400 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY LUCASVILLE. Lucasville is the only village in Valley Township, and is pleasantly situated upon a rising eminence, sloping to the west, on the bank of the stream that forms the island in the Scioto River, opposite the place. The main channel of the river is fully a half mile distant. The distance from Portsmouth and the Ohio River is ten miles, nearly due north, and the Scioto Valley Railroad passes within its limits. It is laid off at right angles, the streets running north and south, and east and west. Those running the latter way are named North, Scioto, Jackson and South streets, and those running north and south, East, Main and West streets. The village of Lucasville was laid out by Captain Jchn Lucas in June, 1819, and the record of the survey received and recorded Aug. 7, 1819. Captain Lucas built the first tavern in the village, and kept it until his death in 1825. His house for a long time was headquarters for the Democratic leaders of Southern. Ohio. BUSINESS INTERESTS. Mrs. Mary Warwick, general store; C. J. Moulton, general store; Hover & Thomas, grocery store; Haley & McCoy, grocery store; A. Crane, notions and fruit; M. Crane, saloon; 'Henry T. Martin, blacksmith; Frank Winters, blacksmith; R. J. Smith, wagon maker; B. M. Yeager, grocery; Levi Swartswood, blacksmith; John Morgan, wagon maker; C. B. Anderson, carpenter; Vogle & Banks, proprietors of the Valley Flouring-Mill; Postmaster, C. J. Mandon; physicians, Dr. Jno. B. Warwick and Dr. H. C. Beard. The population of Lucasville is about 300. LUCASVILLE LODGE NO. 465. was organized Oct. 16, 1872, with the following charter members: Leonard Groninger, A. L. Groninger, Isaac Fullerton, W. M. Thomas, Charles E. Wolf, J. N. Johnson, J. W.Wakefield, Jacob Fisher, John B.Warwick, M. J. Noel, Nathan Janes. First officers: Thos. J. Pursell, W. M.; A. L. Groninger, S. W.; J. W. Wakefield, J. W.; W. M. Thompson, Secretary, and John B. Warwick, Treasurer. The first lodge room occupied was over the store of W. J. Thompson, which was neatly fitted up. The order has flourished since its inception, and the lodge is now erecting a fine hall at a cost of $2,700, contracted to be completed Oct. 15, 1883. The building is 30 x 60, frame, two stories high, the ceilings thirteen feet high. The upper room will be handsomely finished and furnished for the use of the lodge, and the lower room will be used by the town authorities as their Town Hall. The lodge has now a membership of fifty-five, with the following as the officers for the year 1883: W. M., T. M. Slavens; Secretary, C. E. Wolf; S. W., Chas. Peters; S. D., Chas. Ellison; J. W., R. J. Smith; J. D., J. M. Piles; Treasurer, J. B. Warwick; Tyler, W. J. Thomas. Meeting on the Tuesday on or before the full moon of each month. BIOGRAPHICAL. Rev. William Abernathy, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church, Lucasville, was born Jan. 25, 1839, in Chillicothe. His father, Jas. M. Abernathy, was born June 1, 1810, in Hampshire County, Va., and in 1829 came to Chillicothe, Ohio. He was married to Rhoda Conner, a native of Lick. ing County, Ohio, born Sept. 15, 1814. They reared a family of four children, all of whom are living—William (our subject); Robert, farming in Pickaway County, Ohio; Isaac, practicing law in Circleville, Ohio, and Mary, wife of M. J. Tootle. Our subject came with his father's family to Pickaway County when fifteen years of age, where he attended the HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 401 common school, after which he took a three years' course of study at the Ohio Wesleyan University, of Delaware. He received an exhorter's license March 10, 1861, and in 1870 was licensed to preach on the Darbyville circuit and Lancaster district, and the same year was appointed junior preacher of the Patriot circuit. In 1871 he was admitted to the Conference at Washington court-house, after which he traveled on the Cheshire circuit two years. He was ordained Deacon by Bishop Ames, at the Ohio Conference, held at Athens, Ohio, Sept. 28, 1873, and Oct, 3, 1875, was ordained Elder by Bishop Foster, at Athens, Ohio, since which time he has been an itinerant minister, till he took charge of his present church. He was married in 1863 to Celia, daughter of John and Loretta Ross, of Delaware, Ohio. Their family consists of four daughters—Edith L., Lellie M., Rhoda L., and Lizzie M. Henry C. Beard, physician and surgeon, was born Dec. 21, 1839, near Middlebrook, Augusta Co., Va. ; came to Ohio in October, 1859, and soon after commenced the study of medicine in the office of Drs. B. G. & J. B. Warwick, of Lucasville, Ohio, and took his first course of lectures at the Medical College of Ohio, session of 1860-'61. In August, 1862, he enlisted as a private soldier, but was soon promoted to Hospital Steward, and two years later was made Assistant Surgeon of the First Regiment Ohio Volunteers, Heavy Artillery, Second Brigade, Fourth Division, Army of the Cumberland. He was mustered out with his regiment at Knoxville, Tenn., July 25, 1865, and returned to Lucasville. In October, 1865, he located at California, Pike Co., Ohio, where he remained four years. He then removed to Portsmouth, Ohio, and engaged in the drug business, but on account of failing health abandoned it, and resumed the more active duties of the practice of medicine. In June, 1869, he graduated from the Cincinnati College of Medicine 26 and Surgery; located at Lucasville in May, 1879, and has ever since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. He was married Dec. 25, 1860, to Mary E., daughter of David Noel, of this county. They have three children living—David F., Michael J. and Roscoe E. Dr. Beard was elected Vice-President of the Scioto County Medical Society in 1878, and is at present one of the Board of Censors of the Hempstead Memorial Academy of Medicine. David Bennett was born Feb. 5, 1846, in Scioto County, a son of James M. and Susannah (Tullerton) Bennett. His father was also born in this county and was a farmer and cabinet-maker. He died in 1850. Mrs. Bennett was a native of Virginia, and came to Jackson County, Ohio, when four years of age. She is at present residing in Madison Township, this county. Our subject attended the common schools and high school in his neighborhood, but acquired most of his education by private study at home. At the age of seventeen he began to teach and has taught ever since, with the exception of two years, when he was engaged as salesman for a dry-goods house. In 1873 he engaged in farming and has a farm of 280 acres, besides owning 130 acres in Madison Township. His land is well supplied with a fine quality of timber and he furnishes a large amount of railroad ties. He was married in 1871 to Jenette, daughter of L. Noble. This union has been blessed with six children, of whom five are living. Volentine Bernthold was born near Ohio Furnace, Lawrence Co., Ohio, Dec. 16, 1849. He attended the school at his native place till ten years of age, ,when he moved with his parents to Vinton County, Ohio, where they remained one year. They then moved to Jackson County and thence to Scioto County, where they resided on a farm on Millar's Run, about ten years. In 1877 he moved to his present farm in Valley Township, which con- 402 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. tains 300 acres of land, most of which is cultivated. In 1872 he was married to Nancy M., daughter of William Vulgmore, of this county. They have two boys and one girl. Mr. Bernthold has followed agricultural pursuits and lately has also been engaged in stock-raising. Joseph Brandt was born Jan. 13, 1813, in Columbiana County, Ohio, his parents having moved there in 1804. In 1832 they removed to Scioto County, and in 1836 the father, Christian Brandt, died, and the mother, Elizabeth Brandt, died at an advanced age about 1870. Our subject spent his boyhood days on a farm in his native county, and in 1836, after coming to Lucasville, was married to Mary Vannort. She died in 1838 leaving two children. In 1842 he was married to Susan Wilson. This union was blessed with six boys and four girls, all of whom grew to maturity. Mr. Brandt in his later years began blacksmithing and wagon-making. Joseph H. Brandt, Jr., youngest son of Joseph and Susan Brandt, was born Dec. 13,1858, and was educated in the school of Lucasville. At the age of nineteen years he entered the store of B. G. Warwick, with whom he remained till his death, since which time he has been agent for Mrs. Warwick. He was elected clerk of Valley Township in 1881 and reelected in 1882 and 1883. He was married July 26, 1881, to Miss S. C. Funk. They have one son—Clyde, born March 7, 1883. Smiley A. Caldwell was born in March, 1853, in Scioto County, and is a son of Captain Jacob and Huldah (Hurd) Caldwell, both natives of Ohio. In 1851 they moved to Scioto County and settled on the George Van Meter farm, where the father died in 1864. The mother is making her home with our subject. Smiley A. was reared on a farm and educated at the common schools and at the Ohio University, at Athens. He was married in 1874 to Jennie Claypool, of Fairfield County, Ohio. Their family consists of three chil dren. Mr. Caldwell's farm contains 540 acres of excellent land. His residence is a large two-story brick, built in 1859, and surrounded by beautiful grounds. They also own 320 acres where the old Scioto Inn stands. Jacob Caldwell, father of our subject, took an active part in recruiting volunteers for the Ninety-first Regiment, of which he was ap- I pointed Captain, and succeeded in raising a company in less time than any one before. His motives in entering the army were purely patriotic, and in doing so he left one of the best farms and most comfortable homes in the county. He died at the age of thirty-five years of flux and general debility, at the Sanitary Hospital, in Frederick City, Md., Aug. 9, 1864, and was buried from his father's residence, near Richmond Dale, Ross Co., Ohio. He left a widow and three children to mourn his loss. Caleb B. Crull, son of David and Mary (Jenkins) Crull, was born near Harrisonville, Ohio, Sept. 7, 1813. His parents were natives of Virginia, and came to Ohio in 1813, and in 1825 purchased the farm where our subject now resides. They reared nine children to maturity, of whom two are living —Caleb, our subject, and Jane who is house. keeper at the old homstead. David Crull was born in 1783 and died in 1836, and his wife was born in 1782 and died in 1842. Our subject was first married to Rebecca Jones, who only lived a few months. His second wife was his cousin Jane, daughter of Samuel and Jane Crull. She died in August, 1846. Mr. Crull owns 470 acres of fine land and is enjoying the fruits of his labor. John, Louis Dernbach was born in Bavaria, Germany, March 8, 1843, a son of Andrew and Maria Agnes Dernbach, natives of Bavaria, the father born Oct. 29, 1805, and the mother, Jan. 12, 1812. They emigrated to America, May 28,1845, landing in New York City, Aug. 4. They immediately went to Scioto County, Ohio, and settled on the Charles HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 403 Chick farm near Portsmouth, remaining one year. He then