Washington Township (part 1 of 16)

Washington Township

1846 - Trustees, Huston Bare, Samuel Wright, Henry Dunn; Treasurer, M. B. Riggs; Clerk, C. P. Evans; Assessor, A. Hays; Overseers of the Poor,

Sardinia Presbyterian Church . - Dnder date of November 1, 1811, in the records of White Oak Congregation. Presbyterian Church, there appears the following; " The Rev. John Boyd, having been previously invited, came to this congregation aud took charge thereof. Although the people of this congregation had been favored with frequent supplies of a preached Gospel prior to this time, yet they were not organized until the following year, and, when Mr. Boyd came among them, it was on the invitation of the people, without any order of presbytery. Previous to Mr. Boyd's taking charge of the congregation, the Rev. James Gilliland had, by particular request, preached a number of times, and had baptized six children for Francis Petti john, namely, Deborah, Sally, Zachariah, Lewis, Barlow and Joseph; and one or two of Joseph Bratton's children. At this time, there were only nine professors or communicants in the congregation, namely, Isabel Bratton, Thomas Pettijohn and Ruth, his wife, David Graham, John Moore and Fanny, his wife, Joseph Bratton and Ann, his wife, Francis Pettijohn."

At the spring session of Washington Presbytery, held in April, 1812, a supplication was presented by White Oak Congregation, praying for one-fourth part of the ministerial labor of Rev. John Boyd, as a stated supply, which was granted. Some time in the summer of 1812, Thomas Pettijohn and John Moore were chosen to the office of Ruling Elders, and were ordained September 18 of that year. On the following day, the session met at the tent near the house of Mr. Bell. There were present Rev. John Boyd, Moderator; Thomas Pettijohn and John Moore, Elders; and John Davies, of New Market session, and John Evans, of Straight Creek. At this session, Mrs. Deborah Pettijohn and Amos Pettijohn made application for admission to the church on examination. On the evening of the same day, four of Amos Pettijohn' s children were baptized, namely, Hannah, Nancy, William and Rachel. Some time during the year before a session was formed, the following-named children of Thomas and Ruth Pettijohn were baptized: Samuel, Boaz, Huldah,

On the second Sabbath of 1813 were baptized Lena, Dorothy, Rebecca, Susannah and Cassandra, daughters of David Graham. The annual report for that year shows nine children baptized; number in communion, eleven (the same number communed in 1812), and none admitted on examination. August 13, 1814, Mrs. Jane Wardlow was admitted on certificate from Mt. Pleasant congregation, Kentucky. John Pettijohn and Susannah, wife of Amos Pettijohn, were admitted on examination. Two children were baptized during the year, and fourteen communed. The report for the year 1815 was as follows: One baptized, three admitted on examination and four on certificate ;

The pastorate of the Rev. John Boyd continued with the church until about April 1, 1816, and the church was without a pastor until November, 1817, when the pulpit was supplied by Revs. James Gilliland and Robert B. Dobbins. During the year closing November 1, 1816, four were admitted on certificate and one on examination, and the number of communicants was twenty-six. Six children were baptized. The report of the following year showed a membership of twenty- seven.

XJntil the latter part of the year 1815 or the first of the year following, services were held at private houses, and perhaps in the groves when the weather permitted. This year, a rude log house was erected, which stood in Highland County, probably two miles northeast of the present village of Sardinia, just over the line separating the two counties. January 1, 1818, the church extended a regular call for one- quarter of the labor of Rev. Mr. White as a stated pastor. The call was accepted, and Mr. White was installed pastor of the united congregations of New Market and White Oak about June 3, 1818. The membership for the years 1818, 1819, 1820, 1821 and 1822 was thirtytwo, thirty, thirty-two, thirty-six and thirty-nine, respectively. Mr. White remained the pastor of the congregation until December, 1823, and preached occasionally for them until March 7, 1824, when he delivered his farewell sermon. Rev. Robert Dobbins, as stated supply, succeeded Mr. White to the pastorate, and served from April 24, 1824, until 1833, when the Rev. Robert Rutherford's ministerial labor began with the congregation. Father Dobbins is said to have been an eccentric man, strong in his affections and positive in his hatreds. In 1829, the second church building was erected, on ground given to the congregation by Amos Pettijohn, located at the cemetery at Sardinia. It was constructed of brick, and served as a place of worship until about the year 1846, when the present frame building was erected at Sardinia. John Moore was very active in the interests of the church, and gave liberally toward the building of the new edifice. The membership of the church in 1830 was forty-five; in 1831, seventy-four; and in 1832, eighty-four. Mr. Rutherford was succeeded to the pastorate by Rev. Dyer Burgess in 1837, who served the church during that and the following year, when his successor was the Rev. James Shaw, w7ho remained in charge until May, 1841. During the decade from 1830 to 1840, the records, as pertains to the pastors, is obscure, and it is possible that some of the names given were only supplies. During this period appears the names of Rev. George Pogue and James H. Dickey, and, in 1840, that of Rev. John Rankin. The latter year, the church membership was ninety-six. In 1841, the name of Rev. Dyer Burgess again appears.

October 1, 1841, Rev. Daniel Gilmore became pastor of the church, and continued in that relation until November 3, 1844. His successor was Rev. John Rankin, who was a supply oniy. In 1845, the membership was 126. April 26, 1846. Rev. Samuel Rankin was ordained as pastor of White Oak

Congregation, and served until December 3, 1850. In 1848, the congregation petitioned the Presbytery to change the name of the church from White Oak Congregation to that of Sardinia Church, which was done. Rev. Rankin was succeeded by Rev. John H. Byrd, whose pastorate commenced May 1, 1851, and ended in 1854. Under his ministry, the church, September 29, 1851, adopted new articles of faith, and was organized as a Congregational Church, which lasted only through his pastorate, then again became a Presbyterian Church. In 1852, the Beauford and Sardinia Churches were consolidated. Other pastors of the church have been as follows: Rev. S. A. Vandyke, December, 1854, to 1857; Rev. V. M. King, October 1, 1859, to 1868; Rev. H. W. Guthrie, June 1, 1868, to January, 1870. The church was then without a pastor for some years. Rev. S. A. Vandyke became the stated supply, and served the congregation in 1879, 1880 and 1881.

Methodist Episcopal Church at Sardinia. - Among the early settlers of what is now Washington Township, there were a number of Methodist families who had settled mainly along the stream known as Slab Camp, prominent among whom were the Kevins, Days and Hamiltons. For a number of years, the principal preaching-place of this denomination was at the house of Andrew Nevin. Private residences were freely thrown open for worship in the early day3 of the settlement along Slab Camp, and, later, schoolhouses were much used. At what time the first class or society was here organized we cannot state, as we can find no record on the subject. However, from tradition, there seems to have been a Methodist society along the stream named at a very early day. This section of the country was then in White Oak Circuit, the ministers of which, from 1808 to 1820, were the following named: 1808, David Young;

1809, John Johnson; 1810, Isaac Pavey; 1811, Benjamin Lakin, Eli Trent; 1812, W. Griffith, Reuben Rowe; 1813, Robert Finley, D. Sharp; 1815, John Strange, S. Chenoweth; 1816, John Strange, Isaac Pavey; 1817, W. Griffith James Simmons; 1818, B. Westlake, S. T. Wells; 1819, F. Landrum; 1820, William Page, L. Swormstedt. In about the year 1829, this congregation joined the township in the erection of a schoolhouse, paying so much money with the understanding that it was to be used in part by them as a place of worship. They here held meetings until 1840, when Andrew Nevin donated to the church about one acre of ground, located about one and a half miles southeast of Sardinia. That year, there was here erected a frame church, which was occupied by the congregation until 1860. This year, they purchased a lot in the village of Sardinia, of Huston Bare, and erected a neat one -story frame church building, in which they continue to worship. The church has long been known as the Mt. Carmel Methodist Episcopal Church. The charge is now on the Mt. Oreb and Sardinia Circuit, and Rev. G. W. Fee is the pastor. Membership, 115.

In 1840, a Baptist Church was organized at Sardinia, with a meihbership of twelve or fifteen. There had then, for some years, been living in the neighborhood the Rev. Hampton Pangburn, a minister of that denomination, and principally through his efforts the organization at this place was effected. The minister organizing the church was Rev. John Stearns. A meeting-house was built in 1841 or 1842. The society did not flourish, and only existed a few years.

Wesleyan Methodist Church. - There was organized in the village of Sardinia, about the year 1844 or 1845, a society known as the Wesleyan Methodist Church, by the Rev. Silas H. Chase. The organization was effected in the Baptist Meeting-House, with a membership of about twenty persons. In the absence of records, we cannot give the names of ministers who have served the charge. The congregation now meet for worship once a month, at what is

It was the custom of the early settlers to inter the dead on their own land, in what became family burying -grounds. Of these there are a number which dot the farms of Washington, some of which became public graveyards, as was the case of the one at Sardinia. This graveyard had its origin in the family burying- ground of Amos Pettijohn, who, prior to 1829, deeded two acres of land, including or adjoining the family yard, to the Presbyterian Church, with the view of a church being erected thereon and a public place of burial formed. It is beautifully located on the summit of a hill, and many neat marble slabs and columns mark the tombs of loved ones. Many of the pioneers were here interred. John B. Mahan, of whom reference is made elsewhere in this work, is buried in this yard, upon whose tombstone is the following inscription: "In memory of John B. Mahan, died December 15, 1844,

In the eastern part of the township is located what is known as the Biehn Graveyard. One-half acre of ground was donated by Henry Biehn, February 24, 1852, to the Trustees of the Evangelical Protestant Church, to be used for a public graveyard. Interments were made in it as early as 1840. It has been used exclusively by the Germans.

