Somers Township

Somers Township.—This is the south township in the Second Range, and is also 6 miles square. It was organized in 1807, and named after Commodore Somers, of the United States navy. The land in this township presents a great variety of soil, and is well adapted to many branches of agricultural pursuits. In its native state it presented many localities of special invitation to pioneer settlers. Along Seven Mile creek the rich bottom land skirted the stream, and the wild pea vine clustered from shrub to shrub and afforded a luxuriant pasture. These rich bottoms first invited the pioneer settlers to pitch their tents along the margin of the stream, preparatory to building their log cabins as more permanent homes. Under these surroundings, the site where Camden now stands was then an inviting locality to the settlers; and consequently one of the earliest settlements in that part of the county was made at this point, by the Pottingers, Hendricks, Moores, Alreds, Stackhouses and the Lunsfords. The lands were then beautiful, and in their native state afforded a splendid range, and are now under good cultivation. Seven Mile creek meanders through the township from north to south, and took its name from a similar incident which conformed the name of Four Mile creek. It was originally called St. Clair creek, after Gen. St. Clair, who, on his march to the disastrous battle field at Fort Recovery, in 1791, passed up the creek a short distance west of the county seat. When Gen. Wayne in 1793 marched into the Indian country, he crossed this stream on his line of march, seven miles north of Fort Hamilton, and so named the creek on the military map. Thus the name St. Clair became obsolete and Seven Mile creek passed into history; and so it will remain, perhaps, forever. The principal tributaries which empty into Seven Mile within the township are Paint creek and Beasley's Branch. The origin of the name Paint creek is lost in obscurity; but Beasley's Branch, derived its name from an old pioneer of that name, who settled on it at an early date. Several mills within the township are to be found on Seven Mile. Among the most prominent of these, are David Barnet's and Barnets & Whiteside's—the one north of Camden about two miles, the other a short distance southeast of the town. These mills do a large business, and have contributed greatly to build up and develop the township. Camden is the local center of business, and is a flourishing country town, with fine church and educational advantages. The town was originally called Dover, and afterwards its name was changed by the Legislature to that of Newcomb, and subsequently to that of Camden, after a town in New Jersey. Originally the town was considered to be a hard place for horse racing, drinking whisky and fighting; but of late years the morals and customs of the people in this and many other respects, have greatly changed, until now it is one of the most sober and moral towns in the county. Surrounded by a rich and well settled country, Camden is a town of considerable local trade and business. The Christian denomination of people were once largely in the majority in that township; Bank Spring Meeting House was then a point of great popular resort. These were during the days of Purviance, Worhley, Kincaid, Shideler and Robbins. But those old pioneer preachers have passed away, and the house is gone, and that locality no longer a place of worship. The Methodists, Universalists, Presbyterians and Free Thinkers have mostly taken the place of the early Christians, or New Lights, as they were popularly called.

Col. George D. Hendricks was born in Somers Township, where Camden now stands, and was the first white male child born in the county. His father, David E. Hendricks, was an early pioneer settler and a dragoon, or ranger, in Gen. Wayne's army. He came west with Gen. McMahon, in 1788, and was one of the early settlers of the West. His was a true type of pioneer life, and he seems to have transmitted to his surviving son somewhat of the spirit of wild adventure, who even now feels the customs and habits of what is called civilized life to bear hard upon him.

The Cincinnati and Chicago Railway runs through the township of Somers, in the Seven Mile Valley, and bounds Camden on the east, which renders the town a fine shipping point. There are many fine farms and residences in the township.


				*Preble County, Ohio Genealogy Trails* *Somers Township*



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		Somers Township.—This is the south township in the Second Range, and is also 6 miles square. It was organized in 1807, and named after Commodore Somers, of the United States navy. The land in this township presents a great variety of soil, and is well adapted to many branches of agricultural pursuits. In its native state it presented many localities of special invitation to pioneer settlers. Along Seven Mile creek the rich bottom land skirted the stream, and the wild pea vine clustered from shrub to shrub and afforded a luxuriant pasture. These rich bottoms first invited the pioneer settlers to pitch their tents along the margin of the stream, preparatory to building their log cabins as more permanent homes. Under these surroundings, the site where Camden now stands was then an inviting locality to the settlers; and consequently one of the earliest settlements in that part of the county was made at this point, by the Pottingers, Hendricks, Moores, Alreds, Stackhouses and the Lunsfords. The lands were then beautiful, and in their native state afforded a splendid range, and are now under good cultivation. Seven Mile creek meanders through the township from north to south, and took its name from a similar incident which conformed the name of Four Mile creek. It was originally called St. Clair creek, after Gen. St. Clair, who, on his march to the disastrous battle field at Fort Recovery, in 1791, passed up the creek a short distance west of the county seat. When Gen. Wayne in 1793 marched into the Indian country, he crossed this stream on his line of march, seven miles north of Fort Hamilton, and so named the creek on the military map. Thus the name St. Clair became obsolete and Seven Mile creek passed into history; and so it will remain, perhaps, forever. The principal tributaries which empty into Seven Mile within the township are Paint creek and Beasley's Branch. The origin of the name Paint creek is lost in obscurity; but Beasley's Branch, derived its name from an old pioneer of that name, who settled on it at an early date. Several mills within the township are to be found on Seven Mile. Among the most prominent of these, are David Barnet's and Barnets & Whiteside's—the one north of Camden about two miles, the other a short distance southeast of the town. These mills do a large business, and have contributed greatly to build up and develop the township. Camden is the local center of business, and is a flourishing country town, with fine church and educational advantages. The town was originally called Dover, and afterwards its name was changed by the Legislature to that of Newcomb, and subsequently to that of Camden, after a town in New Jersey. Originally the town was considered to be a hard place for horse racing, drinking whisky and fighting; but of late years the morals and customs of the people in this and many other respects, have greatly changed, until now it is one of the most sober and moral towns in the county. Surrounded by a rich and well settled country, Camden is a town of considerable local trade and business. The Christian denomination of people were once largely in the majority in that township; Bank Spring Meeting House was then a point of great popular resort. These were during the days of Purviance, Worhley, Kincaid, Shideler and Robbins. But those old pioneer preachers have passed away, and the house is gone, and that locality no longer a place of worship. The Methodists, Universalists, Presbyterians and Free Thinkers have mostly taken the place of the early Christians, or New Lights, as they were popularly called. Col. George D. Hendricks was born in Somers Township, where Camden now stands, and was the first white male child born in the county. His father, David E. Hendricks, was an early pioneer settler and a dragoon, or ranger, in Gen. Wayne's army. He came west with Gen. McMahon, in 1788, and was one of the early settlers of the West. His was a true type of pioneer life, and he seems to have transmitted to his surviving son somewhat of the spirit of wild adventure, who even now feels the customs and habits of what is called civilized life to bear hard upon him. The Cincinnati and Chicago Railway runs through the township of Somers, in the Seven Mile Valley, and bounds Camden on the east, which renders the town a fine shipping point. There are many fine farms and residences in the township.
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