purchased a farm of 160 acres on Millar's Run, where he removed his family in the spring of 1847, they being the first Germans at that place. The old couple still reside on this farm, and have always enjoyed good health, never having had a doctor in the house. The old lady, although in her sixty-seventh year, walks to Portsmouth yet, a distance of thirteen miles, and never complains. The father is in his seventy-ninth year. The family consists of one son and one daughter—John Louis and Eva, both of whom were educated in the old log-cabin schools. In 1862 John Louis joined the army as a sharp-shooter, under the command of Charles A. Barton. Ile participated in all the battles of the Cumberland and Tennessee, and served three years. He was mustered out July 19, 1865, at Nashville, Tenn.., and, returning home, engaged in farming. He has 147 acres of land, of which ninety-five acres is under a state of cultivation. He was married in 1870 to Mary J. Shey, of Pike County. Their children are —George, Lizzie M., William A. and Rosa J., all of whom are members of the Catholic church. Mrs. Dernbach belongs to the Presbyterian denomination. John, J. Groninger, eldest son of Leonard and Susannah Groninger, was born in Scioto County, Aug. 22, 1832. He was reared on a farm and has always followed the avocation of a farmer. He has 100 acres on the home farm besides a farm lying south of Lucasville containing ninety acres. In February, 1863, he was married to Rachel A., daughter of Benjamin Thomas, of this county. They have a family of six boys and two girls. Mr. Groninger has served ten years as Township Clerk. Catherine Thomas, daughter of John McVey, and grandmother of Mrs. Groninger, was born March 16, 1793, in Greenbrier County, Va. She was married to James Thomas in 1814 and reared a family of eight children, of whom four are living. They came from Kentucky to Scioto Valley, Ohio, about 1827. She has made her home with Mr. Groninger for many years. She is now ninety years of age and is very smart for her age. Colonel Leonard Groninger was born Aug. 9, 1804, in Scioto County, and has followed farming the greater part of his life. He was married in 1831 to Susan Clark, grand-daughter of Captain William Lucas. Of their five children three are living—John J., Abram L. and Abigail L. His wife died in 1854. In 1833 he was elected Lieutenant-Colonel of the First Regiment Ohio Militia and belonged to the Second Brigade and Second Division commanded by General William Kendall. In politics he is a staunch Republican. His father, Jacob Groninger, was born in Northumberland County, Pa., and married Mary Bates, who was born in Reading, Pa. They came to Ohio in 1796 and settled in a place called Lucas Ferry, where they remained till 1804. They then moved to what was then Jefferson Township, but now Valley Township, where he followed the weaver's trade. He died in 1814 and his wife in August, 1830. Isaac Newton Johnson, of Johnson Station, Scioto County, was born Aug. 16, 1821, and is a son of Isaac and Jane Johnson. His youth was spent in attending the common school and in assisting his father in clearing the farm. At the age of twenty-three he was married to Sarah A., daughter of Jesse Cockrell. They were blessed with a family of six children, of whom four are married. Soon after his marriage he moved to Morgan Township, Scioto County, where he remained four years. He then sold his farm and moved to the place where he now resides. He has 424 acres of the best land in the valley, which is in a high state of cultivation. He has been very successful in raising grain, corn and wheat being the principal crops. Mr. Johnson has been a member of the Lucasville Lodge, No. 465, F. & A. M., for twelve 404 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. years. He has served as Justice of the Peace eleven years besides holding many other township offices. Isaac Johnson, eldest son of Oakey and Thebe Johnson, was born March 6, 1838, on the old homestead, at present occupied by Isaac N. Johnson. He was married in February, 1864, to Fanny L. Gager, who died in January, 1866. In 1867 he was married to Rachel Kendall, of Portsmouth, and daughter of Milton and Ruth Kendall. They have three children—Dora B., Elmer E. and Bessie Maude. He has been engaged in agricultural pursuits during life, and devotes most of his time to raising wheat, barley and corn. In breeding he makes a specialty of Alderney cattle. Mr. Johnson has held the office of Township Trustee and other township offices. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and was made a Master Mason in 1873, and has held the office of Trustee of the Lucasville Lodge, No. 465. James O. Johnson was born in Scioto County, Ohio, Feb. 28, 1808, a son of Isaac and Jane (Clark) Johnson, natives of Hampshire County, Va., who came to Ohio in 1807 and located near what was known as Scioto Inn, the land having been entered by his grandfather, James Clark. Eight months later his parents removed to Ross County, where they remained two years, and then returned to Scioto County. His father died Feb. 18, 1832, and his mother July 11, 1845. They were married Feb. 28, 1805. They had a family of six children, three of whom are still living—Isaac N., Milton and James 0. Isaac Johnson was a leading member of Aurora Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Portsmouth. He was a member of no church, His wife was a member of the Presbyterian church. James 0. received but a meager education, the most of his time being employed on the farm. He was married March 10, 1833, to Thebe Jeffords, daughter of Henry C. Jeffords. He was a very successful farmer and stock-dealer, and at one time owned 1,300 acres of land, but divided it with his children, reserving 800 acres for his own use. He had a family of nine children—Mary A., Rebecca J., Eliza J., Caroline, Emma F., Isaac, Milton, Oakey and William G. Mary and Rebecca reside in Logan County, Ill.; Eliza in Scott County, Ill. Mr. Johnson died Aug. 3, 1883. Jesse Johnson, eldest son of Isaac N. and Sarah Johnson, was born near Bear's Creek, on the west side of the Scioto River, Oct. 26, 1849. He.received his early education at the district schools, after which he attended the Iron City Commercial College, of Pittsburg, Pa., since which he has been engaged in farming and stock-dealing. He has a farm near Johnson Station containing 174 acres, most of which is highly cultivated. He resides on a farm belonging to his father-in-law, which contains 564 acres, on which there is one of the most beautiful sugar-tree groves in the valley known as the Simpson grove, and is a pleasant picnic resort. Mr. Johnson was married in 1873 to Rebecca, youngest daughter of Elias and Margaret Simpson, one of the wealthiest families in the Scioto Valley. John H Marsh, eldest son of W. A. and Eleanor Marsh, was born in Portsmouth, Oct. 25, 1853. When quite young his parents moved to the farm where he grew to manhood and attended the district schools, and afterward completed his education at. the Lucasville High School. He has always followed agricultural pursuits. In 1877 he was married to Mary E. Harwood, now residing in the house where she was born. They have no children of their own, but have an adopted daughter. William A. Marsh, son of Wm. and Sarah (Linn) Marsh, was born Jan. 18, 1824, in Scioto County. He was married at the age of twenty-two years to Emily F. Herrod, who died a few months later. His present wife was Mrs. Ellen Morgens, daughter of Conrad Overturf. To this union were born fourteen HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 405 children, of whom five are living—John H., James S., William P., Genevieve and Leonora. Mr. Marsh has always pursued farming. He has at present 2,000 acres of excellent land lying on both sides of the Scioto River. He is the short-horn breeder of the neighborhood, his herd consisting of the best grades in this part of the county, and is also raising and dealing extensively in hogs. He has given much attention to the breeding of the best draft horses and trotters; some of his horses selling for $500 each. He has been Township Treasurer for twenty years. He and wife are members of the Methodist church. His father was a native of Maryland, and in 1816 came to Scioto Valley and settled near what is now the Pike County line, where he built the Scioto Inn. He spent the remainder of his days here, and died in 1851. Our subject's mother died in her eightieth year in 1881. James M. McAuley, farmer and merchant, was born Nov. 2, 1827, in Scioto County. His parents were natives of Virginia, and were married in Scioto County, and settled on Millar's Run, where the father, James McAuley, engaged in the distilling business. They reared a family of four children—Rachel, Margaret, Melinda and Robert. The mother, Anna (Hughes) McAuley, died, and Mr. McAuley married Hanna (Hughs) Snyder, by whom he had eight children, our subject, James M., being the eldest. His father died Feb. 27, 1850, and his mother died in March, 1883. On attaining his majority our subject was married to Mrs. Mary Cockrell, widow of Jesse Cockrell and daughter of Andrew Glaze. They have two children—James Henry and John W. Mr. McAuley engaged in farming, and soon after his marriage opened a wagon-making and blacksmith shop, which he ran for several years. He then engaged in milling about fifteen years, when he sold his mill and engaged in the mercantile business, which he has since followed in connection with farming. He has been School Director some time, and has served as Justice of the Peace one term. His farm contains 240 acres of land well adapted to grazing purposes. George F. Millar was born Jan. 10, 1843, in Scioto County, Ohio, and lived on the home farm till attaining his majority. He was married in 1866 to A nnie E., daughter of Thomas W. Carre, of Portsmouth, Ohio. They have had five children--Nellie L., Abram F., Charlie W., Eddie Garfield and Frank Howard. While he has been largely engaged in manufacturing and mining enterprises he has still followed farming quite extensively. He owns a farm of 800 acres which is in a high state of cultivation, and takes great interest in the breeding of fine stock. His father, Abram F. Millar, was born May 26, 1818, and was married about the year 1840, to Harriet F. Peters. Mr. Abram Millar died Feb. 28, 1868, on the farm where he was born. His wife was again married to Frank M. Slavens, and still resides on the 'old home place. In 1878 the old house was burned and almost all its contents destroyed, but was soon rebuilt. Chandler J. Moulton, merchant, was born Dec. 26, 1839, near East Randolph, Va. He came to Scioto County with his parents in 1848, who settled in Lucasville. His father died in 1849, but his mother is still living with our subject. He attended the district schools, and when about nineteen years of age went to the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware for two years. After leaving school he engaged in farming and dealing in stock till 1867, when he embarked in the mercantile business, which he still carries on in connection with the lumber trade. He was married in 1876 to Mary Smith, by whom he has had four children. Mr. Moulton is a member of Lodge No. 