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CLEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.
BY W. B. THACKER.
Perhaps a more interesting, if not more accurate, history of this township could have been written a few years since, than can be given now, owing to the fact that during the past fifteen or twenty years so many of the old settlers have passed away and with them much valuable information pertaining to pioneer life in the township. This is a serious loss and one greatly to be regretted, for a record of the experience of the pioneers of our country would certainly contain a wealth of incident and anecdote illustrative of 'life on the frontier, that can be obtained from no other source.
We, who are now enjoying the fruits of their labor, can scarcely realize the hardships and privations to which they were subject, nor can we understand how they endured such a ceaseless round of toil and poverty; and yet, many of them reach a " green old age," exempt from most of the ills to which we are heir. The secret lies in the fact that they accepted with equanimity whatever favors fortune deigned to bestow. They pursued the " even tenor of their way," not continually striving after the unattainable; in a word, they did not worry.
Clear Creek Township is located in the northern part of the county, and is bounded as follows: On the north, by Montgomery County; on the east, by Wayne Township; on the south, by Turtle Creek Township, and, on the west, by Franklin Township. The township is six miles wide from east to west, and nearly seven miles long from north to south, containing a fraction less than forty-two square miles, or about 26,800 acres. The greater part of the township is sufficiently rolling to insure ample drainage, and but little of it is so broken that it is not susceptible of tillage.
The soil of the township is generally fertile and easy of cultivation; it will compare favorably with the other townships of the county. Wheat, corn, barley, tobacco and hogs are the staple productions. Oats, hay and potatoes are also quite extensively grown, but generally not more than enough for home consumption. In favorable seasons, large quantities of fruit of various kinds are produced—chiefly apples and pears.
Owing to there being no convenient market for small fruits, but little attention is paid to their cultivation. In former years, apples were almost a certain crop in the township, but now they are a very uncertain crop.
When the first settlers came here, a dense growth of forest trees covered the land, principally oak, ash, hickgry, walnut, hard and soft maple and elm.
In many parts of the township, large quantities of maple molasses and Sugar were made, but now the sugar camps have nearly all disappeared, and most of the farms are denuded of all except the most inferior quality of timber, many of them not possessing even that. Formerly, there was a great deal of fine walnut timber in most parts of the township, of which the owners were very prodigal, using it without stint for all purposes for which such timber was
588 - HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
suitable. A few of the monarchs, however, were left standing, but, a great demand for walnut lumber springing up, even they were sacrificed, and now a few diminutive specimens are about all that are left to tell that such trees ever existed in the township.
The following exhibit of the agricultural products of the township for the year 1880 is, perhaps, not strictly correct, a portion at least being mere " guesswork." But it is probably as accurate a report as could be easily obtained, being taken from the Assessor's returns. I make the report for the precincts separately:
East Precinct—Corn, 108,245 bushels; wheat, 29,090 bushels ; barley, 22,215 bushels; tobacco, 337,050 pounds ; pork, 637,000 pounds. West Precinct—Corn, 145,415 bushels; wheat. 35,867 bushels; barley. 19,689 bushels; tobacco, 398,016 pounds; pork, 623,000 pounds.
I also give the valuation of the property in the township at the last appraisement; that in the Springboro Special School District separately, and that in the township, including the above district: Springboro District, $377,804; total township, $2,241,242.
Clear Creek. from which the township derives its name, is the largest stream in the township; all the others are mere rivulets. Clear Creek passes almost entirely across the township from eastlo west, and discharges its waters in the Great Miami about one mile below Franklin.
The greater part of the water from the township flows west, or toward the Great Miami, while the remainder flows east and south toward the Little Miami.
The absence of large streams, though perhaps a detriment in some ways, is an advantage in this respect. We thus have less broken land and fewer comparatively worthless bluffs. such as are usually found along the larger streams and rivers.
Except in time of an excessive drought, an ample supply of good water for all ordinary agricultural purposes is found by digging from ten to forty feet deep. It is generally hard or limestone water.
There are but few springs of any considerable size in the township. Some fine springs near Springboro are, however. an exception, they will be noticed hereafter.
The township contains parts of four original surveyed townships, viz., Town 2, Range 5; Town 3, Range 5; Town 3, Range 4, and Town 4, Range 4.
Prior to October 17, 1815, this was a part of Franklin and Wayne Townships, two-thirds belonging to Franklin. The following is the action taken by the County Commissioners in the matter of the establishment of the township:
It having been made to appear to the satisfaction of the Commissioners that it is necessary to make over and set off a new township in the county of Warren, by taking a part of the township of Franklin, and a part of the township of Wayne. Therefore agreed and ordered, that all that part of the townships of Franklin and Wayne hereafter designated and described, be erected and set off, and made into a new township with the boundaries and lines following, to wit : Beginning at southeast corner of Section 21, Township 4, Range 4, and thence north with the line of the sections to the county line, thence west with the county line to the northwest corner of Section 15, Township 2, Range 5, thence south with the line of the sections to the southwest corner of Section 15, Township 3, Range 4, to the line of Turtle Creek Township, thence east with the line of Turtle Creek Township to the place of beginning. The same shall be erected and set off into a new and
separate township, and shall be designated and known by the name of Clear Creek Township.
ICHABOD B. HALSEY,
AARON HARLAN, Commissioners.
ENOS WILLIAMS
October 17, 1815.
The township remained as organized with the voting-place at Ridgeville, until the year 1855, when it was divided into two election precincts, a little more than half of the Territory being set off to Springboro Precinct. D. N. Thomas and George Denise were two of the Commissioners appointed to make the division.
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We here give as complete a list of the township officers from the organisation of the township to the present time, together with the result of the Presidential elections, as is possible to obtain, owing to the incomplete records of the elections in the early history of the township.
The first election of which we have any record was held on the 8th day of October, 1816. It was for State and county officers and for Representative in Oong,ress. There were 210 votes polled, of which Thomas Worthington had, for Governor, 193; James Dunlap, 17; William H. Harrison, for Congress, 134; Thomas R. Ross, 76; Aaron Harlan, for Commissioner, 118; all others, 92; David Sutton, for Representative in Legislature, 139; all others, for Representative in Legislature, 71.
There were several candidates for Congress and the Legislature, who received from two to twenty-five votes each.
