PERRY TOWNSHIP. Perry Township was composed of portions of Green and Wayne in 1845, a full account of which is given in another part of this work. The settlement of this territory, however, extends into the past perhaps as far as any part of the county, reaching back to 1804. EARLY SETTLEMENTS. In 1796, Jonathan Wright, no doubt the first settler in Perry Township, emigrated from Kentucky to Chillicothe, where he remained till 1804, squatting then on land within the present limits of Perry, which belonged to a Mr. C. Monroe, of Virginia, who owned a military claim (No. 658), consisting of two thousand acres, granted for services as an officer in the Revolutionary War. Wright remained on this land till the following year, when he removed to Wayne Township, and shortly afterward died. In 1805, John Buck, of Virginia, bought a part of the Monroe claim, on which he moved in the same year, occupying the same farm till his death, which occurred in 1830. Isaac Todhunter, a member of the Society of Friends, sharing the proverbial hatred of his sect to the institution of slavery, in order to remove his family from its baneful influences, emigrated from Lost Creek, Tennessee, in December, 1804, stopping with his sons, Isaac and Richard, who had preceded him the spring previous, and squatted on a small prairie, the site of Leesburg, Highland County, where they had raised a patch of corn to support the family the first year. Here they remained till the spring of 1805, when Mr. Todhunter purchased twelve hundred acres of land of Nathaniel Massie (Survey No. 2620), on Walnut Creek, in the southwestern part of the township, to which he immediately removed his family, selling in the meantime six hundred acres to Thomas and Mordecai Ellis, also of Tennessee, who at once settled on their possessions. 776 PERRY TOWNSHIP - 777 This little community of Friends, was soon after joined by David Dutton from the same neighborhood. Isaac Todhunter, married Rachel Jury, of Chester County, Pennsylvania, by whom he had six children : Richard, John, Isaac, Jury, Abner and Jacob. He remained on this land till his death, in 1821; his wife surviving him ten years. The following thrilling incident was related by Amos Todhunter, relative to the early experiences of his father, Abner, in the early days of Perry : About the year 1806, when the sight of an Indian presaged bloodshed and horrid torture, Abner, a youth of fifteen, was sitting in his father's cabin with several younger children, the father and mother being absent on a visit, when he observed six painted savages approaching on horseback. Though accustomed to danger, he felt his hair begin to raise as the warriors dismounted and entered the house. With that presence of mind, however, produced by long exposure to danger and sudden alarms, he received them calmly, and remembering the characteristic gratitude of the Indian, he invited then to sit down, and placed before them the best the larder contained, and then retired while they enjoyed the repast. When they had finished, one of the band arose and approached him, which a second time almost paralysed him with fear, and caused his hair again to assume the perpendicular. Giving himself up for lost, he tremblingly awaited the issue; but instead of cleaving his head with the tomahawk, or circling his bloody knife around his scalp, he allayed his fears by kindly patting him on the head, exclaiming " white man heap good, feed Indian" and mounting their horses they rode off; much to the relief of the frightened youth. Samuel and Warnel Tracy were among the early pioneers of Perry, coming from Maryland as early as 1807, and settling on land now in possession of T. G. Cockerill and Joseph Tracy. In about 1808, Robert Adams came from Sherman's Valley, Pennsylvania, and settled on five hundred acres of land, which he purchased in Ball's survey, probably from Ball's agents; the Virginia Legislature having, in 1805, at Ball's death, appointed two agents, or comissioners, to settle his estates in this state, from vhose transactions vexatious law suits resulted in after years. Barnabas Cochran, was born at Cape May, New Jersey, in 1773, and came to Perry Township, in 1806, and settled on land bought 778 - HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY. of Seth Smith, now in possession of T. G. Cockerill. He married Charlotte Stites, in New Jersey, in 1799, and seven children followed this. union : Sallie, Deborah, Charlotte, James, William, Silvitha and Mary Ann. He early indentified himself with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was the founder of Methodism at Cochran Chapel. John Hutton, a Quaker, in 1810, emigrated from near Briseland's Crossroads, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and settled on land now owned by Calvin Beatty, to whom he sold out his interest, in 1822, and removed to near South Charleston, Clarke County. John Daster, was born in Frederick County, Virginia, and emigrated to Chillicothe, in 1810, where he remained three months, when he bought land in the McKee survey, of Seth Smith, MKee's agent, now in possession of Henry Lymes, to which he soon removed. He was married before leaving Virginia ; his wife's maiden name being Lydia McNace; five children from this marriage grew to maturity: Lewis, Henry, Rebecca, Maria and John. He died in 1840, some years after the death of his wife. Henry Snider was a native of Virginia, and immigrated to this county, from that state, in 1810, settling on land which he purchased of Samuel Waddle. He reared a family of seven children, four boys and three girls. The Conner and Voltenburg families, in 1813, squatted in Perry Township, the former on land now in possession of Anderson Irion, and the latter on land now owned by T. G. Cockerill. Conner run a small distillery on the banks of Paint Creek. Both families left in 1825. Samuel Edwards came from Ross in 1812, and purchased a farm, a part of which is now in the hands of Manuel Pernell, the remainder being owned by W. A. King, except fourteen acres, reserved for the two maiden daughters, Elizabeth and Tabitha, on which they reside, the eldest, being seventy-one years of age. Mr. Edwards married Mary A. Roberts before leaving Ross, by whom he had twelve children, seven boys and five girls. Robert Irion was a native of South Carolina. At the age of twenty, he emigrated to western Virginia, where he for seven years followed his profession of surveyor, locating claims for soldiers of the Revolntionary War. He first, after leaving western Virginia, located in Brown County, Ohio. From Brown he went to Pickaway, and settled in Fayette, in 1814, on land purchased from Thomas PERRY TOWNSHIP - 779 Hine, of Chillicothe, which is located on the banks of Sugar Creek, in Perry Township, and which he sold to William Snyder, in 1848. He married Nancy Balentine in western Virginia, in 1796, by whom he had sixteen children, four of whom died in infancy. Twelve grew to maturity : John, William, Francis, Achilles, Anslem, Nancy, Anderson, Harrison, Silas, Milton, and Mary. He was married four times, and resided in different parts of the state until his death, which took place at his daughter's, Mrs. Howard Mooney, in Highland County, three miles below Greenfield, in 1848. John Orr, sen., was born in Virginia, and removed first to Kentucky, thence to Fayette County, in 1817, or 1818, settling on laud in Wayne Township, now in the possession of a Mr. Templar. e bought land of William Bush, on Sugar Creek, at the crossing of the Martinsburg pike, in Perry Township, to which he removed in the spring of 1819. This land is now owned by his son John. Mr. Orr married Rachel Vance, in Harrison County, Kentucky, in 1805, and six children were born to this union: Samuel, Eleanor Ann, John, William V., Elizabeth, and Anderson J. e died in May, 1856. John Beard was here prior to 1818, and owned land now in the possession of Isaac Johnson. His wife died in 1819, he surviving her only till 1821. Robert Anderson was one of the prominent farmers and pioneers of Perry, who was born in Goochland County, Virginia, on the James River, in 1795. e accompanied his father and family to Louisa County, Virginia, in 1805, and in 1816 he immigrated to Buckskin Township, Ross County, where he remained till 1819, when he came to Perry, in the same year marrying Sarah Rowe, daughter of Jesse Rowe, sen., who gave the young couple one hundred acres of land at their marriage. He was a man of prudence, industry, and economy, and before his death had accumulated one thousand acres of land, a considerable portion of which was in a high state of cultivation and improvement. Previous to his death, however, he had disposed of a part of his land, and in 1876 made an equal distribution of his moneys and landed estates among his three surviving children, Isaac, Matthew, and Jane—John, the youngest, having died some years previous, at the age of twenty-two—each receiving eleven thousand dollars. By this division, Matthew came into possession of the original home farm, which he still owns. It is situated on the Little Wabash, in the northern part of 780 - HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY. Perry, perhaps the most fertile and healthy portion of the township, if not of the county. He was a most excellent citizen, and did much for the cause of religion, being, perhaps, one of the original members of the Methodist Episcopal society at Rowe's Chapel, if not of the society prior to the building of