Union Township

Union Township

Union township is bounded on the west by Chester and Adams townships; on the north by Liberty; on the northeast by Wilson; on the east by Richland and Wayne; on the southeast by Green; on the south by Washington, and on the southwest by Vernon.

East from Wilmington to the township line, the land is level. but the southeast portion of the township is somewhat undulating. Following the source of Cowan's creek southwest from Burtonville, the Jand is rough and broken. Between Cowan's creek and Wilmington, the land is more level, but along Todd's fork. north and west of Wilmington, it is undulating and well-drained. For the most part, the soil of the township is a dark loam, extending to some depth, and is particularly adapted to the culture of grain and grasses. Along Cowan's and Lytle's creeks, the soil is of a mixture of dark and yellow loam and is especially good for wheat. Along Todd's fork the soil is a mixture of loam and clay, and the bottom lands, although small, are very valuable on aceount of the richness of the soil.

In its primeval state. the portion of the township east of Wilmington was covered with a dense growth of ash, hickory, elm, oak, some maple, beech and other woods. Along Cowan's and Lytle's creeks, the growth of timber was largely of walnut. poplar, ash, elm, oak, beech and sugar tree. The bottoms and hills along Todd's fork were originally covered with oak, walnut, cherry, linn, hickory, ash, sugar, hackberry and buckeye, with a dense undergrowth.

Todd's fork, Dutch creek, Lytle's creek and Cowan's creek are the main watercourses of Union township, supplying a good drainage system and also good water for stock and other purposes. Lytle's creek flows in a westerly direction and is just south of Wilmington, which is situated on its branches. Cowan's creek resembles Lytle's creek very closely as to soil and timber. Dutch creek is a small stream which empties into Todd's fork in Adams township and which runs across the northwest corner of Union township in a southwesterly direction.

Todd's fork is the largest and principal water course of Union township. Its headwaters are mostly in the eastern and northeastern parts of Union township, although some are still farther north and east. In the early days the grazing along the streams wis excellent on account of the thick growth of shrubbery and grasses. The bottoms were covered with spice bushes and pea vines, the former of which the pioneers used for tea and the latter for feed for the cattle and hogs. White clover was also very abundant and proved a great aid to the pioneers as feed for their stock. Todd's fork is the only stream in the township which produces any stone and from this stream it has been quarried for many years. The stone is of good quality and easily obtained and many of the early settlers used it for the rude chimneys on their cabins. It was later used for larger residences and outbuildings and also in the construction of roads.

In 1803 the Legislature passed an act establishing about sixteen or eighteen state roads, but only a few of them had been opened up in 1806. Up to that time, no road had been opened into Union township, but each community had its own paths of travel, made by blazing or marking trees. One of the trails from Todd's fork to Chillicothe crossed that stream near Center meeting house, passed through the woods to Van Meter's and thence to the Scioto valley. The township is now a network of excellent. roads and the traveler today would little guess that they were at one time nothing but blazed trails through a dense forest.

One of the very earliest pioneers of Clinton county was Timothy Bennett, who came to the Northwest territory in 1800 and, in the middle of March, 1801, settled one and one-half miles east of where Wilmington now stands. He was born in New Jersey, near Philadelphia, on January 27, 1765, and little is known of his early history except that he was reared on a farm. After reaching maturity, he moved to Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where he was married. in 1789, to Elizabeth Hoblitt. the daughter of Michael Hoblitt, a native of Germany and the ancestors of the Hoblitts of Clinton and Greene counties. In the fall of 1789. Mr. Bennett. in company with his wife's father and family, went down the Ohio river to Limestone, now Maysville, Kentucky. Although the Indians were exceedingly troublesome at that time, the party managed to land in safety. After exploring the country in various directions. they finally located at a point near the present town of Versailles, in Woodford county. and here Mr. Bennett lived for ten years. In the fall of 1790, Mr. Bennett joined the expedition of General Harmar. which rendezyvoused at Cincinnati, then a small village. whence they marched north to old Chillicothe. Mr. Bennett was honorably discharged near this point and sent home, having become too lame to travel on account of a cancer on his leg.

