Col. John Johnston, who for sixty-five years, has been a prominent citizen of Western Ohio – for many years the Government Indian Agent at Piqua – communicates an interesting article to the Pioneer Association, Cincinnati, which is published in the Gazette, and from which we make liberal extracts.
Martha J. Martin
Pioneers Relics of Olden Times
In the band stand, under the shade of the Court yard trees, last Saturday afternoon, a small company of the “oldest inhabitants” met to form a Pioneer Society.
Tried Stone Baptist Church Ironton Ohio
The Missionary Society of Triedstone Baptist Church held its monthly meeting Monday evening. Miss Effie Bryant, the president, deserves much credit for the excellent program she arranged. The subjects discussed, and addressed were very good, and the spirit exhibited showed that they were working in the right direction.
Remarkable Story About Rachel Brown
In the hills of Lawrence County, Ohio, not far from Proctorville, there is a neglected grave around which revolves a romance the details of which are more unbelievable than many of the imaginary deeds recorded by the most ingenious writers of ultra-modern fiction.
Ironton Ohio Yesterday Years
On Tuesday morn about eight o’clock a large number of our citizens, provoked beyond further endurance, took the law into their own hands and assembled on the bank of the river at East Ironton, near Graham’s liquor boat; a short speech was made, a committee appointed, and the person in charge of the boat notified to remove his nuisance outside the corporation, and fifteen minutes were given in which to start. At the expiration of the time, the boat was peaceable manned and taken two miles down the river.
Oscar Kerr and Fred Mitchell Kills Indian
Kerr and Mitchell, 21 and 24 years respectively are held in the county jail, charged with firing the shots into a teepee at Waverly, Monday night, that killed Jack Wilson, an Indian. A written confession has been obtained from both of the boys.
Berndt Family Reunion
The Berndt brothers, Jacob and Louis of North Lancaster, Peter of the same township, and Phillip of Sough Lancaster, is having a series of family reunions in honor of their father, Peter Berndt, Sr., and their other brother Adam, both here from Ironton, Ohio, on a visit.
Ancient Capital
It was always a great pleasure for me to visit old country places. Towns are not altogether like persons. Some are busy, hustling in a continuing hurry and worry, others are full of life and vigor, but the mind and subdued in appearance.
Reminiscences of Burlington Ohio
The town of Burlington, the old county seat of Lawrence County, was laid out and sold by Edward W. Tupper, of Gallipolis, on the 20h of February 1818, he was appointed director by the authorities at Columbus, for that purpose. Lawrence County, Ohio, was created on December 20, 1816, from Gallia County and a small part of Scioto County, Ohio, and was organized on March 24, 1817.
Blackwell Gang of Counterfeiter’s
Beasher Miller was a native of Ohio and on 17 Feb 1887, he was arrested for petit larceny and became an inmate in the Lawrence County, Ohio jail. Why I am including this story because In the column for discharge, the date was 14 May 1887 and he had run off from Blackwell Chain. After reading the following story, it sounds like Beasher (also spelled Beecher) Miller was also staying in our county jail, perhaps a witness against the Blackwell Gang.
Elizabeth Leisure Murders Moses Markins
Yesterday evening a tragedy occurred at the foot of Warren hill, on Marion Road. Some days ago, a party entered the house of Mrs. Elizabeth Leisure, at the above-named place, and broke up her furniture.
McComas Family Bible
Transcription of McComas Family Bible (which are genealogy notes written by Rev. John Clayton McComas). Rev. McComas never lived in Lawrence County, but his father (Amon Cecil McComas) & his family were from Ironton. Submitted by Jenny Linn
Armstrong and Hannah Rankins on Oak Ridge
This name originated, doubtless, under a mistaken view of things, as the furnace didn’t stand on a ridge. When your correspondent read on the stone in the arch of the old furnace stack, “Oak Ridge Furnace built by W. H. Allison, 1856.” I could not help saying to myself that the year of ’56 must have been a year of mistakes.
Early Days of Symmes
My father, George Irwin, moved to the log house that stands on the farm of R. M. Wickline, in Symmes Township in December 1827. At that time, there were twelve or thirteen families in the township.
Aid Township
In 1800, the first cabin in Aid Township was built on John’s Creek by Captain John, an Indian, and Andy Friend, a white man, and squatters who made their living hunting and trapping. The first settlement was Marion, [now known as Aid] in 1815. The name was changed due to the conflict with a larger and previously established Marion in northern Ohio. William (Uncle Billy) Stumbo laid out Marion (Aid) in 1840. The village of Arabia also lies partially in Aid Township. Aid Township was organized by Adam Haymaker in 1823.