HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 243
JACKSON.
Jefferson township on the north, Washington on the east, Dixon on the south, and the Indiana line on the west, define Jackson township. In the original division of Preble county into townships, Jackson was embraced in Jefferson and Dixon townships. On December 18, 1816, it was ordered that the eighth township, first range, be incorporated into one township for county and other purposes, and that Jackson become a distinct township. The first election was held at the house of Adam Starr. William Stephens, who was elected clerk, soon afterwards moved to Louisiana. John McCord and John Starr were the first justices of the peace. The present officers are as follows: William C. Mills, C. W. Baker and John B. Kelly, trustees; J. C. Adyelott, treasurer; William A. Arrasmith, clerk ; James Morrow, of New Hope, and L. C. Young, of Florence Station, justices. The elections are held at Campbellstown.
The surface of the township is for the most part rolling, the only considerable level area being in the southern part. The dividing ridge which determines the general course of the streams, crosses the southern boundary in section thirty-five, passes in a direction a little west of north, branches east and west at a point in section sixteen, just north of Florence station, and continues north acr0ss the Eaton and Richmond pike, about two miles northwest of New Hope, leaving the township not far from the center of the northern boundary.
This division of the surface directs the water courses in f0ur general directions. The eastern half of the township is drained by the tributaries of Seven Mile creek, the streams converging in the northeast and southeast quarters of the township. The north Dry fork rises in section twenty-nine, and the south dry fork in the low land southwest of Frames' graveyard, in what is called the Rich woods.
The declining slopes of the southwest quarter direct the courses of the east, middle and west branches of Four Mile creek, which flows south into the great Miami river, not far from Hamilton, Butler county. Elkhorn creek draws its supply from the northwestern quarter of this well watered township, and flows in a westerly direction into Indiana and empties into White- water 1iver.
The soil in the northern and northwestern part of the township, is known as clay upland, and produces average crops of corn, wheat, oats, flax, barley, and tobacco. The timber is plentiful, and consists of beech, white and bur oak, ash, sugar, poplar, and walnut. The low lands in the southern part of the township, especially in Four Mile valley and the Rich woods, are black with rich loam which yields enormous crops of corn, and consequently makes the raising of hogs a specialty. The area of nearly four hundred acres southwest of Union chapel is called the Rich woods, and is certainly one of the richest tracts of land in the county. These low lands were at first densely wooded with a heavy growth of small gray and blue ash, and oak trees, and the work of clearing and draining the land was enormous, but the reward of this labo1 is seen in the increasing wealth of the land owners.
SETTLEMENT.
In the year 1805 Ayres Taylor, a Kentuckian, bought one hundred and sixty acres of Government land, and erected a rude log cabin near the confluence of the three branches of Four Mile creek, in section twenty-nine, forty rods south' of the present residence of Ebenezer Paddack. At this time the Government was selling land to settlers upon the following conditions: For tracts of one hundred and sixty acres, eighty dollars down, eighty dollars in two years, and eighty dollars in each of the two years following; the land and previous payments to be the forfeit of any failure to comply with these conditions. The little farm purchased by Ayres Taylor was in the midst of a lonely wilderness, and the labor of clearing the forest was too great for the solitary worker, and at the end of the first year he found that it would be impossible to meet the second payment, and he longed for the coming of a friend who would purchase the claim. He found this friend in Henry Paddack, who emigrated from Kentucky in the beginning of the present century, and lived for a short time in Butler county, five miles north of where Hamilton now stands. August 1, 1801, his son Ebenezer was born. April 5, 1806, he, with his family, consisting of his wife and three boys and one girl, arrived at the cabin of Ayres Taylor, who sold his property to the newcomer for eighty dollars, and immediately went back to Kentucky. Mr. Paddack raised the first crop in the township, and soon afterwards he set out the first apple orchard. The brick house now occupied by his son Ebenezer was the first in the township. Mr. Paddack lived to see his children grow up and settle around him. He died at a ripe old age, and lies buried in an Indiana graveyard.
Ebenezer Paddack was about five years old when his father came to Jackson township. From his earliest years he was inured to the hardships of pioneer life. He with his brothers had a boy's love of adventure, and many a good hunt did they have after turkeys, deer, and
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smaller game, with which the surrounding forest teemed. Occasionally they would meet with a bear, though bears and elk had nearly all been driven away by the Indians, whose hunting parties frequently encamped on the Paddack farm. In 1825 he was married to Susannah Swain, and there were born to them eight children—Daniel, Jacob, Rachel, Sarah, Elizabeth, James, Reuben, and Phebe. In December, 1837, his wife died, and in 1838 he married Malinda Gard, the widow of Lorenzo Gard. She was born in 1813, in Green county, East Tennessee, and her father settled in Preble county in 1822. Five children were born of this union—William, who married Nancy Swisher; Harvey married Frances Paddack; Lucinda married John Oxer, of Jackson township; Miriam married William Weist, of Jackson township, and Mariah, who died young. Mr. Paddack removed to Indiana in April, 1838, and came back to the old homestead in June, 1841, where he has lived ever since.
About the time of fhe Paddack settlement, John McCormick settled on a farm one half mile north of Henry Paddack's. He was at one time one of the township officers.
In 1806 a squatter, named Robert McCormick, built on Four Mile, in section thirty-two, a hewed log cabin with a clapboard roof, and being obliged to return to his native Kentucky, rented his place to Rice Price, a Quaker, who became one of the substantial citizens of the township. He afterwards moved to the farm in section seventeen, now occupied by Elisha Smith. He lies buried at the southeast corner of Mr. Smith's barn, and for many years the spot has been fenced in, though at present there is nothing to indicate the grave.
ELKHORN SETTLEMENT.
The country around Elkhorn creek near its intersection with the Indiana line, was settled by emigrants from Kentucky, North Carolina, and Virginia, and soon it became known as the Elkhorn settlement. About 1807 John Hardin came from Germantown, Montgomery county, and purchased land in the vicinity of Elkhorn creek. He lived there for several years, and sold land to many of the incoming settlers. But he had invested all of his money in real estate, and failing to realize the handsome profit from the sale of his land which he had anticipated, he and his brother Eliakim sold out and removed to where the city of Indianapolis now stands. After his removal he became very wealthy. David Side- well, John Bozworth, Michael Crowell, Amos Higgins, William Neal, the three Wade brothers—Joseph, John and William—Andrew Morrow, and others came about the same time that John Hardin settled.
It was thought at first that the settlement would become the settlement of that part of the country. But about this time a Quaker from North Carolina, named Jeremiah Cox, came to the Elkhorn region in search of water power for milling purposes. As he represented a large colony of probable emigrants, it was hoped that he would be satisfied and send back for his friends, but he soon found the stronger water power of the White- water, and consequently the Quaker colony settled where Richmond now is. Despite this disappointment the Elkhorn settlement continued to increase. It was here that the old Shiloh church received its strong support. Many of these early pioneers are buried in the little cemetery which is situated on the Indiana line. They took their grain to what was known as the Spring mill, kept by a Quaker named Comber, and many a tale did the jolly miller tell to his customers, while they waited for their grists. The mill was situated just beyond the State line, near the junction of the Cincinnati, Richmond & Chicago, and the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis railroads. The only saw-mill at that time was also across the line, on Short creek.
After the War of 1812, the settlement of the township was rapid. The northeastern sections were settled by the Pennsylvania Dutch.
Michael Crowell was one of the pioneers of the Elkhorn settlement, and suffered many of the hardships of pioneer life. He was born in Virginia, in 1773, emigrated to Preble county in 1806, and settled in section twenty. His wife was Hannah Wells, who was born in 1789, and died in 1879, at the advanced age of ninety years. Of their nine children, David, Henry, Jacob and James are living. Henry and James live in Whitly county, Indiana, and David is in Madison county. Jacob Crowell owns two hundred and sixty-five acres of the homestead place, and has his farm well improved and highly cultivated. Miss Emma Teasel became his wife in 1850, and to them were born three children: William F. married Frances Cook, and resides in section twenty; Josiah M. and Francis E. are at home.
Andrew Morrow was one of the earliest pioneers of Jackson, having settled here in section nine, in 1807. He was a native of Orange county, North Carolina, and was born in the year 1767. His wife, Rebecca Laughlin, was a native of the same county, and was born two years subsequently. At the time of their removal to this county they were living at Wayneville, Warren county, Ohio, and their son, Richard Morrow, one of the older residents of the township, and who has lived on the homestead ever since his settlement there in 1807, was born in Warren county, Ohio, January 25, 1807. He was married to Sarah Barr, in 1832, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1810, and died in 1876. They were the parents of nine children, five of whom are living. There were seven other children of Andrew Morrow, sr., but only one besides Richard is now living, namely: Nancy White, living in DeKalb county, Illinois.
Andrew Morrow, jr., was born in 1805, and died in 1857. His wife, Mary D. Small, was born in 1816. She was the daughter of James and Elizabeth Small, natives of Pennsylvania, and who settled in Preble county in 1806 or 1807. To Mr. and Mrs. Morrow were born three children. James, who resides with his mother in Jackson township, was elected justice of the peace in 1879.
