Wayne Township (part 1 of 2)

Wayne Township

Tailors - 1820, Levi Johnson, and shortly after, Benjamin Kemp. Coopers - Benjamin Barnhart, before and after 1820. Chairmakers - Clement Messick, from 1817 to 1823; Ezra Adams, from 1823 until the time of his death; he also made spinning-wheels. Robert Cummins made spinning-wheels from 1806 to 1823. The first wagon makers known were Thomas Durell, before 1820, and at that date and until 1831, Stephen Covert

The first saddlers of whom I am advised were Bateman and Elijah Brady, between 1812 and 1820, and Shepherd Florer, after 1820; Ezra Smith, 1824.

The first show was a lion - 1818; next was an elephant - 1823; the next was a nice little collection of animals - monkeys, ponies, etc. , the same year.

Before 1819, the channel of the river on the road to Corwin was not as now, but where the bridge now is was in the bend of a horseshoe, the channel above and below the bridge having been made since. The crossing of the river was between High and Main streets, in Waynesville. When the water was high, there was a ferry used, and when low, a ford. About 1812, an effort was made to build a bridge at the ford. The abutments were raised and a superstructure was placed on trestles. A freshet in the river swept out the work and no further effort was made to build a bridge at that place. In 1817, a bridge was built on a contract, where the bridge now is, by John Satterthwaite, for $700, including the abutments. It was built of oak timber, principally hewed, never covered or weather-boarded, and only lasted about ten years. At that time, the road crossed the West Branch of the Miami, known as the race at the mouth and followed the north bank of the Miami to the bridge. The race wsa then a small stream, no bridge over it; the ford was a very bad crossing.

A second bridge was built at that place about 1827. It stood several years before it was weather-boarded and roofed, and, in 1836, it fell down. An open bridge was built there on a contract by Samuel Welch in 1837, for $350; it only stood a few years, and, about 1842, another was built there. I am unable to give the name of the contractor, but O. J. Wright enlarged the abutments, and, in 1861 and 1862, the present substantial bridge was built by H. E. Hebbe. No other bridges were built across the Miami in the township until the iron bridge, three miles below, was built in 1873, and but one bridge across Caesar's Creek in the township - that near the railroad, in 1869.

Mr. Highway was the first to sell goods here. He brought a stock of goods with him at the time of his settlement, and afterward increased it, so that, it is said by his descendants, he had at one time the largest stock of goods of any one store in Ohio, and, while out assisting in cutting a new road (date not given), his store and dwelling took fire and burned down. At dates not known to me, stores were kept by William Ferguson and Mr. Phillips (who afterward removed to Dayton) - all previous to 1815.

In 1803 a store was kept at the east angle of the crossing of High and Third streets by David Holloway. A few years after, Jacob Pierson kept a store there for some time. Shortly after, a store was kept at the north angle of the same crossing, and in 1810 by Seth Silvers. In 1808, David Brown built a house on Outlot No. 4, Waynesville, and kept a small store there; in 1806, David Pugh had a store on Main street; in 1810, on the same street, by

John Satterthwaite; in 1813, by Satterth wait© & Linton; in 1819, David Brown and others. At that date, no knives and forks or cups and saucers (except of potter's ware) could be bought in the town.

Prices Of Land

I deem it not improper here to give some of the early prices of lots and land. I find that after Faulkner got a patent for 208 acres (Waynesville), deeds were given, and the considerations therein mentioned, by David Faulkner, in 1807, as follows: Lots 8 in Miami square, 5 and 7 in Washington square, to Jonathan Newman for $32; Outlot No. 14, to Joel Wright for $8.16; Lots No. 5, 6 and 7, Miami Bqu#re, to Samuel Test, $87; Lots No. 6 and 8, Washington square, and 3, 4, 7, 8, Adams square, Outlot 7 and part of 8, to Seth Silver, for $122.04; to Zadock Street, Lots No. 1 and 3, in Washington square, $2.04; to Merrick Starr, Lots No. 2, 3, 4 and 6, President square, $2; to Rowland Richards, Outlot No. 13, $8; to David Linton, Out lots No. 5 and 6, $10; to David Holloway, Lot 5, Wabash square, Lot 1, Jefferson square, Outlots 12 and 17, $400.

The first title obtained by Highway, and, I believe, the only one in fee simple was that year from Falkner, when there was deeded to him Scioto and English squares and four and one-half acres on the southwest of town, for $3(58.

The prices given could not have been the value of the property sold, and I can only account for it from the fact that sales had been made by Highway and partners, and that the purchasers had paid part, and that the above prices were balances or considerations to quiet title.

I will now give considerations of later dates that I think better represent values, viz., liammett to Satterthwaite, Lot No. 1, Wabash square, 1811, $80; David Pugh to David Brown, 1808, Lots No. 3, 4, 7, 8, Ohio square, $50; David Holloway to Thomas Swift, 1814, Lots 5, 7, Washington square, $150; Joel Wright to David Morgan, in 1820, four and one-half acres, southwest of the schoolhouse, $50; John Haines to David Brown, Outlot 4, $200; in 1807, Clevenger to Seaman, Lot 4, Miami square, $34; James Jennings to John Conner, in 1816, Lots 7, 8, Ohio square, $71.50; in 1811, Sarah Buckels to Noah Haines, Outlots 10, 11, 18, 19, $450; Thomas Swift, in 1816, Lot 4, Ohio square, $190; in 1819, Thomas Wilson to Samuel Rogers, Lot 5, Wabash square, $200; in 1811, David Linton to Noah Haines, Lots 3, 4, 7, 8, Adams square, $500.

The farm immediately above Waynesville was a part of the land originally patented to Henry Seeman. Satterthwaite bought, in 1815, of Seeman, forty - nine acres for $600; of Joseph Chenoweth, eight acres for $93.75; of Mr. Biggs, fifty acres for $270; of John Croft, nineteen acres, price not given, making the farm 126 acres.

The farm owned by the Benjamin Brown heirs, at the crossing of the Franklin and Dayton roads, was patented to John Craft in 1810. Among the early owners and occupants on the east side of the Little Miami, .1 will name a few : Military survey, No. 528, embracing a tract of near 1,700 acres, was purchased by the Rev. James Smith, of Maj. Harris, in Virginia. I am not advised at what price per acre. Smith liberated his slaves, valued, I am informed, at near $40,000, and removed with his family to the Northwest Territory. In 1798, they went to reside at a small station near the Little Miami, called Middletown, between Columbia and Newtown, where Mr. Smith died in 1800, and, in the winter of the same year the family (after having some primitive improvements made) removed to the land above mentioned. This tract was the first one divided by a decree of the Warren Court of Common Pleas on petition for partition in the oounty. At the time of the settlement there by the Smiths, Martin Heston lived on Section 10 and Obediah Walker on Section 9 across the river, and Studybaker and Miller on Survey 2,464; these, I believe, were the nearest settlements.

Abijah O'Neall and Samuel Kelly bought, of John Brown, of South Carolina, his military claim of 1,500 acres for $2,100 in silver, and got for a part of it Brown's survey of 600 acres, and, for the balance of it they took two surveys in Greene and one in Fayette Counties. O'Neall got two- thirds and Kelly one-third, and they divided their land here by deeds in 1809.

The upper part of the survey above Holeman's Survey of 1,333 acres, was settled by Robert Furnas and others, and the lower part by Clark, of South Carolina, in 1806. I have been informed that Clark paid about $4. 50 per acre for his part.

To show the prices otherwise paid for lands on that side of the river, I will give a few of the transfers: In 1803, Nathaniel Massie to Ezekiel Cleaver, 135 acres for $405.75; John Overton to Abijah O'Neall, 621 acres of Griffin's Survey, for $1,255; James Murry to Israel Wright, 572 J acres of Survey 1,554, for $1,000; Thomas Posey to Jonathan Wright, in 1807, 298£ acres of Survey 1,056, for $297; J. Macher to Abijah O'Neall and Joel Wright, in 1807, 1,040 acres of Survey 614, for $1,500; in 1803, Nathaniel Massie to David Faulkner, 165 acres, for $95.75; in 1805, Benjamin Anderson to Abijah O'Neall, 1,000 acres on the lower side of Caesar's Creek, for $2,000; in 1807, Abijah O'Neall to Robert Millhouse, 210 acres on Caesar's Creek, for $72.10; Abijah O'Neall to David Whitsen, 112 acres, on the southeast side of Caesar's Creek, for $252; same to Mordecai Spray, 98 acres, for $221; in 1808, same to Joel Wright, 285 acres of Survey 774, for $410; Philip Goode to Gabriel Crane, in 1809, 131 acres, for $351.

I will now give some of the early marriages of the township. Many, no doubt, will be omitted that might with propriety be inserted. Previous to 1803, license had to be obtained from Cincinnati and among Friends, previous hi 1803, by the authority of their monthly meeting in Pennsylvania. It was not unusual, however, if a couple desired to marry, to advertise it, and then appoint a public meeting and unite in marriage by a public declaration - after the manner of the Friends. I have been informed that William Mills, who came here from Carolina in 1799, was married in that way. By furnishing proof of publication to a Justice or minister, parties could be married without license:

1805 - William Pope and Grace Lupton; William Edwards and Jemima Bridges; Thomas Perkins and Sarah O'Neall; Henry Millhouse and Jane Strawn; John Cook and Dinah Spray; David Linton and Letitia Silvers.

1806 - Samuel Jay and Beth sheba Pugh; Joseph Cloud and Jane McCoy; Job Carr and Ruth Mason; Jacob Paxton and Sidney Richards; Isaac Waldrup and Kitty Campbell; Joseph Chenoweth and Nancy James; Burwell Goode and Elizabeth Smith; Nathan Linton and Elizabeth Smith; Jonathan Mote and Susanna Hollingsworth; Eli Jenkins and Ruth Mendenhall.

1807 - John Compton and Ann Pearick; Jonathan Sanders and Lydia Lupton; Thomas Sanders and Elizabeth Pope; John Sears and Penelope Johnson; Isaac Mills and Catharine Richards; John Jay and Mary Steddom; James

1810 - Israel Wright and Leah Ferree; Frederick Stanton and Hannah Suffrins; James Edwards and Martha Manning; Cornelius Morford and Margaret Ray; Jonathan Clark and Ruth Elmore; Samuel Highway and Mary Jennings.

