FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO - 275 On another occasion Mr. Snider drove three hundred and twenty-nine stock hogs to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and there sold them to a hotel keeper. He remained over night at the same hotel and had on his person, six thousand dollars in money, all in his pocket books. Not feeling well that night he did not sleep as sound as usual, and well it was, too. About midnight he heard muffled footsteps coming up the stairs toward his room. He waited until the robber really entered his room and commenced feeling about his head and pillow, whereupon he jumped up and exclaimed, "Leave this room at once or I will blow your brains out." He left, too ! As a matter of fact Uncle Billy did not have any firearms with him. At another time he dropped his pocketbook from a pocket that had a hole in it. When he missed it, he was out some distance from the place he had last stopped at, and soon retraced his steps. Upon going into a small store, he saw some men looking at something on the counter, and enquired if they had found any money. Replying that they had, they never once questioned him, but gave the whole amount over to him. "Billy" thought he had struck a very honest neighborhood. The pocketbook contained seven thousand dollars. In pioneer days Uncle Billy "married" a good many couples in Fayette county and it is related that his favorite ceremony was as follows : "Dark and dismal is the weather When I tie this rogue and score together.  Since you are so well agreed Great success the young Indian breed ; Wild-cat Jo and Apple Lucia, Great success the young papooses, Let rain, hail and thunder Put this rogue and score together Salute your partner." "KELLY" DIXON, THE AGED PEDESTRIAN. John Kelly Dixon, known far and near as "Kelly" Dixon, a resident of this county and aged ninety-one years, has a unique and interesting record, he having been a California "Forty-niner," at a time when crossing over from the states to the Pacific coast was no pleasure excursion. He was the son of Thomas and Margaret Dixon, born in Bedford county, Virginia, and when ten years old accompanied his parents to Ohio, walking four hundred 276 - FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO miles. Until he was twenty-five years of age he farmed and cleared up timber and split rails at fifty cents a day and received three dollars an acre for clearing up some timber land. He boarded himself and subsisted on a wild game, fish and corn bread diet. He was a dead shot with a rifle and killed many wild turkeys a hundred yards distant. In 1850 he was attracted, with thousands more, to the newly discovered gold fields of California. With him were his brother, Ellis Dixon, Henry Hoppes and Joseph Sperry, who started out with a mule team—four mules and a big wagon. From Washington C. H. they made their way direct to Cincinnati, Ohio, and from there mules boat passage for St. Louis, from which place they started with their for the Golden Gate on the far-off Pacific. En route they crossed three great deserts, one ninety miles wide, one forty miles wide and another thirty miles wide. After traveling six hundred miles on the plains, they came into a region where cholera was raging and people were daily dying. Mr. Dixon’s brother, Ellis, took the dread disease and died. Saddened by the loss of his brother and comrade, Dixon and Mr. Hoppes continued on their journey to California, their first stop being the then small village of Georgetown. Here they made big wages digging gold, but after two weeks Mr. Dixon decided to try his luck in other parts of California, bade Hoppes good bye and went on alone. Chancing to fall in with a man of his liking, he formed a partnership with him, and they were both quite successful in gold-mining, but soon his partner sickened and died, leaving him alone again in a strange land. But by rare good fortune, he fell in with two of his old company and they all started for the northern mining section. This trip was among the most trying of all his western experience. The little band met several tribes of Indians, suspicious and unfriendly. For a time things looked gloomy, but the gold diggers sang and danced and finally won their way into the good graces of the Indians, and were allowed to go on their way unmolested. Starvation then threatened them. During two weeks of their time they were in northern California and they had nothing to live on but taffy made from sugar and water. For a time they tried mining in Oregon, but in that were not successful, so returned to California. Again Dixon was left alone, but in a rich field where he had the highest returns of his sojourn in California, making as high as forty dollars a day. He traveled two hundred and twenty miles alone, making from fifty to sixty miles a day, and by good fortune escaped from Indians, bears and wolves. During his entire trip he traveled through thirteen bands of Indiana, some friendly and some savage and unfriendly to the white race. After a FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO - 277 year in California he boarded a boat for Mexico. He was thirty days on the Pacific coast and upon reaching Mexico made his best pedestrian record of one thousand miles, walking to Vera Cruz, from which city he went to New Orleans by boat and over into the Mississippi river, headed north for Cairo, Illinois. From that city he walked four hundred miles to Cincinnati, finally arriving at Washington C. H. January 1, 1852. He was an early convert to the gospel of work and continued to follow it so long as his age and strength would permit. AN AGED NATIVE-BORN CITIZEN. In April, 1913, the Ohio Register spoke of an aged man, a native of this county, as follows : ,"Wallace Creamer, of Jefferson township, passed his ninety-fourth milestone yesterday. He is a pioneer citizen of Fayette county in whom all are justly proud. He is one of the wealthy land owners, whose ninety-fourth birthday was last Wednesday. He is truly a wonderful Man is approaching his century milestone with the spirits of a boy, with faculties preserved and undimmed interest in the affairs of the church and nation. Mr. Creamer has voted for every Republican President since the formation of that party, and is a most loyal supporter of that political party. He was born and raised on the Creamer homestead, near Parrott's Station. He is rounding out his ripe old age on the same spot where he was born. It is the ardent wish of a large family and many friends that he may celebrate many more birthdays in the same happy manner that he has this year. "Mr. Creamer married and reared a family of honor in this county. Mrs. Kate Worthington, mother of Mrs. J. D. Post, is a sister of Mr. Creamer, and she has passed her ninetieth birthday." At this date (October, 1914) Mr. Creamer is still living and full of vigor and takes his usual interest in the affairs of the world. FAYETTE PIONEER AT FORT MEIGS. A considerable number of the first settlers in Fayette county had served as soldiers in the last war with Great Britain, the War of 1812-14. Among this number was Batteal Harrison, who was a representative in the Ohio Legislature—the first from this county. He was later an associate judge and a man of unusual importance to the first settlement. He participated in the engagement at Fort Meigs, under command of Captain Langham. The following 278 - FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO. description of that awful engagement has been well written by historian Henry Howe, and reads as follows : Soon after the active operations began around the fort, Gen. William Henry Harrison received word that Gen. Green Clay was