704 - HISTORY OF CLARK TOWNSHIP
BETHEL TOWNSHIP.
BY DR. H. H. YOUNG.
This is the southwest corner township in Clark County. Pike and German Townships join it on the north, Springfield Township on the east, Mad River Township southeast and south, Greene County on the south, Miami County on the west. Bethel Township contains twenty-seven entire sections in Township 3, Range 9; four whole and two fractional in Township 4, and one entire fractional section in Township 3, Range 8. The Mad River forms the boundary of the towship from the east line of Section 27, in Township 4; thence southwest to the southeast corner of Section 35, Township 3, Range 8. This diagonal course of the river makes eight fractional sections to be added to the number given above. The soil of Bethel Township is limestone clay, with a gravel subsoil. At several points in the township the limestone rock is found near the surface, where quarries have been opened, furnishing an abundance of the finest stone for building purposes and making lime. The soil as a rule throughout Bethel Township is of the most productive kind, the upland is somewhat rolling, just enough for good drainage with none or but little waste land. The bottom land both first and second of Mad River, Donnel's and Honey Creeks, are among the finest in the world. Bethel was originally very heavily timbered, there having been but very little open land in the township. In the northern part of the township, the timber was principally beech, interspersed with the differ-
BETHEL TOWNSHIP. - 705
ent varieties of oak, sugar, walnut, poplar, hickory, elm and lien: with a heavy growth of hazel and spice wood. In the central and southern part the beech almost entirely disappears, but oaks, walnut, maples, hickory, elm, linn and poplar are found. Along the streams buckeye were abundant; the past tense is used because there is but little more timber left that can be spared. The township is admirably watered. Mad River along the entire southern border; Donnel's Creek and its branches in the east; Jackson Creek in the middle, both running quite across the township; Honey and Mud Creeks in the west. These with their lateral branches furnish abundant water for all farm purposes, as well as the power needed for milling. On Section 25 is a chain of lakelets, four in number, filled with pure fresh water, well stocked with our common fish. One of these lakes has recently been appropriated by a stock company for the purpose of propagating the more valuable sorts of fish. This series of lakes are evidently the remains of a mighty river, that once rushed through the valley in which they are. situated.
Bethel Township is somewhat classic in the history of the State as well as the county. She stands at the head of the list of townships in being the first settled in the county, if not the home of the first white man settled in the Miami Valley north of Cincinnati. On the farm now owned by L. Baker was the Indian village of Piqua, which has become famous as the birthplace of the noted Indian chief Tecumseh. At this same place was fought the battle between the whites under Gen. Clarke, and the Shawnee Indians in August, 1780. On the farm now owned by _.His. Sarah Smith of Section 34, stood the ancient Indian village of Chinchima.
The date of the first settlement of Bethel Township is somewhat obscure, but from indubitable evidence we are able to say that John Paul was living at the forks of Honey Creek in 1790, and that same evidence points just as clearly to an earlier period. Relatives still remember well of hearing Mr. Paul speak of crossing the Ohio River at the point where Cincinnati now stands, before any settlement was made there; that his father was killed by the Indians soon after crossing the river. The remainder of the family escaped. The same night Mr. Paul went back, found the body of his father (which had been scalped) and buried it. Mr. Paul wandered on with the rest of the family, himself the eldest, a brother and a sister, and made their final stop on what is now part of Section 29. Mr. Paul died in 1853, aged ninety years. The older citizens well remember that the habits of caution and care necessarily acquired in the dangerous times, followed him as long as he lived.
David Lowry was the next settler in the township. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1767, and, in 1795, he settled in Section 3, Bethel Township. He afterward bought the whole of Section 14, which he sold and then entered land in Section 9, where R. M. Lowry now lives. He was married in 1801 to Sarah Hammer, of Miami County, Ohio, who died in 1810, leaving four children, viz., Sarah, Nancy, Susan and Elizabeth. All are now dead but Susan, the wife of John Leffel. In 1811, he married Mrs. Jane Hodge, whose maiden name was Wright, by whom he had four children-Martha S., David W., Robert M. and Sarah R., all now living. He died September 9, 1859, and his widow followed him August 15, 1867. He was a robust, enterprising Christian pioneer, and did much toward the growth and civilization of his adopted county.
Jonathan Donnels, a native of Lycoming County, Penn., was the companion of David Lowry, and was a surveyor. He settled on Section 33, where Leander Baker now lives, in 1795. In 1797, he returned to Pennsylvania, bought out his brother James, who was then but eight years old, but was a great help to him in his cabin. Jonathan married and was the father of five children, viz., John, who removed to Oregon, where he died; Jonathan, who is living in
706 - HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
Iowa; Elizabeth, who married George Layton; and Lucinda, who married and moved to Michigan. Mr. Donnels last years were embittered by family troubles, and, in a fit of temporary insanity, he hung himself on the Holcomb limekiln farm in Springfield Township, whither he had moved after selling his old home. He was a man of sterling traits of character, generous and whole-souled, and was very well read for those early days, and was indeed one of the noblest of Clark County's pioneers. His brother, James Donnels, who came in 1797, grew up under his care and married Mary Hopkins, settling where John Leffel now lives. He had eight children, but three of whom are living, viz., Susan, the wife of Jesse Boyd; Eliza, the wife of Lewis Huffman; and Jonathan. Mr. Donnels moved to the northeast corner of Springfield Township; thence to the farm where Jesse Boyd lives in Harmony Township, and finally to the farm where his son Jonathan now resides, where he and his wife died.
