(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) 440 - HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO HAMAR. From 1830 - the time when Dodson township was struck off from Salem township - till 1849, Salem township included what is now Hamer and Salem. Danville, situated in the extreme eastern part of the territory, was the principal town, and was by order of the township officers the voting place for the township. After a few years the people of the west end made numerous requests that the voting place be located more nearly the center of the township, but without avail. Hard feeling began to be manifested, and recrimination was indulged in until the latter date above mentioned, when a majority of the township officers were elected by the west-enders. The succeeding election was of course ordered to be held at the newly laid out town of Pricetown, not far from the geographical center of the township, as it was then. But the animosities were already carried to so high a pitch that a petition was circulated by the people in the eastern part for a new township to be set off, including them. This petition was granted by the county commissioners, although in doing so the townships thereby created would probably be much smaller in territory than any in the county. The act of the commissioners is dated June 5, 1849, as follows : "Beginning at where the White Oak township line now crosses the west line of Parker's survey number two thousand three hundred and five--the "beginning corner of Salem township"; thence with said Parker's line north nine degrees east to the northwest corner of said Parker's survey number two thousand three hundred and five (another corner of Salem and New Market townships); thence north two degrees and thirty seconds west to Alex. Runion's southeast corner, and also the southeast corner of Union township; thence south fifty-six degrees west to a maple marked on the south side "S. T.", standing in the middle of the swamp between White Oak and Dodson creeks, and in the line of Dodson and Salem townships, due west from the southeast corner of Widow Ragdon's land (the same place where William HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO - 441 Hibler formerly lived), and the same that is marked the southeast corner of Dodson township; thence south including James Richards, William S. Davidson and Philip Pence's house, to the southeast corner of survey number nine thousand eight hundred and four, about one hundred rods south of the Salem township line, and in or near the line of White Oak and Clay townships; thence east to the southwest corner of said survey number two thousand three hundred and five; and thence to the beginning.” The new township was called Hamer in honor of General Thomas L. Hamer, of Brown county, who had many admirers in the new township. The township, as thus constituted, contains twelve thousand three hundred and ninety-two acres of land. The first election was ordered to be held July 7, 1849. At this election the following officers were chosen: John Fouch, Nathaniel Roush and Absalom Strange, trustees; John H. Wood, treasurer; Philip Roush, clerk; William W. Malcom and William D. Carrothers, justices of the peace; Eli Shafer and William Strange, constables. EARLY SETTLEMENT. As early as 1800, a settlement was formed in the southeastern part of Hamer, then in New Market, by as jolly a set of Irishmen as ever collected together this side the Emerald Isle. They erected their cabins, some of which are still standing, on the banks of a little stream which heads near Danville, called "Smoky Row." The stream was so named by the Indians, on account of the smoke arising in the spring of the year from the numerous sugar camps which dotted its banks. It has been claimed by some that the name was brought froni Ireland, and was applied by the early settlers in memory of a cherished locality, but we have excellent authority for claiming the first as the true account. The names of these Irishmen were Alexander Fullerton, Hercules ("Hector") Murphy, John Porter, Samuel McQuitty, William Ray, William and James Boyd, James Farrier, and Alexander Carrington. To these were added in after years, Elijah Kirkpatrick and William Curry. Hercules Murphy, or "Hector," as he was familiarly known, was born in Ireland in 1753. When twenty-four years of age (that is, in 1777,) he enlisted for seven years in the English navy as a sailor. During his seven years of service, the Americans were fighting for their independence. At the close of his service he came to Philadelphia, and soon thereafter he married Catharine McCleod. About 1798 or 1799, he settled on "Smoky Row," then in New Market township, on the farm in the Massie and Kerr survey, number three thousand eight hundred and fifty, next south of where his son Alexander now lives. The earliest houses in these earliest times were of necessity built of round logs. As the country grew older, it was possible to build of hewed logs, which were not only considered more respectable, but more comfortable than the old log cabin. To meet this demand the whipsaw was brought into requisition. Hector Murphy determined to build the first house of this kind on "Smoky Row." He contracted with Amariah