KNOX COUNTY OHIO - Norton's History of Knox County [Chapter XLI] ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/oh/ohfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Dave Ketterer Ketterer@empireone.net September 1, 2002 ************************************************ 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 XLI. CLAY TOWNSHIP. ON the 9th of March, 1825. this township was created, and honored with the name of the great American commoner, Henry Clay. The surface of the country is uneven, the soil is generally very fertile, and the tillers of it have ever been among our foremost for industry and intelligence. In 1830, the population was 1,300, and upwards of 15,000 acres were returned for taxation. In 1810, the inhabitants counted 1,304 ; in 1850, 1,210 ; in 1860, there were 1,098 white and 10 colored persons. There were six industrial establishments, producing to the value of $10,830. Among the old settlers were Ziba Leonard, I. D. Johnson, the Elliotts, the Greens, the Barneses, Vances, Pollock, Paul, Harrods, Larrisons. Insley D. Johnson. from about 1823 until 1837, was in business, and during the latter part of his mercantile existence was one of the heaviest operators in produce in Central Ohio. David Lawman, of Rockingham co., Va., came here in 1832 ; he is engaged in farming and milling. The Boggs family have been among the good citizens of this township for many years. The oldest was William, a native of Virginia, His son William, the first white child born in Belmont, died in Richland co., about 1835. William, sr., died about 1854, aged 98 years, and Elizabeth his wife died in 1861, aged 93 years. Their children, John and Ezekiel, born in Belmont, have been long known to our citizens. Ezekiel served as Representative, and died in 1853. His wife is living in Clay. John Boggs married a daughter of one of the old settlers, Catharine Ste- phenenson. Mary married Wallace McWilliams, and lives in Kansas. Martinsburg has ever possessed a very patriotic population. At the celebration of July 4, 1861, addresses were made by Henry Hervey and A. J. Lyon. and a good dinner eaten. An accident occurred to mar the pleasures. John Clark had two of his fingers shot off by discharge of a small cannon. Martinsburg contains 300 inhabitants. It was part styled Hanover, and the other part Williamsburg, and the present name is a compromise. The following are the artisans and business men Philo Higgins, blacksmith ; E. Hardiman, tailor ; wagon maker, Wm. Henderson ; saddlers, M. L. Dayton. J. M. Rowland ; shoemakers, S. Kidwell, S. Hollabaugh, S. D. Rouse, M. Chandler, A. Lyon ; Wm. Penick carries on a tanyard ; A. & R. Barnes and Thomas Rodgers are the merchants ; M. L. Dayton sells grocerics ; D. Booze keeps the tavern. The physicians are D. H. Ralston, Peter Pickard. and S. B. Dodd. There are five churches: Presbyterian, Rev. H. Hervey ; Methodist, Rev. A. .J. Lyon ; Free Presbyterian, Rev. J. Whitam ; Baptist, Rev. G. Tunison ; Associate Reformed, Rev. G. Torrance. Its schools are good, and the Rev. Henry Hervey deserves special commendation for his long and faithful service in the cause of christi- anity and education. For over 35 years he has devoted himself zealously to the work in this place J. M. Coulter is Principal of the Academy A. S. Kerr and Miss Susan Jennings are also teachers. The only men now 1iving in the village who were here in 1822 are W. McCreary, C. Barkalow, and W. McWilliams. The post-office was established by the name of Hanover in 1820, and Changed afterwards to Martinsburg. The postmasters have been I. D. Johnson (S. P. Warden, deputy), McCeary, Johnson, W. McWillaims, and W. McCreary. Since the foregoing was written. the patriotism of Clay and Morgan has been verified, by the spontaneous uprising of the hardy sons to defend the soil of Ohio from invasion, when. under Captain Norton, and Lieutenants Bell and Mercer. they responded to Governor Tod's call ; and. assisted by Capt. Baugh and Lieutenants Mefford and, Church. and Captain Israel's companies, they saved Cincinnati from the devouring Seccessionists. SUCCESSIVE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 1827. James Elliott. 1831. W. MeCreary 1830. James Elliott. 1834. W. MeCreary 1833. W. Spratt. 1837. W. MeCreary 1839. James Paul. 1840. W. MeCreary 1842. James Paul. 1843. W. MeCreary 1845. Wallace McWilliams. 1846. W. MeCreary 1846. John Boggs. 1855. Mercer MeFadden 1848. Wallace McWilliams. 1857. W. McWilliams. 1849. John Boggs. 1858. Isaac Bell. 1851. W. McWilliams. 1860. W. McWilliams. 1852. John Boggs. 1860. James Elliott. 1854. W. McWilliams.