HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 497

CHAPTER LX.

LIMA TOWNSHIP.

TOPOGRAPHY AND PRIMITIVE CONDITION-INDIANS-FIRST SETTLERS AND SETTLEMENT-COLUMBIA CENTER-PATASKALA-MILLS-SUMMIT STATION- CHURCHES.

"And, round and round, o'er valley and hill,

Old roads winding, as old roads will,

Here to a ferry, there to a mill.

And glimpses of chimneys and gabled eaves,

Through green elm arches and maple leaves,

Old homesteads sacred to all that can

Gladden or sadden the heart of man,

Over whose thresholds of oak and stone

Life and death have come and gone!"

-Whittier.

THIS is one of the finest townships of land in the county-every acre of it being tillable, and of the best quality, consequently the farmers are generally in good circumstances, are free, independent and prosperous. In its primitive condition, it was a densely wooded country, there being, probably, upon the advent of , the first settlers, no spot of land within its limits sufficiently clear of timber to admit the building of a cabin. The pioneers had literally to hew their homes out of the solid unbroken forest. The timber was all hard wood, such as grows upon the best lands of the State; very little, if any, pine, hemlock or other soft wood being found.

It is well watered by the South fork of Licking and its branches; that stream having its rise partly in this township. The Clear fork and Muddy fork of this stream pass across the township in a southeast direction, uniting their waters just below Pataskala. The difference in the waters of these two streams indicates very clearly the difference in the soil through which they pass. The Clear fork, as its name indicates, is a clear, sparkling stream, its waters tumbling down over a bed of gravel and stone. It drains the northern and eastern part of the township, made up of high lands. The Muddy fork, on the other hand, as its name also indicates, is sluggish, and its waters dark; indicating that they flow through a rich, dark, loamy soil. This stream passes nearly through the center of the township, from northwest to southeast, and, with its tributaries, drains the larger part of the township. A ridge of higher land passes northeast and southwest across the southwestern part of the township, upon which is located what is called the "Summit" a station on the Central Ohio road, and the highest point of land between Newark and Columbus. This ridge divides the waters of the Muddy fork from those of the Black Lick creek, which travel to the Big walnut and thence to the Scioto.

The Central Ohio. railroad passes in nearly an east and west bee-line across the southern central part of the township, and has three stations-Pataskala, Columbia and Summit-within its limits. Over its single track now pass about sixty trains every twenty-four hours, or a train and a fraction every half-hour; the track being used by both the Baltimore & Ohio, and the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis railroads, between Newark and Columbus.

Probably the first mud-road that entered this

498 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

township was the old "Mud pike" from Newark to Columbus, via Granville. It enters the township a short distance north of Pataskala, crossing in a southwesterly direction. Over this road the larger part of the first settlers came. They were from Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and, in minor proportions, from Virginia.

They were hunters and backwoodsmen, and buried themselves in the depths of these great, dark woods, with wolves, bears, panthers and other wild animals, and Indians as neighbors.

Little is known regarding the Indian occupation of this township, though within the memory of the white man there were no permanent Indian camps within its limits. As a hunting ground it could not be excelled, and was, no doubt, extensively used for that purpose by the Shawnees encamped in Licking valley, and those occupying Raccoon town in the present township of Monroe.

The first white man known to have settled in Lima township was David Herron. He came in 1805 from Pennsylvania, as is supposed, and built his cabin on the east bank of Clear creek, about one-fourth of a mile north of the site of the village of Pataskala, on land then owned by the father of the late Richard Conine.

His brother John came the following year (1806), and remained here, raising a family of nine children, two sons and seven daughters.

Henry Richmond and Amariah Cubberly were the next settlers in Lima. Their cabin was on the ground now occupied by the steam flouring mill in the village of Pataskala. In this cabin was taught the first school, in which the children of both Lima and Harrison were first instructed. Miss Cubberly was the teacher. Airs. Eliza Baird was a pupil in that school. In this cabin, also, was performed the first marriage ceremony in the township. The parties were young Richmond and Miss Cubberly, the teacher. Ministers of the gospel were scarce in those days and civil officers not numerous. Esquire Levin Randall performed this ceremony, and it being the first time he had attempted such service, he was much agitated and disconcerted. A gentleman, familiarly called Deacon Butler, was present, and seeing the agitation of Mr. Randall as he was reading the ceremony, stepped to his side. The 'squire's sight soon failed him entirely, and he asked Mr. Butler to finish the reading. The latter read until he came to the place where they were to be pronounced "husband and wife," when he informed the 'squire that he must do that, as the laws of the State had not conferred that authority upon him. It was done in due form by Esquire Randall.

Mrs. Richard Conine stated before her death -which occurred October 7, 1875, when in her ninety-third year-that she and her husband, with David Vandeburg, Henry Cooper, and some others, visited this place in 1805, arriving about nine P. M. and finding David Herron and Mr. Hatfield neighbors. The latter lived within the present limits of Harrison township. When within four or five miles of their resting place for the night, Cooper, in order to cheer the drooping spirits of the company, gave a howl in imitation of a wolf. To their, surprise, and no little consternation, he was answered by what appeared to be half a dozen of the real animals, at no great distance from them. The night was very dark, and, from the old fortifications near Newark, they had no road but an Indian trail. In their hurry to get through, Mrs. Conine's horse stumbled, the girth of the saddle broke and she was thrown to the ground. The gallant gentlemen soon replaced her in her saddle, and all arrived safely.

During the first year of David Herron's residence here he killed the only panther that was ever killed in this part of the county, about one and a half miles north of the site of Pataskala, in a ravine directly west of Mr. Hiram Angevine's residence.

A few Indians were occasionally seen by the first settlers; they were quite friendly. One day an old warrior called at the cabin of David Herron. Finding Mrs. Herron alone he thought to test her courage by telling her, by signs and broken English, that some day he would watch for Mr. Herron as he was going alone through the woods and shoot him; then, he could come and carry away what he chose and take her along and make her his squaw. So far from frightening Mrs. Herron, it only aroused her indignation and wrath; she sprang to her knife-box, seized a large butcher knife, and charged on the old savage, with vengeance in her eyes. The Indian beat a hasty re-

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 499

treat, and afterward, when relating the incident, acknowledged that in all his perils he was never more thoroughly frightened than when this pioneer woman went at him with that knife.

From the time of the settlement of the Herrons, Richmonds, Cubberlys, etc., down to 1821, but few settlements were made in what has since become Lima township.

Richard Conine became a settler in 1821, and was one of the most important and influential among them. He caused a grist-mill, probably the first in the township, to be erected on his land. He engaged a man by the name of Hans Reichter, better known as John judge, to dig the millrace, giving him, as compensation, one hundred acres of land, now worth one hundred dollars per acre. Mr. Conine was a man of much public spirit and enterprise. He assisted in erecting log school-houses in every direction around him, and when the age of these institutions passed away, was just as ready with his purse and influence to assist in building those of a better class. He was equally ready in the. work of erecting churches, giving largely of his means to several in his neighborhood.

When he located upon his farm; but four freeholders were in Lima township. These were, besides himself, john Herron, James Pressley and John Armstrong. There were three leasers, Henry Richmond, Charles Arnold and Joseph Vandorn. The last named was a brother-in-law of Mr. Conine, and came from New Jersey in 1818. He erected his cabin where the saw-mill now stands, at the south end of the village of Pataskala.

In 1822, there came into this township Jacob Conine, brother of Richard Conine, Andrew and Benjamin Beem, Isaac Tharp, from Hampshire county, Virginia, and Richard Green. Tharp settled on Hog run in 1815. Soon after, these were joined by Enos Loomis, Peter Wolcott and Eleazer Wolcott.

More settlements were made between 1830 and 1840, in this township, than in any other decade since its first settlement.

This township was organized in 1827. The first plat for a village was made on the line of the Central Ohio railroad, about one and one-fourth miles from the east line of the township. The proprietor, Mr. John Reese, laid it out about 1850, and gave it the name of Columbia Center. The town soon had in it a post office, two or three dry goods stores, a grocery, two "taverns," a schoolhouse, two churches, and a commodious brick building for school purposes. The two churches are now occupied by the Christian Union and Congregational societies. The town does not, at present, amount to much, containing something more than one hundred inhabitants. Samuel Bessee keeps a-grocery-in his warehouse. There was considerable strife between Columbia and Pataskala as to which should become the town; both having their origin at the time of the advent of the railroad, about 1850. Reese was an enterprising Welshman, and desired to make his fortune by building up a town. He first tried to buy some land for that purpose of Mr. Conine, who owned all the country about the site of Pataskala, but that gentleman refused to sell, probably for the reason that he had, himself, concluded to lay out a town. Mr. Reese was not to be so easily thwarted in his ambitious schemes, and went a little further up the creek, purchased twenty acres outside of the Conine tract, and laid out his town.

Mr. Conine did not .get ready to lay out his town until about a year after; Pataskala being laid out in 1851. He first called it Conine, but the town has generally gone by the former name, and as such appears on the maps, this name being given to the Licking river by the Indians. It was laid out near the east line of the township, just before the railroad began operations. Richard Conine made the first plat, but J. F. Conine and Jcsse Green made large and important additions. John Joseph, also, purchased twenty acres north of the railroad and laid it out in lots. The first house erected in the place was a frame dwelling by Alonzo Palmer; his widow yet occupies it. Ephraim Munsell came from Alexandria, built a small store-room, and started the first store. The store-room is yet standing, opposite the Presbyterian church. The first post office was established at his store, and he was the first postmaster, retaining the office about three years, when it was taken by the present postmaster, Mr. W. C. Elliott, who retained it from that time to this. Upon the arrival of the railroad, it was necessary to es-

500 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

tablish a telegraph office, either at Pataskala or Columbia Center, and there was a strife between them as to which should get it. As Mr. Elliott offered a room free of rent for that purpose, Pataskala received the office and has retained it. John Stout was the first operator. The town grew and prospered, soon outstripping its rival, and is now a place of six hundred and thirty-four inhabitants, by the census of 1880. It contains four large stores, each carrying a general assortment of goods, namely, Mead .Sz Youmans, Baird Brothers, Miner Hildreth and Dean Ashbrook. Thomas . Hunt keeps a hardware store and J. W. Burnside, drugs and a meat market. There are, besides, a shoe store, a hotel, and the usual proportion of shops and people engaged in mechanical pursuits.

A large, two-story brick school-house has taken the place of the old one before mentioned; in it all the children of the town of school age are gathered, to the number of one hundred and fifty, under charge of five teachers (including principal); the school being graded according to the law of 1852.

Immediately in rear of this school-house was, in early days, an extensive swamp, in which were discovered, some years ago, the remains of a mammoth. A tusk was measured by Rev. T. W. Howe, arid found to be five feet six inches in length.. The swamp is no longer in existence, having dried up, and been, to some extent, filled to a level with the surrounding land.

The mill erected by Mr. Conine on his land near the site of Pataskala, was one of the most important and useful improvements in that part of the county; for many years it did the grinding for a large region of country, and is yet in operation, being now run by steam. A saw-mill is attached. Columbia Center has a steam saw-mill doing a good business, being conducted by the Meiler heirs. Many saw-mills sprang up along the Muddy and Clear forks in an early day. One was located on the latter stream, on land now owned by R. B. Pearson, and two others were below that-one known as Moon's mill and the other belonged to Alban Warthen, a prominent man in the township, a politician, and at one time a member of the legislature. These saw-mills have long since disappeared, as the timber in the neighborhood has rapidly disappeared. The days of those old country sawmills, with their great water wheels and their heavy up and down saws, set in cumbersome wooden frames, are numbered. They will disappear as will the rail fences and other evidences of the good old "wooden age."

The third town in this township can scarcely be called a town. The Summit, before referred to, contains only a station-house, store, and a few dwellings.

The Presbyterians were among the earliest to organize for worship in this township. Rev. Timothy W. Howe, yet living in Pataskala, gives the following interesting history of this church:

"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. At this meeting quite a large number were hopefully converted, and, on the eleventh of November following, a Presbyterian church was organized at the log school-house in Lima, near Mr. Samuel Davies Alward's, by Revs. C. M. Putnam, Jacob Tuttle, Jacob Little, and Jonathan Cable. Nineteen persons united in the organization-ten females and nine males."

The names of these original members are as follows: William Baird and wife, Hall Robertson and wife, Samuel S. Dobbin and wife, Isaac Condit and wife, Joseph Baird and wife, Peabody Atkinson, Mrs. Hannah Van Dorn and daughter Sarah, Julia Knowles, John Frazier, William C. Condit, Mrs. Niblow, and Orson Smith and wife.

"The church was named the South Fork Presbyterian church, embracing a territory about ten miles long, from east to west and four or five wide. S. S. Dobbin was elected and ordained an elder in the infant church. Mr. Putnam alone remained over the Sabbath, and administered, the Lord's supper after preaching a sermon. During the following year there was only occasional. preaching, and that sometimes at Kirkersville, in a school-house, at the northwest corner of the village, and some times near Mr. Alward's in the log school-house in Lima.

"In the summer of 1838, Rev. Hugh Carlisle preached a few Sabbaths for them, and in June of that year Rev. Francis Bartlett spent a Sabbath in y Kirkersville, and preached.

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 501

"October 14, 1838, Rev. T. N. Howe began his labors in the South Fork church. No house of worship was owned by the Presbyterians at that time. Only one family connected with the Presbyterian church at that time lived in a frame house; the others lived in log cabins. The meetings were held the first year in the Methodist Episcopal church in Etna; in the frame school-house in Kirkersville, and in the log school-house near Mr: S. D. Alward's. After the first year in Etna, Presbyterians occupied the house built by the United Brethren, as the Presbyterians had assisted them in building it. For eleven years it was thus occupied every other Sabbath in the afternoon.

"In lima township we continued to worship in a school-house; and one summer (1849) we occupied the upper story of the Conine grist-mill, before it was finished. Not until 1852 was the house in the beautiful grove, at the gravel bank, so far completed that we could meet in it for public worship. This house cost about eight hundred dollars, and was occupied about sixteen years, or until the fall of 1868, when the roof had so far failed that it became unsafe to meet under it; and the congregation determined to build anew in Pataskala, rather than repair the old one.

"When the congregation had resolved to build, the Methodist church kindly, and unsolicited, invited us to occupy their house until the new one could be erected. This invitation was thankfully accepted, and as we wished to use it but once in two weeks it fully met our wants. In February, 1869, Jesse Horn, Timothy H. Cooley, and Joseph Atkinson were appointed a building committee, and discharged their duty faithfully. They purchased of Mr. Jacob Joseph a lot for six hundred and fifty dollars. Mr. Joseph generously taking six hundred dollars. The building was to be of brick, forty by sixty feet, and the estimated cost five thousand dollars. A subscription paper was circulated in the congregation, and the pastor visited Granville, where he was kindly received, and obtained from the good people one hundred and forty-five dollars for this object. Samuel S. Dobbin, the first elder of this church, who has for the last seventeen years been living in Illinois, also assisted us in this important crisis to the amount of one hundred dollars. Our sister congregation in Jersey also gave a helping hand. Six hundred dollars were given as a grant from the Presbyterian church erection committee to be paid when that sum Mould pay the last dollar due for the building. That sum was paid and the congregation worshipped in their new house the first Sabbath in September, 1870. The building and lot cost not far from seven thousand dollars.

"October 13, 1870, the church was dedicated to God with appropriate services. Rev. Daniel Tenny, of Newark, preached the sermon from Haggai, 2: 9. `The glory of this latter house shall be greater than the former.'

"In April, 1867, a request was sent to the Presbytery to change the name of the church to `Pataskala.' This was granted.

"In 1852 that portion of the church living most convenient to Kirkersville began to feel that they ought to have a separate organization at that place, and in October of that year forty-four members received letters and formed the first Presbyterian church of Kirkersville. In the same year a Congregational church was organized in Columbia Center, and eight more received letters from the South Fork church to unite in Columbia. By our record, I see that the church received into its communion from January, 1839, to January, 1852, one hundred and eighty members. By deaths and removals, otherwise than to form the aforesaid churches, the South Fork church had but about seventy, or seventy-five members remaining."

The day on which this church was dedicated (October 13, 1870) Rev. T. W. Howe completed his thirty-second year of service in this congregation: Of those who united in the organization of this church, in November, 1837, only two remain connected with it at the present time, vie., Mr. William Baird and Mrs. Margery Baird, widow of the late Joseph Baird; the others have departed for the "shadow land." The present membership of this church is something over. two hundred. Mr. Howe continued preaching for it thirty-seven years, but in 1876, his health compelled him to withdraw from his labors. A Sunday-school had generally been sustained in this church during o the summer season, but owing to the sparseness of t the population in the early days of its history, a n union school was formed and all met at the

502 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

Methodist church. This union took place in the spring of 1868, but the number soon began to increase until it reached one hundred and eighty-five, more than could be conveniently accommodated in. the Methodist church, so that when the Presbyterian building was erected the school was divided; both are, however, working harmoniously. The Presbyterian, school is large and flourishing, the average attendance being about one hundred and sixty.

Beside the Presbyterian there are two churches in Pataskala-the Methodist and United Brethren. The former is the second Methodist church organization in the township, and emanated from what is known as the "Lima Methodist church." This latter church is one of the olden, if not the oldest, in the township. It was probably organized some years prior to the organization of the Presbyterian. It is yet in a flourishing condition and occupies a good church building located on Muddy fork, a mile or more northwest of the center of the township. When the railroad came through, about 1852, a few of its members, who were compelled to travel some distance to church, concluded to organize a second class in Pataskala, then just laid out. The organization was effected in 1853 or 1854 by Rev. Henry Lonnis, with sixteen members, among whom were the following: Daniel Conine and wife, Henry Meade and wife, Jesse S. Green and wife, Thomas Parker and wife, Calvin Dibble and wife, and Luman Dibble, the last of whom was the first class leader.

For the first two years their meetings were held in the old frame school-house, but in 1856, the present church edifice was erected. It is frame, about thirty by forty-five feet, plain and comfortable. The present membership is about one hundred and twenty-five.

About the time the church was organized a Sunday--school was also organized, has been kept up since, and is in a flourishing condition.

The United Brethren church of Pataskala emanated from a society organized more than forty years ago, about two miles north of Pataskala, arid where a church building was erected and services held until 1870, when the church building became unfit for use, and instead of rebuilding at that place, the Christian Union church building in Pataskala was purchased, and the church transferred to this place. The church was reorganized in Pataskala in March, 1870. Prior to the purchase of the Christian Union church, the society met for a short time in the old Wesleyan Methodist church, one of the first churches erected in Pataskala; the Wesleyan Methodist society having disbanded. Rev. D. Bonebrake was influential in the organization of this church, and D. Rockey and wife, D. Johnson and wife, J. C. Houser and wife, William Rockey and wife, Mrs. Ewing and Mrs Joseph, widow of J. W. Joseph, were the leading members. The present building is a fine substantial brick, the United Brethren having added twenty feet to it upon coming into possession. The membership is about sixty. The Sunday-school was organized about 1873; is live and active, with a membership of sixty or more.

The Christian Union society, which erected this United Brethren church, moved to Columbia center, where their organization was continued some years, but the church is not ht present in a flourishing condition. This was, to some extent, a political organization, the members having seceded from the Presbyterian church during the war, on account of the Union sentiments of the pastor and the larger part of the congregation.

A Congregational church was organized at Columbia center in 1852, by- Revs. Charles Ti. Putman and T. W. Howe, the original members being at the time members of Mr. Howe's church in Pataskala. These were S. D. Alward and wife, George Chadwick and wife, Mark Ritchie and wife, Mr. Simmons, Alfred Whitehead and John Reese. They first met in the school-house, but soon built a small church, costing, probably, not over a hundred dollars, which they occupied until 1878, when the present building was erected.

Mr. Howe preached for them at first, for some time. This church has, also, declined, and services are not now regularly held. A flourishing union Sunday-School is, however, maintained at Columbia center.

On the old "Mud pike," leading from Granville to Columbus, in the western part of the township, on land now owned by S. C. D. Brock, is located the English Lutheran church, or rather, at present, a union church. Rev. Sensabaugh, a Lutheran, was influential in establishing this church. Not

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 503

being able to raise funds by subscription to build the church, he undertook to build it without assistance, but failing to complete it, the citizens of the neighborhood subscribed sufficient funds for its completion, with the understanding that it was to be free to all denominations; and such it is considered at present. A good Sunday-school has been maintained here since the erection of the church in 1875.

CHAPTER LXI.

MADISON TOWNSHIP.

ANCIENT WORKS-INDIANS-TOPOGRAPHY-FIRST SETTLERS-JOHN LARABEE-MRS. STADDEN~S RECOLLECTIONS-JOHN CHANNEL-BLOCKHOUSE-ORGANIZATION OF THE TOWNSHIP-FIRST SCHOOL-TUNIS COLE AS A TEACHER-MILLS -THE BEAUTY OF LICKING VALLEY-FIRST PREACHERS-FIRST SUNDAY-SCHOOL AND CHURCH-CHURCHES OF THE TOWNSHIP.

THE territory included in Madison township is an interesting one, from the fact that the first settlement of the county took place here.

Evidences of the "lost race" appear here, as in most other townships of the county. Five mounds are yet visible: one on the farm of George A. Wilson; one south of the Licking, on the farm of D. Wilson; one on the Bowling Green, east of Charles Montgomery; a fourth south of the Licking, on the Shannon. farm; and a fifth on the Bowling Green, near the chapel. These mounds are not remarkable for size, and in no way distinguishable from hundreds of others scattered over the county.

This township evidently has an Indian history, but it is, and probably will remain, unwritten. A camp of the Delaware Indians occupied the Bowling Green; so much is known, but this is about all. What their numbers were, who their chief, what the number of wigwams, how long they were in camp there, etc., are questions that cannot be answered. It is said to have been called by the Indians, "John Elliott's Wife's Town." The significance or origin of the name is also unknown. Judge. Elliott, who had a trading post there, it is said, was a single man at that time, else it might be inferred that it was named in honor of his wife. The probability is that this Delaware town was considerably less than fifty years old. Christopher Gist, who passed through here in 1751 (an account of which appears in another chapter), does not mention this town in his journal, though he mentions stopping at two other Indian towns just before arriving at the Licking, at one of which he was joined by Andrew Montour, the son of a Seneca chief. It is very evident that Gist followed the Indian trail from Wakatomika (Dresden) to King Beaver's town, and in doing so, he must have passed through or near the site of this village. Had the village then been in existence he would very likely have mentioned it.

In February, 1773, David Duncan and David Jones (Chaplain Jones) passed through here on this same trail (an account of which appears elsewhere), and Jones, in his diary, speaks of stopping at this Indian village; it is therefore evident that the village was established between the years 1751 and 1773. It still existed about twenty years later, when judge Elliottwent there as an Indian trader. In the narrative of William Dragoo, which appears elsewhere, it will be seen that he remembers passing through the Bowling Green prairie, but he says nothing about the Indian village there. This was in 1786. It must, however, have been there at that time, as judge Elliott is supposed to have been located there some five or six years later; yet in 1792 Captain Samuel Brady with a party of scouts passed through this place, camped on this beautiful prairie and named it Bowling Green, but not a word is said about an Indian village there.

504 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

It is not likely it was there at that time, as a fierce war was then in progress between the whites and Indians, and it is not likely that Brady and his scouts would have ventured to encamp near an Indian village, even had they been allowed to. The villa.-e must therefore have disappeared before this time-probably about the time of St. Clair's defeat or before. From these facts it may be concluded that this Indian village existed from twenty to thirty years.

While excavating for a bridge abutment on the east bank of the Bowling Green run, several years ago, seven skeletons of undoubted Indian type were exhumed. This spot was probably the graveyard for this Indian town. One of these skeletons was six feet three inches in length.

No depredations were committed by these Indians in this part of the country, so far as known. There were no white settlers in their immediate vicinity. No village was in existence on the Bowling Green when the first settlers of this county came; there were a few Indian camps in the Licking and Raccoon valleys, but John Elliott's Wife's Town had disappeared.

A small camp of Shawnee Indians also existed on Shawnee run, on or near the farm of P. N. O'Bannon, which circumstance gave name to the run.

This township is well watered by the main Licking river, which passes through its center from west to east, and the tributaries of this stream, which flow into it from the north and south. The Central Ohio and Pan Handle railroads, and the Ohio canal pass through the township, following the Licking valley. The soil of the Licking bottoms is rich, warm, sandy loam, and fine gravel, well adapted to all crops, more especially the early crops. There are many indications that this valley was once a vast lake, the waters of which were held in place by the soft sand rock at Black Hand. The continued attrition of falling water in time wore away the rocks, and the waters of the lake escaped through the chasm, leaving the rich deposit of ages, which in places seems inexhaustible.

The timber of this bottom consisted mainly of hard and soft maple, sycamore, black walnut and the inevitable buckeye. Under the wide-spreading branches of these flourished the wild plum, paw paw and leatherwood. The lands on either side of this valley are of yellow clay, interspersed with shale of the same color, and were originally covered with a dense forest, principally of oak of giant growth. It will be seen that the township possesses a great variety of soil, which yields a bountiful return to the farmer.

