350 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. Stubbs, whose persistency, earnestness and energy succeeded in having Gratis township set off as it now exists, as told in the chapter on organization, where is found the story as told by George D. Hendrix. Samuel Stubbs took a prominent part in the early affairs of the county and was reputed to be a cool-headed man, fearless in his espousal of what he believed to be right. His people in the South having suffered at the hands of the British while he was a boy, the memory thereof never left him, and, although a Quaker, he strongly supported the War of 1812. Many of his qualities seem to have been inherited by his youngest son, Jesse Stubbs, who early in life began to take a part in the affairs of the political parties. In 1859 he was elected to the Legislature, in spite of his known anti-slavery views. He threw his influence and vote there to secure the election of John Sherman as United States senator, and the contest to defeat Sherman had been so fierce and bitter that the latter never forgot Jesse Stubbs. He was the most active and prominent member of the "underground railroad," that aided many escaping slaves to safety, and I have heard him say that he took pride in the fact that no runaway slave that reached West Elkton ever was caught —he just disappeared. At one time some half dozen slaves were secreted in the attic of his house while the slave hunters were riding the streets of the little town. Jesse Stubbs was born on November 13, 1809, and died in 1888. In 1877 D. C. Stubbs, locally called Clint Stubbs, was elected and served four years as representative. Like many other Quaker boys, he looked upon the Civil War as a fight for the freedom of the human race, and he could not stay at home in peace. So he enlisted as a private in the Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served nearly four years, returning home as lieutenant-colonel of his regiment. He was under Sherman from Chattanooga to the Grand Review, and his promotion tells the story of duty well done—no comment could make it better. When Clint Stubbs was first elected to the Legislature that body was Democratic. One O'Connor had been elected as a representative from Dayton, and was placed on several important committees. O'Connor, by his dictatorial, vindictive, partisan methods and bitter speeches, embittered the Republicans, especially Clint, against whom he seemed to delight to launch his fiercest attacks, even to the extent of swelling his exaggerations until they could be only designated as lies. Clint some way got a "hunch," and, after the Legislature adjourned, a quiet Quaker could have been seen circulating through southern Michigan, gathering data for something. When the next session of the Legislature came he rose and preferred charges against O'Connor, that he was not an elector, and never had been, and PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 351 never could be legally elected as a representative, because he had been sentenced as a felon to the Michigan state penitentiary ; had served out his full term of several years to the last day, and had never received a pardon restoring him to citizenship. In proof thereof, Stubbs filed affidavits of identity and certified copies of the indictment, trial, sentence and service in prison. A committee was appointed, and reported that the charges were true, which report was adopted. O'Connor was unseated and dropped out of sight, but it was a long time before the Republicans permitted the Democrats to forget the "O'Connor Legislature." D. C. Stubbs was born in 1838, and died in 1902. VILLAGES. The formation of the villages is set out in the chapter on organization of the county. There are but two incorporated villages in Gratis township. Green-bush is a collection of houses in the eastern part of the township, making a settlement with about forty people that formed about a store and a couple of churches located at the crossroads of the Pleasant Valley and West Elkton and Germantown roads. GRATIS. The village of Gratis was originally called Winchester. The post-office was named Gratis by the postal authorities, because there were other Winchesters in the state, but the people held on to the village name long after it became certain that the postal authorities would not change. When, in the run of years, a number of people had bought lots just outside and around the village, a movement started to extend the boundaries and change the name to Gratis, so there would be -but one name. Accordingly, in 1902, the council petitioned the common pleas court to change the name to Gratis, and the court so ordered it to be done. About the same time they applied to the county commissioners to take into the corporation the surrounding territory, which also was so ordered, and the village assumed its present name and boundaries. It is claimed that Peter Kulp built the first house, a cabin, in the place about the time or before it was laid out as a town. It was located on the west side of West street, a few rods south of South street. Shortly after the town was laid out people began putting up dwellings, and Benjamin Darragh started a little frontier store at the northeast corner of Franklin and West 352 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. streets, in which he kept such groceries, hardware, dry goods and notions as were called for in those early days. Before the days of railroads the village did a large business, having two or three buggy and Wagon factories, two large warehouses, four hotels and the largest and most commodious livery barn ever built in the county, erected by Fred Frieze on East street 'just south of South street. It was a brick two-story building, over a hundred feet, and at that time did a big business. There was also 'a pork house. All the transportation for those factories was done by teams, generally four and six horses, to Franklin, Middletown and Cincinnati. But the railroad came through Camden, large buggy and wagon companies were formed in the big cities, and, as was the case in so many little towns, business deserted because it had to do so. John Bookwalter, born in 1812, started a wagon shop and carriage factory in 1833 and carried it on, sometimes on a large scale, for nearly fifty years, dying about 1881. Peter Mikesell also during the same time had an extensive blacksmith and carriage shop; and both men employed a number of hands, until old age and the changing trend of business compelled them to desist. The warehouses bought grain and had it hauled to the canal at such points as paid the best prices. Dr. Christian Sayler came, when a boy, with his father in 1809, after he graduated from the Ohio Medical College, and settled on what is now part of Gratis. He settled in the town and lived there all his life, dying in 1884, and from him these facts were obtained. He was a large-framed, powerful man, strong both mentally and physically, of varied attainments, and, although a doctor, he was the surveyor who laid out and superintended the construction of the pikes from Middletown, and from Hamilton through Gratis to West Alexandria. Absalom Stiver, a lawyer, was once a representative and always resided in the village. He had a large practice, and it was his boast that during his life he had never had a demurrer filed against his pleading sustained by the court ; that is, he was never demurred out of court. He died in August, 1892. From 1835, for some twenty years, Gratis, originally Winchester, was one of the livliest little towns in the county, and even now most of the people own their own homes. The mail is received from Eaton every day. After the incorporation of the village there were two schools maintained, one in the town, and one in the country forming the district about two miles square immediately