In the fall of 1799. Mr. Bennett purchased about two hundred acres of land between the Little Miami and Scioto rivers. The land was represented to him to lie between the Little Miami and Caesar's creek and he thought it to be a part of the country through which he had passed with Harmar about nine years before. Mr. Bennett at once began to make arrangements to settle the new land and. with his family. started from Kentuecky in the spring of 1800. His family consisted of his wife and six children. two sons and four daughters. Their only means of transportation was pack-horses and these were provided to carry Mrs. Bennett and the youngest child, Nathaniel, the bedding, wearing apparel, provisions. agricultural tools, cooking utensils and the smal] children who were unable to walk. The stock was driven behind the pack-horses by the larger ehitdren. Mr. Bennett carried a rifie and kept the family supplied with food during the journey. '

Upon arriving in the Centerville neighborhood. he found his brother-in-law, Soboston Hoblitt, some of his old friends from New Jersey and some from Kentucky. It appeared. however, that none of these friends could guide him to his newly purchased land, and he was finally directed to a Mr. McFarland, who lived on the Little Miami and who was familiar enough with the lay of the Jand to serve as his guide. After having found his land, Mr. Bennett returned to the Centerville neighborhood and, in January, 1801, he eame with his brother-in-law, John Hoblitt, and his four eldest children, to erect his new home. He then returned for Mrs. Bennett and the other Bo! and the family took up their new abode' in the wilderness.

After a most eventful and successful cnreer as a nioneer. Mr. Bennett prssed away in 1827, after having made his will in 1823. He is believed to have been twice elected to the office of county commissioner of Clinton county, but ceased to fill this position in 1815.

To Mr. and Mrs. Bennett. twelve children were born, three sons and nine daughters, Michael, Phoebe. Mary, Catharine, Sarah, Nathaniel, Amy, Margaret, Keziah, Eunice, Jemima and Timothy.

George Haworth, another prominent pioneer of Clinton county, was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, in 1748, the son of James Haworth, a native of Pennsylvania, and the grandson of George Haworth, who came from Lancashire, England, with William

B04 Clinton County, Ohio

Penn in 1699. George Haworth, the subject of this mention, moved with his parents to near Winchester, Virginia, where they lived on a mountain range called Apple Pie ridge. Here he grew to manhood and married Susannah Dillon. They moved to North Carolina, settling on the Yadkin river near the home of Daniel Boone. Hearing Boone's fine description of Kentucky, Mr. and Mrs. Haworth joined his colony and, on September 25, 1771, left their homes and started from that state. Upon crossing the Alleghanies, the party was attacked by Indians and several of them 'Slain. This so disheartened the remainder of the party that some of them went back about forty miles and settled on Clinch river, but Mr. Haworth and his brother returned to North Carolina, where they remained for twelve years. They then made another attempt to settle in Kentucky, but, finding the Indians still troublesome, they went south into Tennessee and built a new home in what is now Greene county in that state. The family lived here until 1803, when they moved to Ohio and settled on Todd's fork, where Mr. Haworth had purchased seventeen hundred and fifty acres of land. Mr. Haworth is said to have been the second settler in Union township and here he built a grist-mill. Bight of his sons also cleared and opened up farms in this county. George Haworth continued to reside in this county until 1825, when, several of his sons having moved to Illinois, he also sold out and moved to that state, having settled at Quaker Point, near Georgetown, in Vermilion county. Mr. Haworth was a member of the society of Friends and, in the latter years of his life, a minister in this society. About 1807 or 1808, he went on horseback to Baltimore, as a representative from Miami quarterly meeting, to attend the yearly meeting.

Nathan Linton was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, January 17, 1778, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Harvey) Linton. Samuel Linton, the son of Benjamin and Jane (Cowgal) Linton, was born on December 17, 1741, in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood and learned the trade of a weayer. He was married on May 10, 1775, to Elizabeth Harvey, who was born on March 8, 1748, and to them were born six children, Samuel, Nathan, David, Jane and Elizabeth, twins, and James. Nathan Linton visited Ohio in 1801 and, upon returning to Pennsylvania, induced his father to emigrate. The mother and one son, Samuel, having died, the father and the other five children moved to Ohio in 1802, arriving in Waynesville on the last day of May. In 1808 Samuel Linton bought five hundred acres of land on Todd's fork and his two sons, Nathan and David, took charge of this land, while the father remained on the land at Waynesville. In 1805 all of the family moved to the Todd's fork farm.

Nathan Linton was married on January 31, 1806, to Rachel Smith, the daughter of Seth Smith, of Walnut creek, Highland county. The Smith family came from Greene county, Tennessee. To Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Linton were born twelve children, Blizabeth, Abi, Samuel, Seth, David, James, Mary, Nathan, Benjamin, Cyrus, Ruth and Jane. Nathan Linton began his career as a surveyor in Clinton county in 1803 and did much of the surveying between the Miami and Scioto rivers, also directing the claimants to their lands. At the organization of the county in 1810, he was appointed county surveyor, which position he filled for twenty years, refusing to be re-appointed at the end of that time. He was much interested in fruit growing and sheep raising. Mr. Linton was a member of the Friends church, to which the family had belonged for many generations. His father was a well-educated man and a great admirer of Thomas Jefferson, After a long and useful life, Nathan Linton died at his home in Clinton county on February 11, 1858, in his eighty-first year.

