HAMILTON COUNTY OHIO - History (published 1881) Anderson Twp  pgs 242-254

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Anderson Twp  pgs 242-254
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History of Hamilton County Ohio with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches. 
Compiled by Henry A. Ford, A.M. and Mrs. Kate B. Ford, L.A. William & Co., 
Publishers; 1881.          

Pages 242-248
             
                                       
                                   ~pg 242~
                                       
                                 ANDERSON.
                      BOUNDARIES AND TOPOGRAPHY.

Anderson, the southeasternmost township in Hamilton county, and the only one of this county
lying east of the Little Miami river - that is, in the Virginia Military district - is bounded on the
south by the Ohio river, on the west by the Ohio and the Little Miami, on the north by the latter
stream, which divides it from Columbia and Spencer townships, and on the east by a line drawn
from the southeast corner of fractional section numbered twenty-two, in Columbia township, or
from the mouth of the East fork of the Little Miami, south of its intersection with the Ohio at the
mouth of Eight Mile creek. By this line it is separated from Clermont county on the east, and is
the only township of Hamilton which immediately adjoins Clermont, without the intervention of
a stream. The greatest length of the township, about nine miles, is on this line, but the length of
that portion of the Little Miami that touches Anderson township is very nearly the same. The
other sides, being bounded altogether by the Ohio and Little Miami rivers, are exceedingly
irregular in their boundary lines; but the township, varying from the breadth of a few yards at its
northeasternmost and southeasternmost points to its greatest breadth of six and a half miles on an
east and west line from the mouth of the Little Miami, has an average width of five miles. Its
area is equivalent to nearly thirty-seven sections, or twenty-three thousand five hundred and
seventy-one acres. A large part of this tract, on the west and north sides of the township, lies in
the broad, flat, and fertile valley of the Little Miami, upon which the site of Newton lies, and
near which, in a commanding position, Mount Washington sits upon the hills, easily overlooking
a broad view of the valley. The general level of the hilltops in this township is high, Mount
Washington being five hundred feet above low-water mark in the Ohio, and other heights almost
as lofty. One or two points in this township are said to be the loftiest in Hamilton county. The
ancient plateau of this region has been deeply cut through, not only by the greater waters of the
Ohio and the Little Miami, but by several small streams, prominent among which is Clough
creek, with its two principal headwaters or branches taking their rise, respectively, in the
eastern and southern parts of the township, uniting east of Mount Washington, and flowing
thence in a general northwesterly and westerly course to the Little Miami below Union bridge.
Its valley and the bordering hills are exceedingly picturesque, and comprise many valuable
farms and fine farm buildings. Five Mile creek is another stream of some local importance in the
south of the township, likewise formed by the junction of two headwaters, one rising a little
northeast of Cherry Grove, near the county line, and the other just south of the Ohio turnpike, a
mile and a half west of the same place. They unite their waters - like Clough creek, also
receiving a very small stream near their point of junction --about a mile north of the Ohio, and
after a westerly and southwesterly course of some two miles, reach that river about midway of
its course along the southern border of the township. Three or four minor tributaries of the Ohio
also aid in breaking down the hills on this side of the township, the highlands here, as in
Columbia and all the river districts of Cincinnati east of the old city, crowding closely upon the
river, and leaving scarcely room enough for the wagon-road long existing there and the track of
the projected Ohio River & Virginia railway. A few rods above the mouth of the Little Miami a
petty stream sets into that river, bearing the name of the noted creek that ploughs through the
western hills of Cincinnati - Lick run. Three other brooks, more or less ramified toward their
sources - two of them bearing the names, respectively, of Little Dry run and Big Dry run - feed
the Little Miami at various points in the township above Clough creek; and channels or
mill-races of some size, in two instances, connect points on the river northeast, northwest, and
north of Newtown, thus virtually forming islands of two and a half to three miles in
circumference, which nearly adjoin each other just opposite Plainville, and about a mile due
north from Newtown. It is a remark- 
~pg 243~ 
ably well-watered township, pleasingly diversified in its surface, and valuable in the
capabilities of its soil and other products. 

Besides the natural features of Anderson which vary its topography, its broad surface is further
intersected by the Batavia turnpike in the northern part, which takes Union bridge and Newtown
on its way; the Richmond turnpike on the extreme south, passing California and hugging the river
closely until its exit from the county, shortly after which it trends rapidly northeastward; the
Salem and Ohio turnpikes, also in the southern half of the township, the latter passing through
Mount Washington and Cherry Grove; a number of other good wagon roads; the Cincinnati &
Eastern narrow-guage railway, along the valley of the Little Miami, by Newtown, in the north
part; with a branch from a point a mile and a half east of Newtown, running up the valley of Dry
run, to a point due east of Mount Washington, where it leaves the township; and the Cincinnati &
Portsmouth narrow-guage railway, cutting the southern and eastern parts in an exceedingly
tortuous line, as compelled by the broken country, from the crossing of the Little Miami
southwest of Mount Washington to the departure from the township and county considerably to
the northward, near Mount Carmel, in Clermont county. As well as the nature and demands of
the township will permit at present, it is served with means of transportation; but. other
railroads have been projected, as that already mentioned along the Ohio. 
                              ANCIENT WORKS.

The observations of an intelligent man, who saw the mounds and other ancient remains in this
region in the early day, must ever be of interest. The following remarks were made by the Rev.
Philip GATCH, who came to Anderson township in 1798, in his autobiographic sketch: 

This beautiful land has been a hidden space to civilization for many ages. There are traces in
many parts of ancient fortifications and other works which could not have been made by the
Indians, but by a people much further advanced in civilization than they now are. The
growths of timber upon these works, consisting of mounds and elevated embankments, seem
to be the same as on the ground generally, which shows their great antiquity. What people or
race constructed these works is not now known, and probably never will be. Some think these
formations were before the flood; but this notion, it appears to me, is refuted by timbers
being found in the earth to a great depth. I saw timber that was found on digging a well on
high land; also by salt water shells being found in high places. Nature is a grand laboratory,
and it is ever in progress--imperceptible it may be to the eye, but its doings are marked by
centuries. The process of change in the natural world is ever in progress. 

Much later, but still so far in the past as to lend some special interest to the narrative - in Mr. E.
D. MANSFIELD's Monthly Chronicle for August, 1839 - one "T. C. D." (said to have been
Timothy C. DAY) gave an interesting description of the works as they were to be seen in his
time: 

In perhaps no portion of this State are these gigantic vestiges of an unknown and populous
age so abundant as in the alluvial bottoms and adjacent neighborhoods of the Miami. They
are to be met with at almost every step, and in groups so numerous that the eye can scarcely
embrace their number. Mounds of every description, size, and shape, circular forts,
embankments miles in length, and of great size, point out the immense labors and
workmanship of a mysterious people. Allowing for the probable absence of the requisite
implements for their erection and the washing of their friable soil for centuries, they may be
truly reckoned as successful rivals to the greatest of their prototypes of the sandy plains of
Egypt. Some are even so stupendous that, were it not for the evident signs of human
mechanism that mark their construction, they might claim the impress of a mightier hand. 

About a mile east of Newtown, in this county, on the farm of Levi MARTIN, is a mound of the
largest class. Its shape is an oval oblong, rounding to its apex with the most perfect
accuracy. It is situated on a shelf of land about thirty feet above the alluvial bottom of the
Little Miami. The soil around it is gravelly, but the material of its structure, as usual, is a
brick clay. Near its summit is a large beech, probably two feet in diameter, and its sides are
covered with a thick growth of Underwood, with several large forest trees. It is within three
hundred yards of a high range of hills, and could not, therefore, have been erected as a
watch-tower or a place of defence. It has never been opened, but the most probable
conjecture is that it is the monument of some mighty chief, who lies interred in its centre. The
plain around its base is perfectly level, except within twenty feet of what was probably its
original circumference; the washing of rains has filled it up to a considerable height. The
dimensions of the mound, from actual admeasurement, are as follows: 

Circumference at the base.................................6oo feet. 
Width at the base...............................................15o feet. 
Length at the base.............................................250 feet. 
Perpendicular height...........................................40 feet. 

covering an area of about an acre. 

Last summer the workmen, in procuring gravel for the Batavia turn- pike, immediately in the
rear of Newtown, in the bank of a small stream called Jennie's run, disinterred an immense
number of human skeletons. This ancient burial ground is on a gravelly point that juts out
from the bank into the run, forming an acute bend. The graves are not, on an average, more
than two feet in depth, though probably they were originally a great deal deeper, as the ridge
has evidently washed to a considerable degree. As far as caved, the point is a solid body of
coarse gravel till within about two and a half feet of the surface, which is composed of sand
and loam. The skeletons lay in the sandy stratum, between the gravel and earth; and so far as
preservation is concerned, it has answered the purpose well. Whole anatomies have been
exhumed in an excellent state of soundness - the teeth particularly, some of them, as white as
ivory, and perfect in every respect. Forest trees, such as beech, sugar, and oak, some at least
two feet in diameter, were growing immediately over the graves, and their gnarled roots
twisted fantastically through the skulls of these remnants of an ancient people. 

