BOWERSVILLE.
Bowersville, the
only village in the township, is situated in its central part, about fifteen miles from
Xenia, five miles east of Jamestown, on the line of the Columbus, Washington and
Cincinnati Railroad, and contains about three hundred inhabitants.
The land on which the village is located, was originally owed by Christopher Hussey, whose
widow still resides on a portion of the tract from which the village site was taken. The
town was laid out, in 1848, by Samuel Owens, who named it in honor of the first resident,
Peter Bowermaster, a sketch of whose life may be of interest. He was born in Westmoreland
County, Pennsylvania, in 1787, and was married to Hannah Croslyn of Maryland, who was born
June 15, 1795. In 1839, the family (several children had been born,) left Pennsylvania and
came to Ohio. They engaged passage at a point then called Corkstown, on a flat boat bound
for New Orleans, and loaded with coal, bacon and flour; in the absence of a cook, Mrs.
Bowermaster filled the position until the boat arrived at Cincinnati, when the family
landed. They first settled near Wilmington, in Clinton County, then removed near Jamestown
in this county, and in the spring of 1843, removed to the present site of Bowersville, in
a log then owned by Benjamin Vandeman, where now stands the residence of Calvin Vaneman.
In the summer of this year, his son, Reason A., erected a small log cabin on the lot now
owned by Peter Burr, took unto himself a wife, and at the completion of the cabin removed
therein. The next house was built by Peter Bowermaster, on the site now occupied by Simon
Gerard's two story frame; in the following year.
After the town was surveyed (on which occasion Reason A. Bowermaster acted as
one of the chain carriers), the lots were sold by Christopher Hussey, at from forty to
sixty dollars each. The Hussey's and Stewart's were the next settlers in, the village,
which, gradually assumed more extensive proportions. The. first store was probably opened
by Albert Bryant, who kept a small stock of goods in the log house now occupied by L. H.
Starbuck as a residence, which stood at that time just opposite the present hotel
building. Samuel Ockhart and John White were the next ventures in the mercantile business.
I. C. Stewart erected and operated the first blacksmith shop, Strong, the second.
Wagon-making was carried on by Lemuel Cottrell. R. A. Bowerinaster erected a wheelwright
and chair-shop on the lot now occupied by David' Carpenter's store building, and engaged
in manufacturing wheels, chairs, tables, etc.
THE BUSINESS
INTERESTS:
Of the village are represented as
follows: Groceries and notions, R. H. Wolfe, L. H. Starbrook, G. L. Gerard & Son; dry
goods, Thomas Donaldson, D. W,. Carpenter; hardware, L. H. Starbrook, G. L. Gerard &
Son; undertaking, D W. Carpenter, R. A. Bowermaster; blacksmithing, I. C. Stewart &
Co.; carriage arid wagon making, Johnson & Bentley; drugs, A. F. Plummer; saw-mills,
Hussey & White, C. M. Wilson; dressmaking and hairdressing, Mrs. M. E. Burr, Mrs. N.
Stewart; physicians, F. W. Rose, J. M. Hussey; attorneys, C. S. Perkins, T. P. Browder.
SCHOOLS.
In early days but
little interest was taken in educational matters. During the pleasant summer months, all
children of requisite age and strength engaged with their parents in preparing the lands
for agricultural purposes. In the winter season, about three months were devoted to the
education of the youth in the neighborhood. The first school was established at what is
now known as Bowersville, in a little log cabin with a huge fire-place, puncheon floors,
and greased-paper windows, .just opposite the present residence of Nicholas Bowermaster,
in the center of the present road; which was built in 1813, or 1814. John Mickle, a man of
more than ordinary ability, was the first teacher. The text-books consisted of Webster's
English Reader and Webster's Spelling Book. Mickle taught several winters, and was
followed by Christopher Stewart. Some years after, the old cabin was abandoned, and a new
building erected on the site of the Wilson saw-mill yard. David Reese was one of the first
teachers of this ancient institution of learning.
A few years after the establishment of the Mickle school, another log was
erected at Gunnerville, and Thomas Landers was appointed principal. He was a Methodist
exhorter, and divided his time equally between his chosen professions. In 1821, Evan
Harris took charge of the school, and continued until 1824, when he received the
appointment of instructor of the school at Bowersville. Owing to the scarcity of money,
the township did not act under the provisions of the "Common School Law" until
several years after it went into effect. In the year 1860 there were six sub-districts, on
perhaps three of which were good buildings. In 1864 the following levy was made for the
maintenance of the Schools:
Building fund,...........................$800
Contingent fund .......................$225
Teachers fund..........................$120
In the same year the necessary arrangements were made for the proper tuition
of the colored youth.. An additional district, consisting of portions of District No. 3
and District No. 1, of Caesar's Creek Township, was formed in 1866-7. Another district was
erected in 1875, and $1,400 appropriated, for the purchase of a site and erection of a
school house' in said district. . A joint district, which included' a portion of Jasper
Township, was formed in 1876, and in 1879 the board contracted with John W. Johnson for
the erection of a house in this district, at a cost of $950.
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