GREEN TOWNSHIP
BY H. C. JOHNSON
pg. 40
Organization of officers
in 1871: Esquires, two - Robert S. Jones and William
Syford; trustees, Robert Cox, Jonah Merchant, and
Solomon Depoy; treasurer, James W. Tracey; clerk,
Richard Woods; constable, R. M. Walm; assessor Wm.
Bordon.
First meeting house erected in 1836; denomination,
P. M.; for 1871, three P. M. First School house,
1819, on the banks of the Little Wabash. The walls of said
house were built of logs as nature hewed them; roofed with
clap0-boards, nailed as with poles; seats made by splitting a
pole into two equal parts; windows made by greasing paper and
pasting it over the cracks where it would be most convenient for
the scholars. School-houses for 1871 - 6 frame structures
with all the latest improvements for country school-houses.
First store in 1835 kept by L. D. Vickers.. First
blacksmith shop on the banks of Rattlesnake, in 1833; Wm.
Merchant was first proprietor. First hotel, kept by
John Rowe, in 1838; First distillery in 1818 run by
Thomas Moon, Sr. second in 1840, owned by Abraham Crispin.
First shoemaker, David Bradshaw, 1817. First
school teacher, Ebenezer Christy, 1819.
First preacher, Robert Dobbins, 1815. First
doctor, Zimmerman, a half-breed Indian, 1810. First
wagon-maker, Abram Bush.
Green Township was laid out in 1810; it then covered
the territory where Perry, Concord, and Jasper Townships now
are, they having been taken from it since then. The soil
of the township is mostly a black loam, and is very productive
for corn and wheat where it is drained. At present, 1871,
there are about 100,000 rods of secret drains. The streams
running through the township are: Lee's creek, Rattlesnake;
Wabash, and McCoy's run.
RECORD OF T. G. JOHNSON.
WILLIAM JOHNSON emigrated from Virginia to Ross County in
1810, in company with Judge McCracken, and settled in
Hellard's Bottom, on Paint creek. His family consisted
of a wife and one child; he remained there until the spring of
1816, by which time their family had increased to four -
Anna, Thomas, George, Sarah, and William Henry.
While John D. Johnson was in Ross, the war of 1812 was
declared, and he enlisted and served two tours under General
Beatal Harrison, and served his third tour under General
William H. Harrison in 1814. He moved in 1816 to
Fayette County, then a frontier, and settled in Green Township.
He purchased 100 acres of land from Jesse Rowe, Jr., on
which he located and improved. In 1830 he added 200, and
in 1832 he added 120 acres. He died in1833. When he
arrived in Fayette County in 1816, he was, already stated, the
father of five children, and before he died he was the father of
thirteen children. The following are the names of the
rest: George, Sophia, Otho, Isaac M., James H., Eliza Jane,
Caleb H., and Mary H. He
PIONEERS.
John Grasser,
farmer, in the war of 1812, died 93 years old. Robert
Iron, farmer, in the war of 1812. John King in
the war of 1812, first preacher, and founded the first class.
Geo. Krieedler, farmer, was in the war of 1812, member of
the M. E. Church for 40 years, and is still living at the age of
85. Thos. Moon, age 76, farmer and miller.
Samuel Viniger; John Draper, farmer,
James Larkins, John Nelson, Isaiah
Rowe; Thomas Moon, Sr., first mill;
Elisha Harper, Esq., justice for several
terms, farmer, moved, moved to Indiana; George Biniger,
Sr., farmer; William Simmons, William
Pope; Philip Olinger killed a bear in Mr.
Johnson's field, also a nest of wildcats; he was a
hunter; John Stinson, farmer; Philip
Barger, Sr., farmer, justice, & c.; John
Boots, farmer; Levi Rogers, farmer and coal
burner; Joel Rogers, Sr., farmer; Job
McCoy, farmer; Robert McCoy, Jesse
McCoy, and Isaac McCoy, all farmers.
EARLY SETTLERS.
David Morris, Zadoch
Morris, Job Smith; Enos Reder, county commissioner; John
Evans, Malon Haines, John Beauyer, Daniel Pary, justice;
Jacob Anders, Zachariah Cecil, Henry Patton, James
Patton, Bronson Davis, William Moore, William Tracy, Anthony
Coler, Wayne Stafford, miller; all the others are farmers,
stock raisers, &c. Robert Tate.
SETTLERS.
James Smith,
Jonathan Morris, Ira Sexton, Isaac Pary, Wm. McKay, Jordan Pavy,
William Johnson, Robert Mackey, Isaac Bargers, Franklin Woods;
W. Safford, justice of the peace; Churchill Wilson,
Oliver Wilson, Benaner Anders, Addison Pary, George Olinger,
Alfred Wilson, Wm. Darnell, Mary Zimmerman, G. W. Pallont,
Currel Pallont, Chas. Pallont, John Curren, John Simpson, John
Reed, all farmers, &c.; Dr. Clinton Brown, Albert Moon,
A. L. Snyder, shoe-maker; Ashford Dowtan; Reese Dowtan,
blacksmith; Robert Jones, John Jones; G. W. Smith,
merchant; E. Lanum, farmer; Robert Pallout and
E. T. Worthington, farmers. Elizabeth
Johnson, R. M. Wallin, Harvey Draper, James Depoy, Frederick
Hire, J. C. Mark, Stephen Safford, all farmers; Lewis
Mark, farmer and tile factory; William Coffee.
