MARION TOWNSHIP. Marion Township was originally a part of Madison, from which it was taken July 18, 1840. Its settlement, however, ante-dates its organization thirty-six years. John Uriah Blue was among the earliest inhabitants of Marion, coming from Virginia in 1804, and settling on the north fork of Paint Creek, on land now occupied by Charles McRea, where he resided till his death in 1820. About 1804 or 1805, William Curry, the celebrated counterfeiter, mentioned elsewhere, came from Virginia, and squatted on land now owned by Smith Chaffin and his son Jonathan, the present dwelling of the latter occupying the site of Curry's cabin. Curry belonged to an organized band of counterfeiters and horse thieves, of which the Funk family were members, who operated in this and surrounding counties, and also in Kentucky, and whose headquarters for some time were at Curry's house. Curry was finally arrested and sent to the Ohio Penitentiary for a term of fifteen years. John McCarty came from near Frankfort, Ross County, perhaps as early as 1808, and settled on land bought of General McArthur, on which he resided till his death, November 21, 1844. Edward Wilcox settled in Marion, prior to 1810, on land purchased of Duncan McArthur, which is now in the possession of Smith Chaffin. Mr. Wilcox was a man of deserved prominence, and the township suffered the loss of one of its most useful citizens in his removal to Illinois in 1832. Nathaniel and William Newman, emigrated from Virginia in 1810, perhaps a little earlier, and settled on land now owned by Smith Chaffin. Peter Blue was a native of Virginia, and emigrated from that state in 1810, locating on land now owned by Smith Chaffin. He was an excellent citizen, and his death, which occured in 1848, was deeply deplored by the entire community. 877 878 - HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY. Jonathan Shepherd was born in Hardy County, Virginia, June 30, 1787, and emigrated at the age of fifteen with his father's family to Ross County, one-half mile from Frankfort. At the age of twenty, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of William and Frances Dailey, of Ross County, by whom he had one child: Susan, the estimable wife of Smith Chaffin, who at present resides at New Holland, Pickaway County, and to whom we are indebted for much of the pioneer history of Marion. Mr. Shepherd came to Marion in the spring of 1810, and bought a four years lease of John Dixon; at the expiration of which, he rented the same land for one year from Adam Turner, who in the meantime had purchased this farm. In 1815, he purchased three hundred acres of land, in Quarrels's survey, No. 607, of Cadwallader Wallace, agent for Quarrels, on which lie at once settled, and remained till his death, April 1, 1862, at the advanced age of seventy-five. He was one of the original members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Salem Chapel, and lived a consistent Christian life. Daniel Grubs was a native Virginia, and emigrated from that state, first to Kentucky, thence to Marion Township, in 1812, and located on land now owned by the heirs of Gideon Gamble, in G. Renich's survey, No. 6,522. He devoted much time to sport, and many were the panthers, bears, wolves, and deer he killed in his hunting expeditions. His death occurred in 1838. Adam Turner, by birth a native of Pennsylvania, came to Marion from Ross County, in 1814, and settled on military survey, No. 628, consisting of one thousand acres purchased of John Johnson, a revolutionary soldier, a part of which is in Wayne Township, owned by Cornelius Smith, the remainder being in the possession of Barnell Mooney. He remained till 1835, when he sold to a Mr. White, of Philadelphia, and removed to Kosciusko County, Indiana. He was a public spirited, enterprising man, and did much to develop Marion and Wayne townships. George Bohrer was born at Hagerstown, Pennsylvania, April 25, 1776, and in youth accompanied his father's family to Berkeley County, Virginia, where, July 23, 1796, he married Mary Tallman, and remained till December, 1799, when the young couple settled near Steubenville, Ohio, remaining there till 1814, then removed to Marion, and located on land bought of Uriah Blue, now in the MARION TOWNSHIP - 879 possession of the widow of Gibson Britton, in J. Watt's survey, No. 6,941. In December, 1827, he removed to Washington, and entered into a partnership in the dry goods and millinery business with James Woods, in which he continued till the 3d of May, 1829, when he removed to New Holland, Pickaway County, and again embarked in the mercantile business, which he followed till his death, October 11, 1832. He was the father of eleven children : Rosana, Mary, Zilpha, Josiah, Eli, Joel, Rebecca, Lurana, Zenas, Phineas, and