Pleasant Township (part 4 of 18)

Trustees - 1819, James Moore. David Garton and Richard Kilbury; 1820, David G-arton, Alford Nichols and Joseph Bid well; 1821-22, David Garton, Alford Nichols and Abijah Cary; 1823. David Harris, Alford Nichols and Abijah Cary; 1824, Abijah Cary, Isaac Fuller and Paul Alder; 1825, Henry 11. Gaudy, Nahum King and James Moore; 1826, Thomas Kilgore, David Garton and Ambrose Beach; 1827, Nahum King and David Garton; 1828, Charles Beebe, James Kilgore and Samuel B. Stone; 1829, Samuel B. Stone, Charles Beebe and Nahum King; 1830, James Calhoun, Ambrose Beach and William Harris; 1831, Charles Beebe, James Milliken and Samuel B. Stone; 1832, Nahum king, Paul Smith and James Perkins; 1833, Nahum King, Isaac Fuller and William Wilson; 1831, -James Millikin, James Guy and Charles McCloud; 1835, Isaac Fuller, Elihu Knapp and James Calhoun; 1836, Elihu Knapp. James Calhoun and Nahum King; 1837. Thomas Kilgore, James Calhoun and Nahum King; 1838, James .Millikin, Ira Finch and James Guy; 1839. Elihu Knapp, Paul Smith and Thomas Kilgore; 1810. John Mann, William D. Wilson and A. S. Stone: 1841, Ira Finch, Luther Lane and Mathias Slyh; 1842, Samuel Flint. Asa Kilbury and Luther Lane; 1S43. James M. Hunter, Samuel Flint and Thomas Kilgore; 1 8 1 1. A. Harrington. J. M. Hunter and Thomas Kilgore; 1845, A. Harrington, James Calhoun and Luther Lane; 1846, Paul Smith. Luther Lane and James Calhoun; 1847, Paul Smith. Asa Kilbury and James Calhoun; 1848, James L. Bradley, Asa Kilbury and Israel Worthington; 1849. Eli Perkins. Albertus Knapp and A. S. Stone; 1S.")0. James Calhoun, Flisha B. Cutler and Albertus Knapp; 1851 -52, James Calhoun. Flisha B. Knapp and Henry Dominv; 1853, Roberl Boyd, Elihu Knapp and James Converse; 1854, Asa Kilbury, Jotham Taylor and Silas Dotniny; 1855, Asa Kilbury, Peter Paugh and S. C. Dominv; 1856, Thomas Kilbury, Alvin Dominy and James Converse; 1857, Thomas Kilbury, James Millikinand Alvin Dominv; 1858, Asa Kilbury, James Millikin and John VfcCullough; 1859, Thomas Kilbury, Henry Alder and John McCullougli; I860, Thomas Kilbury, Henry Alder and John Stevenson; 1861,

James Millikin, Joseph Atkinson and John Stevenson: 1862, James Millikin, Joseph Atkinson and Alvin Dominy; 1863, Thomas Kilbury, Jotham Taylor and J. A. Henderson; 1864-65, Henry Alder. Alvin Hominy and Harvey Kilgore; 1866, Henry Alder, Alvin Dominy and Thomas Kilbury; 1867, Luther Lane. Alvin Dominv and Thomas Kilbury; 1868, W. M. Atkinson. Isaac Bidwell and Christopher Humphrey; L869, W. M. Atkinson. Thomas Kilbury and Joseph Carr; 1870-71. James Millikin, .John Price and Joseph Carr; 1872; W. M. Atkinson, Christopher Humphrey and J. Taylor; 1S7:>. W. M. Atkinson. Wesley Carpenter and Jotham Taylor: 1874, Henry Alder, Wesley Carpenter and Alvin Dominy; 187"). .lames .Millikin, John Price and John T. Dominy: 1876-77 \V. M. Atkinson, Wesley Carpenter and John T. Dominy; 1878, Isaac Alder, Wesley Carpenter and John T. Dominv: 187'.), [saac Alder, W. M. Atkinson, and Cristopher Humphrey; 1880, Isaac Alder, John W. Morris and John S. Millkin; 1881, Isaac Alder. J. T. Dominv and Ira F. Killuirv.

Overseers <>/ tin Poor. - 1819, Paul Alder and Ira Finch: 1820, Thomas Kilgore and Samuel Beebe ; 1821, Nahum King and Samuel Beebe ; 1822, Samuel Sherwood and Thomas Kilgore: 1823, Samuel Beebe and John Burdick ; 1S2I. Henry II. Gandy and Samuel Beebe; 1825, Jonathan Harris and Ephraim Carv; 1826, Uri Beach and Abijah Cary; 1827, Henry II. Gandy and James Calhoun: 1828. Thomas Kilgore and Orin (>. Beach; 1829, Abijah Carey and David Garten ; 1830, Charles Beebe and Amos Harris ; 1831, Abijah Cary and Stephen Moore; 1832, Mathias Slyh and Ambrose Beach; 1833, Thomas Kilgore and [ra Finch; 1834, Nahum King and S.B.Stone; 1835, Abijah Carv and Thomas Kilgore ; 1836, Abijah Cary and John Kilgore ; 1837, Abijah Cary and Arnold Fuller: 1838, C. T. Arthur and Samuel B.Stone; 1839,'Thomas Kilgore and Elihu Knapp; 1840, Thomas Kilbury and Henry Alder; 1841, Charles McCloud and Abel W. Field ; L842, James Calhoun and Alvin Harrington; 1843, Ira Finch and I. M. Slater; 1844, Luther Lane and Abijah Cary. Here the office was abolished.

Femi Viewers - 1819, Thomas Kilgore and David Harris; 1820, David Harris and Paul Alder; 1821, David Garton and Levi Francis ; 1822, Henry It. <}andy and James Comstock ; 1823, Stephen Halloek and Abijah Cary ; 1824, William Harris and Samuel Sherwood ; 1825, Christian Adams and Joseph Loyd ; 1826, Christian Adams and Samuel Owens ; 1828, Abijah Cary and Jacob Francis ; 1829, John T. Acton and Joseph Loyd ; 1830, Uri Beach and Paul Alder; 1831, John Kilgore and Mathias Slyh ; 1832, Elisha Bidwell and Samuel Halloek ; 1833, James Calhoun, Nahum King and Abijah Cary ; 1834, William Patterson. A. Herrington and Lorenzo Beach ;' 1835, John Johnson, Jacob Millikin and Absalom Cary; 1836, James Millikin, Luther Lane and Samuel Halloek ; 1837, David Harrington, Mathias Slyh and 5. B. Stone ; 1838, James Calhoun, Solomon Norton and Joseph Loyd; 1839, Alexander Finch, Gideon Bougher and B. T. Willey ; 1840, Samuel Halloek, Samuel Harris and Luther Lane; 1841, John M. Slater, John Saeger and Samuel Flint; 1842, James M. Finch and John Saeger; 1843, J. Ellis, William Walker and Jonathan Morrison; 1844, J. S. Skinner, Charles McCloud and Isaac Bidwell, when the office was abolished.

Constables - 1820. Jemmy Phelps and Knowlton Bailey; 1821, Patrick Johnson and Knowlton Bailey; 1822, Patrick Johnson and John Kilgore; 1823, John Kilgore and Joseph Bidwell; 1824-25, Charles Beebe and John Kilgore; 1826, Amos Harris and Charles Beebe; 1827, Charles Beebe and Warren Frazell; 1828, James Perkins ami Amos Harris; 1829, A. Eastman and James Perkins; 1830, Moses Moore and A. Eastman; 1831, Solomon Cary and Mathias Slyh; is:!i\ Henry Beebe and Jonathan Lock; 1833, Mathias Slyh and Henry Beebe; 1834, Henry McCumber and Lampson Stone; 1835, Willis Guv and Samuel Randall; 1836, Heman S. Halloek and Willis Guv; 1837-38, Willis Guy and Thomas Pinch: 1839, John T. Clark and James M. Finch; 1840, Thomas M, Pinch and James M. Finch; 1841, James M. Pinch and Herman Halloek; 1S42. Mathias Slyh and Israel Worthington; 1843, Mathias Slyh and Elisha C. Stevens; 1 s 1 1.' Solomon Walker and Herman Halloek; ISC. Hi, Lampson Stone and John McNelly; 1847, James .Millikin and William Kilgore; 1848, William Kilgore and Solomon Walker; 1849, John Brough and Mathias Slyh; 1850, William Winded and James M. Finch; 1851. David Reese and Mathias Slyh; 1852 Josiah Fisher and A. T. Kilbury; 1853, William Thayer and [ra Kilbury; 1854, John Stephens and 0. P. Kilbury; 1855-56, Pleasant. Arthur and J. P. Kilbury; 1S.">7, Isaac Gary and Pleasant' Arthur; 1858, Pleasant A ft inn- and William Kilgore; 1859, Isaac Cary and William J. White,

[saac Gary and Isaac Perkins; 1863-64, Ira F. Kilbury and Isaac Gary; 1865, Philip Hani, and ha F. Kilbury; 1866 67, Isaac Cary and J. W. Wells; 1868, Philip Harris and J. W. Wells: 1869 70, in F. Kilbury and J. W. Wells: 1S71, R. S. Jones and J. W. Wells; 1872, J. W. Wells and Mathias Slyh; 1873, Ma (bias Slyh and Samuel Patterson; 1S7I 7."), Samuel Patterson and Isaac Gary; 1876, Isaac Cary and James Kutan; IS77, Orson G. Kilbury and Charles T. Arthur; 1878, Joel Cutler and Robert Cary; L879, H, B. Converse and Stephen Cary; 1880, A. M. Caseand H. P. Converse: issi. William S. Arthur and L. G Alder.