Robert Eachus was born on November 23, 1763, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Robert and Mary (Griffith) Bachus, the former of whom was an inn-keeper. They were the parents of six children, of whom Robert was the fourth. Robert Eachus, Sr., died when his son, Robert, Jr., was a mere lad and the boy was reared by some

On November 20, 1788, Mr. Eachus was married in Frederick county, Virginia, to Phoebe Thornburgh and, shortly after, they moved to Martinsburg, Berkeley county, Virginia, where he opened a wagon shop. In 1794, Mr. Eachus, with a companion, started west in search of a new location, but in western Pennsylvania they found themselves in the midst of the "Whiskey Insurrection," and, thinking it unsafe to go farther, they returned home. In 1798 Mr. Eachus emigrated to Tennessee and settled in-Washington county, where he resided for four years. In 1802 he started for Ohio, arriving at Waynesville on June 1, of that year. He lived at Waynesville but a short time and then moved to Clear creek, in Warren county. In the fall of 1804 he moved to a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he had purchased in the Center neighborhood. One of the terms of the purchase was that he should build a grist-mill upon the land, which he did and which proved of great benefit to the early settlers. He was élected justice of the peace in Warren county and filled this position until about 1806, when Clinton county was formed and his land was in the new county. However, he was appointed one of the justices of Chester township, Clinton county, and later, on March 28, 1810, he was appointed recorder for the county. In May, 1805, a meeting was held at the home of Mr. Hachus for the purpose of establishing a Friends church in the neighborhood. Accordingly, a house was built of unhewn logs, without floor or dust, and meetings were held there twice a week. This was probably the first house of worship in Clinton county.

Robert Hachus and wife were the parents of four children, three daughters and one son, Mary, Betsy, Julianna and David. Robert Eachus had a birthright in the Friends eburch, but, on account of his fighting in the Revolutionary War, he was expelled from the church. However, some years before his death, his membership was restored. He died on March 24, 1829.

Mahlon Haworth, the son of George Haworth, was born in Frederick county, Virginia, in 1775. He made an exploring tour of Ohio in 1800, and, being well pleased with the country, came in 1804 with his family and John and James Wright and their families, from Tennessee to southern Ohio. They stopped at Waynesville, which was then a popular stopping place for emigrants, and, in a very short time, settled on Todd's fork. They arrived late in the fall, but temporary shelters were put up to protect them from the cold until more substantial houses could be erected. Mahlon Haworth and his wife were tke parents of eleven children, Rebecca, George D., Ezekiel, Susannah, Mary, Phoebe, Mahlon, John, Elijah, James and Richard. Hight of these children grew to maturity and were valuable citizens in Clinton county.

Mrs. Haworth was a devout member of the Friends church and Mr. Haworth was also possessed of a deep religious feeling. Many official positions were urged upon him, but he never accepted any. He died on March 23, 1850, at his home in Clinton county.

Nathan Hines came to Ohio from North Carolina early in the year 1804 and settled on Dutch creek, where he had purchased land from James Murray. He set to work at once to build a cabin, which was twelve feet square, and into which he moved his family. When Hur Hodgson and his family came to this locality, not having a house built, they lived for several weeks in this small cabin with the Hines family, which shows the warm hospitality of the early settlers.

Stephen Mendenhall, an Englishman, bought one hundred and forty-two acres of land from James Murray on February 4, 1812, for two hundred dollars. He had three brothers, Aaron, Mordecai and Moses.

Isaac Perkins was born on June 30, 1762, and married Phena Leonard, who was born on March 14, 1763. In November, 1802, he started from North Carolina to Ohio with his family and arrived at Waynesville on January 8, 1803, settling in Clinton county

Hur Hodgson was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, May 16, 1767, and came to Clinton county in 1804. He was first married to a sister of Judge Isaac Thornburgh, and later to Achsah Dillon, the daughter of Jesse Dillon. He was the father of ten children, Mary, Isaac, Jesse, Jonathan, John, Elizabeth, Hannah, Ira, Nathan and Joel. He bought one hundred acres of land in 1804 from Miller & Studebaker. Francis Hester accompanied the Hodgson family to this county.

Dr. John EB. Greer came to Waynesville in 1822 and remained there until 1837, when he moved to Indiana, where he died. He was married to a Miss Jeffries, sister of Job Jeffries, Sr.

