Washington Township (part 1 of 2)

By Joseph Nutt

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP is situated in the southeastern part of the ' county, and is bounded on the north by Van Buren Township, on the tby Greene County, on the south by Warren County, and on the west by a i Township.

t was organized as a township probably as early as May, 1803, and most aly some time between March and June of that year. It at first extended once of seven miles north and south, and from Greene County to German

hip east and west. On December 9, 1829, Miamisburg, with a part of u Township, which at that time belonged to Washington, was stricken off. to 24th of June, 1841, a strip of land a mile in width was taken off the tiirn end of this township and added to Yan Buren Township. These sucsil) spoliations have reduced the township to an area of thirty square miles,

: February, 1796, two months before a settlement had been made at Dav- 1 is find a company of men from Kentucky, among whom were Aaron Nutt, j fin Robbins and Beniamin Archer, surveying near the present site of t ville. The first camp struck by these adventurous civil engineers was farm now owned by William Weller, just on the outskirts of town, ter, they only remained a short time in this place, for, upon the discovery

idian signs," the camp was hastily vacated, and. they removed two miles It northeast and took up a position on the farm now owned by Samuel

- Here they found a secure retreat, just south of the old Pardington digs, in a ravine, and here they remained in undisputed possession until id completed their survey. How long this was we cannot say, but they t ly did not hasten the completion of their work for lack of meat, as a eurkey roost was discovered on what is now 'he farm of Alonzo Mont- - , and the party hunter had an easy time of it, except, perhaps, carrying leathered denizens of the forest. After the survey had been completed, i pt was laid down in the woods, and these primitive surveyors proceeded r;r cuts for first choice of land. Benjamin Robbins was the first lucky ad, influenced by the springs discovered, immediately selected the half of land which lay on the west of Centerville, and which embraced the \ow owned by Benjamin Davis, Mason Allen and others. Aaron Nutt, bn fate ordained the last choice, always maintained that "Benny had '' poor choice," as better springs were afterward discovered on his own s Benjamin Archer, who had second choice, selected the half section hJst of Centerville, and Aaron Nutt took the same amount of land directly 0ils town.

soon to make their home. They say of the fertility of the soil at this t "that while surveying they found wild rye up to their horses' sides."

Benjamin Robbins was thefh-st to take possession of the land thus obtaii and, in the spring of the same year, came with his wife and several chile to Ohio, and built a log cabin near where, years afterward, the stone In now occupied by William Davis was erected.

Two years later, Aaron Nutt came to join the fortunes of his brothei law, Robbins, and established for himself a home in the Ohio forest. Rob pressed him to unload and share his cabin until he had erected one of his < " No," said Mr. Nutt, " I'll never unload until I can carry my goods intc own house." He had to go to Franklin, nine miles away, for assistance, as he was particular to tell every one that he had brought six gallons of 1 tucky whisky with him, on the day appointed there were many willing b and kind hearts to give the stranger a lift. Before evening, the logs had cut, the clapboards made and the cabin finished, and that night Mr. Nutt family were securely established in their new home and slept beneath 1 own roof.

It is probable that Benjamin Archer, the last of the three surveyors, i out about the same time, bitt it is not definitely known. There are some pi in the history of Mr. Archer, or Judge Archer, as he was always called, wc of note, and, as he did not remain permanently in the settlement, we will them here.

A native of New Jersey, he removed to Philadelphia, where he was cr< Judge of one of the courts. From that city, he removed to Kentucky from there to Washington Township. Here he remained until 1821, ant one of the leading men in the community, at one time being Associate J of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas. From this State, he to Fort Wayne, Ind., where he seems to have been satisfied to give n] travels and permanently locate. Judge Archer was distinctively a progrt man. for, besides his pioneer work in this State, we find him engaged in .able enterprises wherever he was located. It is generally conceded th made the first brick and built the first brick house in Fort Wayne, whe died in 1830.

The settlement having been established in Washington Township, were soon others to recognize the fertility and advantages of the place, ai the course of a very few years, many families were located in the vicin: the present town of Centerville.

Among these was the family of Dr. John Hole, who is believed to been a native of Virginia. In 1796, he was living in New Jersey, and < mined to penetrate the wilderness west of the Ohio. He first stopped al cinnati, where he remained one year, and removed to this township i spring of 1797. He located three and a half miles northwest of Cent® where he entered a section and a half of land, on what he named Silver ( but what soon came to be known far and near as Hole's Creek, a name wt retains at the present day. He erected the first two saw-mills in the tow:

Dr. Hole was the first practitioner in the township, and was well knoi his liberality and hospitality. His cabin was always open to traveler, many recipients of his bounty relate that when asking for their bill night's lodging, they were told to "go and do likewise."

While studying for his profession, he was appointed Assistant Surge his preceptor at the battle of Bunker Hill, and was afterward one of the n Surgeons in the army of Montgomery and Arnold at the storming of Q oj er was carried in and laid on the table before the doctor. " I can't do anyj r for this man; his head is gone,'' he exclaimed with his usual prompt- It was a mistake which might easily occur in the darkness of the night ffionfusion of the battle. He was near Gen. Montgomery when the latter i c ved his death wound, and saw him reel and spin round like a top while kncing on the ice.

Dr. Hole's cabin stood on the spot where David Gephart lately erected a house, just below Eno Belloman's mill. It was a round-log cabin, with a ward roof and loft, puncheon floor and cat and clay chimney, that is, made nail sticks and tilled in with clay. He died January 6, 1813, aged ft eight years.

John Ewing. Sr., better known as Judge Ewing, came here in the same u with Dr. Hole, and settled on adjoining land. His descendants are still eg in the neighborhood. His son Joseph was one of the first surveyors in o gomery County, in which capacity he served fifteen years. His son John e January 30, 1882, on the old homestead farm, a few rods from his birth - lai>, eighty years before. He has a daughter still living in Dayton.

Henry Stansell first came to Ohio in 1801. He built a log cabin and then ned to Kentucky for his family, whom he removed to their new home the living year. Another prominent but later settler was Daniel Wilson, who nlved from Greene County in 1811. Mr. Wilson was born in New Jersey, « 21, 1759. He was married to Sarah Sutton, September 23, 1781, and izabeth Price, February 17, 1807. He died September 7, 1847. He reo'd from New Jersey to Pennsylvania, and thence to Greene County, Ohio, e he built the first house in that county, April 7, 1796. When, in 1799, lelrst church was built in Washington Township, the trees were blazed from r Vilson's to this church, in order that the Greene County settlers might atilhe Lord's service without danger of beino- lost in the woods.

Among the other pioneers were the three Baileys - John, Andrew and rl (M. D.). These men, the fruits of whose industry we to-day enjoy withtninking of the labor it cost to clear and improve the land, had many diffi- : l|s to contend with, not the least of which was the matter of moving. We 1 jive one or two instances illustrative of this part of this work.

denry Stansell, assisted by Jerry Allen, and accompanied by his wife and ephildren, left Kentucky for Ohio in 1802. Their worldly store was not or very valuable, but part of it was bulky and cumbersome. In addition Air live stock, which consisted of three horses, one hen and a few geese, -.brought, with them all the household and kitchen furniture and farming nmments necessary to set up housekeeping and commence farming in a new W- One of the horses was detailed to carry Mrs. Stansell, a saddle, a Hr bed and a baby four months old. Each of the remaining horses carried >iepf the men, two children, cooking utensils, provisions for the journey, 'rng implements, etc. The geese were compelled to travel on foot, but the 'managed to dead-head it on one of the horses. A sad misfortune befell ie! in Cincinnati, for one of the geese strayed from the flock and was lost tp streets of that city. It was afterward discovered, however, and brought lj in triumph.

fbe settlers were not by any means all from the same locality or even 'like same State, New England contributed her share, and, in 1797, Jonafimd Edmund Manger and Benjamin Maltbie left Middleburg, Yt. , with ! ''families, for the territory northwest of the Ohio River. They traveled 0 three-horse wagons, the wheel horses being driven with lines and the lJ ridden by a boy. While coming through" Pennsylvania and moving " >i at a brisk trot, by a sudden jolt. Jonathan Munger, who was riding on one of the wagons, was thrown under the wheels, and, before the horses con be checked, or he could extricate himself, both wheels passed over him. Su bold spirits were not to be thwarted by a little accident like that, and th moved ou to Marietta, where they remained for a time in the stockade. Frc there, they dropped down the river to Belpre, where, in 1799, they raised cc siderable corn and transported it to Columbia in pirogues. In 1800, Jonath and Edmund Munger, with the families of all three men, moved down t river in pirogues. Benjamin Maltbie, with some of the boys, brought t horses down by land. The harness and wagons were carried in the boats, some point, one of the pirogues was overturned and a feather bed, containi a baby, floated down with the current. The bed was somewhat dampened, b the pirogue was not injured and the baby was saved. They landed at Cinch nati. harnessed their horses, hitched to their wagons, and, having loaded tin with as much of their goods as they could haul over the unbroken rqaj started for Washington Township. The women and all the children who wc able to walk performed their journey on foot.

