Chief among the military surveys of this township are tracts bearing
the names of McArthur, two thousand acres; Washington, two
thousand acres; Kearns, one thousand acres; Duff,
two thousand acres; Dunn, one thousand acres; Mosely,
one thousand acres, Pendleton, Spottswood and others.
These surveys have been divided into small tracts and are
owned principally by the pioneers and their posterity.
Records show that William Robinson, Sr., was
among the first who settled within the limits of this
township. The family, which consisted of father and
fours sons, were natives of North Carolina, whence they
removed to Virginia. In the year 1901 they came to this
state and settled in Greene county about five miles southeast
of Xenia, where they remained a few years and then came to
this township, perhaps in 1804. The elder Robinson
located on the present site of Jeffersonville, occupying a
cabin situated on a lot later owned by Richard Fox.
William Robinson, Jr., took possession of a tract of land
just across the creek from the village, now known as the
Wright farm. Two of the sons, Thomas and
Abner, lived near, also Nicholas, another son.
Aaron Kendall and family left Stafford county,
Virginia, in 1805 and settled in this township on part of the
Washington survey. The father eventually traveled back
to Virginia and died there. The remainder of the family
grew up and scattered.
In the year 1809 or 1810, George Creamer and
three sons, Michael, Joseph and David, came from
Berkeley county, Virginia, and settled on Sugar creek, on land
still owned by his descendants. George Creamer, Jr.,
came in 1813 and located in the same neighborhood. The
family held prominent positions and took an active part in the
development of the county. George was the
first justice of the peace; David was justice of the
peace and surveyor; Joseph, Michael and David
participated in the War of 1812. The senior Creamer
died in the year 1925.
Sonn after the Creamers took their departure
from their Virginia home they were followed by Marshall and
Jacob Jenkins, who resided in the same neighborhood.
Marshall Jenkins removed to Sugar creek. He lived
there about twenty years, then removed to Port Williams in
Clinton county. Jacob took possession of a tract
of land and lived thereon until 1850, when he divided the same
amongst his children and removed to Jeffersonville, where he
died in 1865.
Prior to 1812 a Carolinian named John McKillep
came here and located about two miles north of Jeffersonville,
with his wife and three sons, John, William and
Daniel. Mrs. McKillep was held in high esteem
for her services among the settlers as midwife, and because of
the scarcity of physicians, was in great demand.
One of the two Duff surveys in the county was
settled by Patrick Kerns, who emigrated prior to 1810
and cleared a piece of ground adjoining that of Jenkins
and Creamer. He built a two story log house, in
appearance far in advance of his day and which was standing
and occupied as late as 1874. The western survey was
purchased by Peter Harness in 1811 and divided
among his sons.
Joseph Hidy settled at an early day near Paint
creek and owned a large tract of land in Paint township.
Michael Carr owned land in this township, but lived in
Point.
John Killgore, with his wife and a large family,
emigrated to Greene county, Ohio from Kentucky in 1801 and
located in the immediate vicinity of Xenia, where they
remained several years, but, because of the scarcity of game,
they determined to change their quarters. Accordingly
the elder, accompanied by several of his sons and a neighbor
named James Kent, proceeded to explore the country east
of Xenia and finally entered this township. The first
trace of civilization they discovered was a turnip patch near
the cabin of Phillip Powell. They struck the
branch called Benbow creek and followed the same through the
farm now owned by Perry Killgore to its mouth at Sugar
creek and here a bear was shot by one of the party.
Perceiving smoke arising from near the spring on what was
later the Blessing farm, they proceeded hither and
discovered a party of Indians in camp. The latter were
friendly and invited the Killgores to remain over
night, which invitation was thankfully accepted, the bear
being served for supper. On the following day they went
to Madison county, selected a tract of land, erected a cabin,
and moved into the same with their families, remaining until
1808, when one hundred and twenty-five acres in this township,
extending from Perry Killgore's house to the road east
of the same, were purchased. Here they remained until
1812, engaged in farming and hunting. At the outbreak of
the War of 1812 one of the sons, James, went to
Kentucky with Nathaniel Scott and manufactured
saltpetre. John went to Chillicothe, enlisted in
the service and died while guarding prisoners. His
coffin was made by Joseph Hidy. His son, John
Clark, volunteered and was taken to Upper Sandusky, where
he remained until the close of the war. The Killgore
farm was purchased by Thomas Posey at seventy-five
cents per acre. At the death of the elder Killgore
it was bought by two of his sons; one of the brothers,
Clark, eventually became sole owner.
