GREEN TOWNSHIP.
BY PERRY STEWART.
This township lies immediately south of Springfield Township, and its entire southern line borders upon Greene County; on the east lies Madison Town ship, and on the west Mad River Township.
It is composed of fractional Town ship 5, Range 8, of lands between the Miami Rivers and six sections of Township 4, Range 8, and also of nearly 4,000 acres of the Virginia Military Reservation, and contains in all about 23,200 acres.
It was formed in 1818, upon the organization of the county, and takes its name from Greene County, of which it was originally a part, and was then called Bath Township. At the time the change was effected, the southern line, beginning at the half-mile jog north, one mile west of the Madison Township line, ran due west to the southwest corner of Section 32, then north two miles to the section corners of 33, 34 and 4, then west to the southwest corner of Section 10, on the Mad River Township line. Shortly after the organization of Clark County, Gen. Benjamin Whiteman, with a few others, desiring to remain citizens of Greene County, petitioned the Legislature to have the line changed, which was done, and it was made to run in a northwest course to a point on the west line of Section 32, one-third of a mile north of the original corner, the house of Gen. Whiteman remaining south of the line, in Greene County.
PIONEERS.
If we would take into consideration the history of Green Township as it was first formed, Mr. O. Davis, who built the mill on the Miami where Clifton is now located about 1800, and Gen. Benjamin Whiteman, who married a daughter of Davis, would be the pioneers of the township; but as these gentlemen were citizens of Clark County only until they succeeded in getting the line changed, the honor of being the first settlers cannot justly be accredited to them.
It is supposed that settlements were made in Green Township as early as 1800, but there is no evidence of any permanent settlement until 1804, at which date Abraham Inlow settled on Section 6, Township 4, Range 8. He was born in Maryland March 25, 1777, and, in 1804, came with his father, Henry Inlow, to Donnelsville, where he remained a short time, then came to Green Township, his parents returning to Kentucky, whence they had come, and there died. Mr. Inlow was married twice; had born to him four children by first marriage, all of whom are dead; his second wife was Margaret Foley, who had eight children. Jemima, Catherine, Anna and Margaret grew to maturity, but Anna is now the only survivor. Mr. Inlow died October 4, 1840, and his wife, who was a native of Kentucky, and the daughter of Daniel and Catherine Foley, died November 7, 1872.
In 1805, Thomas Luse and his parents, Justice and Mary Luse, came to this township and settled on Section 32, where Justice and wife died. Thomas was born in Kentucky in 1797; was married to Nancy Funs ton, a native of the township, born in 1816, and who is yet living here. They had eleven children, nine of whom are yet living. Mr. Luse died in 1878, much respected. Ebenezer Wheeler settled on Section 12, Township 4, Range 8, in 1806. He was born in New Jersey September 15, 1782; came with his father to Cincinnati in 1800; married Joanna Miller in 1803; in 1810 or 1811, removed to
736 - HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
Urbana, Ohio; thence, in 1815, to Indiana, returning to his farm in this township in 1820, where he died in 1862, in his eightieth year.
Jacob Hubble settled on the same section as Mr. Wheeler in 1806. In the same year, Samuel and John T. Stewart settled on Section 15, Township 5, Range 8, where they bought and improved 500 acres of land. They were natives of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. The former was born in 1775. and was married in 1807 to Elizabeth Elder; was at Hull's surrender as a Captain of a militia company, and died on his farm in this township in 1854. John T. was born in 1781; was married in 1815; to Ann Elder, who had born to her ten children, nine of whom are living. He died in April, 1850, and his widow in September, 1880.
In 1808, James B. Stewart, a brother of the former two, settled in Section 6, Township 5, Range 8. He was also from Pennsylvania, born in 1777; was married to Anna Beaty in .1807, in Butler County, Ohio. He lost his eyesight while a young man, and died in 1828; his son, John B., resides on a part to the farm.
