Madison County – FAMILY HISTORY – A Lifetime of Research

Introduction. There have been other histories of Madison County

Madison County, Ohio

The information source for this section, is varied. Part is my own knowlege and research from living here. Wikipedia articles and website photos is another. Chester Edwin Bryhan’s 1915 History of Madison County is another, County Libraries, Madison County Historic Society, Madison County Genealogical Society, and my visits to commuities and business to obain first-hand information are both the source and the reasons for my input into the history of Madison County, Ohio.

Madison County was formed form Franklin County on February 16, 1810. It was inhabited by a few settlers and Native Americans, but there were no villages. That meant that there was no place to dedicate as county seat. The Ohio General Assembly had the area surveyed and designated the location that is now London to be a seat of justice. By 1812, there were several families living there. The first court was held in a log cabin presided by Judge Thompson of Chillicothe. More information about London will be discussed later in this chapter.

The first settler in Madison County was Johathan Alder who settled in 1804 about 5 miles north of Plain City in Franklin County. In 1806, he built a new cabin on Darby Creek, south of Plain City. So 1806 would be the year for Madison County’s first settler. His cabin is on display in the London Historical Museum. As a child he was abducted in Virginia by Shawnee Indians, and then adopted by the Mingo Tribe and lived for many years with Native Americans. He eventually returned to the white community. His life is fascinating. See Johnathan Alder link. Settlers started coming to Madison County with most coming from neigboring Columbus in Franklin County. This group wanted to farm or just to escape the busy city. When white settlers began arriving, the Mingo and Wyandot Native Americans began to leave the area. In 1806, a solar eclipse occurred. History says that Native Americans shot arrows toward the sun to scare off evil spirits and that Tecumseh had accurately predicted its occurrence. Images below are Mingo and Wyandot Indians. Wyandots are also called Huron.

The first settlers came into what is now the Plain City area. It was then called Pleasant Valley, not a settlement, but the name of the area. In 1818, it was platted and named Westminister. It was later changed to Plain City, because Ohio already had a area named Pleasant Valley in Richland County, and a town called Pleasantville. I have researched and if there was a town called Pleasant Valley, I have never been able to locate it. Plain City grew because of the presence of the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad (A&GW)

As the country developed, families moved in and began farming. In those days, farms were small. A family could live on a few acres. They would fence the property, have a cow, a horse, a few pigs, maybe some sheep and chickens. They were self sufficient. These farms were close to each other, usually around a crossroads, or near a railroad. There were no paved roads or automobiles. A trip to London meant hitching up a horse to a wagon, taking a day to get there, spending the night and coming back the next day. Someone saw a need and started a small general store, maybe out of a house and eventually built a store. Perhaps a newly wed and ordained minister moved in and the group of farmer famiilies helped build a church or perhaps a small multi-grade school. A death occured and one of the farmers donated a a piece of land for a cemetery, or maybe it opened next to the church. If the commuity was next to a railroad, a grain elevator might be built. A town was born, and for years thrived and met the needs of the neighborhood. As you read the comments about each community in this section, You often see the remark never or unplatted. This means that there were never streets layed out. These small communities usually just grew along the interecting roads. Sometimes along just one leg of the insterections. Some were tee-intersections, not crossroads. Sometimes a single lane or road was graded next to a railroad and all the homes in community were on that one road.

Why didn’t they grow into town and cities? What happened? There are several reasons. Two reasons are very easy to understand.The first was the paving of roads. The second was the invention of the automobile. A trip from anywhere in the county could now be made in less than 30 minutes.The other two reasons are not as evident, but significant.The first was the invention of television, and the second air conditioning.These four factors destroyed the sense of community. Why shop at a local high-priced store when you can drive less than 30 minutes to a large well-stocked supermarket with lower prices? Eventually the community general store and mom and pop businesses failed and closed. As children were born, they grew up and moved away. The small farms could not support multi-families. America’s railroads were replaced by semi-trucks and many grain elevators closed.Television and air conditioning stopped people sitting out in the evening and visiting neighbors.There were still houses, some became rentals and people living there might not even know or even talk to their neighbors. The unincoprated viilage as a thriving community died, leaving just a clustered group of houses.

The following section discusses each of Madison County’s communities. The five incorporated are listed by population, followed by the uniincorporatred villages in alphabetical order, then the three census designation places (CDP).

There are a number of cities and villages in Madison County. Not all are incorporated. They are listed by township in the next column.

Incorporated: London, Midway, Plain City, South Solon and West Jefferson.

Nonincorporated: Amity, Big Plain, Chenoweth, Chrisman, Florence, Gillivan, Kileville, Kiousville, Lilly Chapel, Madison Lake, McClimansville, McKendree, Newport, Range, Reseaca, Rosedale, Rupert, Summerford, Tradersville, and Wrightsville.

