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been formed four years later than Jackson, and was named in honor of Maj. Silas Johnson, the first white man to settle within the present limits.
     One of its peculiar features is its marked topography, containing the highest agricultural lands, not only in the State (if, perhaps, we except an elevated area found between the head-waters of the Miami and Scioto Rivers), but presents the highest elevation between the Alleghany Mountains, in the East, and the ascension of the river Platte in the West of Nebraska.  Nor between the Laurentian Range, in the North, and the Ozark Mountains in the Southwest, in there higher arable lands.  To the eye, some portions of the township appear to be low and flat, requiring drainage for agricultural purposes, but the low and flat areas, embracing many of it best farms, are simply a dished surface, and, as compared with the surrounding country, the highest of lands.  The topography of the township will probably be better understood by a comparison of altitudes,  and the table used below has been carefully compiled from actual surveys and measurements, and will, doubtless, be found correct.  The altitudes as given show the height above tide-water:

EARLY SETTLERS AND SETTLEMENTS.

     Without question, Silas JOHNSON was the first white man to settle within the present limits of the township so appropriately named.  He, with two sons, James and Charles, reached the present site of the Reuben COMER farm in the spring of 1802, and there at once commenced the work of the early pioneer, and soon cleared sufficient space to erect the rude cabin of the day, which was small, and of such timber as could be handled by the three, probably, what was termed a “pole cabin.”  It stood on the hill in the orchard just across the road (pike) from the house now occupied by Reuben COMER.  They cleared as much ground as was possible in that day before wild winter was ushered in, and returned to the family in the blue-grass region, having come from Fayette County, Ky., near Lexington, and, in January, 1803, the entire family left their Southern home for the primeval forest in the then far-off North.  The family consisted of nine in all - Silas, his wife Phoebe, and seven children, Walker and James (twins), Charles, Silas, Jr., Rebecca, Elizabeth and Phoebe.  It was not long until the old pioneer became dissatisfied with his hillside residence, and erected one of similar dimensions a few hundred feet below and near the present site of the barn on the same farm, this site having been selected partially on account of a fine spring close by.  Here they lived for several years, braving the dangers, but determined that the wilderness should blossom as the rose, were equal for all emergencies, and it was not long ere, from their cabin door, could be seen several acres of waving corn.  Coming before the land had been surveyed, they knew not that their little farm was to be so expensive, for after the survey was made the portion they occupied was set apart as a reserve, so excellent was the ground and beautiful the site, and a value of $8 per acre was affixed.  This price was thought too high by Johnson, so he moved to the section adjoining on the north, now the Adam Bodey farm, long known as the Brubaker farm, where the land was cheaper.  Here he built two cabins, standing only about two feet apart, both being the rude log or pole cabin of the earliest settlers; they were about 18x20 feet in size, each having but one low door and one window without glass; the covering consisting of clapboards with their weighty poles, defying the wind, the old chimney of wood and mud, and the door of split puncheon on its hinges of wood, with its wooden latch, was the primitive “palace” of the township.  He cleared and cultivated much ground on this site, and, after years of usefulness and of great service to his fellow-pioneers, he

