THIS township occupies a position in the western tier of the townships of Madison County, and is bounded on the north by Union Township, on the east by Union and Range, on the south by Range and Stokes, and on the west by the county of Clark.  The surface is generally very level, and contained, in its original state, as the first settlers found it, large and extensive prairies and oak openings; the western, southern and central portions possession but little heavy timbered land in its primitive state.  Bordering on Walnut Run, in the northern part, and along the eastern portion of the township, the surface is more undulating, with here and there portions approach a slightly hilly condition, the most of which was heavily timbered.  The principal species of the trees of the forests were white, black and red oak, hickory, walnut, elm and maple.  In the oak openings, the prevailing timber was burr oak.  The township is well watered by Walnut Run and Paint Creek and their numerous tributaries.  The former crosses from west to east through the entire northern portion of the township, while Paint Creek consists of two forks, the West and East Fork.  The former rises in Clark County, and enters Paint Township near its north east corner, takes a southeast course. and unites with the East Fork in the south central portion of the township, then flows south into Stokes Township.  The East Fork rises in the northern part of the township, on the Addison S. Jones farm, flows southeast to the center of the township, thence turns to a southwest course and unites with the West Fork as above mentioned.  The soil is exceedingly rich and fertile, the oak openings and prairies possessing a deep black loam, while the more undulating portions of the north and eastern parts of the township are a mixture of loam and clay, and underneath these is a stratum of blue clay mixed with limestone, and through this we reach a bed of gravel, the structure and composition being favorable to the retention of moisture and its protection from long-continued droughts.  It is a very strong, productive soil, and well adapted to the growth of grass or grains.  In an early day, these prairies produced for the early settlers an abundance of pasturage for their stock, and many of them entered largely, and some exclusively, into the stock business, the sedge on these prairies often reaching the wonderful growth of six to eight feet in height Right in the center and heart of this township and of this beautiful prairie settled a young Virginian about 1810, and, entering upon the stock business, finally fenced in a large scope of this fine pasturage, increasing his business from year to year; became a rich and wealthy man, owning his thousands of acres of this beautiful and rich country.  By a fair degree of business tact and shrewd financiering, this man’s coffers were almost spontaneously filled to overflowing.  And this is only one of many, who, in greater or less degree. have become wealthy in Madison County by entering upon the stock business in an early day, and reaping the fruits of these natural advantages afforded by these great and productive prairies.

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W. D. Pringle

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     A country possessing such natural resources could not long escape the observation of those pioneers and frontiersmen who were so rapidly pushing from the rising toward the setting sun.  To those men from the rocky bound hills of Virginia and other States in the East, such a country as this held out attractions they could not resist, and we early find the domains of Paint being occupied by the white man.  From the best sources of information we have been able to obtain, it appears that the first pioneer of Paint Township was Andrew Sifrit, who was born near Winchester, Va., in 1750.  When but a young man, at the first call for troops in the commencement of the war of the Revolution. he enlisted as a private soldier, and served for eight long years.  For these services he subsequently obtained a warrant for 200 acres of land.  He was married to Susan Shrock, by whom he had nine children.  Mrs. Sifrit died, and he married for his second wife Miss Hannah Morrills, a native of Virginia, by whom he had twelve children.  Thus he was the father of twenty-one children.  In 1803, he, with his family, emigrated to Ross County, Ohio, where they remained one year, and in 1804 came to Madison County, settling in Paint Township, on land now owned by John Paulin, on what is called Sifrit Run.  This, it is believed, was the first white settler in Paint Township, as it is now known, but at that date was Darby Township, in Franklin County.

     Let the reader of the rising generation imagine the surroundings of this pioneer family.  Not more than half a dozen families as neighbors (if you may term them such) within a scope of fifteen miles: nothing in the daytime but the sound of the ax and its distant echo to cheer their lonely lives, as he fell the giants of the forest preparatory to erecting a log cabin for a dwelling place for his large family; at night, their slumbers disturbed by the howl of the wolves and the mingled cry of other beasts of prey; and the whole intensified by the fear of the savages, who were then in plentiful numbers all through the country!  Do you wonder that it took bone and muscle, and, more than all, a great degree of fortitude and moral courage to go through all this?  To purchase goods or get milling done they had to go forty miles to Chillicothe, and much of the way over terrible mud roads, and some of the distance no road at all, only as they cut and made it.  But here, with such surroundings, Mr. Sifrit and his family began.  They erected a double log cabin and commenced to make a farm and a home.  They had willing hands and hearts, and knew how to labor; and from year to year their conveniences and comforts began to appear, neighbors were settling all around them, and everything began to wear a more pleasing aspect; and before Mr. Sifrit’s death, he was permitted to see the opening up of a magnificent country, and the future prosperity of his children fully assured.  He died in 1847, at the advanced age of nearly ninety-eight years.