The settlers were greatly troubled by venomous snakes. Benjamin II bins discovered a den in close proximity to his house, and called in the neio bors to help exterminate the pests. About a dozen backwoodsmen came in 1 make a day's work of it, and the result of the hunt was 400, mostly rattlesnak , and having from sixteen to twenty-four rattles each.

The woods were full of game of all kinds, but bears, deer and wild ti keys were most abundant, as well as most valuable, as to these they looked : 1 their meat. Many interesting stories are told of bear hunts, deer chases a 1 big turkey hauls, and a few of these we will give.

One day, Boston Hoblet was paying his friend, Benjamin Robbins, a visj, and while at dinner a loud squealing was heard in the direction of the pig-1 Both men sprang from the table and seized their guns, for, as was customa in those days, Hoblet had brought his along. Hoblet led the way, and i nearing the lot, discovered a large bear tearing away at a sow's shoulders, an by a well-directed shot, succeeded in bringing bruin to the ground. ' ' ISIo Boston," said Robbins, who at that moment came up and saw what his fide had done, " I'll give you a pig for that." So he did. "And that pig," s< Hoblet, "was the first one I ever owned." That one lucky shot gave bin start in the pig line and he became a successful hog-raiser.

Shortly after the settlers from New England had established themseh on the head-waters of Hole's Creek, some of the younger members of the famr of Jonathan Munger reported to their father that they had seen a " mons black cat-' run up a tree. Without waiting for his gun, the father promp climbed the tree, and, with a good stout club, invited the " black cat '' do wn forcibly that he quickly accepted the invitation and descended to the grou rather more hurriedly than gracefully, where he was hospitably received by t1 family dog and the children. In relating the incident afterward, Mr. Mung was free to admit that he would have been in some danger had Mrs. Brn made her appearance on the battle-field; but, as he was unacquainted, with be habits at that time, he always wound up his story by characteristically sayii " High, la me; them that knows nothin' fears nothin'."

One fall, after Mr. John Ewing had put up his hogs for fattening, he cai across a large bear in the woods, and, after following him all day to the Lit Miami and back, succeeded in killing him close to his house. This was cc sidered an extra good day's work, and he was so well satisfied with the amovl of meat thus obtained that his hogs were turned out to be kept for the n< I year's fattening.

1 1 of 1826, on the farm of Daniel Hines. Louis Taylor says that this be ail's shot almost simultaneously by Simon H. Douglass and William Russell, I t that he thinks Russell's gun cracked first.

A man by the name of Clawson, who was a celebrated hunter, once went to t ; shop of Edmund Munger to have some blacksmithing done, but was told by ] -, Munger that he could not do the work, as his family was out of meat and 1 must go to the woods and kill some turkeys. " I can kill more turkeys than i can," said Clawson, "and if you'll go into the shop and do my work, I'll c into the woods and do your hunting." The proposition was accepted, and (iwson, with an old horse and a boy, started into the woods. In the evening, L returned and made good his boast, for the old horse was loaded down with tenty-one fine, fat turkeys.

One night, Jonathan Munger, hearing a noise in the top of an elm which had felled near his house, fired his rifle in the direction of the sound and riurned the gun to its place. By the nest day, he had forgotten all about the ecumstance, and did not go near the tree until noon, when he discovered the ] )-s eagerly devouring the carcass of a deer, which his random shot had killed. 'J is was the man who, it is said, has been known to climb a tree, transfer a s irm of bees to a sack and return stingless to the ground.

Gradually, however, the larger animals were driven off or killed, and bei e the close of the first quarter of the present century, most of them had diswared. The last "porcupine," or American hedgehog, was killed one Suncl!'' morning in the summer of 1880, while crossing the street in Centerville, jflt below the present residence of Dr. Lamme.

The amusements of our pioneer forefathers was much the same in every ivnship, and were adapted to their free and open manner of living. The app cuttings, spinning frolics, quiltings, corn huskings and log rollings were n versally attended and enjoyed by everybody. They always combined the u ful with the pleasant, and their seasons of enjoyment were seasons of profit a well. Their play was their work. There were no social bickerings and no elect crowds." Society acknowledged but one class, and the open sesame of i I doors was honesty, uprightness and a good appetite for work. The aris racy of wealth, the aristocracy of good looks and the aristocracy of good dies all ranked below the aristocracy of physical manhood. Probably one 'their most popular enjoyments was their "spinning frolics," as upon these t j depended for their year's clothing. Preparatory to the " frolic," however, flax must be pulled by the boys and girls; next, it was spread and watered the purpose of hastening disintegration; after it had lain for some time, so ado be readily broken, it must be "winded" or "scutched;" next, the ii king process must be gone through with, after which came the " spinning d .' not the least agreeable part of which, to the boys at least, was carrying girls' spinning-wheels to and from the party. After the spinning, came weaving, which latter process was generally performed by a few families iohe neighborhood, for some slight compensation. This was because looms ve expensive and weaving required some practice.

In this line we might add that the champion flax-dresser in the neighbored was David Bowlbv, who, in two days, dressed 236 pounds - 120 the first <d 116 the second.

Washington Township is not to-day anything but distinctively agricultural iijts pursuits. There are but two streams and their tributaries, which have e r afforded any water-power, and since the country has been cleared up and fOe have been greatly diminished in volume, and especially since the applies on of steam has become so universal as to render water-power machinery a ost useless, the goodly amount of machinery once employed in this town-

Almost every conceivable industry has at some time been carried on with the limits of the township. Hole's and Sugar Creeks have afforded employmc for no less than seven saw-mills, live flouring-mills, one cotton factory, one fu ing-mill and one oil-mill. Besides this water-power machinery, there h; been in use at different times, two horse-power carding machines and thi steam saw-mills.

One of the first men identified with the manufacturing interests of 1 township was Isaac Harrison, who came to Ohio in 1802, and settled twe miles above Cincinnati. By trade, he was a carder and fuller, and, removi to Washington Township in 1808, he purchased land on Hole's Creek, n Woodburn, upon which there was a saw mill in operation. This mill he c< tinued to run until he enlisted in the war of 1812. After returning from i war, he, in 1813 or 1814, converted his saw-mill into a carding and full] mill. This was the second mill of the kind in the county, and was operated Mr. Harrison until 1833, when it was abandoned, and a stone factory, for manufacture of cloth, stocking yarn, etc., took its place. This factory 1 Harrison continued to operate until his death in December, 1842, and then property fell into the hands of his son William, by whom the business i prosecuted two years longer, when it was suspended.

Probably the most extensive and at the same time the least profitable bi ness ever carried on in the township was the manufacture of woolen, eott i hemp and linen goods by the " Farmers' and Mechanics' Manufacturiug Cc pany, of Centerville, Montgomery Co., Ohio." Excessive length of title a. have been fatal to the company, for, although it is believed that the firms v : leased the company's property all made money, the venture was a decii. financial failure to the company itself, some members of which lost $20,000 | fore the factory was abandoned.

In October, 1815, a meeting of the respectable gentlemen of the con was called at the house of John Archer, Centerville, to discuss the feasihi of establishing a woolen and cotton factory on Hole' s Creek. Books for st subscription were opened immediately after the meeting, and, January 1816, the trustees met at the same place to elect a superintendent and let c tracts for building the factory, digging the race, making the dam and for ir wright work.

It was not the design of the company to run the factory theuisebes, to lease it to reliable manufacturing firms or men. The first lessees were Is Hodgson & Co., aud they commenced operations some time in 1817. Anot leasee was Michael Canady, who held the property for several years.

The first managers of the company were Benjamin Maltbie, Thomas 01 son and Thomas Newton. We insert a copy of the notification to Mr. Malt of his appointment: u to assist in the management and superintending the business of the factory in concert h Thomas Newton and Thomas Clawson, and will give such compensation as shall be r'/med reasonable for such services. Yours with respect,

The managers of the Factory company are directed to superintend to all the differ e Branches of The Building of the Factory, and are empowered to Purchase such neees- , y articles and tools as are absolutely wanted for the use of Said Company - and they i also directed to attend to the carding meshein, take account of all wool that may be ught to be carded, and to receive and account for all monies or other Pay for carding make A report to the Trustees at their monthly meeting. The aforesaid managers a Authorized to contract for such Laborers as shall be wanted to carry said Building i:5) effect agreeable to former contract and they are to Procure A Desk to Deposit.

June 10, 1816. Began to superintend the factory. The hands that worked to-day we Robert Russell, William Russell and Abraham Clawson, by the month.

June 13, 1816. This Day agreed with Mr. Stags of Middletown to Come next Mon- , and Put up the machienes if Trustees will uot Imploy him he is to have Pay for one 1 - that is Two Dollars he is to have Two Dollars and his Board Per Day.

The first order issued by this company was in favor of Aaron Nutt, Sr., f< hauling, amount, 810.011; date, January 27, 1816. Abner Crane furnished I company at different times 806,290 bricks, at a total cost of 8L378.30.1,.

