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HISTORY OF GREENE COUNTY, OHIO EMBRACING THE ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY, ITS DIVISION INTO TOWNSHIPS, SKETCHES OF LOCAL INTEREST GLEANED FROM THE PIONEERS FROM 1803 TO 1840, TOGETHER WITH A ROSTER OF THE SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION AND THE WAR OF 1812, WHO WERE RESIDING IN THE COUNTY, ALSO, A ROSTER OF TEN THOUSAND OF THE EARLY SETTLERS FROM 1803 TO 1840. BY GEORGE F. ROBINSON ILLUSTRATED CHICAGO: THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1902. PREFACE. IT is a source of regret that more care has not been taken to preserve the history of the early settlers of the County of Greene. As an illustration of this neglect, we give the following and only surviving and fragmentary history of John Paul: "John Paul sold to Joseph C. Vance, director for the permanent seat of justice for said county, the 257 3/4 acres of ground, which constituted the original corporation of the now city of Xenia for two hundred and fifty dollars. He was also appointed to act as the first Clerk of Courts for said County, which office he held from the year 1803 until December 7th, 1803." We find in the minutes of a special court that had been called, the following communication from Mr. Paul: "To the Commissioners of Greene County: " Mr. Josiah Grover will attend as Clerk at your next meeting, and at the end of the same you may proceed to choose another Clerk in my place. "John Paul, Clerk of Courts." The above is about all that we know of the original proprietor of the city of Xenia, and what applies to Mr. Paul is also true in regard to the most of our grand old pioneers; At the end almost of the 1st Century of our State and County's birthday we find ourselves asking: Who was John Paul? From what state did he come? What became of him? Who were his ancestors, and who his decendants? We seek in vain for an an answer to these questions in the old County histories. Those who could have answered are dead. One source only remains; the old official papers of the county that were supposed to have had "their day", and like a well worn garment were cast away, boxed up and put into many of the out of way places of different public county buildings. In the early spring of 1897 the compiler of this work, having discovered the whereabouts of said papers, and being interested in the early history of our county, called the attention of the Commissioners then officiating, Messers. John B. Stevenson, John Fudge, James W. Pollock, and soon after, Lewis Smith, to the fact that in an upstair room of the Court House there were nine boxes stored away containing valuable county papers. No one knew what they were beyond the fact that many of them were the first papers of the county, and for lack of room, on account of the rapid increase of the legal business they had been carted away, thus making room for the papers of a later date. PREFACE. We were told by the commissioners that they were aware of facts stated, that others before them also recognized that something should be done, but who could do the work ? The result was that the compiler of this work secured a contract for a small compensation per week to sort out and classify the records. Out of twenty-five hundred cases at law, eleven hundred or more were found that were valuable on account of being decisions in regard to the first ownership and division of land. They were carefully assorted and put in shape, so that, when called for, could be found as readily as other papers of the county. In addition to the above mentioned papers there were found also the four books of the enumerators that had been appointed to take the names of the voters of the four townships into which Greene County had been divided at the first organization of the county, May 10, 1803. In these books were found the names of four hundred and thirty-nine persons, who, from the years 1803 to 1805, were living on land now comprised in every county north of Greene to the north boundary line of the state, and during which time Champaign County was established, which deprived Greene of her large northern domain. Also there were found the poll books of elections of the different county townships from its organization in 1803 to 1840. Many reasons could be given why our pioneers