REILLY TOWNSHIP
pg. 409

REILLY TOWNSHIP lies north of Morgan, south of Oxford, west of Hanover, and east of the State of Indiana.  It was organized in December, 1807.  The township was named after John REILLY.  It originally formed a part of St. Clair.  Some of the first settlers in the township were named ALLHAND, ANTHONY, BALDWIN, BURGET, BAIRD, BURK, CLARK, CHASE, CONKLING, CLEM, DeCAMP, DENEEN, HOUSEL, HALSTEAD, HANCOCK, JONES, LINDLEY, MONTGOMERY, MORRIS, MILLER, PIERSON, ROSS, SAMPLE, THOMPSON, TRIBLEY, WELLIVER and STEVENS.

     The justices of the peace have been Ithamar White and William Mitchell in 1808; Ithamar White and John Burke in 1811; the same in 1833 and 1814; Daniel Trimbly in 1816; John Burke in 1817; Daniel Trimbly in 1819; John Burke from 1820-23; Daniel Trimbly again in 18284-25; John Burke in 1826; Daniel Allhands in 1828; John Burke in 1829; in 1831, Daniel Allhands; John Clark and John Johnson in 1832; in 1833, Samuel Oirt; in 1834, Amos Larison, and in 1835, Jacob Miller and David Lindley; in 1836, Isaac Clark; in 1838, Amos Larison and Jacob Miller; in 1839, Isaac Clark; Amos Larison in 1841, also Samuel Trimbly; 1842, Elias H. Gaston; in 1844, Alexander Ogle and W. P. Deneen; and in succeeding years, James B. Trimbly, Silas C. Stewart, Thomas W. Lawrence, P. J. B. Welliver, Thomas Smith, Joseph W. Frazee, William L. Lane, John W. Owens, G. W. Welliver, L. D. Hancock, L. C. Addison, and Alonzo Urmston.
     In 1844 there were nine school districts in the township and $1,206 annually collected for school purposes.  The population in 1820 was fourteen hundred and fifty-one; in 1830, eighteen hundred and thirty-two; in 1840, seventeen hundred and fifty-eight.  Reily post-office was the only one in the township in 1844.

TOPOGRAPHY.

     Indian Creek passes through Reily Township from north-west to south-east.  Its principal tributaries are Little Indian, which flows from the west, taking its rise in the neighborhood of Peoria.  Chase's Run flows from the north, and takes its name from Valentine Chase, a pioneer in this part of the township.  Mr. Chase entered the south-east quarter of Section 5, the same quarter on which the Indian Creek Baptist Church stands.  Further east is Boone's Run, also an affluent of Indian Creek.  This creek its name from a distant relative of Daniel Boone, who settled in this region far back in the '20's.  Reserve Run flows from the north through Sections 5 and 6, emptying into Indian Creek one-quarter of a mile below Reily.  Indian Creek has a bottom some three-quarters of a mile in width, which is very fertile.  These bottoms are very fine lands for raising corn.  It was along this stream and its  tributaries, in the opening of Indian Creek Valley to agriculture, that such fine crops were raised.  The other streams named have no bottoms of any size.  In the south-west corner of the township the lands are well adapted to agricultural purposes.  The soil is a dark, rather heavy loam, inclined to be wet.  When drained it produces the best of crops.  The north-eat corner is broken somewhat, and not so well adapted to farming; the soil is clayish generally.  In the vicinity of Ogleton and Woods' Stations the surface is flat, and the soil a dark loam, naturally wet.  All kinds of timber abounded here when the first settlements were made.  There has been a very great quantity of good timber destroyed, but there is still standing a sufficient forest for many years.  This township, like Morgan and Hanover, was plentifully supplied with pea vines along the creek bottoms in early times.  The undergrowth was mainly spice bushes.  Many boop-poles were cut from the forests when still-houses were running their best.  Flour barrels, as well as whisky barrels, commanded a good price in those days, and it is said "a cooper-shop was kept going on every section."
     The first white child buried in Reily Township was Thomas D., son of George and Nancy Allhands, who died March, 1803, and was buried in a grave-yard on Section 9, a few rods south-west of the center, on a farm now owned by bColonel William Stephens, one hundred and fifty yards due east from the house.  In 1837 there were thirty-three graves here, two of them being colored people.  But one tombstone was erected in this graveyard - an old sandstone, which now lies on the ground.  This child was scalded to death by hot sugar water.  There have been no burials here since 1837.  The yard is now under a state of cultivation.  
     In 1807 there were but three or four houses from where the Miami was crossed at Venice and Brookville.  From where James Stephens settled, in 1809, on the south-east quarter of Section 7, to Brookville, a distance of fourteen miles, there was not a single house.  Andrew Lewis, below Reily, was the first settler below Stephens's and Venice for a number of years.  During the years of 1808, 1809, and 1810 there were many families who came here from all sections.  In 1864 there were three hundred and thirty-six voters in the township.  There are now about four hundred voters, a very small gain in nearly fifty years.
     In 1805 there was a powerful combination of horse thieves at work in this and adjoining townships.  The

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line extended from New Orleans to Canada, and had enlisted in the business all grades of men.  Blind stables were used to conceal stolen goods.  One formerly stood on the west side of Indian Creek, about a mile below the Baptist Church, and was in a very solemnized place.  It could have been for a short time, and then taken off during the night to other stables, which had been previously notified of their coming.  The kind of enterprise was carried on so extensively that the settlers family broke up the gang, in 1815, by hanging a number of the leaders.

ROADS.

     One of the first and most prominent roads in the township led from Millville through what is now Bunker Hill, but then Dog Town, on to Reily, up the creek, and disappeared from the State in the south-west section of Oxford Township.  This read was a great outlet to the counties along the State line, teamsters and drovers taking this route to Cincinnati.  Hundreds of white-covered wagons made the trip to the Queen City on this road early, with the familiar four-horse team hauling whisky and flour.  Hog driving began early in October and lasted until March.  The growing of hogs was a lucrative business.  Many a man made his fortune in raising corn, fattening hogs, and driving them to Cincinnati.  The must, which in those days never failed, greatly assisted in producing park.  Hogs were branded and  turned loose in the woods to feed for months.  They never became very fat, but were wild, many a narrow escape having been made from their ferocity.  In driving to market

MILLS.