Gossett and a Mr. McCauley, who had a short time before formed a partnership for the purpose of cutting timber with whip-saws, for the plank. . The house was to be a two-story house, and the sawyers cut two thousand feet of plank, all of cherry. By hard work they could cut two hundred feet per day, and they were paid for their services two dollars per hundred. Mr. Murphy had a family of eleven children. Alexander, born in 1806, was next to the youngest child. In 1806 "Hector" Murphy was elected a trustee for New Market township. In early times he went to Manchester for salt, and paid a dollar per bushel for it. As early as 1804 he had cleared a place for an orchard, and had planted the trees. He died in 1835, at the age of eighty-two years. Captain Alexander Murphy was born in Hamer township, then New Market, in 1806. When a young man of eighteen years, he traveled, in the fall of the year, with Robert McLaughlin, the first huckster in the New Market region. Robert McLaughlin began the huckster business as early as 1818. He was the first man to pay cash for wheat. He ran to Cincinnati with loads of wheat and other merchandise, and would return with a load of articles from that city. He paid thirty-seven and one-half cents a bushel for wheat, and obtained fifty cents for it in Cincinnati—twenty bushels making a load not a very wide margin, considering the state of the roads and the distance. In order to make money at it he was obliged to carry his own feed and camp out at night. Mr. Murphy traveled with McLaughlin in the fall of the year for five or six years. In 1834 he settled down on the farm which he still owns, in Massie and Kerr's survey, number three thousand eight hundred and fifty, and has been a farmer and an influential citizen. He married Lucinda, daughter of Nathan Pulliam, and has had two children. In the days of the militia Mr. Murphy was elected captain, and is now familiarly known by that sobriquet. John Porter settled on "Smoky Row" a year or so after the Murphys, and cleared the Captain Murphy farm. Mr. Porter, in the course of a few years, conceived the idea of turning the lazy little stream which ran through his lane, to his profit. Wherefore he set about building a grist-mill. Though of very singular appearance he was greatly rejoiced with his structure when it was fairly completed. Nebuchadnezzar, when viewing his capital, and exclaiming, "Is this not great Babylon which I have built," could not have felt a greater pride. A thunder storm brewing in the west gave notice that his mill would soon be put to the test. A sack of corn was dashed into the hopper a jug of whiskey, worthy of the occasion, was speedily procured. When the winds blew and the rain descended, a flood of such unusual height came that at one mad rush the dam, mill, race, and all, were swept away! Hastily snatching up the jug, and leaping from the floating wreck to the bank, Porter waived his jug on high in defiance of the storm, and mingled his huzzas with its roar ; having saved his jug, he was not left altogether without consolation. Nothing daunted, he set to work again, in 1805, and built a better structure— a horse-mill—that for many years was the dependence of the neighbors for miles around. This mill ground slowly, so that there have been seen, on many an occasion, as 56 442 - HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO many as twenty two-horse teams with grain, waiting for the grist to be ground. But this Porter mill was not the mill that ground so slowly that the proprietor's big dog would lick up the meal as fast as it came down, and then bark up the hopper for more. That mill, it is stated, was in Salem. Porter kept his mill in good repair until 1812, when he volunteered in Captain Barrere's company to fight the British. He lost his life at that terrible slaughter—the battle of Brownstown. Samuel McQuitty, another Irishman on "Smoky Row," settled the farm next to Porter's, where "Straight Out" is now. The house which he built is still standing, but is now used as a stable. Alexander Fullerton settled about the same time with "Hector" Murphy, and on the farm adjoining. Elijah Kirkpatrick settled with his family on "Smoky Row" in the spring of 18o r. He had previously lived at Chillicothe. He cleared the farm now called the Redkey farm, a mile south of Danville. He was a very energetic and public-spirited man, taking an active part in political, religious, and social affairs. From the time of the organization of the county, in 1805, he was constantly called to public duties. He was the first tax-collector for the new county of Highland, and continued to collect taxes in the township of New Market for many years. In the October term of the county court, 1805, he was one of the grand jurors, and a glance at the records of the succeeding courts, and the proceedings of the county commissioners, shows him to have been almost constantly in the service of the county. He was a man of great shrewdness, and had excellent business qualifications, of which his fellow citizens took advantage. In 1806 he was very active in securing aid for the building of the Presbyterian church at New Market, which was completed the following year. He was a good hunter, also, and he