Old Settlers & Recent Inhabitants of Madison Township
"20th Century History of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio"
William M. Rockel, 1908

extracted 2002 by Jane M. Whitty

YEAR SETTLED	NAME	SPOUSE	CHILDREN	COMMENTS
1807	George BUFFENBERGER		raised a large family of children	was a Virginian, located on the head-waters of the Little Miami River
A little before S.  Charleston was laid out	Christopher LIGHTFOOT			A Scotsman, settled where William WATSON now lives, south of the Little Miami depot.  A school teacher and surveyor.
	Elijah PRATT			a practicing physician as early as 1818, lived N.E. of S. Charleston, was from New England.
	John KOLSO		reared a large family, all of whom are non-residents of this Twp.	early Justice of the Peace, lived on Jamestown Rd. on land now owned by PAULLIN's heirs
	William HOLLOWAY			early settler near Selma on the MCDORMAN farm, A Quaker and a Justice of the Peace for many years
	William WILLIS			A Quaker, kept a hotel 2 mi. W of S. Charleston where Caleb HARRISON formerly lived on State Rd. from Xenia to Columbus.
1817	Mungo MURRAY, d. in Aug, 1830, age 55		James, George, Peter (Peter built the MURRAY House of Springfield)	A Scotsman, located on Sec. 12
1814	John MCCOLLUM, d. 1848, age 73	twice married, wife died Dec. 1871, age 87	Children of 2nd marr: Rebecca, Henry, John, Alvira, Evaline, Minerva, Seth O., Russel B.	Native of VA, settled on the farm now owned by D. V. PRINGLE
1808 or 1809	David VANCE		Sons: Ephraim, John, Daniel, Joseph, Elijah, Elisha (last two were twins)	A Kentuckian, settled 1 mi. W of S. Charleston on farm now owned by James PRINGLE.  Was a cousin of Joseph VANCE, 10th Gov. of  OH
1812	James PRINGLE, Sr., d. Aug 1867, age 84	Wife was a VANCE	A large family.  Sons were: Thomas, David, William, & James	Came from KY, settled on Sec. 16, formerly owned by D. O. HEISKELL
Abt. 1810	Isaac DAVISSON, Jr.	marr. Sarah CURL in 1808, she still living at age past 90	Large family, 12 of whom lived to marry:  William, Obadiah, Lemuel, Mary, Elizabeth, Nancy, Sarah J., Margaret, Julia Ann, Maria, James G., Daniel	His father, Isaac DAVISSON, Sr. was an early settler of Warren Co. (Todd's Fork).  They spent 1st 3 years in Pleasant Twp.>Madison Twp., were Methodists - services conducted at his house from 1814 to several years after 1821.
1811	Philip HEDRICK, a Kentuckian, died 1838	Wife (FOLEY), a Virginian, married in KY, died 1825	Samuel, Lewis, David, Isaac, Henry, Joseph, Anna, Mahala, Rebecca (5 children b. in KY)	Settled on north bank of Little Miami on farm now owned by K. P. TRUITT, bought 600 acres.  Assisted to lay out S. Charleston in 1815
1815	Charles PAIST, d. 1858, age 60	Abigail PERKINS of Wilmington, OH; d. 1859, age 58	Isaac, William, Charles, Mary (Mrs. D. O. HEISKELL)	Native of Delaware Co, PA, settled on Massie's Creek on Columbus & Xenia Rd.  First merchant of Twp., moved to S. Charleston 1824.  Served 1 term as Assoc. Judge, Court of Common Pleas; Abolitionist, Quaker, made first anti-slavery address in S. Charleston,
at Age 12, with parents	Robert HOUSTON, b. Scott Co, KY Apr 11, 1800, d. Champaign Co, Illinois, Jul 11, 1872, age 72	Eliza PEARCE, marr Nov. 25, 1822	12 children	Began Practice of Medicine at S. Charleston July, 1821.  1865 moved to Champaign Co, Illinois.  Whig, Republican, Methodist
Abt. 1814	Samuel THOMAS, b. 1785, d. 1867	Mary STJOHN, b. 1783 a native of NY, marr. in Warren Co, OH; d. 1871	9 children, eldest was John now residing in Twp age 72.	Native of Delaware
	John RANKIN, b. Dec 16, 1811 in MD, d. abt 1903	Charity A. FULLERTON marr in 1855	sons:  Stacy B., James F., continued the Bank of S. Charleston	1845 opened Dry Goods store with brother, Albert.  1863 organized 1st Nat'l Bank of S. Charleston. 1877 reorganized as Bank of S. Charleston
	Stacy B. RANKIN, b. S. Charleston	Fanny KEMPER marr in 1897		Was elected member of legislature, sec. OH Banker's Assn since 1891, Cashier of Bank of S. Charleston since 1882.  Ohio's commissioner at St. Louis Exhibition.  A member of the House 1897-1901
	James F. RANKIN, b. 1861 in S. Charleston	Netty KEMPER marr in 1894		Connected with brother in banking bus.
	L. H. HOUSTON			Brother, E.D. HOUSTON conduct Gen. Store in S. Charleston.  Younger brother, Foster B.L.H. HOUSTON