In the immediate vicinity of the Killgore home
were pioneers made of such as the following: Philip
Powell came during the years intervening between 1801 and
1804 and afterwards removed to Indiana, where he died.
He was a Kentuckian by birth. Solomon Green
remained a short time. It is said of his son William,
that he brought from Kentucky and wore the first pair of
boots ever brought to this settlement. which gave him
the name of "Bill Boots". David Polly and
Mr. Risdon were early residents of the neighborhood.
The latter married Elizabeth, a daughter of John
Killgore, Sr. In about the year 1815 Stephen Hunt
removed to the farm which had been lately vacated by Polly.
He was a carpenter, surveyor, blacksmith and justice of the
peace. He eventually moved back to Illinois.
Samuel Hornbeck, occupied the farm later owned by Abram
Blessing. Being subject to frequent attacks of fits,
his wife was told that a permanent cure might be effected by
taking off his under garment and burning the same. At
the next attack the remedy was given a trial, resulting in the
loss of the garment, but a failure as a cure. Just
below Moses Thomas lived James and
Andrew Wicker, who were natives of South Carolina.
William and John Horney settled early in
the township and devoted most of their time to hunting.
John Mock, from North Carolina, came first to Greene
county, Ohio, and assisted in the erection of the first
dwelling house in Xenia. In 1853 he came here and
settled. He died in 1862. Joseph Kent, who
came with the Killgores, remained with them until 1808,
then removed to Madison county, where he lived the rest of his
days.
OFFICIAL ANNALS.
The original
boundaries of Jefferson township and the changes in the same
may be found in the chapter on early settlement.
The following officers were elected on the 1st of
April, 1816, and sworn in on the 6th day of the same month;
Justice of the peace, Thomas Robinson; trustees,
Jacob Jenkins, Joseph Kendall and Nicholas Robinson;
constables, William McCandless and James
Sanderson; treasurer, John McKillep; lister,
William McCandless; overseers of the poor, Patrick
Kernan and John Williams; fence viewers, Jacob
Jenkins and David Creamer, the latter being
appointed at a subsequent meeting of the trustees; clerk,
David Creamer.
March 3, 1817, the trustees met at the home of
William Blackmore and issued orders as follows:
John Miller, supervisor one year, $3.00;
Samuel Wicker, received $5.25 for a like service; Jacob
Jenkins, trustee, one year, $6.00; for serving in capacity
of supervisor one year, James Sanderson and George,
each $2.25; Joseph Kendall, trustees, $4.00; Joseph
Creamer, per cent. of funds, 98 cents; David Creamer,
clerk, $4.00; following which appears this entry:
"Settled all accounts with treasurer and there remains $1.22
in the treasury."
On March 21, 1818, John Fenel was paid $2.62 1/2
for his services as deputy supervisor; the fraction was paid
in "sharp shins" or "cut money."
On June 28, 1824, William Longbridge, constable,
was commanded by John Ryan, an overseer of the poor, to
"summon Samuel Thornton and Lida Thornton to
depart ouf of this township."
The trustees, on May 24, 1834, bound to James Fent,
as a apprentice George Seamer, aged eleven, until he
shall attain the age of twenty-one; conditioned that he the
said Fent shall clothe, maintain and educate said
Seamer and at the expiration of his term of servitude
shall present him with a Bible and two suits of clothes.
The first marriage in the township was between
William Aurley and Lucy Kendall, at the house of
Aaron Wood. Squire Joel Wood officiated.
Patrick Kerran, or Kerns, was the first
blacksmith and followed his trade for many years. He
brought his forge with him and was assisted by his wife in
striking the iron.
Thomas McGara was the first physician. He
lived at Washington and visited his patience on horseback.
He enjoyed a good reputation and afterwards served his county
as associate judge and representative. James F. Boyer
and George Sharrette were the pioneer
brickmakers; D. McCoy, the first merchant; Joseph
Hidy and Stephanus Hunt, the first carpenters.
The counterfeiters who infested this county in the
early days frequently victimized the citizens of Jefferson
township, though there was no organized gang within the limits
of the township. In later years, when Alfred Walston
removed to the blacksmith shop occupied originally by Moses
Thomas, he found concealed in the same a mold for the
production of bogus silver dollars.
Richard Douglass, of Chillicothe, and one of the
first practitioners at the Washington bar, owned a tract of
land in Jefferson township, containing about twelve hundred
acres, which was in charge of his brother, an ex-sea captain.
Richard, or Dick as he was called, was very
quick of temper, but usually regretted his outbursts and next
moment. One winter he purchased a large flock of sheep
and put them in his brother's care, who managed to preserve
half of them; the others died from sheer neglect and were
placed in a heap and covered with straw. On the
following spring, Dick visited his farm and upon
discovering the dead sheep exclaimed, "What in the hell," but,
regretting the hasty remark, lifted his eyes and added, "God
forgive me."
In the fall of the year 1844-5 a party of emigrants who
were on their way from Virginia to a Western state, encamped
in the woods on the Washington and Jamestown road, on the site
of West Lancaster. With them were two young men named
Martin and McClung, who were prospecting and,
having overtaken the emigrants, concluded to accompany them to
the West. It was on the evening of the fall election and
two young men, named respectively Hiram Hosier and
Henry Smith, were returning from the polls at
Jeffersonville in a jolly mood and on horseback. One of
them, it is alleged, upon arriving at the camp conducted
himself in such a manner as to insult the women and arose the
indignation of the men, who proceeded to chastise them.
The party attacked retreated about two hundred yards, then
charged upon the assailing party. In the melee which
ensued Hosier encountered McClung and struck him
on the head, inflicting a dangerous wound, from the effects of
which he died in a few hours. Hosier was
arrested. The case, however, was postponed from time to
time. It was finally brought to trial and Martin,
the prosecuting witness, having been bribed to abscond, the
jury disagreed. Thus the case was struck out.
On April 20, 1843, a party of young men went to a
wedding at Straley's then in Jefferson, but now in
Jasper township, to "bell." They were attacked by those
inside and Antrim Rankins, son of Thomas R. Rankins,
was shot and died on the following day. John Hidy
was arrested and charged with the deed. He was admitted
to bail, left the country and never returned.
MILLS.
The pioneers of
Jefferson township, as in other localities, enjoyed to
opportunities for trading a home. Grain and other
products were conveyed to Cincinnati, Springfield and Oldtown,
much time and labor being required in making these trips.
It soon became apart that nothing could be gained so long as
there were no facilities for grinding the grain into flour and
various devices were invented.
Perhaps the first mill was erected by William
Robinson on Sugar creek. It was a very crude
structure. Another water-mill was erected on the same
creek by William Blackamore and used for grinding corn.
Jacob Creamer, in 1840, erected a saw-mill within the
present limits of Jeffersonville, where the covered bridge
stood, and afterwards added a corn-cracker. During the
west season lumber was shipped across a creek on a raft and
taken to the village. The lumber, which was white and
burr oak, was used extensively. Edward Gray had
charge of it and in the spring, when the water was low,
frequently put his shoulder to the water gate in order to put
the machinery in motion. David Creamer had a
saw-mill on the land later owned by Wallace Creamer.
These dams have long since been abandoned.
TOWNS AND HAMLETS.
Jefferson township is
not noted for many villages of importance. The present
ones are Jeffersonville, with a population of seven hundred
and sixteen; West Lancaster, with one hundred and forty-two;
Parrott, with a population of fifty, and a mere hamlet,
known as Blessing. Another early day village was
Pleasant View, of which a mention is made in this chapter.
The total population of Jefferson township, together with that
of the village of Jeffersonville, was, in 1910, two thousand
seven hundred and eighteen.