1813 - David Evans and Rachel Burnet; Micaja Johnson and Rebecca O'Neall; Thomas Evans and Hannah Pedrick; John Shaw and Elizabeth Wright; Daniel Wharton and Margaret Cunningham.

1814 - George Phillips and Ann McCoy; Joshua Carman and Jane James; Obediah Smith and Margaret Holloway; William Chenoweth and Catharine Chenoweth; David Morgan and Rebecca Brown; George Hatton and Margaret Foulk.

1816 - William O'Neall and Martha Smith; George Moss and Fannie ; Benjamin Barnhart and Elizabeth Holloway; Aaron Chandler and Hannah Ward; Jesse O. Jones and Mary Ward; Sylvanus Cornell and Sarah Florer; Jos i ah Rogers and Abigail Cleaver; Martin D. Lathrope and Rebecca Wright; Joel Wright and Ann Bateman.

1817 - Samuel Rogers and Pamelia Heaton; Clement Messick and Sarah Suffrins; Abraham Gause and Jane Mullen; Stephen Covert and Elizabeth Wicker; Gamaliel Davis and Ann Smith: Edward Hatton and Rachel Lukens; Abraham Hollingsworth and Sarah Pigeon; Henry Millhouse and Sarah Horner.

1818 - Seth Cook and Ruth Cook; Samuel Brown and Ruth Gause; Benjamin Butterworth and Ruth Welch; Josiah Davis and Anioe Little; Ellis Pugh and Sarah Mills: Stephen Pardee and Patty Welch; Uriah Farquer and Sarah Jennings; Joseph Mannington and Lydia Lynch.

1819 - Robert Huston and Sarah Shaw; Ishmael Pugh and Tabitha Cunningham; Thomas Bunting and Catharine Holloway; David Wilson and Eliza Kay; David Montgomery and Anna Barton; Levi Cook and Ann Hasket; Peter Cleaver and Sarah Crews.

1820 - Nathan Davis and Lydia Cleaver; George Mather and hfary Ricket; James R. Johnson and Rhoda O'Neall; Samuel Stephenson. Jr., and Hepsiba Evans; Joshua Jones and Harriet Pugh; John Woods and Sarah A. Lynch; Caleb Satterthwaite and Rebecca Ward; Jacob Chenoweth and Charlotte Cabe.

1821 - Samuel Barton and Nancy Holloway; Samuel Cornell and Susanna Crane; William Graham and Ary Clymer; Jesse Flora and Nancy Wilson; Jonathan Hillman and Dorothy Moore; Curtis Mills and Sarah Stratton; Evan Ward and Catharine Jeffers; Benjamin Brown and Sarah Chapman; George Evans and Sarah Hasket; John Burnet and Elizabeth Hawkins; Joseph Lukins and Hannah Brown.

1822 - John Lash ley and Grace Borton; Horace Lathrope and Jane Worrell; Cornelius Ratcliff and Mary Kinley; Jacob Doan and Hannah Stubbs; Benja- min L. Satterthwaite and Ruth Evans; Richard Pedrick and Mary Evans; William Edwards and Elizabeth Newman; Benjamin Lukins and Mary Satterthwaite; Ellis Ward and Mary E. Newman.

1823 - Thomas Kersey and Letitia Craig ; James Smith and Mary C. Brown; William Cox and Rachel Tamset; Jeffrey Truman and Dorothy Isham; Edward L. Kenrick and Patience Barton; Levi Pugh and Sarah Naylor.

1824 - John King and Rachel Billingsly; Henry J. Goode and Margaret McKay; Peter Dutterow and Charlotte Roberts; William Brown and Lucinda Blackford; Conrad Smith and Sarah Ridge; Ezekiel Cleaver and Elizabeth Carr; Ezekiel L. Cleaver and Mary Taylor; Moses Kelly and Abigail Satterthwaite.

1825 - Moormon Butterworth and Fanny Smith; Isaac Engle and Mary K Haines; John Brown and Rebecca Barton; Noah Jones and Sarah Copner; Joshua Jones and Catharine Lawrence; James Spray and Biddy Fox; William White and Agnes Wilson; Mason Borden and Louisa Small; John McGahee and Polly Smith; Benjamin Barnhart and Polly Holloway; Benjamin Clifton and Mary Williams.

1826 - William Butterworth and Elizabeth Linton; Seth Furnas and Dinah Kindley; Henry Small and Kesiah Ware; Thomas Bispham and Eliza Jennings; Vachel Tharp and Jane Hunt; James Clutch and Deborah Ray; Charles Bradshaw and Phebe Morris; Ustacy Cooper and Mary Ann Filer; Shepherd Flora and Mary Crossley; Philip Mintle and Mary Smith; Dayton Holloway and Cynthia A Conner.

1827 - Joseph Oats and Elizabeth Gray; Henry Clark and Ann Antram; Samuel Silvers and Tamson Haines; Jehn McGinnis and Mary Mintle; Asher Brown and Esther Jones; Joseph Hopkins and Mary Ann Crispin; Richard Hopkins and Hannah Wharton.

1828 - Jason Evans and Amyra Haines; Samuel Kelly and Achsa Stubbs; Joel Satterthwaite and Phebe Watson; Thomas Phillips and Catharine Davis; Samuel Gordon and Martha Montgomery; Nathan Everhart and Aseneth Howe; Ellis Pugh and Mary Edwards; Abijah O'Neall and Eleanor Hall

Some Early Settlers

The account of the trip through from Philadelphia by Messrs. Baily and Highway to Waynesville, and of the parties that accompanied them from Columbia, is silent as to the names of the persons. Enough, however, is known that the young Englishmen whom Mr. Highway hired in Philadelphia for two years for 50 pounds currency, were John and Samuel Tamset, and the two women mentioned in the narrative were their wives. They afterward settled a short distance west of Waynesville on tracts of land each of eighty acres (now owned by S. S. Haines). Each of them raised large families of children. John died about 1824, and Samuel, in 1830, sold out, and, with his family, moved to the St. Joseph country. The wives they brought with them from England both died, and they afterward married sisters by the name of Clark. Their only descendants remaining are John Tamset, near Raysville, and Sarah Pugh, at Bell Brook, children of John.

Culbert Watson came to the town from Columbia with Highway, and drove one of the wagons. He shortly after came to the township and settled on Section 33, Town 4, Range 5.

Rev. James Smith, who was in Waynesville in October, 1797, mentions in his journal the fact that there were then about fourteen families settled here. I have made every effort that has suggested itself to my mind to get their names or a part of them, but without success.

Hi8Tory Of Warren County

that Highway had emigrated to this country but a short time before making a settlement here. I have since seen a record of an oath of his, made for die purpose of becoming naturalized, in 1804, in which he stated he had been a citizen of the State of Ohio and of the Northwest Territory for twelve years; that would have brought him into the territory in 1792.

I will give the names of such as I have of settlers after those I have mentioned, viz., Abijah O'Neall and family, James Corey, Josiah Sutton, Charles Monroe, Ezekiel Bell, Mr. Isham, John Quigley, William Mills.

In 1799, Martin Hester lived on a part of Section 10, Town 4, Range 4. Obediah Walker lived on the same section; a man by the name of J. Sutton

In 1800, Samuel Martin, who lived at the upper end of Waynesville, built a large two-story log dwelling, and sunk a tanyard on the flat on the opposite side of the road as it is now; also under the hill, a brewery and distillery; his water supply came from Satterth waiters spring. He also kept a hotel.

In 1801, Samuel Kelly, David Faulkner, David Painter, James Mills, Joshua Carman, William James. In the fall of that year Ezekiel Cleaver came here from Virginia, leaving his family at Brownsville, and put up a house at the crossing of Third and Miami street, on the east corner of said crossing in Waynesville, and, in the spring of 1802, moved here with his family. With him came John Mullen, Rowland Richards, David Holloway and others. The same year, Samuel Linton, of Pennsylvania, moved here with three sons and two daughters. He afterward settled on Todd's Fork. Henry Seaman and Jonathan Newman came here that year with their families. Newman came first from South Carolina and settled in Tennessee, and after that removed here.

In 1803, I find Jemima WTright and her family - Jane, Joshua, Jemima, Joab and Joel were here with others whose names 1 have been unable to obtain.

In 1804, among others, Edward Kinley, Robert Furnas, Amos Cook, William Lupton, Samuel Spray, Solomon Lupton, Jordan Whitsen, Amos Hawkins. David Pugh, Matthew Compton, John Jay, Samuel Pearson, Benjamin Evans, Charles Bridges, Asher Brown, John Embree, Thomas Perkins, Isaac Perkins, JohnJBeales, Joseph Wilson and John Furnas and the families of all that had families, and Noah Haines and John Haines and Isaac Ward.

In 1805, Azariah Pugh, Ellis Pugh, George C. Ward, Isaac Cook, Nathaniel Edwards and their families, Seth Silver and daughter, Samuel Test, John Sanders, Joseph Cloud, David Jones, Jonathan Wright and the families of such as had them.

In 1806, Gaines and Philip Goode, Benjamin Hopkins, Jonathan Wright, Isaac Cook, David Suflrins, Hezekiah Sanders, Jonah Wright, Joel Wright, Israel Wright, George Phillips, John Wright, Samuel Gause and their families.

Wayne T0Wn8Hip

Bay, Samuel Cornell, Thomas Bicket, William Moore, James Smith. Joseph Mannington, William Wilkerson, Robert Cummins, Isaac Johns. Samuel Welch, Abraham Bowman, William Martindale, Elias Cabe and many others that do not now occur to me were residents.

William James came here in 1801, and settled on Section 8, Town 8, Range 5; he was elected as one of eight members of the Legislature from Hamilton County in the first general election under the constitution of 1802, and was a member at the time of the formation of Warren County, and was elected one of the first Associate Judges of the county, and assisted in dividing the county into townships. In 1804, he rode horseback to Columbia to attend a Baptist association, of which order he was an active member, and was injured in the ride and died at Columbia and was buried there.

