Marion Township
was originally a part of Madison, from which it was taken
July 18, 1840. Its settlement, however, ante-dates its
organization thirty-six years.
John Uriah Blue was among the earliest
inhabitants of Marion, coming from Virginia in 1804, and
settling on the north fork of Paint Creek, on land now
occupied by Charles McRea, where he resided
till his death in 1820.
About 1804 or 1805, William Curry, the
celebrated counterfeiter, mentioned elsewhere, came from
Virginia, and squatted on land now owned by Smith
Chaffin and his son Jonathan, the present
dwelling of the latter occupying the site of Curry's
cabin. Curry belonged to an organized
band of counterfeiters and horse thieves, of which the
Funk family were members, who operated in this
and surrounding counties, and also in Kentucky, and whose
headquarters for some time were at Curry's house.
Curry was finally arrested and sent to the Ohio
Penitentiary for a term of fifteen years.
John McCarty came from near Frankfort,
Ross County, perhaps as early as 1808, and settled on land
bought of General McArthur, on which he
resided till his death, Nov. 21, 1844.
Edward Wilcox settled in Marion, prior to
1810, on land purchased of Duncan McArthur,
which is now in the possession of Smith Chaffin.
Mr. Wilcox was a man of deserved prominence,
and the township suffered the loss of one of its most useful
citizens in his removal to Illinois in 1832.
Nathaniel and William Newman,
emigrated from Virginia in 1810, perhaps a little earlier,
and settled on land now owned by Smith Chaffin.
Peter Blue was a native of Virginia, and
emigrated from that state in 1810, locating on land now
owned by Smith Chaffin. He was an
excellent citizen, and his death, which occured in 1848, was
deeply deplored by the entire community.[Pg. 878]
Jonathan Shepherd was born in Hardy County,
Virginia, June 30, 1787, and emigrated at the age of fifteen
with his father's family to Ross County, one-half mile from
Frankfort. At the age of twenty, he was united in
marriage with Elizabeth, daughter of William and
Frances Dailey, of Ross County, by whom he had one
child: Susan, the estimable wife of Smith
Chaffin, who at present resides at New Holland, Pickaway
County, and to whom we are indebted for much of the pioneer
history of Marion.
Mr. Shepherd came to
Marion in the spring of 1810, and bought a four years lease
of John Dixon; at the expiration of which, he
rented the same land for one year from Adam Turner,
who in the meantime had purchased this farm. In 1815,
he purchased three hundred acres of land, in Quarrels's
survey, No. 607, of Cadwallader Wallace, agent for
Quarrels, on which he at once settled, and remained till
his death, Apr. 1, 1862, at the advanced age of
seventy-five. He was one of the original members of
the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Salem Chapel, and lived a
consistent Christian life.
Daniel Grubs was a
native Virginia, and emigrated from that state, first to
Kentucky, thence to Marion Township, in 1812, and located on
land now owned by the heirs of Gideon Gamble,
in G. Renich's survey, No. 6,522.
He devoted much time to sport, and many were the
panthers, bears, wolves, and deer he killed in his hunting
expeditions. His death occurred in 1838.
Adam Turner, by birth a native of
Pennsylvania, came to Marion from Ross County, in 1814, and
settled on military survey, No. 628, consisting of one
thousand acres purchased of John Johnson, a
revolutionary soldier, a part of which is in Wayne Township,
owned by Cornelius Smith, the remainder being
in the possession of Barnell Mooney. He
remained till 1835, when he sold to a Mr. White,
of Philadelphia, and removed to Kosciusko County, Indiana.
He was a public spirited, enterprising man, and did much to
develop Marion and Wayne townships.
George Bohrer was born at Hagerstown,
Pennsylvania, Apr. 25, 1776, and in youth accompanied his
father's family to Berkeley County, Virginia, where, July
23, 1796, he married Mary Tallman, and
remained till December, 1799, when the young couple
settled near Steubenville, Ohio, remaining there till
1814, then removed to Marion, and located on land bought of
Uriah Blue, now in the
[Pg. 879]
possession of the widow of Gibson Britton, in
J. Watt's survey, No. 6,941.
In December, 1827, he removed to Washington, and
entered into a partnership in the dry goods and millinery
business with James Woods, in which he continued till
the 3d of May, 1829, when he removed to New Holland,
Pickaway County, and again embarked in the mercantile
business, which he followed till his death, Oct. 11, 1832.
He was the father of eleven children : Rosana,
Mary, Zilpha, Josiah, Eli, Joel,
Rebecca, Lurana, Zenas, Phineas,
and Martha; all of whom are dead except the latter,
Mrs. Martha Long, who resides on Court
Street, Washington.
Mr. Bohrer was a zealous member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and donated a lot on which the
Salem Church was built.
The following incident in connection with the life of
Mrs. Bohrer, the wife of George
Bohrer, whose biography appears elsewhere, we deem
worthy of a place in this work.
Mrs. Bohrer, whose maiden name was
Mary Tallman, was born in Berkeley County,
Virginia, Mar. 19, 1780. Early on the morning of the
7th of January, 1800, she left home to cross the Capin
Mountains, on horseback, to visit her aged parents, who
resided in the vicinity of Sleepy Creek, carrying her infant
daughter, seven months old, with her. The weather was
exceedingly cold, and the snow in the mountains was three
feet deep. For defense and company, she took with her.
the house-dog, a large and powerful spaniel. Having
gained the summit of the mountain range, she concluded to
abandon the regular road, and follow a short cut, hoping
thereby to reach her father's house the same evening.
She had not proceeded far how^ever, before she found herself
bewildered, and in consequence became frightened. In her
perplexity she wandered about through the mountains until
the deep silence of descending night had enveloped the world
in gloom, when she dismounted, fastened her horse to a
sapling, and as well as circumstances would permit, prepared
a place to spend the night. Fortunately she had some
extra clothing with her, in the shape of a shawl and cloak,
and removing, as well as she could, the snow from beneath a
large tree, she made the best disposition possible of her
apparel, commended herself to God and with her babe in her
arms, and her faithful dog by her side, she composed herself
for the night.
For a week previous to undertaking this journey, she
had been
[Pg. 880]
unusually exercised concerning her spiritual welfare, and
had spent much time in perusing an old prayer-book; and now,
in her desolate condition, fur from home and earthly
friends, surrounded by every danger, the cold blasts of
winter sweeping over her, she fully realized her utter
dependence upon God; and the prayers she had read came
vividly to her mind, and she poured forth afresh petitions
for protection and deliverance for herself and child.
To add to her misfortunes, her horse, shortly after he
had been fastened, broke his bridle, and started off at full
speed, leaving her helpless. During that long and
sleepless night she struggled with the freezing elements.
Day dawned at last, and though she and her infant were
prevented from perishing by the extra clothing and the heat
from the dog's body, yet on account of the benumbed and
stiffened condition of her limbs, she could scarcely move or
lift her child. In desperation, however, she made an
effort to return to the road, well knowing that unless she
reached some settlement she must perish with the cold; but
alas! she was unable to find it. Disappointed, weary,
and freezing, she retraced her feeble steps to the spot she
had occupied on the previous night. In the faint hope
that some passing hunter might see and recognize her signs
of distress, which might lead him to her relief, she first
hung her apron on a bush; then tied her handkerchief to an
overhanging limb; broke off a branch here, and bent down the
bushes there, as she passed along, until late in the
afternoon of Saturday, hungry and fainting, she reached her
former lodging place. But feeling now the dread of
passing another night in this desolate place, and seeing the
sun fast declining in the west, she summoned that
indomitable spirit of courage peculiar to her sex when in
difficulty and danger, she determined to make one more
desperate effort to reach a settlement ; and in order to be
less incumbered, she discarded a part of her apparel, and
began anew to contend with the snow, rocks, and caverns of
the mountains. At length she came to a deep, narrow
canyon, down whose percipitous sides descent was impossible
with the child in her arms. In this dilemma, she threw her
babe across the gulch, then made the rugged passage herself
by seizing hold of the laurel bushes in her dangerous
descent and ascent. To her joy, on reaching the
opposite side she found her child uninjured, save a slight
scratch made by the crust of the snow, and clasping it in
her arms she resumed her desolate journey, along a hog path
leading to a cleft of shelving
[Pg. 881]
rocks, ill which these animals were accustomed to sleep.
