(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY - 461 CHAPTER L. (RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) BEDFORD TOWNSHIP. Location-Organization-Name-Topography-Early Settlers -Indians-First Road-Schools- Mills-Distilleries-Can- nel Coal Oil Operations-Churches-west Bedford. BEDFORD township lies in the western part of the county. It is bounded on the north by Jefferson township, on the east by Jackson, on the south by Washington, and on the west by Perry, and consists of township 5 in the 8th range of the original survey. The northeastern quarter is a military section, which was surveyed into one hundred-acre lots, in 1808, by William Cutbush; the remainder of the township is congress land, opened up for settlement by its survey into sections, in 1803, by Silas Bent, Jr. The township exceeds somewhat the requisite width of five miles, making the western tier of sections considerably larger than they should be. Some of the quarter sections here contain nearly 260 acres, instead of 160, and the fact led to some unsuccessful local litigation, in early days, by one or two settlers, against their adjacent, more fortunate neighbors who had secured "fat" quarters. The purpose of the suit was to compel a division of he surplus land. The land which forms this township was a portion of Newcastle township until 1825, at which time it was organized by act of commissioners into a separate township. The organization was completed by the election of township officers at he house of Henry Heroes. It is not known to certainty who these officers were, as the records f the election are not known to exist, but William McCoy, Herman Anderson and John McNabb are supposed to have been the first trustees, and Nathan Wright the first justice of the peace. Richard Wood afterwards served the township in this latter capacity for an extended period of years. Jehu Wright, Michael Heaton and John Quigley, were other early "squires." The township election continued to be held at Mr. Haines' residence for four or five yearn, and were subsequently transferred to West Bedford. The township received its name from a county in Pennsylvania, from which came quite a number of the pioneer families. Bedford county furnished at least fifteen or eighteen early families in this township, perhaps many more, besides many others to surrounding townships. The first settler from there doubtless sent back to the friends he had left in the East, a glowing account of his western home and thereby induced others to emigrate, the favorable reports of these in turn bringing others. A similar emigration was instituted years afterwards from this township into Hardin county, many of the early settlers moving there in their old age. The population of the township according to the late census is 920. The character of the surface is rolling throughout, generally roughly rolling. The headwaters of Mohawk and Simmons' runs are near the middle of the township, east and west. South of this the water flows in a southerly direction in several small streams, the most noticeable of which is Wakatomica run. Poplar, chestnut, black walnut, hickory and red oak, besides other varieties, were the trees composing the dense forests that held continuous possession of the soil seventy-five years ago. Coal in the eastern half of the township is abundant; scarcely any is 462 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. found in the western part. In the east the soil is sandy and black loam in places; in the west, where much limestone is found, it is a loam with clay subsoil. There is very little surface rock to be seen. On John Noland's place is a single exception. Standing Rock, as it is called, about fifteen or eighteen feet high and twenty feet in length by ten in width, is rendered doubly conspicuous by the absence of other exposures in the vicinity. Richard Shelton is regarded as the primitive white settler of the township. He came about 1808, and settled on lot 25 of the military section. He was of a roving nature, possessing in a greater degree the characteristics of a hunter than of a farmer. Next in the long line of pioneers was Ezra Horton. He was from the Cumberland valley in Maryland, and settled in the southwest quarter of section 6 about 1809 or 1810, where he remained till his death. His wife, Jemima, was noted in pioneer circles for her skill in performing the duties of a physician. Two of his sons, Thomas and David, were engaged in the second American struggle for liberty in 1812. Thomas, at the first call to arms, enlisted in Captain Meredith's company, and served in the vicinity of Mansfield. David participated in a more active campaign at Fort Meigs, on the Maumee river. Henry Haines was the next settler. He left his eastern home in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in 1810, for the West, reaching Licking county in the fall of that year, expecting to continue on to Franklin county, but discouraging reports induced him to stop. He was informed that Zanesville, some sixty miles distant from his prospective home, would be the nearest point at which to obtain salt and get his grinding done; also that the proposed location was unhealthy. This piece of news prevailed with him, and he resolved to settle closer to Zanesville. He was directed by a Mr. Wolford to this township. In the spring of 1811 he moved here, entering the northwest quarter of section 18. For six months he lived in a three-sided cabin, the one end being entirely open, but by fall he had a substantial log cabin ready for occupation. He brought with him six cows, and made a large amount of butter. Few of the settlers who soon after located here were fortunate enough to own a cow, and butter, with them, was quite a luxury. Mr. Haines availed himself of every opportunity to exchange this product of the dairy for a pig. In the course of several years he had a large drove of hogs and a fine herd of cattle, which had been raised with trifling cost. These he drove to Zanesville in several lots, and sold them at a fair figure. With the proceeds of these sales he paid for his quarter section. He reared a family of eight children, and died in 1863, at the age of eighty-one years. His brother John came with him, and settled the northwest quarter of section 14. In the fall of 1811 John Wolford appeared, settling in the southwest quarter of section 14. He had entered it some time prior to his immigration; was originally from Bedford county, Pennsylvania, but had been living a while in Belmont county. He afterwards moved to Hancock county, and there engaged in milling till he died. About the same time Elias James from Bedford county, Pennsylvania, settled on the northwest quarter of section 16. This quarter had been entered by a German named Grimm, who, at the first indication of approaching Indian warfare, sold it for a trifle to Mr. James and vamosed to a more congenial clime in the East. Information is had that Mr. Grimm afterward settled in Keens township and rose to the dignity of an associate judge. John McKearns from Bedford county, about 1812, settled in the southwest quarter of section 24. He died in the spring of 1815 of "cold plague" as did also his wife and a sister. Aaron now lives just across the line in Washington township. Solomon Tipton, formerly from Wellsburg, Virginia, but directly from Belmont county, settled on the northwest quarter of section 15 probably in 1812. He came in the spring and in the fall of the same year was drafted into the army and entered service. While in the army a sad calamity befell his family at home. The back wall of his chimney which had been built that summer fell over upon two of his children, killing one of them and seriously injuring the other. HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 463 Nathan Wright came with his family from Bedford county to Perry township in June, 1814, and a few months later to the southwest quarter of section 25. His oldest son, John, who was married, accompanied him. Another son, Nathan, is still living in the township and is the oldest resident here. He was born February 9,1798, being now in his eighty-fourth year. His mental vigor is unimpaired, and he is widely known and highly esteemed by all who enjoy his acquaintance. In his youth he was a deer slayer of note, and in his prime an active, intelligent and energetic citizen. Charles Cessna came with the Wrights from the same county. He settled in the northwest quarter of section 17, and after a residence of perhaps fifteen ,years moved to Hardin county. About 1814, Samuel Dillam settled on the military section. He was a roving character, did not become a property owner here, and changed his place of habitation repeatedly. John Anderson had entered the southeast quarter of section 24, and built a little cabin upon it, in 1814, which he expected to occupy. He returned to Guernsey county, whence he came, for his family, and died there, early in 1815, of cold plague. About 1815, a tide of emigration set in, which continued unabated for ten years, and before the expiration of that time, the land in the township had all been entered. Thomas Srnith and his son Edward settled, about 1818, in the southeast quarter of section 11. Their nationality was Irish. Edward had been drafted into the British service, while still living on the Emerald Isle, and was sent, with the English forces, to Canada, near Sackett's Harbor. While he and a fellow-soldier were out on the river, in a little boat, fishing, they made a successful effort to desert the English lines. They drifted down the river as far as they could, without exciting suspicion, and when ordered to return, pulled lustily in the opposite direction. The pickets opened fire upon them, and Smith's companion dropped flat in the bottom of the boat, to screen himself from the flying bullets, leaving his fellow deserter to row him out of danger. Smith brought the boat safely to the American lines, amid the huzzas of the soldiers who witnessed the escape. A brother, who subsequently became a blacksmith, in Coshocton, and his father, Thomas, had in the meantime emigrated from Ireland to America. Edward joined them in the East and came, with his father to this place, where he remained all his life. Daniel, William and James McCurdy, three brothers, remotely from the "holy sod," and immediately from Jefferson county, came in about 1816 or 1818, and settled in sections 19 and 20. Edward McCoy, a little earlier, came from Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and settled in the southwest quarter of section 17. He died recently in Monroe township. His brother, William McCoy, accompanied him here. Other early settlers, from the same county, were Moses Wolford, occupying the northeast quarter of section 24; William Richards, the southeast quarter of section 17; Jacob Rine, the southwest quarter of section 14; Henry Rine, the southeast quarter of section 25; Enoch Fry, the northwest quarter of section 25; Jacob Adams, Robert Elder, Samuel Rose, a famous bee-hunter, and Micajah Heaton, the northeast quarter of section 16. To vary the Bedford township monotony, John Hutchinson, originally an Irishman, about 1816, came from Wilmington, Delaware, and settled on the southwest quarter of section 11. John McNabb, a little earlier, emigrated from Belmont county to lot 6, military section; likewise George McNabb to the southwest quarter of section 15; Martin Markle to lot 13, from Virginia. He removed to Illinois twenty-five or thirty years ago. Nathan Evans, from near Baltimore, Maryland, about 1818, located the northwest quarter of section 3; Samuel Duncan, a brother to Matthew Duncan, of New Castle township, the southwest quarter of section 5. He here ran a little fulling machine. His death resulted from the kick of a horse. Bennett Browner moved to lot 21, military section, about 1816. He hailed from Virginia, was a noted character, and years after moved to New Castle township, where he died. Joseph Parish came, in 1817, from Belmont county and entered the northwest quarter of section 8. Hugh Barrett and his sons, John (married), Joseph and Richard, came about 1818 or 1820, emigrants from Ireland, settling in the northwestern part of the township. John Richardson, 461 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. one of the floating population, lived a while, at an early clay, on the military section, and afterwards went to Jefferson township. He was from Virginia. A son, Joseph, attained to considerable prominence subsequently in Roscoe. Thomas Tipton, a brother to Solomon, in 1817, settled on the southeast quarter of section 5. Thomas Morris came to Ohio in 1813, with the expectation of settling in Coshocton county, having relatives on the Tuscarawas river, but his children were taken sick with the measles in Belmont county, and, once stopped, he remained there seven years. He rented a farm of about fifty acres, which was cleared and leased twenty acres of timber for six years, having the use of it during this period in return for the labor of clearing it. During his stay here, he accumulated means sufficient to enter the south half of section 7, on which he settled in 1820. He died twenty-one years later, at the age of sixty six years. Stephen Donley came with him, entering the northeast quarter of section 5. Joseph Hughes came in the spring of 1821, from Belmont county, to the southeast quarter of section 6. David Lammey, his brother-in-law, owned seventy acres of this section, and came out a year or so earlier, building at first a little cabin of saplings, without doors or windows, the only entrance being from the roof. No Indian village existed within the bounds of this township, though the savages frequently encamped along the little streams here. Few settlers had arrived when the Indians deserted this part of the country, consequently there was little local communication here between the two races. One Indian, known as J. Cook, encamped for some time in the southwest quarter of section 22, now owned by Mrs. T. English, on the little branch of Wakatomica run, which flows through the place. He had a hopeful scion about fifteen years of age, whom he was endeavoring to train up in the way he should go, by sending him out in the woods every morning to shoot game. The lad formed the acquaintance of Henry Haines' sons, shortly after their arrival; and instead o scouring the wild forest paths in quest of noble game, as he should have done, he whiled away the lazy hours of the day at the cabin of his white neighbors, roasting potatoes, scraping turnips and getting a civilized meal occasionally. On his return home in the evening he would report "no game " to his waiting sire. J. Cook at length suspecting that his son was not as zealous in the pursuit of deer, as he should be, followed him one day, and found him as usual, playing with his white companions. He took him home with him and very successfully applied corrective principles of some kind to the boy's wayward course, effectively curing his hankering after civilized companionship, for he never returned. When Mr. Haines was about to put up his cabin in 1811, there were no settlers in the vicinity from whom to receive assistance. He went down to the neighborhood of Dresden to procure the services of several workmen, if possible, and found two men who willingly agreed to come, but complained a little of the distance they would have to walk. Mr. Haines jokingly advised them to ride two of the ponies belonging to the occupants of an Indian village close by. Sure enough, the men appeared at Haines' door the next morning mounted on two horses. They had not been here long, however, when two new arrivals put in their appearance-an Indian and his half-grown son-who had tracked their stolen horses hither. A jug of whisky mollified their wrath and induced them to stay all day. The Indian lad rendered some little assistance, but the noble red man devoted his attention exclusively to a full investigation of the whisky jug. As evening approached they bestrode their recovered steeds and silently wended their way homeward, leaving the men to follow the path afoot. Wolves were quite an annoyance to the settlers, particularly to those who owned sheep. These had to be kept in tight pens close to the cabin during the night, and even then were not always safe from the fangs of their old-time enemies. Squirrels, too, were quite a pest in destroying the corn and other products of the farm. A famous squirrel raid was organized in New Castle township, at a time when it comprised what are now Bedford, Pike, Perry and New Castle townships. The township was divided equally into two parts, the settlers of each division vieing with each other in their efforts to exterminate to the mischievous little animal. The hunt lasted HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 465 three weeks, and during the time it is said more than twenty thousand squirrels were killed. Two salt licks existed near the township center, one on the northwest quarter of section 18, Levi Haines' place ; the other on the northwest quarter of section 13, about a mile to the north. These were the favorite haunts of deer, generally at night. The venison-loving settler might secrete himself in the neighboring thicket any evening and be tolerably sure of killing a deer if he possessed a little patience. Deer have often been killed here at night when darkness shrouded them completely from view, the hunter being made aware of the game's presence by its tread, and knowing by experience the direction in which to shoot. The first road in the township was the one leading from Coshocton to Mt. Vernon. It was built in 1810 or earlier, and just grazed the north eastern part of the township. The next was the one built from Dresden to the mouth of Owl creek, in New Castle township. It was made as far as the center of Washington township in 1811, and in 1812 or 1813 completed. It was the road which passes through West Bedford north and south. About 1818 a school was taught in a deserted cabin on the northeast quarter of section 6. Another, about the same time, was held in an old cabin on the southwest quarter of section 18. It was taught by Thomas McBride, later of Newark, and William McCoy. In 1824 one was taught in the cabin which Henry Haines had occupied, on the northwest quarter of section 18. Mr. Haines had moved into a new brick the year before. William McCoy, one of this township's pioneer settlers, taught the first term of three months. The three "rs," reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic, were the only branches taught. The families that sent their children here included the Harrisons, Wolfords, Richards, McCurdys, McCoys, and Cessnas. The next year another term of three months was taught by John Oxley, an individual who was crusty in manner and harsh in his treatment toward the scholars. The school was then abandoned. About 1820 a clumsy little log school-house was built in the northwest quarter of section 25. Nathan Wright, Sr., was installed the first teacher. Richard Wood succeeded him the next year. About 1825 or 1826 a term was taught by John Oxley in a. deserted loom-house belonging to Thomas Norris. The settlers then were obliged to manufacture their own clothing, or wear buckskin, and many of them chose the latter. Oxley afterwards moved to Perry, then Monroe, township, where he died. Milling facilities were important considerations with the pioneer settlers in selecting the spots for their future homes. In this township where the water power could not always be relied upon, the settlers made provision for getting along without it when it became necessary. Many of the settlers constructed rude, little hand mills, which they could resort to in an extremity to grind their corn. Draft horse mills also were not rare. One of these was built by Jared Parish and Ben. Nulen about 1825 in the northeast quarter of section 23, which was operated ten or twelve years. Ben. Nulen afterward built another in West Bedford but when he moved to Hardin county some years later it was abandoned. In the southwest quarter of section 18 a grist mill was built about 1814 by John Wolford. An overshot water-wheel was used, and one set of buhrs was run, Mr. Wolford sold to Patrick English who added a saw mill and afterward sold out to Isaac Dickerson The mill was operated till about 1865. About 1830 Henry Haines erected a saw mill on the quarter section adjoining this one on the north, on the same stream. Several years later he built a grist mill at the same site. Two races were constructed from the two forks of the run, one a hundred and twenty-five, the other seventy-five rods long. A large undershot wheel was employed in driving the machinery. One set of buhrs was connected with the mill, and about 1850 it was abandoned; the saw mill had been taken away some years before. In the eastern part of lot 11, of the military section, three acres were sold for a mill site, and a saw mill erected upon it about 1835, by Aaron Kane. He removed to Adams county, Illinois, and Harvey Doney came into possession of the mill, who subsequently moved to Greens county, Indiana. The water-wheel was of Parker's pattern, and the saw was a sash-saw, as were also 466 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. those in all other mills in this township, circular saws not yet having come into vogue. It is said that Joseph Parish erected a little distillery, about 1818, in the northwestern part of the township, which remained in operation five or six years. His boys were obliged to pack the rye on horses to a little mill on Mohawk run, in Jefferson township, there being no mill closer. About 1828, Edward McCoy started a distillery on his place, in the northwest quarter of section 17. He had first built a carding mill, but after a few years abandoned this, attached a little pair of buhrs for grinding, and erected the distillery. His motive power was of a kind not usually found here. It consisted of a tramp-wheel, a large wheel perhaps thirty feet in diameter, set in an inclined position. Cattle were placed upon one side of the wheel, and their weight set it in motion. They were fastened so that they were unable to move along with the wheel, but had to tramp, tramp, up the side of the revolving wheel until the mash was ground in the mill, which was connected by machinery with the wheel. This distillery was operated about ten years. The next distillery was owned by William Richards, and erected several yearn later. He had no mill connected with the distillery, but had his grain ground at different little mills around. After some ten years' operation, it, too, was abandoned. About 1835, Moses Wolford became another manufacturer of distilled spirits and, not only was whisky made at these little distilleries, but also peach brandy, apple brandy, etc., Wolford's still was located on the northeast quarter of section 24 and, after a period of four or five years, it suspended operations. Probably the last still was smallest of all, quite an insignificant affair, run for a few years, and owned by John Metz, about thirty-five years ago, in the southern part of the township. From 1858 to 1860, and to some extent for a few years later, a large amount of capital was invested in coal oil manufactories in this and in Jefferson township. Beds of cannel coal, of the richest description, from which the oil was extracted, lie in the hills in the northeastern part of this and the southern part of Jefferson township. The vein is largest on Simmons' run, where it attains a thickness of six feet three inches, cannel coal, and three feet bituminous. The average thickness of the cannel is between three and four feet, with the bituminous in proportion. It is sporadic, however, liable to swell into a deep rich vein, or dwindle away into a worthless seam, in a very short distance. The bituminous lies over the cannel coal, and was little mined, having no market. Previous to 1858, coal oil had been manufactured to a considerable extent in the east, and about that time extensive works were springing up in Newark, the manufacturers designing to ship the coal from the various mines to that place, and there extract the oil. Colonel Metham, of Jefferson township, was probably the first person in this vicinity to enter the promising field of future wealth. He purchased a piece of land containing coal, in this township, with William Stanton, of Coshocton, as partner, and went to Newark to acquaint himself with the minutiae of the distilling process. He there met J. E. Holmes and found high excitement prevailing. The coal he was able to supply could be easily disposed of to the various speculators at a fair figure. He was the first to suggest transferring the works to the coal fields, and thus save the freightage on the coal, which was a considerable item of expense. The suggestion was acted upon, and a number of firms came with their works to the coal beds in this township. The coal beds were, as a rule, leased by the operators from the land owners. Three companies were located on the Metham and Stanton tract-Captain Stuart, of Steubenville, with two sets of works, one consisting of fourteen, the other of ten retorts; Forsythe & Brothers, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, having thirty-two retorts, and a Mr. Edwards, of Muskingum county, with six retorts. W Wilcox & Osborn made heavy investments in the coal regions here, still owning about 650 acres of land. Judge Wilcox, the senior member of the firm, is a banker in Painesville, Mr. Osborn a banker of Chicago. On their property Dr. Semple, of Steubenville, had a set of works, Mr. Carnahew, of Pennsylvania, another, and Ezra Cornell, of New York, a third. Mr. Cornell superintended his works here in person. Some of the companies not only distilled the crude oil here, but also, at least, par- HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 467 tially refined it. Others sent the oil to Newark, or elsewhere, to be refined. The retorts by which the oil was distilled were of various kinds, the most common pattern being an upright, cast-iron retort, about nine feet high and four feet thick. It was filled with coal, made air-tight, and heat was then applied on the outside. The vapors thus set free were conveyed through a worm and condensed. At first, two charges were run a day, but this was found to be too many, and the number was reduced to one. A ton of coal usually produced about forty gallons of crude oil, worth at first fifty cents per gallon, but toward the end sold at a narrow margin at ten cents a gallon. Mixed with the crude lamp oil were lubricating oil, asphaltum and paraffine. These, in the early stages of the manufacture, were regarded and treated as waste products ; afterward they were utilized, the lubricating oil fires, then the asphaltum and paraffine. For a year or two after the war some of the works were operated solely for these latter compounds, the crude oil being relied upon, however, to pay expenses. The works had scarcely become thoroughly established when the petroleum oil wells in Western Pennsylvania, which developed rapidly and produced oil in immense quantities, furnished the burning fluid at a figure which made it utterly impossible for the manufacturers here to compete with them, and the business received its death blow. All the costly preparation for a permanent business, by way of machinery, etc., became at once so much dead capital, completely valueless. It is estimated that $300,000 were lost through these enterprises in the two townships, This was not felt to any great extent by the county, however, for the most of it was foreign capital. A few of the retorts were removed only a short time ago, but most of them were taken away during the war, and, it is said, cast into shells and used on various battlefields in the late conflict. It is a noteworthy fact that most of these rich bed: of coal are now owned by non residents of the county, and await only the construction of a railroad in the vicinity to be developed to the fullest extent. The tract of about 650 acres of land, situated in the heart of this valuable field, owned by Wilcox & Osborn, has already been mentioned. Much of the coal has been purchased by foreign capitalists from parties who still own the land. One company of seven, consisting of Mr. Thompson (now deceased), formerly president of the Pennsylvania Central railroad, Thomas Scott, ex-president of the same road, Mr. Shaw, a vice president of this road, Judge R. C. Hurd, of Mount Vernon (now deceased), General G. A. Jones, of Mount Vernon, now receiver of the Cleveland, Mount Vernon and Delaware railroad, Samuel Israel, vice president of the same, and Colonel P. Metham, now own about 800 acres of the coal in this and Jefferson townships. The Dresden branch of the Cleveland, Mount Vernon and Columbus railroad, which was partially constructed in 1873, but then suspended operations by reason of the panic, passed through this region and would have offered the desired outlet to a market had it been completed. The road entered the northeastern part of the township from Jefferson, and passed up the narrow valley of Simmons' run, in a southwesterly direction, for about three miles to "Tunnel Hill," on William Noland's farm, lot 32 of the military section. The company was at work in this tunnel when it ceased operations, had it been completed, the construction of the balance of the road to Dresden would have been comparatively easy, as the little valley of Wakatomica run could be followed the entire distance. Limestone abounds in the vicinity of the coal beds, and kidney iron ore has also been discovered. What extent of this iron ore a thorough investigation might reseal, awaits the future to determine. A Christian church, vulgarly known as the " New Light," was organized in 1823. The pioneer settlers, who attached themselves to the organization at or closely following its inception, and grew to be leading lights in the body, included the names of Joseph Hartman and wife, Charles Cessna and family, Richard Mood and wife, William . Richards' family, Ira Marshall and John Haines. Services were held at private houses during the infancy of the church, generally at Richard Mood's or Joseph Hartman's. It was customary also to hold protracted meetings in 468 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. the forest "God's first temples." In 1840, a house of worship was erected a short distance north of the village of West Bedford, at an out lay of the modest sum of $300. It was a small frame, which still stands the ravages of time. Revs. James Mervin and Ashley were the first ministers. At a later date, came Revs. Andrew Hunger, Adolphus Bradfield, Jacob Hunger, William Webb and H. Harsh. In 1864, by reason of removals and deaths, the church was too feeble to support itself and became extinct. During its existence, a Sunday-school had been carried on with success and several refreshing seasons of great spiritual revival marked the history of the church. Its membership at one time exceeded fifty. The Union Methodist Episcopal church is located in the southern part of the township. It was long known as Smith's church, so called from one of its principal early members who lived in the vicinity of the building, but since his decease it has given way to the name mentioned above. The first church building, a hewed log affair, was erected about 1832. Preaching had been held for many years prior in cabins, but, it is understood, the class was formed not long before the erection of the building. Harvey Willson was probably the first minister. The early members were George and James Smith, William McCoy, John Dickerson, Moses Wolford, Jonathan Phillips, Isaac Dikus, Martin Markle and the families of many of these. One of this number, William McCoy, built the first church. The present house of worship, a frame, structure, was built about twenty-five years ago. The membership is now fifty or more, the minister in charge, A. McCullough. A Sunday-school is carried on during the summer. The Methodist Episcopal church in West Bedford was organized in 1838 or 1840. It might properly be called a branch of the Union Methodist church, just described, as a number of the early members of that society severed their membership with it in order to organize this one. Colonel Roe was mainly instrumental in effecting its organization. He was an ardent Methodist and resided at West Bedford but was unable to walk to the Union church and, having no conveyance of his own, could not be regular in his attendance upon services. The society was organized in his log cabin, which stood on the lot now occupied by the parsonage. Revs. Kellogg and Joseph Brown were on the circuit at that time. The circuit was larger than at present, embracing New Castle, East Union, Mohawk Village, West Carlisle, Roscoe, Dresden, and perhaps other appointments. Other early preachers were Revs. Barker, Blanfield, Henry, Whiteman, John McNabb and William Boggs. William Jones and William Smith were the two first class-leaders. Besides these, other original members were Mr. Smith's wife, Nancy (the only original member now connected with the church), and his daughter, Mary Ann; Mr. Jones' wife Rachel and daughter Susan; James Jones, his wife Susan and children Mary Jane and Barrack; Coe Roe and his wife Julia, and Mrs. Ellen Renfrew. James Jones had four sons who subsequently became ministers of the gospel in this denomination, Thomas, Barrack, William and Samuel. The second, one of the original members, was at the time of the church's organization a lad of but ten years of age. Meetings for a year or two were held in private houses on week days, then in 1841, the church was built and services held in it on Sundays. The church . lot was donated by Mrs. Ellen Renfrew. The building is a large frame, with a seating capacity of about 500, built by George Conn. It was repaired and refurnished several years ago, and, notwithstanding its age, still presents a good appearance, though the members are at present discussing the propriety of erecting a new structure. The year the church was built was a noted one in the history of the church. A revival that year resulted in 500 accessions to the different churches in this circuit. During another revival in the West Bedford church, several years ago, about 140 conversions were made. The present membership ranges about ninety or 100. Rev. A. McCullough is the pastor. West Bedford was laid out September 13, 1817, by Micajah Heaton. For a long time it was known only as Heaton's Town, then its proper name came into use. It lies in the southwestern part of the township, on the northeast quarter of HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 469 section 16. Mr. Heaton was from Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and settled on this quarter-section about a year previous to the laying out of the village. His cabin was situated upon the corner where James James' residence now is. He kept a tavern here for a few years. The travel through the town was scanty, and the proprietor relied mainly upon the sale of whisky for the income of the house. He also received the appointment as postmaster, and thereby drew considerable custom to his bar. Thomas McBride afterward became postmaster and retained the office for an extended term of years. In order to promote the growth of the village, the proprietor offered a town lot to the person who would erect the first house in the village. Enoch Fry and Samuel Waters competed for the prize, but it is unknown which of the two was successful. Lemuel Holmes was the first store keeper. He had been a merchant in Baltimore, but had met with business reverses and came West about 1818 or 1819, with his aged father, to retrieve, if possible, his broken fortunes. He had but a small stock of goods and did not remain here long. He purchased a farm near Mount Vernon and removed to it, William Renfrew and Robert Hay succeeded Mr. Holmes in the mercantile business of the place. Their store occupied the site of Mr. Heaton's cabin. Mr. Renfrew remained in business here quite a number of years, and became a prominent and influential man in the extended circle in which he moved. When he retired from business, he removed to a farm in the eastern part of the township, and there, undisturbed by business cares, spent his remaining years amidst the quiet and repose of rural life. While he was still in business, James McFarland, an Irishman, opened a second store. He came here with only $400, rented a little log house, stocked it with goods, and also lived in it. He remained identified w with the village many years, and acquired a large fortune through his business relations. He removed to Vermillion county, Illinois. An important character in the village's early days, was William Lynch, the hatter, who fashioned and furnished all kinds of head-ware for his pioneer customers hereabouts. Jabez Heaton, a brother to Micajah, was the first blacksmith, opening his shop about 1820. He was followed by James Roney, an attentive and industrious mechanic, who worked at the trade here for many years. In 1820, Isaac Heaton, another brother to Micajah, was running a little tannery. It afterwards passed into the hands of John Quigley, who sold it to Thomas McBride and William Renfrew. It ceased to exist some twenty-five yearn ago. Another tannery teas started about 1842, by Philip Kennedy. Patrick Thompson operated it awhile, and Thomas Jones then purchased it. Several years later he allowed it to go down. In the past, considerable manufacturing was carried on in the village. About 1840, a threshing machine manufactory was started by Isaac and Thomas Lewis and William Lukens. Four years later; Dr. E. M. Lewis, who had charge of the shops for the firm, bought it and in turn sold it to John Shields, who gradually, discontinued the business. Patrick Thompson and James Roney, about 1851, started a shop of a similar kind, but after three years experience quit the business. Thompson and Shields have built a limited number of windmills here, in years gone by. About 1862, John Shields began making revolving hay rakes, and is still engaged in the manufacture; about fifty were made the first season, but the number has since been reduced. In 1858 George Moore erected a large steam saw and grist mill just west of the village. The saw mill was first set and the material for the structure sawed. After the building was finished he removed the saw and used the building as a grist mill only. In 1863 Patrick Thompson purchased the property, replaced the sawing apparatus and has carried on both ever since. In former times the mill was kept constantly running but not so much business is done now. The first school in the village was held about 1822 in a little log cabin which stood near the present residence of Mrs. Sarah Movel. Edward McCoy, an easy, good-natured man, was the first teacher. His pupils were John, Daniel and Henry Haines, Owen Marshall, Elijah, Elisha and Joseph Musgrove, Absolom Wolf, Conner Crawford, Arthur and Robert McBride and Elias Norris Schools continued to be held in the village with tolerable regularity from that day to 470 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. the present, at first not longer than three months in a year. About 1846 the West Bedford academy was organized, and for many years was one of the leading institutions of the place. The building was erected by a stock company consisting of James Jones, James and Matthew McFarland, William Smith, Charles Barnes, Patrick Thompson and others. William Renfrew donated the land. After a flattering career of four or five years the academy was destroyed by fire, but the school was transferred temporarily to the Methodist church and the energetic citizens proceeded at once to erect another. Its cost was about $1,200, a fund raised by stock subscription as before. Rev. William Grissell the Methodist minister at the time was the founder of the institution. He was assisted in the instruction by two lady teachers from Oberlin The school in its day ranked high as a college preparatory department. The catalogue showed one hundred and ten students in attendance at one session, a number of them from Coshocton and Roscoe. A bell capped the building and a fine library circulated among the students. In the course of time the property passed into the hands of the school district, the directors buying the stock at a discount. The village school is still held in the building. It is a two-story frame, twenty-four feet by forty-eight, and contains three rooms only two of which are now used. About eighty-eight scholars are now enrolled. They are taught by Samuel Moore and W. R. Spencer. Wakatomica Lodge, No. 108, of the Masonic Order, is located here. It was organized at West Carlisle, February 10, 1840, under name of Washington Lodge. Afterward, it was removed to West Bedford. The lodge formerly owned a one-story frame hall, situated across the street from Jones' store, but, in 1875, it erected a third story to a building belonging to Patrick Thompson, and have since occupied it as a lodge room. The present officers are: Joseph Dickerson, Master; T. W. Thomson, Senior Warden; James White, Junior Warden ; John McKee, Secretary; Frank Jones, Treasurer; T. W. Helrigle, Senior Deacon; Martin Wolford, Junior Deacon; Frank Tredaway, Tyler. The membership is now forty-five. A lodge of Good Templars was located here once, but it has perished. The population of the village is one hundred and thirty-four. Although there have been three or four stores here formerly at one time, at present Thomas Jones monopolizes the mercantile business. Several blacksmith shops, a shoe shop, and a cabinet shop complete the business. C. F. Moore is proprietor of the hotel. Two physicians. are now in practice here, Drs. J. W. Heskett and William Litten. Former practitioners were Drs. Nelson, William Stanton, Roof, Wattel, Simmons, Smith and Stockdale. Zeno was the quaint appellation which Abraham Cheney bestowed upon a little town of his own creation, in 1833, situated on lot 11 of the military section. Its life was ephemeral. Few houses were built, these few soon removed, and the village plot vacated not many years after its formation, the reason whereof is veiled in oblivion as deep as the town itself. Tunnel Hill Postoffice is situated about two, miles east of West Bedford, on the Coshocton road. It was formed in 1873 by the appointment of T. W. Thompson postmaster. He still holds the position. The postoffice was secured through the influence of the railroad officials then engaged upon the construction of the tunnel a mile or so to the northeast. T. W. Thompson owns a store here, Leonard Haines a harness shop, and Samuel Dickerson a blacksmith shop. CHAPTER LI. BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP. Name-Boundaries-Streams-Surface-Soil-"Denman's Prairie "-Name of the Killbuck:-Legend of the White Woman-Hunting Grounds-Mounds--The Morrisons- Mrs. Kimberly and the Deer-Other Early Settlers-Squatters- Saw Mill-Bridges and Canal-Schools-Churches. BETHLEHEM township was organized in 1826. The honor of naming it was given to William Speaks, a revolutionary soldier, who was the oldest resident of the township at that time. It is hounded on the north by Clark township, on the east by Keene, on the south by Jackson and on the west by Jefferson. HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 471 It is watered by the Walhonding river and Killbuck creek. The Walhonding enters the southern portion of the township from the west, and, pursuing a nearly easterly course, crosses the line into the southwestern corner of Keene township. The Killbuck enters at the northwest from Clark township, and, just after crossing the line, bears to the west about a mile and touches Jefferson township in one or two places; it then seeks the Walhonding by a southeasterly course, reaching it almost a mile southeast of the township center. The northeastern portion of the township is drained by a little stream called Buckalew run, which enters Killbuck creek near its mouth. The valleys of the Walhonding and the Killbuck give to the township more bottom lands than are found in any one of the surrounding townships. That of the Walhonding, having an average width of more than a mile, possesses a soil of unusual fertility. The valley of the Killbuck, not quite so wide, contains a soil which is often a clay and very productive, though not equaling in this respect that of the Walhonding. The ridge land is mostly of a clayey and limestone nature, and is, consequently, of good quality. Beyond the valleys the surface is rough ;the roughest, us well as largest, section of it being found in the northeastern part, where there is no stream of any consequence. Timber of a heavy growth covered the township at the coming of the first settlers, except in two localities In the southeastern corner of the township, south of the river, and extending across the line a short distance into Keene and Jackson townships, was an open space of several hundred acres, known as Denman's prairie. The soil was rich and productive, bearing a luxuriant growth of tall, waving grass: The other exception was between the Killbuck and Walhonding, near their junction, where there was a scope of several hundred acres, covered only with saplings and low underbrush. The place is still called the plains. The principal growths here were the scrub-oak, jack-oak, white-oak, hickory, cherry, walnut and wild plum. It has mostly been cleared since. About all that is left of this young growth is the little grove standing in front of the residence of Mr. John Hogle. The trees here have now attained a goodly size, being a foot in diameter, some of them Killbuck creek received its name from that of a noted chief of the Delawares, whose town was located on this stream between Millersburg and Wooster. Concerning the origin of the name Walhonding, which in the Indian tongue signifies "the White Woman," there appear to be two accounts. Along the western banks of the river,. in the southeastern part of the township, on the Denman farm, is a broken ledge of rocks invested with a romantic legend. The river here winds close to the base of a steep acclivity of ground from which, here and there, jut out cliffs of sandstone rock lending an air of picturesque beauty to the scene. The tradition, current among the people in this vicinity, tells that a beautiful, young, virgin captive, loath to endure the indignities and barbarities of an Indian life, preferred stern death instead, and, breaking away from the hated camp adjacent, rushed madly towards the storm-swollen stream-the Indian braves in hot pursuit-and plunged from this overhanging rock into its seething waters beneath. According to one account the cold waters closed over her forever, the Indians, on reaching the brink, beholding the bubbles of her expiring breath rise to the surface; but from another version, she concealed herself beneath a projecting rock until the Indians abandoned the chase and returned to their camp, then cautiously stole away and escaped. The poetic legend is traced back to the Carpenter: who came to Coshocton county in 1801, and many people of the present generation, who live within knowing distance of the rock, give full credence to it and fondly tell to the passing stranger the story of the White Woman. The chronicles of the earliest white men, who saw the beauty of this valley, however, give a different account of the origin of the river's name. Christopher Gist, a surveyor, in the interest of the Ohio Land Company visited"White Woman's creek" in 1751. In his journal of that date he says the white woman who gave the river her name was Mary Harris, the wife "of an Indian chief who dwelt upon its banks. The legend of this woman is narrated in another chapter of this volume. The valley of the Walhonding, as also that of 472 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. the Killbuck, before the advent of the pale face, was doubtless one of the happiest of the terrestrial happy hunting grounds of the untamed, forest-roving savage. A hundred years ago two villages of the Delawares were located in the valley; one three miles, the other ten miles, above Coshocton. In the forks of the Wolhonding and Killbuck was Custaloga's Town. Here was the residence doubtless of Mary Harris, after whom the river was probably named. Custaloga was a Delaware chief, and the orator of his tribe. He, with twenty warriors representing his nation, was the first to surrender their prisoners to Colonel Bouquet. His speech at the treaty of Fort Pitt is full of noble sentiment and Indian eloquence. From the name of this town, it is probable that it was the residence of this distinguished speaker and chief. For years after the Indians left Coshocton county, wandering red men returned to visit the loved haunts of old. In 1822, and perhaps many years later, Indians from the Tuscarawas river came to the Killbuck during the summer season to trap and to hunt. Game of every description was abundant. The air at times was black with wild turkeys. Deer were often seen in herds of forty or fifty. Bears and wolves were numerous. No place was more eagerly sought by the lover of the chase than the valleys of Bethlehem township, and for many years the sport was enjoyed alike by the cabin-dwelling huntsman and his dusky neighbor of the forest wigwam. Upon John Hogle's farm, or, as it is better known, the east reserve of the Rathbone section, not far from the Wolhonding, is a large mound, having a height of perhaps fifteen feet and a very gradual slope. Another mound of a. lesser size stands on the Moffat farm, a short distance northwest of the center of the township in the Killbuck valley. These are the only ones known to exist in the township. Bethlehem township is made up entirely of military land, consisting of four military sections, of 4,000 acres each. The first or northeast section was surveyed into forty one-hundred-acre lots, by the government, for the accommodation of revolutionary soldiers, or other individuals, who held warrants for this number of acres. George Skinner, of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, was the original individual owner of the second or northwest section. The third or southwest section is known as the John Rathbone section. He obtained it in 1825, from Alexander O. and Mary E. Spencer, and James C. and Sarah Norton, who, it seems, were the heirs of William Steele, the original grantee of the section under patent dated March 20, 1800. Matthew Denman and William Wells were the proprietors of the southeast section. All these proprietors were nonresidents. The first settlement in the county was made on Denman's prairie, in the eastern part of this township, in the spring of 1800, by Charles Williams, William Morrison and Isaac and Henry Hoagland. These little open spaces of rich, productive soil, scattered sparingly, like oases, in the unlimited expanse of timber growth, were eagerly seized upon by the earliest pioneers, and afforded an excellent opportunity of raising the indispensable crop of corn until tillable fields could be wrought out of the native forests. Ebenezer Buckingham soon after, in 1800, settled at the mouth of Killbuck, remaining two years only. On Denman's prairie, as early as 1801, were also Samuel Morrison, Ira Kimberly, George Carpenter and James Craig. The wives of Williams, the two Morrisons and of Kimberly were sisters of George Carpenter, and were noted for their physical strength and activity. For years previous to their emigration to Coshocton county, they had lived with their father on the banks of the Ohio, in the midst of the fierce and prolonged Indian warfare which then was waged unremittingly along the border. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter, while out in the fields at work once, in the Ohio valley, were suddenly surprised by a band of Indians. He was shot, and fell motionless to the ground. Supposing him to be dead, the Indians left him and pursued Mrs. Carpenter, who sped fleetly in the direction of the fort which had been erected, and succeeded in reaching it in safety. Mr. Carpenter, who was not fatally wounded, recovered sufficiently to crawl away and conceal himself before the Indians returned. He thus escaped the tomahawk and the scalping knife. Inured to emergencies demanding great endurance and physical action, HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 473 his children were raised to bear the brunts of a rugged and shifting pioneer life with ease. A little incident which occurred on the Denman prairie, while these early settlers were encamped here, will illustrate the muscular power and hardihood of these pioneer women. Mrs. Sallie Kimberly was visiting at the cabin of her brother-in-law, William Morrison, who at the time was suffering from some bodily ailment, and in consequence was unable to mote about much. He saw a deer across the Walhonding, and, taking down his rifle, he shot it. Not being well enough to go across for the game himself, he asked one of the women to do so. \ire. Kimberly consented to bring over the deer. The river was deep in this place, and not fordable anywhere in the vicinity, but nothing daunted her. She sprang into the stream and swam easily across; then securely tied her large neckerchief around the deer's neck and drew it to the water, and, holding one end of the cloth by her teeth, she swam over with the deer to the opposite shore. The Morrisons and the Carpenters afterward passed on up the Killbuck, becoming the earliest settlers of what is now Holmes county. Kimberly moved two miles further up the valley, to the place where the bridge now crosses the river: It was long known as Kimberly's ford, afterward as Fry's ford. James Craig kept a little grocery close by, for a number of years, whisky being the chief article of trade; then removed to Coshocton, where he and his family died about 1814, of "cold plague." Isaac Hoagland came from Virginia to the Denman section, about the same time the Morrisons did. He afterward moved up to Clark township, becoming one of the pioneer settlers. About 1806, Henry Carr, from Hardy county, Virginia, settled on lot 11 of the southwest section, now owned by James Richardson. He here operated a little still for a few years, beginning about 1810. The distilled sprits he disposed of mostly to his scattering neighbors, often exchanging it for the raw material- corn. One bushel of shelled corn was worth a gallon of whisky, and many of the settlers would send a bag of corn to Carr as regularly as they did to mill. John Bantum came in 1806, from near Baltimore, Maryland, and settled on that part of the Rathbone section, afterwards known as the east reserve. He had served through the revolution. Joseph Burrell, a son of Benjamin Burrell, who was one of the earliest settlers of Keene town ship, settled here early. He was from Frederick county, Maryland; died in August, 1874, at the age of eighty-four years. About 1808, Adam Markley came in from Maryland with a large family-eight sons and four daughters. John Markley, who was killed at an election at Coshocton in 1816, by George Arnold, a noted rough from what is now Bethlehem township-then forming a portion of Tuscarawas township-was a member of this family. This murder was the first one committed in Coshocton county. John Biter accompanied the Markleys here. He died soon after his arrival. The names of other early settlers concerning whom little is now known are, Joseph Bradford, Joshua and Peter Woods, James Rich, Stephen Willis and Thomas Pool. Benjamin Fry was an early settler from Virginia. His was a restless spirit, which led him to make frequent migrations. He run a little distillery awhile, in the western part of the township, then moved to Tuscarawas township in 1808, and two years later, to a place in Jackson township, two miles below Coshocton, where he distilled a short time. He next went to Jefferson township, then back again to Bethlehem, settling at the site of the bridge. His habitation here gave the place the name of "Fry's Ford." Mr. Fry raised a large family and lived to an extreme old age. He was active and energetic in life, and apt to be strong in expression. When ninety-five years old, he declared with an oath that unless he got away from the Walhonding river, he couldn't live five years longer. He accordingly "pulled up stakes " and moved his entire family to Illionis, where he died the next year. Michael Hogle settled in the township in April, 1814. He wag born near Plattsburg, New York, but emigrated here from Vermont. He settled first on the Denman section, south of the river; raised a family of nineteen children, removed to Illionis in 1845, and died there the following year. His son, John Hogle, still lives in this township; has long been a justice of the peace, and is well known as one of its best citizens. 474 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. John Merrihew and David Ash came at the same time with Mr. Hogle. A little later Niles and Ebenezer Coleman came from New York. About 1830, these four settlers moved westward to Knox county. Albert Torrey, a New Englander, settled in the northern part of the township about 1814. He was a blacksmith by trade, and pursued this vocation here in connection with farming; said to be the first mechanic in Bethlehem township. George Shearer, Elijah Newcome and Matthew Boner, were also early settlers. Newcome settled near the center of the township, on the D. Waring farm. He afterwards removed to Iroquois county, Illinois. William Speaks, a revolutionary soldier, settled about a half a mile north of Newcome, on the place which in later years belonged to A. Frederick. Mr. Speaks was a Virginian, drank nothing stronger than wine, was w ell respected, quiet in his habits, a member of the Methodist church and died in the township at a good old age. James Willis, from Virginia, settled on the farm now occupied by John G. Frederick. He was a famous hunter and engaged more in hunting than in tilling the soil. He killed five bears in one day. Samuel Ray and Andrew Wilson, two soldiers of the war of 1812, were early settlers. The former owned 500 acres south of the Killbuck, adjoining Jefferson township; the latter, lot 39 of the northeast section. Samuel Clark, born in Ireland, emigrated to Virginia at the age of eighteen. He there married Rachel Clark, and came west to Coshocton county at an early clay. He spent a number of years on the Duller section, in Franklin township, and about 1820 moved to the Denman tract, in this township. He here became one of the township's most prominent citizens. He was a justice of the peace nearly all his active life, and was several times county commissioner. Two of his brothers, Archibald and Gabriel, and his father, Archibald, settled in the township about the same time. Somewhat later came Nathan Spencer, from Hardy county, Virginia. To "draw it mildly," he was a rough, rollicking, boisterous kind of a man, fond of cards, whisky, company and sport He had a frolic of some kind about once a week at his place, which was situated near the township center-the Samuel Moffat farm. He married a daughter of William Speaks, and terminated his career here by moving to Missouri. Many of the settlers who cleared the first fields in Bethlehem township, as on military lands elsewhere, were only squatters, possessing no right whatever to the soil they cultivated. When the land would belong to a capitalist he would often wish to retain it for years until it could be sold at a greatly enhanced price. There was little or no opportunity to lease it, and occupancy by squatters was encouraged rather than forbidden, as the improvements that would be made on the place were advantageous to the proprietor. An instance of this kind of settlement was on the Rathbone section. Men began to settle here as early as 1806, and a constant stream of emigration was flowing in from that time on, while very little if any of the land was sold before 1835. The survey of this section was made about 1834. It was surveyed into thirty lots, varying in size from 100 to 150 acres. These lots included all of the section except two tracts on the river, one of 192, the other of sixty-nine acres, reserved as mill sites. The western reserve includes an island, in the Wolhonding, of nineteen acres in extent. These reserves were well selected for the construction of dams, but the building of the Wolhonding canal destroyed their value for this purpose, as excellent water power might be obtained at the locks of the canal at a comparatively trifling expense. Bethlehem township is distinctively a rural district. No village or hamlet exists on its soil, nor has the establishment of one ever been attempted. The various industries common in early days also have had a very meager representation here. Shortly after the arrival of the earliest settlers, one or two little still-houses found lodgment in the township for a very limited period. One saw mill embraced the extent of the milling interests. It was erected by Thomas H. Duller, near the mouth of the Killbuck, about 1830, and worked a very few years. Perhaps the chief industry was the rafting of logs down the Killbuck. A great amount of this was clone. The logs were usually poplar, oak, walnut or sycamore, and were rafted at first to HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 475 Zanesville,. afterwards to Roscoe and Coshocton. One bridge, located near the northwestern corner of the township, crosses the Killbuck. The only bridge across the Walhonding in Bethlehem township is at "Fry's Ford." It was erected in 1868-9. John Sharks, of Newark, was the contractor for the masonry, which cost $6,709. The superstructure, of wood, contracted for by John Hesket, cost $6,100. In early times a ferry was kept here by William Kimberly, John Kimberly and Thomas Clark successively. A large flat boat, of sufficient size to hold four horses and a loaded wagon, was used. The Walhonding canal passes through the township along the river valley. It enters from Jackson township on the south, crosses the river by a dam in the western part of the township, and continues up the northern side of the river into Jefferson township. It contains two locks in this township, one about a half mile above the dam, the other about the same distance below it. It is affirmed that a school was taught on the prairie up the Walhonding in 1802 or 1803, but who the teacher was, and who there learned to read their A, B, C, it is impossible now to tell. What would we not give to be able to call back to memory the picture of that school. Yes, we should like to hand down to future ages, and immortalize the name of the first pedagogue of Coshocton county. What a tale might be told of school-boy feats, could we only bring the past in solemn review before us again. We have met with but a single individual, Mr. Alvah Buckingham, of Putnam, who recollects having attended this school. All recollection, except this simple fact, has faded from his mind. An early school was taught by Charles Elliott, who afterward became a famous Methodist minister, editor and president of the Wesleyan University of Iowa. The school was situated in the southeastern part of the township, Mr. Elliott residing at this time in Keens township. A school-house was built about 1821, near the township center, close to the banks of Killbuck. Matthew Boner was the first teacher. With all his pedagogic arts, however, he could not prevent the most of his pupils giving greatest attention to a pet deer; belonging to Martin Spencer that would frequent the school yard. About the same time a cabin for school pur poses was erected in the northern part of the township, about a half mile east of Archibald Clark's residence, near where the school-house now stands. It was built in regular primitive fashion, rude, but substantial. "King" Cole and Walter Trust were among the first to rule over the "future presidents" who attended school here. A few years later Michael Hoyle built a school-house, at his own expense, where school was kept for a number of years. Leander Hoyle and James Madden were among its first teachers. To the Methodist Episcopal church is due the earliest propagation of religious sentiment in this, as in nearly every other township in the county. In days when the country was sparsely settled, the merest nucleus for a religious organization could be found only here and there in the broad range of developing lands, yet they were fostered and nurtured with a self-sacrificing zeal that insured success from its very intensity. The local preachers knew no rest, but were constantly in the saddle or the place of worship. Services were held on every day in the week, so numerous were the appointments that must be filled by one preacher. It was about 1820, that a class was formed in Bethlehem township. Its early members were Samuel Clark, Rachel his wife, and his daughter Nancy; Archibald Clark, his wife Susan and daughters Catherine and Jane; Mrs. Christina Lowman and her daughters Mary and Hannah; Elizabeth Clark, Joseph Meigs and Eleanor, his wife; Mrs. Willis and William Speaks. The circuit of which this congregation formed a part extended from Millersburg to Dresden, and as far east as Evans' creek, near Newcomerstown. For a long time preaching was held on week days only. The society never became sufficiently strong to erect a house of worship, and services were held in dwellings and school-houses until about 1870, when the society united with the Warsaw congregation. The Mount Zion Methodist Protestant church is located in the northwestern part of the township, on land donated to the society by John C. Frederick. The building, a hewed log weather boarded structure, was erected about 1850. At that time John C. Frederick, George Parks, Abra- 476 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. ham Mowrey and William Clark, were the principal members. The church was organized about three years before, just over the line in Jefferson township, and the early meetings were held in the Tabor Evangelical church of that township. Revs A. Robinson, William Holland, John Hanby, William Chandler, Lawson, William Baldwin, William Woodward, William Nickerson, J. P. King, William Bradford and John Murphy have been pastors of the church. The present pastor is Rev. John Baker, who has charge also of the congregation at Big run, Monroe township, the Pleasant Valley church of Holmes county, and Prairie chapel of this township. The membership of Mount Zion is now quite small. The Bethlehem Evangelical or Albright church, is a religious organization composed of a few German settlers, most of whom live in Clark township. The building is situated within a few rods of the northern line, and within a few feet of the central line of the township running north and south. The society was formed about 1854, under the ministerial charge of Rev. Jacob Reschler; the church, erected some four years later, has been undergoing repairs during the last winter. Revs. Henry Futheroe and John Smith, are the present pastors. The membership, through removals and deaths, has been reduced to fourteen. A Sabbath-school, organized in 1854 by John Gamersfelter, still the leading member of the church, is now in as feeble condition as the church. Prairie chapel is a Methodist Protestant church, situated in the southeastern part of the township. The class was organized in 1861, with Zachariah Clark as leader. It owes its formation to Rev Samuel Frederick, who was at that time a mere lad and a member of the Mount Zion Methodist Protestant church, of this township. He conducted a series of revival meetings at the old school-house which stood on the site of Prairie chapel, and notwithstanding his extreme youth, the meetings were attended with great success. From the conversions which followed, the society was organized. Among the members who united with the church in its infancy, were Mrs. Elizabeth Baird, Zachariah and Susan Clark, Louisa Baird, George Baird, Mrs. Mina Boring, William and Dian Maxwell, Isaac and Susan Fivecoats, George and Mary Thompson, and Daniel and Mary Benning. Rev. Frederick continued to labor here four years, and since his pastorate the ministers have been as follow: John Baker and William Robinson, one year; William Wilkerson, one year; W. L. Baldwin, six years; J. D. Murphy, one year; William Bradford, one year; William Woodford, two years; Thomas Scott, one year; J. P. King, one year; John Baker, present incumbent. The membership is fifty-four. The church, a commodious frame, was dedicated August, 1877. It was erected at a cost of $1,272. A Sabbath-school, under the management of James Slaughter, is in very flourishing condition. CHAPTER LII. CLARK TOWNSHIP. Location-Topographical Features-Organization-Name- Early settlements-Indians-First Schools-Mills-Hel- mick-Bloomfield-Churches-Population. CLARK township is the middle one of the five northern townships, touching Holmes county on the north, Mill Creek township on the east, Bethlehem on the south, and Monroe on the west. Its surface is broken and hilly, except along the streams, where the alluvial deposits broaden into fertile valleys. The soil in the bottoms is usually a heavy clay, and sometimes of a gravelly constituency; on the hills, it is in places clayey, but generally sandy. The whole township was heavily timbered when first the settlers began to occupy its territory, and among the varieties of wood most abundant were red, white and black oak beech, sugar, chestnut, hickory and poplar. A vigorous growth of the last mentioned variety flourished on the hills, and large quantities of it were rafted down the Killbuck in early days, to Roscoe and Zanesville. Wheat and corn are largely grown, and much of the hillside lands is devoted to pasturage. Killbuck creek, which perpetuates the name of a famous Indian chief, is the main stream that courses through the township. HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 477 It enters from the north, flown circuitously about and crosses into Bethlehem township at a point almost directly south of its point of entrance, Three wooden bridges span its waters within the limits of the township. Its principal tributary is Doughty's fork, commemorative of the name of another Indian brave well known to the first pioneers. He doubtless pitched his wigwam upon the banks of this stream; but not here only, for Captain Doughty was familiarly known to the early settlers on Will's creek in Linton township, and also in Virginia township and elsewhere. The stream that bears his name enters the northeast ern part of Clark township from Holmes county and unites with Killbuck a short distance west of the township center. Smaller streams than these are Big run and Hoagland's run, both western tributaries of Killbuck, and Buckalew run which enters Bethlehem township and flows into Killbuck near its mouth. The northern half of the township consists of military land; the southern half is congress land, which was surveyed into sections for settlement in 1803 by Silas Bent, Jr. Of the military portion, the western half or second section was surveyed into forty 100-acre lots by William Cutbush in 1808, and located by different settlers in tracts of 100 acres or more. The northeast quarter of the township, or the first military section, a body of 4,000 acres, was granted by President John Adams to Jonathan Burrell, of New York City, by patent, dated March 29, 1800. It was located for him by John Matthews, who received in compensation 284 acres from the northeast corner of the quarter. In 1807 Mr. Burrell disposed of the remainder of the section to Philip Itskin, of Baltimore, Maryland, who •old it in parcels to various persons. The township was organized with its present limits in 1829. At the coming of the first settlers it was a part of Mechanic township. The adjoining township in Holmes county still bears this name. When Monroe township was formed, in 1S24, it became a portion of it, and when Bethlehem was organized, in 1826, the southern part o what is now Clark was united to it. When this territory yet belonged to Mechanic township, the elections were held for a few years at the cabin of John Craig, near Bloomfield. The new township of Clark, in 1829, was organized at the house of Peter Buckmaster. Only fifteen or twenty votes were cast. Benjamin Patterson was elected clerk, and William Craig justice of the peace. John Duncan was the second justice, and was succeeded by Joel Glover, who served his township as "'squire " for twenty-one years. He was elected to his first term by a majority of one vote only. The township elections continued to be held at dwelling houses until the erection of the present township house, on the farm of Nicholas Mullet, some twenty years ago. The township was named in honor of Samuel Clark, then a county commissioner, who was among the earliest and most highly esteemed citizens of the Killbuck valley, a resident, however, of Bethlehem township The first settlement to the township was made, probably, about 1815, though it is impossible to be exact, as the recollection of no one now in the township extends back beyond 1817 or 1818. Isaac Hoagland was among the first arrivals, and probably was the first to settle permanently in what is now Clark, Has was also among the foremost pioneers of this county, coming in 1800, with Charles Williams, to "the prairies," in Bethlehem township, and the next year occupying, with him, the first house built in Coshocton. He was a soldier in Captain Adam Johnson's company, which did service on the frontier, in 1812. It is not known when he moved to this township. His farm near the Killbuck comprised the southwest quarter of section 16. Both he and his wife, a Carpenter, sister of Charles Williams' wife, died and were buried upon this place. They had a large family of children, some of whom died here, the others removing to the West, chiefly to Illinois. Mr. Hoagland is remembered as a genuine frontiersman, and wore the hunter's garb up to the time of his death. Dressed in an old limey hunting-shirt, belted around the waist, and fringed below, he spent much time in roaming the wilderness, in quest of game. In stature he was tall and, like most other settlers of that day, was unlearned in things pertaining to books. A settlement was formed very early in the e northeastern part of the township. Arthur Cunningham, of Virginia, settled a short distance 478 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. from Bloomfield, on a 300-acre tract, and in 1815, about twenty-five acres of it was cleared. He sold it, however, about 1817, to William Austin, and removed elsewhere. Mr. Austin came from Chautauqua county, New York, with his only daughter, Lucy, a servant, Shurey Odle, and a negress. Two sons remained in New York. Mr. Austin's sojourn here was brief, for he died in 1819. In this year William McBride came from Virginia to the Austin farm, and remained there until 1824. He then removed to Warsaw, but the year following he was drowned in the Walhonding, at Fry's ford, while attempting to cross the river on a horse His widow survived him many years, terminating her earthly career at the house of her daughter, Mrs. Martha Buckalew, in Monroe township. John Craig settled on the location lot of the first section in 1818. He was born in Ireland, and emigrated to Washington county, Pennsylvania, from his native land when a youth of sixteen years. Thence he moved to Jefferson county, Ohio, and from that county here. A daughter, Mrs. Mary Dougal, had removed with her husband to Richland county. His son, William Craig, accompanied him to this township. They first built a house near the southeast corner .of the township, but the next year, 1819, William erected a cabin for himself on the spot now occupied by the dwelling of Washington Lawrence, in Bloomfield. Both were engaged in agricultural pursuits. John Craig died in 1824; aged sixty-two years. William died August 17,1853, having almost completed his seventieth year. John Craig served as justice of the peace from 1819 to 1822, when this territory belonged to Mechanic township. William, as stated above, was the first justice of Clark township. His son Charles, also, has now for many years served the township in this capacity. Abraham Miller settled upon the southeast quarter of section 16 in 1818 or 1820. He was the son of George Miller, a pioneer of Lafayette township was originally from Virginia and had been a member of Captain Adam Johnson's company in 1812. He was yet a young man when he came to this township and remained in it till his death. He had married a Miss McNeal, and his brother-in-law, Archibald McNeal, an Irishman, moved to his farm and lived there with him the remainder of his life. Parker Buckalew came in about 1817 from Virginia, settling on the northwest quarter of section 25, where he remained the rest of his life, tilling the soil as an avocation, though spending much time in hunting, of which he was very fond. He was well respected by the community in which he lived, and upon his death was buried on the home farm. His children are still living in this vicinity. His brothers Samuel, James and John, afterward took up a residence in this township. Eli Fox entered the township in 1820, locating in the eastern part of section 18. He was originally from Hartford county, Connecticut, and came to Zanesville at an early day. By trade he was a ship-carpenter, and after his emigration to Ohio devoted much attention to milling. He rented the mills of Mr. Dillon, at East Zanesville, and operated them for some years, then purchased property and lived a short time in Granville township, Licking county. Not liking this country he returned to Zanesville and leased a piece of land near by. Soon after, he obtained the contract for building the first bridge across the Scioto, at Chillicothe. A little later he resolved to seek a more unsettled neighborhood and erect a mill. With this purpose in view he came to this township in 1820. He brought with him Piatt Williamson, William Barl and a Mr. Brooks, to assist in its erection. The mill was built about one-fourth mile above Hehnick. In a few years it was burned, but was replaced by another on the site of the present mill at Hehnick. Mr. Fox boarded with Piatt Williamson the first year, and in 1821 removed his family from Zanesville to his new home. He spent the remainder of his life here, and his descendents still cultivate the soil of the old home place. Piatt Williamson was a native of New Jersey. In December, 1819, he emigrated to Zanesville, where he remained a year. He was a blacksmith, and followed this occupation in Zanesville. For one year after his arrival at Clark township, he remained in Mr. Fox's employ, performing the work connected with his trade necessary to the construction of the mill. He then bought 80 acres of land from Mr. Kinney, and the next PAGE 479 - INTERIOR VIEW OF THE "COSHOCTON AGE" OFFICE. PAGE 480 - BLANK HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 481 year entered 80 more. From this time until his death he carried on his trade and farming together. When a lad of seventeen, an apprentice in a blacksmith shop under an older brother, near Jersey City, he enlisted in the army during the war of 1812. His children are still residents of the township. William Barl was also a New Jersey man by birth and a resident of Zanesville prior to his removal hither. He lived on section 18 and hunted and trapped a great deal. After a few years' stay in this township he removed to the vicinity of Marietta. Brooks remained here but a short time and returned to Zanesville. Andrew Weatherwax, a glass blower by trade, removed from Albany county, New York, to this township in 1821 and settled upon the southwest quarter of section 25, purchasing the land from James Buckalew. After his arrival he followed his trade a while in Zanesville, but devoted most of his time to farming. He died while visiting his sister in Bedford township in June, 1872, aged eighty-four years. His brothers Leonard and Adam settled here some ten or twelve years after his arrival. William Estap was another early settler. He came into this township from Holmes county, purchased and occupied ninety acres about a mile west of Bloomfield, then a tract of two hundred acres two miles south of this village: He afterward removed to Monroe township. Isaac Purdy, from Pennsylvania, settled upon lot 11, section 2, prior to 1822. He tilled the soil here the remainder of his life. Jacob Frazier was another settler, who was a tax payer on real estate in section 25 as early as 1822. He was a shoemaker and followed this calling in this vicinity for a few years in connection with farming. He removed subsequently to Muskingum county and there died. William Shepherd settled in section 24 probably as early as 1820. He was from Virginia, and, unlike the other settlers who made this township their home, came provided with bountiful means, driving a six-horse team and possessing a comfortable cash-box. But this proved a hindrance rather than help to him in developing his backwoods home. He was not spurred by necessity to exertion, and having no settled taste for hard work, he lived at ease until his available resources were exhausted, and then found that the sturdy blows of his neighbors had wrought a transformation in the value of their farms not discernable in his. A brother, Samuel, and a sister, Nancy, lived with him. He died in this township. Isaac Johnson settled on eighty acres in the southeast quarter of section 23 about 1827. His mother was a sister of Isaac Hoagland, and he was the brother of John and Henry Johnson, the two lads who daringly killed their Indian captors in Jefferson county and escaped unhurt. Mr. Johnson subsequently dwelt for a time in Bethlehem township, then emigrated to Indiana. George Lowman came to the southeast quarter of section 24 about 1825, from Maryland. A few years later he removed to Wabash, Indiana. Jonathan Maxon, Thomas Endsley, Benjamin White, Daniel Fulton and John Bise were other early settlers. Mr. Bise came in 1825 or 1826, settling upon the west half of the southeast quarter of section 23. In 1829 he sold this place to Joel Glover and removed to Muskingum county. Mr. Glover is one of the few pioneers who still survive. He was born in Jefferson county in 1808; removed to Crawford county in 1826, and three years later to the place he now occupies. When n he entered the township he moved into a deserted school-house, located on the place he had purchased. It was about fourteen by sixteen feet in size, built of split poplar logs, with a rude fireplace extending across one end of the room. In lieu of windows, a log had been removed from each side, to admit the light, and over this open space strips of oiled paper had been pasted. The usual wild animals prevailing in this State in pre-colonization times, were numerous in Clark township, and the earliest white arrivals had abundant opportunities to gratify that love of hunting which is common to backwoodsmen. Deer, bears and wolves, and occasionally a "painter," were the types of game the country afforded. Bill and Tom McNeal, sons of Archibald McNeal, on one occasion tracked a bear to a tall, hollow oak stub, in which it had taken refuge. The most feasible plan of obtaining the game was 482 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. adopted; accordingly Bill climbed a hickory tree close by, and, having reached the proper height, crossed over and sat astride the hollow stub; his musket was handed him by Tom, who, at the foot of the tree, watched and waited, while Bill thrust the muzzle of his gun into the hollow tree and fired. The shut took effect, but only irritated the bear, and before Bill could realize his situation, the wounded bear was at the top of the tree. He had just time to drop his gun, seize a branch of the hickory tree and swing himself away from the bear's clutches. The bear hastily descended the tree and ran away. Tom shot and wounded bruin as he ran. The two young hunters followed up their game for about a mile, and discovered the bear behind a log, plugging its wounds with hair. This time both discharged their guns simultaneously and the bear fell dead. No Indian village is known to have been located in the township, but hunting parties of the red-skins frequently encamped on the Killbuck and Doughty fork. An Indian camp, built of split logs, and having only three sides, stood in a bend, on the north side of Killbuck, in the northeast quarter of section 17. The fourth side was wholly open, and when the camp was occupied at night, a log fire must be built across the open side, to protect the sleeping inmates from prowling animals. Tom Lyon was an Indian brave, who was wont to encamp on the banks of the Killbuck, with several other Indians. He was a tall, slim savage, and when irritated or intoxicated, taunted the white settlers who chanced to be within his hearing, by telling of the many pale-faces he had slain. He had taken ninety-nine scalps, he said, and wanted one more to make it an even hundred. Becoming enraged at Abram Miller, one day, he boasted that he had shot Miller's grand father, in Virginia. John Hoagland, a lad of fifteen years, the son of Isaac Hoagland, was so incensed at the idle boasts of the Indian, that it was with difficulty he was restrained from shooting him. Lyon frequented his old haunts on the Killbuck, until about 1825, when he bade them a final adieu, and started westward, in search of happier hunting grounds. Little can be said of the early schools in this region. The schools were few in number, held for terms of two or three months only in deserted cabins, or whatever buildings could be obtained for the purpose. The son of one of the earliest settlers relates that the "schooling" of his boyhood was as follows: The first school he attended was taught in an old cabin on Abe Miller's farm by Alexander Young. It was two months in duration. The next was one held on what is now J. J. Gamersfelter's land, in the southern part of the township. Adam Clark was the teacher of this school. The third was taught at the same place as the first, by Leonard Hogle; then one just south of this on the Opdyke place, taught by Mary Bassett. The fifth and last was on Platt Williamson's place, and was presided over by Durius Snow, a venerable, itinerant preacher of Monroe township. These five terms of two or three months each scarcely amounting to one year in all, constituted the extent of his school privileges between the ages of eight and twenty-one years. The greater number of the neighboring children were equally limited in educational advantages. Other schools had been held not so remote as to render attendance impossible, but the tuition of the subscription schools, small as it now appears, was an item of expense that could not well be allowed every year by the majority of the settlers. The text books usually employed were the spelling-book and the new testament. When the first was completed, the pupil must continue his spelling lessons in the testament, and half the book would be spelled sometimes before the pupil was able to read a verse correctly. One of the earliest schools in the township was taught just west of Bloomfield, about 1828, by George Elliott. The first, and for a long time the only, mill in the township was the one erected by Eli Fox. A saw-mill was first erected, and a little later a large grist-mill, containing one run of buhrs, afterward two. The buhrs were rude, rough stones, incapable of reducing the grist to impalpable fineness but they answered their purpose very well in those days. In 1829 the mill was burned. In a few years Mr. Fox built a saw-mill about one-fourth of a mile farther down the stream, at Helmick, and some time after the grist-mill was rebuilt at the name place. The mill was afterward HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 483 operated by James Clark, Albert and G. W. Seward, Absalom Petit and Benjamin Beck. Mr. Beck is the present owner, and has owned it for f about ten years. He has rebuilt the saw-mill, constructed a new race, refitted the gristmill. and is doing a good custom trade at present. Mr. Beck is also proprietor of a store located here. He is a resident of Holmes county, and the store is managed by Eugene Henderson. It was opened by Mr. Nelson, and by him transferred to Mr. Ferrell. J. P. Henderson and William Jack were the next owners, and sold the property after a time to Mr. Robinson, who disposed of it to Oliver and Saul Miller. Saul retired, and after a while it was purchased from Oliver Antler by the present owner. A postoffice designated Helmick is located at the store. It was named in honor of William Helmick, of Tuscarawas county, formerly the congressional representative of this district. It was through his influence that the office was obtained. Absalom Petit was the first postmaster. Since the store was started the appointment has been held by the merchants successively operating here. A large amount of business is transacted at Helmick, much greater than the external appearance of things would indicate. No village is situated near this point, it is readily accessible from all directions, and the postoffice, mills and store supply the wants of most of the farmers within a radius of several miles. Two mills are at present located on Doughty's fork. One of these a combined saw and grist mill is situated a short distance below Bloomfield and is now owned by Michael Kaiser. A saw mill and a small "corn-cracker" were built on this site many years ago by Jacob Haviland. The property after a time came into the possession of John Duncan, who refitted the saw mill and built a large carding mill. The woolen factory remained in operation a number of years and was finally torn away to be replaced by a grist mill. Years later Benjamin Beck purchased it, and several years ago he sold it to the present owner. About one and a half miles below this John Crosley built a saw mill and soon after a grist mill, containing one run of buhrs. A second pair was afterward added. The building was a rugged and rough frame structure and the floor was bolted by hand. A large undershot water-wheel furnished the power. Crosley sold to George Croy, who erected a new building. John Powers was the next owner and he made extensive improvements in the machinery, purchasing and inserting new buhrs and new bolts. Mr. Kaiser, the next possessor, carried on a little distillery in connection with it for a while, but this was soon abandoned and the mill also gradually suspended operations. It has been purchased by Ed. Buckalew and only the saw mill is now running. On the southwest quarter of section 14 on Hoagland's run a little saw mill was built years ago by Leonard Weatherwax. His son John next operated it and after him Williamson McLaughlin, the present owner, obtained it It still does a limited amount of sawing but not so much as formerly, for steam portable mills have superseded water mills here as elsewhere. Bloomfield is the only village in the township. It lies in the extreme northeastern corner. No village plat was laid out here, but the town has had a natural growth, beginning about forty years ago. The main street forms the line between this and Holmes county, and some of the buildings are across the line in the other county. There are twenty-eight dwelling houses, mostly in this county. Some of them are handsome structures, and almost all are neat and tasty, indicating thrift and enterprise on the part of the inhabitants. Few, or none of the dilapidated structures, usually met with in a country town, are to be seen here. Bloomfield is so situated as to be unaffected by railroads, there being none nearer than Millersburg, and is in possession of a wholesome country trade. The village contains two general stores, owned by A. J. Doak and J. J. Myser, the latter in Holmes county. A hardware and tin store was opened about a year ago, and now owned by Leslie Chase. Two steam saw and planing mills do an extensive business. The one in Coshocton county, owned by Henry Reynolds, has been in operation about four years. That of John Conkle & Co., located on the Holmes county side, was started since. The three blacksmith shops of J. Luke & Brothers, W. D. Doty and Isaac R. Thompson, are in this county. The 484 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. first two manufacture carriages and wagons also. Two shoe shops and one harness shop are in Holmes county. The first buildings in this vicinity were the cabins of the Craigs, built over sixty years ago; then one was built in Holmes county by Aaron Purdy. James Kerr, about 1835, erected a cabin on the spot now occupied by Doak's new storehouse. The first store was opened across the line about 1842, by Aaron Purdy, and afterwards kept by James Kerr. But it did not remain in operation long. Teachout & Towsley started the first store on this side about 1845, in James Kerr's house. Charles Poe, about 1846, built a house where Doak's old building stands, and commenced mercantile business there. He died soon after, and Patrick Foley, Robert Graham and the present merchant, have successively operated here in this line since. After Purdy and Kerr ceased merchandising on the Holmes county side, John Fisher kept a tavern in the building, for awhile. The first tavern had been opened years before, by William Edgar. O. Williams is the present hotel proprietor of the village, the hotel being in Holmes county The first postoffice in this neighborhood was Clark's, and William Craig was the first postmaster. William Tidball then kept it, about a mile south of the village. Subsequent postmasters have been William Craig, Samuel Tidball and A. J. Doak. The original name, Clark's, is still retained. A daily mail is received, the office being on the Millersburg and Coshocton route. The two physician of the village have had a almost life-long residence here. Dr. J. Beach has been in continuous practice since 1849, and Dr. J. G. Carr since 1854. They were classmate while attending medical lectures at Cleveland and Dr. Beach settled here at once, upon completing his course. Dr. Carr practiced five year at East Union, prior to locating at Bloomfield Other former practitioners here were Drs. Smith Caskey, Cowan and Barton. A cheese factory was started at Bloomfield, in 1866, by George Craig, William Renfrew, Solo mon Snyder and Robert Graham. For three years it was carried on extensively; then Mr Craig disposed of his interest, and the factory was removed about a mile west of town, where the manufacture was continued a while longer. The village does not contain a school. The adjoining district schools in the two counties are each about a mile from town. During Rev. Duncan's pastorate of the Clark Presbyterian church, he held a "select school" in the village, the only school ever kept there. The Bloomfield Methodist Episcopal church was built during the summer of 1871, and dedicated January 14, 1872. Its cost was about $2,500. The congregation was not organized until after the erection of the building. Its members had previously been connected with Elliott's church, situated four miles north of Bloomfield. Theoriginal class was composed of twenty members, including Enos Casey and family, John Casey, Dr. J. G. Carr and wife, William Duncan and family, J. A. Evans and wife, and W. D. Doty and wife. Three other congregations are connected with this charge-Elliott's, Wolf Creek and Killbuck, all in Holmes county. Rev. A. E. Thomas was pastor 1870-72, and under his labors thirty-three were added to the Bloomfield church. Following him, the ministers in charge have been, Edward Bache (supply), one year; Stephen R. Clark, one year; W. W. Smith, one year; George E. Scott, one year; C. Craven, two years; M. L. Wilson, one year, and J. Sanford, present incumbent, two years. The present church membership is about seventy. It was organized in March, 1872, with E. J. Pocock as superintendent. He was succeeded by W. D. Doty, who resigned, and his unexpired term was filled by J. A. Evans, assistant d superintendent. J. A. Doak was next elected, and is now serving his third year in this capacity. Since its organization, the school has not missed holding meeting a single Sunday. The enrollment of its membership is about 100. Near Bloomfield is the Clark Presbyterian church. It was organized March 22, 1834, by n Rev. N. Conkling, with a membership of twelve, including George Watherwax and wife, Thomas. Guthrie and wife, Nelly Kerr, John P. Kerr, William Craig and wife and Robert Guthrie and HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 485 wife. These had mostly emigrated from Western Pennsylvania. Before the congregation was organized, occasional services had been held here by Rev. Conkling and others. For three years the services were held in the house or barn of William Craig. The first church building was erected in 1837 by George Weatherwax. Its cost was about $200. The site of the building, originally donated, was deeded to trustees May 19,1846, by William Craig and wife, in consideration of one dollar. In 1867 a new edifice was erected on the same site. It is a good sized and neatly built frame structure, erected by Jacob Miller, and costing $2,250. The ministers of the church have been: Nathaniel Conkling, 1834-38; Revs. Washburn, Turbit and George cordon were supplies from 1838 to 1845; S. M. Templeton, 1845-47; Samuel Hanna, 1847-51; John M. Boggs, 1851-56; R. W. Marquis, 1857-72; A. S. Milholland, 1873-75; T. D. Duncan, 1875-79; J. A. E. Simpson, April, 1880, present pastor. Before Rev. Marquis' pastorate, this congregation was connected with the Keene church; since then it has formed a separate charge. The elders of the church have been John P. Kerr, Thomas Guthrie, Robert Huston, George Weatherwax, Thomas Shannon, William Weatherwax, George R. Altman, James Endsley, Jr., and John T. Crawford. The last five compose the present session. The present membership of the church is about 150. A Sunday-school has been in successful operation for more than forty years. It was formerly conducted only during the summer, but at present the whole year. The average attendance through the entire year is about forty. Albert Altman has recently been elected superintendent succeeding John T. Crawford, resigned, who had charge of the school for about four years. Clark Township Regular Baptist Church, situated near Helmick, was organized June 19, 1833 by T. G. Jones and E. Otis, with eleven members Shortly after the organization, the church license one of her members, Benjamin White, to preach and in June, 1834, he was ordained as an elder and called regularly to the pastorate, in whit relation he continued about nine years. Of the early members may be mentioned Edward Mattox and wife, Benjamin White, Piatt Willis son and wife, Jacob Mattox and wife, Sylvanus Haviland and wife, William Baldwin and wife, Collin Smith and wife, Mr. Moody, William Pugh and wife and William and Isaac Cross. The earliest services were conducted at the house of Edward Mattox, until the church was erected, in about the year 1840. It stood about two miles northeast from Helmick, in section 12. It was a rough frame building, of medium size, erected with a small outlay of money. Immediately after this meeting house was built a series of revival services were held with great success by the pastor and Rev. Elijah Freeman. They resided in twenty-five or more accessions to the church. After Elder White closed his labors as pastor of the church, a division arose in the councils of the congregation, owing to the desire of .some for a removal of the church location, and in a short time two branches separated from the church and held services elsewhere, one at Baldwin's school-house, some distance southeast from the church, and one at Piatt Williamson's. By removals these branches became too weak to maintain separate organizations, and they were united as before, Elder White again becoming pastor of the church. The present house of worship was erected in 1868, on land donated for this purpose by Amos Fox. It was constructed by Isaac Williamson, is thirty-four by forty-four feet in size, with a seating capacity of three or four hundred persons, and represents a cash outlay of about $1,300. The pastors in order have been B. White, Elder Ammerman, H. Sampson, J. W. Dunn, S. W. Frederick and Howard Clark. The last mentioned has been ministering to this people for the space of about three years. The estimated membership of the church is thirty. The Sunday-school, held only during the summers, has been an efficient aid in the church work almost from the organization of the society. It now has a membership of fifty, and is under the supervision of William Williamson. Two organizations of the Evangelical association belong to this township-Hopewell church h and Salem church. The former is situated near the southeast corner of the northwest quarter of section 17. The society was organized about 1863 in the school-house adjoining. A Methodist 486 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. class, including some of its members, had been formed a few years before by Rev. Henry Lawson, and the failure to fill appointments for services produced its decline. The first meetings Were held in the school-house. During an early revival, this becoming too limited to contain the congregation, the services Were transferred to the lower rooms in Johnson Williamson's house. Amongst the earliest members, Were Jackson Miller and Wife, Johnson Williamson and Wife, William McLaughlin and Wife, Lizzie and Rose Orney, Susan Mullet, Josiah Green, Peter Buckmaster and Wife, and Nelson Bartlett and Wife. In 1869 the congregation erected a substantial and commodious frame house of worship, at a cost of about $1,100. Jacob Rasselar and George Hossenflaug were the first ministers. Revs. H. T. Strouch, Shultz, Strome, William King, J. S. Hawks, W. H. Eagle, C. Haldeman, John Duly, Elisha Pier, J. J. Conaghy, F. R. Tuthero, Otto Spreng, J. W. Smith and J. R. Reinhart, have since served in this capacity. The present membership is ninety-four. A Sundy-school is in constant and successful operation, under the present superintendency of Elisha Pier. It has a membership of about forty. Its organization dates contemporaneously With that of the church and soon after its formation; under the management of John Smaile it attained an unrivaled degree of prosperity, its membership at one time very closely approximating 100. Salem church is located on lot 8, of the second quarter, close to the northern line of the township and its membership probably is as strong in the adjacent county as in this. It was organized as German class, in 1862, With a membership o twenty-six, including John Dobbert and Wife, H Scheibe and Wife, Gottfreid Scheibe and Wife Valentine Scheibe, Jacob Mullet and Wife, Her man Rodhe and Wife, Fritz Grafe, Joseph Lint and Wife, and Francis Schueberger and wife Rev. William Pfeiffer was the first minister. The church belongs to the same circuit that include Hopewell Church. The early meetings Were held in an old log church, near the present church formerly occupied by a United Brethren congregation, Which for a few years maintained an organization here. In 1871, the church building now in service was erected, at a cost of $1,000. It is a frame building, the dimensions of Which are twenty-five by thirty-five feet. In 1876, an English class was organized, and the two have since been carried on separately. The German class contains sixteen members at present; the English class, fifty-five. The services are now usually conducted in English. A Sunday-school was started soon after the church was built, and has maintained a successful existence since, during the summer months. Michael Kaiser is its present superintendent. In membership it numbers seventy-three. A Disciple church stands close to the western line on lot 37 of the second section. It is a modest frame structure erected in the summer of 1874 at a cost of $450 and dedicated December 27 of the same year. Prior to this, services had been held for some time in the adjoining school-house. Its early membership included the names of John Foster and Wife, Jackson Stover and Wife, Sarah McNeal, Catherine Foster, Nancy Smith, Ingabew Hughes, Mrs. Martha Buckalew and Mary Woolum. Rev. Urias Huffman was the founder of the church. He was succeeded in a ministerial capacity by Thomas Stewart, who had charge of the church for about two years, and was succeeded by his predecessor. During the last few months services have not been regularly conducted. The membership is quite small at this time. A Sunday-school was organized in the spring of 1875 and has been held every summer up to this date. The population of Clark township in 1830 was 246; in 1840 it had reached 703; in 1850, 833; in 1860 it had fallen to 796, but in 1870 it had increased to 867, and in 1880 still farther to 1042. CHAPTER LIII. CRAWFORD TOWNSHIP. Location-Survey-Soil-Settlers-Population-First School- Industries-Churches-New Bedford-Chili. CRAWFORD township is situated in the north-eastern part of the county. It is bounded on the north by German township, Holmes HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 487 county, on the east by Buck's township, Tuscarawas county, on the south by White Eyes, and on the west by Mill Creek township. The first, or northeast quarter, is a military section, which was surveyed in forty 100-acre lots by A. Holmes, in 1818. The remainder of the township consists of congress land, surveyed in 1803, by Ebenezer Buckingham. It was organized as a township in 1828. The name is said to have been given in honor of Associate Judge Crawford, who held a considerable tract of land in it. The soil in the southern part is clayey, with limestone as the usual surface rock; towards the north it partakes more of a sandy nature. Like the surrounding townships, the surface is one interminable range of hills except where the small streams course through its length. White Eyes creek, which rises near the northern line and flows southward, and its many little branches, carry off the waters of its abundant, gushing springs. No one is known to have preceded Jacob Miser in the permanent occupancy of this territory. He was the first of a group of Pennsylvania Germans who came into the dreary wilderness that shrouded the hills, and by unflagging industry, converted it into pleasant hillside farms. Mr. Miser came about 1815, and settled upon the . southwest quarter of section 22, where his son, Samuel, still lives, and remained there till he died. He at first could provide his family only with a rudely constructed camp, and afterward went eight miles for assistance in raising his first cabin. Philip Fensler, his father-in-law, had entered some land in the township previously, but did not remove to it till about a year after Miser came. He had served in the war of 1812, and owned a little property in Virginia. He disposed of this to advantage, and with the proceeds and his army wages, entered several quarters of land, among them the southeast quarter of section 23, upon which Chili is built. Mr. Fensler remained in the township till his decease. His son John continued on the place for some time, then went West. The Fenders were accompanied or speedily followed by several other families, all of whom located in the southern part of the township. William Stall settled on the southwest quarter of section 23; William Gotshall, who was directly from Harrison county, the southeast quarter of section 22, where he spent the remainder of his life; his brother, George Gotshall, who afterward removed to Indiana, the, northwest quarter of section 21; John Albert, the northwest quarter of section 22 He was from Pennsylvania, and subsequently removed to Adams township, where his widow, now said to be a centenarian, still survives. Daniel S. Salsberry, originally from Pennsylvania, but immediately hailing from Jefferson county, came about 1817, to the southeast quarter of section 18. William Farver at this time owned the southeast quarter of section 21, and not many years later, his son John occupied it. The veritable John Smith, too, ranked among the foremost settlers. His freehold consisted of the northeast quarter of section 23. From this time on the settlement of the town ship was slow. As late as 1835 there was still unentered land. The rough character of the surface held out no enticing allurements of a life of ease, and those who located here did so expecting to endure innumerable discomforts and to reap no bounteous rewards for their toil. Other early settlers were Jacob Rinehart, John Gonser, Adam Miller, George Lower, Benjamin and Daniel Lower, Mr. Stomm, Mr. Shauwecker, and others. In 1828 David Everhart settled in the wilderness, on the southeast quarter of section 20. He was from Pennsylvania, and about ]820 or 1821 had come to White Eyes township, where he lived till he came here. His farm in this township he had received from Philip Fensler, as a compensation for clearing forty acres of land in White Eyes township. Beginning about 1832, quite a number of settlers from Washington county, Pennsylvania, poured into this and the adjoining township in Tuscarawas county. Among them was William Doak. Very few of them are now living here. The Lorentzs, Himebaughs, Crawfords and Winkleplecks were also old and well known families of this township. A little later a German population began to take possession of the soil, usually in small tracts, of forty of eighty acres each. The hills are now densely settled with this thrifty people, other nationalities having scarcely a representation in the township. 488 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. In 1830 the population was 442. From this date it increased rapidly, reaching 1,134 in 1840; ten years later the maximum point of population was reached, 1,552; an almost imperceptible decline reduced it to 1,516 in 1860; in 1870 it had fallen to 1,245; during the last decade, however, this loss was partially recovered, and in 1880 the population was 1,431. Game was abundant among the hills for many years after the first settlers arrived. Wolves in large packs prowled through the forests and made the raising of sheep an impossibility for a long time. The bears acquired a keen relish for pork, and frequently dined upon their favorite dish. In unison with their wild surroundings it was not uncommon for the pioneers to make pets of bear cubs, and they would even attempt sometimes to domesticate the young of the panther, which was occasionally seen. In several instances did children narrowly escape death from attacks of these half-grown savage pets. A school was a novelty for a long time after the whites settled this township. The first one was taught about 1820, by Jacob Seidler, in a little cabin which stood in the woods where Chili now stands, just north of the bridge. It was the usual subscription school, and was only three months in duration. The Smiths, Misers, Sondals, Ravenscrofts and others from this and White Eyes township attended here. This one short term was all the school instruction that some of the aged fathers and mothers of today received, all they had an opportunity of receiving. For a number of years after, school was not again taught in this neighborhood, and then only at irregular periods. The teachers were usually little in advance of their pupils in point of knowledge, and consequently the progress of the latter was very slow. It is said that Joseph Townley was the first early efficient teacher in the township. He taught, about 1835, near the Lutheran church, just above Chili. John Smith built the first and only mill, on the northeast quarter of section 23. It was a little log structure at first, with one, afterward wit two, run of buhrs, set in operation very early an continued many years. Mr. Gonser began the construction of a saw-mill near New Bedford, but the dam was swept away before it was finished, and never was replaced. Distilleries were operated for a short time by Frank Lambrecht, John Bickle, Yost Miller, John Smith, John Gardner and Andrew Eichmeier. The religious sentiment of the people is embodied in five societies, four of which conduct services in the German language. Beside these, two others, one just across the line in Holmes county, the other, just over the line in White Eyes township, both German, possess considerable memberships from this township. Geographically, two are in New Bedford, two in or near Chili, and one in the eastern part of the township. One is an English Lutheran, one a German Lutheran, one a United Brethren. one a German Reformed, and one an Evangelical Protestant church. Beside these, a United Brethren church (German), now defunct, formerly existed on the southeast quarter of section 12. The house of worship was erected about 1852. The society was formed by the separation of its original members from the adjoining German Reformed church and subsequent organization of a new body. Rev. Miller was the first minister. The membership was at no time very large. Among the early prominent members were Peter Lenhart, Peter Lower and John Miller. The earliest meetings were held in Mr. Lenhart's and Mr. Miller's barns, and, in fact, wherever room could be obtained. Regular services were suspended six or eight years ago, owing to the reduced membership. A short distance east of this, near the northwest corner of the southeast quarter of section 11, stands the German Reform church which was built in 1845 or 1846. It is a log building and is about to be replaced by a substantial frame structure. Rev. Jacob Seidle was one of the earliest ministers, holding services in the school-house before the church was built. Rev. Zohner was the first preacher in the church building. The present pastor is Rev. Schodd. Jonathan Price, h John Eichmeirer and Mr. Buser, were prominent d members during its early days. At present the e membership is small. HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 489 St. John's Evangelical Lutheran (German) church, located in New Bedford was organized in 1854 by Rev. G. Doepken. He remained in charge of the congregation nineteen years, at the end of that time removing to Marietta. Rev. C. Lembke succeeded him and ministered unto this people two and a half years. Then, in 1876, Rev. O. Priwer obtained the pastorate and still has charge of the congregation, which now includes more than silty families. A German Sunday-school is held during the summer. The meeting house is a commodious frame, which was built in 1855. The church owes its existence to a dissension in the German Reform church, a short distance northwest of this in Holmes county, in consequence of which many members withdrew and became the founders of this society. The prominent early members were Frederick Schmalz, George Lebegut, Christian F. Baad, Adam Baad, Gottlieb Rottman, David Schlegle, Conrad Scheetz, George Gonser, Gottfried Band, George J. Kleinknecht, Jacob Semmlar, Frederick and Jacob Lautenschlager, Sebastian Trautwein, Jacob Brandle Gottlieb Ruesz and Joseph Rumbolt. The church is in connection with the Joint Synod of Ohio. From another distraction in the aforementioned Holmes county German Reformed church sprang the United Brethren church of New Bedford. It was organized about 1848, by Rev. March, with a large membership. George Smith, George Schultz and John P. Lower were included in the number. Revs. John Dilly and John Crone have been prominent pastors of this society. Rev. Schluscer is the present pastor. The membership is small The church building is a large, substantial frame, which was erected about 1848. A Sunday-school is held during the summer. The Evangelical Protestant (German) church, near Chili, was organized in January, 1880, with about fifteen families, among which were those of Henry Ehrich, Martin Sunkle, John and Gabriel Lorenz, John Shoemaker and Valentine Huprich. The membership has slighty increased since. Rev. Haffele was the first and present pastor. he church, a large frame building, was erected in the fall of 1879, at a cost of over $1,200. The original members had formerly held allegiance to the German Reformed church, several miles east of Chili. A Sunday-school was organized several years ago in the Chili school-house. From the start it has been under the management of Henry Ehrich, and now contains about fifty members. The remaining church at Chili is the Evangelical English Lutheran church. It was organized in 1832 by Rev. E. Greenwald, who was settled at New Philadelphia. He preached the first sermon November 12, 1832. Rev. J. B. Reck succeeded him in 1835, but, after a few years, the care of the church again devolved (in 1838) on Mr. Greenwald. In 1840 Rev. E. C. Young took charge of the church, and in 1846 Rev. E. Melsheimer, who died in 1849. In 1850 Rev. A. N. Bartholomew became pastor, and, in 1859, Rev. M. M. Bartholomew. Rev. S. S. Lawson took charge in 1862, and Rev. David Sparks in 1864. He remained several years and was succeeded by Rev. J. M. Myers, who severed his connection with the church in 1878. After a vacancy of about a year, Rev. John Y. Marks, in May, 1879, was elected to the pastorate and is still the minister. The elders have been Andrew Eichmier, Jacob Miser, Henry Grimm, John Smith, A. Winklepleck, William Stall, Frederick Everhart, Michael Grile, John Gardner, William Doak, Anthony Stall and Samuel Miser; the deacons, Joseph Miser, George Winklepleck, Charles Gillespie, Frederick Everhart, George Ringer, Henry Everhart, Jesse Eichmier, Frederick Barrack, Thomas Christy, Peter Helmreich, Robert Doak, John Bowman, Israel Barrack and Henry Renner. The number of communicants, in 1833, was sixteen; it is now about one hundred. Not long after the society was organized, a log church was erected on land donated by Philip Fensler. Then, in 1855 or 1856, the present frame structure was erected. It was repaired and enlarged in 1874, at a cost of over $600. New Bedford is situated in the northwestern part of the northwest quarter of section 3, one corner of the town plat touching the Holmes county line. It consists of fifty-five lots, and was laid out in March, 1825, by John Gonser, while 490 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. the country around it was scarcely at all settled. Just over the line, in Holmes county, a little village had been laid oat and named Wardsville, and New Bedford was launched into existence as its rival. In his laudable endeavors to found a village, Mr. Gonser was ably seconded by his three sons, Henry, David and Adam, each of whom erected a house for himself in the town plat. The Gonsers were from Bedford county, Pennsylvania, hence the name of the village. It now contains a population of 134. Many of its buildings are newly erected, of ample proportions, and fine appearance. The first merchandising was done by David Burget, who, about 1828, opened his little stock of goods in a building on lot 22, which is still standing, occupied by John Luke. He remained in business in this village until 1864, during which time he accumulated considerable property. He then removed to Cleveland, where he has since been leading a retired life. John Winklepleck was the second store-keeper, coming about ten years after Burget. He remained but a short time, removing to Chili. George Bell and David Gonser trafficked in succession for a short time each, and in 1846 Lewis Helman, a Jew, from Europe, brought a large stock of goods into town, and conducted an extensive and very profitable business for five or six years. He then sold out to Levi Deetz, and is said to have returned to Europe. There have been two stores here ever since. George A. Rinner and Adam Long are the present proprietors of one, and George Bowman and G. F. Shauweker the proprietors of the other. The remaining business of the town is as follows: One hardware store, Brown & Croft; three groceries, C. C. Hinkle, Jacob Roth and Jacob Welling; one jeweler shop, Noah Snyder; two wagon shops, Jacob & John Engle, and Gottlieb Swigert; one marble shop, Jacob Goetz; one dress maker, Miss Maggie Senft; one milliner, Miss Samantha Luke; one saddler shop, Samuel Snyder; two shoe shops, Adam Diefenbaugh and H. H. Geiger; two blacksmith shops, George Rosencopp, and Jacob Dresher and George Price. The first public tavern was kept by Mr. Parnell, about 1823. Others, who have since acquired a name in this capacity, have been John Luke, John Bowman, Robert Nickerson, Mrs. Bowman, and J. E. Fleming. There are now two hotels Commercial House, C. C. Hinkle, and Mansion House, S. S. Snyder. David Burget was the first postmaster. He filled the position for a long continued term, and was succeeded by J. E. Fleming. A. Doak and Jackson Bowman successively followed, and the mail matter then passed into the hands of Henry H. Geiger, the present postmaster. A tri-weekly mail between West Lafayette and Millersburg, and another between Millersburgh and Philipsburgh, pass through this place. I. D. Luke is a practitioner of law, and Drs. F. G. Guittard and S. P. Snyder the physicians. The former has had an uninterrupted residence here of about twenty=eight years; the latter is a late accession. Dr. John Busby was an old and prominent physician of the place, having C. Steward associated with him in business for a while. Other practitioners have remained in the village but a short time. The present school-house was erected in 1877, as a one-story building, containing only one room. Miss Samantha Luke was the first teacher therein. In the fall of 1880, a second story was added. The building now presents a very neat appearance, and is nicely fitted up with modern school furniture of the most approved pattern. Miss Elizabeth Boyd and Miss Caroline Shauwecker were the teachers during the winter of 1880-81. New Bedford Lodge, No. 446, of the I. O. 0. F., was instituted June 29, 1870. George C. Rinner, D. D. Funk, Peter Lenhart, Jacob Lenhart, C. G. Baad, Ferdinand Sedlemyer and Gottlieb Stein were the charter members. The officers at present are as follows: Jacob Engle, Noble Grand; Christian G. Baad, Vice Grand; F. J. Guittard, Treasurer; Noah Snyder, Recording Secretary; Benjamin M. Snyder, Permanent Secretary. In 1874, the lodge leased for fifty yearn the upper story of the building on the northwest corner of the square, and have there a nicely furnished hall. The present membership is twenty-seven. The village of Chili, located upon the southeast quarter Of section 23, approaches within a few feet of the White Eyes township line. The HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 491 "inner history" of its foundation is said to be as follows : James Evans had shortly before erected a saw mill in White Eyes township a short distance below where Chili stands. Being an enterprising kind of a man, he desired a market for the lumber which he was preparing, and urged upon Mr. Fender, the owner of the adjoining quarter-section, the feasibility of laying out a town. Repeated argumentation at length produced conviction in Mr. Fensler's mind that it was the proper thins to do, and he forthwith set abort to lay out the town, much to the satisfaction of Mr Evans, delighting in the prospective sale of his lumber. The plat was surveyed March 7, 1834, by James Ravenscraft, and consisted of twenty-nine lots. To the surveyor was given the honor of naming the town. He called it Chili (universally called Chili hereabouts). David Zellers, a blacksmith, built the first house, and directly afterward his blacksmith shop. Willis Butler, from Tuscarawas county, was proprietor of the first store. His stay was short, and he re turned to his former residence. Robert Porter succeeded him, and he in turn was soon superseded by John Winklepleck, who was engaged in business here for many years, up to the time of his death. In the line of dry goods, two firms are now engaged in business, John Lorenz, and Lenhart & Stein. Gottlieb Feller conducts an excellent tannery, established many years ago by Henry Warnes, and with it a harness and saddlery shop. Allen Turner has a cabinet shop, Philip Gebhard a wagon shop, Philip Neiss and John Hawk each a blacksmith shop, and Henry Ehrich and Charles Klein each a shoe shop. Solomon DeWitt provides hospitable entertainment for the wayfarer. Ernest C. Volz and Aaron Busby are the two doctors. Dr. Thomas Pinkerton was the first resident physician. Quite a number have intervened between him and the present practitioners; among them Drs. Chapman, B. Blackburn, John Beaver, Knight, Busby and Fell. During its existence of nearly half a century, Chili has lost only one building by fire, and it was a small cabin of little value. The population at present lacks only a few names of amounting to 100. CHAPTER LIV. FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP. Boundaries-Physical Features-Canal and Railroad-Early Settlers and Settlements- Major Robinson's Captivity- Indians-Schools and Churches-Taverns-Distilleries and Mills-Postoffices-Coal-Oil. THE early records of this township, yet preserved, contain an account of its organization. The first entry consists of the following notice WHEREAS, The commissioners of Coshocton county, Ohio, hath this day erected a new township off the south end of Tuscarawas township in said county, to be known by the name of Franklin, and consisting of the fourth township in the sixth range and the east half of the fourth township in the seventh range; therefore, the qualified electors of said township of Franklin are hereby notified to meet at the house of John Wamsley, in said township, on Saturday, the 17th day of September, and elect necessary township officers, according to law. MORDECAI CHALFANT, JAMES MESKIMEN, Commissioners. Coshocton, September 6, 1814. At the appointed time and place John Wamsley and Jesse Campbell were elected judges, and Israel H. Buker, clerk of the election, and were duly sworn into office. The report of the first election, as made by them, is as follows We do certify that the number of electors amounted to twenty-two, and that. Israel H. Buker had twenty-two votes for township clerk. Michael Miller, John Wamsley and Benjamin Robinson had each twenty-two votes for trustees. Valentine Johnson and Joseph Scott had each twenty-two votes fur overseers of the poor. James Robinson and Jacob Jackson had each twenty-two votes for fence viewer . Michael Miller Valentire Johnson and Benjamin Robinson had each twenty-two votes for supervisors. Lewis Rodrick had twenty-t.wo votes for constable, and James Robinson had twenty-one votes and Benjamin Robinson one vote for township treasurer. At the next election, October 11, 1814, thirty-six votes were cast. Thomas Worthington received the entire number for governor; James Caldwell had thirty votes for representative in congress; B. Wells hard six votes for the acme; Charles Williams received thirty votes and Wright War- 492 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. ner two votes for State representative ; James Miskimen received thirty-two, and Isaac Draper two, votes for county commissioner. A re-election of State representative being ordered for January 4, 1815, thirty-nine votes were cast in this township. Of these Charles Williams received twenty-seven and Lewis Vail twelve. The east half of township 4, range 7, was withdrawn at the formation of Virginia township, and the township now consists of township 4, range 6. It is in the southern tier of townships, and touches Jackson, Tuscarawas and Lafayette townships on the north; Linton on the east, and Virginia on the west; Muskingum county bounds it on the south. The surface is diversified by hill and vale. The Muskingum river, by a gently winding course, traverses the western part from north to south through a rich and fertile valley. Level bottom lands, for the most part, stretch away for a distance on either side, with low hills rising beyond; but, at times, the hills rise almost precipitously from the river's bank, on one side or the other. Farther east the land becomes rougher, and, along the eastern line, breaks into rugged hills. Will's creek, a stream of considerable size and of very irregular course, is the principal tributary of the river in this township. Entering the southwest corner of the township from Linton, it dips down into Muskingum county; appearing again near the middle of the southern line, it crops northward about one and a half miles to Frew's mill, there bends sharply to the south and, by a circuitous route, reaches the river in the southwest corner of the township. The other streams are inconsiderable and thread the township in various directions. he soil in the river bottoms is a rich loam, and seems incapable of wearing out. ear after year, almost beyond the recollection of men, corn crops have been successively raised with no apparent decrease in the yield. Upon the hills the soil is generally sandy. The timber is of the varieties usually found in this region. Upon a knoll in the eastern part of the township (section 20) are found a few scrubby pines. The Ohio canal passes through the western part of the township; entering from the north west of the river, it follows the valley and crosses into Virginia township, about a mile north of the southern line. The Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis railroad enters the township east of the river, from the north, crosses the river at Franklin station, and continues in a course nearly parallel with the canal. The road has three flag-stations in the township : Rock Run, Franklin and Conesville. A single wagon bridge spans the Muskingum, near Conesville. The river is fordable, however, in one or two places. Franklin was among the first settled townships in the county, and here, as elsewhere, the earliest settlements were made along the river. The eastern half of the township is congress land; the western half belongs to the military lands, and consists of two sections, of 4,000 acres each. Many military sections were purchased by non-residents of the county, with a view to speculation, holding them until a rise in value permitted them to dispose of their property in small tracts at a large profit. These two sections, however, were purchased by two Virginians, who emigrated to the wilderness and made it their homes. The northwest or second section was owned and settled by Michael Miller, the southwest or third, by William Robinson. Major William Robinson was born in 1743. During Dunmore's war, he was captured by the Indians and became the object of the magnanimity of Logan, the celebrated chief of the Mingoes, at a time when he was smarting under the cowardly wrongs inflicted upon his family by the white men. Howe's Historical Collections of Ohio gives the following account of his capture: On the 12th of July, 1774, Major Robinson, then a resident on the west fork of Monongahela river, was in the field with Mr. Colburn Brown and Mr. Helen, pulling flax, when they were surprised and fired upon by a party of eight Indians, led by Logan. Mr. Brown was killed and the other two made prisoners. On the first alarm, Mr. Robinson started to run. When he had got about fifty yards, Logan called out in English, "Stop, I won't hurt you !" "Yes, you will," replied Robinson in tones of fear "No, I won't," rejoined Logan, "but if you don't stop, by - I'll shoot you." Robinson still continued his race, but stumbling over a log, fell and was made captive by a fleet savage in pursuit. Logan immediately made himself known to Mr. Robinson s : and manifested a friendly disposition to him, told HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 493 him that he must be of good heart, and go with him to his town, where he would probably be adopted in some of their families. When near the Indian village, on the site of Dresden, Muskingum river, Logan informed him that he must run the gauntlet, and gave him such directions, that he reached the council-house without the slightest harm. He was then tied to a stake for the purpose of being burnt, when Logan arose and addressed the assembled council of chiefs, in his behalf. He spoke long and with great energy, until the saliva foamed from the sides of his mouth. This was followed by other chiefs in opposition, and rejoinders from Logan. Three seperate times was he tied to the stake to be burnt, the councils of the hostile chiefs prevailing, and as often untied by Logan and a belt of wampum placed around him as a mark of adoption. His life appeared to hang on a balance; but the eloquence of Logan prevailed, and when the belt of wampum was at last put on him by Logan, he introduced a young Indian to him, saying, "This is your cousin, you are to go home with him and he will take care of you." From this place, Mr. Robinson accompanied the Indians up the Muskingum, through two or three Indian villages, until they arrived at one of their towns on the site of Newcomerstown, in Tuscarawas county. About the 21st of July, Logan came to Robinson and brought a piece of paper, saying that he must write a letter for him, which he meant to carry and leave in some house, which he should attack. Mr. Robinson wrote a note with ink, which he manufactured from gunpowder. He made three separate attempts before he could get the language ;cage, which Logan dictated, sufficiently strong to satisfy that chief. This note was addressed to Colonel Cresap, whom Logan supposed was the murderer of his family. It was afterward found, tied to a war club, in the cabin of a settler who lived on or near the north fork of Holston river. It was doubtless left by Logan after murdering the family. A copy of it is given below, which, on comparison with his celebrated speech; showns a striking similarity of style "CAPTAIN CRESAP:-What did you kill my people on Yellow creek for? The white people killed my kin, at Conestoga, a great while ago and I thought nothing of that. But you killed my kin again on Yellow creek, and took my cousin prisoner. Then I thought I must kill too and I have been three times to war since ; but the Indians are not angry; only myself. "July 21, 1774. CAPTAIN JOHN LOGAN." Major Robinson, after remaining with the Indians about four months, returned to his home in Clarksburg, Virginia, of which he was one of the proprietors and the first merchant. He soon after married Margaret Sea, and engaged in agricultural and mercantile pursuits. In 1801 he emigrated to Franklin township. The Robinson section was granted to William Edgar, Jr., by John Adams, President, under deed, dated April 2, 1800, and by Edgar transferred to Robinson, October 27, 1800. Mr. Robinson had, doubtless, passed through this tract in 1774, while on his way from Dresden to Newcomerstown. In the spring of 1801 he and his son Benjamin came out, cleared off a patch of ground, planted the first crop of corn, then returned and brought out his family. He had ten children-four sons-John, Benjamin, William and James-and six daughters-Sarah, Mary, Elizabeth, Rebecca, Margaret and Catherine. They all settled in this township except the oldest son, William, who remained in Virginia. Sarah was married to Mr. Barclay Mary to John Wamsley, Elizabeth to Obadiah Davidson, Rebecca. to Valentine Johnson, Margaret to James Tanner, and Catherine to Joseph Scott. All these settled on the Robinson section in 1801, or soon after. Tanner emigrated in 1803. His wife's health being delicate, she was unable to endure the hardships of pioneer life, and died about two years after her arrival here, this being probably the first death in the township. Mr. Tanner subsequently married Nancy Taylor, daughter of William Taylor. Other families from Clarksburg, Virginia, followed the Robinsons here and settled in their midst, thus forming quite a little colony from their old home. Among these were the Johnsons, William Taylor and Jacob Jackson. The Johnsons were a brother and three sisters of Valentine Johnson-James, Nancy (Robinson), Catherine (Powelson), and Amelia (Shoemaker). They all settled on the Robinson section. Colonel Robinson died in the fall of 1815, surviving his wife about six months. James Robinson, the youngest child, was born in Clarksburg, Virginia, 1787, inherited the home stead, where he remained until his death, in1856. During this time he was one of the active and public spirited men of the county. He served one term as associate judge and two terms as State representative; but his time and enthusiasm was absorbed principally in agricultural n and kindred pursuits. He engaged in stock deal- 494 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. ing, and several times crossed the mountains with droves of cattle. He was actively interested in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was a staunch and steadfast adherent. His house was the principal place of meetings in this neighborhood in anti-church days, and many times 150 or more people would here assemble, coming from a distance on horseback, and themselves and horses would be provided for through his old time hospitality. He was twice married, in 1811 and in 1815. By his first wife he had two sons; by the second seven daughters and five sons. Of these, two sons and one daughter are all that now remain. James Wilcox was among the earliest occupants of the township. He came from New England about 1801, and for a number of years was the only Yankee hereabouts. He was a stone mason, and was employed in digging wells, etc., for the early settlers; he cleared off a considerable tract of land for the Robinsons, and afterward moved to Adams township, Muskingum county, where he was known as one of its earliest settlers. Several grandsons now live in Franklin township. Michael Miller came from Hampshire county, Virginia. All the authorities seem to fix the year 1801, as the date of his arrival. His family consisted of seven children, Barbara, Charles, Patrick, Edward, John, Isaac and McCarty. In the course of a few years a number of families from Hampshire county found their way to Miller section. Among the earliest and most prominent of these was Philip Hershman. Jasper Hill and Arnold Kane came about 1808, from the same place, and both were renters on Miller's land. Daniel Hawkins came about the same time from New Jersey. Matthew Pigman emigrated from Virginia, perhaps as early as 1803. After remaining on the Miller section a number of years as a renter, he entered a farm in section 1. Abraham Thompson, from Virginia, settled on the place Michael Lopp now owns. Lewis Rodruck entered the township in the spring of 1809. He was born in Maryland, September 28, 1772, and moved here from Virginia. He leased a place from William Robinson, raised a crop or two with his sons, Levi and Yale, and in 1811 brought out from Virginia the rest of his family. After staying a few years on the Robinson place, he purchased and moved to a faun in the southern part of the township. He was the first class leader of the Methodist church and afterward became a minister in the Dunkard church, preaching about forty years. His death occurred in 1866, at the advanced age of ninety-four years. George Littick came about 1811, and entered land in the northwest quarter of section 12. He was born in Germany, in 1759; left an orphan in early youth, he was bound as an apprentice to a baker, but cruel treatment caused him to run away and cross the ocean at eighteen years of age; arriving in this country, he was obliged to work three yearn to pay his passage way: He died in Franklin township, December 25,1847. The township gradually settled up toward the east, but the uninviting hills made the settlement necessarily slow, so long as there were better lands to occupy. It was not until 1836 that all the land in the township was entered. Several years before this there was an influx of Germans from Muskingum county, and a few years later the French began to arrive and people the hills. Philip Kromnaker was the first Frenchman to locate here, in 1835. During the next fifteen years a constant stream of emigrants from France flowed in, and in 1850 the French element predominated in the eastern part of the township. They emigrated principally from the province of Alsace, ceded a few years ago to Germany, coming mostly by water to Zanesville, by way of New Orleans. They are a frugal and industrious class of people, and have transformed some of the wildest and roughest lands of the county into prosperous and happy homes. Many have since removed to other parts. The early records of the township have been lost or destroyed. A partial list of the first offi cers is as follows: John Wamsley, clerk; James Robinson, treasurer; Lewis Rodruck, constable. William Taylor and Abraham Thompson also held first offices, probably as trustees. It was not uncommon, prior to 1812, for strolling Indians to appear at the cabins of the early settlers. Mrs. James Rice, daughter of Joseph Scott, recollects that a young Indian brave, while visiting at her father's cabin, became angry at his HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 495 squaw for some cause and beat her severely in the face with an car of corn till she bled profusely. This mark of affection the squaw received without flinching and with the fortitude characteristic of the Indian race. Still more enraged, the Indian seized a cooper's wooden horse standing by, and hurled it forcibly at his wife. This time she dodged, and the missile barely missed Mrs. Rice, then a little girl three or four years old. At another time an Indian lad appeared, begging meat. Her father, at heart a hater of the whole Indian race, on account of injuries received by relatives at the hands of the savages, with grim humor presented the boy a very large piece of raw meat, and then compelled him to eat it; a feat which the tad accomplished only after manifest suffering. Mr. Scott then gave him some meat to take home with him. The young Indian complained of the treatment he had received to his friends, but they regarded it as an excellent joke, and ridiculed him, and often afterward used to laugh with Mr. Scott about it. Israel H. Baker was in all probability the pioneer school-teacher of this township. He was a native of Massachusetts, began teaching here about 1806, and continued it for many years in different parts of the township, wherever he could get pupils. A Mr. Patterson and Mr. Roberts, also, figured among the earliest teachers, A little later came Abram T. Jones and William J. Robinson. There are now six school districts within the township, four east, and two west, of the river. District No. 6 was formed in 1876, a short distance northeast of Coalport. The Methodist Episcopal church was the first to form a religious society within the township. In 1812, Rev. John Mitchell organized a class in the Robinson neighborhood, now called the Bethany church. The details of its early history are meager. For a long time services were held at the houses of the members, and afterward in the school-house which stood north of the site of the Methodist Protestant church. Rev. Ruark and Joseph Pigman were among the earliest preachers. Among the original members may be mentioned James Robinson, Lewis Rodruck and wife, John Wamsley and William Davidson. Their present church edifice was erected in 1870, shouts mile northwest of Will's creek, where the old building stood. It is a nicely finished frame, costing about $3,000, and has served as a model in constructing several churches since. The present membership is about fifty. A successful Sunday-school is in operation under the management of Ira Wilcox and Dr. Henderson. The Bethel Methodist Episcopal church, situated west of the river, was organized in 1864, at the Conesville school-house, by Revs. A. S. Moffatt and John Blanpied, the two ministers of the Dresden and Roscoe circuits, then united. The need of religious services in this vicinity had long been felt. Occasional preaching had been held in the school-house previous to the organization of the church, but there was a demand for a permanent church, and this demand gave rise to the Bethel church. Francis Wolfe, Ben. Wolford, James Davis, Henry Harris, C. W. Uffner, C. W. Darnel and others were instrumental in effecting its organization. The pastors have been as follows : Revs. Moffatt and Blanpied, one year; B. F. Bell, one year; J. H. Johnson, two years; S. R. Squire, two years; J. R. Reasoner, two ,years; W. Ben. Taggert, three years; John Phifer, three years; S. Barcus, two ,years. Rev. Williams is the present pastor. Services were held in the school-house until 1874, when the present house of worship, a neat, substantial brick of goodly dimensions, was erected at a cost of $2,500. The present membership includes about sixty souls. Contemporaneous with the organization of the church was that of the Sunday-school. For four years previous, however, a union Sunday-school had been successfully conducted. During the twenty years just past, the average enrollment has exceeded 100. Lon Myrice has charge of the school. The Methodist Protestant church was organized in 1831 in the school-house which stood on the lot adjoining the present church building, by Rev. Israel Thrapp. The organizing members were six in number-George Littick, Abram Jones, Charles Borough, Isaac Shambaugh, William Davidson, and one other. Several years later the school-house was burned, and a church 496 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. building was erected. This, too, was consumed about 1850, after which preaching was transferred to a frame school-house close by, and held there until the completion of the present building, in 1857. Among the pastors who have supplied this charge were G. W. Hissey, Joseph Hamilton and John Woodward. W. S. Wells fills the pulpit at present. The church membership is eighty-two. A Sunday-school has long been successfully carried on, superintended at present by Seth M. Cullison. The German population is principally Lutheran in religious sentiment. In or about the year 1839 a German Lutheran church was built in the southeastern part of the township, on section 21. Here the Germans were accustomed to meet once a month for religious services. But the church never flourished. Schisms arose and divided the members. The meetings were gradually discontinued, and finally ceased. The stout structure of the old log building is still standing, doorless and windowless. Many of the German settlers emigrated from Muskingum county and had there belonged to the Lutheran church near Adamsville. After their settlement in this township they were occasionally served as members of the old church. When they had become sufficiently strong in number, a church organization was effected June 18, 1853, at George Struts' house, under the name of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran church. George Shurtz was elected elder; John J. Werts and Daniel Ganmer, wardens. Early in 1855 Harrison Wagner, Solomen Werts and Elijah Wagner, were elected trustees. Other original members were George Vinsel, Jesse Ganmer, John Miller, William W. and Charles Adams. Rev. Samuel Kummerer was chosen first pastor. The early meetings were held in Ganmer's schoolhouse. The church was erected in 1858, and dedicated December 5, the same year, by Rev. A. N. Bartholomew, the second pastor. It is a frame building thirty by forty feet, costing about $1,200. The regular ministers since, have been J. P. Hentz, and J. Weber the present incumbent. The membership is now about 100. A Sunday-school has been held regularly during the summer season since the formation of the church. With the advent of the French, came the material for the St. Nicholas Catholic church. Its organization was effected in 1856, by Father Bainter. The principal original members were Anthony Wimmer, Sr., Nicholas Roger, Wendal Strasser, Matthias Factor, Nicholas Erman, Joseph Salrin and John David. The first meetings were held in Mrs. Margaret Factor's house, and in 1857, the present house of worship, a log, weather-boarded building, was erected. The labor was performed and the material furnished by the members, each contributing three logs for the structure. Rev. Bainter remained in charge but a short time after the completion of the church, and was succeeded successively by Revs. Serge de Stchonlepnikoff, Andrews, Northmeyer and John M. Jacquet. The membership includes about twenty-five families. A Sunday-school has recently been started, and is now in successful operation. About 1824, a Dunkard minister, Schofield by name, began preaching on Will's creek, in the southern part of the township. No church building was ever erected in this township, but services were conducted many years, by Lewis Rodruck, at Philip Hershman's house. The society now has a church in Keene township. The only tavern ever kept in the township was one kept by John Wamsley, west of the river, on the farm now owned by Charles Marquand. It was about the year 1810, that he hung out this sign of the Black Horse, offering entertainment to the wayfaring stranger. It was the only thoroughfare between Zanesville and Coshocton at that time, no road east of the river having been yet opened; and, in those days of slow travel, it was doubtless a welcome sight to the weary traveler. But it has long since filled the measure of its usefulness. It continued perhaps thirty years, then, like most other early country taverns, passed away. Distilleries here, as elsewhere, prevailed in early days. Several little mills were built along the brooklets in the township, where a little corn was ground and whisky distilled. One of these was on Robinson's run, close by the school-house, where the run crosses the road. In 1847, a large PAGE 497 - PICTURES OF OWEN AND MARY MARSHALL PAGE 498 - BLANK HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 499 distillery was erected by Beebe S. Cone, H. Schmueser, and two others, west of the river, on what is now James Johnson's farm. It was a large building, about forty by fifty feet, with a capacity of 400 to 500 bushels per day, and. was run by steam power. It was destroyed by fire, in 1857, and several years later partially rebuilt, by James Beebe, and conducted on a somewhat smaller scale; but a few years later, the fiery element again reduced it to ashes, this time effectually. Frew's mill, the first and only one of any consequence in the township, was built on Will's creek about 1814 or 1815, by the Parker brothers, Zebulon, George and John. The land upon which it was built belonged, at that time, to James Monroe, of Muskingum county, and at the expiration of the Parker lease it fell into his possession. He shortly afterward transferred it to John Frew, whence its name. The Frews retained it thirty or forty years. It is now operated by D. G. Cooper. At this mill Zebulon Parker made all his experiments in perfecting the celebrated Parker water-wheel, now in extensive use in this county. Franklin township has three postoffices, Wills Creek, Franklin Station and Conesville. Wills Creek is a little village of about fifteen houses, scattered irregularly about the bend of the stream, the name of which it bears. It was never laid out, and owes its existence to Frew's mill, located there. Its business consists of a store, two blacksmith shops, two wagon shops, one shoe shop, and the mill. A saw-mill was formerly operated in con junction with the grist-mill. A steam saw-mill built in 1851, was also carried on about ten years Wills Creek receives a tri-weekly mail from Coshocton. A. M. Henderson, the only practicing physician in the township, resides here. The other two postoffices are situated on the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis railroad Close by Franklin Station is a small mining town, Coalport, containing about twenty houses a store and a blacksmith shop. The name indicates its origin. Most of the families living her are those of miners employed by the Coalport Coal Co., whose mines are in Jackson township. A horse railroad connects the mines with the canal at Coalport. Conesville of today is merely a railroad station, with a country store attached. The name was formerly applied to a collection of some sixteen or eighteen houses which sprang into existence about Cones' distillery for the accommodation of the families of the men employed there. While the distillery was in operation, James Johnson built a cooper shop there, employing about eight workmen. This also helped give the little town a boom. A store was established and everything for a while looked lively; but its existence was ephemeral; it rose and fell with the distillery. All the houses have been removed and nothing remains to mark their former existence here. Before this time, about 1840, a Mr. Delaney laid out in the same locality the plat of a village to be called Delaneysville but nothing ever came of it. The coal beds of this township are little developed. They may be found on nearly every farm in the eastern part of the township, but only a few are worked, and these few for home con sumption on only. A single mine, that of Mr. James Fitch, is worked regularly. It is situated on the line between Franklin and Tuscarawas townships, but the greater part of it lies in the latter township. The mine was opened about twenty-five years ago, and the supply is now almost exhausted. About 4,000 tons are mined annually. It finds a ready sale, and is shipped mostly to Newark. Iron ore is found in some parts of the township. Josesh R. Tingle has discovered on his farm several veins of a brown hematite ore which assays 45 per cent of metallic iron. Petroleum oil of superior quality, is found in small quantities along a little run in section 11, on the place now owned by Prosper Royer. It oozes from the surface of the ground freely, in early spring. Philip Hershman first noticed it, when the land where it is found was still un-entered. He would collect and use it for medicinal and other purposes. Wells have been sunk several times, at great expense, in search of the oil in paying quantities, but they have heretofore proved unsuccessful. The land has recently been leased to p. an experienced oil merchant, and search for hidden oil, will again soon be instituted, with what success the future only can determine. 500 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. The oldest person now living in the township, is Mrs. Catherine Miller, now in her ninety-third year. She is the widow of Patrick Miller, and the daughter of Arnold Kane. George A. McCleary is another pioneer who still survives. He was born February 4, 1798, and emigrated to this county in 1814; he has lived in Franklin township fifty-seven years, and has been one of its leading, active citizens, representing the county in the Ohio legislature. About 1835, when the road between the Robinson and Miller sections was opened east of the river, a mound, perhaps twenty-five feet in diameter and five in height, was in the road and was leveled to the ground in consequence. In it were found the remains of five or six skeletons. They were arranged like the radii of a circle, having the head nearest the center. A small mound was still to be seen west of the river and near the line between the lands of George Wolfe and Charles Miller. CHAPTER LV. JACKSON TOWNSHIP. Size-Location-Organization-Streams-Canals-Settlement -Mills-Roscoe--Its Growth-Business--Schools-Physicians -Fire Losses, etc.-Fourth of July Celebration-Churches. OF the townships of Coshocton county Jackson is second in size, Linton slightly exceeding it in area. It includes the fifth township of range 7, according to the original survey, and that portion of township 5 of range 6 which lies west of the Walhonding and Muskingum rivers, embracing a little more than the one-fourth part of it. The former is composed wholly of congress land, which was surveyed into the usual half sections, of 320 acres each, by Silas Bent, Jr., in 1803, many years before it was required for actual settlement. The land east of this, the eastern part of the township, consists of the fractions of the two western military sections of Tuscarawas township proper which lie west of the Muskingum and Walhonding rivers, the upper one of which is the Bowman section, the lower one the section. An account of them is given in the history of Tuscarawas township, and need not be repeated here. Jackson township was organized in 1828. The eastern portion of it was taken from Tuscarawas township; the full original township west of this had previously been within the civil jurisdiction of Washington township. It was named in honor of the nation's military hero, who was just then passing through his first presidential campaign. A temporary separation took place between the two portions of the township shortly after its organization, owing to the dissatisfaction of settlers in the western part. It seems that at that time each township was obliged to support its own paupers, the custom being to auction them off for support to the lowest bidder. As it happened, quite a number of poor lived along the river bottoms, and the maintenance of them bore heavily and mainly upon the pioneers in the west, who were as yet barely able to provide for themselves; hence their petition for divorce, which was granted by the county commissioners, and the eastern part re-united to Tuscarawas township. This condition of things did not last long, however. After two or three years of civil isolation from Roscoe, the advantages of union and the inconveniences of separation became manifest. The township, as it now existed, was wholly rural in its character, and the elections must be conducted at some lonely country cabin, where there was no whisky, no jolly crowd, no bustle or activity. Roscoe was rising in power and beginning to regard itself a rival of Coshocton rather than a mere appendage, and was anxious to become an independent local center. The desires of the two parts became harmonized, and at their mutual request they were re-united. Since then the bounds have been as they now exist. On the north are Bethlehem and Keene townships, on the east Tuscarawas, Franklin and Virginia on the south and Bedford on the west. No streams of much importance belong to Jackson township except the Muskingum and Walhonding rivers which form its eastern boundary. Into these flow several small runs which drain the surface in the eastern part of the township. A branch of Simmon's run, flowing northwest, is found near the western line and toward the south several trickling streams carry the outgushings HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 501 of numerous springs through their channels into Virginia township. The surface is rough and hilly except in the eastern part along the river and on this account the township was settled very slowly. The soil of the greater part is of good quality, usually sandy in character, and may be made to yield excellent crops. In population Jackson ranks next to the township containing the county seat. It contains 1,968 inhabitants. Linton township follows closely upon its heels with 1,918. Jackson has perhaps been more closely identified with the canals of the county than any other township. The Ohio canal enters it from the south, and passes up the valley to upper Roscoe where it forms a junction with the Walhonding canal and crosses the Walhonding river into Tuscarawas township. The Walhonding canal pursues a northwesterly course up the valley of the river the name of which it has assumed, and passes into Bethlehem township. The earliest settlements in the township were made along the river bottom, in the eastern part of the township. Here several settlements were made which rank among the earliest in the county, although the land beyond in the west was not generally settled for twenty years thereafter. It has been found impossible to fix exactly the date of the arrival of the foremost settlers, or perhaps even to mention the names of them all. Rev. Calhoun, writing thirty years ago, states that William Hoglin, about 1806, was as living for a while in what is now Roscoe. This was probably the year in which Thomas Cantwell settled here. He was Irish by birth, a shoemaker by trade, and came from near Charleston, Virginia. He cleared a little patch of ground just south of what is now Roscoe. The little stream upon which he settled is still known as Cantwell's run. Henry Miller was probably here as early as Cantwell, perhaps sooner. He had been a revolutionary soldier; emigrated here from Virginia, and was a brother to Michael Duller, one of the earliest settlers of Franklin township. He had six sons, Nicholas, John, Michael, Thomas, Obed and Alfred. The eldest became one of the firs settlers of Keene township. The other boys remained with their father for many years in the northeastern part of this township, on what is now the Haight farm. Thomas subsequently moved up on the Killbuck, where he died. John, Obed and Alfred moved to Indiana. Michael died in this county. One of the earliest orchards in the county was planted by the Millers, on this farm. Asa Hart, from New Jersey, had emigrated to the township prior to the war of 1812 It was not, however, much before 1816 that the township began to be permanently settled. Beginning with that date and extending over a period of twenty years cabin after cabin slowly rose in the midst of the vast wilderness which then covered the township, and which in time melted away beneath the sturdy strokes of the hardy backwoodsmen and left behind pleasant hill-side farms, many of which are now furnished with all the conveniences and improvements of modern farming. Samuel Brown was from Salem, Massachusetts. He first located, in 1814, at Rock run, three miles south of Coshocton. In 1816 he settled on a tract about a mile and a half west of Roscoe, and, after clearing a few acres and building a cabin, sold his claim to John Demoss. He then built a saw mill on Cantwell's run, which had head of water enough to run the mill on an average three days in the week. For a number of years (until he united with the church) he depended on Sunday visitors to give him a lift in getting enough loge on the skids to keep the mill at work. The neighborly feeling, mellowed with a good supply of neighbor Sible's corn juice, sweetened with neighbor Craig's maple sugar, was always equal to the demands thus made. Later in life Mr. Brown engaged in the making of brick. He remained in the vicinity until he died, in February, 1871, aged eighty-four years. He was for many years a useful and highly esteemed citizen. About 1815 a man by the name of Craig bought forty acres of land and built a cabin a little south of Robert Crawford's residence, on the tract now owned by Burns & Johnson. He was one of the most successful makers of maple sugar, an article largely made and in universal use in early days in Coshocton county for sweetening coffee, tea, whisky, etc. Mr: Craig died about 1826, and t his family removed from the county. About 1814, a man named Sible built a small distillery on the farm just south of Roscoe, now 502 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. owned by John G. Stewart. A little later he put up a little mill on Cantwell's run, about a third of a mile up. It was called a thundergust-mill, as it only run with full force after a heavy shower. "Sible's corn-juice" was very popular in that clay, and the business done by him and his neighbor, Samuel Brown, was enough to warrant the idea of a town, and doubtless led James Calder to lay out, in that vicinity, Caldersburg. Theophilus Phillips was from the state of New Jersey. He lived in Zanesville several years, and in 1815 entered and settled upon the farm now best known as the Dr. Robert's farm, in the west ern part of the township. In 1816 he sold this, and built a cabin in what is now Roscoe, and having lived in that a few years, he built, in 1821, the first brick house in the vicinity, using it for a tavern for a number of years. He moved to Indiana about 1845, and there died in 1868, being seventy-four years old. Abel Cain was another early settler, coming from the State of Pennsylvania about 1816. After the township was organized, he, and a Mr. Payne were elected fence viewers for a long series of years. Mr. Cain was a very tall, powerfully built man-a splendid specimen of the pioneer type of mankind, while Mr. Payne was exceedingly diminutive in size. It was the standing joke that Mr. Cain was to inspect the top of the fences and see that they were properly kept up, while Payne was to look after the "hog holes" underneath. Mr. Cain died here, and his children removed to Illinois. Jonathan Butler entered the northeast quarter of section 1. The most of this farm lies in the Walhonding valley, and it was among the first to be entered. Mr. Butler came to the township at a very early day, just how early it is impossible to say. He afterwards moved to Schuyler county, Illionis. James Huffman, in 1817, settled in the western part of section 24. He was a blacksmith by trade, and, after the country became somewhat settled, he pursued this calling, in his backwoods home, in connection with farming. Mr. Huff man remained in the township all his life; after his death, his two children moved away. A brother, Joseph, accompanied James here. He was at the time unmarried, and lived with his brother James for a number of years, then settled in section 17. The Fosters were among the first settlers in the western part of the township. There were six brothers: Samuel, Moses, William, David, Benjamin and Andrew. Their father, John Foster, entered eighty acres apiece for them, most of it in section 6. The family was originally from Virginia, but had lived a number of years in Harrison county, prior to their emigration here. Samuel and Moses came out first, in 1816, the others following soon after. Andrew moved West, stopping for a time in Indiana, then continuing onward in the same direction. The others remained citizens of the township till they died. William was the last survivor. He died about two years ago. Abraham Randles, from Loudon county, Virginia, had settled in Harrison county, prior to the war of 1812, where he remained till he removed to Jackson township, in 1817. Three younger brothers, Enoch, Isaac and John, and their father, James, came with him. Abraham and his father, together, entered the northeast quarter of section 5. Abraham afterwards removed to the Killbuck, in the northern part of the county, where he died. His son, John Randles, now lives in Roscoe, and is one of the oldest men in the township. John Demoss, his wife and son Lewis, Thomas Ramphey and family, and Crispin Tredaway, his wife and son Thomas, crossed the Allegheny Mountains in wagons from Harford county, Maryland, in the fall of 1817, and settled in this township. Tredaway remained a few years, then moved across into Jefferson township, where the son Thomas still lives. Mr. Demoss first settled in the western part of the township, on Simmons' run. There he remained five years, then moved to a tract of land about a half mile west of Roscoe. He had been a sergeant in the war of 1812, participating in the engagement at Baltimore. He died in this township, March 4, 1840. His son Lewis is still engaged in active business in the township, at the Empire mills. Thomas Smith, an Irishman, came about 1816. and located the southeast quarter of section 17. He died about 1825, and his family sold out and moved away. Matthew Stephens came a little HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 503 later. He owned a portion of the northeast quarter of section 15. Philo Potter was among the earliest to locate here, but did not become a property owner. He was quite an old man when he arrived here from the East. Vas a hearty, good-natured, slow-going creature, and spent the balance of his declining years in the township. John Loder came April, 1820, from Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, and entered the northeast quarter of section 14. His son, Aaron Loder, is one of the oldest citizens now in Jackson township. William Dunshee came from the same county, but remained here only a few years. Benedict Dunfee, an Indian ranger, who had been in the United States service at Wheeling, Virginia, came a little later. James Hardin, from New Jersey, came out with John Knoff, about 1820, lived in Caldersburg a while, then moved to the Solomon farm. Abraham and Jacob Courtright, two brothers from New Jersey, were here as early as 1815. Joshua Boring was another early settler. At a later day he moved to Keens township. One of the early institutions of Jackson township was a brush dam built across the Walhonding by the Millers, at the site occupied later by the dam of the Ohio , canal, which was swept away in a freshet several years ago. It was a very crude affair, being built of logs, brush and straw, and had to be repaired incessantly. About 1829 Joseph Huffman constructed a little horse mill in the southwestern part of the township, which served the pioneers in the vicinity for five or six years. The buhrs used at first were very small, perhaps a foot in diameter. They were set on edge, one being stationery, the other set in motion by means of a spindle. The capacity of the mill was but about ten bushels of meal per day. After some little time, Mr. Hoff man bought a. larger pair of buhrs, which had been used in grinding the plaster for the semen used in building the canal locks. Charles Williams erected a little mill on the run just below Roscoe, at a very early day. John Carhart, as early as 1824, was running tannery on the Haight farm, north of Roscoe About 1840 he removed it to Roscoe. John A L. Houston had owned it before Carhart. William Starkey, who came from Virginia in the spring of 1815, worked for a time in Carhart's tannery. The village of Roscoe lies just across the Muskingum river from Coshocton, partly in the narrow valley that here skirts the river and partly on the steep bluff that rises just beyond. From this bluff a commanding prospect of the surrounding country is presented. A fine bird's-eye view of Coshocton is obtained and the Muskingum, Tuscarawas and Walhonding rivers which meet almost at the foot of the hill, may be traced for miles through broad and level valleys fringed with wooded hillsides. In point of population, Roscoe ranks second in the county. The school district to which it belongs contains six hundred and eighty souls, but the village proper perhaps not more than six hundred. Previous to the construction of the Ohio canal it was an ordinary little village with a tavern or two, a dry goods store and the few little industrial shops common to every collection of houses; but with the opening of this highway of commerce and the water power facilities it afforded, an impulse was given to commerce, merchandizing and manufacturing which placed the village as a business center in the front rank in Coshocton county. When the railroad was built through Coshocton it drew to a great extent the business to that place, and the luster of Roscoe's name suffered in consequence. Though it is still a live business place, and contains several of the largest industrial establishments in the county, its business transactions are unequal to those of thirty or forty years ago. Caldersburg, the former name of this village, was laid out in January, 1816, by James Calder. The original plat consists of sixty-seven lots, lying in what is now the lower part of town. In 1831, a large addition was made by Ransom & Swayne; in 1844, another by Ransom, Swayne & Medberry. In 1849, Samuel Hutchinson and John Frew each made an addition; the former is known as Hutchinson's, the latter as the central addition. Mr. Colder, the founder of the a village, was a Yankee, who had come to Coshocton about 1811, and there engaged in business and failed. A tract of land lying west of the Muskingum river was saved from the wreck of 504 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. his fortunes, and he moved across and laid out the town. It is said that he brought with him a remnant of goods, which he closed out at his new home. The cabin he occupied, probably the first in the village, was built on lot 8, Main street, was owned by Philip Hoop. No vestage of it now remains. Calder afterward moved to the Rickett's farm, two miles west of Roscoe, on the Newark road, where his Yankee ingenuity was displayed in the making of shingles, etc. The second building was a large log tavern, perhaps twenty-four by fifty feet in size, one and a half stories high, erected on lot 20, at the northwest corner of Main and White Woman streets. William Barcus was the proprietor of this primal Jackson township hotel. He came here from near Cadiz, and retrained in possession of the tavern up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1829 or 1830. The travel through Caldersburg most have been considerable, for Mr. Barcus soon had opposition. In 1821 a brick tavern was built by Theophilus Phillips, who had previously settled in the township, just across Main street from its rival. This was the first brick structure in the township. In 1825 the first regular store was opened by James Le Retilley and William Wood. The former was born in the Isle of Guernsey, in 1788. He came to this country in 1806, settling in Guernsey county, where there was a settlement of people from his native island. Removing to Muskingum county, at a point about ten miles below Coshocton, he engaged in the manufacture of salt, along with George Bagnall, who was from Nova Scotia. They made about six bushels a day, selling it for three dollars a bushels, or exchanging a bushel for twelve bushels of wheat. Their salt was carried to remote points, some of it by canoes and pirogues up the Killbuck almost to Wooster. In 1825, the Kanawha and lower Muskingum salt coming into market, rendered the business of Retilley & Bagnall unprofitable, and it was abandoned. The same year Mr. Retilley moved to Caldersburg, his partner following him a year or two afterwards. Mr. Retilley was one of the associate judges of the county and an active adherent of the Methodist church in Roscoe. He died in December, 1850, aged sixty-two years. His descendants are still well known in this vicinity. Mr. Woods had also lived in Muskingum near Mr. Retilley's residence. He was a single man when he came to Caldersburg, but shortly after married and went west. George Bagnall purchased his interest in the store, and the firm did a flourishing business here for an extended period of years. The store was located for several years in a little log cabin which stood just west of the brick tavern ; it was then removed to the old Barcus tavern stand. The goods were brought by team from Pittsburgh. The teamsters, in going for the goods, conveyed large quantities of venison to the east, which had been received at the store by way of trade. Deer were then quite numerous in the forests, and the farmer, in wending his way to town through the bridle path, was reasonably sure of shooting a deer upon the way.. This he would cut up, hang the forequarters upon some overhanging bough beyond the reach of wild animals, to take home on his return, and bring the remaining "saddle" of venison with him to town, receiving for it, at the store, fifty cents. After the canal was built, this firm erected; a warehouse and became the first dealers in grain, shipping heavily to Cleveland. Prosperity for Caldersburg, as it was still called, began to dawn with the construction of the Ohio canal. A canal at that time brought the same advantages to a town situated on its route that a railroad does now, and a place fortunate enough to secure a canal through its borders was universally conceded to be on the highway to commercial success. Coshocton expected the canal, but. it seems that less expense attended its building west of the Muskingum, and it accordingly passed through Caldersburg. Leander Ransom, an engineer in the construction of the canal, recognized the advantageous site for a thriving town, and with Noah H. Swayne, the late United States Justice, then a lawyer in Coshocton, purchased a. tract north of the village and laid out, in 1831, au extensive addition to the old town, changing the name to Roscoe, in honor of a then famous English author, William Roscoe. When the Walhonding canal was projected a few years later,. the outlook for the town was still brighter. Added to this, its water power was unsurpassed. Steam had not yet come into general use as a motor of machinery, and those towns that af- HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 505 forded an excellent water power had hitherto been the ones to achieve eminence as manufacturing points. The canals bring together in Roscoe the whole water power of the Tuscarawas and Walhonding. The water of the latter, standing in the canal at this place thirty feet above the level of the Muskingum, furnishes a power capable of performing almost any thing desired. No less sagacious personage than Charles M. Giddings, at that time one of the most prominent business men of Cleveland, predicted that in a few years the place would contain 10,000 or 15,000 inhabitants. He and one or two others purchased more than 100 acres of land in the vicinity, with the expectation of speedily disposing of it in town Iota at a handsome profit. That this glowing outlook was never realized was due to the decline of canal transportation. They were unable to compete with their newly-arisen competitor, the iron horse. A revolution in the transportation of freight was inaugurated just as the village was blooming into a rich promise under the old regime. For a time it grew rapidly. In commercial operations and business importance it was undoubtedly first in the county. It became a great wheat depot, and in point of shipment and transshipment ranked fourth or fifth among the towns along the entire route of the Ohio canal, from Portsmouth to Cleveland. Its population in 1840 was 468, while that of Coshocton was 625 During that year, as perhaps a little later, there were in Roscoe five dry goods stores, two groceries, two forwarding houses, one fulling, two saw, and two flouring mills; while Coshocton at the same time contained six mercantile stores, one woolen factory and one flouring mill. An industrial enterprise closely allied to the canal, was a boat yard, owned and run for a few y ears by J. Blaisdall, a ship carpenter, now living east of Cleveland. A number of substantial canal boats were built here. The "Renfrew," one of the earliest water-crafts on the canal, was built in Roscoe by Thomas B. Lewis. An extensive distillery business was begun in 1831-2 by William Renfrew and Robert Hay. The firm soon after became Love & Hay. A large structure was reared upon a heavy, stone foundation, situated on the canal a short distance below Adams & Gleason's saw mill. After it had bean in operation about ten years, the building with its contents was destroyed by fire, the lose amounting to $30,000 or $40,000. It was then removed to Coshocton and for years was one of the leading industries of the county seat. In 1836 a large flouring mill was built by Arnold Medberry, Leander Ransom and John Smeltzer. In 1853, being then under the control of Mr. Medberry, it was burned. In 1840 the Union mill was built in lower Roscoe by the Union Mill company, consisting of R. M. Lamb, Dr. S. Lee and John Frew, of Coshocton; William and John Carhart, James LeRetilley and James Bagnall, of Roscoe, and Peter Marquand, of Wills creek. Becoming embarrassed, the company sold this mill to D. N. Barney & Company, of Cleveland, and it was by them sold to Arnold Medberry. It was burned in the spring of 1853. These two mills had two run of buhrs each, and were considered in their day among the first mills in Ohio. Their capacity together was five hundred barrels per day. The Empire mill, now doing business here, is one of the largest and finest in the State. It was built in 1858, by Arnold Medberry, who died in the summer of 1861. The mill was then purchased by Samuel Lamberson and Lewis Demoss, who subsequently sold a one-fourth interest to F. E. Barney, and alike share to D.. L. Triplett, since which time business has been transacted under the firm name of Barney, Demoss & Co. The mill stands at the junction of the Walhonding with the Ohio canal, and its water power can not be excelled. The building is a six-story frame of imposing dimensions, contains seven run of buhrs, and has a capacity of eighty thousand barrels per year. It is fitted up with the most recent improvements in milling machinery and fixtures-$12,000 having been expended for this purpose alone during the last year-and produces flour equal to any made in the State. This may be believed when it is known that the flour is sent to all parts of the world. Just preceding this writing, an extensive shipment was made to Glasgow and London. No custom work is now done. Employment is given to thirty persons. The Star mills, built in 1880 by James F. Williams, is situated on the Ohio canal. The main 506 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. building is thirty by forty feet, contains three run of buhrs and is doing a fine business both by way of custom work and exportation of flour. A carding mill was started in 1833 in upper Roscoe by Samuel Moffat. After a few years it was burned down and another built by C. S. Miller and S. Moffat. Miller died in 1848 and in 1855 the property passed from the hands of his widow to Thomas Wilson. With this enterprise Wilson McClintick, afterward removing to Butler, Missouri, was for some years identified. The building was a frame one, stood a little above the planing mill and was burned down in 1867. Wilson proceeded promptly after the fire to build the large brick mill, thirty by forty feet in size, now operated by him upon a site a little west of the old one, drawing water from the Walhonding canal instead of the Ohio canal. The saw mill; now run by Adams and Gleason, was erected in 1832. It was probably built by Arnold Medberry or if not came into his possession very shortly after. A planing mill was attached by James W. Beebe about 1871, since when both saw and planing mills have been operated conjointly. An immense business is done here, covering alt kinds of lumber, by far the greatest in the country. Madberry, Ransom & Co , about 1831, built a large hotel in which J. H. Board was installed first proprietor. He was succeeded by H. V. Horton and by Mrs. Rebecca Johnson and others. The building was remodeled, almost entirely rebuilt, by Matthew Stewart about 1840, and several years later it burned to the ground. Mr. Medberry replaced it with a new brick, still in use, with which Charles Simmons and others have since been connected. Mrs. Hutchins is the present hostess. Several other hotels have flourished here but they have now passed away. Roscoe has been peculiarly unfortunate in her fire losses. The little town seems to have been a special object for the fury of the fire fiend, for nearly every building of any note that has had an existence here, has been long reduced to ashes. The long list includes two large flouring mills, two carding mills, one large distillery, one church, two hotels, one school-house and one drygoods store, besides many other smaller buildings. The number of merchants, who have been actively identified with the interests of Roscoe, has been a large one, including the names of John Smeltzer, Robert L. Lamb, Joseph Johnson, Hickox & Wallace, John Frew, Burns & Moffat, Seth McClain, McClain & Brown, A. Medberry & Co., Samuel Burrell and others. None were more prominent than Mr. Medberry. The following sketch of him is taken from Hunt's Historical Collections: Arnold Medberry was born in New Berlin, Chenango county, New York, March 24, 1806. He came to Roscoe in the fall of 1832, and remained a citizen of that place until his death, August 12, 1861. During this time he was one of the most prominent business men of the region. His farming, milling, merchandising and connection with the public works, were features of the locality where carried on. Indomitable energy and ceaseless activity were his characteristics. He was undaunted before that which would have made many quail. He thought nothing of taking his buggy, riding thirty miles to Mount Vernon, and there taking the cars, thus reaching Cleveland in a few hours. Losing two flour-mils by fire, he, within a few hours, had matters all arranged for building yet a third. A zealous politician, he yet had little desire for office. He was, however, postmaster of Roscoe for many years, and was also county commissioner. When the public works of the State, with which from the first he had been thoroughly acquainted, were offered for lease, he was one of the principal lessees, and continued in that relation until his death. A single anecdote illustrates his keen discernment and disposition to have the best in every line attainable. A wagon-maker, having built him a wagon, called for his inspection and acceptance of it. He discovered, by close examination, a few places stopped up and made to appear smooth and good by putty. The wagon-maker protested that there was n4 real defect, that in fact the parts where the putty was were as strong as any, and would do just as good work. "Very good, then," said Medberry, with his accustomed twinkle of the eye, "just you keep this wagon, and make me another all out of putty, and we will then see whether putty is as strong as oak." Severe requirement was the rule with him in his relations to his employes, and what he thus demanded he was ready to yield to those having rightful claims. His personal appearance was fine, his manner calm and stately, but, withal, kind: His wife, who had been Miss Phoebe Denman, survived him several years, dying at the home of her daughter, in Kansas. His two sons died in each case as they were approaching manhood. Two of his daughters are living in Kansas, the other in Columbus. HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 507 The mercantile business is at this time represented as follows: Moore & Caton, dry goods; Wright, Biggs & McCabe, dry goods; Martin Hack & Co., dry goods; Leander Miller, groceries; J. R. Stanford, groceries; Abram Rose, groceries; Le Retilley & Ferguson, drugs; Mrs. R. Hooker, drugs; Harrison & Johnson, hardware and tinware; Relda Lockhart, millnery. The earliest school in Roscoe of which anything is known, probably the first, was held in the upper story of the Calder building, where John Smelzer afterwards kept store. It was started about 1826, and held in this room only two winters. During the first winter it was taught by John B. Turner. He was a plasterer, by trade; moved here from Zanesville; soon after became county treasurer, and subsequently moved to Indiana, where he took a prominent position in the administration of public affairs. Henry Colclazer taught the second winter. He was from Georgetown, D. C., and was a very well informed man for those times. He subsequently became a Methodist Episcopal minister and, when last heard from, was living in Detroit, Michigan. A little cabin, standing on the hill, became the next fount of learning for Roscoe's youth. It had previously been used as a dwelling house and, after it had subserved its purposes as a school building, was converted into a tannery and used as such until very recently. Basheba Lightener was the school mistress in this building for two winters. William McGowen next taught, in a little brick, which stood near Dr. Johnson's present residence. Next, Mr. Brown's house, then the Methodist church, were each temporarily utilized for school purposes. A brick school-house was erected about 1835, and school held in it till transferred to the present brick structure, erected about 1850. The school at present contains three departments. During the past year, the teachers in charge have been, Messrs. L. W. Martin and George Hill and Miss Anna Waddle. The school enrollment, at the opening of the year, was 132. Dr. M. Johnson, the only resident practitioner now in the village, has perhaps been longer in a continuous practice than any other physician now in the county. He settled here in 1833, and has been in constant practice ever since. He came as the successor of Dr. William Emerson, who died of pneumonia, June, 1833. He was the son of Timothy Emerson, of Keene township; had read medicine with Dr. Samuel Lee, of Coshocton, and, after attending lectures in Cincinnati, opened an office in Roscoe about 1828. He was probably the first physician in the place. From that time to the present quite a cumber of physicians have had a residence here ; generally a brief one. Among them was Dr. Edward Cone, now residing in Washington township, who has changed his occupation several times since. He has been a Methodist preacher, farmer, and recently reports himself a"grower of peaches and apples on sheep lands." Josiah Harris, still practicing in Coshocton, was here from 1837-40. Dr. Barger, the father of G. H. Barger, Esq., of Coshocton, from 1835-37. Drs. J. W. Brady, McBride, O. Farquhar, an Uriscopian; Peck, and others, have also resided here. The first postmaster was James Le Retilley. He received the appointment about the time Jackson township was organized. Mr. Retilley was succeeded by Arnold Medderry, and since then quite a number of changes have been made in this office. The present incumbent is Mrs. R. Hooker. Lodges of the Masonic order and of the Sons of Temperance have been established here, but both have been defunct for these many years. The former was organized about 1848, and disbanded in 1865, uniting at that time with the Coshocton lodge. The latter was organized about 1846, and survived for the brief space of three years. A very neat little township hall, twenty-six by forty-five feet in size, was built in the fall of 1880, at a cost of $1,550. Besides the buildings already mentioned, there are here at present a foundry, a tannery, a brewery, a leather shop, and various other small industrial establishments. There is one other postoffice in Jackson township. It is called Tyrone, and belongs in the southwestern part of the township. Joseph D. Smith has been postmaster for about twelve years. The office was established about 1850, and the former postmasters have been James Waddle, Aaron Reed, Catherine McCoy, Hiram Riden- 508 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. baugh and John H. Forrester. It has been recently discontinued. Pleasantville was laid out at an early day by Elijah Graves, in the southeast quarter of section 24, but it never came to anything. About 1825, a noted Fourth of July dinner was served at what is known as Falling Off Rock, one and a half miles west of Roscoe. The rock rises perpendicularly about thirty feet, and down this declivity a little rivulet dashes only after a storm. Beneath is a cave extending back about forty feet, and from it a fine spring of water issues. James Calder and several others, deeming it a pleasant spot for celebrating in a quiet way the national birth day, issued a general invitation and prepared the cave for the reception of the public. A large crowd, for those times, gathered at the place, from Coshocton, Caldersburg and elsewhere at the appointed time and partook of the bounteous provision there spread before them. Lewis Demons was the only participator in this affair who is now known to survive. The Roscoe Methodist Episcopal church is the only religious society now in active operation in this village. From 1820 to 1826, there had occasionally been a sermon preached in Roscoe (then Caldersburg) in the dining-room of the tavern kept by William Barcus; but in 1826 two Methodist ministers were appointed by the annual conference to the circuit in which Roscoe was embraced, and in the spring of that year the first class was formed by those ministers (their names were Abner Gough and H. O. Sheldon). The persons forming the class were Theophilus Phillips, Mrs. Samuel Brown, James Le Retilley and wife, Mrs. William Barcus, Rachel Le Retilley and Joseph Shoemaker and wife. meetings continued to be held in the same tavern until about 1828, about which time Samuel Brown joined, and the meetings after that were held at his house until 1831, in which year they built a neat little brick church, twenty-four by forty feet, in the lower part of the village on the brow of the hill A little incident in regard to Samuel Brown He was, by his own account, a very wicked ma then. There was to be a love feast held on Sun day morning, and he went along with his wife t carry the child, not intending to stay in; but when they got there it was about time to close the door, as it was the custom in those days. So, when he stepped in to hand the child to his wife,. they closed the door and drew a bench against it, so that he could not get out, and was compelled very reluctantly to remain, and during the exercises he became powerfully convicted, and then and there joined the church. In 1853, the old church being too small, they concluded to build a larger one. The old one was torn down, and one erected forty by sixty feet on the site of the present church; and in March, 1874, it was burned and rebuilt the same year at a cost of $8,000, exclusive of materials out of the old building. It is a handsome brick of the same size as the old one, with brick tower and a fine bell. The windows are of stained glass, and the pulpit and pews are very neat. It was dedicated December 27, 1875. The present membership is one hundred and twenty. The Sunday-school is an attractive and important auxiliary of the church. It was organized in 1830 in the village school-house by the election of the following officers: James Le Retilley, Sr., superintendent; Thomas Colclazer, secretary; John Brown, librarian. A library was formed directly after the organization but comprised a class of books much better adapted for mature minds than juvenile readers, consisting almost exclusively of weighty doctrinal works, books of sermons, etc. The school has enjoyed a prosperous existence of more than fifty years and now has an average attendance of about one hundred and twenty. During the winter the meetings are held in the afternoon at two and a half o'clock; in summer at nine o'clock in the morning. John W. Barkhurst now has charge of the school. A Presbyterian church, formerly located here, has become extinct. It was organized April 25, 1847. Rev. H. Calhoun supplied it for eleven years, and it received a part of the time of Revs. Henderson, Wallace, and other pastors of the Second church of Coshocton. At its organization there were fifteen members, among whom were George Bagnall, James Hill, Wilson McClintick, Mrs. Phoebe Medberry, Mrs. Charlotte Ransom and Peter Thurgood. Under the care of Mr. Calhoun and also, at a later day, under the labors HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 509 of Rev. C. W. Wallace, Rev. S. P. Hildreth and Rev. H. C. McBride, considerable accessions were received to the church. A good frame building was erected in 1853, chiefly through the spirited exertions of Mrs. P. W. Medberry. The elders have been James Hill, George Bagnall, T. Carnahan, S. Sayre. The church membership became greatly reduced through removals and deaths, and, about 1873, services were discontinued. A flourishing Sunday-school was long kept up under the superintendency of John Carhart, Sr. The Warner Methodist Episcopal church, located near the center of section 21, about three miles northwest from Roscoe, was so named in honor of the late Dr. Warner, of the North Ohio conference. It was organized in the year 1870 by Rev. S. R. Surie. During the same year a neat frame building was erected at a cost of $2,000. The principal members were William Biggs, John B. Markley, John Peoples, Richard Eckels, Joseph Stubbs, William Austin, James Davis, William Shearn, Christopher . Hall and E. D. Wolford. The present membership is sixty-six. A Sabbath-school was organized in 1870, and has now a membership of fifty-six. The Branch Methodist Episcopal church was formed at the residence of Eli Smith, January 3, 1839, by Revs. Martin P. Kellogg and Joseph S. Brown, then the preachers on the Roscoe circuit of the Ohio conference. The class, as organized, consisted of the following members: Ebenezer Taylor and Margaret, his wife, Benjamin Taylor, Nancy Taylor, Joseph Smith and Elizabeth, his wife, Julia Ann Ogle, Eli Smith and Katherine, his wife, Mindwell Roberts, Jonathan Thomas and Mary, his wife, and Maria Holbrook. Directly afterwards steps were taken to erect a house of worship. Joseph Smith, David Middleton, Robert Ransom, Ebenezer Taylor and Thomas McLain were appointed trustees, and a frame building, twenty-eight by thirty-two feet was erected. The present church edifice was built in 1872. It is located in the southwestern part of the township, within a mile of the township corner. It is a large frame structure, forty by fifty feet, which will comfortably seat a congregation of 500. The cost of this building was $2,300; it was dedicated February 10, 1873. The present membership is forty-two. Rev. J. Williams is pastor. The church has always been connected with the Roscoe circuit. The Sunday-school held only during the summer, last year had an average attendance of sixty-eight. Pleasant Hill Regular Baptist church, located on William McCoy's land, about five miles west of Roscoe on the gravel road, was organized as a branch of Mill Creek church, about 1845, with a membership of perhaps forty, and called Crooked Run church. Among its principal early members were David Tracy, Samuel C. Heney, Abraham Randles, John Tracy and Aaron Loder. The earliest meetings were held in private houses, and in a vacated cabin which was rudely and temporarily furnished for this purpose. Services were continued here but a short time, however, for a meeting-house was built on Aaron Loder's farm soon after the society was organized. The society advanced steadily for a few years, then declined, and in about fifteem years became virtually extinct. In 1862, they were organized, and the church re-named Rock Hill. Some progress was made, and in 1868 a comfortable frame house of worship was built-the one now in use-and named Pleasant Hill. The first pastor was probably William blears. Other ministers who have since served the congregation are Revs. L. L. Root, H. Sampson, J. G. Whitaker, R. R. Whitaker, W. S. Barnes, A. W. Odor, S. W. Frederick, E. B. Senter and J. C. Skinner. Rev. A. W. Odor was recalled, succeeding Rev. Skinner, and, filled the pulpit during the last year. At present there is no regular pastor, but the congregation is still served occasionally by Rev. Odor. The present membership is ninety-four. Allen Marshall, Joseph Askren and Aaron Loder are the deacons. A Sunday-school is conducted during the summer. Its membership last year was seventy-three. The Valley Presbyterian church was organized on the road from Coshocton to Newark, six miles west of Coshocton, in 1847, and a. squared-log church built. Rev. P. H. Jacobs, of Coshocton, and Rev. C. C. Bamberger supplied it from 1847 to 1860. The neighborhood had at first a few Presbyterian families, including those of John Smith, John McCullough, John Graham, Thomas 510 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. Smith and William Crooks, but death and removal to the west soon effaced these, and, as the territory was occupied from the start by other denominations, this retired from the field. In 1863, the old organization having become extinct, a second effort was made, kut with no better success than before. To this second congregation Rev. John Moore, D. D., while settled in Jefferson church, ministered. The church never numbered a score of members, and soon perished a second time. Rev. Akey was the last minister in charge. The Disciples, for a number of years, had a society in the southwestern part of the township. A frame church, about thirty feet square, was built in 1845, or shortly before, in which services were held for perhaps fifteen years. Then the society• became too weak to maintain its organization and perished. Werley Graves, Zachariah Ogle, William Richards, Samuel Wellman, Joseph and Uriah Huffman were the principal members. The last named subsequently became a minister of this denomination. Blooming Grove Methodist Episcopal church is located in the northwestern corner of the township. In 1849 Rev. W. C. Huestis, of Roscoe circuit, preached occasionally in this neighbor hood. He was followed by Rev. T. H. Wilson, who succeeded in organizing a society February, 1850. It first met in Antioch church, a house close by, belonging to a sister denomination, but in the year 1851, under the pastoral administration of T. H. Wilson, the church was erected and dedicated by him in August of the same year. Moses Finley was the architect and builder. At the close of Rev. Wilson's two years labors, the membership amounted to ninety-nine. Of the first members may be mentioned Simon Murray, Ruth Murray, Thomas James, Sarah A. James, Nathan Price, Nancy Price, Joshua Fry, Mary Fry, Samuel Neldon, Jane Neldon, James Shaw, Sr., Sarah Shaw, Ephraim Deviney and Dorintha Deviney: S. Murry was the first steward and Nathan Price and Samuel Neldon the first class-leaders. Of the first mentioned ninety-nine members there are but about seven in fellowship with the church at the present time. The membership now numbers 102; the present pastor is Rev. J. Williams. A Sunday school was organized by Rev. T. H. Wilson, in May, 1850. This branch of christian work has been continued to the present time. The last reports show a membership of seventy, with John Demoss as superintendent. An old church building, known as the Antioch church formerly, stood on the north line of the township, very near to the extreme northwest corner. It Was built many years ago by a feeble and short-lived christian society, and was afterward occupied for a brief period by the Allbrights and the Methodist Protestants. CHAPTER LVI. JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP. Primative Race-Flint Mining-Other Remains-Topography -Organization-Early Settlers-Whisky-Mills-Schools- Coal Oil Speculations-Warsaw-Mohawk Village-Postof- fices-Churches. WITHIN the limits of Jefferson township are evidences that clearly point to the existence here, in ages past, of a race of people concerning which little is now defiantly known; evidence not only of their mere inhabitancy here, but of extensive mining operations, as well, for the material from which their rough weapons were fashioned; evidences that the vein of flint-rock which lies embedded in the geological strata underlying the township was mined by these pre-historic people from most of the many hills that cover the farms of Colonel Pren Metham, R. B. Whitaker and Mrs. Criss, located in the southern central part of the township. The veins of flint are in width from four to six feet; sometimes located close to the top of the hill; at other times near the base. Opposite the seam where the flint has been mined the ground is thrown back forming a kind of ridge or embankment, which has lead some, who have noticed them, to believe them to have been fortifications; but a careful examination by Colonel Metham and others produced convincing testimony that the mining of the flint, concealed in the heart of the hills, was the cause of the disturbed condition in the natural slope of the hill- HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 511 side, for wherever these apparent embankments or ridges have been examined, as most of them have, the flint bed is invariably present; more than that, in the case-like openings from which the flint ha been taken, ashes and charcoal are always found ; also large, hard river rocks, greatly scarred and dinged. The flint vein is a considerable distance above the drift formation and the presence of these bolder rocks hors can be accounted for only by supposing them to have been brought here by human agency. Moreover their much battered up appearance indicates usage fur some purpose. The process of obtaining the flint that seems most probable from these facts, is the one suggested by Colonel Metham. Large fires were built in these underground excavations, close to the solid wall of flint, until the latter became thoroughly heated, when the expansion would produce fissures or cracks in the wall; or perhaps these were produced by sudden contraction caused by casting water against the heated surface. The large, scratched bowlders were then used by the pre-historic miners in lieu of hammers, to break off fragments from the cracked wall, by hurling them against it. The pieces thus obtained, were then carried elsewhere to be worked into arrow points, spear-heads, etc. At the summits of many of the hills are found large beds of these flint fragments, where perhaps they were broken into smaller pieces from which the darts were fashioned at the "arrowmakers." That these shops were abundant in this vicinity is made manifest by the numerous piles of spawls or flint chips, together with large quantities of the arrow-heads, some in a finished, others in an unfinished state, which are found very plentiful, usually near a rock-bed. Small, hard stones, generally granitic, much worn and nicked, are found also among the chips. They were probably used in chipping off the flints. In quarrying a bed of sandstone rock near his house, Colonel Methan discovered in a crevice a large "nest" of these flints, a portion of them beautifully finished, others rude and incomplete. The extent of this mining was prodigious. Colonel Castell, who was engineer of the Dresden branch of the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon & Delaware railroad, examined the remains and estimated that the amount of work indicated by these, if performed at present, would require an expenditure of not less than $1,000,000. "Here the ancient arrow-maker Made his arrow-heads of quarts rock- Arrow-heads of chalcedony - Arrow-heads of chert and jasper- Smoothed and sharpened at the edges, Hard and polished, keen and costly." About six years ago, a considerable amount of capital was expended by Mr. Swaim, of Tuscarawas county, and others, in prospecting for mineral wealth among these hills. None was found. Close to the spring, situated about forty rods south of Colonel Metham's residence, is found a bed of broken-up river and sand-stone, none of the pieces larger than a man's fist. Traces of several fluke-like channels through the bed were discernable, in which were streaks of ashes, charcoal and soot. A careful analysis of the soot was made, with the hope of finding mineral deposits of some kind, but none were revealed. About the only "find" in the vicinity was a small fragment of ancient pottery. The conjecture that this may have been a pottery furnace is scarcely warrant able; for, if so, remains of pottery should exist in greater abundance. Similar beds are found in several other localities, one on the same farm, one on Washington Darling's farm, north of the river, and another on Joshua Clark's place, in New Castle township, all adjacent to a spring of water. On the peak of the hill which rises east of Colonel Metham's residence is a stone mound, about eighteen feet in diameter and five in depth. Several ineffectual attempts were made to explore it, before 1855, at which time Rev. Boggs and Colonel Metham made a thorough investigation of it. It was found be a sepulchral mound, containing the mortal remains of one of the de parted great. The mound was a solid piece of masonry, composed of horizontal layers of sandstone, the crevices in which were filled with pounded-up sandstone. Near the base of the mound, a stone sepulcher was found. The bottom of it consisted of a large, flat sandstone; slabs of the same material, placed upright upon their edges, constituted the sides and ends. Across the top were other flat atones. Encased in this 512 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. enclosure, was found a portion of a human skeleton, consisting of pieces of the skull, the thigh bone, teeth, and a few other fragmentary bones. From a careful examination of the thigh bone, the length of the skeleton was estimated to be over seven feet. The entire set of teeth were molars, there being no incisors among them-a characteristic, it is said, of the Aztec race. Another particularity was, that the length of the upper and lower jaw was the same. A few flint darts and stone "shuttles" were also found in the coffin. Across the river from these remains, on Robert Darling's farm, are other traces of this unknown people. Along the crest of the ridge that overlooks the river are piled large, irregular masses of sandstones. Upon the highest of these, which rises perpendicularly twenty feet from the side that faces the river, but which from the other side can be reached. by a less abrupt ascent by clambering up over rough masses of sandstone, are the remains of a semi-circular wall. It is three or four feet in width, about the same in height, and consists of large, irregularly-shaped, flat stones. The diameter of the circle is perhaps thirty feet. The wall faces the side from which the summit may be reached. Whether this was a stronghold of the Mound Builders, where they made a last but unavailing stand against hordes of barbarous northern invaders, or whether it was a place for offering up human sacrifices or performing religious rites, will probably never be known. The view from this point is wild and imposing. The ridge is still covered with the forest, and between the trees along the summit of the ridge, and in many places upon the hill-side, nature has lavishly scattered large masses of time-worn sandstone rocks, some in places jutting out badly from the crest or side of the ridge, others again in a slanting position, seemingly about to fall with terrific crash to the base below. The peaceful bosom of the romantic Walhonding lies several hundred feet beneath and beyond it. A level stretch of valley recedes till it reaches the bluffs that rise on the opposite side. The Walhonding river, flowing eastward from New Castle township, cutting its channel through the Waverly sandstone, divides the township into two nearly equal parts. Two runs, Darling and Beaver, are its tributaries from the north; it has also two from the south, Mohawk and Simmons'. Another small stream, called Flint run, enters Simmons' run about a mile from its mouth. The roughest land in the township is that which skirts the river valley. On either side it rises abruptly, forming steep, high ridges. These continue northward undiminished in size, making the land in this part of the township very hilly, To the south, however, the roughness wears away as the land recedes from the river, and the surface becomes rolling in character. The valley of the Walhonding, from a half mile to a mile in width, is one of the richest in the State. By those who are acquainted with both it is said to fully equal in productiveness the noted valley of the Miami. The soil in the main is a black, sandy loam, with gravelly sand in spots, here and there. Along the base of the bluffs is a narrow strip, subsoiled with blue clay. The soil on the south of the river, between Mohawk run and Simmons' run, is as rich as can be found anywhere on steep lands. The outcroppings are fossiliferous limestone, flint and cannel coal, the best possible combination to enrich a soil Sandstone is the principal outcroping north of the valley, and the soil there is not so good. Most of the hill tops north of the river were devoid of timber when the first settlers arrived, being covered only with small bushes, in some places not even these. Beds of wild strawberries grew in rich profusion and buckle berries also were abundant in places. South of the river the surface was timbered, and it is a remarkable fact that in early days there was no underbrush worth speaking of here. The forests seemed like immense groves, so that game. could be seen at a great distance. Since then, however, an almost impenetrable thicket has sprung up on the land that has not yet been cleared. A greater diversity of timber than usually prevails on steep lands in one locality was found on these southern hills, embracing nearly every variety that flourishes in this region except cottonwood and sycamour. Along the edge of the valley is found the black oak, swamp oak and swamp ash and closer to the river burr oak, black walnut, sycamore, cottonwood, hickory and other varieties. HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 513 Jefferson township was organized in 1826. The northern half consists of congress laud which was surveyed in 1803 by Silas Bent, Jr. The southern half comprises two military sections. Of these, the eastern was located by Colonel William Simmons in 1800, and settled by him years after. The western is known as the Bell section. The patent for it was granted April 2, 1800, to Cairnon Wedwell, of Philadelphia, who conveyed it the same year to John Duncan, a broker of Philadelphia. The following year he sold to John Bell, a resident of the same city, all of the section except the one-twelfth part off the western side, which had been deeded to Martin Baum. It remained in Bell's possession about thirty-five years, during which time, however, he sold a considerable part of it to different parties, through his agent, Pren Metham, who moved to the township in 1823. In 1837, the residue, consisting of over 2,200 acres, came into the possession of a Scotch-Irish colony of settlers, consisting of James and John Moore, James and William Given, James and William Thompson, and Mrs. Anderson, all related to each other, who emigrated from Tyrone county, Ireland, to Marshall county, Virginia, in 1836, and soon after to this township. They were an intelligent, energetic and industrious people, who cleared off this large tract and paid for it since their arrival here. It is still owned by their descendants. The Darlings were among the foremost settler to locate in the Walhonding valley. The family consisted of Robert Darling, his wife and twelve children, William, Abram, Jonathan, Jacob, James Isaac, Thomas, Robert, Mary, who married Nicholas Miller, of Keene township, Sophia, the wife John Hork, am early settler of this township, Mrs Samuel Severns, who also lived in this township and Mrs. Aaron Loder. The last mentioned daughter is the only survivor of this large family. She is quite an old, though active lady, an resides in Jackson township. They moved from Virginia in 1806, and settled in the bend port of the river, on the Bell section. The place is still held in the Darling name. Two of the boys, Jonathan and William, first came out in the spring of the year, and raised the crop of corn; then, in the fall. the rest the family crossed. the mountains, by team, or on horseback. Mary, then a miss of eighteen summers, drove a four-horse team, loaded with family goods. The mother, it is said, made the journey on horseback, having an infant on the horse, before her, and a little boy, Thomas, holding on to her, as he rode behind. Of the boys, William and Jonathan bore arms for their country, in 1812 While they were encamped at Sandusky, their younger brother, Abram, rode out to them on horseback, for the purpose of taking them some stockings. These three sons soon after moved farther west, the others remaining in Coshocton county, where many of their descendants still live, entering largely into the social fabric of the Walhonding valley, as well as other localities. They were all farmers, and men of sterling worth, noted, far and wide, for their strict integrity. Thomas, for a number of years, served the county as a commissioner. He was also much interested in blooded cattle, and introduced some valuable stock into the valley in which he lived. John Elder emigrated from Ireland to Virginia in 1804, and thence came, with the Darlings, to the Walhonding valley, in 1806. After making several other locations, he settled in Jefferson township. He died in 1851, on his farm, now occupied by his son, Cyrus Elder, a little west of Warsaw. He was a full-blooded, county Antrim, Presbyterian. He was twice married and reared a large family, still prominent in the township. During the war of 1812, he spent some mouths in hauling supplies to the soldiers. The Merediths, six or seven in number, came to the Walhonding valley about 1807 or 1808. Three of them, David, Stephen and Abner, settled in Jefferson township, the others in New Castle. David afterward moved to Indiana. Stephen and Abner settled close to the site of Mohawk village and died there. Abner was a hunter of note, on friendliest terms with the Indians, and often pursued the wild game in their company. He once went with a band of Indians, up Killbuck creek, on a; hunting expedition, which resulted very successfully, a large number t of deer having been killed. As the evening drew d near, he was invited to remain till morning with of his companions. The Indians determined on 514 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. having a jollification over the day's sport, and dispatched several of their number to Charlie Williams', at Coshocton, for the means of celebrating a good supply of whisky. Meredith, who was an athlete, in the meantime had engaged in the manly sport of wrestling with those who remained ; had displayed a strength and skill in the art which none of them could equal, and his success in throwing them humiliated and angered them somewhat. Repeated potations of the fiery liquid intensified rather than assuaged their anger, and the squaws frequently obtained the knives of their boisterous consorts and secreted them. A half-breed, who was present, fearing for Meredith's safety among the now intoxicated, quarreling savages, incited him to stay at his cabin, about a mile distant, that night. Mr. Meredith discreetly concluded that this was not a proper place for him to remain, so he quietly slipped away, late as it was, and did not stop until he reached his brother's cabin, near Mohawk. Joseph Butler, from Virginia, emigrated as early as 1806, and settled on section 15, congress land, just below Washington Darling's residence. His father, Joseph, and his brother, Isaac, soon after came to this latter place. Isaac Butler, met with a sad fate in 1809. While crossing the ford near his residence, he was thrown from his horse into the stream and drowned. This was probably the first death that occurred in the township. He left a wife and three children. Colonel William Simmons, a Virginian, who had served in the Revolutionary war as a colonel, received for his services "Simmons section," the southeastern quarter of the township, and settled thereon about 1819. His was one of the few families who brought a carriage with them to the county; he also brought several slaves. He is described as quiet and gentlemanly in his deportment, inclined to be hasty at times, some what aristocratic, and an ardent Whig in politics. The home farm was situated north of the river, the place now owned by James Frew. He died at a good old age and was buried on his farm. Charles W. Simmons, a son, was a West Point graduate, and subsequently became ; the proprietor of a hotel at Roscoe; represented the county in the legislature in 1831, and afterward removed to Indiana, where he attained prominence as a politician. The only other son was William. A daughter was married to General William Carhart, the proprietor of Warsaw. Thomas Treadway, came at au early day from Maryland; began life with a small start in the way of worldly goods, but by his industry and good business qualities, afterward acquired a goodly share of the Simmons' section. James Whitaker settled early, in the southern part of the Bell section. Anthony Ryne occupied that part of section 15 which lies south of the river. The river lands were, in general, settled earliest on account of their great fertility and level surface; yet there were exceptions to this. Some of the settlers regarding the low bottoms as malarial and unhealthy, preferred to perch their cabins among the hills, several miles back from the stream. One of these was John Severns, who settled very early in the northern part of section 3. The bulk of the rough congress land, however, occupying the northern part of the township, remained unsettled until the time of the building of the Walhonding canal. It was then taken up in small tracts, and occupied mostly by German emigrants, many of whom were em ployed in constructing the canal. These small property owners were usually without any means when they arrived; and during the first four years, before crops could be planted and raised, or by reason of their failure, were often in great want. It was not an uncommon thing for them to approach their more fortunate neighbors in the river-bottoms in mid-winter, and ask for corn or wheat, agreeing to pay for it in work the next summer. The Darlings and other families, by their generosity in furnishing these and other to necessities to their indigent neighbors, obtained their lasting gratitude. This was displayed to an undue extent sometimes, as in the following instance: One of the Germans, on being asked just before an election how he intended to vote, replied, "I votes for Shake Darling," meaning for Darling's choice. One poor unfortunate, who lived within reach of the malarious river, had t stranded his resources in mid-winter, and in e making his wants known, dolefully remarked that if he could get enough corn to keep him till "chills set in," he would be all right, as he could not then eat anything. PAGE 515 - PICTURES OF FRANCIS & FANNY G. MCGUIRE & SAMUEL T. & ELIZA E. MCGUIRE PAGE 516 FRANCIS McGUIRE, SR., FARMER. POSTOFFICE, CANAL LEWISVILLE. He was born in Lafayette township, this county, in 1811, and was married in 1833, to Fanny G. Thompson, who was born in Ohio, in 1811. They have three children-Mary, Francis, Jr., and Samuel T. Mr. McGuire was not favored with an opportunity to receive a liberal education, but is a progressive farmer in every department. He has given close attention to raising and improving stock of all kinds; his experience, close attention and application in this branch have been crowned with success. He is the half owner of the noted Clydesdale horse. His pedigree reads as follows: "Emperor was foaled in 1877, sired by imported Clydesdale stallion, Napoleon. Emperor's dam sired by imported Clydesdale stallion Netherly; 2d dam, sired by imported Clydesdale stallion Conqueror; 3d dam, sired by imported Clydesdale stallion Sir William Wallace; 4th dam, sired by imported Clydesdale stallion, Robin Hood; 5th dam, sired by imported Clydesdale stallion Old Clyde." He has devoted a great deal of attention to raising and improving his stock of sheep and cattle. He has on his farm as good stock as the State can produce. Mr. McGuire owns a large farm under a good state of cultivation and with good buildings, and is one of the leading, active and prominent farmers of this county. His father, Francis McGuire (deceased), was a native of Virginia. He emigrated to Ohio in 1804, and settled in this township and remained here until his death, in 1853. He purchased eleven hundred acres of land which his children still own. PICTURE OF THE FARM RESIDENCE OF FRANCIS MCGURIE, SR., LAFFAYETTE TOWNSHIP HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 517 A need creature named Carter, without a cent in the world, had obtained wheat several times from John Elder, and once more came to hint with two others, equally needy. Mr. Elder replied to their request for food that he was unacquainted with them. "Never mind," said Carter, " I'll stand good for them:" The wheat was furnished and paid for too. A Mr. Richardson, who was au early settler, had two boys, Joe and Lige, whom he sent one morning into the woods to find the horses, turned out the evening before with bells around their necks. A gun was given Joe, the older, more through habit than because it was thought he might have occasion to use it. The boys, when they were some distance in the woods, saw a bear, amusing itself by scraping up the ground and rolling on it. They had never before seen a specimen of this family of the brute creation, and did I not know what it was, but, with a courage that did honor to them, they slowly and quietly approached within easy shooting distance, when Joe laid the rifle across a log, took deliberate aim and fired. The bear rose up and with a loud snort started oft: The courage of the boys now deserted them, and thoroughly frightened, they dropped the gnu and started for home at the .top of their speed. Lige, the swifter of the two, reached the house first, and seeing his father, yelled out excitedly that Joe had shot the devil. Mr. Richardson, after quieting the boys, accomnied them back to the scene of the exploit. Gun, hats. etc., were found scattered about, and going a little farther the bear was seen lying dead. The youthful hunters, when informed of the character of their game, were highly elated. A history of the Walhonding valley would be incomplete if mention were not made of the prominent part played by " the cup that cheers" and does inebriate. Whisky was an "institution," heartily endorsed and sustained in practice by the early settlers of the valley, almost without exception. Every well-to-do farmer kept it, by the barrel, in his cellar, and drank it as freely as water. It was pardonable in those times to neglect to invite a visiting neighbor to dine, but an unpardonable breach of backwoods etiquette was committed if he was not offered to partake of the contents of the flowing bowl. The places were numerous where it could be purchased; not only public taverns, but many private dwellings, where nothing else was sold, kept a supply to satisfy the great demand. The road up the Walhonding river vas greatly traveled in early times by emigrants moving farther west, and taverns were located all along the road. One of the most noted of these was Eckman's tavern, situated north of the river, about two miles west of Warsaw. It was a popular place of public resort, and in the early days of Jefferson township, was the place for holding elections. The tavern remained until the building of the Walhonding canal, the route of which passed through the site of the building, which consequently had to be torn down. Eckman owned about three acres here, which was condemned by the State, and paid for in full. A tavern was opened at Warsaw by Rufus Eldridge during the construction of the canal, The first day, as is customary at such times, there was an " open bar," and everybody was invited to drink freely and without price; consequently, most people in the vicinity indulged that day in a general-good time. A constant use of the beverage, it is said, makes the stomach less sensitive to its effects and the brain less giddy than the first dram. Betsy Smith illustrates this fact. She was the wife of James Smith, was a washerwoman, and lived near Eckman's tavern. A pint of good whisky was always the one thing need ful when there was a washing to do. She once attended a wool-picking at Thomas Darling's, where she was invited to sip her favorite beverage. Betsy tasted it repeatedly, then exclaimed petulently that the whisky was not worth anything, for she had taken eight or ten big swallows, and for the life of her she couldn't get the taste of it. One of the township's prominent citizens, when a boy, rode several weeks with a teamster who was engaged in hauling wheat to Coshocton. The invariable custom was to stop at Eckman's for a drink; then at Warsaw, two miles below; then at Nathan Spencer's, in Bethlehem township, where John Bantum now lives; next, where Samuel Burrell lives. Finally, a good, strong pull a short distance across the river, must content him till he reached Coshocton. The same formula was strictly observed, inversely, on the 518 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY return; and over and over again, day after day. The boy was generally pressed to drink too, and now considers it marvelous that the habit did not ruin him, as it did too many of his early associates. Jefferson was no worse in this respect than other townships; and a great revolution has been wrought in public sentiment since then. It would perhaps be impossible to find two gallons of whisky now in the whole valley, outside of the several saloons that still infest the country. David Meredith at an early day erected a small grist-mill on Mohawk run, near the present village of Mohawk. Some years later, Hon. James Moore built a small saw mill on the same run, about a mile below. Another little grinder was operated by Robert Darling, on Darling run. It was of sufficient size, however, to grind wheat. The mills located at Warsaw are noticed farther on in this chapter. The only mill known to have been located on Simmons' run was a saw-mill owned by the Brickers. It was destroyed by fire. One of the earliest schools in the township, in all probability the first, was held in the cabin that had been occupied by Isaac Butler, in the western part of the township. The children of the Butlers, Darlings and others attended here. In 1814, or 1815, it was taught by Oliver Remington, from Rhode Island, a well educated, intelligent man. He was a brother-in-law to Squire Humphrey, of New Castle township, and remained here only two or three years, removing to Hotmes county. Another school, situated north of the river, not far from its banks, was taught by Ben Vial, a tippling character, who often came to his daily task under the influence of his arch enemy. Not withstanding his pedagogic profession, it is said he reared a family of children who could neither read nor write. James McCoy, afterward proprietor of the Warsaw hotel, was also an earl teacher of this school. The ordinary complain against some of the teachers in those times w that they used the rod too sparingly. Mr. McCoy furnished no grounds for complaint of this kind. He was a severe disciplinarian, and applied the whip freely when occasion demanded or opportunity offered, and thus won the confidence an esteem of the community in which he lived; buy Henry Yonkers was the "star" teacher, for he possessed the requisite qualifications in a preeminent degree, being six feet three inches in height, and built in proportion. His towering strength, frequently displayed, succeeded in keeping his unruly pupils within the bounds of tolerable behavior. Outside of the school-room he was quiet in his demeanor. He engaged in farming upon the cessation of his school-room duties, and about 1850 removed from the county. Upon the premises of Pren Metham were several tenement houses which were subsequently converted into school buildings and used as such for many years. The furniture was of the simplest description. Rough boards, fastened with wooden pins to the rude walls, served as writing desks. The seats were of a decided rustic cast, consisting of narrow slabs, supported by legs so long that the average sized pupil could not touch the floor by six inches. Here the children of the last generation uncomplainingly sat, without rest for back or feet, day after day. What a contrast with the pleasantly and comfortably furnished school-rooms of to-day. The cannel coal, which lies in rich, abundant fields among the hills of Jefferson township, was discovered in the following manner: In 1832, Payne Clark, who had just come into the township, and was engaged in erecting his little cabin, on the Simmons section, was searching in the ravines for a hearth-stone, and saw an outcropping of the coal, Not knowing what it was, and perceiving that in size and shape it was admirably adapted for the purpose in view, he procured a fine, large slab, and fitted it in the fire place. A large fire was then built upon it, and the result may easily be imagined. The house, fortunately, was not burned, but Mr. Clark was obliged to hunt another hearth-atone. Twenty-five years later, fortunes were spent in cannel t coal oil speculations in this vicinity. A. history of these unfortunate coal oil enterprises has already been given in the history of Bedford township, and it would be superfluous e to repeat it here. Jefferson and Bedford were the only two townships in which the oil was manufactured. The extent of the business in Jefferson was considerably greater than in Bedford HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 519 township, and, as nearly as can be ascertained, was as follows: on Lyman's place, in the southern part of the Simmon's section, six companies were at work, viz : Lunburg & Co., of New York, whose works consisted of about twenty retorts; Porter, Fields & Co., an eastern firm, also about twenty retorts; John Dickey, of Pennsylvania; J. E. Holmes & Co., of Newark, Ohio ; Holmes was a contractor, and also had an interest in a number of other works. Mr. Baker, an Eastern man, and the American Company, of Newark, running about thirty retorts. On John Wood's farm was a company, composed of Coshocton county men, called the Home Company, running about ten retorts. On James Moore's farm were two companies: Rambo, Stilwell & Co., of Dresden, and one from Knox county. On Given's place, was one set of works owned by J. E. Palmer & Co., consisting of about twenty retorts. Palmer was a well-known Methodist preacher, and had as a partner a young New York capitalist. The village of Warsaw, containing a population of 275, is situated in the eastern part of the township in the Walhonding valley, north of the river. It was laid out November 13, 1834, by William Carhart, the son-in-law of Colonel Simmons. The original plat embraced thirty-two lots lying on both sides of Main street. March 4, 1840, Rufus Eldredge platted an addition consisting of forty-one lots, facing Church street. This was daring the time the Walhonding canal was building. The canal improved the little village considerably. A second addition, consisting principally of the lots on Cherry street, was subsequently made by N. Buckalew. The town was named in honor of the capital of Poland, through sympathy with her earnest though ineffectual struggle for liberty. The first building on the site of the village was the residence of William Carhart, the proprietor. It was built several years before the town was laid out, and stood where the town now is. The first store was kept by John Collins, at a place where Foster's store now stands. Soon after Collins started, Major William Long opened a store room. After the canal was built, he also dealt largely in grain, continuing that business up to the time of his death, which occurred about 1850. After his death, grain was handled for a short time by Joseph Crowley and John Williams; the business was then discontinued for many years. In 1879, Nichols & Gamble commenced buying grain and are still so engaged. In years gone by, a foundry was successfully carried on, first by Ephraim De Vinney, afterwards by Thomas Randles, in the building now used by George Thompson as a blacksmith shop. The most extensive industrial pursuit is carried on at the grist-mill owned by Beck & Welling. It is a large building, the main part being thirty-six by forty-eight feet, and the warehouse attached to it twenty-four by thirty-six feet. It is five stories high, including basement and loft, and does a flourishing business, having three run of buhrs. The mill was erected in 1849. Its water power is applied by the canal. A thirty year lease for the water power expired in 1879, and a lease for twenty years reissued. The building of the mill was begun by William Long, but before its completion he died, and the mill fell into the hands of Nicholas and Porter Rector, who finished it, and added the warehouse. They operated it for a number of years, then sold it to Donnelly, Darling & Co. Robert Darling purchased the interest of his partners, and, with his son, operated it fourteen years under the firm name of R. Darling & Son. In 1879, it was purchased by the present owners. Just to the right of the road entering Warsaw from Coshocton on Beaver run, stands a saw-mill owned by C. Strome. It was purchased by him in 1841, having been erected many years prior to this date by Colonel Simmons. Previous to 1841, it was a grist and saw-mill combined. There was only one run of atom, however, grinding nothing but corn and buckwheat. Mr. Strome erected a new building, and put in another set of buhrs, with which to grind wheat. About 1860 he suspended operations in the grinding department, using the building only as a saw-mill since. A carding-mill was also connected with it in its earliest days. Farther up the street, to the right of the Walhonding bridge, is a large three-story frame building, containing several shops. It was erected about 1873, by Wright & Baliff, as a general repair shop. Darius W right, in 1875, purchased his 520 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. partner's share, and now has sole possession. He occupies the second floor, using it as a blacksmith and machine repair shop, It contains a turning lathe and the machinery necessary to do all kinds of repair work. Four workmen are usually employed in the shop. The upper floor contains the wagon manufactory and paint shop of Casimer Fortenbacher. The lower or basement story contains the foundry of Simon Elliott, which he has been running about two years. There are in the village two other blacksmith shops, owned by George Thompson and Philip Rudolph ; two wagon shops, Jacob Cline's and John Kepler's; two shoe shops, John Speckman's and F. Seal's, and Adam Coffman's harness shop. Mrs. Plowman is hostess at the Sherman house. The mercantile business is represented as follows: Dry goods, Nichols & Gamble, C. Stone and James Foster; hardware, Caser & Co. ; drugs, Lawson & Son; groceries, Charles Markley, Jacob Darling, William Markley and Senft Brothers. Two practicing physicians now reside in Warsaw, Drs. Pren Moore and H. Blackman. David Lawson, who studied with Dr. Russell, of Mount Vernon, commenced practice in 1849, but has since retired, and is now in the drug business here: Among the physicians of a former date were Henry Miller, afterward so distinguished in business circles in Columbus, his brother Jonathan, afterward of Franklin county, and William Stanton. Warsaw Lodge, No. 255 of the Masonic fraternity, Nag located here for many years, but has recently been removed to Spring Mountain. The village school-house is a large, two-story frame building, erected in 1871, and consisting of three departments, the high-school, secondary and primary. The teachers are J. W. Murphy, C. Shaw, and A. D. Clark. The old school building contained but one room. It is still standing, and is used occasionally for religious services. The Disciples have been holding meetings here for several years. 'Their congregation is as y et small and feeble, recently formed, and consisting mainly of Matthew Stover and wife, Henry Still and wife, William Wilson and wife, and James Wilson and wife. Rev. Hoffman has been filling the pulpit. 'The Baptists occasionally hold services here also. But one church edifice now graces the village, that of the Methodist Episcopal society, which was organized in 1843, by Rev. Mr. Thatcher; the presiding elder at the time being the Rev. Mr. Yocum. For five or six years meetings were held in the old school-house, still standing on the hill. The first members were Langdon Hogle, Andrew Weatherwax and wife, Joseph Meggs and wife, John Hook and wife, William Pancake and wife. The church was built about five years after the society was organized; a frame building worth something over $1,000. Rev. Mr. Thatcher was followed by Rev. Finley Leonard, during whose ministry a great revival occurred, the result being an addition of some forty to the church. The number of communicants at this time is about fifty, and the church is in a prosperous condition. Mohawk village, lying in the little valley of Mohawk run, from which it received its name, in the southwestern part of the township, was laid out in 1859, by William and James Thompson. Its existence is due to the coal oil excitement which led to the occupancy of this part of the township. The cannel coal fields surrounded it on three sides and the demand for dwelling houses for the laborers employ ed in the works and for a trading center resulted in the establishment of the little village. For about eighteen months, until the coal oil bubble burst, it enjoyed a mushroom kind of growth; since then it has barely held its own. No houses were erected since 1S60, until within a year or two. It now contains about seventy-five souls. The first house was built by William McFarland as a dwelling house and store-room combined. The store-room is still occupied as such by D. E. Almack. Mr. McFarland was a cousin to the Moores, came from Virginia and afterward returned there. A, Mr. Hodkins inaugurated mercantile business here. He kept a very limited stock of groceries and coal oil for a very limited space of time, and was followed by Zack Bush whose stock in trade consisted of groceries and liquors. Subsequently Newton Stilwell opened a °'regular" store, keeping a full line of dry goods, clothing, boots, groceries, etc. He was from Dresden and removed from Mohawk HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 521 village to Missouri. The present business of the village is as follows: D. E. Almack, dry goods; R. H. McFadden, dry goals; Will Wheeler, harness shop; Mahlon Schooley, shoe shop; J. H. Johnson, blacksmith and carriage shop. The school-house is a creditable two-story building, in which two schools are usually kept. Only one has been in progress during the last year, however, owing to an unusually small enumeration. Mary McClure has charge of the mail. Previous to the platting of the village, James Moore kept a postoffice a number of years, about a mile north of it. Mohawk Lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars, located here, was organized in February, 1869, for the purpose of counteracting the influence of, and suppressing, if possible, a saloon which had recently flung its sign to the breeze. The mission of the lodge was speedily crowned with success. William Barnes, of New Bedford Lodge, and Deputy of the Grand Lodge, organized it. Among its twelve charter members were Henry Metham, Robert Moore, Thomas Schooley, William Dearness, R. H. McFadden, James Moore, Sr., James Moore. Jr., D. E. Almack and Robert Given. During its brief career, it has initiated about 300 members, a large number of whom have removed to other places. The society is in a healthy condition at present, contains 100 members, and is officered as follows J. Q. Moore, worthy chief templar; Charlotte Metham, worthy vice templar; Grant Wheeler, secretary, and Mary Graham, treasurer. The village is noted for its sobriety and morality. Several times have saloons been opened here, but they have been as often closed, in a very short time. Not only is the popular sentiment opposed to the sale of liquor, but legal recourse may be had at any time. Within each orginal deed for the town lots was inserted a clause prohibitory of the sale of intoxicating drinks, under the penalty of forfeiture of property. The validity of that clause has been tested in the courts and sustained. Mohawk village is scarcely known by that name. It is universally called Jericho. The story goes that a noted Irish character living in this vicinity became greatly displeased at the manner which the school was conducted, and, meeting one of the Scotch school directors one day, berated him soundly about it. The wrath of the Scotchman, under the personal abuse heaped upon him, gradually rose to the point of ebullition, when it could contain itself no longer, and was vented upon the wordy offender, who, presented a sorry spectacle for days afterward. The Irishman wrote an account of his wrongs, and had it read in a paper before the local literary society. In it he described how, in going down from Jerusalem into Jericho, he fell among thieves and robbers. So pleased were the auditors with the production that this village was forthwith dubbed Jericho, and the name has clung to it ever since. From 1845 to 1850, or thereabouts, a country postoffice existed in the southeastern part of the township, under the name of Rural V ale. The postmasters were John Elder, John Taylor, Mr. Lindersmith and John Williams, successively.. The Mohawk village church, located about a mile east of the village, was organized in the fall of 1840, at the Whittaker school-house, by Rev, Harvey D. Camp. In the preceding y ear a company from Ireland had settled in the Mohawk valley, until that time a comparative wilderness. They were followed the next year by other families of the same connection. The first company embraced James Moore, deceased (father of Robert Moore), James Moore, Jr., John Moore and William Moore. Those coming the next year, were William and James Given, William and James Thompson, and William Moore. And these families, with Thomas Tredaway and wife, composed the society at its organization. In 1847, there was an addition to the settlement, including, besides others, John Moore and family, and the well-known James and Robert of the day. For about a year from the organization, the meetings were held in the Whittaker schoolhouse; then a school-house was built in the settlement and meetings held in that. In 159, the church was built-worth some $1,500. Within a few years it has been repaired, and very much improved as to its interior. It stands near a refreshing spring of water, and is convenient and attractive in all its appointments and arrangements. The minister first in charge was Rev. 522 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. Mr. Camp. Rev. Leonard Parker succeeded him, and Rev. Henry Whittemore succeeded Parker. Under his ministry, quite a noticeable number were added to the society. Rev. Homer J. Clark followed Whittemore. Then came Austin Coleman, during whose ministry the church building was erected. Just prior to building the Methodist Episcopal church, he held a protracted meeting in the Baptist church, which had been built the year before. During this revival there was a great many valuable accessions. The history of the society has been marked by great prosperity•. The number of members at this time is about 120. Rev. Philip Kelser is the pastor in charge. A Sunday-school with a membership of 125, superintended by the pastor, assisted by Miss Effie Moore, and supplied with a fine library, has been successfully maintained for several years, summer and winter, having previously been held only during the summer. Jefferson Presbyterian church is situated about a mile south of the village of Warsaw. Among those chiefly interested in the organization of the church were the Elder family, and the building was located on a site given for the purpose on the farm of John Elder. The church was organized August 19, 1837, by Rev. Nathaniel Conklin. A colony was sent out for the purpose from the West Carlisle church, with which it has nearly always been associated in making a pastoral charge. The early meetings were held in a school-house for a few years, then the congregation erected the commodious frame now in service. The principal ministerial labor has been rendered by Revs. Matthews, Bomberger, John Moore and Fox. Rev. W. D. Wallace is the present pastor. The church, which had, at the outset, twenty-four members, has now about seventy-five. Darling's run Regular Baptist church was organized in 1866, with ten members. They advanced for some years, but have now come to a stand still condition with a membership of a little over twenty. They have no house of worship, using a school-house for that purpose. They have had as pastors, Elder W. S. Barnes and Rev. H. Clark. They have no pastor at present. Jefferson Regular Baptist church was organized May, 1840, by Elder B. White, with six members. It grew rapidly, and, in 1846, its membership was nearly 100, and in 1850, 130. Subsequently it began to decrease in numbers, caused mostly by removals west and elsewhere. Not more than ten years elapsed until it was but a weak church. Since 1860, it has not been able to sustain preaching, and, in fact, is no longer to be properly called a. church. The ministers that have labored for thin church are as follows: B. White, William Mears, L. Gilbert, J. M. Winn; R. R. Whitaker, S. W. Frederick, A. W. Odor, under missionary employ, and A. W. Arnold. The old frame house of worship is almost a wreck. .The Zion Evangelical Lutheran and Reform church (German) is situated in the northeastern portion of Jefferson township. It was organized in 1844, by Rev. Frederick Minner. Preaching had previously been held at the house of Christian Gamersfelter, of Clark township, and later in Peter Strome's house, in this township, as the greater number of the attendants settled in this vicinity. Other Germans came in, and in the above mentioned year a society was formed and a weather boarded log meeting-house, which is still used, was built, by the personal labor of the members. Christian Shoemaker, Jacob Frederick, Abram Van Kennel and Christian Gamersfelter were the most active members at the time of the erection. The pastors in charge of this flock since Rev. Minner, have been Revs. Lewis Dhume, Holm Gosche Holm, Frederick Hunche, John Bery and John Horn. At the termination of the pastorate of the last named minister services were discontinued for a while, but Rev. Bery has since been recalled, and is now serving this and two other congregations. The membership is very small. The Tabor Evangelical church-better known as the Albright-was organized about 1850. Its organization was due chiefly to a dissension in the Lutheran church, which caused a number of its members to withdraw, and subsequently to organize this body. Chief among the little band of organizers were John Frederick, Earnest Myer, Joseph Speak, Casper Mingel, Henry Correl and Jacob Heckelberger. Its first minister HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 523 was Rev. Monk. A log meeting-house, in the extreme northeastern hart of the township, was soon built, and was used until the society disbanded, in 1868. This dissolution was due to the building of the Hopewell Evangelical church, in Clark township, as a considerable number of the Tabor congregation, who resided in Clark township, severed their connection with Tabor church and united with the Hopewell church, on account of its proximity to their homes. The Bethel Evangelical church grew out of the Tabor church, might, in fact, be regarded as a continuation of it. About a year after services were suspended in the old Tabor church, those of the members who resided in this township erected another building, about a mile and a half southwest from the old structure. Jacob Gamersfelter, Christian Baser, Joseph Spech, William King. Christian Strome, Peter Haas and John Frederick were its main members at this time. Now the membership is nearly fifty. The pastors in charge of the circuit to which this congregation belongs, are Revs. John Smith and frank Tohero. A flourishing Sabbath-school exists, with about seventy members. Jacob Gamersfelter has peen superintendent for many years. CHAPTER LVII. KEENE TOWNSHIP. Boundary-Streams-Springs-Soil-Military Land-Archae- ology-Settlements-First Physicians-Mills and Distil- leries-Early schools-" Loud School "-Early- Preaching- Keene-Newport - Churches. KEENE township is bounded on the north by Mill Creek township, on the east by White Eyes, on the south by Tuscarawas and Jackson, and on the west by Bethlehem township. It was organized as a separate township in 1824, pre vious to that time hawing been a part of bail Creek. The Walhonding river passes throng the southwestern corner, cutting off about a hun fired acres from the main portion of the town ship. Mill creek is the principal stream. I passes through the township from north to soot entering the Walhonding river a short distance below, in Tuscarawas township. Several stream lets run through the township, one of them being designated Little Mill creek Springs of a strong flow and an excellent quality of water are abundantly scattered throughout the township, furnishing water at nearly every farm house. The surface may be described as rough and rolling, becoming in some places hilly. In the southwestern corner, along the Walhonding, are a few hundred acres of rich, loamy bottom land. Except this the soil is generally a yellow clay, with a little sand, and produces good crops. It seems specially adapted to pasturage, as it produces blue grass in rich abundance. Oak, chestnut, walnut, beech, sugar, hickory and white ash are the principal varieties of timber; they cowered the entire surface of the township before it was cleared by the woodman's ax. Three-fourths of the township is military land, the first section, or the northeastern quarter of the township, being congress land. The second section, or northwestern quarter, was surveyed by the government into lots of one hundred acres each, which were entered severally from time to time, as they were demanded. The third section of the township, its southwestern quarter, belonged originally to Robert Underwood, his patent for the land being from the President of the United States, being dated March 29. 1800. Mr. Underwood was a government official in the treasury department at Washington, and never resided in Coshocton county.. His section was located for him by J. Matthews. For his services in locating this section and several other sections, Matthews received from Mr. Underwood a five hundred acre tract of land in the southeastern part of this section. This tract was shortly after conveyed by Matthews to Ebenezer Buckingham, and by Buckingham to Benjamin Burrell, who settled upon it. Underwood had his section surveyed into lots of about one hundred acres each, which he sold gradually to settlers coming in, until all were disposed of. The fourth section, or the southeastern quarter of the township, was granted May 16,1800, by President Adams to James Hamilton, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania: He, too, was a non-resident of the county, and sold the land by parcels to settlers. Archaeological remains are not numerous in this township. In this county they are found usu- 524 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. ally in the broad valleys of the larger streams, and in Keene township the only valley of this kind is that of the Walhonding which merely touches the southwestern corner. Here, however, is found a stone mound situated on the farm of R. D. Miller several hundred yards from his house on the point of a hill that overlooks the valley. A large portion of the stone forming it has been hauled away. Before it was disturbed, it was about twelve feet in diameter, three in height, and regular in slope. The stones were of various sizes, nicely fitted together like mason work. It has never been explored. About a mile southeast of this, just west of the residence of Saul Miller, on a nearly level ridge of land is a flat circular elevation, several feet high, covering about an acre. Mr. Miller, plowing at one side of this elevation several years ago, struck the plow against a layer of stone, some little distance below the surface, which seemed to be a pavement leading to a spring situated just below. Across the road from his house upon the top of a flat sand hill are a number of excavations in the sandy soil perhaps ten feet deep. When or why they were made it is difficult even to conjecture. The Underwood section was the first part of the township to be settled. One of the first attempts at mill building in Coshocton county was made in this section, on Mill creek. It was about the year 1801 that Ebenezer Buchingham, of Zanesville, had a dam for a saw-mill constructed on his land in this section, within 200 yards of where M. McCarty now lives; but it was swept away the same fall during high waters, and the project in consequence abandoned. According to another account, the work of building the dam was done by George Colver and another man, and before it was completed one of the men died from the effects of a rattlesnake bite. This caused the other to relinquish work and return to Zanesville. Benjamin Burrell, a few years later, about 1807, settled here. He was from Frederick county, Maryland, and died soon after the war of 1812. One of the first men to settle on this section was Nicholas Miller, who, in 1804, came with his father, Henry Miller, from Hampshire county, Virginia, to this county. His father had served seven years in the revolutionary war as a sharp-shooter, under General Morgan. Nicholas lived two yearn with his uncle, Michael Miller, in Franklin township ; then, in 1806, took up a residence in Keene township, which was continued till his death. When he came into the township his entire fortune consisted of $36 in money and two axes. He first bought seventy-two acres from Mr. Underwood, paying for it in part by assisting in the survey of the section. Large additions of real estate were subsequently made to this. Several years after he settled here he married Mary Darling, who, at the age of eighteen, in 1806, drove a four-horse team through from Virginia. Her brothers, William and Jonathan, were among the. first settlers of Jefferson township. During the winter preceding Mr. Miller's arrival in Keene township, he was engaged in deadening the trees on the little tract he had bought, and instead of returning to his home in Franklin township, every evening, he made a. cave like excavation under a jutting rock, which served frequently as a sleeping place. He had retired here, one stormy evening, when he observed a bear approaching him. The sight, at. first, frightened him, for he had no weapon at hand; but he raised a hideous yell, and the bear scampered away, Once, when bear hunting, he had shot and wounded his game, but not mortally, and he was in great personal danger. His trusty dog advanced upon the bear and attacked it. Bruin turned his attention from Miller to the dog, embracing the later in a death-like hug. Miller, in the meantime, quickly loaded his gun, with powder and ball thrown in loosely, ran up to the bear and shot it dead in its tracks. The dog arose, walked a few steps, then fell dead. Musters were held in Coshocton as soon as men enough to form a company could be collected. While Miller was attending one there, an Indian attempted to steal his horse. Miller detected him in the act, and attacking him in true pioneer style, gave him a drubbing. The Indian threatened revenge after he recovered, but Miller was never disturbed by him. In 1806, Garrett Moore, a Virginian, also settled on the Underwood section, on lot 13. Henry HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 525 Murray, Van Emery, Jackson Baker, William Winton, Samuel Thompson and James McCullock came about the same time. They were either renters or squatters, and were only transient in their stay here. Several years later, Elizabeth and George Emery, mother and son, settled in the extreme southwestern corner of the township. James Oglesby, now the oldest resident of Keene township, became a settler in 1810. He was from Virginia, and carne through to Coshocton by team. He first leased a place from Isaac Evans, adjoining his present home, and afterward acquired considerable property in his own name. He served twice in the war of 1812, first about forty days in the vicinity of Mansfield, afterward a term of six months at upper Sandusky. Four or five years later, George Titus emigrated from Virginia, and located on lot 22. He was a blacksmith, the first to pursue that trade in Keene township. Cuthbert Milligan and his wife about 1815, crossed the mountains from Hardy county, Virginia, with a single horse; each of them would alternately ride and walk. Mr. Milligan leased the Worman farm for a number of years, then purchased a portion of lot 22. James Mulford came about the same time. In 1816, George Bible, another Virginian, entered the township and settled on the Underwood section. He was a famous hunter and devoted most of his time to this his favorite occupation. For a number of years, from 100 to 150 deer, besides other game, were annually brought down by his rifle. The year 1817 brought Charles Dusthimer to this section from the vicinity of Newcomerstown, to which place he had emigrated eight years before from Virginia. James O'Donnell came with him. Henry Preston purchased and settled upon lots 6 and 7; he subsequently sold them to J John Kay, who came in 1817. Isaac Siphers came the same year. Shortly after the war of 1812, James Pew, who had been a soldier under General Harrison, settled on lot 11, where his widow still liven. John Williams and William Livingston were among the earliest settlers of the Hamilton section. Livingston served for a number of years as justice of the peace. The northeast quarter of the township began to be settled about 1816. James Carson was among the earliest persons here. He located the northwest quarter of section 2. William Elliott and Andrew Neal followed soon after, the latter settling on the northeast quarter of section 8. Henry Barnes, about this time, owned the north east quarter of section 9. John Daugherty and John Crowley were also early settlers. George Shoemaker came from Rockingham county, Virginia, in 1821. Jacob Bible., a brother to George Bible, accompanied him. He is still living just across the line in Bethlehem township. From 1817 to about 1822, settlers rapidly filled up unoccupied sections, and at this latter date this quarter of the township was probably entirely settled. The northwestern portion of Keene township was settled principally by New Englanders,. most of whom were from Cheshire county, New Hampshire. Among the earliest and best known were Timothy Emerson, Jacob Emerson, his cousin, Jesse Beals, Adam Johnson, Robert Farwell, Zopher Farwell, Dr. Benjamin Hills, Calvin Adams, John Burton, Henry Jewett, Samuel Stone, Jonas Child and Chauncy Litchfield. Timothy Emerson came in 1818, from Ashley, Massachusetts, and settled on lot 12. The first Sunday-school in Keene township owed its existence to his efforts. He died in Keene township in 1873 at the ripe age of ninety-six, just as he was about to remove to Granville, where two children resided. The Farwells came in 1825,. from Cheshire county, New Hampshire. Robert Farwell was instrumental in introducing the first fine sheep into Keene township. Adam Johnson came in 1819, also from Cheshire county, New Hampshire. He was a well educated man, for several years a justice of the peace in this township, and withal a very active and prominent citizen. Dr. Benjamin Hills settled in practice here at the instance of his friend Adam Johnson,. about 1820 or 1821, emigrating from the same place. He was the first physician in Keene township and one of the first in Coshocton county. For a while it is said he and Dr. Lee of Coshocton were the only two practitioners in the county. Although very young at the time, he had been in the revolutionary war in its last year as an assistant to an army surgeon. He was quite 526 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. eccentric, it appears; rough in speech but kind of heart and especially tender toward the brute creation, horses, clogs, cats, etc. It is said that for a long time he fed daily a rattlesnake that had taken up its abode under his barn. In medicine he was a great admirer of the works of Dr. Rush of Philadelphia. His medical hobby was that all diseases were produced by miasmatic influence His wife died in 1834, he returned to New England and died shortly after. Dr. Lewis Colby from Vermont, a well educated physician, located at Keene about 1828. His stay here was brief. A few years later he removed to Louisiana and died there soon after. Bartholomew Thayer, a revolutionary soldier, settled on lot 2 of the southwestern section. He died in 1826, at the age of seventy years, and was buried on his farm. Courage and credulity were two elements of his character, as the following incident will testify: While Adam Johnson was surveying the town of Keene, a rattlesnake was seen by one of the men and killed. Thayer, who was present, was afflicted with an ailment of some kind, and had heard that the heart of a rattlesnake was a sure cure. Eager to test the efficacy of the remedy, he at once cut out the heart of the viper, and at a single gulp swallowed it. The earliest township records preserved are for the year 1828. They show that during that year the officers were as follows: Timothy Emerson, John Rader and George Ford, trustees; John Daugherty and James Pew, fence viewers; Henry Barnes, clerk; E. Thayer, justice of the peace; Jacob Emerson, constable. The first mill permanently erected was built by Nicholas Miller, in 1816, on what is now the farm of his son, Saul Miller. About ten years later a grist mill was added. The two were sold to John Burton soon after, and while in his possession were destroyed by fire, in 1836. About 1818 Jacob Emerson built a mill on lot 14 of the northwest quarter. He subsequently sold it to the Farwells. It suspended operations permanently in 1859. On lot 3 of the southwest quarter Ephraim Thayer, about 1825, built a sawmill and grist-mill combined. Several years later a carding and fulling machine was attached to the mill. This was the first carding-mill in this section of country, and for a number of years it did an extensive business. It went down about 1840. Rev. Adams, of later years, had a little, open, frame saw-mill, on lot 19 of the northwest quarter, where he also ground a little corn and buckwheat. John Andrews also ran a little corncracker several years on a little creek in the northeastern part of the township. The only distillery operated in Keene township was a little copper affair owned by Isaac Siphers, situated on lot 7, in the southwest quarter of the township, built about 1820, and ! kept up about fifteen years. Long before the schools were maintained by public taxation, the demand for education among the pioneers of this township, as well as elsewhere, was sufficiently strong to keep schools in operation regularly for a few months every year. The earliest schools were taught in school-cabins built by the settlers, or in deserted huts, here and there, wherever they could be found. One of the earliest school-houses erected, stood on lot 13 of the southwest quarter of the township. It was built about 1818 or 1820, by the people of this vicinity, who " turned out" with their teams and their axes and soon constructed it and its rude furniture. It was a little log cabin, just high enough to permit a man to stand upright in it, with a fire-place, ten feet wide, occupying one end; for windows it had sheets of oiled paper placed over holes cut in the wall for this purpose. The seats were simply flat rails put on legs, the floor was puncheon and the roof made of clap boards. The first school in this building was taught by James Wilson, a gray haired man of about sixty winters. He was a Virginian, and came to Ohio, he said, to visit friends in Knox county, but, depleted in purse, he chanced to pass through this neighborhood just as the people were looking for a teacher. He was hired forthwith to teach the winter school of two months. The branches taught were reading, writing and spelling. Of the mysteries of arithmetic the old man was as ignorant as his pupils. He kept what was termed a "loud school," conducted on the fundamental principal that the greater the noise, the greater the amount of "larnin." An imperative ; rule was that all the scholars should study aloud, HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 527 the louder the better. Among his pupils were a number of strapping young backwoodsmen, and it is needless to say that until the novelty of the thing wore oft' their vocal powers were exercised to their utmost capacity. To say that the din produced was deafening, would be to say that the falls of Niagara were "pretty good." Some I of the young people who attended this school, j were Ben. \ Norman, Isaac Oglesby, John Minton, Isaac Good, John Mulford, George Mulford, Diana Mulford, Robert Miller, George Moore and Garrett Moore. The location of the school proved j to be ton far north to be central for those who supported it, and consequently it was not kept up very long. Schools were afterward taught in abandoned cabins farther to the south. One of these was on lot 17 of the southwest quarter, taught by Amos Bonum, a cripple. The Millers, Oglesbys. Bakers, Emerys and others, attended j school here. afterward a school house was built in the northeastern corner of lot 14, same section, where V. Schwartz now lives. Another early subscription school was situated on lot 7 of the same quarter. John Kay, Charlie McKee, Henry Barnes, William Kay, William Norman, Tipton Thompson and John Fulks were among the teachers here. The school in Keene village was established in 1820. Farther east, before the year 1820, Robert Boyd taught schools in old cabins a number of years. In primitive pioneer times the market price of wheat was twenty-five cents a bushel ; coffee cost fifty cents a pound, and calico forty to fifty cents a yard. The " corn crackers " in use would not grind wheat to a desirable degree of fineness, and, to separate the coarser grits, perforated deerskin often answered the purpose of sieves. Buckskin pants were the prevailing fashion with the men. and coats were seldom if ever worn, even to church. Miss Shoemaker, an old maiden lads, residing a mile or so northeast of the village of Keene, remembers vividly the °`open air" meeting held by the Presbyterians in early days, the preacher, standing beneath the umbrageous oak, vigorously expounding his fourthlies and fifthlies to his hearers, while children of all sizes and ages were creeping over the ground and dividing with the preacher the attention of their parents. Once au irreverent wag, during the night before communion services were to be held in this grove, peeled the bark from one of the trees, which would be conspicuous the next day, and painted in large letters on the white surface thus exposed the words. " beer and cakes," or some similar motto. The indignation of the members was strongly aroused against the perpetrator of this reflection upon their religious services, and he would have suffered had his identity been discovered. Methodist itinerant preachers came to Keene frequently, before a class was organized there, and discoursed in divers places, just as circumstances would permit. One place for holding meetings was a little deserted cabin, floorless and dreary, situated about a mile south of the village. It was an invariable habit among the backwoodsmen to bring their dogs with them in attending church here. The snarling and fighting of the dogs in church was a cause of great annoyance to the preacher. The manifestation of an unusual amount of canine depravity one day was too much for the patience of Rev. Graham, who was then filling the pulpit, and he proceeded to administer a rebuke. After admonishing his hearers to remember where he had stopped preaching, that they might not lose the thread of his discourse, he demanded of his congregation reasons why they persisted in permitting their dogs to accompany them to service. He inquired fired whether it was through fear of wild animals; if so, they should bring their guns with them. Was it through fear of the devil? Then let them get down on their knees in their cabins and pray to their God to drive him away. The rebuke, it is understood, produced the desired effect. The village of Keene is very pleasantly located a little northwest of the center of the township. It stands on the crest of a range of low hills and commands a view for miles around of a beautifully rolling country. It was laid out in 1820, by Jesse Beals, the original plat containing sixteen lots. An addition was made in 1839, by Charles and Robert Farwell. As originally platted, the village was wholly within lot 1 of the northwest section. This part is now the southeastern por- 528 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. tion of town. Elisha Elliott was the first resident owner of lot 1, but, previous to the survey of the town, he had sold it to John Burton and Jesse Beals, the eastern half to the former and the western part, which is the site of the village, to the latter. Beals emigrated from near Keene, Cheshire county, New Hampshire, as did a number of the other settlers in this vicinity, and named the village in honor of his old home. The township name has, of course, the same origin. At the time the village was platted, no building stood within its limit`s, the entire ground still covered with its primal dress of forest trees and thickets. There was, however, at this time, on lot number 2, on land which afterwards became a part of Keene, a hewed-log cabin, erected, a year or two before, by Alexander Barnes. The first building within Keene proper was a school-house, described as "a little leaky log cabin: Adam Johnson probably taught the first school here, during the winter of 1821. He was succeeded by James McMath, of Harrison county. A little later Daphne Johnson, daughter of Adam Johnson, was the village school mistress. She died a few years after, of consumption. Dr. Benjamin Hills erected the first dwelling-house. The next building was a shop for the manufacture of windmills, built by Chauncey Litchfield. Henry Ramsey was the first individual to sell good at Keene. He offered his little stock of mere merchandise to the public about 1827. Previous to that date, for some years, he had followed the occupation of peddling goods, from door to door, in this vicinity. He was an Irishman, by birth, and emigrated from Liverpool; a cabinetmaker, by trade, and was considered a queer, half-witted character. Alexander Renfrew for many years, in early times, kept a flourishing store here. Charles Farwell kept the first tavern. Keene once aspired to become the county seat. While Coshocton county still included a large portion of what is now Holmes county, the village of Coshocton was inconsiderable in size, and far from the center of the county. Keens claimed the advantage of a more central locality. and was urging its claims pretty strongly, when the formation of Holmes county, in 1824, put an end to the hopes of Keens in this direction. Prominent men at Coshocton, it is said, through fear of losing the county seat, were influential in having the new county struck off The only postoffice in the township is at Keene. It was first kept by Chauncey Litchfield about a mile south of the village, but, after this grew into a little trading town, it was removed to this place, and Robert Farwell appointed postmaster. D. G. Whittemore fills this position at present. The village was settled to a great extent by New Englanders, and, in keeping with their advanced views of education, an academy was established here about 1845. A stock company, consisting of ten or twelve of its substantial citizens, was organized, a lot purchased, and a comfortable building erected. The school was conducted first by Rev. George B. Sturges, an Episcopalian minister,. afterward by Francis Benton and one or two others. For several years it enjoyed a vigorous growth and exerted a wide-spread influence, having in attendance at one time more than 100 students from a distance. Then it began gradually to decline, and in a few years more was merged into the public schools. A Baptist church was located here years ago, but is no longer in existence. It was organized about 1842, at the residence of Absolom Farwell, by Rev. Gorham as officiating clergyman, and D. B. Whittemore, F. S. Bryant, Absolom Farwell, Zopher Farwell and Charles Farwell as members. A large frame meeting-house, with steeple attachment, was built shortly after its organization. It became defunct about 1862, from internal dissensions and loss in membership. The building stood until 1871, when an incendiary reduced it to ashes. The ministers who labored with this church were J. M. Winn, B. White, M. J. Barnes and T. Evans. Keene has now a population of about 275. Its present business may be summarized as follows: Two stores, owned by Smith & Parkhill and Daniel Whittemore, two hotels, two wagon shops, , three blacksmith shops, two shoe shops and one harness shop. Two physicians reside and practice here, Drs. William Shank and Joseph F. Snider. Two fine church buildings adorn the place, the Presbyterian and the Methodist Episcopal. HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 529 Newport, a dead city of the past, came into existence in 1830. in which year it was laid out by Solomon Vail, close to the southern line of the township, em a little tract of land now owned by Sarah Wolfe. The Ohio canal had just been built, and the design was to found an emporium of trade on this commercial highway. Its beginning was auspicious. Two warehouses, opened by Robert Mitchell and Butler Luce, speedily built up a large trade. Two stores and a tavern were started. and the ring of the anvil was heard in the land ; but the hopes of the village were I destined to be disappointed. A formidable rival, Canal Lewisville, came into existence about a half mile to the east, and soon overtopped, then swallowed up, its little neighbor. Part of the plat of Canal Lewisville lies in Keene township, but all its buildings are in Tuscarawas township. There are now four churches in active operation in Keene township, two of which are in Keene village-the United Presbyterian and the German Baptist. Of these the United Presbyterian-Amity church-is the oldest. It is located in the northeastern part of the township, and s composed of the Associate Reform congregation of Mill creek, and the Associate congregation of '' Keene, which, before the consolidation occupied substantially the same territory. Robert Boyd was the first member of the Associate Reform church who settled in Keene township. He came May 4, 1817, and was soon followed by others. Din. Boyd was an educated man, and came when a young reran from Ireland. The first preaching was in the summer of 1818, by Rev. George Buchanan, of Steubenville ; he preached occasionally afterward. Robert Boyd and George Ford, formerly elders in his congregation at Steubenville, acted as a session here. After 1822, Revs. David Proudfit, David Norwood and Moses Kerr supplied the pulpit occasionally. The first communion was held in the fill of 1828, by Rev. Samuel Findley, D. D. The members at that time were Robert Boyd and wife George Ford and wife, John Williams and wife Thomas Hamilton and wife, Joseph Marshall an wife, Robert Boyd, Jr., and wife, Mrs. Nancy Foster, Mrs. Sarah Ford, and others. Rev. D. F. Reid settled as first pastor in 1841, in connection with Millersburg and White Eyes, and labored with a goon degree of success about sixteen years. A brick church was erected in 1831; the present frame church in 1856. The Associate congregation of Keene was organized August 26,1833. Robert Boyd and Robert Karr were ordained elders, Rev. Samuel Irvine officiating. Members : Robert Boy d and Elizabeth, his wife; Robert Karr and wife, William Boyd, John Karr and wife, Sarah Boyd, John Boyd, John Elliott and Martha, his wife; Robert Tidrick and wife, John Williamson and wife, James Johnson, Samuel Boyd and Nancy, his wife; and John Loner. Revs. S. Irvine, Joseph McKee, Samuel H. McCleans, and others, supplied occasionally. In April, 1845, Rev. James M. Henderson was settled as pastor one-fourth of his time, in connection with Northfield and Claysville. He labored thus one year and nine months, with a goon degree of success, when he a was released from this part of his charge. He was a strong advocate of temperance and an opponent of slavery. In November, 1854, Rev. John P. Scott was settled one-third of his time, in connection with Millersburg, and labored here one year and nine months. These two churches formerly went into the United Presbyterian church, September 4, 1858. Rev. William A. McConnell was settled as pastor of the congregations of Mill Creek, White Eyes, and Keene, July 1, 1859. Pursuant to a notice given on the last Sabbath in April, the congregations of Mill Creek and Keene voted unanimously to consolidate into one congregation and session, under the name of Amity. This action was ratified by the Presbytery, October 15, 1861. Mr. McConnell labored with ability and success until some difficulties arose. He resigned his charge at the meeting of Presbytery, June, 1864, on the ground that he had not got the encouragement and support to harmonize the charge he was led to expect. He left on the 13th of September, 1864. At that time Amity had 130 members. The present pastor s William Wishart ; the membership, forty. The German Baptist church, known more gen orally as the Dunkard church, has a nicely finished frame building on lot No. 25, in the southwestern 530 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. part of the township. It was built in 1878, and dedicated on the 7th of July, of the same year. Its cost was about $1,000. This is the first church edifice of this denomination erected in the county, although the society is one of the oldest. This is due to the fact that the members have been few in number and widely scattered. Preaching has been held in various parts of the county, for a long time in Franklin township, at the residence of Philip Hershman. The church was organized there about 1830, by Rev. Schofield. The principal early members were Philip Hershman, John Hershman, Nicholas Miller, Samuel Belhart and George Wilcox. Lewis Rodruck was pastor many years. He was succeeded by Revs. Eli Stell, Philip Axline, John Nicholson and Samuel Mantis. The present membership is about forty. The First Presbyterian church of Keene was incorporated February 25, 1835, with the following membership: Timothy Emerson, John Elliott, Robert Farwell, Calvin Adams, John Shannon and Jacob Emerson. Previously, these members belonged to the "congregation of Coshocton and Mill creek," which had been organized many years before. Services were once held alternately at Coshocton and Keene; when at Keene, during pleasant weather, under the trees of the forest, on the site of the present church; at other times, in cabins or the school-house. About 1833, when the Keene members were strong enough to form a separate church, they left the old organization and founded the Keene church. Their first building, a large frame structure, was erected in 1834, by Charles Farwell. The present church was built in 1878-79, and dedicated May, 1879. It is pleasantly located on a knoll of gently rising ground, is a substantial, commodious, frame edifice, with slate roof and a spire, and was erected at a cost of $2,600. Rev. George Warner was the minister in charge when the division occurred in 1833. Rev. N. Conklin was stated supply for two years ending June, 1836. Rev. J. S. Wylie followed Mr. Conklin and served three years. Both Mr. Conklin and Mr. Wylie also served, at the same time, the Coshocton church, and these churches have frequently been associated in ministerial charge. Rev. B. J. Lowe followed Mr. Wylie, remaining as stated supply two years. From 1841 until 1843, the church was supplied by the presbytery. Rev. John D Whitham was installed pastor July 7, 1843. In 1844 a division occurred and a new school church was organized. After a little time, this was reorganized as a " True Presbyterian " church, which, after a feeble life, protracted through a dozen years, became extinct. Of the old church Rev. J. W. Knott became pastor June 28, 1845, remaining in charge until October, 1847. Rev. Samuel Hanna became pastor November 11,1848, and continued his labors here until his death, in 1850. Revs. John Trubit, William Edgar and C. C. Bomberger supplied the church from 1850 until July, 1856. At that time Rev. William E. Hunt took charge, remaining about one year. Rev. R. W. Marquis was installed November 14, 1857, and continued as pastor until his death, in May, 1875. Rev. Augustus Cone, who succeeded him, remained two years. The present pastor is Rev. W. D. Wallace, who also has charge of the Sabbath-school connected with the church. The number of communicants is about 120. The Methodist Episcopal church of Keene was organized, as nearly as can be ascertained, about 1830. Of the original members were Robert Boyd, Daniel Boyd, John Boyd, Samuel Elliott, George Elliott and Thomas Elliott. Prior to the organization of the church preaching was frequently held in cabins and school-houses in and about Keene. A frame house of worship was erected soon after the church was organized. It stood just south of the present church, a large frame building, erected in 1860, at a cost of about $2,000. Both churches were built by John Elliott of Coshocton. The membership at present numbers about sixty. Rev. E. H. Dissette has charge of the circuit to which this church belongs. It includes the churches at Louisville, Warsaw, Spring Mountain and Elliott's chapel, besides the Keene church. The Sunday-school connected with the church is superintended by William Bechtel and has a membership of about sixty. In the southeastern part of the township a society of the United Brethren denomination was formed about 1850. Among those who partici- HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 531 gated in its organization were George Beaver, Henry Reamer, Solomon Best, Christopher Keesy, James Murphy, W William P. Murphy and Thomas Smith. A frame building was erected soon after. During the late rebellion, the discussion of war issues in the pulpit produced disruption and ultimately the extinction of the society. Later a Christian Union church \vas organized at the same place by Revs. Pigman and George Stevenson. The organizing members of this church \were principally those who had belonged to the United Brethren church. Its career was also breif, perishing four or five years after its organization. George Stevenson and William P. Murphy were the principal ministers who had charge of this church. CHAPTER LVIII. LAFAYETTE TOWNSHIP. Organization-Name-First Officers-Location-Topography -Early Settlers-School Section-Prominent Men-Taverns -Mills-Schools-West Lafayette-Churches-Birmingham -Bridges-Mounds-War Matter. LAFAYETTE township was the last organized in Coshocton county. It was formed in 1S35. The western half of its territory had previously been a part of Tuscarawas town hip; the northeastern quarter had belonged to Oxford, and the southeastern quarter to Linton township. It was named in honor of General Lafayette, the news of whose death, it is said, reached Coshocton during the session of the county commissioners at which the township was ordered to be organized. The first township officers were Wendel Miller, Laken Wells and Simon Moses, trustees ; John Dean, clerk; John Wagoner, treasurer; David Fitch and James Kinner, constables; and John Dean and Ralph Phillips, justices of the peace. Its position in the county is just east of Tuscarawas township; on the north, east and south it is bounded by White Eyes, Oxford and Linton townships respectively. The Tuscarawas river flows in a westerly direction through the northern part of it. White Eyes creek enters the river from the north, and from the south several small streams which drain the greater portion of the township. In the southeastern part of the township, however, the streams flow southward and enter Wills creek in Linton township. The Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and St. Louis railroad crosses the township a short distance south of the river by a direct course nearly east and west, while the Ohio canal, north of the river, observes more closely the windings of the stream: The topographical features of the township differ somewhat from those of most other townships. A broad expanse of level country, known as White Eyes plains, begins in the western part of the township and continues eastward eight or ten miles, through Oxford township into Tuscarawas county. It has an average width of about two miles and follows the bottom lands on the south of the river. It is separated from these bottom lands generally by a bluff rising thirty or forty feet. About a half mile north of the village of West Lafayette is a remarkable hill, isolated from all others. The plains stretch away to the south and a narrow valley separates it from the river on the north. Towards the east it rises abruptly to a considerable height, but on the opposite side it elopes very gradually and does not reach the level of the surrounding country for a half mile or more. The soil of the plains is a gravelly sand. It was considered worthless by the first settlers, as crops could be raised upon it With indifferent success, but later it was found to be quite fertile under proper cultivation. The plains were very sparsely timbered at the advent of the earliest pioneers. Clumps of bushes, or stunted trees, were scattered here and there, but generally tall, waving grass, called wild grass, was the only existing vegetation. The rich river valley was heavily timbered with the sycamore, sugar and other species of woodland growth. South of the plains the surface is broken up into hills, which had a scanty covering of trees, such as the oak, chestnut, hickory, poplar, walnut and other varieties. The entire township consists of military land. The first section, or northeast quarter of the township, is known as the Joseph Higbee section. It was not occupied to any great extent until after 1820. The second or Swan section, the 532 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. northwest quarter of the township, was settled early by several families who owned extensive portions of it The third section, or southwest quarter, is a school section and remained unoccupied, except by a few squatters, until about 1825. The fourth section, or southeast quarter, called the Cummins section, was at an early day surveyed into ten lots of 400 acres each, which were sold by lots or fractions of lots, to men who are numbered among the earliest permanent settlers of the township. It was probably about the year 1804 that the first permanent settlers, began to occupy the territory of this township. Prior to this date, portions of the land had doubtless been cultivated to some extent by squatters with no title to the soil. Seth McClain, a Virginian, about 1804; settled in the eastern part of the township, putting up a cabin near the fine spring which now supplies Vincent Ferguson's house. After residing some ten years, he discovered that he was on the Higbee section of military land, and moved over into Linton township, where he became one of its most active, energetic pioneers. He had married one of the Sells, whose connection had settled further up the river. His son James, father of Seth McClain of Coshocton, and Colonel R. W. McClain, died a few years ago, aged about seventy-five years. Thomas McClain came into the township about 1805 and settled upon lot 2 of the Cummin's section, where he remained until his death. His son Isaac still resides in the township and is one of its oldest citizens. Thomas Wiggins, from Virginia, was probably here as early as 1804. He settled upon lot 10 of the Cummins section, in the northwest corner of the section, and died in June, 1811. A number of his descendants still live in the township. George Miller, a brother to Michael Miller, formerly of Franklin township, and to Henry Miller of Jackson township, both among the earliest settlers of the county, hailing from Hampshire county, Virginia, purchased a tract of about a 1,000 acres off the east side of the northwest section, and settled upon it about 1806. He had previously lived for a few years in the vicinity of Port Washington, Tuscarawas county. He reared a large family of children, consisting of Windel, Isaac, Daniel, Abraham, Francis, Thomas, George, John and several daughters. George and Isaac, two of the sons, came out first and raised a little cabin, the others following soon after. Abraham afterward settled in Clark township. Windel, John and Daniel were soldiers in the war of 1812; the latter died February 1, 1881, in Plainfield, a very aged man. In 1804, Francis McGuire, who also was a Virginian, moved to the Tuscarawas valley, near Port Washington, and two years later, came to the northwestern corner of this township. The family was carried in a wagon, which was driven along on the bank of the river, sometimes in it, and they afterwards used the wagon-bed as their shelter and sleeping place, until a cabin could be built, which, in the want of help to any considerable extent from neighbors, took more time than in after years. Mr. McGuire purchased a tract of more than 1,000 acres off the west side of the Swan, or northwest, section, and resided at the old homestead, north of the river, until he died, May 9, 1853, aged seventy-six years. His property is still held by his descendants. His two wives were daughters of George Miller. Archibald Elson, from Brook county, Virginia, in 1805 or 1806, purchased and settled upon lot 4 of the Cummins section. He died at an early day and most of his descendants moved West. A daughter was married to Richard Fowler, and their posterity is still well represented in Linton township. Hugh Ballentine was another early settler. He erected and opened the first tavern, and soon after sold it to Striker Morgan. Matthew Orr, a German, who had been living in New Jersey, came out about 1803, and settled upon a portion of lot 9 in the southeast section. William Johnson, father of Judge Thomas Johnson, of Linton township, was the owner of seventy-five acres in the same lot and occupied it for a few years, then removing to Linton township. It is said that he received this small piece of land as a remuneration for his services in bringing out the Orr family from New Jersey. Elijah Nelson, who was here before 1811, married a daughter of George Miller, and afterwards moved farther west. Lewis Vail was another PAGES 533-534 MISSING HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 535 resident holder of a 400-acre lot on the fourth or Cummins section. He was here before 1811, and moved away before 1821. Nothing is known of his history. Thomas Foster was in the township prior to the war of 1812. He was from Sussex county, New Jersey, and served as sergeant in Captain Adam Johnson's company at Mansfield. He first lived on the Swan section, but afterward purchased a piece of land in the southeastern part of the township. He died childless; was an unoffending, kind-hearted citizen, and one of the organizers of the Methodist Protestant church. In 1821 the following additional property owners resided in the township, all on the 4th or Cummins' section : Frederick Dum, John Dean, James Kinner, John Mulholland, Jacob Maple, Jr., John Merrit, John Norris, and Samuel and Jacob Switzer. Just about this time, or maybe a y ear sooner, Joseph C. Higbee, from Trenton, New Jersey, settled upon the military section that bears his name, and remained upon it until his death, which occurred about 1813, in the seventy-fourth year of his age. He was not the original proprietor of the section, but seems to have obtained it by inheritance. Mr. Higbee was a very eccentric personage. As illustrating. the style of the man, the story was long current in the neighborhood that, when he first came to the country, then in comparatively a wilderness condition, he brought with him six dozen ruffled shirts. One of his daughters was married to Rev. Mr. Southard, vvho was for a time a minister of Trinity church, New York. Another is said to have married Mr. Hay, a lawyer in Pittsburgh John Richmond, of Orange, married a daughter by the second wife. Mr. Higbee sold a small portion of his section, shortly after his arrival here, but the demand for land was not great until the building of the Ohio canal, when a throng of emigrants moved in and purchased all available territory. William Wheeler, Allen Davis, Simon Moses, Henry Shaw, Robert Shaw, Ralph Simeon, Enoch Philips, John B. Stout, James Ransopher, David Fitch, Adam Merrit and Andrew Ferguson were the first purchasers from Mr. Higbee. That portion of the Swan section remaining after the Duller and McGuire tracts were sold, was mainly disposed of in parcels after the opening of the canal, through the agency of William K. Johnson. In 1832, an English colony, consisting of Isaac Maynard, Abram and Lewis Daniels, George Cox, George Whooky, James Board, James Jennings, John Cole and James George, bought adjoining lands in the school section. They named their settlement Summerset valley, in honor of their native county in England. Not being practical backwoodsmen, their stay was not protracted; their lands are now owned by Colman Beall and sons, and Judge Burt and sons. Not one of the descendants of the colony remain In the valley. When Ohio was admitted into the Union, it was agreed by the United States that the one thirty-sixth part of the territory, included within the limits of the State, should be set apart for the support of the common schools within the State. In the United States Military district, the school lands were selected by lot by the secretary of the treasury, in sections of 4,000 acres each. Only one of these school sections fell within the limits of Coshocton county-the third or southwest section of Lafayette township. This section was surveyed into twenty-five square lots of 160 acres each. No disposition of the land appears to have been made prior to 1825. About that time, or a little later, several of the lots were leased upon the following conditions: The lessee was to clear a certain portion of the land taken, erect a cabin and plant out an orchard, and in return for these services was to have free use of the land for a fixed term of years. Among the lessees were Peter Metzler (a Virginian by birth and a Baptist by faith), lot 9; Levi Shaw, who emigrated from New Jersey about 1820, lot 2; Levi and Absolom Roderick, Virginians, lots 5, 6 and 15. There may have been several others whose names can not now be recalled. This system of leasing the land did not afford any immediate income, and although it enhanced the value of the property, seems to have been unsatisfactory. Consequently, about 1828, the land was sold at public auction at Coshocton. It was sold remarkably cheap, $19.25 only being paid for eighty acres in one instance, and, as ten years' time was allowed in which to 536 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. complete payment for it, c number of men in indigent circumstances availed themselves of this opportunity to procure homes.. Among the purchasers were Daniel Craig, Adam Aronhalt, Oliver B. Rundle, Jacob Ostler and Peter Moore. The latter had emigrated to Coshocton county prior to the war of 1812, and was c soldier under Hull at his disastrous surrender. Ostler, too, had been in service. He enlisted from Harrison county, was in General Harrison's army, and came to this county just after the war. The first settlers were nearly all from Virginia; those who came in a little later were principally from New Jersey. The township has steadily grown in population and now contains 1018 inhabitants. Of its citizens of a later date, several deserve a passing notice. Colonel R. W. McClain, c descendant of one of its earliest settlers, died a few years ago. He was an extensive and successful farmer and stock raiser, one of the township's most substantial and influential citizens. He enlisted and served during the Mexican war, and commanded one of the first companies raised in this county in 1861, afterwards rising to the rank of Colonel Andrew Ferguson was another prominent citizen who passed away from this earth in the spring of 1879. James M. Burt came into the township in 1837, having previously spent several years in this county. He was an extensive farmer, wool producer and stock raiser, and one of the early justices of the peace. He served two terms in the State legislature and two in the senate; was c pointed associate judge in 1849, and filled the position till the new constitution, abolishing the office, went into effect. Since that time he h served on the State board of equalization. He is now living just over the county line, near Newcomerstown. Stryker Morgan kept tavern in the western part of the township, where Francis McGuire now lives, in early times. He came from Sussex county, New Jersey, about 1820, and provide entertainment for the traveler until he died, few years before the late war. Morgan's tavern, at the time of its erection, was the only weather boarded building in the township. About 1839, Henry Johnson opened a public house near West Lafayette. Samuel C. McMunn, several years later, owned one about half mile east of town. The building of the railroad withdrew the custom from these country taverns, and they died a natural death soon after. Mills did not play c very active part in the development of this township. The first and only grist-mill of any note was erected in 1875, at c cost of $20,000, by Robert D. Boyd, at Wild Turkey Lock, on the canal, in the northwestern corner of the township. It is a large building, contains two run of buhre, and is now owned by the heirs of Alexander Renfrew. A little corn-mill and saw-mill had previously occupied the site of this mill. John Barto had, many years before, built a little turning-lathe here, where he manufactured broom handles. Mr. Willard put in a pair of buhre and sold to John Balch, who added the saw-mill. John Morgan had a saw-mill on Morgan's run, upon which the lumber for the first weather boarded and frame buildings in the township was sawed. It was entirely destroyed by a flood in 1852. Judge James M. Burt, about 1854, built steam saw-mill on lot 9 of the third section. This was the only stationary saw-mill in the township south of the river. It was operated twenty-one years. James Hunter owned and ran c little distillery on the Francis McGuire tract, close to the Tuscarawas township line, in early days. Somewhat later, Joseph Higbee operated one on the Ferguson place. One of the earliest school-houses stood on the line between lots number 1 and 2 of the school section. The building had been a cabin used by Irvin Coulter. School was taught here prior to n 1828 by Thomas Filch, who came from New Jersey about 1808, and was considered the best educated man in the community. He died here and was buried at Jacobsport About 1815 a little school-house was built on the J. W. Miller place " a little northwest of the center of the township. Mr. Dunlap was the pedagogue in this domain and used the ferule freely upon the slightest provocation. HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 537 When Lafayette township was organized the four military sections were organized as school districts, and log cabin school-houses built in each section. On the Swan section the school-house stood on the State road near the east line of lot No. 5, now owned by Judge J. M. Burt. Here Thomas O'Neal, a well qualified teacher, taught several years and followed that profession until his useful life closed in White Eyes township at an advanced age. The Higbee section house stood on the south side of the State road a little west from and opposite the present brick school-house. Here James Curran taught for a time and left for parts unknown to the present inhabitants. He was succeeded by W. M. Cammart who remained until the erection of the brick school-house near the Baptist church. The Cummins section cabin stood near where the frame school-house of district No. 1 now stands. John Buker was the teacher. He went West many years ago. The school section cabin stood near the center of lot No. 8, about eighty rods southwest from the present frame house known as the Burt school-house. Craven A. McBane taught the first school here. His father, Jesse McBane, was one of the earliest settlers of the school section, and a useful and highly respectable citizen of the town. Both father and son have been numbered with the dead many years. The only surviving member of the family in this county is the youngest son of Jesse, John C. McBane, now county commissioner. West Lafayette postoffice was established about 1839. It was obtained through the efforts of Judge Burt and others. Henry Johnson was the first postmaster, and retained the office for many years. It was abolished for a brief season during Harrison's administration, but soon after reestablished. Following Mr. Johnson in this official capacity, have come Samuel C. McMunn, James McMath, and Robert Beall. The village of .West Lafayette was laid out in 1850, by Robert Shaw and William Wheeler. The original plat consisted of only thirteen lots, eight of which were north and five south of the State road, now Main street. Additions have since been made by Rue & Ketchum, James M. Burt and J. H. Russell. The village is built upon a level plain, and contains an even 250 inhabitants. It is by no means compactly built, but is strung along the one street for a distance of half a mile. An unusual number of its dwellings are fine, spacious residences, and every thing betokens an active, thriving, little business place. It is the only village in this county, beyond the county seat, that can boast of a railroad. The " Pan Handle " road passes through it, and doubtless gives it much of its business stir. John Coles, an Englishman, opened the first store in the township, in 1833, on lot No. 9, of the school section (then called Summerset valley), which lot he then owned. In 1836, he sold his lands and removed his store to the Ketchum farm, and from there to Wild Turkey Lock, and in 1850, to the town of West Lafayette, where he died and was succeeded by Abbot & Andreg. Thornton Fleming erected a dwelling and store-room in 1853, and remained in business there until his death. Samuel Adair sold goods there for a short time ; also Thomas and Robert Scott. Stephen Rolley opened a store in a room erected by William Paddock, which was soon after destroyed by fire, together with Paddock's dwelling. James McMath, in 1853, built a store-house and dwelling, and remained in business there until his death, in February, 1868. His wife died some months before him. His son, J. G. McMath, continued the store a few months, when the remaining stock was sold at public sale, and there was no store here until the spring of 1869, when T. H. Familton bought the McMath real estate and began business with an extensive stock of goods. Mr. Familton has been in the mercantile business here ever since. Besides his store, there is now that of Smith & Scott. Bell & Leggett are grain dealers. Dr. George E. Prior was the first resident physician. He began boarding at Johnston's tavern in 1842, but soon purchased five acres of land and erected thereon a pleasant residence, now standing due south of the Lafayette depot. He died after a residence of sixteen years, and was succeeded by Dr. Whittaker, who subsequently removed to Oxford township, where he died. Dr. Joseph S. Barr purchased property, practiced 538 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. here several years, and sold out to Dr. J. C. Hughes, who secured an extensive practice and sold out in 1880, to Doctors Richards & Yarnell, who, with Dr. Morris and Dr. W. W. Williams, now dispense medicine to the afflicted. Samuel Gorsline and John Weir feed the hungry public, for a just and equitable recompense. Two grocery saloons find a local habitation here, and the artisan's crafts are represented by two blacksmith shops, one wagon, one harness and one shoe shop. The school-house is a commodius, two-story brick, standing a short distance east of the village. It was erected during the year 1871, at a cost of $3,000. The first term began January 2, 1872, with William Gorsline and Miss Kate Boyd as teachers. The old school-building was a little brick, which stood opposite the Baptist church, and in which William McCammant was the first teacher. Grange No. 1,310, located at West Lafayette, was organized in February, 1878, by Mr. John McDonald, of Coshocton county. The first officers were James M. Burt, master ; C. F. Sangster, overseer; Joseph Love, lecturer; J. B. Burt, secretary, and Francis McGuire, Jr., treasurer. C. F. Sangster succeeded Judge Burt to the office of master, and he in turn was succeeded by James L. Rogers, the present incumbent. The membership of the grange has increased to about fifty and comprises in its list the intelligent, wide awake, successful farmers in this vicinity. The West Lafayette Baptist church was formed in 1870, by dividing the congregation of White Eyes Baptist church into two parts and organizing the western division into a separate congregation. The White Eyes Plains church was the first Baptist society formed in Coshocton county. It was organized at the house of Isaac Evans, in Oxford township, November 5, 1825, by Elders S. Morris and William Spencer, with the following members: James Brooks, Windel and Jane Miller, Levi and Rachel Rodruck, Ezekiel and Sarah McFarland, Elizabeth Worth, Rachel Calhoun, Hannah Barto and Catherine, Hannah and Lydia Rose. James Brooks was the first deacon and Benjamin Headly, who became a member soon after, the first clerk. Elder Morris was the first pastor, and labored with them three years, when he was succeded by Elder William Spencer, who continued with them until about the year 1831, at which time the church numbered about twenty-four members. The earliest places of: worship were dwellings and school-houses in this and Oxford township. The first recorded meeting in this township was held at the house of Windel Miller, May 21, 1825. In the year 1847 the present house of worship in West Lafayette was erected. Three years later another church was built, near the center of Oxford township, to accommodate the eastern portion of the church, making it a regular place of worship. In 1870, the church having largely increased in members, efficiency and territory, divided into two separate and independent bodies, as mentioned above. The pastors, up to the date of separation have been, after William Spencer, Elders Pritchard, Sedgwick Rice, L. Gilbert, H. Sager, L. L. Root, H. Broom, A. W. Odor, J. G. Whitaker, L. Rhineheart and E. B. Senter. Since then the following pastors have had charge of the West Lafayette church: E. B. Senter, G. W. Churchill, J. F. Churchill, Thomas Jones, J. P. Hunter and D. Trichler. The present membership is about seventy. Prior to 1870 there had been a union Sunday-school conducted at West Lafayette in the Baptist and Methodist churches, alternately, but in that year a Baptist Sunday-school was organized which has been successfully carried on to this day. Its membership is forty-three, and its superintendent, J. B. Burt. The other church edifice in West Lafayette belongs to a Methodist Episcopal society. It was erected in the summer of 1856 and dedicated in the following January, by Bishop Simpson and Rev. James Bray. Rev. Charles Holmes had been preaching in the school-house for a while, but no class was organized until about the time the church was built. The church lot was donated by Jacob K. Shurtz, and the building cost about $700. The original class, as nearly as can be determined, consisted of the following members:. Wilson Carp and wife, Mrs. Julia Miller, Thornton and Eliza Ann Fleming, B. F. and EIizabeth Fleming, Mrs. Eleanor L. Ketchum, Mrs. Collins, Mrs. Helms, Thomas Scott and wife, Mrs. Mary HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 539 Ferguson and Dr. George E. Prior. B. F. Fleet ing was the first leader. During the winter of 1867-8, a series of revival meetings were conducted by Rev. J. E. Starkey, which resulted in about seventy accessions to this church, besides many additions to neighboring churches. The membership now numbers about 100. In 1880, a spacious, tasty parsonage was erected, which is now occupied by Rev. John, T. Wilson. A healthy and flourishing Sabbath-school has been in operation since 1870, over which James L. Rogers now presides. Its membership is about seventy. The Zion Methodist Episcopal church is located in the extreme southwestern part of the township. During the winter of 1845-9, Rev. D. P. Mitchell conducted a series of meetings, at which many conversions were made. One of the beneficial result` attending the meetings was the immediate erection of a church building. The society had been organized some time before, and services had been held at the adjoining school-house. Among the first members were Absolom Rodruck, Joseph B. Johnson, John Smith, Frank, Joseph and Edward Wells and Hiram Jennings. The present house of worship was built about ten years ago, and the society is in good condition. Plains Chapel, a Methodist Protestant house of worship, is situated on the State road about one and a half miles east of West Lafayette, on a lot donated to the church by Andrew Ferguson. Its erection was begun in 1841, and finished August, 1842. Though an old, it is still a substantial and serviceable brick building about forty by fifty feet in size, and has been extensively repaired of late at a cost of $900. The society was organized in Oxford township, at Loos' school-house, about 1836, and meetings held there until the church was built. The earliest pastors were Revs. Israel Thrapp, Richardson, Ross, Cass Reeves, Joel Dolby, William Baldwin and James Nugen. The principal early members were Andrew Ferguson, George Leighninger, Leonard Richart, Thomas Foster, Simon Moss, James Ransopher, John Paddock, John Switzer, George Waggoner, Christine Loos, John Klinger and Levi Penn. The present number of communicants is seventy-five. Rev. William Wells is the pastor in charge. The Sunday-school is an institution whose organization ante-dates the erection of the church. A United Brethern society formerly existed in the southern part of the township, and possessed a small frame church, known as Clay Point church. It was built about 1843, when the society was in its infancy. Its early members were Samuel Wolfe, David Wolfe, David Jones, Isaac Doty and John Sicker, with perhaps some others. It never acquired red any considerable strength, and perished during the early part of the late war. Except West Lafayette, there is no village in the township. One called Birmingham was laid out in 1830 by Joseph C. Higbee, on the canal, in the extreme eastern part of the township. Mr. Higbee's residence and a warehouse were all the buildings it ever contained. Evansburg, which was laid out a few months later, in Oxford township, grew rapidly at first and practically killed it. One bridge spans the Tuscarawas river in this township about a mile north of West Lafayette. It is an iron structure, built in 1873. The stone work was furnished by N. W. Buxton at a cost of $6,290; the superstructure costing $8,746 was furnished by the Cincinnati Bridge Company, J. W. Shepman & Co., of Cincinnati, and the Coshocton Iron and Steel Works. No important earth works have been left in Lafayette township to mark the dwelling here of prehistoric races. A circular fortification, enclosing about three acres, has been observed on Plain Hill north of West Lafayette, and several small mounds stood between it and the village, but they have now been obliterated by the plow. The railroad in its construction passed through a small mound on the Ferguson farm but nothing is known to have been discovered in it. A small one may be seen on Velser Shaw's farm in the northern part of the township ; another stood on the old Higbee place but is now leveled to the ground. It was composed of sand, differing from the surrounding soil. The sand had probably been obtained in the river bed not far distant. No Indian village is known to have been situated here, though the plains were favorite hunting grounds with the savages. An. Indian trail extending from the, river to the Indian town Lichtenau passed up Burt's run then down Rock run to the Muskingum, 540 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. True patriotism seems to have actuated the inhabitants of this township from its earliest settlement to the present time. During the war of 1812 and the Mexican war, a goodly number of its best citizens voluntarily took the field and faithfully served their country. When the Northern frontier was considered in danger, in consequence of the Canadian rebellion, in 1839, a company of infantry promptly volunteered, and were armed and equiped by the State. During the war of the rebellion, the full quota required by the government was promptly furnished at each and every call by voluntary enlistment and substitutes. Every person of suitable age and ability that did not volunteer, furnished a substitute or paid his proper proportion to procure the number required to fill the township quota. John Elson, Daniel Simons, Henry Babcock, Joseph Lacy, Thomas Foster, Jabez Norman, Francis McGuire, son of William, Thomas Owens, Richard Phillips, Daniel Easton, Thomas Wymer, Henry Hoagland, Thomas West, John Chamberlain, J. Snell, Cone Coulter, David Horn, David and James Robinson, and William Fowler were killed in battle or died of wounds and sickness in the service. All except Cone Coulter and John Chamberlain are buried on Southern battlefields and soldiers' cemeteries. John Elson found a grave in the Gulf of Mexico, having died on the passage of the Fifty-first regiment from Texas. Peter Chamberlain, Jerome Shaw, George Miller, Henry Garret and James Easton died soon after their return of wounds received and disease contracted in the service. CHAPTER LIX. LINTON TOWNSHIP. Location-Name-Topography-Primitive Races-Indians- Doughty-Early Settlers and Settlements-Soldiers-Wills Creek-Early Navigation-Ferries and Bridges-Mills-Dis- tilleries-Salt-Tanneries-Schools-Churches-Villages Population. LINTON township lies in the southeaster corner of Coshocton county. It is indebted for its name to James Miskimen, one of the fore most settlers of the township, and, at the time of its organization, in 1812, a county commissioner.. He flamed it, it is said, in honor of the township in Virginia from which he emigrated. It is the largest township in the county, being five miles wide, north and south, and seven and one-half long, east and west, including township 4 of range 5, and the western half of township 4 of range 4- the eastern half of this latter township forming a part of Wheeling township, Guernsey county. The surface, away from the valleys that skirt the streams, is hilly. The opinion was rife among the pioneers in the bottom lands that the hills would never be settled, so ill adapted did they seem for purposes of cultivation; and it was not until about 1840 that the land was all entered. The summits of many of the hills had been made bare by Indian fires, but the sides were covered with a thick growth of timber. Beneath this the pea vine grew in rich profusion, and it afforded an excellent pasture for the cattle turned loose upon the hills to browse upon it. Wills creek is the principal stream. It enters the township near the center of its eastern line, from Guernsey county, and passes out in the ex treme southwestern corner. The distance by a direct course from its point of entrance into the township to its exit from the same is less than eight miles, but its tortuous meanderings make the actual length of the stream between these two points about twenty miles. By reason of these numerous windings the bottom lands in the township are rendered much more extensive than they would be were the creek more direct. in its course. The valley varies in width from a quarter of a mile to a mile. Two well-marked terraces are observable in most places along the valley, the lower one generally narrow, the upper" rising abruptly thirty or forty feet, then stretching away to a considerable distance. White Eyes creek enters the township from Muskingum county, flows in a northwesterly direction about two miles, and empties into Wills creek. It should not be confounded with another White Eyes creek, which is a northern tributary of the Tuscarawas river. The soil is generally good. In the village it is d a rich, sandy loam, becoming in some places almost a pure sand. Among the hills, in places. HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 541 where the limestone formation outcrops, it is quite fertile. There was one locality that was not timbered when the first settlers appeared in the township. This was the level stretch of country lying west of the village of Plainfield, being about a mile square in area. It was covered only it with tall prairie grass, but shortly after a thick growth of scrub oak, or black jack, as it was commonly called, sprang up and kept possession of the soil till uprooted by the mattock and plow. The remains of the prehistoric dwellers in Linton township are not very numerous. There are, however, several low fortifications and a few small mounds along the valley of Wills creek. One of these fortifications is situated on the plains, about half a mile southwest from Plainfield, at the cross roads. It consists of four embankments, enclosing a square figure, containing several acres. At each corner of the square is an entrance. The embankment originally was perhaps six feet above the surrounding level, but it has since been almost obliterated by the plow. Another circular embankment, enclosing about an acre, was found on the farm belonging to V. J. Powelson, in section 22, several miles farther down the creek. The outlines are now so slight as to be scarcely discernable. Near Plainfield, about 1840, Mr. J. D. Workman opened a small earthen mound on his place. He found nothing except several stone relics. Another, about two miles below, was excavated some ten years later by Wesley Patrick. It contained a few bones belonging to the human skeleton, including the skull, jaw bone and thigh. These were of an unusually large size and indicated the skeleton to be fully seven feet in length. No Indian village is known to have been located in the township, but encampments for hunting purposes were frequently made along the banks of Wills creek and its numerous small tributaries by these denizens of the forests. Game abounded, and, for a half dozen years after the arrival of the advance guard of civilization, it was hunted and killed in this vicinity by both pioneers and Indians. The relations between them were generally of a peaceful nature. Several times ripples arose on the placid sea of friendship and betokened a storm, but they were happily averted. The Indians were a shiftless class. They would beg or thieve, or resort to any device to obtain what they wanted from the whites. They would often bring wild game to the cabins of the settlers and wish to exchange for corn or something else. Requests of this kind were usually complied with, but the cleanly housewife would throw the game to the dogs. Thomas Phillips relates that it was the custom of his father, George Phillips, to ,turn his horses out in the open woods in the evening to pasture, and that the Indians would drive them away to a considerable distance during the night and hide them; then the next morning they would appear at Phillips' cabin and, learning of the lost horses, offer to find them for a dollar. The little game was successfully played several times until Phil lips suspected and accused them of it. He was hunting one day and had brought down a fine deer; this he hung on a sapling and started in pursuit of another deer, in his haste leaving his hat behind. When he returned both deer and hat were gone. Some time afterward he recognized a silver buckle belonging to the lost hat in the possession of the innkeeper at Cambridge. Questioning him about it, Phillips learned that it had been obtained from an Indian called Doughty, who had sold the buckle and kept the hat, but not daring or caring to wear it abroad had used it to sleep in. James Miskimen once had a little difficulty with this same Doughty, who was a noted Indian character, shortly after he (Miskimen) settled in this township Miskimen was a great trader, and would often barter trinkets, whisky, etc., with the Indians for hides and furs, disposing of these at Zanesville. He and Tom Addy were conveying a load in a canoe down Wills creek, on their way to Zanesville. Doughty espied them and wanted to ride down the creek a distance with them. They stopped and took him in the boat. Having some whisky aboard, Doughty soon discovered it, and wanted some. He soon drank enough to make him ugly and boisterous. His conduct became disagreeable and they landed him. Enraged at this, he threatened to shoot them, as they shoved off the boat, but fortunately his gun was empty, it having been discharged a short time I before by Miskimen, in shooting a turkey. 542 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. Doughty began to load his gun, and the men, now some distance away, seeing that he was in earnest, pulled for the shore again with the intention of depriving him of the weapon. Miskimen rowed while Addy covered the savage with his rifle, determined to shoot first, if shooting became necessary. They reached the bank in the nick of time. Miskimen, who was a powerfully-built man, sprang ashore and knocked the inebriated Doughty to the , ground just as he was in the act of shooting. In his anger he seized Doughty's gun and threw it out into the stream, where it probably still lies, several miles below Plainfield. Leaving the Indian senseless on the ground, the two men proceeded on their way. About ten days after, Miskimen was waited upon at his cabin by twelve Indians, who demanded that he replace Doughty's gun, and threatened to kill him if he refused. Miskimen at first rejected the demand, but at the solicitation of his wife finally agreed to settle the matter. He procured an old gun that had been offered for sale at the Fuller settlement, and delivered it to the Indian council, thus closing the "deadly breach of war." Doughty did not accompany his red brethren when they gathered up their tents in 1812, and stole away to the broad West, but frequented the .old haunts and hunting grounds for several years after. It was his delight, when a little intoxicated, to visit the cabins of the settlers and seek to frighten the women and children by recounting blood curdling tales of savage cruelty. He attended log-rollings, cabin-raisings and various gatherings of this kind, but would never work, preferring the more congenial employment of drinking whisky and vagabondizing. He was finally murdered by a white man in Muskingum county, near Zanesville. The northeastern part of Linton township, what is known as the north bend of Wills creek, was the first portion occupied by settlers. Here, as early as 1806, settled the Miskimens, McCunes, Addys and Joneses. In 1800, James Miskimen, then a young man, journeyed to Ohio for the purpose. of selecting a site in the vast wilderness for a future home. He first visited a relative, named Young, who held a position in the land office at Chillicothe. While there, an old hunter who was well acquainted with the wilds of Ohio, recommended to him the north bend of Wills creek. Miskimen traveled afoot up the Muskingum and Wills creek valleys, saw the location and was pleased with it. Not having the means with which to enter land, he returned to his father's plantations in Virginia, on the banks of the Potomac, and there, in conjunction with his brother, worked his father's distillery for five years. By this means he accumulated the sum of $700, and in the spring of 1805, again set out for Ohio. He spent his first summer here in raising a crop of corn on Evans' prairie, in Oxford township; returning to Virginia that same fall, he was married to Catherine Portmess, and returned at once to their future home. He first entered the northeast quarter of section 7; subsequently, the southeast quarter of the same section, the northwest quarter of section 8, the east half of section 19 and other lands, becoming an extensive land owner in this township. He was a man of great force, possessed shrewd business qualities, and was strongly identified with the agricultural development of his township and county. His brothers, John and William, followed him to this township several years later. John McCune was born in South Carolina. He served, during the war of the revolution, as captain in General Sumter's army. His property was destroyed by the tories during the war, and at its close he moved to Zanes Island, Pennsylvania. From that place, in 1801, he emigrated to Oxford township, and there purchased a large tract of land; but meeting with reverses he was obliged to dispose of his property. In 1806, he moved to Linton township, entering the southeast quarter of section 4, and the southwest half of section 3, both of range 4. He was twice married and raised a family of nine children. His death occurred in 1811. William Addy, on Christmas day of the year 1806, entered the southwest quarter of section 4, range 4. He was from near Harper's Ferry, Virginia, and brought with him five sons and four daughters. Malechi and Enoch Jones, two brothers, came about the same time from Virginia. They married two of the Addy girls and lived on their father-in-law's place. In 1806, William Evans entered the first land HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 543 on Bacon run, the northeast quarter of section 2. Edward Wiggins, hailing from Brook county, Virginia, in 1507, entered the northwest quarter of section 11. The same year Esaias and Charles Baker, brothers, came into the township, the former entering the northeast quarter of section 10, the latter the southwest quarter of section 1. They had emigrated from Virginia, with Isaac and Henry Evans, to the plains in Oxford town ship, as early as 1801. Rezin Baker, a nephew to Charles and Esaias, entered the southeast quarter of section 5, range 4, about 1808. He was born near Little York, Pennsylvania. He came into the county as early as 1802, and remained until his death, in 1842. His father's family had removed from Pennsylvania to Harrison county, and Rezin, just as he had fairly attained his majority, passed on out west and hired out with John Fulton, living near Coshocton, until he had earned enough to buy his farm in Linton township. His wife was in Harrison county, and she and two children were removed by death, he afterwards marrying Mary Addy, daughter of William Addy. Other early settlers in this vicinity were Basil Baker, a cousin to Esaias, who entered the southeast quarter of section 10; Andrew Ferier, the northwest quarter of section 5, range 4; Martin Higer, the northwest quarter of section 5, range 4, and John Loos, the southeast quarter of section 1. Farther down the creek William Jeffries, from the Keystone State, was among the first to locate. He entered the northwest quarter of section 23, about 1806. John and David Arbuckle were also extensive land owners in this region nearly as early. They remained only a few years, removing to Knox county. Richard Williams became a citizen of the township in 1808. He was from Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. He had traveled through the Scioto and Miami valleys in search of a suitable place to locate, but the settlers of those valleys appeared sickly to him ; coming up the Muskingum valley he noted the healthy appearance of the settlers and decided "pitch his tent" here. He stopped on the Wal bonding river a few months and, while there learned that William Jeffers, an old acquaintance of his, had settled on Wills creek. That brought him to Linton township. His first entry was the southwest quarter of section 18, adjoining Jeff ers' place. Conrad Powelson, a Virginian, came into the county in 1808. He lived in Franklin township three years, then moved to this township, entering the southeast quarter of section 18 and the southwest quarter of section 19. He died May 31, 1841. Two years later William McCleary, from Fredericktown, Maryland, became a resident in this neighborhood. He located eighty acres in section 23. William R. Clark came from Washington county, Maryland, during the war of 1812, to Franklin township. A recruiting officer coming along, he enlisted in the army. At the close of the war he returned to Linton township, entering the northwest quarter of section 19. Richard Fowler became identified with Coshocton county about the year 1805. His former residence was in Brook county, Virginia. He moved from Virginia because of what he deemed its tyrannous laws, oppressive to poor men. He was a carpenter by trade, and stopped a short time at Zanesville; but finding no employment there, he came on to Coshocton. Here he was engaged by Charles Williams to roof a house. After the job was completed, he moved to the country and leased a piece of land in what is now Lafayette township, from Alexander Elson, also from Brook county, Virginia. He married Elson's daughter, Jane, February 5, 1807. He served during the war of 1812, as first lieutenant of a company raised in this county. At its close, he removed to Linton township, and settled on Bacon run, becoming an influential citizen. He introduced the first sheep into this township. Wolves were still numerous at the time, and the greatest watchfulness was necessary in order to keep the sheep from the fangs of these old-time enemies. His house was a place of public entertainment from 1830 to 1850."Fowler's Stand" was widely and popularly known. Mr. Fowler was an eye-witness to a township election in Coshocton, about 1805. Its modus opeandi, as narrated by him, was as follows: The voters, perhaps fifteen in number, congregated, by special invitation, at the tavern of Charles Williams, who was the magnate of the village. The free drinks were then generously passed around, and liberal potations were indulged in 544 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. by all. When the proper degree of hilarity was reached, Williams made nominations for the various offices, and the assembled sons of liberty, with loud acclaim, expressed assent to those nominations. Fowler, on expressing to Williams his surprise at this kind of election, received the reply that it was good enough for them. Francis and John Smith, from Pennsylvania, were early settlers on Bacon run; likewise John Wells and Daniel Dean, both of Virginia. On what was called Irish run, just below Bacon run, William and Alexander Love, great-uncles to Joseph Love, settled in 1810 and 1812, respectively. They were from Ireland William and Benjamin Williams also lived here in early times. Robert Platt entered the township in 1816, and settled in this vicinity. He had emigrated from Ireland to Newark, New Jersey, in 1809. Edmund Duling emigrated from Hampshire county, Virginia, in 1815, and entered the southeast quarter of section 3, range 5. The McClains are noticed in Lafayette township. The only military land in the township is the 4,000-acre section, forming the southeast corner of the township. It was surveyed into forty lots of 100 acres each, and many of these were bought up by non-residents of the county, with an eye to speculation. Amos Stackhouse was the only revolutionary soldier known to have entered a lot in this section. He settled upon lot 14. John Lawrence was one of the earliest settlers on this section. John Phillips entered lot 18 as early as 1810; his brother George followed him soon after and settled on lot 15. They were originally from Virginia, but had lived a while in Kentucky before they came here. George had been employed by Gumber & Beatty, of Cambridge, in building the first mill in that place. He was a skilled hunter and an unerring marksman, and spent much time in the forests: The products of the chase, such as hides and venison, he would take to Zanesville. Amos Devoir and a Mr. Hyatt were also occupants in this vicinity at an early day. Joseph Heslip, one of the few pioneers that still survive the ravages of time, was the most extensive resident land owner in this section and one of its widest known and most respected settlers. His life, both preceding and following his connection with Linton township, had been un eventful. He was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in March, 1793. His father, John Heslip, was the proprietor of an extensive shoe establishment in that city. A life on the ocean wave was the dream of Joseph's early boyhood, realized when he was ten years old, for at that age he became a sailor boy aboard a merchantman. He remained on the sea till he was eighteen, in spite of his father's opposition. In 1808, while at Liverpool, he was impressed into the English service, hurried to Plymouth and shipped aboard a man-of-war, bound for Spain. As an English sailor he participated in the siege of Cadiz, Spain. While there, he contrived to get his case before the American consul, and was soon after released. In 1811, he abandoned the sea and made a trip with his father to Linton township, for the purpose of examining 1,300 acres of land here, which his father had purchased two years previously with the hope that Joseph would settle here. They returned to Baltimore the same fall, and Joseph served as a militia man in the war that ensued. In the fall of 1814, he again came to Linton township, this time permanently. Early in 1815, he married Eleanor Walgamot, of Holmes county, and in midwinter, moved into a dreary doorless and windowless cabin, in the midst of the solitudes of the forest. He had not been here a great while when his father, wishing to mitigate the hardships of his pioneer career, sent him a carriage. The vehicle arrived safely at Cambridge, but stopped there, as no road had yet been made from that place westward. In those days of stern trial, difficulties were met only to be overcome. A road was cut from Cambridge to Heslip's place for the express purpose of bringing the carriage through Once at its destination, Mr. Heslip had the exquisite pleasure of taking his wife out in the carriage for a drive-through the cornfields, as there were yet no roads. About 1815, Mr. Heslip indulged in a little speculation. He bought about 6,000 pounds of pork at two cents per pound ; dressed it and boated, it to Cambridge in a large canoe. He employed teamsters going east for goods to carry it to Baltimore, paying them $2 per hundred. Their rates for bringing goods from Baltimore HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 545 was 510 per hundred. The pork was sold at Baltimore for six cents. This occurred before pork was packed at Cincinnati. He was one of the earliest justices of his township. While serving in this capacity he tried a case once with rather unusual surroundings. Wills creek was not yet bridged, and the only means of crossing was by canoe. On the day set for the trial the stream was greatly swollen, and the witnesses were on the other side and could not be prevailed on to cross. The 'squire determined the case should go on, and proceeded with it then and there; he on one side of the stream, the witnesses on the other, a roaring flood between. Thomas Johnson, one of the earliest settlers of , the township, was among the most prominent men of the county in his day. He was born in the parish of Glentubert, Monaghan county, Ireland, on the 16th of March, 1783. Early in youth he manifested a great desire to go to America, and urged his father to emigrate. He, being a very quiet, unobtrusive man, with quite a family of young children, could not think of bringing them to the wilds of America. Thomas remained with his father till he was twenty-four years of age and had brothers grown up. He then told his father he was determined to go to the new world, and urged his suit with so much ardor that his parents could no longer withhold their consent. He left Ireland in 1806, and landed in New York with but one sovereign in his pocket. He there met with Joseph T. Baldwin, of Newark, New Jersey, who offered to employ him. He remained with Mr. Baldwin for three years. In 1808 he married Sarah Parker. About this time his parents, his three brothers, Richard, William and Robert, and his only sister, Margaret, joined him in Newark. Thomas then determined that Newark was not the place for his father's family to settle, and in 1809 they came to Coshocton county, and located in Linton township. Thomas bought from Esaias Baker the northeast quarter of section 10, where now stands the village of Plainfield. Richard settled on the southwest quarter of the same section. Robert entered the northeast quarter of section 17, and William the northwest quarter of section 15, adjoining. Thomas and Richard both served in the war of 1812, the latter dying a year or two after his return. Thomas was perhaps the first justice of the peace in the township. His first docket, still preserved, in the possession of his son, J. R. Johnson, bears date April 7, 1814. The first entry, of that date, records a suit brought by John Lawrence against Jacob Mapal, to recover ten dollars. The entry shows that bail was given by the defendant for the full amount and the costs. In 1818, he was commissioned associate judge of Coshocton county, a position which he held till the time of his death. He was probably the first, foreigner naturalized in Coshocton county, his certificate being dated December 16, 1814. Mr. Johnson possessed business qualifications of a high order. His name is connected with many enterprises of his township and county, both public and private. He died August 20, 1840,. after a protracted sickness. His widow survived him almost twenty-two years, dying at the old homestead, March 29, 1862. His father also survived him eighteen days, dying September 7,1840, in the eighty-first year of his age. Five residents of the township had served in the revolutionary war, namely, John McCune,. William Williams, Fought Shaffer, Amos Stackhouse and Israel Baker. The following carried arms in the war of 1812: Richard Fowler, William R, Clark, Laken Wells, Francis Smith, Richard Johnson, Thomas Johnson, John Glenn,. James Laurie, James R. Williams, William Hudson, Robert Platt, John Portmess, George Magness, Duga Patterson, Robert Harbiaon, Sr., Rezin Baker, James McCune, Basil Baker, Samuel Banks, Eli O. H, Shyhock, Peter Rambo, Abraham Marlatt. There may have been others whose names can not now be ascertained. R. W.. McClain and Robert Harbiaon were soldiers in the Mexican war. Dr. Thomas Heslip was among the first physicians. Drs. Collins, Hawkins and Heslip Williams also practiced the healing art here quite early. The first windmill in use was made by John Vernon and owned first by Basil Baker, afterward by Edward Wiggins. It was a rude affair, having wooden togs. Before the introduction of 546 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. windmills the process of cleaning wheat was very laborious and was often performed in Linton township after this fashion, the necessary instruments being a sheet and a half-bushel measure The sheet would be tied to a stake at one end and held at the other by a person whose office it was to maneuver the sheet in such a way as t produce an artificial wind storm strong enough to blow away the chaff while the wheat was being slowly poured from the measure upon the floor This operation performed several times would usually make the wheat sufficiently clean. A few rods below the entrance of Wills creek into Linton township, is a place called Limestone Falls. Before the Linton dam was built, there was a miniature cascade here, the water falling two or three feet, but since the building of the mill at Linton, two miles below, the falls are concealed from sight. These are the only falls in the course of the creek in the township. It is extremely sluggish in its movements and, as a navigable stream, played an important part in the history of Linton township at a time when all its inhabitants were back-woodsmen. The limited commercial relations of the pioneers with the out side world were maintained mainly through its instrumentality. Whatever products could b spared by the settlers were borne to other localities upon its bosom. In early times trading keel boats, thirty or forty feet in length, would ascend the creek from Zanesville loaded with crockery and, in fact, all kinds of wares. These the traders would dispose of to the settlers along the creek stopping at the different farm houses along the route and announcing their arrival by a blast from a tin trumpet. Taking in exchange for their goods chickens, eggs, or almost any commodity, they were able to compete successfully with the few little country stores then in operation, for these would generally demand the read cash for their staples, and money was a rare a title in those days. A great amount of lumber used to be rafted from the banks of Wills creek. It found a read market in Zanesville and could be taken there during high waters, at comparatively trifling expense. The lumber was lashed together into raft of about twenty-five togs each. Two days were usually required to reach Zanesville. White oak and poplar were the varieties generally shipped ; occasionally walnut or cherry. Seventy-five rafts a year would be a moderate estimate of the extent of this industry. When the mills along the creek were put into operation, much of the flour made was exported o by flat-boats to various points below. Thomas Johnson was extensively engaged in boating flour g and whisky to a southern market. His flat-boats touched nearly every point of importance in the Mississippi valley, a ten ton boat of whisky being poled up the Tennessee river once as far as Florence, Alabama. Perhaps the largest boat constructed for the purpose, was one 100 feet long and eighteen feet wide. It was built by V. Heslip, and partially loaded with 500 barrels of flour at Linton mills. At Zanesville its cargo was completed, and from thence conveyed safely to New Orleans. Wills creek is fordable in several places ordinarily, but it is impassible during high waters. Before the county was sufficiently developed to build bridges, some means of transportation for travelers afoot, and for teams as well, sometimes, became necessary. This led to the establishment is of ferries. Benjamin Wiggins kept the first ferry-boat in the township. It was near old Plainfield, about 1812. Peter Rambo was ferryman there at a later period. Joseph Heslip performed this office for a while on the site of Linton mills. The first attempt at bridge building in Linton township terminated disastrously. The project was to spann Wills creek, at old Plainfield, with a wooden bridge. It was begun auspiciously, and partially erected with great labor on the part of the settlers in the vicinity, when it was swept away during n freshet. The next attempt was more successful, resulting in the construction of a bridge at Jacobsport in 1834, mainly through y the efforts of Thomas Johnson. Owing to the high banks and mud bottoms there was a difficulty in crossing Wills creek at his mills, and the commissioners being unwilling or unable to assist in bridging the stream, he petitioned the legislature, in 1834, to authorize him to build a bridge and collect toll. He was assisted to some extent by the subscriptions of his neighbors. By the Contribution of a certain amount he would grant a right to the free use of the bridge. Some twenty HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 547 years later the bridge was given by Johnson's son to the county commissioners, they agreeing to keep it in repair. The second bridge was built at Linton, in 1847, by Joseph and John V. Heslip, the county commissioners contributing seventy-five dollars for the purpose. The bridge about a mile farther up the creek was built in 1870, and the one on the Otsego road, several years ago. When the first settlers came into the township, the nearest mill was at Zanesville, twenty miles or more away, and accessible only by a winding trail. In 1809, Andrew Ferier built a little mill on the present site of Plainfield, about fifty rods above where Parker's mill now stands, but it was soon after swept away by a freshet and never rebuilt. Milling was again thrown twenty miles away and the inconvenience seriously felt; consequently, when John Loos, in 1816, proposed erecting a mill on Bacon run, the neighbors turned out en masse, and, by their voluntary labor, made a race for the mill some eighty rods long, and for many years kept the same in repair. A saw-mill was operated in conjunction with the grist-mill. Years afterward it was converted into a carding mill, which was conducted first by Samuel Shaffer, afterwards by Stephen Ives; it has long since been abandoned. Thomas Johnson and Jacob Waggoner, about 1824, built a large mill, of four run of buhrs, where Parker's mill now stands. It was the first mill of any note and did a flourishing business In 18°9 Johnson assumed sole control and owned it till his death. Since then it has been owned successively by John M. Johnson, Joseph Johnson, Isaiah Rinaman, Samuel Sibley, Alonzo Sibley, William Heskett and Parker Brothers. The present owners, the Parkers, run a saw-mill and a planing-mill in connection with it The Linton mills were built, in 1847, by J. V. Heslip. In 1870, a steam saw and planing-mill was built in Plainfield by Wolfe & Williams. In 187-8, a grist-mill was added. It is now operated by William Wolfe. The manufacture of whisky was one of the main industries of pioneer times. Alexander and William Love inaugurated its manufacture in Linton township. Their still-house, of modest size, was located on Irish run, near the western line of section 9. The process of distillation was begun here about 1812. The Loves subsequently sold out to Andrew Ferguson, who removed the still to Bacon run, where Mrs. J. B. Fowler now lives. Thomas Johnson erected a large distillery, subsequently, on his homestead, and for many years manufactured spirits on a large scale. In 1816, at the laying out of Plainfield, he removed it there, and about 1825 back to its original place. Besides these, John Heslip's was the only distillery in the township. It was erected shortly after Linton was laid out and run for a few years only. The manufacture of salt was another industry in the early times that must not be overlooked. In the southwestern part of the township, William McCleeary and Judge Fulton were engaged in it for many years. The wells had to be sunk several hundred feet before the water impregnated with salt was reached. In spring time it would rise to the top of the well, but at other seasons pumping was necessary. About sixty gallons of water must usually be evaporated to produce a bushel of salt. One hundred and fifty bushels were made per week at the two wells. Some was brought to Coshocton, but it was used largely by the farming community in this part of the county. Jacob Waggoner also manufactured a little at Plainfield. The boring of his well here, discovered a vein of coal, seven feet in thickness, forty-seven feet below the surface. Linton township's first tannery was started in 1818, in the village of Plainfield, by Benjamin Chambers, from New York. The bark for this tannery was prepared by crushing it beneath a ponderous stone wheel seven or eight feet in diameter, an axle passing through the center of the wheel acting as a pivot, and was turned around one extremity by a horse hitched to the other. The bark was constantly stirred in the track of the wheel as it made its little circuit. Thomas Johnson built the next tannery in East Plainfield, about 1838; after his death it was run by his son Joseph awhile, and then discontinued. George Latham started one about twenty years ago, in the same village. Lewis Carhartt afterwards owned it, and' in October, 1879, Mrs. Elizabeth Sibley purchased it; her son William Sibley, now has charge of it. Henry Flanks owns and runs a little tannery situated about two miles west of Plainfield. 548 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. The first building erected for educational purposes was a rude log-cabin. It was built, probably, in the year 1809, by the united labor of the surrounding settlers, on the southeast quarter of section 1, near its southern line, on property then owned by a teuton, named Dumm. After several terms had been taught, Dumm resolved to appropriate the building to his own use. The citizens thereabouts became indignant at this, and remonstrated, but in vain. Seeking legal advice they learned that Dumm possessed the right of property. The lawyer, unprofessionally of course, advised them to steal the building. Acting on this suggestion, one night a willing band of workers silently conveyed it, log by log, across the road to Thomas Johnson's land, where it stood for years, the only school-house in the township. Children were sent to school here from as far up Bacon's run as Richard Fowler's, and equally as far from other directions. They had to walk through narrow bridle paths to reach it, many of them in constant fear of wild animals, that still lodged in the woods. Walter Trust is said to be the first teacher. He could spell a little, but his literary attainments were not sufficient to enable him to read, and he was not retained long. Israel H. Baker, Alpha Buker, Thomas Filch, Benjamin Norman, Francis Carroll and a Mr. Thompson, were among the earliest teachers of this school. The building was used as a church and voting place. Militia musters were also held here. A school was taught in slog cabin on McCune' place, about 1821, by a Mr. McConnell, a well educated young man of dyspeptic tendencies, fro the East, who came West to recuperate. He assumed the pedagogue's role to replenish hi slender purse. He was succeeded by a Mr. Williams, a crusty, crabbed fellow, who taught three months only. Eli Shrihock also taught here He was an easy-going, good-natured kind of a man, brother-in-law to James Miskimen. When his children had become old enough to need instruction, Mr. Miskimen built a school-house on his place. In the military section, about 1825, Joseph Heslip, John Lawrence and George Phillips built a school-cabin. It stood about a half mile east of the present village of Linton. Messrs Blair and Hunt were among the first teachers. Hunt did not believe in intellectual straining, for every little while he would tell the pupils to "rest their eyes." Another early school-house stood close to the road in the western part of section 20, near Mrs. Heslip Williams' residence. Mr. Hunt and Caleb Baker swayed the ferule here primarily. Linton township contains five churches; the Methodist Episcopal, two Methodist Protestants, the Presbyterian and the Catholic. The Methodist Episcopal is the oldest. In 1812, Rev. John Mitchell organized a class near where Plainfield now is. The first members included Thomas Johnson, Robert Johnson, William Johnson, Hester McClain, her son James; Richard Williams a td wife, Esaias Baker, Charles Baker, Sr., William Jeffers, Conrad Powelson and Frank Smith. The school-house on Johnson's farm served as the meeting-house for many years. About 1830, the "radical split," as it was commonly called, occurred. This rupture was produced originally by the question of lay delegation, and led to the formation of the Methodist Protestant church. Nearly the entire congregation of Plainfield "seceded," leaving only seven or eight members in the old organization. These were Thomas Johnson and wife, Robert Johnson and wife, William Johnson and wife and Susan Baker (her husband, Charles Baker, Sr., being among the a seceders). This feeble remnant, however, was determined and active, as the erection of a house of worship a few years later will testify. It was a large log building and stood across the creek m from Jacobsport, on land donated by Thomas Johnson, who was the prime and main mover. s The present church building, located in Plainfield, was erected about 1860. In 1875, it was somewhat enlarged and greatly improved. The present membership includes about 150 names. A flourishing Sunday-school has been connected with the church for fifty years. It is superintended by C. F. Sangster. At the time of the separation of the Methodist Protestant from the Methodist Episcopal church, there was some difference of opinion as to the proper place for holding meetings, but Bacon run was finally agreed upon. The first meetings were held in a school-house at that time on Mrs. Brels- HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 549 ford's place. Several years later a log meetinghouse, called Pleasant Bethel church, was erected in the same locality. Rev. Cornelius Springer was the minister who introduced Protestant Methodism in this community. Among the seceders were Edmund Dining, Gabriel Evans, John and Francis Smith, Esaias Baker, William G. Dean, Jarris Gardner. John Dean, Jacob Waggoner, John R. Williams, Richard Williams, Rebecca Platt and William R. Clark. In the list is included the names of several of the original members of the Methodist Episcopal church. A few years later a society of the same denomination was formed in Jacobsport. Rezin Baker, Jacob Waggoner, John Loos, Sr., and Harry Linder were among its first members. Services were first held in Robert Platt's cabinet shop, afterward in the school-house. About 1842, the Jacobsport and Pleasant Bethel churches consolidated, and in 1847 the present church edifice in East Plainfield was erected. Another society had been formed about 1831, in the Powelson school-house, through the instrumentality of Conrad Powelson. Soon after a building was raised on John R. Williams' place. It was known as the Covenant church. It finally fused with the Plainfield church. The present pastor is John Murphy, who serves a congregation in Plainfield of nearly 200 members. The Methodist Protestant church at Linton was organized about 1857, in the brick school-house, which now forms a part. of John Heslip's hotel, by Revs. Robinson and Samuel Lancaster. Isaac Thompson, George Welker, C. T. Gaumer, John Miskimen, Aaron Ransopher, James Dean and William Lawrence were among the men who gave it being. Services were held in the brick school-house, and the school-house whit succeeded it, until 1870. Then the present commodious frame, with its sky-pointing steeple, was erected. About a hundred members worship here. This and the Plinfield church belong t the same circuit. The children in this vicinity have congregated every summer Sabbath for many years in the church to receive religion instruction. The Presbyterian church is located near the northern line of the township, on the Lafayette road. The first sermon was preached August 15, 1833, by Rev. James B. Morrow, of the Richland Presbytery. The next day the church was organized with a membership of fifteen, and Alexander Matthews, Sr., and Alexander Matthews, Jr., were ordained elders. The original members were as follows: Alexander Matthews, Sr., and Hannah, his wife; Alexander Matthews, Jr., Prudence, his wife, and. daughters, Sarah, Maria and Arny; Margaret Potter, Maria Roberts, Lydia Ann Butler, Thomas B. and Mary Barton, John and Jane Glenn, and Martha McCune. The first ten were received on certificate, the last five on examination. The earliest meetings were held in the school-house at Plainfield. The first communion was celebrated June 8, 1834. In 1847, an old wagonmaker's shop, on the site of the present church, was purchased and converted into a house of worship. Services were held in it till the present church was built, in 1867. It was dedicated, free of debt, in June of that year. Its cost was $1,800. The church was supplied for nearly nineteen years by Revs. N. Conklin, N. Cobb, J. Matthews, D. Washburn, S. Hanna, William Lumsden and Robert Robe. Rev. R. W. Marquis was the first settled pastor, from 1852 to 1859. Then followed Rev. J. B. Akey (supply); Rev. John Moore, D. D., two years; George W. Fisher, seven years; James B. Stevenson, one year; J. J. Gridley (supply); W. B. Scarborough, eight years, ears, and A. B. Wilson, the present pastor. The present session consists of A. Shaffer, John L. Glenn, Jr., Robert Dougherty and Joseph Love. The membership is seventy-two Rev. Marquis, its first pastor, is buried in the church cemetery. Mr. John Gundy, residing at Snow Hill, Maryland, but owning land in the vicinity of this church, left it a legacy of $1,000, - in 1874. The Saint Mary's Catholic church, located in the western part of the township, was organized during or near the year 1840, by Father Gallaher, Quite a number of persons holding allegiance to this church had moved into this neighborhood previously. Among them were the following, who assisted in establishing the church here Michael Hiser, Adam Mortine, David and John to Wendel, Martin Henricks, Jacob Cline, Jacob 550 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. Shearer, John H. Baker, and David Bordenkircher. The organization was effected and first services held at the residence of David Bordenkircher. A log church was erected very soon afterwards, which continued to be the house of worship, till 1867, when the neat little frame where they now hold service was built. The earliest ministers came principally from Zanesville, to administer to their spiritual welfare. They were Fathers Gallaher, William Burgess and William Diters. Father Bender, who succeeded, was from Newark. Since the organization of the Catholic church at Coshocton, the pastors of it have supplied this charge. The membership amounts to about sixty. About the year 1858, a society of the United Brethren persuasion was organized about a half mile northeast from the Catholic church. John Michael, William Snites and John Stough were its main supporters. It was feeble in point of numbers from the start, and became still more so by the subsequent removal of some of its members from this vicinity. It ceased to exist in 1867. The frame meeting-house, erected in 1859, still stands in monumental memory of its prior existence. The first village laid out in the township was called Plainfield. It was located about a mile south of the present village of Plainfield, on the west bank of Wills creek, and platted October 10, 1816. Thomas Johnson, as executor of the estate of Richard Johnson, and Edward Wiggins were the joint proprietors, part of the village platted lying on Wiggin's laud, the northwest quarter of section 17, and part on Richard Johnson's, the southwest quarter of section 10. The road dividing the two sections was dubbed Coshocton street, and twelve lots were laid off from each section facing this street. The road running north from this along the creek was called Water street, and nine lots belonging to Johnson's land fronted on it. The first house was built by Thomas Johnson for a tavern, in 1816. It was a two-story, log hewed building, and is still standing. Plainfield was then on the road between Zanesville an Philadelphia; the road was traveled a great deal Mr. Johnson kept a small stock of goods at his tavern stand, and the following year (1817) a store, owned by Dwight Hutchinson, of Cambridge, was opened and managed by Joseph White, also of Cambridge. It was removed the next year and Mr. Luccock became the village storekeeper. The same year Benjamin Chambers started his tannery, as mentioned elsewhere in this chapter, and Mr. Johnson brought his distillery here. In 1817, John Vernon built a frame house in the village, the first of the kind built in the township. He was a carpenter and cabinetmaker by trade, and emigrated from New York. He died of consumption a few years later. Thomas Johnson became the first postmaster in the township here, his appointment dating November 27, 1819. The postoffice was afterward removed to East Plainfield. The little village, for some reason, was not a success. At no time did it contain many more than half a dozen houses. It was named, doubtless, from the plains surrounding it. Jacobsport was laid out in August. 1836, by Jacob Waggoner and named after him. He was the owner at that time of the northwest quarter of section 6, range 4. All the land lay east of Wills creek except a small piece in a bend of that stream. Deeming it a fine location for a village he laid it out into lots. At the time, there. was a single log but on this ground, one which had been occupied by Andrew Ferier when his mill was in operation. Thomas Platt erected the first dwelling house, a comfortable frame building. Butler & Shook owned the first store, opened about 1839. Several years previous to this Thomas Johnson had opened a store on his land adjoining Jacobsport, and in 1840 had a number of lots laid off contiguous to Jacobsport. Several years later his son John M. Johnson increased the number of lots and recorded the plat, calling the village East Plainfield. Though forming but one village, in reality each part retained its original name. Jacobsport was entirely- hemmed in by the creek and East Plainfield and consequently had little chance to extend its limits. East Plainfield on the contrary had a whole quarter section before it and grew slowly but surely. In March, 1878, the whole was incorporated as one village under the name of Plainfield. Its first officers, elected April, 1878, were as follows: J. A. Mayhugh, mayor; David Duling, clerk; John Famil- PAGE 551 PICTURES OF MR. FRANCIS & MRS. FRANCIS MQUIRE JR. CORA A. & FANNIE G. M'QUIRE PAGE 552 FRANCIS McGUIRE, Jr. FRANCIS McGUIRE, Jr., Lafayette township, farmer; postoffice, Coshocton; was born April 2, 1842, in this township; son of Francis McGuire, a native of this township. He was raised on the faun adjoining the home where he now lives. Mr. McGuire has always taken great pride in dealing in the finest blooded stock possible to be obtained, and without doubt has the finest flock of sheep in this part of the State, having selected strains of blood from the finest of Lee Archer's noted sheep of Washington county, Pennsylvania. He has always taken an active interest in the agricultural development of the county, and at the present time is one of the Directors of the Agricultural Society of this county. He was married, March 29, 1871, to Miss Susan J. Russell, daughter of John N. Russell, of this township. They have two children, Cora E, and Fannie G. PAGE 553 - BLANK PAGE 554 - RESIDENCE FRANCIS M'GUIRE, JR., LAFAYETTE TOWNSHIP. HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 555 ton, treasurer; V. E. Vickers, marshal; R. McClintick, Alonzo Sibley, S. P. Woodward, Thomas Platt, Lewis Carhartt and C. W. Wilkin, councilmen. The village is compactly built and lies in the lower bottom land, close to the creek. It is concealed from view in almost every direction by the terrace which rises abruptly behind it. Its present population is three hundred. As a business center it is not excelled in the county away front Coshocton. If contains three stores, two mills, one drug store, two hotels, one saloon, one jeweler shop, two shoe shops, three blacksmith shops, two harness shops, one tin store, one wagon shop, one tannery, one tailor shop, two churches, and three physicians. Plainfield Masonic Lodge, No, 224, was chartered in 1852. The charter was destroyed by fire the same year and reissued October 20, 1853. The charter members were Jacob Nichols, master; J. B. Ingraham, senior warden ; P. Inskeep, junior warden; J. R. Inskeep, John Baler, L. I. Bonnell, William White and A. J. Davis. The present membership is twenty-eight. The lodge is now officered as follows: S. P. Woodward, master; .J. G. Powelson, senior warden; R. J. Sprague, junior warden; David During, clerk; T. J. Cook, treasurer. During the summer of 1879 the township built a fine two-story hall, about thirty-six by fifty feet in size. Several township offices and a festival room occupy the lower floor ; the upper story is used as an audience hall. The township cemetery adjoins Plainfield. It is beautifully located on a knoll of rising ground, the gift of Thomas Johnson. The village of Lipton, comprising 115 inhabitants, is situated in the southeastern part of the township on Wills creek, at the base of a steep range of hills. It was laid out in 1849, by J. V. Heslip, the land which formed it being mostly in timber at that time. The first building was erected by Mr. Heslip, in 1847, and was used as a boarding house for the workmen employed by him in constructing a mill-dam. A saw-mill, grist-mill, distillery and tavern were built within a few years, all by Mr. Heslip.. A great amount of business was done in the mills formerly, but they have lost much of their activity. The village contains two stores and the usual complement of shops. Joseph Heslip was the first postmaster, in 1847. Bacon postoffice, situated on Bacon run, was established about 1858, with John H. Sicher as postmaster. A country store was started here several years after by William Fowler, and has been in operation most of the time since. Maysville, situated in the southwestern corner of the township, was laid out in 1837, by Alexander Ballentine. It never prospered, and for years has flickered between life and death. It possibly numbers a half dozen houses, one of which is used as a blacksmith shop. The population of the township in 1880 was 1,918, an increase of 318 in ten years. The early set lers were principally from the States of Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, 'with a fair sprinkling from the Emerald Isle. The hills in the western part of the township were settled almost exclusively by German and French emigrants. Descendants of most of the pioneer families still reside on the farms which their grandfathers wrestled from primitive wilderness, a fact which speaks well of the agricultural and social qualities of the township. CHAPTER LX. MILL CREEK TOWNSHIP. Boundary-Streams-Survey-Organization-Settlement- Population-Postoffices-Mills-Schools-Churches. MILL CREEK TOWNSHIP lies in the northern tier of townships and is bounded as follows: On the north by Mechanic township, Holmes county , on the east by Crawford township, on the south by Keene, and on the west by Clark. Its name is derived from the principal stream within its limits, which enters near the northeastern corner, and, pursuing an almost direct course, passes into Keene township, near the middle of the southern line. Several small branches unite with it in this township, and two or three others, flowing in a nearly parallel course with it, meet it in Keene. Walnut run, in the 556 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. northern part of the township, flows northwesterly and reaches Doughty's fork in Holmes county. Narrow valleys border the streams, but beyond these the land is hilly throughout. It was organized in July, 1817, and the first election of officers was held at the house of John P. Wilson, on the northeast quarter of section 21, near the southeastern corner of the township. This was then a central location, for in Mill Creek was originally embraced Crawford, White Eyes, and Keens townships. As it exists to-day, it is the seventh township in the sixth range of the United States military district, and should be five miles square in area, but, owing to an imperfection in the original survey, it lacks nearly a half mile of the requisite width. The first, second and fourth quarters consist of congress land, and were surveyed in 1803 by Ebenezer Buckingham. The third or southwest quarter is a military section, and was surveyed into thirty-four 100-acre lots, by William Cutbush, in 1808. Had the quarter been of full size, there would have been forty instead of thirty-four lots. As the early records are lost, the first officers can not be given. Henry Grim, however, was the first justice of the peace, and Moses Thompson the first clerk. Philip Fernsler, who lived in what is now Crawford township, was at the same time elected to some minor office, but when called upon to appear before the justice and be sworn in, refused to do so on conscientious principles. Rather than violate his conscience he paid the fine of two dollars which the law imposed upon a citizen for refusing to perform the duties of an office to which he was elected. Richard Babcock, in 1812, settled with his family upon the southeast quarter of section 18, and by so doing became the earliest settler in the township. For three years he was the only settler. He was originally from Vermont, but h come to this place directly from Harrison county He was a successful hunter, and made a good section of land for his future home, for the quar ter is not excelled in the entire township. A trail leading up Mill creek, past his cabin, to the Car penter settlement on Donghty's fork, in Holmes county, was for some time the only public way in the township. It was afterward replaced by wagon road. In the fall of 1815, while Mr. Babcock was yet the sole white occupant of the township, a band of wandering Indians encamped a short distance southeast of his land and made serious inroads upon his field of ripening corn, notwithstanding his remonstrances. Mr. Babcock, single-handed, was no match for the aggressors, and conveyed intelligence to the scattering settlers about Coshocton, requesting assistance to drive the base intruders from the neighborhood. Accordingly, twelve men started from the river for Babcock's place, with this express purpose, but when they reached it, the Indians had flown, never to re turn. They had probably been appraised through . some source of the intended attack and, seizing time by the forelock, departed for regions unknown. Mr. Babcock was killed by a runaway team, about 1823. His widow died a few years later. His youngest son remained upon the home farm until his death, in 1874. His grandson, Daniel Babcock, now lives upon the place. The second settler was Solomon Vail, who in 1815 entered and removed to the northeast quarter of section 23, from what is now the John Lemmon place, in the northeast corner of Tuscarawas township, where he had been living for some time with his father, John Vail. The family had come to this county from Youngstown, Mahoning county. Mr. Vail, in after years, removed with a large family to the western part of Illinois, where he died. Moses Thompson was the third settler, coming into the township with his family March' 27,1816. He was of Irish birth and had been living in Jefferson county. In the fall of 1815 he removed to this county. He found a temporary habitation near the Tuscarawas river in the cabin of Robert Culbertson, who had died in 1815. During the winter he prepared the timber and with the assistance of the settlers gathered far and near reared his backwoods cabin on the northwest quarter of section 22. Here he remained until his death, which occurred in 1862. 1 His wife had died in 1822 His son S. T. Thompson resided on the home farm for many years, but within a few years removed to Keens n township, where he now resides. In 1817 the pioneers began to enter this township more rapidly. In that year Thomas Moore HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 557 settled upon the northeast quarter of section 22. He was born in New Jersey and at the age of sixteen ran away from home. He eventually made his way to Harrison county• and from there here. He was a man of little education but was well liked by his neighbors. His father, years afterward, came out and lived with him. Both died on the home place. Joseph Beach. a son-in-law of Thomas Moore came to the township with him and lived upon the same quarter. Henry Grim in 1817 settled upon the southwest quarter of section 21. He was of German extraction and a few years before had been living in Perry township. He afterwards became an associate judge of this county. From this place he removed to Owen county, Indiana. John P. Wilson in the same year settled upon the northeast quarter of section 21. He had married a sister of Solomon Vail and like him had come from Mahoning county. He first took a lease upon the McGuire tract in Lafayette township, where he accumulated a little money with which to enter his quarter. He afterward moved to Wells county, Indiana. About this time James Osborn, a New Englander, made his appearance in the township. He had been living on the Tuscarawas river and had there married a Miss Cantwell. He bought ten acres from Solomon Vail and remained here but a short time, removing to Keens township. He was a ready workman and could make himself useful in almost any kind of employment. From Keene township he emigrated to Texas. William Willis in 1817 settled upon the southwest quarter of section 12. A little later, Luke Tipton and his two sons, Luke and Thomas, settled upon the southeast quarter of section 8. They were originally from Maryland, but had come to this place from Jefferson county. Mr. Tipton had been a soldier of the revolutionary war, and was an excentric character, very credulous in his disposition. He went to Holmes county and afterward to Tennessee, where he died. John Williams, Sr., a brother of Charles Williams of Coshocton, settled upon the northwest quarter of section 19, in 1817 or 1818. He was in the revolutionary war, and at its close settled. near Wheeling. He was also in the Moravian and the Coshocton campaigns. He removed to Coshocton about 1812. From Mill creek, he removed to Keens township where he died in 1833, when about eighty years of age. He was a good man and highly esteemed by his acquaintances. Among the earliest settlers on the military section were William Baldwin, Samuel Bice, Frederick Bentley, Charles Elliott, Amos Smith and Benjamin Workman. Mr. Baldwin was from New England and came about 1820 or earlier, settling on lot 9. He was an enterprising man and accumulated considerable property. Mrs. Baldwin was a cultivated lady and instituted the first singing school hereabouts. Samuel Bice, occupying lot 20, was here perhaps a little earlier. He died early in life, and the family soon disappeared from the township. Frederick Bentley owned lot 13. Two brothers also lived here for a while, but all moved West, Frederick going to Illinois. Charles Elliott lived upon lot 2, which was owned by his brother Aaron. He afterward moved to Clark township. Amos Smith settled upon lot 5 about 1818 and died not many years thereafter. Benjamin Workman was from Virginia, and owned lots 26 and 27. Other settlers who were in the township about or before 1820, were Daniel Weaver, who settled upon the northeast quarter of section 3; John Stonehocker, the northwest quarter of section 19 (he died on the place several years later); Amos Purdy, a New Englander, who afterward moved, farther west, the northwest quarter of section 13; Henry and Adam Lowe, the former owning the west half, the latter the east half, of section 4; and Peter Harbaugh, the northwest quarter of section 2. John Mitchell, about the same time, settled upon the northwest quarter of section 21. He was from Jefferson county, and became a respected and prominent citizen of the township, serving as county commissioner from 1829 to 1832. He lived on the place he first occupied till his decease. Peter Sheplar, from Harrison county, about 1821, settled in the eastern part of section 8. He removed to Missouri, but returned to this township and died here. William Baird, from Jefferson county, and John Dickey, a brother-ln-law to Mr. Stonehocker, came in about the same time. Frederick Miser, about 1820, settled in the south half of section 1. He was a person of towering 558 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. stature and strength, and extremely fond of hunting. He wore the usual hunter's garb, the skins of wild animals, and with his large fox-skin cap presented quite a formidable appearance. He was, however, kind-hearted as a child, and would never knowingly injure any one. When his rifle would bring down a deer it is related that he was accustomed to swing the game across his shoulders and continue the hunt till he had shot another. He would then fasten one to each end of a short pole, and with ease bear it home on his shoulder. The earliest settlers were chiefly from New England, many of them having sojourned for a while in the eastern counties of the State. Later, a German emigration to the township set in, and this people now forms the predominating element. In 1830 the population was 587; ten years later it was larger than it has been at any time since, 907; in 1850 it was 872; in 1860, 688; in 1870, still further reduced, to 586. The present tendency is again upward, the recent census accrediting the township with 626 inhabitants. It is distinctly a rural district, as a town to has never been surveyed within its limits. The nearest approach to a village is a solitary country store and postoffice, called Mound, in the south eastern part of the township. The store w started by Daniel Babcock, in the spring of 1880 and the office established a little later. It is only an accommodation or branch office, however the postmaster, Mr. Babcock, bringing the mail from Keene once a week, on Saturdays. Many years ago a postoffice known as Mill Creek, w kept for a while in the western part of the town ship, by Jesse Patterson. It was then remove to Bloomfield. A Mr. Bennett provided "private entertainment," as the sign read, for the public on lot 7, a long time ago, and was succeeded in this capacity for a few years by Mr. Patterson. The first corn-grinding done in the township was done in a little hand-mill which Solomon Vail was fortunate enough to possess. Not satisfied with this, he determined to build a power mill, and with the assistance of his brother-in-law, Benjamin Firbee, accomplished the under taking. It was a rude affair, capable of grinding nothing but corn. Thomas Elliott kindly consented to bring the stones for the mill from Mansfield, and for his services was rewarded with a pair of " wedding shoes" which Mr. Vail, who was a "jack of all trades," fashioned for him. The water soon washed around the dam, and Mr.. Vail afterwards built a larger mill a little farther down the stream-Mill creek. This latter one could grind wheat, but the flour must be bolted by hand at a separate mill. After this mill had subserved its intended use, it was replaced by a. saw-mill which did not remain long in operation.. Eli Steele erected a mill more than thirty years ago, on the southeast quarter of section 9. He sold it to A. Crawford, and it has long since ceased to exist. Concerning the distillation of spirits, it may be said that Foster R Young, and afterward Moses Thompson, were engaged in the business for a short time. Mr. Hartman ran a tannery for a while on the southwest quarter of section 13. The first school in the township was taught by David Grim, the son of Henry Grim, in 1816 or 1817, on the John Williams place. Mr. Williams had built his cabin in the fall, but did not intend to occupy it till the following spring, and allowed the school to be held in it during the winter. By the next fall he had a double cabin erected as and the school was continued another term in one of these. Mr. Grim taught both terms. He was a paralytic cripple, unable to perform the sturdy labor of pioneer life, and had attempted to gain a livelihood by teaching. He died soon after. Then there was no school in the township as for years, till the country became more thickly settled. John Mitchell was among the next d teachers. At present there are regular services in only n one church in the township-Elliott's chapel, a Methodist Episcopal church, located near the northwest corner of lot 28, in the southwestern . n part of the township. This meeting-house was erected in 1861, and dedicated in April, 1862, by G. W. Breckenridge, then the presiding elder of the circuit. It was built by John Elliott, is a frame about twenty-four by thirty-eight in size,. and cost about $500. George Elliott, Samuel Elliott and Albert Seward were the most influential members. Rev. E. H. Dissette is the pastor at HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 559 present. The membership, owing to removals, and the organization of the church at Bloomfield. has been greatly reduced and is now very weak numerically. Preaching had been held in this neighborhood from a very early date, more recently at George Elliott's house, earlier in the school-house or wherever a suitable place could he obtained. An appointment was made for services ono Sunday evening in the school-house. The time arrived and with it the preacher and his congregation, but the man in charge of the building came late with fuel and candles, but by a strange oversight, without fire. There were no matches, it was getting late, the night was very dark and the nearest house was a considerable distance away. Undaunted, the good brother decided to proceed with the services. Bidding the people in attendance be seated, he found his way to the pulpit, ascended it grid delivered a sermon with great power and unction to his invisible hearers. St. Mark's Parish of the Protestant Episcopal church was organized at the dwelling of Moses Thompson in 1823, Bishop Chase officiating. The principal original members were John Mitchell, Moses Thompson, James Foster, Alexander Scott, George McCaskey and William Elliott. Services had been occasionally held previously in the house and barn of William Elliott, of Keene township. The first church building was erected in the year 1824. It was built of hewed logs and without the aid of money, the members and neighbors giving labor instead. In 1859 the present church was built at a cost of $800. It is located in the northwestern part of section 22, on land donated by Moses Thompson. There have been no settled pastors, the church having been commonly supplied by professors and theological students from Kenyon College, Gambier. There are now no regular services. In 1825 or 1826, a Sunday-school was organized with Samuel Elliott as superintendent, and William Grim, assistant. It has been irregularly kept up since, though there is no school at present. Elders Norris and Snow, pastors of the Disciple church, began to preach in this vicinity nearly fifty years ago, in houses, barns, the woods or whatever accommodations for an audience might be obtained. Converts to the new faith began to increase, and, in 1848 or 1849, a house of worship was built near the northeast corner of the Babcock farm. Frederick Bentley, Luke Tipton, Sylvester Tipton, William Willis, Samuel Morrison, from Holmes county, and others early identified themselves with this church, and it at one time possessed considerable strength. Not long after the erection of the church, however, it began to decline, owing to the emigration of its members from the county, and in a few years the organization expired. The building is still standing and is occupied as a dwelling house. CHAPTER LXI. MONROE TOWNSHIP. Boundary-Topography-Population-Settlers-- Mills -New Princeton-Spring Mountain-Churches. MONROE belongs to the northern tier of the townships of Coshocton county. On the north it touches Richland and Killbuck townships of Holmes county, on the east Clark township, on the south Jefferson and on the west Tiverton. Owing to its location and typographical features it was probably the last township of the county to yield its pristine wildernesses to the subduing hand of civilization. Hemmed in on all sides by bold and rugged hills, the topography of its own territory from a picturesque point of view in places approaches the attractive elements of grandeur and sublimity, but seen from an agricultural standpoint the view was not so entrancing, and doubtless deterred many settlers from taking possession of the soil. Very little limestone is seen in the township but sandstone rock, both massive and fragmentary, is scattered in rich profusion over many a hillside and crops out with uniform regularity in all parts of the township. The valleys were in early times decked with a thrifty forest growth, but the hill tops were usually bleak and bald or covered only with scantiest vegetation of shrubs and bushes. Settlements in a new country almost invariably follow the streams, and progress in settle- 560 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. went is proportionate to the size and advantages of the streams and their valleys. In Monroe township the streams are inconsiderable in size, and did not offer to settlers the same inducements possessed by larger streams. Beaver run rises in the southern part and flows southeasterly draining the southwestern corner of the township. It received its name from the fact that John Severns of Jefferson township was one of earliest settlers on its banks. He had emigrated from Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and on this account, to distinguish him from another John Severns, he was familiarly known as Beaver John. Big run has its source in the western part of the township and flows eastward, entering Killbuck creek in Clark township. With its little branches it drains most of the northern half of the township. The ridge lands in the southern central portion of the township are undulating and afford locations for fine farms. The third section, or southwest quarter of the township, is military land. It was surveyed into forty 100-acre lots, in 1818, by Alexander Holmes. The remainder of the township is congress land, surveyed in 1803, by Silas Bent, Jr. The township was organized in 1824, and in its original extent embraced what is now Clark township, and probably other territory. The first justice of the peace was James Parker, who served fifteen years. Jeremiah Williams, William Estap and James Curtis followed him. William Hughes has now filled this office for about thirty years. The population of the township, in 1830, was 120. The adjoining townships at this time contained about 250 each, and the remaining town ships in the county ranged from 400 to 800. In 1840, Monroe contained 557 inhabitants; in 1850, 750; in 1860, 868; in 1870, 832, and in 1880, 1,005. The earliest settlers were principally Pennsylvanians, with a strong admixture, however, of Virginians. During the last twenty years, there has been a steady inflow of Germans, and this element is now of considerable strength. The early settlers, generally, were without much means, and many of them moved about, from place to place, a great deal In 1827, the only resident taxpayers in this township were Jeremiah Fetrow, lot 3, of section 3; Daniel Fetrow, lot 2, section 3; William Griffith, lots 4 and 5, same section, and James Parker, the west half of the southeast quarter of section 25. It must be remembered, however, that real estate was not taxable until five years after it had been entered, and most of these were probably in the township in 1822. Mr. Parker was from Beaver county, Pennsylvania; was the first justice of the peace for this township, and finally moved further west. William Griffith was born near Wheeling, Virginia, and came to this township as early as 1824.. At one time he owned 500 acres of the military section. He was the only child of wealthy parents, a practical farmer and thorough business man, accommodating to his friends and neighbors, and widely respected for his strict integrity. He unfortunately became addicted to the popular vice of the day, and, from consequent neglect of business, his property became reduced, and he at last removed to Illinois. Andrew Fetrow and his two sons, Jeremiah and Daniel, a German family, moved to this township from the vicinity of Sugar creek, in the eastern part of the State. After living here for a while they became scattered, and are no longer in this neighborhood. Absolom and Joseph Severns, two brothers from Beaver county, Pennsylvania, were among the earliest settlers. The former was not a property owner here, and removed to a place near Canal Lewisville. Joseph owned a small tract of land, but in 1829, while yet a young man, sold it and emigrated to Illinois. Peter Rutledge, a Marylander by birth, owned a farm in the northeast quarter of section 23, settling upon it in about the year 1823. He was regarded by his acquaintances asa man of more than ordinary intelligence, but was of a quiet disposition and not desirous of political preferment. He removed to Illinois thirty or more years ago. Daniel Butler, the son of Joseph Butler, who was an early settler in the Walhonding valley, cleared and occupied a place in the southern part of the township, and his son-in-law, William Griffith, afterward entered it. Mr. Butler continued to farm it for a number of years, then removed to Putnam county. Michael Stover, from Rockingham county, Virginia, settled upon the west half of the northeast HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 561 quarter of section 22, about 1823. He remained a resident of this place up to his death. His brother Matthias was also a settler of this township. David Groves came from Green county, Pennsylvania, in 1825, and settled upon eighty acres in the southeast quarter of section 13. He sold the place about 1831 and removed to Simmons' run, where he died. Samuel Brillhart came from Rockingham county, Virginia, in 1827, and engaged in farming for a year for John Stevens, in Jefferson township; then in the fall of 1828, he removed to lot 8 of section 3, and soon after entered it. He was a mechanic, and in connection with farming carried on a blacksmith and wagon shop, and for a time, a cooper shop also, shipping a great many barrels to Renfrew's steam grist-mill at Coshocton. He died in this township and his descendants are still residents in this vicinity. Darius Snow was a peculiar but very valuable character in the early stages of the township's growth. He was probably the only Yankee in it hailing from Connecticut. When he first entered the township, in return for some services rendered, he procured a life-lease for a small tract of seven acres in section 23. On this he planted an orchard and erected a blacksmith shop: During the summers he would engage in farming and blacksmithing, and in winter furnish the little educational instruction the settlers of those early days could afford for their children. About 1830 he moved to the Mohican river, in Holmes count but afterwards returned. He was raised a strict Presbyterian, but afterwards joined the Baptists and became one of their itinerant pioneer ministers. From this faith he turned to the teachings of Alexander Campbell, and became one of the propagators of the Disciple church in this county. In later life he procured a land warrant for service: rendered by his son in the Mexican war, in which his son was killed, and with it entered a lot in this township. Mr. Snow died in this township. Jacob Lutz, in 1828, came from Green county, Pennsylvania, and was among the first settlers on Big run. He settled on the southwest quarter of section 9, possessing only a squatter's right, and the next year moved a short distance across the Holmes county line. After living there and in Clark township a short time, he returned to Monroe, at first entering forty acres in section 10, and afterwards adding more to it. He spent his time in farming and hunting. Of this latter pursuit he was very fond. In 1850 his wife died, and several years later he removed to Paulding county, where he died. He had two children, a son now living in Iowa, and Mrs. Jacob Sondals, of this township. James Corner, of Beaver county, Pennsylvania, located in the northwestern part of the township prior to 1828. Thomas McConnel, in 1828, moved from Green county, Pennsylvania, to the south east quarter of section 8. After a stay of about ten years in this county, he removed to Indiana. Larry Croy, in 1829, was living on Big run; he afterward moved to Holmes county. John Windsor came about 1830, but remained in the township only a few years. John Reed, a little later, came from Gallipolis and settled on the ridge in the southern part of the township. He remained here until his death, and his children have removed to other parts. Ezekiel, James and Joseph Severns, brothers to John Severns, came from Beaver county, Pennsylvania, and settled on the ridge. William Hughes, still living, came in 1832 or 1833. The country settled up gradually, but as late as 1850 there was still some unentered land in the township. The portions first settled, along the streams and on the ridge, in the south central portion of the township, will compare in value with most uplands north of the river, but the parts later settled were not so desirable for agricultural purposes. The water power afforded in the township is slight. On Big run a small mill was built, forty or more years ago, in the southwest quarter of section 8, by John Oxley. By him it was sold to Charles Purdy, of Holmes county, and his two sons, Gord and Polk, successively operated it fora few years. George and Charles Caser next ob tained it and the latter now owns it. The gristmill contains but one run of buhrs, and is adapted only to the grinding of corn and buck-wheat. The saw-mill has prepared a large amount of lumber in this part of the township. The mills at New Princeton were built about 562 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. 1846, by Benjamin Williams. They were at first unpretentious in size, but afterwards somewhat enlarged. Mr. Williams sold to John Power, in 1856 or 1857, and he, some five years later, to Joseph McCoy. Subsequent owners have been John Burrows, Abraham Landis, William Hughes and Samuel Beck. Mr. Beck is the present owner. The grist-mill contains two run of buhrs. The water power is a large overshot wheel, fed from a race which is about a half mile in length. Mr. Beck has added steam power to the mill, and it now operates at all seasons of the year, doing a custom work principally. A stationary saw-mill was attached when the mill was first built, but after a few years it was allowed to run down. A portable mill has supplied its place and is now in operation. New Princeton was laid out in this Vicinity by William Whinnery years ago; the exact date is not known, for the plat is not on record. It consisted of but sixteen lots, of irregular size, and its two thoroughfares rejoiced in the names of Telegraph and Mill streets. A postoffice was kept here at one time, a number of stores have been in operation, but all that marks the place now is the mill and a few houses. A tannery was also operated here, but for several years it too has been idle. Mr. Whinnery was running it in 1858; his son, Columbus, then controlled it for some time, and was succeeded by William Wolfs. Mr. Wolfs disposed of it in 1875, and after being operated by Charles McLain for probably a year, it suspended business, but will soon be reopened. Dr. J. W. Robinson has been practicing medicine here for seven or eight years. The village of Spring Mountain, located on lot 10 of the 3d section, was founded in August, 1836, by Thomas Gillam, proprietor, under the name of Van Buren. The original plat comprised that part of the village lying south of the street running east and west, lots 1 to 22 inclusive. Four of these are said to have been deeded to the surveyor for his services in platting the village. In December, 1839, Mr. Gillam made a small addition on the north of the village. A change in the name having been determined upon some twenty yearn subsequent to its foundation, the honor of selecting the new name was conferred upon Mrs. George Conant, whose husband was the principal of the academy, and she, with an eye to natural fitness, called it Spring Mountain. The first house was built on the corner by Samuel Gillam, brother to Thomas Gillam, and was used as a tavern for several years. The second house was designed for a store. It was a very small building, and a very small stock of goods was kept in it by William Estap. In about three years he disposed of the establishment to William Drake, who very materially increased the amount of goods. He in turn was soon succeeded by Levi Drake, who so enlarged the stock of goods as to make a very presentable appearance for a country store. His successors were William Sturgeon, Richards & Brothers, Richards & Mc Coy. Day & Simmons, in 1859-60, and afterward Joseph McCoy, operated in this line briefly, but soon closed out. About 1865, John Emerson started a small grocery. He was succeeded by Baker & Lybarger, who soon purchased the stock of Richards & McCoy. Since 1866, they have uninterruptedly engaged in mercantile pursuits at this place. The population of Spring Mountain is scarcely seventy-five. It contains two blacksmith shops and one shoe shop. Isaac Baker is postmaster. The mail is tri-weekly, received from Bloomfield. Prior to Buchanan's administration, the postoffice here was called Ridge. Since then it has been Spring Mountain. Dr. Briggs was practicing medicine here as early as 1850. He remained only a short time, and, after a little while, was followed by Dr. Thomas Finney, who practiced several years. In 1858, Dr. W. R. Wing located here and continued in practice until 1866. Dr. J. W. Winslow began a practice in 1863, which is still maintained. Recently he has associated with him Dr. T. W. W Workman. Warsaw Lodge No. 255, of the Masonic fraternity was removed from Warsaw to this village in 1877. It was chartered October 17,1854. The first officers were: William Stanton, master; David Lawson, senior warden; Levi Drake, junior warden; John Hays, senior deacon; P. Metham, junior deacon; John Williams, secretary; William Thompson, treasurer; Samuel Darling; tyler. HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 563 The lodge is at present officered as follows: John Wilson, master; E. L. Lybarger, senior warden; Corwin McCoy, junior warden; George Wilson, senior deacon; James Wilson, junior deacon; Isaac Baker, treasurer; William D. Hastings, secretary; Abram Bartlett, tyler. The membership is at present about thirty. One of the past institutions of Spring Mountain which has reflected honor upon the village, was the academy. It was built by individual subscriptions, and among the stockholders were Silas Moore, J. S. McCoy, William D. Hastings, Samuel Anderson, Mr. Thompson and Levi Drake. The academy building, a large two-story frame, was erected in 1855, on lot 1.0, and the year following a spacious boarding hall now the Mountain House, was erected on lot 17. George Conant (afterward superintendent., Coshocton schools), was the. first principal, remaining two years. J. S. Haldeman succeeded him, serving from 1857 to 1859. J. B. Selby followed him and remained several years. His assistant, Miss Ada Baker, then conducted the school for a year or two, and was succeeded by Mr. Taylor. Prof. Conant returned about 1867, but taught only a few months when the school was abandoned. The attendance previous to 1861 had averaged about sixty. but about that time a large number of students enlisted into the service, and during the war the attendance was greatly reduced, and did not recover its former numbers. Soon after the school was opened, its management came into the hands of a conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1870, the lower room of the academy was sold to the directors of the school district, and the district school has since been held there. Since 1877, the upper room has been occupied as a hall by the Masonic. Lodge. The only church in Spring Mountain is the Methodist Episcopal. As early as 1842 preaching was held at the house of John McCoy, Sr., once in two weeks. The appointment Was then within the bounds of Roscoe circuit The original membership of the class comprised the following persons: Timothy R. Johnson and wife, John McCoy and wife, Silas Moore and wife; Sarah McCoy, wife of J. S. McCoy; Jacob L. Weatherwax and wife, Jonas Gilbert and wife, and William R. Drake. The services were soon transferred to the house of Silas Moore, residing in the "suburbs" of Van Buren, and in a year or two to a small log cabin in the village. The height of the room to the loft was so slight that a man of ordinary stature could scarcely stand erect; yet there were a number of successful revival meetings held in it. About this time Keene circuit, comprising this congregation, was formed as it now stands. A few years later a new school-house was built near by, and the preaching was held there. Quarterly meetings were held at the barns of Silas Moore and Samuel Brillhart. In 1851 the present frame church was built and dedicated by Rev. Harvy Wilson. At the first quarterly meeting held in the church, Rev. George Conant, the pastor in charge, protracted the services, and his efforts resulted in the conversion of from fifty to sixty souls. Other marked revivals were held during the winters of 1855-'56, 1859-'60 and 1865-'66; since which time the church has been prospering. The present membership numbers about sixty. Rev. E. H. Dissette is pastor in charge. A Sunday-school was organized about 1845, which has a present membership of seventy-five. Its superintendent is Dr. J. W. Winslow. The oldest religious organization in the town-ship is the Methodist Protestant church, located in the northwest quarter of section 10. The earliest preaching in this vicinity was by Rufus Richeson, under whom a class of thirteen members was formed, about 1836. Among these were Charles Holmes, the first leader, Sarah Holmes, his wife, and his daughter Susanna, Edmund McCoy , his wife, Mary, and daughter Susanna; Martha Oxley, and John and Mary Lutz. Mr. Richeson was engaged to preach once in five weeks, on a week day, and filled the engagement only a few times; he was succeeded by another minister, whose name is not recollected, and whose continuance was equally brief. After an interim of about one year, Rev. John Baker was called to this charge ; he had four other appointments, and from the five is said to have received sixteen dollars for his services the first year. Money in those days was a rare article, and the pioneer members possessed few of this world's goods. The first 564 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. meetings were held at the cabins of Charles Holmes and Edmund McCoy for some time, and were then transferred to the school-house. There was difficulty in obtaining the use of this building during term of school, and it was determined to build a church. This was done about 1848. The building cost little or no money. It was a log structure and the material and labor of construction was furnished by the members and friends of the church. The little ready money 'necessary to procure glass, nails, etc., was obtained by the contribution, on the part of some members, of wheat and other farm products, which were readily converted into cash. This house of worship served until about ten years ago, when the present frame church was erected on the same site, originally donated to the church by Edmund McCoy. The new church was built during the pastorate of John D. Murphy, by Elijah Fortune. The early pastors of the church, succeeding Mr. Baker, were Revs. Hamby, Samuel A. Robinson, James Sneed, William Tipton, William Holland, Henry D. Lawson, Lysander May and William Hastings. The church was named Mount Pisgah, but it is now generally known as the Big Run church. Its membership is small-about thirty; its pastor is John Baker, the first minister that served the congregation for any length of time. A Sabbath-school was organized about 1855. under the charge of John Pixler, and has been continued every summer since. Pleasant Hill church, of the Evangelical association, located in the southwest quarter of section 70, was organized as a German congregation nearly thirty years ago. Of its earliest members may be mentioned Michael Duppart and wife, Gideon Shelhorn, John Loudener and wife, Matthias Kasner and wife and Mary Ann Hostetter. The early meetings were held at the house of Michael Duppart, but during the ministry of George Hossenfluch, about 1863, the house of worship still in use was built. Since then a Sunday-school has been regularly held during each summer. The services are now conducted in English, and the membership of the church is about forty. Another congregation of the same denomination-Beaver run church is situated near New Princeton. Aaron Heaton and wife, Peter Holser and wife and Christian Bowers and wife, are said to have been the first members. A. J. McCoy, Mrs. Rosanna Snyder and Adam Miller and wife, were also early members. The society was organized about 1855, and the early meetings were held in the school-house. Jacob Rasseler and John Kinsley were amongst the first ministers. During the winter of 1866-67, the present frame meeting-house was built, and in the following spring it was dedicated by C. M. Reinhold. This was while Henry Seachrist was pastor in charge. The church membership at this time numbers about sixty. Revs. Frank Tuthero and J. R. Reinhart, are pastors of the circuit to which this church belongs. An efficient Sunday-school has for many years been an interesting department of the church. It is superintended by William Heaton. Saint Elizabeth Catholic church, situated in the southwest quarter of section 21, is the only organization of this church in the northern part of the county. The church edifice, a weather-boarded log structure, was built about the year 1857, under Father Frederick Bender, now of Denver, Colorado, on the land of Conrad Heck, one of the original members, still living. Jacob Hemmer and William Kronapple were other early members. Services had been held for a few years prior to the building of the church. In 1858, Rev. Serge De Stchaulepinkoff became a resident pastor at Coshocton, and since then, the pastors of Saint George's church, at Coshocton, have supplied this church. The membership of the church is about 100, sixty of whom are communicants. Monroe Regular Baptist Church was organized in 1847, under the name of the Wolf Creek church, subsequently changed to Monroe. When first organized, it went forward with seeming zeal for success, and in a few years had a membership of over sixty. In 1867, it changed its location, at that time having a membership of twenty-seven only. The ministers that have served as pastors to this church have been J. M. Winn and L. L. Root. In 1880, a church was HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 565 built in Holmes county, school-houses in this township having previously served as houses of worship Harmony Regular Baptist church was organized in 1866, with about twenty-seven members. Since then it has steadily increased, and is now about sixty. The pastors have been A. W. Arnold and J. K. Linebaugh. The congregation contemplates building a church in the northwestern part of the township soon.