John Wolf married Elizabeth Welsh in Kentucky, and emigrated to Ohio in 1811, settling in section ten of Jackson township. Seven of the thirteen children are living: Sarah, the wife Of Robert McCord, and Andrew,
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her brother, live in Iowa; Margaret, the wife of James Shafer, resides in Huntington, Indiana, and Elizabeth owns forty-seven acres of land in section ten of Jackson township; Laura, Elma and Tilla live on the home place.
David Brower emigrated from Virginia to Ohio about 1800, and settled in Washington township in 1811, and afterwards removed to Jackson township, on the farm in section fourteen, now owned by Adam Reid. His wife was Mary Unger, of Virginia. He erected a cabin on his land, and immediately proceeded to clear and improve his farm. They had six children, three of whom are living: David and his sister, Elizabeth, the wife of Benjamin Hornbaker, live in Van Buren county, Iowa; Chris. Brower, now living in Eaton, owns land in section thirty-six. Of his eleven children, six are living: Serena, the wife of H. M. Kylander; Judith, wife of James R. Bennett, and Susan A., wife of Joshua Williamson, all live in Indiana. Their third child, Milton, is in Illinois, and Melissa, wife of Westly Maddox, resides in Van Buren county, Iowa. Theodore, who married Alice Edson, lives on the farm of his father, who moved to Eaton a few years ago.
Among the first settlers in Jackson township was Jacob Cline, sr., and his wife, Catharine Isley, who emigrated from Guilford county, North Carolina, in 1813, and settled in section thirteen, a short distance west of where New Hope now stands. His house was near the old State road, and was for several years the favorite stopping place of passing travellers. They had two sons, Abel and Jacob.
Abel Cline was born in 1816, and in 1853 was married to Miss Barbara Stamback, and to them have been born two children, one of whom died in infancy. Their son, Jacob D., married Miss Emily Deem in 1879, and now lives on his father's farm.
Jacob Cline, jr., was born in section thirteen, Jackson township, in 1820. In 1842 he was married to Elizabeth Tomlinson, by whom he had two daughters, Susannah and Emma, the widow of William Hawk. Both daughters reside at home. In 1873 Mr. Cline, in co-partnership with his son-in-law, William Hawk, purchased the general store at New Hope, and upon the death of his partner, in 1875, became sole proprietor. He is the acting postmaster at New Hope.
Jacob Swain emigrated from Pennsylvania in 1814, and settled in Jackson township, on the land where New Hope now is, where he and his wife, Elizabeth Bloom, spent the rest of their days. They had eleven children, six of whom are living: Hannah Miller, Dural Swain, in Jefferson, and Elisha, in Washington township, of this county; Polly Almonrode lives in Illinois; Polly Quinn, in Iowa, and Malinda Ogbern, in Indiana.
John McWhinney, sr., came from Knox county, Tennessee, in 1815 or i816, and settled in this township in section six. His first wife was Mary Dugan, who was a native of South Carolina. By this marriage there were born six children, only two of whom are living. They are John McWhinney and Mrs. Crocker. Mr. McWhinney, sr., married, in 1824, Pamella Alexander, by whom he has had five children.
John McWhinney, jr., was horn in Jackson in 1829; married Cynthia Adams in 1845. Of the four children of this union only one now survives, viz: Mrs. Samuel Wolf. In 1855 he married Miss Sarah J. Moore, his present wife, who was born in Adams county, Ohio, in 1834. By this marriage there were five children, four living and one deceased.
Matthew McWhinney, sr., was born in Tennessee in I790. In 1811 he married Temperance Kendrick, who was born in the same State in 1792, and about the year 1815 or 1816 emigrated to Preble county, Ohio. He settled in Jackson township, where he entered and cleared up eighty acres of land. Mr. McWhinney commenced pioneer life here with no means except a horse and wagon, but by a life of industry and toil, he accumulated a good property, his farm finally consisting of three hundred and twenty acres. He died in 1859, surviving his wife five years, who died in 1854 They had twelve children, nine of whom survive, as follows: William, living in New Paris, this county; Letitia, wife of Joseph Kelley, in Butler county, Ohio; Stephen, in Eaton; LeRoy, in Iowa; Eleanor, wife of W. C. Emerson, in Indiana; Thomas M., in Warren county, Ohio; Frank, in Greenville, Darke county, Ohio; Elizabeth Ann, widow of DeWitt West, in Indiana, and Jeannie, wife of Charles B. Cooper, in Anderson, Indiana.
Jeremiah Frame, a native of Virginia, removed with his family to Kentucky, Bourbon county, and in 1815 emigrated to this county, and settled in Jackson township, in section twenty-five. His son, Silas, father of Daniel Frame, was fourteen years of age at the time of the removal of the family to this State. He married Miss Polly Strader, who was born in North Carolina. Daniel Frame, now residing in this township, was born May 7, 1826, on the farm he still occupies, and September 18, 1851, was married to Hannah Dilman, whose parents were early settlers of Gratis township, where she was born January 1, 1830. Her father died in 1848, but her mother is still living.
One of the oldest of the pioneers of this township is Mrs. Catharine McManus, now in the eighty-sixth year of her age, having been born near Brownsville, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1795. She emigrated to Ohio with her parents, who settled in Butler county in 1810. February 2, 1815, she was married to John C. McManus, her maiden name being Miley, and in 1829 they removed to this county. Mr. McManus died here in 1852, and his widow and seven children survive him. The surviving children are: Sarah Billings, Elizabeth Westcut, in Illinois; Jane Munger, in Indiana; Mary Catharine, wife of Porter Webb, of Somers township, this county; Lavina Campbell, in Illinois; Julia, wife of James Wilson, in Dixon township, and Charles H., in this township, his aged mother living with him. He married in October, 1865, Martha Wilson.
Martin Sheffer was born in Jackson township. His father, Daniel Sheffer, was born in 1789, and was an old settler in the neighborhood. Martin Sheffer married Sarah Fisher in 1841, who was born in 1823. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Sheffer, seven of whom
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are living, viz.: James, John, George, Daniel B., Emily F., Amos C. and Oran. Mr. Sheffer died in 1876. His widow resides on the home place in section eighteen, on the Indiana line.
James M. Shafer was born in Preble county in 1847. In 1872 he married Margaret Lone, who was born in Ireland in 1846. They have two children.
Benjamin Fisher settled in an early day in section twenty. He was born in Kentucky in 1782 and died in this township in December, 1866. He was at one fime a justice of the peace of Jackson. His wife was Polly Kessling, who was born in Virginia in 1786 and died in 1870. They had eight children, as follows: James (deceased), John (deceased), Catharine (deceased), Patsy, who was the wife of William Campbell (deceased), Malinda, wife of A. P. Campbell, Sarah, widow of Martin Sheffer, Susan (deceased) and Elizabeth, wife of Lewis Paddock, of this township.
John Campbell, born in the State of Virginia in the year 1760, emigrated to Ohio in 1818. He settled in section twenty-two, Jackson township, and died in 1847. His widow, whose maiden name was Sarah Vance, born near Philadelphia in 1772, survived him a number of years, and died in 1856. This couple lived to the advanced ages of eighty-seven and eighty-four years respectively. They had a family of eleven children, seven of whom are now living, as follows: Samuel, in Indiana; James, in Missouri; Robert, in Nebraska; and Mrs. Mary McCowen, Andrew, William and Alexander P., in this township. The last named was married in 1842 to Melinda Fisher, the result of which union is five children, two of whom are deceased. The death of one, Vivinda, was caused by a painful accident, October 14, 1867, she then being a young lady of sixteen years of age, and full of hope and promise. She was killed by a pistol shot at the hands of one William Thomas, who shot at the proprietor of a show that was exhibiting in Eaton on that day, and the shot missing the intended victim, hit the innocent girl, who fell dead almost instantly. Her murderer is now serving out a life sentence in the State prison.
Andrew Campbell was born in Tennessee in 1810, and in 1835 was married to Miss Sallie Morrow, who was born in 1810. Two children were born to them. Leander married Rebecca Hileman, and Levi Clinton resides at home. Mr. Campbell owns ninety-three acres of land, under a high state of cultivation. The father and mother of Mrs. Campbell were George and Sarah Jones Morrow.
Frederick Stark emigrated to Preble county from New Hampshire, in the year 1820, and settled in Jackson township, section twenty-nine, on the farm now owned by Henry Swisher. He was born in Stratford county, New Hampshire, December, 1794; was married in 1820 to Abigail Doloff, a native of the same place, and born in 1800. They had ten children born to them, five of whom survive, as follows: Mrs. Robert Bell, who resides a short distance east of Campbellstown; Mrs. McWhinney, who lives in Franklin, Warren county, Ohio; John F. and Temperance L., residing on the home place, and Benjamin F., in Eaton.
