The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1867-04-04
BY THE EDITOR.


in Fairfield Bl,rying Grolmd-Frst Meet
ing House built By The F'yiends-Fyr8t
Marriages in the TolVnship-ToVHship Of
fcers Elected IN Boundaries Of
Fat,y7etd in Mat Year, tc. dca.
We are indebted to our friend, Mr.. ]. r.
Ladd for the subjoined additional incidents
with the first settlement of Fair
field Tp.
The first mill was erected in this part Of
the county in 1904, by Phineas Hunt, an
emigrant from North Carolina, who settled
on Hardin's Creek in 1903. The neighbors
all came out to assist Mr.. Hunt in the erec-
ton of this mill, and for mill-wright, the
services of Alex. Croford, at tho Falls of
Paint, were secured. This mill was built
a little above, and near the present site of
Hud7s old fulling mill, on Hardins Creek.
It was known far and wide and did an
extensive business for the times. Not
vestige of it now remains, to mark the
place of its location, except a portion of the
old race, and a group of large sycamore
trees, that have reared themselves on the
old foundation. Previous to this, ard dur
ing the dry season, the settlers had to go
to the Falls of Paint for their milling.
A few years after this, Jacob Beals built
another mill on Hardin's Creek, two miles
below Hunts, but not proving profitable
it soon went to decay.
In 1904 a child was lost in the woods, on
the waters of Brush Creek. The whole
country was aroused to go in search of it.
VIM. Wright, in company with four 9TH
ers, went from the Hardin's Creek settle
ment to assist; but after several days
spent in fruitless hunt, the search was
abandoned. The child could not be found,
or any udings of it. The supposition was
that it had been stolen by the Indians
For n number of years afterwards, its
memory was cherished by a beautiful
poem which was sung around many log
cabin Fireplace.
The first burial at the Fairfield burial
ground occurred in this year, (lsO4) and
was that of woman by the name of Bal
lard Tie second was also q woman by
the name of Britton. The ground now Oc-
cupied as burial place was then covered
with a thick growth of spice wood and
hazel-brush. Into this they cut for the
distance of several rods, where a grave
was dug, the body deposited and the grave
filled up. When this was done, her father
said, ''The young men will please gather
up those old logs, and make a pen around
the grave" This was quickly done. VIM.
Wright was one of the young men who as
sisted in the performance of the work.
| The meeting house had not been built at
this time, but the arrangements had been
made; and it was shortly afterwards erect
ed. This was the first house built for wor
ship iu the Township, and was situated
about one mile south of the present site OF
Leesburg, where the large brick churcl
now stands. It was built by the Society
of Friends, out of round poles or saplings
and covered with large boards. The fire
place was made in the middle ofthe house
A large hole was left in the floor, whicl
was filled up with large stones nearly OF
a level with the floor. On this foundation
a circular ring was made of clay mortar
a couple of inches above the floor. Thi!
ring was filled with charcoal, making
beautiful fire, almost free from smoke
around which the fathers and mothers 0
that period congregated, to worship thei
Heavenly Father in silent meditation.
The third burial at this place was that o
a child of Samuel Buffers in 1906. Tn
grave was dug by w. Heathcoclt an,
Benjamin Carr. Carr was then living ol
the farm now owned by L. c. Guthrie.
In the year 1905 Jonathan Barrett, a
? emigrant from Virginia, came ont 10 Ohio
5 and purchased the farm on Hardiu's Greek
owned by Nathaniel Pope. Pope the
moved to the Pope farm near Samanth,
, and commenced settlement, where h
T, lspeut the remainder of his life.
! In this year occurred the first marriage
, in the township, VIM Pope was marie
/ to Grace Lupton, and Wm. Wight
[ Rachel Stafford. .. .a1H r.tH.
The first election for Township officers
T. which a record has been kept, was held G
j Monday, April 7th, 1906, sixty-one yea
t ago. At this election, James johnson wa
elected Justice Of the Peace, Nehemia
Bloomer, Clerk, John B. Beals, Isaac To,
4 hunter and Jesse Baldwin, Trustees, jam
S Haworth and Win N Stafford, oversee
5 Of the Poor, Evan Evans, house apprais
= and lister, Curtis Reals house appraise
= Daniel Branson and James Stafford, fem
i viewers, James stafford, Wm Pope, Sci
Smith and Israel Fordyke, Supervisors
y Highways, John MeKibben, Jacob Beal
. Jr. and VIM Bloomer, Constables, an
{, William Lupton, Treasurer. These pc
sons were al qualified into ONCE by San
q uel Littler, yhen an acting Justice Of Il
Peace Of the Township. The Township
this time comprised four road districb
r now it is divided into seventeen II
It Township was then bounded as followl
e Beginning at'the mouth Of Ratuesnal