In the same year as James B. Stewart came, the whole of Section 18 was purchased by John H. Garlough, a native of Germany, who emigrated to Maryland, there married, and with his wife came to Ohio about 1790, and to this township in 1808. His descendants still own nearly all of his purchase. He was killed in 1820 by a vicious bull while engaged in building a grist-mill. His son Jacob fell heir to the homestead; he was born in 1796; married Nancy Luse, daughter of Justice Luse, about 1821, and died in 1878, aged eighty-two, leaving many descendants, who do credit to his name. The family are noted for longevity, all living to ripe old age, much beyond the allotted time of man.
Samuel Kelly and Timothy Stratton came in 1808, the former settling on Section 30, Township 5, Range 8, and the latter on Section 29.
Gabriel, George and William Albin came about 1810, settling in the western part of the township. George was in the war of 1812, and died in 1872; his widow is yet a resident of the township, and draws a pension for her husband's services during the national peril.
In 1811, Seth Smith located on Survey 615. His son Seth was born in Tennessee in 1798, and died on the farm his father purchased seventy years ago in 1876, leaving four children. The whole family were peace-loving Friends, and did much for the moral welfare of this community, of which their descendants are now prominent in social and business circles.
Arthur Forbes, a patriotic Irishman, who fled from English oppression, settled on Section 27 about 1811, raising a large family and living to a ripe old age, dying about 1848, and, like all Irishmen, he loved liberty and hated tyranny.
Thomas Mills settled on Section 23, where his son John now resides, in 1812; he was born in Virginia in 1785, and in 1790 came with his parents to Kentucky, where he was married, thence to Ohio at the date above mentioned, dying in 1865; he was prominent in township affairs at an early day.
Early settlers in this township were William and John Goudy, who came in 1808; they were natives of Pennsylvania, who first settled in Hamilton County, Ohio, in 1803, whence they came to Clark; many of their descendants are living throughout the county. Robert Elder, Sr., came from Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, in 1813, and bought from Mr. Funk fractional Section 10, which contained about six hundred acres, on which he and family settled; this land is yet owned by the family. Mr. Elder died October 3, 1825, and his wife September, 20, 1827. Two of his sons yet reside in the township-Robert and John, the former being in his eightieth and the latter in his seventy-fourth year, and the name is largely represented by worthy descendants.
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James Stewart, a cousin of those previously mentioned, came in 1813, and bought the land upon which his sons, Elijah, James F. and David, now live. He was born in Pennsylvania about 1782, and there married to Jane Elder, a sister of Samuel and John T. Stewart's wives, and died on the homestead in Green Township, in 1852, aged seventy.
In 1816, William Estle settled in the township; he was born in New Jersey in 1791, and there married in 1813, eight children being the fruits of this union. He died in 1859, and his widow in 1877.
Stephen Kitchen, a native of Pennsylvania, settled in Warren County, Ohio, at an early day, and in 1818 came with his family to this township, settling on the farm where his son Abraham has resided for more than half a century. Stephen went to Illinois, and was there drowned in the Illinois River.
James Todd came in 1818; was married, in 1819, to Betsy Garlough, of which union four sons and five daughters are the fruits; the sons are John H., W. Brand, Samuel A. and James, and the daughters are all living near the old home. Mr. Todd was born in Pennsylvania in 1797, and his wife in Maryland in 1799; he came with his parents to Ohio in 1806, settling on a stream in Warren County which has since been known as Todd's Fork, and from there to this township, where he was married, and settled on Section 18, in the northern part of the township, dying in 1863; his widow, in her eighty-third year, is yet living on the old homestead. He was a soldier in the war of 1812; was a millwright and carpenter, and had an extensive acquaintance.
Thomas Tindall was born in England in 1786; came with his family to Green Township in 1819, where he died in 1856, his widow dying in 1872. They left a large family of children, who are well known in the county.
In 1824, James and John Anderson, natives of Scotland, but claiming no relationship, came here from Greene County, where they had settled in 1819. James settled on Section 33, and John on 28, both living to a ripe old age, leav ing large and prosperous families. James died in 1864, aged eighty-four; his son, " Squire " James Anderson, is yet residing in the township, and is a man of moral worth and strict integrity.
