HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 449

CHAPTER LII..

GRANVILLE-INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING.

AN EDUCATIONAL CENTER-FIRST SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL-HOUSES-THE GRANVILLE: FEMALE COLLEGE-THE GRANVILLE FEMALE INSTITUTE-DENISON UNIVERSITY.

CONSIDERING Granville as an educational center, the history of its first schools and school-houses becomes a matter of some importance. From the character of the first settlers, who came from the land of schools and churches, it is not surprising that these institutions soon took root in the new settlement, grew and flourished, and are to-day among the best in the State.

The first school-house erected in Granville was in January, 1806, about two months after the arrival of the first detachment of the Granville colony. It was a rude log building, stood on the site of the Presbyterian church, and was used for . church and school purposes. The colony was not much divided in church matters; nearly all belonged to the Congregational church they had organized in Granville, Massachusetts, and those who were not regular communicants attended the church and assisted in its support. This log building was used four or five years, when the church wanted a better building for its use and the old log must be taken away. This necessitated the erection of a new school-house. This second building was of brick, and -was an imposing structure for those times. It stood at the foot of the hill, on Market street, facing Main; was two stories and a basement in height; it was solid and commodious, and did honor to the people. It was probably the first brick house in the village. For many of the first years of its existence, there were not children enough in Granville to fill it, and therefore part of it was rented for other purposes. The basement was used as a market-house, the upper room, a large hall, was used by the Masonic fraternity, and the second floor only was occupied as a school-room. This building also used some time by the Episcopalians for holding services, before their church was erected. It served all the purposes of a school-house until 1854, when the present union school building was erected. This latter building is situated in the northeastern part of town, is a commodious brick, and probably accommodates two hundred scholars. Five teachers are employed. This is a district school, and the only school in town beside the three colleges.

Of these colleges, the first one was established in 1827, by the Congregational church, or in other words, by the Granville colony. Prominent members of the colony were instrumental in establishing this college, which first went by the name of Granville academy. The building in which this college was established is yet standing. It is a small frame, and when first occupied by the school it stood on the lot now occupied by the residence of Dr. Sinnet. When this institution was first established, it was open for both male and female students. The female department was conducted on the domestic labor plan, the same plan upon which Denison university started out. That class of institutions was popular in those days, the idea being that a young person of either sex should be taught the various branches of labor necessary for them to understand in the battle of life, and those unable to pay their full tuition were thus enabled to earn part of it, and thereby were placed on an. equal footing, in educational advantages, with their wealthier classmates. The female department of is school was under charge of Miss Marianne Howe in 1827; in 1828, under Miss Emma Little, and from 1830 to 1834, under the charge respectively of Miss Boardman, Miss Eels, and Miss Eliza Foster. In 1834, Miss Nancy Bridges and Miss Elizabeth Grant were teachers.

450 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

Miss Bridges became principal in 1836, and remained such, with her corps of teachers, until 1841.

During the first eight or nine years of the early history of this school its managers were compelled to rent school rooms and buildings for their purpose wherever they could get them; and thus it was that the school was kept in various parts of town. It was not until 1836 that they were enabled to purchase six lots where the building now stands, of Grove Case, and in 1837 the main building (frame) now known as the Granville female college was erected. March 14, 1836, the school was incorporated by the legislature, section first reading as follows:

Be it enacted by the general assembly of the State of Ohio: That there shall be, and hereby is established, in the town of Granville, in the county of Licking, an institution for the education of youth in the carious branches of useful knowledge, by the name of 'Granville academy,' and that Rev. Jacob Little, Samuel Bancroft, Spencer Wright, Knowles Linnel, Leonard Bushnell, William Smedley, Timothy M. Rose, Henry G. Bancroft. Ebenezer Crawford, Edwin C. Wright and William W. Bancroft, and their successors, be, and they are hereby appointed, trustees of said institution, and made a body corporate and politic, with perpetual succession, to be known by the name and style of 'Trustees of Granville Academy.''

Other sections followed, but space cannot be allowed for them. These trustees held their first meeting May 26, 1836, and organized by electing Rev. Jacob Little, president, W. W. Bancroft, secretary, and Samuel Bancroft, treasurer.

Board, in those days, could be had for eighty-seven and a half cents per week, and the tuition was four dollars and twenty-five cents per quarter.

Upon the expiration of Miss Bridges' term as principal in 1841, Mr. H. R Gilmore was elected and served one year. August 4, 1842, Miss Hannah O. Bailey was elected principal, assisted. by Miss Hamlin.

The domestic labor system for students did not work according to the expectations of its friends, and in this institution it was accordingly abandoned February 9, 1844.

February 11, 1845, William D. Moore rented the academy buildings for three and a half years, at the end of which time he re-rented and continued principal of the school until 1854. May 9th of this year a contract was made with William P. Kerr the present principal of the college, and from that time to the present, with the exception of five years, between 1872, and 1877, when it was conducted by others, he has had charge of the college as principal and manager.

Very early in its history this school was merged into a female academy, the male department being abandoned. Its projectors determined it should become a first class college for the higher education of women. One of its by-laws required that every teacher should be a consistent Christian, the great purpose of its founders being to advance morality and religion. It was established on the Mt. Holyoke plan, and so continued until 1845, when, under Mr. Moore, it was conducted on the boarding-house plan, and has so continued to the present.

The contributors to the erection of the main building in 1831 were citizens of Granville and largely by those who made their money by hard work. This building is quite large, four stories in height and a basement. An addition of brick was made about 1864-5, and the institution will easily accommodate one hundred students, as regular boarders and lodgers, and fifty or seventy-five additional, without lodging. Recently a steam heating apparatus has been placed in the basement, which works to a charm, and the atmosphere of the great building, including all its private and public rooms and labyrinth of halls, is continually kept a pleasant summer temperature, making it a most comfortable and desirable home for the young ladies from all parts of the country who attend the college. The first floor of the main building is occupied by the dining room, the parlors, reception rooms and dwelling rooms .of the principal and his family; the second and third floors are principally occupied by the students, their rooms being generally fifteen or twenty feet square, all nicely furnished and finished, and occupied. generally by two students each. A few rooms on the second floor of this building are also used as school rooms, the primary school room haring its location here. The brick addition is mainly occupied by the gymnasium, in charge of an efficient teacher, a chapel and recitation room. Every provision seems to have been made for the health, comfort and thorough training of the inmates in all that goes to make up the sum of human happiness. It is probably one of the most complete

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 451

and thoroughly equipped institutions in the country for the purposes for which it was designed. The principal, W. P. Kerr, has been untiring in his devotion to the interests of this institution, and it is mainly due to his persevering efforts that the institution has been brought to its present proud position among the educational institutions of the State. His attainments in scholarship are of a high order; he is genial, and social, and a pure minded Christian gentleman, to whom parents may safely trust the education of their daughters.

The following embraces the course of study in the various departments of the institution:

PRIMARY DEPARTMENT.-Reading and pronunciation, written arithmetic, familiar science, spelling and defining, geography, grammar, mental arithmetic, map drawing, penmanship.

PREPARATORY DEPARTMENT.-Written arithmetic, physical geography, Latin reader, English grammar, United States history, Bible-Genesis, analysis, Latin grammar, composition, penmanship, algebra.

CLASSICAL. DEPARTMENT-FIRST YEAR-FIRST TERM. Latin reader, algebra, physiology, Bible Exodus.

SECOND TERM.-Latin reader, algebra, book-keeping, journeys of the Israelites.

THIRD TERM.-Caesar and Latin prose, algebra, botany, Joshua and Judges.

SECOND YEAR.-FIRST TERM.-Caesar and Latin prose, geometry, natural philosophy, Bible-reign of Saul..

SECOND TERM.-Cicero and prose composition, geometry, English history, the reign of David.

THIRD TERM.-Cicero and prose composition, trigonometry, rhetoric, English history, the reign of Solomon.

JUNIOR YEAR.-FIRST TERM.-Virgil, outlines of history, logic, Bible-history of Israel.

SECOND TERM.-Virgil, outlines of history, chemistry, history of Judah.

THIRD TERM. -Virgil, outlines of history, geology, captivities.

SENIOR. YEAR.-FIRST TERM.-Horace, moral philosophy, astronomy, Bible-prophesies.

SECOND TERM.-Horace, -mental- -philosophy, evidences of Christianity, the gospels.

THIRD TERM.-Mental philosophy, Butler's analogy, English literature, Acts of the Apostles.

The course of study may be pursued entire or in part, according to the wishes .of parents and guardians, or the circumstances of the pupil.

German, Greek, French, music and art are optional.

During the course, exercises in reading, spelling and penmanship, reviews of common English branches, and weekly exercises in composition and the Bible are required of all.

One of the most important departments in this college is the musical, at present in charge of Professor G. H. H. C. Lowery, M. A., a graduate of the London, Heidelberg and Paris conservatories-a gentleman who has made music a lifetime study, who has perfected himself under the best masters in Europe.

GRANVILLE FEMALE INSTITUTE.-This institution was established about 1832, by the Baptist society, the preliminary steps being taken by Mr. Charles Sawyer, then a resident of Granville. He was foremost -in--contributing of his own means, and obtaining means from others for the erection of the seminary building and boarding-house-two large frame buildings, occupying beautiful grounds on Main street, in the western part of the town. The following advertisement regarding this college appears in the - Newark Advocate of March 2, 1833:

"GRANVILLE FEMALE SEMINARY.-In establishing this seminary, it is the object of the trustees to build up a first rate school, suited to the wants of the west. They are happy in now being able to inform the public that they have appointed Mr. James W. Poland, of Massachusetts, who, aided by competent female teachers, is expected to take its superintendence about April 1st. Until the arrival of Mr. Poland, the school, now in successful operation, will continue under the care of Mrs. Gear. Next quarter will commence Monday, March 4th."

The above is signed by William S. Richards, chairman of trustees, and James Berry, recording secretary. It is also endorsed by John Pratt, principal of the Granville institution, and Paschal Carter, professor of mathematics and natural philosophy, in the same institution.

Those who assisted Mr. Sawyer in completing the buildings, were Messrs. Luther Woods, Allen Sinnet, D. M. Shepardson and Alanson Sinnet.

The teachers under Mr. Poland were Miss. Ingraham and Miss Isabella R. Clarke, of Massachusetts; the latter becoming superintendent in 1835. Miss Maynard and Miss Trimble were employed the next year, and Messrs.. Moore and Converse were also principals one year. Dr. Burton had control of this school one or two years, and Mansfield French was principal, following Mr. Burton. About 1840 Rev. Alva Sanford obtained possession of the property, and changed the name and influence of the school, he being an Episcopalian. He called it the Episcopal Female seminary, and continued to conduct the school with a considers able degree of success for fifteen years. At the

452 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

PICTURE FEMALE COLLEGE

AND

CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 453

end of this period Solomon Sanford assumed control of the institution, continuing its principal, however, only about a year. Under control of the Sanfords the school flourished, and was a great help to the Episcopal church. In 1856 Rev. C. S. Doolittle and Joseph Lindley became proprietors, and conducted the school about three years, when they concluded to move it to Mansfield, Ohio. This seemed to be at the time an unfortunate move for the school, and especially for the Episcopal church. The buildings were closed for a time. In 1860 Rev. N. S. Buxton and wife opened a ladies' female institute in the basement of the Baptist church, with the thought, probably, of reviving the Baptist seminary which had been re-, placed by the Episcopal. This school continued about two years, when Rev. M. Stone purchased the seminary buildings, and opened a school, when both schools were consolidated under Mr. Stone, and came again under control of the Baptist denomination, where it has ever since remained. The name was again changed to the Baptist Female seminary.

Mr. Stone gave good satisfaction as an instructor, but circumstances rendered it necessary for him to dispose of the property, which he did to its present proprietor, Rev. D. Shepardson, D.D., who became principal in 1867. Dr. Shepardson changed the name of the college to the Granville Female seminary.

DENISON UNIVERSITY.-This. institution was organized at Granville, Ohio, December 13, 1831, as the Granville Literary and Theological institute, and incorporated February 3, 1832.. Its first professor and president was the now venerable and highly esteemed John Pratt, D. D., who continued to occupy a position in its faculty until 1859, and now lives on a farm near the former site of the college, honored by all, who know him.

The school was at first organized on the manual-labor idea, and was located on a farm of some one hundred and thirty-five .acres, about one mile southwest of the village-the farm, valued at three thousand three hundred dollars, having been-given by the Baptist church and citizens of Granville as an inducement to locate the school there. In 1837 Rev. Jonathan Going, D. D., then secretary of the American Baptist Home Mission society, was called to the presidency, and moved to Granville, administering the affairs of the school to the great satisfaction of its friends until 1844, when he died. In 1845 the name was changed to Granville college, and in 1846 Rev. Silas Bailey, D. D., LL. D., was called to the presidency.

At a meeting of the trustees in August, 1833, the institution was organized into four departments, viz.: Preparatory, English, collegiate and. theological.

The "manual labor system" adopted by this college was persevered in for some years. The students were required to be daily occupied with some kind of work, either on the farm or in some mechanical pursuit; the trustees early "resolved, as soon as practicable, to furnish them with work and the instruments for performing it, and to pay them the value of their labor."

In addition to Rev. John Pratt, who was then professor of moral philosophy, the first faculty consisted of Pascal Carter, A. M., professor of mathematics and natural philosophy; Asa Drury, A. M., professor of languages, and A. H. Frink, A. M., principal of the preparatory department.

In the spring of 1832, the buildings of the institution were destroyed by fire, which caused some embarrassment, but new and more commodious buildings were promptly erected during the ensuing summer.

In the Baptist Weekly journal of November 29, 1831, published in New York city, Dr. Jonathan Going writes as follows regarding this institution:

"With such a corps of teachers as President Pmtt, professors Carter, Drury and Frink (I speak from personal acquaintance with these gentlemen, except the last named), with a hundred pupils, including already a dozen regular college students; in a location so delightful and healthy, in the heart of the great and growing State of Ohio, where expenses are so small, and with arrangements for manual labor in agriculture and various branches of mechanic arts, which will at once diminish these, and promote health of body and mental vigor, it requires no spirit of prophecy to predict the future prosperity of the tuition. I am persuaded, indeed, that it presents even now facilities for acquiring a thorough education inferior to none in the western valley, while it promises in future to hold respectable rank among similar institutions, which happily are rising into importance at different points."

During its early history the college was greatly straitened in its finances, and for years. passed through the .trials and vicissitudes incident to young institutions in those times. In 1852 Dr.

454 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

PICTURE OF DENISON UNIVERSITY

Bailey resigned, and in 1853 Rev. Jeremiah Hall, D. D., was elected to the position.

In 1855, the location of the college was changed to the present elevated and beautiful site just north of the village, and its friends rallied and erected a new building which is four stories high, one hundred and thirty-three feet by eighty-three feet deep in the middle, with wings forty-five feet deep. It contains, besides recitation rooms and society halls, thirty-three suites of rooms (sitting room, bedroom, and two closets), and accommodates sixty=six students.

In the following year (1856-7) a frame building, three stories in height, was erected. The present grounds contain twenty-four acres, nearly half of it .being a grove of old forest trees.

From this time the school entered upon a new career of prosperity. The Baptists of Ohio began to rally around it, students came to it, and it was enabled to take an important place among the edu-

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 455

cational institutions of the State. In 1853 the entire assets of the college, including all endowments, amounted to only thirteen thousand seven hundred and seventy-two dollars and sixty-five cents; but in 1856 William S. Denison, of Adamsville, gave ten thousand dollars toward the endowment, and in his honor the name was changed to Denison university.

In 1863 Dr. Hall resigned, and Rev. Samson Talbot, D. D., was elected to the presidency, and continued to discharge the duties of the office, to the great satisfaction of the trustees and patrons, until his sudden and lamented death in 1873. In 1869-70, the second building (that on the right hand in the cut) was erected, still larger in dimensions than the former. It contains a chapel, natural history room, and accommodations for seventy-two students. In 1863 the Baptist convention of Ohio undertook to raise an endowment of one hundred thousand dollars, which was completed in 1867, and the full amount has thus far been preserved intact, an income of six per cent. on the amount being available, annually, for the payment of salaries of professors. In 1872-3 another fund of seventy-five thousand dollars was raised and is held in like manner.- These funds are largely due to the intelligent munificence of E. E. Barney, E. Thresher, and W. P. Huffman, of Dayton, J. M. Hoyt, of Cleveland, and other noble brethren scattered throughout the State.

In 1875 Rev. E. Benjamin Andrews, A. M., was elected president, and continued in the office until 1879, when he resigned, and Rev. Alfred Owen, D. D., was elected to succeed him.

In 1877 W. H. Doane, musical doctor, of Cincinnati, donated to the college the sum of ten thousand dollars, for the purpose of erecting a building for the library and cabinet. This building was dedicated at the commencement in 1878. It is substantial and beautiful; and is believed to be as well adapted to its purpose as any such building in the country. It is called "Doane Hall."

There is on the premises (unrepresented on the cut, hidden by Doane Hall), a wooden building originally erected on the farm above referred to, but removed to the present site and now appropriated to a gymnasium and armory for the use of the students. The present value of the buildings

456 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

of office being three years. The following is the present board of trustees-term expires June, 1881: Honorable J. M. Hoyt, LL. D., Cleveland; D. Shepardson, D. D., Granville; Honorable T. W. Ewart, LL. D., Marietta; Rev. L. G. Leonard, D. D., Bucyrus; Rev. M. Stone, D. D., Lebanon; G. R. Sage, esq., Cincinnati; Rev. S. B. Page, D. D., Cleveland; E. M. Downer, Granville; Rev. G. W. Lasher, D.D., Cincinnati; J. B. Thresher, Dayton; Rev. H. L. Gear, Xenia; William Baker, Toledo.

Term expires June, r 88 z.-E. Thresher, LL. D., Dayton; R A. Holden, Cincinnati; E. E. Barney, LL. D., Dayton; Rev. D. A. Randall, D. D., Cleveland; Rev. A. Darrow, Cambridge; J. H. Tangeman, Lockland; E. E. Bryan, M. D., Granville; Rev. N. S. Burton, LL. D., Akron; Rev. S. W. Duncan, D. D., Cincinnati; Hon. J. B. Jones, Newark; L. D. Myers, Columbus; Ziba Crawford, Dayton.

Term expires June, 1883.-Rev. W. C. P. Rhoades, Granville; Rev. C. D. Morris, Toledo; G. F. Davis, Cincinnati; D. M. Shepardson, Granville; W. H. Doane, Mus. Doe., Cincinnati; Rev. I. F. Stidham, Columbus; W. P. Huffman, Dayton; Rev. H. F. Colby, Dayton; J. W. King, Xenia; Rev. F. Clatworthy, Norwalk; J. D. Rockefeller, Cleveland; M. E. Gray, Painesville.

These men are generally faithful to their trust, and give their best thought and most earnest attention to the affairs of the college. Twenty-one of them were present at the last meeting, and their deliberations were marked by great unanimity of thought and purpose.

The faculty is composed of men most of them long tried and found to be thoroughly prepared for and interested in their work. Dr. Owen, .the president, has won the high regard of his colleagues and the entire confidence of the board, as well as the respect and esteem of students and citizens. There is to be no change in the corps of instructors for the coming year. The faculty consists of the following able men

Rev. Alfred Owen, D. D., president; Maria Theresa Barney, professor of intellectual and moral philosophy; Almon U. Thresher, A. M., professor of rhetoric and English literature; Lewis E. Hicks, A. M., professor of natural sciences; John L. Gilpatrick, A. M., Benjamin Barney, professor of mathematics and physics; Charles Chandler, A. M., professor of the Latin language and literature; Rev.. Richard S. Colwell, A. M., professor of the Greek language and literature; John W. Moncrief, A. M., instructor in Latin, Greek and history (English and Greek,) and principal of preparatory department; Bunyan Spencer, A. B., instructor in Latin, Greek and history (United States and Roman); Leverette E. Akins, A. B., instructor in English grammar, elementary physics and mathematics; Professor Charles Chandler, librarian; Professor A. U. Thresher, curator of buildings and grounds.

The next anniversary closes fifty years of educational work at Granville-a fact of no mean importance. Few institutions in the land can point to a fairer record. It is doubtful if more has been done, with equal resources, anywhere on the continent. The college has had, from the first, a well-earned reputation for careful training and thorough scholarship, which it hopes to maintain in all time to come.

This semi-centennial will be appropriately observed. A committee of the trustees is appointed, and the co-operation of alumni and students is specially invited, that the end of fifty years may result in such awakened enthusiasm and hope as will bear the work forward both in attempting and accomplishing greater things in the future.

The following extract from the report of the committee appointed in 1878, to examine the financial condition of the college, will be found interesting in this connection:

"The committee appointed to prepare a statement as to the history and condition of the funds of the university, present the following. In submitting their report, the committee offer as prefatory, and as being necessary to its completeness, the substance of a paper prepared by Dr. Talbot in 1863, which presents an exhaustive and complete exhibition of the finances of the college from its origin to the date of that paper. This exhibit divides those thirty-two years into two periods; The first extending from the origin of the college in 1831 to 1853, the second from :853 to x863.

