GERMAN TOWNSHIP - 679
GERMAN TOWNSHIP.
"Time rolls his ceaseless course the race of yore,
Who danced our infancy upon their knee,
And told our marvelling boyhood legends store
Of their strange ventures happ'd by land or sea ;
" How few, all weak, and withered of their force
Wait on the verge eternity ;
Like stranded wrecks the tide returning hoarse,
To sweep them from our sight; Time rolls his ceaseless course."
Sixty-three years ago the township of German was formed, and designated as the Territory included within the following boundaries: Beginning at a point on the north line of the county of Clark, where the same is intersected by a line dividing Townships 3 and 4, thence east with county line to the west line of Township 5, thence south with said last-mentioned line to the south boundary of the 10th Range, thence west with said range line until the same crosses Mad River; thence down the same with the meanders thereof to the north line of Section 11, fourth township and ninth range; thence west to the southwest corner of Section 36; thence north with the line dividing Townships 3 and 4 to the place of beginning. The elections were to be held at the house of Archibald McKinley. The township then comprised besides its present land, portions of Moorefield Township, which, in the year 1835, were taken from it leaving it with the present territory. It is in the northern tier of townships, and west but one, lying south of Champaign County, west of Moorefield Township, north of Springfield and Bethel, and east of Pike Township. The surface in general is an elevated table-land, beautiful and very fertile valleys extend from one-half to three-quarters of a mile on either side of Mad River, and Chap-
680 - HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
man's Creek, its greatest tributary in this section. The bottom-lands along these streams in point of fertility are excelled by none in the county, the soil being of that rich black loam composed of decayed vegetable matter, whose producing qualities are of the best, the lands fully warranting the supposition that this region was formerly a dense forest. West of Mad River Valley and south of the valley of Chapman's Creek, are hilly tracts of country presenting a clayey soil. The timber is of that variety known to this part of the State, sugar maple, hickory, beech, walnut, ash, poplar, etc., etc., the latter at one time predominating. The lands are well watered by Mad River, Chapman's Creek and their numerous tributaries. The former stream flows south crossing the eastern part of the township from north to south, and in its southern half forms the boundary line between this and Moorefield Township. And Chapman's Creek, so called in honor of the first white man that settled on its banks, entering the township within a mile of its western limit, and flows through the northern portion and emptying into Mad River near Tremont. The trees in these localites in their primitive growth were grand and stately, and the red-bud skirted the streams, which in early spring reflected a bright wreath of flowers among the green and luxuriant foliage, thus presenting a picturesque scenery. It was here in the vicinity of Tremont where Mad River first strikes the rock underlying this entire region, but it is not continuously bedded or bordered with rock until it reaches Snyder's Mill several miles below Springfield Township. The limestone comes to the surface about a mile south of Tremont, where a quarry was opened and lime burned about the year 1840. Beneath the soil in the neighborhood of Tremont, there lies a bed of gravel some two feet in thickness, and water is reached at a comparatively slight depth. Scattered through the township are seen many gray or nigger heads as they are generally called, evidently of glacial deposit. At Tremont are some evidences of an Indian burying-ground, or of the works of that mysterious nation that antedates the red man, the Mound Builders, who have long since become an extinct race.
