KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 375 After the war of 1812 had ended settlers flocked in very numerously, mostly from Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. The Sapps, who came so early, were always prominent in the development of Union,. as well as in the whole county in its governmental affairs and in a business way. The four brothers, George, Daniel, William and Joseph, emigrated from Maryland in 1806. The ancestors of this family were of the Lord Baltimore household and colony of Maryland. Here in Union the first settlers lived in constant dread of the Indians, and during the absence of George Sapp in the army his wife would take the children each night to a block-house, near the present site of Buckeye City, to remain all night. The Welkers were more than an ordinary family. They came from Pennsylvania in 1808, and located on section 15. This family was of German descent. Martin Welker had a wonderful idea in boyhood that developed into a grek character. He attended court, where he was called as a witness in a counterfeit bill case. It was his first appearance in a court of justice and he had never before seen a lawyer, or a live judge, but so impressed was he that he whispered to a boy friend that he was some day going to be a lawyer and hold court like Judge Dean, whom he classed, in his youthful fancy, a greater man than Andrew Jackson, of whom he had read and heard so much. He also saw Columbus Delano and other "big lawyers." He made good his word, for in just twenty years he was elected judge (1851) to fill Judge Dean's place on the bench, he being a candidate against Dean for the district judgeship. He had studied law with Hon. W. R. Sapp, in Holmes county. In 1857 he was elected as lieutenant-governor on the ticket with Salmon P. Chase. In 1864 he was elected to Congress, serving there until 1870. President Grant appointed him United States judge for the northern Ohio district. Another early settler was Dr. Charles Waddle. For many years he was engaged in the mercantile business, and practiced medicine at Danville. He was a man of great energy and ability, and one of the most eloquent Methodist preachers of that day. He died in 1879, aged eighty-seven years. Other pioneers in Union township were Rev. Jacob Hammond, 1824; Joseph Workman, 1814: David Welker, 1809 Jesse Winterringer, Sr., 1816. Later settlers of prominence were Jacob Ross, proprietor of Rossville ; George Gann, who secured the right of way for the Cleveland, Pittsburg & Mt. Vernon railroad, had a station named for him, "Gann Station." He died in 1877. The first grist mill in Union township was erected by Robert Griffin either in 1812 or 1813. It was on Owl creek, in the southeastern part of the township. Another mill was built by John Greer in 1815, on Jelloway creek. 376 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. The first road for a highway was cut through this township in 1809 from Coshocton to Mt. Vernon. The population of Union township, including the various villages, in 1890, was 1,874; in 1900 it was I,756; in 1910, 1,967. The schools and churches in this township are treated in the general chapters, hence omitted in this connection. VILLAGES OF THE TOWNSHIP. At one time or another there have been six villages within the township, Danville, Millwood, Gann (now Brinkhaven), Buckeye City, Rossville and Cavillo. Among the older villages in eastern Knox county is Danville, now having a population of three hundred and seventy-three. Some time about 1815 or 1816, this place was laid out by Jonathan Sapp, son of George Sapp, Sr., and Robert Waddle. John McDaniel built the first house, and McConnell and Grant were the earliest dealers in merchandise. Dr. William M. Brooks was the pioneer physician. William Critchfield kept the first hotel. The postoffice at Danville was established at a very early date in the history of the county and the following have served as postmasters, with possibly others, since 188o, and before that it is known that E. R. Sapp was the first to hold the office ; George Davidson, Joseph Shaw, A. L. Dunlap, J. R. Payne, Louisa Payne (wife of the last named), Oliver Shaw, Nelson Burris, Valentine Close, William Miller, George Shaw, 1880, C. V. Burris, George Shaw. There are two mails each way daily ; two rural routes, one twenty-two miles long and the other twenty-four miles. The office was robbed by breaking into the safe, causing a loss of two hundred and twelve dollars to the government. This occurred about 1903 and the same night the office at Howard was robbed. No clue was ever obtained to the robbers. It is not certain when the town of Danville was incorporated, but since 1880 the following have served as mayors : A. J. Workman, from 1881 to 1888; J. Van Horn, 1888 to 1892 ; F. M. Sholes, 1892 ; A. J. Workman, 1892 to 1908; J. C. Gaines, from 1908 to present date. The incorporation owns its own town hall, with an engine room attached. The only fire protection is a hand engine and hose cart, with water supply fr0m street cisterns. The municipal officers are now : J. C. Gaines, mayor ; C. T. Motz, clerk, who has served seven years ; councilmen, I. E. Mackey, J. R. Greer, M. T. KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 377 