Among the other early settlers of Green were William Barnes, on Section 33; George Weaver and George Hempleman, on Section 10; David and Thomas Littler, Robert Laing, Lewis Skillings (who lived but a short time in this town ship, moving across the line to Springfield Township), John Baldwin, Gideon and Charles Bloxam, Josiah Bates, William Marshall. John Wade, Wesley and Jackson Allen, John Nagley and James Mason, nearly all of whom were from Virginia, and came for the purpose of making a home in the then dense forest of Ohio. Those men must have had rare courage, to undertake such a task, and posterity will ever honor their memory.
Green Township is mostly level. Its western portion is drained by branches of Mad River, while the Little Miami traverses the eastern part,"passing in a southwesterly direction. The North Fork of the Little Miami empties into the Little Miami about two miles east of Clifton. About the year 1820, these two streams were carefully measured, under the direction of Gov. McArthur, to ascertain which was the main stream, and also depositions of early settlers were taken before John T. Stewart, Esq., as evidence, of which was called the main stream, the ultimate object being to locate the head-waters of Little Miami, and thereby fix the line between the Congress and Virginia Military Lands. A never failing stream of water, called " Skillings' Ditch," empties into the Little Miami, bringing water from Springfield, Harmony and Madison Townships. It is in the eastern part of the township, and flows through a prairie, which in early times, was extremely wet and miry, being covered with a heavy growth of coarse grass, flags and weeds, a secure shelter and an admirable retreat for wild animals,
738 - HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
wild geese not infrequently staying here all summer. A ditch known as "Stewart's Ditch" is situated in the central part of the township. Its coarse is south, and empties into the North Fork of Little Miami.
This township is all timber land, with occasionally a small prairie along the water-courses. The timber is white, black and burr oaks, hickory, walnut and ash. The timber growth of Green Township was rank; the underbrush of hazel, plum, crab-apple, thorn and grapevine, in their corporate density rendered penetration very difficult.
There are many good springs of water in the township, principally in the eastern part. A strong sulphur spring is on Section 15, where Samuel and John T. Stewart settled. On Mr. Thomas P. Miller's farm is the famous " Little Spring," which has a very large flow of water, never varying in volume. On the hill close to this spring, while digging a cellar in 18:32, the workmen found, about four feet deep, seven wedges, heaped carefully together. and, when ground, showed a deep yellow color, and weighed about three and a half pounds each. Mr. George Tindall, the finder, after all present had examined them, laid them back near where they were found, covering them lightly with clay; in the morning, he could not find the wedges, nor has the writer seen them since.
The Indians vacated the territory of this township about the commencement of the war of 1812. Their last camping-grounds were on the south bank of the Little Miami, just above and below the junction of North Fork with the Little Miami. The Indians who were here when the pioneers began settlements were friendly and quiet. Hunting and fishing were their occupations. We give here an incident which will illustrate their dislike to manual labor. A company of Indians were fishing near the residence of Gen. Benjamin Whiteman, when one of them became engaged in a wrestling match with a mulatto in the General's employ. The Indian proved to be the better man, giving the mulatto a heavy fall, after which he was unable to get up. The Indian became anxious as to the effect of the accident, and asked of the General, " What you do with me if me kill Ned? " The General replied, " You must work in his place." The Indian, looking at Ned and thinking the matter over, replied, " Me would rather you would kill me, General."
Congress lands were sold at two prices; fast-class at $4, and second-class at $2.50 per acre.. An entry, with the payment of $1 per acre, would secure a warrant. Failures to pay the balance were quite numerous. Congress, in 1822, lengthened out the time eight years for the payment of dues on land. At the expiration of this time, many were still unable to cancel their debts, in consequence of which Congress passed an act to effect that all persons holding land warrants would become entitled to land deeds by paying 25 cents on each acre, and all lands not already sold should be held at $1.25 per acre. The last entry of land in the township was made by John T. Stewart, in 1832 or 1833, embracing the northeast quarter of Section 30. Mr. Abraham Kitchen bought, at public sale, the northeast quarter of Section 11; in 1832, for $300.
