Monroe Township

Monroe Township

Monroe township was the last township of the county to be settled because of the swampy and wet condition of large tracts of the land. Twin creek crosses the northeastern section, Bantas fork through the five southwest sections, and Dry fork, south of West Manchester, flows southeast into Twin creek; while Price creek, rising in Darke county, comes into the township about a mile east of the northwest corner of the township, flows diagonally across and leaves it within less than a mile north of the southeast corner of the township. The township is so near the beginnings of these streams that the land is extremely level, there probably existing no abrupt or steep hill, as much as twenty-five feet high, in the township. Rocky run heads as a tile ditch in section 31 of this township.

The soil is of clay, with limestone subsoil, the drift material being covered from ten to twenty feet in most places. It is said that originally there were great quantities of poplar and walnut growing in the forests, but now nearly all has been removed by the lumberman. The land is now mostly cleared, many miles of main ditches having been constructed, furnishing outlets for many more miles of farm ditches, until today splendid farms, with fine buildings, occupy lands that one hundred years ago were swamps, at that time inaccessible, except in the dry season or when frozen over. The soil is of the most productive variety and in all discussions as to the best township in the county, even the enthusiast from some other township is willing to admit that Monroe mav lead his township; but if not, then his is best.

Early Settlement

Charles Armantrout. near Hamburg: William Brown, in section 29; John Jellison, in section 23; Isaiah Adams, near Hamburg; Jacob Baker, in section 16; Aaron Crisler, in section 26, and the Murdocks, # west of Eldorado, probably were the first settlers arriving in the township, the date of their arrival being from two to four years before the War of 1812. Josiah Davisson, who settled in section 14 in 1816, is said to have found quite a number of neighbors scattered about the township. Elias Bunger arrived about

1817. Jonathan Shurley settled in section 16, in 1815, and lived there until his death in 1879. He had eleven children in his family and many of his descendants yet reside in the township. About the same time came David Fudge, Moses Ireland, Peter Swerer and Moses Thompson. William Pence, who settled in section 31, in 1825, had been a captain in the War of 1812, and came from Virginia.

Schools And Churches

The first school house was built, about 1825, in section 10, Jerry Pence, teacher, others soon following. Under our present school law eight good country school houses have been erected in the township, but already a movement is being agitated either to centralize the schools of the township or allow the western half to be centralized with Eldorado, the eastern half to be centralized with West Manchester, where there already exist excellent village schools.

The first church was the United Brethren church, built in 1830, in section 23, on Aaron Crislers farm, but now gone. The congregation of this church later built a frame church near the east line of section 25.

The German Baptist church, now the Church of the Brethren, about 1862, erected a church in section 22 on Price's creek, which, about 1905, was remodeled. This congregation now numbers about one hundred members, with a Sunday school enrollment of about one hundred and fifty.

About 1882 the friction between the "progressive" element of this congregation and the "old order" became so great that the latter withdrew and erected a frame church of their own on the Eaton and Eldorado road, in section 20, and are now known as the Old Order Brethren. They number about eighty members.

The German Baptists, some forty years ago, joined in the erection of a Union church in section 12, called Twin Creek chapel. About 1890 they sold out their interest to the Christian church, the other organization. They claim to have had an organization in the township some years previous to the time of the Mexican war.

build a church on the east line of section 12, called Twin Creek chapel, as noted above, and about 1885 the Baptists sold their interest to the Christian church, since which time the latter congregation has controlled the church. This church now numbers about one hundred members, with a Sunday school of about the same or larger number. R. P. Arrick is the pastor.

There are five cemeteries in Monroe township, all under the control of the township trustees. Monroe cemetery, the largest, is in section 9 and is much used. Hamburg cemetery, just west of the town, in section 17, is little Aised. Brown cemetery lies at the eastern edge of section 12. These are probably the oldest public cemeteries, having been laid out and used from the earliest settlement of the township. The Wehrley cemetery, in section 22, was originally laid out by the Dunkards, probably between 1840 and 1850. The Stump cemetery, on the south line of section 19, just west of Banta Fork, was used as such over sixty years ago. In addition there were a few family cemeteries scattered over the township.