The first township election recorded was held April 7,1817, although John Blair was Clerk and Lewis Woodward, John Blair and Thomas Venard were commissioned as Justices of the Peace in 1815. The following is a list of township officers:
1817—Trustees, William Crossley, Henry King, Samuel Gustin; Treasurer, Jacob Eulass; Clerk, William Blair; Constables, J. R. Blackford, Charles Burroughs; Justices of the Peace, Lewis Woodard, Thomas Venard, Jeremiah Black
1818—Trustees, James Wills, Thomas Venard. William Crosley ; Treasurer, Jacob Eulass; Clerk, William Blair; Constables, Daniel Crane, J. B. Blackford; Justices of the Peace, Lewis Woodard, Thomas Venard, Jeremiah Black
1823--Trustees, William Crossley, Harman Aughee, Henry King; Treasurer, Daniel Crane; Clerk, Seneca Ball; Constables, Noah Bunnell, James. Mullen; Justices of the Peace, Thomas Venard, William Sawyer, William Blair.
1825—Trustees, Harman Aughee, Henry King, James Wills; Treasurer, Moses Crosley; Clerks, Joseph Merritt, Thomas Morrow; Constables, David Wills, John Corner: Justices of the Peace, Thomas Venard, Daniel Crane, James E. Dearth.
1826—Trustees, Harman Aughee, James Wills, Robert E. Lafetra; Treasurer, Joshua Carter; Clerk, Joseph Merritt; Constables, David Wills, John Corner; Justices of the Peace, Thomas Venard, Daniel Crane, James E. Dearth.
1827—Trustees, Harman Aughee, James Wills, Robert E. Lafetra; Clerk, Joseph Merritt; Constables, David Wills, John Tresslar; Justices of the Peace, Daniel Crane, John Corner, Jacob Pence.
1828—Trustees, Robert Lafetra, Daniel Crane, Jacob Pence; Clerk, J. S. Williamson; Constable, Joseph Merritt; Treasurer, Joshua Carter; Justices of the Peace, Daniel Crane, John Comer, Jacob Pence.
1829—Trustees, Jacob Pence, George C. Smith, Amos Kelsey; Treasurer, John C. Brooke; Clerk, Joseph S. Williamson; Constable, John Tresslar; Justices of the Peace, Daniel Crane, Jacob Pence, Amos Kelsey.
1830—Trustees, Daniel Crane, Robert Lafetra, Jarvis Stokes; Treasurer, Joshua Carter; Clerk, John Clymer; Constable, Jeremiah Earnhart; Justices of the Peace, Jacob Pence, Daniel Crane, Amos Kelsey, J. S. Williamson.
1831—Trustees, Daniel Crane, Jarvis Stokes, Robert Lafetra; Treasurer, William Crosley; Clerk, C. A. Richaidson; Constable, J. R. Blackford; Justices of the Peace, Jacob Pence, Daniel Crane, Amos Kelsey, J. S. Williamson.
1832—Trustees, Daniel Crane, Jarvis Stokes, Robert Lafetra; Treasurer, William Crosley; Clerk, C. A. Richardson; Constable, Levi Clymer; Justices of the Peace, Daniel Crane, Jacob Pence, George Harlan.
590 - HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
1833—Trustees, Daniel Crane, Jarvis Stokes, David Wills; Treasurer William Crosley; Clerk, John Clymer; Constable, Levi Clymer; Justices of the Peace, Daniel Crane, Jacob Pence, George Harlan.
1834 —Trustees, Daniel Crane, Jacob Pence, Aaron Harlan; Treasurer, William Crosley; Clerk, Edmund Robinson; Constable, Andrew Patton; Jus' tiees of the Peace, Daniel Crane, Jacob Pence, George Harlan.
1835—Trustees, Daniel Crane, Jacob Pence, Aaron Harlan; Treastirer William Crosley; Clerk, Edward Noble; Constables, C. P. Russum, Moses liar: lan; Justices of the Peace, Jacob Pence, George Harlan, Edward Noble.
1836—Trustees, Jacob Pen,,e, Aaron Harlan, Thomas Johns; Treasurer Nathaniel McLean; Clerk, Israel Hibbard; Constable, Thomas B. Venable Justices of the Peace, George Harlan, Edward Noble, Jacob Fox.
1837—Trustees, Jacob Pence, Aaron Harlan, Thomas Johns; Treasurer, (1 P. Russum; Clerk, Israel Hibbard; Constable, William Wheaton; Justices of the Peace, George Harlan, Edward Noble, Jacob Fox.
1838 —Trustees, Jacob Pence, Thomas Johns, Moses Harlan; Treasurer, C. Russum; Clerk, John J. Janney; Constable, John Sexton; Justices of the. Peace, George Harlan, Edward Noble, C. P. Russum.
1839—Trustees, Jacob Pence, Thomas Johns, Moses Harlan; Treasurer, C. P. Russum; Clerk, John J. Janney; Constable, John Sexton; Justices of the Peace, George Harlan, Edward Noble, C P. Russum.
1840—Trustees, Moses Harlan, William Gregg, David Wills; Treasurer, C. P. Russum; Clerk, Jonathan Munger; Constable, Alex H. Lewis; Justices of the Peace, George Harlan, Edward Noble, C. P. Russum.
1841—Trustees, David Wills, Moses Harlan, Thomas Johns; Treasurer, C. P. Russum; Clerk, Israel Hibbard; Constable, John Sexton; Justices of the Peace, C. P. Russum, Jeremiah Stansell, Joel A. Stokes.
1842--Trustees, David Wills, Moses Harlan, Thomas Johns; Treasurer, C. P. Russum; Clerk, Israel Hibbard; Constable, M. M. Tresslar; Justices of the Peace, Jeremiah Stansell, Joel A. Stokes, C. P. Russum.
1843—Trustees, David Wills, Moses Harlan, J. D. Thomas; Treasurer, Thomas Johns; Clerk, John J. Janney; Constables, Hanson Thomas, Joseph C. Thorne; Justices of the Peace, J. Stansell, Joel A. Stokes, C. P. Russum.
1844—Trustees, David Wills, J. D. Thomas, Hugh Allen ; Treasurer, Thomas Johns; Clerk, John J. Janney; Constables, W. P. Peebles, Joseph C. Thorne; Justices of the Peace, Samuel Dearth, John S. Todd, William Eulass.
1845—Trustees, David Wills, J. D. Thomas, Moses Harlan; Treasurer, Thomas Johns; Clerk, John J. Janney; Constable, Hanson Thomas; Justices of the Peace, John S. Todd, William Eulass, William Gregg.
1846—Trustees, David Wills, J. D. Thomas, Moses Harlan; Treasurer, Thomas Johns; Clerk, John J. Janney; Constable, Hanson Thomas; Justices of the Peace, William Eulass, William Gregg, Moses Harlan.
