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CARROLL AND HARRISON COUNTIES - 205 CHAPTER XXIX WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP LOCATION-BOUNDARIES-ITS RAILROAD LINES - VILLAGES-ECKLEY POSTOFFICE - STEMPLE - GENERAL FEATURES - POPULATION --SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES- ORGANIZATION - CONCERNING ITS SETTLEMENT-COUNTY INFIRMARY. In range 5, township 14 is found Washington civil township in Carroll County. As now constituted it contains twenty-six sections. Its southwestern corner is irregular on account of the formation of Center township which was carved from out of Washington and other central sub-divisions of the county. It is bounded on the north by Augusta and East townships, on the east by Fox Township, on the South by Lee and Center townships and on the west by Center and Harrison townships. It was named Washington, while yet a part of Columbiana County, and was so named on account of Washington, Pennsylvania being where so many of the pioneers to this township came and effected their settlement. POPULATION The United States census report gave this township a population of 665 in 1890; in 1900 it was 634 and in 1910 was placed at 601. COUNTY INFIRMARY The county infirmary was located in the northwest corner of section 28, a little more than three miles from the county seat—Carrollton. ECKLEY POSTOFFICE This postoffice was established in the center of section 17, many years ago, the same being named in honor of General Ephriam R. Eckley, then member of Congress from this district. GENERAL REMARKS This township is within the heart of as good an agricultural section as central Carroll County affords. For decades this tract has been well cultivated and subdued, at first being a dense forest land with wild game and dangerous animals, who up to the advent of men with guns, had been the possessors of the territory destined to be an excellent country in which a happy, prosperous people should eventually live. The houses of the early settlers in this township did not offer much from those in other parts of the county. They were of a peculiar structure, however, and ranged in size from fifteen to twenty feet 206 - CARROLL AND HARRISON COUNTIES square, and usually not over ten feet in height in the center, under the ridgepole, but were really two stories in height, the lower room not being in excess of six and a half feet, making it necessary to remove one's hat, when the person entering was more than ordinary height. The roof was generally of clap-boards, the floor of puncheon, and the door swung on heavy wooden hinges, with the latch-string, throughout the day time ever hanging outside, but at night time it was pulled inside, which really served well as a lock, for the crossbar of the cabin was inside. These cabins were used as late as the '80s, in many instances, through this section of the country, but the rule was that long prior to that date, the pioneer had provided himself with a better house—frame or brick. Some of the oldest citizens now residing in the county will recall Valentine Friday who used to relate how he drove the wolves from his cabin home on many occasions by burning a pine knot. Once he remarked that the "modern wolf at the door" would not be driven from the door in that way! In the '70s and '80s many of the pioneer relics could be seen in this as well as other parts of Carroll County. The old orchards, the same spring of water, with the remains of the old homestead buildings marked the spot where the pioneer had settled, lived and finally died, and with some of them the plow-share has long since effaced every trace of their burial place. Now the residents of Washington Township live within sound of the church-going bell, have schools of modern standards of excellency, have good highways and possess all that one needs to be contented and happy. Of the schools and churches other chapters (in a general way) mention all that is of much historic interest, hence need not be enlarged upon in this connection. RAILROADS The Lake Erie & Western Railway passes through the extreme northeast corner of Washington Township, but there is no Station within its territory. The Wheeling & Lake Erie touches section 34 of this township. Stemple village is a station on the western line of the township, but is simply a way-station point—a flag-station. |