Owing to the slight fall of the streams no water mills were ever erected in the township, the early settlers getting their milling done by the mills in Harrison, Jefferson and Washington townships. There were two or three mills in the township some thirty years ago, but the larger mills have crowded them out of business and they are closed. The saw-mills seem to have gone the same way, centering in the villages of the township.

The first house erected in Eldorado, one mile south of the north county line, was built by Leroy R. McWhinney in 1852. McWhinney also started a store and mill, depot and grain house, near the track of the Dayton & Western railroad, which then had just been completed; then laid out the town on his own land and continued business for a number of years.

The village was incorporated in 1875, Matthew T. McWhinney being elected as the first mayor, he having purchased the business formerly owned by Leroy R. McWhinney.

Hamburg, about a mile south of Eldorado, was settled first, Samuel Adams having started a store there at an early day. About the same time a church society of United Brethren was organized, which built a church there in 1848. Most of the business of the western part of the township was done at Hamburg and the postoffice was located there; but the railroad went through a mile north of the town, Eldorado was laid out, and postoffice and business moved to the railroad. Hamburg consequently ceased to grow,

The United Brethren in 1868 built a church at Eldorado, and the membership of the Hamburg church, in time, was transferred to the new church, which, in 1892, built a brick house of worship at a cost of about six thousand five hundred dollars. This congregation now numbers one hundred and thirty-five, with over one hundred and fifty enrolled in the Sunday school. E. S. VVeimer is the pastor.

In 1869 the Universalists built a brick church in Eldorado, and the membership of Monroe Universalist church, in section 9, was transferred there, the old house being abandoned, which made the church a strong organization. In 1909 the congregation built a fine brick church at a cost of over five thousand dollars. The church now has a membership of eighty or more with one hundred and five enrolled in the Sunday school. B. F. Eaton was the first pastor, then J. H. Blackford served, in all, for twenty-five years. Other pastors have been O. P. Moorman, Henry Blackford, J. A. Stoner and Mrs. Sarah Stoner, the latter of whom is the present pastor.

The school building in Eldorado is a fine brick building of four rooms, erected about the year 1882. Four teachers are employed and John Schlotterbeck is the superintendent. In 1908 the building was remodeled at a cost of over three thousand dollars. Until about the beginning of the Civil War the school house was outside of the village, in the township, but about that time the school house was erected in the village. The school now enrolls about one hundred pupils.

The Knights of Pythias lodge at Eldorado was formed in 1888, with J. D. Gartrell, chancellor commander and charter members, Isaac Miller, J.

H. Mills, J. A. McCabe, J. A. Davisson, F. P. Campbell, William S. Campbell, W. H. Beard, M. T. McWhinney, W. E. Judy, C. H. Staton, John Eddins, D. Lockwood and Harvey Disher. At first, for about a year, the lodge meetings were held in the McCabe building. The lodge bought the old Methodist Episcopal church building, erecting thereon a second story, and now owns a neat lodge home, entirely free from debt. The lodge now numbers one hundred and six members.

The village owns its own council chamber and its own electric lighting system, buying the current, delivered at the corporation line, from Greenville, providing twentv-one street lights and the commercial lighting. For the past two years this lighting has been done at a profit. A gas-pipe line was built into the village in December, 1913, and has quite a number of patrons.

The business of the town is done by one bank, two groceries, one drygoods store, one clothing store, one hotel, two grain elevators, two coal yards, one harness shop, one livery stable, two restaurants, one agricultural implement store, two stock buyers, two hardware stores, one furniture store, one drug store, three blacksmiths, three buggy dealers, two barbers and a creamery. The village also has a telephone exchange. George McCoy is the present mayor.

West Manchester

Like Eldorado, West Manchester just grew up as a collection of residences around the station of the Dayton & Western railroad. Under the laws of Ohio it was called a hamlet and governed by three trustees, except that the schools were under the control of the township board of education (the town never having been incorporated), and it so continued untii March, 1900, at which time the trustees, on petition, ordered an election to advance the hamlet to a village. This election was held on April 2, 1900, and the progressive proposition was carried by a vote of two to one. A census showed a population of three hundred and seventy, and on October 1, 1900, the final resolution was passed making West Manchester a village. John W. Hoffman was elected the first mayor and R. H. Siler the first clerk.

Hagerstown, about a mile northeast of West Manchester, was laid out in an early day, and the first postoftice in the township was established there in 1832. A store was opened and the place did quite a little business, but the railroad came, the station was located, and in 1855 the postoffice was moved to West Manchester. Business also moved to the latter point; the people either followed or sought other locations, and Hagerstown, as a town, has become only a memory. The Cincinnati Northern railroad crosses the Dayton & Western railroad in the village, but the roads have separate depots.

Brown's Station, on the Dayton & Western railroad, is situated about a mile and a half east of West Manchester, near a water station of the railroad. Some half dozen houses are clustered about the station, but all the business of the hamlet is transacted at West Manchester.

The United Brethren organized a society in West Manchester about 1867, and the next year built a church and organized a Sunday school. Their first church was a frame church. The congregation grew and in time the building became too small ; the premises were sold, a new site was purchased and in 1901 the present commodious brick church was erected, at a cost of about seven thousand dollars, which bids fair to last for many years. The church now numbers about one hundred members and the Sunday school one hundred fifty or more. E. S. Weimer is the present pastor. The church is situated at the southeast corner of North and High streets.

The Christian church was organized about 1890, and the same year the congregation built a frame church on West Orchard street, at a cost of about three thousand dollars. This congregation quickly grew and proved to be a live and growing organization. It now numbers one hundred and ten members, with a Sunday school enrollment probably greater. H. C. Crampton is the present pastor.

Lodge No. 520, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was organized with twelve charter members about 1873, and the same year built a, three-story frame building at the northwest corner of Main and Scott streets, renting the lower story for business. About 1904, the Odd Fellows removed the frame building, replacing it with a three-story brick building, at a cost of over seven thousand dollars. In 1906 the lower story of this latter building was sold, the lodge retaining the two upper stories. This lodge now numbers one hundred and twenty members.

On August 17, 1892, Crescent Temple No. 353, Daughters of Rebekah, was organized and occupies same lodge building. Crescent Temple numbers about sixty members.

In 1907 the Junior Order of United American Mechanics was organized. This lodge purchased the lot and building at the southwest corner of Scott and High streets and remodeled the same to suit its purposes. It now numbers over eighty members.

Schools, Commerce And Industries

The first school was conducted in a country school house near the railroad, about one-half mile east of the village, which all the children of the village attended until 1874, in which year a school house was erected in the village. In 1886 the present four-room brick school house was erected at a cost of about twelve thousand dollars. The school now enrolls about one hundred pupils. R. M. Brown is the present superintendent. D. A. Petrey was the superintendent in 1907; C. F. Geeting, 1903; C. M. Eikenberry, 1898; William Buck, 1897; Oscar Creager, 1896; George Buck, 1892.

Some twenty-five years ago a tile-mill was started by one Holtsmiller, who operated it for a number of years. About the year 1900 this mill passed into the hands of Nelson & Myers, who, finding a large body of tile-clay, erected a large building and sheds just north of the village, and now operate the plant on a very extensive scale, manufacturing all sizes of clay tile up to twenty-four inches, annually shipping many car loads. This is the most extensive business in the village.

The pipe line for natural gas was laid through the village in 1913, and has quite a number of patrons. The West Manchester Lighting Company was organized some years ago by local parties. They strung wires for street and commercial lighting and have the contract with the village under a franchise, but the company buys the current from Greenville, delivered at the corporation line. There are about forty street lights.

The business of the town is transacted by one bank, one grain elevator, four groceries, two dry goods stores, one hardware store, one machine shop, one jeweler, one plumber, two coal-yards, one lumber-yard, one livery stable and garage, one furniture store, one agricultural implement store, one butcher, one harness and shoe shop, two barbers, three blacksmiths, tile works and two hotels.

The village owns its own waterworks system, built in 1903, at a cost of about eighteen thousand dollars, the water being obtained from three driven wells near the southeast corner of the town, driven to a depth of some eighty feet, from which water is pumped to a stand-pipe, which supplies the village.