Springfield Township (part 16 of 69)

The site of this home is equal in beautj^ to that of either the Masonic or Odd Fellows institutions. Within the corporate limits, immediately north of the main part of the city, it has all the advantages of a city location, while the ground is so situated as to give it plenty of country air. On the north end of the tract of eightyfour acres is a beautiful natural grove of forty-four acres. The number of residents at present is 214, boys 109, and girls 105.

The first superintendent was Mr. Thomas H. Collins, his wife being matron. Afterward the present very able and affable R. M. Le FeA^re and his helpful wife were made superintendent and matron respectively. Even since its organization until the present year Zac Taylor, who was very attentive to his duties, was a member of the board of directors.

some action will be taken in this direction. Whether or not this home will be located here and carried on in connection with the present orphan's home, is a matter not yet decided, but it is not unlikely that such may be the case.

Much of the credit for securing the location of these fraternal homes in our vicinity is due to two men - Governor Bushnell, through his generous subscription to the Masonic Home, and P. M. Cartmell, who in a thorough and painstaking manner collected and presented statistical information showing the ready accessibility of this city to and from all parts of the state, with other weighty considerations calculated to influence favorable action in behalf of Springfield.

Not only have fraternal orders found Springfield a desirable place in which to locate homes, but the Lutheran Church has also come to the same conclusion. In 1904 Mrs. Amelia Oesterlen, a wealthy Lutheran lady of Findlay, Ohio, by her last will and testament left a fund of about $30,000 to be used in the erection and maintenance of a home for orphan children of Lutheran parentage. When this bequest became available, those in authority began to seek a proper site for the home. The large Lutheran following in Springfield, together with the influence of Wittenberg College, no doubt, had much to do with the committees' selection of Springfield, but the fact that the three great fraternal organizations had found Springfield to be a suitable place in which to locate their respective homes, no doubt had its effect with the Lutheran

Several locations in and about Springfield were suggested to the committee, but finally it was decided to purchase the old Zimmerman farm just beyond the city limits, north of Lagonda. This farm is very nicely situated and had upon it very commodious buildings. It contained 108 acres and was purchased in 1905 at a cost of about $12,000. The Home is officered and managed by a board of triastees selected by various Lutheran bodies, and supported by the Lutheran Synods of Wittenberg, Miami, Eastern Ohio, Northern Indiana, and Olive Branch.

It was opened for the acceptance of inmates on June 6th, 1905. The house has been remodeled and a number of other improvements made, involving an expenditure of about $3,000.

The first superintendent was Rev. A. J. Kissell and Mrs. Delia Etta Kissel, his wife, was matron. In December, 1905, the matron died, and in the following April the superintendent resigned his position, and the present efficient official, Rev. W. M. Havey, of Spencerville, Indiana, was selected as superintendent and his wife as matron. The present number of inmates is twenty-two, fifteen males and seven females.

As at present arranged the members of this "Home" family attend Sunday School and church services in the Fifth Lutheran Church. The home is prosperous and bears ample evidence that in time it will fulfill the generous expectations and hopes of its founder.

This home is designed for aged women who are willing to comply with its conditions and who wish to have a pleasant home for the remainder of their lives. It is a substantial brick building at No. 616 North Limestone Street. It was founded in 1899 by Mrs. Charlotte S. Clark in memory of her son. The property was purchased and remodeled and on the 16th of November in that same year, it was opened for inspection by the public and has been occupied ever since for the purpose it was intended. .It cost $3,000 to remodel the house and $2,000 to furnish it. At one time Hon. John W. Bookwalter, who has just recently sent a check for $2,500 to be distributed to the poor of this city, sent a like check for $2,500 to cancel the indebtedness on this home. Money and endowments from other sources have been also received until a small but substantial fund of that character is now held by the institution.

Mrs. Winger, widow of Capt. Amaziah Winger, has given very substantial aid to the home and no doubt will continue to do so during her lifetime. Mrs. Charles Stout has also been very attentive to the wants of this institution. Every few years the home adopts a novel way of raising funds. Having interested in its behalf all the pretty girls in town, they designate a certain day as "Tag Day," on which the girls set out to catch

Military History Of Springfield And

Paper Read hy Gen'l J. Warren Keifer at First Centennial of Springfield: - Revolutionary and Territorial Times. War of 1812-1815 - Mexican War, 1846- 1848 - Civil War, 1861-1865 - Second Ohio Infantry - Third Ohio Infantry- Sixteenth Ohio Infantry - Thirty-first Ohio Infantry - Forty-fourth Ohio Infantry - Seventy-first Ohio Volunnteer Infantry - Eighty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry - Ninety-fourth Ohio Infantry - One Hundred and Tenth Ohio Infantry - One Hundred cmd Tiventy-ninth Ohio - One Hundred and Forty-sixth Ohio Infantry - One Hundred and Fifty-second Ohio Infantry - One Hundred and Fifty-third Ohio Infantry - Sixteenth Ohio Independent Rattery - Seventeenth Ohio Independent Rattery - Squirrel Hunters, 1862 - First Kentucky Infantry - United States Navy - United States Military Academy - Spanish War, 1898.

(In this paper Clark County will be referred to as though it bad an organized existence from the earliest times, although its territory was a part of Hamilton County prior to ISOO ; then of Greene until 1S05 ; then of Champaign until 1S17, when it was organized.)

The duty of summarizing the military history of Clark County has led me to study the annals of her people - a people springing, originally, from all nationalities and tongues, with varied race characteristics, but who, in time, became so composite, in blood and character, as to be able, if occasion required, to deny any national or race origin, or to boast that the blood of all nationalities run in the veins of its citizens.

How impressive is the history of her people. They early came here with ex- 'a'ted hopes and high ambition; they, within the limits of their aspirations, succeeded in the main, then passed to the great beyond, leaving to us a heritage of example and valor. Our blood-kindred and earliest friends were of these. What sad reflections might we summon; but this is not the time nor the occasion. The privations, struggles and sufferings of the early settlers were largely forgotten by their descendants, they being almost selfishly willing to enjoy the fruits of what they accomplished for education, civilization and Christianity, without awarding to them full credit.

But this is not a day for sad reminiscences and serious reflections, but for cheerfulness and hopefulness, for rejoicing - even for boasting.

The task assigned me is an inspiring and a pleasant one, becaiase of the splendid history Clark County has made in all the wars in which our country was engaged in the nineteenth century. Her people, willingly and loyallj% responded to all calls of danger and duty, and went forth to uphold constitutional liberty and the natural rights of man. Her sons fought and died on every important campaign and in every great battle in the last one hundred years in which our country was engaged.

The blood of her sons has crimsoned the soil of, and their bones have bleached on the great battlefields of the Republic. They have heroically liorne on high the starry flag of Washington, the i^urest and proudest emblem of human liberty, both on land and sea ; only lately participating in carrying its protecting folds to the relief of endangered and imprisoned Christians in far-off imperial China's walled capital. A^Hierever glory in the cause of humanity has been won through deeds of valor and by bloody sacrifice, Clark County's soldiers and sailors must justly be awarded a share, and so as to this nation's standing in first place among the greatest powers of the world.

world, having reference to the advancement of science and the fine arts, to material and moral progress, and wealth; to the liberation of man and the elevation of woman, and the best growth of a purer civilization. All these things seem, in IJie providence of God, to have required human sacrifice. As a purer atmosphere succeeds violent electrical storms, so purer liberty succeeds overthrown oppression.

In the nineteenth century (sul)stantially the period of Springfield's existence) the map of the world has often changed, and our new nation, inspired by liberty for man, has developed in usefulness and taken its place among the controlling powers of the earth. That which was protected by law and by public sentiment, sometimes claimed to be maintained by Divine sanction - the slave trade, since Springfield was settled, became piracy (1820) and the whole institution of slavery, upheld by Christian nations through the centuries, has passed away, in large part, throughout the civilized world. A war for humanity has been declared and successfully terminated. A list of controlling events is too long for production here.

What part did the citizens of this city and Clark County have in determining these great questions? Small as Clark County is, in comparative area and numbers, it has had her soldiers and sailors ready to rush to battle and sacrifice wherever duty and coimtry called in all ouv Republic's wai's.

Springfield was liorn amid savageiy, and her earliest settlers were in constant danger of the tomahawk and scalping knife. The battle at Piqua Indian vil- lage, on Mad River (six miles west of Springfield, August 8, 1780), drove back the federated Indian tribes for a few miles only, leaving them to roam over this country for a third of a century longer.

The early inhibitants of what is now Clark County were, perforce, soldiers for the defense of their homes, and were subject to be called into temporary service at any time. The region round about here was, on account of its healthful perennial springs, rich pastures, quantities of fish in the pure waters, wild fruits, berries and nuts, abundant deer, bear, turkeys and other wild game necessary to sustain man in a savage state, much coveted by the Indian tribes, and they fought for it with a desperation seldom witnessed in other parts. It was the ancestral home of more than one fierce tribe. At the Piqua Shawnee Indian village, Tecumseh and the Prophet, sons of a Shawnee chief, were born. They became the most famous of the Indian war chiefs, and they waged war on the frontier settlers longer than others of the wild tribes.

Simon Kenton, a spy, guide, scout, hunter, and Indian fighter for forty-five years, resided for a time within the jaresent limits of Springfield.

Within these limits have been held councils with Indians to settle real or pretended grievances, notably one attended by Tecimiseh and other great Indian war chiefs in 1807.

There came to what is now Clark County, as to other parts of the West, some Revolutionary soldiers, bringing with them their patriotism and generally their poverty. Their love of liberty was, however, put in practice, and, by example, these veteran soldiers did much to build up peaceful communities. William Baird (Harmony Township), Merrifield Vicory and Andrew Pinneo (Springfield Township), Abraham Rust (German Township) and AVilliam Holmes (Bethel Township) are of the soldiers of the Revolution who settled, lived and died in Clark County, and who left descendants to honor their names by a life of usefulness. There were, doubtless, others of the Revolutionary War, whose names are unknown to me, who did likewise.

