550 - DARKE COUNTY except the southern tier of sections. German township, it seems,, was detached in 1820. In 1833, the north tier of sections in the latter was thrown into Washington township, but returned in December, 1834, since which time Washington township has remained as it now is in dimensions. The upper waters of Greenville Creek drain the northern section and Crout creek the central and southern sections of this township. It contains nearly twenty-one thousand acres of land which was originally covered with a dense growth of timber and was noted for the large number of excellent springs. As previously noted Indian settlements were numerous along the Crout creek prairie where they left many marks of their former habitation. The soil is very productive and probably produces as much grain and produce as any in the county. The first settlers to locate in this township were Martin and Jacob Cox of Pennsylvania, who settled on the south side of Greenville creek in sections 13 and 14 on October 16, 1816. They were followed by James Brady and Samuel Cole, from Sussex county, New Jersey, who came in March, 1817, and settled in sections 26 and 27. Samuel Cole, Sr., and Levi Elston came in 1818 and were followed by John Snell and Daniel Shively. The latter settled in section 27 on Crout creek and formed the nucleus of what was later known as the Dutch settlement, to which came the Hecks, Millers, Raricks and Clapps from Pennsylvania and Maryland. Besides these several families were added to the original settlers from New Jersey and formed the Jersey settlement in the eastern part of the township. The list of pioneers should include the names of Joel Co-sad, Nathanil Skidmore, Jeremiah Rogers, Samuel and Peter Kimber, Henry Creviston, Ignatius Burns, Philip Manuel, Moses Crumrine, Jesse Gray, Jacob C0henoweth, Conrad Harter, Charles Sumption, Solomon Harter, Joseph Dixon, L. D. Wintermote, Hezekiah Fowler, David Wasson, John S. Hiller, Isaac Vail, Thomas F. Chenoweth, Aaron Hiller and Johnson Deniston. The first road from Greenville to reach the early settlements crossed at the old ford, ran along the north side of Greenville creek to. beyond Dean's (Weimer's) mill, where it crossed just below the old Murphy graveyard. The next road crossed Greenville creek at the same point, recrossed to Tecumseh's Point, kept south of Greenville creek, crossed West Branch north of the old George Fox mill and continued on to the Jersey settlement and Crout creek. As before noted these were some of the early roads of the DARKE COUNTY - 551 county, and have been replaced by portions of the present Union City and Winchester pikes. John Clapp built the first rude grist mill on Crout creek, largely with volunteer help, in 1823, and Jeremiah Rogers later built a saw mill on Hoovers branch of that creek. David Clapp built a flour mill on Crout creek in section 15, in 1832, which later became known as McClure's mill and served the community until recent years. It is to the credit of this township that the first church in the county was erected along the township line in section 36 about 1819, by the _Methodists as before mentioned. A second church was built by this denomination in section 32 at an early (late, and was known as the Chenoweth church. it is said that the first big Methodist camp meeting in the county was held in section 33 on what is now known as the Houpt farm. The third church was built by the Presbyterians in section 14 on the farm of Martin Cox. All of these early churches have been discontinued but others have taken their place and the township has not lost its early religious character. There is a German Baptist church in section 9, a Disciple church in section 29 and a Union church in section 18. The only village of consequence in the township is Hill Grove, which is located in the northwest corner of section 4 and extends partly into Jackson township. This village was laid out in 1848, by W. Nickel, and is situated on the Dayton & Union and Ohio Electric railways which traverse the northeastern portion of the township. It now has a Reformed and a United Brethren church, a school house and a few shops, but on account of its proximity to the thriving railway town of Union City, has been unable to make much progress. Nashville is the only other village in this township. It is located on the township line in section 34, at the intersection of the old State road and the Palestine pike. It contains one general store and a U. B. church, the latter being in German township. The small railway mileage and the absence of large towns make Washington distinctly a rural township with some of the best farms and farmers in the county. Like other townships of this class it makes slow increase in population as many of its young men are attracted to the nearby cities and commercial centers. Its population in 1890 was 1,485, and in 1910, 1,388. The real estate assessment in 1913, was $1,955,233.00 and the personal property was listed at $535,520.00. 552 - DARKE COUNTY German Township. This township is known geographically as township 11 ncrth, range 1 east, and was formed in 1820 from the southern part of Washington township with the addition of one tier of sections from the northern portion of Harrison township. It comprises about thirty-three square miles or over twenty-one thousand acres of land, most of which is exceptionally fertile. The eastern part is drained by the upper waters of West branch, the northwestern section by the head of Crout creek and the southwestern portion by the upper waters of the Whitewater river. The West Branch prairie is gently rolling and although somewhat boggy in early days, it has been reclaimed and is one of the choicest farming and grazing sections of the county. This valley, with its numerous springs, its gentle slope and its beautiful groves of maple, beech, oak, etc., was a favorite dwelling place for the Indians who built several villages here as well as on the upper waters of Crout creek, and left numerous distinct marks of their extended habitation. The western part of this township is flat, but the south central portion is somewhat broken. The pioneer settler was probably James Cloyd, who settled land on the prairie just south of the present site of Palestine in 1814. Jonathan and Alexander Pearson settled in this same neighborhood about 1816. Samuel Loring settled in the southwest quarter of section 14 about this time and later laid out the town Palestine. John Wagner, who originally came from Berks county, Pennsylvania to Ohio in 1806, and settled with other Pennsylvania Germans at an early date in the Miami valley, entered the northwest quarter of section 24 on the edge of the West Branch prairie about 1816. In the fall of that year he sent his sons Daniel and William with some stock which they were to feed on the luxuriant prairie hay that grew in. that region. Here they erected a rude temporary hut and spent the winter with two or three Indian families as near neighbors. Several emigrants came in the fall of 1817, among whom were Martin Ketring and family, and George Teaford, who settled in section 22, Henry Ross, who settled in the northwest part of section 24, and George Stingley and family, who settled in the southeast quarter of section 12. John McNeil, James Woods and Wear Cassidy are also mentioned as early settlers. As in the other townships the most attractive, best drained and easiest opened sections were entered DARKE COUNTY - 553 first. Thus it happened that the wet, Ievel land in the extreme southwestern part of this township was not entered until 1826. The first school house was built as early as 1820, in section 14 near Palestine, and the second in 1822 on the northwest quarter of section 13. William R. Jones was the first teacher. The residents of German township have always taken much interest in educational matters. Until recently there were ten special school districts in the township besides the Palestine school. Two of these have recently combined with the Palestine district and erected a commodious, modern brick school house having six rooms at a cost of about $15,000. Four teachers are employed in this school, two of them teaching in the high school, which gives a three-year academic course. This school is located on the south side of Cross street near the western limits of the village of Palestine. Prof. Harter Wheeler is the efficient superintendent. The Lutherans are credited with employing the first minister, Jacob Ashley, who came monthly from Germantown, Ohio, and preached in the settlers' cabins, receiving therefor a yearly compensation of twelve dollars. This little society erected the first log church in the southeast quarter of section 22, one mile south of Palestine, in 1826, and continued to worship here alone for several years. Then a Reformed congregation was organized in the same locality and in 1866 the Lutherans merged with them, Rev. John Stuck becoming the first minister under the new organization. The United organization, known as St. John's Reformed church, erected a new frame building in 1868 and worshipped here for several years, but finally disbanded. The German Baptists also held services in early days under the preaching of David '\-Tiller, son of Jacob Miller, the first elder of that denomination in the Miami valley, and Benjamin Bowman, both of whom came here from Indiana for that purpose. An organization of a society was effected early by these preachers, but meetings were held in barns and houses until 1868 when a commodious frame meeting house was erected about half a mile south of Palestine. The early preachers were John Weaver, John Crumrine and William Marius. The Methodists probably erected the second church structure in the township in the northwest corner of section 29 and the Lutherans the third, in the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 24 along the east township line on the farm now owned by F. T. Wagner. Like St. John's 554 - DARKE COUNTY church this afterwards passed to the Reformed society and is now known as West Zion. The Christian denomination effected an organization as early as 1836 under elder Elijah Williamson, who, with Richard Brandon, preached in an old school house in Palestine where a church was built in 1859. The United Brethren society was organized in 1857 by Rev. Jacob M. Marshall and in 1859 erected the Pleasant Grove church in the northeast corner of section 3 along the Washington township line. The Universalists organized in 1868 under Rev. Elihu Moore and a few years later built a substantial frame church on the north edge of the village of Palestine where they still maintain worship. The Disciples organized in 1873 under John M. Smith with about twenty members, and in 1877 erected a church in Palestine. There is a settlement of colored people in the northwestern part of this township which dates its origin from 1822, when James Clemens came from Rockingham county, Virginia, which county had passed a law that all free-born colored people should leave the state. Clemens entered 320 acres of land. He married Sophoria Sellers, of his home county, and became the father of ten children, five sons and five daughters. Three of his sons, Charles, William and Perry, became ministers of the gospel. Being attracted by the location and natural resources of this part of the country, other colored families soon followed Clemens, among whom were Reuben Bass and wife, who came from Guilford county, North Carolina in 1823, and entered 200 acres of land. They were the parents of eight children. John Randles and wife and Thornton Alexander and wife of Virginia were also among the early settlers, who entered a considerable amount of government land. From this comparatively small beginning the settlement has grown until now it contains about 450 inhabitants, with two churches, four school houses and a number of prosperous homes.. This settlement extends into Indiana and formerly supported an academy known as "The Union Literary Institute," which about forty years ago was in a flourishing condition. Some very prominent men of both the white and colored races were educated here and went out into the world to fill places of honor in nearly all the walks of life, as judges, lawyers, doctors, bishops, presidents of colleges, etc. The older people of the settlement now look back on this institution with pride and recognize that it was one of the means of holding the DARKE COUNTY - 555 settlement together, providing several hundred acres of land and helping to establish a better school system. Tampico, the principal village in this settlement, was laid out in 1850. The people are generally religious, industrious, patriotic and temperate and have advanced moral ideals, commanding the respect of the gnral populace. Palestine is the only village of importance in German township. It was laid out in 1833 by Samuel Loring. It now has two churches, a high school, a town hall and is known as a good trading center, but having no railway or traction facilities has made but slow growth, its population in 1910 being 216. Although there are but a few miles of railway in the southern part of this township, the real property was assessed in 1913 at $2,030,750 and the personal property at $513,550, indicating that it is one of the best rural communities in the county. The entire population in 1910 was 1,628, an increase of only 42 in ten years, and a decrease of 166 from the census of 1890, probably due to the unusual drain caused by the growth of the cities during this period. German township has been a good fruit-growing section, and, like some of the other townships, contained some fine orchards previous to the great freeze in the late spring of the early eighties, which ruined many of the best orchards in the county. One of the most successful orchards of recent planting is that now owned by the Shields brothers and located about half a mile west of Palestine. It was started some fifteen years ago by Mr. Harvey Hill and was maintained by him until this year, being enlarged from time to time until probably fifteen acres had been planted—mostly in peaches of excellent variety and marketable quality. We append herewith an interesting sketch relative to the early planting of fruit trees in this township, which was prepared by E. M. Buechly and published by him March 23, 1888: "The earliest attempt at raising fruit trees in this county—of which we can learn—was made by Henry Ross, deceased, of German township, in 1817. He was one of the earliest settlers, and brought with him some apples, of which he carefully saved the seeds, and together with some pears and peaches he had, planted them. Sometime after this he top-grafted some of the trees. Of these trees he planted his own orchard and sold some to supply his neighbors. Mr. I. M. Ross, a grandson of his, now living in the northern part of the county, related the circumstances to us, and said he recently 556 - DARKE COUNTY cut one of the old trees down and found that by counting the rings of annual growth that it corresponded exactly with that date. Most of the trees planted up to that time and from that time until about 1830 were either brought in from other parts of the state or were raised by the pioneers themselves; in either case they were nearly or quite all seedlings, grafted fruits being not yet disseminated much at that time. In 1831 was the earliest account of grafted orchards being set.. They were on the farms of Zadok Ragan, southeast of Greenville, and Solomon Whitson. The trees were brought from the Hicks nursery, near Dayton. In 1835 there were several orchards set with grafted trees from the Richmond, Ind., nurseries. A few of these trees planted by the early settlers are yet standing, as it were, living monuments to the memories of the pioneers who planted them, but who have long ago crossed the Dark River. * * * * * * * * * * * * * "There was also a small nursery planted in Harrison township by a Mr. Lantry, who propagated some fine varieties of apples, pears, peaches and cherries. The writer is not informed as to whether they were root-grafted and budded, or top-grafted. If the former, he was the first to practice that method; if the latter, then the credit of first budding and root-grafting in nursery belongs to Aaron and Jacob Crumrine, who had a farm in German township, on which they planted a nursery of several thousand trees, about 1840. Many of the varieties sent out by them afterwards proved to he worthless. Their planting was also discontinued." Harrison Township. This township occupies the extreme southwestern part of the county and includes the territory known as township 10 north, range 1 east. It was erected in May, 1818, from the west end of Twin township and contained all of that township west of a line running due north from the southeast corner of section 31, township 10 north, range 2 east. On September 7, 1820, it was reduced to its present size by detaching one tier of sections from the east side. Harrison is a township of springs, streams and rolling hills, and contains some of the highest elevations in the county. The headwaters of Mud creek and the West Branch of Greenville creek drain the northeastern part of the township, the DARKE COUNTY - 557 east fork of the Whitewater drains the central and southeastern portion, and the Middle fork of the Whitewater and some minor branches drain the western section. The primitive condition of this township is thus portrayed by the historian: "Save in the northwest, the valleys of these streams and much of their basins were swampy and well-nigh impassable. In some places there were tall rank grasses and swampy weeds; in others, timber and thickets of vinous brush—briery and woven as a network of nature's weaving, while on higher ground bordering these were walnut, hackberry, sugar maple and oaks; in the southeastern part, beech predominated. The native scenery presents an appearance of a western forest repelling the settler from interference with its domain. Such were the general features of this region before the pioneer had chosen his home, or any surveyor had ventured to trace the boundaries of town or range. All was wood and swamp. Nature reigned in unbroken solitude save the song of birds, the graceful flight of deer, the nightly howl of wolves and the occasional unearthly screech of the American panther. Abundance of game, the rolling lands, the springs and streams were marked by explorers." Probably the glowing reports of the surveyors and of some roaming frontiersmen and hunters early awakened eager anticipations among the border settlers to the south and some of these, had the temerity to make entries of land in this primitive paradise, several years before the remoter and less attractive sections were taken up. As early as 1810, a few families, including the Brawleys, Purviances and McClures. made entries in the southern section along the valley of the East fork. They were soon driven away, however, by the hostile attitude of the Indians and did not return until after the close of the war of 1812. During this conflict, in the fall of 1813, a fort was established by Lieutenant Black of a company commanded by Captain Nesbitt, and named Fort Black. This post was built in section 13 on the present site of New Madison. Its exact location is said to have been about twenty feet north of Main street between lots 104 and 105 in that village. Another post called Fort Nesbitt was also built in 1813 on the northeast quarter of section 32, just east of the present fork in the roads on land now belonging to William E .Roberts. William Boswell, James Shannon and others served in this block house. At the close of hostilities the first families returned and 558 - DARKE COUNTY eagerly took up the arduous labor of clearing up the lands for prospective farms. They were soon followed by William and John Wade, who located near Fort Black; Zudock and John Smith, who included the site of the fort in their entry; James Emerson, Joseph Gist, the Tillsons and Harlands, who settled along the Middle Branch of Whitewater. From this time settlement progressed rapidly. Dennis Hart, Judson Jaqua and the Lawrences settled in the neighborhood of Yankee-town; Solomon and Jonathan Thomas southwest of New Madison; John and Aaron Rush further north;' Thomas Micham in section 16; John Downing in section 10; Frances Spencer in section 3; Samuel at Fort Nesbitt, and his brother in section 29. John and Jacob Miller, Daniel Owens, David, James P. and Daniel Edwards and John Watson in the central part and north of Fort Nesbitt. Other early settlers were Ernestus Putnam, Solomon Broderick, James Wooden, M. Buckingham, Nazareth Bunch, John Carrier, William Jones, Daniel Forkner, Jonathan Thomas, the Motes brothers, John Foster, E. Lovall and Thomas Gray. A large number of these were scions of the old families of Kentucky and the south, others were from the Miami valley settlement and a few from the east. Some came by way of the Whitewater and still others by the new roads of the older settlements to the south. In some cases two or three families came together with their meager household furniture and farming utensils all in one wagon. Some came afoot or on horseback, bringing possibly a cow, a few swine and a few tools and farming implements. The newcomers were often sheltered in the cabins of the earlier settlers and all were mutually dependent, thus developing that open heartedness everywhere characteristic of the pioneers. That they were of a substantial class is indicated by the fact that nearly all remained and improved the lands which they had entered. The moral and religious tone of the community were enhanced by the presence of such men as John Purviance, John Forster, Isaac Mains and William Polly, all of whom were early preachers in the Christian denomination; as well as by the Tillsons, Harlands, Pollys, Solomon Broderick, Ernestus Putnam and others. The first church was a log structure and was built on the site later occupied by Friendship church, on northwest corner of section 28. Here John Purviance also taught school until the first regular school building was erected in 1819. William Hill and Moses Woods are men- DARKE COUNTY - 559 tioned as early teachers. Educational matters have received considerable attention in this township since pioneer days and its relative standing in educational matters is high today. Besides the regular school districts there are three special rural districts and the New Madison and Hollansburg schools. The Pennsylvania railway enters the township near the northeast corner of section 13 and crosses the Preble county line in section 33 and the Peoria and Eastern pursues a sinuous course, crossing and recrossing the northern township line, and having probably three miles of track within the township. The real estate of Harrison township was assessed at $2,130,490, and the personal property at $1,141,700 in 1913. The entire population of the township in 1910 was 2,064. New Madison. The rapid settlement of Harrison township encouraged Zadock Smith to lay off a town plat on the site of Fort Black in section 13 as early as 1817. This he did partly as a matter of speculation. On Christmas, 1817, Smith held a pioneer jollification and public sale of lots, at which only two lots were sold upon which buildings were afterwards erected. Becoming disheartened at this first attempt, Smith sold his entire claim to Ernestus Putnam in 1819. Putnam then bought all the lots formerly sold, vacated the original plat, and in 1831, made a new plat comprising thirty-four lots ranged on opposite sides of what is now Main street for a distance of three blocks. At that time he lived in Old Fort Black, where his son David (later colonel of the One Hundred and Fifty-second regiment) was born. In this connection we append herewith an interesting sketch written by Col. David Putnam (deceased) and published in the Greenville Democrat, May 17, 1902. "Returning to Washington he closed up his business, packed up their valuables that made the least bulk, loaded them with mother, Jane and John, who were born there, in a one-horse wagon, and started for Fort Black, Darke county (which had just been organized), Ohio, where he had previously, through Uncle John Gray, entered a quarter section of land, just west of the quarter that the fort was located on. "I will digress a little here. "Grandfather Gray, Uncle Thomas Carson and Uncle John 560 - DARKE COUNTY Kinnear had preceded them, Uncle Thomas having entered the quarter section west of father (half for grandfather), and Uncle John Kinnear the quarter section next west. The quarter second on which the fort was located had been entered by Zeddock Smith, who had made some little improvements and had laid out some lots and named his town Madison. He had sold three or four lots of which two had small hewn log houses on. At that time land had to be entered in quarter sections at $2.00 per acre, one-half paid at date of entry and balance in deferred payments. "I will resume my narration. "After a long and tedious journey over mountains, rivers, plains and swamps they arrived at Fort Black. (Grandfather with grandmother and Aunt Mary, Uncle Thomas Carsons with Aunt Nancy and Uncle John Kinnear with Aunt Sarah and two children had preceded them.) They procured a guide who piloted them down the south side of the great pigeon swamp two miles to the McClure cabin, crossing the head of Whitewater, then north passing the John Rush cabin to grandfather's, going nearly five miles and were less than three-quarters of a mile from the fort. After meeting and talking things over, father having saved some money from the financial wreck, went around to the fort and found Smith unable to make his deferred payment on his entry; purchased his interest in the land and purchased the lots that had been sold and some time after vacated the town, got a few things together, went hack to the fort and went to housekeeping, using the houses that had been built. About this time General Harrison being in congress, secured the enactment of a law reducing the price of land to $1.25 per acre and authorizing those who had made entries and were unable to pay the deferred payment to relinquish one-half of the land and take title for the other half. Father, having assumed the payment of the Smith entry, relinquished his entry, thereby getting title in fee for the town quarter. He again entered the swamp quarter. Upon getting his title completed he built a comfortable two-story log house of three rooms below and three above, with an addition of a kitchen and porch; in which house I was born, with six younger children, and where we all spent our childhool's happy days. "In 1831 father laid out and started the town of New Madison, and in 1832 built the first merchant mill in Darke county, Ohio: Soon after getting settled in their new home father DARKE COUNTY - 561 opened quite an extensive shop, making and repairing guns, and for considerable time employed Abraham Hollenshead, who had worked for him in Washington nearly all the time they lived there. Soon after opening his shop they opened a small store, mother taking charge of it while father ran the shop. When I was about thirteen or fourteen years old, father sold his fine set of tools to Lewis Ginger, of New Paris, quit the business and gave his entire time to the mercantile business, in which he was successful. In 1835 he built in the new town a good store room and moved his business from the Fort Black stand and in 1837 and '38 built the large and commodious dwelling, yet standing in good condition and occupied as the principal hotel in the flourishing town. Father continued in the mercantile business until February 11, 1839, when brother John entered the store and business was then conducted under the firm name of E. Putnam & Son. This was continued until August 4, 1842, when father retired entirely from business and I, with John, continued the business as J. G. & D. Putnam, which firm continued until June 4, 1845, when I sold my interest to John and moved to Palestine." Putnam opened up the first store in the new town; he also built a log school house on a triangular piece of ground at the southeast corner of the plat, and donated the same for public school purposes. In addition he gave ground for cemetery purposes, a military parade ground and the site of the old brick Presbyterian church on Washington street, which building he was largely instrumental in erecting. In 1857, Rev. Vogt organized a Reformed society which soon displaced the Presbyterian organization and came into possession of the property. After forty years of existence this society in turn merged with the newly organized United Brethren society in 1897. In 1899 the latter denomination built a beautiful brick church on lot No. 1 of the original plat on upper Main street, at a cost of some $10,000 or $12,000. This church has grown and prospered and now has a membership of about two hundred. The Universalists organized in June, 1859, with thirty-one members and purchased a large lot near the southeastern corner of the village where they soon erected a substantial frame building and dedicated it in January, 1860. This denomination has maintained an organization ever since, placing especial emphasis on Sunday school work. In 1903, this society built a nicely appointed, modern brick building on the old (36) 562 - DARKE COUNTY site at a cost of some $8,000. The present membership is over one hundred. The Methodists built a frame church opposite the Reformed church in 1878, and maintained worship until recent years. They are now inactive. The educational enterprise of the citizens is shown by the fact, that as early as 1870 they erected a two-story, brick school house, at a cost of $6,500, not including equipment. This building was replaced in 1897 by a modern, six room, brick structure costing about $7,000. The new building is nicely furnished throughout, is heated by steam, has a good laboratory, a library and a piano. A recent report shows six teachers employed, fifty-six pupils in the high school, ten members in the last graduating class, and 108 graduates, including the class of 1913. The first class graduated in 1895. The high school ranks as first grade, has two courses of study and offers advanced work for those preparing to teach. There is a good school sentiment in the district, and the patrons want the best schools possible. The standard of the school has been raised from the third grade to the first grade and each year new equipment is added to the laboratory and new hooks to the library. The following persons have served as superintendent since the organization of this school : Thomas Eubanks. Edwin Lockett, Mr. Christler, Mr. Reed, Mr. Christner, M. A. Brown, L. W. Warson, F. J. Mick, Floyd Deacon, M. F. Smith and C. W. Williams. New Madison is one of the substantial conservative towns of the county, and although it has never experienced a boom, it goes steadily forward in improvements. Besides the church and school buildings already mentioned, it has a town hall, a fire department, a bank, two hotels, a newspaper, a K. of P. hall, a Red Men's hall, lumber yard, a grain elevator, tobacco warehouses and factories, ice plant and garage, also several fine residences. At present there are Masonic, K. of P., Pythian Sisters and I. O. R. M. lodges in this village, and several thriving business enterprises. The census of 1910 gave New Madison a population of 628. Hollansburg. On March 28, 1838, James Stewart laid out the village of Union in the northeastern quarter of section 7, Harrison township, where the residence of Elihu Polly now stands, and of- DARKE COUNTY - 563 fered lots for sale. It is said that William Hollaman, who was at that time one of the prominent men of the county, negotiated for the purchase of two or more lots, but when he came to settle with the proprietor, had a wrangle about the price, whereupon said Hollaman threatened to lay off a competitive plat on his own land in section 5 about a mile to the northeast of Union. This he did in October, 1838. Valentine Harland made two additions to the original plat and the new village was named by combining the first part of Hollaman's name with the last part of Harland's and adding the usual burgh, making the name Hollandsburgh, since reduced to Hollansburg. At first the village was designated "Republican P. O." as the postoffice of that name was transferred from section 29, German township, to the new village in 1839, and William Hollaman made postmaster. In time Hollansburg outgrew Union and finally displaced it. On account of the number of adherents to the "New Lights" in this section a society of this denomination was soon organized, and, in 1840, built a church on the present site of the cemetery. This was replaced by another structure in 1852, and much better one in 1896. The last named building was struck by lightning in 1912 and burned. A modern brick structure costing about 58,000 was soon erected and was dedicated April 26, 1914. The Methodists built a church in the northern part of the village about 1875. The first school house was built on the present site of the cemetery in 1848. As in New Madison and Harrison township generally a fine educational spirit prevails. Besides the school and church buildings there is now a city hall, bank, postoffice, hotel, K. of P. building, newspaper office, saw mill and greenhouse in the village. Flourishing K. of P., Pythian Sisters and a Jr. O. U. A. M. organization also exist here. This village supported a noted physician in the person of W. W. French, who came in 1842, and built up an immense practice extending into Indiana. Hon. O. E. Harrison, formerly state senator and an assistant prosecutor in the Department of Justice, was for some time principal in the school at this place. IT W. Emerson, who is said to have been the shrewdest financier ever living in Darke county, came to Harrison township about 1816, and was a hanker in Hollansburg for several years. Later he moved to Greenville and served as president of the Farmers Bank. The only other villages in the township are Braffettsville, on the line between sections 33 and 34, Wily's station on 564 - DARKE COUNTY the Pennsylvania railway in section 28 and Yankeetown on the high ground at the cornering of sections 25, 26, 35 and 36. The latter village has a new U. B. church erected in 1912, and is the oldest village in the township. Allen Township. This township is one of the northern tier and lies just east of Mississinawa. It was taken from Brown township in March, 1839, and containd all of townships 14 and 15 north, range 2 east, except one tier of sections from the eastern part of each. It was reduced to its present size in 1848, when township 15 was thrown into Mercer county, and now contains thirty sections of land. It is drained mainly by the upper Wabash and the head of the north branch of the Stillwater. The former enters the township near the extreme northwest corner and runs southeastward to the southeast quarter of section 15, thence northeastward to the southeast quarter of section 11, where it crosses the Wabash township line. The Stillwater rises in the southwest corner of section 17, near school No. 4, flows southeastward to southeast quarter of section 26, thence southward and crosses the Brown township line near the center of the south line of section 35. The water shed between the Wabash and Miami basins traverses this township, and the surface is generally rolling with occasional hills along the streams. The uplands contain much clay, while the bottoms are of a rich dark soil. There was much fine hard timber in this section which was cut off to a large extent later than that in the sections further south. Ephriam and Aaron Ireland were the first settlers and located in the northeast quarter of section 34. Other pioneers were George Reigel and sons, John, David, Jacob and Jonathan; Samuel Zerby, Samuel Aspaugh, Landis Light, John Hagerman, Matthias Barnhart, Francis Jenkinson, Henry Brown and James Cochran. The first school house was built in 1840 in section 30. There are now nine school districts, besides village schools. The Methodists erected the first church in 1854, two miles west of Rossburg at the northeast corner of section 32, and the Lutherans erected the next about half a mile farther west on the south side of the Lightsville pike in 1855, where the Holiness church now stands. Bishop John Seibert is credited with being the first preacher in the township, and the Evan- DARKE COUNTY - 565 gelicals the first to hold services in private houses. Rev. T. Hiestand was the pioneer Methodist preacher. There was no railroad in this township until the C. J. & M. (now C. N.) was constructed through the second tier of townships about 1883. This road has been largely instrumental in developing the township and since its construction three villages have been developed, viz., Rossburg, New Weston and Burkettsville. Rossburg (formerly Rossville.) This village was laid out by John G. Ross in 1868, at the cornering of sections 26, 27, 34 and 35. A blacksmith shop, a store and a postoffice soon formed the nucleus of the new village and it made but little progress until the building of the "Mackinaw" railway about 1883; since that time it has made substantial progress and now contains a town hall, a council chamber, a bank, a hotel, a postoffice, a railway station and U. B. and M. E. churches, besides a lodge, elevator, mill and several stores. The population in 1910 was 261. New Weston. This is one of the new villages of the county and is located four miles north of Rossburg on the line between sections 3 and 10. Like Rossburg, its development was due largely to the construction of the Cincinnati Northern railway. It now contains a town hall, a postoffice, telephone exchange, public school, U. B. church, elevator, depot, livery, lodge and stores. The population in 1910 was 258, just three less than Rossburg. Burkettsville (Gilbert's Station.) This village is located one mile north of New Weston at the intersection of the county line and the C. & N. railway. It has grown up since the construction of the railway. It is built in a community largely Catholic, like the southern part of Mercer County generally, and contains a Catholic church and school, a town hall, station, elevator and Church of Christ on the Mercer county side, while on the Darke county side are located the postoffice, public school, hotel, elevator, stores and the Catholic cemetery. The total population in 1910 was 236. Allen township has roads on most of the section lines, many of which have been graded and built up in recent years mak- 566 - DARKE COUNTY ing fine pikes. The real estate was assessed at $1,757,390 and the chattels at $484,350 in 1913. The population in 1910 was 1,826. Brown Township. This township was organized in December, 1833, when it was taken from Richland. As now constituted it comprises all of township 13 north, range 2 east, except one tier of sections on the east, making it six miles north and south, and five miles east and west. It lies largely in the plain between the Mississinawa and the Union Moraines, mentioned in Chapter I, and is one of the most level townships in the northern part of the county. Its territory is drained by the upper Stillwater and its branches which reach nearly every section of the township. The main stream enters the township near the northwest corner, and flows southeastward to Ansonia, at the center of section 22, thence eastward, crossing the east line near the northeast corner of section 23. The main southern tributary is the Woodington branch, which rises in the northwestern part of Greenville township and flows in a northeast direction past Woodington and joins the main stream about a half mile west of Ansonia. The North Branch rises in the western central part of Allen township, flows in a southeast direction, and joins the main stream about a fourth of a mile east of Ansonia. On account of the level condition of the land and the large number of tributaries the upper valley of this stream, beginning a short distance above Ansonia and extending into eastern Jackson and southeastern Mississinawa townships, was originally subject to overflow after every freshet, and was known as the "spreads of Stillwater." On this account the land in this section was considered almost worthless in early days, and for probably forty years after the first settlement remained a morass, the last retreat of the wolves in the county. By extensive and systematic ditching, mostly in the "sixties and seventies," it became the most fertile and valuable tract in the township. Lands in this township sold in early days from $1.00 to $2.50 per acre—the former price prevailing in the vicinity of Ansonia. The original forest showed a diversity of fine hard timber, which, at first, was cut down and destroyed indiscriminately, but, upon the building of the railways became a valuable asset to the landowners and supplied DARKE COUNTY - 567 material for an immense business in the manufacture of hardwood hubs, spokes, staves, etc. The trails of St. Clair and Wayne crossed the western part of this county, following the general course of the present Fort Recovery pike. St. Clair's army camped in the neighborhood of Woodington and made special mention of the heavy forest there. Signs of an extensive encampment on the higher ground of the Tillman farm in the southern part of section 20, were found in early days. The outline of a low embankment was distinctly seen and numerous relics were found here. Some fine springs are located here and today there is an artesian well of considerable strength. Wayne's army camped in the Stillwater at the crossing of the old trail, probably near the southeast corner of section 6, on the evening of July 28, 1794, that being the first day's march northward from Greenville. John Woodington was probably the first settler in the township. He located along St. Clair's trail in the southern part of section 29. William Teegarden came in 1817, and located in the southwest quarter of section 20. His brother Abraham came in 1820, and entered the southeast quarter of section 18. Daniel Dewall settled in the east half of the northeast quarter of section 20, in the same year. Other early settlers were James Titus, Smith Marquis, James White, David and Silas Riffle and Thomas Marcum. The first school house was a pole cabin built about 1827, in section 28. John Hoffman was the first teacher. There are now nine school houses in the township besides the one in Ansonia. The first church was built by Abraham Teegarden in 1835, on the north side of the present Ansonia pike, a short distance west of the intersection of the Fort Recovery pike in section 18. It was a "Campbellite" church and has been discontinued many years. The present "Teegarden" Christian church is located about a fourth of a mile west of this site on the opposite side of the road in section 19, and was built about 1881, as the result of the "splitting" of the original Teegarden church which stood at the southwest corner of the intersection of the Fort Recovery and Union City—Ansonia pike. The original church was built in 1862, and when the division occurred in 1881, the members living to the south organized the Christian church at Woodington and those living to the north the one above mentioned. The Teegarden church is now the only rural congregation in the township—a condition due 568 - DARKE COUNTY largely to the proximity of various churches in surrounding townships. Brown township is well supplied with railways. The C. C. C. & St. L. R. R. crosses in a straight line inclining south of east. It enters near the center of the east line of section 23, and crosses the west line at the extreme northwest corner of section 30. The Logansport division of the Pennsylvania railway cuts diagonally across the southwestern corner of the township. The Cincinnati Northern R. R. was the last constructed through the township, being in a north and south direction through the second tier of sections from the east line, and has proven quite beneficial in affording larger market facilities. Ansonia. The principal village is Ansonia (originally Dallas), which was laid out in 1845, near the center of the east line of section 22. In early days the location was considered unhealthy, but since the drainage of this section has changed materially in this respect. It is situated in the Stillwater bottoms and is about forty-five feet lower than the county seat. Being eight miles from Greenville, and about ten miles from Versailles, and Union City it makes a convenient trading point for a large section of surrounding territory, and has been a good commercial center for many years. The building of the "Bee line" railway in 1852 gave Ansonia enlarged commercial opportunities and made it a center for the manufacture of hubs, staves and spokes for many years, until the supply of hardwood in the neighborhood had been greatly reduced. The construction of the Cincinnati Northern railway some thirty years later made it a shipping point of importance and guaranteed the future stability of the place. Besides several substantial mercantile establishments, Ansonia now has a town hall, fire department, postoffice, two banks, hotel, public school, three churches, a newspaper, Masonic, 1. 