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left the township, going into Adams Township, where he soon died and was buried on “Indian Creek" on the farm of his son Walker.  Although coming from Kentucky, JOHNSON was not a native of that State, having been a resident of the same for about twenty years.  He was born in the year 1758, in the State of Virginia, of Irish parents, Arwaker and Rebecca; was married in Virginia to Phoebe WARD.  JOHNSON (Silas) was an old Revolutionary soldier, having served as a spy with one JAMISON, watching the movements of the Indians, place of rendezvous being at the mouth of Kanawa Creek, on a point of land between the Ohio River and that creek.  He was also a Major in the war of 1812 under the command of James McPHERSON, who commanded the Third Regiment, First Brigade, Fifth Division, Ohio Militia.  Of his four sons, three accompanied him to the front in the latter war.  The family were long-lived, nearly all living to the advanced age of eighty years.  Rebecca being the last to succumb to the footprints of time, died Oct. 1, 1880, in her eighty-sixth year.  JOHNSON was a Christian man, esteemed by all; was very influential, and through his efforts mainly was the township established.  He took an active part in all the affairs of the settlement, and to him all went for counsel and advice.  “Peace be to his ashes.”  Very little can be ascertained of those who came next, however, tradition tells of one CARTER with two sons and the same number of sons-in-law, by name COX and FLEMING, who arrived in the year 1804, and merely squatted, as it were, not effecting a permanent settlement, but pulling stakes and turning their course westward in the year 1807.  One year later came Louis HANCOCK, from Shenandoah County, Va., and settled in Section 14, northeast quarter, on the present farm of his son, David HANBACK, where he entered 160 acres of second-rate land, paying $2.25 per acre.  Besides the pioneer Louis, came his wife Barbara and three children. David, residing on the homestead, is the only representative of the immediate family.  Three children were born to the parents after their arrival, one during the absence of the father in the war of 1812, during which war the good and brave wife cleared nearly three acres of ground, feeling that it would require the exertions of all hands to meet the payments when they became due.  The children married and settled in the neighborhood, assisting greatly in subduing the wilderness and forming the beautiful fields of the present.
     The names of Acory BERRY and the three LONGs should precede instead of follow that of HANBACK, as they all settled prior to 1808, BERRY coming from the same county and State, and even from the same section of land as did HANBACK; but in the year 1806, having married a daughter of the latter, he entered 320 acres of land in Section 6, his wife coming with him.  His children  - two boys and two girls - were born in the township.  All lived for a number of years, and were connected with the early work toward the advancement and progress of this region, but, in the end, nearly all falling victims to that terrible disease, “small-pox,” which prevailed for some time among the early settlers.  The LONGs above referred to are “Big” John, “ Little ” John, and Philip.  The first and last named emigrated from Horseshoe Bend, Rockingham Co., Va., in 1807, and “ Little ” John from the same place, but came a little later.  There were three LONGs in the neighborhood, of the same name, hence “Big” John and “Little” John; and later came the third John, who was designated as “Cucumber” John.  “Big” John entered 160 acres in the southwest corner of Section 2, where he built a cabin and cleared considerable land.  He had no children by his first wife, and but one by his second - Catharine by name.  His second wife was a BRUBAKER.  He finally left this State

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and went West, where he died.  He was a tall and well-proportioned man, weighing 300 pounds.  Philip entered the southeast quarter of Section 2, built a small pole cabin with clapboard roof and weight-poles, having one four-light window, the glass of which was procured at Cincinnati and transported on horseback.  He died about the year 1837, and was buried on his own farm, leaving but one child - Rebecca, bearing the name of her mother.
     In the year 1808, Philip COMER came West from Shenandoah County, Va., in search of land, and, in the fall, purchased, at the land office in Cincinnati, the same land previously occupied by Silas JOHNSON, and left by him on account of the high valuation placed upon it by the Government.  Soon after JOHNSON moved from the land, it depreciated to $4 per acre, at which figure it was purchased by Philip COMER.  It was entered in the fall of 1808, and in the following spring he put in twelve acres of corn in ground that JOHNSON had cleared, and, in the fall of 1809, returned to Virginia and sent his son David west to take care of the crop.  He remained during the winter, and cleared about five acres, and, in the spring of 1810, the second crop was planted.  This same' year, Philip again came West, bringing with him his family, consisting of his wife and ten children - five boys and five girls - as follows: David, Martin, Peter, Joseph, Reuben, Catharine, Barbara, Lizzie, Susan and Rebecca, Reuben being the youngest, and the only one of the ten children now living, and occupies the old homestead', situated a half mile west of Millerstown.  The writer visited him, and found a hale, hearty and jovial old man.  Though nearly eighty years of age, he has the appearance of one twenty years younger, and bids fair to celebrate his one hundredth anniversary.  To him we are greatly indebted for much of the early history of the township.  The COMER built an addition to the cabin left by the JOHNSONS.
     However, this is not a startling fact, if we but consider the number to be sheltered.  “Only twelve.”  We judge there were no spare rooms.  Nevertheless, we will warrant that all went happy and merry as a marriage bell.  The JOHNSON had cleared two fields, and some little ground where the orchard now stands, in all, probably, some fifteen or sixteen acres, and, with what David added, quite an extensive farm awaited the arrival of the family.  They were four weeks and four days in coming from the East, journeying by means of a five-horse wagon, and making the quickest trip from that State of any who had preceded them.  At this time the Indians were quite numerous, and on one occasion, when the COMER shed or stable was being built, an Indian boy was present, and appeared anxiously awaiting the fastening of the last shingle, evidently wrestling hard with the thought as to how the pioneer who was performing the work was to get to the ground.  He could not await this point, so endeavored by signs to ask his question, and in doing so he laughed, and, by signs or motions made with his hands, expressed to them his idea, which was to sit and slide, much to the amusement of all present.  This farm had been occupied by the Indians, as there was a town of thirteen huts or houses still standing when the COMERS arrived, but were unoccupied, and a number had been demolished.  They were small, and constructed of small elm poles, something after the style of the rail-pen or corn-bin of to-day, with a bark covering or roof.  This village was called by the pioneers “Nettletown,” as it was on one of the tributaries of Nettle Creek, whose banks were thickly grown with nettles, as heretofore spoken of.
     In this neighborhood, one eve, at the approach of twilight, could have been seen Silas JOHNSON and the two sons, hovering around their little fire, where

