CHAPTER XXXIII.
MORRIS TOWNSHIP
pg. 325

     ON the 2d of March, 1812, upon petition of several citizens this township was laid off, and an order issued for an election to be held at the house of Benjamin Rush for township officers.  A majority of the early settlers being natives of Morris county, New Jersey, caused the name of Morris to be selected.  The officers of the election, this year, were Wm. Douglass, Daniel Cooper, Wm. Thrift, judges; James Trimble and John Wheeler, clerks.  The township was listed by N. C. Boalse, who was paid a $6 county order for his services.  At a special meeting of the Associate Judges, Mar. 14, 1812, three justices were allowed to this township at the election ordered by the Commissioners.  There were fifty voters.  James Trimble was chosen Township Clerk; Scott Durbin and James Miller, Constables; and James Loveridge, Treasurer.  At this period, this may be said to have been the foremost township in the county.  Clinton was then in its prime, the country around was settled by the very best kind of people; the upper branches of Owl Creek, uniting within its limits, gave them some of its richest bottom lands for cultivation, and the flow of emigration brought much substantial population.  At the election of 1816 there were 83

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voters.  In 1819, Smith Hadley listed the township, and received an $8 order for the same.  The foregoing names, together with those in the list of justices, represent many of the most prominent families in this township from its organization.  The names of Smith, Cooper, Loveridge, Douglass, Bonar, Coleman, Trimble, Thrift, Wheeler, Durbin, Nye, Ball, Banning and Rush, frequently occur in these pages in connection with events in our past history.  Several of the families have not a single representative now in the county.  The heads of families have died, and the descendants gone to other parts.  The most active of the Clintonians log since left the field.  Samuel H. Smith, the head of that settlement, drew around him many mechanics and laborers; he was an energetic, intelligent business man, and has no one of his blood within the county at this time.
     S. H. Smith, of Erie co., who we observed a few days since contributed $100 to the war fund of his township, is the only one of his children in Ohio.  He is a farmer, and the largest tax-payer in that county, as we have been informed.  Ichabod Nye, brother-in-law of Smith, is dead, as also his wife.  Henry Smith, the Barneys, Glasses, Enoses, Yeomans, Marshals, Harrison and Dickinson, are also gone.  Alexander Enos moved to Richland co., and Wm. C. has gone to parts unknown.  Ralph Granger, who sold goods in Clinton in 1815, died long since.
     The Coopers, Cary, Daniel and Elias, were brothers.  In 1809 Daniel moved from Butler co., Pa., with his family, and was followed shortly after

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by Carey and Elias.  The latter was unmarried, Carey's sons were Charles, Elias, Hugh, John and lewis, of whom Charles and John alone survive.  His two daughters are also dead.  Daniel had seven children - Thomas, Wm., George, Henrietta, and Julia, Mrs. John Ray, in this county, Josiah living in Chillicothe, Mo., and Mrs. Sarah Bushfield.  Elias Cooper, the old gentleman, is yet living; another Cooper of the early times was "cousin Charley; " they were all natives of New Jersey.  Thompson recollects how prosperous Clinton was in 1813, with its four taverns with their inviting signs swinging in the breeze - kept by Ichabod Nye, Alfred Manning, John Barney and Samuel Yeoman.  In the war times whisky flowed freely down the throats and business was very brisk.  "God's barn" was then the great place of gathering for devotional purposes.  The old settlers have a lively recollection of the pious labors of father Scott therein; when, in the summer time, the hogs of the whole village collected together under the floor, which was about two and a half feet from the ground, and would frequently set up such a granting and squealing as to render inaudible the voice of the good minister.  It was a great harbor for fleas, and Capt. Douglass was conspicuous in the meeting with his large feet, bare, endeavoring to catch the marauders who violated the sanctity of the place.  He moved to the Wabash country and is dead, as also his son, Aaron; his daughters - Sally wife of James Rogers; and Phoebe, wife of Richard Ewalt, are living.
     Wm. McCartney and Aaron dug the mill race

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for Douglas.  A sister of Mc. married Enoch Ogle, who kept tavern in Bellville.  John Johnson, father of Tom, the old jailor, is dead.  Abednego Stevens rests with Shadrach and Meshac, and Amzie Stevens, of Amazonian frame, whose foot was sixteen inches and a quarter, died long, long ago.  His skeleton he wished to be preserved as a model, and hence struck a bargain with a doctor by which he was to have the bones for his museum.  About 1832, Mr. Bicking and another merchant from Philadelphia, in passing through the country, discovered his foot-prints in the snow, and got out and took the measure of the track, having never seen the like before.  Verily he was a monster, and shook the earth with his majestic tread.  Grim would have been but a small boy beside him.  The children of a future age may exclaim:  "There were giants in those days.~"  William Mitchell was here in 1807.  His children were Jacob, Nathaniel, Abigail, Mrs. John H. Mefford; Mary, Mrs. John Young; Hannah, Mrs. Wm. Mefford, Naomi, wife of Lewis Young, deceased, now Mrs. Thos. Evans; Sarah, Mrs. Cyrus Cooper; John, Silas and Wm.  All now live but Nathaniel and Sarah.  Nathaniel was one of the scouting party at the time of Copus slaughter, and died in 1813 from disease contracted by exposure in the Indian campaign.  William, sr., joined the Baptist Church in 1815, and continued a member until his death, Aug. 12, 1818, in his 83d year.  He was very sociable and much esteemed.  An old heir-loom of this family is in the possession of Hannah Mefford, being a cup and saucer of peculiar construction, which belonged to

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her grand-mother, one of the new Jersey matrons of the revolution.  The old China set of the last century was used by General Washington when at the old homestead, near Morristown, during the revolutionary war.
     James Loveridge and wife, both living, came from Morris co., N. J., in 1805, and Richard in 1812.  The latter was an inventive genius; he died several years since.  There are many of this name now in Morris.  Philip resides on the old farm of Richard.  Loveridgeisms are peculiarities of expression in rhyme pertaining to this family.  Richard got a patent for a plow in 1828; and an exclusive right to rhyme in conversation has been inherited by this family.  Long may the old stock be spared to indulge their propensity for sport in verse.  They have been industrious citizens.  Another Jersey accession includes the Ball brothers - Hiram, Uzal, Cyrus and Timothy.  Their father divided equally 1,000 acres of the best Owl Creek, bottom land among them, and for a half century it has been held and cultivated by the Balls.  The Ebersole family is another one of the old stock.  Some of the descendants, John, Jacob, and others, have made valuable citizens.  An incident of this township worthy of record occurred in the time when it was customary to warn out of townships any new comer who was likely to become a township charge.  One of these settlers by the name of Pope, having located within the limits, Silas Ball was ordered to warn him out.  He remonstrated against doing so, saying, "God made man, and he has a right to a place on earth, and if

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Pope is warned out of Morris he may be warned out of any other township he goes into, and it is contrary to God's will that he should have no abiding place."  The warrant was fixed out and handed to him to serve, which he took at required, went to Pope's house, and taking it in his hand was about to read it, when his feelings overcame him, and he exclaimed, "Pope, I warn you off the face of God's earth!"  and turned around and went back with the writ.  He was asked if he served it by reading, or by copy; he replied, "neither," and gave the words he employed.  The result was that Pope remained, and Ball's better nature triumphed.  He was a staunch Universalist, and a kind-hearted citizen.
     Among the names of long standing is that of Bonar.  In 1812, Barnet and Matthew, brothers, emigrated from Washington county, Pa.; about the same time came a cousin of theirs, named Matthew, and a brother-in-law, Dr. John Byers.  The latter-named Matthew moved some years ago to Illinois, where he was living at last accounts.  The brother of Barnet was a bachelor, and died about 1815.  Barnet died in May, 1844, aged 84, and his wife in 1858, aged 89.  They had the following children: David, who died about 1816; Matth ew, living in Richland county; John, who died in 1859; William, at teh old homestead on Granny's Creek; Ann, wife of Gavin Mitchell, of Richland county, died in 1835, leaving a considerable family; Martha, wife of Adam Rinehart, living in this township; Sarah, wife of E. P. Young, died about 1840; Isabel, who died about 1828;

