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WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP.
BY PETER CLEVENGER, ESQ.
THE township bearing the above name was organized by order of the Commissioners of Clinton County, at their regular session, in June, 1835, on a petition containing the following description:
"Beginning in the line of Union Township, one mile west of the northwest line of Clark Township; thence southward to Marion Township, where the township line crosses the road leading from David Wright's to Blanchester, and continuing same course one mile into Marion Township; thence eastward to intersect the line one mile south of the northeast corner of said township; thence across Clark Township so as to include Samuel Batson; thence to the road leading from Cuba to Martinsville, eighty poles to the north of Robert Green's house; thence to where the Wilmington & Hillsboro road crosses the College Township road; thence with the south side of said College Township road to the northeast corner of Clark Township; thence westward with the line of Union and Clark Townships to the beginning, containing twenty-four and one-third square miles of land."
The geographical location of this township is very nearly central, being the only township except Union that does not border on the county line. The land is generally level, being slightly hilly along the streams in the west and southwest, the soil generally fertile and very well drained naturally. The artificial drainage, however, of the last twenty years, has worked a vast and beneficial change in the face of the country, as well as in the crops. The swampy and unproductive lands have been transformed, by the laying of tile, into the most fertile lands in the township, good crops being now raised without any failure. The prevailing timber is beech, sugar maple, ash, hickory, walnut and the different varieties of oak, linn, hackberry, buckeye-in fact, almost all varieties found in the Miami Valley. The finest trees have disappeared from our forest, hove-9r, having yielded to the blasts of many winters, the necessities of the settler, or the temptations offered by the timber speculator, until now there can scarcely be found the old sturdy black walnut of thirty years ago. The township is well watered, the streams running in a general westerly course through it. The following are the names of the principal streams: Cowan's Creek, Silver Creek, and the East Fork of Todd's Fork; the latter stream flows from east to west through the south part of the township, while Cowan's and Silver Creeks and their tributaries drain the northern and central parts. East of Cuba for several miles, the country presents a plain of gently undulating land. The capacity of the soil in this plain in productiveness is equal to that of any land in the country; in fact, in all the products from soil culture, Washington Township will compare favorably with any portion of the county.
The settlements on these rich alluvial lands commenced about the year 1805. The Legislature of Ohio, at its session of 1802-3, provided for the location of a road, leading from Chillicothe, by way of Morgantown, to the College Township, in Butler County; and this, passing directly through Washington Township, and being opened immediately, formed a great thoroughfare for emigration, assumed the name of the College Township road, and was `the first road opened in Southern Ohio.
796 - HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY
EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
The first emigrant to the present limits of Washington Township, as far as the writer hereof has been able to find out from the meager information to be obtained at this day and date, was Isaac Wilson, perhaps the first settler, who came from Virginia, who settled in Col. Carrington's Survey about the year 1803, on the land now owned by George Brown. Next came Jonas Seaman and a Mr. Armstrong, both settling upon the present site of Cuba, the latter opening the first house for the entertainment of the public in the year 1805.
Thomas Thatcher, one of the early pioneers to the Miami Valley, was born in Frederick County, Va., in 1769, and emigrated to the present limits of Washington Township in the year 1805, and purchased a large tract of land in Capt, John Steel's Survey, No. 1,458, where he settled on Silver Creek. Coming with a four-horse team and the typical old Virginia wagon, by the usual route through Pennsylvania, on his way he encountered the common delays, annoyances and vexations of the early emigrant. After a weary journey, he arrived at Wheeling, W. Va., situate on the south side of the Ohio River. The only means of conveyance over the river was the old-fashioned flat-boat, with oars worked by men. This means of crossing lay on the opposite side of the river. To the eye of Thatcher, the river did not look very wide or deep. He inquired of some boys near by if he could ford, and they carelessly said, "Yes." Mounting his saddle, with his wife and one child in the wagon, and the bound boy, David Fisher, on the off horse, he boldly drove into the stream. He had passed but a short distance from the bank into the stream before his horses were swimming and his wagon floating. As the water came up around young Fisher, be cried out in a fearful tone. Mr. Thatcher said, in an encouraging tone, "Hold