Here upon a hill that has been terraced by Gabriel Albin and Dr. McLaughlin have been exumed many bones and several skulls of human beings differing from those of our race. These were merely accidental findings, but it is to be hoped that in time further examinations will be made, and whatever secret may there lie hidden, be exposed to the scrutiny of science. The township is crossed in all directions by numerous and well-built pikes, which are intersected with fine summer roads rendering all points in this and adjoining districts accessible, but still the toll-gate we were about to say-that relic of barbarism, is seen by the weary traveler by day afar off, and, by night, frequently felt by the horse as he plunges against it. Among these pikes are the Clark and Miami, and the Tremont and St. Paris, the former crossing the township in its southwest corner, and the latter running across the opposite corner. It is mainly an agricultural district, having only two small towns or villages-Tremont and Lawrenceville. The political campaign is Democratic and strongly so, there being at the November election (1880) 349 Democratic votes cast for the President and Vice President, 141 Republican, and six Prohibition votes. There is something in the political history of the township striking and worthy of mention. In 1836, the vote polled was largely Whig, Gen. Harrison receiving for President a great majority, and this status so remained until 1842, when was rolled up a Democratic majority equally as large, which has from that year to this been repeated. There are two voting precincts in the township, namely, Lawrenceville and Tremont, the latter having been established in 1877, through the efforts of Esquire John Fennimore. The people are moral, industrious and frugal, being descendants of that plain and unassuming class peopling this region, which began to be settled at the close of the eighteenth century. Then, as tradition transmits to
PAGE 681 - PICTURE OF DAVID T. COLVIN - MADISON TP
PAGE 682 - BLANK
GERMAN TOWNSHIP. - 683
us, a little settlement was effected in the country north, of the present village of Tremont, along the section which since became the line separating the counties of Clark and Champaign. In this region settled Nathan Adams, Thomas Cowshick and Henry Storms. At that day there was no Champaign nor Clark County, but in later years when these counties were formed, it appears that the land upon which they squatted was on either side of the county line. These men, however, only effected a temporary settlement in this immediate locality, merely squatting as it were, yet remaining long enough co make some little improvement, then pulling stakes and going further north. The stream emptying into Mad River in the extreme northern part of the township was called Storm's Creek, after the man Storms in question. Soon afterward came Charles Rector and Archibald McKinley, emigrating from Mason. County, Ky., settling upon lands previously occupied by the above-named squatters.
Rector entered a section of land in Champaign County, and a portion of Section 11 in German Township, Clark County, on the present site of Dr. Gard's farm. Here in this township he built his cabin, in which he with his family, twelve in all, dwelt for several years, when he again built, but this time in Champaign County. His wife's name was Sarah, and those of his children (as many of whom as we have any knowledge), William, Samuel, Fanny, Susan, Winneford, Charles, Benjamin, Conway and Margaret, the latter marrying Isaac Turman in 1802, who purchased land entered by William Chapman just south of Tremont, and there passed his days. His wife survived him a number of years, living on the same site, when, in 1847, the farm was bought by Silas Gard, who now resides upon it.
Father Rector was a great Methodist, one of the early Class-leaders, and his word and opinion had much weight with the early settlers, by whom he was highly respected. He died in Indiana, near Peru, and his remains rest in that State.
The last relic of this family-" Aunt Fannie" Thompson as she was familiarly known, died in 1878, near the home of her childhood, where she had resided the greater part of her life. She was a remarkable woman, retaining up to the last almost unimpaired all her mental faculties. She was bright, active, and for years an active speaker in the pioneer assemblages. She was born in 1793, coming to this region when it was a dense wilderness inhabited only by the red men. How great must have been the change witnessed by this pioneer woman! She often rehearsed the happenings of the days of yore to later generations, who frequently gathered around her blazing fire during the long winter evenings, to hear her interesting narratives of the past. She had often slept in the cornfield for fear of the Indians, and remembered distinctly the "block-houses" that stood up and down the valley. By her at one of the pioneer meetings held just prior to her death, was exhibited cotton fabrics she had woven and colored; showed calico she had purchased the first time she was ever in Urbana, when the village had but one store kept by John Reynolds, giving 75 cents per yard for it. Another piece of calico her mother had bought of &.peddler-at $1 per yard, and still another scrap that they had gotten of the Indians. Archibald McKinley settled in Section 17. His family was composed of his wife Polly, several daughters and sons Archibald, Westley, William and James. Mr. McKinley did not live long, dying a few years after his emigration to the West. His children were associated with the early progress made in the township. In 1798, William Chapman and William Ross, with their families, came, the former from Virginia and Ross from Mason County, Ky. Chapman, his wife and two or three children reared their cabin on the farm now owned by Silas Gard in Section 10, having entered that and several other sections in this vicinity. To this couple, in the year 1800, was born a son.