The Mt. Carmel Graveyard, located at the old site of that church, has aa history similar to the church, so long as it stood there. The ground was given for a graveyard and for church purposes by Andrew Nevin, a zealous Methodist. It was quite extensively used until the church was removed, but of late years there have been but few interments made here, and the grounds have been allowed to grow up briars and weeds.

Of the first schools of Washington Township but little can be given to the reader, from the fact that there was no record made of them, and from the few survivors who were of school age during the first and second decade of the present century, not much can be obtained. We learn from Mrs. McFadden, widow of the late Joseph McFadden, and daughter of the late David Graham, one of Y/ashington's pioneers, that probably the first school was taught on the Amos Pettijohn land, adjoining Sardinia, by Jack Pettijohn, a son; the latter was a cripple, and could do no farm work; he was badly crippled - could not walk, and had little use of his hands and arms, hence was placed in charge of the children of the pioneers, to whose literary training he was to give his attention. This temple of learning consisted of a shed, open at one end, between two cribs, such as was designed for the threshing apartment. The teacher was known by the scholars as " Lame Jack," and his lameness, too, at times afforded for them some merriment, inasmuch as it was very difficult for him to use the rod, he being compelled to have the pupil under punishment directly at his side, and even then it required great exertion to accomplish the end. The location of this school was not far from the site of the cemetery at Sardinia. School was not long continued at this place, for soon the neighborhood built a schoolhouse just west of where Sardinia now is, on the present land of Squire Bare. The Pettijohn School was probably as early as 1812, and the house referred to built about the year 1815. John Moore was the first teacher at this house, and for nineteen consecutive years was the only master the youth of that vicinity knew.

It was generally understood that Mr. Moore, as soon as corn-husking was over with, was to enter the schoolroom, and there remain until sugar-making began, when school was discontinued until the following fall. The children for miles around attended the Moore School, and almost the entire neighborhood was educated under his instruction. Mr. Moore had previously taught several schools on Red Oak and Straight Creeks.

In the Wardlow neighborhood there was built a schoolhouse which stood a little south of the East Branch of White Oak, about the year 1812. The first master in this house was Thomas Clark. About the year 1820, in the Vance neighborhood, school was taught by Patrick Montgomery. Maj. Vance, now living in the same vicinity, was one of his pupds.

In 1825, the township was divided into four school districts, but, as a description of them all is not of record, we will refrain from giving any. On the 1st of December, 1828, the boundary lines of the township were changed, which made a redistricting of the township into school districts necessary. This occurred in the spring of 1829, when the following described districts were made: No. 1, including a part of the Fourth Schpol District of Eagle

Township, beginning so far east of the northeast corner of Washington Township that a line running south and parallel with the east line of the township will include John Hurst, Orange Hamilton, Widow McFadden and John Bice, out of Eagle Township; then on to the southeast corner of Washington Township; thence with the south line of the township so far that a line running north will include the house lately occupied by Samuel Willaims; thence in such a direction to James Bell's mill as to include Michael Huff and Ezra Wheeler; thence north to the Highland County line; thence with said line east to the beginning. List of householders: John Hurst, Widow McFadden,

District No. 2 - Beginning at the northeast corner of No. 1, thence west with the Highland County line so far that a south line will strike the head of Vansandt's Run; thence down said run to the East Fork; thence down the East Fork to the mouth of Middle Run; thence up Middle Run to Kenton's improvement; thence to Slab Camp Run, at the place where the road leading from John Moore's to Straight Creek crosses said run; thence easterly to the west line of District No. 1 so as to include William Grant and Mark Day; thence with the line of District No. 1 to the beginning. List of householders: John Hindman, Thomas Purcell, William Hindman, Samuel Pangburn, John Pangburn, P. R. Kincaid, Matthew Kincaid, Amos Pettijohn, Peter Williams, Joseph Line, Mark Day, William Grant, Robert D. Lilly, Abraham Pettijohn, John Moore, David Graham, James Wardlow, James Bell, James Kennedy and Levi Estel. *

District No. 3 - Beginning at the southeast corner of District No. 2, thence with the line of said district westerly to Middle Run at Kenton's improvement; thence up Middle Run to Richard Pettijohn's so as to include Benjamin Cornell; thence south to the township line; thence east with the township line to the southwest corner of District No. 1; thence with the east line of said district to the beginning. List of householders: Peter Shinkle, James Rilea,

District No. 4 - Beginning at the Highland County line at the northwest corner of District No. 2; thence west to the North Fork of White Oak; thence down the same to its junction with the East Fork; thence up the East Fork to the mouth of Vansandt's Run; thence up said run and with the line of District No. 2 to the beginning. List of householders: George Wright, Joseph Calvin, Isabel Wardlow, Philander Wardlow, James Wardlow, William Vance, John Vance, John Anderson, John J. Gregory and George Oldum.

District No. 5 - Beginning at the mouth of Middle Run, thence up said run to Richard Petti john's; thence south to the township line; thence west with the township line to the southwest corner of the township; thence with the township line to White Oak Creek, at the mouth of Blackwood's Run; thence up White Oak and the East Fork to the beginning. List of householders: Nancy Dey, Patrick Vance, Samuel Wardlow, Edward Day, Jackson

The School Directors for the above district, when formed, so far as is of record, are the following: District No. 1, Andrew Nevin, Sr., Edward Pettijohn and George Mick; District No. 2, D. Lilley, John Pangburn and John Moore.

January 15, 1831, at a meeting of the Trustees of Washington Township and the township of White Oak, in Highland County, District No. 4 was changed, a portion of it being added to White Oak Township, in the county named, for the convenience of the scholars thereof.

March 25, 1834, District No. 2 was divided, and District No. 6 formed therefrom. It was designated as follows: Beginning at the mouth of Middle

Run, thence up said run to Kenton's improvement; thence to Slap Camp Run, at the place where the road leading from John Moore's to Straight Creek crosses said run; thence easterly to the west line of District No. 1 so as to include James Kennedy; thence with the line of District No. 1 to James Bell's (now Bingamon's) mill; thence down the center of the East Fork of White Oak to the beginning.

The number of white youth enrolled in the six districts in 1860 was as follows: District No. 1, 68; District No. 2, 69; District No. 3, 137; District No. 4, 51; District No. 5, 52; District No. 6, 108; total, 485. During that year, there were three colored children enrolled in District No. 1, and two in District No. 3. Grand total, 490.

Between the years 1860 and 1870, another district was formed, and the enrollment for the seven districts in 1870 was as follows: District No. 1, 40;

During the next decade, two more districts were formed, and the enrollment in 1880 was as follows: District No. 1, 41 white and 3 colored; District No. 2, 65 white and 1 colored; District No. 3, 77; District No. 4, 70; District No. 5, 45; District No. 6, 53; District No. 7, 45; District No. 8, 67; District No. 9, 41 white and 4 colored; total, 509.

The annual report of the County Auditor on schools makes the following exhibit of the schools of W ashington Township for the year ending August 31, 1881: Of the nine houses now in the nine school districts of the township, one was erected during the year at a cost of $1,500. Ten teachers were employed; average wages per month, $35.35; average term of school, twentyfour weeks; total enrollment within the year, 459, of which number 101 were studying the alphabet, 201 reading, 322 spelling, 226 writing, 247 arithmetic, 126 geography, 49 English grammar, 29 oral lessons and 1 composition. To-

In this article on schools, we have not noted all of the changes in the boundary lines of the districts since the formation of the first four, but only those of earlier years.

The following were the members of the Board of Education in 1880 and 1881: Lewis Allmann, Gideon Kirk, O. B. Moore, Peter Ballein, Josiah Mc-

The first mill built in Washington Township was the Wardlow Grist-Mill, later known as the Levi Estel Mill. It stood on White Oak Creek, about two miles west of Sardinia, on land now owned by John Wright, and was erected by John Wardlow, and, after a few years, was sold to Levi Estel. As nearly as can be ascertained, the mill was erected about the year 1812 or 1813. It is said that it was never of much force, and did not stand many years.

Some years later, John Kibler, an enterprising man, erected a mill on the East Branch of White Oak, in the extreme northeastern part of the township, and there laid out a town. Mr. Kibler was a very popular and active man, and, had he lived, the town at the mill would very likely have been the Sardinia of to-day, but his death, occurring in 1 829, put a stop to the growth of the place. This mill is now owned by John Sands, and, until the winter of 1881-82, was in operation, but at that time the dam was washed away, and the grinding has since been discontinued.

One mile east of Sardinia, on the same stream, some time after the Kibler Mill was built, a saw and grist mill was erected by James Bell, which was in operation until about the year 1847.

In 1831 or 1832, John B. Mahan and John Dunham built a saw-mill at the mouth of Slab Camp. This they ran some years as a saw-mill, when a grist-mill was added. The dam, however, washed out in a few years, and the mills were suffered to go down. Later, a steam saw-mill was built on this site by Calvin ftilea, who afterward added a grist-mill, when the machinery was removed to Brownstown, and is now in the mill at that place.

Another saw-mill stood on the old Vinson Calvin land, built by Joseph McFadden, but there not being sufficient water in the stream to run it successfully, it was soon abandoned.