Intemperance and other follies gave trouble to the Friends; occasionally some of their members would be addicted to them, but it can be said of them as a class that they always bore testimony against those follies, and always exercised a fraternal watchfulness and care over their members.

In 1812, Ezekiel Cleaver rode horseback from here to Baltimore to attend a Nearly Meeting of the Friends; his daughter Abigail, then about sixteen years of age, made the trip with him.

The first settlers had, of course, no mills, and the nearest milling point was at what has since been known as Buckingham's, down the Miami about or near where Miamiville now is, until about the year 1803, when Mr. Highway built the first mill in the township on the creek below Waynesville, on what is now known as Newman's Bun; it was then called Highway's Run. The mill was built of logs, and the milestones used were what were called "raccoon buhrs." It afterward became the property of Jonathan Newman. He attached a saw-mill and carding machine, which were burned down and not rebuilt.

Newman afterward built a good frame mill-house and continued the business, but other mills were built, the water-power became weak and the mill ceased to be used. The last use made of the power there was by James Throckmorton, about 1844, for a distillery.

Highway also built a grist-mill and saw mill on the power, now owned and used by Clement's mill, formerly Taylor's, but lower down than the present one. At what date I cannot state, only that I know that in the winter of 1823 -24, it was a very old mill, all open and exposed to the weather with but little shelter overhead, and was used by Samuel Highway, Jr., to grind com and feed. The power was afterward improved by Thomas Evans and James Smith by erecting the present mill-house - about 1831/ and shortly after, the power below where John K. Spencer now lives, by Thomas Hall, by putting in a saw-mill. A long and vexatious law- suit was carried on between Cooper and Hall about back-water.

About the year 1806, John Haines, from Virginia, built a mill at Waynesville on the power now owned by Wright It was of framed timber and stood about where the saw-mill now is. The dam was a few hundred yards above the mill and abutted the land owned by Abel Satterthwaite, which has since, by means of a channel on the east side, become an island. Haines failed to secure an abutment on the east side of the river, and the dam causing the frequent overflow of the land, became obnoxious to the owner. He cut round the dam and destroyed the power, about the year 1809. A long litigation ensued and the case was finally decided in the Supreme Court against Haines.

John Jennings came to the township in 1810, and bought the mill and secured an abutment on the east side against the rugged bank, for $200, and contracted with David Brown to extend the race for $300. Brown completed the race, but lost heavily on the contract The mill was idle about six years, during which time the principal milling of the neighborhood was done at Newman's mill on the Bun, and Highway's mill on the Miami. A saw-mill and 8 fulling-mill were there at an early day and carding and fulling done there until about 1850.

The brick mill was built in 1825 by John Jennings, and, about 1832, was sold by him to Stephen Cook and Jason Evans. Evans became the sole owner, and, in 1840, sold the mills with the lands, lots, dwellings, etc., to William Oliphant, of New Jersey, for $14,000. It was regarded as a good sale at the time Oliphant died, and his sons sold out and settled up and returned to New Jersey.

In the year 1831, James Elliott built a grist-mill immediately below Waynesville; he also built a saw-mill and woolen-mill, in which carding, spin ning and fulling were done. The premises were sold to Asa Trahern, about 1842. for $5,000; it passed through various hands, and, in 1860, became the property of Sidwell Taylor, who built the present mill

There have been long law-suits at different times with Elliott and Taylor by the owners of the upper mills for damages on account of back-water. Cook & Evans prosecuted Elliott for damages on account of back-water, and, after a long litigation, obtained a judgment against him, probably in 1838, for $109.

The mill-power at Mount Holly was first improved by Joseph Chenoweth, who came from Virginia about the year 1815, by putting in a dam and sawmill. A grist-mill was built there by John Satterthwaite about 1818. Mills have been kept up there ever sinca There is evidence to show that Banes improved this power very early in the present century.

About 1816, Joseph Chenoweth built a grist and saw mill on Middle Bun, some distance below where the turnpike crosses; they were only used a few years and were abandoned for the purposes for which they were built

The Hisey mill property, on Caesar's Creek, was first improved by Benjamin Butterworth, by building a saw-mill there about 1822. Israel Woodruff afterward became the owner and built a grist-mill there about 1834. The mills afterward became the property of C. Hisey, but have long since ceased to be used.

I am unable to state who first improved the property on the creek at a point called New Baltimore, but Joshua Canby was the owner in 1835, and did a large business there with a grist and saw mill The power is only used now for a saw- mill, by John Stanfield, who has been in possession for the past fifteen years. Saw-mil Is have otherwise been built, one by Isaac Ward, on Newman's Bun, near the crossing of the Upper Springboro road, in 1816; one by Evans & Elliott on the same stream, near the Lebanon pike, about 1848; one by Samuel Butterworth on the west branch of the same stream, in 1850; one by Joseph Bogers, Sr., on Middle Bun, about 1818, and one by his son Joseph, near the same place, about 1823.

There are no records that can be found of township officers previous te 1816. Early Justices of the Peace, so far as I can learn them, were as follows: John Buckels in 1803; I think he was a Justice under the Territorial ornanization; he settled and lived on Section 26, Town 3, Bange 5; Davii Pngk 1805; Jonathan Newman, 1807; John Satterthwaite, most of the time from

Constables, Thomas Biggs, 1813; Reason Reagan, 1814; Richard Cunningham, 1815; Joshua Carman, 1816; Samuel Rogers, most of the time from 1820 to 1835, and Jesse Ware, 1824.

From the time of the first settlement until 1804, the post office was at Cincinnati. Residents relied more for their letters and news on emigrants than they did on the mail. Samuel Highway was the first Postmaster; he was appointed April 1, 1804, and held the office until January 1, 1814, when David Pugh was appointed; he held until January 1, 1817, when Noah Haines was appointed; he held the office until the time of his death, which occurred, I think, in 1833. John M. Hadden was then appointed, and held the office for many years. The mail was carried on horseback. I have not the route for those early years, but in 1817, Waynesville was on the route from Cincinnati to Detroit. It was carried in that manner until 1827, when the first , line of stages was put on from Cincinnati to Springfield by John Satterthwaite, of Waynesville, and William Worden, of Springfield. When the weather was pleasant and the roads were good, the regular stage was used; when not, a long square wagon, which* received the name of "Black Hawk" was used. Many amusing incidents were related by travelers about having to get out and pry the vehicle out of mud-holes with rails, and the drivers instructing them to hold on to their rails, as there were other mud-holes ahead. Many of the travelers declared they did not mind walking, but were opposed to carrying a rail.

Although the citizens of the township have always taken a lively interest in politics, they have never been politicians as generally understood by that term. Allen Wright was first elected Auditor, while a citizen of this township, in 1824, and held the office until 1843; Ij&urwell Goode was elected Commissioner in 1824, and held the office until 1836; Noah Haines, from 1831 to 1833; David Evans, from 1841 to 1844.

The following persons, raised in the township, have been members of the Legislature, viz., Hon. George J. Smith, from this county; John Q. Smith, a member of both branches, from Clinton County, and also a member of Congress; Thomas J. Keys, of Stockton City, Cal., both branches; Hon. Seth S. Haines is the only one residing in the township that ever was elected a member of that body.

The following towns have been] laid out in Wayne Township as it was and is: Waynesville, by Highway," Smith & Banes, February, 1796; acknowledged and recorded, 1802; Oakland, by James Murray, December, 1806; contained seventy-two lots; Freeport, by Ignatius Brown^and Nebo Gant, November, 1816; contained twenty-seven lots; Crosswicks, by James Jennings, July, 1821; contained twelve lots; Harveysburg, by William Harvey, January, 1829; contained forty-seven lots; Mount Holly, by Jacob Pearson, July, 1833; contained twenty-five lots; Raysville, by M. Mills & Bro. and others, November, 1855; contained twenty-two lots; it had a name long before it was platted; Corwin, about 1844, by John Johnson and Joel W. Johnson.

Concluding Note 8

Highway & Co. failed to realize out of their purchase what they expected and were involved in a number of law suits, which continued for a number of years, in reference to the titles of land sold by them, and, as I shall probably not refer to them again, I will observe that Mr. Highway was born in Shrop shire, England, and emigrated to the United States in 1791, with an ample fortune of goods and money. He was about six feet, six inches in height and weighed 300 pounds. He removed from here to Cincinnati in the latter part of 1813, and there died in 1817.

Mrs. Sarah Keys, now in her ninety- fourth year, and Joseph Rogers, now in his ninety -third, and Charlotte Dutterow, about the same age, and Rebecca Stewart, I believe are the oldest persons in the township.

The citizens have generally sympathized with the oppressed, and were generally anti- slavery. In the winter of 1837-38, two negroes ran away from near Lexington, Ky. They traveled together to Lebanon, and there separated: one took the road to Dayton and the other came this way. They were pursued by two men traveling by stage who, about midnight, discovered one of the slaves, an old man named Hazard, near Genntown, arrested him and brought him to this place. In the early morning, the citizens discovered the negro tied by a rope above the elbows. When the natural inquiry was made as to the cause, they were informed he was a runaway "nigger.'' The citizens demanded that he be untied, which was done. The negro was very penitent, was sorry he had run away, was coaxed away, had a good master, etc. The agents were informed that they could not take Hazard unless they could produce nec essary authority to do so. It was finally agreed to leave the negro in charge of some persons (Reeve Holland was one), and one of the citizens was to go with one of the agents to Lebanon and take counsel of Judge Smith as to their authority. On the return of the party in the evening, the citizens were advised that the agents had no authority. Hazard was then given his choice - the citizens informed him if he wanted to go back he could do so; if not, he should I not be taken by force. Hazard brightened up and said he preferred to resume his journey. His little property was demanded and given to him, and a citizen, a few days after, informed me he saw Hazard nine miles on the road north, and some time after both got through to Canada.