464, A. F. & A. M., belongs to the Knights Templar Commandery, No. 13, of Portsmouth. James Davis Thomas was born March 3, 1816, in Ross County, Ohio. His father, Benjamin Thomas, was born in Chester County, Pa., and his mother was a native of 406 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. Virginia. They emigrated to Ohio in 1804 and settled in Ross County, near Frankford. In 1820 they settled in Clay Township, Scioto County, where the father died in 1832, and the mother was burned to death in her own house in 1842. James D. Thomas received a limited education at the subscription schools, and in 1840 was married to Nancy A., daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Dehart. They had a family of five children, two of whom lived to maturity. Wm. M. died in 1882, and Mary E.,wife of F. F. Millar. Mrs. Thomas died in 1881. In 1848 Mr. Thomas moved to his present farm, which then contained 275 acres, but now consists of 1,200 acres. His brick residence was built in 1849. His main occupation has been farming, in which he has been very successful. He has been a member of the Methodist church over forty years. John B. Thomas, youngest son of Benjamin and Charity Thomas, was born near Lucasville, Scioto County, March 4, 1849. His father was a native of Virginia and came to the Scioto Valley in an early day. He died in 1854 and his wife is yet living, now the wife of W. J. Galford, of this county. Our subject was reared on a farm, and obtained a fair common-school education. He was married to Eliza J. Farmer, who has borne him four children—Benjamin F., Edna M., Mary C. and Oscar E. Mr. Thomas has a farm of 150 acres of choice land, on which he raises principally corn and wheat. He has served as Trustee of his township three terms. William J. Thomas, merchant, was born in June, 1837, in Scioto County, and is the eldest son of Benjamin and Sally Thomas. His mother dying when he was four weeks old, he was reared by his grandmother, Mary Thomas, till eight years of age, when he lived with his father, who had previously married Charity Thomas. His father died in 1854. He attended the common schools, and when he grew to manhood engaged in farming. He was married in 1860 to Mary M., daughter of B. G. Warwick, M. D., of Lucasville. He has seven children living, his eldest daughter, Anna, being married to A. J. Hawk, of Syracuse, Ohio. Soon after his marriage he moved to Illinois and pursued farming for five years, after which he returned to the Scioto. Valley and engaged in the mercantile business. Mr. Thomas was elected Township Assessor in 1865, and was again elected in 1882. He is a member of Lodge No. 465, A. F. & A. M., and has belonged to the Commandery since his twenty-fourth year, he being at that time its youngest member. His wife is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. William M. Thomas, deceased, was the only son of James D. and Nancy A. Thomas, and was born in Scioto County, Ohio, Nov. 15, 1844. He was married in 1867 to Rachel R., daughter of Thomas Morgan, one of the first settlers of the Scioto Valley. This union was blessed with seven children, of whom four are living—Charles W., Eva H., Mary M. and Edward Morgan. Mr. Thomas was one of the most successful farmers and stock-dealers in Valley Township. His death occurred in 1882 and his widow still occupies his residence, which is a fine two-story frame surrounded by beautiful grounds. He was a charter member of the Masonic fraternity, and was Secretary of the lodge from the time of its organization till shortly before his death. George Vogel, miller, was born in Germany in 1825, and was married to Miss Frances Schwab, also a native of Germany. He learned the miller's trade and followed it in Germany till 1849, when he emigrated to America. He landed in New York, and immediately went to Harrisburg, Pa., where he worked at his trade a short time, when he moved to Portsmouth and engaged in milling till 1869. He then bought a farm and mill on Brush Creek, where he was successfully engaged till 1880, after which he moved his machinery to Lucasville and built his present mills known as the Valley Mills, being the HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 407 first built in Lucasville. The mill has a capacity for grinding 125 bushels of wheat daily, besides a large amount of corn. It is a two-story building, having two run of burrs and everything in good repair. Mr. Vogel is one of the practical millers of the Scioto Valley, having devoted his whole life to the business. John B. Warwick, physician and surgeon, was born July 5, 1834, in Augusta County, Va., a son of B. G. and Mary Warwick, natives of Virginia. Our subject came with his parents to Portsmouth in 1858, and in 1859 came to Lucasville. He was educated in his native county and began the study of medicine in 1854 in his father's office. He attended the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati, from which he graduated in the spring of 1858. He then practiced his profession in Portsmouth one year, after which he moved to Lucasville where he still resides, having a large and lucrative practice. In 1862 he entered the Union army as Surgeon of the Ninety-first Ohio Infantry and served three years. He was in all the important battles of the Shenandoah Valley, and was mustered out in June, 1865. He was married in 1860 to Sarah B. Moulton. They have been blessed with three boys and three girls. The Doctor is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity and belongs to Lodge No. 465, Lucasville. George G. Watkins, station agent, was born in Pike County, Ohio, in 1858, and is the youngest son of John and Sophia J. Watkins. His father was a native of Virginia, and came to Ohio in an early day. He was a volunteer in the Union army, where he died, when the subject of this sketch was but three years old. George H. was educated at the common schools. At the age of twenty years he was appointed ticket agent of the Scioto Valley R. R., at Johnson's Station, which position he held eighteen months. He was then appointed General Ticket and Freight Agent at the station, and also had charge of G. F. Lauman's general merchandise store. In 1881 he was appointed Postmaster at Johnson's Station, the post-office being called Clifford. Johnson's Station is one of the largest shipping points on the road, there having been shipped during 1882, 85,000 railroad ties. Jan. 12, 1879, Mr. Watkins was married to Lillie I., daughter of Jonathan Glaze, of this county. They are the parents of three children. CHAPTER XX. MORGAN, RUSH AND BRUSH CREEK TOWNSHIPS. MORGAN TOWNSHIP. Morgan Township was organized June 7, 1825, and was formerly a part of Seal Township, and then of Union. It lies on the Scioto River; is rather of an oblong shape, with a surface hilly, rough and broken. It has numerous springs of splendid mineral water. It is principally watered by Bear Creek, which arises in the western and northwestern portion of the township, and flowing easterly and southeasterly unites its waters with the Scioto River, near the center of its eastern border. It is a heavily timbered township. The valley of the Scioto is rich, and the small valleys among its hills are also capable of a bountiful yield under a proper state of cultivation. The township, however, is not a wealthy one. Its immense forest is being utilized for railroad ties, and its annual income from this source is considerable. Tanbark is another source of revenue while the agricultural lands of the valleys return a fair remuneration to the farmer. Its massive forests, its hills and ravines, its dark cave-like gulches, made it a paradise for wild animals in the olden times. Bears were quite numerous, wolves were in packs, while deer, turkeys, duck, coons and squirrels were too numerous to give an estimate. The old pioneer made a handsome living in disposing of his bear, panther, wolf and deer skins, and his winter's meat was a part only of the profit of his hunting expedition. WHEN SETTLED . Morgan Township was first settled about 1804, although a portion of the valley bottoms undoubtedly found tenants a year or two earlier. Hezekiah Merritt settled on the east side as early as 1796, just above Lucas-vine, but he was a pioneer, and claims to have raised the first crop of corn in the county. The summer of 1796 showed three crops of corn growing in Scioto County—that of Samuel Marshall, one crop in Niles Township, on the land of John Belli, and the one above mentioned of Merritt's. It was stated that a few years later other pioneers settled on the west side above Brush Creek, and that some of these were on the land now included in Morgan Township, and that these settlers were located there as early as 1803–'4. However, definite knowledge is had that Morgan Township had more than one settler in 1806, and that it grew in population along the Scioto River which skirts its eastern boundary for some seven m4les. Among the first settlers were the Shell). mans, the Deavers, the Murphys, Noels, Corbleys, Glazes, Walls, Nices, etc., the first four being known to have come as early as 1804–'5, if not earlier. The Deavers sold property in 1806, and the Noels are among the early pioneers before the organization of the county in 1803, or about that time. Some of the old settlers who are now dead are remembered well. Of these were A. Noel, Thomas 408 HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 409 Morgan, Abraham Glaze, Isaac Glaze, David Shelpman, Spicer Shelpman, Joshua Cutler and Pliney Cutler. The oldest settlers now living in the township are Abraham Snively, Elias Simpson, William Shelpman and David Glaze. There are also a few more nearly as aged as those above mentioned. ORGANIZATION. The township was organized in 1825, and the following are its metes and bounds: Ordered, The following boundaries shall constitute Morgan Towuship: Beginning at John Deaver's lower line, on the Scioto River, following said line to the west end thereof; thence in a direct line to Coinstock's cabin, on McCullock's Creek; thence in a direct line to the county line between Scioto and Pike counties, so as to include twenty-two square miles for said township; thence with said county line to the Scioto River; thence with the meanders of said river to the place of beginning. And that the electors of Morgan Township assemble on the 4th day of July next, at the house of Cornelius Shelpman, and then and there elect township officers." June 7, 1825. The first Justice of the Peace after its organization was William Deaver, as near as could be learned, the township records being missing. The voting precinct is on Bear Creek, about two miles from the canal, this latter waterway passing through the township from north to south nearly in a straight line, avoiding the bends of the Scioto River. Messrs. Jones & Adams have the only store in the western and northwestern part of the township, a general stock being kept by them. Frank Lauman keeps a general store on the line of the canal, on the eastern side of the township. These are the only mercantile establishments in the township. Lucasville, in Valley Township, is the postoffice on the east, and Galena on the west. CHURCHES. The Baptist Church, on Upper Bear Creek, was organized about 