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PREACHERS IN CHARGE OF CIRCUITS.
Scioto and Miami Circuit.
1800, Henry Smith; 1801, Benjamin Young and Elisha W. Bowman.
Miami Circuit
1802, Elisha W. Bowman ; 1803, John Sale, Joseph Oglesby.
Miami and Mud River Circuit.
1804, John Meek, Abraham Amon; 1805, Benjamin Lakin, Joshua Reggin.
Miami Circuit.
1800, Benjamin Lakin, John Collins; 1807, Samuel Parker. Hector Sanford.
Cincinnati Circuit.
1808, William Houston, John Sinclair ; 1809, Solomon Langdon, Moses Crume; 1810, Benjamin
Lakin, William Young; 1811, William Burke, John Strange.
Little Miami Circuit.
1812, Samuel Helms; 1813, William Barke, Ebenezer David; 1814, Joseph Oglesby, John
Waterman; 1815, Alexander Cummins, Russell Bigelow; 1816, Abbott Goddard, W. F. Finley.
Milford Circuit.
1817, David Sharp; 1818, Samuel Brown; 1819, Burroughs Westlake, Horace Brown ; 1820,
John C. Brooks, Thomas L. Hitt ; 1821, Benjamin Lawrence, Nathan Walker; 1822, John
Strange, James T. Walls; 1823, Samuel Baker, James Smith ; 1824, William J. Thompson,
Robert 0. Spencer; 1825, A. W. Elliott, Robert W. Finley ; 1826, A. W. Elliott, E. H. Field; 1827,
Andrew S. McLain, George Gatch; 1828, Levi White, D. D. Davidson; 1829, William Simmons,
D. D. Davidson ; 1830, William Simmons, 'I'. D. Allen; 1831, Burroughs Westlaket T. D. Allen;
1832, J. A. Baughmant E. A. Zimmerman ; 1833, J. A. Baughman, R. Graham, F. A. Simmons;
1834, J. C. Hunter, J. Brunaugh ; 1835, J. C. Hunter, W. B. Ross ; 1836, G. W. Maley, Allen D.
Beasley ; 1837, G. W. Maley, Adam Miller, J. W. Stone; 1838, George C. Crume, Joseph Hill ;
1839, E. B. Chase, E. D. Rowe; 18.10, E. B. Chase, Andrew Carroll; 1811; William H. Fyffe,
Moses Smith ; 1842, William H. Fyffe. Isaac Ebbert; 1843, S. F. Conroy, John Layton ; 1844 15,
W. I. Ellsworth, Levi White; 1847, T. W. Chandler, J. A. Bruner; 1847, Joseph Gatch, H. S.
Selman ; 1848, Asa B. Stroud, Enoch G. West; 1849, William S. Morrow, T. S. Cowden; 1850,
William S. Morrowt S. Bennett ; 1851, G. C. Townley, J. F. Marley; 1852, James Laws, J. W.
Cassatt ; 1853, William Routledge, W. J. Thurber; 1854, William Routledge, J. M. Robinson;
1855, A. M. Lorain, John Fitch ; 1856, A. W. Baell, T. A. G. Phillips; 1857-58, Levi P. Miller, J.
H. Herron ; 1859, N. Callender, J. P. Waterhouse.
Milford Station.
1860, J. F. Wright, George Gatch ; 1861, J. F. Spence, A. B. Wombaugh; 1802-63, Lucien Clark ;
1864, G. W. Kehley ; 1865, J. F. Wright; 1866, W. G. Shannon ; 1867-68, Joseph M. Oath; 1869
-70, William Runyan; 1871, David Warnock ; 1872-73, W. B. Motor; 1874t T. J. Evans; 1875, T.
D. W. Peaks; 1876, J. P. Shultz; 1877, R. K. Deem; 1878-79, S. Bennett.
Its all 127 ministers have served the church as regular appointees, and ofsi these only about 30
remain in the laud of the living, many of whom " brush the dews at Jordan's stream, knowing that
the crossing must be near."
For the first twenty years in the history of the church its meetings were held in the pioneers'
humble cabins, and in the beautiful groves, fitly called " God's first temples." Though the places
of worship were lowly a cloud of glory rested over them, and the blessing of Obed Edom was
upon the household where assembled the devoted pioneer fathers and mothers in Israel. But the
time came when a consecrated sanctuary was deemed essential to the permanency of religious
housekeeping. The necessity was recognized at Milford, and a house of worship provided in 1818.
In February of that year a board of trustees was elected, composed of Philip Gatch, Andrew
McGrew, William Salters, William McMains, James Saunders, Henry Stromant and Aaron
Matson, who built a frame meeting-house of such staunch timber that it remains to this day to
attest the faithful workmanship of those employed upon it. The subscription-list shows that " all
the people gave gladly," and the liberality of some was truly commendable. For sixteen years it
was, indeed, a spiritual home of the society, whose prosperity and increasing numbers demanded a
larger church building. Again the necessity was recognized, and the work of meeting the demand
was vigorously prosecuted in 1834 and the two years following. When this new temple was
consecrated, on Christmas-day, 1836, it was regarded
MIAMI TOWNSHIP - 481
as quite a superior edifice, and well served its purpose thirty-four years. The lapse of such a period
of time had given it an old and dingy appearance, while its capacity was often overtaxed to
accommodate the throng which assembled to listen to the gospel message. With commendable
zeal the pastor, the Rev. William Runyan, set about securing the funds, in 1870, to remodel the
church edifice, and prosecuted the work to a successful issue, giving the society its present
spacious sanctuary, with Sunday-school and class-rooms equal to all the existing needs of the
church. To consummate this object the trustees heartily co-operated, and it is but proper that their
names should be given in this connection. They were C. R. Stuntz, E. B. Townsend, F. M. Mears,
F. M. Gatch, A. H. Matson, W. E. Mears, J. M. Gest, and A. H. Brower.
The society has been quick to act when a demand was made upon it, either for aid to disseminate
the gospel abroad, or to extend its own work at home, but has several times been embarrassed by
unwieldy church debts, whose existence impaired its usefulness. Through the efforts of the Rev.
Lucien Clark, in 1863, a debt which had been hanging over the church more than a quarter of a
century was liquidated, amid unfeigned demonstrations of gladness that the irksome load had been
removed. And but recently, through equally untiring efforts, the pastor, the Rev. Silas Bennett,
was enabled to make the glad announcement that the church " owes no man anything," leaving it
free to pursue its great work of usefulness. What has already been done by this pioneer church it is
impossible even to estimate. Through its influence, radiating throughout the entire county,
thousands have been brought to a saving knowledge of Christ, and hundreds have been nurtured in
the faith of the Redeemer of mankind within its own walls.
In 1879 there were 150 members and the following officers: Trustees, A. H. Matson, C. L.
Greeno, P. S. Gatch, F. M. Gatch, J. M. Gest, Ephraim Hill, and J. B. Wallace.
A flourishing Sunday-school has for many years been maintained by the church, the present
superintendent being C. L. Greeno.
With hardly an exception, the Methodist churches of Miami had the same ministerial service as
the church at Milford until it became a station. Since that time (1860) the Methodists of Perin's
Mills only have been supplied from that source, and are practically a part of the station. The
meeting-house which is occupied by the Methodists at that place was built in 1834 by Samuel
Perin, for the use of all religious denominations, and has been occupied by Presbyterians, Baptists,
and other persuasions, whose organizations, never very strong, have long since been allowed to go
down. The Methodists then came into possession of the house and have since exercised
ownership. Recent repairs have placed the house in fair condition.
THE CENTENARY METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT NEWBERRY.
Before 1810, Joseph Harvey was the leader of a class of Methodists in this locality, which had
among its members Ambrose Ranson, R. Frazier, J. Cotteral, James Huddleston, John Long, and
Frederick Long, the latter an active local preacher. In 1817 a small frame meeting-house was
erected in the upper part of the hamlet of Newberry, Ezekiel Leming, John Leming, Ambrose
Ranson, Frederick Long, and Joseph A. Cotteral being the trustees. This was the place of worship
until 1839, when the present church building was commenced, but was not completed for
dedication until 1841. It was consecrated by the Rev. William H. Raper. The house was built of
brick, 34 by 50 feet, with an end-gallery which has since been removed ; and in 1873 the building
was otherwise changed and placed in its present comfortable condition. It stands on a lot which
was donated by Ezekiel Leming, and about 50 members occupy it for stated worship. There is also
a good Sunday-school, which has Stephen Rybolt for superintendent. Since being set off from
Milford the appointed ministers of Centenary Church have been as follows : 1861, Revs. Merrick
and Stevenson ; 1862-63, Revs. Rutledge and Black ; 1864-66, Revs. J. C. Maddy, James Murray,
and — Mendenhall ; 1867-68, Revs. Wesley Webster and Levi Miller ; 1869-70, Rev. Elisha C.
Smith ; 1871-72, Rev. J. L. Gregg ; 1873, Rev. C. T. Crume ; 1874-75, Rev. S. N. Marsh ;
1876-77, Rev. William McMullen ; 1878, Rev. Fletcher Hypes ; 1879, Rev. J. J. Hill. Revs. B. F.
Garland and H. W. Leever are local preachers.
PLEASANT HILL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Some time about 1820, Conduce Gatch was appointed the leader of a class of Methodists in this
neighborhood, which was tributary to the Newberry Church ; and until the present meeting-house
was provided, preaching in the locality was held at private houses or at the school-house. Some
ten years ago George S. Gatch set aside a lot of ground on which was erected a frame church of
moderate proportions, costing $1500, which is at present in charge of trustees Andrew Gatch,
Thomas Cotteral, Charles H. Gatch, George S. Gatch, Benjamin F. Garland, George C. Garland,
and Joseph Gest. To these families also belonged the original members. The present membership
is served by the ministers of Centenary Circuit.
THE CONCORD METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
located several miles northeast from Miamiville, was built in 1837, on a lot of ground secured
from George Fitzwater. It is a plain brick house, but in its day afforded a comfortable place of
worship, and is yet used with considerable regularity as a preaching-place, although not regarded
as an appointment by Conference. The first Methodist society in these parts was formed at the
house of John Ramsey, near Loveland village ; and at his place and at the house of F. Motsinger
regular preaching was held, at the latter place for sixteen years preceding the building of the
Concord church. Very often the services were conducted, under the direction of the ministers of
Milford Circuit, by local preachers. The Revs. Frederick Long, Jeremiah Price, and Samuel Hill,
though plain men, living in the northwestern part of the county, labored here not in vain, but did
much to strengthen Zion. The church prospered, having at one time a considerable membership
from the Motsinger, Hutchinson, Collins, Behymer, Leaver, and other old fam-
482 - HISTORY OF CLERMONT COUNTY, OHIO.
ilies of this part of the township ; but the building up of the villages along the railroad has
encroached so much on the interests of the society that it is practically left without much vitality.
LOVELAND METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
as a distinct society, was organized about 1853, in the old school-house, and had among its
principal members William Ramsey, John P. Emery, Robert Hill, and John M. Dyer, and in most
instances their families. The schoolhouse continued to be the preaching-place until the
Presbyterian church was erected, when for a time the meetings were held in that house. In 1868
the society secured its own church edifice, which has since been occupied, and which in 1879 was
under the trusteeship of John M. Dyer, Albert Redding, D. B. Cox, Aaron Apgar, and H. L.
Wheeler. The members worshiping here number SO, and have for their pastor the Rev. Valorous
M. Brown. His immediate predecessors were the Revs. C. H. Zimmerman, M. M. Kugler, W. H.
Miesse, and, later back, the ministers of Centenary and Goshen Circuits.
An excellent Sunday-school is maintained, under the superintendency of O. H. Martin. In 1879 it
had 100 members.
LOVELAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
was organized May 4, 1854, by the Revs. S. Gazley and A. R. Naylor and Elder Roger Hannaford,
of the following persons: Mathew Ferguson (ruling elder) ; Ann Ferguson, his wife; Eliza
Ferguson, their daughter ; and Mrs. Sarah Ramsey. On the 28th of May the church had its first
observance of the Lord's Supper, when two more persons became members,—Thomas and Jane
Mitchell. With the exception of one more addition, these six constituted the membership the first
year of the existence of the church,—a day of small things, truly.
In the fall of 1854 the Rev. J. Caldwell began preaching to the congregation, which held its
meetings in the old school-house at first, but soon found a home in a hall in the De Golyer house,
which was used as a place of worship until the present church edifice was erected in 1859. The
building committee were James V. Cushing, James Gatchell, and William Ferguson, and the
architect and builder was William Kyte, who was the chief instrument in carrying out the
measures which gave the society its flne sanctuary.
On the 22d of November, 1856, Harvey Kerr was ordained as another ruling elder ; and on the 8th
of August, 1862, Dr. John S. Law, James Curner, and Dr. William A. Carmichael were ordained
as additional elders, the latter yet serving in that capacity. His associates in that office are Miles
Johnson, David T. Robb, and Dr. Criley. Other elders have been R. D. Kinney, Mathew Cushing,
and Elihu Fans. The present deacons are A. B. Brock, J. E. Thompson, and Dr. L. W. Bishop.
The Rev. J. Caldwell continued as the stated supply of the church three years, leaving, at his
removal, 38 members. The Rev. J. D. Shane next supplied the church for a year, and had six
additions. He was followed by the Rev. Thomas M. Chestnut, and at the end of the year the latter
reported four additions by confession and six by letter. The Rev. J. C. Mitchell succeeded him,
and through his efforts the church was relieved from a heavy debt. In 1865 he was followed by the
Rev. David Kingery, who instituted morning and evening services, up to that time but one
meeting per day having been held. His connection with the church was continued three years ; and
after his departure a new Presbyterian Church was organized by 16 members from the
mother-church, as the result of differences of opinion on church polity. The mother- church
secured the ministerial services of the Rev. W. J. Surely, of the United Presbyterian Church, and
the new church depended on weekly supplies from the new-school church. This state of affairs
continued about eighteen months, during which time both societies occupied the meeting-house
on alternate Sabbaths as a place of worship. After the nnion of the different Presbyterian schools,
the two congregations at Loveland buried their past diffcrences and most heartily united their
interests, May 4, 1870. The church has since that. time had a harmonious existence.
On the 29th of May, 1870, the Rev. Henry A. Rossiter began preaching to the congregation, and,
having received a unanimous call to become pastor, was installed Sept. 21, 1870. Under his
labors, in 1876, the church enjoyed a precious season of reviving, and on the first Sabbath in
March, 1876, 48 names were added to the church-rolls. Mr. Rossiter left the pastorate of the
church in the fall of 1878, when the pulpit was supplied about six months by visiting clergymen ;
but in May, 1879, the Rev. John B. Worrell became the pastor and still continues that relation.
The membership of the church is about 150, and the influence of this religious body has been
promotive of a great amount of good in Loveland and the surrounding country.
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AT MILFORD.
It appears that about 1840 several Catholic families settled at Milford, being attracted thither by
the vigorous industry of John. Kugler. Later on, when the Little Miami Railroad was built, more
families came, and the nucleus of a Catholic Church was at hand. At intervals a priest visited
these families and said mass at the house of one or the other of these Catholics, all the Catholics
for miles around attending; and later mass was celebrated in the depot building of the Little Miami
Railroad. The place was visited by priests until 1855, since when Milford has had resident priests.
The visiting priests were the Rev. Fathers O'Farrell, Blake, Cheymore, Lewis Vararron,
McMahon, and O'Donoghue.
The resident priests have been : 1855-57, the Rev. Philip Foley ; 1857-59, the Rev. Peter Perry ;
1859-68, the Rev. J. B. O'Donoghue ; 1868, four months, the Rev. F. Hallon ; 1869-73, the Rev.