Here she determined at first to spend the night; hut her
subsequent fears that she and her child might become a prey
to the hogs on their return, overcame this resolution, and
again she dragged herself about three hundred yards distance
to the side of the mountain, where the branches of a
friendly pine offered a sort of protection, which she
accepted for the night. By this time her stockings
were entirely cut off by the crust of the snow, and her
limbs and ankles were profusely bleeding. Carefully
wrapping her clothing around her feet and body, and folding
her babe to her warm bosom, she again implored Divine
protection, and committed herself to Him who she felt must
be her great deliverer. Her faithful dog had not
deserted her, and this night would lie down just where she
bade him; sometimes on her feet and limbs, and then at her
back, as she desired, seeming to realize that this was
necessary to keep her from freezing. During the night
ten inches of snow fell, and the wind howled fiercely
through the leafless branches. From sheer
exhaustion she at last fell asleep. When she awoke in
the morning she heard chickens crowing and dogs barking at
the foot of the mountain, so near was she to a house. She
thought also, that she heard the people feeding their
cattle, and called loud and long for relief; but none came,
the wind, which was from that direction, preventing her
voice from reaching them. This morning she found that her
limbs were greatly swollen, and the skin in many places
broken.
This discovery pierced her to the heart, and having
abandoned all further hope of rescue, she laid her babe upon
the frozen snow, and made her peace with God, in preparation
for the horrible death she felt awaited her; but the thought
of leaving her babe was more than her mother's heart could
bear, and when it began to weep the mother's love asserted
itself, and again folding it to her breast, she resorted to
the expedient of pinning the child's bonnet to the dog's
neck, and sending him to solicit assistance. The
faithful animal, as if perfectly understanding what was
wanted, started off at once, and was afterward tracked to
the nearest house, thence to a mill; but it being
Sabbath-day, and extremely cold, the dwellings were all
closed, no one saw him, and in an hour or two he returned to
his mistress.
At feeding time in the afternoon, she again began
calling, and a man on the top of a stack of hay heard her,
and told his wife that
[Pg. 882]
he heard a noise at the top of the mountains like a person
in distress, and later visited a neighbor, and told him the
same, to which
the latter replied that " he supposed it was only a
panther."
This night was spent in communion with God, and in
anxiety for the safety of her child. Her dog, as on
the previous night, lay precisely where directed by his
mistress, and this, with her covering of snow, prevented her
from freezing.
On Monday morning, she commenced calling the third time
for help, and a man (who proved to be an acquaintance)
feeding his flock, heard her voice, as also did his wife in
the house, who remarked to her husband: "If Polly
Bohrer were near, I should say it was her voice."
James Smith and John Mclntyre
mounted their horses, and, with their guns, started to the
relief, but were unfortunately led in the wrong direction,
by the echoes of Mrs. Bohrer's voice from a
neighboring hill, and returned in the afternoon from a
fruitless search; but as they were stabling their horses,
Mr. Smith again heard the wail of distress.
The sun was about an hour high, and the long, lingering
beams from the far horizon upon the snow-clad wilds,
inspired feelings of the deepest gloom and solitude when
they started again.
The feeble cry of the perishing woman had ceased.
But just as they were about choosing a wrong direction,
impressed with a mysterious feeling that one more effort
would bring her assistance, she called again, and her voice
led them to her.
But here a new difficulty presented itself . Her
clothing was frozen fast to the ground, and in her almost
lifeless condition she was powerless to extricate herself,
and the dog, for some time, refused to let the men approach,
but was finally pacified.
Until now she had not shed a tear; but the hope she had
abandoned of again meeting her friends and loved ones in
this life, rekindled within her as she realized that
deliverance was at hand, and she poured forth copious tears
of joy and thanksgiving. She was speedily conveyed to
the nearest house, where she soon became unconscious, and
remained in this condition twenty-four hours. The
flesh fell from her limbs in many places, and she lost some
of her toes, which prevented her from walking till the
following August. The horse failing to return home,
her husband supposed she had
reached her destination safely, and her parents were unaware
of the intended visit.
[Pg. 883]
Horatio Walker, Daniel Beates,
Samuel Coover, George Slaughter,
Joseph and Jonathan Bryan, were all
early settlers in Marion, locating in different portions of
the township. Walker came from Virginia, and settled
on land now owned by the widow McRea, in G.