At various places along; the Licking bottom were patches of prairie land, which attracted the first settlers. The Bowling Green was perhaps, the most extensive of these. It extended a mile or more along the Licking, and in the spring presented a beautiful appearance, being a green lawn, covered with flowers and clumps of bushes, and, later in the season, with a rank growth of grass. Here it was that the first settlers in the county, Elias Hughes and John Ratliff squatted in 1798. They found a farm ready-made to hand-something very unusual in this country. All they had to do was turn the virgin soil and plant their corn, which they did that year and for several successive years. This was the first corn ever raised by white men within the limits of the county. A mile or more below Newark, on the western edge of Madison township, was another small prairie, or perhaps more than one, upon which Isaac Stridden settled and raised a crop of corn in 1800.

Dr J. N. Wilson, in his history of Newark township, places Isaac Stridden in that township. This is an error. He settled very near the eastern line of that township, but his dwelling, and probably the whole of his possessions, were in Madison. His brother's child, born in 1801, was probably the second born in the township; Henry Hughes, son of Elias Hughes, being the first, not only in the township but in the county. Henry was born in 1799

Mr. William Barrick, now an old resident of Hanover township, thinks that John Ratliff, jr., was the first white male child born in the Licking valley, and his (Barrick's) sister, Amelia, the first white female child; the latter, however, was born in Muskingum county, near the eastern line of Licking, in 1799. He says John Ratcliff, jr., was a "chip off the old block," a harum-scarum, wild, roving fellow, and very fond of hunting; was always seen with a rifle on his shoulder, from boyhood. When he grew up and married he moved

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 505

west to Illinois. Out there he lived principally by hunting; hauling his wife and family of several children, and his few possessions, about in a wagon, and camping in various places for indefinite periods. He was last seen in this situation on one of the great prairies of Illinois, and had been in that locality about a year, but concluded to move; game was probably getting scarce. One of his oxen had died, but, hitching up the cow beside the other ox, he loaded up his family and effects, and moved away over the horizon-bound prairie, without .road, guide or compass, and disappeared forever, so far as his friends in Licking county are concerned. This represents one phase of the pioneer character.

The cabins of Hughes and Ratliff were erected on the Bowling Green prairie, between Montour's Point and the Licking creek, about half a mile above. Bowling Green run. These two families, consisting of twenty-one persons, were the only . white inhabitants of this township and county until 1800. In the spring of this year Benjamin Green and Richard Pitzer arrived, and shortly after, John Van Buskirk. In September, Isaac Stadden and family arrived, acid, in September, Captain Samuel' Elliott came, making the. seventh family within the limits of the township.

The marriage of Colonel .John Stadden, and Betsey, daughter of the aforesaid Green, which took place on Christmas day, 1800 made the eighth family, which was the whole number when the year closed.

A biographical sketch of each of the above pioneers will b-- found in another chapter.

The. settlers in this township in 18ox'were John. Larabee, James Maxwell and John Weedman.

John Larabee was one of the most remarkable of the first pioneers of Licking. He was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, in 1760, and was of English descent. His father led a seafaring life, and is supposed to have been impressed into the British service, from, which he never returned. John ran away from his uncle, by whom he had been adopted, at the age of fifteen, and entered the United States service at the beginning of the Revolution. He served first as a teamster two years, and then entered the ranks as a private soldier, carrying a musket and faithfully discharging his duty to.the end of this great struggle. He participated in many battles, including that of Trenton,. at which he had his feet badly frozen. He received an honorable discharge at the close of the war, and during the later years of his life, a pension from the Government, in recognition of his services. But little is known of his whereabouts after the close of the war until the year 1800, when he is found near Marietta, the father of a family. In the spring of 1801, Mr. Larabee, leaving his family behind, embarked with others, in a canoe, for the rich bottoms of the Licking, carrying some bacon and other supplies with them, as a partial subsistence during the summer. A portion of his fellow emigrants came by land, driving the stock, of which Mr. Larabee owned a yoke of oxen and two cows. He landed on the south side of Licking river, nearly opposite the mouth of Bowling Green run, and squatted on land afterward owned by William O'Bannon Here he found, what was very common in those days, a large, hollow sycamore tree, in which he domiciled for several months. It furnished him a room more than ten feet in diameter, and was amply capacious for all his purposes. He cleared the land, raised a few acres of corn, and at his leisure during the summer built himself a cabin. Maxwell, who came with him, was-the first school-teacher and first constable in the county, and a noted singer.

Having completed his cabin, and raised his crop, Mr. Larabee returned to Marietta in the fall for his family. These were brought up to their new home, and here they lived a pioneer life for several years. He prospered, and subsequently bought a tract of land of Judge Smith and Thomas Seymour, a mile or two southwest from his hollow sycamore. Mr, Larabee was wholly. illiterate, but honest and industrious, and a member of the Disciple church. He died February 6, 1846, aged eighty-six.

Mrs. Isaac Stadden, who lived until July 3, 1870, and died in her ninetieth year, was a woman of remarkable mind and memory; and gave much valuable and interesting history of the early settlement in this county. She says that her husband came to this county and township in the month of May, 1800, in company with his brother, John, and built a cabin on what has since been called

506 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

the Warden, now Jones' farm, near the first canal lock below town. They planted corn just south of their cabin on a prairie, and, after attending to this crop, returned to Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, moving back again in the following September. Their cabin was further west than any other on the Licking; Captain Elliott built near the big spring, on the Davis farm; Richard Pitzer and Benjamin Green, near together on Shawnee run, near where the State road crosses it; Elias Hughes and John Ratliff, who came two years before, also lived near each other, just below Montour's point, near the residence of C. W. Montgomery. She thinks these were all the cabins then in the territory which now constitutes Licking county, but that the Buskirks may have been building theirs up the South fork, as she had no acquaintance with. the family for years afterward, and cannot fix the precise time.

Soon after moving into their cabin her husband and brother enclosed the prairie where their corn was planted, for the Elliotts had several horses and cattle running out, which they feared would destroy their crop. The fencing was done partly by brush and partly by rails and poles.

One day her husband went out hunting for deer in Cherry valley, discovered the "Old Fort," and came home greatly excited about it, he never having heard of anything like it before. The Mound Builders had not then been heard of among the pioneers, if, indeed, by anybody. The next morning Mrs. Stadden and her husband mounted their horses and rode over to visit this great curiosity; they rode around it on the embankment, and were the first white people, so far as known, to visit this ancient work, which has since been visited by wondering thousands. She says that late in November her husband went out one afternoon west of the Old Fort to hunt deer, as he had often done before, this being his favorite hunting ground. He desired to be near Ramp creek very early in the morning, where the deer frequented, that he might kill one before the leaves would get dry, to cause a noise when he was walking through them. He was startled, as he walked through the forest, by the sight of a camp fire, he not being aware of any other settlement in this section but the one on Licking. He approached the fire, and met John Jones, Benoni Benjamin, Phineas and Frederick Ford, all brothers-in-law. Mr. Stadden remained all night with this party, and soon ascertained that Jones and himself had been schoolmates in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, that they all liked the valley, and had determined to locate there-they were then on a prospecting tour. These people all returned with their families late in the winter or early in the spring of 1801, and Jones planted corn in thesame field with her husband and his brother, on the Warden prairie.

In 1802 Jacob Nelson became the owner of a large tract of land upon which he settled, a mile and a half below Newark, in this township. After a few years residence he built a mill, and then sold out.

In 1803 John Simpson, Robert Church, William Scammahorn, Richard Jewell, Edward Crouch, William and John :More, Thomas Seymour, and William O'Banon settled within the present limits of this township. O'Banon became a somewhat prominent citizen. He was a successful farmer and stock-raiser, and became a large land-holder in the county before his death, which occurred in his seventy-third year. Judge O'Banon was one of the early justices of the peace of Madison township, and served as associate judge of the common pleas court of this county from 1825 to 1829, and discharged his judicial duties with fidelity and ability.

John Channel, a great hunter, Thomas Deweese and Henry Smith, were pioneers of this township in 1804. They were Virginians. Smith was one of the early magistrates of the township, also associate judge of the common pleas court from 1809 to 1823.

John Channel was a somewhat remarkable pioneer, on account of his hunting exploits, a recital of which would make a volume. Some idea may be gleaned of his prowess in this direction by the single statement that he once informed Mr. Thomas Taylor that he killed nine bears one day before noon. These animals were very plenty on the bluffs lining the Licking valley. Channel had a been raised among the Indians; was tall, straight as an Indian, black hair and swarthy complexion; indeed, looked and acted more like an Indian

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 507

than a white man. He raised quite a family and his boys were mostly hunters.

One of the block-houses erected in this county was in this township. It was on the Bowling Green, near the cabins of Hughes and Ratliff. It was occupied by the few pioneer families on the Licking, only for a few days, having been erected immediately upon the return of Hughes, Ratlift, and Bland from their expedition into Knox county after Indians that had stolen their horses, an account of which appears elsewhere.

Madison township was organized in 1812. Prior to the organization, and while it was part of Licking- township, Fairfield county, Isaac Stadden, John Warden, and Abraham Wright acted as justices of the peace. The former was commissioned in 1802.

Probably the first school in this township was taught, or, rather, kept in a cabin that had been built for a dwelling, which stood on land now owned by George A. Wilson, and a few rods north of the present township house. A Mr. Tunis Cole was the teacher. He was a cooper by trade, and knew little about school teaching. It is related of him that he once undertook to give out the word "phlegm" to his spelling class, but after studying over the word sometime, spelling it slowly to himself, he was unable to give it any better pronunciation than "pe-lem;" as the future sovereigns did not understand the pronunciation or the word, they failed to spell it correctly, and the "master" thereupon took his hickory from its place behind the jam, and flogged the entire class. He was notorious for using a very long "hickory gad," and frequently, while using it rigorously over the scholar, it would wrap so far around as to reach his own legs, upon which he would lay it on more furiously than ever.

The first school-house-a hewed log-was built on the farm now owned by W. R. Seymour.

The first mill in the township was erected by J. Nelson, and for many years went by the name of Nelson's mill. It was on the south bank of Licking, on the Rowe farm. It was a log mill at first and erected about 1810; afterwards a frame was put up. Nelson owned one thousand acres of land around this .mill, subsequently purchased by Messrs. Brice and Stanbery. Mr. John Hasel now owns the .land where the mill stood. The second mill was erected by judge Henry Smith in a bend of the Licking, about three miles below Newark. Saw-mills were connected with these mills; they have long since disappeared, as have, also, many other mills erected in an early day in this township. The Licking furnished good water power. The only grist-mill at present within the limits of the township is the Hickey mill, at Clay lick. This town, if it can be called a town, is the only one in the township, and even this is partly in Hanover township. A mill was built there many years ago, and about thirty year,, ago Evan Stone started a store and succeeded in getting a post office, which has been retained ever since. The town contains, beside the mill and store, a blacksmith shop and a few dwellings, and is a very pleasant village.

The Licking valley of to-day is one of the most beautiful in the State; the farms are well fenced and kept; the farmers are all in comfortable circumstances, and one could not conceive of homes more pleasant and happy than those found in this valley. These houses have most of them received appropriate names, such as "Locust Hill," "Benwell" (the home of J. A. Taylor, from their native town in England), "Green Wood," "Willow Springs," "Oak Wood," "Pleasant Valley," "Cedar Grove," "Ever Green Farm," "Brooklyn," "Shawnee Run Farm,"" Mound Farm" (owned by Thomas O'Bannon, having the large mound upon it), "Lynn Wood" (farm of the late P. N. O'Bannon), "Spring Valley," "Deer Lick," etc., etc., all going to show a pride in home, and a desire to build up a beautiful dwelling place.

The first preaching in this township, and indeed in the county, was probably at the but of Samuel

Elliott, about a mile east of Newark, by a Presbyterian, Rev. McDonald. He preached two sermons at the time of this visit (1802), one in the cabin of John Ratliff, near the mouth of Bowling Green run, about four miles below Newark. Half a dozen families, more or less, then occupied the Licking valley, and were all the inhabitants of the county. Mrs. Isaac Stadden remembered these sermons. Rev. McDonald was on his way to Franklinton, and Isaac Stadden accompanied him in the capacity of pilot after leaving here, some ten

508 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

miles up the South Fork road, the latter being then but an obscure trail. Mr. McDonald carried pistols for his protection on this journey. He was pre-eminently the pioneer preacher of Licking valley. This was, probably, Mr. McDonald's first and last visit to this territory.

The Methodists were, probably, the first to organize a church within the limits of the township, though this did not occur until 1810 or 1811 : I prior to this, however, many sermons had been preached to the settlers in their cabins. . The settlers in this valley being on the great highway from Zanesville west, were more frequently visited by all sorts of travelers than those of any other part of the county. It is not unlikely that all the early preachers, who necessarily passed through the valley and stopped frequently at the cabins of the settlers, and often held religious services. Among these were the Revs. Asa Shinn and James Quinn, two of the earliest preachers of the Methodist persuasion. This frequent passing of preachers through the valley and the holding of religious services in the cabins, barns, and open air, probably culminated in a determination of the settlers to erect a building for religious purposes. This was accomplished about the date above mentioned (1810 or 1811), the building being a Hewed log structure which stood near the Bowling Green prairie, and on the lot now occupied by the Methodist church. A graveyard was established here very early, and this has always been known as the "Dowling Green" church. This log church was built by the settlers, without regard to religious belief, and was considered free to all denominations, but the Methodists occupied it most of the time, and from this fact rather claimed to control it, and did control it many years, though it was frequently occupied by other denominations. A preacher by the name of Newell came along in an early day, and held a series of meetings in this church, and organized a New Light society. After their organization the New Lights continued to hold meetings in this church, which, after a time, created some strife between this society and the Methodists, which, in time, very nearly broke up both societies. Frequently both churches wished to hold services at the same hour, and it was not unusual to see two congregations, one holding services in the building and the other in the church-yard. The New Lights finally withdrew, and were instrumental in establishing what is known as "Union Chapel," in the northern part of the township.

Among the original members of this Methodist church were William Moody and wife, John Channel and wife, Thomas Taylor and wife, William Montgomery and wife, and others, whose names are forgotten. No records of the church have been preserved. Prior to the erection of the church, services were frequently held at the cabins. of William Moody and John Channel. Revs. Noah Fidler and James B. Finley were among the earlier preachers to this class. Mr. Thomas Taylor was a leader in the first Methodist church organization in Newark.

The old log church building was in use about thirty years, but, in 1841 or 1842, the second church building; a frame, was erected, near the old one. The Methodists by this time had secured the ground, and, as this church was built entirely by this society, there was no further strife as to the occupancy.

The third, and present church edifice, was erected in 1858 or 1859, cost about twelve hundred dollars, and is thirty-four by fifty-six feet.

The membership reached, at one time, one hundred and twelve, but, at present, it is not more than forty.

The first Sunday-school in this neighborhood was organized about the time the canal was in process of construction. This date is fixed from the fact that during this time the contractors who were building this part of it, having a large contract, and having to build two locks, concluded to establish a store for the purpose of supplying their workmen. For this purpose they erected a building near Isaac Stadden's dwelling, and, after completing the contract, they abandoned the building, moving their store to Newark. In this building a union Sabbath-school was established, and children of all denominations attended, though it was generally managed by the Presbyterians. James Reeder, Mr. O'Bannon, and Philip Seiler were influential in establishing it, the first named being the first superintendent. It was kept up here four or five years, when Mr. Stadden secured the building, which he occupied in part for a dwelling. The

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 509

school was then removed to what was known as "Smith's school-house," where it was continued as a union Sunday-school until the Methodists organized their Sunday-school in their frame church, about 1845. Andrew Taylor was the first superintendent of .this Methodist school, and it has been kept up during the summer months ever since. It now numbers thirty or forty pupils and teachers.

About two miles below Newark, on the valley road, is located a long, low building used as a blacksmith and wagon shop; the township house and a few dwellings are also near the place, and the people have nicknamed it "Hammertown." At this point what is known as the "Old Furnace road" branches off northward in the direction of the old furnace in Mary Ann township. It was cut out in an early day for the purpose of reaching that renowned furnace. On this road, in the northern central part of the township, is located Union chapel, the church that was established by the New Lights when they could no longer agree with their Methodist brethren on the Bowling Green. Several of the old Methodist church congregation, among whom were William Moody and wife and Mrs. Isaac Stadden, had accepted the new doctrine, and were early members of this organization. They call themselves Bible Christians. The organization of this society dates back to about 1815, the Rev. Newell, as before stated, assisted by Rev. Britton, were the chief persons in perfecting it. The New Lights were assisted in building this church by the United Brethren, and by the people generally, and it was called Union chapel, being free to all denominations; however, it was generally occupied. by the two above . named denominations, and subsequently by the New Lights alone, as the United Brethren erected a church of their own over the line, in Mary Ann township. 1t is a hewed log building, and was erected about 1843. It is seldom occupied no for any religious service. A union Sabbath-schoo was established and kept up some years, but it has been abandoned.

The little church located on Clay Lick creek, in the southern and central part of the township called Madison chapel, is an offshoot from the old Bowling Green church, and was organized about 1830. The church was erected about 1855. Rev. James Hooper was then on the circuit. William Barrick and wife, George Colvin and wife, Z. Winters and wife (both. of whom were killed a few weeks ago by the cars, while crossing the track), Lewis Lake and wife, and a few others, came to the conclusion that the Bowling Green church was a little too far away, and that they were able in that neighborhood to build and support a new church. Mr. Lake gave the ground upon which the building was erected, with the proviso that the society should have it so long as it was used for the purposes of a Methodist church. Otherwise, the land was to revert to the original owner or his heirs. At present the congregation is small, numbering not over a dozen members. It has generally sustained a Sunday-school during the summer.

About fifty years ago, just below the site of the above mentioned church, on Clay Lick creek, a Protestant Methodist church was erected. It was a hewed log building, and J. B. W. Haines, William Swern, Lewis Miller, Mr. Montgomery and wite, and some others, were among the original members. Mr. Haines preached for them. When the church became old and unfit for use they erected a new one, about 1850 or 1855, further south, on a branch of Clay Lick creek, at Pleasant Ville, a crossroad place, where there is, a blacksmith shop and two or three dwellings. This church is pretty well sustained, having now a good congregation as to numbers, and a flourishing Sunday-school.

The Christian Union church is located in the western part of the township, near where the highway crosses Shawnee run. Its organization was the result of political complications during the war, and was made up of those who opposed the war and the abolition of the slaves. Benjamin Green and the Arhertons were leaders in the movement. They held meetings some years in the school-house and township house, but erected a church about 1875. Benjamin Green, Augustine Atherton and his father, John Atherton, W. Shaw, George Gutridge, and a few others, were the earliest members, and the two first named preached for the congregation. The church is a small frame, about twenty-four by thirty feet. The present minister is Rev. t Duckworth. The Sabbath-school is in a flourishing condition.

CHAPTER LXII.

MARY ANN TOWNSHIP.

ANCIENT MOUNDS-PRIMITIVE CONDITION-LOCATION-NAME-INDIANS- TOPOGRAPHY-THE PIONEERS-FIRST TOWNSHIP OFFICERS JAMES MAXWELL'S ADVENTURE-MARY ANN FURNACE-COUNTERFEITERS ARRESTED-THE HERMIT- WILKINS CORNERS-ROCKY FORK POST OFFICE - CHURCHES.

IF Mound Builders works ever existed to any great extent in this township they have disappeared, with a few unimportant exceptions, though the ground has not been thoroughly examined with a view to the existence of mounds, or to locating such as .may exist.

There is one on what is known as the Fisk farm, a farm formerly owned by Levi Miller. It has been plowed over for years, and is, of course, greatly reduced in height, but is yet about ten feet above the surface of the surrounding field; this field being a level one. It is not exactly circular in form.

In its primitive condition Mary Ann township presented a wild and rugged appearance, and was the home of every species of wild animal known ; to the woods of Ohio, as well as venomous reptiles and other creeping things. It was a paradise for the red and white hunter, and was roamed over by the Indians and white men on hunting expeditions, long after its first settlement, and after game had largely disappeared from other portions of the county. Its deep, dark ravines, vast thickets, rocky fastnesses and cavernous hills furnished secure hiding places for wild animals, and they sought shelter in these when driven from the more open country.

Mary Ann corners with Newark township on the northeast, and derived its name from a furnace erected within its limits, which will be noticed in its place.

No Indian history has been preserved, except the fact that this territory was extensively used by the Indians on the Bowling Green as a hunting ground.

Topographically it is broken and hilly and well watered by numerous springs, and by the Rocky fork and its tributaries. Its surface and soil do not differ greatly from Eden, elsewhere described. The entire surface is interspersed with granite boulders, known in rustic vernacular as "niggerheads." The southeast quarter contained considerable quantities of iron-ore, which was mined and smelted in the old Mary Ann furnace. The soil of the valleys is rich, yielding heavy crops of corn and grass. The up-land, which largely predominates, is of a thin clay soil, underlaid with clay shale. It yields a superior article of wheat, and is well adapted to all .mall grains.

Coal crops out along the Rocky fork in places, but is not in sufficient quantities to pay the expense of mining at present. It is upon the ex treme edge of the great coal fields.

The Rocky fork enters the township near its northeastern corner, and running generally south, leaves the township near its southeast corner, in its passage, making a bend toward the center of the township. Its principal tributary is Lost run, which rises in Eden township; its general course being south to Wilkins' corners, where it makes a bend eastward, which direction it keeps until it enters the Rocky fork. These two streams contain clear, sparkling spring water, which tumbles down from among the rocks and hills, and flows swiftly over rocky beds. Numberless smaller streams enter them from various directions.

The scenery along the Rocky fork, in this township, is grand, and during certain seasons of the year, very beautiful; the hills approaching young mountains in their ruggedness and altitude.

The earlier settlers of this interesting region were from Virginia.

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.- 511

A Mr. Bush emigrated from Hardy county, Virginia, in 1809, and built a cabin on the land of Jacob Miller, since owned by Leonel Miller. Bush died in 1811, leaving a widow, two daughters and three sons. The oldest daughter married Lewis Farmer. This was probably the first marriage in the township.

After Bush died the widow removed from the township, and in the spring of 1812, Hugh Doran, originally from Ireland, but more recently from Frederick county, Virginia, moved unto the Bush cabin. In 1814, Doran completed and moved into a cabin on his own land; .and Charles Barnes, who had removed from Frederick county, Virginia, three years pevious, locating temporarily in Newark township, removed to the Bush cabin. By fall of the same year Barnes had completed a cabin on his own purchase, adjoining the Miller tract; and in the spring of 1815, Stephen Giffin came into the Bush cabin; his son James, father of C. B. Giffin, locating one mile northeast of said cabin. Thus it will be observed that all the earliest settlers lived at one time or another in the Bush cabin, the first cabin in the township.

The same time that Doran occupied the Bush cabin, James Riley .erected a cabin on what is known as the Scotland farm. He was succeeded the next year by Duncan Campbell, a Scotchman from whom the farm received its title.

About this time James Thompson, Robert Concley and James Maxwell located on the school lands in the northeast part of the township.

Jacob Benner occupied and raised a field of corn on the Daniel Wilkins farm during the summer of 1811.

It will be observed that the pioneers came into the township in about the following order:

1809, Bush; 1811, Doran and Benner; 1812, Riley and Campbell; 1814, Barnes, Thompson, Concley and Maxwell; 1815, Stephen Giffin, sr., Stephen Giffin, jr., James and John Giffin. Following closely upon the heels of this pioneer band came Jacob Miller, Henry Wilkins, Daniel Wilkins, William McIlvain, Seth Carver, Nehemiah Harris and William Grey.

The death of Bush was probably the first in the township of a white person; he was buried in what was known as Jacob Miller's burying-ground. Charles Barnes died in 1815, and was buried on top of the ridge just west of Wilkins' corners. This spot of ground is now known as the Mary Ann cemetery, and is a beautiful one. It is incorporated under a State law, and receives much care and attention.

This township, originally a portion of Madison, was subsequently attached to Newton and then to Newark, and was finally organized as a township in 1817. The first trustees were William Grey, Joseph Moore and James Giffin. The first justices were Samuel Stewart and Samuel Davidson. The first clerk was Samuel Stewart, the second, Stephen Giffin. The first constable was Duncan Campbell, of the Scotland farm.

One of the pioneers' of this township, James Maxwell, was the first constable in Licking county, entering upon the discharge of his duties in 1802, when this county was a township in Fairfield county.

On one occasion he went on foot to Owl creek (Mt. Vernon) to serve a summons on some delinquent pioneer, who was sued in Esquire Stadden's court; and on his return became lost in the woods, and, night overtaking him, lie went into bivouac, near Wilkins' corners.

He must have survived the rigorous official duty, however, for as late as 1830 he retained sufficient mental and physical vigor (and it required an abundance of the latter in those days) to teach a county school and "board round."

The erection of the Mary Ann furnace was an era in the history of this region deserving of more than -a passing notice, as it contributed largely to the development and settlement of this portion of the county. Iron ore of a superior quality being discovered in the southeast quarter of the township, David Moore, a respected pioneer, and father of a large family, with an energy worthy of the times in which he lived, determined upon the erection of a smelting furnace, and as an initiatory step, erected a saw-mill in 1815. Soon after, he began the erection of a furnace, under the supervision ' of Stephen Cooper and Lilburn Wilson. Almost simultaneously with this enterprise, Mr. Moore erected a grist-mill. The millwright, in this case, was the somewhat eccentric,

512 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

but well known pioneer, James King, an active participant in the Irish rebellion of 1798. He was captured by the British soldiery, tried, and condemned as a rebel, but escaped a short time before the day fixed for his execution, through some weakness of the sentinel at his prison, and sailed for America.