     About 1808 or 1809 Robert Denney built an undershot sawmill at Bunker Hill.  The same mill, or one on the same site, is now running.  This mill finally passed into the hands of Elias Sayers, who also had a carding machine, fulling-mill, and a machine for weaving and spinning.  These establishments ran from 1825 to 1834.
     One of the first blacksmiths at Bunker Hill was Henry Garver, who was here from 1825 to 1830.  He was a man of considerable mechanical skill, and was well liked by his customers.
     There was a grist-mill here, owned by John Kinsey, about 1820.  The millwrights were James and Robert Nelson.  The mill stood on the south side of the road, a hundred feet above the iron bridge.  Two of the millers were Perry Orendorff and Mr. McFreely, who were hired by Kinsey.  This was an undershott mill, which run for about fifteen years.  Some of the other owners were John Scudder, Obadiah Welliver, and Samuel Haslet.  A part of this mill is now standing.
     A school-house was erected in 1809 or 1810, in the northern or upper end of Bunker Hill, on the north side of the pike.  Some of the early settlers in Bunker Hill were Obadiah Welliver, who was here about 1810; Thomas Burke, here in 1808; John Israel and John Kinsey, later; James Deneen and Silas Anderson, both on the other side of the Universalist Church.
     It is said that Bunker Hill was called Dog Town, because, when the place first began to assume the proportions of a village, a fierce dog-fight took place at Kinsey's mill, hence the result.
     Abraham and James Thompson built a still-house on Philip's Fork, above Scipio one-half mile, in 1818, or about that time.  In 1820 James Beard bought out the Thompson  brothers, who were from Pennsylvania.  This still-house was built of round logs, and was thirty by twenty feet; the capacity was one barrel per day.  Corn was ground at neighboring mills on Dry Fork.  Beard, as soon as he became owner of the site, erected a hewed-log house, forty-one by forty feet, one story high.  He ground his corn by horse power.  This still-house continued to run for about twenty-five years.
     Mr. Shillings was the first blacksmith in the north-western corner of the townhsip in 1815.  His shop was

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had a mill on Indian Creek in 1825, on the northwest quarter of Section 22, where he ground corn and wheat.  All of these mills have disappeared.
     A very prominent tavern for hog-drivers was at John Wehr's, two and three-quarter miles above Reily, on the pike now, then on the old county road, in the south-east quarter of Section 7.  Wilson V. Ragsdill was an old tavern-keeper on this road, near St. Charles, then the loading and most direct route to Cincinnati, but which, after leaving St. Charles, was known as the Trace road.
     Union school was commenced in 1816 by the neighbors who lived in the north-western corner of the township, and who erected a hewed log house on a lot of two acres, donated by Maxwell Parkerson, in the south-east corner of section six.  The Walker Chapel Church held many of its first services here; also the Indian Creek Baptist Church.  Parkerson came here in 1806, from Virginia.  Their teachers in early times were John Elliott, a pensioned Revolutionary solder, from New York State; Robert Riggs, of Maine; Alfred Chamberlain of New York State, who "was the best grammarian ever in this part of the county;" Winson Lusk, of Virginia, and John Ferguson.  Among the scholars were James, William, Levi, Andrew, and Lurene Stephens, children of James Stephens, a pioneer of 1809; Collin, William, Edward and John Forbes; Randell, Rebecca, and John Wesley; Maxwell Johnson; Eleazer, Rodney, Mayhew (who was named after his father), Franklin, James, Rebecca, and Malinda Donham.  The old hewed log-house was used for thirty-five years.  The present brick building, school district No. 3, is almost on the same site.

RELIGIOUS MATTERS.

     The Bunker Hill Universalist Church was organized in 1845 or 1846, with Elias Sayres, J. C. Welliver, Hiram and David Pearson, Samuel Garner, Sr., and brother William, John Creaguiles, Noah Sayers, George Garnerb, and several of the Rosses, for its first members.  The land on which the church stands, as well as where the graveyard is, was owned by Alexander Deneen.  The house was erected in 1857 by Alexander Deneen. The house was erected in 1857 by Elijah Ross, contractor.  Before the church was built, meetings were held in a frame schoolhouse, but in 1852, on the south side of the road, at the foot of the hill near the creek, at the junction of the St. Charles and Millville Roads.  Among the preachers were the Revs. Messrs, Bruce, Wm. Curry, B. B. Bennett, who also supplied the Oxford Church; William Brooks, of New York; W. Emmett, Mr. Biddle, who came from Dayton, Ohio; E. K. Brush, Mr. Grundy, Mr. Tucker, and others.  The present minister is the Rev. J. P. McLean, of Hamilton.  There are now about sixty members.  The largest membership was reached in 1859, when there were one hundred and thirty-four.  This Church suffered greatly on account of the war, many members taking up arms for their country.  Preaching is had here the third Sabbath in every month.
     From about fifty interments in the burying ground we take the following:

     Michael Bressler, born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, May 26, 1792; died February 7, 1866.
     Susanna Bressler, born February 27, 1797; died April 5, 1866.
     Obadiah Welliver, born September 13?, 1777; died September 15, 1839.
     Hannah Welliver, born October 3, 1780; died July 8, 1869.
These two people were the parents of large and respectable posterity, many of whom still reside in this vicinity.
     Margaret Trnmbly died April 23, 1864, aged 65 years, eight months, and 11 days.  The Tremblys were also early members of this Church. 
     Abraham Balser died June 6, 1858, aged 72 years. 
     Elizabeth Balser died December 23, 1859, aged 72 years. 
     Michael Burgett died June 22, 1857, aged 46 years and 1 day.

