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New
Vernon Township was originally a part of Sandy Creek. But the
latter was so large and unwieldy that great trouble was had in
collecting taxes over such an extensive area, and also in establishing
voting places at points accessible to persons living in all portions of
the township. These difficulties, it was thought, would be greatly
lessened by a separation from the parent organization and the formation
of a new and smaller one. Accordingly on the 18th of December, 1850, a
number of petitions were handed in to the Court praying for the
appointment of a board of commissioners to view the territory in
question, lay out boundaries for the establishment of three new
townships, and report upon the general practicability of the scheme. In
accordance with these prayers, the Court appointed Joseph
Kerr, Francis Beatty and James A. Leech.
The latter looked over the ground, decided that a division of the old
township into four equal parts would be expedient, and reported
accordingly, April 7, 1851. This report was confirmed June 23 and the
four new townships were named, respectively Deer Creek, New Vernon,
Mineral (now Perry), and the fourth retaining the original title, Sandy
Creek. Of these four New Vernon was the southeastern division. Its
surface is well diversified. The portion adjacent to Big Sandy Creek is
rather level, while in the south eastern part of the township many
sharply-marked hills spring up forming a bluff looking outline. The
principal interest in the region is agriculture. The soil is fertile,
and good crops are raised from it. The township is one of the best
drained in the county. The Little Shenango and the Big Sandy both flow
through it, and with their tributaries form a network of sluiceways
which carry off all the surplus water. Indeed, considered from an
agricultural point of view, New Vernon may fairly take front rank. The
history of the settlement of this township is intimately interwoven with
the narrative o the parent organization, Sandy Creek. The early settlers
were later in arriving in the southeastern part of the old division than
in some other portions of the county. But their arrival, even if late,
was fraught with beneficent results, both to themselves and to those who
came after them. The
Ten Milers. —This was the name of a colony which originally
came from New Jersey and settled in Washington County. Penn., some time
during the latter half of the last century, on what was known as Ten
Mile Run. These people sold out in Washington County in 1797 or 1798,
and removed to Mercer County, settling on the Big Sandy, not far from
the present village of New Vernon. The name “Ten Milers,” given to this settlement, was derived from the place left in Washington County. In the list of “Ten Milers” were Daniel Axtell, David Condit, Cyrus Riggs, John Holloway, Isaac Holloway, Ithiel Dodd, Stephen Riggs, Price Dilley and Ira Condit, the preacher. Lincoln Axtell, son of Daniel, built the first grist-mill in the neighborhood. These men were afterward elders in the Fairview Presbyterian Church at New Vernon. Mills.
- - In glancing at the industrial interests of New Vernon
Township, one is impressed with the fact that they are few in number and
unimportant in extent. Not unimportant, either, for nothing can be wholly
unimportant which is so intimately associated with the development of any
community from primitive wilderness to modern improvements. Yet, compared
with some of her sister townships, there is an evident discrepancy on the
side of the one at present under consideration. The most prominent, and
the only one that will be treated, was the saw-mill business. This, of
course, in later years, as forests are depleted and torn down, has
diminished. But a few years ago it comprised the most striking source of
the township’s wealth. The first steam mill was built in 1854, near the
village of New Vernon, by George Axtell. It
did a flourishing business. In 1868 a second one was erected in the
southwestern part of the township by the firm of McClure
& Boyd. In 1870 the third was located at a place about two
miles south of New Vernon village. Gill’s saw-mill and shingle-factory
was built in 1868, by L. J. Gill. It, like
the other enterprises named, did a rushing business for a number of years.
All contributed largely to the increase of New Vernon’s industrial
resources. At the
first election held after the division of the old township of Sandy Creek
the following officers were chosen: Justices of the peace, Archibald
Montgomery and David Lynn; constable. Henry
Hosack; judge of election, Huston Borland;
inspector, John Tuttle; assessor, David
Holloway; auditors, Daniel Holloway, R.
Forbes and David Bliss; school
directors, Lawrence Straight, David Lynn, David
Condit, Henry Boyd, Hugh Lackey and Samuel
Axtell; supervisors, Joseph Boyd, James
Hosack and John Tuttle; clerk, Elk
Holloway, and overseers, Hugh Henry
and Ithamar Tuttle. History of Mercer County, 1888, pages 561-562 |
Places
New Vernon Township