surrounding the town, the school house being located on the Camden road about a hundred rods west of West street. Before the Civil War an agitation began to unite the country and the town. In 1864 a vote was PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 353 taken on the proposition and it carried overwhelmingly, so in that year the present two-story four-room brick building was begun, and was completely finished the next year, three teachers being installed. For the past forty years there have been four teachers, and the curriculum of the school now compares favorably with any. Some of the teachers who in the past have taught there as principal of the school are Jehu W. King; Lewis Mackey, C. C. Fetherling, Doctor Keplinger, R. E. Lowry (1878-85), Will Hileman, John Morris; D. A. Young, Charles Gruntle, Charles Moses, Walter A. Young and D. T. Hill (1914). In 1880 the council erected a town hall and a jail, never having had such things previously. CHURCHES. In 1832 the Methodist Episcopal church erected a frame edifice at the west side of the town, and it was used until 1869, when the present brick church, at the northeast corner of West and South streets, was erected, costing about three thousand five hundred dollars. It has been found to be a suitable and comfortable home for the membership, now numbering about forty-five persons, and accommodates a good Sunday school. The Baptists organized a church in the town about 1836, and in 1839 built a brick church at the east side of the town. For many years it formed a strong church, but people died or moved away, and its membership dwindled until now for some fifteen years past the building has been closed and allowed to decay. About the time, or before, the Methodists organized, the Presbyterians built a church in the village, but, like the Baptists, the congregation scattered in a few years. In 1866 the building and land were sold to the Reformed church, and the house remodeled; but that congregation also seemed to scatter, or, as I heard a preacher say in his sermon a short time ago, it got the dry-rot and perished. Again the house was closed for some years, there remaining but three or four members. In 1912 the German Baptists, or, as now called, the Church of the Brethren, bought the property and also additional land, again remodeled and repaired the church, and moved the congregation from Lower Twin church, abandoning the old site. They now have a strong society of about seventy-five members. The church seems in a prosperous condition and likely to endure for many years. The recent move was made largely under the leadership of Aaron Brubaker, the present pastor. The United Brethren organized a society of their faith in the village in (23) 354 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. 1849. For years they held church in the old Friends' meeting house, and later in a union church building, erected near the west side of the town. But, as the other churches grew, there seemed too much division and this one gradually dwindled and some years since died, the church building now being used as an implement house. About 1882 or 1883 some evangelist preachers of the Dunkard or German Baptist faith, from the Virginias, began holding meetings in the village. They were called Progressive Dunkards and were strong and effective preachers, attracting good audiences. About 1884 they organized a church society, locally called Progressives, but the regular church name is "The Brethren." They held meetings for a time in the Methodist church. In 1888 they built their own church, a frame building at the southwest corner of East and South streets, and in 1896 they added a parsonage. The church soon proved too small and in 1904 it was rcmodeled and an addition added, giving them probably the most commodious and comfortable church in the township. The total cost was over eight thousand dollars for the church. On April 9, 1915, a fire started in a stable some three squares southwest of the church, and cinders, carried by a strong wind, set fire to the church and totally destroyed it, but, undaunted, the people have already started plans for rebuilding. The church has two hundred and sixty members, all of whom are real Progressives, with a very strong Sunday school, and we hope it will grow stronger than ever, carrying forward the evangelistic spirit that founded the church. George H. Jones has been the pastor since the spring of 1909. PHYSICIANS. The physicians of Gratis have been : Samuel Nixon, who located there at an early day ; then Dr. Christian Sayler, who continued in active practice until long after the Civil War, and was followed by his son, William Sayler, who died in 1886; the latter was succeeded by a brother, W. S. Sayler, who died some two years since. During the time of the first Doctor Sayler, Dr. Isaac Kesling, an eclectic, practiced in the village and enjoyed his full share of practice until his age compelled him to withdraw, some thirty-five years ago. From then, although other doctors located there, they only remained for brief periods, and moved away, the practice being chiefly what is known as country practice, requiring much riding. Dr. W. A. Crume is the only regular practicing physician now in the village. PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 355 A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE. On the morning of April 9, 1915, a fire broke out in a stable in the southern part of the village and a strong wind swept the cinders diagonally across the town, setting on fire over forty buildings and destroying the Brethren church and some four barns, also setting fire to no less than thirty-seven other buildings. There was no adequate fire department. The telephone sent out the "S 0 S" call in every direction and soon help began coming from the towns and country around in automobiles, loaded with men and buckets. Over two hundred and fifty automobiles rolled in, and finally the bucket brigades conquered. The telephone and automobile kept Gratis on the map. ODD FELLOWS. In 1850 the Independent Order of Odd Fellows organized Eden Lodge No. 147, and on January 18, 1867, they bought a fine brick building at the northeast corner of Franklin and East streets, using the second story for lodge purposes and renting the lower story for residence and storeroom. About 1888 they remodeled the building and built a third story and now have one of the most comfortable lodge homes to be found in any village of the same size. The lodge numbers between ninety and a hundred members, among them many of the most influential and energetic men of the community. The lodge is to be commended for the high standard of manhood it requires of its candidates. On February 1, 1906, the Twin Valley Bank, of West Alexandria, established a branch bank at Gratis, known as the Twin Valley Bank (Branch), which gives the people of the village and community ready banking facilities. It is well patronized. The capital is covered by the capital of the parent bank. N. G. Kimmel, cashier, has filled the post almost ever since the bank was established. WEST ELKTON. West Elkton is located within a mile and a half of the south line of the township, and just grew up along a small branch. David Taylor, shortly after the settlement of the township, built a wagon shop and his cabin on the little stream that flows through the town and dug a well, being the first to locate. Gradually others built around .him, buying such plats of ground as they desired, until, in 1847, a movement, headed by Jesse Stubbs and Nathan Hornaday, started to have a town laid out. The next year the plat was filed, 356 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. but as the lots sold before, about a dozen in number, had been very irregular in size and shape, they had to remain so. They could not now be traced but