Martha; all of whom are dead except the latter, Mrs. Martha Long, who resides on Court Street, Washington. Mr. Bohrer was a zealous member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and donated a lot on which the Salem Church was built. The following incident in connection with the life of Mrs. Bohrer, the wife of George Bohrer, whose biography appears elsewhere, we deem worthy of a place in this work. Mrs. Bohrer, whose maiden name was Mary Tallman, was born in Berkeley County, Virginia, March 19, 1780. Early on the morning of the 7th of January, 1800, she left home to cross the Capin Mountains, on horseback, to visit her aged parents, who resided in the vicinity of Sleepy Creek, carrying her infant daughter, seven months old, with her. The weather was exceedingly cold, and the snow in the mountains was three feet deep. For defense and company, she took with her the house-dog, a large and powerful spaniel. Having gained the summit of the mountain range, she concluded to abandon the regular road, and follow a short cut, hoping thereby to reach her father's house the same evening. She had not proceeded far however, before she found herself bewildered, and in consequence became frightened. In her perplexity she wandered about through the mountains until the deep silence of descending night had enveloped the world in gloom, when she dismounted, fastened her horse to a sapling, and as well as circumstances would permit, prepared a place to spend the night. Fortunately she had some extra clothing with her, in the shape of a shawl and cloak, and removing, as well as she could, the snow from beneath a large tree, she made the best disposition possible of her apparel, commended herself to God and with her babe in her arms, and her faithful dog by her side, she composed herself for the night. . For a week previous to undertaking this journey,. she had been 880 - HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY. unusually exercised concerning her spiritual welfare, and had spent much time in perusing an old prayer-book; and now, in her desolate condition, far from home and earthly friends, surrounded by every danger, the cold blasts of winter sweeping over her, she fully realized her utter dependence upon God ; and the prayers she had read came vividly to her mind, and she poured forth afresh petitions for protection and deliverance for herself and child. To add to her misfortunes, her horse, shortly after he had been fastened, broke his bridle, and started off at full speed, leaving her helpless. During that long and sleepless night she struggled with the freezing elements. Day dawned at last, and though she and her infant were prevented from perishing by the extra clothing and the heat from the dog's body, yet on account of the benumbed and stiffened condition of her limbs, she could scarcely move or lift her child. In desperation, however, she made an effort to return to the road, well knowing that unless she reached some settlement she must perish with the cold; but alas ! she was unable to find it. Disappointed, weary, and freezing, she retraced her feeble steps to the spot she had occupied on the previous night. In the faint hope that some passing hunter might see and recognize her signs of distress, which might lead him to her relief, she first hung her apron on a bush ; then tied her handkerchief to an over-hanging limb; broke off a branch here, and bent down the bushes there, as she passed along, until late in the afternoon of Saturday, hungry and fainting, she reached her former lodging place. But feeling now the dread of passing another night in this desolate place, and seeing the sun fast declining in the west, she summoned that indomitable spirit of courage peculiar to her sex when in difficulty and danger, she determined to make one more desperate effort to reach a settlement; and in order to be less incumbered, she discarded a part of her apparel, and began anew to contend with the snow, rocks, and caverns of the mountains. At length she came to a deep, narrow canyon, down whose percipitous sides descent was impossible with the child in her arms. In this dilemma, she threw her babe across the gulch, then made the rugged passage herself by seizing hold of the laurel bushes in her dangerous descent and ascent. To her joy, on reaching the opposite side she found her child uninjured, save a slight scratch made by the crust of the snow, and clasping it in her arms she resumed her desolate journey, along a hog path leading to a cleft of shelving MARION TOWNSHIP - 881 rocks, in which these animals were accustomed to sleep. Here she determined at first to spend the night; but her subsequent fears that she and her child might become a prey to the hogs