WAYNE TOWNSHIP is a rich, fertile portion of the county, from
rolling to hilly, well watered and the farms are in a highly cultivated
condition. The stream of Seven Mile cuts off the southeast corner
of the township, Elk Creek the north-eastern corner, and also draining
the northern portion, running near its northern boundary-line.
Ten-Mile and Nine-Mile are in the western section. This leaves the
interior as a water-shed, and some portions very high. Phares's
Hill and some others are points from which delightful views can be
taken.
Matthew WINSTON came very early, and settled
near Seven Mile. He built a one-story stone house where the depot
is now, and so pitched his foundation that one could escape from St.
Clair to Wayne Township by simply going through the house. It was
built just on the line. He was an eccentric Irishman, and held the
office of chief magistrate for his township for a number of years.
Among other possessions of his was a "corn-cracker," just south of where
the town is now. It was then the first and only mill of that
vicinity, and answered the purpose of a grist mill, but instead of
grinding it simply cracked the grain. The citizens from the
WITHROW settlements, tired of making the circuitous route by his
house to get to the mill, cut a road through. It was shorter and
better, but nevertheless displeased the Hibernian, who felled the trees
across the highway to prevent people from passing. The citizens
would assemble at night and remove them, and the same thing was repeated
the next night, but as often were the trees and logs removed.
Among the early settlers was James WITHROW, from
Nelson County, Kentucky. He came to the wilderness as early as
1800, and settled on Section 33. His wife was a Mrs. ROBBINS,
and he had five children, - Samuel, John, James, Nettie, and
Susie; all are now dead. He built for himself a hewed-log
house, which was then considered more than ordinarily fine. He was
a lover of stock, and raised horses and cattle in large numbers.
He would sometimes have thirty or forty horses and a large herd of cows.
Samuel, his son, lived to be eight-four years old. John
WITHROW, his brother, followed James in November of that same
year. His wife was Miss Ann POTTENGER. It is a large
family now and a very prominent one. His children were James,
Samuel P. (then two-and-a half years old, and still living),
John, Robert, James and Dennis. He settled on Section
34, where James WITHROW now lives. The WITHROWS were
originally from the Carolinas, and went th Kentucky, partly in love of
adventure, it being in the days of Daniel BOONE, when all was
wild and the country full of Indians.
Captain Samuel POTTENGER came from Maryland to
Kentucky, where he built a "fort" on Pottenger Creek, in Nelson
County, six miles from Bardstown. It was here that the WITHROWS
and POTTENGERS met. Mrs. Ann WITHROW, whose maiden
name was POTTENGER, had three brothers - Dennis, John and
Robert - who came two years afterwards to Ohio, but subsequently
settled in Preble County. There are now many of this family in
Wayne Township. Robert GILKE and family, the PADDOCKS,
the BUCHANANS, the CORNTHWAITES, were also early settlers.
Edward CORNTHWAITE settled near Seven-Mile, and built a mill just
below the town. His frame house still stands. The mill and
house were in St. Clair Township.
The township was organized in 1805, and was taken from
St. Clair. The population of the township in 1820 was 1,552; in
1830, was 1,513, and in 1840 was 1,562. The early settlers of the
township were the ANDREWS, BRELSFORDS, BAIRDS, BURNSES, BROOKSES,
CORNELIUSES, CRAIGS, CONARROES, CARTERS, DUFFIELDS, DAVISES, FOXES,
FORTS, GREENS, GRAFTS, HUTCHINSES, HAWKINSES, JONESES, KELLEYS,
KIRKPARTICKS, MATTIXES, PHARES, POTTENGERS, PAGES, ROBINSES, RHEAS,
STUBBSES, SMITHS, SQUIERS, WILSONS, WEAVERS, WITHROWS, and others.