One of the Treasurers of the company was James Russell, and the amount ' Honey which passed through his hands while serving in that capacity was I056.78J. Mr. Russell's books show that on settlement he had always paid

Articles of Agreement made between the Farmers' and Mechanics' Manufacturing 1 ipany of Centerville, Montgomery Co., Ohio - in the first part and John Harris, John '[lor, Jacob Benner, William Luce & Francies Dilts their Heirs and Assigns on the -* id part witnesseth that the said Farmers' and Mechanics' Manufacturing Company of Cjterville &c., do agree and bind themselves to transfer all their right and title to their hd and Factory lying and standing on the

\i devil.'' One morning, as the children of Peter Sunderland were going to siiool, they suddenly ran across him " in camp, " and immediately returned jme and reported to their father. Mr. Sunderland's men went out and found in roasting a duck. He was protected from the cold only by a sack, which had found in the road and which he drew on over his head, having first oped it sufficiently to make arm-holes. By these men he was taken to the ;meof Mr. Sunderland and there made to understand that he was among : ends. He gave his name as Black John, and soon proved himself to be an nest and trustworthy hand.

One of Mr. Sunderland's daughters had a Kentucky suitor, and this genrman reported the circumstance of Black John's capture to some of his friends no had lost a slave. One morning in the next summer, the household of Mr. bnderland was in unusual commotion, and it was evident that visitors were Jpected whose advent was not agreeable One of the boys was sent out to the id of the lane to watch for them, but the cherry trees were too tempting and on he was so busily engaged that he did not notice two strangers who walked Istily and quietly toward the house. When near the house, they were met i the brawny Peter Sunderland, who, with a drawn corn-cutter, commanded jialt. One of the men he grabbed by the collar, and, while he held the wea n over his head, threatening every minute to crash it into his brain, he called i John to nlake his escape. John needed no second bidding, and, with a few jjoid strides, reached the woods and was soon out of harm's way, it is hoped, he was never heard from after. The treacherous Kentuckian who had i ought about the event was forbidden the house of Mr. Sunderland, as he ffily deserved to be.

tking hay, 50 cents per day; reaping and mowing, 62 cents. Flour, $2 per 4.; pickled pork, 14 cents per pound; rye, 20 cents per bushel; corn, 20 nts per bushel ; two-horse team, $1.50; carriage hire, in 1840,25 cents per y; cider, $1 per barrel.

Washington Township takes the lead in the matter of public officials and [sal government. It has always been run in the interests of economy and at e same time law, order and social and intellectual development.

The first election held in the county was June 21, 1803, and this town - ip cast ninety-five votes for Governor. The township has been reduced since en, but the number of voters now is 440. The first election for Justice of e Peace was on the second Tuesday in October, 1805, when the following tes were polled: John McCabe, 35; John McGrew, 32: Richard Mason. 1; jtal, 68.

In Alarch, 1829, the trustees, in settlement with the Treasurer, made t! statement: "We find now in the Treasurer's hands one note of hand and sever depreciated bank notes, which are considered of no value, to the amount $19,814; amount in Treasurer's hands, 914 cents.

" 1839 - Total receipts, $25,244; total expenses, $25,234; amount on han 1 cent. Of the expenses this year, the Treasurer received as his per cent, 7- cents."

Between this date and the present, the wants of the county must have i creased wonderfully, if we are to judge from the general exhibit of the Trea urer's books for March, 1881 :

This wide difference is not an indication of extravagance, but of ge eral improvement. For instance, in 1839, if the report is to be relied o there could have been no public schools, while in the report of 1881 we find large share of total expenses was for school purposes.

In 1865, Russia sent an agent to the United States to inquire into tl principles and workings of our Government. As a matter of course, lie came Ohio, and, not finding just what he wanted at Columbus, he came down Dayton. At Dayton, he said he wanted to get at the very bottom of the roe ter, and asked what township was best governed, as he intended going in the matter to its foundation. " Washington Township, of course," respondi the county officials. He came out, hi inging a letter of introduction to tl Treasurer, and spent some time in examining the township books. The i title of this interesting Russian was J. Kapnist, attache a la II Section de chancellerie particuliere de S. Al. l'Empereur de Russie.

AVashington Township has always been noted for the liberality of k citizens. Their hearts are large and an appeal for help has never been mat to them in vain. In the late war, a call was made by the soldiers' famiii in Dayton for wood. The first call was not generally known in the townski and consequently the response was not very large. At the second call, hi'1 ever, the entire township was quick to heed, and seventy loads of wood, mea uring out seventy-five cords, were hauled into town on the same day. Tit was more wood than was contributed by the entire county outside of 4Y ashinj ton Township. The wood was hauled in procession, Benjamin Davis beiij Marshal for the day.

Not only has she been willing to contribute of her means, but her citize: have not hesitated to stake their lives for their country's freedom or rights.

In the Wolverine war of 1835, when the regiment was called together at l nisburg, and the list of volunteers taken, it presented the following names:

In the Mexican war, John Woodyard and James Pope represented this j-iship, or would have represented it had they succeeded in getting to lico.

In the war of 1861, the township furnished her full quota of soldiers, but, s ,eir names are soon to be recorded on the soldiers' monument at Dayton, epave their record to the sculptured marble, which will be more enduring n| the feeble lines of this pen.

Although Washington T wnship has not made as rapid advancement in national matters as her progress in other directions would lead us to expect, f long the dark passages of her illiteracy there have been glimmerings of g: whose beams have penetrated to her farthest borders, and in their influk are destined to live for years yet to come.

One of these points in her history was the establishment of a public li- 1 i'u as early as 1810. This library was kept up for thirty years, and was a >n e of much intellectual improvement to the township. It was in the hands joint-stock company, incorporated under the following law: feb. 19, 1810. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, that u nd Munger, Daniel Bradstreet, Noah Tibbals, John Harris, Israel Harris, Benjamin uifie, Amoni Maltbie, Ethol Kellogg, Jeremiah Hole, Elihu Kellogg, Freeman Munger, 'I' nd K. Munger, Reuben Munger, Ezra Kellogg, Jonathan Munger and Harvey Mun- - r and they are together with such other persons as shall be by them hereafter'admit- 1 eated and made a Corporation and body politic with perpetual Succession and Shall J'rrfter he Known by the name and title of the Washington Social Library Company.

" Edmund Munger, Benjamin Maltbie, Daniel Bradstreet, Noah Tibbals, John Harris, b| Kellogg and Jeremiah Hole be and they are hereby appointed directors until the Janual meeting of said corporation. This act shall take effect and be in force from d fter the passage thereof. Meeting of the members for Election of Officers 1st Tues- larrison Maltbie, son of Judge Benjamin Maltbie, makes a very clear lent concerning the above charter. "About 1840, a stranger went through 1 - wnship, bought the shares of the stockholders, and kept everything secret ' f had full control ; he then came to my father to buy his two shares. My 1 said to him, 'You want to establish a bank on this charter?' He ac- 1ao edged that was the calculation. My father told him when the charter ts Gained, a pledge was given that it should not be so used; he replied that hi the power already to control it, and he would use it, and, to avoid trouble, 'laid give my father $30 foBliis two shares. My father took it. This man IU°A the concern to Miamisburg and started the Washington Bank."

Its life was a brief one, but long enough for some persons to lose la amounts of money. Israel Harris and his son James, of Centerville, v invited to take stock in the bank; they visited Miamisburg and examined : it far enough to satisfy themselves that it would not do.

In 1848, a joint-gtock company was organized in Centerville for the es lishment of an academy. Property was purchased and a substantial two-si stone building was erected at a cost of $8,000. Prof. Johnson, now of Jei sonville, Ind. , was the first Principal, and under his management the sc] prospered for a few years very remarkably. Besides the languages, ina matics and sciences, there was taught book-keeping, surveying and history.

There is at present a decided improvement in the schools all over township. The district schools are better than they ever were before, and feeling now is that Washington is going to come out of the woods and her proper position among her sister townships. Besides this general iropr ment, a select school was opened up in Centerville, in the fall of 1881, \v promises to be very successful.

There are three villages in the township, which were once places of siderable importance, but, since the decline of the mills and factories, w gave them life, the once active and noisy streets have become silent and ah deserted, and the towns are all very quiet and inoffensive in their acter. The interest has been entirely transferred to the country, whose ri young men and women are the true bone and sinew of the township.

Woodburn, in the northwestern part was once a place of considerable 1 ness capacity. Here the manufacturing company located their factory, and, i) palmy days of that establishment Woodburn carried on a brisk trade wifcl surrounding farmers. Besides the factory and private dwellings, the boasted of a tavern, familiarly known as " Townsley's Tavern," a foundry machine shop and the calico printer's establishment before referred to. a number of years, it also supported a good country store.

The town was the outgrowth of the factory, for we find that the first were sold in May, 1818, two years after the organization of the company, present, there remains nothing to mark the place except a few dwelling-ln and a new brick church.

Stringtown, in the southeastern part of the township, dates back to the same time, but never attained any particular importance, except as tl cation of David Miller's tannery and a few shops of divers kinds. Thei mains of it at present its classical appellation and a few good farmer citi

Centerville, about midway between Woodburn and Stringtown, receivi name from its location - being seven miles from Miamisburg, Springbon Ridgeville, nine from Dayton, Upper Shaker Village, Waynesville and F lin, and fourteen from Middietowm, Xenia, Lebanon and Lower Shaker A i It is located on the highest point between Lebanon and Dayton, on the vj shed of the Miamis.