Chapter Xi

P^HIS township occupies a position in the eastern tier of townships of JL Madison County, bordering- on Franklin County, and is the second township from the south line of the county, and is bounded as follows: On the north by Jefferson Township, on the east by Franklin County, on the south by Pleasant and Oak Pun Townships, and on the west by Oak Run and Union Townships. It was erected much later than most of the others in the county. By the records wefind the following recorded June 2, 1835: " At a meeting of th« Commissioners of Madison County, present Burton Blizzard. Thomas Jones and Jacob Garrard, on petition being presented, ordered, that the following bound.- compose a new township to be known and designated by the name of Fairfield. Beginning at the northeast corner of R. Means' Survey. No. 5,046; thence to the northeast corner of John Beck's Survey, Nos. 11,096 and 12,141; thence to the line between Madison and Franklin Counties (passing ten poles south of Thomas Durfiinger's house), thence with said line soul h so far that, a west line will just leave Hiram Tipton's in Pleasant Township: thence west to Deer Creek; thence up the creek to the county road from Robinson's Mill to Jefferson, thence with the west boundary of said road to the easterly line of D. Bradford's Survey, No. 3,973, thence with said line to the place of beginning."

On the records, bearing date December ~i. 1841, we find the following change of line between Fairfield and I'nion Townships, viz. : "At a meeting of the Commissioners of Madison County, a petition was presented praying for an alteration in the line between Fairfield and Union Townships: wherefore, it is ordered that said line be established as follows: Beginning where the lower line of John Evans' Survey. Xo. 4,124, crosses Deer Creek, thence with said Evans' line to his southeast corner (so as to include Thomas Chenoweth), thence with the east line of David Bradley's Survey, No. 3,973, to the Jefferson road."

From the lack of any records of Fairfield Township, we are unable to give any information regarding her early elections, or any record of her first officials, as there is not even a "tally-sheet " preserved prior to L879.

Fairfield Township is much like Deer Creek Township and in fact much like the greater portion of Madison County in its surface and soil - very level, with slight undulations, especially along the creeks, as it has no large stream within its territory. In it- original state, as the first settlers found it. there were quite large tracts of prairie scattered here and there over its stirface. which was covered with a heavy sedge, which constituted quite a sustenance and helped to support the stock of the early settlors. The soil is principally deep, rich and composed mainly of loam and clay, with a limestone gravel as a subsoil, and being very flat and level and of a nature to hold water, was originally very wet and much of it, in wet seasons, cov- ered with water; but which in later years is being ditched and drained, so that it constitutes excellent farms equally adapted for grass or grain. The timber portion of the township was never what could be called heavily timbered, consisting principally of white and burr oak and hickory. Like a great portion of Madison County, this township has never held great attractions in the line of heavy or valuable timber; hence, we would not expect to find any extensive business carried on here in the way of saw-mills or dealing in lumber, as is the case in some counties. One great attraction to the first Bettlers of this township and county was the prevalence of vast numbers of deer and other game, especially of the former, which were often seen in large herds, and it is said that probably no section of the State contained in an early day such vast numbers of deer, and held out such attractions to the hunter as did this couuty. Hence we find many of the first settlers here were " squatters," sportsmen, who located temporarily for the purpose of hunting and killing deer and other game, and they located along the creeks and streams and localities most frequented by these herds of deer, and there erected their rough and temporary cabins, and for a time gave their great attention to hunting. Finally, as game became scarce, they removed to other and fresher hunting grounds in the West, their places beingfilled here by the permanent settler, who located to make a home and a farm.

Not a hundred years ago this section of country was occupied by savages in their paint and wigwams. Next came the hunters and trappers following in their trail, with just a degree more of civilization and comfort. Then the pioneer settler appeared in his rude pole and log cabin, and these supplanted by substantial and comfortable hewed-log houses; and these again by good, attractive frame and brick houses. And finally, here and there, scattered over the now thickly populated country, and in the wealthy cities and their suburbs, appear the palatial mansions. What wonderful changes and progress in so brief a period! And not only is this progress and comfort exhibited in the dwellings and habitations of our people, but even a greater advance and progress has been made in all the arts and sciences. The invention of machinery, by which to expedite and carry on the work of agriculture with ease; the wonderful application of machinery to spinning, weaving and the manufacture of clothing and wearing apparel, and the astonishing result of application of steam power for manufacturing purposes, and in the transportation of the people and products of one section of the country to another. And Madison County and Fairfield Township have experienced and exhibited in their history these vast changes and progress. The log cabin of the pioneer, with its clapboard roof, greased paper windows and latch-string door are things of the past. The old wooden mold-board plow has been supplanted by the improved cast-steel and sulky plows. The sickle and the cradle - those implements so slow and tedious, and back-ache and side-straining tools, are now supplanted with the easy and rapid-working reaper and self-binder - the acme of genius.

The pioneer sold his corn at <>', to 12 cents per bushel; wheat at 25 to 40 cents, and often hauled it many miles to market over almost impassable mud roads, to get even those prices. Now, a short distance from his door, and that mostly over a good piked road, is the railroad station, where he can sell his grain, and it is shipped to distant markets in any part of the country, and he obtains a good price for all he has to sell: and not only his grain, but for all his stock and products of his farm.

The buckskin pants of the hunter, the tow shirt of the pioneer and the linsey-woolsey for the women, all had their day and were succeeded by the finer and more attractive cloth and dress goods of the present generation. All this is well and shows the inventive genius and progress of our people. And as we v'ew in retrospect this wonderful progress and development of our country and its people, it is to be regretted that society is rapidly being formed into castes, each of which, possessing different degrees of intellect or financial ability, is becoming socially isolated one from the other, tending to produce an aristocracy, a mediocrity and a commonalty, which in their extremes tend To weaken our usefulness and progress, and produce unhappiness by back bit ings and efforts to pull down the one and build up the other. In the days of the good old pioneers, when neighbors were few and far between, how warm and friendly were their greetings! They would then go miles through the woods to assist one another to erect their log cabins. They would exchange help in manual labor, or in the necessary provisions and commodities of life, and cheer and encourage each other in the arduous duties of opening out and subduing this then wilderness.

Then the tow shirt and linsey dress were ample habiliments in which to mingle in worship in the house of God. The heart was satisfied; they loved God, and they loved each other. The eye had not learned to long for the gaudiness of dress, and when they met together to worship, the heart worshiped and not the eye. All were sociable and friendly; all were traveling the same road, with the same object in view - a home, comfort, happiness, peace and heaven. In the present age of wonderful progress, in all that pertains to the prosecution of the various branches of business in life, to acquire wealth and the comfort it brings, let the people nor forget the social and moral obligations they owe each to the other. And while man seems to be approaching Deity in inventive genius, may he advance and progress in a like ratio in his social, moral and religious obligations to his fellow-man, and let more of that true love and friendship of the worthy old pioneer be cultivated to the great comfort, prosperity and happiness of the people.

As mentioned above, in speaking of the surface and soil, this township has no large stream within its territory; yet. from the flatness of the country and the nature of its soil, it is generally well watered for stock purpose- There is very little water-power for mill or manufacturing purposes, and very little demand for such, as this is strictly an agricultxiral and stock raising township, having but comparatively little timber of value, but pos Bessed of a deep, rich soil, well adapted to the raising of stock and the cultivation of grain, and these have monopolized the capital and attention of her people.

The largest stream is Deer Creek, which passes through the southwesl era corner of the township, entering the township from Oak Hun and running in a southern or southeastern course about half a mile, thence it turns south and continues about one mile and enters Pleasant Township. The next largest si ream is Opossum Run, known in an early day as Plum Run. It takes its rise on the George Hume farm, and takes a general southeasl course to near the line of Franklin County, thence takes a southern course and enters Pickaway County. Its present name was given it by John Phebis and Isaac McHenry, two of the early settlers who came up the creek from Yankeetown, in Fayette County, seeking a location. As they were traveling up the stream, they were suddenly startled by a large opossum.

with a large brood of young ones clinging to the old one; these they killed, and on their journey returning they came upon another which they also killed, from which circumstance they gave it the name Opossum Run, by which it has ever since been known.

A little southwest of the last-mentioned stream is Lubbergut Creek; it takes its rise in the southern portion of the township, and runs in a southeastern course and enters Pleasant Township. Its name originated as follows: A large fleshy man by the name of Mantle, who weighed 480 pounds avoirdupois, and who lived near the creek, was accustomed to almost daily cross the creek on a f\>ot-log. Two neighbors thought they would have a little fun with the ponderous and weighty Mr. Mantle, so they sawed the foot-log from the under side nearly through, and the next time Mr. Mantle attempted to go across on the log, down went the log, Mr. Mantle and all, and gave him quite a wetting in the creek, since which incident the creek has ever been known by the euphonious name of Lubbergut Run or Creek. West of tins is a small stream called Tortle Run, which l'ises on or near F. L. Young's farm, runs southwest and enters Pleasant Township. There are no other streams of any size within the limits of the township.

Enoch Thomas cai^e from "High Knob," Va., and settled on Opossum Run on land now owned by John Heath, in 1807. He was a man of excellent Christian character, a great worker in the United Brethren Church, and was the leading active man in organizing the church, which has since been known as the " Thomas Chapel." . His house was ever open to their ministers and his hospitality never exhausted. He lived on the place where he tirst settled till his death, September 31, 1851, aged seventy-nine years. He married Jemima Phebis, who died June 17, 1822, aged forty-live years. He married for his second wife Mrs. Foster, nee Dorcas Clark. She died October 23, 1842, aged sixty-one years. At a very early day. Mr. Thomas erected a brick house, which, it is said by some, was the first built in the county.

John Phebis. a native of Kentucky, who was an early settler at Yankeetown. Fayette County. Ohio, from whence he came to Madison County and settled on the land where Judge E. O. Fitzgerald now lives, in 1807. Mr. Phebis was a great hunter and devoted himself principally to that occupation: was a lively, jovial man, yet a very sociable neighbor and a good citizen. But as this county became settled up. and the game scarce, he desired better and more extensive hunting grounds, and he removed West to the Ozark Mountains ni Missouri, lie subsequently, became a settler in Indiana, where he died, and some of his children still reside in that State.