These extensive improvements progressed rapidly under the general supervision of Robert Patterson, and were completed early in the year 1817.

When completed, the proprietor assembled a few neighbors from the sparsely settled region to celebrate the occasion with appropriate dedicatory services.

The furnace must have a name, and they wisely concluded to bestow that honor upon that noble matron, Mary Ann, wife of David Moore. The impressive ceremony of this christening consisted in the hurling of a flask of whiskey against he huge stone stack, by Abraham C. Wilson.

The township being organized later in the same year, received its name from the furnace.

The enterprise was a successful one, not only to the proprietor, but to an immense section of country, furnishing the pioneers with much iron-ware of which they stood sadly in need. Hundreds, today living, will remember the old flay Ann seven plate stove, that stood upon a square box of brick and mortar in the center of hundreds of log cabin school-houses, in this and the adjoining counties; and in every bar-room it was the center of steady streams of tobacco juice. The sides were elaborately embellished with two nude figures supporting a wreath of rudely carved flowers, on which sat a Cupid, showing conclusively that that little mischief-maker was as well known in those days as at present.

Two of the head men in the concern were William McKeever and his bachelor brother, James; both men of sterling integrity, yet full of Irish wit, fun and frolic. Prominent among the names of those on the old force were, also, those of Canly, Jamison and Jewett.

The traveler up the picturesque and beautiful Rocky Fork valley, at the present day, will find, soon after passing the southern line of Mary Ann township, a huge pile of rocks, reminding him o the pyramids of Egypt on a small scale. This is all there is left of the Mary Ann furnace. This pile of stone-mostly cut sandstone-has withstood the ravages of fire and time, and stands as a monument of the early days of Mary Ann. It is probably twenty feet square at the base, and tapers toward the top; the sides are somewhat cracked, much of the top has fallen in and out, giving it the appearance of a venerable ruin. This ryas the furnace part, and in rear of it, clinging to the bluff was the large wooden building, destroyed by fire.

In the history of Ohio appears the following, which goes to show that the rugged hills of Mary Ann had been put to certain uses prior to the advent of the first settlers:

"After the organization of Muskingum county, and before the erection of any public buildings, two men were arrested for counterfeiting silver dollars. It was impracticable to send them to jail at Marietta, a distance of sixth' miles through the woods, until the sitting of the next court, to which they were hound over. Under these circumstances, without any law except that which necessity creates, they were given in charge of Mr. McIntire and Daniel Converse, 'to safely keep till court. This they voluntarily agreed to do, or suffer the penalty themselves.

"A cabin was selected, the prisoners handcuffed together, and McIntire thus addressed them: Now boys (pointing to the blankets), there is your bed; with your guilt or innocence we have nothing to do; you shall have plenty to eat and drink, Ina if you attempt to escape, d-n you, I will kill you.' The firm, resolute manner of the address deterred them from making any attempt. Under the watchful surveillance of these men, who alternately sat by the cabin floor, axe in hand, they were safely kept until court, when they were tried and convicted. One confessed his crime, and told where the tools were secreted on the Rocky fork, where they were found and brought into court. The one who confessed, received a sentence of twentynine lashes, the other thirty-nine, well layed on by Sheriff Beymer; the culprits immediately afterward departing for parts unknown.

Robert Concley, one of the settlers on the school lands, lived the life of a hermit, and was unfortunately addicted to his cups. The exact circumstances of his death will, perhaps, never be known, as his partially charred remains were found about a rod from the ruins of his cabin.

Charles Barnes, one of the pioneers mentioned, had, in his early manhood, penetrated this wild region under Lord Dunmore as far as the Old Chillicothe Indian town on the Scioto, and was present at the celebrated treaty where Logan made the speech familiar to every schoolboy. This campaign ryas undertaken in the summer and fall of 1774.

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 513

Stephen Giffin was a soldier of the Revolution, participating in the sanguinary battles of Germantown and Brandywine. He lived to a ripe old age, and died in Martinsburg, Knox county, in 1838, at the age of eighty-seven.

Henry and Daniel Wilkins, before mentioned among the earliest settlers, became owners of a body of land around what is now known as Wilkins' corners, at the bend of Lost run, in the western central part of the township. Some of this was very fine bottom land, and portions .of the original tract are yet in possession of the descendants of these pioneers. Henry Wilkins erected a gristmill on the main fork of Lost run, in an early day, probably about 1830, which for many years did the grinding for the extensive settlement that gathered around it; but it has not been in operation for some years.

In an early day a road was established eastward from Chatham through here to the furnace, and another road from Newark, north and northeast, up the Rocky fork. Wilkins' corners is the point where these two roads cross, and in 1858 or 1859 Mr. James Randall established a store at this place. Two years later he sold out to William Dudgeon, who succeeded in getting a post office established, called Wilkins' Run post office. Mr. Dudgeon still keeps a store there. He was succeeded in the post office by Robert Stewart, but in turn succeeded Stewart, and was in turn succeeded by L. J. Westbrook, the present incumbent. The Grangers started a store here in 1875, but sold out in the spring of 1880 to Messrs. Othe & Wilkins, the present proprietors. These two stores, a blacksmith shop and a few dwellings constitute Wilkins' corners.

There is another post office in the northern part of the township, on the Rocky fork, called the "Rocky Fork" post office. Some years ago Mr. Thomas Nichols started a store here, and Mr. Cornelius Hilleary erected a sawmill and grist-mill. A few dwelling houses gathered around the store, and the place is called Nicholtown. The post office is now kept at Hilleary's mill. The road along the Rocky fork is narrow and winding, and often crowded between the immense rocky bluffs and the stream. Many mills were erected along this stream in an early day, the ruins of some of them yet remaining to mark their sites. The whole valley furnishes a prolific crop of immense boulders, and great sandstone rocks cropping out of the bluffs, and piled up everywhere in the wildest confusion. Some of the farmers, probably from not being able to find a level spot upon which to build, came down into the bottom and erected their houses in clusters on some level patch of ground; hence, places like Nicholtown are frequent.

There are but two churches within the township limits-United-Brethren and Disciple. The first of these is located in the southern part of the township, near the line of Madison, on the farm now owned by Benjamin Nichols, whose father, John Nichols, gave the ground upon which the building stands. The foundation of this society was laid at the old Union chapel in Madison township, as early, perhaps, as 1850, or before. A United Brethren congregation was organized at this chapel, or prior to its erection; and, in connection with the New Lights, erected the building. This chapel being free to all denominations, the United Brethren could only use it part of the time, and as they grew in numbers, determined to erect a church of their own, which they accordingly did on Mr. Nichols' land. The first building was a frame structure, erected. about 1850, and answered all purposes until 1877, when the present neat frame building was erected at a cost of six hundred dollars. Among the earliest members of this society were Mr. Ralph Shaw and wife and John Nichols. Rev. David Shrader was instrumental in organizing this congregation, and active in the erection of the church; hence, it was called Shrader's chapel which name instill retains. The present membership is about sixty-five. The organization of the Sunday-school is coeval with that of the church, and has been maintained ever since. It is now in a flourishing condition, with a membership of sixty or more.

About 1850, or before, the Protestant Methodists, in the northern and central part of the township, organized a class, and about 1850 erected a church edifice on the Rocky fork, on the Keys estate. Mr. John Gutridge was the chief mover in this church, was largely instrumental in the organization, establishment and erection of the church f hence, it went by the name of Gutridge's chapel.

514 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

This gentleman contributed largely of his means, both to the building and support of the church. For a number of years this organization was successfully continued, but in later years it languished; and finally, in 1872, the church building was sold to the Disciples.

This society was organized by Rev. Allen Hickey, a son of William Hickey, who was prominent in the establishment of the church, as was also Mr. Jacob Miller, who resides near it. This church is in a flourishing condition, with a membership of thirty or more. A Sunday-school has been generally maintained during the summer, and now numbers, perhaps, forty members. A blacksmith shop and store have been established near the church, a few dwellings erected and the place is the counterpart of Nicholtown.

The people of this township are many of them yet living in the primitive log cabin, and appear to be but little troubled about the affairs of the great moving world around.

CHAPTER LXIII.

MCKEAN TOWNSHIP.

MOUND BUII.DERS-INDIANS-SURVEY-TOPOGRAPHY-FIRST SETTLERS AND SETTLEMENTS-FIRST ELECTION-MILLS-FIRST SCHOOLS VILLAGES-EARLY JUSTICES OF THE PEACE-PROMINENT EARLY SETTLERS-CHURCHES AND RELIGIOUS MATTERS.

THE Mound Builders left but few traces in McKean township. They were there, however, and built some works, one of which is a mound of small size, standing on the farm originally occupied by Thomas McKean Thompson, about four miles from the village of Granville. There is also a circular fort containing about an acre, with a shallow ditch around the inside of the embankment, on the land of James Barrick, in the northwest section of the township. It has been much plowed over, and now is barely traceable. It would command a view of the country around it, for miles, were it not for the trees. Half a mile south of it is a small mound, now nearly obliterated by the plow, on the land of the late Edwin Runnels. Mound Builders works abound in all the townships adjoining McKean.

The Indian history of the township is somewhat meagre. They had an encampment on Cat run, about one mile above its entrance into the Brushy fork, as late as 1812, when they disappeared. A few Indians came to the vicinity of the old encampment, during or shortly before 1820; but all soon left except a squaw, who occupied one of the old huts which yet remained in a habitable condition. She also disappeared in a short time, and was the last of the Indian race that had any kind of residence in the township. As late as 1819, an unoccupied wigwam still stood on E. Runnel's farm.

This township was originally surveyed into four thousand acre tracts, it being part of the United States military lands.

It is well watered by Clear fork and Brushy fork and their tributaries. A number of Springs are also found in various parts of the township.

The lands are, for the most part, gently undulating, though there is some flat land and considerable that is level, while occasionally a hill of more or less altitude is found It is a township of good and productive land. The timber is in considerable variety, such as the oak, walnut, beech, hickory and other varieties usually found in the early forests of Ohio.

The land is adapted to the growth of corn, grass and the cereals usually produced in other sections of the county.

The first settler of the township was John Price,

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 515

who, in 1806, settled near the Granville township line, and cleared what, in some circles, has since been called the "Welsh Field," Mr. Price being a Welshman.

In 1807 or 1808, Mr. John McLane settled on the Brushy fork. He was an emigrant from Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and did not remain permanently, but returned to Pennsylvania. He was one of the largest men that ever settled here, and procured a livelihood by hunting. He is yet remembered by a very few pioneers as a skillful, persistent, and successful hunter. One, "Billy Evans," made the third settler in 1809, or perhaps late in 1808. Abraham Wright, the first justice of the peace in Newark, also settled in McKean in 1809. In 1810, a revolutionary soldier, named William Smith, settled at the junction of Cat run and Brushy fork. His son John became one of the first justices of the peace, in 1818, when the township was organized. Among the early settlers who came soon after Mr. Smith, were Daniel, Jacob and Joshua Gosnell, a Mr. Woods, Charles and Henry Bryant, John Armstrong, Fleetwood Clark, John Myers and his father, Hugh Kelly, Peter Snare, Owen Owens, John Parker, Major Pierson, Jabez Smith, Esquire Jaggers, Jacob Wright, Stephen Runnells, David Danforth, Samuel Shaw, Elijah Hunt, Thomas McKean Thompson, Amos Farmer, and others.

The first election in this township was held in 1818, on a white-oak log upon ;he site of the village of Fredonia. A hat was used for a ballot box, and thirteen votes were cast. Nearly or quite all the voters were elected to some office.

The first saw-mill was erected by Aquilla Belt, on the Clear fork, above Chatham, in 1817 or 1818. The second was built in 1821 or 1822, by Hugh Kelley, on the Brushy fork, where the road to Mt Vernon crosses it. Captain Spelman built the third one, a year or two later, a mile above the other, on the same stream. This last was generally known as "Pratt's mill."

The first grist-mill in McKean was erected some time after the War of 1812, on Clear fork, near the Newton township line, above Chatham, by Abraham Wright, and another sometime later, on the Brushy fork, also near the Newton township line.

The first school was taught by Mr. Samuel Shaw in a house that stood near the present village of Fredonia. This was probably a little before the organization of the township in 1818.

There are two villages within the limits of the township. Fredonia was laid out in 1829 by Spencer Arnold, David Wood, jr., and S. Shaw, and surveyed by Mr. Edwin Runnels. Sylvania was laid out in 1838 by Jesse and Abraham Gosnell.

These villages are yet quite small, having seemingly attained their full growth many years ago. The census of 1880 gives the population of Fredonia at eighty-six, and that of Sylvania at fifty.

The early justices of the peace were John Smith, Samuel Shaw, Elias Howell, Moses Pierson, David Danforth, C. C. Jones, W. B. Harding, and B. C. McClain. Those of a later day were William Anderson, Warner C: Carr, Jacob Wright, T. B. Pease, J. L. Johnson, S. C. Scales, William Bowers, Henry Loun, Henry Barrick, Joseph Barrick, S. S. Wilson, and Samuel Barrick.

Fredonia was made a post town more than forty years ago, and J. S. Duden appointed postmaster. His successors were T. B. Pease, W. H. Pease, Joseph Wyeth, Thomas Horton, G. W. Ingraham, Mrs. Bellows, Thomas Carpenter, and others.

An office was once established at Cokesbury with W. Gleason as postmaster, but it was soon discontinued. An office was also established at Sylvania, with Peter Buzzard as postmaster, but it, too, was soon abolished.

Abraham Wright, who settled on the Clear fork in 1809, was a man of some prominence. He settled in Newark in 1802; and was, while there, an acting justice of the peace from 1803 to 1806, when lie removed to Newton and afterward to this township.

Samuel Shaw was an early teacher, esquire, surveyor and an intelligent, influential citizen.

Thomas McKean Thompson was an early settler and a gentleman of extensive information and wealth. He served the county as commissioner from 1822 to 1825. He came from Pennsylvania, where he had served a number of years in the capacity of private secretary to Governor McKean. He gave the name to the township.

Colonel Cornelius Devinney was also a man of

516 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

mark in KcKean. He was a Virginia gentleman of the "old school" affable and pleasant in his manners, of good conversational powers, and a man of sterling integrity.

Elias Howell was also a leading man. He was well informed, and acquited great popularity among the people. He was collector of taxes from 1824 to 1827; sheriff from 1826 to 1830; State senator from x830 to 1832, and a member of Congress from 1835 to 1837.

Major Jacob Anderson and Thomas B. Pease held county offices. The former was a commissioner three years and the latter Measurer four years.

This township contains five churches at present. Cokesbury chapel, a mile or two above the present village of Sylvania, was the first church organization in the township. It was an Episcopal Methodist, and was organized about 1820. It is not now occupied for religious purposes, but was thus used for a brief period by a society of the Christian Union church, a denomination of recent organization.

The Baptist church was organized about 1827. They have a good church edifice in Fredonia. Rev. Mr. Wileman was its earliest preacher. He was followed by Elder Berry.

A Congregational church once had an existence in the township. Preaching was sustained some years, first in Fredonia, and afterward in a neat church building in Sylvania, but the society, by reason of deaths and removals, was compelled to disband years ago. Revs. Rose and Whipple were its early ministers.

There is a Christian or "New Light" church in Sylvania ; also one on the Brushy fork. The latter is a fine building.

The Methodists have a church on the western borders of the township, erected several years ago in place of Cokesbury chapel; also one in Fredonia. The first named is a neat edifice, called Liberty chapel.

Elders Hughes, Farmer, Gardner and Cotterell, and Revs. Smith and White were among the early time preachers in McKean. These clerical gentlemen were mostly of the "Old School" Baptists, and New Light or Christian denominations. Elder Amos Farmer, of the former denomination, preached many years to a small society of the type designated or nicknamed "Hard Shell Baptists,' at Root's school-house on Brushy fork. This society never reached a score in number, and finally ceased to exist.

"Unconditional election and reprobation and the final perseverance of the saints," constituted the gospel of the "Old School" Baptist preachers; and it was proclaimed "without money and without price." They exercised their ministerial functions without fee or reward. They were mostly illiterate, and their style in the pulpit was of the home-spun order.

Very plain, unpretending teachers they might be called, but as they charged nothing for their labors, and the public were not bound to hear them, there could be. no just cause of complaint. They preached just what they believed to be the pure, unadulterated gospel and nothing else; and did that fearlessly, freely and honestly, regardless of king or country. They laid a heavy hand upon Arminianism, tract, missionary, Sunday-school, educational and temperance societies, and utterly condemned a paid ministry. They went forth to perform the Master's work, they said, like the evangelists and apostles of old, without script or purse, and sometimes more than intimated that salaried preachers were of the class of shepherds mentioned by Scripture writers, who would flee when the wolf approached. Freely they gave the best they had, honestly and in the fear of God, and though they might be mistaken, they could not be regarded otherwise than honest men.

Rev. Isaac N. Walters was a more recent but a popular preacher.

One of the most noted of all the pioneer preachers, who at early times officiated in this township, was the Rev. Joseph Thomas, more generally known as "the pilgrim," who preached in the woods where Fredonia now stands, as well as at Mr. Daniel Grifth's and other places in the vicinity, about fifty-fire or sixty years ago. He was a man of rare eccentricity of character, and had considerable force as a camp meeting orator. The "Pilgrim" was a leader of the sect commonly called New Lights, and frequently traveled in company with Mr. Walters, who was also a preacher here fully fifty years ago. Few pulpit orators

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 517

could enlist the feelings of a promiscuous assembly more thoroughly, or move their symyathies more effectually, than Isaac N. Walters and Joseph Thomas. The former was a natural orator. He was slightly dogmatic, decidedly. declamatory, given to efforts at eloquence in his exordiums, by the use of pretty words, and in his perorations, rather long sentences; he was, however, a very interesting extemporaneous speaker. Few were more fluent, more eloquent in the pioneer sense of that word, or more popular. The following incident is related as evidence of his popularity:.

About fifty years ago, when the Presbyterian church of Newark, and other societies except the Methodists, occupied the upper room of the old courthouse for preaching purposes, an appointment was made for Rev. James Culbertson, of Zanesville, and also one for Rev. Isaac N. Walters at the same time and place; each, of course, knowing nothing of the appointment of the other. When the hour arrived the house was full, and the stairs and space around the door crowded. Many belonged to the country, who came to hear Mr. Walters, his fame having gone abroad through all , the region roundabout. Rev. Mr. Culbertson stated that he had been invited to preach there at that hour, and rather mildly insisted on doing so; and being the oldest man, Mr. Walters readily yielded in a remark or two, and observed that all who desired to hear him preach might repair to the old market-house that stood on West Main street, fronting the square, between the Palisade building and Dr. Patton's store. The result was that Mr. Culbertson preached to a few dozen people, and Mr. Waiters to a very large crowd, which he held for hours in the open market-house.

Joseph Thomas, the pilgrim, was a resident of Shenandoah valley, Virginia, but remained at home very little. He was an extensive traveler, and published a diary or book of travels; a rather interesting work, in which this western country, then in a wilderness state, was described, and many adventures related. He also essayed poetry; his success in this line was not, however, pre-eminent. His uniform practice was to clothe himself in white, the outer garment being usually a long flowing robe. He was a sort of Lorenzo Dow preacher, and as an evangelist attracted a large share of attention. His theological views were Arian, sometimes called Socinian.

More than fifty years ago Lorenzo Dow took this township in his line of travel in the west, preaching but one sermon, however, within its limits. This was at the house of Mr. Driggs, who lived on the road from Granville to Mount Vernon, near the southern boundary of the township,. in what was called the "Blanchard settlement." It was a night sermon in a cabin to an audience of about twenty.

The next morning he went to Granville and preached a sermon in the street. He was one of the most eccentric preachers that ever appeared in the county. He was born in Coventry, Connecticut, October 16, 1777, and died at Georgetown, District of Columbia, February 2, 1834. He was an extensive traveler throughout this country, and made several voyages to Europe. He began his itinerant life in 1796 as a Methodist.

The pioneers of this township were principally Virginians, Marylanders, Pennsylvanians and Jerseymen, with a small sprinkling of Yankees. It is an interior township, .having. no great .thoroughfare extensively traveled, no turnpike, canal, railroad or telegraph.

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 518

CHAPTER LXIV.

MONROE TOWNSHIP.

OR ORGANIZATION-FIRST OFFICERS-TOPOGRAPHY-INDIANS-FIRST SETTLERS JOHNSTOWN-FIRST MARRIAGES-CHURCHES.

"The hills are dearest which our childish feet

Have climbed the earliest; and the streams most sweet

Are ever those at which our young lips drank,,

Stooped to their waters o'er the grassy hank."

--Whither.

MONROE township was organized in 1812, and included a square block in the northwest corner of the county, embracing the present townships of Monroe, Liberty, Bennington and Hartford. In 1815 a line was drawn east and west, through the centre of this square and the north half called Bennington. In 1827 Liberty township was created out of the east half of Monroe, leaving the latter township in its present shape. Under the first organization of Monroe-that is, when it was separated from Granville township-Esquire Moses Foster was the first justice of the peace, and C. L. Graves the first constable.

The soil is about the same character as that of St. Albans. The altitude is somewhat greater; the land undulating and sloping to the southeast, is better adapted to grazing than to cereals. In an early day it was well timbered with all varieties of hard wood. It is fairly watered by the Raccoon fork and its tributaries. The head-waters of this stream are in this township.

Few, if any, traces of Mound Builders exist within its limits; but the Wvandot Indians once lived here in considerable number. They built a town called "Raccoon Town," a mile or more above Johnstown, on Raccoon creek, where they resided until 1807, when Charles and George Green purchased their possessions, and thereafter occupied and cultivated the lands.

The Indians remained some time after this, in the township, except a small number, who erected a few small huts on, or near, the Brushy fork, not from the present boundary line between McBean and Granville townships. These last named remained until after the commencement of the War of 1812.

George Mr. Evans, generally known as Washington Evans, and Lucy, his wife, came from Green county, Pennsylvania, in 1806, and were the first settlers. Their daughter subsequently married Matthew Clark. Their son, John, ought to be considered the first white child born in the township, but from the necessities of the case, was burn at the house of John Evans. a brother of Washington, who lived near St. Louisville.

The Greens who bought out the Wyandots, were Virginians, and accustomed to frontier life. Mahala Green, daughter of George and Diana Green, born in the autumn of 1807, was the first white child born in the township. She subsequently married Bazil Butt.

Mrs. George Green, yet living in this township at the age of ninety-two, is the mother of seventeen children, and rejoices in one hundred grandchildren, seventy great-grand children, and a number of great-great-grandchildren.

A family named Steinmetz, was the fourth family in the township. Elisha Willison and Jacob Baker soon followed, and in 1815 there here about twenty-five families in the township.

In 1813 Dr. Oliver Bigelow, from New York State, who owned the southwest quarter of the township, laid out the town of Johnstown, which, however, until 1815, made little or no progress.

In the latter year N. Alden, Henry Hoover, William Sellers and, probably, others made improvements in the town. From that time until 1830, the town and township increased rapidly in population. The town never grew, however, up to the expectation of its founders, and probably there

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 519

are few if any more people there at the present time than in 1830. Although the houses are mostly strung along on either side of the main highway, the town was laid out in the form of a square. with a large public square in the center, as were the towns generally in the county. This square, at present, looks like a vacant field. Trees have, however, been set out around it, which, if cared for, will one day beautify it. The census, just completed, makes the population two hundred and seventy-eight. There are five stores of different kinds, three wagon shops, two harness shops and three blacksmith shops.

The churches number three, and the union school building contains four rooms, and three teachers are, at present, employed.

More than two-thirds of a century this little town has lived without that great civilizer the railroad, but it has come at last. The track was recently laid, and although no passenger train has yet made its appearance, construction trains are running, and just now (September, 1880) a neat, little depot building is being completed.

Moses Foster, the first justice of the peace, died in 1815, and Dr. S. A. Bigelow, who died in 1821, was the second justice.

The first marriages were those of Ned Hatfield to Miss Timants, and Regnal Green to Sarah Willison.

There are six churches in this township. Among the first of these was the Monroe Baptist church, one mile north of Johnstown, organized in 1819, by Rev. George Evans. The original members of this organization were Jacob Baker, Richard Orpret, Washington Evans and wife, M. Hoover, John Clark and Abram Barlow. For ten years services were held in the private dwellings of the members and in the neighboring schoolhouses.

In 1830 the present brick church was erected at a cost of six hundred dollars. Rev. Eli Ashbrook was one of the earliest ministers in this church, serving five years. He ,vas followed by Elders Darrow, Berry, Gildersleeve and Lyman. Rev. Hanover is present pastor. The present membership is twelve.