In 1840 or 1841, some Virginians were moving through to Missouri with their slaves. It was claimed by slave-owners that they had a right to cross the State with their slaves for the purpose of business, or removal, when their destination was another Slave State. This was denied by the anti -slavery people of Ohio. A warrant was sworn out before Jonathan Clark, a Justice of the Peace here, by Dr. Brooks, and the slave-owners were arrested between this place and Franklin, and brought back and tried here. Judge George J. Smith and Robert G. Corwin were counsel for the prosecution, and Charles Anderson, of Dayton, for the defendants. After hearing the case, Squire Clark discharged the defendants. Some persons about Springboro and vicinity spirited away the slaves, or a part of them; they were afterward indicted by the grand jury, and tried, I believe, before Judge Hinkson in the Warren County Court of Common Pleas, convicted and sentenced to fine and imprisonment in the dungeon. The Supreme Court was in session at Cincinnati, a writ of error obtained therefrom, and the defendants were released from imprisonment. The case finally came before the Supreme Court of the State, when the question was set tied definitely, as claimed by the anti -slavery party.

have been omitted that should have appeared. Their descendants will excuse the omission. When it is remembered that our early settlers are gone and no record of them could be found, it will readily occur to the reader that it is not to be wondered at that some names are omitted. I only claim that I have used the best evidence I could obtain. On many points no doubt many will differ with me. They must remember that they rely on their memory, while I have relied not only on memory but on evidence in all cases where the same was obtainable.

Perhaps a more interesting, if not more accurate, history of this township could have been written a few years since, than can be given now, owing to the fact that during the past fifteen or twenty years so many of the old settlers have passed away and with them much valuable information pertaining to pioneer life in the township. This is a serious loss and one greatly to be regretted, for a record of the experience of the pioneers of our country would certainly contain a wealth of incident and anecdote illustrative of life on the frontier, that can be obtained from no other sourca

We, who are now enjoying the fruits of their labor, can scarcely realize the hardships and privations to which they were subject, nor can we understand how they endured such a ceaseless round of toil and poverty; and yet, many of them reach a "green old age," exempt from most of the ills to which we are heir. The secret lies in the fact that they accepted with equanimity whatever favors fortune deigned to bestow. They pursued the "even tenor of their way," not continually striving after the unattainable; in a word, they did not worry.

Clear Creek Township is located in the northern part of the county, and is bounded as follows: On the north, by Montgomery County; on the east, by Wayne Township; on the south, by Turtle Creek Township, and, on the west, by Franklin Township. The township is six miles wide from east to west, and nearly seven miles long from north to south, containing a fraction less than forty- two square miles, or about 26,800 acres. The greater part of the township is sufficiently rolling to insure ample drainage, and but little of it is so broken that it is not susceptible of tillage.

The soil of the township is generally fertile and easy of cultivation; it will compare favorably with the other townships of the county. Wheat, corn, barley, tobacco and hogs are the staple productions. Oats, hay and potatoes are also quite extensively grown, but generally not more than enough for home consumption. In favorable seasons, large quantities of fruit of various kinds are produced - chiefly apples and pears.

Owing to there being no convenient market for small fruits, but little at tention is paid to their cultivation. In former years, apples were almost a certain crop in the township, but now they are a very uncertain crop.

When the first settlers came here, a dense growth of forest trees covered the land, principally oak, ash, hickory, walnut, hard and soft maple and elm.

In many parts of the township, large quantities of maple molasses and sugar were made, but now the sugar camps have nearly all disappeared, and most of the farms are denuded of all except the most inferior quality of timber, many of them not possessing even that. Formerly, there was a great deal of fine walnut timber in most parts of the township, of which the owners were very prodigal, using it without stint for all purposes for which such timber was suitable. A few of the monarch s, however, were left standing, -but, a great de mand for walnut lumber springing up, even they were sacrificed, and now a few diminutive specimens are about all that are left to tell that such trees ever existed in the township.

The following exhibit of the agricultural products of the township for the year 1880 is, perhaps, not strictly correct, a portion at least being mere "guesswork." But it is probably as accurate a report as could be easily obtained, being taken from the Assessor's returns. I make the report for the precincts separately :

I also give the valuation of the property in the township at the last appraisement; -that in the Springboro Special School District separately, and that in the township, including the above district: Springboro District, $377,804; total township, $2,241,242.

Clear Creek, from which the township derives its name, is the largest stream in the township; all the others are mere rivulets. Clear Creek passes almost entirely across the township from east to west, and discharges its waters in the Great Miami about one mile below Franklin.

The greater part of the water from the township flows west, or toward the Great Miami, while the remainder flows east and south toward the Little Miami.

The absence of large streams, though perhaps a detriment in 8ome ways, is an advantage in this respect. We thus have less broken land and fewer comparatively worthless bluffs, such as are usually found along the larger streams and rivers.

Except in time of an excessive drought, an ample supply of good water for all ordinary agricultural purposes is found by digging from ten to forty feet deep. It is generally hard or limestone water. There are but few springs of any considerable size in the township. Some fine springs near Springboro are, however, an exception, they will be noticed hereafter.

The township contains parts of four original surveyed townships, viz.* Town 2, Range 5; Town 3, Range 5; Town 3, Range 4, and Town 4, Range 4.

Prior to October 17, 1815, this was a part of Franklin and Wayne Town ships, two-thirds belonging to Franklin. The following is the action taken by the County Commissioners in the matter of the establishment of the township:

It having been made to appear to the satisfaction of the Commissioners that it is necessary to make over and set off a new township in the county of Warren, bv taking a part of the township of Franklin, and a part of the township of Wayne. Therefore agreed and ordered, that all that part of the townships of Franklin and Wayne hereafter aesignated and described, be erected and set off, and made into a new township with the boundaries and lines following, to wit : Beginning at southeast corner of Section 21, Township 4, Range 4, and thence north with the line of the sections to the county line, thence west with the county line to the northwest corner of Section 15, Township 2, Range 5, thence south with the line of the sections to the southwest corner of Section 15, Township 3, Range 4, to the line of Turtle Creek Township, thence east with the line of Turtle Creek Township to the place of beginning. The same shall be erected and set off into a new and separate township, and shall be designated and known by the name of Clear Creek Town ship. Ichabod B. Halsey, )

The township remained as organized, with the voting-place at Ridgeville, until the year 1855, when it was divided into two election precincts, a little more than half of the Territory being set off to Springboro Precinct. D. N. Thomas and George Denise were two of the Commissioners appointed to make the division.

We here give as complete a list of the township officers from the organisation of the township to the present time, together with the result of the Presidential elections, as is possible to obtain, owing to the incomplete records of the elections in the early history of the township.

The first election of which we have any record was held on the 8th day of October, 1816. It was for State and county officers and for Representative in Congress. There were 210 votes polled, of which Thomas Worthington had, for Governor, 198; James Dunlap, 17; William H. Harrison, for Congress, 134; Thomas R. Ross, 76; Aaron Harlan, for Commissioner, 118; all others, 92; David Sutton, for Representative in Legislature. 139; all others, for Representative in Legislature, 71.

The first township election recorded was held April 7, 1817, although John Blair was Clerk and Lewis Woodward, John Blair and Thomas Venard were commissioned as Justices of the Peace in 1815. The following is a list of township officers:

1831 - Trustees, Daniel Crane, Jarvis Stokes, Robert Lafetra; Treasurer, William Crosley; Clerk, C. A. Richardson; Constable, J. R. Blackford; Justices of the Peace, Jacob Pence, Daniel Crane, Amos Kelsey, J. S. Williamson.

1832 - Trustees, Daniel Crane, Jarvis Stokes, Robert Lafetra; Treasurer, William Crosley; Clerk, C. A. Richardson; Constable, Levi Clymer; Justices of the Peace, Daniel Crane, Jacob Pence, George Harlan.

1841 - Trustees, David Wills, Moses Harlan, Thomas Johns; Treasurer, C. P. Russum; Clerk, Israol Hibbard; Constable, John Sexton; Justices of the Peace, C. P. Russum, Jeremiah Stansell, Joel A. Stokes.

1842 - Trustees, David Wills, Moses Harlan, Thomas Johns; Treasurer, C. P. Russum; Clerk, Israel Hibbard; Constable, M. M. Tresslar; Justices of the Peace, Jeremiah Stansell, Joel A. Stokes, C. P. Russum.

1843 - Trustees, David Wills, Moses Harlan, J. D. Thomas; Treasurer, Thomas Johns; Clerk, John J. Janney; Constables, Hanson Thomas, Joseph C. Thorne; Justices of the Peace, J. Stansell, Joel A. Stokes, C. P. Russum.

1847 - Trustees, David Wills, Moses Harlan, Mahlon Wright; Treasurer, Thomas John; Clerk, John J. Janney; Constable, Hanson Thomas; Justices of the Peace, Moses Harlan, William Gregg, Joel A. Stokes.

1848 - Trustees, David Wills, Moses Harlan, Mahlon Wright; Treasurer, Thomas Johns; Clerk, E. M. Mulford; Constable, Hanson Thomas; Justices of the Peace, Moses Harlan, William Gregg, Joel A- Stokes.

1849 - Trustees, David Wills, Moses Harlan, Mahlon Wright; Treasurer, M. M. Tresslar; Clerk, Samuel Graham; Constable, W. P. Peebles; Justices of the Peace, Moses Harlan, William Gregg, Joel A. Stokes.

1850 - Trustees, David Wills, Moses Harlan, Mahlon Wright; Treasurer, M. M. Tresslar; Clerk, Samuel Graham; Constable, Perry Lukins; Justices of the Peace, Moses Harlan, William Gregg, Joel A. Stokes.

Clear Creek T0Wn8Hip

1852 - Trustees, David Wills, Moses Harlan, Mahlon Wright; Treasurer, M. M. Tresslar; Clerk, Samuel Graham; Constable, William H. Morgan; Justices of the Peace, Joel A. Stokes, William P. Peebles, B. A. Stokes.

1853 - Trustees, David Wills, Moses Harlan, Mahlon Wright; Treasurer* Richard Lackey; Clerk, Samuel Graham; Constable, William Langsdon; Justices of the Peace, Joel A. Stokes, William P. Peebles, B. A. Stokes.

1854 - Trustees, David Wills, Moses Harlan, Mahlon Wright; Treasurer, Richard Lackey; Clerk, Samuel Graham; Constable, William F. Hayner; Justices of the Peace, William P. Peebles, B. A Stokes.