Canaan Twp (Amity)
Darby Twp (Plain City and Kileville) Named after Wyandot Chief Darby
Deer Creek (Lafayette)
Fairfield Twp (Big Plain, Lilly Chapel, Kiousville and Wrightsville)
Jefferson Twp (West Jefferson and Gillivan)
Monroe Twp (Resaca and Plumwood)
Oak Run Twp (Chrisman)
Paint Twp (Newport and Florence)
Pike Twp (Rosedale)
Pleasant Twp (Mt Sterling, McClimansville and McKendree)
Range Twp (Midway, Range and Chenoweth)
Somerford Twp (Choctaw Lake, Summerford and Tradersville)
Stokes Twp (South Solon)
Union Twp (London, Madison Lake and Rupert)

In addition, there are some ghost towns, where either nothing exists to even recognize that there was community. This is a list from a website about Ohio Ghost Towns. They link opens to Madison County.

1. Carter was at the intersection of US 40 and Glade Run – All thats left is Wright Cemetery.

2. Darby Crest – Jefferson Twp, at the intersection of Riverside and Darby drives along Big Darby Creek, south of US 40.

3. Deer Creek Village – Somerford Twp, on Arbuckle Rd betweeb SR 187 and Gwynne Rd (This was a Native American town, founded in 1794 by Tecumseh and was used a winter home), It was abandoned in 1812.

4. Deersville, Stoke Twp. Its location is nknown. It was listed in The Ohio Gazetteer between 1833-1841.

5. Johnstons – Had a Post Office 1828-1844. On Yankeetown-Chenoweth Rd at the intersection of Johnston Rd.

6. Lawrenceville (aka Limerick) was laid out in 1816 by Thomas Gwynne on his land about 1.5 miles northwest of present day Lafayette. in 1816 a tavern was opened by Angus Ross. A post office was on 2 July 1825. When the National Road (US40) opened, it went south of Lawrencville and the village immediately began dying. By 1915 nothing was left but a pasture. Population is unknown

7. Markley – Someford Twp was on US 40 at intersection of Markley Rd along Deer Creek. A remnant is the Diamond Rock Stock Farm barn. There was a school on the North Side of Markley Rd.

8. Myers – Union Twp. Located on Davis Rd at the railroad crossing between Old Springfield Rd and US 42. It was on the Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago and St Louis RR. It had a school on the south side of Old Springfield Rd. Mail was sent out from an express office on the railroad.

9. New Hampton. It was on the road from Franklinton to Springfield and was settled in 1806. When US 40 was built, the town was abandoned. New Hampton became Jefferson (now West Jefferson) It was on Frey Ave near the Hampton Cemetery. There is an historical marker on Frey Ave.

10. Nioga – Pleasant Twp. was on SR 56 at the intersection of Robinson Rd.

11. Roberts – Jefferson Twp. was on US40 at the intersection of SR 29. A remnant is Pleasant Hill Cemetery. The town founded in in early 1800’s by Thomas and Susan Roberts who came from Virginia. They owned most of what is now the west side of West Jefferson and the Columbus and Xenia Railroad came through their land.

12. Wahoo – Deer Creek Twp. A Post office was there 1852-1867. No remnants exist. It was on SR 29 between SR 38 and the Northwest Twp border. It had a church and school The school was on the SW corner of the intersection of SR29 and SR38. There is now a roundabout where Wahoo existed.

The following list are links to each of Madison Counties Communities. The five incorporated communities are first by population size in 2022, followed by the uniincorporatred villages in alphabetical order and then the three Census Designated Locations (CDP) Choctaw, Lafayette, Plumwood.

This chapter is not finished. I plan to keep adding material as I locate it. I will be spending much research time at the Madison County Genealogical Library. There are two areas that I am currently working on. One is to visit each of the non-incorporated communities (some of which are nearly ghost towns), taking photographs and researching their history and adding to this chapter.

I am also taking a look at industries within the county, especially those included in the Madison Business Directory. in particular those of long-standing, when, why, how and who started them. For instance there is the very large R.L Davis & Sons Family Hay and Straw business with a South Solon address (but located on both State Routs 38 and 323 that gathers hay throughout the state to ship to the horse farms in Lexington, Kentucky.

Madison County is considered an agricultural county, but it is not typical. There are several very large industries, many connected to agriculture. London has two prisons and several law-enforcement agencies. Madison County has bedroom communities, homes for those who work in the capital city of Columbus or its suburbs but live in Madison County. Between London and West Jefferson are miles of warehouses. These warehouses and manfufacturing facilities exist because of the proximity of major US highways including interstate 70, and because the Norfolk and Southern Railroad runs through the county. The following sketch identifies these routes. It is easy to see the importance of these roads to move goods quickly.

Besides the road shows above, there are others of interest in the county.

SR 142 only exists in Madison County and is a spur of US 42 running from downtown London and ending at Interstate 70 North of West Jefferson.

SR 323 only exists in Madison County and runs east/west between SR 31 in South Solon to SR 45 just north of Mount Sterling.