The villages of the township are Sardinia and Brownstown. The former, the larger of the two, is a thriving little place of about three hundred inhabitants, pleasantly situated on the East Branch of White Oak Creek, and is one of the few railroad towns of Brown County, the Cincinnati & Eastern passing through it, and it being the terminus of the Hillsboro Ac Sardinia Railroad. The village was laid out by William B. Lilley and Josiah Moore, March 30, 1833, at which date the surveying was done by Jeptha Beasley, then County Surveyor. The original number of lots was sixteen. Additions were made by the same men August 12, 3836, and May 23, 1837. The first houses erected in the place were by Dr. I. M. Beck and Josiah Moore. Both were built on Main street, opposite to each other, and are yet standing. The frame of Mr. Moore's house was the first up, but the house of Dr. Beck was the first completed. The first merchant in the vicinity was Dr. Robert D. Lilley, who sold goods in 1828, and, in 1832 or 1833, sold his stock of goods to William B. Lilley and Josiah Moore, proprietors of the village, who carried on a store for some years, and then quit the business. In the latter part of 1833, a store was opened by George Salt, who was the merchant for about a year. Messrs. Cowan & Masters then opened a store in a little log building where all their predecessors had held forth. But finally this firm erected a two-story frame house, adjoining the house of Dr. Beck. The first tavern was kept by John B. Mahan, opened about the year 1835. The village smith was Willis Gilliland. His was the first hammer to rebound from the heavy anvil and break the quiet of the peaceful village. His shop was built in 1 837, and stood on Winchester street, where now is the livery stable of Nathan Dunn. Among the early industries of the village may be mentioned the turning establishment and cabinet shop of Josiah Moore, who began the business as early as 1835. He patented a bed, and made a great deal of furniture, and supplied Hillsboro and other places of that region with articles of his manufacture. About the same time, Bobert J. Huggins carried on quite an extensive wagon-making shop. Not far from the year 1847. a factory for the manufacture of wind-mills was started at Sardinia. It was an extensive affair, and the proprietors employed five or six workmen, and had as many traveling salesmen. Soon after Sardinia was laid out, a carding- machine and oil-mill was put in operation by John L. Pangburn, who was the proprietor until his death, which occurred in 1837. The mill then passed through several hands, and, in three or four years, was abandoned. Another of the early industries of the village was the tannery carried on by Franz Feike, who began business in 1836 or 1837, and continued operations until about 1856, when he removed to Missouri and the yard went down.

There was a post office at this point prior to the laying- out of the village, called " Lilley" Post Office, so styled after the first Postmaster, Dr. Bobert D. Lilley. It was established in 1828 or 1829. Since Mr. Lilley ceased acting in that capacity, the Postmasters have been as follows: William Lilley, who served from 1832 until about the year 1837; Josiah Moore, Moses B. Biggs, Huston Bare, Thomas Davis, William Campbell and Stephen Feike. The latter is the present incumbent. After the town was laid out, the name of the office was changed to Sardinia.

The Campbell Bros.' Carriage Manufactory. - On the west side of Main street, near Broadway, is located the establishment above named. In 1855, A. F. Campbell, Sr., came to Sardinia and engaged in general blacksmithing. At his death, in 1863, a son, W. G. Campbell, carried on the work, and about the close of the war, he began the manufacture of wagons, and had a general repairing shop, situated on Graham street, employing from three to five hands. In 1870, his brothers, John and A. F. Campbell, became partners, and the three have since carried on the business. They commenced the manufacture of car riages and buggies, in addition to the other work, in 1874, and the following year built the two-story frame shop, in which the present business is done.

Cross Bros.' Establishment. - In 1861, the firm of Anderson, Huggins, Cross & Co. commenced the manufacture of plows and farm wagons. They erected a large two-story house on Graham and Winchester streets, and worked a force of about six men. In about a year, the firm changed to Anderson & Cross, and in 1868 it became Anderson, Cross & Cross. Since 1870, it has been under the present management, with Cross Bros, as proprietors. They commenced manufacturing buggies in 1872, and quit in 1880, and are now selling ready-made work, dealing in agricultural implements and hardware.

In the spring of 1881, a mill, for the sawing and working of wood, was built by Messrs. H. Beck and Edward Huggins, and has since been leased and is now carried on by G. A. Canoly and James Ervin.

Sardinia Lodge. No. 683, I. O. O. F. - Was instituted in Moore's Hall, where it still meets, July 23, 1879, by Grand Master E. K. Wilcox, of Cleveland. The charter members were Peter Bauline, John T. Wilson, Martin Wilson, O, P. Kennedy, M. B. Ketterman. E. P. Keller, John Duncan and O. B. Moore. The lodge has now a membership of twenty-five. Present offi-

Sardinia has for years been noted for the musical talent of its people, in which branch they have excelled the people of neighboring towns. This fact is said to be due to the efforts in that direction of the late John Moore, who for many years taught music in the village, and who, with his descendants, were concerned in every concert, band and choir of their time. There is at this writing a good brass band in the village.

The physicians of Sardinia have been Peter Williams, who settled in this vicinity about the year 1824; Robert D. Lilley, who came in February, 1828, and remained until November, 1832; Dr. I. M. Beck, now engaged in active practice, where for more than half a century ho has administered to ailing humanity, having located where the town now is in J uly, 1829, and since remained, excepting a period of five years; Dr. John McTlhaney, who located at this place in 1836, and remained one year; Dr. Newkirk, who practiced from 1843 until 1845, and Dr. J. B. McClain, now a practitioner of the place, who came in 1866.

The village has ever been a temperance place. When it was laid out, it was with this understanding, and, while it has not ever boon without saloons, they have been few in its history as compared with other places much less in population. The temperance movement was introduced in this vicinity by Rev. Robert Dobbins, and inaugurated in the year 1830. Dr. Isaac M. Beck was one of its warmest supporters in that early day, and has to this day cooled none in his ardor in the support of the cause. Ho, it is thought, was the first lay temperance lecturer in Southwestern Ohio. He delivered a lecture on this subject in this vicinity August 1, 1830. and repeated the same in the same vi - cinity in August, 1880, just fifty years afterward.

Brownstown, situated in the southern part of the township, on Brown's Run, is a small village of about fifty inhabitants. It was laid out by Roily Dunn, August 26, 1848; number of lots, twenty-one. The post office was established here June 5, 1876, with J. G. Tracy, Postmaster, and there has been no change since. In September, 1881, E. A. & B. A. Thompson erected a steam saw-mill at this point, and in several months added a grist-mill, which is also operated by steam power.

On the 17th day of May, 1856, a severe storm passed through & portion of Washington Township, doing serious injury along its path. The first place any material injury was done was on the farm of Mr. J. H. Dunn. There were immense trees twisted off and torn up by the roots, fence rails and branches of timber were carried in every direction, and some dozen sheep, which were so unlucky as to be in its course, were killed; passing from here through the woodland of Mr. Ira Tracey, it laid waste everything before it, until reaching his barn, which was a very large frame building, the roof of which was nearly entirely carried away, shivering the rafters and sheeting into fragments, part of the roof being carried to the distance of from twenty to thirty rods from the barn. The roof of a brick building adjoining his dwelling was entirely blown off; also, the roof of his dwelling was very materially damaged. But Mr. Tracey sustained the greatest injury in the loss of his orchard, which was almost entirely destroyed, the trees being torn up by the roots, or broken off near the ground, a part of which was carried to the distance of from eighty to ninety poles. Mr. Tracey's loss was in the neighborhood of 1500 or $600. Benjamin Wardlow was very considerably damaged, his dwelling house was carried off to the first story; also his orchard, together with the orchard of James 'Wardlow, was much damaged. Where the storm passed through the timber, it was nearly all either torn up by the roots or twisted off near the ground, the width being from fifteen to twenty rods.

Chapter Xv

OTERLING is one of the border townships, Clermont County forming its fO western boundary; on the south is Pike Township; on the east, Greenland on the north is Perry. It is situated in what is known as the boot-leg of Brown County, and contains 17,272 acres of land. The general surface is level, but slightly broken along the streams, except in the western and southwestern parts on the larger water-courses, where there are some hills. Originally, the surface was heavily timbered with white oak, sugar, hickory, swamp elm and black and sweet gum. Although considerable of the forest growth has been removed, there still remains a great deal of timber. The predominating soil is clay, yet alluvial flats appear about the sources of the streams, which are of great richness. Five Mile Creek, Four Mile Creek, Crane Run and other tributaries of the Easf Fork of the Little Miami River have their sources in the township. The East Fork of the Little Miami River flows through the extreme northwestern corner of the township, and the southern part is crossed by the Cincinnati & Eastern Railroad.

Land Surveys

The original survey, entries, with dates, etc. , of land comprising the townships of Sterling, as taken from the book of original surveys, in the office of the County Recorder, is exhibited in the following list:

Pioneer Settlers

From ail accounts, it is thought that Hugh McLain and family were the first permanent settlers of the township. Hugh McLain was a native of Ireland and emigrated to America just previous to the Revolutionary war, and was for some years engaged in merchandising, buying trinkets in his native country and selling them in this, and in turn buying in this country and selling in Europe, which kept him crossing the ocean frequently. He continued in this line of business until the war between England and America made it dangerous to be on the sea, when he settled in the State of Pennsylvania and there married Mary Allison and became engaged in agricultural pursuits. He performed some service along the border against the Indians during the Revolutionary war, and in the latte:: part of 1796 emigrated to Ohio and stopped at Columbia, and remained in that vicinity for two years, then removed into the southern part of Survey No. 3,343, located in what is now Brown County, in which he had purchased a tract of 200 acres of land. His family consisted of wife and two sons - John, an imbecile, and Archibald. The father died in

1816, and the mother about the year 1825. Archibald was born in Lancaster County, Penn., 4ugust 17. 1779, and was married while residing in Hamilton County, this State, to Mary, daughter of "William Shaw, who bore him the following sons and daughters - Nancy, born in 1800, and died at the age of eleven years; Jane, born October 18, 1802; Hugh, died in 1806; William S., born March 25, 1807; Archibald, born March 27, 1809; Thomas E., born March 15, 1811; Margaret, born December 5, 1813, and Robert, born January 10, 1818. Archibald, some years after settling in Brown County, purchased fifty acres of land adjoining the 200-acre tract before mentioned, the half of which his father had given him.