It dates earlier than either of the other places, and was probably lai for a town as early as 1805 or 1806. We know of lots having been sd 1808, and there was a town there at that time. In 1811, a store was 0] up on Main street, and since then Centerville has never failed to be v upon by one or more of the necessary emporiums of trade. It has been incorporated - once in 1830 and again in 1879. The first officials und| earlier incorporation were: Samuel S. Robbins, Mayor; Henry W. Kj Marshal; Robert G. McEwen, Clerk. These officers served some time w|

I ving a case, when the boys made up a pony purse and hired J oseph Beck to i d his horse on the pavement before the Mayor. A warrant was immediately iiiedby that functionary and the playful Joseph was arrested and lined 50 i its, the Mayor declaring with great gusto that order and the dignity of the cy should be preserved at all hazards. The first officials under the new incporation, which declares that Centerville is a hamlet, were: William Dodd, issident of the Council: W. H. Lamme, M. D., and S. G. Stewart, M. D., las tees ; Joseph Nutt, Clerk and Treasurer; Joseph Loy, Marshal.

In 1812. as Gen. Harrison was marching north to retrieve the fortunes of ; ill, he passed through the town and encamped two miles to the north, on the vst side of the pike, a little to the southwest of Whip's tobacco shed.

As he came up from the south, he observed a girl making desperate efforts r mount a fractious colt, and, supposing the music was making matters worse her, he ordered it stopped. In the meantime, the girl had succeeded in runting and flew past like a shot, bareback and vigorously applying the birch, trike up," shouted the General, "there is no danger of that girl's being down." When he came intq town, he ordered a halt, while he went into the ' el to inquire the name of the female equestrian and compliment her on her a'.'semanship. The girl's name was Sallie Archer, afterward Mrs. Thomas I.vis.

At the same time, one of Gen. Harrison's soldiers, a Frenchman, discovered line fat cat basking in front of the tavern. Mrs. Archer, the owner of the cat, iring given him permission to take the cat with him, he immediately shot S Thomas, and, having skinned it, put it in his haversack. It is supposed llit he enjoyed a good roast that night.

Centerville was once a place of some importance, but, like Woodburn and Singtown, began to grow old when the manufacturing interests were permitted 'ball into disuse. It has to-day a population of about 275, and supports one l goods store, three groceries, a meat-shop, two stone shops, three blacksmith sips, two wagon-makers, a hotel and a good post office. The health of its cit- As is looked after by W. H. Lamme and S. G. Stewart; its morals are attend- H'to by the Methodist Episcopal and Baptists, both Old and New School, uni the leadership of Bev. Deem and Elders Thompson and AVilson.

We promis to pay or cause to be paid unto Aaron Nutt or Order the just and full sum 'ifteen Dollars and that in behalf of the Baptist church of Sugar Creek, it being a eomi>wation for a lot purchased to build a Meeting House On and to be paid as follows. By } e Dollars in plank, three Dollars in Glass, one Dollar in a pare of I - L Hinges all to -> Delivered and paid to the said Nutt when the Meeting House is ready to receive them n Eight Dollars on or before the twenty -fifth day of December Next Insueing the (late ilsof as AVitnessOur Hands and 'Seals the first Day of June One Thousand Eight Huns'I and two. Note above characters represent the word Hook.

The church proceeded to build a house of worship, and empowered the "iding committee to pay for hewing the logs in country produce. The build - 'i of the house was contracted for £50, for which the contractor was to take " le or work, if paid within a specified time; if otherwise, it was to be paid 'pash, and said house to be ready for use by June 1, 1803. Some of the t1 cheons for floor in said house are still in existence (February, 1882).

for the scattered members and their friends to go up to the house of the Lo: Accordingly, committees were appointed to mark trees from the meetii house to Wilson's and McGrew's settlements, each distant about live miles, opposite directions. Rev. Charles McDaniel, Baptist missionary, sent by English society, was the first minister in Washington Township. This chui was raised and constituted in 1799, under the labors of Elder Daniel Cla who was the only minister within many miles. As near as can now bo asc tained, as some records are lost, there were nine members - four males and 1 females. It was constituted in a private house of one of the members, an* printed covenant was adopted, which had been brought from Kentucky by c of the members. The first church meeting on record was held November 1799. Monthly meetings for business were then appointed, and these have c< tinned till the present time. The first addition was by letter, January 1, 18' and, in June following, was the first addition by baptism, Mary Etchasc Dr. John Hole was the first person baptized in Hole's Creek, September 1801. In this year, the church united with the Miami Association. Early the present century, Elder Joshua Carman settled near this church, and, the 1st of January, 1802, the church employed him to preach a part of 1 time. In this year was the first subscription for the support of the Gosp When the church was organized, the country was a wilderness, the first sett ment not two years previous. Yet, before the close of 1802, her members! had increased twenty-one by letter and eight by baptism. Frequent cases discipline are mentioned, and the first exclusion is mentioned in March, 18l In April of this year, the church employed Elder John Mason to preach tw a month, till September, 1823. The first member regularly dismissed was 1800; first restoration in 1808; from then until 1811 the records are poo kept. In 1812, Elder Jacob Mulford was employed to preach once a mon till 1823 or 1824. In ISIS, an effort was made to build a new house of w ship of brick, but the effort failed. In 1824, Elder Hezekiah Stites was e ployed to preach one Sabbath in each month, and a subscription was raised be paid in sugar for part of his services. In 1827, Eider Samuel Catte: preached for the church a portion of the time. In 1830, they employed Elc Peter Webb as pastor, which relation he sustained till 1835. Purchased addition to the graveyard this year. In May, 1831, agreed to build a n house of worship. Brother Daniel Wilson was appointed agent and buildi committee; in 1832, the house was finished and committee discharged w id) c tire approbation and hearty thanks. January, 1836, called Elder "Robert M sildine to preach one-half the time, but, proving himself unworthy the cor dence reposed in him, he was dismissed. After September, 1836, preaching part of the time by different ministers - by Elder Muncier Jones, Brotl Orasmus Osgood and Brother Lewis Osborn, Elder William Sutton and Elc John Blodget. In April, 1842, Elder John Blodget was settled as pastor; October, his health failed and Elder Henry Ward was engaged until the paste health was restored; in 1852, the pastor closed his labors with the entire Elder Zelora Eaton employed to preach semi-monthly for six months. 1853, Elder Samuel Marshall employed one-half the time, till 1856. In Js nary, 1857, Brother Seth D. Bowker; with him the church made its first . rangement for preaching every Sabbath. In March, 1859, the church call Elder J. W. Weatherby to the pastorate; continued till 1865. H. Wai pastor from May 1, 1866, to May, 1868. John E. Craig, Jaunary 9, 1869, November, 1870. H. Ward, from July 1, 1871, to April, 1874. J. 0. Ar strong, from April 4, 1874, to May 15, 1876. Watson Dana, from Noveml 19. 1876, to May 15, 1878. J. H. Wilson since October 1, 1878.

Feb. 4, 1815. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, that Beuj.iiu Archer Aimer Gerard, and Edward Mitchel and their associates for the time being 1 and they are hereby created and declared a body politic by the name of the Regular F otist called Sugar Creek, and as such shall remain and have perpetual succession, subiy, however, to such future alterations as the Legislature may think proper to make.

Old School Baptists

After the division of the Baptist Church, which, from the records, seems r iave been somewhere between 1821 and 1824, the two bodies were then tiwn respectively as Old and New School Baptist. The following are the res of the Elders who have served the Old School in Centerville from the ision to the present time: Elder Wilson Thompson, Jacob Mulford, Stephen

'lliams (preached sixteen years), William Butler, John A. Thompson, Grigg Timpson, John M. Thompson (since January, 1877). About 1828. built a die meeting-house, which was occupied until a few years ago, when they sited a neat frame house. John A. Thompson preached the dedication serial. Regular preaching the foru-th Sunday in each month and Saturday be- V - in Centerville.

The Universalists commenced preaching here about 1826 or 1827, the first by Jonathan Kidwell. in the old pioneer log meeting-house, after that itching sometimes in private houses, and quite frequently in the school- K3e; there they organized and prospered for many years, having regular aJings, the ministers full of zeal and full of debate. Elder Samuel Willa 3, of the Old School Baptist, and Elihu Moore, Universal]' sc, had debate for las in the Baptist Church of Centerville; at the conclusion, both parties lined the victory. Jonathan Kidwell was said to be very generous to his op- >o;nts. After a sermon, it is said he would extend the privilege to any one i rent to make known their opposition to his doctrine. On one occasion in 'i >lo County, an old German rose up and said: "Mr, Kidwell, if your doen) ish true, we has got enough of it, and, if it ish not true, we wants no i® of it. " And down he sat.

