CHAPTER VI. MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP Manchester was the name of one of the territorial townships formed at the organization of Adams County, September, 1797. It included a part of what is now Tiffin, Oliver, and Scott ; all of Winchester, (Wayne and Liberty ; and, most of Sprigg Township as now constituted, including the present township of Manchester. Its northern limit extended to the Wayne County line north of the site of the city of Columbus. In the year 1806, the Board of County Commissioners reorganized the townships of the county, and Manchester was subdivided into townships and parts of townships bearing new names, that of Manchester being dropped from the record. In 1858 a new township named Manchester was formed from Sprigg Township including the town of Manchester. With slight alterations the present township is now as then formed. It includes the incorporated village of Manchester and Manchester Special School District. Early Settler.. Under another chapter in this volume is an account of the first settlement in Adams County, which was made in what is now Manchester Township. Nathaniel Massie and his little band of pioneers, whose names are recorded in the narrative above mentioned, were the first settlers. There cabins were built within the Stockade which occupied a plot of about three acres of ground opposite the west end of the lower, or as now called, Manchester Island. This island, which contains about one hundred acres, was cleared by the residents within the Stockade in the spring of 1791, and the years following down to 1795, and afforded the grain fields for the little colony. In the years 1795 and 1796, many families living in cabins four and five miles back in the woods came to Manchester to cultivate patches of corn on the island. A grand-daughters of Michael Roush, the pioneer, has often related to the writer that her mother, a daughter of Michael Roush, told her that she and others of the family used to walk from their home in the "Dutch Settlement" in Sprigg Township to Manchester Island to hoe corn the first year they came to Adams County, which was in 1796. It is said that the first cabins built in Manchester outside the Stockade, were those of Nathaniel Massie, Israel Donalson, Isaac Edgington, Job Denning, Andrew Boyd, Andrew Ellison, John Ellison, John McGate, John Kyte, Seth Foster, Joseph Edgington and John Beasley. These were all in the vicinity of the Stockade; most of the terrace where the present site of the town is, was then too swampy for settlement. John McGate or "Megitt," as written in the court records, (437) 438 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY was the first tavern keeper in Manchester, and his house was the meeting place for the officials of the township. (See chapter on Early Taverns and Old Inns.) In the year 1799 Andrew Boyd opened the first tore in Manchester. Churches. PRESBYTERIAN—This organization was formed in 1805 from the Eagle Creek congregation near West Union. The church was incorporated in January, 1814, with Rev. William Williamson, Israel Donalson, William Means, Richard Rounsaville, and John Ellison, Sr., as incorporators. The first church building was erected, it is said, in 1807, and was a log Structure which stood on the site of the old cemetery in Manchester. The present brick church was erected in 1845. METHODIST PROTESTANT—This church was organized in 1869 with twenty-six members. David Pennywitt, leader, and W. H. Pownall, sistant. Stewards: Reuben Pennywitt, L. L. Connor, Joseph Stabl Trustees : Joseph Connell, Fdwin Butler, Isaac Hill. METHODIST EPISCOPAL—Brick church. No history of organization. OMAN CATHOLIC—About the year 1889, Michael O'Neil, of Manchester, succeeded after many years of unceasing effort, in having at Manchester a frame structure dedicated to the use of the Catholic church of which he was a devout member. This is the only church that denomination ever organized in Adams County, and as there are b few members of that denomination in Manchester and vicinity, there never been a resident priest in charge of the church. Lodges. DE KALB LODGE, No. 138, I. O. O. F.—This lodge was instituted West Union, October 13, 1849, with the following charter members David Greenlee, John Harsha, Joseph Hayslip, William M. Meek, Francis Shinn. In 1855, it was removed by order of the Grand Lodge Manchester, and was instituted there July 31, 1856, with ninet members removed from West Union. The officers elected were: .Henry MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP - 439 Ousler, N. G.; Joseph W. Hayslip, V. G.; Isaac Eakins, Secretary; C. C. Cooley, Treasurer. MANCHESTER ENCAMPMENT, NO. 203, I. 0. 0. F.—Charter granted May 3, 1876, to George Lowery, D. R. Shriver, J. W. Ebrite, I. K. Russell, John McCutcheon, Washburn Trenary, J. H. Conner, J. W. Eylar, J. H. Stevenson, S. J. Lawwill, J. W. Bunn and Washington Kimble. MANCHESTER LODGE, No. 317, F. & A. M. Manchester Lodge, No. 317, was organized under a dispensation granted by Horace M. Stokes, Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, dated May 7, 1859, duly empowering the lodge to work the three symbolic degrees. The work of the lodge was conducted by authority of this dispensation until the annual session of the Grand Lodge which convened in the city of Columbus on the twentieth day of October of that year when a charter was granted bearing the names of Henry Y. Copple, James N. Brittingham, Benjamin Bowman, David Dunbar, George W. Sample, William A. Shriver, Perry T. Connelly, William McCalla, and others (as reads the charter), dated as above and covering all acts of said lodge from May 7th. The brethren feeling, justly proud of their new charge and realizing the responsibility seized their working tools and went to work with willing hands, and as subsequent proceedings show their efforts were not in vin, but on the contrary have been crowned with a success seldom attained in the annals of Masonry in this State. The first petition for initiation was that of Andrew B. Ellison, who will be remembered by many of our readers as one of the principal merchants of Manchester at that time, and who long since laid down the working tools of life after a long, honorable and praiseworthy career. The second petition was from Captain William Kirker. The first death among the members was that of Benjamin Bowman, which occurred April 1, 1860, and he was buried by the Order in the old cemetery at Manchester. The records of the lodge show that the good old custom of visiting was practiced to a great extent during the early years of its existence. West Union, Aberdeen. Ripley, Winchester, Lo gust Grove, and Concord, Ky., often being represented at the same communication. And this same custom is, we are happy to note, like Masonic landmarks, kept regularly and is one of the social ties of Free Masonary which has ever characterized Manchester Lodge. Among the bright Masonic lights who have sat under the sound of the gavel in Manchester Lodge, are noticed the names of Cornelius Moore, who so ably edited the Masonic Review for so many years at Cincinnati. Also, John M. Barrere, one of the best informed Masons in the State in his day, and many others of prominence and note in the councils of the Order, each of whom in his own peculiar way contributed to the edification of the brethren. The lodge when first organized met in the J. N. Kirker building at the corner of Second and Pike Streets. It afterward moved to the frame building on West Front Stseet, now owned by James Taylor. The first meeting of the lodge in its present quarters, the Ellison Building, at the southwest corner of Second and Pike Streets was held on the evening of December 22, 1866, and the records show that on February 23, 1867, 440 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY the hall was formally dedicated under the personal direction of Howard Mathews, then Most Worshipful Grand Master of Ohio, ably assisted by Robert Gwynn, of Kentucky, an eminent Mason and Masonic author, Alfred Pennywitt had the honor to be Master of the lodge on this interesting occasion. At the time of the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, the lodge was in its infancy and when the call for troops was her, aided over the land, many of its members not forgetting one of the first charges to a Free Mason upon his initiation to be a good and true man, obeyed the teachings of the Order, laid down the implements of a peaceful life, and the Masonic working tools, and went forth to battle and in some cases to die for the country they loved, reflecting high honor upon themselves and their mother lodge. Among those of the members of this the lodge who served the country most gallantly in her hour of peril were Maj. Ephriam J. Ellis of the 33rd 0. V. I., who fell at Stone River; Ca D. R. Shriver ; Capt. N. W. Foster ; Capt. Wilson Foster; Col. Henry Phillips ; Capt. John Taylor ; Gen. A. T. Wikoff ; Capt. Lafayette Foster John W. Pownall and J. W. Rogers. The names of all the members o Manchester Lodge who served in the army were published in the Masonic Review of Cincinnati. The brethren of the lodge appreciating their services remitted all their dues during their term of services. After the war closed and the boys came home crowned with honors, they received royal welcome from their brethren. Who can best work and best agree is a virtue which has always actuated the members of Manchester Lodge, and their labors were not vain, as the records show there have been one hundred and eighty-three initiations, to say nothing of those who affiliated from other lodges; an after deducting all who have died, been suspended, and expelled or wi drawn, the report to the Grand Lodge in the fall of 1898 showed a membership of one hundred and two in good and regular standing. Manchester Lodge is up to date in every particular. The work is placed the floor in a masterly manner which is evidenced by the large number of visiting brethren from other lodges who always find a cordial welcome and much favorable comment is expressed on the number of skilled workmen among the membership of Manchester Lodge. Of the original charter members only four are living: George W. Sample, aged 92 James N. Brittingham, 80; David Dunbar, 79 and William A. Shriver, years. The following is a list of Past Masters: Henry W. Copple, James N. Brittingham, E. J. Ellis, Thomas D. Parker, A. B. Ellison, W. Pownall, Alfred Pennywitt, David Dunbar, Lafayette Foster, J F. Games, Henry Collings, John K. Dunbar, S. N. Greenlee, J. W. Jon W. N. Watson, A. J. McIntire and Frank F,. Reynolds; James E. Mott now presiding. All of the above are living at this writing except Co'' Parker, Ellis, Ellison and Foster. The first regular communication under its charter was held on evening of November 7, 1859, whereupon an election of officers was and the following named brethren were elected as the first regular officers; James N. Brittingham, W. M.; George W. Sample, S. W.; Andrew Ellison, J. W. William A. Shriver, Treas.; David Dunbar, Secy.; J. W. Pownall, W. D.; Thomas D. Parker, J. D.; Perry T. Connelly, T. The first visiting brother named in the records was Rev. John C. Maddy who ably filled the pulpit of the M. E. Church in Manchester at MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP - 441 that time. Nathaniel Massie was also a frequent visitor. He was the son of Nathaniel Massie, the founder of Manchester. Manchester Lodge made a handsome contribution to the Masonic Home at Springfield and a private contribution was raised among the members sufficient to furnish a in room elegant style and the room named in honor of the lodge; and, one of the oldest members of Manchester Lodge, Jason McDermod, is now one of the inmates of the Masonic Home. The foregoing history of Manchester Lodge though brief should cause the present members to feel that loyal pride with which its excellent founders were imbued when "Each felt a weight of care A solemn charge o'erspread, Each toiled in earnest there With busy hand and head." MANCHESTER CHAPTER, NO. 129, ROYAL ARCH MASONS. By JOHN K. DUNBAR During the spring of 1871 an effort was made by a number of Royal Arch Masons in and around Manchester to further the growth of Capitular Masonry, whereupon a "formal application was made for a dispensation to institute a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons at Manchester, signed by the following named companions hailing from different Chapters, to-wit: A. T. Wikoff, W. B. Cole, R. A. Stephenson, A. P. Pownall, Harrison Warner, E. C. Pollard, R. S. Daily, Thomas P. Foster, Jno. P. Bloomhuff, , G. G. Games, John Sparks, John M. Freeman, M. S. Jeffries, R. M. Owens, Thomas M. Games, Nathaniel Massie. The application was forwarded to the Most Excellent High Priest together with maps showing location and distances of Blue Lodges in the jurisdiction. The application received favorable consideration and on the twenty-ninth day of June, 1871, a dispensation was granted by Charles C. Keifer, Grand High Priest, empowering them to open a Chapter and confer the degrees of Mark Master, Past Master, Most Excellent Master, and Royal Arch. Being now fully empowered to work, the first regular convocation' was held on the evening of July 12, 1871, and on the same evening five petitions were received, namely: Junius N. Higgins, David Dunbar, L. L. Edgington, William Kirker and H. B. Gaffin. The first three officers appointed by the Grand High Priest were Thomas P. Foster, High Priest ; Thomas M. Games, King; and Robert A. Stephenson, Scribe. Under their dispensation the companions worked along until the convocation of the Grand Chapter on the twenty-sixth day of September, 1871, at which convocation they were regularly granted a charter. The companions of Manchester Chapter worked with fervency and zeal and as a reward have the satisfaction to know that Manchester Chapter No. 129 sends the names of more members in their annual report to the Grand Chapter than any other Chapter between Cincinnati and Portsmouth. David Dunbar has been the Secretary of Manchester Chapter for twenty-eight consecutive years. HAWKEYE TRIBE No. 117 IMP. O. R. M.—This lodge was instituted May 27, 1887, with W. V. Cooley, Sachem ; J. H. Brawner, Prophet: J. W. Guthridge, Senior Sagamore ; D. B. Phillips, Junior Sagamore; H. C. Doddridge, Chief of Record ; and William Charles, Keeper of Wampum. 442 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY Manchester Public Schools. It is said that the first schoolhouse stood near the southeast corner of the plat of ground now known as the old cemetery, and that Israel Donalson, a pioneer schoolmaster, accountant and surveyor, was the first teacher. The date of this building has been fixed by some writers as early as 1794, but the writer is of the opinion that the first school building was not erected before 1796. Mr. Donalson wielded the rod there for several terms when he was succeeded by John Barritt, another pioneer school master and once Sheriff of Adams County. He was followed by William Dobbins, a son of Rev. Robert Dobbins, whose biography appears e where in this volume. This house was constructed of logs with one door and two window the latter made by cutting out a log from each side of the building. One of the spaces was filled with a row of glass and the other with oiled paper. There was an old-fashioned fire-place in one end of the room, where firewood, six feet in length, could be used. The floor and seats were of puncheons. In that time, there was a practice of having "loud" schools. All study and any communication were aloud, and the lessons were sometimes sung in concert, The text books used in that building were Webster's Spelling Book, the English Reader and Pike's Arithmetic. Grammar was not introduced until 1818 when Lindley Murray's celebrated work was used. Geography was never taught in the log schoolhouse. In 1828, the log schoolhouse, was replaced by a brick building. The furniture consisted of a few long desks adjoining the walls for the use of the larger pupils, while the seats of the smaller ones were made of rough slabs without any backs. James Smith, afterward a member of the Ohio Legislature, taught the first term in the new building. He was succeeded by J. T. Crapsey who had edited an Anti-Masonic newspaper at West Union, and he by William Robe, afterward a noted surveyor in the Virginia Military District. The following are among the persons said to have taught in this building: Jane Dickinson, Jane Williamson, Andrew Crawford, George Burgess, Robert Buck, David and John Pennywitt, Edward Burbage, Thomas Hayslip, R. R. Case, Andrew Mannon, William McCalla and Parker Douglas. Judge James L. Coryell, Jesse and Jeremiah Fllis obtained their first lessons in surveying from William McCalla. The use of the rod as a means of discipline was general. It used indiscriminately without regard to age or sex, and yet the disciples was not good. On October 17, 1853, it was determined by the School Board of Manchester to have two schools. At that time there were two hundred and eighty-three pupils and William McCalla was the teacher. On the fourth of May, 1855, the Board, having purchased the west end of out-lot number eighteen, contracted to place a schoolhouse thereon of brick, fifty feet long by twenty-four feet wide, two stories high, and it was estimated to cost eight hundred dollars. It was opened at the beginning of the year 1856. The question of a graded school was voted on at a special election held August 11, 1856, under the Act of February 1, 1849, known as Akron Law. The proposition of graded schools carried by a majority thirty-nine votes. John B. Enness, Lacy Payton, David Gillespie, Joseph Stableton, David Dunbar and John Parks were elected to out the determination of the voters. John McClung was the first teacher MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP - 443 employed by this Board at fifty dollars a month. However, it was only a graded school, in name, and not in reality. The course of study was determined by the teachers. From 1856 to 1875, there were no less than fifteen principals, during which the average term of service was less than one and one-third School years. The following were among the principals: John McClung, M. J. Lewis, W. W. Ramsey, James Williams, J. Gregg, J. L. Craig, G. W. Herrick, William Coleman, J. B. Jones, S. T. Kenyon, J. P. Norris, A. N. Stowell, A. L. Mehaffey, James IvIcColm, J. H. Compton, J. F. McColm and William Tugman. In the fall of 1875, it was determined by the Board of Education that of the schools should be graded in fact as well as in name, and Hon. L. J. Fenton, Superintendent of the Schools, was authorized to outline a course of study, which was adopted, and the course was made twelve years, three of which were in the High School. In the year 1877, the first senior class was organized in the High School and graduating exercises were held on the first of May, 1878, at the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1880, the citizens decided to erect a new building. It was commenced in July and the work was finished on the twenty-ninth of November 1880. In December of that year, Mr. Fenton resigned as Superintendent, and was succeeded by Mr. W. A. Clark, who resigned in 1881. H. G. Pollock was Superintendent in 1882 and 1883. In 1883, T. J. Currey was elected Superintendent. On the seventh of May, 1885, J. W. Jones was elected Superintendent and served ten years. His administration marked a new era in the history of the Manchester schools. The course of study was modified to meet the demands of the schools. Without neglecting the required branches, he introduced new subjects of study, and infused a new spirit into the modes of learning. In 1895, he resigned and Franklin F. Reynolds, who had served as principal of the High School during the last three years of Mr. Jones' administration, was elected Superintendent. Mr. Reynolds was well qualified for the place and discharged his duties most admirably. He resigned in 1899, and was succeeded by Prof. D. S. Clinger, the present Superintendent of the Schools. Mr. Clinger, in his work, has kept it up to the high mark started by Prof. Jones and the school has been fully maintained as it was under Prof. The present Board of Education consists of M. F. Crissman, A. J. McIntire R. A. Stephenson, M. D., F. C. McColm, W. H. Pownall, and John G. Lindsey. The teachers are as follows : D. S. Clinger, Superintendent ; H. E. Dening, Principal of High School ; Miss Lizzie Lang, Assistant Principal High School ; Nannie Kimball, Grammar Department; Winona Naylor, Third Intermediate; Edna Lee Hines, Second Intermediate ; Elizabeth Walden, First Intermediate; Lucy Hayslip, Primary Intermediate; Maud Pownall, Third Primary; Cora Phillips, Second Primary; Edith Puntenney, First Primary, male; Allie Trichler, First Primary, female. From 1880 until the present time, the school has increased from six to twelve departments. There are now two large two-story brick buildings, well equipped with apparatus, and a well selected library. In 1881 in commodious building shown in the engraving was erected. The following is the enumeration in Manchester Special District for the current year: White males, 332 ; females, 271. Colored males 11, females 13. 444 - HISTORY OF ADAMS COUNTY Reminiscences. The first mill erected in the county was a little "tub-wheel" built by Nathaniel Massie on Island Creek about two miles from Manchester, Before the completion of this mill, the settlers at Manchester went to Limestone to have their grinding done, or used a small hand-mill at the Stockade. Some of the pioneers. pounded their corn into a coarse meal on a block, sifting the larger particles out for hominy. The younger members of the family were kept busy shelling, drying, and pounding, or sometimes grating on the cob, corn for meal, as both processes were slow and laborious. Ellison's Brick "Home." In 1807 John Ellison built the first brick house in Manchester down near the river bank where the old St. Charles Hotel used to stand. It was the wonder and admiration of all the country round, and Mr. Ellison, recently from the "Emerald Isle," was so pleased with his new dwelling that he took his wife, Mary, in a canoe and paddled over to the Kentucky shore to get the enchantment that distance lends; and the view was so satisfactory that he exclaimed : "Mollie, it looks more like a palace than a hoose!' The First Steamboat on the Ohio. The first steamboat to ply the waters of the Ohio, was the "New Orleans" built at Pittsburgh, and which came down past Manchester in December, 1811. The next was the "Aetna," early in the spring of 1812. Before this date pirogues and flatboats were "cordelled" on the waters of the Ohio when ascending the stream. It took four weeks to go by one of these pirogues from Cincinnati to Pittsburgh. Jacob Myers, who owned a fleet of four pirogues, advertised in The Centinel of the Northwest Territory, in 1793, that he would insure passengers on his boats against harm from the Indians, as his crafts were armored and provided with portholes. Lynching of Old Bill Terry. On Saturday morning, November 22, 1856, a negro named William Terry, committed an outrage on Mrs. Morrison, of Manchester, whose husband at the time was absent. Terry was promptly arrested and lodged in jail at West Union. When Mr. Morrison returned and learned facts as to the conduct of the black fiend, the better citizens of the decided that summary punishment ought to be inflicted on the offender and on Tuesday the 25th, arrangements were completed to go to W Union to secure Terry to mete out to him deserved punishment. Citi to the number of over one hundred on horseback accompanied s persons in a wagon to the county seat where court was in session Milligan for the murder of the Senter family. They broke down the door and secured Terry and returned to Manchester by 3 o'clock in afternoon. After giving the offender a little time to arrange his wort affairs, he was taken over to Manchester Island, which is•under the j diction of the State of. Kentucky, and hanged him to a limb of a sycamore that stood at the west end near the water's edge next the 0 shore. His body was cut down and buried at the foot of the tree which he was hanged, but it is said the remains were exhumed by medical students that night.