The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-07-06

ey, Dtu.. tUUcIt 1euhJohs U1ihion
Phillips, Philip. Lewellan and the
Dunns, from whom Dunn's Branch
received its name, we're among the
6rst settlers Of Casper township.
The Nesbits, Robertsons, Dickeys,
Ozias and Vanwinkles, were among
the first set RS of Twin township,
and Major Robinson laid the first
brick in the county in 1911, for Jas.
/. Nesbit, on the west bank of Twin
Greek, u short distance east of New
Lexington, which house is still stand
ing, and in q good state of preserya-
ton.
The FIRST settler of Harrison town.
ship, was Joseph Singer, who locat-
ed there as early as 1903. Shortly
thereafter came Martin Rice, Tobi-
as Tillman, Jacob 10y, james Abb
bott, Zachariah Hole, Alexander
McNutt and others, who constituted
the frontier settlement on Twin
Creek, in the third range. Alexan-
der McNutt was the first County
Surveyor, and a very positive and
able man. The Armantrouts, Shur-
|leys, Adamses, Millers, Marshalls,
Doyles, Davissons, Browns and
Coopers, were the first settlers of
Monroe township. This township,
on account of its wet and fat sur
face, for some time was one of the
refused townships in the settlement
of the county. 1t was originally
supposed it would take q lifetime to
clear the lands and bring them un-
der cultivation, and therefore the
settlers preferred to locate on the
streams which afforded-a a natural
drainage. Consequently, Monroe was
| the last township in the county set
tied. The Purviances, Flemings,
Marshals and Irelands, were the FIRST
settlers on the East Fork of White
water, in Jefferson township. This
was the frontier settlement in the
FIRST range. David Puryiance, one
of the first settlers, was a man Of let
tiers, an eminent pioneer preacher,
and OF an early day represented the
district in the State Senate, with ere
dit to himself and to the entire salts
faction Of his constituents.
William Bruce, Cornelius Van
ausdal, David E. Hendricks, Walter
Buell., Alexander G. Lanier, John
Alderman, John Mills, John Gold
smith and John Meroney, were a.
mong the early settlers Of Washing
ton Township, Walter Buel was the
first physician in the County, and
Capt. David E. Hendricks kept the
first tavern in Eaton; John G. Nc
Manus was the first lawyer and John
Mills built the frsthouse in the Coun'
ty-seat. John Mills daughter was
the first white child born within the
corporate limits, and Benjamin Gold.
smith, still living, killed the last wild
deer within the same territory, .
short distance South Of the Nortf
brick school house.
The town Of Eaton was laid out
by William Bruce in 1906 and during
this year sixteen log cabins were
erected within its precincts, by diff
ferent lot owners, some of which
house have been remodeled and arr
occupied at the present time.
About thistime or shortly proceed
ing James j. Nesbitlaid out the towr
of New Lexington, which, for a tim,
contended for the county-seat. Up
on this subject the citizens of Eatol
and of New Lexington, were divided
and sharply contended for their re
spective localities. After the coun
ty was organized in 1903 the Legis
lature appointed three Commission
ers, Aaron Harlan, Ichabod B. Hal
sey and Ichabod Corwin, to select, a
) between the two points, and estab
lish the county-seat, and report tn,
i same to the Court of Common Plea
! for confirmation. After viewing th'
respective localities, the Commission
ers reported in favor of Eaton, o.
: account of its central location, whicl
report was confirmed by the Court
, and Eaton thereby became the eoun
ty-seat. The town site chosen is
beautiful location, on the east bank Q
. Seven Mile Creek, then in the woods
covered by a heavy growth of tim
: Der and underbrush. The proprie
: tor was liberali in his donations to tn
: new town in giving the public squar
and other lots Of ground for educa
/ tional, burial and church purposes,
f On the 9th day of April, 1906
t the first Board of County Commits
s sionors convened at the house {
: Samuel Hawkins, in Eaton, CON
a posed of George Shidler, WilliaI
K. Irwin and Samuel Hawkins. Al
: exander G. Lanier was appointe
Clerk, and William Bruce Treasurer
AT this session the State road Nortt
: west was ordered, and John Spachi
y Abraham Heaton and John Pogu
were appointed viewers and james
Nesbit, Surveyor. This is suppose
: to be the first public highway estat
, lished in the county.
: The FIRST Court of Common Plea
8 held in the county was on the 2Sr
Q day of August, 1903, in Eaton, .
E the house of Samuel Hawkins, b
Francis Dmlavy, presiding justic'
and James / Nesbit, John Meron
and John D.. Irwin, associate justice
John Holderman was foreman of th
first grand jury, and Alexander I
q Lanier was appointed Clerk, an
Samuel Mitchell being Coroner, &C
ed as Sheriff, as the election Of Jaco
Fudge to that Office was under col
test by James Denniston.
: The Court lasted two days and tw
: bills of indictment were returned f
! retailing goods, wares and mercha1
d disc without license, "not of th
growth or manufacture of the Unite
8 States" Joshua Collect was al
pointed Prosecuting Attorney, an
d allowed ten dollars for his service
s During the term the contested ele,