Hugh Wallace was born in Kentucky August 14, 1778; came to Bethel Township about 1798, and began working for David Lowry, with whom he staved several years. He was married to Margaret Smith, who died in 1$14, and he then married Eleanor Richison, who was born in the Northwest Territory in 1793, and had nine children, seven yet living. He was in the war of 1812, and died in 1864. His widow died in 1875.
Joseph Tatman was born in Virginia in 1770, and his wife Rebecca in North Carolina in 1772. They came to Brown County, Ohio, in 1 1798, and, in 1801, to this township. He was appointed Associate Judge after the county was organized, and held that office several years. He was also a member of the Legislative. They had thirteen children. He died in 1827, and his wife in 1864.
Jacob Huffman, a native of Pennsylvania, settled in the eastern corner of the township in 1802. He died December 1, 1842, aged seventy-two years, and his wife Catharine, died in August, 1866, aged eighty years. They had ten children who grew up-five yet living, viz., Henry, Reuben, Martha, Rachael and Samuel. He built a fine stone house which is yet standing.
George Croft was born in Pennsylvania in 1771, and was married in Virginia, in 1799, to Mary Critz, of that State. In 1804, they came to Bethel Township with two children, and seven were born to them afterward. Mrs. Croft died in February, 1846, and her husband after re-marrying died in October, 1855.
Thomas Cory was born in Essex County, N. J., in 1738. He came to Ohio in a very early day, and settled in Warren County, whence he came to Bethel Township, this county, in 1803, bringing his son Elnathan, with whom he lived until his death in 1813.
Elnathan Cory was born in Essex County, N. J., January, 1776. He came to this township with his father in 1803, and entered the northwest quarter of Section 34. During the war of 1812, he was an extensive contractor with the Government for army supplies. He married Hannah Jennings in June, 1800, and bv her had eleven children, of whom eight lived to adult age and three died in infancy. Four are now living, viz., Judge David J. Cory, Eliza Miller, Rhoda W. Cross and Sarah Smith. Mrs. Cory died August 20, 1834, and her husband June 8, 1842.
Abraham Brooks Rall was born in Essex County, N. J., September 9, 1776, and, at the age of eleven years, ran away from `home with an expedition that went to Western Pennsylvania. In 1789, he went to Cincinnati, where he worked with his uncle in a mill for three years, when he commenced learning the brick-layer's trade. In 1798, he returned to his Eastern home, where he married Elizabeth Lambert. In October, 1804, he again came to Cincinnati with his wife and one child, and, in the December following, came to this town-
BETHEL TOWNSHIP. - 707
ship, where he entered the northwest quarter of Section 33. He continued to work at his trade during the summer months -until 1825, when he retired to the quiet of his farm. He had eleven children, nine of whom lived to be married. He died April 20, 1864, and his wife March 28, 1844.
William Layton, with a large family of children-Joseph, Robert, Arthur, John, William, Jr., Polly, Sally and Betsey-came to this township in 1803, settling in Section 2, on Mad River, not far from the mouth of Donnels Creek. He was a Pennsylvanian, and died on that farm. The descendants of this family are among the most prominent people of the county, Joseph having been Judge of the court, John being one of the first Clerks of the county and a County Commissioner, and John E., the son of John, was Sheriff from 1856 to 1860.
Henry Williams and his wife Elizabeth came from Virginia with four children in 1805, and settled on the land now occupied by their son Rev. Henry Williams. They had nine children-five born after they came to this county. Mr. Williams was a soldier in 1812, and died in 1845, his wife having died in 1829.
George Keifer was born in Maryland in 1769, and there married, in 1799, to Margaret Hivner, a native of that State, born in 1772. They came to this township in 1812, and bought a large tract of land which was the birthplace of Tecumseh, the noted Indian chief. They had five children-Mary, Sarah, John, Catharine and George, who all grew up on this farm, and here the parents died leaving descendants, who have since become prominent in county, State and national affairs.
John McPherson came about 1800, and settled on Section 21. John Forgy, James Forgy, Stewart Forgy and Presly Forgy came in 1806. Their father John Forgy came much earlier, and settled in Mad River Township. Samuel McKinney came about-the same time; he was a prominent music teacher in the early times. In about 1803, came John Wallace, Sr., from Kentucky; he was the father of James Wallace, many years a prominent merchant, and Dr. Joseph Wallace, late of Springfield. Leonard Hains, Reuben Wallace, John and James Lamme, John Crane, Sr., came first to the county in 1802, settled on Bethel in 1806. George Lowman came in 1810; the next year built the "stone house" which for many years was a wonder, and the only house other than wood in the western part of the county. Joseph Reyburn, William Holmes, John Crue, Abraham Keever, Joseph Butler, Edward Riggs, Oliver Walker, William McCoy, Jacob Bingerman, Benjamin Pursell, John Jackson, Jacob Loofborow, John Whalen, Ezekiel Paramee, all came to Bethel prior to 1810. This list is doubtless incomplete, as at this late day it is impossible to get the best account of the early times.
