Somerford Township

Somerford Township

Somerford township lies along the western border of Madison: 'county, second from the northern border. It:is bounded:on the north by Pike. and Monroe townships, on the east by Monroe and Deer Creeks townships, on the south by Union township and on the west by Champaign county and Clark county. The following was taken from the record books of the county commissioners, dated 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 cornet of Piké township, in the line of Champaign county; thence with the'said line south three Iniles and two hundred poles to the corner between the county of Chanipaign and Clark'; "thehee with the Clark' county line south ten degrees west, six and a half 'miles to the north bank of Deér creek, on Daniel Wilson's land; thence north seventy-seven degrees ' east; four miles and one hundred 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. 'Poland's land ; thence north to the line of Monroe and Pike townships north forty- six degrees west five miles to the beginning. " The next and last record we find concerning the boundary line of Somerford township is 'in the record book, dated March 20, 1840, and is as follows : "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's and the land' upon which he now lives into Union township."

Surface, Soil And Timber

Throughout Madison county, there is much of uniformity. in the surface and soil of the different townships, and, to a greater or less extent, the description , of one will. cover that of all the. different _townships, and, with a slight variation , as to the presence of creek land, ete., will be a representation , of any other. Therefore, when, we say that the surface of this township is level, as has been said of all other townships in Madison county, is merely repeating a statement that has been made. The western portion of this township possesses the greatest altitude, as shown by its Streams and creeks all flowing towards its eastern border ; yet even this portion is lev el or slightly undulating.

The soil is. very rich. and productive, and suitable to, the raising of all _kinds of grains, cereals and grasses, the exuberance of the latter making 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, whica also prove invaluable for drainage and which are fed by reLea ty numbers of beautiful springs. These springs dot the farms from one extreme to the other of the limited domain. Deer creek, with its numerous branches, penetrate all portions of the territory. George's ereek, the largest branch, heads near the northwest corner of the township, and, coursing in a southeast direction. empties into the main creek, near the eastern border of the township. With all the beautiful Springs and creeks,. forming an ever- -gushing supply of water, together with the subsoil of clay, this township is "proof against danger. to its crops from an ordinary drought. Somerford township, unlike many others of Madison 'county, was originally well timbered, having no prairies entirely destitute of trees; and it might be stated that it had a very remarkable variety of timber, consisting of white, black, red and burr oak, elm, maple, locust, cherry, hickory, walnut and beech, of which the white and red oak were the most beautiful growths; 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 these lands, would alone be worth a fortune. But the ruthless axe of the pioneers and his merciless torch nearly obliterated these species from the township. Owing to the small size of the streams, there is no water power of value, and the mills that now exist, or have existed in this township, have been run by steam power. Therefore, the greatest efforts, and the interests of the people, with the natural advanages they possessed as above described, have been along lines of agricultural pursuits.

Early Settlers

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, of whom but little can be learned as to their place of settlement or the good they accomplished. At about the same date, and from the same state, came Tobias Shields and his two sons, John and Andrew, and located in this township. There were probably more of this family than the above mentioned, but their history cannot be gathered. After the organization of Madison county and of Deer Creek township - the latter embracing a large scope of territory, including Somerford - John and Andrew Shields held various offices in 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 this time, Charles Atchison, also from Kentucky, settled here and proved a, most worthy and useful citizen; he was probably the first treasurer of the township after its erection and also filled many other offices in the township. Daniel Ross was another pioneer settler of the same date. He had a large family, of whom there is record of the following sons: Angus, David, John and Alexander, who were all more or less in the various offices of the township until 1836. They evidently left this township about the latter date and emigrated west. In 1805 came John Wilson, from Greenbrier county, Virginia, 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 suceession. About 1808-10, Gabriel Markle, a native of Maryland, emigrated to Ohio, and settled in Somerford township, one mile north of the village of Summerford, on Deer creek. Here he remained through life and died about 1825, nearly eighty 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 of the township. 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 born in Maryland and married Margaret Markle. Mr. Prugh was of German descent and his wife was a native of Maryland. He emigrated to Ohio in 1812 and settled in what was then Deer Creek township, but now a part of Somerford, about one inile north of the village of Summerford, where he remained till: their death. He died in 1841 and his wife in 1864. He was a very excellent citizen and held the offices of trustee, treasurer and justice of the peace. Two of his sons, Samuel and G. W. Prugh, remained throughout their lives in this township and were most honored and respected citizens.