ANCIENT RELICS.
On the farm of
T. G. Johnson, in three different places, twenty-seven
feet under ground, was found wood and other matter, and in
gravel-beds in other parts of the county; and in Green Township
were found human bones, such as skulls, thigh bones, arm bones,
and other bones connected with the human body. First mill,
Thos. Moon, Sen., on Rattlesnake; the first school-house
erected 1819, and was built of round logs, with mud chimney,
puncheon floor, paper windows, made by pasting paper over cracks
and then greasing them, and seats were made of logs split into
two pieces; first school teacher, Ebenezer Christy.
BY THOMAS MOON.
THOMAS MOON'S SR.,
record: Emigraged to Ohio from Virginia in 1810,
with his family, consisting of John, Jacob, Christine, Jane,
David, William, James, Margaret, Thomas Moon, Jr., and
settled on Rattlesnake creek; in religion, he was a Quaker or
Friend, a society unusually hospitable, and opposed to war on
Conscientious principles. This accounts for Mr. Moon
not being a soldier in the revolutionary war and the war of
1812. His purchase of land was in Green Township, Fayette,
County, Ohio, called the dividing ridge. On the land he
purchased is a fine mill-site, on which he erected the first
flour and saw-mill and distillery in the county. These
places soon became a place of resort for customers, patronized
by persons from a distance. His flour gave general
satisfaction, and the distillery and saw-mill well paid the
proprietor. This may truly be called the pioneer mill of
Fayette County, Ohio. The mill still stands, and is the
property of Thomas Moon, Jr., who, although advanced in
age, still carries on the milling. There is, if saved by a
tight dam, sufficient water to grind the entire year.
Mr. Moon's purchase was 600 acres; his purchase in Highland
County was 500 acres. He purchased it of Richard Moore,
of Kentucky, in 1808; the land was in the woods; the cabin was
built with a puncheon floor, clapboard roof, and fire-place made
of split timber, and a stick chimney. He cleared, in one
week, four acres, and in the fall cleared out six acres, and
sowed in wheat. When Mr. Moon settled on
Rattlesnake, wolves and game were in abundance; the squirrels
came in droves, and so numerous were they that he had to feed
them outside of the fences. During his life he held the
office of trustee and other important township offices.
He departed this life 1828, aged 71 years and 21 days. His
wife died July 13, 1818, aged 50 years. She died with the
billious fever. Her father was in the revolutionary war.
She was a good woman, and belonged to the M. E. Church.
John D. Moon was a good school teacher; he served under
General Jackson at New Orleans. Jacob Moon
settled on Rattlesnake; he was a farmer, and in the war of 1812
he was out and in the general call. He emigrated to
Illinois, and there he died. Christine lived with
her father until death came upon her. Jane married
and moved to Indiana, where she and her husband lived and
farmed; both recently died. David Moon lives in Highland;
is 85 years old; was in the war of 1812. William Moon
was in the war of 1812; a good farmer; he is dead.
James was scalded when a child, which so disabled him that
he seldom left the house; he is dead. Margaret
married, and is now living in Indiana. Captain Thomas
Moon is now living on the old homestead, running his mills
and farming; he served five years as a captain of malitia; he
married, and raised eight children by his first wife, and by his
second wife he had ten children, eight living and two dead; his
son's name is Albert A. Moon; he also held several
township offices, such as treasurer, school director, &c.;
postmaster and steward of the M. E. Church; also class
leader; he has now retired from these offices, and he and his
wife live alone on the farm; he is now in the 75th year of his
age, his mind unimpaired, and his vigorous health,
notwithstanding his hard work during his protracted life, proves
a sound and iron organization. His wife's name is
Francis Irwin; her father served in the Indian war of 1791;
he died in Highland County, aged 75; justice and surveyor, good
scholar, and a man of note.
N. B. - Since this record has been written, Captain Moon
has died, aged 76.
ROBERT ANDERSON
emigrated to Fayette in 1807. He was in the war of 1812;
he married the daughter of James Rowe; by occupation, a
farmer. His sons, Isaac, Matthew, and John,
are large farmers and stock men - men of industry and influence.
JOSEPH MARKS,
son of Peter Marks, emigrated to Fayette County in 1808.
He is a man of wealth and influence.
PIONEERS OF THE WEST.
Where now, I ask, is that bold daring band;
The honored fathers of oar Western land -
They who first crossed Ohio's silvery wave
And did unnumbered toils and dangers brave?
Though some of them did bid the world farewell,
Some still survive, their matchless deeds to tell.
Though fleeting years have passed forever by
Since first they trod beneath this Western sky,
Yet they remember well those early days,
And view our country now with great amaze.
The country then was an unbroken wild;
The Western wilderness it then was styled.
The Ohio then sent forth a wild-like roar;
And dark dense forest waved upon the shore.
