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SURVEYED in 1807, by Mansfield Ludlow.
Population in
1820......................................................
309
Population in 1830, including
Vermillion....................... 899
Population in 1840, including
Savannah.......................1653
Population in 1850, including
Savannah.......................1205
Population in 1860, including
Savannah.......................1327
The date of the
organization of the township cannot be ascertained
by any existing records in Mansfield or in the
township.
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CHURCHES IN SAVANNAH AND
CLEARCREEK TOWNSHIP.
There are
seven in the town and township. Such notes
regarding the history and present condition of each
as were attainable, are here given: -
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
In
September, 1833, Rev. Robert Lee reported to
Presbytery that he had fulfilled the appointment
given him to organize the church of Clearcreek.
From this time, till 1840, this church was supplied
occasionally by different ministers, and on the 9th
of June 1840, the pastoral relation between it and
the
[Pg. 104]
Rev. F. A. Shearer was formed, which
continued till September 29th, 1842. In April,
1848, at its own request its name was changed by act
of Presbytery to that of Savannah. In June,
1848, Rev. W. T. Adams was installed pastor
of this church, and remained its pastor until April
10th, 1850. On the 18th of October, 1854, a
call from its was presented to Presbytery for the
pastoral labors of the Rev. A. Scott, and put
into his hands, of which he declared his acceptance
April 9th, 1856. And the October, 1854, till
the present time, he has ministered to this church.
The church is an offspring of the Hopewell Church,
Ashland, as will be seen by reference to the history
of that organization in another part of this work.
It was organized on the 1st of July, 1833, as will
be discovered in the record copied below: -
"Organization, July 1st, 1833.
"At a meeting of the inhabitants of Vermillion and
vicinity, according to previous notice, and in
accordance with an appointment of Presbytery, to
organize a Presbyterian Church in said place, which
is to be hereafter known by the name of the
Clearcreek Church, the following persons presented
certificates of their church membership, and are
recorded as members of the church: -
"Alexander and Sarah Porter, William and
Eliza Dunlap, John and Eliza Gault, Joseph and
Lena Davis, Samuel and Sarah Gault, William and
Elizabeth Lyon, William and Eleanor Ferguson, Agnus
and Martha Cellar, Jane Gilchrist, Mary McKibbin,
Cassandra Bird, Jane Jackson, William and Mary Lee,
John and Sarah Chambers, Charles Porter, and
John and Isabel Coe.
[Pg. 105]
Constitution.
"The
Rev. Mr. Lee being called to the Chair, the
following resolutions were offered and adopted by
the members present: -
"1. Resolved, That all female, equally with male
members, shall have the right of voting in the
choice of ruling Elders.
"2. Resolved, That for the present there shall
be three ruling Elders chosen.
"3. Resolved, That there shall be one Clerk for
the church and congregation.
"5. Resolved, That there shall be one Treasurer.
"6. Resolved, That there shall be two Clerks to
conduct the signing in public worship."
The full
record not having been preserved, the names of the
original officers cannot be clearly ascertained.
A deed made by William Lang "to William
Dunlap, John Gault, and Joseph Davis,
Trustees of Clearcreek Congregation of the
Presbyterian Church," dated 29th December, 1834,
would indicate pretty clearly the names of the
officers chosen under the third resolution above
quoted. It is supposed that William Lee
and Dunlap Dunlap were the first ruling
elders, and that the latter was also elected clerk
under the fourth resolution.
The entries in the manuscript volume now in the hands
of A. F. Shaw, Esq., the present clerk, the
first of which bears date "May, 1841," enable us to
give the following facts: -
In May, 1841, F. A. Shearer was pastor.
[Pg. 106]
On the 10th of July, 1841, William Dunlap, Samuel
Gault, and Joseph McKibbin were ruling
elders.
Dec. 25, 1851, the additional names of John Bebout
and William Andrews appear as elders.
Mr. Shearer's name as pastor, last appears under
date of Sept. 4, 1842.
Sept. 25, 1843, Sylvanus Cook, George Shipley,
and George Mackie were elected elders.
Oct. 21, 1843, the name of Rev. A. K. Barr
appears as moderator and as stated supply.
Nov. 3, 1844, the name of Rev. W. C. Kniffin,
pastor, first occurs.