1855 - Trustees, David Wills, Moses Harlan, Mahlon Wright; Treasurer, Richard Lackey; Clerk, Samuel Graham; Constable, William Langsdon; Justices of the Peace, William P. Peebles. B. A. Stokes.

The township records from 1855 to 1865 have been lost, and I am able to give the names of Treasurer and Clerk only. Richard Lackey was Treasurer continuously until 1865. Samuel Graham was Clerk until 1857; John Fye from that time until 1862; Samuel Graham one year; J. J. Baner from 1863 till 1865.

Presidential electors for 1816 - Abram Looker, Allen Shepherd, Benjamin Hough, Aaron Wheeler, John G. Young, Joseph Vance, William Skinner. John Patterson, had each thirty -three votes.

Comparing the vote and census of the township for 1880, we find that the voters constituted about 25 per cent of the population; on that basis, the popo* lation in 1815 was about 840.

We have endeavored to ascertain the population of the township at each census since its organization, but have not been able to procure any reports antedating the sixth census, or 1840. At that time the population was 2,821: in 1850, it was 2,770; in 1860, 2,785; in 1870, 2,605: in 1880, 2,789.

Springboro is the only incorporated village in the township, the others - Red Lion, Ridgeville, Utica and Pekin - being mere hamlets. Ridgeville was laid out in 1814 by Fergus McLean, father of Judge John McLean, formerly of the United States Supreme Court.

Springboro was laid out in 1816 by Jonathan Wright. When the time came to select a name for the place, some one suggested that it be called Wrightstown, in honor of the founder, but he objected and proposed the name of Springboro, which was adopted. One condition imposed on all who purchased lots in the village, was, that no liquor was to be sold on the premises for ten years, and I am informed that no saloon has ever been kept in that part of the town. But an addition, called Job Carr's Addition, was made to the village, and, as no such restrictions were placed on the sale of lots there, liquojrsellers were not slow to take advantage of the opportunity to engage in the nefarious business, and Springboro, in a measure, lost her good name.

In 1817, Abner Crane laid out the village of Westfield, now called Red Lion. Soon after, a man by the name of Bolly opened a hotel there, and had painted on his sign a red lion rampant; from this the village probably derived its present name.

The early settlers of this township were, perhaps, as much alive to the educational interests of their children as the people of the present day are, but the school laws, if any had been enacted, were very crude, and free public schools as they exist at the present time were unknown. The school terms were necessarily of short duration, because of the limited means of most of the citizens. The usual method of proceeding in most cases was about as follows: Whenever a dozen or more families had settled in one locality, and a locality would frequently embrace a scope of country many miles in extent, a substantial hewn-log house would be built, which generally answered the double purpose of church and schoolhouse. When, however, a house was designed for school purposes only, a very simple structure was deemed sufficient, for as no school districts had been established, and no one was limited to any special territory in the matter of school privileges, and, as the * * center of population " was often changing, owing to the influx of new settlers, the school site was as often changed and a new house erected; therefore, as the houses were intended merely for a temporary purpose, no especial pains were taken in their construction.

When the house was completed, some one who felt himself competent to "wield the birch" - often a ''tramp pedagogue" - would apply for the position of teacher, the amount of his wages depending upon the number of his patrons.

We have heard cases instanced in which the teacher received but $ 12 per month, he paying his board out of that sum - not a very princely income, surely. The customary plan, however, was for the teacher to "board round," usually boarding a week with each family.

When and where the first schoolhouse in the township was built is not positively known, but from the best data I can obtain, one of the first, if not the very first, was built on the farm now owned by Ephraim Barnhart, in Section 18. If not the first, it possessed all the 4 4 advantages " of that day- -such as a puncheon floor, greased paper for windows in lieu of glass, a clapboard door, a slab, smoothed on one side, for a writing-desk, etc.

These were the only schools in the township until about the year 1816, when Francis Glass, a classical scholar, opened a school in Springboro, and was followed by Richard Way and Noah Leeds. Good private schools were maintained there until the passage of a general State school law.

At present, Springboro, with the addition of some adjacent territory, outside of the corporate limits, constitutes a special school district They employ a Principal, with three assistant teachers. The present enrollment is about 200. The curriculum embraces the common English branches, together with the higher mathematics, the sciences and Latin. There is also within the corporation a school for colored youth, with an enrollment of about twenty.

The township, outside of Springboro, constitutes one school district, which .is divided into eleven subdistricte, with an enumeration of about 750. The schoolhouses in the township are all substantial brick buildings, and are well supplied with outline maps, globes, etc. The schools are usually continued nine months each year. The average wages of teachers is $42 per month for males, and $38 for females. Subdistrict No. 1, or Red Lion, has two teachers: the others have one each. The patrons of the schools in most of the districts manifest considerable interest in their welfare, and, we think, the schools of the township, taken as a whole, will compare favorably with country schools in general. The Miami Valley College is situated near Springboro. It was established in 1870 by a party of liberal-minded persons, chiefly of the Society of Friends, with the intention of testing, or rather demonstrating, the practicability of combining mental with physical instruction in the education of both sexes.

There is a farm of about sixty acres connected with the school; also a mechanical hall and all male students - except those who board outside of the college - are required to devote a portion of each day to manual labor, either in farming, gardeningor mechanics; the females in household duties, each class under a competent instructor. The faculty consists at present of five teachers. The attendance is about sixty.

If judged by the number of churches, the citizens of this township are decidedly a church* going people, there being no less than thirteen churches within its bounds, viz., one United Brethren Church, at Utica; one Methodist, atMerrittstown: one Universalist and one Baptist, at Ridgeville; one Methodist and one New- Light (or Christian), at Red Lion, and one Methodist, one Universalist, one German Reformed, one United Brethren, one colored and two Friends, at Springboro. The first church established in the township was unquestionably the Baptist Church, at or near Ridgeville, known as the Clear Creek Church. It was established in 1797. Rev. James Sutton being the first pastor.

In the spring of 1798, a branch of this church was organized in Turtle Creek Township, and Elder Daniel Clark served as pastor of both churches and of the latter until near his death, which occurred in 1840, in his ninetieth year. The Clear Creek Church is claimed to have been the first church organized in the county.

About the year 1800, the Associate Reformed Church was organized, and a house of worship erected on the ground now occupied by the cemetery at Springboro. Rev. David Risk was the first pastor. The house was built of hewn logs and was considered a very commodious and substantial structure for those times. In the year 1818, a brick house was erected in its stead Rev. S. P. McGaw was the pastor then. Among the early members of the church may be mentioned William Sawyer, Robert Bradford, Alexander Woods, James and Alex Johnson, James F. Russell, the McCords and James and John Patterson.

The first German Reformed Church in the township was built about the year 1805, on the farm now owned by Robert Eyer, about two and a half miles southeast of Springboro. It was built of logs, as were all the churches of that day. They afterward built a frame house on the farm of Jacob Null, which was replaced about 1863 by the present house in Springboro - a substantial brick edifice.

The New- Lights (or Christians) erected a house of worship near Red Lion in an early day, as early, perhaps, as 1815 or 1816. It in time was replaced by a brick house. Rev. Isaac Dearth was officiating minister there at one time; he was ordained in the year 1820. Although the society has a good brick church at Red Lion, we believe they have no preaching at the present time.

The Methodists held religious services in private houses in different places in the township as early as 1820, or, perhaps, before that, but, from the best information I have been able to obtain, they had no church building prior to 1825. Somewhere near that time they built a church at Ridgeville, which was totally demolished by a hurricane on the night of St Patrick's Day, in 1868. On the night preceding the storm, the house was crowded with the citizens of Ridgeville and vicinity, the occasion being an exhibition given by the pupils of the Ridgeville School.

The Universalist Church at Springboro was built in 1841. There had, however, been occasional sermons preached in that vicinity by Universalist ministers for several years previous.

On the occasion of the dedication of the church, the concourse of people was so great - estimated at 3,000 - that but a small portion of them could gain admission to the house, and, an adjournment was, therefore, had to an adjacent grove, and the exercises concluded there.

A large portion of the congregation was doubtless attracted thither through motives of curiosity. Universalism being comparatively a new doctrine, they were anxious to hear what could be said from that standpoint on the subject of religion.

In September, 1845, M. H. Keever, Nathaniel McLean and George Cornell, directors of School District No. 4, deeded to the Universalist Church at Ridgeville the ground where that church now stands, it being at that time school property.

The first trustees of the church were chosen July 19, 1845, and were as follows: M. H. Keever, William Eulass, Daniel Crane, Charles Montgomery and G. W. Stokes. The house was built in 1846. Rev. George Weaver preached the dedicatory sermon.

The Friends held their first meetings in the township at the house of Jonathan WTright, and, as he did not come to the State until 1814, they had no house of worship probably before the year 1815 at least

In 1867, a lodge of F. & A. M. was organized at Springboro. The charter members were Robert Hurd, Dr. Moses Smith, Ambrose Taylor, J. S. Thomas, Joseph W'arwick, William Langsdon and Jacob S. Hopkins. Robert Hurd was the first Master of the lodge. After maintaining their organization until about two years ago, they surrendered their charter and disbanded, the principal reason being, perhaps, because of their proximity to Franklin, where a strong and flourishing lodge was maintained, which curtailed the territory of the Springboro society, thus rendering it weak from the start and consequently destroying its effectiveness.

Belief Lodge, No. 148, L O. O. F., located at Springboro, was instituted by Grand Master Earle, February 27, 1850. The charter members were John Fye, W. B. Linell, Mahlon Wright and Daniel Moon, all of whom, except Mahlon W right, are living. On the same night, thirteen members were initiated, viz., George Archdeacon, W. P. Peebles, W. F. Hayner, Charles Hughes, John Comer, Ira Thomas, W. M. Bateman, Randolph Robbins, A. S. Thomas, V. W. Brown, Robert Martin, Joshua Anderson and W. H. Ballard, all of whom, except Comer, are still living. Clear Creek Encampment, No. 145, L 0. 0. F. was instituted July 0, 1871.