Reinck's survey, number 6521. Beates, by
nativity a New Jerseyman, came to Marion from Virginia, and
settled on land now owned by James Dick, in
Dunlap's survey, number 10412. Slaughter emigrated from
Delaware to Marion, and settled on land now owned by the
heirs of James McRea. Coover was
born in Pennsylvania, and came to Ross County, from
Kentucky, in 1812, and and from there to Marion early in the
settlement of this territory. He at first engaged in
his trade, of tailoring, but subsequently entered into land
speculations, and being a man of some means, aided many of
the pioneers of Marion to obtain homes. He had
accumulated quite a fortune at his death, which occurred in
1830. Bryan settled on Paint Creek, near the
line of Wayne, where he passed a long and useful life, in
farming and stock raising.
Charles Beatty, came from Hampshire
County, Virginia, probably as early as 1818, and settled on
land bought of Samuel Dew, Dew's
survey, number 4729, which is now in possession of
William Clark.
James Manary, was born in Pennsylvania,
in about the year 1775, and when two years of age, removed
with his parents to Kentucky. At the age of twelve, he
removed to Ross County, Ohio. His father, James H.,
settled on the North Fork of Paint, four miles west of what
is now known as Chillicothe. He helped to lay out the
village, and was the first representative of Ross.
During the war of 1812, he served as general, and the
subject of this sketch as major, of the militia, which
guarded the frontier. The elder Manary died in
Ross County.
In 1813, he married Catharine Elliott,
whose parents were early settlers of Ross, and lived near
Bourneville. Immediately after their marriage, they
settled on the farm in this township, now owned by their
son, James H., in a large double log house. The
bride's parents settled on the adjoining farm, now owned by
their grandson, B. Elliott.
Mr. Manary made farming and stock
raising his life business. He was elected associate
judge, and served his term to the full satisfaction of the
people. His wife bore him six children, of which
Joseph H., is the only one living. She was a
devoted mem-
[Page 884]
ber of the Bloomingburg Presbyterian Church, and departed
this life in about 1830.
Some years later, he was married to Mrs.
Rebecca Gibson, nee Beatty, daughter of
Charles Beatty, of this county, who lived on the
farm now occupied by William Clark. She
bore him three children. He was one of the original
members of the Bloomingburg Presbyterian Church, and elder
from the organization of the same to his death, always an
indefatigable worker in the Lord's vineyard.
Thomas Cook, sen., was born and
married in Delaware, and came to this state in 1807 or 1808,
settling in Frankfort, Ross County. He next removed to
this township, and located on a tract of land now owned by
Hezekiah Brown, then removed to Indiana, where
he died. It is quite probable that he participated in
the war of 1812.
His son, George B,, was born in Delaware,
in about 1806, and accompanied his parents to this state.
He was married, to Hester Ann, daughter of Daniel
Bates, who emigrated from Virginia, in about 1808,
and who served in the war of 1812. They had three
children: Daniel, Jane, and Thomas J., all living.
The mother died when the latter was quite young. The
father still resides in Iowa.
Moses Thompson emigrated from England to
Delaware, in 1720, where he purchased a large tract of land.
He served in the Revolutionary war, under General
Washington. His sons, John, Moses,
Jesse, Thomas, and Joshua, emigrated to
Ohio, in 1805. Thomas, the subject of this
sketch, was born in Delaware, Sept. 21, 1771, where he
married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard and
Ann Sawyer, and who was born in England, May 28,
1768. They had one child, Thomas jr.,
born June 7, 1804. Mrs. Thompson died.
Jan. 27, 1820. She had been previously married to a
Mr. Wells, by whom she had two children.
Mr. Thompson was twice married afterwards, his
wives names being respectively: Mrs. King, and
Mrs. VanDyke.
Mr. Thompson came to Fayette County, and
settled in Marion Township, on Compton's Creek, on land now
owned by W. Coke Thompson. Being a local
preacher, in the Methodist Episcopal Church, his house was
the stopping place for all the ministers who chanced to pass
that way. He resided on this farm until his death,
which occurred March 19, 1847.
[Page 885]
His son, Thomas, came with the family to this
township, and married Ann Hawkins, daughter of
David and Jane (Clevenger)
Hawkins. David Hawkins died, Dec.
14, 1838, aged fifty-two years, five months, and twenty-nine
days, and his wife was born, Oct. 12, 1789, and died in her
forty-first year. She was the daughter of Aden
Clevenger, who was born in Tennessee, and took an
active part in the Revolutionary war, then removing to this
township, and died here, June 13, 1829.
The mother of David Hawkins came from
Virginia, a widow with a family, and settled in Ross County,
near Dry Run, then removing to this township, located on the
North Fork of Paint.
The marriage of David Hawkins, with
Miss Clevenger, resulted in ten children:
Sarah, Mary, Amanda, Ann,
Elizabeth, Susan, Lavina, David,
Jane, and Aden. Mary, Susan,
Lavina, and Jane, are yet living; the first
three in Iowa, and the latter here. Elizabeth
went to California by overland route, and died after her
arrival.
Ann Hawkins was born
Aug. 29, 1813. Her marriage to Thomas
Thompson, jr., was blessed with eight children:
John David, Aden S., Clay, Coke, Elizabeth, Charlotte,
and Sarah.
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson were members of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, and died triumphantly.
She, Jan. 17, 1861, and he, February, 1877. His
remains repose in the old Salem Cemetery, where all the
deceased members of the family are buried.
He accumulated considerable property, and at his death
owned over seven hundred acres of land, in and around the
homestead, and in addition, possessed lands in Iowa and
Missouri.
Elihu D. Scott, came from Ross County, in 1827,
and located on land bought of William Newman,
owned by Smith Chaffin, where he remained
until about 1847, when he removed to Van Wert County, where
he died.
Benjamin Glaze, son of George
and Catharine Glaze, who emigrated from
Pendleton County, Virginia, to Ross County, Ohio, in 1818,
thence to Union Township, Fayette County, near Bloomingburg,
in 1817, was born in Pendleton County, Virginia, in 1805,
and came with his father's family to Union Township,
remaining at home until the age of twenty-six, when he
married Sarah, daughter of John Core,
of Ross County, on whose farm he lived until 1829, when he
purchased two hundred and fifty acres of wild land, of
Thomas Carey, in the Ladd and Norvell
survey, number 9128, now owned by J. C. Glaze, his
son, and Allen McCoy.
[Page 886]
He afterwards added five hundred acres to this, which
at his death was divided among his five children: John,
Solomon, Benjamin, Isaac, and
Catharine.
Mr. Glaze was the founder of the United
Brethren Church, in Marion, and his life was that of a pure
Christian; his generosity becoming proverbial. His
death occurred, Aug. 21, 1862, and that of his wife, Aug. 6,
1864.
The following obituary was read by Rev. Mr. Davis,
pastor of New Holland Methodist Episcopal Church, at the
funeral of an esteemed pioneer of Marion, Mr. William
Strope:
William Strope was born in the State of
Pennsylvania, May 1, 1805; died in New Holland, Ohio, at two
o'clock on the morning of July 13, 1881, aged seventy-six
years, two months, and twelve days.
He came to Ohio when about eight years old, and for
about sixty years, until within a few months of his death,
was a resident of Marion Township, Fayette County.
He removed to New Holland, where he is well known, a
few months ago, expecting restfully and peacefully to spend
there the last few years of his life. But years longer
were not for him, but instead months of unrest and pain, and
the breaking down of his remarkably vigorous constitution.
Mr. Strope was twice married; first,
early in life, when only about seventeen years of age, to
Miss Nancy Blue, who died in 1848; the
second time, in 1854, to Eliza Brown, his now
bereaved widow. He was the father of twelve children,
six sons and six daughters, and twenty-two grand-children.
Three sons and three daughters preceded him in death.
As testimony to the esteem in which Mr.
Strope was held by his neighbors, as an honorable and
upright citizen, I mention the fact that for thirty-eight
years he held the office of justice of the peace in the
township in which he lived. For a number of years he
was an acceptable member of the order of Masons. He
was never a member of any church, and was somewhat reticent
on that subject, except a few expressions toward the last.
I have been told that kind attention to his family was
characteristic of Mr. Strope, and rarely have
I witnessed such unwearied attention and sacred devotion to
every wish and want of a suffering, dying husband and
father, as I have seen, and been affected by it, in this the
case of my near neighbor. When you asked me to
[Pg. 887]
pray, as I did but a few minutes before the end, when we
did all that could be done in the presence of God in that
chamber of death, by the dimly burning lamp,
committing unto God, who gave it, the departing spirit of
your aged father, and the companion with whom you (Mr.
Strope) have walked for more than a quarter of a
century, I knew and felt how it was rending your hearts.
Let us think that God, who knows best of all the
inmost hearts of men, understood him when he said, several
weeks ago., that he had tried to make his peace with his
God, and that a divine whisper to his soul, unheard by us,
assured him that if a man die, he shall live again.
----------
CHURCHES.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
In 1814, the first
church society was organized in Marion. At was a
Methodist Episcopal Church organization, and took place at
the house of George Newman's, where services
were held for a period of perhaps two years, then changed to
the house of George Bohrer, where they were continued
till 1818, when a hewed log church, called Salem Chapel, was
erected on a lot donated by Fleming Twiford,
in Eggleston's survey, No. 7,359, for church and
burial services. Rev. Bacon was perhaps
the first minister that first preached to this society.
The Salem burial ground is the oldest within the township.
This church was burned in 1822 or 1823, but was shortly
afterward re-built on the site of the former building.
Among the first ministers that occupied the Old Salem
Church, was the celebrated Henry T. Bascom.
In 1833, this church was transferred from the Deer
Creek Circuit to the Old Washington Circuit, and was
occupied till about 1853.
The early members of this society, embraced the best
citizens of the township; among whom were the following
names: Jonathan Shepherd and family, Horatio
Walker and family, Abel Loyd and
family, Thomas Loyd and family, Thomas
Holland and family, George Borher and
family, Esq. Twiford and family, John
Grub and family, James Tall man and
wife, Borton Anderson, and Mary McClure.
[Pg. 888]
UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH.
In 1831 or 1832, a
United Brethren society was organized at the dwelling of
David Turnipseed, and services were held at the
different houses of the congregation till 1850, when
Otterbein Chapel was built, about one-fourth of a mile
northeast of Compton Creek, on what is now the Waterloo
pike. This society went down during the war, and the
building remained unoccupied till the spring of 1881, when a
Methodist Episcopal organization was effected at this
church, where occasional services are now held.
CHRISTIAN OR DISCIPLES CHURCH.
Since the dissolution of the United Brethren society, at
Otterbein, in 1862, the Christian, or Disciples Church, near
'New Holland, has been the principal, and we may add, the
only religious organization in Marion, till the Methodist
Episcopal organization at Otterbein in 1881. The
following is from Fuller Hess, of Washington,
formerly a resident of Marion:
"The Christian, or Disciples Church, near New Holland,
was organized under peculiar and trying circumstances.
"In 1837, I emigrated from Pennsylvania, and settled
near New Antioch, Clinton County, where there was a
flourishing organization of the Disciples; but having been
brought up in the Baptist faith, and cherishing the
prejudices common then among the religious bodies against
the 'Campbellites,' as we were pleased to denominate them, I
felt it my peculiar mission, to lead these people into the
light. The New Testament had been my school book, and
thinking I possessed a fund of information on the doctrines
then taught, our arguments were lengthy and sometimes tinged
with bitterness; but I generally found them prepared with a
'Thus Saith the Lord ' to back each argument they presented,
and the consequence was it took only about one year to knock
all my extreme orthodox notions out of me, and I soon became
as zealous in defense of their doctrines as I had formerly
been in their denunciation.
"In the spring of 1839, I moved to Compton Creek, this
county, a perfect stranger in the community, but found the
people generous, hospitable and likewise congenial; except
in the discussion of our religious differences.
[Pg. 889]
"The United Brethren had a small organization in my
neighborhood, and held their services in a school house
one-half mile distant from my dwelling, and near the present
situation of Otterbein Chapel. Believing their
doctrines did not agree with the teachings of the Book, I
wrote Elder James Vandovort, of
Antioch, to come up and give us a meeting, he came two or
three times and preached on each occasion; but finally the
feeling became so intense against us that the school
directors forbade us the use of the school house. This
obstacle, however, was easily surmounted. Having a lot
of lumber on hand for the purpose of building a barn, myself
and hired man at once set to work to erect a temporary place
of worship, which was soon accomplished by arranging logs at
proper distances, and laying plank transversely across the
same for seats, and planting forks, in which we laid poles
covered by green bush for shade. Samuel
Mathews preached, and we had an excellent meeting.
"Up to this time, a period of five or six years, I had
fought the battle alone, but finally prejudice yielded her
sway to some extent in the neighborhood, and some of the
best men of the township — among whom were G. C. Gamble,
A. G. Wood, and Henry Bryant —joined me in
my one-sided warfare, the former being the first person
immersed into the church.
''In 1850, the United Brethren, with the help of the
community, built Otterbein Church, in which they were kind
enough to allow us to hold meetings occasionally, but
finally this privilege was denied us. Samuel
Mathews preached for us monthly, from perhaps 1854,
holding services at the different school houses, and at the
residences of the members, till in 1856, he effected a small
organization at Durham's school house, and in 1858,
N. R. Furgeson, of New Holland, now a resident
of Kansas City, Missouri, donated the society a lot in
Marion, one-fourth of a mile north of New Holland, the east
side of which, however extends to Pickaway County line, on
which G. C. Gamble, A. G. Wood, Henry
Bryant, and myself, with a little outside help
perhaps, built the present frame church occupied by the
Christians. After its erection Samuel
Mathews preached for us, perhaps eight years, who has
since been succeeded by the following gentlemen, in the
order named: T. C. Gawin, J. C. Irvin, and
J. P. Ewing (the present minister), each of whom has a
warm place in the hearts of the members. The
society now numbers two hundred, and its power for good has
been felt by the whole community. [Pg. 890]
"But I should have said that the religious differences
existing between the members of our society in its early
days, and those that surrounded us, never in the least
disturbed our fraternal social relations, as the following
will instance:
"At the completion of the Otterbein Church, in the fall
of 1850, the Brethren held their General Conference at that
place, and I entertained four of their ministers at my house
during the entire session. Among the delegates to this
conference, was a colored representative from some portion
of the district, and as prejudices against the colored
people were strong in those days, the perplexing question of
who should entertain the colored brother presented itself;
but my wife helped them out of this dilemma by agreeing to
take him herself, which was accordingly done."
---------- SABBATH SCHOOLS.
UNITED BRETHREN.
The first Sabbath-school was organized at Otterbein Chapel,
in 1851, at the completion of that church, and was continued
till the expiration of the church organiation at that place,
in 1862. Thomas Roseboom was probably the first
superintendent. METHODIST EPISCOPAL.
At the organization of the Methodist Episcopal society of
this church, in 1881, a Sabbath-school was also organized,
with J. K. Barrett as superintendent.
CHRISTIAN.
The New Holland Christian Sunday-school was organized June
14, 1874. Volunteer superintendents: Rev.
Irvin then pastor of the Christian Church, and Daniel
Morgan secretary: J. Vlerebome; teachers:
Jennie Vlerebome, Ella Johnson, Elizabeth Johnson, Jennie
Elder, Mr. Highland, Mr. Morgan, and Mr. Johnson
The average attendance for 1874-75 was seventy-five.
In 1876-77 the average attendance was sixty-five.
[Pg. 891]
The school was re-organized Mar. 16, 1878, when the
following officers were elected: Gideon Gamble,
superintendent; George Matson, assistant
superintendent; J. B. Parke, secretary; D. Morgan,
treasurer. No account of the organization in
1879 is given.
May 2, 1880, J. H. Harland was elected
superintendent; G. H. Matson, assistant; Eden
Parker, treasurer; John Parker,
secretary; Allie Dunlap, organist; Brother
VanPelt, chorister. Average attendance for the year,
forty-five.
Officers elected Apr. 17,1881: Mr. Matson,
superintendent; Mr. Morgan, assistant;
Mattie Haney, secretary; Eden Parker,
treasurer; John Parker, chorister; Jennie
Kearney, librarian; Ellsworth Matson,
assistant; Ada Johnson, organist; Mr.
Morgan, J. B. Parker, Jennie Kearney, Mrs.
Matson, and Mrs. Timmons, teachers.
Average attendance, forty-five.
The school was started in 1870, by J. C. Irvin
and D. Morgan; but in the absence of necessary aid,
it was deemed best to effect no organization, and thus there
were no chosen officers for several years, the school being
conducted alternately by Messrs, Morgan and
Irvin. The attendance at the outset was greater
than it is at present, though the school is quiet,
prosperous, and attentive in 1881.