In 1826 Samuel Benner, sr., father of Samuel Benner, Jr., emigrated to this county, and his father, Jacob Benner, entered three hundred and fifteen and a half acres of land in sections fourteen and fifteen of Jackson township, where Samuel Benner, the grandson, now resides. Samuel Benner, jr., marrred Mary Dunkerly, and was the father of seven children, all of whom are living. His son married Mary Halderman in 1853, who died in 1876. To them were born two children, one of whom resides with Mr. Benner.
Joseph Bell came from the State of Tennessee in 1829, and settled in this township in section thirty-four. He was born in North Carolina in the year 1792, and died in 1842. Of a family of nine children only three are now living, viz.: Robert, Sophia, and John. Robert married Mary S. Stark, daughter of Frederick Stark, whose settlement has been noted, and resides in Jackson township, a short distance east of Campbellstown. He has four children. Sophia is the wife of William McWhinney, and resides in Jefferson township; John lives in Kansas.
David Daily, born in Virginia in 1816, emigrated to this county from Tennessee with his parents in 1831. He located in section thirty-five, Jackson township, and began clearing up a farm. In the spring of 1835 he married Margaret Frey, who was also a native of Virginia. She died in 1843, and Mr. Daily was, in 1846, again married to Phebe, daughter of John Lewis, who was one of the pioneers of Preble county. Mr. and Mrs. Daily have seven children, and they are all residents of this county.
William Watts settled in this township in 1831. He was born in Johnson county, Indiana, in July, 1829, and was married in 1852 to Rachel Cline. He has a family of seven sons and three daughters, who are all living but one, viz.: Levi C., John E., Sarah E. (deceased), William A., and Mary J. (twins), Eleanor L, Richard, James I., Isaac, and Alice.
William Woolverton was born in Green county, Pennsylvania, in 1800. Thomas Woolverton, his father, emigrated to Butler county, Ohio, in 1804. In 1807 he came to Preble county, and settled on Seven Mile creek, in Washington township. Soon after their arrival they cut a road through the woods to John McCormick's, on Four Mile creek. When William was sixteen years old, he killed a wolf, receiving from the county commissioners four dollars for the scalp. With this money he bought the cloth for his first coat. In 1827 he bought the farm of John McCormick, in Jackson township. In 1828 he married a daughter of Silas Dooley, she dying in 1847. In 1851 he was married to Maria McComas. He had four children by the first marriage, and seven by the last, most of whom are living. He built the first frame barn in Jackson township, which he raised without giving the hands whiskey. He was also among the first to banish whiskey from the harvest field. He died about two years ago.
Solomon Wilcox settled in Jackson township in 1831. He is a native of Massachusetts, where he was born in the year 1800. On his removal to Ohio he lived a few years in Cincinnati, and afterward to Licking county, from whence he moved to this county. He married in
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1824 Malinda Collins, who died in 1871, at the age of sixty years.
William McWhinney was born in East Tennessee, and died in 1823. His wife, Elizabeth Kendrick, was born in Virginia in 1788, and died in 1875. They emigrated to Preble county at an early day. To them were born five children: Thomas and James are dead; Newton lives in California; Lucinda is the wife of Eli Conger, and Samuel is dead.
Thomas D. McWhinney settled in section eight in the year 1832. He was born in Indiana in 1810, and was married in 1829 to Miss Nancy Alexander. They both died at the residence of their son, John A. There were born to them seven children, two of whom are now living. These are William A., a merchant at New Paris, and John A., a farmer of this township. William has been twice married—in 1834 to Margaret Catharine Cail (who died in 1876), and in 1878 to Mary J. Wisenbaugh. John married Rebecca C. Scott in 1874.
Marcus D. McWhinney, son of William A. McWhinney, of New Paris, was born on the farm where he now lives, in 1835. In 1864 he was married to Sarah E. Swaine, daughter of Elisha Swaine, of Washington township. She was born in 1842. To Mr. and Mrs. McWhinney have been born four children—Elmer; Clarence and Lawrence, who were tiwns; and Bertie. Lawrence died in 1867. Mr. McWhinney owns two hundred acres of land in sections twenty-nine and twenty.
M. V. Snodgrass was born in 1836, on the farm in section twenty-four which his father, Joseph Snodgrass, entered at an early day. In 1865 he married Emma Miller, who was born in Washington township in 1845, and whose mother now lives near New Hope, Jackson township. Their only child, Lilly May, is eight years old.
Samuel M. Griffis was born in Washington township, December 29, 1837. In 1864 he was married to Rebecca Blinn, who was born in 1843. They have had nine children, seven of whom are living at home; the other two are dead. He owns one hundred and sixteen acres of land in section two of Jackson township, about nine miles northwest of Eaton.
Christian Markey came from Baltimore county, Maryland (where he was born in 1826), with his parents, Amos and Jane Markey, in 1838 or 1839. Amos Markey settled on Twin creek, in Twin township, the land now being owned by his son, John. Christian was married in 1848, to Miss Anna Crumbaker (born in 1830), and began housekeeping on the farm now owned by John Lesh, in Lanier township. Two years afterward he moved to Washington township and bought a farm in section thirty, which he occupied eight years. He then came to Jackson and purchased a quarter of section twenty-five, where he has since resided. He has, by industry and thrift, become the owner of a fine property, owning at this time eight hundred and twenty acres of land, with farm buildings second to none in the township. His wife, Anna, deceased in September, 1873, and a year subsequently he was married to Miss Zilpha A. Barnhart, widow of William Henry Barnhart, born in 1841. By his first wife he had twelve children, eight of whom are living. By his second marriage he has had tw0 children, one living and one deceased. Jonas Markey, born in Washington township in 1851, married, in 1876, Julia Bloomfield, born in 1856. Mrs. Christian Markey was the mother, by her first husband, of four children, two of whom survive.
James Kelley was born in Gratis township in 1812. George and Eliza Kelley were the parents of Mr. Kelley. In 1838 he married Hannah Goodlander, the daughter of Jacob and Mary Goodlander, of Fayette county, Indiana. To Mr. and Mrs. Kelley have been born fifteen children, eleven of whom are living, viz.: Elizabeth; Matilda, widow of Elijah Paddock; James; Irvin; Lorinda, wife of J. W. Collins; Ebenezer, who married Sarah Parks; Martin, who married Emma Aydleaott; Emma is the wife of Petis A. Reid; William, John, and Addie are at home. Mr. Kelley owns a fine farm in section thirty-three, where he resides.
Elijah Kelley emigrated to this county in 1836, and settled first on Seven Mile creek in this township. Several years afterward he removed to the place where he now lives, in section twenty-eight. He was born in Virginia in 1803, and was married in 1830, to Margaret Henry, who was born in Virginia in 1811. They have had a family of four children—two sons and two daughters, of whom John B. is the oldest. He was born in 1831, and married in 1869, Amanda C. Longnecker, who was born in 1844.
J. B. Kelley, born in Virginia in 1831, came with his parents to Preble county in 1836, and settled in Jackson township. In 1869 he married Miss Amanda C. Longnecker, who was born in Preble county in 1844. To Mr. and Mrs. Kelley have been born two children, both living. Mr. Kelley owns sixty acres of land in section thrity-three of Jackson township.
Eli Conger was born in Dixon township, and is the son of Rev. Josiah Conger, one of the pioneer preachers of the New Light church in Jackson township. In 1838 Eli was married to Lucinda McWhinney, by whom he has had four children, three of whom are living: Carrie, the wife of Judge A. L Harris, of Eaton; John Newton Conger died in 1843, James H., married Emma Lockwood, and is in the grain firm of Cook & Conger, of Eaton; Elizabeth is the wife of Barnet Huffman, and resides on the farm in Dixon township owned by A. G. Collins. The farm of Mr. Conger, comprising two hundred and frfty acres, is one of the best in the township. He pays particular attention to the raising of fine stock. At an early day he was elected township trustee of Jackson, and held said office for nine years. In 1848 he became the township assessor, and served two years. In 1851, while a resident of Dixon township, he was made justice of the peace, which office he held for eighteen years. He became county commissioner in 1871, and this office he held two terms, in all six years.
James Paxton, a colored man, was born in Rockbridge county, Virginia, in 1802, and emigrated to Preble county in 1838, settling in section two of Jackson township. His father, William A., and his mother, Elizabeth Pax-
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ton, were both Virginians. In 1839 James married Anna Eliza McClora who died in 1878. To them were born eight children, of whom three sons and one daughter are living—two in this county, one in Darke, and one daughter, ihe wife of William B. Hogan, in Richmond, Indiana. His son, Samuel H. Paxton, enlisted in the service of his country September 3, 1864, joining the Forty- second regiment, company C, and was discharged at Chattanooga September 3, 1865. James Paxton now resides in Richmond, Indiana, and the farm is in charge of his son.
Lewis B. Plummer came to this county from Indiana in 1844, and settled near Eaton. He is the son of Thomas Plummer, who resides in Kansas. In 1870 he married Mary A. Swain, by whom he has had one son, James Roddie. He owns two hundred and forty acres of good land in section twenty-six, which has been greatly improved during the last few years.
William H. Weist is located in section thirty-two, where he owns two hundred and ninety-three acres of land in a high state of cultivation. He was born in 1847, and, in 1872, was married to Miriam Paddack. She was born in x851, and has had two children, Ebenezer, born in 1873, and Fanny, born in 1877, died March 16, 1879.
Samuel Swisher, general stock dealer, and one of the substantial farmers of Jackson, was born in this township in 1848. He married Sarah Campbell, who was born in 1849. Mr. Swisher was elected township treasurer in 1876, and held the office one year.
Henry Swisher removed to this county, from Indiana, in 1848. In 1862 he was married to Miss Sarah Bulla. In 1866 he purchased a dry goods and grocery store. Subsequently he sold out and moved to New Madison, where he remained two years. He then bought out S. R. Kelley, at Florence Station, but only continued the store some six months when he sold to Samuel Swisher, and moved onto his farm. In 1877 he again engaged in the mercantile and grain business, buyng out his brother, at Florence Station, in which he still continues.
John Melling was born in Preble county, Ohio, in Twin township, in 1808. His first wife, Catharine Shoemaker, born in 1815, died at the age of twenty. His second wife was Susannah Melling, daughter of William Melling, who was born in Virginia in 1815, and is still living. By his first wife one child, Daniel, was born. Six children were born to him by his second wife, two of whom are living.
Harvey Paddack, son of Ebenezer Paddack, was born in 1847. His wife, Frances, whom he married in 1872, is the daughter of Lewis Paddack. Her father is one of the old settlers of Jackson, and lives in section twenty-one, two miles north of West Florence. They are the parents of one child, a daughter, Ruth, born in January, 1880. They live in section twenty-nine, not far from the old homestead.
John Mills, the father of William C. Mills, was a native of Ireland, and married Miss Elizabeth Comton, who was born in South Carolina. In 1820 they settled in Monroe township.
William C. Mills was born in Monroe township, in 1821. In 1843 he married Miss Harriet West, who was born in Kentucky in 1819. They have had no children. Mr. Mills now owns three hundred and twenty-eight acres of land, well improved. In 1861 he was elected justice of the peace, which office he held for nine years. In 1865 he was elected county commissioner, and remained in that office for six years. He has been township trustee for nearly fourteen years.
George W. Dickey, M. D., born in Butler county in 1822, commenced the practice of medicine in New Hope, Preble county, May 7, 1849, and is at present in a large practice. He married Miss Lydia J. Tillson in 1850. She was born in New Paris, Jefferson township, April 13, 1834. They have five children—Frances Edna, born in 1850, the wife of Dr. 0. W. Tobey, of Pyrmont, Montgomery county, Ohio; George Oliver, born in 1855, and living at home; Ida Rosanna, born in 1857, wife of Dr. W. A. Arrasmith, of Campbellstown; Lida Zoe, born in 1860, living at home; Chalfant Cass, born in 1863; and Ross V., born in 1869, also at home.
Abraham Brower was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, in 1792, and he married Sarah Loy in 1817, who was born in 1798. In 1859 he married for his second wife Mrs. Elizabeth Whitesell, who was born in 1807, and now resides near New Paris. There were nine children, seven boys and two girls.
Jacob L. Brower, son of Abraham Brower, married Miss Susanna Surface in 1843, who died in 1877. Six children were born to them, and the four who are living are at home.
Aaron Brubaker was born in Virginia, as was also his wife, Elizabeth Flora. They emigrated to Preble county in 1825, and settled in Gratis township. They had ten children, five sons and five daughters.
George Brubaker was born in 1813, in Virginia, and came to Preble county with his parents. In 1838 he married Miss Anna Banta, who was born in 1818. Eight of their ten children are living. Peter and Effie Banta were the parents or Mrs. Anna Brubaker.
John T. Kempler, born in 1819, and Mahala Clemmer, born, in 1826, were married in 1844. They have had three children—Samuel, husband of Elizabeth Surface, lives in Indiana; Mary S. is the wife of David Tobey, who resides near New Hope; and Andrew J., who married Rosanna Daffier, resides at New Hope. Mrs. Kempler's parents were Virginians, and were the parents of twelve children, seven girls and five boys.
D. R. Parker, now residing in section twenty, one and one-half miles east of Florence Station, was born in 1849, and in 1872 was married to Mary A. Kelley, who was born in 1848. Joseph L. Kelley and Lettie McWhinney were the parents of Mrs. Parker. Their family consisted of six children: Mrs. Dr. Hinman, of Cincinnati; Mrs. Eli Halderman, of Lanier township; L. R. Kelley, of Richmond, Indiana; Mrs. Hornaday, living at Red Oak, Iowa; 'Carrie, the wife of George Koby, of Middletown, Butler county, and Mrs. D. R. Parker.
John G. Goldsmith was born • near Eaton in 1828. His father, William Goldsmith, is one of Preble county's
248A - MR. AND MRS. ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL
Archie Campbell, as he was familiarly called among his friends, was a descendent of the old Scottish family of that name, his paternal ancestors having emigrated to the English colonies at an early date. The family settled in Pennsylvania, where they remained for many years. John Campbell, the father of Archibald, grew to manhood and married Sarah Vance. He soon afterwards removed to Tennessee, and settled near Knoxville, where he was engaged in farming until 1817, when he removed to Ohio, and settled in the wilds of Preble county, with his wife and ten children. He located in Jackson township, about eight miles northwest of the county seat. Here he resided until his death, which occurred in 1847, when he was eighty-seven years of age. His widow survived him eleven years, dying at the age of eighty-six. They were the parents of eleven children, named as follows: Samuel, Jane, Elizabeth, Archibald, Mary, James, Andrew, Robert, William, Alexander P., and Nancy, of which large family all are living but Elizabeth, Jane, Nancy, and Archibald. Archibald was born at the old Tennessee home on the fifth day of January, 1803. His early boyhood was passed in assisting in the labors of the farm, and in obtaining a limited education. At the age of twenty-two he was married to India Larsh, the only child of Lewis and Anna Larsh, of whom mention is made below. After their marriage the young couple settled on one hundred and seven acres of land near the home of Mr. Campbell's parents, and commenced clearing up a farm. Here Mr. Campbell resided during the remainder of his life and engaged in the laborious and peaceful pursuits of a farmer. He was widely known as a man of solid worth and intelligence, and commanded the 1espect and esteem of his acquaintances. Plain and unassuming in his manners, industrious and frugal in his habits, never engaging in the turmoils of political strife, or the uncertain projects of speculation, he acquired a comfortable fortune and at his death left his widow and children in easy circumstances. He died on the sixteenth of March, 1873, at the age of seventy years.
To Mr. and Mrs. Campbell were born thirteen children, seven of whom are living. Cornelius, who was born October 24, 1825, married Jane Dalrymple, and died in Monroe township, in 1871. Lewis B. born in 1827, died in the following year. Eldred R., born May 2, 1829, married Lavina McManus, and resides in Streator, Illinois. Banjamin F., who was born January 16, 1832, married Rebecca Stanley, and resides in Jackson township. George W. and Thomas J. (twins), were born June 22, 1834. George married, first, Mary A. Zeek, and after her death he married Margaret Murray, and is living in Jackson township. Thomas, who married Sarah Thurston, resides near Anderson, Indiana. John V. was born December 22, 1836, and in 1862 was married to Mary Reed, of Iowa. She was born in Butler county in 1838. They, with their four children, reside with Mrs. Campbell on the old place. Minerva J., who was born May 31, 1839, is the wife of Thomas Bulla, of Jackson township. Monroe was born August 29, 1842, and in the fall of 1869 he married Isabella, daughter of Stephen A. and Pet), Smith, of West Alexandria, born in 1851. They have five children, and reside in Jackson township. Mary Ann Campbell, born June 24, 1846, married James Sheffer, and lives in Wayne county, Indiana. Laura P., born in 1849, and Sarah O., born in 1852, each died at the age of two years. Besides the children above mentioned there was one who died in early infancy.
Mrs. India Campbell still resides on the same spot where, in 1824, she and her husband commenced housekeeping, and although death has robbed her of the companion of her youth. She is surrrounded by a large circle of children who honor and revere her with all the love and devotion of filial affection.