The Limestone street road, the Yellow Springs road and the Hillsboro road, all centering at Springfield, and also two county roads running east on either side of the Little Miami from Clifton (or formerly Davis' Mills), were opened about the same time, soon after the formation of pioneer settlements. The township now has sixty-six miles of roads, fifty-two miles of common roads in good condition, nearly one-third of which is graded and graveled, ten miles of toll roads, and four miles of free improved roads. There are also two miles of railroads-one mile across the northwest corner and one across the south east corner. The township is abundant in gravel, out of which all the roads can be made passably good.
The settlers of this township experienced not go much trouble in securing
GREEN TOWNSHIP. - 739
breadstuffs as pioneers generally. They were favored with a good mill, which was erected by Mr. Owen Davis about the year 1800, on the Little Miami, on the site of E. R. Stewart's mills. The dam and race now used by Mr. Stewart are the same as erected by Mr. Davis for his grist-mill. This mill became known as Patterson's Mill," and all grains going into it were carried from the horses or wagons on the shoulders of the millers. This mill is just across the line in Greene County.
Salt was not easily obtained. To supply the wants, settlers would club together and have the salt brought from the salt works south of Chillicothe, on packhorses.
Cincinnati early became the market for all salable articles of the produce kind from this vicinity, and likewise the point at which to make purchases. Several of the farmers in company would load their wagons with whatever prod vice they could spare for market, and, with feed for man and horse, make a journey to Cincinnati, thereby effecting a change which met every want of the pioneer.
Farms were opened slowly. The typical log cabin, with its puncheon floor and clapboard roof, was found upon every pioneer farm. The log cabin, as a rule, had but one room, which served as kitchen, dining-room, bed-room and parlor; and at one side a large open fire-place was erected, which served the double purpose of heater and cook-stove. One door and one window made the list of embellishments complete. An ax, saw and auger were the carpenter's outfit in those clays. Usually, a rail pen served the purpose of stable. To open out a farm after the erection of cabin and stable, the underbrush was grubbed out, rails made sufficient to fence the fields, and the standing trees girdled.
These primitive landmarks of the pioneer were ultimately superseded by more convenient frame and brick dwellings and more extensive barns. Mr. Seth Smith is supposed to have built the first frame house, in 1817; John Stewart the first brick, in 1823. These were soon followed by other frame and brick houses. Brick houses were built respectively by James Stewart in 1828; William and Gabriel Albin in 1830; Ebenezer Wheeler in 1833; and also Philip Marquart, Mr. Hensbarger, Justice Luse, James Todd and others, built brick houses at an early day.
Among the wild animals were red deer, which was a beautiful animal, and numerous in these parts up to 1825; the last one known in the township was a doe that remained on the north half of Section 16 during the summer of 1843, and was killed by Mr. Benjamin Allen in November of that year. Other animals were the gray fox, red fox (first seen here about 1844), raccoons, opossums, skunks, minks, muskrats, rabbits, gray and black squirrels, red squirrels (first seen here in 1850), blue- rats (the pioneer rat), the Norway rat (which immigrated here about 1838), brown bear (one found as late as 1825), the gray wolves. Elk horns were found, and yet are found in the lowlands, but the animal became extinct prior to settlements. The last gray wolf was killed about 1820, by Abraham Inlow, he being at quite a risk. Mr. Inlow was crossing the open prairie now owned by Charles Stewart; northeast quarter of Section 30; just as he entered the prairie, the wolf jumped from the grass and ran in the direction he was going. His horse started after and soon overtook the wolf, when it turned and started back. The horse stopped suddenly, turning also. Mr. Inlow, now excited, urged his horse and overtook the wolf before it reached the timber; when overtaken the second time, it turned short, turning again into the prairie; when overtaken the third time, its squatted in the long grass. Mr. Inlow now slipped quietly from his horse and grabbed the wolf by both hind legs. He soon saw he had his hands full, the wolf snapping furiously at his legs and arms; having no knife or other weapon, he started backward for the timber, twisting and kick
740 - HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
ing the wolf all the while. Upon reaching the timber, he dispatched the animal by throwing it against the standing trees.