Among the old settlers who came later than the above, mention might be made of the following and their places of settlement: John Husted, who settled on Donnel's Creek, Section 9; Jacob Funderburg, on Section 9; John Richinson, on Section 9; and Jacob Leffel, who settled on Section 17 about 1817. He was a native of Virginia, and had a large family, two of whom, John and Peter, now reside in Bethel Township, and James in Springfield. Jacob had the following brothers: Samuel, Daniel, Anthony, John, James P. and Thomas, who have all left descendants in this county, who are well known and respected; in fact "the Leffels" is a name that is a household word throughout the State, having gained a world-wide celebrity from the invention of the turbine waterwheel by James Leffel, who was long a resident of Springfield, but died a few years ago.
In educational matters Bethel Township seems at the first settlement as well as now to have occupied the front rank. As early as 1805, a schoolhouse
708 - HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
was erected on the farm of Capt. McPherson, about the same time another was erected on the farm owned by George Lowman, both of which were long known as landmarks, and used as points of reference by the early settlers. Those schools were of course supported by subscription, as there was no State provision for schools until 1821. The writer has before him the ledger of a teacher who taught at the Lowman Schoolhouse in 1810. The book is so much mutilated it gives no clue as to who he was. The teacher was a man well adapted to to those pioneer times, and therefore made himself generally useful as will be seen farther on. The charges for tuition and style of payment would astonish the teacher of the. present day. Charges and credits like the following are found in the ledger mentioned:
1810.
April 16. William Holmes, to one quarter's teaching 3 scholars.... $4 50
July 18. To one quarter's teaching 3 scholars..................... 4 50
Nov. 7. To one quarter's teaching 3 scholars..................... 4 50
1811.
M'ch 11. To cash loaned......................................... 1 00
May 10. To making plow beam.................................. 50
May 11. To hoeing corn one da................................... 50
Aug. 24. To making plow....................................... 1 50
Oct. 10. To cash payed............ . .. ........... . .............. 75
Nov. 9. To 2 days' husking; corn, 1 clays' loading do. ...........1 20
Nov. 13. To 2 days' pulling corn................................. 1 00
1810. The credits are as follows
Jan. 17. By 1 bushel corn... .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . . .. . , .. . 25
Mçh 17. By a house at appraisement............................. 20 00
Feb. 8. By 26 pounds pork..................................... .............. 2 30
June 30. By 1 bushel shelled corn........................ ....... 25
June 30. By 16 sheets of paper................................... 47
July 4. By 1 gallon whisky... ........ ........... .... ........... 1 00
Dec. 27. By 1 pattern deer-skin for breeches..................... 1 00
The account amounts to fifty odd dollars, and was all paid in "trade" as were nearly all others found in the book. The teacher of those times was usually a middle-aged or elderly man (we mean in the new settlements) with but little education himself, and higher aspirations than his neighbors, feeling keenly his own needs, devoted himself and his good sense to improving the minds of his neighbors children, although the schoolhouse and the teacher offered but few advantages by which an education might be obtained, vet "burly chiefs and clever Lizzies, were reared in sic a way as this is." The ledger shows that many of the patrons of the school were residents of the adjoining townships, and some from a considerable distance, proving the teacher to have been trustworthy. Bethel Township is organized into eleven school districts; all have substantial buildings; six districts have two-story buildings for graded schools. The Board of Education have always been well up to needs of the times, and supplied each schoolhouse amply with all the furniture and apparatus necessary for successful teaching.
Bethel Township has three villages. The Rev. Archibald Steel settled on part of Section 19, Township 3, Range 9, in 1807; soon after built a grist-mill, which formed the nucleus of the town of Medway. It is situ ated on the Valley Pike, nearly midway between Dayton and Springfield, The last census gave 211 inhabitants. Medway is surrounded by one of the finest farming districts in the world-which, however, is the character of the whole of the Mad River Valley. Medway has one dry goods store, and one grocery and provision store, a carriage-factory, wagon and blacksmith shops, a mill for the reduction of wood to pulp for the manufacture of paper; this establishment employs a number of hands, and will soon be increased to more than double its present products. The Woodbury flouring-mills, adjoining Medway.
BETHEL TOWNSHIP. - 709
are among the best in the Mad River Valley and doing a large business, having a never-failing supply of water, and is never stopped by the coldest weather. The buildings in Medway are generally better than are usually found in a village of its size. It contains a graded school and two churches-the Methodist and a new Mennonite; a large proportion of the people in the vicinity are members of the latter church, and are noted as agriculturists of the most thorough sort.