Some of those who were with General Anthony Wayne (Mad Anthony) in his campaign to the IMaumee and in the battle of Fallen Timbers (1794) and at the Treaty of Greenville (1795), and who were in other Indian expeditions, settled and died in Clark County.

In territorial times, and long after the State of Ohio was admitted (1802) into the Union, it was a requirement of law that all able-bodied men within certain ages should muster, at least annually, under officers, generally of their own selection, thus to familiarize them with movements in organized bodies and with arms in their hands. These musters were galadays, and were not always conducted, in the then wild state of society and freedom of habits, with that regard for peace and propriety conducive to military discipline. As the militia were not generally armed, save with their owu rifles, or, for want of them, with sticks and cornstalks, the training in the manual and use of arms for war was little. In time these militia musters fell into disrepute, became un]iopular, and were by common consent discontinued, then abolished by law. Some distinguished citizens had rank in the militia as brigadier-general, notably Samson Mason and Charles Anthonj, both of whom were distinguished lawyers of Spring-field, and each left sons who have served in the United States Armj' in time of war.

Passing, for want of detailed information, too lightly over the worthy pioneers, who almost constantly acted in the semicapacity of soldiers, being on g-uard with rifles in hand, whether in field, at church, or home, to guard against Indian massacres, we go to the history of wars on a large scale.

We must remark that the annals of our yoimg Republic are surpassingly bloody. From Lexington to Appomattox (1775- 1865), almost one year out of five, not counting our constant Indian wars, was, on an average, a year of war.

The incomplete list of names of soldiers and sailors of Clark County of that war is still too long to be here given. Colonel John Dougherty, Major James Neely, Captains John MePherson, Arthur Layton, Samuel Black, Philip Kizer and Samuel Stewart, and Lieutenants William Ward, Nathaniel Williams and William Lamme, of the cavalry and infantry, and Captain Benjamin Hathaway, of the navy, from this county, were in that war; and among others who served from Clark County, principally on the then extreme Western frontier, fighting the English and their savage allies, may be mentioned (Pleasant Township) Charles Botkin, Jonathan and AVilliam Curl, A. McConkey, William H. Hunter, Joseph Coffey, Amos Neer; (Moorefield Township) Horatio Banes, William Hunt, James Foley, John Humphreys, Andrew Hodge, Simon Kenton, and Abraham Yeazell; (Pike Township) Andrew Black, James Black, Obediah Lippencott, James Fuller, Thomas Staft"ord; (German Township) Benjamin Frantz, G. Gard, David Kizer (father of Thomas Kizer, long County Surveyor of Clark County), Jacob Kiblinger, David Jones, Benjamin Morris, John Ross, John Pence, John, Philip, and Samuel Baker; (Bethel Township) Elnathan Cory, James and Jonathan Donnell, John Forgy, Jacob Fross, William Hustler, John Hay, Peter Sheets, William Layton, Benjamin P. Gaines, Abraham Smith, George Lowman, David Lowry, W. G. Serviss, Michael Minnick, William Crawford, John Paul (supposed to be the first settler of this county), John Wallace, Sr., Hugh Wallace, and Henry Williams; (Springfield Township) Louis Bancroft, John Kelly (father of Oliver S. Kelly, a successful manufacturer, now an honored citizen of Springfi.eld), Samuel Lisle, David Hughes, Jo-- seph Keifer (father of J. Warren Kei^ fer). William Minach, J. W. Ross (killed at the Battle of Thames), Andrew Pinneo (probably the same who served in the Revolution), and Nathan Reddish; (Harmony Township) John and Peter Baird, Hamilton Busby, William Foreman, John Judy, Edward Rice, Nathan Smith, William Osborn and Jacob dinger; (Madison Township) Conrad Critz, Isaac Davidson, Phili]i Hedrick, Enoch Jones, John

McCollum, aud David Vance; (Greene Township) George and Samuel Albin, Jacob Garlough, Thomas Mills, John T. Stewart (father of Captain Perry Stewart, of the Civil War), 0. S. Stewart, George Sroufe, James Todd, Joseph Weller, and Benjamin Whiteman; (Mad River Township) Melyn Baker, Samuel Davis, Richard Hughel, Daniel Mead, Daniel Jenkins, and Rule Peterson.

We have named but few, for as many as five hundred are reported to have enlisted in the War of 1812 from Clark County, and many more who served honorably in that war, later settled in the county and were of its best citizens. Among whom were Archibald Mitchell (father of Captain James A. Mitchell, killed in the Civil War), the ancestor of distinguished soldiers of later wars ; also Adam Rockel,* Benjamin Wilson, Peter Sager, William Donovan (buried at Bethel Church), and Christian Overhalt-

The enlistments from Clark Coimty for the Mexican War - a war to acquire territory to devote to slavery - were but few, Andrew F. Biddle and Edward Boggs, George Cox, Isaiah Cheney, Daniel Harsh, and Adam Evans are of the number. Vincent Nowotay and others who served in that war later settled in the county. Captain Simon H. Drum, a graduate of West Point, appointed from Springfield, was killed fighting a battery of the Fourth Artillery, IT. S. A., just inside of Belen Gate (Garita de Belen) in the final assault and capture of the

The number of residents of Clark County who, as officers, soldiers and sailors in the regular and volunteer service, joined the army or navy on the Union side in the Civil War, and who, having joined from other places, afterward became residents of the county, can only be apiDroximately estimated. This number will reach about twenty-five hundred and fifty (2550), not counting double enlistments. Those included in this number who enlisted elsewhere will hardly exceed the large number, residents of the county, who were credited elsewhere, still leaving about 2550, the actual number of residents of the county who joined the army or navy in that war. Some of these were found in the regular anny or navy, but for the most part they belonged to volunteer organizations, principally the following :

Captain Edwin C. Mason's company, enlisted here within twenty-four hours after President Lincoln's first call for volunteers (April 15, 1861), became Company F of the Second Ohio Infantry (three months), and it fought under Captain David King at the first Bull Run (July 21, 1861) and many from this county served with the regiment in the Southwest in the three-years' sei-vice. Edwin C. Mason later became Colonel of the Seventh Maine, then still later of the One

Hundred and Seventy-sixth Ohio. He was appointed (1861) captain in the regular army, and was retired a few years before his death with the i"ank of Colonel and brevet brigadier-general. Mason distinguished himself in the Civil War, then in the Modoc Indian War.

Captain James R. Ambrose, of this city, commanded a company in the Second Ohio in the three-years' service. This regiment did much heavy fighting and hard campaigning.

Captain James C. Vananda enlisted here, about April 20, 1861, what became Company D, Third Ohio Volunteer Infantiy, a three-months and three-years regiment. This company fought at Rich Mountain (July 11, 1861), in about the first battle of the war; at Elk Water and Cheat Mountain, in West Virginia, and cami^aigned and fought in Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama, notably at Perrysville, Kentucky (October 8, 1862), and at Stone's River, Tennessee, and it was captured on the Streight raid in Alabama in 1863.

Captain William H. Wade (since for several terms in Congress from Missouri) took from this county Company K, Thirty-first Ohio Infantry, and it saw much hard service and fighting in bloody campaigns and battles, principally in the Southwest, including Corinth, Perrysville and Stone's River (1862), Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge (1863), and the Atlanta campaign, etc., in 1864.

This regiment was organized on this Fair Ground in 1861, and it contained many Clark County men (Hugh Blair Wilson, its Lieutenant-Colonel, was of S])ringfield), and it saw service in West Virginia, Kentucky- and Tennessee. Later it became the Eighth Ohio Cavalry, and as such served with distinction in Virginia campaigns and battles. Major Charles H. Evans was of this regiment; also Lieutenant-Colonel August Dotze.

Captain Philip Kershner took a Springfield company into the Sixteenth Ohio Infantry, where it saw much service in West Virginia and in the Southwest, participating in many battles and sieges. This regiment came to be commanded by Colonel John D'Courcey, of royal English blood, afterward sitting in the House of Lords as Lord Kinsale.

The Seventy-First Ohio was organized in 1861. Colonel Rodney Mason, of Springfield, was its first commander. Company I, commanded by Captain Sol J. Houck, was organized in this county. Captain William S. Wilson (New Carli-sle), now of Spring-field, commanded a company in this regiment. It fought at Shiloh and in many battles and campaigns under Grant and Sherman.

Companies A and G of this regiment were of Clark Connty, commanded respectively by Captains Perry Stewart and Charles C. Gibson. David King (once of the Second Ohio) was first Major, then Lientenant-Colonel of this regiment. Captain Amaziah Winger succeeded Captain Stewai't in the command of Company A. Lieutenants Hezekiah Kershner and Henry C. Cushman were of this company; also George and Eobert N. Elder, Jacob A. Hinkle, Richard Leedle and other excellent soldiers and citizens. Nathan M. ]\IeConkey succeeded Gibson as Captain of Company G. George W. Wilson (since a distinguished lawyer, London, Ohio, and two terms in Congress) was a First Lieutenant in Company G of this regiment. The regiment fought in Kentucky and Tennessee (1862-1863) and was in Sherman's Atlanta campaign and with his army from "Atlanta to the Sea" (1864) ; then marched and fought up the Atlantic coast through the Caroliaas and to the end of the rebellion.

This regiment (Colonel J. Warren Keifer) had two companies (I and C) under Captains lAither Brown and Nathan S. Smith enlisted from Clark County. They saw much service in the Virginias and in Maryland, and participated in many battles and campaigns. The regiment was in the battles at Winchester, and in New York City to put down riots and to enforce the draft, and in the battle of Orange Grove, Virginia (1863) ; and it was in the Wilderness campaign under Meade and Grant; in the battle of Monocacy, and under Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley (1864), and it was engaged in the sieges of Richmond and Petersburg; in the last assaults at the latter place, and it fought and participated in the last general field battle (Sailor's Creek) and campaign of the war, resulting in the surrender of Lee at ApiDomattox, April 9, 1865. Captain William A. Hathaway, of this county, was killed and buried at Monocacy. Captain Thomas J. Weakley (now of Dayton) was of Company I.

This (a six-months regiment) was commanded by Colonel Howard D. John, of this county. Its Company C was commanded by Cajitain Richard Montjoy. William J. Irwin and Charles Anthony were Lieutenants in that company; Charles H. Pierce was its orderly sergeant. These and others of that company are well known as of our best citizens. This regiment performed valuable and hard service, and did fighting, chiefly (1863) at and about Cumberland Gap, Kentucky.

officered from Clark County about May 2, 1864, and Thomas W. Bownwas its Major. Captain Alfred Miller, First Lieutenant Thomas E. Stewart and Second liieutenant Harvey H. Tuttle were the officers of Company I), and Captain Alfred Bown, First Lieutenant Valentine Newman and Second Lieutenant, Elijah G. Coffin wei-e tire officers of Company I. The officers and men of these companies were mostly from South Charleston and vicinity, and their service was mainly at Fayetteville, West Virginia.

In this regiment were a part of the one hundred days men from Clark County, who patriotically responded (May, 1864) to an emergency call for troops. Many of our citizens wont to the field under this call. This regiment saw hard service and did good campaigning in Virginia and West Virginia. It was in the memorable Hunter raid, up the Shenandoah Valley in June, 1864. Captains Asa S. Bushnell and Charles A. Welch each commanded companies (E and K) from Clark County in this regiment. Benjamin H. Warder was a first lieutenant in K Company. In E Company were A. P. Linn Cochran, John C. Miller, Clifton M. Nichols and George C. Rawlins, together with others of our most distinguished citizens.

Colonel Israel Stough (once (!a]itaiu Forty-Fourth Ohio), from Clark County, commanded this (a hundred day) regiment, whieli was organized in May, 1864.

on the same call with the One Hundred and Fifty-Second, and, like it, contained many of the county's best citizens. Captains James I. McKinney and Harrison C. Cross commanded companies (E and F) made up of men of this county. The regiment did duty along the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. -A detachment of it engaged the enemy at Hammack's Mills, North River, West Virginia, and was captured; some were held as prisoners, and a few died in Andersonville, Georgia, and Florence, Alabama, prisons.

This battery was enlisted and mustered in (1861) from Clark County. It was commanded by Captain James A. Mitchell, of Springfield, who descended from the Revolutionary and War of 1812 soldier stock, already mentioned. This battery served principally along the Mississippi. Captain Mitchell lost his life in the Vieksburg campaign (Champion Hill) wliile serving under Grant.

In this company served Lieutenant Edward H. Funston (since a Representative for several terms in Congress from Kansas), of New Carlisle, the father of now Brigadier-General Frederick Funston, U. S. A., famed for, among other things, the recent capture of Aguinaldo in the Philippine Islands. General Funston was born in New Carlisle, this county, his mother being a Mitchell.

Hunt, Jr., Absalom H. Matt ox and Jeremiah Yeazell, of the county, wex'e its oCficers. This loattery campaigTied and fou.^ht chiefly down the Mississippi, at Arkansas Post, on the Vieksburg campaign, and at Mobile, Alabama.

When Cincinnati was threatened (September, 1862) by the Kirby Smith raid, Clark County furnished her full share of those patriotic citizens who, without military training and poorly armed, rushed to camp and were thence taken to Cincinnati to aid in the defense of that then imperiled city. Among those who thus went to war were the most estimable and prominent of our citizens.

At one time (1864) during the Civil "War, three-fourths of the men of the required age, fit for duty, and above fifty per centum of the voting population of Clark County were in the military and naval service of the United States.

There were many who enlisted in the Union Army from other places, even other states, who, after serving valiantly in the Civil War, came to live among us. These we love to adopt, honor and claim as our own. Colonels R. L. Kilpatrick, Aaron Spangler (One Hundred and Tenth Ohio), James E. Stewart (each now deceased), and Captains Edward L. Buchwalter and R. A. Starkey and Rev. George H. Fullerton, D. D. (Chaplain First Ohio Infantry) are among this number.

Captain Ralph Hunt, early in 1861, enlisted in Clark County what became Company C of the First Kentucky Infantry, in which it performed heroic and valuable service in many battles and campaigns in West Virginia and in the Southwest.

Others, as officers, soldiers and sailors, of Clark County's sons served with great credit in volunteer organizations not mentioned, and in the regular army and navy. Of those from Clark County who were disting-uished as surgeons, may be mentioned Majors Henry H. Seys, of the Third and Fifteenth, and John H. Rodgers, of the Forty-fourth and One Hundred and Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry regiments, still living.

There have been at least two sons of Springfield who have, through education and distinguished services, reached high rank in the United States Navy.

Reed Werden and Joseph N. Miller each graduated at the Naval Academy, each served with distinction on many seas and in the Civil War, and each was rewarded with the rank of Reai'-Admiral.

Admiral Werden also did good service in the Mexican War (1846-1848) and Admiral ]\Iiller in the Spanish War (1898) ; the former died in 1886, and the latter is still living.

Others of Springfield who were graduated at the Naval Academy hold good rank and deserve mention for their high attainments and successful career. Lieutenant Clarence Williams, now in the United States Navy, is of this number.

A number from the county have been graduated at West Point, but none, however, have reached high rank in the army. One, John (Jack) Williamson, was graduated in the same class with U. S. Grant, and he shortly after enjoyed at his home here a personal visit from Lieutenant U. S. Grant, since the most distinguished soldier of any age. Williamson resigned from the army and died comparatively young.

We do not pretend to exhaust the list of men from Clark County, who fairly won lasting fame in the military and naval service. Among the rank and file were some of the best and bravest; and the Ohio rule of claiming great men applies to Clark County. All persons born or who have ever lived in the county, however short the time, and regai'dless of where they lived, when, or the circumstances under which they reached distinction, are, under this rule, Clark County men.

From Big Bethel to Appomattox, wherever bloody sacrifices were to be made, on river, sea or land, men of Clark County were found ready to make them.

They fought and fell under McClellan, Rosecrans, McDowell, Thomas, Sheridan, Sherman, Meade and Grant, and under the many other equally brave commanders of the Union Army. These volunteer citizen-soldiers shed their blood at Bull Rim (1861-1862), at Antietam, at Winchester (1862-1863), at Gettysburg, Orange Grove (1863), and in the many other large and small engagements in Virginia and on the eastern theatre of war prior to 1864; and they fought and died at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, New Orleans, luka, Corinth, Perrysville, Stone's River (1862), Vicksburg, Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain (above the clouds), Chickamauga, Knoxville (1863), Resaca, Kenesaw, Peach Tree Creek, Jonesboro, and in the battles around Atlanta and on the march from Atlanta to the sea; at Franklin and Nashville, and on other sanguinary and bloody fields in the West and Southwest (1864) ; again, in the East, in the battles of the Wilderness, at Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor and around Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia; at Monocacy, Maryland; Opequon, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, in the Shenandoah Valley (1864), and at Five Forks and in the assaults on the fortifications and over the ramparts around Richmond and Petersburg; at Bentonville, N. C. ; at Sailor's Creek (the last general field engagement of the Civil War) ; at Appomattox and Mobile (1865), and on the hundreds of other fields of carnage, all to preserve the integrity of the Union of Washington and his patriot compeers of the Revolution of 1776, and the Constitution, resulting, under the providence of God, in destroying slavery (the curse of the ages) in our Republic, where it had existed for two hundred and fifty years.

The number of soldiers and sailors of the Civil War from the county, killed or who died of wounds and disease contracted in the service, cannot be ascertained. For the most part they were buried where they fell, and many were subsequently transferred to National Cemeteries. In each of these cemeteries will be found the names of soldiers or sailors from this county, marked by a grateful

I have seen a fairly complete list of such dead, showing the names of about one hundred and seventy buried in Bethel Township; about one hundred and sixty in Madison Township, and I have seen only an imperfect list from Mad River Township. From other townships no lists have been accessible to me.

A still incomplete list of fifty soldiers buried in Greenmount Cemetery, Springfield, shows many once familiar names of worthy men, among whom I can here mention only Lieutenant Jerry Klinefelter, Major James C. Vananda, Captains William R. Monroe and David Sparks ; a like incomplete list of about two hundred soldiers and sailors buried in Ferneliff Cemetery shows still other familiar, heroic names, among which are : Lieutenant- Colonel E. M. Doty, Colonel Howard D. John, Colonel J. P. Sanderson, Major Luther Brown, Major Andrew J. Williams (U. S. A.), Captains Hezekiah Winger, Levi M. Rinehart, W. P. Cummings (IT. S. A.), W. A. Stewart, Thomas P. Clarke and William H. Drum, U. S. A. (killed at City of Mexico), and General Edwin C. Mason, TT. S. A.

The soldiers buried in Clark County belonged to many of the volunteer regiments of the Union Army; to many independent companies or batteries, and to the regular army or navy, and to all arms of the service ; generally they died where they fell or in military hospitals of wounds received in battle, or of disease contracted in war service; some, there buried, died of starvation in Southern prisons. They signify the full measure of self-sacrificing loyalty, heroism, supreme effort, suffering and death, entailing upon family and friends an untold measure of sacrifice, suffering and sorrow.

Have not the good people of Springfield and Clark County patriotically performed their highest duty to establish, preserve, perpetuate and advance the cause of political and civil liberty in our whole country?

Without the bloody sacrifices and heroic achievements of the Civil War, by which human slavery was overthrown and the rights of man were up-built, and the spirit of Christian love was more universally spread throughout the civilized nations of the earth, a war for humanity (Spanish War) would not have been possible.

On the call (1898) of President William McKinley for volunteers for the war to compel Spain to surrender her sovereignty over Cuba, because of her long-continued inhumanity to its inhabitants (Spanish subjects), Springfield and Clark County contributed their full share of soldiers and sailors, and many more of their young men were impatient because they were not accepted. Colonel Charles Anthony commanded the Third Ohio Volunteen Infantry in the Spanish War.