1879. The Trustees were: John R. Mead, A. B. McCall and Sanford Norman; Aaron Carter, Clerk, and Rev. A. K. Murphy, Pastor. Church services are held once a month, and Sabbath-school every Sunday. The average attendance at Sunday-school is sixty. The Rev. John Carney was the first Baptist minister to preach in Morgan Township. The Macedonia Christian Church, organization has no church building and holds its meetings in the Upper Bear Creek Schoolhouse. Services are held once a month, the Rev. James Taylor officiating. Sabbath-school is held every Sunday. The United Brethren Church organization, on Upper Bear Creek, holds its meetings in the Baptist church building, services being held regularly once a month. The Rev. G. W. Morgan is the pastor. The Lower Bear Creek United Brethren Church was built in 1845. It was the only church in the township at that time. Before this church was erected they held their meetings in the school-house. The members were very few and preaching was had only occasionally, Revs. Edwards and Cretzinger being the first ministers of this denomination in the township. The few members then were: William Shelpman, Thomas Shelpman, Miss Maria Shelpman, Abraham Glaze, Jonathan Glaze and Socrates Glaze. It now has a membership of about fifty. The pastor is Rev. G. W. Morgan. Trustees are: Pope Gordon, A. Snively and Eugene Peck. Sabbath-school is regularly kept each Sunday with an average attendance of some forty-five pupils. Church service is held every three weeks. The religious interests of the township are well taken care of by these churches, and the 410 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. pastors and members of all are doing earnest work in the Christian field. SCHOOLS. The schools of Morgan Township are five in number, as follows: Sub-district No. 1, Bear Creek School; Sub-district No. 2, Simpson School; Sub-district No. 3, Upper Beat' Creek School; Sub-district No. 4, The Mc-Collect School ; Sub-district No. 5, Gordon School. The total number of scholars in the towuship in 1873, was 112. The number now on the school record for 1883, is 407, showing an increase in ten years of 295. The Morgan School-house was built in 1830 and was one of the first, if not the first, regular school-house built in the towuship. It was located at the mouth of Slate Run, Mr. Abraham B. Beanes being its teacher. The next one was the Cutler School-house, which was erected in 1835. The first school in the township, in 1823, was kept in a little log school-house with greased paper for windows, and located near the mouth of Bear Creek. It had puncheon seats and floor; the teacher was A. Banes. TOWNSHIP OFFICERS, 1883. Trustees, Jaspar Graham, William Dunlap and William W. Crabtree; Treasurer, G. F. Lauman; Clerk, N. F. Peck; Justices of the Peace, Edward Crabtree and L. M. McCoy; Constables, Reason Crabtree and Andrew McCorkle. Morgan Township, politically, is Republican. The population of the township was in 1840, 265; 1850, 280; 1860, 686; 1870, 758; 1880, 1,019. It has an area of 18,505 acres of land, and its assessed valuation for 1882 was, on lands $113,000; on personal property, $49,052, a total of $162,052. The personal property in 1880 was assessed at $40,455 ; a gain in two years of $8,597. OIL WELLS ON BEAR CREEK. In 1865 the petroleum which found its way to the surface and covered the surfaces of little patches of water in this valley attracted the attention of capitalists from New York City who determined to penetrate the earth in hope of finding a rich fountain head of valuable fluid. A well four inches in diameter was sunk on the farm now awned by Mr. E. F. Peck to the great depth of 1,088 feet. At that depth, although no oil was discovered, a stream of peculiar water was reached which spouted out with great force, forming a veritable artesian well. The water, at first, spouted to a height of thirty or forty feet but the force has gradually diminished so that at the present time it rises but a few inches above the surface, but pours forth a steady stream of considerable size. But the most peculiar and interesting feature of this well is the character of the water which is strongly impregnated with gas and mineral substance. It greatly resembles and is doubtless identical with the famous Blue Lick waters of Kentucky. The water is so strongly impregnated with gas that when a match is held near the stream it ignites and burns with a strong and steady flame which gives the water the appearance of burning alcohol. On the first outburst of this water, to the further surprise of the workmen, the mysterious fountain took fire and burned with such force that before it could be extinguished, after a day's effort, it had consumed the derrick, engine-house and all combustible material within its reach. Two miles further up the creek two other similar wells were bored with similar results. BIOGRAPHICAL. Jonathan Glaze, deceased, was born in Wood County, Va., June 22, 181.7, and in 1830 came to Ohio, and soon after located in Morgan Township, Scioto County. He married HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 411 Eva Glaze. To them were born eleven children, but five now living—Rose Ann, wife of Eugene Peck; Irene, wife of W. F. Peck; John W.; Lillie, wife of George Watkins, and William. Cynthia, wife of James Blackburn; Mary, wife of C. D. Pearce; Rachel, Rhoda, Malinda and Sarah are deceased. Mr. Glaze was a member of the United Brethren church. He was very successful in his business operations, and at his death left 850 acres of land. He died Oct. 2, 1875. His wife died April 17, 1881. She was born June 22, 1820. Mr. Glaze was Treasurer of Morgan Township twenty-one years. Politically he was a Republican. John W., son of Jonathan Glaze, was born in 1857, and in November, 1881, married Lena Emory. He owns thirty-five acres of the home farm and 104 acres elsewhere in the township. He and wife are members of the United Brethren church and, like his parents, are interested in all that pertains to Christianity. G. F. Lauman dealer in general merchandise, Bear Creek, was born in Kentucky in 1840, and came with his parents to Ohio when a mere boy. He began his mercantile career at Waverly, as a salesman. He afterward clerked in Jasper eight years, and in 1872 established his present place of business. He carries a complete stock of groceries, dry-goods, hats, caps, boots, shoes and notions. He buys and sells country prod uce, and does an annual business of $15,000. April 17, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, First Ohio Infantry, for three months, being the first man enrolled from Pike County. He was seriously wounded in the side and hand at Vienna, which incapacitated him for further service, and he was discharged and returned home. He has served several terms as Treasurer of Morgan Township, and from 1875 till July 9, 1883, was Postmaster at Bear Creek. He is a member of Waverly Lodge, A. F. & A. M. Oct. 6, 1864, he was married to Mary L. Watkins. Eugene F. Peck was born in Rutland, Vt., Dec. 14, 1833, but in boyhood, removed with his parents to Massachusetts. He had the advantage of a good education, and by close study has acquired a good practical knowledge of business and public affairs. In 1854 he removed to Allegany County, N. Y., where he resided a year and a half, when he removed to Lorain County, Ohio, and in 1857 came to Scioto County. He now owns a farm of 200 acres, partly improved. He has been Trustee of the township several temrs, and Treasurer four years. In 1876 he went to California, where he has a brother, and remained a year engaged in the lumber business. In 1880 he again went to the Western slope and invested in a gold mine, which he is now operat ing with fair success. He was married in 1863 to Rose Ann, daughter of Jonathan Glaze. They have four children—Lowell N., Cora E., Lyman J., and Lulu Pearl. Mr. and Mrs. Peck,Lowell and Cora are members of the United Brethren church. Elias Simpson, farmer and stock-dealer, postoffice, Bear Creek, was born in Hampshire County, Va., in 1818, a son of John and Rebecca Simpson, natives of Virginia. His father died in Virginia, and his mother married Hiram Alloway, and in 1827 came to Pike County, Ohio, where she died. Elias, when nineteen years of age, in 1837, came to Scioto County and worked for Geo. Heoredth a number of years. April 1, 1842, he married Margaret Howard and leased land of his employer, where he lived till Jan. 17, 1848, when he settled where he now lives, leasing the land at the time with James Rankins. In 1854 he purchased land and has since added to it till he now owns land in Rush, Morgan and Valley townships, aggregating upward of 3,000 acres, and is the largest land owner on the west side, if not in Scioto County. By his industry and energy he has accumulated his property, having started in life with nothing. Politically he is a Republican; 412 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. was formerly a Whig, and cast his first presidential vote for W. H. Harrison in 1840. He is no politician, preferring the quiet of business life to the unrest of political honors. Mr. and Mrs. Simpson have had thirteen children, but five now living—Mary Ann, wife of James Ellison; Rhoda, wife of Joseph Morgan; Rebecca, wife of Jesse Johnson; Franklin, married Belle Dever; and Henry, married Aggie Ballinger. Jane, John, Elias, George, Amos, Andrew T., Cynthia Alice and A. Lincoln are deceased. John enlisted Oct. 4, 1864, in Company B, Twenty-second Ohio Infantry, for one year, and was discharged at the close of the war. He died at home Nov. 2, 1865. Mrs. Simpson died Aug. 8, 1881, aged fifty-eight years. July 12, 1883, Mr. Simpson married Mary Dunlap. He is a member of Lucasville Lodge, No. 465, A. F. & A. M. RUSH TOWNSHIP. Rush Township was the last of the municipal divisions of the county organized, and was' taken wholly from Union Township, June 3, 1867. It lies on the Scioto River, a distance of some seven miles north and south, and the largest and best portion of its agricultural area is in the valley. South of Brush Creek the township is hilly and broken. North of Brush Creek there is more valley land, but the west and north sides are broken and rough. In length the township, north and south, will average about seven miles. East and west, south of Brush Creek, the width is about three miles, and north of it some four miles, the river going east, making a large bend, and the western line of the township angling to the northwest, running west of north, the river doing likewise above and below the bend, which starts its easterly course about the center of the township, north and south. In water supply it has an abundance. Pond River in the southern portion is quite a stream and crosses the township in a semi circular form. Brush Creek, the largest stream, flows in from the west, near the center of the township and runs in almost a straight due easterly course across the township. Both of these streams empty into the Scioto River. Reed's River rises in the northwest corner of the township and runs nearly due southeast, and mingles its waters with Brush Creek about one mile from its mouth. AREA, VALUATION AND POPULATION. While there are over twenty-two square