fast to the James, David," and some men on the Ohio side, seeing him at this time, beckoned to him, and, under their guidance and his own cool judgment, he swam his team across the river without accident or injury to his inestimable load. This was Mr. Thatcher's introduction into the new State of Ohio. He had made a contract with Col. Samuel Martin for a thousand acres of land, where he intended to make his future home. Some time after his arrival, he took possession of his survey of land on Silver Creek. His title soon proved worthless, and he had to buy his' land a second time. He divided his lands and sold to immigrants, settling a portion himself, where he resided for over thirty-five years. He was one of the first Justices of the Peace of this -part of what was then Warren County, acting in that capacity for twenty-one consecutive years. Amongst his early associates, Mr. Thatcher was a very popular man, not only acting as Justice of the Peace in name, but in fact, reconciling contending neighbors, and restoring harmony and good will among them. He magnified his office in preventing litigation, and not encouraging it. Mr. Thatcher was a resident of the territory of Clinton County sixty-two years. The great moral organ of benevolence was too large and active to permit great acquisition of lands and tenements or the hoarding of money. In the social relations, few complaints were ever made against Mr. Thatcher. His sense of justice and right was strong. He was moral and upright, and exerted a good influence on his pioneer neighbors. In fact, Thomas Thatcher was the right man in the right place, and well did he act his part. Long may his good examples be imitated and his memory cherished. He deceased in the year 1867, at the advanced age of ninety-eight years. On his arrival on Silver Creek, he found Joseph Roberts, John Jack, Samuel Ruble, John Wright and Edward Powers, they having come a short time before -from whence the writer hereof has been unable to find out, except in the case of Edward Powers, who was born in the North of Ireland, emigrated to America and came to Ohio in 1805, bought land of Col. Martin, in Fern's
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Survey, 699, on which he resided several years, becoming a soldier in the war of 1812, enlisting in the American Army while yet a British subject; was our rendered at Hull's surrender, and, by reason of his being a British subject, was danger, if discovered, of execution. To avoid this, he secreted himself in the fortress, among army supplies, etc., until an opportunity offered, when he • made his escape through the guard lines, and, by great caution and privation, eluded the thousand and one hostile Indian camps, that, at that time, blazed throughout the Northwest, and, solitary and alone, traversed the distance from Detroit to Silver Creek on foot. In time, he discovered that the title to his land, like Thatcher's, was worthless. With great indignation, he called on Martin and demanded the money which he had paid, in lieu of which Martin gave him other land which be owned, somewhere in Greene or Clark County, and thither emigrated Edward Powers.
Col. Samuel Martin emigrated from Western Pennsylvania about the year 1807, together with his son John, and settled in Survey No. 996, a large portion of which he purchased. Col. Martin was no ordinary man; a man of fine education, a graduate of medicine, he became involved in trouble in regard to the title to the land he had purchased, which title was worthless, and he lost all, and removed, together with his son, to the West. Col. Martin was one of the prime movers in what is known in history as the Pennsylvania Whisky Insurrection, and, as the writer hereof has often heard, was second in command of the forces organized to resist the Federal authority, the result of which history tells us came to naught.
Peter Tomlin, another of the early settlers in what is now Washington township, was born in Culpepper County, Va., in 1776, and removed to Frederick County, Va., in 1802, and from there to Clinton County, Ohio, in 1808, settling Capt. Steel's Survey, No. 1,458, where he resided, rearing a large family of children--seventeen in all-of whom Ruth, Asa, Lewis, Helen, Elijah Andrew and Rhoda are living, part in this township and part in the West and elsewhere. Peter Tomlin was a man of large frame and strong constitution, strictly honest in all his dealings. He was a Captain of militia in the war of 1812; in which he took an active part on the Northern frontier. He quietly passed from earth in the year 1857, at the age of eighty-one years. He is buried in what is known as the Lieurance Cemetery, near his old home.
Adon Clevenger was born in the year 1773, in Frederick County, Va., from whence he emigrated to Waynesville, Warren Co., Ohio, in the year 1804, and, about 1806, moved to what was then called the Cross Roads, the same being the present site of the villages of Cuba. Opening the first blacksmith shop there, he followed his trade for a year or two, removing from there to Wilmington for a time, and from there back to Cowan's Creek, where he bought a small farm in Col. Ridley's Survey, No. 2,028, where he lived to a ripe old age, following his trade and farming a little. He deceased in the year 1853, in his eightieth year. His remains rest also in the Lieurance Cemetery.
