New Vernon Township in 1888
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. (Source: History of Mercer County, 1888, pages 561-562)
New Vernon Township in 1909
In
the territory now comprised in New Vernon was the well known pioneer
community of “Ten Milers,” which was remarkable in several ways. They
were a group of settlers who had come from the valley of the stream
called Ten Mile Run in Washington county. Hence their name. Their
settlement in Mercer county was made about 1798. They were a company of
Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, and were backbone of the Fairview
Presbyterian church, which was organized in 1799 and was so far as can
be learned the first church of the county. At a later date the Ten
Milers showed themselves ardent advocates of free schools, and in
education, religion and the best characteristics of good citizenship
always acquitted themselves in a way to make their record memorable in
pioneer history.
The principal members of this pioneer group
were Daniel Axtell, David and Ira Condit, Ithiel Dodd, John and Isaac
Holloway, Cyrus and Stephen Riggs, and Price Dilley. The family names
are still current and in good repute, borne by various descendants. The
church which was founded by these settlers became a central point in
that vicinity and was called Middleton and later took the name New
Vernon. Here was established a postoffice with the title of Sandy Creek
in July, 1837, being changed to New Vernon in 1851, a name it retained
until the office was discontinued several years since. John M.
Montgomery was the first postmaster.
A grist mill
built by Lincoln Axtell, son of Daniel, was the first industrial
enterprise of the township. The milling business has declined in recent
years, but New Vernon is still a fine agricultural community. (Source: Twentieth
Century History of Mercer County, 1909, pages 163 - 164)
| New Vernon Cemeteries |
New Vernon Census Records |
New Vernon Towns & Villages |
Boyd Cemetery
Fairfield Church Cemetery
Jenkins Cemetery
Mount Hope Cemetery
| 1840 (was a part of Sandy Creek Twp.)
1850 (was a part of Sandy Creek Twp.)
1870 | Carpenter Corners
Middleton
New Vernon Village
Schofield Corners
|
|
| Transformation of New Vernon |
Formed in 1851
from Sandy Creek Township |
|
| New Vernon Twp. Churches |
- Fairfield Presbyterian Church
- Methodist Episcopal Church
- Mt. Hope Methodist Episcopal Church
- United Presbyterian Church |
|
|