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their morsel was in preparation ere they had shelter for the night, when drew near two of the dusky sons of the forest, and began remonstrating with the newcomers about their invading the territory of the Indians, when the brave pioneer made a leap for his gun, which was several paces away, and, at that instant, the Indian’s eye fell upon the weapon, and he too hurried for the same, but, fortunately, JOHNSON beat him, and grasped the gun, which in a moment was aimed at the savage.  It was JOHNSON’s intention to kill him, but, on second thought, changed his mind and gave him a rap with the barrel, knocking him sprawling.  Some words passed later, but suffice to say that no further interference followed, and the conference was dropped.  When Philip COMER first came, he made his home with old Peter SMITH, near Westville, and, on the arrival of the family, all remained several nights with Adam KITE.  The COMER boys married, and all settled in the neighborhood.  Philip died about the year 1824, and was buried near the spot where the JOHNSON cabin stood, where also rest the remains of his wife and several children.  Reuben COMER married Elizabeth DEALY, of this township, she being a native of Virginia, and from the union sprang five children, all of whom are now living in this township, save one.  With the COMER family, in 1810, came Jacob MAGGART and Jacob Judy, from Shenandoah County, Va. The former settled on and entered the southeast quarter of Section 7, and there built his cabin.  His children were Moses, Adam, David, Elizabeth and Jane.  Jacob died with the small-pox, just before that disease proved so fatal to the BERRY family, Acory BERRY having contracted it while attending the burial of MAGGART. The sons, excepting Adam, remained bachelors until late in life, when they married and left the township, Adam remaining on the home farm.  Judy entered 160 acres on what is now known as the BUCKRATH farm, in Section 1, on which he died in 1843.  His wife Catharine survived him a number of years.  Their children were Joseph, David and Elizabeth.  The sons remained on the homestead, the former leaving the township in the course of eight or ten years.  David remained until after the death of his mother, when he took his departure.
     The State of Virginia again added to the Nettle Creek settlement, when in 1811, arrived Joseph KIZER from the Shenandoah Valley, a native of the State whence he emigrated, born in 1777.  He married the daughter of Philip COWES in 1809, and two years later, with two children, reached the present limits of Johnson Township, settling near Millerstown, where he entered a quarter-section of land, built his cabin and there lived until 1869, when he was summoned to his final home.  He was an esteemed man, and served many years as a Justice of the Peace, was the first Justice of the township, commissioned in the year 1816 by Thomas WORTHINGTON, then Governor of Ohio.  At this election, it is said that his opponent was Silas JOHNSON, and that KIZER beat JOHNSON some two or three votes, which so insulted the dignity of JOHNSON that he left the township.  KIZER was also commissioned a Justice in the years 1818 - 27.  He reared a large family.  Two of his sons, Benjamin and Charles are now residents of the township.  Perhaps it will not be amiss to here make mention of a great favorite of Father KIZER, namely, “Old Simon,” a horse that had faithfully served him for thirty years, carrying him a number of times across the mountains to the old mother State of Presidents.  He died on the homestead at the advanced age of thirty-three years.  In 1812, Virginia again sent forth to the colony more of her sons; this time coming Louis LYONS, with his wife Mary and their children, John and Christian, who entered 160 acres of land on what is known as the Isaac GOOD farm, where the usual cabin was

