HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO - 731

CHAPTER LVII.

DECATUR TOWNSHIP.

Establishment of the Township—Boundaries—Physical Features—Soil —Products—Streams and Roads —Settlement—Educational—Religious Organizations—Mills—Incidents—An Unsuccessful Enterprise—A Night in a Cave.

THE establishment of this township was effected in 1820, on the petition of sundry persons not named, residents in sixth township, range eleven. Said locality was declared an incorporated town and an election district to be thereafter known as Decatur, and it was ordered that the inhabitants residing in said district were thereby entitled to the privileges and immunities of incorporated towns within the State. The electors were notified to meet at the residence of William Johnson, on Thursday, November 30, 1820, to elect town officers, but the records of this first election cannot now be found, and the names of the first officials, therefore, cannot be definitely ascertained.

At present the township is bounded on the north by Wesley and Fairfield, east by Dunham and Belpre, and on the south and west by Athens county. The boundary lines, barring eight and a half sections on the northwest, enclose a perfect square of five sections on each side, making altogether thirty-three and a half sections, or an area of over twenty-one thousand acres. The population in 1870 was fourteen hundred and thirty-seven, and the last census (1880) gives the township a population of fifteen hundred and.five, an -increase of sixty-eight in ten years.

The surface consists generally of very high rolling lands, broken in rugged and precipitous hills, especially in the southwest. The soil is of red and yellow clay, though in localities some sand is found. The chief productions are wheat, corn, etc., and all kinds of fruits are produced in abundance, never failing orchards being found in various localities throughout the township. In early times considerable tar was manufactured near Fillmore, and was floated down the Little Hocking in canoes to the Ohio, but now only the small local demand is

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO - 731

supplied from the old kilns. Shallow veins of an inferior quality of coal are found in various places.

The west branch of Little Hocking river, a considerable stream, enters the township from Fairfield at the northwest, and, flowing in a southeast course, leaves the township at the extreme southeast corner. Many other minor and unimportant branches, mostly tributary to the river, drain the lands of this locality.

The abandoned branch of the Marietta & Cincinnati railroad extends across the extreme northwest corner. The principal thoroughfare is the State road, leading from Hill's Landing to McConnelsville, extending from southeast toward north through the principal settlements —Fillmore and Decaturville. All sections of the township are also provided with road communications.

Along the water courses, and in various localities throughout the township, are found numerous outcroppings of sandstone, which is generally used for building purposes. This stone is found to make very desirable and certainly very beautiful residences, and promises to become utilized more in this way than heretofore. Specimens of these buildings are found here. Caves and deep caverns among towering hills, ribbed with the abuting sandstone and skirted with evergreen pine, are constantly in sight of the traveller, presenting a view grand and picturesque.

EARLY SETTLEMENT.

The first settler in this township was Joseph Lovdell, who came here in the spring of 1816. He was the first to accept an offer of forty acres of land made by David Putnam, agent of the Ohio company, to any one who would locate in this township, build a cabin, and plant an orchard of one hundred trees. He located forty acres on the northeast part of the farm now owned by Joshua McGirr, at Fillmore, and built his cabin in the extreme southwest corner of what is now section three.

Another forty acres adjoining this tract, on the northeast, was first bargained for by a Mr. Frost, who never came to the township; but William Johnson, having purchased this claim, arrived here about three weeks after Joseph Lobdell, and built his cabin just northeast of his only neighbor in the then western wilderness, about fifteen rods northeast of the present forks of the road.

Among the settlers who came after these earliest ones were Able Doter, Hiram Fairchilds, Ebenezer Bachelor, John and James Dunn, John Giddings, Andrew Ballard, and others, all of whom settled in this locality, forming what was then known as the "Lower Settlement," now called Fillmore post office. It is located in the southeastern part of the township, on the State road, and is the centre of trade for the surrounding country. A general store, that of Mr. Russell, is kept here.

The settlement made around what is now known as Decaturville post office was then known as the "Upper Settlement," and was made soon after the original settlement.

George Ball built his cabin about fifty rods southwest of the present residence of his son, Henry L., immediately south of Decaturville, section seventeen.

Daniel Morey's cabin stood about one hundred rods west of Ball's, near the cave on the north side of the run.

Peter Brewer built his cabin on the farm now owned by C. F. Frazyer, about ten rods from the northeast corner of section sixteen.

Isaac Place erected his cabin near the present residence of C. Booker, section sixteen.

Barnabas Nolan lived in a log cabin in the southwest part of section eleven.

John Storts entered two hundred acres of land, on which he built his cabin, near the present residence of P. Storts, section seventeen.

Nathaniel Place settled on section ten, near the present farm house of Austin place.

Joseph Place lived west of Decaturville, section sixteen, and Eli Gilbert built his log cabin house in central part of section sixteen.

Canada settlement is located west of Fillmore, beyond Little Hocking river, and was made soon after the "Upper Settlement." Jonathan Root and Alexander Johnson were among the early settlers. This locality, though having a general name, is but a thickly settled community, having no trading place or post office, and how it received the name of Canada is not certainly known.

Abel Dufur was a native of New York, and was born in 1802; deceased 1870. He emigrated to Washington county in 1814, and was married in 1823 to Polly Fairchild, who was born in 1809 and died in 1842. To them were born six children—Lucy M., Eva, Abel, Edmund P., John and Abigail. He was married the second time to Eunice Bachelder, daughter of Ebon and Eunice Bachelder, who was born 1817. They had a family of two children—Eunice A. and Daniel F. Daniel F. was born in 1851 and resides in the township. He has held the office of school director and is now county surveyor. He owns a farm on section two.

Philip Schrader, jr., was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, November 12, 1808, and was married in 1828 to Clarissa Cheedle, who was born in azo. To them were born twelve children—nine boys and three girls. Five of the boys and the three girls are now living. He came to this township with his father (whose history appears in Wesley) in 1837, and settled on the farm that he now owns. His father built the house in which he resides. He has lived in this township continuously for forty-four years; has held several important offices; is at present justice of the peace and postmaster.

James Smith, a native of Ireland, son of James and Jane Smith, was born in 1792, and died in 1859. He was married in 1823 to Margaret Morrison, daughter of John and Catherine (McCausland) Morrison, who was born in Ireland in 1802. They settled in this township in 1832, section twenty-four, and to them were born twelve children—Anna Jane; William, resides in Decatur; Percilla, wife of B. H. Dawson (Fairfield township); Alexander F. (Kansas); John M. (Kansas); Eliza, wife of Henry Hibbard (Kansas); James H., enlisted during the late war in the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Ohio and was killed by the explosion of an ordnance boat; Margaret, at home ; Joseph A. (Decatur); Matilda, wife of

732 - HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO.

W. H. Burk (Michigan); Lucinda, wife of P. Roe (Chillicothe); Frances, wife of C. Payne (Missouri).

Joseph A. Smith was born in this township 1840, and was married in 1871 to Susan Dela Grange, born in 1849. They have one child—Arthur H. He enlisted in 1864 in company K, Thirty-ninth Ohio volunteer infantry, and was discharged in 1865; has held the office of district assessor and all the other township offices, except constable and clerk, and at present is engaged in farming, owning a farm of one hundred and eighty acres, on which he now resides as one of the respected farmers and citizens of the township, section twenty-four.

Richard W. Fields was born in Virginia in 1831, and settled in this township in 1847. He was married in 1851 to Mary J. Richards, born in Pennsylvania in 1831, died in 1878. Mr. Fields has a family of sixteen children, all living—Abdallah, Thornton, Mary, Joseph W., Amanda, Maria, George W., Sarah L., Martha; Frances E., Lydia, Ruth, Joshua R. G., Benoni, Arthur, and Jesse. Mr. Fields is a prominent member of the Baptist (colored) church, and one of its most liberal and earnest supporters, and has by his own industry made himself possessor of a farm of eighty acres, where he now resides a highly respected representative of his race— section twenty-three.

Richard Irwin was born in Ireland in 1810, and died in 1858. He was married in Ireland to Jane Wilkinson and settled in Decatur township in 1850. They had a family of five children, four now living—Richard J., Robert M.,. Sarah J., William G., living in the township. William G. Irvine was born in this county 1853, and was united in marriage in 1879 to Sarah A. Lyde, who was born in 1855. He is now elder in the Presbyterian church and has a farm on which he resides— section eleven.

William Gamble was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, and was married to Elizabeth Corns. They had a family of nine children, eight now living—Amos L., William, Walter, Joseph, Harley E., Randolph E., Camby and Reese. William Gamble, jr., was born April 15, 1851; and was married to Sarah E. Nist (daughter of George Nist) who was born 1858. They have one child, Cornelia E. Mr. Gamble has been trustee for three years, and has a farm on which he now lives—section seven.

Henry Welch was born in 1804, and was married to Barbara Smith, who was born in 1806. They came to Washington county in 1841, and first settled in Wesley township. To them were born ten children, five now living—Peter, Susan, John, James, and George H. Peter Welch was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1830, and was married in 1852 to Hannah Gilmore—daughter of Torrens and Polly Gilmore—born 1834. Mr. and Mrs. Welch had a family of thirteen children—John, Noah, Emily, wife of Isaac Bradenberry, Martin, Barbara (now Mrs. Charles Weaver), McClellan, Warren, Estella, Lucy, Ella, Dow, George and Marion. He has served as trustee, and now owns three hundred and twenty-five acres of land on which he resides—section twenty-two.

Elijah Sawyer, born in North Carolina in 1800, became a resident of Decatur township in 1854. He married Maria Kendall, who is still living. Three of their children survive, viz: R. F. in Belpre township, and William H. and James K. in Decatur township. Of these R. F. Sawyer married Elizabeth Tate, by whom he has one child. Mr. Sawyer is running on the river, and has his residence in Belpre.

Conrad Miller was born in Stark county, Ohio, in 1806, and was married to Elizabeth Burk, who was born in 1802. They had ten children, eight now living— Daniel, now living in Iowa; Emanuel, Decatur township; Conrad, Decatur; Nancy, wife of Samuel Lee, Wesley; Elizabeth, wife of R. Weir, Athens county, Ohio; Magdaline, Decatur; Jadida, wife of Robert Martin, Pennsylvania; Emeline, wife of David Martin. Emanuel Miller was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1827, and came to this township with his parents in 1840, and was married in a50 to Eliza Sharp—daughter of Isaac and Lydia Sharp—who was born in 1832. To them were born fourteen children, twelve now living— Elizabeth M., wife of J. Fish, lives in Decatur township; Lydia, wife of T. D. Meek, Fairfield; Isaac A., at home; Mary B., wife of D. B. Brooks, Belpre township; Henry B., at home; Enoch, Thomas, Samuel, Addie, Joel, Wyatt and Lucy, all at home. Mr. Miller served nine months in the late war, and is now possessor of one hundren and sixty acres of land on which he resides as a general farmer and respected citizen—section thirty-six.

Charles Russell was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, in 1808 and died in 1880. He was married in 1837 to Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Reigel, who was born 1809. To them were born eight children. All but one (Sarah) are now living—Emanuel, Mary M., Washington, Solomon, Elizabeth, Charles, Lucretia.

Emanuel Russell was born in 1838, in Coshocton county, and was married in 1867 to Frances E. Gearhart, daughter of Jacob and Mary, who was born in Carroll county in 1847. Mr. and Mrs. Russell have a family of three children—Eva, Ella, and Alfred. Mr. Russell has held the office of treasurer for twelve years, justice of the peace nine years, and is now postmaster at Fillmore. He enlisted in the Union army during the war of the Rebellion, August, 1862, in the One Hundred and Sixteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, company I, and was a prisoner in the well known rebel prison pen of Andersonville for six months where, with thousands of his fellow comrades, he endured the horrors of hunger, thirst, and inhuman treatment, the details of which are too atrocious to be repeated, but, like the sufferings of the martyrs, will live in the annals of our country's heroic history forever. He is now engaged in the mercantile business at Fillmore, a highly respected and deserving citizen.

Dr. Edward Hamilton Trickle was born in Belmont county, Ohio, July 1, 1836; removed to Coolville, Ohio, in 1854 where, in 1857, he was married to Jane Hamilton, who was born in 1838. His family consists of five children—William Arthur, Mattie Jane, Frank Hamilton, Bessie Evelyn, and Phoebe Luella. He began the study of medicine in 1859, which was interrupted by the late

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO - 733

civil war, in which he was engaged as member of company E, Fourth West Virginia volunteer infantry, and during the siege of Vicksburgh, Mississippi, was promoted to lieutenant. He was engaged in the battles of Charleston, West Virginia, the capture of Jackson, Mississippi, Mission Ridge, Lynchburgh, and the ensuing campaign under General Sheridan, and was discharged after a service of three years and three months, much impaired in health. He immediately resumed his medical studies, and in 1867 attended the Ohio Medical college at Cincinnati, and after practising his profession two years at Parkersburgh, West Virginia, he returned to Cincinnati and received a diploma from the Miami Medical college. He then returned to Racine, Ohio, where, with the exception of one winter in the hospital in New York, he practiced his profession until 1879, when he came to his present location at Cutler station. On his removal to this place he resigned the position of examining surgeon of the United States bureau, and also the presidency of the Meigs County Medical society.

SCHOOLS.

The first school-house was a log building erected about ten rods north of the old Methodist church. This school was first taught by Oliver Root, and after him was Abel Stanton. The early schools of this township, like all the early schools, were supported by special subscription, and the history connected therewith is identical with the schools generally of this period. Section sixteen of this township was reserved for school land, and the rents of this land were devoted to the support of the schools, thus rendering very material assistance to the needy settlers in furnishing educational facilities to their children. Time has brought many changes to the educational advantages in this township, and there are now ten school districts all supplied with teachers and school buildings at the expense of the general public, where the means for the common school education are amply provided for the rich and the poor alike. If the rising generation do not surpass their forefathers it will not be because the means for their advancement have not been provided.

CHURCHES.

Methodism planted the first Christian standard in this township leading the way as the pioneer church. Preaching was held in the woods, in the log cabins or in the schoolhouses. Whenever the pioneers found a lodgement in the wilderness, Methodism followed with a church. The first church building in this township was the old log meeting-house located in the eastern part of the township, built about 1840-5. Andrew Ballard was the leading member of this early church, and he often officiated as local preacher. This old house was the general place of meeting for the neighborhood, and all the religious organizations of the locality were effected within its walls. The early members have all passed away, and for some reason have left no one upon whom the mantles of succession in the religious work have fallen—and the society has been allowed to go down—and the churches of the township are now abandoned or occupied by other denominations. The Canada M. E. church was built some time after the settlement was made, but is now occupied by the United Brethren.

The Friends society in early times had an organization here and built a church at Fillmore, but it has been long abandoned.

UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.

The first services of this denomination were held in the house of Mrs. Philip Schrader's father, now where George Dunsmore lives, northeast part of section seventeen. About aso Jonathan Root was the leading member of this church, and Joshua Montgomery is remembered as the first minister. They now occupy the house built by the Methodist Episcopal society, near Decaturville, of which Henry Bennett and Lucius Root are the present trustees. This denomination also has another class which meets in the Methodist Episcopal church west of Fillmore. Both congregations are small and are supplied as missions. The present minister is Rev. George Geiger.

PRESBYTERIAN OLD SCHOOL CHURCH,

located one mile east of Decaturville, was organized in 1847 in the old log Methodist church, under the ministry of Rev. Moses Hoag. The first elders were William Bennett and William Campbell, and the first regular preacher was Rev. William Farris. The church building was first erected in 1849 and was rebuilt in 1856. The present building is a frame twenty-four by thirty. The congregation now numbers about seventy-five, under the ministry of Rev. Robert C. Stewart, and eldership of Philip Bennett, John P. Knox, Robert Cray, William Campbell, William Scott and William G. Irvine. Services and Sabbath-school every Sunday.

BAPTIST CHURCH (COLORED)

is located in the northern part of the township, northwest corner of section twenty-three. The first minister was Nathan B. Henry, and first trustees John Williams, James A. Harris and R. W. Field. The first house in which this society met was built in 1856, and was used for the colored select school was situated about twenty rods south of R. W. Fields—section twenty-three. The present board house was built in 1860, and the society was reorganized by Revs. Atkins and Pierce. During the agitation of the slavery question this society withdrew from the regular Baptist and became what was known as Anti-Slavery Baptist. Present membership twenty-six; services once every month ; Sabbath-school every Sunday, Rev. William Norman, present pastor.

MILLS.

The first flour mill in this township was the one erected by Hiram Fairchild about 1822, and was located in the northwest part of section one, south of Fillmore. About the same time another mill was built northwest of the first one, but it has long since been abandoned. On the site of the original mill Dion Neal now operates a flour mill, having two run of stone with the usual capacity. The building is a frame of two stories and hip roof; the local demand only is supplied. The flour mill now known as Root's Mill, is located on west branch of Little Hocking river and is now operated by Rufus Root. This mill was

734 - HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO.

first erected in 1860, but Mr. Root has made many improvements; it is now a substantial frame building about thirty-six by forty feet, having two run of stone, with a capacity of one hundred and seventy-five bushels per day. The power is derived from a forty-horse power engine. The trade is mostly local custom, which requires the full capacity of the mill to supply.

INCIDENTS.

The general route of the well-known underground railroad led through this township, and many of the prom- inent men of this locality were engaged in this work. Many incidents in this memorable struggle for freedom occurred here, but among them the following is perhaps the most noted, and will better illultrate the spirit of the contest :

On the night of July 9, 1845, a party of Ohioans from this locality went to Hall's Landing, on the Ohio river, for the purpose of assisting a party of six slaves, belonging to John W. Harwood, who lived just below Blennerhassett island, to escape. They were unarmed, and just as the boat on which the slaves were concealed reached the landing, a posse of armed officials, having had information of this movement and concealed themselves in the bushes, rushed out and captured five of the slaves and three of their intended liberators. The three Ohioans were Peter M. Garner, Crayton Loraine and Mordecai Thomas, and they were taken by force of arms and lodged in the Parkersburgh jail. The Virginia officials claimed that the Ohio citizens were "felons," amenable to Virginia law for an alleged offence not known in Ohio law. Bail was refused the prisoners, and all intercourse with their friends in Ohio denied, and lawyers employed in Marietta to defend them were rejected.

August 16, 1845, a public meeting was called, to meet in the court house at Marietta, "to take into consideration means for liberation of Ohio citizens confined in the Parkersburgh (Virginia) prison, and the vindication of the rights of Ohio citizens." This call brought forth quite a concourse of citizens, and the indighation of the friends of freedom was freely expressed, while the interest in the all-absorbing question deepened. September 2nd the prisoners were taken from the jail to the court house in Parkersburgh, and they pleaded "not guilty." Bail was again refused, and they were again remanded to prison.

On the seventeenth of the following November their trial was held, and they received a verdict of guilty. The case was taken to a higher court on the question of jurisdiction. The case was argued before the court of appeals, December zoth and 13th, and the court divided equally ,3n the question whether the State line was the low or high water mark, the prisoners having been captured at the low water mark. At the following special term, at Parkersburgh, the men were admitted to bail on their own recognizance, and were set at liberty. January o, 1846. Thus ended a very exciting local episode in the history of African slavery.

Garner lived in this township, at the Cross-roads, on the northwest corner, where the store now stands. He was born June 14, 1808, and died at Columbus, Ohio, at the age of sixty-one years. Loraine lived one-fourth of a mile west of Fillmore, but has since removed to Illinois, where he is now living. Thomas resided west of Loraine, but is now living in Belmont county, Ohio.

In 1826 the old school-house north of Lobdell's was mysteriously destroyed by fire, and at the time no cause could be assigned for the origin of the fire until some time after, in removing the debris, the charred remains of a man were found, which afterwards proved to be the body of a stranger who had come into the neighborhood the day before the fire, and was noticed as being very peculiar in his actions. An open razor was found with the body, and it is supposed that he fired the house and then cnt his throat with the razor.

In early times a "refined" young man from New York purchased what he Supposed was a desirable mill site, on one of the chasms of Little Hocking, and brought several first-class workmen with him to corstruct a dam. But no human genius could construct a framework that would withstand the sudden rush of water down any of these hill branches, and the grand enterprize became the laughing-stock of the practical settlers of the neighborhood, and the young man from New York was compelled to return whence he came, a wiser but somewhat poorer man.

It is related that one Christmas, J. D. Chamberlain, William Chute, Isaac Palmer and James Lawton were surveying a road through this township and that night overtook them in the wilds of hill and forest, and, as the cabins of the settlers were very few, and separated by long distances, and the roads were little better marked than the blazes on the trees indicated, they were compelled to seek shelter in one of the caves. They finally found one suitable for the purpose, and it was located on the steep brow of a hill nearly one hundred feet from the bottom of the ravine below. To this cave they made their way, pulling themselves over the rocks by branches of scrub oaks and pine. They lowered the wood for a fire from above to the shelf of a rock protruding from the cave. A hunter of the party easily procured a deer. The venison was soon on the fire, and the party, in true hunter style, passed a Christmas night in the cave, retiring at last with their saddles for pillows, and overcoats for blankets, while the glare of fire reflected from the rocks, illuminated the ravine below, where the horses of the party were quietly feeding.