Transcription contributed by Martie Callihan 2 March 2005

The History of Warren County Ohio
Part IV Township Histories
Hamilton Township by Horace Clinton
(Chicago, IL: W. H. Beers Co, 1882; reprint, Mt. Vernon, IN: Windmill Publications, 1992)

Page
621

Maineville, the only incorporated village in the township, is situated near its center. The first permanent settlers were from the State of Maine, and it dates back to the year 1815; but previous to that period, about 1802, one John Wilson cleared off quite a good-sized patch of ground near where Benjamin Tuft's house now stands. Wilson also, about the same time, cleared a small field just west of William Burton's house. In a short time, he abandoned these clearings and a dense growth of hickory and other forest trees grew up, and, by the time permanent settlers came, these clearings were almost an impenetrable thicket. The first house built in Maineville was a log one, and stood near where H. L. Clinton's residence is now located. It was built by a man named Carr. Carr was a blacksmith, and carried on his trade in this building. He gave his attention mostly to making axes. Carr's axes became quite famous throughout the settlement As we have already stated, the first permanent settlement was in 1815. In that year, Moses Dudley, with his family, moved from Maine and settled where Capt Whitten afterward lived. He owned some two hundred acres of land on the south side of the present pike. Dudley built the first frame house in the village. He died in 1842, and was buried in the cemetery east of the village.

Dr. John Cottle came from Maine in the year 1818, and settled where Mrs. Smitzer now lives. The Doctor was the first graduate of a medical college to practice in the township. Some idea of the extent of his practice may be gathered from the fact that at an early day his nearest competitor on the west was Dr. Noble, at Sycamore Creek, and on the north Dr. Montague, at Deerfield, and on the south none nearer than Goshen; while, on the east, he rode beyond Clarksville and Wilmington, and for a long time he kept an extra horse at Clarksville for use in that section. Cottle was not only a good physician, but a skillful surgeon. The writer remembers well, when a small boy, of the old Doctor and his son Lucius coming to his father's and removing, with the knife, a cancer from the breast of his mother. The operation was a complete success, as it never afterward gave her any trouble. Cottle built the first brick house in Maineville, and probably the first in the township. This was in 1821. The house still remains in good preservation, and is owned, and, as before stated, occupied by Mrs. Smitzer. In 1822, Elder Benjamin Tufts, with his family, moved from Maine, and settled where Benjamin Tufts now lives. These were but the forerunners of many other immigrants from that far-distant Eastern State. The village was for a long time called Yankeetown, but was afterward changed to Maineville. Among the early industries was a wagon-maker's shop, Josiah Greely and Robert Blackstone proprietors. There was also at one time a foundry located here, at which engines and many other articles were turned out, but after some time the shops were closed, the cost of shipping ore, etc., being too great

The village was incorporated in the year 1850. The first election for village officers was held April 25, 1850, and resulted in the election of Silas Dudley for Mayor.

The year 1850 will be remembered by many as being the cholera year, and this village, seemingly protected by its isolation from the large cities, was nevertheless destined to undergo the devastation and horrors of that fearful plague of the Orient in all its intensity. Death reigned in almost every house; terror seized hold upon the stoutest hearts, and it was with difficulty that the dead were buried. Many of the best citizens were its victims. In a radius of two miles more than fifty persons died in a short space of time. Among the business men who died were Nathan Butterworth and Sherman Knowlton, merchants.

In this year, Col. James Ford came from Maine and settled here, succeeding Butterworth & Knowlton in the mercantile business. Col. Ford proved himself to be a public-spirited and enterprising citizen, possessed of excellent business capacities. He carried on the merchandising business with marked success up to the time of his death, which occurred in the spring of 1865. At the time of the Colonel's arrival, and for some time afterward, the citizens of Maineville were making strenuous efforts to induce the Government to establish a post office in the village, but without success. Finally Ford took hold of the matter, and having a personal acquaintance with some of the leading officials at Washington, succeeded in bringing about the desired result, and a post office was established in 1854, Ford receiving the appointment of Postmaster, a position which he continued to hold, notwithstanding the administrative changes, until his death. In this connection it will not be invidious to mention the name of Sullivan Stevens, although still living. Stevens has been closely identified with the commercial interests of the place for nearly a third of a century. During these long years of business relations with the people, he has never failed to command their entire confidence and esteem.

MAINEVILLE BUSINESS DIRECTORY.

Charles Ford, dealer in dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes and hardware.
John Cottle, dealer in groceries and meats.
S. F. Stevens & Son, dealers in dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes, drugs and hardware.
Nye & Kellar, harness makers.
J. C. Redman, Justice of the Peace and Township Clerk.
Owen S. Higgins, blacksmith.
S. G. Tufts & Son, wagomnaker and undertaking.
Benton Johnson, boot and shoemaker.
Dr. Cook, druggist
L. A. Cottle, physician and surgeon.
B. F. Ludlum, physician.
Harry Eastman, farmer and commercial traveler.
William Burton, builder and money-lender.

The present population of the village is about three hundred.