for the painstaking care of the surveyor, James L. Street, who surveyed them and planted cornerstones so generally that he is easily followed. In the northeastern part of the state is Elkton, hence this place is called West Elkton. The first store is said to have been opened by a man named Rockill about 1828. The first postoffice was established in 1844, and Rawley Wheeler was appointed postmaster. In 186o Argerbright & Talbert started a carriage shop in West Elkton, but in 1863 Isaiah Talbert sold out, on account of bad health, and W. S. Maddock took his place. In about 1869 Talbert returned from Miamisburg, where he had been engaged in the same business. With A. Van Trump and D. L. Wineland, Talbert bought out the business, and in 1871 he bought Van Trump's interest, and in 1874 Wineland's interest. A. Van Trump and Thomas Stubbs at the time were running a saw-mill and other business connected with it, and they consolidated under the name of Van Trump, Talbert & Company in 1874. Later, about 1895, Talbert bought out his partners and took in three of his sons, and they are now doing a prosperous business. In July, 1914, the three-story brick building and saw-mill adjoining burned, but they have rebuilt on a larger scale than before. It is the only carriage factory of the county that has survived the competition with the big factories, the reason being that they did not try to compete in price, but aimed to excel in quality. The job had to be exactly as represented, and for forty years past the statement that it was a West Elkton buggy has settled the question of quality. After the fire they increased their room, and have now added the painting and repairing of automobiles and motor trucks. A visit to the shops will make the visitor wonder where all the work comes from, for these shops are the business heart of the town and community. NATHAN HORNADAY. Perhaps the best remembered man who was a permanent resident of the village was Nathan Hornaday, who was born in 1812 and died in 1899. He was by trade a plasterer and stone mason, and by religion a Methodist, in which church he was for many years a local preacher. A man of medium size, strongly built, emotional, but clear minded, he was elected a justice of the peace in 1842, which position he held most of the time for fifty years. He was later mayor of the town, which office he held almost a lifetime. His sympathy always going out to the suffering or the wronged, he was ever a peacemaker in the community. With a courage and integrity that never fal- PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 357 tered, he was an ideal justice of the peace. It is claimed that, although he had many cases tried before him, a jury being waived, he was never reversed by the common pleas court but once, and then the defendant refused to give any evidence, and appealed. From the evidence Mr. Hornaday had to decide the case. From outside knowledge he knew the matter was wrong, and tried to get the plaintiff to settle, but he would not, and he later lost the case. No attorney was ever able to influence his decision nor by honeyed logic lead him wrong. Fie won and held the love, respect and almost reverence of the community. He was for five years deputy United States collector of revenue. CHURCHES. The first church built in Gratis township, and, with much reason, claimed to be the first in the county, was a log church, built by the Quakers just south of town in 1805. In 1809 it was replaced by a hewed-log house, which, in 1817, gave way to what was called the "old brick meeting house." The church was then called the Elk monthly meeting, taking its name from the creek near the south county line. In 1872, after taking up subscriptions for a year or so, the present brick church was erected, and, save for some repairing and remodeling, it continues in use. It is a large, commodious and comfortable building, costing nearly five thousand dollars. The society has a membership of about two hundred, composed of some of the most prosperous farmers of the township. They have had a large Sunday school for years. The Methodist Episcopal church in West Elkton was organized about 1850, and for two or three years the society met in the school house. In 1853 a union meeting house was built by the Methodists, Wesleyan Methodists and United Brethren, near the northeast corner of the town, and at the same time a union Sunday school was started. All the named churches continued to use the house, but in the course of the next thirty years the Wesleyan Methodist organization became practically extinct, after which the other two went on together for a time. About 1897 the United Brethren concluded to erect a church of their own and did erect an edifice on Pike street, about a half square south of Camden street, at a cost of about three thousand five hundred dollars, to which, a short time later, they added a parsonage. The Brethren church was organized about the same time as the Methodist. Since the separation, the Methodists have continued to use the old union church building. They now number about thirty and the United Brethren number about one hundred and twenty members. The Sunday schools rival the churches in numbers. 358 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. PHYSICIANS. Jacob S. Weinland, born in 1819 in Pennsylvania, came to Ohio when only seventeen years old, graduated from the Eclectic Medical College, and began practice in West Elkton in 1847, being the first physician to become a permanent resident of the village. He was not above medium height, but was rather corpulent in build. He was conscientious and painstaking in his treatment of his patients, looking after them with a fatherly care, and seemed to be unwearied in his efforts to benefit them as much as possible. Thus he won and held the confidence and respect of the community. He had a large practice, being regarded by physicians as an expert in handling typhoid and malarial fevers. He died about 1883. Dr. William C. Robertson started practice in the village about 1877, and succeeded in securing a remunerative practice, but died from heart failure about 1884. Dr. Elwood Holaday, a homeopath; Dr. A. W. Y. Conarroe, an eclectic, and Dr. Clara Robertson, widow of Dr. W. C. Robertson, are the present practitioners living in the village. SCHOOLS. At an early day in the settlement there was a schoolhouse built on the Camden road, just at the west edge of the town, which, as rebuilt, was used until about 1871. In 1868 the Friends concluded that the children were entitled to better educational facilities than afforded by a sub-district school, and in 1869, after having taken up subscriptions for the purpose, they erected a four-room, two-story brick school house, just south of the village, calling it the West Elkton Academy, and employed teachers for the higher branches. After a year or so the two schools were united, and in 1878 the building was sold to the West Elkton district and continued to be used until 1911, when a vote was taken to bond the district, buy a more suitable location and build a modern, up-to-date public school building. The majority vote favoring the proposition, five acres were purchased and the present school building erected just north of the village in 1913, at a cost of about twenty thousand dollars. They now have a six-room school building, second to none in the county. William T. Phenis is the superintendent. CHAPTER XXV. LANIER TOWNSHIP. The history of the organization of Lanier township is fully given in the chapter on Organization of the County. Twin creek, with its source in Darke county, enters the township near the east line of section 3, and, flowing nearly a general south course, passes out of the township near the western line of section 35, then bends east across sections 2 and 3, into Montgomery county, finally