A fall of gravel would frequently leave bare the whole front of a grinning skeleton, seemingly
thrust in the grave feet foremost; and, in fact, the whole of the bodies bore evidence of a
promiscuous burial, some placed horizontally facing the west, others level, anon a group of
four heads within the space of two feet, and in every imaginable position. About twenty feet
from the first discovery of the bones, the workmen came to a large body of charcoal and the
remains of a stone fireplace. An earthen vessel was found by some boys, which was broken
and destroyed before an actual description could be obtained. Several of the skulls exhibited
traces of violence, such as would lead one to suppose that this had been a scene of carnage,
and the dead bodies thus furnished a rude and hasty burial. 

Several curiosities have been found in the neighborhood, such as pipes, earthen pots, and
copper plates. Two small limestones, hollowed out from an inch on the outer edge to an
eighth in the center, were found in a ploughed field. They are perfectly round, and are very
neatly carved, the one about two-thirds the size of the other. The largest is about four inches
in diameter. 

The principal prehistoric monuments in Anderson township, as previously intimated, are found,
like those generally in the eastern parts of Hamilton county, in or near the valley of the Little
Miami. They are: 

1. A large mound in the doorway of the old TURPIN homestead, now occupied by Philip
TURPIN, esq., about a mile northeast of the Union bridge, on the Batavia turnpike. Although
undoubtedly much smaller than when first heaped, it is now ten feet in height, with a
circumference at the base of one hundred and seventy-five feet. It is situated directly in a line
between the front gate and front door of the premises, and the foot-way between these points
runs around it. It thus forms a com- 
~pg 244~ 
manding and very interesting object in the scene, as viewed by the passer-by on the turnpike.
About it is an ancient cemetery, probably not older than the Indian period, however, from which
human remains may be exhumed with almost every lift of spade or shovel. Upon the same
premises, it may be here remarked, was the camp of TOD's company of independent scouts, for
some time during the MORGAN raid and scare of 1863. It was, although bearing an
"independent" name, a regularly organized command under the leadership of Captain
WHEELER, and named from Governor TOD, then at the helm of the State. While here it did
considerable scouting, marching, and countermarching, but was not called upon to burn much
powder in the face of the enemy. The marks of its occupancy are yet to be seen in the boards and
fences gnawed by the horses, in the stabs of bayonets upon the house-doors, and otherwise.
Some distance south of Union bridge is a rather curious old brick school-house, situated below
the roadway to Mount Washington. It was built in 1847, and is still used with tolerable
convenience for the needs of the sub-district. 

2. Nearly a mile and a half across the hills from the TURPIN homestead, and about
three-quarters of a mile south of Newtown, in the valley of a small tributary of the Little Dry
run, on colonel JEWETT's farm, is a large mound. This reaches fifteen feet in altitude, and is
two hundred and twenty-five feet in circumference at the base. It is further in the interior than
any of the important tumuli of this part of the valley. 

3. In Newtown itself formerly, immediately before the old Methodist church, at the junction of
the Plainville road with the Batavia turnpike, was a mound of size enough to make its removal
worth while for the sake of the material, which was used in the construction of the Plainville
highway. We do not learn that any specially noticeable relics were discovered in the process of
removal. 

4. Near this spot, east of Newtown, and on the line of the Cincinnati & Eastern railroad, is the
Odd Fellows' cemetery, in which is a beautiful mound of ten feet height and a base
circumference of two hundred and ten feet. It is a very appropriate mark and ornament of the
cemetery. 

5. A tumulus existed until recently on the Plainville road, three hundred yards northwest of the
cemetery mound. It was about seven feet high and one hundred and fifty feet around at the base.
It was thoughtlessly and remorselessly removed two or three years ago, simply to fill hollows in
the road; and in the process of removal sundry bones, pieces of charcoal, and other objects
came to light, unmistakably identifying it as an artificial work and a veritable relic of the Mound
Builders. 

6. Southwest of both of these, on the bank of the Little Dry run, on the "first bottom" of the Little
Miami, and at the foot of the hill cut by the Batavia turnpike, was a mound which was destroyed
when that road was built, and some bones and other relics were found in it, as described in the
article of "T.C.D." 

7. A few score yards due south of this site is an artificial eminence of about three feet high –
much reduced from its ancient height by the long processes of cultivation upon it, its surface
having been annually plowed over for many years. Its site is upon the Levi MARTIN estate,
south of Little Dry run. 

8. Upon the same property, three hundred yards south of east from the last mentioned, is the "Big
Mound," as it is familiarly known. Says Dr. METZ, in his article on "The Pre-historic
Monuments of the Little Miami Valley" (Journal of the Cincinnati Society of Natural History,
October, 1878): 

This is the largest mound in this vicinity, and in the country. Its present elevation is about
thirty-nine feet, with a circumference of six hundred and twenty-five feet at base. It has been
cultivated for the last thirty years, with the exception of the last two years, and is now
overgrown with blackberry bushes. It was at one time covered with forest trees. A large oak
on its top had a diameter of four feet: this I have from reliable authority. It has not been
explored; the proprietor desires to let the dead rest, as he expresses it. 

9. Recrossing Little Dry run nearly half a mile north of east, we come upon two low mounds,
near the Batavia turnpike - one five feet high and the other three and a half above the general
level. 

10. North of these, across the turnpike on the estate of William EDWARDS, is a scattered group
of four mounds, but nearly in a line from east to west, with an average distance from each other
of two hundred feet. The easternmost of the four is in the first bottom of the Big Dry run, and but
a few yards west of that stream. It is excellently preserved, very regular in its form, eight feet
high, and about eighty feet in diameter at the base. Upon an elevation of thirty to forty feet above
the level upon which this mound stands - that is, upon the second terrace or bottom of the Miami
valley - are the other three mounds. The two in the centre of the group are each about four feet in
height; the fourth, or westernmost, is ten feet high, and has a circumference about the same as
that of the mound at the foot of this terrace. The smaller tumuli were once, very likely, as high as
this; but they have been plowed over annually for a long time. 

11. Two miles northeast of this group, almost in the northeastern corner of the township, on the
farm of Michael TURNER, is another very interesting series of ancient works, consisting of one
large and one smaller enclosure and four mounds. The large enclosure, north and west of the
Cincinnati & Eastern railroad, which, together with a small stream, passes between this and the
other members of the group, is designated as No.1 upon Dr. Charles L. METZ's chart of the
pre-historic monuments of the Little Miami valley; the smaller enclosure, about a fifth of a mile
north of east of the other, and the northernmost of the four works east of the Cincinnati & Eastern
track, as No. 2; the two mounds next south of this, in order, as Nos. 3 and 4; and the eminence
east of No. 3 as No. 5. This explanation will render intelligible the following description,
which is extracted from Dr. METZ's article accompanying the chart, in the journal of the
Cincinnati Society of Natural History, for October, 1878: 

No. 1 is the largest and most interesting work in the Miami valley. An extract from an article
by T. C. DALE, or DAY, on the antiquities of the Miami valley, published in the November
number of the Monthly Chronicle, in 1839, is as follows: "The site of this stupendous
fortification, if we way so call it, is a few rods to the right of the road lead- 
~pg 245~ 
ing from Newtown to Milford, and about midway between them. It is situated on a ridge of
land that juts out from the third bottom of the Little Miami, and reaches within three hundred
yards of its bed. From the top of the ridge to low-water mark is probably one hundred feet. It
terminates with quite a sharp point and its sides are very abrupt, bearing evident marks of
having once been swept by some stream of water, probably the Miami. It forms an extremity
of an immense bend, curving into what is now called the third bottom, but which is evidently
of alluvial formation. Its probable height is forty feet, and its length about a quarter of a
mile before it expands out and forms the third alluvial bottom. About one hundred and fifty
yards from the extreme point of this ridge the ancient workmen have cut a ditch directly
through it. It is thirty feet in depth; its length, a semicircular curve, is five hundred feet; and
its width at the top is eighty feet, having a level base of forty feet. 