failed to leave on record the many facts that we would like to know, but of which we today are ignorant. No nation under the sun has such a history as ours. Beginning with the small handful who first discovered the country, it has increased rapidly in growth, until now, in the morning of the year 1900, we have a population of seventy-five million inhabitants. Ohio, our own loved state, what a contrast we see between the Ohio of the year 1803 and the Ohio of 1900! About the year 1830 we find a disposition among the first settlers to meet and talk over matters in reference to the organization of pioneer associations, and in almost every decade after in the history of the county, efforts would be made for that purpose; and in all their constitutions and by-laws we find a law as follows: " The object of this association shall be to preserve a true record of the early settlement of our county and its pioneers." As far as we know, they failed in their laudable efforts. For a few years they would assemble and entertain each other, and then they would forget for years to meet. Many valuable articles would be read and afterward published in the papers of the day. The papers would be lost, and in those papers history that would be beyond price to us who are now living at the close of the first century of our state's history. However, many valuable papers have been found and have helped much to add interest to this effort to compile a History of the Pioneers of Greene County, from 1803 to 1846. In my travels over the county from North to South, and from East to West, I have visited every graveyard in the county, and collected from the tombstones historical data which could not be obtained elsewhere. Many times would the beautiful parable found in the book of Ezekiel, thirty-seventh chapter, come to mind, whilst in some of the lonely graveyards of Greene County, and mentally, the question would arise, " Can these dry bones be made to live?" By the aid of these same old papers and by patient research much has been found which I trust will be of interest to the people of Greene County. PREFACE. And now, in conclusion, I desire to thank one and all who in any way gave aid to me in this work by their uniform courtesy, patience in answering questions, and granting the privilege of access to historical data which was in their care and keeping. Without mentioning names this will apply to the officers of our old Court House, to the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution, to the Adjutant General of Ohio, the General Asseinbly of the State, War and Pension Department, Washington, D. C., to the men on their farms, in the towns, and to all who in this and other states have so promptly and readily responded to, and answered letters of inquiry in regard to their ancestors. GEORGE F. ROBINSON. |
GREENE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, XENIA, OHIO
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In the Beginning Territorial Organization of Greene County Sugar Creek Township Caesar's Creek Township Mad River Township Beaver Creek Township Organization of Xenia Township Bath Township Miami Township Silver Creek Township Ross Township Vance Township Cedarville Township New Jasper Township Spring Valley Township Jefferson Township John Paul General Joseph C. Vance Francis Dunlavey Benjamin Whiteman William Maxwell James Barrett Jacob Smith James Snowden James Galloway, Sr William A. Beatty Owen Davis Josiah Grover Remembrance Williams James Popenoe, Sr Lewis Davis Xenia in 1809 Gowdy Family James Gowdy Ryan Gowdy John Heaton, Sr James Collier Moses Collier Sugar Creek Township First House in Greene County. First Mill in Greene County. First Settlers in Greene County Joseph Vance Nathan Lamme |
18 20 20 21 22 23 28 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 36 36 36 40 42 45 47 49 50 52 53 54 55 57 58 59 6o 61 63 64 65 66 66 73 74 75 75 75 75 76 |
David Lamme First Schoolhouse in Bellbrook James Bain The Pickney Road Old Associate Graveyard Mrs. James Collier Joseph Robinson William Rogers Alexander Berryhill James Bain William McCanlas William Bain William Law, Sr George. Watt, Sr The Gowdy Family The Hutchison Family Samuel Logan John Torrence Jesse Sanders Josiah Elam Henry Updyke James Clancey Stephen Bell Three Founders of Bellbrook Village of Bellbrook John McLane John C. Hale, Sr Moses Walton Richard Cunningham Sackett Farm George Hiney First Court of Common Pleas Francis Dunlavy William Maxwell Benjamin Whiteman James Barrett Daniel Symms First Grand Jury Moses Shoup Samuel Allison, Sr The Harbine Family Thomas Davis William Read Nimrod Haddox Peter Borders The Stephensons |