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Margaret, married A. Greenlee, and died about 1850.  John was a hard-working, intelligent farmer, who was highly esteemed, and died in his 54th year, from a cancer.  His wife was Lucinda, daughter of Charles Cooper  She had one son - Josiah, who married a daughter of Charles Swan - and two daughters; Bell married Thomas Swan, also in Morris, and Catharine is the wife of H. Leonard, of Wayne.  William Bonar married A. L. Case, and has four children living: David; Elizabeth, wife of Rev. J. W. White, of Marion, Whitesides county, Illinois; Sarah Jane, and Caroline.  Isabel died in 1860.  William Bonar's name will be found among the Senators from this district.  He is the only son of the old pioneer now within our county limits.
     Among the early incidents of this section is the following curious hunting exploit.  Deer were very abundant then on Granny's Creek, and one day Barnet shot a large doe, and as it fell, and life's current was ebbing away, he discovered that she was in the pains of parturition, when he ripped her open with his knife, and took from her two fawns, one of which he gave to Alex Johnson, and the other he kept.  They both lived for some time.  His own, having lost its eyes by exposure to fire, first died; but the other grew up a large and healthy tame deer, and was an object of peculiar interest to the neighborhood, on account of its singular birth.
     Samuel H. Smith was always spry and active.  During the time of his mercantile operations he received a good deal of money, and on one occasion he threw a shot-bag full of specie on the counter,

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and said that any one who could run away form him with that bag, might have it.  Taking him at his word, Henry Smith, who was a sprightly young man, grabbed it and ran, pursued by Sam., and, after coursing down the road some distance, finding the old gentleman gaining on him, he broke for the fence, and climbed over it into the field; but Sam. caught him, and he gave up the bag amid the shouts and cheers of Capt. Nye's horse company, who were spectators of the ludicrous scene.
     The Duhamels, Amos and Henry, in 1824, emigrated from Frederick, Md.  Henry now lives near Maumee City; Amos in Franklin, Ill., with his third wife.  By his former wives he had eleven children; number by the present not known.  Of these we have the following account: Peter C. resides in Morris township; Emily, wife of Geo. W.  Litt, in Pike township; Frances Jane, wife of James Logsden, is in Iowa; Louisa Ann, wife of David Spickler, in Allen county.  Peter C. learned the carpenter trade with Robert Spears, Belville, and works at it.  The Cosners were very industrious citizens.  Old "Uncle Philip" was noted as being one of the most successful tobacco-growers.  Peter Rush is another of the old stock of farmers.  The Winterbothams were a highly intelligent family, none of whom are now in Knox.  Of the number of children is Mrs. Ann S. Stephens, the accomplished authoress, residing in New York; John H., an energetic business man, in Fort Madison, Iowa; Robert, in Columbus; Samuel, in Iowa; and William, in Wisconsin.  Adam Rinehart, another valued citizen, with his family, re

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sides here; also the Cassels, Swans, Pearres, John Lamb, and Henry Johnson.  Benjamin Rush, of Morris county, N. J., with his wife, Margaret Logan, also of said county, emigrated with their children, Job, Andrew M., Mary, Johannah and Margaret, to this township, from Morris township, Washington county, Pa.  The two latter are dead; other children, born in this township, were Eunice, Sarah Ann and Lucinda.  Benjamin died in March, 1849, in his 80th year, and the old lady in October, 1858, in her 85th year.  They were among the best citizens.  Richard Ayres, John Erwin, and Mrs. Galloway, were also early settlers.  Of these, the only remaining trace in this county, is Erwin's daughter, Mrs. Mary McFarland.  John Wheeler, a carpenter, married a daughter of Mrs. Galloway, and moved to Sandusky, taking with him Mrs. Galloway and her son.   John Sawyer, first blacksmith at Clinton, and a good horse-shoer, emigrated to Indiana, and died.  His only descendant in this county is Mrs. W. O. Johnson.  In 1830, the population of Morris was 812, and 13,066 acres of land were listed for taxation.  In 1840, there were 1,079  inhabitants; in 1850, 1,028; and in 1860, 1,013.
     Of the fifty men who voted at the first election in Morris, James Loveridgei s the only one living in this county.
     The Clinton post-office was the first in the county.  Its various postmasters were Samuel H. Smith, Richard Fishback, Ichabod Marshal and S. H. Smith.  The last known of it, Andrew Clark was acting as deputy postmaster, in 1819.

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     Smith's house was the first one erected in the village.  Samuel Ayres and Amoriah Watson got out the timber, Loveridge and Douglass helped to raise it.  They all boarded with Loveridge during the work.  Douglass had Wm. McLoud put up the first stone house in the county.  John Miller, the first dresser of buck-skin for breeches, hunting shirts, etc., married Patsey Zerrick; she is living on the old farm with her sister Edna, the only representatives of the old Virginian Daniel, who died in 1851, aged 86.

SUCCESSIVE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
 

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