US 40 runs through West Jefferson, Lafayette and Summerford in Madison County.

Interstate 70 passes through the county and has exists at SR 56, US 42, SR 29, and SR 142.

Inerstate 71 passes through the south-eastern corner of Madison County and has one exit at SR 56.

Just north of London on Rt 38 is the Farm Science Review hosted by the Ohio State University and attendees come from world-wide to visit its exhibits and to learn about new agricultural processes and equipment. The farm science review and agriculture are covered earlier in this book. view these articles click Ohio History

Churches and Cemetaries number in the hundreds, too many to include in this chapter. However there are links to churches in the three biggest communities in Madison County: London, Plain City, West Jefferson. For cemeteries, the best resource is to visit the Madison County Genealogical Society located in the City Building at 20 S. Walnut Street. e-mail to make reservations for research mcgsoh@gmail.com

Madison County is home to a large Amish and Mennonite community. See Amish and Mennonites. and Ohio Religion on this site.

Madison County has many organizations, agricultural, educational, civic, charitable and religious. Here are links to churches: Ohio Churches. Ohio Churches Wiki

The following is a list of other organizations. The first two columns are link. the third is not, These can be found through Google searches.

Google the following - no links here
Food Pantries
Womens Shelters
Nursing Homes & Hospic
Alcoholics Anonymous
Quarter Horse Congress
Chamber of Commerce
Political Parties
Medical Societies and Facilities

Festivals. During the year there are fairs and festivals in Madison County.

I covered the Farm Science Review in Ohio History rather than in Madsion County because its impact and visitors are world-wide. If you want to read about click these links: Agriculture, Farm Science Review

Madison County Fair is held each eary July in London. It has live racing events including truck and tractor pulls, and of course livestock exhibits, junior fair, home produced exhibits, judging competions, enrtertainment, karaoke, rides and the usual vendors.

Lilly Chapel Homecoming festival is held each August hosted by the Lilly Chapel Methodist church. It had the longest parade in the county in 202, homemade food, homemade icecream, exhibits, live music, and a charity auction. 2024 information.

London has the June Strawberry Festival, the August Rhythm and Rib Festival, The 4th of July Parade and Fireworks, the London Ohio Marathon

West Jefferson has the 4th of July Parade Streetfest and Fireworkds, the Labor Day Ox Roast Festival and Bike Tour, and the Christmas Walk in the Park

Plain City has a number of events. Click here for a list. The list includes several music events and four different Christmas events. Since Plain City has a large Amish/Mennonite population, I would travel 500 miles just for the food!

South Solon has a Harvest Festival and Craft Show held at the Proctor Center, The Proctor Center is located on SR 38 south of Midway, about 10 miles from South Solon, but has a London Mailing Address. In September it hosts the Farm to Forest Retreat for Ministers. This retreat is centered around faith and connecting to God’s earth.

historic homes
medical
Education (List of Schools, location and level - Public and Private, Rosedale Bible College) Jonathan Alder Local, London City, Madison-Plains Local, Jefferson Local, Tolles. London Academy
Law enforcement & Crime (Madison Co Sheriff, South Solon Police Dept, Somerford Twp Police Dept, Ohio Police Officer Training Academy, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation, London Police Department, West Jefferson Police Dept, Deercreek Police Dept, Plain City Police Department
Politics
Parks & Recreation
Sports

London - Madison County Courthouse

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London - Mad Co Fair

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London - Mad Co Fair

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London - Mad Co Fair

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London

ZIP Code 43140 – Coordinates: 39°53′15″N 83°26′32″W

2024 population 10,621. In 2020 it was 10,268. It is growing about 0.83% per year.

London is a city and the county seat of Madison County. It is located about 25 miles southwest of the Ohio Capital Columbus. It was established in 1811 to serve as the county seat. London and Madison County were served by a daily newspaper, the Madison Press until 1919. It now has a weekly newspapeer, the Madison Messenger also located in London. It does have an online newspaper, the Madison County Spotlight. There is a local Christian Radio Station, ReadyFM WCYC-LP, 105.1 FM which operates out of the old armory, across from St. Patrick Church,

The Public School System is the London City School Distirct, grades Kindergarten through high school. Operating out of three adjacent buildings. The sports programs are the London Red Raiders, School Colors are Red and White.

There is a private Catholic School run by St Patrick Church, grades preschool thru 8th Grade.

In addition there is the Fairhaven Early Learning Academy licensed for pre-school programs, including speech and langage Pathology, Occupational and Physical Therapy. Classes for pre-school children are offering both morning and afternoon, Monday thru Thursday as regular preschool and special education preschool.

In 2012, The high school, the water tower and the fire department were featured in a Nike commercial promoting the 2012 summer olympics.