     For a number of years a good Sunday school has been in successful operation at this place.  The furniture of the church is quite modern, and every thing has the appearance of neatness and prosperity.  The church is a frame, capable of seating three hundred people.  These inscriptions are from a private yard, one mile above Reily, near the line which divides sections sixteen and seventeen, about ten rods south of the present pike, ten feet west of the section line:

     In memory of Eleanor, wife of James Post, who departed this life Dec. 17, 1841, aged 82 years and ___ months.  James Post died July 28, 1846, aged 86 years, 10 months and 28 days.  Further up the pike near the old road, below Walker Chapel half a mile, in a private ground among a clump of cedars are, John Wehr, a native of Somerset County, Pennsylvania, who died Jan. 25, 1853, aged 73 years, one month and 17 days.  Sarah, wife of John Wehr, died May 12, 1866 in the 77th year of her age.  Mr. Wehr was an early tavern keeper.

     The Washington Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1819, by Russel Bigelow, at a dwelling-house one-fourth of a mile southwest of the place where the church now stands.  Charles Stewart was appointed class leader, in which capacity he served for many years.  He was a member of this Church at the time of his death, which occurred Dec. 24, 1854, aged 73 years and 22 days.  His body is in the graveyard at St. Charles, a village that was named in honor of this pioneer.  The Rev. Benjamin Lawrence, who was one of the pioneer preachers also sleeps in the same yard; died Sept. 7, 1855, aged 74 years.  For several years after its organization, the Church worshiped in the house where it was organized.  It afterwards occupied a log school-house in St. Charles, just west of where the cemetery is entered, on the same side of the road.  In 1834, during the pastorate of the Rev. C. W. Swain and the Rev. J. Waterman, Washington Chapel was erected; dedicated the same year.  The contractor was Levi Spark, who at that time had a saw mill a short distance below Scipio.   The ground on which the church stands was given by Matthew Moorland.  There was a great deal of strife among the members of the society concerning the location of this house.  Mr. Stewart proposed to give a

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building-site near St. Charles, but the proposition was disregarded, principally through the influence of Mr. Lawrence, and a local preacher by the name of Powers, who afterwards became a Mormon saint.  There was a time when Washington was the strongest society on the circuit, but from lukewarmness, deaths, removals, and dissensions, it is now the weakest.  During the late war the house became very much out of repair.  In 1865 a new roof was put on it, and in 1868 the ceiling was re-plastered.
     The Washington Sunday-school was organized as many as forty years ago.  Samuel Stewart was one of the first Superintendents.  There were about forty scholars.  Exercises consisted mainly in the recital of verses, which had been memorized, and for which the best scholar received a reward; reading portions of Scripture in concert, and singing.
     Some of the first members of the Church were Charles Stewart and wife, Jane and Matthew Moorhead, Nathaniel Mecker and wife, James Emerson and wife, Michael and Rachel Mecker, Benjamin and his wife Margaret Stites, Robert Bell, Aaron Powers, Jonathan Richmond and wife, the Rev. Mr. Lawrence and wife.

     The following inscriptions from tombstones are taken from the St. Charles Cemetery:
     Sacred to the memory of David Bell, who departed this life July 18, 1834, in the 60th year of his age. 
     Margaret, consort of David Bell, died July 10, 1834, in her 55th year. 
     Emanuel Burget, died Feb. 4, 1822, in the 46th year of his age. 
     In memory of David Williams, who departed this life Apr. 22, 1821; aged 51. 
     Thomas Faucett, died Sept. 15, 1847; aged 67.
     Lare, consort of John Fitzgerald, died Sept. 3, 1839; aged 50.
     John Fitzgerald, died Aug. 19, 1839; aged 48.
     Margaret, wife of Benjamin Stites, departed this life Dec. 28, 1828; aged 23.
     Sacred to the memory of Esther, consort of Matthew Moorhead, who departed this life Jan. 1, 1833; aged 48.
     Eleanor, wife of Garret Van Ausdall, departed this life Dec. 15, 1844; aged 72.
     Jonathan Richmond, died July 17, 1835; aged 57.
    Barbara, wife of Jonathan Richmond, died June 8, 1851; aged 64.  Both of these inscriptions are on the same tombstone.
     Esther, wife of Nathaniel Meeker, a Revolutionary soldier of 1776, died Mar. 29, 1834; aged 74.
     Michael A. Thompson, died May 28, 1857; aged 59.
     Wilson V. Ragsdill, died May 4, 1853, in the 60th year of his age.
     Mary, wife of Wilson V. Ragsdill, died Mar. 10, 1854; aged 50.
     Rachel C., wife of James Emerson, died Jan. 17, 1855; aged 63.
     John Keever, died Aug. 4, 1863; aged 96.
     Lydia, wife of John Keever, died June 30, 1859, in the 78th year of her age.
     Daniel P. Inloes, died Jun. 26, 1864; aged 70.
     Catharine, wife of Daniel P. Inloes, died Nov. 12, 1873; aged 74.
     Benjamin Wynn, died May 15, 1876; aged 85.
     Nancy, wife of Benjamin Wynn, died Jun. 29, 1879, aged 86? 

     The Walker Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church was organized as early as 1830 at the houses of the first members.  About the same time this Church received a lot on which to build a house of worship.  This lot adjoined the one on which school-house No. 4 stands, one mile north-east of the present Church.  Until 1844 or 1845 the society worshiped in the school-house.  This lot was then sold, and the proceeds applied in payment of the lot on which the chapel now stands.  This church was built in 1845, and dedicated by the Rev. George W. Walker, for whom the chapel was named.  During the last three years of the civil war it enjoyed considerable prosperity.  James T. Faucett, and Henry Cubberly have contributed greatly to the advancement of this society.  It is now next to Ebenezer in importance as an appointment on the circuit.  Dr. Andrew King and James Stephens were the principal originators of this society.  James Stephens owned the land on which the church stands, and also where the graveyard now is.  Among the early members were, Caleb Stephens, Elisha Landon, Jacob Hansel, William Anthony, Mr. Mick, and Micajah Anthony, with their wives.  Aaron Powers was one of the first preachers.
     Some inscriptions from tombstones in the graveyard read:

