previously purchased by him of General Lytle. Immediately upon his arrival, Mr. Baldwin, with the help of his two brothers, Samuel and Benjamin, cut the logs and erected the first dwelling in the township. His nearest neighbor at this time was four miles away, the intervening distance being covered with a heavy forest. On.the completion of the cabin, the brothers left Jonathan to clear the land and they returned to their home in Warren county. This was in February, 1814, and by the spring of 1815 he had six acres of land cleared and ready to be planted with corn for that year's use. He died on August 28, 1868, in his eighty-second year. He was married twice; his first wife died on October 27, 1884, and his second wife, Mary, on July 25, 1856. His son, William H. Baldwin, who died on November 19, 1862, when fifty-two years of age, was for many years one of the most prominent citizens of the township. He was township clerk, justice of the peace, postmaster, general of the county militia, state senator, and judge of the second judicial district of Ohio,

Reuben Gillis was another early settler of this township. He was born on the El'<horn, eleven miles north of Lexington, Scott county, on August 8, 1789. His father 'b -ught him to Ohio in May, 1799, when he settled in Warren county. From here the 'gon later moved to Clinton, near where Blanchester now is, and where he continued to reside until his death, in 1877. When he came to the Blanchester neighborhood, Jonathan

Baldwin, Galvin Morrison, William Liston, Sr., George Crossen, the widow Kate Crossen, Edward Crossen, William Clark, Mr. Stanberry, Elisha Whitacre, Nicholas Burns and William Candle were already living on Second creek.

The first white child born in the township was Benjamin Baldwin, who was born on October 15, 1815, and who for years lived on a farm near Blanchester and is still remembered by the residents of that community. At this time the nearest neighborhood was about Collins' tavern, now called Villar's chapel, a distance of seven miles.

Galvin Morrison emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1815, and located in this township on what was later known as the William Zimmer farm. Soon afterward Elisha Whitacre; Recompense Stansbury, from New Jersey; Hiram Anderson, William Liston and Edward Crossen settled in the township. Among the early pioneers should also be mentioned Jeremiah Rowan, John Cooper, William Crossen, Mrs. Henry Shank, Wilfred Cusick, Hartwell Gilliam, Reuben Murphy and Gertrude Newell.

This township was formed by an act of the county commissioners, August 5, 1830. The first election in the township was held in the woods near the cabfn of Tobias Barnett (sometimes called Bernard), on September 4, 1830, when the following officers were elected: John Mitchell, John Stephens and John Salisbury, trustees; Hiram Anderson, clerk, and Edward Crossen, Jr., treasurer. The farm on which this election was held is on the Twin pike, leading from Blanchester to Wilmington, about one and a half miles northeast of the former place. John Cooper was elected justice of the peace the following November. The following composed the electorate of the township at this election of the justice of the peace: Jonathan Baldwin, G. Morrison, Hiram Anderson, Recompense Stansbury, John Salisbury, Nicholas Burns, Thomas Elsey, Jonathan Kirk, William Brown, Irwine Garrison, Benjamin Garrison, James Bryant. William Clark, William Hudson, Salby Hudson, Jeremiah Rowan, John Caddle, Lewis Nebber, Reuben Gillis, John Smith. Azel Lyon. Elisha Whitacre, Edward Crossen. Israel Lidles, Isaac Coons, William Sharrow, John Trump, Benjamin Murphy, James Cochran, David Fisher and Isaac Martin.

Early Schools

The first school house in the township was a log house built on a half acre of land donated by Hiram Anderson for that purpose, and the first school taught in it was by James Cochran, an ex-soldier of the Revolutionary War. This site was afterwards used as a burial place. Catharine, the wife of Galvin Morrison, was the first person to be interred here. It is now filled with the graves of the early settlers of the township. The next school building was a log house on the south bank of Second creek. It was taught by Benjamin Baldwin, the father of Jonathan Baldwin and also a soldier in our war for independence. This site is now within the confines of the town of Blanchester. A third school building was built on the farm of William Crossen.