AGS

Law Enforcement – Prisons, BCI, Academies

Crime (Murder)

Hardware,Printing, Paint Store, Farm Equipment, Auto Sales, Walmart,Kroger,BobEvans,M&M,Pizza,Mexican,Chinese,Steak,Fast Food,Bars,Movie Theater, Truck Stop, Food Pantry, Post office.

Medical, Hospitals. Intervention, Addiction (drug problem)

City Spots – soccer

Churches

Parks, Fairgrounds, County Fair.

American Legion, DAV,

County Offices and FAcilities

Businesses, Insurance, Investments, games, clothing, appliances,

Plain City

ZIP Code 43064 – Coordinates: 40°06′28″N 83°15′50″W

2024 population 2,402, 2020 4.144. It is growing at 1.47% per year. ZIP Code 43064, Coordinates: 40°06′28″N 83°15′50″W

Der Dutchman, Amish and Mennonites

West Jefferson

ZIP Code 43162 – Coordinates: 39°56′48″N 83°18′23″W

2024 population 4,599 2020 4,165 It is growing at 4.47% per year because of the building of many warehouses in the area, and also as Columbus grows, it becomes a choice bedroom community.

Festivals, Ox Roast, Parade, Christmas in the Park

American Legion, VFW

Mt Sterling

ZIP Code 43143 – Coordinates: 39°42′48″N 83°16′25″W

2024 Population 2,059 2020 1.941. It is grown at 1.43% per year

South Solon

ZIP Code 43153 – Coordinates: 39°44′14″N 83°36′45″W

2024 Population 326, 2020 325, It is not growing.

South Solon is a village in Madison County, Ohio, United States. The population was 329 at the 2020 census. Despite their similar names, South Solon is not adjacent to the city of Solon, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland in Cuyahoga County. The two towns are approximately 170 miles (270 km) apart.

Midway

ZIP Code – Coordinates: 39°43′59″N 83°28′36″W

2024 Population 269, 2020 population same, it is not growing. It is located 11.7 miles south of London.

Midway (also called Sedalia) is a village in Range Twp. Population was 269 at the 2020 census. The ZIP Code is 43151. The town was platted by F Thompson and William Morris and recorded 13 June 1830. The original name was Crossroads. In the 1800’s the village was call Sedalia, the name of the Post Office. But people started calling it Midway because it was located on a cattle trail halfway between Chicago and Philadelphia. In Athens County, there was a Sedalia, so Midway became the name of choice. (Incidenly, Sedalia, Ohio changed its name to Glouster in 1887.)

In 1875, Midway had two churches, three dry-goods stores, one hotel, a woman shop, a shoe shop, one physician and a blacksmith. It is located at the intersection of SR 38 and 323. It is a small villlage about 1/4 square mile.

Sedalia was picked by the U.S. Postal Service because there was said to be a Midway Post Office in Lucas County now closed, and a Midway Borough in Jefferson County. Why the name Sedalia? The name originated in the U.S. A hymn existed with that name and some believe it is from the Hebrew word Sedaliah which means God has spoken. As a person’s name, the nickname Sed is common. There are number of churches called Sedalia and several U.S. communities.

Amity

ZIP Code 43046 – Coordinates: 40°04′07″N 83°15′05″W

As of 1875 the population was abut 100, about 35 in 1915, based on the number of home, I would estimated between 70 to 90 today. It is not listed in Ohio Demographics. It is located 17.4 miles from London and 2.8 miles from Plain City

Amity is an unincorporated community in north-eastern Canaan Township, Madison County, Ohio, United States. It is located at the intersection of Plain City-Georgesville Road and Amity Pike Road, between Plain City and West Jefferson.

History:

In 1817, Uri and Lorenzo Beach, two brothers, settled in the area. Previous to their arrival, agriculture was the only business in the area, but Uri Beach built a sawmill along the Big Darby Creek, and later added a carding machine. Spinning and weaving were also done at the factory. This factory provided all of the lumber for northern Madison County’s earliest frame buildings.

About 1826, Lorenzo opened a general store of his own, The West Canaan Post Office was established on January 16, 1829, and as of 1831, the community also contained a hotel and a blacksmith shop. A small community began to form around these businesses, so the Beach brothers purchased a tract of land and laid out the community of West Canaan on April 1, 1831, and the name was recorded at the London Courthouse on January 3, 1833. In November 1834, there was additional land added to the town’s corporation limits, and the town and post office names were changed to Amity. In 1834, Lorenzo opened a second store in another part of town, and as of 1835, the town contained two dry good stores, a woolen factory, a sawmill, a distillery, a comb factory, and a number of blacksmith and minor mechanical trades shops. In 1830 a postoffice was opened

At this time, Amity was more of a trading point than Plain City. But a combination of the factory’s dam being declared a nuisance and torn down and a trunk-line for the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad being laid through Plain City in 1851 caused most of the business to be transferred to the latter. By 1875, Amity had one dry goods store, one wagon and blacksmith shop, one church, and one physician. =There was a windmill manufacturing company based in Amity during the 1880s and 1890s, The Amity Post Office was discontinued on July 31, 1901, and the mail service sent through the Plain City branch, and as of 1915, the village contained only one store, and one blacksmith. Amity was also known as West Canaan. At its peak, there were 2 stores, a woolen factory, a sawmill, a distillery, a comb factory, and a blacksmith. At the sawmill location is now the Sawmill Lawn Mower Repair shop.