     Charles Cone, born Sept. 12, 1797, died Oct. 12, 1847.  He was killed by lightning on the above date about six o'clock in the morning.  Charles H. Cone, Co. E, 69th Regiment, O. V. I., died May 3, 1863; aged 21.
     Rufus Cone, Co. E, 69th Regiment, O. v. I., died Aug. 3, 1865; aged 62.
     Jane, wife of Harvey Miller, died Aug. 24, 1847; aged 62. 
     William Anthony, died Nov. 18, 1839; aged 65.
     Fanny, wife of William Anthony, died Mar. 13, 1835; aged 55.
     Another Anthony is John, who died Feb. 27, 1870; aged 61.
     Julia Ann, wife of John Anthony, died Jan. 2, 1851; aged 40.
     Henry C., son of John and Julia Ann Anthony, died Apr. 9, 1863; aged 20.
     Hugh Rust, died Apr. 16, 1876; aged 67
     William Creagmile, died Apr. 16, 1855; aged 68.
     Catharine S. wife of William Creagmile, died Aug. 17, 1861; aged 56.
     Andrew King, a native of Ireland, departed this life Mar. 9, 1860; aged 67.
     Joseph King, a native of Ireland, died Jan. 26, 1858, in the 93d year of his age.
     Rebecca, wife of Joseph King, died Jan. 2, 1864; aged 97.
     These two are the parents of a large posterity in this township.
     Grace, wife of Dr. Andrew King, departed this life Sept. 11, 1851, in the 53d year o fher age.

     The Indian Creek Baptist Church was organized in 1810 three miles above Reily, at the house of John Morris or John Burks.  The land on which the house stands and the ground where the graveyard is, consisting of three acres, was bought of Valentine Chase for nine dollars.  It is situated in the southeast quarter of Section 5.  The first house was log, erected in 1812  The deed for the land was made the same year.  When this Church was organized there were twenty-two members.  Among them were Abraham Lee and wife, John Morris, Sen., John Durwese and wife, John Burke, Nicholas Jones, Joseph Brady, Lot Abrams, and Abram Jones and wife.  This Church was the result of a strong influence brought

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to bear upon the people by the Rev. Mr. Tyner, of Brookville, who preached here in 1809. Tyner was very illiterate.  During the ministry of some of the early preachers the membership increased very fast.  About one hundred accessions were made to the Church in eighteen months, under the preaching of Messrs. Tyner, Thomas, and Thompson.  The most that united in one day were fourteen.  Abraham, Thurston, and Sparks were pioneer ministers; the latter claimed "that which a man loved was his God."
     Benjamin Martin, who belonged to what was called the Two-seed Baptists, was a powerful preacher here in early times.  Samuel Billings was another pioneer minister; so also was Moses Hornaday, from near Harrison, Hamilton County.  Judas Shirk, Daniel Roberson, Mr. Oldham, Mr. Childers, Daniel Briant, Joseph Flynn, and John Brady were all men of character, who held services here when the society was in a flourishing condition.  There have been other preachers here, men of all grades and ages, who lived in other localities and who made it convenient to be here on stated occasions.
     Since 1860 there have been no regular services in the church, at which date the Reily Village Baptist Church was erected.  The old hewed-log house was torn down about 1830, when the second church, a brick, thirty by fifty feet, took its place the same year.  The Reily Church had twenty-two members in 1860; John Smith and wife, Joseph Brady, John Durwese and wife, Fanny Roll, Maria Roll, Almira Crubaugh, Rachel Barnum, and otehrs.  This point of worship has preaching with considerable regularity; the Church is ministered to by the Rev. Mr. Bevis, of Kentucky.

     From the old cemetery we have:

     Ephraim Tucker, died Aug. 1, 1844; aged 74.
     Joseph Brady, who was an early member of the Church, died Dec. 17, 1800; aged 80.
     Sarah, wife of Joseph Brady, died Aug. 10, 1847; aged 62.
     Nicholas Jones, died Apr. 24, 1853; aged 73.
     Mary, wife of Nicholas Jones, died Sept. 29, 1855; aged 70. 
     Mary Cole, died Jan. 9, 1831; aged 99.
     Samuel Thurston, died Mar. 23, 1823; aged 57.
     Hannah Thurston, died July 23, 1840; aged 68.
     Josiah Dungan, who was drowned in Indian Creek, June, 1821; aged 21.
     Philetas Munson, died Feb. 26, 1854; aged 63.
     Rebecca, wife of Philetus Munson, died Feb. 5, 1869; aged 76.
     Abraham Jones, born May 20, 1783; died July 2, 1863.
     Sarah, wife of Abraham Jones, died Mar. 2, 1856; aged 66.
     Abraham Lee, died Apr. 29, 1858; aged 79.
     Eunice, wife of Abraham Lee, died Feb. 25, 1861; aged 78.
     David Wing, died Nov. 17, 1857; aged 86.
     Marcy, wife of David Wing, died Apr. 17, 1844; aged 75.
     Matthew Riggs, died Feb. 25, 1836; aged 62.
     Mary, wife of Matthew Riggs, died Mar. 15, 1865; aged 76.
     Susanna E., wife of James Urmston, born Mar. 22, 1799; died Aug. 7, 1837.
     Jonathan Urmston, died Aug. 24, 1840; aged 50.
     Gideon Wilkinson, departed this life Jan. 26, 1842; aged 70.
     Abigail, wife of G___on Wilkinson, who departed this life Dec. 30, 1842; aged 64.
     Thomas Boone, born Aug. 21, 1759; died Feb. 6, 1831.  Mr. Boone was a relative of Colonel Daniel Boone, the Kentuckian.
     Susanna Boone, born Apr. 12, 1756; died Feb. 6, 1830.
     Reuben Staton, died Mar. 4, 1818; aged 42.
     Martha, wife of Reuben Staton, died Jan. 15, 1834; in the 60th year of her age.

     In the northeast corner of the yard are some of the first burials in the township, as:
     Valentine Chase, Sen., died Aug. 20, 1815; aged 31.
     William Burch, died May 16, 1857; aged 68.
     In memory of George Misner, who died Jan. 13, 1835; aged 30.