Peter Lieurance wag born in Ashe County, N. C., in the year 1759. Of his early life little is now known. He removed with his family from North Carolina, about the year 1800, to East Tennessee, where he resided a few years, when he again removed to the present limits of Washington Township in the year 1$06; bought land in Steel's Survey, No. 1,458, where he settled Mr. Lieurance had early identified himself with the Baptist Church, and, as there were no churches then in the country, his house soon became a place of worship, which was kept up until the year 1819, when he donated a lot for church and cemetery, upon which a log church was built and a regular organization of the first Baptist Church of Washington Township was effected, which has been kept up to the present day. Peter Lieurance was a powerful, muscular
798 - HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
man, one well fitted for the trials and hardships of the early pioneer. He continued on the farm which he had cleared until about the year 1,940, when his youthful ambition came over him, and, at the age of eighty-one years, he sold his farm and removed to the then wild prairies of Warren County, Ill., where be lived, until the year 1863, attaining the remarkable age of one hundred and four years.
Elijah Lieurance, the oldest son of Peter Lieurance, was born in Ashe County, N. C., and removed with his father to Ohio in the year 1806, and settled with his father. When the war with England broke out, in 1812, Elijah became a soldier, and was made a prisoner at Hull's surrender. Returning at the close of the war, he resided, up to 1836, on the old farm, from whence, in that year, he removed to Warren County, Ill.
David Hays was born in the State of Delaware, near the city of Wilmington, in the year 1766, where he grew to manhood, which was during the Revolutionary war. Young Hays saw much of the " times that tried men's souls." He saw both the English and colonial armies. He had the honor of handing Gen. Washington a drink of water a few days before the battle of Brandywine, as the army was passing his father's home. This was in 1777, he at that time being about eleven years old. In the year 1800, he removed to Frederick County, Va., and, in the year 1805, was married to Mary Horsman, and removed to Harrison County, Ohio, in the same year, where he resided until the year 1815, when he removed to the present limits of Washington Township; settled in John Steel's Survey, No. 1, 458, where he resided until his death, which occurred in the year 1844. He was a man of strong common sense and kind disposition, strictly honest in all his dealings with his fellow-men, and was ever ready to give a helping hand He was universally respected for his many virtues.
David, Asa, Elisha and James Brown, four brothers, early pioneers of Washington Township, were born in Massachusetts during the war of independence, at the close of which their father removed to Owen County, Ky., where the boys all grew to manhood. During the period from 1807 to 1810, they all removed from Owen County, Ky., to within the present limits of Washington Township, purchasing land in Steel's, Carrington's and Johnson's Surveys, where they all resided for many years, rearing large families of children. Asa deceased in the year 1843; David, in 1844; Elisha, in 1856; and James, in 1863. All of these men were fine specimens of the early pioneer of the Miami Valley. All of them will be remembered with the kindest recollection for their honesty, integrity and goodness of heart.
David Clevenger was born in Frederick County, Va., about the year 1785, and removed to Ohio in 1808, and settled in Dix Survey, No. 619, where he resided until the spring of 1812, when be became a soldier in the American army for the defense of the Northern frontier, and was surrendered at Hull's surrender of Detroit. After the close of the war, he returned home, and resided for awbile on Cowan's Creek, from whence he removed to some part of the West.
Jesse Graham was born in East Tennessee in the year 1805, and removed with his widowed mother to Ohio in 1807, settling Baron Steuben's Survey, No. 2,697. Jesse has a vivid recollection of early times, having visited the Indians at their hunting-camp many times at the spring on the Lazenby farm, also on the Townsend farm. Mr. Graham bought and cleared a farm in Steuben's Survey, where he resides at this time, in his seventy-sixth year, a man of great endurance and determined will, honest and upright in his dealings.
John Mitchell, one of the early pioneers of Washington Township, was born in the North of Ireland about the year 1760, sad removed from thence to
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the State of North Carolina in his youth, where he married, and removed from. Were to East Tennessee about the year 1790. In the year 1793, he removed to Fayette County; Ky. From thence he again removed to Middle Tennessee, settling in the then small village of Franklin, where he opened a shop, he being a wheelwright. In the year 1807, the spirit of emigration again seized him, and he removed, with at that time a large family, to within the present limits of Washington Township, settling in Capt. Blackwell's Survey, No 1,457, just south of Cuba. His family consisted of five daughters and three sons--John, Samuel K. and James. John and Samuel lived in this county, honored and useful citizens. James removed to the West at an early day. The daughters all married, lived and died in Clinton County, where they left many descendants, honored and respected.
William Johns, one of the early pioneers, born in Tennessee, emigrated to Ohio in 1808, and bought a large farm in Col. Thomas Dix's Survey, No. 619, where he resided until his death, which occurred about the year 1865. William Johns was a Captain of militia, a soldier in the war of 1812, a man of great endurance and strong will.