David Dennison. in 1807, settled on the land now owned by B. W. Noland, on Opossum Run. He died October 1. L823. .Jonathan Benja min settled on land now owned by D. D. Downing; was a native of New Jersey. Isaac and Daniel Long settled where W. B. Fitzgerald now lives, about L808; the Latter was a preacher in the New Light Church. William Ware came from Kentucky and settled on the tract of land now occupied by .he village of California, about L810 or L812. He served as Sheriff of the county and was quite a leading, prominent man of that day. James Blair, better known in Former days as " Big Jim,'' came from Kentucky and settled here about L813. He died September 20, L8 16, and his remains rest in the Fitzgerald Cemetery. Robert Thomas, a native of Virginia, settled on a tract of land just east of California, about L815; the land is stilJ in the possession of his descendants, and his history with a large family of the Thomas name is fully written in the biographical sketch of his grand son, Robert Thomas, in this work. Thomas Dennison settled where William D. Pringle now lives in 1815. Charles Henderson, a native of Virginia, came to this county with a surveying party as a chain-carrier, and became a settler of this township very early. Richard Newland settled here about 1818. Joseph -Jackson came from New Jersey to Cincinnati in 1818. In 1819, settled near London, this county, and, in 1820, settled in Fairfield Township, on the land where his son Amos now lives, where he resided till his death, in January, 1861, aged eighty-three years. He was a suecessful hunter; knew just when and where to hunt; and yet he never let hunting interfere with his other business, and made hunting quite profitable. He fully experienced the hardships of pioneer life. He worked for 25 cents per day. sold corn from 10 to 12 cents per bushel, bacon for $1.25 per hundred pounds, and chopped and split rails for 25 cents per hundred.

William Cartnaill was a pioneer from Kentucky, and, in the spring of 1813, came to Franklin County, Ohio, and, in 1824 or 1825, located in this county. John F. Chenoweth was born in Mason County, Ky. , September 15, 1793. In 179',*. settled with his parents in Ross County, Ohio, and, in 1800, they settled on the Big Darby, Franklin County. Ho married Margaret Furguson March 21, IS 11, and lived on his father's place till 1820; he purchased land in Madison County, where he has since resided. Edward and Lewis Godfrey settled here about 1825. The former died June 8, 1838, aged forty-seven years. The latter died June 3, 1838, aged fiftytwo years. James Byers, a native of Pennsylvania, settled in Ross County in 1806. In 1820, settled in the north part of Fairfield Township, Madison County. He was an excellent man, whose life and history is preserved in this volume.

George Hume and his wife, Ann (Scott) Hume, settled here in 1826. Mr. Hume died March 20, L856. Mrs. Hume still lives and. resides with her daughter, .Mis. Edwards, at Lilly Chapel, now eighty-eight years of age; for a full history of their pioneer life, see sketch of Samuel H. Edwards. A. Q. Bennett settled about the same year with Mr. Hume. Judge Edward (). Fitzgerald and William B.Fitzgerald settled where they still reside, the former in L829 and the latter in 1828. Judge Fitzgerald is well and favorably known throughout Madison County and several adjoining counties. He has been identified with this county in its growth and progress for more than half a century, and is one of her most honored and respected citizens. Jeremiah Johnson settled on land now owned by J. C. Byers in L831; lie was a native of New Jersey; in L855 or 1S5(>, he removed to Warren County, 111., where he now resides. Wesley Lilly settled north of Lilly Chapel in 1830. and has been closely identified with the growth and progress of the northern portion of Fairfa'eld Township

John Shepherd was born in Virginia, and with his wife Judy came to Ohio soon after the war of LSI 2. and settled in Ross County. About 1831, came to this county and settled near California, on land now owned by Richard M. Johnson, and here resided till his death, August IS. 1850, aged sixty-five years. His wife died about 1869, aged sixty eight years. He was a soldier in the war of L812. He was a prosperous farmer, a worthy citizen and a devoted member of the M. E. Church. Daniel C. Freeman was born in Belmont County, Ohio. July 28, 1802, his ancestors being from Ireland. In IS;!:!, he became a resident of Fairfield Township, and has been thorougbly identified with her growth and interests. At the organization of the township, in 1835. he became the first Clerk. He is now eighty years of age, and has been a resident of this township nearly half a century. George Noland, a native of Virginia, settled where William Gillhain now lives about 1833, where his wife died October 2, 1862, aged sixty- two years; in 1868, he removed to Missouri, where he died, November 4, 1878, aged seventy-four years. J. C. Strain settled where Henry Lnse now lives in 1834, and has remained a resident here forty-eight years; is a leading and honored citizen of the township. James D. Truitt, a native of Maryland, became a resident of Madison County in 1811, and of Fairfield Township in 1836, settling in the north part of the township.

John Creath became a settler of this county with his parents, near Mt. Sterling, in 181 1. In 1838, he settled in Fairfield Township, where he resided till his death, January 15, 1881, an honored and worthy citizen. Valentine Recob settled here in 1846. William D. Pringle settled in this township in 1848, and he and his worthy family have been fully identified with her business interests, improvements and progress since, and their valued and important lives are reflected in biographies of William D. Pringle and J. Alfred Pringle. Daniel Thompsou settled on Opossum Run quite early, and built one of the first saw-mills in the township.

For many years there was no church edifice within the territory of what now comprises Fairfield Township, but the venerable pioneers here, as in other localities, were not long without the dispensing of the word of God in their midst. Probably the first place in this township where the Gospel was preached was at the house of the worthy pioneer, Enoch Thomas, on Opossum Run. He was an earnest and devoted Christian of the United Brethren faith, and very soon after his sottling here, in 1807, preaching was had at his house, and continued to be dispensed there and in the primitive log schoolhouses in the neighborhood, till, at a later day, as the country became more thickly settled, a class was organized and a house built for church purposes, near Mr. Thomas1, but just over the county line, in Franklin County, in accomplishing which Mr. Thomas was the chief actor and leading support, to honor whom the church was called the Thomas Chapel.

The Methodist Episcopal Church at California. - Here, as elsewhere, we find the Methodists with their itinerant system early in the field, and. as soon as the settlements demanded it, their preachers were soon on the ground and held meetings, first at private houses, and thence, as soon as 6choolhouses were built, they were used as places of worship. We find a class early organized at Spring Hill, about three miles northeast of California, and another class at the Bales Schoolhouse. At the latter place, preaching was held regularly every two weeks. These meetings were generally conducted by a number of Methodist preachers, one after ah other, as they came on to the circuit, till after the town of California was I aid out, when, in 1852, they decided to erect a church in that town. Rob ert Thomas gave and deeded them a lot. and, in the summer of the above mentioned year, the present frame house was erected, and they organized with the Eollowing members: John F. Chenoweth. Charles Henderson Charles Warner, Muses Ellsworth, Hezekiah Chenoweth, Andrew White, John Callander, Thomas Corder, Richard Johnson and their wives, Rachel Bales. Sabina Hume, with, perhaps, a few others, whose names are not now remembered. Charles Warner and Hezekiah Chenoweth were class leaders for many years. A.mong the first ministers were Revs. Kurd. Wolf, Smith,

William Sutton, Stewart and Young. The church has had many precious seasons of revivals, and in former days seemed to possess more vitality and earnestness than of late years. The church building is becoming old and dilapidated, and a new one is very much needed. The present membership is nearly one hundred, with Rev. J. W. Waite as their minister. The class leaders are Charles Warner, Lucy Minshall and Minnie Higgins. The church and community are abundantly able to erect a good house, and, whenever the Spirit and (rod's grace shall pervade the hearts of the people, as it did the forefathers, she will arise in her might and strength, a new and beautiful house will be built, Zion will prosper, (rod honored and the people blessed.

Dennison Chapel (United Brethren Church). - About the year 1849, a class was formed at the old log schoolhouse which stood on the farm of Lemuel Lawrence, with thirteen members, some of whom were as follows: John Creath, James Dennison, W. Estep, Elizabeth Dennison, Michael Robey, Jesse Timmons, with Joseph Timmons as class leader. They had preaching every three weeks in the schoolhouse. The first minister was Rev. Jesse Bright. Subsequently, they held their meetings for awhile at the house of William Peel, who then lived on the Lawrence farm. About 1852 or 1858, they built a log house for church purposes, by each person furnishing a specified number of logs. It was built on the same lot where the present church stands. This house was quite large and commodious, and within its walls much good was done. This building was burned down in 1860. But they went right to work, and, in 1861, the present frame house was erected, and was dedicated, in the fall of 1861, by Rev. Joseph M. Spangler, Presiding Elder of the Winchester District, in the Scioto Conference. The church prospered and increased in membership quite rapidly under the faithful and earnest labors of Rev. William Ferguson, James Ross, and others, and at one time her membership was one hundred and forty to one hundred and fifty. Subsequently the church declined very much; and one among the various causes of her decrease in members was a large emigration West: forty three persons among the most efficient members moved to the State of Missouri. Her present membership is about sixty, with F. Reibal as their minister, and Henry Bowers and Samuel Watrous as Class Leaders. During the existence of this church, they have generally had a good and prosperous Sabbath school. James Brown is its Superintendent at the present time.

Methodist Episcopal Church at Lilly Chapel. - From the best information we can get, this church was organized about 1828. The class embraced the following persons: Philip Durflinger, Isaac Morris, George Bell, Amos Morris, Stephen Morris, William Tway. David Sidner, David Crane, Daniel Durflinger, Samuel Tway, with their wives. For many years, their meetings were held at private houses and in schoolhouses. Among their first ministers were Rev. David Kemper and William Westlake. The present church edifice was built about 1850. and received the name of Lilly Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church.