ºBethel

ZIP Code 43140 Geo Coordinates 38°57.8208’N 84°4.8462’W

Mail now comes through the London Post Office. Nothing is left now but a two houses and the nearby Range Twp Cemetery.

Wiki identifies the place, but it does not appear on any lists of communities in the county. I visited it, It has two houses, the oldest built around 1930. It is located on Bethel road, a dead-end road off SR 323, right next to Interstate 71. The owner of the one home (a farm) did not have any knowledge of the area, other than the house was said to be around 90 years old when he bought it in 2022.

Big Plain

ZIP Code 43140 – Coordinates: 39°50′19″N 83°17′21″W.

As of 1875, the population was about 125 and in 1915, the population was 200. The population is unknown today. It is not listed in Ohio Demographics. It is located 10.1 miles east-southeast of London and 8.4 miles almost due south of West Jefferson.

Big Plain is an unincorporated community in Fairfield Twp. It is located at the intersection of West Jefferson-Kiousville and Big Plain-Circleville Road, about 4 miles north of Kiousville.

The community was originally laid out by Thomas Chappel, Robert Thomas and William D. Pringle in the spring of 1849, and was then named California, after the recent gold rush in the state of the same name,and the community was later expanded by Pringle. As of 1875, the community had one church, two dry goods stores,tne drug store, two blacksmith and wagon shops, two physicians, and one shoe shop. Due to there already being a post office named California elsewhere in the state, the Big Plain Post Office was established on June 17, 1850, named after large prairies in the area known as the “Big Plains”. To prevent any confusion, the name of the community was changed to match the name of the post office some time between 1875 and 1905. The post office was discontinued on December 14, 1905. The mail service is now sent through the London branch. As of 1915, the community contained a church, a Knights of Pythias lodge, and the township hall.+

Big Plain has been the site of a recent controversy. Leeward Renewable Energy purchased 1500 acres of land and in 2022 began construction of the Big Plain Solar farm with a a 1906 MWAC capacity and a 138KV substation. This was done in the midst of a series of surrounding community informational meetings with considerable pro and anti sentiments, sometimes almost coming to blows and needing law enforcement protection. In 2014 a similar project was being debated in Union County to the north of Madison County with similar meetings. Both had “No Solar on Prime Farm Land” signs on almost every farm in both counties.

Bill Gates is said to have a stake in this project and investment research seems to show this, even though his name is not on the property records. The ultimate source of the project is OMERS, a Canadian Investment Firm a subsidiary of Borealis Group based in Victoria, Canada. Singapore,Malaysia and Vienna, Austria that manages companies and hotels world-wide and is a Dutch-based investment and management company which operates in over 120 countires and whose sales exceed 10 billion Euros. The point being, the financial and political power behind solar projects means that no protests will defeat Solar, unless the government decides to regulate purchase, development, and land usage including disposal of burned-out panels. California passed a law outlawing disposal of solar panels in land-fills. Instead they are transported by truck and train to a miles long landfill outside of Yuma, Arizona. Ohio will face a similar situation near the year 2050.

As of 1875, the population was about 125, and as of 1915, the population was 200. ZIP Code 43140 Coordinates: 39°50′19″N 83°17′21″W.

Big Plain

ZIP Code 43140 – Coordinates: 39°50′19″N 83°17′21″W.

Big Plain is an unincorporated community in Fairfield Twp. It is located at the intersection of West Jefferson-Kiousville and Big Plain-Circleville Road, about 4 miles north of Kiousville.

As of 1875, the population was about 125, and as of 1915, the population was 200. ZIP Code 43140 Coordinates: 39°50′19″N 83°17′21″W.

Chenoweth

ZIP Code 43143 Coordinates: 39°43′52″N 83°21′27″W

Early and current population is unknown. It is not listed in Ohio Demographics. Today it is served by the Moount Sterling Post Office. It is located about 1/2 miles north and 5 miles west of Mt Sterling.

Chenoweth is an unicorporated community in Range Twp, located along SR 323 between MClimansville and Range. It was never platted and bears the name of Joohn Chenoweth, a pioneer settler. A post Office existed betwee Oct 1887 to Sep 1900. The community has one grocery store, a blacksmith and a small group of houses.

Chrisman

ZIP Code 43143 Coordinates: 39°49′59″N 83°22′22″

Early and current population is unknown. It is not listed in Ohio Demographics.

Chrisman is an unicorporated community in Oak Run Twp, located at the intersection of London-Circleville Rd (SR 56) and Gregg Mill Rd, (Twp Rd 100) about four miles southeast of London. It was never platted. A Post Office was there from 1896 to 1901. Nothing was there but a few houses.