New Carlisle was laid out in 1810, by William Reyburn; the first location was about eighty rods west of the present town, and was called York. In 1812, the present plat was laid out, and called Monroe. In 1828, the name was changed to New Carlisle, and the census of 1880 gives it 872 inhabitants. The village is located on the west bank of Honey Creek, about twelve miles west of Springfield, and about sixteen miles northeast of Dayton; the streets are at right angles, and the free use of gravel, which is abundant and easily obtained, has made them first-class. The buildings are generally good, among them some very fine and comfortable residences. The town hall, Odd Fellows' and Masonic buildings, and the churches, five in number, are good, substantial structures. The village was incorporated in 1832. Though remote from railroads, Carlisle has a very fair general trade; there are two fine stocks of dry goods, two drug stores, five grocery and provision stores, one general stock of hardware and queensware, one merchant tailor and clothing establishment, a bakery and confectionery, two harnessshops, two tin and stove stores, two furniture and cabinet shops, two hotels, one carriage- factory, one wagon-shop, five blacksmith-shops, one cooper, one shoe store, two shoe manufactories, two livery and feed stables, one agricultural implement warehouse, two millinery establishments, one notion store, two meat markets and two nurseries. New Carlisle is surrounded by one of the most fertile grain-growing districts in the world. Some statistics, recently collected, show an almost incredible amount of wheat, corn, rye, barley, flax-seed, potatoes, hay, beef, pork, sheep, grass seeds, produced in an area of four miles around the village. The soil is also well adapted to the growth of fruit trees, as is shown at the nurseries that adjoin the village, hundreds of thousands of which are shipped every year from this place and distributed all over the country; to both wholesale dealers and agents.
Donnelsville was laid out about 1832 by Capt. Abram Smith. The census of 1880 gave it 232 inhabitants, who support one dry-goods store, two grocery and provision stores, a wagon and blacksmith shop, two shoe-shops. Donnels ville is situated on the National road, seven miles west of Springfield, and contains two churches. The Methodist Episcopal Church was formed of a class, that in 1819 met at the house of Leffel, the father of Jeremiah Leffel, who lived about two miles north of the village, to which it was removed about the time the town was laid out. The church building is of brick, substantial and commodious. Membership, seventy-five. The Lutheran Church was organized about 1830, and met for a number of years at the house of Jacob Sny der. Later, a house of worship was built and occupied on the Valley Pike, known as " Croft Church," on the farm of George Croft, who was the main instrument in its erection and support. A few years since, the interest was removed to Donnelsville, where a substantial and commodious house had been built for the accommodation of the congregation.
Donnelsville has some very tasteful and pleasant private residences. A graded district school is held in a good and substantial two-story brick house.
The Christian Church in New Carlisle is perhaps the very first of any kind planted in the whole region north of Dayton. Unfortunately, the earliest records of the church were lost many years ago. What evidence we have, clearly shows that it is among the first formed after the great revival at Cane Ridge, in Ken-
710 - HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
Lucky, in 1798, at which time the denomination first took the form of a distinctive church. A letter before us, written by Judge David J. Cory, of Findlay, Hancock Co., Ohio, says, "As to the date of the organization of the Christian Church in New Carlisle, I am unable to say. The first I recollect of it was in 1805, when I was about four years old; meeting was held in our cabin. I remember going to bed at dark, after getting a good nap, then be waked up by the singing, and lay in bed listening, and well remember how badly I felt." The Judge then says that he well remembers hearing his mother speak of incidents connected with the church that warrants the belief that the church was organized as early as 1799, or 1800 at the latest. After a time, the cabin on the Cory farm became too small to accommodate the people; a cabin church was built opposite the cemetery, on the Crawford farm, west of the Cory farm, where they worshiped for a number of years. The church building in the village was erected about 1827; later, it was remodeled into its present condition-that of a substantial, comfortable place of worship. Among the earlier Pastors of this church were Stackhouse, Worley, Purviance, the Elder McCoy, Potter, the Elder Simonton, Baker and Reeder, and others who are held in reverence as earnest, self-denying men of their times. The church has maintained its organization under the times of depression and through all the various vicissitudes it has been called to pass through. More recently, its membership has been increased under the labors of the present Pastor, Rev. T. C. Diltz. The Presbyterian Church, or the Honey Creek Church, as it was formerly called, is also one of the ancient landmarks of the Miami Valley. The first record of this church is found in the minutes of the Transylvania Presbytery, whose bounds are thus described in said minutes: " On the north by Cherokee Creek, on the east by the Alleghany Mountains, on the west by sunset, on the south by Tennessee." Rev. William Robinson was Pastor of the Mount Pleasant and Indian Creek Churches in Kentucky; salary, $110; resigned in 1802, and became Pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Dayton, Ohio, who worshiped in a log meeting-house that stood gn the same lot now occupied by the court house. Mr. Robinson in the same year preached to a congregation on Honey Creek. The Rev. John Thompson, who was then known as the "Miami Joshua," preached to Presbyterian congregations in the Miami Valley in 1800, one of which was on the Mad River at Decker and Kreb's Indian Station, near Boston. Mr. Robinson and Rev. James Welsh visited Honey Creek occasionally until 1804, when Mr. Robinson organized Honey Creek Church and supplied it with preaching occasionally until 1807, when the Rev. Archibald Steel came to the county and settled where Medway now stands. Mr. Steel preached as a licentiate until 1815, when we find the following minute in the record of the Miami Presbytery: "A. Steel