Compared with our modern, well-planned and well-built school buildings, even in the remotest rural districts, these early log school houses were crude affairs indeed. They were heated by fire-places, requiring logs five or six feet in length. The seats consisted of slabs, three to four inches thick, six to eight inches wide and eight to twelve feet long, hewed on the upper side. They were set about eighteen inches above the floor, so high that most of the children's feet did not touch the floor. School was in session most of the day, but the children never complained, living in the hope that some day their feet would touch the floor. But few even realized that dream, for they were almost always taken from school at an early age and put to work on the farm, helping their parents. The writing desks were made by placing plank along the wall at the sides of the room, with a strip fastened at the bottom.

so many pupils, at from a dollar and twenty-five cents to a dollar and a half per pupil, for a quarter of about sixty-five days. Twenty students were considered 2 large school and but few branches were then thought necessary, Some paid their subscriptions fn money' atid sdnie in produce. However, many paid in wood and this was cut near the school building. The teacher boarded around among the patrons, dividing his time among them. When a pupil had advanced as far as the single rule of three, with a slight knowledge of Peter Parley's geography, he was considered as having a sufficient education, and would be taken from school and put to work in a clearing. Usually the girls were not so far advanced, as it was deemed more necessary to educate them in the kitchen and household duties, and it was. thought, too, that they had not the faculties of learning as had the boys.

The following are the officers of Marion township in 1915: Trustees, S. A. Losh, ih Tedrick and James Reeves; clerk, H. C. Reed; treasurer, Clay Watkins. Population, two thousand five hundred and thirty-three.

Blanchester was laid out by Joseph and John Blancett and the plat was recorded on March 23, 1832. There were originally twenty-four lots, four poles by elght poles square. The lots were numbered consecutively from 1 to 24, distributed along the main street, Howard, which ran northwest and southeast, and one cross street, Broadway, which ran northeast and southwest. The courses of the lots were north forty-five and one-half degrees east by south, forty-five and one-half degrees east. This village is situated in the southeastern part of Marion township and is the only town in said township.

On March 6, 1865, the necessary proceedings were taken and the town duly incorporated by the county commissioners under the laws of the state of Ohio. On August 9, 1873, the incorporation was extended to include contiguous territory, on a petition signed by property owners within the territory to be annexed, and recommended by the authorities of the town. Anshutz & Patterson's addition, including the school lot and also Clark, High and Columbus streets, was platted on February 2, 1874. J. H. Trickey's addition, with Central avenue and South Broadway street, was platted on November 16, 1877.

Blanchester is located at the junction of the Blanchester and Hillsboro branch of the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern railroad. The interurban line from Blanchester to the suburbs of Cincinnati affords the people of this community excellent train service. Wilson's run and Second creek surround the town on three sides and connect at the eastern edge of the corporation.

The first merchant to locate here was Joseph Blancett, who occupied a hewed-log house. He kept a general line of groceries, notions and such other articles as would be found in a country store of that day. Blancett. was followed by Isaac Frazier and William H. Baldwin. The former kept his store in a log house in the village, but the latter occupied a stand at a point outside the present corporate limits. Willlam Bundy was the first blacksmith, and had his shop in a log building, where he plied his trade here many years before any other blacksmith came to this community. Bryant Trickey was the first wagon-maker and also plied his trade in a log shop. On the 24th of March, 1870, S. R. Nickerson began the publication of the Blanchester Herald, and continued eighteen months, when he sold it to James S. Turk, who, in a short time, changed the name to the Marion Independent, the publication of which ceased about October 1, 1872. The history of later papers may be found in the chapter on newspapers.

Blanchester has suffered the greatest disaster that has ever been visited upon any town in Clinton county. This prosperous little village was overtaken by a' serious calamity: on:-October18, 1895, and within the. brjef. space of.six-hours.the business portion

The fire broke out at 1:30 P. M. in an old stable in the rear of the livery barn of W. W. Burke. There was no definite knowledge as to the origin of the fire, though the most generally accepted theory was that some person had carelessly thrown a cigar stub either in or near the stable and that the conflagration started from that apparently trifling act. From this, the brick livery stable of W. W. Burke was ignited. Not until the fire got under good headway in the stable of Burke was it discovered, and soon @ general alarm was given. The streets were soon fairly alive with people doing what they could prevent the spread of the flames. Blanchester's fire department was a volunteer brigade, under the captaincy of Jacob Baldwin, and their only equipment was an old hand engine, while the only available water was such as could be pumped from wells and cisterns, and in many of them the water was very low. Within a very short time, fanned by a stiff wind, the flames spread so rapidly that it became apparent, that the town was doomed unless outside aid could be speedily secured.