several times received the bounty of two dollars and a half for "one old wolf sculp." William Curry, another early settler on "Smoky Row," was a brother of Samuel McQuitty's wife, and located in the neighborhood of the McQuittys. In 1807 he paid taxes on five acres of land in survey three thousand, eight hundred and fifty. The place is now owned by C. Dehass. He was for two years—r8r3-14--the sheriff of Highland county. Peter Hoop came to New -Market in 1800. He learned the hatter's trade, and some years after he moved to Hamer township and cleared up the farm now owned by Isaac Larich (Kerr survey, number seven thousand and twenty). Here he also made wool hats, and of a very excellent quality, as many men who are yet alive can testify. He married a Gibler. John Eversole cleared up the farm now owned by the widow Dehass, and lived there a long time. In 1802 Isaac Leamon settled a mile north of Danville. He built a cabin on the Massie survey, number five thousand five hundred and sixty-three, about a hundred rods north of the house now occupied by Philip Leamon, his grandson. He was a man of considerable influence, and was frequently called upon for service by the courts and the commissioners. In 1804 Gideon Jackson and Thomas Colvin settled in Hamer. Jackson settled on a farm in the eastern edge of the township, now owned by George Carr. In the war of 1812 he enlisted in Captain Barrere's company, and was killed at the same time with John Porter at the battle of Brownstown. Colvin came from Kentucky and settled on what is now the Caleb Chapman farm, east of Danville. He built a cabin on an ancient mound, and improved the place by making a little clearing and fencing in a corn patch. Here he spent the remainder of his days. The same year 1804—John Roush moved to Hamer and settled northeast of Danville, on land now owned by David Wilkin. The next year-1805 - came John and James Colvin, brothers of Thomas, and Henry Roush. The latter arrived in New Market two weeks after the Shafers. John Colvin settled on the farm of Joshua Hawk, a quarter of a mile south of Danville (Lewis' survey, number three thousand five hundred and ninety-six). He taught school in New Market in 1807. James did not settle in one place for any length of time for some years after his arrival. Henry Roush settled on the north side of the present Danville pike, about a mile east of the town. The place is now owned by Washington Falley. Archibald Walker settled before r8o8 on a farm east of Danville (Massie's survey, number three thousand six hundred and sixty), now owned by J. C. Sanderson. To the north, near Isaac Leamon's, Frederick Saum, a German, settled on the farm now owned by his son John (Scott's survey, number five thousand and seventy-nine). Peter Snyder, a German, settled on the farm west of Danville, now called the Knupp farm, as early as 1806 (Scott's survey, number five thousand and seventy-eight). Andrew Shafer came from Hagarstown, Maryland, in 1805, arriving in New Market on the seventh of October. He remained there till the following year, when he moved to his farm in the present township of Hamer, where he spent the remainder of his days. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and participated in the battles of Germantown, Monmouth and Trenton. He died in 1855 at the age of ninety-four years. Colonel Buford, of Kentucky, arrived at New Market the same day with the Shafers. Having large tracts of land which he desired to sell, he offered Mr. Shafer one thousand acres of land, near the present town of Buford, for one thousand dollars. Michael Stroup, who was consulted concerning the proposed bargain, persuaded Mr. Shafer not to take the land. It was then swamp land, but has since been drained and become very valuable. John Shafer, son of Andrew Shafer, was born in Maryland in 1798. He had a large family of children. He settled in Dodson township and cleared up the farm now owned by Elind Pulse. For this farm he paid twenty- five cents an acre. His son Eli married Maria McLaughlin, and settled in Hamer., Eli was a cabinet-maker by trade, and worked at Danville. He has been an auctioneer for over thirty years, and as such has a reputation exceeded by no one in the county, or the adjoining counties. HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO - 443 His acquaintance is intimate and very extensive over a region of fifty miles in diameter. He has been almost continually in office, of one kind or another, since he was of age. He has been fifteen years a justice of the peace, has been trustee, clerk and constable. His family consists of ten children, all of whom are living, and eight of whom are married and settled. His son, Robert C., while in the army, contracted a disease which destroyed his eyesight. Adam Arnold, who came to New Market in 1805, with Andrew Shafer, settled soon thereafter on the Pence farm, which lay between Frederick Saum and Isaac Leamon. Thomas Barr and Matthias Barr, brothers, settled on what is known as the Barr survey, number four thousand eight hundred and seventy-four. Thomas took the west half, and Matthias the east half. In the north part of Hamer, Philip Roush and John Hickson settled. Mr. Roush cleared the farm now owned by his son John, on