Washington Township

Washington Township

This township was organized in March. 1819, and embraced what is now contained in both German and Washington Townships. In December, 1833, the north tier of sections of Township, 1 1 north was taken into the township, but a year later a subdivision was made, the southern part taking the name of German, thereby leaving a small indebtedness incurred in opening roads, for the old township to pay.

The township as now organized contains 20,982 acres of land, and at one time was heavily timbered. It is well watered by springs and by streams flowingover the surface. The soil is unsurpassed by any in the county for the production of all the grains and grasses adapted to this county, and for health none excel it. The facts of the history which follow are supplied b}- Joseph Cole, a native of the township, and now fifty -five }-ears of age. He speaks from personal experience, and of his own knowledge, when he says : " The task the pioneer farmer had in subduing the forest for his first crop was, to say the least, a very arduous undertaking, when with his own hand he grubbed, chopped, picked and burned all the undergrowth - that is to say. all what was called a foot and under ; and then, having the larger trees girdled, he was ready to commence plowing, or rather digging among the roots. A team of horses or cattle, harness, and a plow of a very rude structure, was his outfit to commence the task of preparing for a crop, and by diligence he usually raised a fair yield of corn, pumpkins, beans, potatoes and all kinds of garden vegetables. The first season, a small field was thus cleared and tilled. This ground was usually sown to wheat in the corn ground, or after the corn was cut up. And when the wheat was matured, it was gathered by hand with the sickle, hauled in and stacked. In winter it was either beaten off' with the flail, or tramped off with horses, when the grain was separated from the chaff by running through the windmill. This was not always practicable, for it sometimes occurred that the poor man had to cleanse his grain by fanning it by hand, using a linen sheet, or b}- throwing it from one side of his dirt floor to the other, repeating the operation until it was sufficiently clean for milling or sowing.

Field after field was added yearly until the farm was opened up. until, of the 20.(1(1(1 acres of forest, more than 14.000 are now under a fair state of cultivation. There was a steady adherence to the same rotation of crops as fields were added, giving lair yields for the labor : and, with what wild game could be killed, furnished the settler with provisions sufficient for himself and family, and a surplus to divide with the new-comer as he dropped in. And this hard way in this wild wood seemed not to depress, for the settlers were apparently the happiest people on the face of the earth. Thus all crops were raised, the entire work being done by hand ; and but little more was produced than home needs required. Prices were very low. Wheat was sold at '.) and 4 shillings per bushel. Daylaborers got from 2 to .'I shillings per day. or £7 to $10 per month : but how different now after the lapse of half a century. The farms are cleared of stumps and stones. and much of the work is done by machinery, horse-power and steam supplanting the sinewy arm and strong hand that handled hoe, sickle, cradle and flail. The grain is easily raised, and prices are greatly increased. Financially the first settlers were all poor, having gone into the unsettled part that they might obtain homes at the Government price. They understood fully the advantages of co-operating by mutual aid in raising cabins, and other efforts ; and as long as one had bread or seed, he divided with his less fortunate neighbor. Many lived to good old age, and beyond the allotted threescore and ten, relics of the past, observers of" the future, whose changes they could not have foreseen.

The first to locate in the township were Martin and Jacob Cox, from Pennsylvania. They settled on the right bank of Greenville Creek, on October 16, 1816, the former on Section 13, the latter on Section 14 ; there they made permanent homes, upon which they passed their lives. Jacob died in 1842. leaving his farm to his children; Martin occupied the farm about forty-two years, and made many improvements. An only child inherits his estate. James Brady and Samuel Cole, the two next settlers, came from Sussex County, N. J., in March, 1817. Brady located on Section 26, and thereon passed his life, dying at the age of fifty-one. in the year 1838. His widow, at the advanced age of ninety, still lives on the farm with her son, J. M. Brady. Samuel Cole settlecf on Section 27, where he remained till 1824, and here it was where the first white child was born within the township. Jane Cole was born April 20, 1817; she is now the widow Wintermote, and resides in Greenville Township, to which Mr. Cole moved and settled on Section 19, where he died February 21, 1866, aged seventy -nine. Samuel Cole, Sr., came in 1818. and lived with his son until his death in 1829, at the age of seventy-nine. Levi Elston from the same county and State as the above, settled in 1818, on Section 26, and made some improvements, but did not live long to enjoy them, but the farm remained in the hands of his widow and children for nearly half a century. In May following, John Snell and Daniel Shively both settled on Section 27. and cleared up lands bordering on the second branch of Greenville Creek ; with the others that gathered in, there was formed a Dutch settlement, thereby giving to the second branch the name of Krout Creek. Snell. after getting his land in a fair state of cultivation, sold and went to Missouri in 1839, but Shively remained on his farm until his death in 1841, aged forty-nine years. Others here were Peter and John Heck, the Millers, the Raricks, and Clapps from Pennsylvania. In 1818, a number of families from New Jersey settled here, forming what was called the Jersey settlement. William Martin entered a part of Section 25, made some improvements, but did not live long to enjoy his labors ; a part of the farm is still owned by Ins son, John H. Martin. John Chenoweth located on Section 32, in 1819, and erected a cabin, cleared land and gradually made extensive improvements. He raised a large family, and after a sojourn of between forty and fifty years, sold and moved to Illinois, where he died at an advanced age. He was frequently heard to remark that he could start at the Scioto, his native home, and travel all the way to Iowa with a team, and stay every night with some one of his connections.