the church. He served also in the war of 1812. His death, occurred at the home farm, in 1878. Robert Scott settled on land located on the Little Wabash, now owned by Rev. William A. King. He was a native of Pennsylvania, and came to Perry in 1820. William S. Cockerill was born in Louden County, Virginia, in December, 1790, and immigrated to Ohio in 1812, settling first on the Ohio River, just above its junction with the Hocking, where he resided till 1821, when he came to Perry, and purchased land of John Rowe, son of Jesse Rowe, sen., on which he remained one year. He afterward bought land of Mr. Conner, on the Little Wabash, now owned by his son, Thomas G. Cockerill and sons. Mr. Cockerill was married four times, and was the father of eighteen children, nine by each of his first two wives. His first wife was Anna Ledmon, whom he married in Virginia, in 1809, and who died in 1821, shortly after his arrival in Perry. In the following year he married Phoebe Mooney, daughter of Judge Mooney; but she dying in 1855, he afterward married her sister Eliza. He was a man of literary tastes, and considerable intellectual abilities, and for several years followed the profession of teaching in connection with his farming. At his death he owned four hundred acres of excellent land, most of which is at present in the hands of his son-in-law, T. G. Cockerill, and his grandsons, the heirs of Mr. Cockerill. Rev. John King, one of the founders of Methodism in Fayette County, was born at Elmyra, New York, March 6, 1786, and married Rachel Hixon, of the same county, February 12, 1808, who was born April 12, 1792. After leaving New York, he settled first in Ross County, in the same year of his marriage, where he remained till 1816, thence removing to Perry, on land now in possession of his son, Rev. W. A. King, where he resided till his death. Mr. King was an earnest and devout Christian, having at an early period of his life united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, shortly after which he was soundly converted to God, while riding on horseback, on his way from church. His conversion was clear PERRY TOWNSHIP - 781 and powerful, as was demonstrated by a long life devoted to the work of his Master. He organized a Methodist society, or class, at his house as early as 1820, which he led for several years. He was ordained a deacon in the Methodist Episcopal Church, in 1834, by Bishop Soule, which office he held till 1843, when the honor of elder was conferred upon him by the same bishop. But prior to this, in 1829, he had been licensed to preach by John Collins. The death of his first wife was attended with sad circumstances. She dropped dead in the road from her horse, while returning from church, December 19, 1843. On April 24, 1845, he married Alcina Cherry, who died in 1878. Outside of his Christian life, Mr. King was a useful and valued citizen. He served in the war of 1812, and proved a brave soldier. After he settled in Perry, he taught school several winters in his own house, charging nothing for tuition. He died on his farm, in 1868, much lamented by the church, and the people of Perry and adjoining townships, for whose spiritual and temporal welfare he had spent a long and useful life. Gershom Perdue was born in Bedford County, Virginia, in the year 1790. He is a grandson of Dr. William Perdue, whose father was a native of France. He moved to Ireland, where his son William embraced the doctrine of the Society of Friends. He was a physician by profession. About the year 1740 he came to America, and settled in Chester County, Pennsylvania. A few years later he married Susanna Headen, a widowed daughter of Moses Pim, and granddaughter of John Pim, of Mount Melick, Ireland, one of the first and most prominent converts to Quakerism in Leland. Dr. William Perdue had two sons, named Folliard Ridgway and Mentor Pim. Folliard was a ship-builder, and resided in Philadelphia. He had one son, William, and two daughters, Sarah and Margaret. He died in rather early life. Mentor Pim Perdue, the father of Gershom, was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania, in the year 1751. He was highly educated for his day, and was a school teacher and surveyor by profession. e married Jemima Farlow, daughter of William Farlow, of Londonderry, Ireland. Ile lived near to the battleground at Brandywine, Pennsylvania, and for three days assisted in collecting the dead bodies and burying them. He was an exemplary Christian member and elder in the Society of Friends. In the year 1790, he moved, with his family, to Bedford County, Virginia, and died there in the year 1797. 782 - HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY. His son Gershom being then about seven years of age, lived with his widowed mother until his eighteenth year, when he went as an apprentice to the tanning business. In the year 1813, he moved, with his mother and family, to Highland County, Ohio, and followed tanning for several years. The arduous labor connected with tanning being too laborious for his not rugged constitution, he commenced merchandising, and continued in that business for several years. He was also among the first nurserymen and fruit-growers in southern Ohio, having established a nursery in Leesburg in the year 1816. In the year 1818, he married Elizabeth Dukemineer, of Warren County, Ohio, and in the year 1822 he lost his wife, leaving an infant daughter, Hannah. In 1825, he married a second wife, named Abigail Morse, of Urbana, Ohio. She \vas a daughter of Ephraim and Elizabeth Morse, of Tuckerton, New Jersey, a relative of the late Professor Samuel Morse, and a descendant from the first settlers at Oyster Bay, on Long Island. In 1836, he removed, with his family, to New Martinsburg, Fayette County, Ohio, at which place he has resided to the present time, being near the close of his ninety-first year. His wife, Abigail, died in the year 1878, in the eighty-second year of her age, having lived in near religious fellowship with her husband, and shared with him the vicissitudes of life for fifty-three years. From early life it has been Mr. Perdue's greatest desire to live an exemplary Christian life, and for many years past he has occupied the station of an elder, and has been earnestly engaged in the affairs of his church, and for the upbuildiug and growth of the Church of Christ. CHURCHES. The establishment of divine worship, in Perry, was co-evil with the settlement of the territory. The little colony, Society of Friends, previously mentioned, consisting of Isaac Todhunter, Thomas and Monlica Ellis, and David Dutton, settled in Perry, in the spring of 1805, and shortly afterward began holding informal meetings in a building on the corner of Mr. Todhunter's yard ; but it was not till 1809 that the little PERRY TOWNSHIP - 783 society received grant to establish a subordinate meeting. According to the discipline of the Friends' Church, no branch can be established without the consent and recognition of the Superior Meeting, within whose jurisdiction such branch is instituted. Previous to 1809, the Yearly Meeting, at Mount Pleasant. had granted the establishment of a Quarterly Meeting at Fairfield, Highland County, from which permission was in turn received, to establish a Subordinate Meeting, and build a church on a lot donated for the purpose by Isaac Todhunter, which took the name of Walnut Creek Church, from the stream on whose banks it stands, and which is now a Subordinate Meeting of the Hopewell Monthly Meeting. There is a membership of two hundred in this society, part of whom, however, reside in Highland County. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The first Methodist Episcopal society, was organized at Jesse Rowe's house, in 1816, at which services were held till 1834, when Mr. Rowe built Rowe's Chapel, on land belonging to himself. David Garringer, a carpenter, who came here at a very early period in the history of the township, performed the work. Elias Brakefield now owns the land on which the church stood. This building was not abandoned for church purposes, until a very few years prior to the death of Robert Anderson, who for many years previous to this event held up the society. The Methodist Episcopal organization, within the limits of Perry, was effected by the Rev. John King, at his house, in 1820, on land now occupied by George Lynch, but in the possession of Rev. W. A. King, son of John King. Services were held at the different houses of the neighborhood, and at a log school house that stood on the banks of Sugar Creek, near the bridge at the crossing of the Martinsburg pike, till 1851, when the society erected Sugar Grove Chapel, a frame structure, at a cost of eight or nine hundred dollars. The Cochran Methodist Episcopal organization, was an offshoot from the Rowe organization, and took place in 1819 or 1820, at the house of Barnabas Cochran, who afterwards donated a lot to the society, on which a hewed log church was built. This building was occupied for church purposes till 1851, when the erection of the present frame building, on the site of the old log church, was 784 - HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY. begun, which was finished in 1852, at a cost of, perhaps, one thousand dollars. The next organization of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was effected at Martinsburg, prior to 1836, by Robert Buck, services being held at an empty store room, belonging to this gentleman, and at the house of Thomas Fishback, till 1838, when a log church was built on a lot donated by Mr. Buck to the society. The present frame building was completed some years later. These changes were formerly included h the old Washington Circuit. The ministers in the order of their appointment were as follows : David D. Davidson, James Smith, John Summerville, David Lawrence, George Gatch, A. T. Baxter, Burroughs Westlake, James Donohoe, William Browning, J. P. Taylor, Solomon Minear, James Donohoe, Jesse Prior, Augustus Eddy, W. L. Snow, Henry Turner, E. E. Daley, E. T. Webster, Lustin James, John King, C. C. Lybrand, Jacob A. Brown, John W. Clark, Edwin Estell, Ely Smith, J. Smith, James Laws, Henry Horton, Bernard A. Cassett, Joseph Reader, B. H. Cassett, John Fitch, Noah Huff; H. Z. Adams, Martin Wolf; J. W. Keeley, N. Spar, J. W. Keeley, V. Beamer, James B. Austin, A. Fleming, G. C. Townsley, T. W. Chandler, S. W. Haines, Samuel Brown, N. G. Baker, S. Middleton, J. T. Reed, Barton Lowe, H. T. Green, E. H. Dixon, William Sutton, M. T. Bowman, Joseph Morris, J. T. Williams, J. W. Steele, S. S. Mount, W. H. McCintoch, H. H. Miller, E. H. Hegler, N. Westerman, J. D. Fry, A. Nicholas, W. E. Spar, T. G. Ross, J. Q. Lakim, Z. Whorton, H. M. Alexander, W. F. Hughey, A. F. Hixon, David Smith, Ancil Brooks, T. H. Hall, Hugh Boyd, M. V. B. Evans, C. W. Bostwick, H. Phillips, G. Murry, Z. Fegan, J. W. Wakefield and L. C. Brooks. We are indebted to Rev. W. A. King for the above list, and much other valuable information, in connection with the history of the Methodist Episcopal Church ; not only in Perry Township, but throughout the country. Mr. King has spent a great deal of time in collecting statistics regarding the Methodist Episcopal Church, in Fayette County, and the above can be relied upon as authentic. PERRY TOWNSHIP - 785 BLACKSMITHS. John Painter built a shop, in 1832, on land now owned by Ely Wilson, where he continued in business till 1838, when he removed to Union Township. In 1835, Thomas Waldron (colored) erected a shop on land now in possession of Isaac .Johnson. e, remained only five or six years, when his son removed the tools to Wayne Township, where he started a shop. MILLS AND MILLING. The early settlers of Perry Township experienced all the inconveniences attending pioneer life in those days, but in no way were those disadvantages more fully realized than in the extremely rude method used to prepare their corn for bread. First, they used the block and pestle, which was succeeded by the stone hand mill, both of which are fully described under the head of "Mills and Milling," in the county history. The first water mill in the township was built in 1816 by Thomas Stout, on the Little Wabash, near the crossing of the Martinsburg pike, the site of which is now owned by T. G. Cockerill. It was a small concern, however, and was operated only a few years. In 1815 Henry Snyder built a saw mill on Sugar Creek, on land now owned by Samuel Coffman, to which, in 1818. he attached a grist mill, and both were operated till the spring of 1832, when the dam was washed out by an extraordinary rise in the creek. Mr. Snyder, instead of repairing the dam, sold both the saw and grist mill to Nicholas Kline, who removed them to the present location of tilt Sturgeon Mills. In 1837, Kline sold both mills to Samuel Briggs, who shortly afterwards took them down, and erected on their site the flouring mill now owned and operated by William Sturgeon, who purchased the same of the executor of Briggs' estate, after the death of that gentleman, which occurred in 1852. 786 - HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY. SCHOOLS. No doubt the pioneer fathers of Perry fully realized the importance of an education to their children in after life, but the sparseness of population, and the lack of public funds, rendered it impossible at first to attend to these intellectual interests. However, as the settlements thickened sufficiently, so that within a radius of five or six miles it was practicable to establish a school, these wants were in a limited way provided for. The first school building within the limits of Perry, of which we have any note, was called the Ayers School House, built on land donated by Mr. Ayres, in the Carter survey. The first teacher that occupied this building was Charles Cox, in 1810. The next two school houses were erected some five or six years later, about the same time. One was situated near the present site of the Wabash School House, on land then in the possession of Robert Scott, but now owned by Rev W. A. King. It has been denied by some that this building was erected for school purposes, but perhaps the best authorities on the subject are the, maiden daughters of Samuel Edwards, one