0. O. F. and K. of P. lodges, two elevators, a tobacco warehouse, and a union railway station. The M. E. church in Ansonia is the outgrowth of services held in the vicinity of the village in early days—probably from 1845 to 1850. Later services were held in a school house a short distance north of the village, and still later in the village sschool house. Regular services were held after the organization of the Hillgrove circuit in 1863. Among those who DARKE COUNTY - 569 preached prior to the organization of the Ansonia church were H. O. Sheldon, J. T. Bower, H. Boyers, M. Perkey, A. Armstrong, H. Burns. Some of the early pastors were Benj. L. Rowand, D. G. Strong, Henry Burns, Jason and William Young, Valentine Staley, James Jackson, P. M. Young, M. M. Markwith, R. D. Oldfield, and E. D. Whitlock, under whose pastorate a neat, brick church costing some $3,200 was erected on the northwest corner of High and Cass streets and dedicated in 1873. This structure served until 1902, when it was remodeled and furnished at a cost of about $4,200, giving increased and modern facilities for the Sunday school, and a better auditorium. Great stress is placed on the work of the Sunday school in which the enrollment is now about 100. The enrollment in the church is about 136. The Christian church was organized in early days and built a place of worship on West Cross street. This denomination prospered and in 1894-95 erected a beautiful, modern, brick church on the southeast corner of Weller and Cass streets at a cost of some $5,000. A good congregation and a prosperous Sunday school assemble here from Sunday to Sunday. There is also a substantial Lutheran church on South Main street, which has been supported by the descendants of the early German families for several years. The pastor of Grace church, in Greenville usually serves this charge. Ansonia has taken great pride in educational matters for many years as shown by the fact that a commodious and substantial three story brick school house was erected on a two acre plat in Hulse's addition at a cost of some $10,000, as early as 1873. Competent instructors and a strong board of education have been important factors in maintaining a high standard of education in the village, which has been fortunate in securing services of such men as Professors J. H. Royer, P. C. Zemer and the present efficient incumbent, G. H. Garrison, who has served as superintendent since 1904. The present school building was erected on the site of the above mentioned structure in 1903 at a total cost of some $23,000, including the heating system. The building is of red pressed brick, two stories in height and has eight rooms. The schools have a well equipped library and a well furnished laboratory. Eight teachers are employed. The high school was organized in 1873, and the first class was graduated in 1877. It was raised to a first grade high school in 1907, at which time Messrs. G. M. Marshall, C. J. Stephen, J. F. Howard, E. E. 570 - DARKE COUNTY Vance and James Fry were on the board. The enrollment for 1912 and 1913 was 135 in the grades and 102 in the high school. There were sixteen members in the class of 1913, making a total alumni of 193 members. The superintendents to date have been J. M. Syckes, John H. Royer, P. C. Zemer, William Beachler, D. D. Bates and G. H. Garrison. Ansonia has been the home of some, of the best known physicians in the county, among whom were Drs. Knouf, W. E. Hooven, L. C. Anderson and H. A. Snorf. C. M. Anderson, one of the most brilliant attorneys Darke county ever produced, was a citizen of this place, and Dr. S. A. Hostetter, the president of the Second National Bank of Greenville and a man of unusual ability, was for years a physician and influential resident of this place. This village has been a strong lodge center for years and the social life of the surrounding country has been materially influenced by the various fraternal and secret organizations. Ansonia Lodge F. and A. M. was chartered on October 21, 1874 with sixteen members by the Grand Lodge of Ohio and now has about 125 members, including many of the most conservative and substantial men of the community. Ansonia Lodge, I. O. 0. F. No. 605, was instituted on June 18, 1875, with sixteen charter members and now has about 110 members, including many representative citizens. In recent years this lodge erected a neat and substantial three-story brick building on the southwest corner of Alain and Weller streets. The first story is occupied by a bank and the third story is used as a lodge room, being beautifully furnished and equipped for that purpose. The Daughters of Rebekah organized on June 18, 1894, with sixteen charter members and now have about 120 members. The K. of P.'s also have a lodge here. The principal streets are finely graded, and have curbs and cement walks, and the streets are lighted by electricity. The banks and newspaper are mentioned elsewhere in this volume. The enterprise of the citizens was shown by the erection of the first mausoleum in Darke county. This modern burial structure was built in the cemetery in 1911, tinder the direction of J. P. Collett, a former resident of Brown township and a descendant of one of its prominent families. It is built of rock faced Bedford stone, lined with Vermont marble and contains a public receiving vault, one private tomb, and four DARKE COUNTY - 571 family groups, and 140 crypts in all. An endowment fund of $240 is reserved for its support. The population of Ansonia in 1910 was 636, and of the Brown township entire, 1,944. Earl Hostetter is mayor, and Hilton Millett is clerk of the village. The real estate of the township was assessed in 1913 at $2,492,830 and the chattels at $1,093,000. Willard Whitesell is the township clerk. Greenville Township. This township is the most central and by far the largest in Darke county, containing approximately sixty square miles of territory. At first it included the entire county. Twin township was detached in July, 1817, and included all of the county south of a line running due east from the northwest corner of section 31, township 11 north, range 1 east. In the same month Wayne township was detached from the northern part and included all the territory north of a line running due east from the northwest corner of township 12 north, range 1 east, to the northwest corner of township 9 north, range 4 east, thence south to the middle of the latter township, and thence east to the county line. In March, 1819, all of Greenville township that lay in range 1 was taken into a new township called Washington, and in the same month Adams township was formed, containing all the land in the county east of a line running south from the northwest corner of section 4, township 10, range 3, to the southwest corner of section 28, township 9, range 3. In September, 1830, two tiers of sections across the north end of Greenville township were taken into a new township called Richland. In 1821, Neave township was laid out, taking four tiers of sections from the south side of Greenville township. The Union Moraine, which extends through the central part of this township in a general direction somewhat south of east, separates the drainage basin of the Stillwater on the north from that of Greenville creek on the south . As before mentioned Greenville creek skirts this moraine belt on the south and west and with its southern branches, West Branch, Mud creek, Bridge creek and Dividing creek and minor branches drains the southern part of the township, while the Boyd's creek branch of Stillwater drains much of the northern and northeastern section, and the upper waters of the 572 - DARKE COUNTY Woodington branch, the extreme northwestern corner. The surface is somewhat rolling, especially along Greenville creek, and in the southern portion where the signs of glacial action are quite plain. The valley of Mud creek is an especially noticeable feature, heretofore mentioned. There is a diversity of bottom and upland suited to all kinds of crops raised in the county, and the soil compares favorably in productiveness with any section of equal size in the county. This township is especially well supplied with pikes as most of the important roads of the county converge at Greenville, in the south central part. The Logansport division of the Pennsylvania railway crosses the northern part in a straight line in a direction south of east. The Indianapolis division crosses the east boundary on the south line of section 32, township 10 north, range 3 east, runs almost due west and keeps south of Greenville creek to the county seat. It then turns southwest, down the Mud Creek valley and crosses the southern line in the southeast corner of Section 9, township 11 north, range 2 east. The Dayton and Union Railway crosses the southern line in section 12, township 11 north, range 2 east, runs west of north to Greenville, and thence northwesterly on the north side of Greenville creek, crossing the west line in section 18, township 12 north, range 2 east. The Cincinnati Northern crosses the south line along side of the Pennsylvania, keeps parallel with the latter almost to Greenville, then turns northward and traverses four and a half sections of the northern part of the township in practically a due north and south direction, crossing the northern line midway in section 3, township 12 north, range 2 east. The Ohio Electric railway comes in from the south on the Eaton pike which it follows to Greenville. From this point it follows the Union City pike and crosses the west line near the same point as the D. & U. above mentioned. On account of the diversity of surface and soil, Greenville township was originally covered with a diversified growth of fine timber, including oak, beech, hickory and sugar on the uplands; elm, ash, walnut, sycamore and linden on the lowlands, besides a great variety of less common trees and hushes. The central location, attractive and fertile uplands and comparatively healthful conditions led to the early settlement of this township as extensively noted elsewhere. The only villages in this township, besides the county seat, are Coleville, Pikeville and Woodington. The former is situated in the northern part of DARKS COUNTY - 573 section 19, township 12 north, range 2 east, and was platted in 1848. It is located on the north bank of Greenville creek on the Greenville and Union City pike, the D. & U. railway and the Ohio Electric railway. There is a general store, a school, Christian church and a station (Mt. Heron) at this place. Pikeville was platted in 1866, at the intersection of the Beamsville pike and the P. C. C. & St. L. railway in the northern part of section 12, township 12 north, range 2 east. It now contains a general store, a school, a Union church building, a station and grain elevator. Woodington is located in the northeast corner of section 5 township 12 north, range 2 east, at the intersection of the Fort Recovery pike and the P. C. C. & St. L. railway. It was platted in 1871, and was probably named for John Woodington or one of his descendants, who lived in this vicinity. General St. Clair camped near this place on the evening of the first day's march from Greenville (October 30, 1791). The village now contains a general store, a school, a Christian church, a station and an elevator. From the writings of E. M. Buechly we gather the following facts concerning fruit culture in Greenville township: The first nursery in Darke county planted for commercial purposes was set out about 1832, by David Craig on the east bluff of the Mud creek prairie, in the southern part of section 10, Greenville township, on land recently owned by F. M. Eidson, and known as "Fruit Hill" farm; seeds of apples, pears and peaches were planted. The apples were afterwards top-grafted in the nursery rows with the leading sorts then to be had, but the planting was discontinued and the nursery rapidly declined. "From what we have been able to learn from the earliest settlers now living, grapes were not yet planted until about this time, the simple wants of the backwoodsman being satisfied with the wild ones with which the woods abounded. Mrs. Craig, wife of the aforesaid David Craig, now living in Greenville, told the writer that she gathered wild grapes by bending down the saplings on which the vines clung, on the very spot where the court house now stands, in the very heart of the city. The early May cherry also dates not far from this time. "In 1858 Thomas H. McCune and D. R. Davis, both of Greenville, planted a nursery in partnership, north of the city lim- 574 - DARKE COUNTY its. They had all grafted fruits, and were the first to attempt to keep a full line of trees, both fruit and ornamental grapes and other nursery stock. Planting was here continued some four years, when it was left to the fate of all the previous efforts to establish a permanent nursery. From the time of the McCune and Davis nursery, in '62 or '63, until 1878 Darke county was again without a nursery. In that year E. M. Buechley planted some 5,000 apple root-grafts and other nursery stock on the farm of his father, Jeremiah Buechley, near Weavers Station, Ohio, at which place he continued in business until 1881, when he purchased a farm in the northwest corner of section 4, some two miles west of Greenville, on which he has continued and increased the planting of nursery stock and small fruit, occupying at present some ten acres. About 1887, Mr. Beuchley discovered a seedling strawberry plant, which bore very promising fruit. This proves to be the original plant of the variety which he later named "Greenville." This berry was placed on the market and had a good sale for several years. It is said to be far better than many of the new popular varieties offered today. Mr. Jason Downing, a pioneer orchardist of Darke county, originated an excellent variety of the Fall Maiden Blush, which attained a national reputation, and was known for many years as "Downing's Winter Maiden Blush." Mr. Beuchley was largely instrumental in introducing this apple and at the suggestion of the American Pomological Society changed its name to the "Greenville" apple. However, the most valuable addition to the list of fruits introduced by this nurseryman is the "Eldorado" blackberry. This fruit was found as an accidental seedling near Eldorado, Preble county, Ohio. It was first tested at the home of Albert Wehrly, of whom about 1890, Mr. Beuchley bought the entire stock of six hundred plants, and control the same, for $150. After over twenty years of public favor, this berry continued to grow in popularity and is said to equal any in hardiness while it excels most, if not all, other varieties in high flavor. Other successful orchards have been planted from time to time, among which might be mentioned the Fletcher nursery, north of Jaysville; the Deeds nursery just north of Ansonia; the Butt's nursery west of Greenville, and the Martin nursery near Horatio. Mr. W. K. Martin, the proprietor of the last-named nursery, has taken a university course in horticulture DARKE COUNTY - 575 and landscape gardening, and has been successful in securing some very large orders for nursery stock, one of which will require him probably five years to fill, requiring a large planting in Missouri to hasten growth of the stock required. Mr. Martin has also grown some fine varieties of berries, which he markets under the "Climax" brand. Mr. Alfred Kissell has a strawberry nursery north of Horatio where he grows berries of select flavor and excellent quality. Besides the staple grains and a large amount of Dutch, Spanish, and seed leaf tobacco, the farmers of Greenville township have, in recent years, planted a good many acres of cabbage, which is marketed at a local kraut factory. The great success of the beet industry in Paulding county has suggested the propriety of planting a large acreage here, especially in the Mud creek prairie, where conditions seem exceptionably favorable. Alfalfa, which has recently been introduced, is also making a good showing in Darke county. It has been said that Darke county recently stood third in the list of all the counties in the United States in the amount of agricultural products produced—Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and McLean county, Illinois, alone exceeding Darke county in this respect. Besides the products above mentioned, there has been a very remarkable increase in the amount of poultry raised, due largely to the enterprise of such dealers as Harry B. Hole, John Mong and others who have established poultry houses and gained a good reputation for the local product in the eastern market. There are now twenty rural schools in the township. The only active rural churches in Greenville township outside of the county seat at this time are the Wakefield and St. John's Lutheran churches, already mentioned in Chapter X, and East Zion Reformed church. The latter church was originally established by the Lutheran denomination, being built by Rev. Alexander Klefeker in 1861, and called Zion's Evangelical Lutheran church. Rev. Klefeker came from Pennsylvania in 1853, settled near Gettysburg, and served as pastor of the Lutheran churches then located at Ansonia, Beamsville, Dawn and "The Beach." He was later pastor of the Wakefield church. Because of the scattered location of these churches and the growing use of the English language, it seems, some of the Lutheran churches in the county were finally either discontinued or taken over by the Reformed denomination, which became quite active in the "fifties" and early "sixties." 