From different States, the families continued to arrive during the year 1818. There was John Clapp, from Maryland, who settled on Section 34, cleared up his farm, and in 1823, built a mill, hereafter noted. He died here at the age of seventy, in the year 1846. Philip Rarick, from Pennsylvania, occupied part of the same section, raised a large family, and in time died. Joel Cosad, from New York, settled on Section 35, and in 1833, removed to Dayton. Nathaniel Skidmore and Jeremiah Rogers, both of New Jersey, entered portions of Section 28 ; the former cleared a large farm, upon which he resided until 1855, when he died, aged sixtysix years. Rogers died some years earlier. Samuel and Peter Kirnber, from New Jersey, settled on Section 23, improving the same, and living there until 1852. when Peter sold out, but still resided in the neighborhood until his death in 1870. at the age of seventy-nine. Christian Miller, came in 1819, and built on Section 22, and there passed his life. Clearing was continued by Jonah Miller, who occupied until 1867, when he went to Wabash County, Ind., where he died in 1878.

Henry Creviston, even in boyhood, was known at old Fort Greenville, during the war of 1812, and for some time after. About 1830. he made settlement in this township, on Section !-, and on this farm remained until his death. It was said by the old settlers, familiar with the old rough times, in and about the fort, that there was no one came to the fort his equal in activity and muscular strength. Ignatius Burns first located on Section 24, but soon sold, and Philip Manuel was acknowledged as the first to make permanent improvement on the same. He was from Kentucky, and died in the township on his farm, aged seventy -eight, in the year 1871. Moses Crumrine entered part of Section 22, made considerable clearing, and now, aged seventy-five, is still hale and hearty, and bids fair for many years. Jesse Gray, a noted hunter, settled on the border of Section 5, but the rifle, not the ax, was his weapon, and he moved westward to Jay Count}'. Ind., where he died at a very old age ; and there was Jacob Chenoweth, a wolf trapper, who occupied a rude cabin on Section 19, and at length, at a ripe age, died. There, too, was Joseph Cole, Sr., a settler on Section 21, in 1826. He was noted, not only as a firmer, but as a first-class country blacksmith. He is still living on the old homestead, although past his fourscore and four years. Those named were not all, examples only of the many. There were Conrad Harter. Charles Sumption, Solomon Harter, Joseph Dixon, L. D. Wintermote. Hezekiah Fowler, all early settlers, who helped in the great task of subduing the forest. And there, too. were David Wasson, John S. Hiller and Isaac Vail, and besides, there were Thomas F. Chenoweth, a settler on Section 23, where, at the age of seventy, he has lived nearly sixty years ; and Aaron Hiller, a farmer on Section 36, where he died, aged seventy. A single additional name is given, that of Johnson Deniston, who settled on Section 23. about the year 1825. It was on his farm that the boys me,t to enjo}' the holiday of all holidays - -the annual muster of the militia. This took place one week before what was called the Big Muster in Greenville, which was once each year. Mr. Cole says : -' Well, it was just about as much as a boy could stand, to hear the martial music, especially when John and Israel Cox were the fifers, as both were capital players, and Israel, especially, was excelled by none ; to see Capt. Marquis in his gay uniform, and hear his shrill command, and to see William Scott beat the tenor-drum. It was good enough for any boy of the day to see and hear, but big musters in regimental drill, with officers in full dress, mounted, was as much as the boy nature could endure. "

It would not be true to say that these first settlers found the country just as the red man left it, for he had not gone. He was friendly, molesting neither man nor beast, and frequently called at the cabin door for food. It is not enough to say of these pioneers that the}' were farmers, for they were mechanics, teachers and preachers, as well. They tanned their own leather, made their own shoes, did their own coopering and blacksmithing, taught their schools, and had. in the person of John Wintermote, what has been called a " Hardshell " Baptist preacher - the first minister to locate in the township.