William Baker, born in Kentucky, removed to Ohio with James Brown (before spoken of), with whom he lived to manhood. Mr. Baker was a man of sterling integrity and industrious habits, acquiring a large property by his industry. He deceased in the year 1875. He lived and owned a large tract ,of land in Johnson's Survey, No. 2,386.
William R. Moon is one of the many of the family of Moons who reside ,in Clinton County, Ohio. Born in East Tennessee in 1804, he emigrated to Ohio with his father, Samuel Moon, in 1808, and settled near what was then called "Morgan Town," near Snow Hill, from whence they removed, in the spring Of 1809, to near Martinsville, this county, and located on the farm now owned by David Moon. His father deceased about the year 1846. William R Moon, at this writing, is in his seventy-eighth year, rather under the medium size, of strong will, a mechanic by birth, and following, in his younger day, any trade that demanded his skill; a man of strict integrity.
William Biggs was born in Virginia about 1759; married Sarah Burr (sister of Judge Peter Burr) in 1788. and emigrated to Ohio in the year 1808; bought a tract of 640 acres of land in Col. Ridley's Survey, No. 2,028, near Cuba, where he settled in 1811, built a large log house, and opened a house of entertainment three-fourths of a mile west of Cuba, which business he followed for a series of years. He experienced much difficulty, like all early pioneers, in getting salt, often bringing it from Lebanon on horseback and with ox teams; there being many Indians at that time who would come and beg or barter for salt, consequently much was used. Indians would come and say, "White man like bear meat. Indian like salt." This was sufficient. The hear meat and salt were exchanged. William Biggs bought the town lots from Archey & Simmons after they laid out Cuba, and then sold them out. The burial lot near where the old brick church was is on a fraction of a lot. The first person buried here was Axey (Achsah) Arche . William Biggs entertained many officers and soldiers during the war of 1812. I was shown a large bowl, now in the possession of Rhoda Biggs, which was used in those days in which to make eggnog for the officers. This bowl is said to be over a century old.
William B. Biggs, son of the above-named William Biggs, was born in Virginia in the year 1800, and emigrated to Ohio with his father, and was reared to manhood in the then frontier country, where, in the year 1818, he married Rhoda Whitaker. They had a family of ten children, some of whom reside in this county, and some in the West. William B. Biggs departed this life in the year 1873. His widow still survives, and to her I am much indebt-
800 - HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
ed for information in my feeble effort to obtain a few notes of facts connected with the early settlement of Washington Township. William B. Biggs was universally respected for his honesty and goodness of heart.
Robert Athey was born in Virginia, near Harper's Ferry. About the year 1813, he settled on Cowan's Creek, in Ridley's Survey, No. 2,028, where he resided for some years, selling the same to Harvey Gallaher in the year 1820.
Martin and Jacob Roop were emigrants from North Carolina, settling on the waters of Cowan's Creek about the year 1815, where they lived some years, selling and moving farther West.
John Matson, born in Loudoun County, Va., in 1758, removed to Frederick County, same State, where he resided for some years, and, in the year 1817, he emigrated to Ohio and settled in Steel's Survey, No. 1,458, on the farm now owned by James Skimming. Mr. Matson was a quiet, inoffensive man, one whose honesty no man ever questioned He raised a large family of children, none of whom are now living except Frances, widow of Samuel Byard, deceased, who resides near Wilmington, this county.
Thomas Woodmansee was a native of Pennsylvania, born near Lancaster about the year 1778; emigrated to Ohio in the year 1813, and settled in one of Col. Thomas Ridley's surveys, of which he bought some eight hundred acres. Mr. Woodmansee was a genial, Christian gentleman, a man of strong will, energetic, shrewd and far-seeing; was one of the original anti-slavery men of Southern Ohio, who dared to do and act in behalf of the poor, unfortunate slave who chanced to come this way inquiring the road to Canada. Such always found in the subject of this sketch a helping hand Mr. Woodmansee's family consisted of two sons, George and James-George, born in 1810; James, about 1813 or 1814-both exemplary men, who, together with their aged parents, in the year 1855, sold their large possessions in Ohio and removed to Knox County, Ill., where the parents have since deceased.
George Byard, born in Lancaster County, Penn., in 1792, and a soldier in the war of 1812, was at the siege of Black Rock and the battle of Chippewa; emigrated to Ohio in the year 1810, with his young wife, walking the whole distance, carrying their limited effects with them, and settling in Ridley's Survey, No. 2,028, where he resided for some years afterward buying a farm in Blackwell's Survey, No. 1, 382, which he cleared up and lived upon for a great many years; rearing a family of five children, two of whom are still living. He deceased in the year 1872, in the eightieth year of his age, his wife having preceded him some years.