The Baptist church of Johnstown was organized in 1839, by F. R. Freeman. The original members were William Beers, Eli Pratt, James Hoover, Simeon DeWolf, F. R. Freeman, John Clark, Julius Freeman, John French, William Gisesell, Mary Peck, Irene Baker, Eva Violet, Lucy Morgan, Anna Crosby, Betsey Morgan, Elizabeth Dolph, Lavina Beers, Rebecca Best, Mary Clark, Minerva Hoover, Mary Downing, Rachel Phillips, Barbara Shoemaker, and Annetta Baker.

The present church was erected in 1869, at a cost of four thousand dollars.

Among the early pastors of this church were Elders Griswold, Sedgwick, Macy and Miller. The present pastor is D. W. Fields; the present membership, thirty.

The Sunday-school, organized in 1869, has a membership of fifty. Mrs. Lenora Adams is present superintendent.

The Methodist Episcopal church, known as Monroe Chapel, was organized in 1837, in a school-house, in which the services were held until the erection of the present church, in 1840. The organization was effected .principally through the influence of Uriah Heath, and the original members were Joseph B. Crammer, John Robison, Henry Heckathorn, Thomas Leitew, William Miller and Mr. Cole.

The church is a weak one at present, numbering about six members; but a good Sabbath-school is sustained, with a membership of thirty-five; this was established about the time the church was erected.

The first Presbyterian church of Johnstown, was organized July 15, 1837, by Joseph Matthew. A few of the original members were David Conway, John Follett and Henry LeDuc. A church was erected in the same year in which the organization was effected, costing about one thousand two hundred dollars. The church is not a strong one, having, at present, but twelve members. The pastor is Edward Garland.

Methodist Episcopal church of Johnstown. This is among the oldest in the township, having been organized in 1820 by the well known Russel Bigelow, who, at that time, had charge of the Columbus circuit. Mr. Bigelow organized many of the early Methodist churches in Central Ohio.

The organization took place at the residence of George Green, who with his wife and Rignal, and

520 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY

Charles Green and their wives constituted the first members of this organization. The first Methodist meeting was held in Peter Stephen's tavern, and for five years this society held meetings at private houses and the school-house. In 1825, their first church edifice was erected. It was a small frame, and cost about three hundred dollars. In 1842, a quarterly meeting was held in Jacob Foulk's new barn, at which thirty persons united with the. church, and much interest was manifested. A new church was erected this year at a cost of about one thousand dollars. Both of these church buildings are yet standing; the first being used as a dwelling. Russel Bigelow ministered to this church during its early years. The present pastor is F. S. Thurston. The church records show a membership of fifty-four.

A Sunday-school has, for years, been connected with the church. and at present numbers about forty, including scholars and teachers. George Foulk is superintendent. Jacob Foulk and wife, who are yet living, were very early members of this church. They are pioneers, and are now looking back through the mists of something more than eighty years.

The United Brethren in Christ.--This church was organized in 1863, by Rev. William McDaniels, assisted by Silas Priest, Benjamin Clouse, Benjamin Green, Joseph Smith and Elisha Green. They held meetings in what is known as the Kaw schoolhouse, the first few years, and, in 1866, erected the present church edifice. It is a neat, substantial building, and cost one thousand one hundred dollars. At present the membership is sixty-seven. The organization of the Sunday-school was coeval with that of the church, and now embraces sixty-three members.

PAGE 521 - BLANK

PAGE 522 - DIAGRAM OF THE MOUNTS

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY - 523

CHAPTER LXV.

NEWARK TOWNSHIP.

MOUNDS, MOUND BUILDERS AND ANCIENT WORKS IN THIS TOWNSHIP.

"What is there new atop of this old world?

Should e'er I come to write yous books, why I

Would search among the quaint and dusty tombs

While the selfish world sought pleasure and repose."

-Joaquin Miller.

WITHIN the limits of this township are located some of the most astonishing, as well as the most complete and complicated works of the Mound Builders. The immediate vicinity , of Newark seems to have been a sort of headquarters, or great central city. Newark, indeed, is built upon the ruins of the works of this mysterious people, many mounds having been leveled to make way for streets and buildings, and the city has extended into the great works, of which a cut is here given.

This drawing is taken from a survey by David Wyrick, in 1860, and gives a faithful outline of the Old Fort, and the connecting works within a radius of one mile. The outlying works are nearly obliterated, with the exception .of. some of. the parallel lines and the Octagon. fort and its connecting circle. The larger circle in the drawing marked "thirty acres," .represents the most prominent and best preserved of all this series of works, and is now owned and used by the Licking County Agricultural society; its preservation being thus assured.

The portions of the cut represented by a square, and parts of the lines of an oblong, are nearly obliterated by the growth of the city of Newark in that direction.

The octagon and circle marked respectively "fifty acres" and "thirty acres," have been partially subjected to the leveling processes.

The whole plain between the South and Raccoon forks of Licking liver, and covering an area of several square miles, bears traces of occupation by the "lost race." It is evident from the remains here found, that this section was densely populated, and the character of the works, too, bear out the assumption that this people passed through the different stages of existence that fall to the changing experience of nations at the present day.

The following description of the Old Fort is probably the most accurate as to measurements and other particulars yet given, being the result of actual surveys made by Colonel Charles Whittlesey, of Cleveland, and Isaac Smucker, esq., of Newark

"The Old Fort is situated a mile and a half in a southwesterly direction from the court house in Newark, and belongs to the class of Mound Builders' works known as inclosures. It is not a true circle, the respective diameters being eleven hundred and fifty, and twelve hundred and fifty feet. Its banks, nearly a mile in length, were formed by throwing up the earth from the inside, which left a ditch of sloping sides, ten feet (in many places more) in depth, and ranges, in perpendicular height, measuring from bottom of ditch to top of bank, from twenty to thirty feet. This inclosure, which embraces within it about twenty-seven acres of land, was constructed on level ground, and the ditch above described was often seen, during the earlier decades of the present century, partially, and sometimes wholly, filled with water all around the circle. From some cause it has not held water of late years to any great extent. Viewed from the outside; the embankment does not rise more than ten to fifteen feet above the surface of the surrounding ground, but observed from its top, the eye taking in the depth of the ditch, it seems, of course, much higher, so as to correspond in height, at least, to the figures above given.

"The Old Fort has an entrance or gateway, which is flanked by a high bank or parapet on either side of it, running outward forty yards. The gateway and parallel walls or parapets are on the eastern side of the circle, and the ditch which follows it also extends to the termination of the parallel banks that cover the entrance. Here the banks are highest; the parallel walls, as well as those which form the circle immediately adjoining them at the gateway, reaching, for a short distance, a perpendicular height of at least thirty feet, measuring from the bottom of the ditch, or twenty feet, measuring on the outside. The gateway or entrance measures seventy-five feet between the ditches or moats, and between the parapets or banks .of earth that flank the entrance, one hundred and thirty feet.

524 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

"Trees of a large size are still growing upon the banks, all around the circle, as well as upon the parallel walls at the entrance. They are equal in size to those that are yet found both on the outside of the inclosure and within it, and of the same varieties. Some of them measute ten feet in circumference and are still thrifty, giving no indications of decay. One of the largest trees that stood on this embankment was cut down in 1815, and its concentric circles showed that it had attained to the venerable age of five hundred and fifty years. Many others of its contemporaries, too, are still flourishing and enjoying an equally vigorous 'green old age.' This fact may be borne in mind as indicating the antiquity of this wonderful wotk, especially when taken in connection with the strong probability that this tree, of now more than six centuries ago, was more likely of the second or third growth of trees than of the first, after the Mound Builders had erected this inclosure, which is only one of the extensive series of labyrinthine works, whose embankments measure many miles in length, and which, by low parallel banks, were connected with others of similar character, as remote from them as are those of the Hock-Hocking and other distant places.

"In the middle of the Old Fort is an elevation, evidently artificial, which never fails to attract the attention of the observing, and is generally designated as Eagle mound. It is full six feet high, and is in the form and shape of an eagle in flight with wings outspread, measuring from tip to tip two hundred and forty feet, and from bead to tail two hundred and ten feet, and is clearly of the effigy class of the works of the Mound Builders. It faces the entrance, and therefore lies in an east and west direction, its winos extending north and south. Excavations made many years ago into the renter of this earthen figure, where the elevation is greatest, developed an altar built of stone, upon which were found ashes, charcoal and calcined bones, showing that it had been used for sacrificial purposes.

" Many have held the opinion that the Old Fort was a military work, constructed for defence, but its location on a level plain, its symmetrical form and inside ditch, and the indications of the presence of fire, seen on the altar, and its sacrificial uses, so clearly suggested, all go to render this opinion to be erroneous, or, to say the least, one highly improbable. All the known facts pertaining to it go to raise the presumption that within this inclosure were conducted by :Mound Buiders, the rites and ceremonies of their religion, thev having manifestly been a religious and superstitious race, given to the practice of offering up human as well as animal sacrifices.

"Others have believed that the Old Fort was the seat of government of the Mound Builders, and that their monarch resided here; and still others have held that within this inclosure they practiced their national games and amusements, similar, possibly, to the Olympic, Nemean, Pythean, and Isthmian games that were so universally popular with the enlightened Greeks during the 'Lyrical age of Greece. Others still, hold different opinions, but I think the weight of evidence is altogether in favor of the theory that the Old Fort, one of the most renowned of all the 'Mound Builders' works, was constructed for the uses of a sacred inclosure, and was, therefore, primarily 'built and used for purposes connected with their religion; albeit it may also have teen their seat of government, and residence of their monarch; and may, possibly, also have been sometimes used for the practice of their national games. Least likely of all is the notion that it wax constructed for military purposes or was ever used as a defensive work.

"It was in October, 1800, when Isaac Stadden, a pioneer settler in the Licking valley, discovered it.

One of the most astonishing and incomprehensible things about this great earthwork is the ditch inside of it. This, as Mr. Smucker says, is yet ten feet deep, and is, probably, fifteen or twenty feet wide at the top. If it were not for the immense trees that yet stand on the embankment, one would be inclined to place the construction of this work within the last century, from the fact that otherwise this ditch should have long since disappeared, having been filled, by the yearly drift of leaves, etc., to the surface of the ground. When the fact is considered that this ditch has stood in the midst of the forest for centuries, and has thus been a safe receptacle for the yearly fall of leaves that would naturally drift into it, that the storms of centuries have been washing its banks, that, as Mr. Smucker says, water once stood a good portion of the year in it, with its relaxing and dissolving tendencies, the absorbing questions are, how deep must this ditch have been at first, and what tools could the workmen have used to raise the dirt to such a height, and for what purpose was it constructed; why, especially, was it made so deep?

Supposing that from all the causes above enumerated, the ditch had filled one inch per year for six hundred years; even that would give it a depth of fifty feet at first. It would seem more probable I that it would fill five or six inches every year, instead of one inch; and it is thought these works are a thousand years old instead of six hundred. This being true, would make this ditch very much deeper, and only increases the mystery that already surrounds these works. Here is an opportunity for scientific investigation that should not be lost. A shaft sunk in the bottom of this ditch would probably reveal its original depth.

The immensity of these works is truly wonderful and awe-inspiring. The stranger visiting them for the first time can only look and wonder. The pyramids of Egypt are counted among the "seven wonders of the world," but in what particular are they so much more wonderful than this earthwork? Both are equally mysterious and incomprehensible.

The "Eagle Mound" in the center of this inclosure, is somewhat disappointing at first sight, and does not appear to have much resemblance to an

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 525

eagle. .It more resembles the shape and form of a honey-bee, and might more appropriately have been called the "Honey-Bee mound." The wings are not pointed, like those of a bird, but circular, like those of a bee, and the body is shaped much like that of the bee. Samuel Park, esq., thus writes concerning these works:

"Mr. Atwater says that many- of the writers on these antiquities never saw the works themselves, or if they did, it was only from some public conveyance in hasty flight through the country; and consequently they know nothing about them, and their representations are not reliable. This, no doubt, in some instances is true. But those newspaper correspondents, and other persons seeking. literary renown, are not the only persons chargeable with having arrived at conclusions, and published opinions, based upon observations quite too superficial. Mr. Atwater himself, with all his care, is not safe from this charge, for in his report on the antiquities of Licking county, though he made a personal survey of them, seems to have but little knowledge of their extent and diversity of character. He gives us very correct diagrams of a portion of the works in Cherry Valley, and speaks of one or two mounds, south of Newark, and some pits below Newark; and south of Licking river. These he calls the works in Licking county, while they constitute but a very small proportion of them. He also says these works are situated on an elevated plain, forty or fifty feet above the alluvium or creek bottoms, and generally forty feet above the country around it, while in fact, they are situated on a low plain, not more than forty or fifty feet above the present worn channels of the stream. and nearly surrounded by high hills, on which are but little. if any, less than one hundred mounds that look down upon that valley, or plain, and its works, none of which does it appear that Mr. Atwater had any knowledge of. Besides this, those works extend nearly or quite all over the county, and east into Muskingum and Coshocton counties, south into Perry and Fairfield counties, and west into Franklin county; and doubt not, if carefully examined, would be found in a continuous line to the Mississippi. If their builders did not constitute one great nation or kingdom, they constituted several large cities, with extensive country surroundings, and enjoyed such fraternal relations with each other as to leave no trace of the lines of division, or any marks of discord or bloody wars. But on the. contrary, they have left us an. abundance of monumental testimony that there has been a well arranged and thoroughly organized civil government. I do not hesitate to express the opinion that the great mass of those antiquities are the monuments of peace, and not of war, as is generally supposed. My reason for this opinion is, their want of adaptation to military purposes.

"Nearly all the circumvallations, or forts, so called, are constructed with the moat, or ditch, inside of the wall, and many of them are very small, ranging from one to two hundred feet in diameter, and of easy approach at any and all points on the outside. Now to call such works military fortifications, is not only absurd, but supremely ridiculous. I care not- what principle of warfare you may assign to these Mound Builders, or what weapons they may have used, whether the primitive sling, the bow and arrow, the javelin, the dart, the sword. or cutlass, or any kind of explosive weapons. For any, or all of these,. they were useless, as places of security, or for defence. It was a common custom, among the ancient nations of the earth, to carefully guard the lives and dignity of their rulers, by prohibiting the promiscuous approach of their subjects. This is still the case with some nations; it is done in various ways; the most common is by military guards, who were chosen with reference to their good will and attachment to the person or thing to be guarded. But in the great city of the Assyrian empire (Babylon) the palace of the ruling prince, though protected from the approach of enemies by the great wall of the city, was also protected from the near approach of his own people by three additional strong walls surrounding the palace within the city. It was much the same with the Jews, although they were the chosen people of -God, and reputed to be the righteous nation of the earth, and were entrusted with the secrets of Jehovah, which when unfolded by the fullness of time were to become a blessing to the world, still they could not be trusted to govern themselves by their moral sensibilities, but were limited in their approaches to their own sacred tabernacle and their Great temple, by the outer courts which surrounded them. But we need not name isolated cases, for the principle has been common to all ages. If any of us today were to attempt to visit St. Peter's at Rome; the Mosque of Omar, at Jerusalem; the Palace of Napoleon, in France, or of Victoria, in England, we should find them all strictly guarded. Just so with the ancient people that erected these American antiquities, they understood human nature well enough, to know that it was better to spend money, and labor to maintain the peace and dignity of their government, by guarding against trouble, than to spend it to quell insurrection. Hence these numerous monuments of their wisdom and greatness spread all over our lands. And it is left for us, without the aid of letters to study the theory of their government from these mute relics of a pre-historic age.

"My own theory in regard to these strange works has been shadowed forth in what I have already said. I have told you I looked upon them as the monuments of peace and not of war. The cireumvallations, or inclosures of what ever form are the outer-courts of seals of royalty, and of temples of worship, and inclosures of magazines or public stores, of public parks, or pleasure grounds while others were for athletic exercises and other public games. We find the works varied in their character, and well adapted to these several uses. Those whose nature indicate the location of seals of royalty, or of temples of worship, are so constructed that the outside multitude could easily approach to within a suitable distance to offer their adulation to the princes. or their adoration to the gods, and witness the sacrificial offerings of the priests in the temples, yet the deep moat inside of the wall guarded those sacred precincts from the press of an enthusiastic or a sacreligious multitude. The same may be said as to the adaptation of those whose nature and location indicate other uses, whether for pleasure or for the protection o public stores. In some places these. works are numerous and expensive, and indicate a crowded state of society, or rather a large city population. The works gradually grow more sparse as they recede from these apparently central points, but with occasional minor clusters that indicate the location and protec tion of subordinate rulers, the location of magazines, etc., yet we find no signs of discord or of separate independence. Such a great central city do we think once occupied the hills-and valleys of Licking, and centered on Cherry valley.

" To the greater part of the mounds we assign the character of watch-towers and signal stations, from which the watchmen kept a constant look-out and by concerted signals, could report any incipient move towards insurrection or insubordination to

526 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

the laws, as well as to announce the signs of the times, or the approach of danger from the elements, or from any other source. The location of these mounds not only indicate such a use, but is such as to greatly facilitate such a mode of communication with rapidity and certainty. The idea of such an attaché to the government as a watchman is not novel, for such an office was common among the primitive oriental governments, and judging from the writings of Isaiah and Ezekiel, they were found among the Jews at a later date than that of the erection of these American antiquities. In an age when letters were unknown, watchmen, and such a system of signal communications, were of great importance in the government of a large tribe or nation. There are in some places, usually on level plains, many small mounds that were doubtless erected as tumuli for the distinguished dead, while there are others that seem to combine several uses. But the greater portion of the scattered mounds were, doubtless, for the use we have assigned them, and constituted a system of communication extending from the center to the circumference of the kingdom, equaled only by the modern telegraph. These watchmen were doubtless among the learned men of the nation or tribe, and their position an honorable and an honored one in the kingdom, for they must have constituted the principal medium of communication between the different and distant portions of the kingdom. Having been educated for this special office, it was probably held for life, and I should not think it incredible to suppose that vaults may have been prepared in the base of their watch-towers to receive their mortal remains, after having been worn out in the service of their country, that they might, after death, continue to enjoy a relation to their honored position in life. This may account for the few human bones found in some of those scattered tumuli.

"The mathematical skill manifest in the construction of some of these works, as well as the fine topographical engineering shown in the location of these signal mounds, indicate a pretty high degree of culture, for that age of the world, and, I think, conclusive evidence that they were not erected by- the ancestors of our native Indians, as it is not probable that they ever advanced beyond the hunter-grade of civilization in which we found them, while our Mound Builders must have been much in advance of this. These signal mounds are not always found on the highest hills, but where they will command the most complete view of the whole land, whether below or above their location, and where they can be seen by the greatest number of other mounds, by views through valleys, or between distant hilltops. This feature is an important one, and cannot be the result of accident. On the contrary, it shows a careful economy in locating them, so as to attain the object of their erection with the least amount of labor possible. This would have been needless had their design been other than that we have assigned them. They would, in many instances, have much better suited the theory of 'worship in high places,' or of 'monuments for the dead,' if they had been differently situated from that in which we find them. We, in one instance, found a mound on an offset or table on the hillside, where it commanded the view of an adjacent valley that could not have been seen from the top of the hill, while there was none on the hill-top, seventy-five feet above the plain or level table on which the mound was situated. :end yet this mound was but little less conspicuously situated in its relation to the other mounds than if it had been on the top of the hill. Again, the size of these 'tumuli' are, to a considerable extent, governed by the nature of the ground on which they are located. On high, narrow pointed, natural elevations, they are much less than when the hill-top presents a broad, level surface; also, on gently undulating plains they are larger and taller than when situated on the hills or on smooth plains. Another feature that I have noticed is: that their number is governed by the character of the face of the country where they are situated. On rough, broken lands they are numerous, while on smooth plains they are few. Still, where they are found at all, they are found in sufficient numbers to overlook the whole surface of the land. In our prairies of eastern Illinois, there are but few, except along the banks of the Wabash, but the few found away from the larger streams are generally large and tall, and so situated as to overlook a large district of country. Now, we would ask, why all this kind of discrimination, if their primary object had been of a military character, or for altars for sacrifices, or as monuments for the distinguished dead?

" In fact, such a theory is irreconcilable with the human understanding of the nature and relation of things. The mind must be educated to such theories before it can see any thing in these works to justify them, that these ancient Americans, like the ancient Egyptians, Phoenicians, Assyrians, Chinese, and other original tribes or nations, may have been superstitious in some things, and behind the present age in the arts and sciences, may be quite true, but that is no reason why we should attribute to them intellectual inconsistencies that would sink them below the wild tribes, that roved through our forests when first found by the peopie of Europe. How many of us can give a rational account of the original design of the pyramids of Egypt? We may think we know, but with an unbroken chain of history reaching nearly back to the probable period of their erection, we still know but little about them ; yet they are there, and were erected by the most learned nation of that age.

"There arc at least eight forts of circumvallations in the county that I know of, that are not noticed by any of those writers, except three mentioned by Mr. Smucker, and there cannot be less than three hundred mounds that are not noticed at all; yet when they are viewed as a whole, they present a very different feature than when seen in isolated parts, though these parts may have been the most prominent portion of the works. They must he examined from the center to the circumference, and the relation of the several parts to the whole, as well as the scientific harmony of those relations, must be studied to fully comprehend their use. Let any person that is well acquainted with the face of the country inform himself as to the location of fifty or one hundred of these scattered mounds in Licking county, and then let him ascend a few of them and imagine the timber all removed, and he will be astonished at the harmony of their relations. Nearly all will seem to be in plain view from almost every point. .and, further, that nearly all seem to have been built with reference to the works in Cherry valley as a common center. Cherry valley is that part of Licking valley, west of the city of Newark, that lies between the Pataskala and the Raccoon branches of the Licking river, extending from their junction up the Pataskala to the mouth of Auter creek. and up Raccoon creek some three miles to the range of hills dividing the Raccoon and Auter creek valleys. It is a beautiful plain, the soil is gravelly but very fertile. It embraces about three thousand acres of land, and lies nearly in the shape of an equilateral triangle. On, this plain are situated several of the largest and most singular artificial works to be found in the country. The principal one of these (so called) fortifications, which contains about thirty acres of land, is owned and occu-

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 527

pied by the Licking County Agricultural society, and the place where they hold their annual fairs. This part of the valley seems to constitute a central point in the extensive cluster of works lying in this and adjoining counties.

"After becoming satisfied in my own mind, by observations from various elevated points, that the arrangement and location of the works of Licking would justify the theory that Cherry valley was the central point, whence radiated the power that controlled and gave vitality to this great city, whose inhabitants perhaps numbered but little less than the present population of the whole State, this; beautiful valley and its works began to assume an importance in this field of antiquities that I never had thought of before, though familiar with its curious works all my life. Now every antique artificial feature about it became an object of importance, that might have wrapped up in it volumes of valuable history. Not having found anything in 'Alligator mound' that I thought would justify the idea of its being considered an object of idolatrous worship, and having found the triangle in several of these artificial works, which is an ancient symbol of the true God, I concluded to again visit the great work owned by the agricultural society, and examine 'Eagle mound.' I went there without any doubts about finding the representation of an eagle spread out on the surface in the center of the area enclosed by these great walls. But when I came to examine its form and proportions, I could not see the eagle nor anything that would justify the idea that the mound was ever intended to represent any living thing. It could not have been intended to represent a bird, because there is neither head, neck, or tail, and the wings do not taper towards the points, but on the contrary are even larger towards the extreme ends. The abdominal dimensions are much too large to be in proportion with the other parts. While the Alligator mound below Granville strikes conviction to the minds of all that see it, even at first sight, that it was intended to represent the great American crocodile, it cannot but require a great stretch of the imagination, to find any animal characteristics whatever in this so-called 'Eagle mound.' At least, such were my impressions; my feelings would have harmonized much better with the idea of call ing it a representation of a man, in the act of swimming, without any legs, which it might be said to represent pretty fairly. I do not think that it was intended to represent any thing of the kind; but on the contrary, that it is the ruins of a massive temple, or palace of a ruling prince, that had been erected with perishable material, such as unburnt brick.

"The main part of it appears to have been about fifty by one hundred and eighty feet, with vestibule and tower in front, and wings extending to the tight and left some sixty feet in length from the main building. The wings fall back some twenty to twenty-five degrees from a right angle with the main building, and probably had towers at the extreme ends. This is indicated by the larger pile of earth at the end of the wings. My reasons for calling this the ruin of a large building are, first-its form being that of a large building, with wings to the right and left, and vestibule and tower in front, and second, its situation; it being a little in the rear of the center from the great gate of the court that surrounds it, and fronting the entrance, or gate, of the court, just as I think a skillful draughtsman of any age would place such a building to be in harmony with its surroundings. In the third place, its materials; all the plain on which these works in Cherry valley are situated, is full of gravel, or pebble stones, even to the surface, and the walls of the court that surround it are of the same character, while the mound, or ruin, is composed of good brick-clay, free from gravel, and foreign to anything to be found in this vicinity. There is also another slight elevation of this same kind of clay outside of the court. It is situated to the right of the road, leading from clip gate of the court towards the Pataskala, or South fork of Licking river, and indicates the former existence of a block of buildings, or guard houses, that extended some three or four hundred feet from the walls of the court, to, and beyond the site where the trustees are preparing to erect a hotel building for the use of the park. This bed of clay is from twelve to sixteen inches deep, resting on gravel, while but a few fret from it the gravel is found to come to the surface. This debris, lying, as it does, by. the side of the pass way to the only entrance to this royal court, and between the parallel walls, that it is generally believed were erected to protect the pass way from this sacred precinct to the river, is strongly suggestive of the location of a series of guard houses, to prevent the promiscuous entrance of improper persons to this well guarded seat of royalty."

It would be impossible, at this day,.even were it necessary or desirable, to locate all the earthworks and mounds within the limits of Newark township. The Cherry valley seems to have been literally filled with them, and they were thickly placed over a broad territory, including the site of the city of Newark and much of the Raccoon valley, while, as Mr. Park says, there are a hundred or more mounds on the surrounding hills that overlooked this great mound city in this valley.

There is a mound within a short distance of the court house that is passed by scores of people, daily, on their way to and from business, that is scarcely noticed. It is located in the old cemetery on Sixth street, and is eight or ten feet in height, and, perhaps, twenty-five or thirty feet in diameter. Some one has used it for a burying ground, and erected a monument over their dead on its side. The fact of its being inclosed within the cemetery has preserved it from destruction by the plow.

A curious group of mounds that attracted the attention and wonder of the pioneers, were unfortunately destroyed by the building of the Central Ohio railroad. They were not far from the Old Fort, and stood just at the foot of Cherry valley, and a little east of the Ohio canal, where the above mentioned railroad crosses it. Three of these mounds stood in a line north and south; the fourth was a little east and between the two northern ones. They were all joined together at the base. In the destruction of this remarkable group of mounds, many interesting relics and facts were unearthed that appear worth preservation. The mound far-

528 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

thest south was included in the embankment of the Central Ohio railroad, and was first destroyed. The other three were greatly injured by the earth being taken to make the railroad embankment. The northern mound was the largest, and was about twenty feet high. This was finally leveled to form a site for a rolling mill. The upper eight feet of this mound was composed almost entirely of black loam, which appeared in layers. These layers or strata had seams where the earth did not unite, although it appeared to be of the same character. Between these layers there were often marks of fire; and in one place, from four to six inches extending across the mound, there were strong marks of fire, with charcoal and ashes. The different layers of earth did not often pass all over the mound-sometimes not over more than a fourth of it, and often overlapped each other at the edges. It would seem that these layers of earth were put on at considerable intervals of time, first on one side and then on the other, the different sides of the mound varying in structure. In the upper eight feet of this mound no human or other bones were found. Several fine sheets of mica were taken out. A hole near the center was observed to continue down very near to the bottom of the mound. In some places this was filled with sand, differing from the earth around it. In the lower eight feet of the mound quite a number of these perpendicular holes were observed. One on the east side was filled with fine charcoal and ashes, and extended fully four feet below the surrounding surface of the earth. The whole base of this mound was of disturbed earth, four or more feet below the surrounding surface. Some six or eight of these post holes were discovered, but none but the center one continued for more than a few feet. They were mostly filled with fine sand. About one half of the lower portion of the mound was made of layers of blue clay; then there was a layer of sand, followed by one of cobble stone, which appeared to be immediately over a strong burning. This layer of stone was about five feet from the base. In the middle mound the layer of cobble stone was about eight feet from the base, was.in the. center of the mound, sixteen inches thick, and extended all over it, thinning out toward the edges. The cobble stone, in all places, seemed to be put on immediately over the burning, none of the stones having the marks of fire, except those .coming in contact with the burnt earth. The heat of the fire must have been intense, for the small stories in places were quite friable, and in places strongly marked with oxide of iron. This iron appearance led many to think that iron tools might have been placed there and rusted out.

In the fourth mound the cobble stones were placed over burnings and on a level with the surrounding surface, and covered with creek sand. . The blue clay in the northern mound must have been brought from a distance, there .being none near like it.

About three feet below the surrounding surface of the earth, and near the bottom of the large mound, the workmen, in digging the pit for the flywheel, found several pieces of bones and a part of the lower jaw of a human being with one tooth yet remaining in it. All the bones gave evidence of great age, and were in small pieces.

The cobble stone layers in these mounds and the post holes are unusual features.. Could the latter have been for a frame work, from which to suspend victims for sacrifice?

Surrounding this entire group of mounds was a cobble stone way, about eight feet wide. This is yet plainly to be seen north of the railroad, but the remainder has been destroyed. This oblong circle of stone must have been one hundred yards in its north and south diameter, and sixty-six yards east and west. Within sight of this group of mounds were originally about one dozen. Many of these have been destroyed. The digging of the pit for the fly-wheel revealed the lower portion of this mound. better than examination heretofore made, and showed plainly that human beings had been buried at least four feet beneath the surrounding surface of the earth.

During the excavating process the place was visited by many citizens, and gentlemen from a distance, and much interest taken.

The greater portion of these mounds being composed of sand and loam may account for the paucity of bones found in them. The best preserved skeletons are found where the ground is mostly clay.

It was observed by the early settlers that the

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 529

Indians buried their dead in and about these mounds; but these burials were thought to be easily distinguishable from those of the Mound Builders.

In 1827, while digging the Ohio canal, a small mound was dug out where the second lock now stands. Many human bones were found similar to those in the group above mentioned.

Several skeletons were found buried near these mounds, which were, no doubt, those of Indians, the bones indicating no-great age, and having copper implements buried with them. Near one was found two copper quivers for arrows, and a large shell, which had apparently been used as a drinking cup. Another small skeleton had by its side a quiver for arrows and a copper hatchet, with beads and other trinkets. These Indians and Mound Builders appeared to have two things in common; one is the copper implements, and the other the sheets of mica. This latter is found in their mounds and mixed with their pottery. The small Indian skeleton referred to above was partly covered with mica, some of it adhering to the bones. Another skeleton was found covered with arge sheets of mica; at least half a peck of mica with the bones were brought to town; this, at the time, was supposed to be the remains of an Indian. All the copper yet found in the mounds in this region has been native, unsmelted.

According to some antiquarians these mounds would be called sacrificial or altar mounds, but the truth is that most, if not all, in this vicinity, are of a similar character, and might, with the same propriety, be called sacrificial, for, as a general thing, a skeleton, or sometimes two or three side by side are found, covered with earth, then evidences of fire, then another skeleton covered in the same way, and so on; but these skeletons and evidences of fire do not extend regularly over the mound. Sometimes a skeleton and a burning will be found only on one side, and then again on the other, at a different elevation; but almost always in every mound is found one grand burning extending all over the mound, as if there had been a grand ceremony for the benefit of all those buried beneath. In the large mound above mentioned there were two of these general burnings. Sometimes human bones are found with the marks of fire, indicating the probability of human sacrifice.

CHAPTER LXVI.

NEWARK TOWNSHIP CONTINUED.

ITS INDIAN HISTORY - ORGANIZATION-TOPOGRAPHY-STREAMS-PONDS AND STAGNANT WATERS-THE FIRST RACE COURSE-DEPTH OF SOIL-AN UNHEALTHY DISTRICT-DR. WILSON'S CONTRIBUTION ON THE EARLY DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT.

"There truth and beauty are, for there is nature,

Serene and simple. She will be our priestess,

And in her calm and uncomplaining face

We will read well her rubric and be wise:"

Joaquin Miller.

BUT little, if any, Indian history connected with this township has been preserved. A few temporary camps are remembered, and that they roved freely through these beautiful valleys, hunted, fished and paddled their canoes along these wild and pretty streams; sang their. war songs, danced their war dances, fought, loved, married, ate, drank 'and died, is not doubted. They have left behind them history enough from which to glean this much, however worthless it may be. They seem to have been a worthless race, hence, in the economy of the universe, they must perish to give place to those who develop and make better use of Nature's unlimited resources.

This township was not organized until June 6, 1810, but was surveyed in 1797, by John G., Jack-

530 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

son, deputy surveyor under Rufus Putnam, then. surveyor general of the United States. It is number two, range twelve, and contains sixteen thousand four hundred and thirty-eight and nine-tenth acres. Number one, or the northeast quarter of the township or section was located by John Rathbone, and contains four thousand two hundred and eighteen and nine tenth acres. This section was sold to Colonel Benjamin Wilson of Clarksburgh, Virginia, and has since been known as the "Wilson section." Quarter township number two, is the northwest section, and was located by George Jack.-on. It contains four thousand acres. Section number three is the southwest quarter, and was located by Adam Harborson. It contains ; four thousand acres, and is called the Cherry Valley section. Number four is the town section, and was located by J. A. Cummins and John and George W. Burnet. It contains four thousand two hundred and twenty acres.

There were many acts of Congress touching the manner of disposing of the unoccupied lands of the United States military tract, of which this township was a part, up to 1812, when the land department was reorganized; but none of them had any effect on this township, for the sections had all been located very early.

Nearly the whole of this township lies in a sort of funnel-shaped basin, with the neck toward the Licking Narrows. It is watered by the North fork of Licking, which enters the township from the north, near the center of its northern line, and passing southeast joins the main stream near its eastern border; and by the South fork of Licking, which forms the southeastern line of the township to within a few miles of Newark,, joining the North fork within the city limits, and by the Raccoon fork, which coming from the west, through Granville township, passes across this township a little south of its center, and joins the South fork within the city limits. In addition to these streams, which are all of good size, Ramp creek crosses the southern part of the township, emptying its waters into the South fork, within its limits; and numerous smaller streams, tributaries of those named, cross the township in different directions.

Coming toward Newark from the east, the hills on the right gradually recede, and near the city the bottom lands widen out abruptly. The highlands north of the city run nearly at right angles with the Licking river, forming the east bank of the North fork, and the highlands south forming the east bank of the South fork. This area of apparently level land, extends up the North fork to the mouth of Brushy fork, thence west and south along the base of the Welsh hills to Licking summit at the South fork, and down that stream to Newark. This constitutes the body of the "funnel", and contains twenty-five thousand acres of excellent land, that one would suppose, from a glance over it, was almost level; yet from its western terminus to the "Black Hand" there is a fall of at least one hundred and forty feet in this distance of twelve miles.

It will be observed that in almost every part there are gentle terraces downward, to all the various streams making all the surface of very easy drainage. The highlands north and south of Newark appear to be the western terminus of the great coal fields which extend to the Alleghanies. This large basin, or area of comparatively level land, in which Newark is situated, was once, like the bottom lands of the Licking, covered with a dense forest, and undergrowth of bushes and wild vines; and on account of the numerous and rapid streams which centered in this valley, large quantities of drift wood blocked the streams and lay piled in every conceivable shape and direction causing the waters to overflow and inundate a great portion of this basin whenever there was an unusually heavy fall of rain. When the floods subsided large pools of stagnant water were left here and there, which were the cause of much sickness among the early settlers. Perhaps in no other portion of the township was this so obviously the cause of sickness as in the vicinity of Log-pond run. About one and a half miles northwest of Newark, this little stream, passing through this level ground, became obstructed, and spread over about thirty acres of I woodland, causing the large timber to die and fall down, thus covering this large area with fallen timber, which could only be traversed by footmen walking on the logs. This was called the "log pond," and gave name to the stream. A little further north was another pond, clear of trees, called the "Goose pond," which covered seventy-five or eighty- acres at times, and was a famous resort for

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 531

wild geese and ducks. These ponds were partially drained about 1817. There was another large pond directly west of Newark, which continued to exist at a much later date. It covered forty or fifty acres, and was called the "Big Prairie," being mostly clear of timber. It was full of muskrat houses, flags and grass. This pond was a somewhat remarkable one. It was dry in 18o5; corn had been raised on it by some of the first settlers, and it was used in the fall of that year for a race-course; the posts where the judges had their station remained standing on the east side, where the water was afterward several feet deep. It gave rise to much speculation among the settlers, who were unable . to account for the fact that some seasons, when there was abundance of rain, the pond would nearly dry up; and again in other very dry seasons, the pond would be full of water. Regarding this, Dr. J. N. Wilson, from whose article this topographical matter is mainly taken, says: "My attention was called to the drying up of this pond one summer soon after the water was let into the canal for the first time. Owing to the character of the sub-soil in most of this region, which is made up mostly of loose gravel and sand, the water percolated through it, filling up the wells and cellars all along the canal in its vicinity, but as the bottom became puddled the percolation ceased. Recollecting this fact, and remembering that the previous fall had been very dry, followed by a very cold winter which caused the water to be frozen to a great depth,. thereby effectually breaking up the puddling at the bottom of the pond, at once explained to my mind the disappearance of the. water the. following spring and summer. There was no stream of water running into or out of this pond. It was located just north of the old fort."

There is another fact which, no doubt, had a great influence in retaining in this funnel-shaped basin the poisonous miasms formed in it. The highlands, as above described, forming the sides of the basin, were covered with very lofty trees, principally oak, with a dense undergrowth, mingled in many places with spruce and other evergreens, which came to the very.. edge of the Licking river, and in many places the tops of these large trees nearly came together from the opposite sides of the stream, thus forming.-a. complete barrier to the winds, and damming up, as it were, the outlet of this funnel. This obstruction was not greatly disturbed until the construction of the Ohio canal, and subsequently by the building of the Ohio Central & Steubenville railroads. The quarrying of stone and the clearing of the forests has at last made a complete outlet for the winds, which may now sweep freely through this passage and give complete ventilation to the basin above. This has no doubt played an important part in .improving the health of this great basin. The cultivation of the soil, the drainage of the ponds, the clearing away of the driftwood from the streams, and the building of good houses, and other comforts, have converted this once sickly locality into a region as healthy. and beautiful as can be found in the State. The alluvial as well a diluvial deposit is by no means of uniform depth in this basin. It may be a hundred feet in places to the bottom, .yet in others, as where the Central Ohio railroad crosses the Licking river, the original rock comes to the surface; and again two miles up the North fork the rock appears. The great amount of decomposable matter contained in this gravelly plateau has disappointed many in their estimates of the durability of the soil for tillage. The very early settlers feared that as soon as the vegetable mould that formed the surface should be exhausted by tillage, the soil would become sterile and worthless. Fifty years ago it was said that such and such fields were about worn out; but the recuperative power of this soil, by the decomposition of the limestone and other earthy compounds, is wonderful, and- these same fields continue to yield the best crops, equal to any of the newer lands, and making more certain crops from the fact that they are less affected by any excess or want of rain than clay soils: Whatever else was produced in this basin, it was very certain to produce, in pioneer times, an abundant crop of fever and its accompaniments, and verified the saying of the Indians "that the Lick-Licking was a bad place to raise papooses."

And it is a mistake to suppose that it took but few years to change this miasmatic region into a healthy one. It was soon found that where the trees were cut down and the under-brush cleared

532 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

away, there immediately sprang up in the places thus exposed to the sun, the most luxuriant growth of weeds, grasses, vines and plants, covering all the partly cleared lands, which more than compensated for the removal of the trees. This growth was very vigorous, and formed a covering for many wild animals as well as large numbers of venomous reptiles. These were a continual dread to the early settlers, and not only to the settlers, but the horses and cattle were in constant fear of them, and often suffered from their poisonous fangs.

Dr. John Newman Wilson was one of the early and prominent settlers of Newark, and identified with its interests and prosperity during his long life of seventy years. His father came here in 1806 with a numerous family, all of ;whom left the mark of their individuality upon this county. Dr. Wilson was long an honored member of the pioneer society here, and died in October, 1868. The following regarding the early diseases prevalent in Newark and vicinity, is from one of his interesting and valuable papers. From it may also be gleaned other matters pertinent to the early history of Newark

"My father and family moved to and settled near this city in 1806, when I was a small boy, and consequently I must rely on older and earlier settlers for most of my facts, and from none have I received information, more capable of giving it, than from my medical preceptor, the late Dr. John J. Brice. Dr. Brice, in his youth, resided in the healthy county of Harrison, West Virginia, where he had the advantage of a good preparatory education. He read medicine in Pittsburgh and Uniontown, Pennsylvania. During his studies he obtained some notoriety by being, perhaps, the first to practice vaccination west of the mountains, which I think was in 1801.

"His preceptor had obtained some vaccine matter from a then representative of Kentucky, as he passed by Uniontown on his way home from Congress. This virus had been sent to the President of the United States by Dr. Jenner, of London, to be distributed to members of Congress.

"His preceptor, Dr. Simonson. having little faith in this innovation turned the matter over to his pupil, "Jack Brice." who immediately began his tests. It soon created widespread interest. Dr. Brice, thereafter, always took great interest in the subject of vaccination, and was the most careful physician I ever knew in the selection of virus. His mode of vaccination was peculiar. He made it a rule, whenever he could, about the tenth day after vaccination, to examine the pock, and if well matured, he would make a slight puncture with the lancet, take some virus and insert it in the other arm of the same person, so, as he said, to go through the same process as the first, and destroy any remaining susceptibility that might exist. I have yet to learn that any of the early settlers who were vaccinated by Dr, Brice, have had even varioloid. He must have vaccinated hundreds of families in this county.

"Dr. Brice located in Newark in November 1803, I think, having a good opinion of his qualifications; and many of his old acquaintances having settled in and about Newark, they gave the commencement of his professional career an impetus, and he had high expectations of success:

"In the beginning of his practice he had to deal principally with inflammatory diseases, particularly pleurisy, which he said was much more common at that time than in after years. In his treatment of inflammatory diseases his success equaled his expectations, except in that of rheumatism, which was then as stubborn as it has ever since been. In his treatment of inflammatory fevers, cathartics, antimonials and the free use of the lancet with blisters, usually effected a cure. Most of the early settlers were from the healthy regions of Virginia and Pennsylvania, and he thought they bore blood-letting better than they did after remaining for a time in this unhealthy and miasmatic section-as it then was. When the summer and fall diseases began he found they did not so readily yield to the lancet and his doses of "ten and ten," as taught by Dr. Rush, a famous Philadelphia physician, but he persevered.

"He found that by his treatment theremittent fevers seemed to yield, in part, and assume the intermittent or ague form; but when winter acme plenty of. his patients were still shaking, yet he did not give up the use of the lancet, but tried it in every stage of the disease; often bleeding just before. as well as in, the cold stage, and sometimes with success; but when he saw the result in many cases, such as enlarged spleen, dropsy and other sad consequences, together with the murmuring of his patients, lie felt but little flattered by his success. It is true he did not confine himself entirely to the remedies above mentioned, but sometimes used emetics, Peruvian bark and opium, though sparingly. He also made some use of Virginia snake root, poplar bark, willow, dogwood and cherry.

"DR. Brice having founded his practice on the theoretical views of Dr. Rush, believing with him that yellow lever was only a higher grade of bilious fever, in all its forms; and that if Dr. Rush succeeded by giving his doses of "ten and ten" of calomel and jalap, and in the use of the lancet, he could not conceive why the milder forms of the disease should not yield to the same treatment. He felt so vexed with his want of success, and so disappointed in his expectations, that he returned to his friends in Virginia, determined to abandon the profession and look up some other vocation in life. His brother, however, dissuaded him from this, and induced him to visit Philadelphia and consult Dr. Rush. e attended part of one course of lectures there, and related to Dr. Rush his disappointments. The latter took an interest in his statements, and advised him to return to his field of labor, telling him that Dr. Caldwell, who had been his student, was then engaged in translating a work from the Latin he thought would be of great service to him; advised him to procure a copy and be governed by it in his practice. This work he obtained in 1805, before leaving Philadelphia. I am certain that this book must have saved the lives of many of the pioneers.

"Dr. Brice having purchased a good -supply of medicines in Philadelphia, including a good quality of chinchona bark, an article not always easily obtained, returned to Newark and resumed his practice. The lancet was used more sparingly, and only to relieve some organ from the violent action of the heart. Calomel and jalap were used to disgorge the bilious matter and correct the biliary secretions. This, with the free use of the bark during the intermissions of the fever, became the founda-

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 533

tion of his practice. His success now came fully up to his expectations, and he had plenty of business.

"The country was sparsely settled, and he made long rides into the country, often going into adjoining counties. At that time it was the remittent form of fever that gave the most perplexity, this sometimes proving fatal. In accordance with Senac's advice, he gave up bark during the remission in cases where he apprehended danger. In many of these cases coma often occurred early; in these his main reliance was on the bark. His favorite mode was to give it in a decoction, acidulated with sulphuric acid; but in ordinary cases ii was taken in doses of a teaspoonful in wine every hour, or mixed with a decoction of Virginia snakeroot. A very common way, too, was to administer it in doses of a teaspoonful in the. common beverage of the country, whiskey.

"An old and popular prescription was; bark, one ounce; Virginia snakeroot, one-half ounce; sal tartar, twelve grains; whiskey, one pint: drink ad libitum.

"It was not long until a prejudice arose against the use of barks by those who had protracted ague, they attributing to the remedy what was the result of the disease, saying they could feel the effect of the bark in their bones, as people often now say their bones are full of quinine. (Quinine was first used here in 1825, the first ounce costing sixteen dollars.)

"It is a mistake to suppose that typhoid fever did not occur among the early settlers. My eldest brother laid the greater part of the year 1805-6 with this fever. It was then called typhus.

"In the winter of 1812-13 snow was sufficient for the running of sleighs and sleds most of the winter; there was, perhaps, better sleighing than has been known since, so that corn, oats, pork flour, etc., were taken to Sandusky and other points on the lakes, from this place, on sleds. This was not only a great advantage to the pioneers, but a God-send to the army then fighting the British. Near the close of the war an epidemic of the most fatal character prevailed, known by the name of Cold plague. The attack was mostly violent chill followed by fever and severe pain in some region, generally in the lungs, but often in the brain, and sometimes in the bowels or limbs, the pain often preceding the chill. Delirium soon attended and the patient sank; the disease often proving fatal in forty-eight hours. If it lasted several days the symptoms were generally of a typhoid character. At first most of the cases proved fatal; bloodletting was found to be injurious, and. medicines of .all kinds seemed equally so. The practice finally .adopted was that of putting the patient to bed and dosing with warm teas and warts applications to the exterior surface. The boughs of the spruce pine were extensively used for this purpose, and it was thought the pine had some peculiar virtue in this disease. This fatal epidemic swept over the country at that time, much the same as the cholera has since done.

"The measles and whooping-cough prevailed with the early settlers as they have since; also colds and influenza. Diarrhoea never prevailed as an epidemic in our early settlements until the approach of the cholera in 1832. Dysentery was also unknown until 1826. It then made its appearance in the neighborhood of Brownsville, in this county, and was called the bloody flux We had many cases in Newark in the fall of this year, and it prevailed with great violence the following summer, and was attended with greater fatality throughout the summer than an other disease has ever been.

"Puerperal fever was frequent about this time 1825-28 Perhaps more women died from this cause, than at any other time, before or since.

"Scarlatina was unknown in Newark until 1831. The first case was a boy in the family of the late Lucius Smith, who then lived in a brick house since used for the Baltimore & Ohio railroad depot. The disease soon became a severe scourge and many children died with it.

"Consumption, I think, was less common in early times than at present, and was confined to families with a hereditary taint.

"What has been said about diseases in Newark will apply equally to other portions of the county, except the highlands, where intermittents were less prevalent. In the northwestern portion of the county milk sickness was not uncommon, and a number of deaths were caused by it. It continued to prevail at irregular intervals until 1835.

"The first physician in Newark, as far as I am able to learn, was a Dr. Allen. He came from New York with a Mr. Rathbone, a land agent. He left a few years after Dr. Brice settled here. There was a Dr. Ager in Granville, in an early day, but he soon retired from business.

"Dr. Handley practiced medicine here in 1809-10. He was from the east.

"Dr. Noah Harris came here probably in 1808, and was married in 1810. Dr. Brice soon formed a partnership with him. He was a good physician and a popular and useful man."

Medical attention was hard to secure in those days, on account of the sparsity of the population and the condition of the roads. Physicians went altogether on horseback, with their pill bags buckled to the saddle. Wheeled vehicles were first used by the physicians about 1830. Medicines were hard to procure; it took several weeks to get them from eastern cities, and often they were worthless. Peruvian bark, especially, was high in price and often of no value. Drs. Brice and Harris controlled the practice of medicine about Newark for twenty-five years.

Most of the early-time physicians of Newark are named in .this chapter. .-Those .of . a later date, who practiced their profession between the years 1825 and 1850, were Dr. Elisha Cooper, Dr. Daniel Marble, Dr. Edward Stanbery, Dr. J. N. Wilson, the Drs. Dickinson, father and son, Dr. Z. C. McElroy, and Dr. Thomas H. Roe, all of whom have deceased,. except the two last named. Dr. McElroy has been a successful and respectable physician of Zanesville for about thirty years, and also an extensive contributor to the medical periodicals of Europe and America. Dr. Roe still devotes himself to the practice of his profession in Newark and vicinity, making surgery, as he has always done, a specialty. Dr. Cooper was from New Hampshire, Dr. Marble from western New

534 - HIS TORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

York, Dr. Stanbery from Zanesville, and the Dickinsons from England. They were respectable and successful practitioners, as was also Dr. J. N. Wilson, of whom a full biographical sketch is given in connection with the genealogy of the Wilsons.

