Ripley Township Landowners - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Ripley Township is located in the SW part of the County and is bounded by Fountain Co, and Wayne, Union and Brown Townships in Montgomery Co, and contains about 30 square miles. The west and north lines are straight. It has but 3 boundary lines. Sugar Creek strikes it at the NE corner, and constitutes its boundary line from that to the SW corner; consequently it is a 3-cornered township. The two straight lines on its W. and N. are about equal. The line on its SE made by Sugar Creek, is irregular, in consequence of the crookedness of the creek. The soil of this township is mostly good, and is generally well adapted to grain raising. The S. part is quite broken and seems to be better adapted to grass and sheep raising than for grain, although, splendid wheat crops are sometimes harvested from this part of the township. The cause of the broken nature of the southern part is in consequence of the numerous little branches or creeks which find their heading in that section. Some of these branches flow So. and empty into Sugar Creek, while others flow westward into Mill Creek. This Mill Creek has some head waters form the NW part of the township also. In the northeastern part there are one or two little streams flowing SE and emptying into Sugar Creek. The No. portion of the township is more level, being in many places gently and agreeable undulating and is wonderfully adapted to the growth of all kinds of grain, and every sort of vegetable grown in the state. There is a variety of soil, scenery and situations in this little township, where any one on the hunt of a farm might find one to meet every fancy. Originally this township was heavily timbered with the very best of timber, and there still remains a sufficient supply for all needful purposes. The public roads are very good; in fact all the public property is in good repair. This township has no railroad at present; its nearest railroad point is at the NE corner near Yountsville. There are 3 post offices in the township, Yountsville; Alamo and Lane. The first of the 3 seems to be the principal place of business. The people of this township are up with other favored parts of the County in the way of learning and intelligence. They are generally friendly and sociable with strangers. This township can boast of the oldest man in the State; his name is George FRUITS; he now lives two mi. W. of Lane Post Office; he was b. in Maryland in 1763; and settled in Montgomery County in 1815; during the War of 1812 he served in Capt. Samuel Lee's Company under Col. Noble; he was one of the frontier guards, and was wounded at the battle of Blue Lick, in Ky, by a rifle ball in his leg, which he still carries. Mr. Fruits is 111 years old, and walks about the premises with considerable ease; his wife is still living, they have been marr. 65 years. Mrs. Fruits is 85 years old. Ripley Twp. has 8 school houses, generally in good repair and are valued at $3,500. Mr. J. A. CLARK is the present Township Trustee. The township voting population is about 300 with a small Democratic majority. Secret Organizations Alamo Lodge, IOOF [Independent Order of Odd Fellows] , No. 230 ; organized in 1861; membership, 50; John W. WILLIS, NG; J.H. GRIMES, Sec'y, value of property, $1,600. Alamo Lodge, F & AM No. 144; organized in 1852; membership 50; A.F. HENRY, WM; James S. BAYLESS, Sec'y; value of property $1,800. Alamo Grant No. 1419; membership 40; GW BOWERS, Master; AS CLODFELTER, Sec'y; James MYERS, Overseer; J.A. CLARK, Lectureer; JW DOWDEN, Chaplain. Farmer's Grange No. 811; membership 70; R.B. SNYDER, Master; MR SCOTT, Sec'y; Jesse PATTERSON, Overseer; Jacob KROUT, Chaplain. Ripley Grange No. 609; membership 60; Joseph McMAN, Master; George FRUITS,Maggie GILKY, Sec'y; M. FRUITS, Chaplain. Musical Alamo Cornet Band; Thomas HAM, leader; value of property, $500 Theological Alamo Presbyterian Church; membership 25; Rev. F.M. SIMS, pastor; value of property, $2000; Thomas ELMORE, superint. of Sabbath School; ave. attendance 40. M.E. Church, Alamo; membership 20; Rev. Lafayette BUCKLES, pastor; value of property $1200. ME Church, Yountsville; membership 55; Rev. Lafayette BUCKLES, pastor, assisted by Rev. C. MANKER; value of property, $1000; ave. attendance at Sabbath school, 50. Christian Church, at W. Union schoolhouse; membership 42; Rev. Lindsey McCOY, pastor; superint. of Sabbath school, Jacob KROUT, George K. FRUITS, sec. United Brethren Church, Alamo; membership 60; Rev. John NEWALL, pastor; value of property, $1000. It is claimed by the United Brethren that in the year 1872 they built a house of worship for every day in the year and two over; this would be 367 houses in one year. If all other denominations of different sorts of worship would do as well, we should soon have no scarcity of places where we might worship out Creator under a roof of human mechanism; we might, also, have within our reach houses where various manners, systems and customs are practiced, so that if we should feel disposed, in consequence of mental eruptions or personal insults, we could find a near resort, where our praises, thanks, blessing and cursings could be liberally dispensed, agreeably to our morbid feelings and tempers of mind toward our enemies. Variety satisfies every passion of man.

NAME -- OCCUPATION -- RESIDENCE - WHERE BORN -- WHEN BORN -- WHEN CAME TO MONTGOMERY COUNTY -- POLITIS -- RELIGION