Of the improvements of Washington Township, it is hard to tell where to begin, as it was an unbroken wilderness. The first road or trace to this settlement from Greenville was to cross Greenville Creek, just above what is now known as George Van Dike's ashery ; then by the D. Irwin farm, winding up the north side of Greenville Creek, by Dean's mill, to what was then known as the Byram cabin, about where A. I lays now lives, and crossing Greenville Creek just below the Murphy graveyard ; thence by D. Williamson's and Daniel Potter's. The next road was what was called the Jersey road, crossing Greenville Creek at the same point: thence, recrossing at Tecumseh's Point: thence, keeping south of the creek, crossing the west branch north of George Fox's mill, and so on west to the Jersey settlement and Krout Creek.

The first grist-mill erected within the township was built by John Clapp, in 1823. on tlii' second branch, on what is now known as the Bartow farm. It was a very rude structure, but as good as the times and financial conditions would permit, although the greater part of the work on the dam, digging the race and putting up the house, was done by volunteer work. The next, in the way of mill improvements, was a saw-mill, built by Jeremiah Rogers, on Hoover's Branch, on the farm now owned b}' Peter Skidmore, which was of service many years : but of these two old mills, only the landmarks are left.

Soon after these mills were built, David Clapp, early in 1832. commenced to build a flouring-mill on the second branch. The same fall, a saw-mill was running. The grist-mill began to run in the following year. The race was dug nearly half a mile through the roots of the primitive forest. Samuel Hatter and Joseph Rarick took the job for $100, and they hired William Baldwin, William Dennison. John Dixon and George Young to assist them. These men worked at prices ranging from 2 to 3 shillings per day. Andrew Bickel was also employed. Being considered rather an extra hand, he was paid 43 cents per day, the understanding being that he should keep the fact of greater wages to himself. Prior to the erection of this mill, the people here were used to going to a small flouring-mill near Coletown. The year 1832 was marked by a severely cold winter, and the mill froze up. Mr. Bickel tells of working, in company with two others, nearly all day to get the ice cut out, and all the grinding done by night was a half-bushel of cornmeal. This they divided between them, in shares proportioned to the size of the respective families. There are now four water and two steam saw-mills in the township. McClure's mill is run by water and by steam ; it has been repaired and rebuilt, until it is now a first-class flouring-mill. and is worthy of the patronage given.

These enterprising pioneers soon began to want a little nicer and safer chimney than the one of mud and sticks, so, with John Snell at the lead, they in common set to work to burn a brick-kiln, but in order to succeed they were obliged to go over to Greenville Township to call upon Hiller to assist in the molding and burning. They did good work, as some of the old chimneys will yet testify. James Brady and John Chenoweth were the first to burn brick and to build brick houses, but Joel Cosad was the first to build a frame house. It was about 18x20 feet base and one story high. One fact in this connection is worthy of note, that is, but few ever left the county who once settled in it ; they were either satisfied with the country or were else too poor to get away. As we have indicated, there are quite a number that have lived in the township from fifty to sixty years. In early times, there was a struggle for village notoriety between Nashville and Hill Grove, but long ago Nashville yielded the contest and not a building is left to mark the site of the would-be village, and Hill Grove came very near being absorbed by Union City. In this connection, it is well to recall Colona, a village located on December 31, which bloomed and died in a brief time. A few lots were laid out and sold, and a few dwellings were erected, but it soon became apparent that there was nothing to incite effort or induce settlement, and the vestiges of occupation soon disappeared, and few, if any, of the citizens of the township in 1880 remember or ever knew that the village of Colona ever had existence. It, like Nashville, was laid out on the old State road, and afforded a halting place to movers and travelers, where they might rest and might obtain food for themselves and for their teams.

The village of Hill Grove is situated at the northwest corner of Section 4. It was laid out in 1818, by W. McKee. The population numbers about two hundred persons. It is distant from Union City but little more than two miles, and from Greenville nine and a half. The Greenville & Union pike and the Dayton & Union Railroad run through it. It contains three churches - the German Reformed, United Brethren and Methodist Episcopal. The former was originally built by the Old School Presbyterians, and purchased by the society named in 1876, and Rev. J. Stuck has been Pastor ever since. It was rebuilt during the summer of 1879, and is a neat brick structure, pleasantly located on the north side of Liberty street, in the northeastern part of town. The United Brethren

Church is a neat frame, medium-sized building, near the township line, and built in 1878. The Methodist Church is situated over the line a short distance, in Jackson Township, in the northwest part of the village and near that end of Main street. The schoolhouse, which has a school enrolling ninety-four pupils, is located on Main street, opposite the southeast end of Locust street. On the corner of Cherry and Liberty streets stands a two-story grist-mill, originally built as a warehouse when the railroad was put through. It has two run of buh'rs. and is employed exclusively in custom work. Its present owner is Louis Limperd, and it is run by Samuel Limperd. J. A. Bickell's general store is located on the southeast corner of Main and Liberty streets. On the opposite side of .Main street but farther south, on Lot No. 27, is a blacksmith-shop, built by J. Conspue in is.'x ; the old part was built by Wash. McKee about 1834. Mr. McKee kept the first store in Hill Grove, but a short time before there had been a trading station run by Charles Sumption. Herman Searles was among the early storekeepers in the township, and George Clapp built the first blacksmith-shop ; it was located about half a mile southeast of the present village. As to the schools, they were generally taught in old deserted cabins until the settlers saw fit to select some convenient site and unite on some day to build a cabin ; afterward a teacher was hired by the process of joint subscription.