was examined in Latin, Greek, history, philosophy and theology, as parts of trial for ordination. The examination was sustained." And thereupon the candidate was ordained in the log schoolhouse at Springfield, on Buck Creek, in Champaign County, June 22, 1815. The first meeting-house of Honey Creek Church was built of logs, in the cemetery south of Carlisle, about the time Mr. Steel began to preach to the church. The first Ruling Elders were Adam McPherson, Sr., John H. Crawford and Joseph Robinson, who were " set apart according to the book " by the Pastor, William Robinson, when the church was organized in 1804. The congregation continued to worship in the log church until 1828, when the present building was erected in the village. We will say here, the building was remodeled to its present appearance in 1866. Rev. A. Steel was Pastor from 1807 until his death, which occurred in 1831. Rev. William Gray succeeded Mr. Steel, and was Pastor from May 12, 1832, to April, 1841. Rev. E. R. Johnson, as a licentiate, was stated supply from February 28, 1841, to May 15, 1842, when he was ordained and installed Pastor (Dr. Lyman Beecher
PAGE 711 - PICTURE OF W. B. JENKINS
PAGE 712 - BLANK
BETHEL TOWNSHIP. 713
preached the ordination sermon), and continued to serve the church until his death, which occurred September 6, 1862. His pastorate extended over twenty years. Mr. Johnson was succeeded by the Rev. Lusk, he by Rev. G. Beaty, he by Rev. B. Graves, he by Rev. Thomas, then Rev. G. 111. Hair, lastly Rev. H. P. Cory. The church is now without a Pastor. Number of members, 150. We find in the records of Honev Creek Church the names of many of the earlier settlers; among them were John Steel, the father of Rev. A. Steel, who died in 1818; John Forgy, Adam McPherson, Sr., Adam McPherson, Jr., Samuel McKinney, James Forgy, John Paul, John Wallace, Joseph Stafford, John Clengan, Stewart Forgy, William Holmes, John Ainsworth, John Montgomery, Abner Kelley, Ezekiel Paramee, who were among the solid men of the times, and did their share in clearing up the country, as well as sustaining the church.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of New Carlisle has the same misfortune of many of the earlier churches in the loss of the first records. The first intimation had of its existence is about 1812, when tradition has it a class had been formed and met at the house of Giles Thomas, who was its leader; the class met for a few years at the same place, when a small church was built on the southwest corner of Pike and Jackson streets. Many of the early Pastors of this church were among the noted men of the times. Lorenzo Dow preached a sermon to this church; William Raper, James Findley, George Maley, Joshua Boucher, William Simmons and Joseph Laws were among the earlier Pastors. The present meeting-house was built in 1853, improved in 1869, and is among the best found in the rural districts; the interior is unusually good, and speaks well for the enterprise of the congregation. Membership, 200. The church owns a comfortable parsonage, occupied by Rev. J. McK. Shutz, the Pastor.
The Baptist Church in New Carlisle is in the same condition as most of the early church organizations. The first records are lost, and there is nothing to indicate when it was instituted. The first records to be had commence in 1834. The history of the church from the above date discloses nothing of interest to the general reader. At one time, it was one of the strongest and the most influential in the Mad River Baptist Association, numbering over three hundred members. The records show that about twenty persons were ordained to the ministry. The church has a comfortable brick meeting-house, erected in 1850. In 1864, the German Baptists purchased the Old-School Presbyterian Church, and refitted it for their own worship, it being nearly equal distance from the Donnel's Creek branch and the Hickory Grove branch. It is used with somewhat remote appointments by both branches, and when traveling ministers are present.
The school interests of New Carlisle have always been well cared for. Prior to the enactment of the first school law, in 1821, subscription schools were supported in the village; after, it was a distinct school district. In 1838, a very commodious schoolhouse was built of brick; though thought to be ample for the accommodation of the district for all future time, a few years proved it to be insufficient, and other rooms had to be found for the primary classes. In 1865, the district was organized, under the Akron law, into a separate school district, containing four sections, with additions of farms outside. Soon after this arrangement, the district purchased the Linden Hill Academy building, this building giving ample accommodations for the pupils of the district, a high school was immediately organized, with a curriculum, for all the grades, extending over eight school years, thus preparing the pupils for a college course. The school has given satisfaction, and is patronized outside of the district.
About 1850, the Rev. Berger, now of Dayton, started a select school, which continued two years with good success. In 1852, the Rev. Thomas Harrison came from Springfield to Carlisle and arranged with Mr. Berger for his interest in the school. The facilities of the school were extended so much that Mr. Har-
714 - HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
rison two years after erected (to which the citizens contributed largely) the Linden Hill Academy building. A large number of pupils already in attendance, the curriculum, was extended, embracing the classics. Mr. Harrison proved to be an earnest and successful educator. To-day, many of his former pupils are occupying honorable positions in many parts of the country. The present graded school in New Carlisle, with the high school department, offers such facilities for educational purposes as are seldom found outside of colleges.
New Carlisle Lodge, No. 100. A., F. & A. M., was chartered January 5. 1831; meets Saturday night, on or before the full moon. An incident con nected with this lodge may be of interest to members of the order. About the year 1833, the opponents of the Masonic fraternity brought such a pressure on the members of the lodge that they deemed it best to refrain from meeting for a time. They did so, and for several years no meetings were held. In the meantime, the jewels were safely secreted in a sand bank beside Honey Creek, not far from the village.
New Carlisle Chapter, No. 57, R. A. M., chartered November 5, 1868, meet Saturday night after full moon.