Among the birds were the brown turkey, which was very numerous, and not exterminated until 1857 or 1858; pheasants formerly were numerous, but now are few; quails, about as plenty now as formerly; wild pigeons, almost extinct, and wild ducks often found in our streams and ponds by thousands.
The fish of Green Township are of "small fry; "occasionally a " good-sized sucker" is beguiled by hook and line.
Wild fruits-plums, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, hickory-nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts and acorns-were originally found in abundance. Hogs were often fattened by being turned loose to feast upon the nuts and acorns in the fall of the year.
The health of this township was always reasonably good. However, ague and fevers-diseases common to Ohio-would, during some seasons, attack many. The " milk sickness," " trembles " or "sick stomach," a very dangerous disease, was known here. Persons attacked with it seldom recovered; those not dying at once were sufferers from its effects for years. Many of the early settlers died of this disease. The cause of the disease was thought by some to be a shrub growing in low, rich lands, in the shade and around ponds of water. This shrub resembled the poison-oak vine in foliage, yet grew but from two to four feet high. It kept green until late in the fall. Cattle eating this shrub would soon show symptoms of the disease, and if they were mulch cows, the calves would be affected first with the trembles, losing the use of their limbs, yet retaining good appetites. Young cattle running out in the locality of this shrub would look well, yet, upon being driven so as to get their blood heated, would suddenly show signs of the trembles, and fall to the ground and be unable to get up, living for weeks in that condition, but eventually dying. The only known cure was plenty of green corn. Persons using the milk or butter from cows exposed, though showing no signs of disease, would contract the disease. Dogs eating the flesh of animals dying from it were certain to die. This shrub was found in the north part of the township, and would soon die out when the locality in which it was found was cultivated or closely pastured by sheep. This disease has entirely disappeared, the last fatal case being Mr. John Wheeler, who died in 1858.
Schools soon appeared, and were in keeping with the times and place. Empty cabins for schoolrooms, teachers with no qualifications other than to be able to "read, write and cipher." The first schools were paid for on the subscription plan. The person wishing to teach school would circulate a subscription paper in the neighborhood where he desired to teach; if he secured subscriptions sufficient to pay $8 or $10 per month, school would commence. These schools usually cost $1.50 per scholar for thirteen weeks. No examination of the teacher was made, except by the patrons of the school. After the formation of the school districts in 1819, and election of Directors, subscriptions were secured by them, and about 1830 some public funds were added to the subscription. Schoolhouses were built on the donation plan up to about 1840. School districts were independent of each other until 1852; the change that year, making a township a school district composed of subdistricts, soon enabled the people to have good schoolhouses and good schools. Female teachers were unknown until about 1828 or 1830.
The pioneers of this township represented almost every phase of religious belief; yet the Baptists were the first to organize, and, with the help of Presbyterians and others, to build a " meeting-house." This rough log house was built in 1807, on the north bank of the Little Miami, about eighty rods east of Gen. Benjamin Whiteman's house, and on his farm. It was warmed from a
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PAGE 742 - BLANK
GREEN TOWNSHIP. - 743
fire-place in one end, about ten feet wide. The Baptists occupied this house for occasional preaching up to 1830. Peter Clyde, a Scotchman, often walked from Xenia, twelve miles, to exhort the people. Peter, one Sabbath, was a little late, and made the following as an excuse to the congregation: His neighbor, the Rev. Hugh McMillan, had let him have a horse to ride, and he got along very well until he came to the Burn Creek at Old Town; which the horse did not want to cross, and he did not want to contrary the horse, so he took it back to Xenia and walked.