From the history of Clermont County, it appears that James Kain and his family were the first permanent settlers in Williamsburg Township;' that in the year 1795 and the early part of 1796, the elder Kain had worked at this place, building a cabin in the village and clearing a considerable tract of land for Gen. Lytle on Kain Run, which was long afterward known as the " big field." The writer of the sketch of Williamsburg thus alludes to the pioneer, Archibald McLain, in the account given of the first settlement of that village: "In the summer of 1796, James Kain came here from Newtown, where he had settled several years previously, to build the first cabin, which was erected on Lot 43, where is now the residence of Adam C. Walker. He was accompanied by his daughter Mary, a young girl of a dozen years, and her companion, Mary Bunion, who did the cooking for the workmen employed on the cabin; and these, it is claimed, were the first white women who came to reside in the eastern part of the present county of Clermmt. James Kain occupied his house in the fail of 1796, and his family was moved from Newtown in an oldfashioned Conestoga wagon, by Archibald McLain, who followed mere bridlepaths, which often made it necessary to form wider roads, so that the trip occupied several days. The king-bolt of this wagon, probably the first that was ever used in the county, is yet in the possession of the McLain family." Mr. McLain was an Elder in the Old- School Presbyterian Church in the village of Williamsburg. In 1806, he united with the Presbyterian Church in Felicity (then named Smyrna), and in 1808, when a Presbyterian Church was first organized at Williamsburg, he was ordained one of its first Elders. His death occurred October 19, 1 855. He was a member of the church forty-nine years and an Elder forty-seven. During this long period, his walk and conversation were becoming the Gospel. He was a useful citizen, a kind, accommodating neighbor and an affectionate husband and father.

Of the sons of Archibald McLain, William S.. married Sarah Everhart, of Clermont County, a daughter of Daniel Everhart, from Virginia, who settled at Williamsburg in 1809, and was in his day one of the most prominent business men of the village. William S. is a resident of that village and is well known throughout this region of the country, where he has done extensive surveying. Archibald married Phebe Ross, and resides on the home farm. A sketch of him appears elsewhere in this work. Thomas E. married Mary Hiles, and removed to Pike Township, this county, where he died in 1863. Robert married Ann Collins. Of the daughters, Jane married Thomas, son of John Plain, one of the first settlers of Williamsburg, and Margaret married B. Wharton. On the McLain farm are standing two thrifty apple trees that were set out by the pioneer Hugh McLain about the year 1800.

Absalom Day, a native of the State of New Jersey, was born April 7, 1773, and when a boy not out of his teens, came with his parents, Jeremiah and Sarah (Dod) Day, to Ohio, stopping for a time at Columbia, at the mouth of the Little Miami River, then removed to Williamsburg, arriving in 1796. and received one of the ten lots given by Gen. Lytle to the first ten settlers of the vil lage. The father, Jeremiah Day, was a native of England. Absalom, while at Columbia, married Elizabeth, daughter of George Earhart, who was born in Chester County, Penn., May 30, 1776, and to them were born the following named children: Mary, born January 28, 1797; Sarah, born December 1, 1798; Elizabeth, born September 25, 1800; Samuel, born November 16, 1802; Susannah, born June 20, 1806; Katie Ann, born September 2, 1808; Joseph, born January 19, 1811; Aaron, born September 13, 1812; Sophia, born July 20, 1814; David E., born December 28, 1815; Absalom, born December 26, 1817, and Anna J., born June 20, 1822. Father Day, after residing at Williamsburg for two or three years, removed to a tract of land in the western part of what is now Sterling Township, Brown County (on the present site of the post office of De La Palma). He died February 17, 1839, aged sixty-five years ten months and ten days. His wife died September 4, 1843, in her sixty-eighth year. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and worshiped at Clover, in what is now Clermont County, in the earliest -existence of the society at that place; and later, the Day residence was the preaching point for years in that locality.

Of the seven daughters of this couple, Mary married William Day; Sarah married Daniel Ready; Elizabeth married Jacob Waits; Susannah married John Coulter; Katie Ann married Benjamin Reed; Sophia married William Weeks, and Mary J. died unmarried. The sons were married as follows: Samuel to Miriam Hayward, a native of Virginia, both are now residing in

The families of John Anderson and Moses Leonard settled in what is now Sterling Township in 1799 or 1800, both purchasing land in the J. Harvie Survey, No. 3,344. They were brothers-in-law, and emigrated to Ohio together a year or two before settling as described. They came from New Jersey to Pittsburgh by land, and thence down the Ohio River by boat, and landed at the mouth of the Little Miami, where they remained until their removal to this vicinity. Mr. Anderson was a native of Maryland, born February 10, 1773. His wife was Martha Wood, a native of Greene County, Penn., and their children were Margaret, born May 16, 1797, and married Moses Warden; Eliza, born March 11, 1799, and married William Boyd; William, born February 8, 1801, and married Eliza Shannon, of Clermont County; Amelia, born September 20, 1804, and married Paul Stricklin, of Clermont County; Nancy, born September 17, 1806, and married Robert Justus; Thomas W., born March 12, 1809, and married Lovisa Pittser; Macajah, born July 24, 1811; John T,, born September 30, 1813, and Hiram C., born May 16, 1815, and married Rebecca Black. The latter now resides on the homestead, where all the children were born and reared. The parents died, the father June 25, 1839, and the mother February 16, 1854, and were buried at Williamsburg.

Mr. Leonard was a Pennsylvanian by birth, and was married to Elizabeth Anderson. Their children were John, who was twice married - first, to Margaret Smith, and second, to Mrs. Sarah Smallwood, a widow; Elizabeth, who married Andrew Smith; Hannah, Casey, Aaron, Levi, George and Ellen. Hannah married Jacob Mason, of Williamsburg; Casey married Frances Holeman; Aaron married Elizabeth Perrine; Levi married Mary A. Hickey, of Clermont County, and died on the homestead December 14, 1872, in the sixtysixth year of his age; George married Mary Amos, of Cincinnati, and Ellen married John Shotwell. The last two are the only survivors of the immediate family. * oner. His death occurred January 9, 1844, aged eighty-four years, nine months and twenty -four days, and that of his wife July 11, 1834, in her sixtyfirst year. John Leonard served in the war of 1812.

In 1799 or 1800, George Earhart, a German, settled on land in the southern part of the township, south of the tract purchased by John Anderson. He, with his family, came from Pennsylvania, and landed with the Days at Columbia, and thence removed, as stated above, to the vicinity of the Andersons. His wife was Elizabeth Eanchon. The oldest son, John Earhart, stopped at Williamsburg, where he remained as a permanent settler, and proved himself a great addition to the settlement, as he became the plow-maker of the neighborhood. His skill in making wooden mold-boards was very great, and his work was in good demand. - He was also a cooper and a handy and useful man generally. His sons - John, George and Samuel - became wellknown citizens.

In the latter part of the eighteenth century, the Boyd family emigrated from Ireland and settled in Bucks County. Penn., but not content there, soon removed to land adjoining the city of Lexington, Ky. The parents were John and Mary. Samuel, a son, was married while in Pennsylvania to Abigail Stewart, and with a family of nine children, emigrated from his Kentucky home, in March, 1804, and settled in Survey No. 3,622. He had two years previously been here and made a purchase of 400 acres of land in the southern part of the survey named, of Archibald Mcllvain. The sons and daughters were John, William, Robert, Samuel, James, Jane, Martha, Mary, Elizabeth and Nancy, of whom Jane was born on the Ohio River while en route to Kentucky, and James, the youngest, was born here; all the others were born in Kentucky. The father was a resident of the township until his death, which occurred suddenly by apoplexy, while in Clermont County, in May, 1825. He was identified with the Presbyterian Church at the neighboring village of Williamsburg. The daughter Jane was married to James McGavi, John to Shelamith Reece, William to Eliza Anderson (Robert died young), Martha to Ephraim McAdams, of Clermont County, whose family were very early settlers at Williamsburg. Mary was married three times , first, to John Hays; second, to Jacob Willis, and third, to William Cobb; Samuel to Margaret Everhart, Elizabeth to James McAdams (Nancy died single), and James was twice married; first, to Serena South, and second to Sarah McDonald, and is the only survivor of the Boyd family. He resides on the homestead, where nearly three-quarters of a century have been passed, and about which cluster the recollections of nearly as many years. William and John Boyd were both in the war of 1812; the latter served as a Lieutenant.

The Waits brothers, James and Charles, emigrating from the Redstone country in Pennsylvania, settled in Kentucky, on the North Fork of the Licking River, in the spring of 1794, and in 1802, removed to Ohio and made permanent settlements on Four Mile Creek, in the western part of Sterling, near what is now the Clermont County line. James farmed his land until about the year 1838, when he sold it to Ira Willey and passed the remainder of his life with his son Jacob, who resided near the center of the township. Other sons and daughters of James Waits were Jghn, Charles. Peter, William, David, Richard, James and Nancy (twins), Sarah, Christina and Elizabeth. The father died March 2, 1855, aged ninety-five years, and the mother July 14, 1856, aged ninety-four years. Charles was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and for services rendered drew a pension from the Government. Three of the sons, Charles, Peter and John were in the war of 18.12; two of them, Charles and Peter, were members of Capt. Jacob Boerstlor's company of riflemen, which was organized at Williamsburg, and it was in tho service from April 24, 1812, to October 24, 1812. It was engaged at the battle of Brownstown, where four of its men, including the Captain, were killed, August 4, 1812, and another died afterward of wounds received in the same engagement.

Of the two brothers who settled on Four Mile Creek, Charles raised quite a family in that vicinity, and there lived and died. He, too, was a soldier of the Revolutionary war.

Hillery B. Walker and Adam Snell, of Pennsylvania, emigrated to this State together in 1806, and effected settlements in the northwestern part of the township. Mr. Walker was a native of the State from whence he emigrated, born March 25, 1782, and his wife Elizabeth was born May 1, 1789. They died February 21, 1845, and May 25, 1844, respectively. Their family consisted of the following-named sons and daughters: John, Adam S., George, Michael, Thomas, Lurinda J., William, Susan, Ruth, Hillery B., Hillery J., Eliza E., Washington, Matilda, Hannah' and Cyrus G. Mr. SnelPs children were Michael, Daniel, Hannah, Rachel, Susan, Matilda, Polly and Elizabeth.