Fulton survey, number seven thousand two hundred and seventy-six, about 1806. Mr. Hickson first improved the farm of W. Barnes, about 1812. David Leamon, son of Isaac Leamon, opened up the G. M. Ludwick farm, Kerr survey, number six thousand nine hundred and eighty-seven, and William Hibler first improved the Ragland farm. George Roush opened a very large farm a short distance southwest of Danville, about 1815. Widow J. K. Custer now occupies the place. Alexander Sanderson was born in Scotland, and early emigrated to Pennsylvania. From there he removed to Kentucky, where he married. Thence, about 1801, he removed to Ross county, as it was then, to the neighborhood of New Market. He settled a half mile south of the town. Mr. Sanderson died in the spring of 1805, and his estate was the first one settled in the new county of Highland. He left five children, and the care of them, from that time, devolved chiefly upon the eldest, William. William continued on the farm of his father till he married, when he settled on the farm now owned by John H. Wood, west of Danville. His wife's name was Margaret Murphy, and they had nine children. Of these, two, George and. Alexander, live in Hamer, two in Salem, one in Clay, one in Concord, one lives in Illinois, and one in Missouri. One son died when a young man, and all the others have families. Alexander C. Sanderson married Matilda Custer. They have one child. When a young man, Mr. Sanderson was engaged for several years in teaching school. For thirty years past he has kept a village store at Danville, and been actively engaged in public enterprises. He was treasurer of the township twelve years. George Sanderson, his brother, married Elizabeth $urber, and had five children. Mrs. Sanderson died in 1879. He owns a fine farm, with good improvements, about a mile south of Danville. William Sanderson, the father of George and A. C., had a brother, Alexander. He has a son, J. C. Sanderson, who now owns a large property in the eastern part of Hamer. John Eakins emigrated from County Tyrone, in Ireland, in 1799, in the twenty-second year of his age. He took passage in the good ship Moyle Brig, and landed after a prosperous voyage of six weeks. Knowing that he had an uncle by the name of Oliver Ross, somewhere in Ohio, he came west, and found him in New Market. The following year he bought the farm now owned by Mrs. Duckwall, in Hamer, Massie's survey, number three thousand six hundred and sixty, consisting of two hundred and fifty acres. He fell in love with his cousin, Nancy Ross, and in 1803 they were married. Mr. Eakins made a clearing on his farm on the low land directly east of where the barn now stands, and built there a double log cabin. An old apple tree standing near the spot, alone remains to mark the place. The location was a good one, and the farm is now considered one of the best in the township. Out of eleven children born, but four grew to maturity, as follows. Rebecca St. Clair, born in 181o, married Samuel Murphy, and has lived for many years in New Market. Mary C. St. Clair, born in 1816, married Samuel Duckwall. She now lives on the farm owned by her father. Eliza St. Clair Eakins married William Nevins and settled near Danville, and afterward removed to Hillsborough, where they still reside. Frances E. St. Clair married Robert Nevins, a brother to William, and settled on the home farm. They afterward moved to Dayton, where Mrs, Nevins died. Mr. John Eakins built the house in which Mrs. Duck- wall now lives, about the time the road, now the pike, was opened. Here he kept tavern for many years. He was industrious and saving, but somewhat rough in his ways. John Eakins, John Davidson, and seven others, burned the first brick made in the country, on the Eakins farm, just south of the house, across the creek, in 1816. These brick were used for chimneys. The east chimney of the Duckwall house was constructed with part of them. Mr. Duckwall, his son-in-law, settled soon after his marriage on a farm west of Hillsborough, on the Milford and Chillicothe turnpike. This farm was originally owned by a Mr. Parker, of whom Mr. Duckwall's father bought it in 18io. It consisted of five hundred acres, of which one-fourth (one hundred and twenty-five acres) fell to Mr. Duckwall. Mr. and Mrs. Duckwall had eight children, the first of whom did not live. Nancy Rebecca died at the age of two and a half years. Lewis R. attained to manhood, married, and now lives in Indianapolis, Indiana. John St. Clair also married and lives in Indianapolis. Eliza F. died before arriving at womanhood. Susan E. D. married George Brown, son of James Brown of Clay township, and lived for four years in Brown county, and then moved to their present residence, on the pike east of Danville. Jennie S. D. married Dr. A. S. Evans, the popular dentist in Hillsborough. Mr. Duckwall served his township as a trustee, and his neighborhood as a school director. Lewis, above mentioned, served his country in the army during the Rebellion, and John would have done so had he not been too young; as it was, he volunteered " on his own hook" 444 - HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO. when Morgan was raiding through southern Ohio, and was gone four days. The