Vernon Township

Vernon Township

Vernon township is located in tlie central western portion of Clinton county. It is bounded on the north by AdaniB township, on the east by Washington, on the south by Marlon township and on the west by Warren county. It Is one of the three original townships of which Clinton county was composed nt the time of Its organization in 1810. At that time It Included also Marlon and ports of Adams. Washington. Clark, Union and Jefferson townships. Todd's fork, a tributary of the Uttle Miami river. Cowan's creek. East fork of Todd's fork and Sewell's run. tributaries of Todd's fork, flow through the township, coming together, or nearly so. in the western. part, near the town of Clnrksvllle.

The boundaries of Vernon township, as first organized, included all the territory south of Lytle's creek and touth of a line from the month of T-ytle's creek to the Warren county line, and extending east to Ire old Warren county line In the line of Richland township. The township was organized In 1*10. The records of the township from its organization to 1*20 are lost or have been destroyed and only the most meager details can he gleaned from scattered sources.

The commissioners' record, show order No. 7. to Ellsha Cast. July 18. WO. for the amount of fourteen dollars and a half, "for sitting as Judge of election, delivering i>oll hooks and for assessing the township and making returns of the assessment." I>avld Rewell was chosen as the first Justice of the i>eacp. On October 17. 1H10. Daniel Ball received an order for three dollars and seventy-five cents for five wolf scalps six months old. These records would seem to show that the first township officials were: Ellsha Cast. John Sewell and Benjamin Smalley, trustees, and Anron Rewell, clerk.

From the year 1S20. the records as regards township officers nnd receipts and expenditures have been well preserved. The following Is the clerk's statement for 1S25. In full:

At this time Vernon township included Adams, Clark (or the greater part of what Is now Clark i. Jefferson and Marlon townships, also pnrt of present Washington township, and enumerated two hundred and eighty-three householders for school purposes.

From the year 1836 to 1862 the records are again missing. In the later year the following were the township officials: William Carson, J. W. Warner and W. B. Smith, trustees: W. II. Gardner, clerk; J. W. Compton. assessor; Albert Parker, treasurer, and John DemiMey, constable.

It was not until 1S72 that the township begau to take on anything like its present pro| tortious. On April 1, of that year, the funds on hand were, cemetery fund. $84.81; abandoned grave yard fund. $107.97; poor funds, $426.27; township funds. $324.94; road fund. $180.83 ; total. $1,130.82. The entire number of votes polled on that date was two hundred and elgbty-slx.

At the annual election held April 5, 1875. the question of a special tax levy for a township house was submitted to the voters of the township, with the following result : Yes, one hundred and sixty-two votes; No. one hundred and eleven votes. A special tax of two thousand dollars was levied and a neat and substantial building wbb erected for township purjwses.

The. Pjoneeb8

David Sewell was the first settler of Vernon township. He became the owner of the of Archibald Campbell's 'survey. No. 22oO. early in the year 1798. on the East fork of Twld's fork. In wbat Is now Clinton county, but was then known as Hamilton county. Northwest territory. He made arrangements to move upon It with his sons. John and Aaron, and his daughter and son-in-law. Hannah and Peter Burr. In 1798. In company with Isaac Tullls. Mary Hendricks and some of the Cowans, the Sewell family came by way of Pittsburgh In wagons and flntboals to the present site of Columbus. From that r»oint they went to Bedell's station In the present Warren county. It Is probable that they found their land soon after. The Sewells came in wagons, cutting their way through the heavy virgin forest, and the trail they left is still known as the "Sewell trace." crossing Todd's fork near the town of Rochester and passing near where the old Nauvoo school house stood. At this time their were no nearer neighbors than I^banon, fourteen miles away.

James McfJee. In company with his brother-in-law. John MeCregor. came to this township In 1803. and settled. They came from F^oudoun county. Virginia. Jonathan Lawrence came in the year isoo. From North Carolina came Thomas Austin in l>*»i9. James Harris emigrated from Loudoun county, Virginia, in 1S09, and settled near the present village of

Clarksvllle. William Hadley came In 1810, from North Carolina, and settled on what was later known as the M. P. Marshall farm. William Austin came In 1811 and settled near the Mt Pleasant church. James Vlllare settled In Vernon township In 1813. Josiuh Biggs, Lemuel, John and Parson Garrison, David Ferris, Samuel Stabler. Dr. Asahel Trlbbey, Ephrnim Smith, James Mnrshall. Ezeklel (Inst and Thomas Harden were all among the early settlers and pioneers of Vernon township.

In those early days, when the country was so sparsely settled, there were no public schools, but the people supported by subscriptions and work such schools as they could afford. The first school house in this township was a log cabin built about 1812. and the teacher was Levi Garretson. The first division of the township into school districts was in August. 1826, by the trustees of the township. Tbe districts were Immense in size. Some of the early teachers were Robert Enehus, Nugent Ward. Caleb Smith. A. R. Sewell. George Athey, Noah Newland and others.

The first roads of the new settlements were mere trails blazed through the great forest. Then the corduroy road, or causeway of logs, was considered a groat improvement The log system of roadmnking, in regions where the soil was wet and timber abundant on the spot, and only costing the cutting, was a very effective means of making the old trails passable. No donbt travel over some of those old log roads must, at times, have been more serious than amusing. The logs were usually of unequal slses and transit over such a surface In a wagon without springs must have been far from comfortable. The first road laid out in the township was what was known as the College township road. The Sewell settlement and Morgan Van Meter's house, at what is now known as Snow Hill, were the most Important points on it. It Is hard to recognise these old roads now from the field notes given, they have been changed so often. The Columbus & Cincinnati state road crossed the township from east to southwest. A road that passed by Vlllar's chapel and on toward Rlnnchester was laid out at a very early date. The road from Lawrence's to Clarksvllle was laid out in 1836.

The first pike through the township was the Goshen & Wilmington turnpike. It was bnllt of broken stone in about 1840. by a company, and was kept up as a toll pike until about 1880. when the commissioners of Clinton county bought it and Improved it About 1.S70 the College township road, from Cuba to Clarksvllle. was piked. The road-l>ed was made twenty feet at the top. thirty-four feet at the base, and two feet high from the bottom of side drains. The road-bed was covered with gravel twelve feet wide and sixteen and one-fourth inches deep. About the year 1876. the road from Vlllar's chapel, through Rlanchester to the Brown county line, was piked In the same manner. In 1880 the Goshen & Wilmington pike was purchased by the county commissioners and Improved, making It a free pike About the same year the road from the Goshen & Wilmington pike near Clarksvllle to the Warren county line, in the direction of Harveysburg. was piked.

The following aro the officers of T'nlon township in 1915: Trustees, Arthur I^eonard, Rol»ert White and C. R. Van Tress; clerk. A. W. Doan; treasurer. C. L. Haworth. Population, including Wilmington, six thousand two hundred and fifteen: outside of Wilmington, seventeen hundred and twenty-four.

The history of the towns of Cnlon township will not require many words, as the - history of Wilmington will be taken up In a separate chapter. There are three small hamlets marked on the county map. These are Deserted Camp, which has been t:iken tip in detail In another chapter: Rurtonville. which is situated on the Wilmington and Martinsville pike, and Clinton, which is a flag stop on the Midland division of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. None of these vlllaccs was ever platted and nt present they have no business or professional interests. Little Center Is the location of a Friends church.

Source changes here: from History of Clinton County Ohio, by Albert J. Brown, published 1915; 1,460 words in this source stream.

Vernon Township

Vernon township is located in the central western portion of Clinton county. It is bounded on the north by Adams township, on the east by Washington. on the south by Marion township and on the west by Warren county. It is one of the three original townships of which Clinton county was cemposed at the time of its organization in 1810. At that time it included also Marion and parts of Adams, Washington, Clark, Union and Jefferson townships. Todd's fork, a tributary of the Little Miami river, Cowan's creek, East fork of Todd's fork and Sewell's run, tributaries of Todd's fork, flow through the township, coming together, or nearly so, in the western part, near the town of Clarksville.

The boundaries of Vernon township, as first organized, included all the territory south of Lytle's-creek and south of a line from the mouth of Lytle's creek to the Warren county line. and extending east to tke old Warren county line in the line of Richland township. 'The township was organized in 1810. The records of the township from its organization to 1826 are lost or have been destroyed and only the most meager details can be gleaned from scattered sources. ;

The commissioners' record show order No. 7, to Elisha Cast, July 18, 1810. for the amount of fourteen dollars and a half, "for sitting as judge of election, delivering poll books and for assessing the township and making returns of the assessment.' David Sewell was chosen as the first justice of the peace. On October 17, 1810. Daniel Ball received an order for three dollars and seventy-five cents for five wolf scalps six months old. These records would seem to show that the first township officials were: Elisha Cast, John Sewell and Benjamin Smalley, trustees, and Aaron Sewell, clerk.

From the year 1826, the records as regards township officers and receipts and expenditures have been well preserved. The following is the clerk's statement for 1825, 'in full:

At this time Vernon township included Adams, Clark (or the greater part of what is now Clark), Jefferson and Marion townships, also part of present Washington township. and enumerated two hundred and eighty-three householders for school purposes.

From the year 1836 to 1862 the records are again missing. In the later year the following were the township officials: William Carson, J. W. Warner and W. B. Smith, trustees; W. H. Gardner, clerk; J. W. Compton, assessor ; Albert Parker, treasurer, and John Dempsey. constable.

It was not until 1872 that the township began to take on anything like its present proportions. On April 1, of that year, the funds on hand were, cemetery fund, $84.81; abandoned grave yard fund, $107.97; poor funds, $426.27; township funds. $324.94; road fund, $186.83; total, $1,130.82. The entire number of votes polled on that date was two hundred and eighty-six.

At the annual election held April 5, 1875, the question of a special tax levy for a township house was submitted to the voters of the township, with the following result: Yes, one hundred and sixty-two votes; No, one hundred and eleven votes. A special tax of two thousand dollars was levied and a neat and substantial building was erected for township purposes.

The Pioneers

David Sewell was the first settler of Vernon township. He became the owner of the of Archibald Campbell's survey, No. 2250, early in the year 1798, on the East fork of Todd's fork, in what is now Clinton county, but was then known as Hamilton county, Northwest territory. He made arrangements to move upon it with his sons, John and Aaron, and his daughter and son-in-law, Hannah and Peter Burr. In 1798; in company with Isaac Tullis, Mary Hendricks and some of the Cowans, the Sewell family came by way of Pittsburgh in wagons and flatboats to the present site of Columbus. From that point they went to Bedell's station in the present Warren county. It is probable that they found their land soon after. The Sewells came in wagons, cutting their way through the heavy virgin forest, and the trail they left is still known as the "Sewell trace," crossing Todd's fork near the town of Rochester and passing near where the old Nauvoo school house stood. At this time their were no nearer neighbors than Lebanon, fourteen miles away.

James McGee, in company with his brother-in-law, John McGregor, came to this township in 1808, and settled. They came from Loudoun county, Virginia. Jonathan Lawrence came in the year 1806. From North Carolina came Thomas Austin in 1809. James Harris emigrated from Loudoun county, Virginia, in 1809, and settled near the present village of

Clarksville. William Hadley came in 1810, from North Carolina, and settled on what was later known as the M. P. Marshall farm. William Austin came in'1811 and settled near the Mt. Pleasant church. James Villars settled in Vernon township in 1813. Josiah Biggs, Lemuel, John and Parson Garrison, David Ferris, Samuel Stabler, Dr. Asahel Tribbey, Ephraim Smith, James Marshall, Ezekiel Cast and Thomas Harden were all among the early settlers and pioneers of Vernon township.

In those early days, when the country was so sparsely settled, there were no public schools, but the people supported by subscriptions and work such schools as they could afford. The first school house in this township was a log cabin built about 1812, and the teacher was Levi Garretson. The first division of the township into school districts was in August, 1826, by the trustees of the township. The districts were immense in size. Some of the early teachers were Robert Eachus, Nugent Ward, Caleb Smith, A. R. Sewell, George Athey, Noah Newland and others.

The first roads of the new settlements were mere trails blazed through the great forest. Then the corduroy road, or causeway of logs, was considered a great improvement The log system of roadmaking, in regions where the svil was wet and timber abundant on the spot, and only costing the cutting, was a very effective means of making the old trails passable. No doubt travel over some of those old log roads must, at times, have been more serious than amusing. The logs were usually of unequal sizes and transit over such a surface in a wagon without springs must have been far from comfortable. The first road laid out in the township was what was known as the College township road. The Sewell settlement and Morgan Van Meter''s house, at what is now known as Snow Hill, were the most important points on it. It is hard to recognize these old roads now from the field notes given, they have been changed so often. The Columbus & Cincinnati state road crossed the township from east to southwest. A road that passed by Villar's chapel and on toward Blanchester was laid out at a very early date. The road from Lawrence's to Clarksville was laid out in 1836.

The first pike through the township was the Goshen & Wilmington turnpike. It was built of broken stone in about 1840, by a company, and was kept up as a toll pike until about 1880, when the commissioners of Clinton county bought it and improved it. About 1870 the College township road, from Cuba to Clarksville, was piked. The road-bed was made twenty feet at the top, thirty-four feet at the base, and two feet high from the bottom of side drains. The road-bed was covered with gravel twelve feet wide and sixteen and one-fourth inches deep. About the year 1876, the road from Villar's chapel, through Blanchester to the Brown county line, was piked in the same manner. In 1880 the Goshen & Wilmington pike was purchased by the county commissioners and improved, making it a free pike. About the same year the road from the Goshen & Wilmington pike near Clarksville to the Warren county line, in the direction of Harveysburg. was piked.

The following are the officers of Union township in 1915: Trustees, Arthur Leonard, Robert White and C. R. Van Tress; clerk, A. W. Doan; treasurer, C. L. Haworth. Population, including Wilmington, six thousand two hundred and fifteen; outside of Wilmington, seventeen hundred and twenty-four.

The history of the towns of Union township will not require many words, as the history of Wilmington will be taken up in a separate chapter. There are three small hamlets marked on the county map. These are Deserted Camp, which has been taken up in detail in another chapter: Burtonville, which is situated on the Wilmington and Martinsville pike. and Clinton. which is a flag stop on the Midland division of the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. None of these villages was ever platted and at present they have no business or professional interests. Little Center is the location of a Friends