History of
Silvercreek Township

Silvercreek occupies the center of the extreme western portion of the county, and is bounded on the north by Ross Township, on the east by Fayette County, on the south by Jefferson, and on the west by New Jasper Township. The southern boundary is irregular in form, the corners protruding, respectively, about one-half mile, and one mile further south; an extension of about one mile is also added to the eastern portion of the southeast corner. The township is about six miles long, from east to west, and about four miles wide. The surface is generally level, with a slight elevation in the southwestern portion. Sufficient drainage is afforded by several branches of Caesar’s Creek, which have their origin in close proximity to the northern boundary, and flow diagonally through the township. Travel is facilitated by the Dayton and Southeastern Railroad, which crosses the township from east to west. Xenia, Washington and Cedarville Pikes, and their numerous branches, furnish ample means of egress and ingress in every direction. Originally, the township was nearly all timber, oak predominating. With the rapid strides of civilization, almost every trace of the forests has disappeared, and in their stead innumerable acres of corn, potatoes, and grain have appeared, as if by magic. The land was included in the Military District, and purchased generally of agents. One Galloway was the original owner of the largest portion of the township. So-called congress land was purchased at two dollars per acre, and, in order to compete successfully with congress land offices, the agents representing military grants disposed of their land at the same figure. After the memorable war of 1812, when money was scarce and buyers few, the price of land was reduced to $1.25 per acre. The fertility of the soil was, undoubtedly, the chief inducement to settlers. During the wet season, the eastern part was pretty generally covered with water. A superior system of drainage, however, has caused it to be the most productive tract of land in the township.

The first persons to make a home here was Martin Mendenhall, Thomas Moorman, Noah Strong, and Thomas Browder, who came in 1806, from Virginia and North Carolina. From These states came most of the early settlers. Mendenhall settled on the south side of what is now known as Jamestown, on a tract of about one hundred and fifty acres. The northern half of the town was owned by Thomas Browder. On the Maysville and Urbana road, one half mile east of Jamestown, Noah Strong settled in 1807, with eight children. Strong was a native of Vermont, and left his native land about 1804-5. They lived at Cincinnati one year, then located at Cedarville; after living there a short time, they removed to the present farm of his grandson.

In 1811, Mr. Strong built a log house, one and one-half-story high, which has since been weather-boarded, and is still in a state of preservation, being now used as a barn. Its present owner informed the writer that, without any exception, this is the oldest building in the township, and declares that it shall stand until succumbing to the ravages of time. Grandfather Noah Strong, purchased his tract of land-one hundred acres, of one George Reeder. We were shown the original deed for the same, dated 1798. There seems to be conflicting opinions as to the date of the actual settlement of Strong. The land was purchased, in 1798, and yet, Mr. Sylvester Strong, a man of excellent memory, and whose veracity is unquestionable, has stated that his grandfather (Noah Strong) did not settle in this township until 1807. Purchasing lands some time before settling on them, however, was not an unusual occurrence in those days, and it is quite probable that Strong received a deed for his lands some years prior to his occupancy of the same; this will account for the hiatus between the purchase and settlement of the land. That Strong was not only open of the first settlers, but the first settler in his portion of the township is an undeniable fact.

Harkness Turner, settled on what was then known as the George Posey survey. In the year 1807, John Campbell settled where Todd Sheley now resides. A little later, we note the arrival of Isaac Gutten, who located two miles south of Jamestown. John Sheley and family, who were friends and near neighbors of George Washington, came here from Virginia, in 1807, and settled on land one-half mile south of town. His descendants are yet living in this vicinity. Mr. Sheley and his wife, besides possessing amiable dispositions, undoubtedly were favored with strong constitutions, we are informed that they lived to the ripe old age of nearly one hundred years.

Charles F. Moorman, a descendant of the Moorman’s who came from Ireland to America, in about the year 1690, was born in Campbell County, Virginia, June 25, 1795. On his birthday, at the age of twelve years, in the year 1807, he, with his parents, started to move to the State of Ohio. Having relatives in Highland County, they stopped with them awhile, five miles south of Leesburg, where they raised one crop. From thence they moved to this county, and settled one mile east of Jamestown, in the Spring of 1809. In his seventeenth year he was converted to the Christian religion; and in his twenty-first year, November 5, 1816, he was married to Matilda Watson, youngest daughter of John Watson Esq., by whom he had thirteen children, eight sons and five daughters; two died in infancy, and eleven were raised to man and womanhood, seven boys and four girls; all living, except the oldest daughter, who died in her twenty-fourth year. Matilda, his wife, died December 31, 1870, aged seventy-four years, four months and seven days.

In moving from Highland to this county, they had to clear a road for the wagons to pass. Part of the way there was no wagon road, only an Indian Trail or path, along which a single person or horse only could walk through the dense forest. Before leaving Highland County, preparatory to moving, they had cleared a few acres of ground and built a cabin, which was twenty feet square and one story high.

In the year 1816, the subject of this sketch, hewed the logs that built a story and a half house, adjoining the first one on the north side. This cabin is now standing on the southwest corner of Church and Railroad streets, opposite the depot, in Jamestown; bought of Charles T. Moorman, sr., by Volen Stephens, and put up where it now stands. It is sixty-six years old.

Thomas Moorman, sr., settled on a tract of land which he bought of Colonel Wats, one thousand acres, being part of an original survey, which was granted by the government of the United States to him for service in the Revolutionary War. Wats Made Thomas Moorman agent, to sell land in this county, giving him the privilege of using the money at six per cent. In the course of a few years the colonel died, and a general settlement had to be made; and as he was not successful in his land speculation, he was not able to pay his debts without selling all the lad he owned. The last sixty acres had to sold, and Charles F. Moorman, sr., bought it at a high price, twelve dollars per acre, in order to secure a home for himself and family, and for his now aged parents. Thus his early manhood was severely taxed by assuming a debt of over seven hundred dollars, at six per cent. per annum, with little or nothing to commence life with. By a strenuous effort, he placed himself on a firm basis; spending the remainder of his life in peace and comfort. He died the 30th of September, being eighty-five years, three months and five days old. His descendents are living in this and the surrounding counties.