John Crouse was of German extraction, born in Frederick County, Va., in 1794. In 1817, he married Rhoda, one of the daughters of John Matson, and, the same year, emigrated to Ohio and settled in Steel's Survey, No. 1,458, on land now owned by James Skimming, from whence he moved on Cowan's Creek, on what is known as the Williams farm. Remaining here until about the year 1825, he bought a tract of land in Blackwell's Survey, No. 1,382, being the farm that H. Burlin now owns. Mr. Crouse was an energetic, honest, upright man, acquiring, during his lifetime, quite a large amount of this world's goods. He deceased in the year 1807, in his seventy-third year, his widow following him in 1808.
Oliver Whitaker was born in New Jersey, and emigrated to Ohio in 1802, coming from Wheeling by way of the Ohio River, in a flat-boat, to Cincinnati, from whence he removed to Deerfield in the year 1804, and, the following year, to near Clarksville, this county, where he sojourned for a short time with Judge Burr. Buying a farm near Villars' Chapel, he lived upon it some years, and finally removed to a farm he bought on Cowan's Creek, in Ridley's Survey, No. 2,029, where be lived until the year 1831, at which time he deceased.
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Mr. Whitaker was a peaceable, quiet, Christian gentleman, of the old school, so to speak.
John Burk, a native of Pennsylvania, emigrated to Ohio in the year 18013 or 1807, and settled in Steel's Survey, No. 1,458, where he cleared a farm and raised quite a large family, dying very- suddenly about 1831.
James Wilson, a native of Virginia and one of the early pioneers, removed to the present limits of Washington Township about the year 1804 or 1805, and settled on Cowan's Creek, near the bridge, on the Cuba & Wilmington pike, where he, about the year 1809 or 1810, built a mill, perhaps the first mill built on said creek-at least, the venerable George Mann informs us that Mr. Wilson lived and operated the mill above referred to in the,year 1812, when he first came to this township. Of Mr. Wilson, little, at this day, is known, save and except that about the year 1815 he removed farther West.
Thomas Johns was a native of East Tennessee, emigrated to Ohio about the year 1808, and settled on the East Fork of Todd's Fork, in Col. Dix's Survey, No. 619, on the farm now known as the Bond farm, near the iron bridge, ,where he lived some years.
Thomas Pennington, a native of Pennsylvania, born near Lancaster, emigrated to Ohio about 1813 and settled in Col. Ridley's Survey, No. 2,029. Mr. Pennington, at the time he came to Ohio, had a large family of children, some of whom were nearly grown, among them being Josephus, Isaac and James Pennington. Thomas Pennington deceased about the year 18-. Josephus, his oldest son, deceased about the year 1857. Isaac, the second son, deceased in 1879, in his eightieth year. Father and sons were all early pioneers. Isaac, through his economy and honest toil, accumulated quite an amount of this world's goods. His corn-cribs were always well filled, and, no matter how acme corn was elsewhere, Uncle Isaac Pennington always had plenty and to spare, and I venture to say that no man ever called on him: for that needful article but that he went away well supplied. His widow still survives, living at his old home on Silver Creek.
H. M. Green, born in Frederick County, Va., in the year 1803, emigrated to Ohio with his parents in 1810, the family coming from Brownsville, on the Monongahola River, to Wellsville, on the Ohio River, by flat-boat, the father coming over the mountains with a team and joining them at the latter place, from whence they came by wagon to their destination, on Todd's Fork, where they settled. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood there, removing to Washington Township the year it was organized (1835), where he has resided almost all the time ever since. Mr. Green is a blacksmith by trade, which he followed for many years. He also held the office of Constable, being one of the first for the new township of Washington, which office he held from time to time for many years. He is at this writing in his seventy-eighth year, hearty for a man of his years. To him am I indebted for what information I have obtained as to the first organization of the township.
Jacob Mann, born in Rockingham County, Va., in 1708, emigrated to Nicholas County, Ky., about the year 1788; was a soldier in Gen. Wayne's army during the Indian campaigns in the Northwestern Territory, in which he took an active part; removed with his family to Ohio in the year 1812, settling for one year in Chester Township, from which he removed, in the year 1813, to the present limits of Washington Township, and settled in Baron Steuben's Survey, No. 2,097, on the farm that the venerable George Mann now resides on, where he lived an exemplary, quiet, honest life until the year 1840, when he deceased, in his seventy-fourth year, and is buried with the partner of his bosom on the farm that he reclaimed from a howling wilderness. The remains of the venerable couple are handsomely unclosed by a solid wall of masonry,
802 - HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY.
the work of skilled hands, through the instrumentality of their son, George Mann.
