(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO - 455 SALEM. Salem township was laid off from New Market and Union townships on the ninth day of August, 1819, with boundaries running as follows: " Beginning where Concord township line crosses the west line of Parker's survey of two thousand acres; thence running with said line to the northwest corner of said survey; thence to John Barnes, including him; thence running with Kessinger's road to Anthony Stroup's land, including said road; thence running in a northwesterly direction, to the nearest point of the county line; thence southwardly with the county line to the corner of Concord township; thence with Concord township line to the place of beginning. The territory herein included to be known as Salem township." Since this time Salem has given a portion of its territory to Dodson, Clay and Hamer townships. As constituted at the present day, it has ten thousand nine hundred and twenty-seven acres, of which about one-fourth is woodland. ANTIQUITIES. Salem township, like Clay township, is rich in relics and antiquities. Relics the shape of stone pestles, axes, tomahawks, fleshers, etc., are very common though not so common now as formerly. Nearly every farmer has a specimen or two, and some have a good collection of specimens. Of mounds, there are not many, but there are two earthworks which are very interesting. In, the southern part of the township, partly on the land of John Gossett, and partly on the land of Nancy Faris, is an earthwork, which probably was made for a fort. It is situated on an elevated tongue of land, thirty-five or forty rods long by twenty rods wide, lying between White Oak creek on the east, and a ravine on the west. To the southward the ravine meets the valley of the creek. Near the center of the tongue of land is a large mound, about nine feet high, with a small mound, half as high, on its southeastern edge, suggesting that a double mound was contemplated, or the collection of materials at this point for the completion of the large mound. A white oak stump three feet in diameter, stands on the main mound, besides numerous beech trees, large and small. To the 456 - HISTORY OE ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO. south, about fifteen rods, on the brow of the hill is an embankment, thrown up from without, extending from the ravine to the bluff of the creek, in circular form, though not an arc of a perfect circle. To the northward from the mound, about the same distance, is a similar embankment, extending from the creek to the ravine. The bank of the creek on the east of this earthwork is very steep, and for quite a distance perpendicular, or as nearly so as a clay bank can be made by constant undermining from below. It is evident that the creek has undermined a portion of the embankment, though it is a question whether the embankment was ever a continuous curve on that side. The embankment is easily traced at the present day, and it is to be hoped that the proprietors, present and future, will do all in their power to preserve this interesting work from obliteration. On the farm of Jesse Chaney there has been at some very ancient day an earthwork. It has a beginning in a mound, once much higher than at present, standing now in a wheat field. At a short distance from the mound, and running to the southward and curving to the eastward, is a low embankment, about three feet higher than the land on either side, and at present about thirty feet wide. The embankment can be traced through adjoining lots, and into the woods, a distance of forty rods or more. The curve it makes is nearly half of a circle. It may at one time have extended the entire circle. On Amos Chaney's farm, about a quarter of a mile south of his house, is a small mound. On the farm of Jacob Landess, north of Pricetown, there is another mound. SETTLEMENT. John Davidson moved from Pennsylvania to Kentucky, and thence to New Market, while it was still the county seat. His family consisted of five boys and one girl. In 1866 he was made constable for New Market township, and in 1807 was auctioneer for the sale of lots in Hillsborough. In 18i1 he moved to Salem township, or, rather, what has since become Salem, and settled on the Davidson survey, number seven thousand and eighty- three. During the same year he was employed by Andrew Moore, in the digging of his salt well, mentioned in another place. When the war of 1812 broke out, he volunteered in Captain Barrere's company, and was elected lieutenant of the company. He was with the company at Detroit and at Hull's surrender. After the war of 1812 he purchased land in the Rawlins' survey, number three thousand three hundred and eighty-six, and moved to it. The farm is now owned by Daniel Turner. A large number of early settlers in Hamer, Salem, etc., including Mr. Davidson, purchased their lands of "old Joe Kerr," but Kerr, for some reason, put off giving them clear titles to their lands, and, after they had made numerous "improvements," he attempted to regain possession of the lands on account of the defect in the titles. In a few cases he succeeded, but Davidson took the matter to the courts, and, having made a vigorous fight, succeeded in gaining his case, and thus broke, to some extent, the land-grabbing of unprincipled men. Kerr, soon after his defeat, made the emphatic remark that he would have made an independent fortune out of them d d black Dutch if it had not been for Davidson. Davidson's son, William, settled on and cleared the farm now owned by William Workman, north of Pricetown. Nancy, Mr. Davidson's only daughter, was born in 1805. In 1825 she married Jesse Faris, and settled, in 1826, on the farm where she still lives, on Bowyer's survey, number eight hundred and ninety-eight. Mr. Davidson was probably the earliest settler within the limits of the present township of Salem. He was a shoemaker, and the first one in the township. A short time after Mr. Davidson had settled in Salem, John Springer came from Straight creek, and began a clearing and the erection of a cabin on the place since known as the Barker place, Gray's survey, number three thousand three hundred and eighty-one. While thus engaged, he boarded with the Davidsons. When the cabin was ready for occupation, he returned to Straight creek and brought his family. The family was a large one, but there are no representatives of it now living in Salem. The names of the children were Polly, Job, Rachel, Melinda, Sallie, Nancy, Mahala and Thirza, twins, Nathan, John, and Maria. John Faris and his wife, nee Jane Watson, were the parents of a large family of children, whose descendants are very numerous in Salem. They lived in what was then New Market township—now Hamer—having arrived there in the spring of 181 5. Their children, thirteen in number, all grew to maturity, married, and had families, as follows: Elijah, Ben. I., Sarah, Catharine, Mary, Rachel, Jane, John B., Jesse, Andrew, Eli, Uriah and James. Elijah married Mary Miles, and settled where Pricetown now is, on one hundred acres of land. They had six children. "Ben. I.," as he was familiarly called, had a family of eight children. They lived west of Pricetown. Sarah married Abraham Wilkin, and settled near Sonner's mill, in White Oak township. They had eight children. Catharine married Samuel Sweinhart, December 26, 1815. The lived on the farm now owned by Moody Pulliam, south of Pricetown, and had seven children. Their first cabin was a rough shanty, originally built for a sugar camp, and was enclosed on three sides only. When Mr. Sweinhart was away from home, Mrs. Sweinhart was often obliged to stand guard against the wolves with an axe. The family moved to Indiana. Mary married Jacob Cochran, and settled in New Market. Their family consisted of eight children. Rachel married Daniel Scott, and had three children. They settled east of Pricetown, in Salem township. Jane married Samuel Gibler, and settled in Liberty township. John B. married Catharine Welty, and settled north of Pricetown. They had eight children. Jesse married Nancy Davidson, the daughter of John Davidson, and had eleven children. They settled a mile southwest of Pricetown. When they had been married about a year, they moved to the farm which Nancy, a widow, now owns. Their household goods were so meagre that they placed them all in the front end of the wagon box. On their way, they stopped at the mill and got a peck of corn ground. They had two hams. Mrs. HISTORY OE ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO - 457 Faris soon made five pounds of butter, which she exchanged for one pound of coffee. Before that, the family were content with sassafras tea. Their first soap Mrs. Faris made from the fat of two opossums. Andrew married Susan Hoop and had eight children. Their farm was south of Pricetown. Eli married Lucilla Pulliam, and settled in New Market. Uriah married Eliza Couch, and had seven children. They settled to the south of Pricetown. James married Mary Hoop, and settled east of Pricetown. They had three children. John, the father of the family, and his wife, were members of the Christian church at Pricetown. He died in 185o, at the age of eighty-one, and his wife in 185 r, at the age of eighty. Nathan Pulliam was born in Virginia in 1789. He removed to Kentucky, and there married. When he was twenty-one years of age he began preaching, associating at that time with the Methodist denomination. In 1817, he moved, with his family, to Ohio, and settled in what is now Salem township. His brother-in-law, David Foreman, came with him and settled in what is now Clay. Mr. Pulliam was one of the pioneer preachers in this portion of the then wilderness. He cared more for the essentials of religion than for dogmas. Hence we find him affiliating, from time to time, with other denominations than the Methodists. He at one time joined the United Brethren organization, and passed from that to the Campbellite or Christian denomination, -in which church he remained till his death. He removed from Salem to White Oak township, where he rented a place. He remained there but a year or two, removing then to Hamer, where he lived on the place now owned by the widow Dehass. Here he lived, farming and working at the stonemason's trade, and preaching for twelve or thirteen years. He removed from Hamer to Clay township, in 1836, where he spent the remainder of his days. He died in r87o, at the ripe age of eighty-one years. His family consisted of ten children, all of whom are still living, though their hairs are gray. David Welty moved from Kentucky to what is now Hamer township, in 1811. He had three children, born in Kentucky. In 1823, when his daughter, Catharine, was seventeen years old, she married John B. Faris, and moved to the Bowyer survey, number eight hundred and ninety-eight, in Salem township, and north of Pricetown. Their family consisted of eight children. Mr. David Welty died in 1839. About 1830, Mr. J. B. Faris erected a saw- and gristmill on White Oak creek, about a quarter of a mile above Pricetown. It was run by water power, and continued in operation about nine years. Samuel Workman was born in 1789, in Maryland, and moved from Maryland to Kentucky before the war of 1812. In 1814 he was drafted, and went with General Harrison. He married Elizabeth Ockerman, from North Carolina. Five children were born to them in Kentucky, viz: William, Anne, Barbara, Elizabeth, and John. In 1823, the family moved from Kentucky to Salem township, in Highland county, Ohio, and settled on the farm now owned by Noah Smith (Hobson survey, number seven thousand and eighty-five). Seven other children, making twelve in all, were here added to the family. Of these,- two only, William and David, remain in Salem. Several moved to Iowa, and thither Samuel, the father, went and spent his last days. His death occurred December 29, 1877. The hardships of pioneer life were felt by the Workman family. At one time Mr. Workman had nothing in the house for breakfast. He shouldered his axe and walked to Penn township. There he cut two hundred rails, for which he received two bushels of corn. He took the corn to Wilkin's mill, and having had it ground, he carried it home late in the afternoon, and the family then had their breakfast. Deer were so numerous that they were at times troublesome. The boys were frequently set to drive the deer from the cornfields to save the tender corn. Wolves were very common, but were speedily killed off. The last one in Salem township was seen in 1827. It kilted a cow belonging to Mr. Workman. Philip Baker came from Pennsylvania to Brown county, Ohio, in 1810. In 1823 he removed to Salem township, Highland county, living the first eleven months where Mr. Pulse now lives, near Harwood chapel, and then moved to the Barrere survey, number twelve thousand two hundred and thirty. His wife's name was Rachel Springer, and- their family consisted of eleven children. At the time of their settlement there were only four families on the Little North fork of White Oak creek. George Rader lived where Christopher Sanders now lives. John Davison lived on the Turner farm. John Springer lived on the farm now owned by John A. Brown, and Philip Baker as above. Mrs. Baker died in 1847, and Mr. Baker in 1873. Their boys' names were Harvey, John, James, and Joseph. Harvey lives in Illinois. John lives in Salem, on the Gray survey, number three thousand three hundred and eighty-one. His wife was Eliza Colvin, and their children six in number. Three of their daughters married three brothers. James Baker, now called James Baker, sr., married, in r84o, Sarah Sanderson, daughter of George Sanderson. She died in 1849, leaving four children, three of these are living one in Salem, one in Illinois, and one in California. Mr. Baker married Jane Faris, daughter of Elijah Faris, for his second wife. His early life was full of activity, and of few advantages, educationally. About three months of school completed his education in books. During these three month's he had two teachers—a Mr. Hutchings and a Mr. Savage. What Mr. Baker did not learn in school he learned in the woods. He was very fond of hunting, so much so that his mother never knew him to be too sick to chase foxes. His old passion for hunting clings to him yet, to a large extent. He was the oldest child of the family, being born in 1816. He settled where he now lives, in the woods, in 1847; cleared his farm, and made all the improvements. Joseph Baker married Anna Donoho in 1834, and settled at first near his father, Philip, on the farm now owned by Jacob B. Cochran. His title to his land not being good he was Obliged to leave the place; lived six years in New Market, and then bought his present farm, in the western edge of Salem, on the Wallace 58 458 - HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO. survey, numbers thirteeen thousand seven hundred and thirty-two, and fourteen thousand six hundred and forty- four. In 1852 Mrs. Baker died, having had nine children. Three of them are still living James H. is at home with his father. Mary married, and lives near Lynch- burgh, in Union township. Loro Ruhami married Lewis Bishir, and lives in Washington township. Mr. Baker married for his second wife Elizabeth Dye. They have two children—Minerva married Rufus Shockey, and lives in Sicily. Nathan lives at home. Amos Chaney, sr., moved from Maryland, his native State, to New Market in 1811, when twenty-seven years old. He is still living in the northeast corner of the township. His son, Amos, moved to Salem township in 1838, and learned the cooper trade of John Gossett, who moved to Salem the same year. In 1841 Amos Chaney married ,Mr. Gossett's daughter, Rachel, and settled in the woods, on the farm he now occupies (Brown survey, number three thousand three hundred and eighty-three). He followed the cooper trade, in connection with his farming, about fourteen years. He opened up a clearing around his cabin. He had a family of eight children. Of these, three, two sons and one daughter, are married, and live on the farm near their parents; one lives in Brown county; two are dead, and two are still at home. Mr. Chaney has been noted for his splendid physical powers. Even when a boy he was one who delighted in athletic sports, and could fight his-own battles. As a country boy, the town (Hillsborough) boys were inclined to pick fusses with him. In these encounters he showed much pluck and strength, till at last the town boys were inclined to let him alone, for he generally overpowered even those larger than himself. In the winter season he, in common with other children, often had no shoes. He managed to visit his traps, of which he generally had half a dozen at least, pretty regularly. Heating a board by the fireplace, he would take it under his arm and run as far as he could barefooted, in the snow, and then lay down his board and stand on it till his feet were warm. Then the process would be repeated till all his traps were visited and reset, and he returned home. In 1842 a great rush of immigrants to Salem and neighboring townships occurred, and log-rollings were very common. Mr. Chaney attended in that spring no less than thirty-six log-rollings. Mason John Harris came from the State of New Jersey, in 1816, with his wife and three children. He settled on and cleared the farm now owned by Mr. Knupp, in. Hamer township. Eight more children were added to the family, and most of the children settled in Hamer township. Allen P. Harris, one of the sons, married Ann Faris, and settled in the woods, on the place where he now lives, in 1842. Although settling much later than many of the old pioneers, he has had the same experiences of backwoods life. He has made a fine improvement and his place shows evidence of thrift. His family consists of eight children, five of whom are still living. His father sold the home farm about twenty years ago. He died in 1869, at the age of eighty-two years. Henry A. Stevens moved from Pennsylvania to Salem township, in 1831, and lived for a tithe in a log schoolhouse; settling on the Hobson survey, number seven thousand and eighty-five. His son George, who lives east of Pricetown, was born in the school-house above mentioned. Besides George, Mr. Stevens had nine children, none of whom settled in Salem. Three of them settled in Hamer, one in Clermont county, and the rest in Iowa. George married Margaret King. Their family consists of six children. Mr. Stevens has held the office of township clerk and township treasurer, each one term. In 1872 he was elected by the county as recorder. This office he held until January, 1879. He has made some excellent improvements on his farm. Joseph Custer emigrated from Fayette county, Pennsylvania to Hamer township, arriving there on the fourth of March, 1847. He purchased land on "Smoky Row," south of Danville. Van Buren Custer, his youngest son,, was born in 1835. He married Margaret Faris, by whom he had two children. By his second wife, Catharine A. Malcom, he has had six children. Mr. Custer is a mechanic and bridge-builder by trade, and has numerous specimens of his art in the county, among which we mention the Ogden bridge in Clay township, and the city hall in Hillsborough. Mr. Custer now owns a farm south of Price- town, which he is improving with excellent buildings; he also has a store in Pricetown. He is a prominent member of the Christian church in Pricetown, and a very active and efficient worker. His great-grandmother (Joseph's father's mother), was a Ball, and sister of George Washington's mother. The parents of Henry V. Roades left Virginia in 1813 and settled near Hillsborough. At the time they started on their journey, Henry was only two weeks old. The family lived near Hillsborough till 184o, when they moved to the north part of Clay township, and settled on the Mercer survey, number one thousand and ninety-eight. G. W. Roades, a son of Henry V., was born in 1838, and settled, in 1864, when he married, on the same survey above mentioned, but to the north, and over the line, in Salem township. His farm was all woods when he went to it. He married for his first wife Eliza Florence, and his second wife's name was Nancy J. Wallace, by whom he has had eight children. In 1877 he opened a country store, and has done a good business, though still surrounded on nearly every side with native forests. He carries about one thousand dollars worth of stock. John Barker, the father of the Rev. James H. Barker, was born in Maryland. At nineteen years of age he married and moved to West Virginia. During the Whiskey insurrection he was called out to help suppress the rioters. He was a noted hunter in Virginia. In 1827, with his wife and thirteen children, he emigrated to Hillsborough, and then, after a stay of two weeks, to New Market, where he lived fifteen years. In 1842 he moved to the farm in Salem, on the Grey survey, number three thousand three hundred and eighty-one, lately owned by his son James. One child, the fourteenth, was born in Ohio. Of the children, four are now living, three of whom are in the west. James H. married Elizabeth Faris May 30, 1846, and occupied the homestead farm. They HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO - 459 have had ten children, six of whom are living. Three children are married and live in Salem. James H. Bar ker has been township trustee three terms. For many years, and, until his health prevented, he was a minister of the gospel, of the Christian denomination. Jacob Cochran was from Virginia. He moved first to Kentucky, and thence, in 1816, to New Market, bringing with him, to the latter place, a wife and three children. To these five more were eventually added. Jacob B. Cochran moved to Salem township in 1840, having just previously married Jane Colvin. They moved into a cabin which had been built and occupied by Joseph Baker. There was a small clearing on the farm, but most of the clearing up and improving of it has been done since Mr. Cochran possessed it. His brother, James W., moved to Salem and settled on the same survey (Barrere's, number twelve thousand two hundred and thirty), in 1837, on the farm now owned by his son-in- law, John A. Brown. Jacob B. Cochran's family consists of eight children, of whom six are living. Three of these live in Salem, iwo in Dodson, and one in Brown county, Ohio. His oldest son, George W., is numbered among the martyrs slain for their country. He belonged to the Forty-eighth regiment, Ohio volunteer infantry. He was in the battles of Shiloh and Vicksburgh. It is supposed that he died on a hospital boat. He died August 21, 1863. William Cochran was born in Salem in 1838. His father was James W. Cochran. William married Nancy Faris, the daughter of Jesse Faris, and they have a family of six children. They occupy the farm east of the one that James Cochran owned. John A. Brown is the son of Samuel R. Brown, and grandson of Allen Brown, who for many years kept the hotel near Buford in Clay township. Mr. John A. Brown was born in Brown county, near the line of Highland county, and was reared on a farm. His father lived for many years in Hillsborough, while John was a lad, and thus he received educational and social advantages which otherwise he might never have obtained. In 1877 he married Rebecca, daughter of James W. Cochran, and has two children. He has come into possession of a fine farm, and he has some very excellent stock thereon. Solomon Sprinkle moved from Pennsylvania to Brush Creek township, in Highland county, about 1822, where he spent the remainder of his days. He died in 1837. He had a family of seven children, two of whom live in Salem. Mary married Mr. Lafferty, and lives adjoining her brother Samuel. Samuel moved to Salem in 1848. He married Christiann Fisher, and had one child. Mrs. Sprinkle died, and Mr. Sprinkle married Mary Fisher, his first wife's sister, by whom he has had five children. Mr. Sprinkle from 1848 till 186o kept a good store at his house) which was upon the Wallace survey, numbers thirteen thousand five hundred and thirty-two, and thirteen thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven. From time to time he purchased land till he has now a fine property. Levi Stroup, the grandson of Anthony Stroup, of Dodson, and son of James Stroup, lives on the Watson survey, number thirteen thousand one hundred and seventy five, in Salem. His wife was Alvira Pegan, from Brown county. They were married in 1855, and have been living in Salem, on their present place, twenty years. Six of their eight children are living. Two of these are married and live, one near Dodsonville, and the other near Allensburgh. Nicholas Dawson, grandfather to Hon. H. C. Dawson, moved from Maryland to western Pennsylvania about 1765. He was with Crawford in his expedition against Sandusky. His son John was a lawyer in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and was for a time probate judge of the county. Hon. H. C. Dawson was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in 1834. He graduated from Madison college in 1854, and was admitted to the bar in 1857. The same year he was appointed prosecuting attorney for his county, to fill a vacancy, which place he held two years. His health failing, he gave up the practice of law and went onto his father's farm, where he remained till the breaking out of the Rebellion. Enlisting for three years as a private in the Eighth regiment, Pennsylvania reserves, he was soon made a sergeant. In May, 1862, he was made captain of his company (company G). At the battle of Fredericksburgh, December 3, 1862, he was wounded in the arm and side, while ordering a retreat, and fell. The Confederate troops marched over him, and again toward night retreated over him, leaving him at night between the opposing forces. Under cover of darkness he crawled into the Federal camp. After the war he moved to Salem township, on the Dawson survey, number seven thousand and eighty-three, and became a farmer. In the fall of 1875 he was elected by Highland county as their representative in the State legislature, and re-elected in 1877. He was the first Republican the county had elected to that position for many years previous. He married Mary Agnes McCloskey, and has a family of three children. Dr. S. F. Chaney, son of Mr. N. B. Chaney, of New Market, graduated from Starling Medical college in Columbus. He began practicing in Hillsborough. Shortly thereafter, he, in 1869, married Rhoda Stroup, and moved to Danville. After practicing his profession there six years, he removed to Pricetown. His family consists of four children, three of whom are living. He has been justice of the peace for two years. SALT WELL. During the year 1811, a man by the name of Andrew Moore, from Adams county, an old hunter, and well acquainted with the wilderness of western Highland, knowing the prevailing desire for salt, took a fancy to bore a salt well. He chose for the place, the right bank of the north fork of White Oak creek, in Salem township, near the northeast corner of the Kern survey, number eight hundred and fifty-two, a few rods west of the present " Dawson school-house," and between the present pike and the creek. The spot was a famous deer lick. Being a man of some property, Moore was able to carry on the enterprise for a time with considerable energy. He employed several hands—among them were Andrew 460 - HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO. Murphy, Thomas Davidson, Vincent Robins, who was the head workman in the absence of Mr. Moore, John Davidson, George and Jacob Shafer, a Mr. Coffman and others—and commenced digging some rods above the lick. The well was started about seven feet in diameter After a depth of forty-five feet had been obtained, by which time the solid limestone rock had been reached, the men began to bore with a drill two or three inches in diameter. A springy pole was rigged up so as to reach over the well, and the drill attached thereto—whereby the work of raising and lowering the drill was greatly facilitated. The workmen camped on the ground, and employed a man to supply them with meat. They bought their whiskey by the barrel, and their corn meal and bacon by the sled load. Each hand received a dollar per day, which at that day was considered extra high wages. It is stated also, that the hands "nursed the job" to some extent, as long as Moore's money lasted. When Moore came to ascertain the progress of the work and test the water, the men managed to slip a small quantity of salt into the well. This encouraged the proprietor, and after testing the salted water, he would go away in fine spirits. After two or three years of work, during which no signs whatever of salt were obtained, Moore failed to pay up, and Robins and his men quit work. Moore, soon after, left the country, but before he went, he employed John Davidson to go on with the work. After working ft short time however, Davidson seeing little prospect of salt water and still less of pay, abandoned the work. The entire depth of the well was about two hundred feet, not five hundred as other writers have put it. PRICETOWN. Pricetown was laid off by Elijah, David and Jane Faris, and Alexander Murphy, April 13, 1847. There are, at the present time, two stores, two blacksmith shops, two churches, one school-house and two hotels, and about eighty inhabitants. The town was named in honor of Judge J. W. Price, of Hillsborough. The post-office was established in 1849, and C. P. Donoho was made the first postmaster. Jonathan Foust is the present postmaster. About 1838 Abram Welty opened a store on the spot where Pricetown is—the first store in the township. Dr. Curp was the first physician, preceding the next physician, Dr. Collins, by several months. Mark Wallingford opened the first hotel in 1850. ODD FELLOWS. The Pricetown lodge of I. O. O. F., number six hundred and thirty-one, was instituted by W. C. Earle in 1875, June 22nd. The charter members were Dr. S. F. Chaney, H. A. Landess, Lewis Shafer, J. F. Reams, Alex. Clayton, A. J. Swain, J. Foust, A. W. Yale, J. M. Perry, M. L. Smith, Robert King, Alex. Sanderson, P. F. Pence, N. P. Landess, Ellis Roush and P. C. Landess. The first officers were: H. A. Landess, N. G.; A. Clayton, V. G.; J. F. Reams, R. S.; J. Foust, treasurer, and S. F. Chaney, permanent secretary. CHRISTIANS. The Christian church at Pricetown was organized in the fall of 1856. The organization took place in the school-house, which stood against the road in the Smith graveyard, south of Pricetown. Before this time, most of those of this persuasion had membership at Danville or at Buford. Hence the church at Pricetown was of comparatively late origin. The early members of the church were John M. Smith and wife, James Barker and wife, Charles Young and wife, David Barr and wife, Nancy Faris. These were organized as a church by elder W. D. Moore. Mr. Smith was a very influential man, whose character deserves more than a passing notice. He was foremost in all good enterprises, and patriotic during the dark days of-treason and rebellion. He was a very efficient worker in the church, and was looked up to as a noble man. Before the organization of the church in 1856, local preachers sometimes held services in groves in the neighborhood of Pricetown. Among these were Nathan Pulliam—now buried in the Smith graveyard and David Thompson. Mr. Thompson removed to Iowa. The Christian church of Pricetown has about two hundred members. Their first regular preacher was Dr. John Shockey, now of Sicily, in Clay township, who was paid for his services in 1857. Their church edifice was built in 1859. Revs. J. W. Ruble, J. B. Faris, and V. B. Custer, supply the preaching at present. A large Sabbath-school of about eighty members is connected with the church. UNIVERSALIST CHURCH. Nicholas Reck preached the first Universalist sermon ever preached in Salem township, in 183o. In 1833 a church of that denomination was organized by George Rogers, about a mile north of Pricetown. The early members were Nicholas Reck, John Scott and wife, Jas. Colvin and wife, Elijah Faris and wife, Felix Landess, William Davidson and wife, Catharine Hess, Thompson Henderson and wife, Joseph Good and wife, Isham Good, Samuel Workman, Nathan Chaplin, and a few others. The house of William Davidson was the place where services were held. After a time a move was made toward the erection of a church, and brick was burned for the purpose. But the movement lacking proper support, the brick were sold and a house built of them. The house is now owned by William Eubanks. After a few years of existence the church abandoned its organization. In 1860 another organization of Universalists took place at Pricetown. This new organization contained few or none of the members of the earliest church. They used the school-house for their first services, and in 186i built the present church. S. P. Carleton preached the dedicatory sermon. This organization flourished for some years, under the preaching of Elihu Moore, and at one time had over one hundred members. The organization has weakened some in numbers, but preaching is still had once a month. Among the preachers who have supplied the pulpit, mention may be made of E. Manford, William Bacon, Marion Crossley, G. L. Demerst, H. R. Nye, "Father" Emmitt and "Father" Loring, William Tucker and J. W. Henry. HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO - 461 HARWOOD CHAPEL. Harwood chapel was built in 1860, and named for the first minister of the church. In 1859 Rev. John Harwood, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, began a series of religious services in the schoolhouse just west of where the chapel now stands. The following persons gave in their names at that time, or very soon thereafter, and thus was formed the church organization : Samuel Willett, his wife Elizabeth, and daughters Rachel and Sarah, Israel Chaney and wife, John Ashmore, F. K. Barker and wife Sabia, John Barker and wife, James Duvall and wife, Dr. Samuel Drake and wife, Elizabeth Barker, Rhoda Ann Barker, Mary Ellen Shockey, and J. B. Daggey and wife. The church at the present time has about thirty-six members. Rev. L. O. Deputy is their present minister. MANUFACTORIES, SCHOOLS, ETC. Manufactories of any kind have been few in Salem township. Beyond the few early mills which were similar to those of other townships, in 1849 a large flouring mill was erected just east of Pricetown, by Alexander Murphy. The mill is run by steam power, and is a very excellent mill. It is now owned by the firm of Snyder & Layman. In 1839 Abraham Welty erected a carding mill at Pricetown, which did a good business for about eight years. Between the years 1844 and 1856, Aaron Eyler kept a tannery. In school matters Salem has been in the fore-front. It has sent out more school-teachers from its common schools than any other township in the county. Not long since there were twenty-two of her sons and daughters engaged in the responsible work of training the young. There are seven school districts and as many school-houses in the township. Four of the houses are brick and three are frame. TEMPERANCE VS. WHISKEY. In early days, whiskey was considered a necessary household commodity. It is a fact that ministers of the Gospel carried whiskey in one saddle bag and the Bible in the other. In 1847 Walter Smith, of Clay township, refused whiskey at log-rollings. Here and there a few could be found who began to see the evils of intemperance, and to take steps against it. In Salem, Hiram J. Harris was one among the first to take positive steps toward the suppression of intern perance. In 1848 there were three persons in the small village of Pricetown who kept liquor for sale. Their names were John Hastings, sr., Thomas Cannon and Anthony Hess. Mr. Harris began to talk over the matter of ridding the town of the sale of liquor, and he with four others, David Workman, Josephus Harris, Joseph Colvin and Daniel Workman, signed a paper binding themselves together as a band, whose purpose was to destroy the whiskey power in Pricetown, peaceably and legally, if possible, forcibly if they must. They first visited the three liquor sellers above mentioned, stated the object of their visit, and offered to buy their whiskey, etc., if they in turn would agree to stop selling. After due consideration, Cannon and Hess agreed to the proposition ; their stock was invoiced and paid for, and the whiskey poured out into the street. Hastings refused to give the matter any consideration, and flatly refused to sell out, and threatened to take the life of any one who attempted to compel him. He was encouraged in his course by the crowd of his friends there gathered. The committee retired to consult. They determined to destroy that whiskey, cost what it might. Such serious threats against their lives had been made that they fully believed one or more of them would be injured, and perhaps fatally. They, nevertheless, determined to proceed. Hiram J. Harris was their leader, or captain. He was to go ahead, and the others were to give him support, and to each was assigned the work he was to do, as nearly as that could be ascertained beforehand. Their attempt was expected by Hastings and his men, and resistance was determined upon, with much loud talking, and some were armed with axes, etc. Harris and his followers approached, and pushed their way through the crowd, expecting every moment to be struck down. While Harris parleyed with the men, Colvin knocked the lock off the door, David Workman and Josephus Harris rolled out the whiskey and a barrel partly filled with wine, and Daniel Workman knocked in the heads of the barrels. The liquor ran down the gutter, and was partly sucked up by Samuel Colvin's hogs, which thereby were made drunk. They reeled and staggered, and lay down in fence corners, as if they might have been human. The object of the visit being accomplished, the committee, uninjured, withdrew. But great excitement prevailed, and many opinions were held as to the wisdom of the proceeding. Hastings began legal proceedings against the offenders and others, and had thirty-two persons arrested; he desired to have the case tried by Israel Rice, esq., of Clay township, William Thompson, the sheriff of Highland county, was, of course, charged with the care of the prisoners, and, inasmuch as it was nearly night before all the arrests could be made, he was somewhat at a loss to know what to do with his charge. The prisoners refused to go to 'Squire Rice's, a distance of some five miles, and through the woods, until they had supper. Where to obtain that for so large a company, on so short notice, was a question. Some of the prisoners proposed to go to Hastings', and it might have been agreed upon had not one of them objected, on the ground that he had "seen a hair in the dough" at that place. It was finally agreed to take supper at Aaron Eyler's. Night came on, and with it the question of lodging the prisoners. This perplexed the sheriff—a man inexperienced in the business till John Colvin came to his rescue, by saying, "Billy, I'll vouch for the appearance of every man in the morning. Let them go home, and they will be here to a man when you want them." This arrangement was agreed upon, and in the morning every man was on hand early. They set out on foot. When they had gone about two miles, they halted, at the sug- 462 - HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO. gestion of John M. Smith, one of their number, to consult as to their future proceedings. They resolved not to be tried before 'Squire Rice, if they could avoid it. Proceeding on their journey, they found 'Squire Rice not at his office, and in no hurry to get there, sending word that he would have his dinner first. Nor were the plaintiffs on hand either, being dilatory in their movements. Being ready for trial, the prisoners demanded to be taken immediately before the next justice of the peace, 'Squire Ogden, in Buford, and thither they went. No witnesses or accusers appearing against them here, the prisoners were discharged from custody. This result had a very discouraging effect upon the dram-sellers, and effectually broke up their power. It gave the temperance, people of the town and township an advantage which they have not been slothful to maintain from that time to this, and the people can claim what few can, that there is no place at present within the limits of the township where liquor for drinking purposes is sold.