576 - DARKE COUNTY Rev. Klefeker donated the ground on which the building and cemetery are located and the church was popularly called "Klefeker church" for many years. The old Concord Christian church on the Milton pike and the Oakland U. B. church located northeast of East Zion have both recently discontinued as have also the Dininger Lutheran church, on the western township line, and the Grand View U. B. church, on the Ansonia pike about four miles north of Greenville. The supremacy of Greenville township, due largely to early settlement, exceptional size, natural productiveness and the location of the county seat within its precincts, is shown by the tax duplicate of 1913, which lists real estate, outside of Greenville at $4,128,420 and personal property at $2,008,500. When Greenville is included the totals reach $9,556,480, $4,920,244, respectively. It is expected that the amount of chattels listed in 1914, under the new law, will be increased by about $500,000. The population of Greenville township, including Greenville City, was given in 1910 at 9,263, showing an appreciable increase over the 1900 census, while many townships showed a decrease. This was due largely, but not entirely, to the growth of Greenville. The population in 1850 was 2,366. For an approximate idea of the development of the live stock industry the reader is referred to the biographical sketches of Lewis Dininger, Jonas Dininger and A. J. Warner. Neave Township. This township contains all of township 11 north, range 2 east, except the two northern tiers of sections which were thrown into Greenville township. It was erected December 5, 1821, and, at that time, contained eight sections of Van Buren township which were detached when Van Buren was organized in June, 1838. If this township had been created to include all of township 11, north, range 2 east, its northern boundary would now run on Sater street, Greenville, thus throwing the county seat in two townships. It was probably to prevent this that the northern tier was detached, while the second tier was included, it seems, on petition of a number of residents, who thought that it would be advantageous to live in the township containing the county seat. Had the second tier been retained it would have made Neave township nearer the normal size and would probably have been better for all concerned. DARKE COUNTY - 577 This township is drained by the upper waters of Mud, Bridge and Painter creeks and the surface, especially in the western portion, is somewhat hilly. The Mud creek prairie was originally almost impassable and, with its bluffs, formed a distinct landmark for the original inhabitants. A distinct glacial moraine passes through this township, leaving unmistakable traces of its origin in the glacial gravel cairns heretofore mentioned at length in Chapter I, to which the reader is referred for a proper conception of this remarkable feature. Although one of the smallest townships in the county, it is one of the most intensely interesting from an archeological and historical standpoint. From the meager scraps of information that can now be secured it would seem that an ancient and well marked Indian trail entered the southern part of the township, practically following the present Ithaca pike, which is built on the Moraine belt, extending along the Twin creek valley into Preble county. This trail, it seems, was joined by the old White-water trail, leading from Miami county, along Greenville creek to Greenville, then south along the east bluff of Mud creek, to below Fort Jefferson, where it joined the above mentioned trail and then probably turned southwest approximately running in direction of the present New Madison Pike. During the war of 1812, this was known as Fort Black trail. The meeting point of the two trails was a few rods north of the present junction of the Ithaca and New Madison pikes, near the point where the latter road is crossed by the line separating sections 27 and 34, Neave township. St. Clair probably came into this trail between Beech Grove and Matchetts Corner following it some three or four miles to Fort Jefferson. It is generally conceded that Wayne cut a trail from Eaton to the neighborhood of West Manchester, and thence in a direction west of north, keeping on the west side of Twin creek, and the present right of way of the C. N. railway, passing just west of the Butler township house, crossing to the east side of the railway in the southern part of section 9, about a mile below Tecumseh (Savona) and then striking directly toward Fort Jefferson. Tradition says that his army camped on the present site of the Schlecty farm in the northeastern part of section 33, where there is a fine spring of water and a good, level, elevated site suitable for that purpose. It is probable, however, that Wayne also used the trail running through Lewisburg, Ithaca and Matchett's Corner for transporting some of his supplies, and (37) 578 - DARKE COUNTY the bringing up of some of his troops. An old resident of Neave township said, "The old corduroy road built by General Wayne ran inside the fence to the right of the road leading toward Matchett's Corners. I have many times traversed it as far as I could, at time losing all trace of it." As before noted, St. Clair built the most advanced post established on his campaign in October, 1791, on the present site of the village of Fort Jefferson. Here three soldiers were hanged, being the first execution of white men in the county. To this post the defeated army of St. Clair retreated on the evening of November 4, 1791, but found it too small to contain any but the most severely wounded, and were compelled to continue on toward Fort Washington. The wounded were left in this little post with a small detachment of soldiers, and lived in horror of a prospective attack in this exposed position. It is supposed that Captain Shaylor was left in charge of this fort as his name appears in that capacity on January 30, 1792. An outpost, so far advanced in the enemy's country could only serve as a menace, and of necessity must irritate the Indians. As the Indians were bent on having the Ohio river for the boundary line, they determined to take the fort. On June 25, 1792, a band of Indians to the number of one hundred made an attack on a party of soldiers, who were cutting hay near the fort. Sixteen of the soldiers were killed and missing. The Indians were dressed in white shirts, and one of them had a scarlet coat on. They also had along with them three horses. They came from and retreated towards the Tawa river. Who commanded the Indians is unknown, but it is positively asserted that the notorious Simon Girty was present. As General Wilkinson brought the news of the battle from Fort Jefferson, it is probable that he assumed command during the engagement. In his letter to the Secretary of War, dated July 5, 1792, Rufus Putnam, one of the commissioners to the Indians, thinks it was the purpose of the Indian raid to take him prisoner, for he was to have been at Fort Jefferson at the time of the attack, and the Indians had been so notified. I have been informed, with how much truth I am unable to say, that the engagement took place between the fort and the site of the school house. Another story is to the effect that some Indians knowing Major Shaylor to be quite fond of hunting, concealed them- DARKE COUNTY - 579 selves in the neighborhood of the fort and imitated the call of the wild turkey. This enticed the major and his son away from the fort to pursue the game, whereupon they were assailed by the Indians, and attempted to return to the fort. The son was killed but the major got into the fort after a hot pursuit. As Wayne built Fort Greenville some five miles in advance of this post in the fall of 1793, it is supposed that he had no use for the little fort, regarding it as badly located for his purpose. In commemoration of the building of this post the Greenville Historical Society caused a memorial to be erected on its site, which was unveiled with appropriate ceremonies in October, 1907, as noted in the chapter on "Notable Events." Andrew Noftsinger is credited with settling in this township as early as 1810. It seems that he built a block house on the high ground on the western side of Mud creek prairie in the northern part of section 20. In 1817 he built a grist mill on Mud creek, which was said to be the third erected in the county. James Hayes was probably the earliest settler on the site of Fort Jefferson. During the years 1816, 1817 nd 1818, John Ryerson, Moses Arnold, George W. Hight, William Townsend, Hezekiah Vietz, John Puterbaugh and Christian Schlecty came. Dennis Hart settled on Bridge creek in 1819. In 1820 the settlers in this section erected a log school house on the Eaton pike about three-fourths of a mile south of the present site of the county infirmary. Here Mr. Hart taught in the winter of 1820-21. Peter Weaver came in 1819 and located in the northeast quarter of section 29. He built the first house in what is now known as Weaver's Station, John Puterbaugh erected a mill on upper Mud creek, near the southern line of the township, in 1819, which was run by oxen. Later settlers were George Noggle, T. C. Neave, William and Simeon Chapman and Adam Beeles. A singular story is told about the naming of the township as follows: "When the township was formed, H. D. Williams and John Douglass played a game of cards against Eaton Morris and T. C. Neave, to decide who should name it. Williams and Douglass won, and on playing again between themselves, Williams won, but Neave was so anxious to name the township that he paid Williams $10 for the privilege, and named it after himself." 580 - DARKE COUNTY One of the most striking features of this township are the gravel knolls, located just west of Fort Jefferson and formerly known as the "Hills of Judea." For an extended notice of these, the reader is referred to Chapter I. The Pennsylvania and C. N. railways cross the western part of this township in a north and south direction, following the Mud creek valley. The D. & U. railway cuts diagonally across the northeast corner while the Ohio Electric railway runs due west from Jaysville to the Eaton pike, and then north on that road towards Greenville. The township has several excellent pikes, but on account of their early construction and the location of the creek valleys they are built largely on the high ground regardless of section lines. The principal villages are Fort Jefferson and Weaver's Station. The former is located on the line between sections 27 and 28 and now contains an excellent brick M. E. church built in recent years, the township hall, and a memorial monument elsewhere described, besides a store and several residences. The railway station of this name is about half a mile west on the C. N. railway. The remains of Gosbary Elliot, who was killed by the Indians near Beech Grove, in 1813, are buried in the old cemetery just north of the M. E. church as are also the remains of the following six soldiers who served in the war of 1812: George Calderwood, William DeCamp, Peter Fleck, Richard Matchette, Jonathan Nyswonger and Peter Robinson. Weaver's Station is on the P. C. C. & St. L. railway, about a mile and a fourth west of Fort Jefferson in section 29. It contains a store, station and elevator. Special school district No. 1 is located a short distance southwest of this village and Mt. Zion U. B. church a short distance west in the center of section 29. The only other church now in the township is the German Baptist in the southwest corner of section 18 along the western line. There are six school districts in this township, all of which are special. The real estate was listed for taxation in 1913 at $1,325,680 and the chattels at $799,030. The population in 1910 was given at 1,091. The village of Sampson was laid out in the southeast corner of this township in 1846, and within a few years contained several buildings and business enterprises. The building of the D. & U. railway and the location of the town of Delisle on DARKE COUNTY - 581 that road about two miles to the northeast caused the decline and final absorption of this village, which is no longer on the map. Butler Township. This geographical unit is identical with township 10 north, range 2 east, and is six miles square, containing 36 sections. It is one of the southern tier of townships and lies between Harrison and Monroe townships. There seems to be some confusion concerning the date of its organization, which was probably effected in 1819 or 1820. Many of the early settlers were from Butler county, Ohio (which took its name from General Richard Butler) and it probably owes its name to this fact. Twin creek rises near the northern boundary of this township, flows southward and eastward, and, with the numerous small rivulets forming its head, drains the central and southern part of the township, except a small district in the extreme southwestern corner, in all about two-thirds of the entire area. In early days an extensive swamp covered the central part and caused General St. Clair to turn his army eastward from the neighborhood of Castine towards Beech Grove. As before noted, this morass was long known as "Maple Swamp" on account of the large number of soft maple trees growing in it and was unfit for cultivation until a large ditch was run through it by the county commissioners. This district is now one of the fertile spots of the county. The upper waters of Mud creek drains the northwestern section, and the east fork of Whitewater formerly extended into the western part. The land is generally level, except in the northwestern and western central portion, and was originally covered with a heavy growth of fine timber. There is practically no waste land in the township and the average fertility is probably equal to that of any other township in the county. It is generally supposed that Wayne's trail crossed the south line near the intersection of the Eaton pike and kept about half a mile west of the main north and south stream of Twin creek, passim a few rods west of the present township house in the center of the township, and continuing on toward Fort Jefferson. During the war of 1812 the more western and "round about" but higher trail through Fort Black (New Madison) was probably used. John DeCamp came in 1814 and was probably the first per- 582 - DARKE COUNTY manent settler. James Mills and Francis Harter and sons came in 1817 or 1818. The early years witnessed the coming of Jacob Weingardner, Abram P. Freeman, Charles Harriman, Jonathan Pitman, Joseph Danner, John Ellis, Jacob F. Miller and Peter Fleck. This township has been one of the strongholds of Democracy for many years, which condition is said to be due largely to the fact that quite a number of families moved in from Kentucky and the south just prior to the Civil war. The first school house was built near the present site of New Castine, in the year 1824. Samuel Saterley is credited with having been the first teacher. James L. Hunt and P. V. Banta were also early teachers. Probably the first church building erected in the township was Otterbein Chapel, built in 1840, or land donated by George Coblentz in the northwest corner of section 28. This was a log structure but was replaced in later years by a more substantial building. A quarterly conference was held here in 1844. This congregation has maintained an active organization throughout the succeeding years and has probably done more toward building up the interests of the United Brethren denomination than any other single rural church in Darke county. Before the erection of this church religious services were held in houses, barns and school houses. The United Brethren also built a church at Castine in 1849, and have an active society today. The Reformed Society built a church in the southeast corner of section 2, along the Greenville and Ithaca pike, about 1859. Rev. John Vogt was largely instrumental in erecting this church and was its first pastor. This congregation has continued its organization and is one of the prosperous rural churches of the county. It is known as "Beech Grove" church, from the fact that a fine growth of beech trees originally covered that section of the township. Butler township is well supplied with pikes, there being roads on all of the east and west section lines, and part of the north and south lines, besides the pikes leading to New Madison, Ithaca and Eaton. The Eaton road was piked in 1869, being the first in the township to be permanently improved. Three railways pass through the township. The P. C. C. & St. L. railway cuts across the northwest corner; the Peoria and Eastern crosses the east line near the northeast corner of section 12, runs due west to the New Madison pike in north- DARKE COUNTY - 583 ern part of section 8, then turns northwesterly and crosses the western line near the northwest corner of section 6; the C. N. crosses the south line of section 35, runs north to Castine, thence west of north to the center of section 9, thence northerly, crossing the northern line near the intersection of the New Madison pike. In early days this community was comparatively isolated with respect to the county seat and seems to have been in closer touch with the older settlements to the south in Preble county. Produce was carried to Dayton and Cincinnati by the hucksters, and much of the milling was done at the stone mill of James A. B. Frazer, on Twin creek, a short distance above Lewisburg. This mill was built in 1838, and was regarded as a remarkable structure in those days. Coopering, blacksmithing, shoemaking were prosperous occupations carried on outside the homes, in the days when splint-bottom chairs, spinning wheels, candle molds and fireplaces were in vogue. In spite of comparative isolation the pioneer families lived well on game, fish and fruits from the forest which stretched its dark mantle on all sides, and laid an enduring foundation for future generations. There are now two villages in Butler township. New Castine. Is located on Twin creek at the center of the line between sections 6 and 35, one mile north of Preble county. Its location was probably determined largely by the fact that it lies at the intersection of the Greenville and Eaton pike with the old New Garden road. In early days the latter road was traveled extensively by the Quakers from Miami county when attending their semi-annual meetings at New Garden, Indiana. New Castine was first platted in 1832, on land belonging to John Ellis, Joseph Danner and Frederick Smith. About a year later Dr. J. P. Love and Samuel Brosserman bought out Danner and Smith's interests and replatted the town, claiming that the original proprietors had not conformed to the law, requiring legal notice of the act. In the early years of the history of this village there was a blacksmith's shop, a pottery, a hatter's establishment, a hotel, etc. A directory published in 1857 shows the following enterprises: John E. Matchett, physician and surgeon. 584 - DARKE COUNTY Dr. J. P. Love, dry goods, groceries and medicines. F. Michael, dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes. P. V. Banta, dry goods and groceries. Frank Ford, Castine house. P. Stephenson, boot and shoe maker. J. Longanbaker, blacksmith. A. Henderson, cooper. Jacob Roller, harness maker. S. B. Minnick, sawyer. J. W. Hamiel, sawyer. P. C. Hetzler, minister U. B. church. The village grew and prospered but the building of the Little Miami railway through West Manchester some two miles to the south, and the growth of the latter village seemed to retard its progress. The building of the Cincinnati Northern railway through here about 1894 was a "red letter" event for the village. The village now has a U. B. church, a German Baptist church (built bout 1871), an I. O. O. F. hall, an elevator, stock yards and station. The population in 1910 was given at 142. Tecumseh (Savona P. O.) This village was laid off in the north central part of section 9, and given the name of the distinguished Indian chief, who lived for a short time in Darke county. In recent years the post office and station have been called "Savona," probably to avoid confusion, as there is now a town by the name of Tecumseh in Michigan. The Peoria and Eastern and the C. N. railway cross at this place, making it a good shipping point, and giving it some prospect of future development. The village now has a U. B. church, a store, a station, an elevator and about thirty buildings in all. The census of 1910 gave Butler township a population of 1,592. The tax duplicate of 1913 showed real estate listed at $2,425,100, and chattels to the extent of $1,114,660. Wabash Township. This township was erected in 1841, and contains all that part of townships 14 and 15 North, of range 2 east, and 12 and 13 north of range 3 east, that lay in York township, except two tiers of sections on the south. In 1848 township 15 north, range 2 east, and township 13, range 3 east, were taken into Mercer county, and in June, 1848, sections 2, 11, 14 and 23 DARKE COUNTY - 585 were taken from Patterson township and added to the east side of Wabash, making it four sections north and south and about five and one-half sections east and west. It probably derived its name from the Wabash river which drains its upper portion. Some of the early settlers in this township were William A. Davison and Nimrod Ross, who came in 1838. They were followed by Isaac Finkbone, Elijah Shook, Justin Skinner, Samuel Hayes, John M. Houston and A. D. Birt. The first school house was built in 1840 in section 13 and the first M. E. church in the southeast quarter of the same section in 1844, where a church still exists. The first teacher in the above school was Elijah Raines, from Greene county. The elevated plateau between the Wabash and Stillwater creeks runs through the southern part of the township and is covered with a light soil, underlaid with a stiff clay, subsoil capable of producing good crops of grain. The northern part of the township is drained by branches of the Wabash and contains much good fertile bottom land. Besides the M. E. church mentioned there is a Christian church in the northwest quarter of section 12, a church in the southeast corner of section 3, a Lutheran church in the southwest quarter of section 15, and a Catholic church at Delvin, in the northeast corner of section 15. The latter is called St. John's church and was organized in 1892 with thirty families under the Rev, Leo Boehmer. The first church building was completed in 1893, under Rev. Louis Hefele. Rev. Charles Votheis succeeded Hefele. Later it was attended from Versailles, Ohio. In 1906, it was attached as a mission to St. Nicholas church, Osgood, Ohio. Rev. J. Rahrle looked after the interest of the parish from 1906 until 1912, and was succeeded by Rev. B. H. Franzer. This mission will soon be consolidated with the church now building in North Star. There is no railway in this township. The entire population in 1910 was 1,22. The real estate was listed for taxation in 1913 at $1,331,470, and the chattels at $229,390. North Star. This is the principal village in the township, and is situated at the quartering of sections 8. 9, 16 and 17 near the center of the township. It was laid out in 1852. It is seventeen miles from Greenville and eighteen miles from Celina on the pike 586 - DARKE COUNTY surveyed by John Devor in 1841. It now contains a town hall, postoffice, public school, store, Christian church and a Catholic church. York Township. This township was organized in June, 1837, being detached by the commissioners from Richland township. At first it comprised all that part of the county lying north of a line commencing at the southeast corner of section 15, township 11 north, range 3 east, and running west to the southwest corner of section 13, township 13, range 2. In June, 1841, Wabash township was detached from the northern part of this territory as elsewhere mentioned leaving York practically five miles long, north and south, and four and a half miles wide, east and west. The northern part of this township is drained by Swamp creek, which runs in a direction generally east and west through nearly all of the northern sections. Indian creek drains the southern part of the township. It enters near the southwest corner of section 1, flows in a southeasterly direction and crosses the eastern boundary near the southeast corner of the township. The soil in the southern portion is of a clayey nature and the land is level. Along Indian creek the soil is a warm sandy loam which is very fertile. In the eastern central section the soil is a light clay and the surface is rolling. The original forest comprised much excellent hardwood including beech, maple, oak, hickory and some walnut. The first settlements were made in the southern part, mostly along Indian creek. Among the pioneers were Newberry York, who settled in section 15 in the southeastern part of the township in 1834; William A. Sonday, Samuel Reigle, who came about 1838; David Lyons, in 1838; James Winget, David Williams, in 1840; Samuel Sherry, Samuel Lanick, William Miller, Mahlon Martin, Samuel Winbigler and Samuel Hughes. The township was probably named for Newberry York, above mentioned, who was a justice of the peace, in early days and later became an associate judge and an influential man in the county. He had seven sons and two daughters, and his descendants include several of the prominent families of the county today. Early conditions were much the same as in other townships and it is difficult today when riding over the many miles of improved pikes to realize that they are the result of many experiments in road building—starting first with the bridle DARKE COUNTY - 587 path, and progressing through the blazed trail, the rambling house to house road, the cut out road, the surveyed mud road and finally the graded pike. Among the early families were quite a number of Pennsylvania Germans and it is said that the first preaching in this township was by German Lutheran ministers, who conducted services at private houses. The first church was a log structure, capable of seating about one hundred people. It was built in 1848, near the center of section 4 along the main road on an acre plot deeded by Ezra Marker for a church and cemetery. It was distinctly a neighborhood institution and was erected by the co-operation of the settlement. A new frame church was completed on this site in 1856, in which services were held until 1878. With the passing away of the first generation and the scattering of their descendants the church declined and only the old cemetery now appears on the map. The Methodists held services as soon as sufficient settlers could be interested. Local preachers and exhorters were among the first representatives of this denomination. Services were held in a log school house located about three-fourths of a mile west of the present site of. Brock. It is said that the Methodists built a church on the northeast corner of section 18 as early as 1838, or 1839. In 1857 they built a frame church in Brock, and held services there for probably forty years. In recent years, however, they were succeeded by the Christian denomination. J. P. Hafer is credited with being the first school teacher in the township. He taught in an old cabin before the erection of a regular school building. Probably the first school house was built in 1830. Another was erected in 1837, on land belonging to Judge York. There are now six school districts in the township. There are no railways in the township and the only village is Brock, located on the Greenville and St. Mary's pike on the line between sections 4 and 33. Ezra Marker, George Bertram, Jacob Winbigler and Egbert Winterworth were instrumental in laying off and developing this place. It now has a town hall, public school and a Christian church. There is also a christian church in the southwest corner of section 30. The population of the entire township in 1910 was 902. The assessment of real estate in 1913 was $1,306,860, and the chattels were entered at $184,970. 588 - DARKE COUNTY Richland Township. This township as now constituted is less regular in shape than most of the others in the county and comprises territory taken from townships 10-3; 11-3, and 13-2. It was taken from Wayne township with sixteen sections from Greenville and four from Adams, and was erected September 8, 1820. As originally constituted it comprised practically all the land now included in Allen, Wabash, Brown, York, Richland and two tiers of sections now forming the northern part of Greenville township. In March, 1829, all of township 12, range 2, then belonging to Richland, was put into Greenville township. In December, 1833, Brown township was detached and in June, 1837, York township in its original form was detached, reducing Richland to its present proportions. The entire township is drained by the Stillwater which enters near the northwest corner, runs southeasterly to the center of section 3, then takes a circuitous eastern course through the central part of the county, turns northward in the northern part of section 4, then eastward in the southwest quarter of section 27, and leaves the township near the line between sections 27 and 34. The surface is broken along its course, comprising fertile stretches of bottom land interspersed with hills. There is a diversity of black loam and mixed clay lands which are quite productive under scientific cultivation. Fort Briar located in the southeastern part of the southwest quarter of section 27, on the south side of the Stillwater just beyond the bend, was erected during the war of 1812, and was used as a place of refuge by the earliest pioneers. Among these were Jacob Hartle, who came in the summer of 1817. David Riffle and sons, Jacob and Solomon, and George Ward came in the spring of 1818, James Stephenson and George Coppess in 1819. These were soon followed by George Beam, Adam Coppess, Henry Stahl, Philip Plessinger, Peter Brewer and John Homey, John Miller and John Coppess, Sr. For some ten years there was no further emigration on account of the ague and milk sickness, which prevailed. From 1834 to about 1850, the following prominent names were added: Daniel Warvel, E. Deming, D. L. Miller, W. J. Warvel, D. Hartzell, Philip Hartzell, George H. Winbigler, Alfred Coppess, H. Kent, John E. Breaden and S. D. Rush. In more recent years quite a number of German immigrants settled in various parts of the township, so that the population today is DARKE COUNTY - 589 largely of German descent. This fact accounts for the fine condition of many of the farms and the relative high standing of this comparatively small township in agricultural matters. The first school house was erected about 1824 on the farm of John Coppess in section 24, across the creek from the Coppess cemetery. It was built of logs and had a capacious fireplace. John Wilkins and Thomas Crawson taught here. There are now seven school districts in the township. John Childers, the Baptist minister, mentioned in chapter ten, is credited with delivering the first sermon in the house of James Stephenson. The Methodists purcahsed a building in the Coppess neighborhood which had been erected as a school house and converted it into the first church of the township. The United Brethren built the next church, a log structure, in Beamsville, in 1842, on a site donated by Fred Beam. There is now a church in the southwest corner of section 24, and a Christian church in the center of section 9, besides the churches in Dawn and Beamsville. The "Big Four" railway crosses the north end of the township, and the Pennsylvania, the southern. There are three villages in Richland township, viz., Beamsville, Nevada (Dawn P. O.) and Stelvideo. Beamsville. This village is located on the Stillwater at the intersection of the Greenville and Ansonia pikes near the center of the west line of section 32, range 3. It was platted in 1837, by John Beam, who also erected the first house. Rev. M. Wintermuth, Baptist, was the first preacher in Beamsville, and was succeeded by Rev. Seymour Craig. The Reformed and United Brethren Societies built a union church on the north bank of Stillwater west of Main street about 1842. In later years the Reformed denomination took over the property and held services for several years but finally disbanded. Rev. George Adams represented the Christian church as early as 1848-49. All these denominations have disbanded except the Christian which still has a flourishing church and Sunday sschool in the village. The township house is located here, also school No. 5, which built a new two-room modern brick school house a few years since. A good general mercantile business is carried on in this place. Among the prominent physicians who lived here were Ford, Smith, Hooven, Hostetter, Peck, Tillman, Zellers, Rusted and Brandon. 590 - DARKE COUNTY Nevada (Dawn Postoffice.) This village was laid out in 1854 by L. W. Johnson at the center of section 20, when he erected a saw mill. Additions were later made by Shelley, Birch, Uriah Winbigler, O. F. Davidson and James McFarland. The "Big Four" railway has a station here and considerable mercantile business is transacted. The Methodists built a church on the north side of the village in 1872, and the Christians on the south side in 1907. School No. 4 is located opposite the last named structure on south Main street. Stelvideo. This village was laid out by Solomon Farmer in 1851, near the center of the south line of section 9, range 3, township 11. It is located on the Logansport division of the Pennsylvania railway and lies in the midst of a fertile country. The story of its establishment is thus related by an early writer: "About the time when the `forty miners' were en route overland to the gold fields of the far Pacific, John Patterson determined to realize his expectations nearer home. He had inherited a large farm, located east of Stelvideo. There being promise of quite a village here, Mr. Patterson brought a number of lots, erected a steam saw mill, a two-story tavern and induced the erection of several other buildings. These improvements were made in 1852 and 1853. Through correspondence with Alfred Brisbane, S. Andrews, Dr. Nichols and other noted Socialists, Stelvideo soon became a center for modern radicalism of all kinds, save and except `free love.' Meantime, the dress reform movement was being agitated by Amelia Bloomer and other ladies. The costume was generally adopted by the feminine population of this village. So many `isms' and 'ologies,' so much amplitude in freedom and brevity in costume was obnoxious to the people residents in the neighborhood, who proceeded to make Paterson and his `confreres' desirous of going elsewhere. The Pluribus Unum hotel was vacated, several houses partially completed were left unfinished, the saw mill and other property was disposed of at a sacrifice, and Mr. Patterson and his followers moved to Berlin Heights, in Huron county, where quite a colony of Modern Liberalists of various phases assembled. They published a weekly newspaper, and, for a time, attracted popular attention." The wearing of "bloomers" by the women of this village, DARKE COUNTY - 591 who followed the liberal ideas of those days caused the village to be dubbed "Bloomertown" for many years. There is a railway station and a grain elevator in this village and a Christian church a short distance north. The tax assessment of Richland township in 1913, showed real estate to the value of $1,391,130 and chattels amounting to $863,330. The population in 1910 was given at 1,070. Van Buren Township. This township as now constituted Iies immediately north of Twin and between Neave and Franklin townships. It was erected in June, 1838, and named for President Van Buren, who was then in office. At that time it contained all of township 8 north, range 4 east, that is in Darke county, and all of township 9, north, range 3 east, except sections 5, 6, 7 and 8, which were included in Greenville township. Franklin township was detached in June, 1839, being formed of four tiers of sections off the east side. The northern and extreme western part are drained by some minor branches of Greenville creek, and the southern part by upper branches of Painter creek. It is one of the most level townships in the county, and the soil, being largely of an alluvial nature, is very fertile, producing good crops. As noted in Chapter I, a distinct moranic belt passes through it in a north and south direction which was formerly traced by the Iarge number of boulders strewn along its track, and the presence of gravel cairns along its course. Some of the boulders along this moraine were of immense size, but most of these have been blasted, buried or removed, leaving the surface free for cultivation. Before the forests were cut off and the land drained, it is said that from one to five feet of water covered most of the surface of this township during half of the year. On this account settlement was delayed and it is probable that no settlers came before 1818. Between this time and 1826, the following pioneers established homes in the wilderness: Samuel Pearce, Samuel Martin, Elias Burt, Eli Townsend, Jacob Sebring, John Charkwith, Isaac Byers, James Gregory, David and William Byers, Richard and James Gower. John Fourman, Mordecai Ford and Jacob Potoff were also early settlers. The first school house was built in the southwest quarter of 592 - DARKE COUNTY section 20, and was taught by Mordecai Ford. There are nine school districts in this township. The Christians are credited with building the first church in the township, which was erected at Delisle, in 1851, over thirty years after the first settlement. Among the pioneer preachers in this denomination were Revs. Sneithen, Ashley, Williams and Mordecai Ford. The United Brethren established a church at Abbotsville, about 1850, and the Methodists one just east of Jaysville about the same time. Rev. Edward Caylor caused the erection of a church at Ninevah, near the center of the township, in the northeast corner of section 2, about 1869. It is now known as Caylor's Chapel. There is also a Dunkard church across the road from school No. 6, near the center of the north line of section 35. This township is strictly rural, the only villages being De-lisle and Jaysville, both of which are stations on the D. & U. railway, which crosses diagonally through the southwest part of the township. Jaysville is located on the west line between sections 18 and 19, and contains an elevator, a store and a blacksmith shop, with a M. E. church a short distance east. It was named after some member of the Jay family, who were early settlers. The Ohio Electric railway passes through this hamlet. Delisle. Delisle was laid out about 1850, by a Mrs. Fairchild, probably in anticipation of the building of the Greenville and Miami railroad. It early gave some promise of developing into a good trading center, but like Jaysville, was too near Greenville and Arcanum to make much of a town. The Abbottsville cemetery, located on the Arcanum pike and the Ohio Electric railway in section 20, is one of the prettiest and best kept cemeteries in Darke county, and is the burial place for many families in Arcanum, and the western part of the township. It seems that a man by the name of Abbott laid off a town in this neighborhood in early days, and that a store and wagon shop were at one time in operation here. Both of these have disappeared. Poplar Ridge is the name of a small settlement on the Greenville and West Milton pike, which crosses the northern part of the township in a direction north of east. This is one of the oldest pikes in the county and is known to have existed DARKE COUNTY - 393 as early as 1815. It was probably cut through the forest during or before the war of 1812, to connect Greenville with Dayton. The township has been well drained and piked and one traveling through it now would scarcely suspect that it was once practically covered with swamps. The population in 1910 was 1,360. The real estate assessment in 1913 was $1,717,590, and the chattels were entered at $603,730. Twin Township. This township was erected in July, 1817, and contained all of the county south of a line running due east from the northwest corner of section 31, township 11 north, range 2 east. A tier of sections was taken from the northern part upon the creation of the townships of German, Neave and Van Buren. Harrison, Butler and Monroe were successively detached as elsewhere mentioned, leaving Butler as now constituted, it being identical with the civil division known as township 8 north, range 3 east, containing thirty sections. This township was named from Twin creek which drains much of the southern portion of the township as originally constituted. The northern part is drained by the upper waters of Painter creek and the eastern section by the head waters of Ludlow creek. The eastern part is quite level, and, in early days was covered with water for considerable periods each year. This condition was quite discouraging to early settlers but after extensive and successful drainage, the land became very productive, the soil being rich, deep vegetable loam, enriched by ages of rank vegetable growths which had been sustained in the vast morasses of by-gone ages. Along Miller's fork the land is more rolling and elevated, yet very productive. As formerly stated a distinct glacial moraine, or moraine belt, is traceable through the southwestern part of this township, skirting the valley of Miller's fork and following that stream into Preble county below Ithaca. An old Indian trail, apparently followed this elevated belt and it is said by some authority that Wayne's army took this elevated route in preference to that of St. Clair. The road from Ithaca to Fort Jefferson and Greenville follows this old trail and is one of the early highways of the county. As before mentioned, Elliott and Stoner were both slain along this trail, during the (38) 594 - DARKE COUNTY war of 1812. The body of Stoner is buried in the cemetery at Ithaca. Jacob North is said to have been the pioneer of Twin township. He came from Lewisburg and settled on Miller's fork, probably about 1812, but was alarmed at the killing of Elliott and Stoner and the warning of a half-breed friend and returned to his old home. William Robbins was probably the first permanent settler. He came in 1815 and settled just west of Ithaca. He was followed in 1816 by David Lucas, William and Eli Curtner, Frederick Shank and son Philip, David Shearer, James Mc-Dole, Philip Rutter, David Baumgardner, Isaac, Thomas and George Walker. Several of these were from the Stillwater settlement, which had been formed largely of people from North Carolina about 1800. In the spring of 1817, Frazee Doty, a local minister and prominent citizen settled just west of Ithaca, and in the fall of that year Andrew Burkett came. Among other early settlers were Michael Bickett, Emery Rogers, William Lemon, Adam Briney and Philip Rader. The first school house was built in 1822 or 1823 in the northeast corner of section 19. There are now nine schools in this township, besides that at Arcanum. The first church, which was of the Christian denomination was erected in the northwest quarter of section 6, near the northwest corner of the township. This denomination also erected another church one mile south of Arcanum. Both of these disbanded at an early date. Abraham Sneethen and Levi Purviance were the early representatives of this sect, and the pioneer preachers in the township. John Williams was also an early preacher. The United Brethren built a church in Ithaca about 1830, which was the second erected in the township. All the churches of this township are now located in the villages as elsewhere mentioned. On account of the fertility and value of the land the farms of this township have been divided into comparatively small tracts. Much tobacco is raised in the eastern portion and small tracts of land in the neighborhood of Arcanum have sold as high as $300 per acre. There are three villages in this township: Ithaca, Arcanum and Gordon. DARKE COUNTY - 595 Ithaca. This village was platted by John Colville in 1832, and given the name of Twinsborough. Being in the center of the early settled district and on an old highway, it early became an important trading center. It now has United Brethren, Baptist and Lutheran churches, a school, town hall and hotel, besides Odd Fellows, Junior Order and Red Men lodges, and is located on the Ohio Electric railway. The 1910 census showed a population of 100. Its growth has been retarded in recent years by the building of the D. and U. railway to the east and the location of Gordon and Arcanum on that line. Gordon. This place was platted in 1849, and named for one of the pioneers. It is located upon the D. & U. and Ohio Electric railways in the midst of a rich farming country and has been especially known for its large lumber business conducted successfully for years by Ezra Post and its elevator and tobacco warehouses owned and operated by Edward Ammon. Besides its stores and the above mentioned enterprises this village has a Baptist and an M. E. church. The population in 1910 was given at 181. Arcanum. The largest and most important village in Twin township and the entire southern part of Darke county is Arcanum. It is situated on the western border of a level plain, and, at the time of settlement, was surrounded by an almost impenetrable swamp. This plain extends from Ithaca to Gettysburg and from Arcanum to Laura and is now a veritable garden spot, about twelve by eighteen miles in extent. The only break in this exceedingly fertile plain is a slight ridge—probably a minor moraine—extending from Arcanum to Pittsburg, and even this has been redeemed by cultivation. This village, it seems, owes its existence to the building of the Greenville and Miami (now D. & U.) railroad. We quote herewith an interesting article concerning the platting and naming of this village, from the pen of C. C. Pomeroy, the civil engineer, who laid it out. It was written at the request of Mrs. Jennie Lee (nee Francis) and published in the Arcanum Enterprise: "At the suggestion of my esteemed friend, Col. William Armstrong, or rather his order; either form giving me pleas- 596 - DARKE COUNTY ure to respond, I pull from memories budget a few straws relating to Arcanum, Darke county, one of Ohio's most thrifty inland towns. In the fall of 1846, a line of railroad was located from Dayton to Richmond. Fourteen miles west from Dayton, an angle was made to Greenville, twenty-two miles. The road was then known as the Greenville and Miami railroad. Hiram Bell was president, afterwards a member of congress. When the line was located, it was all woods where the town of Dodson now is, and there were no towns from Dodson to Greenville. The railway line to Greenville was chiefly in the woods, excepting now and then small clearings. In the fall of 1848, the writer and David Comly, son of Richard Comly, one of the owners of the Dayton Journal, were students of practical civil engineering under the tutorship of Phineas Pomeroy, then chief engineer of the road. We were assigned to take test levels and cross sections from Dodson to Greenville; in the discharge of this order we reached a tasty, comfortable log house with three rooms and an 'upstairs' reached by a ladder; it was the home of Mr. John Gunder, carved out of the wilderness, embracing forty acres of cleared land on which the house stood. The day was one of `chill November blasts' of which the poet sings; it rained and froze just enough to provoke saints, and more especially searchers after the science of engineering. It was four o'clock that day and we were just beyond Mr. Gunder's home in the woods, it was so foggy we could not take accurate observations with the level, so Dave said, `Charley, let us quit, I am cold and hungry, let us go to Mr. Gunder's and stay all night.' Two hungry engineers met a hearty welcome there and were royally treated by Mrs. Gunder and her two daughters, and the sumptuous meal was done ample justice. At nightfall, Mr. Gunder came in from the woods, and during the evening chat said, `Boys, tomorrow will be drizzling, and frozen and sloppy all the way to Greenville, and you might as well stay here and lay off a town plat for me.' Morning came and being unpropitious, so we remained and surveyed and mapped his town plat, and made a neat and pretty map and pinned it up on the log. When Mr. Gunder came he looked at it closely and was well pleased. The following colloquy then occurred: `Now Gunder what name will you have for your town, Gunderville?' `No, No! Ohio has too many "villes" now; you boys select a name and have one that is not on the map of the globe; have it ready for me when I come from work, as I am DARKE COUNTY - 597 going to Greenville tomorrow and will have it recorded.' We worried and stewed and fretted to get a name we thought would please him. At last, in view of the murky, damp, sullen, hazy afternoon, that hung in clouds of chunky darkness, a remark was made that there must be a word somewhere that fits the place and its surroundings to a `gnat's heel;' it is dark, it is dismal, it is gloomy, how would `Arcanum' do? It was printed in India ink on the map. Mr. Gunder came in just as we were about to eat supper, he observed the name and expressed great satisfaction with the selection. Sure enough, next day he went to Greenville and had his map recorded. The clerk in the recorder's office told him the engineers were making fun of him in naming the town. `How?' `Why do you know the name means "secret, hidden?"' `I don't care what it means; is there a town in the world of that name?' `No,' says the recorder. `Then the people who live there will have no trouble in getting their mail,' said Gunder, `and it is in harmony with surrounding conditions." "And this is the way Arcanum, now one of the prettiest, busy towns in Ohio, got its name, and no town in the state is in advance of it in enterprise, intelligence, energy and prosperity. "C. C. POMEROY, Civil Engineer." Another version of the story about the naming of the town is to the effect that Gunder had a bull which, for some unknown reason, he called "Arcanum." This animal, it seems, had strayed away and while looking for it he came upon a group of men working long the right-of-way of the new railway. Suddenly catching sight of the bull he exclaimed, "There's Arcanum," whereupon the name was seized upon and applied to the neighborhood railway station. Like many other traditions this is probably a corruption of the true story and we can do no better than accept the plausible statement made and signed by the engineer who laid out the town as above noted. The Greenville and Miami railway was not completed to Arcanum, however, until 1852, but its coming was the great "red letter" day in the history of the village and township. From henceforth Arcanum was put in close touch with Dayton and the outside world, and the long, tedious journeys to this market through the slashes of Painter and Ludlow creeks and over the corduroy roads became a thing of the past. Messrs. Samuel and John Smith were the pioneer merchants. 598 - DARKE COUNTY They opened the first store here June 20, 1851, and through their energy, industry and business qualifications helped to make the place develop rapidly. The rapid growth of the new village is forcibly indicated by the following business directory, published in 1857: Dry goods stores, grocers and grain dealers—S. D. Smith, J. Thomas & Son, Albright & Oliver, John Smith, J. F. Roser, and Sprecher & Bro. American Hotel—John A. Raylor. Steam grist mill and distillery—Voorhes, Shepherd & Bro. Physician and surgeon—Jesse J. Paramore. Cabinet warerooms and undertaker—C. Bartling. Tailor—Israel Steinmetz. Coopers—Henry Kester, Henry Glasmeir. Carpenter and joiner—George Lowe. Boot and shoe maker—Samuel Garrett. Wagon and carriage maker—D. B. Baker. Blacksmith—A. Deweese. Carpenter and joiner—John Fleck. Brick and stone mason--P. Snodderly. Carpenter and joiner—S. B. Thomas. Station man (G. & M. R. R.)—James Battern. Tailor—A. B. Steinmetz. Mason and bricklayer—John C. Bocanon. Arcanum has long been known for its business enterprise and its large mercantile establishments are the wonder of the stranger accustomed to the trading facilities of the ordinary village. This village has likewise shown much enterprise in religious, social and educational enterprises. The Methodists built a church here as early as 1856, and now have a strong congregation. The United Brethren built a brick church in 1860, on the corner of East and South streets, where the present church now stands. Previously they had worshipped in a little log church on the farm now owned by Andrew Clark, one-fourth of a mile east of Arcanum, where they had organized a society in 1853. The present church was erected in 1896, at an approximate cost of $10,000. This is one of the strong denominations of the county and has now an enrollment of about 400 in the church, and 500 in the Sunday school. DARKE COUNTY - 599 The present Church officers are: P. W. Byers, Jacob Miller, Jr., G. T. Riegle, William Clark and E. B. Hawley. Trustees of the church—Sunday school superintendent, G. T. Riegle; class leader, H. O. Hoffman; president of W. M. A., Mrs. E. B. Hawley; president of Golden Link Society, Mrs. Myrtle Shumaker; president of C. E., Miss Nettie Robbins; president of Junior C. E., Mrs. Nana Cartmell; general steward, C. A. Smith; class stewards, Marion Trump, J. H. Potts, H. O. Hoffman, Abraham Nyswonger. The Reformed denomination built a church in 1879, but the society at the present time is practically dormant with a membership of about thirty-five. Arcanum has produced some men of exceptional talent in the past and now takes great pride in referring to the Sigafoos brothers—Charles P. and Edward—who are sons of George W. Sigafoos, deceased, at one time a prominent dry goods merchant in the village. Charles P. Sigafoos was born May 4, 1865 and received his elementary education in the public schools. He was graduated from the Ohio State University in 1889, spent one year at the University of Virginia and four years at Johns Hopkins' University. He soon became a professor of biology in the University of Wisconsin and during some twenty years in this chair has probably tutored more students in this science than any other professor in the United States. Edward Sigafoos was born December 14, 1868. After a course in the common schools he entered Ohio State University and was graduated from that institution in 1891. While in the latter school he manifested a taste and talent for military science and was persuaded by some prominent citizens of the state to apply for entrance in the regular army of the United States. After passing the required examination at Washington, D. C., he was appointed a second lieutenant and spent two years in the excellent advanced military school at Leavenworth, Kansas. In 1898 he was commissioned first lieutenant and served one year under General Wood at Santiago, Cuba. He has recently attained the rank of major and is serving with the army in Vera Cruz, Mexico. In December, 1895, he married Opal, the daughter of Dr. Donovan Robeson, of Greenville, Ohio. The progressive spirit of Arcanum is reflected in the schools which maintain a high standard. The high school course comprises four years and leads tip to col- 600 - DARKE COUNTY lege admission. The school library contains 1,000 volumes. Prof. O. G. Hershey has been the enterprising and enthusiastic superintendent for several years. Arcanum is well provided with fraternal and secret organizations, having Masonic, Odd Fellows, K. of P., and Junior order lodges. Arcanum Lodge No. 341, I. O. O. F. was instituted August 9, 1858, with the following charter members: Adam Bartoch, Jacob Thomas, Joseph Gootlieb, Adam B. Steinmetz, Samuel Garsett, Samuel D. Ross, Evan Henninger, Thomas Morton and Philip Sprecher. It now owns property valued at $7,500 and has a membership of about 200. Jewel Rebekah Lodge No. 255 was given charter May 18, 1888, with twenty-three members. It now has about forty members. The Masonic lodge is known as Ithaca Lodge No. 295, F. & A. M. and was organized at Ithaca, October 21, 1857, with ten members, viz.: William A. Matchett, Daniel Ridenour, William Colville, S. C. Engle, Martin J. Colville, Milton McNeal, J. H. Engle, Caswell Sharp, Clark Baker and Elijah Heath. This lodge now owns its own property and has a membership of about one hundred. There is also an Eastern Star lodge here. Arcanum now has a fine, large brick city building, erected about 1890, at a cost of some $12,000. It contains the offices of the various city officials, the fire department and an excellent auditorium with a seating capacity of several hundred. The city also owns its own water works and electric light plant. There are two hotels, two banks, two newspapers, a building association, a postoffice, elevator, tile yard, saw and planing mill, lumber yard, two flour mills, a creamery, monumental works and other enterprises. A large proportion of the tobacco produced in the county is raised in the level black land of Franklin, Monroe and Twin townships, and much of this is marketed in Arcanum where several large warehouses are located. The Peoria division of the C. C. C. & St. L. railway gives a good east and west outlet to the village and the Ohio Electric railway makes connection with Dayton and Greenville quite convenient. Several blocks of the main streets have recently been paved with brick and other public improvements made. DARKE COUNTY - 601 The census of 1910 showed a population of 1,361, in the town and a total of 2,925 in the entire township. The tax duplicate for 1913 showed real property to the extent of $904,560, and chattels to the extent of $548,560 in Arcanum and $2,094,570 in real estate and $882,290 in chattels in Twin township outside of Arcanum. Patterson Township. This township occupies the northeastern corner of th; cthety, was erected in March, 1841, and was taken from the north end of Wayne township which then extended to the o Greenville treaty line. In 1848, the northern part was cut when Darke county was reduced to its present size, and in the same year sections 2, 11, 14 and 23 of township 12 north, range 3 east were detached and added to Wabash township. The watershed passes through the central part of this township in an east and west direction separating the upper has of the Wabash from the head waters of Swamp Creek brans of the Stillwater. The southern section of the township rolling and the soil is largely of a light clay formation. In early days it supported a fine forest of beech, sugar, maple and oak. Like Wabash township, the northern portion contains a larger proportion of dark alluvial soil and formerly supported a heavy growth of timber in which Linden, Sycamore, and Walnut were especially noticeable. Isaac Finkbone, who seems to have been identified with the early settlement of Wayne and Wabash townships, is also mentioned as the pioneer settler here, coming in 1827 or 1828, to the southeast quarter of section 32. He was soon followed by Philip Pitzenberger, who squatted in the southeast quarter of section 33. Tames Patterson, Sr., was the second landowner who settled in the township, and his son gave the township its name. Richard and Thomas Mendenhall, John Day, Samuel Day, Dr. Greer, John Puterbaugh, James Davidson, Anthony Cable, John DeWeese, William Russell and Arphaxed Julian are also mentioned as prominent early settlers. Although this township was late in settlement and backward in development it has made commendable progress, as shown by the fact that the census of 1910 gave it a population of 1,632, as against 319 in 1850, while the tax assessment of real estate in 1913 was $1,739,680 and for chattels $387,430. 602 - DARKE COUNTY Woodland (now Willowdell.) The first village in the township was Woodland, which was laid out in 1859 in the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 20, on the south slope of the watershed. A Lutheran church was erected here in 1865. This neighborhood has become famous as the birthplace of "Annie Oakley' Mozee, whose biography appears in another chapter. The Christians erected a church on the north side of the Berlin pike near the east line of section 8 in 1863, and another in the northeast quarter of section 25, range 3, about 1880. There is still a Lutheran church in Willowdell; another in the northwest corner of southeast quarter of section 30; the Walnut Grove Christian church in the southeast corner of the southwest quarter of section 24, besides the churches in Yorkshire and Osgood villages. The first school house was put up in the southeastern quarter of section 32, in 1842, and was erected by subscription. A. L. Wilson was the first teacher. There are now seven special school districts in this township not including those in Yorkshire and Osgood. The Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton railway (formerly Narrowgauge) was built through this township about 1881. It follows the section line between township 12, range 3 and township 11, range 4 from the Mercer county line to the northwest corner of section 30, and then turn southeastward, crossing into Wayne township in the southwest corner of section 32. Since its construction two thriving villages have developed. Osgood. This village was laid out at the quartering of sections 1, 6, 12 and 7 in the "eighties" and now contains a town hall, hotel, station, public school, Catholic and Christian churches, lodge, elevators and stores. The St. Nicholas Catholic church was organized in 1906, by Rev. Bernard Beckmeyer. Services were held at first in the village school house. Rev. John Rahrle soon took charge of the new parish which then numbered probably thirty-five families. A temporary church structure was completed in September, 1906, and services held therein. In this year a tract of land was purchased in the eastern section of the village and the erection of a new and suitable church building was soon entered into with zeal and devotion. A beautiful DARKE COUNTY - 603 structure costing about $22,000 was dedicated September 6, 1908, and given the name St. Nicholas. It is a fitting memorial to the zeal and devotion of Rev. Rahrle and his small but zealous and devoted flock. In its brief existence this parish has thrived wonderfully and now includes about eighty-five families. Rev. Rahrle resigned in 1912 and was succeeded by Rev. Bernard H. Franzee. This congregation serves a large constituency of settlers of French and German descent who now comprise a large per cent. of the citizens of this township and those adjoining. There are several fountain wells in this village as well as in the region to the north and east, near the headwaters of the small streams flowing northward from the watershed. The population in 1910 was 214. Yorkshire. This village is located one mile south of Osgood and was incorporated in 1901. Its rapid growth is shown by the fact that the population in 1910 was 182. This village contains a postoffice, bank, station, public school, Disciple and U. B. churches, brick and tile yard, elevator and warehouse. The Berlin and North Star pike forms the main east and west street of this village. Wayne Township. As in Greenville and other townships the actual first settlers of Wayne township were preceded by the surveyors and the "old squatters." Among the latter might be mentioned "Kill Buck," a half breed, or chief who built a cabin near "Bald Hill" in the northern border of the Stillwater settlement (Webster) in the early years of the century and remained until the arrival of the first settlers. Associated with his name is that of Connor, the old trapper and copper distiller who lived to the north of Killbuck on a knoll skirting the western side of Swampy creek, near the present site of Versailles. While Connor hunted, trapped and carried on his varied activities, his son cultivated a small patch of corn with an old ox, which he also used to go to mill at Greenville Falls or Fort Rowdy (Covington, Ohio). With the advent of the settlers these eccentric characters moved further west. Isaac Finkbone, a stalwart frontiersman, succeeded Connor and distilled "firewater" for the use of the first settlers, who 604 - DARKE COUNTY consumed large- quantities of "bitters" at log rollings, cabin raisings, sheep-washings and "huskin-bees." The first notable settlement in the township was made by a party from the Stillwater settlement in Miami county, near Pleasant Hill. It is said that this party canoed up the Stillwater keeping up the east branch, until they encountered a district of murky swamps and ponds to which they gave the name of "Black Swamps," while the lazy stream was called "Swamp creek." Here a small settlement was made which became known as the "Swamp creek settlement." David Ward, who settled in section 18, in 1815, is said to have been the first actual settler. One of the moving spirits in this settlement was Thomas Childers, the old order or "Hardshell" Baptist preacher previously mentioned, who settled about one mile southwest of Versailles. Here a church was erected about 1819 or 1820, being probably the second church erected in the county. Among the families connected with this congregation were the Childers, Carlocks and McDonalds of the border Stillwater settlement and the Wards, Bakers, Yorks and Holes of the Swamp creek settlement. The early Baptist burial ground adjoined this church. This building was afterwards moved to north Versailles and later to the Wood addition where the congregation worshipped for several years, but finally disbanded, leaving no successor in this vicinity. Among the early settlers on Indian creek and Swamp creek at and near the present site of Versailles were the Atchisons, Lewis Baker, Richard Brandon, David Ward, and William Hoel. It is interesting to note that the families comprising this settlement were largely of the "New Light" denomination, and that William Hoel deeded three or four acres to the Christian church as a site for a church building and burial ground about 1821. A society was organized in 1822 or 1823, by Rev. Samuel Kyle, of Piqua, with William Hoel, Aaron Carson and James Whitman as trustees, and a building was erected about 1826. This was the beginning of the Christian church of Versailles, making it the oldest denomination with a continuous history in that village. Among the pioneer settlers might also be mentioned Aaron Grier, Henry Swisher, Peter Radabaugh, William McGriff, John Wyland, Thomas Bayman and N. York. Wayne township was named after Gen. Anthony Wayne and when first laid off by the county commissioners in 1817, DARKE COUNTY - 605 comprised all of the county north of a line commencing at the northwest corner of township 12 north, range 1 east, and running thence east to the northwest corner of township 9 north, range 4 east, thence south to the middle of said township, and east to the county line, thus including the territory now included in the township of Mississinawa, Allen, Wabash, Patterson, Jackson, Brown, York, Wayne, over half of Richland and part of Adams. In 1819 that part of Wayne township lying in township 9 north, range 4 east, was taken into Adams township. In 1820 all of Wayne township that lay in range 1 was attached to Washington township as then constituted. In the same year Richland township was formed, the northern part being taken from Wayne and the southern from Greenville and Patterson. In 1841 Patterson township was taken from the north end of Wayne and contained all of that township that lay in townships 12 and 13, range 3, and townships 11 and 12 in range 4. The southern part of this township is drained by the main stream of the Stillwater, the central and northern part by the Swamp creek branch with its tributaries. As before noted the central part was originally very swampy. It has been reclaimed by extensive drainage and is now quite productive. The C. C. C. & St. L. railway runs through the central part of the township in a direction generally south of west. The C. H. & D. traverses the northeastern section. Versailles in the central part and Webster in the south central part are the principal villages. The entire population of the township, including these villages, in 1910 was 2,954. As a French colony became established here in the "thirties" we herewith incorporate a sketch of the "Holy Family Parish of Frenchtown," which throws considerable light on the history of this settlement: Holy Family Parish, Frenchtown. We have noted in a previous chapter that the first French settler arrived on the site of Frenchtown in 1836, and was soon followed by other families of the Catholic faith who banded themselves together in a small community, observed public worship according to the customs of their faith under the zealous and saintly Navarron, and, in 1838, erected a hewed log church at St. Valbert's in conjunction with the little communities at Russia and Versailles. 606 - DARKE COUNTY The years immediately following were times of trial, hardships and privation but the active French peasants by industry and frugality soon made large openings in the dense primeval forest, cleared and cultivated their fields, erected substantial habitations and made the wilderness blossom as the rose. For many years oxen were used to help turn the soil, to haul the heavy timbers, or to follow the rude trails. We have a beautiful and touching word picture of the trials encountered by the faithful in order to be present at the stated worship in those days written by a pastor of the flock. "At the appointed hour on Saturday afternoon the march began for St. Valbert's. With a compass for a guide, headed by Father Navarron, the little band entered the woods and with a hatchet, blazed the trees as they walked along to aid them in their journey until they reached St. Valbert's. The trees once being blazed, the future they considered a real pleasure when the weather was favorable, but not so during the heavy snows of winter and the rainy seasons of spring and fall—for then, walking became rather difficult—with the snow one and two feet deep clinging to their wooden shoes in their attempt to pick their way. Swamp creek, which still bears the same name and pursues the same course, though not so violent as in the early days, had to be crossed on the way, and after a heavy rain would overflow, together with its many branches, making it almost impossible to cross. Nothing daunted, the low places were sought for and then, with shoes and stockings in hand, the creek and streams were forded and the journey continued. "For nine long years these hardships, these trying times of faith were endured and the spring of 1848 found the Holy Family parish, Frenchtown, worshipping for the first time in their own temple, rude and rough in its construction of large logs, but neat in appearance, while its modest interior spoke of the pride of its worshipers to beautify and adorn the house of God. * * * * "These three parishes remained united until 1849, when the alloted time of good Father Navarron with his kind and faithful people being spent, he was transferred to other fields and Father Loui, his successor, became pastor of the self-sustaining parish, which, in the meantime had increased to forty some families. "The parish continued to grow in numbers and under the direction of Father Loui, an addition was built to the old log DARKE COUNTY - 607 church, which became too small to conveniently accommodate its members. With the passing years prosperity smiled upon his happy band, the many trials and hardships known to the early settlers gradually disappeared and the worship of religion was elevated to a high standard. "Each year saw its newcomers and raised the membership of the parish. Filled with an earnest desire to serve God in the best manner possible and actuated by the lofty ambition to make him better known and loved, they appealed to their beloved pastor for a larger church, a more suitable and up-to-date building. Father Brisard heard their plea and relying on the earnest co-operation of his faithful flock, he at once set to work to satisfy their wish. Plans were prepared and no time was lost in putting them into execution. With all their willingness and ready help it was a very difficult task. "Brick masons were scarce, as also were skilled carpenters. The bricks were burned on the ground near the cemetery, while the stone was hauled over fifteen miles of heavy, rough roads. A few weeks saw the old log structure razed to the ground, but it required the labor of many long months to replace it with the present brick edifice. Gumption and worlk, and still more work, backed by a firm and fixed will to succeed, kept them steadily employed. "The corner-stone was set in place in the year 1866 and few weeks later services were held within the sacred wall: They had given their best efforts to its completion, and were now reaping the reward of their many sacrifices." * * * "In June, 1899, to meet the crying needs of his good people, Father Denning superintended the building of an addition to the rear of the church which included a large sanctuary and two sacristies which not only increased its capacity, but also enhanced its beauty." "The Rev. James Kelly succeeded Rev. Denning as resident pastor and during his short term, the commodious nine-room pastoral residence was planned and completed. In March, 1905, Rev. Kelly was succeeded by the Rev. Frederick Veil, who after a three-year pastorate was followed by the present pastor, Rev. John Gnau. The line of pastors since the founding of the church has in-eluded the following names: Navarron, Loui, Rollinet, Hobryam, Converse, Henneberg, Langlois, Brisard, Kreusch, Kayser, Richert, Heurer, Roth, Bourian, Boehmer, Jakob, Missler, Denning, Kelly, Veil and Gnau. 608 - DARKE COUNTY "The first road which was cut through the northeastern section of the county was that done by the government in 1847, and called the Fort Recovery road, connecting Frenchtown and Versailles. The state road through the southern part of the county was also cut through at this time." Versailles. Versailles, the largest village and most important trading center in the northern part of the county was laid out in 1819 by Silas Atchinson under the name of Jacksonville. It's location, no doubt, was determined by the intersection of four important highways, viz.: the state road, running from Bellefontaine, through Sidney to Jacksonville and thence to Greenvlle; the Piqua, Fort Rowdy (Covington) and Fort Recovery road; the St. Mary's and Greenville road, and the Sidney Cyntha Ann and Jacksonville road. These roads in early days were distinctly mud roads, ungraded, corduroyed through the swamps and bridged after the "hogback" style over the small streams. However, they were relatively important and were a determining factor in Jacksonville's growth and prosperity. The erection of the "Bee Line" railway through here in 1853 instead of through the county seat was another factor of great importance in determining the future of the village. Its intermediate location with reference to Greenville, Sidney and Celina also contributed materially toward making it the commercial center of the northeastern part of the county. That part of the town lying north of the creek was known as Georgetown in early days and later as North Jacksonville. The coming of large numbers of French settlers about 1833 caused the two towns to be incorporated under the name of Versailles, in honor of the old French capital. Although lying in the Swamp creek valley, one of the most fertile sections of the county, Versailles is built on a glacial knoll, slightly elevated above Indian creek, has a sanitary location with plenty of good water and good drainage facilities. Being eighteen miles from Sidney and some thirteen from Greenville, it has a large territory from which to draw trade and has prospered in a commercial way. A disastrous fire razed the central and business section of the village on July 6, 1901, causing a loss estimated at some four hundred and fifty thousand dollars with insurance approximating two hundred and twenty thousand dollars. The fire started mysteriously in Sheffel's old DARKE COUNTY - 609 idle mill on the west end of Main street and spread eastward consuming all but two business rooms on the six blocks to the east, besides two blocks of buildings on the south side of Main street. Fifty-one business houses and twenty-nine dwellings—the best of the town—were consumed. The enterprise and resource of its citizens was soon shown in rebuilding in a much more substantial way than before, making it one of the best built towns in the county. Today it has two large overall factories employing about forty operatives each; an immense poultry and produce establishment operated by H. B. Hole, with branch establishments at Dayton, Arcanum, Greenville, Sidney, Covington and St. Paris; the Charles Masoner tobacco warehouse employing about forty people; the Geo. H. Worch lumber plant with branch establishments at Sidney, Osborn, Springfield, and New Carlisle; the J. M. Blue Co., dealing extensively in Canadian lumber and shipping ship lumber to Europe; besides grain elevators, mills, monumental works, brick and tile factories and extensive mercantile establishments. The Christian church is the oldest existing in the village and is said by some to have been organized as early as 1818. Among the charter members were the Whitmans, Brandons. Hoels, Baymans and Carsons. The present church building was erected in 1883, at a cost of about $6,000. Recent officials in this church were: Superintendent of Sunday school, Ralph Stamm; president Missionary society, Airs. Stella Martin; deacons, M. A. Finfrock, W. C. Hile and James Young; trustees, H. A. Gilbert, Ed Reed, E. T. Swineheart, Charles Shade; financial secretary, B. B. Campbell; treasurer, Marion Martin; pastor, Rev. H. F. Smith. The present enrollment is about 380. This congregation is now planning to erect a new church structure in the near future. On account of the large number of French citizens who belong to the Catholic church, a brief sketch of that organization rightly belongs in a history of the village. As before noted in the sketch of the Frenchtown church, the first place of Catholic worship was at St. Valbert's, two miles north of Versailles. To this church came the French pioneers of the Russia and Frenchtown settlements. The services were then held in the French language. On Easter Sunday, 1849, the great Archbishop Purcell preached in the English tongue, using the stump of a great oak for a pulpit. When, in 1846, churches were built at Frenchtown and Russia, St. Valbert's, the cradle (39) 610 - DARKE COUNTY of Catholicity in Darke county, lost some of its early popularity, became the resting place of the earliest settlers of the place. Desirous of having their church closer to their homes, the Catholic families of Versailles, in 1864, bought the property of the old Baptist church heretofore mentioned, standing at the corner of Main and Second streets, for $350. This structure was refitted and enlarged and became the first Catholic church in the village under the rectorship of Rev. Brissard. Here Rev. Kreish served from 1864 to 1873; Rev. T. B. Kayser, 1873-1876; T. Richard and F. J. Roth, 1876-1878, and A. N. Bourion from 1878-1886. Rev. Leo Boehmer succeeded Rev. Bourion and gave a new impetus to religious matters. Under his pastorate the present beautiful and commodious church building was dedicated in 1888. The St. Denis Catholic school was also erected about the same time and is now conducted by the Sisters of the Precious Blood. The following pastors have officiated since Rev. Boehmer: Revs. Louis Hefele, Jacobs, Otto Missler, Joseph Denning, John Cattes, James Fogarty, B. Bechmeyer and the present pastor, Rev. Henry J. Schuer, who has successfully guided and guarded the destinies of St. Denis since 1906. Although organized at a later date than the Christians, the Methodists now have a thriving congregation with a neat and substantial brick church building on the corner of Wood and West streets, of which Rev. J. O. Moffit is the present pastor. The Lutherans have two churches here: Trinity Evangelical Lutheran on East Wood street of which Rev. Isaiah Whitman is the present pastor; and Emmanuel's Evangelical Lutheran church on East Ward street. Versailles has taken an active part in political matters for several years and has furnished several county officials including Treasurer John Simons and Auditors J. C. Klipstine and Frank Snyder. James R. Marker, the present state highway commissioner, and formerly county engineer, is a son of Leonard Marker and was raised in this village. Several excellent family physicians have practiced here and the town is proud of the name and fame of Dr. John E. Fackler, M. D., who practiced in Versailles from. 1870 until prevented by the sickness-which resulted in his death, January 7, 1898. He was at one time a member of the Darke County Medical Association, and for about twenty years, of the Ohio Medical Society. He was a painstaking student, a clear and forceful writer on medical topics, and a progressive but careful experimenter. DARKE COUNTY - 611 At the time of his death he was president of the Versailles Medical Association. Dr. J. S. Neiderkorn, Dr. W. C. Gutermuth and Dr. C. F. Ryan have practiced several years in this village and vicinity and are well and favorably known. An idea of the development of Wayne township may be formed from the tax duplicate of 1913 which shows over $2,000,000 of real estate and nearly $700,000 of chattels in the township exclusive of Versailles, while this village is listed with $1,120,080 in real property and $533,870 in personal property. Versailles has a water works and electric light plant built by the city in the years 1900-1901, at an original cost of $25,000, and is planning to pave Main street and portions of intersecting streets this year. It has two papers, the Policy and the Leader, before noted. The first school in the village was built in 1821. The present school house is a substantial brick structure in which are housed eight grades and a high school. It was built in 1876 at a cost of some $25,000.00. The enrollment in the spring of 1914 was 321. The high school was established in 1881 and has graduated 227 pupils to date, 17 of whom were in the class of 1914. Its graduates are admitted to standard colleges without conditions and its teachers are all college graduates. A library of 2,200 volumes is maintained by the school and the laboratory apparatus is excellent. T. F. Johnson, J. E. Yarnell, T. E. Hook and Chas. E. Doust have served as superintendent in recent years. The Masons, K. of P., I. O. O. F. and Woodmen, each have a flourishing lodge in the village. The following are the present city officials: Mayor, H. B. Hole ; clerk, John Meyers; treasurer, Alfred Simon; marshal, Oliver Miller; fire chief, Charles Begin; members of council: H. A. Frankman, J. F. Gephart, John Voisard, A. J. Reed, Carl Earhart, Caradon Hole; Board of Education: Dr. John Ballinger, C. F. Whitney, L. L. Lehman, Ed Wood, A. F. Prakel; Board of Public Affairs: Nick Alexanders, Frank Ash, P. J. Grilliot; superintendent of the water works, Wm. Marl. Wesley Ault, county sealer of weights and measures, is also a resident of Versailles. In Greenlawn Cemetery a mausoleum was promoted and built by Dr. J. P. Collett in 1913 and dedicated Sunday, May 24, 1914. It is constructed in pure Egyptian design, single corridor plan of the same material as the Greenville mausoleum. It contains 120 crypts, and is said to be the finest small mausoleum in the central states. 612 - DARKE COUNTY The population of Versailles in 1910 was 1,580, and is now estimated at about 1,800. Adams Township. This township was organized in March, 1819. It originally contained all the land east of a line running from the northwest corner of section 4, township 10 north, of range 3 east, to the southwest corner of section 28, township 9, of range 3, and was taken from the east end of Greenville township and the south end of Wayne. In 1820, sections 3, 4, 9 and 10 of township 10, range 3, were taken into Richland township. In June, 1838, all of township 8, range 4, and township 9, range 3, that were in Adams, was taken into a new township named Van Buren, leaving it with about thirty-five square miles of territory. Greenville creek, with some minor branches, drains almost the entire southern part of the township. The main stream runs in a general east and west direction, meandering through the two tiers of sections. The Stillwater drains about four sections in the northeast corner and Harris creek the balance of the northern portion of the township. The surface is rolling, especially along Greenville creek in the southwest portion. Lime rock is exposed along this stream near Cromer's mill and Gettysburg and signs of considerable glacial action are seen in the knolls and boulders which abound in this region. The Pennsylvania railway, which divides into two divisions at Bradford, near the center of the east line, has two lines across this township. The Logansport division runs north of west in a straight line from Bradford, and leaves the township near the northwest corner of section 15, township 10 north, range 3 east. The Indianapolis division runs in a straight line from Bradford to Gettysburg and then turns almost southwest and leaves the township near the southwest corner. The original forest contained much beech, together with ash, maple and hickory. This township is the second largest in the county and was the second in order of settlement. It is in the center of the first tier of townships along the eastern line of the county. Abraham Studabaker, the second permanent rural settler in Darke county, located on the south bank of Greenville creek, opposite Gettysburg, in section 25, in 1808. Here he erected a block house and remained during the perilous times of the war DARKE COUNTY - 613 of 1812, as elsewhere related. A few families settled about Greenville and the nearest of these was six miles from this lonely settler. David Studabaker was born here in 1814, being the first white child born in the township. In 1816, the family moved about two miles south of Greenville, in what was afterwards known as the Studabaker settlement. A directory published in 1819 mentions "Studabaker's block house," as a promnent point on the Dayton and Greenville pike, nine miles from the latter village. Major George Adams settled in the neighborhood of the present site of Cromer's (Baer's) mill just after the war of 1812. Here he erected a little corn cracker of a mill, which turned out a small amount of coarse meal under favorable conditions. A little grocery and whisky store was soon established and "Adam's Mill" became a popular resort. When the township was organized in 1819, it took the name of the doughty major. As the population increased, the settlers here, and in the neighboring townships took their grain to the mills at Greenville Falls and Covington to be ground. In 1816 Armstrong Campbell and Mr. Stewart settled in the Studabaker opening; the former in the southwest quarter of section 30, and the latter in the northeast quarter of section 36. A settlement was made at and near the present site of New Harrison, in 1816 and 1817, by William Cunningham, Samuel Robinson. Barton Fairchild, Thomas McCune, Josiah Carr, John Myers, Zadoc Reagan, Zachariah March and Ebenezer Byram. Isaac Hollingsworth and Thomas Warren were also early settlers. In 1830, John Reek, William Reek, Henry Weaver and Armstrong Campbell erected the first school house in the township on section 30, on the present site of the cemetery near Gettysburg. Samuel Horner was the first teacher. Previous to this time Jacob Herscher taught a subscription school. There are now twelve school houses in the township, besides those in Gettysburg and Bradford. The Lutherans erected the first church about 1834, on the pike south of Greenville creek in section 36, a short distance east of the present site of school No. 8. This building was afterwards moved to Gettysburg and used until the congregation disbanded. There is now a strong German Baptist church in the southwest corner of section 12, known as Oakland church; a Dunkard church about half a mile north of this in section 14; besides a Methodist church at Horatio, a Presbyterian and M. E. church at Gettysburg and a Presbyterian church at Bradford. Several families of Yorkers or 614 - DARKE COUNTY Old Order River Brethren live in the township, between Horatio and Bradford, who hold religious services in their homes. We have referred to the early settlement about New Harrison. A village was platted here in 1837, by Samuel Robinson. By 1845, there were a dozen families in the place, a M. E. church, two taverns, a physician, and probably a store and a smithy. At that time the forest approached on all sides and to the northwest there was an unbroken stretch of seven miles in which there was not a single house. Deer and wild turkeys were often seen in the village. This place of promise was soon eclipsed by the growth of Gettysburg A village, which was established about a mile and a half eastward by a colony of emigrants from Adams county, Pennsylvania, who came mostly between the years 1827 and 1831. The new town was not platted, however, until 1842, when it was named for Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in the above named county. John Hershey was the proprietor and built the first structure in the new village, which was used for a tavern. James Auld was the first store keeper, postmaster and justice of the peace. A blacksmith shop, a saddler shop and a cabinet shop were established at an early date. The Presbyterians built a church at the west end of Corwin street as early as 1847 or 1848 on land donated by Alexander Horner, who, with William Carr, John Meyer and Dr. Darwin were active factors in its erection. The organization has continued to this day and the congregation now numbers about 150 members, including many of the oldest families in the community. Rev. Thomas Elcock was the first pastor. The Methodists have a church on the southeast corner of Corwin and Clay streets which was moved to its present location from the east line of section 31, on the Troy pike in the spring of 1875. It has been remodeled and improved and still serves this prosperous congregation. Rev. J. O. Moffitt of Versailles is the present pastor. The citizens of Gettysburg have been noted for a zeal for education. The first school house was a brick structure, and was erected on Corwin street about 1850. A second brick school house was erected in 1866 at a cost of some $5,000. This structure served until about 1893, when it was replaced by a modern three roomed brick building at a cost of some DARKE COUNTY - 615 $10,000. A fourth room and an auditorium with a seating capacity of some five hundred was added later at a probable cost of some $5,000. This building is located on a fine lot on the north side of East Main street. A high school was established here by Prof. B. O. Martin, in 1896, which has graduated many pupils to date. Prof. Keith Cannon is the principal of the school. Prof. J. H. Royer, one of Darke county's best educators, was at one time superintendent of this school, which has included among its students men now prominent in various callings, including Prof. Edward Rynearson, district superintendent, Pittsburg, Pa.; Aaron Moul, expert accountant; Harvey Kendall, Glen Stoltz, Prof. Minor McCool, principal of Greenville high school; Prof. J. L. Selby, former principal of Greenville high school. Besides these important public institutions, Gettysburg now contains a bank, hotel, postoffice, grain elevator, lumber yard, station, two tobacco warehouses, three good general stores, a furniture store, a grocery, a drug store, etc. The main streets have recently been greatly improved by grading, curbing and laying cement walks and the village is lighted by electricity. As in most towns of this size, the fraternal spirit is strong as shown by the number of lodges. F. and A. M. Lodge No. 477 was chartered October 21, 1874, with ten members. It now has about sixty-five members. There is also an I. O. O. F., a K. of P. and a Jr. O. W. A. M., the latter of which was chartered March 4, 1903, with eleven members. Wayne Fair is the mayor and John Kneisley, village clerk. Samuel Hershey is township clerk. The real estate in Gettysburg was appraised in 1913 at $260,730. The population in 1910 was 320. Bradford. This flourishing village was platted in 1865, along the east line of the southeast quarter of section 21, township 9 north, range 4 east. The original plat was along the east line, but entirely within Darke county. Being at the meeting point of two recently established railways, it grew from the beginning and in 1870, had 243 inhabitants. Additions were soon made on both sides of the line and in 1890, it had a total population o 1,338, of whom 477 were in Darke county. This growth was largely due to the development of the Pennsylvania railway system, and the fact that this was an important division point. Many railway employees and mail clerks made their 616 - DARKE COUNTY home here for convenience and the railway company established a large round house and switch yard on the Miami county side. The village was incorporated August 24, 1871. A large, three story, brick school house was erected on the west side as early as 1876, at a cost of some $28,000. This building had two towers and an auditorium with a seating capacity of about 600, showing the growth and enterprise of the village at that time. This building was torn down and replaced in 1908 by a modern eight-room brick structure with an auditorium at a total cost with furnishings of probably $30,000. The town has continued to grow, and on account of its strategic location has a promising future. It now has a city hall, school, hotel, two banks, and a Presbyterian church on the Darke county side; a fine large Railway Young Men's Christian Association building, an 1\1. E. church, a Brethren mission, a hotel, station, elevator, lumber yard, stockyard and round house on the Miami county side. It has the following lodges: Bradford Lodge No. 560, I. O. O. F., instituted in 1872; Bradford Lodge No. 593, F. and A. M., chartered October 19, 1905, with 26 members—present membership about 80; Christian Chapter No. 241, Eastern Stars, instituted July 14, 1905; Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen, No. 826. The population in 1910 was 1,844, of whom 669 were in Darke county. Horatio. Horatio is a small village in the northeastern quarter of section 15, township 10, range 3 east, on the northern division of the Pennsylvania railway. It has not made much growth since its establishment—probably on account of its proximity to Stelvideo. It now has a postoffice, store and an M. E. church. The property and improvements in Adams township are indicated by the tax assesment in 1913, which was $3,146,550 on real estate, and $2,032,420 on personal property. The total population of the township was placed in 1910 at 2,835. Franklin Township. This township was formed in June, 1839, by taking all of township 8 north, range 4 east, that is, within the limits of Darke county, and adding one tier of sections from the eastern side of township 9 north, range 3 east, from Van Buren township, giving the new township 24 sections in all. DARKE COUNTY - 617 The surface is a level plain broken here and there by gravel cairns, and the soil is deep and rich, having been formed largely from the alluvial deposits of the immense swamps that originally covered large portions of the land. Painter (or Panther) Creek enters the southwestern corner of the township, trends northeastward and crosses the eastern county line in the southeastern corner of section 9, draining probably over half of the entire area. The northern part is drained by a branch of Greenville creek, and the southeastern portions by minor tributaries of the Stillwater. Irwin C. Mote, esquire, deceased, wrote thus of pioneer days in this township: "In the early forties we lived on the highway between Franklin township, and the Stillwater mills. We lived there where Laura is now, and all the travel between that township and the Stillwater mills had to go by our place of residence. Many times there would pass our house a team of one horse and a cow hitched up to the fore part of a wagon. Some times there would pass two or three on horseback or cowback, going to the mill, and at other times a lone man or boy would pass riding a cow with a sack of corn thrown across its back, destined for the Stillwater mills." * * * "At the time that I write about, Franklin township was a wilderness, and it was nearly one-half covered with water the year round, and was full of nearly all kinds of game, such as squirrels, turkeys and deer. There were also different kinds of vicious animals in the wilds of that township, namely wolves, hear, catamounts, etc. * * * That part of Darke county is the garden spot of the world, but it took work and labor to make it." Among the early settlers were Samuel Hall, who located in section 18, and John Haworth, who located in section 33 about 1824 or 1825. Eli Inman settled in section 8 in 1826, and Daniel Oakes settled in section 19 about 1828. Later settlers were Martin Brandt, Henry Finfrock, Theophilus T. Penny, Wiliam Hess and Christian Newcomer. The following excerpt from the writings of Mr. Henry Layer, whose biography appears in Volume II of this work, contains many interesting items of early history and throws some strong side lights on early social life. This article was written about 1908: "John Hess, who formerly lived near the village of Painter Creek, but who is now deceased and buried in the Newcomer cemetery, helped to build the first school house in this town- 618 - DARKE COUNTY ship. It was a log structure put up near the west bank of the stream of Painter Creek on land at present owned by Jonas Rhoades and in process of time this was lathed and plastered and was made a comfortable house for those times and it was in this log structure that the writer of this sketch received his first instructions in the rudiments of education. To the best of my recollection, David Olwine was the first teacher who taught in this building, and I think he taught about three winters in the same place, the schools at that time being supported mainly by subscription, that is money donated by the patrons of the school district. Those teachers who succeeded David Olwine in this newly organized district were George H. Martz, Benjamin Hathaway, B. M. Richardson, Joseph Mote, Moses Bonebrake, Joseph Drew, Amos North and R. T. Hale, who came from Indiana and was a very efficient teacher. In due time there was another log school house built on land now owned by Edward Eck in section 32, and also another on land now owned by Van Rench in section 20, and in process of time there was another log structure erected as a school house in what is now Red River. The first house built in this township for religious meetings was erected on land now owned by Samuel Beane in section 30. This was used for religious meetings as well as for singing schools. John Hess, deceased, and Lewis Hess, who now lives in Yorkshire, Patterson township, being the teachers who taught the rudiments of music in the book known as the Missouri Harmony, and a great many of the musical pieces used in the book then in use are still set forth in our present system of song books. The second house built in this township to be used for a meeting house was built by the Newlights or Christian church on land now owned by the John Spidel heirs in section 29. This house later on was known by the name of "Buckneck," from an incident which occurred in the immediate vicinity of the house, wherein a man by the name of Ogan killed a male deer and gave the neck of it to his near neighbor out of generosity. However, these log structures for schools as well as religious uses have all been superseded by twelve good and substantial buildings for school purposes and four large frame structures for devotional services as well as for Sunday school. "The first justice of the peace in this township of whom I have any recollection was John Haworth and I think he was succeeded by Daniel Young, who was succeeded by Ezekiel DARKE COUNTY - 619 Mote and then William Hess was elected, who held the office to the time of his death in 1868, others who held the office at different intervals whom we might name, but time and space will not allow it. "The first Sunday school organized in this township was in the log meeting house built by the Newlights, of which I have made mention. When I was about twelve years old I attended Sunday school for the first time at that place, it being about two miles from where my parents lived, and I went by myself. The superintendent being John Wilson, who knew me, gave me a book the title of which was "The Story of Jane C. Judson," and he told me to take it along home with me and read it through carefully and bring it back the next Sunday then he would give me another, which I did, and in this way I continued on and in process of time the superintendent would occasionally give me one of the primary classes to teach, which greatly encouraged me in the work. At present there are duly organized Sunday schools in each of the four meeting houses in this township. "My parents settled in this township when I was about three years old, having moved from Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, with another family, an uncle of mine, who located in Clay county, Indiana. Both families moved in wagons a distance of about six hundred miles, coming through Harrisburg and crossing the Blue Ridge and Allegheny mountains, passing through Columbus, which at that time was a small place comparatively speaking. "The population of Franklin township in 1840, was 291, and in 1880 it was 1,871. Thus we see that the township was very sparsely populated and people neighbored with each other who lived from two to three miles apart, it being no uncommon thing for people to go three miles to a log rolling or house raising, or barn raising and even not excepting corn huskings, those gatherings being common in the early settlements of this township as well as others. "The first settlers in this township in selecting a site for their buildings always chose the highest place on their land without taking into consideration their outlet to any public road, of which there were very few. The first public road of which I have any recollection was what is now known as the Milton pike. People who first settled here made their own outlets, cutting roads diagonally through the woods in such a manner as to best meet their own conveniences with- 620 - DARKE COUNTY out paying any particular attention to section or half section or quarter section lines." The sketch of the "Church of the Brethren" in chapter ten contains some interesting history of that church in this township. Besides these churches there is a Union Christian and Mennonite church at "The Beech," in the northwest corner of section 7, and a Christian church on the eastern side of the Milton pike in the southeast quarter of section 29. The educational spirit of the citizens of Franklin township is shown by the impressive fact that it contains the only township high school thus far established in Darke county. This high school was organized in 1905, and the first class, containing twelve members, was graduated in 1908. Minor McCool, now principal of the Greenville High school, was the superintendent, and J. D. Crowell the principal of the school at that time. A substantial modern school building containing five rooms and a basement, 44 by 60 feet in size, was erected n 1907 at a cost of $7,500. This building is heated by steam and lighted by a gasoline light plant. A stable and shed capable of sheltering twenty horses and twenty-two buggies was erected in 1913. A report issued in the fall of 1913, shows 49 graduates, 30 teachers instructed, 42 pupils in the high school, 14 pupils from other townships attending the school. A splendid physical laboratory and a library of some 300 volumes are notable features of this school. The school is in a flourishing condition and has a splendid outlook. The following persons have served as teachers since the establishment of the school; Supt. Minor McCool, B. S.; Prin. J. D. Crowell, B. S.; Margaret Bridge, A. B.; Supt. Chas. A. Wilt, B. S.; Prin. Mabel McCurdy, A. B.; Prin. Alice Flory, A. B.; Prin. Ruth Dull, A. B. The members of the board in 1913 were: H. H. Bireley, J. L. Swinger, David Landis, Benj. Landis, David Fourman and Josiah Eikenberry. The only village in Franklin township is Painter Creek located on the Milton pike in sections 19 and 30. It was platted in 1870, and now contains a town hall, public school and tile factory. There are good roads on nearly every section line, besides the Greenville and West Milton pike, which crosses the western line near the center of section 13, and leaves the county near the southeastern corner of the township. Besides the staple grains of this region, a large amount of tobacco is raised and the land is accounted among the best in the county. DARKE COUNTY - 621 The population in 1910 was 1,469, while in 1890 it was 1,731 indicating that this township, like most purely rural sections of our country, suffered a decrease during this period on account of the rush for the towns and cities. This condition, no doubt, is temporary as the fertility of the land and vast improvements will eventually attract a dense population. The tax duplicate for 1913 showed real estate to the value of $1,798,730, and chattels amounting to $467,520. Monroe Township. This township occupies the southeast corner of the county, and was erected in June, 1836, by detaching from the east side of Twin township all of township 7 north, range 4 east, that is in Darke county, together with the eastern tier of sections of township 8 north, range 3 east, making it six miles north and south and four miles east and west. Ludlow creek, which rises in the northwestern portion and trends southeastward, drains about three-fourths of its area. The surface is quite level, and in early days the network of small branches forming the headwaters of Ludlow creek spread out into swamps and quagmires, covering a large part of the township. The drainage of these low wet areas revealed a rich, deep vegetable loam, which has made Monroe one of the most fertile tracts in the entire county. Asa Jones and Henry Addington settled in the northern part in section 8, about 1819, being the first to penetrate and open up this howling swamp ash wilderness. John Mote and family followed in about a year. Thomas Jones settled in the northern part and George Gable in the southern part in 1823. On account of the gloomy and forbidding condition of the country, however, settlement was retarded, but others soon cast their lot with the pioneers. Among these were William and John Richardson, in the northern part, Samuel Cams and Peter Shank in the southern part, and Joseph Brown, Peter, Abraham and John Snorph in the southwestern part. The first school district was laid out in 1836. It was three miles long, east and west, and one mile wide. A school house was started in this district, but much dissatisfaction arose on account of the shape and size of the district which resulted in the forming of new districts two miles square. The partly finished school building was transferred to section 28, and completed in 1837. 622 - DARKE COUNTY Asa Jones, the first settler, also became the first teacher. On account of the sparse settlements and the swampy condition much difficulty and danger was encountered by the children, who followed the long blazed paths to school. Difficulties encountered, however, developed strong and stalwart characters, and the little log school with its puncheon floor and seats, its big fire place, rude furnishings and primitive text books, sent out many, many a citizen of ability and integrity. The first election in the township is said to have been held in the fall of 1836, at which time John Oakes cast the first ballot and Ezekiel Mote the second. Several families of German Baptists settled in the township at an early day, and Philip Younce was one of their early preachers. For a fuller account of the establishment and growth of this denomination in the township and county the reader is referred to the article on this church in chapter ten. Today the members of this church own much of the land in the township and have made of it a thrifty and substantial community. There is a German Baptist church in the northeast corner of section 6 and one in the southwest quarter of section 1, besides a Lutheran church in section 19 and a M. E. church in Pitsburg. The township is well drained, and has pikes on most of the section lines, besides the old state road which crosses the western line near the northwest corner of section 12, and runs in a straight line southeasterly crossing the east line near the center of the eastern boundary of section 33, and continuing on through Salem and Phillipsburg to Dayton. Pitsburg. The only village in the township is Pitsburg, which is built on both sides of the line dividing sections 7 and 12. Its early history, prior to the building of the Peoria and Eastern (formerly I. B. & W.) railway, was one of struggle against adverse conditions, and as late as 1880, the historian wrote of it: "There is no village or city within the boundaries of this township, but a place that bears the name of Pittsburg, of which perhaps in a day away back in the past, some had an idle dream of future greatness. But, alas, the ravages of time, the destroyer of all things, have lain in the dust the ambitions of its founders, and Pittsburg lives only in name in story." DARKE COUNTY - 623 Could the writer of these lines have postponed his verdict until today he would have had quite a different tale to tell for the Pitsburg of today is probably the best built and most prosperous village of its size in Darke county. The last few years have wrought a great transformation in its appearance for it now contains a public school, an M. E. church, a bank, hotel, fire department, elevators, lumber yards, besides warehouses, good stores and public conveniences and in the neighborhood of a hundred buildings in all. It is an especially good shipping point for the grain and immense crops of tobacco raised in the surrounding country, and does a large mercantile business with the prosperous farmers of this section. For several years this village was known as Arnettsville but the name was changed in 1909. The census of 1910 gave the village a population of 240, and the township 1,539, it being one of the few townships which showed an actual increase over the census of 1900. The real property of Pittsburg was assessed at $167,090 and the chattels at $166,020, while the entire township showed valuations of $1,880,700, and $746,290, respectively in 1913.