(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) 310 - HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO CONCORD. ITS PHYSICAL FEATURES AND ITS PEOPLE. In the northeastern corner of Ross county, meeting at the north the southern boundary of Pickaway county, and at the northwest the Fayette county line, and skirted on its other sides by the townships of Buckskin, Twin, Union and Deerfield, lies Concord, than which no township in the county affords greater attractions to the traveler, be he farmer, historian or archxologist. The township is the largest, territorially, in the county, the distance being about fourteen miles from its extreme eastern to its farthest western limit, and not far from twelve miles from north to south. The first impression produced upon the stranger riding through its fertile valley, is that resulting from the remarkable beauty of the landscape. Through the heart of the township flows the north fork of Paint creek, a stream, at this distance from its source in Madison county, of considerable size. Back from its channel on either hand reaches a rich stretch of alluvial bottom land set in a border of foot hills which now confine the valley to a narrow limit and, again, sweep back beyond the boundaries of the township, leaving an unbroken view of rich fields and level meadow, almost as far as the eye can reach. These hills are, in turn, the source of numerous smaller streams, forming a succession of wooded belts across the main valley, which, with the frequent tracts of forest, serve to diversify and thus enhance the beauty of the prospect. From the south we have Herrod's creek, Whetstone creek and the Little North Fork; on the north, Waugh's run or Hay creek, Oldtown run and Carey's creek, besides many runs too small to be christened, yet of sufficient volume to furnish an ample water supply to the farms along their course. On every side still remain large tracts of woodland, which have survived nearly a hundred years of white occupation, and have a double value from their influence as climatic agents and their direct practical utility as cover and pasture for hogs and other stock. Oak is the most common wood, while hickory, maple, walnut and ash are also abundant. Though particular attention has been given to the North Fork valley, it must not be inferred that, beyond its borders there is any lack of beauty of surface or richness of soil. Leave the bottom, travel north or south and, crossing an upland district no less attractive and scarcely less fertile than that behind us, we descend into other valleys, feeding, on the one side, Main Paint creek, and on the other, Deer creek, reproductions in every essential feature, of the North Fork basin, and we are not surprised that this country has been a favorite home of three successive peoples—a populous center of two civilizations. The geological account contained in the general history of Ross county has already familiarized the reader with the formation, in that particular, of Concord, and it need only be added that the alluvial bottom lands and the older hill belt, antedating the glacial period, represent its entire surface. The predominating soil of Concord is a black loam of the richest kind, universal in the bottom lands, while back on the hillsides are areas of lighter loam, clay, gravel and sand. The black loam is admirably suited to the raising of corn, the staple production; and the variety afforded by the upland district renders profitable the cultivation of any crop suited to the latitude. Before passing from this brief general view of Concord, as it now is, to the specific study of its history, a few words regarding its people may not be amiss. They are, as a class, of the old Virginia stock, sons and grandsons. of the men who received the fair Scioto country "as a heritage"—a just reward for their patriotic services in the War of Independence. Having originally acquired large tracts of land, the farms have, some of them, descended from father to son almost intact, and their average size is still considerable. Within the homes, a wide-doored hospitality survives, and about their great. fire-places, where crackling logs have not yet given way to smoky coal, may he seen the evidences of a general enlightenment, the best guaranty of tenacious hold upon the soil and continued prosperity. The opening of foreign markets has tended to stimulate the cattle-raising industry; almost every land owner feeds a large proportion of his crop in fattening stock, while much capital is employed in the business of purchasing cattle and hogs for shipment, principally to Baltimore, and, by the way of Baltimore, to Europe. HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO - 311 The production is, in general, of a very good quality, commanding the best prices everywhere, and there is every indication that Concord is destined to become, year by year, a stock-raising, as distinguished from an agricultural community. ANTIQUITIES. As is more fully explained elsewhere, the whole area of the Scioto and Paint valleys is rich with relics of that mysterious pre-historic race which we, for lack of a better name, call Mound Builders. Concord is no exception to the rule. On many farms, within its present limits, are fine and well preserved mounds belonging, some to one and some to another of the three general classes, viz: mounds of burial, religious mounds, and mounds for signals and observation in time of var. From some of these which have been opened in the township, remains and implements have been removed and several notable collections exist, one in particular, that of Captain Wesley Maginnis, of Frankfort, being especially good and well arranged. We notice particularly among these prehistoric remains the distinct vestiges of a fortification, nearly square in form, which occupies a portion of a field belonging to Tilghman Porter, near the present site of the Dayton & Southeastern railroad depot, on the northwestern edge of Frankfort, and extends also through about a dozen town lots. This originally enclosed about fifteen acres and, with the twin connected mounds in the same field, forms the most interesting relic of the period in Concord. INDIAN HISTORY. So intimately connected is Concord in its history at this period, and at the later time of the white settlement, with the general history of the county, and of the Virginia Military district, that to treat it at large would be but to repeat work already done, and published in the earlier pages of this work. The aim of the writer in giving to the subject a brief review, is, therefore, rather to localize events already told, than to amplify or elaborate them. At the earliest date to which the investigations of historians have reached, the valleys of the Scioto and Paint were favorite hunting grounds of the Indian tribes. The numerous streams afforded means of transit by canoe, and attracted by the water, the game, which was the redman's principal dependence for food. At the time of the first white exploration of the Paint valley, the Shawnees, long before driven by the Iroquois from their earlier home in the great lake region, were in free possession of this territory. On the Little Miami, on the Pickaway plains, on the north fork of Paint creek, and at other points were established their towns, and over the extensive territory which they controlled, they roamed in large numbers, in quest of game, or in the execution of some errand of war against rival Indians, or some foray against the white settlers of Kentucky or of the Ohio valley. In their own tongue their towns were called Chillicothes, and the one on the North fork, occupying the present site of Frankfort, was old Chillicothe, or, as the whites translated it, Oldtown. This was one of the most important of their towns, not a mere occasional halting place or small collection of wigwams, but a permanent home in winter and summer, in war and in peace. It had, by virtue of its remote position and its construction, facilities for the protection of its inhabitants and the detention of prisoners, and served in turn as a base of supplies and a city of refuge. The site of this town was immediately on the creek, centering about the spot occupied by the Dayton and Southeastern railroad depot. In a field between the railroad and the creek was a cemetery, from which the plow even to-day, occasionally turns up a skull, or some weapon of stone, relics of battles fought, and lives lived when members of a now fast disappearing race were monarchs of the land. Much of romance has attached to the history of the old town, and naturally some confusion has resulted from stories published inconsiderately, and without sufficient evidence of their truth. One of these, quite generally believed, is that Daniel Boone was held a prisoner at Old Chillicothe in 1773, and after his escape, organized in 1778, an expedition, and proceeding to the Paint valley, destroyed the town in retaliation. This story is untrue in every particular of its relation to Oldtown. Daniel Boone was taken prisoner, was confined by, and did escape from the Indians at about that date, and also proceeded to and attacked their village, but it was at the Miami, and not the Old Chillicothe, of Paint creek. One of the first authoritative recorded statements as to the old town, is that in 1774 the Indians massed there, and marched out to fight the memorable battle of Point Pleasant. In 1787 Indian attacks upon the Kentucky frontier had become so bold and frequent that decisive measures were deemed necessary to check them. An expedition was organized by Simon Kenton, a white Indian fighter and hunter of the Boone type, and moved, under Kenton's guidance and the command of Colonel Todd, from Kenton's station, Kentucky, to the vicinity of Old Chillicothe, attacked its people who fled in terror to the forest, leaving their village and its contents to the mercy of their enemies. The whites destroyed the corn-fields, and much of the other property thus deserted, and then returned to their homes. It is highly probable that Daniel Boone was, in his expeditions through the wilderness, more than once at or near Old Chillicothe; he may even have been with Kenton when the town was attacked, but all this is, and must remain a mere matter of conjecture. THE FIRST SURVEY. In 1793 General Nathaniel Massie, in the interest of the State and the Continental army lines of Virginia, formed an expedition for the purpose of surveying that portion of the Virginia Military district, lying along the Scioto and Paint valleys, and, in company with Duncan McArthur and about thirty others, penetrated, in that year, as far as Old Chillicothe, pushing the work of the survey in the face of incalculable hardship and danger. Finding the attitude of the Indians at Old Chillicothe to be so menacing as to make an advance extremely hazardous, the work was temporarily abandoned at that point, 312 - HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO. and a return to the settlements safely effected. In March, 1795, Massie organized an expedition, proceeded to the Rock and Rattlesnake forks of Paint creek, and there crossed to Old Chillicothe, and continued the suspended work from that point. It was during this second expedition that the party suffered the terrible hardships so graphically described by McDonald, one of their number, and the biographer of Massie and McArthur. We quote his words, as follows: "The snow continued to fall and drift for two days and nights; and when it ceased the ground was covered between two and three feet deep. The camp was on the ground, at this time the farm of Colonel Adam Mallow, four miles above Oldtown (or Frankforl, as it is now called). When it ceased snowing the weather became warm, and a soft rain fell for a time. Suddenly it became intensely cold, accommpanied by a frost, which soon formed a crust on the snow, which had previously been softened by the rain. The snow, although somewhat settled by the rain, was at least two feet deep, with a crust that would bear about half the weight of a man. This was the deepest snow I ever saw, before or since, in the western country. The turkeys and other small game could run on the crust of snow, which disabled the hunters from pursuing and killing them ; and, as the party had no provisions with them, the doleful prospects of death by starvation stared them in the face. " This tour was subsequently called the ' starving tour,' and the remnant of those who are on this side of the grave, yet remember with horror their situation at that time. The prudence previously exercised of sleeping away from the fires was not attended to. The party lay around the fires by day and night, anxiously praying for a change in the weather. Some of the strongest and most spirited of the paty made ineffectual attempts to kill game. Among these hunters General Duncan McArthur, now of Fruit Hill, near Chillicothe, and William Leedom, of Adams county, were conspicuous. On the third day of the storm they killed two turkeys. These were divided into twenty-eight shares or parts and given to each man. This little food seemed only to sharpen their appetites. Not a particle of the turkeys was left. The heads, feet and entrails were devoured, as if most savory food. The fourth morning of the continuance of the snow, Massie, with his party, turned their faces homeward. The strongest and most hardy of the men were placed in front to break through the snow, This was a fatiguing and laborious business, and was performed, alternately, by the most spirited and strongest of the party. They thus proceeded in their heavy and disconsolate march the whole day, and at night reached the Rattlesnake fork. In the course of the day the sun shone through the clouds, for the first time since the storm commenced, and, by its warmth, softened the crust on the snow. As the party descended the sloping ground towards the banks of Paint creek, they came across a flock of turkeys and killed several. These were cooked and equally divided among the men. That night the party lay by their fires without guards; and, as the night was warm, the snow gradually melted. Early next morning the entire party turned out to hunt, and killed a number of turkeys, some deer and a bear. When these were brought to camp a feast ensued, which was enjoyed with a zest and relish that can be properly appreciated only by those who have been placed in a similar situation. "The writer of this narrative accompanied General Massie on this tour, and had previously passed through many trying and distressing scenes, but the hardships and privations of that tour were the most trying to the firmness, resolution and fortitude of men he ever saw or experienced. " The camp was situated on the north bank of the north fork of Paint creek, on land now owned by Simeon Mallow, and about two hundred yards west of the present railroad bridge. The survey having been completed to that point, the camp was abandoned, and the intrepid surveyors returned to their homes. With the incidents of this expedition, the aboriginal history of Concord may be said to end. Settlers followed at once in the footsteps of the surveyors, and the location of land warrants began in earnest. Chillicothe was laid out and settled in the year 1796, and Old Chillicothe was soon afterward deserted by the Indians. Their camps remained in the neighborhood; but, in pursuit of game and immunity from white intrusion, they gradually moved westward until, at the earliest recollections of most of the old settlers now living, but a few stragglers remained. EARLY SETTLEMENT. It is not possible to name the first actual settler in Concord township. No written record of the event exists, and the generation of men who could have told us the fact from personal knowledge, is passed away. The following enumeration will, however, give an idea of the date at which some among the pioneers came into the township, and, so far as it goes, their place of settlement. In some cases where persons remained for a short time at one place, and then removed to another, and permanent location, the first fact is ignored. Hendrick Roseboom came in 1797, and established the first tavern in Oldtown, where his descendants still live. John McNeil, in 1798, settled on what is now the Tilghman Porter farm, near the narrow gauge depot in Frankfort. His son, Strawder McNeil, now lives on a portion of the land originally owned by John McNeil, just outside and north of Frankfort. Samuel and Joseph Briggs came from Virginia in 1798, purchased land and settled on the north fork, near the mouth of Herrod's creek. Much of this land is still in the possession of the family of which Joseph Briggs, son of Joseph, one of these brothers, is the only surviving member. James and Michael Bush came in 1799, and, settling near where the Briggs' family did, built one of the first mills in the county. Solomon Bush, son of John, survives, at the age of eighty-two years. Stephen and Nathan Carey came from Virginia between 1797 and 1800, bought land, and settled about a mile and a half east of Frankfort, where many of the name still live. Samuel Wiley, R. Stewart, J. Sutherland, and Francis Wells, father of Felix Wells, were early settlers about Oldtown, as were also Frederick Berley, a noted Indian spy, and one Frederick Bray. Andrew Cochran came from Pennsylvania in 1802, and settled on the farm now occupied by his son, Alexander Cochran, near the Deerfield line, in the northeastern part of the township. Luke Welkins came from Maryland in 1815, and settled near where Andrew Cochran did. Much land in the neighborhood is now owned by his descendants. Nimrod Wolf, Joseph Walls, Samuel and Martin Powers, and James Shepard, were among the settlers of the first ten years. Jacob Fisher came in 1800. Adam Mallow, sr., and his son Adam, came from Virginia in 1806, and settled where Simeon Mallow, son of Adam, jr., now lives, near Austin station. William D. Mallow, brother of Simeon, lives on Herrod's creek, near the North Fork, is a farmer, and a minister of the Dunkard church. Colonel Hegler came from Virginia in 1806, and set- HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO - 313 tied on Herrod's creek. His descendants are among the heaviest land owners of the township. Peter Putnam came in 1809, and settled three miles north of Frankfort. Thomas Herrod, William Stagg, Fletcher Goldsberry, Isaac Pancake, Samuel Day, and the Jamesons, were among the early settlers. Martin Peterson came from Virginia in 1810, and settled near Austin station, within a short distance of where his son Albert C. Peterson, now lives. His wife still survives at a very advanced age. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Cayner—her father, Martin Cayner, another pioneer. Morris and William Latta came to Concord early in the century, and gave Lattaville its name. James Bridwell, of Loudoun county, Virginia, made a permanent settlement in Concord township before the war of 1812, and had visited Chillicothe as early as 1808. He lived there until his death in 1853. He was born in 1782, and married Sophia Etcher. James Bridwell was the father of ten children, three born in Virginia and seven in Ohio, viz : Samuel and Rosanna (Long) both deceased; Josephine, living in Leesburgh; Martin, Elijah, James W., Mary, and Elizabeth (the last three deceased); J. E. in Leesburgh, and Sophia (Young) in Westerville, Franklin county. James Bridwell, the pioneer, was a Baptist, and occasionally preached in his locality. Old documents show that he was a constable as early as 1828. With this imperfect list of the pioneers we are compelled to be content. As will be seen, most of them are Virginians, while, perhaps, among those not Virginians, the Pennsylvanian element predominates.. At later dates others of both States came in, and the community has been kept quite homogeneous. Among the later arrivals may be named Reuben James, who came from Virginia in 1832, having originally lived in Delaware. His son, Strawder James was, last October, elected a county commissioner by a handsome majority, and is extensively engaged in shipping cattle, besides being a successful farmer. Caspar Nauman came from Pennsylvania in 1855, and occupies a fine farm of three hundred and twenty-one acres near the Deerfield line. EARLY TAVERNS, STORES AND MILLS. The first needs of the settlers on their arrival, were, of course, shelter and supplies, to carry them over until a crop could be raised. We will take a brief glance at the means provided for satisfying these demands, As early as 1796 a man named Popejoy kept a small tavern north of Oldtown, on land now composing part of the farm of Strawder McNeil, This afforded a poor shelter to the very first comers, but its owner did not remain long after the date named. While he did remain the whiskey flowed freely, and his house was frequently the scene of great disorder. After Popejoy, followed Hendrick Roseboom, who, about the year 1800, built a house and started, with Lemuel Devault, a tavern known as "The Indian Queen," having as a sign a portrait of that imaginary female. This tavern was kept by its founders and their successor, Andrew Ten Eyck, for many years, and the old house is now occupied by the Roseboom family, It is probable that before the erection of any mill in Concord, the people were obliged to go to Haddy's, now Mussleman's mill, in Union township. In 1799, John and Michael Bush came from Virginia, and as soon as possible erected a mill and distillery, near where the Union church now stands. The water-power proving insufficient, they soon made a new race and removed the mill to a point opposite the present Austin railroad station. This was both a grist- and saw-mill, and in connection with it, the Bush's had a general store for many years. This was probably the first mill in the present township. It is still standing and in operation. Shortly after the building of the Bush mill, Jacob Dehart built a mill on an island in the North Fork. This is now known as Haynes' mill, and is owned and operated by William M. Haynes. John McNeil and Isaac Pancake established a general store in 1808, on the Tilghman Porter place, already referred to, which was the earliest store in Concord. The next important event to be recorded is THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CONCORD TOWNSHIP, which took place May 10, 1803. On that day Reuben Abrams, William Patten, and Felix Renick, the associate judges of Ross county, met at Chillicothe for the purpose of defining the boundaries of the townships in the county. Concord was established as follows, viz: "Beginning at the mouth of Lower Twin creek, thence running up the same to its source; thence north, forty-five degrees west, to intersect the road leading from Chillicothe to Greenfield; thence westwardly, with said road, to the dividing ridge between the main Paint creek and the Rattlesnake fork of Paint creek; thence, north, to Deer creek; thence, down Deer creek, to the northern boundary of Union township; thence, with the lines of said township, to the place of beginning." From this large territory have been taken, at the dates named, the following portions: July 7, 1804, a part of Deerfield township; February 20, 1805, a part of Twin township; August 10, 1807, a part of Buckskin township; and March 9, 1808, the whole of Paint township, leaving Concord in its present shape. Unfortunately we have very slender knowledge of the early elections and political matter in general, in the township. It is probable that some polling place for general elections was provided, within the present township limits, soon after the organization of the township. Indeed, Mr. Solomon Bush, son of John Bush, the pioneer miller and merchant, says that an election was held at his father's house as early as the year 1800, and that elections continued to be held there until the polls were, in 1817, permanently established at Oldtown. It has been the aim of this little sketch of Concord to keep the township history, in so far as possible, distinct from matters pertaining peculiarly to Frankfort, to the establishment and history of which the attention of 40 314 - HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO the reader will be called under a distinct head. In some matters, however, the history of the township and town are so intimately connected as to make it necessary that they be viewed together. Among these are the church history, and the discussion of the school system. These subjects will be treated, hereafter, in connection with the history of Frankfort. It is scarcely necessary to follow farther the story of the progress of Concord. Its history, from the point to which we have brought it, is, like that of any other prosperous agricultural community, one of hard and unremitting labor with little of striking incident or variety. A little more than eighty years have been sufficient to cut, from the rough wilderness, as fair a gem of rural beauty as any in Ohio's rich treasury. Frankfort and Roxabell in the east, and Lattaville in the south have grown up to be the trading points of its people; two railroads, the Marietta and Cincinnati, and the Dayton and Southeastern, carry its produce to the best markets of the world, while churches and schools are well supported and fully attended. With such conditions in its favor, Concord may be relied upon to work out, in the future, as in the past, its own prosperity, and time will justify the trust, INCIDENTS. In the spring of 1803 occurred two events, closely connected in time and, probably, in cause, which are the only gloomy features of this history. Captain Thomas Herrod has been referred to as one of the earliest settlers of Concord. His cabin was on the creek which now bears his name, and almost on the present site of William D. Mallow's house. One day, while working in a field, near where the Pike bridge over Herrod's creek now is, and also quite near the site of district number eight school-house, Herrod was shot by some person lurking in the woods, and died soon after assistance reached him; having been only able, before he expired, to articulate the one word—"Indians." This event threw the community into the wildest excitement and consternation. An alarm was at once raised, the murder being naturally charged upon the Indians, and the settlers deserted their farms and fled to the vicinity of Oldtown for protection from the expected attack. Many took refuge at the house of James Shepherd, near Roxabel, where Dr. Galbraith now lives, and every strong building in the neighborhood was made a temporary block-house. While the settlers were thus collected, occurred the second tragedy referred to. One morning Nimrod Wolf and his son, Jonathan, engaged the services of one Williams and another man to go with them to their farm, and look after their stock. While the four were riding through what is now called Wolf's prairie, they saw walking toward them Waw-wil-a-way, a Shawnee chief, of great bravery, who had been, from the first, a firm friend of the whites. Approaching him, a friendly conversation ensued. The chief asked after the health of their various families and, finally, when Wolf made a proposition to exchange guns, without any hesitation delivered his rifle into the white man's hands. Wolf emptied the priming from the pan and, saying that he had concluded not to trade, returned the gun. Upon hearing of the death of Captain Herrod the Indian expressed surprise and sorrow and, when Wolf said that it was supposed that some of his people did the deed, and that they were on the war path, he indignantly denied it and reasserted their friendship for the whites. After this they separated and, when the chief had gone a few paces, the men dismounted, sheltered themselves behind their horses, and Wolf, with deliberate aim, shot the retreating Indian in the back. Williams' horse was restive and, by a plunge, exposed the body of his master, when Waw-wil-a-way, although mortally wounded, turned and, firing his rifle, shot Williams fatally, then, approaching, knocked the fourth man senseless with his clubbed gun, and then grappled with Wolf, and stabbed him seriously with his knife. Wolf returned the thrust, and, walking a few steps away, the chief fell dead, the victim of as cowardly and treacherous a murder as any in the bloody annals of those bloody times. Time has radically changed the popular opinion on the subject. Herrod was engaged in a bitter political canvass, in which the contestants regarded their political opponents as personal enemies. The Indians had been uniformly friendly. Herrod had no quarrel with any of them; with every opportunity for a general massacre of the whites, both before Herrod's death and after the murder of their chief, they never made a hostile demonstration. These facts, together with the perfect confidence of Waw-wil-a-way in surrendering his gun, and the fact that the indignation of the Indians at his murder was limited to Wolf, all repel the idea that the Shawnees were responsible for Herrod's death. The sober second thought of the people had led them to charge Herrod's murder upon some personal enemy, and to condemn Wolf's act as a base and cowardly assassination. Wolf, after an enforced stay in Kentucky, returned and purchased his life from the sons of his victim, by paying an indemnity. So ended the only break in the kindly relations between the red men and the white, in the history of Concord. Captain Herrod's body was buried on the south bank of the North fork, about two hundred yards west of Bush's mill. HISTORY OF FRANKFORT. This town was, under the name of Oldtown, laid out in 1816 by John McNeil, who owned much of the property where it now stands. It was not, however, incorporated until 1827, when, by legislative enactment, its name was changed to Frankfort. The post-office was established early in the century, and changed its name at the same time. The name of the first postmaster has not been ascertained. The present one is Garrett Roseboom, who has held the position for many years. The first town election was held in April, 1827, and the following is a list of the mayors and recorders, or, as they are now called, clerks, from that to the present date. Mayors: William Staggs, 1827; E. Tulleys, 1836; John D. Wiley, 1837; William Staggs, 1838; John Ferrel, 1840; John M. Wisehart, 1842; Robert Brown, 1852; John M. Wisehart, 1854; William Long, 1864; James HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO - 315 Sutherland, 1866; John M. Wisehart, 1869; James Sutherland, 1871; D. F. Goldsberry, 1875; John M. Wisehart, 1878, and to this time. Recorders or clerks: John M. Wisehart, 1827; J. M. Jackson, 1836; E. Tulleys, 1840; William Briggs, 1842; Robert Fulton, 1852; George W. Duff, 1864; William Long, 1869; Amos K. Jackson, 1871; T. O. Miller, 1878. The present village officers are John M. Wisehart, mayor; T. O. Miller, clerk; S. A. McNeill, marshal. Council, C. W. Maginnis, D. A. Abernathy, Reese McNeill, B. A. Staggs, Wash. Acton, Edward Nash (colored). Street commissioner, John Brown; treasurer, A. T. McLean. The township officers are Robert Templin, A. C. Teeter, and C. W. Maginnis, trustees ; C. O. Ross, clerk; A. T. McLean, treasurer ; Miles Whaley, assessor; R. A. Vorhes and S. A. McNeill, constables; J. M. Wise- hart and D, F. Goldsberry, justices of the peace. Since the erection of the township the following gentlemen have been elected, from its people, members of the house of representatives of the state, John W. Cutwright, 1835; Abraham Hegler, 1838, and Jesse Shepard, 1856. CHURCH HISTORY. BAPTIST. Very early in the history of the North Fork settlement religious services were had, at different houses, by visiting clergymen and lay preachers of various sects; but no regular congregation, having a fixed place of worship, was organized until 1800, when Peter Sperry and Nathan Corey organized a Baptist church, and, with their own hands, assisted in building a log house for its accommodation. It stood about a mile east of Oldtown, and was surrounded by a cemetery, which still remains, and is known as the Baptist cemetery. Last summer, Esquire Felix Wells, the "oldest inhabitant," while digging post-holes for a new fence about the cemetery, uncovered some of the old timber of the building. The congregation erected, in 1827, a brick church edifice at Frankfort, and removed to that place, where they remained until about 1860. At that time they transferred their church to Roxabell, where it now remains, under the charge of the Rev. Henry Witter. The lower story of the Frankfort building is still standing, and is used as a school for colored children. There is a comparatively recently organized colored Baptist church at Roxabell. METHODIST. About 1803 were held the first Methodist services in the township, which, at that time, formed a part of the great Deer Creek circuit, embracing Frankfort, Clarksburg, Bourneville, and Salem, and reached nearly to Chillicothe. These meetings were held, first at the house of James Shepard, father of Jesse Shepard; and, later, at that of John McNeil. In 1840, was organized the present Concord circuit, embracing three appointments, besides Frankfort, and, in 1853, the present church was built. Frankfort church alone now numbers about two hundred and fifty members and, with the circuit, is in the charge of the Rev erend T. G. Wakefield. In connection with the Methodist church, Thomas Somerset, a lay preacher and a carpenter, established, in 1820, the first Sabbath-school in Oldtown. It is related that, thinking some of the teachers might desire to go a shooting on Sunday, he appointed two for each class. Much of thetime, in early days, the church had to rely upon the occasional services of a travelling clergyman, or upon the preaching of lay exhorters, but many distinguished men have occupied its pulpits. David Reed was the first regular pastor, and Michael Marley the first presiding elder. Bishop McKendry, Russel Bigelow, Samuel Parker, James Quinn, Robert Finley, James B. Finley, James F. Wright, and Henry B. Bascom were among the prominent men who preached to the congregation in that early day. No denomination in Concord has done better work, or retains to-day a stronger influence than the Methodists. There is in addition to the regular appointments upon the circuit, a colored Methodist church at Frankfort. PRESBYTERIAN. There are, in Concord township, two churches connected with the "general assembly of the Presbyterian church," the Concord and Frankfort congregations. Concord church was organized June 23, 1805, John McConnel, William Anderson and John McLean being chosen elders. In October of the same year, the Rev. Robert B. Dobbins was installed as its pastor, in which position he continued until April 7, 1808. In 1810 Rev. James Dicky assumed the pastorate, dividing his labors between Concord, Buckskin (now Salem) and Pisgah churches, until 1831, when he ceased to preach at Concord. Mr. Dicky was a native of Virginia, but was reared and educated in Kentucky. In the fall of 1831 the Rev. William Gage began preaching, and was installed as pastor in June, 1832. He continued in the position until July, 1863, when he died. He was a graduate of Amherst college, and of Andover theological seminary, and was much respected and loved by his people. In 1864 the Rev. Robert C. Galbraith, jr., succeeded Mr. Gage, and remained until May 2, 1871. From that time the church has had no settled pastor, but its pulpit has been supplied by the Revs. Heber Gill and Hugh Guthrie. It now numbers sixty members; and the following are its present officers: George Ware, Joseph McLean, William Anderson, John McConnel, R. C. White, elders; Samuel Jamison, deacon; John H. Porter, B. F. Jamison, J. R. Porter, trustees. A Presbyterian church was organized in Frankfort in 1836, by the late Robert Stewart and Robert C. Galbraith, sr., and a building erected chiefly at their own cost, nearly completed. At this point the work was delayed for several years. Then a temporary pulpit was put in the unfinished building, it was practically furnished, and for a long time services were irregularly held there by various clergymen of the denomination. This movement after a time died out, and the church was sold. In 1850 the Rev. John Rankin organized, at Frankfort, a church in connection with the "free Presbyterian synod of the United States," with but nine members. William 316 - HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO. Ross was elected ruling elder, and Rev. A. L. Rankin, son of the founder, was the first pastor, In 1863 or 1864 the church changed its relation and went with the presbytery, connecting itself with the new school presbytery of Ripley, where it remained until the fusion of the two schools brought it into the presbytery of Chillicothe. The present talented pastor, the Rev. R. C. Galbraith, educated at Miami university and at Princeton and New Albany theological seminaries, has held the pastorate since 1871, and has ever a warm place in the hearts of his people. The church has sixty members; and its present officers are: William Ross, D. C. Anderson, J. D. Matthews, A, McCoy, elders; John Jamison, William B. Lucas, A. G. Mallow, Henry Wiley and A. T. McLean, deacons. UNION CHURCH. In 1827 there was organized, by persons living in the eastern part of Concord, a Union church, intended to be entirely undenominational in its character. Samuel Briggs, Adam Mallow, John and Solomon Bush, Abraham Hegler, and Martin Peterson were its first trustees, and a building was at once erected on the Frankfort & Herrod's Creek turnpike, four miles west of Frankfort, upon land donated by John Bush. This building was first occupied in 1828. The meetings, previously held from house to house, were continued in the new church, by lay preachers and visiting clergymen of every church and sect, including the Roman Catholic. In 1862 the property passed under the joint control of the United Brethren and Dunkard denominations, and is still in their possession, though not in use. In the western portion of the township the Dunkards are quite numerous. They have a church just beyond the Fayette county line, where preaches, at this time, William D. Mallow, son of Adam Mallow, jr., the pioneer, and also a circuit preacher of the denomination. ROMAN CATHOLIC. At quite an early day priests of the Dominican order held- occasional services at Oldtown. Many of these services were conducted at the house of John McNally, one of the first and most devoted Roman Catholics in Ross county, It was not until the establishment of the Chillicothe church, in 1837, that regular services were held at Frankfort. At that date Father Junker, afterwards bishop of Alton, Illinois, was the incumbent, After him came Father Rapp, later bishop of Cleveland, and Father Borgess, In 1843 the church was placed under the control of the Jesuits, and Fathers Koelcher, Dehope, Tscheider, and Carrol, afterward one of the bishops of Kentucky, followed in succession, Then, in the order named, the following priests: 1849-51, T. J. Bulger; 1851-54, Ford; 1854-60, Thisse; 1860-63, Kennedy; 1863-65, Thierny, and in 1865, Father John B. Murray, now in charge. In 1871 a church building was erected by John McNally, which is now occupied by the congregation, but is not yet dedicated. SCHOOLS, Turning from religious to educational history, we find that, in the early days of the pioneer settlers, numbers of subscription schools were established in all parts of Concord. John McNally, Massie Mickie, Wall, Sperry, Ashton, Langdon and Charles Foster were among these earlier pedagogues who required and possessed physical, as well as intellectual, strength to hold their own with the turbulent pupils whom they taught. There now exists an excellent system of free schools. Frankfort forms an independent district, and has a fine graded school, occupying a building erected in 1847, for use as an academy. This school has three departments, viz: The advanced, under charge of Cassius M. Roberts, the principal; the intermediate taught by J. L. Howser, and the primary, under the direction of Miss Alice Brown. There are in the township, aside from Frankfort, sixteen excellent district schools. CEMETERIES. Until three years. ago no general public cemetery existed in Concord. At that date a beautiful site was selected about half a mile west of the village, and a new public cemetery established. In early days nearly every family had its private burial place, and in later years some of the religious denominations have established distinct cemeteries. The Only noticeable feature of any of them is the plain soldiers' monument of Italian marble, standing in the old burial ground southeast of the village, and bearing the following inscription: " In memory of the gallant dead who fell at the battle of Stone River.' Then followed the names: Lieutenant W. W. Blacker, Marshall Blacker, E. Fennimore, John Mowbray, Henry Pursell. On the east face is a tribute of respect to Isaac Hanawalt and Corporal Wm. A. Speaks, who fell at Chickamauga; to Wrn. A. Wisehart, Sixty- third Ohio, killed at Kenesaw; Corporal Jacob Stouch, who fell at Piney Creek, Alabama, and Wm. Shepherd, also of the Sixty-third, killed at New Madrid, Missouri. On the south face are the names of Sergeant John Peairs, SergeaUt John T. Davis, Corporal Josiah Timmons, Corporal Royal S. Augustus, all killed at Stone River, and Sergeant Augustus Gibson, who died from disease contracted at Andersonville during an imprisonment of fifteen months. On the west face is a scroll, surmounted by a laurel wreath, and the inscription; "They gave themselves for their country.'" THE FRANKFORT HOTEL. We have already given an account of the founding by Hendrick Roseboom of the "Indian Queen" tavern. When Andrus Ten Eyck closed the old red house and took down its bullet-riddled sign, the need of a larger and better house was felt. In response to this demand, David Rhinehart, in 1826, erected the present brick structure, which is still the principal hotel of the village. Rhinehart kept the tavern for some time, then it passed into other hands, and, many years since, was bought by Isaac ("Daddy") Miller, the present hospitable proprietor. BUSINESS INTERESTS. From the beginning by McNeil and Pancake, already related, the business of Frankfort has grown to considerable proportions. After the establishment of that store followed such sterling men as Tilghman Rittenhouse, Robert C, Galbraith, Robert Fulton, Jesse Shepard, and D. C. Anderson, who have, with their successors, maintained the early standards of honesty and liberality to this day. Robert Fulton and Jesse Shepard are still in HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO - 317 active business. D. C. Anderson, after years of successful mercantile life, has retired from that occupation to accept the presidency of the Merchants' and Farmers' bank, of which A. T. McLean, another descendant of a pioneer Ross county family, is cashier. PRESENT BUSINESS HOUSES. When D. C. Anderson retired he sold his business to Staggs & Foster, two young and active business men, who have since conducted it with great success. They have, during the past year, remodeled their store, and now have a place of business which would shame many city houses. In these new quarters they are doing a large business in their line—dry goods, boots and shoes. In 1860 Henry Wiley embarked in the business of general storekeeper in Frankfort, in a room having an area of about twenty square yards. In 1871 he sold his still moderate business to S. F. Secrest and John T. Cline, who conducted the business, under the firm name of S. F. Secrest & Company, until 1877, when S, D. Blue was added to the firm, a large new building erected, and the business continued under the style of Secrest & Company. The firm now has more than one thousand and eighty square yards of floor room, in addition to a branch store at Austin, under charge of Edward Truett, the Austin postmaster, three large warehouses, and a grain elevator. They justly claim to be among the largest general merchants in the State. R. B. Claypool is extensively engaged, in his neat building, known as the Union block, in the dry goods, clothing, boot and shoe trade. THE MERCHANTS AND FARMERS' BANK. This newly organized institution, we cannot better describe, than in the words of a writer in the Ross County Register, to whom we acknowledge our indebtedness in many particulars. "The stockholders are D. C. Anderson, Dr. Robert Galbraith, A. G. Mallow, Dr. Latta, Samuel Jamison, Mrs. Jesse Bush, John N. Blue, and A. T. McLean. D. C. Anderson is president, Dr. Galbraith vice- president, and A. T. McLean cashier. 'The bank does business on a nominal capital of fifty thousand dollars, but back of that there is the individual responsibility of the stockholders, which amounts to fully three hundred thousand dollars. The bank enjoys a good line of deposits, and discounts all the paper it can take. That is mostly what is termed in banking parlance accommodation paper, or individual note and security. But little commercial paper finds its way to the village." The bank has won the confidence of the business community, and is in an excellent condition. The following is a complete directory of the business houses, physicians and secret organizations of Frankfort, The village is too primitive to need a lawyer : S. F. Secrest & Co., hardware, queensware, groceries, agricultural implements and grain elevator, Westfall and Springfield streets, and at the D. & S. E. depot. R. B. Claypool, dry goods, clothing, boots and shoes, Westfall street. Merchants and Farmers' bank, corner of Westfall and Springfield streets. Thomas Mitchell, tonsorial artist, Westfall street. J. R. Mattieson, dentist, Westfall street, Mistress Hon, tin and stove store, Westfall street. Hamer Goldsberry, drug store, Westfall street. C. W. & S. Maginnis, boot and shoe manufacturers, Westfall street. Drs. Galbraith & Leslie, drug store and physicians, Westfall street. B. Hanawalt, blacksmith, Westfall street. A. W. McCoy, blacksmith and plow manufacturer, Westfall street. Mrs. M. E. Haggard, millinery, Westfall street. Mrs. G. W. Cox, dressmaker, Westfall street. Jesse Shepherd, grocer, High street. Misses Scott & Rager, milliners, High street. Philip Miller, boot and shoe maker, Westfall street. Mrs. Howser, milliner, Westfall street. Tom. Ware, saddlery and harness, Westfall street. Staggs & Foster, general dry goods and clothing, boots and shoes, wall paper, etc., Westfall street. Isaac Miller, the Frankfort house, Westfall and Springfield streets. T. O. Miller, cigars and tobacco, news stand, agency for the Register, Westfall and Springfield streets. W. Acton, carriage manufactory, Second street. C. Hanawalt & Co., blacksmiths, Springfield street. R. Fulton, general store, Westfall and Springfield street, S. M. Roseboom, livery stable, Springfield street. Edward Seward, family grocery, Westfall street. A. E. Sperry, lumber merchant, Westfall street. William Ross & Son, tannery, Westfall street. D. F. Goldsberry, grocery, Westfall street. N. Ludman, saloon, Westfall and Springfield street. Jacob Steptoe, barber, Westfall street. George M. Cox, barber, Springfield street. J. J. Roseboom, harness maker, Springfield street. Helfritch hotel, M. Helfritch, propr., Springfield street. James Anderson, butcher, Westfall street. James M. Wisehart, boots and shoes, Springfield street. H. C. Painter, job printer, Second street. The physicians of Frankfort are Dr. J. O. Hoffhines, office in Hamer Goldsberry's drug store ; Dr. G. N. Matthews, office in Union block, over the bank ; Dr. S. C. Chase, office on Westfall street, near the depot ; and Drs. Galbraith and Leslie, office in their drug store. SECRET ORGANIZATIONS. The Frankfort Lodge of Free Masons was organized in 1855. John M. Wisehart, who had been inducted into the order by the Scioto Lodge of Chillicothe in 1847, was one of the prime movers in the matter. The first officers of the lodge were : John M. Wisehart, W. M.; Henry Wiley, S. \V.; W. D. Vincent, J. W.; Dr. Robert Galbraith, secretary ; Dr. Littler, treasurer; J. W. Hall, S. D.; Isaac Stookley, J. D.; John Plyley, tyler. The lodge of Odd Fellows was organized June 3, 1875. The first officers were T. B. Lawhead, N. G.; W. A. Gage, V. G.; H. V. Rittenhouse, secretary; M. J. Timmons, per. sec.; D. F. Goldsberry, treasurer. The Masons have a room allotted to their use in Township hall on Springfield street; the Odd Fellows occupy an elegantly fitted lodge in R. B. Claypool's building, Union block. Both organizations are in a flourishing condition.