	Foster B. L. H. HOUSTON			Pres. of Citizen's Bank, 1 term as Co. Commissioner in 1890, and on City Board of Equalization
	Leonard B. SPRAGUE, deceased probably 10 years			active in Stock raising & fine horses, agriculture.  Was sec. of Clark Co. Society
	Dr. E. T. COLLINS, deceased within past 10 yrs, native of Moorefield Twp, b. Jan. 12, 1818	Sarah L. HOUSTON marr in 1845	Dr. Milton COLLINS (only sister d. 1905 fatal accident on Springfield & Charleston traction line)	began practice of medicine in S. Charleston 1841, continued until time of death.
	Michael WAY, d. abt. 1890		John, d. 1906, also served in numerous capacities in Twp affairs	Prominent in Twp affairs from 1868 until death
	Seymore HAROLD, native of Madison Co.			longtime resident of Twp.
	David T. COLVIN, b. Frederick Co, VA Feb. 18, 1829, d. 1886	Maria LARKIN marr in 1853		Farmer
	Henry BATEMAN			is living in S. Charleston
	Amos & Charles BRIGGS			were natives of Twp, resided in S. Charleston
	CALVERT			Prominent in village of Selma
	WILDMAN			Prominent in village of Selma
	E. H. & William FLORENCE			had part in welfare of Twp.
	A. F. TAFT, now deceased			had part in welfare of Twp.
	Alfred A. BOWEN			had part in welfare of Twp.
	Edward MERRITT, deceased		Charles	Co. Commissioner 1876-1879
	COMRIES			had part in welfare of Twp.
	L. W. HAUGHEY, now deceased			long time engaged in banking bus. S. Charleston
Abt. 1880 to S. Charleston	Almon BRADFORD, b. 1830 in NY			Still lives at age 77 in Cedarville
	Benjamin WOOSLEY, b. Oct. 30, 1815; d. 1887			Large land owner
1874	S. R. BATTIN, b. Columbiana Co.  Mar 3, 1829			Still survives.  Is pres. of Clark Co. Farmer's Ins. Assoc.
	Col. Milton CHENEY			Lives S. Charleston.   Co. Commissioner 1895-1901
	Alexander WADDLE, Sr.			House of Rep 1838-1840; State Senate 1840-1842
	Alexander WADDLE, Jr.			State Senate 1874-1876
	Thomas J. PRINGLE			State Senate 1880-1882 and 1886-1888
	D. O. HEISKEL			Co. Commissioner 1857-1863
	L. B. SPRAGUE			Co. Commissioner 1864-1866, may have been resident of Harmony Twp at that time.
	Leon H. HOUSTON			Co. Commissioner 1879-1882. Member State Brd of Equalization 1890
	Thomas L. CALVERT			Present sec. of State Board of Agriculture
	Absalom MATTOX			Was County Clerk prior to 1873, may have been one-time resident of Twp.
	William IRWIN and Jonathan MITCHELL			Were invited in 1814 to preach (Methodis) at Isaac DAVISSON's house
	Rev. Moses TRAITOR			Said to have been 1st Methodist preacher in 1821 when S. Charleston was placed on Paint Creek Circuit.  Services conducted at Isaac DAVISSON's house for several years.
	Rev. W. T. SNOW			Organized first Meth. Episcopal Sabbath sch. 1830
	Rev. S. B. SMITH			1881 Pastor of South Charleston Meth. Episcopal congregation
	Rev. G. W. VORIS			Present pastor of Meth. Episcopal Congreg. in S. Charleston
	Rev. William DICKEY			In charge of Presbyterian society when organized in 1822
	Rev. John S. GALLOWAY			Presbyterian Minister 1835-1844
	James PEALAN			Presbyterian Minister 1844-1849
	W. EDWARDS			Presbyterian Minister 1849-1851
	Dr. HAIGHT			came to Presb. church 1859 under whose leadership large brick church was built
	Rev. H. S. SMITH			Became pastor of Presb. Church, succeeded by: Rev. S. JEWETT, afterwards, S. M. SHOWFIELD, Rev. KELSEY, Rev. James S. KEMPER (in 1876)
	Rev. J. K. GIBSON			Present Pastor, Presb. Church
	Samuel C. HOWELL			Residence located 3/4 mi. NE of Selma....Friends Soc. organized 1822 worshiped near there.
	James WILDMAN			1828 Orthodox branch of Friends Soc. met at his house, 1 mi. E of Selma, after split with Hicksites branch
	Hannah SMITH			Minister of Orthodox Friends Soc. (present)
	Thomas MERRITT, Joshua HARRISON, Isaac WARDNER, Thomas BRANSON			Helped build Hicksites Friends Soc. Church (conservative branch) in 1844 (?) - misprint in book says 1544.  Follows split of Hicksites in 1843 over slavery question.
	Rev. William COLEMAN			1895 first pastor of colored Baptist church in S. Charleston
	FAIRCHILD			abt. 1816 teacher at 1st schoolhouse built south of village of S. Charleston near Little Miami R.R.
	Mr. LANFIELD			teacher at 2nd schoolhouse built abt. 1 mi. N.E. of town
	Moses PIERCE			taught at 3rd schoolhouse built west of town near PRINGLE residence