Samuel Vestal was born on October 26, 1796, in Chatham county, North Carolina, the son of John Vestal, who came to the Portsmouth neighborhood in 1799. In the spring of 1803 John Vestal moved to Waynesville and soon afterward settled on Todd's fork, where he died in 1804. Samuel Vestal was married to Edith Ballard on April 3, 1825. She was brought to Ohio by her parents in 1803, when but three months old. John Vestal, the father of Samuel, made his will on July 10, 1804, and to his son he left two hundred acres of land.

Spencer Ballard was born on August 29, 1771, the son of Moorman Ballard, who was born on May 15, 1747, and died on April 27, 1821. On December 7, 1796, Spencer Ballard was married to Rebecca Haworth, the daughter of George Haworth, and to them were born twelve children, Amos, Benajah, Lydia, Edith, Minerva, John, Olive, Jordan, Phoebe, Rebecca, Mary and one who died unnamed.

On November 4, 1804, Joseph Doan came to Clinton county from Chatham county, North Carolina, and purchased two hundred and thirty-eight acres of land. He was born on October 23, 1759, and died on May 28, 1838. He was the father of twelve chiidren, Thomas, John, Ruth, William. Elizabeth, Joseph, Jesse, Jonathan, Jacob, Rachel, Elisha and Mary. This family was accompanied by John Stout and his family, who purchased one hundred and sixty-five acres of land.

Jesse Hughes, Sr., a native of Berkeley county. Virginia, was one of the first associate judges of Clinton county. At an early age, he was brought to Chester county, Pennsylyania, by his parents and, in 1784, came with his uncle to Jefferson county, Kentucky, being seventeen years old at the time. He was one of the colony which made the first settlement on the present site of Louisville. which was then called Hughes Station. Jesse Hughes was a soldier and served under Gen. George Rogers Clark in 1786 against the Indians. He came to Clinton county in March, 1805, and settled two miles southeast of Wilmington. At the organization of Clinton county, in 1810, Mr. Hughes was elected one of the three associate judges and held this office for twenty-eight conneeutive years. The first term of court was held in his barn. He was married. in 1790 in Kentucky, to Elizabeth Drake and to them were born nine children, David, Delilah, Jesse, Jr.. Catherine, Jemima, Elizabeth, Charles D|. Mary and Morgan. After the death of his wife, Elizabeth, Judge Hughes was married again, his second wife surviving him.

Joseph Roberds, generally called "Squire Roberds." was born on Broad river. in Union district, South Carolina, February 4, 1766. He was married, at the age of twentytwo, to Anna Randall, although they were not married according to the rules of the Friends church and, for that reason, were expelled from the church. Mrs. Roberds Inter joined the Christian church, but Mr. Roberds never joined any other religious body. On account of slavery, Mr. Roberds left South Carolina in 1804 and came to Waynesville, Ohio, where he remained through the summer. In 1805 he settled on Lytle's creek, about three miles below the present site of Wilmington. In the following year, he purchased a small tract of land on Cowan's creek and moved to it. At the organization of Clinton county, he was appointed a justice of the peace of Richland township. He also held the offices of collector of state revenue and county tax, sheriff and county commissioner.

In the fall of 1833, he and his wife moved to Indiana, settling near Jonesboro in Grant county. His wife died in 1850 and he, in July, 1863, in his ninety-eighth year. ,

Azel Walker was born in Virginia in 1774, the son of Mordecai Walker. He was married in Virginia to Hannah Jackson and to them were born ten children, William, Josiah J., Lewis M., Joseph S., Rachel, Ruth, Elijah, Abel, Betsey Ann and Samuel. The family came to Warren county in 1804 and, leaving his wife and children at Waynesville, Mr. Walker came to Clinton county and erected a cabin, moving the family here in 1805.

Henry Babb came from Frederick county, Virginia, to Ohio in 1806 and settled on two hundred and fifty acres of land which his wife had inherited from her father. He and his wife were the parents of five sons and five daughters, Peter, Thomas, Henry, Azel, Sampson, Mary, Rebecca, Rachel, Hannah and Lydia. Henry Babb was one of the first county commissioners of Clinton county and served in this office two years.

William Venard was born probably in Pennsylvania and, when a child, was taken to Kentucky by his parents. In 1802 he came with his father to Ohio and purchased fifty acres of land. He was one of the first justices of the peace of Richlund township. In the War of 1812, he served in Tupper's brigade as a private and was wounded at the siege of Ft. Meigs. He died near Kokomo, Indiana.

Moses Frazier was born on August 4, 1791, in Frederick county, Virginia, and was taken by his parents to Greene county, Tennessee, in the following year. In 1806 the family moved to Clinton county and located in the Dover neighborhood. Moses Frazier was married in 1813 to Lydia Pusey, who died in 1823, leaving five small children. Mr. Frazier was married a second time, in 1825, to Elizabeth Farr, who survived him. He died at his old home on January 17, 1874, and was buried in the burying-ground at Dover.

Jacob Haines, the father of Zimri Haines, was born on February 19, 1778, in Pennsylvania. When a boy, he moved with his parents to Guilford county, North Carolina, and was married there, in 1800, to Mary Leonard. He came to Ohio in 1808, stopping for a short time in Waynesville, and in 1804 located in Union township, Clinton county. He died here on June 17, 1854.

Thomas Rich was born on July 4, 1785, in Virginia. When two years of age, he was taken to North Carolina, where he lived until 1809. In that year, he came to Clinton county and located on Lytle's creek, west of Wilmington.

Hezekiah Hiatt was born on March 23. 1786, in Guilford county, North Carolina. He came to Union township. Clinton county. in 1808 and was married to Ann Perkins, the daughter of Isaac Perkins, in July, 1810.

John Haines came to Ohio from North Carolina in 1808 and his first residence was a cabin on the south side of Dutch creek. Job Haines had a blacksmith shop on the south and west side of the branch. and Joseph Haines had a still-house on Dutch creek. Their father was Joshua Haines, of Pennsylvania. Jacob Haines and his brothers were first cousins of Noah Haines, an early settler of Waynesville. John Haines, who built the first mill at Waynesville. was also a cousin.

Gayer Starbuck was born on the island of Nantucket in 1777, the son of Hezekiah and Mary Starbuck. Hezekiah Starbuck was born on the island of Nantucket on April 10, 1749, and was captain of a whaling vessel for several years. In 1771 he was married and in 1785 moved with his family to Guilford county, North Carolina, where his wife died in 1806. He died in Clinton county in 1830. Gayer Starbuck learned the trade of a blacksmith in North Carolina and followed this trade for many years. In 1799 he was married to Susannah Dillon. the daughter of Jesse Dillon, Sr., and in 1807 they came to Greene county, Ohio. In 1810 they settled on the farm which remained their home the rest of their lives. They were the parents of ten children, five sons and five daughters. She died in 1861 and he in 1866.

Latham Starbuck, a brother of Gayer, came from Tennessee to Union township, Clinton county, in 1811, with his family. He cleared land and built a cabin and later purchased fifty acres in Wilson township, which he traded for one hundred acres in Union township. He lived upon this farm the remainder of his life, dying about 1871.

Virginia, to Ohio in 1809. In the spring of 1810 he came to Union township, Clinton county, and lived in an old school house until he could build a cabin for himself. He died on December 24, 1856. * Joseph Whinery was born on February 27, 1787, in York county, Pennsylvania, and came to Ohio about 1810. In the spring of 1813, he returned to Pennsylvania and, in October of that year, came back to Ohio with his brother, Thomas, and Robert Way, the well-known teacher. They settled in Union township on Dutch creek. He was married in 1814 to Lydia Perkins and to them were born ten children, five sons and five daughters. He moved to Indiana in 1837 and died there on April 24, 1873.

Mordecai Walker, a minister of the Friends church and the father of Azel Walker, heretofore mentioned, bought a tract of one thousand acres north of Wilmington, which he divided among his four children, Lydia, Elizabeth, Azel and William. Mordecai Walker came to Clinton county about 1811 or 1812, although some of his children came in 1805 or 1806. He died in this county about 1833.

Col. Thomas Gaddis was born on December 28, 1744, and came to Clinton county in September, 1814, after having received a deed for three hundred and twenty-five acres of land on April 21, 1810. He came to Ohio with a party, coming down the Ohio river in boats. The first winter the party lived in a cabin belonging to Henry Babb, a relative of Colone! Gaddis. Col. Thomas Gaddis served in the Revolutionary War under General Washington and took great pride in his commission and discharge, which were signed by '"'the father of his country." Colonel Gaddis was married to Hannah Rice, who died on February 4, 1835, in her eighty-eighth year. He died on June 10, 1834.

In 1802 James Moon and his wife emigrated from North Carolina to Ohio, she stopping temporarily in Waynesville, while he went into the wilderness to select a location. He selected land on Todd's fork, four miles north of the present site of Wilmington. Here he erected a cabin and his wife joined him in 1804. They had no children and both lived to a ripe old age, dying on the old farm.