There is as yet no school law, no defined districts, and there is something yet lacking. It is the year 1822, and the house stands surrounded by a pathless forest and the woodmen's children cannot find their way securely. Parents and older boys select the best and nearest paths, which they blaze and cut away brush from. They cut small trees across slashes and branches. They put up hand poles to steady the children in crossing, and then, with Webster's Speller, English Reader, Pike s Arithmetic, slate and pencil, one-half quire blue paper, one-half dozen goose quills and a bottle of home-made ink, the most ad\ anced was thoroughly equipped, and. not unfrequently, several of the same family were used to study the same meager set of books.

In this rude state, the children sat for hours on a bench, crowded together with feet swinging between bench and floor from morning till noon, and not allowed to whisper or scarcely look off their books without being liable to punishment.

As to the teachers, they were usually limited in qualifications, being generally competent to instruct in orthography, reading, writing and arithmetic ^sometimes knowledge of the latter was very limited. All were skilled in the use of the rod, which was plied unmercifully on the slightest neglect or provocation. There were only three months' school each year, and these were in the winter, and unexceptionally taught by school masters.

The first school taught in the township was under control of Samuel Cole during the winter of 1818-19, in one part of his double log cabin, on the farm now owned by Dilmon Mote. The pioneer school building was raised on the farm 01 John Snell, now owned by Samuel Elston, in the year 1821 or 1822. The first schoolhouse in the Bickel neighborhood was built at an early day, not later than 1835. \ arious persons taught subscription schools for short' terms therein. Still earlier, schools were kept as above stated. The first school taught in this house, after public money had been granted in partial support of education, was by 3. H. Williamson. His first school, taught when he was but fourteen years of age was ma neighboring district, the previous winter, lie afterward taught at McClure's Mills, and m various other districts. Joseph Worth taught three winters, amountin- to ten months of twenty-six days to the month, for $lu per month, and boarded himself, save when (he weather was too bad for him to go home. Another pioneerlike schoolhouse was built in 1831. on the place of Martin Cox. and another of the Old teachers was Thomas Hoffman.

Contrast the past with the present. There are now in the township eleven school districts, with a large brick house in most of them. Each house will seat an average of sixty pupils. There are elegant seats, fine desks, good blackboards, charts, and well-arranged rooms. Pupils are well supplied with as many books as they can well cany, and thrice as many as they can well study. There are competent teachers, well paid, and free schools full six months each year. The contrast of wages is from the $25 to $35 per quarter of sixty-five days' term olden times, paid in produce in part, to the from $100 to $120 per quarter of sixty days, cash in hand.

A brief reference to the churches is appropriate in the detail of important social organizations. The Hiller Church, built on Section 36, was the first built in the township, and, also, was the first built in the county. The date of its construction is traditionally fixed in 1819, and it was the volunteer labor of the able-bodied men of the whole settlement, and, when it was completed, it was free to all. It was known as a Methodist Episcopal Church, and still stands. The next church was the Chenoweth Church, built on Section 32, at an early date, by the Methodists. It subserved the purpose of its construction, and has long since been leveled to the earth. The third building for purposes of worship was erected on the farm of Martin Cox, on Section 14, by the people of the Presbyterian society. It was known as the " Cox Meeting-house." These were points and places well known, but the usual place of worship was the cabin or barn of the settler, or, in warm, pleasant weather, in Cod's first temples - the shade of noble forest trees.

A German Baptist Church is located on the northeast quarter of Section 9, about one and a half miles southeast of Hill Grove, on the Greenville and Union pike. The lot on which it was situated, comprising three-fourths of an acre, was donated by John Flory. The church was built during the spring of 1878. It is a neat frame structure, costing $800. The building committee were Jacob Merrick, John Flory and Daniel Wagner. The following-named preachers have officiated therein : William Simmons, Washington Wenrick, Samuel Puterbaugh and Benjamin Bowman. Services by some of the above were held on almost every Sunday. There is a good membership, but no Sabbath school.