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S. T. MCMORRAN

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SUSAN B. MCMORRAN

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built and the pioneer’s work began.  The father lived but a few years after his arrival, and the boys remained on the homestead; Christian died prior to 1831, John living until some ten or twelve years ago.  David HUFFMAN, who proved a valuable man to the settlement, and to whom the inhabitants of St. Paris are indebted for their beautiful town, emigrated from Culpeper County, Va., in the year 1813, and entered a half-section of land, a portion of which was the present site of St. Paris.  A brother, Jeremiah, accompanied him.  The children of David HUFFMAN were John, Julia, Samuel, Mary, Jacob and Reuben; all remained in the township.  David CAMPBELL, now residing on Section 7, born in 1802, is one of the early pioneers.  His parents, John and Magdalene, came West from Rockingham County, Va., when he was but a small boy, and made a temporary stop on Clear Creek, near Springboro, Warren County, this State, where he followed his trade, that of a miller, for several years, when he removed to Nettle Creek and settled in the NORMAN neighborhood, and for some years was the miller at the John NORMAN mill.  David married Catharine KESLER, who is yet living.  They are the parents of eleven children, four boys and seven girls.  One Christian MORAH with his family settled near Millerstown at a very early day, as early as 1805, was among the first white settlers, but of his life we have been unable to learn anything.  In 1808, Samuel BRUBAKER and family left Shenandoah County, Va., facing the West in search of a home, they reached Lawrence County, Ohio, and there squatted until the year 1815, at
which date they settled near Millerstown.  Later they occupied the Silas JOHNSON farm, where stood two cabins built by JOHNSON.  There were about fifteen acres of ground cleared when they moved upon it.  Samuel had married Barbara COMER, from which union were five children - Isaac, Jacob, Mary, Daniel and Rebecca.  Isaac has occupied the homestead up to the last fifteen
years.  David and Henry LONG were other early settlers, entering and clearing land in the neighborhood of Mosquito Lake.  Both came from Virginia.  At about the same time, and from the same locality, came Frederick PENCE, who settled and entered land in Section 15.
     We have endeavored with great care to avoid mistakes in our sketch of the early settlers of the township, and the locality of the settlements effected, and if errors have occurred they have been unavoidable.
     It is noticeable that the first families settled along Nettle Creek.  This undoubtedly was on account of water, for all along that section are fine and almost never-failing springs.  Another noticeable fact is that it was a Virginia settlement; most of the settlers coming from the Shenandoah Valley, and were generally the stoutest and hardiest men that settled from any country.  The post office, if we are permitted to designate it as such, of the pioneers, was the Indian village, Nettletown, as all their mail matter went to and from that town.  The chief products then were corn, wheat, flax and sugar; meat consisting of game and pork.  The salt came from Cincinnati, whither the pioneer went, generally taking maple sugar to exchange for that article.  The grist-mill of the times was out of the present limits of Johnson Township, but as the settlement was dependent upon it, we will be allowed to speak of it.  This was the John NORMAN mill, on Nettle Creek.  NORMAN had placed a slight obstruction in the channel of the creek, where he had a wheel for the water to flow against, and a little primitive gearing set in motion a small stone that he formed out of a bowlder that had been picked up on his land.  When he got his mill to running, he would fill the hopper in the morning, start it to work, and then he would leave to engage in other labors till noon, when the mill would get his

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services again by replenishing the hopper with grain, and filling the sacks with meal or cracked corn to the same height that they were with corn, he having made a hole in the sack with a bodkin before emptying it.
     The earliest merchant of the settlement, of whom we have any knowledge, was one SHROFE, who kept a store at the residence of Silas JOHNSON when he resided on the BRUBAKER Farm.  Doubless this SHROFE is one of several of that name who a little later entered land in the neighborhood of the Mount Pleasant Church and graveyard, and attempted the laying-out of a town to be called "Elliott."  They went  sofar as to have the ground surveyed and laid out into lots, some of which  were sold, but the spokesman having failed, was unable to pay for the ground, hence the town was abandoned.  The clothing principally worn was made from linen fiber.  The leather used was procured from the tannery of William RUNKLE, three miles south of where Westville now
stands.
     JOHNSON, though not a physician, strictly speaking, generally administered to the ailing of the neighborhood, his “curing dose” being calomel.  Philip COMER had a little forge and some few tools, and gave attention where blacksmithing was needed.
     The war of 1812 affected this as it did other settlements, in checking emigration and spreading consternation among those who had settled.  The land was sold by the Government in tracts of one hundred and sixty acres and upward, at $80 on entry, and in annual payments until paid for.  It was not generally speaking, the moneyed men who came, but men of little or no means, and of wonderful nerve, who here, far from civilization and among Indians, had their homes to hew out of the dense forest.
     The emigrants, rather than to lose their all, collected together for their own protection.  For had they failed in paying the annual installments, the land was forfeited and sold, or placed subject to re-entry.  It was this fact that prompted the noble wife of HANBACK to grasp the ax during the husband's absence in the war.  The Nettle Creek settlement sent her quota.  We cannot give the roll, but will recall the names of several that are now fresh in our minds:  JOHNSON, KIZER, COMER, HANBACK, several religious service of the immediate settlement was held in the barn of Philip COMER, Rev. Saul HENKLE expounding the word of God.  This was about the year 1815.  After this date, services were occasionally held at private houses and in the old schoolhouse, of which we will speak later.  The reader may not yet have thought of the element of which the colony was composed, and for fear not, we will state that "Dutch" they were, hence the doctrine of Martin LUTHER, in a religious sense, prevailed, which accounts for the numerous churches of his creed that now dot the township.  John NORMAN, the miller, frequently preached for them.  He was of the Baptist persuasion, so there were some lovers of water too.  Later ame a Methodist, the Rev. Mr. Stewart, and preached for them.  Of the early school teachers we can say but little; prior to the building of the first house, short sessions of school were held at the different houses of the settlers and in cabins vacated by emigrants who had changed their quarters or left the neighborhood.  One JACKSON was about the first.  Before wandering too far from the war of 1812, permit us to relate an incident occurring about that time, on the COMER farm.  Simon KENTON, of historic note, whose name was a household word among the pioneers, with others, was watching the movements of the Indians, and, wishing to keep out of sight of some passing by, was climbing