Nevins brothers were for many years business men in Danville. At timesthey were in partnership and at times separate. Robert was the first postmaster, and the town is known to the post-office department as " Nevins," not Danville. Jacob Barnes and wife, John Barnes and family, and Michael Dugan arrived in New Market on the tenth day of June, 1806. Jacob Barnes was married in Berkeley" county, Virginia, in 1805, and soon thereafter started with his bride for the west. He packed his little property on a horse, and set out on foot, carrying his rifle. Mrs. Barnes, meanwhile, riding or walking as suited her best. They arrived at the Redstone settlement in the fall of 1805. In the spring of 1806 they were joined by John Barnes and his family, and they all came down the river in a flat-boat to Manchester, and thence they came to New Market. John Barnes settled about six miles northwest of New Market. Jacob Barnes was a member of Captain Barrere's company in the war of 1812. To the west of the present Chapman farm lies the farm of Joseph B. Custer. About 1805 David Sullivan chose this place for his home, and made a good clearing. He was one of the earliest members of the Methodist church in that region, and is justly considered as the pioneer Methodist. He early opened his house for religious worship, though he himself was not a preacher. He, working with his excellent wife, Christina, was foremost in all enterprises for the promotion of public and private morals. After his death the farm passed into the possession of John Wood. Lewis Moler made the first improvements on the Stockwell farm before 18I2. It was still further improved by Jacob Landess, from Kentucky, who settled on it in 1815. Mr. Landess had a family, of thirteen children, ten of whom married. David Welty settled in Hamer in 1811. Mr. Landess and Mr. Welty were most excellent people, and good citizens. They were Dutch Quakers. Morris King married Susanna, the daughter of Jacob Landess, and had fourteen children, thirteen of whom grew to maturity and married. Among them were six boys who never have used tobacco in any form. Michael Dugan, a man who "lived by himself," made the first improvements on the farm owned by the heirs of Henry Murphy, a short distance northwest of Danville. He came to New Market in 1806, in company with Jacob and John Barnes. Nelson Charles was born in New Market township in 1809. His father, George Charles, came to the town of New Market in 1804, with his father, Andrew, and several brothers and sisters. Andrew Charles, the grandfather of Nelson, stayed in New Market but a short time, and then removed to Brush Creek, where he spent the remainder of his days. Andrew Charles came from Germany to America during the Revolutionary war to help the American forces. George Charles set up the first blacksmith shop in New Market, but soon removed to the northwest, near the present Mt. Zion church, on the Danville pike, where he farmed and worked at blacksmithing many years. Nelson, his son, was brought up to the trade, but never having a liking for it, he did not follow it to any great extent in after years. When he was twenty-three years of age he married Annie Wilkin, and settled in the southern part of Hairier, on the farm where he still resides— in the woods (Fulton survey, numbers thirteen thousand one hundred and thirty-six and thirteen thousand eight hundred and fourteen). Each year he cleared a "patch," keeping a small "deadening" ahead. He thus soon had his farm well cleared. His family consisted of eleven children, nine of whom are living. Noah lives in Liberty township, in this county. The others are scattered in the west. Nelson Charles' wife having died, he married Hannah Custer. Joseph Shafer was born in Dodson township. His father was Colonel George Shafer. He married Sarah Chaplin, by whom he had four children. He was in the army three years, and was discharged with honor. For many years he kept a village store in Danville. He has been living on his present farm for fourteen years, and has been farming and bridging for five or six years. He is an active politician, and one of the leaders of his party in his neighborhood. His wife died, and subsequently he married his present wife, Martha Murphy Wolf. John Wood, the father of John H. Wood, of Danville, came from Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1829, arriving in Hamer on the seventh day of April. He brought with him only his son, John H., and they together farmed for one year. Mr. Wood then bought the Sullivan farm, and brought his family from the east. There were in the farm one hundred and sixty-five acres of land, well improved, including two good orchards. For this property Mr. Wood paid seven hundred dollars in cash. In the Wood family were sixteen children, and all came to Hamer except the eldest sister, who remained in Pennsylvania. After a time Mr. Wood sold the farm to his son, John H., and removed to Danville, where he died in 1848. In 1847 John H. Wood started a store in Danville, which he kept, in connection with his farming, until within two years. In 1866 he sold his farm, and bought the place on which he now lives, west of Danville. His house in Danville was the first one built in the village. It