On the 16th of March, 1811, a number of persons met at the house of James Miller, Sr., and petitioned Miami Presbytery to organize a church on the third Sabbath of August of the same year. The Rev. James Welch met with the petitioners and organized a church, of which the following persons were members: Sebastian Shrofe and Thomas Patton, Elders; William and Margaret Ward, William Bull, George Browne and wife, Samuel and Elizabeth Sewart, Thomas and Sarah Townsley , James Johnson, William and Elizabeth Junkin, John T. Stewart (Clerk), Agnes Shrofe, Jennie Patton, Ann Marshall, Isabella Berry, Ann Wilson, Isabella Wilson, James and Rebecca Miller, John Humphries, Rebecca Garrison and Sarah Reed. Of this church, Peter Montfort was Pastor from 1813 to 1817, when Rev. Andrew W. Poague became Pastor, and was faithful to the church until his death, in 1840. In November, 1840, Rev. Moses Russell was established as Pastor, and served until his death, in 1863. In August, 1864, Rev. A. R. Colmary was elected Pastor, and he resigned in 1869, on account of ill health. Rev. T. M. Wood was chosen Pastor April 25, 1870, who preached for one year, but was not established Pastor. April 5, 1871, Rev. E. S. Weaver was made Pastor, and is now serving as such. This church built its first house of logs soon after its organization. Its site was near the east fence of the cemetery, and near the middle, north and south.
In 1827, a brick church, 45x55 feet, was built near the west fence of the cemetery, whose foundation is yet visible, in 1854. The present church was built in Clifton, and in Green Township, of brick, being 45x75 feet. The membership of this church for the last thirty years has averaged about two hundred.
The Friends, or Quakers, held meetings at Seth Smith's residence and a schoolhouse near by as early as 1816. Christian Anthony was their preacher, and organized a society which is in existence yet, and have a large church at Selma, in Madison Township.
About the year 1818 or 1820, a church was built on grounds donated by Gabriel Albin, in which a Methodist Episcopal Church was organized. This church remained until about 1837, when a frame church was erected on Adam Mayne's farm, about one mile north. This organization built Emery Chapel, in Springfield Township, in 1852. In 1839, D. F. Ladley, an Elder in the Christian Church, organized the "Ebenezer " Church in the old house on Gabriel Albin's lot. In 1845, a brick church was built on a lot adjoining the old house, it being removed and the lot used for a cemetery and hitching ;ground. Melyn D. Baker, Isaac N. Walter, Jacob Reeder, with others, have had pastoral charge of the Ebenezer Church. During 1879 and 1880, Rev. N. Summerbell was its Pastor.
The old, church, when first built, was heated in a singular manner. Four puncheon boards, four or five feet long, were fastened together so as to make a pen, then placed on the church floor, in which was placed some clay; this was hollowed out, and in the hollow was built a charcoal fire.
The Rev. Saul Henkle, in 1833, at the-house of John Budd, organized a Methodist Protestant Church, which bought a lot on Section 17, from Mr. Thomas Jefferson, in 1841, using the dwelling-house for worship until 1846,
744 - HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
when it built a frame church. This church was repaired and improved in 18 77, while Rev. Rose had charge of the circuit to which it belongs. This church is known as Concord Church. Rev. Spark is in charge in 18811 and 1881.
Rev. Cyrus Dudley, in 1840, organized a Free-Will Baptist Church, which built a hewed-log house, 14x32 feet, on a lot donated by Abraham Kitchen, on a hilltop now known as Pleasant Grove. In 1859, the old house was removed and a large brick church erected in its stead. The church is in good condition, with Rev. B. F. Zell Pastor. This society was removed from Harmony Township, where it worshiped before locating in Green.
An Anti-Slavery Methodist organization was effected in 1844 at Cortsville. known as the Wesleyan Church, which built a church on a lot given by David Littler, and, after a few years of good work, was abandoned. In this church in 1850 Rev. A. L. Rankin organized a Free Presbyterian Church. This organization, in 1852, built a frame church on a lot donated to it by John Hume, at Clifton, on a hill in Green Township, and in 1859 it was merged into a new organization of the United Presbyterian Church, with Rev. W. A. Campbell. Pastor. who acted as such for sixteen years. Since 1878, Rev. R. C. Wyatt has had pastoral care. In 1859, a fine brick church was built, and is warmed by means of the modern improvement a furnace in the basement.
