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A township under the name of Randolph
township was formed Nov. 6, 1804, from
Elizabeth township. It began on the south
about two miles and a half below the present
northern boundary of Montgomery county and
extended twenty-four miles north of the northern
boundary of Montgomery county. When the
act constituting Miami county went into effect
Mar. 1, 1807, nearly all of Randolph township
fell to Miami county. June 1, 1807, what
remained was taken away and added to other
townships and from that time until Sept. 7,
1807, there was no Randolph township. At
the time last named a new Randolph township was
formed including all of the territory in the
northwest part of Montgomery county extending
six miles south and twelve miles east to the
line dividing the fifth and sixth ranges.
In 1809 a part of Randolph was taken in the
formation of Madison township and in 1817 all of
Randolph lying east of the Stillwater river was
used in the forming of Butler township. In
1825 Clay township was formed from a part of
Randolph township, since which time the
boundaries of Randolph township have remained
unchanged. The township is six miles from
north to south and has an average width of about
four and one-half miles. The surface is
undulating. The township is drained by the
Stillwater river and by tributaries of Wolf
creek. The township abounds in bountiful
springs. It is said that there are nearly
one hundred living springs within its territory.
An abundance of good building stone is readily
accessible.
In connection with the account of Butler township a
statement has been given in regard to the party
of settlers led by Mast and Hoover
who made their settlement in Randolph and Butler
townships in 1802. Randolph township was
undoubtedly named from Randolph county, North
Carolina, from which these early settlers of
Randolph township came. Captain
Mast, a son of the pioneer of that name,
said of these early settlers that they were “in
low circumstances, had money enough to make
their entries and to buy some provisions during
the winter.” In going from Dayton to their
place of settlement it was necessary for them to
cut a road as they went. In consequence of
the large number of persons coming about the
same time from North Carolina, Randolph township
became settled more rapidly than most other
parts of the county.
The township lies wholly within the originally surveyed
subdivision num bered township 5, range 5.
The sections divided by the Stillwater river
have been noticed in connection with the
description of Butler township. The list
of original purchasers for the part of the
subdivision named constituting Randolph township
is the following:
| Section 3
- |
|
|
E.
½
George Yount |
Nov. 10,
1802 |
|
W.
½
David Mort |
Feb. 15,
1802 |
| Section 4
- |
|
|
E.
½
William Willis |
Mar. 11,
1802 |
|
W.
½
Benjamin Iddings |
July 5,
1802 |
| Section 5
- |
|
|
E.
½
Jeremiah Mate |
Aug. 3,
1802 |
|
W.
½
William Low |
May 23,
1806 |
Page 918 -
| Section 6
- |
|
|
N. E.
¼
Daniel Eller |
Aug. 18,
1814 |
|
N. W.
¼
Samuel Miller |
Dec. 11,
1818 |
|
S. E.
¼
William Brumbaugh |
June 17,
1814 |
|
S. W.
¼
Jacob Albaugh |
Aug. 15,
1816 |
| Section 7
- |
|
|
S. E.
¼
Henery Brumbaugh |
Aug. 17,
1811 |
|
N. W.
¼
Joseph Rorer |
Nov. 29,
1811 |
|
S. E.
¼
Henry Warren |
Aug. 27,
1811 |
|
S. W.
¼
Joseph rorer |
Nov. 29,
1811 |
| Section 8
- |
|
|
N. E.
¼
William Willis |
Mar. 15,
1805 |
|
N. W.
¼
George Beard |
June 3,
1806 |
|
S. E.
¼
John Bowman |
Mar. 6,
1806 |
|
S. W.
¼
David Patty |
Dec. 29,
1806 |
| Section 9
- |
|
|
N. E.
¼
R. Ewing and D. Sampson |
Mar. 9,
1802 |
|
N. W.
¼
William McClintock |
Mar. 14,
1805 |
|
S. E.
¼
R. Ewing and D. Sampson |
Mar. 9,
1802 |
|
S. W.
¼
Robert Ewing |
Dec. 21,
1804 |
| Section
10 - |
|
|
E.
½
David Hoover |
Feb. 16,
1802 |
|
W.
½
Daniel Hoover |
Aug. 11,
1802 |
| Section
15 - |
|
|
N. E.
¼
Theobald Fouts |
Nov. 11,
1811 |
|
N. W.
¼
Jacob Weybright |
Dec. 2,
1812 |
|
S. E.
¼
Daniel Rasor |
Jan. 12,
1813 |
|
S. W.
¼
David Stutzman |
Dec. 12,
1815 |
| Section
17 - |
|
|
N. E.
¼
Abraham Detor |
Mar. 4,
1805 |
|
N. W.
¼
Abraham Detor |
Jan. 13,
1807 |
|
S. E.
¼
John Miller |
Feb. 26,
1805 |
|
S. W.
¼
David Miller |
Jan. 13,
1807 |
| Section
18 - |
|
|
N. E.
¼
William Snider |
Nov. 2,
1814 |
|
N. W.
¼
Daniel Rasor |
April 4,
1814 |
|
S. E.
¼
John Bougher |
Sept. 29,
1813 |
|
S. W.
¼
John Wademan |
May 4,
1816 |
| Section
19 - |
|
|
N. E.
¼
Jacob Stover |
June 18,
1805 |
|
W.
½ N. W. ¼
George Roudebush |
July 26,
1821 |
|
E.