Jobn Leonard was born in Guilford county, North Carolina. and was married to Lydia Starbuck in 1805. Early in 1806 they started for Ohio and located in Union township, Clinton county, on Todd's fork. They were the parents of fourteen children, thirteen of whom grew to maturity. John Leonard died on December 7, 1870, at the age of eighty-eight, and his wife died on May 30, 1874, -at the age of ninety-one.

George McManis came from Kentucky to Ohio in 1807 and settled about three miles southeast of the present site of Wilmington. At the organization of the county in 1810, he was appointed one of the associate judges of the county. One of his sons, John. was at one time auditor and recorder of Clinton county, and another one. George, was at one time associate judge of the county.

The first familles to settle in the southeastern part of Union township were the McKenzies and the Spencers. These families came from Kentucky. Although a feud existed between the families, they assisted each other in erecting cabins and clearing land. The Spencer family was of a rather reckless character, but proved to be industrious and yaluable citizens. James Spencer served under General Harrison in the Indian war of 1811, carrying provisions for the army.

Isaac Wilson came to Ohio from Kentucky and built his cabin on the north side of Cowan's creek. He was probably the first to settle on that side of the creek south of Wilmington. He was closely followed by John and Charles McGrew, Thomas Wright and others.

About the time of the War of 1812 and soon after, Nathan Stalker, Isaac Stout, Adam Reynard, Caleb, Joshua and Haines Moore located south of Lytle's creek in Union township. J. J. Lacy, John Jacks, John and Samuel Martin, emigrants from Virginia, settled along Cowan's creek and Indian run in the vicinity of Burtonsville.

On August 21, 1818, at a special meeting of the county commissioners of Clinton county, Union township was organized from the three original townships, Vernon, Chester and Richland. It received its name from its formation of the union of these subdivisions. Its boundary was described as follows: "Beginning at an elm in Enos Clevenger's land, marked three hacks and a blaze; thence running east three and one-half miles to a black ash marked for a corner as before, easterly corner of said township; thence north three and one-half miles to a large hickory, corner of the division line between Richland and Green townships; thence same course four and one-half miles to two elms, northerly corner to said township; thence west seven miles to a large beech. westerly corner to said township; thence south eight miles, southerly corner to said township; thence east three and one-half miles to the place of beginning. The first election ordered to be held September 10, 1813."

The first mill in the township, and probably the first in the county, was built on Todd's fork in 1805 by Robert Eachus. This mill has been heretofore mentioned in the short sketch of the life of Robert Eachus. About 1805 or 1806, Mahlon Haworth also built a grist-mill on Todd's fork. This mill was run by both horse and water power. George Haworth built a grist-mill on this stream in an early day, just west of the Xenia pike.

During the War of 1812, a saw- and grist-mill was erected on Lytle's creek by William Butler, one mile from the village of Wilmington. Mr. Butler later sold the mill to David Stratton, who operated it for fifteen or twenty years. The dam was destroyed by high waters and the mill abandoned, later being entirely swept away by the water.

Nathan Stalker built a grist-mill on Lytle's creek in 1815 and later sold his land and mill to Joshua Moore. Mr. Moore operated the mill for many years, when his brother, Haines Moore, purchased the enterprise. He conducted the mill for some time, but the operations ceased many years ago.

Peyton Burton, a well-known millwright, built a number of mills in Clinton county and also remodeled several. He built a steam grist-mill just south of Wilmington and, as there was no mill of this kind in this section of the county, it did an extensive business. He also built a steam grist-mill on Cowan's creek and later built one run by water power at Burtonville. The latter mill was sold to Thomas Custis and afterward was destroyed by fire.

The following are the officers of Vernon township in 1915: Trustees, R. J. Humphreys, Russell A. Sewell and W. F. Hildebrecht; clerk, G. H. Kelley; treasurer, H. W. Baugh. Population, twelve hundred and twenty-six.

Clarksville is situated in the western part of Vernon township, on the Cincinnati & Muskingum Valley railroad. It was laid out April 27, 1816, by William Hadley, proprietor. The surveying was done by Peyton West. The town, as originally laid out, consisted of forty-four lots, of the usual size, four poles front and eight poles back. Marrow's addition was laid out about 1840. In the year 1858, the boundaries were extended, taking in a quantity of the adjoining land, the survey being made by James Linton. The land thus taken in was divided into lots and numbered as outlots; a plat was made, with streets, etc., of the whole, but the work was irregularly done and the territory thus added cannot be considered as an addition to the town.