William Pepper, a native of Maryland, settled here about the year 1810-12, as is shown by the township records. He was a supervisor in 1812. John Summers, a native of Virginia, who settled here about 1813, was a blacksmith by trade and perhaps the first to ply his trade in this township.

purchased by John Arbuckle, about 1812-13, as in 1814 he served as township trustee. Subsequently he moved to the Big Sandy. 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; in 1815 he removed to Madison county, where he lived until his death. He married Hulda Colver, who was born on the banks of Lake Champaign, in New York state, in 1796. They were married in Madison county in 1817. He died on December 16, 1872, and his wife died on June 3, 1861. He was a man of undoubted character, and esteemed and respected by all who knew him: David Colver, a native of Virginia, settled in this township about 1815-16. In early life he was a sailor and traveled quite extensively. He was an active, industrious man, a good nelehbor,, and a firm Universalist in religious faith.

John Barrett, a native of Maryland, was a brother-in-law of John Arbuckle, they having married sisters. He came to this county soon after Mr: Arbuckle and settled on the same tract of land. He died with that prevalent, yet much dreaded, disease, milksickness. Jacob Steele settled here about 1815. Thomas Taylor came from Chillicothe, Ohio, and settled on Deer creek, about 1815, where he lived about five years; thence settled on the old Columbus and 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. Late in life he moved to the village of Summerford, where' he died at the age of about eighty years.

Valentine Wilson, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1786, emigrated with his father's' family, in 1790, to Clark county, Kentucky, where he remained a citizen twelve' years; then, in 1802, he emigrated to Ohio and settled on the headwaters: of Beaver creek, in Bath township, Greene county. In 1816 Mr. Wilson removed to Madison county and settled on the headwaters of Deer creek. He was married three times and was the' father of nineteen children. He was first married in 1806, to Eleanor Judy, by whom he' had six children. She died on'the 5th of September, 1818, and' in 1819 he'married Mrs. Susanna Umble, who became the mother of four children. She died on August 18, 1825, and on June 18, 1827, he married' for his thitd wife, Nanty 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 the heads of families. Mr. Wilson died' on July 2, 1855, on the farm where he first located in 1816. From a smal beginning, on' one hundred and sixty acres of land, bought of the man who had '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.

John J. Roberts settled here abotit 1817. He was the successor of Gabriel Markle to the grist-mill on Deer creek. Sutton Potee, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, emigrated with his wife and three children, in the fall of 1817, to Ohio, and settled on the farm located near the National road, on' Deer creek. .He married Hannah Markle, by whom he had six children. 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 life-long member of the Methodist church.

William and Charles Soward, brothers, settled on the' James D..Statler land about 1817. The latter subsequently removed to Logan county. They were men of good character and great business ability. William started in life poor, but' became quite wealthy. Amos Howard was born on Goose island, in the Connecticut river, Grafton county, New Hampshire, April 9, 1775. He married Miran Mills, who was born on March 18, 1774. They were married on March 22, 1796, and removed to Virginia in 1808. In 1809 he came down the Ohio river in a flat boat and evidently settled in Somerford township about the year 1817-18. He was burned to death in 1843. He came here a very poor man, but by industry, economy -and close application to his business, he accumulated a 'good competency. His son, Amos J.,' settled on 'the home place and lived there through life; he died April 16, 1882. The Howard fay have ever beet known as most worthy and respected citizens. Panay :

John Cory settled in the northern part of the township about 1818, and served as a justice of the peace. Eli Williams, a native of Virginia, settled in this township about 1818-20. Thomas Orpet, a native' of Maryland, married'a sister of George Prugh, and 'settled on Deer creek, about the year 1818-19. He died about the year 1861. He was of German descent, uneducated, and 'would never allow his children the benefits of education, believing it dangerous and injurious. 'Hrastus Hathaway, a native of New York and a ship carpenter by trade, settled here with his family about 1818-20, and lived and died in that township. He purchased his land of John Caperton, a native of Virginia, who settled here about 1814, but, in' 1832, returned to his native state. Mr. Hathaway was a man of ability and character, and served as trustee and justice of the peace. James and Dwyer Brown, brothers, were natives of New York, but became residents of Somerford township about 1818-20. James was' born on June 21, 1795, and died on March 13, 1875. He first emigrated to Canada and later te Ohio. His wife, Mary Ann, was born in Virginia in 1803, and they were married in Madison county. Dwyer Brown married Miss McMullen, and subsequently moved west. James Brown was an excellent citizen and neighbor, a useful member of society, and was intrusted with many of the offices of the township. He reared a large family of children, whose character was above reproach.