1847—Trustees, David Wills, Moses Harlan, Mahlon Wright; Treasurer, Thomas John; Clerk, John J. Janney; Constable, Hanson Thomas; Justices of the Peace, Moses Harlan, William Gregg, Joel A. Stokes.
1848—Trustees, David Wills, Moses Harlan, Mahlon Wright; Treasurer, Thomas Johns; Clerk, E. M. Mulford; Constable, Hanson Thomas; Justices of the Peace, oses Harlan, William Gregg, Joel A. Stokes.
1849—Trustees, David Wills, Moses Harlan, Mahlon Wright; Treasurer, M. M. Tresslar; Clerk, Samuel Graham; Constable, W. P. Peebles; Justices of the Peace, Moses Harlan, William Gregg, Joel A. Stokes.
1850—Trustees, David Wills, Moses Harlan, Mahlon Wright Treasurer, M. M. Tresslar; Clerk, Samuel Graham; Constable, Perry Lukins; Justices of the Peace, Moses Harlan, William Gregg, Joel A. Stokes.
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1851—Trustees, David Wills, Moses Harlan, Mahlon Wright; Treasurer, M. M. Tresslar; Clerk, Samuel Graham; Constable, William F. Hayner; Justices of the I'eace, Moses Harlan, William Gregg, William P. Peebles.
1852—Trustees, David Wills, Moses Harlan, Mahlon Wright; Treasurer, M. M. Tresslar; Clerk, Samuel Graham; Constable, William H. Morgan; Justices of the Peace, Joel A. Stokes, William P. Peebles, B. A. Stokes.
1853—Trustees, David Wills, Moses Harlan, Mahlon Wright; Treasurer, Richard Lackey; Clerk, Samuel Graham; Constable, William Langsdon; Justices of the Peace, Joel A. Stokes, William P. Peebles, B. A. Stokes.
1854—Trustees, David Wills, Moses Harlan, Mahlon Wright; Treasurer, Richard Lackey; Clerk, Samuel Graham; Constable, William F. Hayner; Justices of the Peace, William P. Peebles, B. A.. Stokes.
1855—Trustees, David Wills, Moses Harlan, Mahlon Wright; Treasurer, Richard Lackey; Clerk, Samuel Graham; Constable, William Langsdon; Justices of the Peace, William P. Peebles. B. A. Stokes.
The township records from 1855 to 1865 have been lost, and I am able to give the names of Treasurer and Clerk only. Richard Lackey was Treasurer continuously until 1865. Samuel Graham was Clerk until 1857; John Fye from that time until 1862; Samuel Graham one year; J. J. Baner from 1863 till 1865.
1865—Treasurer, J. J. Baner; Clerk, Peter Sellers; Constable, Elias Vickers; Justices of the Peace, W. P. Peebles, J. T. Earnhart.
1866—Trustees, E. L. Cleaver, David Wills, Moses Harlan; Treasurer, J. J. Baner; Clerk, Peter Sellers; Constable, Elias Vickers; Justices, W. P. Peebles, J. T. Earnhart.
1867—Trustees, David Wills, Moses Harlan, William F. Hayner; Treasurer, J. J Baner; Clerk, Samuel Graham; Constable, Elias Vickers; Justices, W. P. Peebles, J. T. Earnhart, John Fye.
1868—Trustees, David Wills, Josiah Hough, W. S. Earnhart; Treasurer, J. J. Baner; Clerk, Samuel Graham; Constable, George Archdeacon; Justices, W. P. Peebles, John Fye, C. H. Eulass.
1869—Trustees, W. S. Earnhart, Josiah Hough, C. H. Eulass; Treasurer, J. J. Baner; Clerk, W. B. Thacker: Constable, George Archdeacon; Justices, W. P. Peebles, John Fye, C. H. Eulass.
1870—Trustees, Moses Harlan, Simpson Nutt, Ira Thomas; Treasurer, J. J. Baner; Clerk, W. B. Thacker; Constable, George Archdeacon; Justices, W. P. Peebles, John Fye, C. H. Eulass.
1871—Trustees, Ira Thomas, Simpson Nutt, William F. Hayner; Treasurer, J. J. Baner; Clerk, W. B. Thacker; Constable, George Archdeacon; Justices, W. P. Peebles, John Fye, Richard Lackey.
1872—Trustees, Simpson Nutt, Richard Lackey, William F. Hayner; Treasurer, J. J. Baner; Clerk, W. B. Thacker; Constable, George Archdeacon; Justices, John Fye, Richard Lackey, William F. Hayner.
1873—Trustees, Richard Lackey, William F. Hayner, Peter Sellers; Treasurer, J. J. Baner; Clerk, W. B. Thacker; Constable, Elias Vickers; Justices, Richard Lackey, William F. Hayner, Lawrence Furlong.
1874—Trustees, William F. Hayner, Peter Sellers, Simpson Nutt; Treasurer, J. J. Bauer; Clerk, W. B. Thacker; Constable, Elias Vickers; Justices, W. F. Hayner, Richard Lackey, Lawrence Furlong.
1875—Trustees, Richard Lackey, Perry Lukens, C. H. Eulass; Treasurer, J. J. Baner; Clerk, W. B. Thacker; Constable, Elias Vickers; Justices, R. Lackey, W. F. Hayner, Lawrence Furlong.
1876—Trustees, R. Lackey, C. H. Eulass, W. F. Hayner: Treasurer, J. J. Baner; Clerk, V B. Thacker; Constable, Charles Unglesbee; Justices, R. Lackey, W. F. Hayner, W. H. Ballard.
592 - HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
1877-Trustees, R. Lackey, C. H. Eulass, Ira Thomas; Treasurer, J. Baner; Clerk, W. B. Thacker; Constable, Charles Unglesbee; Justices, W. Rayner, W. H. Ballard, M. F. Busseer.
1878-Trustees, R. Lackey, C. H. Eulass, Ira Thomas; Treasurer, J. J. Baner; Clerk, W. B. Thacker; Constable, Charles Unglesbee; Justices, M. p. Busseer, Alex Boxwell, J. J. Baner.
1879-Trustees, R. Lackey, C. H. Eulass, Ira Thomas; Treasurer, J. Baner; Clerk, W. B. Thacker; Constable, Charles Unglesbee; Justices, Alex Boxwell, J. J. Baner, S. J. Witteman.
1880--Trustees, R. Lackey, C. H. Eulass, Ira Thomas; Treasurer, J. J. Baner; Clerk, W. B. Thacker; Constable, John Fox; Justices, Alex Boxwell, J. J. Baner, S. J. Witteman.
