OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS

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Welcome to
Clark County, Ohio
History & Genealogy



 
Source:
The History of Clark County, Ohio:

containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., general and local statistics, portraits of early settlers
and prominent men, history of the Northwest Territory, history of Ohio, map of Clark County, Constitution
of the United States, miscellaneous matters, etc., etc.

Publ. Chicago:  W. H. Beers & Co., 

1881

MAD RIVER TOWNSHIP
By Daniel Baker

Pg. 719

     One hundred years ago, an Indian trail from old Piqua to old Chillicothe was the only highway this locality could boast of.
     A mere pathway, wide enough for one person, or one horse single file, now winding around a precipitous hill, now passing around the border of a swamp, now taking a straight course for the shallow fording of a river, such were the public. highways one hundred years ago.  And going back in imagination to a period of which we have no historic record, we find here and there evidences of a race of people prior to the red men, and altogether different in their habits and modes of life.  They are by some writers called the Mound-Builders, and one of those large cone-shaped structures is about all the proof they have left in this locality to tell us they ever existed.  Some antiquarians infer that these people, whoever they were, were tire worshipers, charcoal and appearances of rude altars being found in excavations made in those mounds; and who knows but in that unknown period, even before the war whoop of the Indian had ever been heard in these primeval forests - that even right here in Mad River Township, and on the Knob Prairie Mound, was heard the agonizing cries of little children whom mistaken parents compelled to pass through the lire to appease the ire of their offended God?
     Mad River Township possesses, in common with the comity of which it forms a part, many natural advantages not accorded to all other localities of like extent.  A gentle, rolling upland of deep, rich soil, a second bottom level black, loamy soil, a prairie naturally wet in places, and in places swampy, but easily drained, excellent for pasture or meadow.  An abundance of building-rock of excellent quality, inexhaustible quantities of excellent, lime rock, also here and there a specimen of fire-proof rock of a dark grayish color, soft and free from sand or grit, very durable for furnaces, abundance of gravel dispersed at convenient points, easily accessible and good quality for roads; abundance of water for stock, having on the north Mad River, a tributary of the Great Miami; toward the center flows the Muddy Run, a tributary of Mad River, and other smaller living streams interspersed at various points: also, large never-failing springs in many places, as the Layton Springs, situated on what is now known as the Rubsam farm - a spring that in former time, was utilized for milling purposes, and forms a tributary of Mad River, emptying into that stream at the head of the Republic Paper-Mill dam, and contrib-

