Elk Creek has its source in southern Preble County, meanders across northern Wayne Township and by the time it flows into Madison Township has become a large stream before joining the Great Miami River at Trenton. Its name came naturally, probably being first used by pioneer Robert McClellan. A native of Pennsylvania, he had served in the Indian Wars, settling in Hamilton, where his brother, William operated a tavern. Robert spent much of his time hunting. These trips took him into remote sections of the county, including the rough northeast, which would become Madison Township There he found a herd of elk, the largest members of the deer family. Since most of the elk had already disappeared, he made several excursions to the area around a creek where the Elk lived, giving it the name of Elk Creek. According to legend, he finally killed the last elk there, and brought its carcass and hide back to Hamilton for display and food. This was thought to have been the last elk killed in the county, occurring around 1798. Hearing the story, when historian James McBride of Hamilton drew the first map of the county in 1836, he put the name Elk Creek on the stream. It is the largest creek in the township draining its western section. Lying between the valley of Browns Run and that of Seven Mile Creek, both tributaries of the Great Miami River, Elk Creek itself has two major tributaries--Dry Run on the West and Flag Run on the East.

Seeing the potential water power, Bambo Harris, a black engineer, built from memory the first grist mill on Elk Creek in Section 18 about 2 miles above what became Miltonville. He ran it for over 50 years.

In "Miltonville's Story" is found the fascinating, documented account of the early engineer, Bambo Harris, who was an Ohio freeman, as slavery was never permitted in the state. The account reads: "Harris, a millwright, had the knowledge and skills to construct and operate a mill ... he did not wait for government assistance, he saw the need and set about putting his talents to work ... he selected a favorable site on Elk Creek, dug a millrace a quarter of a mile in length curving from the cast bank, and built a water-powered grist mill."

Harris had first been a squatter on the land, but then claimed the land on which the mill stood, arranging for its purchase. Some 42 acres were obtained in southeast quarter of Section 18 of Madison Township in 1808 from William Baldwin who had secured the whole section. According to records, Harris also built a second mill, probably a saw mill. The site of the Harris mill is shown on the 1836 Butler County Map made by McBride. Harris's mills were the first in Madison Township, and Harris is credited with being the first African -American to settle in the township.

A grist mill was the most needed facility in pioneer days. It would grind either corn or wheat. depending on the millstone used. The next most needed was a saw mill. Before the grist mill was erected, pioneers would have to depend on hand mills, and they were few and far between.

Harris's mill was badly needed for before that pioneers had to travel to the mouth of the Little Miami River to get flour and corn meal from the Round Bottom mill there.

The Harris mill outlasted most of the others for its builder had chosen the best site. Harris was also an excellent businessman. A short time later Joel Martin built a saw mill south of the Harris mill. In 1844 Henry A. Bennett of Miltonville purchased and remodeled this mill.
Morrison built a mill in Section 19 north of Miltonville and there was another mill north of it built by Jacob Snyder. the Snyder mill at one time manufactured more flour than any other one along Elk Creek, some of it was flat boated down the stream to the Great Miami and the Ohio to New Orleans.

In 1815 George Bennett, a New Jersey millwright, built and operated a grist and saw mill in the center of the village of Miltonville. After his death in 1847 the mill continued to operate under new ownership.

George Dickey had a woolen mill along Elk creek, as well as one for processing flax, pressing out the oil to be shipped to New Orleans. John Weaver operated a distillery along the Creek. Near the mouth of Elk Creek stood the Gunckel mill, built around 18 10 of hewn logs, with a saw mill attached. Other mills were operated by a Morkhart and Jacob Steiner.

Steiner operated a woolen factory along the stream. It was a busy place until the Civil War, when Steiner moved to Tennessee. John Weaver had a distillery, shipping his product out in barrels. On upper Elk Creek, Jacob Snyder's mill shipped thousands of barrels of flour to the New Orleans market.

Being near the bridge over the creek and the pioneer settlement of Bloomfield (Trenton) the Gunckel mill prospered for many years. The Franklin -Trenton Road at that time instead of turning into Howe Road, continued southward to Trenton.

Along the creek lived families with such names as Leslie, Mundanely, Gifford, Oglesby, Rezin, Schenck, Steiner, Smith, Rush, Kelley, Long, Breford, Kennel, Walters, Hirsh, Snider and Kemp.

For about 75 years Elk Creek was a center for small factory units, with the water furnishing the power. Then the water in the stream began to fluctuate greatly, a rain brought a torrent. With the forest cover gone, so was that even flow of the stream that had turned the water wheels through much of the year. More and more those powerless wheels stood idle as one by one the mills were abandoned. The farmers turned to the big grist mill along Middletown's Hydraulic.

The beginning of a neighborhood center was seen at the point where the turnpike, now Route 122. crossed the bridge. A school, church, burial ground, and tavern, a short distance cast, formed a nucleus. Just north of the bridge on the Walter farm using the same mill site and water wheel, was a saw mill and a woolen mill. Mrs. Eleanor Walter of Hursh Road has a blanket woven there carrying the date 1850.

The first structure to be erected at Elk Creek was that of a log schoolhouse, housing in one room the first eight grades. In 1855 the log building was replaced with a brick one, which burned in 1871. After holding classes in the nearby church for a few years, in 1875 a new building was erected, known as District #5. It burned in 1906 but was replaced in 1907. In 1935 it was closed due to consolidation. It still is standing today.

Even before the school opened a burying ground was needed. In 1800 the first body was
interred, which was that of a 6-year old boy named Millener. The first name is gone from the
simple limestone marker taken from the creek, having weathered away. Eventually with the
organization of a church at the crest of the hill, the congregation took over the care and
management of the cemetery, giving it the name Zion Church Cemetery. as recorded on deeds for plats.
Adjoining Elk Creek Cemetery on the south is an old house, which according to legend was once a stage coach stop and tavern, where passengers on the Cincinnati, Hamilton, Eaton and Richmond line once rested and stopped for refreshments even before the Madison House opened in 1846, and the coming of the railroad to West Middletown.

In the early 1900's Edward Lehler and his wife lived in the old house. Around 1920 it was purchased by Flora Selby, a widow, who reared her large family there. The family included eight girls and a son, Sam Selby, who played for Ohio State on the football field, and later became a coach, and is now remembered by being in the Butler County's Sports Hall of Fame. One of the girls, Alice Selby Walker built a house across the road and a sister lived in the old house. It wasn't until around 1990 that the Selbys left.

The subject of taverns brings up that of an earlier one, perhaps the first in Madison Township. It was south of West Middletown overlooking the Old Franklin -Trenton Road as it crossed Elk Creek at the Gunkel's mill bridge. It was located about half way up the hill. Here is an often told folk-tale concerning it: An eccentric old man and his wife lived in the rooms above the tavern in the ancient log building. They saved their money and were presumed to have grown wealthy. Their money was rumored to have been hidden somewhere around the tavern. Then the old woman died.

Two strangers appeared at the tavern, pretending to be relatives of the departed. They were soon running the tavern. When the old man disappeared customers were told he had gone back to Maine to spend his last years with relatives. The strangers then sold the tavern and left. The bridge washed out and the tavern was deserted. The area was soon covered by trees and briars, and it was said during a dark night strange noises came from the old tavern.

Finally after many decades a new owner came to the land and tore down the old log structure. In a section of the cellar which had been sealed off they found a skeleton, an iron bar and rusty chain with handcuffs. A well-worn path revealed the tragic death of an old man buried alive in a dungeon, all concealed by the false wall. The bones were put in a simple pine box and laid to rest in a nearby cemetery. It was only then that the wails and screams which once had echoed up the valley, ceased.

Here is a similar tale often told around Elk Creek:

There was an old house and nearby was a big shed, which stood at the top of the hill just off' Gratis Pike (122). Here was located the first coffin factory in this area. Thomas Wilson, whose business he began is now in Middletown, operated the factory and arranged the funerals in the 1830's along with a partner, Charles Miller.

The old house still stands, and some say it is haunted.

William H. Venable, noted historian and writer, recalled attending the schoolhouse which used to stand by the graveyard and hearing these stories. Some said they saw spooks about the place, and others declared the ghosts were surrounded by lights and would rise in the air from the old coffin factory, flying to the old graveyard to the west.

Before the outbreak of the Civil War, Madison Township citizens had been very divided on the subject of state's right. While few actually supported slavery, many contended that it was a question best left to the decision of each state. Ohio never permitted slavery. There were Abolitionists in Madison who assisted in aiding escaping fugitives through what was known as the Underground Railroad. It is believed that the setting of the following incident occurred
somewhere in the Elk Creek area.

Middletown was along one branch of the old underground railroad, which had a major station at West Elkton. But this organized route of escape for black slaves was neither underground nor a railroad.

In this story, an exception to the rule, the "station" was indeed underground. Hidden in the yellowed files of an old local newspaper of 1892 is the narrative of an elderly resident describing an old cave near Middletown, which he wrote was not over six miles from the downtown corner of Main and Central Avenue. His farm homestead had been adjacent to the cave. The narrator's grandfather, one of the area's pioneers, had discovered it. He noted that some mysterious, poisonous gas filled its inner chamber and therefore concealed its opening to keep anyone from entering it.

While the family tried to keep this death-trap a secret, others had heard rumors of the underground cave, and a few knew its approximate location. Among these were an Abolitionist who lived at Hamilton, a prominent doctor dedicated to helping. free slaves by assisting in the underground railroad. The narrator's family, being of Quaker background, also believed and supported the cause.

One night in 1849 a knock came at the back door of the farmhouse. The narrator of the story and his parents were in the parlor reading. His father was alerted when he heard four slow and distinct raps at the back door---a signal used by the underground railroad "conductors." Not wishing to involve his son, he asked him to remain in the parlor, but he and his wife went to answer the kitchen door. All lamps were extinguished. The youth quietly walked over to the closed door between the rooms, climbed up on a chair to look through the transom. he watched and listened.

He recognized the Hamilton physician and "conductor" on the Butler County section of the underground railroad. The doctor revealed that he had brought two wagon loads of slaves up the highway hoping to get them to West Elkton, but discovered they were being followed by bounty hunters. He told the farmer he had taken the liberty of hiding them in the secret cave adjacent to his farm. Upon hearing of this, the farmer warned that he knew the cave to be a tomb of death, filled with a poisonous gas (probably methane.) He feared that none of the 21 would ever emerge alive.

Being very disturbed by the warning, the doctor decided to go back to the cave, after a few hours' rest. It then being well past midnight, the doctor slept until about 4 a.m., then was on his way. He was accompanied by the farmer's son, the farmer being Ill and the son volunteering to go. Both were careful not be observed.

They stood before the hidden entrance, nervous, apprehensive. The doctor fell to his knees in prayer. He took a few steps into the cave, and began to call. Getting no response, he tied a handkerchief around his face to prevent the inhalation of any gases, instructing the youth to stand guard at the entrance.

After some moments that seemed like hours, the doctor returned, his hands pressing the sides of his head. he fell in a stupor, and was at once revived by the fresh air. He then cried, "We are in the midst of death! They are all dead ... I saw them, counted them --- 21 ---all dead." The doctor then said he must return to Hamilton with the bad news, but warned his friend never to enter the cave, nor to allow others to enter it, asking that he replace the ground so as
to conceal it from the sight of man. He told the youth to tell his father at home that his predictions were right, and that the doctor took full responsibility for the fate of the men. The doctor stated, "I alone am to blame and no one can share any of it. It was God's will they should die rather than be recaptured and taken back into slavery. At least they are buried in free land, and their graves on free soil."

To this day that cave remains hidden from the sight of man, and the tragic story long forgotten.

The Elk Creek Valley as it was at the beginning of this century remembered by Marguerite Marts Getz, in a book preserved by the family. As a member of the sixth generation of her family in the area, she recalled growing up amid numerous relatives who farmed the valley, writing, "All these old families had a very close bond, and they shared good times, visiting and working together. They also shared their troubles. As young Marguerite Marts she enrolled in Elk Creek School. It was a one-room school that overlooked the creek itself. By her time the old German Reformed Lutheran Church that stood above Elk Creek Cemetery originally known as Zion Cemetery, had closed, and she and her class mates often went up to it to play church.

The Elk Creek neighborhood had its characters, and Mrs. Getz writes of some of them. There was the old man who frequently hitched up his horse, jumped in the old spring wagon and took off for a Middletown saloon. After much celebrating, the local saloon keeper had to guide his inebriated customer back to his wagon, laying him down on the wagon bed. The bartender then led the horse to the river bridge and from there the horse knew the way home. People along the Pike (122) became accustomed to seeing a spring wagon bouncing along without a driver.

There were the Riners with a very smart dog --- Dash --- who would meet Edgar Stubbs, the longtime postman at his hack. Stubbs would put letters wrapped in a newspaper, which Dash would pick up and deliver to his master. When Stella and Frank Riner bought eye glasses, neighbors suggested a pair for Dash.

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