We have said that not unusually services were held in the forest. The Methodist frontier camp-meetings were once an institution that could not well be dispensed with, and seemed to be a recruiting point for the M. E. Church, and a place where all met on a common level for the renewal of their spiritual strength, and to extend a general acquaintance among the brotherhood. The first meeting or encampment of this kind held anywhere in Darke or adjoining counties, so far as known, took place in Washington Township, on Section 33, in the vicinity of what was then known as the Devor Spring, but what is now denominated the Houpt Farm. The date of the meeting is not remembered. In 1838-39, a Methodist camp-meeting was held on the farm of John Chenoweth, on Section 32. Of the ministers present and actively engaged, but one is recalled, and this was Rev. W. W. Jordan. The camps were built of poles, and on three sides, forming what might be termed a hollow square, with the seats between the camps, and the pulpit having a central position at one end, facing the center. The period of encampment usually lasted from ten days to two or three weeks. It is needless to say that the "rowdies," as styled by the church people, had their full share of recreation at these assemblies.

The oldest record that can be found of the board of township officers commences with 1828, yet there is a record of the ear marks of animals running at large which goes as far back as April 20, 1819, thereby preserving the names of the Township Clerks that far back. The first Township Clerk's name thus obtained is Moses Rush for 1819 ; the second John McNeal, for 1820 ; John Wintermote for 1821-22 ; Samuel Cole for 1823, and Christian Miller for 1824. In 1828, there is a full board given, as follows : Charles Sumption, James Brady and Leonard Wintermote, Trustees ; Samuel Kimber, Treasurer ; John S. Hiller, Clerk. The governing motives of those early officers of Washington Township was undoubtedly purely patriotic, for no Trustee, Treasurer or Clerk ever charged one cent for his services until 1838, when the Clerk, Aaron Ilillor. who had to perform extra services in regard to school affairs, made a charge of and was allowed the sum of $5. All settlements prior to this show that the Township Board gave their services gratuitously.

The receipts and expenditures of each year, from the formation of the township up to 1835, range from nothing to $12 : but in this }Tear the amount in the hands of the Treasurer was $43.00;}, mostly from the sale of stray animals.

In like manner the settlements run until 1840, when money matters began to increase, especially as the public money for school purposes was handled by the Treasurer. The records show that but five different men had filled the office of Treasurer since 1827, namely : Samuel Kimber, James Brady. Aaron Hiller, John McClure and George McClure. John McClure has filled the position continuously since 1838, save one term when he was a member of the Ohio Legislature, being Treasurer thirty-six years. The office of Justice of the Peace has run much after the style of Treasurer. Aaron Hiller served as Justice for twenty-one years, and T. F. Chenoweth for twenty-three years, and is still (187(3) holding that Office.

In 1824, the political cast was all on one side, nearly all voting for Andrew .Jackson for President, there being but three votes cast against him. Though in Utter years not so radical, except in 1854, when the township took another freak, and all went solid for the Know-Nothing ticket, except seven who voted the Democratic ticket. These were the extremes. Usually in township elections there has been but little party strife.

The citizens are strictly agriculturists. The township expenses have been moderate, and the rate of taxation has always been among the lowest in the county, while her improvements have equaled the best. The old survivors of the early day have seen much change. Where Indian traces wound their sinuous way through the forest, there are now many miles of turnpike roads and well-improved dirt roads. Log house and stump-marked clearing are replaced by handsome homes, well-tilled fields and well-drained lands, and tin- present of the township is a constant source of satisfaction to pioneers as the rightful result of years of toil.

Located in the west tier of townships and in the second tier from the south. U has been formed since December, 1820. Its lands were taken from the south part of Washington and the north part of Harrison, the north tier of sections in the last-named township being added. Then the northern boundary was a line running some forty rods north of the Whitewater road. In June, 1827, it was reduced to its present size, which includes all of Town 11 north, Range 1 east. In December, 1833, the north tier of sections was thrown into Washington Township, but these were returned to the township in December, 1834.

In area, it includes about thirty-three square miles, or over 21,000 acres of land. The surface in the eastern part is gently undulating, and in the western part flat and level. Several sections in the south central part are considerably broken. West Branch Creek and Second Branch Creek are the principal streams. West Branch Creek drains the eastern portion. Extending along the line of its general course there is to be seen a beautiful and valuable tract, known as West Branch Prairie. In the early day, this ground was wet, boggy, and generally deemed useless for agricultural purposes, but it has been reclaimed in the main, and is productive of heavy crops. There are few places more fascinating to the eye than is this prairie as it gently slopes upward on both sides of West Branch Creek. There are numerous springs along its course, which supply it the year round with pure running water. There is virtually no waste land in the township, and there is nowhere any soil better adapted to tillage. As is well known, but not realized, the surface was in the early day covered with a growth of a great variety of forest trees. In places the sugar maple abounds, and has been utilized to the rnanuacture of sirups especially. Many extensive gravel beds of the best quality are interspersed throughout the southern and eastern parts. Many of them are of use in the improvement of the highways, most of which are excellent.