     In the Indian Creek Cemetery there are perhaps, one hundred and seventy-five burials, mostly in the northeast corner of the yard, on the high ground.  The oldest grave in the ground is undoubtedly that of the Chase child.
 

VILLAGES.

     AUBURN, better known, perhaps as Gandertown, is located in the corners of Ross, Morgan, Reily and Hanover Townships.  This village was never platted.  It took the latter name because, when the first citizens lived here, there were a great many geese raised, and it is said that like Bunker Hill, a furious quarrel took place over some wild gander, who strayed from one farm-house to the other and disturbed the docility of average goose.  Of late yeas, however, the maps call the village Auburn, a name which is quite appropriate.  There were some well-known citizens here in early times, as witness these: 
     Maxwell Ross, in Hanover Township;
     James Salisbury and James Bridge, in Reily township; James Salisbury and John Bloomfield, in Morgan Township; John B. Williams and Michael Bowerman, in Ross Township, - all land-owners.  The first establishment of a public nature was on an upright steam saw-mill, built by John W. Owens about 1850.  The old mill was afterwards sold to James Williams, who moved it to Millville and converted it into a still-house.  Mr. Ownes built the present pump-factory as a mill some ten years later. These mills stood in Reily Township, on a branch of Double Lick, of Indian Creek.  Ownes is a native of Wales, a wheelwright by trade.
     The first school-building in this vicinity was a log house in Morgan Township, two hundred yards from the corner, up the creek.  Alexander Martin was one, if not the only, teacher here.  He is now a man sixty-five years of age.  Another school-house occupied a site on the corner, in the township of Hanover.  This house was here in 1830; the school was taught by a woman.  A school was once kept in Ross Township, in a log-house, taught by James Boyd.
     Enoch Bond was the first storekeeper in the village, in a log-house on the Ross Township corner.  Bond was from the East.  The only store-house ever built on the south-west corner was owned by Davis Davis, twenty-five years age.  Daniel Clevinger, James Simmons, John Balser, Isaac Woods, William Pearson, John W. Ownes, David Rothermel, were all storekeepers in the house on the Ross Township corner, except Clevinger, who kept the Bond property.  Mr. Woods erected a store-house

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some thirty-five years ago, which is now standing.  William Shultz carried on the saloon business, about fifteen years ago, in the brick house where James McCloskey now lives.  John Straub followed in the same house.
     James Bridge was the first blacksmith in Auburn, in an old log shop which stood on the Hanover Township corner.  Henry Garner came next in the same shop, which was moved where it stands now.  Then came Thomas Applegate, on the same corner, but in a new shop.  After Applegate there was William Roberts and Frederic Zillyox, the latter of whom is the present smith.  Auburn has a population of about fifty souls.

     WOODS' STATION is a village of about one hundred people, named by Hiram Pierson, a man of many fine parts, after John Woods, the first president of the railroad.  The place was never laid out.  It is on the south-west corner of the north-west quarter of section twelve, and many years ago the locality was known as Rogersville.
     David Jones entered the land on which the village stands.  Jonas Jones, who assisted in locating the Hamilton Road to Brookville, was an early settler; so also was Jacob Swank, a Pennsylvania Dutchman.  Isaac Lindley was here also quite early.  William Coonce, from Pennsylvania, lived south of the village, half a mile.  Mr. Clem, from Kentucky, lived close by in the north-west.  John Hancock, from Kentucky, lived a short distance in the south-east.  Hiram Pierson bought the land on which the village rests, in 1856, of Jonas Jones, son of David Jones.  The railroad was built in 1858.  The station was established as soon as the railroad was built.  The first citizen in the town proper was Hiram Pierson, who was also the second storekeeper.  L. D. Hancock was the first man who dealt out drygoods and groceries to this people.  George Gardner followed Pierson; then Taylor Salisbury and Silas Baldwin, the latter from whom, with Gardner, is here at present.  The first blacksmith was Jacob Lemmons, followed by Thomas Love.  Thomas Applegate and Henry Jones, the latter the present smith.  There are about fifty citizens in the village.

     OGLETON is a station in section two.  Its name came from Alexander Ogle, an early settler in this part of Reily.  This place has no significance except as a shipping point.

     REILY was laid out by Pierson Conkling, Joseph M. Conkling, and Samuel Gray, Oct. 25, 1848.  This village was situated, when first platted, in the south-west and south-east corners of sections fifteen and sixteen.  From its natural surroundings it has always been of considerable importance in the county and township.  Many years before the town was platted, there gathered here many of the early settlers to east their votes and receive their mail.  In 1830 Lewis Enyart owned land in the south-west quarter of section fifteen, and the north-east quarter of section twenty-one.  Section sixteen was set aside for school purposes, and until within the last forty years was not owned by any person in particular.  An early land-holder on section twenty-two was Thomas Burke.  As the village now is, it is mostly in sections twenty-one and twenty-two - principally the latter.  The north-east quarter of section No. 17 was entered by John Morris, of Virginia, in 1799.  He settled here in 1801 or 1802, where he died in July, 1840.  Section No. 8, south-east quarter, was entered by a Mr. Crook.  Another man by the name of Boyer settled here very early.  He was a furniture maker by trade, and did much of the work for the settlers.  James Stephens and Samuel Tucker built the stone house, known as the Morris homestead, in 1816 or 1817, which is now standing.  Reily was begun on the east side of Indian Creek, where Colonel William Stephens cut the first timber in this vicinity  preparatory to erecting cabins.
     About this time David Dick built a grist and saw mill, where the present mill stands, and soon after added a carding machine.  this mill, and the south-west quarter of section fifteen, was afterwards sold the Lewis Enyart who, about 1830, built a still-house, which stood a few rods north of the present post-office.  Enyart rented his still-house to several persons, who divided the profits in proportion to the labor performed by each.  In 1865 Enyart sold his mill to Sayres & Egnew; the still-house had in the meantime gone down.  The mill passed from the above firm to William J. Salmon, who, in 1860, sold thirty-seven acres of land and the mill of J. P. Heidly and Thompson Gray, the latter coming into full possession in September, 1867.  David Dick must have built this mill about 1810 or 1812, since which time it has been constantly running, though often receiving repairs.  The flouring department is run by an overshot wheel; the saw mill by an undershot wheel.
     Another early settler was Ferdinand Everhardt, who was here in 1837, as a wagon-making in the house where S. P. Riker lives.  He carried on his business here until a few years ago, when he died.
     Felix Conkling was here in 1838 engaged in tanning, in the west end, in a house now occupied by John Watkins.  A German followed Mr. Watkins in the same house, but did not do as large a business as his predecessor.  This tannery ran for twenty odd years.
     E. H. Gaston came here in the spring of 1833, walking from Cincinnati.  He began business by clerking for his brother, A. L., in a store which he owned here at that time, remaining several years.  Afterwards he opened a store for himself.  He was then chosen a justice of the peace, which office he filled for twelve years; was elected county treasurer for two terms, and was a member of the Legislature.  He died in February, 1876. 
     John Harper was here fifty years ago in a log-house in the upper end of Reily on the old road.  He died in the West.  His brothers, Joseph, Thomas and James, were men of considerable note.  The most interesting bit of history connected with them, is that they killed five half-breed Indians on Fall Creek, Indiana, about 1818. 

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Some of the Harpers had previously been massacred by the Indians, and they took this means of avenging their brethren.  After the Indians were killed the civil authorities offered a reward for the capture of the Harpers, and one of the Ridges, who gave his assistance, but they fled to Virginia.  Here they were taken prisoner, but in time gained their liberty.
     John Burke was another early resident in this vicinity.  He owned a grist-mill one mile below town, which he ran for several years.  He died in Dunlapsville, Indiana.
     M. B. and E. P. Applegate were here in 1849 as  wagon and buggy makers.  They stayed for ten or fifteen years.  The former is dead; the latter lives near Greensburg, Indiana.
     The Rev. A. B. Gilliland was a cabinet-maker here fifty years ago.  He is now a resident of Dayton, Ohio, and is about ninety years of age.  Gilliland was also one of the early residents of Venice, and was a pastor of the Bethel Presbyterian Church, living in the parsonage.
     Many years before the village was laid out Samuel Davis kept tavern at the head of Main Street.  Reily was then a great stopping-place for hog drivers, one of the most prominent being John Murphy, who lived near Harrisburg, Indiana.  James Larison, a cooper by trade, kept tavern for five or six years, about 1844, where Henry Schwarm now lives.  Samuel Davis, a blacksmith, followed in the same house.  After him came T. B. Smith, Mr. Small, John W. Fiske, Mr. Gilliland, John Dingfelder, W. O. ierson, Charles Silverlake, and Frederic Horsfield, the latter of whom is here at present.
     Harness-makers in Reily since 1840 have been, Mr. Barrot, on the corner near the bridge, John Linch, Thomas H. Smith, yet a resident, and L. C. Addison, who came here in 1847, and who still works at his trade.
     The oldest frame house in the village stands just below Thompson Gray's residence, on the Millville Pike.  It formerly stood on the south-west corner, opposite Addison's harness shop, and was built by Mr. Burke.  A. L. Gaston built the store-house which stood by its side in 1835.  Samuel Gray removed the building to another part of his lot, and now uses it for various purposes in Reily stood near the Gaston store property.
     Early physicians who visited this part of the country came from Hamilton, Dr. Daniel Millikin and Dr. Greenleaf being among the number.  Dr. Corey, of Millville, was a practitioner in this vicinity far back in the '20's and '30's.  Dr. Andrew King, from Ireland, was the first practicing physician in the north-western corner of the township.  He lived and died on a farm now owned by his son Samuel.  Dr. Kerr was a resident of Reily forty years ago.  He afterwards removed to the West.  He was followed by Dr. Gilchrist (who studied medicine with Dr. James, of Indiana, above Scipio), who practiced here for fifteen years.  Dr. Gilchrist removed to Oxford, where he died.  Dr. Hamer came next; he went from here to New London and then to Venice.  He is now a resident of Denver, Colorado, engaged as a real estate agent.  Dr. James N. Roberson came here in 1866, since which time he has remained.  He had for his partner J. W. Bell, a son of 'Squire Bell, of Morgan Township, who, after remaining from years, removed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in1880.  Dr. Dill is now with Dr. Roberson, who came here in 1881.  Dr. Borger came here in 1876 from Prince William's Village, Carroll County, Indiana.  Previous to locating in Reily he had practiced eight years. Dr. John Trembly, who lives two miles east of the village, was an early physician in this section.  He now does little with his profession except in very urgent cases.  Reily has three resident physicians.
     The mechanic arts in Reily have always been carried on successfully.  In 1839 James Miller was here in a log blacksmith shop opposite the tavern.  Samuel Davis was here in 1835 in a shop above the hotel on the side hill, which land he owned at that time.  James Bridge carried on blacksmithing in 1840 near the Presbyterian Church.  Thompson Gray took up his residence in Reily, in May, 1843.  He began as a blacksmith in a shop built by Davis on the bank of Indian Creek.  He has now  been here thirty-nine years.  In the meantime there have been Hugh Roll, who learned his trade with Davis, George Huber, and William Sasher - latter here in 1882.
     A. L. Gaston was the first storekeeper in the village.  His store was on the east side of Indian Creek one hundred yards above Dick's mill.  He was here in 1828 or 1830.  The frame house is now gone.  Moses Burke carried on the same business at the Gaston store for two or three years.  A. G. Smith was here from 1838-43 in a house where the tavern now stands.  The old storehouse is now between the tavern and the stable.  Gaston, Pierson & Clark were store-keepers here in the Smith property for some time; followed by Gaston & T. B. Smith.  After Samuel Gray and Arthur Gray.  The storekeepers at present are John A. Lesley, King Carson, N. Urmston & Son.
     Saloon-keepers and Frank Horsfield and John Baker, the latter also having a meat-store.  There are two shoemakers, John Gable and John Wunder.  There is one tailor, J. W. Frazee; and one undertaker, S. P. Riker.  A wood-working shop is kept by William Lutes.  Two saw-mills are here, one kept by Van Ausdall, Wynescopp, Little & Bros., on the west side of the creek, and J. P. Heidley has another in connection with his grist-mill.  There is also a portable saw-mill below the school-house owned by Deen & Stiman.
     The first school-house in the vicinity of Reily stood on the west of the pike leading to the State line, in the

