Perry Township

Perry Township

Perry Township

Perry Township

On the south hne of the county, to the east of Concord and Green townships, is Perry township, which up to 1845 was a part of Wayne and Green townships. The settlement here reaches back ahnost as far as any within Fayette county - to 1804. Perry was organized in 1845, the first officers being as follows : Trustees, Joseph Wain, William Wilson, Albert Adams ; treasurer, James Mooney; clerk, Lewis Todhunter; constables, John F. Doster and Jonathan Jones; justices of the peace, Thomas Ellis and Robert Eyer. The population at this date is nine hundred and thirty. Martinsburg is the only village within the township and that contains about two hundred and fifty people. The hamlet of Walton contains sixty.

Settlement

It is generally conceded that the first white settler in this township was Jonathan Wright, who in 1796 emigrated from Kentucky to Chillicothe, Ohio, where he remained until 1804, squatting on land within the present limits of Perry township, which belonged to C. Monroe of Virginia, who military tract No. 658, consisting of two thousand acres granted for military services as an officer in the Revolutionary war. Wright remained on this land until the year following, then moved to Wayne township, where shortly afterward he died.

Isaac Todhunter, of the society of Friends, emigrated from Tennessee by reason 'of his hatred for slavery. In December, 1804, he stopped with his sons, Isaac and Richard, who had come in the spring before and squatted on a small prairie, the site of Leesburg, Highland county, where they had succeeded in raising a small field of corn on which to support the family the first year. The next year Mr. Todhunter purchased twelve hundred acres of Nathaniel Massie (survey No. 2620), on Walnut creek, in the southwest part of the township. Immediately he sold six hundred acres to Thomas and Mordecai Ellis, of Tennessee, who at once located themselves on their land.

David Diitton, also of the Quaker faith and from the same place in Tennessee, soon made his settlement in this township, near these original settlers. Isaac Todhnnter remained on his land until death in 1821, his wife sur\'i\ing him ten years.

A former historic account of the settlement of Fayette county gives the following on the experience of one of the pioneers, Abner Todhunter, of Perry township :

About 1806, when the sight of an Indian presaged bloodshed and horrid torture, Abner, a youth of fifteen, was sitting in his father's cabin with several younger children, the father and mother being absent on a visit, when he observed six painted savages approaching on horseback. Though accustomed to danger, he felt his hair begin to raise as the warriors dismounted and entered the house. With that presence of mind, however, produced by long exposure to danger and sudden alarms, he received them calmly and, remembering their characteristic gratitude, he invited them to sit down and placed before them the best of the larder, and then retired while they enjoyed the repast. When they had finished, one of the band arose and approached him, which a second time almost paralyzed him with fear and caused his hair again to stand up stiff. Giving himself up for lost, he tremblingly awaited the issue; but instead of cleaving his head with a tomahawk, or circling his body with his knife, and rather than scalping him, he allayed his dreadful fears by kindly patting him on the head, exclaiming, "White man heap good, feed Indian," and, mounting their horses, they rode off, much to the relief of the frightened youth.

Samuel and Warnel Tracy were among the earlier pioneers in Perry. Thev arrived from Maryland in 1807, settling on land later occupied by T. G. Cockerill and Joseph Tracy.

Barnabus Cochran, born in Cape May, New Jersey, in 1773, came to Perry township in 1806, settling on land bought from Seth Smith. He early founded Methodism in this section of the county and from his efforts came Cochran Chapel.

Another Quaker, John Hutton, in 1810 emigrated from Beaver county, Pennsvlvania, settling on land later known as the Calvin Beatty place, to whom he sold his interests in 1822 and moved to Clarke county.

In 1813 the Connor and Voltenburg families squatted in Perry township. Conner operated a small distillery on the banks of Paint creek. Both families left in 1825 and were never heard of afterward.

A South Carolinian named Robert Iron, when aged twenty years, emigrated to western Virginia, where he followed surveying for seven years, locating claims for soldiers of the Revolutionary War. He then located in Brown county, Ohio, then moved to Pickaway, settling in Fayette county, in 1814, on lands purchased from Thomas Hine, located on the banks of Sugar creek in Perry township. He sold to William Snyder in 1848. He was the father of sixteen children by one marriage. He was in all married four times, and died at his daughter's, in Highland county, in 1848.