finding its outlet in the Miami river south of Carlisle Station. The main tributaries of Twin creek are Aukerman creek, from the west, which unites with the main stream in section 35, and Banta creek, which has its source in section 13, Jefferson township, flows across Monroe, Washington and Twin townships, enters Lanier township in section 5 and flows southeast into Twin creek near the south line of section Jo. Haldermans branch, from the west, and Leslie's run, from the east, are smaller streams in the drainage area. It will be noticed that Twin creek follows the rule of the county ; that the western drainage slope is much greater than the eastern drainage slope. Along the main streams are wide stretches of bottom land of unexcelled fertility, which once were more productive than now, because the owners many times have abused them. One field pointed out to the writer some years ago had been put in corn for over thirty successive years. The farmers are doing better now. Along the three main streams the land is somewhat broken, but not for any considerable distance from the streams, for shortly after the slopes are climbed the land becomes level, or gently rolling land, of clay soil, underlaid with limestone subsoil and very fertile. Extending nearly east and west across the township near the center is a comparatively high ridge, passing about one-half mile south of Ingomar, and thence into Montgomery county. From this ridge the waters flow northerly or southerly down its slopes to their outlets finally into Twin creek. The ridge seems to have been highest just west of where Twin creek, when formed, cut the ridge in two, to form its channel, and this ridge, or hilltop, at that place is named after an early settler as the Morningstar hill, or Rattlesnake hill, from the old cave. This hill is some seventy-five or eighty feet higher than West Alexandria and is capped with a layer of Clinton limestone, some 360 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. fifteen feet thick, which in many places crops out. Along the lower slopes of the ridge there are many fine springs of water, two or three flowing several thousand gallons daily. The lands of the township produce in abundance all the crops raised in this latitude. EARLY SETTLEMENT. There, is but little doubt that Jacob Parker was the first settler in the townshiP, and probably the first white man to build a cabin in the county, for family tradition has it that as early as the year 1798, before the United States surveyor laid off the sections, he came back to the Twin creek bottoms, southeast of West Alexandria, and built his cabin near the old camp of Wayne's soldiers, as related elsewhere. He found this a lonesome job, and also apparently realized that "it was not good for man to be alone," for he returned to near Middletown. In 1803, however, he returned and resided during the remainder of his life on the northeast quarter of section 3, dying in 1848. His son, Peter Parker, always claimed to be the first white boy born in the county, and that he was born five or six months before George D. Hendrix. Martin Ruple came to the township with Jacob Parker in 1803 and settled on the southeast quarter of section 3. In 1804 John Aukerman settled on Aukerman creek, and later moved to a point just east of Eaton. In the same year Jacob Loy, from Maryland, settled in section 2. He was related by marriage to Parker, who married Mary Loy. In 1805 Peter Vanausdal, from Virginia, settled on section 10. About 1806, John Vanausdal, the father of Peter and Cornelius, came and settled in section, to, and with John came his son-in-law, Christian Van Doren, who settled, near him. About the year 1805 Jacob Fudge, from Virginia, with his brother David, settled in section 34. In 1808 he was elected the first sheriff of the county and served two terms. It seems, however, that he had small liking for public office, for some four or five years after his term expired one Of his friends wished to nominate him in convention for another office, because Fudge's popularity would strengthen the ticket, but Jacob argued with his friend. against it, finally agreeing that if the friend would keep still he would give him three quarts of good whisky. Jacob bought the whisky. Benedict Stoner, from Maryland, settled on Twin creek, east of West Alexandria, in 1805, and in the same year Christian Halderman, John Halderman, Jacob Shewman and John Kaylor, from Virginia, settled in section 32. In the same year Henry and Peter Eikenberry settled near Wheatville. PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 361 In 1806 Samuel Teal, from Maryland, settled near the mouth of Aukerman creek, and is said to have been one of the first Dunkards in the county. In the same year came John Price, who settled just west of West Alexandria; David Louts, on Banta fork ; Michael Wolf, on Banta fork, and Abraham and Albert Banta, on the stream that since has borne the name, and a little later Peter Banta joined them. In this same year Jacob Neff came from Virginia. About 1807 James Dennison came and settled on Twin creek. Some twenty years later his son James erected the mill known as Dennison's mill, later known as Gregg's mill, which is now gone. About 1808 William Campbell came from Kentucky and settled south of West Alexandria, where he started a tannery, which he operated for a number of years. He was the father of John V. Campbell, first probate judge of the county. In the same year Jacob Lesh settled in section 18 and Samuel Mitchell settled in section 29. Henry Young settled on Aukerman creek, northwest of Gratis, in 1809. In 1811 James Cloyd, who came from Virginia, settled in section 26, and in the same year Jacob Deardorff settled in section 8 and Jacob Heckman settled near Wheatville. John Black came in 1813 and purchased land in sections 3 and 4. Some of this land is yet owned by his grandson, S. S. Black, just south of West Alexandria. Later .came many others whose names are yet common in the township. It is not intended that the above shall be accepted as a complete list of all the early settlers, but only of those most easily traced, including a large number of the names common now ; for those early settlers left no trace of race suicide. The first child born in the township was Sarah Ruple, who was born in 1804, and the next was Peter Parker, born in 1805. SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES. The first school house was built in 1809, in section 29—a cabin of course —and built like the pioneer school house described elsewhere in these pages. Abraham Halderman was one of the pupils who received schooling in this house. A year or so later a school was started in a cabin on Jacob Parker's farm. The township now has nine school houses, but on March 20, 1914, a vote was taken on the questions of centralization of the schools and the issuing of bonds therefor to the amount of fifty-eight thousand dollars. Both questions 362 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. were carried by good majorities and are now in process of being put into effect. The first church in the township was organized by the Dunkards, or German Baptists, now called the Church of the Brethren. This church started about the year 1806, at the home of Samuel Teal, the Aukermans and Haldermans also being present, and for several years services were held at the diffeernt homes thereabout. Later the Dunkards built a church known as the Brower church, some distance south of West Alexandria. About 1858 they built a church in the northwest quarter of section 2, called Sugar Hill church, and there laid out a cemetery. About the year 1861 they built a church in the southeast quarter of section 19, called Wheatville church. The Brower church has long since gone, and only old men can speak of its exact location. The Sugar Hill church numbers about one hundred members, with a Sunday school enrollment of about seventy-five. The Wheatville church has a membership of about one hundred and a Sunday school enrollment of about the same number. Aaron Brubaker is the pastor. About 1882 or 1883, a number of the brethren drew off and erected a church about one-half mile east of Daddsville, for the "Old Order" Brethren, which locally was known as the Cloyd meeting house. About the year 1911 the location of this church along, and so near, the traction line proving unsatisfactory, the congregation moved and rebuilt it, about a quarter of a mile south of Daddsville. They have a membership of some sixty or seventy. In 1882 or 1883, after several years of discussion and quiet dissension, there occurred what may be termed a friendly secession, although at that time there vas some bitterness, among the German Baptists at Wheatville and neighborhood, and a part called the "Old Order" Brethren, drew off and erected a .frame church near the center of section 17, on the farm of Joseph Flora, hence locally called the Flora church, which now numbers about one hundred members, with S. Leedy and J. C. Brubaker as elders. The Methodists, about 1835, organized a class at Enterprise, at the house of Henry Eidson, and this class grew until, three or four years later, a log church was built, which in 1858 gave way to a brick church on the hilltop north of Enterprise. The church dwindled away until there were fewer than a dozen members. It seemed then to revive, but not for long, and about 1891 the church was rented to the Evangelical Lutheran congregation and finally sold to the latter. Later that congregation changed its place of worship to Ingomar, and, about 1906, the building was sold and demolished. Shortly after the close of the Civil War a class of the Evangelical Lutheran church was formed in and about Enterprise, the members going to PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 363 church at Farmersville and West Alexandria. In 1872 this class was organized into a society by Rev. Amos Poorman, who soon after was followed by Rev. George W. Busby. The society grew, and in 1878 erected a church in Enterprise, called St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church, the congregation of which now numbers about eighty members, with a Sunday school enrollment of about one hundred. About 1891, after simmering for some time, a split occurred in the German Lutheran church at Enterprise, principally over the question of secret societies, and a part drew off and rented the old Methodist church. In 1905 they purchased land at Ingomar and built a fine cement-block church, which they also named the St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church, and which numbers about seventy-five members, with a Sunday school enrollment of one hundred. L. P. Pence is the pastor. The differences between the various branches of the German Lutheran church they designate by saying that one belongs to the general synod and the other to the council ; which, of course, relates only to the government of the church. All are Christians, and that one fact is enough to satisfy all reasonable men. The Christian church in an early day organized a society, chiefly from among the settlers along the lands of Banta fork, and for some years held services at a little frame church on the Lexington road near Banta creek, in Twin township, but the congregation dwindled and, about 1840, they moved to a school house in Lanier township, near the home of the Bantas, who were members, and, gathering numbers and courage, in 185o they erected Bethlehem chapel, on the Dayton pike, about thirty rods west of Banta fork. This chapel prospered until a few years ago, but now most of the members have changed to a village church, and I am informed that services have been discontinued. MILLS AND MILLING. The first flour-mill in the township was built in 1812 by a New Englander, named John Egbert, on Twin creek, in section 15, later locally and widely known as the Halderman mill. In 1846 this mill was destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt, and finally passed into the hands of Abraham Halderman, who owned it for half a century. This mill long since has gone to decay. The March flood of 1913 washed away the greater part of the old timbers and its location will soon be only a memory. James Dennison, in 1818', built a mill on Twin creek, a couple of miles lower down, later known as the Gregg mill, but it has long since been silent. In 1833 Jacob Somber built a mill about a mile southeast of West Alex- 364 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. andria, which later became, and still is, known as the Brower mill, which continued to grind until the last few years, doing most excellent work. It is now still, however, and I fear will also soon be dismantled. There have in the past been a number of saw-mills in the township, but only two remain, one at Enterprise and one east of West Alexandria, because the timber to feed them is getting scarcer as the years go by. CEMETERIES. The first public cemetery laid out was the half acre of the old cemetery in West Alexandria, now no longer used, a portion of the one and one-half acres deeded by Jacob Parker and Jacob Hell, to the Reformed and Lutheran churches. Jacob Hell, named, is the ancestor of the Clears in Eaton, who later had the German name, Hell, changed by act of the Legislature to its English equivalent, Clear. About 1895 a new and large cemetery was laid out about one-half mile south of West Alexandria. About 1840 a cemetery was laid out just south of Wheatville church, in the northwest corner of section 29, and in it Luke Vorhis, one of the soldiers in the battle with the Indians at Fort St. Clair, is said to be buried. About 1850 a cemetery was laid out one-half mile north of Enterprise, known as the Enterprise cemetery. About 1870 a cemetery was laid out on west line of section 36, locally known as the Twin Valley cemetery. In an early day the Dunkards had a church and cemetery at the crossroads between sections 25 and 26, but long since the church has gone to decay, only the cemetery remaining. Scattered through the township were a number of family burying grounds of the early settlers, some of which are still marked, but none of which are now used. TOWNS AND VILLAGES. West Alexandria has its south half within Lanier township, and is the only incorporated village in the township. Its history will follow that of Twin township. There are three clusters of houses in the township that form little hamlets, adding much to the business, community and social life of their respective parts of the township. Enterprise is situated in sections 23 and 24, the houses being built on each side of the road. Concerning the first settlers, no one seems able to speak positively. It seems that many years ago some enterprising fellows thought the community was so far away from towns that PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 365 some business could be done, so a blacksmith shop, a grocery, and, later, a saw-mill were started. The place, being near a school house, people bought little plots of ground and built thereon, making there their homes, until there are today seventy-five or eighty people living in the hamlet. This hamlet formerly had a postoffice, the postoffice name being Lanier, but rural mail delivery does the business now, and even the grocery is gone. In the fall of 1886, the Cincinnati, Jackson & Mackinaw railroad was completed across the township and passed about a mile north of Enterprise. At the crossing of the road it made a stop or station for the accommodation of the people, calling it Lanier Station. A grocery was started ; people began to ship from and to that place ; the Wachtel Brothers started a little lumber yard and warehouse. W. W. Crouse conceived the idea that the place ought to have a name of its own, and a petition was filed with the railroad company asking that the station be named Ingomar. In a short time the railroad company put up a large sign bearing that name and Ingomar was on the map. Then, in 1888, the government was petitioned in the same fashion, through Congressman Williams, and the postoffice of Ingomar was established. The town now has about eighty or ninety population, a church, grain elevator, lumber yard, coal yard, a good grocery store and four tobacco warehouses. Considerable business is done there, and there are many promises of commercial growth. This may sound like a description of the start of a Western town, but the "boom" occurred in staid old Preble county. The buildings are good, the homes pleasant and everything presents a neat and homelike appearance. A picture presented in these pages shows the center of the newest town of the county. Years ago John Baker settled in the northwest part of section I, and he was nicknamed "Daddy" Baker. In 1898 the Dayton & Western electric line was built along the pike, and there being both a road from the south and one from the north, a stop was made there, a grocery was started, and people bought plots of ground, sometimes an acre or so, and built homes, attracted by the presence of the traction line, until today there is a. cluster of fourteen houses, and some sixty people or more. The hamlet's original nickname stuck, for the place still is known and called by everybody, "Daddsville." The houses are neat and well painted and the surroundings attractive. CHAPTER XXVI. TWIN TOWNSHIP. By W. W. Crouse. Twin township was first organized by the decree of the three associate judges, on the 15th of March, 1808, out of the original township of Hardin, comprising all of the third range of townships, as did Israel and Somers comprise the whole of the first and second ranges, respectively. Thus, in dividing the county into townships, the associate judges decreed that Twin township should be the north fourteen miles of the third range, which extended from the I)arke county line to the confluence of Banta's fork and Twin creeks, and remained thus until the commissioners, in 1815, curtailed it by their order that Twin township should be the sixth original surveyed township of the third range. It takes its name from the principal stream (named by the Indians long before the coming of the white man), which flows through this township from north to south—the Indian's Nile. The valley was a favorite camping and hunting ground for the Pottawattamies, Miamis, Delawares, Shawnees and Mingoes, during the latter part of the eighteenth century, when the territory between the Whitewater and. Miami valleys was traversed by well-defined Indian trails, the favorite trail being through this township, and until 1805, when the government purchased a,11 the possession (landed) of Pottawattamies, the most friendly of the tribes, in Ohio. He would, from time to time, return, seeking that renewal of health which as a boy he had enjoyed in the Twin valley and had lost in the malarious regions west, in later years. Twin valley has sustained its reputation as one of nature's health resorts, and the white man joins his copper-colored brother in meeds of praise,. Twin township is bound on the east by Montgomery county ; on the north by Harrison on the west by Washington, and on the south by Lanier townships. It is very productive and one of the richest agricultural townships in the county. Among its earliest (1804) settlers were some of the most prominent farmers of that day—the Van Winkles, Keislings, Millers, PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 367 Robertsons, Dickeys, Nisbets, Ozias, Bantas, Rapes, Whitsells and others; and it has maintained its position as an agricultural township from that day to the present. Its chief products have been wheat, barley, corn, oats, and tobacco, and in later years the raising and feeding of hogs and cattle has grown to quite large dimensions, as has, also, the breeding of horses, mules, etc. The land naturally arranges itself about the streams, Twin, Banta's and Price's creeks, particularly Twin. This valley is the deepest and broadest in the county, and Twin creek the largest stream in the county, affording the greatest waterpower. Mills of almost every description graced its banks in the earliest days, but only a few remain, the railroads and other shipping facilities of this country having made these smaller mills unprofitable ; but a few have found it possible to exist and those only as custom mills., The mill so long and favorably known as the Stotler mill, is about the only one of its kind that is in operation today in this township. This mill is located on the Dayton. & Eaton pike, just east of West Alexandria, and was built on the site of the old Benedict Stoner distillery, known by our older citizens as the John Glander distillery, which burned with the Twin creek bridge in 1858, the light of the conflagration being seen by the Dayton people eighteen miles away. The present mill was erected in 1859-6o by E. S. Stotler, John H. Gale and Detrich Glander, who operated it until the death of Mr. Gale, when the surviving partners purchased his interest, conducting the business under the firm name of Stotler & Glander, who furnished great quantities of flour to the National Soldiers Home, near Dayton. This mill is now owned and operated by Charles Shuey, formerly of Germantown. But, to get back to the physical features of this township and the beautiful Twin valley about which it centers, it can truly be said that its diversity of soil and surface make farming both pleasant and profitable, because the agriculturist can engage in diversified farming, rendering failure practically impossible. While different soils are better adapted to certain crops, yet there are few, if any, farms that will not produce most of the crops raised in Ohio: The more elevated portions are better adapted for the growing of wheat, oats, barley and tobacco, for filler purposes, while the lower area and the valleys of our streams afford a choice field for the production of corn and seed-leaf tobacco. The great Miami valley, which includes the Twin as one of its tributaries, is one of the greatest tobacco-producing belts in the United States, and Twin township has few farms upon which this crop is not raised. 368 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. DRAINAGE. The drainage is good in Twin township and is controlled by four principal table lands, one in the northwestern part, in the vicinity of Brunnersville, contiguous to Price's creek, and has a clay ridgy soil with blue clay almost touching the surface. The soil, somewhat rocky, is brown loam and quite productive. Beech grows extensively. In this upland country, the ridges are on a line distinctly marking the junction of Clinton and blue limestone formation. From these naturally appear many springs, chief amongst which is the "Mammoth" spring, on what is better known as the Royer farm at Brunnersville, originally settled by Jacob Cook, from whom Cook's fork, now known as Price's creek, received its early name This spring furnished sufficient waterpower to run a saw and woolen-mill. The Enoch or Shaw woolen-mill was operated by waterpower from this spring for a period of fifty years or more from its erection, in 1830. The northern and northeastern part of the township is similar in many respects, but oak timber is most abundant in this portion of the township. Rape's run is the principal stream in the northeastern ; Leslie's run in the eastern, and Banta's fork in the extreme southwestern. These are the principal streams tributary of Twin creek, in their respective localities. The land in the southeast quarter of Twin township and drained by Leslie's run, is not ridgy like the country bordering on the other streams mentioned above, except near its mouth. The land is mostly low, flat, deep soil, rich and fertile. Transversely across the southwestern part of this township is the boulder belt, supposed to have been deposited here by the northern glaciers. While they have, to some extent, interfered with agricultural pursuits, they have proven a valuable asset as foundation building stone and crushed rock for road building. SETTLEMENT. The government owned the land in the early days of its settlement and sold it at two dollars per acre, in parcels of not less than a section. This necessitated the clubbing together of those prospective settlers who were unable to purchase so much land, and the subsequent division of it amongst themselves, by lot, or otherwise, to suit its members ; or, as in some instances, these clubs would appoint a purchasing agent and treasurer whose duty it was to purchase tracts of government land and sell it again to settlers. PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 369 While this latter plan was fraught with danger, there is not any evidence of fraud practiced. FIRST SETTLERS. The first permanent settlement in Twin township was 'that of Simeon Van Winkle, one of the township trustees after its organization," who entered section 27, on which Judge Nisbet afterward laid out New Lexington. Mr. Van Winkle was a native of Georgia, and with his wife and five children emigrated from Kentucky to Twin township, in the late winter of 1803-4, to whom was born, February 20, 1805, a son ( Jesse), the first white male child born in the township. Mrs. Mary Huston Burtner, of West Alexandria, Mrs. A. M. Townsend, of Eaton, and Mrs. Rebecca Holsinger, of that vicinity, besides several descendants of Susanna Van Winkle Robertson, living in Preble county, are descendants. About a month after the settlement of the Van Winkle family Frederick Miller, a native of Virginia, emigrated to this township from Tennessee, stopping at Lebanon, Ohio, where he left his family while prospecting for a new home in the wilderness of Ohio, locating on the farm now owned by the John C. Mills estate and built his "lean-to" against a coffee-bean tree along the present right-of-way of the Cincinnati Northern ( formerly the Cincinnati, Jackson & Mackinaw railroad), just north of West Alexandria. He selected. the land adjoining his, now owned by Herman Voge and George W. Copp, for Henry Kesling, who, with William Alexander, one of the first township trustees, laid out the town of West Alexandria. In the year 1805 the Nisbet family emigrated from Kentucky, locating in this township. William settled on the farm known as the John Trick place; Thomas took over the place known as the John Henry Markey farm, and James I. settled on land where, a year later, he laid out the town of New Lexington, built the first house .therein; was its first merchant and postmaster, and built the first brick house in the county. When the court of common pleas was established, he was appointed one of the associate judges. Albert Banta, about this time, settled on the creek bearing his name, at the crossing of the Lexington road, where, later, Jacob Peters time a large log house, in which the Tunkers met to worship. At that time the township was sparsely settled and communities could ill afford church buildings for the various denominations ; hence, religious services were held at the homes of one or more of its members in a neighborhood. This building gave way to a more pretentious and modern brick building, owned and occupied, until recent years, by Samuel Ryder, father of Dr. J. C. Ryder, of Eaton, Ohio. (24) 370 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO The Rapes and Ozias families settled in this township in 1805, the latter entering about thirteen hundred acres of land on Twin creek, south of the present village of Lewisburg, and a. number of descendants own and occupy the greater portion of this land today. Mr. John Rape, Sr. (a native of France), served under the command. of General Lafayette in the Revolution for about five years and, at its close, deserted from his command, refusing to return to hiscountry. He married and settled in the valley of the Shenandoah river in Virginia, from whence he emigrated to Ohio, settling on the stream bearing his name in the northeastern part of the township. This farm remained in the family for upwards of a century. These families were followed by the Hewitt, Dickey, Coleman; Whitesell, Utz, Quinn, Vance, Hart, Mickle, Enoch, Baer, Benjamin, Bower and Singer families. EARLY EVENTS Tradition has it that the first male child born in the township was born to Mr. and Mrs. Simeon Van Winkle. The production of the first wheat was credited to Frederick Miller and the first bearing orchard was cultivated by Henry Keisling; and we might add that the latter built the first hominy mill in this township.. It was a rather crude affair, consisting of a hollowed-out stump, into which the corn was poured and then tramped. The finer part of the product was used as meal for johnny-cakes, and the remainder as hominy grits. Wild animals roamed the forest in those days ; bears, wolves and catamounts abounded in this wilderness, the blood-curdling screams of the latter have made the stoutest heart quail, and this brings to our memory a later-day event : "THE BOOHAW." Late in the seventies Dame Rumor, with the assistance of the press, had much to say concerning a ferocious animal, which for the lack of a better name, they called a "boohaw," having been heard and seen in the vicinity of West Alexandria ; and its unearthly shrieks made daylight most welcome to the inhabitants thereof ; not that anyone was afraid, of course; no, just, an atmosphere of insecurity. But, there was a very noticeable falling off in the attendance at the evening, assemblages. The lodge and even the churches suffered, and neighbors could not find time to pay to each other the customary evening call. This continued for some weeks and the "boo-haw" changed his spots, becoming an escaped circus panther seeking whom PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 371 he might devour, causing those who had searched their lexicons in vain for some description of the former beast, to flinch and, entertain a cowering feeling. Finally, an extraordinarily large catamount was killed and the weird cry of the "boohaw" was heard no more in that land. EARLY ELECTIONS. In the first election held in Twin township, as organized by decree of the common pleas court (which, by the way, was held at the residence of John Vance, who lived one mile south of Lewisburg, in what is now Harrison township), it is reliably vouched for that, after the offices were filled, there remained but three .electors who had not received an office, and, strange as it may seem, no effort was made by those to create offices for themselves. At the first election held in Twin township, after its organization as or dered by the county commissioners in 1815 (and which was held at New Lexington, which has been the voting place ever since), Frederick Miller was elected to the office of justice of the peace and Simeon Van Winkle and Henry Keisling were elected on the board of township trustees. The township is at present officered as follows : Trustees, William Peterman, Will Davidson and Joseph James ; clerk, Jesse B. Myers; treasurer, Harmon Lang; justices of the peace, George W. Knouse and George W. Coop. SCHOOLS. The first school in the township was held in 1807, in a little deserted log cabin on the farm of Judge Nisbet and stood near the site of the Presbyterian graveyard, and was probably presided over by George Miller, son of Squire Miller, who lived one-half mile south of the school house. The