near at hand with a reinforcement of twelve hundred men. The plan was for Clay to descend the river in flat-boats ; Clay was to detach eight hundred men, who should be landed on the left bank of the river, where they were to attack the English batteries, spike the cannons and destroy the carriages, then retreat to the fort while the remainder of the troops were to land on the side next to the and cut their way to it through the Indians. When Clay approached the fort, he detached Colonel Dudley to attack the batteries. To divert the attention of the English and Indians, General Harrison ordered Colonel Miller, with his famous Fourth Regulars, to make a sortie on the side of the river on which the fort stood. He attacked the barriers, spiked the cannon, and though the English outnumbered him, he took about forty prisoners and completely routed them. Colonel Dudley raised the Indian yell and captured the batteries on the opposite side of the river, but, neglecting to spike the cannon, and lingering on the spot, his scouts were fired upon by the Indians in ambush. Indians began to swarm around him ; Tecumseh swam across the river with his savage hordes upon his rear; Colonel Dudley fell by the tomahawk, and scarcely two hundred out of the eight hundred men reached the fort. The American prisoners were taken to old Fort Miami, in which they were confined. Here the infamous Proctor allowed the Indians to butcher the Americans with the tomahawk and scalping-knife and torture them as their fancy dictated. He is said to have witnessed the massacre of over twenty prisoners in this place. Tecumseh now made his appearance, ignorant of what was going on inside of the fort. A British officer described his conduct, on this occasion, to an American. He said that suddenly a thundering voice was heard speaking in the Indian tongue ; he looked around and saw Tecumsch, riding as fast as his horse could carry him, to a spot where two Indians had an American, killing him. Tecumseh sprang from his horse and catching one Indian by the throat and the other by the breast, threw them to the ground. The chief then drew his tomahawk and scalping-knife and, running between the prisoner and the Indians, brandished his weapons madly and dared any of the hundreds of Indians around him to touch another prisoner. His people seemed much confounded. Tecumseh exclaimed, passionately, "Oh! what will become of .my Indians !" He then enquired where Proctor was, when, suddenly seeing him at a short distance, he demanded of FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO - 279 the commander why he had allowed this massacre. "Sir," said Proctor, “your Indians cannot be commanded." "Begone !" answered the wily old chief sneeringly, "you are unfit to command ; go and put on petticoats." HON. MILLS GARDNER-AN EPITOME. The late ex-congressman from this county, Hon. Mills Gardner, an honored pioneer of Washington C. H., is entitled in this chapter to the following epitome. His biography appears elsewhere in the work : Born January 30, 1830. Left school at the age of fourteen years. A store clerk until twenty-five years of age. Married October, 1851. Admitted to the bar in 1855. 1855 sent as delegate to state convention that nominated Salmon P. Chase. Elected prosecuting attorney two terms. 1862, member of Ohio State Senate. 1864, presidential elector on Lincoln ticket. 1866. member of Ohio House of Representatives. 1872, member of State Constitutional Convention. 1876, elected to seat in United States Congress. Died February 20, 1910. A type of noble manhood. JUDGE RICHARD A. HARRISON. This distinguished lawyer and honored citizen, while not a resident, practiced law in Fayette county nearly a half century, and by reason of his strong personality and rare judicial mind, won the esteem and confidence of many within this county, who will recall his fair decisions and his noble traits of manhood. He passed from earth's shining circle in August, 1904. He was born April 8, 1824, in Thirsk, Yorkshire, England, the son of a mechanic who was also a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal church. With his parents young Harrison came to America in 1832, the family settling in Warren county, but subsequently removed to Springfield, where the subject of this memoir worked on the Republic, a newspaper of that city, when aged about twelve years. In his after years he was classed among such noted characters as Stanley Mathews, Judge Hoadley, Judge Rufus S. Ranney and 280 - FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO. others of his day. In his office he frequently vacillated, but before the court he never wavered. He studied every feature of the case—both side— and was never caught by the wiley traps sometimes set by opposite attorneys. While he knew both sides of all cases he tried, he never showed this fact before the court and jury—one side was his to contend for and there was none other to him before the courts. Of Judge Harrison's early career it should be recorded that he commenced to study law in the office of Judge Rodgers, of Springfield, Ohio. After eighteen months there he entered the Cincinnati Law School, the first such institution established west of the Alleghany mountains. He graduated in the spring of 1846 and by virtue of his diploma was admitted to the bar on his twenty-second birthday, April 8, 1846, at London, Ohio. He had many celebrated cases, some of which were fought out before the supreme court. Among such noted cases at law may be recalled that in which the proceedings attacked the patents of the Bell Telephone Company. In this case he had associated with him Governor Hendricks, of Indiana, and J. J. Starrow, of Boston. Politically, Judge Harrison was first a Whig and later a Republican. In 1857 he was elected to a seat in the General Assembly, being in the House. In 1859 he was elected to the State Senate. He there served with such noted law-makers as Gen. James A. Garfield, Jacob D. Cox, Thomas C. Jones and E. A. Ferguson. In 1861, when Gov. Thomas Corwin was appointed as minister to Mexico, his place as congressman was filled by Judge Harrison, who was appointed to such position. He retired from public life in 1863. In 1875 Governor R. B. Hayes appointed him as a member of the supreme court commission for Ohio, but he respectfully declined, as did he upon the death of Judge William W. Johnson, in 1887, when Governor Foraker tended him a seat on the supreme bench. He preferred the private practice of law to holding public offices. Among the paragraphs in the fine set of resolutions by the bar association, after his death, occurs these words : "He was the ideal lawyer, statesman and citizen. Truly a great man has fallen. Nevertheless he lives and he was a man who in his profession and his every walk of life is worthy of emulation and veneration." HON. MARSHALL J. WILLIAMS. This deceased member of the state supreme court was born in Fyette county, Ohio, February 22, 1837, and died at Columbus, July 7, 1902, Gus father was Dr. Charles M. Williams, who was a native of Clermont county, FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO - 281 this state. The parents resided in Fayette county nearly all the years of their married life. The father was a noted physician of his day. Judge Williams, of whom this memoir treats especially, was permitted to attend the common schools, but had a hard time at trying to secure a higher education, but finally mastered all obstacles and became a learned man. Aside from two years at Delaware College he had no school advantages, outside the common district School. Before he had reached the age of twenty years he had taught a number of terms of district school, at the same time studying law. In 1857, when he was about twenty years old, knowing that he was qualified to practice law, but also knowing that he had to wait another year before he could be admitted in Ohio, he went west to Iowa, where age made no difference, and there he was at once examined and admitted to the bar. He remained and practiced there for one year, then, being seized with a home-sickness for his native state, he returned and opened a law office in Washington C. H. He continued in the practice until 1884, when he was elected judge of the second district circuit court. The year after he returned from Iowa, 1859, he was elected prosecuting attorney for Fayette county and was, re-elected in 1861. In 1869 he was honored by being elected to a seat in the Ohio Legislature, and was re-elected in 1871. In 1884, when the circuit court of Ohio was created, he was elected a judge in that court, and was soon its chief justice. He served two years on the circuit bench and in 1880 was elevated to the state supreme court. In 1891 he was re-elected and still again in 1896, serving almost sixteen years on the supreme bench of the state. As a judge the name of Marshall J. Williams will be honored as one of the greatest jurists of his generation, and will stand in fame among the ablest of any age. In the social relations of life, among his neighbors and acquaintances, he was highly respected, and in his profession was admired and beloved by all the attorneys. His moral character was above reproach and unsullied. He was ever a true gentleman, honest and upright, commanding the respect of all within the large scope of his activities. His influence was always on the side of right and good order. Hon. A. R. Creamer, a fellow associate, used these words in his eulogy over Judge Williams : "He needs no bronze statue or granite shaft to perpetuate his memory. His decisions will be read, studied and followed in the legal profession and the courts for a thousand years and as long as our present form of government endures. A man's good works are the most enduring monument to his memory. Judge Williams could leave no richer legacy to the public or to posterity than the record of a pure, well-spent, honored life." CHAPTER XIX. UNION TOWNSHIP. TOPOGRAPHY. The township of Union occupies a central position in the county. It was one of the original townships, formed at the time of the organization of Fayette county in 1810. The boundary lines are as follows: Beginning about a mile east of Bloomingburg, on the Marion township line, it runs a little south of west about four and a half miles to the pike; then deflects a little to the south until it reaches Paint creek, about two and a half miles; thence nearly southwest about two miles to Sugar creek; thence with said creek about ten miles to Paint creek ; thence north with the pike one mile; thence east one mile to Paint creek; thence north two miles with the creek; thence northeast two miles to the pike; thence north of east three miles to the railroad ; thence northwest with the pike three miles ; thence north to the beginning. The drainage of the township is well taken care of by Paint creek, supplemented by artificial drainage where necessary. This creek divides near Washington into the east and west branch. Sugar creek flows along the western side of the township. The land generally is level in Union township. The western portion was at one time very heavily timbered, while the northeastern part was called the "barrens," very low and swampy, covered with high grass in the early days, which the Indians annually destroyed burning. EARLY SETTLEMENT. Edward Smith, Sr., was one of the earlier settlers in the township, coming in 1810. He is mentioned in full in the chapter on early settlement and organization. His death occurred while he was trying to cross Paint creek during high water. Jacob Casselman was a noted hunter and farmer of this section. John Thomas, a farmer, was a soldier in the. War of 1812. Jacob Judy, also a soldier in this war, was another prominent early farmer. Col. Joseph Bell FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO - 283 represented the fourth district in Congress for several terms. Col. Joseph Vance, Sr., served in the French and Revolutionary wars. John King, farmer, Robert Irion, first surveyor, William Cockerall, first school teacher, John Irion, trustee, William Boggs, shoemaker, J. and S. Coffin, tailors, were in the War of 1812, also James Pollock and Reuben Purcell. William Brannon, Sr., William Brannon, Jr., James Brannon, C. Coffman, Hiram Rush and N. Rush were farmers. The Aliens, Ananias, Madison, James, Joseph, Jesse Benjamin and Eben, all lived on Allen run. sometimes called Big run. Robert Smith emigrated from Virginia at an early date and settled in Ross county, near Bainbridge. From Ross he came to Fayette and afterward served in the War of 1812. Edward Taylor was a Pennsylvanian and veteran of all the early wars. He first came to Kentucky and in 1815 purchased two hundred acres of Nathaniel Massie on main Paint and Taylor s. He lived to be over one hundred years of age. J. S. Bereman was other early settler of Union township. Daniel McLain, Joseph McLain, William R. Millikan, William Rush and Lieut. John Millikan were other early comers to the township. Judge James Beatty emigrated to Fayette county in 1818, when the town of Washington had but a few log cabins and deer and game were in abundance. He served in the War of 1812. His father was Charles Beatty, who died in 185o. Judge Beatty was elected and commissioned an associate judge in 1847 and served until the new constitution was adopted. Robert Robinson, attorney and an early representative of Fayette unto Wade Loofborrow, of whom the same could be said ; Col. S. F. Carr, attorney, were pioneers. Brice Webster, Robert Harrison, Joseph Orr and James Harrison were farmers. Thomas, J. and C. Walker, James Timmons, Patrick Pendergrass, Thomas Pendergrass, James Allen, Samuel Webster, Moses Rowe, Daniel McLain, John Hues, B. Ball, John Weeks, John Dehaven, William Highland, Robert Geno, Abram Ware, David Thompson. Daniel Shiry, John Rankin, N. Evans, John Allen and David Morrison were farmers. Seth Dunn. hunter and farmer ; Elisha Taylor and Colonel Jewett, farmers, were all in the War of 1812. Nathan Loofborrow, Jerome Drais and James McCoy were all noted stock dealers. Isaac Templeton, a day laborer, was the father of eighteen children (three sets of twins). Abel Wright and John Myers, respectively tanner and farmer ; Joseph Blackburn was ninety-nine, a tanner ; Stephen Grubb, carpenter ; Judge Gillespie, a man of influence; Noah Devault and George Hinkle, carpenters ; Zebedee Heagler and John Grady were the first butchers. 284 - FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO. John Thomas settled at the mouth of the east fork of Paint creek about 1810 and was known all over the county as "Chin" Thomas, on account of the remarkable extension of his chin . Robert Harrison and William Downing came from Kentucky about 1808, and located on Sugar creek. Samuel and Frank Waddle came from Kentucky in 1810 and settled on Sugar creek. Henry and Jacob Snyder came from Virginia, first to Ross county, then to Fayette, locating on Sugar creek in 1808, in 1809. David and John Wright settled on Sugar creek in Leonard Bush came from Virginia, with a large family, in 1808, and settled on Sugar creek. Fielding Figgins, with four or five sons, came from Kentucky and began farming on Sugar creek in 1809. The Millers came from Virginia in 1810 and settled between Washington and Sugar creek. The Coils located near Bloomingburg in 1809. Jacob Judy came from Virginia and located on the east fork of Paint creek in 1809. A Mr. Smith settled on Paint creek, in which he was subsequently drowned. It appears that for a long time no settlements were made in the immediate vicinity of Washington. John Orr settled on Paint creek, about two miles southeast of Washington, in 1808. Valentine (Felty) Coil was one of the earlier settlers of Fayette county and Washington C. H. During the early Indian wars, when about two year of age, he was captured at Ruddle's station by the Indians and Canadians under Colonel Byrd, and, with his sister, was carried across the Ohio, at Cincinnati, to Niagara Falls, thence to Canada, where he was adopted by squaw who had lost a son, with whom he lived until his marriage. It is said that the notorious Simon Girty, who captured him, met him at a public house in Canada, and after inviting him to drink, and when under the influence of "fire water," bantered him for a fight, which being refused, he grew very talkative and revealed to him the whereabouts of his friends. the strength of this, Coil went to Kentucky and found an uncle, who with him to Virginia and found his mother, who had married a man named Hendricks. When he saw her, she did not recognize him. By means of a mark he was made known. He returned to Canada and, after the death of his wife, came to Fayette county and set up a distillery near Washington, which he finally abandoned and came into town. It is said he made whiskey in Canada for the English Fur Company. He was sold by the Indians to a British officer, whose wife imposed upon him and made him a slave. CHAPTER XX JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP TOPOGRAPHY. Jefferson township was named after the third President of the. United States. It is located in the northwestern part of Fayette county, being bounded on the north by Madison county, on the east by Paint township, on the south by Union and Jasper townships, and on the west by Greene county. Paint creek forms its eastern boundary proper, while Rattlesnake enters in the north and crosses the entire township, flowing southwestwardly, while the numerous tributaries of these streams traverse the township in different directions. According to statements of the old settlers, Rattlesnake creek is named from an old Indian chief, whose camp was often located along the banks of this stream named after him. Sugar creek, flowing almost parallel with Rattlesnake, obtained its name from the great abundance of sugar maple on its banks. The surface of Jefferson township is generally level, with occasional ridges and low rolling hills. The soil is black and very productive and large crops of grain are harvested each year, especially between Sugar and Rattlesnake creeks. The land in this section was originally timbered heavily with elm, hickory, oak and sugar maple, but the interests of commercialism have largely removed this magnificent growth from the township. EARLY SETTLEMENT. Chief among the military surveys of this township are tracts bearing the names of McArthur, two thousand acres; Washington, two thousand acres; Kearns, one thousand acres ; Duff, two thousand acres ; Dunn, one thousand acres; Mosely, one thousand acres. Pendleton, Spottswood and others. These surveys have been divided into small tracts and are owned principally by the pioneers and their posterity. Records show that William Robinson, Sr., was among the first who settled within the limits of this township. The family, which consisted of 286 - FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO. father and four sons, were natives of North Carolina, whence they removed to Virginia. In the year 1901 they came to this state and settled in Greene county about five miles southeast of Xenia, where they remained a few years and then came to this township, perhaps in 1804. The elder Robinson located on the present site of Jeffersonville, occupying a cabin situated on a lot later owned by Richard Fox. William Robinson, Jr., took possession of a tract of land just across the creek from the village, now known as the Wright farm. Two of the sons, Thomas and Abner, lived near, also Nicholas, another son. Aaron Kendall and family left Stafford county, Virginia, in 1805, and settled in this township on part of the Washington survey. The father eventually traveled back to Virginia and died there. The remainder of the family grew up and scattered. In the year 1809 or 1810, George Creamer and three sons, Micharl, Joseph and David, came from Berkeley county, Virginia, and settled on Sugar creek, on land still owned by his descendants. George Creamer, Jr., came in 1813 and located in the same neighborhood. The family held prominent positions and took an active part in the development of the county. George was the first justice of the peace ; David was justice of the peace and surveyor ; Joseph, Michael and David participated in the War of 1812. The senior Creamer died in the year 1825. Soon after the Creamers took their departure from their Virginia home they were followed by Marshall and Jacob Jenkins, who resided in the same neighborhood. Marshall Jenkins removed to Sugar creek. He lived there about twenty years, then removed to Port Williams, in Clinton county. Jacob took possession of a tract of land and lived thereon until 1850, when he divided the same amongst his children and removed to Jeffersonville, where he died in 1865. Prior to 1812 a Carolinian named John McKillep came here and located about two miles north of Jeffersonville, with his wife and three sons, John, William and Daniel. Mrs. McKillep was held in high esteem for her services among the settlers as midwife, and, because of the scarcity of physicians, was in great demand. One of the two Duff surveys in the county was settled by Patrick Kerns, who emigrated prior to 1810 and cleared a piece of ground adjoining that of Jenkins and Creamer. He built a two-story log house, in appearance far in advance of his day and which was standing and occupied as late as 1874. The western survey was purchased by Peter Harness in 1811 and divided among his sons. FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO - 287 Joseph Hidy settled at an early day near Paint creek and owned a large tract of land in Paint township. Michael Carr owned land in this township, but lived in Paint. John Killgore, with his wife and a large family, emigrated to Greene county, Ohio, from Kentucky in 1801 and located in the immediate vicinity of Xenia, where they remained several years, but, because of the scarcity of game, they determined to change their quarters. Accordingly the elder, accompanied by several of his sons and a neighbor named James Kent, proceeded to explore the country east of Xenia and finally entered this township. The first trace of civilization they discovered was a turnip patch near the cabin of Phillip Powell. They struck the branch called Benbow creek and followed the same through the farm now owned by Perry Killgore to its mouth at Sugar creek and here a bear was shot by one of the party. Perceiving smoke arising from near the spring on what was later the Blessing farm, they proceeded hither and discovered a party of Indians in camp. The latter were friendly and invited the Killgores to remain over night, which invitation was thankfully accepted, the bear being served for supper. On the following day they went to Madison county, selected a tract of land, erected a cabin, and moved into the same with their families, remaining until 1808, when one hundred and twenty-five acres in this township, extending from Perry Kiligore's house to the road east of the same, were purchased. Here they remained until 1812, engaged in farming and hunting. At the outbreak of the War of 1812 one of the sons, James, went to Kentucky with Nathaniel Scott and manufactured saltpetre. John went to Chillicothe, enlisted in the service and died while guarding prisoners. His coffin was made by Joseph Hidy. His son, John Clark, volunteered and was taken to Upper Sandusky-, where he remained until the close of the war. The Killgore farm was purchased of Thomas Posey at seventy-five cents per acre. At the death of the elder Killgore it was bought by two of his sons ; one of the brothers, Clark, eventually became sole owner. In the immediate vicinity of the Killgore home were pioneers made of such as the following : Philip Powell came during the years intervening between 18o1 and 1804 and afterwards removed to Indiana, where he died. He was a Kentuckian by birth. Solomon Green remained a short time. It is said of his son William, that he brought from Kentucky and wore the first pair of boots ever brought to this settlement, which gave him the name of "Bill Boots." David Polly and Mr. Risdon were early residents of the neighborhood. The latter married Elizabeth, a daughter of John Killgore, Sr. In about the year 1815 Stephen Hunt removed to the farm which had 288 - FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO. been lately vacated by Polly. He was a carpenter, surveyor, blacksmith and justice of the peace. He eventually moved back to Illinois. Samuel Hornbeck occupied the farm later owned by Abram Blessing. Being subject to frequent attacks of fits, his wife was told that a permanent cure might be effected by taking off his under garment and burning the same. At the next attack the remedy was given a trial, resulting in the loss of the garment, but a failure as a cure. Moses Thomas settled on Sugar creek in 1825 and engaged in blacksmithing. Just below Moses Thomas lived James and Andrew Wicker, who were natives of North Carolina. William and John Horney settled early in the township and devoted most of their time to hunting. John Mock, from North Carolina, came first to Greene county, Ohio, and assisted in the erection of the first dwelling, house in Xenia. In 1853 he came here and settled. He died in 1862. Joseph Kent, who came with the Killgores, remained with them until 1808, then removed to Madison county, where he lived the rest of his days. OFFICIAL ANNALS. The original boundaries of Jefferson township and the changes in the same may be found in the chapter on early settlement. The following officers were elected on the 1st day of April, 1816, and sworn in on the 6th day of the same month: Justice of the peace, Thomas Robinson; trustees, Jacob Jenkins, Joseph Kendall and Nicholas Robinson: constables, William McCandless and Price Landfare ; supervisors, Samuel Wicker, John Miller, George Pence and James Sanderson; treasurer, John McKillep; lister, William McCandless ; overseers of the poor, Patrick Kernan and John Williams ; fence viewers, Jacob Jenkins and David Creamer, the latter being appointed at a subsequent meeting of the trustees ; clerk, David Creamer. March 3, 1817, the trustees met at the house of William C. Blackmore and issued orders as follows : John Miller, supervisor one year, $3.00; Samuel Wicker, received $5.25; for a like service ; Jacob Jenkins, trustee, one year, $6.00; for serving in the capacity of supervisor one year, James Sanderson and George, each $2 Joseph Kendall, trustees, $4.00; Joseph Creamer, per cent. of funds, 98 cents ; David Creamer, clerk, $4.00; following which appears this entry: "Settled all accounts with treasurer and there remains $1.22 in the treasury." On March 21, 1818, John Fenel was paid $2.62% for his services as deputy supervisor ; the fraction was paid in "sharp shins" or "cut money." On June 28, 1824, William Longbridge, constable, was commanded by FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO - 289 John Ryan overseer of the poor, to "summon Samuel Thornton and Lida Thornton to depart out of this township." The trustees, on May 24, 1834, bound to James Fent, as an apprentice. George Seamer, aged eleven, until he shall attain the age of twenty-one; conditioned that the said Fent shall clothe, maintain and educate said Seamer and at the expiration of his term of servitude shall present him with a Bible and two suits of clothes. This is the first transaction of the kind on record. The first marriage in the township was between William Aurley and Lucy Kendall, at the house of Aaron Wood. Squire Joel Wood officiated. Patrick Ferran, or Kerns, was the first blacksmith and followed his trade for many years. He brought his forge with him and was assisted by his wife in striking the iron. Thomas McGara was the first physician. He lived at Washington and visited his patients on horseback. He enjoyed a good reputation and afterwards served his county as associate judge and representative. James F. Boyer and George Sharrette were the pioneer brickmakers; D. McCoy, the first merchant; Joseph Hidy and Stephanus Hunt, the first carpenters. The counterfeiters who infested this county in the early days frequently victimized the citizens of Jefferson township, though there was no organized gang within the limits of the township. In later years, when Alfred Walston removed to the blacksmith shop occupied originally by Moses Thomas, he found concealed in the same a mold for the production of bogus silver dollars, Richard Douglass, of Chillicothe, and one of the first practitioners at the Washington bar, owned a tract of land in Jefferson township, containing about twelve hundred acres, which was in charge of his brother, an ex-sea captain. Richard, or Dick as he was called, was very quick of temper but usually regretted his outbursts the next moment. One winter he purchased a large flock of sheep and put them in his brother's care, who managed to preserve half of them; the others died from sheer neglect and were places in a heap and covered with straw. On the following spring, Dick visited his farm and upon discovering the dead sheep exclaimed, "What in the hell,” but, regretting the hasty remark, lifted his eyes and added, "God forgive me.” In the fall of the year 1844-5 a party of emigrants who were on their way from Virginia to a Western state, encamped in the woods on the Washington and Jamestown road, on the site of West Lancaster. With them were two young men named Martin and McClung, who were prospecting and, having taken the emigrants, concluded to accompany them to the West It was on the evening of the fall election and two young men, named re- (19) 290 - FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO. spectively Hiram Hosier and Henry Smith, were returning from the polls at Jeffersonville in a jolly mood and on horseback. One of them, it is alleged upon arriving at the camp conducted himself in such a manner as to insult the women and arose the indignation of the men, who proceeded to chastise them. The party attacked retreated about two hundred yards, then charged upon the assailing party. In the melee which ensued Hosier encounter McClung and struck him on the head, inflicting a dangerous wound, the effects of which he died in a few hours. Hosier was arrested. The case, however, was postponed from time to time. It was finally brought to trail and Martin, the prosecuting witness, having been bribed to abscond, the disagreed. Thus the case was struck out. On April 20, 1843, a party of young men went to a wedding at Straley's, then in Jefferson, but now in Jasper township, to "bell." They were atta by those inside and Antrim Rankins, son of Thomas R. Rankins, was and died on the following day. John Hidy was arrested and charged the deed. He was admitted to bail, left the country and never returned. MILLS. The pioneers of Jefferson township, as in other localities, enjoyed no opportunities for trading at home. Grain and other products were conveyed to Cincinnati, Springfield and Oldtown, much time and labor being required in making these trips. It soon became apparent that nothing could be gained so long as there were no facilities for grinding the grain into flour and various devices were invented. Perhaps the first mill was erected by William Robinson on Sugar creek. It was a very crude structure. Another water-mill was erected on the same creek by William Blackamore and used for grinding corn. Jacob Creamer in 1840, erected a saw-mill within the present limits of Jeffersonville, where the covered bridge stood, and afterwards added a corn-cracker. During the wet season lumber was shipped across the creek on a raft and taken to the village. The lumber, which was white and burr oak, was used extensively. Edward Gray had charge of it and in the spring, when the water was low, frequently put his shoulder to the water gate in order to put the machinery in motion. David Creamer had a saw-mill on the land later owned by Wallace Creamer. These dams have long since been abandoned. FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO - 291 TOWNS AND HAMLETS. Jefferson township is not noted for many villages of importance. The present ones are Jeffersonville, with a population of seven hundred and sixteen; West Lancaster, with one hundred and forty-two ; Parrott, with a population of fifty, and a mere hamlet, known as Blessing. Another early-day village was Pleasant View, of which a mention is made in this chapter. The total population of Jefferson township, together with that of the village of Jeffersonville, was, in 1910, two thousand seven hundred and eighteen. Jeffersonville is beautifully situated on the banks of Sugar creek, eleven miles northwest from Washington C. H., and eighteen miles from South Charleston. It is on the Detroit & Southern railroad, running northwest and southeast, while the same system has a line, originally dubbed "Grass, hopper roads extending northeast and southwest. The old State road in its direct east and west course runs through Jeffersonville. As long ago as 1880 it was said of this village, "For the last year business in the village has made rapid strides, and at this writing there is not a vacant dwelling house in the place. The railroad has brought new industries and enterprises, and good mechanics are employed at steady wages." While William Robinson was a resident of the land where now stands Jeffersonville, he cannot be called the first real resident. It was in 1831, when Walter B. Wright and Chipman Robinson, who owned a hundred acres of the present platting, believing that the farming community of this township needed a trading post of some kind, laid off town lots, in March of that year, and disposed of them at five dollars each. The first house was built by Robert Wiley, on Main street. This was platted as Lot No. 1. Among the people there at that time—all that year or the next—were William Devault, Reuben Carr, Jacob Jenkins and M. B. Wright. Then followed Edward Gray, a native of Morgan county, Virginia, who came to Ohio in the fall of 1836, with his father Michael and the family. They came over the completed National road. He purchased land in this township, at three dollars per acre. It was all a dense forest and very difficult to clear up. Edward moved to town a few years later and engaged in mercantile pursuits, which were conducted by himself and later by his son. The first store in the village, it is thought by many, was that of Edward Popejoy. Reuben and Jesse Carr were early dry goods dealers. Hiram Duff was the pioneer blacksmith, Joseph Garnes the first tanner, and Doctor 292 - FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO. Boarer the first physician. In 1840 there were seventeen building, most of which were log, and altogether the village did not present any too attractive an appearance to the passing stranger. H. H. Pearson came in about 1843 and started a grocery and liquor store. He had a large trade in both commodities and made a fortune in a few years; he finally went to Defiance, Ohio, and there lost most of his wealth. He then emigrated to Iowa. The business of this village in 1914 is about as follows : Attorney, U. G. Creamer ; agricultural implements, Frank Vanorsdall, R. A. Homey: auto garage, Jefferson Auto Company; blacksmiths, C. W. Spangler, John Boone, David Davis ; barbers, J. L. Spellman, Ira Mosier ; banks, Citizens and Farmers banks; dray lines, Albert Inskip, 0. G. Glaze, McKalip Coal and Supply Company ; dentist, Dr. G. M. Hines; drugs, J. B. Davis; elevators, Threllkeld and Blessing; furniture, Janes & Company ; groceries, W. A. Reid, F. A. Homey, C. D. Bush, Sears & Son, Wood & Duff and Frank Coe; dry goods, Hull & Company, W. W. Routson; hardware, Boobo Hardware Company; harness, M. F. Hudson; hotel, "Mecca," by C. F. McAuliffe; jewelry, G. H. Follett ; lumber, C. C. French ; livery, F. C. Vanarsdoll, C. J. McGrew; millinery, C. Maude Wood ; mills, The Jefferson Milling Company; newspaper, The Citizen; restaurants, Maggie Wilson, Lester Allen; physician, Drs. F. E. Wilson, J. H. French, H. V. Lusher; real estate, G. L. Carr; stock dealer, A. C. Shepard; veterinary, Dr. F. J. Morris ; meat market, T. W. Mock ; racket store, W. O. King; tinning and roofing, A. E. Moon; cement blocks. R. E. Thornton; bakery, Charles Miles; pool room, John Rowell; merchant tailor, J. C. Tudor ; undertaker and funeral director, F. C. Morrow; fire insurance, F. C. Morrow; coal dealers, O. J. Glaze, McKillip Coal and Supply Company ; clothing, Harry Frieds. MUNICIPAL HISTORY. Under authority of the state of Ohio, the town of Jeffersville was duly incorporated in March, 1838. The corporation limits were materially extended in April, 1880. Ordinances passed at various dates included some which seem curious to the reader of today. The first was dated April 26, 1838: "That if any person or persons shall run a horse or horses in any of the streets or alleys within the limits of said town, they shall, on conviction, be fined in any sum not more than five dollars, nor less than one dollar, at the discretion of the mayor." April 14. 1845: "That any person setting up a grocery for pur- FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO - 293 pose of selling liquor by the dram or less than one quart (except for medicinal purposes) shall be fined in any sum not more than five dollars, nor less than one dollar for such offense." August, 1852: It was ordained that there should be no more liquor sold in the place, and the marshal was instructed to close certain places of immoral resort within the place. The last named year it was also ordained that some suitable person be appointed to sell spirituous liquors for medicinal and mechanical purposes. In 1879 the council ordained that "Hereafter all places where intoxicating liquors are sold shall be closed at nine o'clock each evening and remain closed until six A. M." A fine was fixed as a penalty in the sum of from ten to fifty dollars. By 1880 this town had grown into a fine business center, and had its churches. Masonic and Odd Fellows halls and excellent schools. The following is a list of the mayors of Jeffersonville as nearly as can be obtained. As to any resignations during any of these terms the minutes do not give them. All the minute's read "Council met in regular session with mayor in the chair," and do not say who. Adolph Voigt, 1882-1888 ; J. M. Straley, 1888-1890; J. B. Fent, 1890-1892; A. C. Morrill, 1892-1894; N. C. Wilcox. 1894 ; J. M. Straley, 1894-1896 ; S. J. Todd, 1896-1900; J. M. Scott, 1900-1902: Lesson Day, 1902-1904; G. W. Blessing, 1904-1906; Frank Pond, 1906-1907; A. W. Duff, 1907; J. D. Davis, 1908-1910; H. W. Duff, 1910-1911: J. D. Davis, 1912-1913 ; U. G. Creamer, 1914. The municipal officers in 1914 were : Mayor. U. G. Creamer ; clerk, Orthelo Wade ; treasurer, R. L. Saunders ; council, J. B. Fent, chairman, G. M. Hiner, O. C. Glaze, J. C. Tudor, D. J. Charles, S. C. Morrow ; health officer, William Bergdill; marshal and street commissioner, 0. M. Allen. Jeffersonville has a chemical fire engine and a volunteer company, but no water works system. It is supplied with electric lights from Washington C. H. POSTAL HISTORY. According to recent figures received from Washington, D. C., the following have served as postmasters at Jeffersonville (office established in 1834): Jacob Creamer, June 21, 1834; E. H. Skillman, December, 1839; 1. Crow appointed September 25, 1841 ; H. K. Pearson, August 6, 1845 ; W. B. Logan, March 6, 1863 ; Lewis Goldman, June 5, 1863 ; J. W. Haymaker, March 5, 1864; Edward Gray, January 15, 1872; Fred Higgins, December 8, 1881 ; L. A. Elster, February 26, 1883; A. J. Lewis, August 3, 294 - FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO. 1885 ; Jesse M. Bloomer, June 13, 1889; R.N. Scott, August 24, 1893; James Straley, September 14, 1897; Warren W. Williams, October 1, 1901, and present incumbent. Two rural free delivery routes go out from this point Jeffersonville was one of four places of a thousand and under in Ohio which the government two years ago installed as "free delivery" as an experiment, and two and three deliveries are made daily. This was instituted at the instigation of Postmaster Williams. It is altogether a success and will doubtless be followed by many more. A large, two-story brick town hall and corporation building was erected here in 1898 at a cost of about eighteen thousand dollars. It includes a fine opera house. The place now has a population of almost eight hundred. Its churches are the Methodist Protestant, the Methodist Episcopal, the Universalist and Church of Christ (in Church Union) and two colored organizations. See Church chapter. The lodges include the Masonic, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. The streets are well kept, the side walks are an honor to the town and the class of business houses and residences do credit to the enterprising citizens. CHAPTER XXI. JASPER TOWNSHIP. Jasper township is the central western sub-division of Fayette county. It is bounded on the north by Jefferson, on the east by Jefferson and Union townships; on the south by Concord township and Clinton county ; on the west by Clinton and Greene counties. This part of Fayette county was first settled in 1809. Jacob and Joseph Coile, in the spring of that year, emigrated from Pendleton county, Virginia, and located on a military claim of two hundred acres belonging to their father, Gabriel Coile, a Revolutionary soldier. The sons were both married before leaving Virginia. These families remained here until 1814, then located near Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1814 another Virginian came to the township. This was Jacob Hershaw, who located on the original Coile claim, having traded his farm in Virginia for a hundred and sixty acres of this tract. He was a resident until 1818, when he relocated in Indiana. Robert Burnett, of Pendleton county, Virginia, came here in 1810. He was a single man and worked out by the month until 1812, then married and squatted on government land. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and later served as a militiaman, being captain of a company. He held several township offices in Jasper, including those of clerk and trustee. He was latter still appointed road viewer by the county commissioners. He was an excellent land surveyor and surveyed out many of the county roads of Fayette county. Between 1813 and 1821 he resided in Union township. He was noted for his good citizenship and peaceful qualities. It is recorded of him that in all of his more than four score years' citizenship, he was never known to have a quarrel with his neighbors or to have been engaged in a law suit. He was a very temperate man and enjoyed old age as well as youth and youngmanhood. He passed away like a golden sheaf, fully ripe and mature. Leonard Bush, another son of the Old Dominion, was born in Pendleton county, Virginia, in 1778, and came to Ross county, Ohio, in 1809, locating at a point later known as Convenience Station, on the Dayton & Southeastern railroad. He only remained in Ross county two years, then came on to Jas- 296 - FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO. per township in the spring of 1811. He purchased two hundred acres from his father and erected him a log cabin, without a floor. He cleared fifteen acres of timber the first spring and planted it to corn. He worked by means of the old style wooden-mould-board breaking plow. He next built him a shop and followed his trade, that of a wheelwright, for seventeen years in connection with his farming operations. By the time his son married he had secured as much as three hundred acres and, having that all to attend to, he quit working at the wagon business. Another early comer was a Methodist preacher named Jones Brooks, who came into the township in 1811 from Virginia. He followed both farming and preaching. Jacob A. Rankin came from Virginia in 1800, settling on Salt creek, in Ross county, where he remained two years and then moved to where Bloomingburg now stands. He died in 1876. Another name among the pioneers of Jasper township and Fayette county which should never lose a place in the annals of the same is that of John Coons, of whom Doctor Mason, of Milledgeville, wrote many years since the following, in substance : "One by one the old pioneers are dropping off. `Uncle Johnny' Coons, as he was familiarly called, has gone. He died after a short illness, leaving a family of three children beyond the age of fifty years. 'Uncle John' was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, in 1792, and his boyhood days were spent in welding the old flint-lock musket barrels at a government shop in the town of his birth. Subsequently he enlisted as a soldier in the War of 1812, serving until peace was declared, after which he drew a pension so long as he lived. He married Hannah Jones in 1820 and set out for the then 'far west,' traveling in a wagon, through an almost impassable wilderness, with no one to share his lonely and perilous undertaking saye his newly-made wife of but a few days. The land he spent his last days on was bought by him at three dollars per acre in about 1830. In 188o much of the timber on it could not be counted too high at one hundred dollars per acre. At his death he was worth about seventy-five thousand dollars. He was not a church member, but was known for his deeds of kindness and benevolence among the poor and needy. He used to watch through the long weary hours of the night at the bedside of some sick neighbor ; even in times of epidemics he chanced his life where others failed to respond. His life work was his best monument, for his deeds truly live in the hearts and lives of many a man of this county where he labored so long and ably for the good of others." In 1802 Solomon Smith was born on a farm in Pendleton county, Vir- FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO - 297 ginia, and immigrated to Jasper township, Fayette county, Ohio, in the early settlement days. He rented land at first from Henry Coile. He was still living in the township in 1880 and was upwards of the eighty-year mark. He was constable in Jasper township for thirty-four years. In the Center neighborhood of Jasper township, William Furgeson was the first to settle. In 1842 he bought a tract of land of Gen. James Taylor, of Kentucky, and removed to it the same year. Stephen Mitchell Irvin was counted among the first to invade Jasper township with a view of becoming a permanent settler. Capt. William Palmer preceded him but a few months. He settled in the southwestern part of Fayette county. His land was really in portions of Fayette, Clinton and Greene counties. Mr. Irvin's ancestors were from Ireland. Andrew Irvin, the fathers was in the War of 1812 and at the battle of Oldtown. He died in 1830. The son Stephen was eight years old when the family went to Kentucky. They traveled all the way in a cart drawn by a single horse. This was in the autumn of 1788. For many years they suffered the privations of fontier life. The family had come to be Calvinists and were strict Presbyterians in church faith. The reason of Mr. Irvin coming to Ohio was on account of it being a free state—he abhorred slavery and did not care to rear his family under its influences. Here he erected his first cabin in 1813. After clearing up land sufficient for a good large garden, he then set about planning for clearing up for farm land. He went through the same line of hardships which he had gone through in old Kentucky. Mills were scarce and far between. Hence hominy was used much for the family's food. This was produced by hollowing out a solid block of wood. Into this a portion of corn was placed and beat with a pestle. When finished, the hominy was delicious, but was not what all members of the family craved. Hillsborough, Highland county, was their nearest trading place. Here they sought their salt, groceries and dry goods. Mrs. Irvin passed from earth and her companion's side in 1833, aged forty-three years. This was a hard stroke to the head of the family. Two years later he married again and this wife survived her husband, who died July 25, 1852, in his seventy-second year. He was a man who never allowed himself to get angry. During the last years of his eventful life he preached nearly every Sunday. When told by Dr. I. C. Williams that he could not live long, he replied, "I did not think death was so near ; but if it is God's will it is mine." It is impossible, at this late date, to give the locations and date of coming of many of the vanguard in this township, but suffice it to add that the 298 - FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO. majority of the men and women of Jasper who might be properly termed to "first settlers" were from Kentucky and Virginia, and were of the best type of settlers. They laid well the foundation stones. Of the schools and churches, other chapters will treat in detail. It may, however, here be noted that the first school house was erected in 1816. TOWNS AND VILLAGES. The towns and villages of Jasper township are and have been Plymouth, Jasper Mills, Milledgeville, Allentown, Edgefield and Pearsons. Plymouth, situated on the Palmer pike, is the oldest place in Jasper township. It was platted by Robert Hogue in 1845. The first building there was built in 1845 by Garland Johnson. In 1880 this village had two blacksmith shops, a wagon shop, one store, one church and about seventy-five population. The township building was here and all elections were held therein. The pioneer store was kept by Garland Johnson, who opened up in 1845, but that year sold to James McWhorter, who, in 1846, sold the stock and building to E. L. Ford. In 1848 Harvey Sanderson built and engaged in trade until about 1849, at which date he sold to E. L. Ford. The first blacksmith was Tate Wright, in 1845. In 1848 Daniel Blue opened his wagon-making shop and remained many years. Jasper Mills is on the list of old villages of the township. It is five miles to the west of Washington C. H. and was never legally laid out as a village, but after the finishing of the railroad in 1854, Bryan Brothers, Samuel, Joseph and John, bought five acres of land at that point of Jacob Bush, and that year erected a three-story frame grist mill, which attracted other business factors to the community. The place was first styled Jasper, but in 1858 took the name of Jasper Mills, from the brand of flour shipped from these mills ; also on account of wanting a postoffice different from the name of the township. In 1859 a saw-mill was added to the industries by Bryan Brothers, and many years later a corn shelling mill was put in by a Mr. Guthrie, of Baltimore. Thirty odd years ago this mill was operated by Tolbert & Company, of Washington C. H., and they carried on an extensive business in shipping grain from the township to the various markets. John S. Burnett, in 1859, in company with Samuel Bryan, started a general store there. Later the style of the firm was Beatty & Bryan, who continued until 1861, when the business was sold to Dr. Degraot, who a year later lost all by fire. In 1863 J. L. Mark rebuilt on the site of the old store and handled groceries and dry goods till 1871, then sold to J. S. Burnett and FAYETTE COUNTY, OHIO - 299 A. E. Silcott, who were succeeded by Miller & Clark, who failed in less than one year. Following came Charles L. Bush. The pioneer blacksmith was Joseph Parkison in 1857, who remained until 1870 and sold out. In 1880 a wagon shop was started by Charles W. Hyer, and a shoe shop by Richard Smith the same year. With the change in times, the building of roads and pikes and additional railroad facilities, these small villages have been almost erased from the map of Fayette county. Allentown, otherwise known as Octa, is a station point of the Dayton & Southeastern railroad, at its junction with the Cincinnati, Wooster & Chicago railroad. It was laid out by Elijah Allen, after whom it took its name, Allentown, for postal reasons was subsequently called Octa. William Allen purchased the first lot, on which he built the first building. In 1877 a grocery was opened by John Rankin, who in a year or so sold to George Hinkle, who closed out in 1879. In 1880 Alfred Methews and Mr. Glass brought in a stocke and remained many years. It was also in 188o that Frank Stone opened hotel. F. C. Trebein, of Xenia, in 188o, built a large frame elevator in which he fixed a set of burrs for corn grinding. In 1910 the population of Allentown (Octa) was ninety-one. Its business interests consisted of : General stores by T. W. and Milton Murphy, brothers; John Stemmitz ; an elevator by John Parker ; a carpenter, named Will Stevens, and the postoffice. There is a Methodist church at this village, but no lodges. The following have served as postmasters at Octa since the office was established in April, 1882 : H. B. Barnes, appointed April 18, 1882 ; George W. Riley, October 24, 1882; John Rankin, June 20, 1884; R. R. Clemer, December 11, 1885; Gail Hamilton, July 26, 1886; U. G. Rankin, July 12, 1898; E. W. Allen, July 25, 1903 ; M. W. Johnson, September 22, 1904; C. S. Kelley, September 18, 1905 ; I. W. Murphy, September 24, 1906; Lottie Harmon, May 16, 1914. Milledgeville, which place in 1910 had a population of one hundred and eighty-seven, is at a point in Jasper township, one mile north from old village of Plymouth on the Chicago, Hammond & Detroit railroad. It was laid out in 1855 by James Hogue. The first building here was the Milledgeville mill, built in 1855 by Straley, Creamer & Company. The first store was that of Jacob Creamer in 1856. The first brick store room was that of G. L. McAllister, in 1879. The Lamb & Murphy brick block was built in 1880. In 1878 a grocery was established by J. T. Hiser. C. M. Bush opened his hotel here in 1879, and sold to Joseph Rush. In 1881 Doctor Spangler