stands across the street from the present post-office. Mr. Wood has been twice Married. His first wife was Hannah Colvin, by whom he had six children. His second wife was Margaret Ann Roush, by whom he had ten children. Thirteen of the children are still living—nine of them in Hamer township. Mr. Wood has enjoyed the confidence of his fellow-citizens to an unusual extent. He has proved throughout a long life, to be a good business man, full of integrity. He has been justice of the peace six years, township treasurer eleven years (he was the first treasurer of Hamer), and postmaster ten years. He has been continued in the office of school director for many years. His son George was in the army in the cavalry service three years, and was one of those who helped to capture Morgan, the raider. HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO - 445 John Dehass settled on the Kerr survey, number seven thousand and twenty, where his widow now resides. He was born of French parents, in Pennsylvania, in 1781, and came to New Market township when a man. He opened the first store within the present limits of Hamer, in 1815, in the house now occupied by Captain Alexander Murphy. This store he kept for three years, when he sold out to a Mr. Rogers, and soon thereafter he married Susan D. Puckett. Mr. Dehass gained a livelihOod after selling his store, by farming and by trading. He for many years kept a grocery and dry goods store at the corners called "Straight Out." His wife died, leaving four children, two of whom, Israel and Charles, are living in the township. He married for his second wife, Eliza Reynolds, and had by her five children. The names of the five children are John, James (who is married and lives in Hamer), Joseph, David, and Mary Ella. These live with their mother, except James. Mr. De- bass was a soldier in the war of 1812. His brother, Charles, was a general in the same war. His son Israel, was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion. Mr. Dehass was remarkable for his strength and endurance. He did not know what it was to be sick, and did not suffer, even on his last sick bed. He died in 1866, on the thirty- first of July, at the age of eighty-five years, surrounded by all his children and all his grandchildren but two. He was buried in the neighboring graveyard. Charles Dehass was born on the farm where he now lives. He learned the cooper trade, of Martin Puckett, in Clay township, and has followed his trade in connection with his farming. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Florence, of White Oak. They have a family of six children, the oldest and youngest being girls. One boy is married and lives in Fayette county. Mary married Solomon Hughes and lives in Clay township. Mr. Hughes is a carpenter by trade. The third boy has made a fine success as a teacher. An excellent family, by the name of Busick, settled about 181o, north of Danville, on the farm now owned by Ellis Richards. The house which he built still stands. Mr. Busick erected a large horse grist-mill on the spot where the Lutheran church, in Danville, now stands. It was resorted to by people from long distances, on account of the excellent work done. The Busicks belonged to the Methodist church, and worked hand in hand with the Sullivans and others for the promotion of truth and righteousness. Philip Pence was born in New Market, in 1813. He married Eliza, the daughter of George Charles, of New Market township. From small beginnings he, by careful management, increased his property till he was possessed of a large farm, besides property in Danville. He built the tavern house in Danville. They have three children, one in Hillsborough and two in Danville. P. F. Pence, one of the latter, has been the clerk of the township for four years. His wife's name was Rosanna Kessler. Robert Campton, an early settler in Hamer, enlisted in Captain G. W. Barrere's company and lost his life at the battle of Brownstown. At the time of his death he was lame and could not make good his escape by running, as many of his companions could—and did. He was struck down and scalped by the Indians. John Chaplin came to Hamer about 182o. He settled on the place where Samuel Roush lives. Neely McLaughlin, when a young man, rented for a series of years fifteen in all the farm now known as the Duckwall farm. In 1843 he moved to Salem township, where he still lives on an excellent farm, west of Pricetown. He had nine children, and they are all living but one. Ira, one of the sons, lives in Hamer on the Buford road, a mile and a quarter from Danville. He married, in 1876, Rebecca Knupp, whose people came to Hamer from Virginia in 1869. Mr. McLaughlin has begun a series of most excellent improvements. Campbell Bennett was born in Pennsylvania in 1807. When he was fifteen years of age, he began boating on the Ohio river. He made six trips to New Orleans, besides numerous trips to Cincinnati and other places on the Ohio. After the first few trips he began boating for himself, carrying apples and other fruit from Brownsville, on the Monongahela, to Cincinnati. Flat-boats were the usual means of conveyance. When the trip was ended, and the cargo sold, the flat-boat itself was sold for the wood or