Thomas Ross, with family, settled on the William Buford Survey, No. 4789, located near the center of the township, in 1814. He was a native of Washington County, Penn., born in 1789. His parents were Ignatius and Mary (Jennings) Ross, who were among the earliest emigrants at Columbia, arriving in 1791. Ignatius died there in 1827. Mr. Ross was unfortunate in purchasing his land in this township, from the fact that he had to pay for it the second time. While at Columbia, he married Alary Dobbins, of Virginia, and there were born to them Mary, Albert, Eveline, Thomas, Malinda, Rhoda and two others who died young. He lived here until his death, which occurred February 14, 1861. He was one of the first settlers of the township, and for a term of years served as a Justice of the Peace, and in 1842-43 he was a Representative in the State Legislature. His wife died February 12, 1854.

These were the bulk of the pioneers of Sterling. The elevated and broken tracts of land lying adjacent to the East Fork of the Little Miami River k and its larger tributaries were early taken up and occupied by the numerous home-seekers, who were continually landing at Columbia during the last decade of the past century. The old town of Williamsburg, laid out in 1795-96, with [ its mill a year later, was the center of attraction, and ere many years the choice land was gone, and arriving emigrants turned their course in other directions. The dreary and altogether uninviting aspect of much of the low, swampy land of what is now this township greatly impeded rapid settlement. i The pioneers just named, with their families, the sons and daughters marrying and settling around them, improved and lived upon the land of the township best located then to suit their wants, and slow immigration followed. The | major portion of the township was not settled and the lands improved until a late period in the history of Brown County. It will be noticed in the original en tries that some of the land was not surveyed until 1837. An idea of the con- j

Sterling was organized as a civil township from Perry and Pike Townships December 7, 1824. Its boundary lines were then described as follows: Beginning at the southwest corner of Highland County, running from thence west to the Brown County line; thence north with the same to where it crosses the East Fork; thence east to the Highland County line, and thence with the same to the beginning. It included what are now the townships of Sterling and Green. This territory was equally divided by the County Commissioners December 2, 1884, on the formation of Green Township, from the east half.

We are only able to give in the following a partial list of the names of those persons who served as Justices of the Peace of the township prior to 1854, and this from tradition:

John Boyd and Charles Waits were the first Justices of the Peace after the organization of Sterling. Each served for a period of nine years at least. John Leonard, Titus Hair and William Weeks wpre later Justices. Archibald McLain was first commissioned Justice of the Peace in 1836. From 1854', the names and dates of commissions are given from record:

Pbopebty-Holdebs In 1838

^ The following list contains the names of those who held property in Sterling Township in 1838, together with the amount of land and the number of survey in which located:

Churches And Graveyards

The pioneer families of Sterling were Methodists and Presbyterians, and attended the societies of these denominations at Clover and Williamsburg, situated only a few miles from the main settlement, but in Clermont County. It may not be thought out of place to refer briefly to the early history of these societies, inasmuch as they were the pioneer church organizations for miles around, and families from this township constituted a part of the membership. From the history of Williamsburg Township, Clermont County, under the head of Clover Chapel of the Methodist Episcopal Church, is taken the following: "On the 29th of August, 1804, William Winters and Peter Light executed a deed for a lot for church purposes at Clover, to Amos Smith, Joshua Lambert, William Smith, Moses Rumsey, Ephraim Duke, Samuel Nelson, Samuel Nutt, Augustus Clark and Thomas Lemon as Trustees. These began a hewed- log house in the course of a few years, which was never wholly finished, yet preaching was held there several years, and ever since 1804, Methodist preaching has been maintained with more or less regularity in the Clover neighborhood." Among the early members of this society were the Days, Andersons, Trouts and Earharts. The first class leader was Amos Smith. The church then was on the White Oak and Moscow Circuit.

About the year 1813, prayer- meetings were inaugurated at the house of Absalom Day, and occasionally held there, and several years later a church organization was effected, it being the result of the outgrowth of a camp-meeting which had been in progress in the vicinity of Batavia, conducted by the Rev. John Collins. Some of the members of this society were the Days, Smiths, Charles Waits, Jr., and the Earharts. Andrew Smith was one of the class leaders.

The McLains and Boyds were members of the Presbyterian Church at Williamsburg, which was organized by the Rev. Dr. Hoge in the year 1808, and held meetings in the court house for more than twenty years, under the pastorate of Rev. R. B. Dobbins, who continued in charge until 1833. Their first church building was erected in 1830. Archibald McLain was one of the original members of this church and one of its first Elders, in which office he continued forty- seven years.

Salem Methodist Episcopal Church. - A church organization of Methodists existed for some years, beginning in about 1834, in the southern part of the township, where services were held in a schoolhouse on the farm of Archibald McLain, composed of tne families of that persuasion in that vicinity. After a few years, the organization weakened, and finally " went out." It was, however, revived and meetings were held along from time to time until in 1854, when the society had recruited its membership and gained sufficient strength to erect a house of worship. Among the members at this period were John Newberry and wife, Mother Anderson, Thomas Anderson and wife, Archibald McLain and wife, James Long and wife, Ezra Willey and wife, Edward Collins and wife, John H. Daughterty and wife and Mrs. Overton. A halfacre of ground was donated by T. W. Anderson for the purpose of erecting a church thereon. The pastor of the church was Rev. Andrew Murphy, who appointed the following-named men as Trustees: A. McLain, J. R. Long, John Newberry, John H. Daugherty and Ezra Willey. In August, the Trustees contracted with C. L. Rilley to build a meeting-house, for which they were to pay him $550. The one-story frame building now standing there is the one then built. This appointment was in 1854, a part of the Williamsburg Circuit, and the Rev. Levi Thomas was the colleague of Mr. Murphy on the circuit. It is now attached to Williamsburg, and the pastor is Rev. Mr. Moler.

Burdsall Chapel is the name of a Methodist Episcopal Church located in the northern part of the township. The society was organized in what was known as the Morgan Schoolhouse in that vicinity, in November, 1843, with a membership of eleven, among whom were Charles Brown and sister Rebecca, A. E. Adams, L. D. Simonton and wife Maria, Samuel Simonton and wife Elizabeth. Other members of about that period were Rarrack Butt and wife Harriet, Harriet Stroub, John Shannon and wife Margaret and Thomas Shannon. It was made a part of Batavia Circuit, of which the ministers in charge were Revs. John W. Clark and William I. Fee, the latter of whom preached the first sermon to the class in the schoolhouse. Services were held in the Morgan Schoolhouse, at the residence of Charles Brown and at another schoolhouse in the neighborhood until the building of the present neat one-story brick edifice in 1854. The lot, one acre, upon which the building stands, was given to the society by Timothy Kirby, of Cincinnati. Not long after the church was organized, Edward Burdsall and family united with the little band, and the former became a zealous and hard-working member, active to the interests and prosperity of the church; he gave liberally in work and money, and was a leading factor in the construction of the edifice, from which fact the church was called Burdsall Chapel. The dedicatory sermon was preached in the summer of 1855 by Rev. W. E. Hines. The ministers in charge of Batavia Circuit from 1844 to 1852, are as follows: 1844, Revs. John W. Clark, O. P. Williams; 1845, Revs. Barton Lowe, Thomas K. Coleman; 1846, Revs. Barton Lowe, Andrew J. McLaughlin; 1847, Revs. H. Wharton, Enoch West; 1848- 49, Rev. L. D. Harlan; 1850, Revs. David Whitman, John W. Ross; 1851, Revs. Levi P. Miller, G. C. Townsley. In September, 1851. or the year following, Williamsburg Circuit was formed, and Burdsall's Chapel became a part thereof, and the ministers in charge, from 1851 for some years, were as follows: Rev. L. P. Miller, Rev B. P. Wheat; Revs. A. Murphy, John Smith; Revs. A Murphy, Levi Thomas; Revs. W. E. Hines, James H. Middleton; Revs. W E. Hines. E. P. James; Revs. E. C. Merrick, James Kendall; Revs.

M. P. Zink, S. G. Griffith; Revs. W. E. Hines, S. G. Griffith; Revs. W. E. Hines, N. Green. In the absence of records, we cannot give the date that this appointment was made a part of the Marathon Circuit, to which it now belongs. Rev. William Jackson is now in charge. Present membership, between eighty and one hundred.

Five-Mile Christian Church. - This church, situated in the northeastern part of the township, on Five-Mile Creek, was organized in that vicinity by the Rev. Alexander McLain in 1842. The original membership consisted of Jacob Hair and wife Elizabeth, and two daughters, Savilla and Letta A. Hair. The Hair residence was the preaching place of this society for some years, when a hewed-log house was erected for a place of worship, which stood on the site of the present church. One half acre of ground was given for church and burial purposes by A. Hair, anc^ later one acre was purchased of Thomas Sheldon and added to the graveyard. The following in the order given have served the charge: Revs. Aexander McLain, John McMillen, Alexander Thompson, George Mefford, William Pangburn, John Sheldon, - Rapp, Rufus McDaniel, George C. Hill, and Lewis Shinkle, the present incumbent. The present edifice, a on^-story brick, with belfry and boll, was erected in 1870 and 1871, and dedicated on the fourth Sunday of June, in the latter year, by the Rev. Namon Dawson. The membership is now about one hundred and forty. Interments were made in the graveyard about the date of the building of the log church.