New Carlisle Council, No. 30, R. S. M., meets second Saturday night after full moon.
Caritas Lodge, No. 505, I.O.O.F., meets every Friday night; instituted January 11, 1872.
New Carlisle Encampment, No. 222, instituted November 9, 1880, meets on second and fourth Wednesday nights.
BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH.
A few persons holding the doctrines as taught by Baptist Churches, living in Bethel Township, near the branches of Donnel's Creek, were desirous of being formed into a Baptist Church. According to the custom of the denomination, a council was called, consisting of messengers from other churches, including Elders Joseph Morris, William Sutton and Luke Byrd, who were among the earliest Baptist preachers in Western Ohio, convened, on the 20th day of April, 1822, and there, Jonathan Lorton, James Lorton, Elizabeth Donavan, Sarah Stephens and James Key were regularly constituted as the Donnel's Creek Regular Baptist Church. The first meetings of the church were held in the cabins of the members, but mostly at the house of Mrs. Donavan, who lived on the land now owned by Thomas McKee, until July 20, 1822, when they met in the log schoolhouse erected on the corner of the cemetery ground adjoining the present. church building. Elder William Sutton was the first Pastor. The records show that Elders Joseph Morris, James Buckles and Chandler Tuttle frequently visited and preached for the church. In September, 1823, the church joined and sent messengers to the Mad River Baptist Association. The minutes of the proceedings of Bethel Baptist Church have been so carefully kept that they are a complete journal of the business of the church since its constitution. Of course, much of the records, though important to the church, would be of but little interest as a matter of general history. The church of course has had her difficulties to contend with. All was not always harmonious; members would be in conflict with each other; then came the duty of reconciling the adverse parties, by advising, rebuking, reproving, and finally excluding the incorrigible. This is all faithfully recorded. This church early took a decided stand against intemperance in the use of ardent spirits, though the practice of using spirits was so universal, extending to all classes of society, and no moral pressure against it in those primitive times, the records, quite early in the history of the church show a number of cases where her authority had been interposed to restrain those who indulged too freely. Benjamin P. Gains joined the church in
BETHEL TOWNSHIP. - 715
1823, and was made permanent Clerk. Hezekiah Smith was ordained October 16, 1824, and became Pastor of the church, which position he held, assisted at times by Elders Joseph Morris, James Buckles and Chandler Tuttle, until 1826, when Elder John Guthridge became Pastor, serving the church until October, 1828. September 18. 1827, Jonathan Lorton was licensed to preach. Elder Guthridge was succeeded by Elder William Tuttle, who was called to serve one year at a salary of $24; he served two years. October 30.. 1830, Elder T. J. Price was called to the pastorate of the church. Elder Price visited the church in 1824. Elder Price continued until October, 1832, and asked to be released from the care of the church. His request was granted. Elder Abram Buckles assumed the pastorate for one year, salary, $12 per annum. Elder Willis Hance became Pastor in November, 1833; February, 1836, a delegation of messengers, consisting of Brothers Miller, Donavan, Lawton and Gains, were sent to assist at the constitution of the church in New Carlisle. At this time, viz., 1836, the church began to consider the expediency of building a house of worship; here again domestic. troubles set in: some of the members opposed the movement; a large amount of bitter feeling was indulged in, and threatened the existence of the church, but the efforts to conciliate, made in true Christian spirit, prevailed. The minutes of the church faithfully record these adversities, as well as their prosperous times. The new building was completed in 1837, and all was lovely again. The ground, one acre, was donated by Daniel and Henry Miller, for church and cemetery purposes. This building cost about $700. Elder Hance's pastorate continued until the end of December, 1843. During this time, the minutes show the church was visited by Elders J. L. Moore, Enos French, H. D. Mason, William Fuson, John Ebert, John Kingham, who held, in connection with the Pastor, protracted meetings, at each of which were accessions to the church. The labors of these pioneer preachers was of the severest character; very few churches were able to have preaching more than one-fourth of the time, and none more than one-half of the time, consequently, many of those preachers would serve four churches, often at very remote distances from each other, and they seldom failed in meeting their appointments. This, with the meager salaries received-seldom over $100 a year-and being compelled to labor when at home, to live, they performed an amount of labor that would appal the modern min ister. These men were peculiarly fitted for the times; little or no education, possessed of few books other than the Bible and hymn books, earnest piety, hard sense and vigorous physiques enabled them to bear the hardships self-imposed. Many of them possessed a large degree of native oratory, seldom surpassed at the present time, which compelled attention to the solemn, earnest messages they presented to the people.
In January, 1844, Elder T. J. Price was again called to the pastorate of Bethel Church, which continued until August, 1876, when the infirmities of old age compelled him to give up all of his ministerial duties. During Elder Price's pastorate, the record shows that the church had been visited and protracted meetings held by Elders Daniel Bryant, William Sym, John Hawk, W. Martin, William Fuson, J. Lyon, D. Runkle, N. Colver and Harris. During this, there were many additions to the church. The present Pastor, W. R. Thomas, was called in 1876. In 1879, deeming the old church building too small, and needing much repair, the church determined to build a new house. The liberal subscriptions of the members of the church and well-wishers outside resulted in the erection of the beautiful, commodious structure now occupying the site of the old building. The new house was dedicated January 25, 1880. Elder J. B. Tuttle, of Springfield, preached the dedicatory sermon. A collection was given amounting to $99.60. Several hundred persons have joined the Bethel Church since its constitution; the present munber is about seventy. B. P. Gains was Clerk from
716 - HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
1823 to 1854; his son, Aaron Gains, to 1878; since that time, Kemp Gains has filled the office. The Clerkship of the church has been an heirloom in the Gains family, and well have they done the work. The writer must express his thanks to Mr. Kemp Gains for the cordial manner in which he furnished facilities for composing this history. On the roll of Bethel Church are found many of the pioneer settlers in Bethel Township, embodying some of the best men and women of the region of the church.
