The Daniel Scott "A History of the Early Settlement of Highland County, Ohio" (collected and reprinted 1890) seems to be the earliest and most complete history of the beginnings of Highland County, Ohio. This book is an assemblage of newspaper articles that originally appeared between May 1858 and 1888(?). Apparently many, if not all, histories of the early period of both Highland and Ross counties have used his writings as the source for many facts.

In it, Scott states that "The settlement commenced in the fall of 1805 by William Rogers and his brother, four miles below Greenfield on Paint, near the mouth of Rattlesnake, began in the following spring to receive considerable accessions of respectable and permanent citizens, and became thenceforth a nucleus about which an interesting community collected." This location, at the mouth of Rattlesnake, is exactly where the Rocky Spring church was located. The property that Rogers owned at that time was purchased on a Military Land warrant (No. 1984) of William George, and known as the George Survey, No. 1488, for 2000 acres. The military land warrants for this area were issued as part of the "Virginia Military District" an area of land located between the Little Miami and Scioto rivers in Ohio. (See http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/maps/ohio/statemap/va-mil.jpg).

Scott also states that "During the year [1806] the Rev. James Hoge, who had an interest in a large tract of land including the mouth of Hardin’s Creek, came to look after his lands and of course made the acquaintance of the Rogers settlement. Whilst he was among them they erected a stand in the woods at a fine spring on Rattlesnake on the farm where David Strain first settled, which was a part of the land then owned by Mr. Hoge. Here was preached the first gospel sermon, perhaps, in the present township of Madison, and from this beginning a church was organized which took the name of Rocky Spring."

The mouth of Hardin’s Creek is north of the juncture of Rattlesnake and Paint creeks, and is located on either survey No. 1832, dating 1795 for 2000 acres, and surveyed for David Reddick, John Hardin, David Gray, and John Mercer, on Military Warrant No. 3437, or on survey 1830, on Military Warrant No. 895, also 2000 acres, with the same owners. 1832 is on the west side of Rattlesnake creek (Paint township), and 1830 is on the east side (Madison township). Reference to over 10,000 acres of land adjacent to this usually appears as being part of a survey to "Reddick and others." What is not clear, is how, between 1795 and 1806, Hoge had obtained an interest in some, or all of these lands. Notice also, that it is said that Hoge preached in the year 1806. Even if it were into the winter of that year, it would be 1807 at the latest when he delivered this first sermon. This suggests that David Strain was in the territory by 1806, though later histories give his year as 1808 to leave SC, arriving after a stay in KY and Ross County, OH for as long at 2 years. David Strain does appear in the 1810 list of voters given by Scott, but it’s not clear if this is David Sr. (Also on the 1810 voter’s poll are Samuel Strain, John R. Strain, and James Strain.) Note that Scott states where David Strain "first settled," which could mean that David Strain may have had more than one farm during his time there.

It does not appear that James Hoge ever actually settled in Highland county at that time. He moved on to Franklin County and founded his church there. Scott clearly states that David Strain first settled on land owned by Hoge. Locating Hoge’s land narrows down the location of where David Strain’s land could have been located. A summary of deed records also provides clues regarding the land owned by Hoge. In the McBrides’ book "Records of the Recorder’s Office of Highland County, Ohio (1805-1850)" we find several entries related to transactions between the Strains and Hoge, as well as entries that may identify the location of all of Hoge’s property, as follows:

29 March 1826. James Hoge and Jane hw of Franklin Co., Ohio to William Garrett of Highland Co., 250A. (Deed Bk. 7, pg. 167)

30 April 1820. James Hoge and Jane hw of Franklin Co., Ohio to John C. Strain of Highland Co., 75A. (Deed Bk. 1, pg. 682)

30 April 1827. James Hoge and Jane hw to James Strain, 72A. (Deed Bk. 2, p. 559)

30 April 1827. James Hoge and Jane hw of Franklin Co., Ohio to David Strain of Highland Co., 77A. (Deed Bk. 3, pg. 270)

From these entries, it appears that Hoge periodically sold land to each of the sons of David Strain, suggesting that they had all settled on land owned by him, or, at some point were deeded land that David, Sr. might have had an agreement to purchase from Hoge. In April 1825, the administrator of David Sr.’s estate files a petition to sell his lands, naming his children, which include John C., David, and James. Further investigation of each of the above documents is necessary to clearly identify the parties involved.

What is clear from the above is that John C. Strain was, at the time of the 1820 census, in possession of property previously owned by Hoge. An examination of the Highland County, Madison Township Census of 1820 provides information relative to the location of households if one assumes the census is taken in an orderly fashion, house to house. At the beginning of the first page, one finds the following list of households, in order as they appear:

John R. Strain

Samuel Strain

James Taylor

John H. Strain

Thomas M.C. Strain

Susanna ____(?)

John Tudor

Philip Adair

Presley Smith

Sarah Watts

Thomas Rogers

Then, on the next page, a distance of 29 households away one finds:

John Strain

Edward Byram, Jr.

Edward Byram, Sr.

James Strain

John C. Strain

William Clarke

David Strain, Jr.

David Strain, Sr.