"It was ascertained that the entire assets of the college in 1853, including all endowments, were only thirteen thousand seven hundred and seventy-two dollars and sixty-five cents. At the end of the second period in 1863 the entire endowments of the college were estimated at fifty thousand dollars. Dr. Talbot was appointed president of the college at the June meeting of the trustees in that year. The college was at that time in a very precarious condition. The country being in the midst of

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 457

our late civil war, was depressed in all its interests almost to despair. The faculty were without any visible means of support, except the tuition fees of the scanty number of students, and that number was constantly decreasing by enlistment in the volunteer armies of the Government. In this state of affairs the trustees resolved to petition the Baptist convention of the State of Ohio, to recommend to the friends of the college to raise some endowment for the support of its faculty. This petition was presented to the convention at its annual meeting in October, 1863, and the convention resolved to recommend the raising of a special endowment of one hundred thousand dollars. This undertaking was assumed by a few individuals in manner as set forth in the following plan:

"The undersigned residents in the State of Ohio propose to raise the full sum of one hundred thousand dollars, to be held as a permanent fund, the annual income of which only may be expended in sustaining the faculty of instruction in Denison university, at Granville, Ohio.

'To secure this object, we, the undersigned, agree to pay the several sums set opposite our respective names to William P. Huffman, of Dayton, Hubbard Colby, of Mansfield, and George F. Davis, of Cincinnati, or either of them, to be held by them in trust, and invested in such form as they may deem best, until with the accrued interest, the entire sum of one hundred thousand dollars shall have been secured, when they shall call a meeting of the contributors at Granville, Ohio, by sending a written notice to each, and publishing it at least two weeks in the Journal and Messenger, or the denominational paper, to determine whether the money shall be paid over to the trustees of Denison university, or to a separate board of trustees of endowment fund, to he then incorporated under the act passed March 12, 1853. At this meeting a majority of the persons present, representing in person or by proxy the sums contributed, shall be a quorum to transact business, each one hundred dollars contributed entitling the person representing it to one vote, and a majority of the votes determining to which body the funds shall be entrusted. In no event, however,: shall any part of the principal be used, but the annual income only shall be appropriated as aforesaid.'

"This endowment was consummated in 1867. At a meeting of the subscribers to this fund held in Granville, June 27, 1867, it was ascertained that the full amount of reliable subscription somewhat exceeded one hundred thousand dollars, and it was resolved to pay over to the trustees of Denison university the full amount of this subscription in trust, for the object for which the funds were given with the specifications and restrictions attached thereto. This trust was accepted by the college at a meeting of its trustees, held in Granville on the same day, as above specified, and is known on our records as the hundred thousand dollars fund.

"Thus it will be seen that the university holds in trust a special fund of one hundred thousand dollars, limited in its application to the support of the faculty, the annual income of which only can be expended. In 1872 and. 1873, seventy-five thousand dollars were raised known as the twenty-five thousand dollar subscription and the fifty thousand dollar subscription. These distinctions were caused by a proposition, in 1872, by Mr. E. E. Barney, a trustee, to give ten thousand dollars upon condition that the full sum of twenty-five thousand dollars could be raised, and by a proposal of the same, in 1873, to give twenty-five thousand dollars, provided the full sum of fifty usand dollars could be raised. These conditions were fulfilled, and the sum of seventy-five thousand dollars was raised. These funds were given to meet the current wants of the university, without limitation, except that no part of the principal should ever be used, nor any more than six per cent. of the income in any one year. The fifty thousand dollar subscription was accepted by the trustees under very heavy penalties of forfeiture, provided any part of the principal or any more than six per cent. of the income should ever be used, or any part of the principal or more than six per cent. of the income of any other funds belonging to the university, then known to the subscribers.

"In addition to the foregoing, the university has interest bearing securities amounting to sixteen thousand seven hundred and seventy-five dollars. This amount is made up of the following items:

The presidential and theological fund ..........................$12,000

A memorial fund, given by Mr. M. E. Gray. a trustee,

in 1876, as a token of respect to his deceased father,

Andrew Gray ................................................................ 500

The centennial endowment fund, consisting of one

thousand dollars, given by Mr. J. B. Trevor, of New

York, and sundry small sums, called "the dollar roll,"

collected in x876 by Rev. T. J. Sheppard, amounting

in all to ............................................................................ 2,275

And two thousand dollars presented by Mr. J. D. Rock-

efeller, a trustee, one thousand dollars at the annual

meeting of trustees in June, 1878, and one thousand

dollars at a special meeting held October 24th, of the

same year :................................................................... 2,000

$16,775

"The committee recommend that the above small sums, amounting to sixteen thousand seven hundred and seventy-five dollars, all of which are now applicable, in their annual income, to the current expenses of the. university, .be added, for the sake of convenience in keeping accounts, to the seventy-five thousand dollar fund; and that this sum, when both funds are united, be known as the consolidated endowment fund, amounting to ninety-one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five dollars; and that the expenditure of interest from this fund and the one hundred thousand dollar fund, agreeably to sundry obligations assumed by the trustees, as before stated, be restricted to a sum not exceeding six per cent. annually.

"In addition to. the above, there have been added to the endowment of the university, since 1863, the new brick edifice, estimated at a cost of thirty-five thousand dollars, in which is a commodious chapel, completed in the fall of 1871; the library building, estimated at a cost of ten thousand dollars, presented to the university by Mr. W. H. Doane, a trustee; and sundry additions made to the library, philosophical apparatus, etc, estimated at a cost of ten thousand dollars.

"The entire endowments of the university then stand thus:

Estimated endowment in 1863 :......................................$ 50,000

One hundred thousand dollar endowment ..................... 100,000

Consolidated endowment fund ...................................... 91,775

New building.:................................................................ 35,000

Library building ............................................................... 10,000

Additions to library, etc .................................................. 10,000

$296,775

"Besides the above, the university holds in trust three thousand two hundred dollars given for the .benefit of Mrs. Mary E.

458 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

Talbot, widow of the late president, Samson Talbot, the annual income of which is to be paid to her quarterly for fifteen years from the date of the first payment to Mrs. Talbot, or, in the ,event of her marriage or death, for the benefit of her children, until the youngest is eighteen years of age, when said fund becomes the property of the university, and its annual income becomes applicable to its ordinary annual expenditures. Also the Mary Arnold Stevens fund of five hundred dollars, given by Professor William A. Stevens, to perpetuate the memory of his honored mother, the annual income of which is to be appropriated, under the advice of the faculty, to deserving students."

It will be observed from the above that this institution is, financially, on a solid foundation.

"The whole life and administration of the college without being sectarian, is pronounced and positive in favor of the Christian religion. The exercises of etch day begin with prayers in the college chapel. This service the students are required to attend. They are also required to attend church twice each Sunday. .A regular weekly prayer meeting is sustained in the college. Students are made welcome in the various Sunday schools of the village. In the Baptist Sunday-school, several classes, taught by college instructors, are intended expressly for students.

"It is the desire of the trustees and faculty, to conserve, and as far as possible, advance, the honorable reputation already accorded to this college, for thoroughness, and other excellencies of mental discipline. The aim is to build, fashion, and develop young men, in the most earnest and successful manner possible, intellectually and morally, for the higher vocations and duties of life. Every possible resource and effort is, and will be, employed in furtherance of this end.

"Many considerations particularly recommend Denison university as a place for acquiring liberal learning. Its courses of study are thorough and comprehensive; students in it are peculiarly free from incentives to dissipation; they are constantly subject to a strong Christian influence; the location of the university is beautiful and salubrious; means of living are obtainable at a low price, and the intellectual life of the college community is quickened by the presence of other schools."

CHAPTER LIII.

HANOVER TOWNSHIP.

LOCATION AND PHYSICAL FEATURES-MOUND BUILDERS-INDIANS- TOPOGRAPHY- FIRST WHITE MIEN-THE PIONEERS THE THE WELLSES AND HOLLISTERS-TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION-RELIGION-REV. JOSEPH THRAP- FIRST CHURCH-OTHER CHURCHES-BOSTON-HANOVER VILLAGE-TOROSO THE FIRST STABLE IN LICKING VALLEY.

THIS township occupies an important position in the early history of the county, situated as it is on the eastern line of the county, and upon the great highway of westward-bound emigrants. The larger part of the first and probably subsequent settlers of the county and of other counties west and north passed across this township up the valley of the Licking

The first white man to enter the county must babe placed his foot first upon the soil of Hanover township. Its physical aspects are also deeply interesting; containing, as it does, some of the grandest scenery in this part of the State.

Few evidences of the Mound Builders yet remain within its limits, enough, however, to prove beyond doubt that its soil was pressed by the foot of this mysterious people. Centuries ago human beings, or beings in human form, perhaps, swarmed in its beautiful valleys and over its hills; built their huts, their mounds, sang their songs, cultivated the lands, played their national games, worshiped their gods, and perchance were filled with the passions, hopes and fears of man, loved, married, died and have been swept from the face of the earth, leaving only these little hillocks as "Footprints on the sands of time."

If the savage white man would let these mounds alone they might stand forever, but he will not do that. To satiate his rapacious appetite for gold he drives his savage plowshare through them, and whittles them away piecemeal, until even the "footprints" are no more. A few of them are yet visible in this township, but none are worthy of particular mention; none are prominent, being generally of small size. There is one on the farm of John H. Hughes, between the canal and the Lick-

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 459

ing river. It has been plowed over for years and greatly lowered and worn away, but is yet about eight feet high and thirty feet in diameter at the base. It was opened last winter by some curiosity hunters, and a quantity of human bones, in a more or less decayed condition, exhumed, but nothing was found of particular importance. There is also a small mound on the farm of P. R. Denman, in the north part of the township, about ten rods west of his house. It is a little larger around than the other, being, perhaps, forty feet in diameter at the base, but is only about five feet in height.

No Indian history of consequence is connected with the township. No permanent camps of these red sons of the forest had an existence here in historic times, though it was used by the Bowling Green Indians as a hunting ground.

The northern and southern portions of the town ship incline toward its center, through which passes the main Licking river. The scenery along this stream is magnificent, but as it has been particularly referred to in another chapter will not receive attention here. The main tributary of this stream is the Rocky fork, which enters the township near the northwest corner, and passing a little east of south, enters the Licking river a mile or more from the west line of the township. Two or three smaller streams cross the northern part of the township, running south into the Licking. From the south the main stream is the Brushy fork, which, in an early day, was lined with underbrush and obstructed by drift wood-hence the name. The land along the Licking bottom is of the same quality as that of Madison, and needs no description. There is, however, less of it than in Madison. In the latter township there is a broad expanse .of beautiful, level bottom land, the hills receding some distance from. the stream. In this township they hug the river more closely, until at "Black Hand" the massive rocks shake hands, as it were, over the dark abyss through which the river finds an outlet. Much of the township is therefore hill or upland, and well adapted to grazing and the raising of wheat and other small grains.

The Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis and the Central Ohio railroads, and the Ohio canal, pass across the township from east to west, the two latter following the valley of the Licking, and the former entering the township at the northeast corner and traversing it in a southwesterly direction, enters the Licking valley in Madison township. The Licking river was first used for transportation, and many a canoe and skiff, loaded with pioneers, their families and effects, and many others with the product of the woods, passed up and down this stream in pioneer days. After 1830 the canal-boat took the place of the skiff and pirogue, and soon after 1850 the railroad, that wonderful human civilizing machine, came to crown all other means of transportation.

Christopher Gist was the first white man known to history, to press the soil of Hanover township. This was one hundred and twenty-nine years ago. His story is told in another chapter of this work. Chaplain Jones passed through the valley in 1772, and was the second. He was accompanied by a trader named David Duncan. William Dragoo was probably the third white man to pass up this valley. This was in 1786.

The father of the late Benjamin Elliott was the fourth, about 1790, and Captain Samuel Brady the fifth, about 1792 or 1793. Captain Brady, however, had with him a party of scouts. This comprises the list of white men who entered this valley, as far as known, until the coming of Messrs. Hughes and Ratliff, the first white settlers of the county.

Philip Barrack was, probably, the first permanent settler of this township. He was a native of Maryland, and early determined to make his home in Ohio. Accordingly, with his trusty rifle on his shoulder, his wife mounted. on a .two year old filly, and a few articles of clothing bound to the back of a two year old heifer, he started for Marietta, and after a tedious journey of some weeks, reached that place. Not liking the locality, he ascended the Muskingum river in a canoe, and finally the Licking river. This was in 1798. He squatted near where the Claypool mills now are until the spring of 1801 (some accounts say 1802), when he removed six or eight miles further up the valley, settling near the Licking narrows. He was a man of energy, industry, enterprise, influence, conducting successfully his farm, together with a tavern and a distillery. His daughter, Millie, was probably the first white child born "on the waters of

460 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

the Licking." His first cabin, or dwelling, in this township was built near the spacious brick he afterward erected, and consisted of merely a pen of round logs, with but three sides, the fourth being left open for the fire, something after the style of a sugar-camp house. He was a man of considerable tact, and fertile in those expedients, by which he was enabled to conduct his business without the aid of those tools which made Industrial pursuits comparatively easy at a later day. Much is yet told of his leatherwood traces, willow bark gears, husk collars, etc.

In 1803, Jesse James and Jesse Haines squatted on the Thompson section. The former put up his cabin a short distance south of Barrick's house, and the latter squatted near Stump's saw-mill. In 1804, John Stateler began to clear land on Woodbridge's bottom, near the "ore landing." Matthias ' Denman came in the same year, and erected a cabin on the Woodbridge land. He was from New Jersey. The Demeans were powerful men and delighted in feats of strength.' It is related of Philip and Hathaway Denman, sons of Matthias, that in a mauling frolic with John Stateler, they split two hundred rails in the morning before breakfast. At another time Philip Denman cut the timber and split five hundred rails by two o'clock P. M., on the Camp farm, and at another time his two brothers made four hundred rails in six hours. Two hundred rails were considered a day's work for two men.

Daniel Thompson, the largest land proprietor in the township, came in 1804. He owned four thousand acres, and built his cabin near the road leading from Boston to Toboso. He seems to have been unfitted for a frontiersman; his large estate was soon frittered away in small tracts, for labor, stock, or anything which suited his fancy, and he soon left the county.

Rufus Enyart came soon after Thompson. He was the latter's son-in-law, settled on four hundred acres of land given him by Thompson, and erected a hewed log house, since occupied by his son, Daniel Enyart.

In 1806 Chester Wells and John Hollister came. They pitched a tent on the Rocky fork, a few rods north of Martin's house, in which they lived until they cleared a "truck" patch and planted corn and potatoes. They then built a cabin with two rooms and a space between. Shortly afterward Captain Elisha Wells came and moved into the same house with Wells and Hollister, and the three conjointly erected, in 1808, a grist-mill where its successor is still running.

They, with others of the same family, became owners of a section, or quarter township. Chester Wells had the east side of the section, and erected a frame house, and, a few years later, the brick house since occupied by Mr. Stump. Captain Wells owned the west side of the section, and John Hollister the middle. The latter erected a frame house on his part, since occupied by Captain Coman. These were energetic, public spirited men, who did much to advance the interests of the township.

From 1806 to 1809 there was a large addition of immigrants. Among them were Daniel Shadley, Samuel Varner, George Learson, Michael Stateler, Peter Barrick, John Ratliff, James Johnson, and Zachariah Carlisle.

The township was organized April 19, 1808, being the third organized in the county. It embraced all the territory east of Newark township. Records of the early doings in the township are lost: Among the early justices of the peace, however, was Zachariah Carlisle. His administration of justice was somewhat unique. He was altogether untrammeled by verbose forms and legal learning. His own ideas of right and wrong governed him in deciding a case, and this often involved him in difficulties with litigants. He rarely stopped to write subpoenas, but gave his order; verbally, to George Learson, the constable, who could neither read nor write, to "bring the defendant forthwith."

Religion received early attention in this township. Joseph Thrap was the first, and, for a long time, the only preacher. He was a Methodist, and a zealous, earnest man, and much esteemed by all who knew him.

James B. Finley was the first circuit preacher, and was "a dreadful noisy man."

At present there are six churches in the township four Methodist (two being Protestant Methodists), one Presbyterian, and one Disciple.

Rev. Joseph Thrap held the first religious services in the Licking valley, and was one of the

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 461

most prominent of the early ministers. A short sketch of his life may he interesting in this connection.

He was born in Baltimore county, Maryland, in October, 1776. His parents had been members of the Church of England, but, under the ministry of Robert Strawbridge, embraced the Methodist religion. Joseph, in 1796, served six months in the Virginia militia under Captain Dent, and received for this service a land warrant for one hundred and sixty acres. In 1799 he embraced religion, attaching himself to the Methodist Episcopal church. In 1803 he married Jemima, daughter of Isaac .Van Camp, a pioneer, who occupied five hundred acres of land near Morgantown by virtue of a tomahawk right.

Father Thrap was six feet in height; had an erect, firm, compact frame, and elastic step. He was always very patriotic, but was too old to bear arms in the Union cause in the great Rebellion, but encouraged thirteen of his grandsons to go. They were in many of the hardest fought battles of the war, and all came back but one, who starved to death in Andersonville.

In the Spring of 1805, his father, with several other sons and daughters with families, settled on the Licking, and were soon organized into a Methodist society; and in April, 18o6, the first quarterly meeting ever held in this region of the country was held in his cabin, which stood in the eastern edge of Licking, where the residence of Owen Dorsey now stands. He was there licensed to preach, and,, finally, graduated to elders' orders.

In 1829, when the Protestant Methodist church was being organized, he attached himself to that body, and remained an acceptable member until his death. As a preacher he was up to the medium standard, but in prayer he was often eloquent in speech, and overwhelming in power. He died at his residence near Irville, May 12, 1866, at the ripe age of nearly ninety years.

The pioneers of this township, as well as.of all other parts of the county, represented almost every phase of religious belief, and were generally deeply imbued with a religious spirit. There were representatives of nearly every religious denomination, but they were chiefly Methodists, Presbyterians and Episcopalians. Preachers of the various religious creeds frequently passed through the valley, and held services in the cabins of the settlers. The earliest Methodist meetings were mainly held at Zachariah Carlisle's cabin, and a little later at the cabin of Joseph Thrap. The first Presbyterian sermon preached in the township was by a colored man, the services being held at the cabin of Chester Wells. At a later date the Rev. Mr. Rose, of Newark, frequently preached. Early Episcopal services were frequently held at the house of John Hollister, and were generally conducted by Messrs. Rose and Putnam, or other representatives of Gambier college. No one denomination, however, felt able, or were strong enough in numbers, to erect a church, yet all felt the need of a building in which to hold religious services. This necessity finally culminated in the erection, about 1815, of a union church, which should be flee to all denominations. It was a brick building, and stood on land now owned by Leonard Stump, in the northern central part of the township. The Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis railroad now passes near where the church stood. It was in use about thirty years, or more. At some period of its existence it passed into the hands of the Protestant Methodist society. This society, about 1860, or before, erected a new church near the site of the old one, where they continue. to hold services. John F. Williams, Samuel Somerville (deceased), and Horace Fairbanks were prominent early members in this Protestant Methodist church. The present membership is, probably, twenty-five or thirty, and an active Sunday-school is maintained.

The Protestant Methodists were very strong in the Licking valley in an early day, and organized several churches in different parts of the valley; and probably the old Protestant Methodist church down on Brushy fork, in the southern part of the township, was among the earliest. It was established by Joseph Thrap, and he and the Rev. C. Springer were the earliest preachers here. Among the early members Messrs. Phillips and, Skinner were prominent, and were leaders in the organization. The church a hewed log was erected near the main fork of Brushy fork, about 1829 or 1830, and was used until 1852, when the present building was erected. The church building, proba-

462 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

bay, did not cost over four or five hundred dollars, being built mostly by voluntary labor. The present membership is forty-five; services are held every two weeks, and an active Sunday-school is maintained during the summer.

The following regarding the attempt to establish an Episcopal church in Hanover is from an historical sermon by Rev. William Bower, delivered at Trinity church, Newark, January 20, 1869:

"The places in the county at which the Episcopal church has held her ministrations, giving them in the reverse order of their importance, are Hanover, Utica, Granville and Newark. There has been occasional preaching by our ministers in other places, but not the organization of any church. In these four places parishes were organized, and reports concerning them are preserved in our church records.

"The parish at Hanover was organized about the year 1830, by some missionary from Gambier, whose name I have been unable to ascertain. [Probably Messrs. Rose and Putnam, as above stated.] It was very weak from the first, and very short lived. It depended for existence mainly upon the interest and support of the family of Mr. John Hollister, at whose house the services were usually held. After the Newark church was built, 'Mr. Hollister and family, in 1837, became members of that parish, and services at Hanover ceased. As far as I can learn the only two ministers who went with any regularity to Hanover fin addition to Drs. Sparrow, Wing, and others from Gambier,) were the Rev. R. T. Rogers and Rev. G. benison; Mr. Rogers only for two months, Mr. Denison nearly two years. One short item from Mr. Denison respecting Hanover at that time, and I will pass on to another parish. From this item, those who are interested in temperance reform will be able to see, as far as that portion 'of Licking county is concerned, whether, respecting the use of liquor, we are going backwards or forwards. Mr. Denison writes of Hanover in the year 1830: Distillation of ardent spirits, once carried on extensively, is entirely stopped in this township, and one of the church officers said to me, I do not know of a single individual within a circuit of two miles, who has used a drop this harvest. Some of us, however, will suspect that while the church officer who volunteered this information, knew a great deal, there were some things going on among his neighbors of which he was ignorant. If not, it surely was a model township.