THE OLD-SCHOOL MENNONITE CHURCH.
David Neff, John Neff and their wives had been living in Bethel Township for a number of years; became desirous of joining this denomination, and, no organization existing in their neighborhood, Henry Huber, who was a member, sent to Jacob Bowman, a Mennonite minister, living at Winchester, Franklin Co., Ohio, to visit and form a church, and receive the Neffs into the connection. Mr. Bowman, not having full authority, sent for the assistance of John Brenneman, of Allen County, Ohio, who came to John Neff's house in. the spring of 1858. These ministers held a meeting of days, during which David and John Neff and their wives were baptized, and they, with Michael Kaufman, Christian Mumma. a. John M. Crider and Henry Huber, and Elizabeth Kaufman, who were already members, were organized into a Mennonite Church, consisting of twelve members. The church held meetings at somewhat long intervals, being supplied with preaching by ministers from other churches. This continued until December 20, 1862, when John M. Crider was set apart and regularly ordained a minister. Mr. Crider has served the church as Pastor up to the present time, preaching every two weeks. From the organization of the church; they worshiped in the schoolhouses in the neighborhood until the fall of 1867; they built a meeting-house on the farm of Henry Huber, on the New Carlisle & Dayton Pike. Mr. Crider was consecrated Bishop in 1872. Present number of members, twenty-four.
CEMETERIES.
The first cemetery in the township was in Section 3. It was begun in 1797, by the burial of Lettice Lowry, followed in 1800 by that of her husband. It is now known as the Minnich Graveyard. The land for it was donated for burial purposes by David Lowry, who owned the farm at that time. Many of the pioneers lie sleeping here, with but a rough stone at their head and feet to mark their last resting-place on earth.
The Boston Graveyard, in Section 27, on the Valley Pike, was one of the earliest in the township, but is now a dense thicket of weeds and trees. The Lamme Cemetery, in Section 14, is quite an old one, and there is also an old burial-place in Section 10, close to Donnelsville, now known as the Brandenburg Graveyard.
The cemetery on the land of Daniel Funderburg was given for burial purposes by Peter Heck (who then owned the land) in 1818. The first use was early in 1819, by Mr. Heck burying a daughter. Many of the pioneers lie there. A few years ago, the cemetery was deeded in trust to several members of the German Baptist Church. By that denomination the ground is now principally used. This cemetery is on the northeast quarter of Section 22.
A small burying-ground on the land owned by John Garver in Section 17 was set apart for that purpose early in the settlement of the country; the exact date is lost. It contains the remains of a number of the first settlers; among them are the bodies of the parents of the present owner. It is not used now as cemetery.
BETHEL TOWNSHIP. - 717
The cemetery adjoining Bethel Church was set apart for private burial purposes in 1821. The first body laid there was that of Frederick Miller, in 1822. Since that time, it has been the burial-place of most of the inhabitants dying in the vicinity. In 1837, the ground was deeded to Trustees, to be kept forever as a place of sepulture. These grounds have been kept, and are now, in the best of order, except the south side, which has been seriously injured by grading down the pike, even to the extent of exposing some of the graves.
A small graveyard on the farm of Leonard Haines has been used for fifty years; also the one on the farm of Jonas Haines is an old family cemetery.
In the last few years, a graveyard has been opened in Section 4, north of Donnelsville, known as the Donnelsville Cemetery.
The Reformed Mennonite Cemetery is on Section 30. It was begun about 1849, and now contains three acres. It is used by the whole neighborhood
The New Carlisle Cemetery Association was organized October 3, 1856, under the State law regulating cemetery associations. Honey Creek Presbyterian Church, at its institution, appropriated two acres of land for burial purposes; on the same their first church was built; this continued until the organization of the association, at which time the land was turned over to the association, who added four acres to the plat. A farther addition of nearly seven acres is now being negotiated for by the association. The care given, and together with the large quantity of valuable marble it contains, makes this cemetery truly a beautiful " city of the dead." Mr. John Garst is President, and Dr. B. Neff, Secretary of the association.
Bethel Township has the advantage of the best of roads, sufficient to meet the business necessities of the people; they are generally in the best possible condition. The National road, now the property of a private company, bisects the township into two nearly equal parts from east to west. The Valley Pike, along almost all of the entire southern border. affords easy transit to Springfield or Dayton; a free pike from Carlisle to Springfield along the northern border gives easy access to Springfield; a free pike running across the township in the western part intersects the Mad River Valley Pike at the southern boundary. The township has but very little road that is not well graveled.
MILLS.