1881-Trustees, R. Lackey, Ira Thomas, N. E. Lupton; Treasurer, J. J. Baner; Clerk, John E. Robinson; Constable, John Fox; Justices, Alex Boxwell, Samuel J. Witteman, A. F. Peebles.
List of jurors returned by township trustees for the five years beginning with 1816:
1816-Paul Lewis, William Sawyer, Col. John McDannell, Moses Harlan, William Crosley, Thomas Venard, Peter Kesling, John Gordon, Daniel Kelsey, William Blair, Jonathan Wright, Adam Miller, William Sweney, Peter Proud.
1817-Henry King, Samuel Gustin, James Kelsey, Joseph Davis, John Blair, Jacob Pence, Jesse Wilson, Jeremiah Gustin, William Patton, Thomas McLean.
1818-Moses Crosley, William Sweney, George Harlan, James Wills, Daniel Bradstreet, William Edwards, Col. John McDannell, Charles Fox, Richard Lackey, Thomas Venard, Nathan Marchant, Jacob Hampton, Nathaniel Blackford, Henry Clymer.
1819-John Ripley, John Roberts, Asher Brown, William B. Seaman, Fergus McLean, Joel Wright, Isaac Mullen, James McDannell, Henry J. Key, Stephen Bunnell, Joseph Kirby, Adam Surface, Bazil Death, Martin Proud, George Keever, William Garwood.
1820-Jonathan Garwood, Job Throckmorton, John Penington, William Wilgus, William Miltenberger, John Kelsey, John Blackford, Nathaniel McLean, Francis Lucas, Samuel Harlan, Aaron Harlan, Gabriel Drullinger, Harman Aughee, Daniel Alexander.
Presidential electors for 1816-Abram Looker, Allen Shepherd, Benjamin Hough, Aaron Wheeler, John G. Young, Joseph Vance, William Skinner, John Patterson, had each thirty-three votes.
In 1824, Jackson received 32 votes; Adams, 99 votes and Clay, 17 votes.
In 1832, Jackson received 205 votes; Clay and others, 325 votes.
In 1840, Harrison received 356 votes; Van Buren, 168 votes.
In 1844, Clay received 362 votes; Polk, 198.
In 1848, Taylor received 244 votes; Cass, 195 votes; Van Buren, 95 votes.
In 1852, Scott received 261 votes; Pierce, 227 votes; Hale, 44 votes.
In 1868, Grant received 395 votes; Seymour, 239 votes.
In 1872, Grant received 385 votes; Greeley, 248 votes.
In 1876, Hayes received 363 votes; Tilden, 290 votes.
In 1880, Garfield received 442 votes; Hancock, 318 votes.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that the vote increased from 210, in 1816, to 760, in 1880.
Since 1840, the township has given a uniform majority of cent for the Whig and Republican parties.
Comparing the vote and census of the township for 1880, we find that the voters constituted about 25 per cent of the population; on that basis, the population in 1815 was about 1840. about 22 per
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We have endeavored to ascertain the population of the township at each canons since its organization, but have not been able to procure any reports antedating the sixth census, or 1840. At that time the population was 2,821: in 1850, it was 2,770; in 1860, 2,785; in 1870, 2,605; in 1880. 2,789.
The population of Springboro in 1840 was 417; in 1850, it was 454; in 1860, 502; in 1870, 477; in 1880, 553.
Springboro is the only incorporated village in the township, the others- Red Lion, Ridgeville,
Utica and Pekin - being mere hamlets. Ridgeville was laid out in 1814 by Fergus McLean, father of Judge John McLean, formerly of the United States Supreme Court.
Springboro was laid out in 1816 by Jonathan Wright. When the time came to select a name for the place, some one suggested that it be called Wrightstown, in honor of the founder, but he objected and proposed the name of Springboro, which was adopted. One condition imposed on all who purchased lots in the village, was, that no liquor was to be sold on the premises for ten years, and I am informed that no saloon has ever been kept in that part of the town. But an addition, called Job Carr's Addition, was made to the village, and, as no such restrictions were placed on the sale of lots there, liquor sellers were not slow to take advantage of the opportunity to engage in the nefarious business, and Springboro, in a measure, lost her good name.
In 1817, Abner Crane laid out the village of Westfield, now called Red Lion. Soon after, a man by the name of Holly opened a hotel there, and had painted on his sign a red lion rampant; from this the village probably derived its present name.
SCHOOLS.
The early settlers of this township were, perhaps, as much alive to the educational interests of their children as the people of the present day are, but the school laws, if any had been enacted, were very crude, and free public schools as they exist at the present time were unknown. The school terms were necessarily of short duration, because of the limited means of most of the citizens. The usual method of proceeding in most cases was about as follows: Whenever a dozen or more families had settled in one locality, and a locality would frequently embrace a scope of country many miles in extent, a substantial hewn-log house would be built, which generally answered the double purpose of church and schoolhouse. When, however, a house was designed for school purposes only, a very simple structure was deemed sufficient, for as no school districts had been established, and no one was limited to any special territory in the matter of school privileges, and, as the center of population" was often changing, owing to the influx of new settlers, the school site was as often changed and a new house erected; therefore, as the houses were intended merely for a temporary purpose, no especial pains were taken in their construction.
When the house was completed, some one who felt himself competent to " wield the birch"-often a " tramp pedagogue"-would apply for the position of teacher, the amount of his wages depending upon the number of his patrons.
We have heard cases instanced in which the teacher received but $12 per month, he paying his board out of that sum - not a very princely income, surely. The customary plan, however, was for the teacher to board round," usually boarding a week with each family.
When and where the first schoolhouse in the township was built is not positively known, but from the best data I can obtain, one of the first, if not the very first, was built on the farm now owned by Ephraim Barnhart, in Section 18. If not the first, it possessed all the " advantages" of that day- -such as a puncheon floor, greased paper for windows in lieu of glass, a clapboard door, a slab, smoothed on one side, for a writing-desk, etc.
594 - HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
These were the only schools in the township until about the year 1816, when Francis Glass, a classical scholar, opened a school in Springboro, and was followed by Richard Way and Noah Leeds. Good private schools were maintained there until the passage of a general State school law.
At present, Springboro, with the addition of some adjacent territory, out, side of the corporate limits, constitutes a special school district. They employ a Principal, with three assistant teachers. The present enrollment is about 200. The curriculum embraces the common English branches, together with the higher mathematics, the sciences and Latin. There is also within the corporation a school for colored youth, with an enrollment of about twenty.