The following have been the justices of the peace:
| 1806 - |
Charles SWEARINGEN, Nathan STUBBS |
| 1809 - |
same |
| 1812 - |
Charles SWEARINGEN, Samuel HUNT |
| 1815 - |
Charles SWEARINGEN, Nathan STUBBS |
| 1818 - |
Charles SWEARINGEN, Samuel DAVIS |
| 1821 - |
Charles SWEARINGEN, Henry BAKER |
| 1824 - |
Samuel DAVIS, Henry BAKER |
| 1827 - |
John K. WILSON, Samuel DAVIS |
| 1830 - |
John K. WILSON, Samuel DAVIS |
| 1832 - |
Anthony BURNS, John K. WILSON |
| 1835 - |
Anthony BURNS, William J. HENRY |
| 1841 - |
Henry ANDREWS, John WEAVER |
| 1843 - |
James GEORGE |
| 1844 - |
John L. RITLER, Amos HURSH |
The following have been the postmasters:
| Jacksonburg
- |
|
| 1818 Jun. 29 |
William PHARES |
| 1825 May 26 |
John CRANE |
| 1828 Mar. 3 |
John K. WILSON |
| 1833 Mar. 23 |
John H. THOMAS |
| 1851 Oct. 15 |
William MILLER |
| 1854 Nov. 27 |
James M. STOKES |
| 1855 Oct. 1 |
Andrew J. DINE |
| 1859 May 25 |
John S. HIGGINS |
| 1861 Jan. 7 |
Obed SPENCER |
| 1861 Oct. 4 |
Samuel H. MARTIN |
| 1862 Jan. 31 |
William W. MILLER |
| 1863 Jul. 3 |
Joseph S. BENNETT |
| 1864 Mar. 7 |
Johnson I. PHARES |
| 1867 Jan. 24 |
Simon SHAFFER |
| 1871 Mar. 20 |
KARR, Henry |
| 1872 Apr. 29 |
William W. MILLER |
| 1873 Apr. 28 |
John W. WOLVERTON |
| 1879 Mar. 4 |
William B. THOMAS |
| 1879 May 8 |
Hiram GUDGEON |
Discontinued June 29, 1881.
Re-established July 19, 1881 |
| 1881 Jul. 19 |
Asa EDWARDS |
| Seven-Mile. - |
| 1838 May 11 |
John BOLYARD |
| 1840 Jul. 21 |
Squire L. HITTELL |
| 1842 Apr. 13 |
David JACOBY |
| 1844 May 17 |
George JACOBY |
| 1846 Jan. 28 |
David JACOBY |
| 1848 Mar. 27 |
Jonathan SORBER |
| 1848 Dec. 28 |
Martin Kock |
| 1850 Apr. 16 |
Frederick B. LANDIS |
| 1853 Aug. 8 |
Reuben M. WILDER |
| 1854 Nov. 14 |
Thomas BREADEN |
| 1855 Apr. 24 |
David M. WIEDER |
| 1858 Jun. 9 |
James D. GARY |
| 1870 Jan. 11 |
William A. LIGHTSINGER |
One railroad passes through a
small portion of the township, the Cincinnati, Richmond, and Chicago;
and there are two villages, Jacksonburg and Seven-Mile, the latter lying
also partly in St. Clair. The township is named after General
Wayne, who marched up to the north of 1794, through its western
portion, traversing Sections 32, 29, 19, 17, 18, 7, and 6, then entering
Preble County.
JACKSONBURG.
Jacksonburg is the oldest town
in the township. It lies near the highest ground in the township,
and was once the most important town for miles on that side of the Miami
in the county. Prior to the building of the bridge at Middletown,
it enjoyed the trade of a large section of country. It was on the
main thoroughfare from Cincinnati to Darke and Preble Counties, and had
at one time two hotels, four stores, a pork-packing house, four tailors,
and other industries to match.
Benjamin VANCLEVE, the brother-in-law of John
BAIRD, John CRAIG and Henry WEAVER, came early and purchased
the land in and about Jacksonburg. He settled where Mr.
BRUENBEAHER now lives. He bought for the proprietors of town,
CRAIG, WEAVER and BAIRD, who laid the village out,
February 19, 1816. John BAIRD took fifty acres, running up
to the south-east corner of the square, on which corner he built the
tavern which he conducted for full thirty years thereafter, and which
made for him a fortune. The tavern is now owned by H. HAITZMAN,
who came in possession of the property some eighteen years ago. He
has considerably increased the size, and made some improvements in the
property. BAIRD built the present bar-room portion of logs,
and it has since been weatherboarded. Dr. MILLER built the
west end projection. John BAIRD kept the first hhotel and
his brother-in-law, David RUNYAN, kept the second.
Henry WEAVER took the land, one hundred and
twenty acres, on the south-east of the public square, and built the
house now occupied by W. F. SHEARARD. John CRAIG took the
land on the north side of the town, one hundred and sixty acres.
The second house built in Jacksonburg was on the north-east corner,
being now owned by William MILLER. William W. PHARES kept
the first store in the town, in this house. He came to Butler
County in 1805, and clerked a while for John SUTHERLAND, of
Hamilton. He became an honorary member of the Miami Commandery, at
Lebanon, No. 22. He died January 16, 1875. Following
PHARES, in the store were John CRANE, Hiram POTTER, William
EMERY, James GARY, and Jacob RUSH. Mr. MILLER
bought this property in 1879. It was the first frame building in
the town. The house that Mr. WEAVER built on the south-east
corner of the square was kept, first by Henry EARHART and his
partner Captain John CRANE, then by SNYDER & WELLS, and
then by John H. THOMAS. The building is still standing, but
is used as a billiard-saloon.
The house on the north-west corner of the square was
built still later, by George W. RODGERS, who came to the town
with some money, but failed. The house was built of brick, in
1832, and in 1833 was used for a hotel by RUNNELS, and afterward
by William SHAFFER. It is now owned by the son of the
latter, the lower part being kept as a store. George BANKERS,
a German, kept hotel here when Martin VAN BUREN was President, in
1836. William SHAFFER kept hotel after this, nine years.
Matthias MILLER moved near the village in 1840. Henry S.
EARHART, now living in Hamilton, was in business here nearly sixty
years ago. He came with a stock of goods, furnished by John L.
C. Schenck, from Warren County. Here he did a flourishing
business for four years, then removing to Hamilton.
In 1824 the town was probably in the most thriving
period of its existence. At that time, Mr. John THOMAS, POTTER
& PHARES, David PATTON, and Isaac SOUTHER, were keeping
store, Hiram POTTER was packing pork, and there were also three
tailors in the town. These and other enterprises were carried on,
and in all a good business was done. The travel at that time was
also good. The four and six-horse teams, with their tinkling bells
and old-fashioned Pennsylvania wagons, would fill the modate and crowd
unless they used the floor. The stables did not pretend to furnish
the teams with stalls, and the teamsters tied their horses to their
wagons. Those who remember those times state that frequently there
were as many as fifty teams at a time putting up for the night in the
town. As soon as the canals and railroads were built, of course
this mode of traveling was abandoned.
Dr. J. B. OWSLEY is a practicing physician,
having an experience of some eighteen years in this locality.
J. H. YAGER is a wagon-maker, as is also Mr. SHAFFER.
Mr. SHAFFER's son deals in groceries. The council consists
of six members: Benjamin MARGERIM, Isaac PETERMAN, James M.
SHAFFER, Samuel MILLER, George W. SPEER, and W. B. THOMAS, There
has always been some manufacturing done in Jacksonburg. Charles
WELLS kept the first blacksmith's shop, and remained in the business
probably thirty years. Mr. Benjamin MARGERIM owns the lot
which the shop stands. Thomas HARTLEY, had the next shop.
This was on the place where William SHAFFER & Sons carry on
wagon-making. These latter men have been in the business for a
number of years, and have much to do.
John H. YAGER bought his lot and built his shops
- blacksmith, paint, and wood shops - in 1870. He manufactures
wagons, buggies, his patent harrow, and rollers and does custom work.
He is also agent for the "Champion" harvester. His patent
adjustable harrow is coming into general use, and also his patent
section rollers.
The Union Church of Jacksonburg was built by John
THOMAS and James CRAIG, in 1843. It was Methodist in
point of doctrine with the builders, but free to other denominations.
These noble men received some aid from outsiders, but the burden of the
debt rested upon themselves. It is a building thirty-five and
forty feet, which cost about fifteen hundred dollars. In 1865
John EMRICK and his followers purchased the CRAIG interest,
and in 1876 the United Brethren (virtually the only congregation that
now assembles there) purchased the THOMAS interest.
The first pastor of the new Church was Frank KUMLER, who is still
the minister to this flock of about sixty souls. Gilbert COX,
Joseph KUMLER, and Henry J. KUMLER are, and have been, the
trustees of the Church. Gilbert COX is superintendent of a
large Sabbath-school of this Church.
The Presbyterian Church of Jacksonburg was established
in 1872. Theodore MARSTON and James M. STOKES were
elders. The deacons were Martin BEAVER and Samuel KEPLER.
There were but sixteen members of the new Church, but assessions have
since been made to the number of fifty in all. The pulpit was
supplied by the Rev. Messrs. SWIGGETT, KENDALL, and Caleb E.
JONES. The building was erected during the Summer of 1879, at
a cost of fifteen hundred dollars, and was dedicated in March, 1880, the
Rev. Mr. Cooper, of Cincinnati, preaching the sermon. The
present elders are James STOKES, H. H. LONG, Calvin HUNTER, and W. W.
MILLER. The deacons are Eli MARKS and Francis
CORNTHWAIT. The society is in a flourishing condition, and has
a good Sabbath-school.
Shiloh Church was built very early. It was
at first a log structure, and later was changed into a school-house as
well, with services occasionally. The Shiloh Church is near the
famous camping-grounds of the noted KILLBUCK, the Indian chief,
who kept his clan at the mouth of the stream which empties into Elk
Creek here. At the burial grounds of this place, Dame RUMOR
states, the Indians once surprised a party while interring one of their
number, and scalped one or two. KILLBUCK was about half
civilized, and when his warriors left refused to go with them. He
afterward went to Indiana.
The graveyards of this township are numerous, there
being as yet no township cemetery. Among those whose names should
be perpetuated in remembrance, and whose inscriptions are fast becoming
obliterated in consequence of many years of exposure to the weather,
are:
John THOMAS, who died April 4, 1856, aged 56.
Eleanor, his wife, died March 24, 1873, aged 75.
Gilbert COX, died Noveber 22, ___, aged 85.
Anna COX, died October 28, 1862, aged 76.
James CRAIG, died March 31, 1872; aged 71.
John CRAIG, died December 4, 1840, aged 78. CRAIG
was a Revolutionary soldier.
James TODD, one of the first Blacksmiths in Jacksonburg, died
February 27, 1850, aged 61.
John BAIRD, died September 3, 1855, aged 69.
Nancy BAIRD, died December 3, 1862; aged 74.
Samuel STOKES, died October 11, 1860, aged 66.
The foregoing were
buried at the old yard of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
Jacksonburg:
In the Siloh Burying Ground are:
George KELLEY, died March 25, 1830, aged 61.
Elizabeth KELLEY, died October 16, 1850, aged 49
Isaac ALLEN, died August 1, 1849, aged 85.
Elizabeth ALLEN, died December 4, 1848, aged 77.
Isaac WOLVERTON, died February 25, 1859, aged 71
Catherine WOLVERTON, died August 30, 1849; aged 56.
Joseph KELLEY, died July 9, 1857, aged 88.
Elizabeth, his wife, died July 9, 1857, aged 75.
John LESLIE, died May 5, 1855, aged 81. Rumor says that the
last was the first white man married in Cincinnati.
The old BRELSFORD
grave-yard contains:
John BRELSFORD, died October 13, 1833, aged 42.
Pierson BRELSFORD, died October 5, 1848, aged 65,
William HUTCHINS, died March 18, 1822, aged 63.
Catherine HUTCHINS, died August 2, 1823, aged 77.
Chloe BATES, a young lady, who committed suicide, died February
17, 1833, aged 15.
Rickus HUFFMAN had one
of the first still-houses in the township. He was required to go
to Cincinnati on foot for his yeast, which he usually brought in a jug.
On one of these trips home he was crossing the last hill, just in sight
of his home, when, by accident, the jug fell and was broken. He,
nothing daunted, turned on his heel once more, reached Cincinnati, and
then returned to his own home, performing the whole journey and making
the two trips in an incredibly short space of time. It was
probably safe to say, from what old citizens state, that Wayne Township
had at least one still-house for every section of land in the township.
SEVEN-MILE.
Samuel BRAND, original
proprietor of Seven-Mile, came early to Wayne township and bought five
hundred acres of land where Seven-Mile town is now. His children
were Samuel, George, Michael, and Mrs. John R. RITTER and
Mrs. Susan WATKINS. He built a mill near the present depot,
and also a distillery, which he ran himself until 1835, when a division
of the property was made among the children, Mrs. RITTER falling
heir to the mill. This property was successfully kept up until
1855 by Mr. RITTER, when it went down. Mr. John WALTER
bought forty acres of this land in 1838, upon which the town of
Seven-Mile was laid out.
John CORNTHWAIT also built a saw-mill and
grist-mill half a mile south of town in a very early day, perhaps 1820.
Franklin, his son, came into possession of the property.
His brothers John and Edward each received farms.
Franklin sold this mill to Kenry KARNS, who carried on the
business extensively. He sold it out in 1849 to John K.
FLICKINGER, who still owns it.