On the 1st of April, 1846, the ruling elders all
resigned; and on the second Monday of April of the
same year, Joseph McKibbin, Abraham F. Shaw,
George D. Shipley, Lyle Kerr, John Gault, George
Mackie, and Sylvanus Cook were elected.
Lyle Kerr and John Gault declined to
serve; the others named accepted, and Mr. Shaw
was ordained, the others having been ordained
before. At this meeting William Dunlap
terminated his official connection with the church
as clerk, and himself, wife, and daughter ordained a
letter of dismissal from the church on the 1st of
June, 1846 - the family then being upon the eye of a
removal to Illinois.
On the 25th of February, 1848, A. F. Shaw was
chosen clerk of the session.
Feb. 27, 1848, the name of Rev. W. T. Adams
first occurs as pastor.
Aug. 23, 1850, the name of Rev. William Bonar
appears as supply.
Jan. 17, 1851, Mr. George Mackie and wife were,
at their own request, dismissed from this church.
[Pg. 107]
Dec. 19, 1851, the name of Rev. J. N. Shepard
appears as moderator and as supply.
Nov. 13, 1852, the name of Rev. James Anderson
appears as supply.
June 30, 1854, the name of Rev. Alexander Scott
appears as supply.
Feb. 23, 1856. The session resolved that an
election be held by this church on Monday, 25th
instant, for an addition of three members to the
present session.
Feb. 25. At the election held in pursuance of
foregoing resolution, Mr. William Hanna and
Dr. Thomas Hayes were chosen ruling elders,
they being the only persons who received a majority
of all the votes cast.
June 28, 1856. This day Rev. Alexander Scott
was installed pastor of this church. Rev.
Mr. McDermot preached the sermon on the
occasion, and Rev. John Robinson gave the
charges to the pastor and people.
On the same day, Dr. Thomas Hayes was ordained
an installed as ruling elder. Mr. Hanna
declined serving.
[Prior to this last date, Revs. Mr. Scott, Mr. Coon,
Mr. Anderson, Mr. Shepard, Mr. Bonar, and Mr.
Barr were stated supplies. Rev. James
Hanna was the immediate predecessor of Mr.
Scott as stated supply.]
Apr. 27, 1861. Robinson S. Davis and
William Hanna having been previously (on the
sixth of April) duly elected ruling elders, were
this day ordained to that office by prayer and the
laying on of the hands of the session.
[Pg. 108]
The membership of the church, in November, 1861,
amounted to one hundred and eighteen. It was
organized, as will be seen in the proceedings above
copied, with twenty-seven members.
The church building, as originally constructed in 1835,
would seat three hundred persons. In the
summer of 1861, the building was enlarged and
otherwise improved internally and externally, and
will now accommodate with seats three hundred and
thirty-five persons.
FREE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The Free
Presbyterian Church of Savannah was organized on the
24th day of February, 1851, by F. M. Finney,
minister, and Alexander Thom and Geo.
Mackie, elders; fourteen members constituted the
whole church.
Since their organization, they have occupied the
building originally erected in 1834 by the Associate
Reformed Church. The building will seat about
two hundred persons.
UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The United
Presbyterian Church was organized in June, 1858,
combining chiefly the members of what were before
known as the Associate and the Associate Reformed
Presbyterian churches. The churches thus
united at Savannah numbered at the time of the new
organization about eight members.
Rev. J. Y. Ashenhurst, now of Hayesville, was
installed as first pastor. The Rev. William
Bruce has been stated supply since April, 1861.
The congregation worship in the building of the Free
Presbyterian Church.
[Pg. 109]
ASSOCIATE REFORMED
CONGREGATION.
The
Associate Reformed Congregation of Savannah was
organized in September, 1831, the late Rev. James
Johnston, D. D., presiding. About the same
time the Rev. James Arbuthrot was installed
as pastor. The Associate Reformed Congregation
of Plymouth (now Auburn) was connected with the same
pastoral charge; James Duff and Ephraim
Welsh were chosen and ordained as ruling elders.
William McMeeken, Sen. was chiefly
instrumental in founding the congregation.
Among the early members were the following, to-wit:
William McMeeken, Sen., Hance McMeeken, William
McMeeken, Jun., H. T. McMeeken, C. Welsh, James
Duff, Robt. Chambers, James Short, A. H. Paxton,
John Hearst, P. Loughridge, Thomas Dunlap, Robert
Foster, Geo. Crayton, Samuel Means, Joseph Marshall,
and John Custard.
The first house of
worship was built in 1834.
At this date (1861) Thos. Calhoun and Ephraim
Welsh are elders; Andrew Graham, A. H.
Paxton, and James Hearst are the
Trustees; James Hearst Treasurer.
The present church building was erected about 1845.
It is capable of seating three hundred and
seventy-five persons.
DISCIPLE CHURCH.
The church
in Clearcreek Township was organized in the year
1830. The present building, near the south
line of the township, was erected in 1853. Its
dimensions are 30 by 40 feet, and its cost $500.
David Bryte and Joseph Harvuot
were the elders
[Pg. 110]
at the date of the organization, and the former
continues his relations as such. In 1844,
Abner Mercer was chosen elder in place of Mr.
Harvuot, deceased. Peter Vanostrand
and Philip Shriver are the present deacons.
The church was organized with seventeen members.
It has now fifty-two members.
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OFFICIAL RECORD.
Election, April 3, 1826.
At an
election held at Thomas Ford's, Clearcreek
Township, Apr. 3, 1826, John Freeborn, Jacob
Foulks, and John Bailey were elected
Trustees; Jared N. Slonecker, Clerk; Elias
Ford, Treasurer; John Owens, Thomas
Munhollen, and Joseph Wright,
Supervisors; Thomas Muhollen and Hance
McMeeken, Overseers of the Poor; John Jackson
and Joseph Marshall, Fence Viewers; and
Ephraim Palmer, Constable.
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ABRAHAM HUFFMAN,
JOHN BAILEY,
DAVID BURNS, |
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Judges. |
JOHN BRYTE,
J. N. SLONECKER, |
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Clerks. |
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POPULATION OF CLEARCREEK
TOWNSHIP IN 1828.
This may
be very closely inferred from the following official
lists of householders in the four districts into
which the township was then divided.
[Pg. 111]
Names of Householders in
District No. 1.
1. William
Gilchrist.
2. Thomas Munhollen.
3. Hance McMeeken
4. Matthew Harper
5. James Poag.
6. William Shaw
7. James Haney
8. Patrick Elliott
9. John Haney
10. Thomas Haney
11. Joseph Fast.
12. Joseph Marshall
13. George Downer
14. Robert Morfert
15. Jacob McClain
16. Alexander Porter
17. John Downer
18. Robert McBeth
19. William McMeeken, Jr.
20. John Hendricks
21. Moses Dayhuff
22. Thomas C. Cook
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23. John
Jackson
24. John Freeborn
25. Thomas Brink
26. James Anders
27. Sylvanus Kellogg
28. John Smith
29. John Cornelison
30. Joseph Jackson
31. Joseph Davis
32. Richard Freeborn
33. Adam Smith
34. William McMeeken, Sr.
35. Ephraim Palmer
36. Robert Houston
37. Lewis Crow
38. John Cuppy
39. Joseph Wright
40. John Bailey
41. Abel Bailey
42. Widow Youngblood
43. Casper Wagner. |
Names of Householders in
District No. 2.
1. Henry
McHarry
2. Joseph McKibbin
3. James Gribbin
4. William Freeman
5. John Bennett
6. Samuel Freeman
7. Robert Patterson
8. James Jackson |
9. John
Rigdon
10. Elijah Potter
11. William Price
12. David Stratton
13. Jeremiah Abbott
14. Nicholas Goldsmith
15. Vincent Goldsmith
16. Thomas G. Whitelock |
Names of Householders in
District No. 3.
1. John
Owens
2. David Blann
3. Joseph Scott
4. John Prosser
5. Nathaniel Bailey
6. Jacob Foulks
7. James Laughton
8. Matthew Laughton |
9. Alex.
McCready
10. Casper Snook
11. Abraham Clayburg
12. Henry Fisher
13. John Scott
14. Alfred Skinner
15. Nicholas Peterson
16. Thomas Fisher |
Names of Householders in
District No. 4.