Wones' Chapel was built in 18(11), on the Yellow Springs Pike, and a church organized as a branch of the Methodist Episcopal Church. It was organized by Rev. Timothy Wones in 1858.
Rev. Shoecraft organized a Colored Baptist Church in 1868, which now owns and uses the old Wesleyan Church at Cortsville.
Of cemeteries or burying-grounds, many are unknown, others are known but entirely neglected, and still others, which are unclosed but abandoned. Some are in good repair, among which are Bloxum Grounds, near the southeast corner , of the township; the Pleasant Grove lot, adjoining the Free-Will Baptist meeting-house; the Garlough Cemetery, on Section 18; the Presbyterian Cemetery, just over the west line in Greene County; and the Ebenezer Burying-Grounds. Of those unclosed but abandoned are the Ebenezer Lot, the Stratton and Bogle Lot, the William Miller Lot, and a few graves are the Concord Church, on Section 17. The burying-places known but neglected are at the old site of Emery Chapel; here was buried Robert Davis, a pioneer schoolmaster; also the Pearsons, and others; a few graves on C. A. Estle's farm; some on the section line between Sections 17 and 23; at the southwest corner of John Hep's farm, and at the southeast corner of J. S. Kitchen's farm. It was quite common for pioneers to bury the dead of their respective families on their own farms; consequently, new owners of the lands neglected to preserve the graves. In the cemeteries and burying-grounds, many graves of old pioneers are unmarked.
This township is without a post office, though at J. H. Todd's store, in Pitchin, mail is received and distributed by parties interested.
Robert Cort, about 1830, began to make the residence and carpenter-shop of William Marshall, on the farm now owned by Isaac N. Kitchen, a depot for his business of exchanging groceries and other articles for butter, eggs, cheese and other farm produce which he could profitably convey to Cincinnati in wagons. In 1835, William Marshall became his partner, and then the firm built a small storehouse at the road-crossing, and, soon after, a large one, which became a flourishing country store; trade extended so as to include the purchase and packing of wool and pork. Mr. Cort and Mr. Marshall died about 1843, the business passing into the hands of Robert Marshall and John Holmes. Marshall dying in 1846, John M. White and William Story succeeded as owners. About 1852, on the death of these partners, the business was abandoned. Cortsville is composed of one blacksmith-shop, one grocery store, the Colored Baptist Church,
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twelve or fifteen residences, and toll-gate. The real estate valuation of it is about $1,660.
The first building at Pitchin was owned by Green Porter in 1845, who erected a residence and blacksmith-shop. In 1846, the Methodist Protestant Church was built, and, about the same time, other houses and shops. In 1854, George Hansbraugh built and operated a steam saw-mill, which was run for twelve years, John G. Hatfield and Aaron Dean being the later owners. The population of Pitchin, including the farm suburbs, in 1880, was 120. Pitchin at this time (1881) includes John H. Todd's grocery store, James M. Littler's blacksmith-shop, Job Evans' wagon-shop, James M. T. Gregg's shoe-shop, Andrew and Adam Fink's slaughter-house, Dr. Dillehunt's office, twenty residences, Methodist Protestant Church, and schoolhouse.
The introduction of machinery was not effected until about 1830. The cast mold-board plow was introduced about.1820. The first of these was the Peacock plow, made at Cincinnati, and was a right-hand plow. About 1837, the left-hand Franklin plow was introduced. Wooden harrow-teeth were used until about 1820. Wheat, rye and oats were reaped with the sickle up to 1.8311, when the cradle was introduced. In 1852, the McCormick reaping machine was introduced, a machine which cut seven feet wide, and drawn by four horses. The grass was mown with a scythe until about 1850. The revolving hay -rake, made by Pearce & Son, near South Charleston, came into use about 1836. Wheat drills were introduced about 1856, and corn drills, corn planters and check-row planters soon after. Threshing was done with the flail, or tramped out by horses on the ground, or on barn floors. Mr. Rowan introduced the first threshing machine in 1835. His machine simply shelled the grain from the straw, and then the separation of the straw from the grain was done with hand rakes; afterward, the grain was separated from the chaff by the wind-mill. Pitts' separator was first used here in .1847, by Abraham Kitchen.