H. Anderson ; 1873 to April, 1876, the Rev. William O'Rourke; and since that period, the Rev. J.
B. Kayser.
After the congregation became large enough to warrant such a measure, a building on Main Street
was secured, in which the meetings were held until 1864. That year the provisionary church was
abandoned and the present "St. Andrew's Church" occupied. It is a frame edifice, on a
MIAMI TOWNSHIP - 483
high basement of stone, 40 by 60 feet, with a well-proportioned steeple, and cost about $5000,
exclusive of some liberal donations. Adjoining is a fine and well-furnished priest's house. Both
are maintained by 58 pew-holders, composing the contributing element of St. Andrew's
congregation.
St. Andrew's Cemetery was opened in 1866, about a mile south of Milford. The location is on a
high tract of ground, having a gravel sub-soil, which affords excellent drainage. Sixty lots have
been conveyed to the Catholics of Milford and the surrounding country, and the cemetery shows
some good improvements.
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH AT LOVELAND
dates its beginning from the building of the Little Miami Railroad, and the priests who visited
Milford also came to this locality and said mass at private houses; but in 1862 the old frame
school-house was purchased, and having been fitted up is used for church purposes. The church is
served by priests from Milford, forming a part of that parish, and the congregation numbers 45
contributing and 18 non-contributing families, and is in a growing condition.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF NEWBERRY.
This body of Christians (Disciples) was organized in 1838, by the Rev. Walter Scott, among the
early members being Francis Shumard, Jonathan Elstun, Rachel Kellogg, Rebecca Griffin, Clark
Shumard, Abraham Bell, Louise Bell, Thomas Brown, David Griffith, and a few others. The first
meetings were held at the house of Isaac Elstun, and later in barns, school-houses, and in the old
Union church. In 1841 the meeting-house at Newberry was built, chiefly under the direction of
David Smysor and Hiram South. Subsequent repairs have placed it in its present condition. The
present trustees are Hiram South, Joseph Brown, and George Smysor.
The first elders of the church were Francis Shumard and David Smysor ; the present elders are
Oliver Shumard, Thomas South, and Lewis Smith. The congregation has more than a hundred
members, and Hiram South is the church clerk. The Rev. David Thompson was the first regular
minister of the church, and the present is the Rev. J. I. West. Other ministers have been William
and Thomas Pinkerton, William Howe, and numerous traveling preachers or visiting elders.
Daniel Manning is the superintendent of the Sunday-school.
THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH AT MIAMIVILLE
was organized Feb. 6, 1854, by Elder Thomas Brandon, There were fourteen members, belonging
to the Robinson, Elliott, Abbott, Buckingham, and Humphreys families. Thc first officers were
Moses F. Robinson, Samuel Humphreys, and Robert Abbott, Trustees ; Wm. N. Robinson,
Treasurer ; and John Elliott, Clerk.
Elder Thomas Brandon was the first minister of the church ; but, in 1855, was succeeded by A. M.
Soule. The subsequent ministers have been J. T. Lynn, J. Ellis, Thomas Brandon, N. Dawson,
Sister Timmons, and, at present, E. W. Humphreys. The officers of the church are A. Thompson,
S. Ware, and J. Newton, Trustees; S. Ware, Treasurer ; and Silas Warbington, Clerk.
The church has never been very vigorous, and at present reports but 20 members. At Miamiville
an Episcopal Sabbath-school is held in the public-school building, with E. B. Thayer,
superintendent.
The Union church in the Tudor neighborhood was built about 1820 of wood, but was never
wholly completed before it was displaced by a house which was erected by the joint efforts of
Presbyterians and Baptists, the latter having an organized society here which embraced members
belonging to the Hixon, Elstun, Covalt, and Brown families. It became extinct many years ago.
The second house was of brick, and yet remains, being owned by the school board of Miami
township. The Presbyterians, Christians, and other persuasions held meetings at this house in
times gone by, which were often attended with much interest.
A short distance from Newberry is a locality known as " Happy Hollow," which is densely
inhabited by colored people, who settled there during the late war. They maintain Methodist and
Baptist churches in two small frame buildings, and both societies seem to be in a flonrishing
condition.
At West Milford, in Hamilton County, is St. Thomas' Episcopal Church, under the rectorship of
the Rev. T. J. Melish, which maintains a small chapel, on the Clermont side, for worship, in
connection with its regular church work ; and at the former place is also a Baptist church, which is
attended by members residing at Milford.
A short distance above Branch Hill are the Cincinnati camp-meeting grounds, owned and
controlled by an association in that city. They embrace a number of acres of beautiful woodland,
delightfully situated on an eminence of easy ascent, overlooking the Little Miami River, and
within a few hundred yards of the Little Miami Railroad, on which is a special station. The
grounds are highly improved, and the meetings are occasions of great interest.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
SAMUEL PERIN.
The name of Perin is of English origin, as the family is of extraction, and the latter comes of an
honorable lineage in England, and occupies a prominent position in the annals of New England,
where at an early period several members of the faunily settled; and their history is closely
interwoven with colonial times and the subsequent Revoplutionary struggle. Three-quarters of a
century ago there emigrated to Clermont County Samuel Perin, one of the most remarkable men
of those early days,-a man whose business sagacity, indomitable energy, and unimpeachable
integrity of character made him a marked personage of his time, and the impress of his life—a
long and eventful one —was felt for threescore years in Southern Ohio, and will continue to be for
generations yet to come; and the memory of this man, so eminent in the business, civil, military,
and political history of the county, is gratefully revered in the hearts of the people.
484 - HISTORY OF CLERMONT COUNTY, OHIO.
Lemuel Penn, the father of the subject of this sketch, was the son of Jesse and Rachel Perin, and
was born in Massachusetts on Oct. 21, 1749, and married for the first time, in the old Bay State,
Martha Nash, a daughter of Simeon and Martha Nash. She was born March 3, 1749, coming of a
good family, strongly attached to the side of the colonists in their struggle with the
mother-country. Their children were John Perin, Rachel, Lucy, Hannah, Samuel, born Feb. 23,
1785, and Patty. Lemuel Perin was married the second time to Amelia Dickinson, by whom he
had three children,—Lemuel and Glover (twins) and Amelia.
Lemuel Penn served in the patriot army in the Revoplutionary war against the British armies and
aggressions, and came to Ohio after his son Samuel had removed here, and died Oct. 23, 1814,
aged sixty-five years and three days.
Samuel Perin was married in New York State on Sept. 10, 1804, to Mary Simkins, a daughter of
Ephraim Simkins, born Sept. 26, 1787. In the year I805 he emigrated to Ohio and located in
Clermont, first stopping with Dr. Richard Allison, who lived at the present site of East Liberty,
where lie was operating a large grist- and sawmill. Mr. Penn in his moving from the East had met
with an aocident to one of his limbs, and stopping with the doctor was carefully attended by him
and nicely restored to his wonted strength. Mr. Perin being a thorough and practical millwright, a
very important avocation in old times, in payment of the doctor's kind offices overhauled the
stones and machinery of his mill, reset them, and worked for him for some time. He finally
located Gil the Stonelick, where, Jan. 11, 18I0, he purchased of Gen. James Taylor, of Newport,
Ky., 50 acres of land adjoining that of Jesse Glancy and Robert Dunn, and in 1815 he bought 60
acres of Ignatius Knott.
Before these purchases he had been in the war of 1812, and served a year or more as captain of a
company, of which William Glancy was first lieutenant, in the Northwest against the British and
their Indian allies, and participated in several battles and many minor engagements, in which he
nobly sustained the gallant bravery of his proud Revolutionary family.
About the year 1815 he located at what is now the historical village of Perin's Mills, and that year
erected the saw-mill, and a year or two later the grist-mill, to which ho made the first addition in
I821 aud the third in 1831. The old Cincinnati and Chillicothe road ran at the foot of the hill, but
through his influence it was changed to the meanderings of the East Fork, passing by his mills,
which soon became the chief ones of Clermont. In 1825 and 1826 he erected his distillery, with
old-fashioned copper still and hand-made mashes, which was located buck at the foot of the hill,
where the ruins are plainly discernible, and give ample proof of the business and bustle that
centered there in days long by. Perin's Mills was for twenty-five years the principal commercial
mart of Clermont, and the great market for wheat, corn, barley, rye, hogs, and produce generally
of an extensive region of country, embracing, besides the upper part of Clermont, portions of
Brown, Clinton, Warren, and Hamilton Counties. In ad dition to his distillery and mills, Samuel
Perin kept the largest store in Clermont, buying his dry goods in New York and Philadelphia, and
his groceries in New Orleans, —the latter, in exchange for his mill and distillery products, were
transported on his own flat-boats, which returned with groceries,—and the large retinue of clerks
employed by him in the wholesale and retail branches of his business, together with the multiform
character of the goods and commodities sold and the varied trade and barter in exchange, has
never since been equaled in Clermont County. He also had branch stores at Milford and
Fayetteville.
In 1824, Samuel Perin bought some land of Ephraim Simkins, in 1823 seventeen and a half acres
from Lewis Martin, and in 1826 twenty-nine and three-fifths acres from the same party. In 1825
he was elected a county commissioner; re-elected in 1828 and resigned in 1830, having served
five years with James Blackburn, John Boggess (many years State senator and county surveyor),
and David, White as his colleagues. While commissioner the courthouse was erected, and he was
the committee of one appointed by the board to procure the draught for its construction, and to
him are its acoustic powers, its solidity of structure, and its final completion more due than to any
other citizen of the county. On his resignation, Zebina Williams was appointed to fill his place,
and in the same year (1830) he was elected a representative from Clermont to the Twenty-ninth
General Assembly of Ohio, of which John M. Bell, of Guernsey County, was speaker, and John L.
Green (now Common Pleas judge in Columbus) was clerk. His colleague from this county was
John Shaw, and those from Hamilton were Daniel Stone. Samuel Rees, and Leonard Armstrong.
He declined a re-election, owing to the pressing necessities of his increasing business, whose
cares now demanded all his attention and time. While in the Legislature he took a very prominent
part in its deliberations, and the journals of its proceedings show him to have exercised great
influence. The General Assembly, of which he was a leading member, was a long time occupied
in the choice of a United States Senator, which finally fell to Hon. Thomas Ewing, elected by one
majority over Micajah T. Williams. To him is due the charter, organization, and building of the
Chillicothe and Milford turnpike, that great avenue and artery through the county that mure than
any other road in its territory led to its development and prosperity. Mr. Perin's distillery was
operated up to within a few months of 1853, when it burned down and was never rebuilt, and the
grist-mill, that fine old-style building of five stories frame and quaint architecture, stood doing its
duty until 1862, when it succumbed to the dreaded element of conflagration. No longer in Penn's
Mills resound the busy hum of the old distillery, the older mills, the store patronized by customers
from twenty and thirty miles, tho cooper-shops, the stirring wagon-makers' factories, and other
kindred industries that once made it the trading and business emporium of the county. The time
camo when the master-mind of its creation,--when the man who was the great centre of its
business life,—through the mutations of trade and the vicissitudes of fortune, met with reverses ;
but the unanimous acclaim of history and of those
MIAMI TOWNSHIP - 485
surviving his day and time is that while Samuel Perin finally met with ill fate and reverses, his
word, his honor, his integrity, and his character, both as a business man and a whole-souled man
of a warm heart and broad humanity, were never, under any circumstances, called in question, but
ever stood forth in bright colors of honor and fidelity. Samuel Perin, by his wife Mary (Simkins),
had the following children : Darius, born June 25, 1805 ; Ira, October 13, 1807 ; Harvey, Jan. 11,
1809 ; Lemuel, Feb. 23, 1811 ; Rhoda, May 28, 18I4 ; Martha, Feb. 10, 1817 ; John, June 22,
1819 ; Oliver, Dec. 24, 1821; Glover, Nov. 7, 1823 ; and Lyman C., March 6, 1826. All these,
save Lemuel, who died in his third year and John in his seventh year, were at home at the old
family homestead Jan. 24, 1847, the first time since 1837. Of the ten children of Samuel Perin,
who all achieved prominent stations in life, the most widely known is Oliver Perin, of Cincinnati,
a man of affluence, and whose business character and reputation stand deservedly high. He
inherited in every particular the enterprise of his father and profited by his tuition and experience,
and has followed the same diversified business that engaged his father's life, only upon a larger
scale, owing to the changes of time and place. The architect of his own fortune, made by his
resolute will and extraordinary business tact, he has won in the banking, manufacturing, and
commercial circles of Cincinnati the highest standing. Samuel Perin was a Universalist in his
belief, and a man of humanity in its best and broadest estate. His wife, Mary Perin, died Dec. 7,
1851, and he passed away from earth April 3, 1865, aged eighty-one years, one month, and eleven
days. In his long life in the county of Clermont he hved to see wonderful changes in the
transforming of the unbroken wilderness into productive farms and thriving towns, and in the
introduction of varied machinery to supplant the old-time mills and distillery which, under his
fostering care and active mind, were for many years the most noted and flourishing in Southern
Ohio.
DR. P. B. GATCH.
Before the sun of civilization shone upon these mountains and vales, or over these prairies and
rivers, the herald of the cross, with his messages of love and mercy, was seen wending his course
to the desolate haunts of the Indian amid the wilderness. One of these ambassadors of the Lord
was Rev. Philip Gatch, who sprang from an illustrious lineage, and founded in Clermont a house
inseparably connected with the honor and progress of the county, and honorably identified with
the State's and nation's history in furnishing legislators, professional men of distinction, divines of
national reputation, jurists of renown, business men of repute, and farmers unsurpassed in thrift
and energy. Rev. Philip Gatch was born near Baltimore, Md., March 2, 175I, and was of Quaker
ancestry. He was converted when young, united with the Methodist Church, entered the ministry,
and attended the first Conference held in Philadelphia, in 1773 ; received his appointment, and
subsequently traveled in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, preaching with
extraordinary success. In 1798 he removed to the Little Miami Valley, and settled on what is now
the site of the beautiful town of Milford, and there in that year regularly established the first
church (Methodist) in Clermont County. He never re-entered the ministry, but preached locally.
He was a member of the Convention, in 1802, that formed the first Constitution of Ohio, and in
1803 was elected by the General Assembly one of the Clermont associate judges of the Common
Pleas Court, re-elected again in 1810, and again in 1817, and served with ability and dignity on
the bench twenty-one years.
On Dec. 28, 1835, full of honors and love of humanity, this noble Christian pioneer died,
lamented and revered by all. Of the five sons born to Philip and his wife, Elizabeth Gatch,-to wit :
Conduce, Thomas, Lewis, Philip, Jr., and George,-one, Thomas, was the father of the subject of
this sketch. Gen. Thomas Gatch was a representative of Clermont in the Twenty-third,
Twenty-fourth, Twenty- fifth, and Twenty-sixth General Assemblies of Ohio, from 1824 to 1828,
and was a popular man and citizen not only in the county but throughout the State. He was the
first time married on April 19, 1814, by Rev. William Burke, to Sarah Barber, by which union
was born Dr. Philip B. Gatch, Nov. 16, 1820. The doctor was married Oct. 17, I855, by Rev. John
F. Wright, to Elizabeth L. Drake. She was born Oct. 29, 1834, and was the daughter of Josiah and
Catherine Drake, a granddaughter of Matthias Kugler, and a great-granddaughter of Christian
Waldsmith, the pioneer miller of the Little Miami Valley. Dr. Philip B. Gatch studied medicine,
became eminent in his profession, and practiced for a long period, residing at Milford. As
indicative of his standing as a man and a doctor, we give item second of the will of Rebecca J. E.