The lots composing the original town were dry, with gravel deposit beneath, making excellent natural drainage for cellars, but the land adjoining, almost up to the originai town, wis not a very inviting locality for settlers at that time. It is situated on the banks of Todd's fork, which winds around through the bottom lands, and the waters, crossing the bottoms during heavy rains, made pools and bayous, which did not give promise of eyer being fit for cultivation. Then all these bottoms were covered with timber, with a heavy growth of underbrush and vines. The East fork ran on the south side of the town, but is a more rapid stream and does not leave its channel until it passes the town.

Samuel T. Louden built the first cabin and opened a hotel or tavern. Keeping tavern in early times was hardly the thing it is in the present day. It consisted in furnishing the traveler with the rough and substantial fare common to all settlers - a bed in a loft or in an addition in which to sleep, and last, but not least, with plenty of whiskey to keep up his spirits and to act as an antidote or preventive of malarial poison, so common in new countries. Mr. Louden sold his hotel to Joseph Wysong. John Oxley built the second house in the village in the year 1815. Ephraim NKibby moved to Clarksville in 1817. He was a tanner by trade, and was the first to engage in that business in the village. Kibby bought out the stock of William Smalley, who had a small tannery west of Clarksville. Kibby was a member of the Baptist church. was thrifty and prosperous in his business, and at the time of his death, which occurred in 1876, was well known in Clinton county. John Keenan and Joseph Thompson were among the early settlers of Clarksville.

The first saddler and harness-maker was John Hadley. Hadley made his saddletrees out of dogwood forks. He, with Eli Hale. opened the second store in the village. Afterward he dealt in the pork trade and dealt largely in cattle. His personal efforts and the general business carried on and planned by him formed a very important part in making the town the prosperous business center it was in the early times. Elisha Kirk was the first hatter. Eli Helmich and Abram Nicholson were among the first blacksmiths. Jacob Longstreth opened the first store in the village. Among the first carpenters were Samuel T. Louden, James Abbott and William Michael. Michael afterward became judge at Lebanon. The first shoemaker was Joseph Wysong. Samuel Hyde was the first cabinet-maker; his shop was an old building which was afterward used as a school house. William Slater carried on the business of cabinet-maker and later was succeeded by J. Thomas, HE. Titus and Alfred Cast. John McCarty was the first cooper. The immense pork trade of Clarksville made coopering a very important business in the village, and there were several cooper shops running at the same time and all doing a good business. James Coyle was among the first coopers. William Dogget carried on a cooper business at the corner of Main and Second streets. Isaiah Wilkerson, at a later date, ran a shop near where the Baptist chureh stood.

John Kelley was probably the first tailor. This was also a very important business in the early times, and tailor shops have been carried on by Harrison Compton. S. H. Wilson, K. S. Kearns and others. <A business which has disappeared from smaller towns was hat making. This business was carried on in Clarksville in early times, first by Richard Lackey, afterward by Mr. Black. John Dempsey was also an early hatter. He served in the Mexican War and was constable of Vernon township for many years. He was crippled by palsy and was a peculiar character.

The first wagon-maker was George Harris. Samuel French was an early stonemason. James Marrow was the first and only distiller. Joseph Wysong was the first postmaster of the village. Jacob Longstreth was the first physician.

Soon after its establishment or laying out, Clarksville was well represented in the trades. Merchants, tanners, tailors. wagon-makers. blacksmiths, carpenters, hatters, harness-makers and coopers were making the village lively and business-like. But at a later day, about the year 1840-44, the town assumed its greatest importance, the pork trade at that time placing it on a flourishing basis. Among the most noted pork packers were: Hale & Cook, who had their slaughter house on the East fork, just above the bridge, on the Goshen pike; John Hadley and James Lindsay. Hogs were driven from all parts of Clinton county, as well as from Highland and Ross counties. The hogs slaughtered in those days were not the improved breeds we haye now. In early times they were partly fatted on mast, and they were wild, raw-boned, with snouts so long Sometimes that, as expressed by an old settler in describing them, 'they could root nine feet in the ground after a poke root, and still see a man over the top." We do know that they were driven ten or twenty miles sometimes, and then had to be caught with dogs or shot at the slaughter pens. The lard from the slaughtered porkers was placed in kegs and, together with the meat just from the salt. was hauled to Cincinnati in wagons. The time taken by a teamster in making a trip was about six days. Regarding the number slaughtered, one of the older residents estimated that as high as forty to fifty thousand hogs would be slaughtered and packed in Clarksville in one season. This brought an immense trade to the town. and stores, hotels and all trades flourished.

Some of the heayy teamsters of the day were William Marrow, William MeCray, Charles Urton and, later, Armstrong McCray, Milt Watson, James Villars. These teamsters would take their provisions, horse feed and bedding along. and sleep on the floor of some tavern. It was a rough life, but was relished by the men. The independence of the wild, rough life was by no means unpleasant.

Among the early school teachers in the village were Naney Tufts, David Eachus and Carter B. Harlan, brother of the late Judge R. B. Harlan. Clarksville had two separate school houses until 1868. when it was made a special district. For a number of years the Friends or Quakers maintained a separate school in a building of their own.

Among the physicians of this early date were Doctors Hampton, Crawford, A. T. Davis and Tribbey. Though in early times diseases, such as malaria. fevers, ague, etc., were more prevalent, it seems that the doctors of the "old school" found their work laborious and their pay scanty and uncertain and had to revert to other forms of occupation for sustenance. Longstreth kept a store, Tribbey was a farmer. and A. T. Davis represented the county in the Legislature.

A number of the early settlers who came to Clarksville and contributed in the building up of the town are Dr. H. W. Baugh, Dr. T. S. Garland, Dr. Z. T. Garland, Dr. FE. S. Stevens, Levi Collins, John Thomas, James Starry, who was the first silversmith of Clarksville, S. C. Kelley. James Linton and James Wysong.

Clarksville was incorporated on March 1, 1837. The present officers are: C. L. Hale, mayor; Otto Gharst, clerk; Gus J. Miller, treasurer; Frank Gray, marshal; Benjamin Thompson, Frank Hoover, S. V. Barry, Thomas Gray, Thomas Snook and P. C. Camp, councilmen. The population is four hundred twenty-five.

The worst calamity which Clarksville has had to suffer was a series of fires. The first of these occurred July 9, '1902, the destruction of the opera house, Linton's store, dwelling and implement room entailing a loss of twenty-four thousand dollars. The second fire occurred on October 15, 1909, destroying a dwelling, livery barn and blacksmith shop, at a loss of six thousand dollars. The third came January 12, 1911, when an implement room, dwelling and office were burned, at a loss of eight thousand dollars. On the site of the old opera house, a new one was erected, of concrete blocks. at a cost of eleven thousand dollars. After the first of these fires the council purchased a Waterhouse gasoline fire engine, at a cost of one thousand eight hundred dollars. The pavements of the town are cement and the streets are in good condition. The canning factory of Baugh, Bown & Baugh did seventy-five thousand dollars' worth of business in 1912. The tirst jail was constructed in 1873 and is still standing, although a new jail was

Business Directory

'The business interests of Clarksville are as follow: Auto livery, C. L. Hall, A. J. Walker; banker, Farmers' National; barber, Alpheus Bogan; blacksmiths, John Fordyce, Al Smith, Leroy Ellis; canning factor, Baugh, Batten & Baugh, Linton; chiropactor, Glen C. Gray; creamery, French Brothers, Bauer & Company; drug store, C. W. Snook; dry-goods, R. C. Patterson, E. R. Shank & Company; feed and implements, McQuinn Brothers; flour-mill, J. W. Murrell; general stores, G. W. Stephens, L. L. White; garage and blacksmith, G. J. Miller; grocery and restaurant, P. C. Camp; hotels, Eureka, Frank Gray, proprietor; Star, Wysong Sisters, proprietors; Mrs. Moore; implements and buggies, J. 'T. Gray & Brothers; liveries, Frank Gray, Thomas Smith; lumber yard, A. D. Madden Estate; newspaper, Clarksville Herald; physicians, F. A. Batten, C. W. Snook; restaurants, Knute Penquite, Nellie Norton, Roy Cleaver, R. W. Andrews; veterinaries, Burl Gray, 8S. J. Rigdon.

Mrs. J. P. Ford is the present postmistress and J. H. Dodd is the railroad agent. Clarksville has an excellent band of twenty pieces, of which J. H. Dodd is the director. The fox-hounds of Clarksville are noted for their cunningness in tracking the sly animals and this afford the citizens of Clarksville great pleasure and a diversion from the hard toils of the day.

There are numerous threshing outfits that work out of this village, among which are A. T. Vandervort, Suttles Brothers, Ed Villars and two company machines; one of these is managed-by Albert Pyles, and the other by Frank Bevan. The chief breeders of fancy Jersey cattle in this neighborhood are E. H. Urton, Earl and Myrtle Pyle and Lon Carson. Walter Richardson is a breeder of Shorthorn cattle. George Sabin is the only apiarist in this part of the county. The Oasis fruit farm, managed by George H. Anson, furnishes small fruit to the patrons of this county.

Pansy is the only other town in this township. This little hamlet, which is located in the extreme southern part of the township, has never been platted and has never increased from a rural hamlet.