George, Henry and John Mann, sons of Jacob Mann, are all early pioneers of Ohio, having removed with their father from Kentucky, where they were all born, George in 1796, Henry in 1799, and John in 1803. Of the girls, Elizabeth was born in 1801, Mary in 1806, Margaret in 1808, Rhoda in 1811 and Malinda in 1816. Of this family there is still living George, in his eighty-sixth year; John, in his seventy-eighth year; Mary, in her seventy-fifth year; Margaret, in her seventy-third year; Rhoda, in her seventy-first year. Henry deceased in March, 1882. This exhibit shows a family of rather remarkable longevity.
Robert Brown, son of David Brown, heretofore mentioned, was born in Owen Co., Ky., in the year 1803, and emigrated with his father to Clinton Co., and settled within the present limits of Washington Township in the year 1807 in Capt.. John Steel's Survey, No. 1,458. Robert is at this writing in his seventy-ninth year, as stout as men usually are at that age. He has a vivid recollection of early times, remembering to have seen his father and others returning from Blue Licks with salt, which they carried on pack-saddles, in sacks, the brine dripping there from, as the salt was in a slushy condition. Mr. Brown informs me that, at the time of their coming, Wilson was living in a three-sided cabin in Col. Carrington's Survey, where he had been living for four or five years; this cabin having no chimney, simply three sides, the fourth answering as a fire- lace, where large logs were drawn by horses in cold weather and a regular log-heap built, which kept the three-sided inclosure comfortable. This was the rude habitation of James Wilson, perhaps the first white settler of Washington Township.
John Burk, born in Pennsylvania, emigrated to Ohio in 1810, and settled in Steel's Survey, No. 1,458, where he resided for many years.
Joshua Lazenby, a native of Virginia, emigrated to Ohio in 1817, and settled on lands now owned by his sons, Henry and Rezin Lazenby, situate in Surveys No. 2,697 and 619, where he resided for many years. Mr. Lazenby was a man of great personal worth and genuine integrity. His kind-hearted disposition and neighborly qualities will long be remembered by his many friends.
Henry Cowgill, born in Virginia about the year 1781, emigrated to Ohio in the year 1811 or 1812, and settled on the College Township road, a short distance east of Morrisville, in Harvey's Survey, of which his wife's father, William McDaniels, bought a large part. Mr. Cowgill built his log cabin and opened a farm, which, for fertility and productiveness, is not surpassed anywhere in the Ohio Valley. Here he lived a long and peaceful life, rearing a large family, all the members of which are honored and useful citizens. He quietly passed from earth at an advanced age.
The following are the names of early pioneers whose nativity the author has been unable to ascertain, who settled in Washington Township between the years 1803 and 1820: Daniel Beals, Jacob Beals, settled in Survey No. 2,697; Thomas Johns, Israel Johns, Settled in Survey 619; Ebenezer, John and Christopher Brown, settled in Survey No. 619; William Mabury, Daniel Cluster, Settled in Survey No. 2,697; Michael Rodabaugh, James Haworth, settled in Survey No. 2,697; Charles McGrue, John Jack, in Survey No. 2,386; John Dale, Samuel Ruble, settled in Survey No. 996; Thomas Ludington, settled in Survey No. 996; George Shannon, Amos Hankins, Empson Wright, George Richards, Walter Starkey, exact place of settlement unknown.
The following is a list of the various township officers, as far as can be ascertained: The township was organized in June, 1835.
The first Trustees were Enos Clevenger, James Roberts and JohnMitchell; Clerk, Joseph R. Moon, who served in this office from 1835 to 1853; Thomas
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Thatcher, from 1853 to 1858; S. S. Cast, from 1858 to 1859; Thomas Thatcher, from 1851) to 1863; John R. Moon, from 1863 to 1864; Peter Clevenger, from 1864 to 1882, present incumbent. The Justices of the Peace from the organization of the township up to the present are as follows: Horatio Cast, served from 1835 to 1844; Micajah H. Moore, from 1835 to 1847; James Christy, from 1835 to 1836, resigned; John Fuller, from 1836 to 1838 Enos ` Clevenger, from 1844 to 1856; Walter Bond, from 1847 to 1853; Thomas Thatcher, from 1858 to 1867; Henry Mann, from 1852 to 1862; William H. Young, from 1865 to 1866; Peter Clevenger, from 1866 to 1882, present incumbent; John R. Moon, from 1867 to 1870; William Biggs, from 1870 to 1873; James Cowgill, from 1873 to 1882, present incumbent.