---------- MILLS
Adam Turner built a saw and grist-mill on
Compton, on his own land, in 1818, which was the first and
only water mill ever built in Marion, and which he operated
perhaps twenty years. After his removal to Indiana,
the mill was run by John Cooper for some
years, when William Lucas took charge and
continued a short time. ----------
SCHOOLS. The
first school in Marion was taught by James Webster,
father of Bryce Webster, in the winter not
1812, in a cabin built for a dwelling, on the southwest side
of the Springfield and Chillicothe road, near where John
Johnson now resides.
Near this, on the opposite side of the road, a small,
round log [Pg. 892]
school house was built, in the summer of 1813, and was
occupied that winter by Mr. Webster, as teacher, when
it was abandoned, and in 1814 another building was erected,
not more than half a mile distant, on land belonging to
Adam Turner, which was occupied by Webster
probably four or five years. ----------
PHYSICIANS
James F. Wilson was the first physician who located
permanently at New Holland, and practiced in this township.
He was born in Buckskin Township, Ross County, Ohio, Oct. 5,
1808; read medicine with Dr. Robbins, of
Greenfield, and was granted a diploma by the county society.
In 1832, he located in New Holland village, and five years
later married Miss Letitia Dunlap.
In 1841, he attended lectures, and graduated at the Ohio
Medical College of Cincinnati. Returning to New
Holland, he soon acquired an extensive practice, which was
continued until his death, Jan. 21, 1875.
Dr. Wilson was a prominent member of the
Masonic order, having attained to the higher degrees.
His funeral obsequies were conducted under the auspices of
the fraternity. His widow still lives near New
Holland, in this township. But one child blessed their
union, John Milton, late United States consul
to Germany, and now consul-general at Panama, South America.
---------- POST OFFICES.
Marion Township has never had but one post-office.
This was established at the tannery of Amor Lloyd,
in 1851, but was discontinued in one year. Lloyd
was postmaster. ----------
BLACKSMITHS
In 1840, Daniel Turnipseed started a
blacksmith shop near where [Pg. 893]
Otterbein Church now stands, on hind now owned by
Benjamin Glaze, where he carried on business four or
live years. Hatch Garrison opened a shop in 1865, on
the land of Charles
McRea, and continued two years. ----------
TANNERIES
John Myers, in about 1820, started a tannery, and
continued business several years.
In 1845, Amor Lloyd
built a tannery on his own land, near Otterbein Church,
which he carried on for ten years, when he sold his farm to
Thomas Thompson who closed the tannery.
---------- FIRST ELECTION
The first election in Marion after its organization, was
held at the house of John McArthur, July 18, 1840,
John P. Blue, Ralph Durham, and D. Peniwell
being appointed judges, and William S. Williams
and William Peniwell acting as clerks.
The result of this election was as follows:
Trustees, Ralph Durham, Jacob
Roades, and Benjamin Glaze;
treasurer, Smith Chaffin; clerk, William S.
Williams; justices. Amor Lloyd and
George Mantle; overseers of poor, Benjamin
Anderson
and Thomas Carev. ----------
FIRST MEETING OF TRUSTEES
The first meeting of the trustees of Marion took place Mar.
1, 1841. PROCEEDINGS.
Division of the township into four road districts and six
school districts. [Pg. 894]
Their settlement at this meeting shows the expenses of
the township from July 25, 1840 (time officers were
qualified), to Mar. 1, 1841, to have been as follows:
To William Hankins, for use of house for
election purposes, $4.
To Benjamin Glaze and Ralph Durham, for
services as trustees, $3 each, and to Jacob Roades,
$2.
To William S. Williams, for stationery, and for
services as clerk, $5.50.
To George Strigler, for services as judge of
justice election, $1.
To Charles Blackmore for services as clerk of
justice election, $1. Total, $19.50.
---------- PRESENT OFFICERS
OF MARION.
At the spring election, Apr. 4, 1881, the following officers
were chosen:
Trustees, Marion Strope, Nathan Louderman, and
Jonathan Chaffin, treasurer, C. C. McRea;
clerk, J. Z. Cutright; justices, W. B. Pursell
and Byron Crabtree; constable, William Evans.
---------- LEVIES FOR 1881.
At a meeting of the trustees, Mar. 12, 1881, the following
levies were made:
For township purposes, $800; for bridge fund, $100; for
turnpike fund (for repairs of roads), $500; school funds
(tuition purposes), $150; contingent purposes, $200.
----------
BIOGRAPHICAL.
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