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utes largely to the power used for propelling the machinery attached to the Republic Works at Enon Station; the Partington Spring, a beautiful, never-failing spring flowing from the rocks on the side of a very steep bluff, and having about twenty-five feet fall, and farming a power that, in former times, drove the machinery for a woolen factory; the Galloway Spring, on what is now the Frank Johnson farm, a large spring on the side of the hill overlooking Muddy Run bottom; the Indian Spring, near the present site of Enon, on the north side of Cox's Grove (since the ditch has been made, this spring boils up in the center of the ditch).  This spring was once an Indian rendezvous, a regular camping ground when on their hunting expeditions, and many other springs of more or less notoriety.  The timber is of medium growth, principally oak of the different varieties; one variety, however, is likely to become extinct - the black oak, which, for years past, has been dying off rapidly; also hickory, some walnut, and along the bottoms are poplar, beech, ash and some other species; and now, looking back one hundred years, we behold all those materials which nature has furnished, and which are so necessary to the development of a civilized state of being, in possession of a race who appreciated a forest only as a retreat for game, and as a place of concealment from enemies; who regarded the steep cliffs along the Mad River, which are now being rapidly transformed into lime and building material, as nature's breastworks for the protection of the red man, and as barriers to the progress of his enemies.  And now, to contrast the present condition of this region of country with what it was one hundred years ago, it is evident that some powerful agency has been at work to transform this once howling wilderness into fruitful fields; to replace the narrow, serpentine trail of the savage by the broad public highway; to replace the little hut by a stately palace; to supersede the traffic in hides and pelts by horse and foot, by mammoth cargoes of produce and merchandise, live stock and human freight, borne forward with the speed of the wind by methods unknown one hundred years ago.  The agencies that have brought about this wonderful transformation will occupy an important place in the subsequent part of his historic record.  First comes the backwoodsman with his ax, and levels the forest, and, with the aid of his oxen, breaks the soil and cultivates his crops.  Next, or simultaneously, comes the mechanic, with a few rude tools; the minister of the Gospel, the school-teacher, the merchant and the medical practitioner follow, fine artisans, skilled mechanics, statesmen and lawyers bringing up the rear.  Mad River Township has for its northern boundary, its entire length, the Mad River, the general direction of this line being from northeast to southwest.  On the east it is bounded by Springfield and Green Townships.  On the south it is bounded by the Greene County line the entire length, commencing at the southeast corner of the township and running due west four sections, thence due north one section, thence west to Mad River at the western limit of the township.  The entire length of the township from east to west in a straight line is about nine miles.  The length of the boundary line on the north without including the meanderings of the river, is between ten and eleven miles.  The width of the township at the widest point is about six and a half miles, and from the description it will be seen it runs to a mere point at the extreme west end, and contains about thirty-three square miles.
     The last census, taken the present season, gives Mad River a population of 1,812, against 1,493 in 1850; a gain of the 319 in thirty years.  But it must be borne in mind that, during this period, a vast army has been steadily marching Westward, and that Mad River was not exempted from the draft to supply this vast and ever-increasing army with new recruits, and, in addition to this, the Soldiers' Monument in the Enon Cemetery bears the names of about thirty Mad River Township boys who were swallowed up in the maelstrom of the great

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J. M. Hanes
Mad River Tp.

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rebellion.  The first settler within the limits of the territory now comprised in Mad River Township was James Galloway, on what is now the Francis Johnson farm, Section 5, Range 8.  Mr. Galloway came in an early day; the exact date is not fully determined, but not later than 1798.  He came from Pennsylvania to Kentucky, and, on account of the insecurity of land titles at that time in Kentucky, owing to military claims, he removed with his wife to Ohio, as above stated, taking a tract of 400 acres, partly upland and partly rich bottom, along the Muddy Run.  Mr. Galloway was a blacksmith, and he brought with him an anvil and a few tools, and, as he was the only blacksmith for many miles around, he had a good run of custom.  His principal customers for a few years were Indians, who were then on friendly terms with the whites.  There is a story about the anvil which he brought with him that we will relate, not vouching for its truth, however, and it is this; that he made a "lizard" a kind of sled, from the fork of a tree, and placed the anvil on it and drove in pins to hold it in position, and fastened the lizard or sled to his horse's tail, and thus hauled his anvil from Cincinnati to Muddy Run.  The anvil is in possession of T. J. Barton, Springfield, Ohio, a relative of Mr. Galloway, and is in a good state of preservation, and will probably weigh 175 pounds.  A day-book used by him is in possession of Francis Johnston, a relative of Mr. Galloway, having charges as early as 1794.  Some of the entries on this book would appear singular if made at the present day, but, to illustrate the customs of those days, a few are as follows:
     "March 2, 1799. - Adam M. Farson, to one ring and stepel made of his iron 1s. 10˝d
     "March 7, 1800. - Robert McKinney, to one ax steeled of his steel 5s. 7d.
     "April 26, 1800. - David Lowry, to share laid of my iron, colter laid, 19s. 3d."
     And many other similar charges, showing that a very small amount of iron, that to-day would not be regarded or accounted of any value, was then carefully and economically used and strictly accounted for.  The English currency, pound, shilling and penny, occurs in this book down to and during a part of the year 1805, during a part of which he used the English and United States currency interchangeably.  After 1805, the United States currency prevails.  Mr. Galloway was a soldier in the Revolutionary war.  The next settlers after Mr. Galloway were Joseph and Robert Layton, in 1801.  They came from Pennsylvania, and Joseph settled on a part of Section 32, now known as the Rubsam farmRobert Layton settled on a part of the same section, on what is known as the William Layton farm.  Joeph Layton was elected one of the first Trustees of the township; was afterward elected Justice of the Peace, and became one of the first Judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Clark County.  In 1801, Abel Crawford came from Kentucky and settled on Section 27, Range 9, on what is now the property of Henry Snyder.  On this farm there is an excellent spring of cold water, and a delightful grove, and, being convenient to the railroad, it is in the summer season a favorite resort for picnics and Sunday-school excursions, and as a pleasure resort is known as the “Cold Springs.”  The same year, James Woods, from Pennsylvania, settled on the Joseph Layton tract already described; also, in 1801, William Parmer, from New York, settled on what is now the south paid of the Henry Snyder home place, Section 26, Range 9, near the Stilwell Springs.  The same year, Christian Miller came from Kentucky and settled on what is now known as the J. H. Barringer land, Section 18, Range
8.  Shrofe, from Kentucky, and Christian Shrofe, his son, settled about the same time on the Bunyan place, Section 22, Range 8; also Myers and Spencer, sons-in-law of Shrofe Samuel Davis came from New Jersey in 1803, and settled in the west part of the township.  About .1805, Moses Miller, from old Springfield,

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Hamilton County, settled on the land now belonging to the heirs of Melyn Miller, Section 36, Range 8.  A part of the farm is still occupied by the widow of Melyn Miller; also Uriah Blue, on the Hake, now the L. J. M. Baker,  farm, Section 28, Range 8.  About the same time and from same place came Reuben Winget, and settled on what is now the Reuben Shellabarger farm, Section 6, Range 8.  The same year, Melyn and Jonathan Baker  came from Butler County, the former entering Section 31, Range 9, and settled on the north part of the section, on what is known as the Daniel Baker tract.  Mr. Baker came from New Jersey to the present site of Cincinnati in 1790, and bought 200 acres of land on Walnut Hills.  He afterward sold out and removed to Butler County, and thence to Clark.  In those days, the log cabins of the older settlers were thrown open to receive the families of those who came among them to settle, for such time as was necessary, with the assistance of the neighbors, to erect a similar structure for themselves.  Melyn Baker, on several occasions, entertained new arrivals until they could erect and occupy their own cabins.  About the year 1807, Richard Hudjul and family and Henson Reeder and family were welcomed to the hospitalities of his primitive abode during the time they were building their own equally humble residences.
     Reeder came from Hamilton County, and, after trying several locations on this side of the river, be removed to Bethel Township and settled on the John Crain farm.  About 1806, Dewitt settled near where the Enon Station is now

 

     In 1805, Jacob Reeder came from Hamilton County, and settled on a tract of land adjoining what is still known as the Elder Reeder farm.  At the same time came Stephen Reeder, father of Elder Geo. Reeder farm.  At the same time came Stephen Reeder, father Elder Geo. Reeder, and settled on a tract of about 200 acres, which included what is now known as the Elder Reeder farm, Section 13, Range 9.  At the same time came Rule Petersen, from Hamilton County; also, John Brocaw, from Hamilton County, and also settled on the tract years ago known as the Reed farm, Section 14, Range 9, now owned by Frederick Koblentz.  In 1808, John Ambler came from New Jersey and settled on the Partington place, Section 24, Range 9; he afterward moved to Springfield and engaged in the sale of the first goods that were sold in that little village.  At the same time, Thomas Collier, from Ireland, settled on what is now known as the Preston Love farm, Section 23, Range 8.  About the same time, Benjamin Symington, from Delaware, settled on what is now known as the Cyrus Drake farm, Section 29, Range 8.  In 1809, Elias Vickers, a Christian minister, came to the township.  In the same year, John Tenney, from England, settled on what is now the Coffield place, on Muddy Run, Section 11, Range 8.  John Rue, a native of Maryland, came about 1812 his wife, Sarah, was from Pennsylvania, and, previous to their coming to Mad River, had lived in Greene County, Ohio.

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James Anderson
Green Tp.

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