684 - HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
Jesse Chapman, the first white child born in the territory now comprising this township. This was another Methodist family, and the head of it a local preacher. However, in later years, he joined what was then called the New Light Church.
The members were generally known as New Lights, which title did not suit Mr. Chapman, and some of the brethren on meeting him for the first time after the change had taken place, addressed him in substance as follows: "Well, so you are a `New Light,' are you?" " No," says Mr. Chapman, "I am an old light newly snuffed." This man was one of the active and enterprising men of -his day; was well known over the county and highly esteemed by all, and whatever" Billy" Chapman said was thought to be" law gospel."He left the township in 1818, going to Missouri, where he died in 1822. His son Jesse remained in this neighborhood until about 1840, then going to the Pacific coast. The daughter of the son of the last-named Chapman, married U. S. Grant, Jr., son of the late President, and great soldier. "Billy" Chapman as he was known far and wide, was one of the early inn or tavern keepers of this part of the county, living on the direct road between Dayton and Urbana; he had an extensive custom from the wagoners. William Ross, though not a native of the "Blue Grass" State, emigrated from Kentucky in 1797 to Ohio, stopping temporarily in Warren County, and remained about one year, thence moving to the vicinity of Tremont, entering a section of land just north of that village. At the age of thirty years, he was united in marriage with Winneford Rector, a sister of Charles Rector above mentioned, which union was blessed with eight children, seven of whom were born in Kentucky, namely, William, Elijah, Nancy, Elizabeth, John, Presley and Mary. Charles having been born after their arrival. The father resided on what is now known as the north farm of C. F. Rohrer, where he built, in 1812, the first frame house is this region of country. It was quite a modern house, two stories high, with a shingle roof with tin spouting, the latter being done by Daniel Harr, a son-in-law, of Urbana. This house is still standing and is well preserved. Elijah farmed this ground with his father until 1825, when he moved out of the township and Charles took his place, and later Presley bought out Charles' interest and there died in 1852. He had previously farmed the present J. S. Gard place, and John resided on the Blase land and William, Jr., at one time on the same property. This pioneer, Father Ross, has a remarkable history. When but five years old, while fishing with a white man was kidnapped by two Indians, and was about to be burned, having been sent to gather the fagots by which the burning was to be accomplished, when happened along a French trader, and interceded in the boy's behalf, giving them each a blanket and thereby saving his life. Ross was taken by the trader to Detroit, where he was made a page to the trader's daughters. In those days it was fashionable for the French ladies to wear very long trails, which were carried by pages. He had been gone for years and given up by his parents as dead, when, during the French and Indian war, his brother John was among the soldiers at Detroit, and there seeing the boy, recognized him and took him home. Mr. Ross was a great Methodist, and his house was the preaching-place for that denomination for years. He was a valuable man in the community. His sons settling around him and being industrious, soon made a visible mark in the forest. His son John served in the war of 1812; was among the early to marry in the township, being united in marriage with Miss Rachel Wallace in the year 1806. He lived to the advanced age of fourscore and four years. The settlement was increased in 1801 by the coming of Jacob Kiblinger, a native of Virginia, who purchased eighty acres of land and returned to his native State, and, between the years of 1801 and 1805, made four trips to this vicinity, moving several families of the Kiblin-
GERMAN TOWNSHIP. - 685