Jeffersonville is beautifully situated on the banks of
Sugar creek, eleven miles northwest from Washington C. H., and
eighteen miles from South Charleston. It is on the
Detroit & Southern railroad, running northwest and southeast,
while the same system has a line, originally dubbed
"Grasshopper road," extending northeast and southwest.
The old State road in its direct east and west course runs
through Jeffersonville. As long ago as 1880 it was said
of this village, "For the last year business in the village
has made rapid strides, and at this writing there is not a
vacant dwelling house in the place. The railroad has
brought new industries and enterprises, and good mechanics are
employed at steady wages.
While William Robinson was a resident of the
land where now stands Jeffersonville, he cannot be called the
first real resident. It was in 1831, when Walter B.
Wright and Chipman Robinson, who owned a hundred
acres of the present platting, believing that the farming
community of this township needed a trading post of some kind,
laid off lots, in March of that year, and disposed of them at
five dollars each.
The first house was built by Robert Wiley, on
Main street. This was platted as Lot No. 1. Among
the people there at that time - all that year or the next -
were William Devault, Reuben Carr, Jacob Jenkins and
M. B. Wright. Then followed Edward Gray,
a native of Morgan county, Virginia, who came to Ohio in the
fall of 1836, with his father Michael and the family.
They came over the completed National road. He purchased
land in this township, at three dollars per acre. In was
all a dense forest and very difficult to clear up.
Edward moved to town a few years later and engaged in
mercantile pursuits, which were conducted by himself and later
by his son. The first store in the village, it is
thought by many, was that of Edward Popejoy.
Reuben and Jesse Carr were early dry goods dealers.
Hiram Duff was the pioneer blacksmith, Joseph Garnes
the first tanner, and Doctor Boarer the first
physician. In 1840 there were seventeen buildings, most
of which were log, and altogether the village did not present
any too attractive an appearance to the passing stranger.
H. H. Pearson came in about 1843 and started a grocery
and liquor store. He had a large trade i both
commodities and made a fortune in a few years; he finally went
to Defiance, Ohio, and there lost most of his wealth. He
then emigrated to Iowa.
The business of this village in 1914 in about as
follows: Attorney U. G. Creamer; agricultural
implements, Frank Vanorsdall, R. A. Horney; auto
garage, Jefferson Auto Company; blacksmiths, C. W.
Spangler, John Boone, David Davis; barbers, J. L.
Spellman, Ira Mosier; banks, Citizens and Farmers banks;
dray lines, Albert Inskip, O. G. Glaze, McKalip Coal
and Supply Company; dentist, Dr. G. M. Hines; drugs,
J. B. Davis; elevators, Trellkeld and Blessing;
furniture, Janes & Company; grocers, W. A. Reid,
F. A. Horney, C. D. Bush, Sears & Son, Wood & Duff
and Frank Coe; dry goods, Hull & Company, W.
W. Routson; hardward, Boobo Hardware Company;
harness, M. F. Hudson; hotel, "Mecca," by C. F.
McAuliffe; jewelry, G. H. Follett; lumber, C. C.
French; livery, F. C. Vanarsdoll, C. J. McGrew;
millinery, C. Maude Wood; mills, The Jefferson Milling
Company; newspaper, The Citizen; restaurants, Maggie
Wilson, Lester Allen; physicians, Drs. F. E. Wilson, J.
H. French, H. V. Lusher; real estate; G. L. Carr;
stock dealer, A. C. Shepard; veterinary, Dr. F. J.
Morris; meat market, T. W. Mock; racket store,
W. O. King; tinning and roofing, A. E. Moon; cement
blocks, R. E. Thornton; bakery, Charles Miles;
pool room, John Rowell; merchant tailor, J. C. Tudor;
undertaker and funeral director, F. C. Morrow; fire
insurance, F. C. Morrow; coal dealers, O. J. Glaze,
McKillip Coal and Supply Company; clothing, Harry
Fields.
MUNICIPAL HISTORY
Under authority of
the state of Ohio, the town of Jeffersonville was duly
incorporated in March, 1838. The corporation limits were
materially extended in April, 1880.