James Johnson

Andrew Cunningham

Isaac Hughey

Samuel B. Strain

Benjamin Adair

From the above, it would appear that David Sr., and his three sons, James, John C., and David Jr., all resided adjacent or in close proximity to each other. If John C. owned property recently purchased from Hoge, one might assume all were living on property Hoge had control of, and therefore David Sr.’s land would be near that, based on the census. Note also that James Johnson is the husband of David’s daughter, Elizabeth, and therefore his son-in-law, living adjacent to him.

Curious is the fact that Samuel B. Strain, son of Samuel Strain, appears to be located closer to his cousins than to his brothers. It’s possible that the census taker may have traveled a circuitous route, although John R. Strain (oldest nephew of David and Samuel) also appears closer to David than to Samuel.

Later land locations of S. W. Strain and A. M. Strain (& heirs) are located in the "George" survey based on the 1871 Atlas of Highland County. Also, in the McBrides’ "Common Pleas Court Records of Highland County, Ohio (1805-1860)" on p. 210, there is a petition to divide land by Lewis Strain vs. Cyrus B. Strain. It states: "Samuel Strain, dec’d., died seized of 218 acres on Paint Creek in George Survey No. 1488. On Dec. 21, 1807, P. Thomas conveyed to Samuel Strain 245 acres of which he subsequently sold a part to Thomas M. and John H. Strain. Cyrus B., David J., and Benjamin F. Strain, minors, are tenants in common with plaintiff. (Chancery Record 1, page 125)."

A second entry in the McBrides’ "Common Pleas Court Records" further clarifies the location of David F. Strain’s land, which is probably the land purchased from Hoge in 1827 (above). On page 237, in a suit filed Aug. 28, 1854, by Eli McManus, et al, vs George Douglass, et al, for a partition of lands, we find that "Eli and Elizabeth McManus, by their guardian, J.H. Hughey, allege that they are two of six children (the other four being Abigail Jane, David M., Nancy Ann, and Charles McManus) of Cyrena McManus, dec’d., a daughter and heir of David Strain, dec’d., late of Highland County. Cyrena was one of the ten heirs and children of decedent who died seized of 59 acres in Hardin Redick & Co. Entry and Survey No. 1830. The other nine children and heirs of decedent are James W., Andrew and David M. Strain, Ruth Jane, the wife of Elisha Lucas, all of Knox Co., Ill.; Elizabeth, the wife of Henry Snider, late of Knox Col, Ill., but now of Highland County; Rice of Knox Co., Ill., late wife of R. Easter, who died without children and heirs; Nancy, late wife of Milton Clark, who died without heirs; and Charles H. and Wm. H. Strain. George Douglass, no heir, claims an interest by purchase from several grantees of deceased heirs. (Chancery Record 2, page 306)."

Known facts are the Rocky Spring Session book entries regarding Samuel Strain’s gift of land to the church. Also known is the fact that the Rogers settled at the mouth of Rattlesnake Creek, where the church was located, and that Hoge owned property that included the mouth of Hardin’s creek, which is quite a bit north of Rocky Spring church. It seems unlikely that the "George" survey, owned by Rogers and his two sons, and the "Reddick and others" survey, which contained the mouth of Hardin’s Creek, would both include Hoge as an investor. Further investigation of any and all deeds, as well as the legal descriptions of the known transactions above solves the location of the 528 acres owned by David Strain when he died in 1823, and his land was sold in 1825. This is a large amount of land, and records of later purchase and subsequent deed as late as 1827 provide clear locations.

Other possible relative facts include mention that Rogers, Thomas, and Dolittle purchased the "George" survey as part of a sheriff’s sale at Chillicothe. The surveys, as land patents, can be viewed on the BLO webpage by doing a search on the patentee’s name(s). http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch/

One fact is quite clear when trying to identify the land location. The mouth of Hardin’s creek, where Hoge first preached a sermon at a spring where David Strain lived, cannot be the same location as the mouth of Rattlesnake creek, where Rocky Spring Church was eventually erected. This, of course, assumes that Scott was correct when writing his history about 40 years after the fact.

As a follow up to all of the above information, I made a trip to Highland Co., OH, where I obtained the full court case of John R. Strain vs. the heirs of David Strain.  In this suit, it becomes obvious that David Strain had paid a considerable sum to Hoge & wife, though had not paid all of the agreed purchase price before his death.  An appraisal and sale is ordered for 104 acres of the 528.  The remaining 424 acres are divided among the heirs, and subsequent deeds are executed to each of the heirs, though some of the children (or grand children) seem to be left out of the settlement.  All deeds are executed by 1827, with clear descriptions.  As a result of these descriptions, it is possible to draw plats for the land and compare it to known maps.

Land Plat showing the location of all the heirs with a large portion sold to Samuel McConnell, and some to William and Thomas Davis by David Strain before his death.  This land is immediately adjacent to earlier purchases from James Hoge & wife Jane by John C. Strain and Thomas M. Strain, sons of David Strain.  By comparing this plat to atlases and maps of Madison Township in Highland County, the location of the land is clearly identified.  I failed to obtain the land description of the Johnson tract, which would be his son-in-law, on the end of the row of his heirs and assigns.