At the time of its formation it was probably cut to the base of the ridge, but the washing of the
rains has filled it up to its present height. Forty feet from the western side of the ditch is
placed the low circular wall of the fort, which describes in its circumference an area of
about four acres. The wall is probably three feet in mean height, and is composed of the
usual brick clay, occasionally intermixed with small flat river stone. It keeps at an exact
distance from the top of the ditch, but approaches nearer to the edge of the ridge. The form of
the fort is a perfect circle, and is two hundred yards in diameter. Its western side is defended
with a ditch, cut through the ridge in the same manner as the one on the eastern side. Its
width and depth are the same, but its length is greater by two hundred feet, as the ridge is
that much wider than where the other is cut through. The wall of the fort keeps exactly the
same distance from the top of this ditch as of the other, viz., forty feet. Its curve is exactly the
opposite of that of the other, so as to form two segments of a circle. At the southeastern side
of the fort there is an opening in the wall thirty-six yards wide; and opposite this opening is
one of the most marked features of this wonderful monument. A causeway extends out from
the ridge about three hundred feet in length and one hundred feet in width, with a gradual
descent to the alluvial bottom at its base. 

The material of its construction is evidently a portion of the earth excavated from the
ditches. Its easy ascent and breadth would induce the belief that it was formed to facilitate
the entrance of some ponderous vehicle or machines into the fort. To defend this entrance
they raised a mound of earth seven feet high, forty wide, and seventy-five long. It is placed
about one hundred feet from the mouth of the causeway, and is so situated that its garrison
could sweep it to its base. The whole area of the fort, the wall and causeway is covered with
large forest trees; but there is not a tree growing in either of the ditches, and there are but a
few low underbrush on their side. 

At present the circular wall is almost leveled, but can be readily traced by the color of the
soil and the large number of flat river-stones. The ditches can be easily recognized. The
mound is still prominent. It measures now in height five and one-half feet, diameter
twenty-five yards, circumference seventy-five yards. The causeway is cut through by the
Cincinnati & Eastern railroad, the forest cut away, and the soil cultivated annually. 

No. 2 of this group is a large, circular embankment, with a diameter of about one hundred
and twenty-five yards. The material forming the embankment is evidently taken from within
the enclosure. This work is a perfect circle, with an opening or gateway thirty feet wide to
the south. It is about three hundred yards distant from the first work of this group. 

Two hundred yards to the south of this circle are two mounds, No. 4 on chart being the
larger. It has a circumference at base of two hundred and fifty feet and an elevation of twelve
feet. One hundred and fifty yards east of these mounds is another of very regular shape
(Group D, No. 5, on chart); height, four feet, circumference one hundred and fifty feet. 

Members of the Madisonville Scientific and Literary society have done much excellent work in
the survey and description of the works in this part of Anderson township; and to the chart and
accompanying article, of Dr METZ, of that society, we acknowledge invaluable aid in preparing
the above notice. 

Pages 242-248
             
                                       
                                  
                       THE ORIGINAL LAND OWNERS.

Anderson township, as already intimated, is distinguished above all other townships as the one
subdivision of Hamilton county which lies on the Virginia military tract, reserved between the
Little Miami and Scioto, for land bounties to the soldiers of the Virginia line, serving in the war
of the Revolution, on Continental establishment. The history of this reservation, with many
interesting facts pertaining thereto, will be found in the chapter on land titles, in the first
division of this work. The following memoranda indicate the original owners of the respective
surveys noted in that part of the Military tract which is now Anderson township: 

No. 395. Bennett TOMPKINS, one thousand six hundred and sixty-six and two-thirds acres. 

No. 410. Major John CRITTENDEN, one thousand acres. He was the father of John J.
CRITTENDEN, the Kentucky statesman, and was an officer in the Revolutionary war, settling
afterwards in Woodford county, Kentucky. His tract was one of the finest in the Little Miami
valley; and yet, so little was the value of land esteemed in those days, that he traded the whole
thousand acres of splendid bottom and hill land to Major John HARRIS, of Mannicantown, near
Richmond, Virginia, for a mosquito bar. HARRIS in his turn sold it to Dr. TURPIN, of the same
place, for a pair of blooded mares; and TURPIN made a present of it to his son Philip, who
settled it, and developed it into a rich estate, which is still held by his descendents. 

No. 427. John ANDERSON, seven hundred and fifty acres. 

No. 500. Holt RICHARDSON, five hundred acres. 

No. 535. Robert BLAIR, William CASSEL, John DEMSEY, Benjamin GRAY, John
HALFPENNY, Daniel SAHON, one thousand acres; also John GREEN and James GILES. 

No. 536. John STEELE, six hundred and sixty-six and two-thirds acres. 

No. 552. Robert POWELLS, six hundred acres. 

No. 608. Abram HITES, one thousand acres. 

No. 609. Joseph EGGLESTONE, one thousand acres. 

No. 618. Robert MORROW, two thousand acres. 

No. 620. Theodore BLAND, one thousand three hundred and thirty-three and one-third acres. 

No. 624. A. SINGLETON, five hundred and fifteen acres. 

No. 637. William TAYLOR, one thousand acres. 

No. 706. Jacob FEARS, James FRIGGIN, James MCDONALD, James PAYTON, one thousand
acres; John BROWN, two hundred acres. 

No. 916. William MOORE, one hundred and sixty acres. 

No. 1,115. William MOSILEYE, one thousand acres. 

No. 1,126. John PARKE, one thousand acres; James PENDLETON, one thousand acres. 

No. 1,581. General James TAYLOR, five hundred and fifty acres. This gentleman was the
well-known Newport pioneer, father of the venerable Colonel James TAYLOR, who still
resides upon the old place on the Kentucky shore, and retains large landed interests in Anderson
township. We here acknowledge much indebtedness to him in the preparation of this work.
General TAYLOR became possessor, first and last, of a very large share of the lands in the
township, most of which he re-sold. 

No. 1,618. HITES and ROBINSON. 

No. 1,674. Edward STEVENS, one thousand acres. 
                                   ~pg 246~

No. 1,677. Colonel Richard Clough ANDERSON, four hundred and fifty-four acres. He was the
chief surveyor of the Military district, appointed to that office by the State of Virginia. He
resided ten miles south of Louisville, where he kept the office for many years, and until it was
removed to Chillicothe, in this State. He was father of the late Hon. L. ANDERSON, of
Cincinnati and Marshall P. ANDERSON, of Circleville, also a well-known citizen, more
recently deceased. The township takes its name from Colonel ANDERSON. 

No. 1,679. Edward CLARK, four hundred acres. 

No. 1,680. Joseph NEVILLE, two hundred acres. 

No. 1,682. John MEAD, four hundred and thirty-four acres. 

No. 1,775. General George WASHINGTON, President of the United States, nine hundred and
ninety-seven acres. A very appropriate number for the greatest of Revolutionary heroes to hold.
It was in the year 1775 that he took command of the Continental armies, at Cambridge,
Massachusetts. His was the triangular tract next the present Clermont county line, the
northeasternmost survey in the township, the point of it resting on the Batavia turnpike, but a
little way from the mouth of the East fork of the Little Miami. 

No. 2,204. Nathaniel WILSON, four hundred acres. 

No. 2,276. General Nathaniel MASSIE, six hundred acres. This owner was one of the most
active and enterprising surveyors in the Military district, and the founder of the earliest towns
within its borders - Manchester in 1794, and Chillicothe in 1796. 

No. 3,393. John NANCARROUS, two hundred and seventy acres. 

No. 3,394. P. HIGGINS, ninety acres. 

No. 3,817. John HAINS, two hundred and fifty acres. 

No. 4,243. Frank TAYLOR. 

No. 6,532. John ENGLISH, two hundred and fifty acres. 

No. 8,903. George C. LIGHTS. 
                            COVALT'S STATION.

The first settlers upon the present soil of Anderson township were probably Abram or Abraham
COVALT and companions, who pushed up the Little Miami in 1790 or 1791, and established a
station on Round Bottom to protect themselves, about twelve miles from the mouth of the river,
as it runs. This was known as COVALT's Station, and was considered important enough in 1791
to secure a garrison of twenty soldiers from Fort Washington. In the absence of the soldiers,
however, Mr. COVALT, while hunting with two others, was attacked by the Indians, killed and
scalped near the station. Wood was sent to Columbia village, and a relief party started out at
once; but without much effect. Mr. Daniel DOTY was of this party, and left some interesting
notes of the affair. He then saw for the first time a scalped man, and was naturally much
shocked. He records that "when a person is killed and scalped by the Indians, the eyebrows fall
down over the eyeballs and give them a fearful look." 

The following account of the killing of COVALT is derived from the narrative of Thomas
FITZWATER, a descendent of William FITZWATER, who had personal knowledge of the
affair. It is contained in the history of Clermont county: 

Towards noon on the first day in which BUCKINGHAM, FLETCHER and COVALT started on
their hunt, COVALT began to get very uneasy and to urge the others to return home, saying
there might be Indians about. The other two told him there was no danger, but this did not
satisfy him. The nearer night approached the more importunate he became, and the more he
urged them to return. This uneasiness in COVALT's mind BUCKINGHAM always viewed as a
bad omen. His entreaties finally prevailed on the others and they consented to return. So they
left the 'licks' in order to reach the station while it was yet daylight. 

Arriving opposite to where BUCKINGHAM's mill now stands, while COVALT and
FLETCHER were walking close together, and BUCKINGHAM about three rods behind,
suddenly three guns were fired about twenty yards distant. BUCKINGHAM looked forward
and saw COVALT and FLETCHER start to run down the Miami, and also saw three Indians
jump over a log, yelling and screaming like demons. As BUCKINGHAM wheeled to run up the
river he tried to throw off his blanket, but it hung over his shoulders like a powder-horn, as
the strap passed over his head. When he did get it loose it took his hat with it. He ran up but
a few poles, then took up the hill, the river and hill being close together. As he went up the
hill he looked back several times, but saw no one in pursuit. When he arrived on the top he
got his gun ready for emergency, then stopped, looked back, and listened. While thus
standing he heard the Indians raise the yell down in the bottom, thirty or forty rods distant,
then he knew they had caught one or both of the others. When he found the Indians were that
distance from him, he knew that he could make tracks as fast as they could follow him. So he
steered over the hills and came to the Miami, at what is now Quail's railroad bridge. Getting
to the station he found that FLETCHER had got there a few minutes before him. By this time
it was night. 

FLETCHER's story of the affair was that he and COVALT ran together some distance, when
FLETCHER's feet became entangled in a grape-vine, and down he fell, where he laid
perfectly still until the Indians passed him. One passed close to him, no doubt thinking he
had fallen to rise no more. And they all kept on in hot pursuit of COVALT. As soon as they got
out of sight FLETCHER made his escape down the river. Next morning a party of men left the
station to look for COVALT. Arrived at the place they found his body, his scalp, gun,
tomahawk, powder-horn, blanket, knife, hat, and part of his clothes gone, and an old broken
rifle left near his body. The Indian traces showed that they had crossed and re-crossed at
Indian ripple. They were not traced any farther. 

Enoch BUCKINGHAM (one of this party) continued with his family at Columbia, from the
spring of 1790 to 1795. Some time this spring they moved into a log cabin on the banks of the
Miami, on the lower BUCKINGHAM farm. 
                           A FORTIFIED STATION.

Probably as early as 1790, the eyes of some of the settlers, or newcomers to Columbia, were
turned to the broad and fertile tracts in the valley east of the Little Miami, and a party of
colonists soon attempted to make a home there. Their first settlement was opposite Turkey
Bottom, at the foot of the hills on survey number five hundred and thirty-six, about a mile below
the present site of Union ridge, on the land now owned by Colonel James TAYLOR. Here, for
their protection against the Indians, as the custom then was, they built a small block-house, or
stockade, which, from the principal man of the party, the father of the late John H. GERARD,
ex-sheriff of Hamilton county, received the name of "GERARD's Station." Other settlers to be
protected by it are said, by Colonel TAYLOR, to have been Joseph WILLIAMSON, Stephen
BETTS, Stephen DAVIS, Major STITES, Captain FLINN, and others. He says that the
block-house stood on the side of the hill near what is called Big spring, and not far from
FLINN's ford across the Little Miami, which 
~pg 247~ 
was on the principal land-route, in the early day, from Cincinnati and Columbia eastward.
STITES and FLINN are reputed to have had at least one sharp fight with the redskins at this
station. Some traces of it were to be observed until quite recent times. 
                     ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP.

Anderson township was erected by the court of general quarter sessions of the peace, in 1793. It
was then bounded by the Little Miami to the east fork, from the mouth of which a line was
described to a point nine miles east, thence another due south to the Ohio, and from the point of
intersection the Ohio formed the boundary to the place of beginning. It must have been
afterwards enlarged, as settlements increased, since it is otherwise said1 to have included all of
Hamilton county between the Little Miami and the Elk river, or Eagle creek. So lately as 1803 it
is officially described as "all that part of Hamilton county east of the Little Miami river," which
then, however comprised only the present limits of the township or about the same. The voters
were then to meet at the house of Thomas BROWNE, in Newtown, and elect three justices of the
peace. 

In the latter part of 1799 two townships were set off from the eastern part of the large old
township of Anderson -Washington township, which included all the northern part of the present
Clermont, and the south part of Warren county; and Deerfield township, which covered all the
southern and central portions of Clermont and Brown counties to the aforesaid Eagle creek. The
same year a county called Henry was set off by the territorial legislature along the river next
east of the present Hamilton, with Durhamstown (now Bethel) as the county seat, but the act was
negatived by Governor ST. CLAIR, who pocketed it with several other bills of similar
character, as he claimed that the legislature in passing them usurped his own prerogatives; the
next year he, by proclamation, erected the desired new county in this direction by the name of
Clermont, when Anderson township and Hamilton county, on the southeast, were reduced to
their present boundaries. 

Anderson, as the fifth township created in the old Hamilton county, was directed by the court of
quarter sessions to take for its cattle-brand the letter E. The first township officers were as
follows: John GARRARD, clerk; Jesse GARRARD, constable; Richard HALL, overseer of
roads; Joseph FRAZEE, Jacob BACKOVEN, overseers of the poor; Joseph MARTIN, Jonathan
GARRARD, viewers of enclosures and appraisers of damages. 

We have the following notes of justices of the peace in later times: 

1819, Jonathan GARARD; 1825, Jonathan GARRARD, William E. WHITE, Richard AYRES;
1829, Jonathan GARRARD, Clayton WEBB; 1865, R. L. WRIGHT, Abner JONES; 1866-71, R.
L. WRIGHT, Abner JONES, A. DURHAM; 1872-6, R. L. WRIGHT, Abner JONES, K. H. VAN
RENSSELAER; 1877, JONES, WRIGHT, VAN RENSSELAER, D. A. GARRETT; 1878-9,
George W. JONES, George JONES, D. A. GARRETT, August CRANCE; 1880, JONES,
JONES, and CRANCE. 
                            EARLY SETTLEMENT.

Immigrants to the Miami county did not turn so readily to the Military district as to the
SYMMES Purchase and the Congress lands, since the titles to the latter were considered better
and more reliable, and less likely to involve litigation. As early as 1790, some white settlers
are believed to have set down their stakes within the limits of the present Anderson township;
and, as we have seen, a fortified station against the Indians probably existed upon Anderson soil
that year. The first settlements, according to Colonel James TAYLOR, of Newport, were made
upon Bennett TOMPKINS' survey at the mouth of the Little Miami; CRITTENDEN's survey,
settled by Philip TURPIN, near the present Union bridge; POWELL's, MASSIE's,
RICHARDSON's, John ANDERSONS', BLAND's, and MOORE's, and the surveys numbered
one thousand five hundred and twelve and one thousand seven hundred and twenty-three.
Besides those named in connection with GERRARD's station and Philip TURPIN, who was
among the earliest, there were Isaac VAIL, John GRIMES, the EDWARDSes, CORBLYs,
DEBOLTs, JOHNSONs, CLARKs, and DURHAMs, whose families were upon the soil of
Anderson during the closing decade of the last century or the opening one of this. Settlers were
not numerous, nor their improvements large, for obvious seasons, until after the pacification of
the Indian tribes in 1794, by WAYNE's victory at the battle of the Fallen Timbers. Many
memoranda of individual settlements in the early day will be found in the paragraphs below: 
                    OTHER NOTES OF SETTLEMENT, ETC.

Mr. John BETTS, grandfather of George M. BETTS, came to Anderson township at a very early
day. He was of Irish descent, and emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio. John R. BETTS, father
of George M., was born in this township. For several years he was in the pork business in
Cincinnati. His wife's name was Sarah S. MARTIN. She was a daughter of George MARTIN,
who died in 1878, at the advanced age of ninety-three years. He was here when the old fort was
at Columbia. His wife was a RIGDON. She was the first white child on the north side of the
Little Miami river. Mr. John R. BETTS had three children: George M., Elizabeth (Mrs. S.
BURDSALL), and Emma (Mrs. George PIKE). The son is now superintendent of the Mount
Washington Canning company, which cans from twelve to fifteen thousand cans of fruit and
vegetables per year. 

Aquila DURHAM was born in Maryland in May, 1779, and died in September, 1870 in his
ninety-second year. He was the youngest of a family of eleven children, six of whom lived to be
over eighty-five years of age. The family was noted for longevity. His father died at the age of
ninety-six, and had six brothers and two sisters, each of whom lived to be over eighty. Their
father came from Durham, England, in 1722, and settled in Maryland. Joshua DURHAM, father
of the subject of this sketch, sold his estate and slaves in Maryland soon after the close of the
Revolution, and started for the West. But, owing to the depreciation of the continental money, he
and his family were obliged to remain in Pennsylvania 
~pg 248~ 
several years. They arrived in Cincinnati in June, 1797, only eight years after its settlement, and
pushed right out into the wilderness to make a settlement, and built a cabin in the Miami
bottoms, about ten miles from Cincinnati. Aquila was then eighteen years old. He helped his
father open a clearing in the woods, and, being a skilful hunter, kept the family supplied with
game. Many hardships were encountered; but they were so accustomed to them that they seemed
rather to enjoy the dangers of the chase and the hard labor and privations they had to undergo.
When General HARRISON was governor of the Indiana Territory, with headquarters at
Vincennes, Aquila kept him supplied with sheep and cattle, which had to be driven through the
unbroken wilderness. Many thrilling adventures were experienced by his parties when on the
road. Wild animals were troublesome at night, and the Indians were constantly on their path. In
1804 he was married to Harriet THOMPSON, daughter of Barnard THOMPSON, a
Revolutionary soldier. They settled near his father's, and two years later moved upon the farm
now owned by Thompson DURHAM. He lived on that farm for sixty-two years. They raised ten
children, all of whom lived to be over forty-five years old. Seven of them still live. His wife
died in 1868, after sixty-four years of married life. He voted in 1802 at the first election held in
Ohio, and never missed an election as long as he lived. He attended the Cincinnati markets for
almost sixty years, at first carrying his produce to market on hoseback, then in wagons to the
river and thence in a boat. After roads were opened, he went through to the city in his wagon.
Every Tuesday and Friday found him in the market. Many of the old citizens were his customers,
and well remember him. It was his pride and boast that no one ever said he was not honest. 

Walter JOHNSON settled in Anderson township in 1804, where his death occurred eighteen
years after. He was born in Pennsylvania in 1782. He was a leading farmer, and was several
times a member of the board of trustees of the school board. His wife was Anna BRIDGES. The
surviving members of his family are Rebecca COX, W. W. H. JOHNSON, Franklin JOHNSON,
Hannah CORD, Charles JOHNSON, Walter R. JOHNSON, Anna JOHNSON, and Sallie
NORTON. Charles JOHNSON's birth is dated in the year 1820. He has filled several township
offices. He married Rebecca CORBLEY, and their children are John C., Walter R., Van R., and
Leonidas. 

Francis H. JEWETT is the son of David JEWETT. His mother's name was Eunice RIDER. The
father, who was born in Maine, emigrated from New York to Cincinnati in the year 1835. In the
last named place, in 1840, the son was born. At the age of twenty-seven he was married to
Catharine HENN. Three years later he began the dairy business in Covington, Kentucky, where
he remained up to the year 1876, when he removed to his present place in Anderson township.
He is said to possess excellent business qualifications -- in fact is the successful owner and
manager of the largest dairy in the township. 

David JONES, and his wife, Mary S. JONES, emigrated from Virginia to the State of Ohio, and
were among the first settlers in Anderson township, where the former died in 1872. Abner
JONES, grandson of the preceding, was born in 1816. In 1849 he was married to Miss Emily
BENNETT, daughter of Samuel D. BENNETT, of the same township. In politics he has always
been a Democrat, and for twenty-four years has held the office of justice of the peace. 

Mr. John WEBB was taken to Cincinnati with his family early in 1790. He was born in
Monmouth, New Jersey, four years previous to this time. His death occurred in Newtown, in
1857. His wife's maiden name was Hannah FROST. She was one year her husband's senior; her
death occurred in 1857. The surviving members of the family are Sidney WEBB, of Delta, Ohio,
and L. A. WEBB of Anderson township. The last named son in 1840 married the daughter of
John FROST, of Hamilton county. Ten years later he built the house in which he now resides,
the site of which is said to be the highest elevation of land in Hamilton county. Among the
leading farmers of the county the subject of our sketch holds a prominent position. 

Michael LAWYER emigrated from New Jersey to Hamilton county in 18l5, and thence to
Clermont county in 1819. He was born in that State in 1771, married Nancy Martin, and
remained in New Jersey about ten years after marriage, when he took his family across the
mountains into Pennsylvania and settled in Green county, where they lived fourteen years. In
1815 they removed to the west, coming down the Ohio on a flatboat, commonly called a "family
boat," and stopped at the mouth of the Little Miami. They resided in this valley four years, and
then removed to Clermont county, where the father died in 1835, and the mother ten years
afterwards. The surviving children are Catharine PAUL, Isabella BECKER, and Michael
LAWYER. The last-named was born in 18l2, and was consequently but three years old when his
people landed in the Miami country. In 1839 he married Cynthia ROBINSON, daughter of John
ROBINSON, and ten years thereafter removed from Clermont county to the farm he now
occupies in Anderson township, where, in 1859, he built the fine residence in which he makes
his home. 

Winfield S. DURHAM was born in 1817. His marriage occurred in 1844. The same year he
built the home where he now lives in comfort, having secured a fine competence in the business
of farming. His mother was Narcissa WILMINGTON, the daughter of Joseph WILMINGTON,
of Clermont county. The parents of Mr. DURHAM first settled near the mouth of the Little
Miami. They have six children living at the present time. 

Isaac EDWARDS, born in New Jersey in the year 1800, was a settler of Clermont county,
where he died in 1855. His wife's name was Alice SAWYER. They have three children now
living, of whom William EDWARDS, jr., was born in 1830. He was married in May, 1863, to
Miss Ellen DOLE, of Olive Branch, in the same county, by whom he has nine children, all
living. The next spring after his marriage he removed to the fine place he now occupies,
immediately adjoining the EDWARDS station on the Cincinnati & Eastern railroad, in a
handsome house upon the farm of his uncle, William EDWARDS, sr. Here 
~pg 249~ 
he has devoted himself closely to his legitimate business of farming, without any turn for
speculation or public life. He is now hard upon fifty years old, but is still in the prime of his
powers, a strong man and an excellent farmer. 

Samuel JOHNSON, father of James 0. JOHNSON, was among the first who settled on Clough
creek, where he remained during the rest of his lifetime. He was born in Virginia, from which
State he emigrated to Ohio, and was a leading resident of Anderson township. His wife's name
was Nancy ESTEL. 

Joseph MARTIN settled in Anderson township as early as 1790. He was born in Bedford,
Pennsylvania, whence he emigrated to Ohio. His death occurred in the same township in the
year 1846. He was in the old blockhouse at GERARD Station. His wife was Miss Rebecca
GERARD. Four children are still living, of whom their son, Gano MARTIN, was born in 1811.
At the age of twenty-nine, he was married to Elizabeth CURRY, the daughter of Colonel
William CURRY. They still live on the old homestead. Mr. MARTIN has always been in
politics a Republican. Since 1840 he has been an active member of the Baptist church of
Newtown, in which he has always taken great interest, and for the support of which his
contributions have been no small part. 

W. H. MARKLEY was born in 1827, at the place where he now resides. He married Catharine
SILVERS, with whom, surrounded by a large circle of friends, he enjoys his large farm and
beautiful home. His father, Jacob MARKLEY, first settled in Anderson township in 1814. He
was born in West Maryland in 1803, but emigrated from Virginia to Ohio. He died in this
township in the year 1879. He was a large land-owner, and also followed the business of
boating on the river to New Orleans. His wife's maiden name was Emeline MARTIN. There are
five children living at the present date. 

Thomas MEARS, a native of London, England, came to America and became a resident of
Philadelphia about the year 1794. From this city he removed to Cincinnati at a very early date,
where he practiced law. His brother John was a coppersmith, at which trade he amassed a large
fortune. Some branches of the family still remain in Cincinnati. In 1858 he was killed by being
thrown from a carriage. His father, a physician, was a man of remarkable bravery. He died in
the West Indies from yellow fever, where he was practicing at the time. He was a great
traveller, and when the country was new is said to have driven from New Orleans to Cincinnati
in a gig. The wife of Thomas MEARS was Polly S. MCCORMICK, daughter of Rev. Francis
MCCORMICK, one of the founders of Methodism in the west. The children of this marriage
were William E. MEARS; Francis MEARS, of Clermont county; John MEARS, of Anderson
township; and Eliza C. MEARS, now Mrs. STOMS, also of Anderson township; Esther
MEARS, afterwards Mrs. WHETSTONE, deceased; Isaac MEARS, now in Colorado; and
Patsy, who died in infancy. William was born in Columbia in 1835. Previous to 1875 he was a
merchant a large part of the time. At that date he became a member of the postal corps, where he
remains at the present. His wife was Miss Hannah A. SUTTON. 