     Of Mr. Sifrit’s children by his first wife, five came with him to this county - Catharine, James, Mary, Elizabeth and John.  James, the elder son, was a young lad when they came to this county, and was able to render his father and family great assistance in their first labors here.  He married Elizabeth Higgins, by whom he had six children, three now living  - Nathan, John and Lovinia.  Mr. James Sifrit spent his life as a farmer and stock-raiser; was quite prosperous, and at his death owned between 300 and 400 acres of land.  He died in April, 1881, aged eighty-five years.  John, the youngest son, married Harriet Chapman, by whom he had eleven children; two only survive—Joseph and Jacob.  In 1835, John, with his family, removed to Marion County, Ohio, where he died about 1849, just in

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the prime of life.  He was quite an energetic, active business man, and had acquired between 400 and 500 acres of land.  He served as a Justice of the Peace several years.  Of Mr. Andrew Sifrit’s children by his second wife, seven new survive - Susan, now Widow Earl, residing in Seneca County, Ohio; Nancy, wife of Daniel Kingery, and resides in Illinois; Julia Ann, now Widow Roe. residing in Minnesota; Jacob, a resident of London; Lawrence W., residing in Franklin County, Ohio; Maria, now Willow Hamm, residing in Iowa, and Michael, also a resident of Iowa.

     Peter P. Helphenstine, a native of Virginia, was a Major in the war of the Revolution, for which services he received land grants for a large amount of land.  In October, 1805, he started for Ohio, and, arriving at Chillicothe, he became acquainted with Col. Elias Langham, who was going up into the “Barrens” to lay some warrants.  David Watson had accompanied Mr. Helphenstine from Virginia to Ohio, and now they associated with Col. Langham and came up to Madison County to locate and lay and survey their lands.  They finished their work about Feb. 14, and returned to Chillicothe.  Mr. Helphenstine and Mr. Watson remained there till in September, 1806.  They returned to Virginia and at once made preparations to remove to Ohio.  Mr. Helphenstine and family, Jonathan Minshall and family and Walter Watson and family, with their connections, to the number of thirty-nine persons. with six or seven wagons, started for their new home in the wilds of Ohio.  They arrived at Chillicothe the last of October, 1806.  There they left their families, while Mr. Watson, with his family, located upon a place which his son David had previously rented for him, and Mr. Helphenstine proceeded to his land, and, with the assistance of David Watson and others, erected a cabin, and, in January, 1807, moved his family from Chillicothe into the cabin. in his new and permanent home, and here Mr. Helphenstine remained through life, being, it is believed, the second settler in Paint Township.  He was an excellent neighbor and citizen, a devoted Christian, and lived and died highly esteemed and respected by all who knew him.  Some years later, Henry Helphenstine, a brother of the above, became a settler of Paint Township.

     David Watson was born in Maryland Oct. 17, 1783, and, with his father, Walter Watson, and his family, became settlers of Ohio in 1806, and in 1807, with Mr. Helphenstine and family, David came to Paint Township, and here was married to Mary Helphenstine, for whom he formed a special attachment when she was but ten years of age, while residing in Virginia.  They commenced in life with nothing, as poor as any person ever started out in life.  But we will not here devote space to portray a history of this valuable citizen’s life, as it is fully given in another part of this work.  Suffice it here to say that Paint Township may well be proud of having been the place of residence of one whose life was so full of activity, success and usefulness.  George Blougher, of German descent, came with or about the same time as Robert Hume, in 1804.  He worked one year for him, clearing his land, for which services Mr. Hume deeded him 100 acres of land, upon which he settled and remained through life.  He was a very honorable man, a good neighbor and a worthy citizen.  About 1810-12, a Mr. Harpole settled on the Hume land, and became owner of quite a large amount of land, but of him and his we know but little.

     James Withrow. a native of Pennsylvania, came to Madison County and located in Paint Township, on Walnut Run, in 1807, and, one year later, brought his family to his new home.  Here he took up 250 acres of land.  All the country around was a vast wilderness, in which he had but