Township Officials 1816-1855 served in official capacity in Twp affairs:  William HOLLOWAY, Robert PHARES, Isaac VANDEVENTER, Adam PETERS, Thomas GREEN, P. SELLERS, John KELSO, James WILSON, Charles T. ARTHUR, Simon ARMSTRONG, John MITTON, Rees ELLIS, James WOOSLEY, William SMITH, Enoch WILKINS, Calvin HALE, John CURTICE, Robert F. EVANS, P. HEDRICK, Francis CRISPIN, Gilbert PIERCE, Clement SHOCKEY, Samuel BRIGGS, Joseph BRIGGS, Isaac DALYRIMPLE, Jesse ELLSWORTH, William BEAUCHAMP, John REED, Rowland BROWN, Seth SAINTJOHN, David WILSON, Eulass BALL, Isaiah HUNT, Jesse GRIFFITH, William L. WARNER, Greenfield DOOLEY, Christopher FOX, John B. MADDEN, Absalom MATTOX, E. H. BROADBURY, John PACKER, Gregory BLOXSOM, Cephas ATKINSON, Matthew CRISPIN, George BENNETT, John W. JOHNSON, Charles PAIST, David MORGAN, Epaminondas HUTTON, G. W. JONES, Jacob CRITZ, George HEMPLEMAN, Jefferson NAGLEY, D. V. PRINGLE, Joshua D. TRUITT, Griffith F. SWEET, T. F. HOUSTON, Calderwood HILL, John RANKIN, Washington BUFFENBARGER

Township Trustees since 1881:  A. G. PRATT, Milton CHENEY, M. H. COLLINS, William FLORENCE (present officer), John HEISKELL, E. H. FLORENCE (present officer), W. H. BROWN, Thomas L. CALVERT, W. H. LOTT, E. H. BUSH, Howard S. SMITH (present officer)

Township Clerks since 1881:  Michael WAY, W. J. HUDSON, W. H. ROWE, E. P. FLYNN, F. G. NORTON, and John S. BROWN (present officer).