Orthodox Fr1Exds

At an early date, Thomas Horner and four sons - John, David, Joseph n Jacob - with their families, all members of the Society of Friends, settled > lis township, and, for awliite. attended the Friends' meetings in Wavnesil. On New Year's Day, 1816, Solomon Miller and family, from Pennsyli a, also Friends, moved into the neighborhood and a meeting- was soon ora zed on Sugar Creek, one and a half miles southeast of Centerville. About J came Abijah Taylor and family and Goldsmith Chandler and family,

1 "Virginia. Then Amos Kinworthv, from Pennsylvania, and David Miller. 4 sunk a tanyard and built the brick house at the cross roads in Stringtown. in came Job Jennings and family, from New Jersey. Caleb Miller came G 1822 or 1823; Nathan Ballard about the same time; he was a cooper and is hop> was on the lot adjoining the township hall in Centerville, on the east u Later, came the Haines family, we think, from New Jersey; Paul Sears icamily, from North Carolina; Joseph and Solomon Hollingsworth, from n.nia. We are not certain about the Horners' native State, but it is now to be North Carolina. Isaac Hasket came in at a later date, and was a,x ' the last member of the meeting, which is now entirely among the things l'iaire past. For years, monthly meetings were held alternately at Sugar

"Creek and Springboro. By 1860, meetings had about ceased, Isaac Hasket a the Sears family being the sole representatives of that once pleasant socie Hasket moved to Iowa. The Sears, with the exceptions of Charles and Ma: attached themselves to other societies. The old meeting-house, after its ab; donment as such, was occupied a few years as a dwelling, when it was burr down. Nothing now marks the spot but the old burying-ground. Thou Miller, son of the above-named Solomon, is a prominent minister in the Sect of Friends; residence, Springboro, Warren Co., Ohio. The writer, as well all acquaintances of James C. Anderson, will be surprised to learn that he v not a member; such is the case, he was not.

Washington Presbyterian Church

The earliest record that we have of the Washington Presbyterian Chu is a record of a congregational meeting, held November 29, 1813, Rev. Willi Robison, presiding, at which three trustees were chosen, viz., Jonathan M: ger, Edmund Munger and Ira Mead. On August 20, 1817, the first record a meeting of a church session occurred, constituted as follows: Ministers, h Grey, Rev. Burgess; Elders, Messrs, Tunis Vandevere, Zebulon Baird ; Fergus McClane. At this meeting, the following persons were admittec full membership: Noah Tibbals, Benjamin Maltbie, George Reeder, Pc< Reeder. Edmund Munger. Eunice Munger, Jonathan Munger, Elizabeth M ger. Seth Kellogg, Eunice Kellogg, Andrew Bailey and Olive Porter. At t meeting, the following persons were elected by the congregation Elders of church: George Reeder, Edmund Munger and Benjamin Maltbie. and. on . 31st of August, the same year, these Elders were ordained by the Rev. Hughs. At this period, it was the custom to hold two services on the»Si Sabbath, the people taking lunch with (hem. The records do not show wl the meetings were held, but most likely from house to house. Subsequen -out-door meetings became quite common, and a great many added to the dun this was especially true of a camp-meeting, which was held some time betw the years 1829 and 1833 or 1831, under the preaching of the Rev. Jdjhr Belville. recently deceased, one of the most talented and eloquent divine that day. He became the pastor of this church March 24, 1830, and contin in this office up to 1840; during this period, upward of 120 persons were ad to the church. The first division in the church seems to have grown out of; sale of pews, part of the church being opposed to the plan, and, in eonseque several of the most liberal and efficient members withdrew or were disciple

The next occasion of a division was the question of dispute in refen to doctrine, which ended in the split into Old and New School. A small nority of the members withdrew and made an attempt to organize a churcl the New-School doctrine, but did not succeed. The majority of the mem! continued their adherence to the original organization, and the organiza has been kept up with varying success up to the present time. The orig plan was to build the church in Centerville, and $906 were raised by sabsc tion for this purpose. Subsequently, a subscription was started to. bail'd church at or near the high bridge, which succeeded in raising only $80, what they lacked in money they seem to have made up in energy, for we that they finally carried the point. This was a compromise; part of the j congregation lived at Miamisburg, and it was argued that the church ougl be located so as to accommodate both sections. So the church was located i the bridge. The records of this church show that near 400 names appej' upon its roll from its organization up to the present time. The first Sab school in this township was organized in this church.

Methodist Episcopal Church

The denomination which embraces the largest number of members in the wnship is the Methodist Episcopal, but, owing to the fact that they have :sver kept an official record, their history is somewhat curtailed in this work.

The following facts, however, we are enabled to lay before our readers .rough the kindness of Mr. and Mrs. Abner Harris, who are members of the urch of long standing, and were acquainted with many of the earliest Methlists of the township. Mr. Harris himself is a native of the township and rs. Harris removed here from Kentucky in 1806.

The first Methodist in the township was Henry Opdyke. whose cabin ood on the farm now owned by Mrs. Eleazer Williamson, three miles north - st of Centerville. At his cabin, in 1809, Eev. John Collins preached the 1st Methodist sermon in the township. He also organized a class-meeting, e first leader of which was Aaron Nutt, Jr. In this cabin Mr. Harris says. : witnessed a more exciting love feast than he has ever seen since. The jsetings were held here until Mr. Opdyke donated a lot to the congregation, pon which their ready hands and keen axes soon put up a log church. This is used for several years for public worship, but finally was permitted to be rn down, and was never rebuilt.

The next church put up was a log building on land donated by Mathias .parson, about three miles south of Centerville, on the present Dayton & Leban pike. The date given to this church is 1813 or 1814, and the appointment is called Eehobeth. There was a good congregation here for those days, and. uong the members we note the following: Mathias Pearson. John Roberts, ijreral years, when it was torn down and a neat brick church erected in its cad. This church was continued to within the last few years, when it shared "0 same fate as its more humble predecessor. At present, there is no building

Shortly after the establishment of Rehobeth appointment, David Watkins- - nated a lot for church proposes on the farm now owned by George Sears, i out three miles southeast of Centerville, on Sugar Creek. A log church was -so erected here and the appropriate name of Hopewell given to the appointbnt. It is worthy of note that, with the exception of the Presbyterians, every ''nomination has begun its evangelical work in this township in log buildigs. Hopewell, like Rehobeth, enjoyed several years of prosperity, but, like church at Opdyke's, never passed into a second existence. The following !,3 some of the members: David Watkins, Daniel Watkins. Jonathan Watkins, 'urge Watkins, James Proud and Jeremiah Allen.

At the time of the establishment of the church in this township, Miami ficuit was under the control of the conference in Kentucky, by whom, in 10, the circuit was divided, the northern division retaining the old name of . ami, while the southern was called Union Circuit. At this time, services ' rc held at the various appointments only once in every five or six weeks.

1 1811, Union and Miami Circuits were joined together, but this arrangement vs only continued until October 1, 1812, when Union was again set off by b conference at Chillicothe.

The early Methodists were not wealthy, and, although they gave what % could to maintain the ministry, yet the remuneration was scarcely suffi- ; nt to support these apostles of Christ. That their pastorate was no sinesure 'll be seen by the following collections, taken at nine appointments in 1811: lion, $31.95; Xenia, $8.50; Campbell. $3; Baumgardner's, $2; Widow > kith's, $3,374; Lebanon, $32.25; Dvche's. $1.18| ; Hasberger's, $3.75; bud's. $3.40; total, $89. 3 If

We are unable to give a complete list of the various ministers who ha been on this circuit, but some of the following names are yet familiar in mai Methodist households: Solomon Langdon, first Presiding Elder; Marcus Liu sey, Joseph Tatman, Moses Crutne and Jacob Miller, regularly ordained min ters, and Bennet Maxey, helper, in 1813 and 1814; Amos Sparks and Robe Burns, local preachers in 1816 and 1817. Among other names are the folio ing: John Strange, John Sale, John P. Durbin (afterward a Bishop), Russi Biglow, AVilliam Dixon, Arthur Elliott, Albert Goddard, George Maly, Mich: Marley. Hardy, Parson, - Sullivan. Brook.

Previous to 1833, there was no church in Centerville, and their services ; to that time were held in the schoolhouse and the Baptist Church. In t summer of that year, a stone building was erected, which continued to be us. for divine services until 1867, when a brick building, costing $12,000, wasp up in its stead. Since then, a fine two-story frame parsonage has been erect on the church lot.

Conclusion

Many changes have taken place in the township since its first settleme: and especially within the last few years, the spirit of progress has taken p: session of the people. The old log huts of our pioneer forefathers have lo been torn dowm; the buildings erected in their stead have also been slupt S9ded; moderately good houses have been remodeled and refitted, and to d; attractive and even elegant dwellings adorn and beautify every road. The o log stables and rail corn-pens have passed from sight, and in their stead i find that commodious barns and well-ai'ranged granaries have sprung up as by magic on every farm. And not these conveniences alone has the farmer c tained, which serve to make life pleasant and agreeable when indoors, but keeps fully up with the spirit of the age in the matter of machinery to light: labor. The old sickle has been hung up, the cradle has been laid away a: the most improved self-binder is seen ready oiled in the barn of every farm: Everything is done with neatness and dispatch, and, as a consequence, he 1: more time to attend to those little matters of improvement which make up t! grand total of our development.

