LAWRENCE COUNTY OHIO - History of Upper Township (published 1882, 1887) *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman July 14, 1999 *********************************************************************** From Atlas of Lawrence County, Ohio 1887 D.J. Lake & Company From Atlas of Lawrence County, Ohio Hardesty 1882 "Symmes Creek" by Wayne B. Ingles Symmes Township lies in the northern part of Lawrence County. This township contains 34 sections and was named for Symmes Creek, which flows through its eastern part. The surface of the township is rough and hilly; the highest elevation being 1,012 feet at Stewart Knob. Symmes Township was originally heavily forested and supported a variety of wild animals including buffalo, bear. panther, deer and wild turkey. The principal streams are Symmes, Buffalo and Johns Creeks. Symmes Township was organized in 1820. George Pine, John C. Stewart. William G. Robinson and Silas Spurlock were the first settlers. Silas Spurlock made the first cabin in 1820. The first settlement was made at the mouth of Johns Creek, the next at Yates Fork on Buffalo. Other early settlers were: Constantine Handley, Thomas and John Wray, Caleb McDaniel, Benjamin and Solomon Nelson, George Irwin, William Burke and R. Cooper. The early settlers cleared most of the timber and killed or drove off most of the wild animals. By 1870, all of Symmes was owned by individuals or companies. However, in 1989, the Federal government has regained 61% of the township and many deer, wild turkey and some beaver have returned. The first school was 1834, taught in a log cabin on Johns Creek by Andrew Burke. The twelve students came from Symmes, Mason, and Walnut townships. The school was on Buffalo near Rehobeth Church. By 1887 there were eight schools with a total enrollment of 407. In the 1920s, The Waterloo Local School District was formed consisting of Symmes and parts of Aid, Mason, and Walnut townships. High school was conducted in an old church until 1929, when a new school housing grades one through twelve was built in Aid. Early Settlers are: BURK, Andrew BURK, William COOPER, R. DOUGHTY, John ERWIN, George HANDLEY, Constantine McDANIEL, Caleb NELSON, Benjamin NELSON, Soloman PAYTON, James PINE, George ROBINSON, William G. SPURLOCK, Silas STEWART, John C. WRAY, James WRAY, John WRAY, Thomas Name Post Office Occupation Nativity Date of Settlement Cooper, A.S. Sherritts Attorney-at-Law Lawrence Co., OH unknown Hudson, D.F. Waterloo Physician & Surgeon Scioto Co., OH 1876 Justice, N. Arabia Farmer Gallia Co., OH 1838 Kelley, W.H. Waterloo Farmer & Justice of the Peace Lawrence Co., OH 1849 Mossman, C.E. Waterloo Farmer & Hotel Proprietor Gallia Co., OH 1869 McDaniel, Frank McDaniels Farmer Gallia Co., OH 1886 Miller, Howard C. Waterloo Farmer Lawrence Co., OH 1851 Pearce, G.W. Waterloo Farmer & Stock Dealer Lawrence Co., OH 1847 Robinson, P.M. Sherritts Farmer & Baptist Clergyman Lawrence Co., OH 1824 Stewart, A.N. Sherritts Farmer Lawrence Co., OH 1825 Stewart, C.M. Sherritts Farmer & Justice of the Peace Lawrence Co., OH 1824 Stewart, O.P. Sherritts Farmer Lawrence Co., OH 1834 Stewart, D.G. Sherritts Farmer & Blacksmith Lawrence Co., OH 1867 Vermillion, L.F. Waterloo Farmer Lawrence Co., OH 1851 Wiseman, Jas. H. Waterloo Farmer Lawrence Co., OH 1853 Wickline, R.M. Waterloo Farmer Lawrence Co., OH 1855