Justices of the Peace since 1871:  Thomas P. Miller 1871, A. F. TAFT 1871-1877 and 1881, William H. LOTT 1872-1875, Washington BUFFENBARGER 1876,  Michael WAY 1877-1880, Webster BARRETT 1878, Lawrence HEISKELL 1883, Almon BRADFORD 1883 and 1892, William J. HUDSON 1884-1890, E. S. STEINMAN 1886 and 1896, A. C. SCANLAND 1887-1890, William CHENEY 1895-1901, Henry SCHICKENDANTZ 1897-1900, I. H. THORNE 1903, William WARRINGTON 1904, John B. ALLEN 1905

Methodist Episcopal, S. Charleston congregation Ministers:  Revs. FINLAY, ROBERTS, GATCH, John COLLINS, RUSSEL, BIGLOW, W. H. RAPER, Dr. TAYLOR, Frank WILSON, Dr. MCCANN, Jonathan E. CHAPLIN

1847 Contributors to erection of Wesley Chapel:  William H. HARRIS, Absalom FOLEY, Henry SHUGH, David HAYWARD, C. MOLER, and others

Catholic Church, S. Charleston:  First Mass 1850 Father HOWARD (in Hotel).  1858 Father BLAKE arranged to get old Presb. Church.  Cornerstone of present church dedicated 1866 by J. B. PURSELL. Rev. John KENNEDY pastor in 1873, Rev. William GRENNEN pastor in 1874. Rev. C. M. LEARDING pastor in 1877.  Rev. J. M. KEELY, present pastor.

Gravel Church built 1855, Selma (Methodist)  pastors:  Revs. Levi WHITE, John BLACK, William SIMMONS, Andrew MURPHY, Joseph NEWSON, Allen W. TIBBETTS, J. VERITY, J. B. ELLSWORTH, David WHITMER, Stephen F. KONEY,  H. STOKES, M. P. ZINC, J. L. GREGG, W. Q. SHANNON, Rev. G. W. VORIS is present pastor. 

African (colored) Methodist Episcopal, vicinity of Selma, org. 1870, built church 1875.  Pastors who have served:  William JOHNSON, Edward TAYLOR, James ROSS, Benjamin COMBASH, John HAMMOND

Teachers in Madison Twp. school  district for 1907-1908:  C. M. KISSELL (Superintendent), S. B. JACKSON (Music Supervisor), No. 1 Copeland, Miss Ella CURRY, No. 2 Briggs, Fanny WESTLAKE, No. 3 Pierce, J. E. RUNYAN, No. 4, Oak Grove, Vinton BUSLER, No. 5, Thorpe, Bessie SEVERS, No. 7, Carthage, C. M. KISSELL

Teachers in S. Charleston  school  district for 1907-1908: Harry PAXTON (Superintendent), Mrs. E. W. BRADLEY (high school principal), Lena KNOTT (high school assistant), Helen BLACK (sixth grade), Anna LUDEN (seventh grade), Jane MARTIN (fifth grade), Pearl HEIZER (third grade), Catharine SCANLAN (second grade), Elizabeth VANMETER (first grade), W. H. LEWIS (music).  Note:  fourth grade does not appear in this list. 

Teachers in Selma  school  district for 1907-1908:  Edward BRANTNER (Superintendent), Henry LAFFERTY (asst.high school teacher), Edith WILSON (grammar grades), Frances GUGENHEIM (intermediate grades), Lametta MILLS (primary)