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upper end of the village, on a piece of land now in a pasture-field.  Some remnants of the old house are yet to be seen.  This house was there more than seventy years ao; it was used for some time.  the first school-house in the village proper was erected in 1839, on land sold to the authorities by Pierson and Joseph M. Conkling and wives.  The front part of the house was built first.  It is brick, and stands opposite Frazee's tailorshop.  After a number of years of use the house was found to be too small; hence, in 1860 or thereabouts, an addition was made to it.  James B. King was a director at this time, and took much interest in the affair.  King had previously been a member of the Legislature.  On the 19th of November, 1877, school opened in the new building, which cost about three thousand dollars.  The one acre of land, on part of which the house stands, was bought of Samuel Gray.  There are two rooms in the new school-building.
     Some of the persons who have taught school in Reily are:  A. W. Mustin, Thomas W. Lawrence, the latter here in 1853; W. Burget, Joseph C. Snow, in 1857, who also was an excellent preceptor; W. Bartlow, Mr. Sheely, D. Basssett, Mr. Snow, in 1859, a brother of J. C. Snow; William Salmon, in  1854, who afterwards went to California, and who had Emily O. Cumback for assistant; Alexander King in 1855; Doctor J. M. Trembly in 1857; F. A. Coleman in 1855; besides Mary Ann Howels, daughter of Rev. M. Howels; Lucretia Jones, and others.
     Among the scholars of Thomas W. Lawrence, in 1853, were John Dingfellow, Albert, John, and Lafayette Sweatman, Alonzo Kerr, David Rees, James Oxley, Francis Gilliland, Hannah Little, Sarah E. Davis, Harriet Gaston, Lucy Smith, Mary Burke, and Martha King.  In 1853 there was an enrollment of eighty-two scholars.
     The Reily Presbyterian Church was organized in April, 1836, with thirty-six members.  It was a scion from Bethel, the most powerful religious organization of its faith in this part of the county.  The house, made of brick, in which the congregation now worship, was built in 1840.  Forty-six years after its organization the membership numbers one hundred.  Among the ministers have been A. B. Gilliland, J. S. Weaver, E. Howell, T. E. Hughes, C. H. Raymond, J. De Lamater, and D. H. Green.  This Church, since its organization, has been in a prosperous state.  There is a neat parsonage near the church.  A good Sunday-school is maintained and well supported.
     Reily Odd Fellows, Lodge No. 332, was instituted Nov. 12, 1857, at St. Charles.  Some of the charter members were John and Silas Stewart, brothers, and George W. Roberts.  This lodge continued at St. Charles until 1876 or 1877, when on account of the inconvenience to members, it was brought to Reily.  The society built a lodge here in 1876, and the next year it burned down.  This hall cost about seven hundred dollars, and was over Benjamin F. Sayre's store-room.  After the loss occasioned by the fire the lodge bought the lot on which the store stood, and erected the present frame, costing about one thousand dollars.  There are now about fifty active members.  No. 332 was instituted by William Chidsey of Cincinnati, now grand secretary of Ohio.
     The Knights of Honor Lodge was instituted Mar. 30, 1881, with the following members:  B. F. Sayres, John Mansod, Doctor D. D. Borger, J. T. Llittle, J. N. Carson, J. A. Lasley, J. P. Van Ausdall, George Feighter, John Gable, H. E. Wynecopp, Frederic Horsfield, Henry Schwarm, Morris Hamer, George Huber, Walter DeCamp, W. G. Everson, William Thompson, W. G. Ragsdill, Amos C. Vanlue, Calvin E. Deneen, A. W. Deneen, Noah S. Sayres, Gideon Stroud, William M. Sasher, P. J. B. Welliver, John Vanness, Charles Urmston, J. W. Whitehill and J. T. Bartlow.  Mr. B. F. Sayres, met his death by accident Nov. 15, 1881.  Meetings are held in the Odd Fellows' hall the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month.  The first officers of this lodge were Doctor D. D. Borger, P. D.; W. G. Everson, D.; Walter DeCamp, V. D.; W. J. Ragsdill, assistant D.; J. P. Van Ausdall, representative;  P. J. V. Welliver, F. R.; F. Horsfield, treasurer.  This society has thirty odd members, and is in a flourishing condition.
     There was a Grange society organized in Reily several years ago.
     The Reily Cemetery gives these inscriptions:
     Elder Jonas Roberson, born Jan. 27, 1800; died May 11, 1874.
     Nancy, his wife, born Nov. 28, 1804; died Mar. 16, 1870.
     Hannah, wife of B. F. Sayres, died May 28, 1877; aged 52.
     George Bowman, died Mar. 6, 1876; aged 64.
     Elias Sayres, died Oct. 6, 1867; aged 66.
     Amanda, wife of John F. Ward, born June 25, 1829; died Sept. 13, 1877.
     Sarah J. Ward, born Apr. 5, 1839; died Feb. 4, 1856.
     George W. Van Ausdall, born Nov. 17, 1803; died Aug. 15, 1876.
     Matthew Welliver, died Jan. 6, 1879; aged 69.
     Aaron H. Davis, died Apr. 20, 1879; aged 59.
     Cynthia A., wife of William Stephens, born June 8, 1806; died Oct. 12, 1864. 
     A fine monument marks the resting-place of Joseph Smith, who was born Jan. 20, 1806, and died Jan. 1, 1881.
     Abigail Smith, his wife, was born Oct. 5, 1812. 
     Another very fine monument says: Elizabeth, wife of John Abbott, who died Mar. 18, 1857; aged 47.
     Also, Margaret, wife of John Abbott, who died July 27, 1880; aged 71.  Elizabeth, wife of William Smith, died June 18, 1850; aged 90. 
     James Johnson, born Dec. 1, 1808' died Feb. 4, 1875.
     From a handsome monument:
     J. D. Smith, died Apr. 30, 1877; aged 75.
     Susan, wife of J. D. Smith, died Oct. 2, 1837; aged 33.
     Elizabeth, wife of J. D. Smith, died Aug. 1, 1877; aged 58.

     This burying-ground is comparatively new, and there are but few old burials in it.  Every thing about the yard is neat and orderly.
     In early times the townships of Reily, Hanover, and Oxford - the uplands near the heads of the creeks - were covered by large ponds of water.  There were hundreds of acres entirely useless, except that large quantities of wild

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geese and ducks made these grounds their resort.  The excessive timber prevented the water from running off.  There were immense thickets of wild gooseberry bushes, patches of briars which covered three or four acres, and plenty of wild currants.  Above the Baptist Church, on Indian Creek one mile and a half, there were twenty acres of wild black currants, "which were much better," so the old settlers say, "then our common white currants."  Crab apples abounded; also wild onions.  Colonel William Stevens says an "oak tree, seven feet in diameter, above his father's house, turned out fifteen 'coons at a single catch."  Foxes, ground-hogs, opossums, and squirrels abounded.  Game was always fat.  Sugar making was carried on very extensively by the settlers.  Camps were opened wherever a good opportunity presented-itself, regardless, in many cases, of its location.  The general price for sugar previous to the war of 1812, was about three cents per pound.  After the war, the price rose to twelve and a half cents per pound, many of the pioneers making handsome profits thereby.  The last bear seen in Reily Township was in the north-east corner of section six, in 1809.  In 1815 Brumfield Boone killed one of the largest panthers ever seen in Butler County, on a farm then owned by John Boone, his father.  The farm is now owned by the Vanness heirs.  The animal measured seven feet from tip to tip.  People came from all directions to see it, and its skin was kept a good while in the neighborhood.  There were dozens of cooper-shops in Reily Township at an early day.   One of the oldest dwelling houses in Reily Township is on section four, north of the road fifteen rods, running through the center of the section.  It was built by David Wing, in 1810.  It is now occupied and owned by Rodney Donham, who was born Aug. 30, 1806, on the Island of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.  He came with his father's family to the south side of section six, this township in 1809, on the 22d of June.
     Robert Moore was born in 1815, in Hanover Township, on section No. 22.  He has engaged in carpentering most of his life, going from place to place throughout the county, erecting buildings.  He is a man who owns considerable real estate and is a person of unblemished character.  After 1837 he owned the mill which stood on Indian Creek, near where he lives.  In 1861 this mill ceased to run.
     Owen Davis, one of the pioneer settlers of Reiley Township, took up his residence in the south-east quarter of section twenty, in 1811.  For his wife he married Mary, daughter of John Smith, in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, June, 1807.  Mrs. Davis was born De. 27, 1789, in the same county where she married.  This marriage resulted in a family of ten children: John, born 1808 in Fayette County, Pennsylvania - dead; Rebecca, who married Samuel Davis, born 1810, died in Butler County; Philip, born 1812 died in Indiana; Aaron, born 1814, died in this county; Owen, born 1816 - dead; Hannah, who married Henry Thompson, born 1819, and lives near Reily; Charles, born 1821, unmarried, and living in California; Mary J., who married Andrew Mann, born 1824, died in Butler County in 1850; Rhoda, who married Allen Larison, born 1827, died in this county; Ezra, born 1830, living near Reily.  John Smith, Mrs. Davis's father, came to this county in 1816, and settled where the Davises now live in this township.  He was an active soldier in the Revolution.  Owen Davis, Sen., was in the war of 1812, his wife being left with four small children to care for in a cabin in the woods of the then thinly settled community.  Charles Davis, one of the sons, was a soldier in the Mexican War.
     The following is a list of the postmasters of Reily Township:
     Bunker Hill. - William R. Pierson, Jan. 21, 1852; Obadiah Welliver, May 15, 1860; Jacob M. Trembly, Jan. 31, 1863; discontinued June 13, 1863; re-established July 10, 1863; John Doyle, July 10, 1863; Charles C. Crawford, July 9, 1866; William H. Burgett, Dec. 21, 1868; Rooney Dunham, May 19, 1869; discontinued Apr. 13, 1869; re-established Jan. 26, 1876; Benjamin Wynn, Jan. 26, 1876; Robert F. Stead, Mar. 31, 1879; James A. Moore, Nov. 7, 1881.
     Philanthropy. - William D. Jones, Feb. 15, 1823; James Beard, June 4, 1836; J. A. Applegate, May 29, 1839; Isaac H. Pierson, Dec. 11, 1840; James W. Fye, July 16, 1850; Aaron McGaughey, Feb. 27, 1852; Abraham Boyd, June 27, 1853; Lewis W. Miller, June 3, 1854; Joseph A. Smith, Feb. 10, 1857; William R. Mercer, Jan. 16, 1861; Peter De Armont, Dec. 9, 1852; Francis M. Abraham, Feb. 28, 1868; William R. Mercer, Mar. 10, 1868; John Beard, Jan. 10, 1860; Peter De Armont, Feb. 22, 1869; Abram B. Hodson, Mar. 17, 1871; John L. Phillis, Dec. 22, 1879; Frederick W. Oliver, May 16, 1879. 
     Reily - Obadiah Welliver Dec. 31, 1825; Augustus L. Gaston, Oct. 21, 1830; Elias H. Gaston, June 16, 1840; Samuel Gray, Oct. 2, 1849; Joseph W. Frazee, Apr. 27, 1854; James Roberson, Mar. 15, 1858; Freeman P. Applegate, Apr. 15, 1862; Samuel Gray, Apr. 20, 1863; Danforth B. Thompson, May 17, 1866; John N. Carson, May 31, 1867; Henry C. Gray, Apr. 8, 1869; Samuel Gray, Jan. 24, 1879; Nelson Urmston, May 26, 1876; John W. Corson, Nov. 22, 1880.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES