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WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - 685 WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP. BY SAMUEL HARRIS. In collecting facts concerning the early settlement and history of Washington Township at this time, difficulties at first sight unlooked for arose from several causes, the most important of which is the neglect of the early settlers to keep any record upon which a correct narration of facts can be based. Another cause is to be found in the fact that many of the early settlers moved to other localities in order to escape from the hills and swamps of which the township originally largely consisted, until but few remain from whom the information required can be obtained. But by great patience and investigation this narration has been obtained and is respectfully submitted. TOPOGRAPHY. This township is located in the eastern part of the county, being the third from the top in the eastern tier of townships. It has for its boundaries on the north Wayne and Massie Townships; on the east, Clinton County; on the south, Harlan and Salem Townships, and, on the west, Salem and Turtle Creek Townships, the Little Miami River forming its western boundary. Todd's Fork enters the township on the east, and, running in a southwest direction, empties into the Little Miami River at Morrow. The lands along this stream are broken into abrupt hills about 100 feet high, indented, at short intervals, with ravines extending in most places but little beyond the tops of the hills. The most considerable tributary of Todd's Fork on the southeast side is Penquite's Run, and on the northwest side are Scaffold Lick Run and Emily's Run. These all empty into Todd's Fork. The Little East Fork running from the east empties into Todd's Fork about one-half mile west of the Clinton County line and forms the terminus of a large area of bottom lands along Todd's Fork in Clinton County. But a 686 - HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. small portion of these bottom lands lie along the stream in Washington Township, amounting in all to about 150 acres below and 100 acres above the mouth of East Fork. A little south of the center of the township, near the College Township road, are the highest lands in the township, on which is a swamp called Sweet Gum Swamp. The water from this swamp moves slowly northward about two miles. where it meets another small sluggish stream, and, from the junction M its mouth, bears the name Flat Fork. After it receives the waters of the north branch of Flat Fork, it becomes a more rapid stream, and, rushing down the hills, empties into Caesar's Creek. The western portion of the township, along the Little Miami River, is drained by Pigeon's Run, Kidy's Run and Olive Branch on the northwest, and by Bloody Run, Hungry Hollow Rim and their tributaries in the southswest. The bottom lands along the Miami River are of small area, and are estimated as being about as follows: At Freeport and below, to Mothers, 125 acres; at Mothers, below the ford of the river, 30 acres; at Fort Ancient, 100 acres, and, at Hammel, opposite Millgrove, 100 acres From the foot of the bottoms at Fort Ancient to the mouth of Stony Run, about one mile below, the hills on either side crowd close to the river and form what is called the "Narrows." The hills along the Miami are steep, wild and rugged, pierced with numerous ravines, and in the highest parts reach an elevation of 250 feet. In the northeastern quarter of the township is a table hill about one and one-half miles in diameter and about sixty feet high, called " The Knobs." It has a deep red clay soil, rich, friable, and easily cultivated, surrounded by a flat black swamp of equal depth of soil. From the base of this hill flow some fifteen or twenty living springs of pure, clear, cold water, from which it takes the name of "Spring Thus you have the principal topographical features of the township as it existed originally, provided you can picture to yourself the level portions covered with a dense growth of timber and a denser growth of underbrush, with a covering of leaves and decayed matter on the ground sufficient to retain the moisture during the whole of the year. ANCIENT WORKS. A very prominent and interesting feature of this township is the old fort at Fort Ancient, of which a full account and description is given in the history proper of Warren County. There are other works of unknown origin besides the above. Among these are two mounds near the northeast angle of the fort, three others south of the fort, near the village of Hammel, one three miles southeast of the fort, near Theodore Couden's, one about four miles east on a hill near the county line, and a circular fort or breastwork about sixty feet in diameter about four miles northeast of the old fort, on the farm of James Harris on Spring Hill. Extending eastward into Clinton County are quite a number of mounds and circular works, showing conclusively that this region has, at some time in the remote past, been densely populated by an energetic and warlike race, who were, from the appearance of skeletons found, of gigantic stature. Trees of largest growth cover these works as thickly as any portion of the surrounding country. WILD ANIMALS—GAME. It is an undisputed fact that panthers were among the wild animals that infested the forests of this district in early times. One of these was killed WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - 687 near Smalley's settlement in this township; another was seen by Capt. Titus, and their terrifying' screams were frequently heard resounding through the forest. Wild cats were also sometimes killed; bears were common, deers were in abundance, and wolves, foxes, coons, opossums, minks, porcupines and squirrels were in profusion. Of the feathered tribe, pheasants were common, wild turkeys and quails abounded, ducks were plenty along the streams and in the swamps; and the streams were filled with the finest kinds of fish. TIMBER. The forest trees were of immense growth in some parts, and consisted chiefly of red, white, black, burr and pin oak; blue, white and black or swamp ash; yellow and white poplar, black walnut and white walnut or butternut; wild cherry, black, white and shellbark hickory and honey locust. These were the most valuable species for building purposes. Sufficient sugar-trees existed to supply the settlers with sugar and sirup. There were also beech trees of large growth, maple, sweet and yellow gum, gigantic sycamores, linden, mulberry, hackberry, sassafras, white or slippery elm and red or upland elm. The largest of the oak, ash and hickory trees grew on and around Spring Hill. Of the smaller trees or undergrowth, there were the dogwood, boxwood, red and sugar haw, water beech, willow, red bud, crab-apple, wild plum, papaw, spice, prickly ash and hazel. These grew in great profusion and formed a perfect network of foliage through which it was very difficult, if not impossible, to travel. The buckeye (Ohioensis) was plenty along the streams. INDIANS. No regular settlement of Indians was located in this township, but Todd's Fork was a resort for hunting bands of the Delawares, Shawnees and Miamis. Spring Hill was an old camping-ground, and the territory comprising Washington Township was a favorite hunting-ground for all the above tribes. They were a continual annoyance to the settlers—sponging, begging and stealing—and their treacherous dispositions kept the pioneers in a continual state of uneasiness and alarm. After the war of 1812, numbers of them continued to visit the Quaker settlements in Clinton County and their old haunts at Spring Hill and Smalley's. But Smalley's knowledge of their treachery, gained by sad experience, caused him to keep himself and family as much as possible out of their company. One of the Miami chiefs, Lewis Daugherty, continued to visit this township as late as 1830. Many incidents and anecdotes, showing the character and uncouth habits of the Indians, might be told, but they are too obscure and of too doubtful authenticity to have a place in this narrative. EARLY SETTLEMENTS. The first settlement, or rather, the first cabin as a nucleus, around which the pioneers began to locate, was built by William Smalley and his brother, Benjamin Smalley, in 179'7, on the southeast bank of Todd's Fork, where Charles E. Hadley now lives, one mile west of Clarksville. A double cabin was erected. The cabins were in the verge of extensive bottom lands, the Little East Fork on the south and extending up Todd's Fork many miles. These cabins were about fifty rods west of the Clinton County line (though Warren County, till 1810, extended east to Wilmington). The two brothers hacked a road from somewhere near Columbia, and brought their familes and few household necessaries they were possessed of to the cabins, arriving in the fore part of the day. They unpacked their goods, placed them in the huts, and returned to Columbia for the remainder of their 688 - HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. property, leaving their wives and children in the wilderness with strict injunel tions to show no signs of fear if any Indians came. That night eight Indians came to their cabin to stay all night; their request was granted, and it was so arranged to let them as far as possible occupy one of the cabins. One of the men, a stalwart fellow, took his position in the part occupied by the Mrs. Smalleys, laid on the earthen floor, his motions being very restless and suspicious. Mrs. William Smalley kept herself awake by rocking a rude cradle all night while lying on her bed. Late in the night, the Indian got up, stirred the fire, lit his pipe, took a long and leisurely smoke, lay down and slept quietly the remainder of the night. In the morning, they all departed. If there is any truth in the old adage that it is an omen of good luck to have visitors the first day on moving to a new house, it was surely verified in this case. Their nearest neighbor was James Miranda, about nine miles distant direct, at the mouth of Todd's Fork. In 1801, John Barkley built a hut about three-fourths of a mile south of Smalley; the