of whom is now over seventy, and who says that it was built for a school house, though it might have been and probably was occupied as a dwelling. Who taught the first school in this building, or how long it was occupied, we have been unable to learn. The other building mentioned was erected on land belonging to Judge James Crothers, but now owned by James Priddy. Prior to this, however, Mrs. Judge Crothers had taught a school at her house. .John Moon taught the first school in this house. This building was afterward removed to the present situation of the Haines school house, where it may yet be seen standing in the rear of the new building. In 1822 a round log school house was built on the farm of Isaac Henderson, now in the possession of T. G. Cockerill, only a short distance from the Cochran Methodist Episcopal Church. There were but two schools taught in this building: the first by Hugh Painter, the winter of 1822-3, followed by Jackson King, of Clinton County, the succeeding winter. The Thomas Ellis school house was built as early as 1815, or about the close of the war of 1812, and was located on land now owned by Isaac Smith, on the edge of Martinsburg. Isaac Wood- PERRY TOWNSHIP - 787 ward was, perhaps, the first teacher, remaining from 1818 to 1820, followed by Job Ellis from 1820 to 1824. He was succeeded by William Jury, from 1824 to 1825, after whom Zeno W. Wilcox taught the school from 1825 to 1827; be being succeeded by John Moon, who forbade the burning of sassafras wood at the school, from a superstitious belief, common in those days, that it would be followed by evil results. These fears, however, did not extend to the use of whisky, or prevent him from resorting to the bottle for that "inspiration," otherwise impossible, we presume, for him to receive; and some that attended his school relate yet with zest, how they watched him stealing, as he supposed unobserved, to the place of its concealment. This building was removed to the Todhunter district, in about 1828, one mile southeast of Martinsburg, on Jacob Todhunter's land. It was known as the Quaker school house, and was subsequently occupied by Mr. Barnett, Joseph McLure, Samuel Banks, and Jacob Todhunter, as teachers. About the time of the removal of the school house from the Crothers farm—perhaps in 1832—a hewed log school house was built on Jesse Rowe's land, near the site of Rowe's Chapel. John H. Geller taught the first school in this house. It has since been abandoned and torn down. At an adjourned meeting of the township trustees, October 25, 1845, the township was divided into seven sub-districts. Since then there have been two more districts established, one of which is attended by the colored children of' the township. The schools at present are in a flourishing condition, and the houses are substantial brick and frame structures. The following is the average daily attendance of the respective districts for the year 1880: No. 1, 65; No. 2, 32; No. 3, 80; No. 4, 56; No. 5, 48; No. 6, 44; No. 7, 52; No. 8, 57; colored, 25. STORES. The only store ever kept in Perry Township, outside of Martinsburg, was opened by John Orr, jr., in 1841, in one end of his dwelling. In 1851 he erected a large frame store room, opposite his dwelling, which is still standing. He continued here till 1856, when he closed out his stock of goods, and rented the room to 788 - HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY. Grove & Craig, who continued together in business six months. Grove then purchased Craig's interest, and admitted Orr to a partnership. This firm continued less than one year, when the goods were sold to Charles Pavey, who removed them to Lexington, Highland County. SUNDAY SCHOOLS. METHODIST EPISCOPAL. The Sabbath-school has ever been regarded as the most powerful auxiliary to religion and the church that has yet been instituted, and the Methodist Episcopal society at Rowe's, recognizing these influences for good upon the mind and character of' the young, organized a school before Rowe's Chapel was built, holding the exercises in Jesse Rowe's barn; the first, perhaps, in the township. The names of the officers were as follows: Superintendent, Jesse Rowe; librarian, Robert Anderson ; secretary, Judge James Crothers. The organization was kept up for three years. The next organization (whose date is unfortunately not known) was at Cochran's, which is still in a flourishing condition. Adam Smith was the first superintendent, or teacher, as the exercises were conducted somewhat after the style of the secular schools of' those days. In 1844, the Sugar Grove Sabbath-school was organized, with Samuel Briggs as superintendent, W. A. King, secretary, and George W. Esterbrook, librarian. Present officers : Superintendent, W. A. King; secretary, T. Orr; librarian, M. U. King. The school is in an excellent condition, with three hundred volumes in its library. MARTINSBURG. Martinsburg, on the Martinsburg and Washington Turnpike, at the crossing of the Greenfield and Sabina pike, is the only village in the township, and was laid out by Thomas Ellis, in 1831. The PERRY TOWNSHIP - 789 name was afterward changed to New Martinsburg, on account of the establishment of a post office in the town. The first house was built by Thomas Ellis, jr. New Martinsburg has a population of about two hundred. STORES. James and Thomas Ellis opened the first store, shortly after the village was laid out, and continued a short time. Joseph Patterson was perhaps the second store-keeper, and was followed by Robert Buck, of Greenfield, in 1836, who opened a stock of goods in a new building erected for that purpose, Gersham Perdue superintending the business for him. Buck was succeeded by Daniel Marsh, in two years, who sold out to William Wilson, the latter continuing in this building about ten years. In about 1838, Richard L. Williams opened a stock of goods in a building located on the site of the present store room occupied by Dr. J. S. Jones, and continued, with short vacation in the meantime, till his death, in 1878, when the goods were sold by the executor of his estate. In 1839, William and Isaac Coffe brought goods from Warren County, which they opened in one portion of Gersham Perdue's dwelling, installing that gentleman as their agent. In two years, Mr. Perdue purchased their whole stock, and continued several years alone in business, when he admitted Henry Daster to partnership. These gentlemen remained together in business for some years, under the firm name of Perdue & Daster, when the former purchased Mr. Daster's interest, and continued alone several years. He then associated with him Mr. Z. Adams, some time after which they removed to the store room formerly occupied by Robert Buck, continuing together in this building till 1852. In this year Mr. Perdue sold his interest to Adams, who, in a short time, moved the goods to Leesburg, Highland County. Trustin Adams started a store in the Buck building, in 1846, and was succeeded by Edward Lanum, in 1850, who closed out his stock in two years, after which the room remained unoccupied for some time, when A. Miller, of Greenfield, opened a stock of goods in it, under the supervision of Mr. Todhunter, who, in two or three years was succeeded by Jackson Mas, and he, in a short time, 790 - HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY. by Barnes & Banks, this firm continuing perhaps two years. Robison & Silcott, of Washington C. H., in 1869 opened a stock of goods in this building, which for some time previous had been unoccupied, and placed Mr. Jacob Perdue and E. W. Welsheimer in charge. This firm sold their goods to Welsheimer & Ellis, in two or three years, who remained together four years, when Welsheimer disposed of his interest to Ellis & Son, the present occupants. Moxley & Brunt sold goods a short time, in the year 1845, in the building now occupied by A. Jester as a dwelling. Ellis & Fishback opened goods in the building now owned and occupied by A. Crawford as a hotel, in 1853, and continued three years, when they sold out to Thomas Fishback, who continued several years in business. Dr. J. S. Jones purchased the stock of goods sold by the executors of the estate of If. L. Williams, and continues at present in the mercantile business. BLACKSMITHS. The first blacksmith was James McKinney, who opened a shop in 1833 or 1834, continuing two or three years. In 1834 or 1835, Jacob Gallinger built a shop, and for many years remained in business. William Wasson had a shop from 1841 to 1861, when he was succeeded by A. Fishback, present occupant of the building erected by Wasson. Isaac Smith, one of the present blacksmiths of the village, has occupied the same shop since 1865. WAGON SHOPS. In 1834, Llewellyn Griffith built a shop, and continued business five or six years. James Ellis, in 1840, started a shop, and remained perhaps twenty years. William Fishback carried on a shop from 1843 to 1855, M. R. Ellis carried on a shop for several years, part of the time with William Wasson, blacksmith. William Barrett opened a carriage and wagon shop in 1868, and continued till 1874. PERRY TOWNSHIP - 791 In 1873, Fishbach and Devass opened a shop, and remained together about one year, when Fishbach retired from the firm, and Devass operated alone two or three years. William Barrett is at present carrying on a shop in connection with the undertaking business. HOTELS. Llewellyn Griffith opened a hotel in 1834, and continued till 1838, in a building occupying