248B - MRS. CATHARINE McMANUS
One of the oldest of the pioneers of this township is Mrs. Catharine McManus, now in the eighty-sixth year of her age, having been born near Brownsville, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, June 8, 1795. She is the sixth and only surviving child of the eight children born to her parents, Abraham and Catharine Miley. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania, and her mother was born near Hagerstown, Maryland. In the spring of 1810 Mr. Miley and family emigrated to Ohio, coming down the Ohio river in a flat-boat. After tarrying for about three months in Cincinnati, they removed to their newly purchased farm near Gregory's fork in Butler county, about seven miles north of Hamilton. Here Mr. Miley kept a tavern for some time, which bore the sign of the cross keys; but not liking this business, he soon devoted his sole attention to the care of his farm.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Miley died in the year 1819. February 2, 1815, Catharine Miley was wedded to John C. McManus and in 1819 they removed to Preble county, and settled on the farm in the southeast quarter of section twenty-six, where Mrs. McManus has resided ever since. When they first came to this county the country round about was a wilderness, and although not entirely without neighbors, they had to undergo the hardships of pioneer life. Mr. McManus, who was a prominent public man, has been fully noticed in the chapter on the Preble county bar. He died in 1852, and is buried in the old Frame graveyard not far from the scene of his activity.
To Mr. and Mrs. McManus were born eleven children, seven of whom are living. Abraham I., born in 1811 died when a child. Sarah Ann, who was born October 1819, married William Billinger, and resides in Woodford county, Illinois. Mary E., who was born in 1822, died when a child. John G., who was born February 1, 1824, lived to manhood, and died in Preble county in 1854. Margaret J. was born October 24, 1825, and is the wife of Dr. Warren B. Munger, who is practicing in Union county, Indiana. Elizabeth, born January 7, 1828, is the wife of George Wescott, who lives in Woodford county, Illinois. Samuel M., born July 25, 1830, died in 1855. Mary C. is the wife of Porter P. Webb of Gas per township, and was born November 7, 1832. Lavina E., who was born September 28, 1834, is the wife of E. R. Campbell and lives in Streator, LaSalle county, Illinois. Julia A., born May 30, 1836, is the wife of James Wilson who resides in Dixon township. The youngest child, Charles H., now resides at the old homestead and has charge of the farm. In October, 1865, he married Martha Wilson, by whom he has had two children, Ina L. and Laura Osa. Mrs. McManus, though approaching her four score years and ten, still retains much of her youthful vigor, both of mind and body.
HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 249
oldest pioneers. In 1849 he married Frances Swofford, whose parents settled in this county in 1830, and now reside in Johnson county, Iowa. Mr. Goldsmith is the owner of one hundred and ten acres of land in section twenty-two, seven miles northwest of Eaton. He is the father of seven children, of whom two are dead, and the rest are living in Jackson township.
William Deem, son of Joseph Deem, was born in 1824, and emigrated to Preble county, Washington township, in 1842. In 1850 he married Sarah Harsh- man, who was born in 1830. To them have been born twelve children, all of whom, save one, are living. Mr. Deem owns a large farm in sections thirty-five and thirty- six, of Jackson township. He is one of the substantial farmers of his neighborhood.
Christian Flora was born in Franklin county, Virginia, in 1824. His father, Jonathan Flora, was born in 1792, and died in 1863. He married Mary Bowman. They had ten children. In 1831 Christian Flora, in company with his parents, emigrated to Ohio, and settled in Gasper township, Preble county. In 1848 he was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Potterf, who was born in 1830. She is the granddaughter of Gasper Potterf, after whom the township was named. Mr. and Mrs. Chistian Flora have had four children—Edwin, Alonzo, Alvina, Perry and Anna.
Thomas Wolverton and family emigrated in 1804 from Pennsylvania to Butler county, Ohio, coming down the Ohio river in a flat-boat. In 1807 they removed to Preble county and settled on Seven Mile creek, in the western part of Washington township. There were no settlements near them, and only a few cabins in Eaton. Soon after their arrival they cut a road through the woods to McCormick's, on Four Mile creek. Thomas Wolverton was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, serving during the entire conflict. He entered the service as a private, and rose to the rank of colonel. His son William, generally called General Wolverton, from the fact of his service in the State militia, was a well known resident of the county for many years. He was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, in 1800, and came to Ohio with his father. When he was sixteen years old, it is said, he killed a wolf, for the scalp of which he received four dollars. With this money he bought of Cornelius Van Ausdal cloth for a coat, the first coat he ever wore. In 1827 he purchased the farm of William McCormick in Jackson, and lived there until his death in June, 1827. He was twice married—in 1828 to a daughter of Silas Dooley, sr., wh0 died in 1847, and in 1851 to Mrs. Maria McComas, who is still living. General Wolverton erected the first frame barn in Jackson township, and raised it without whiskey, which was regarded as an innovation upon established usage.
Jacob Cooper was born in Montgomery county, in 1824. His parents emigrated from Virginia in 1813, and his father's name was Joseph Cooper. He married Catharine Riner. Five children were born to them—Hannah, Mary, Daniel, Margaret and Jacob—all living. Mrs. Cooper, the mother of Jacob Cooper, is still living, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. Jacob Cooper was married to Harriet Patten in 1835, and has had eight children, of whom seven are living, viz.: Elizabeth, Peter R., Daniel W., Catharine Jane, Jacob M., Joseph S. and Emily A. John B. is dead. Daniel W. is the present county treasurer.
Temple Aydelott was born in Norih Carolina in 1805, and in 1831 married Jemima Cook, also a native of North Carolina. They were residents of this county for many years. Their son, John C. Aydelott, was born in 1835, near Neil's Station, just over the Indiana line. His first wife was Sarah E. McWhinney, daughter of Thomas McWhinney. Three children were born t0 them. Mary and Emma are married, and Halstead lives at home. Mrs. Aydelott died in 1871. In 1873 Mr. Aydelott was married to Mrs. Juliet Swain, widow of Martin E. Swain. Her maiden name was McWhinney, she being the daughte1 of Stephen McWhinney, of Eaton. She had one child by Mr. Swain—Martha J. Two children have been born since her marriage with Mr. Aydelott, viz.: Tracy and Walter. Mr. Adelott is an enterprising farmer, and has a pleasant home in section fifteen.
I. N. Aydelott was born in 1847, on the farm in Dixon township once owned by the Larsh family. In 1869 he was married to Evangeline, born in 1849, daughter of Robert Bell. This union has been blessed by one child —Letitia May, who was born April 17, 1873. He is the owner of one hundred and twenty-five acres of land situated in section twenty-seven, Jackson township.
Buckner Deem, the second son of Joseph Deem, an old pioneer of Preble county, was born in 1826, and in 1850 was married to Mary A. Kissling, by whom he had five children, all of whom are living in Preble county. Mrs. Deem was born in 1831, her parents being old settlers of the county. Mr. Deem is a resident of section three, where he owns two hundred and ninety-seven acres of land.
James Samuel Wolf was born in 1850. His father, Jacob L. Wolf, was born in 1818, and his mother, Eliza C., was born in 1813. In 1871 Samuel Wolf was married to Mary Elizabeth McWhinney, daughter of John and Cynthia McWhinney; she was born in 1847. To Mr. and Mrs. Wolf have been born one child, Emma Frances. Mr. Wolf lives in section ten, where he owns eighty acres of land.
Frank Swisher was born in Dixon township in 1852, and is the son of Martin Swisher, who now lives in Eaton. In 1872 he was married to Alice McWhinney, the daughter of Matthew McWhinney; she was born in 1854. To Mr. and Mrs. Swisher was born one child, Eddie M., born in 1872. Mr. Swisher and his mother- in-law, Mrs. Miriam McWhinney, run the general store in West Florence, which is kept in connection with the post office by Mr. Swisher, who is deputy postmaster.
George Scarse, son of David and Rebecca Scarse, was born in the State of Indiana, October 25, 1836. His father died at Richmond, in 1866, where his mother still resides. He settled on one hundred and sixty acres of land in section seven of Jackson township. His wife was Miss Cynthia Swisher, whom he married in 1860; she died in 1874, and was the mother of three children
250 - HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
Etta, born in 1863; Vernon in 1865, and Charles in 1867. The children are all living at home.
David Morehead, born in Pennsylvania, in 1825, came to New Westville in 1851, at which place he has since resided. In 1857 he married Miss Nancy Kissinger, who was born in 1835. Their children—Mary and John, are still living with them. Mr. Morehead has successfully carried on the huckster business since 1860, and has thus obtained the means to purchase eighty acres of land. Though he does not keep a regular store, he supplies his neighbors with many of the necessities of life.
EARLY EVENTS.
The wandering tribe§ of Indians that occasionally camped and hunted in Jackson, offered no violence to the pioneers. Hence there are no Indian raids, pursuits and bloody encounters to record. Ebenezer Paddack says that when he was a boy, the sight of an Indian produced as little consternation in his youthful breast as the gobble of a wild turkey, or the swift rustle of a startled deer. But the sight of a white person outside the family circle was unknown to young Paddack, until one day, while exploring the headwaters of Four Mile creek in company with his brothers, they were astonished by the glimpse of a pale face and a shock of red hair half hidden by the bushes. This meeting was too much for both parties and they hastily took to their heels. It was afterwards learned that the stranger was James McCormick, the son of John McCormick, who had just settled one-half mile north of Paddacks.