place is now designated by a thicket and a bunch of tansey, but the location not being desirable, he, in 1802, built a hewed-log house where John B. McCray's house now stands. The house was raised with the help of eleven men—James Miranda, William Smalley, Benjamin Smalley, Archie Henderson (a half brother), Owen Todd, Aaron Sewell, John Sewell—the three latter having settled some five miles east in what is now Clinton County, are remembered as being of the number. At just what time Nebo Gaunt settled on the Little Miami is not known, but he built the first mill in the township (at the site of Freeport) in 1802. He was an ingenious man, and could work as millwright, carpenter, wagon-maker, blacksmith, etc., with facility. He afterward built a two-story frame house, and made nearly all the nails used in its construction. Samuel Pidgeon and Marmaduke Mills settled in 1805, the former where his grandson, Samuel Pidgeon, now lives, and the latter on the hill near the present road to Harveysburg. George Hidey settled prior to that time on what is known as the Hidey farm, where his descendants still reside. William Trotter settled about 1798 or 1799 on what is now the College Township road, where Aaron Ertle now lives. His relatives claim his settlement in 1796 or 1797, but this is evidently incorrect. He was a soldier of the Revolution. Ezra Robertson, his brother-in-law, settled in Turtle Creek Township in 1799, and removed to this township shortly after, and settled on the opposite side of Stony Run, near where Allen Shawhan now lives; the spot is designated by a lombardy poplar. He also was a soldier of the Revolution, and both were from Maryland. A. W. Trotter, of Indiana, writes concerning his grandfather, in a letter dated August 3, 1881, to R H. Robertson, Fort Ancient, as follows: " William Trotter was born in Maryland in 1769, and his wife in New Jersey in 1771. When he moved to that settlement, a man named Dutton, at Millgrove, was his nearest neighbor. After this—I don't know how long—Andrew Brandstater and Joseph Robertson moved into the settlement. The nearest mill was Stubbs', about eight miles below, on the Miami, which was very convenient There were plenty of Indians when he settled in Ohio and for years afterward. They frequently came for different articles of food, always bringing some article of their own manufacture in exchange. Uncle Andy Trotter says the first thing he ever wore on his feet was a pair of moccasins made by an old squaw-His post office was for years at Lebanon. The deer he killed would amount to hundreds; he also killed scores of bears, the most of which were killed in the hickory flats, but bears were killed in all parts of the county and in adjoining counties." WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - 689 Andrew Glittery purchased land at the point opposite Millgrove in 1803, and had a settlement madJ on the lands, but it is not now known who first settled on it. He was a soldier of the war of 1812; he built a flat-boat at Millgrove, took a load down the Mississippi and died in the State of Mississippi. These appear to be the earliest settlements made in the township by men who came to stay. Although only these few are mentioned as settlers, we will remark that at the same time the country was filling up by backwoodsmen, adventurers, leasers, squatters and hunters, who settled for the time being at any desirable spot, stayed as long as they were satisfied with the location and then went to another place as their fancy or interest suggested. To give an idea of their numbers I will give one instance. On a tract of land on Todd's Fork, purchased by James Harris and others, in 1809, containing 1,000 acres, seventeen families were located; none of their descendants now remain among us to tell whence they came or where they went, but they mostly turned their faces westward. In 1805, John Adamson settled on the College Township road, near and opposite Lewellyn Williams, in the angle where Fort Ancient & Clarksville pike diverges southeast from the old road. Arba Alexander soon after owned and settled at the same place. Timothy Titus settled in 1806, on the north side of the Chillicothe road, where James Meloy now owns, in a half-faced camp. As soon as he got matters a little regulated, he set up a blacksmith shop. This was the first shop of the kind in the township, except Nebo Gaunt's. It is supposed William McCray settled in the vicinity the same year. Jacob Garretson, father-in-law of Timothy Titus, settled north of Union Church about the same time. James Villars settled in 1807, where Eli Kirk now lives, and erected a distillery, but removed to Clinton County in 1813. In 1806, William Smalley built a mill near his house on the creek, of sufficient capacity for the neighbor-hood; he had also a small distillery, which was kept in operation but a few years. A man named Hagerman was the millwright, who put the works in the mill. Smalley also built a brick house in 1811, James Abbott doing the carpenter work. This was the first brick house in the township, and is now occupied, with some alterations, by Charles E. Hadley. Some seven or eight houses were erected at the cross-roads, which gave it the appearance of a country village, but all have disappeared except the brick. Benjamin Smalley removed east to about the present county line, and set up a blacksmith-shop. One Shockley was the smith, and many anecdotes are told of his rude mechanism. In 1803 or 1804, several persons came to the Trotter settlement—Thomas Diakin, from Virginia to Kentucky, thence to this settlement; Andrew Brand-stater, Thomas Woodsides, Sylvanus Clark and John Souard, a tailor, being of the number. Ude Carter came in 1804; Dixon Smoot about the same time. South of Trotter's about a mile, some families settled on Lick Run, but in what year if not known, but probably from 1804 to 1807, Simon Shoemaker, Jacob Littleton. Henry Stites, Henry Hollingsworth being named among them. John Bowser and Samuel Bowser were distillers. John Cox settled near the mouth of Stony Run on the Miami; in attempting to swim the river at the foot of the Narrows he was drowned. The settlement at Mather's Mill, on the Miami, on the Lebanon & Wilmington road, was earlier than 1807, David Van Schoyck and Lewis Rees being there before that. time. Lewis Rees built the mill in 1807, when it was dis posed of to Richard Mather, who settled there the same year. George Zentmin settled the same year some distance below the mill, and built the dam for Mather. His cabin was by a spring below the, mill. In addition to the mill 690 - HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. Richard Mather set up a. store and smith shop; he brought with him Jacob Ashmead and Richard Taylor as millers. Jacob Horn, blacksmith; Jacob Longstreth, storekeeper; Samuel Couden, an Irishman; John Frazee and others came the same season. George Zentmire was a Virginian of German descent, spoke the German language fluently and was a Revolutionary soldier. In 1806, David Farris removed from Virginia with a large family, on packhorses, and settled first on the Little East Fork, near the fort in Tribbey's bottom, and, in 1808, purchased 400 acres, mostly in Warren County, and settled on the Bull Skin road. He was a chair-maker and furnished the settlers with chairs, some of which are still in use or kept as relics of early and honest workmanship. Prior to this, or about the same time, George McManis settled one mile south of Farris, and James Garrison and Jeremiah Brackney farther south on the same road at the farms now occupied by John Cleaver and Thomas McCray. George Shin also settled at about the same time near by. on the Goshen pike. William Nickerson came from North Carolina to Kentucky, thence to Ohio, and, in 1809, settled on Todd's Fork, about three miles below Smalleys. In 1814, he and a daughter, aged fourteen, died of the cold plague; both were buried in the same grave. Thomas Emily settled prior to 1810, near where there is now a graveyard on Emily's Run. Elisha Cast settled about the same time on Todd's Fork, below Smalley's, south of the Chillicothe road, now the Penquite farm; he was from North Carolina. About 1812, the settlers began to encroach on the swamps, there being roads leading through them, making their settlement more convenient. There were some four or five families who squatted at Springhill-Hester and Solomon Reel only being remembered. James Wilkerson, who was a Revolutionary soldier, was born in Virginia November 29, 1758, and there married Sarah Moore. He moved to Kentucky from Virginia, and, in 1805, came to Ohio; he settled on the College Township road (which was laid out in 1804) in a field now owned by Jesse Urton; he brought a family of nine children, three sons and six daughters. About 1809 or 1810, he gave his farm to his daughters and purchased land on " The Knobs," on the west brow of the hill, on the Lebanon & Wilmington road. He built a distillery at the foot of the hill, which was operated for many years, making mostly peach and apple brandy. This gave place, in 1860, to a steam saw-mill, built by his son John and grandson James H. His three sons, William, John and James, located on lands near his distillery about the time of his settlement there. In a religious meeting, held in Flat Fork Schoolhouse, about 1827, the aged father, James Wilkerson, arose and said he could no longer conscienciously carry on a distillery. He died December 4, 1834, his wife dying July 17, 1841; his son William had a distillery near where George H. Wilkerson now lives, but it was discontinued in 1820. John erected a distillery for making apple brandy near the present residence of William Reynolds, in 1841. which was continued but a few years. John died January 24, 1868, his wife, Elizabeth (Farris) Wilkerson, dying in July, 1870. One daughter, Mrs. Perry G. Mills, and a grandson, Horace B., and his sister Melissa, wife of Bayless N. Settlemire, are all that remain in the township. About 1812, James Farris settled on the Clarksville road, the place now being owned by Dr. Z. T. Garland. John and William White settled on the same road farther southeast, in 1815. John Barkley, Jr., built a cabin in the spring of 1816 near where William Villars now lives. The farm now occupied by Paul Williams was bought, about 1812, by John Hadley, of North Carolina, and leased. Afterward, about 1825, Thomas Daugherty owned it; afterward Israel Dennison, and still later, Samuel Williams, father of the present occupant. WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - 691 F It will not be improper to state in this place that the Flat Fork at this farm was formerly spanned by a rude bridge more than twenty rods long, with puncheon floor. Some years after, it was replaced by another, 135 feet in length, by Samuel Louden and John L. Williams, at the expense of the county. At present, a bridge of twenty-feet span answers all purposes and the land is cultivated up to it, where water once stood two or three feet or more in depth. This will suffice for the Springhill settlement. We will now return to the Mather settlement on the river, then return eastward along the Wilmington road. The Mather family have removed to various parts, one son, Joseph, living on the Wilmington road, in Clinton County. George Zentmire purchased a farm on the river below Freeport, where he died May 20, 1836; his wife, Elizabeth Dunn, died February 18, 1854. Their family, four sons and four daughters, are scattered, one son, Rev. Samuel Zentmire, living at Morrow. The river at this time was amply stocked with fish; brush drags were made to be used as seines, and great quantities were obtained. Fifteen or more deer in one herd was a common sight. Many of the oldest inhabitants assert with great earnestness, that a fight with Indians on the Zentmire farm, and also a short distance above Freeport, took place some time previous to the first settlement, but no direct evidence of such events can be obtained. On the hill east of the river, Joel Drake settled, in 1815, where John Wilkerson now lives; he was from Southampton County, Va., and was a soldier of the Revolution, taking part at Yorktown and witnessed the surrender of Cornwallis; he and his brother, Jordan Drake, left Virginia in 1807, and encountered a terrible tornado after crossing the Ohio. They arrived at Anderson's Fork (they supposed at the time), in Clinton County, now Snowhill; but milk sickness prevailing, they disposed of their property and removed to Warren County and settled on the head of Olive Branch in 1815, Jordan Drake settling near by where Samuel Craig now lives. Jordan Drake raised a large family, his daughter in law, Mrs. John W. Drake, and his grandson. Henry M. Drake, remaining in this township. Joel Drake was an active and influential member of the Methodist Episcopal Church; his death occurred in 1841. About the same time, 1815, Jonathan Friar, William Friar and Thomas Friar settled in the vicinity, and, not long after, Asa Burge, John Hall. Adam Barnes and --- McFall; and farther east, in 1814, William Chenoweth settled where Amos Warwick now lives. On the opposite side of the road John Weeks settled, in 1818, on part of Chenoweth's land, now owned by the heirs of William Wilson and George H. Thomas. Who first settled where David Farris now lives, I am not informed; he is the son of David Farris, who settled in 1808 in the eastern part of the township, and moved to the present site in 1828. opening a large farm; he is now in his eighty-third year, hale and hearty. David Robertson settled prior to Farris on the farm now occupied by his son, Ezra Robertson. Henry and Jonathan Sherwood moved to the township in 1833; Samuel French settled in 1820, and built a stone house, in 1832, since owned by Nathan Clark, now by John Van Horn. William Murray, from Maryland, settled on the west side of the Miami in 1815, where Michael Maher now resides; he moved to this township in 1832. where Alexander Harlan now lives. Himself and George Rankin, on the 26th of December, cut and carried the logs, built a house and moved in the next day; he was foreman at the carding-mill while it was in operation at Freeport; shoemaker, farmer and soldier in the war of 1812; two of his sons reside on farms on the hills east of Freeport. We return to the settlement on Todd's Fork and the Montgomery road to mention a few settlers who located there subsequent to 1812. 692 - HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. Thomas Kephart was born in Loudoun County, Va., February 24, 1784, his wife, Mary Skinner, was born September 4, 1788; they were married March 5, 1808, came to Ohio in 1812, and settled on Todd's Fork near the souther; line of the township; he was a farmer and miller, and, for over sixteen years ran the Stubbs' mill, at Millgrove; he retired to his farm in 1835, and died May 10, 1861; his wife died January 16, 1873. Richard Riley settled south of the creek in this vicinity in 1814; he was from North. Carolina; they packed their goods on one horse, his wife riding the horse and carrying the baby. For some years the wild cats killed their pigs and lambs. Mr. Riley was born December 5, 1792, and died April 4, 1851; his wife, now the widow of Capt. James Humphreys, resides on the farm. The McCray family, from Virginia, settled in the vicinity in 1813. There were seven brothers- Hugh, Daniel, Christy, Joseph, Andrew, Armstrong and William, the latter coming some years previous. They settled at different points southeast of the creek and were industrious and useful citizens. James Humphreys was born on the Delaware River May 26, 1792; came to Centerville in 1815, and, in the same year, to this township; he settled where Charles Urton now lives; he was a farmer and boatman; at one time prior to 1826, he went to New Orleans with Capt. Titus. He had the confidence of the people and held various minor offices; he was Captain of the Salem Rifle Guards, a volunteer company, for several years; he died February 9, 1879, in the eighty-seventh year of his age. James Penquite, of Culpeper County, Va., was born October 7, 1782, came down the Ohio in a flat-boat, in 1817, and settled near the Bull Skin road; he died December 5, 1835. Thomas Urton, a Revolutionary soldier, came from Culpeper County, Va., in 1818, to where Thomas McCray now lives on the Bull Skin road. William Penquite, of Culpeper County, Va., settled on the Bull Skin road in 1818, and improved the farm where John Cleaver now lives. Robert Cree was born in Greene County, Penn., April 2, 1790; came to Ohio in 1811 and married Eleanor Barkley November 27, 1811; he settled where Ephraim Castello now owns, set up a blacksmith shop, and followed farming, flat-boating, wagoning and smithing. In 1828, he removed to the Montgomery road, where James Stanfield now lives. His wife died September 23, 1845, and he married Ann Mitchell; he was enterprising and respected. John Grey settled where Lydia Morrow now lives, about 1815. William Morrow, born in Vermont in 1794, came to Ohio with his father in 1816; married Susan Nickerson in 1819, and settled on the Bull Skin road near where Miles Hadley now lives; he moved to the John Grey farm by Union Church in 1829, and died in 1861; he was a soldier of the war of 1812, and participated in the battle of Plattsburg. After coming to Ohio, he followed teaching school for some years, afterward farming and wagoning in winter, His wife, Lydia (Williams) Morrow, resides on the homestead. Timothy Titus, spoken of previously as an early settler, made a number of trips to New Orleans with flat-boats, and died in Mississippi with the yellow fever in 1826; he served two campaigns in the war of 1812 as Captain, and was Justice of the Peace from the organization of the township till his death. William Guttery moved to Turtle Creek Township in 1803, to Washington in 1814 or 1815, and settled where his son Benjamin now lives. Samuel Bowman, from Kentucky, served in the war of 1812, came to Ohio in 1816, married Mary Skinner September 1, 1817, and died in 1862, aged seventy-three. His widow lives on the homestead on the Montgomery pike, in her eighty-ninth year. John Cowden settled in 1822 on the old Montgomery road near the southern boundary of the township; he was killed by the falling of a tree. 694 - PICTURE OF A. VOORHIS 695 - BLANK WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - 695 The settling of the swampy 'space along the College Township road, which extends from Robert Cree's to Fort Ancient, is next in order, going westward. In 1804, Smalley's and Trotter's were the only dwellings in this locality. Charles D. Hampton, M. D., appears to have been the first west of Crees', but at what date he came is not known. He was from Pennsylvania, and, probably, 1814, near where E. T. M. Williams now lives, but afterward settled and was its first physician; he with his family and some others left, in 1825, and joined the Shakers at Union Village. John L. Williams, of Bucks County, Penn., settled on the Hampton places in 1822; the lands are now occupied by his sons, E. T. M. and Lewellyn. James Morrow, a native of Vermont, came to New Jersey, and thence to Ohio, in 1818, and settled on this road, but went to Clarksville a few years after. John Vandoren, of New Jersey, moved to Cincinnati in 1814, and settled where William Vandoren now lives, in 1818; he was a carpenter by trade, and kept a tavern; he died December 4, 1826. In the midst of the swamp, in 1818, Zachariah and James Ward, from Loudoun County, Va., settled, the former on the road, the latter where Amos Dunn resides; they were coopers, and, the land being heavily timbered with fine oaks, they were enabled, by patience and perseverance, to clear the land, which is now of more than average quality. Several of their descendants are in the vicinity. Thomas Dunn, of Virginia, of German descent, born June 11, 1772, came to Portsmouth in 1803, and settled east of Fort Ancient in 1812; he was a wheelwright and farmer and had five sons and seven daughters. road where Alfred Van Doren resides; he moved to Clarksville in 1819, and was its first physician; he with his family and some others left, in 1825, and joined the Shakers at Union Village. There were other old settlers in the vicinity, of whom little can be learned. Among them are Daniel Williams, James Frazee, Mr. Miller and others. Jeremiah Mills, a son of a Revolutionary soldier of the same name, was a native of Essex County, Va. ; he served three months in the Revolution and also aided in suppressing the whisky insurrection in Pennsylvania; he married Abigail Bryant, and, in 1802, came to Cincinnati; in 1810, he moved to Dayton, and, during the war of 1812, wagoned supplies to the army. He afterward engaged as a pioneer in clearing land and making brick, and, in 1818, moved to Washington Township, where he settled on land at the head of Stony Run; he erected a distillery below Trotter's, which was operated but for a few years; he died December 11, 1860; his son, Jere Mills, Esq., of Freeport, is the only one of his four daughters and one son that remain in the township. Daniel Swallow, of Dutch and English descent, from Bucks County, Penn., came to Butler County, in 1813, and to Washington Township in 1815; he settled on the head of Lick Run, one-third of a mile east of William H. Strout's farm. He planted the first, and probably the only, nursery ever planted in the township, and did much to improve the quality of the fruit in this locality; he moved to Montgomery County, Ill., in 1832. William B. Strout, of English descent, came from Portland, Me., to Cincinnati, in 1816, and thence to this township; he studied medicine with Charles Hampton about 1822, and married a daughter of Daniel Swallow; he was a practical farmer and a good physician until his death, in April, 1871. The Flat Fork swamps north and west of Springhill remained a solitude until about 1840, when the Harrises, John Hadley and John Wilkerson opened up their lands, and, in 1844, Lukens, Hatton, the Warwicks, William Thompson and others made improvements, and now this section will compare favorably With any other part of the township. There are many worthy men that, for a number of years, were useful and 696 - HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. respected citizens of the township, whom it would give us pleasure to mention Some moved to other parts or retired from active life, among them Capt. William H. Hamilton, for nine years County Commissioner, and Henry Sherwood, who held the same office eighteen years—the former now a resident of Lelia_ non, the latter of Waynesville. Both were Township Trustees several terms while here. INCIDENTS. Hunting was a favorite pastime with the early settlers, and they sometimes had regularly organized bear and deer hunts. The country was notified of the day the hunt was to take place, and of the different stations at which each settlement would meet. The hunters would form a circle and advance toward the center, driving the game before them by making a general din with bells, horns, shouts. etc. At a preconcerted signal, a general rush for the center and a brisk firing began. which usually resulted in more hilarity than game. Another favorite pastime was the squirrel hunt. When this was determined upon. a meeting was called. Captains elected. Judges chosen. to assure a fair count, and the men divided into two companies. A day was then set, usually about a month ahead. on which they would meet to count scalps. and, in the intervening time, each man would hunt as much, and secure as many scalps, as possible. The hunters usually staked a bushel of corn or its equivalent on their prowess, and,, when the scalps were counted, the winning side took all the grain wagered. The squirrel scalps included both ears and in the score counted one; hawks and owls each counted two. and others birds, one. Another favorite and successful mode of killing was by watching the licks, which were moist or boggy places and sometimes springs. possessed of strong saline qualities. To these places game of all kinds would repair nightly to lick the salty banks, and the hunter, lying in ambush, could shoot them down at pleasure. Wild turkeys were trapped in well-baited pens, erected for the purpose, with a neatly constructed trap-door in the bottom. The social games of the pioneers were such as combined pleasure with profit. Among these were the log-rollings, for which the men were divided into two sections, and each tried to excel the other in the number of logs cut and rolled from the land. The last one of these held in this section was in 1867, on the farm of the writer. at Springhill. For this there were seventeen acres ready cut into lengths of from twelve to sixteen feet; and forty-two men, old and young, worked faithfully and cheerfully, though the day was showery and uncomfortable. Not finishing the clearing on the first day, twenty-four of the men returned the next day and completed the work. The writer will ever retain a grateful remembrance of the kindness of his neighbors on that occasion. In pioneer days, there being no inclosed fields, except those devoted to raising crops, the domestic animals were allowed to run at large. Hogs lived on the mast of the forest and fattened rapidly. When the killing season rolled around, the settlers, with employed help, would hunt down and kill their hogs in the woods, drag or haul them 'home, and there scald, scrape and cut them up for winter use. An account is given us of two children, aged five and three years, who were lost at different times, about 1808 or 1809. Both were found by rousing the settlements and making an organized search. One of these was named Nicholas Burns; the other was a child of Nebo Gaunt's. Many of the emigrants from Virginia had full faith in witchcraft, and, when the writer was quite a small boy, he listened to their stories about the operations of witches at Wizzard Clip until his hair stood erect and he clung to them for protection. A respectable old settler was so far imposed upon by WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - 697 big fun-loving neighbors as to believe that his premises were haunted, and even requested Capt. James Harris, of Clinton County, to call out the militia for his protection protection from the evil spirits. The Captain volunteered his personal services, but few regularly educated physicians, and the settlers relied, to a great extent, on those versed in the medical properties of roots and herbs. Bleeding was thought to be efficacious in almost every case, and quite a number who were not physicians or surgeons were initiated into the art of phlebotomy. SKETCH OF WILLIAM SMALLEY. On account of the eventful career of Wm. Smalley, and the fact that he, was the first settler of Washington Township and played a prominent part in the history of its settlement, we give him this extended notice. Opinions differ as to the date and place of his birth, but the most probable account obtained by much research, is, that he was born in New Jersey about the year 1759 or 1760, and lived with his father's family in that State until 1764, when they moved to Western Pennsylvania, where a number of families had settled near Fort Pitt (now Pittsburgh). When the time came for planting and cultivating the crops, in the sixteenth year of his age, he and the aged men,. women and boys of the fort were placed as pickets to notify the settlers working in the fields of any approaching danger from the Indians, who were then: very hostile. Despite their watchfulness, the savages crept between the fort, and the laborers, and, in the excitement that followed, young Smalley and others were captured by the Delaware Indians. He was made to witness the most horrible and revolting scenes; he saw his father cruelly tomahawked by an Indian, and most of the prisoners taken ruthlessly butchered. He, with a. few others, was retained and carried into captivity. They were taken to the Indian town on the Maumee River, and there confined in a hut built for the purpose on the outskirts of the village. They were afterward taken into the town and forced to " run the gauntlet," through which young Smalley passed alive. His ears were bored, cut and otherwise lacerated until they hung in strips as marks of cruelty which he carried to his grave, being well remembered by many of the old citizens now living. He, remained with the Indians five years, in that time learning to speak their language with great fluency. After the unfortunate battle of the Indians with Col. Crawford, in which the whites were routed and many taken captives, he witnessed the burning of Col. Crawford_ and the torture and death of others. At this time, the Indians were unable to. dispose of their furs and other articles of trade, on account of their violation of their treaty with the French, and, being anxious to renew their intercourse with the whites, they deputed Smalley (who spoke English and French, as well as Indian) to visit the French post and negotiate terms of peace, promising hint his liberty if he succeeded. He undertook the mission, in which he was successful, and immediately thereafter returned to his people in Pennsylvania, where he soon afterward married Prudence Hoel. While with the Indians, he. saw several prisoners burned, and, on one occasion, saw an infant snatched_ from its mother's breast and thrown into the flames. Soon after his marriage, he removed with the surviving members of his father's family to Columbia, near Fort. Washington (now Cincinnati), Ohio. During part of the time prior to the treaty of Greenville, probably about 1788, Smalley was engaged by Gen. Lytle as a hunter and guide to his surveying party, at 75 cents per day. He was also in Harmar's campaign and St. Clair's defeat, in the latter engagement discharging his rifle thirty-five times, twenty-one of which, it is said, took effect. When Cal. Truman and Maj. Lynch were 698 - HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. commissioned by the Government to make peace with the Indians, Smalley w. employed as their guide and interpreter. While on the Auglaize River, their way to the Indian country, they met three Indians with whom they agreed to camp for the night, the day then being far spent and the savages making profession of friendships. The party had six guns, all empty but Smalley's. In the night, the treacherous savages murdered the two brave officers, but made no effort to injure Smalley. The two officers were scalped art, Smalley forced to dry their scalps before the fire. On the following morale, Smalley, with the three Indians, commenced their march to the Indian tow, where, upon their arrival, Smalley was put on a stump and forced to ma them a speech and explain his absence from them. At the expiration of a yea and seven months' captivity, he was enabled, with the assistance of an India, friend, to escape from his second captivity. Ho returned to his home at Columbia, where he remained but a short time. About the year 1794, he en.. gaged with Gen. Wayne as guide and interpreter in his expedition against the Indians. Smalley's knowledge of the paths, roads and Indian trails, as well his thorough acquaintance with Indian manners and habits, made hint well calculated to act in this capacity. He remained with the army until after the treaty of Greenville, when the soldiers were discharged. Smalley returned to his home and devoted his remaining years to a life of less danger. He located lands on Todd's Fork of the Little Miami River, ten miles above the mouth of the stream, in a survey patented to William Lytle, William T. Barre and Duncan McArthur; he and his brother built a double cabin in 1797, and cleared a considerable tract of the finest land in that locality. Mr. Smalley erected a saw-mill and grist-mill about 1805 or 1806; he also built a small distillery. At this time the country was sparsely settled, their nearest neighbor being James Miranda. who lived at the mouth of Todd's Fork, where the flourishing village of Morrow is now situated. Mr. Smalley was the father of ten children—six sons and four daughters, viz., Benjamin, Freeman, a Baptist minister, John, Rachel, William, Mary, James. Jesse. Martha and Prudence; all married in Warren County, and lived, for a time, on their father's land, which lies in Warren and Clinton Counties. Rachel married William Nelson and died in.1824, being the first person interred in the graveyard near the depot at Clarksville; her mother was buried at the same place one month later. William died some years previously. Mary married Zara Stearnes, and moved West; Prudence the youngest, married Jonas Stump. and now lives near Harveysburg in her seventy-second year. The brothers all moved West in or before the year 1831. Mr. Smalley, the father, married the widow of Thomas Kelsey, moved West in 1832, and settled in Vermillion County, Ill., where he died, in 1840, well advanced in years, and possessed of a comfortable estate. ORGANIZATION AND RECORDS. Washington Township was organized in 1818, previous to that time being a part of Salem Township. A part of the territory included in the township at its organization was afterward taken off the north side to form Massie Township, and a part from the south to form Harlan, leaving it in form an irregular square, containing, in 1881, 21,030.73 acres, valued at $902,394. The first election was held at William Trotter's, on the College Township road, about one and a half miles east of the Little Miami River, on the 27th of June, 1818, and resulted in the election of the following officers: Richard Mather, Joseph Robertson and William Penquite, Trustees; Zebulon Sabin, Clerk; Ezra Robertson and William Trotter, Overseers of the Poor; William Wilkerson and Nathaniel Moss, Constables; William McCray and George St. Mires, Fence WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - 699 Viewers. Nathaniel Moss took the oath of office on the day of his election, and the other officers on the 4th of July following, at which time James Wilkerson ghis bond of $500 as Treasurer, with E. Robertson surety. At this meeting, it was resolved to hold the next election at John A. Vandoren's. William Wilkerson gave his additional bond of $200, with William Trotter as his surety. July 4, 1818, summons granted to William Wilkerson, Constable, to notify floury Reel and Hester, his wife, to depart the township of Washington, by order of the Overseers. Returned duly served. December 6, 1818, James Wilkerson came forward with his commission as Justice of the Peace, signed by Thomas Worthington, Governor of Ohio, on as a statement from the Clerk of the Court that he had taken the oath to law on the 6th of November, 1818. The following statement, dated March 4, 1819, will show the expenses of the township for the first year of its existence as such: Nathaniel Moss, $3.41; Elisha Cast, $2; John Wilkerson, $1; John A. Vandoren, $2.25; James Wilkerson, $1.95; Joel Drake, $1.50; Timothy Titus, $1; William Penquite, $1; Richard Mather, $4; Zebulon Sabin, $5.50; William Wilkerson, $1.75; Ezra Robertson. 75 cents; Joseph Robertson, $4; total, $33.11. As no tax had been levied to meet the above expenses, they were not paid until March 10, 1821. At the second election, held at John A. Vandoren's, April 5, 1819, the following officers were elected, viz.: John Barkley. Joseph Robertson and Nathaniel Moss, Trustees; C. D. Hampton, Clerk; John Barkley, Treasurer; Elisha Cast and William Wilkerson, Constables; Daniel Thompson and James Farris, Viewers; John A. Vandoren and Robert Cree, Overseers of the Poor; William Wilkerson, Lister, and seven Road Supervisors. Township expenses for the year, $17.75. 1820—Trustees, Daniel Swallow, William Penquite and Ezra Robertson; James Penquite, Clerk; William Wilkerson and John A. Vandoren, Constables; Seers Crane and William T. Jones, Overseers; John Barkley, Treasurer; John A. Vandoren, Lister; Solomon Veach and Dennis Slawter, Viewers. This year a township tax was levied. On each head of horses, 12 1/2 cents, and each head of cattle, 6 1/2 cents, and John A. Vandoren appointed to collect the same. Expenses for the year, $25.75; outstanding debt at the time, $38.78 1/2; amount of tax collected for the year, $39.31 1/4. 1821—Trustees; Richard Mather, William Penquite and Daniel Swallow; James Penquite, Clerk; John Barkley, Treasurer; William Wilkerson and Robert Cree, Constables, and William Wilkerson, Lister. Jurymen for grand jury, Richard Mather, Christy McCray and Jeremiah Mills. For petit jury, William Trotter, Elisha Cast, John Barkley, Jr. Tax laid on each horse, three years old and over, 15 cents, and on each head of neat cattle, 5 cents; William Wilkerson, Collector. An appropriation of $57.56 1/4 was made in 1820 for road purposes, which was disposed of as follows: Ezra Robertson, 6 per cent for collecting, $3.45 1/4; J. T. Robertson expended in causewaying and repairing causeways, $27.11; William Penquite, expended on Montgomery road, $27. 1822 —Trustees, Richard Mather, William Penquite, John Barkley; James Penquite, Clerk; Robert Cree, Lister; William Wilkerson and Robert Cree, Constables; Joel Lewis, Michael Q. Bowen, Grand Jurymen; Daniel Clark, John T. Robertson. Petit Jurymen. Tax on horses, 12 1/2 cents, and cattle 6 1/4 cents, for poor fund. 1823--Trustees, Richard Mather, Timothy Titus, John Barkley; Thomas Jones, Clerk; John Barkley, Treasurer; William Wilkerson, Lister; William 700 - HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. Wilkerson, Benjamin Sesson, Constables; William Trotter, Jordan Drake Grand Jurymen; William Smalley, Samuel French, Petit Jurymen. 1824-Trustees, Richard Mather, James Penquite, Ezra Robertson Thomas Jones, Clerk; John Barkley, Treasurer; John Hoffman, John Wilkerson, Constables; J. Wilkerson, Lister; James Wilkerson, Ezra Robertson, Jonathan Friar, Grand Jurors; John Gray, William Trotter, Petit Jurors; Timothy Titus, William Wilkerson, Justices. 1825-Trustees, John Barkley, Richard Mather, James Penquite; Clerk, Treasurer and Constables, as last year; John Hoffman, Lister; James Pen_ quite. Richard' Mather, Paul Vandervort, Grand Jurors; Samuel Bowman, George St. Miers, Petit Jurors. This year a tax was laid on horses, 15 cents; cattle, 5 cents; one-fourth of 1 per cent on the value of each house. 1826 -Trustees, Samuel Bowman, John T. Robertson, William Wilkerson; Thomas Jones, Clerk; James Wilkerson, Treasurer. July 29, 1826, Samuel Bowman was elected Justice to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Timothy Titus. 1827--Trustees, Samuel Bowman, John T. Robertson, Paul Vandervort; Thomas Jones, Clerk; James Wilkerson, Treasurer; William Wilkerson elected Justice of the Peace, October 15. 1828-Trustees, William Wilkerson, John T. Robertson, Henry Stites; James Penquite, Clerk; James Wilkerson, Treasurer. 1829-Trustees, John T. Robertson, Henry Stites, Paul Vandervort; John L. Williams, Clerk; James Wilkerson, Treasurer; Samuel Bowman, Justice, elected July 25. 1830-Trustees, Richard Mather, John T. Robertson, William Morrow; Clerk and Treasurer, same as last year; William Wilkerson, Justice, elected October 16. Expenses of the township for the year ending on the first Monday in March, $29.72. 1831 -Trustees, James Penquite, James Abbott, David Robertson; John L. Williams, Clerk; William H. Robertson, Treasurer. 1832 --Trustees, William Morrow, James Penquite, Paul Vandervort; John L. Williams, Clerk; Cyrus Simonton, Treasurer; Samuel Bowman, Justice, elected July 21. 1833-Trustees, Paul Vandervort, William Morrow, Samuel Bowman ; Clerk and Treasurer, as last year. At an election held October 19, for Justice, John Wilkerson and Achilles Dicks each received seventeen votes; November 23, John Wilkerson was elected. 1834-Trustees, Paul Vandervort, David Robertson, William Penquite; John L. Williams, Clerk; William Wilkerson, Treasurer. 1835-Trustees, William B. Strout, Henry Sherwood, Paul Vandervort; John L. Williams, Clerk; William Wilkerson, Treasurer; John L. Williams, -elected Justice July 18. 1836-Trustees, William B. Strout, Henry Sherwood, Paul Vandervort; Clerk and Treasurer, as last year; Henry Sherwood elected Justice November 19. 1837-Trustees, William B. Strout, George Longstreth, James Lindsay: Christy McCray, Clerk; Joseph J. Reed, Treasurer; John L. Williams, William B. Strout, Christy McCray, Examiners of schoolmasters. 1838-Trustees and Clerk as last year; John L. Williams, Treasurer; S. Bowman, Justice. 1839--Trustees, William B. Strout, George Longstreth, Paul Vandervort; John L. Williams, Clerk; Samuel Bowman, Treasurer; John Wilkerson, Justice. 1840-Trustees, Clerk and Treasurer, same as last year. WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - 701 1841-Trustees, Paul Vandervort, William B. Strout, Henry Sherwood; Clerk and Treasurer, as last year; Absalom Glasscock, Justice. 1842-Trustees, Samuel Bowman, Robert Cree, William Morrow; Clerk and Treasurer. as last year. 1843-Trustees, William B. Strout, Paul Vandervort, James Humphreys; Simeon Sellers, Clerk; Joseph J. Read, Treasurer. 1844-Trustees, James Humphreys, Simeon Sellers, Robert McCree; John L. Williams, Clerk; Joseph J. Read, Treasurer; Absalom Glasscock, Justice. 1845--Trustees, James Humphreys, Paul Vandervort, William B. Strout; John L. Williams, Clerk; Joseph J. Read, Treasurer; John Wilkerson and William D. Long, tie vote for Justice of the Peace: December 29, 1845, John Wilkerson was elected Justice of the Peace. 1846-Trustees, William B. Strout, Paul Vandervort, James Humphreys; John L. Williams, Clerk; Joseph J. Read, Treasurer. 1847-Trustees. James Humphreys, Henry Sherwood, Ezra Carpenter ; John L. Williams, Clerk: Joseph J. Read, Treasurer; Abraham C. Bowman, Justice of the Peace. 1848-Trustees, Henry Sherwood, William H. Hamilton, Robert Cree; Samuel Harris, Clerk; Joseph J. Read, Treasurer; John Wilkerson, Justice of the Peace. 1849-Trustees, Robert Cree, Henry Sherwood, Charles N. Wilkerson; Samuel Harris, Clerk; Joseph J. Read, Treasurer. 1850-Trustees, James Humphreys, Mark M. Boatman, David Robertson; Samuel Harris, Clerk; Joseph J. Read, Treasurer; Thomas C. Nelson, Justice of the Peace. 1851-Trustees, James Humphreys, David Robertson, Absalom Glasscock; Jonathan Fairis, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; Jonathan Sherwood, Justice of the Peace. 1852-Trustees, James Humphreys, Absalom Glasscock, Robert Cree; Jonathan Fairis, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; Euclid P. Glasscock, Justice of the Peace. 1853-Trustees, James Humphreys, Robert Cree, Ephraim Hathaway; Jonathan Fairis, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer. 1854-Trustees, James Humphreys, Robert Cree, Ephraim Hathaway; Jonathan Fairis, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; Jonathan Sherwood, Justice of the Peace. 1855-Trustees, James Humphreys, John Penquite, James F. Ward ; Jonathan Fairis, Clerk; Joseph J.- Read, Treasurer; Robert Cree, Justice of the Peace. 1856-Trustees, James Humphreys, John Penquite, James F. Ward; Jonathan Fairis, Clerk; Joseph J. Read, Treasurer. 1857 - Trustees, Francis Jeffrey, Charles N. Wilkerson, John Penquite; Jonathan Fairis, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; Francis Jeffrey, Theodore Cowden, Justices of the Peace. 1858 -Trustees, Francis Jeffrey, Charles N. Wilkerson, John Penquite; Jonathan Fairis, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; Henry Sherwood, District Assessor. 1859-Trustees, Francis Jeffrey, Joseph Nickolson, George Harner; Jonathan Fairis, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer. 1860-Trustees, Francis Jeffrey, George Harner, William Keenan; Jonathan Fairis, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; William T. Frazee, Francis Jeffrey, Justices of the Peace. 1861-Trustees, Francis Jeffrey, William Keenan, George Harner; E. T. M. Williams, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer. 702 - HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. 1862—Trustees, Jonathan Fairis, C. N. Wilkerson, John Penquite; M. Williams, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; Jonathan Lawrence, William H. Hart, Justices of the Peace. 1863—Trustees, C. N. Wilkerson, John Penquite, Jonathan Fairis; B. T. M. Williams, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; Francis Jeffrey, Justice of the Peace. 1864—Trustees, C. N. Wilkerson, John B. McCray, Wilson Ward; B. T. M. Williams, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer. 1865--Trustees, John B. McCray, Henry Dilatush, George Harner; E. T. M. Williams, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; William H. Hart, Justice of the Peace. 1866-Trustees, Henry Dilatush, John B. McCray, William N. Maxey; B. T. M. Williams, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; Jeremiah Mills, Justice of the Peace. 1867--Trustees, Henry Dilatush, John B. McCray, William Kelsey; E. T. M. Williams, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; Kelsey resigned, and C. N. Wilkerson was appointed Trustee October 3, 1867. 1868—Trustees, John B. McCray, William Kelsey, Francis J. Sherwood; E. T. M. Williams, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; John M. Snook, Justice of the Peace. 1869—Trustees, John B. McCray, William Kelsey, Francis J. Sherwood; John L. Hizar, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; Leander Dunham appointed Clerk, vice Hizar, resigned; Jeremiah Mills, Justice of the Peace. 1870--Trustees, John B. McCray, Francis J. Sherwood, Wilson Ward; Lee S. Dunham, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer. 1871—Trustees, John B. McCray, Francis J. Sherwood, Wilson Ward; Lee S. Dunham, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; John M. Snook, Justice of the Peace. 1872 —Trustees, Francis J. Sherwood, John B. McCray, Wilson Ward: Lee S. Dunham, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; Samuel Harris, Justice of the Peace. 1873—Trustees, Wilson Ward, Francis J. Sherwood, Isaac Campbell; D. W. Humphreys, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer. 1874—Trustees, Francis J. Sherwood, Wilson Ward, Isaac Campbell; D. W. Humphreys, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; John M. Snook, Justice of the Peace. 1875—Trustees, Isaac Campbell, Wilson Ward, John Penquite; E. T. M. Williams, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; William C. Nixon, Justice of the Peace. 1876—Trustees, Wilson Ward, Isaac Campbell, Cyrus Madden; E. T. M. Williams, Clerk; William Vandoren, Treasurer; and a majority for Township house, 5 to 1; Daniel Perrine, Justice of the Peace. 1877—Trustees, Cyrus Madden, Daniel Perrine, Albert Stubbs; Jonathan Fairis, Clerk; Frank Sherwood. Treasurer; George Morrow appointed Trustee, vice Cyrus Madden, deceased. 1878—Trustees, Albert Stubbs, Daniel Perrine, George Morrow; Amos S. Williams, Clerk; Frank Sherwood, Treasurer. 1879 —Trustees, James Stanfield, George Keoble, B. N. Settlemire; Robert Andrews, Clerk; Frank Sherwood, Treasurer. Tax for building court house, 78; against tax, 154; Assessor of real estate, Lee S. Dunham. 1880—Trustees, James Stanfield, Bayless Settlemire, Frank Sherwood; Robert Andrew, Clerk; Frank Sherwood, Treasurer; Jeremiah Mills, Justice of the Peace. 1881—Trustees, James Stanfield, Bayless N. Settlemire, George Keoble; Robert Andrews, Clerk; Frank Sherwood, Treasurer. WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - 703 ROADS. The first settlers were without roads. Indian trails were used as guides in traveling from point to point; trees were blazed, and paths or roads hacked through the forest as occasion required, avoiding the hills, streams and swamps as much as possible, in the spring and wet season. and having more direct paths for the dry fall or frozen winter. The College Township road, passing from Chillicothe through Lebanon to Oxford, was established by the Legislature of Ohio February 18, 1804. On the same day, the route for a road, passing from Chillicothe through Hopkinsville and Montgomery to Cincinnati, was determined, and the first appropriation for laying out these roads made. They are on the same route, viz., from Chillicothe to a point in Clinton County west of Cuba, and about a mile and a half southeast of Clarksville, where they diverge, the College Township road, running through by Smalley's and Fort Ancient, to Lebanon, crossing Todd's Fork at Smalley's, the Montgomery road, running south of it, to Miranda's and Hopkinsville, crossing Todd's Fork below Smalley's at the Cree farm (now Stanfield's). On the 20th of February, 1820, the Legislature made an appropriation for a new road, from Wilmington through Clarksville, in Clinton County, which was laid out in 1816, to intersect the road leading to Cincinnati that crosses the Little Miami River near Jeremiah Morrow's, commonly called the Montgomery road; the intersection to be made at some convenient point in Warren County; $125 was appropriated in Clinton County and $30 in Warren County on the same day for opening the road. Francis Austin was appointed Commissioner to expend the money in Clinton County, and Mahlon Roach in Warren County. This road passed through Clarksville, down the Little East Fork, crossing the stream at John Barkley's. and intersecting the Montgomery road on the east bank of Todd's Fork in Warren County. The Bull Skin road was laid out from a point on the Ohio River, called Bull Skin, to run as nearly due north as the nature of the ground would permit, to Sandusky, on Lake Erie, Old Town (Old Chillicothe, near Xenia) and Urbana being points on the road. This road ran mostly in Warren County, diverging eastward north of Smalley's into Clinton, and re-entering Warren about a half mile north of the Lebanon & Wilmington road. In an early day it was much used, but now in this section it is mostly vacated so that most traces of its existence are lost. The road from Lebanon to Wilmington was laid out during or prior to the war of 1812; the record of its location cannot be found at this date, being mislaid. It crossed the Little Miami at Mather's mill; a man named Holcraft cut it out east of the river. At an early day a road was established running along the east bank of the Little Miami, southward, crossing the river at Millgrove, and running thence down the river to Deerfield. The building of the L. M. R. R., in 1845, forced this road to the west side of the river, from Mather's to Fort Ancient, where it is discontinued. The remaining roads in the township, intended to accommodate the citizens traveling in a north or south direction, are angular or zigzag in their course. In 1837, the Cincinnati, Goshen & Wilmington Turnpike was located, passing through the southeastern part of the township, and crossing the Bull Skin road near the Clinton County line. This turnpike supplanted the Bull Skin road for travel for that part of the township lying southeast of Todd's Fork. About 1837, a charter was procured for the Cincinnati, Montgomery & 704 - HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. Wilmington Turnpike (passing by Morrow and Clarksville), which was graded eastward to Clarksville and the meal put on to a point about three miles West of the same place. In locating this road on the old Montgomery road as near as practicable, it diverged northward from a point about one mile west of Capt. Titus' farm, and thence eastward, crossing Todd's Fork about one hundred rods below the crossing of the College Township road, thereby vacating the Montgomery & Chillicothe roads from Capt. Titus' to Clarksville. A county road was cut out from Titus' to Lebanon, by Millgrove, at an early day, but it has since been materially changed. In 1881, a free turnpike was located from Millgrove, by William H. Strout's, to intersect the Montgomery pike at Benjamin Guttery's farm. In 1858, a free turnpike road was begun from Lebanon, by Freeport, to Harveysburg, which was finished after the war of the rebellion. In 1870, a free turnpike was located on the College Township road to Clarksville from Fort Ancient, which diverged southward at a point about one and a half miles west of the county line, and intersects the Morrow & Montgomery road near Todd's Fork, making one iron bridge (rebuilt in 1880) answer the purposes of both roads, and vacating the old road from the point of divergence to Clarksville, in Clinton County. The same year, the Mather Mill and Bethany Church and the Springhill free turnpike roads were located, the latter being a continuation of the former to Clarksville. They were built and an iron bridge built over Todd's Fork by the Commissioners of Clinton County in 1880. This road follows the Lebanon & Wilmington road to Springhill Schoolhouse, running thence southeastwardly three miles to Clarksville; from Springhill east to the Clinton County line, one and a third miles, is all that remains of a continuous pike road from Lebanon to Wilmington, a distance of twenty-one miles. The Little Miami Railroad was built in 1844 in this township, which materially changed the industries of the people, and the building of the Cincinnati, Wilmington & Zanesville road (now the Muskingum Valley road), in 1853, along Todd's Fork. completed the change. A complete revolution in the carrying of goods and the products of the farm was the immediate effect. A free turnpike is now building from Freeport to intersect the Lebanon & Wilmington road at Olive Branch Schoolhouse. CHURCHES. As the settlement of this township was so unavoidably connected with the early settlements near Lebanon, and along the Miami and Todd's Fork, in Clinton County, it is impossible to separate the societies by geographical lines, as from the physical formation of the township the early settlements were on its outer edges. Nevertheless, the pioneers felt it none the less their duty to worship Almighty God in the wilderness than in the cultured communities they had left behind, and, perhaps, the isolated condition in which they were placed, and the dangers by which they were surrounded, fixed in their minds, in a more lively manner, their dependence on a Supreme Being. Hence, we find, as soon as there were neighbors, so soon was a place found in which to worship. Just at what date, we cannot say, but prior to 1811, Daniel Clark and Joshua Carman were preaching at times at William Smalley's, on Todd's Fork. The upper part of Smalley's mill was used as a place to meet for worship—in bad weather, in his house; in fair weather, in a sugar grove near his house—a part of the grove yet remains. Daniel Clark and Joshua Carman differed on the subject of slavery, and a division was caused in the church. The regular or original church organized and formed the Todd's Fork Baptist Church, and built WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - 705 a house about one and a half miles east of the county line, on the College Township road. This church was organized in 1811, and a great many of its members resided in Washington Township. The house was sold and removed in 1878 or 1879. The church membership was organized in this township, and a comfortable house was built on Springhill, on the Lebanon & Wilmington road, three and a half miles east of the Little Miami, and named Bethany Church. This church was built in 1833, and Hezekiah Stites was its pastor till his death, as he had been for a number of years while the church was in Clinton County. The adherents of Joshua Carman met at the house of William Smalley, on the 1st of August, 1811, and adopted a covenant and articles of faith, and were called the Union Baptist Church on Todd's Fork. They were decidedly anti-slavery, in sentiment, and added the words, "Friends of Humanity" to their title. The following names are mentioned as its organizers, viz., William Smalley, Richard Cast, Jacob Garretson, Ann Garretson, Elizabeth Lawrence, Rhoda Cast, Hetty Emily, Abigail Herald, Elizabeth Odel, Eleanor Barkley and Elizabeth Cast. Joshua Carman preached for them till 1832. A log house was built for them on the Chillicothe road, two miles below Smalley's, which they occupied till 1823. They then built a brick church in Clarksville, still calling it Todd's Fork Church, which they occupied until the membership became scattered to various parts, when a new house was built on the Goshen pike, on the southeast side of Todd's Fork, in 1873, still retaining the name of Todd's Fork Church. This church is now in a prosperous condition. Isaac B. Nichols, a colored man, usually called Black Isaac, preached for them as a supply from 1818 to June, 1862. There were a great many Methodists in the settlements, mostly in Clinton County, till about 1810, when Joel Drake and Jordan Drake settled on Olive Branch, where a society was organized and a log house built in 1821 or 1822. James Davidson and Adjet McGuire were preaching at different places before this time, and are spoken of as early preachers at Olive Branch. Some years after, a frame structure was erected, and, about 1843, was improved and finished in a comfortable manner. I have just been reliably informed that Leroy Swormstedt, while quite a young man, preached for some three years at Rev. Joel Drake's house prior to the' building of the church. The first person buried in the graveyard attached was Jordan Drake, aged about twenty one; the next, Mrs. Isaac Stutsel. In 1873, the United Brethren built a neat and tasty church at Freeport, and now have a numerous and active membership. The Rev. E. H. Caylor was pastor at the time of building the church. In the same year (1873), the Free-Will Baptists built a capacious frame church on the College Township road, two miles east of Fort Ancient. It has a membership of about fifty. Rev. John Hizey is their pastor. A house was built by the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Fort Ancient about 1873, but, owing to a lack of funds, it remains unoccupied. There are no other established denominations in the township, although nearly all other sects have a representation and frequent preaching at the churches, schoolhouses and other places. The log house built by the Baptists in 1811, on the Chillicothe road, before spoken of, was, some years after, replaced by a frame building and called the Union Meeting House, but remained in an unfinished condition until 1842; when the community completed it. It has since been occupied for the most part by the Methodist Episcopal Church, but, by the terms of donation of premises, is free for all sects. The first person buried in the cemetery attached was Rhoda Titus, daughter of Timothy Titus. 706 - HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. CEMETERIES. While the county was yet devoid of churches near which seemed the most appropriate for the last resting-place of our departed friends, private or family graveyards were common. There is near the house of John B. McCray a family burying ground, laid out by John Barkley at a very early date, Mrs. Masterson, his near relative being the first one buried there. George McManis laid off a cemetery on his farm, about one mile west of Clarksville. It was nearer the residence of Thomas Emily than his own; hence, it is known as the Emily Graveyard. Milton McManis, a young man, son of George McManis, was the first person interred there. A great many are buried there, but of late years it is not used as a place of burial. Timothy Titus donated the grounds for the Union Church and graveyard. His daughter, Rhoda Titus, was the first interred in the latter. Great numbers have since been buried there, and it still remains a popular place of burial. Olive Branch Methodist Episcopal Church has a well-filled graveyard on the church lot, Jordan Drake, a young man, being the first one buried, about 1823; Mrs. Isaac Stutsel, about 1824; then a young woman named Almira Houston, who was killed by falling from a swing. The Wilkerson Graveyard was established by James Wilkerson, on his farm on "The Knobs" (Springhill) as a family graveyard. Thomas Deakin, his son-in-law, was the first buried, in 1811, and Solomon Reel the next. In the yard of Bethany Church (Baptist) is a public burying ground. The first civilized person buried in the township was a runaway slave from Kentucky, who was found sick in the forest by William Smalley, cared for by him and buried on the bank of Todd's Fork from Smalley's house in the fork of the Bull Skin and College Township roads. This was a short time after Smalley settled, perhaps 1803 or 1804. The washing of the bank of the stream for years exposed the bones, and, about 1860, the skeleton was exhumed by Dr. Francis M. Wilkerson and is most probably in his possession at this time. SCHOOLS. The first school we have any knowledge of in the township was taught in 1807, in a log cabin provided for that purpose, near Union Chapel, on the farm now owned by Casner Bowman. The cabin had a large fire place in one end, with a log cut out of one side and one end to admit light, and sticks set like paling in the vacant spaces, with greased paper pasted on them, to serve as windows. The other side was occupied by the door and the teacher's desk, the latter being generally a wide board, some three feet long, fastened to the wall by two long wooden pins. The writing desks were planks placed under the paper windows in the same manner, and the seats were slab benches. The teacher's name was John Cochran, and some of his pupils are yet living in the vicinity and relate the circumstance of turning him out, as was the usual custom, on Christmas or New Year's. The teacher suspecting their object, stayed at night till every one was out of sight, then took down the door, carried it some distance, and hid it in the bushes. The larger boys watched his motions and replaced the door; the next morning when he returned to school, he found the house occupied and himself barred out. He climbed to the roof, removed some clapboards, laid them over the chimney and was soon master of the situation. It was a prevailing custom to bar out the teacher as late as 1825 or 1830, the object being to force him to give a holiday, or treat to apples, cakes or candy. WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - 707 The next school we have any knowledge of was taught by Charles Clark, on the farm now owned by James Worley on Stony Run. In 1818, the settlers on the southeast side of Todd's Fork were accommodated by following the Bull Skin road to what is now Edwardsville, three or iforuraicm3eilye.s south, to receive the first rudiments of education from Benjamin Brackney. In 1824, a cabin was built and occupied as a schoolhouse near the creek on the farm of Christy McCray, who was the teacher for some time. About 1816, another school was established, where George H. Wilkerson now resides, on "The Knobs," now Springhill; and about the same time, another, near Olive Branch Church, was started. In 1810, the people near Freeport sent their children to a school at some point above--east of where Daniel Gard now lives. About 1818, a house was built on a ridge below Freeport, in which a school was taught by William Watson Wick, a fine scholar. Judge George J. Smith, while young, attended this school to study Latin. The books in common use were sometimes a horn-book, a flat board or piece of horn containing the alphabet, primer, Dilworth's spelling-book, New Testament, Psalter, Esop's Fables, Capt. Riley, or any book in the possession of the family. Those able to purchase the books afterward added the Introduction to the English Reader, the English Reader, American Orator, American Preceptor, United States Reader, etc., without any regard to system. English grammar and geography were not taught prior to 1825; the higher branches were not known or thought of. The writer has now Goldsmith's Geography, his frrst school geography, which says in good print that Columbus, the capital of Ohio, is situated on the east side of the Muskingum River. Each writer furnished two quills per week; each morning, the teacher mended all the pens and set copies, overlooked the writers while learning to form hooks and hangers; heard all the lessons from the various books four times a day, and richly earned his $1.25 a scholar and "board round." Among the early teachers, Charles Clark, John Cochran, Zebulon Sabin, William Morrow, John McGregor, Shadrach Ditto and William Watson Wick are remembered. At a meeting of the Township Trustees on the 3d day of May, 1826, at the house of Mary Vandoren, the township was laid out into seven school districts, containing 162 families. At the present time (1881) the township contains nine school districts, each provided with a good and commodious schoolhouse supplied with all necessary conveniences for the comfort of the pupils. The amount of tax levied for school purposes in the township, in 1881, is $4,040. Enumeration of youth of school age: white, 469; colored, 5; 474. VILLAGES. Fort Ancient is situated on the east side of the Little Miami River, on the College Township road, six miles from Lebanon. At just what date the bottom land on which it is located was first settled is unknown. We know that Isaac Wickersham had a tannery here on a small scale at a very early day. He was succeeded by one Wyatt and he by Robert Jack, who, in 1813, purchased the land and enlarged, to some extent, the tannery. He resided there, opening and improving the farm, till 1838, when he sold out, and, in 1839, went West. The names of James Frazee, John Emil and William Thompson occur as proprietors prior to the time the Miami Railroad was built, in 1844, when Francis B. Howell became proprietor. He built a warehouse and storerooms, which Were rented or used by his agents. Some years after, another storehouse was built and occupied by various persons till the spring of 1881, when it was 708 - HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY. Mr. Howell built a hotel and summer residence here capable of accommodating 100 guests, which is a place of considerable resort during the summer months. For a number of years, this was a good point for buying and shipping grain and hogs and is still a good point for hogs, the grain business having decreased since other convenient points have been established. It was for a long time a place from which large quantities of peaches were shipped. Hundreds of bushels of blackberries are shipped from here annually, 1881 being an exception, from the failure of the crop. A bridge was built over the Miami, in 1841 or 1842, by William H. Ham_ ilton, which was swept away in the flood of the spring of 1881, by the middle pier giving way. It was replaced by an iron bridge 186 feet long, built in the same season, by the Wilmington Bridge Company, at a cost of $6, 275. Daniel Perrine keeps the hotel and summer resort and a general store; he is also Justice of the Peace, Postmaster, freight and express agent. The Methodist Episcopal Church built a house of worship in 1876, but, a portion of the indebtedness remaining unpaid, it is not occupied. There is in the village a public district school, one blacksmith shop and one saloon. The village is at present composed of twelve families and situated at the foot of the hill below the old fort, from which it takes its name. FREEPORT, OREGON POST OFFICE. At what time this place took the name of Freeport is not known, but in 1802 or 1803, Nebo Gaunt settled there and built a mill, which passed to the ownership of Judge Ignatius Brown and David Brown, and was known as Gaunt's Mill and Brown's Mill till probably about 1820, when it assumed the name of Freeport. In connection with the mill, David Brown built a paint-mill for the manufacture of Spanish brown and its kindred shades, the material for which was procured from .some point above the mill. Daniel Kinsey built a carding-mill in 1816, and, about the same time, a cotton factory was built by a company, the latter being burned in 1818. How long the carding-mill was operated after the burning of the cotton-mill is not known. James Vanhorn had a blacksmith and auger factory, and Elijah, or Elisha Vance had a pottery about 1820. Mark Armitage, a farmer, had an auger factory near by. A large frame was erected, in 1844, for Charles Nixon for a paper-mill, by William H. Hamilton & Sons, but not being used for that purpose, the machinery, for a barrel factory, was put up and operated for some time. In 1845, a post office was established, and, an office of the same name being in the north of the State, the name of Oregon was substituted; the railroad company refused to change the name of their station, hence it is Oregon Post Office and Freeport Station. The old mill was burned December 25, 1852, by careless use of firecrackers. The barrel factory was used by Daniel Terry as a grain warehouse for some time, and, in 1854, Stubbs & Sherwood put the works of the White-hill mill in it, converting it into a flour-mill, which is at this time in operation, now being owned by Isaac Stubbs, Jr. The railroad, which was constructed in 1844, built a woodshed 195x40, which is now taken away. The bridge over the river was built in about 1856 by D. Bennett at the expense of the county, assisted by private subscriptions. There are at present in the village one flouring-mill, one saw-mill, two general stores, two blacksmith shops, one wagon shop, express office and post office, United Brethren Church and public school, Thomas C. Kersey and George W. Henderson, physicians, and twenty families. In connection with the village of Freeport, as it is near that station, and at the old settlement of Mather's mill, one and a half miles below, there was WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP - 709 built, in 1881, by W. W. Ingraham, a steam saw-mill of large capacity for custom and general work. The railroad officials have built a side-track to it, and considerable quantities of sawed lumber are shipped from that point. HAMMEL. The village of Hammel was laid out about the time the railroad was constructed (in 1844) and took the name of its proprietor. It is on the Miami, opposite Millgrove, and two miles below Fort Ancient, and contains a few families who are engaged in agricultural pursuits. There is a good district schoolhouse there, at which the various religious denominations have occasional services. The bottom lands at this place comprise about 100 acres. A. number of large human skeletons have been exhumed there. There are no other villages in the township, but each school district has its distinctive name, as Oak Grove, Springhill, Silver Grove, etc. MILITARY. Among the early settlers of this township, a goodly number of Revolutionary soldiers, and those who served in the war of 1812, appear. They have been named as far as possible, though doubtless some have escaped my inquiries. No soldiers of the war of 1812 are known to be living in the township. An attempt was made, at the beginning of the Mexican war, to re-organize the militia in this township, but the effort met with ridicule, and, of course. was a failure. David B. Glasscock and James D. Wallace were the only two from this township known to be in that struggle. In the war of the rebellion, the following list comprises the volunteers from 1861 to the close of the war, as correctly ran he ascertained:

710 - HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.