76 77 77 78 78 78 79 79 79 80 80 80 80 80 81 81 82 82 83 84 84 84 86 84 86 87 89 90 91 92 92 93 93 94 94 94 95 95 96 96 97 98 98 98 99 99 |
John Hosier James McPherson Thomas Carneal Joshua Bell Samuel Peterson George Mallow, Sr Stephen Scott John Fudge Daniel Haverstick, Sr Robert T. Marshall A Bear Story C. L. Merrick Merrick's Hotel Xenia in 1811 Remembrance Williams John Marshall William A. Beatty James Towler Josiah Grover Benjamin Grover James Collier John Alexander James Bunting Eli Adams William Gordon First Brewery of Xenia Hugh Hamill Dr. A. W. Davidson First Courthouse! Samuel Gamble John Gregg John Hibling Joseph Hamill Abraham Larue David Laughead Peter Pelham Hezekiah Samuels John Sterritt James Watson Henry Barnes, Sr Jonathan H. Wallace Robert Gowdy Richard Conwell First Public Library Xenia Incorporated Sale of Public Square
Thomas Coke Wright |
99 102 103 104 104 105 106 107 107 108 108 109 110 110 111 111 111 -113 I11 112 112 112 112 112 113 113 113 113 113 114 114 114 114 114 114 114 I14 115 115 115 115 115 115 115 116 117 118 120 |
CONTENTS |
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Early Physicians Joshua Martin Joseph Johnson Henry Good William Bell Cedarville Joseph Templeton Samuel Martin Robert Casbolt Horace Lawrence Mathias Winans Ewlass Ball Professional Men Attorneys Physicians and Surgeons Steam Doctors "Ye Olden Times" James Scott Galloway Corner Thomas Steele Robert Nesbit Samuel Crumbaugh Abraham Larew An Old Landmark Edward Watts George Gordon Moses Trader William T. Stark John Hibling William Ellsberry Ebenezer Steele The Hamills William Owen, Sr George Wright, Sr Henry Hypes George W. Wright Daniel R. Brewington
Fredrick Bonner, Sr |
123 123 124 124 125 125 125 125 126 127 127 127 127 127 128 128 128 131 137 140 141 141 141 142 142 143 145 146 147 148 149 149 150 151 151 152 152 153 |
Early Times Wiley Curtis First Associate Reformed Church John Steele David B. Cline Edward Wamble Michael Nunnemaker Aaron Harlan James J. Winans Daniel Lewis Abraham Mann William Bull, Sr First M. E. Church Depositions of Pioneers Abner Read Yellow Springs in 1804 Jacob Mills Old Town Roger Clark David Laughead Benjamin Logan The Death of Muluntha General Harmar Looking Backward Pioneer Amusements Early Soldiers Old Time Muster Chillicothe Shawnee Indian Blackfish Tecumseh Renegade Whitemen Daniel Boone David Laughead Simon Kenton Andrew Galloway Armstrong's Second Coming |
155 158 158 159 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 165 166 168 174 175 176
176
178
178 180 180 180 181
181
181
181 183 184 184 186 186 187 188 190 193 194 |
Robert Armstrong William Cooley's Recollections The Old Cabin and Pioneer Church The Old Schoolhouse Pioneer Habits Pioneer Homes Stealing of the Bride Stealing of the Groom Building of the Cabin Key to Civilization Sylvester Strong's Recollections Interview With JohnMills Payton Moorman William Sanders Edward Warren John Gordon Lancelot Junkin Junkin Schoolhouse First Schoolhouse of Cedarville Township Pioneers Remembered by Dr. Watt Thomas Townsley, Sr Daniel Dean, Sr Samuel Kyle David M. Laughead, Sr Origin of the Name "Indian". Caesar's Creek Associate Church Andrew Heron Reformed Presbyterian Church County Officials from 1803-40. Soldiers in War of 1812 Pioneers from 1803 to 1840 |
196 200 206 207 208 2I0 212 212 213 215 216 217 221 221 222 223 224 225 227 227 229 230 230 231 232 232 234 235 236 240 262 |
INDEX |
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Alexander, H. A Alexander, M. C. Alexander, P. A. Allamon, J. M. Allen, J. B. Allison, S. M. Ambuhl, John Anderson, J. R. Andrew, S. G. Ankeney, Albert Ankeney, David Arbogust, C. E. Arnett, B. W. Baldwin, I. W. Bankerd, H. C. Barnett, J. O. Barnett, Joshua Barber, W. M. Barrows, M. F. Bates, Jacob Baughman, A. H. Beal, A. H. Beal, D. E. Beam, D. H. Bell, T. H. Bickett, A. R. Bickett, M. A. Bickett, W. H. Bigger, John Bisine, Andrew Black, Simon Brandt, G. W. Brewer, D. R. Broadstone, M. A.
