THE FIRST SETTLER-PIONEERS-BLACKSMITH - FIRST TAVERN-FIRST STORE-SCHOOLS-FIRST FRAME HOUSE-FIRST BRICK HOUSE - FIRST ROAD-DAM ACROSS THE MUSKINGUM AT TAYLORSVILLE-GRIST MILL-FERRY - MANUFACTURE OF SALT-TOPOGRAPHY-SOIL-GEOLOGY -UNITED BRETHREN CHURCH-TAYLORSVILLE M. E. CHURCH - TAYLORSVILLE - ST. ANNA'S (CATHOLIC) CHURCH-ORGANIZATION OF TOWNSHIP-TAYLORSVILLE CANAL-THE METHODIST PROTESTANT CHURCH-BLUE ROCK M.E. CHURCH -TAYLORSVILLE LODGE, NO. 534, I. 0. 0. F.- TAYLORSVILLE BRIDGE-ST. JOHN'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH-MILITARY RECORD.

be certainly stated, but in 1798, a family named Bean, inhabited a large sycamore tree, that stood near the mouth of Back run. Other families came soon after, among whom were the Larrisons, Farleys, and Cobbs. These were followed by Nathaniel Ayers, Samuel McBride, James Hemmet, Henry Ballou, James Neff, and Thomas Winn. In 18o4,George Dutro lived on section seventeen ; Jacob Baker came about this time. John W. Baer was probably the first blacksmith in this town- ship. William B. Rose had a shop on Duncan's run, in 1827, and afterwards on "the island," where he smithed for James Taylor during the erection of the mills. He was killed during the fall of 1835, by Robert Annan. James Curran lived in a small frame house situated on what is now lot twenty-five, square twenty-nine, Taylorsville, and kept tavern in 1830. The first store in Harrison township was kept by Gearing Scarvell, who commenced in a small way, about 1833, and gradually increased until he was the owner of a fine store, and is still doing business in Taylorsville.. The first regular cemetery was established in Taylorsville in 1833.

Prior to the adoption of the common school law in Ohio, schools were taught in private houses, or in houses erected by a neighborhood for their individual advantage, shared, by agreement, by their neighbors, who shared the expense. The first public school-house, of which any authentic account is preseryed, was a two-story frame, erect- ed on the public square, in Taylorsville, in 1834. The teacher was Robert Sheppard.

The first physician was one Bixby, who was Succeeded by "a regular," in the person of Dr. Noah Z. Mercer. After Mercer, came Drs. Mason, Clapp, Ballou, Wilkins, Huff, McCormick, Terran, Atwell, Howard, Groves, Suters, Milligan, Blackburn, Lyons, Ulrich, Henry, Dorr, Richie, and Evans. .

The first frame house was erected by James Taylor, in 1830 ; the first brick house by Amos F. Whissen, in TaylOrsville, in 1836. The first regular survey of a road was made from Taylorsville to Brush creek. The viewers were, David Butt, John Oakes, and Gearing Scarvell. James Taylor built a dam across the Muskingum river, at Duncan's' Falls, and a saw mill on the west side of the river, in 1829. The next year he built a grist mill at the same place. The dam was replaced by Colonel James Sharp, under a contract with the State, in 1837-38, ( at the time the navigation of the Muskingum river was improved). The grist mill, after passing through several hands, and being moved nearer the shore,. became the property of Messrs. W. & W. H. Frazier. It contains four run of buhrs, and is doing a fair business. Mr. Taylor also kept a ferry, and engaged in the manufacture of salt, and a number Of other enterprises.

Topographically, Harrison township is broken and rough. The highest elevations contain most of the limestone. , The lowlands are deemed as productive as any lands similarly situated ; some of the finest farms in the county are found here. The township is well watered. Sycamore run, Duncan's run, Back run, and Blue Rock run, all of which rise in Brush Creek township, flow eastwardly through Harrison township, and empty into the Muskingum river. Coal is tolerably abundant, but mined with difficulty,, on account of "horsebacks" and "shut-outs" Occurring in the seams, and which are sometimes very difficult to pass through or around, and then there is no certainty of finding coal beyond them.