miles of territory, or an area of about 14,500 acres, in Rush Township, the tax-duplicate gives the number of acres assessed at 12,954. There is probably that much land without counting the water surface. The value of the land is set down in 1882 at $176,480 ; personal property at $54,040; total value, $230,520. In regard to its population Rush is like Valley, the year 1870 being the first time it came under the census taker. In that year it had a population of 638, and in 1880, it had increased to 778. It has the smallest population of any township in the county, but there are four other townships that have less assessed wealth. The Ohio Canal passes through its whole length from north to south along the valley. FREESTONE. Having spoken of it as a good stock township, and the value of the farm land in the fertile valleys of the Scioto and Brush creeks, there is one other industry which will yet prove a source of wealth to the township—its immense quarries of freestone. It is equal to the test with no limit to its quantity. As yet this source of wealth has been but partially developed. The " Inskeep Stone Works" were started in 1874, by J. M. Inskeep, and from the above date to 1883 he has dealt or quarried exclusively block stone. But this year the demand for cut stone becoming so HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 413 great and his business extending, he has put in three pairs of gauges of the latest improved machinery for cutting or sawing stone. His new building is a good one and is 34 x 64 feet in size. Mr. Inskeep's quarry covers about 150 acres, and it is almost one solid bed of fine-grained freestone, pronounced by Prof. Orton, of Columbus, Ohio, as the equal of any in the State. He has invested $6,000 in the business and keeps 20 men at work. There is a very large .quantity of timber in the township, and the shipping of that, cutting ties and securing tan-bark is a leading industry at this time. The Cincinnati & Eastern Railway will traverse the southern portion of the townships between four and five miles south of Brush Creek to the Scioto, and thence down that stream to Portsmouth. The railroad, the canal, and the river constitute the transportation facilities of the township, outside of farm stock. The river bottom and that of Brush Creek are well cultivated and some of the finest farms in the county can be found in Rush Township. HOW AND WHEN ORGANIZED. A strong petition from a majority of the citizens of the township was presented to the county commissioners, and the following action taken by them: In the matter of dividing Union Township, a petition was presented by Levi Kirkendall and others praying the commissioners to divide the territory of said Union Township and create and make a new towuship, and to lay off and designate the same from the said territory of Union Township, in Scioto County, said division as prayed for by petitioners to be made by running a line as follows: Beginning in the township line between the said township of Union and the township of Morgan, at the corner of survey No. 11,036, made in the name of W. Philips, and survey No. 3,285, made in the name of John Swan; thence a southwesterly course on a straight line to the northwest corner of John Swan's survey 3,284; thence southeasterly on a straight line to the old saw-mill formerly owned by Philip Noel, on Pond Creek; and thence continuing the same course until it strikes the southern line of said Union Township, and dividing it from Washington Township; thence with the line between said last-named township, an easterly course, to the Scioto River; thence up said Scioto River, with the meanders thereof, the same being a line of said Union Township, to the corner of said Union and Morgan townships; thence with the line of said Union and Morgan townships, a westerly course, to the beginning. A remonstrance was also presented signed by Milboru Coe and others against the division of said Union Township, and the Commissioners, after due consideration of said petition and remonstrance, do find that notice of said application for the division of said Union Township had been given for full thirty days prior to the hearing of said application, and that said petition had been signed by a majority of the householders of said Union Township, and it also appearing that there is contained within the boundaries of said proposed new township more than twenty-two square miles, and that there is also contained within the bounds of said Union Township, outside of the limits and bounds of said proposed new township, more than twenty-two square miles, they therefore find that it is necessary and expedient to lay off said new township, and they therefore grant the prayer of the petitioners, and it is now Ordered, That a new township be, and the same is, hereby laid off, designated from the territory of said Union Township as prayed for in said petition; and it is further Ordered, That said new township be known by the name of " RUSH." And it is further Ordered, That the County Surveyor or other competent surveyor proceed immediately to survey and establish the line dividing the said new from the said old 414 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. township, as nearly in accordance with the prayers of the petitioners as practicable, and forthwith report the boundaries of said new township to this board, and that the same be recorded in a book kept for that purpose; and it is further Ordered, That an election be held at the school house near the mouth of Brush Creek, in said new township, on the 17th day of June, A. D.,1867, for the election of township officers for said new township of "Rush." The commissioners appointed James Bold-man Surveyor in accordance with the foregoing order; and it is further ordered that the auditor issue an order to James Boldman directing him to make said survey." June 3, 1867. TOWNSHIP ELECTION. On the organization being effected an election was ordered for township officers, which took place June 18, 1867. This resulted as follows: Trustees, Benton P. Bondurant, Jno. Clemmens and Andrew Ray. Treasurer, A. J. Russell; Clerk, W. W. Wilkins; Justices of the Peace, B. J. Farmer and Francis H. Ponsot; Constables, Geo. W. Elleson and Arthur Dement. The officers for 1883 are: Trustees, Henry Wangaman, A. J. Hill, J. F. Richey; Treasurer, P. H. Brown, Jr.; Clerk, W. W. Wilkins; Constables, J. L. L. McDaniel, J. H. Massie; Assessor, Isaac Shelpman; Justices of the Peace, Henry E. Gorley, John McDaniel. SCHOOLS. The school districts of the new township of Rush, five in number, were organized Sept. 26, 1867. Rush Township, like all the river townships, was early settled. The names of many who lived in the township when the county was first organized will be found in the old s et-tiers' list. General Wm. Kendall and Samuel G. Jones, the former a miller and boat-builder in early days, and many others, all tell that the valleys of Scioto and Brush found early pioneers to stake their claims within the limits of Rush. The first steamboat built inland was built at the mouth of Brush Creek in 1818, by Wm. Kendall. The timber was superior, and it came down near to the river and through the channel of Brush Creek. The Utts and a few others came in 1797 and 1798. Many others came soon after, of whom are recalled Dan'l Kirkendall, George Herod, Thos. Jones, Thomas Arnold, Jas. Wallace, Wm. Russell, Mrs. Hester Brown and family and John Shultz. These are all old citizens. The old Pond School-house was supposed to have been erected in 1816 or 1818. In 1826 it was called the old school-house. CHURCHES. The St. Peter's Catholic Church was organized by Rev. Father Donahue in 1856, the Trustees then being Jno. B. Santy, August Henry and Francis E. Logee. The Rev. Father Jos. Mertian is now the officiating priest, and the church has grown and flourished for many years. It has now a membership of 130. Its present Trustees are Peter J. Montivan, Alfred Lombard and Alexis Deloat. Service is held once in every two weeks, and class instructions given on the afternoons of the day of service. Bethany Baptist Church.—This was the first Baptist society in the township, and the first service was held at the house of George Heoredth by Elder Hezekiah Johuson in 1833, through whose labor the church society was organized, and by whom, after a cessation, was again reorganized as a Regular Baptist church, Nov. 30, 1834, assisted by the Revs. D. Spohn and A. Layman; Delegates, A. McCormick and others. The constituent members at this last date were George Heoredth, Elizabeth Heoredth, Thomas Arnold, Hugh Kelley, Isaac Arnold and Matilda Glaze. Elder Hiram Burnett was chosen pastor, who retained his Charge HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 415 from the date of organization to February,1837. Elder Hezekiah Johnson became the second pastor, serving one year. 0 f all the first members of the church not one is now living. The church is a neat brick building, erected by Geo. Heoredth, and presented as a gift to the society by him. He and Isaac Glaze were the first Deacons of the church. The following have served as pastors: Elders Felix Ellison, Johuson, J. H. Bronson, Wm. Algood, B. F. Leavitt, Thomas, Felix Ellison again, D. Vance, William Algood, Levi McDaniel, E. D. Thomas, E. Thatcher, D. Wichler, William Haw, S. G. Lindsey, J. H. Roberts, and A. K. Murphy, the present pastor. The present Deacons are: J. H. McDaniel and S. S. English. Service is held every other Sunday. The membership is 103; average attendance at Sunday-school, thirty. Methodist Episcopal Church.