German Lutheran Church. - In 1867 a few persons of the Lutheran faith convened together and organized a church at Lilly Chapel, embracing the following persons: Louis Gierich, Charles Greassle, John Mantz, Michael Bellman, Lawrence Miller, Charles Stark, Jacob Schwartz, Jacob Cowling, with their wives and some of their children, numbering twenty or more persons. They held their meetings in the schoolhouse, with Rev. Henry Horst as their minister, who continued as such about three years, when, from having several other appointments at other places for preaching, he was compelled to make his appointment for preaching at Lilly Chapel on a week day, and, from the pressure of work and business matters, the people were unable to attend services with regularity, and preaching was discontinued and the organization ceased. In 1878, they again re-organized, with the same members, except Jacob Cowling, who had moved away, with the following additional persons: Henry Wise, Martin Straus, Mrs. Young and John Grierich, with Rev. Henry Peters as minister. Services were held in the schoolhouse till in May, 1882, they obtained privilege to hold services in the M. E. Church. On December 25, 1880, a subscription was commenced to raise money to build a house for church purposes, and their efforts have been continued till they have an amount raised sufficient to justify them to commence the erection of the house, and, July 2, 1882, is appointed as the day to lay the corner- stone, after which the work will be pushed forward to completion as rapidly as possible. The church now has a membership of twenty eight, and it is hoped the church will prosper and increase in numbers and usefulness. Mr. Peters, their former minister, received a call to preach at Yeagerstown, Penn. . which he accepted, and resigned his charge here in the summer of 1881. He was succeeded here by Rev. W. H. Brown, who is still their minister.

As the pioneers penetrated the forests and the unsettled portions of our country, disease, sickness and death met them everywhere, and it very so. n became necessary to have a place to inter their dead. And as they always advanced ahead of the organizations of townships and counties, there could be no provision made by their authority; hence with them every neighbor hood and often each family had to provide for their own dead. Hence we find in all localities, where the first settlers located, family and neighborhood burying-grounds, some of which have been fenced in and carefully protected, and a few have since become the property of the townships, and enlarged and improved until they have become beautiful and pleasant places, fitting depositories for the bodies of our dead, while others again have been neglected, and all headstones and marks or inscriptions obliterated, and the grounds again thrown into the open fields, and the plowshares tear the soil, or the stock roam at will above their sleeping forms.

The first burial-place in Fairfield Township, arid, in fact one of the first in Madison County, was the Fitzgerald or Opossum Run Cemetery. This was first used as a family and neighborhood burymg-ground, when the tract of land was owned by John Phebis. It was dedicated by receiving the body of a man, name now unknown, who came here from Chillicothe to settle. and, while cutting down timber to build his house, was killed by a falling tree. Tins it is believed occurred about 1808. The next to receive burial here, as shown by the tombstone, was [sane Woods, who died October 16, 1812, aged twenty-five years. He was a soldier, and had been with the troops out toward Sandusky, and they were returning home, having had a successful and prosperous trip, were rejoicing over their successes, when he was .iccidenally shot and killed. Another pioneer deposited here was Jamos Blair, who died September 20, 1816, aged thirty-six years. Some others, prior to 1825, were Joannah, wife of John Clark, died May 31. 1819, agod thirty six years. David Dennison died October 1, 1823, and Kichard Newland died May 1 1. 1825, aged thirty years. From this time forward, this was a general burying-place for the neighborhood, and accessions to this

" city of the dead" were frequent and numerous. After Judge E. 0. Fitzgerald became the owner of this tract of land, lie set apart and fenced in one acre of ground devoted to burial purposes, which remained thus till in the spring of 1880 the Trustees of the township received and took charge of it and purchased three-fourths of an acre more and added 10 it, and the township now has a deed for one and three-fourths acres of ground, which is high and dry and well adapted to cemetery purpose-..

Dennison Chapel Cemetery. - This burying-ground immediately joins on the west side the lot upon which the church is built, and was appropriated to the burial of the dead at a much later date. It is well inclosed and pre served, and within its inclosure are evergreens and shrubbery, giving it an appearance of (-are. It has received many of the dead of this church and neighborhood. Tbe first person to be buried here was Cyrus Nichols.

The Thomas Cemetery. - This is located a little east of California and just east of the schoolhouse, and was appropriated for this purpose by Rob ert Thomas, who owned that tract of land and was dedicated by the recep tion of his body, who died August 9, 1831, since which it has received the bodies of many of the early settlers and people of the neighborhood. The-..' embrace all the burying-places that are preserved, and nowr have a visible existence within the territory of Fairfield Township.

The education of the children of the early settlers of Fairfield Town ship received their prompt attention, and, although like all new settlements, they labored under great disadvantages, yet they did what they could, and we find them early establishing schools, and, though the first schoolhouses were rude structures, and the qualifications of their teachers, and the privileges generally very limited yet they served as a beginning; and the earnest efforts of the people, the sacrifices and self-denials they made in that early day to give their children the much needed instructions, deserve the admiration and gratitude of their descendants and all lovers of learning and progress.

The first schoolhouse built within the limits of this township was erect ed in the southeast corner, on Opossum Run. It was a rude structure round-log cabin, puncheon floor, slab-seats and greased paper for window-.. This was built about 1811. The first teacher was Thomas McCafferty, who was crippled by one useless arm. One of his pupils was John F. Chenoweth, who still survives and now resides in London. This cabin served for school purposes several years. About 1836, a good hewred-log house was erected twenty feet square, with shingle roof, huge and commodious, on the ground now embraced in the Fitzgei-ald Cemetery. There was also another of those primitive log schoolhouses, chinked and mudded. built very early, where Mrs. S. Bowers now lives, where some of the children of the early pioneers obtained some of the first rudiments of an education. One of the first teachers in this cabin was Judathan Waldo, a Yankee, who had a very limited ability. His qualifications would not at the present day be considered sufficient for a Road Supervisor. These early schools were supported by subscriptions, and generally the teacher was paid from $8 to $10 per month. About 1867, the present frame schoolhouse was built, and has con tinued in use to the present time. This now constitutes District No. 7. known as the Cartmill District. The enumeration is now about forty-live scholars. Teachers' wages in summer, $25 to $30; in winter. $-10 to $4r

District No. 1, Byers Schoolhouse. - The first school building was a log of the most primitive kind, as described above, erected about 1830. This was succeeded by a comfortable frame house, erected about 1853. In 1878, the present neat and comfortable brick house was erected. Enumeration, sixty scholars. Teachers' wages, summer, $30 to $33; in winter. $45 to $50. Board of Directors, Joel M. Byers, Samuel Truitt and J. C. Byers. District No. 2, Bales Schoolhouse - The first house was a small frame, built about 1825, and the next built was the present house. District No. 3, Noland School, organized in the fall of 1836. First house, a hewed log, built by D. C. Freeman in 1837. The first school opened January 1, 1838. The first teacher, D. Wald; the second was D. C. Freeman. This house was used about twenty years, and was also used by the Methodist and Christian denominations for preaching. The second house was a frame, erected on the same ground of the first, about 1857. Then, in 1879, the present large brick was built. District No. 4, Lilly Chapel - The first schoolhouse in this vicinity was a rude log of the most primitive style, and stood on land now owned by William Durflinger. This was in an early day, and was the first schoolhouse in the northern part of the township. Tbis was succeeded by another log bouse, erected on the ground of the present frame house, just east of the village of Lilly Chapel. Then this was succeeded by a small frame house, and this again by the present frame that is now in use. But by the rapid growth of the village of Lilly Chapel, and the consequent increase of the number of school children, this house soon became inadequate to accommodate all the scholars, and, in the fall of 1881, they began the erection of a good brick house just east of the frame, on the same lot, which is now (July, 1882) being completed. The frame house is to remain for the primary department, and the new brick used for the more advanced scholars. This district now enumerates about one hundred and thirty. Board of Directors, S. H. Edwards, George Durflinger and Albert Lilly. District No. 5, Pringle School, situated on the California & Lilly Chapel pike. The first schoolhouse here was a rude log house, and, being located near the center of the township, the first township elections were held at this schoolhouse. About 1850, a good comfortable frame house was built. Then, in 1877, the present brick house was erected. Enumeration of scholars, thirty-two. Board of Directors, A. J. Henkle, H. Gilliland and J. A Pringle. District No. 6, Dennison Chapel - First, a log house located on Lemuel Lawrence's land, which was probably built about 1847. Next, about 1858, a frame house was erected on the same lot where the church now stands. Then, in 1880, the present large aud commodious brick house was erected. Enumeration of scholars, about seventy. Teachers' wages, $45. Board of Directors, Allen Dennison, William Strain and Lemuel Lawrence. District No. 8, California - This district was formed from Districts No. 2 and 3, and was organized in 1854, and the same year a frame house was erected. * First Board of Directors were J. H. Gardner, Dr. Simmerman and Henry Watrous. The present brick house was built in IS7'.». Enumeration of scholars in the district, sixty live. Teachers' wages, $30 to Sir.. Present Board of Directors, Dr. C.'W. Higgins, W. H. Hill and George Corder. District No. 0 - The last erected, was organized about 1808-70, and was formed from territory taken from Districts No. 3 and 5; a frame building erected, which is still occupied for school purposes. Thus it is seen that Fairfield Township now supports nine schools, but. as stated above, there being no books or records of this township to be found, we are very much limited, in means by which to give official statistics of either political or educational matters. The latest enumeration of scholars in possession of the Township Clerk is that of 1878, when the total of the township was 556. Educational funds, $4,500. Tax levy in the spring of 1882: For township purposes, 2-10 mill, $93.20; for road purposes, 1 mill, $807.25; for poor fund, 1-4 mill, $116.86.

There is not now, and, we believe, never has been, a grist or flour mill within the boundaries of Fairfield Township, and but few saw mills. One of the first saw-mills we gain a record of was built by Daniel Thompson, on Opossum Run, located near the Thomas Chapel. This was first a stationary mill and run by water-power. Subsecpiently, it was run by steam power, and finally was converted into a portable mill, and moved from place to place as occasion required. It is now located on Judge E. O. Fitzgerald's farm. There is also another portable mill on the same farm, owned by Dickinson & Bowers. The other mills are located at the villages of Cali fornia and Lilly Chapel, and are fully mentioned in the history of those towns.