Ordinances passed at various dates included some which
seem curious to the reader of today. The first was dated
April 26, 1838: "That if any person or persons shall run a
horse or horses in any of the streets or alleys within the
limits of said town, they shall, on conviction, be fined in
any sum not more than five dollars, nor less than one dollar,
at the discretion of the mayor."
April 14, 1845: "That any person setting up a grocery
for the purpose of selling liquor by the dram or less than one
quart (except for medicinal purposes) shall be fined in any
sum not more than five dollar, nor less than one dollar for
such offense."
August, 1852: It was ordained that there should
be no more liquor sold in the place, and the marshal was
instructed to close certain places of immoral resort within
the place.
The last named year it was also ordained that some
suitable person be appointed to sell spirituous liquors for
medicinal and mechanical purposes.
In 1879 the council ordained that "Hereafter all places
where intoxicating liquors are sold shall be closed at nine
o'clock each evening and remain closed until six A. M."
A fine was fixed as a penalty in the sum of from ten to fifty
dollars.
By 1880 this town had grown into a fine business
center, and had its churches, Masonic and Odd Fellows halls
and excellent schools.
The following is a list of the mayors of Jeffersonville
as nearly as can be obtained. As to any resignations
during any of these terms the minutes do not give them.
All the mnutes read "Council met in regular session with mayor
in the chair," and do not say who. Adolph Voigt,
1882 -1888; J. M. Straley, 1888 - 1890; J. B. Fent,
1890 - 1892; A. C. Morrill, 1892 - 1894; N. C.
Wilcox, 1894; J. M. Straley, 1894 - 1896; S. J.
Todd, 1896 - 1900; J. M. Scott, 1900 - 1902;
Lesson Day, 1902 - 1904; G. W. Blessing, 1904 -
1906; Frank Pond, 1906 - 1907; A. W. Duff, 1907;
J. D. Davis, 1908 - 1910; H. W. Duff, 1910
- 1911; J. D. Davis, 1912 - 1913; U. G. Creamer,
1914.
The municipal officers in 1914 were: Mayor U.
G. Creamer; clerk, Othelo Wade; treasurer, R. L.
Saunders; council, J. B. Fent, chairman, G. M.
Hiner, O. C. Glaze, J. C. Tudor, D. J. Charles, S. C. Morrow;
health officer, William Bergdill; marshall and street
commissioner, O. M. Allen.
Jeffersonville had a chemical fire engine and a
volunteer company, but no water works system. It is
supplied with electric lights from Washington C. H.
POSTAL HISTORY.
According to
recent figures received from Washington, D. C., the following
have served as postmasters at Jeffersonville (office
established in 1834); Jacob Creamer, June 21, 1834;
E. H. Skillman, December, 1839; E. H. Crow
appointed September 25, 1841; H. K. Pearson, August 6,
1845; W. B. Logan, March 6, 1863; Lewis Goldman,
June 5, 1863; J. W. Haymaker, March 5, 1864; Edward
Gray, January 15, 1872; Fred Higgins, December 3,
1881; L. A. Elster, February 26, 1883; A. J. Lewis,
August 3, 1885; Jesse M. Bloomer, June 13, 1889; R.
N. Scott, August 24, 1893; James Straley, September
14, 1897; Warren W. Williams, October 1, 1901, and
present incumbent. Two rural free delivery routes go out
from this point. Jeffersonville was one of four places
of a thousand and under in Ohio which the government two years
ago installed as "free delivery" as an experiment, and two and
three deliveries are made daily. This was instituted at
the instigation of Postmaster Williams. It is
altogether a success and will doubtless be followed by many
more.
A large, two-story brick town hall and corporation
building was erected here in 1898 at a cost of about eighteen
thousand dollars. It includes a fine opera house.
The place now has a population of almost eight hundred.
Its churches are the Methodist Protestant, the Methodist
Episcopal, the Universalist and Church of Christ (in Church
Union) and two colored organizations. See Church
chapter. The lodges include the Masonic, Odd Fellows,
Knight of Pythias and the Junior Order of United American
Mechanics.
The streets are well kept, the side walks are an honor
to the town and the class of business houses and residences do
credit to the enterprising citizens.
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