MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 125 son; confectionery, M. W. Stutson; contractor, Frank Moorehead; clothing, M. Keener & Sons; druggist, Z. R. Taylor ; dry-goods, Jacob Martin, Harry Sorin, Embrey store, T. C. Gregg, proprietor ; dry cleaning, West Jefferson Cleaning Company, Valentine Albrand, proprietor; dentist, H. F. Jackson; elevator, Meyer & Silver, John Murray ; factory, Darby Canning Company; furniture and undertaking, W. H. Pence, Jonah E. Barr;, garage, Harvey Pence; grist-mill, Jenkins Brothers; groceries, Frank Orders, Baker Brothers, Burrell's grocery ; harthware, William Haislett, George Gillivan, Samuel A. Fetter, E. J. Buckley ; hotel, Star, John Kubitschack ; jeweler, M. Bord; livery barn, William Baber ; meat market, Frank Ingel, Groves; physicians, Lester W. Olney, L. E. Evans, A. F. Green; pool room, Jesse Byerly ; postmaster, John Bidwell; restaurant, Frank Wise, Lon Reason; saloon, W. H. Wise, William Bengal ; shoe shops, John Burns, Jessup; tailor, H. Pugatch; veterinary, Wade Smith. CHAPTER IX. MONROE TOWNSHIP Monroe township is one of the smallest in the county, and, in shape, is nearly that of an obtuse triangle.. It lies in the north central part of the county and is one of the three townships that does not extend to the edge of the county. It is bounded on the north by Pike township and a fraction of a mile of Darby ; on the east by Canaan and Jefferson townships ; on the south and west by Deer Creek and Somerford townships. The following record is taken from the commissioners' report of March 16, 1819: "At a meeting of the commissioners, present, Burton Blizzard, Ira Finch and Patrick McLene, on petition being presented, ordered that the following bounds comprise a new township, to be known and designated by the name of Monroe : Beginning on the present line between Deer Creek and Pike townships, at the upper corner of Wallace's survey, running eastwardly, so as to cross Little Darby at the mouth of Barron run, to the original line between Pike and Darby townships ; thence with the original line until it intersects Jefferson township line at Mark's survey; then to Henry Camp's lower corner ; thence northwesterly with the new road leading to Urbana, including the same as far as to where said road crosses the London road; thence in a straight line to the place of beginning." In constituting Phelps township (now Canaan), in June of the same year, and subsequently, in enlarging Pike township by taking a portion off of Monroe township, its boundary lines were changed from the above description to its present lines and limits. The principal streams and the only sources of drainage in this township are the Little Darby and Spring fork. The former courses through the entire township, in the central eastern portion, passing in a southeastern direction into Jefferson township; Spring fork enters Monroe township from its northwest corner, and meanders' in a southeasterly course, nearly through the township, and empties into the Little Darby about one mile north of the south line of the township. The surface of this township is very level, except along these two creeks, where the land is somewhat broken and hilly. Especially along the Little Darby, on both sides for a little distance from the creek, the surface is quite broken, and in some places rather hilly. East of the stream, and between the Little Darby and Spring fork, the surface is very level after passing westward over a little undulating portion along Spring fork, then all westwardly is very level. In the western and central portions of the township, also in the southeastern part, are large farms, consisting of prairies and oak openings, which are most beautiful lands and peculiarly adapted to grazing purposes. The soil of these portions is generally a black loam, from one to three feet thick. It has in late years been ditched, tiled and drained, and since -this work has been completed it produces all kinds of grain in abundance, and will vie in richness and productiveness with any lands in the county. Along the creeks, where the surface is undulating, the soil is generally a clay, but very strong and productive, and it can truly be said that Monroe ranks among the best townships of the county for stock and grain raising. The principal products are wheat, corn, potatoes and hay. The timber is similar to that of other townships in this part of the county. On the oak openings, burr oak, hickory and elm are the principal varieties, the former predominating. On the streams are some walnut, and the uneven and hilly portions, where the clay soil predominates, white, black and red oak, hickory, ash and some beech MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 127 abound. But in this township the timber did not play an important part in the natural resources of the settlers and has been of minor importance, except to get it off the land in order to produce good pasturage and tillage. FIRST SETTLERS. It seems certain that the first family to settle within the limits of Monroe township were the Bradleys, who came to this county from Virginia; There were five brothers and sisters in this family that settled here, Jonah, David, James, Susan and Nancy. They settled in this township about 1804-05. Jonah Bradley settled on Spring Creek and married Susan Powers, who also was a native of Virginia. To this union the following, children were` born : Alfred, who Married Jemima Morrow, and settled in this township ; she died and he later married a Miss Lee; subsequently he moved to Mercer county, Where he resided several years, and where his second wife died, after which he returned to this. county, where he remained a resident until his death, which occurred by accidental drowning while on a trip to Mercer county; he was the father of six children, four of, whom grew to maturity, David, John M., Elizabeth and Jemima. David and John (brothers of Alfred) married in this county and remained here until their deaths. Jonah was the fourth son: There were five daughters, Elizabeth, Mahala, Mary, Sarah and. Snsan. Mr. Bradley followed farming and milling through life. A few years after locating here; he erected a gristmill on Spring fork, run by water power, which was one of the first Mills in this vicinity. Prior to his building this mill, the settlers had to take their grists to Chillicothe, which was also the closest place to buy goods. This mill was one of the great improvements of that day, and .was a great convenience to the people of this settlement new settlement Mr. Bradley was a carpenter by trade, built his mill with his own hands, and to a great extent made his own wagons and implements for the use of the farm, thus bringing his skill and trade into good use in that early 'day, when such articles were then so difficult to obtain. Mr. Bradley died in April, 1865, aged eighty years. David Bradley, brother of the above, first settled near Georgesville, in Franklin county, but soon afterward moved into Monroe township, Madison County, where he resided till his death. He was the father of four sons, James L., David M., who resided on the home place of his father, and Shelton, who resided in Tazewell county, Illinois. There were three daughters, Elsie, Jane, and Cassie, who became the wife of Newman Mitchell and resided in Somerford township. James Bradley, also. brother to Jonah, settled here at the same date and remained throughout his life. He had four sons, Hiram, Washington, James and Jonas. James Marks was born in Kentucky on February 14, 1782, and married Nancy Van Kirk, who was born in Virginia on November 25, 1787; they were married on September 3, 1809. Mr. Marks came to Monroe township in 1807-08 and purchased a tract of land on the east side of Little Darby, upon which he settled. The log house in which he commenced life in this new settlement lacked a floor, doors and a chimney, and he had no furniture. But he had the will, energy and strength, and went to work in earnest. Success crowned their efforts and he became owner of nearly a thousand acres of land in this county, also a large amount of western lands. On' his home place he made fine improvements, had a good brick house and other good buildings; with a fine fruit orchard, and everything comfortable and convenient around them—quite in contrast to their condition when they first settled here. Mr. Marks served as justice of the peace several years. They were devout members of the Baptist church. Their children were Washington. who married Hannah Hayden, and was killed by railroad cars, September 1868; Eliza. who married John Taylor; Elizabeth, who married James L. Bradley; Sarah who married William Foos and resided in Springfield; Matilda, who married 128 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO Gustavus Foos ; Lucinda,, who married Rev. Jesse Ferguson ; Mathias, who married Jennie Long, of London ; Jefferson, Jackson and James, who died in infancy. Robert Powers, a native of Virginia, settled on Spring fork soon after or about the same time as Jonah Bradley, and there resided until his death. He was married in Virginia and brought his young wife to this county with him. To this union there were born the following children : John, Joseph, Abner, Edward, Senath, Dorcas and Fanny. The children of Mr. Powers all left this county and made their homes in varied parts. Nicholas Moore, a native of Virginia, is believed to be the first settler on Little Darby. He came to this county at an early date, but about the year 1820 he, with his family, moved to Illinois and, later, to Iowa. He married Sarah Downing, by whom he had the following children, born while the family resided in this county : William, Catharine, Hannah and Athea. John Downing, who was a native of Virginia, became one of the early settlers of Jefferson township about 1808-10, and a short time afterward moved into Monroe township, settling on land just above Mr. Bradley's. In 1822 he moved to Logan county, Ohio. He was married to Hannah Frakes, to which union were born the following children : John, Josiah, Robert, James, Sarah, Hannah and Mary. Henry Kampf, a native of Pennsylvania, settled on the Little Darby, near James Marks, about the year 1809-10, and resided here until 1850, when he removed to Illinois. He married Mary Travis, who died in this township. The children were John, Mathias, Robert, Henry, Hannah, Sarah and Mary. Peter Paugh, a native of Virginia, settled in this township about the year 1804-05, and remained a resident of this township until his death. He married Mary Johnson, by whom he had the following children : John, Abraham, Henry, Peter, Solomon, Sarah. Mary and Rebecca. Mr. Paugh was a blacksmith by trade, which occupation he followed throughout life. Peter Baker, a native of Virginia, was known to be an early settler, and probably purchased land here as early as 1812, but it has been impossible to get a sketch of his life. There is a deed record, dated in January, 1817. In 1815 