About 1870 to 1S72, the pike from London to California and Mt. Sterling was built. This was the first pike built in this township. The next built was the London & Lilly Chapel pike, and the third was the Mt. Ster ling & Jefferson pike. These constitute the main business roads of the township, those upon which are the most travel and heavy hauling. They embrace eighteen to twenty miles, and are a valued improvement. This summer (1882) they are building a pike on the Jackson road, which, when completed, will make this township well supplied with good roads and thoroughfares.

There are three villages within the limits of this township. The first was laid out in the spring of 1849, by Thomas Chappel, Robert Thomas and William D. Pringle. This was about the time of the great excitement over the discovery of the rich gold mines in California, and this town was laid out in the midst of a very rich country, possessed of an excellent soil, and they gave it the suggestive name of California. Near this town were the large prairies known as the " Big Plains," and in establishing the post office of this town, as there was an office elsewhere called California, they gave this the name of Big Plains. Dr Holmes erected the first house iu the place, and was the first Postmaster and also the first physician located in the town. Prior, however, to the laying-out of the town there was a Dr. Davis, a practicing physician, located about three miles northeast of California, who was, perhaps, the first physician resident in the township, although it is said that he never had a very extensive practice. Peter Trout is said to have built the second house. The first store was kept by James Parks. William Riley was the first blacksmith. This town for a time grew rapidly, and there was quite an extensive business carried on here. and. in fact, from that day to the present time, there has been an active mercantile trade here for a village of its size, as it is surrounded by a beautiful country and a wealthy and thriving class of people. Jt now has three good general stores, three blacksmiths, three physicians, one steam tile factory and

Warnersville. - At the south line of Fairfield, bordering on Pleasant Township, is a small village known as Warnersville. receiving such name from the 'fact that the tract of land was owned by Mr. Warner, where a cluster of eight or ten houses now stand, embracing a population of forty to fifty persons. About 1867. David Lane, a huckster by occupation, opened a small store here, which, in 1872. he sold to R. Watrous, who continued trade here till 1881, when, in January, of that year, he sold out to J. S. Bowers. He carried on business one year, and sold to William Watrous & Bro. , who are now conducting a general merchandise trade. In the fall of 1874, a post office was established here by'the same name of the village, with R. Watrous as Postmaster. This office existed until 1879, when, as it was not self-supporting, it was discontinued. But again, in the spring of 1881, it was re-established under the name of Kiousville, with J. S. Bowers as Postmaster. In January. 1882, William Watrous became Postmaster, and is now its present incumbent. Jesse S. Bowers built the first house and was the first blacksmith in the village. He was succeeded by Henry Bowers, who is the present incumbent.

Grilroy or Lilly Chapel. - In 1871 and 1872. the Short-Line Railroad, from Springfield to Columbus, appeared in prospect, and, in the latter year, Mr. Thomas Durfiinger opened a store here in anticipation of the railroad and the establishing of a station at this point. In 1850, the Methodist Church was erected here on land owned by Wesley Lilly, which was given the name of " Lilly Chapel." In 1873, the railroad was completed and a station established and called Lilly Chapel. In 1874, Henry Grilroy and Henry Lilly laid out the town, which was named Gilroy, in honor of Mr. Gilroy. But as the station and locality had previously been designated as Lilly Chapel, in consequence of the church erected here and given that name, and as, in 1873, Henry Lilly originated a petition for a post office under the name of Lilly Chapel, which was granted by the Department on the establishing of a postal route over the railroad, the town has ever bees known and recognized by the name of Lilly Chapel. The first Postmaster was Thomas Horn. He was succeeded by C. L. Bales, and he by George Leiter, the present incumbent. Thomas Horn built the first house after the laying-out of the town, and engaged in mercantile trade, and was the first local agent of the railroad company. David Wright was the first blacksmith; he opened a shop in a house built by Henry Lilly. The first physician was Dr. Taggart, who located here in 1880, but remained only a few months. In the spring of 1881, Dr. Schofield located here, who has since remained the practicing physician of the place. The town now contains over two hundred inhabitants, ami is rapidly growing and increasing in business. There are now three general stores, one grocery, two blacksmith shops, employing four workmen, with a wagon and buggy shop combined with them. There are two steam saw-mills, one of which runs two engines and is doing a large business, saws a large amount of material for the manufacture of buggies and wagons. But the largest and most attractive business of the place is carried on by two grain elevators, one built by Pringle Bros., in the fall of 1877, and the other by the " Farmers' Association," which is now conducted by J. C. Byers & Co., both of which are doing a large business. In 187o, prior to the erection of these elevators, four farmers. Henry Lilly. -John Horn. Thomas Horn and Thomas Gorby, erected a corn-sheller and elevator for a neighborhood convenience, for shelling and shipping corn. This proved so successful and beneficial in it operations that it resulted in the building of the above-mentioned elevators. These now receive grain from a large scope of country, in some directions from fifteen to twenty miles distant, and are a great convenience and source of profit to this section of country.

In 1878, a large tile factory run by steam power was erected, and is doing a large and prosperous business, and is probably one of the best in Madison County. This town is just in its infancy, having seen but eight summers since its natal day. It is the only railroad station and shipping point within the township, and is located in the midst of a rich and productive country, and must necessarily become an extensive shipping point.

During the year 1881, the following number of full car loads of products were shipped from this section, viz.: 232 cars of corn; 44 cars of hogs: 15 cars of logs; 18 cars of cattle; 2 cars of staves; 2 cars of spokes; 1.67 cars of wheat; 19 cars of sheep; 11 cars of wool; 5 cars of lumber; 2 cars of hoop poles and 1 car of tile; total number of cars, 508.

Lilly Chapel Grange, No. 583. - Was instituted February 14, 1874, under the supervision of Mr. Creamer, Deputy Master, with the following twenty-six charter members: 3. Hardwick, A. Jackson, H. Lilly, T. Durflinger, T. Horn, Jr., William Sidner. James Lilly, J. Fogle, J. H. Gardner, William Cul umber, Benjamin Thacker. H. Kennedy, Calvin Durflinger, John Byers, Thomas Gorby, Albert Lilly, Lewis Sidner, T. Horn, Sr., T. B. George, M. A. Lilly, Josie Byers, Bebecca Hardwick, William Kennedv, Mrs. A. Jackson. Catharine Sidner and Wall Moler, and were officered as follows: J. Hardwick, W. M.; H, Lilly, W. L. : T. Horn, Jr., W. A. S. ; J. Lilly, W. T. ; B. Thacker, W. G. K. ; M. A. Lilly, W. P. ; A. Jackson. W. O. ; J. H. Gardner, W. S. ; T. Gorby, W. C. ; A. Lilly, W. Secretary: Bebecca Hardwick, W. C. ; W. B. Kennedy, W F., and Josie Byers, W. L. A. S. Tbis society continues in a good, flourishing condition, and

Chapter Xii

THIS township is bounded on the north by Pike and Monroe Townships, on the east by Monroe and Deer Creek, south by Union, and on the west by Champaign County. March 4, 1839, " ordered, by the Commissioners, that the following boundaries, which have heretofore been a part of Deer Creek Township, be organized as a new township, to be known and designated by the name of Somerford, to wit: Beginning at the southwest corner of Pike Township, in the line of Champaign County, thence with said line south three miles and two hundred poles to the corner between the county of Champaign and Clark, thence with the Clark County line south ten degrees west, six and a half miles to the north bank of Deer Creek, on Daniel Wilson's land; thence north seventy-seven degrees east, two and a half miles, crossing the creek and the Xenia road to a small jack oak and large burr oak on Chrisman's land; thence north sixty-eight degrees east, four miles and one hundred and eighty poles, crossing the Urbana road and Glade Run to two black oaks and two burr oaks near where George Frederick formerly lived, on A. Toland's land; thence north to the line of Monroe Township, on Schuyler Lewis' land: thence with the line of Monroe and Pike Townships north forty -six degrees west five miles to the beginning. n March 20, 1840, " ordered, by the Commissioners of Madison County, that the line between the townships of Union and Somerford be so altered as to include Daniel Wilson and the land upon which he now lives into Union Township."

Surface, Soil, Etc

Throughout Madison County, there is much of a uniformity in the surface and soil of the different townships, and to a great extent the description of one is, with little variation, a representation of any other. Therefore, when we say the surface of this township is level, it is just what we have said of other townships The western portion of the' township possesses the greatest altitude, as shown by its streams or creeks all flowing toward its eastern border, yet even this portion is level or slightly undulating. The soil is very rich and productive, and suitable to the raising of all kinds of grains, cereals and grass, the exuberance of the latter constituting it an excellent stock country. Along the creeks and the more flat portions of the township, the soil consists of a deep black loam, and the more undulating lands are a mixture of loam and clay. The township is well watered by the creeks, which are fed by great numbers of beautiful springs, which dot the farms from one extreme to the other of the limited domain. Deer Creek, with its numerous branches, penetrates nearly all portions of the territory ; George's Creek being the largest, which heads near the northwest corner of tjie township, and, coursing in a southeast direction, empties into the main creek, near the eastern border of the township. With all these beautiful springs and creeks, forming an ever gushing supply of water, together with its subsoil of clay, renders it proof against danger to its crops from an ordinary drought. This township, unlike many others of Madison

County, was originally well timbered, having no prairies entirely destitute of trees; and it had a remarkable variety of timber, consisting of white, black, red and burr oak, elm, maple, locust, cherry, hickory, walniit and beech, of which the white and red oak were beautiful; and the cherry and walnut, of which, in an early day, vast quantities were cut down and burned in clearing up the land, if now in possession of the owners of the lands, would be a fortune to them. But the ruthless ax of the pioneer and the merciless torch have nearly obliterated those species from the face of her domain. It is evident, from the small streams, that we find no water power of value, and the mills that now exist, or have existed in this township, have been run by steam power, and that the great efforts and interests of the people, with the natural advantages they possessed as above described, have been in agricultural pursuits.