Among those most prominent of a later day were Drs. J. H. Hamill, A. Barrows, L. T. Ballou, J. R. Black, B. F. Spencer, and others, most of whose names will be found among the members of the Licking County Medical society, given elsewhere in this history. Of the foregoing all are living and in full practice, except Dr. Ballou, of whom an extended biographical sketch is given elsewhere in this volume. Dr. Black has been a voluminous writer on subjects chiefly bearing on hygiene and medical science generally. His work entitled "Ten Laws of Health," and his contributions to scientific journals, and to the annual publications of the "American Health association" of which he is a member, have met with a good degree of public favor.. .

CHAPTER LXVII.

NEWARK TOWNSHIP AND CITY.

FIRST SETTLERS AND SETTLEMENTS-GENERAL WILLIAM C. SCHENCK-LAYING OUT THE TOWN OF NEWARK-A CO THE ORIGINAL RECORD-THF: SETTLERS of 1802-FIRST SALE OF LOTS IN NEWARK-FIRST BUILDINGS ERECTED- REV. JOHN WRIGHT-WHAT MRS. HAUGHEY SAYS - THE EARLY TAVERNS-WHAT DR. WILSON SAYS-THE OLD COURT HOUSE, JAIL AND WHIPPING POST-A BRIEF SKETCH OF THE SCHOOLS OF NEWARK FROM THE FIRST TO THE PRESENT TIME THE PRESS OF NEWARK.

"New empires rise,

Gathering the strength of hoary centuries,

And rush down like the Alpine avalanche,

Startling the nations,"

-Prentice.

IN the two previous chapters on this township, an effort has been made to impress upon the mind a picture of the country as it appeared just prior to its occupation by the white-race, and this picture, it will be perceived, was not a flattering one, though believed to be a faithful one. The picture was beautiful to the eye, the surface was diversified and lovely, but beneath that surface lurked the savage, the wild animal, the venomous reptile and the malarial poison that insidiously and stealthily attacked the vital powers of the pioneers. All these in addition to the dense forest were to be conquered and put out of the way. This was done but it cost many lives, like the fighting of any other great battle.

Up to the year 1801, no white settlement existed within the limits of the township. A few settlers were in the Licking valley, and the Staddens had erected their cabin, and settled very near its eastern line. It was up the Licking valley, from the direction of Zanesville, that the first settlers came, over roads of their own construction. During the year 1801, four families settled within the limits of this township, and the record does not show which of these came first. One of these was Samuel Parr, who settled in the Licking valley, just below the junction of the North and South forks, and first above the Staddens, on what was afterward known as the "Miller" farm. James Macauly and James Danner located near the mouth of the Ramp creek, in the southern part of the township, where the first named built a "tub mill" or "corn cracker," the first water-power concern within the present limits of the county. There were other settlers, also, in this year, on Ramp creek, not far from its mouth. These were Phineas and Frederick Ford, and Benoni Benjamin. Phineas Ford settled in Union township; Frederick very near the present line between Union and Newark townships, but Benjamin settled within the limits of Newark township, near where the canal feeder crosses Ramp creek. It is believed these four

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 535

families constituted the entire population of this township in 1801. In 1802, however, immigrants came in greater numbers, and from this time forward there was a steady stream of immigration. The .most important arrival in this-year was that of General William C. Schenck, who laid out the town of Newark, calling it after his native place, Newark, New Jersey. This territory was then in Fairfield county, and continued so until 1808.

Hon. William C. Schenck was an early emigrant to the Miami valley, where he was a large landholder. He and Daniel C. Cooper Were proprietors of the town of Franklin, in Warren county, Ohio, situated on the Big Miami river, which they laid out in 1795. There Mr. Schenck resided and some of his descendants are yet living in that vicinity.

In 1799 Mr. Schenck was chosen secretary of the first council of the Northwest Territory, and served also at the second, and probably the third and last sessions.

In 1803 he was elected a member of the first senate of Ohio, serving two years. In 1820 he was elected a member of the house of representatives of Ohio, and died at Columbus during his term of service, January, 1821. He was a man of character, ability and enterprise, and greatly esteemed by his fellow pioneers of the Miami valley. He was father of Rear Admiral James F. Schenck, of the United States navy, and of General Robert C. Schenck, who is known to the whole country as an old time member of Congress, a Union.general and a minister to foreign courts.

William C. Schenck was an officer in General Harrison's army in the War of 1812, and was best known as General Schenck. He was a true patriot, a gallant soldier, and was conspicuous for heroism in the heroic age of the great northwest.

He became part owner of section four in this township, his partners being G. W. Burnet and John N. Cummins; and being a practical surveyor, carne over here from Warren county to survey their land and ascertain its exact location. He brought with him the plats of the surveys of this and the adjoining townships, and boarded with Isaac Stadden, while engaged in his work. He was soon able to inform the settlers here, who were the owners of the land. No one in what is now Licking county, in 1801, was living on his own land except John Van Buskirk; all the rest were squatters.

After locating their land, it appeared to these men that the forks of the Licking was a good place for a town, and Newark was accordingly platted. The surveying was done by a well known early settler, Samuel H. Smith. The following is a copy of the original record:

"In conformity to a law of the territory northwest of the Ohio, now in force, this plat and description of the town of Newark is made for the purpose of being recorded.

"The town is laid out in blocks or squares of twenty-five perches, each block is subdivided into lots, and has an alley one pole wide, running through the center each way, and crossing at right angles. Each lot contains seventy-two square poles, and is six perches in breadth, and twelve in length. Main street is eight poles wide, the other streets are each six poles wide. The common or public ground may be appropriated to county purposes by consent of two-thirds of the inhabitants of the town, and not otherwise, excepting one hundred and forty-four square poles in the center of said public ground, which is given for county or State purposes, to be applied to no other purposes whatever.

"The ground between Front street and the river, all the streets and alleys and the public grounds, except as before excepted, are given perpetually for the use of the inhabitants of the town of Newark.

"The course of Main street is south sixty-five degrees west, and vice versa, and the other streets rum at right angles from it except East and West streets which run parallel with it. The out-lots are twenty-six poles square, and contain four acres and thirty-six perches, and between every two tiers of out-lots is an alley two poles wide.

" To the Recorder of Fairfield county:

You are requested to record this plat and description of the town of Newark.

WILLIAM C. SCHENCK,

For himself and agent for John N. Cummins and John Burnet.

"FAIRFIELD COUNTY, S.S.:

Before me Joseph Vandorn, one of the justices of the aforesaid county, . personally -came William C. Schenck,- and acknowledged the foregoing and within to be a true description and plat of the town of Newark, and saith he wished it to be recorded as such, as witness my hand and seal, the sixteenth day of March in the year of our Lord 1803.

JOSEPH VANDORN.

"Received and recorded March 16, 1803.

In addition to the plat and description of the town of Newark, we, the subscribers, inhabitants, of the town of Newark, do certify that the following alteration in the .plan of the town of Newark was made by William C. Schenck previous to his making sale of lots in said town, and that the said alteration was made by and with our advice and consent, to-wit: A street four rods wide on the north, south and west sides of the town, and alleys two rods wide, extending from the said street on the north side through a tract of land reserved by the proprietors to the alleys running between the out-lots; also no more common may be left between the upper block of in-lots and the river than a street six rods wide, and that an alley two poles wide may be

536 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

continued from that street to the lower side of the out-lots, and along the same to the river; and we do hereby request that said alteration may be made, as we are certain it will be highly advantageous to the inhabitants of the town.

Signed,

RICHARD PARR,

SAMUEL ELLIOTT, JR.,

HENRY CLAYBAUGH,

JAMES BLACK,

SAMUEL PARR,

ADAM HATFIELD,

SAMUEL ELLIOTT.

To the Recorder of Fairfield county, Newark, eighteenth March, 1803:

I hereby certify the foregoing to be a correct copy, as taken from the transcribed records of this office.

I. W. BIGELOW, Recorder.

In addition to the names on the above record, the following constituted the entire number of inhabitants then in Newark township, so far as can be ascertained: Mrs. Catharine Pegg, Abraham Miller, James Macauley, Benoni Benjamin, James Danner, James Jeffries and Beall Babbs.

In October of this year (1802) quite a little colony came from Washington county, Pennsylvania, and settled in Newark and Cherry valley. These were Abraham Johnson, Abraham Wright, William B. Gaw, James Petticord, Edward Nash, Carlton Belt, Benedict Belt, Acquilla Belt, Little John Belt, Black John Belt. These Belts were also joined in a few years by Long John Belt.

In the winter of 1802-3 James Petticord and Little John Belt began the erection of a mill which became the Buskirk mill in 1804. John Van Buskirk run this mill more than thirty years. To the names above may be added that of John Warden who, with Abraham Miller and Henry Claybaugh, came from the south branch of the Potomac, settling in the vicinity of Newark Warden near the east line of the township.

The first sale of lands in this township occurred May 20, 1802, and was made by Messrs. Schenck, Cummins and Burnet, to John Warden, who purchased two hundred and eighty-five acres of land on the east side of section four. On the same day the same party sold to Anthony Miller three hundred and fifteen acres of land adjoining Warden's. Both of these deeds were acknowledged before Isaac Stadden, then justice of the peace.

The city was laid out in the spring of 1802, though the plat of the same was not recorded until March, 1803. The original plat and much of the present city is enclosed on three sides by the North, South and Raccoon forks of Licking river. It is situated on a beautiful, level plateau of sandy loam, the original plat extending from Front street along the North fork on the east to Fifth street on the west, and from Walnut street on the south to Locust on the north. It is a square of which the public square is the center. Its surveyors had little regard for points of the compass, the streets in the original plat running at a right angle with the North fork, which here bears northwest and southeast.

It is very evident that General Schenck was a liberal minded gentleman, from his manner of laying out this town. Its very broad streets and ample public square testify to this. His views were: broader than those of others who have since made additions to the place, as nearly all the streets outside of the original plat are cut down to ordinary, and some even less than ordinary width. Many additions have been made from time to time, the growth of the city having been mainly west and north.

The first sale of lots was to James Jeffries, who purchased out-lot number three and in-lot number fifty-nine. The first cabin was erected by James Black, on lot eighty, where the Park house now stands, and was used as a hotel. It was the first in the new town, and was called "Black's tavern.'' About the same time Samuel Parr erected a cabin on lot seventy-three (the Culley lot), now occupied by Kellar's livery stable. Samuel Elliott built the first hewed-log house. It stood on lot seventy-nine, where Mrs. Fullerton now resides. Beall Babbs built on lot seventy-eight, where Matthew Newkirk now lives. Mrs. Catharine Pegg erected a cabin on the lot afterward occupied by the Episcopal rectory, but now the property of Mrs. Blandy. These were probably all the buildings erected in Newark in 1802; and all were built after July and before October.

It is rather difficult to follow closely the settlements after 1802, as the settlers came in rapidly from that time forward. In the summer of 1803 Rev. John Wright visited the place for the first time. He was a Presbyterian minister and the second one of that denomination to visit the place -Mr. Mc Donald being the first. His brief experi-

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 537

ence will enable one to form an opinion regarding the then little hamlet in the wilderness. He arrived on a Saturday afternoon, and learning that there was but one Presbyterian in the place, and being unwilling to intrude upon him, as he was in very humble circumstances, he concluded to stop at Black's tavern, the only place of entertainment in town. The proprietor informed him that it would be necessary for him to sleep on the floor, as his sleeping apartments, which were not numerous nor spacious, were occupied by persons who were attending a horse-race. This, Mr. Wright readily consented to do. On the following day (Sunday) arrangements were made for a repetition of the race, which had not terminated very satisfactorily on Saturday.

Though during the forenoon of that Sabbath the chief interest of the little community was centered in that horse-race, Mr. Wright preached, and held a second service in the afternoon, at which he preached a sermon on the "observance of the Sabbath," to an audience largely composed of those who had attended the horse-race.

At the close of this service one of his hearers arose and said the preacher had told them the truth, and proposed that a collection be taken up for him. The hat being passed around seven dollars was contributed.

A story was afterward published in connection with this visit of Mr. Wright, to the effect that about the middle of the night of Saturday he was aroused by a gang of drunken roughs, who swore that as a stranger he must stand treat or be ducked under a pump near by, but that he escaped and spent the remainder of the night with his Presbyterian brother. The truth of this is doubted.

John Warden has been mentioned among the settlers in Newark in 1802. He succeeded Isaac Stadden in the office of justice of the peace, and was the first officeholder within the limits of Newark township. Isaac Stadden has been mentioned by some authorities as a resident of this township, but this is an error; he resided in Madison township, very near the east line of Newark township. Abraham Miller, who came with Warden, raised a crop here in 1802, and then, in the fall of that year, returned to the south branch of the Potomac and married, returning with his wife in the spring of 1803. He became a permanent settler on the first farm east of Newark; John Warden occupying. the second one.

Mrs. Sarah Haughey, daughter of Abraham Johnson, was born in December, 1802, in Newark, and is now the oldest living native in the town.

Nancy Cunningham, wife of John Cunningham, and daughter of David Lewis, born October, 1803, is the next oldest. She is yet living, in good health, on Mt. Vernon street. These two old ladies have noted the mighty changes of more than three-fourths of a century in this one spot.

Patrick Cunningham was born in Tyrone county, Province of Ulster, Ireland, and came to the Licking valley in 1801, settling near the cabin of John Jones, on the Munson farm, in Granville township. He built the second cabin in that township. In 1803 he removed to Newark, where he became quite a character. His nephew, John Cunningham, who married the second white child born in the town, above mentioned, is yet living on Mt. Vernon street.

From 1801 to 1810, Newark barely had an existence, containing a score or two log cabins, erected in the midst of a great forest, but upon the ruins of an ancient city of the Mound Builders. Black's "tavern" was a log building, on the east side of the frog pond, now known as the public square. It was, probably, the most important building in the place, standing high and dry on an elevated piece of ground, which has since been leveled. Whether this elevation was an artificial one the record does not say. Some years afterwards this log building was replaced by a brick, which was painted a bright green color, and was called the "Green tavern." That building in turn gave way to the present substantial one. It has, in all these years, changed hands many times. Some of its early landlords were, James Black, James Taylor, Thomas Taylor, Major Huston, Willard Warner, G. C. Harrington, and others.

"Taverns" were busy places in those days. Immigrants came rapidly and they were all hungry and dry; consequently the little log taverns were generally "packed" at night and the bar, inseparable from the business of hotel keeping, was well patronized. They were often noisy places, people in their neighborhood resorting to them for the

538 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

purposes of drinking, frolicking, wrestling, pitching quoits, and often fighting. A specimen of a country tavern was located about half way between Newark and Granville in an early day, called the "Tar tavern." It was the half-way house for sleighing parties, and travelers from one town to the other. Some of the performances at the Tar tavern were not always creditable to those engaged, but this class of houses has long since disappeared.

Every tavern had its sign, an article considered of great importance. .Something must be painted upon it that would attract attention; in this they took lessons from across the water, following closely the habit of the English inn. George Washington's head frequently appeared on tavern signs, as well as that of General Wayne and other noted people, while horses, dogs, and every species of animal and bird were frequently painted in the brightest colors, life size, framed and swung to the breeze on creaking iron hinges. This sign was generally fastened to the top of a large post which stood in front of the tavern door, and served as a hitching post.

The second hotel in Newark was started by Abraham Johnson, in 1803. It was a log building and stood on the corner of Church and Third streets, immediately in rear of what is now the Lansing house. This house was also kept by Mr. Spellman, and was subsequently purchased by William Trindle, and called the "Ohio house." The present brick building was erected for and used some years as a hotel. It was called the "Green Tree" house, having a tree painted on the sign.

The third hotel was erected by Maurice Newman, who came to Newark in 1804. It stood on second street, facing the square, on the site of the residence of the late S. D. King.

The fourth was the "Cully" or "Black Horse" tavern, started about 1807, by John Cully, in the log house built by Samuel Parr, in 1802. This was, probably, the most popular of the early taverns; the most prominent thing about it being the sign, upon which was painted a black horse. It is hard to say what made the place popular, as it always appeared to be a tumble down old rookery, and its outward appearance was anything but inviting, but Cully seemed to be a favorite with the traveling public and the place was well patronized. The north end of the building was two stories in height, the upper story being fitted up as a lodging room for guests. This was called the "potter's field," a place where everybody slept. This tavern stood opposite the Park house, on the site of Kellar's livery stable.

About 1812 or 1814, Colonel William H. Gault came and erected a hotel on the south side of the square. The sign of the tavern was a big bell, and it was called the "Bell tavern." By this time and for some years before, VanBuskirk's saw-mill had been at work, and lumber could be procured for building purposes. Gault's tavern was frame, or it was at least weather-boarded. Subsequently this was torn down and a brick erected on the spot for the same purpose, which in turn gave way to the present edifice, called Shield's block. Gault was an ambitious, stirring business man, and occupied the positions of county commissioner, sheriff, auditor, and also represented the county in both branches of the legislature at different times.

Dr. J. N. Wilson speaks thus of Newark in 1810::

"We had at that time several log houses, as well as some frame ones, but so scattered as to give but a faint idea of the shape and form of a town. These houses stood mostly north and northeast of the square. Scarcely could there be found in the town one hundred yards square without a pond or pool of water, standing most of the year. An ugly swamp was then in existence just north of Church street, along Fourth, with a gully running down by the corner of Church and Third streets, to near the southwest corner of the square, with a large pond just northeast of the old wooden jail which stood there in the center of the square. This large pond remained for a dwelling place for frogs, and a resort for ducks and geese, in some degree, as late as 1837."

Mrs. Haughey says the old jail above mentioned stood near the south side of the present park, and was a squatty, round-log building, though two stories in height. The jailor, Adam Hatfield, lived in the lower part, and the prisoners were kept in the upper part. It was probably erected about or after 1808. She remembers that the whipping post was brought into requisition at one time. A man by the name of Courson was bound to the post, which stood near the jail, and whipped by a man named Zeigler, who was employed for that purpose. This punishment was meted out to Courson for stealing a sack of wheat from the Van Buskirk mill. All. the citizens of the town wit-

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 539

nessed the performance, the children being allowed the place of honor inside the ring formed around the post, the women being next, and the men around the outside.

She says the VanBuskirk mill was a log concern, and not much of a mill at the beginning. The Indians had an encampment a short distance beyond the mill, and were to be seen in town every day. They frequently got drunk and made trouble. This VanBuskirk mill was rebuilt about 1830; the present frame structure was then erected. by Bradley Buckingham, who was among the earliest merchants of Newark, and a man of wealth. He was probably a partner, at that time, of the VanBuskirk's. This mill always did a large business, and was run exclusively by water-power until two or three years ago, when steam was added. It is now owned by Mr. Montgomery.

In addition to the old jail the square contained another building of great importance to the pioneers, this was the first court house, probably erected in 1809 or 1810. It was a hewed-log building, and was said to contain but one room, with no floor for some time after it was erected, and the seats were slabs, laid upon logs. In this building, which stood just north of the present building, were held the first meetings of the settlers. Probably the first schools were taught here and the first religious meetings held-or at least among the first. No doubt the earliest religious meetings were held in the open air and in the cabins of the pioneers.

Among the first school-teachers were James Maxwell, who came with John Larabee in 1801, to the Licking valley; Archibald Wilson, jr., Samuel English and a Mr. Mills. Maxwell was somewhat noted as a song singer. It is said he could sing a different song for each day in the year. He was elected the first constable in this territory in January, 1802, and made school-teaching his business. He married a daughter of Elias Hughes.

One of the first schools was taught by Archibald Wilson, jr., on the south side of the square, in a cabin that had been used as a dwelling; and another by Samuel English near the Gault tavern. The first house erected for a school-house was a log building on the corner of Main and Fourth streets. A grocery now occupies the corner. Hosmer Curtis was one of the early teachers in this house. Later, Mr. Mills taught school on Church street, just west of the Second Presbyterian church, in a cabin that had been used as a dwelling. John Johnson, the two Mrs. Haugheys and John Cunningham were pupils here at one time. Mrs. Haughey remembers attending school about one and a half miles north of the town on Mt. Vernon road, in a cabin erected for a schoolhouse; probably the first erected in this vicinity. She thinks this antedates the one erected in town. The railroad now- passes over-the spot where this building stood. Later, between 1815 and 1820, Rev. Thomas Baird was an efficient teacher here. His school was in the Newman tavern.

Prior to 1848, the schools of Newark, as of other towns in Ohio, were in a rudimentary condition. It would seem that less progress was made in this most important branch of civilization than any other, and this, perhaps, the most important of all. For years after the first settlement of the county, the only schools were "subscription" schools, which were established in some deserted cabin or barn, by some individual who considered himself competent, without preparation or examination, and constituted himself a committee of one to establish a school and keep it (not teach it) according to his own benighted ideas. There were certainly exceptions; some of the teachers were competent and educated, but the majority were not; and there was a time, probably within the memory of the "oldest inhabitant," when there was no such thing as public money for school purposes; hence, if the pioneers attempted to educate their children they must send them to one of these "select" schools and pay the tuition out of their own pockets to the teachers. This tuition usually amounted to two or three dollars per scholar for a term of three months. The would be teacher went around with a paper, to which those who desired his services would attach their names, with the amount to be paid set opposite. This amount was collected by the teacher himself during and at the close of the term.

When public funds were obtainable for school purposes, there was a little improvement in the schools. School-houses were erected, teachers hired, who were required to present to the directors a certificate of qualification, and the schools were

540 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

regularly maintained a certain portion of every year-usually three or four months in the summer and the same time in the winter. This system of teaching was universal, and continued with little improvement nearly half a century, and the greater number of the great men of the State and Nation received the rudiments of their education, and all the education they ever received inside of a school-house, from this system of teaching.

February 5, 1825, the general assembly passed an act empowering the school board to levy a tax of one-half mill on the dollar to be appropriated to the use of common schools. All the funds coming into the hands of the school board, other than these, were raised by direct taxation, and authorized only by a majority of the qualified voters within the district limits. When these funds were exhausted the schools were closed The teachers were poorly paid, and, according to the general custom, "boarded round." All the children within the district limits between the ages of four and twenty-one years, were privileged to attend these schools. The branches taught were reading, spelling, writing, arithmetic, and further along, English grammar. Later still, philosophy, algebra, and other branches of study were introduced.

Newark, probably, made greater effort to establish good schools than most other towns of its size. This was, probably, owing somewhat to the fact of the early establishment of Granville college; Newark did not like to be outdone in this respect by her sister town. In 1837 or 1838, a Miss Stimpson established the "Newark seminary for young ladies." This was worthy to be called a "select" school. And at the same time the "Newark high school" was opened for the reception of pupils, being conducted by Mr. R. K. Nash, and controlled by a board of trustees composed of Asa Beckwith, A. Brown, E. S. Woods, James Young, and George M. Young. The tuition fees were, reading, writing and arithmetic, six dollars per term of twenty-two weeks; English grammar and the higher branches of mathematics, eight dollars per term, and the languages ten dollars. The school-room tress over A. Beckwith's store. This school was continued during 1839, under the superintendence of Messrs. Smith and Cochran.

In 1848 an important change occurred. The schools were reorganized under what is known as the "Akron law," which is the foundation of the present school system in the State.

At a meeting of 'the teachers and others interested in education, held in the First Presbyterian church of Newark, February 28, 1848, it was resolved to organize into what was called "The Educational society of Newark township," and to invite all others interested, to co-operate with them At this meeting, a committee, consisting of A. W. Dennis, Isaac Smucker, and L. P. Coman, was appointed to draft resolutions. This committee reported the following, which were unanimously adopted

"Resolved, That in our opinion teachers' institutes are the most efficient means of improving the teachers, and through them the common schools of the State, and the best calculated to render the profession of school-teaching more elevating and dignified.

"Resolved, That we heartily respond to the arrangement made by the executive committee of the State Teachers' association, to hold a teachers' institute in this county commencing on the twenty-seventh of March nest, that we will procure a suitable building, and provide means toward defraying the expenses of the session, and we earnestly solicit teachers and friends of education in other townships in the county to cooperate with us in this matter, and that a committee be appointed to make arrangements for holding the institute in the town of Newark."

After the adoption of resolutions and the transaction of other business, the following gentlemen were chosen officers of the society: Rev. Alexander Duncan, president; Rev. George Dennison, and Isaac Smucker, vice-presidents, and C. P. Wilder, secretary.

As a result of this movement, the institute which followed, March 27, was well attended, and characterized by a lively interest in the cause of public schools. Mr. M. F. Cowdry, president of the executive committee of the State Teachers' association, and Mr. Lorin Andrews, served in the capacity of lecturers during the week of the institute, at the close of which a series of fifteen resolutions was adopted, setting forth the opinion of those in attendance, looking toward a more efficient system of public scools, a more thorough preparation of teachers, and a wider range in the course of studies.

At a meeting of the citizens interested in common schools, held at the auditor's office, July 11,

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 541

1848, a committee of twelve was appointed to circulate a petition to the town council for the purpose of securing signatures of such of the qualified voters as were in favor of extending the provisions of the Akron law to this town. This petition received about four hundred and fifty signatures, almost a unanimous consent of the voters then within the corporation.

July 20th a notice was issued by the mayor, A. H. Caffee, that an election would be held August 12th following, for the purpose of electing -six school directors for the town, in conformity with an act amendatory to the Akron school law, and applicable to this town. This election resulted in the choice of Israel Dille, Isaac Smucker, Samuel D. King, Adam Fleek, Abner W. Dennis and Joshua Gibbs as the first school board of Newark, under the organization of the graded plan. The organization was further perfected at a meeting held August 16th, at which the oath of office was administered by Samuel H. Bancroft, a justice of the peace, and the following members were chosen officers of the board: Samuel D. King, president; A. W. Dennis, secretary; and Adam Fleek, treasurer. A. W. Dennis and Israel Dille were appointed a committee of correspondence. Messrs. Dille, Smucker and Gibbs were appointed a committee to procure rooms suitable for school purposes; divide the town into districts for primary schools; learn what number of pupils would want instruction in the higher branches, and make such other arrangements for the year as the schools might require. Correspondence was opened at once with school officers at Lockport and Utica, New York, Akron, Ohio, and others in different parts of the country.

The town council was notified to appoint school examiners, as required by law, and Messrs. Dille and Dennis were appointed a committee to draft rules and regulations for the government of school boards and schools.

The following notice was inserted in the Licking Herald of November 3, 1848:

"Candidates for the office of teacher, under the supervision of the Board of Education of -the town of Newark, are hereby notified that an examination of such candidates will be holden at ten o'clock A. M., on Wednesday, the eighth instant, in the basement of the Episcopal church.

"The examination will be conducted orally in part, and partly by use of written questions, to which written answers will be required.

"By order of the Board of Education,

J. BUCKINGHAM, Secretary."

November 16, 1848, the committee appointed to rent rooms for the use of schools organized on the graded plan, reported the following, which was accepted:

"School-house in rear of the First Presbyterian church, at one hundred dollars a year; room in the basement of the Methodist church, on Fourth street,. at four dollars a month; room in the basement of the Episcopal church, at four dollars a month; school-room in rear of the Welsh church, at three dollars a month; house owned by Joel Arnold, corner of Fifth and Main streets, at one and one-half dollars a month; house of Israel Dille, on East Main street, at three dollars per month; two rooms in front of the Franklin house, east side of public square, at five dollars a month; room of A. J. Smith, in Appolo building, at twenty-five dollars a year; also two small buildings formerly used as school-houses, one on Walnut street, and the other. in East Newark. The same committee also reported that the furniture and stoves necessary to furnish the rooms would probably cost one hundred and fifty dollars."

Thus it was that the graded schools of Newark came into existence.

The following is the corps of teachers employed and the salary of each: L. P. Coman, superintendent of all the schools and principal of the high school, salary six hundred dollars; L. W. Gilbert, first assistant, salary twenty-six dollars a month; Miss Sophronia Hines, salary twenty-two dollars a month; Miss Cornelia Curtis, sixteen dollars a month; J. C. Miller, first assistant in the secondary department, salary twenty-four dollars a month; Miss Susan Bushnell, Miss Caroline Carter, Miss Amelia L. Ellis and Miss Caroline Seymour, in secondary department, salary sixteen dollars a month each; Miss Elizabeth Morgan, Miss Sophia Carter, Miss Mary Dunham and Miss Lydia M. Little, in, the primary department, salary sixteen dollars a month each.

September 18, 1849, the board of education adopted a complete course of studies, the schools having previously been named and classified with respect to time as follows:

542 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

"Primary school embracing four years; secondary school embracing four years, and high school embracing four years. The course of studies for the primary and secondary grades embraced all the common branches, and natural history the last year of the secondary course, making this the preparatory year for admission into the high school. The high school course included English grammar, composition, vocal music, rhetoric, botany, United States history, mental philosophy, logic, bookkeeping, higher arithmetic, algebra, geometry, trigonometry, chemistry, geology, Greek and Latin."

The following is taken from the first annual report of the board of education, after its organization under the Akron law, to the council, for the years 1848-9, dated February 19, 1850:

"During the first quarter, twelve schools were taught, consisting of six primary, four secondary and two departments of the high school, male and female. In these schools fourteen teachers were employed, including the superintendent, three male and eleven female. During the second quarter the same number of schools were taught, and thirteen teachers were employed, the services of the assistant female teacher in the female department of the high school having been dispensed with on the ground that an assistant teacher in this school was not absolutely necessary.

"The number of scholars enrolled during the winter quarter was three hundred and ninety-five males and three hundred and twenty-seven females; total seven hundred and twenty-two. The average daily attendance was two hundred and eighty-four males and two hundred and forty females. The number enrolled during the summer quarter-was two hundred and twenty-nine males and two hundred and seventy-five females. The average daily attendance was one hundred' and forty-two males and one hundred and ninety-two females.

"Amount collected from common school fund, United States military fund, county duplicates, delinquent school-house tax, and all other sources, two thousand nine hundred and thirty-one dollars, eighty-three cents and three mills; amount paid teachers. for rent, for fuel, fob furniture and other miscellaneous items, two thousand eight hundred and fifty-right dollars and fifty-two rents; balance in treasury, seventy-three dollars thirty-one rents and three mills.

"The most serious difficulty the board had to encounter during the year was the want of suitable school rooms, as they were under the necessity of relying solely on the rent of such rooms as could be obtained. Many of them are inconvenient as to location, unpleasant, and in many instances uncomfortable. Another difficulty was the classification of the scholars. When the town is supplied with convenient and well arranged school-houses, this important part of our schools may be improved.

"As the whole amount of school fund accruing to the town, under the general school law, and received into the treasury, was deemed insufficient to keep up the schools nine months in the year, the board was under the necessity of making an assessment for this purpose on each scholar whose parents or guardians were considered able to pay, taking special care not to exclude any who were justly entitled to free admission.

"As to the erection of a new building, it was first supposed that six or more primary school-houses, located in different parts of the town, would be first needed, but since they have effected a classification of scholars, and better understand their wants, they are of opinion that the interests of the schools require that a central school-house be first erected for the accommodation of the secondary and high school scholars.

"When the town is supplied with suitable and well arranged school-houses, the board confidently believe that our public schools may be made equal to any schools in the State, either select or public, that the youth may be educated at much less expense in public than select schools, and that a large amount of money heretofore sent to other towns, for educational purposes, will be retained here for the improvement of our town, and for the benefit of common schools.

"Although the board have had an arduous duty to perform in organizing and classifying the several schools, they take pleasure in stating that the success of our common schools during the year may, in a measure, be ascribed to the common sense liberality of the citizens of Newark, for the last of which no better evidence need be required than that they contributed from private sources nearly twelve hundred dollars for the support of the public schools."

At the regular meeting in May, 1850, the board entered into contract with Messrs. H. Rogers and S. Ferguson for the erection of what is known as the Central school building on Church street, at a cost of twelve thousand dollars. Said building was to be two stories high, eighty feet long and sixty feet wide: to contain two school-rooms in basement, eight school-rooms, one office and one recitation room in the superstructure, and to be ready for occupancy at the opening of the schools in the fall of 1851. In 1854 the capacity of the central building not being sufficient for the accommodation of the pupils then in the schools, a third story, containing four school-rooms, and one recitation room was added to it.

Since the erection of this building, substantial two-story primary buildings were erected in Fast, South and West Newark. A handsome two-story building, containing ample corridors, one office and eight well arranged and furnished school-rooms, with cloak-rooms connected, and all warmed with steam heating apparatus, was completed in September, 1875, in North Newark.

The following is a tabular form of the more important statistics since 1855, showing the growth and improvement of the schools, and the increase of funds expended for their support:

1855. 1865. 1875. 1880

Number of pupils enumerated 1,400 2,9,27 3.379

Number of pupils enrolled 820 1,178 1,563 1,812

Average daily attendance 540 629 1,037 1,213

Number of teachers 17 20 32 40

Number of school-rooms 13 14 30 38

Number of weeks in session 36 36 38 38

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 543

The amount paid teachers in 1849 was $2,057; in 1875, $12,593; in 1880, $17,006.82. Value of school property in 1851, $13,000; in 1875, $80,000; in 1880, $95,000.

THE PRESS OF NEWARK.-The Newark .Advocate was the first paper printed in Licking county. It was started in 1820, by Mr, Benjamin Briggs, of Fayette county, Pennsylvania. He continued its publication until August, 1856, a period of thirty-six years, when he sold it to Mr. W. D. Morgan. Mr. Morgan conducted it until January, 1865, when he transferred it to Mr. Lewis Glessner, who published it until April, 1866. Mr. W. W. Kingsbury became owner at this latter date, and remained sole proprietor until April, 1867, when he formed a partnership with W. D. Morgan, one of its former conductors. Mr. Kingsbury died in September,-1875, and the paper was continued by Mr. Morgan alone until March 10, 1880, when it was purchased by the present proprietor, J. A. Caldwell.

The Advocate supported Henry Clay for president in 1824; General Jackson in 1828 and 1832; Martin Van Buren in 1836 and 1840; James K. Polk in 1844; Lewis Cass in 1848; Franklin Pierce in 1852; James Buchanan in 1856; John C. Breckenridge in 186o; General George B. McClellan in 1864 ; Horatio Seymour in 1868 ; Horace Greely in 1872; Samuel J. Tilden in 1876, and Winfield S. Hancock in 188o. It has been published sixty years, and has been consistent as well as persistent in its advocacy of Democratic principles and in its support of Democratic candidates.

Its first editor, Mr. Briggs, was a clear, forcible writer, much given to the use of strong Saxon words that vigorously expressed his ideas, and he never wrote without having ideas to convey. He wrote carefully, slowly, scarcely with ordinary facility, but his manuscripts were remarkably correct as to orthography, and were short, generally amounting to less than a column. It was his practice to put his editorials (especially the shorter ones) in. type without writing them. When he chose to be vituperative he generally succeeded. During his long residence in Newark he was a prominent citizen, and was identified with every project tha tended to the advancement and welfare of th place and its people. He held various public trusts, being elected mayor of the city, and to both branches of the State legislature; he was also postmaster some years. Upon retiring from editorial life he removed to Washington city, where he spent several years. Death overtook him in his sixty-eighth year.

The second paper started in Newark was called the Newark Gazette. Its first issue was by Rufus Henry & Company, late in 1827, and it was devoted to the advocacy of the election of John Quincy Adams to the Presidency. Dr. Daniel Marble was the company; he edited the paper and Mr. Henry printed it. In 1837 Mr. Clark Dunham became proprietor and remained such about ten years, except during the year 1841, when George M. Young and Samuel White were editors and proprietors. Messrs. George P. Conrad and William Richards succeeded Mr. Dunham about 1847. In 1852 Michael P. Brister purchased the Gazette and changed its name to the Newark Times He devoted it to Americanism a year or two, and sold it, in 1855, to A. W. Stevens, who changed its name to the North American, and published it as a Republican paper about three years and then sold it to S. G. Arnold. W. C. Gray and M. L. Wilson continued the paper as the Trace American in 1863 and 1864. In 1865 McAdam & Lee bought it. About a year after Major Caffrey and Dr. T. B. Hood became the owners. Hood soon retired, and, in 1868, the concern was purchased by M. L. Wilson and A. B. Clark. During the following year Henry I. King purchased Mr. Wilson's interest, and Mr. Clark, in turn, purchased Mr. King's interest in 1873. The latter conducted the paper about one year alone. In March, 1874, Mr. I. N. Underwood, an old and experienced newspaper man, purchased a half interest in the concern.

The Newark Gazette was the organ of the Whig party in this county, and as such supported Henry Clay for President in 1832; General Harrison in 1836 and 1840; issuing, in addition, the Harrisonian in 1840, and the Kickapoo in 1844, as campaign papers, both in the interest of General Harrison. They were made up principally of the Gazette editorials. In 1844 the Gazette advocated the election of Henry Clay again; General Taylor in 1848, and General Scott in 1852. Soon after c this the Whig party expired, and the successor of

544 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

the Newark Gazette, being now called the North American, sustained the candidate of the Republican party, Colonel J. C. Fremont, for President. The Newark American has since been the organ of the Republican party here, supporting all the Republican candidates for the Presidency since the organization of that party. Under its present management it is, probably, the best conducted and most ably edited county paper in central Ohio.

The Constitutionalist was the next paper started in Newark. The first number was issued in 1837, by Rankin & Stadden, and Supported the Democratic doctrines. Colonel William Spencer, Colonel Boring, W. P. Morrison, and John R. Petit were, at different times, associate proprietors with Stadden after Rankins' death in 1840, until late in 1843, and Abijah Baker and Messrs. George H. and C. B. Flood took a hand in the editorial management of it. ,

A campaign paper called the Rasp was issued in 1840 from the Constitutionalist office. Both papers advocated the re-election of Martin Van Buren to the Presidency.

About 1842 a paper was issued from the Gazette office, called The Laborer; it was edited by James Sloan, and advocated protective tariff notions. It lived about three months.

Late in 1843, Mr. Jacob Glessner purchased the Constitutionalist and changed its name to the Licking Herald. He remained the sole proprietor, supporting James K. Polk for President in 1844, until 1848, when he sold out to J. C. Springer. In 1850, Messrs. Harvey C. Blackman & Company bought it and supported Franklin Pierce for President in 1852. Soon after the election a Mr. Colburn owned it awhile. William Parr was proprietor in 1853, and E. J. Ellis then conducted it, except during a brief interval in 1856. Mr. Bristor having disposed of the Tinges bought the Herald of Mr. Ellis, changed the name to the Newark Times and published it as a Democratic paper a few months, flying the flag of James Buchanan for President. Mr. Brister's death occurred before the election, but the Times was continued as a neutral or independent paper, devoted to news, miscellany and reform, by Mrs. Brister. It was discontinued in 1859.

The Oriental Evanic was started in 1846. It advocated the principles of the Oriental Evanic order, and, though ably edited, it was short lived. It was the organ of the Newark Evanics, and of the "Concilium," the knighthood branch of the order.

The Voice of the People was started as a Douglas paper in 1860, by John H. Putnam, and was a squatter sovereignty advocate until the summer of 1861, when its editor "went to the wars," and his paper was swallowed up by the Advocate.

In 1863, Asa L. Harris began the publication of the Licking Record in this city. It was devoted to Republicanism, but was short lived, enduring about a year.

In 1862, a campaign paper, styled the True Democrat, was published a few months. It advocated the election of an independent ticket, put in the field against the regularly nominated Democratic ticket. The paper was edited at first by a Mr. Whitely, and at last by Mr. Peter Long. Its ticket was defeated, and the True Democrat was discontinued.

In 1866, Messrs. Caffrey & Tenney started the Reveille and Woolgrower. Its publication was continued about a year, when it was merged in the Newark American.

James White and Dr. Tuller, in 1861-2 published a small semi-monthly paper called the Sourer, at fifty cents a year. It advocated the three leading doctrines of the New Church, viz: First, that God is one in essence and in person, and that Jesus Christ is that one: Second, that the word of God is divine wisdom, and, therefore, the eternal fountain of divine truth: Third, that a life, according to this truth, is the way leading to usefulness, which introduces to heaven. The Salver lived a little over a year.

It is also worthy of mention that M. L. Wilson, at long intervals, got out an advertising sheet; sometimes it took the shape of a holiday paper, especially about Christmas and New Years. He also issued a fifty cent paper at intervals of a month or thereabouts, called Papers by the Way. This was made up of the matter of the American. A daily paper was at one time issued in the city for a few months only. It died for want of proper nourishment.

Twenty or thirty years ago a paper called the

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 545

Spy was issued "semi-occasionally." It was devoted to fun. The Monthly Voice, a Swedenborgian Sunday-school paper was also issued many years ago, by M. L Wilson. It lived a year or more.

The Newark Banner was started April r, 1874, by Milton R. Scott, the present editor and proprietor. It is independent in politics.

In 1878, a paper, called the National Advance, was issued by T. O'Donovan. It was a stock concern and advocated the principles of the National party. About , a year later it. was purchased by. O'Donovan & Kuster, who changed the name to the Newark Democrat, it also became a Democratic paper. It was purchased by the proprietor of the Advocate, in the spring of 1880, and discontinued.

In the spring of 1880, Rev. O. J. Nave began the issue of the Newark Pastoral, a paper devoted to the interests of the Methodist church. It was discontinued late in 1880.

A second attempt has been made to start a daily paper, and the first number of the Newark Morning News was issued June 7, 1880. It was conducted by Charles F. Dutcher until August 9, 1880, when it passed into the. hands of Messrs. Stephens & Fant. It is Democratic.

In the spring of 1880, it began to dawn upon the Germans that they were in sufficient force in this city and county to sustain a paper printed in their own language; accordingly the first number of the Newark Express made its appearance June 25, 1880. It is Democratic in politics, and is edited by F. Kochendorfer, who is also a teacher in the public schools.

It will be observed that Newark has, at present, four papers-one daily and five weeklies, viz: The Advocate, American, Banner, News, and Express. Three of these are Democratic, one Republican, and one independent.

CHAPTER LXIII.

NEWARK TOWNSHIP AND CITY CONTINUED.

EARLY SETTLERS-FIRST CELEBRATION OF AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE IN NEWARK-NOMINATING A PRESIDENT-EARLY MAILS AND LIST OF POSTMASTERS-THE EFFECTS OF THE NATIONAL ROAD AND CANAL-THE "MEETING HOUSE -ISAAC SMUCKER'S RECOLLECTIONS OF NEWARK IN 1825- NEWARK AS A TOWN AND CITY-LIST OF MAYORS-EFFECT OF THE RAILROADS ON THE CITY-A SUMMARY OF THE BUSINESS-THE YOUNG MENS' CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION-THE LADIES' LIBRARY ASSOCIATION-THE LICKING COUNTY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION-MASONS, ODD FELLOWS AND OTHER SOCIETIES

".And so I have said, and I say it over,

And can prove it over and over again,

That the four-footed beasts on the red-crowned clover,

The pied and homed beasts of the plain

That lie down, rise up, and repose again,

And do never take care, or toil, or spin,

Nor buy, nor build, nor gather in gold,

Though the days go out and the tides come in,

Are better than we by a thousand-fold;

For what is it all, in the words of fire, .

But a vexing of soul and a vain desire?

-Joaquin Miller.

RETURNING to the early settlement of the town and township, it is found that the settlers of 1803-in the former, were Robert Sherwood and, perhaps, one other; and in the latter, on the "Wilson section," Jacob Wilson and Evan Payne. Sherwood was a native of Ireland, but married and lived some years in Shippensburgh, Pennsylvania, before coming to Newark. He became owner of a lot on the southeast corner of First and Main streets, where he died in 1822. Wilson and Payne built a cabin on the North fork, but on the east side. Near the "Big spring," close to his cabin, Jacob Wilson stuck into the ground a willow switch he had brought with him from the Alleghany mountains, which grew into

546 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

a large tree and is still flourishing. He returned to Hardy county, Virginia, married in 1804, and returned to the wilderness with his bride.

When Mr. Wilson settled on the North fork everything about him was in its primitive state, and his cabin was in perfect keeping with his wild surroundings

" Wooden-barred the door, and the root was covered with rushes,

Latticed the windows were, and the window-panes were of paper,

Oiled to admit the light, while the wind and rain were excluded.

There, too, he dug a well, and around it planted an orchard;

Still may be seen to this day some trace of the well and the orchard."

Savages were still lingering in a scattered condition, feeble, small in numbers, by no means desirable as neighbors.

Birds of prey, venomous serpents, marauding animals, and ferocious beasts of the forest abounded.

One morning in the autumn of 1805, Mr. Wilson was suddenly called to his cabin door by a great noise and commotion among his pigs, one of which had been seized for a breakfast by a panther. The noisy demonstrations of the pig had promptly drawn the attention of the hogs, and they attacked the panther successfully, and not only released the pig, but treed the panther. Just at this crisis the pioneer-hunter reached his cabin door, and instantly comprehended the situation; the dogs and hogs were holding the animal in check. Taking his rifle from its hooks, he stepped out and fired, the animal falling among his dogs at the foot of the tree.

Maurice Newman was one of the principal settlers in Newark in 1804. He was acting justice of the peace after Squire Wright, and the third tavern-keeper, as before mentioned.

John Van Buskirk was also a settler in this year, in Newark. He rebuilt the Petticord and Belt grist and saw-mill, which he run persistently until his death in 1840.

David Heron, David Hatfield and Archibald Wilson, jr., came in 1805. Mr. Wilson was one of the first-if not the first merchant in Newark, but was soon followed by Bradley Buckingham and David Moore. Mr. Wilson's biography states that he kept store in Newark in 1804. This may be true, and if so, there is little doubt that he was the first merchant. The Wilson family was a large and influential one, and in some respects the most important one among the early settlers. Archibald Wilson, sr., was on the first board of commissioners of this county. He was born in the Shenandoah valley, Virginia

David Moore was born in Adams county, Pennsylvania, April 9, 1774; came to this county in 1808, and died April 30, 1868.

One of the "queer" characters around Newark in an early day was John Sparks. He was generally seen barefooted, walking along the streets and alleys with a fishing pole on his shoulder, for he was a true disciple of Isaac Walton. He had an overpowering repugnance to labor, and irresistible vagabondizing proclivities. He was born on the South branch of the Potomac in 1758, and when, in 1803, President Jefferson organized an exploring expedition to cross the continent, he joined it, and thus became a member of the Lewis and Clark expedition; from this fact, alone, he acquired his importance. The expedition started in the spring of 1804, and from their next winter's quarters, on the Missouri river, sent John Sparks back to Washington with dispatches, where he arrived late in the summer, and was honorably discharged.

Sparks was vigorous, robust, and adapted to a life of hardship and adventure. He had no family, and lived a sort of haphazard, precarious, hard life, dying in 1846.

James Hendricks was one of the pioneers of this county. He came from Brooke county, Virginia, settling on land which he purchased from his brother-in-law, John Van Buskirk. He remained there a few years and removed to Newark, where he died in 1855, at an advanced age.

Mr. John Johnston, who died in Newark, March 4, 1875, aged seventy-three years, was the oldest inhabitant of the city at the time. His father removed with his family from Washington county, Pennsylvania, to Newark in 1802, and never changed his residence.

Hon Frederick Dent, father of Mrs. General Grant, was about 1812 a merchant in Newark.

He died in Washington city, aged eighty-eight years.

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 547

Mr. J. Cass Little was born in Newark August 22, 1812, and lived here until his death, which occurred August 21, 1876.

Among the later prominent and respected citizens-of Newark were Hugh McMullen and C. A Darlington. The former was born in York county, Pennsylvania, May z, 1811, and came with his father's family (the late George McMullen) to this county in 1819. He died in Chicago, Illinois, at an advanced age.

Carey A. Darlington was a .resident of Newark ten or twelve years, engaged in the mercantile business, beginning in 1823. On account of his health, he gave up merchandising, and became a farmer and stock-raiser in Marion county. He died April 3, 1874.

One of the first celebrations of American independence, perhaps the very first that took place in Licking county, was that of 1807. It was held on the north side of the public square, the dinner being the joint production of Maurice Newman and Abraham Johnson, two of the tavern-keepers of Newark. A hog, sheep and deer, well roasted, graced the table. The hog had an ear of corn in its mouth, and was trimmed with lettuce; the sheep had a bunch of fennel in its mouth, and was trimmed with parsley; and the deer, killed for the occasion by Hananiah Pugh, was decorated with leaves, vines and flowers from the forest. Captain Archibald Wilson, sr., was president of the day; Rev. John Emmett, a. Methodist preacher, was chaplain of the occasion, and Dr. John J. Brice read the Declaration of Independence. The oration was prepared by Archibald Wilson, jr., but was read by Dr. John J. Brice, owing to the sickness of the author. The military, under the command of Captain John Spencer, were present in force, and fired volleys in response to the toasts. The best of feeling characterized the occasion, which was finally brought to a close by a ball at night.

There was a marked difference between those pioneer gatherings and the pablic meetings of today. Like the grasp of a pioneer's hand, there was an honest earnestness in them. .

The following, taken from a copy of the Advocate of July, 1821, is worthy of preservation as .showing the manner of nominating a President:

"Pursuant to public notice, a great number of citizens of Licking county met at the court house in Newark (Ohio) to nominate a suitable candidate for President of the United States. After the meeting was organized by the appointment of Dr. John J. Brice chairman, and B. Briggs secretary, the following preamble and resolutions were almost unanimously adopted:

"WHEREAS, It being well known by every intelligent citizen that roads and canals are indispensable to the prosperity of the United States, and particularly to the western country; and it being well known that the western part of the United States has not had a proportionate share of expenditure of the public moneys for these and other purposes; and

"WHEREAS, Henry Clay; a Representative in Congress from the State of Kentucky, has signalized himself by his zeal and industry to promote these great national objects, therefore

"Resolved, That we will use all honorable means to promote his election to the Presidency, for the reason above stated, and for his uniform adherence to republican principles, and support of the cause of liberty throughout the world.

"Resolved, That William Wilson, Stephen C. Smith and James Holmes be a committee of correspondence, to correspond with other committees "throughout the State favorable to the election of Henry Clay, on the subject of the Presidential election.

"Resolved, That this meeting do now adjourn sine die."