on their return, overcame this resolution, and again she dragged herself about three hundred yards distance to the side of the mountain, where the branches of a friendly pine offered a sort of protection, which she accepted for the night. By this time her stockings were entirely cut off by the crust of the snow, and her limbs and ankles were profusely bleeding. Carefully wrapping her clothing around her feet and body, and folding her babe to her warm bosom, she again implored Divine protection, and committed herself to Him who she felt. must be her great deliverer. Her faithful dog had not deserted her, and this night would lie down just where she bade him ; sometimes on her feet and limbs, and then at her back, as she desired, seeming to realize that this 'vas necessary to keep her from freezing. During the night ten inches of snow fell, and the wind howled fiercely through the leaf-less branches. From sheer exhaustion she at last fell asleep. When she awoke in the morning she heard chickens crowing and dogs barking at the foot of the mountain, so near was she to a house. She thought also, that she heard the people feeding their cattle, and called loud and long for relief; but none came, the wind, which was from that direction, preventing her voice from reaching them. This morning she found that her limbs were greatly swollen, and the skin in many places broken. This discovery pierced her to the heart, and having abandoned all further hope of rescue, she laid her babe upon the frozen snow, and made her peace with God, in preparation for the horrible death she felt awaited her; but the thought of leaving her babe was more than her mother's heart could bear, and when it began to weep the mother's love asserted itself, and again folding it to her breast, she resorted to the expedient of pinning the child's bonnet to the dog's neck, and sending him to solicit assistance. The faithful animal, as if perfectly understanding what was wanted, started off at once, and was afterward tracked to the nearest house, thence to a mill; but it being Sabbath-day, and extremely cold, the dwellings were all closed, no one saw him, and in an hour or two he returned to his mistress. At feeding time in the afternoon, she again began calling, and a man on the top of a stack of hay heard her, and told his wife that 882 - HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY. he heard a noise at the top of the mountains like a person in distress, and later visited a neighbor, and told him the same, to which the latter replied that " he supposed it was only a panther." This night was spent in communion with God, and in anxiety for the safety of her child. Her dog, as on the previous night, lay precisely where directed by his mistress, and this, with her covering of snow, prevented her from freezing. On Monday morning, she commenced calling the third time for help, and a man (who proved to be an acquaintance) feeding his flock, heard her voice, as also did his wife in the house, who remarked to her husband: "If Polly Bohrer were near, I should say it was her voice." James Smith and John McIntyre mounted their horses, and, with their guns, started to the relief, but were unfortunately led in the wrong direction, by the echoes of Mrs. Bohrer's voice from a neighboring hill, and returned in the afternoon from a fruitless search; but as they were stabling their horses, Mr. Smith again heard the wail of distress. The sun was about an hour high, and the long, lingering beams from the far horizon upon the snow-clad wilds, inspired feelings of the deepest gloom and solitude when they started again. The feeble cry of the perishing woman had ceased. But just as they were about choosing a wrong direction, impressed with a mysterious feeling that one more effort would bring her assistance, she called again, and her voice led them to her. But here a new difficulty presented itself. Her clothing was frozen fast to the ground, and in her almost lifeless condition she was powerless to extricate herself, and the dog, for some time, re-fused to let the men approach, but was finally pacified. Until now she had not shed a tear; but the hope she had abandoned of again meeting her friends and loved ones in this life, rekindled within her as she realized that deliverance was at hand, and she poured forth copious tears of joy and thanksgiving. She was speedily conveyed to the nearest house, where she soon became unconscious, and remained hi this condition twenty-four hours. The flesh fell from her limbs in many places, and she lost some of her toes, which prevented her from walking till the following August. The horse failing to return home, her husband supposed she had reached her destination safely, and her parents were unaware of the intended