Mayor Foote telegraphed Hillsboro, Lynchburg and Loveland, all of which responded at once and, transportation being at hand, were soon on the ground. By the time of the arrival of outside aid the square bounded by Main, Wall and Church streets and the railroad tracks, and that bounded by Main, Wright, Cherry and Broadway, were inyolved in the flames. Everyone who could carry a bucket assisted the firemen in fighting the still-spreading flames. But the cisterns and wells became exhausted of their supply of water, and the only recourse was to get water from the creek, a distance of five squares.

By seven o'clock in the evening the three business squares were largely destroyed and the residence portion of the town was seriously threatened. Then followed the most intense excitement. People became frantic in their efforts to get their household goods to places of safety; but in a number of instances they were compelled to abandon the work of rescue, the flames spreading too rapidly for them.

The Methodist church and three residences adjoining, thought to be at a safe distance from the conflagration, were ignited by burning embers being carried three squares through the air and over intervening dwellings. The church was gutted and the three residences, including the pretty home of Lyman Simonton, were entirely destroyed.

The loss was estimated at one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, with insurance of less than twenty-nine thousand dollars - a little more than one-fourth. Hence the unfortunate people suffered a loss of nearly one hundred thousand dollars, besides the Joss sustained by tradesmen while preparing for a resumption of business. The extent of the damage wrought can be more fully comprehended by the reader when we state that seventy-two buildings, including dwellings and barns, were destroyed, and that nearly the entire business portion of the town was swept away. Fortunately, no one was killed or seriously injured by the disaster.

On Saturday, Mayor Foote called a citizens' meeting to be held at the Universalist church for the purpose of organizing a committee for the relief of the sufferers. A large number of citizens responded. The meeting organized with the following officers: Professor Cadwallader, chairman; 'C. B. Watkins, secretary; BE. D. Smith, treasurer; J. M. Tisher, Rey. Hamilton, A. Crosson, J. W. West, Mayor Foote and J. S. Dewey, executive council. A committee of fifteen ladies and men was appointed to solicit aid from the hundreds who visited the fire-stricken town on Sunday. The good people of the county were very loyal and generous in coming to the aid of their stricken neighbors. A vote of thanks was tendered the fire department of Hillsboro, Loveland and Lynchburg, all of which battled nobly against the fire fiend; also, to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company for their prompt action in furnishing transportation to the fire companies of these towns. : situation at Blanchester is almost appalling and will require a long time for the village to recover from the effects thereof. Comparatively few business rooms remain, and not much headway can be made before next spring." The fire, while a great calamity and an inestimable loss to mahy of the citizens, was really a blessing in disguise, for within less than two years the business section was completely rebuilt with modern. brick buildings. Where once frame buildings stood, their places are now filled with fire-proof structures. ;

The Clinton County Democrat of November 28, 1895, printed the following: 'After having risen Phoenix-like from the ashes of the late terrible fire, Blanchester was visited Monday night with a terrible and destructive wind storm, and quite a number of the new buildings in the course of construction and those left standing by the fire were damaged to a greater or less extent. The wind blew a perfect gale the entire night, and many people had to seek places of safety, thinking' that any minute the houses they occupied would be blown from their foundations. The entire roof was blown from the Carnahan block. The north fire wall on the new Rice building was blown off and went crashing through the roof of the new building just completed and occupied by the Snyder & Anderson Hardware Company. The walls of the Methodist church, left standing from the fire, were blown over, and completely buried the material, doors, windows, etc., belonging to Mrs. Willoughby, who had just had them placed on the ground preparatory to constructing a new dwelling to replace the one destroyed by fire. Window glass was blown from the fronts of the store room of H. L. Day, druggist; Z. T. Peddicord, furniture, and Doctor Anshutz, dental parlors. The walls of the old Broadway livery stable were blown down and the roof of a large warehouse near the railroad, belonging to James Gustin, was blown off.

"But, undismayed, every one is at work this morning clearing off the debris. It was, indeed, a night for terror to many of the citizens of this community, and one that will never be forgotten. The peculiar color of the sky was a feature of the storm, the west having a dull, red hue."

Business Directory

The present officials of Blanchester are as follow: J. W. Gustin. mayor: W. L. Hixson, clerk; J. M. Brant, solicitor; A. Titus, health officer; H. F. Hudson, treasurer; Ed Anderson, fire chief; T. J. Walker, marshal; H. M. Hall, John Carr and J. H. Shank, board of public affairs; H. E. Katzenmeyer, clerk of public affairs: Amos Foote, Aetna Laymon, Jacob Kohlhagen, C. M. Day, J. R. Ross and J. O. Norman, council.