To particularize the individual who first entered the vast wilderness that once existed in what now comprises the territory of Somerford Township is at this late day very difficult to do, but we have succeeded in obtaining the names of nearly fifty of the early settlers, and, as is usually the case in most new countries, we find they came in companies of several together, or at least several were found settled in the same neighborhood at about the same time.

The first settlement in this township was made in the eastern part, on or near Deer Creek, between the years of 1802 and 1805. In 1803-04, there came from Kentucky two brothers, Robert and John Scott, who probably located on what is now either the Richmond or Gwynne land, but of them we learn but little. Also, at about the same date, and from the same State, came Tobias Shields and two sons, John and Andrew, and located in the same vicinity. There were probably more of the family than these two sons, but if so, of them we learn nothing. After the organization of Madison County and of Deer Creek Township - the latter embracing a large scope of territory, including Somerford - we find John and Andrew Shields holding various offices of the township for several years. Tobias, the father, was a true backwoodsman, rough in his habits and nature; and was blind for thirty years before his death. About the same date, Charles Atchison, also from Kentucky, settled here, and proved a most worthy and useful citizen, and was probably the first Treasurer of the township after its erection. He also filled many other offices of the township. Daniel Ross was another pioneer sett fin- of the same date. He had a large family, of whom we find record of the following sods: Angus, David, John and Alexander, who were all more or less in the various offices of the township until 1830. And it is believed that, about that time or soon after, they left this county, emigrating to the West, In 1805 came John Wilson, from Greenbrier County. Ya.. who. with John Arbuckle, erected a double log house, in which they both resided for some time. He was one of the first Trustees, which office he filled four years in succession. About 1808-10, Gabriel Markle, a native of Maryland, emigrated to Ohio and settled in this township, on the place now owned by George Prugh, one mile north of the village of Somerford, on Deer Creek. Here he remained through life, and died about 1825. nearly eight} years of age. He was of German descent, a good, industrious man and a worthy citizen. He had four sons and nine daughters, who grew up and became worthy citizens, but are n< >w all deceased. About 1811, Samuel Dickerson, a native of Virginia, settled here. He was a noted hunter, a good farmer and a respected citizen.

George Prugh was bom in Maryland, but of German descent, and married Margaret Markle, a native of Maryland, and in 1812 emigrated to Ohio and settled in what was then Deer Creek Township (now Somerford), about one mile north of the village of Somerford, where they remained till their death. He died in 1841, and she in 1864. He was a very excellent citizen, and held the offices of Trustee, Ti*easurer and Justice of the Peace. Two of his sons, Samuel and G. W. Prugh, now quite advanced in years, are still residents of the township, and are most honored an i respected citizens. The former was born in Maryland in 1811, and the latter in this township in 1816. William Pepper a native of Maryland, settled here on land now owned by Charles Mitchell about 1810-12, as we find by the township records. He was a Supervisor in 1812. John Summers, from Vir ginia, settled here about 1813; was a blacksmith by trade, and perhaps the first settled in this township.

Shedrick Preston, from Greenbrier County, Va. , settled on the tract of land purchased by John Arbuckle about 1812 or 1813, as in 1814 he served as Township Trustee. Subsequently he removed to the Big Sandy, since which nothing has been known of him. Abner S. Williard was a native of Vermont, born in 1791. He emigrated first to Canada, thence to New York, and in 1812 came to Champaign County, Ohio, and in 1815 removed to Madison County, where he lived till his death. He married Hulda Colver, who was born on the banks of Lake Champaign, in New York, in 1796. They were married in Madison County in 1817. He died December 16, L872. She died June 3, 1861. He was a man of undoubted character, and esteemed and respected by all who knew him. David Colver, a native of Vermont, settled on land now owned by Eeason Louck about 1815-16. In early life he was a sailor, and followed the sea. After settling here he remained till his death. He was an active, industrious man, a good neighbor, and a firm Universalist in religious belief. He raised a large family, who are now all deceased.

John Barrett, a native of Maryland, was a brother-in-law of John Arbuckle, they having married sisters; came to Ohio soon after Mr. Arbuckle came, and settled on the same tract of land, and lived here till his death, dying with that prevalent yet much-dreaded disease, milk-sickness. He had six children, but all have moved away and sought other homes. Jacob Steele settled where Rev. Overt urt' now lives about 1815. Thomas Taylor came from Chillicothe, Ohio, and settled on Deer Cx*eek, near the grist-mill, about 1815, where he lived about fivo years; thence he settled on the place now owned by Thomas Woosley, on the old Columbus & Springfield stage road, and there kept a tavern in an early day. He made good improvements; was an excellent and intelligent man, and a good citizen. He raised a family of six children, who all became honored and worthy members of

Valentine Wilson, who was born in Pennsylvania in L786, with his fa ther's family emigrated, in 1790, to Clark County. Ivy., where he remained a citizen twelve years, and, in the year 1802, emigrated to Ohio and set nil the head-waters of Beaver Creek, in Bath Township, county of Greene. In 1816, Mr. Wilson removed to Madison County and settled on the headwaters of Deer Creek, on land still owned by Mrs. Wilson, his widow. He was married three times, and was the father of nineteen children. He was tirst married in L806, to Eleanor Judy, by whom lie bad six children. She died on the 5th of Sei.ieul.ei-, ISIS. In L819, he married Mrs. Susanna

Umble, who became the mother of four children. She died August 18, 1825. On June 18, 1827, he married for his third wife Miss Nancy Roberts, who became the mother of nine children. Of these nineteen children, all but one grew to maturity; and of the eighteen who arrived at maturity, all but one became heads of families. Mr. Wilson died July 2, 1855, on the farm where he first located in 1816. From a small beginning on 160 acres, bought of the man who had but recently entered it, with Congress scrip, in the thirty nine years of his after life he had accumulated nearly ten thousand acres of land, and died the wealthiest man in Madison County. It is believed he erected the first brick-yard ever iD Madison County. John J. Roberts settled here about 1817. He was the successor of Gabriel Mar kle to the grist-mill on Deer Creek. He remained in this township till his death. Sutton Potee, a native of Baltimore, Md., emigrated, with his wife and three children, in the fall of 1817, to Ohio, and settled on the farm now owned by his son Gabriel, near the National road, on Deer Creek, Somerford Township, and here opened out right in the woods. He rented three or four years, then bought the place, and remained here till his death. He married Hannah Markle, by whom he had six children. All grew to maturity, four now living. Mr. Potee was a very active, stirring man, and devoted his whole business life to farming. He was cautious in all business transactions, of firm and undoubted character, and a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which he united when a young man.

William and Charles Soward, two brothers, settled on the James D. Statler land about 1817. The latter subsequently removed to Logan County. The former remained in this township through life. They were men of character and good business ability. William started in life poor, but became quite wealthy. Amos Howard was born on Gooso Island, in the Connecticut River. Grafton County, N. H, April 9, 1775. He married Mi ran Mills, born March 18. 1774: were married March 22, 1796. In 1808. removed to Virginia; in 1 809, came down the Ohio River in a flat-boat and settle< i on the site where he died. Amos Howard became a settler of the northwest part of Somerford Township about 1817-18, and lived and died there. He was burned to death about 1843. He came here a poor man, but, by industry and economy, and close application to his business, he accumulated a good competency. He had two daughters and one son. The daughters never married, but died single, and the son, Amos J., and his children, became possessed of all the property. Amos J. settled on the home place, and lived there through life. He died April 16, 1882. The Howard family have ever been known as most worthy and respected citizens. John Cory settled in the north part of the township about IMS, and served as a Justice of the Peace. Eli Williams, a native of Virginia, settled on the D. Ward place about 1818 20.

Thomas Orpet. a native of Maryland, married a sister of George Pru^h, and settled on Deer Creek, on land now owned by William Arbuckle, about 1818-19. Subsequently he bough! seven acres near Mr. Gabriel Pol"". where he died about 1861. He was of German descent, uneducated, and would never educate his children, believing it dangerous and injurious t<) become educated. Erastus Hathaway, a native of New York, and a ship carpenter by trade, settled with his family on land now owned by Hiram Richmond, about 1818-20, and lived and died here. He purchased his land of John Caperton. a native of Virginia, who settled here about 1814, but who, about 1832, returned to his native State. Mr. Hathaway was a man of character and ability, and served as Trustee and a Justice of the Peace. James and Dwyer Brown, two brothers, were natives of New York, but became residents of Somerford Township about 1818-20. James was born June 21, 1795. He first emigrated to Canada, and thence to Ohio. His wife, Mary Arm, was born in Virginia in 1803. They were married in Madison County. He died March 13, 1875. Dwyer Brown married a Miss McMullen, and subsequently' moved West. Mr. James Brown was an excellent neighbor and citizen, a useful member of society, and was intrusted with many of the offices of the township. He raised a large family of chil dren, who became useful members of society, and whose characters are above reproach.

Ansel Bates came to this township and settled just north of Tradersville, on land now owned by Thomas Bales, about 1818. He finally died in Champaign County. Of his children, we mention Asa, Ansel, Elijah, William, Sylvanus and Zenas. The last two mentioned were twins. These sons for several years were quite prominent and well known in the affairs of the township, but finally they all emigrated to the West. William Scott settled near the Charles Rigdon place about 1820. He married Betsey Kigdon. Subsequently, he moved to Pekin, 111., where he died. They were a good family and esteemed citizens. Charles Rigdon came here from Champaign County and settled about the same time - 1820-21. Richard Baldwin, it is believed, came here from Chillicothe and settled on the Rigdon place, in Surveys 9,285 and 10,626, about 1820, where he resided till about 1837 He moved to Mechanicsburg, where he resided till death. He was one of this township's best citizens, and served as a Justice of the Peace several years. Samuel Houston was a native of Pennsylvania, and settled here about 1820. He married Elizabeth Arbuckle. by whom he had two children, deceased. He was an intelligent and well-educated man. He taught school, and was Township Clerk, and resided here till his death. Michael Statler, a native of Virginia, settled where his son now lives, on the Urbana road, about 1824, where he died about 1842. His wife survived him about thirty years. Mr. Statler was killed while cutting down a tree upon which another had lodged, which fell on him.