Brown. Cornelius Brown, Hallie Q. Bryan, F. P. Buckles, H. S. Bull, William H. Bull, W. H. Carey, F. C. Carlisle, Towne Carruthers, J. B. Carson, J. G |
842 440 631 521 848 579 581 898 422 751 755 918 810 718
780
677
655
456
515
613
535
454
908
731
676
722 479
700
676
615
65o
869
860
594
892 480 520 773 582 730 941
519
548
407 |
Chew, J. P. Chitty, Cargel Clemens, J. G. Cline, W. C. Collins, J. D. Collins, J. Q. Colvin, E. H. Compton, Jesse Compton, Wilson Confer, George Confer, W. G. Conklin, Henry Cooper, J. H. Cox, S. W. Crandall, A. R. Crites, Aaron Cummings, J. B. Cunningham, William Darst, H. C. Daugherty, J. H. Dean, J. N. DeVoe, Joseph Dodds, George Dodds, J. C. Dodds, William Douglas, R. W. Drees, Tobias Edwards, J. D. Ellis, Joshua Engel, George Evans, C. R. Evans, F. S. Evans, Isaac Evans, M. E. Evans, Moses Faulkner, Allen Ferguson, J. L. Fisher, A. L. Fleming, E. C. Fowler, R. J. Frazer, A. S. Fudge, J. W. Fulton, N. A. |
907 926 604 739 749 720 510 696 752 486 499 840 694 426 903 621 460 795 643 443 450 716 804 852 786 728 661 798 608 678 593 915 914 543 532 692 552 663 754 838 909 819 640 |
Galloway, J. C. Galloway, J. E. Galloway, Richard
Gerlaugh, Adam
Gerlaugh, Arthur
Gerlaugh, E. O.
Gillaugh, Conrad Ginn, J. L Glotfelter, Warren F.
Glotfelter, W. H. Gordon, G. R. Gowdy, J. A. Gowdy, R. L. Gregg, A. M. Gregg, J. B. Grieve, Robert Grinnell, Francis Hagar, Walter Hagenbuch, W. A. Hagler, C. F. Hagler, G. M. Hagler, M. A. Hagler, W. L. Hale, S. O. Harbine, J. H. Hardie, W. B. Harner, J. A. Harper, G. W. Harshman, J. F. Hartley, M. J. Haverstick, F. M. Haverstick, J. F. Haverstick, Thomas Hawker, J. M. Hawkins, B. F. Hawkins, J. H. Hebble, J. W. Hering. A. F. Hess, T. H. Hill, J. M. Holloway, Isaiah Hopping, W. H. Hoverstick, J. C. Howard, C. F. Howard, R. F. |
464 470 668 784 590 854 791 534 726 636 665 502 858 648 616 659 578 671 919 748 614 904 714 485 710 890 455 410 541 507 762 686 603 619 894 457 600 853 639 595 572 597 922 531 529 |
INDEX |
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Hower, Samuel Humston, Hal Hussey, J. H. Jackson, Andrew Jacoby, R. S. Jones, Adoni Kelly, J. A. Kelly, N. J. Kelly, R. A. Kemp, L. A. Kendall, Clark Kent, F. M. King, J. W. Knisley, F. E. Koogler, J. H. Krepps, Jeremiah Kyle, A. C. Kyle, C. H, Kyle, Henry Kyle, Joseph Kyle, J. H. Kyne, John Kyne, Thomas La Fong, O. B. Lafong, S. G. Leaman, John Lee, B. F. Le Sourd, S. B. Linkhart, C. W. Little, Asa Little, John Logan, C. F. Long, H. C. Love, W. J. Lucas, J. B. Lumpkin, W. H. Lutz, John Lytle, Robert |