Jacob Winter, esq., gives the following brief history of the "Brushy Fork congregation," or Disciple church, located on Brushy fork, in the southern part of this township

"The first preaching here was by Jesse B. Ferguson about 1837, and afterwards by William Hathaway, .albeit Law, Ziba Brown, Dr. William Hayes, J. H. Jones, Asbury Gardner and William Atherton. This congregation was organized in the latter part of 1837, with Artemas Baker, his wife, one son and two daughters, Robert Wills and wife, John Oatman and wife, Jacob Palmer and wife, John Palmer and son, Ezekiel Skinner and wife, William Coomes and wife, and John Perry and wife, as first members. Artemas Baker, Jacob Palmer an John Perry, were its first elders.

"Their church edifice is a substantial stone structure, and was erected in 1838. It is situated about two and a half miles southeast of Clay Lick station, on the Central Ohio railroad, on the road across the Flint ridge to Zanesville, sometimes called the Mount Sterling road. The whole -number of members enrolled from the commencement to the present time, (about 1870,) is about three hundred. :Many of the original members have died, and many others removed west, leaving the present number about seventy-five or eighty."

There are three villages within the limits of this township-Boston (not the Hub) Hanover and Toboso. The first named, and of the least in size and importance, was first started. It was about 1832 that John Hoyt put up a little shanty, and opened a grocery. He did a thriving business, and soon other buildings were erected, and the place promised to become an important point; but the railroads changed the course of trade, and the little village may now Safely say, "Non suns qualis warn."

Three years later, fir. Hoyt started a grocery on the flat, on Rocky fork near the grist-mill, and thus became the founder of the village of Hanover. This was in 1835, but no town was laid out until 1849, William Wells, of Glastonbury, Connecticut, was the original owner of the quarter township upon which Hanover is situated. He divided this land (four thousand acres) among his relatives, among whom were Chester Wells and John Hollister; the latter received twelve hundred acres, and upon it laid out the town November 26 and 27, 1849. It was first called "Fleming" after John M. Fleming, who had become part owner of the land, but was changed to Hanover after the post office was established, that being the name of the office. David Wyrick was the surveyor of the town plat, and laid it out on the east side of Rocky fork; it now extends to the west side of that stream. Chester Wells was the first postmaster, and kept the office in Hollister's mill. George Hollister was the second postmaster, and has retained the office continuously until the present time. He now keeps a store in the village, and the old mill is vet in successful operation, having ground the staff' of life for seventy-two years for the people of that part of the county. A saw-mill has always been attached to it. John Hoyt's grocery was in existence many years before the town was laid out, but

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 463

after that, Messrs. Francis H. and Christopher Woodbridge who kept store in Newark, and were nephews of Mr. Hollister, established a branch store here. John Hoyt erected and conducted the first hotel in the place. There are, at present, two stores in the place, beside that of Mr. Hollister, kept by E. P. Stone and C. P. Arnold; a foundry conducted by Mr. Hollister, where stoves are cast, and general repairing done; two wagon and carriage shops, two hotels, a basket factory, about sixty-five dwellings, three hundred inhabitants, two churches, a town hall and a large brick union school building. In this latter bnilding, which cost about six thousand dollars, three teachers are employed, and about one hundred pupils are in attendance.

The churches .of the village are the Methodist Episcopal and Presbyterian. The first is an offshoot from the old church established by Joseph Thrap, the early meetings of which were held at Zachariah Carlisle's cabin about two and a half miles east of Hanover. Part of this congregation living in and near the town, built this church about 1852. It is a comfortable frame building, worth about two thousand five hundred dollars. The membership is thirty-five.

A union Sunday-school has been maintained nearly ever since the town was laid out; but in the fall of 1872 this church established one of its own, which has been well sustained, the membership being at present about sixty.

In the fall of 1867, Rev. Daniel Tenny, pastor of the Second Presbyterian church of Newark, began preaching in the Methodist Episcopal church, of Hanover, once in two weeks, upon the invitation of Messrs. L. P. Coman, .George Hollister, \V. D. Evans, O. Z. Hillery, G. J. Hagerty, A. F. Hall, N. C. Fleming, John F. Williams, Henrv Montgomery, P. R. Denman, and others. Levi P. Coman, Martha A. Coman, Martha Seymour, and W. S. Coman, were the only members of the Presbyterian church who were living here at the time of the first communion service in 1869. At this time the following persons united with the church: Charles C. and Ruth R. Hayes, from the Methodist Episcopal church of Granville- Darwin C: Wilhelm, from the Presbyterian church, at Duncan's Falls; Elizabeth Wilhelm, from the Congregational church of Granville. February 20, 1871, a series of meetings were commenced, at which the following persons joined this church: George Hollister, Amanda Hollister, Laura Hollister, George G. Warman, Catharine Hagerty, Catharine Fleming, Charles W. Coman, Susan E. Coman, and Sarah E. Wood. The first prayer meeting was held at George Hollister's house, and was continued at various places until about June 1st, when permission was granted to occupy the town hall.

In March, 1871, Mr. Tenny resigned his pastorate in Newark, which necessitated his bidding adieu to the congregation here. He had preached every alternate Sabbath in the afternoon. During a portion of 1871 meetings were held in the town hall while the Methodist Episcopal church was undergoing repairs; it was also during this year that the Methodists refused the further use of their church to the Presbyterians. Steps were immediately taken to erect a new church, and a meeting of the citizens, to take the matter into consideration, was called November 6, 1871, at the town hall. One thousand dollars were subscribed at this meeting, and a committee appointed consisted of G. J. Hagerty, J. Coon, D. T. Enyart, G. Hollister, and L. P. Coman, to solicit subscriptions. This committee reported December 4, 1871, that two thousand and ten dollars had been subscribed, five hundred and ten dollars of which were received in Newark. The church was organized December 30, 1871, with thirty-five members. Of the first elders, L. P. Coman was elected for three years, Allen T. Hall two years, and George Hollister one year. A T. Hall and George Hollister were regularly ordained by Rev. How and Kingsbury, of Newark. Mr. Coman had been ordained, having served as elder in the Second Presbyterian church of Newark. The first communion service was held July 14, 1872. The church is a fine brick edifice, erected in 1872, and was paid for in cash upon completion, costing four thousand seven hundred dollars.

A union Sabbath school was organized March 1, 1868, which is still continued, and is in a flourishing condition.

The third town laid out in the township was Toboso. William Stanberry owned some land there, and when the Central Ohio railroad was

464 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

completed he thought this and the Ohio canal might together make a town on his land at the lower end of the "Narrows;" it was accordingly laid out on the south side of the Licking in 1852. Mr. Crumel Fairbanks built the first house and started a grocery and saloon. After the completion of the railroad a post office was established and E. Hickey was the first postmaster. Mr. Hickey now keeps store there, and J. V. Levingston a grocery. There is -a warehouse kept by Mr. Oden, and about a dozen dwellings.

The Methodists organized a class here and erected the present church edifice soon after the town was laid out. Rev. J. Hooper was influential in the early stages of this church organization, and preached for the Methodists in this vicinity before the church was built, holding services usually at the house of John Hahn. Mr. John Hahn was one of the first members, as were also Jonathan Simpson and John Simpson. The membership is, at present, forty or fifty. A flourishing Sunday-school is in operation, having been organized about the date of the church organization.

The location of the village is not considered a healthy one, which fact has, perhaps, somewhat retarded its growth.

Mr. B. C. Woodward, who furnishes much of the history of this township, thus writes regarding pioneer times in this township:

"Dirt floors were universal. The chimneys were seldom built higher than the jambs, but the fireplaces were large enough to contain a great deal of wood. Around the fires made in them the sons of labor gathered and enjoyed themselves with as keen a relish as though their homes were palatial. It was in 1807 that puncheons were first used for floors, and in the same year Daniel Ward split a black-walnut tree and made the first table used ' on the waters of the Licking."'

CHAPTER LIV.

HARTFORD TOWNSHIP.

LOCATION-TOPOGRAPHY-MOUNDS-INDIANS SETTLERS AND SETTLEMENTS- ORGANIZATION-FIRST ELECTION-A NUMBER OF FIRST THINGS-CHURCHES- TORNADOES JUSTICE OF THE PEACE-HALCYON ACADEMY-A. B. CLARK ON THE ABOLITION RIOTS AND THINGS IN GENERAL.

HAR'I'FORD township is in the northwestern corner of the county, and is known in the original survey as township four in the fifteenth range of townships in the United States military lands. It lies near the head-waters of all the principal streams forming Licking river, and has been ascertained by actual survey to occupy the most elevated position of any land between Cleveland and Columbus.

The Otter fork of the Licking heads about two miles from the north line of the township, passing diagonally through, and leaving it about the center of the east side. This is the main stream in the township. Generally there is no marked difference between the quality of the soil along this stream and that of the land more remote. The native forest consisted of sugar, beech, white and black ash, white and black oak, hickory, black and white walnut, wild cherry, hackberry, and elm. The undergrowth was water beech, dogwood, and an abundance of spice bush, which has become entirely extinct. The face of the country is gently rolling. About a mile and a half northwest of the village of Hartford, an elevation of land, covering some thirty or forty acres, may have a claim to a hill. The land is rich, and renders no obstruction to cultivation; at least three-fourths of it may be considered equal in fertility to any in the county, perhaps in the State. There is little or no waste land by swamps. Surface stone are very scarce; and a stone quarry is unknown within the township limits. It is well adapted to pasturage, and has a local notoriety for its wool. product. A little bog ore is all the mineral the township can boast of.

Very few of the Mound Builders' works, if they were ever numerous, have survived the ravages of

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 465

time. About the center of the northeast quarter of the township, on the land of Mr. C. L. Graves, is a slight elevation, which encircles about ten acres.

There is little or no Indian history connected with the township; but evidences of their occupation are not wanting. Numerous flint arrow points, stone hatchets, and other relics are found.

The west half of the township was originally school land. The east half was entered under an old law, requiring a whole military section of four thousand acres to be entered in a body. The southeast quarter was entered by Jonathan and Elias B. Dayton; the northeast quarter by Dr. Jonas Stanberry, who sold it to the Granville company. Their land in this township was surveyed into one hundred acre lots by James Coe, and they ratified this survey in all their deeds.

Daniel Poppleton was the first settler in the township. He came in April, 1812, and was soon followed by C. L. Graves, Strong Clark, Daniel Wright, Enoch Whipple, Clark Cooley, Ezekiel Wells and Adam Kite, all of whom settled on the northeast quarter, and by Mr. Shaw, and Titus S. Hopkins, who settled on the school land,

Although Daniel Poppleton was the pioneer settler of Hartford, there were several small improvements made before he came, by Roswell Graves, Ezekiel Wells and Lester Case, neither of whom, however, then settled their families here. Rumors of a contemplated Indian raid, toward the close of 1812, induced Mr. Poppleton to leave the township for a few months for protection. C. L. Graves and Clark Cooley, before mentioned, were emigrants of 1813.

When Monroe township was organized it included Liberty, Bennington and Hartford townships. Under this organization Esquire Moses Foster was the first justice of the peace, and C. L. Graves first constable.

About 1816 Bennington and Hartford townships were set off under the name of Bennington. Under this organization Michael Trout and Daniel Poppleton were elected justices of the peace, Elisha Harris constable on the Hartford side, and Strong Clark township clerk. In September, 1819, Hartford was erected into a separate township. Strong Clark did the business and named the township. Previous to this the school land was being rapidly settled under fictitious temporary leases. It is worthy of record that during all the arrangements for securing legal claims to these lands, in no instance was an attempt made to supplant or derange the affairs of actual settlers.

The first election in the township was held in a log school-house on the town-plat in September, 1819. The number of votes cast was forty-eight. Elijah Durfey was elected justice of the peace; Daniel I. Durfey, .township clerk; and Leonard Bushnel, treasurer.

The first frame building in the township was John McInturf's saw-mill, on Otter fork, erected in 1817. The first frame house was that of Elijah Durfey, erected on the site of the village of Hartford in 1818. The first frame barn was that of Asa Cooley, on the farm afterward owned by Daniel Warner, in 1819. The first building raised without whiskey was Ezekiel Scovell's barn, in 1830. The first marriage was that of Enoch Whipple to Kate Shaw, in 1815; the first child born was

Michel Cooley, June 3, 1813; the first official act of R. Everett, a justice of the peace, was to marry Miss Cooley and William McCrarey; the first death was that of Widow McInturf, in 1819; the first sermon preached by a Congregational minister was by Rev. Timothy Harris, of Granville, in 1817; the first convert to Christianity was Ezekiel Scovel, in 1817 ; the first church society formed was the Congregational, August, 1818; the first infant baptized was by Rev. James N. Wright, in August, 1818; the first sermon by the Christian denomination was by Rev. Mr. Burge, in 1819; the first sermon by a Baptist minister was preached by Rev. Mr. Evans, in 1819; the first male teacher of a district school was Mr. Mountain Everett, in 1817 ; the first female teacher was . Miss Julia Everett, afterward Mrs. Thurston, in the summer of 1818; the first Sabbath-school was organized August 13, 1826; the first resident minister of the Gospel was Samuel W. Rose, in 1829; the first resident physician was Dr. Kirkham, in 1832; the first merchant was R. Everett, in 1824; the first post office was established in 1830; the first meeting-houses were erected in 1832, one for the Congregational, and one for the Christian society, in the village; the first postmaster was J. W. Sey-

466 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

mour, who was followed by I. K. Beem, W. Winslow, T. G. Moore and P. H. Graves.

The Congregational was the pioneer church of Hartford,. being organized August 8, 1818. At that time, the Rev. James N. Wright performed the rite of baptism for the first time in the township. Soon after the first settlement of the township, the citizens erected a small log building, principally for school purposes, but it was intended for and used as a public building, and for some years was the only public building in this section. In it the early preachers of every denomination were invited to preach ; the elections were also held here, and all public business, which was not extensive, transacted.

In this building the Congregational church was organized by Rev. Timothy Harris, of Granville, and Rev. Ebenezer Washburn, of Genoa. Mr. Washburn died in Blendon, Franklin county, Ohio, in 1873, aged eighty-four years. He was one of the first pastors of this church, giving it half of his time for several years. The members of this first organization were Leonard Bushnel, Ezekiel Scovel, Claudius L. Graves, Elijah Durfey, Ruth Wright, Rachel Scovel, and Electa Graves.

The old school-house was burned in 1827, but another was immediately erected and the church continued its meetings here until 1832. It is said that from the date of its organization to that time services had been held every Sabbath but one, and that was when the small-pox was raging. .

In 1832 their first church edifice was erected, costing only one hundred and seventeen dollars, as much voluntary labor was performed on it. In 1853 the second, and present edifice, was erected, costing fifteen hundred dollars, It was dedicated October 12th of the same year.

The ministers who followed Mr. Washburne were Revs. Samuel W. Rose, from 1828 to 1831; H. O. Higley, from 1831 to 1837; Samuel Mattison, from 1837 to 1841; W. B. Brown, from 1841 to 1845; H. M. Parmlee, from 1845 to 1850; David Wurt, from 1850 to 1851; James Harrison, from 1852 to 1855; H. Y. Booth, Hugh Carlisle, Barks Jenkin, and E. Thompson, from 1856 to 1867; L. R. Royce, I. B. Dawson, A. N. Hamlin, Isaac C. Kingsley, D. F. Harris, and D. Sebastian Jones, from 1867 to 1879.The present pastor, Rev. John McKean, took charge in May, 1879. The present membership of this church is about sixty, and the children of the members generally attend the union Sabbath-school.

There are two Methodist churches in this township; one in the village of Hartford and one in the southern part of the township. The latter is known as the Wesley chapel, Mr. James Wright, yet living in the neighborhood of the church, was probably more influential than any other person in organizing this class. Mr. Wright became a local minister and preached for this society many years. The organization was effected, probably, at Winslow's school-house, and their meetings were held here several years prior to the erection of the church. Among the first members were James NV E. Thrall, Horace Winslow, and a few others. The church edifice was erected about 1848, near the above named school-house. The present membership is forty or fifty.

The Sabbath-school connected with the church was probably organized about the time the church was erected, and has been kept up generally during the summer months to the present time.

The Methodist Episcopal church of Hartford was organized fifty years ago or more. Its early records are not in existence, but it was one of the earliest church societies in the town, the Congretional only, probably, preceding it. Its first meetings were held in the cabins of the settlers, and in the log building before mentioned as one of the first buildings erected in the town for church and school purposes.

Rev. James Wheeler was an itinerant minister of the church in those days, and was probably more influential than any other person in this organization.

In 1832, the Christians, or New Lights, erected a church building, they having previously organized a society here. This Christian organization subsequently became extinct, and their church became the property of this Methodist society, and its first church edifice. This old church edifice is yet standing and in use as a warehouse.

The Methodist church grew quite rapidly in numbers and influence, and in its most prosperous days numbered about one hundred members.

This was about 1845, at which time they erected

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 467

their present frame church building, located on Main street. A few of the first and leading members of the class were Willis Clarke, John Bryan, Nason Durfey, and Robert Dolan. Rev. George West was also an early preacher in this church.

It seems to have been on the decline in later years, and now numbers about twenty-five members.

The children of the members of this church generally attend the Union Sabbath school in the Congregational church.

The church located in the northwestern part of the township on the land of Zimri Webb, is now owned by the Christians, better known as New Lights. The Universalists, however, were probably influential in erecting the building. This Universalist church was organized about 1850, by Rev. Truman Strong; the first members being John Ross, David Ross, Samuel Ross, Mr. Styer, John Bell, William Yearly, and others. Mr. Yearly gave the land for the church edifice. It was not used entirely by the Universalists, other denominations using it whenever convenient and desirable. It was mostly used, however, by the Universalists, Christians and Baptists; quite a number of the latter denomination had settled in this part of the township, and frequently held services in this church. They subsequently erected a church building of their own, just over the line, in Delaware county.

After a time the Universalist organization disbanded, and about 1865 the church came into the possession of the New Lights.

The earlier and more influential members of this organization were the Webbs, the Potters, and some others. William Webb was a local preacher, and served the society in this capacity some years.

The society is not now a strong one. A Sabbath-school was organized. there many years ago, and has been kept up with considerable regularity during the summer season until the present time.

The Disciple church of Hartford village was organized in March, 1850, by Elder William Hays, its original members being Anson Clark, Israel Hoover, Mrs. Emeline Wilson, J. H. Buel, Henry Tracy, Miss C. A. Weaver, Samuel Martin, C. E. Lincoln, John Williams, Mrs. Sarah J. Williams, Mrs. C. J. Hoover, and Joshua BueL A. Burns, David Weaver, William Taylor, William Hays, and others, have ministered to the church at different times. At present it is not Strong in numbers, having twenty-five or thirty members. They have never had a church building, and no regular services are held. The children attend the union Sunday-school, which has a membership of more than one hundred.

Three terrific tornados have passed through the township from west to east, in parallel lines, all within the space of less than two miles, and each occupying a uniform space of half a mile or less. The time the first occurred will probably never be ascertained, nor can its appearance or the full extent of its destruction be known. It passed through the center of the township, over the site of the present village of Hartford. , Sixty years ago the belt of timber growing here was small, and had every appearance of a second growth. J. Johnson, one of the Welsh pioneers in Granville township, was acquainted with this belt, or storm-track, many years before this, and when it was a perfect thicket of undergrowth. No marks of that storm are now perceptible. The second tornado occurred May 18, 1825, and was known as the "Burlington storm," because of the greater damage to the people of that township. It is fully described in the chapter on Burlington township. It passed through Hartford township, nearly two miles south of the track of the former storm, its belt of devastation being about the same. The third tornado occurred in June, 1835. This storm passed between the two former. It was terriffic, but not so severe as the others.

The following gentlemen have served as justices of the peace in this township: Elijah Durfey, Anson R. Thrall, Revel Everett, James Jordon, William Eddlebute, Abial G. Graves, E. D. Andrews, A. B. Clark, A. C. Foote, T. G. Moore, L. P. Rose, D. M. Heath, B. Anderson, Simeon Avery, Israel Foster, Joel Mackerell, Adam Frank, J. C. Conklin, John Lemon, Enos Peters, James Conard, H. S. Overturf, Alvah Hatch.

Many of the citizens of this township were well educated, coming, as they did, from the land of schools and noted institutions of learning, and they felt that they should have something better than common schools, in which their children

468 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

could be educated. This feeling culminated in the establishment of

HALCYON ACADEMY which was incorporated about 1850, under the general laws of Ohio for such institutions.

Among the stockholders were J. W. Seymour, William Spencer, Charles Spencer, Elisha Woodruff, William Winslow, J. H. Buel, E. C. Buel, P. C. Allen, C. L. Graves, L J. Wiley, F. Scovill, Adam Franks and many others. The shares were ten dollars each, and nearly one hundred were taken. The materials for the building were furnished by the individual stockholders. E. C. Buel furnished the shingles; H. Carpenter and W. Winslow, the walnut lumber, and others, different materials. Nimrod Payne was the builder.

George L. Mills was the first regular teacher employed, and a graduate of Yale college; a man of care attainments, perfectly familiar with the duties and requirements of the school-room, loving his work, and loved by his working students. Mr. Mills remained in the school some three years, when he removed to Newark, and was engaged there in the city schools, and was also for some time one of the county examiners.