From indications, this township was a favorite resort for the aboriginal occupants. On the arrival of the whites, several Indian camps were found, but within a few years, they disappeared. The prairie, heretofore mentioned, was a favorite resort, having for the red man a peculiar attraction.

Old settlers affirm that a spring on the lands of Elias Ross was a special attraction, not only to the Indian, but to troops of wild animals, on account of the purity and sweetness of its waters.

Indications show at least two Indian villages of considerable size within the present limits of the the township. One of these was located on Section 10, and the other on Section 3, both near fine springs. Indian implements of great variety and in considerable abundance are found strewn over the surface in the vicinity. A collection of such relics, made by C. M. Young, resident upon Section 3, within the years from 1876 to 1880, consist of about 1,000 specimens, most of which were found in this township, and many of which are rare. Remains of skeletons, supposed to have belonged to Indians, are found in abundance in many of the gravel banks, which have been opened up. One skull was found near the residence of Jesse Woods, of remarkable size.

The topography of the township shows that it possessed many points of interest and attraction ; its running waters, its prairies and its gently rolling surface were points at once marked to the quick, searching eye of the pioneer, and the date of its settlement was far back toward the beginning of the century. To whom the titular honor of being the first settler belongs is hard to determine. It lies between James Cloyd and Jonathan Pearson, with the evidence in favor of the former. Mr. Cloyd was born in Virginia, in 1790, and removed to Ohio when a child. Engaged as a soldier during the war of 1812, he was stationed much of the time at Fort Greenville. In 1815, he married Elizabeth Norftsinger, daughter of Andrew Norftsinger, one of the pioneers of the county. Mr. Norftsinger had built a block-house during the troublous period, and in this he lived until peace was declared. The site of this old fortification was in Neave Township.

In 1814, Mr. Cloyd moved to this township and settled on the prairie, just south of the present site of Palestine. He was one of the first grand jury empaneled in the county, and bore a good name for energy, generosity and benevolence. His death took place May 20. 1872, and his remains rest in the Palestine

Cemetery. Jonathan Pearson settled on the prairie southeast of the village named, about 181 (i. but little was known of this man more than that he came originally from South Carolina, as did. also, Alexander Pearson, who was. perhaps, the third settler. Samuel Loring, who settled on the southwest quarter of Section 14. and who laid out the town of Palestine, was the next permanent settler. Peter Crumrine moved into German Township on March 12, 1817. The name of Daniel Wagner is associated with those of the pioneers. The family of which he was a member located on the northeast quarter of Section 24, on the edge of the prairie. They were originally from Berks County. Penn.. whence the}' migrated, in 1806, to Ohio and then to this county and township. The elder Wagner was a soldier in the war for independence, and, at its conclusion, like other of the Continentals, returned to peaceful pursuits and derived a good farm for the family growing up about him. John Wagner had ten children. His oldest son, George, who was an early settler in Neave Township, was a solder in the later war of 1812, and was one of those surrendered by the cowardly Hull at Detroit, Mich. Two other sons, Daniel and William, located in German Township. The latter, still living on the homestead, has been a resident of the township since the fall of 1816, with the exception of a single year. He was born December 1, 1806, in Montgomery County, near Germantown, and was consequently only a mere lad when he came to the township. Himself and brother Daniel, six years his senior, were sent to the farm with some stock to winter through on prairie hay, which they had cut and stacked near where the house now stands. They came with their cattle in the fall of 1816, and built a hut to serve as a temporary shelter till the family could join them in the spring. In this rude dwelling, with a family or two of Indians for their nearest neighbors, the first winter went by. They were shy and distrustful of the " sons of the forest," for the memory of atrocities committed upon the whites a few }Tears previous was yet fresh in their minds. Daniel Wagner died March 9, 1876, just seventy-six years of age. He is remembered as a man of enterprise, fearless and free-hearted. The Wagner family were of German descent.

The fall of 1817 marked the actual beginning of the settlement of the township. A number of families arrived at this time and entering lands began the work of providing home and field. Martin Ketring and family and George Teaford. then a young man, arrived this fall and entered a part of Section 22. These people were likewise of German descent. The former was a native German. Their more immediate previous home was Fairfield County, Ohio. John, son of Martin Ketring, had been married previous to coming here, and is still living at a good old age. Teaford was soon married to Miss Magdalina Ketring and raised a large family, two sons of whom still live in the township and are among the largest tanners in it. The same fall, and in October, Henry Ross, a native of Virginia, located on land in the northwest part of Section 24. He came here from Pickaway County, and, about the same time, George Stingley and family, Virginians, located on the southeast quarter of Section 12, where a son now resides. The settlement in the extreme southwest part of the township was dela3'ed until 1826, on account of its wet, level nature. Thus, briefly, we have noted the founders of improvement in German Township, and spoken of those who more than three score years ago laid the foundation for subsequent labors.

The staple products of the townshp are corn and wheat, with considerable «>ats and barley raised. Much of the corn is fed to stock, which receive considerable attention. There is no grain market in the township ; the nearest being Weaver's Station, in Neave Township, on the Piqua, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railroad. In the early years, what surplus grain was raised was hauled by team. either to Dayton or Piqua, and later, to Richmond, Ind. No line of railroad has. as yet, been constructed through the township, though it is thought one could be built with great advantage to the people and profit to the builders. The appreciation of education was a marked feature of pioneer settlers. As early as 1820, a schoolhouse was erected oil the southwest quarter of Section 14. on land now owned by George Kester. The structure was by no means imposing or attractive. It was of logs and nailless. without glass or sawed lumber. The first teacher was William R. Jones, whose reputation comes down to us, as of " an excellent man and teacher.'- The second schoolhouse was built in 1822, on the northwest quarter of Section 13, on land now owned by J. Wenrick. This dates the beginning of school interests in German Township, which have held even place with those of other townships from origin. There are now eleven school buildings, besides the one situated in the village of Palestine, three of which belong to the colored settlement. The number of school children enumerated in German Township in 1370 was as follows : White youth, 364 ; colored, 151 ; total, 515 ; number in the Palestine school, 133 ; total number in the township, 648. The number of youth between the ages of sixteen and twenty-one was 140. The school buildings are all good, substantial structures, with the single exception of a frame house, and the schools are reported to be in fine condition. The first settlers were obliged to erect their cabins without the use of sawed lumber, there being no saw-mills accessible at the time, in the vicinity. One of the first demands of the settlers was for lumber, to erect buildings. In the absence of saw-mills, this want was frequently met by the use of the whip-saw. or more commonly, the puncheon. The former of these methods was extremely slow and laborious, and the latter was the dernier resort to secure lumber. To meet the urgent demands, the rude pioneer saw-mill was erected, propelled always by water power, as steam was not then in use as a motor. The first mill of this kind erected in the township was built by Joshua Mitten, in 1820, on Section 24, on West Branch. This was rude enough, but still a great advance over the former method. Some years after, this mill had been built, an apparatus for cracking corn was attached to it, and this was noted as the pioneer grist-mill of the township. She served to supply the few scattered inhabitants with cracked corn, which, at the time, largely took the place of wheat flour. In order to supply another and urgent demand, a copper still was erected on Section 36, by John Puterbaugh. Its capacity was not very great, and for its influence, value and success, we cannot speak. A cheese factory was soon started at the same place, and by the same person, the Mr. Puterbaugh above named. All of these pioneer enterprises, rude, but bespeaking a disposition to make the most of home products, have been supplanted by more pretentious and modern structures. At present, a large steam flouring-mill run by Ira McClure, and a large saw-mill owned by James McCabe, in Palestine, furnish the necessary supply in this direction in the township.

Churches And Ministers

The first religious meetings in German Township were held in the cabins of the settlers. The pioneer preacher was Jacob Ashley, of the Lutheran Church. He came up once a month from Germantown and held services, for which he received a salary of $12 per year. David Miller, son of old Jacob Miller, first minister of the Miami Valley, and Benjamin Bowman, came over from Indiana at an early da}*, and spoke to the people of things eternal and spiritual. They were ministers of the German Baptist Church. The first church built in this township was known as the "St. John's," a Lutheran enterprise, erected in 1826, south of Palestine, on land owned by John Ketring. The old structure was constructed of tree-trunks cut from the forest surrounding, but. in 1868, this was supplanted by a more comfortable and pretentious frame building. The old church was used by the Lutherans alone for many years, and then the German Reformed organization united with them, the two using the same church, employing the same minister, but having two separate and distinct societies, and two sets of church officers. In 1S66, the latter-named society re-organized, and -the Lutherans from that date were merged with them. Rev. I. Stuck was the first minister under the new organization.

Wesley Chapel, on Section 29, was probably the next church erected. It was built and used up to within a few years of the present time by the Methodists. It is not now in use by any denomination. Possibly the next church building constructed was the house built on Section 24, on the farm of William Wagner, by the Lutherans. It is now used by the members of the German Reformed denomination.

The Cniversalist Church at Palestine was organized by Rev. Elihu Moore and ten others, on June 1 8, 1 868. The minister named was the one first employed. Their first meetings were held in the old Palestine schoolhouse. Within a few years subsequent to the organization, the society erected their present fine building, at a cost of about $3,000. The first officers of the society were H. L. Hill. George Kester and M. M. Jeffries, as Deacons ; George Kester, Treasurer, and Harrod Mills as Clerk. Six deaths have transpired in the society since its origin, and there is a present membership of 105 persons. The Disciple Church of Palestine was organized in April, 1873, by John M. Smith, with about twenty members. Earlier meetings were held in the Universalist Church. In the summer of 1877, the denomination erected their present fine and commodious building at a cost of $1,500. The officers at organization were Joseph Snyder and James Willery, as Elders ; Mrs. Elizabeth Miller, Deacon, and J. A. Spittler. Clerk. There is an adjunct of value in a flourishing Sabbath-school, superintended by James Wilcox.