The Franklin cooking-stove was the pioneer stove here, introduced about 1835. Before its introduction, the reflector was the only change from the open fire, the cranes, Dutch or brick ovens, pots and skillets being used. Sewing machines were introduced here in 1858 or 1859.
Robert Watkins opened a tannery on what is now Israel Hollinsworth's farm about 1815, and was run up to about 1830. Another tanyard was built about 1836, by Peter Knott & Co., near Clifton. This yard has been in operation up to 1880. In 1834 or 1835, Mr. Aaron Allen erected a steam saw-mill at what is now called Allentown, which was kept in operation by himself and sons until 1852, when it burnt down.
The first Trustees of the township, after it became a part of Clark County, were Samuel Stewart, Thomas Mills and James Stewart. John T. Stewart was the first Clerk. These gentlemen received for their services for the first year the following: James Stewart, $4; Thomas Mills, $3.50; Samuel Stewart, $3; John T. Stewart, $2.75. The first Justices of the Peace were Robert Stephenson and John T. Stewart.
The following is a list of Jurors selected in 1819: Grand Jurors-Benjamin Whiteman, J. Branson, David Littler, Stephen Kitchen and Abraham Inlow. Petit Jurors-Justice Luse, John A. Swarngen, John Garlough and Alexander Forbes. Ten years later, 1828, we find the following: Grand Jurors-Joshua Marshall, Thomas Mills, John T. Stewart and Edmund Hartin. Petit Jurors John Anderson, Samuel Stewart and Thomas Littler.
The township officers and their pay for services for 1828 were as follows: Trustees, Samuel Stewart, $3.75; Thomas Mills, $3.75; Edmund Hartin, $3; Treasurer, James Stewart, paid by percentage. Supervisors-Thomas Barnes, $1.50; Allen Barnes, 75 cents; John Garlough, 75 cents; Joshua Marshall,
746 - HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
$1.50; John Anderson, $2.25; Thomas Elder, 75 cents; John T. Stewart, 75 cents; making as total costs, $19.40. Township receipts from County Treasurer, $18.93 3/4. Received of John T. Stewart, $1, being a fine collected from Robert Gay for swearing. Again we find that in 1831 the payment for township officers' services amounted to $20.08 1/2.
The following citizens from this township have held important offices in the county and State: Stephen M. Wheeler, County Auditor in 1838 and 1839, and also Representative in 1840 and 1841; John T. Stewart, Associate Judge of Court of Common Pleas in 1837 and 1838; Perry Stewart, County Commissioner in 1866 and 1867, and Representative in the Fifty-eighth General Assembly of Ohio in 1868 and 1869; William D. Johnson, County Commissioner from 1869 to 1875. J. S. Kitchen, one of the present County Commissioners, is a native of the township, but was a resident of Springfield when elected.
Since the organization of Green. Township, it has been politically Whig and Republican, voting four-fifths of its vote for the candidates of those parties. From 1842 to 1852, the Liberty and Free-Soil parties received from this town ship one half their votes polled in the county. The vote of 1880 was the largest ever polled-316 Republican and 81 Democratic.
During the rebellion, Green Township sent promptly to the front her quota of volunteers, demonstrating that treason found no sympathy among her citizens, 175 men from this township giving their services to help preserve the Union, the names of whom will be found elsewhere in this work. Of these, twenty-three died in the service or since the war ended; ninety-five have removed from the township; and fifty-seven are yet residents of it, and relate with pride the achievements of the gallant boys in blue.
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