About the year 1870, a secret organization, known as Patrons of Husbandry, sprang up in the West and spread with great rapidity throughout the Western and Southern States. In a few years, it had assumed gigantic proportions, and bid fair to ultimately include in its membership almost the entire agricultural class of the West and South. But dissensions arose, the interest of the mem bers abated, chiefly, we think, because the idea obtained (whether justly or not we do not pretend to say), that the members were using the organization for their own personal pecuniary and political benefit, and it declined as rapidly as it had advanced, until now comparatively few societies exist.

The different societies were styled Granges and were classed as National, State and Subordinate Granges. The membership was originally limited to those engaged in or depending on agriculture and horticulture, but those en gaged in other pursuits were afterward admitted to membership.

Had the primary principles of the order been strictly adhered to, great good might have been accomplished. These principles were to foster mutual in terest and co-operation; to stimulate a pride in the calling of the farmer; to make home more attractive, thus strengthening the attachments of our youth to rural life; to encourage and promote economy and education - in a word to develop the higher and better life of the farming community.

The founders of the order rightly claimed that an organization of this na tore was almost absolutely necessary for the farmers, as, owing to their comparative isolation, they were deprived of many of the social and educational advantages possessed by almost every other class of society ; and that self interest and self- protection demanded a combination of some kind; h^nce the organization of the order.

The first grange in this township was instituted at Springboro October 1, 1872, S. H. Ellis, Master. This was soon followed by one at Red Lion, with John Gustin as Master; one at Ridgeville, with Dr. Keever as Master, and one at Utica, with Lawrence Rogers as Master. These were all the granges located in the township, although there were many in the township who were members of granges situated outside of this township.

The Springboro Library Association was organized in 1832 by Jonah D. Thomas, William S. Bedford, Dr. Joseph Stanton, Josiah and Mahlon Wright and others. The first Librarian, Dr. Stanton, was an uncle of Hon. E. MStanton, the noted Secretary of War. William S. Bedford is the only one of the original members now living. He has been President of the association for the past thirty years. They have a well-selected library of about 4'**' volumes. The present officers are: William S. Bedford, President; J. JBaner, Secretary, and F. W. Wright, Librarian.

The Warren County Farmers' Mutual Insurance Association indemnifies its members for losses sustained in the destruction of or damage done to their farm buildings, from whatever unavoidable cause. In case of total destruction of property, the sufferer receives three- fourths of the appraised value, and the assessed amount of damage when only partially destroyed. A re-appraisment is had every three years. The association was formed in 1860, and the follow* in g board of officers was elected: Joseph Stanton, President; William S. Earnhart, Vice President; B. G. Easton, Secretary; Job Mullin, Treasurer; William Carpenter, Thomas Parker, S. Clevenger, Appraisers. When first organized, membership was limited to citizens of the township, and the number of members to twenty, but now it may include any farmers of the county to the number of forty; at present, it numbers about thirty members. It is claimed that it costs its members less than one-twentieth of 1 per cent per annum.

In The Wab

When the dread alarm of war was sounded throughout our land, the youth of this township, with those from other parts of the country, responded promptly to the Nation's call to arms, unmindful of the fact that they were espousing a cause which " hung in the balance," and that many of our best men entertained grave doubts of our ability to cope with the enemy, and maintain our National suprQmacy. They thus gave the lie to the taunt that they were mere " hirelings." All they asked to know was that our flag was in peril. And in the long and bloody struggle which followed, in the "times which tried men's souls," when rebellion, like a huge anaconda, was striving to crush out our National life, they were ever found true to their trust, found wherever duty called, and, on many a sanguinary field of battle, they, with brave hearts, upheld their country's honor.

Many of the bravest sacrificed their noble lives on the altar of their country. Both the battle-field and the foul prison-pen claimed their victims from among the youth of Clear Creek Township. Some of them lie in unknown graves in the far South, but they need no marble shaft to mark their last resting-place; their memories are enshrined in the hearts of a grateful people, and their heroic deeds are written on the roll of fame in characters of living light

We regret that we have not been able to procure a list of the soldiers furnished by this township - at least a list of those who gave up their lives in the cause; but we have found it impossible to obtain anything like an accurate list, and have, therefore, deemed it advisable not to attempt to give any.

The manufacturing interests of the township are naturally very limited, ' owing, principally, to the absence of large water-courses, as before noticed, and consequent lack of water-power. In early times, Clear Creek furnished ample power for mills; but, as the country became improved, it gradually dwindled away, until it was a mere wet-weather stream. The only waterpower in use in the township at present is at Springboro. It is furnished by some fine never-failing springs (from which Springboro derived its name) situated a little northwest of town.

We think we may safely assert that the first mill in the township was built on the stream flowing from these springs, and near where the Lower, or Baird's Mill, now stands. It was a log building and was erected about the year 1801 or 1802 by a Mr. Lawrence. We are told that a dam was built across the stream near its source, and the water conducted from there to the mill in large troughs, which were made by hollowing out logs.

This mill was replaced, in 1813, by a brick mill In the meantime, however, a Mr. Caldwell had built a mill a short distance south, on Clear Creek. In 1810, a woolen factory was built on the above-mentioned spring stream, a short distance above the mill, and, in 1831 or 1832, another mill was built, known as the Upper Mill, and, apropos of this, Dr. Aaron Wright says that a few years since he cleaned out the mill-pond and put in a new fore-bay, and the cost was almost as great as the original cost of building both pond and mill, such was the change in cost of material and labor in the course of fifty years. The woolen factory is patronized by many persons fifteen to twenty miles distant; it is owned by Wright & Thomas. There is also a steam saw- mill at Utica, owned by John Murry; a drain-tile factory at Merrittstown, owned by L B. Jones, and one southeast of Merrittstown, owned by Monroe Sweney. The first mentioned was built in 1816 by Abram and Caleb Merritt, for a pottery. About the year 1840, William H. Ballard commenced the manufacture of matches at Red Lion. He began on a small scale, using at first a knife to split the matches, but, in a few years, introduced the most improved machineiw and unlarged his operations quite extensively, and, for a few years, transacted a pretty large business. He quit the business in 1862. There are at present in the township ten blacksmith shops, five or six boot and shoe shops and as many wagon-makers' shops, two harness-shops, six dealers in dry goods and general merchandise, three groceries and one drug store. In the professions, we have four physicians, three lawyers, four ministers and an unlimited number of school-teachers.

P08T Office And Roads

There are five post offices in the township, viz., Dodds (at Utica), Samuel F. Kling, Postmaster; Ridgeville, C. H. Eulass, Postmaster; Pekin, William W. Earnhart, Postmaster; Red Lion, William H. Ballard, Postmaster, and Springboro, David Mering, Postmaster. The latter is a money-order office.

The number of farms in the township, as reported to the census enumerator in 1880, was 297 ; this includes all farms of ten or more acres. There are no very large farms, as in some of the stock-raising counties, this being exclusively an agricultural community.

In proportion to the number of miles of public roads in the township, we think but few townships in the State can surpass this in the number of miles of graveled road.

The first free turnpike built in the township was the one leading from Springboro to Ridgeville. In 1840, atoll pike was constructed from Dayton to Lebanon, built but a few years since; that part of it lying in Warren County was purchased by the County Commissioners, as were the roads from Franklin to Waynesville and from Franklin to Lebanon; so that now, toll roads are a thing of the past so far as relates to this township.

The township has never been blessed with railroad communication with the outside world until the year 1881, when the Cincinnati Northern completed a line from Cincinnati to Utica, where it connects with the T., D. & B. road, running thence to Dayton and Toledo.

Early Settlers

When, where and by whom the first permanent settlement was made in the township is a question difficult to decide, as several parties claim the honor for their ancestors. But the probabilities are that settlements were made in several different parts of the township at about the same time. In 1795, Abner Crane came from Essex County, N. J., with his mother, brothers and sisters and settled in Butler County. He bought a tract of land in Franklin Township, Warren County, near where Red Lion now stands, and moved on it. One day while out hunting, he discovered a fine spring of pure water, where his son, Samuel R. Crane now lives, and decided to secure that plaoe, hnd, in 1796, he built a cabin on the new purchase and moved into it, thus becoming one of the first settlers in the township.

Wild beasts and wild men were here in abundance at that time. Mr. Crane bought both tracts of land of Judge Symmes, and, as did hundreds of others, had to pay for it the second time. Not being able to pay for both, he gave up the tract in Franklin Township. His brother Jonathan settled on the Todd farm; his brother Moses settled on the Benajah Gustin farm, and John H. Robinson settled on the Eamhart farm, the four taking the whole section and settling on their land at nearly the same time.

Elkanah Gustin came from Greene County, Penn., in 1800, and settled on the farm now owned by John Conover, his father, Jeremiah Gustin, having bought a large tract of land in that vicinity. Elkanah was the father of seven boys and eight girls, of whom Benajah, aged eighty-four, is the only survivor.

William Sweney came from Pennsylvania in 1799. and settled in Clear Creek Township on the farm now occupied by his son Eli. He died, in 1848, at the age of seventy-eight He was the father of nine children, of whom Eli is the only one living; Robert, the eldest son, was with Gen. Hull, at Detroit when he surrendered his army. Eli was, for a number of years, a Captain in the Ohio militia He is now in his seventy-fifth year, and is hale and hearty for one of that age. He says he remembers distinctly of going on horseback, with his father, to the old mill at Springboro - mentioned in the preceding pages - when there were no roads worthy of the name in all this section of country - nothing but mere bridle-paths marked by " blazing 11 trees along the route. Joseph Kirby, Joshua, Joseph and James Carter, James Willp and Jonathan and William Garwood were among the early settlers in the south eastern part of the township.

George Harlan was born in North Carolina in 1767, from whence his father came to Pennsylvania, then to Kentucky, and, in 1797, to Ohio. After a short stay at Deerfield, they settled in Clear Creek Township. Mr. Harlan filled several different offices of trust and honor in the township, county and State. He died, in 1846, at the age of seven ty-nine.