John Orr, Sr., a native of Virginia, moved first to Kentucky, and in 1817 to Fayette county, Ohio. He first claimed land in Wayne township. Of William Bush he bought land situated in Perry township, at the crossing of the Alartinsburg pike, to which he removed in the spring of 1819. He died in May, 1856.

Robert Anderson, another prominent factor in the early settlement of Perry township, was a native of Virginia, near the James river, where he was born in 1795. In 1818 he emigrated to Buckskin, Ross county, Ohio. In 1819 he came to Perry township, this county, the same year marrying Sarah Rowe, daughter of Jesse Rowe, Sr., who gave the young couple on the day of marriage one hundred acres of good land. He succeeded and before his death he owned over one thousand acres. He willed much of his estate and deeded much more to his sons and daughters. Mathew, a son, inherited the old homestead on Little Wabash, in the northern part of Perry township. He was a most exemplary Christian and did much for his Master. He was one of the original members of the Methodist Episcopal church society at Rowe's chapel. He was a soldier in the War of 181 2. Death claimed him in 1878.

William S. Cockerill, a native of Loudoun county, Virginia, born in December, 1790, emigrated to Ohio in 181 2, first settling on the Ohio river, but in 1 82 1 came to Perry township, purchased land of John Rowe, son of Jesse. Sr., and a year later sold and re-located on the Little Wabash. He was four times married and the father of eighteen children, nine by each of his first two wives. He was a man of literary tastes and had much ability. In connection with his farming operations he also taught many terms of school. At his death he owned four hundred acres of excellent land.

Rev. John King, one of the founders of Methodism in Fayette county, was born in Elmira, New Vork, in March, 1786. He married there and soon settled in Ross county, Ohio, where he remained until 18 16, then moved to Perry township, locating lands later in possession of his son. Rev. W. A. King, and there he died. His was a clear and certain conversion. Throughout his life he was never a doubter, but faithful to his call. In 1820, at his own house, he organized a Methodist class and was its leader a number of years. Bishop Soule ordained him a minister in 1834. His first wife dropped dead from her horse, while going home from church one Sabbath. He then married Alcina Cherry, who survived until 1878. Reverend King served in the War of 181 2. In his own house, in Perry township, he taught several winter terms of school, charging nothing for tuition. He died on his farm in 1868, mourned by the whole township and county.

Gershom Perdue was born in Virginia in 1790, of French ancestry. His father died when he was a youth and he lived with his mother until eighteen years of age, then went to learn the trade of a tanner. He operated a tannery in Highland county, Ohio, a number of years; also conducted a mercantile business. He was the first nurseryman in southern Ohio, having established a nursery at Leesburg in 1816. In 1836. with his family, he removed to New Martinsburg, Fayette county, where he lived until his death, at a very advanced age. He was of great value to the church of his choice, the Christian denomination.

Milling Interests Of Long Ago

The hardship of the early settlers getting suitable conveniences for grinding corn and wheat here as well as in other sections of Fayette county added to the other trials of the hardy pioneer band. First, the block and pestle was employed ; then came the stone and hand mills, which methods have been described elsewhere in the general early settlement chapters of this volume.

The advent of the first water mill system in Perry township was in 1816, the mill being built by Thomas Stout, on the Little Wabash, near the crossing of the Martinsburg pike. This was only a small mill and only did grinding a few years.

In 181 5 Henry Snyder built a saw-mill on Sugar creek, to which, in 18 18, he attached a grist-mill, both being run until the spring of 1832, when the dam was washed away. The mill was sold to Nicholas Kline, who moved its parts away and the machinery finally found its way into 'the Sturgeon mills. In 1837 Kline sold both mills to Samuel Briggs, who soon tore them down, and erected better, larger mills in their stead.

The first to open a blacksmith shop was John Painter, in 1832, on land later owned by Ely Wilson. He continued until 1838, when he moved to Union township.

In 1835 a colored man named Thomas Waldron built a shop and remained six years. The tools were moved by his son to Wayne township, where he operated another shop which was of great benefit to the early settlers in that part of the county. This trade was of more use then than in later years when so many things are made by machinery, which then had to be forged out by hard blows on the smithy's anvil.

Aside from Martinslmrg, the only store of general merchandise in Perry township was the one opened by John Orr, Jr., in 1841, in one end of his dwelling. In 185 1 he erected a large frame store room, continuing until 1856, when he closed up and rented his room to Grove & Craig. Other changes obtained and in a year or two the stock was removed to Highland county.