1. Abraham
Huffman
2. Isaac Van Metre
3. John Brown
4. Thomas Sprott
5. Mary Vanostrand
6. Thomas Wright
7. Samuel Huffman
8. John Cooper
9. William Andrews
10. Isaac Havout
11. Joseph Harvuot, Jr.
12. joseph Harvuot, Sr.
13. John McWilliams |
14. John
Aton
15. Thomas Ross
16. David Burns
17. Jared N. Slonecker
18. Thomas Ford
19. George Beymer
20. Elias Ford
21. Job Cusey
22. John Cook
23. Joel Crampton
24. Jacob Akright
25. John Bryte |
.
In
District No.
1............................................
43
In District No.
2............................................
16
In District No.
3............................................
16
In District No.
4............................................
25
Total number of householders in 1828..... 100 |
OFFICERS ELECTED IN APRIL,
1829.
William
Gilchrist, Thomas Ford, and Abraham Huffman,
Trustees; Elijah Ford and James
Anderson, Constables; Joseph Davis and
Thomas G. Whitelock, Fence Viewers; Alexander
Porter Treasurer; Thomas Haney, John Cuppy,
John Freeborn, John McWilliams and James
Loughland, Supervisors; John Bennett and
Samuel Freeman, Overseers of the Poor; and
Joshua Ross Clark.
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TOWNSHIP OFFICERS IN 1862.
Trustees - A. F. Shaw, John Bryte, and
E. T. Garrett. Clerk - M. C.
Percival. Assessor - John
Gibson. Treasurer - David Stem.
Constables - John Swineford and
John Neff.
[Pg. 113]
SAVANNAH.
Since the erection of Ashland County, Savannah is
the only town in Clearcreek Township. Prior to
that event, the town of Olivesburg was included in
the township. When originally laid out by
John Haney on the 25th of December, 1818, the
town was known by the name of Vermillion,
although quite as generally know by the public as
Haneytown. The town being pleasantly
situated, and on a leading thoroughfare, was a place
of considerable business, and at one time a
prominent candidate for the seat of justice of a new
county. When the county was erected, in 1846,
and the county seat established at Ashland, the
business of Savannah began to decline, and its
downward course continued until about five years
since, when an educational enterprise undertaken by
some of its leading citizens arrested its declining
tendency, and the business and moral influence of
Savannah is now more healthful than at any former
period.
Savannah Male and Female
Academy.
"On
the 29th November, 1858, the friends of education in
Savannah and vicinity met for the purpose of
considering the practicability of founding an
academical institution in Savannah to afford
facilities of an educational character equal to any
of like grade in the land.
"At this meeting a plan was submitted by Rev. A.
Scott for consideration, which, after thorough
discussion and amendment, was adopted as a basis of
organization, and is as follows: -
"We, the undersigned, citizens of Savannah and
vicinity, desiring to promote the cause of
godliness,
[Pg. 114]
[Pg. 115]
[Pg. 116]
[Pg. 117]
[Pg. 118]
The town contains five churches; one academy; one
public school; three physicians; two dry-goods
stores; one tavern; three grocery and provision
stores; three wagon and carriage shops; two
tanneries; one steam saw and grist mill; three
blacksmith shops; three boot and shoe shops; two
harness and saddle shops; one clothing store and
manufactory; and one tailor shop.
---------------
REMINISCENCES OF THE PIONEERS
OF CLEARCREEK TOWNSHIP.
CLICK HER FOR BIOGRAPHICAL
INDEX
JOHN ATON
ABEL BAILEY
JOHN BRYTE
JAMES BURGAN
DAVID BURNS
JAMES CHAMBERLAIN
JOHN COOK
THOMAS C. COOK
JOHN CUPPY.
PATRICK ELLIOTT.
ELIAS FORD.
JOHN FREEBORN.
JAMES GREGG.
JAMES GRIBBEN
LETTER FROM REV. JOHN HANEY
ISAAC HARVUOT
ABRAHAM HUFFMAN
DANIEL HUFFMAN
NICHOLAS MASTERS
HUGH B. MCKIBBEN
JACOB McLAIN
JOHN McMURRAY
JACOB MYERS.
JARED N. SLONACKER.
THOMAS SPROTT, SR.
PETER VANOSTRAND, SEN.
THOMAS WRIGHT
END OF CHAPTER VI. - CLEARCREEK
TWP. |