CHURCHES.
Of these the information to be obtained at this day is very meager. The first church organization in this township was effected by the Baptists, about the year 1818, at what is known at this time as the Lieurance Graveyard. Here the venerable Peter Lieurance donated a lot of ground for a cemetery and church, on which was erected a rude log church, and, in the year above indicated, the first Baptist Church of this township was organized, the Rev. Hiram Burnett officiating, and acting as the minister for a number of years. After him came Jacob Layman and James How. About this time (1835), Elliott Raynes, a noted Reformer from Kentucky, made his appearance in this neigh borhood, and, by his eloquence, succeeded in getting up quite a revival, which, to a great extent, divided the Baptist Church here, out of which was organized the Christian Church, which grew to considerable prominence, and is to this day the leading church of the township. Rev. Elliott Raynes, John Rodger and James How were the prime movers in this reformation. Some years after this, the Baptist society which was here organized removed its church to the present site, in the eastern part of the township, near the residence of Alexander Lieurance, where the same is kept up, and is now in a flourishing condition. The Christian organization built a new log church near the present site of Bethel Church. The Methodists organized a church in Cuba about the year 1838 or 1839, building a brick house, which stood on a lot in the south part of the village. This organization was kept up for a number of years. Amongst the early ministers of this denomination were the Rev. William Austin, Rev. George W. Malay [Malary], Rev. A. F. Baxter, Rev. Ambrose Jones.
The present organized churches of the township are one Baptist, one Methodist, two Christian and one Universalist, all of which are in a prosperous and flourishing condition.
SCHOOLS.
The first school-teachers of which we have any account were E. Hamilton, James Trimble, Benjamin Hunter, James Hamilton, Thomas Wilson, Robert. Grant, John McKibben, George E. Honeycutt, Azariah Brown, Henry Lazenby and Elijah Hays. The above teachers taught, of course, mostly subscription schools. They labored under serious disadvantages compared with the teachers of the present day. The schoolhouses were poor log cabins, with no furniture or apparatus. The distance to school was necessarily great in many cases, and the wonder is that the generation of that period was as well informed as it was. The above teachers, no doubt, did their whole duty as well as they could under the circumstances, at salaries ranging from $10 to $15 per month. At the present time, there are seven schoolhouses in this township five brick, two being two-story, one at Cuba, the other at Morrisville, accommodating grade schools, employing two teachers each Teachers' wages range, throughout the winter months, from $45 to $50, and, during the summer time, generally 30 per cent less.
804 - HISTORY OF CLINTON COUNTY,
CEMETERIES AND GRAVEYARDS.
Of these, none are regularly organized institutions, but such as have from time to time been laid out by the different church organizations, and of these we have what is known as the Lieurance Graveyard, Johns Graveyard, Bethel Cemetery, Baptist Church Cemetery. Of the latter two, the citizens in the vicinity might well be proud, situated as they are adjoining the churches of the same name. Many neat marble shafts and some costly monuments mark the numerous graves beneath whose shadows sleep many of the sturdy pioneers of yore. Several other small graveyards, both public and private, are scattered throughout the township.
TOWNS.
The first village laid out in the township, and perhaps the second in the county, was Cuba, then called Paris, laid out in the year 1813, by Jonas Seaman and James Archey. The original as well as present number of lots was 100. The present population is about one hundred and fifty. It is the voting-place of the township. The first hotel was kept by one Mr. Armstrong, who opened a house of entertainment here in 1806,* at that time known as tho Cross Roads, being the point where the trace or trail from the south crossed the College Township road. This road was located and opened a few years prior by an act of the Legislature of 1802-3, authorizing the laying-out of various State roads, among which was the College Township road, leading from Chillicothe, by way of Morgantown, to the College Township, now in Butler County. This road soon became quite a thoroughfare, and the emigrant's wagon was constantly in sight; hence the necessity for houses of entertainment. Mr. Armstrong entertained the traveling public for a few years and retired. He was succeeded by Jonas Seaman, who remained in the hotel until near the close of the war of 1812: Mr. Seaman was succeeded by J. J. Lacy, who occupied the premises for a short time, and he gave way to Matthew Callaway, who acted as inn-keeper for many years, and was succeeded by Col. J. Ward Jones. This was about the year 1826. Since then, the inn-keepers of Cuba have been numerous and varied, until within the last twenty years, when, the opening of the various lines of railways causing the travel to give way to the more rapid transit by rail, the travel by usual routes has been so reduced that inn-keeping in the county villages has been abandoned, and this is the condition of Cuba at this time. Cuba has one large general merchandise store, one drug and grocery store, blacksmith and wagon shop, one grist and saw mill.