Captain William H. Bradbury's company (Ohio National Guard) became Company B, of the Third, and Captain Horace E. Smith's became Company E, of the Tenth Ohio Volunteer Tnfantiy; Captain

E. E. Eudd's became Company A, Ninth Battalion (colored) of Infantry, and a section of Company - , Second United States Volunteer Engineers (Lieutenant Arthur Balentine) also went from this county. Large numbers of others went to the Spanish War from this county, as officers and soldiers or sailors in the army or navy, joining other organizations or the volunteer staff departments. Carl K. Mower became a Captain and Commissary of Subsistence and served with credit in Porto Rico and elsewhere ; later he became Captain in the Forty-First United States Volunteers and served with distinction in the Philippine Island, and he now holds an appointment in the United States Army.

Horace C. Keifer was ajipointed ( Jvme, 1898) by the President a Captain in the Third United States Volunteer Engineers, and he performed, by assignment of the War Department, the duties of an aide (often other stat¥ duties) on the staff of Major-General J. Warren Keifer, in Florida, Georgia and Cuba, for about one year. Many of the Spanish War soldiers, and others of the county, enlisted in volunteer organizations in 1899 for service in the Philippines, and they have there performed excellent and hard service; some went into the regular army and others into the United States Navy.

In the above eleven years of war (excluding all Indian wars) of the nineteenth century, Clark County has valiantly borne her full part in bearing the flag of our country to victory on land and sea. No sacrifice has been too great for her citizens to willingly make. We may be justly proud and boastful of Clai-k

County's war history, and we can feel sure that if exigencies arise which again bring war, that, inspired by high and worthy example, her sons will valorously do their duty in a just cause, in upholding our blood-baptized stars and stripes, long so sacredly emblematic of organized liberty to mankind.

With all the significant things accomplished at the cost of blood and treasure in the nineteenth century, future generations will not be contented to "mark time" over the grave of the past, but, inspired by the great deeds and discoveries and progress made manifest to them, will "quick step" forward and attain to yet other, higher, more useful and better things.

Would to God we could foretell the events and the progress of the twentieth century, and write with the pen of prophecy Spring-field's history as it will be on her second centennial.

Thus, briefly and imperfectly, we have presented you Clark County's military history, believing it equal, all things considered, to that of any other county in this State or Nation.

[In the adfh-pss delivered by General Keifer he has modpstlv refrained from speaking of himself, save in a brief foot note, yet he is the most conspicuous ng"re in the military history of our county, and should, therefore, have 'some notice in this volume. At the outbreak of I he war. in ISC.l. General Keifer was a lawyer in Sprinsfield. having been admitted to the bar in JS.'iS. Tie volunteered at the beginning of the war and was appointed Major of the Third Ohio ^ olunteer Infnntrv. In the first year of the war he was in a iiiiinlMi- of iKifilfS in West Virginia. In February T^i'- li" \Na-i made Lieutenant-Colonel and was on activr .Intv in Kentucky and other states. In September. ISllL'.' he was appointed Colonel of the One nently successful. He became a member of the State Senate for two years ; was sent to tbe National House of Representatives for four terms, and during the third term served as Speaker. At the outbrealj of the Spanish War he was appointed a Major-General, and faithfully discharged the duties assigned him. General Keifer is a conspicuous figure in all that pertains to the welfare of our city. - Editor Springfield Centennial.]

Since the above was written, Capt. Carl K. Mower received a commission in tlie regular army and served but a short time in that capacity dying suddenly in the spring of 1904. The prospects of a brilliant military career were thus cut off in the early decease of this well-known young man of our county. His death was a severe blow to his father, then Common Pleas Judge, who survived him but a few months.

Chapter Xv

Bethel Township occupies the southwestern part of the county west of Mad Eiver. It is bounded on the west by its southern extremity for a distance of two miles by Montgomery County, and thence for a distance of seven miles by Miami County. On the north are Pike and German Townships; on the east a neck of Springfield Township, and diagonally in a -southwesteiTi direction it is bounded by Mad River. It might not be an unjust comparison with the other townships to say that it has a higher per cent of exceedingly fertile land than any other 'ownship in the county and has more of fwhat might be termed bottom land. As before said, along its entire southeastern side it has the valley of Mad River of varying width, then Donnels Creek, which goes through the township north and south near Donnelsville. About one mile and a half west is Jackson Creek, likewise extending through the township. In the southwestern part is Mud Creek.

Honey Creek enters the township to the northeast of New Carlisle, circulating around that village to the south and west, and flowing thence into Miami County. Along this stream is some exceedingly fertile land.

Along the Mad River Valley down towards Medway and in some other parts of the township a considerable quantity of tobacco is grown. Up along the National Road and the old Carlisle Pike the growing of berries of various kinds forms quite an industry. Elsewhere the staple crops are grown. The township has three villages of considerable importance - New Carlisle in the western part, Donnelsville toward the central eastern portion along the National Road, and Medway in the southern part. (See Villages.)

River Valley Pike, built in 1847, and extending east and west and north, of the central part of the township, is what is known as the old Carlisle Pike. These roads are the principal thoroughfares to the City of Spring-field. There are about forty miles of public roads in the township. The township is provided with other roads of good quality. The Indianapolis branch of the Big Four extends through the township, having its principal stopping place at New Carlisle, and the Springfield & Dayton Traction Company have a branch from their head lines at Medway, extending to New Carlisle, the main branch following the Valley pike to Medway, thence across the river to Osborn. These are all the railroads in the township. The Dayton branch of- the Big Foiir and of the N. Y. P. & 0. R. R. are just across the river in Mad River Township. There are no manufacturing industries of any particular importance in the township at this time. Formerly the mills along Mad River formed an industry of their own kind, to wit, distilling whiskey and making flour, the plentiful growth of timber also furnishing material for various sawmills and cooper shops. (See Mills.)

This township claims the distinction of having had the earliest settlers, as the former Indian village of Piqua and the later one of Boston were in its territory.

It is laid out into three voting precincts designated by the name of the three prominent villages of the township. Notwithstanding the fact that it has these three villages, its population has not increased very rapidly in the last half century.

The following table shows the number of acres, and the assessed valuation of the real estate and personal property of the township as divided into school districts :

Bethel Township has at all times been either Whig or Republican in politics, except that in 1848 Cass had a majority. Lincoln carried the township by two hundred, and it has continued substantially Republican to about that extent. The Donnelsville precinct, however, is more Democratic than the others.

The date of the first settlement of Bethel Township is somewhat obscure, but from indubitable evidence we are able to say that John Paul was living at the forks of Honey Creek in 1790, and that some evidence points just as clearly to an earlier period. Relatives still remember hearing Mr. Paul speak of crossiag the Ohio River at the point where Cincinnati now stands, before any settlement was made there ; that his father was killed by the Indians soon after crossing the river. The remainder of the family escaped. The same night Mr. Paul went back, found the body of his father (which had been scalped), and buried it. Mr. Paul wandered on with the rest of the family, himself the eldest, a brother and sister, they making their final stop on what is now part of Section 29. Mr. Paul died in 1853, aged ninety years. The older citizens well remember that the habits of caution and care necessarily acquired in the dangerous times, remained with him as long as he lived.

David Lowry was the next settler in the township. He was bom in Pennsylvania in 1767, and in 1795 he settled in Section 3, Bethel Township. He afterwards bought the whole of Section 14, which he sold and then entered land in Section 9, where J. E. Lowry now lives. He was married in 1801 to Sarah Hammer, of Miami County, Ohio, who died in 1810, leaving four children, viz., Sarah, Nancy, Susan and Elizabeth. All are now dead but Susan, who is the wife of John Leffel. In 1811, he married Mrs. Jane Hodge, whose maiden name was Wright, by whom he had four children - Martha S., David W., Robert M. and Sarah R., all are now living. He died September 9, 1859, and his widow followed him to the grave August 15, 1867. He was a robust, enterprizing Christian pioneer, and did much toward the growth and civilization of his adopted county.

Jonathan Donnels. a native of Lveoming County, Penn., was the companion of David Lowry, and was a surveyor. He settled on Section 33, where Leander Baker now lives, in 1795. In 1797 he returned to Pennsylvania, brought out his brother James, who was then but eight years old, but was a great help to him in his cabin. Jonathan married and was the father of five children, of whom John moved to Oregon, where he died; Jonathan is living in Iowa ; Elizabeth married George Layton; and Lucinda, who also married and moved to Michigan. Mr. Donnels' last years were embittered by family troubles, and, in a fit of temporary insanity he hung himself on the Holcomb limekiln (now Moo res) farm in Springfield Township, whither he had moved after selling his old home. He was a man of sterling traits of character, generous and whole-souled, and was very well read for those early days, and was indeed one of the noblest of Clark County's pioneers. His brother, James Donnels, who came in 1797, grew up under his care and married Mary Hopkins, settling where John Leffel formerly lived. He had eight children, among whom we may mention as the latest sui'vivors - Susan, the wife of .Jesse Boyd ; Eliza, the wife of Lewis Huffman; and Jonathan. ]Mr. Donnels moved to the northeast corner of Spring-field Township; thence to the .Jesse Boyd farm in Harmony Township; and finally to the farm where his son Jonathan formerly resided, and which is now owned by E. O. Bowman, where he and his wife died.

Hugh Wallace was born in Kentucky Augaist 14. 1778, came to Bethel Township about 1798, and began working for David Lowry, with whom he stayed several years. He was married to Margaret

Smith, who died in 1814, and he then married Eleanor Richison, who was born in the Northwest Territory in 1793, and had nine children, seven yet living. He was in the war of 1812, and died in 1864. His widow died in 1875.

Joseph Tatman was born in Virginia in 1770, and his wife Rebecca in North Carolina in 1772. They came to Brown County, Ohio, in 1798, and, in 1801, to this township. He was appointed Associate Judge after the county was organized, and held that oflPce several years. He was also a member of the Legislature. They had thirteen children. He died in 1827, and his wife in 1864.

Jacob Huffman, a native of Pennsylvania, settled in the eastern corner of the township in 1802. He died December 1, 1842, aged seventy-two years, and his wife Catherine, died in August, 1866, aged eighty years. They had ten children who grew up - five yet living, viz., Henry, Reuben, Martha, Rachael and Samuel. He built a fine stone house which is yet standing and is now the property of Mrs. J. A. Myers.

George Croft was born in Pennsylvania in 1771, and was married in Virginia, in 1799, to Mary Critz, of that State. In 1804 they came to Bethel Township with two children, and seven were born to them afterward. Mrs. Croft died in February, 1846, and her husband, after remarrying, died in October, 1855. George Croft and family, from Virginia, in 1808, settled near the valley pike. He began distilling, and kept it up for forty years. Two sons assisted the father at that business, and George, a cripple, picked up a knowledge of shoemaking and went from house to

Thomas Cory was born in Essex County, N. J., in 1738. He came to Ohio in a very early day, and settled in Warren County, whence he came to Bethel Townsliip, this county, in 1803, bringing his son Elnathan, with whom he lived until his death in 1813.

Elnathan Cory was bom in Essex County, N. J., January, 1776. He came to this township with his father in 1803, and entered the northwest quarter of Section 34. During the war of 1812, he was an extensive contractor for furnishing the Government with army supplies. He married Hannah Jennings in June, 1800, and by her had eleven children, of whom eight lived to adult age - Judge David J. Cory, Eliza Miller, Rhoda W. Cross and Sarah Smith, and three died in infancy. Mrs. Cory died August 20, 1834, and her husband June 8, 1842.

Abraham Brooks Rail was born in Essex County, N. J., September 9, 1776, and, at the age of eleven years, ran away from home with an expedition bound to Western Pennsylvania. Tn 1789, he went to Cincinnati, where he worked with his uncle in a mill for three years, when he commenced learning the brick-layer's trade. In 1798, he returned to his Eastern home, where he married Elizabeth Lambert. In October, 1804, he again came to Cincinnati with his wife and one child, and, in the December following, came to this township, where he entered the northwest quarter of Section 33. He continued to- work at his trade during the summer months until 1825, when he retired to the quiet of his fann. He had eleven children,

William Layton, with a large family of children - Joseph, Robert, Arthur, John, Williajn, Jr., Polly, Sally and Betsey - came to this township in 1803, settling in Section 2, on the Mad River, not far from the mouth of Donnels' Creek. He was a Pennsylvanian, and died on that fann. The descendants of this family are among the most prominent people of the county, Joseph having been judge of the court, John being one of tlie first clerks of the county and a county commissioner, and John E., the son of John, was sheriff from 1856 to 1860.

Henry Williams and his wife, Elizabeth, came from Virginia with four children in 1805, and settled on the land formerly occupied by their son. Rev. Henry Williams, the father of J. C. AVilliams." They had nine children, five of whom were born after they came to this county. Mr. Williams was a soldier in 1812, and died in 1845, his wife having died in 1820.

George Keifer was born in Maryland in 1769, and was there married, in 1799, to Margaret Hivner, a native of that state, born in 1772. They came to tlais townshi]! in 1811 and bought a large tract of land, which was the birthplace of Tecumseh, the noted Indian chief. They had five children - Mary, Sarah, John, Catherine and Joseph (father of General J. Warren Keifer), who all grew up on this farm, and here the parents died, leaving descendants who have since become prominent in county, state and national atfair.s.

Forgy and Presly Forgy came in 1806. Their father, John Forgy, came much earlier and settled in Mad River Township. Samuel McKinuey came about the same time; he was a prominent music teacher in the early times. In about 1803 came John Wallace, Sr., from Kentucky; he was the father of James Wallace, many years a prominent merchant, and Dr. Joseph Wallace, late of Springfield. Leonard Hains, Reuben Wallace and John Crain, Sr., came first to the county in 1802, and settled in Bethel in 1806. George Lowman came in 1810; the nest year he built the "stone house," which for many years was a wonder, and the only house other than wood in the western part of the county. Joseph Reyburn, AVilliam Holmes, John Crue, Abraham Keever, Joseph Butler, Edward Riggs, Oliver Walker, William McCoy, Jacob Bingerman, Benjamin Pursell, John Jackson, Jacob Loofborow, John Whalen, Ezekiel Paramee, all came to Bethel prior to 1810. This list is doubtless incomplete, as at this late day it is impossible to get a full account of the early times.

Among the old settlers who came later than the above, mention might be made of the following and their places of settlement: Jacob Funderburg, on Section 9; John Richinson, on Section 9, and Jacob Leffel, who settled on Section 17 about 1817. He was a native of Virginia, and had a large family, two of whom, John and Peter, notv deceased, resided in Bethel To-miship, and James in Si)ringfield. Jacob had the following brothers: Samuel, Daniel, Anthony, John, James P. and Thomas, who have all left descendants in this coimty, who are well known and respected: in fact, LefPel is a name that is a household word throughout the state, having gained a world-wide celebrity from the invention of the turbine water-wheel by James Letfel, who was long a resident of Springfield, and who died in 1865.

William Taylor and family, from Pennsylvania, settled in Bethel in 1795. The family consisted of his wife, Susan, and eleven children - five boys and six girls. Taylor bought three or four sections of land, and gave each of his family a farm. Daniel, a son, was a noted hunter, and it is said that during their first winter, himself, father and oldest brother killed over four hundred deer. John Husted, a Virginian, arrived at Bethel about 1808, with a large family of boys and girls. The old man followed farming. Soloman Husted. a son, was one of the most skillful gunsmitlis in the country, and men came thirty to forty miles to have gnans made for them. Moses, another son, was a chopper of cord-wood all his life, and it would have been in order to find that he died on a log. Michael Miunick located south of what is now Donnelsville ; he had three sons ; one was a carpenter, and built, in 1825, the house in which Mrs. Minnick resides.

Henry Brandenburgh, a settler on Jackson Creek about 1812, was the second distiller in Bethel. He was a trader in flour and bacon, and made several trips to dispose of his wares in the New Orleans market. Joseph McKinney and family located in 1804 or 1805 on the line of the National Boad west of Donnelsville. Most of the families thus briefly noticed were more or less related, and formed a scattered colony.

in 1796, and entered on a hunter's life. He owned no land, and was regarded as a Western Arab, spending his time in the forest and visiting the settlement to disl^ose of furs and obtain supplies of ammunition. John, James and William Lamme settled between Medway and Donnelsville.

As before stated, probably the first settlements in the coimty were made in this township, there being a probability of a French settlement at Piqua, but even confining our investigations to white settlers, we find that John Paul came to Honey Creek in 1790. He had the distinction of being the first white settler of this county, so far as is known. The probabilities are that the first mill on Mad River was built at Medway. The first schoolhouse was built as early as 1805'. John Layton was the first Justice of the Peace, elected in 1804 and held office until 1830. Among the early marriages performed by him was that of Joseph Keifer to Mary Smith. This was the marriage of General J. Warren Keifer 's parents.

Silas Trumbo was born in Virginia in 1812, came to this township in 1814 and lived here until his death a few years ago. He was the father of J. B. Trumbo and kept a store in Donnelsville for many vears.

Findlay Sliartle was born in Montgomery County in 1821, and came to Bethel Township in March 1831, settling in what is now known as Shartle's Hills, below Medway. He died a few years ago at an advanced age.

Christian Brosey, who is still residing near Medway, was bom in Germany in 1831 and came to Clark County in 1841. J. C. Williams, a prominent resident of this township, is the son of Henry and Ellen Williams and was born seventy years ago south of New Carlisle and has resided in the township all his life. The late Judge H. H. Williams, of Troy, was his brother, as was also E. S. Williams, who served as a member of Congress from the district in which Troy was at that time located. Mr. J. C. Williams was recently mayor of New Carlisle.

J. V. Forgy was born in this township two miles south of New Carlisle and now resides in the village of New Carlisle, being connected with the bank there. His date of birth is March 4, 1833.

Martin Snider was a long time resident of this township, his farm being near Donnelsville station on the Big Four. He was born in York County in 1812, and died about the year 1903. His brother, Samuel, likewise a long time resident, died a few years later.

William Wise was born in IMontgomery County in 1840. Was a son of Felix and Martha Wise. William lives near Medway, Ohio, and has been Justice of the Peace for thirty or more years.

Daniel Hertzler was formerly a wellknown citizen of this township, residing on a farm lately occupied by Tj. J. M. Baker. He was murdered there in the

Bethel Township has furnished a fair proportion of the public officials of this county in early times. Reuben Wallace was a member of the Ohio Legislature. William Gr. Serviss and Joseph Tatman were each associate judges. Dr. Benjamin Neff was a member of the legislature. John E. Layton, sheriff; Stephen B. Williams, treasurer, and William E. Lamme, county commissioner. At a later date D. Q. Cory, J. J. Scarff, J. B. Trumbo and J. B. Crain served in that capacity.

J. E. Lowry, who served one year by appointment, will take his position as a regularly elected official in the position of county commissioner this fall.

People of this township pride themselves a good deal upon the fact that General Keifer is a native, and recently they have felt proud of the distinction and honors conferred upon General Fred H. Funston, who was born in the village of New Carlisle. Ed. H. Funston, his father, was a member of the legislature of Kansas, having been a former resident of that place.

John S. Raybourn, a former member of Congress of Pennsylvania and now mayor of Philadelphia, is a native of New Carlisle, and, as before mentioned. Judge Williams, of Miami County, and his brother, E. S. Williams, were also natives.

Dr. Young, in Beers' History, has given very extended notice of the churches of this township, to which I am indebted for much that is herein given.