boards it contained, and the proprietor would return by steamboat or overland. When there were no apples or fruit to carry, coal or some other merchandise would make up a cargo. Mr. Bennett married Sarah Smith in 1832, the officiating clergyman being Ephraim Blaine, the father of Senator Blaine, of Maine. In 1840, with his wife and three children, Mr. Bennett moved to Ohio, and settled at first near Hillsborough, in the woods. After a stay of six years he bought a farm in the north part of Hamer which had been partially improved, but was then thickly covered with underbrush, of second growth. His wife died, leaving four more children added to the family. Mr. Bennett married for a second wife, Mary C. Naudain, the daughter of Ellis Naudain. In 1880 Mr. Bennett removed to Danville, leaving the farm in the care of his two youngest boys. Ellis Naudain came to Highland county from Delaware in 1836. He rented a farm one year on Clear creek, and in 1837 he bought a farm in North Hamer, of George Stroup. The farm is now owned by B. F. Cochran. Among the early pioneer school-teachers, mention should be made of a Mr. Knox. He taught school on the Dehass place as early as 1811. His pupils paid a dollar and a half each for a term of three months, and the teacher "boarded 'round." DANVILLE. Danville was laid out as a town in 1835, April f4th, by Daniel P. March. It was given the name Danville to perpetuate the name of the proprietor. In 1839, December r4th, H. J. March William W. Malcom and others made an extensive addition, and John Chaplin added still further on the eighth of April, 1846. Its most prosperous period was during the ten years preceding the late war. 446 - HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO. It has at present three stores, two blacksmith shops, one shoe shop, a harness shop, a cooper shop and a wagon shop, two churches and one school-house. DUNKARDS. Jacob Garver, a Dunkard preacher, living to the west, on the Big Miami, often visited the Landesses, and held religious services in their house. Not having a regular preaching time announced beforehand, on his arrival Mr. Landess would mount a horse and make a circuit of the neighborhood, far and near, and the neighbors would come together. Garver preached at the house of Mr. Landess as early as 1817. In later years Mr. Garver refused the trine immersion, and the Dunkards refused thereafter to own him, or fellowship with him. Among the pioneer preachers through New Market, Hamer, Salem, and other townships, was Peter Haun. He was a Kentuckian and a slaveholder. He visited Ohio, from time to time, and held religious services wherever there were those who would receive him. In Hamer his usual stopping place was at the Landesses. METHODISTS. The Methodists were early organized, but without a house of worship till 1842. In that year a house was built in Danville. A young and talented man, by the name of Joseph Gatch, eighteen years old, was the preacher at this time. The elder members of the church were: Mrs. John Eakins, Daniel Hare and wife, Ambrose Emrie and wife, Elias Naudian and wife, Henry March and wife, John Frazer and wife, William Sullivan and wife, and Thomas McQuitty. The present Methodist church was completed in 1859. The church has a present membership of from forty-five to fifty members. Rev. L. 0. Deputy is their preacher. LUTHERANS. In 1817 the Lutherans and German Reform societies joined in the work of erecting a house of worship. It was a log house, built just on the edge of New Market township, near the graveyard at Noah Falley's. The early Lutheran families were Andrew Shafer and his family, Philip Wilkin, sr., and his family, John and Henry Roush and their families, Isaac Leamon and family, and George Caily and family. Their first preachers were few and far between, and, in some cases, peculiar. A Rev. Mr. Myers, from Cincinnati, induced the congregation to buy him a horse to travel with. Once in possession of the horse, he bade them good-bye and never returned. The Rev. John Surface, who administered to the spiritual wants of the people about 1840, was a very excellent and worthy man. His memory is still cherished by the fathers. About 1855 there arose some dispute and dissatisfaction among the congregation, and Philip Wilkin, with some others, built the Mount Zion church, on the Danville pike. The others built the present Lutheran church in Danville. The following is a nearly complete list of the families composing the latter congregation at the time the church was built: George Shafer, who was a prime mover in the matter of building, Philip Roush, mi., John Falley, Daniel Miller, Andrew Roller, John Kessler, and George Carr. Large additions to the church were made soon after. CHRISTIANS. In 1835 the Christians organized a church, and soon thereafter a church building was erected in the forks of the Buford and Pricetown roads, just west of Danville. For a time the organization was a strong one. The principal members were the Faris families, the Pulliams, Barkers, Custers, and others. Dissensions having arisen among its members on account of the excommunication of Nathan Pulliam for his masonic affiliations, the membership was impaired, and the church finally died out altogether.