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STREAMS, SURFACE, SOIL, PRODUCTS AND TIMBER.

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EARLY SETTLERS

     Difficulties which arose in many instances in the first settlement of the Virginia military lands, and, in fact, difficulties which have continued more or less down to the present time, in securing undisputed titles to the lands, caused a great preference among the permanent settlers to locate upon the Congress lands, where the danger of such troubles did not exist.  In the settlement of this township, this principle was verified, as here were both military and Congress lands, all north of the Scioto River being of the latter class, and all south of it of the former class.  The lands north of the river were settled first, with no other reason for it except that these were Congress lands, for which there were no uncertain titles; therefore in this portion of the township we find the first settlements.

     Moses Dudley, a native of Maine, if not the first settler, was one of the first, and has been recognized as such, and, upon the erection of the township, it was named in honor of him.  He settled on land now owned by Robert Morrison, on Section 7, about 1830 or 1831, remaining a resident of this township a few years.  He removed into Wyandot County, and subsequently to Kenton, Hardin County, where he died.  Of his children, only one now survives - Mrs. Sarah Cary, of Kenton.

     Jacob Dick was perhaps about the first settler of this township, coming in 1829-30.  He located on land now owned by Mrs. Maria Wheeler, on Section 9.  He resided here perhaps six or eight years, then moved away.

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     George Elzy, a native of Virginia, settled on the southwest corner of Section 8.  Soon after, Mr. Dick settled here, either the same year or early in the next.  He remained here but a few years and moved away.  John G. Marks came here from near Marietta, Ohio, about 1830 or 1831, and settled on land now owned by Mr. A. Burkhart, on Section 7, where he opened out in the dense forest and where he resided for twenty years; thence he removed to Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he still remains a resident.  He had a family of several children, who all moved West with their father.  Mr. Marks served as the first Justice of the Peace of Dudley Township.

     Solomon Goss settled on land now owned by Mrs. Nancy McLain, in Section 10, about 1831 or 1832, and after residing here about ten years he moved to Iowa.  Mr. Goss was a man of character and integrity, of firm and established religious principles, and one of the organizers of the Pisgah Methodist Episcopal Church.

     William Salmon, a native of Delaware State, settled here on land now owned by Joseph Morrison, on Section 6, about 1832.  He resided here several years, then moved to Missouri.  Of his children, were Jacob, Love, Betsey and Robert - who all moved West.

     Asa Davis came here from Muskingum County and settled on the Robert Morrison place, on Section 7, in 1832; after several years’ residence, removed to Iowa, where he and his wife died, but their remains were brought back to Ohio and both interred in Marion County.  Mr. Davis was
one of the Trustees at the first election, in the fall of 1834.

     Joshua Cope, Sr., was born in Virginia in 1781, and moved to Ross County, Ohio, in 1813, where he remained but a few months and moved into Madison where he resided five years, then removed to Big Island Township, in Marion County, in 1819, being the first white settler in the township.  In February, 1833. he removed with his family to this township, and settled on the place now owned by Joseph Ward, on Section 11.  Mr. Cope served as one of the first Commissioners of Hardin County, he was a man of moral worth and integrity, and one whose experience in pioneer life was surpassed by few, having served several years as such in each of three counties.  He died in 1851.  He was the father of four sons and three daughters, viz., Charles, Hannah, William, Joshua, Jane, George and Lydia, of whom three new survive, viz., William, who is a practicing physician, now residing in Kansas; Lydia, married to Joseph Lindsey; she is now a widow and resides in Dunkirk. this county, and Joshua, Jr., the only one now a resident of Dudley Township.  Joshua Cope, Jr., was united in marriage with Elizabeth Hopkins, in 1836, and has now been a resident of this township half a century, is the oldest pioneer now resident in the township, and has experienced the “true inwardness” of pioneer life.  When he first came here with his father’s family, there was but one road opened through the forests of this township - the Bellefontaine & Upper Sandusky road - which was opened by the soldiers in the war of 1812.  The second road, leading from Kenton to Marion, he assisted in opening out.  This is now made into a pike.  When he was young, they had to go to Marseilles or Liberty to get their milling done.  He remembers driving an ox team with a few bushels of corn or wheat to a mill at Liberty, in Logan County, through the forests, which took four days to go and return, frequently having to camp in the Woods all night.  As soon as they had their land cleared so as to raise wheat, they had to haul it about eighty miles to find a market, over muddy roads and corduroy bridges.  Their market was at the lake, and required a week or more to make the trip.  There they purchased their sole leather,

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groceries, and other necessary articles for their families.  Some few plain goods were obtainable and purchased at Kenton.  These were some of the hardships of these early settlers.  Mr. Cope and wife have never been blessed with any offspring, but their loving care and attention have been bountifully bestowed upon the orphan and needy children of others, having raised or partly raised fourteen children, giving them all the care and attention of natural parents.  For intelligence, industry and unswerving integrity, few stand higher or command, more universally, the respect and esteem of this neighborhood than Mr. Cope.