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three neighbors a David Watson, Jonathan Minshall and Peter P. Helphenstine.  Indians were still here, and were frequent visitors at their house.  They were generally friendly and peaceable, but frequently too free or officious, and would borrow or take things out of the house. such as cooking utensils, sometimes keeping them a long time, but would generally return them.  They would frequently borrow cornmeal and provisions of various kinds.  Corn-meal in that day was an item of some value, when they had to go forty-five miles to Chillicothe to get grinding done.  Sometimes they would have their supply of meal nearly exhausted, and they would hide it in the straw tick in the bed.  On one occasion, Indians searched the house all over, and even the bed, but did not happen to find it. Mr. Withrow never allowed them to bring their guns in the house, but-had them leave them outside.  At one time, Mr. Withrow having gone to Chillicothe to mill, the Indians came and wanted to bring their guns inside the house, but Mrs. Withrow required them to leave them outside.  They came in and sat by the fire.  Mrs. Withrow was spinning, and she observed them talking with each other, and apparently displeased about something.  By their motions she could understand that they were talking about scalping her.  With all the courage she could command, she instantly ordered them out of the house, and by continued firmness finally succeeded in getting them away.  Such trials of their courage and fortitude were quite frequent in that early day, and it seems those noble pioneer women were peculiarly fitted for the occasions they had to meet.  Mr. Withrow quite a military man, and was a Major in the militia for many years.  He, in later years, after his farm began to produce wheat, hauled it to Urbana over the then terrible mud roads, and sold it at 37 cents per bushel.  The last hat he purchased for himself he bought at Urbana, for which he gave fourteen bushels of wheat.  He erected a saw-mill on Walnut Run about 1815, which was the first mill in this vicinity, and one of the first in the county.  This mill was run by water, and remained in use about ten or twelve years.  Mr. Withrow was no office-seeker, and desired no notoriety in that way, but was an active, industrious man, and devoted his life to his farm interests.  His character and integrity were beyond reproach, and was a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church, having brought with him, when he came here, a letter of his membership in the church where he lived in Pennsylvania, hearing date 1803, and connected himself with the church at London, in which church he was an Elder many years.
     Of their family of seven children, Ann, the eldest, married Abraham Phifer.  She died about 1873.  Margaret died unmarried.  David married Mary Harvey, and settled in Paint Township, where he died without issue.  Isabel married John Stroup, by whom she had five children; is now a widow and resides in London.  One of her daughters is the wife of Mr. McLaughlin, proprietor of the Phifer House.  Another of her daughters, Rebecca, married Joseph Foos, emigrated to California, and was said to be the first woman who ever went through on the overland route.  She is now a resident of Australia. Robert married Ann Carr; resides in London; was formerly Sheriff of the county, but is now retired from all active business.  Washington married Catharine Truman and settled on the home place.  Then he purchased a farm, which. a few years after, he sold, and in 1842 purchased the Robert Hume land, upon which he resided till, in 1878, he removed to his present place of residence, in Newport, where he has since resided, retired, from all active business.  His life has been devoted to farming and dealing in stock.  From 1836 to 1853, he gave his special at

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ERECTION OF PAINT TOWNSHIP.

OFFICIALS OF THE TOWNSHIP.

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CHURCHES.

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CEMETERIES.

     For many years the early settlers had their family or neighborhood burying-grounds.  One of these was on the John Phifer farm, where several of the Phifer family and many of the people of that neighborhood found their final resting-place; but now nothing remains to show that there was ever a grave made there; but now nothing remains to show that there was ever a grave made there, the ground being used and cultivated for grain.  Another was on the Hume land.  Some bodies, however, have been removed from here and deposited in more permanent and well-preserved cemeteries.  This ground is, however, still inclosed by a fence, but no more persons are being buried there.  The only one which has become a permanent burial place in the Withrow Cemetery.  This was first established as a family burying-place of the Withrow family, and was probably first opened by the reception of a body of a child of William Crider, after which it became the general burying-place for the neighborhood, and thus continued till about 1870, when it became the property of the township.  Originally there was but one acre of ground fenced in.  The Trustees then purchased six acres of David Watson and added to it, so that it now contains seven acres, and is well fenced in, and laid out in walks, with good graveled roads

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A. Cartmill

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and walks around them, with good shade and ornamental trees, making it a very pretty rural cemetery, and a fit depository and resting place for the dead.

SCHOOLS.

TOWNS

     This township contains but one small village within it borders.  In 1849, the land where Newport now stands was owned by Ephraim Freshour, and in that year he laid off some lots for the town, and donated one lot for school purposes.  James Coberly erected the first house, in which he lived till his death.  The second was built by Elias Forbes as a dwelling for himself.  The first blacksmith was James Jewell.  He was succeeded by Henry Roland.  About 1851-52, John Coberly built a steam saw-mill in the town, with the old kind of upright saw, which, after some years, was supplanted with a circular saw. and is now owned by Jackson Coberly.  Elias Forbes was the first wagon-maker.  The first store was opened by Napoleon Moore, who erected a building and put in a general stock of goods in 1854.  The post office was established in 1856-57, with James Gessard as Postmaster.  The present Postmaster is Thomas Durkee.  The village now contains about one hundred and fifty inhabitants; has one general store, one grocery, two blacksmiths. one wagon-maker. one carriage painter; and contains two churches, and one schoolhouse with two departments - one for the small and one for the larger scholars.

ROADS AND PIKES.

     This township is supplied with good roads and free turnpikes, passing through it and leading in all directions to the important towns in other townships and counties.  Through the northwest corner of the township passes the Jefferson, South Charleston & Xenia Turnpike; running in a northeast and southwest direction through the township, a little west of the center. is the old London & Xenia road; then further east is the Madison & Fayette Turnpike, the London & Bloomingburg road, and the Yankeetown road, the latter forming the boundary line between Paint and Union Townships for two to three miles.  Through the northwest part of the township, and running nearly parallel with the Jefferson, South Charleston & Xenia Turnpike, passes the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railroad, and, although there is no town on its line within Paint Township, yet they have a way station called Florence.