New Martinsburg

Originally called "Martinsburg," New ]\Iartinsburg is located on the Martinsburg and Washington turnpike, at the crossing of the Greenfield and Sabina pike. It was laid out by Thomas Ellis n 1831. The first house was erected there by Thomas Ellis, Jr. In 1880 New Martinsburg had a population of about two hundred souls. Its 1910 figures were, according to United States reports, about two hundred and fifty.

In brief, the business interests of this village have been as follows : James and Thomas Ellis opened the first store soon after the platting of the village, and remained in trade only a brief time. The second to embark in trade was Joseph Patterson, followed by Robert Buck, of Greenfield, in 1836. Daniel Marsh followed him in two years, then sold to William Wilson, who continued ten years. In 1838 Richard L. Williams opened a store and continued during all the years down to 1878, when his death occurred, his goods being sold by his executor. In 1839 William and Isaac Coffe brought in a stock from Warren county. Two years later Mr. Perdue bought the last named stock and continued several years, having as a partner, part of the period, Henry Daster. With some firm changes, this stock was carried until 1852, when Perdue sold to Z. Adams, and he remo\'ed the stock to Leesburg.

Robinson & Siolcott, of Washington C. H., opened a general merchandise store here in 1869, i)lacing Jacob Perdue in management of the same. It was sold three years later to Welsheimer & Ellis, which firm later was changed to Ellis & Son.

The blacksmiths have been numerous. Those pounding at the anvil from the first down to 1880 were James McKinney, 1833: Jacob Gallinger in 1834 and remained many years; William Wasson lighted his glowing forge in 1841 and wielded the sledge until 1861 ; Isaac Smith came in 1865.

The pioneer wagon shop was opened by Llewellyn Griffith in 1834; James Ellis in 1840; William Fishback carried on a shop from 1843 to 1855; AVilliam Barrett opened a carriage and wagon shop in 1868, continuing until 1874. In 1880 William Barrett was carrying on a shop in connection with the undertaking business.

A tannery was established in 1848 by Thomas Saunders, connected with his harness trade, and continued for ten years. In 1853 James Ellis started a tannery, continuing six years.

The present commercial interests at New Martinsburg are confined to a few stores, and the village, with many other inland places, a few years ago was bereft of postoffice advantages by being placed on the rural free delivery route from Washington C. H. The churches and schools will be mentioned in general chapters on these topics.

Source changes here: from History of Fayette County Ohio, by Frank M. Allen, published 1914; 2,190 words in this source stream.

Perry Township

On the south line of the county, to the east of Concord and Green townships, is Perry township, which up to 1845 was a part of Wayne and Green townships. The settlement here reaches back almost as far as any within Fayette county - to 1804. Perry was organized in 1845, the first officers being as follows: Trustees, Joseph Waln, William Wilson, Albert Adams; treasurer, James Mooney; clerk, Lewis Todhunter; constables, John F. Doster and Jonathan Jones; justices of the peace, Thomas Ellis and Robert Eyer. The population at this date is nine hundred and thirty. Martinsburg is the only village within the township and that contains about two hundred and fifty people. The hamlet of Walton contains sixty.

Settlement

It is generally conceded that the first white settler in this township was Jonathan Wright, who in 1796 emigrated from Kentucky to Chillicothe, Ohio, where he remained until 1804, squatting on land within the present limits of Perry township, which belonged to C. Monroe of Virginia, who owned military tract No. 658, consisting of two thousand acres granted for military services as an officer in the Revolutionary war. Wright remained on this land until the year following, then moved to Wayne township, where shortly afterward he died.

_ Isaac Todhunter, of the society of Friends, emigrated from'Tennessee by reason of his hatred for slavery. In December, 1804, he stopped with his sons, Isaac and Richard, who had come in the spring before and squatted on a small prairie, the site of Leesburg, Highland county, where they had succeeded in raising a small field of corn on which to support the family the first year. The next year Mr. Todhunter purchased twelve hundred acres of Nathaniel Massie (survey No. 2620), on Walnut creek, in the southwest part of the township. Immediately he sold six hundred acres to Thomas and Mordecai Ellis, of Tennessee, who at once located themselves on their land.

David Dutton, also of the Quaker faith and from the same place in Tennessee, soon made his settlement in this township, near, these original settlers. Isaac Todhunter remained on his land until death in 1821, his wife surviving him ten years.