In the summer of 1855, Mr. Mark Sperry, a teacher of more than ordinary ability, and living in Hartford, was solicited to go into the academy and open school for a fall term. He did so; and his success was such that he remained there until the close of the fall term in 1861. During Mr. Sperry's teaching more than eight hundred pupils were enrolled in the various terms. Especial instruction was given to those preparing to teach, and it was said by Mr. Mills that the candidates coming from Halycon academy were better prepared for examination than from any other school in the county.

Mr. Sperry was born in New Hampshire in 1818, and was educated in the common schools of that section until arriving at majority, when he spent several terms in the academy at Claremont, and one or two terms in the academy at Chester, Vermont. He emigrated to Ohio in the fall of 1842, and in 1843, married Lucy A., oldest daughter of J. W. Durant, then of Hartford, but formerly of Springfield, Vermont. At the close of the fall term in 1861, Mr. . Sperry made active preparations for the winter term, but on visiting the camp of the Seventy-sixth regiment at Newark, and seeing how slowly the regiment was being filled, and anxious to do his part in putting down the Rebellion, gave his name as the first private in the formation of company K. Mr. Sperry was chosen a lieutenant in company K; and went into the field with the regiment, never leaving it until the spring of 1863, when his health failing, he resigned and came home. In the spring of x864, Mr. Sperry removed to Cumberland county, Illinois, where he has since remained, spending each winter in the schoolroom.

At the close of Mr. Sperry's teaching in Halcyon, he disposed of his interests in the property to J. W. Seymour. The school was continued with indifferent success for several years, under various instructors, and finally passed into the hands of district number one, and is now the home of the town schools.

Mr. A. B. Clarke, now an honored citizen of Newark, formerly a resident of Hartford, and in this year (1880) a candidate for Congress on the Republican ticket, writes the following regarding matters of historical interest in this township:

"The year 1837 is memorable as the time when, in many portions of the west, the attempt was made to prevent any discussion of the question of slavery, and to repress all associations having the character of abolition societies. Hartford township secured for itself an unenviable notoriety for the foolish part it played in that drama. Two peoples with widely different ideas of life, its responsibilities and duties, had already made their homes there. The one traced its history to Plymouth rock; the other to Jamestown. One believed in the equality of all men before the law; the other in class legislation. One regarded character as the highest test of manhood; the other looked upon slavery as a divine institution, and the white man's right to "wollop a nigger" as an inalienable one. Between the two there was an irrepressible conflict.'

"The first settlers of this township-those who came in 1812-14-were mainly of New England origin. Others from the same source came in from year to year, until, in 1818, their numbers had so increased that a Congregational church was

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 469

formed; and five years later, a hewed-log building was erected, which served the double purpose of a school-house and a place for worship. . About the year 1835, there was another and considerable accession to their numbers, and these also were of. New .England origin, and brought with them the Puritan idea of the worth of the church and the school; and no sooner were they fairly established in their new homes than, in conjunction with those who had preceded them, they set about the work of strengthening the church and organizing an independent or select school, one with better facilities and offering better advantages than the common school of that day. They had no building suitable for the purpose, but the church had already erected a comfortable frame building as a place of worship, and this was at once opened for the school. They had already called a man from Oberlin college to fill their pulpit, and teachers were also obtained from the same place for their school. This was maintained for a number of years by voluntary contributions on the part of those interested in the work of education, and the liberality manifested was highly complimentary to the. intelligence and character of all concerned. Many a boy and girl went out from that old building not ill-equipped for the work of life; and some of them, to-day, although the snows that never melt are on their locks, remember with infinite delight the lessons conned there, and the companions whom they loved and with whom they labored. They were a goodly company, and although widely separated now (some have gone to the "other shore"), many of them are still bearing an honorable part in the world's work. With this brief mention of the character of this people and the work in which they were engaged, it is no matter for surprise that the sentiments promulgated by the early abolitionists found here some warm supporters. But not far away were unlearned and uncompromising opponents.

"The western portion of the township had been mainly settled-beginning as early as 1818t9-by immigrants from Maryland and Virginia. They were men of limited means and more limited culture (many of them were unable to read), and these had brought with them, as already indicated, the southern prejudice against the negro, and any thought of lifting him up and making him the equal of one of their own number, was extremely obnoxious; and they even regarded the advocacy of such doctrines as a crime not to be tolerated. Free thought and free speech, for others formed no part of - their political or religious creed. When, therefore, it was made known that the Rev. Mr. R. Robinson, a well-known abolitionist, had accepted an invitation to deliver an anti-slavery lecture in the Congregational church, these men resolved that no such lecture should be delivered, and, on the day fixed upon for that purpose, assembled in large numbers, took him from the pulpit by force, dragged him through the streets of the village, and treated him in a most brutal manner. Here, also, in March, 1837, the Hon. Samuel White, at that time a resident of the county and subsequently a gentleman of great political prominence, was rode on a rail because of his anti-slavery sentiments.

"The announcement having been made that Mr. White would lecture on a day named, these men and their sympathizers in the adjoining townships, assembled by hundreds to prevent it. Mr. White, aware of their coming and their intentions, remained out of town. The mob, however, were soon informed of his whereabouts, and at once proceeded to the country, where he was stopping, marched him to the village, where they required him to get astride a wooden horse, prepared for that purpose, and then several men lifted the horse thus laden on their shoulders and marched forth and back along the principal street of the village. A proposition was then made to black him, and a dish of lampblack and oil was procured for that purpose. Up to this. -point. in the proceedings White had shown little temper, as any resistance on his part seemed useless. . There are conflicts, perhaps, in which one may chase a thousand, but it is doubtful if this was one of that nature. He could hardly hope, therefore, to overcome a mob of four or five hundred men by physical resistance. When, however, the blacking was brought forward, White promptly notified those who had him in charge that they could not put it on him while he was alive, and that somebody would be hurt if they attempted it. Thereupon some of the more discreet of the rioters concluded that the matter had been carried far enough, and White was permitted

470 - HISTORY OF .LICKING COUNTY.

to depart; but not without the assurance that he must not at any time in the future attempt to spread his abolition sentiments in that locality.

"On the same day William Spencer, a citizen of ; the township, was set upon and brutally beaten; and Knowles Linnel and Charles Gunn, the latter now a resident of Granville township, were shamefully maltreated. A half dozen or more men were striking Spencer at one time, or as nearly so as possible, and the only resistance he made or could well make was an effort to escape from their clutches and blows. And yet while he was being ', beaten in this brutal manner, and the blood was streaming from the gashes cut in his head by the blows struck by these chivalrous defenders of slavery, he fearlessly asserted over and over again,"I am an abolitionist, I am an abolitionist;" and he was the type of man that had the grit to say it, and say it to the end.

"There were others who only escaped similar treatment by remaining at their own homes. Prominent among these were John W. Seymour, Strong Clark, Anson Clark, and Elisha Woodruff. Threats were freely indulged in as against these men, but it was deemed rather hazardous to attack them in their homes.

"This mob seemed more like a clan of unloosed demons, fresh from the realms of Pluto, than like men. The devil of ignorance was loose, and brutality ruled the hour. Oaths and imprecations fell from all lips, and curses were hurled at all men suspected of a taint of abolitionism. And for months thereafter bands of these men, from six to a dozen or more in number, would visit the village from time to time, and on their return home in the night hours, when passing the house of an abolitionist, would discharge their fire-arms, frequently shooting through the gate, and meanwhile hooting and yelling like so many savages. This probably was designed as a sort of terrorizing process, such as has been practiced of late years in some portions of the south. Anonymous letters of a threatening character were frequently sent to the abolitionists, or were dropped where they would be likely to find them. Some of these are still retained by a younger generation as interesting relics of a barbarous time and people.

"The abolitionists at that time were few in number, but they were men who had the courage of their convictions. Prudently but persistently they continued their work. They believed that truth was mightier than error, and never doubted that brain was more than a match for brawn in a prolonged contest. And they were right. Scarcely more than a score of years had passed away before Hartford became as noted for its literary culture and its advocacy of all rights for all men as it had formerly been for its ignorance and brutality. Time has had its revenges.

"In this brief sketch of events enacted more than two score years ago, we have forborne the mention of the name of any man who took, part in that foolish raid against the rights of humanity and the freedom of speech. It is only fair to say that many of them soon saw their mistake, and were heartily ashamed of the fact that they had been participants in so scandalous an affray. Indeed, they ultimately became earnest workers for the cause which at one time they had contemptuously derided. Let us not judge any of them too harshly, for there is no one of them who now feels any pride in the part he played in that riot. There were other men than those who were responsible; men who had enjoyed far larger opportunities and occupied conspicuous and influential positions in society; men who, if they did not do as brutal a work, were in no less degree the obsequious and cowardly servants of the slave power. They stood in our pulpits and wrote the leaders for our newspapers. Of course, there were some honorable exceptions. But these last two score years have witnessed an immense gain to manhood."

"Humanity sweeps onward, where to-day the martyr stands. On the morrow crouches Judas with the silver in his hands;

Far in front the cross stands ready- and the crackling faggot, burn,

While the hooting moll of yesterday in silent awe return

To glean up the scattered ashes into history's golden urn."

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 471

CHAPTER LV.

HARRISON TOWNSHIP.

TOPOGRAPHY-INDIANS AND MOUND BUILDERS-ORGANIZATION-FIRST SETTLERS AND SETTLEMENTS- "HOG WARD"- THE GREAT WOLF HUNT-SQUIRREL HUNTS- KIRKERSVILLE-KIRKERSVILLE STATION- CHURCHES.

"Our father rode again his ride.

On Licking river's wooded side;

Sat down again to moose and samp

In trappers but and Indian camp;

Again he heard the violin play

Which led the village dance away,

And mingled in its merry whirl

The grandam and the laughing girl."

THIS is a township of very fine farming land, its entire surface being capable of cultivation, and a large portion of it now under a high state of cultivation. It was primarily covered with a dense growth of hard wood timber-oak, beech, sugar, ash, hickory, etc. There was some swamp lands in places, but no prairie, and the pioneers were compelled to cut away the trees to get to their lands, and clear away the timber before they were able to erect their cabins. It is watered principally by' South fork and its tributaries. This creek passes across the southern part of the township, its course being generally southeast, from Pataskala to Kirkersville, passing on its way through a small . portion of Etna township. Its principal tributary in the township is Grass lick, which rises in the higher lands of the northern part and runs south near the center of the township, entering the main stream near Kirkersville. Grass lick sends out its tributaries at short intervals on its way. Several other small streams and brooks rise in the township and flow southward into South fork. These streams are divided from the tributaries of the Raccoon by .an irregular. ridge or body of high lands in the northern part of the township. The main tributary of South fork on the south is Bloody run, which comes in from Fairfield county, running a little west of north and joining South fork at Kirkersville. The National road crosses the small part of the township in which Kirkersville is situated. The Central Ohio railroad passes across the township, near its center, from east to west, nearly in a bee-line, with but one station, Kirkersville, within the township limits.

The Mound Builders were the first inhabitants in the shape and form of human beings to occupy this territory, so far as known. A few evidences of their works yet remain, though disappearing through the operations of time and the plow. Some years after the first settlement of the township two small mounds were plainly visible on what is known as "Refugee road," about half a mile north of Kirkersville. They were probably twenty or thirty feet in diameter at the base and four or five feet in height. One of these has entirely disappeared, being plowed down in building the road, but the other is yet visible. There is little doubt that many others existed in this direction, but from one cause or another they have mostly or entirely disappeared.

Indians occupied the territory in limited numbers for hunting, fishing, and trapping, at the date of the first white occupation, but no permanent camp of these sons of the forest was known to have an existence within the township limits. It was an excellent hunting ground for both whites and Indians, the forest being thick with underbrush, forming excellent hiding places for wild animals of every description. The Indians who hunted here were, probably, those who had a permanent camp at Raccoon town, at the headwaters of the Raccoon creek An Indian trail, not much traveled, passed across the township in a northwesterly direction, along South fork, probably used by the Raccoontown Indians in their journeys to "Little" and "Big" lake (now the

472 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

Reservoir), which no doubt they visited for the purpose of fishing.

This township was taken from the territory included in Union township, and organized in 1816. In addition to the five miles square, a strip of land two and a half miles long from north to south, and one and a half miles wide was taken from the Refugee tract and added to its southeast corner, giving the township an outlet into Fairfield county. This addition contains the village of Kirkersville on the National road.

The origin of the settlements of Lima and Harrison townships are so nearly contemporary that the history of one is the history of the other. The first settlements made were on the headwaters of the South fork of Licking, near. where the 'village of Pataskala now stands. Mr. Hatfield, in the winter of 1805-6, "slashed" a small piece of ground near W. H. Mead's sheep shed, for browse for his cattle. That spot was never cleared for cultivation, and is now covered with a beautiful grove of timber of second growth. After building his cabin near the line of the railroad where it passes this grove, and remaining a few years, he disappeared from the settlement and nothing further was heard of him.

The next settler was Mr. Henry Drake, who came in 1805, from western Pennsylvania to Lancaster, Ohio, and to Harrison with his young family in 1806, building his cabin on land since owned by the heirs of the late Joseph Baird. Mr. Drake raised quite a large family here.

The next settlers were John Evans, Thomas Geary, John Piatte, and William Craige. Evans built a cabin on the land since owned by Joseph Atkinson; Geary, on land since owned by Abraham Baird; Piatte on land since owned by Abraham Miller, and Craige, on land since owned by Jesse Horn; his cabin being on the southwest field . of Mr. Horn's farm.

The children of these settlers attended their first school within the present boundary of Lima township. This first school was taught by Miss Cubberly, in a double log cabin that stood on th ground now occupied by the steam grist-mill, nea the village of Pataskala.

A little further down the creek Levin Randall and his brother Caleb, settled on land since owned by the heirs of William Stone, so early that they were considered neighbors of those above mentioned. Esquire Randall performed the first marriage ceremony in the settlement between Mr. Richmond and Miss Cubberly.

In 1814, Philip Wagy moved from Fairfield county and bought out John Piatte on the Miller farm. Mr. Wagy raised a large family, most of whom were daughters

Joseph Wilcox, from Herkimer county, New York, settled on ° Black's" road in 1814, and raised a family of four sons and two daughters. His nearest neighbor must have been William D. Gibbons, who settled one and a half miles northwest of him, some years earlier, but at what date is not known. Mr. Gibbons had been employed by a large land holder (a Mr. Backus, from Blennerhasset's Island, and an accomplice of Aaron Burr), as early as 1806-7, to deaden, or girdle, the trees on eighteen hundred acres of land. To compensate him for his labor he was to receive, and did receive, one hundred acres of land in fee simple. The whole of this. deadening was in this township.

In 1815 or 1816, according to Colonel J. C. Alward's recollection, his father, Samuel Alward, came from New Jersey and settled on the farm where the colonel still resides. Their nearest neighbors at that time were, on the west, Captain John Herron, two and a half miles; east, William Gibbons, the same distance, and northeast, Jesse Munson, about three miles. Mr. Alward was at that time about fifty years of age. Being very industrious and economical, he succeeded in securing for each of his six sons a landed home. He died December 3, 1842, at the age of seventy-five. His wife survived him, and died in 186-, aged eighty-six

In 1816, Mr. Joseph Wells and John Dennison came and settled in the southern part of the township, on lands purchased of Hon. William Stanberry, of Newark. Mr. Dennison remained on his farm until 1839, when he sold and removed West. Mr. Wells remained on his farm until his death in 1863, and raised a large family. In 1816 or 1817, Joseph Pond settled on a farm in the southeast corner of the township.

Some advance was made in settling this township between 1820 and 1830, but between 1830

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 473

and 1840 it rapidly filled up. The building of the National road was no doubt the cause of this. It was in this decade that many came and settled on the road running north and south through the township. It was called "York street," as the settlers were mostly from New York State. Isaiah Nichols, Henry and Charles Butler and Thomas Munsell, in the northern part of the township, and Jacob Artz in the southern part, erected cabins and settled between the years 1820 and x830.

In early days a large portion of this township was owned by Rathburn, Backus, Hogg, and other non-residents, and their lands remaining uncleared, made an excellent range for wild game, as well as hogs that would stray away from settlements in different parts of the county. One season the hogs of Samuel Thrall, Roswell Graves and others wandered away in the wilderness of Harrison township, as they were wont to do, also into Union and Licking townships. John Ward, who owned and lived on a farm five and one-half miles west of Granville, on the Columbus road, feeling in need of pork, concluded to supply his larder from these woods. Selecting hogs that were in excellent condition, he shot down several. The word soont reached Granville, and those having swine in the woods visited Mr. Ward and found him dressing the game he had secured. Unfortunately for Ward, people in those times were in the habit of putting ear-marks and other marks on their stock before turning them into the commons. Samuel Thrall found, on the ears of two or three of the hogs killed, his mark. Ward was arrested, tried and found guilty of stealing hogs. There was strong talk of a public whipping, but better counsels prevailed; nevertheless, a mark was made on the man as indelible as lash could make, by the community, in naming him "Hog Ward."

The principal reason why Harrison and Lima townships were so late in filling up with people, was the fact that much of the land was held by non-residents and was not brought into market.

The Rathburn section in Union township, within two miles of Granville, held by Lawyer Downer, Zanesville, was not offered for sale until the National road was in process of construction in 1832 or 1833. So it was with the Hogg section in this township and the Frisbie section in Lima. As soon as they were offered, P. Atkinson, from New Hampshire, A. Miller, from western Pennsylvania, and William and Joseph Baird, from western Virginia, came. on and purchased land at five dollars per acre, or less.

It was in this township that the famous wolf hunt of 1823 occurred, a brief account of which may be interesting, and worthy of preservation. The pioneers were much annoyed by depredations on their sheep folds and pig-pens by wild beasts of the forest. Among these, wolves were the most destructive. Who was the originator of this wolf hunt does not appear on record; but in 1823 the people of the county determined upon a combined effort to extinguish this animal, and to make the experiment as effectual as possible, they determined to surround a specified territory in a methodical and thorough manner, and by marching toward a common center, bring them within range of their rifles. For this purpose James Holmes, surveyor of the county, was employed to survey in the western part of the county, a tract of land four miles square. The most of this tract, if not the whole, was in this township. The east line was the road running north from Kirkersville, and the south line passed a little north of Isaac White's dwelling house. This territory was selected on account of its embracing most of "Gibbon's deadening," before mentioned. There were some fifteen hundred acres in this deadening, and no part of it yet cleared for cultivation It had been deadened some fifteen or sixteen years, and the second growth of timber was in the very best condition to make the deadening a complete harbor for wild animals. So dense was the brush and undergrowth that it was with difficulty men could pass through it on foot. A day was appointed and notice given in all parts of the county, for men to meet at sunrise, and be ready to occupy every part of the surveyed line, which Mr. Holmes had caused to be plainly marked by blazed trees. He had also run diagonal lines through from corner to corner, so as to prevent confusion or mistake in finding the common center. Mr. Holmes was also, more than any other man, zealous in spreading the news and arousing the country. He told all whom he met to be on the ground promptly and bring their dinners, but

474 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

no whiskey. "No whiskey," said he, "is to be allowed on the ground."

At sunrise, on the appointed day, a vast crowd gathered at the old Ward place, since better known as the "cheese farm," four miles west of Granville, on the Columbus road.. This company was to form the east line. .

Before separating and being placed on the lines, hornsmen were appointed who were stationed at equal distances around the square, and when the lines were filled on every side, the hornsmen were to sound their trumpets, commencing at a given point, thus conveying the news all around the square that the lines were full. A second sounding of the trumpets was the signal for all to march. These arrangements were nicely carried out. The lines had advanced but a short distance when frightened deer made their appearance, running parallel with the lines, seeking a place of exit. The rifles now began to crack along the line. Those passing through the deadening, could scarcely prevent the game from escaping through the line, as the bushes and trees were so thick that it could not be seen until very near, and it was difficult shooting. Deer would come bounding toward the line, and nearly penetrate it before discovering it, then they would turn quickly and fly in the opposite direction unless stopped by a rifle ball. The wolves kept at a greater distance from the line; they were not seen on the east line until the men were out of the deadening and in more open woods, then they were seen at intervals running parallel with the lines, but so far from them that the best shots failed to bring them down. When the lines began to double up a good deal and surround a piece of open woods, the deer appeared in droves, and the rattle of fire arms sounded like a young battle. As the deer passed along the line, the firing would be continuous for minutes in succession. Thus the day passed, and few indeed were the intervals when the guns could not be heard in some direction. Just as the east line was emerging from the thick undergrowth of the deadening, a large black bear was discovered, making his way in a lazy gallop toward the southeast corner of the enclosure.. No gun was fired at him until he was within twenty or thirty yards of the line; then simultaneously fifteen or twenty guns were fired, and bruin fell to rise no more.