— This church was organized in 1868, Rev. J. D. Baker becoming their first pastor. Isaiah Smith, Conrad Overton, Wm. B. Russell were a building committee for the erection of a church,. and the last two were also appointed Trustees. There are at this time sixty-two members. The following named ministers have served as such since the church organization: Rev. E. V. Beam succeeded Rev. Baker in 1870; Sam'! Bateman, C. M. Pryor, C. B. Lewis, Thos. Leslie, W. F. Fuller, S. A. Crosley, Wm. Donaldson and H. Burkstresser, the last the present pastor, commencing his service in 1882. The church is near the Rushtown postoffice. A CURIOSITY. On the farm of Henry Russell, on the top of what is known as Campbell's hill is a spot, which is a depression of the earth's surface, to the extent of twenty feet in diameter, and about three feet deep. It is very nearly circular in form, and its peculiarity is in the fact that it generates heat in winter. In the coldest weather, with snow on the ground all around it, and the thermometer below zero, no snow was found in the depression or hole, and on holding a thermometer on the bottom it rose to fifty-six degrees above zero within ten minutes. The depression has a pebbly bottom, very little dirt seen, and has probably filled up in part. This has been the condition of the spot since its discovery a half century ago. Where does it lead to? BIOGRAPHICAL. S. Anderson, of Anderson, Slaven & Co., millers, Rush Township, Scioto Co., Ohio, is a practical miller, having entered a mill when eighteen years of age, in 1859, and since then has been constantly employed, chiefly in a steam mill. He worked some time in mills in California, then went to Jasper, Ind., and subsequently came to Scioto County, where since the spring of 1883, he has been operating the above mill. The building was erected in 1875, size 30 x 40 feet. It contains improved machinery throughout, of both water and steam power. There is a manufacturing capacity of fifty barrels per day ; two run of wheat burrs and one of corn. They do chiefly custom work, but manufacture sufficient for the retail trade. G. W. Arnold, farmer, postoffice, Rush-town, was born in Union Township, Scioto Co., Ohio, in 1833, a son of Daniel and Louisa (Beadle) Arnold. He was married in 1856 to Eliza, daughter of William and Elizabeth Holt, and soon after located on the farm where he still resides. He now owns 188 acres of fine land, about half of it under cultivation. He has held most of the minor offices of the township, has been Clerk three years and is now a member of the Board of Education. Thirteen children have been born to him, ten now living—Sidora A., Louisa E., Mary C., Charles T., Laura, Alice, Andes (born on steamer Andes on the Ohio River), Alpha N., Howard., and John K. Rosanna, William G. and Mattie F. are deceased. Mr. Arnold's 416 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. grand-parents, Thomas and Margaret (Noel) Arnold, came from Virginia to Ohio in 1804 and were mong the first settlers of Union Township. In 1844 they went to Iowa where they died. Mr. Arnold was a Justice of the Peace many years, and was a Lieutenant in the war of 1812. He had a family of six children, two of whom are living—Mrs. Shively, of Iowa, and Isaac, of Oregon. His son Daniel married Louisa, daughter of G. W. and Cassa J. (Hibbs) Beadle. He subsequently removed to Iowa where he buried his wife in 1845, and soon after returned to Ohio. They had a family of seven children—Rhoda, G. W., Cassa,J., Thomas, David, Catherine and William. The latter was a member of an Indiana regiment in the late war, and Thomas L. was a member of Battery L. Only two, G. W. and Thomas, now reside in this county. Mr. Arnold married, for his second wife, Cynthia Holt. They had four children—Philip, Wesley, Amelia and Mary. Mr. Arnold died in 1863 aged sixty-eight years. His parents were among the first Members of the regular Baptist church of this county. Mrs. G. W. Arnold's father, William Holt, was a native of North Carolina, and settled in Portsmouth in 1829, and in 1856 in Rush Township. He was a prominent member of the Baptist church and held the offices of Treasurer and Deacon. He died in 1875, aged seventy-four years, and his wife in 1881, aged seventy-four years. They reared a family of si x children Nathan, Minerva, Sarah, Charles, Eliza and Tabitha. Elisha Crabtree was born in Jackson County, Ohio, in 1834, a son of William and Jane Crabtree, and grandson of William Crabtree. He was reared on a farm and obtained a practical education. In 1864 he enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Seventy-third Ohio Infantry, and served till the close of the war. His health was seriously impaired by exposure, from the effects of which he never recovered. He married Ellen, daughter of Joseph McIntire, of Lawrence County, Ohio. They have had a family of ten children—Lucinda (deceased), Seth, John M., Joseph W., George W., Nimrod, Jane, Cora A., Mary C. and Sarah. Mr. Crabtree owns a farm of thirty-nine and a halt acres, all well improved and under good cultivation. Politically he is a Republican. Peter H. Brown, Sr., was born in Ross County, Ohio, Dec. 10, 1822, a son of Alexander and Hester Ann (Sterling) Brown, natives of Virginia, who settled in Ross County about 1805. His Grandfather Brown was a native of Germany but an early settler of Ross County. His Grandfather Sterling was of Irish descent. His father was born June 4, 1795, married Jan. 5, 1815, and died Oct. 8, 1830. In 1833 his mother and three children, Peter H., Mary and Sarah, removed to Scioto County and settled in Union, now Rush, Township. Three children—James, William and Charity—died in Ross County. He was married in April, 1843, to Lydia J., daughter of George and Mary Beloat and settled on the farm where he still resides. He now owns 541 acres, a part of which is the valuable Scioto Valley bottom lands. But three of the six children are living—Mrs. Mary V. Shelpman, Peter H., Jr., and George W. The deceased are—George W., William H. and Hester Ann. Mrs. Brown died in April, 1877, aged nearly fifty years. Politically Mr. Brown is a Republican. He has represented his township in most of its offices; has filled with credit the offices of Trustee and Treasurer and has been a leading member of the Board of Education many years. He has been a member of the Baptist church since 1839. Joseph Dever, deceased, was born on the farm where his family now resides, in Scioto County, Ohio, in 1826. His grandfather, John Dever, came to this county from Virginia and bought the land, which at his death became his son William's. The latter was an influen- HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 417 tial man of the township; for many years was a Justice of the Peace. He married Aseneth McDougall, and of their large family of children but two daughters are living—Mrs. Alvina Newman and Mrs. Louisa McGilligan. Mr. Dever was born in Virginia in 1795, and died on the old homestead in 1834. His wife died in 1877, aged eighty years. The subject of our sketch was married in 1855 to Rebecca, daughter of Thomas and Nancy Wheeler, and settled on the old homestead, where he died in 1876. He had been a member of the Baptist church twenty years. In his business he has been successful, and left his family a good property. To him were born seven children—Belle, Louisa, Mary, William, Blanch, Joseph and Catherine. Mrs. Dever's parents came to this county from Virginia in 1838, and settled in what is now Clay Township. Her father died in 1857 and her mother in 1852. Of the family Mrs. Dever is the only representative in this county. Mrs. Wheeler was a member of the Methodist church. Abraham Doll was born in Scioto County, Ohio, in 1839, a son of John and Margaret (Graham) Doll. His grandfather came to Ohio from Pennsylvania in 1800, and settled at Highbanks, Ross County. His parents settled in Washington Township soon after their marriage, and in 1841 removed to Rush Township,where they lived till his mother's death in 1850, when his father returned to Washington Township, where he died in January, 1852, aged forty-two years. Five of a family of six children are still living—Peter G., Abraham, Josephine, wife of J. P. Russell, of Clay Township; Louisa, wife of George Morris, of Unionville, and Sarah E., wife of Thomas Graham, of Washington Township. Abraham was married in 1865 to Carrie W., daughter of Wm. B. Russell, and settled on his present farm. He has 135 acres of well-improved land. Mr. and Mrs. Doll have had six children—James B., Clara M., William R., Jo- - 27 - seph, Herbert and Carrie, the latter two now deceased. Mrs. Doll died Nov. 19, 1880, aged forty-two years. She was a member of the Methodist church. Mr. Doll is a member of the old Bethany Baptist Church, and is the present Clerk. He has been Township Treasurer five years, Justice of the Peace six years, and Trustee four years. In October, 1861, he enlisted in Battery L, First Ohio Light Artillery, and served three years. He participated in fourteen hard-fought battles and several minor engagements. S. S. English, Postmaster, Rushtown, and dealer in general merchandise, established his present place of business in May, 1875. He carries a full stock of dry-goods, groceries, hardware, boots, shoes and provisions, and also deals extensively in railroad ties, tan-bark, etc., doing an annual business of $10,000. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1835, and removed to Ohio, residing in Pike County from 1856 to 1875. He received a practical education, which enabled him to teach, an occupation he followed for several years. He was appointed Treasurer of Rush Township to fill a vacancy in 1875, and in 1877 was elected to the office and served three terms. He was married in 1858 to Sarah Bowser. They have had eight children—Mary E., wife of T. G. Vaughters; Sarah M., wife of John Shultz; Agnes A., at Whitmore, Pike County; Phoebe C., Lillie F., Genetta A., Rachel A. and Ida May. Mr. English and all his family are members of the Baptist church. John Hanna, deceased, was born in Newcastle County, Del., a son of Samuel and Susannah (Ball) Hanna, who died when he was quite young. In 1847 he came to Ohio and located in Scioto County. In 1857 he settled on the farm where his wife still lives and where he died in 1879, aged fifty-seven years and six months. It contains 400 acres of valuable land, well improved and under good cultivation. He was a quiet, unpretentious man and possessed of rare qualities that com- 418 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. manded the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. Though often urged to accept public office hue repeatedly declined, only serving one term as Trustee. He was a member of Scioto Lodge, I. O. O. F., Portsmouth. He was married in Delaware to Catherine, daughter of Patrick Henry. Three children were born to them, Mary, now Mrs. James P. Vandervoort, being the only one living. She resides on the old homestead. Annie E. and an infant are deceased. Daniel H Harwood was born in Ross County, Ohio, Feb. 3, 1828, a son of Benjamin and Mary (Ward) Harwood, his father a native of Maryland, who settled in Ross County when quite a young man, and his mother a native of that county. In 1844 they removed to Scioto County and settled in Valley Township, where his father died in 1848. His mother is still living, aged eight-four years. Of their seven children but two are now living—Nancy, wife of David Schoonmaker, and D. H. The early life of our subject was passed upon the farm, his education being limited. When hue was twenty-one years of age he commenced life for himself and rented the Marsh farm, Valley Township, where he lived twenty-six years. Twenty years of this time he bought stock for George Davis, Portsmouth, a business which took him to all parts of the surrounding country, and won him many acquaintances. In 1880 he bought the farm of ninety-five acres where he now resides, engaged in farming and dealing in horses. In the late war he enlisted in a cavalry company to take part in the Morgan raid. Politically hue is a Republican, but though urged by his friends to do so does not desire to accept office. He was married in 1850 to Hannah, daughter of Samuel Darlington. They have six children—William, Benjamin, Mary Ellen, Daniel Lincoln, Charles and Ida Belle. Two children died in infancy. Frank Henry was born in Newcastle County, Del.; in 1815, a son of Patrick and Nancy (McKeever) Henry. His father was a native of Ireland, and came to America with his parents when ten years of age, living in Delaware till his death. After the death of his father Mr. Henry's mother went to Pittsburg to live with him. In 1847 the family, John, Daniel, Frank, Joseph and Catherine and their mother, came to Scioto County, where the mother died in 1862, aged ninety-five years. When seven years of age Frank Henry began working in a cotton factory, and when fourteen commenced to learn the wagon-maker's trade, serving an apprenticeship of seven years, at the same time, however, learning the blacksmith's trade. In 1838 he went to Pittsburg and from there to Natchez, Miss. He subsequently returned to Pittsburg, and worked at mill wrighting till 1847, when he came to Ohio. He worked at saw-milling and cutting staves ten years after coming here, and then settled on a farm, where he now owns 120 acres, all well improved. Politically he is a Democrat. He has held several of the township offices. In 1850 he married Maria L., daughter of Colonel Thomas Morgan. Seven of their nine children are living—Rachel, Thomas, John, Frank, Joseph K., Patrick and Nancy L. Daniel and Ellen are deceased. Mrs. Henry died in 1864. J. M. Inskeep, proprietor of Inskeep's Freestone Works, was born in Champaign County, Ohio, in 1834. In early life he worked on the farm and in a saw-mill, receiving a common-school education. In 1858 he went to Union County, Ohio, where hue was engaged in business two and a half years, after which he returned to Champaign County and lived till 1863, returning to Union County. In 1867 he went to Lewisburg, and in 1870 came to Scioto County, where he has since resided. From 1872 till 1875 he lived in Portsmouth, but is now a resident of Rush Township. He was married in 1858 to Harriett Thomas, of Champaign County. One child was born to them—Carrie. Mrs. Ins HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 419 keep died in 1860. In 1861 Mr. Inskeep married Louisa Darrow, of Union County. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Levi Kirkendall was born in Jefferson, now Valley, Township, Scioto Co., Ohio, Oct. 19, 1818, a son of Daniel and Sarah (Campbell) Kirkendall. His grandparents, William and Lavinia Kirkendall, settled in Portsmouth about the beginning of the present century. They had a family of five children—Daniel, Levi, Henry, William and Lavinia. Daniel was married about 1813, in Portsmouth, to Sarah, daughter of William and Mary (Stricklett) Campbell. In 1819 he removed to the farm where Levi now lives. He was a Captain of a rifle company in the old military days, and served in the war of 1812. After his death the Government gave his widow warrants for land in Logan County, Ill. He died in 1853, and his wife in 1857. Eight children were born to them —William, of California; Levi; Mary, wife of Thomas Craig; Stephen, on the old farm; Lavinia, wife of David Dunlap, and John. Sarah Ann and Henry are deceased. Levi Kirkendall was married March 15, 1838, to Minerva, daughter of George and Mary Bel-loot, and settled on the old Belloot farm. In 1855 he removed to Jo Daviess County, Ill,, but the next year returned to Ohio. The day after his return, Aug. 31, his wife died. Of their six children, George, William, Sarah Alice, Mary, James O. and Levi, the three latter are deceased. In 1857 Mr. Kirkendall married Mrs. Sarah Russell, daughter of George and Elizabeth Heoredth, and removed to Washington County, Ill. In 1861 he reurned to the home farm where he has since resided. Mr. and .Mrs. Kirkendall have had four children, but two now living—Rhoda E. and Fanny. James S. and Truss L. are deceased. Politically Mr. Kirkendall is a Republican. Before the organization of that party he was a Whig and cast his first vote for William Henry Harrison for President. He owns a fine farm of 600 acres, well improved. Be has been a member of the Baptist church since 1840. He is a member of Lucasville Lodge, No. 465, A. F. & A. M. His son, George W., enlisted in the Forty-fourth Illinois Cavalry and served during the war. Stephen Kirkendall, a son of Daniel Kirkendall, was born in Scioto County, Ohio, in 1835. In July, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, Eighty-first Ohio Infantry and served till the close of the war. He participated in thirteen hard-fought battles and a number of the less important engagements. He received a slight wound on the left arm at Corinth. After the war he lived on the home farm four years and then went to Kentucky, and ten years later returned to Ohio and is now living at his old home. He is a member of the Baptist church and of Bear Creek Post, G. A. R. He has been married four times. His first wife was Margaret Walk, by whom he had six children, five now living—John F., William W., Stephen B., George A. and Robert D. Daniel enlisted in 1861, in Company B, Seventy-third Ohio Infantry, and at the battle of Resaca, in 1861, lost a leg, from the effects of which he died at the hospital on Lookout Mountain. He left a wife, Elizabeth McCleary, and four children—Andy, Daniel, Sarah J. and Lavinia. John Kirkendall enlisted in1861 in the Forty-fourth Illinois Cavalry and was wounded at Perryville, and was discharged. After his recovery he enlisted in an Illinois regiment and served till the close of the war. Mr. Kirkendall's second wife was Elizabeth Kirkendall. They had one child, Emily Jane. His third wife was Caroline Purtee. They had three children—Alla, now Mrs. James McPherson; Franklin and an infant. His fourth and present wife was Rachel Crabtree. John McDaniel was born in Jackson County, Ohio, in 1829, a son of Levi and Frances (Massie) McDaniel. When seventeen years of age he began teaching, an occupation he followed for three years, when, on account of 420 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. impaired health, he was obliged to seek more active pursuits.. He was the first Justice of the Peace elected in Rush Township, and, with the exception of eight months, has held the office to the present time. He has been a member of the Baptist church since 1849, and has since that time served as Deacon. He was married Dec. 14, 1854, to Elizabeth Clark. But four of their six children are living—J. L. D., H. C., Cynthia I. Balbridge and Brough E. Mrs. McDaniel died Dec. 19, 1866. In 1874 he married Elizabeth J. Scott, who died March 5, 1879. Politically Mr. McDaniel is a Republican. He was a Deputy Provost Marshal during the war. His father was a son of James W. and Rebecca (Lewis) McDaniel. James W. came to America before the Revolution, and was a body-guard of General Washington in that war. He accompanied Levi to Ohio in 1819, and died in 1S47, aged ninety-eight years, eight months. Levi resided in Jackson County till 1858, when he came to Rush Township, where he died Dec. 19, 1864, aged seventy-two years. He was a minister of the Baptist church, and presided over a church in Gallia County twenty years. He was an enthusiastic and zealous worker for the cause, and a gentleman much respected and admired for his fine abilities. Thirteen children were born to him, five of whom are living—Lewis L., Alfred, John, Levi (a minister of the Baptist church and physician), and Mrs. Martha McLaughlin. James W., John and six infants are deceased. Mrs. McDaniel died in November, 1879, aged eighty-one years. George Pollock, farmer; postoffice, Rush-town; was born in Scioto County, Ohio, in 1823, a son of David and Nancy Pollock, natives of Virginia, who settled in this county in 1800, and purchased the farm where George now lives. They were members of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Pollock died July 4, and Mr. Pollock July 11, 1853, the former seventy and the latter seventy-two years of age. Of the ten children born to them, seven are now living-Mrs. Mary Noel, Mrs. Anna Vastine, Mrs. Nancy Woodcock, John, Thomas, Samuel and George. The latter was married Nov. 25, 1852, to Mary, daughter of Jared Newman, and settled on the home farm, where he still resides. He has 300 acres of fine land, well improved, and mostly under cultivation. Politically he is a Democrat. He was elected Justice of the Peace when twenty-three years of age, and held the office at intervals twenty-one years. He has served several terms as Clerk and Trustee of the township. Mr. and Mrs. Pollock are members of the Baptist church. They have had eight children born to them, but five now living— Emma, now Mrs. Young; Tilhe, Thomas J., Sam uel J., James V. Tire following are deceased—Nancy A., died at the age of twenty-three years; Mary 0. and William M. Henry W. Russell, a son of Hon. William Russell, was born in Adams County, Ohio, March 12, 1821. He was married Oct. 8, 1845, to Nancy J. Grimes, and settled in Union Towuship on a farm. In 1856 he removed to Portsmouth and engaged in merchandising. In December, 1860, he removed to Washington County, Ill., and in 1864 returned to Ohio. In 1870 hue purchased 140 acres of land and located where he now lives. Eleven children have been born to him, eight now living—Harriet Ann, Alice Rhoda, James M., Edward L. and Emma W. (twins), Albert L. and Ella May. William H., Charles and an infant son are deceased. Mr. Russell and family are members of the Methodist church. Hon. William Russell, deceased, was born in Ireland in 1782. He was left an orphan in childhood, and when fourteen years of age came alone to the United States, and for a short time lived in Philadelphia, when he continued his journey and located in Maysville, Ky. He began learning the hatter's HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 421 trade in Philadelphia, and continued to work at it in Maysville. While living in Kentucky he was married to Sarah Tribbey. They had one child, but wife and child both died soon after the latter's birth. Leaving Maysville he located in West Union, Adams Co., Ohio, and followed merchandising a number of years, in the meantime representing his county in the Legislature a number of times. In 1828 he was elected to Congress on the Democratic ticket. He served two terms, but was defeated by his opponent the third term. In 1833 he removed to Scioto County and located in what is now Rush Township, and engaged in forging bar iron, but in this was unsuccessful, losing ultimately $30,000. In 1840 he was elected to Congress on the Whig ticket. After the expiration of his term he retired to the quiet of his farm at the mouth of Brush Creek. Mr. Russell was in many ways a remarkable man. He had no educational advantages except what he received in his native land, but by perseverance and industry became a good scholar in the common branches. He was a good speaker, and had great conversational powers. He was conscientious in all his dealings with his fellow-men, and enjoyed a popularity that was the envy of both friends and foes. He joined the Methodist church when quite young, and was always a firm adherent to its principles. In 1808 he married Nancy Wood. But three of their seven children are living—William B., Sarah Ann, wife of W. D. Gale, Louisville, Ky., and Henry W. Joseph H., James, Robert and Albert L. are deceased. The latter enlisted in the late war in Company F, Forty-fourth Illinois Infantry, and died in prison at Atlanta in 1863. Mr. Russell died Sept. 25, 1845. His wife died Feb. 4, 1857, aged seventy-two years. He was a Class-Leader in the church many years, and while in Congress was leader of a class composed chiefly of Ohio Congressmen. W. W Wilkins was born in Botetourt County, Va., in 1823, a son of James and Catherine (Henderson) Wilkins, natives of Virginia. When nine years of age he