Moses Harlan, his son, was born in 1810, and occupies the old homestead. He, likewise, has been honored with a number of positions of public trust, having, among others, filled the office of Justice of the Peace for eighteen years and Township Trustee for twenty-seven years. The Eulasses, Blackfords, Kee vers, Richard Lackey, Thomas Venard and the McDonalds were among the pioneers in the eastern part of the township. Richard Lackey came from Ken tucky with the Harlans, and settled on the farm now owned by his son Richard, about a mile east of Ridgeville. He purchased land of Highway, who, like Symmes, could not pay for it, and it reverted to the Government, and those who had bought of him had to pay for their land again.

Richard Lackey, Jr., was bora in 1811, and was married in 1832 to Permelia Dyke. He is the father of eight children, of whom one son and three daughters are living. Mr. Lackey was for twelve years Township Treasurer; for four years, County Treasurer; Real Estate Appraiser in Turtle Creek Township, and has filled the offices of Justice of the Peace and Township Trustee for several years in this township.

Martin Keever was bora in Maryland in 1727, and came with his family to Ohio in a very early day, and settled on the farm where his deseendants now resida When about thirty years of age, he was captured by the Indians, and remained a prisoner for nearly two years. He died, in 1824, aged ninety - seven; his wife survived him thirteen years. His son George was bora in 1781, and came to Ohio with his father. He was married, in 1808, to Abigail Bunnell. He was thrown from a sulky, in 1845, and, being a large, corpulent man, the fall killed him** he left but one child - Dr. M. H Keever, who was bora in 1810, and who inherited the home place. Dr. Keever died from heart disease while sitting at the breakfast- table, April 7, 1878; his death was universally regretted by the citizens of this and adjoining townships, as he was a genial, whole-souled man, and a physician of marked ability.

Edward Dearth, in the spring of 1798, came from Fayette County, Penn., and settled where L N. Dearth now lives; he had five sons who came with him; he purchased over 1,400 acres of land in a body. When they settled there, they knew of but one family within three or four miles of them, on what is now the Vail farm. As an instance of their loneliness and their anxiety to welcome the advent of families into their neighborhood, it is related that one evening, after all the family, except Mr. and Mrs. Dearth, had retired, Mrs. Dearth heard a dog barking in the direction of the present site of Springboro. She called her husband's attenton to it, and he thought at first that it was a wolf, but finally decided that it was a dog, and that they would try and ascertain, in the morning, from whence the sound came. So. when the morning came, they started through the woods, feeling certain that they would find a human habitation of some kind. After going about two miles, they came to a cabin in the woods, and were greatly pleased to find that they had other neighbors, even that far off, but they soon regretted the acquaintanceship thus formed, for they proved to be notorious horse-thieves and counterfeiter There were three brothers of them, named Daniel, Isaac and Aaron. Daniel, however, was not connected with the other two in their nefarious practices, but was a quiet, inoffensive citizen. Isaac and Aaron finally left this part of the country and located sonle where below Cincinnati. The settlers there soon found that they were not a very valuable acquisition to pioneer society, and tried every peaceful means to induce them to " go West," and, as a last resort, a vigilance committee was formed for the purpose of forcing them and all others of that class to leave. One evening Isaac was shot and killed while standing in his own door, by some one supposed to be one of the committee. The other brother left at once for parts unknown.

Samuel Gregg came from Pennsylvania in 1796, and settled in Deerfield, where he resided till the fall of 1798, when, having purchased a tract of land in Clear Creek Township, he moved on it and began the labor of making for himself and family a home - a work in which he was eminently successful. He died, in 1844, at the age of seventy-one. His son William, who succeeded to the homestead, was bora in Deerfield in 1798, and grew up with the country. He lived to see the township grow from an almost unbroken wilderness to its present populous and highly cultivated condition, having lived to the age of eighty-one. Mr. Gregg, though moving in a comparatively humble sphere, was a man in the truest sense of the word. His every-day life merited the approbation of all who knew him. Such a reputation is certainly much more to be desired than one which would call forth the unmeaning plaudits of a fickle public. Two of their sons - James A. and Jonah R. - are living on the old farm.

Isaac Mullin was bora in Virginia in 1777 ; was married, in 1801, to Miss Haines, in New Jersey, and came to Ohio the same year. He settled at Waynesville, but the next year he removed to Clear Creek Township; he died in 1839. Job Mullin, son of Isaac Mullin, was born about the year 1806. He relates that he has heard his father say that when he settled in this township he knew of but two other families nearer than Waynesville - but of course there were others, of whose location he had not learned - that, hearing a cow- bell one day in the woods, and, following the direction from whence the sound came, he found a family named Grimes, who had ' ' squatted " on a claim, and were proceeding to build a cabin. They, of course, received a hearty welcome from Mr. Mullin. Mr. Job Mullin says he has a very vivid recollection of his early school days. His father had to mark the route from their house to the schoolhouse by blazing the trees, so that the children might not get lost on their way to and from school; he remembers going to school to Mary Smith, when Gen. Clay passed through here with his Kentucky troops during the war of 1812, and the teacher dismissing the school to allow the pupils to see the soldiers.

We have not tried to give a complete list of ail who had come into the township prior to 1802 or 1803, but only a few of the first and most prominent ones in each neighborhood.

One of the most prominent men who came later was Jonathan Wright, a surveyor, and who, it is claimed by his descendants, laid out the city of Columbus, Ohio, though Howe, in his Historical Collections of Ohio, gives the credit to Moses Wright. Jonathan Wright was a very influential man in the township, because of his intelligence and his uprightness of character, together with his energetic spirit in building up and improving the country. But we have no space to notice, even briefly, all the early settlers, and will therefore pass to another subject

We are informed that, about the years 1815 or 1820, distilleries were almost as plentiful about Spring boro as dwelling-houses. Dr. Wright states that there were, within a radius of two miles, not less than fifteen. Doubtless one reason why so much of the grain and fruit was distilled was because of the greater cost in transporting it to market in the original form. But another, and, perhaps, a more potent reason was, that it always commanded a ready sale in the form of whisky and brandy. Temperance, or, rather, total abstinence, had not become so popular as at the present time, consequently, the use of liquor as a beverage was customary among all classes and on all occasions. The clergy, even, were not exempt, but many of them considered a glass of "grog" essential to their well-being.

Jonathan Wright, like many persons of the present day, while disapproving of prohibition laws, was yet a practical temperance man. When he let the contract for building the woolen factory at Springboro, it was specified in the contract that there was to be no liquor used on the premises by any one. One day, the contractor and his men were sitting under a tree eating their dinner, and, among other things, they had a bottle of whisky. Mr. Wright, in passing by, saw it, and, without saying a word, deliberately picked up the bottle and broke it; the contractor sued him, but, when the Magistrate saw the contract, he decided that the contractor had no cause for action.

Mr. Wright was a member of the Society of Friends, and they, while practical believers in morality, do not hesitate to perform whatever they consider necessary labor on the Sabbath. In the early settlement of the country, there were some persons who were great sticklers for a strict observance of the Sabbath, and could not tolerate any variance from their views in that respect, however lax they might be themselves in regard to other matters.

Mr. Wright, Mr. Mullin and others were frequently fined for performing common labor on that day. But a more liberal spirit pervades society now. The spirit which animated the early settlers of New England is gone, it is to be hoped, never to return.

fully at Red Lion. It was supposed to have been caused by eating fish which were tainted. The water had been drawn off the Miami Canal and quantities of fish were left in the pools and mud in the bed of the canaL A great many persons from the vicinity of Red Lion caught them, and nearly every one who ate them was taken with the cholera, and, as it was a comparatively new disease to the physicians here, they did not understand how to manage the cases, and, as a consequence, a large majority of them proved fatal Samuel N. Gustin was the first victim. It is said that, although the cherry trees were loaded with fruit, that year, the birds would not touch it, and it hung on the trees and dried. The disease was confined almost exclusively to Red Lion and vicinity, and to those who had partaken of the fish.

In a pretty early day, CoL John McDannell, who had been a Colonel in the Revolutionary war, and who possessed all the hauteur of a gentleman of the olden time," came from Dauphin County, Penn., with his family, and set tied on the farm now owned by D. F. Corwin. They came all the way in a carriage, which was probably the first carriage ever brought into the township, if not the first in the county, and had a negro driver.

It was a hard matter to decide which of the two, the carriage or the driver, was the greater curiosity. The young men used to go there on Sunday and get the negro to run the carriage out so that they could examine it thoroughly: this they continued to do until Mrs. McDannell came out and ordered them off for desecrating the Sabbath. We are not able to say whether the young ladies visited these curiosities or not But, from the well-known lack of curiosity in the sex, it is presumable that they did not The carriage must have been a counterpart of Holmes' wonderful "One-Hoss Shay," as it is said to.be in a good state of preservation yet.

Mr. Job Mullin mentions that when Gen. Clay's troops were passing through this region, as previously noticed, the officers had their negro servants with them, and the negroes excited the curiosity of the school children more, perhaps, than the soldiers, although they had never seen either before.

This concludes our history of the township. We have endeavored to give the facts as correctly as possible, and, if any errors have been stated, it wss not intentional. Of course, many incidents and facts have been omitted, but that was unavoidable. We can only hope that what we have written may prove satisfactory.

By Horace Clinton

In the first division of Warren County, it was divided into four townships named Franklin, Deerfield, Wayne and Hamilton. Hamilton then embraced all of Salem and Hamilton, and most of Washington Township. June 24. 1813, the eastern portion of the township was cut off, by a line drawn south from the mouth of Todd's Fork to the south boundary of Warren County, and s erected into a new township, called Salem. June 8, 1818, the then existing boundary line between Salem and Hamilton was changed to the present lina We now have a township in the shape of a rectangle, being about six and a half miles from north to south, and five and one-half miles from east to west and containing about thirty- six square miles. The whole of the township is included within what is called Virginia military land. The State of Virginia^! an early period of the Revolutionary war, raised two descriptions of troops* State and Continental, to each of which bounties in land were promised. In March, 1784, Virginia ceded her lands north of the Ohio to the General Gov- eminent upon certain conditions, one of which was that, in case certain other lands south of the Ohio River were insufficient for the legal bounties for her troops, the deficiency should be made up from lands north of the Ohio, between the Rivers Scioto and Little Miami. In 1783, the Legislature of Virginia authorized the officers of their respective lines to appoint superintendents to regulate the survey of the bounty lands promised.