Bloom Rose United Brethren Church. - -Situated nor tlrwest of the center of the township, on Five-Mile Creek, was organized about the year 1845. Among the original members were Zelinda Brown, Reuben Harbaugh, Joseph Brown, Theophilus Simonton, Roliu Ireton, Nancy Simonton, Thomas Stewart, Nancy Stewart and Archibald and Maria Bracelin. The first pastor of the church was Rev. Mr. Heindricks. A neighboring schoolhouse answered as a place of worship until 1849, when, under the pastorate of Rev. John Walters, a small frame building was erected, which is yet used by this denomination. The lot was deeded by Joseph Brown to Thomas Prall, Archibald Bracelin and Theophilus Simonton, Trustees of the church, for burial and church purposes, dated February 2, 1849. Revs. McNeil, Cooper and Henry Tobey were among the first pastors of the church. February 20, 1856, Joseph Brown, in consid- i eration of $72.93. deeded to Edmund Burdsall, John J unkins, Joseph Brown , and Robert Forkor, Trustees of the graveyard, about two acres of ground, which was added to that of the church. Burials were here made as early as i 1845, the first interment being that of Joseph, son of Joseph and Zelinda [ Brown, who died July 9, 1845. The congregation are now erecting a neat one- j story brick building, which will be completed yet this fall, at a cost of about j j $2,500. The membership is about sixty, and the pastor of the church Rev. j! W. R. Houlston.

Taylor Chapel. - A Methodist Episcopal Church, located in the center of the township, dates from the spring of 1874, when organized in the Ross || Schoolhouse. The following summer, the congregation built a frame structure j | of medium size, in which they continue to worship. The constituent members, in 1874, were as follows: J. R. Long, John Hill and wife, E. C. Hill, :'i George Hatton and wife, Susan Hill, Henry Runyan, G. P. Bishop and wife i| Elizabeth, Mary J. ConkJin, Margaret Wedmeyer, Lucinda Wedmeyer, Barbara h Ogden, Jane Bishop, Dora Ross, Enoch Simpkins, Ichabod Bishop, Alfred Bishop, Mary J. Bishop, W. Parcust, E. Wedmeyer, Kate Bishop, Barbara Hesler, Margaret E. Meyers, Olie Runyan, Bell Meyers, Nancy Stephens and Mary E. Waits. The ground upon which the church is built was donated by James Taylor. The edifice was dedicated in December, 1874; sermon by Rev.

Granville Moody. This appointment belongs to Marathon Circuit, and has a membership of twenty-seven. The ministers in charge have been Revs. William McMullen, Peter Wells, E. P. James, W. J. Baker, and William Jackson, present incumbent.

The graveyard across from the church had its origin in a small strip of ground appropriated by Thomas Ross for burial purposes. Some years later, to this was added about two acres given by James Taylor. Interments were made in this burial-ground as early as 1840.

Todd's Run Baptist Church (Colored). - Was organized by Elder Riley April 29, 1870, with twenty members, among whom were R. Willis and wife, H. Williams and wife, J. Cope and wife. They have erected a neat frame church building in the southern part of the township, which was dedicated August 20, 1882. Present membership, thirty-nine. Present pastor, Elder George Davis.

In the absence of records, but a few fragments of school history can be given. The names of most of the early teachers have passed out of recollection, and only a few can be recalled. As early as 1814, there stood on the Samuel Boyd farm, in the southwestern part of what has since become Sterling Township, of Brown County, located about where now stands the blacksmith shop of George Bishop, a schoolhouse, in which school was taught by Leonard Raper, who was one of the earliest settlers in the Concord neighborhood, Clermont County, and one of the first teachers. Mr. Raper served as a soldier in the British Army during the Revolutionary war, and was among the men surrendered by Lord Cornwallis at Yorktown He was the father of the distinguished Methodist divine, Rev. William H. Raper. He was a man of good qualities, and is remembered as a worthy and beloved instructor of the pioneer youth. He died March 18, 1838. Of the pupils of Mr. Leonard, Archibald McLain and James Boyd are still living, and in the immediate vicinity of the old schoolhouse. Moses Warden was Leonard's successor. He was a saddler by trade, and a Methodist local preacher; was one of the earliest citizens of Bethel, near which place he died in 1859. A Mr. Free and Amos Danberry were later teachers in the same house. About the year 1824 or 1825, Archibald McLain assisted in building a schoolhouse that stood a little northwest of the one just mentioned, where Polick's residence now is. Among the masters of this house were R. McLaughlin, Matthew Smith and A. McLain. In six or eight years, another schoolhouse of this neighborhood was builtsa little south of the present residence of Archibald McLain. One McCollough and A. Mc- Lain taught in this house. About the same time, another schoolhouse was erected, on the Hillsboro road, a little northeast of De La Palma. In 1835, Archibald McLain was the teacher here, and prior to this date James Lucas. In 1837-38, Mr. McLain taught in a schoolhouse on Five-Mile Creek, near the graveyard at the United Brethren Church.

In the Day neighborhood, as early as 1808 or 1809, a schoolhouse stood, in Clermont County, just across what is now the Brown County line. H. B. Walker was at this time the teacher. In the northern part of the township there was standing a schoolhouse in which school was kept in 1825 by John Skinner. Subsequent instructors were Charles McManaman and David Waits.

Under the old school law, a number of districts were formed and in each one a Comfortable but rather rude house provided, but no statistics of value appear. There are now (1882) seven school districts in the township, with eight substantial schoolhouses, in which school is taught on an average of eight months in the year. The amount paid teachers within the year closing August 31, 1881, was $2,068.42. Total expenditure for school purposes, $2,555.07.

Balance on hand, $1,378.27. The value of the school property is $5,000. Ten gentlemen teachers were employed in 1881, and paid on an average of $32 per month; the total number of pupils enrolled for the same year was 422; average daily attendance, 343, 94 of whom were studying the alphabet; 376 reading; 397 spelling; 350 writing; 274 arithmetic; 99 geography; 65 English grammar; 20 oral lessons; 10 composition and 2 drawing. There are 26 colored pupils enrolled in the township, taught by a colored teacher.

Post Offices

Sterling has no villages, yet there are in several places clusters of houses that might be termed hamlets, at some of which post offices have been established, namely: .

De La Palma, established in 1852, with William Weeks, Postmaster. The office has since been filled with the following named: Swift Conner, Wesley Leonard, W. E. Conover, John W. Curry and Mrs. Margaret Malott. It is located in the western part of the township.

Eastwood is the name of the post office at Salem Station, on the Cincinnati & Eastern Railroad, located in the southern part of the township. It was established March 8, 1878, with George W. Smith as Postmaster, who is still in office.

The third post office is at Crosstown, in the western part of the township, near the line separating Brown and Clermont Counties. The office was established June 23, 1881, with W. N. Stewart as Postmaster.

The manufacturing interests of Sterling have been very meager indeed, which fact is due to the closeness to the old town of Williamsburg and the East Fork of the Little Miami River, which at an early day afforded excellent water-power.

Williamsburg was an early manufacturing town, and had in operation a grist-mill as early as 1798, if not prior to that date, as Gen. William Lytle, the proprietor of the town, in connection with Gen. Taylor, in July, 1797, employed Peter Wilson, of Kentucky, to come to the newly laid out town to build a small grist-mill. Not long after 1800, Gen. Lytle constructed the present mill there, which afforded all the conveniences of a good mill for the people living far and near. In 1802, a tannery was operated by Nicholas Sinks, and these, with later industries at that point, answered the wants of the early settlers of Sterling, and prevented a great demand for such at home.

About the year 1851, Archibald McLain and Curtis Wilson erected a sawmill, with water-power, on Todd's Run. At the same time, another such mill was built on the same branch, but farther up, by Hiram Anderson and John Smallwood. Neither of them, however, were operated very long, owing to the difficulty in keeping up the dam; it would wash out at each freshet.

In 1870, Stephen Waits built a saw-mill on Crane Run, which was destroyed by fire on the night of the 16th of August, 1871. Mr. Waits rebuilt the mill that fall, and connected with it grist machinery, which was used for grinding corn, but not for making flour.

In 1866, John Irwin built a chair factory on Five Mile Creek, near the United Brethren Church, where he was engaged in making all kinds of sitting chairs until his death, which occurred May 1, 1882

No. 3, By The Name Op Byrd

Beginning at the northwest corner of Huntington Township; thence with the north line thereof to the northeast corner of the said township; thence north with the line of Sprigg, and passing its corner to the north line of Adams County; thence with the said line west to the northwest corner of the county; thence south to the beginning.

The Commissioners proceed to divide Byrd Township by running line due west from the southwest corner of Wayne Township to the county line, and ordered that the new township or north part of the division be called by the name of Eagle, etc.

Upon examination, it is found that in dividing Byrd Township the north line was so far south that Byrd Township would not have the quantity of square miles allowed by law.

Therefore, it is ordered that the line between Byrd and Eagle Townships be altered and established as follows, to wit: Beginningat the southwest corner of Wayne Township; thence north, with the line of Wayne Township, 320 poles; thence west to the west line of the county.

j Thus, it is seen, it was one of the original townships of Brown County at the time of its organization. It was named in honor of Charles W. Byrd, Secretary of the Northwest Territory. It is bounded as follows: North by Jackson Township, west by Jefferson, south by Union and Huntington, and east by Adams County. It is six miles long north and south, and five miles wide east and west. It contains 20,000 acres of land. The surface of the township is neither flat nor hilly, but sufficiently rolling to insure good drainage. The higher points fall by easy descent to ihe lower lands, making nearly all suitable for an easy cultivation. The soil of the township is fertile. The principal productions are corn, wheat, oats, tobacco, potatoes and pork. Tobacco and wheat are the staple productions. This township is third in the county in the amount of tobacco produced. It is well watered by the East and West Forks of Eagle Creek and Rattlesnake Creek, which furnish considerable water-power. In a few places in the township it is hilly, and that is along the creeks, but as a whole the surface is level, covered at an early day with timber. Numerous springs of excellent water abound in the township, and in parts where springs are lacking water is obtained by digging to the depth of from twelve to forty feet.

, Byrd Township contains no very valuable minerals. The most valuable is the blue limestone. It is used for building stone, or for burning into lime. In the upper portion of it are found marine shells, and on the hillsides it is found in detached pieces. Underneath the lowest strata or base of the hills is a compact soapstone, or blue clay, impervious to water. At the time the first white settlers appeared, the land was nearly all covered with timber, which they had to clear away to make their cultivated fields. Abundance of timber is still left, but not such a surplus that owners are anxious to clear off their farms. Walnut, which used to be abundant, has nearly all been cut out. At first it was of little value, and was used for various purposes, as rails, building timber, etc. Oak, hickory, ash, elm, beech and poplar compose the principal timber now, though there are small amounts of other kinds.

Early Settlers

The earliest settlers of the township of whom we have any account were John Knox, Thomas Hatfield, John McLaughlin, Andrew Dragoo, Lawrence Ramey, George Fisher, John Wright, Nathaniel Beasley and Benjamin Sutton. Lawrence Ramey had a family of ten children - nine girls and one boy. He settled southwest from Decatur about one mile and a quarter. His only son, George, died while serving in the war of 1812. Lawrence Ramey died April 3, 1835, aged eighty- one years. These settlers came mostly from Virginia, prior to the year 1800, and effected a settlement when the whole country was in wilderness and abounded in all kinds of game.

The first settlement within the present limits of the township of which any definite account can be obtained was made by John Knox, who settled on the East Fovk of Eagle Creek, about two miles from Decatur, on the lands where Hiram Foster now lives, in 1796. Knox was a native of Virginia. He had a family consisting of five sons and three daughters. Knox was a hard worker, and endured many hardships. Himself and family joined the Shaker community, but most of them afterward returned.

Henry Earhart came from Virginia to this township in 1801. Himself and wife traveled part of the long journey in a two-horse wagon. In descending the precipitous hills, it was necessary to check the vehicle. This was done by fastening small saplings to the wagon. They proceeded in this manner until they reached Wheeling, where they chartered a flat-boat and floated to Maysville. Here they stopped, and made their way to their new settlement. He assisted Nathaniel Beasley in the erection of the first house in Decatur, which was torn down in April, 1882. He devoted his time mostly to splitting rails, clearing timber, hunting, and the raising of houses. A few years later, he left, and went back to his native land. He went into the war of 1812, and was never heard of afterward.

Nathaniel Beasley was one of the earliest and most prominent settlers. Before settling here, he had been a member of several surveying parties in Southwestern Ohio, and been inured to the severest extremes of weather when far from the habitation of any white man. The surveying expeditions were attended with great risk of attack from Indians, and on several occasions the parties to which he was attached lost some of their men from savage assaults. The surveys were made right in the midst of deadly foes, and required great dispatch and secresy. After moving to Byrd Township, Mr. Beasley gave some attention to surveying, and laid off a number of roads, farms and villages. He was elected Surveyor of Adams County, and served many years, and was Captain, and afterward General, in the State militia. He ultimately became one of the wealthiest land-owners in the community, and one of the most intelligent and esteemed citizens of the county. He was born in Spottsyl vania County, Va., May 19, 1774, and died March 27, 1885. His wife was Sarah Sutton, the daughter of one of the earliest settlers of Byrd Township.

William West was born in Fairfax County, Va. , February 16, 1781, and, whon eight years of age his father brought him to Mason County, Ky., settling at Kenton's Station, near where Washington now is. When sixteen years old, he came with his father across the river, and remained with him near Aberdeen until 1806, when, with his wife, whom he had married the year previous, and a child, he pushed forward to the farm near Decatur, which he oe- cupied throughout the rest of his long, eventful life. When he arrived, the country about him was one vast wilderness, broken only here and there, at distant intervals, by small clearings. He died at the old homestead J anuary 24, 1870, in his eighty- ninth year. At that time, he had six children living and four dead; forty-two grandchildren living and seventeen dead: thirty-five great-grandchildren living and eight dead - an aggregate posterity of 112. In politics, he has been an unflinching Democrat.

Thomas Hatfield, with his family, moved from Mason County, Ky., to the farm his son David now occupies, on W est Fork, in 3 804. It was then an unbroken wilderness. He was formerly from Pennsylvania. Mr. Hatfield remained on this place the rest of his life. He had a family of fen children - Thomas, Mary, John, Sarah, Martha, Jonas, Deborah, Elizabeth, Isom and David. One of the daughters, Martha, joined the Shakers, but, after a few years, returned to her father's house.

John Wright, his wife, Margaret (McKetrick), and their children, William, Margaret, Robert, John, Thomas, Samuel and Jane, settled one mile north of Decatur in 1801 or 1802. Mr. Wright had two children born unto him after his settlement here - Alexander and James. He came from near Lexington, Ky., and had previously lived in Virginia. He purchased 400 acres of land from Gen. Nathaniel Beasley, and lived and died on the place. His eldest son, William, settled on 200 acres of the farm, married Elizabeth Thomas December 25, 1805, and died on the home place. John Wright, Sr., represented Adams County in the State Legislature soon after his emigration hither, and while it met at Chillicothe. A Mr. Evans and family were living on the creek before 1802.

James Moore was one of the early settlers. He was from Pennsylvania, and was an early Justice of the Peace of Byrd Township. His son James is said to have been the first child born in the township, in 1800. Mr. Moore had two other sons - Robert and J ohn - besides several daughters.

Benjamin Sutton was another early pioneer. He came from Maysville, Ky., and, for more than a score of years, was Justice of the Peace. His daughter Sally married Nathaniel Beasley. Mr. Sutton had but two sons. Of these, Othe never married, and boated on the Ohio and Mississippi extensively. Tingley married and reared a large family.

David Montgomery operated a little farm a short distance north of Decatur, and afterward carried on a little blacksmith shop in the village. He was well advanced in life when he came to this township, but it was at quite an early day.

Other early settlers were the Howlands, on Eagle Creek - John Howland and his family. His sons, Ichabod and John, served in Capt. Shepherd's company of riflemen during the war of 1812. Two other sons were Levi and Iza tus. William Sparrs, who had settled in the northern part of the township, was one of the prisoners in Hull's surrender. Samuel Shaw and Mr. Kilpat rick, two other soldiers in the war of 1812 from this township, were killed by the Indians while on their way home from Fort Meigs. William Shields was an early settler some distance southwest from Decatur. He lived to a good old age. George Edwards, originally from Fairfax County, Va., but directly from the vicinity of Aberdeen, settled in the northwestern part of the township about 1808. His father, James, was an early settler at Aberdeen. David Mc- Bride settled early on Eagle Creek. He was of Irish extraction. Another Irish settler, somewhat later, was John Stitt. Samuel Pickerill, with his family, came to the township in 1810, and remained until his death, in 1850, at the advanced age oE ninety-six years. He had been a drummer boy in the Amercian Revolution. About 1807, Joshua Grimes settled in this township, and spent the balance of his life here.

John West, Sr., is the oldest settler in the township now living, and resides about two miles from Decatur. He was the son of William West, and was born January 1, 1797. He was married to Louisa Steward, who reared a family of seven children. His wife died a few years since. Mr. West was a powerful man in his day, and a hard worker. During his son John's life, the farm was placed under his control, but since his death, the old man has again the supervision. Mr. West is a member of the Christian Church at Liberty Chapel. In politics, he holds strongly to the' Democratic faith.

Joseph Stevenson, deceased (familiarly called "Uncle Joe"), was one of the late pioneers of this community. He was born in Washington County, Penn., in the year 1804, and came to this neighborhood in 1814, when he first engaged in the occupation of farming. He followed this for several years, when he removed to Decatur and took charge of the hotel business. He also engaged in mercantile business quite awhile. He has held many minor offices in the township, among which wa3 Justice of the Peace. He was Postmaster from 1852 to 1877, when he gave up business and settled down to quiet life. He died August 24, 1882, in the seventy-ninth year of his age. He married Nancy Geeslin December 30, 1830, who reared him eleven children - nine sons and two daughters. His wife and six sons are living. Mr. Stevenson was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Decatur, and was much respected by all who knew him.

James Snedaker, deceased, may be classed with the pioneers. He was born in Brown County October 22, 1814; died in Decatur July 25, 1882, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. He first engaged in the occupation of a farmer, and spent his life in and near Decatur. He devoted his time principally to the mercantile business, and did a big business in Decatur at an early day. In 1877, he was appointed Postmaster, vice Joseph Stevenson, resigned, which he continued to keep until the day of his death. He was married to Susan Robb, who reared a family of eight children, seven of whom are living. Mr. Snedaker belonged to the Presbyterian Church, and held various offices of trust in the church. He was an honest man, and was much respected by all who knew him.

Early Times And Customs

In the earlier settlements of this section, ponds, marshes and swamps abounded, where to-day are found fertile and cultivated fields. The low and fiat lands were avoided for the higher lands, not only on account of the wetness, but for sanitary reasons. The proximity of a spring also had much to do with the location of the cabin, but in the selection of places for the erection of other buildings, convenience was the ordinary test. The corn-crib, made of rails or poles, and covered with clapboards or hay, as convenience suggested, was as apt to be in close proximity to the front as at the rear of the building, or near the stable. The habitations of those days were the double log cabin, with an entry between the two rooms, clapboard roof, puncheon floors, with chimneys of split sticks and clay mortar, clapboard doors with wooden hinges and latches. A loom and a spinning-wheel were indispensable, as well as a hominy-block and pestle, and a hand-mil! to manufacture meal and flour. The cabins were furnished in the same style of simplicity. The bedstead was homemade, and often consisted of forked sticks driven in the ground, with crosspoles to support the clapboards or the cord. One pot, kettle, frying-pan were the only articles considered indispensable, though some included the tea-kettle.