gers and Pences. Among the latter was a John Pence. These all became permanent settlers in German Township. Jacob Kiblinger, Sr., father of the one above given, erected the first saw and hemp mill, located on Mad River near where the "Eagle Mills" now stand, in this section of the country. Another from the "blue-grass" region came in 1802, in the person of Elijah Weaver, a native of Virginia. In 1807, he married Mary McKinley, and settled in the northeastern part of the township. They had a son, Newton, born to them in 1810. Elijah died three years later. Virginia again responded to the call for emigrants, and, in 1804, sent forth David Jones and family, consisting of his wife Margaret and the following children: Mary, Margaret, James M., Lydia and Kiziah. Mr. Jones purchased land on Chapman's Creek, about one and a half miles west of the village of Tremont. The timber here was very thick and exceedingly large, and it is said that Jones on the occasion of felling some trees just previous to erecting his cabin, spent one entire night in chopping to fell one mammoth walnut tree, it being so large that he was compelled to cut steps into it to enable him to reach it with the ax. What would our walnut tree men of to-day pay for such timber? And this timber was so thick that when felled one could walk over acres of ground without stepping off of logs, then so plentiful, thousands of feet being burned to get it out of the way. Now how scarce and costly. The rude cabin was here built of small logs with its clapboard roof and weight-poles, and the split puncheon door swung on its hinges of wood, with the wooden latch and string, and the chimney of sticks and mud, and the greased paper window was soon ready for occupancy. Mr. Jones died in his ninety-fifth year, his wife died in 1850, in her seventy-third year. His mother lived to be one hundred and nine years old. At one hundred and three, she walked a distance of two miles to attend church, and at that age could knit nicely. The children are all living except James M., who died at Tremont August 16, 1880, and several are in this township. The following year emigrated from Virginia Daniel Gentis, entering 160 acres of land in Section 23. He had a large family of children, the boys settling in the neighborhood and did much to develop the country. Job Gard came about the year 1803, or perhaps a little later. He was a native of New Jersey, but had emigrated to Kentucky and from that State to the township of German, settling in Section 17. This family on their arrival was composed of eight persons, wife Elizabeth and six children-Gersham, Daniel, Simon, Rachel, Sarah and Phoebe. Quite a number of the descendants of this family are now living in the township, and are among the substantial men of the community. The father erected several mills along Mad River in an early day; was in the war of 1812; a very useful citizen, an active pioneer and business man. The settlement was augmented in 1805, by the families of Philip Kizer, George Glass, Daniel Gentis and Abraham Zerkle. Kizer settled east of Tremont, having come from Virginia; served in the war of 1.812 as Captain. Zerkle was from Virginia, and entered land in Section 9. The Weavers, William and Christopher, were very early settlers in this locality, coming about the beginning of this century. William Haller, from personal knowledge of several of these pioneers, speaks of them as follows: "William Ross was of medium stature, and had wonderful strength and endurance. Charles Rector was larger, was strong and very hardy. These men and families were fitted for a new country life, and were valuable Christian men. Weaver was also a man of fine stature, an upright and Christian man." At the beginning of the century, when most of the above-named pioneers entered this region, it was a dense wilderness, inhabited only by the red man, and roamed over by wild beasts. The Indians were very numerous and quite hostile, so that the settlers lived in constant dread of them, many times being compelled to collect together for mutual protection. In 1806, during one of their out-
686 - HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
breaks, all of the whites for miles around collected at the old block-house at Boston, when Col. Ward and Simon Kenton and other prominent men made a treaty with them. John Ross remembered well Tecumseh and other noted chiefs, and the oratory displayed by the former at this conference. False alarms were occasionally given, creating sometimes scenes of great laughter.
