From History of Madison County, Ohio, Chester E. Bryan, Supervising Editor, B.F. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis (1915)
Enoch Thomas was among the first to make permanent settlement in this township. He came from "High Knob," Virginia, and settled on Oppossum run in 1807. He was a man of excellent Christian character, a great worker in the United Brethern church, and was the leading active man in organizing the church, which has since been known as Thomas chapel. His house was ever open to their ministers and his hospitality was never exhausted. He lived on the place where he first settled until his death. September 31, 1851, aged seventy-nine years. He married Jemima Phebis, who died on June 17, 1822, aged forty-five years. He married for his second wife Mrs. Foster, nee Dorcas Clark. She died on October 23, 1842, aged sixty-one years. At a very early date Mr. Thomas erected a brick house, which, it is said, was the first of its kind built in the county.
John Phebis, a native of Kentucky, was an early settler at Yankeetown, Fayette county, Ohio, whence he came to Madison county and settled in 1807. Mr. Phebis was a great hunter and devoted himself principally to that occupation; he was a lively, jovial man, a very sociable neighbor and a good citizen. But as this county became settled and the game scarce, he desired better and more extensive hunting-grounds, and finally removed to the Ozark mountains in Missouri. He subsequently became a settler in Indiana, where he died, and some of his descendants still reside there.
David Dennison settled in 1807 on Oppossum run. He died on October 1, 1823. Jonathan Benjamin, who settled on land in this township. was a native of New Jersey. Isaac and Daniel Long settled in this locality in 1808; the latter was a preacher in the New Light church. William Ware came from Kentucky, about 1810 or 1812, and settled on the tract of land now occupied by the village of Big Plain. He served as sheriff of the county and was quite a leading, prominent man of the day. James Blair, who was known to every one as "Big Jim," came from Kentucky and settled here about 1813. He died on September 20, 1816, and his remains were interred in the Fitzgerald cemetery. About 1815 Robert Thomas, a native of Virginia, settled on a tract of land just east of Big Plain, but which was then known as California. Thomas Dennison settled in this township in 1815. Charles Henderson, a native of Virginia. came to this county with a surveying party as a chain carrier, and remained a permanent settler here. Richard Newland settled here about 1818. Joseph Jackson came from New Jersey to Cincinnati in 1818. In 1819, he settled near London, and, in 1820. removed to Fairfleld township, where he resided until his death, in January, 1861, aged eighty-three years. He was a successful hunter, knew just where to look for the game, and yet he never let hunting interfere with his other business, although it was quite profitable to him. He fully experienced the hardships of pioneer life. He worked for twenty-five cents per day, sold corn for ten to twenty cents per bushel, bacon for one dollar and twenty-five cents per hundred pounds, and chopped and split rails for twenty-five cents per hundred.
William Cartmill was a pioneer from Kentucky and, in the spring of 1813, came to Franklin county, Ohio, and in 1824-25 located in this county. John F. Chenoweth was born in Mason county, Kentucky, September 15, 1793. In 1799 he settled with his parents in Ross county, Ohio, and, in 1800, they settled on the Big Darby, Franklin county. He married Margaret Furgus on March 21, 1811, and lived on his father's farm till 1820; he then purchased land in Madison county, where he resided until his death. Edward and Lewis Godfrey settled here about 1825. The former died on June 8, 1833, aged forty-seven years; the latter died on June 3, 1838, aged fifty-two years. James Byers, a native of Pennsylvania, settled in Ross county in 1806. In 1826 he settled in the north part of Fairfield township, Madison county. He was an excellent man and ever ready to assist in any charitable work and to do anything for the benefit of his neighbor.
George Hume and his wife, Ann (Scott) Hume, settled here in 1826. Mr. Hume died on March 20, 1856. A. Q. Bennett settled here about the same year as did Mr. Hume. Judge Edward O. Fitzgerald and William B. Fitzgerald settled in this township in 1828 and 1829. Judge Fitzgerald was well known in the county and is spoken of everywhere for his integrity and honor. He was identified with this county in its growth and progress for more than half a century and was one of her most honored and respected citizens. Jeremiah Johnson, who settled in this township in 1831, was a native of New Jersey; in 1855-56 he removed to Warren county, Illinois. Wesley Lilly settled north of Lilly chapel in 1830. Mr. Lilly was closely identified with the early growth and progress of Fairfield township.
John Shepherd was born in Virginia and, accompanied by his wife Judy, came to Ohio soon after the War of 1812, settling in Ross county. About 1831 he came to Madison county and settled near California, now Big Plain, and here resided until his death, on August 18, 1850, aged seventy-five years. His wife died about 1869, aged sixty-eight years. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. He was a prosperous farmer, a worthy neighbor and a devout member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Daniel C. Freeman was born in Belmont county, Ohio, July 28, 1802, his ancestors being from Ireland. In 1833, he became a resident of Fairfield township and was thoroughly identified with her growth and interests. At the organization of the township, in 1835, he became the first clerk. He was a resident of this township for over a half a century.
George Noland, a native of Virginia, settled in this township in 1833. His wife died on October 2, 1862, aged sixty-two years; in 1868, he removed to Missouri where he died on November 4, 1878, aged seventy-four years. J. C. Strain, who settled here in 1834, was a leading and honored citizen of the township, where he resided for over half a century. James D. Truitt, a native of Maryland, became a resident of Madison county in 1811, and of Fairfield township in 1836, settling in the northern part.
John Creath became a settler of this county, with his parents, near Mt. Sterling, in 1811. In 1838, he settled in Fairfield township, where he resided until his death, January 15, 1881. He was an honored and worthy citizen, respected by his neighbors. Valentine Recob settled here in 1846. William D. Pringle settled in this township in 1848, and he and his worthy family have been fully identified with her business interests, improvements and progress since that time, their valued and important lives being reflected in the growth of the township. Daniel Thompson settled on Oppossum run quite early, but the exact date is unknown. He built one of the first saw-mills in Fairfield township.