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MASSIE TOWNSHIP.
BY HON. THOMAS M WALES.
This is one of. the smaller townships of the county, and was originally comprised in the township of Wayne, which at the time of the county's organization, contained all the land in the northeastern part of the county. It is bounded on the north and west by Wayne Township, on the east by Clinton County, and on the south by Washington Township. In shape it is an irregular triangle, and in size ranges with Union and Massie; the three being the smallest townships in the county. It is the second, from the north, of the four townships forming the east boundary of the county, and received its name in honor of General Nathaniel Massie, who was one of the most extensive surveyors and largest land holders of Ohio, an account of whose surveys is given in the general history of this county. It is a part of what is known as the "Virginia Military land," and contains some of the best farm lands in Warren County.
The soil is generally of a rich alluvial character with a yellow clay formation in some parts. Along the water courses lie rich valleys, of varying extent, of dark vegetable soil well adapted to the production of almost any crop.
LOCATION AND SURVEY OF LAND WARRANTS.
The whole of the township lies within the Virginia Military District, reserved by Virginia to satisfy the land warrants issued to her State troops for services in the Revolutionary war. A large number of these were, about the year 1790, placed in the hands of General Nathaniel Massie, to enter and survey according to law. Nearly all the lands of the township were located under the laws of Virginia as early as August, 1787. The first surveys in the township appear to have been made in October, 1792. All the surveys were made by General Massie. Below is given the record of the location and survey of each entry in the township.
No. 563-August 4, 1787, John T. Griffin, assignee, enters 2,000 acres of land, part of a Military Warrant, No. 72, on Caesars Creek, emptying into the Little Miami River, supposed to be two and a half miles below the sugar camp taken by Clement Reed's entry, No. 399; beginning three miles on a straight line from the mouth of said creek, on the northwesterly side, running up the creek 700 poles, when reduced to a straight line, thence at right angles from the general course of the creek, northwardly for quantity.
No. 565-August 6, 1787, John H. Foster enters 1,000 acres of land, on part of Military Warrant, No 2,610, on the upper side of Caesars Creek; beginning at the upper corner of John T. Griffin's entry, No. 563, running up the creek 400 poles when reduced to a straight line, thence at right angles from the general course of the creek and with Griffin's line for quantity. 760 acres only of this
were surveyed.
No. 567-August 6, 1787, Clement Biddle, assignee, enters 9661 acres of land, on several Military Warrants, viz.: Nos. 823, 1,571, 1,893, 1,662, 1,555, on the lower side of Caesars Creek, opposite the upper corner of John T. Griffin's entry, No. 563, thence up the river 400 poles ,when reduced to a straight line, thence at right angles from the general course of the creek, eastwardly for quantity.
No. 569-August 6, 1787, Archibald Blair, heir, enters 1,000 acres of land, Part of a Military Warrant, No. 43, on the lower side of Caesars Creek, beginning at the upper corner of Clement Biddle's entry, No. 567, running up the creek 400
648 - HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
poles, when reduced to a straight line, thence at right angles from the general course of th creek, southwesterly with Biddies' line for quantity.
No. 575-Col. Abraham Buford enters 1,000 acres of land, part of Military Warrant, No. 763, on the lower side of Caesars Creek, beginning at the lower corner of Clement Biddle's entry, No. 567, running down 'the creek 400 poles when reduced to a straight line, thence at right angles from the general course of the creek and with Biddle's line for quantity.
No. 771-August 9, 1787, James Currie, assignee, enters 1,000 acres of land on several Military Warrants, viz.: Nos. 1,764 for 200, 1,755 for 400, 1,802 for 400 and 1,869 for 200, on the lower side of Caesars Creek, beginning at the lower corner of John Eustace's entry, No. 578, running down the creek 400 poles when reduced to a straight line, thence at right angles from the general course of the creek and with Eustace's line southwesterly for quantity. Only 800 acres of this was surveyed.
No. 1,045-August 13, 1787, Captain Nathaniel Pendleton enters 1,000 acres of land, part of Military Warrant No. 1,391, on the waters of Caesars Creek, beginning at the lower back corner of John Eustace's entry, No. 578, running up with said Eustace's back line the whole length, thence at right angles southwardly for quantity.
No. 1,048-August 13, 1787, Capt. Henry Moss enters 1,000 acres of land, part of Military Warrant No. 614, on Caesars Creek, beginning at the lower back corner of Nathaniel Pendleton's entry, No. 1,045, thence up his back line the whole length, thence at right angles southwardly for quantity.
No. 1,146-August 14, 1787, Robert Gibbons, heir, enters 1,000 acres of land, part of Military Warrant No. 207, on Caesars Creek, beginning at the upper back corner of Wm. Heth's entry, No. 1,085, running down his back line 400 poles, thence at right angles southwardly for quantity.
No. 1,637-April 19, 1793, Nathaniel Lamme enters 1,000 acres of land, part of Military Warrant, No. 4,083, On Caesars Creek, beginning at the southwest corner of James Crain's entry, No. 1,994, thence north 6 degrees west, 400 poles, thence south 84 degrees west and at right angles for quantity.
No. 2,313-Peter Mulenburgh enters 4,000 acres of land, part of Military Warrant, No. 176, on Caesars Creek, beginning at a black and white oak and beech, corner of James Currie's survey, No. 771, in the line of John Eustace's survey, thence with the back line of Currie's, westwardly to the upper back corner of Clement Biddle's survey, thence with Biddle's line south, 5 degrees east, 500 poles, to his corner in the line of Ferdinand Oneal's survey, thence east for quantity. Of this only 1,120 acres were surveyed.
No. 578-August 6, 1787, John Eustace enters 1,6661 acres of land, part of Military Warrant No. 2,637, on Caesars Creek, beginning at the lower corner of Abraham Buford's entry, No. 575, thence down the creek 620 poles, when reduced to a straight line, thence at right angles from the general course of the creek, and with Buford's line southwardly for quantity. Of this, 910 acres were surveyed.
ORGANIZATION.
This township was formed from parts of Wayne and Washington, on the 10th of October, 1850, by Benjamin Blackburn, Isaac Leming and John M. Snook, the then board of County Commissioners, who described its boundary lines as follows, viz.: "Commencing at the point where the road from Wilmington to Lebanon crosses the Warren and Clinton County line, thence with said road to the line between Paul Vandervert and John Wilkinson; thence north, 802 degrees west, to the southwest corner of Thomas J. Fryer's 50-acre lot, in the line of Peter Muhlenburgh's west survey; thence on said line to the corner of James Currie's survey; thence north, 30 degrees east to a sugar tree on the bank of Caesars Creek, op-
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posite to the mouth Flat Fork; thence north, 10 degrees east to the Little Miami River, thence up said river to the Greene County line. Said new township to contain all the territory in Warren County which lies north and east of above-mentioned lines." In this form it continued until June 11, 1851, when the boundaries were changed and made to read as follows: "Commencing at the township line between Massie and Wayne, where it crosses Clement Reed's survey thence running in a northeastern direction on the back line of the river survey, to the corner of Richard Anderson's survey, and thence on the southwest line of said survey to Caesars Creek, thence up said creek to the Clinton County line, and the part taken from Massie township to be attached to Wayne, where it formerly belonged." "On the 1st of December following, another change was made in the boundaries, in accordance with a petition presented in the following words, viz.: "To change the line between the townships of Wayne and Massie, said alteration to begin at the present line on the west side of Caesars Creek, near the mouth of Flat Fork, and run up the said creek to the bend of said creek above Hisey's milldam; thence to intersect the present line in the road leading from Waynesville to Harveysburg, for the following reasons: First, it takes us away from where our business is to vote, and in times of high water we cannot cross Caesars Creek. Secondly, it divides our school district, and, thirdly, it requires us to work on the highway where some of us seldom travel, and leaving the road where most of our interest is, almost destitute of labor." After this last-named alteration was made, the boundaries were allowed to remain unchanged. As it now exists, Caesars Creek and the Military survey lines form the division between it and Wayne.
This region is well drained by Caesars Creek, a tributary of the Little Miami River, Flat Fork, Jonah's Run and Turkey Run, tributaries of Caesars Creek, and many smaller streams which empty into these. Caesars Creek runs almost the entire length of the township from northeast to southwest; Flat Fork is in the southwestern part; Jonah's Run near the centre, and Turkey Run in the northern corner.
The first officers of the township were John Blodget, John D. Cleaver and Joshua Canby, Trustees; Jesse Burgess, Clerk; Harvey Glancy, Treasurer. From this time to 1868 the officers can only be given from memory without giving dates of service, as the records of that period were burned in 1871. The Trustees were: Lee Ellis, Albert Crider, Joseph Lukens, Richard W. Jessup, J. D. Cleaver, Wm. Cleaver, J. H. Crew, Wm. Criswell, A. T. Sabin, Robert Wilson,• T. M. Wales and J. D. Harvey. Clerks, Israel Taylor, C. Jessup, J. H. Lippincott, Hiram Madden and D. Q. Fox; Treasurer, B. Scroggy.
In 1868, Simon Hadley, Wm. J. Collett and T. M. Wales were Trustees; Hiram Madden, Clerk; and B. Scroggy, Treasurer.
1869, Milton Hadley, Wm. H. Collett, T. M. Wales, Trustees; Hiram Madden, Clerk; Geo. W. Scroggy, Treasurer.
1870, Wm. J. Collett, Milton Hadley, Lee Ellis, Trustees; H. Madden, Clerk; A. T. Lloyd, Treasurer.
1871, Wm. J. Collett, Lee Ellis, Wm. Janney, Trustees; Clerk and Treasurer as above.
1872, Wm. J. Collett, Clark Burgess, T. M. Wales, Trustees; Clerk and Treasurer as at ove.
1873, Wm. J. Collett, James Ellis, G. W. Grimes, Trustees; Clerk and Treasurer as above.
1871, Wilson Harvey, G. W. Grimes, John Harris, Trustees; I. M. Stout, Clerk; G. W. Scroggy, Treasurer.
1875, G. W. Grimes, John Harris, Wm. J. Collett, Trustees; Clerk and Treasurer as above:
1876, Wilson Harvey, Wm. J. Collett, Wm. H. Cleaver, Trustees; H. Madden, Clerk; Treasurer as above.
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1877, Wilson Harvey, Wm. J. Collett, James W. Ellis, Trustees; Clerk and Treasurer as above.
1878, Wilson Harvey, Wm. J. Collett, Edward Roberts, Trustees; Clerk y Wilson; Treasurer
1879, Wilson Harvey, Wm. J. Collett, Edward Roberts, Trustees; Frank Dakin, Clerk; G. B. Davis, Treasurer.
1880, Wilson Harvey, Wm. J. Collett, Edward Roberts, Trustees; Frank Dakin, Clerk; G. B. Davis, Treasurer.
1881, J. D. Cleaver, Edward Roberts, James W. Ellis, Trustees; Frank Dakin, Clerk ; G. B. Davis, Treasurer.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The following is a list of persons who settled with their families in the territory now constituting Massie Township, prior to the year 1820, together with the name of the State from whence they came, so far as is known:
Levi Lukens, Virginia; Simon Moon, N. Carolina; John Dutton, Virginia; Zachariah Johnson, Virginia; John Tate, William Tate, Hugh Tate, John Legit; Samuel Welch, N. Carolina; Daniel Stump, Virginia; Isaac Miller, Virginia; George Carpenter; Nathan Haines, Virginia; William Dean, Virginia; Elias Oglesbee, Virginia; Samuel Rich, N. Carolina; George Wales, N. Carolina; Isaac Wales, N. Carolina; William Gray, Maryland; Achilles Dicks, N. Carolina; Nathan Dicks, N. Carolina; Samuel Crampton; Edward Roberts, Pennsylvania; Isaac Elmore; Reason Ragan, S. Carolina; Thomas Ragan, S. Carolina; James B. Edwards, S. Carolina; William Smith, S. Carolina; James Spray, S. Carolina; Jesse Spray, S. Carolina; John Kinley; Darvin Harris, Georgia; Abraham Hampton; Henry Hiteman, Virginia; Robert Humphrey; Silas Hiatt, N. Carolina; Jesse Evans; Thornton Alexandria; Ezekiel Piper, Connecticut; Paul Vandervort, Virginia; Rhoden Ham, S. Carolina; Joel Pusey; Henry Thornburg; Isaac Mills, S. Carolina; Ephraim Mills, S. Carolina; Alexander Mills, S. Carolina; Thomas Jessup, N. Carolina; David Macy, N. Carolina; William Townsend; Robert Carr, Virginia.
Levi Lukens and his wife Elizabeth (Cleaver) Lukens carne from Virginia to Ohio, and in 1807 located on 1,000 acres of land which he had purchased in Massie Township. They built a cabin into which they moved on New Year's day, 1808. They had seven children, three of whom now survive. He died on his farm January 3, 1860, aged 93 years; she died February 2, 1831, aged 68.
Joseph Lukens, a son of the above, came to Massie Township from Virginia, with his parents in 1807. He remained with his father until 24 years of age, when he married Hannah Brown, by whom he had five children. He was born Dec. 8, 1797, and is still living on the land his father purchased.
Samuel Rich and his wife Judith (Moon) Rich, came from North Carolina to Ohio in 1816, and settled where Thomas Rich now lives. She died July 4, 1818, leaving ten children.
Rhoden Ham, with his family, emigrated to Ohio, and located in Wayne Township, where he remained one year, and then moved to Clinton County. In 1815 he purchased the land where Harveysburg now stands, and resided there until 1828, when he sold out and removed to Indiana, where he died.
Paul Vandervort emigrated to Clermont County, Ohio, with his family, in 1809. In 1817 he moved to Massie Township and located on the farm now known as the "Vandervort Farm." He died in 1835.
Daniel Stump emigrated from Virginia in 1817, and settled where Jonas Stump now lives. He was married in Virginia and brought his wife with him. Isaac Miller emigrated from Virginia in 1818. He was a man of large stature
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and great physical strength. He was a soldier of the war of 1812. He brought his son Conrad with him.
Jesse and Hannah Conrad emigrated from Virginia to Massie Township in 1817, and remained until 1858, when they moved to Indiana, where both died. They had six children, five of whom survive.
CHURCHES.
The Society of Friends Grove Meeting House, situated on an eight-acre lot about one and one-half miles south of Harveysburg, was the first church built. The deed of the ground, dated January 26, 1820, shows that David Macy, William Gray and Levi Lukens, as trustees of Grove Meeting, bought the lot of Richard Moon. The first house built was of hewn logs, used for many years as both church and school house. Among the first teachers of the school taught here were Archilles Dicks, John Brevett, John Gilpin, Hannah Brown (nee Lukens), Charles Mills, Noah Wheeler, David Wickersham, Enoch Harlan, Robert T. D. Lewis, Benjamin Dyer, Elizabeth Welch, Mary Wales and others. In 1820 there was a division in the society and both branches moved to Harveysburg.
The United Brethren Church was organized in 1823 by Daniel Bonebreak and Alfred Carder, and in 1839 the present brick church was built in place of the log one that formerly occupied the ground. Abigail Ham and her husband and Ephraim Mills were among the first to join the church after its organization.
About the year 1820, near where the road from Waynesville to Wilmington crosses the Clinton County line, a log church was built in the interest of the Seceders, with the assistance of other denominations and those not belonging tc any society. As it was free to all, it was known as the Public Meeting House. It also was used as a schoolhouse. In the ground surrounding it many bodies were buried, most of them having since been moved to other grounds; but many remain there, and the ground is now held by the township for burial purposes.
Beech Grove Freewill Baptist Church is located on the Harveysburg and Freeport Turnpike, in Massie Township. The society was organized by Elder John Hisey in the year 1849, and now numbers about fifty members. About thy year 1851 a church was built on a lot donated by Wesley Warwick. Previous b this time the members worshipped in the schoolhouse and in private dwellings In 1863, the society having largely increased, a more substantial and commodiou building was erected on the same site, the old church having been removed. Thy original membership has now almost disappeared, many having left the neighbor hood, and others died. Previous to the organization of Massie Township thi church was known as the "Second Church in Wayne," but it was afterward changed to its present name. Elder John Hisey was pastor until 1879, whet Edward Pemlott, a young minister, was chosen, and after retaining the charge eighteen months, left for Michigan in August 1881, since which time the church has been without a pastor.
The first schoolhouse in what is now Massie Township, was built in 1817, o the land of Isaac Wales, about one and one-half miles north of Harveysburg. was a rough log house covered with clapboards, held down by weight poles, with puncheon floor, stick chimney, and no door. An opening in the logs, covered wit greased paper, admitted a little light, and served as a window. The first teacher of the school was Judith Butterworth (nee Welch),who is now living in Laporte, Ind in the eighty-second year of her age. 'The school was next taught by Robert Way of Pennsylvania, and afterwards by Jeremiah Reynolds, Isaac Thornbury an others. It was a prosperous school from the first, and soon became so popular that scholars came many miles to attend it. The school was so large, and ti house was so small, that in pleasant weather the scholars were obliged to study in
652 - HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
the surrounding woods and only repaired to the house when necessary to recite their lessons.
Other private and public subscription schools were soon opened throughout the township, and continued to be taught until our present school system was fully in operation.
INDUSTRIES.
The industries of Massie Township are only such as are usually found in districts where the water power and shipping facilities are inadequate for manufacturing enterprises. The first blacksmith shop was started in 1815 by Isaac Wales, on the west bank of Caesars Creek, opposite the site upon which Harveys. burg has since been built. A few years later one was started about a mile northeast of Mr. Wales, by James B. Edwards, with whom several persons learned the trade, and carried on the business in Harveysburg after the town was laid out. Some of these are still living in and near the town. Among them were William Ham, Larkin Edwards, Darvin Harris and William Smith.
In 1820 Samuel G. Welch, a son of Samuel Welch, Sr., started a tin shop on his father's farm, west of Harveysburg, where he continued the business for many years and then moved to Harveysburg, where he and his son W. W. Welch, are now engaged in the same business. With few intermissions Mr. Welch has followed the occupation of tinner for sixty-one years, probably the longest period of service of any business man in the township.
The first sawmill was built by Levi Lukens, on Csars Creek, in 1815, near where he, in 1823, built a gristmill, which has since been twice destroyed by fire, and rebuilt by Abram Herr. It was run successfully until within the last few years.
The first gristmill was built some time before the above by Hugh Tate and brothers. It was built on Jonah's Run, and consisted of one run of stone, the bolting being done by hand. The gristmill that now stands on Caesar's Creek, near Harveysburg, was built in 1839 by Amos and Samuel G. Welch and Thomas M. Wales. It has been run constantly since its erection, and is now the only one in operation in the township. It is forty feet square and three stories high, and works three runs of stone. Since its original owners, it has been successively owned by Isaiah Fallis, John and Thomas Fallis, George Wikle, William Harlan, William Starry, George Ross, Alfred Edwards, and the present proprietor, T. E. Lawrence.
The first bridge on Caesar's Creek was built in 1846 at the present crossing of the Waynesville and Wilmington turnpike. It was built by the county aided by private subscriptions. It was covered, weather-boarded and painted by the county in 1848. On the 7th of January, 1850, it was washed away, and in the same year was replaced by a substantial 120-foot span, arch bridge, which was burned by incendiaries on the 9th of February, 1876. The county then built in its stead the present handsome and substantial iron structure.
The Waynesville and Wilmington Turnpike road was built in 1851-2, under a charter granted by the Legislature in 1839. The incorporators of the company were Webster G. Welch, Turner Welch, John Lukens, Joseph B. Chapman, Wm. Harvey, John M. Hadden, David Evans and Benjamin Satterthwait, of Warren County, and Thomas Hibbin, John B. Pasey, John C. Work, Nathan Linton, Robert Finley, James Dakin, Jonathan Collett, Joseph Doan, Archibald Haynes and Abraham Brook, of Clinton County. The entire length of the road is fifteen miles. It was originally a toll road wider the management of the company, but within the present year (1881) it was bought by the county and made a free pike. There are now no toll roads in the township.
HARVEYSBURG.
This is the township seat and principal village of the township. It is situated on the east bank of Caesar's Creek, at an elevation of over 100 feet above the level of
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the stream. The land on which it now stands was entered by Colonel Abraham Buford, August 6, 1787. It was afterward owned by Rhoden Ham, who located on it in March, 1815. William Harvey, after whom the town was named, became the proprietor in 1827. He platted and laid out the town in 1828, and recorded the plat on the 3d of January, 1829. According to this plat, the town lay along the State road and contained forty-seven lots, numbered consecutively from number one to forty-seven. There were twenty-five lots six poles wide by twelve poles long, seventeen lots six poles by six poles, two lots five and four-tenths by six poles, one lot three by ten poles, two large, irregular-shaped lots, and a church lot. The State road formed the principal street, and the road to Middletown the principal cross street. There were also South Street, one cross street not named, and three cross alleys.
The town is in a healthy location, and is surrounded by fertile and productive farm lands. It is noted for the philanthropy, enterprise and morality of its inhabit: ants. For many years pork packing was carried on extensively within its limits, as was also the traffic in wool and grain.
In the early history of the town, Dr. Jesse Harvey erected a carding mill on the bank of the creek, where he carried on the business of carding for many years. He disposed of his business to Joseph Cobner, who moved the mill into the town.
Jesse Paskill was the first wagon-maker of the town. He was succeeded in his business by Aaron Benham, Benjamin Carmon, J. G. Stevenson, and J. H. Lippencott, who still follows the business. David Macy was an early settler; he was a harness and collar maker. His son, William Macy, is a shoemaker.
William Ham, a son of the original proprietor of the land on which the town was built, was the first blacksmith. He, with Larkin Edwards, carried on the business for many years. Darvin Harris was also an early blacksmith.
Soon after the town was laid out, Joseph H. Burgess started a tannery, which he conducted for many years in connection with boot and shoemaking. William Harvey opened the first store. He was succeeded by John and Jesse Hare, Simon D. Harvey, David Harvey, A. L. Antram, Robert Lafetra, Reuben Thompson, Allison Hill, William & Isaac Coffee, and Joseph Wertimer.
The cooper business was carried on first by Jones Sons, who were followed by Mahlon Cadwallader and his sons William, John and Achilles, the latter, at times, employing ten and twelve journeymen.
The first schools of the town were taught by Richard Clegg, George Baily, Dr. Jesse Harvey, Simon D. Harvey, Charles Mills, and others. The present schoolhouse was built for a seminary by a stock company. Among its first teachers were Dr. David Burson, Wilson Hobbs, Israel Taylor, Oliver Nixon, and Wm. P. Nixon. The building was afterwards purchased by the Board of Education, since which time the district school has been taught in it. There are now 150 scholars, presided over by a principal and two assistants. About 1831, Elizabeth Harvey opened a free school for the colored people. This is said to have been the first school for this race in Ohio. From the opening of this school to the present, the colored people of Harveysburg have had no lack of educational advantages. They now have a district school set apart for them, with two teachers.
Harveysburg now contains six churches—two Friends (one of each branch), one Methodist, one United Brethren, and two colored (Methodist and Baptist); two Masonic Lodges, (one white, which received its charter in 1839, and one colored); three drygoods stores, three groceries, one bakery, two drug stores, and three physicians. The town has recently had telephone connections established with Corwin, Waynesville and Lebanon.
For thirty-five years there has not been a saloon or public tippling-house in the village, and the sentiment of the people is such that there is not likely to be one opened there soon.
In 1870 the village purchased a fire engine, and built a large and commodious engine house, thirty by fifty feet, with firemen's hall in the second story.
654 - HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
In the early history of the town, John Scroggy built a saw mill on the creek at the foot of the hill; its place was supplied by a steam saw mill, built by George Carver on the lot now owned by Mary Edwards, but afterward was removed to the east end of town by Thomas Wilson, who attached a planing mill to it, and ̊per': ated it successfully until his death, which was caused by an accident in the mill.
The post office was established in Harveysburg in 1839, with Robert Lafetra as first postmaster. He has been succeeded by Budd Scroggy, Mrs. Fannie Taylor, George Scroggy, Gus. Lloyd, Hiram Madden, and Miss Eliza Nedry, the present incumbent.
William Harvey, one of the founders of the village, was for many years its most prominent business man, being largely engaged in the pork business. He afterward moved to Parke County, Indiana, where he remained for a few years, when he returned to Harveysburg, and there died in December, 1866. His widow, Mary Harvey, lives with her daughter in Harveysburg.
Simon D. Harvey, a brother and partner of the above, sold his interest in the village and removed to a farm in Clinton County, but after a few years' residence there, returned to the vicinity of Harveysburg. He was of a religious temperament, and frequently accompanied ministers in their visits to the different sections of the country. In 1841 he traveled with David and Druzella Knowles through Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and the Cherokee Indian Reservation, after which he accompanied them to their home in Canada. In 1856 he and his wife became missionaries to the Shawnee Indians in Kansas, where they remained two years. They some time afterward spent two years more in the same service. William and Simon D. Harvey were sons of Isaac Harvey, who spent the latter part of his life in Harveysburg. A full account of him is given in Henry Harvey's " History of the Shawnee Indians."
DR. JESSE HARVEY.
The following sketch of the life of this philanthropist and scholar was prepared by his grandson, Jesse H. Blair:
Dr. Jesse Harvey was born on the 26th of November, 1801, in Orange County, North Carolina. His parents were Caleb and Sarah, Harvey. When he was six years old his parents settled at Todd's Fork, then an entirely new country. Good schools, at that time, were few, and he had little time for attending such as there were. Being the eldest child, much of his time was taken in helping his father, who could ill afford to spare his services. He did not attend any school after the age of thirteen years, but books were his constant companions in his leisure hours. His thirst for knowledge and natural inclinations led him to the study of medicine, Although his first efforts in this direction were met by the opposition of a religious prejudice, the fear that the study of science tended to infidelity being then prevalent. Yet he saw an opening for great good in this profession, and between working hours studied from such books as he could buy or borrow. At the age of 22 years he became a student of Dr. Uriah Farquer, of Wilmington, 0. A distance of six miles made it very inconvenient for him to have such intercourse with his preceptor as was desirable, so he was in the habit of going once a week to be questioned on what he had read. He entered the Medical College of Ohio, and attended the session of 1826-7, and, obtaining a license to practice, settled in Harveysburg in 1830, and soon became busy in his profession. Besides the study of medicine he had done a great deal of general reading. He was well posted on law, and was often consulted by his friends and neighbors on legal points. He also kept abreast of scientific knowledge. His studious habits led him to be interested in the cause of education. In order to give his own children and young folks in general advantages for study, he in 1837-8 established the Harveysburg High School. He erected a commodious house, and was at considerable expense to furnish com-
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tent teachers and suitable apparatus, going to the East to secure the best astronomical and chemical instruments. He delivered lectures twice a week, to the public, 10„ history, languages and the natural sciences. He sustained the school for eight or nine years, notwithstanding high prices, the panic, and the fanatical sentiments of many of his patrons. He always had a desire to teach the Indians, and spent considerable time with the Shawnee Nation at Wapakonetta. About a year after the school closed, in 1847, he was appointed by the Society of Friends as Superintendent of the Friends' school and farm among the Shawnee Indians in the Kansas Territory. Arriving there with his family in July of the same year, he worked faithfully for about seven months, when his already weak constitution gave away, and, after an illness of three months, he died on the afternoon of the 12th of May, 1848. A hard student, a practical Christian, and a man who believed that, while humble himself, there were many who needed his assistance.
In a history of Harveysburg High School, written by Dr. Harvey himself, he says: "The Principal had for some years believed that a permanent school establishment should be instituted in every town and village throughout the land, and had much wished to have one somewhere near so that he might have an opportunity of associating with good teachers and thus, perhaps, improve himself, and particularly his children." He gave much attention to different methods of establishing and conducting schools, and concluded to mike it a personal effort. "After a pretty severe struggle" he had erected and furnished, in 1837-8, a commodious building. The school opened with about eighty scholars, Wilmington, 'Lebanon, Waynesville, Dayton, Cincinnati and vicinities sending their share. The Doctor delivered public lectures twice a week on astronomy, geology and other natural sciences. He employed two competent teachers, " not doubting but that he would be sustained by every friend of education." The great expenses of this beginning, especially as Dr. Harvey wanted the most improved school furniture and apparatus, and the panic and hard times soon following, involved him in debt. In two years he found himself so out of pocket that he was unable to proceed. He then determined to reorganize the school, and a company of sixteen members, including himself, procured an act of incorporation. In this character the school proceeded several years, reducing expenses as much as possible. Still losses were sustained, and finally, after eight or nine years existence, arrangements were made with the teachers to receive as recompense such amounts as were paid in by the pupils. Together with the causes before mentioned, political feelings among the patrons caused the enterprise to fail, the patrons being divided regarding abolition, and, making the school their battle-ground of course weakened it. To illustrate the strength of such partisan feeling, and its rapid growth, the following incident may well serve:
In 1840, during the Harrison Presidential campaign, Aaron Vestal and some other parties, were returning from a political rally at Waynesville in a wagon, the bed of which was canoe-shaped, and in accord with the campaign song, " A Nice Log Cabin and a Bar'l of Hard Cider," had a miniature representative of each of these articles, one on each end. This wagon stopped at the crossing of the main streets of Harveysburg. After listening to a speech from Isaiah Morris, then candidate for Congress, the crowd called, " Harvey!" " Harvey!" Not being a political speaker, Dr. Harvey asked Mr. Morris to say a few words favoring the abolition of slavery and the elevation of the colored race. Soon as the crowd gathered the drift of the speaker's words, they cried " Down!" and would not listen to anything regarding the freedom of the negro. Four years afterward the same people were so far changed in their views that, because Dr. Harvey in his school provided (and maintained at his own expense, even after the company was formed) a s separate of espearate department for the colored children, they termed him a "pro-slavery" man, and demanded that such a distinction should not be made, and that the two classes pupils should be taught in the same room. The feeling was so strong
660 - HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
that the Doctor finally acceded and then found that some of the loudest complain. ants withdrew their children to prevent such intimate association.
In relating the above there is no desire to revive prejudices. It simply show how, impelled by political passion, we are apt to drive one good thing until it overruns another.
However, aside from financial failure, the school succeeded, and Dr. Harvey had his desire realized to a great extent. He found help in his studies, indulged his inclinations to help others, and many remain to-day to testify to the good done during the short, time the school existed. In the neighborhoods from which came students, and scattered throughout the States, are good, substantial citizens who remember with pleasure and gratitude the lessons and associations of the school.