Continuously, from the commencement of the march, wild turkeys were seen flying over the lines like flocks of pigeons. The march was continued until lines were reached indicating a fourth of a mile square. It had been anticipated that it might become necessary to halt before reaching the center, and so it was. This one-fourth of a mile line had been surveyed, and the trees blazed. With all the shooting no wolf had yet been killed, and at least, three of these animals had been seen ; they had become cowed; and were skulking behind the logs and under the banks of the stream that meandered through the center of the square. This stream was Grass Lick run, or one of its branches, the hunt culminating on the farm now owned by J. C. Alwood. To kill wolves was now the grand object; the best marksmen were therefore selected at this halting place, and sent in to do that work. The men stood shoulder to shoulder, and no one on the lines was allowed to shoot. Mr. Leverett, Mr. Butler and Captain Timothy Spellman were among those who went in.

An incident occurred while dispatching the wolves. Mr. Butler took his brother Henry with him to carry the hatchet. Air. Butler shot at a wolf and it fell, his brother sprang forward, straddled the wolf and struck it three blows between the ears, but being greatly excited, struck with the edge instead of the head of the hatchet. The wolf escaped from him but was shot by Mr Leverett. Three marks made by the edge of the hatchet were discovered between its ears. The skin of this animal being dressed with the hair on, was afterward used by General Munson as a saddle cloth.

When it was announced that there was no more game to kill, all marched to the center. Perfect order was observed, and not a single person appeared intoxicated, a very remarkable thing for that time, but it went to show that the settlers had cheerfully obeyed the order to take no ardent spirits to the hunt. The management of the whole matter was admirable, and no serious casualty occurred. The game had been brought along as r it was killed, and when it was all piled up in the n center, it presented a sight never before seen in

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 475

Licking county, and never can be again. There were the large black bear, three wolves, forty-nine deer, sixty or seventy turkeys, and one owl.

The next thing was to prepare the spoils for distribution. The bear and the deer were skinned and cut up into pieces weighing about four pounds each. The number of pieces being ascertained it was found that about every third, man would get a piece. The men -were, therefore, formed into three companies, and cast lots to see which should have all. This arrangement was satisfactory, and at sunset the company dispersed. General Munson drew the bear skin, and wrapped it around him, fleshy side inward, over a new broadcloth coat. Thus ended one of the greatest hunts Licking county ever witnessed or ever will witness. It does not appear that the number of wolves killed was dangerously large, and the probabilities are that the hunt was indulged in more for the "fun of the thing," than for any especial benefit to be derived from the destruction of wolves.

Squirrel hunts were indulged in in early times, both as an amusement and as a means of protecting the corn crop. These hunts were frequently indulged in as late as 1840 or 1850, and perhaps later. The little destructive creatures sometimes became very numerous, and were sometimes man's most formidable enemy, so that it was indispensable that he should be checked in his depredations; and this could be most effectually done by the combined efforts of the people. The time and place of meeting having been agreed upon beforehand, the squirrel hunters met, divided themselves into two companies, elected a captain for each company and then proceeded to their .day's work. On coming together in the evening, and reporting results, it was no unusual thing to find the number of squirrels killed that day by the two companies to number many hundreds, and the number not unfrequently ran into thousands. The squirrels were not brought in, only their scalps. Whenever a squirrel was killed the scalp, containing the two ears of the animal went into the pocket of the hunter; and the body was thrown away. The scalps were counted at night, and generally th winning side-those who could show the most scalps-were treated to an excellent supper by the losers, and not unfrequently both parties were treated to much beside the supper, and possibly the squirrel hunt might end in a grand carouse, which was continued into the small hours of the night.

The National road was the means of building up many towns along its route, and among others Kirkersville, in this township; and, in fact, it is the only village in the township except Kirkersville station. It was laid out in 1832, by Dr. William C. Kirker, who owned some fine land at this point on South fork, at the mouth of Bloody run. He, probably, built the first dwelling in the place. Thomas Youmans was, probably, the first man of family to settle there; he erected a building and kept a "tavern," as these were in great demand along that road, both while it was in course of construction, for the purpose of feeding the workmen, and for many years after, for the traveling public.

Mr. Bazalleel Brown started the first store, soon after the town was laid out; he also erected a sawmill, and the town grew rapidly for some time, but the advent of railroads checked the growth, by taking the business away from the National road.

Some time before Kirkersville was laid out a mill for the manufacture of castor-oil from the bean, had been established, half a mile north of the site of the town on land now owned by L. W. White, on Grass Lick creek. It never accomplished much, and was destroyed by fire.

Kirkersville is now a village of three hundred and forty-nine inhabitants by the census of 1880, and contains three or four stores, a hotel, three churches, a planing-mill and the usual number of shops and tradesmen. It probably reached its full growth years ago, and is at present a beautiful village.

Particular attention has been paid to education, and it is doubtful whether Licking county can present an edifice for public school purposes, equal in external beauty and internal convenience to. the building erected a few years ago for such purpose, chiefly under the superintendence of Mr. Frederick Schofield, a merchant in the village.

When the railroad was constructed through the township, it passed two and a half miles north of the village, and Kirkersville station was established. This, at present, contains a post office

476 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

called "Outville," a telegraph office, depot building, two stores and a few dwellings.

There are at present but three churches within the limits of this township, all located at Kirkersville the Presbyterian, Methodist Episcopal and Baptist.

The first church organization in this township, however, was near its northern line, and was known as the Welsh Congregational church of Harrison.

Nearly half a century ago a number of Welsh families settled on both sides of the line, between the townships of St. Albans and Harrison, and soon formed themselves into a religious organization known as the Welsh Congregational church of Harrison township. Without unnecessary delay they erected a church building, in which for many yeats they maintained public worship in the Welsh language. After the generation that erected the church had nearly all passed away, and the succeeding generation all speaking the English language, they gradually became absorbed by the surrounding English churches, and public services in Welsh could no longer be sustained. Under these circumstances the organization became extinct.

Revs. John Powell, Jenkin Jenkins, David R. Jenkins and John Williams were pastors of this church at different times, and perhaps about in the order named. The church building was sold some years since, and is now private property.

Revs. Thomas W. Evans and William Parry also ministered to this church occasionally, and a Sunday-school was connected with it.

The descendants of Theophilus Rees were among the original members of this church.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF Kirkersville:--Rev. Jacob Tuttle came from New Jersey in 1832, and commenced preaching in Lima, Harrison and Etna townships in the spring of 1833, and continued to do so more or less regularly until the spring of 1837. He was highly esteemed, and his memory is cherished by his neighbors and friends. The first Presbyterian minister who preached in Kirkersville was Rev. Jonathan Cable, at the time supplying the church in Hebron, which has ceased to exist. His diary states that he preached three times in Kirkersville in 1834, and once in January, 1835.

March 17, 1836, Rev. C. M. Putnam preached in Kirkersville, and assisted in organizing a Presbyterian congregation. He preached at Kirkersville once a month, from April 9, 1837, until the following October.

In July, 1837, a protracted meeting was held in Mr. Joseph Baird's barn, in Harrison township, conducted by Revs. Henry Little and Jonathan Cable. A large number were converted, and on the eleventh of November following, a Presbyterian church was organized at the log school-house in Lima township. During the following year there was preaching only occasionally to the Kirkersville congregation, in a schoolhouse- in the village. In the summer of 1838, Revs. Hugh Carlisle and Francis Bartlett preached occasionally for these churches.

October 14, 1838, Rev. T. N\'. Howe preached for these Presbyterian congregations, the meeting of the Harrison township congregation being held in a frame schoolhouse at the northwest corner of Kirkersville.

In the fall of 1839, a subscription was started for the purpose of building a church in Kirkersville. The building progressed slowly and was not used until 1842, and not finished and dedicated until March, 1845. A bell was procured, costing about two hundred dollars. The people of Granville gave one hundred and fifty dollars toward building this church.

In 1852, forty-four persons, living more convenient to the Kirkersville church, joined that church by letter, and organized the First Presbyterian church of Kirkersville. This church employed Rev. H. C. McBride to preach for them one-half his time. He supplied them two years. Rev. Jesse Schlosser followed, and supplied them until the spring of 1858. From the spring of 1858 to January 1, 1870, Rev. T. W. Howe preached for them every alternate Sabbath. Mr. Howe was succeeded by Rev. Reuben Hahn. The church is without a regular pastor at present. The membership is about one hundred.

The Methodist Episcopal church in Kirkersville originated at "Fletcher's chapel," in Fairfield county, its original members belonging to that church.

Sometime after Kirkersville was laid out, the

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 477

members living near the town organized a class, and held meetings some time in the Presbyterian church, but in a few years erected the present frame building.

The Baptist church at Kirkersville also originated in Fairfield county, its first members being regular attendants at what is known as the "Refugee" church. Their first meetings were also held in the Presbyterian church.

Both of these societies are active and well sustained.

CHAPTER LVI.

HOPEWELL TOWNSHIP.

FLINT RIDGE, ITS SITUATION, TOPOGRAPHY AND ETHNOLOGY-MOUND BUILDERS, INDIANS, AND WILD ANIMALS-ARCHAEOLOGY OF FLINT RIDGE- LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY OF THE TOWNSHIP-FIRST SETTLERS- ORGANIZATION- JUSTICES OF THE PEACE-VILLAGES CHURCHES-POSTMASTERS- AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES.

"Alone on this desolate border,

On this ruggedest rimm'd frontier,

Where the hills huddle up in disorder,

Like a fold in mortal fear;

Where the mountains are out at the elbow

In their yellow coats, seedy and sere,

Where the river runs sullen and yellow,

Through all the days of the year."

-Joaquin Miller.

THERE is much interesting and valuable history within the limits of this township. That the Mound Builders once occupied its territory, their still existing works afford ample proof. These works consist of mounds and other earthworks; also of numerous wells, of various depths, ranging from two to twenty feet.

The Flint ridge, a region of much interest to the scientist and antiquarian, is mostly in this township. What follows in regard to this interesting region, is from the pen of Hon. Isaac Smucker:

"Flint ridge is situated on both sides of the line that divides Hopewell township. Muskingum county, from Hopewell township, Licking county, Ohio. It is an elevated locality of from eight to nine miles in length, from east to west, and has an average breadth from north to south of more than two miles, not including the many short spurs that branch out from it. The eastern termination of Flint ridge, which slopes off gradually, is several miles east of the west line of Hopewell township, Muskingum county, being about eight miles west of Zanesville, and extends westward eight miles or more, across Hopewell township, Licking county, and continues nearly a mile and a half into Franklin township, of the last named county, terminating at a point eight miles southeast of Newark, the county seat of Licking county. All around the outer edges, or exterior boundaries of the Flint ridge are numerous short spurs diverging from it. These gradually sloping projections or juts of land, of short but unequal lengths, extend at irregular intervals or distances into the more level and less rugged surrounding country. Flint ridge is situated within the United States military lands, and in the southern tier of townships of said lands, which border on the Refugee tract, and is distant from the northern boundary line of said Refugee tract but little more than a mile. Hopewell township, Muskingum county, it may be observed, extends two miles and a half into the Refugee tract. To recapitulate, in a word, Flint ridge is, in round numbers, over eight miles long and more than two miles wide, several miles of its eastern portion being in Hopewell township. Muskingum county, five miles of it in Hopewell township, Licking county, and over a mile (its western part) in Franklin township, of the last named county.

"Flint ridge is an elevated locality of varying height and uneven surface. The maximum altitude of its summit is stated by Professor E. B. Andrews, in the "Preliminary Geological Survey of Ohio," issued in 1869, to be one hundred and seventy feet above the surrounding country; two hundred and twenty feet above Newark; three hundred and seventy-four feet above Zanesville ; four hundred and ninety feet above Marietta. and seven hundred and twenty-nine feet above Cincinnati. The general aspect of the scenery of Flint ridge, when first settled by white men, early in the present century, was of a decidedly wild, rugged character. Its steep hilt sides, its high peaks, its deep, dark glens, its huge rocks, its craggy cliffs, its cavernous dells, its abrupt acclivities, its coverings of hornstone or crystal quartz, its drift boulders found even upon its summit, so suggestive of the glacier theory, or the great ice age, its abundant buhr-stone or calcareous-silicious rock, also called flint or chert, with which its surface was so abundantly supplied, while also its tall and heavy growth of chestnut and several varieties of oak and poplar, and some hickory, all over-run by the luxuriant grape-vine and other creepers, as well as its prolific and dense undergrowth, in great part of scrub-oak, stunted shrubs and creeping vines, all tended to present to the eye of the pioneer

478 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

landscapes of a kind, unquestionably mountain-like, and of natural scenery, romantic, wild and grandly picturesque.

"The rain that falls on the north half of Flint ridge finds its way to the Licking river by way of the Clay lick, Bear run and Brushy fork streams, and thence by way of the Licking river into the Muskingum, at Zanesville.; and that which falls on the south side of the ridge flows into the Muskingum river, by way of some rivulets and Jonathan's creek (in early times known as Moxahala), which empties into the Muskingum several miles below the mouth of the Licking river, whose mouth is opposite Zanesville, as already stated.

"The Mound Builders were once occupants of the flint ridge and erected works upon it, some of which still remain. And that the Indians, too in pre-historic times, and later, also roamed over its rugged surface and occupied it after their vagrant, savage manner, there can be no doubt. They, probably, like their predecessors, also sought the flint for manufacture into knives and spear and arrow heads. This will endeavor to make apparent when come to present the archaeological aspects of the ridge.

"On the north of Flint ridge and along the Licking river, both above and below the Narrows, settlements by white men were first made in the rear 1798--south of the ridge, at the Little Bowling Green, a settlement by white men was effected in 1802 west of it, on a tributary of Hog run, the first white settlement was made in 1805, and about the same time the country east of the ridge was first occupied by white settlers. And it was only a year or two later when the flint ridge attracted settlers to it who were seeking homes. It was a locality which, in its natural state, was peculiarly favorable to the subsistence and increase of the wild animals and birds of prey usually found in our forests, in primitive times, such as panthers, wildcats, bears, catamounts, wolves and others more or less annoying and formidable as man's enemies, also hawks, owls, eagles, vultures and other birds characterized by marauding, thievish and destructive proclivities. The flint ridge was most admirably adapted to their growth, preservation and multiplication, affording them ample subsistence and comparatively- secure coverts or hiding places. The conditions on the ridge being thus favorable to them, in fact, inviting their presence, they quite naturally became more numerous, and were enabled, by their numbers, to be all the more annoying and destructive, while thus jointly with the pioneers, occupying that locality, and were also enabled to remain longer to indulge in their predatory habits, because of the favorable conditions that environed them.

"The buffalo and the elk were not occupants of the Flint ridge contemporaneously with the Anglo-Saxon. They probably disappeared simultaneously with the red men, or more likely before the latter finally retired before the advancing hosts of the white race. That they were formerly here in numerous herds does not admit of a doubt-in fact, it is of authentic historical record. The last time a herd of wild buffaloes appeared in the Muskingum valley, was in 1803. It consisted of only six or eight that had strayed away from their accustomed haunts west of the Scioto river, and were pursued by some hunters to th valley of Wills creek, east of the Muskingum river. The buffalo occupied these forests some years later than the elk, an the panther and catamount retired a few- years after the buffalo

"The Flint ridge is now apparently as densely populated the neighboring country, probably not more than half of it remaining in forest; but it is not my purpose to speak of its agricultural products, except to say in general terms, that in kind and quality they are not unlike those of the adjacent lands, produced, it may be, in somewhat, diminished quantities per acre. Neither do I intend to present its recent history, nor even relate any of the weird legendary tales, or probably fabulous stories, of however romantic interest they might be, with which the flint ridge hag been connected, nor of the old-time traditions which identified this locality with the early races, nor give currency, by recital with pen, to stories of wild adventures, by Indian, hunter, or pioneer, of which it was the scene.

"That the Mound Builders once occupied the Flint ridge admits of no doubt; their still existing works of which there are some eight or ten in number, albeit some of them have been almost obliterated by the plow, furnish ample proof. They are all composed of earth except one, which was constructed of flint stones; and they are all either sepulchral or signal mounds, varying in height from five feet to fifteen feet, and in diameter from ten feet to a hundred feet. Some of them have been opened and found to contain the usual deposits of ashes, charcoal, bones, skeletons, pottery (in fragments), and some mound builders' implements. In two of them were found shell beads, stone axes, and arrow-heads. One of the signal mounds, or mounds of observation, says Mr. William Anderson, an intelligent and enthusiastic archeologist, formerly a resident of the ridge, commands a view of another some five miles distant to the southwest, and he states that from said mound (which is also one of observation), he followed the line of signal mounds to the Ohio river, at a point in Meigs county-. The flint mound was, on exploration, ascertained to be of the sepulchral class, two skeletons being found within it, together with some heads and mica in sheets, eight by ten inches in size. The heads were made of marine shells, such as are found in the Gulf of Mexico, with few of river mussel, pierced for the cord or string.

"Of lines of circumvallation, there are several circular enclosures, and one four-sided figure (parallelogram). '!'heir walls vary in height from two feet to five feet, and in diameter from thirty feet to one hundred feet. The banks of one of them was ascertained to be composed, in part, of stone. When openings occur in the enclosures, they are on the east side.

"lt has been long known (says Colonel Charles Whittlesey, in Historical Tract, No. 5, page 36), that a flint bed existed on Flint ridge, that had been extensively quarried in ancient times, the hundreds of old pits, some of them twenty feet deep, and covering more than a hundred acres, bear testimony to the extent of the labors of the Mound Builders here. These pits or "wells," as they are provincially called, are partially filled with water, and are surrounded by broken fragments of flint stones that had undoubtedly been rejected by those who attempted, but tailed to shape them into implements, for only clear and homogeneous pieces could be wrought into knives and arrow or spear-points. With what tools and appliances the ancients wrought such extensive quarries, has not yet been settled. This flint, continues Colonel Whittlesey, is of a grayish white color, with cavities of brilliant quartz crystals. It appears the stones were sorted and partially chipped into shape, on the ground, after which they were carried great distances over the country as an article of traffic. Many acres of ground are now covered with flint chips, the result of this trimming process. The business of manufacturing arrow-points, scrapers, knives, as spears, axes, wedges and other implements, was doubtless a trade among the Mound Builders, as the making of some of them, at least, is known to have been among the Indians. Indeed, that branch of manufactures; (the making of flint knives,

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 479

spears and arrow-points), is now flourishing among the Digger Indians of California, who in their mental and moral development fairly represent the diluvial cave-dwellers. There is a strong probability that all the pointed and -sharp-edged articles made of flint were, after being wrought into their general form, brought to completion and given their sharp point or edge, by violent pressure, that is, by the use of the thumb stones. Col. Whittlesey, than whom there is no higher authority on this point, thinks that flint knives, spears, and arrow-points were made and used more extensively by the Red men than by the Mound Builders, for the reason that the latter, being agriculturists and probably a pastoral people, had less frequent occasion to use them than the former, who were more given to the chase and to war. Both, however, undoubtedly used them more or less as hunters and in their amusements.

The late Colonel J. W. Foster, an eminent scientist, and distinguished as the learned author of "Pre-Historic Races of the United States," says that the deposit on the Flint ridge is in the form of a chert, often approaching to chalcedony and jasper in external characters, and that it afforded an admirable material for arrow heads. From the abundance of flint chippings he thought this locality was evidently much resorted to and its deposits extensively wrought into various implements, and largely utilized by both the Mound Builders and Indians. These were his conclusions after tolerably thorough explorations of the ridge more than forty years ago, while a member of the first geological corps of Ohio.

`Here the ancient arrow-maker

Made his arrow-heads of quartz rock

Arrow-heads of chalcedony,

:Arrow-heads of chert and jasper-

Smoothed and sharpened at the edges,

Hard and polished, keen and costly.'

'Dr. Hildreth, in his report submitted to the legislature of Ohio, in 1838, says, 'that from a remote period the Glint ridge, which he had just had under examination, had furnished a valuable material to the aboriginal inhabitants for the manufacture of knives, spears .and arrow-heads. How extensively it had been worked for these purposes may be imagined from the almost countless numbers of excavations and pits yet remaining from whence they dug the quartz; experience having taught them that the rock recently dug from the earth could be split with much greater facility than that which had been exposed to the weather.'

"The American .antiquarian society of Worcester,. Massachusetts, in 1818, accepted for publication, an elaborate paper from Caleb Atwater, esq., of Ohio, descriptive of western antiquities, in which a page was devoted to the Flint ridge. He made mention of its hundreds of pits, or ' wells,' some of which being then (sixty-two years ago), more than twenty feet deep, giving the opinion that they were manifestly not dug, whether by the Mound Builders or Indians, or both, to procure water, either fresh or salt, nor in pursuit of the precious metals, but to secure a softer and more workable quartz, or flint, than was present on the surface, for manufacture into spear-heads, knives, and arrow-points. And on that point there is now but little difference of opinion. It may be observed that the exca vations above mentioned date back to a period anterior to the time of the first settlement of the country by the white race.

"Professor Read, on page 354, of the third volume of the Geology of Ohio, observes that 'any one traversing the Flint ridge for the fast time, would be surprised to find such deposit on such a geological horizon. It simulates very accurately the broken-up debris of a vertical dike, the fragments often covered with perfect crystals of quartz, the rock itself being highly crystalline and often translucent. It is something of a puzzle,' he continues, to understand how such a deposit is found in a series of undisturbed and unmodified sedimentary rocks. The adjacent surfaces of two blocks of the chert are often found covered with quartz crystals of considerable size, as thoroughly interlocking with each other as if one were the cast and the other the mould. The learned professor seems to be at a loss to imagine conditions which would spread such a deposit over the floor of a sea or any other body of water, but inclines to the opinion that a substitution of silicious matter deposited from solution, in the place of a soluble limestone previously deposited, is the most plausible view of the case. "Heaps or piles of flint chippings, composed of unworkable or broken pieces, and of imperfect, half-finished and spoiled implements, found in various localities remote from Flint ridge, and not in the vicinity of any known deposit of that material, but exactly corresponding in quality with that on the ridge, raises the presumption that considerable of the flint quarried there was carried away and manufactured elsewhere. Much of it, however, as the quantity of chips around the quarries indicate, was doubtless put into shape there.

"Mr. Anderson, of whom I have already made mention, several years ago, explored and further excavated quite a number of the pits or "wells" on the ridge, and reported finding some stone axes, flint disks, and some balls, apparently well worn, made of green-stone. More careful, thorough and extensive exploration of the pits or "wells" of the Flint ridge would undoubtedly result in giving us much more information than we now possess, as to the character of implements used, and the modes of mining practiced there, by the earlier races, whoever they were, and whenever they made these excavations on the ridge.

"Some modern excavations have been made on Flint ridge, by individuals and associations, to find out what the ancient diggers were after, and some of them also prospected for lead, silver and gold, but without valuable results.

" It is the province of ethnology to tell us .about the races of mankind that have occupied the Flint ridge, particularly of the pre-historic race or races. In pre-historic times the Mound Builders, perhaps for many ages, occupied the. ridge, but they have left us no history. Their works are their history. They probably. had no written language, or at .least no-language brought to such a state of perfection as to have been employed in writing their history. They were probably Mongolians and reached the American continent by crossing Behring's Straits, or by way of the Aleutian Islands, on our northwest coast; or they may have reached our continent by way of the Atlantic ocean as the Northmen did at the close of the tenth century; or as Madoc, the Welsh navigator did, in 1170, A. D.; and as Columbus did in 1492, A. D.; or as some later navigators did. And there is another theory, and it is not an unreasonable one, that is, that the Mound Builders were an indigenous race, or were descended from the Toltecs of Mexico, and therefore a continuation of one, and hence, in either case, were ' natives and to the manor born.

"But there were no insurmountable difficulties in reaching this continent from any of the other quarters of the globe. Our northwest coast can now be reached in summer, in small sailing vessels, and in winter on the ice, the distance across being only thirty-six miles. Moreover there is reason to think

480 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

that Behring's Strait was once an isthmus, and if so, the journey from Asia to America was altogether practicable.

"We know that the Mound Builders once held Flint ridge, and we know of no earlier occupants there. They there built mounds and enclosures for various purposes heretofore designated. They probably cultivated the soil; were more agriculturists than hunters or warriors; perchance had flocks and herds; made flint arrow-points and spear-heads on the ridge, as well as other implements, also ornaments, and probably pottery, too. All that we know of them is gathered from their works which still remain. They once occupied the ridge, built some works there, and have disappeared. W e do not know, with certainty, where they came from (if they were not natives), when and how they came, when and how they happened to drop out of sight, whether by war, pestilence or famine, or by a gradual, slow, southwestern emigration movement, ultimately reaching Mexico and suffering absorption there by an existing and dominant race; or meeting with the possible destiny of ultimately coming within the domain of history as Toltecs or Aztecs, or some other ancient people, once of prehistoric times in Mexico or Central America; or whether they degenerated into barbarians, and had for their successors and lineal descendants the North American Indians that have roamed to savagery over our woods and prairies during the last three centuries, and perhaps much longer.

"Considered physically, intellectually and morally, the Mound Builders probably held an intermediate position between the Caucasians and the most civilized portion of Mongolians above them, and the uncivilized inhabitants of the interior of the Malay peninsula below them.

"The Mound Builders were undoubtedly a numerous people and if numerous of necessity an agricultural people; a people of some mechanical skill, a people who had probably established a strong government by which they were readily held in subjection; a people of some mathematical and engineering knowledge, a superstitious people given to sun worship, and to the offering of animal and sometimes of human sacrifices. Reasons can be given for each of the above expressed opinions, but I will not occupy space for that purpose; moreover. those reasons twill naturally suggest themselves to every one who has carefully examined the subject. For a more elaborate presentation of matters pertaining to this ancient race, see ' Ohio Statistics for 1877.' pages 15-27.

"The Indians were doubtless later occupants of the. Mint ridge than the Mound Builders. 'They strolled in idleness and worthlessness, perchance sometimes stealthily, and again in fierce savagery over the ridge, probably for centuries, engaged alternately in tear, hunting, and in making flint spears and arrow-heads, and finally gave up the contest for supremacy in the interest of barbarism, and sullenly, reluctantly yielded to the irresistible influences and onward march of the civilization of the nineteenth century, conscious that they could maintain the contest no longer."

In the chapters on Geology and Archaeology, further reference is made to Flint ridge.

The chestnut and other growths peculiar to mountain regions abound on Flint ridge, and the oak, in different varieties, prevails in other portions of Hopewell. The land is of the class regarded as hilly, but it is for the most part productive.

No large water courses are found in Hopewell, yet springs are .not rare, and rivulets are coursing their way through all parts of the township.

On the plat of the original survey, this township is in the first tier of townships, and tenth range.

It was first settled about 1805 or 1806. William Hull, Isaac Farmer, Samuel Pollock, Edward Hersey, John Bartholomew, Jacob Hummell, Thomas Hummell, Timothy Gard, James Glasgow, Isaac Davis, John, Charles, George and Samuel B. Hull, Thomas Demoss, George Kreger, Daniel Bowman, Abraham Bennett, Samuel Farmer, William Willis, Andrew Livingston, Blois Wright, Alexander, Charles, and Zachariah Shaw, Archibald Kelso, and the Gibbons, were early settlers.

The township was organized in 1814. Isaac Farmer and Samuel Pollock were the first justices of the peace, and were elected early in 1815. The former soon resigned, and Edward Hersey succeeded him, and served until 1830, when he resigned. The latter served until 1818, when he was succeeded by William Hull, who served about twenty years. He was, meanwhile, in 1827, elected to the legislature, in which body he served one year.

Gratiot is situated on the National pike, immediately on the county line between Muskingum and Licking. It was laid out by Adam Smith, about fifty. years ago, very soon after the permanent location of the National road, and named in honor of General Gratiot, then in active service in the regular army. It came to be a post town of about three hundred inhabitants. It contains two churches Episcopal Methodists and Protestant Methodists each having a good building, and enjoying a good degree of prosperity. The former is much the older, having been organized in 1830, soon after the town was laid out. The latter has a good church edifice, a large society, and Sabbath-school, but the building is in Muskingum county.

There is, in the immediate vicinity of Gratiot, a Baptist church which can properly be classed with the pioneer churches of Licking county, it having been in existence since 1821-a period of fifty nine years.

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 481

The first Methodist society in Hopewell township, as well as the first of any denomination, was organized at the residence of widow Dickinson, one mile, or more, north of Brownsville, in 1816, by that veteran preacher of the wilderness, Rev. James Quinn. The society erected a log church in 1818; and as both stoves and money to pay for them were scarce in those days, on the Flint ridge, they warmed up in winter by burning char coal in a square wooden box, lined with stone and mortar, placed in the church. Revs. J McMahon, Martin Fate, Michael Ellis, Joseph Carper, Abner Goff, James Quinn, and others, were the pioneer preachers of this society. Mr. Landon Warfield was the class-leader. The society was transferred to Brownsville in 1829, where they erected a brick church, of which mention is made in the history of Bowling Green township.

The second society organized in this township was the above mentioned Baptist church in 1821, located half a mile northwest of Gratiot. Rev. Thomas Snelson and Rev. Mr. Caves were among its earliest ministers; and William Baker, Jesse Stith, John Parker and Daniel Schofield succeeded them.

Among its first members were Adam Smith, Daniel Drumm, Samuel Winegarner, James Redman, Thomas White, Isaac Smith, Margaret Winegarner and Henry Claybaugh. The society erected a church in 1823, which was superseded by the neat, substantial building now occupied.

The original deacons were Adam Smith and James Redman.

In 1830, Rev. Robert McCracken, and others, organized an Episcopal -Methodist church in Gratiot, which held its meetings in a school-house until 1836, when they erected a good church edifice.

Lewis Ijams and William Tucker were mainly influential in the first establishment of

this society. Rev. Joseph Carper and Rev. Abner Goff were pioneer preachers in this church. The first Sabbathschool in this township was organized in this church in 1830, Mr. Lewis Ijams being superintendent. It is yet a large and active school

In 1832, Rev. Joseph Carper and Rev. Jacob Young organized a Methodist Episcopal society in, the western portion of the township, with Mr. Samuel B. Hull as class-leader. The society erected a church some time after, and now worships in what is known as Spencer chapel. A flourishing. Sabbath-school is .connected with the church.

Revs. Samuel Hamilton, Robert McCracken, Martin Fate, Leroy Swormsted, James B. Finley, C. Springer and others were among the pioneer preachers of this township.

Hopewell is divided into school districts as other townships, and-provided with good school-houses. The pioneer teachers were Charles Howard, Joseph Evans and George Hursey.

Politically, the township is Democratic.

The only post office is at Gratiot. The first postmaster was Moses Meek. He was succeeded by Samuel Winegarner, Nathan Henslee, William Sims, S. R. Tucker, F. F. Dutton, L. A. Stevens, William Redman and Stephen R. Tucker.

Two agricultural societies have been organized in Hopewell, both holding some of their meetings in Gratiot. The "Gratiot Farmer's club" was organized in 1865. Its meetings were generally held at the residences of the members.

The "Farmers' and Mechanics' association" was organized in 1869, and held their meetings monthly in Gratiot.

William Hull and Samuel Winegarner can be ranked among the most successful politicians of , the township, the former being elected a member of the lower branch of the legislature in 1827, and the latter to the State senate in 1845. They were early settlers and men of influence.

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 482

CHAPTER LVII.

JERSEY TOWNSHIP

LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY-MOUND BUILDERS-INDIANS-SETTLERS AND SETTLEMENTS-SKETCHES OF THE PIONEERS- NUMBER OF FIRST THINGS ORIGIN OF NAME OF THE TOWNSHIP-ORGANIZATION- FIRST OFFICERS-FIRST SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS JERSEY VILLAGE-CHURCHES.

"Be evn as clover with its crown of blossoms,

Evett as blossoms ere the bloom is shed,

Kissed by the kine and the brown sweet bee

For these have the sun and moon and air,

And never a bit of the burthen of care

And with au our caring what more have we?"

Joaquin Miller.

THIS township is in the western part of the county, and is bounded on the north by Mon roe township; south by Lima; east by St. Albans, and west by Franklin county. It slopes gradually to the south. Black Lick, which flows into the Big Walnut; and the South fork of Licking, which has its source in this township, are its principal streams. The latter waters the southern part, while numerous tributaries of the Raccoon flow from the eastern and northeastern part. The eastern half is what is called rolling land, and the western half is level or slightly undulating. The early settlers considered portions of it too wet for cultivation; but as the forest was cleared away, letting in the sun and air, it became apparent that the pioneers were mistaken, as beneath the dense beech shade lay a soil well worth the labor of clearing. It is generally productive. The township was covered with a good variety of timber, but beech was the prevailing timber, and it was considered as belonging to the "beech woods" in early times.

The Mound Builders left traces of their existence here, though their works do not appear to have been as extensive as in some other portions of the county-but four mounds being visible within its limits, and these are not of large size, Perhaps its clayey soil was not adapted to their purposes.

Some Wyandot Indians had more or less permanent encampments in this territory, but all had disappeared about 1812, when the war with Great Britain began. Three years after this date, the first settlers found a few of their huts and wigwams standing, though greatly dilapidated, on a small stream called Indian run, half a mile northwest of the village of Jersey. Evidently its beech woods and pretty brooks made a paradise in which the Indian hunter delighted to roam.

In the month of February, 1815, Joseph Headley, Peter Headley and a colored man, left their homes at the falls of Licking in Muskingum county, and camped on the South fork near the present I village of Jersey. They split puncheons and built a sort of structure in which they lived, and made sugar. Peter Headley soon went to the land office at Chillicothe and entered or purchased the south east quarter of section twenty-four for himself; the southwest quarter for Mr. Lewis Martin, and the northwest quarter for Richard Osborn.

Peter Headley, during the spring of 1815, built a cabin on his land, and moved into it in March, 1816, with his wife and two children, David and Elizabeth; he was, therefore, the pioneer of Jersey township.

He erected the first cabin, but its first occupants were Lewis Martin and others,

In May, 1816, Joseph Headley and wife, with their daughter, Polly, and Sarah Parritt joined Peter Headley and lived with him in his cabin. In November, 1816, William, son of Peter Headley, was born, being the first child born in the township.

The Headleys were from New Jersey, from whence they emigrated to Muskingum county in 1809. They were first-class pioneers and good

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 483

hunters. Peter, on one occasion, killed seven deer on his own place in one day; at another time he killed two deer at one shot, and on another occasion killed a bear weighing over four hundred pounds.

Mr. Lewis Martin, also from New Jersey, prospected in Jersey township in 1815, and with his father-in-law, Richard Osborn, and a brother-in-law, Mr. Vandegriff, with their families, also Mrs., Martin's brother, moved there, June 15, 1815, and occupied a cabin erected by Peter Headley. In a month Mr. Martin had erected a cabin on his own land-the land having been entered by Peter Headley for him. These were the first settlers of Jersey township. They were compelled to cut a wagon road several miles before reaching the land they had determined to settle upon.

Mr. Martin sowed some wheat in 1815, the first in the township, but it all run into straw and made nothing but horse feed. Martin was a prominent citizen, serving the township often in the different capacities of trustee and justice of the peace. He died February 2, 1872, and just two weeks after, February r6, the remains of- his venerable wife were also deposited by his side. They were eighty-three and eighty-one years respectively.

One of their sons, Lewis, now deceased, commanded an Illinois regiment in the late war.

In March, 1816, Michael Beem, also a Jerseyman, and a Revolutionary soldier, who served in the body-guard of General Washington, and knew him well, came to Jersey and erected a cabin. He brought with him eight sons and one daughter, and lived in the township thirty-four years, dying December 12, 1850, at the age of nearly ninety-six years.

John Rhodes, and a son and daughter, came to Jersey in May, 1815, and lived three weeks in a sort of rail pen until they could build a cabin.

Samuel Williams and family, and Abner Whitehead and family, both from New Jersey, settled in this township, in September, 1816. Phebe Whitehead, a daughter of Abner, died January 18, 1819, her death being the first in the township. In 1820 Mr. Whitehead erected a small log mill, on the South fork, the first in the township. It stood north of the Jersey village, at the crossing of the Jersey and Johnstown road. Benjamin Parkhurst settled in Jersey in the spring of 1817. He was from New Jersey, and on his way west his son Peter was born on the Alleghany mountains. Soon after his arrival he erected a hand mill, upon which himself and a few scattered settlers ground grain, before other mills were erected. Amos Park, a Virginian, also settled here in 1817. Thomas Alberry settled here in 1817, building his cabin on the South fork, where the Worthington road crosses it, and where he died March 1, 1867, aged seventy-two years.

Elijah Meeker and family moved from New Jersey to this township in 1817. He had six daughters and three sons. The first marriage in the township was that of his daughter Susan to John Osborn. The ceremony was performed by Rev. George Callahan, a Methodist, probably the first preacher in the township.

David Meeker and family, and David Peffers and family, from New Jersey, settled here in September, 1817, and the following year Onesimus Whitehead and Elias Williams, with their families, from New Jersey, also settled here.

Wickliffe Condit and family were immigrants from New Jersey in 1819. Mr. Condit established the first tannery, and erected the first frame house in the township, Deacon Josiah Ward being the architect. Mr. Condit also had some agency in the sale of the first merchandise, having for his. partners at different times E. O. Williams, A. D. Pierson, Dr. Beecher and Knowles Linnel.

Asa Whitehead, with his wife and eight children, from New Jersey, settled in this township in 1820.

Louis Headley, a young man, came with his father (Joseph) in 1816, married in 1822; and soon there after built the first saw-mill in the township, and also erected the first frame barn. The sawmill stood on the South fork, just south of the village of Jersey.

It will be seen that the early settlers of this township were nearly all from New Jersey, which fact gave the township its name. They were men of character and family, and were first-class pioneers.

The township was organized in 1820, by dividing St. Albans. Peter. Headley, Richard Beem and Elias Williams were the first trustees; Amos Park, clerk; David Chadwick, constable; Enos Williams, treasurer; Charles Beardslee, lister, and Deacon

484 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

Josiah L. Ward, appraiser. Michael Beem was the first justice of the peace. By a unanimous vote of the citizens the township was named "Jersey."

The first school-house was erected in 1819, and was a primitive affair, the light being admitted through greased paper pasted over openings on each side of the house, made by cutting out a log. It stood on the farm of Onesimus Whitehead. Benjamin Alward was the first teacher.

Granville was the nearest post office for the first settlers. In 1830 a post office was established at the point where Jersey village was afterward located. At present there is a second office in the township, called Beech post office.

Jersey village was laid out in 1832 by Wickliffe Condit, Lewis Headley, Edward Beecher and Andrew Pierson. It is not a large town, but still contains a post office, a few dwelling houses, and, perhaps, one hundred people.

This township is better supplied with churches than any other in the county, except Newark. Ten churches have been organized; nine only having an existence at present, a Methodist church . having removed to Lima township. The Presbyterian was the earliest organized. Deacon Ward in 1819 began holding. meetings in the cabins of the settlers, for singing, prayer and the reading of sermons. The first sermons preached in the township were in July, 1817, by Rev. Benjamin Green, a Baptist preacher from Hog run, and by Rev. Timothy Harris, pastor of the Congregationalist church of Granville. Mr. Harris came into the neighborhood on Saturday evening, and put up with Mr. Whitehead, who fed his horse with green wheat, cut for that purpose. From this it is inferred that it was during the last days of June. Mr. Green was to preach at Mr. Beem's cabin the next day (Sabbath), and Mr: Harris went with Mr. Whitehead to hear Mr. Green in the forenoon, and in the afternoon preached, himself, in the same house. The second sermon by a Presbyterian in the township was in June, 1818, on a week day, at the house of Mr. Whitehead, by a Mr. Humphrey, a man of small stature, sent out as a missionary by the Connecticut Missionary society, who afterward settled on the Western Reserve Other denominations sometimes held meetings in the settlements. Thomas Birch, a Methodist exhorter, held religious meetings occasionally; and so did Mr. Avery, an Old-school Baptist. His meetings were sometimes held at the cabin of Mr. Elias Williams, and sometimes at a log schoolhouse, which stood on a knoll between Mr. Isaac Whitehead's house and that of Mr. Lewis Condit.

In the fall of 1819, Mr. Josiah Ward, who had been an elder in the Presbyterian church in Bloomfield, New Jersey, moved with his family into the neighborhood. He loved the worship of God, and could not endure living in a neighborhood where the Christian's God was not recognized in some public manner. He, therefore, immediately proposed to his neighbors that they meet regularly every Sabbath, and have religious services. Accordingly, such a meeting was held in his own cabin, probably the first Sabbath after he occupied it.about ten months after this first meeting, July 28, 1820, Rev. Timothy Harris and Matthew Taylor met at the house of Elias Williams, and organized the Jersey Presbyterian church, with eight members, four male and four female.

In 1821, a hewed log school-house, designed also for public worship for all denominations, was raised as far as the eaves. It was probably not covered and finished in other respects until the fall of 1822, or perhaps 1823, some eighteen months or two years after the logs were put up. It stood in what is now the graveyard.

The first resolution passed by this congregation was:

" Resolved, That a subscription be opened to procure something toward paying Rev. Matthew Taylor for his labors among us."

One year later, in January, 1823, the congregation

"Resolved, unanimously., That we employ Mr. Taylor to preach one-quarter of the time for a year, if we can raise funds sufficient to pay him."

Similar resolutions were passed in 1824 and 1825.

In January, 1827, a committee was appointed "to wait on Rev. S. S. Miles, of Newark, and learn of him if he can be hired to preach for us; how much and what kind of pay he will take for a certain part. of his time." The committee's report says: "Mr. Miles can be hired one-fourth of his

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 485

time for sixty dollars; one-fourth in cash and three-fourths in produce, delivered at Newark." The congregation agreed to these terms; and so far as appears, Mr. Miles continued to preach on these terms until the fall of 1829, almost three years.

November 4, 1829, Rev. Charles Marsh Putnam preached his first sermon for the Jersey church, in a log school-house on the side hill east of the late Isaac Whitehead's dwelling house. From the second Sabbath in January, 1830, when they first entered the log building, designed for schools and preaching, the congregation always had a home. In January, 1833, they began erecting a frame meeting house, as the log school-house was too small to hold the congregation; and by the last of May following, it was so far finished as to be occupied by the Licking county conference of churches. 'this building was completed in 1836, and continued to be their house of worship until 1856, when a new church was erected. Mr. Putman occupied this church as pastor until the beginning of 1868, when failing health admonished him to cease his labors. By an act of Pataskala presbytery. he was then made pastor emeritus. He thus sustained a nominal connection with the only church to which he ever ministered until his death, which occurred April 17, 1869. He was sixty-seven years of age, and had been pastor of that church forty years.

The house of worship dedicated in 1856, became too small for the congregation before his death, and some years ago ten feet were added to it at a cost of fifteen or sixteen hundred dollars, so that the church now has a comfortable and commodious house; with an Excellent bell and organ.

Rev. Andrew Thomas succeeded Mr. Putnam, and was installed November, 1869. The Jersey church, though never large in numbers, has been very efficient in sustaining a Sabbath-school and weekly prayer meeting, and in her contributions t the various benevolent boards' sustained by the general assembly of the Presbyterian church.

The establishment of the Universalist church dates back to 1824, when the Rev. Mr. Curry preached a few sermons at the house of Michael Beem. A few sermons were delivered at the same place by the Rev. Mr. Rogers in 1825 and 1826. The church was organized in 1829, and Rev. Truman Strong served it as pastor until 1833. Rev. Henry jolly was pastor from 1833 to 1837, when Rev. Truman Strong again took charge and continued until 1841. It was during this last pastorate of Mr. Strong that the church was erected, in 1840, and a Sabbath-school organized in 1841, with Daniel Beem as superintendent. Rev. Mr. Case followed Mr. Strong, his charge beginning in 1842. He was succeeded by T. C. Eaton in 1844: Rev. Mr. Johnson in 1846; William Norton in 1848; Henry Gifford in 1849; Samuel Binns in 1854, and Rev. W. B. Woodbury in 1857. Mr. Woodbury still occupies the pulpit of this church. The membership is about sixty. The Sunday-school was organized in 1841, and is yet in a flourishing condition.

Harmony Baptist church was organized September 27, 1837, by Elders George DeBolt and Eli Ashbrook, with sixteen members. John Boggs, Samuel and Lewis Wright were elected deacons. Elder John Hill preached occasionally at the house of Mr. Armstrong, from 1830 to 1835. Elders George DeBolt, Eli Ashbrook, James Biggs, Wain Taylor, J. P. Taylor, Samuel Meredith, Mr. Hanover and others have supplied the church. They have no regular pastor at present, the pulpit being supplied by Rev. G. N. Tussing, of Columbus. The present church was erected about 1874, and cost six hundred dollars. No Sunday-school is connected with it.

The first regular Baptist church was constituted June 2, 1845, by Elder William Smedmer, with twenty-four members. Mr. S. Gorman, a college student from Granville, preached a few sermons in 1838, and he and others officiated occasionally until 1845. They erected a church in 1846. Elder Smedmer was pastor from 1845 to 1847; followed by Elder Adams in 1847 ; Elder John Carter in 1861; Elder D. D. Walden and others in 1863; Elder David Adams in 1864; Rev. Simeon Sigfried in 1866; Elder Griswold in 1869.

Some of the principal original members were Abigail Woods, Swayne Williams, Gardner Woods, Mr. and Mrs. Urie Colgrove, and Mr. and Mrs.Cyrus Philbrook.

Prior to the erection of the present church edifice, which occurred in 1846, the meetings were

486 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

held in the school-house near the site of the church.

The church is not strong, numbering something more than twenty members; they have no settled pastor, but services are occasionally held.

A Sabbath-school has generally been connected with the church ever since its organization, and at present, a union Sabbath-school is held here, which is largely attended by the children of the various religious societies in this vicinity. John Stover is superintendent.

The Catholics commenced religious services in 1837, at the house of Francis Carr in Jersey village, Rev. Young, of Lancaster, being the officiating priest. Services have been continued since that time. The present organization was probably effected about 1844, by Bishop Samuel; some of the earliest members being Roddy Lafferty, Patrick Duian, Daniel Cush, and Thomas and Edmond Hall. The first services were held in the houses of the members, but about 1855, the society erected a hewed log building, in which worship was continued until 1875, when the present large frame, named St. Joseph's Catholic church, was built at a cost of one thousand dollars, besides a large amount of voluntary labor.

Father Clark is 'at present officiating, with a membership of thirty or forty. A Sunday-school has been long connected with the church, With a membership, at present, of thirty or more.

In 1818 Rev. George Callahan, a Methodist, preached at the house of Elijah Meeker, and in the following year a society was organized, with thirteen members. Rev. Ahner Goff was the first circuit preacher. ,

The place of meeting was afterward changed to Mr. Green's in Lima township, and the further history of this organization, therefore, properly belongs to that township.

The Methodist Episcopal church, located on the Worthington road near the center of this township, was organized in July, 1844, by Revs. John Dillon and Isaac Warnock, at the house of Vachel Dickerson. The first members were Vachel Dickerson and wife, Solomon Wheeler and wife, Mary Albery, and James Banner and wife; these seven members constituting the organization. Meetings were held at fir. Dickerson's house, near the present church edifice, which was erected in 1860, and dedicated in 1861. It cost six hundred and fourteen dollars. A few of the leading ministers who have served this congregation, are Revs. Joseph Brown, Samuel C. Recker, James Gilruth, James Hooper, Joseph Adair, Joseph Crayton, James B. Finley and Vaughn. The present pastor is Rev. Watson. A Sabbath-school has been kept up during the summer months, ever since the organization of the church, the present membership being about thirty-five.

On the twenty-seventh of March, 1853, Rev. S. C. Riker organized another Methodist society in the cabin of S. D. Ball, of twenty members. In 1855 they erected a church edifice, which they called "Union Chapel." B. T. Carter, William Dennis and W. S: Easton have been class leaders. The present membership is about thirty.

The United Brethren church was organized at Burnside's school-house in 1849, by Revs. Jefferson Babcock and George Hathaway, with fifteen members. It was called "Eden." They soon erected a log church which they occupied until 1865, when they built a frame, which stands on the line between Jersey and Monroe townships. Rev. Mr. Levingston was the first pastor.

When the new building was erected, the church ! was reorganized by Rev. William McDaniel, with the following as the principal members: Benjamin Green, Benjamin and George Clouse, William Clark, Joseph Smith, Elisha Green and wife, and William Burnsides and wife. The new edifice cost nine hundred dollars. The present pastor is Rev. H. A. Bogey, and the church is in a good, healthy condition, with a membership of sixty-five.

The Sunday-school was organized in 1867, and was, for a few years, held only during the summer months, but for the last five years it has been gaining in strength and interest, and has been continued the entire year. The present membership is about seventy-six. .

A Christian 'Union society was organized in 1865, by Benjamin Green, after a series of services to the old United Brethren log church. Revs. Benjamin Green and Stevenson have been the principal preachers. Mr. Green is a grandson of the Rev. Benjamin Green who preached at Mr. Beem's, house in 1817.

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 487

The present pastor of this church is Rev. R. W. Graham, of Granville, and the society is in a strong, active, healthy condition, with a membership of about one hundred.

The Sabbath-school is also well attended, having a membership of one hundred, with average attendance of sixty. This school has been in existence since the organization of the church, with occasional intervals of rest. It was permanently established, however, about five years ago.

CHAPTER LVIII.

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.

ORGANIZATION-LOCATION-EARLY HUNTING GROUND-MOUNDS-FIRST SETTLERS AND SETTLEMENTS- FIRST TOWNSHIP OFFICERS-TOPOGRAPHY- VILLAGES- CHURCHES.

LIBERTY township was among the last organized and the last in the county to be settled. It was organized in 1827, Out of the east half of Monroe. It is generally level or gently rolling, and was originally covered with a dense growth of hard wood timber. Being away from the principal water courses and roads by which the emigrants traveled, probably caused it to be overlooked by the earlier settlers.

The soil is clay, but generally fertile and produces good crops of everything grown in any part '. of the county. It is watered by the tributaries of the Raccoon and North fork.

It was a most excellent hunting ground in an early day, and remained so longer than other townships around it, from the fact that the settlements around it drove the game into its dense forests for safety and better range. Wolves, deer, wild turkeys, wild hogs, and other game were in great abundance.

A mound forty feet in diameter at the base and five feet high, situated half a mile north of Brook's Four Corners, seems to be the only visible evidence that the Mound Builders occupied this territory.

It is claimed that Rena Knight was the first settler in this township in 1821, and built the first cabin. This is probably a mistake. Mr. George Emerson says that his father, Stephen Emerson, with his family, came from Ware township, New Hampshire, settling within the present limits of St. Albans township, in the fall of 1815, that they remained here three years, and in October, 1818, moved into the present limits of Liberty, making them the first settlers in this township. Mr. Emerson and family were alone in this township nearly three years before any others ventured into it, then Rena Knight came (1821,) and erected the second cabin, and was soon followed by Mr. Sawyer, who became the third settler. George E. Emerson, the son, was the first white child born within the township limits.

In 1827, when the township was organized, but few settlers, in cabins scattered over the township, were within its limits. John Clark and Caleb Brooks were the first justices of the peace; Stephen Emerson, Jesse Payne and John Sawyer, trustees; Joseph Sawyer, treasurer, and William McCamy, clerk. In addition to these officers the following named gentlemen were residents of the township at this time: William Payne, Benjamin B. Knight, Joseph Riger, A. Longwell, Joseph P. Brooks, Abraham Mouser, Solomon Brooks, Jasper Emerson, David Brooks, David Martin, John G. Brooks, Joseph Watkins, Joseph Kelso, Samuel Wheeler and William C. Adams. These all settled here. within a few years preceding the organization of the township.

The fact that the land was previously owned by non-residents, also had an influence in retarding early settlement.

The township is regarded as one of the best grazing sections of the county.

488. - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

It is divided into nine school districts, the central district containing a town house, where elections are held and township business transacted.

There seems to be a ridge passing across this township from northwest to southeast, covering its central portion, and dividing the waters of North fork and Raccoon fork of Licking. The headwaters of the former are in the northern part of the township, the outlet of the large swamp on the farm of J. P. Decrow, forming a part of Lake fork, a tributary of the North fork, and which joins that stream in Washington township. Another small tributary of the Lake fork rises in the vicinity of Brook's corners.

The main stream in the southern part is Lobdel's run, a tributary of the Raccoon, which passes, with numerous tributaries, across the southwestern part of the township, through the village of Concord. The headwaters of Brushy fork are in the southeastern part of this township, in the vicinity of New Way.

The Ohio Central railroad passes across its southwestern corner on its way from Granville to Johnstown and Hartford, but there is no station within the limits of the township, and with this exception it is not troubled with railroads or telegraphs, and contains no important highways.

There are two small villages within its limits Concord and New Way. The former contains twelve or fifteen houses, and is located on Lobdel's run, and the latter, a cross-road's place of half a dozen or more houses, is located in the eastern part of the township.

There are five churches at present in this town ship, the first religious organization being effected by the Baptists in the village of Concord in 1832. It is called the "Regular Baptist church of Liberty township," to distinguish it from the Free Will Baptist, this society also having an active existence in this town. The Regular Baptist church was organized in a school-house by Revs. Owen Owens and David Adams. The original members of this organization were David Adams, Isaac Holmes, Elias Willison, Clarrisa Baker, Emily Stackwell, and Martha Manser.

The present church edifice was erected in 1843 or 1844, the people generally subscribing for that purpose. The two ministers above mentioned were followed by Elders Carr, Northup, Dickey and Turner. The membership at present is but eighteen.

A union Sunday-school is maintained in Con cord, with a present membership of about one hundred.

The children of both the Methodist and Freewill Baptist churches attend this school, as well as others, and it is well sustained. The Free Will Baptist church, located in Concord, was organized in 1842, by Elders G. W. Baker, J. D. Heath, Oscar Baker, and others. The members of the first organization were, Stephen Emerson, the first settler of the township; T. Blake, C. Knapp, I. Robbins, Mary Blake, Mary Robbins, Anna Knapp, S. Safford, J. Safford and E. Foster. The following have been pastors in this church: G. W. Baker, G. Evens, O. E, Baker, Asa Pierce, h. F. Higgins, Mr. Whittaker, O. J. Moon, A. H. Whittaker, and H. W. Vaughn. This church is comparatively strong in numbers, the membership being about sixty-five, and is in a healthy condition. The children attend the Union Sabbath-school.

The third permanent church organization in the township was that of the Universalist, in 1843. This church had quite a number of organizations in the northern and western part of the county about that time. Soon after organization this congregation erected a church edifice at New Way, which has since been known as the "New Way" church. Caleb Brooks, Eli Stockwell, A. Durfey, Lewis Ingelsbe, S. H. Smith, H. C. Woodworth, William Aram, Christian Edelblute, Jacob Lane, David Brooks, B. L. Critchet, A. J. Critchet, Albert Geer, David Stratton, Ira Stratton, N. S. Woodworth, S. G. Decrow, D. M. Brooks, John Carris, Joel Martin, Samuel McDaniel, Henry Rhoney, John Harter, Asa Ward, and D. Johnson were the original members of this organization. The church, erected by subscription, cost about six hundred dollars. Prior to the organization preaching had been enjoyed several years, the principal preacher being Rev. T. C. Eaton. It was probably through his influence mainly that the organization was effected. Mr. Eaton was succeeded in 1844 by Rev. Mr. Jolly. From 1846 to 1850 Rev. S. Gifford had charge of this congregation, and he was followed by Revs. Johnson, Em-

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 489

met and Samuel Binns, who severally occupied the pulpit until 1857. In 1858 Rev. B. W. Woodbery, of Granville, took charge and has continued his ministerial labors up to the present time. This is quite a large active congregation for a country church, numbering sixty-four communicants.

The Sunday-school was organized in 1858, and now has a membership of sixty or seventy. The superintendents have been A. S. Jamison, S. R. Sanger and others.

The church located near the line of McKean township, known as "Liberty chapel," was organized in 1866, by the consolidation of the Methodist Episcopal and Wesleyan Methodist churches. Messrs. John Barrick, John Rusler, G. R. Gosnell and others were prominent in organizing this church; and S. S. Wyeth, Edwin Runnels, D. G. Wyeth, G. K. Wyeth and some others were members of the first organization.

Their first meetings were held in the fall of 1866, and in 1867 they erected the present church edifice, at a cost of three thousand two hundred and fifty dollars.

The present membership of this church is about one hundred.

What is known as the "Liberty Sabbath-school" was organized in this church in 1867, about the time. the building was finished, and has been well sustained since that time. There are probably one hundred pupils or more in attendance at this school. - William Barrick is superintendent.

In 1860 the Methodist Episcopal church of Concord was erected, and dedicated in November of that year by Rev. Uriah Heath. The building is a very substantial one, costing about one thousand three hundred dollars. The Methodists were probably the first religious society to organize in the township, but it is difficult here, as everywhere, to get at the particulars of their early history, as no records were kept for many years.

CHAPTER LIX

LICKING TOWNSHIP.

WORKS OF THE MOUND BUILDERS-EXAMINATION OF A MOUND BY PROFESSOR MARSH-INDIANS- LOCATION AND TOPOGRAPHY ORGANIZATION-THE PIONEERS-JUDGE BRUMBACK ON HOG RUN-BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES OF A FEW PROMINENT SETTLERS-REV. ASA SHINN CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS MATTERS- OHIO CANAL AND NATIONAL ROAD-JACKSONTOWN-VAN BUREN- AVONDALE- SOME OF THE JUSTICES OF THE PEACE-A FEW ADDITIONAL SETTLERS.

"Land of the forest and the rock,

Of dark blue lake and mighty river,

Of mountains reared on high, to mock

The storm's career and lightning's shock

My own green land forever!"

THE Mound Builders' works are found in various parts of Licking township, the stone mound about a mile south of Jacksontown being of the greatest magnitude. It was of gigantic proportions, measuring one hundred and eighty-three feet in diameter at its base; and when found by the pioneer settlers, was between thirty and forty feet in height. Many hundred wagon loads of stone were removed from it, and used in the construction of the reservoir, in the cellar walls in the neighborhood, and in the villages along the National road, so that at present it will not probably average more than eight feet in height. A tolerably well preserved coffin, containing a skeleton, was found in it some years ago, with a quantity of beads and other trinkets. Other but less authenticated relics are often named in connection with this mound. The "decalogue stone" with some others require verification. This mound is situated on high ground, and was built of unhammered stone of tolerably uniform size and very large. Hon. Isaac Smucker, who is well informed on the subject, says it was the largest stone mound of which he has any knowledge. It

490 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

is also the only one of its class in the township. The earth mound on the plank road between Newark and Jacksontown, on the farm of Mr. Taylor, is one of good size, and much interest attaches to it on account of the very careful and scientific examination given it, a few years ago, by Professor Marsh, of Yale college, and who gave it a very extensive notoriety through "Silliman's journal," as well as in a carefully prepared pamphlet publication. He found in it ashes, charcoal, flint, a broken pipe made of soft limestone, pieces of a tube of the same material, a string of over one hundred native copper beads, strung on a twisted cord of coarse vegetable fibre; also shell beads, human skeletons, decayed layers of reddish brown powder, layers of burned clay, white chaff, implements of various kinds, lance and arrowheads, six hand axes made of hematite and greenstone, a hatchet, a flint chisel, a flint scraper, many bone implements, five needles or bodkins from three to six inches in length, made of the bones of the deer, an implement for moulding pottery, numerous peculiar implements made from the antlers of the deer and elk, a whistle made from the tooth of a young black bear, spoons made of shells, a vessel of coarse pottery, fragments of a vase, various animal bones, such as the elk, deer, rabbit, wolf, woodchuck and river mussel, and various other things, including seventeen human skeletons, in whole or in part. No bones of domestic animals were found. The exploration of the mound was more perfect and thorough than that of any other within the limits of the county, and its yield of archaeological treasure was generous. Mr. G. P. Russell, of Harvard college, with a number of gentlemen of Newark, assisted in this examination, and retained possession of some of those valuable mound deposits. This is but a single instance of the richness of this county, archeologically considered, and shows what treasures are yet in reach of those who would give these mounds a thorough examination.

There are also several mounds on the lands of Mr. Parr, in the vicinity of the great stone mound already described; and one west of the plank road, on the farm of Mr. J. R. Moore, about two miles south of Newark; also, one nearly a hal mile east of the cemetery, a mile north of Jacksontown. These are not remarkable for size, nor peculiar in any respect; but one on the farm of the late William Bussey, at Fairmount, is remarkable for size, it being one hundred and fifteen feet in diameter at its base, with an altitude, at present, of twenty-five feet. There is also near the banks of the South fork, two miles from Newark, on what is called Cochran's hill, a work or fortification of the Mound Builders.

A few acres are enclosed, perhaps between five and ten, by a bank several feet high, which appears to have been thrown from the inside, the ditch being within the enclosure. Fronting the creek, where the banks are very steep, there is no ditch for a number of rods. So far as the work was constructed, it is an accurate circle.

There is also an earth enclosure of low banks, and small extent, on the farm of Mr. Ronan, half a mile south of the foregoing, covering about one acre. It has a good sized mound standing in the ditch and bank, thirty feet in diameter and twelve feet high.

There is also, on the farm of Mr. J. Sutton, near the northern boundary of the township, a small mound of earth, and also a fort or enclosure of an oblong square, enclosing half an acre or more, whose banks have been plowed over and almost obliterated. It is situated near "Fort Spring."

The Indians, it is known, had a camp on the farm owned by Mr. J. R. :More; and there was also an Indian encampment in a large sugar grove near Hog run, since the property of Mr. Jacob Brownfield, where the Indians often made sugar. "Big swamp," or "Two lakes," sometimes, also, called by the Indians "Big lake," and "Little lake,"' or what is now called the Reservoir, was resorted to by the Indians, in consider able numbers, for the purpose of fishing. There was an Indian trail through this township, and along the Reservoir, leading from the mouth of the Wakatomika (near Dresden), crossing the Licking river at or below the mouth of the Bowling Green run, to King Beaverstown, near Pickerington or Lithopolis, in Fairfield county, about the head-waters of the Hock-Hocking. That the Indians often camped along this trail, in Licking township, is most probable; and it seems also to be

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 491

a well authenticated fact that the Wyandots, Delawares and perhaps Shawnees, had more permanent homes here than the foregoing remarks indicate. Little that is entirely reliable, however, in relation to Indian history, anterior to the settlement of the county by the whites, is known to a certainty.

The trail above mentioned is doubtless the one followed by Christopher Gist and Andrew Montour in 1751. Gist was, probably, the first white man to pass through what is now Licking township. , His expedition is referred to. in another chapter.

A strip of land, two and a half miles wide across the southern part of this township, once belonged to what was known as the "Refugee lands," and the remainder to the United. States military or army lands. This division and designation is explained in another chapter. The military lands, of which about two thirds of this township is comprised, were surveyed pursuant to authority granted by act of Congress, passed June 1, 1796. This township, except what belongs to the Refugee tract, on the original survey, was in the tier of townships numbered one, in range twelve.

The township was originally well timbered, abounding in the usual variety and extent of forest trees, the oak, walnut, hickory, and sugar being the principal. It is agreeably, and about in equal proportions, diversified with hill and valley; one third being low, level or flat land of superior fertility; another third being gently undulating and the remainder made up of more abrupt and less productive elevations or hills.

The South fork of Licking, which forms the western boundary of this township; Hog run and its tributaries; Swamp run and Dutch fork, are its principal streams. The bottom lands along these streams are among the best in the county, the soil being deep, rich, enduring and exceedingly productive.

A portion of the Reservoir is in the southern part of this township, and is fully described in another chapter.

The township was organized in 1801, as one of the townships of Fairfield county, and then embraced the whole of the territory (except the Refugee tract,) which now constitutes the county of Licking, and perhaps a portion also of what is now Knox county. Thus it continued until 1807, when it was reduced to half the limits of Licking county, by the formation of the township of Granville. Subsequently, by the formation of Union township on the west, and of Bowling Green on the east, both in 1808; and of Newark on the north in 1810, and Franklin on the east in 1812, it was reduced to its present dimensions. The county lines of Fairfield and Perry, which run through the Reservoir, form its southern boundary.

The pioneers of this township were Phillip Sutton, Job Rathbone, John and George Gillespie, who arrived in 1801; Benjamin Green, Richard Pitzer and John Stadden, in 1802; Major Anthony Pitzer, Jacob Swisher, Stephen Robinson and perhaps others, in 1803.

Judge Brumback contributes to the pioneer papers an interesting article on Hog run and the early settlers along that stream. It is freely quoted from.

Probably about 1804, the hogs of one John Ward, of Granville township, running at large, in the fall of the year, strayed across the South fork of Licking, and wintered on or near the land since owned by Jeremiah Grove, and along the little creek just south of it. The-animals found in the abundant mast ample food. In the ensuing spring the owner discovered his stock, numerically increased and in good condition, and immediately, it is said, named the stream "Hog run." Richard Green thus accounts for the name. He also states that the settlers often thereafter called Mr. Ward "Hog Ward."

Authority, perhaps equally good, exists for saying, that about the same time the hog;. of Isaac Stadden, then residing below Newark, near the Bowling Green, having strayed away were found on the same stream, and that it received its name from that circumstance. This opinion was entertained by Mrs. Stadden, widow of Isaac Stadden, who died July 3, 1870, in the ninety-first year of her age.

Others account for the name on the theory that some one else's hogs multiplied and fattened along the stream, and their owner, with an early settler's natural gratitude for . an abundant stock of pork, gave it the same, suggestive if not elegant, name. Certain it is (and perhaps little else regarding the name is certain) that soon after the whites began

492 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

to settle in the county, the stream received this name. Doubtless the abundance of beech-nuts and acorns, found in the valley at that time, made it a good place for hogs at large. This circumstance alone might have suggested the name to several persons at the same time.

The first settlers on Hog run, according to the recollection of Mr. Richard Green, were Phillip , Sutton and John Rathbone, who settled on the tributary reaching toward Jacksontown, in the vicinity of Harvey T. Black's residence and lower down. They must have settled in 1800, or not later than 1801. Rathbone settled on land afterward owned by Mr. Black, and Sutton on land afterward owned by James Davis. Of these persons there is little known except the single fact that they came from Pennsylvania.

The records show that during the year 1800 and 1801, a number of conveyances of land were I made. Early in 18ox, George and John Gillespie I settled on the same tributary, and September 21, 1801, George executed a conveyance of' two hundred acres in the southwest corner of the fourth quarter, part of which was afterward owned by James Davis. The Gillespies remained in this vicinity but a few months.

In 1799, Benjamin Green and family, consisting of a wife and ten children, all the latter unmarried; and Richard Pitzer, son-in-law of Mr. Green, with his family, came to Marietta from Maryland. In the spring of 1800, they started for the Licking valley. The women and children under charge of Mr. Pitzer, with eight pack-horses, came up by land, along a trail. They drove through with them several head of cattle.. Benjamin Green and his son Richard, with a hired hand, a Mr. John Kelley, manned a large canoe, or barge, in which they conveyed their household goods and other freight by water to the mouth of the Licking, present site of Zanesville. Among this freight were flour from fifteen bushels of wheat, and the running gears of a wagon, probably the first one brought into the county. In August of the same year Isaac Stadden brought in a wagon, probably the second one. With it he moved his family from Northumberland county, Pennsylvania.

Mr. Green found it necessary to make two voyages to Marietta in order to bring up all the goods of the party. From Zanesville to Shawnee run they cut their own road. When they arrived at Bowling Green they found the families of Hughes, Ratliff and that of a man named John Carpenter. Mr. Green thinks these were all the families then within the limits of Licking county. If Jones, Benjamin and the Fords came, as some think, during this year, it was probably at a later period. Messrs. Green and Pitzer located first on Shawnee run, on lands afterwards owned- by Rev. P. N. O'Banon, where they resided two years.

February 25, 1802, Benjamin Green acquired lands on Hog run, and soon after he and Mr. Pitzer occupied these lands. The land where Green settled was afterward owned by James Davis; and Pitzer located a little lower down, between him and the run on what was afterward known as the lower Beard farm. They Were the first settlers on that part of Hog run, after Rathbone, Sutton and the Gillespies. Green bought .one hundred and fifty acres for three hundred and fifty dollars, and in two years sold it to Stephen Robinson for nine hundred dollars. He had cleared off thirty acres.

After this sale he contracted with Samuel Lick, a large proprietor, who had two thousand eight hundred acres of land lying on both sides of Hog run, and west of the road from Newark to Jacksontown. He located at the spring, on this land, on that part afterward owned by Jesse R. and Joseph J. Moore, near where a small, old brick house now stands, north of the residence of John Brumback. This spring, or rather collection of springs, forming a little swamp, was well known. Richard Green says that he, on different occasions after 1804, saw Shawnee Indians encamped in the timber near to and south of the springs, and between these and the house of John Brumback. At one time he saw thirty encamped there, who carne from Raccoon town, near Johnstown.

The Greens must have settled here before 1805, and here Benjamin Green lived until the death of his wife in 1822, when he went to reside with his son, Daniel Green, near Moscow, Licking county. In 1823 he married Mrs. Martha Lewis, daughter of Theophilus Rees, and widow of David Lewis, and died in 1835, aged seventy-six years. He had a family of fourteen children, some of whom afters ward became prominent in the affairs of the coun-

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 493

ty. Richard, one of the sons, lived in this county seventy-two years, dying April 16, 1872, aged eighty-seven years. Mr. Pitzer died in 1819, on Hog run. In 1802, soon after Green settled on Hog run, Jacob Swisher, a settler from Hardy county, Virginia, located on a one hundred acre tract, now part of the homestead of Mr. Benjamin Green. He had expended all his means in reaching the country, and, without money or assistance, undertook to open up and pay for his purchase. He erected a "pole cabin" near the present residence of Mr. Green. The forest afforded him abundance of game, and the stream a good supply of fish. In after years he used to claim to his wife and daughters, that he was a better cook than they, for while he kept house in his cabin, his corn bread and much never adhered to the skillet, but came out smooth and unbroken. They in defense always urged that this circumstance was not attributable to the superiority of his cooking, but rather to the fact that he cooked and roasted much fat bear meat and venison, and then made mush or baked pone without washing the skillet thoroughly enough to get off all the grease.

In this solitary way, Mr. Swisher lived several years, when he erected a second cabin of round logs, in. dimensions, fourteen by sixteen feet. Into this establishment of two rooms, he, in 1804, installed his new wife, Phebe, the daughter of his old neighbor, Benjamin Green. Mr. Swisher earned part, if not all, the price of his one hundred acres of land (one hundred and seventy-five dollars), by packing salt on horseback from the Scioto salt works, in the vicinity of Chillicothe to his -neighborhood. This was before any road had been cut out. One man took two horses, and followed the trail through the woods. Each horse carried four bushels of salt, which cost at the works one dollar and fifty cents per bushel, and sold here at four dollars per bushel. It took five or six days to make the round trip. Several years afterward, or about 1809, the settlers thought themselves fortunate in being able to exchange wheat for salt at Zanesville, bushel for bushel.

Mr. Swisher continued to reside on the same tract until his death June 23, 1843, at the age of sixty-four.

Hog run pioneers seem to have realized fair prices for produce during those early years. Mr. Green says that during the first two or three years, corn sold for fifty cents per bushel, and pork seven dollars per hundredweight. Wheat was not much raised at first, but when produced in quantities exceeding the wants of the neighborhood, often sold as low as twenty-five cents a bushel. The first two calico dresses Mrs. Swisher purchased, cost her one dollar per yard, but they lasted her many years, even until her daughters grew into womanhood.

Colonel John Stadden was one of the earliest settlers of this township. A sketch of this gentleman will be found elsewhere.

Mr. Alexander Holden was also an early settler in Licking township. He was a man of more than ordinary capacity and intelligence. He was a justice of the peace several years; commissioner of the county from 1817 to 1820, and from 1824 to 1827, and was also elected to the legislature in 1808. He was a man of meritorious character, generally esteemed, and of much decision and firmness. He died nearly fifty years ago.

Major Anthony Pitzer was also an early settler, and rendered valuable military services during the war of 1812. In 1816 he was elected to the office of associate judge, in which capacity he served several years; and in 1818 and 1819, was a member of the legislature. He was a man of much force and many excellent qualities, but of limited scholarship and attainments. He was a native of Virginia, and came to Ohio from Allegheny county, Maryland, in 1803, settling on Hog run, where he died May 14, 1852, aged eighty-six years.

Samuel-Patterson who was elected to the Ohio senate in 1848, and Nicholas Shaver who collected the taxes of Licking township from 1820 to 1822, were also pioneers of this township.

In 1803 Rev. Asa Shinn, then a very young but promising minister of the Methodist church, was appointed to the Hock-Hocking circuit, then just organized, and which turned out to be one which took him four weeks to travel over. It led him into what are now the counties of Fairfield, Licking, Muskingum, Coshocton, Knox, Delaware and Franklin. There was upon it but one regular appointment in this county, and that was at the house - a good sized double-cabin-of Mr. Benjamin

494 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

Green, in the valley of Hog run. Mr. Shinn's appointment before reaching this one, was on the Hock-Hocking river, at or near Lancaster; and the next one after it, was at, or near the mouth of the Wakatomika, or a few miles beyond it, at the house of a Mr. Wamsly.

Mr. Shinn continued his labors a year, beginning late in 1803, and ending in the autumn of 1804. This organization at the house of Mr. Green was, doubtless, the pioneer religious society of Licking county.

Mr. Green was a Baptist, and until near the close of his life, occasionally exercised the functions of a minister of that denomination, and might properly be ranked with the pioneer preachers of Licking county. He was tolerant of all religions, and as his wife and children were disposed to cherish the Methodist faith, he gave support and encouragement to Mr. Shinn's enterprise.

The following are some, and perhaps nearly all, the church members, and those who became such during Mr. Shinn's ministry: Richard Pitzer, Mrs. Pitzer, Jocob Swisher, Mrs. Swisher, John Stadden, Mrs. Stadden, Sarah Green and Mrs. Green, wife of Benjamin Green. It was rather a family church, the male members being sons-in-law of Mr. Green, and the female members his wife and daughters..

The. great promise of Mr. Shinn's early career as a pioneer preacher in the west was fully realized on reaching the full maturity of his intellect, for he became eminent as an author, no less than as a divine. Hon. Isaac Smucker gives it as his judgment that no man of better intellect or of a higher order of pulpit talent, ever exercised the functions of a minister of the gospel in this county. He was born in New Jersey, May 3, 1771;. His parents were Quakers, and the boy did not enjoy any educational privileges. He had natural ability, however, and while yet in his "teens" attracted attention as an exhorter.

Without making any application for a license to preach, he was urged to this calling by a presiding elder of the Methodist church, who procured for him a license, and before he was twenty-one years of age was employed as a traveling preacher. He received his first appointment in 1801, and continued in the itinerancy of the Methodist Episcopal church more than twenty-seven years.

His parents moved to the vicinity of Clarksburgh, Virginia, when he was yet young, when schools or institutions of learning of any kind were scarce, and educational matters almost wholly neglected. The little education he possessed was obtained from reading and from his association with men of improved minds.

He became a great favorite, at one time, with the people of Baltimore, and his residence there enabled him to improve his mind and complete a literary work upon which he was engaged, called the "Plan of Salvation." The work evinced a great deal of thought and discrimination, but gave him trouble with his brethren, on account of some peculiar views therein expressed, which some thought sounded like heresy. He afterward published a work on the rectitude of the "Supreme Being."

Rev. John Burns spent two years with Mr. Shinn at Allegheny City station, commencing in 1840. He had ample opportunity to know him, and his decided convictions were that he was the best man he ever knew. He was social and companionable, and in all his intercourse governed by unaffected, natural simplicity of manners a hearer at a camp meeting at Baltimore, in 1813, thus describes him:

"There he stood, with a rather youthful appearance, pale, calm and self possessed, with a round, full, mellow voice, easily reaching the most distant hearer. He seemed an angel in human flesh, come from a higher region on that great occasion to instruct mankind in their highest interests. He was strong in argument, apt and clear in illustration, fervent and impressive in his manner, and the latter half of his discourse was overwhelmingly eloquent. He had very little power of imagination massive thought made him eloquent."

He preached in Newark, when on a preaching tour to the west, one or two sermons, as late as 1833. He died January 11, 1853, and was buried in the beautiful cemetery near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Thus passed away the pioneer preacher of Licking county.

The little pioneer church organized by Mr. Shinn on Hog run, in 1804, has maintained its existence to the present day, a period of seventy-six years. The society erected a log church in 1818, or a year later, near where Mr. Shinn organized it. This was afterward moved to the farm of Rev. Benjamin Green, north of where it stood originally, and was,

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 495

twenty-seven years ago, succeeded by a frame building, which stands on the farm of Mr. Anthony Pitzer, about two miles from where the original church was erected. The pulpit of the church has been occupied with a good degree of regularity ever since its organization; but its membership is, at present, rather limited. The following are the names of the preachers who succeeded Mr. Shinn until the year 1810, as shown by the conference minutes: Revs. James Quinn and John Meeks, from 1804 to 1805; James Quinn and Joseph Williams, from 1805 to 1806; John Meeks and James' Axley, from 1806 to 1807; Joseph Hays and James King, from 1807 to 1808; Ralph Lotspeitch and Isaac Quinn, from 1808 to 1809; Benjamin Lakin, John Manly and John Johnson, from 1809 to 1810.

More than sixty years ago the Revs. James B. Finley and C. Springer, the latter of whom is authority for this statement, held a quarterly meeting in this church. They reached it from the Muskingum region, by way of a blind bridle-path, which led them mostly through the woods, a little south of Flint ridge. It is probable that this meeting was held at the time of the dedication of the first church edifice, though not certain. Revs. Noah Fidler, Jesse Stoneman, and Levi Shinn, brother of Asa, were also pioneer preachers here.

The Christian Union church, a few years ago, organized a society within the bounds of this pioneer Methodist church, whose members were, for the most part, formerly Methodists, and members of the Hog Run church. The two societies occupy, jointly, the church edifice, and are of nearly equal strength in membership, neither, probably, numbering more than a score, or thereabouts.

The Friendship, or, as it is commonly called, "The Hog Run Baptist church" (Old School) is one of the pioneer churches of Licking township, and of the county. It has had a career of more than sixty-nine years, and has always exerted a degree of influence second to but few churches in the county. Its positive creed, the free, full, outspoken profession of its doctrines, and the unreserved declaration of their belief by its adherents, their readiness to defend the faith they cherish, and the avowal and prompt support by arguments of their somewhat peculiar views as to faith and ecclesiastical usages, have all tended to attract public attention. The foregoing considerations, together with the wealth they represent, their numbers, their long history and identification with pioneer times, and other causes, have contributed to make this church a power-a church vigorous, widely known, and of considerable influence. The membership of this church has generally been considerable, and crowds usually attend its ministrations. In 1818, sixty-two years ago, they erected a church which they continued to occupy forty-two years. It was of hewed logs, with a gallery running around three sides of it, and more than a third of a century ago Rev. George Debolt occupied its pulpit. In 1860 it was superceded by a good frame building, which is yet occupied. It is of good size and stands on or near the site of the original one, near Van Burenton, where the plank road crosses the northeasterly branch of Hog run. Rev. John W. Patterson was the first preacher in this church. The membership is now half a hundred or more.

The Friendship church was organized February 20, 1811, by Rev. Thomas Powell and Rev. John by Patterson. The following persons were the original members: Samuel Meredith, John Simpson, Sarah Patterson, Elizabeth Meredith, Mary Sutton, John W. Patterson, Thomas Deweese, Ann Simpson, and Thomas Powell. Rev. Mr. Patterson was pastor of this church about a dozen years or more after its organization, and was succeeded by Rev. Eli Ashbrook, Elder Hill, Rev. George Debolt, Rev. Christopher Coffman, .Rev. Joshua Breese, Rev. John Parker, Rev. Matthew Brown, Rev. S. Meredith, Rev. C. McClellan, Rev. Zachariah Thomas,- and Rev. Benjamin Lampton. This society also own a church near Linnville, erected in 1848. The. denominations known as the Methodists and United Brethren, have each a frame church at Jacksontown. They are not large, but may be regarded as prosperous. Each of them is a preaching appointment on a circuit, and its pulpit is mainly supplied by "itinerants," according to the usages of these denominations respectively.

The edifice occupied by the Methodist society is neat in appearance and respectable in proportions, and was erected forty years ago or more. That of the United Brethren was originally built by another

496 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

denomination, and purchased and repaired by its present owners. The membership of the Methodist church is sixty or more, with a Sabbath-school of nearly a hundred pupils.

The number of members of the United Brethren church is not large, but the Sabbath-school is strong in numbers and in a flourishing condition.

The Fairmount Presbyterian church was organized March 24, 1834, by Rev. Jonathan Cable, assisted by Rev. W. Wylie and Rev. Jacob Little. The original members were Harvey R. Gilmore, Dr. Joseph Mathers, Samuel Dobbins, Charles Wallace, Mrs. Wallace, James Hamilton, Mrs. Hamilton, Sarah Smith, Harriet Smith, William Bounds, Rebecca Cunningham and Lucy Gilmore. Rev. Jonathan Cable was the first pastor, and served from 1834 to x838. Their ministers were Rev. Ebenezer Buckingham, from 1838 to 1839; C. N. Ransom, 1840 to 1846; N. .C. Coffin, 1846 to 1851; N. C. McBride, 1851 to 1856; D. H. Coyner, 1856 to 1857; N. C. McBride, 1857 to 1869.

The membership is more than half a hundred, and a large and active Sabbath-school is connected with the church. The original elders were Dr. Mather, A. D. Caldwell, Charles Wallace and H. R. Gilmore.

The church building is of fair proportions, and was erected in 1835. It occupies a beautiful elevation (Fairmount,) on the eastern borders of the township, in full view of the National road, near Amsterdam, and in the vicinity of a large mound and numerous other works of the Mound Builders.

Mr. Richard Green, whose residence in this township dates back to 1802, is authority for the information that a Mr. Taylor taught the first school in the township, in the Green settlement, about the year 1806. Educational interests have continued to receive a fair share of patronage and fostering care of the people of the township, which is now divided into eight districts, most of them being provided with a good school-house.

The Ohio canal, along the western boundary of the township, and the National road, running through it from east to west, both constructed about fifty years ago, the former by the State, and the latter by the general Government, very largely contributed to the convenience of the people of this township, and greatly promoted their material prosperity. The National road runs through Licking township from east to west. The work of its survey, location, grubbing, grading and macadamizing was accomplished during the interval between the years 1825 and 1835.

In one of the earlier years of this period, Mr. Thomas Harris, as proprietor of the land, laid out the village of Jacksontown and named it after General Jackson, the hero of New Orleans, who was the successful candidate in 1828, as well as in 1832, for the presidency. Mr. Harris was a zealous Jacksonian, especially in the campaign of 1828. His town started off at a lively pace, and soon became a post town of fair promise, but it never attained to a population much greater than at present something less than three hundred.

VanBurenton is a small village on Hog run, in this township, four miles south of Newark.

Avondale is merely a railroad station on the Reservoir, the only building being the "Avondale house." It is a pleasure resort for Newark people and others in this vicinity, who go there to fish during the fishing and boating season. It is a delightful place for a day's rest and recreation.

Isaac Stadden was the first justice of the peace in this township, while it was yet a part of Fairfield county. . He was elected in January, 1802, at an election held at the cabin of Elias Hughes, on the Bowling Green, Hughes being at the same time and place elected captain of militia. John Warden became justice of the peace a year or two later; and Abraham Wright was next in order, and was in office in 1806, and probably some years earlier. Alexander Holden was among the early magistrates, and was frequently re-elected. Samuel Hupp, Elijah Sutton, John Green, Matthew Black; Herman Caffry, Eldad Cooley, Richard Stadden, John Brumback, Samuel Patterson, Isaac Green, James Pitzer, Thomas Ewing, James Stewart, Jesse R. Moore, B. D. Sanford, Martin Dinsmore, Thomas Germain, John T. Armstrong, John Woolard, Elias Padgett, F. M. Layton, and Oliver Davis were also among the justices of this township, serving pretty nearly in the order in which they are named.

Among the early settlers in this township, in addition to those named, were Isaac, Jehu, and Jo-

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 497

seph Sutton, Michael and Adam Kite, Samuel Davis Nicholas Shaver, James Evans, John and Martin Grove, Anthony Geiger, Samuel Moore, John Brumback, Thomas Beard, Thomas Harris, Samuel Parr, Samuel Hupp, Joseph Kelso, Job Rathbone, George Orr, John Hughes, Willis Lake, Derrick Crusen, Samuel Meredith and others. Samuel Musselman, one of the pioneers of this township, is yet (1880) living, at the age of ninety-five.

Politically, the township is largely Democratic.