accompanied his parents to Jackson County, Mo., where they both died the following year. He was then taken by his uncle, John H. Wilkins, to Mississippi, and resided. with him till eighteen years of age. He was given a good education, after which he pursued various avocations, the principal one being teaching. He has taught in eleven different States, and has acquired a knowledge by personal experience seldom surpassed. In 1843 he came to Scioto County, but remained only two years. He then went West, and three years later returned, and has since made this his home. In 1864 he enlisted in Company B, Twenty-second Ohio Infantry, and served till the close of the war, the latter part of the time as Provost-Marshal. With the exception of four years he has been Clerk of Rush Township since its organization in 1867. He was married in 1846 to Sarah A., daughter of Samuel Barber. They have had six children—Urania, now Mrs. Kirkendall; Oscar F.; Josephine, now Mrs. Virgin; Minnie, now. Mrs. Morris; James A., and Henry A., deceased. Politically Mr.Wilkins is a Republican. BRUSH CREEK TOWNSHIP. The county map shows this township to have the most territory, but the tax duplicate gives Nile Township the largest number of acres assessed, or 48,140, while Brush Creek has assessed 47,847, nearly twelve square miles in area. It is, however, of irregular form, its western border being about eighteen miles from north to south, while its greatest width is less than nine miles, and from this point the line runs southwest and northwest until the western side is, as above mentioned, some eighteen miles in length. The surface 422 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. is like the county, broken and hilly, and too rough in many portions for successful cereal production. Still, some of the hills are rich in soil, and susceptible of cultivation. Its water supply is adequate for all farm purposes, and its forests of timber are of great value. ORGANIZATION AND BOUNDARY. Brush Creek was organized in 1820. It is bounded on the north by Pike County, on the east by Morgan and Union townships, on the southeast by Union, and south by Nile, and west, by Adams County. Sept. 26, 1878, another slight change was made, adding a portion of the township to that of Union, and the latter was to pay the assessment of the territory given to her. OLD PIONEERS. Brush Creek had a few pioneers scattered here and there over her vast and rugged territory, and among the number were Jesse Edwards, Samuel Edwards, Isme Freeman, Aaron Armstrong, Christopher Oppy, Thornton Kendall, John Liston, Henry Caraway, James Jones, William Thompson, Joshua Armstrong, Thomas Brown, James Wilson, William White, Joseph and James Walker, Xenthus Kennedy and Peter Randall. OFFICIAL. The township records from the organization of the township up to 1867 were destroyed by fire a few years ago. The township officers for the year 1867 were as follows: Trustees, William Alexander, John Williams, M. H. Newman; Clerk, T. H. B. Jones; Treasurer, William Freeman; Assessor, John Williams; Constables, Levi Thompson and George Mustard; Justices of the Peace, Michael Freeman and G. W. Slack. The present officers (1883) are as follows: Trustees, W. C. Hazelbaker, R. F. Wamsley, and Hiram Jones; Treasurer, William Freeman; Clerk, J. G. Freeman; Assessor, D. T. Blackburn ; Constables, Henry King and J. N. Wamsley; Justices of the Peace, R. F. Wamsley and S. A. Stedman. Dry Run School-house is the voting precinct of the township. SCHOOLS. There are thirteen school districts in Brush Creek Township, numbered and named as follows: Sub-district No. 1, Dry Run School; Sub-district No. 2, Oswego School; Subdistrict No. 3, Upper Rarden School; Subdistrict No. 4, Jones School; Sub-district No. 5, Hoffer School; Sub-district No. 6, Lower Rarden School; Sub-district No. 7, East Mt. Joy School; Sub-district No. 8, Upper Rocky Fork; Sub-district No. 9, Mt. Hope School; Sub-district No. 10, Dunlap School; Subdistrict No. 11, West Mt. Joy School; Sub-district No. 12, Otway School; Sub-district No. 13, Lower Rocky Fork School. HAMLETS OF BRUSH CREEK. There are three postoffices in Brush Creek Township, the most important hamlet being known as "Galena," and the postoffice as "Rarden." Galena is a railroad station; was laid out Sept. 21, 1850, by Jesse B. Edwards and Aaron Moore, and surveyed by Joseph V. Mustard, and is in reality the only town or village in the township. It is located in the northwest portion of the township and within about one and a half miles of the Adams County line. It has two general stores, a fruit and confectionery store, a drug store and a saloon. The Postmaster is S. A. Stedman, and the office is in the fruit store of D. A. Gardner. The assessed value of personal property of Galena in 1882 was $12,105. There are two hotels, the Home House, Michael Freeman, proprietor, and the Anchor Hotel, with " bar" attachment, kept by Mr. HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 423 Whittlemore. There are two blacksmith shops, a pump factory, a cooper shop; the last establishment runs from twelve to fifteen hands in summer and twenty in the winter. The Anchor Hub and Spoke Factory, under the management of D. K. Sprinkle, turns out a large amount of work and has from twelve to fifteen hands constantly employed. Dr. E. D. E. Morgan and Dr. J.. H. Windle are the resident physicians. The railroad has been completed to this point and the town is improving quite rapidly. It has now a population of perhaps 300, or over. A special school-district is made of Galena, and they have a separate, although a public, school. Otway is the central part of the township, on the line of the Cincinnati & Eastern Railroad, some six miles southeast of Galena, just above the mouth of the South Fork of Brush Creek. It is not yet platted, but there is a store and postoffice. It is a shipping station for timber. J. G. Freeman is Postmaster, merchant and entertains travelers. Mt. Joy is a similar hamlet in size to the above and boasts of a small store and a postoffice. It is situated on a hill called Mt. Joy and is in the northwest portion of the township. CHURCHES. The Mt. Joy United Presbyterian Church was organized by Rev. Marvin Morrison and a few earnest workers in the cause. The church has regularly kept up its organization and-its growth fully equal to that expected from the population of the surrounding country. It has at this time fifty-six members, and its present pastor is Rev. J. B. Gowdy. Trustees elected are Robert Dunn, Martin Rodney and John McMurray. The McCullough Settlement Catholic Church was first organized by Rev. Father Joseph Mertian and the appointment of James Galvin, Joseph Kelley and John Donahoe. The membership numbered about 160. It has now a membership of about 200 and Father Me: Can is still in charge. Service is held twice in six weeks, and instruction class the same and in the afternoon of the day of service. The Mt. Joy Christian Church was organized in 1854 by Elder Mathew Gardner, the members at that time numbering about thirty-five. Rev. J. B. Taylor is the present pastor, and the Trustees are John McCan, Robert Day and George Rose. Service is held three times a month and Sabbath-school every Sunday. The average number of scholars is seventy-one, and of church members 100. The church was erected in 1868. The Otway Christian Union Church was organized in 1866, and held its meetings in the Dry Run School-house for three years, when they built the present church building in 1869. The pastor was the Rev. Jesse Wamsley; Trustees, William Freeman, J. T. Freeman, Paul White and William H. Powell. The members then were: William Freeman and wife, Mrs. Margaret Freeman, Miss Sarah Freeman, Jacob Thompson, John Liston, W. H. Powell, George Brown, Elias Thornton and wife. The present members number 100, and preaching is had once a month. Sabbath school is held every Sunday and has an average attendance of forty. The M. E. Church was organized by Rev. Mr. Perry in 1880. It now has a membership of twenty-five. The present pastor is Rev. Mr. Rifle; services are held every two weeks and Sabbath-school every Sunday, at the Dry Run School-house. The Mt. Joy Regular Baptist Church was organized in 1882 by Rev. G. W. Hackworth, and the Trustees were Abraham Oppy, David Thompson and Jackson McCan. It organized with about thirty members and has about fifty at the present time. It holds its meetings in the Mt. Joy School-house. CHAPTER XXI. NILE, WASHINGTON AND UNION TOWNSHIPS. NILE TOWNSHIP. Nile Township is the largest in the county. The township is the extreme southwest of the county, and has an Ohio River front of nearly fifteen miles. There are some nice bottom lands to be found all the way down, but when you leave the river bottoms you strike a rough and broken country, better adapted to stock and for stock ranges than for anything else. Still after you get over the bluff and on the banks of Turkey Creek the upper part of Pond's Run and along Twin Creek there are a good many acres of rich and productive lands. The tops of a good many of the ranges of hills are level plateaus, which prove easy of cultivation, with a strong and productive soil. There is plenty of timber, and getting out ties and tan-bark is one of the main industries. The freestone quarries give it an immense wealth which has been utilized for nearly half a century. In wealth Nile Towuship ranks the eighth in the county, according to the assessed valuation of 1882. VALUATION, BOUNDS, POPULATION. The valuation of real estate in 1882 was $253,890; personal property, $75,670; total, $329,560. The land assessment is at a pretty low figure, being a little over the average of $5.27 per acre. The township is bounded on the north by Brush Creek and Union townships; on the east by Washington Township and the Ohio River; south by the Ohio River, and west by Adams County. It has a landed area of 48,140 acres, of which not one-fourth is in cultivation. Every decade since 1840 Nile Township has shown a sturdy and healthy growth. The population in 1840 was 860; 1850, 1,004; 1860, 1,175; 1870, 1,473; 1880, 1,905, making her greatest gains in the last two decades, and the last the best of all, being a gain of almost 30 per cent. during that decade. Her largest stream of water is Turkey Creek, which rises in the northwestern portion, in numerous heads, and with its small tributaries flowing from the hills which line the valley on either side, takes a southeasterly course and mingles its waters with the Ohio River. Pond's Run and Twin Creek are the only other streams of note. There are many little branches to these streams, and the township can be called well watered, saying nothing about its extended 'water front on the Ohio River. OLD SETTLERS. The pioneers of Nile Township were a sturdy set of men. They settled along the Ohio River, taking up the rich lands found in the valley of this beautiful stream. By and by they began to extend inland, and the valley of Turkey Creek also soon found settlers. The names of all cannot here be given but many others who made Nile Township their home will be found in the old settlers' list in the county history. Among those who left the impress of their lives upon the progress