Gaines, R. G. Baker, Oscar Shaw, J. R. Spurgeon. The marshal is William Bugher ; treasurer, A. I. Wolfe. The churches of Danville are the Methodist Episcopal, Catholic and Disciples denominations, the history of which will be found in the church chapter of this volume. The high school brick building is an eight-room structure, heated by steam. This was finished in 19o9, at a cost of about twenty-eight thousand dollars. The district bonded itself for twenty thousand dollars. The attendance is this year ninety. This is believed to be the first school house erected in the interests of two separate village incorporations, Danville and Buckeye having to get a special act of the Legislature to accomplish this. The business interests in Danville in 1911 was as follows: Banking, The Danville Bank ; hotel, Danville House, by G. W. Snow ; general dealers, R. G. Baker & Bros., S. L. Blubaugh, J. R. Greer; grocers, J. R. Greer ; livery, Gaines & Ross ; implement dealers, C. P. Rice & Son, R. T. Baum; clothing, F. A. Esely ; hardware, Hall & Rice, Judson Loney ; harness shop, Oliver Shaw ; restaurant, Ray Arnold ; furniture, I. E. Mackey ; blacksmiths, R. Macomber, John Grant ; jeweler, C. T. Motz, since 1897; newspapers, Tri-County Leader and the Herald (see press chapter) ; opera hall, the Danville opera house, over Greer's store ; lumber, S. B. Rice ; garage, C. T. Motz ; millinery, Mrs. I. E. Mackey, Mrs. J. R. Banbury ; cement blocks, A. B. Davis, Charles Sparks; dentist, David Shaffer ; barbers, G. W. Snow, William Wagner ; physicians, T. L. Jefferson ; drugs, George Shaw and C. V. Burris & Company ; attorney, A. J. Workman. For many years before the building of the railroad the town was at a standstill, but with its completion it took on new life and activity. In 1881 the dealers in dry goods were L. Frost & Son, Workman & Workman ; a grocery was kept by Julius Sapp; a drug store by Burns & Shaw ; a clothing store by John Smithhiser ; a hardware store by Sapp Bros. ; a hotel by Emrick & Sapp ; a furniture store by T. M. Metcalf. George Post was then postmaster at Danville. Millwood, in the southeastern part of Union township, is on Owl creek. It was named for an old mill that once stood in the dense forest there. At one period in the history of this township it was the largest place found within its borders. In 1880 it only had one hundred population. The building of the railroad and springing up of Rossville and Howard materially injured the hamlet with such early promise. It was laid out in 1825, by John Hawn. James Britton erected the first log house there and Ross Arbuckle the first frame residence. John Hawn built a grist mill here in 1825 ; Elisha Gibbs had an in- 378 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. terest in this mill. John Welker was the first merchant and postmaster. Israel Dillon was an early merchant. In 1829 the first tanyard was put in operation by Jacob Garret. The first inn was kept by Samuel Welker and it was a favorite resort for the students of Kenyon College in its best days. Students would frequently take trips to "The Caves" on Owl creek and after passing many hours in the wilds of that section, repair to this hotel and there be royally treated by the landlord to all that suited their taste. At present the business of this village consists of two general stores, a meat shop, the postoffice, a flouring mill, and in way of churches it has the Disciples and Presbyterian denominations. Recently the postoffice was abandoned and it now gets mail from the Howard office via the rural route system. Rossville was laid out about the time of the completion of the railroad. This place is situated a mile and a half south of Danville and in 1881 claimed a population of two hundred and twenty-five. It had at that date the ordinary number of small stores and shops found in places no larger. It is now defunct. Buckeye City was laid out in the fall of 1880 by J. C. Tilton. who had an insurance business there at that date. It being mid-way between Rossville and Danville, it had a hard struggle to weather the opposition of both, but finally succeeded in getting its share of business and stands well today as a trading center for the community in which it is situated. The two places„ Danville and Buckeye City, should be united as one corporation, but the leading spirit of both towns has so far hindered this union. Rossville has disappeared from the latest maps of the county, and the two towns just named should form one strong trading center, under one name.- which is talked of. The peculiar thing about these -villages is that both have a postoffice service and the depot at Buckeye, proper, is called Danville. Buckeye City was incorporated about 1875 and the mayors have been as follows : John C. Winterringer, T. R. Neldon (Prohibitionist), John C. Winterringer, Thomas R. Sholes, John C. Winterringer. The 1911 municipal officers are : Mayor, Thomas Sholes; clerk, John L. Wierich ; councilmen, E. B. Rice, S. R. 'Waring, J. C. 'Winterringer, S. D. Morningstar, George W. Sapp, John Welsh ; treasurer, H. S. Workman. The only church of the village is the Brethren. The lodges are the Maccabees, Grand Army of the Republic and the Grange. The postoffice at Buckeye City was established about 1875. It now has one rural free delivery route of about twenty-two miles in length, established in 1904. Two mails are received each way daily here. The postoffice business in 1910, was about six hundred and eighty-three dollars. The following have served as postmasters at this point : Asa Rowley, William Moring, Jessie Moring (his wife after his death), James L. Wierich, J. C. Winterringer, James L. Wierich, appointed second time in 1897 and still serving. KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 379 The business interests of the village in the autumn of 1911 were as follows : Banking, Commercial Savings Bank ; hotels, Thomas Workman, R. J. Biggs; general dealers, E. B. Rice, U. G. Tressel; grocers, S. L. Nazor ; implements, C. B. Workman; hardware, Thomas Sholes ; furniture, U. C. Workman; lumber, coal, etc., N. H. Hunter; hay and grain, Jacob Lower ; lunch room, L. L. Faucett, H. L. Sherman ; confectionary and tobacco, J. L. Wierich; flouring mills, Twin City Mills, H. C. Conkle, proprietor; blacksmiths, William Wolfe, W. F. Senft ; cement works, C. C. Logsdon; livery, R. J. Biggs ; creamery, L. A. Parrish & Son ; photographs, D. L. Swartz ; planing mill, Henry Black ; physicians, E. L. Porter ; tailor, N. Hein. Cavallo village (defunct) was platted in the southeastern part of Union township, on the Mohican river, and for the time between 1840 to 1848 it was a thriving hamlet. There were four large warehouses erected for the receiving of exports and imports, that were conveyed to and from the town, and shipped via the Mohican through the Walhonding canal. When railroads gridironed the state of Ohio this town went into decay and is now only known by hearsay, as there is not a vestige of a hamlet there today. THE VILLAGE OF BRINKHAVEN. The incorporation name of this place is Gann, and the original village here was known as Mt. Holly. When the place was incorporated it was in the early railroad days in this part of the county, and was named for one of the settlers named Gann, who later had some legal trouble with the railroad company, who, out of spite, named their station Brinkhaven, but the village name as incorporated was never changed, although the postoffice is known as Brink-haven. The name of Brinkhaven was taken on in 1893, when the railroad was completed. "Gann" was incorporated November 20, 1893, and its first officers were : D. C. Cunningham, mayor ; J. O. Greer, clerk ; R. D. Sapp, treasurer ; W. B. Snyder, marshal ; councilmen, L. F. Day, A. E. Eyster, James Thompson, S. J. Smith, Cal Robinson, H; T. Sapp. The 1911 officers are : C. C. Light, mayor ; J. S. Englehart, clerk ; J. P. Grassbaugh, treasurer ; G. B. Hoagland, marshal ; R. T. Frederick, E. C. Jones, Martin Hyatt, John Workman. W. M. Hunter, councilmen. Since the village started as a municipality the mayors and clerks have been as follows aside from the last named, those of 1911 : 1893—Mayor. D. C. Cunningham ; clerk, J. H. Stuber. 1895-Mayor, John T. DeWitt. 1896—Mayor, John T. DeWitt ; clerk. John Favinger. 380 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. 1897—Mayor, W. A. Barnum; clerk, J. B. Clark. 1900—Mayor, John T. DeWitt ; clerk, D. C. Horton. 1903-4—Mayor, John T. DeWitt ; clerk, C. C. Lighter. 1905-07—Mayor, J. N. House ; clerk, C. C. Lighter. 1908-09—Mayor, D. Hyatt ; clerk, C. C. Lighter. 1910—Mayor, C. C. Lighter ; clerk. P. P. Kohl. The postoffice at this point is one of the old ones in the county. No records have been preserved back of about thirty years ago. It is a fourth-class office and has running from it one free rural delivery route of about twenty-three miles in length, established in September, 1903. The office business for 1910 was about eight hundred dollars. Three mails each way daily are received at Brinkhaven. Among the postmasters who have served here commencing in the eighties are these : B. S. Cosmer, J. M. Bonny, I. Powelson, J. O. Greer, R. D. Sapp, F. J. Drauhard and the present postmaster, C. E. Hibbitts, who was appointed in 1897. There are two churches in the village, the Methodist Episcopal and the Disciples, an account of which will be seen in the chapter on churches of the county. The physicians are, in 1911, Drs. R. Putnam, J. C. Hawn and W. S. Putnam. Other business is carried on as follows : Hotel, L. E. Church; livery, Church & Means ; hardware, W. M. Bailey & Son ; general dealers, S. S. Day & Co., George? Sumtimer ; grocery, J. B. Smith, S. J. Smith ; meats, W. M. Niderhouse; baker and restaurant, John Workman ; undertaker, .Ran Winbigler ; jeweler, C. E. Horton; photographs, Fred Hunter; blacksmiths, R. Winsbigler, Martin Hyatt ; buggy repair shop, W. B. Snyder ; cement blocks, L. B. Gardner ; barbers, Charles W. Tressel, Foy Barnes ; flouring mills, Thompson Bros.; natural gas office, Z. L. Hibbitts, manager for the Union Oil and Gas Company ; steam saw mill and cider press, Englehart Brothers. Gann had in 1880 reached a population of two hundred. It was platted in 1838, by John Hibbitts, who erected the first house there. Robert Long built a mill on the Mohican river about 1840, and Isaac Means opened the pioneer store. Its population is now about three hundred and fifty. CHAPTER XLI I. WAYNE TOWNSHIP. Wayne township originally covered a vast territory, as compared to its present limits. It was "No. 1" among the four townships into which Knox county was divided after its real organization into a county form of government, May 2, 1808. In fact it was one-fourth of the territory now embraced in Richland and Morrow counties, besides Knox. The commissioners ordered, in April, 1815: "That all that part of Knox county north of Wayne township, be attached to Wayne township, and henceforth is to be considered a part of it." Again in June, 1813, it was ordered "That the boundaries of Wayne township shall be altered, etc., etc.," and then goes on a long description of boundary lines that included some less, but very much territory now in other counties and townships. May 2, 1820, the county commissioners again went to pruning down the size of Wayne township and finally on May 9, 1825, it was ordered "that Wayne township shall be composed of the seventh township in the fourteenth range." In 1830 it listed 16,257 acres of land for taxation, and then had 1,010 inhabitants. In 1850 it had 1,864 people ; in 1860 it had 1,789; in 188o it had 1,618; in 1890 it had 1,487; in 1900 it numbered 1,512, and in 1910 it is given by census books as having 1,611. It was named in honor of old "Mad Anthony Wayne," the illustrious general who won glory and fame at Fallen Timbers and Stony Point. At one time it embraced within its limits the townships of Franklin and Chester in Morrow county, and Middlebury, Berlin, Wayne and the north half of Morris townships in this county. Of its natural features it may be said that every foot was utilized for some agricultural or stock grazing purpose by 1876, when the township was one of the finest in the entire county. It is well provided with streams that make glad the heart of man. The surface is gently rolling. Originally it was heavily covered with timber, such as beech, oak, hickory, ash, sugar tree, walnut, with beech predominating. When first discovered there were a few small patches of what seemed to be prairie land, but possibly were only clearings made by Indians. 382 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. Owl creek and Granny's creek are the main streams of the township, as now bounded. At an early day there were many small saw and flouring mills located along these streams and their branches. Long centuries before the tread of white men was heard in this section of Knox county or Ohio, there evidently had existed a race of quite superior beings to the North American Indians, and for a better name scientists have named them "prehistoric,” or Mound Builders, for here and there they le ft large mounds in which many of their effects have been discovered after all these long centuries since they were placed there, for some purpose, but for what none can conjecture. Some of these monuments to this departed race of people are found in Wayne township and the reader will find a description of the same in the chapter on Geology and Topography in this volume. EARLY SETTLEMENT. The first settler in this township was also the first permanent settler within Knox county, Nathaniel Mitchell Young. Andrew Craig. it is true, located near Mt. Vernon before this, but soon moved on, he being a roamer among the hunters and Indians. Mr. Young was from New Jersey, and wandered up into this wilderness in the spring of 1805. He was a blacksmith, after his own fashion, and an adventurous type of frontiersman. He came up from Newark, then a hamlet, and found no settler until he had reached Andrew Craig's, on Owl creek. Just what prompted him to keep on up Owl creek before he settled is not fully known, but it is believed that he had a land warrant in his pocket and was looking for the tract of land it described. This was all within the military lands and hence was the first settled either by Revolutionary soldiers or their heirs. Young was designated by the Indians "the axe-maker." For a more complete account of him see the chapter on early settlement in this volume. The same chapter also describes many other early comers to this township, hence they will not here be repeated. Before the erection of the mills at Fredericktown, this township, known as Kerr's Mill, the settlers had to go to what was known as Ten Mile, beyond Mt. Vernon, where the first mill in Knox county was erected. But many of the settlers in Wayne township got along with hominy blocks, horse mills and other crude structures, going to real flouring mills perhaps twice a year. Later, there were numerous mills scattered up and down the Owl creek district and some on its branches, all of which in their day and generation did excellent service for the pioneers. The second mill in this township was Young's Mill in the Jersey settlement. At first it was merely a "corn-cracker," but later made into a respectable mill with buhr-stones for grinding grain. KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 383 The Lyons were very early in this settlement, and came from New Jersey and hence the name of the settlement was "Jersey settlement," so designated for many years. These people were enterprising and sought to develop and improve the lands which they had secured from the government on land warrants. In addition to the flouring mill there were numerous saw mills, all water mills, where were cut tens of thousands of feet of native lumber, which went into the construction of the first buildings in the county. Here they sought to build a town, called Lucerne. Daniel and Jabez Beers were owners of the land on which it was to be built. This was in the years between 1835. and 1840. Just prior to the first start of this pioneer's place, John Beebe had put in operation a saw mill and established a factory for making wind-mills. He sawed his own poplar lumber, from which the mills were made, and for a number of years did a thriving business. The Beers built a frame building, and a carding machine was put in operation, to which was soon added a complete woolen mill, which was sought with great delight and curiosity. These mills operated for nearly twenty years. Bryant & Leonard constructed a still about 1830 on the creek near the hamlet of Lucerne. Several dwellings were built there, a blacksmith shop, a church and Conger & Lewis had a small country store at that point a number of years. At Young's Mill a postoffice was established, but later was removed to the store in the village. All had gone into ruin by 1876, except a few tumble-down buildings. In 1812 when the war with England was on, and trouble was feared from the Indians, these settlers erected a block-house for their protection. John Lewis subsequently owned the land on which this historic building was located. It was built in a circular form, on the bank, and high up from the river bed, and a stockade was made of logs set on end and standing fifteen feet above the ground. While it was never attacked by Indians, the families remained there off and on during the winter until peace was assured. GREEN VALLEY. Green Valley is another defunct town within this township. It was also started about 1830, by a New Englander named Cromwell Newcomer, and at first was called Newcomerstown. It was situated in one of the most charming, rich valleys in all this section of Ohio. About 1845 a union church was erected there. It was erected by the Methodists and Protestants, but used freely by all denominations who chose to occupy it. The general chapters will inform the reader concerning the churches and schools of the township. The population of Wayne township in 1890 was 1,437 ; in 19016 it was 1,512 and in 1910 was placed by the federal census as being 1,611. This included a portion of Fredericktown village. 384 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. FREDERICKTOWN. In 1910 this village had a population of about 950. It is an old village and has much of interesting history connected with it. It is seven miles distant from Mt. Vernon in the extreme northeast corner of Wayne township. It stands on the west bank of historic Owl creek. When first settled it was within a vast unbroken timbered wilderness, the habitation of wild beasts and Indian tribes who here hunted and fished. True it is that long centuries before the date when the surveyor's chain measured off the streets and set the bounds for a village, it had been inhabited by that strange and unknown race of people called "Mound Builders," for the evidence is still there, standing as a perpetual monument to a race now forgotten and unknown even by tradition. The four-thousand acre tract of land on which Fredericktown stands was bought from the United States government by Lucas Sullivant, a native of Mecklenburg county, Virginia, where he was born in 1765. He was educated especially as a land surveyor, having been in his early years engaged at this profession in Kentucky and still later in Ohio. His knowledge concerning Ohio land he made good use of in locating lands and town sites. He laid out Franklinton, opposite the present city of Columbus. He died at the village of Franklinton in 1823, aged fifty-eight years. He acquired the "Sullivant Tract" in Wayne township, this county, between the south and east forks of Owl creek. He early discovered a fine water power and mill site on his land on Owl creek, which he was liberal enough to donate to John Kerr, who started the first mill there. He gave Kerr the choice of fifty out of his four thousand acres, if he would erect and operate a mill at that point. This was the commencement of a village. But few settlers lived in that immediate section then, the Jersey settlement being the nearest these few around Kerr's mill had for neighbors. But soon the tide of old soldiers from out the ranks of the American army who had fought in the Revolutionary struggle came on with land warrants and script for the purpose of locating lands. It was upon this fifty-acre tract of donated land that Fredericktown was finally platted November 11, 1807, by Mr. Kerr. Soon thereafter Kerr wisely purchased four hundred and fifty acres surrounding his town site. The village was platted and surveyed by William Y. Farquhar, who erected the first cabin on the platting himself, giving it the name of Frederick in honors of his old home in Maryland. The first road opened through this place was the one running north and south in 1809, and has been mentioned elsewhere. Frederick was platted KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 385 in the form of a parallelogram, its length being north and south. Later numerous additions were made to the village. Mr. Kerr built his house, a log cabin, on the lot where subsequently, stood Simons' store. On the same lot was built the first brick house in the place by Mr. Williams, who bought out Mr. Kerr in 1814. W. W. Farquhar, brother of surveyor W. Y. Farquhar, and Henry Roberts, a cousin, were early settlers on the plat of Frederick. These men were Quakers and with a few more comprised the prominent Friends who made their settlement in this county, they being sort of leaders in the society which soon grew to be so influential in this part of the county. Farquhar was justice of the peace from 1815 to 1818 and moved to Middlebury township. After Farquhar and Kerr came the family of Mrs. Ayers; her sons were David, Abner and Thomas. John Milligan and Jeduthan Doss, from Ten Mile, Pennsylvania, came in soon after the Ayers family. Also John and Jacob Cook and Jacob Haldeman. In 1809 Rachel Richardson purchased the improvements made by Cook and there settled with her family, consisting of William, Isaac N., Polly and Nancy. In 1812 there were nine log houses and one frame building, and these cabins were doubtless occupied by Willis Speakman, Rachel Richardson, John Garrison, W. Y. Farquhar, John Kerr. John Vennum and the Ayers families./ The first store was opened in 1812 by Mr. Garrison, who owned the only frame building in the village. It stood where later was built the Methodist Episcopal church. The second man to enter merchandising there was Nicholas McCarty, who came up from Mt. Vernon and with others constituted the firm of Nicholas McCarty & Company. Of McCarty, historian Norton wrote many years ago : "This firm closed up their business in July, 1817, and left their notes and accounts, with a quantity of lake fish, in the hands of Abner Ayers, for sale and adjustment. The mother of Mr. McCarty died and was buried in Fredericktown, but he went to Indianapolis, where he became well-to-do and returned to erect a monument to the memory of his mother. Two years later, in 1855, he died. He was an ardent Whig and was a member of the Indiana legislature. He was known as `Honest Nic McCarty.' " FIRST EVENTS IN THE VILLAGE. At Fredericktown the first boarding house was conducted by Mrs. Wolf, whose eldest son lived on a farm. (25) 386 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. The first preaching service was at the school house, which was converted into a fort. The earliest church edifice was built by the then quite strong denomination in these parts, the Universalists. Thomas Ayers was the first "village blacksmith," he kindling the glowing fire on his forge in 1808, continuing many years. The first hatter was Celestial Le Blond, a Frenchman. Cloth shoes for ladies' wear were made here by a cobbler named McCoy. Another early shoemaker was Ebenezer Taylor, who became infatuated with a minister who chanced to come through the village, and left all and followed him off and never was afterwards heard of. Jedediah Peck, the third to work at bootmaking, tried to invent a last and boot-tree all in one, but failed, as he could not get the boot off from the device after the boot had been made on it ! The house he occupied was a rare curiosity, as it was built around a large tree and the appearance of a tree growing out of the top of a residence was indeed unique. He seemed to be either ignorant or fearless concerning the great danger he was in from lightning striking his tree-house. Capt. John Williams, who bought out Kerr's mill property, came on from Maryland, started a store and had with him forty thousand dollars which was soon distributed out over this county. He arrived with his family in 1814. He was not really a level-headed man, but good for the community, for the time being, as he spent money freely. In 1840 Fredericktown had a population of 500 inhabitants; in 1850 it had 712; in 1860 it had 790 ; in 1880 it had 850; in 1890 it had but 762; in 1900 it had 795, and in 1910, according to the last federal census, it had a population of 925, with enough outside the plattings to make about a thousand population. In 1816 the entire township of Wayne cast only eighty-one votes. Uncle Abner Ayers conducted a hotel in the place and was a character in real pioneer life, such as one frequently reads of in books. He was fond of relating how Gen. William Henry Harrison stopped over night at his tavern and discussed war problems at great length. In 1850 when the village was incorporated, it bethought itself to get rid of its "doggeries." Mayor Woodcock and Recorder T. A. Reed carried on a sharp crusade against the saloons and won out against them. Later, they came back again to debauch the villagers. In 1873 another warfare was made against the saloons and they were all compelled to close up again, but subsequently they were reopened. Today they stand closed under the county local option law, which two years ago voted the entire county "dry." After the murder of the Zimmer and Copus families by the Indians on the Black fork, and Jones was ambushed and shot near Mansfield by the same KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 387 foe, the few settlers at Fredericktown, as well as along the entire frontier, became much alarmed and immediately provided three block-houses in Wayne township, the Lewis blockhouse. on South fork, the William Mitchell blockhouse and the one situated at Fredericktown. Mr. Mitchell pre-- pared his cabin for a siege by making heavy batton doors, with iron bars, port holes for guns, etc.; one of the boys rode the. express; another kept out with scouting parties, and the old man, with two workmen, 'were constantly on the lookout for an attack. The girls practiced shooting at a target with rifles, so as to be ready for a large force of Indians at any time. Two dogs, named Gunner and Rover, were also on the alert for troublesome times and were ready to do all they might be commanded to. At Fredericktown the blockhouse was a light frame building, enclosed within a heavy stockade, and was located on the bluff overlooking the spot where now stands the railroad depot. It was constructed on the square, under direction of Captain Ayers. The building was made almost absolutely bullet proof, and was moved on wheels to its position, a commanding one and overlooking the valley of Owl creek. Years later it was used for school and church purposes. Their fears were but natural, but nothing ever came of the supposed Indian uprising. Several times the settlers had been alarmed and fled to the blockhouse. When Jones was killed, Captain Douglas followed the Indians in the direction of Upper Sandusky, but not finding them, and thinking it unsafe to return by the way they went, came back by the way of Fredericktown, His men, fifteen in number, were roughly dressed and wore their handkerchiefs about their heads instead of wearing their hats. They thus resembled Indians, and upon going into Fredericktown they fired off the guns they carried by way of a salute, but this greatly frightened the people there. Two women fainted in the street, and there was a general stampede for the blockhouse. "Johnny Appleseed" had carried the news of the killing of Jones to the people at Fredericktown, he being one of the volunteers himself up at Mansfield. Johnny ran all night barefooted, through the woods, stopping at the cabin of each settler, arriving at Fredericktown early in the morning. By reason of this, great was the excitement. Samuel Wilson, who resided near the Quaker meeting house within what is now Berlin township, was so badly frightened that he sprang out of his bed and into his overcoat, snatching his pantaloons and flinging them over his arm, ran in the direction of Fredericktown for safety in the blockhouse. These things all had to be gone through with, at an early day, in order to gain the peace and plenty now seen on every hand in Wayne township and the handsome little village of Fredericktown. 388 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. The Kerr mill property was sold about 1850 to Mr. Struble, who in about 1873 sold to Cuykendall & Seiler, and soon afterwards it was burned. The owners, however, at once rebuilt it, assisted by others. They operated it a few years longer, but could not make it pay, then sold to S. S. Tuttle and others, who were running it in the eighties with much profit. It is now propelled by natural gas and has a fair custom. Fredericktown was without railroad facilities for more than forty years, but finally the road now called the Baltimore & Ohio was completed and a new life and activity obtained there, which has kept up ever since. John D. Struble built the first warehouse and bought large quantities of grain. This building later served as a warehouse and depot for the railroad company. Other early grain dealers were Peter Boyce and Charles Strong & Sons. After the Civil war a hank was started by Daniel Struble and William Merrin. This concern did a good business a number of years, but it is stated in a former historical account that Merrin went wrong and this ended the banking business of the firm. However, Mr. Struble, being a man of honor and uprightness, engaged again in the banking business, in which he is still engaged, as one of the firm of Daniel Struble & Son, private bankers. The schools and churches, as well as lodges, are treated in the general chapters, under their proper headings. Fredericktown was incorporated about 1850, and among its mayors have been, in about the order here named, the following gentlemen : George W. Woodcock, A. Greenlee, \V. B. Cox, C. R. Hooker, Morgan LaFever, Gideon Elliott, who was in office in 1884. Since the date last named there have been, Gideon Elliott, 1880 ; L. B. Ackerman, 1882 ; F. B. Owens, 1884; William Irvin, 1888; C. W. Lyons, 1890; L. C. Stillwell, 1892; B. W. Owens, 1894 ; William A. Ackerman, 1898; C. W. Lyons, 1900; James B. Johnson, 1902 ; C. L. Bermont, 1903; Walter L. Ball, 1906; L. J. Duke, 1908; Morris Hegerty, 1910. The present officers of the village are : Mayor, Morris Hegerty ; clerk, Henry L. Ralston ; treasurer, H. E. Castle; marshal, T. E. Burke; councilmen, R. K. Smith, J. C. Rauber, B. F. Parmentar, C. E. McCutchin, H. D. Weaver. A system of water works was installed in 1905, costing twenty thousand dollars, for which bonds were issued. The excellent water 'supply comes from a never-failing well down to gravel. The stand-pipe is about one hundred and fifty feet high, with a tank holding fifty thousand gallons. There is a paid fire company of about thirteen men ; the present chief is George Cook. KNOX COUNTY, OHIO - 389 Fredericktown has a city building and jail and fire engine house, all in one. This is a two-story brick building. The village is lighted with natural gas. The lodges are the Odd Fellows, Masons and Knights of Pythias, all mentioned at length in the chapter on lodges. BUSINESS DIRECTORY OF 1911. General dealers, F. F. Hosack ; dry goods, J. H. Denman, L. W. Wagner; groceries, H. E. Castle, Clark Bros., Davis & Dague, F. C. Wagner, H. S. Taylor & Son; hardware, F. F. Hosack, Hull & Brown, F. J. Harris, M. Haggerty ; implements, Hull & Brown, Lucas & Lewis; clothing, C. C. Lucas, L. B. Wagner; shoes (exclusive), F. B. Levering, H. E. Brown ; drugs, F. F. Hosack, C. F. Fink ; hotel, The Bank Hotel, E. Myers, proprietor ; restaurants, J. W. Anders, George Robb ; furniture, Huddle & Denman ; photography, Frank Morrow ; physicians, E. V. Ackerman, J. H. Norrick, W. H. Eastman, W. L. Ely ; attorney, H. D. Weaver ; creamery, Licking County Creamery Company ; cement blocks, L. H. Brentlinger; lumber, Paul Cummings ; grain, Northwestern Elevator Company, J. D. Smoots, manager, Farmers' Elevator, Levering Bros.; jewelry, Joseph Carr ; harness, J. F. Amos; blacksmiths, Kein & Henderson, Clayton Foulk, John Roberts, J. Trickle ; public hall, the Odd Fellows' Block ; banks, Dan Struble & Son, First National Bank ; millinery, Miss Anna Castner, P. M. Witherow ; barber shops, Miller Bros., C. C. Walter, Thomas Huggins ; marble works, William Duke & Son ; insurance, L. B. Ackerman ; livery, J. F. Jones; Buckmaster & Lewis ; newspaper, Free Press, F. A. Day, proprietor; butter and eggs and poultry dealers, D. M. Brumbock, Levering Bros. ; foundry work, J. B. Foote, F. B. Zieg Manufacturing Company ; novelty goods, H. B. Reynolds, agents' supplies as a specialty ; sealing wax factory, F. F. Hosack ; gates, Earl Hicks. THE POSTOFFICE HISTORY. An office was established at this point in the fall of 1828 and the postmasters in charge during these eighty-three years have been as follows: Abner Ayers, appointed October 21, 1828, served twenty years, six months. Benjamin J. Lewis, appointed April 11, 184.9, served three years. Thomas A. Reed, appointed April 29, 1852, served eleven months. David Brown, appointed March 20, 1853, served one year, three months. 390 - KNOX COUNTY, OHIO. Levi S. McCoy, appointed July 18, 1854, served six years, eight months. George W. Ball, appointed March 25, 1861, served three years, two months. Cyrus Hosack; appointed June 20, 1864, served sixteen days. Milford Lewis, appointed July 6, 1864, served two years, one month Alexander Love, appointed August 26, 1866, served two years, six months. Columbus D. Hyler, appointed March 25, 1869, served four years, ten months. Issacher Rowley, appointed February 2, 1874, served seven years, five months. Clayton A. Royce, appointed July 14, 1881, served one year, five months. Benjamin F. Moore, appointed December 26, 1882, served one year, eleven months. Lewis B. Ackerman, appointed December 9, 1884, served ten months. Henry N. Vance, appointed November 5, 1885, served three years. ten months. Charles M. Hildreth, appointed September I I , 1889, served three years, eleven months. David W. Struble, appointed September 7, 1893, served four years, one month. Walter B. Johnson, appointed October 11, 1897, and is still the incumbent. This was made a third-class postoffice in 1899. It has the distinction of having more rural routes than any office in the United States in towns no larger than this. It has seven rural free delivery routes, the first being established in 1900. The business of the office for the last year was $5,035.16. This is an increase of a large sum in the last five years. There are six mails each way daily and the office has been quartered in the same business house for just fifty years, known as the Cox building. The present postmaster-general, Frank Hitchcock. is a grandson of a pioneer Hitchcock whose son, Chapman Hitchcock, was born in Fredericktown, and he was the Postmaster-General's father. The present postoffice force is as follows : Postmaster, Walter B. Johnson, since November 15, 1897; H. L. Ralston, deputy ; Miss Mabel A. Fawcett, clerk. The seven rural delivery carriers are William H. Spry, P. W. Plummer, Daniel B. Purdy, Walter Willets, George W. Gregg, Charles E. Spry, Ortho B. James. The patrons of this office were about six thousand in the fall of 1911. CHAPTER XLIII. MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS. In this chapter appear a number o f interesting and valuable articles which 0f themselves were not of sufficient length to f0rm a complete chapter, hence have been placed in this chapter of miscellaneous items : POPULATION The following is the population of Knox county in detail, as well as a general table showing the population of Ohio, at different United States census periods : POPULATION OF OHIO. 1800 - 45,365 1810 - 230.760 1820 - 581,295 1830 - 937,903 1840 - 1,519,467 1850 - 1,980,329 1860 - 2,339,511 1870 - 2,665,260 1880 - 3,198,062 1890 - 3,672,317 1900 - 4,157,545 1910 - 4,767,121 KNOX COUNTY'S POPULATION

DETAILED U. S. CENSUS REPORT OF KNOX COUNTY