Luther Newcom, a Yankee, settled here about 1820, and was among the first teachers. William Harber, a native of Virginia, and the only surviving one of his father's family - who were all killed by the Indians when he was but a child, he having escaped by secreting himself in the tall grass - grew to manhood, married, and settled in the north part of this township about 1825. He raised a large family of children, but who, in after years. all moved away, since which nothing is known of them. Samuel Wilson came here from Paint Township, and settled in the west part of this township, in Survey 6,078, about 1825. but remained here only five years, when he removed to Illinois, where he died about 1872. He was a very moral and worthy citizen, and. while residing in Illinois, he became a devoted member and worker in the Methodist Church. William Kirkley settled in the north portion of the township, on land owned by Thomas Bales, about 1 825 30. He died on the farm now owned' by D. Ward. He married Mary Cowan, who was an excellent Christian woman. Peter Smith, a native of Clark County, Ohio, Bettled here aboul 1825. Subsequently he became quite noted as a school -teacher and as a literary man. He removed to Illinois about 1S42. where, in L880, he was killed by being run over by a train of cars. Samuel and John HL Kennedy, natives of Virginia, settled here quite

Jonathan Markle, a brother of Gabriel Markle, it is supposed, came here and settled at the same time of his brother, and lived and died near where his son Philip now lives. Ezra Markle, of same family, was also an early settler, and they were all worthy citizens, and among the true pioneers of this township. A few others who were here prior to 1830, we mention the following: John Nagley, Asa Owens, George Vance, Bennett Warren, Benjamin Hull, Levi Umble, John Osborn, John Groves, Henry Groves, Noah Marsh. Newman Mitchell, Joseph Geer, James Geer and John Osborn.

Still later, from 1830 to 1840. we find the following settlers, who have been quite prominently connected with the growth and prosperity of the township: Gardner Lewis and his son, Schuyler, who were natives of New York, but settled here in 1836. He died in 1862. Mr. Schuyler Lewis inow one of the prominent and large land- owners and stock-dealers of Madison County, and a good neighbor and respected citizen. Rev. Eli Adams, a native of Maryland, settled in the extreme west part of this township, where he died in 1870; was a most excellent man and minister of the Gos pel. A. J. Clingan, a native of Maryland, settled in Somerford in 1839, and has now resided here forty-three years; is a tailor by trade, which business he has followed many years. He has at different times had intrusted to his care all the important offices of the township, and is now a Justice of the Peace. John M. Houston, a native of Kentucky, emigrated to Clark County, Ohio, in 1814, where "he married Maria E. Cartmell, a native of Clark County. They settled in this township in 1837; removed to London in January, 1877. where he died January 29, 1879. He served as a Justice of the Peace and as a Trustee of the township for several years. He was an active member of the Methodist Church, and a Steward in the same for many years.

Although the above may be an imperfect list of the pioneers or first settlers of Somerford Township, and some of the dates of their settlement may not be exact, yet we feel that, at this distant day. with the limited sources at hand, the above is so complete as to give to the rising generations quite a comprehensive view in retrospect of the noble men and women who entered this then unbroken wilderness, braving all dangers of Indians and wild beasts, and the miasmas and malaria with which the atmosphere was then filled; baring the brawny arm to give the stroke of the ax to fell the mighty " kings of the forest;" living in the rude log structures called houses, with but little to wear and but little to eat, and that of the roughest kind, and enduring trials and deprivations innumerable - and all this for what? That their descendants might see, possess and enjoy the beautiful homes and fine farms of the present day. with their attendant comforts And yet how comparatively Eew of the present generation have a true appreciation of the toils and labors of those devoted ancestors! Aud how many there are who take an interest in recording upou thu pages of history their names and noble works, to commemorate them and save them from an irretrievable oblivion.

It appears that all records of elections of this township from its organ ization in 1839 up to 1858 are either lost or destroyed. From 1858 to 1875, we find the following officials duly elected:

Lauck; 1859, wanting; 1860, A. J. Kennedy, Alexander West and Wash ington Wilson; 1861, Alexander West. Washington Wilson and John H. Matkle; 1862, Washington Wilson, Henry M. Comfort and John H. Markle; 1863, A. H. Lewis, A. J. Howard and Henry M. Comfort; L864, Washington Wilson. William Allen and John M. Houston; 1865, Washington Wilson, John M. Houston and Gabriel Prugh; 1866, missing; 1867, Isaac Fox, John B. Lauck and G. M. Potee; 1868, W. Wilson, John B. Lauck and S. Kennedy; 1870. J. M. Williard, M. V. Fox and S. H. Markle; 1873, J. B. Lauck. J. ME. Markle and G-eorge Prugh; 1874, George Prugh, G. Bales and J. \Y. Cartzdafner; 1882. William Soward, J. Potee and T. F. Lauck.

Constables - James H. Palmer and Eli Williams, 1858; James H. Palmer and Argus W. Kirkley, 1859; A. W. Kirkley and J. D. Henderson, 1860; James H. Guthrie and J. D. Hendeson, 1862; J. W. Geer and John West, 1863; John West and Sutton Potee, 1864; James H. Guthrie and A. J. Clingan, 1865; A. J. Clingan and Charles Yardly, 1866; Charles Yardly and F. M. Candler, 1867; Charles Yardly and John D. Henderson, 1868; George McCorkle and Jasper Candler, 1870; John Bigelow and David Lamplin, 1871; Jasper Candler and John Bigelow, 1S72; James Dillow and John Bigelow. 1873; Andrew J. Clingan, 1875; and the present incumbent, George Barber and John Neer. for 1SS2.

Che e;iri\ settlers of Somerford Township to a greal extent were from Virginia and Kentucky, having been raised in those States, where slavery was ,i Legal institution, and where there was no free school system and no encouragement or support given by their governments to the work of education; hence the masses of the people were generally uneducated, and among this class of honest, yet illiterate people were many who were dis satisfied with the institution of slavery and its incubus of ignorance, and were anxious to free their children and their posterity of their baneful effect. They learned of the rich and fertile soil of Ohio and its freedom from slavery, and a flood of emigration set in. and these then Western wilds were rapidly peopled by these sturdy yeomanry, and Madison County and Somerford Township were the recipients of a goodly number of them. Here was the untutored savage, and the primitive wildness of all his surroundings, and the white settler here stood as " master of the field." He felt the responsibility that rested upon him in the work before him, of preparing homes and creating political institutions, whose benign influences should bless his posterity for ages to come; and he fully realized his lack of education to till intelligently the various political offices of this new yet rapidly growing country. Hence we find them early taking steps for the education of their children. There were no schoolhouses, and the first settlers were generally poor, and it was about as much as they could do at first to keep " body and soul together." But as soon as was possible, a few neighbors would unite in their efforts, by each subscribing a certain amount toward hiring a teacher to hold school in one of their houses, a rude log cabin, where he would receive the children of said subscribers, and from the most primitive books teach them the first rudiments of an education. These first teachers were usually paid from $8 to $12 per month, and " boarded around." For many years schools were supported entirely by subscription, till finally the people saw a necessity of a public and general provision for educating the masses. As by the first process of supporting schools by subscription, many were too poor to contribute, and others were too ignorant or penurious, and hence the children of such were deprived of all advantages of schooling. So, through the legislative power of the State, laws were enacted, and, from time to time, provisions made, until the present free school system of Ohio has been reached, and now no child is debarred from the privilege of attending school from six to twenty-one years of age.

It is believed that the first school ever held in what is now Somerford T< unship was in the Arbuckle neighborhood. The first house erected for school pui-poses was about 1818, when a round-log house was built on the place now owned by C. Arbuckle. This was of the most primitive kind, with greased paper for windows. This house was succeeded by several others, each a little better constructed than its predecessor, till about 1850 a neat and comfortable frame house was erected near where the present house stands. This frame house was occupied till about 1872 when the present brick house was erected. This is known as District No. 3. It now enumerates thirty-six scholars. Present Board of Directors: Martin Gowens, M.

in Mr. Potee's neighborhood. The first session of school held here was about the year 1828, which was in an old round- log house, built by Mr. Umble for a dwelling. About L825, a good hewed-log house was erected on the northwest corner of Valentine Wilson's farm, for school purposes, which remained in use for at least fifteen years, when it was burned down. Then another hewed-log house was erected on the same farm, which had been built for the purpose of a church, but was never used but little as such, and was appropriated for school purposes, and remained in use as such till L859, when a frame house was erected on Mr. Potee's land, which was used till 1873, when the present neat brick house was erected. The present Board of Directors are James Prugh, William Tingly and Philip Markle.

