Morrow, Salem Twp from Beers History of Warren County, Ohio
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The History of Warren County, Ohio

Morrow

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Transcription contributed by Martie Callihan 13 April 2005

Sources:

The History of Warren County Ohio
Part IV Township Histories
Salem Township by J. J. Mounts, M. D.
(Chicago, IL: W. H. Beers Co, 1882; reprint, Mt. Vernon, IN: Windmill Publications, 1992)


Page
668

Morrow was laid out in August, 1844, by William H. Clement, George Keck, and Clark Williams, who were engaged in building the railroad that was completed to Morrow in that year. The plat contained forty-nine lots, and was recorded in January, 1845, when the town received its present name, in honor of Governor Morrow. The site on which the town was built was, in 1843, a farm owned by James Miranda, whose house stood opposite the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was torn down in 1881 to make room for the residence of Joseph Ludlum. The house was built in 1805, and was an elegant structure for its time. The Shawhan property, at the lower end of the village, belonged to Amos Shawhan, and was for many years a tavern. The founders of the village laid out five additional lots in 1845. They also platted additions in 1847-8-9. Septimus Hazen's addition of thirty-seven lots was made in 1852. Since then the following additions have been made: W. T. Whittacre's addition of 20 lots in East Morrow, 1861; J. W. Thompson, 28 lots, 1865; J. W. Thompson, 80 lots, 1869; B. A. Staley, 11 lots, 1866; S. Smith, 24 lots, 1870; J. B. Clement, 36 lots, 1874. These additions fairly indicate the steady growth of the village, which now has a population of 946. Its growth has been substantial, and many elegant residences deck the suburbs and crown the hills that surround the village. The names that appeared most prominently in the early business enterprises of the village were: Alfred Watts, David A. Saunders, W. H. Clement, S. Hazen, O. P. Moore, J. C. Dynes, L. Fairchild, H. Hopkins, and J. S. Couden.

The first building erected in the town was the old warehouse just east of the present depot. It was used as a freight depot, warehouse and general store, under the direction of Alfred Watts.

Prior to the construction of the Marietta and C. & M. V. R. R.'s, Morrow was a point from which large quantities of grain were shipped. The town was then the terminus of a stage line from Lancaster, via Circleville, Washington Court House, and Wilmington.

The second building erected in the town was the Morrow House, built in 1844. After this merchants and mechanics from the neighboring villages moved their business here; a new impetus was given to business; farm lands almost doubled in value. Money was plenty, and, for the first time in this section, became the ordinary medium of trade and exchange—a system of barter and exchange of commodities, with a large basis of credit, common to the early settlers, having prevailed previous to this time. Educational interest, previously sadly neglected, was encouraged, and almost a new civilization was brought about.

There is in the village a fine public hall, the first story being used for business rooms, the second for the public hall, and the third story for two fine halls occupied by the Odd Fellows and Masonic bodies, each having a membership of over fifty, and the Masons a Chapter membership of about fifty.

The present churches are good, substantial edifices, and the societies are in a flourishing condition.

The first public school taught in Morrow was in an old brick building which was also used for religious services. It was built on a lot donated by the founders of the town for church and school purposes. The school at this time consisted of but one room presided over by a Mr. Reed. In 1849 John Starkey became the teacher. The school at this time numbered about 100 pupils, and was considered unusually

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prosperous. James B. Irwin took charge of the school in 1853. He was very highly spoken of, and indeed did a pioneer work in the schools of the village. He inaugurated a series of meetings similar to a teachers' institute, which was attended by teachers from the various parts of the county. During his term of service the school was divided into two rooms, the primary department being assigned to Miss M. B. Hart, now Mrs. Dr. Couden. Dr. W. A. Johnson became the principal in 1856. In 1860 the present school building was erected; three years later W. P. Harford took charge of the schools. He was succeeded by A. Dwinell in 1866. Since then the following is a list of the principals, with the dates of their service: John C. Ridge, July, 1867; John C. Kinney, October, 1867; H. Breckenridge, 1870; A. W. Cunningham, 1871; E. J. Godfrey, 1874; T. J. Wyscarver, 1875; E. B. Cartmell, 1877; Addison Ludlum, the present incumbent, 1880. In 1881 a complete course of high school study was adopted, and at the close of that year the following five scholars, Millie Holzlin, Tutonia Opes, Ada Cadwallader, George Smith, and Hattie Reece, constituted the first class to graduate from the High School. During this year the school purchased a library and a complete set of philosophical and chemical apparatus. The school now consists of six departments, with an enrollment of over 300 pupils, of whom forty are in the High School.

On the range of hills south of the village are the homes of William H. Clement, E. F. Fuller, E. W. Woodward, Samuel Woodward, Marshall Mounts, Mrs. J. R. Kibby and A. W. Cadwallader. Some of these men are identified with the management or construction of several railroads, and were pioneers in these enterprises. On the hills east are the homes of W. T. Whitacre and J. L. Wilson.

Col. Thomas Worthington has long lived the life of a recluse on the west side of the Little Miami, in this township. He is a son of Gov. Thomas Worthington, graduated at West Point in 1827, and served in the Mexican War. In 1861 he published a work on military tactics. Early in the civil war he raised a company, and was afterwards commissioned Colonel of the 46th Ohio. At the battle of Shiloh he commanded this regiment. Col. Worthington has published a history of the battle of Shiloh, and many pamphlets in which he claims that his regiment was, without notice, transferred from the center to the extreme right of the Union line, far detached from the main army; that its right being suddenly threatened, the 46th, by a prompt change of front, attacked and repelled a superior flanking force, till ordered back about 2 P. M., April 6, thus holding the extreme right of the line long enough to make advancing aid available; that this regiment, being a part of Gen. Sherman's division, that officer obtained credit for this service, to which has been imputed the rescue of the Union army from imminent destruction, and to this service is due Gen. Sherman's past promotion and present position. A few months after the battle of Shiloh, Col. Worthington was tried by a court martial on several charges, one of which was the publication of extracts from his diary, containing false and libelous matter, designed to injure his superior officers, Col. McDowell, Gen. Grant and Gen. Sherman. The result of the trial was his dismissal from the service; but the sentence of the court was afterwards declared null and void by the Judge Advocate General, and he received an honorable discharge from the service. In many pamphlets published by Col. Worthington, he has charged Gen. Grant and Gen. Sherman with falsehood, negligence and mismanagement. Being in reduced circumstances, Congress, recently, notwithstanding his repeated attacks on men who stood high in the confidence of the nation, passed a special act granting him a pension.


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