     Abraham Jones settled on land now owned by A. Burnison on the north east quarter of Section 2.  He was a Trustee at the first election, but resided here only a few years and removed into Delaware County, Ohio.

     Portius Wheeler settled on land now owned by John Pfeifer, on the old State road, on the southeast quarter of Section 8, by the old Shawnee ford.  Here he erected a log house and kept a “tavern” for more than thirty years.  He also served as Associate Judge, one term.  He was one of the substantial men of Dudley Township, and accumulated quite an amount of property.  When far advanced in years, he removed to Kenton, where he died, Aug. 28, 1874, aged seventy-eight years.  His wife, Jane, died Sept. 5, 1870, aged seventy years.  Their children were Joseph, deceased; Amos, deceased; John, Urania, Jane Ann, Nelson, Mahala, deceased, and Edward, none of whom are now residents of this county.

     John Henry settled on the place now owned by William Lee, on Section 9, about 1834, where he resided several years, thence removed to Kenton, where he died, Aug. 12, 1863, aged sixty-three years.  He donated the land for the Lee Cemetery, in which his remains now rest.  His children were Elizabeth, John, Maranda, Lydia, Mary. Ann and Hannah, and one son, whose name we did not ascertain.  All the children are either deceased or moved away.

     Harvey Chapman settled on land now owned by Gilbert Myers on the northeast quarter of Section 11, in 1833 or 1834.  He subsequently removed to Iowa, but again returned to this county and died near Kenton.  He was a man of more than ordinary ability and integrity, and greatly esteemed by all his pioneer neighbors.  His children are now all deceased or moved away, except one son - Harvey - who is a silversmith in Kenton.

     Samuel Codner, born in Rhode Island, Jan. 22, 1769, settled here in 1831-32, and died Mar. 30, 1833, aged sixty-four years.  He was probably the first person who died in this township, and was the first interred in the Lee Cemetery.

     Josiah Roby, a native of Virginia, married Margret Elzy, and had two children born to them in that State, one of whom died in infancy.  With the other son - Hanson - in 1809, they removed to Ohio, the mother carrying the infant son in her arms on a pack-horse through the entire journey.  They settled first near Coshocton, thence removed to near Newark in Licking County, thence into Franklin County.  In the spring of 1833, they made a final removal to the forests of Hardin County. where they settled four miles east of Kenton, and where Mr. Roby died.  Their children, born in Ohio, were George, deceased, Elizabeth and John, both deceased, Matilda, Mary Ann, Josiah, Henry and Isaac, of whom, Mary Ann, with Hanson, who was born in Virginia, reside in this county.  Matilda resides in Hancock County, Ohio, and the balance all reside in the West.  Hanson married Eliza A. Johnson in 1839, and settled on the place where he still lives, having made a continued residence here of forty-four

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years, and is now one among the oldest resident pioneers, a worthy citizen and a stanch member of long standing in the Pisgah Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has served as a class leader for twenty years.

     Lewis De Moss settled on the Scioto River, about one-half mile below Joshua Cope, in 1834; resided there several years, but finally sold out and moved away.

     Miles Van Fleet was born in Ontario County, N. Y., in 1805.  He married Elvira C. Knapp in 1832, and in June of the same year removed to Ohio to enter land upon which he commenced the battle of life.  At that time he had a brother residing in Big Island Township, in Marion County, Ohio, whom he called to see.  They visited the forests of Hardin County, and, after looking around for some time at different locations, he concluded to locate where he still lives.  After returning to Marion County, he was informed that unless he entered his land before 9 o’clock Monday morning, another party intended to enter.  So on Sunday morning Mr. Van Fleet started for the land office at Tiffin, and, arriving there after a long ride through the forests, on Monday morning early, he aroused the agent from his slumbers and secured his land.  In the spring of 1834 he moved with his family upon his homestead.  The first election of the township was held that fall, and he had the pleasure of depositing the first vote in the ballot box, and also serving as Clerk of the election.  Mr. Van Fleet has been three times married, and is the father of eighteen children, of whom twelve are deceased.  He is a stanch Jacksonian Democrat, and cast his first vote for Andrew Jackson.  He always votes an unscratched  Democratic ticket, and is proud of his political record, and frank and decided in his opinions. Mr. Van Fleet is now, next to Mr. Cope, the oldest resident pioneer of Dudley Township.

