Union Township

Union Township

Union Township was one of the four original townships laid out at the house of Judge John Collins in Alexandria on August 9, 1803. It was then the second largest township in the county and included all that territory now belonging to the following townships; Brush Creek, Rarden, Union. Wayne and Clay, and portions of Morgan, Nile, Jefferson, Valley, Madison, Harrison and Porter, Its boundary was as follows: - Beginning at the mouth of Feurt's, now Carey's Run, thence up the Ohio river to the mouth of the Little Scioto; thence up said river to old Mr. Monroe's; thence west to the twelve mile tree on the Big Scioto; thence in a westerly direction to strike the dividing ridge between Brush Creek and Bear Creek; thence including all the water of Brush Creek to the county line; thence south with said county line to the dividing ridge between the Ohio river and Brush Creek; thence with said ridge to the head of Carey's Run; thence down the said Run to the Ohio river.

By reference to the separate histories of each of the above townships, knowledge can be had of the successive and frequent changes in its boundary and tne curtailment of its territory. From one of the largest it has shrunk in size from the second rank to the fifth and contains at present 29,918 acres. Portsmouth was in Union Township until 1812 when it was first divided. On November 6, 1814, a part of Seal Township was attached to Union. Prior to 1878, the eastern and southern boundaries of the township were as at present and the northern and western boundaries were the east fork of McCullough, Brush Creek and Bear Creek and it contained 19.118 acres. On September 26, 1898, a portion was taken from Brush Creek Township and Union became as it is at present. Numerous slight changes have been made to accommodate persons along the border, for school purposes and various other reasons. It is now bounded by Rush, Washington, Nile and Brush Creek. Assessed value of real estate, $85,390, rank fourteenth; personal property, $37,361, rank fourteenth; total, $122,751, rank fifteenth.

In 1809 the trustees were Perry Liston, James Norris and Peter Noel; Clerk, S. G. James; 1810, Trustees, James Norris, Peter Noel and Benjamin

Rankin; Treasurer, Benjamin Feurt; Clerk, S. G. James; Overseers of the Poor, Philip Moore and John White; Fence Viewers, John R. Turner and Warren Johnston; Constable, William Howell.

The surface is very much cut up by Brush Creek and its tributaries. This creek passes by a winding- course from west to east through the township and receives Bear Creek from the South, near Henley, and McCullough Creek from the north. Before leaving the township, it makes a tortuous bend to the north, then to the southeast and then to the southwest. This is called the "horse-shoe bend.'' Bear Creek takes its rise in the southwest and flows northeast. McCullough enters the township from the north by two branches called the east and west forks and flows south. These tributaries flow through narrow valleys and have in many places very rapid descents. The land along them is of average productiveness and most of it is farmed. The chief farming region of the township is the Brush Creek Valley which has an average width of about a quarter of a mile, passing entirely across the township. All this valley has been cleared up and converted into farms. The soil is gravelly and loose and produces abundantly of corn, wheat, oats, potatoes, hay, tobacco, etc. There is a region of good farm land about Lombardville known as the "flats" which was the first portion of the township settled. This is a high region, shut in by hills on all sides and drained by Pine Creek, a small tributary to Bear Creek. Scattered over the township are good hill farms which are well adapted to fruit raising.

Twenty-five years ago this region was almost a wilderness of forest, and even up to the time the Cincinnati and Eastern was built there were thousands of acres that had scarcely been touched by the woodman's axe. The same can be said of all the region watered by Brush Creek, west of the Scioto. The terminal of the Cincinnati and Eastern Railroad was at Henley in 1883; and the years following this witnessed the conversion of the forests into lumber of all descriptions and its shipment to foreign parts. There yet remain a few tracts of good timber in different parts of the township, the largest of which is known as tne "Peebles Tract," and lies in the southwest corner at the head waters of Bear Creek.

The great industry for the future in this region, which is now but in its infancy, is the stone business. The whole township is underlaid with fine sandstone suitable for building purposes, and only lies waiting the advent of capitalists to open up the numerous quarry sites, many of which are convenient to the Norfolk and Western Railroad. For many years this stone has been used for local building purposes but not until 1890 was any extended effort made to open up a large quarry. This year the Henley Stone Company was organized. It was composed of the following: John Peebles, Robert Peebles, Richard Peebles, President; T. N. Martin, Secretary and Charles Mc- Donough. The quarry was opened the same year and continued in operation until 1898, when the company suspended work on account of the failing health of Richard Peebles, its manager.

composed of A. J. Wellmann, President and Manager; E. M. Wellmann, Secretary and Treasurer; Henry Wellmann, Edward Grieve and John Baron, was organized and incorporated under the laws of Ohio in February, 1901, with a capital stock of $25,000. This company immediately purchased stone land and opened up two quarries northeast of Henley, about a quarter of a mile. Though just beginning, it is working twenty ledges, ranging from one to six feet in thickness, and is shipping very rapidly. Its channelers, drills, etc., are manufactured by the Ingersoll-Sargeant Company, and all the latest and up-to-date methods are used in quarring. It has for hoisting purposes, large steam derricks, controlled wholly by the engineer. This point promises to have one of the largest stone industries in the county.

is located near the junction of Bear Creek with Brush Creek,, and is on the line of the Norfolk and Western Ry. Since the construction of the railroad it has been the shipping point for lumber and timber products of all kinds.

The first store was conducted by J. W. O'Brien in 1882. The same year Peebles, Terry & Co., came and opened up a general store, and dealt jn lumber. Deitrich & Co. came at the same time, and had a general merchandise store. The post office was established in 1883, and J. W. O'Brien is postmaster.

The first settler in this vicinity was Benjamin Feurt, who built a still at a place called Stony Hill, and the country around was called "Feurt's Flats." This was about 1802. William Drake entered this land. Among the first settlers here were John McConnell and William Jewett. The place received its present name from Francis Lombard, who located there about 1862. The post-office was established in 1868. Julius Johnly built a cooper shop about 1870 and ran it for sixteen years. The place was settled along in the sixties by French and Swiss people. Julius Johnly is the present postmaster.

As late as 1883 there were no churches or church organizations in the township, and the only meetings were held at residences mostly by local preachers. At present there are five churches in the township and several other organizations have risen and declined in that time.

St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church was built in 1902 at a cost of $800. It is situated on the west fork of McCullough and is about four miles from Henley. There was a former church erected in 1876 on the same site. This church has 110 communicants and services are held three Sundays each month and Sunday School each Sunday. Rev. Joseph Mertian is the Priest.

Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church was built in 1854. Ferrole Levrey donated an acre of land for the location of the church and other members donated money. The house is a frame to which has been added two additions. Its value is about $700.00. For twenty years it had no regular minister. It is visited by a priest from Portsmouth, once a month during the summer season, and sometimes by priests travelling. The incumbent priest is Father Joseph Mertian, who resides at McCullough. The membership now is about twenty-four families, about one-half what it was twenty years ago, the others having moved to the City, or gone West, principally to Illinois. The Sunday School is under the supervision of the church directors, who appoint a teacher to teach the children. The trustees are Eugene Cattee, Julius Simon and T. J. Vernier.

Singer Chapel, Methodist Episcopal Church was built by Rev. A. D. Singer in 1889 at a cost of $450. The church is about three-fourths of a mile from Crabtree. The organization was effected in 1884. Rev. Singer was the first and last pastor. The membership was at one time thirty members.

Lombardville Methodist Episcopal Church - The building now used by this organization was built by the Brothers of Liberty, and was later used by the Farmer's Alliance and G. A. R. It was bought for church purposes in 1899. The first trustees were John Oney, David M. Jetvett and A. J. Cooper. A. D. Singer is pastor and superintendent of the Sunday School. The membership numbers 43 and the average attendance of Sunday School is about 30.

The Baptist (Jhurch on Pond Creek, organized about 1880 under the leadership of visiting ministers, built a church on the farm of John C. Swords in 1891. The minister at that time and for about five years was Rev. Hackworth. The building is a box frame in a fine location, put up by the members of the congregation, some furnishing lumber and money and others doing the work. It cost six hundred dollars. The present minister is Rev. A. J. Holly.

Source changes here: from History of Scioto County, Ohio, Together with a Pioneer Record of Southern Ohio, by Nelson W. Evans A.m, published 1903; 1,910 words in this source stream.

Union Township

Union Township was one of the four original townships laid out at the house of Judge John Collins in Alexandria on August 9, 1803. It. was then the second largest township in the county and included all that territory now belonging to the following townships; Brush Creek, Rarden, Union, Wayne and Clay, and portions of Morgan, Nile, Jefferson, Valley, Madison, Harrison and Porter. Its boundary was as follows: - Beginning at the mouth of Feurt's, now Carey's Run, thence up the Ohio river to the mouth of the Little Scioto; thence up said river to old Mr. Monroe's; thence west to the twelve mile tree on the Big Scioto; thence in a westerly direction to strike the dividing ridge between Brush Creek and Bear Creek; thence including all the water of Brush Creek to the county line; thence south with said county line to the dividing ridge between the Ohio river and Brush Creek; thence with said ridge to the head of Carey's Run; thence down the said Run to the Ohio river.

By reference to the separate histories of each of the above townships, knowledge can be had of the successive and frequent changes in its boundary and tne curtailment of its territory. From one of the largest it has shrunk in size from the second rank to the fifth and contains at present 29,918 acres. Portsmouth was in Union Township until 1812 when it was first divided. On November 6, 1814, a part of Seal Township was attached to Union. Prior to 1878, the eastern and southern boundaries of the township were as at present and the northern and western boundaries. were the east fork of McCullough, Brush Creek and Bear Creek and it contained 19,118 acres. On September 26, 1898, a portion was taken from Brush Creek Township and Union became as it is at present. Numerous. slight changes have been made to accommodate persons along the border, for school purposes and various other reasons. It is now bounded by Rush, Washington, Nile and Brush Creek. Assessed value of real estate, $85,390, rank fourteenth; personal property, $37,361, rank fourteenth; total, $122,751, rank fifteenth.

In 1809 the trustees were Perry Liston, James Norris and Peter Noel; Clerk, S. G. James; 1810, Trustees, James Norris, Peter Noel and Benjamin

Rankin; Treasurer, Benjamin Feurt; Clerk, S. G. James; Overseers of the Poor, Philip Moore and John White; Fence Viewers, John R. Turner and Warren Johnston; Constable, William Howell.

The surface is very much cut up by Brush Creek and its tributaries. This creek passes by a winding course from west to east through the township and receives Bear Creek from the South, near Henley, and McCullough Creek from the north. Before leaving the township, it makes a tortuous bend to the north, then to the southeast and then to the southwest. This is called the "horse-shoe bend." Bear Creek takes its rise in the southwest and flows northeast. McCullough enters the township from the north by two branches called the east and west forks and flows south. These tributaries flow through narrow valleys and have in many places very rapid descents. The land along them is of average productiveness and most of it is farmed. The chief farming region of the township is the Brush Creek Valley which has an average width of about a quarter of a mile, passing entirely across the township. All this valley has been cleared up and converted into farms. The soil is gravelly and loose and produces abundantly of corn, wheat, oats, potatoes, hay, tobacco, ete. There is a region of good farm land about Lombardville known as the "flats" which was the first portion of the township settled. This is a high region, shut in by hills on all sides and drained by Pine Creek, a small tributary to Bear Creek. Scattered over the township are good hill farms which are well adapted to fruit raising.

Twenty-five years ago this region was almost a wilderness of forest, and even up to the time the Cincinnati and Eastern was built there were thousands of acres that had scarcely been touched by the woodman's axe. The same can be said of all the region watered by Brush Creek, west of the Scioto, The terminal of the Cincinnati and Eastern Railroad was at Henley in 1883; and the years following this witnessed the conversion of the forests into lumber of all descriptions and its shipment to foreign parts. There yet remain a few tracts of good timber in different parts of the township, the largest of which is known as tne "Peebles Tract," and lies in the southwest corner at the head waters of Bear Creek.

The great industry for the future in this region, which is now but in its infancy, is the stone business. The whole township is underlaid with fine sandstone suitable for building purposes, and only lies waiting the advent of capitalists to open up the numerous quarry sites, many of which are convenient to the Norfolk and Western Railroad. For many years this stone has been used for local building purposes but not until 1890 was any extended effort made to open up a large quarry. This year the Henley Stone Company was organized. It was composed of the following: John Peebles, Robert Peebles, Richard Peebles, President; T. N. Martin, Secretary and Charles Mc- Donough. The quarry was opened the same year and continued in operation until 1898, when the company suspended work on account of the failing health of Richard Peebles, its manager.

composed of A. J. Wellmann, President and Manager; E. M. Wellmann, Secretary and Treasurer; Henry Wellmann, Edward Grieve and John Baron, was organized and incorporated under the laws of Ohio in February, 1901, with a capital stock of $25,000. This company immediately purchased stone land and opened up two quarries northeast of Henley, about a quarter of a mile. Though just beginning, it is working twenty ledges, ranging from one to six feet in thickness, and is shipping very rapidly. Its channelers, drills, etc., are manufactured by the Ingersoll-Sargeant Company, and all the latest and up-to-date methods are used in quarring. It has for hoisting purposes, large steam derricks, controlled wholly by the engineer. This point promises to have one of the largest stone industries in the county.

is located near the junction of Bear Creek with Brush Creek, and is on the line of the Norfolk and Western Ry. Since the construction of the railroad it has been the shipping point for lumber and timber products of all kinds.

The first store was conducted by J. W. O'Brien in 1882. The same year Peebles, Terry & Co., came and opened up a general store, and dealt jn lumber. Deitrich & Co. came at the same time, and had a general merchandise store. The post office was established in 1883, and J. W. O'Brien is postmaster.

The first settler in this vicinity was Benjamin Feurt, who built a still at a place called Stony Hill, and the country around was called ''Feurt's Flats." This was about 1802. William Drake entered this land. Among the first settlers here were John McConnell and William Jewett. The place received its present name from Francis Lombard, who located there about 1862. The post-office was established in 1868. Julius Johnly built a cooper shop about 1870 and ran it for sixteen years. The place was settled along in the sixties by French and Swiss people. Julius Johnly is the present postmaster.

As late as 1883 there were no churches or church organizations in the township, and the only meetings were held at residences mostly by local preachers. At present there are five churches in the township and several other organizations have risen and declined in that time.

St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church was built in 1902 at a cost of $800. It is situated on the west fork of McCullough and is about four miles from Henley. There was a former church erected in 1876 on the same site. This church has 110 communicants and services are held three Sundays each month and Sunday School each Sunday. Rev. Joseph Mertian is the Priest.

Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church was built in 1854. Ferrole Levrey donated an acre of land for the location of the church and other members donated money. The house is a frame to which has been added two additions. Its value is about $700.00. For twenty years it had no regular minister. It is visited by a priest from Portsmouth, once a month during the summer season, and sometimes by priests travelling. The incumbent priest is Father Joseph Mertian, who resides at McCullough. The membership now is about twenty-four families, about one-half what it was twenty years ago, the others having moved to the City, or gone West, principally to Illinois. The Sunday ) School is under the supervision of the church directors, who appoint a teacher to teach the children. The trustees are Eugene Cattee, Julius Simon and T. J. Vernier. .

Singer Chapel, Methodist Episcopal Church was built by Rev. A. D. Singer in 1889 at a cost of $450. The church is about three-fourths of a mile from Crabtree. The organization was effected in 1884. Rev. Singer was the first and last pastor. The membership was at one time thirty members.

Lombardville Methodist Episcopal Churech - The building now used by this organization was built by the Brothers of Liberty, and was later used by the Farmer's Alliance and G. A. R. It was bought for church 'purposes in 1899. The first trustees were John Oney, David M. Jewett and A. J. Cooper. A. D. Singer is pastor and superintendent of the Sunday School. The membership numbers 43 and the average attendance of Sunday. School is about 30.

The Baptist Church on Pond Creek, organized about 1880 under the leadership of visiting ministers, built a church on the farm of John C. Swords in 1891. The minister at that time and for about five years was Rev. Hackworth. The building is a box frame in a fine location, put up by the members of the congregation, some furnishing lumber and money and others do- ' ing the work. It cost six hundred dollars. The present minister is Rev. A. J. Holly.

There are seven school districts in the township all with good school houses. The term of school averages about six months in each year and a uniform salary of $35 per month is paid its teachers. The districts are No. 1, Pleasant Hill; No. 2, Arion; No. 3, Lombardville; No. 4, Pond Creek; No. 5, Henley, having the finest building in the township, costing about $1,000. No. 6, Comstock; No. 7, Laurel Point.

The only township cemetery is about one mile north of Lombardville on the Thomas Garvin tarm and was given to the township by Mary Garvin. It is probably the oldest burial ground in the township and has interred in it some of the earliest settlers, most of whom have only rough slabs to mark their graves.

Other cemeteries are the Sword, Mershon and the Catholic Cemetery on Pond Creek. Most of the earliest burials on Pond Creek have no headstones and are forgotten or unknown by those living there now.

In the Mershon cemetery are interred Henry Mershon, one of the pioneers of Pond Creek, his son, Samuel, a soldier of the Civil War, and Robert Morehouse, an Englishman and a soldier of the Civil War.