A former historic account of the settlement of Fayette county gives the following on the experience of one of the pioneers, Abner Todhunter, of Perry township:

About 1806, when the sight of an Indian presaged bloodshed and horrid torture, Abner, a youth of fifteen, was sitting in his father's cabin with several younger children, the father and mother being absent on a visit, when he observed six painted savages approaching on horseback. Though accustomed to danger, he felt his hair begin to raise as the warriors dismounted and entered the house. With that presence of mind, however, produced by long exposure to danger, and sudden alarms, he received them calmly and, remembering their characteristic gratitude, he invited them to sit down and placed before them the best of the larder, and then retired while they enjoyed the repast. When they had finished, one of the band arose and approached him, which a second time almost paralyzed him with fear and caused his hair again to stand up stiff. Giving himself up for lost, he tremblingly awaited the issue; but instead of cleaving his head with a tomahawk, or circling his body with his knife, and rather than scalping him, he allayed his dreadful fears by kindly patting him on the head, exclaiming, "White man heap good, feed Indian," and, mounting their horses, they rode off, much to the relief of the frightened youth.

Samuel and Warnel Tracy were among the earlier pioneers in Perry. They arrived from Maryland in 1807, settling on land later occupied by T. G. Cockerill and Joseph Tracy.

Barnabus Cochran, born in Cape May, New Jersey, in 1773, came to Perry township in 1806, settling on land bought from Seth Smith. He early founded Methodism in this section of the county and from his efforts came Cochran Chapel.

Another Quaker, John Hutton, in 1810 emigrated from Beaver county, Pennsylvania, settling on land later known as the Calvin Beatty place, to whom he sold his interests in 1822 and moved to Clarke county.

In 1813 the Connor and Voltenburg families squatted in Perry township. Conner operated a small distillery on the banks of Paint creek. Both families left in 1825 and were never heard of afterward.

A South Carolinian named Robert Iron, when aged twenty years, emigrated to western Virginia, where he followed surveying for seven years, locating claims for soldiers of the Revolutionary War. He then located in Brown county, Ohio, then moved to Pickaway, settling in Fayette county, in 1814, on lands purchased from Thomas Hine, located on the banks of Sugar creek in Perry township. He sold to William Snyder in 1848. He was the father of sixteen children by one marriage. He was in all married four times, and died at his daughter's, in Highland county, in 1848.

John Orr, Sr., a native of Virginia, moved first to Kentucky, and in 1817 to Fayette county, Ohio. He first claimed land in Wayne township. Of William Bush he bought land situated in Perry township, at the crossing of the Martinsburg pike, to which he removed in the spring of 1819. He died in May, 1856.

Robert Anderson, another prominent factor in the early settlement of Perry township, was a native of Virginia, near the James river, where he was born in 1795. In 1818 he emigrated to Buckskin, Ross county, Ohio. In 1819 he came to Perry township, this county, the same year marrying Sarah Rowe, daughter of Jesse Rowe, Sr., who gave the young couple on the day of marriage one hundred acres of good land. He succeeded and before his death he owned over one thousand acres. He willed much of his estate and deeded much more to his sons and daughters. Mathew, a son, inherited the old homestead on Little Wabash, in the northern part of Perry township. He was a most exemplary Christian and did much for his Master. He was one of the original members of the Methodist Episcopal church society at Rowe's chapel. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. Death claimed him in 1878.

William S. Cockerill, a native of Loudoun county, Virginia, born in December, 1790, emigrated to Ohio in 1812, first settling on the Ohio river, but in 1821 came to Perry township, purchased land of John Rowe, son of Jesse, Sr., and a year later sold and re-located on the Little Wabash. He was four times married and the father of eighteen children, nine by each of his first two wives. He was a man of literary tastes and had much ability. In connection with his farming operations he also taught many terms of school. At his death he owned four hundred acres of excellent land.

Rev. John King, one of the founders of Methodism in Fayette county, was born in Elmira, New York, in March, 1786. He married there and soon settled in Ross county, Ohio, where he remained until 1816, then moved to Perry township, locating lands later in possession of his son, Rev. W. A. King, and there he died. His was a clear and certain conversion. Throughout his life he was never a doubter, but faithful to his call. In 1820, at his own house, he organized a Methodist class and was its leader a number of years. Bishop Soule ordained him a minister in 1834. His first wife dropped dead from her horse, while going home from church one Sabbath. He then married Alcina Cherry, who survived until 1878. Reverend King served in the War of 1812. In his own house, in Perry township, he taught several winter terms of school, charging nothing for tuition. He died on his farm in 1868, mourned by the whole township and county.

Gershom Perdue was born in Virginia in 1790, of French ancestry. His father died when he was a youth and he lived with his mother until eighteen years of age, then went to learn the trade of atanner. He operated a tannery in Highland county, Ohio, a number of years; also conducted a mercantile business. He was the first nurseryman in southern Ohio, having established a nursery at Leesburg in 1816. In 1836, with his family, he removed to New Martinsburg, Fayette county, where he lived until his death, at a very advanced age. He was of great value to the church of his choice,

Milling Interests Of Long Ago

The hardship of the early settlers getting suitable conveniences for erinding corn and wheat here as well as in other sections of Fayette county eo

The advent of the first water mill system in Perry township was in 1816, the mill being built by Thomas Stout, on the Little Wabash, near the crossing of the Martinsburg pike. This was only a small mill and only did grinding a few years.

In 1815 Henry Snyder built a saw-mill on Sugar creek, to which, in 1818, he attached a grist-mill, both being run until the spring of 1832, when the dam was washed 'away. The mill was sold to Nicholas Kline, who moved its parts away and the machinery finally found its way into the Sturgeon mills. In 1837 Kline sold both mills to Samuel Briggs, who soon tore them down, and erected better, larger mills in their stead.

The first to open a blacksmith shop was John Painter, in 1832, on land later owned by Ely Wilson. He continued until 1838, when he moved to Union township. :

In 1835 a colored man named Thomas Waldron built a shop and remained six years. The tools were moved by his son to Wayne township, where he operated another shop which was of great benefit to the early settlers in that part of the county. This trade was of more use then than in later years when so many things are made by machinery, which then had to be forged out by hard blows on the smithy's anvil.

Aside from Martinsburg, the only store of general merchandise in Perry township was the one opened by John Orr, Jr., in 1841, in one end of his dwelling. In 1851 he erected a large frame store room, continuing until 1856, when he closed up and rented his room to Grove. & Craig. Other changes obtained and in a year or two the stock was removed to Highland county. .

New Martinsburg

Originally called "Martinsburg," New Martinsburg is located on the Martinsburg and Washington turnpike, at the crossing of the Greenfield and Sabina pike. It was laid out by Thomas Ellis n 1831. The first house was erected there by Thomas Ellis, Jr. In 1880 New Martinsburg had a population of about two hundred souls. Its 1910 figures were, according to United States reports, about two hundred and fifty.

In brief, the business interests of this village have been as follows: James and Thomas Ellis opened the first store soon after the platting of the village, and remained in trade only a brief time. The second to embark in trade was Joseph Patterson, followed by Robert Buck, of Greenfield, in 1836. Daniel Marsh followed him in two years, then sold to William Wilson, who continued ten years. In 1838 Richard L. Williams opened a store and continued during all the years down to 1878, when his death occurred, his goods being sold by his executor. In 1839 William and Isaac Coffe brought in a stock from Warren county. Two years later Mr. Perdue bought the last named stock and continued several years, having as a partner, part of the period, Henry Daster. With some firm changes, this stock was carried until 1852, when Perdue sold to Z. Adams, and he removed the stock to Leesburg. .

Robinson & Siolcott, of Washington C. H., opened a general merchandise store here in 1869, placing Jacob Perdue in management of the same. It was sold three years later to Welsheimer & Ellis, which firm later was changed to Ellis & Son.

The blacksmiths have been numerous. Those pounding at the anvil from the first down to 1880 were James McKinney, 1833; Jacob Gallinger in 1834 and remained many years; William Wasson lighted his glowing forge in 1841 and wielded the sledge until 1861; Isaac Smith came in 1865.

The pioneer wagon shop was opened by Llewellyn Griffith in 1834; James Ellis in 1840; William Fishback carried on a shop from 1843 to 1855; William Barrett opened a carriage and wagon shop in 1868, continuing until 1874. In 1880 William Barrett was carrying on a shop in connection with the undertaking business.

A tannery was established in 1848 by Thomas Saunders, connected with his harness trade, and continued for ten years. In 1853 James Ellis started a tannery, continuing six years.

The present commercial interests at New Martinsburg are confined to a few stores, and the village, with many other inland places, a few years ago was bereft of postoffice advantages by being placed on the rural free delivery route from Washington C. H. The churches and schools will be mentioned in general chapters on these topics.