Townsend, formerly the wife of the late John Kugler, made in 1871 : " I give and bequeath to my
good, kind, and attentive physician, Dr. P. B. Gatch, the sum of five thousand dollars." The doctor
now resides on his fine homestead, situated on the Goshen turnpike, a mile, and a half from
Milford, to which he removed some two years ago. On this pike, extending out three miles from
Milford, the eye is delighted with the rich and extensive landscape ; and here and there are
spacious farms, wide fields and broad meadows, orchards and groves, and nestling in sequestered
sites, amid trees of varied foliage and shrubbery of all hues, are elegant residences, which mark
the taste and affluent circumstances of their proprietors. The home of Dr. Gatch is one of the most
beautiful in the county, and here, with his pleasant family, he lives in comfort and plenty, but
continues to discharge the duties of his profession, in which he is one of the most prominent and
skillful practitioners in Southern Ohio. The doctor was educated at Augusta (Kentucky) College,
and studied medicine at the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati, from which he graduated in
March, 1847, with the degree of M.D. The following year he attended a course of lectures at the
Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia in further pursuit of the great science of medicine. To
Dr. P. B. Gatch and his wife, Elizabeth L., have been born the following children : Katie D., who
died Aug. 5, I872 ; Lillian Love, Florence L., Clifford D., Dawson, and Philip B., who died June,
1873.
486 - HISTORY OF CLERMONT COUNTY, OHIO.
DR. J. B. CLINE.
In the past half century the material advancement and development of Clermont County has been
largely augmented by immigrants of foreign birth, who in large numbers have settled in its limits,
and greatly added to the wealth, intelligence, and growth of the county, and to them it is much
indebted for its present prosperity. The first French emigrant to settle in the county was John
Cline, who with his wife Margaret (Weisrock) and their children came from Lorraine, a
department then of France, but now and since 187I a province of Germany. They crossed the
ocean with one of their old neighbors, Andrew Taylor, and coming straight to Ohio, located at
Perin's Mills. John Cline had served in mnny campaigns under the great Napoleon, as had also the
Weisrocks, his wife's brothers, one of whom was fourteen years in the French army, participated
in the Russian campaign and fought at Waterloo. The Cline family in Lorraine was one of note
and influence, and John Cline spoke fluently both the French and German language, and was
otherwise liberally educated. He arrived in Miami township July 20, 1831, and soon learned
English by reading. He was the pioneer of the large immigration to Clermont and Brown Counties
which followed in the two decades succeeding his arrival, and most of his time was employed in
assisting his countrymen in locating and securing eligible farms and homesteads, and as an
interpreter in attending generally to their business. The French colonies settled in Stonelick,
Miami, Union, Batavia, Jackson, and Wayne townships of this county, and Perry and others in
Brown County. He died July 20, 1860, and his wife Margaret the fall previous, on Nov. 3, 1859.
They had a family of three daughters and five sons, of whom Dr. John Baptist Cline was born in
the department of Lorraine, France, Sept. 8, I826, and to him his father, a man of culture, clear
judgment, and inflexible honor and integrity, gave a good education.
John B. Cline was reared on his father's farm until his fourteenth year, attending the district
school. He then went to Williamsburgh, where he attended the academy of Rev. Ludwell G.
Gains, and afterwards, under the same preceptor, at Goshen. He then entered Hanover College,
Indiana, where he completed his studies, after which he taught school near Perin's Mills for five
terms, reading medicine in the mean time, and then attended the Ohio Medical College at
Cincinnati, where he graduated in the class of 1853, along with Drs. J. E. Myers, Tiffin Sinks,
Philip Kennedy, John Gaines, Simmons, Gray, and Kincaid (not W. P.), of Clermont. He located
and practiced his profession two years at Perin's Mills, when he removed to Fayette Co., Ind.,
where he continued in practice for the same length of time, and then returned to Clermont,
locating and practicing a few months at Mount Carmel, and finally settling at his old home, Perin's
Mills, where he remained, continuing in his profession until the second year of the Rebellion. He
now entered the United States army service as assistant surgeon in charge of first division of
Camp Dennison General Hospital, where, with rare fidelity and honor, he served from May
12,1862, to May 7, 1865, when he was ordered by the government to the Cumberland Hospital,
Nashville, Tenn., where he was superintendent respectively of its first, second, and third divisions,
and had charge of the officers' hospital. He remained here till Jure 1st, when he resigned, owing to
sickness in his family calling him home, and he returned to Perin's Mills, where he has remained
to this time in a large and lucrative practice. Dr. Cline is one of the best and most successful
medical practitioners in Clermont, a man of varied learning, genial in manners, and is popular in
the community as a good physician and citizen.
He was married by Rev. Mr. Wiseman, Feb. I3, 1856, to Miss Martha A. Perin, daughter of Gen.
Samuel Perin, and granddaughter of Samuel Perin, for a third of a century the principal
businessman of the county and founder of the pretty village which bears his name. By this union
the doctor became the father of six children, of whom three died in infancy, and one, Alfred
Buchanan, died Sept. 19, 1874, in his eleventh year. Two are living,—Galen L. Cline, horn Sept.
9, 1857, graduated June 12, 1879, at Hanover College, Indiana, in the classical course, and now
reading medicine ; and Lillie Cline, born Aug. 30, 1860, graduated at Ohio Wesleyan Female
College, at Cincinnati, in June, 1880, taking the class honors. While a member of no church, Dr.
Cline is a man of high morality, and takes great interest in all educational matters and everything
pertaining to the good of society. A Democrat in politics, but not a stringent partisan, he accords
to others and claims for himself the right to his own political principles. He has in a great degree
the characteristics of his race,—urbanity of manner, clear perception, and intellectual abihty, and
has achieved high social and medical distinction. His wife Martha A. (Perin) is a lady of culture,
and was classically and scientifically educated at Cooper Academy, in Dayton, graduating with the
first honors in 1850. She subsequently taught select schools at Amelia,
REBECCA PAXTON - THOMAS PAXTON.
THOMAS PAXTON.
Thomas Paxton was born in the northern part of Clermont Co., Ohio, May 4, 1799. His father,
Col. Thomas Paxton, was an officer in the Revolutionary war, and commanded the advance guard
of Gen. Wayne's army on its march through this territory in the Indian expedition in I794. After
Wayne's victory over the Indians, and peace had been secured, the colonel became the first
occupant of the lands, and built the first house between the Little Miami and Scioto Rivers. His
house was surrounded by a stockade, and was the principal resort of the hardy pioneers of those
days. TIe was a surveyor, and, in connection with the elder Gen. Lytle and the elder Col. Taylor,
surveyed and located hundreds of Virginia military land warrants. He died at the age of
seventy-seven in the year 1811. The subject of this sketch was the youngest child of Col. Paxton,
and was not over twelve years of age when his father died. His brother, Samuel Paxton, who is
still living near Loveland, and is now in his eighty-seventh year of age, was several years older
and became a soldier in the war of 1812, and was afterwards actively employed in boating
produce to New Orleans, frequently walking home at great risk through the country.
Thomas made the best possible use of the meagre facilities of those days for obtaining an
education, and during his whole life was a constant reader, keeping himself well and thoroughly
informed of the current news of the day, political and otherwise. He was always a Democrat, and
ever ready to battle for the success of that party, never failing to do his full share in each
succeeding campaign. His chief pleasure, however, was in the management of his extensive farm,
which he cleared of the forest largely by his own hands, and kept in the best condition and the
highest state of cultivation. He was among the first to engage in the cultivation of fruits, supplying
the neighborhood at one time with large quantities of improved varieties from his nurseries. He
possessed to an eminent degree the confidence and respect of his neighbors, and after a long life
of usefulness he passed away, kindly and affectionately remembered by all as an honest,
hospitable, generous, and courtly gentleman.
On Nov. 25, 1819, Thomas Paxton was married by Rev. Philip Gatch to Rebecca A. Barber, the
youngest daughter of Nathaniel and Anna Barber, who carne from New Jersey to Ohio in the year
1808. Mrs. Paxton was one of the most beautiful and intelligent ladies of her day, and was known
far and near for her charity and benevolence. Her labors among the sick and needy are gratefully
remembered by many now living. She was singularly devoted to her family and children, never
avoiding any sacrifice that would add to their comfort or promote their interests. She died May 20,
1862, and was followed by her husband in September, 1871. The immediate descendants of
Thomas and Rebecca Paxton are Samuel, who married Hannah A. Eveland, and resides near
Fosters Crossing, Warren Co., Ohio ; Mary, who intermarried with David Crichton, and is now
living in Loveland, Ohio ; Martha A., whose first husband was Levi Nichols, and who afterwards
intermarried with Adam A. Leever, and resides near Loveland, Ohio ; Nathaniel B., who married
Angeline Hutchinson, and lives near Morrow, Warren Co., Ohio ; James W., who married Agnes
Day Buckingham, and makes his home near Camp Dennison, Hamilton Co., Ohio ; Thomas B.,
who married Mary Adelaide Wharton, and resides in Cincinnati, Ohio ; Robert, who married
Harriet Hutchinson, and lives on the old homestead near Loveland ; Sarah, who intermarried with
Daniel Clark, and resides in Loveland, Ohio.
MIAMI TOWNSHIP - 487
Perin's Mills, and Jonesburg, Ind., and was some time principal of Otterbein University, at
Westerville, Ohio, and until her marriage with Dr. Cline, over whose pleasant home she now
presides.
THOMAS PAXTON.
Col. Thomas Paxton, a gallant officer under Gen. Wayne in his expedition against the Indians of
the Northwest in the campaign of 1794, was the first known actual settler within the limits of
Clermont County. In the spring of 1796 he built his cabin in Miami township, and put out the first
field of corn ever planted between the Little Miami and Scioto Rivers. Col. Paxton and his wife
Martha, with several children, emigrated from Pennsylvania about 1791 to Kentucky, and after
peace was made with the Indians in the fall of 1795, at Greenville, they removed to Clermont and
settled near Loveland. They had seven daughters, who married well in life and settled near them,
and three sons, Thomas, Samuel, and Robert Paxton, the latter not coming to Ohio, but remaining
in Kentucky. Of the above, Samuel Paxton was born Aug. 7, 1793, and June 14, 1821, was
married by Rev. Daniel Hayden, a Presbyterian clergyman, to Miss Eliza Weller. Her father was
born in Orange County and her mother in Ulster Co., N. Y. The former was a skillful mechanic.
Miss Weller was cousin to Hon. John B. Weller, the distinguished Ohio politician and afterwards
so prominent in the politics of California. She was ten years younger than her husband, having
been born Oct. 22, 1803. To Samuel and Eliza (Weller) Paxton were born twelve
children,—seven sons and five daughters,-to wit : Thomas, Joseph W., Harriet, Andrew, Rebecca,
John, Charles, Nancy, Martha, Louisa, Wilson, and Clinton, all living but the latter. Three of the
sons and three of the daughters are married, viz. : John Paxton to Jennie Myers, daughter of the
late George Myers, of Goshen ; Charles Paxton to Elizabeth Ferguson; Rebecca to Harris
Smethurst, auditor of Clermont from 1864 to 1866 ; Nancy to the late Col. John H. Branch,
representative in the Ohio Legislature from this county from 1866 to 1869, three winters.; Louisa
to Parvis Rogers ; and Thomas Paxton, the subject of this sketch, first to Miss Maria C. Snider,
daughter of Col. Levi Snider, of Warren Co., Ohio, and, after her death, a second time married, to
Miss Emily C. Loveland, of Ashtabula, Ohio. His present wife's parents were from Connecticut,
and her father was a skillful mechanic, and in his day one of the most distinguished Masons in
Ashtabula County in rank and prominence. Thomas Paxton and his wife, Emily C. (Loveland),
received a good common-school education, and the latter in addition was highly educated in
music, and previous to her marriage was for ten years organist in the Presbyterial, church, of
which she is a member. Mr. Paxton has been one of the most extensive travelers in his own
country of any citizen of this county, and has visited all the famous resorts and scenery in the
North, South, East, and West. His elegant residence, with its delightful surroundings, is situated
about a mile from Loveland. Mr. Paxton's place consists of a pretty frame building of some ten
rooms, entered by a portico, and is at the end of a fine lawn, filled with an endless variety of
shade-trees and shrubbery ; an orchard of twenty- five acres, mostly of pears ; an acre and a half of
garden ; and the balance of seventy-eight acres a farm. Attached to Mr. Paxton's garden is a fine
green-house, forty feet in length, full of all varieties of flowers for transplanting, embracing
heliotrope, geranium, fuschia, etc., while hanging- baskets of mosses and trailing plants are seen
in greatest profusion. Mr. Paxton being a gentleman of means, erected this house for the pleasure
of himself and lady, and his culture of rare and delicate plants is so extensive and successful that
he can almost supply his neighborhood. Devoted to the study of agriculture and horticulture, Mr.
Paxton keeps up with the improvements of the day, and is prepared to cultivate new varieties of
almost any species of plant or flower that may be in demand. He thinks the American people pay
too little attention to the adornment of their homes,--the real centres of that refinement and
comfort whence spring the fires of patriotism, and around which cluster the noblest attributes of
the heart and mind. Mr. Paxton is a good citizen, quiet and unobtrusive, not caring for the spoils
of office or Lusying himself with other people's affairs, but closely attending to his own business,
in which he has been so eminently successful. His father, Samuel Paxton, a venerable patriarch of
eighty-seven years, still lives, and threescore years ago made several trips to New Orleans,
sometimes bringing back his flat-boat at great risk and expense,-this being before the days of
steamboats. On one of his return trips he realized seven thousand dollars on his freight.
The Paxton family is one of the oldest and best in Clermont, noted for its culture, high character,
and social standing. Especially engaged in the culture of fruits and flowers, it has acquired a
celebrity throughout the State, and no family in the county has added more to the material, moral,
and social advancement of Clermont than it, foremost in all movements for developing the
beautiful in nature and improving the condition of society.
GOSHEN.
THE township of Goshen lies along the northern line of the county, east of Miami and west of
Wayne and Stonelick. The latter township, also, and Miami form the southern boundary. It derives
its name from Goshen, in New York, and was erected from Miami in 1819. The surface, except in
the northwestern part, is level, having in some localities the nature of flat uplands. Before the
forests were removed these parts were wet, and were called, in the language of those days, " the
slashes." The timber growth was heavy, consisting chiefly of the oaks, hickory, and a limited
quantity of walnut, with corresponding soils, whose fertility, although variable, is rich enough to
make the township, as a whole, one of the best, agriculturally, in the county. The drainage is
afforded by Obannon Creek and its tributaries, having a general northwesterly course. The
Obannon is a rapid stream, and formerly afforded numerous mill-sites, but since the forests have
been cleared away its volume has become very small.
PIONEER SETTLERS.
Jacob Myers (in the German, Mayer)o the first permanent settler of Goshen township, was born in
Penn's Valley, Centre Co., Pa., about the year 1775, and followed the occupation of a boatman
and raftsman on the Susquehanna River a short time. The highly-wrought description of the
wonderful fertility of Kentucky and the Northwest Territory induced him to try his fortunes in the
New Eldorado. In 1795, in company with the Frybarger family, he started over the mountains with
his stock and settled near Frankfort, Ky. In 1796 they all removed to Wald- smith's settlement on
the Little Miami River, where the village of Germany (now Camp Dennison) afterwards sprang
up, and which became famous in after-years as the theatre of old Mathias Kugler's manufacturing
and merchandising enterprises.
On their journey from Kentucky they crossed the Ohio River in flats, and committed their stock to
the care of Jacob Stroup, who drove them into the water to compel them to swim the river, and
who on a horse of poor swimming capacity plunged into the rolling waters after them. It is related
that Stroup and his horse would disappear under the waves, but would come to the surface, and
with his reappearing a yell of command to the cattle to quicken their efforts and keep them in line
would be heard from Stroup, as though there was not the slightest danger. His nonchalance in the
presence of danger became a matter of pleasantry to the occupants of the " flats." This Stroup had
been in a fort situated in the Juniata Valley that was assaulted and destroyed by the Indians and
renegade whites under the lead of the notorious Col. Butler, in 1776.