Florence

ZIP Code 43140 Coordinates: 39°50′52″N 83°32′50″

Early and current population is unknown. It is not listed in Ohio Demographics. It is located 6.5 miles southwest of London.

Forence is an unicorporated community in Paint Twp, along US 42 between London and South Charleston. It was never platted. A few houses were built around a train station and freight depot on the Pennsylvania RR. The community had a grain elevator, and a general store.

Gillivan

ZIP Code 43162 Coordinates: 40°06′16″N 83°12′39″W.

Early and current population is unknown. It is not listed in Ohio Demographics. It is located 9.0 miles northeast of London, 9.9 miles southwest of Plain City and 5.1 miles northwest of West Jefferson.

Gillivan is an unicorporated community in Jefferson Twp, along US 42 at the Taylor Blair Road intersection.. It was never platted, just houses formed along a crossroads There was a general store, a hardware store, one blacksmith and six houses as of 1915. There is a Gillivan Baptish Church and Yoder Tools there today. There are a few houses.

Kileville

ZIP Code 43064 Coordinates: 40°06′16″N 83°12′39″W

Early and current population is unknown. It is not listed in Ohio Demographics. But just based on the amount of business locations, there was a small population perhaps more than 50. It is located 3.2 miles east on Plain City.

Kilevile is an unicorporated community in Darby Twp, located along SR 161 between Plain City and Dublin. It was platted on Oct 2, 1895 by James Kile, a farmer who owned the land. It is located on the CSX railroad, but is only a small stop. It was classifed as a village and had a general store, a grain elevator, a blacksmith and a post office.

Kiousville

ZIP Code 43140 Coodinates: : 39°47′50″N 83°17′41″W

Early and current population is unknown. Kiousville is located 12.2 miles southeast of London and 6.6 mile north-northwest of Mount Sterling.

Kiousville is an unincorporated community in southern Fairfield Township, Madison County, Ohio, United States. It is located at the intersection of Kiousville-Georgesville Road and McKendree Road.

The community was originally known as Warnersville, after the owner of the land, Mr. Warner. The first store opened about 1867. The first post office was established on January 27, 1875, as the Warnersville Post Office and discontinued on June 17, 1879.

On February 28, 1881, the post office was re-established as the Kiousville Post Office, but was again discontinued on September 15, 1900. The mail service is now sent through the Mount Sterling branch. As of 1915, the community contained only a few houses, one general store, and one blacksmith.

Mil service today is the Mount Sterling Post Office

Lilly Chapel

ZIP Code 43162 Coordinates: 39°53′20″N 83°16′54″W

Early and current population is not recorded. Lilly Chapel is 9 miles east of London and 4.5 miles due south of West Jefferson.

Lilly Chapel stands out among the unincorporated villages in the county. It is an anomaly. Even though there is no store and just one industry, the grain elevator at the west end of the Camp Chase RR, the community is vibrant. Why? It is because of the efforts of the one remaining church, the Lilly Chapel Methodist Church. If a community has a heart, it is this church. I attended the 2024 Trinity Homecoming Parade a 30 minute parade! It was probably the longest in the county. The church serves food, entertaininment and an auction attended by hundreds from the surrounding area. The church also has a hall which is used for various events for the county.

Lilly Chapel is an unincorporated community in Fairfield Twp. It is located at the intersection of W. Jefferson Kiousville Road and Lilly Chapel Georgesville Road, approximately three miles west of Georgesville in Franklin County and 9 miles from London and 4.5 miles from West Jefferson.

In 1850, a Methodist church was built on land owned by Wesley Lilly, and in recognition of his donation of land, the church was named “Lilly Chapel”.^[3] At the time, there was no community, although the church did draw many settlers from that part of Union County. In 1871, a Short-line railroad, the Columbus, Springfield and Cincinnati. was announced running between Columbus and Springfield, and a store was opened near the church in expectation of the railroad.^[3] In 1873, the railroad was completed, and a station was opened and named Lilly Chapel. The railroad is now the Camp Chase Railroad owned by the by Gulf & Atlantic Railways. The line ?west terminates in Lilly Chapel and going east connects to Norfolk and Southern RR at the Buckeye Yark in Columbus. It is active shipping grain for Lakeview Grains of West Jefferson out of the grain silos and t the elevator in Lilly Chapel.

The community was laid out on August 28, 1871, by Henry Gilroy and Henry Lilly, and originally named Gilroy. Due to the church and railroad station already being named Lilly Chapel, when Henry Lilly petitioned for a post office, he used that name. The Lilly Chapel Post Office was established April 16, 1873,^[4] and the first postmaster was Thomas Horn, who was also the community’s first railroad agent.^[3] The town’s first physician was Dr. Taggart, who moved to Lilly Chapel in 1880, and by 1885, the community contained three general stores, one grocery store, two blacksmith shops, a wagon and buggy shop, two steam sawmills, and two grain elevators.^[3] In 1878, a steam-powered tile factory was built. As of 1915, the community contained a bank, two churches, a high school, two general stores, a hardware store, a confectionery, a grain elevator, and a blacksmith.^[3] The post office was discontinued on December 31, 1957, and the mail service is now through the West Jefferson branch.

As of 1885, the community had a population of 200, and as of 1915, the population was 370.

Madison Lake

ZIP Code 43140 – Coordinates: 39°52′25″N 83°22′29″W

There are over 50 homes, The population is probably under 200.

Madison Lake is an unincorporated community in Union Twp. It is located 4.2 miles south-east of London on the western shore of Madison Lake reservoir, for which it was named. Work on the Lake began in 1946 by building a dam across Deer Creek and digging out areas to a six-foot depth. The 98 acre lake was filled in 1947 and in 1950 was turned over to the Ohio Department of Natural resources. 183 acres on the east shore is Madison Lake State Park (106 acers is lake and 76 acres is land. There is also a small boy-scout camp. The north end of the Lake is a hunting reserve for migratory game birds, see ODOT.

McClimansville

ZIP Code 43143 – Coordinates: 39°43′43″N 83°16′18″W

McClimansvilleis an unincorporated community in Pleasant Twp .6 miles north of Mt Sterling at the intersection of SR 323 and SR 56.

McKendree

ZIP Code 43143 – Coordinates: 39°47′09″N 83°16′19″W

McKendree is 14.5 miles south-east of London, and six miles north of Mt Sterling, at the intersection of Nioga-Toops and McKendree Roads, southeast of Kiousville.

Newport (aka Walnut Run)

ZIP Code 43140 – Coordinates: 39°50′06″N 83°27′55″W

Newport is an unicorporated community in Paint Twp located on SR 38, 4.4 miles south of london.

Newport was platted by Ephraim Freshour and William Coberly in before 1837. In 1851, a steam-powered sawmill was built and the first store opened in 1854. The Walnut Run Post Offrice was established in 1856, changed to Walnutrun Post Office in 1895 and was discontinued in 1895. Mail is now handled by the London Post Office. Even though the town was sometimes called Walnut Run because of the Post Office, it has always been officially Newport. The community had two churches two blacksmiths, a wagon shop, two shoe shops, two grocery stores and a sawmill. Today it still has a two churches, the Newport UMC and the Newport Church of Christ, and the Newport Fire Station which also hosts the Township Trustees.

Range

ZIP Code 43140 – Coordinates: 39°43′55″N 83°25′29″W

Range is an Unincorporated community in Range Twp, located 12.2 miles south of London, 2.9 miles east of Midway, 10.4 miles due east of South Solon (thru Midway). It is located between Chenoweth and Midway. A Post office ws there between 1872 and 1905. Mail now comes through the London Post Office. Nothing is left now but a few houses and the nearby Range Twp Cemetery.

Resaca

ZIPCode 43140 – Coordinates: 40°02′58″N 83°23′17″W

Population was 30 in 1915.

Reseca is an unincorporated community in Monroe Twp, 13.1 miles north-northeast of London and 10.6 miles southwest of Plain City. But connecting roads are needed to get from Plain City and Reseca must be reached from several connecting roads from London. It is located at the intersection of Finley Guy Road and Wodds and W Ave. It truly is in the middle of nowhere! Reseca was never platted but it had a Post Office between 1887 and 1905. The mail is now thru the Plain City Branch. In 1915, it had two general stores, a blacksmith, a doctor, and a poolroom’

Rosedale

ZIP Code 43029 – Coordinates: 40°04′41″N 83°27′18″W

Population 580

Rosedale is an unicorporated community in Pike Twp near the northwest corner of the county, 14.6 miles from London. It is reached from London my traveling north from London on SR 38 North to just south of Plumwood and turning northwest on Rosedale-Milford Center Rd for 6.5 miles.

Rosedale is located between the Spring Fork and the main channel of Little Darby Creek on the western edge of the Scioto Watershed. The area was a wetland of prairie grass before tile was layed.

Rosedale had a post office between 1830 and 1901. It now receives mail from the Mechanicsburg Post Office in Champaign County. Rosedale started out as the 1300 acre Rosedale Farms owned by Captain Andrews named after the Post Office. Captain Andrews who was also the Post Master. He had a store at the intersection of Rosedale and Milford-Center Roads. Darius Burnhamstarted an adjacent community in 1836 named Liverpool. The Rosedale Post Office was then moved into Liverpool, changing the name from Liverpool to Rosedale. The Pike Twp high school was built in 1905. In 1915, thre was a general store, and a blacksmith.

In 1964, the Conservative Mennonite Bible School (a bible college) purchased the former high school building and moved to Rosedale from Berlin, Ohio. It was then renamed to the Rosedale Bible College. The Conservate Mennonite Conference moved to Rosedale in the 1960’s and changed its name tothe Rosedale Network of Churches. Rosedale has one church the Free Will Baptist Church.

Rupert

ZIP Code 43140 – Coordinates: 39°52′57″N 83°21′12″W

Rupert is an unicorporated community in Union Twp. It is located at the intersection of SR665 and Glade Run, 4.9 miles due east of London. It is 7.4 miles south-west of West Jefferson via connecting roads.

The Rupert Post Office was established in 1894 and discontinued in 1901. Mail service is now through the London Post Office. In 1915, Rupuert had a general store, a blacksmith and one a few houses.

Summerford

ZIP Code 43140 Coordinates:

39°56′00″N 83°29′30″W

Population in 1875 was about 20.

Summerford is an unicorporated community in Summerford Twp, 4.5 miles northwest of London on SR 56 to the US40 intersection. It was named by settles moving west because the creek was up. The y set up a settlement waiting for the creek to drop to a safe level and then forded the creek in the summer. Thus Summer Ford by the creek. The town was laid out in 18733-4 by Joseph Christian and was originally named Somerford. The Post Office existed from 1837 to 1905. London now provideds postal service. In 1875, the community had two churches, a drug store, two grocery stores, one hotel, and two blacksmith shops.

Tradersville

ZIP Code 43140 – Coordinates: 40°00′00″N 83°29′55″W

Population figures are not available

Tradersvile is an unincorporated community in Somerford Twp. It is located 9.4 miles northwest of London, and 5.1 miles north of Choctaw Lake. In 1875 it contained one combination dry goods and grocery store, a post office and a blacksmith shop. The Post Office existed from 1848 to1901. London now provices postal service.

Wrightsville

ZIP Code 43123 Coordinates: 39°51′40″N 83°14′

Wrightsville is an unincorporated community in Fairfield Twp, located 10.7 miles southeast of London on SR665, 8.6 miles south of West Jefferson, 3.5 miles south of Lilly Chapel, and four miles north of Kiousville on the County Line. At Wrightsville, SR665 becomes London-Groveport Road. Many maps mistakenly show Wrightsville as being in Franklin County. The Wrightsville Post Office existed from 1888 to 1901. Mail today is from the Georgesville P.O.

Lake Choctaw

ZIP Code 43140 – Cordinates: 39°57′39″N 83°29′15″W

2024 Population 2,148.

Lake Choctaw came into existence in 1964 when American Realty Service Corp dammed Deer Creek and George’s Fork Creek to make a lake. Houses then were built around it, creating a population high enough to be counted in a census separately. It is considered as neither incorporated or nonincorporated. It is a privately owned business which operates as the Choctaw Lake Property Owners Association. It is governed by an elected board of trustees and has assigned Sheriffs deputies and a Lake Patrol. Its youth attend London Public Schools or St Patrick Catholic School. It has over 800 homes built around the Lake. Some are seasonal. The water is from the Deer Creek watershed and is fed by runoff and drainage from 15,616 acres of farmland in Madison, Clark and Champaign counties that drain into Deer and George’s Fork Creeks. The creeks supply 60% of the water, the rest from local runoff from ditches and small creeks. The water then drains into Deer Creek, down to Madison Lake, then down to Deer Creek State Park, then into the Scioto River, then down to the Ohio River and eventually into the Gulf of Mexico. The community has many events each year. Access to the lake for boating and fishing is restricted to property owners and guests with passes.

Lafayette

ZIP Code 43140 – Coordinates: 39°56′27″N 83°24′20″W

Population 206 at 2020 Census.

Lafayette is acensus-designated place in Deer Creek Township on U.S. Route 40 just west of intersection of US Route 42. Lafayette was laid out on October 1, 1834, by William Minter, and named in honor of Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette. On December 31, 1836, the Lawenceville Post Office was moved to Lafayette, and renamed Lafayette Post Office, with John Minter as the first postmaster of the new branch. As of 1875, the community contained one drug store, one dry goods and grocery store, and one blacksmith shop. The post office was discontinued on December 31, 1905, with mail service going through the London branch. As of 1915, the community contained three general stores and one blacksmith shop.

Lafayette is also home to the Red Brick Tavern, one of 11 properties on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Madison County, Ohio.

Plumwood

ZIP Code 43140 – Coordinates: 40°00′32″N 83°24′53″W

Population was 200 in 1915. As of 2020 it was 240. As of 2024, it is 316.

Plumwood is a census designated place in Monroe Township at the intersection of SR 38 and Arthur Bradley Road, 8 1/2 miles north of London. The Spring Fork of Darby Creek flows past the community.

Sanford was laid out December 23, 1895 by Charles F. Sanford. The community was renamed to Plumwood sometime before 1915. It was one of the largest trade centers in the county with three large general stores, a blacksmith, six threshing outfits, and three hay baling outfits.

There is an elementary school there today.