The German Baptist Church was constituted an organization at an early day by David Miller and Benjamin J. Bowman. John Weaver was the first preachar to serve the new society. He was succeeded by John Crumrine. Since then, William Marius, Mr. Harter and Jacob Miller have had charge of the congregation. Meetings were held in barns and houses till 1868, when their present fine building was erected, just south of Palestine. The membership is about one hundred and seventy-five persons. The Pleasant Grove U. B. Church is situated in the extreme northern part of the township, near the Washington line, thus serving both townships. The society was formed January 14, 1857, and meetings were held in a private house, located on the southwest quarter of Section 3, for two years, when room was supplied by the construction of the present church edifice. The organization was effected by Rev. Jacob M. Marshall. Elias Ross has been Steward since its formation. The Palestine Christian Church was organized in the year 1836, by Elijah Williamson, with a small membership. The first meetings were held in an old schoolhouse. Mr. Williamson and Richard Brandon were the first ministers. James Woods, Thomas Himes, John Crum, Joseph Heck, Henry Grove and their wives, and Philip Manuel were among the first members. The present meeting-house was built in 1859, and the society has an enrollment of 103 members.

The early custom of burial at sites near the homes has originated a number of grounds in the township. There are eight cemeteries in the township, of which the one at Palestine is the chief and largest.

The population have been peaceful and law-abiding, hence any infraction of right is the more marked. Two crimes have been committed of late, most sanguinary in character. The victims were Wesley Guger and Stephen Wade. On the evening of October 24, 1877, after dusk, a body of armed and masked men halted before the house of Mr. Guger in Palestine, called him out, and deliberately shot him down. Where the mob was from, where they went, or who they were. has never been ascertained. The murder had no grounds so far as known save a charge of petty thieving. The second murder was committed in the dead of night in the fall of 1878. Stephen Wade, a colored man, was shot in his own house by a body of mounted men, masked and armed. He was charged with stealing, or more especially with harboring his sons, who had annoyed the community by various thefts. Two notices were served upon them to leave the country. The first was thus worded": "To Stephen Wade. Robert, Benjamin and Philip Wade - you are each and every one of you hereby advised to leave and stay away from Darke County, Ohio, within thirty days from date, or suffer the penalty. This means business." The above was penned in red ink. A second notice was dated September 14, 1878, but not received by the Wades till October 1. following. It was as follows :

This was legibly written in black ink. No notice was given to these warnings. A mob. at midnight, surrounded Wade's dwelling, and aroused him. A shot was fired through the front window and struck an old clock just over Wade's bed. He discharged a shot into the mob, without effect, followed by yells and execrations. Wade reconnoitered from a window, and saw the mob firing at random into the house. He ran to the back door to escape, but. as he threw it open, a gun was fired, and he received a load of shot in the left eye. which penetrated the brain. A cry, and then he expired without a struggle. A post-mortem examination disclosed sixteen No. 1 shot in the brain. We turn relieved from the inscription of these acts, whose bearing is a cloud upon the fair fame of any community, and reflect upon a love of law and justice. Such acts belong in localities destitute ol school and church, and the better class of townsmen reprehend them, and would gladly see their perpetrators punished with the rigors of the law.

We find that the first piece of ground platted for a village site in the township was located on the northwest quarter of Section 24. The survey was caused at the instance of Nathaniel Ross, and the incipient town at one time contained a saw and grist mill, a grocery and a store. Bright anticipations of churches, schools and factories were doomed to disappointment. A rival sprang up across the prairie, which in time proved its ruin, and New London City exists only in this brief allusion to it.

Palestine was laid out, in 1833, by Samuel Loring. A beautiful view from the site of the present village is thought to have suggested the name. Loring's plat consisted of ten lots in the southeast part of the present corporation. Kester made the first addition, just north of the original sites. Samuel Gruger and Abraham Weaver laid out the northwest part, and William Miller the southwest part. Col. David Putnam has since made an addition to the northeastern part. Palestine is to-day a very flourishing country village, containing one drug store, two groceries, one dry -goods store, one hotel, two blacksmith-shops, a wagon-shop, meat-market, grist-mill, saw-mill, shoe-shop, and health is attended to by three physicians.

In the northwest corner of the township, there exists a colored settlement, the foundation of which was laid by a man named Clemens. It has grown to considerable proportions. They have three schools, and a church (Methodist Episcopal) building. There is a small hamlet, known as Tampico, here.