680 779 416 490 415 738 628
554
874
444
549
439
610
638
836
771
681
446
871
691
618 777 778 708
859
750
568
796
424
412
879
737
523
921 538
719
654
703 |
McKay, G. A. McKay, N. S. McPherson, J. H. McPherson, William Mendenhall, John Mars, A. H. Millen, Eli Miller, W. L. Mitchell, S. T. Moore, G. M. Moore, John Morris, M. V. Morris, W. S. Munger, E. H. Mussetter, William Nash, R. H. Neeld, W. M. Orr, John Osterly, Leonard
Overholser, Jeremiah Owens, H. W. Owens, W. H. Painter, J. S. Patterson, T. C. Perrill, G. N. Peterson, J. L. Peterson, Martin Pettigrew W. D. Poague, R. D. Poague, W. T. Pollock, J. W. Puterbaugh, J. F. Quinn, Elias Raney, J. L. Rhoades, W. V. Ridenour, J, R. Robinson, G. F. Routzong, Adam |
409
588
418
916
870 561
632
912
564
924
923
769
846
496
897 864 9o2 513
92o
522
756
747 562
526 704
802
857
720 900 901 656 873 8o3 740
449
447
820
601 |
Smith, Lewis Spahr, Leander Spahr, R. S. Spahr, S. M. Sparks, Simon Spencer, C. L. Stafford, H. H. Stark, A. M. Steele, J. D. Stewart, D. M. Stewart, J. M. Stine, B. L. Stormont, J. H. Story, E. A. St. John, D. M. St. John Family, The Stull, J. A. Sullivan, C. H. Talbert, George Tarbox, J. M. Taylor, Jesse Taylor, W. G. Thomas, J. H. Thompson, Augustus Tobias, A. J. Tobias, William Townsley, T. P. Trader, W. F. Trebein, F. C. Turner, J. S, Van Eaton, J. B. Varner, Anthony |
503 645 622 551 666 884 660 475 573 646 634 925 862 732 647 830 709 513 808 729 633 629 592 413 825 689 883 839 495 477 559 477 |
MacCracken, J. S. MacDill, David Mallow, S. M. Mallow, S. P. Manor, J. W. Marshall, D. H. Mason, Isaiah McBee, C. W. McCartney, L. H. McClellan, H. R. McClelland, William McClure, F. A. McClure, J. S. McClure, W. S. McElroy, A. J. McGervey, F. E. McMillan, H. H. |
558
698
459
500
768
516
760
702
684
867
495 539
653
835
701
504
826 |
Scarborough, W. S. Scroggy, T. E. Shaffer, F. N. Shappee, W. A. Shearer, C. C. Shoup, Marcus Simison, Milo Sims, J. C. Sinz, G. A. Sipe. Noah Smith, E. M. Smith, G. C. Smith, H. L. Smith, J. R. Smith, Joseph R. |
863 742
443
682
789
418
882
571
832
488 741
889
761
469
673 |
Wade. T. B. Walton, E. R. Walton, Moses Warner, P. P. Watt, D. B. Weaver, C. S. Weaver, V. E. Whiteman. L. H. Whitmer, C. W. Whitson, Oliver Williamson, C. E. Williamson, W. C. Wilson, J. N. Wilson, O. A. Wilson, Samuel Wilson, S. S. Wolf, Frank Wolf, G. H. Wolford, J. H. Woodward. S. F. Woolsey, Ida C. Wright, W. D. Xenia Republican, The |
792 674 576 913 437 684 525 544 511 713 685 845 506 467 710 712 598 817 509 428 774 649 841 |