After locating in Ohio, Myers and Stroup married sisters. Jacob Myers married Eve Frybarger at
Waldsmith's Station in 1796, where his first child, Jacob, was born. In 1798 he bought a farm of
several hundred acres on one of the branches of the Obannon Creek, in what is now Goshen
township, two miles south of the present village of Goshen. He was then the owner of a pony, on
which he loaded a sack of potatoes, an axe, and a grubbing-hoe, and with his trusty rifle,
tomahawk, and hunting-knife he made his way to his new purchase through a dense wilderness
inhabited by wild animals and Indians. After tethering his pony he immediately proceeded to plant
his potatoes, it being then the middle of June, after the completion of which he fell to cutting
down trees and clearing off his potato-patch He soon erected a cabin and pig-pen, and then
brought his young wife and son to their new home. His first cradle was a sugar-trough, and the
floor of his cabin the native earth, which, however, soon gave place to an artistic puncheon-floor
split out of logs and slightly planed smooth with a common chopping-axe.
His son thirty years after was heard to declare that it required the united strength of' himself and
elder brother, both strong men, to load the logs, then seasoned, on a wagon that his father had
handled himself when green in building his cabin. With his gun and dog he supplied himself and
family with meat until a clearing was made large enough to afford some protection to the
swine,—for be it recollected that bears were plentiful then, and had a taste for pork equaling an
epicure, and had not then been educated into a wholesome regard of the right of meum and team,
as afterwards by an unceasing warfare on their race and the clearing away their forest home.
Mr. Myers' nearest neighbor was Abraham Miller, near the present town of Loveland, who was
then considered a prosperous farmer, living on the farm afterwards known as the Judge Emery
farm, and where he sought and obtained work at 37/ cents a day, it being his then only opportunity
to obtain cash to buy powder, lead, and salt. Much of the time which he worked for Miller he
would walk to and fro, a distance of five miles. One morning, being somewhat belated, he
concluded to ride his pony, and searched around the small clearing without being able to find her.
Pausing a moment he heard the tinkling of the bell, which was then an unfailing accompaniment
of horses and cattle, and proceeded in haste up the creek in the direction of the sound with a bridle
across his arm to catch her. Approaching a large fallen oak which was in his pathway, and when
within a few feet of the tree, a large black bear reared himself up, with his paws resting on the log
immediately in front of him, and thus they stood face to face in a questioning sort of attitude. It.
then for the first time struck
- 488 -
GOSHEN TOWNSHIP - 489
him that in his haste he had forgotten gun, tomahawk, knife, and dog, and was thus at the mercy of
the ferocious brute. He afterwards related that each hair stood on end like the quills of the fretted
porcupine. After considering the situation a moment he concluded that his only safety lay in
frightening him, and immediately sprang at his bear- ship with a loud whoop, at the same time
brandishing his bridle in Bruin's face, which did so frighten his enemy that it took to its heels and
fled with precipitation. The ludicrousness of the anal ending of the encounter always afterwards
excited the old gentleman's risibles to a loud guffaw on its being mentioned. John, his second son,
was born in 1799, being the first white child born in Goshen township. When Gen. Lytle made
Williamsburgh the county-seat, Mr. Myers sold his eggs and poultry to the hotels to supply their
tables during terms of court, carrying his marketing on the back of his pony thereto. The country
now began to be settled by the Frybargers, the Stroups, the Ronda- bushes, followed soon after by
Fred. Weaver, Sr., the Shetterlys, Leevers, Fishers, Morgans, and others, and assumed the aspect
of a " settlement," bringing in its train mutual help and social enjoyment. The building of a
flouring- mill and distillery at Germany opened a market for corn, wheat, and hogs, which soon
brought in silver and gold, and with money came luxuries, as of tea or coffee for Sunday-morning
breakfast. Wearing apparel was made mostly of buckskin and coon-skins for a number of years,
followed by flaxen and woolen fabrics of home manufacture. Mr. Myers' youngest child was
pretty well grown to manhood before the introduction of cotton or woolen machine-manufactured
goods into his family.
From this time on his industry, economy, and shrewdness in money-making enabled him to buy at
different times some 1500 acres of land. He at one time owned the quarter section on which the
Union Depot at Indianapolis now stands, that country being then an unbroken forest. This piece of
land, it is thought, still belongs to his descendants in equity. About the year 1813 or 1814 he built
a frame dwelling-house, which was considered in that day palatial and which still occupies the old
place, and is in so good a state of preservation and so commodious as to put to shame some more
pretentious modern farm-houses. Mr. Myers died in 1843, and his remains, with those of many of
his descendants, rest in the sacred spot which he set apart in an early day as a burial-place for
himself, family, and neighbors. His children—Jacob, John, George, Catherine, and Elizabeth-he
lived to see well settled in his neighborhood. Jacob married a Mary Snider ; John, Sophronia
Carnes ; George, the youngest, Mary Emery, daughter of Judge John Emery ; Catherine, Col.
Jacob Bickle, and Elizabeth, Abraham Snider, most of the descendants of whom are still living in
the vicinity of the ancestral home, though a number have emigrated to various Western States.
They are mostly leading the uneventful life of the prosperous, well-to-do farmer, and are generally
noted for thrift, industry, and as substantial citizens, with but little ambition for place or official
distinction, but rather ambitious to successfully cultivate the farms obtained from their ancestor or
by their own thrift and industry. A very few exceptions can be made to the above : Leonidas
Myers, a great-grandson, has a position in the internal revenue service in Cincinnati ; Marion, a
son of George, is one of Clermont's most intelhgent farmers, and stands high among the people of
his county ; Jacob, another grandson, is an active and influential farmer and politician of Defiance
County ; William, another son of George, is a wealthy and influential citizen of Pike Co., Ill.
John, another son of George, studied medicine, and graduated with honor at the Ohio Medical
College in Cincinnati in 1850. For many years he has been a successful physician at Goshen, and
his life and public services are noted in a special sketch in this book.
Lewis Frybarger, a native of Germany, in emigrating to America was so poor that he was sold for
five years to pay the passage-money. Having obtained his liberty, he settled in Centre County, Pa.,
from whence he immigrated to the West, as before related, In Goshen, about 1799, he settled on
land which now forms the village-site, where he died in 1802, and was interred in the Myers
cemetery. Of his family, George settled in Indiana. Peter improved the John M. Smith farm, but
removed to Iowa. One of his sons, Moses, died in Goshen, in 1877. Andrew, the third son of
Lewis, settled on the north side of the Obannon, in the Applegate neighborhood. Of his sons,
Joseph was an attorney, and died in Goshen, in 1843. Other sons, John, Jackson, and William,
removed to Indiana. Lewis, the fourth son, :married Rachel Custer, April 22, 1803, and after
living a time on the homestead, removed to Warren County. He was the father of John Frybarger,
of Goshen, and of other sons named Jacob, Lewis, and Andrew, of Warren County. His daughters
married Amasa. Sawyer, Seth Gordon, Peter W. Ross, Lewis Terwilliger, and Perine Applegate.
Jacob, the fifth son of Lewis, married Elizabeth Elsroth, and settled east of Goshen, but died in
Warren County. Of the daughters of Lewis Frybarger, the eldest, Eva, was the wife of Jacob
Myers, and grandmother of Dr. J. E. Myers. The second daughter was the wife of Jacob Stroup,
who came about the same period, 1799, and settled on the Sanders place. They had a family of
sixteen children, and the Stroups, as grandchildren, became very numerous. Mrs. Stroup died at
the age of ninety-eight years, in the southern part of the township.
On the present David Myers place Frederick Weaver was the pioneer, owning there a tract of 400
acres of land, on which he died. His son Jacob moved to the northern part of the State, Daniel
deceased many years ago, and Frederick yet lives in Wayne township. In the early history of the
township Dunkard meetings were held at the house of Frederick Weaver. He was an early
blacksmith, and had to cut all his iron from bars the size of wagon- tires.
The Roudebushs are of German descent, two brothers and a sister having emigrated from
Amsterdam, Holland, to New Netherland in 1650, They settled near New Amsterdam (now New
York), where they resided until it became an English province, when they emigrated to Frederick
Co., Md., where their descendants to a great number are yet living. Daniel Roudebush, the only
one that ever emigrated to Clermont County, was born in 1749. He was the eldest of four brothers
and three sisters. In 1774 he
490 - HISTORY OF CLERMONT COUNTY, OHIO.
married Christina Snively, a niece of Dr. J. Snively, one of the most prominent physicians in
Southern Pennsylvania. In 1796 he emigrated to Kentucky, settling near Lexington. In November,
1799, he purchased 500 acres of land from Gen. James Taylor, in Stark's survey, No. 2753. In
February, 1800, his sons David and Jacob, accompanied by their sister Catherine, came from
Kentucky, and built a log cabin near the present residence of Perine Applegate. In May of that
year the rest of the family removed to their new home. In December, 1803, his horses having
strayed he started in search of them. He had not traveled far when he lost his way, and wandered
about for three days without anything to eat save a few berries. On the morning of the fourth day
he accidentally discovered a cabin, which proved to be that of Ephraim McAdams, near
Williamsburgh. His prolonged absence alarmed his family and neighbors, as the woods at that
time were full of wild beasts, and parties were sent out in different directions in search of him, but
returned with no tidings. The excitement had become intense when, on the fifth day, he
rementurned, almost dead from starvation, from the effects of which he never recovered, dying
Oct. 10, 1804, aged fifty- five years. He was the father of six children,-five sons and one daughter.
Christina Roudebush, his widow, died June 10,1833. Of the children, David was born in 1775. In
1804 he married Eleanor Hall, daughter of Capt. Richard Hall, by whom he had nine
children,-Julia A., born Sept. 4, 1805 ; Sarah, Aug. 6, 1809 ; Phoebe, Nov. 27, 181I; Richard,
Aug. 15, I815 ; Silas, May 11, 18I8 ; Ruth, Oct. 1, 1820 ; Mary, June 11, 1823; Maria, Feb. 22,
1826 ; Martha J., Oct. 30, 1831. He died near Goshen, Sept. 10, 1839, aged fifty-nine years ; his
wife July 18, 1869, at an advanced age. Jacob, the second son, settled near Boston, in Stonelick
township, where he died May 22, 1835. George, the third son, emigrated to Indiana at an early
date. Of him or his family nothing is now known, Daniel, the fourth son, was born in 1785. He
was twice married ; first to Mary Saylor, by whom he had eight children,-Joseph, Sarah, David,
William, Elizabeth, John, Mary, and Julia. His second wife was Ruth Shotwell, by whom he had
five children,-George, Festus, Daniel, Philip, and Syrena. He died in Goshen, March 11, 1844,
aged fifty-nine years ; his wife in 1867. The fifth son, John, was born Feb. 27,' 1798. In 1820 he
married Maria Thacker, who was born Feb. 16, 1799, by whom he had five children,-D. W., born
Aug. 6, 1820; George, Oct. 30, 1823; Sarah T., Jan. 22, 1826; Phoebe, Aug. 17, I829; Marcus,
Aug. 10 , 1831. John was the youngest of the family, and died near Goshen, Sept. 10, 1831, aged
thirty-three years ; his wife, Nov. 9, 1879, aged eighty years. Catherine, the only daughter, was
born Jan. 26, 1784. She married Andrew Frybarger and emgrated to Indiana, where she died, Jan.
5, 1867, aged eighty-four years. The descendants of the four brothers who lived and died in
Clermont County are numerous. They are noted for their industry, economy, and intelligence,
exerting a good influence on society. Several of them have filled State and county offices of
importance.
Daniel Morgan, a native of Baltimore, moved with his family to Ohio in 1799, and the same year
raised a crop of corn opposite Milford. That fall he came to Goshen, settling on the farm now
owned by Thomas Porter. He was a tanner, and carried on his trade in a small way on his farm. He
was also a collar-maker, and supplied the early settlers with that much-needed article. In I826 he
moved to Delaware County, where he died. His eldest son, Joseph, in 1826 came into the
possession of the homestead, and lived there many years. served in the war of 1812. In 1815 he
married Ann Gundy, who was born at Chillicothe, where her father had erected one of the first
wills in the State. In subsequent years the family was forced to flee from a new home on account
of Indian troubles, some of the whites being massacred. Ann Gundy and others, in their efforts to
escape, lived on wild herbs and berries eleven days. She died in March, 1879, and one of her sons,
Silas, is yet a citizen of Goshen. Other sons of Daniel Morgan were Daniel, who moved to Lee
County, Ill.; and John, who deceased in Indiana. Their sister Mary yet resides in Wisconsin, at the
age of ninety-three years.
In 1800, Andrew Shetterly, who came from the same locality in Pennsylvania as the Myers family,
settled cast of Morgan's, and lived in that locahty until his death, about 1840. His son, Philip, died
on the homestead several years later. On an adjoining farm George, another son, yet resides at an
advanced age. Henry and David moved to Indiana. The only daughter, Betsey, married John
Graham, a school-teacher and the author of a pioneer arithmetic, who also moved to Indiana. The
descendants of the Shetterlys became very numerous.
Adam Hoy, another Pennsylvanian, lived south of this locality, coining about 1801. He had a son
named David. Neighbors to these were the Mock and Stoner families, also early settlers, whose
descendants removed. Philip Stoner was a man of prodigious strength, who often exercised his
muscular powers in fisticuffs, being reputed the " best" man in all Northern Clermont. Northwest
from here, Abraham and Joseph Haines were pioneers, corning soon after 1801. Some time about
1830 they removed to Indiana.
The Leevers were relatives of the Shetterlys, and one of them (Adam) came with that family, but
returned to Pennsylvania, and did not permanently locate in Goshen until 18I4. He then settled on
the Obannon, on the farm which had been improved by his brother Peter, who had come to
Goshen a number of years earlier. There Adam Leever lived until his death, about fifteen years
ago. After Peter had sold out he removed to the eastern part of Goshen, where he improved
another farm and lived until his death. George Leever, a third brother, came about 1856, and
settled in the Myers neighborhood, deceasing in the township. In 1810, Lewis Leever, at that time
but twelve years of age, rode from Centre Co., Pa., to Goshen on horseback, and has since resided
in the township, being now one of the oldest citizens. Benjamin Leever came at a later period, and
settled about three miles from Goshen. The Leevers became a very numerous family, and their
descendants constitute some of the beat citizens of Northwestern Clermont.
Andrew Anshutz, a brother-in-law of the Leevers, came to Goshen at a later day, settling on the
farm which is yet
GOSHEN TOWNSHIP - 491
occupied by him, north of Obannon Creek. He reared sons named Allen B., John, and Granville,
all of them dentists by profession, the former being resident at Goshen.
South from Goshen, John Irwin settled about 1800. He was an active Methodist, and the early
meetings of that denomination were held at his house, and later the first meeting-house was
erected on his farm. Of his children, Harvey is yet living in the township, one of its oldest citizens.
He was an old-time justice of the peace, and it is said that he carried his dockets and legal papers
around in his hat. The Irwins at present residing in the township are his descendants.
Elijah Applegate, a carpenter by trade, settled north of Irwin, on a place which was afterwards
owned by Frederick Doughman ; the father of sons named Peter, Henry, Jacob, Andrew, and
Samuel, and of daughters who married Ephraim Smith, John Ringer, Jacob Snider, and James
Simonton. Elijah Applegate made some of the first fanning- mills used by the pioneers. He died
on the farm now owned by his son Perine ; another son, John, deceased in the township. Nathaniel
Clark was an early settler in Goshen, and made some of the first reeds used by the pioneer
mothers in weaving.
North of Goshen Richard Westerfield settled about 1804, on the farm now owned by the widow
Rogers. The family has removed. On the Trump place Gabriel Karns settled about the same time.