The Christian Church at New Carlisle was probably the first of its kind that was established north of Dayton. The time of its formation is not known exactly, but it was probably as early as 1800. The building in the village was erected about 1827. Among the early pastors were Revs. Stackhouse, Worley, Purveyance, McCoy, Potter, Symonton, Baker, Reeder and latterly Isaac N. Walker, William H. Daugherty, McClain, Curley, T. W. Mc- Kinney, Prof. A. L. McKinney, J. G. Bishop and present pastor Rev. Thomas Week. This church has a long and interesting history.

The Presbyterian Church, or Honey Creek Church, as it was called at an early date, was also one of the land-marks of the early times. There was occasional preaching here prior to the time the church was erected. The first meeting- house was built of logs in the cemetery south of New Carlisle about 1815. There the cougregation continued to worship until 1828, when the present building was erected in the village. This building was remodeled in 1866. Rev. A. Steele was pastor until 1831 ; Rev. William Gray until 1841; Rev. E. R. Johnson until 1862; then came Rev. Lusk, Rev. Gr. Beatty, Rev. B. Graves, Rev. Thomas, Rev. G. M. Haerr, Rev. H. P. Corry. The present pastor is Rev. Dr. Wood.

The best information at hand is to the effect that the Methodists began to have meetings in this neighborhood at the house of Giles Thomas as early as 1812. A small church was built on the southwest corner of Pike and Jackson Streets, and the present meeting-house was erected in 185.3, and improved in 1869.

Among the early pastors may be mentioned William Rapper, James Findlay, George Maley, Joshua Boucher, William Simons, Joseph Lawes. At one time it is said that Lorenzo Dow preached a sermon here. Among other persons who have served as pastors may be mentioned N. W. Newson, Rev. J. McKay Shultz, McDonald, McDowell, Elsworth, Tuff and the present pastor. Rev. J. W. Patton.

The Bai^tist Church was organized sometime prior to 1834. In 1850 a comfortable brick church was erected. In 1864 they purchased the old Presbyterian Chui-ch and refitted it for their own worship.

Since 1898 or '99 a sect calling themselves Saints or Meunonite Brethren in Christ. ha\-e built and sustained a church in this village. The pastors have l^een Rev. Andrew Good, Rev. Jasper Huffman, Rev. G. W. Grimes and Rev. T. A. Scott.

This church was located near the branch of Donnels' Creek, north of Donnelsville. The elders of this denomination convened on April 20, 1822. The first meetings of the church were held in the cabins of the members. In 1836 the question of building a church began to be agitated, and the building was completed in 1837, costing *700. In 1879 it was determined to build a new house, and the present structure was dedicated Januaiy 25, 1880. Elder William Sutton was the first pastor. Hezekiah Smith became pastor in 1824. In 1826 John Guthrie was pastor. He was succeeded by William Tuttle. T. .1. Price, Abram Buckles and Willis Hance, who continued until 1843. In 1844 T. J. Price again became liastor and so continued until 1876. He was succeeded by W. R. Thomas.

This church began to be formed in the spring of ]"S58. David and John Nefif being particularly prominent in its organization. In 1862 John M. Kreider was the regularly ordained minister. The members worshiped in schoolhouses imtil 1867, when they built their church, which is located on the New Carlisle and Dayton Pike, three miles south of New Carlisle. Eevs. Christ. Herr, John Mouck and Christ. Brenner officiated at this church.

This organization was first formed at Donnelsville in 1815 by a meeting at the house of the father of Jeremiah Leffel, who lived about two miles north of the village. Shortly after the village was laid out the congregation erected their church in the village of Donnelsville.

About 1830 members of this denomination tirst met at the house of Jacob Snyder. Later a house was built on the Valley Pike and was known as Croft's Church, because it was on the farm of Geo. Croft, who was instrumental in its erection and support. Sometime in the seventies this congregation erected a substantial and commodious house in the village of Donnelsville.

Superintendent, Alfred Ross; music, Mrs. Viola Dadon ; principal, Ada Koontz ; eighth and ninth grades. Miss Sylvia Timmins; sixth and seventh. Miss Carrie Fissel; fourth and fifth. Miss Stella Soward; second and third, Miss Mary Morris; first grade. Miss Ella Gilbert.

ty, having Pike Township on the west and Moorefiekl Township on the east, Champaign Connty on the north and Springfield and Bethel Townships on the south. Mad River forms a part of its eastern boundary line. It is not known how it received the name of "German." It is supposed, however, that at an early time there was a considerable German population in the township and that this resulted in the name of German. We know that at a comparatively early date there was quite a German settlement in and around Lawrenceville, and almost all the Virginians were of German descent.

A strip of a few miles in width at places along the eastern part is in the Mad River Valley. The remainder of the township is upland, covered originally largely with beech and poplar timber. A ridge of hills leads along the Mad River Valley to these uplands, and after the summit is reached the land is again comparatively level. Some of the most fertile land in the county is found in the Mad River bottom, in and around Tremont and on the uplands west of Lawrenceville.

The Mad River Valley Tunipike was constructed in 1843-7 and goes through the entire township, following the course of Mad River. It was constructed from Dayton to Westville and for a long time was a toll-pike; afterwards the pike leading from Springfield to Lawrenceville and known as the St. Paris Pike was built.

This was likewise for a time a toll-pike. It leads across the long bridge south of Eagle City. Other roads were afterwards constructed under the free turnpike law. All told there are thirty-three miles of roads in the township.

The only railroad is the D. T. & L, wliich follows the Mad River Valley to Tremont City and then goes up along Chapman's Creek. The S. T. & P. traction runs through Lawrenceville and west to Northampton.

The township is divided into two voting precincts, Lawrenceville and Tremont City. The political complexion of the township is Democratic, and, generally speaking, has been so since the birth of the party. During and immediately after the Civil War of 1861-5 it was largely so. Tlie year 1848, when General Taylor, Whig, was elected, is the only time that its majority vote was not for the Democratic candidate.

While some of the early settlers came from Kentucky, such as the Chapmans, Rosses, Rectors and McKinleys, the principal settlers of this township were Virginians of German descent, with some Pennsj'lvanians. The township had an existence as a part of Champaign County.

Archibald McKinley settled in Section 17. His family was composed of his wife Polly, several daughters and sons - Archibald, Westley, William and James. Mr. McKinley did not live long, dying a few years after his emigration to the West. His children were associated with the early jDrogress made in the township. In 1798 William Chapman and William Eoss, with their families, came, the former from Virginia and Ross from Mason County, Kentucky. Chapman, his wife and two or three children reared their cabin on the farm now owned by E. E. Gard in Section 10, having entered that and several other sections in this vicinity. To this couple, in the year 1800, was born a son, Jesse Chapman, the first white child born in the territory now comprising this township. This was another Methodist family, with its head a local preacher, who, however, in later years, joined what was then called the New Light Church.

The members of this church were generally known as New Lights, which title did not suit Mr. Chapman, and some of the brethren, on meeting him for the first time after the change had taken place, addressed him in substance as follows: "Well, so you are a 'New Light,' are you?" "No," says Mr. Chapman, "I am an old light newly snuffed." This man was one of the active and enterprising men of his day. He was well known over the county and highly esteemed by all, and whatever "Billy" Chapman said was thought to be "law and gospel." He left the township in 1818, going to Missouri, where he died in 1822. His son Jesse remained in this neighborhood until about 1840, then going to the Pacific coast. The daughter of the son of the last named Chapman married U. S. Grant, Jr., son of the late President and great soldier. "Billy" CJhapman, as he was known far and wide, was one of the early inn or tavern keepers of this part of the county. Living -on the direct road between Dayton and ITrbana, he had an extensive custom from the wagoners.

William Ross, though not a native of the "Blue Grass" State, emigrated from Kentucky in 1797 to Ohio, stopping temporarily in Wari'en County, and remained about one year, thence moving to the vicinity of Tremont, entering a section of land just north of that village. At the age of thirty years, he w^as united in marriage with Winneford Rector, a sister of Charles Rector, above mentioned, which union was blessed with eight children, seven of whom were born in Kentucky, namely: William, Elijah, Nancy, Elizabeth, John, Presley and Mary, Charles having been born after their arrival. The father resided on what is now known as the north farm of Geo. W, Berry, where he built, in 1812, the first frame house in this region of the coun- try. It was quite a modern house, two stories high, with a shingle roof, with tin spouting, the latter being put up by Daniel Harr, a son-in-law, of Urbana. This house was still standing until a few years ago. Elijah farmed this ground with his father until 1825, when he moved out of the township and Charles took his place. Later Presley bought out Charles' interest and there died in 1852. He had previously farmed the present J. S. Gard place, and John resided on the Blose land, and William, Jr., at one time on the same property. This pioneer. Father Ross, has a remarkable history. Wlien but five years old, while fishing with a white man, he was kidnapped by two Indians, and was about to be burned, having been sent to gather the fagots by which the burning was to be accomplished, when there happened along a French trader and interceded in the boy's behalf, giving them each a blanket and thereby saving his life. Ross was taken by the trader to Detroit, where he was made a page to the trader's daughters. In those days it was fashionable for the French ladies to wear very long trails, which were carried by pages. He had been gone for years and given up his parents as dead, when during the French and Indian war, his brother John was among the soldiers at Detroit, and there seeing the boy, recognized him and took him home. Mr. Ross was a great Methodist, and his house was the preaching place for that denomination for years. He was a valuable man in the commimity. His sons settling around him and being industrious soon made a visible mark in the forest. His son John served in the War of 1812; was among the first to

The settlement was increased in 1801 by the coming of Jacob Kiblinger, a native of Virginia, who purchased eighty acres of land and returned to his native state, and, between the years of 1801 and 1805, made four trips to this vicinity, moving several families of the Kiblingers and Fences. Among the latter was a John Pence. These all became permanent settlers in Gemian Township. Jacob Kiblinger, Sr., father of the one above mentioned, erected the first saw and hemp mill, located on Mad River, near where the "Eagle Mills" now stand, in this section of the country. Another from the "Blue Grass" region came in 1802, in the person of Elijah Weaver, a native of Virginia. In 1807 he married Mary McKinley, and settled in the northeastern part of the township. They had a son, Newton, born to them in 1810, who was the father of Johnson P. Weaver, still living. Elijah died three j^ears later. Virginia again responded to the call for emigrants, and, in 1804, sent forth David Jones and family, consisting of his wife, Margaret, and the following children: Mary, Margaret, James M., Lydia and Kiziah. Mr. Jones purchased land on Chapman's Creek, about one and a half miles west of the village of Tremont. Mr. Jones died in his ninety-fifth year; his wife died in 1850, in her seventy-third year. His mother lived to be one hundred and nine years old. At one hundred and three she walked a distance to attend church and at that age could knit nicely. James M.. a child, died at Tremont

The following year emigrated from Virginia Daniel Gentis, entering 160 acres of land in Section 23. He had a large family of children, the boys settling in the neighborhood, and did much to develop the country. Job Gard came about the year 1803, or perhaps a little later. He was a native of New Jersey, but had emigrated to Kentucky and from that State to the township of German, settling in Section 17. This family on their arrival was composed of eight persons, including the wife, Elizabeth, and six children - Gersham, Daniel, Simon, Rachel, Sarah and Phoebe. Quite a number of the descendants of this family are now living in the township, and are among the substantial men of the community. The father erected several mills along Mad River in an early day; was in the War of 1812; a very useful citizen, an active pioneer and business man. The settlement was augmented in 1805 by the families of Philip Kizer, George Glass, Daniel Gentis and Abraham Zerkle. Kizer settled east of Tremont, having come from Virginia; served in the War of 1812 as a captain. Zerkle was from Virginia, and entered land in Section 9. The Weavers, William and Christopher, were very early settlers in this locality, coming about the beginning of this century. William Haller, from personal knowledge of several of these pioneers, speaks of them as follows: "William Ross was of medium stature and had wonderful strength and endurance. Charles Rector was larger, was strong and very hardy. These men and families were fitted for a new country life and were valuable Christian men. Weaver was also a man of fine stature, an upright and Christian man."

The pioneers of 1806 were Daniel Kiblinger and Thomas Nauman, Jr., the former hailing from that State in after years designated as the "Mother of Presidents," whence so many of our pioneers came. Nauman, too, was a native of Virginia, and came to this vicinity on horseback and made his home with Matthias Friermood, who was a settler at a still earlier date. In 1809 Thomas Nauman, Sr., and family settled in the township. He was one of the patriotic men who, just prior to the War of 1776, assisted in throwing overboai'd the cargo of tea in Boston Harbor. In 1810 Felty Snyder, of Virginia, effected a settlement in this locality. Benjamin Morris, from the same State, came the year previous, and, in 1810, entered 160 acres in the southern part of the township. He served in the War of 1812. He died at an advanced age. Samuel Baker and John Keller were added to the colony in the year 1811; and the next year Rudolph Baker and Benjamin Frantz, the former being from Virginia and the latter from Pennsylvania. Frantz was another who served his country in the war then waged by the mother country.

Virginia continued to send forth her sons, Samuel Meranda emigrating in 1814, purchasing a tract of land where Jefferson Meranda now lives, and, in 1816, came Matthias Rust and Frederick Michael. Jacob Maggart, his brother David, and Philip Goodman are also numbered with the pioneers of the township. At a very early day, Jeremiah Simms and familv came to this section of the county, but the country was so new and thinly settled that they returned to Virginia and again came out in about 1806, and entered a quarter-section of land in the southern part of the township (Sintz neighborhood). He was a valuable man, being a blacksmith by trade, a mechanic then greatly needed in the settlement. One of his sons, Jeremiah, Jr., was a local preacher, and preached the first sermon in Rector Church, which was delivered over the remains of Catharine Peck in the year 1822. George Welchans and William Enoch, the former of Pennsylvania and the latter from Virginia, settled here in 1808. John Kemp, of Virginia, and Thomas Hays, a native of Kentucky, came in 1809, the former settling on Section 14, and the latter on Section 25. In 1812 Oden Hays, a son of the one mentioned, was lost in a snowstorm and was afterward found dead in a hollow log on Section 32. Joseph Perrin came from Virginia in 1830. Jacob, Henry and Martin Baker were all early settlers of German Township, and natives of Virginia. Jacob settled on Section 14 in 1813, died in 1821, and is buried in the Lawrenceville Cemetery. His sons, Philip, Henry, Jacob, Martin, John and Samuel, as well as three daughters, resided in this township. Andrew and Emanuel Circle settled in the southeastern part of German, on Mad River, at an early day. They were natives of Virginia, and have descendants yet living in the township. Benjamin Ream, of Pennsylvania, settled with his family on Section 32 after the War of 1812, in which he served ; and, in 1816, John Lorton and his wife, Rachel, natives of Kentucky, settled in this part of Clark County ; also Matthias Staley, of Maryland, who was a carpenter by trade, came in 1820, and each of these last mentioned pioneer families have descendants now residents of German Township.

Among others who we may well call pioneers were Adam Rockel, a soldier of the War of 1812, and Philip Kern, natives of Pennsylvania, who settled on Section 9 in 1822. Mr. Rockel married Polly Baker, daughter of Philip Baker, who had five children born to her, viz: Peter, Henry, William, Harriet and Mary. Mr. Rockel died at the advanced age of ninety in 1884, and his wife in 1886. Mr. Kern married the sister of Mr. Rockel, and their sou, Adam, resided until his death, about 1888, upon the old place. John Beamer came from Virginia in 1816, settling on Section 13. Hi.s wife was Elizabeth Mulholland, and they had three children, viz: Thomas, Valentine and Eliza, the latter the wife of Dr. McLaughlin, of Tremont, died in 1892. Mr. Beamer and wife died on the old homestead. Another family well worthy of mention is that of William Ballentine, a native of Ireland, who came to Ohio in 1831, and in 1832 settled in German Township, where he died in 1851. His wife, Nancy Nail, was also a native of Ireland, where they were married. Of their union were born twelve children, one of whom is living, James V., aged eighty-four.

David Kizer was born in Shenandoah County, Virginia, December 20, 1779; married to Eva Nawman, June 23, 1806; died December 31, 1847, and was buried in Green Mount Cemetery. His wife was born July 11, 17S7, and died September 8, 1869.

year 1809, and settled on Section 7, Town 4, Range 10, M. R. S., in what is now German Township (it was then called Boston), and took an active part in the public affairs of that day. He was chosen justice of the peace in 1811; was "out" in the War of 1812, and upon the establishment of this county in 1818 was appointed its tirst recorder, to which office he was several times re-elected.

Mr. Kizer brought a small library of books with him, and, being inclined to scholarly habits, his house became the headquarters of the literary element of the neighborhood.

The children of this pioneer were Phoebe, born May 20, 1807; Rebecca, born May 29, 3809; Lydia, born April 15, 1811; Thomas, bom December 18, 1812, who was county surveyor for more than twenty years ; Susannah, born August 17, 1815, and Eli, born January 25, 1823. All are now deceased.

Jesse Chapman, born in 1800, was the first white child born in this township and perhaps in the county. The first marriage recorded was that of Thomas Pence to Mary Ross in 1801. The first schoolhouse was erected about a mile west of Tremont in 1803. The first mill was built near the entrance of Storm's Creek into Mad River prior to 1810. (See mills.)

Most of the early settlements of this township were made along Mad River and Chapman's Creek these streams affording the mill power, which was considered of great importance to the early settlers to grind their wheat into fiour and convert their corn into whiskev, there being no shipping facilities. So along Mad River and Chapman's Creek there sprang up a large number of grist mills and distilleries, also carding mills, and as the land of the township was well covered with timber, saw-mills were found quite frequently on these streams.

In addition to the settlers mentioned above, whose names are mostly included in Beer's History, others might be mentioned with more or less particularity. Dr. Andrew McLaughlin was a citizen of Tremont for many years. Born in Concord Township, Champaign County, Ohio, of Scotch descent, he commenced the practice of his profession in Tremont in 1836 and continued there until his death in the early eighties. Everybody in that vicinity knew Dr. "Mac," as he was familiarly called. He was a large, portly man, weighing 340 pounds. He was an expert in fever cases, his ability in this class of cases no doubt resulting from his large practice in that line in a newly inhabited country. One of his peculiar characteristics was his habit of whistling. While he whistled no particular tune, it was of such strong tone as to be heard for miles. He left no offspring. He died in the fall of 1882.

Another doctor of that vicinity about the same time was Dr. Hiram Senseman, whose widow recently (1907) died. Dr. Senseman was a graduate of Jefferson University, Pennsylvania, and settled in Tremont in 1853 and continued there until he died in 1883. He was a learned man and successful in his profession.

John Kiblinger, frequently called "Curly" Kiblinger, by reason of his curly hair, was long a well known resident of this township, serving upon the Agrieul- tural Board and in other positions of that character. He was born in 1816 on the farm where he died, near Eagle City, in the earlier part of the nineties. He was of very lively disposition and for sometime was owner of the Eagle City Mills.

Long time residents of this township were Adam and Christian Netf, brothers, who came to this township from Virginia in 1832, settling south of Tremont City, and resided in this vicinity until their deaths. Adam was prominent iu church and agricultural matters. His first wife was a daughter of an early settler, Isaac Turman. They were both honored citizens in their time, and died in recent years. Adam died in 188.5 and Christian in 1894.

A very noted character at this time was the Rev. "Johnnie'' Pence, an ordained minister of the German Reform Church. He commenced preaching at about 1827 and continued in that avocation until his death in the eighties, although more than eighty years of age.

Jacob ]\Iitzel was a Penusylvanian, who emigrated to this township in 1852, and in 1860 was married to Elnora, daughter of Adam Neff. He is still living a short distance we.^t of Tremont City and is one of the best farmers in the township.