Robert MARTIN was born in Ireland in 1772. He settled in Sycamore township in 1820, and
died in Symmes township in the year 1850. He was educated for the ministry, but was a teacher
the greater part of his life. His wife was Jane LUCKEY. The surviving members of the family
are Belinda CLEMMENS, Jonathan T. MARTIN, and Dr. J. S. MARTIN. The last-named is a
graduate of the Eclectic Medical institute, of Cincinnati, of the class of 1849. Since that time he
has been practicing in the town of Mount Washington, with the exception of three or four years
spent in the south and west. His present wife was Julia C. BISHOP, of Anderson township. The
have two children, Matilda Elms and Olive May MARTIN. 

Absalom H. MATTOX first settled in Springfield, Ohio, in 1840. Before this time he was one of
the early settlers of central Ohio, serving as sheriff of Clark county from 1825 to 1830. He came
to Cincinnati in 1865, and died ten years later. His business was that of a merchant. His wife
was Drusilla HASKELL, and the members of his family now living are Absalom H. MATTOX
and F. G. MATTOX, the latter a lawyer by profession, and at present clerk of the United States
court at Columbus. Absalom H. became associated with the editorial corps in 1872, where he
still remains, and since 1865 he has been connected with the Cincinnati Gas Light company. 

Isaac TURNER was born in Virginia in the year 1780, but emigrated from Green county,
Pennsylvania, to Ohio. He settled in Columbia township as early as 1816. His death occurred in
Anderson township in July, 1833. He was considered a leading farmer at that time, and had a
decided reputation for industry. His wife, Sarah TURNER, died in 1848. The surviving children
are Electa HIGHLAND, Rachel MARTIN, Michael TURNER, and Syrena LIGHT. Michael
TURNER was born in 1809. At twenty-six years of age he was married to Nancy FLINN. They
have six children living: Isaac D., J. J., George W., Anna E., John W., and E. J. He has
remained on the old homestead and followed the business of farming the greater part of his life.
At one time he was extensively engaged in pork-packing, in which he secured a fine
competence. 

Louis DRAKE was among the pioneers of Columbia township. Born in New Jersey, he
emigrated from that State to Ohio, where, he died in 1832. He was in the War of 1812, and at
different times filled several township offices. His wife's name was Elizabeth KENNEDY.
They had eleven children, only four of whom are now alive. T. T. DRAKE was born in
Columbia in 1818. He has followed the business of farming in a large way, and, having secured
a good property, has now retired from active life. His present residence is in Newtown. His
wife was Lydia MILLS, and there are two children, Louis D. DRAKE and Ordelia I. MCGILL,
both of whom are also residents of Newtown. 


1 pg 247: History of Clermont county. 

Pages 249-254               
                                       
                                    ~ pg 249  ~
  

Martin HESS was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1803, from which State he
emigrated to Anderson township in 1828, when he took immediate charge of the TURPIN mills.
He continued in his position, respected by all, for twenty-five years, and died in 1855. His wife
- Eliza FLINT previous to her marriage - was born 
~pg 250~ 
in 1806, and is still living, at the advanced age of seventy-four. The children are Sarah
MUCHMORE, Martin V. HESS, G. W. HESS, Lottie SEARLES, and Amanda HESS. Mr. M. V.
HESS was elected township clerk in 1868. Two years later he became township treasurer,
which office he has since held, with the exception of two years. He is the present incumbent. 

Isaac EDWARDS emigrated from New Jersey to Ohio, and settled in Clermont county about
1805. Two years afterward he came to Anderson township, where he died in 1827, being a
leading man of his time. His wife was Hannah MARTIN. She died in 1837. The surviving
children are William EDWARDS, of Anderson; Rebecca HORN, of Knox county; Elizabeth
DAY, of Van Buren county; Samuel and Edward EDWARDS, both of Anderson township.
Edward EDWARDS was born in 1812, on the old homestead, where he yet lives. The farm
consists of two hundred and ninety-six acres of rich bottom lands. His wife's name was Eliza
GLANSEY. The children are Euphemia JONES, Laura JEWETT, Harry EDWARDS, Melvin
EDWARDS, and Clara HAMMEL, all living at the present time in Hamilton county. 

William H. AYRES was born in the year 1849. Leaving school at the age of nineteen, he entered
the employ of Mr. W. R. MCGILL, and still holds his position, respected by all who know him.
The first representative of his family in Ohio was his grandfather, John JONES, whose wife was
Hattie DURHAM before her marriage. 

R. W. HIBBEN first settled in Anderson township in 1839. He was born in Charleston, South
Carolina, and came from that city to Ohio. He died in 1844. His wife's name was Rebecca E.
GOODMIN, and they have seven children living. Duke G. HIBBEN, the son of the preceding,
was born in South Carolina in 1829. At the age of ten he came to Anderson township, and still
remains on the old homestead, surrounded by many friends. 

Samuel SHAW settled at Newtown in 1828. He was a Pennsylvanian by birth, but emigrated
from there to Ohio, where he lived until the time of his death in the year 1848. He was the
proprietor of a hotel for thirty-one years. His wife was Isabel JEFFERIES. Five children are
living. The son, Moses SHAW, was born in 1833. In 1861 he was married to the daughter of
Jacob ROSS. He has always followed the business of farming. 

Elisha MILLER settled in Anderson township in 1812. He followed the business of
blacksmithing and farming, and has given the art of wood carving a deal of attention, receiving a
diploma for the finest carving on exhibition at the tri-State fair of Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan.
He was married, in 183-, to Hester J. HOPPER, daughter of Abraham, who is noticed
elsewhere with the Hopper family. He is a man respected by all. 

************* 

The oldest house remaining in the township is a hewed log house near the site of GERARD's
station, which was built in 1805 by Josiah and Samuel HOLLEY. It is much in repute as a
veritable relic of the olden time, and one of the most venerable dwellings in Hamilton county. 

The first mill in the county was WICKERSHAM's (some say COLEMAN's), upon, or rather in
front of Nathaniel WILSON's survey No. 2,204, at the rapids of the Little Miami, about two
miles from its mouth and below the mouth of Clough creek, not far from the present site of Union
bridge. Colonel TAYLOR says his father, General James TAYLOR, was at the mill in 1792;
and further: 

He went with a servant with two bags of corn to have it ground. The mill, he said, was a
rough affair, constructed out of two Kentucky flat-boats, which made meal of a very coarse
character. He said travelling to that spot at that day was not considered very safe, as Indians
had been seen a few days before on the trail leading to the mill from Fort Washington, and in
fact had killed a man. Philip TURPIN, who settled on CRITTENDEN's survey NO. 410, about
1795, subsequently built a flouring-mill near the spot where WICKERSHAM built his mill.
Said mill stood there until within the last ten years, when (1870) it was torn down by his
heirs. 

The TURPIN mill, which was a very fine one for its day, and did excellent service for two
generations, was built about 1805. In the same year the first ferry over the Little Miami was
established in the vicinity by the HOLLEYs before mentioned, which they leased for one
hundred dollars in cash and one hundred gallons of whiskey. This beverage was then made in
considerable quantity at a large distillery half a mile from TURPIN's mill, upon or near the site
of the old block-house. 

All ferries across the river in this region have long since been superseded by bridges, the finest
of which is the Union bridge, between Mount Washington and Linwood, so-called from the
former union of Hamilton and Clermont counties in sustaining the expense of the construction of
a bridge built in 1836, at the old FLINN's ford, about a mile below the present site of the bridge.
It was a plain wooden structure, which was removed in 1875; and in that year and the next the
fine suspension bridge now used was erected upon its more eligible site by the Cincinnati Iron
Bridge company. Its expense, seventy-nine thousand eight hundred dollars, was sustained by
Hamilton county alone, a bonded indebtedness being created therefor, upon authority granted by
the legislature. It is three hundred and fifty-three feet long, and every way a substantial and
graceful structure. The river, on the Miami front of Anderson township, is also spanned by two
railway bridges, erected for the Cincinnati & Eastern and the Cincinnati & Portsmouth
narrow-gauge railroads. There is also a wagon bridge for the turnpike near the mouth of the
Little Miami, and another across the river at Plainville, from which a plank sidewalk connects it
with Newtown - an improvement made by the enterprise and liberality of the citizens of the
latter village. 
                              EARLY RELIGION.

The Miami Island church, the second church of the Miami association in order of time
(afterwards Little Miami Island church, and finally simply Miami), on one of the islands in the
river of that name, was formed about 1795, by settlers of the Baptist faith removing from
Columbia, and was served at first by Elder John SMITH, of the latter place, who had then or a
few years afterwards a mill at the island, about eight miles from Columbia. He was also pastor
from 1801 to 1804. Elder James LEE was pastor from 1799 to 1801. Elder John CORBLY, who
had settled a few miles below Milford, preached here for some time afterwards. In 1808 Moses
FRAZER was 
~pg 251~ 
called as pastor, and was still with the church when it was dismissed in 1816, with eight others,
to form the East Fork Baptist association. James JONES was pastor in 1816. In 1799 the
membership here was reported to the Miami association as sixty-two, nearly twice the number
of any other church in that body, and almost exactly one-third of the entire membership of the
association, although it then consisted of six churches. Willliam MILNER was a lay-delegate
from this church to the meetings in 1797-8, to organize the association, and was on the
committee to draft its "principles of faith, practice and decorum." 

The association met with the Island church October 20, 1798, when the rules were adopted, and
so the association was fully constituted. 

The venerated name of Rev. Philip GATCH will ever be associated with the records of pioneer
settlement and early religious movements in Hamilton and Clermont counties. He was one of the
most remarkable men of his time in the Little Miami valley. Mr. GATCH was born near
Baltimore, Maryland, March 2, 1751, of Prussian stock on his father's side and Burgundian on
his mother's. He was converted under Methodist influences in 1772; began to speak as an
exhorter in the same year; the next year was sent into New Jersey as the first itinerant of the
church ever sent into the State. He and the Rev. Mr. WALTERS, then laboring in Virginia and
Delaware, were, indeed, the first preachers recruited for the Methodist itinerancy in this
country. At the conference of 1774, held in Philadelphia, he was one of five received into full
connection. January 14, 1788, he was married to Miss Elizabeth SMITH, of Powhatan county,
Virginia. After much laborious and able service at the east, part of the time under severe
persecution, being often threatened, once dangerously assaulted, and once plastered with tar, he
engaged in farming for a time; emancipated his slaves in December, 1780, removed to
Buckingham, Virginia, and improved a large farm. In 1798 he resolved to emigrate to the
Northwest Territory, and set out for the land of hope October 11th, of that year, with his
brother-in-law, the Rev. James SMITH, and family, and a near friend, Mr. Ambrose RANSOM
and his family. Thirty-six persons, white and colored, were in the colony. After many
tribulations, by land and water, they reached the Little Miami valley. Says Mr. GATCH in his
journal: 

>From Williamsburgh we passed on to Newtown, and for some days pitched our tents in
TURPIN's bottom, and there, with those who were with me, were accommodated with a small
shop used by a mechanic. On Sunday morning after our arrival the boats landed. My heart
was dissolved into love and gratitude to God for his care over us on our journey, and
bringing us safely into this desirable and distant land. I rented a house in Newtown, and we
were treated kindly by the people, though they cared little for religion. The land which l had
taken in exchange for my farm in Virginia did not answer for a settlement, so I purchased a
tract in the forks of the Little Miami river. 

His residence in Anderson township was, therefore, brief, lasting only till the middle of the next
February, when his cabin was finished and he moved beyond the East fork into it. His history
thenceforth belongs mainly to Clermont county, which he served long and ably in public stations,
as justice of the peace, associate judge of the court of common pleas, member of the first
constitutional convention, and otherwise. He remained identified, however, with the religious
interests of the lower Miami valley, preaching regularly at Newtown and other places, though
not as a circuit preacher until circuits were regularly established and appointments made to
them, and frequently preached thereafter. He died in the fullness of years and honors December
28, 1835, and was laid to rest beside his venerable wife, in the burying-ground upon his farm. 

In this connection the following recollections of Mr. GATCH, concerning early Methodism on
the Little Miami, will be read with interest: 

The conference did not appoint a preacher to Miami circuit in 1800. There were at the time
four or five local preachers in the Miami country, and they went everywhere preaching the
word. They systematized their operations, preached not only on Sabbath, but also on other
days, held two-days meetings, and kept up a routine of quarterly meetings. They were much
encouraged in seeing the pleasure of the Lord prosper in their hands. Those popular
meetings were held at different points, but most of them were held in the forks of the Miami,
and it was matter of astonishment to see the numbers that attended; women would walk
twenty and even thirty miles to attend them. The whole care devolved on three families; each
would have frequently to provide for from fifty to a hundred people. The men at night
quartered in barns and out-buildings, while the women lodged in the cabins. 

It was a striking scene to witness the breaking up of one of these night meetings. The people,
though coming from a distance, had no way of returning in the darkness but by dim paths or
traces, some of which had been first formed by the tread of wild beasts. To obviate this
difficulty they would procure fagots made of bark from the trees or splinters made fine and
rendered highly combustible; these would be fired up on starting home, and in every
direction they might be seen like so many meteors, bounding amid the thick forest and gilding
the foliage of the loftiest trees, while the air would often be made vocal with their songs of
rejoicing and praise. 

Bishop MCKENDREE, in one of his letters, speaks of a meeting at Mr. GATCH's house in June,
1802, which some women walked thirty miles to attend. A powerful revival occurred at this
meeting. Another remarkable service was held in 1805, under an awning in front of Mr.
GATCH's cabin, by Bishops ASBURY and WHATCOAT, and their travelling companion, the
Rev. J. CROFFORD. When each of these had preached at the same service, it was insisted by
Bishop ASBURY that Mr. GATCH should preach also, which made four sermons in succession.
And yet, says Mr. GATCH, "so precious was the word of the Lord in those days that the
congregation evinced no uneasiness, but paid the greatest attention to all the discourses." He
elsewhere writes: "The first circuit that was formed here extended over a tract of country from
the Ohio up the Miami rivers to Mad river, and the labors of the preachers who travelled it
were great. Now [1827] there are seven circuits within the bounds of the first one." The
quarterly meetings were held commonly at the house of Mr. GATCH, when his patient, devoted
wife would have to provide for the entertainment of fifty to one hundred persons. 
                                 NEWTOWN.

This is the oldest town in the western part of the county, and by far the oldest in Anderson
township. A cluster of settlers, as we have seen from Mr. GATCH's narrative, was here as early
as 1798; and no great while after that, we may presume safely, the place was almost, if not
quite, as populous as in 1830, when it contained one hundred and sixty-one people. It was laid
off on 
~pg 252~ 
General MASSIE's survey, No. 2,276, in the north part of the township, and on the border of the
Little Miami bottoms at the foot of the hills, in 1801, by General James TAYLOR, and was by
him at first called Mercersburgh, in honor of General MERCER, of Revolutionary fame. The
most easterly part of the present site as first built up, and bore the name of Mercersburgh; but
afterwards the whole of the site was occupied under the designation of Newtown. 

The first hewed log house in Anderson township was built near Newtown on the premises now
occupied by Mr. E. J. TURPIN by Isaac and David JONES, immigrants from Hampshire county,
Virginia. 

A stone building was erected at Newtown in 1813 for the use of the Methodist Episcopal
church. When a new meeting-house was put up on the same site in 1861, the stones used for this
basement were taken from the old building. Rev. John STRANGE was the first circuit-rider to
serve the Methodist charge here. The Revs. Philip and James GATCH, and other pioneers of
Methodism in the Miami valley, also often preached here. "Mother JONES" is remembered as
the first Methodist woman in or near the place. 

Newtown has also a Regular Baptist and a Universalist church, the latter which contains also an
Odd Fellows' hall. 

The fine school-house now occupied, was erected in 1860, and received an addition in 1880. It
contains five school-rooms, three of which are occupied. The principal of the school is Mr. J.
C. HEYWOOD, who has held his place with much acceptance for several years. 

The first school-house in the place stood at no great distance from this one. One of the earliest
teachers here was Eli DAVIS, a native of Salem, New Jersey, who removed to Hamilton county
from Lexington, Kentucky, and taught school for several years with marked success, as he was
thorough in discipline and scholarship. He won equal popularity as a justice of the peace, in
which capacity he served for several years. In 1808 he married Ruth LONG, and after a further
residence of four years at Newtown, he removed to Union township, Clermont county, where his
remaining years were spent. 

At one of the early fourth of July celebrations in Newtown, Colonel Clayton WEBB was the
reader of the Declaration of Independence, and Mr. William DE COURCY, of Clough creek,
was orator of the day. Newtown has a population of four hundred and twenty-seven, by the
census of 1880. 
                           MOUNT WASHINGTON.

The advantages of this locality, as a suburban residence for business men of Cincinnati, were
early apparent. It occupies one of the highest tracts of land in the county, and at some points
commands views stretching along the river valleys five miles in each direction. The highland
reaches westward almost to the banks of the Little Miami. King's Pocket-book of Cincinnati
says of this place: 

It is noted for its beautiful rolling private grounds, perfect drainage, and consequent good
health; also for its fine avenue of evergreens and deciduous trees, with probably the finest
collection of magnolias in the county. It has a town hall, a fine-graded public school, young
ladies seminary, and three churches." 

The original village of Mount Washington was laid off in 1838 by James C. LUDLOW; but large
additions have since been made to it. The municipality was incorporated November 14, 1867,
and it has since had a full village organization, with mayor, common council, board of health,
etc. Captain Benneville KLINE was mayor for several years, in the earlier day of its corporate
existence. 

About 1840 the post office of Mount Washington was established, that at Salem, or "Mears," a
mile distant, upon which the inhabitants had chiefly depended for their mails, being vacated in
favor of the new one. S. J. SUTTON, the merchant of the place, was the first postmaster, and his
clerk and deputy, Mr.. W. B. DUNHAM, then filled the post for twenty-five years, from 1852 to
1876, when he was succeeded by the present incumbent, Mr. John ROELL. 

Mr. DUNHAM was also one of the early School teachers in this region, having taught in a
country school-house upon the site of the present public school building, as long ago as 1836.
While postmaster he did also a general merchandizing business, and is still living, retired from
business, at his old home in Mount Washington. One of his sons, Mr. J. H. DUNHAM,
perpetuates in a manner his services to education, by printing the Public School journal, an
educational monthly magazine edited in Cincinnati by Professor WILSON, of the public schools,
and published by Messrs. HENLEY & CHADWICK, of that city. Mr. DUNHAM's
printing-office and the Mount Washington Canning company, a large establishment previously
mentioned in these notes, now furnish the chief industries of the place. 

The present school-house, upon a site occupied for fifty years for purposes of education, was
erected under the auspices of the Odd Fellows' organization to some extent. The schools occupy
four rooms under the charge of Mr. A. W. WILLIAMSON, principal. 

A Methodist Protestant church was erected here in 1861, a small, plain, frame building, and was
used more or less continuously, by this and the Baptist denomination, until about 1872, when it
was abandoned. A Catholic congregation here, together with one each at Newtown, California,
and Columbia, is served by the Rev. Father B. ENGBERS. The Methodist Episcopal church
here is ministered to, at this writing, by the Rev. John H. STORY. 

We append a sketch of the Mount Washington Baptist church, kindly furnished by its pastor, the
Rev. B. F. HARMON: 

This church began its life in 1866 as a mission of the Columbia Baptist church, under the
direction of its pastor, Rev. B. F. HARMON. Its meetings were held at first on Sunday
afternoons in the Protestant Methodist church, which was hired for the purpose. The mission
grew steadily in interest and numbers until 1869, when it was constituted into a separate
church, and was recognized by a large council composed of the pastors and representatives
of the city churches and others in the vicinity. Great interest and unanimity marked the
sessions of the council. The church immediately called to its pastorate the Rev. B. F.
HARMON, who has remained with it continuously to the present time. The same year was
distinguished by the dedication of a new church building. It is a two-story brick edifice, and
is accounted a model of taste and beauty. The church property is valued at ten thousand
dollars, is free from debt, and an ornament to the beautiful village in 
~pg 253~ 
which it is located. Several extensive revivals have occurred in the history of the church, and
its growth has been steady and healthful. 

One of the most notable citizens of Mount Washington, in the present generation, was Dr.
Leonard W. BISHOP, a native of Cheviot, in Green township, but who removed to this locality
in 1849, to practice medicine. It was a terrible cholera year, and he soon found abundant
opportunity for professional activity. He was a thoroughly public-spirited man, and one of his
projects was that of a fine academy in the place. During the war he was secretary of the
Anderson township relief society, of which Captain KLINE was president, and aided to keep
the township clear of all drafts and to disburse large sums for the assistance of soldiers'
families. After the battle of Pittsburgh Landing a large meeting of citizens of the township was
held at Mount Washington, to consider the best means of sending relief to the two companies
from the township that were in that hard-fought action. Dr. BISHOP was unanimously deputed to
go to the front with suitable supplies for the Anderson men, and to bring back their dead, sick
and wounded. At Cincinnati he fell in with Dr. COMEGY's, of that city, who was about to leave
for Pittsburgh Landing in an official capacity, and was by him appointed a surgeon on his staff,
which gave him superior facilities of movement within the lines of the army. He found the
Anderson companies, and promptly relieved their wants. Within two weeks he had fulfilled his
mission, and returned with his precious charge of disabled and dead heroes. At another large
meeting held after his return, he received a unanimous vote of thanks on behalf of the people of
Anderson township, which was all the compensation he asked or received for his services. He
was thereafter often summoned to Cincinnati to assist the army surgeons in the work of the
hospitals. After the war he removed to Mount Carmel, in Clermont county, where we believe he
now resides. 

The Rev. Francis MCCORMICK, formerly a neighbor of Rev. Philip GATCH, on the East fork
of the Miami, and, like him, one of the pioneer preachers of Methodism in the Northwest
Territory, spent his last days near Mount Washington, whither he removed in 1806. He was an
old Revolutionary soldier, who had served under Lafayette at Yorktown. At his cabin beyond
the East fork, in 1797, it is said the first Methodist class organized in Ohio was formed. 

The people of Mount Washington formerly reached the city principally by omnibus to the Little
Miami railroad it Plainville, and thence by rail; but since 1878 they have been more
conveniently served by the Cincinnati & Portsmouth narrow-gauge railroad, which has a station
half a mile below the village. The place had three hundred and ninety-three inhabitants in the
year 1880. 
                                CALIFORNIA.

This place, sometimes erroneously called Caledonia in old documents, was laid out in 1849, by
Joseph GUTHRIE, John W. BROWN, AND Thomas J. MURDOCK, in the southwest part of the
township, upon the Ohio river, about a mile below the mouth of the Little Miami and upon
Bennett TOMPKINS' survey number three hundred and sixty-five, one of the first, as has been
noted, to be settled in the township. The place is about eight miles from Fountain Square, in the
city of Cincinnati, which furnishes it with a goodly share of its residents, and also the
opportunity for some manufacturing to advantage. The first business of importance here was the
Molders' Union foundry, which was established on the co-operative plan while the town was
still new, by a number of striking stove-molders from Cincinnati. Mr. James C. C.
HOLLENSHADE, a prominent citizen connected with the business, had warmly espoused their
cause, and was employed to conduct their enterprise at California. They organized a regular
corporation, of which he was made president and business agent. He opened the stock-books for
the molders, subscriptions of stock to be paid in work, and Mr. HOLLENSHADE relying upon
his own credit to secure the means for building the foundry, procuring the necessary machinery
and stock, and running it until money was in the treasury of the company for his repayment. This
he successfully accomplished, and ran the establishment to satisfaction the first year, paying the
full bill of prices as stipulated to all the workmen. He then resigned to go into the wrought-iron
and hardware business in Cincinnati; and the enterprise in due time went the way of nearly all
similar undertakings. The prospects of the place since, however, have at times looked up quite
bravely; and in 1871 (May 1) the California Building and Savings Association, No. 1, filed its
certificate of incorporation in the secretary of State's office at Columbus, for operations at this
point. The Richmond turnpike passes this place, as also the projected line of the Ohio River &
Virginia railway, and the Cincinnati & Portsmouth narrow-gauge has a station but a mile distant.
St. Jerome's church (Catholic), supplied, as before noted, by the Rev. Father ENGBERS, is
located here. The tenth census allows the village three hundred and seventy-six people. 
                           OTHER POST OFFICES.

The post offices of the township, not already indicated, are Cedar Point, Fruit Hill, Cherry
Grove, Pleasant Valley, and Sweet Wine. The first-named of these is of very recent
establishment, and has Mr. R. A. SHANNON for postmaster. It was formerly TAYLOR's
Corners at the junction of the road from Mount Washington to the Ohio turnpike, and takes its
present name from the fine cedar trees at the point of junction. These were planted by Mr.
TAYLOR, an Englishman who settled there about 1845, and put up a large frame building for a
grocery store and residence. This locality became celebrated far and wide, especially for its
beautiful garden and grounds, and was long maintained by its proprietor, who finally sold it and
removed to the west. Sweet Wine takes its unique name from one of the chief products of the
colony of Germans in the southeast of the township, who are mainly its patrons. 
                                POPULATION.

The population of Anderson township, by the census of 1880, was four thousand, one hundred
and forty-one, ~pg 254~ against four thousand and seventy-seven ten years before. A comparative 
statement of the number of its inhabitants, during the several years in which the federal census 
has been taken, will be found, as in the case of other townships of Hamilton county, at the close 
of chapter X, in the first part of this work.