     A Mr. Harper settled on land now owned by I. B. Mouser. on Section 13, about 1834 or 1835, but, after a few years’ residence, moved away.

     Hiram Shutz settled on land now owned by Isaiah Potter, on Section 11, about 1835, but remained here only a short time and moved away.

     Gardner Hatch, from the State of Maine, settled on the same tract of land on Section 11, in the same year - 1835 - but subsequently sold his property and moved to near Ridgeway, where he died in 1881.

     Amasa Farnum, a native of Vermont, settled on land now owned by Joseph Ward, on the 'southeast quarter of Section 11, where he lived till his death, which occurred Sept. 27, 1839.  His family are all either deceased or moved away.

     Peter Spracklin, born in England, Dec. 20, 1774, settled on land now owned by Mr. Mouser, on' Section 13, about 1835, where he resided till his death, Oct. 26, 1845.  His wife Betty was born June 6, 1771, and died Nov. 13, 1860.  Their children were Alfred, Anna, Elizabeth, Permelia and George.

     David and Anson Clement, two brothers, natives of Vermont, lived-on  land now owned by Mr. George Clement, a son of the above David, in 1835.  Anson Clement never married, and subsequently removed to Iowa, where he died.  David was married when he came here, and remained a resident here till his death.  He died July 26, 1871,agsd seventy-seven years.  His wife, Nancy, died Jan. 16, 1877, aged seventy-eight years.  They had four sons and one daughter, of whom two new survive, George and Anson, both married and residents of Dudley Township.

     Elias L. Lownes, believed to be a native of Virginia, settled on Section 8, on the place now owned by N. Glock, in 1835 or 1836, but, after over

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JNO. F.? RICE.

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twenty years' residence here, removed to Missouri.  Mr. Lownes was a man of character. a good and reliable citizen, and served this township as Trustee many years.

     David Ward was a native of England, but emigrated to America when a young single man, and came to Marion County, Ohio, where he married Margaret Pangburn, and in December, 1836, settled on land in Section 12, of Dudley Township, Hardin County, where he resided till his death.  Mr. Ward kept a “tavern” on his place about twenty-five years.  He was a good neighbor and a valued citizen, kind and generous, yet a keen, shrewd business man, and acquired a large amount of property, owning 700 acres of fine land.  His wife still survives, and resides upon the old homestead place.  Their children were Joseph, John, Vesta, Henrietta, Harriet, George and David, and two who died in childhood.

     The above were all early settlers on the Congress lands north of the Scioto River and in Dudley Township.

     We will now make mention of some of the first settlers on the Virginia military lands on the south side of the Scioto.  It is believed that the first to break the quietude of the forest here was James Peaver, a native of Ohio, who settled on land now owned by Warnock Williams, about 1830 or 1831, where he cleared up a good farm with good improvements, but finally sold his place and located on the Kenton & Marysville pike, where he died, and his remains now rest in the Mentzer Cemetery.

     Henry Jackson, a native of Clermont County, Ohio, became an early resident of Madison County, where he married Mary Latimore.  In the spring, of 1834, he removed to this county and settled on land now owned by Robert Thompson.  Here he resided till his death, Aug. 14, 1815, aged forty years.  His wife survived him, and died May 24, 1881, aged seventy-seven years.  Their children were William, John, Angeline, Sarah Jane, Margaret Jane, Lydia Ann, George, Precilla and Martha Ann.

     Henry Burris also came from Madison County, where he married Hester Latimore, and settled on the Robert Thompson place, where he died.  Their children were Margaret, Elizabeth, Frank, Mary, William, Rebecca, Martha, Amanda, John, Henry, Rachel and Sarah—all living but three, Frank, William and Sarah; and all are married and settled in life, and are prosperous and worthy citizens.

     George Thurman came from Highland County, Ohio, and settled on land where his son, Zachariah, now lives. in 1834, where he died.  Their children were Joel, Mary, Rebecca, William, Jane, Mahala, Matilda and Zachariah; all are living and residents of this county.

     John Car came from Madison County, where he married Sarah Latimore.  In 1835, he located on the place now owned by Andrew Miller, where they resided several years, thence removed to Iowa, where they died.

     John Kern settled on land now occupied by Joseph Wood, but after a few years sold out and moved away.

     John Latimore, a native of Kentucky, but raised principally in Clermont County, Ohio, where he married Margaret Horner, settled in Madison County, about 1818.  In the fall of 1836, they removed to Hardin County and located on the south side of the Scioto, opposite the Judge Wheeler place, and remained a resident of the township till his death in 1857.  His wife died about 1853.  Mr. Latimore was a soldier in the war of 1812, and passed through Dudley Township, with Gen. Shelby’s troops in 1813.  He was the father of the following children: Mary, Hester, Elizabeth (who married Henry Shanks, is now a widow and resides in Iowa),

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Sarah, Francis (who married Arminta Richardson, and is still a resident of this township), Lewis, John (who enlisted in the war of the rebellion, and was killed in the battle at Gettysburg), Nancy, Martha, Amanda, Jesse, Samuel and James Alexander, all of whom are deceased, except Elizabeth and Francis; the latter has made a continued residence upon the place where he now lives since the spring of 1837.  He has had a family of ten children, who all grew to maturity, all married and settled in life, and are all still living, prosperous, worthy citizens.

     John Peaver settled on the south bank of the Scioto, where Mrs. N. Brown now lives, and resided there until his death.

     Thomas Bramble, a native of the State of Delaware, with his family, of whom were William and Thomas, two sons, settled on land on the south bank of the Scioto, where the father died at the advanced age, of one hundred and seven years.  The son William is still a resident of this township, now aged eighty-nine years.

     It appears that Anthony Banning came into Dudley Township from Knox County, Ohio, prospecting for land, in 1833, and having selected his location, returned for his family.  Mr. Banning was soon after taken sick and died, leaving his widow with a large family of children.  About 1836 or 1837, she, with her family, removed to this township and settled upon the land selected by Mr. Banning, and here, in the almost unbroken wilderness, reared her children, who, in return, became helpers in subduing the mighty forests, cultivating the fields and rearing a home, right out of the wilds, which was made “to blossom as the rose” and yield to them the comforts and pleasures of life.  Although the mother has long since passed to that “undiscovered country, from whose bourn no traveler returns,” yet several of her children are still residents of this township and county, and are among its most honored and worthy citizens.  One of her sons - Anthony - a namesake of his father, who now resides in Kenton, served as Treasurer of the county from 1861 to 1863, and was Probate Judge from 1867 to 1870.

     William C. Hampton was born in Bridgetown, now the city of Rahway, Union Co., N. J. His father.  Joseph Hampton, was a native of England and a brother of the noted Wade Hampton, of South Carolina.  William C. received from the hand of his father a good liberal education, and early manifested a natural taste and talent for drawing, painting and perspective.  At the age of eighteen years, he was placed as a student with the New England Bank Note Company, situated in the Merchants’ Exchange on Wall street, New York, where he showed such tact and ability that he was soon employed on a salary, though small at first, yet at the end of three years, was employed as their designer for three years for $4,000.  At the expiration of this time, a great fire occurred by which the company were burned out, and the prospects and course of Mr. Hampton’s life were entirely changed, the result of which was that, in the summer of 1836, he emigrated to Ohio and settled right in the woods of Dudley Township, on the land where he still resides.  Unaccustomed to manual labor and unacquainted with pioneer or even farm life, here he began the, to many, discouraging work of opening out and making a home and a farm right from the green woods.  He has now been a resident here for forty-seven years, has a fine farm of 253 acres, and seems to enjoy well the pleasures of rural
life.  He has taken great interest in the cultivation of fruits and ornamental trees, flowers and shrubbery; has been greatly interested in and spent much time at the study of botany, and is one of the experienced florists and botanical collectors of Hardin County.

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     William and Abraham Mathews, two brothers. natives of New York, who, it appears, came to Ohio about the same time as Mr. Hampton, settled on the same tract of land.  Subsequently they purchased land.  William Mathews is still a resident of the township, in which he has served as Justice of the Peace.  Abraham subsequently returned to his native State, where a few years ago he died.

ELECTIONS AND OFFICIALS.

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ROADS AND PIKES.

SCHOOLS.

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CHURCHES.

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CEMETERIES.

     There are three established places of interment in Dudley Township.  The first was the one now known as the Lee Cemetery, which is located on the Kenton & Marion pike, in Section 9.  The ground was donated by John Henry, and contains about one acre of ground, pleasantly located on a high, elevated position, and is now and has been, for several years, in the care of the Trustees of the township. This was dedicated to use by the reception of the body of Samuel Codner, who died Mar. 30, 1833, since which, it has received the mortal remains of many of the early settlers and others of this neighborhood and vicinity.  The next established, was the one located about one mile and a half West of the Lee Cemetery, also on the Kenton pike on Section 8.  This is smaller in size, but is also in care of the Trustees.  The third is the Otterbein Cemetery, situated on the west and adjoining the Otterbein United Brethren Church.  This consists of one acre of ground, which was donated to the church by John Latimore in 1850.  It remained in care of the Trustees of the church till about 1866-67, when they deeded it to the Trustees of the township. who have surrounded it with a good substantial board fence, and, under whose supervision, it is now expected it will receive due care.  The first to be interred here was a child of a Mr. Hockingberry.