The township, outside of Springboro, constitutes one school district, which is divided into eleven subdistricts, with an enumeration of about 750. The schoolhouses in the township are all substantial brick buildings, and are well supplied with outline maps, globes, etc. The schools are usually continued nine months each year. The average wages of teachers is $42 per month for males, and $38 for females. Subdistrict No. 1, or Red Lion, has two teachers; the others have one each. The patrons of the schools in most of the districts manifest considerable interest in their welfare, and. we think, the schools of the township, taken as a whole, will compare favorably with country schools in general The Miami Valley College is situated near Springboro. It was established in 1870 by a party of liberal-minded persons, chiefly of the Society of Friends, with the intention of testing, or rather demonstrating, the practicability of combining mental with physical instruction in the education of both sexes.
There is a farm of about sixty acres connected with the school; also a mechanical hall and all male students—except those who board outside of the college—are required to devote a portion of each day to manual labor, either in farming, gardening or mechanics; the females in household duties, each class under a competent instructor. The faculty consists at present of five teachers. The attendance is about sixty.
CHURCHES.
If judged by the number of churches, the citizens of this township are decidedly a church-going people, there being no less than thirteen churches, within its bounds. viz., one United Brethren Church. at Utica; one Methodist, at Merrittstown; one Universalist and one Baptist, at Ridgeville; one Methodist and one New-Light (or Christian), at Red Lion, and one Methodist, one Universalist, one German Reformed, one United Brethren, one colored and two Friends, at Springboro. The first church established in the township was unquestionably the Baptist Church, at or near Ridgeville, known as the Clear Creek Church. It was established in 1797. Rev. James Sutton being the first pastor.
In the spring of 1798. a branch of this church was organized in Turtle Creek Township, and Elder Daniel Clark served as pastor of both churches and of the latter until near his death, which occurred in 1840, in his ninetieth year. The Clear Creek Church is claimed to have been the first church organized in the county.
About the year 1800, the Associate Reformed Church was organized, and a house of worship erected on the ground now occupied by the cemetery at Springboro. Rev. David Risk was the first pastor. The house was built of hewn logs and was considered a very 'commodious and substantial structure for those times. In the year 1818, a brick house was erected in its stead. Rev. S. P. McGaw was the pastor then. Among the early members of the church may be mentioned William Sawyer, Robert Bradford, Alexander Woods, James and Alex Johnson, James F. Russell, the McCords and James and John Patterson.
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The first German Reformed Church in the township was built about the year 1805, on the farm now owned by Robert Eyer, about two and a half miles southeast of Springboro. It was built of logs, as were all the churches of that sday. They afterward built a frame house on the farm of Jacob Null, which was replaced about 1863 by the present house in Springboro—a substantial
brick edifice.
The New-Lights (or Christians) erected a house of worship near Red Lion in an early, perhaps, as 1815 or 1816. It in time was replaced by a brick house.. Rev. Isaac Dearth was officiating minister there at one time; he was ordained in the year 1820. Although the society has a good brick church at Red Lion, we believe they have no preaching at the present time.
The Methodists held religious services in private houses in different places in the township as early as 1820, or, perhaps, before that, but, from the best information I have been able to obtain, they had no church building prior to 1825. Somewhere near that time they built a church at Ridgeville, which was totally demolished by a hurricane on the night of St. Patrick's Day, in 1868. On the night preceding the storm, the house was crowded with the citizens of Ridgeville and vicinity, the occasion being an exhibition given by the pupils of the Ridgeville School.
We have not been able to ascertain the date when the first United Brethren Church was organized, but it was doubtless quite early.
The Universalist Church at Springboro was built in 1841. There had, however, been occasional sermons preached in that vicinity by Universalist ministers for several years previous.
On the occasion of the dedication of the church, the concourse of people was so great—estimated at 3,000--that but a small portion of them could gain admission to the house, and, an adjournment was, therefore, had to an adjacent grove, and the exercises concluded there.
A large portion of the congregation was doubtless attracted thither through motives of curiosity. Universalism being comparatively a new doctrine, they were anxious to hear what could be said from that standpoint on the subject of religion.
In September, 1845, M. H. Keever, Nathaniel McLean and George Cornell, directors of School District No. 4, deeded to the Universalist Church at Ridgeville the ground where that church now stands, it being at that time school property.
The first trustees of the church were chosen July 19, 1845, and were as follows: M. H. Keever, William Eulass, Daniel Crane, Charles Montgomery and G. W. Stokes. The house was built in 1846. Rev. George Weaver preached the dedicatory sermon.
The Friends held their first meetings in the township at the house of Jonathan Wright, and, as he did not come to the State until 1814, they had no house of worship probably before the year 1815 at least.
SOCIETIES.
In 1867, a lodge of F. & A. M. was organized at Springboro. The charter members were Robert Hurd, Dr. Moses Smith, Ambrose Taylor, J. S. Thomas, Joseph Warwick, William Langsdon and Jacob S. Hopkins. Robert Hurd was the first Master of the lodge. After maintaining their organization until about two years ago, they surrendered their charter and disbanded, the principal reason being, perhaps, because of their proximity to Franklin, where a strong and flourishing lodge was maintained, which curtailed the territory of the Springboro society, thus rendering it weak from the start and consequently destroying its effectiveness.
596 - HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
Relief Lodge, No. 148, I. 0. 0. F., located at Springboro, was instituted by Grand Master Earle, February 27, 1850. The charter members were John Fye, W. B. Linell, Mahlon Wright and Daniel Moon, all of whom, except Mahlon Wright, are living. On the same night, thirteen members were initiated, viz., George Archdeacon, W. P. Peebles, W. F. Hayner, Charles Hughes, John Comer, Ira Thomas, W. M. Bateman, Randolph Robbins, A. S. Thomas, W. W. Brown, Robert Martin, Joshua Anderson and W. H. Ballard, all of whom, except Comer, are still living. Clear Creek Encampment, No. 145, I. 0. 0. F., was instituted July 6, 1871.
About the year 1870, a secret organization,, known as Patrons of Husbandry, sprang up in the West and spread with great rapidity throughout the Western and Southern States. In a few years, it had assumed gigantic proportions, and bid fair to ultimately include in its membership almost the entire agricultural class of the West and South. But dissensions arose, the interest of the members abated, chiefly, we think, because the idea obtained (whether justly or not, we do not pretend to say), that the members were using the organization for their own personal pecuniary and political benefit, and it declined as rapidly as it had advanced, until now comparatively few societies exist.
The different societies were styled Granges and were classed as National, State and Subordinate Granges. The membership was originally limited to those engaged in or depending on agriculture and horticulture, but those engaged in other pursuits were afterward admitted to membership.
Had the primary principles of the order been strictly adhered to, great good might have been accomplished. These principles were to foster mutual interest and co-operation; to stimulate a pride in the calling of the farmer; to make home more attractive, thus strengthening the attachments of our youth to rural life; to encourage and promote economy and education in a word, to develop the higher and better life of the farming community.
The founders of the order rightly claimed that an organization of this nature was almost absolutely necessary for the farmers, as, owing to their comparative isolation, they were deprived of many of the social and educational advantages possessed by almost every other class of society; and that self-interest and self-protection demanded a combination of some kind; hence the organization of the order.
The first grange in this township was instituted at Springboro October 1, 1872, S. H. Ellis, Master. This was soon followed by one at Red Lion, with John Gustin as Master; one at Ridgeville, with Dr. Keever as Master, and one at Utica, with Lawrence Rogers as Master. These were all the granges located in the township, although there were many in the township who were members of granges situated outside of this township.
The Springboro Library Association was organized in 1832 by Jonah D. Thomas, William S. Bedford, Dr. Joseph Stanton, Josiah and Mahlon Wright and others. The first Librarian, Dr. Stanton, was an uncle of Hon. E. M. Stanton, the noted Secretary of War. William S. Bedford is the only one of the original members now living. He has been President of the association for the past thirty years. They have a well-selected library of about 2,000 volumes. The present officers are: William S. Bedford. President; J. J. Baner, Secretary, and F. W. Wright, Librarian.
The Warren County Farmers' Mutual Insurance Association indemnifies its members for losses sustained in the destruction of $r damage done to their farm buildings, from whatever unavoidable cause. In case of total destruction of property, the sufferer receives three-fourths of the appraised value, and the assessed amount of damage when only partially destroyed. A re-appraisement is had every three years, The association was formed in 1860, and the follow-
CLEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP - 597
ing board of officers was ejected: Joseph Stanton, President; William S. Earn-hart, Vice President; B. G. Easton, Secretary; Job Mullin, Treasurer; William Carpenter, Thomas Parker, S. Clevenger, Appraisers. When first organized, membership was limited to citizens of the township, and the number of mem- b to twenty, but now it may include any farmers of the county to the numbers of forty; at present, it numbers about thirty members. It is claimed that it costs its members less than one twentieth of 1 per cent per annum.
IN THE WAR.
When the dread alarm of war was sounded throughout our land, the youth of this township, with those from other parts of the country, responded promptly to the Nation's call to arms, unmindful of the fact that they were espousing a cause which " hung in the balance," and that many of our best men entertained grave doubts of our ability to cope with the enemy, and maintain our National supremacy. They thus gave the lie to the taunt that they were mere "hirelings." All they asked to know was that our flag was in peril. And in the long and bloody struggle which followed, in the " times which tried men's souls," when rebellion, like a huge anaconda, was striving to crush out our National life, they were ever found true to their trust, found wherever duty called, and, on many a sanguinary field of battle, they, with brave hearts, upheld their country's honor.
Many of the bravest sacrificed their noble lives on the altar of their country. Both the battle-field and the foul prison-pen claimed their victims from among the youth of Clear Creek Township. Some of them lie in unknown graves in the far South, but they need no marble shaft to mark their last resting-place; their memories are enshrined in the hearts of a grateful people, and their heroic deeds are written on the roll of fame in characters of living light.
We regret that we have not been able to procure a list of the soldiers furnished by this township—at least a list of those who gave up their lives in the cause; but we have found it impossible to obtain anything like an accurate list, and have, therefore, deemed it advisable not to attempt to give any.
MANUFACTURES.
The manufacturing interests of the township are naturally very limited, owing, principally, to the absence of large water-courses, as before noticed, and consequent lack of water-power. In early times, Clear Creek furnished ample power for mills; but, as the country became improved, it gradually dwindled away, until it was a mere wet-weather stream. The only waterpower in use in the township at present is at Springboro. It is furnished by some fine never-failing springs (from which Springboro derived its name) situated a little northwest of town.
We think we may safely assert that the first mill in the township was built on the stream flowing from these springs, and near where the Lower, or Baird's Mill, now stands. It was a log building and was erected about the year 1801 or 1802 by a Mr. Lawrence. We are told that a dam was built across the stream near its source, and the water conducted from there to the mill in large troughs, which were made by hollowing out` logs.
This mill was replaced, in 1813, by a brick mill. In the meantime, however, a Mr. Caldwell had built a mill a short distance south, on Clear Creek. In 1816, a woolen factory was built on the above-mentioned spring stream, a short distance above the mill, and, in 1831 or 1832, another mill was built, known as the Upper Mill, and, apropos of this, Dr. Aaron Wright says that a few years since he cleaned out the mill-pond and put in a new fore-bay, and the cost was almost as great as the original cost of building both pond and mill,
598 - HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
such was the change in cost of material and labor in the course of fifty y The woolen factory is patronized by many persons fifteen to twenty miles ears dia: tant; it is owned by Wright & Thomas. There is also a steam saw-mill at Utica, owned by John Murry; a drain-tile factory at Merrittstown, owned by I. B. Jones, and one southeast of Merrittstown, owned by Monroe Sweney. The first mentioned was built in 1816 by Abram and Caleb Merritt, for a pottery About the year 1840, William H. Ballard commenced the manufacture of matches at Red, Lion. He began on a small scale, using at first a knife to split the matches, but, in a few years, introduced the most improved machinery and enlarged his operations quite extensively, and, for a few years, transacted a pretty large business. He quit the business in 1862. There are at present in the township ten blacksmith shops, five or six boot and shoe shops and as many wagon-makers' shops, two harness-shops, six dealers in dry goods and general merchandise, three groceries and one drug store. In the professions, we have four physicians, three lawyers, four ministers and an unlimited number of school-teachers.
POST OFFICE AND ROADS.
There are five post offices in the township, viz., Dodds (at Utica), Samuel F. Kling, Postmaster; Ridgeville, C. H. Eulass, Postmaster; Pekin, William W. Earnhart, Postmaster; Red Lion, William H. Ballard, Postmaster, and Springboro, David Mering, Postmaster. The latter is a money-order office.
The number of farms in the township, as reported to the census enumerator in 1880, was 297; this includes all farms of ten or more acres. There are no very large farms, as in some of the stock-raising counties, this being ex-clusively an agricultural community.
The three largest land-holders in the township are Benajah Gustin, C. B. O'Dell and B. A. Stokes.
In proportion to the number of miles of public roads in the township, we think but few townships in the State can surpass this in the number of miles of graveled road.
The first free turnpike built in the township was the one leading from Springboro to Ridgeville. In 1840, a toll pike was constructed from Dayton to Lebanon, built but a few years since; that part of it lying in Warren County was purchased by the County Commissioners, as were the roads from Franklin to Waynesville and from Franklin to Lebanon; so that now, toll roads are a thing of the past so far as relates to this township.
The township has never been blessed with railroad communication with the outside world until the year 1881, when the Cincinnati Northern completed a line from Cincinnati to Utica, where it connects with the T., D. & B. road, running thence to Dayton and Toledo.
EARLY SETTLERS.
When, where and by whom the first permanent settlement was made in the township is a question difficult to decide, as several parties claim the honor for their ancestors. But the probabilities are that settlements were made in several different parts of the township at about the same time. In 1795, Abner Crane came from Essex County, N. J., with,his mother, brothers and sisters and settled in Butler County. He bought a tract of land in Franklin Township, Warren County, near where Red Lion now stands, and moved on it. One day while out hunting, he discovered a fine spring of pure water, where his son, Samuel R. Crane now lives, and decided to secure that place, and, in 1796, he built a cabin on the new purchase and moved into it, thus becoming one of the first settlers in the township.
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Wild beasts and wild men were here in abundance at that time. Mr. Crane sought both tracts of land of Judge Symmes, and, as did hundreds of others, bad to pay for it the second time. Not being able to pay for both, he gave up the tract in Franklin Township. His brother Jonathan settled on the Todd farm; his brother Moses settled on the Benajah Gustin farm, and John H. Robinson settled on the Earnhart farm, the four taking the whole section and settling on their land at nearly the same time.
Robinson built a brick house on his farm in 1808, which is still in a good state of preservation.
Elkanah Gustin came from Greene County, Penn., in 1800, and settled on the farm now owned by John Conover, his father, Jeremiah Gustin, having bought a large tract of land in that vicinity. Elkanah was the father of seven boys and eight girls, of whom Benajah, aged eighty-four, is the only survivor.
William Sweney came from Pennsylvania in 1799, and settled in Clear Creek Township on the farm now occupied by his son Eli. He died, in 1848, at the age of seventy-eight. He was the father of nine children, of whom Eli is the only one living; Robert, the eldest son, was with Gen. Hull, at Detroit, when he surrendered his army. Eli was, for a number of years, a Captain in the Ohio militia. He is now in his seventy-fifth year, and is hale and hearty for one of that age. He says he remembers distinctly of going on horseback,. with his father, to the old mill at
Springboro—mentioned in the preceding pages—when there were no roads worthy of the name in all this section of country—nothing but mere bridle-paths marked by "blazing" trees along the route. Joseph Kirby, Joshua, Joseph and James Carter, James Wills and Jonathan and William Garwood were among the early settlers in the southeastern part of the township.
George Harlan was born in North Carolina in 1767, from whence his father came to Pennsylvania, then to Kentucky, and, in 1797, to Ohio. After a short stay at Deerfield, they settled in Clear Creek Township. Mr. Harlan filled several different offices of trust and honor in the township, county and
State. He died, in 1846, at the age of seventy-nine.
Moses Harlan, his son, was born in 1810, and occupies the old homestead. He, likewise, has been honored with a number of positions of public trust, having, among others, filled the office of Justice of the Peace for eighteen years and Township Trustee for twenty-seven years. The Eulasses, Blackfords, Keevers, Richard Lackey, Thomas Venard and the McDonalds were among the pioneers in the eastern part of the township Richard Lackey came from Kentucky with the Harlans, and settled on the farm now owned by his son Richard, about a mile east of Ridgeville. He purchased land of Highway, who, like Symmes, could not pay for it, and it reverted to the Government, and those who had bought of him had to pay for their land again.
Richard Lackey, Jr., was born in 1811, and was married in 1832 to Permelia Dyke. He is the father of eight children, of whom one son and three daughters are living. Mr. Lackey was for twelve years Township Treasurer; for four years, County Treasurer; Real Estate Appraiser in Turtle Creek Township, and has filled the offices of Justice of the Peace and Township Trustee for several years in this township.
Martin Keever was born in Maryland in 1727, and came with his family to Ohio in a very early day, and settled on the farm where his descendants now reside. When about thirty years of age, he was captured by the Indians, and remained a prisoner for nearly two years. He died, in 1824, aged ninety- seven; his wife survived him thirteen years. His son George was born in 1781, and came to Ohio with his father. He was married, in 1808, to Abigail Bunnell. He was thrown from a sulky, in 1845, and, being a large, corpulent
600 - HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
man, the fall killed him.; he left but one child—Dr. M. H. Keever, who was born in 1810, and who inherited the home place. Keever died from heaai, disease while sitting at the breakfast-table, April 7, 1878; his death Was oni_ vernally regretted by the citizens of this and adjoining townships, as he was a genial, whole-souled man, and a physician of marked ability.
Among the first settlers in the vicinity of Springboro, were the Richardsons, Nulls, Frys, Dearths, Greggs and Mullins.
Edward Dearth, in the spring of 1798, came from Fayette County, Penn , and settled where I. N. Dearth now lives; he had five sons who came with him; he purchased over 1,400 acres of land in a body. When they settled there, they knew of but one family within three or four miles of them, on what is now the Vail farm. As an instance of their loneliness and their anxiety to welcome the advent of families into their neighborhood, it is related that one evening, after all the family. except Mr. and Mrs. Dearth, had retired, Mrs. Dearth heard a dog barking in the direction of the present site of Springboro. She called her husband's attenton to it, and he thought at first that it was a wolf, but finally decided that it was a dog, and that they would try and ascertain. in the morning, from whence the sound came. So, when the morning came, they started through the woods, feeling certain that they would find a human habitation of some kind. After going about two miles, they came to a cabin in the woods, and were greatly pleased to find that they had other neighbors. even that far off. but they soon regretted the acquaintanceship thus formed, for they proved to be notorious horse-thieves and counterfeiters. There were three brothers of them, named Daniel, Isaac and Aaron. Daniel. however, was not connected with the other two in their nefarious practices, but was a quiet, inoffensive citizen. Isaac and Aaron finally left this part of the country and located somewhere below Cincinnati. The settlers there soon found that they were not a very valuable acquisition to pioneer society, and tried every peaceful means to induce them to " go West," and, as a last resort, a vigilance committee was formed for the purpose of forcing them and all others of that class to leave. One evening Isaac was shot and killed while standing in his own door, by some one supposed to be one of the committee. The other brother left at once for parts unknown.
Samuel Gregg came from Pennsylvania in 1796, and settled in Deerfield. where he resided till the fall of 1798, when, having purchased a tract of land in Clear Creek Township, he moved on it and began the labor of making for himself and family a home—a work in which he was eminently successful. He died, in 1844, at the age of seventy-one. His son William, who succeeded to the homestead, was born in Deerfield in 1798, and grew up with the country. He lived to see the township grow from an almost unbroken wilderness to its present populous and highly cultivated condition, having lived to the age of eighty-one. Mr. Gregg, though moving in a comparatively humble sphere, was a man in the truest sense of the word. His every-day life merited the approbation of all who knew him. Such a reputation is certainly much more to be desired than one which would call forth the unmeaning plaudits of a fickle public. Two of their sons—James A. and Jonah R.—are living on the old farm.
Isaac Mullin was born in Virginia in 1777; was married, in 1801, to Miss Haines, in New Jersey, and came to Ohio the same year. He settled at Waynesville, but the next year he removed to Clear Creek Township; he died is 1839. Job Mullin, son of Isaac Mullin, was born about the year 1806. He relates that he has heard his father say that when he settled in this township he knew of but two other families nearer than Waynesville—but of course there were others, of whose location he had not learned—that, hearing a cow-
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bell one clay in the woods, and, following the direction from whence the sound came, he found a family named Grimes, who had " squatted " on a claim, and were proceeding to build a cabin. They, of course, received a hearty welcome from Mr. Mullin. Mr. Job Mullin says he has a very vivid recollection of his early school days. His father had to mark the route from their house to the schoolhouse by blazing the trees, so that the children might not get lost on their way to and from school; he remembers going to school to Mary Smith, when Gen. Clay passed through here with his Kentucky troops during the war of 1812. and the teacher dismissing the school to allow the pupils to see the soldiers.
We have not tried to give a complete list of all who had come into the township prior to 1802 or 1803, but only a few of the first and most prominent ones in each neighborhood.
One of the most prominent men who came later was Jonathan Wright, a surveyor, and who, it is claimed by his descendants, laid out the city of Columbus, Ohio, though Howe, in his Historical Collections of Ohio, gives the credit to Moses Wright. Jonathan Wright was a very influential man in the township, because of his intelligence and his uprightness of character, together with his energetic spirit in building up and improving the country. But we have no space to notice, even briefly, all the early settlers, and will therefore pass to another subject.
INCIDENTS.
We are informed that, about the years 1815 or 1820. distilleries were almost as plentiful about Springboro as dwelling-houses. Dr. Wright states that there were, within a radius of two miles, not less than fifteen. Doubtless one reason why so much of the grain and fruit was distilled was because of the greater cost in transporting it to market in the original form. But another, and, perhaps, a more potent reason was, that it always commanded a ready sale in the form of whisky and brandy. Temperance, or, rather, total abstinence, had not become so popular as at the present time, consequently, the use of liquor as a beverage was customary among all classes and on all occasions. The clergy, even, were not exempt, but many of them considered a glass of "grog" essential to their well-being.
Jonathan Wright, like many persons of the present day, while disapproving of prohibition laws, was yet a practical temperance man. When he let the contract for building the woolen factory at Springboro, it was specified in the contract that there was to be no liquor used on the premises by any one. One day, the contractor and his men were sitting under a tree eating their dinner, and, among other things, they had h bottle of whisky. Mr. Wright. in passing by, saw it, and, without saying a word, deliberately picked up the bottle and broke it; the contractor sued him, put, when the Magistrate saw the contract, he decided that the contractor had no cause for action.
Mr. Wright was a member of the Society of Friends. and they, while practical believers in morality, do not hesitate to perform whatever they consider necessary labor on the Sabbath. In the early settlement of the country, there were some persons who were great sticklers for a strict observance of the Sabbath, and could not tolerate any variance from their views in that respect, however lax they might be themselves in regard to other matters.
Mr. Wright, M. Mullin and others were frequently fined for performing common labor on that day. But a more liberal spirit pervades society now. The spirit which animated the early settlers of New England is gone, it is to be hoped, never to return.
One of the most exciting times, perhaps, ever known in this township, was in 1835, when that dreaded scourge of the East, Asiatic cholera, raged so fear-
604 - HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
fully at Red Lion. It was supposed to have been caused by eating fish which were tainted. The water had been drawn off the Miami Canal and quantities of fish were left in the pools and mud in the bed of the canal. A great man persons from the vicinity of Red Lion caught them, and nearly every one who ate them was taken with the cholera, and, as it was a comparatively new dis. ease to the physicians here, they did not understand how to manage the cases, and, as a consequence, a large majority of them proved fatal. Samuel N. Gustin was the first victim. It is said that, although the cherry trees were loaded with fruit, that .year, the birds would not touch it, and it hung on the trees and dried. The disease was confined almost exclusively to Red Lion and vicinity, and to those who had partaken of the fish.
In a pretty early day, Col. John McDannell, who had been a Colonel in the Revolutionary war, and who possessed all the hauteur of a "gentleman of the olden time," came from Dauphin County, Penn., with his family, and settled on the farm now owned by D. F. Corwin. They came all the way in a carriage, which was probably the first carriage ever brought into the township, if not the first in the county, and had a negro driver.
It was a hard matter to decide which of the two, the carriage or the driver, was the greater, curiosity. The young men used to go there on Sunday and get the negro to run the carriage out so that they could examine it thoroughly; this they continued to do until Mrs. McDannell came out and ordered them off for desecrating the Sabbath. We are not able to say whether the young ladies visited these curiosities or not. But, from the well-known lack of curiosity in the sex, it is presumable that they did not. The carriage must have been a counterpart of Holmes' wonderful " One-Hoss Shay," as it is said to be in a good state of preservation yet.
Mr. Job Mullin mentions that when Gen. Clay's troops were passing through this region, as previously noticed, the officers had their negro servants with them, and the negroes excited the curiosity of the school children more, perhaps, than the soldiers, although they had never seen either before.
This concludes our history of the township. We have endeavored to give the facts as correctly as possible, and, if any errors have been stated, it was not intentional. Of course, many incidents and fhcts have been omitted, but that was unavoidable. We can only hope that what we have written may prove satisfactory.