One of the earliest weddings took place in January, 1818, at the residence of Andrew Morrow, at which time James Tosh was wedded to Hannah Morrow, by Esquire John McCord. As this was the first ceremony that dignitary had been called upon to perform, he was much frightened, and eye-witnesses say that he trembled like an aspen leaf, much to the amusement of the merry wedding party.
The first death was that of a young man by the name of Thomas Hollet, who was killed by the falling of a tree. He was the first person buried in the cemetery on the State line, in section nineteen. This was the first graveyard in the township.
The first corn was raised by Rice Price, in section thirty- two, he having cleared seven acres in the spring of 1806.
In the spring of 1807, Henry Paddack cleared twelve acres just south of his house, near the site of the present school-house. In this place he set out over two hundred fruit trees, which he procured from a man named Ludlow, who lived where Ludlow, Kentucky, now stands, opposite Cincinnati. Several of the old apple trees are still standing in the school yard
The first wheat was raised about 1810. In those earliest days, the staff of life was corn bread, and wheat bread was considered a luxury almost unattainable.
The first school-house was erected in 1810, where West Florence now is. Here also was the first store, kept by John McCowen, and here, May 17, 1839, was established the first post office, of which Warren C. Emerson was postmaster.
The first public house was opened at New Westville in 1817, by George Worthington, the founder of the village.
For several years after the first settlement had been made there were no roads in the township, and the bridle-path was the highway. About the year 1810 the State road was built, passing from Eaton through Jackson township in a northwesterly direction, in a course almost coincident with that of the Eaton and Richmond pike. This was the mail route between Columbus and Indianapolis. The mail was first carried through on horseback, then in the old "mud wagon," and afterwards in the four-horse coach.. This road was superseded by the turnpike which was built about 1800. This road soon became the thoroughfare from Cincinnati.
In 1853, the Cincinnati, Richmond Sr Chicago railroad was put through the township, entering the east line in section twenty-five, passing parallel with the pike, and ,crossing the State line in section seven. There are three stations: New Hope, Florence, and Westville.
The first and only distillery was built by Jacob Gephardt, in section one, in 1839. He run it four years, and finding it unremunerative, gave it up. Since then no whiskey has been made in the township. There was considerable drinking in the early days, but whiskey was purer then. At present there is no saloon in the township.
EARLY SCHOOLS.
The first school-house in the township was built of hewed logs, and stood where West Florence now is, opposite the old store. It was erected in 1810. John Taylor, familiarly called "the little Scotchman," offered to become the teacher, at a salary of one hundred and twenty dollars per annum. But the sturdy pioneers found accumulating work for their sons and daughters, and it was with great difficulty that twenty-five scholars were at last assembled in the little log school-house. Under the management of the little Scotchman the school prospered. Ebenezer Paddack, the only one of the original twenty-five scholars now living, says that the pastime of the boys, when they wanted a little fun, was to chop and haul wood from the present site of the old store to the school-house near by. John Taylor afterwards taught school in the Elkhorn settlement.
Jesse Hopkins taught the next school in 1807, in a rough log house, with saplings split open and shaved for seats. This building was located in the western part of the township.
The next school was in an old deserted log cabin, a short distance north of Richard Morrow's farm. It was continued for only one quarter, under the management of Alexander Barr, a Pennsylvanian, who afterwards became the father-in-law of Richard Morrow, who married his daughter, Sarah, in 1832.
About the year 1818 a log school-house was built, and. several years afterwards a frame building was put up, one and one-half miles east of the old school. It afterwards became a district school. Alexander Barr taught in the neighborhood for many years.
According to law section sixteen was reserved for school land, and, owing to their proximity to this section,
HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 251
the sections numbered fifteen, twenty-one, and twenty- tw0 were sold at fou1 dollars an acre.
There are at present nine school districts, with as many substantial and well furnished buildings.
CHURCHES.
Probably the first preaching in Jackson township was in the Elkhorn settlement, about the year 1807, by Elder David Purviance, who was one of the founders of the Christian church, more familiarly called, the New Light church. Soon afterwards Parson Whitehead, of the Baptist denomination, held meetings at the house of John Bozworth.
Judge William Curry, now of Eaton, remembers a meeting held at his house in 1810, by a Methodist circuit rider, the Rev. James Finley.
The followers of Elde1 Purviance organized a society, about 1810, and soon afterwards built, just across the State line, a frame building which they dedicated as
SHILOH CHURCH,
which, though beyond the line, was supported almost entirely by residents of the township. It was situated immediately north of what is now the intersection of the Cincinnati, Richmond & Chicago railroad with the State line. It has long since fallen into decay, and the old graveyard, in which many of the first settlers of the township are buried, is overgrown with bushes. Among the ministers were William Gordon, John Adams, Reuben Dooley, Josiah Conger, and George Shidler. The church rapidly increased, but gave way, in later years, to other churches.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
About the time of the organization of the township, a small company of Methodists held meetings in section three, on the farm now occupied by Buckner Deem. Among the first preachers who visited them was Rev. J0hn Durbin, who afterwards became very eminent in the Methodist church. About 1825 a church was built near by on the Morse farm. The house has long since gone to ruin.
NEW WESTVILLE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This church was next founded. Robert McCord, a local preacher. had much to d0 with its founding. It is situated a short distance south of town, upon land formerly owned by Thomas J. McWhinney, who lies buried in the adjoining graveyard. In the early days this church was one of the strongholds of Methodism, and some of the most talented ministers have preached to this congregation.
Rev. Werter Davis, one of the most active religious pioneers in this county, was among the first ministers. Rev. W. H. Rape1 was the first presiding elder who preached there. At present there is no regular preaching. Rev. Young was the last pastor.
NEW HOPE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
A great revival took place, in the winter of 1807, among the Methodists in the vicinity of New Hope. The meetings were held in the wag0n-shop of James Beggs, which stood nearly opposite the spot where the present church stands. During the revival the following persons became members of the class which was then formed: Samuel Null and wife, John C. McManus and his wife Catharine, John and Jacob Weist, with their wives; John Wolf and family, Mrs. Harriet Scott, and others. In the spring of the same year efforts were made to build a house of worship, and by fall this had been accomplished. Services have been held there ever since, though not in the same house. December 23, 1878, the old building was destroyed by fire, and the little band of workers were well nigh discouraged. But by a strong and united effort they were enabled to re-build their house of worship, and now they have a neat and commodious frame building. Rev. Young has been preaching for them for several years. There are about twenty-five active members. The following is a list of the officers: Trustees, William Renner, W. L Mitchell, and C. W. Baker; class-leaders and stewards, W. L Mitchell, and William Renner.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
As has been previously mentioned, the Baptists held their first meetings at the h0use 0f John Bosworth, in section nineteen. In 1817 a Baptist church was built of togs, in the northern part of Dixon township, in section five, on Four Mile creek. Soon afterwards the congregation removed their place of worship, and built a church on the farm of ,Marcus McWhinney, in section twenty, west of William Bulla's residence. The society was known as the regular old-fashioned Baptist church. Rev. William Williams was the first minister, and Rev. Joshua Moore was the last The church was deserted in 1805, and at this day there is not a vestige of it left. Ebenezer Paddack is the only member living. There is no other Baptist society in the township.
UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST-NEW HOPE CHURCH.
The United Brethren of Jackson and surrounding townships were wont to worship in the barns of Fathers Bone- brake and Dawald, of Washington township. In 1815 Revs. Zellers, Jacob Antram, and Henry Kumler, held meetings in a log church, which was built about that time.
In 1830 a house was built close to the Jackson township line, in Washington township, not far from New Hope. This was the second church of the denomination in Ohio. There were about thirty members, among whom were John Melling, David Mason, and Jacob Myers, of Jackson township. Rev. George Bonebrake was the minister there in 1807, when the society concluded to remove to New Hope, and accordingly the present brick church was built, and the society removed to Jackson township. Since then the ministers have been Revs. Isaac Robinson, George Bonebrake, Henry Kumler, Samuel Adams, Asa Cohee, Jacob and Henry Surface, and Henry Tobey. Rev. Samuel Huddle is the present pastor.
There was a great revival during the pastorate of Henry Tobey, in January and February, 1867. At this time sixty-five persons united with the church. In 1877, in the pastorate of Rev. Huddle, about forty were added.
252 - HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
There are at present one hundred and eleven communicants. The following are the officers: Trustees, John Melling, George Izer, Jacob L. Surface, Jacob Cline, and William Bonebrake; clerk, John Griffis; class-leaders, Jacob Cline and John Griffis.
The Sabbath-school organized at the old church in 1836, now numbers about eighty members. Rev. Henry Surface and Matthew Brann were the first superintendents. Daniel Strader and O. P. Conley now have charge of the school.
EDWARDS CHAPEL,
in section thirty-four was built by subscription in 1878, and is under the control of the United Brethren. A number of Methodists living in the neighborhood united with them. They are supplied by the pastor of the New Hope church. In the spring of 1878 the chapel was formally dedicated by Revs. Charles Miller and Daniel Flickinger, of Dayton. There are at present nearly forty members.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH-UNION CHAPEL,
in section twenty-five, was dedicated to the worship of God, September 21, 1851, and February 29, 1852, a society was organized with the following members: Jacob Cline, Michael Powell, John Spacht, William Green, Mary Frame, Elizabeth Street, Margaret Frame, Elizabeth Ammerman, Welthy Frame, Susannah Whitsell, Wilmina and Catharine Miller. Elder James Neal effected the organization, and continued in the pulpit fourteen years. The ministers since then have been Revs. W. A. Gross, five years; James Neal, three years; C. C. Philips, one year; and Rev. Peter McCullough, who has been supplying the church since last May.
PEOPLE'S CHURCH.
Elder James Neal, with twenty-four members, organized the old church at West Florence in the fall of 1802. The building still stands at the rear of Frank Swisher's store. Rev. James Neal was the pastor for about seven years, and was followed, after a brief vacancy of the pulpit, by Rev. T. M. McWhinney, now of the Herald of Gospel Liberty, at Dayton. Eli Conger, Matthew McWhinney, William Kendrick, Thomas M. McWhinney, John Kendrick, William McWhinney, Robert Swisher, with their wives, and Mrs. Elizabeth McWhinney, were among the first members. Prior to the year 1859, Rev. T. M. McWhinney conceived the plan of the members of the Christian denomination uniting with the Universalists and Methodists of the neighborhood in the building of a new house of worship, to be called the People's church, and accordingly, in 1859, the commodious brick building which had been erected by general subscription, was dedicated by Revs. T. M. McWhinney, of the Christian denomination, and Rev. James Foster, a Universalist, of Indianapolis. Naturally enough, both denominations desired the lead, and on the day of dedication, upon a vote of the congregation, it was decided that Mr. McWhinney be followed by Mr. Foster. Strangely enough, both ministers had chosen the same text. There has always been a controversy between the denominations for supremacy. The Christian denomination is the stronger element, and since the dedication of the church they have had their own ministers, among whom were Revs. T. M. McWhinney, Joseph Weeks, James Sloan, Hiram Simonton, W. A. Brodrick, Levi Purviance, Z. T. Sullivan, and Peter McCullough. For eighteen months the church has been without a pastor. The house is situated just east of West Florence, about three hundred yards from the old church.
THE NEW WESTVILLE CHURCH
was organized by Elder James Neal, about eight years ago. Fo1 a time it was very prosperous, but of late years it has not succeeded quite so well. Preaching is still kept up there by Rev. Neal. There was a chureh of the same denomination at New Westville more than thirty years ago, but it has disappeared.
GERMAN EVANGELICAL SOCIETY.
This society was organized in 1859, by Rev. Philip Swartz, of Darke county. There were, originally, fifteen members, but at present there are but seven. The meetings are occasionally held in the United Brethren and Methodist churches of New Hope. They never had a building of their own. Rev. A. O. Raber, of Indiana, occasionally preaches for them.
EARLY BURIAL PLACES.
The first graveyard in the township is in section nineteen, on the Indiana line, on the farm now occupied by Jacob Crowell. It was laid out by the pioneers of the Elkhorn settlement. The first person buried there was a young man named Thomas Hollett, killed by a falling tree. Here are buried John Bozworth, Michael Crowell, Elijah Wade, and others of the fisrt settlers. Recently the cemetery has been remodelled, and it presents an attractive appearance.
In the earliest times there was a graveyard in section ten, on the farm of Jacob Wolf, just north of the Eaton and Richmond pike. Jacob Wolf was the first person buried there. Rebecca Wells and Elizabeth Davisson were among the first persons buried in this graveyard, whose only monument is a large wild cherry tree, which can be seen from the pike.
What is known as the Frame graveyard is situated about a quarter of a mile southwest of Union chapel. July 16, 1816, the infant daughter of John and Polly Frame died, and there being no graveyard in the neighborhood it was thought best to bury the child near the house. Accordingly Silas, the brother of John, and father of Daniel Frame, dug a grave in a secluded spot a short distance northwest of the house. When the little procession of relatives started for the place of burial, it was with the utmost difficulty that they could find the grave, so thick was the heavy growth of bushes. A plain freestone slab now marks the little grave, which, in the course of time, has been surrounded by the silent inhabitants of the silent city that has grown about the lonely grave of the wilderness. Here were buried: Jeremiah Frame, December 9, 1828, aged seventy-six; his wife, Elizabeth, December 9, 1828, aged eighty-eight; Isham Lanier, January 2, 1823, aged sixty-six; John Frame, September 26, 1828, aged forty-four; Polly Frame, De-
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cember 30, 1800, aged thirty-nine; Silas Frame, October 2, 1860, aged sixty-three; John C. McManus, 1852, aged sixty-five, John R. Williams, April 22, 1863, aged seventy- three; his wife, Catharine, April 15, 1863, aged seventy-two; John Ammerman, June 22, 1856, aged seventy- nine; his wife, Rachel, July 19, 1859, aged seventy; his first wife, Malchariot, July 30, 1809, aged twenty-five; Rev. William Williams, a Baptist minister, February 19, 1802, aged eighty; John Miller, November 26, 1860, aged sixty-nine; Henry Miley, June 21, 1868; aged seventy; and Henry Lanier, October 6, 1879, aged seventy-nine. The above were the first settlers of the southeastern part of the township.
In the graveyard adjoining the New Westville Methodist Episcopal church were buried: First, Lucy Ann, wife of Henry W. Price, September 8, 1815, aged twenty- five; afterwards, Thomas J. McWhinney, September 11, 1806, aged thirty-six; Andrew Morrow, July 21, 1807, aged eighty; his wife, Rebecca; Dr. W. M. Jackson, August 21, 1809, aged thirty-seven; and others, whose graves are not marked.
VILLAGES.
West Florence, New Westville, New Hope, Campbellstown, and Crawfordsville are the hamlets of Jackson township.
WEST FLORENCE.
In 1816 John McCowen laid off in section thirty-three, at the middle of the southern boundary of the township, a plat of ground divided into lots, calling the proposed town Knoxville, after his native Knoxville, Tennessee. The plat was not recorded until March 18, 1835. It was then called Florence, and at the time of the establishment of the post 0ffice, in 1839, the name was changed to West Florence. The first store was built in 1816 by John McCowen, on a spot immediately in front of Dr. Gans' barn.
Warren C. Emerson became the first postmaster, May 17, 1839. Frank Swisher now keeps the store, and is the deputy of Dr. P. T. Gans, the present postmaster.
As is stated elsewhere, the first school-house in the township was built in 1816, opposite the old store. The old frame Christian church is still standing in the yard back of Swisher's store. Until 1850 part of West Florence was in Dixon township, but at that time William Swisher bought that part lying south of the line, and the four or five houses were moved across into Jackson township. There is now in the village a store, a blacksmith and a wagon shop. Dr. P. T. Gans is the resident physician. There are at present fifty inhabitants.
NEW WESTVILLE.
Until the establishment of the post office of New Westville, June 4, 1840, the town was known as Westville, and letters were sent to McCowen's cross roads. July 16, 1816, the west half of section number five was surveyed, and a plat, containing sixty-four in-lots and eight out-lots, was acknowledged by Isaac Stephens, J. P. The store was built by James McCowen. George Worthington, the founder of the town, opened the first tavern in the township in 1817. For a time the projected town grew, and at first it was ahead of Richmond, which was founded in 1818. It reached the zenith of its prosperity soon after the building of the Eaton and Richmond pike, and after the construction of the railroad, became dead to enterprise. The present postmaster is Nicholas Huth. It now has about one hundred and twenty-five inhabitants.
NEW HOPE
was laid out June 1I, 1801, by Daniel Hawk, and additions were made October, 15, 1802, in the southeast part of the present town by Abraham Leedy, and by Jacob Cline in August, 1807, comprising all that part now lying west of the intersection of the pike with what is known as "the short line." The village is situated on the Eaton and Richmond pike, about five miles northwest of Eaton. It contains nearly one hundred and fifty people. The post office is Upshur, with W. L. Mitchell postmaster, and Jacob Cline acting as his deputy. The first postmaster, William Brown, was sworn in April 2, .1800. He kept the first store, opposite Renner's hotel. The village store was kept successively by Adam Surface, Rev. Asa Cohee, Rev. Henry Tobey, and at present is kept by Jacob Cline. Abraham Leedy opened the first tavern, which being on the stage line from Dayton to Richmond, was well patronized by travellers and teamsters. Stuart Hoon afterwards kept the Five Mile house where Henry Adler now lives. The present hotels are kept by William Renner and George Stemple. There are two churches- the Methodist Episcopal and the United Brethren. Dr. G. W. Dickey is the physician. The blacksmith and wagon shop is owned by Henry Ashinger and his son, Edward. James Kinkade keeps a small store opposite that of Jacob Cline.
CRAWFORDSVILLE
was laid out December 10, 1802, by Conrad Frey, and for a time had as bright prospects as any of its neighboring hamlets. It has now only seven families. It is situated in section twenty-four, on the eastern township line. Daniel Strader is the oldest inhabitant.
CAMPBELLSTOWN
is the name of the post offrce at Florence station, on the south side of the Cincinnati, Richmond & Chicago railroad. Lots were sold from time to time but they were never platted. Soon after the building of the railroad Harvey McWhinney opened a store, and the packing of pork was very successfully engaged in. Henry Swisher, the railroad agent, keeps a store and warehouse. Jacob Cooper keeps the post office in his store. The first post office was established June r, 1850, and Matthew McWhinney was the first postmaster. The warehouse kept at New Hope station by Charles McManus was burned December 22, 1879. John Williams keeps a store there.
PHYSICIANS.
At the time of the settlement of Jackson township, there was no regular physician nearer than Eaton. Richard Morrow remembers to this day, the fright given him by a visit from Dr. Walter Buell, who, though one of the kindest of men, was by no means the handsomest. Dr. Mitchell, of West Florence, is the first resident physician
254 - HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO.
in this township, of whom there is any remembrance. Dr. Warren B. Munger, a graduate of the Ohio Medical college of Cincinnati, came next, and remained three or four years. Dr. Irwin Boyd next came, practicing for eight years. He was very active and self-sacrificing during the terrible ravages of the cholera in 1809, and was almost idolized by ihe whole neighborhood. He died of cholera in 1855, being taken sick at the house of Ebenezer Paddack while attending to the wants of some cholera patients. His loss was considered almost irreparable. Dr. P. T. Gans began the practice of medicine in West Florence in the fall of 1850. He has a large practice, and is universally respected. Dr. George E. Wilkinson was the first regular physician in New Hope. He came about 1802, and after practicing five or six years, was succeeded by Dr. Theodore Purdy, who leaving in 1809,. was followed by Dr. Cruise, and May 7, 1809, by Dr. George W. Dickey, of the eclectic school. He is the present practitioner in New Hope, and has an extensive practice, being the oldest physician in the whole neighborhood. He has instructed the following students who practiced in New Hope a short time after their graduation: Drs. L. Van Trump, 0. E. Tillson, now of West Alexandria; 0. W. Tobey, now at Pyrmont, Ohio; and W. A. Arrasmith, who is now located at Campbellstown, and has acquired a large practice.
In 1877 Dr. Warren B. Munger removed from Sidney, Ohio, and remained in New Hope for three years. He is now located in Indiana. There are no .other physicians in the township.
MILLS.
The first and only flouring-mill in Jackson township was built about eight years ago, in section thirty-two, by Martin Swisher. There is a saw-mill attached.
About thirty years ago there was a saw-mill in section ten, but it was burned a few years ago. The mill now then, is owned by Meredith Cox. The steam saw-mill at New Hope is owned by the
Kramer brothers.
There is also a steam saw-mill at Campbellstown.
Several years ago a tile factory, under the control of Eli Fisher, was built a short distance west of New Hope, but it has recently been moved to Gettysburgh, this county.
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.
This lodge which is at Campbellstown, is the only secret society in the township. The present officers are: William Parker, N. G.; Frank Swisher, V. G.; William Rhea, recording secretary; J. V. Campbell, permanent secretary; W. A. Arrasmith, treasurer. The lodge was instituted July 23, 1873.
The Grangers had a lodge of the Patrons of Husbandry in Campbellstown a short time ago, but it is now extinct.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH,
WILLIAM BULLA.
William Bulla, the eldest son and second child of Thomas and Susan Bulla, was born in Wayne county, Indiana, April 30, 1810. Rapidly reviewing the history of his family, the reader will note that the family originated in Ireland. A strange and rather romantic circumstance cast the lot of this family upon American soil. About one hundred and fifty years ago three boys, not more than thirteen or fourteen years of age, might have been seen playing along the sea shore. Attracted by the unwonted sight of a ship, and induced by the pressing invitation of the captain, the boys stepped on board the vessel to satisfy their boyish curiosity, and ere they knew it they were sailing away from their native land to distant America. The anguish of the boys upon learning that they had been duped by the wiley captain, and the agony of the bereft parents is hidden by the veil of forgetfulness. The boys had to work their passage, and upon their arrival at the foreign port they were sold by the captain "to pay their passage money." What became of two of these misused lads is not known. Of one, however, there is a history, for he was none other than the great-grandfather of William Bulla. It is probable that the little outcast found a home in Pennsylvania. Upon attaining his majority the love of his kindred and mayhap the tender remembrance of some girlish face, induced him to seek the home from which in childhood he had been so ruthlessly torn. After remaining in Ire- -land a short time, long enough to find his wife, he returned to this country, and the young couple settled in Pennsylvania. Here William Bulla's grandfather, Thomas, was born, and in due time was married, first to Sallie Wallace, who died without children, and afterwards he was married to Esther Widows, of Chester county, Pennsylvania. They had three girls and nine boys, all of whom, exept one little girl, lived to maturity. Thomas Bulla was a member of the Society of Friends, and on this account did not take an active part in the Revolutionary war. After the war the family removed to Randolph county, North Carolina, where, April 14, 1779, Thomas Bulla, the father of William, was born. He was a jovial young fellow, very fond of dancing and music, and was the center of the social life of his community. When about nineteen years of age he married Mary Foutz, born in North Carolina, and of German descent. She died about seventeen years ago, leaving three children, two of whom lived to maturity. In 1804 Thomas Bulla and family started for the west. He stopped for a time near Germantown, Montgomery county, Ohio, at which place his first wife died.
Deciding to go further west, he went to Indiana by himself, and entered land in the wilderness which is now the fair territory of Wayne county, Indiana. He remained in the wilderness for six weeks, never hearing a human voice or seeing anything homelike. After building a cabin he returned to Germantown, where a
Res. of Wm. Bulla, Jackson Tp., Preble Co., O.
HISTORY OF PREBLE COUNTY, OHIO - 255
short time previously he had married Susie Mowry, who was born in Pennsylvania, and of German descent. They proceeded to their new home. The Indians were plenty, but fortunately they were friendly. The wolves made weird music around their cabin at night, but they never did any serious damage. There was no settlement farther west than that of Thomas Bulla, and consequently he endured every hardship incident to pioneer life. The nearest mill was near Hamilton, Ohio.
Thomas and Susan Bulla had fifteen children, of whom twelve lived to maturity. Their little daughter, Betsey, was drowned in Elkhorn creek when only two years old.
William Bulla, the subject of this sketch, had few educational advantages, but managed to get a fair education by dint of hard study. He remained unde1 the parental roof until about nineteen years of age, when, imitating his father's example, he took a wife. His young wife, Mary Edwards, whose parents came from Guilford county, North Carolina, in 1807, was born in 1811, and died in 1860, leaving no children. For nearly three years after his marriage Mr. Bulla lived in Wayne county, Indiana, and in 1831, near the close of the year, removed to Preble county and settled on his present farm, consisting of the southwest quarter of section twenty-one, of Jackson township. He settled literally in the woods, and worked many a day clearing his land. The first house, a hewed log cabin, is still standing north of Mr. Bulla's barn. He was married on the fourteenth of October, 1866, to Martha A., the widow of George W. Green, of Logansport, Indiana. She was born near Indianapolis, March 3, 1831. By this mar- riage Mr. Bulla had five children, four girls and one boy, viz : Ida M. and Ada L., twins, born September 8, 1867; Dora V., born January 7, 1870; Jennie, born October 2, 1871, and William Thomas, born November 28, 1873.
Since his first vote, which was cast for Jackson, he has voted for every Whig and Republican candidate for President. He has missed voting only three or four times, and these occasions were spring elections. He is by no means radical, and has always voted for principles, which to his mind are best represented by the Republican party. He has never desired office, though at times he has been a township officer. He highly respects Christianity, but is naturally skeptical. Below is appended a phrenological description of the forty-two "bumps" on Mr. Bulla's head. The relative sizes are indicated on a scale ranging from one to seven:
Amativeness, 3; parental love, 5; friendship 4, to be cultivated; inhabitiveness, 4; continuity, 6; vitality, 7; conjugal love, 3; combativeness, 6; destructiveness, 4; alimentiveness, 5; acquisitiveness, 6; secretiveness, 3, to be cultivated; cautiousness, 5; approbation, 6; self esteem, 5; firmness, 7; conscientiousness, 4; hope, 6; spirituality, 4; veneration 2, to be cultivated; benevolence, 5; constructiveness 4, to be cultivated; ideality, 5; sublimity, 5; imitation 4, to be cultivated; mirth 3, to be cultivated; individuality, 5; form, 4; size, 4; weight, 6; color, 5; order, 6; calculation, 4; locality, 5; eventuality, 5; time, 6; tune 4, to be cultivated; language, 5; casuality, 6; comparison, 4; human nature, 6; suavity, 4; vital temperament, 9 degrees; motive temperament, 9; and mental temperament, 10.