These things show no place more plainly in the relative valuation of lai now and seventy or eighty years ago. In 1804, Aaron Nutt paid, on the l1 acres of the north end of his half-section of land, a tax of 50 cents. A f< years later, he sold the land for $4 per acre. The present owner of the sar land, Benjamin Davis, paid $140 per acre for it, and his tax for 1880 amount to $70.04.

Not only private but public improvement is rife among her citizens. T churches have been overhauled, repainted, refitted or rebuilt without except! in the last few years. The Methodists led off in this line by putting up a fi brick building in 1867. Since then, both Baptist Churches have follow their example, and the New School have added also a parsonage.

In 1879, the Trustees of the township submitted the question of a tov hall to the voters, and, with an overwhelming majority, they responded '*Ae: The building was erected in 1880, and is quite a model for neatness and sen 1 de arrangement.

The T. , D. & B. R. R. passes through the township one mile east of Ce terville, and a side track has been graded from this road to the stone quarry John E. Allen. This quarry has been leased to a Xenia man, and it is e pected to take out 400 perch of stone daily as soon as the road is in success! operation.

Statement of Mi\ Joseph Manuel as to the quality and quantity of stone in .ashington Township. He is at present and has been a worker in stone for a riod of forty-five years ; he has worked in many different quarries, so that his i inion is a valuable one. He says the basis of our limestone is the Hudson lift, or blue limestone. The next is the Clinton formation, or coral rock, -med in salt water. The next is the Niagara group. Our stone, he says, is a superior quality to any limestone formation, and the reason why, its base formation is the crystal of lime, formed by pressure and heats. As to its lauty, it is susceptible of the finest polish; the color is a bright gray; it will j lish like glass. For durability, no superior. To resist pressure, it cannot I, battered. It will resist all the effects of frost or water. The above stone , i here, not merely by the load or perch, but by the acre. The stripping is i'ht compared with other quarries in the county, generally from two to six fit stone are then taken out of any desirable thickness or length. Mr. Manuel ;|/s there are 5,600 perch to the acre. Upon his lot, about one-half an acre which he is quarrying stone from, in the last twenty years, with his labor ded, he has sold not less than $5,000 worth of stone.

The following statement from W. H. Lamme, M. D. : The situation of Washington Township is generally elevated, except the southwest corner, where t> tributaa'ies of Hole's Creek take their rise, and a small strip of the western p-t of the township, which lies alongside of Hole's Creek, which creek travges the entire length of that part of the township. The summit land between t > Great and Little Miami Rivers, is in the center of the township, about vere the town of Centerville lies. From the absence of large streams, we are i: subject to fogs, as they are upon the river bottoms; nor are we subject to tjj ague,* although fever's of a malarious and epidemic character often prevail (ring the autumn season of the year. What is known as goitre, or enlargent of the thyroid glands of the neck, commonly called big neck by the peoi, seems to prevail to an unusual extent in this township. No cause has ever I m assigned for this. The temperature, both winter and summer, does not Aerially differ from that of the river bottoms, although vegetation is usual - ! two weeks or more later here than they are there - a circumstance which i nore attributable to soil than location. We have a subsoil of clay, while >y have one of gravel.

r JHHIS rich and populous district is situated in the southwest corner of Mon JL gomery County. It adjoins on its west side Pi'eble County, on its sou side Butler and Warren Counties, on the east Miami Township, and on il north Jackson and Jefferson Townships. It embraces a territory of thirt seven sections and a fraction of a section, and, according to the last offici census, contains a popula

JOHN ALLEN, farmer, P. 0. Centerville, son of Jeremiah and Rebecca Allen was born July 15, 1816, in Washington Township, Montgomery Co., Ohio, on the farm on which he now resides and is the owner thereof. Received his education in the pioneer schoolhouse, furnished with pioneer furniture, viz. : Saplings, one side flattened ; pins driven in for feet ; puncheons put up in the same rude manner for the writing desk. Then in one end of the building was the large fire-place, into which large quantities of good wood could be placed, and when fairly ablaze would nuke t boy pull his shins back or crisp his buckskin breeches. Then the teacher attended tc setting copies for all that were learning to write, making and mending their pens the scholar did the ruling in his copy-book ; the branches most generally taught thei were reading, writing and arithmetic ; schools were then made up by subscription, anc| each patron boarded the teacher so much of the time during the school term.

Mr. Allen says the wearing apparel in his boyhood days was almost endreiy 0| home manufacture - linen, linsey, jeans and fulled cloth ; of these articles, the secom and last named have pretty much disappeared from use. Shirt buttons were mad from thread by the women of the house, and they were nearly the only ones in use Boys were limited to one pair of shoes per year, a good wool hat for winter, and sum ner hats were of home manufacture, and were made from either rye or oat straw, platted and then sewed together. Going to mill was principally done on horseback. When a surplus of marketing was on hand it was loaded on a wagon and taken to Cincinnati and there sold or bartered for groceries or other articles the family needed. The first church privileges were at the Methodist log meeting-house, called Hopeveil, located on Sugar Creek. There the pioneers listened to the circuit riders, com- )0sed of such men as Sparks, Hardy, Parsons, Dixon, Elliott, Goddard, Brook, Mc- Juire, Strain, Maly, Manly and Sullivan. Mr. Allen married. August 2, 1841, Miss lusan Lawson, of Adams County, Ohio. From this union there were ten children, only our of whom are now (July, 1881) living. Mr. Allen's mother was a native of Penn- 'ylvania. His father was born in Culpeper County, Va., and moved from there to lason County, Ky. ; from there to the Miami Valley about 1803; purchased his irm for $2.50 per acre, second hand. On this farm are six acres which have been irined for eighty years, and will now make an average yield with any land in the pwnship.

JOHN E. ALLEN, farmer, P. 0. Centerville, son of Lawson and Frances M. Allen, born September 15, 1828, in Washington Township, Montgomery Co., Ohio, chool privileges, some improvement on pioneer times. He never had any political spirations, and, raised a farmer, he has continued to make that his principal occupation > far in life. He is the occupant and owner of the farm upon which he was born, ,eing the one owned by his great-grandfather, John Edwards, who emigrated here North Carolina in 1805. He purchased the above farm and, being a widower, jad two of his sons-in-law at one time living with him. While he was engaged in filing goods and trading in real estate, being a man of means, he had the reputation f being a very precise man in all his dealings. In religion, he was an Orthodox uaker. He died in the winter of 1828-29, upward of eighty years of age. His )ot-jack, brought from North Carolina, is still doing duty in John E. Allen's family, ranees M. Silvers, daughter of Nathan and Mary Silvers and grand-daughter of John Idwards, was born August 1, 1808, and married December 2, 1825, to Lawson Alb a. fter their marriage they moved to the above-named farm, and Grandfather Edwards ient the remainder of his life with them. Lawson Allen then became the owner of e farm, partly by legacy and the remainder by purchase. Lawson Allen was the son ' Jeremiah and Rebecca Allen, born in Kentucky September 2, 1800, and emigrated ith his parents to this township in 1803. He was trained to farming and, after arriage, coming into possession of the above-named farm, which is considered one of e very best in the township, he made money and purchased the well-known farm of ldge Amos Irwin, where he moved, giving up his old farm to his son, John E., the larterly and- protracted meetings. They were the parents of ten children, three only w living. Lawson Allen died July 16, 1859, aged fifty-eight years ten months and arteen days. Frances M. Allen died July 10, 1879, aged seventy years eleven months d nine days. After Lawson's death, his widow lived with their children, dividing r time with them. She died at their daughter's, Mrs. Mary Davis, in Greene County, no. John E. Allen was married November 6, 1850, to Miss Sarah Jane Whitset, io was born December 13, 1827. From this union seven children were born, five of 10m are living. The parents are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, d their house is a welcome home to visiting members attending quaterly and profited meetings. One year ago, Mr. Allen would have taken $100 per acre for his i'm. Now, since the construction of the Cincinnati Northern Railroad, Mr. Allen f made the following lease of five acres with the privilege of working forty for a m of five years. The lessee quarries the stone on above tracts and pays Mr. Allen - cents per perch for them in the ground. Each acre will yield not less than 6,800 "ch. The ground is also to be leveled down after quarrying, suitable for farming ;un. Not less than eighty acres of this farm is underlaid with lime and sand stone.

Biographical Sketches

Arrangements for taking out 400 perch daily, if wanted, are made. The quarry is two-thirds of a mile from the railroad. Yards at the following places will be opened for the sale of the stone : Cincinnati, Lebanon, Xenia and Dayton.