½ N. W. ¼
Daniel Ocks |
Aug. 15,
1821 |
|
S. E.
¼
Charles Wellbaum |
Nov. 8,
1813 |
|
S. W.
¼
Jacob Grow |
April 29,
1805 |
| Section
20 - |
|
|
N. E.
¼
David Snider |
Oct. 30,
1805 |
|
N. W.
¼
Henry Absful |
Nov. 12,
1806 |
Page 919 -
Page 920 -
The first mill was constructed in 1803 by
Daniel Hoover on the land purchased by him
in section 10. With the least effort and
expense a magnificent water power was obtained.
The water from a number of very large springs
flowed together in a stream coming down to an
abrupt fall of fifty-six feet. From this
point on down to where the stream enters the
Stillwater river three-quarters of a mile
beyond, in course of time a number of mills were
erected - first, the gristmill named with an
overshot wheel and an undershot wheel each
twenty-five feet in diameter, second, a
stillhouse with a twenty-five foot overshot
wheel, then a chair factory, and then a sawmill.
Another stream, coming down to the same brink a
short distance away from the first, was made to
drive machinery for boring rifles. The gun
factory here was very celebrated in its day.
Martin Sheets, who established the
gun factory, had in 1812 a contract with the
government to furnish one hundred guns at twelve
dollars each. He did his own boring and
rifling and manufactured his own flintlocks.
In 1806 there was a mill in Salem built by
John Wertz and rebuilt in 1820 by
John Rench. Large mills were
built on the Still water. Some cargoes of
corn, flour, bacon and so forth were sent from
Union on flat-boats by the Stillwater and the
Miami to New Orleans. Perhaps in no equal
area were there more distilleries than in
Randolph township. Jacob Heck
and the Turners did a large distilling
business at Salem. At Union there were two
or three hat shops, three shoemakers and two or
three tanyards.
TOWNS.
SALEM was platted in 1816 by John
Leatherman. There has been in the town
a succession of enterprising and prosperous
storekeepers and various forms of local
manufacturing have been carried on.
Wagons, saddles, harness, boots and shoes,
barrels and casks were at different times
extensively manufactured. It is
unfortunate that in consequence of there being
another town of the same name in the state it
was necessary to give the postoffice another
designation, namely, Clayton.
Page 921 -
The population of Salem is placed at about three
hundred. In all its history Salem has been
an important local center and has had a
recognized influence on the history of the
county. Well-traveled pikes lead in and
out of the village and teh Dayton and Northern
traction line makes almost a right-angle in its
course to reach it.
The practicing physicians at Salem are Dr. H. E.
Gardiner and Dr. Pumphrey. Dr. G.
W. Hous and Dr. Levi and Samuel
Spitler,occupied a prominent place in the
period of their practice
ENGLEWOOD began its career in 1841 when it wsa
platted under the name of Harrisburg by
Matthias Gish. When a postoffice was
established the name Iamton was given
to the postoffice. About ten years
ago, to get away from all confusion the name of
Englewood was given to the town and postoffice.
About ten years ago, to get away from all
confusion the name Englewood was given to the
town and postoffice. The town has not
grown beyond being a convenient neighborhood
center. Since the building of the Delphos
branch of the Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton
railroad and the completion of the Dayton and
Covington traction line the facilities of
communication have been greatly improved.
The town claims about two hundred and fifty
inhabitants.
UNION was platted in 1816 by Daniel
Rasor and David Hoover.
The mills centered there at an early day have
been referred to. Facilities of
transportation and some conditions otherwise are
the same as at Englewood. The population
is given as three hundred. Dr. F. W.
Smith has a well established practice as a
physician and is numbered with the useful
citizens of the place.
Here are yet living Eli Hoover now eighty
three years old and his brother William,
seventy-three years old. They are the sons
of Daniel Hoover, the son of
Daniel the pioneer of that name. Four of the
sons of Daniel Hoover, Jr., were born
blind including the two named above. For
many years they traveled through all parts of
the country giving concerts on stringed and
brass instruments. A sister was also born
blind, while five others of the family were
without this defect.
TAYLORSBURG on the southern boundary of the
township was founded by Adam Rodebaugh.
The population has been placed at one hundred
and thirty-five. The site of the town is
made much more eligible since the Dayton and
Northern traction line was constructed through
it.
CHURCHES.
Page 922 -
THE SALEM UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH
Page 923 -
brating
the Lord’s Supper. Societies partial to
the various views set forth were formed, old
congregations became divided and members
withdrew and a general ferment was excited in
the entire belt across the county. Some of
the best people were swept into the movement
because of its aiming or professing to secure a
simpler and higher Christian life. As the
tide subsided it left much wreckage. Yet
the results of it are being gathered up and
conserved in different ways.
The Swankites, a portion of the Wengerites and a
portion of the River Brethren united in what
they called the Brethren in Christ, minor
differences among them being tolerated. In
1882 a Mennonite preacher from Canada appeared
and various ones of the bodies before named
organized themselves into what is known as the
Mennonite Brethren in Christ. They are
orthodox on the main doctrines of Christianity,
make their conception of holiness prominent, and
are strict as to the ordinances. One or
another of the bodies named is represented in
Vandalia, Salem, Phillipsburg and various other
places. Some persons who were once
connected with the movement have united
themselves with the churches which throughout
the years have pursued the even tenor of their
ways.
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