three brothers, Jonas, James and Joseph Heath, became settlers in this township. Jonas settled on Spring fork, on the London and Marysville road; James settled on the forks of the Little Darby and Spring fork, and Joseph settled just north of his brother James. Ralston Williams was another early settler on Spring fork, locating there about the year 1825. He married a Miss Goodwin and was always classed as a good farmer, an honest and worthy citizen. Their children were Joseph, Marion, Jane, Elizabeth, Evaline, Rebecca and Eliza. The two sons served in the War of the Rebellion ; Marion was killed at the battle of Chickamauga, and Joseph, who was a lieutenant, was severely wounded in the same battle. Mr. Williams' wife died and he married Mrs. Canaan ; he died at Irwin Station. Fletcher Pratt, although not in the true sense a pioneer, came in about 1830 and resided here through the remainder of his life. His children were : John, Callie, Samuel, Eliza, Eli, Peter and Anna. John Aylor, a native of Virginia, settled on the Little Darby, on the Wilson land, about 1825. He erected a saw-mill, which he ran for a short time, and then moved to Iowa. David Link, also a native of Virginia, settled here in 1825. He erected a grist-mill on the Little Darby, and subsequently he moved to Somerford township and purchased the Roberts mill; thence he moved to the West. These early mills that were built on the Little Darby did quite a flourishing business during the early settlements, but have long since gone to decay. William Winget, a native of Pennsylvania, married Mary Tomlinson, who was a native of Maryland. They settled on Spring fork about the year 1828. There were born to this union the following children : Mahala, who married R. T. Burnham and settled in Champaign county, subsequently moving to Iowa ; Mary, who married Joseph McCampbell and settled in Union MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 129 county, thence removed to Greene county ; Luther, who married Mary Jane Reynolds and resided in Union township ; John married Mary Proctor and settled at Kenton, Ohio; Catharine ; William ; Elizabeth, who married John McCloud, Esq., of London ; and David C., who married Mary Winget and resided at Kenton, Ohio. James Guy, who was born in Vermont, November 14, 1779, married Mary Watts and emigrated to Ohio and settled in Union county in 1812. In 1826 he removed to Monroe township and his death occurred in September of that year. His wife died on September 6, 1842. Their children were : Harriet, who married Moses Fullington ; Jane, who married Benjamin Mann; Sylvia, who died at the age of seventeen ; William and James, who married and settled in this township. Mr. Guy, while young, learned the blacksmith trade, but after settling in Ohio gave his undivided: attention to farming, stock raising and the dairy business. He made stock raising a specialty and was always eager to better his strain of 'stock. It was necessary that he put up a large amount of hay. As there were no mowing machines in that day, the grass was cut with scythes. On a certain occasion, he and a Mr. Bidwell made, a wager, with their mowers, that they could cut eight acres of grass in one day. The wager accepted, the ground measured, and the parties were to commence the next morning at sunrise. Before sunset, the entire eight acres of grass as lying in the swath, a feat which was perhaps never before or since performed by any two men. But in addition to his great physical strength and power of endurance, he Performed a conspicuous part of usefulness 'among the early settlers. He was also one of the great cattle buyers of that day. There were then no means of getting cattle to market, except on foot. He purchased large droves of three and four year-olds, annually, which were driven to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and other Eastern markets, fording creeks, swimming rivers and climbing the Alleghany mountains with his drove of bullocks. It was not unfrequently the case that the animals became frightened, the foremost ones turning back upon the others until the whole drove was in a terrible stampede, breaking down everything, before them, and no human power could stop them in their mad rush, the drovers making their escape the best way possible to save themselves from being trampled to death. Mr: Guy was a very active; energetic and prosperous business man, a kind neighbor and a worthy citizen. As we look back and see the hardships which those pioneers had to endive; their habits, modes of life houses, household goods and the rude tools and implements we are impressed with wonder and admiration at their tireless efforts and the splendid progress which they helped to bring about. The principal social gatherings in those early days were those in which there was an interchange of labor—log rollings, husking bees, house raisings and numerous other gatherings where work was intermingled with pleasure. In that time a man of good moral habits and industry, polished with a reasonable amount of education and intelligence, whether rich or poor, was fit for any society or social position. The subject of education has received the general attention of the people of Monroe township. As in all communities, in the time of the pioneers: the first education was meted out from the rude log school houses. One of the first schools of which there is any account was in a log house of the primitive kind, with puncheon, floors, slab seats, etc., erected in 1815. Another log school house was built on Spring fork about 1820. From then up to the present time the growth has been steady and ever-increasing. There is no railroad running through this township, but the present inhabitants are accommodated with very good roads, of which the Urbana pike and the Wilson and Winget pike, are the principal ones. The advancement in the line of good roads has been as marked as any other line of improvement. The farmers are realizing that pike roads. greatly increase the value of their farms and are willing to share their burden of the cost in order that this may be accomplished. (9) CHAPTER X. OAK RUN TOWNSHIP. Oak Run was the last township erected in Madison county, and is also one of the smallest in the territory. It is the most irregular in its contour and boundary lines and is one of the three townships that is bounded wholly by other townships in the county. It is purely a rural township, as Chrisman, the only town within the limits of the township, was never platted and is at present only a small hamlet. A petition was presented to the commissioners of Madison county on March 5, 1856, signed by Robert C. Amos and others, asking for the erection of a, new township, to be composed of parts of the townships of Range, Pleasant, Fairfield and Union. The boundaries were erected as follow: "Beginning at the southeast corner of the land of John Dun, in Pleasant town-Ship; thence northeasterly with his line crossing Deer creek to his corner; thence with his northerly boundaries to the James Innis surveys; thence with the James Innis surveys to Deer creek; thence up Deer creek with the Fairfield township line to the north line of the land formerly owned by John Harrison, deceased ; thence westerly with the line of said Harrison to the John Jones road ; thence westerly with said road to the Lafayette. road ; .from thence a southwesterly course to the northwesterly corner of Jesse Rea's land and corner with Maxwell Murry; from thence southwesterly with Jesse Rea's line crossing the land of. Robert Armstrong to Levi Springer's northeast corner; thence with Springer's southeast line to the Yankeetown road; thence southeasterly with said road to the southeast line of the lands of David and Isaac McClimans, and with the west line of Joseph. Morgan's; from thence to the beginning. Wherefore, it is hereby ordered by the commissioners of Madison ,county that the foregoing described territory be and is hereby established a township; and be, it further ordered that Henry Alder, surveyor of the county of Madison, and Edward Fitzgerald meet at said Fitzgerald's on March 24, 1856, and proceed to survey and establish the lines and boundaries of said township, erecting monuments at the several, corners thereof. Ordered by the commissioners that the legal voters within .the territory heretofore described meet at. Harvey's mills on Monday, the 7th day of April next, that being the first Monday of said month, and then and there proceed, as provided by the statutes in such. cases, to elect, all necessary officers for such township." On June 2, 1856, a petition by citizens of Oak Run township was presented to and granted by the commissioners, changing the west line of Oak Run township, as follows: "Down the London and Yankeetown road to the line of William Johnson, Sr„ and William Johnson, Jr.; J thence with their line to a branch of. Bradford's; thence with the meanderings of said branch to the line of Thomas. Foster, and; thence with the line of him and James McClimans to the west line of John Foster, bounding with I. and W. McClimans; thence with their line to John Foster's southwest, corner, being two. black oaks; thence in a direct line to the northwest corner. of James W. Robinson and corner to land bought of said Robinson by I. and D. McClimans, near Bradford's run; thence with the line of said Robinson and I. and D. McClimans to their corner in the line a Joseph Morgan." There, is also this record: "Oak Run township, April 17, 1856 In pursuance of notice, the qualified electors of Oak Run township, Madison county, Ohio, met and organized by calling Jonathan Harvey to the chair, and Jeremiah Rea as secretary, and then viva voce declaring Jeremiah Thomas, Jonathan Harvey and Robert C. Amos, MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 131 judges of election ; Jeremiah Rea and Mitchell Lane, clerks of election. The above officers being qualified according to law, the poll book was then opened, and the electors of said township proceeded to elect by ballot the following officers, to wit : John Foster, Jonathan Harvey and Robert C. Amos, trustees ; Jeremiah Thomas, treasurer ; Jeremiah Rea, clerk; David Lewis; constable ; Mitchell Lane and Jonathan Farrar, supervisors. and Dr: D. Warner; justice of the peace."' The township was now in complete order, the boundary lines of its territory definitely and satisfactorily, and all necessary officers duly elected and qualified for the duties that might develop upon them during the year 1856. The above election was, in accordance with the orders of the' commissioners, held at Harvey's mills. From the record books of this township we find that elections have been regularly held each year since 1856, at Harvey's mills, until 1881, when there was .erected a good township house at the corner of Robert Rea's land, where the Harvey. mill road strikes the London and Mt. Sterling pike, since 'which time the elections have been held at the township house. SURFACE, SOIL AND STREAMS The surface of Oak Run township is. generally level, the western and southern portions being particularly fiat and uniform, while the northern and eastern portions are undulating and, in some localities, especially along the creeks, rather hilly. The principal streams are Deer creek and Oak run, from which the township took its name, and Bradford's fork, with their small tributaries. The former passes through the northeast portion of the township, in a southeasterly course, entering the township from Union, by passing through the farm, originally, of Joseph Bell and striking in its course the boundary line of Fairfield township, there it takes a south course and for some distance forms the boundary line between Oak Run and Fairfield townships, then again enters Oak Run township, through the Chenoweth farm, and reaching the north line of the Jesse Rea farm, turns east, reaching the Dun tract of land again takes a south course and passes into Pleasant township. In its course through this township, it receives its first tributary in what is called Nigger run; then its next tributary is Glade run, which enters the northeast corner of the township, passes through several farms, and empties into Deer creek; as above mentioned. The next. tributary is Oak run, which enters the township and flows southeasterly, receiving in its course Walnut run. Turkey run also forms one of the tributaries of Oak run and empties into it a little, below where Oak empties into Deer, creek. In the south part of the township, and forming for a considerable, distance the boundary line between Oak Run and Range townships, is Bradfords fork, the main. stream having a general southeastern direction, receiving; as its tributaries North fork and Barron run. These numerous streams and their tributaries. furnish an abundant supply of water to all portions of the township and also furnish excellent drainage for the township. The west and south portions of the township possess a very deep, rich soil. principally a black loam, and, as originally found by the white ;settlers. consisted mainly of oak openings, and prairies, upon which grew a sedge so tall that a man riding through it on horseback could take the grass from either side and tie the tops together over his horse's back. The northern and. portions and along, the creeks, where the surface is undulating and hilly, possess. principally a. loam, and clay soil, and, although some small portions of it is a thin soil, yet the larger percentage is strong and productive,. and. is excellent for either grass or grain EARLY SETTLERS   William Jamison seems to have been the first settler in Oak Run township, at least he is the first of whom any record can be obtained,, as settling within, the present limits of this township. He came to this county from Kentucky and settled south of the mouth 132 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. of Glade run; about 1805. He purchased two hundred. acres of land, on which he resided until his death. Mr. Jamison became quite a prominent and prosperous farmer of that day. He was married to Ann Brown, of Brown county, Ohio; by whom he had three sons and three daughters, namely Ira, who became a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, and died in Hancock county, Ohio; the second son died while young; the youngest son; emigrated west after reaching his majority and resided at Mt: Pleasant, Iowa. The three daughters were Zelah, who married Mr. Ferguson ; Cynthia; who married Levi Poulston, and the third daughter, whose name it has been impossible to obtain; married a Mr. Foster. John Simpkins, a native of Maryland, came to this county about the same time as the Gwynnes, as early as 1808. He purchased land in Oak Run township, on Walnut and Oak runs, and settled here. He improved his land and became quite an active man in the secular affairs of the township and county; served as treasurer of the county in 1816 ; collector in 1817 ; held the office of associate judge and later was elected justice of the peace, which latter office he held for several years. He finally moved to Missouri, remaining there but a short time, when he returned to this township and entered upon the mercantile business, which he followed through the greater part of the remaining years of his life. He had two brothers, James and Thomas; the latter was stabbed and killed on the street's of London ; the subsequently returned to his native state, Maryland. Elias and Van De Lashmut, two brothers, natives of Maryland, came to Madison county, it is thought; as early as 1810. They purchased land on Deer creek, on the boundary line between Fairfield and Oak Run townships. At the same time there came to this township John De Lashnut, a cousin of the above; also two brothers, Otho and Nelson De Lashmut, the latter a brick-maker by trade. Elias was the principal active man among them was sheriff of Franklin county in 1807-09; and it seems owned the greater pare of the land purchased. by the brothers. After a few years he entered upon the mercantile. business, and was One of the merchants of London; where he carried on his business for a number of years. John .De Lashmut subsequently moved west; and settled on the Red river. John Jones came from Franklin county and settled on Oak Run, one mile above its mouth, about the year 1808; he resided here some eight ten years, opened up the farm and made considerable improvements, and then moved west. Thomas Nash, a native of Kentucky; settled near the mouth of Oak run about 1812; after residing there for a few years he removed to Indiana. William Sly settled on. Turkey run on surveys No. 10,004 and 12,364, at an early day, and was becoming somewhat Prominent as an active, energetic man, when he moved to Sandusky; and died a short time later. John Lindsay a Virginian, settled on Oak run, one mile above its month; on the land first settled and improved by John Jones,. about 1818. He resided here about six or eight years; was active and energetic, gained some wealth and moved to Sandusky, where he purchased some land and later died, leaving a large estate. Montgomery Wilson was one of the early settlers of the township ; but little is known of his ancestors or his early life, except that he was a blacksmith by trade and located temporarily where his business or inclination led him. Joseph Rea was born in Pennsylvania in 1754; on January 16, 1783, he married Elizabeth Conn, who was born January 27, 1762. They first emigrated to Virginia; thence, in 1810, to Ross county, Ohio; and thence to Madison county, about 1818. and settled on Oak run, where they died about 1829. They raised a family of nine children, all reaching the age of maturity. Their son, Matthew, who was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, in 1793 became a resident of London. in 1818. He married Ann Amos, who was born in Maryland, November 15, 1802, the marriage being performed in London MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 133 by Patrick McLene, Esq. In 1835 they settled in Oak Run township, where he became a successful farmer and stock raiser and accumulated a goodly portion of the worldly goods. Matthew died in 1873 and his wife died in 1857. James Foster came from Ross county and settled on the north side of Bradley's fork, about 1820; a few years later his brother, John, came to this township and settled near him. They married sisters by the name of Bougher. They both became prosperous farmers and large landowners; active in business interests and filled many offices of trust in the county and township, James serving .as county commissioner for a number of years, Jonathan Farrar was a native of England, but became a settler in Oak Run township about the .year 1825. Mr. Farrar was. an excellent man and a great: admirer and fancier of thoroughbred stock. He, with Charles Phellis, Esq., and Browning, were appointed a committee by the Stock. Breeders' Association of Madison. county to go to England and purchase a quantity of fine blooded stock. John O. Robinson, an Englishman by birth, possessed of a good education and a teacher, in his younger days, came from Pennsylvania to Madison county and, about 1831-32, located in Oak Run township. He erected. a saw-mill on Oak run, since known as the Harvey: mill and, Gregg mill. He sold the mill to Jonathan Harvey, and, thence removed, to Kentucky, where he entered upon the teaching profession, and. while. engaged in this profession was stabbed and killed by one of his scholars. CHAPTER XI PAINT TOWNSHIP Paint township occupies a southern position in the western tier of townships in Madison county, being bounded on the north by Union township, on the east by Union and Range townships, on the south by Stokes township and on the west by Clarke county. While the territory enclosed within the boundaries of the present Paint township began to be settled as early as 1804, it was the last township but one to be erected. From the commissioners! records we quote the following, under date of June 7, 1853 : "A petition was presented to the commissioners, asking for, a new township, to be called Paint township,. to be composed of parts of the townships of Stokes and Union. Beginning at the county line. near Peter Slaughter's, thence running an easterly direction to the line of Range township ; thence a northerly direction to the line of Range township.; thence a northerly, direction with the original township line to the corner of Stokes and Union townships; thence northeast so as to include Baskersville's, and to continue in that direction far enough to include Robert Reed, or some point so as to get enough territory ; thence a northwesterly direction to the line of Clark and Madison counties at .some point north of William T. Jones' ; thence a southern direction with the county line to the beginning. Therefore, it is hereby ordered by the commissioners of Madison county, that the foregoing described territory, or as near as may be deemed proper, be, and is, established a township, which shall be known by the name of. Paint; and be it further ordered that Henry Alder, surveyor of the county of Madison, and John T. Maxey proceed to survey and establish the lines and boundaries of said township, erecting proper monuments at the several corners thereof. Ordered by the commissioners that the legal voters within the territory heretofore described meet at the residence of James Phifer, on Saturday, the 25th day of June, 1853, and there and then proceed, as provided by statute in such cases, to elect all necessary officers for said township." Again, on June 6, 1855, we find the following among the commissioners' records: "A number of citizens of Union township presented a petition that the line dividing the townships of Union and Paint be so changed that they may be included within the boundaries of Paint township, to wit: Beginning at the angle in said line between the residence of Washington Withrow and H. Langham ; thence