JOSEPH P. BENHAM, merchant, Centerville. Joseph P. Benham, son of John and Albina Benham was born in Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, December 17, 1838. His father, born October 17, 1811. in Greene County, Ohio, came with his parents to Montgomery County, Ohio, when about two years old The larger part of his life was spent in Montgomery County. Died in Centerville April 28, 1862. Albina Benham, born October 17, 1815, in Pennsylvania, came with her parents to Greene County, Ohio, March, 1820 ; moved from Greene to Warreu County, Ohio, March, 1825 ; then from Warren to Montgomery County, Ohio, in March, 1827 Married, March 9, 1837, to John Benham, Jr.; from this union were six children, three sons and three daughters, five of whom are now residents of Montgomery County, Ohio. The eldest child, Augustus, resides in Wabash, Ind. ; is a merchant of that place. During the war of the rebellion, all three of the sons were in the army at one time, 1864. While they were in the tented field, the mother was at home in the agricultural field. That year, she raised five acres corn, one hundred bushels of Irish potatoes and nine bushels of sweet potatoes. Of the above farming, she hired out but one and one half days plowing in the crop ; the balance of the work she did with the hoe. Of the potato crop, a neighbor farmer said he had out a much larger patch and only raised ten bushels. Augustus was in the First Regiment Ohio Volunteers, Sec ond Brigade, Third Division, Fourth Army Corps ; was in the following battles : Shiloh or Pittsburg Landing, Chickamauga, Orchard Knob, Mission Ridge, Snake Creek Gap Buzzard Roost Gap, Resaca and Pumpkin Vine Creek; was wounded three times during the war, in consequense of which he missed some of the battles in which hit regiment was engaged ; he served his time of enlistment, and was mustered out of the service about August, 1864. Andrew was' in the Ninety-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Second Brigade, Third Division, Fourth Army Corps. The regiment was com manded. by Col. Charles Anderson and Lieut. Col. Hiram Strong, who was a native o this township. The regiment left Dayton toward the latter part of August, 1862, ami marched direct to Kentucky, where Andrew was taken prisoner and paroled on thi second day of September, 1862. Was duly exchanged in January, 1863 ; returned to hi regiment, and went through the following battles: Liberty Gap, Chickamauga, Tunne Hill, Rocky Face Ridge, Pine Mountain, Burnt Hickory, Chattahoochie River, Atlanta -Jonesboro, Columbia, Franklin and Nashville ; mustered out of the service Jun 15, 1865. Joseph's principal occupation was farming up to the time he went into th army; was a member of the One Hundred and Thity-first Regiment National Guards served his entire time at Fort Federal Hill, Baltimore, Md. ; mustered out of service latte part of the summer of 1864 ; discharge papers signed by Edward Stanton, Secretary ( War, December 15, 1864. Again engaged in farming until the fall of 1870 ; then tal ing a Western trip, spending the winter of 1870 and 1871 with a traveling On< Dollar Store in Illinois ; also paid a visit to relatives in Missouri, and returned home i the spring of 1871. His mother was then Postmistress, as she is now, of Cjnterviil Joseph rented a suitable room up-town for the office, and added a small stock of groci ries ; made that his business, his actual capital being $32. Prosperity has attende him, and business increased until he is now the owner of the best business property ) town, with several smaller pieces of less value. Since the death of his father, he hi been looked upon as the head of the family, which at that time was mother and thrt sisters. Since then two sisters have married ; family now mother, one sister, niece at ihimself.

JAMES BRADFORD, farmer, P. O. Centerville. James Bradford, son Robert and Elizabeth Bradford, was born April 5, 1838. Robert Bradford was boil in Ireland, in the County Down, August 22, 1788, and came to America in 181 stopping three months in Pennsylvania, thence to Cincinnati, Ohio, in April ol tl same year. His first work was tending to a bricklayer, carrying brick in a hod up the third story for $6 per month. His next job of work was tending a flouring mill

Cincinnati at $1 per day ; next he went to farming near Cummingsville on the shares, his being two-thirds of the crop. While farming here he was married to Elizabeth Myers, in 1813. From this union were ten children, of which three sons and six daughters are now living. He moved into Montgomery County, Washington Township, Ohio, in 1816, into a log cabin having a stick chimney, and lived in that until 1838, when he built a commodious brick residence, in which he and his wife lived until their deaths. Mrs. Bradford died July 14, 1844, and Mr. Bradford, December 11, 1877. They were both members of the United Presbyterian Church, he being an elder in the church about thirty-three years. Politically, he was a Democrat, and never missing an flection unless caused by sickness. James Bradford, the subject of this sketch, was jorn on the homestead of which he is the owner and occupant, three sisters living with lim, he being an unmarried man. This farm was bought in 1816 at $8 per acre.

DANIEL CBOSLEY was born November 25, 1818, in Warren County, Ohio, and was married to Lydia Hatfield, November 21, 1839, is a farmer and mechanic by occupation. He has served in all the different township offices with only one or two excepions in the township of Washington, county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, laving represented his township as Justice of the Peace, and Clerk for several years :ach, and also has been one of the Trustees of the original surveyed township of school Section No. 16 for the last twenty years. In the fall of 1877, he was elected ta he Legislature of Ohio, serving two sessions in the Lower House of Representatives, nd has been a resident of said county for the last forty-five years, and by frugality, industry and economy has accumulated a sufficiency of property to make him live comfortable the balance of his days. His father, William Crosley, was born in the State of laryland, his grandfather, Moses Crosley, being of Welsh nationality. His father, Villiam, with his family, emigrated to the State of Kentucky, Bracken County, in its arly settlement as a State, and was there married to Mary Kelsey, and, in 1810, emigrated to Warren County, Ohio, locating on a tract of land partly in Warren and partly p Montgomery, being one of the early settlers of this portion of Ohio. He made gunjowder in the old fashioned way, by sweep and mortar, and as powder was in great iemand in those days, hunters would come a long distance to buy the article. By his idustry and economy, in the course of time, accumulated a considerable amount of ealth. He was a farmer by occupation, and served his fellow-citizens in nearly all the ifferent offices of his township, and acted as Justice of the Peace for eighteen years in Recession. He removed from Warren County to Montgomery about the year 1834, ad soon thereafter was one of the Commissioners of the Dayton & Lebanon Turnpike, id after said pike was finished in 1840, was elected President and Treasurer of the pmpany, and served for twelve years in that capacity. In addition to what has already (een stated in the history of Daniel Crosley, we can say that when he was elected to ie Legislature in 1877 from Montgomery County, it was by an overwhelming mairity as a candidate on the Democratic ticket, many Republicans voting for him. He las appointed by the Speaker on one of the most important committees, the Committee i Retrenchment and Reform, thus showing that he was a man worthy of trust as a rvant of the people, he having introduced several bills which became the general laws the State relative to the improvements of the public highways, and for the better 'otection of the unprotected public burying-grounds of the State. He introduced a 11 to emancipate the toll pikes of Montgomery County, by a tax levied on the grand rplicate of the county for the payment of the same. He was an ardent and strong Ivocate of the school laws of Ohio, embodying the free education of the youth of the ate, both white and black, but separately, and was always found when a vole was to ! cast for the protection of the public works of the State, to favor the same against y clique or railroad corporation. He also favored the reduction of the salaries of unty officers, it being a plank in the Democratic platform, and the people, as a mass, 'ongly advocating the same. As the House journal records will clearly show that j* votes on bills were in the interests of the people, and the tax-payers of his county d State. He was also a soldier in the late war, being a member of the Ohio National tards - under the call of the President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. In

Bioqrafhical Sketches

1864, his company belonged to the One Hundred and Thirty-first Regiment of Ohio National Guards, commanded by Col. John G. Lowe, and was stationed at Port Federal Hill, Baltimore, Md. He occupied two important positions in his company, bein°- Orderly Sergeant and Company Clerk. Fie has acquitted himself honorably in all the different positions he has filled, both in military as well as in public life. His son, William J. Crosley, enlisted in the regular army in the winter of 1864, and was in some of those hard-fought battles in the Shenandoah Yalley in West Virginia, under Gen. Sheridan, and incurred a pulmonary disease of the lungs while in the service of his country, and was discharged from the service in consequence thereof the last of September, 1864, and died of said disease in March, 1865, at home.

WILLIAM II. DAVIS, farmer, P. 0. Centerville, son of Benjamin and Rhoda Davis, was born in Centerville, Montgomery County, Washington Township, Ohio, March 24, 1840, and has always resided therein. His father being a farmer, William was also trained to that profession, and has followed it so far through life; has had the advantage of pretty fair schools ; the result is that his neighbors have frequently conferred on him different township offices, and that of School Director. He was one of the Board of Trustees under whose directions the present township hall was built in Centerville iti| 1880. He was married, September 12, 1861, to Miss Martha M. Watkins. From this union there have been five children, all boys, four of whom are living. William, though not strictly a pioneer, but by his marriage he goes into a pioneer family, the Watkins coming here about the same time the Allens did, 1803. His father, Benjamin Davis, was born in Salem County, N. J., and when a mere boy was bound to a farmer, with whom he lived until he was twenty-one years of age, and then came to Warren County, Ohio, landing there with only $5.50. With $5.00 he bought material for clothing, and the 50 cents paid on the making. The first year he worked for Jacob Eulass, on the farm for $120. At the close of the year he found that he had lost only three days, and had saved $110 of his wages. He next went to work for Abner Kel- j sey, at customary wages, and continued with him until he married, and then rented the farm on which he now resides, paying one-half the proceeds of the farm, less his living, for five years. He then purchased it on ten years' time, and at the expiration the farm was paid for. Since then he has purchased 3161 acres of first quality land, paying as high as $140 per acre for one tract containing 100 acres. This shows what a bound boy can make for himself by practicing industry and economy. He still makes a full hand on the farm.

