Source:
HISTORY of JEROME TOWNSHIP, UNION COUNTY,
OHIO
Curry, W. L. : Columbus, Ohio: Press of the E. T.
Miller Co.
1913
FIRST SETTLEMENT.
The first
settlers in the territory of Jerome Township were
Joshua and James Ewing, two brothers.
They settled in this territory in 1798 and erected the
first cabin on the west bank of Darby Creek about one
mile north of Plain City. This was the first
cabin erected in the territory of Union County.
Lucas Sullivant had laid out a town near this
spot and called it North Liberty, about a year before
the Ewings emigrated from Lexington County,
Ky., but no house had been erected. At that time
the Indians were very plentiful along Daraby and
seemed loath to leave their favorite "hunting
grounds."
James Ewing established the first store in Union
County, at his farm in Jerome Township, and was
appointed the first postmaster.
Soon after the Ewings arrived in Union County,
other settlers followed, prominent among whom were the
Taylors, Robinsons, Mitchells, Kents, Currys,
Cones, McCulloughs, Bucks, Provins, Notemans, McCunes,
Sagers, Shovers, McClungs, and conners.
Afterwards the Wises, McCampbells,,, Liggetts,
Robinsons, Beards, Woodburns, Hawns, McCrorys, Flecks,
Ketches, Dodges, Gills, Gowans, McDowells' Foxes,
Converses, Kahlers, Ruehlens, Dorts, Crottingers,
Ninnemakers, Beaches, Colliers, Bishops, Hudsons,
Kiles, Stones, Donaldsons, Pattersons, McKittricks,
Frys, Norris, Jackson, Laugheads, Evans, Stewart,
Magill, Biggers, Moss, Rickars, Roneys, Adams,
Herriotts, Hensels, Chapmans, Kilburys, Brinkerhoffs,
Hagers, Morrisons, Wells, Dunborows, Cooks, Arnolds,
Channels, Warners, Bethards, Cramers, Hills, Hoberts,
Greens, McCunes, Bowersmiths, Cases, Harringtons, and
Wagners, all of whom are among the older settlers
came from the colonies of Virginia, Pennsylvania, and
New Jersey, and a few of them from the New England
States.
The large majority of these people were staunch
Presbyterians and Seceders, the church now known as
the United Presbyterian Church. In fact, the
settlers along Daraby and Sugar Run were always known
as strongly Presbyterian people, and at the present
time the U. P. Society is still retained at New
California.
Many of the first settlers came from Revolutionary
ancestors, and a number of Revolutionary soldiers
settled in Union County. Among others was
Colonel James Curry, who received 1,000 acres of
land in part pay for his services as a Revolutionary
soldier, which was for seven years as an officer of
the Virginia Continental Line. Henry Shover,
who settled in the township early in 1800, was also a
soldier of the Revolution. Some of the land is
still in the name of the Curry family.
Jessie Mitchell, born November 4th, 1799, was
the first white child born in Union County, and
removed from Darby Township in 1823. He resided
on the old Mitchell farm until he died, May 13th,
1881. He was a very highly esteemed and
influential citizen, raised a large family, all of
whom are deceased. A number of his descendants
still reside in the township, and some of the land is
still in the Mitchell name.
The citizens were strongly temperate, and it is a
remarkable fact that there has hever been a saloon
within the territory of Jerome Township, although it
has been settled for more than one hundred years.
Another remarkable fact is that so far as is known, no
one of the old settlers or their descendants has ever
been convicted of a felony. Many of the old
settlers were well educated and took an active part in
establishing the common school system in the county. |
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