It will be observed from the above that the manner of nominating a President differed very materially from the present method; and that the issues that then seemed of overwhelming importance have been lost to view, and appear almost frivolous, as the political issues of to-day may appear fifty years hence. It was a very simple way these pioneers .had of doing things. Since that, railroads and the telegraph have revolutionized things somewhat. These were the days of stage coaches, when the world "and the rest of mankind" moved slowly; and were, perhaps, better for it. News then traveled slowly; .post office facilities were in a primitive condition. Probably the first mail brought to Newark was over the, very rough, narrow road from Zanesville to Newark, Granville and Columbus, or perhaps Worthington. Maurice Newman was probably the first acting postmaster in Newark, though not regularly appointed by the Postmaster General and kept the office at his hotel, about the year 1805; and it is now somewhat astonishing to think that the stage-coach was the principal means of mail and passenger transportation to and from Newark for nearly fifty years. The canal came earlier, it is true, but it did .not probably affect the business of the stage lines to a great extent. It is found that, in 1825, "Mr.

548 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

Giles C. Harrington, of this place, will commence running his stage twice a week from Zanesville to Columbus, after the first of July next." It may be fair to conclude from this that but one stage per week had been on the road between these points before the time mentioned. Newark had then been in existence for twenty-three years.

The following is a. list of Newark postmasters from the year 1809 up to the present time, with the date of their appointment: David Moore, February r g, 1809 ; Amos H. Caffee, February 6, 18x8; Peter Schmucker, June 8, 1829; Benjamin Briggs, April 30, 1833; Mahlon M. Caffee, June 10, 1841; Levi J. Haughey, January 19, 1843; Jonathan Taylor, August 2, 1847; Daniel Humphreys, April 17, 1848; .George P. Conrad, April 11, 1849; William Richards, March 6, 1851; William P. Morrison, April 6, 1853; William Parr, March 20, 1854; Edmund J. Ellis, January 10, 1855; William Bell, jr., July 24, 1855; James E. Lewis, October 21, 1858; Charles B. Giffin, March 28, 1861; Thomas J. Anderson, August 1, 1866; James R. Stanbery, March 28, 1867; Appleton B. Clarke, April 5, 1869; William C. Lyon, May 17, 1877, and who is the present incumbent.

Mr. William Wing says:

The mail first carried in a stage or hack from Newark to Columbus via Granville, was by Giles C. Harrington in 1822. He was succeeded by Willard Warner, I think, till 1828, when Neil, Moore & Co., run their stages through from Jacksontown, on the pike, via Newark and Granville to Columbus, until the National road was completed to Columbus in 1832 or 1833 ; after that Warner carried the mail from Jacksontown to Newark and Granville, and run a two-horse stage."

A daily mail was established from Newark to Mt. Vernon in the month of December, 1835. The National road coming into the county about the same time with the Ohio canal, gave a great impetus to emigration, and Newark took a great step forward. It began to assume the appearance of a lively business town. It became a grain market, which necessitated the building of warehouses. The first of these warehouses was erected by George Baker & Co., on the canal between Fourth and Fifth streets; others were erected between Second and Third streets, and Mr. Sherwood, in 1831, erected one near the corner of Canal and Second streets, on the east side of Second. The canal gave an outlet to produce of all kinds, thus creating a market and advancing prices with astonishing rapidity. Wheat went from twenty-five cents to seventy-five cents and one dollar per bushel; other products of the soil and the woods, as corn, oats, whiskey, pork, furs, peltry, etc., were correspondingly advanced. In opening up the new country these agencies took the place of the railroads of to-day, and were equally as effective though working with less rapidity.

The editor of the Advocate, Mr. B. Briggs, thus writes at that time:

"Already we see the effects of the canal on our town. The price of property has risen fifty percent. Five brick kilns will be burnt in the environs of Newark, during the present (August, 1825,) and three succeeding months, and some of the brick will go through the hands of the brick-layers during that time. The change that has taken place in the appearance of the place since it was expected the canal would pass by it, is very striking. Before that time there were but three or four brick buildings in it, exclusive of the public ones; the balance were all dilapidated logs and frames. Now there are several good brick houses erected, and the foundations of two or three more are laid.

"It is true. the grass continues to grow in our streets, and the sheep to feed in the public square, but when, it is known that the former are very wide, and the latter large enough for a farm, these things will not be considered as unfavorable omens.

"While on this subject, our thoughts naturally turn to the bad state of the meeting-house, about which we have often had unpleasant reflections. It might be wrong, however, in us to say anything about it in the paper, since we never appropriated anything toward building it. Still we will venture merely to call the attention of our seniors to it, and recommend the adoption of measures for its repair or demolition. The Turks, we verily believe, have no mosque that makes so wretched an appearance as does the brick meeting house in Newark."

Mr. Briggs refers here to the brick church erected by the Presbyterians in the park, west side, which was poorly constructed, and was taken down after a few years service, the people fearing it would fall upon them. It was the first church building erected in Newark. October 1st, of the same year (1825), a meeting of those interested was held in this house, at which Messrs. Stephen C. Smith, S. S. Miles and Moses Moore, were appointed a committee to draft a plan for a new "meeting-house" and take other preliminary steps toward erecting it.

Here is what Hon. Isaac Smucker, in his "Recollections," says of Newark and vicinity, in an early day:

"In 1825. the writer arrived in Newark after a journey across

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 549

the Alleghanies, of four hundred miles, performed on foot, which, at that time, was the usual mode of travel with men of very limited funds. Those of more means traveled on horseback, while those more liberally supplied with cash took the family carriage or the public stage.

"The then very small village of Newark was reached about nine o'clock at night. It was a very pleasant starlight or moonlight night, just light enough to indicate to a weary traveler, who had safely crossed the rickety old bridge across the North fork, and reached the western termination of East Main street, and then taken his position just between the Cully and 'Green House' taverns, deliberately viewing the situation from this point of observation, that the 'public square' was too extensively dotted with ponds of large and small proportions, to render it altogether a safe operation to venture forward without a guide. Accordingly a dime was invested on a small lad, on condition that he should safely guide the foot-sore, water-bound traveller along the winding track among the ponds, across the square to the residence of the father of the belated footman, who, at that time, domiciled at the southwest comer of West Main and Fourth streets.

" The most important event to Newark and Licking county n that year was the celebration of Fourth of July at 'Licking Summit,' four miles south of Newark, on the Ohio canal. An immense throng gathered to see Governor DeWitt Clinton, of New York, throw out the first shovel of dirt in the construction of the canal. Governor Worthington and numerous celebrities of this and other States were present. The occasion was characterized by an immense display of military toggery, such as brass buttons, cockades, plumes, sashes, epaulettes and many other fancy trappings that profusely ornamented the outer garments of the military chieftains present.

"There was also a great display of independent military companies, called volunteers, who also appeared in their best uniforms. General Edward King, of Chillicothe, and General Sanderson, of Lancaster, were among the most conspicuous military commanders on that celebrated occasion. Our late friends and fellow-citizens, Captains Merideth Darlington and Major Warren, the former of Newark, and the latter of Granville, commanded the local or home troops on the occasion. This was the heroic age of Ohio-the age of military glory. Hon. Thomas Ewing, then in the full enjoyment of his great intellectual powers, was the orator of the day, and, in the judgment of the great crowd who heard .him, he acquitted himself. splendidly.

"Governor Clinton threw .out the first shovelful of earth in the construction of the canal. He had been the projector of the Erie canal, and had employed his great talents and influence to put the Empire State on the highway to prosperity and wealth by procuring the adoption of a liberal internal improvement policy. This same policy he urged upon Ohio, and in consequence thereof he became popular among its friends here; hence the position of honor assigned him. Hon. William Stanbery ably advocated our canal policy in the senate of Ohio.

Gov. Worthington, the most influential statesman in Ohio, held the same views.

"The next most important event in 1825 was the abortive attempt to hang a fellow by the name of Peter Dimond, a miner at Mary Ann furnace, who had been convicted of the murder of Mitchell, a fellow ore-digger. This man, while intoxicated and in a fit of passion, struck Mitchell (with whom he was quarreling) a blow with a gun-barrel across the head, from the effects of which he died. The absence of deliberation and premeditation made it a crime of a lower degree than murder in the first degree, and he should have been convicted of the second grade of homicide. Hon. Thomas Ewing and William Stanbery defended him with great zeal and ability, but he was nevertheless found guilty and sentenced to be hung. The gallows was erected, the grave dug, the coffin made, so was the shroud, and the culprit put inside of it; the crowd collected from far and near; the military were marshaled in large numbers to prevent the escape or rescue of Peter, and to give eclat to the interesting occasion. The sermon was preached, the doctors were on hand to determine when Dimond's pulse ceased is beatings by reason of the strangling process, and, in short, all things were ready to swing the culprit into eternity, when a dashing horseman came up crying at the top of his voice that he had a message from the Governor of the State of Ohio. This proved to be Isaac Cool, who knew well how to act such a part with a flourish. The commander of the troops cleared the way for him, when he, with due regard to style, passed the document with the Great Seal of the State of Ohio attached, to the sheriff; which proved to be a respite or suspension of the sentence. This respite resulted at last in a commutation to ten years' service for the hero of the day in the penitentiary.

"This respite arrangement of our good old governor was promptly acceded to by Peter, much to the disgust of a wellsold and greatly befooled crowd, who had at some expense and at the neglect of their business and crops at a very busy season of the year, gathered here in force to witness the death agonies of a fellow being on the gallows, and they could not brook the idea of a disappointment.

"This is, however, true of only the more brutal of the spectators; the better portion were thrilled with joy at the manner of its termination. This performance came of between Locust and Church, and Third and Fifth streets. The gallows stood about midway between Locust and Church streets, on Fourth street. or a little east of it.

" Dimond's counsel, after the death penalty had been pronounced, prepared and laid before Governor Morrow, the facts in the case, who saw at once that he had been illegally and unjustly convicted and sentenced; he therefore decided to give him the proper punishment for his offence. As he had committed a great crime, he thought best to give him ten years in prison, and in addition put him through the pangs of anticipated hanging... He. kept the terror of an ignominious death hanging over him to the last moment.

"The horse racing of 1825 was also an event of no small magnitude, in the estimation of many. The race course was bounded on the north by the southern portion of the town, on the south by South fork, on the east by Fourth street, and on the west by Raccoon creek. An immense crowd of people, of all colors, sexes and conditions, bad collected. They came from adjacent counties and also from remote parts of the State, as well as our own county. One main race for sweepstakes was run by three horses, named Ground Hog, Red Fox, and Prairie Mule. The first named was a large grey horse owned in Muskingum, I believe, and was the winner. The Red Fox was a small sorrel, and came in second best. The race was a mile, or perhaps more, to be repeated. Many other races were run. The accompaniments were a large consumption of whiskey and similar fluids; an overloading of many stomachs with Bentley's ginger cake; a considerable number of fisticuffs, much excitement, quarreling and profanity; extensive thimble-rigging and

550 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

sweat-cloth gambling; pocket-picking and stealing, and various other groveling and villainous practices that were intensely disgusting to decent people.

"I close my recollections of 1825 with a brief reference to the elections of that year. When I arrived in Newark, a vigorous contest was going on for a seat in the legislature between Bradley Buckingham and Stephen C. Smith. The Newark Advocate, edited by the late Benjamin Briggs, the only paper printed in the county, was full of spirited communications on the subject, pro and con. Henry Shurtz was fighting Mr. Buckingham vigorously, charging him in the Advocate with getting some advantage of him in a whiskey trade. Whiskey was at that time an article of extensive trade and commerce; indeed, it came near being a legal tender in payment of debts. Mr. Buckingham was a prosperous and wealthy merchant of Newark, and known to almost everybody in the county. He came to Newark at an early day, and had kept himself in communication constantly by his extensive business operations, and to a limited extent was a public officer. His reputation was good, character excellent, and he was withal a gentleman of rather pleasant, popular manners.

"Mr. Smith was a more recent settler. He came originally from New Jersey to Marietta in 1806, and from there in 1809 to Muskingum county, where he was several times honored with elections to the legislature, and to the associate judgeship of the common pleas court. He had, moreover, been actively patriotic in the War of 1812, having rendered efficient service as adjutant of the regiment commanded by Lewis Cass. He came to Licking county in 1818, and was a member of the legislature in 1824. He was a man of liberal mental endowments, extensive reading and information. He had one of the best libraries in our county, end we had few men of more extensive intelligence on a great variety of subjects. He was without reproach, and lived and died an honest man.

"Mr. Buckingham was the successful candidate, but by a very small majority-ten votes, I think. The next year they were again competitors, and Mr. Smith was successful by a meager majority. Messrs. Buckingham and Smith retired upon their legislative laurels, the former in 1826, and the latter in x827, neither of them again holding any public office."

Newark became an incorporated town by act of the general assembly, in February, 1826, and on the sixteenth of the following month an election was held which resulted in the choice of Lucius Smith for mayor, C. W. Searle, recorder, and Robert Davidson, William W. Gault, Bradley Buckingham,. John J. Brice, and John Cunningham, for trustees, or councilmen. Thus Newark came into existence as a town, and thereafter enjoyed the privilege of a government of its own. The mayors of this town are as follows, with the dates of their service:

Lucius Smith, 1826; Robert Davidson, 1827; Peter Schmucker, 1828; Corrington W. Searle 1829; Carey A. Darlington, 1830; Benjami Briggs, 1831; Benjamin Briggs, 1832; Samuel M Browning, 1833; Joshua Mathiot, 1834; M. M. Caffee, 1835; S. M. Browning, 1836; Israel Dille, 1837; Israel Dille, 1838; George M. Young, 1839; George M. Young, 1840; George M. Young, 1841; George M. Young, 1842; M. M. Caffee, 1843; B. W. Brice, jr., 1844; B. W. Brice, jr., 1845; B. W. Brice, jr., 1846; A. H. Caffee, 1847; A. H. Caffee, 1848; A. H. Caffee, 1849; Edward Stanbery, 1850; Daniel Humphrey, 1851; Daniel Humphrey, 1852; Daniel Humphrey, 1853; Daniel Humphrey, 1854; Daniel Humphrey, 1855; William B. Woods, 1856; William B. Woods, 1857; Charles H. Kibler, 1858; Charles H. Kibler, 1859. Mr. Kibler was the last mayor of the town of Newark. Having now a population of over five thousand it was incorporated as a city of the second class, March 2, 1860. First mayor, Gibson Atherton, 1860. Ar. Atherton continued to hold this office two terms, or including 1863; John W. Brice followed one term including 1865; Joel M. Dennis, one term, including 1867 ; John W. Brice, again one term, including 1869; George M. Grasser, one term, including 1871; James White, one term, including 1873; D. C. Winegarner, two terms, including 1877; and the present mayor, Isaac W. Bigelow, has served since the latter date.

The Ohio Gazetteer, published in 1831, makes this mention of Newark: "Distance from Cleveland by canal one hundred and seventy-six miles. North latitude 40° 4', west longitude 5° 26'. It was laid out in the year 1802, by the late General William C. Schenck, on the plan of Newark, in New Jersey, with streets from six to eight rods wide, all crossing each other at right angles. It is situated in a township of the same name, and contains two hundred and fifty dwelling houses, ten stores, five taverns, two printing offices, two large warehouses, a market house, a Methodist meeting house, and the usual county buildings."

The population of Newark in 1830, was 999; in 1835 1,392. The cholera visited the town in the summer of 1834; many of its inhabitants died, and the growth of the place was, probably, checked for a time. It grew slowly but steadily until about 1850 when it took another long stride forward.

Three railroads entered the place between 1848 and 1855, and brought to Newark the light and

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life of commerce; and since that time its growth and development have kept pace with the surrounding. country.

The amount of business in the city may be summed up nearly as follows, though changes are continually occurring and the business can only be approximated. There are three agricultural implement stores; twenty-six attorneys at law; two auction and commission merchants; eight bakers and confectioners; two banks; ten barbers; nine blacksmiths; one boiler maker; two book and stationery stores; twenty-three boot and shoe stores and manufacturing and repairing establishments; two brickyards; one broom maker; three carriage makers; six china, glass and queensware stores; five clothing stores; ten or more coal dealers; three commission merchants; two express companies; five dentists; eight drug stores; eight dry goods stores; two flouring mills, doing a large business; four foundries and machine shops ; two furniture dealers; about fifty or sixty retail grocery establishments; two wholesale grocers; two gunsmiths; three hardware stores; five hat and cap stores; five hotels; a large number of insurance and other agents; eight livery stables; four lumber dealers; two marble works; seven meat markets; eight merchant tailors; five newspapers; one notion.store; four photographers; twenty-five physicians; three planing mills; four printing establishments, of which that of Clark & Underwood, of the American, stands at the head; four saddlery and harness shops; one saw-mill; three sewing machine agencies; one soap and candle factory; five stove and tin stores; two tanners and curriers; three wagon makers; and two fine jewelry establishments. Probably no jewelry houses in central Ohio have a finer stock, or a better established reputation than those of Henry C. Bostwick and H. S. Sprague. Besides the above regular business establishments Newark has the usual number of cigar makers and establishments, saloons, restaurants, small manufactories of different kinds,. and many smaller business concerns. Yet the business of Newark is not what it should be, considering its location on the edge of the great coal fields, and is not, probably, what it will be in the future.

It has advantages almost unsurpassed for business and manufacturing, and it would seem as if the latter department of business, especially, must continually increase as the years go by. Indeed, since the country has revived from the panic of 1873, manufacturing has increased in Newark.

Among these establishments may be mentioned the stove works of. Ashley & Kibler, established two years ago, in the old Mosier foundry, Thomas' foundry and machine shops were established about x866. It is conducted by Mr. J. E. Thomas. Simpson's plow works. were established in 1851; the Newark marble works, in 1841, by O. F. Mehurin; Ball & Ward's carriage and wagon works in 1836, and are still in successful operation, occupying two large buildings-a stone and frame -on the corner of Church and First streets. Messrs. Gardner & Vance's planing-mill was established in 1873; was burnt down in 1877, but rebuilt, of brick, and is now in successful operation. Stasel & Lamb's planing-mill was established in 1877, and that of A. Smucker & Sons in 1866. Space, however, forbids a satisfactory review of all the manufacturing and business interests of the city. Two large flouring mills are in successful operation; those of E. M. Montgomery and D. Thomas & Sons. The former stands at the foot of Church street, on the site of one of the first mills in the county, elsewhere mentioned. Both are using steam power, and doing a large and successful business.

Of banks, there are two at present-the Franklin and First National. The first of these was established about 1845, and was the first permanent bank started in Newark. There were, perhaps, two or three established before, one by the Smiths, in or about 1833. This latter bank was. in existence ten or a dozen years, the managers bringing their currency from Michigan for distribution here. The Franklin bank was a private institution, established by Edward Franklin, in the old brick building at the southwest corner of the square, where the Adams express company is now located. In 1849, Mr. Franklin admitted his son, John H., as partner, and the firm became Edward Franklin & Son. In 1859, the senior Franklin died, but the son continued the business under the same firm name until 1862, when he admitted his brother, Benjamin, and the firm became Edward Franklin's Sons: Joseph

552 - HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY.

Rider was admitted to the firm in 1873, and in 1876 this firm sold out to the present firm, Messrs. Robbins, Wing & Winegarner, who conducted the business under the old firm name. The Franklins erected the present brick block, at the southwest corner of the square, and moved the business into it about 1850.

The First National bank began operations in 1865, with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars. Mr. J. Buckingham was president and Virgil H. Wright cashier. Its first location was where Messrs. Dougherty & Dodd's tin shop is now located. In 1869-70, the proprietors erected the present brick block, on the comer of Third street and public square, fitting up a room for their purpose in the corner of the building and moving into it in 1870.

As a place of residence Newark cannot be greatly excelled The citizens are largely intelligent, sociable, and the larger part of them enjoying most of the good things of the world; there are no division lines worthy of mention-no class or aristocracy-the only requisite of good citizenship and good standing being obedience to the laws and the dictates of humanity.

The population of. the city in 1880 was nine thousand six hundred and two, and the number of streets one hundred and one.

It may not be well to close this chapter without placing upon permanent record a few facts regarding the various societies of the city, of which there are the usual number.

The Young Men's Christian association is just entering upon the fifth year of its existence with as bright prospects as it has ever enjoyed. The work performed the past year is fully equal to that of previous years. The workers have been fewer in number, but they have been all the more faithful. More workers are needed.

The reading-room is as inviting a place as can be found anywhere. The supply of papers is good; a few more are needed, however, and more magazines and books. The financial condition of the association is much better than it was a year ago. The reliable subscriptions are sufficient to cover all indebtedness, except a balance of about fifty dollars due on the organ. The amount of subscriptions secured last year was six hundred dollars; if the same amount shall be secured this year the association will be enabled to add to the attractions of the reading-room, and thereby increase the number of readers. The attendance, as it is, is undiminished. The association feels that it is entitled to the support of the good people of the city in its works, and is gratified to know that its work is being appreciated.

The Ladies' Library association was organized in March, 1871. A few ladies met at the residence of Mr. George M. Davidson, where the society was organized, and where they continued to meet for six months or more, when they occupied a room belonging to Mr. T. J. Davis, over the First National bank. In this room their meetings were held about six years, when they removed to Jerome Buckingham's law office. In the spring of 1880, their society and its possessions having grown somewhat beyond the limits of a law office, they secured a room in the court house, where the society now meets, and where it has collected about one thousand volumes.

Mrs. Jerome Buckingham, Mrs. Virgil Wright, Mrs. T. J. Davis, Mrs. George Davidson, Miss Minnie Sprague and others were influential in establishing this society. Mrs. Davidson was its first president, and Miss Sprague, secretary and treasurer. The membership fee was two dollars per annum, but books are let to those not members by the payment of ten cents per volume. This society is gradually obtaining a firmer foot-hold, and is considered a permanent institution.

The Licking County Medical society was organized in 1874. About forty years ago a society had been in existence called the "Licking County Medical and Philosophical society," which had been abandoned after a few years operation.

The first meetings of the present society, before organization, were held in the office of Dr. Charles P. King, that gentleman being very active in the matter. The first meeting for organization, at which about twenty physicians appeared, was held in the drug store of Collins & Thurston. Dr. Barrows was elected president. The society has steadily grown since that time until it includes most of the physicians of the county and some outside of it. The meetings are now held in the court house, in the same room occupied by the

HISTORY OF LICKING COUNTY. - 553

Pioneer society. In this room they have a few anatomical collections, and the nucleus of a library. In a pamphlet written by Dr. King, the members of the society in 1879 are given as follows:

Drs. James Ewing, Hebron, Ohio; P. C. Allen, Utica, Ohio; E. Sinnet, Granville, Ohio; Edward Vail, Newark, Ohio; Thomas H. Roe, Newark, Ohio; Charles P. King, Newark, Ohio; E. S: Brown, Newark, Ohio; J. Watkin, Granville, Ohio, G. W. Garison, Utica, Ohio; J. W. Alexander, Chatham, Ohio; Ira M. Hull, St. Louisville, Ohio; W. N. Walcott, Jacksontown, Ohio; H. Culbertson, Zanesville, Ohio; J. F. Baldwin, Columbus, Ohio; G. M. Blackburn, Appleton, Ohio; E. R. Pratt, Johnstown, Ohio; Joseph Rogers, Utica, Ohio; A. Follett, Granville, Ohio; B. F. Spencer, Newark, Ohio; J. R Black, Newark, Ohio; J. Wotring, Newark, Ohio; James Larimore, Newark, Ohio; A. T. Speer, Newark, Ohio; J. H. Brooke, Newark, Ohio; William A. Dunbauld, Homer, Ohio; W. D. Otis, Pataskala, Ohio; S. C. Priest, Newark, Ohio; W. L. King, Homer, Ohio; Z. C. DeElroy, Zanesville, Ohio; M. F. Lee, Homer, Ohio; D. H. Ralston, Newark, Ohio; H. T. Lacey, Newark, Ohio.

Honorary members: Drs. - James H. Pooley, Columbus, Ohio; John W. Russell, Mt. Vernon, Ohio; E. F. Bryan, Granville, Ohio; Honorable Isaac Smucker, Newark, Ohio.

The first Masonic lodge of Newark (No. 97) was organized April 5, 1822; the first officers being Stoddard J. Miles, W. M.; Lucius Smith, S. W.; Zachariah Davis, J. W.; James M. Taylor, treasurer, and David Bell, secretary. This organization continued working under dispensation until October 4, 1828, when the charter was received, and the following were the first officers under this charter: Corrington W. Searls, W. M.; Robert Hazlett, S. W.; John W. Anderson, J. W.; William W. Gault, treasurer; Elijah Cooper, secretary; Horace Gregory, S. D.; John Wolfe, J. D., and Zachariah Davis, tyler.

Since that date the following Masonic lodges have been organized in Newark: Warren Chapter No. 6, R. A. M., chartered October 1, 1839; Bigelow Council No. 7, R & S. M., chartered October 22, 1841; Ahiman Lodge No. 492, F. & A. M., chartered October 21, 1874; Newark Commandery No. 34, K. T., chartered August 28, 1878.

The society of Odd Fellows supports two lodges and an encampment in the city. The first of these was Olive Branch Lodge No. 34, instituted October, 1843; Newark Lodge No. 623, and Mount Olive Encampment, No. 12.

In addition to these there are lodges of Good Templars, divisions of Sons of Temperance, lodges of Red Men, Knights of Pythias, Order of United American mechanics, Druids, literary societies, debating associations, reading and social clubs, musical coteries, teachers institutes and other institutions of kindred character.