visit. MARION TOWNSHIP - 883 Horatio Walker, Daniel Beates, Samuel Coover, George Slaughter, Joseph and Jonathan Bryan, were all early settlers in. Marion, locating in different portions of the township. Walker came from Virginia, and settled on land now owned by the widow McRea, in G. Reinck's survey, number 6521. Beates, by nativity a New Jerseyman, came to Marion from Virginia, and settled on land now owned by James Dick, in Dunlap's survey, number 10412. Slaughter emigrated from Delaware to Marion, and settled on land now owned by the heirs of James McRea. Coover was born in Pennsylvania, and came to Ross County, from Kentucky, in 1812, and and from there to Marion early in the settlement of this territory. e at first engaged in his trade, of tailoring, but subsequently entered into land speculations, and being a man of some means, aided many of the pioneers of Marion to obtain homes. He had accumulated quite a fortune at his death, which occurred in 1830. Bryan settled on Paint Creek, near the line of Wayne, where he passed a long and useful life, in farming and stock raising. Charles Beatty, came from Hampshire County, Virginia, probably as early as 1818, and settled on land bought of Samuel Dew, Dew's survey, number 4729, which is now in possession of William Clark. James Manary, was born in Pennsylvania, in about the year 1775, and when two years of age, removed with his parents to Kentucky. At the age of twelve, he removed to Ross County, Ohio. His father, James H., settled on the North Fork of Paint, four miles west of what is now known as Chillicothe. He helped to lay out the village, and was the first representative of Ross. During the war of 1812, he served as general, and the subject of this sketch as major, of the militia, which guarded the frontier. The elder Manary died in Ross County. In 1813, he married Catharine Elliott, whose parents were early settlers of Ross, and lived near Bourneville. Immediately after their marriage, they settled on the farm in this township, now owned by their son, James H., in a large double log house. The bride's parents settled on the adjoining farm, now owned by their grandson, B. Elliott. Mr. Manary made farming and stock raising his life business. He was elected associate judge, and served his term to the full satisfaction of the people. His wife bore him six children, of which Joseph H., is the only one living. She was a devoted mem- 884 - HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY. ber of the Bloomingburg Presbyterian Church, and departed this life in about 1830. Some years later, he was married to Mrs. Rebecca Gibson, nee Beatty, daughter of Charles Beatty, of this county, who lived on the farm now occupied by William Clark. She bore him three children. He was one of the original members of the Bloomingburg Presbyterian Church, and elder from the organization of the same to his death, always an indefatigable worker in the Lord's vineyard. Thomas Cook, sen., was born and married in Delaware, and came to this state in 1807 or 1808, settling in Frankfort, Ross County. e next removed to this township, and located on a tract of land now owned by Hezekiah Brown, then removed to Indiana, where he died. It is quite probable that he participated in the war of 1812. His son, George B., was born in Delaware, in about 1806, and accompanied his parents to this state. He was married, to Hester Ann, daughter of Daniel Bates, who emigrated from Virginia, in about 1808, and who served in the war of 1812. They had three children : Daniel, .Jane, and Thomas J., all living. The mother died when the latter was quite young. The father still resides in Iowa. Moses Thompson emigrated from England to Delaware, in 1720, where he purchased a large tract of laud. He served in the Revolutionary war, under General Washington. His sons, John, Moses, Jesse, Thomas, and Joshua, emigrated to Ohio, in 1805. Thomas, the subject of this sketch, was born in Delaware, September 21, 1771, where he married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard and Ann Sawyer, and who was born in England, May 28, 1768. They had one child, Thomas jr., born June 7, 1804. Mrs. Thompson died. January 27, 1820. She had been previously married to a Mr. Wells, by whom she had two children. Mr. Thompson was twice married afterwards, his wives names being respectively : Mrs. King, and Mrs. VanDyke. Mr. Thompson came to Fayette County, and settled in Marion Township, on Compton's Creek, on land now owned by W. Coke Thompson. Being a local preacher, in the Methodist Episcopal Church, his house was the stopping place for all the ministers who chanced to pass that way. He resided on this farm until his death, which occurred March 19, 1847. MARION TOWNSHIP - 885 His son, Thomas, came with the family to this township, and married Ann Hawkins, daughter of David and Jane (Clevenger) Hawkins. David Hawkins died, December 14, 1838, aged fifty-two years, five months, and twenty-nine days, and his wife was born, October 12, 1789, and died in her forty-first year. She was the daughter of Aden Clevenger, who was born in Tennessee, and took an active part in the Revolutionary war, then removing to this township, and died here, June 13, 1829. The mother of David Hawkins came from Virginia, a widow with a family, and settled in Ross County, near Dry Run, then removing to this township, located on the North Fork of Paint. The marriage of David Hawkins, with Miss Clevenger, resulted in ten children : Sarah, Mary, Amanda, Ann, Elizabeth, Susan, Lavina, David, Jane, and Aden. Mary, Susan, Lavina, and Jane, are yet living; the first three in Iowa, and the latter here. Elizabeth went to California by overland route, and died after her arrival. Ann Hawkins was born August 29, 1813. Her marriage to Thomas Thompson, jr., was blessed with eight children : John David, Aden S., Clay, Coke, Elizabeth, Charlotte, and Sarah. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died triumphantly. She, January 17, 1861, and he, February, 1877. His remains repose in the old Salem Cemetery, where all the deceased members of the family are buried. He accumulated considerable property, and at his death owned over seven hundred acres of land, in and around the homestead, and in addition, possessed lands in Iowa and Missouri. Elihu D. Scott, came from Ross County, in 1827, and located on land bought of William Newman, owned by Smith Chaffin, where he remained until about 1847, when he removed to Van Wert County, where he died. Benjamin Glaze, son of George and Catharine Glaze, who emigrated from Pendleton County, Virginia, to Ross County, Ohio, in 1818, thence to Union Township, Fayette County, near Bloomingburg, in 1817, was born in Pendleton County, Virginia, in 1805, and came with his father's family to Union Township, remaining at home until the age of twenty-six, when he married Sarah, daughter of John Core, of Ross County, on whose farm he lived until 1829, when he purchased two hundred and fifty acres of wild land, of Thomas Carey, in the Ladd and Norvell survey, number 9128, now owned by J. C. Glaze, his son, and Allen McCoy. 886 - HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY. He afterwards added five hundred acres to this, which at his death was divided among his five children: John, Solomon, Benjamin, Isaac, and Catharine. Mr. Glaze was the founder of the United Brethren Church, in Marion, and his life was that of a pure Christian; his generosity becoming proverbial. His death occurred, August 21, 1862, and that of his wife, August 6, 1864. The following obituary was read by Rev. Mr. Davis, pastor of New Holland Methodist Episcopal Church, at the funeral of an esteemed pioneer of Marion, Mr. William Strope: William Strope was born in the State of Pennsylvania, May 1, 1805; died in New Holland, Ohio, at two o'clock on the morning of July 13, 1881, aged seventy-six years, two months, and twelve days. He came to Ohio when about eight years old, and for about sixty years, until within a few months of his death, was a resident of Marion Township, Fayette County. He removed to New Holland, where he is well known, a few months ago, expecting restfully and peacefully to spend there the last few years of his life. But years longer were not for him, but instead months of unrest and pain, and the breaking down of his remarkably vigorous constitution. Mr. Strope was twice married; first, early in life, when only about seventeen years of age, to Miss Nancy Blue, who died in 1848; the second time, in 1854, to Eliza Brown, his now bereaved widow. He was the father of twelve children, six sons and six daughters, and twenty-two grandchildren. Three sons and three daughters preceded him in death. As testimony to the esteem in which Mr. Strope was held by his neighbors, as an honorable and upright citizen, I mention the fact that for thirty-eight years he held the office of justice of the peace in the township in which he lived. For a number of years he was an acceptable member of the order of Masons. He was never a member of any church, and was somewhat reticent on that subject, except a few expressions toward the last. I have been told that kind attention to his family was characteristic of Mr. Strope,. and rarely have I witnessed such unwearied attention and sacred devotion to every wish and want of a suffering, dying husband and father, as I have seen, and been affected by it, in this the case of my near neighbor. When you asked me to MARION TOWNSHIP - 887 pray, as I did but a few minutes before the end, when we did all that could be done in the presence of God in that chamber of death, by the dimly burning lamp, committing unto God, who gave it, the departing spirit of your aged father, and the companion with whom you (Mrs. Strope) have walked for more than a quarter of a century, I knew and felt how it was rending your hearts. Let us think that God, who knows best of all the inmost hearts of men, understood him when he said, several weeks ago, that he had tried to make his peace with his God, and that a divine whisper to his soul, unheard by us, assured him that if a man die, he shall live again. CHURCHES.. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. In 1814, the first church society was organized in Marion. It was a Methodist Episcopal Church organization, and took place at the house of George Newman's, where services were held for a period of perhaps two years, then changed to the house of George Bohrer, where they were continued till 1818, when a hewed log church, called Salem Chapel, was erected on a lot donated by Fleming Twiford, in Eggleston's survey, No. 7,359, for church and burial services. Rev. Bacon was perhaps the first minister that first preached to this society. The Salem burial ground is the oldest within the township. This church was burned in 1822 or 1823, but was shortly afterward rebuilt on the site of the former building. Among the first ministers that occupied the Old Salem Church, was the celebrated Henry T. Bascom. In 1833, this church was transferred from the Deer Creek Circuit to the Old Washington Circuit, and was occupied till about 1853. The early members of this society, embraced the best citizens of the township; among whom were the following names: Jonathan Shepherd and family, Horatio Walker and family, Abel Loyd and family, Thomas Loyd and family, Thomas Holland and family, George Borher and family, Esq. Twiford and family, John Grub and family, James Tallman and wife, Borton Anderson, and Mary McClure. 888 - HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY. UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH. In 1831 or 1832, a United Brethren society was organized at the dwelling of David Turnipseed, and services were held at the different houses of the congregation till 1850, when Otterbein Chapel was built, about one-fourth of a mile northeast of Compton Creek, on what is now the Waterloo pike. This society went down during the war, and the building remained unoccupied till the spring of 1881, when a Methodist Episcopal organization was effected at this church, where occasional services are now held. CHRISTIAN OR DISCIPLES CHURCH. Since the dissolution of the United Brethren society, at Otterbein, in 1862, the Christian, or Disciples Church, near New Holland, has been the principal, and we may add, the only religious organization in Marion, till the Methodist Episcopal organization at Otterbein in 1881. The following is from Fuller Hess, of Washington, formerly a resident of Marion : "The Christian, or Disciples Church, near New Holland, was organized under peculiar and trying circumstances. "In 1837, I emigrated from Pennsylvania, and settled near New Antioch, Clinton County, where there was a flourishing organization of the Disciples; but having been brought up in the Baptist faith, and cherishing the prejudices common then among the religious bodies against the 'Campbellites,' as we were pleased to denominate them, I felt it my peculiar mission, to lead these people into the light. The New Testament had been my school book, and thinking I possessed a fund of information on the doctrines then taught, our arguments were lengthy and sometimes tinged with bitterness; but I generally found them prepared with a 'Thus Saith the Lord' to back each argument they presented, and the consequence was it took only about one year to knock all my extreme orthodox notions out of me, and I soon became as zealous in defense of their doctrines as I had formerly been in their denunciation. "In the spring of 1839, I moved to Compton Creek, this county, a perfect stranger in the community, but found the people generous, hospitable and likewise congenial; except in the discussion of our religious differences. MARION TOWNSHIP - 889 "The United Brethren had a small organization in my neighborhood, and held their services in a school house one-half mile distant from my dwelling, and near the present situation of Otterbein Chapel. Believing their doctrines did not agree with the teachings of the Book, I wrote Elder .Tames Vandovort, of Antioch, to come up and give us a meeting. He came two or three times and preached on each occasion ; but finally the feeling became so intense against us that the school directors forbade us the use of the school house. This obstacle, however, was easily surmounted. Having a lot of lumber on hand for the purpose of building a barn, myself and hired man at once set to work to erect a temporary place of worship, which was soon accomplished by arranging logs at proper distances, and laying plank transversely across the same for seats, and planting forks, in which we laid poles covered by green bush for shade. Samuel Mathews preached, and we had an excellent meeting. " Up to this time, a period of five or six years, I had fought the battle alone, but finally prejudice yielded her sway to some extent in the neighborhood. and some of the best men of the township among whom were G. C. Gamble, A. G. Wood, and Henry Bryant joined me in my one-sided warfare, the former being the first person immersed into the church. " In 1850, the United Brethren, with the help of the community, built Otterbein Church, in which they were kind enough to allow us to hold meetings occasionally, but finally this privilege was denied us. Samuel Mathews preached for us monthly, from perhaps 1854, holding services at the different school houses, and at the residences of the members, till in 1856, he effected a small organization at Durham's school house, and in 1858, N. R. Furgeson, of New Holland, now a resident of Kansas City, Missouri, donated the society a lot in Marion, one-fourth of a mile north of New Holland, the east side of which, however extends to Pickaway County line, on which G. C. Gamble, A. G. Wood, Henry Bryant, and myself, with a little outside help perhaps, built the present frame church occupied by the Christians. After its erection, Samuel Mathews preached for us, perhaps eight years, who has since been succeeded by the following gentlemen, in the order named : T. C. Gawin, J. C. Irvin, and J. P. Ewing (the present minister), each of whom has a warm place in the hearts of the members. The society now numbers two hundred, and its power for good has been felt by the whole community. 890 - HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY. " But I should have said that the religious differences existing between the members of our society in its early days, and those that surrounded us, never in the least disturbed our fraternal social relations, as the following will instance: "At the completion of the Otterbein Church, in the fall of 1850, the Brethren held their General Conference at that place, and I entertained four of their ministers at my house during the entire session. Among the delegates to this conference, was a colored representative from some portion of the district, and as prejudices against the colored people were strong in those days, the perplexing question of who should entertain the colored brother presented itself; but my wife helped them out of this dilemma by agreeing to take him herself, which was accordingly done." SABBATH SCHOOLS. UNITED BRETHREN. The first Sabbath-school was organized at Otterbein Chapel, in 1851, at the completion of that church, and was continued till the expiration of the church organization at that place, in 1862. Thomas Roseboom was probably the first superintendent. METHODIST EPISCOPAL. At the organization of the Methodist Episcopal society of this church, in 1881, a Sabbath-school was also organized, with J. K. Barrett as superintendent. CHRISTIAN. The New Holland Christian Sunday-school was organized June 14, 1874. Volunteer superintendents: Rev. Irvin, then pastor of the Christian Church, and Daniel Morgan; secretary : J. Vlerebome ; teachers: Jennie Vlerebome, Ella Johnson, Elizabeth Johnson, Jennie Elder, Mr. Highland, Mr. Morgan, and Mr. Johnson. The average attendance for 1874–75 was seventy-five. In 1born–77 the average attendance was sixty-five. MARION TOWNSHIP - 891 The school was reorganized March 16, 1878, when the following officers were elected : Gideon Gamble, superintendent; George Matson, assistant superintendent; J. B. Parke, secretary; D. Morgan, treasurer. No account of the organization in 1879 is given. May 2, 1880, J. H. Harland was elected superintendent; G. H. Matson, assistant; Eden Parker, treasurer; John Parker, secretary; Allie Dunlap, organist; Brother VanPelt, chorister. Average attendance for the year, forty-five. Officers elected April 17,1881: Mr. Matson, superintendent; Mr. Morgan, assistant; Mattie Haney, secretary; Eden Parker, treasurer; John Parker, chorister; Jennie Kearney, librarian ; Ellsworth Matson, assistant; Ada Johnson, organist; Mr. Morgan, J. B. Parker, Jennie Kearney, Mrs. Matson, and Mrs. Timmons, teachers. Average attendance, forty-five. The school was started in 1870, by J. C. Irvin and D. Morgan ; but in the absence of necessary aid, it was deemed best to effect no organization, and thus there were no chosen officers for several years, the school being conducted alternately by Messrs. Morgan and Irvin. The attendance at the outset was greater than it is at present, though the school is quiet, prosperous, and attentive in 1881. MILLS. Adam Turner built a saw and grist-mill on Compton, on his own land, in 1818, which was the first and only water mill ever built in Marion, and which he operated perhaps twenty years. After his removal to Indiana, the mill was run by John Cooper for some years, when William Lucas took charge and continued a short time. SCHOOLS. The first school in Marion was taught by James Webster, father of Bryce Webster, in the winter of 1812, in a cabin built for a dwelling, on the southwest side of the Springfield and Chillicothe road, near where John Johnson now resides. Near this, on the opposite side of the road, a small, round log 892 - HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY. school house was built, in the summer of 1813, and was occupied that winter by Mr. Webster, as teacher, when it was abandoned, and in 1814 another building was erected, not more than half a mile distant, on land belonging to Adam Turner, which was occupied by Webster probably four or five years. PHYSICIANS. James F. Wilson was the first physician who located permanently at New Holland, and practiced in this township. He was born in Buckskin Township, Ross County, Ohio, October 5, 1808: read medicine with Dr. Robbins, of Greenfield, and was granted a diploma by the county society. In 1832, he located in New Holland village, and five years later married Miss Letitia Dunlap. In 1841, he attended lectures, and graduated at the Ohio Medical College of Cincinnati. Returning to New Holland, he soon acquired an extensive practice, which was continued until his death, .January 21, 1875. Dr. Wilson was a prominent member of the Masonic order, having attained to the higher degrees. His funeral obsequies were conducted under the auspices of the fraternity. His widow still lies near New Holland, in this township. But one child blessed their union, John Milton, late United States consul to Germany, and now consul-general at Panama, South America. POST OFFICES. Marion Township has never had but one post-office. This was established at the tannery of Amor Lloyd, in 1851, but was discontinued in one year. Lloyd was postmaster. BLACKSMITHS. In 1840, Daniel Turnipseed started a blacksmith shop near where MARION TOWNSHIP - 898 Otterbein Church now stands, on laud now owned by Benjamin Glaze, where he carried on business four or five years. Hatch Garrison opened a shop: in 1865, on the land of Charles McRea, and continued two years. TANNERIES. John Myers, in about 1820, started a tannery, and continued business several years. In 1845, Amor Lloyd built a tannery on his own land, near Otterbein Church, which he carried on for ten years, when he sold his farm to Thomas Thompson, who closed the tannery. FIRST ELECTION. The first election in Marion after its organization, was held at the house of John McArthur, July 18, 1840, John 12. Blue, Ralph Durham, and D. Peniwell being appointed judges, and William S. Williams and William Peniwell acting as clerks. The result of this election was as follows : Trustees; Ralph Durham, Jacob Roades, and Benjamin Glaze; treasurer, Smith Chaffin; clerk, William S. Williams; justices, Amor Lloyd and George Mantle; overseers of poor, Benjamin Anderson and Thomas Carey. FIRST MEETING OF TRUSTEES. The first meeting of the trustees of Marion took place March 1, 1841. PROCEEDINGS. Division of the township into four road districts and six school districts. 894 - HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY. Their settlement at this meeting shows the expenses of the township from July 25, 1840 (time officers were qualified), to March 1, 1841, to have been as follows: To William Hankins, for use of house for election purposes, $4. To Benjamin Glaze and Ralph Durham, for services as trustees, $3 each, and to Jacob Roades, $2. To William S. Williams, for stationery, and for services as clerk, $5.50. To George Strigler, for services as judge of justice election, $1. To Charles Blackmore, for services as clerk of justice election, $1. Total, $19.50. PRESENT OFFICERS OF MARION. At the spring election, April 4, 1881, the following officers were chosen: Trustees, Marion Strope, Nathan Louderman, and Jonathan Chaffin ; treasurer, C. C. McRea; clerk, J. Z. Cutright; justices, W. B. Pursell and Byron Crabtree; constable, William Evans. LEVIES FOR 1881. At a meeting of the trustees, March 12, 1881, the following levies were made: For township purposes, $800; for bridge fund, $100; for turnpike fund (for repairs of roads), $500; school funds (tuition purposes), $150; contingent purposes, $200.