The Gard family is rather a noted one of this township, the father, Gersham Gard, having come to this township as early as 1805. He had a large family, all of whom now are deceased except Eli, who still resides in Tremont. Silas H., deceased some years ago, lived south of this village, and Dr. John S. north. Emerson E., the owner of the Tremont City elevator, is a son of Silas H. They were an active, ]irogressive family, inter-

C. F. Rohrer, an active member in local affairs in this township for a number of years, who lived a few miles north of Tremont City, died recently.

Emanuel Hause was for many years a blacksmith and still lives in Lawrenceville. He came from Pennsylvania in 1848. He lived for a time in Lawrenceville and afterwards moved onto a farm and again back to the village.

The Adam Baker family came from Pennsylvania in 1836 and settled near Eagle City Mills. This family was in-ominent in Clark County. Two of their sons, William and Cornelius, and one grandson, A. J., having been sheriffs of the county.

Some of the old pioneers of the township now living are James V. Ballentine, 84; Silas Baker, 84; George Ramsey, 80; David Enoch, past 82, and Henry Deam, over 80.

Adam Rockel, the ancestor of thf Rockel family of this county, came with his father, Peter Rockel, to this township in 1822 and settled one mile south of Tremont City, wh?re he lived until his death in 1884. His son Henry, now past seventy years of age, re-ides in Tremont.

officials; however, the elder Adam Baker was a county commissioner in 1849. In 1871 John H. Blose was elected a member of the constitutional convention, and in 1874 he was elected as a Democrat for one term as county commissioner. Mr. Blose is still living, and perhaps we might say is one of the most, if not the most, distinguished residents of this township.

In 1903 Joseph H. Collins was elected county commissioner as a Republican. He was re-nominated for a second term in 1905, and died before he had filled the full length of his first term. Mr. Collins was a Virginian by birth and came to this township in 1860, and in 1864 married Mary E. Rockel, daughter of Adam Rockel.

The following persons have served in the past as justice of the peace: John Goble, Hugh H. Frazier, John McCauley, Philip Kizer, AVilliam Enoch, Peter Minnich, George ^Michael, Joseph Underwood, Elias Darnell, Samuel Bechtle, J. S. Gard, Thomas Elliott, Michael Bowman, Jacob Argobright, Peter McLaughlin, William W. Lee, Eli Kizer, Alexander Michael, L. Bechtle and James V. Ballentine.

For a number of years past Dr. J. H. Reynolds, of Lawrenceville has been township clerk, D. Benton Jenkins was township clerk, 1894-1898, and Americus James, treasurer, 1895-1897, and the following have served as township trustees :

Formerly churches were organized in various parts of the country districts, but in later years the tendency has been to abandon these country churches and centralize religious worship in villages and cities. Thus we find that at this time the principal churches of the township are in the villages of Tremont and Lawrenceville.

The congregations now controlling the Methodist Episcopal Church in Tremont is the successor of that congregation that in 1820 built a log church just over the county line north. This church was afterwards succeeded by a frame building, which is still standing, not far from the Valley Pike, north of Tremont City. The congregation, however, moved itself to Tremont City in 1838 and there built a brick structure, which was taken down in 1880 and replaced by the present structure. It has recently been remodeled and is now in good condition, the Rev. Wiant being the present pastor.

Sometime before the log church above referred to was built, the Methodists iu the southern part of the township had an organization and in 1852 they built a log meetinghouse. This structure was afterwards torn down and the present church, which is known as Simms Chapel, was erected in 1854. There is a cemetery adjoining this church.

The Lutheran and German Eeform people built a union church at Lawrenceville about the year 1821 and continued to use it jointly until 184-4, at about which time the Lutherans built a church on the Valley Pike, opposite from the Eagle City stills. This Lutheran church was afterwards destroyed by fire. There is a cemetery surrounding its former location. The German Reform Church at Lawrenceville is in flourishing condition at this time, having recently been remodeled and reconstructed. The Rev. J. C. Paul is the present pastor.

In 1863 the German Reform Church organized a congregation in Tremont City, the Rev. Jesse Richards being the organizer. This church is still in flourishing condition, a cemetery surrounding its location, and the Rev. Woerner is pastor.

About 1827 or '28 the Rev. John Pence, heretofore referred to, commenced ]jreaching in the neighborhood a few miles this side of Dialton, and this resulted in the formation there of a church of the reform denomination. It was called Jerusalem. The first structure was a huge log one; this was afterwards torn down and a brick one built and this was likewise desti'oyed by fire, and a few years ago the congregation built a new church in the village of Dialton. There is a cemetery

The schools of German Township have been recognized for some time as being equal to any in the county. This township was among the first, if not the first, to have a township high school, such a school having been established in 1874 at Lawrenceville. It still atfords advanced educational privileges for the pupils of the township. The first schoolhouse was built in this township a short distance north of Tremont City upon the lands of Mr. Sager. This was in 1803, and it is said that Peter Oliver, of Kentucky, was the first schoolmaster. In recent years the sub-district formerly comprising the locality in which Tremont City is situated has been laid off to itself as a special school district. The lower part of the township forms a joint sub-district with the schools of Springfield township. The following constitute the present school board of the township: Charles Smith, president; 0. J. Rockel, clerk; S. S. Snyder, E. Z. Zerkle and "W. H. Shawver.

The following are the teachers for the jiresent year: Superintendent, J. W. Coleman; assistant high school teacher, Clyde Xanders; No. 1, Jackson, Orris Haulman; No. 2. Mt. Zion. F. P. Blose; No. 3, Eureka, Irwin Baker; No. 4, Lawrenceville, A. L. Rust; No. 5, Willow Dale, G. W. Kohler; No. 6, Beech Center, W. G. Griest ; No. 7, Beech Crossing, Miss Jessie Miller; No. 8, Beech Knob, Grover Circle; No. 9, Deers. A. W. Blose; No. 10, Fairview, Miss Carol Hutchinson.

Superintendent, T. J. Heck; high school, assistant and seventh and eighth grades, F. E. Peneton; fourth, fifth and sixth grades, "W. S. Neese; first, second and third, Maiy Hutchinson.

Green Township is located immediately south of Springfield Township, west of Madison and east of Mad River Townships and north of Greene County. In the greater part of the township the land is laid out as Congress land, only that south of the Little Miami River being a part of the Virginia Military Reservation. The township was formed in 1818, upon the organization of the county. It takes its name from Greene County, it being territory that upon the fonnation of Clark County was taken from Greene County, the line between this and Springfield Township having been the former line between Greene County and Champaig-n County. When the territory in this county was a part of Greene County it formed a part of Bath Township.

Across the southeastern part of the county flows the Little Miami River. The valley is not very wide, but is quite fertile. Not far from the Greene County line east of Clifton the Little Miami River forks, and a branch called the North Fork of the Little Miami flows up through the center of the township past Pitchin. Mill Creek flows in a northwesterly direction through the northwestern part of the township. These streams cause the township to be very well watered and suitable for agricultural and grazing purposes.

The land was originally very nearly all covered with timber, there being occasionally a small patch of prairie along some of these streams. This timber consists of white, black and burr oaks, hickory, walnut and ash. A very fine quality of timber was originally found on a great deal of the land. In the underbrush was found the hazel, plum, crab-apple, thorn and grapevine. In addition to these streams of water there are some very fine springs.

The land is adapted for the raising of those crops which are most familiar in Clark County, to-wit: Wheat, corn and oats. The village of Clifton on the south is partly located in this township and partly in Greene County. Pitchin is the principal village and is situated a little north and east of the center of the township. Cortsville is located in the extreme southeastern part. (See villages.) Green has less mileage of railroads than any other towTiship of the county, excepting Pleasant and Pike.

branch the northwestern corner. The Springfield and Charleston traction line touches the northern part of the township. The township is well provided with ordinarj' roads. A good many of them, however, are laid out in a crooked line, seemingly following the course established by the old Indian trails. The Clifton Pike leads directly north and south about two miles west of the center, and the pike leading from Springfield to Selma runs in a diagonal direction through the eastern part of the township. These two pikes furnish the chief avenues leading to the city of Springfield. There are fiftyfive miles of roads in the township.

The following table shows the number of acres of land in the township and the assessed valuation of the real estate and personal property as the same is divided for school purposes :

A considerable number of the early settlers came from Pennsylvania others from Virginia and Maryland. Ever since the organization of the township its vote has been against the Democratic party. During Whig times the plurality in favor of the Whigs was usually about one hundred. After that party went out of existence, and the Republican party came in, the majority ran as high as 250 at times in favor of candidates of that party. The township being of the same political complexion as the county, it has been enabled to furnish a large proportion of the public officials.

It is supposed that settlements were made in Green Township as early as 1800, but there is no evidence of any permanent settlement until 1804, at which date Abraham Inlow settled on Section 6, Township 4, Range 8. He was born in Maryland March 25, 1777, and, in 1804, came with his father, Henry Inlow, to Donnelsville, where he remained a short time, then coming to Green Township. His parents returned to Kentucky, whence they had come, and there died. Mr. Inlow was married twice, and had four children by his first marriage, all of whom are dead; his second wife was Margaret Foley, who had eight children - Jemima, Catherine, Anna and Margaret grew to maturity, but Anna is now the only survivor. Mr. Inlow died October 4, 1840, and his wife, who was a native of Kentucky and the daughter of Daniel and Catherine Foley, died November 7, 1872.

In 1805 Thomas Luse and his parents, Justice and Mary Luse, came to this township and settled on Section 32, where Justice and his wife died. Thomas was born in Kentucky in 1797; he was married to Nancy Funston, a native of the township, born in 1816, and who is yet living

Ebenezer Wheeler settled on Section 12, Township 4, Range 8, m 1806. He was born in New Jersey September 15, 1782, and came with his father to Cincinnati in 1800. He married Joanna Miller in 1803 ; in 1810 or 1811 he removed to Urbana, Ohio; thence, in 1815, to Indiana, returning to his farm in this township in 1820, where he died in 1862, in his eightieth year.