He had a small mill and distillery, and also worked at the blacksmith trade. His sons David,
Henry, and Gabriel also became blacksmiths, and Jacob was a Dunkard preacher. Near by Jacob
Garver, the first Dunkard preacher in these parts, lived as early as 1806. William Stouder was a
pioneer on the present J. Stouder place. On this farm was a deer-lick, which gave the name to the
brook. Christian Stouder lived on the present Joseph Gibbs farm. Both had large families, and
most of the Stouders belonged to the Dunkards. Before 1806, Joshua Cox settled on the Obannon,
on the place which had been improved by Peter Wilson, where were the first mills in this part of
the county. Here he lived until his death. The homestead is now occupied by his son William. An
elder brother, Samuel, died in the western part of the township. The Cox family came from New
Jersey.
From the State of Virginia came John Custer, soon after 1800, and purchased a large tract of land
in the southwestern part of Goshen, which he sold, with the improvements, in 1809 to Michael
Banghart, of New Jersey. The latter lived there until his family was grown up. Emanuel Custer, a
son of John, came from North Carolina in 1810, and settled in the same neighborhood, where he
died in 1840. his son, John, yet resides in that locality, and Henry removed to Iowa. His daughters
married Ephraim Short and George Ward. Further north, on the present turnpike, John and Jesse
Smith, natives of New Jersey, settled before the war of 1812. Of the sons of the former, John and
Jacob yet live in that locality, and Samuel, Elias, and Abraham have deceased. The sons of Jesse
Smith were George and Josiah, deceased, and Jesse and Garrett, yet hving in Goshen.
Another New Jersey settlement was formed in the southeastern part of Goshen by the Randall,
Brunson, and other families. John Randall came in 1814, and began improving a tract of 600 acres
in the Shiloh locality. Here he died in October, 1849, having reared a large family, of which
Pervise is one of the sons ; and the wives of Edward Chaney and Caleb S. Laycock are daughters.
John Brunson was the father-in-law of John Randall, and settled about two years earlier, on an
adjoining farm. Only some of the children of Andrew Brunson, the youngest son, remain in the
township. Prior to these the Harris family lived in this locality. The father, John Harris, had made
his first settlement on the island at Plainville, but was forced to leave it by the high water. He then
came to Goshen, where he died about one hundred years of age. After Randall's settlement
William Harris and Silas Jordan, who had occupied that land, moved to Wayne township. Abner
Harris died on the Walker farm. His son, Hiram, lost his life in the war of 1812, and John W.,
another son, died east of Shiloh. Lewis Caudle lived on an adjoining place before 1812, selling his
farm to Jonathan Schooley, who remained until death on this farm.
In the Harris neighborhood Judge John Beatty lived. He was a just and upright man, greatly
esteemed by the people of the county. Of his sons, Maj. William T. Beatty, who did valiant
service in the late war, lives in Nebraska. Abram died in the township, and John moved to
California. His daughters married Oscar McClellan, John D. Randall, George Roudebush, and
Nelson Williams. Another New Yorker was Stephen Pray, who made his settlement here about
1815, in which year his son, John W. Pray, was born in Goshen. Other sons were Hiram, Charles,
Stephen, and George. On the Lebanon road, east from the Shiloh meeting-house, Lewis Chaney, a
native of Maryland, settled about 18I5. He died many years ago. His son Thomas resides in
Warren County, and other sons live in Jackson.
Dr. Josiah Lyman, a native of Vermont, removed with his family, consisting of two small
children, to Goshen in 1816, and was the first physician in dre township. His practice extended
over a large scope of territory and continued until 1824, when he removed to Batavia. Dr. Daniel
Stone Lyman, born at Goshen, in November, 1820, is the only survivor of the family, and resides
at Goshen.
Townsend and Benjamin Thacker, natives of Essex Co., N. Y., came to Cincinnati in 1815, and
the following spring settled in Goshen. The former purchased the present Trump farm at
Charleston, where he died in 1845. His son, William, removed to Michigan, where he died at the
age of eighty-one years. He was the father of Dr. Townsend Thacker and Mrs. George Scott, of
Goshen. The second son of Townsend Thacker was John O., who died in 1845 ; and the third son,
Dr. Isaac N., at present resides in Defiance, One of the daughters married John Roudebush, and
for her second husband, John Oliver.
Benjamin Thacker died oh the Lyman farm at Goshen about 1842. He was the father of Stephen
Thacker, of Illinois; of' Dr. John, a physician, who died at Goshen in February, 1837, and who
was the father of Dr. John A. Thacker, of Cincinnati.
John Haight, a Vermonter, settled in the Shiloh neighborhood about 1818, and died there at an
early day. He had sons named Jared and William. The former resided
492 - HISTORY OF CLERMONT COUNTY, OHIO.
at Goshen, and was in his time an active business man, taking contracts on publio works. Samuel
Nichols, a native of New York, moved from Cincinnati to Goshen village in 1820, where he
became a business man of varied interests, dying here in 1867. He was the father of W. H.
Nichols, of Goshen; Theodore, of Indianapolis ; and a daughter, who became the wife of William
Haight, of Goshen. About this time Ebenezer Pruden became a citizen of Goshem He was the
father of Judge Pruden, of Cinoinnati. Jesse Wood and his brother, Elias, also became residents
near this period. The former lived in the hollow near the old Jackson tavern until his death, after
1832. One of his daughters was married to H. P. Parker, the pioneer merchant of the village. In
1826, John Oliver came to Goshen, and died near the village in 1859. He was a native of New
Jersey, and was the father of Caleb Oliver, of Goshen, and of two sons, who removed to
California.
The same year Daniel Holmes became a citizen of Clermont County, and was known as one of
Goshen's most successful business men. His sons, John and George W., are yet aotive citizens of
the village. On the turnpike, near the Warren County line, Samuel Renner was a pioneer, and his
son, Gilman S., of whom a sketch appears in this book, is yet a resident of that locality. Farther
east, the township was not settled so early. Samuel Leonard was one of the first there. He became
very aged, dyiug at the age of ninety-three years. In the fall of 1833, S. B. W. Felter began to hew
out a home on a dense piece of woodland of 52 acres. By hard work he has increased his
possessions until his acres number 800, on which are settled his sons, —Samuel, Daniel, Isaac,
Andrew, and Levi. Next after Felter came Philip Schuyler, who died in that locality, and Joseph
Hall, who yet lives on the place he settled.
In Goshen died, in 1874, Peter Ringer, the father of John Ringer, in the ninety-fifth year of his
age. He was the son of a wine-grower of Strasburg, Germany, and at the age of fifteen years was
drafted into the French army. He served under Napoleon seven years, being with him in his
campaigns to Holland and Spain. In the latter country he witnessed fearful carnage, and once had
to subsist on human blood. He was also with Napoleon in his famous retreat from Mosoow, and
endured intense suffering. At Gibraltar he was taken prisoner, and for a time confined in a
dungeon, but managed to escape, when the British forced him into their own ranks and sent him
with their forces to Quebec. Here he gained his freedom, and fleeing to New York became a
citizen of this country in 18I4. In 1822 he came to Goshen, and passed the remainder of his life
there, dying at the home of his son, John.
Among the earliest improvements was a hewed-log house, built by John Irwin in 1808, which is
yet standing; also a frame house, built by Elijah Applegate for Jesse Wood in 1816 ; and a brick
house, built in I824, by Samuel Malsberry, one of the early settlers of the township. The fine brick
house occupied 1)y Richard Roudebush, west of the village, was built in 1831 by David
Roudebush. On that farm is also one of the earliest orchards.
To the names of the pioneers above given might be added many more did our space allow. A
general view of the condition of the settlement half a century ago is afforded by the appended
LIST OF PROPERTY-HOLDERS IN 1826.
Nouresidence is shown by an asterisk prefixed to the names. Many so marked became settlers
soon after.
Applegate, Elijah, No. 2376; Joseph Gerard, orig. prop.
Anderson, John.
Anderson, Samuel, No. 3623; Joseph Lindsey, orig. prop.
*Atherstone, Jonathan, No. 2377; William Lytle, orig. prop.
*Avery, John L., & Co., No. 2377; William Lytle, orig. prop.
Banghart, Michael, No. 3776 ; John Higgins, orig. prop.
Binkley, Sarah, No. 2365; R. C. Anderson, orig. prop.
Bobs, Adam.
Buzatt, Sarah.
Buzatt, Timothy, No. 519; J. T. Griffin, orig. prop.
•Barrett, William, No. 710; William Barrett, orig. prop.
*Burrows, Cyrus, No. 2377; William Lytle, orig. prop.
*Brunson, John H., No. 2377; William Lytle, orig. prop.
Brunson, James, No. 2377; William Lytle, orig. prop.
*Budd, John, No. 3801; Henry Vowles, orig. prop.
Custer, Emanuel, No. 3775; James Morrison, orig. prop.
Clough, John P., No. 2377; William Lytle, orig. prop.
Chaney, Thomas.
Chaney, Lewis, No. 2385; R. C. Anderson, orig. prop.
Collard, James.
Cox, Joshua, No. 2190; William Lytle, orig. prop.
*Cable, Samuel, No. 12,079 ; Samuel Cable, orig. prop.
*Chapman, Zachariah, No. 5960; James Taylor, orig. prop.
•Cook, Mathias S., No. 12,677; Mathias Cook, orig. prop.
Doughman, Frederick, No. 2376 ; Joseph Gerard, orig. prop.
Dunlap, John
Dunning, Fest's, No. 3801 ; Henry Vowles, orig. prop.
Duncans, James.
Dunnell, William, No. 2191 ; William Nall, orig. prop.
•Doughman, John, No. 2376; James Gerard, orig. prop.
*Dodge, Robert, No. 5960; James Taylor, orig. prop.
*Drake, Aaron, No. 3801; Henry Vowles, orig. prop.
*Dunham, James, No. 3800; Henry Vowles, orig. prop.
*Dial, John C., No. 10,851; Richard Stark, orig. prop.
Ellis, John.
Eberhart, David.
Etherton, Samuel.
Frybarger, Andrew, No. 2753; Richard Stark, orig. prop.
Frazee, Benjamin.
Frybarger, Peter, No. 2735 ; Richard Stark, orig. prop.
Fisher, Samuel.
Farr, Shuble.
Farquar, Robert.
Fisher, John.
Fisher, David.
Fisher, Rosanna, No. 2193 ; William Broughton, orig. prop.
*Flegal, Valentine, No. 3776; James Smith, orig. prop.
•Fletcher, Jesse, No. 3777 ; Humphries and Bowman, orig. props.
Goodwin, Ebenezer.
Griswold, Oliver.
Green, Jacob.
Howard, William.
Hill, Reason.
Handley, Wm. B., No. 981; J. B. Johnson, orig. proprietor.
Hamilton, Alex., No. 981 ; J. B. Johnson, orig. proprietor.
Hooker, Gamaliel.
Hayward, Nathan.
Haines, Abraham, No. 3776 ; John Higgins, orig. prop.
*Frawley, John, No. 3810; Henry Vowles, original proprietor.
•Hill, Notley, No. 5959; James Taylor, original proprietor.
Irwin, John, No. 3684; Francis Graham, orig. proprietor.
Irwin, Harvey.
Johnston, Edw. C., No. 3623 ; Joseph Lindsey, orig. prop.
*Johnston, John W., No. 2384 ; John W. Johnston, original proprietor.
*Jackson, Jonathan, No. 2377; William Lytle, orig. prop.
Karn, David.
King, George, No. 3684; Francis Graham, orig. proprietor.
King, John P.
King, Hannah.
King, Gabriel.
*Kerns, Gabriet, No. 2377; William Lytle, orig. proprietor.
*Kirby, Timothy, No. 3777 ; Humphries and Bowman, original proprietors.
Leeper, Charles, No. 2196 ; Robert Campbell, orig. prop.
Leever, Lewis, No. 2753; Richard Stark, orig. proprietor.
Leonard, Samuel.
Leppoe, Philip.
Little, John.
Leever, George, No. 3804; James Taylor, original proprietor.
Leever, Benjamin, No. 3804 ; James Taylor, orig. prop.
Lesser, Adam, No. 2193; William Broughton, orig. prop.
Leever, Peter, No. 2406 ; A. Vance, original proprietor.
DR. JOHN E. MYERS
Among the earliest of the sturdy pioneers, who Nettled in the northern part of Clermont before it
was organized as a county, and when it was a part of Hamilton County, and four years before
Ohio was admitted into the Union, was Jacob Myers, of German decent (formerly called Moyer,
but changed by time into Myers). He was burn in Penn's Valley, Pa., in 1770, and in 1795, with
his wife and several acquaintances, emigrated to Lexington, Ky. 1n 1797 he came to Ohio,
stopping at Columbia, then a noted point just above Cincinnati, until Ito could tied lands in the
Northwest Territory that suited him, In the following year, 1798. he removed to what is now
Goshen township of this county, then a part of Amiens: at township of Hamilton County, and later
a part of Deerfield township in same county, and afterwards comprised, until its organization as a
separate township, in Olin non, subsequently called Miami township of Clermont County. In his
avocation as a farmer, by the exercise of shrewdness and foresight, he became the owner of about
fifteen hundred acres of land in Ohio and Indiana, and died in good financial circumstances in
1841. Ho was married to Eve Frybarger about the time of his emigrating to the then territory of the
northwest, and she having died in 1831, he was the second time married,—to beth Reeder, who
died in Iowa.
George Myers, the youngest son of Jacob and Eve (Frybarger) Myers, was born May 17,1804, and
married, Dec. 29,1825, May Emery, daughter of Judge John Emery, by which union the following
children were born: Dr. John Emery Myers; William II. Myers, married to Ametia Dunning,
granddaughter of Hon. Festus Dunning, a representative in the Thirty-second General Assembly
of Ohio in 1833-34 i Martin V. B. Myers, married to Martha Patton, of Brown Co., Ohioi Martha
A. Myers, married to David McNeal ; Marion Myers, married to Eliza J. Dennis, of
Williamsburgh; Eliza J. Myers, who died in infancy ; Mary J. Myers, married to Mrtt Paxton, a
son of Samuel, and grandee!) of Col. Thomas Paxton, the first actual settler in Clermont ; and
Prudence Myers, married to Oscar Wood. George Myers died June 17,1856, and his wife, Mary
(Emery), Aug. 6, 1846. They resided continuously on their fine home farm in Goshen township
from the time of their marriage until their deaths, and by industry, economy, and careful
management became the owners of some six hundred acres of land.
John Emery, the father of Mrs. Myers, had emigrated in 1811 from New Jersey when she WW1
three years old, and settled near the present town of Loveland. It is character for stern integrity,
together with his strong native intellect, made him a prominent actor in the political movements of
that day, filling the offices of justice of the peace in Miami township a number of terms,
representative in the Legislature in 1828-29, when Judge Jacob Burnet was elected United States
senator, lire of the three associate judges of the Clermont Common Pleas Court from 1832 to
1837, and being defeated when is candidate for State senator in the Clermont and Brown District
by is small majority on a local issue. When Judge Emery was in the Legislature the Goshen,
Wilmington and Wooster turnpike from Cincinnati to Cleveland via Colton- bus was chartered
through his influence, aided by Judge J. H Larwell, then a senator from Wayne County.
Dr. John Emery Myers, son of George and Mary (Emery) Myers. was born April 22, 1827, and
was raised on his father's farm, following the occupation of fanning until twenty years of age. At
twerve years of age he wee attacked with lung disease, superinduced by being run over by a
heavily loaded wagon, and being in too delicate health for severe manual labor, he chose medicine
as his profession, and began his medical studies with Dr. A. B. Emery in 1827, aUd on Ids
(Emery's) removal in the farl of that year went into the office of Dr. Minor T. Ross, of Goshen, as
a student. He attended lectures in 1848 and '49 at the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati, under
such noted men as Drs. Bell, of Philadelphia, Baxley, of Baltimore, and Locke, Massey, Edwards,
and Lawson, of Cincinnati, as professors. In the summer, falr, and winter of 1849 he practiced at
Bloom Rose, in Brown County, and in 1851, having matriculated tinder Dr. J. P. Emery,
graduated at the Ohio Medical Correge, and settled in Goshen, where he has since resided,
engaged in an extensive and lucrative practice, save in 187:1 when for a few months a severe
attack of rheumatism compelled him to desist for a while from active labor.
The doctor stands et the heed of his profession in the county as a practitioner, and has kept well
informed in the medical publications of the age, and at the same time thoroughly posted in the
current literature of the day. His practice and excellent business qualities have brought him a
comfortable fortune.
He was married, Feb. 6,1850, by Rev. L. A. Spofford, to Miss Hannah Barr Walker, daughter of
Hillery Walker, one of the early settlers of Williamsburgh. She was born Feb. 21, 1831, in Stirling
township, Brown Co., Ohio, and became acquainted with the doctor while he was practicing at
Bloom Rose the year previous to their marriage. The doctor and his wife have had two children.
—a son, George Baxley, born Dec. 8, 1850, who died in infancy, and Ella Josephine, born May
13, 1853. and married, Jan . 7, 1879, to John D. Kerr, publisher of Ohio Slate Register, at
Washington Court-House, Fayette Co. His daughter (now Mrs. Kerr) is a lady of rare
and literary accomplishments. She was educated at the Goshen Academy, the Gtendale Female
College, and the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. At the latter institution for four years she
studied vocal and instrumental music under able teachers trained in the celebrated schools of Paris
and Stuttgardt. Miss Bauc, directress of the conservatory, was her instructor in vocal, and
Professor Andre in instrumental music, attaining to a high degree of excellence in both branches.
Dr. Myers has always been engaged more or less in politics, and has acquired celebrity by his
contributions to the press and hie eloquent speeches on the stump. A Democrat in his political
doctrines, he has folrowed the flag of his party in good an evil fortunes, and never loses faith in
the ultimate triumph of its principles. In 1859, upon the withdrawal of Hon. John Johnston, he
was nominated by acclamation as representative by the County Democratic Convention, and after
the most hotly contested erection over known in Ctermont was victorious over Hon. Philip B.
Swing, now judge of the United States District Court for Southern District of Ohio. He carried his
own township (Goshen) by fifty- four majority, before that time the vote usually resulting in a do
between the two great parties, and took his seat in the Fifty-fourth General Assembly on Jan. 2,
1860. He served on standing and special committees, among which were those of " Benevolent
Institutions," "Enrollment," and the committee appointed to investigate the condition of Kansas,
then exciting a national interest. In the Legislature he took a prominent position, and was highly
complimented by the famous author and poet, W. C. Howelrs, for his stirring speech in reply to an
attack upon hint by his colleague from Licking County, Hon. William B. Woods, speaker of the
previous House. The Legislature of which he was a member was one of the ablest that ever
convened at the State capital, and witnessed the opening of the Rebellion and in its second and
closing session of the spring and summer of 1861 was occupied in measures and laws preparing
the State to furnish its quota of men and means for the suppression of the Rebellion.
Dr. Myers was the author of the following resolution, offered in joint convention of the two
houses by Judge George W. Andrews, member from Auglaize, who took it from the doctor's
hands and tried to get the credit of its authorship:
" Resolved, That in the judgment of this joint committee the election of any man to the 8enate of
the United States, wino, being a member of Congress and one of a committee to consider
remedies for the existing national difficulties, opposed to all offers of compromise, would be
doing violence to the feelings of the people. and tend to complicate national troubles and hasten a
dissolution of the Union."
This was to head off John Sherman, the RepublicaU candidate for senator, but by a strict party
vote of seventy-six to fifty-three it foals tabled. The doctor attended the reception given by
Governor Dennison to President Lincoln during his stay in Columbus while etl route to
Washington, and on being introduced the doctor said, You look fatigued, and I will not detain
you, Mr. Lincoln ;" when the President elect replied that he was fatigued, "But you know one can
stand to great deal when well ftattered," thins showing the heart of the patriot President, who
knew the hollow conventionalities of public and fashionable etiquette, but whose noble soul beat
in warm unison with the common people and with humanity however poor or distressed, The
doctor made an honorable record as a legislator, and in all his career, public and private, has an
untarnished reputation. He has been for many years an active and contours member of the
Independent Order of Odd-Fellows, and belongs to Shilo Lodge, No. 232, in which he has passed
all the chairs. He is connected with the Presbyterian Church, and in the cruise of Sunday-schools
and educational matters has ever taken the liveliest interest. His residence is in the town of
Goshen. and is one of the finest in the county.
GOSHEN TOWNSHIP - 493
Legg, Arthur.
*Layman, Witliam, No. 3801 ; Henry Vowles, orig. prop.
Morris, Jacob.
Malsberry, Samuel, No. 2374; Henry Voden, orig. prop.
Mayers, John.
Malsberry, Isaac.
Mayers, Jacob, Jr.
Mayers, Jacob.
Morgan, Joseph, No. 3804; James Taylor, original proprietor.
Meek, Samuel G.
Meeker, Enoch.
Murphy, James.
Morgan, Abraham, No. 3790; James Taylor, orig. prop.
Morgan, Joseph, No. 2753 ; Richard Stark, orig. proprietor.
McDonough, Samuel, No. 3804 ; James Taylor, orig. prop.
Miller, Abraham.
*Myers, Jacob, No. 3777; Alex. Humphries, orig. prop.
*Mathews, George, No. 524; Richard Call, orig. prop.
Mitchell, James, No. 2374; Henry Voden, orig. prop.
Nichols, Samuel.
Newton, Etijah.
*Nifong, Andrew, No. 3776; Johm Higgins, orig. prop.
Owen, Joseph.
Orn, 1saac.
Oliver, John.
Opdyke, Samuel.
Patton, Robert, No. 2377; William Lytle, orig. proprietor.
Pray, Stephen, No. 2377; William Lytle, orig. proprietor.
Pruden, Ebenezer, No. 2377; William Lytle, orig. prop.
Porter, William, No. 8288 ; William Porter, orig. prop.
Roudebush, Daniel, No. 2377; William Lytle, orig. prop.
Roudebush, John, No. 2753; Richard Stark, orig. prop.
Reed, Conrad.
Roberts, Samuel.
Renner, Samuet, No. 3801 ; Henry Vowles, orig. prop.
Reath, Amos.
Reader, George.
Roudebush, Daniel.
*Ramsey, William, No. 519; J. T. Griffin, orig. proprietor.
*Riggs, Beniah, No. 3776; John Higgins, orig. proprietor.
*Roudebush, David, No. 2753; Richard Stark, orig. prop.
*Roudebush, Christiana, No. 2753; Richard Stark, original proprietor.
Stroup, Jacob, Jr.
Stroup, Jacob, No. 7093; Abraham Bowman, original prop.
Snider, Abraham.
Smith, Jesse, No. 3776; John Higgins, original prop.
Smith, Josiah.
Smith, Elias.
Smith, John, No. 3776; John Higgins, original prop.
Shetterly, George, No. 3777; Alexander Humphries, orig. proprietor.
Shetterty, Philip, No. 2753 ; Richard Stark, original prop.
Stephens, William.
See, Elias.
Stouder, William, No. 2385; R. C. Anderson, orig. prop.
Simpson, James.
Shetterly, David, No. 2953; Richard Stark, orig. prop.
Shriner, Christopher, No. 519; J. T. Griffin, orig. prop.
Smith, Hannah.
Shaw, Thomas, No. 3776; John Higgins, original prop.
*Sawyer, Nathaniel, No. 12,714; Nathaniel Sawyer. original proprietor.
Thacker, Townsend, No. 2406; A. Vance, original prop.
Tripp, Wm. D., No. 5959; James Taylor, original prop.
Thacker, Benjamin, No. 2753; Richard Stark, orig. prop.
*Taylor, James, No. 5959 ; James Taylor, original prop.
*Taylor, Winston & Berry, No. 519 ; J. T. Griffin, original proprietor.
*Thompson, Elias, No. 3801 ; Henry Vowles, orig. prop.
*Tripp, Elizabeth, No. 2283; Jas. McCardle, original prop.
Vanbenthusen, James.
Willy, Ira.
Willy, Elijah, Jr.
Weaver, Frederick, No. 2377; Wm. Lytte, original prop.
Weaver, Jacob.
Willy, Elijah.
Wood, Jesse, No. 2377; William Lytle, original proprietor.
*Winston, Samuel, No. 2374; Hoary Voden, original prop.
*Wade, David, No. 3775; James Morrison, original prop.
*Wilcox, Joseph L., No. 12,232; Witcox and Lytle, orig. props.
*Lytle, William, No. 12,232; Wilcox and Lytle, orig. props.
At this time, the owners of village lots at Goshen were as follows :
J. & C. Hinckley.
John P. Clough.
Lot Cooper.
Festus Dunning.
John Hill.
Jonathan H. Jackson.
Hector Lynch.
Peter Lee.
Jacob Myers.
Samuet Malsberry,
Samuel Nichols.
Ebenezer Pruden.
Jacob Stroup.
William D. Tripp.
George, Elias, and Jesse Wood.
The lots were valued at $1320, and the tax levied on them was $9.24. The tax on real estate
outside of the village was $300.32 ; and the tax on personal property was only $70.33. At that
period the number of horses were 171, and of neat cattle, 351.
CIVIL ORGANIZATION.
None of the records of Goshen from its organization in 1819 till 1867 have been preserved. That
year the principal officers were : Trustees, Jesse Smith, Daniel Bishop, R. C. Williamson ; Clerk,
A. K. Smith ; Treasurer, Joseph Roudebush ; Assessor, A. H. Beatty.
1869.—Trustees, Daniel Shough, Merlon Myers, Alex. C. Brown ; Cterk, A. B. Applegate;
Treasurer, Daniel Holmes; Assessor, R. B. Irwin.
1869.—Trustees, A. C. Brown, Marion Myers, George Myers; Clerk, Goo. S, Renner; Treasurer,
Daniel Holmes; Assessor, Geo. W. Fagin.
1870.—Trustees, Geo. W. Myers Silas M. Hughes, L. A. Frye; Cterk, G. S. Renner; Treasurer,
Daniel Holmes; Assessor, G. W. Fagin.
1871.—Trustees, Silas Hutchinson, B. F. Saxton, Edmund Schooley ; Clerk, G. S. Renner;
Treasurer, Daniet Holmes; Assessor, G. W. Fagin.
1872.—Trustees, Edmund schooley, Marion Myers, Perine Applegate; Clerk, W. B. Applegate;
Treasurer, John Berger; Assessor, Geo. W. Fagin.
1873.—Trustees, Samuel Eveland, Marion Myers, Geo. Fulter ; Clerk, C. S. Laycock ; Treasurer,
John Berger ; Assessor, Geo. W. Fagin.
1874.--Trustees, P. A. Hall, S. W. B. Feller, G. W. Fuller ; Clerk, C. S. Laycock ; Treasurer, John
Berger ; Assessor, T. J. Doughman.
1875.—Trustees, J. C. Bird, G. W. Smyser, Perine Applegate; Clerk, C. S. Laycock ; Treasurer,
John Berger; Assessor, T. J. Doughman.
1876.--Trustees, G. S. Renner, G. W. Smysor, P. A. Halt ; Clerk, C. S. Laycock ; Treasurer, John
Berger ; Assessor, G. W. Fagin.
1877.—Trustees, G. S. Renner, P. H. Hall, Samuel B. Myers ; Clerk, C. S. Laycock ; Treasurer,
John Berger, Assessor, Geo. W. Fagin.
1878.—Trustees, P. A. Hall, John Smysor, Samuel B. Myers ; Clerk, A. K. Smith ; Treasurer,
John Berger; Assessor, Geo. W. Fagin.
1879.—Trustees, John Smysor, Alfred Haywood, L. G. Felter ; Clerk, A. K. Smith ; Treasurer,
John Berger ; Assessor, Geo. W. Fagin ; Justice of the Peace, Wm. Yost ; Constables, S. J.
Morgan and Moses Bowman.
The levy for township purposes was one mill on the dollar ; for roads, one mill ; for cemetery
purposes, one-fourth of a mill. Several cemeteries in the township have been improved by
appropriations voted at the annual meetings, and have been placed in a fine condition.
Goshen has railway communication by means of the Cincinnati and Marietta Railroad, which
passes through the northwestern corner of the township, with a station at Hill's. Entering from the
west and passing towards the northeastern corner of Goshen is the Columbus and Wooster
turnpike, an improved road, whose superior is not found in this part of the State. Other roads in
Goshen have been fairly improved, and usually the highways are in a good condition.
MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES.
On the Obannon Creek, near where it passes out of the township, Peter Wilson, a millwright from
Kentucky, put
494 - HISTORY OF CLERMONT COUNTY, OHIO
up small mills SS early as 1798. Both were of meagre capacity, yet proved a great accommodation
to the people of Southern Warren and Northern Clermont. In the course of years a small distillery
was also here carried on by the subsequent owner, Joshua Cox.
Below the forks of the Obannon, Peter Frybarger got in operation a saw-mill as early as 1808. The
site was kept up for milling purposes a number of years. Six or seven years later David
Roudebush put up a grist-mill on the South Branch, the work being done by John Sears as
millwright. He operated it a number of years, and for a time also a small distillery. At a later day
Wm. Martin had a saw-mill near by, and below this point were saw-mills carried on by Elijah
Applegate, Samuel Eveland, and Robert McClave. About 1848, Dr. John W, Walker erected a
grist-mill on the Obannon, three miles from Goshen, which was last operated by steam-power, but
was suffered to go down after a dozen years.
On the North Branch, on the place now owned by Nicholas Burkhart, Daniel Roudebush had an
oil-mill and sawmill. A grist-mill by Jacob Kars was got into operation forty years ago, and later
the same party had a saw-mill on one of the branches of the Obannon.
On the South Branch the Irwin family had mills at an early day, and after the failure of the
water-power steam- power was added by Yost & Wood. The mills were destroyed by fire. At
Shiloh is a steam saw-mill of small capacity, which is at present the property of Geo. Scott.
Some time about 1860, Wm. Yost built saw- and gristmills at Goshen village, which were
operated by him and Joseph Williams, but after some years were suffered to go down. For a time
the village was without a mill, but lately a fine one has been erected by G. W. Holmes and Geo.
A. Johnston. The building is a four-story frame, 40 by 42 feet, and is supplied with modern
machinery. The motor is steam, which is made to operate four runs of stones, several of which are
employed in the new milling process. A large amount of custom and merchant work is done, and
the mill in its appointments and products has no superior in the county.
In the eastern part of Goshen, Meek & Teator had a horse-mill, many years ago, in connection
with which were operated carding-machines and an ; and, in addition to the distillers already
named, Joseph Morgan and Andrew Frybarger had distilleries in the township.
More than fifty years ago Daniel Roudebush had a tannery near his mills, which was afterwards
carried on by Joseph Roudebush.
At Goshen, Samuel Nichols had a tannery near the site of the old hotel, and in the northern part of
the village Bartholomew Shannon and Arthur 'McNeal, in former days, carried on that business.
Nearly all of these interests have declined, and Goshen is in the fullest sense an agricultural
township, and there are but few
HAMLETS AND VILLAGES.
At Hill's Station, on the Cincinnati and Marietta Rail. road, a small store has been irregularly kept,
and in 1871 a post-office was there established, with Barton K. Briscow postmaster. In 1873 he
was succeeded by Bennett Simonton, and four years later the present C. Schukraft was appointed,
The hamlet contains but a few houses. Two miles south of Goshen is the hamlet of
CHARLESTON,
which contains a good school-house, a Methodist Episcopal church, and in the immediate locality
are half a dozen houses. Forty years ago William Vaughn opened a store at this point, but in a few
years he was succeeded by Charles Thacker, who applied the name to the locality. In 1848,
George W. Boutell engaged here in trade, and has since continued, keeping also a private
post-office. Formerly the ordinary mechanic trades were here carried on, but at present there are
only a few small cooperages. East from this hamlet is the
SHILOH NEIGHBORHOOD,
containing a school-house, church, store, shops, and steam saw-mill. Joseph Gaskell was the first
in trade, about 1856, and near the same time David Picklehiemer had another store in this locality.
Gaskell was succeeded by the Rev. Alexander Jamieson, and since I873 Pervise Randall has kept
the store. Near at hand Henry Mizener, Isaac Watson, Samuel Reed, and others have had
blacksmith-shops, and south of this point Henry Jones has a woodwork-shop. In this locality John
D. Randall had a tile-factory a few years from 1870. On the State road, east from Goshen, is an
old blacksmith stand, at present carried on by Arnold Elstun, and farther east D. M. Mitchel has
had a shoemaker's-shop since 1861, in which from two to four hands have been employed.
GOSHEN.
This pleasant village is near the south branch of the Obannon, on the Cincinnati and Wooster
turnpike, near the centre of the township. The location is particularly favorable for a village, the
site being elevated and having easy drainage, which greatly promotes the healthfulness and
cleanliness of the place. Few unincorporated villages exhibit such well-kept streets, cosy
residences, and attractive surroundings as Goshen, while in business importance and the enterprise
and intelligence of its citizens no village in Southern Ohio surpasses it. There are a seminary,
three good churches, two fine halls, used by the Masons and the Odd-Fellows, and the interests
detailed in the following pages.
Goshen derives its name from a place in New York which bears a similar appellation, and was
laid out by John Winans and Lot Cooper, Oct. 25, 18I6. The original plat embraced 86 lots, to
which an addition was made March 16, 1818, by Jesse Wood, of 82 lots. Nov. 25, 1833, Dr.
Samuel G. Meek, Jesse Wood, John P. Clough, Abram Teator, Lewis Chaney, Nathan Haywood,
John Frybarger, Cornelius Glass, Ebenezer Pruden, and B. M. Jackson made an addition of 99
lots, which is sometimes called East Goshen, Daniel Roudebush made another addition of 27 lots,
Feb. 16, 1836 ; and on the 24th of April, 1849, all the lots laid out up to that period were
renumbered by John Ferguson and L. B. Leeds from I to 212 inclusive. The last addition was
made Feb. 28, 1874, by William Haight, and consisted of 11 lots near the seminary.
Cooper and Winans resided in Cincinnati, and laid out
GOSHEN TOWNSHIP - 495
Goshen as a speculative measure ; and it does not appear that any building was put up until the
following year, when they erected a log house on the present George Holmes' lot, and opened
there the first store. After a short time Robert McMullen used it for a public-house. The first brick
building was erected in the eastern part of Goshen by Dr. S. G. Meek, and is at present the
residence of William Yost, Esq. The first store building was built on the lot where is now the
residence of Dr. Thacker, a part of the building having entered into its construction. When the
store was raised Henry Shetterly mounted the building and stood on his head on the ridge-pole,
receiving as a reward for his daring a gallon of wine. As the rich surrounding country was settled
up and improved the village grew apace, and in 1837 the owners of houses were Jesse Adams,
Thomas Brunson, Benjamin Chaney, J. P. Chapman, Lewis Chaney, James B. Dickey, Festus
Dunning, Tubal Early, Moses Frybarger, Absalom Fisher, John Frybarger, Gest & Hockey,
Abraham Gibson, William D. Tripp, Abram Teator, Benjamin Thacker, Ezekiel Vaughn, H.
Vaughn, Andrew Morrow, and R. R. McKinnie. The four stores were kept by Albert Dart, George
King, Samuel G. Meek, and C. H. Vaughn.
In the fall of 1817, Paddleford & Parker opened the first regular store in Goshen, occupying the
building before mentioned. The old account-book the firm used has been preserved, and is now in
Dr. Thacker's possession. From its pages it appears that the market ruled as follows: "Wheat, 75
cents per bushel ; corn, 12 cents; oats, 311 cents ; salt, $2 ; cigars, 311 cents per hundred ; butter,
121 cents per pound; powder, 75 cents; tea, $2 ; nails, 25 cents; muslin, $1 per yard; calico, 621
cents."
In October, 18I7, appear 220 charges of whisky, 201 quarts, at 25 cents per quart, showing that it
was one of the staple articles of merchandise. Nearly every patron of the store had one or more
whisky debits on his account current.
Paddleford & Parker were in trade about two years, and were succeeded by Shubal Farr. The latter
had in subsequent years as associates James C. Hanley and George King. In 1830, Dr. S. G. Meek
engaged in trade in the Yost building, and subsequently erected the Dr. Anshutz house, where he
also traded. Then came Albert Dart, C. H. Vaughn, Samuel Nichols, Moses Frybarger, Arthur
McNeal, Job and William Randall, Simeon Salesman, Samuel Trimmer, John Burkett, and others.
The first drug-store in Goshen was opened by Dr. Thacker in 1866, and three years ago the stock
was sold to David Roudebush, who enlarged the trade and occupies a well- appointed building. In
addition to these firms, James Maloy has a grocery-store at Goshen.
Festus Dunning was one of the early wheelwrights in Goshen, having shops in the hollow, east of
the main village. In 1836 he began pork-packing, having a large building devoted to this purpose
near the present residence of John Bird. He came to Goshen from the &ate of New York in 1816,
and removed to Iowa about 1840. In his day he was one of the most active business men, and was
at one time a member of the Legislature.
In 1840, Daniel Holmes began merchandising, locating his store near the centre of the village in
1849, where he was successfully in trade until 1865. He was succeeded by his sons, John and
George W., who were in business until 1878, when John Holmes alone continued the trade. His
store is the largest and best appointed in the county. It embraces a two-story building, 20 feet wide
by 170 feet long, with a grocery-room attached, 12 by 40 feet, well stocked with all lines of goods.
He has a patronage from many miles around. The dry-goods store of Holmes & Burger is also on a
large scale, embracing one story of a building 130 feet long.
The public-house at present kept by Milton Cook was opened as the first house of entertainment,
before 1820, by James Adams. It is the oldest frame building in the village, but has been changed
somewhat. Among the landlords there were Jesse Wood, John Oliver, Reason Hill, Samuel
Nichols, William Haight, Mahlon Anderson, Benjamin Smith, and G. Conover. The "Toman
House" was opened to the public in 1854 by John Simpkins, and has been kept by the present
William Toman since 1863. Here is the office of the Milford stage (daily), and the stages to make
connections with the trains at Hill's Station call several times per day, bringing the village in easy
communication with Cincinnati. In the hollow east of the main village, Jonathan H. Jackson had a
tavern before the turnpike was built ; and opposite the " Cook House" Preston Bishop and
Bartholomew Shannon entertained the public in former days. For a short period a hotel was also
kept in the building which now forms the residence of William Haight, by Daniel Roudebush and
others.
The mechanic trades have had many representatives. James Morrow and Richard Belt were
old-time shoemakers. In 1836, Samuel C. Smith engaged in that trade here, and carried on the
manufacture of shoes until 1859, when he VMS succeeded by the present shoe dealer, A. K.
Smith. As a wagon-maker, Festus Dunning employed half a dozen
496 - HISTORY OF CLERMONT COUNTY, OHIO.
hands ; and afterwards Hector Seeley had a good shop in the western part of the village. The
present wheelwrights are Peter Conner and Ellison Kemp.
Among the time-honored blacksmiths were Hector Lynch, who had a shop in the lower part of the
village, and Ephraim Smith, who has here followed that trade for the past fifty-two years. For
many years this trade claimed Ezekiel Vaughn and Abraham Fuller, the latter a good plow-maker.
In addition to the shop carried on by Smith, John Bird and D. Day each had shops.
John P. Clough was the pioneer cabinet-maker, followed by Ephraim Teator ; and the last in that
trade was Isaac Leonard. Nathan Haywood and Elijah Applegate were early carpenters. Anderson
& Derrah had the first and only pottery, about 1849.
John Morgan and Henry Harris were the first and only saddle-tree-makers, at one time employing
eight persons at that trade, in the building at present occupied by J. B. Robbins & Sons as an
agricultural warehouse.
R. B. McKinnie, about 1832, engaged at Goshen in the saddlery business, and continued until not
many years ago. At present J. C. Chatteton is engaged in that trade.
Cornelius Glass was the first gunsmith, and was followed by John Frybarger, who yet lives near
Goshen.
Irwin & Dickey had the first hat-factory, occupying the small frame building which yet stands near
the post-office. David Jones was the last hatter.
Silas H. Heaton was the first tailor. J. and J. C. Felter followed that trade about 1836, and the
present tailor is Robert Hunt.
The Goshen post-office was established March 11, 1823, with Dr. Josiah Lyman, postmaster.
There was a weekly mail, and the rates of postage for a letter were twenty-one cents. The
subsequent postmasters have been : 1827, Samuel G. Meek ; 1841, A. Teator ; I845, Moses
Frybarger ; 1853, Samuel C. Smith ; 1855, Daniel Smith ; 1859, Daniel Holmes ; 1860, J.
Randall; 1863, I. N. Westerfield; 1878, Caleb S. Laycock. The office is supplied with two Eastern
and a like number of Western mails per day. Since July 1, 1875, Goshen has been a postal
money-order office.
The first physician at Goshen to locate in the practice of his profession was Dr. Josiah Lyman, the
father of the present Dr. Daniel S. Lyman. He came from the East in 1816, lived at Goshen until
1824, when he removed to Batavia, but died at Greensburg, Ind. The successive practitioners at
Goshen have been very numerous, embracing Drs. S. G. Meek, John Thacker, A. B. Noble, A.
Dart, John P. Emery, Hir .m Cox, Andrew Robb, Isaac Thacker, John Walker, A. Frybarger, Isaac
Westerfield, Richard Westerfield, and a few others. The present physicians are all graduates of the
Ohio Medical College, and have been located at Goshen, Dr. John E. Myers, for the past
thirty-one years ; Dr. Daniel S. Lyman, for the past twenty-eight years ; Dr. Townsend Thacker,
for the past twenty-five years ; and Dr. Aaron Morris, for the past twelve years. Dr. A. B. Anshutz
is a dentist at Goshen.
Joseph Frybarger was the first regular attorney at Goshen, having an office from 1836 till 1843.
He was a young man of great promise and strong legal acumen, James Dunlap was one of his
students, and followed him in the profession, being here from 1843 till 1878. The present
attorney, William Yost, has been in practice at Goshen since his admission to the bar.
SECRET ORDERS.
Under this head one of the first permanent societies instituted in the township was
SHILOH LODGE, No. 232, I. O. O. F.
It was organized at the village of Goshen, March 27, 1854, with the following charter members :
John Holmes, John Ringer, Job Randall, J. Trump, John Randall, W. Benton, J. N. Jones, M.
Anderson, and Lewis Galvin. Among the early initiates were P. Milner, John Applegate, W. J.
Caudle, James Stouder, W. S. Anderson, John W. Lancaster, Lewis Salesman, and J. E. Myers.
John Randall was elected the first Noble Grand; Joseph Trump, Vice-Grand ; J. N. Jones, Per.
Sec,; John Ringer, Rec. Sec. ; and Lewis Galvin, Treas.
The Noble Grands since the institution of the lodge have been the following :
1854, John Randall, J. Trump ; 1855, J. Ringer, J. Holmes ; 1856, M. Anderson, L. Terwilliger ;
1857, J. Trump, James Adams; 1858, L. Terwilliger, Jos. Williams; 1859, Eli Williams, William
Haight ; 1860, P. A. Hall, J. E. Myers ; 186I, J. W. Ross, James Hitch ; 1862, J. Randall, Noah
Terwilliger; 1863, William Toman, J. Applegate; 1864, J. Ringer, Wrlliam Toman ; 1865, John
Applegate, Jos. Williams; 1866, William B. Applegate, John Ringer; 1867, L. Terwilliger. John
Frybarger ; 1868, A. B. Applegate, D. M. Mitchell ; 1869, B. S. Saxton, George Trump ; I870, H.
R. Hill, James Pray ; 1871, Jonas Ellsworth, Michael Roat ; I872, William F. Ellsworth, Moses
Bowman ; 1873, J. H. Stump, John Ringer ; 1874, Robert Gibbs, Moses Bowman ; 1875, C.
Smith, T. J. Chaney ; 1876, J. C. Bird, David Gibbs ; 1877, J. Ringer, John Yakey ; 1878, R.
Dunlap, H. Gibbs, Jr.; 1879, Silas Hughes, D. Day.
For the first term in 1880 the officers were George Smysor, Noble Grand; John Smysor,
Vice-Grand ; J. C. Bird, Rec. Sec. ; C. Smith, Per. Sec.; John Holmes, Treas.
Shiloh Lodge has contributed members to form Odd- Fellows' lodges at Pleasant Plain, Edenton,
and other points, and its membership, although large in the aggregate, numbers at present but 65.
These assemble in an attractive hall, which was erected on the principal street in Goshen village,
in 1873, at a cost of $3000.
LIVE OAK ENCAMPMENT, 1. O. O. F.,
dates its institution from June 22, 1874, and its charter contains the names of John Ringer,
William Toman, R. A. Gibbs, P. A. Hall, J. Frybarger, John Holmes, J. C. McCord, and J. Debolt.
At the beginning of 1880 it had 30 members and the following officers: L. T. Felter, P.; G. W.
Smith, H. P.; Henry Gibbs, S. W. ; D. Day, J. W.; J. C. Bird, S. ; and John Holmes, T.
Since 1874 the two principal officers have been the following :
Patriarchs.-1874, John Ringer ; 1875, P. A. Hall,
GOSHEN TOWNSHIP - 497
William Toman ; 1876, John Bird, David Gibbs ; 1877, T. J. Cheney, D. M. Mitchell ; 1871;,
John Holmes, R. Dunlap ; 1879, S. M. Hughes, C. Smith.
High Priests.— 1874, P. A. Hall ; 1875, D. M. Mitchell; 1876, George Gibbs, M. McClave ; 1877,
William Gibbs, S. M. Hughes ; 1878, George Smith, G. W. Smith ; 1879, G. W. Smith.
GOSIIEN LODGE, No. 119, F. AND A. M.,
was instituted Oct 25, 1844, with charter members as follows: Thomas H. Folds, Edward C.
Johnson, John Emery, Nathan Haywood, Arthur McNeal, Preston ishop, Richard P. McKinnie,
David Simpkins, Ezra Williams, Abraham B. McNeal, George Gaff, and A. F. McAdams. Among
the first initiates were N. W. Bishop, Jacob Wainwright, Emley Barber, and Alfred Noble.
N. W. Bishop was chosen the first Worshipful Master ; Ezra Williams, Senior Warden ; and A. B.
McNeal, Junior Warden. The lodge has had a good membership, and at present reports 37 as
belonging. The hall in which these hold their communications is a fine two-story building, erected
by the lodge in 1878. It is a frame 26 by 56 feet, costing $1900, and was dedicated Oct. I0, 1878,
by Kelly 0. Neal, of Lebanon, Ohio.
The officers of the lodge in 1880 were Charles W. Robbins, W. M. ; Isaac N. Anderson, S. W.;
Philip A. Hall, J. W. ; William Haight, Treas. ; Daniel L. Bishop, Sec. ; Jacob Wainwright, S. D. ;
John Holmes, J. D. ; and Joseph Daniels, Tyler.
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
One of the first schools in the township was taught in the Myers neighborhood by John Hill. The
house stood on the lot at present occupied by the cemetery, and was but a little better than a but of
round logs. There was a puncheon floor, slab seats, and the windows were of sized paper greased
to more readily admit the light. What heat was required was given out by a huge fire at one end of
the room, the smoke being carried off by a stick chimney on the outside of the house. A better
building afterwards occupied the same site, and schools were there taught many years, among the
teachers being Samuel Anderson, Joshua Simpson, Sarah Roudebush, Absalom Fisher, Alvah
Whitney, and Mary Blackstone.
About 1805 a school was taught in the western part of the township, on the present Porter farm,
the teacher being a muscular Irishman named Mitchel. It was continued but a short time, and was
probably the first in the township. In 1807 a school was taught in a log cabin, a mile south of
Goshen, by Samuel Malsbury. In the village John Beatty (afterwards a judge) taught the first
school. Charles Vaughn, James Simpson, and William Roudebush were also early teachers here.
The records of the township do not afford us an insight of the schools farther back than 1870, the
earlier records having been destroyed.
In 1879 the board of education was composed of Marion Myers, President ; A. K. Smith, Clerk ;
G. W. Cox, S. M. Hughes, L. Sebert, J. C. Bird, G. S. Renner, D. Ferree, F. Wolf, E. Schooley,
John Conley, and Alfred Haywood. There were 11 school buildings, whose average value was
reported at $1000. The schools were maintained thirty- seven weeks per year, and were attended
by 478 pupils, whose instruction cost $3365.
A large degree of interest in higher education was early manifested among the people of' Goshen,
and on the 7th of December, I835, the Rev. L. G. Gaines, the Presbyterian minister, opened a
select school or academy in a log building about a mile and a half southwest from Goshen. The
school was well attended, and under Mr. Gaines' instruction the different studies were successfully
pursued, the pupils making rapid strides in knowledge. Mr. Gaines was a thorough teacher, a rigid
disciplinarian, and labored untiringly to promote the welfare of his school. For a time he was
assisted by Dr. Colin Spence, of Perin's Mills, and it is a somewhat singular fact that of the young
men who attended a large proportion ofsi them became physicians, many of them attaining
eminence in the practice of medicine. Among the pupils of Mr. Gaines' " Quail Aeademy," as it
was locally called (probably from a fancied resemblance to a quail-trap), were Dr. Townsend
Thacker and Dr. John E. Myers, of Goshen ; Dr. John S. Combs, of Boston ; Dr. Philip B. Gatch,
of Milford ; Dr. Alexander Johnston, Dr. Hamilton Cox, Judge Joseph Cox, and Lawyer John
Johnston, of Cincinnati ; Rev. Ralph Naylor and Dr. Preston Bishop, of Warren County ; Dr.
Whittaker Bishop, of Loveland ; Dr. L. W. Bishop, of Batavia ; Dr. Reuben Bishop and Drs. John
and William Gaines. Mr. Gaines kept up his school about ten years, and after his removal to
Williamsburgh he had a select school at that place a few years, which was also promotive of much
good.
THE GOSHEN SEMINARY.
This institution of learning owes its existence to an organized effort on the part of the citizens of
the village, April 12, 1860, to form a stock company for the purpose of erecting a building to be
used to promote higher education. The capital stock was fixed at $2000, in shares ofsi $25, to be
paid in three installments, all the money to be applied in erecting the house and fnrnishing the
same. Seven trustees were to be elected annually, who were to choose from their number a
chairman, secretary, and treasurer. On the 21st of April the first board of trustees was selected, as
follows : Caleb Oliver, President; Abram Teator, Secretary ; Richard Roudebush, Treasurer';
Samuel Nichols, Harvey Irwin, John Applegate, and Thomas Dewey. In due time the association
became an incorporated body, in compliance with the laws of the State, and has since so
continued. The trustees in 1879 were Caleb Oliver, President ; William Haight, Secretary ;
Richard Roudebush, Treasurer ; G. W. Myers, G. S. Renner, E. P. Yoeman, and V. F. Leever.
In the summer of 1860 the seminary building, a two- story brick edifice, 30 by 50 feet, was
erected at a cost of nearly $5000. It is located on a little knoll, which gives it a commanding
appearance, and it has an attractive campus. The house was first occupied for school purposes in
the spring of 1861, but the school thus begun failed to realize the expectations of the founders of
the seminary.
The first successful school was taught in I862 by Prof.
498 - HISTORY OF CLERMONT COUNTY, OHIO.
George H. Hill, and for nine years he presided over the seminary, conducting it on his own
responsibility, and having absolute control of everything except the building. This line of policy
has since been adhered to by the trustees.
In 1872, W. O. Hopkins took charge of the seminary and taught several years, being followed by
L. M. Nevius, who also carried on the school several years.
Since September, 1879, Professor C. M. Riggs has been principal of the seminary, and under his
administration it has again taken a firm hold upon the confidence of the citizens of Goshen, who
award it a hberal patronage. It is conducted in a practical manner upon liberal principles, having a
comprehensive course of study, which students may pursue as they elect, under the guidance of
the principal. The scholastic year consists of four terms of eleven weeks each, and at appropriate
periods lectures upon relevant subjects are delivered. It is aimed to have the seminary sustain the
same relation to Northern Clermont that the Clermont Academy, near New Richmond, bears to
Southern Clermont.
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
The Methodists early occupied the country which is now embraced within the bounds of Goshen,
and the labors of the Revs. Philip Glitch and Francis McCormick resulted in the formation of a
class in 1803, which had among its members John Irwin and wife and part of his family ; Samuel
Malsberry and wife; Jacob Stroup and wife; D. Roudebush and wife ; Mrs. Andrew Shetterly ;
Adam Hoy, and possibly a few others. Some of these had previously attended meetings at
Ramsey's, in the northern part of Miami, and may have been connected with the class there. For
some time the preaching-place in Goshen wes at Adam Hoy's, near what was known as Sugar
Grove. Then the place of meeting was at John Irwin's, a mile and a half south of Goshen village,
where in 1811 was erected the first meeting-house in the township. It was a plain log structure,
and had for its trustees Samuel Westerfield, Samuel Malsberry, David Roudebush, Jacob
Frybarger, Peter Leever, John Prickett, Thomas Shumard, Calvin Riggs, and Restore Morton.
Here George King organized the first Sunday-school in the township, and preaching was here
maintained until about 1835. About 1807 Adam Leever came to Goshen, and soon after another
class of Methodists was formed at his house, he being the leader. In the school-house near his
home preaching was also held until the period above named. Meantime a class had been formed at
Goshen village, which had, in 1822, George King as leader, followed in time by Shubal Farr,
Washington Dudley, and Moses Frybarger. These classes contributed to the formation of the
present
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH AT GOSHEN,
but who composed the original membcrs it is impossible to determine from the meagre records at
hand. In 1832, Adam Leever, John Beatty, and Elijah Applegate were appointed to make
arrangements to erect a meeting-house at the village, and consummated that object in a short time,
building on a lot given by George King. In March, 1846, the house was burned down, but was
speedily rebuilt. Again it suffered disaster,-a tornado, in May, 1859, injuring the edifice so much
that it had to be rebuilt. Since that time it has been thoroughly repaired, and is now quite a
respectable place of worship.
In 1879 the trustees were B. R. Hill, Randolph Leming, Daniel Bishop, Perine Applegate, and
George W. Myers. In connection with the church is a respectable parsonage.
Until 1847 the church belonged to Milford Circuit, but in 1860 Goshen became a station, and
Charleston was taken in as a preaching-place; also Shiloh, in 1868-69.
Since being set off from Milford Circuit the ministry of the church has been as follows:
Conference Districts
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Elders
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1847-50 East Cincinnati,
1851-54 “
1855-58 Hillsboro
1859-62 Fast Cincinnati
1863 Ripley
1864-66 East Cincinnati,
1867 “
1868-70 “
1871-74 “
1875-78 “
1879 “
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J. M. Fowble.
J. F. Wright.
G. W. Walker.
W. Young.
J. W. Fowble.
“
J. M. Walden.
L. F. Van Cleve.
James F. Chalfant.
W. L. Hypes.
A. B. Leonard
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.PREACHERS IN CHARGE.
1847-48, Thomas W. Chandler, James A. Taylor ;
1849, J. B. Ellsworth, J. C. Harding;
1850, J. B. Ellsworth, E. G, West ;
1851, Nathaniel Westerman, H. T. Magill;
1852, Nathaniel Westerman, A. U. Beall ;
1853, M. G. Purkiser, J. C. Maddy ;
1854, M. G. Purkiser, 1saac Neff;
1855, Jesse Rankin, Isaac Nelli
1856, D. Kemper, J. M. Robinson ;
1857, D. Kemper, W. J. Thurber;
1858, ,J. B. Ellsworth, W. J. Thurher;
1859, M. (latch, J. M. Sullivan;
1860-61, J. C. Boutecou;
1862, E. McHugh;
1863, Thomas Lee;
1864-66, J. M. Sullivan;
1867-68, William Runyan;
1869-70, James S. Perregrinc;
1871-72, William D. Shannon ;
1873-75, John F. Loyd;
1876-78, H. C. Middleton;
1879, C. H. Lawton.
THE CHARLESTON METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH'.
The Methodists in this part of the township held their meetings in the old Irwin meeting-house
until that place was abandoned as a regular appointment. Preaching was then had at the
school-house, in the Charleston neighborhood, until about twenty-five years ago, when the present
meeting-house was erected. It is a small frame, but appears respectable and well accommodates
the people of this part of Goshen. It stands on a lot of ground donated by John Hill, who largely
contributed to its erection, and was one of the early members here. Others associated with him
were George Scott, Sr., Judge John Beatty, Harvey Irwin, Abram Beatty, Wm. Beatty, Noah Cook,
and their families. The present membership is composed of about 50 persons, and the church
forms a part of the Newtonville Circuit, the minister in charge being the Rev. W. N. Williams. A
good Sunday-school is maintained under the superintendence of John Hill, assisted by Mrs. G. W.
Boutell.
THE SHLOH METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
This is a brick house of shapely proportions, about two miles cast of the above church. It was built
in 1847, on a part of the John Randall farm, of brick, which were made on the farm of Daniel
Phelps. These gentlemen, Abiel Losey, Jonathan Gillespie, Benjamin Leever, Jonathan Schooley,
and their families constituted the early mem bers. At the house of the latter the first meetings were
held.
GOSHEN TOWNSHIP - 499
The church has sustained various relations for its ministry, belonging last to Newtonville Circuit,
but is at present supplied by a local minister from Warren County. In this house the United
Brethren occasionally preached, and lately a society of Quakers has here been formed. The
trustees of the building are John W. Pray, Abiel Losey, and Jonathan Gillespie.
Near the church is a neat cemetery belonging to the township, and in the rear of it the well-known
" Shiloh Camp-Meeting Grounds," consisting of a few acres of fine woodland, containing the
necessary buildings and appointments. They are controlled by the different Methodist Churches of
this Conference district. The meetings held here are usually largely attended and promotive of
much interest, and this is one of the few places in the county where old-fashioned camp-meetings
are maintained.
THE McKENDREE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
on the State road, three miles east from Goshen, is a good brick edifice sixty feet long,
surmounted with a small belfry, and is plainly but substantially finished. It was built about twenty
years ago at a cost of $2000 by Joseph Hall, Lemuel Jackson, Stephen Jackson, Adam Hoffman,
and others. Prior to this a small frame meeting-house occupied the site, having been built in 1838.
The church was served with Goshen until that appointment was made a station, and at present
belongs to Butlerville Circuit, the Rev. A. Hamilton being the preacher in charge.
THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF GOSHEN.
In the spring of 1829 the Presbyterians living at Goshen, who held their membership with the
Bethel Church, in Warren County, inaugurated a movement to build a house of worship at Goshen
; and as many citizens co-operated, the house, which was built the following year, was called the "
Union Church," and was the first building consecrated to divine worship in the village, It was
occupied by various persuasions, and in it was organized, Sept. 11, 1838, the Presbyterian
congregation of Goshen. Among the constituent members were persons belonging to the Barber,
Lafferty, Owens, Paxton, Eveland, Biggs, Frybarger, Oliver, Garrettson, Hindman, Spence,
Thacker, Anderson, Rapp, Westerfield, McKinnie, Cooper, Whittaker, Barr, Haywood, Dunlap,
Gaines, Brunson, Vaughn, Wood, Walker, Felter, Bishop, Williamson, Scott, Leever, Cochrane,
and Elstun families, to the number of more than 60 persons.
The Rev. L. G. Gaines was the first minister of the church, which belonged to a parish which
embraced Boston, Perin's Mills, and the old Bethel Church ; but in time the former were dropped,
and latterly Goshen alone was served with Bethel. Mr. Gaines severed his connection with the
church Feb. 21, 1846, and on the 14th of April of the following year Rev. James S. Kemper was
ordained and installed as the pastor, maintaining that relation about a year. From that period until
1875 the congregation was supplied with preaching ; but in the year last named the Rev. A. M,
Carson began his pastoral labors, which were continued about two years. Since that time the
congrega tion has had but little preaching, and although the membership is moderately large, the
church is not in a very flourishing condition.
The original session of ruling elders was composed of John Oliver, Joseph Owens, Isaac
Westerfield, Wm. Thacker, John W. Spence, and R. B. McKinnie, church clerk. The latter served
until he was succeeded by the present clerk, Wm. Haight. The present elders are Mathew Cushing,
ordained Sept. 23, 1871 ; George W. Holmes and William Haight, ordained Feb. 23, 1873; and
the deacons are W. H. Nichols, A. B. Anshutz, and Samuel W. Shane. Other ruling elders have
been Stephen Whittaker, Moses Elstun, Caleb Oliver, James G. Turner, and Jacob French.
In the course of years the title to the ownership of the Union church vested in the Presbyterians,
who have repaired the house, and it is now a comfortable place of worship.
THE UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF GOSHEN.
The Goshen Universalist society was organized Feb. 1, 1816, by the Rev. D. R. Biddlecome, with
officers and members as follows : Trustees, Seth Gordon, Samuel Eve- land, and Robert
McClave; Treasurer, A. B. Noble ; Clerk, G. S. Renner ; William Terwilliger, Lewis Terwilliger,
David McClave, Mercy Reuter, Peter Yost, Felix Morgan, Joseph Morgan, David Fisher,
Ebenezer Pruden, W. G. Renner, Thomas Dewey, and 0. B. Fisher.
In August, 1846, the society appointed Seth Gordon, Wm. Terwilliger, and G. S. Renner delegates
" to the Ballou Association, with instructions to ask the fellowship of that body and an admission
to represent this church in the council."
The clergy who have ministered for the society have been, in addition to the Rev. D. R.
Biddlecome, the Revs. W. Y. Emmett, R. Brear, W. S. Bacon, R. T. Polk, J. W. Henby, J. D. H.
Corwin; and J. S. Cantwell. One minister originated from the society, Jabez Newton Emery, son
of Elisha J. Emery.
The meeting-house was built in 1848, in the eastern part of the village. It is of brick, 32 by 40 feet,
and is very attractive in its appearance. The trustees at that time were Samuel Eveland, Thomas
Dewey, and William Terwilliger, with G. S. Renner as clerk. In 1869, Samuel C. McCord, E. J.
Emery, and C. S. Laycock were elected trustees, and have continued to act as such up to the
present time.
The Sunday-school, conducted in the church, was organized in 1859, and had Lewis Terwilliger
as superintendent and C. S. Laycock secretary and treasurer. For the past ten years Miss Affabell
McCord has superintended this school, which is well attended and maintained with much interest.
Near Charleston was formerly a Free-Will Baptist Church, but after the Rebellion what interests
remained were transferred to Pleasant Plains, in Warren County, the meetinghouse being now
used as a residence. The house was first erected north of Shiloh, but in 1850 it was taken down
and rebuilt near Charleston. Among the members were the Dudley, Ross, Boutell, and Myers
families.
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