The above schools in Districts No. and 4 are an illustration of the beginning and progress of the schools of the township from its first settlement down to the present time. Now the township has six good school - housos - four brick and two frame. The schoolhouse at Somerford is a twostory brick, having one room above and one below. It was erected in 1S72. This had been preceded by two frame houses, the last of which was built in J 870. and, in two years after, caught fire and burned down, and then the

This township can now compare favorably with any other in the county in the quality of her schoolhouses, and in the condition and progress of her schools. And what a contrast in the school privileges of to-day and those of seventy-five years ago! It would be useless to attempt to portray it: language is inadequate to express it, and the minds of the rising generation can but imperfectly realize it. Then the child had to go miles through the woods, and over almost impassable mud roads; enter a rough log schoolhouse; sit upon a slab seat; warm before a fire-place which occupied all one end of the house, where were piled logs which it took two or three big boys to roll in; learn what little he could from the simple and primitive books of that day: all that was his privilege, just for a few days in the winter, when his father had nothing for him to do at home, or when the weather was so bad and inclement that it was impossible to work out of doors. And further, if in participating in the above the child's conduct or behavior did not come up to the standard which the teacher thought it ought to, he had the sure privilege of a thorough application of a good hickory switch, which were then very plentiful, and in the dextrous use of which the schoolmaster of that day was very proficient. The child of today has a fine brick schoolhouse near his father's fine residence, or but a short distance from it, over a solid gravel road, where he enters and enjoys the finest of furniture, and the room heated by a good coal stove to any degree of comfort: has the best improved books, from which the lessons are explained and illustrated by charts, maps, globes and other apparatus to elucidate and make clear to the mind of each child the subject of the lesson. And not only this, but these privileges are extended to him from six to nine months every year. The rod is seldom used by the teacher of today. He studies the mind of his pupil, understands his nature, gains his confidence and controls him by love. Truly, the child of to-day, as compared with that of seventy-five years ago, lives in a golden age.

The political philosopher recognizes our schools and free school system as the bulwark of the nation, but the young mind, as well as the more mature, must be molded and tempered by the Divine Instructor, in order that the great power given by the acquired intelligence obtained by our grand educational institutions may be rightly directed, so as to promote the greatest interests of our people and nation, to make them truly great and happy. And from the earliest dawn of our nation, created by the wisdom, courage and intellect of our forefathers, has been recognized the value and imperative necessity of churches, that their benign power and influence may go hand in hand with all intelligence and progress; being to the intellect as the governor to an engine, or the rudder to the vessel, to direct and control. The pioneers of this township realized this fact, and they early proceeded to organize churches.

The first church organized in this township was by the Methodists, about L828, at the house of Charles Soward, by Kev. James B. Austin, with the following members: Sutton Potee, Charles Soward, Joshua Davis and Samuel Wilson, with their wives, with Sutton Potee as Class-Leader About 1834, the organization changed the place of holding their meetings to Somerford. and their services were held in private houses and in the schoolhouses till about JM:'> 11. when a brick house was erected in the east part of the town. There services were held till in the fall of 1873 when they tore down the church, and the brick were used to help build the present houSe, which is located in the western part of the village, at a cost of about $1,700. This house was dedicated to service by Rev. Granville Moody on October 25, 1874. This church has had its times of prosperity and its times of waning. At the present time it is enjoying a fair degree of prosperity, and the prospects for its future growth and usefulness are quite promising. The membership is now about lifty, with Rev. J. F. Lewis as their minister, and Mr. Hughs as Class-Leader.

Fletcher East or Tradersville M. E. Church was organized in the schoolhouse it is believed about 1838. Among the first members who organized a class were Moses Bales, Rev. Eli Adams, Mr. Geer, Isaac Newman, Charles Rigdon, William Davidson, and their wives; also Edwin West and his wife, Margaret, and daughter. About 1843-44, they erected a frame house, in which services were held for many years. In 1873, the present house - frame - was erected, at a cost of about $2,200. The church at one time was quite large in membership, and prosperous, but in later years has decreased very much by many moving away, and others by death. Its membership now numbers about seventeen, with Reason Lauck as Class- Leader, and J. H. Davis as minister. Some of the first or early ministers of this church were Revs Eli Adams, George Boucher, Cherry, Conrey, Ellsworth, Williams, Keck, Jackson, Fiddler, Hull, Havens and Smith.

The Christian Church at Somerford. - This church was organized May 1, 1847, by Daniel Summers and John Simmerman, with six members, as follows: Daniel Sommers and his wife, Rachel Sommers ;. John Simmerman and his wife. Martha Simmerman; John Bradley and his wife, Judy Bradley - who covenanted to take the Holy Scriptures as a sufficient rule of faith and practice, and Christian as the only name for the followers of Christ. The church, since its organization, has been administered to by the following ministers: Daniel Sommers and John Simmerman officiated jointly for two years, with but three additions to the church. The eecond to fill the pastoral office was Samuel Wilson, who filled the pulpit for four years, and under whose service's there were added to the church sixty-five members The third to preach to this people was C. A. Morse, who labored three years, and received thirty-five members. Daniel Griffin was the fourth pastor, who served the church eight years, during which period were added to the church 12-">. The next to administer to the ehurcb was William S. Manville, who filled the pulpit two years, and added forty-two. The sixth and last, who has faithfully labored for a period of sixteen years to shed abroad the light of the Gospel to this people is Rev. W. M. Overturf, and who has during this time been permitted to extend the hand of fellowship to 320, and welcome them to the household of faith. Thus, since the organization of the clmrch, there have been added about six hundred members. Although the church, when organized, was weak in numbers, and for two or three years labored under discouraging circumstances, having no place to meet but in the schoolhouse, yet their faith was strong, believing the promise of the Divine Master that " where two or three are gathered together in my name, there will I be in the midst of them." The promise was verified. In 1850, their church edifice was erected, and the little band had a home and a place to worship. The light of divine truth began to prevail, and, under the earnest labors of Rev. Samuel Wilson, many were added to the church ; and since that time the lights and shades have come and gone, and, like all organizations, they have had their seasons of prosperity and

Most of the trarying-placea of this township are old family grounds for interment, established by the first settlers, some of which have been fenced in and carefully preserved, while some have become entirely obliterated, the grounds now being in the open pasture field, and not a mark or vestige of anything1 left to inform the passer-by that there, underneath the sod, lie the remains of all that was mortal of many a noble sire.

One early burying-ground. and perhaps the first place in the township used for interring tin- dead, is situated on the old Arbuckle place, where their family and many of the neighborhood, probably several hundred bodies, have been placed in their silent graves. This cemetery is well fenced, and will remain cared for and preserved as long as the descendants of the Arbuckle family reside in the vicinity. Another burying-place of the early settlers was located on the Gwynne land, but it is now all in open pasture. There is one located on the Stateler farm, one near the grist-mill, and one at Somerford. Although there were some other places scattered here and there over the township in early days, yet those noted above appear to have been the principal places of burial.

There have been but few mills of any permanency in Somerford Township. Although in early times there were a few rudely constructed sawmills, run by water from the small creeks, which only remained in existence a short time; and later, some portable steam mills have been in use, and moved from point to point as temporary necessity required, yet there has been and is but one mill of any permanency, and that is the one now owned by John Cartzdafner, situated about three -quarters of a mile northwest of Somerford. At this place, about 1N14, Gabriel Markle erected a saw-mill run by water, and, a year or two later, he erected a grist-mill. This mill he continued to run about ten years, when he was succeeded by John Roberts, who conducted business there several years, since which it was in the ownership of several different persons. It was finally destroyed by tire while in the ownership of -lames Smith, who again rebuilt it. At one time, this mill did quite an extensive business, and was a great convenience to this neigh berhood, as prior to its erection the people were compelled to go many miles, over almost impassable mud roads, to have grinding done. Soon after the war of the rebellion, this mill was purchased by John Cartzdafner. who has continued to run the mill to the present time.

In 1836-37 was constructed, by the General Government of the United States, one of the greatest improvements of that day and age - the National road. This road passed through the southern portion of Somerford Township, from east to west, and here, as in Deer Creek Township and elsewhere all along its line, from the immense travel and business over it, sprang up almost innumerable hotels or places of public entertainment. There was prior to the commencement of this road, no town or village within the territory now embraced in Somerford Township. In 1836, Joseph Chrisman surveyed and laid off some lots and started a town, which was named Somerford. Mr. Chrisman kept the first tavern, and also opened the first store. The first Postmaster was William Eaton. Mr. Weeds was the first toll-gate keeper, just below Somerford. and then Mr. Smith, at Somerford, received the office. The first physicians were Drs. Putnam and Crann. The town is now a pretty country village, with the following business places: W. L. Clingan, dealer in dry goods: M. Y. Fauver, grocer ies; J. A. Evans, groceries; Henry Bunton, blacksmith; John Neer, blacksmith; W. M. Evans, hotel; E. G. Keiffer, physician; and M. -L. Sprague. physician. It has two churches, one schoolhouse. brick, with two rooms <>r apartments, and a brick town hall, erected in 1877 at a cost of $2,<>0t). About five miles north of Somerford is located a small hamlet known as Tradersville. This contains about half a dozen houses, with one small stor< and one church. These comprise the towns of Somerford Township.

On May 10, 1871, the Grand Lodge I. O.O. F. of the State of Ohio granted a warrant and dispensation to the following persons and their successors, legallv and duly elected to constitute a lodge to be known by the tit I Somerford Lodge. No. 481, I. O. O. F. : V. H. Prugh, T. F. Prugh, James W. D. Statler, H. P. Markle, H. H. Harris, William Harris. A. T. Prugh. Patrick Powers. Newton Potee, David Bales. I'. M. Candler, S. F. Saunders, Jackson Wilson and Alexander Wilson. On July 15, L871, the lodge waduly instituted by Kodney Foos. !'. G., Special Deputy, with the following charter members: Y. H. Prugh. Jackson Wilson, T. F. Prugh, Alexander Wilson, Patrick Powers, A. T. Prugh. William Harris. H. I'. Markle, H. H. Harris, J. W. D. Stateler, David Bales, F. M Cand ler, Newton Potee. S. F. Saunders. John Furrow, Oscar Dickison and Joseph Ward: with the following officers duly elected and installed: James AY D. Statler. N. G. : Y. H. Prugh. Y. G.; H. P. Markle, Secretary; A. T. Prugh, Permanent Secretary: David Bales, Treasure]-. The present membership (October, 1882) is seventy-six, officered as follows. Thomas Cornwell, N. G. ; George Barber, Y. G. : C. G. Markle, Secretary: C. E. Arbuckle, Permanent Secretary: W. L. Clingan. Treasurer.