Morrisville, the other and only remaining village in the township, is sit. uated four miles east of Cuba, in one of the finest farming regions in Southern Ohio. The village was named in honor of the Hon. Isaiah Morris, who owned at one time a large tract of land adjoining it. It was laid out about the year 1843 or 1844, and consists of but few lots. It has one country store. one wagon and carriage shop, one smith shop.
MILLS.
The first mill in the present limits of Washington Township was built on Cowan's Creek, by James Wilson. This mill was erected, as nearly as can be ascertained, about the year 1810 or 1811. It stood a few rods above the bridge on. the road leading from Wilmington to Cuba. It was what was termed a "corn-cracker,"and, a few years after its erection, was converted into a still house, and, by Mr. Wilson, operated for some years. This mill was operated as mill and distillery until about the year 1826 or 1827. Thomas Thatcher erected a saw-mill on Silver Creek about the year 1818, which was a great advantage and convenience in its day. This mill was operated by him for per-
* Given also 1805.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. - 805
haps twenty years, when it went to decay. About this time (1840), James ;,Carman erected a saw-mill on Cowan's Creek, in Survey No. 2,029. This mill was operated some years, and had a corn-cracker attached. Mr. Carman finally sold the farm and mill to Abel Briggs, and the mill became damaged by freshets. Mr. Briggs rebuilt this mill about the year 1853, and operated the same for six or seven years, when the whole was so damaged by high water that it was abandoned, since which time the whole has gone to decay. About the year 1852, William B. Biggs built the first steam saw-mill in Cuba, which had a corn-cracker attachment, and which was operated for some years, and was burned down about the year 1860. In 1853 or 1854, William R. Moon and John Mann built a saw and grist mill about one-half mile from Cuba, on the Martinsville road, which mill was operated successfully for many years, and was finally removed by Mr. Moon and sons to the present site in Cuba, where the same is now operated, and is a first-class mill in all respects, manufacturing as fine flour as is made in the county. This mill is owned and operated by Samuel McCray.
PHYSICIANS.
Among the first regular physicians of the township may be mentioned Dr. Levacy, Dr, Smith, Dr. Miller, Dr. Bennett, Dr. Prewett, Dr. Moon and Dr. Briggs.
GENERAL.
This township does not support a single saloon, and industry and sobriety an the rule, while idleness and intemperance are the exception. The part that Washington Township has taken in our wars has always been patriotic. During the war of 1812, and the Mexican war, and also through the trying period of the great civil struggle, Washington Township was never called on in vain. During the civil war, it is the pride of all parties that the quota of Washington Township was always filled by volunteers, many of whom laid down their lives for the Union. The township polls, on a full vote, about three hundred and twenty-five votes. It is Democratic by a small majority. Generally, the best of feeling prevails in the township between the contending parties, and the contests are nearly always good-humored. We consider this an indication of a liberal spirit of toleration not always seen in township contests. The strength of the contending parties has been the same, or about so. relatively, for many years. The township records were destroyed by fire about the year 1857, consequently much valuable information has been lost.
The free pikes of the township embrace about thirty-five miles of road, thus furnishing connection with other excellent routes of travel to neighboring cities and towns.
The value of real and personal property of the township is about $1,000,000.
It may be regretted that, unfortunately, many facts connected with the history of our early pioneers have been lost, hence much which, if possessed, would be of real interest, was unavoidably omitted. Nevertheless, it is confidently hoped that the preceding sketch, however imperfect in detail, embraces all the knowledge of the subject at present available. It may be thought by some that too little has been said of some, and too much prominence given to others, and still others who merit notice have not been mentioned. If Such is the case, which I doubt not, I can only say that the short time devoted to this, together with the limited space allotted, and the multiplicity of business that demanded my attention, is the only apology I have to make. Finally, to the pioneers by whose courage, industry and perseverance the early settlements were formed, to the few still living to tell the story of those early struggles by which our present prosperity was made possible, to these this very short and unpretending history is respectfully dedicated.