An office for the reception of locations and surveys was opened at Louisville, Ky., August 1, 1784, and on the 1st of August, 1787, the said office was open for the reception of surveys and locations on the north side of the Ohio.

Land warrants calling for from one hundred to five hundred acres were issued to various, individuals, who located them in such places and shapes as best suited them, and this fact accounts for the irregularity of surveys, lines, roads, etc. , throughout the township. The whole territory was then in the possession of the Indians.

The first warrant located within the present limits of the township was No. 520, in the extreme northeastern part of the township, and embraces the farms of Caph Donally, Dr. Roach, Thomas, Joseph, and Levi Baker and William Ditmas. Those acquainted with the lands would doubtless say that it was a good selection. This entry was made by Lieut. William McGuire, August 21, 1787 - number of acres, 1,000. It was surveyed by Nathaniel Massie, District Surveyor, January 29, 1793; Matthew Hart and Jonathan Stout, chain carriers; Thomas Massie, marker.

No. 1546 - The records do not show by whom this entry was made. Surveyed by William Lytle, District Surveyor, April 12, 1792 ; Robert Campbell and Marlin Varner, chain carriers; Henry Ball, marker.

No. 1496 was entered August 21, 1787, by John Bemis (assignee); number of acres, 1,500. Surveyed October 6, 1792, by Nathaniel Massie ; Josiah Wade and Matthew Hart, chain carriers ; Thomas Massie, marker.

No. 1497 was entered by James Mcllhaney and six others, August 21, 1787, number of acres, 800. Surveyed October 17, 1796, by William Lytle; John Donel and Peter Clawson, chain carriers ; Thomas Paxton, marker.

No. 825 was entered by Lieut. Thomas Martin, August 23, 1787. Number of acres, 1,000. Surveyed by William Lytle. District Surveyor, October 17, 1796; John Donel and Peter Clawson, chain carriers ; Thomas Paxton, marker.

Entry No. 1547 - By Elisha King (assignee), August 24, 1787. Number of acres, 1,333^. Surveyed April 12, 1792 ; William Lytle, District Surveyor; Robert Campbell and Martin Varner, chain carriers ; Henry Ball, marker.

Entry No. 1548 - By Elisha King (assignee), August 24, 1787. Number of acres, 1,533^. Surveyed April 13, 1 i 92; William Lytle, District Surveyor; Robert Campbell and Henry Ball, chain carriers; Martin Varner, marker.

Entry No. 1549 - By Sackville King, August 24, 1787. Number of acres, 1,000. Surveyed April 14, 1792; William Lytle, District Surveyor; Robert Campbell and Henry Ball, chain carriers; Martin Varner, marker.

Entry No. 2192 - By William Nall, May 26, 1792. Number of acres, 1,000. Surveyed April 15, 1793; William Lytle, District Surveyor; Robert Campbell and Henry Ball, chain carriers; Martin Varner, marker.

Entry No. 4239 - By Francis Taylor, June 7, 1802. Number of acres, 700. Surveyed March 18, 1804; William Lytle, District Surveyor; John Donel and Thomas Paxton, chain carriers; Daniel Ertles, marker.

Entry 3790 - By James Taylor, William Lytle and Robert Underwood (assignees), February 8, 1800. Number of acres, l,766f. Surveyed February 20, 1800; David Miller and Jacob Snyder, chain carriers; Abraham Miller, marker.

Entry No. 2956 - By Richard Stark, March 23, 1797. Number of acres, 666J. Surveyed by William Lytle, October 1, 1798; James Taylor and John Donels, chain carriers ; John Lytle, marker.

Entry No. 3334 - By William Lytle (assignee), August 9, 1798. Number of acres, 333 f. Surveyed October 1, 1.798, by William Lytle; John Taylor and John Donels, chain carriers; John Lytle, marker.

Entry No. 3802 - By James Taylor, February 8, 1800. Number of acre* 066f. Surveyed March 3, 1803, by William Lytle; John Donels and David Miller, chain carriers.

The location and survey of these lands were attended with great hardships and much danger from the Indians, especially so during a period of some three or four years prior to 1794, as they had become, owing to a dispute about the conditions of some of their treaties, very hostile, and remained in a state of war up to their defeat by Gen. Wayne, August, 1794 The treaty of Green ville, July 30, 1795, brought an end to the Indian troubles in Ohio.

Early Settlements

Many Virginians having land warrants had, prior to this time, come down the Ohio to possess their lands, but the hostile attitude of the savages induced them to settle temporarily at Columbia, White's Station, and other points near Cincinnati. The treaty of Greenville, by giving assurance of permanent peace, opened the way for settlers, and emigrants came rapidly to the Miami country.

Probably the very first settlement in the county south of the Little Miami River was within the present bounds of Hamilton Township. Seemingly well authenticated tradition says that William Mounts and five other families settled on lands now owned by his grandson, William P. Mounts, in October, 1795, and built their cabins in a circle around a spring, a few rods west of where the residence now stands. It was then called Mounts' Station.

The names of the families thus early locating in the unbroken forests of Hamilton Township were, as remembered, William Mounts, wife and six children; Thomas Forsha, wife and children; Thomas Leonard, wife and six children; Thomas Watson and family.

This shall oblige me, my heirs, etc., to convey by deed, with a general warrantee, to Martin Varner and William Mounts, as tenants in common, the quantity of 1,200 acres of land, on the Little Miami River, in three tracts - a tract of nine hundred acres - that lies about three miles and a half below Todd's Fork, of the L. M. R., which 900 acres is to contain a better bottom than any of the three next below O'Bannon's Creek. For the performance of this, my obligation, I do bind myself, my heirs, etc., to the said Martin Varner and William Mounts and their heirs, in the penal sum of five hundred pounds, lawful money of Pennsylvania. As witness my hand ana seal, this day of October, 1791.

The extreme northern and extreme southern parte of the township were earliest settled, while the central part was not opened up until a later date. Their is some uncertainty as to the year in which the first settlement was made in the south, but there seems to be no doubt that the first settler in this section was Theophilus Simonton, who with his wife and two children, came from North Carolina and settled near the Clermont County line, and on the farm now owned by Dr. Donough. The time of Simonton's arrival at this place is fixed, by tradition, in the fall of 1796. At that time he had no neighbors within the present limits of the township; save those at the Mounts' settlement, and an unbroken forest of many miles lay between them. In 1797, Simonton was favored with a nearer neighbor, in the person of Joseph Hill; who settled about forty rods south of the Hill Graveyard, and near Clinton's farm. In the year 1799, Samuel Hill settled on the Gillispie farm, now owned by Henry Peachy. About the same time, Daniel Ertel located near the Little Miami river, where the family of Solomon Ertel now resides.

These probably were the only settlers in the southern part of the township prior to 1800. We have no reliable information of any settlers, except those already mentioned at Mounts' Station in the northern or southern part of the township, before the year 1800.

A full list of the names of later settlers - say down to 1810 - doubtless be of much interest, but, after a lapse of seventy years, only a few can be given.

In the fall of 1800, Philip and Benjamin Hill, of North Carolina, - came to and settled in southern Hamilton, the latter where the old stone house now stands, a half mile east of Loveland, and near the Murdoch pike. The former settled a little further east, on what has been known as the old Phillip Hill farm The cabin in which he first settled stood some twenty rods north of the present brick building, on the farm owned owned by Daniel Shields.

In 1802, Samuel B. Walker and Isaac Spence settled within the present limits of the township, but this was not Walker's first visit to the wilds of Ohio. Early in the spring of 1798, Walker, then about twenty years old, in company with John Mahard started from Loudentown, Penn., and turning their faces westward traveled on foot to Pittsburgh, a distance of 150 miles. At that time there was no wagon road over the mountains of Western Pennsylvania, only a pathway traversed by pack horses; this trail they followed. On arriving at Pittsburgh they secured passage to Columbia on a flat-boat, agreeing to assist in the work as compensation for their passage. In due time, they landed at Cincinnati, and here they parted. Walker found his way out to Gen. Ludlow's place, and engaged in his service. He was possessed of a good practical education, including file theory and practice of surveying. This enabled him to be of great service to Ludlow, who took him with him, in the summer of 1798, on a surveying expedition up the Little Miami to Yellow Springs, thence across to and down the Big Miami, occupying some two months' time; after which ho worked some six months on the farm of Gen. Ludlow. In March, 1799, Walker went up to Williamsburg in Clermont County, to make his home with William Hunter, whom he had known in Pennsylvania. Here he met Gen. W. Lytle, and was employed by him to assist in pointing out and subdividing various bodies of land (owned by Lytle) to suit purchasers. In this capacity he was through our township when there was not a solitary settlement between Deerfield and the extreme southern part. The writer copied the following from a small memorandum book in possession of T. D. Walker.

" Came to William Hunters on Friday, 29th of March, 1799. My horse was stolen by Indians on Wednesday night, the 22d of May, 1799; also Robert Dickey's stolen the same night" On the same book we found the following: '-Robert Dickey's horse returned on Saturday, September, 1799." His own was returned at a later data Walker, while living, related that these horses, with many others, were returned by the Indians, in response to a proclamation by the Territorial Governor offering a reward for the return of stolen horses.

Previous to this time his father, Samuel Walker, of Pennsylvania, had contracted with Gen. Lytle for eleven hundred acres of land, to be selected from a tract near Williamsburg, in Clermont County, or if these lands on view were not satisfactory, then was Walker to have his choice out of some three or lour other tracts.

In the spring of 1799, the father came on to see the lands and to consummate the purchase. In company with his son, he met Gen. Lytle, at Squire Hunter's, and being dissatisfied with the tracts in Clermont County, he, after some hesitation, accepted a deed for eleven hundred acres, situated in southern Hamilton Township, and upon which his son Samuel B. Walker - as has been already stated - settled in 1802. The consideration named in the deed was $2 per acre.

This tract embraced farms now owned by A. J. Walker, Mrs. Foster. William Merrill, Mr. Kay, Ellon Walker, heirs of M. Ertel, Daniel Shields, James Swank, Mr. Skillman, Milton Spence, O. R. Reeves, T. D. Walker and some other smaller lots.