The first mill built in the township was erected on Donnels' Creek by Jonathan Donnels, about .1804, or perhaps earlier. It was swept away by a freshet. It was a rudely constructed building of logs, and was used as a saw-mill. Mr. Donnels had bought 160 acres in Section 3 for mill purposes, and in 1808 David Lowry built a grist-mill south of the site of Donnels' mill, on the same stream, in Section 9. The buhrs in this mill were made from what are known as " nig ger-heads." Mr. Lowry put up a dam for his mill, which backed the water onto Donnels', who sued Lowry for damages, claiming that he was injured by not being able to get at his stone in the creek. The suit was tried in Urbana, and Donnels recovered damages, but. the two old pioneers still remained good friends. Mr. Lowry added a frame saw-mill in a short time afterward, and in 1820 he put up a frame grist-mill, in which he put the buhrs of his old mill. This mill he ran until 1846, when the dale was washed out and he retired from business in favor of his son, David W., who continued it for about five years, when he quit, since which time it has never been in operation. It is now a wreck, the old frame yet standing on the road opposite to Mr. Lowry's house-" a reminder of days gone by, and the haunted house of old."
Archibald Steel built a mill where Medway now stands, in a very early day, and a man named McQueen built a race and a saw and grist mill in Section
718 - HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
19, which was afterward owned by Jacob Hershey, who extended the race. This was also burned down about 1832, and never rebuilt.
John Shartle built a grist-mill in Section 30, known as the Woodbury Mills, to which was added a distillery. On this site the Woodburys are still in operation, and doing a good business. In 1936, John Reyburn built a saw and grist mill on Honey Creek, in Section 29, where there is now a saw-mill in operation. Maj. Abraham Smith built a saw-mill in Donnelsville about 1829, where there is yet a mill. Archibald Lowey also ran a saw-mill at Medway in an early day. George Croft built a grist and saw mill and distillery on a raceway close to Mad River, which was dug by him about 18311. Mr. Croft, with his sons, John and Jacob, ran this mill and distillery for ,years. It is now run as a saw and grist mill by Martin Snyder. A mill was built on Section 33, on the Crain farm, which ran for a few years, and a saw-mill was Tun by John Detrick for several years on his farm.
PHYSICIANS.
It has been something difficult to get the names of the first physicians who practiced in Bethel. Among them are. in New Carlisle and vicinity, McPherson, McCann, Robbins, Stephens, Hood, Haynes. Adams. Farquar, E. Garst, M. Garst, Hornbeck, Bull, V. Smith, Winans, Foster. Stockstel. Meranda, Neff, Young, Nesbet, Hensley; at Medway, Shackleford. Barr, Stonebarger and W. F. Meranda; at Donnelsville, Wood, Ferguson, Lindsay, Patten, Baker, Markwood, Pollock, Meyers. Dr. C. Smith lived near Donnelsville.
AN INCIDENT.
In the history proper of the county, mention is made of a boat taken from here to Cincinnati by David Lowey in 1800. A similar incident in the history of this township is well worthy of mention. John Jackson, who married Nellie Lowey, built a flat-boat about 1825, on the north bank of Donnels' Creek, about thirty yards south of where David W. Lowey now lives. He launched the boat in high water, and, taking three or four of his children, floated down to Mad River, thence to the Miami, thence to the Ohio and Mississippi, settling in Tennessee, where he died. His wife and one or two of his children remained with the Shakers in Montgomery County, Ohio, this sect being the cause of the family's separation.
Of the Bethel Township men who served in State and county offices are found Reuben Wallace, who was a member of the Ohio Legislature from Champaign County when Clark County was included in Champaign, and did much toward the establishment of this county while there.
William G. Seniss was Associate Judge. Joseph Tatman was Associate Judge and member of Legislature. Dr. B. Neff was a member of the Sixtieth and Sixty-first Legislatures.
Gen. J. W. Keifer, the present member of Congress for the Eighth District of Ohio, who also served in the Legislature, is a native of Bethel Township.
John E. Layton, Sheriff of Clark County from 1856 to 1860, was a native of the township.
Samuel B. Williams, when elected Treasurer of Clark County, was a resident of Bethel. William E. Lamme served as County Commissioner.
Of natives of Bethel Township who are now holding honorable positions outside of the township are Ed H. Funston, who has served four terms in the Kansas Lower House of Legislature, two as Speaker; is now member elect of the State Senate; John S. Reyburn, member of Assembly several terms in Pennsylvania, is now member elect to the Senate.
MAD RIVER TOWNSHIP. - 719
H. H. Williams, Common Pleas Judge, of Miami County.
Elihu Williams was a member of the Legislature in Tennessee.
Ed F. Taylor was a member of the Legislature in California; is now Receiver in the Land Office at Sacramento.
William McClure is now Treasurer of Allen County, Kansas. Samuel Daily was Treasurer of Boone County, Indiana; his brother, Calvin Daily, served in the same office in the same county.-- Warwick, Common Pleas Judge in Iowa.
Mention has been made in another place in this history of a select school taught in New Carlisle by the Rev. Thomas Harrison. It is but just to say that all of the above-mentioned natives of the township were pupils of Mr. Harrison. Many otherof his pupils are filling responsible positions in the several States of the Union
(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE)