History of Athens County, Ohio - 519 CHAPTER XVII. Trimble Township. TRIMBLE township was originally a part of Ames, from which it was Stricken off and Separately organized in April, 1827. It lies at the extreme northern limit of the county, on the waters of Sunday creek, the main branch of which runs, Somewhat centrally, from north to South, through the township. It was named after Governor Allen Trimble, one of the early governors of Ohio. The first Settlement made in this township was by Solomon Tuttle, Sen., in 1802. He, with his Son, Cyrus Tuttle, and his brother, Nial Tuttle, all from Vermont, settled on the main creek. Soon after them came Joseph McDaniel and William Morrow. Mr. Bagley, with Several Sons, came from Vermont and Settled in 1820, on the west fork of the creek, below what is now called Hartleyville. One of his Sons, William Bagley, being a clothier by trade, established a pioneer factory for dressing cloth and, in connection with it, a flour 520 - Trimble Township. mill, the flour being bolted by hand. This was the first mill in the township, and has been kept up, with various improvements, ever Since. It is now owned by Mr. Perry Zimmerman. Samuel Bagley, a tanner by trade, established the first tan yard in the township, about the year 1820. In 1822 a School was taught by Nancy Bagley, a native of Vermont, near the forks of the creek. About 1824 a few families established a School of eight or ten scholars, which was taught by John Morrow, in a log school house without any floor. His compensation was one dollar and fifty cents a week. The School house was located on the creek between Solomon Tuttle's and James Dew's. Among the few Scholars in this pioneer School was Mr. E. H. Moore, now president of the First National bank in Athens, who also taught a district School in the Same place in 1832. The Baptists, Methodists, and Christians, were the first religious Societies formed in the township, and continue to be the leading organizations. William Bagley's mill on the west fork of Sunday creek was, as before Stated, the first in the township. In 1825 Jonathan Watkins built a mill at the village first known as Oxford, but since called Trimble. It was at first only a saw mill, but, after two or three years, a grist mill was connected with it. This mill continued to be the principal one in the township till 1865, when it was destroyed by fire. History of Athens County, Ohio - 521 The people of this township are chiefly engaged in agriculture, and the lands are being rapidly improved. Considerable attention is given to Stock growing and to the culture of tobacco. Coal of excellent quality, both bituminous and cannel, exists here in large deposits, which, as Soon as it becomes accessible by branch railroads, now projected, will command the attention of capitalists. Iron ore of good quality is also found in various parts of the township, and near to large deposits of good limestone. Salt water of great strength, and thought by competent judges to be equal to any in the Hockhocking valley, has recently been found in abundance in a well bored for oil by Mr. R. J. Arnold. This well is on the Zanesville road near the northern line of the county. It is a little over one thousand feet in depth. About twenty-five years ago the Eggleston Salt works on Green's run, near the South line of the township, were operated successfully. At that time this was esteemed a valuable well, but for many years past it has not been used. The center of population in the township is the village of Trimble, situated on section 8. It has a post office, two stores, three physicians, the requisite number of mechanics, and a population of about two hundred. The population of the township in 1830 was 190; in 1840 it was 762; in 1850 it was 924; in T 860 it was 1,112. History of Athens County, Ohio - 522 At the first election for township officers in 1827, which was held at the house of William Bagley, James Price, James Bosworth, and Jeremiah Cass were judges of the election, and Samuel B. Johnson and Cyrus Tuttle, clerks. Township Trustees. 1827 - William Bagley, - James Bosworth, - Solomon Newton. 1828 - Jeremiah Cass, Elijah Alderman, - “ 1829 - Joseph McDonald, - James Price, - " 1830 - David Eggleston, - “. - “, 1831 - Jonathan Watkins. - “, - “.  1832 - Wanting.  1833 - Elijah Alderman, - Thomas Dew, - John Ivers. 1834 - “ , - Luther Mingus, - Enoch Rutter. 1835 - Wanting. 1836 - Solomon Newton, - Andrew McKee, - William Shaner. 1837 - Jonathan Watkins, - “. - “. 1838 - Solomon Newton, - “, Ebenezer Shaner. 1839 - William McKee, - “, - John Ivers. 1840 - Thos. L. Love, - Andrew Rutter, - Wanting. 1841 - James Hage, - W J. Hartley, - “. 1842 - “ , - John B. Johnson, - “ , 1843 - “ , - Isaac N. Joseph, - William J. Hartley. 1844 - William McClellan, - “ , - “ , 1845 - Andrew McKee, - Caleb Carter, - Isaac Blackwood. 1846 - Wanting. 1847 - William McClellan, - Andrew Dew. - J. D. Davis. 1848 - Andrew McKee, - “ , - “ , 1849-50 - William McClellan, - “ , - “ , 1851 - “ , William H. Peugh, - S. T. Grow. 1852 - Wanting. 1853 - James Hage, - John Ivers, - Wanting. 1854 - Andrew Dew, - " , William McClellan. 1855 - Wanting. 1856 - Joseph Allen, - B. Worrell, - Andrew Dew. 1857 - Benjamin Norris, - J. M. Johnson, - “ , 1858-59 - William H. Peugh, - William McClellan. - S. P. Grow. 1860-61 - “ , - “ , - L. H. Rinehart. 1862 - “ , - “ , - Samuel Woodworth. 1863 - Samuel Banks, - John Shaner, - “, 1864 - " , - John Gift, - Dorsey McClellan. 1865-66 - Milton Monroe, - “ , - J. C. Lefever. 1867 - William H. Peugh. - Isaac Blackwood, - Lemuel Bethel. 1868 - Samuel Banks, - J. M. Amos, - Joseph Allen. History of Athens County, Ohio - 523 Successive Justices of the Peace. 1827—William Bagley. 1830—James Price and Jeremiah Cass. 1833-Daniel Frazer and Samuel Mills. 1834—Emory Newton. 1836—Seth Pratt and Samuel Mills. 1838-Solomon Newton. 1839—Samuel Mills. 1840—David Allen. 1841—John Ivers. 1842—Morris Bryson. 1844—John Ivers. 1845—Morris Bryson. 1847—Isaac N. Joseph. 1848—George W. Roberts. 1850—Aquilla Norris and Benjamin Norris. 1851—Benjamin Norris and George W. Roberts. 1853—Alexander McClellan. 1854—William Biddison. 1856—Isaac N. Joseph. 1857—John M. Johnson (resigned February 3, 1858). 1858—Morris Bryson. 1859—William H. Peugh. 1861—Morris Bryson. 1862—L. Bethel. 1864-William Biddison. 1865—William Koons. 1867—J. S. Dew. 1868—Samuel Banks. Personal and Biographical. Jonathan Watkins, Sen., came from Athens township in 1803, and Settled in the lower part of Trimble, and soon after Eliphalet Wheeler Settled near him. Mr. 524 - Trimble Township Watkins was a blacksmith, but, like most of the early settlers, occasionally engaged in hunting. He shot a buffalo soon after settling in Trimble, and broke its fore leg. He pursued the animal, thus crippled, from Green's run in Trimble township, across Wolf plains, and over the Hockhocking some distance, but failed to capture it. Samuel Clark Settled here about 1820. James Bosworth, from Fall River, Massachusetts, came here in 1821, but, after living in the township a few years, went back to New England. Enos Barnes, from New England, a son-in-law of Mr. Bagley, Settled here in 1818. He was a blacksmith. Solomon Newton, a native of Worcester, Massachusetts, came to Athens county in 1821, and Settled in Trimble in 1822. His place was on the creek about three mileS below James Dew's, and, being situated on the main road between Athens and Zanesville, was formerly very well known. Mr. Newton died in 1849. About 1814 James and Thomas Dew, brothers, came to Athens county with their parents, from Maryland, and made permanent settlements. James settled just History of Athens County, Ohio - 525 outside of the present limits of Trimble township. Several of his sons, including Dr. J. S. Dew and Mr. Henry C. Dew, now live in Trimble. James Price, a native of Rhode Island, Settled in Trimble in 1820. One of his sons, Mr. Abel Price, is now living in the township. John B. Johnson, Son of Azel Johnson, one of the early Settlers of Dover township, Settled in Trimble as a farmer in 1820. He was the father of Mr. J. M. Johnson, recently Sheriff of the county.