Newport and Dearth

Warren Co. and Greene Co., OH

Early Historical and Family Information

This includes mentions of and information about the Newport and Dearth families.

Mildred Kirkwood provided these bits of information. Unfortunately the publication(s) are not identified. Maybe someone can help identify the source or sources of this material.

34 (page)

Warren County, Ohio, was organized May 1, 1803. At that time many official meetings were held in homes of the settlers. The house of Edward Dearth was chosen to be the place of voting for Franklin Township. The first Court of Common Pleas was held at the house of Ephraim Hathaway in Lebanon August 1803. The first Grand Jury was sworn and impaneled. Those named were Edward Dearth, Wm. C. Schenck, Richard Cunningham, Jacob Covert, James McManis, Robert McCain, Enos Williams, Andrew Alexander, Samuel Holloway, Wm. Jay, Ichabod B. Halsey, James McCashen, Elijah Reeder, Samuel Kelly, Abia Martin, John Griffen. The Associate Judges also conducted business which later was handled by County Commissioners. One duty was the granting of licenses. On the first day the Associate Judges met, four licenses for taverns were granted, viz, to Thomas Goodwin, Edward Dearth, David Sutton and Elijah Reeder.

Among the first settlers in the vicinity of Springboro, were the Nulls, Frys, Richardsons, Greggs, Mullins and Dearths. Edward Dearth purchased over 1400 acres of land in a body. When they settled there they knew of but one family within three or four miles of their home .As an instance of their loneliness and their anxiety to welcome new families into their neighborhood it is related that one evening, after all the family but Edward and Elizabeth had retired, Elizabeth heard a dog barking in the direction of the present site of Springboro. She called her husbands attention to it, and he thought at first it was a wolf, but finally decided it was a dog and that they would try to ascertain in the morning from whence the sound came. So when the morning came they started through the woods, feeling certain they would find a human habitation of some kind. After going about two miles they came to a cabin in the woods, and greatly pleased to find they had neighbors, even that far off. They soon regretted the acquaintance thus formed, for they proved to be notorious horse thieves and counterfeiters.

Isaac Dearth, son of Edward and Elizabeth, married Elizabeth Newport (Betsy). She was the daughter of Jesse Newport. The first sawmill in Cedarville Township, Greene County, Ohio, was built by Jesse Newport in 1811 on the banks of Massie's Creek, a short distance from town where Cedarville now is (l888). It was one of the old "flutter-wheel" mills, and the first boards used in the Township used in building were sawed by it. Mr. Newport ran the mill for several years and then sold it to John Townsley, who operated it till 18J5, when he sold it to Fred Beamer, who in turn sold it to a Mr. Barber, the latter running it until about 1868 when the mill was washed out, and was never rebuilt.

Cedarville Village was laid off by Jesse Newport in 1816. The old Plat consists of twenty four lots each 82 1/2 x l50 ft. The town was first called Millford by the proprietor owing to the fact of his having a mill close to town. But there being another Millford in Ohio it was found necessary to change the name. In 1834 the village was named Cedarville, from the fact that the banks of Massie's Creek, which flows thru the town were lined with Cedar trees. About that time the people of this Township got their first Postoffice.

Reverend Isaac Dearth and Betsy Dearth

Isaac Dearth, 4th child of Edward and Elizabeth Dearth, was thirteen years of age when taken by his parents to what is now Warren Co. Ohio. Here he attended the subscription schools of the community. At an early age he became active in church work and while still a young man entered the ministry. He was one of the original ministers of the denomination that adopted the name "Christian" at that time sometimes called the*"Newlights". He was active in the ministry for over fifty years. He was a preacher of the Evangelistic type .He did a great and lasting service in the community he served, which included the rural districts of Warren and surrounding Counties. Rev. Isaac Dearth was ordained in the year 1820. He was officiating minister in the "Newlights", or Christian House of Worship near Red Lion, Ohio. This church was erected in an early day -1815-16, replaced by a good brick house in Red Lion. The present red brick house with tall white steeple in Red Lion, Clear Creek Twp. Warren Co. O. is Methodist Episcopal built in 1854. Rev. Isaac preached here at times as a guest preacher.

His long and faithful service was described in these words spoken by the minister at his funeral as follows "He goes to his rest as a sheaf of grain ready for the harvest: Having served the master for over half a century, he has passed to his reward" .The inscription on his tombstone in Woodhill Cemetery Franklin, Ohio states. "'A life of honor lived. A death of glory". Elder Isaac Dearth Born Nov.29 1785 Immigrated to Warren Ohio April 16,1985, Died Feb 28, 1869. On the reverse of stone-Betsy, wife of Rev Isaac Dearth died July 2 1873.

Jesse Newport (father of Betsy, wife of Rev Isaac Dearth)

Jesse Newport in 1807 was appointed on a committee of three by the Ohio General Assembly to purchase a county seat for Miami County (Troy. ) Jesse died 1844.

Was member of the Ohio General Assembly, l809 and 1811

Township Trustee in Clear Creek Twp. Warren Co. O. 1806

Started lst. sawmill in Green Co.O.1811. Ran mill several years.

Founded and laid out present town of Cedarville, 0 .1st called Milford.

Jesse 's parents were Jesse and Mary Newport. His Grandparents were Thomas and Elizabeth Lockwood Newport. His wife (1818) named Rachael. Sisters and brothers' of Jesse were Thomas, Aaron, Richard, David (may be bro-in-law) Benjamin, Elizabeth, Lydia, Mary And Sarah. (these names are not documented) Jesse 's children are: William, m Margaret McFarland in 1815: James, was in Hamilton Co, OH in 1823: Lydia, m Ben Gustin 1820; Elizabeth (Betsy) m Rev Isaac Dearth. Greene Co census shows more Ch. 1820 census. (This data not verified)

James Edward Dearth-1779-1856

James Edward Dearth, the second son of Edward and Elizabeth Dearth was eighteen years of age when he came to Ohio with his Parents. He was educated in the subscription schools. Here he assisted his parents in clearing the woods and in building their home and planting the first crops. He was in service in the War of 1812, a member of Cap't Samuel Caldwell's Company recruited from Warren Co. He was a farmer. He and his wife Elizabeth (Long) were members of the "Newlights" Church. He assisted his brother Isaac in establishing the first church of that denomination in the county. They are buried in Clear Creek Cem.

*In her book "West to Ohio", Alta H Heiser quotes from Judge John Cleves Symmes as follows: Another sect, the New Lights, worship Him by screaming, clapping hands, crying hellfire and damnation as loud as they can yell, tumbling down and lying on their backs. The Methodists also were vocal and emotional in their worship at that time.