the present situation of Dr. J. S. Jones' store room, the latter being erected by Richard L. Williams, in 1856, after which it was occupied by Mr. Williams as a hotel for fifteen years. John Lucas kept a hotel from 1878 till 1880, in property now owned by A. Crawford, and occupied by him for that purpose. TANNERIES. A tannery was started by Thomas Saunders, in 1848, in connection with a harness shop, and continued perhaps ten years. In 1853, James Ellis started a tannery, and continued five or six years. SADDLERIES. A saddlery shop was opened by Rees Wilson, in 1838, and continued several years. SHOE SHOPS. The first shoe shop of Martinsbnrg, was opened by David Jones. The present shoemakers are Harrison Reese, J. W. Wain and Henry Marty. UNDERTAKERS. David Barrett and Reese Binegar, each opened undertaking establishments in 1870, and both still continue. 792 - HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY. CABINET SHOPS. Reese Binegar has carried on a cabinet shop for perhaps thirty years. CARPENTERS. The following named gentlemen have carried on shops at Martinsburg since 1834: James Ellis, from 1834 till 1860; William Fowler, from 1838 till 1842 ; Ellis and Reese, from 1840 till 1855 ; Charles Fishbach, from 1845 till 1860 ; Lewis Daster, from 1845 till 1860. The present carpenters are A. M. Hadley, David Barrett, Jacob Fetherlin and Reese Binegar. SAW MILLS. Thomas Fishbach, built a steam sawmill, in 1845, which is at present operated by him. CARDING MACHINE AND OIL WORKS. In 1839, Thomas Fishbach erected a large carding machine and oil works, and did an extensive business for several years. SECRET ORGANIZATIONS. ODD FELLOWS. A lodge of Odd-fellows was instituted in Martinsburg, by W. G. M. William Slater, January 1, 1862. The names of the charter members were as follows : Morris R. Ellis, Murry Wilson, J. A. Arick, C. Fortier, A. L. Snider, George Binegar, and C. A. Kneedler. The following is a list of officers elected for the first term : M. R. Ellis, N. G. ; A. L. Snider, V. G.; Murry Wilson, R. S.; George Binegar, T.; C. A. Kneedler, P. S. The present officers PERRY TOWNSHIP - 793 are : Reese Binegar, N. G.; E. E. Cockerill, V. G.; William C. Eyer, R. S. ; Dr. J. S. Jones, T. ; J. H. Zimmerman, P. S. . The lodge owns a commodious, elegantly furnished hall at Martinsburg, and is in a flourishing condition, with a membership of two hundred. It is designated as Wilstach Lodge No. 368. GRANGERS. On the 12th of January, 1874, Forest Shade Grange No. 368, was instituted in the Odd-fellows' hall, at Martinsburg, where it still meets to transact business. NURSERIES. Gersham Perdue started the first nursery in Ohio, called the Pioneer Nursery, at Leesburg, Highland County, in 1817, which he moved to Martinsburg in 1836. He has since been succeeded by his sons, M. P. and T. K. Perdue, who are at present doing an extensive business in this line. POST OFFICE. The only post office Perry Township has ever had, was established at Martinsburg, in 1851, with Gersham Perdue as postmaster, who retained the position fifteen years. Since his resignation, the following named gentlemen have had charge of this office : J. W. Kneedler, E. W. Welsheimer, Jacob Perdue, J. W. Barrett, and Dr. J. S. Jones, the present incumbent. TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION AND OFFICERS. Perry Township was organized in 1845. The first officers were : Trustees, Joseph Waln, William Wilson, and Albert Adams ; treasurer, James Mooney; clerk, Lewis Todhunter; constables, 794 - HISTORY OF FAYETTE COUNTY. John F. Doster and Jonathan Jones; justices, Thomas Ellis and Robert Eyer; judges of first election, Jacob Todhunter, Jacob H. Geller, and S. C. Terril; clerks, Thomas Ellis and Amos Todhunter. The present officers are : Charles Painter, L. C. Smith, and G. W. Hadley, trustees; Jacob Perdue, clerk; D. W. Ellis, treasurer; Harrison Reese, constable; W. A. King and Harrison Limes, justices. TOWNSHIP EXPENSES. The first settlement of the trustees, April ii, 1846, shows the expenses of the township, from its organization to that time, to have been as follow's : Clerk, $7.12 ; Joseph Waln, for services as trustee, $4.00; William Wilson, for record book and paper, and for services as trustee, 85.48; Albert Adams, for services as trustee, $225; G. Perdue, for services as clerk of election, 81.00; Jacob H. Geller, for services as judge of election, $2.00; total, $21.80. In contrast, we give the expenses of the township for the year ending March 7, 1881, which are as follows : For school purposes. including state fund, $2,454.31 ; general township expenditures, including relief to poor and road expenditures, $3,508.87. Total receipts from all sources, $6,395.14. Balance on hand, $2,886.27.