SUSANNAH HARRIS, farming, P. O. Centerville. William Watkins, a native oi Wales, came to America early in the last century. He was married about 1760, but at what place or the name of the lady is nob known. She was a native of Ireland and came to America about the same time her husband did. From this union were thirteen children, nine sons and four daughters. Joshua Watkins, one of above sons, was born in Kentucky, and married about 1801, to Miss Nancy Colvin, a resident of Kentucky, but a native of Virginia. From this union were two sons, Caleb and Henry, and seven daughters, Susannah, Rachael, Jane, Calinda, Nancy, Perraelia Ann and Lucinda Susannah, Calinda and Perraelia Ann are all that are now living. Joshua Watkins with his wife and two children (Jhe subject of this sketch one of them), emigrated from Kentucky to Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, about the year 1806, moving into a log cabin situated on the land set off to him by his father, who had previously entered about one section, dividing the same among his children that carni with him to Ohio, a portion of them remaining in Kentucky. Jonathan Watkins brother of Joshua, afterward became the owner of above tract. David settled on tie farm now owned by George Sears, and George ou the farm now owned by John Kirby The subject of this sketch, Susannah Watkins, was raised on a farm; received a limit ed education, or as good as was then given to pioneer children; joined the Methodis Episcopal Church in early life under the preaching of the Rev. Robert Burns, at th| old Hopewell log church, situated on Sugar Creek, and on the farm now owned b George Sears. At the age of about twenty years she was united in marriage to Abac Harris by Elder Joshua Carman. After paying the minister his marriage fees, the groom worldly goods consisted in cash 25 cents, and one dog. The bride's father presented to her as an outfit the choice one of seven good cows, four sheep, one sow and four shotes ; also, one good feather bed and bedding. They commenced housekeeping in a very small log cabin, scarcely large enough to have stabled four horses. Mrs. Harris says the cabin was on the farm of her father-in-law. Mrs. Harris here assisted her husband with his farming to the utmost of her physical strength, which was no small amount. She relates the following incident: One hay harvest assisting in hauling, she was assigned the duty of loading, her husband doing the pitching up, and while doing so the team became frightened and made a fearful runaway with the wagon partly loaded, with Mrs. Harris on it, and no chance for escape, until the team made a short turn in the field and became entangled in the harness, when they were caught by her husband. When quieted down the loading was resumed and finished up without any further mishap. Remaining here a few years and accumulating some means, a purchase of 50 acres of land was made a few miles southwest of Centerville, upon which they resided a few years, then sold and made another purchase of a farm two miles north of Centerville, remaining on this purchase less than one year, when a profitable sale was made, and immediately another purchase, containing 100 acres, now enlarged to 165 acres, upon which they have resided for the last forty-five years. Mrs. Harris continued her early habits of industry up to about eight years ago, when she received a paralytic stroke, disabling her from further household work. Her eyesight also impaired, she is deprived from reading as much as she would be pleased to do, hence her principal enijoyment now is in the reception of friends and in having free converse with them. From the extensive number of relatives she once claimed, she cannot count, outside of her immediate family, but three cousins now living. Since her affliction, she has not had the pleasure of attending church, but has many social calls from her ministers. No children from this union.

OWEN HATFIELD, deceased. Owen Hatfield, son of Thomas and Sarah (Allen) Hatfield, was born in Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, September 12, 1807 ; received a liberal education ; was a farmer by occupation ; married July 31, 1834, to Miss Phebe Stephens (daughter of Richard and Betsey Stephens). From this union were five sons and five daughters. Two sons and one daughter are deceased. Mr. Hatfield joined the New-School Baptist Church in Centerville, May 7, 1848, and died a member of the same January 4, 1881. He was buried in the old cemetery, one-half mile north of Centerville ; funeral sermon was preached by Elder J oseph H. Wilson. His every-day life was in accord with his religious profession, in which, as in his political views, he was very candid. In his death his family lost a worthy counselor, the church a valued member, and the community at large an estimable citizen. His father was a native of Delaware and his mother of Virginia. Both in early life moved to Kentucky, where they were married and emigrated to this township in 1802. Mrs. Hatfield's parents were natives of Redstone, Penn.; were married in Kentucky, ind emigrated to what is now Washington Township, Montgomery County, Ohio, about he year 1800. Mrs. Hatfield and husband were members of the same church. Among the living ones she has the oldest membership to-day. This sketch was contributed by his son, Richard Hatfield.

The following is the funeral sermon of Owen Hatfield, by his pastor, J. H . Wilson, from the text - John, vi, 34 and 35, " The Bread of Life

The discourses from our Savior were always plain and practical. He often selected some of the most common things of every-day life with which to illustrate and enforce he most sublime truths. He came to this earth as the Savior of lost, perishing souls. He delighted to save sinners. To illustrate His mission and work on earth He compares fimself in one place to a hen gathering her brood under her wings. In another place ;o a road leading to heaven - "lam the way." In another to a door - "lam the loor, by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." Again to a shepherd - I am he good shepherd ; the good shephered giveth his life for his sheep." In our text ie compares himself to bread - " I am the bread of life." This is peculiarly fitting and orcible because of its universal use. Bread is the staff of life. It is used everywhere and by all classes. Hence whenever a family sit down to their daily meal, whether in mansion or cottage there is before them this emblem of the Savior of the world. We have first in our text a confession on man's part of the soul's deep hunger, Lord, evermore give us this bread." Some one has said, " This world of ours is a rude picture of heaven." Whether that be true or not, these bodies of ours in which our spirits dwell, are coarse copies of the mind. To almost every experience of the body there is a corresponding experience of the soul. As there is bodily weariness, so there is soul weariness. As there is bodily hunger, so there is soul hunger. One does not need to live in this world long to learn the meaning of soul hunger. Every true heart yearns for human love and sympathy. You may be surrounded with a multitude of strangers, and yet have a feeling of loneliness, a longing for some intimate friend with whom to converse and share your love and sympathy. Could the heart experiences of the human race be written before us, there would be revealed the fact that this unsatisfied hunger of the heart for human love and sympathy has fallen like a withering blight upon many a life, and has buried many a lovely flower in an early tomb. With growing intelligence and virtue there is a growing hunger of the soul. In civilized lands there is more real soul-suffering than in uncivilized lauds. Ruth leaves the hills of Moab and follows Naomi to Judea. The little child finds a companion in almost every one ; but as he grows in years the number with whom he associates freely grow gradually less.J When we reach a Moses, an Isaiah or an Elijah, they are almost alone. They caQ find but few who can sympathize with them deeply. When we reach the perfect man Christ Jesus, He stands alone. He finds companionship only with Glod. There is a hunger of the soul for something higher than human love and sympathy. You may) be surrounded with all that companionship can give you, and yet your soul remains unsatisfied. Human love, however, pure and ardent, fails to meet the deep longings of the soul. This will sometimes be the means of awakening a deeper desire for something higher and nobler and even divine. Could human love satisfy us the I object of that love may soon fall pale and pulseless into the tomb. We have second! in our text the fact that an abundance of soul food has been provided and that food is Jesus Christ. " I am the bread of life ; he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." Just as Jesus fed the five thousand in the deseri place, with five barley loaves and two fishes, and had twelve baskets of fragments remaining, so now He comes to every hungry care-worn soul saying, " I am the bread of life." Men have died of starvation, unable to procure that which would sustain physical life. But no soul need ever perish eternally for lack of immortal food. Nothing short of a personal living, loving Savior can satisfy or save the soul. The soul calls foi more than a mere philosophy, more than a liturgy, more than a historic Savior, h requires a pei'sonal friend upon whose loving bosom it can lean as did the beloved dis ciple of old. That personal, loving friend and Savior is found in Jesus Christ, " Win is the same yesterday, to-day and forever." He is the friend above all other friends " That sticketh closer than a brother." Let us be careful how we treat these hungn hearts of ours. Let us not neglect nor refuse them the food without which they wil forever die. How foolish to reject this soul-food because you cannot understand it. I is not necessary for you to make any analysis of food before eating it, when you sei hundreds whose bodies are sustained by the use of the same food. So it is not neces sary for you to understand Christ to perfection when you know he saves others wh trust him. Just as you feed your bodies daily with suitable food so you need Chris with you continually that your souls may be constantly satisfied with food. As th body grows weaker with age, and the appetite for material food becomes poorer, th spirit seems to grow stronger, and the desire for spiritual food is increased more an more until at last when the aged pilgrim nears the spirit land, the hunger for the thing of that land is so deep that death itself is not unwelcome, but seems only the messengej that opens the door of heaven. Thus did death come to this departed husband, fatheij brother and friend. During his lingering illness, he gave abundant evidence of feedm his soul upon Christ. No place did the pastor receive a more cordial welcome than at th house of the deceased. No one seemed to more highly appreciate a word about Jesus or s prayer. He often expressed his joy and gratitude for the recent conversion of three of his grandchildren. His greatest desire seemed to be that all of his own dear children might receive Christ, the bread of life. In conclusion let me say to these mourning ones, weep not for this departed one. He is asleep in Jesus. See that your own souls are fed with this same immortal food. " Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life."