KNOX COUNTY OHIO - Norton's History of Knox County [Chapter XXVIII]

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A History of Knox County, Ohio, From 1779 to 1862 
Inclusive: Comprising Biographical Sketches, Anecdotes and 
incidents of men connected with the county from its first 
settlement: Together with complete lists of the senators, 
representatives, sherriffs, auditors, commissioners, 
treasurers, judges, justices of the peace, and other 
officers of the county, also of those who have served in a 
military capacity from its first organization to the 
present time, and also a sketch of Kenyon College, and 
other institutions of learning and religion within the 
county. 
By A. Banning Norton.

Columbus: Richard Nevins, Printer. 1862
Entered according to the act of Congress in the year 1862 
by A. Banning Norton, In the Clerk’s office of the Southern 
District of Ohio.
     ____________________________________________

CHAPTER XXVIII.

BROWN TOWNSHIP.

This township was laid out March 9, 1825, and "attached 
to Jefferson until it shall be ascertained that there is 
inhabitants enough in Brown to have it organized." March 6, 
1826, " ordered by the Commissioners that Brown be 
hereafter considered a separate and distinct township, and 
the election be held at the house of Josias Ewing, for 
township officers. on the first Monday of April, and Jefferson 
be henceforth attached to Union." The name was given to 
perpetuate the memory of Major-General Jacob Brown, the 
hero of Chippewa and Fort Erie, who had but recently 
become commander-in-chief of the U. S. Army.
The first post-Office called Phifer's >< Roads, was where 
Brownsville now is, and of late has borne the name of 
Jelloway, after the stream of this locality.
The present merchants are, Wm.. Patton, Sam'l Beeman, 
Pinckley & Watz ; doctors, E. Booth, L. D. Whitford ; 
wagonmakers, Thomas Thompson. Emanuel Storer; 
blacksmiths, Smith & Hagerman, D. Thompson ; tailor, F. 
Schuch ; shoemakers, E. Waddle, W. Stull and Knee ; 
tavern, Mrs. Phifer:
tanner, Henry Frazier ; gunsmith, Henry Raisin;  grocer, J. 
H. Burriss. The Methodists have a meeting-house, wherein 
Rev. Mr. Ball preaches.
In 1840 the inhabitants of Brown numbered 1,201; in 
1850, 1,535; and in 1860, 1,440.

The most numerous families in this township are the 
McKees, Waddles. Halls and Blairs, descendants of early 
settlers, who cleared the way for the present.
Charles MeKee emigrated from Ireland, with fourteen 
children about 1808. Alexander McKee settled in this 
county in 1809 he resides on his old place on Big Jelloway, 
where was once an Indian camp; and when he first settled 
there, sixty-five Indians called at his hut, drank metheglin 
with him and they had a jovial time all round.
The Halls,  Sovernses, Pinkertons, Waddles, and 
Stewards have a1so been plenty in Brown. John Craghnan 
(pronounced Carnahan) was a wild Irishman of much note 
about 1826; he was a warm-hearted impulsive creature; 
and "faith, an' he was a knowledgeable man" Many 
anecdotes are quoted of him, which we have not room to 
produce.
 Jacob Phifer from  Strasburg, Germnany, located in this 
township in 1818, when all was wild and new. He died 
Oct. 9, 1846, aged 89. He had served ten years a soldier 
in Europe, three years in the Revolutionary War, and three 
months in the war it 1812. The old soldier was the father of 
Freeman. John, James and Michael.
James Blair, our old friend, "God bless you," Was one 
of the early stock. In 1816 he tended the old Shrimplin mill; 
moved to Brown in 1820, and has been one of its most 
prominent men, having served as justice  long enough to 
entitle him to vote, and his decisions have been generally 
approved of by his fellow citizens. 
He has been engaged in

milling, farming, raising children, writing "poetry" and 
making hiimself generally useful. His memory will endure in 
Brown forever.
Zephaniah Wade, who commanded a company of 
Riflemen from London Co., Va., in 1777, moved to this 
county in October, 1816, with his son. Thomas. Zephaniah 
and his wife, Irene Longley. are both dead. J. J. Skilling"s 
has been one of the most active business men. There have 
been a few small mills on Big Jelloway from its early 
settlement, but the want of water, during the year, has 
caused some of them to suspend. Emmor Barrets grist mill 
was built about 1833, and is yet in operation. It is run by an 
overshot wheel 16 feet high. Thomas Wade has a saw mill 2 
1/2 miles above it run by an over shot wheel 30 feet high. A 
set of carding machines have also been run at this stand. 
The mills of James Blair, Ab. Whitney, and Joseph  Hall 
have gone into dilapidation and decay.
Jacob Roof and his wife Polly, Jacob Darrow and Wm. 
Prior, Jacob Baugh, Daniel Worley and Richard Deakins, 
were old settlers.

SUCCESSIVE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Samuel Barkhurst was the first, and Josias Ewing succeeded him in 1826.
1830. James McMillen re-elected in 1833
1831. James Blair; re-elected in 1834,37, 40, 43, 46, 49.
1837. Thomas Wade ; re-elected, in 1840, 1844.
1845. John W. Guberson.
1846. Wm. Soverns; re-elected in 1850.
1850. Joseph Pinkley; re-elected in 1853 nood 1857.
1852. Solomon C. Workman.
1854. John Hicks.
1856. J. W. Leonard ; re-elected in 1859 and 1862.