Berry, Phillips, Valentine
The first white settlement
in southern Shelby County, Ohio, (Orange Township) had been made by James Cannon but other early settlers to the area included John
Phillips/William Berry who arrived in the spring and Daniel Valentine in the fall of 1809.
William Berry (nationality
unknown) built the countys first frame house and also one of the first successful
flouring mills. Pioneers would travel 40 to
50 miles to reach the mill to grind their grain. He and Edward Jackson both constructed
block houses to serve as protection from the Indians.
Berry later served as one of the communitys first commissioners.
Born in New Jersey, Daniel
Valentines ancestors were English immigrants. He came to the area with his wife,
Rachel Winans, and their four children. In addition to running a farm, Daniel was a
shoemaker. It wasnt long before his shoemaking skills were in great demand
throughout the county.
Daniel
apprenticed one of his sons, Richard, at the age of 16 to a blacksmith named Alexander
Moreland. In 1828, Richard opened the first blacksmith shop within the township at the old
site of Berrys mill.
|
The
Old Blacksmith Shop |
'Pioneer' segment written in
October, 1997 by Sherrie Casad-Lodge
[ Back to Pioneer Index ] |