north so as to include John Ham, Sr., John C. Jones and Job Coberly, Sr., in Paint township; thence near a straight course tb the junction of the Midway and London turnpike road and the old Xenia road, that being the Paint township line, or near that place where Paint township lines strikes the old Xenia road." This petition was granted, and Nelson Baker appointed to survey the line. SURFACE, SOIL AND STREAMS. The surface of the township is generally level and in its original state contained large and extensive prairies and oak openings, the western, southern and central portions possessing but little timber. Bordering along Walnut run, in the northern part, and along the eastern side of the township, the surface is more undulating, with here and there portions that approach a slightly hilly condition, the most of which was originally heavily timbered. The principal species of the trees of the forests were white, black and red oak, hickory, walnut, elm and maple. In the oak openings, burr oak prevailed. The township is well watered by Walnut run and Paint creek and their tributaries. Walnut MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 135 run enters the township from Union township and flows almost due east through the northeastern portion of the, county' into. Union and on into Oak Run township, where it empties into Deer creek. Paint creek consists of two Yorks, the West and East fork, the former of which finds its source in Clark county, enters Paint township near its northwest corner, takes a southeast course, and unites with the East fork in the south central portion of the township, then flows into Stokes township. The East fork rises in the extreme northern part of the township, flows southeast to about the center of the township, then turns to the southwest to join with the West fork, as described above. The soil of this township is exceedingly rich and fertile, the oak openings and prairies possessing a deep black, loamy soil, While the "more undulating portions of the north and eastern parts of the township are a mixture of clay and loam. Underneath these is a stratum of blue clay, mixed with limestone, and through these one reaches a bed of gravel, the structure and composition being favorable to the retention of moisture and protection from long continued droughts: It is a very strong and productive soil, well adapted to the raising of grass and grains. THE PIONEERS AND EARLY SETTLERS. From the best available sources it appears that the first pioneer of Paint township was Andrew Sifrit, who was born near Winchester, Virginia, in 1750. When a young man he enlisted in the army and served for eight long years with the American forces during their struggle for independence. As a reward for these services, he afterward received a warrant for two hundred acres of land.. He married Susan Shrock, by whom he had nine children. She 'died and he later married, for his second' wife, Hannah Morrills, also a native of Virginia,- by Whom he had twelve children. Thus he was the father of twenty-one children. In 1803 he, with his family, emigrated. to Ross county, where he remained for one year and then, in 1804, pushed on to Madison county, settling in Paint township, on land later owned by John Paulin, on what is known as Sifrit run. He, it is believed, was the first white settler in Paint township as it is now known, but at that date it was in Darby township, in Franklin county: Here he and his family erected a double log cabin and commenced to make a farm and home. They had willing hands and hearts and knew how to use them, and from year to year their comforts and conveniences increased, neighbors began to appear, and everything began to put on a more comfortable and pleasing aspect. Mr. Sifrit died at the advanced age of ninety-eight years. Peter P. Helpenstine, a native of Virginia, received a grant for a large amount of land for his services as a major during the Revolutionary War. He started for Ohio, in October, 1805, and, arriving at Chillicothe, he became acquainted with Col. Elias Langham, who was going up into the "Barrens" to lay some warrants. David Watson had accompanied Mr. Helpenstine from Virginia, and now they associated themselves with Colonel Langham and came with him up to Madison to locate and lay and survey their land. About February 14, they finished their work and returned to Chillicothe, where they remained until September, 1806. They returned to Virginia and at once made preparations to return to their new lands. Mr. Helpenstine and family, Jonathan Minshall and family and Walter Watson and family, with their connections, to the number of thirty-nine persons, with six or seven Wagons,. started for their new homes in the wilds of Ohio. This caravan arrived at Chillicothe by the last of October, 1806. There they left their families,' while Mr. Watson, with his family, located on a place which his son David had previously rented for him. Mr. Helpenstine proceeded to his land and, with the assistance of David Watson and others, erected a cabin, in his new and permanent home, and here he remained through life, being, it is believed, the second settler in Paint township. 136 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. David Watson was born in Maryland,, October 17, 1783, and, with his father, Walter Watson, and his family, became settlers in Ohio in 1806. In 1807, with Mr. Helpenstine and family, David Watson came to Paint township and here was married to Mary Helpenstine, for whom he formed a special attachment when she was but ten years of age, while residing in Virginia. George Blougher, of German descent came with or about the same time as, Robert Hume,, in 1804. He worked one year for him, clearing, his land, for which service. Mr. .Hume, deeded ,him hundred acres of land, upon which he settled and remained throughout life. About 1810-12, a Mr. Harpole settled on the Hume land and became owner of quite a large amount of land; but little is known of him. James Withrow, born in Pennsylvania, emigrated to Madison county in 1807 and .settled on Walnut run, in Paint township, and, in the following year, removed his family to his new ,home in the wilderness. Here he took up two hundred and fifty acres of land. He had but three neighbors, David Watson, Jonathan Minshall and Peter P. Helpenstine. Mr. Withrow was a man of wide experiences and of great influence. He served as a major in the militia for several years. He built a saw-mill on Walnut run about 1815, which was the first mill in this vicinity and one of the first in the county. The power for this mill was furnished by the Stream. It remained in operation for ten or twelve years. He was .a man of great firmness, of character: All his life he was an active member of the Presbyterian church. They had a family of seven children : Ann married Abraham Phifer, and died. about 1873 ; Margaret died unmarried; David married Mary Harvey, and settled in the township, where he died without issue; Isabel married John Stroup,. by whom she had five children; Robert .married Ann: Carr ; Washington married Catharine .Truman and settled on the home place; Samuel .married Charlotte John Stroup settled on the Buffenberger land about 1810, where he remained throughout life. He was a native of Pennsylvania. John Phifer, a native of Virginia, came to .Madison county about 1810, and located on Paint creek, also on. the Buffenberger lands. He was a blacksmith by trade, which business he followed, along with farming, throughout life. He raised a family of three Sons and four daughters. George Phifer, his son, who married Tabitha Dean, was also a blacksmith by trade And followed it for several years. Soon after marrying, he moved to London, where he. became a prominent and successful business, man. Abraham Phifer, another son of John, and a brother of George, married Ann Withrow and settled near his father. He devoted his life to farming, at which he made a great success. John, the third son, died when very young. The daughters were Dolly, Clara, Betsey and Nancy. All married, had families, and became prosperous and good citizens. Peter Buffenberger, a native of Virginia; came to this county when a young man and, about 1810, located on Paint creek, in this township, and entered largely into the stock business. About 1816 he fenced in a large tract of these prairies. He married, at the advanced age of seventy-five years, Angeline Hutson, by whom he had two children, Eugene and May. Mr. Buffenberger died a few years after his marriage, leaving his family four thousand two hundred acres of fine land, besides seven hundred :acres which he had previously deeded in fee simple to his wife. About 1810 George Liaison, a native of Virginia, settled on Paint creek, just below the Buffenberger tract of land. He had married in Virginia, and came here in very limited circumstances. He entered upon the stock business, was very successful and made: money rapidly, becoming the owner of over two thousand acres of excellent land. George Chappell, who was a resident of this township' until his death, settled near Walnut run about 1810: He was a native of Virginia. He married Margaret Green and MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 137 had four sons and two daughters. He served in the office of justice of the peace for several years. Rev. William Sutton, a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, it is believed, was born in Virginia, but became a settler of Paint township about 1810, locating on the Hume land. He married Hannah Coberly. He resided here but a few years, when, as a Methodist minister, he had to adopt an itinerant. life; but the greater part of his life was spent in the service of the ministry within Madison county. Lewis Higgins, a native of Virginia, settled on the Hume tract about 1811. Reuben Gregg, a native of Virginia, emigrated to Chillicothe in 1810, and to Madison county in 1811, locating in Paint township, about half a mile below where the village of Newport is now situated. He married Phoebe Harpole, and remained a resident here until his death. Thomas Coberly, also a native of Virginia, emigrated to Ohio and, about 1810, purchased one hundred acres of land, in Paint township, upon, which he located and where he resided until his death. James Chapman ,was born in Frederick county, Virginia, in 1801. In 1816 he became a settler of paint township, and later, married. Ann Chapman, likewise a native of Virginia, by whom, he had nine children. EARLY SCHOOLS. The first schools in paint township is thought to have been held in a cabin on Jonathan Minhall's land, Samuel Harvey being the first teacher, one of the first. This school, like all other pioneer schools, was supported by subscription, the teacher receiving about fifteen dollars a month for his services. The first school house was of the pioneer type-round logs, puncheon floor, slab seats and greased-paper window's. The first public school house was erected on the ground now embraced in the cemetery. This was a hewed-log house, and was then considered quite neat and comfortable. This house was succeeded by a frame one erected on the same ground about 1847. It was used for school purposes until about 1872, when it gave way to a brick building, erected at the cost of about fifteen hundred dollars. CHAPTER XII. PIKE TOWNSHIP Pike township was one of the early constituted townships of Madison county, as upon the commissioners' records we 'find the following account of its erection, bearing date September 5; 1814.: "At a meeting of the commissioners, present Joshua Ewing and William Gibson, ordered, that the following bounds' comprise a new township, to be known and designated by the name of Pike. Beginning where the state road intersects the north boundary of Madison county and running from thence with the said road, so E. as to include the same till it intersects the Urbana road; thence southwardly on a line half a mile east of Little Darby, till it intersects the Jefferson township line at Mark's survey ; thence to Peter Paugh's southeast corner; thence westwardly with Deer Creek township line to Champaign county line, and with said county line to the northwest corner of Madison county, and thence with the line between Madison county and Delaware to the beginning." In the erection of Union county in 1820, .a portion of the above described territory was embraced in that county, and consequently the north boundary line was changed and Pike township made smaller in territory. Again, on March 4, 18.39, another change was made in the township of Pike, as follows : "At a meeting of the commissioners of Madison county, ordered that the following boundaries compose the township of Pike (as surveyed January 24, 1839, by William B. Irwin), to wit : Beginning at the northwest corner of Madison county, thence running on the line between. Madison and Union counties, east by the variation six miles to an elm, corner to Darby township, Madison county ; thence with the line of Darby township, south three miles and one hundred and six poles to four elms; thence south eighty degrees west (by the needle) six miles and thirty poles, to the original southeast corner of Pike township, in the line of Champaign county ; thence with the said line north four miles to the beginning." After the permanent boundaries had been fixed, it was one of the smallest of the fourteen townships comprising Madison county. It is also one of the most regular townships in the said county, its contour and general form being nearly a perfect parallelogram. while nearly all of the other townships of the county are remarkable for their irregularity of shape. This township occupies the extreme northwest corner of Madison county and is bounded on the north by Union county, on the west by Champaign county, on the south by Monroe and Somerford townships and on the east by Darby township. SURFACE, SOIL, ETC. The surface of Pike township is level, except along the streams and small creeks. much of it being prairie and oak openings. All that portion between Little Darby and Barron run, extending to the north line of the township, is very level and a beautiful country ; also, all west of Barron run and between that stream and Spring fork is also level. On the Little Darby and along Barron run and Spring fork, the surface is quite uneven and in a few places there are small hills. The soil of the level and prairie portions of the township consists principally of a black loam, with here and there a stretch of clay and loam. The soil is very deep and rich, naturally producing an exuberant growth of grass and vegetation. Along the creeks and streams the soil is principally clay, but very strong and productive, so that throughout the township the soil may be MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 139 said to be very rich and fertile. The subsoil is clay and gravel, with, usually, a third strata of blue clay and disintegrated limestone. This township, from its first settlement, has been peculiarly adapted to raising live stock, and that business has always received a large share of the attention of the farmers and most wealthy citizens, who have given considerable attention to the improving and bettering of fine blooded stock. But as the lands become divided up into smaller farms, as the tendency is from year to year, and the soil better ditched, tiled and drained, it becomes better adapted to the cultivation of all the grains. There have been quite a few tile factories in this part of the state; which furnish the farmer with drain tile at a low rate and make it within the reach of every, farmer to drain his farm and in this way make it better and more productive. Much of the low, fiat, prairie lands which a few years ago were almost useless from the great surplus of water in them; in which stock would almost mire, and in which it was never attempted to run the plow or cultivate for grain, are now, by this process of tiling, becoming the best wheat and corn growing lands in the county. This township, which, as late as the. seventies, scarcely produced enough grain for home consumption, is now exporting vast quantities of corn and wheat. The forests and timber . of Pike township are similar to those, of other townships in the county. It was., generally heavy timbered along the streams and creeks. On the creek bottoms were considerable quantities of walnut and back from the creeks. and on the rolling lands were white, black, red and burr oak, with some considerable hickory and a less amount of white oak, elm and a few other varieties. One noticeable and peculiar feature of the timber of this township, which appears to be a common condition of most of the county, composed largely of prairie and timber, where the general course of the stream is south southeast, is, that for a. short distance on the east side of the creeks, the timber was a much heavier and denser growth than on the west: side of the same. On the east side of the Darby, in particular, was where the beech and a few other varieties were found, and not much in other localities. It is quite, probable the principal reason, of the timber being less heavy and dense on the west side of the creeks was in consequence of yearly fires which swept over the prairies and which destroyed the undergrowth and more or less checked the growth. of the larger timber as these fires usually raged from west to east, these streams and creeks served as a barrier which the fire could not overlap, or if it did, it was so checked in its power that it would burn with much less violence and destructive power until it would get some distance again from the creek, where the ground was drier, when, from being fanned by the breeze and finding no more combustible matter, it would again sweep forward with great velocity and violence until again checked by another stream, or the lack of combustible matter to keep up the flame. Although Pike, township was not settled quite as early as some of the other portions of the county, yet, as is the case in all swampy country, we find the settlers taking possession of the lands along the streams, where the more elevated and drier lands were tillable. But many of these were mere "squatters"; being possessed of no means, they did not purchase the land in this locality, but remained here a short time, and enjoyed the pleasure of hunting, where there was an abundance: of deer, turkey and other game. Sometimes they made some small improvements and quietly enjoyed their possessions, without any great amount of . investment. Finally, as other settlers came in and purchased the lands with a view of becoming permanent residents of the locality, or as the "squatters" became dissatisfied, they moved away to enjoy other homes and hunting grounds. Some of these "squatters," though not owners of their homes or possessed of wealth, were moral and religious men and women and good citizens, and exerted quite an influence in forming and molding the general character of the community. Many of these having resided here but a. short time, and the older of the 140 - MADISON CQUNTY, OHIO. pioneers, who at, that time knew them well having passed away, there is but little information, whereby the good of these early squatters, can be exactly ascertained. The dates of these early settlements cannot be, learned, but they were such important factors in the early development of this, township that their lives should, be sketched, even if it does border on the traditional. THE PIONEERS. The first of these "squatters” to be mentioned are Oliver and Harris Jaynes. It is believed that they were among the first; if not the first, who came into the township. They made their settlement on the Little Darby, a short distance from where Henry King afterwards settled. A family named Keyes settled a little farther, up. the Darby, near the northeast corner, of the township. The first settlement. on Barron :run: was made by two brothers, Edsel and Samuel. Carr. The latter was quite an active man and a moral and upright citizen. He was a leading and active worker in the Methodist church in its first organization In: Pike township. A family. by the name of Whitman, the head, of which is believed was Solomon, settled later on Barron run, They never purchased land there and, a few years afterward, moved away to parts-unknown. Three brothers; Samuel, Isaac and Daniel Allen, settled on Barron run about this time; and later purchased small tracts of land. Samuel was a local preacher in the Methodist church and quite a prominent and influential man in that day. They moved into Union county about the year 1830. Mr. Burrell, a blacksmith by trade and the first of this profession in the township, was also a very early settler on Barron run, but only resided there a short time. A Mr. Dockum, believed, to be a native of Canada, settled near the mouth. of Barron run, at a very: early date, and resided there until: his death, his body being. interred upon the place. This was probably the first burial in what is now known as the Weaver burying-ground. There were five children of this family: William, who married Nancy Jones, and. settled adjoining the home place, but later moved west ; James, who married. a Miss Clement, settled in this township and later removed to Darby township, Union county; Boardman, who married Miss Tullis and settled in. this township, where he. remained until his death one daughter married Mason Jones, and: finally settled near California,. Madison county ; and younger daughter, who married Allen Jones, resided in this county several years; thence moved west.. Another early, settler on Barron run was ,John Rathburn, who was a Methodist preacher and also practiced as a steam doctor. It is thought that he was the organizer of the Methodist church that existed at an early; date on Barron, run, but later died out. He was the main pillar and support of this church for a number of .years. He had the following children: Charles, who studied medicine and :moved :West to take up his profession ; Levi, who was for some time a merchant in Mechanicsburg and later moved. west ; Nelson, who was called to the pulpit and resided in Iowa ; .Abigail, who died at an early age; Harmon, who settled in Iowa,. and Sarah, who married Luke Clemens and settled in the south part of the county. The first authentic dates obtainable of really settlements was in 1812. This was the settlement of John Erwin, who located in the northwest corner of Pike township. He purchased land here and the deed records of the county show his deed was recorded in September, 1814. Erwin came to Madison county from the southern part of the state, and was probably the first settler in the west part of the township. He remained a permanent settler of the township until his death. Mr. Erwin was a farmer and stock raiser and a substantial and worthy citizen. He was a man of excellent character, plain and unassuming. in his habits, a devout member of the Presbyterian faith and good neighbor. He had a large family, but that dreaded disease, consumption, claimed a, large number of them early in life. One son, Amzi or Amazi, however, settled on the home place and lived to quite, an advanced age, dying on May 14, 1879, at the age of eighty. On the building of the railroad from Springfield to Delaware it passed through a corner of MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 141 this township and a part of Mr. Erwin's land, a station being established there, called Erwin. Joseph Mitchell; native of Vermont, emigrated to Ohio with his family, and settled in the southwest part of Pike township, on land later known as the Farrington farm. This was in the year 1812-13. He purchased nine hundred acres of land, became an extensive farmer and stock raiser and resided here until advanced in Years, when he removed west. He was a leading active man in the Methodist Episcopal church and a minister in the same during a greater part of his life. He devoted much of his time to itinerant work, traveling over many different states, and was a companion of Lorenzo Dow for several years. He was the father of four children; Joseph, Newman, William and Abner. The latter served in the War of the Rebellion. Claudius Mitchell settled in this township about the years1815-16. He was a brother of Joseph Mitchell and a son of Ensign, of Champaign county, Ohio. He settled on a tract of land on the Urbana and Liverpool pike, near the west line of the township. As Mr. Mitchell was a typical pioneer and endured the hardships and privations which befell all the early settlers in this state, and as an illustration of the early life in the township; we give a full account of his life. This is a true picture of pioneer life. Claudius Mitchell was born in Verniont in 1794. He was the son of poor but respectable, parents, who; after a few years, removed to the state of New York; thence to Pennsylvania; later, to Kentucky and thence to southern Ohio. In the year 1815 they emigrated to Madison. county. During; these years of pioneer itineracy Claudius reached his majority, but these were years of rough, yet full of pleasant, experiences for him: He enjoyed with his faithful dog and unerring, rifle, the sports of frontier life; the chase for, or in mortal combat with, the wounded bear or stolen cub, and often came hand-hand contests. With the wild buck deer of the forest, which then abounded with all kinds of wild game and animals. In consequence of the poor facilities and constant moving about, Claudius had no opportunity of obtaining even a common-school education, and did not even learn to read and write. The first pair of pants he ever owed were made by his faithful Vermont mother, who manufactured them out of the hair combed from their own cow in the time of spring shedding; mixed and carded with common fiat tow, all done by hand; and spun on an antique heel and knit into a pair of pants. The first pair of shoes he ever wore was when he was ten years of age, for which he earned the money to pay for them by taking his arx and hand-sled, with which he cut and hauled wood a distance of several miles. He was able to a man's task at the age of ten, in Clearing the forest or working at the Kanawha salt works. In 1816, the year after emigrating to Madison county, he married Nancy Lambert, of Bromin" county. On the first day of February, he took leave of his home and parents and commenced life for himself. The first day's work for himself, he took his ax and Maul and cut and split three hundred-and fifty rails, for which he received twenty-five cents per hundred, but this was not given in cash and he had to take it out in corn; at twenty-five cents per bushel. which gave him three and one-half bushels of corn. The second day he made two hundred and fifty rails; and took his pay in tallow and fat meat. On February 7, he took a lease of land on .Spring fork, and at once commenced to build a cabin, with the scow then six inches deep. He soon had his cabin up and a roof on the same, and the next day he and his; young wife moved into it, cleared away the snow and built a fire on the ground ; then, to work they went in earnest to fit up the new home. At a late hour that night they laid down some loose clapboards on the snow, on which they spread their scanty' bedding; and then, before retiring to rest; they knelt down by two blocks, their only chairs, and there offered their songs and prayers to the God of the Universe. The only utensil they had for cooking was an old iron pot, and their tableware consisted of two broken knives and forks and two old pewter spoons. He had one two-year-old heifer, upon which the tax was eight cents, and he had more difficulty in raising this 142 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. small sum with which to pay that tax than any tax he subsequently paid. Mr. Mitchell resided in .this township for many years, finally removing with his family, into Champaign county; where he remained until his death which came in his nintieth year. He was twice married. There were seven children born to the first union, Sarah, Lavina, Elizabeth, Nancy, Alvira, Chandler and Joshua. His second wife was Mary Ann Reed and to this union one child .was born. The life of this early pioneer was one of honesty, integrity and Christianity. George Van Ness, a native of New Jersey, married Eleanor Van Lear, a native of Holland, and they emigrated to Ohio prior to its becoming a state. They first settled in Butler county, but, in January, 1813 or 1814; they removed to Madison county and settled on the Little Darby, in the northeast corner of the township. He was a true pioneer. and experienced the rough side of life. Indians at that time were his only neighbors, and deer wild hogs and game of all kind were found in abundance. About 1820, Mr. Van Ness erected a grist-mill, which was a three-story frame, run by waterpower. The mill only ran about three years, when the dam washed away and was never repaired or used afterwards. Mr. Van Ness served throughout the War of the Revolution, and was with General Washington at historic Valley Forge. He was the father of the following children: John, Susannah, Catharine, George, Judith, Peter, Cornelius, Daniel and Mary. George Jones, a native of Virginia, settled in Pike township about the year 1815-18. He was a leading and active man in the Methodist church; was quite a politician, and after the Morgan trouble in New York he became an active anti-Mason. He served in the War of the Revolution: His children were the following : Elizabeth, who married Michael Roseberry; who was a miller in Mechanicsburg for a number of years; Mason and Allen, who moved west ; Nancy; who married William Dockum and settled in the West, and Charles. Henry King was a native of Pennsylvania and first settled near Chillicothe; thence,about 1818-20, removed to the west bank of the Little Darby, here he resided until his death. He was an intelligent and well educated man, a wheelwright by trade and a skillful mechanic, and to this trade and also farming he devoted his life. He was a kind and worthy neighbor and always ready to assist in time of need. His children were, Joseph, who married Amanda Tarpening, and remained on the old home place; William, who married Miss Bigelow, daughter of Doctor Bigelow, of Plain City; Hannah, who married Daniel Brooks and settled in Darby township, where they resided until the spring of 1882, when they removed to Kentucky; Henry J., who married a daughter of John Mitchell and settled in Darby township, Union county, but later removed to Marysville; Benjamin, who married Miss Keyes and settled in Darby township, Madison county; where he died at an early age; Sarah K., who married Newton Hunt; and.another daughter, who died young. George Weaver also was a native of Pennsylvania and settled in this township about the year 1817-18. The deed record for his farm was dated in January, 1818. He was married to Elizabeth Hempleton. To this union were born the following children : Jacob. who married Polly Nagley, and settled on the old home farm, where he resided until his death; Solomon, who married Lydia Niles, and settled near the home place, but later removed to Illinois and settled near Clinton; John, who married Elizabeth Morse and settled in this township ; Elizabeth, who married John H. Surfus and settled here first, but later removed west and purchased land in Illinois; George, who married a Miss Morse and resided in Illinois ; Joseph, who married a Miss Cobbler; Mary, who married John Sterritt; the three latter, children all went west; another daughter married David Morris. Mr. Weaver, the elder, was an industrious, thorough going Pennsylvania farmer, MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 143 who knew how to make money and invest all his surplus capital in good hands.. and the result was that he became owner of three thousand acres of land.. Samuel, Mann, a native of Vermont,, settled in the southwest :part of the township about the year 1814-15. He was a very successful farmer and a good, citizen. He raised a large family and was able to give them a good education for that day. His children were, Samuel, Reuben, Nancy, Benjamin, John, Alden, Lorenzo D., Leonard and Azro. Reuben and Leonard H. became physicians and Benjamin resided in Monroe township, where he held, many offices of. trust. Abraham Johnson, a native of Virginia, settled in this township about the years 1814-15, as the records show the deed for his land to be, recorded in June, 1815. He was a good neighbor and a reliable citizen. In the early times it was the custom to bleed people in the .spring .of the year,. to tape away the bad blood, which had accumulated during the winter, and, although it, was probable that he was neither a physician nor surgeon, yet he was skilled in the art of bleeding people, and many were accustomed to apply to him to perform the work. He married Hannah Roseberry, And resided in this township for several years; but he subsequently removed to Union. county. . Andrew Alden, a native of New York or New England, settled in this township in the spring of 1817. He married Elizabeth Manville,, to which union were born the following children : Chester, Elizabeth, Sarah, Lydia, Stanford, George, :Eli and Prince., Mr. Alden was a very active, industrious man and a good citizen. Levi Patrick, a native of Massachusetts, emigrated to Ohio and settled in Pike township on Christmas day 1817. He resided here until his death, February 22, 1.555. He married Clarissa Patrick, who also was a native of Massachusetts, and who died on December 12, 1868. The following were the children born to this union: M. Young, who married Fodelia. Cartmill, a native of Kentucky, and settled near the home place, where he resided until 1553, when he purchased a farm of 'his own; Eliza, who remained single, and died in the spring of 1881; Mary, who married Nathaniel Griffin ;Levi M., who moved to Missouri, where he married and settled; C. F., who remained single; John P., who married Emma Converse, and settled near the home place, but later removed to Union county ; Clarissa Ann, who died quite young, and Olive, who married Henry Brown and settled in Champaign county. Michael Roseberry, a native of Virginia, settled on Spring. Fork about 1822-24. He resided in this place for about ten years, when he purchased three hundred and fifty acres of land, where he resided until his death, about 1859. He married Elizabeth Jones, a native of Virginia, and the following were their children: Ellen, who married Ira Stacey; Permelia, Sarah, Elizabeth, Julia, Joseph, Ebenezer, Hannah and Jane. Mr. Roseberry was a prominent, active farmer and stock dealer, had the confidence of the people, and filled many of the offices of his township. Darius Burnham. was born in Hampton, Connecticut, on May 10, 1791. He was married to Lucretia Hunt, September 12, 1819; emigrated to Ohio and settled in Pike township, Madison county, in the fall of 1820, and here remained through life. Here he began life in a log cabin, in true pioneer style, and continued to live and prosper until his death, on August 10, 1846. To his first purchase of land he subsequently added from time to time, until, at his death he owned about seven hundred and ninety acres of good land. He became the pioneer settler of the land upon. which Liverpool is now located, and laid out and platted the town, which was given the name of Liverpool and had the same recorded at London. Mr. Burnham's wife was born on February 18, 1798, and died on May 22, 1878. They had eight children : John H., Henry, Anna L., Emiline S., Darius D., Achsa M., Lucius A. and Flora E. Mr. Burnham was an active, stirring business man; he engaged quite largely in raising stock and in the dairy business and was true, public-spirited man, kind and benevolent, ever ready to aid all enterprises and improvements for 144 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO: the good of the general public. He served in nearly all of the offices of the township and was a justice of the peace for a number of years. George Fullington, a native of Vermont, was born on August 18, 1769. He married Rebecca Greeley and, in 1813, they emigrated to Ohio arid settled in Union county, where they resided about. eight years. They then removed to Madison county and settled in Pike township, where they resided until the death of Mr. Fullington, on July 24, 1835. His wife survived him several years. Their children were, Sarah, who married Alfred Carpenter; Moses, who married Harriett Guy and settled on the old Fullington place, in Union county; Clarriett, who married William Guy, and died in 1827; Jefferson, who settled in Illinois, where he married Eleanor English; Adelaide .became the second wife of William Oily; Mary, who married Kimball; Abigail, who married Charles Phellis; Esq., and Selina, who Married John Burnham, and resided in Mechanicsburg. Mr. Fullington was a carpenter and joiner by trade, and still foliowed his trade after settling here, but his main attention was given to farming and stock raising, which he carried on extensively. He was man of substantial character and undoubted integrity, honorable in all his business transactions, a great friend of the poor and always ready to aid his 'friends in every why. FIRST MILLS The first grist-mill erected in this township was in the northwest corner, on the Little Darby. It was built by George Van Ness, about 1820. This was an imposing frame structure, three stories high, and was rim by water power. About 1825, Messrs. Lockwood and Nelson erected a: grist-mill on the Little Darby, in the northeast part of the township. Subsequently, these men were succeeded in the ownership of the mill by James Snodgrass. It then passed into the hands, of Albert Lombard and later to L. D. Mann, who was the last to run the mill, after which it stood idle and went to decay. About 1830-31, George Weaver and his son John built a sawmill on the Little Darby: this mill was run about ten years and was also left to decay. The main pikes in this township are the London road and the Mechanicsburg and Liverpool pike. The northwest coiner of this township is crossed, by the Springfield and Delaware branch of the Pennsylvania railroad, which has a length of about one-half mile within. Pike township. CHAPTER XIII. PLEASANT.   Pleasant township fills the southeast corner of Madison county, being bounded on the north by Oak Run and Fairfield townships; on the east by Pickaway County ; in the south by Fayette county, and On the 'West by Range and Oak Run townships: It was organized in 1810; and was put into running order by an election held by order of the commissioners of the county at the home of Forgus Graham; but who the officers elected were is not known as all the records of the township prior to 1869, have been lost or destroyed by fire. SURFACE, SOIL AND STREAMS: In its natural features, Pleasant township is much like the remainder of the county, since the general surface of the entire county is level. Nearly all the surface of Pleasant township, except along the creeks and other small streams, is one extended plain, and were the forests stripped from the face of the country, there would be great resemblance to the rolling prairies of the West. South and southeast marks the general course of all the streams and creeks of the township. Deer creek is the principal stream of the township and enters the northwestern portion, courses south and southeast until it reaches the boundary line between this township and Pickaway county ; thence it flows nearly south on the line for nearly a mile, when it re-enters Pleasant :township, flows south and enters Fayette county, near the southeast corner of the township. Sugar run is its main tributary. empties into Deer creek near the center of the township. Sugar creek finds its source near the western line of the ,township, by the junction of Mud run' and Bradford's creek. These, Duff's fork, in the south part of thetownship, are the principal streams. The :soil is i rich loam and clay, very strong and productive. equally good for grass or grain. During the last few decades the land has been extensively ditched, tiled and drain: Large portions of the township were originally oak. openings and prairies, of which was remarkably deep and rich, consisting chiefly of a black loam, with Clay and disintegrated limestone subsoil. The timber upon these tions was principally bur oak, hickory, elm, black and red . oak. Along the, creeks and the northern and eastern portions of the township were heavy. forests, consisting of the various species of oaks, hickory, elm and, on the creeks. considerable walnut on the rolling lands, white Oak predominated. THE PIONEERS Pleasant township was one of 'the earliest settled portions of Madison county. This was undoubtedly due to its position geographically and its close proximity to the older counties, especially Ross county. Chillicothe, in Ross county, early became a sort of asylum and trading center for the pioneers and settlers in all the counties around. From the. Ohio river up the valley of the Scioto, early settlements were Made, and Chillicothe early became the principal trading point of the frontier. From this base of supplies, the pioneer and huntsman pushed up the Scioto and its numerous tributaries—Paint, Deer, and the Darby creeks—and it seems that the two last mentioned streams were early visited by those in quest of game and a location, as it soon became known that along these streams were found, in plenty, herds of' deer and immense fiock of wild turkeys, and, what was .more important than all, as good a body of land the sun ever shone on (10) 146 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. The first settlers were James and William Hervey and David Martin, who built their cabins on the northeast bank of Deer creek in 1797. This afterwards became known as the Gabriel Andre farm. They emigrated here from Kentucky, but are believed to have come originally from Virginia. To the southeast a short distance from where they built their cabin was an Indian camping ground rind also burial ground. James Hewey was married, but William remained single and lived with his brother. They erected a cabin, made some improvements and here they remained until their deaths. Nothing further is known of them. David Martin built his cabin on the same farm, a little northwest of the Heweys: He also came from Kentucky., Nothing further is known of either of these families pioneers. No children were left to preserve their name or fame. The next to venture into the wilds of the present Pleasant township was William Alkire. He had emigrated to America with his brothers, Monus, Michael and John, from Scotland before the outbreak of the American war for independence, and all four of the brothers served in that struggle on the side of freedom. They later all moved .to Maryland, but finally Michael and William removed to Kentucky, one of the others to Tennessee and the fourth remained in, Maryland. Alkire, son of the previously mentioned William came with three of his, sons to the Northwest territory in the fall of 1799 and purchased fourteen hundred acres of the Baylor survey, No. 464, on Deer creek, in what is now Pleasant township, Madison county. The sons erected a cabin and begin clearing the land that fall; While the father returned to Kentucky and in the spring of 1800 brought the remainder of the family to their new home. Mr. Alkire was the father of fourteen children; eight sons and six daughters, all of whom grew to mataturity. The sons were Robert, Isaac, Abraham, Jacob, Monus, William, Joseph and John. Of the daughters, three married and moved to the West; one died, and Margaret and Lydia married and settled here. Mr. Alkire died in 1825. Peter Long, of German descent, who settled in the. northeast part of the township soon after 1800; was one of the earliest settlers of the township. Two of his sons, Jacob and John, never married and their days on the old home farm. One daughter married John Oglesbee and lived on a portion of the place: William Woods, a native of Maryland, born near Washington, D. married Elizabeth Dickinson and soon afterward. removed to Greenbrier county, Virginia; thence, about 1801, he came to Ohio and settled on Driff's fork in this township, and there resided until. quite aged, when he removed to the home of his son, William D., who then owned a mill east of Mt. Sterling, and resided with him until his death. When he. came to this county he purchased six hundred acres of land on Duff's fork, and during the War of 1812 the army opened a military road through his farm; known as the "Langham trace," over which the soldiers, passed to join General Harrison's army in the Northwest. Mr. Wood was the father of the following children: William D., Anna, Jonathan; Phebe, Rhoda, John and Mary. John R. Robinson, a native of South Carolina, settled on land in the southeastern part of the township about 1500, and became quite an extensive farmer and stock raiser. He was a prominent and reliable citizen; and served. the township for several years as a justice of the peace. .He was the father of seven or eight children John J. Smith married Rachel Alkire and, with, his father-in-law, came to Ohio About 1805-6, settling in Pleasant township. Smith was a native of Kentucky. Mr. Alkire, his father-in-law, settled on the east bank of. Deer creek, just in the. edge of Pickaway county, and few years afterwards, probably about 1810-12, built a grlst-mill on the west. bank of Deer creek in this township, just opposite his tract of land. This mill was built. of logs, with "raccoon buhrs," and was run by water power, with a bolting attachment that. was operated by hand. This mill was operated by him for several years, when it came into the ownership of his son-in-law. Later Mr. Alkire moved to Sangamon county, llinois. Mr. Smith rebuilt the grist-mill and attached a saw-mill ; finally, he sold it to MADISON COUNTY; OHIO - 147 Otho Williams and William Leach, who were succeeded by William D. Wood, and he by Elijah Atkins. This was one of the first, if not the first, grist-mill erected in the township.  Forgus Graham, a native of Virginia; married Elizabeth Trimble and emigrated to Kentucky ; thence, in 1806, moved to Pickaway county, Ohio; and in February; 1807, came to Madison County and here he lived between. fifty and sixty years and then removed to Indiana; where he died at an advanced age. His wife died while living in Madison county. They had twelve children, one dying in. infancy : James, Washington, Joseph, Walker, Jane, Margaret, Malinda and Eliza, all of whom married and moved to the West; the others, John, Polly and Robert, married and remained in this county. Mr. Graham was an earnest worker in the Christian church and a minister in that church for a number of years. He and George Alkire organized a Christian' church in Pleasant township that was known as the Antioch church. Mr. Graham's house was a preaching place for several years prior to the building 'a the church edifice, and his "latch-string" was ever out for the admission of the ministers, brethren and friends of the Christian work. He began life poor, gave largely and liberally, and labored earnestly all his life for the Christian cause. He owned about five hundred acres of land. William Creath, a native of Virginia, emigrated to Kentucky; thence about 1808, to Ohio and settled in this township, one mile north of Mt. Sterling, where he and his wife, Margaret, ilved and died. They were the parents of seven children : James, John, George, William, Samuel, Margaret and Jane M: James, the eldest, served in the War of 1812, while William, Margaret and James married and settled in this township. Thomas Anderson, also a native of Virginia, emigrated to Kentucky in an early day, thence, about 1805-6, removed' to Ohio and settled on Oppossum run, in Franklin county; and, about 1811, removed to Pleasant 'township and settled near Mt. Sterling, on. the Loveberry farm, where he devoted his attention to farming for the remainder of his life. He served as a lieutenant during the War or 1812. He married Rebecca Cochran, of Virginia, by whom he had eight children. John Riddle, a native of Pennsylvania, born near Mifflintown, emigrated to Ohio and settled at Staunton, near Troy, Miami county. He was one of the' pioneers of that county, and served during the War of 1812 as a teamster, being surrendered to the British by General Hull at Detroit; but he was afterward recaptured and his team returned to him. About 1815. he removed to Madison county and settled in Pleasant township, on land afterwards known as the Puckett farm, and a few years after moved to what is now the north part of Mt. Sterling, on the London road. He remained a resident of this township the remainder of his life, and died at Mt. Sterling, on January 9, 1858. He was twice married; by his first wife he had seven children, and by his second wife, three. Others that should be mentioned as early settlers and residents of this township are William Ware, E. Fitzgerald, George Kious, David Heath, John Puckett, Robert Abernathy and Isaac Moore, the Davidson family, Elijah Bragg, G. W. Ingrim, the Timmons family, Drs. Samuel and William McClintock, Dr. D. E. McMillin. These were hardly pioneers of the township, but were among its most prominent early residents and were founders and promoters of the progress and prosperity of the township. TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION. Pleasant township was one of the original and first erected townships of the county: The boundaries of the township at that time were very much different than at present, as part of the territory which was at first embraced in this has been taken off to help form Fairfield and Range townships. The original boundaries are given in the following transcript from the' commissioners' records under date of April 30, 1810 : 148 - MADISON COUNTY, OHIO. "Ordered, that all that tract of country comprehended in the following boundaries compose a township to be known and designated by the name of Pleasant, and is bounded as follows : "Beginning at the southeast corner of Union township, on the. Franklin county line; thence to the corner of Pickaway county line ; thence with the Pickaway county line to the corner. of Fayette county ; thence with the Fayette county line to the corner of Stokes township ; thence with 'Stokes township line to the place of beginning." The erection of the townships of Union, Jefferson, Deer ,Creek, Stokes., Darby and Pleasant, although occurring on April 30, 1810, were not recorded for nearly five months, the day being September 4. The first change in the township boundaries was made on June 1, 1818, when it was "Ordered, that hereafter the boundaries between Mange and Pleasant townships be as follow, viz : "Beginning on the North fork of. Paint creek, at the Fayette county line, thence eastward along the said line to Duff's fork ; thence up said fork to the crossing of the Federal road; thence northward to the line between. Union and Pleasant townships, so as to make the upper line of Range township one mile and one-half, extending along Pleasant township." On March 2, 1824, .a change was made in Pleasant and Range townships when it was "ordered by the commissioners of Madison county now in session, on ,petition being presented, that part of Range township be, and is hereby, attached to Pleasant township: Beginning at the county line between Fayette and Madison counties, Where the same crosses. Duff's fork, running west one mile with said line; thence in a north direction to where the Federal road crosses Duff's fork in the line of Pleasant: township, all that part hereby stricken, off of Range to be attached to Pleasant township. Again, on December 1, 1851, the line between Fairfield and Pleasant townships was, on, petition, changed as follows : Commencing at that point in the county line near. James Adams; thence south with the county line to the lower corner of R. Means' survey, No. 5,766; thence west with said survey line and the line of. Edward Fitzgerald's land to the northwest .corner of Henry Fleshour's survey, No. 5,190; thence to the northeast corner of the Hardin & Grady's survey, No. 5,799, and with the north line of said survey, No. 5,799, to the county road near Levin Jones house; thence with said road to Deer creek; thence up, the creek to the present corner of Fairfield township.". MILLS The first mill in the township was undoubtedly that of John, Alkire, which we have described above. Farther up Deer creek, just above where the cemetery is now located, at a later period William D. Wood erected a grist-, saw- and carding-mill. At just what date this was built is not known, nor just how long it was run. But it has long since passed out of existence and out of the memories of all but the very oldest residents of the county. William Wilson, a native of Pennsylvania, located in about 1820 in the northern part of the township and erected a grist- and saw-mill where the Wood mill stood. Wilson ran the mill for several years, when he sold out to John Kious. After running the mill several years, he tore it down and rebuilt and improved it with a much larger capacity. He was succeeded by Michael Sullivan, who was afterward succeeded by William Wood, and he by his son, Courtney Wood. A tannery was built in or near Mt. Sterling in about 1830 by George Puckett and carried on quite an extensive business for nearly twenty years. At that time leather tanning was an important and reasonably profitable business. There were then no railroads or other shipping facilities by which they could get either leather or shoes from MADISON COUNTY, OHIO - 149 the East, or, if they could get them by the slow process of being hauled through by wagon, it made their cost prohibitive to the pioneers. In those days, the quick process of tanning leather by chemical means was unknown and the operation required weeks and months. Neither had they machinery for making shoes, by which men could make several pairs a day, but everything must be done by slow hand processes. Therefore, a tannery in this country at that time was a great convenience to the people of the community and a source of great profit to its owner. EARLY SCHOOLS. As this township was among the first to be settled, it is not surprising to also find that one of the earliest school buildings in the county was erected within its limits. As the first settlements were made on Deer creek, in the eastern part of the township, so here we find, in the Alkire neighborhood, a primitive log school house erected in about 1812. These early log school houses have been described elsewhere and this one was no exception to the rule. The first teacher in this building was Adam Alkire. The building has long since disappeared.