The town of Seven-Mile was not laid out until in the
year 1841. At that time John WALTER laid out Walnut and
High Streets, and one twelve-foot alley. The first lot was sold to
F. B. LANDIS in 1847. Half an acre was given to the United
Brethren Society in 1844; and after 1851, additions were laid out by
F. B. LANDIS, SURBER, BOBBENMEYER & SURBER, and WEIDER.
In the Spring of 1838 there were but two hosues in
Seven-Mile. They were the frame part of the old store tavern, part
of which is now still standing, and is used as an ice-house, and a
blacksmith's shop that stood just opposite.
John BOLIARD at that time owned the store and
shop. He bought the store of Stephen EMERICK, the first
merchant of the town. John BOLIARD was the first blacksmith
in the town. He sold the tavern to Henry JACOBY, and built
the present brick in 1840. Henry JACOBY came early and
bought a large tract of land from the POTTENGERS. His son
David fell heir to the hotel. It is now owned by Adam
HEILAND. John WALTER bought the blacksmith's shop in 1838,
and added to it a wagon-shop, where Jacobs's shop is now.
Jacobs had owned this property since 1850, and the shop still
does a good business. The property of Fred BERKE was built
in 1851 by Nathan HELLER. Henry JACOBY, a son-in-law
of Peter HELWIG, it is supposed, built the old tavern sixty-five
or seventy years ago. He was a cabinet-maker. A Mr.
KRAMER, another son-in-law, ran the new hotels awhile.
The town of Seven-Mile was incorporated in the Spring
of 1875. The officers of the first organization were W. E.
KUMLER, mayor; John C. RICHARDSON, clerk; E. SAMUELS,
treasurer. The councilmen were David EDWARDS, W. F. GRANSFIELD,
John WALTER, J. A. YAGER, and Dr. R. E. PRIOR.
The liquor traffic question has been the one
principal absorbing theme of the magnates, and some considerable good
has been accomplished. The present executive officers are Dr.
M. H. HAYES, mayor; J. C. RICHARDSON, clerk; E. SAMUELS,
treasurer.
An academy was established in 1858, and was a stock
affair, William K. WALTER being president; Dr. E. C.
WOOLEY, treasurer; D. M. WIEDER, secretary of the company.
I. N. HUGHES, with an assistant or two, opened up that same year
with an attendance of about sixty pupils, and for a couple of years the
institution was very successful. Mr. R. B. HANBY, author of
"Nellie Gray," succeeded Mr. HUGHES. B. STARR had the last
school in 1866, when the building was bought by the school district of
Seven-Mile for $3,500. The building cost $7,000, and the our acres
of ground bought of Jacob SPEER cost $600. The house
contains four rooms, and is two stories high.
The Presbyterians of Seven-Mile organized
their society in 1878. There were then about fifty members of this
Church in the town and vicinity. Burns WILSON, Dr. R. E. PRIOR,
David SCOTT, John SMITH, Wilson B. SMITH, and Samuel FLICKINGER
were the principal men who secured the organization. The church
building was not erected until in 1881. They worshiped prior to
this time in the German Reformed church. It is a handsome
structure, thirty-six by fifty-six feet, two stories high, having a
basement of three rooms. The Church service is now held in this
part. The first supply to the pulpit was the Rev. Mr. KENDALL.
Following him were Mr. SWIGGETT and C. E. JONES. It
is now vacated. The eldes of the Church are Burns WILSON, Dr.
PRIOR, J. D. SMITH, David SCOTT, John WILLIAMSON, and Samuel
FLICKINGER.
The United Brethren Church was built
in 1844. Jacob and Samuel FLICKINGER and John
PRICE were the trustees. The building was of brick, one story,
thirty by forty-five, and cost about $1,500. The first pastors
were the Rev. Theophilus RORK and his assistant. It was
then a circuit. The membership of the Church at that time
consisted of the FLICKINGERS, PRICES, FLENARDS, ADAMSES, BREUBARGERS,
and FELLERS. In 1847 an extensive revival took place, when
the WALTERS, SHAFFERS, and LUCASES and others joined.
The old church was taken down and a new one erected in 1859. It
was dedicated January 1, 1860, by Bishop EDWARDS. It is
thirty-seven by sixty feet, one story high and twenty-two feet in the
clear, and cost $5,000. The Rev. William LANTHERN was the
first pastor, and served two years. the Rev. John WALTERS
preached from 1865 to 1870, and the Rev. John KILBOURN is the
present pastor. The membership is thirty.
Dr. Joseph HIPPART was the first
physician that settled in Seven-Mile. He came here in 1848, and
died of the cholera in 1849. He was a brother of Dr. James
HIPPART, of Richmond, Indiana. He was a young man of the
regular school of practice. Following HIPPART came
HALDERMAN, BERCHARD, John IRWIN, E. C. WOOLEY, D. H. KUMLER, William
DAVIES, HAYNES, and PRIOR. Dr. KUMLER practiced
here a number of years. He died in December, 1881. Dr.
DAVIS was a United Brethren preacher also. He went to Iowa and
became president of a college, dying in 1880. Dr. N. E.
BROOMBAUGH, an eclectic physician, came in 1861. He went as
lieutenant in the Eighty-second Regiment, and was here after the war.
Dr. PRIOR, a graduate of the Ohio Medical College, came in 1875.
Dr. HAYNES came in 1859, and is here yet. He graduated in
the Ohio Medical College, and also in the Miami Medical College,
Cincinnati, Ohio.
The turnpike running through Seven-Mile,
from Eaton to Hamilton was built in 1833 and 1834. The pike was
made wide enough for three teams to pass, and was sixty feet from one
side of the road to the other. The building of it was
unnecessarily expensive, so much so that it has always been a poor
investment. The first officers were John WOODS, president,
and David BARNETT, James BARNETT, Albert HAYNES, Stephen INGERSOLL,
and Andrew McCLEARY, directors. It was not an unusual sight
to see forty teams stopping in Seven-Mile over night at a time, so great
was the travel.
A select school was established by Prof.
B. START in 1870. He came to Seven-Mile four years previous to
this time and took charge of the academy. He is a graduate of
Middletown, Connecticut, and taught in the Weslyan Female College,
Cincinnati, and Hamilton, prior to his coming to this place. His
school is for boys only.
The first hotel was built by Peter HELWIG, as
early as 1810 or 1812. He was a son-in-law of Henry JACOBY,
and was wealthy. He and JACOBY came from Pennsylvania.
He also built a mill in St. Clair Township, near the line, but sold it
to a man by the name of FLICKINGER. He was a carpenter, and
sold out the hotel to his father-in-law. Henry JACOBY built
the brick hotel just a few years before the pike was constructed.
John BOLLIARD, a Pennsylvania German, kept the first store in the
town. It was a small affair, and of a general character. It
was established before the first hotel was built, and, after the coming
of Henry JACOBY, the store was bought by him and considerably
enlarged. He only remained a few years. Wilson CLARKE
and William LIGHTSINGER each have good store in the place now.
The first school was taught by William
GARRISON, a lame man. The school-house was half a mile east of
Seven-Mile. The building stood on the farm now owned by Robert
WITHROW, and was one that had been lived in a few years. The
first building was very early. The second building was erected in
1830, and the third home was put up in 1878.
Bethel is a church building
erected about the year 1852, by both the German Reformed and Lutheran
societies. Jacob BARCH, Nathan, George, and Henry
JACOBY, Jr., Charles WIEDER (who donated the ground), Reuben
WIEDER, and Jonathan SORBER, were the leaders in the
movement. Each society contributed its share towards the
enterprise, and both together control the Church. The building is
a one-story brick, and is sixty-two by forty feet. The Rev.
John VOGT was the first pastor, and remained for or five years.
He was succeeded by a man who stayed but a short time. The present
pastor, the Rev. Joshua MECKLING, has had the pastoral care
twenty-five years. The society consisted first of over a hundred
members. It is now quite small.
The Cotton Run Methodist Episcopal
Church was organized in Seven-Mile in a very early day, but no
house of worship save the cabins of the settlers existed previous to the
year 1831, when the leading members took the matter is hand and built a
church. Prominent among these few was Samuel P. WITHROW.
He was not then a Church-member, but with a heart in the work shouldered
the chief responsibility, and through his efforts mainly the house of
worship was built. He burned the brick, hired help, and did most
of it himself. His father, John WITHROW, donated the lot of
an acre of ground, on the corner of his farm. Now where James
WITHROW lives. Daniel SHORT and Reuben KERCHIVAL
were also prominent in this movement. The Rev. Joshua HOLLAND
was the first pastor. Samuel P. WITHROW soon after joined
the Church, and was made leader of a class immediately, which position
he has held ever since that time. He has also helped to build
other churches. The Rev. Mr. BRECOUNT is the present
pastor, and the Church has a membership of seventy.
< BIOGRAPHIES > |