The pioneers of 1806 were Daniel Kiblinger and Thomas Nauman, Jr., the former hailing from that State, in after years designated as the " Mother of Presidents," whence so many of our pioneers came. Nauman too was a native of Virginia, and came to this vicinity on horseback and made his home with Matthias Friermood, who was a settler at a still earlier date. In 1809, Thomas Nauman, Sr., and family, settled in the township. He was one of the patriotic men who, just prior to the war of 1776, assisted in throwing overboard the cargo of tea in Boston Harbor. In 1810, Felty Snyder, of Virginia, effected a settlement in this locality. Benjamin Morris, from the same State, came the year previous, and, in 18111, entered 160 acres in the southern part of the township. Served in the war of 1812. He died at an advanced age. Samuel Baker and John Keller were added to the colony in the year 1811. And the next year, Rudolph Baker and Benjamin Frantz, the former from Virginia, and the latter from Pennsylvania. Frantz was another who served his country in the war then waged by the mother country. Virginia continued to send forth her sons, Samuel Meranda emigrating in 1814, purchasing a tract of land where Jefferson Meranda now lives, and, in 1816. came Matthias Rust and Frederick Michael. Jacob Maggart, his brother David, and Philip Goodman, are also numbered with the pioneers of the township. At a very early clay, Jeremiah Simms and family came to this section of the county, but the country was so new and thinly settled that they returned to Virginia and again came out in about 1806, and entered a quarter-section of land in the southern part of the township (Sintz neighborhood). He was a valuable man, being a blacksmith by trade, a mechanic then greatly needed in the settlement. One of his sons, Jeremiah, Jr., was a local preacher, and preached the first sermon proclaimed in Rector Church over the remains of Catharine Peck in the year 1822. George Welchaus and William Enoch, the former of Pennsylvania, and the latter from Virginia, settled here in 1808. John Kemp, of Virginia, and Thomas Hays, a native of Kentucky, came in 1809, the former settling in Section 14, and the latter in Section 25. In 1812, Oden Hays, a son of the one mentioned, was lost in a snow storm and afterward found dead in a hollow log in Section 32.
Joseph Perrin came from Virginia in 1810. Jacob, Henry and Martin Baker were all early settlers of German Township, and natives of Virginia. Jacob settled on Section 14, died in 1821, and is buried in the Lawrenceville Cemetery. His sons Philip, Henry, Jacob, Martin, John and Samuel, as well as three daughters, resided in this township. Andrew and Emanuel Circle settled in the southeastern part of German, on Mad River, at an early day. They were natives of Virginia, and have descendants yet living in the township. Benjamin Ream, of Pennsylvania, settled with his family in Section 32 after the war of 1812, in which he served; and, in 1816, John Lorton and his wife Rachel, natives of Kentucky, settled in this part of Clark County; also Matthias Staley, of Maryland, who was a carpenter by trade, came in 1820, and each of these last-mentioned pioneer families have descendants now residents of German Township. Among others who we may well call pioneers are Adam Rockel and Philip Kern, natives of Pennsylvania, who settled in Section 9 in 1822. Mr. Rockle married Polly Baker, daughter of Philip Baker, who had five children born to her, viz., Peter, Henry, William, Harriet and Mary. Mr. Rockle and wife yet reside at the old homestead, and are well known and respected. Mr. Kern married the sister of Mr. Rockle, and their son Adam now lives upon the
GERMAN TOWNSHIP. - 687
old place. John Beamer came from Virginia in 1816, settling on Section 13. His wife was Elizabeth Mulholland, and they had three children, viz., Thomas, Valentine and Eliza, the latter now the wife of Dr. McLaughlin, of Tremont, being the only survivor. Mr. Beamer and wife died on the old homestead. Another family well worthy of mention is that of William Ballentine, a native of Ireland, who came to Ohio in 1831, and, in 1832, settled in German Township, where he died in 1851. His wife was Nancy Nail, also a native of Ireland, where they were married and of which union were born twelve children, five of whom are living, viz., Robert, Margaret, David, Elizabeth and James V., the latter being one of the present Justices of the Peace of German Township, and who perhaps has done as much as any other man in the township to build up its material resources, and who has ever taken a deep and active interest in all public measures, whose object was the benefitting of the community at large. There may be others who would be called old settlers and whose names we would have been glad to mention. but we have given all whom we could hear of in a careful canvass of the township, and if any have been left out it is the fault of those pioneer families who have taken such little interest in handing down to posterity the records of those brave men and women who built and developed the county.
Among the first marriages in the township were those of Thomas Pence to Diary Ross in 1801, and of Isaac Turman to Margaret Rector in the winter of 1802.
Many of the pioneer families as, doubtless, has been observed, were of the Methodist persuasion, yet there were some of other denominations, and at fast it was expedient to unite, irrespective of sect, and worship harmoniously together. Dwellings were freely opened, and those little bands would worship together until each acquired sufficient strength, then societies were organized. For many years the houses of Jerry Simms, William Ross, Charles Rector and others were the preaching-places, schoolhouses being sometimes used. The Methodists of the locality built in 1820, a log church or meeting house just over the line in Champaign County, where persons for miles around worshiped. While this church was out of our territory, most of the early settlers of the township were closely identified with it, and in justice to the few pioneers now living, and to their descendants, many of whom now attend services there, this mention is made. The land upon which it was built was donated by Charles Rector, whose name it adopted. Conway Rector was the prime mover in its construction. At this time Rev. Arthur Elliott rode the circuit. The Presiding Elder of the district in which this circuit belonged in 1800 was Rev. Daniel Hitt, and the preachers were Rev. Joseph Rawen and John Collinson. Later ministers were Revs. McGuire, Robert James, Findley and Collins. The Rectors, Charles and Conway, were early Class-leaders. At this church is an old burying-ground, where peacefully sleep the bodies of many of German's pioneers. In the year 1808 or 1809, or thereabouts, the Methodists in the southern part of the township organized a society at the house of Peter Sintz, Sr., in Springfield Township. They erected a log meeting house in 1832, on ground given for that purpose by Robert Hays. Rev. Joshua Boucher was then in charge. Several of the first families belonging to this organization were those of Peter Sintz, Sr., Jerry Simms, Benjamin Morris, Thomas Hays, the Leffels and Samuel Meranda. The present brick church is known as " Simms' Church," built in 1854, and was dedicated by Rev. M. Dustin, then Pastor of the High Street Methodist Episcopal Church of Springfield. The present membership is about forty. Rev. C. H. Calbus in charge. There is a graveyard at the church in which the first interment was made in 1840, it being the body of Mrs. Margaret M. Pearson. The Lutheran and Reformed people of the township
688 - HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
built a Union church at Lawrenceville about the year 1821. They continued to worship in this jointly built church until 1844. In a year or two the Lutherans built the Mount Zion Church and there worshiped. Among the early Lutheran ministers were Revs. Heinicke, Philip Pence and Klapp, and those of the Reformed Revs. Peter Dechant and John Pence. The latter is still living, being a resident of the township and is strictly one of the pioneer preachers. He has passed his fourscore years and is yet hale and hearty, though more than a half century ago he rode the circuit of the church embracing a distance of forty miles in either direction, and has ever since served this people in his calling. In 1827 or 1828, Mr. Pence commenced occasional preaching at the house of Widow Caffelt, and out of this grew the Jerusalem Congregation, a church having been built in 1832. This was a hewed-log building, which gave way to the present brick in 1853. The pioneers gave early attention to the training and education of their children, for as early as 1803, a schoolhouse was built on the Ross farm. Peter Oliver, a Kentuckian, was the schoolmaster of that day. He was succeeded by William Nicholson, who was later known as the first singing teacher in the township. In the early history of the township, the schools were carried on by subscription, which schools continued in vogue for many years, despite the several school laws passed looking to the establishment of the common school system. However, the educational interests of the township have always received that attention from the people that their importance demanded, and were early advanced to a flourishing condition. There are now ten school districts with a good and substantial school building in each, and a high school, in addition to these, located at Lawrenceville, and in all twelve teachers are employed, teaching from six to eight months during the year. The cost for carrying on the schools for the year 1879 was $4,328.77.
At this date, the deserted frame structures of former large distilleries standing on the banks of Mad River, evidence the early activity and later decadence of that traffic in this vicinity. Prior to 1810, Charles Rector built a small distillery at the mouth cf Storm's Creek. Later he put up a grist and saw mill near by. Chapman erected the first grist-mill in the township, on the stream bearing his name. Philip Kizer built a mill on Mad River in 1810, and later added a still. Messrs. Kiblinger & Kneisley built a mammoth distillery, grist and saw mill on Mad River near Tremont in 1839, the deserted remains of which loom up to the approaching traveler reminding him of the "haunted house of legends old."
About the year 1808, Jacob Kiblinger built a saw and hemp mill in Section 8, upon Mad River, which were used for many years, and, about 1820, Adam and Daniel Kiblinger and Ira Paige built a grist-mill at the same point, which they operated 'until 1832, when Merriweather & Clark bought it, the former remaining as proprietor until about 1837, when he sold it to Adam Baker, who was succeeded by Baker & Haroff, who sold to Kiblinger & Stoner, whom Bryant & O'Rork bought out, and they were followed by Messer & Bryant, who disposed of the property to S. H. Hockman, the present owner, who is. doing a very successful business. At an early day, a small saw and grist mill was operated in Section 23, upon Chapman's Creek, in the northern part of the township, and, about twenty years ago, Jacob Dibert erected a large flouring-mill upon the same site, which he operated until the spring of 1881, when he leased it to Blose & Weaver. Many other mills and distilleries were built and run upon the streams of German Township, which have long since been abandoned or removed.
In 1836, upon the site of the Seitz Mill at Tremont, there was a small carding machine, and that year John Ross erected a small distillery, both kind of neighborhood affairs. About these had clustered several families. Ross owned land there and began to sell small lots, and shortly the whole gave a
GERMAN TOWNSHIP. - 689
village-like appearance. Further lots were sold and soon a survey was made and a village platted. The plat was recorded in 1838. This became the village of Clarksburg. In 1836-37, the Rosses, John and William, kept a store (in the dry goods line) on the Carter corner. In 1837, a hotel, or tavern in those days, was opened by John Hupp, the Rosses retiring. Where now stands the Hotel Fennimore stood a one-story frame building almost at right angles with the street occupied by William McKinley, who boarded Elias Darnall, the schoolmaster, William Ross the Clerk, John Ballantine the Constable, then as busy as any Sheriff, and Dr. A. C. McLaughlin the physician, busy too, the place being dead ripe for a doctor. Oh! yes, we must not forget Gabriel Albin the carpenter, who constituted one of the boarders. One door east of the boarding-house, McKinley had a dry goods store, and on the opposite side was the blacksmith shop of Elias Heller. This was Tremont in 1836-37. The post office was established there in 1839, with Dr. McLaughlin as Postmaster. The name was then changed to Tremont, there being another town in the State of the name of Clarksburg. Benjamin Turman made an addition to the town in 1840. Several additions have since been made. To-day this is a flourishing little village, beautifully located in the Mad River Valley, having a population of about three hundred. It has two good church buildings that would be a credit to any city, and several fine stores; three blacksmith-shops and as many carriage shops. A steam saw-mill and a mammoth grist-mill, four stories high, in which are three sets of buhrs-two wheat and one corn-having a capacity of making ten barrels of flour per day. This mill was erected at a cost of $5,000, and is operated by Andrew Seitz. The village has also a good hotel, and the proprietor, John Fennimore, has the happy faculty of making his guests feel at home. The school of the village is held in a substantial two-story brick building, and is in District No. 3. The number of scholars in attendance, in 1880, were ninety-nine, sixty-four in the lower room, taught by Alfred Blose, and thirty-five in the upper room taught by J. E. Smiley. Prior to 1838, the Methodists worshiped at Rector Church, and in that year they erected a brick building, which, was replaced by the present fine edifice in 1880. It is a large one-story building in the shape of a letter T, with a tall spire, containing a sweet-toned bell taken from the old church. In style, of Gothic architecture. The auditorium will seat 450 people. It has a reed organ. The church is nicely frescoed, and heated throughout by hot air furnaces. The dedicatory sermon was preached April 18, 1880, by Dr. Payne, President of the Ohio Wesleyan University. The minister in charge is Rev. McHugh. The cost of the building was about $10,500. The German Reformed Church was organized in 1863, under the administration of Rev. Jesse Richards. The present building was erected in 1865, at a cost of about $4,000. While the new church was building, the congregation returned to worship in the old log structure which they first used, and had abandoned forty years before. This is an incident seldom or never occurring in the annals of church history. It stands on a hill overlooking the village. Present membership about one hundred and twenty-five. At this church is a regularly laid out grave-yard.
Besides those cemeteries mentioned, the one at the German Reformed Church at Lawrenceville is one of the earliest burial places in the township, and has always been used by all who desired to bury there. It is in good repair and has many handsome monuments. At the old Mount Zion Church, upon Section 8, is a cemetery which was laid out many years ago, and is yet in use. At Jerusalem Church, in Section 35, is a graveyard; also a very old one at Simms' Church, in Section 25; one upon the farm of Jacob Ream in Section 32, and quite an old one on Section 24, near the Clark and Miami Pike; also a small cemetery upon the farm of Jacob Flick in Section 33.
690 - HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY.
Upon the site of the village of Lawrenceville, a store was built in the woods by Elias Over about 1836, he having cleared out a patch upon which his building was erected. And a few years later three Germans named Rice, Dipple & Rice built and operated a pottery at the same point, employing a number of hands in the manufacture of crockery ware of all kinds. The present town was laid out by Emanuel Circle, and placed upon record in 1849. He called it Noblesville after a town of that name in Indiana, which he fancied, and the original number of lots were fifteen. The post office was established in 1875, and the name was then changed to Lawrenceville, there being another Noblesville in the State. The first Postmaster and present incumbent is Alexander Michael. The high school heretofore mentioned, and also the Reformed Church, Mount Pisgah, are located here. The new church building was erected in 1852. There is one store, a shoe-shop, one blacksmith-shop and a wagon factory in the village.
From the first organization of the township until the present, the following Justices have watched over the legal interest of the citizens of German: John Goble, Hugh H. Frazier, John McCauley, Philip Kizer, William Enoch, Peter Minnich, George Michael, Joseph Underwood, Elias Darnell, Samuel Bechtle, J. C. Gard, Thomas Elliott, Michael Bowman, Jacob Argobright, Peter McLaughlin, William W. Lee, Eli Kizer, Alexander Michael, L. Bechtle, James V. Ballentine and John H. Blose, the last two being the present incumbents. The growth and development of German Township has kept well apace with the other townships of the county; its people have ever been industrious and peace loving within its borders the promoters and abettors of the late rebellion found little sympathy, and the Union was upheld by all. The moral teachings of the pioneers have taken deep root, and the churches, as well as schools, are in a flourishing condition.
David Kizer was born in Shenandoah County, Va., December 20, 1779. Married to Eva Nawman, June 23, 1806; died December 31, 1847, and was buried in Green Mount Cemetery. His wife was born July 11, 1787, and died September 8, 1869.
Mr. Kizer came to Clark County in the year 1809, and settled on Section 7, Town 4, Range 10, M R S, in what is now German Township (it was then called Boston), and took an. active part in the public affairs of that day. He was chosen Justice of the Peace in 1811; was "out" in the war of 1812, and, -upon the establishment of this county in 1818, was appointed its first Recorder, to which office he was several times re-elected.
A man of undaunted courage and great strength of character, combined with a powerful frame and a good constitution, he was a superior representative of that old class of Virginia pioneers which contributed so much to the settle ment of the West, and the establishment of American independence. He was what was called a good scholar in those early days, and taught school in Virginia before he became a pioneer. In 1820-21, he conducted a school in Springfield, which employment helped to piece out the scanty income of the Recorder's office.
The first of the above schools was held in a building which stood on the site of the present residence of Edward P. Torbert. The second was in the front or "office part" of what was "Jake Lingle's pottery," on the northeast corner of Spring and North streets.
Mr. Kizer brought a small library of books with him, and, being inclined to scholarly habits, his house was the headquarters of the literary element of its neighborhood.
The children of this pioneer were Phoebe, born May 20, 1807; Rebeca, born May 29, 1809; Lydia, born April 15, 1811; Thomas, born December 18, 1812; Susannah, born August 17, 1815; Eli, born January 25, 1823.
PAGE 691 - PICTURE OF PEESLEY JONES - MADISON TP
PAGE 692 - BLANK
(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE)