LAWRENCE COUNTY OHIO - History of Aid Township (published 1882, 1887) *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Maggie Stewart-Zimmerman July 14, 1999 *********************************************************************** From Atlas of Lawrence County, Ohio Hardesty 1882 From Atlas of Lawrence County, Ohio 1887 D.J. Lake & Company In 1800, the first cabin in Aid Township was built on John's Creek by Captain John, an Indian, and Andy Friend, a white man; squatters who made their living hunting and trapping. The first settlement was Marion, now known as Aid, in 1815. The name was changed due to the conflict with a larger and previously established Marion in northern Ohio. William (Uncle Billy) Stumbo laid out Marion (Aid) in 1840. The village of Arabia also lies partially in Aid Township. Aid Township was organized by Adam Haymaker in 1823. The first school, a log cabin without floors or windows, was located on the right-hand fork of Storms Creek. William Gillen was the first teacher. The first church, a mile north of Marion. was organized by Adam Dickey, a Methodist minister. The first marriage in the township took place in 1818 between John Vermillion and Elizabeth Coofston. One iron furnace was built in Aid Township at Oakridge. The stack is still standing; one of the best preserved stacks that remain in the Hanging Rock Iron Region of Ohio. Statistics concerning Aid Township: Principal creeks: Symmes, Sharp, Aaron's, John's Elkin's, and Paddle. Population: 1850 -- 884; 1880 -- 1530; 1960 -- 707; 1980 -- 867. Highest Point: McClure Farm, 1,051 feet. National Forest land -- 10,388 acres; 54 acres -- Soil Conservation plans. Aid has 22.48 miles of township roads throughout its 36 sections. 224 Civil War Veterans lived in Aid Township. Early Settlers are: CANNON, John CLARK, Cornelius DELAWTER, Lawrence NELSON, William PAYTON, Isaac PAYTON, Nathan PENTS, William RUSSELL, John SHARP, Richard WILLIS, Joshua Name Post Office Occupation Nativity Date of Settlement Ball, F.E. Arabia Vet. Surg. & Monroe County, OH 1865 Horse Trainer Bradshaw, Jas. Arabia Farmer Virginia 1842 Bradshaw, John Arabia Farmer Lawrence Co., OH 1849 Burton, J.B. Aid Farmer Cabell Co., WV 1841 Blankinship, B. Aid Farmer Lawrence Co., OH 1839 Crance, Theodore Aid Teacher Lawrence Co., OH 1861 Davison, R. Aid Merchant Lawrence Co., OH 1819 DePriest, C.W. Sherritts Farmer & Greenbrier Co., WV 1875 Teacher Griffith, S.D. Arabia Farmer Lawrence Co., OH 1854 Griffith, L.F. Arabia Farmer Lawrence Co., OH 1861 Jones, Samuel Aid Farmer Monroe Co., OH 1866 Lambert, W.C. Aid Farmer Lawrence Co., OH 1831 Lambert, B.M. Aid Farmer Lawrence Co., OH 1829 Meers, R.L. Aid Physician New Haven, CT ---- Neal, W.N. Aid Merchant Gallia Co., OH 1856 Robinson, Wm. Arabia Merchant England 1864 Russell, Geo. Aid Farmer & Twp. Lawrence Co., OH 1832 Treasurer Russell, Edward Aid Farmer Lawrence Co., OH 1852 Roush, Martin Aid Farmer West Virginia 1856 Simmerman, T.J. Arabia Carpenter & Gallia Co., OH 1872 Undertaker Simmons, P.W. Aid Farmer & Stock Lawrence Co., OH 1850 Dealer Wilson, Alpha Aid Farmer Virginia 1872 Yates, John Arabia Teacher Lawrence Co., OH 1858