Ansel Bates came to this township and settled just north of Tradersville, about 1818. His children were Asa, Ansel, Elijah, William, Sylvanus and Zenas. The last two were twins. The sons were quite prominent and well known in the affairs of the county, but the latter emigrated west. William Scott settled in this township about the year 1820.' He married Betsy Rigdon and subsequently moved to Pekin, Illinois; where he died. Charles Rigdon came here from Champaign county and settled about the same time - 1820-21. Richard Baldwin came here, presumably from Chillicothe, and' settled on surveys No. 9,285 and No. 10,626, about the year 1820, where he resided until about 1837. He then removed to Mechanicsburg. Samuet Houston, a native of Pennsylvania, settled here about 1820. He married Elizabeth' Arbuckle. He was an intelligent and well-educated man and one of the township's best citizens. He taught school and was later township clerk. Michaél Statler was a native of Virginia and settled in this township on the Urbana road, about 1824. He was accidentally killed in 1842 while onving down a tree, which fell on him and crushed him.

Luther Newcom, a Yankee, settled here about 1820, and was among the first teachers in the township. William Harber, 'a native of Virginia, was the only surviving member of his father's family, the others having been killed by the Indians when he was but a child; he escaped by secreting himself in the tall grass. He grew to manhood, married and, about the year 1825, settled in the northern part of this township. He raised a large family of children, but who, in later years moved west. Samuel Wilson came to this locality from Paint township, and settled in the west part of the township, in survey 6,078, about the year 1825. He remained here only five years, when he. removed to Illinois. William Kirkley settled in the northern part of this township, on land owned by Thomas Bales, about 1825-30. He married Mary Cowan, who was an excellent Christian woman. Peter Smith, who was a native of Clark county, Ohio, settled here about 1842. He was killed in 1880, when a train of cars passed over his body. Samuel and John H. Kennedy, a native of Virginia, settled here quite early, 'probably about 1815-20. The latter became a prominent and useful citizen, was Justice of the peace forty years and probate judge from 1864 to 1876.

Jonathan Markle, a brother of Gabriel Markle, came here and settled with his brother, Ezra Markle, of the same family. He was also an early settler, this family being among the true pioneers of the township. A few others who were here prior to 1830 were 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. '

Stili later, from 1830 to 1840, the following settlers were 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. Rev. Eli Adams, a native of Maryland, settled in the extreme western part of the. township, where he died in 1870; he was a most excellent man and a minister of the gospel. A. J. Clingan, a native of Maryland, settled in Somerford in 1839. He was a tailor by trade and followed this profession while a resident of the latter town. He held the office of justice of the peace for a number of years. 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, removing to London in January, 1877, where he died on January 29, 1879. He served as justice of the peace and trustee for a number of years. He was. an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

The map shows. a hamlet in the northern part of the township by the name of Tradersville, but there are now only two or three houses in the place. At one time it Was an important trading center, but it long ago gave up hopes of becoming an urban eenter. The only industry represented in the place now is a general store owned by H. A. Lewis. Several years ago there was a flourishing Methodist Episcopal church in the hamlet, but it has been discontinued for many years.

Summerford, the only village in Somerford township, was laid out on June 5, 1835, by Joseph Chrisman. The proprietor opened the first tavern and became the first merchant of the infant town. William Eaton was the first postmaster and G. W. Cartzdafner was the last man to hold the office. With the establishment of rural route No. 2, out of London, on September 2, 1902, the postoffice at Summerford was discontinued. The first physicians were Doctors Putnam and Crann. Among the merchants of the village in the past may be mentioned W. L. Clingan, M. V. Fauver and J. A. Evans. Owing 'to the fact that no railroad has ever come to the town it has never become a place of much importance, although the electric line which passed through the town in 1902 has been of great help in building it up. There is a two-room brick school. building, three churches (Christian, Methodist Episcopal and Dunkard) and a commodious town hall in the village. The Odd' Fellows and Eagles have lodges in the town. The present population is about three hundred. The following is the business and professional. directory for 1915: Barbers. KE. P. Geer. Mrs. Stella West; blacksmiths, Clyde Gist. HWdgar Boecird, W. M. Saffley; hotel, C. M. Buffington; ice cream parlor, Mrs. Stella West; livery, C. M. Buffington; merchants, G. W. Cartzdafner, C. M. Buffington, N. C. Pitzer; physician, M. C. Sprague: pool rooms, E. P. Geer, Mrs. Stella West ; wood working shop, George Bussard.

The present. officials of Somerford township are as follow: Trustees, Stephen Bodkins. R. V. Wilson and Humphrey Nicewarner; school board, M. C. Sprague, Valentine Wilson, Clyde Gist, Prugh Overturf and N. C. Pitzer; health officer. B. F. Woosley ;