The distilleries afforded the best and almost the only market for the surplus grain, and usually paid several cents per bushel for corn more than could be obtained elsewhere.

pie as their humble homes. The clothing taken to this new country was made to render a vast deal of service until a crop of tiax or hemp could be grown out of which to manufacture the household apparel. The prairie wolves made it difficult to take sheep into the settlements, but, after the sheep had been introduced, and flax and hemp raised in sufficient quantities, it still remained an arduous task to spin, weave and make the wearing apparel for the entire family. In summer, nearly all persons, both male and female, went barefoot. Buckskin moccasins were commonly worn. Boys of twelve and fifteen years of age never thought of wearing anything on their feet, except during three or four months during the coldest weather. Boots were unknown until a later generation. After flax was raised in sufficient quantities, and sheep could be protected from the wolves, a better and more comfortable style of clothing prevailed. Flannel and linsey were woven and made into garments for the women and children, and jeans for the men. The wool for the jeans was colored from the bark of the walnut, and from this came the term butternut, still common throughout the West. The black and white wool mixed varied the color, and gave the pepper and salt color. As a matter of course, every family did its own spinning, weaving and sewing, and for years all the wool had to be carded by hand, on cards from four inches broad to eight to ten inches long. The picking of the wool and carding was work in which the little folks could help, and at the proper season, all the little hands were enlisted in the business. Every household had its big and little spinning-wheels, winding-blades and warping-bars and loom. In many of the households of Byrd Township there will still be found some of these relics. It involved a life of toil, hardship, and the lack of many comforts, but it was the life that made men of character.

This township contains no incorporated village. The first peach trees planted in the township were on the farm of S. W. Pickerill. The public square at Decatur was left for a court house when Adams and Brown were yet united, and it was confidently expected that Decatur would be made the county seat of Adams County. The first Freemason lodge was established in the county at Decatur in 1817. Benjamin Sutton is said to have been the first Justice of the Peace in the township, which office he held for the period of twenty-five or thirty years. The first voting-place in the township was in a frame building on the farm that John F. Pickerill now owns. It is now torn down. This was when Jefferson and Byrd Townships were united. It was removed to Decatur, and has remained there ever since. When they were combined, it made one of the largest townships in the county.

The first store in the township of which we have any account was kept near Baird's Mill, about the year 1800, in a log building. It was kept by Stephen Hoboken. He emigrated from near Hagerstown, Md. He carried on a goo.d business, trading with the Indians and whites, and made himself quite a snug fortune. He disappeared rather suddenly one night, and nobody knew whither he went. His property was in ashes in the morning, and the suppo sition is that the Indians plundered the property, stole the goods, and then killed him for his money.

With the beginning of the century, there were no roads in Byrd Township, and for years what were called roads were little better than wagon-tracks through the forest. These were supposed to follow the Indian trails. The highway was wide enough for all necessary purposes, but, down to 1835 or later, the roads were execrable. The undrained country partly explains the cause. When the ground was frozen and worn smooth, or dry and solid, no roads were better. But the proceeds of the road taxes in money or labor were totally inadequate to keep them even in a tolerable condition at the time most wanted, and only within recent years has it been realized that drainage is essential to a good road-bed. Nearly all the roads in the township are now pike roads, except a few by paths. The Ripley & Locust Grove Turnpike, which runs through the township, was once a toll road, but was made a county road in March, 1879.

First Mill

The first mill in the township was built by John Austin, but it is hard to get the date of its erection. It was situated on Eagle Creek, just below the junction of the East and West Branches. Several mills were built in the township in after years, with all the modern improvements. The Decatur Mill, the Baird Mill and the Fitch Mill are the only mills in the township at the present time.

There are five public graveyards in this township - the Decatur Cemetery; the old Eckman Burial-Ground, on the farm of George West, the Evans Burial-Ground, two and a half miles west of Decatur, on the Decatur & Russellville Turnpike; the Woods Graveyard, situated near Eagle Chapel, on Main Eagle Creek; and the Liberty Cemetery, at Liberty Chapel.

Distances from Decatur to various neighboring points in Brown and Adams Counties; Ripley, eleven miles; Aberdeen, thirteen miles; Red Oak, five miles; Russellville, six miles; Georgetown, thirteen miles; Arnheim. eleven miles; Brownstown, fourteen miles; Carlisle, eight miles; Fayetteville, thirty-three miles; Feesburg, eighteen and a half miles; Fincastle, fifteen miles; Levanna, thirteen miles; Greenbush, twenty-five miles; Hamersville, eighteen miles; Higginsport, eighteen miles; Locust Ridge, twenty- four and a half miles; Mt. Oreb, twenty-two miles; New Harmony, twenty-six miles; New Hope, seventeen miles; Sardinia, seventeen miles; St. Martin's, thirtyseven and a half miles; White Oak Valley, seventeen milos; in Adams County, Eckmansville, five miles; North Liberty, seven miles; Winchester, ten miles; Youngsville, twelve miles; Tranquility, seventeen miles; V7est Union, nine miles; Fairview, three miles; Bontonville, seven miles; Manchester, twelve miles; Bradyville, twelve miles; Jaektown, nineteen miles.

In 1820 or 1821, the first log schoolhouse, with its rough puncheon floor and greased-paper windows, was erected one-half mile west of Decatur. Thomas Moore, w7ho combined the duties of a pedagogue and farmer, was the first teacher. Judge Livingston wielded the birch a few terms afterward. Several log schoolhouses were soon after built in different parts of the township. In succeeding years, as people became able to incur the expense, they built better schoolhouses. The .schoolhouses constructed during the last decade are in keeping with the progress of events in educational matters, and compare favorably with school buildings throughout the coirnty. The early schoolhouses were structures of logs, without windows, the light being admitted through cracks between the logs. which wero in the winter closed with oiled paper. Geographies, dictionaries and grammars were unknown, and teachers were usually able to teach only "reading, writing and arithmetic."

There are seven school districts in the township. All of them possess good substantial frame buildings. The schools are well attended, and are in charge of reliable, capable instructors.

grade, which its founder sought to establish and perpetuate at Decatur. Rev. J. A. R. Rodgers and others, about 1862, started it. Catalogues and views of the prospective buildings, including a dormitory for young men, a ladies' boarding hall and a fine academy building, a spacious assembly room, recitation rooms, library, etc., with all the appointments of a first-class institution, were widely circulated. The estimated cost of the building was $80,000. Students appeared from various parts of the State and from Kentucky, but, instead of the fine architectural structures anticipated, they found only a dilapidated building in which to recite.

The instructors for 1868 were: R. A. McCollough, Principal; Miss Sallie J. Embree, Assistant; Miss Lizzie Dugan, Assistant; Rev. J. A. R. Rodgers, Teacher of Languages; Rev. J. M. Waddle, Teacher of Elocution; Miss Mary Evans, Teacher of Instrumental Music. They continued as instructors until 1865, when the corps of teachers was changed. One hundred and twenty -four students attended from 1863 to 1865. The classical department contained nine; scientific department, thirty -five; and the English department, eighty. The instructors for 1865 were: C. A. Kenaston, A. M., Principal; Miss Elizabeth Kinney, Assistant, and Teacher of French; Rev. J. M. Waddle, Teacher of Elocution; William A. Dixon, Lecturer on Physiology; Miss N. Y. Montgomery, Teacher of Instrumental Music. Tlie Examining Committee were Rev. James Porter, Rev. D. Vandyke, T. P. Sniffin, William A. Dixon, M. D., W. N. Pickerill and E. F. Moulton. The academy continued for a few years only. Want of support caused its decline.

Traveling missionaries visited this country in very early times, and brought the glad tidings of peace and good will to the inhabitants. But little is remembered of them. Camp-meetings at an early day supplied a recognized want and were generally attended in large numbers. Churches soon sprang up, the first of log, and then of better material as the people became able. The first religion established in the township was probably that of the Shakers. It was preached here as early as 1804, their first services being held in groves or private houses. Afterward, a structure was erected in which they worshiped. It is described as being a log pen of but five or six feet in height and divided into two departments, in one of which the men, and in the other the women worshiped. This building was afterward converted into a more suitable and convenient church. The continuance of the Shakers as a religious body in this township, covered a period of five or six years, when most of them removed elsewhere.

The Presbyterian Church is situated in Decatur, and was erected in 1838. It was a brick building, cost about $1,000, and stood a little west of the site of the present one. It was organized November 12, 1841, with twenty-two members - John Farris and James Blair were the first Ruling Elders, and were ordained by the Rev. John Rankin, November 13, 1841. The organization of this church and erection of the house were due to the exertions and self-sacrifice of John Farris, formerly of Cabin Creek, Ky., and Dr. Simeon Bearce, a young physician from the New England States. For a time previous to the organization of the church, the community about Decatur had been deeply agitated by the discussion of slavery, and the doors of the only church edifice for holding public meetings were closed against anti-slavery lectures. This fact, doubtless was one of the immediate causes which led to the organization of this church. In the year 1859, the brick building was torn down and the present house erected under the superintendence of Daniel Copple, Alexander KirkpaM'ick and John West, Jr., at an expense of $1,200. When the Ripley Presbytery left the New School General Assembly, this church continued with the Presbytery and separated from the Assembly. The names of the ministers who have served this church since its organization are Rev. Jesse Lockhart, Rev. James R. Gibson, Rev. Victor M. King, Rev. William Lumsden, Rev. J.

The first Methodist Episcopal Church in the township was supposed to have been built about the year 1825. It was a log structure and was located on the Pittenger homestead. It still stands at the present date. The brick church in Decatur was supposed to have been built about that date. The brick structure was torn down in 1860 to make way for a frame building. The contractors were the Montgomery Bros., and it cost about $1,200. The names of the ministers since 1845 are: 1845-46, Revs. William H. Sutherland and M. G\ Perkizer; 1846-47, Revs. Jacob Holmes and Philip Nation; 1847-48, Rev. Barton Lowe; 1848-49, Rev. De Witt Clinton Howard and Charles Fergason; 1849-50, Revs. M. P. Zink and E. H. Field; 1850-51, Revs. William