benches were of slab, and the light admitted through small windows covered with oiled paper. David Williams is said to have succeeded George Miller in the New Lexington school, and about five years later another school was opened on Price's creek, near the site of the old Whipple mill, with Thomas Coldscolt as teacher. From these two little cabin school houses of a century ago, have sprung nine comfortable brick 'buildings representing that number of districts, under the present efficient public school system. Two, only, Nos. i and 6, have been built over twenty years, and three, Nos. 2, 5 and 8, have been built in the last -four or five years. No. 5, at New Lexington, is a beautiful, commodious, two-story brick edifice, taking the place of the one built in 1873, and would reflect credit upon a much large place than New 372 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. Lexington. It was built by Amos Markey & Brother. Nos. 2 and 8 were built by B. C. Crouse & Company and are modern district school buildings, attesting the interest taken by this township in the dissemination of knowledge to those of school age. MILLS. The first flouring-mill was built in Twin township by Judge Nisbet in 1805, and here the first wheat was ground. He sold the mill to John Mumma, who razed it and built a new one on its site. The privilege of this mill was bought by Stotler, Gale & Glander, who built a new mill about 1860, on the Dayton and Eaton pike, just east of West Alexandria. John Van Winkle built the first saw-mill in the township, just north of New Lexington. This mill passed through the hands of several, including Mumma, Meckley, Wick & Winkleman, and was in operation until the flood of March 26, 1913. Henry Price built the first grist and saw-mill on Price's creek, about one and one-half miles north of the intersection of the Eaton and Lewisburg road. This mill was better known as the Clemmer mill. In 1828 Isaac Enoch built a second grist-mill on Price's creek, and some years later erected the mill known as the Whipple mill. In 1830 he built a woolen-mill on the branch fed by the Mammoth springs at Brunnersville, afterward owned and operated by Joseph B. Shaw. Several distilleries were operated in the township in earlier times, but the worm is dead and not even a smell is left. CHURCHES. Notwithstanding difficulties, the early settlers did not neglect spiritual development ; and, although many brought to this wilderness their denominational religious beliefs, a religious bigot was a rare sight. It was especially noticeable that a spirit of tolerance and liberality obtained among them, and union meetings were held whenever the services of a passing preacher could be secured. For the most part, these meetings were held in the little school house on the Nisbet farm, but there came a time of the parting of the ways, when differences of opinion arose as to the propriety of permitting a Universalist minister to preach in the school house church, resulting in the establishment of the two most strongly-represented churches, the Baptist and the Presbyterian. PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 373 BAPTIST CHURCH. The Baptists, being the weaker in numbers, naturally enough formed an alliance with those of other creeds, or none, and, after mutual conference, it was decided to build a church, which, though it should be called the regular Baptist church, should be conducted with the utmost liberality denominationally; and it was agreed that those who subscribed should control and have charge of the building. Prominent among the Baptists was Simeon Van Winkle, who donated the half acre on which the church stands in the corner of the R. W. Ozias farm, and Squire Benjamin was the leader of the outsiders. At the first election, Asa W. Malloy, of Eaton, Squire Benjamin and George Ivens were made the trustees. The latter was the only one of the three belonging to the church. The organization was effected in 1829 by Reverends bay and Poyner and a plain but substantial brick church erected on the grounds donated by Mr. Van Winkle. Rev. William Williams, the pioneer Baptist preacher, Rev. James Eaton, a missionary from New York, Rev. Anderson Adams, a son-in-law of John Van Winkle, Rev. James Sandford and others passing this way, occasionally preached for their congregation, although, during a great part of the time it was without a regular pastor. Some years later a Campbellite preacher from Cincinnati, named Burnet, came to New Lexington, and in a short time had won over the Baptists, with the exception of George Ivens, and a petition addressed to the Baptist association asking for its dismissal, was granted, and, though it remained liberal, it was afterward called the Campbellite church. Preaching continued there from time to time, until the close of the Civil War, but finally became deserted, until late in the seventies, when Squire Benjamin, the only surviving trustee, offered it for sale to James M. Van Arnold. The neighbors, however, raised by subscription sufficient money to put the building in repair, and since July, 1879, the United Brethren held services in it for some time. The building was finally condemned and has fallen into decay, with small prospect of its reparation ; but the graveyard adjoining it was, some years since, taken over by the township and the trustees have made of it one of the prettiest cemeteries in the county. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. At the time of the separation of the two denominations, the Presbyterians had an organization of about thirty members, and during the winter 374 - PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO. of 1828-29, under the pastorate of Samuel J. Miller, a revival was held and, as a result, forty were added to the church. The elders were Christian Van Doyen, who, later, was one of the founders of the Presbyterian church, Eaton, Ohio, and B. Aten. During the following summer they erected a brick church north of Judge Nisbet's three-story house, and adjoining the graveyard, where lay the remains of Grandfather Nisbet and a number of his descendants. Reverend Miller served his congregation until 1836, when he resigned to accept a call from the Pleasant Ridge church. The membership later becoming scattered, the church fell into decay and the building was torn down several years ago. KELLY'S CHAPEL. Located on section 14, Twin township, was a log building, built in 1835 for a Methodist church, and was named Kelly's Chapel, for Rev. George Kelly, who organized the church and later was pastor of the Wesley chapel, Methodist Episcopal church, Cincinnati, Ohio. The membership of the church, which had never been large, grew less by deaths and removals, and soon went down. SHILOH. The church at Shiloh was situated in the southeast quarter of section 12, Twin township. It was organized about the year 1840, by Rev. Thomas H. Wentworth, of the German Reformed church, who was the pastor for a period of ten years. Disintegration did for this church what it had done for others, and it went down. About this time a division of the new and old school Lutherans was impending and, a little later, the new school branch of the Lewisburg Evangelical Lutheran church secured Shiloh church for their own place of worship and installed Rev. Abraham Rex as their pastor, who served them for two or three years, and was followed by other pastors from the Evangelical church at Lewisburg. The church is still in a healthy condition, under the pastorate of Reverend Larick, of Lewisburg, Ohio. ST. JOHN'S CHURCH. At the time of the separation of the old and new school Lutherans, the old school branch organized, under Rev. Jacob Gruber, a church in the northeastern corner of this township on the farm now owned by Joseph James. It was a little farm building and has long since been removed.