Along her strand the Indians then did dwell,
And oft was heard the wild and savage yell.
The mighty oak - proud monarch of the wood -
Upon these hills in stately grandeur stood.
Along these vales did bloody panthers prowl,
And oft was heard the wolf's fierce, frightful howl.
But all these savage beasts have passed away
And the wild Indians, too; now where are they?
They've disappeared; most of those tribes have gone,
Like night's dark shade upon the dewey dawn.
Can we forget that brave and hardy band,
Who made their homes first in the Western land?
Their names should be enrolled on history's page,
To be perused by each succeeding age.
They are the fathers of the mighty West;
Their arduous labors Heaven above has blessed.
Before them fell the forest of the plain,
And peace and plenty followed in the train.
In vane would I attempt to bring to view
The dangers which these pioneers passed through.
The wintry winds in wildness round them blew,
And o'er them often rolls the drifted snow.
Upon the cold, damp earth, their blankets spread,
There they reposed - this was their only bed.
They often crossed great rivers, deep and wide;
Their frail canoes they paddled o'er the tide.
Though pelting stores and the descending snow,
Though thinly clad, they still would onward go.
How many long and cheerless nights they passed,
Unsheltered from the cold and chilly blast.
For many years those hardships they endured,
And they to arduous toil became inured.
What lasting gratitude to them we owe;
'Tis from their toils our richest blessings flow.
Illustrious men, though slumbering in the dust,
You still are honored by the good and just.
Posterity will shed a conscious tear,
And, pointing, say, there sleeps a pioneer. |
Green Township abounded
in wild turkey up to 1830k says my informant. Turkeys have
been killed weighing twenty pounds, their meat very wholesome
and preferred by the early settlers to venison or bears' meat.
ANTHONY COLER
emigrated from France in 1831 to New Orleans, thence to
Chillicothe, thence to Fayette in 1833; he married the daughter
of Robert Worthington and lived on his farm until 1835.
Robert Worthington, Jr., son of Robert, Sr., and
Margaret, his wife, was born Apr. 21st, 1770.
Anna Worthington, daughter of Matthew Whiteing, and
Elizabeth, his wife, was born Jan. 2d, 1773.
Robert Worthington, Sr., emigrated to the Scioto Valley in
1799, with his wife, Anna. They had three
children, Elizabeth, Ephriam, and John, the two
boys of whom were in the war of 1812. Robert
Worthington was a farmer, a man of enterprise and influence;
he was the first Justice of the Peace in Scioto Township, Ross
County, and first militia captain; he was a son of Robert
Worthington, Sr., and brother to Governor Thomas
Worthington. He had his family increased to twelve
heirs; they are now scattered through Ohio, Indiana, and all the
Western States, farmers by reputation.
BY T. G. JOHNSON.
PRESENT SETTLERS. -
Phoebe Tuder, Thomas Moore, Henry Pavy, P. Corner, William
Moore, A. Johnson, J. Pavy, Edwin McCoy, John Barger, Daniel
Pavy, Robert McCoy, Enos Reeder, Samuel Pavy, D. Morris, Zadoch
Morse, Evan Smith, Elisha Sexton, J. Morris, Joeb Smith, John
Evens, M. Hains, A. Coler, B. F. Tuder, Edward Worthington, G.
W. Patton, Henry Hatton, Bronson Davis, William Connor, Jonah
Merchant, G. W. Smith, M. Zimmerman, Widow Wilson, William
Darvill, C. Cecil, John Fishback, Joseph Wallace, Elias Timmons,
Hugh Swift, B. Anders, Sam. Viniger, E. Johnson, T. Johnson, G.
Kneedler, C. Kneedler, T. Moon, and E. Johnson.
J. H. JONES, now
merchant of Buena Vista, moved from Ross County to Fayette.
He has held several important offices, and is a valuable man;
his industry in improving, &c., and the moral influence which he
exerts in the community will be long remembered.
BUENA VISTA BUSINESS DIRECTORY.
J. H. Jones and
W. Smith, dry goods.
Kneedler & Worthington, grocers;
W. H. Stafford and Thomas Moon, millers;
Jas. Bussle, butcher;
H. L. Snider, postmaster;
John Adams, carpenter
A. Dowder and M. R. Dowder, blacksmiths;
A. L. Snider, boots and shoes;
C. Brown, doctor;
R. S. Jones, justice
J. S. Nelson, harness maker;
John Curren, hotel;
W. E. Borden, school teacher.
PRESENT CITIZENS.
R. M. Patton, J. H.
C. Jones, J. L. Reed, John M. Simpson, Lydia Rowe, C. Brown, N.
Smith, Jas. Smith, R. S. Jones, G. M. Smyth, J. Huldy.
RECORD OF GEORGE KNEEDLER.
He emigrated to Fayette
County in 1810, and settled in Green Township, near the waters
of Rattlesnake, in the woods. He served in the war of
1812; he had, by his first wife, twelve children, and by his
second wife, one son, called Craton, who is married and
lives with him. Mr. K. is now 89 years old and
enjoys good health for a man of his years. His father was
a soldier in the Revolutionary war under
General Washington. |