The following exhibit is from the report made by the State Geologist upon a section at Taylorsville

Feet.

Inches

10.

11.

12.

13.

Sandstone, quarried

Not well exposed

Shale

Coal, Alexander seam

Clay

Sandstone

Shale, sandy

Light, bluish sandstone, quarried

Shale, blue and sandy

Coal

Clay

Coal

Clay

At the point where the section was made, the Alexander coal was unusually thin. It is reported to be thicker on the east side of the Muskingum river.

The lower coal in this section, which is the equivalent of the upper New Lexington, or Straitsville coal, is worked for neighborhood use.

In section nineteen, Harrison township. at Blue Rock, but not Blue Rock township, the following section was made :

Feet.

Inches

Sandstone

Shale

Coal

Shale

Coal, Alexander seam, 3 feet 6 inches to

The lower Alexander coal has been extensively mined at this point, and shipped on the Muskingum river to supply the demand of the salt furnaces, and the towns on the river below. It was at this point that the roof of an entry fell in, imprisoning four miners, who were rescued alive after an imprisonment of over thirteen days, during which time they had nothing to eat, except the dinner carried in for the first day.—{Geolog- ical Report, 1873 ; Volume I., page 332-3. E. B. Andrews.]

In the year 1816, Jacob and Nathaniel Ayers bored the first well for salt ; it was located on Section to, Town 11, and Range 13, on the west bank of the river, just above the mouth of Sycamore Run, and was sunk to a depth of four hundred and eighty-two feet. Subsequently an-

other well was sunk about four hundred feet distant, and the two wells supplied the furnace ; i.e., the evaporating works ; but owing to the primitive style of the machinery employed, were not very productive.

In the course of time, these wells became the property of John Stevens, and were known as the “Stevens Salt Works." The success of these works, however, is due to Jacob Neff, who re-bored the old well to a depth of five hundred and three feet, improved the machinery, and rebuilt the furnace.

The works are now operated by Mr. Neff, and produce about one hundred barrels of excellent salt per week.

STEPHEN GUTHRIE'S SALT WORKS—The wells at these works are respectively four hundred and eighty-eight, and four hundred and ninety-five feet deep, and are situated just below the mouth of Sycamore Run.

The first well here was sunk by Stephen Guthrie, for James Taylor, and the second, by Charles Lucas, for Stephen Guthrie.

The works are now operated by William Edgely, and produce about one hundred barrels of salt per week, with a consumption of one thousand bushels of coal.

OTHER WELLS—About the year 1830, Michael Waxler bored a well for Moses Ayers, on the northwest quarter of Section 8, now owned by Henry Krigbaum. This well was sunk five hundred feet deep, and was operated by Mr. Ayers for a few years, and then abandoned.

About the same time, Nehemiah Dillon sunk a well on Section 32, near where Samuel Swingle now lives, to a depth of four hundred and fifty feet. This was called a "blowing" well, from its periodical emissions of water and gas. How long it was operated is not now known. There was also a well just below the last mentioned, called the "west well."

W. B. Culbertson bored a couple of wells above this, on Section 30, and Nathaniel Ayers one on Section 17, now the Patterson property.

Besides these, other wells, "too numerous to mention," were sunk, few of which were productive, and none of which are now in operation.

The first evangelist of this denomination, was Rev. John Russell, who preached to "a handful of the saints," in the humble dwelling of Jacob Baker. He organized a class at this time, but we are unable to give the names of those who there assembled, and cannot say, with certainty, what year they met, but tradition asserts that it was about the year 1820. The seed sown must have fallen on good ground, for the same authority declares that, about the year 1822, the Rev. -- Harding came, and preached three years, in the same house ; and in 1825, this house was deemed too small, and they moved to the Duncan school-house, and were ministered to by "old Father Hastings" for two years. In 1830, they were served by Elder Case and others, until, in 1852, they built a hewed log house, on the premises of Robert Prescott. This house was built during the administration of Rev. David Shrader, and its dimensions were twenty-five by thirty feet. The Trustees were : Shrader, Whitaker, Stockdale, and Levi Marcellus.

The society numbered eight or ten members— Jacob Baker and wife, Stockdale and wife, Prescott and wife, and perhaps several more. They worshiped in this house until June, 1876, when, under the second administration of the Rev. Samuel Whitmore, William Aichle, "Pal" Baker, and Jacob Eppley, Sr., were constituted a Board of Trustees, and, in the town of Taylorsville, Muskingum county, Ohio, a house, thirty by forty, was erected, and dedicated on Sabbath, the 27th of August, 1876, by Rev. William Fisher. That year, the Conference sent Reverends S. F. Altman and Daniel Folk, who took charge of the congregation. The following year, G. W. Dearer ministered to them, and was succeeded by J. W. Cummings, now in his second year. The membership now numbers one hundred and four, and has a good Sunday School. We are indebted to J. W. Cummings for the foregoing data.

In the year 1830, Rev. Mr. Goff organized a class, at James Hammet's, on Duncan's run, which was subsequently changed to Taylorsville. The members of the first class were : James Hammet and wife, Peter Sheppard and wife, James Seright and wife, Daniel Dutro and wife, James Neff and wife, Silas White and wife, Robert Sheppard and wife, Robert Prescott, Sr., and wife, Sanford Burdott and wife, Lucy Baker, Jacob Baker, and Rhoda Hammet. The class-leader was James Hammet.

For several years the meetings were held in such buildings as could be procured, until 1840, when a meeting-house was erected on lots six and seven, block thirty-six. This was a frame building, forty by fifty, and was dedicated by Rev. Joseph Trimble. The present number of members is one hundred and twenty. Leaders—David W. Seright and Aquilla Neff; Steward—E. Jasper Souders.

A Sabbath School, of ninety scholars, is connected with this church ; E. J. Souders, Superintendent.

Taylorsville, the only village in the bounds of Harrison township, was laid out by James Taylor, in 1833, and received its name from that gentleman. Gearing Scarvell was the surveyor, and one of the first occupants, having resided on the premises before the town was laid out. He kept the first store ; James Curran, the first hotel ; William B. Rose, the first blacksmith shop ; Humphrey Blake, the first shoe shop, and James McBride, the first cabinet shop.

The town, at present, contains four churches, three schools, four stores, five groceries, one tavern, one grist-mill, two saloons, two blacksmith shops, two tin shops, two shoe shops, one wagon

The postoffice was established here in 1850 ; Dr. Ferran, Postmaster. The present officials are as follows :

Councilmen—Henry Moore, Frederick Young, John Barringer, Hiram Dickas, David Sullivan, and Adam Kline.

Taylorsville is situated on the west bank of the Muskingum river, and occupies a gravelly bluff, ninety feet in height. It extends down the river three-fourths of a mile, and one-half mile back from the canal. The location is a beautiful and healthy one. To procure water, wells have to be sunk to a depth of eighty feet, but, when reached, it is of excellent quality.

Taylorsville was, for a long time, a "mission," supplied from Zanesville. In the year 1836, a church was erected, on lot eight, of block twenty-nine—a frame structure, twenty-five by forty. Anthon Eberst was the contractor, and the building cost one thousand dollars. It was dedicated by Bishop Purcell.

The maximum number of members is one hundred and fifty ; present number, seventy-five. Present pastor—Father Magnus Eppinck.

Harrison township was organized December 20th, 1839, as the following extract from the Journal of the County Commissioners will show :

"A petition was presented by John Hammond, signed by a majority of the householders residing within the boundaries of the proposed new township, and the Commissioners, being satisfied that the necessary notice of such intended application had been given by advertisement, as required by law, proceeded to take the matter into consideration.

"The petition set forth that they labor under many difficulties and disadvantages, in consequence of the distance and other difficulties they encounter, in going to and from elections ; and also praying that a new township may be set off of parts of Blue Rock, Brush Creek, and Salt Creek townships ; and the Commissioners, believing it necessary for the convenience of the inhabitants and township officers, do hereby order a new township to be set off, according to the following boundaries, to wit :

"Beginning at the southwest corner of section number fourteen, in the original surveyed township number ten, in range number thirteen, and running thence north to the center of the Muskingum river ; thence following down the center of said river according to the meanderings thereof, to the line which divides the counties of Muskingum and Morgan, thence west on said line to the place of beginning—all in the Congress district of lands, which shall constitute a new township, to be called Harrison township.

"Also ordered by the Commissioners that an election he held at the house of P. Burkhalter, in Taylorsville, on the 20tb inst, (being December 20th, 1839,) between the hours of eight and ten A.M., and close at four P.M., to elect township officers, according to law.

The new township, thus formed, comprised that portion of Blue Rock township lying west of the Muskingum river in range twelve, one row of sections from the eastern part of Brush Creek township in range thirteen, and one section of Salt Creek township lying west of the river.

The records of the township are lost, and no account of the first Board of officers can now be given. The first Justices of the Peace, however, were J. W. Whisson and William Price. Solomon Groves and Henry Ballou were also early dispensers of justice.

The present Board of officers is as follows : Justices of the Peace—Peter Krier and Martin Durant.

Board of Education—Hiram Price, Christian Dreier, Joseph Daw and John McHenry.

The township contains seven schools and six churches, three of the former and four of the latter being within the limits of the borough of Taylorsville.

This canal is a part of the system of "improve- ments in the navigation of the Muskingum." It is one mile long, and was built by the State. Lyons, Buck and Wolf, were the contractors. Christley Wolf superintended the work, which was finished in 1840.

Rev. Nathaniel Linder, in 1842, preached in the woods, where Hiram Price now lives, on the bank of the Muskingum, and organized a class of fifteen or twenty members, amongst whom were Robert Welch and wife, also two daughters, Peter Mohler and family, James Morrison and wife, Mrs. David Young, Isaiah Dinnis and wife, Joseph Fish and Robert Twyman.

In 1843, Rev's. J. Huntsman and James Winn, inaugurated a revival, when the membership was augmented to one hundred and twelve, and a

meeting house built near the centre of section thirty, on the land of Mathias Young, 24x28, which stood till 1869, when a new frame building, 34x38, was erected, at a cost of $1,100.

This church was dedicated in May, 1870, by Rev's. J. C. Ogle and George H. Hissey.

The present pastor is Rev. William Sears. Class Leaders—Hiram Price and F. A. Riley.

The first class of this church was formed by Rev. Samuel Hamilton, with Joseph Kirk as leader. Other members were, John Hammond and wife, Frederick Barringer and wife, John White and wife, James Shaner and wife, John W. Bear and wife, and Susan Adams.

The first meeting house was of hewed logs, 20x25, and was erected on section eleven, be- tween the forks of Blue Rock creek.

The second church building, a frame, 26x30, was erected near the same place, in 1852.

The maximum membership attained was seventy-five. The present membership does not exceed forty.

This Lodge was instituted July 3oth, 1872, by Henry Lindenberg, Special Deputy Grand Master, with fourteen charter members, as follows

Basil Kraig, Oliver Demster, John Mason, Joseph Baughman, Warren Pitts, Sidney Wagstaff, William Lucas, Peter Hoppstatter, Phillip Schaus, James S. Kraig, Zach. Riley, Jacob Hall, Peter Mast and Robert Longley.

N. G., Basil Kraig ; V. G., Oliver Demster ; Recording Secretary, J. S. Kraig ; Permanent Secretary, J. R. Peach ; Treasurer, Peter Mast.

When this Lodge was instituted, it met in a hall leased of Mrs. Dr. Stout, for a term of five years. Before the expiration of this lease, a new hall was built, and dedicated July 4th, 1877. Cost of hall and fixtures $950.

The maximum number of members is seventy-four. The present number of members is seventy.

N. G., Christian Dreier ; V. G., Marion Erwine ; Recording Secretary, John Barber ; Permanent Secretary, John W. Tignor ; Treasurer, E. Jasper Souders.

This very necessary public improvement was projected by Mr. Gearing Scarvell, in 1873, and was intended to be built by subscription, but as this would have necessitated making it a toll bridge, the County Commissioners were finally induced to assume the responsibility of making a county bridge, and the work was com- menced July 1, 1874. T. B. Townsend had the contract for the stone work, which was finished in the latter part of September of the same year.

The contract for the super-structure was awarded to the "Smith Bridge Company," of Toledo, Ohio, who completed the entire structure about the middle of November, 1874. This bridge is seven hundred and ninety-eight feet long, and sixteen feet wide, supported by four piers, each thirty-three feet high ; the whole, costing, when finished, twenty-eight thousand dollars.

This church was organized April ii, 1878, by Rev. Andrew Birch, with a membership of fifty. A

lot was purchased in Taylorsville, in October, 1878, and a foundation laid for a church building. The next spring the corner-stone of a building thirty-six by fifty feet, was laid, a frame church erected, and dedicated September 28, 1879. The dedication sermon was preached in German, by Rev. H. Cramer, of Zanesville, and in English, by Prof. M. Loy. The cost of the building was $1,000. Present number of members, sixty.

Second Regiment O. V. I.—Jackson Nichols, Isaiah Poland, John Bowman, James H. Shep- pard, David E. Sheppard, John Lawson, Daniel Brown, Lewis Young, George Sullivan, Noah Kincade, John Brown, Henry Sullivan, Josiah Thompson, Rufus Toll, Lewis Toll, Captain H. Lee Anderson, John Berkermer, David Lawson, Christian Hock, Martin W. Sullivan, George Wolfe, Wesley Miller, George Rush.

Third Regiment O. V. I.—John W. Tigner, Jacob Shryder, Caleb Nicholas, John Reed.

Twenty-fourth Regiment O. V. I.—George B. Howard, James Sullivan, Mountz Nichols, Robt. Longley, Jacob Longley, George Longley, William Hapton, JohnRiddle, Thomas Lear, James Savage, George Arndt.

Seventy-eighth Regiment O. V. I.—W. H. Sullivan, John W. Garrett, David F. Sullivan, Sullivan L. Bailey, John Kinney.

One Hundred and Twenty-second O. V. I.— John Hussmaul, George Dennick, Wm. Aichle, Jacob Urban, Frederick Young, John A. Good, David Hopslatter, Jerome Romine, Harry D. Thompson, Rufus G. Mason, Joseph Longley, George Andrews, John Andrews, Charles Kincade, James Luman, Jos. Frost, Alfred Kincade, John E. Arndt, Joseph Baughman, Hiram Baughman, Jeremiah Sheppard, Stephen Harrope, Calvin Thompson, Robert Lawson,Albert Moore, William H. Sheppard, Robert Hambler, William Hambler.

Second West Virginia Cavalry.--Jonathad Hall, Isaiah Hall, Calvin Bartlett, Alfred Anderson.

Ninety-seventh Regiment 0. V. I.—Caleb Monroe, George W. Olden, William D. Weaver, Charles Sailers, Morrison, Asbury Luman, Henry Romine, James Hankison, Joseph Emenhoser.

United States Gunboat Service.—Lewis H. Cockrel, Phillip Dennick, Noah M. Kincade, George W. Seright, Robert Prescott.

One Hundred Days Service.—Peter Krier, William Riley, Aquilla Neff, Stephen Neff.