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TOWNSHIP BOARD OF EDUCATION.

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ST. PARIS.

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SCHOOLS.

CHURCHES

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THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK.

THE PRESS.

ST. PARIS LODGE, NO. 246, I. O. O. F.

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     Their officers now are:  F. E. BULL, N. G.; Jacob JUDY, V. G.; A. E. POND, Sec.; J. HUFFMAN, Treas.  The lodge owns a fine two-story brick, which they built at a cost of $5,000, their lodge-room occupying the second story.

RUSSELL ENCAMPMENT, NO. 141, I. O. O. F.

PHAROS LODGE, NO. 355, A., F. & A. M.

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officers were:  W. N. REINHARD, President; James BROKAW, Vice President; J. N. McALLISTER, Secretary; Augustus LEEDOM, Treasurer.

GRAVEYARDS.

     There are two of these ancient hallowed spots in the northern part of the town, and a beautifully laid out cemetery comprising eight acres of ground.  The latter is known as Evergreen Cemetery and was laid out in 1877, the ground having been purchased by John McMorran for the sum of $200.  Few interments have as yet been made.  The grounds are being improved and beautified, and will doubtless soon be in keeping with the cemeteries of the day.  The other two are situated opposite each other, the one on the west side of the road, known as the Methodist and Reform, was never laid out into lots.  People began burying there on account of the high elevation of the ground.  The other, known as the Lutheran and Baptist, had its origin in the same manner, but in later years was regularly laid out in family lots.  We have been unable to fix the dates when these yards were first used for burying purposes.

MILLERSTOWN.

     This beautiful little village, of some two hundred inhabitants, is situated in the eastern part of the township.  The land on which it stands was, at one time, the farm of Casper MILLER, after whose death it fell it to his son, Christ, who, in connection with a cousin, John G. MILLER, had the ground laid out into lots.  The surveying was done by John ARROWSMITH, in the year 1837.  Christ built the first house, which was of brick.  He lived in it, and there opened a grocery and tavern.  The first Postmaster was Isaac AMMON.  It can boast of two churches, Reformed and Baptist, and a schoolhouse; also of a number of neat and pretty residences.  It is supplied with three stores, a shoe-shop, two blacksmith-shops, a saw-mill, and last, but not least, a hotel, the Valley House.  Dr. COMER administers to the sick.  The school is taught by S. D. Harman.  The first named church was organized in 1821, and worshiped in the jointly built church at the Salem Graveyard, a history of which is given in the township matter, where they continued to worship until the church was built in Millerstown, Rev. J. STEINER serving as the first Pastor in 1852.  He was followed by Rev. Jesse RICHARDS, who remained their Pastor nearly sixteen years.  The Baptists have no regular organized church.  The building was bought from the Universalists in 1879.  Rev. I. R. RANDELL, of the Myrtle-Tree Church, preaching for them occasionally.  A Universalist Church was here conducted through a period of nineteen years.  It was organized in September, 1860, by Rev. T. S. GUTHRIE, with a membership of twenty-six.  The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. S. P. CARLTON.  After disposing of the church in Millerstown, that denomination purchased the old Methodist Episcopal Church building in St. Paris.  Politically speaking, the inhabitants of the village are pretty generally Democrats, there being, at the November election in the precinct, but twelve Republican votes cast.

END OF CHAPTER ON JOHNSON TOWNSHIP          NEXT, ADAMS TOWNSHIP