HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1075 school-house in the southern part of Falls Township. In about 1845 the present church at Ewing was erected. The pastor at that time was F. W. Richman. Some of the earliest members of the church were: Adam, John and Jacob Keller, Peter Miller, Lawrence Beusenhaver, John Hengst, William Finkey, Lewis Snyder, and Christopher Marks. Between 1850 and 1860 the society split. A part of the members joining together built a new church a little over half a mile north of the old one, in Falls Township. The old society has since maintained its standing, and has had regular preaching all the time. It has now about twenty-five members. The present Pastor is Lewis F. Mitler. NEW MT. PLEASANT is situated on the southern line of the township, the postoffice, church and several other buildings being across the line in Vinton County. In 1832 a road was cut through the woods by the early settlers, from Uriah Linton's place near the center of the township, to the McArthur road, and at this junction the town of New Mt. Pleasant has since sprung up. A tannery was built here soon after the completion of this road and a store was started a month or so later. It now has three stores, two of which are in this county. It has a blacksmith shop, cooper shop and wagon shop, and a school-house in this county, the Methodist Episcopal church being across the line. The postoffice, also being in Swan Township, Vinton County, is called Swan postoffice. POINT PLEASANT was designed for a village, but never fairly attained that dignity. It is on section 19, near the eastern border of the township. It was laid out into town lots, and at one time had a blacksmith shop and a postoffice, but now has neither. It was never inhabited by more than one or two families at a time. Fairview Church, the only United Brethren society now in this township, is situated on section 32, near the southern border of the township. Very soon after the advent of the Methodist Episcopal missionaries into this wilderness active men of this denomination made their appearance, earnestly preaching the gospel of Christ and securing converts to their own doctrine. The first meetings were those of a few pioneers, already followers of this faith, at the house of Aaron Hanesworth, Sr. This was a very active 1076 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. and devoted society, having such able preachers as Bishop Edwards, then a young man, and a Mr. Bright, also an enthusiastic worker. These were also traveling preachers, but they visited this society only irregularly; The meetings began as early as 1840, but a permanent organization was not effected until about 1845. Among the members at this time were Aaron Hanesworth, Sr., and wife, George Mauk and wife, Barney Eidson and wife, and James Reed and wife. They built their first church, a log building, 28 x 36 feet in size, and situated on the site of the present one, in' 1850. The present church, a frame building, was built in 1867, the dedicatory sermon being preached on the 12th of the following April. The present Pastor is J. M. Canter, the membership numbering about ninety. The house was repaired and ten feet added to it in 1881, making now 30 x 46 feet in dimensions. It has regular Sabbath-school the year around, superintended at present by J. R West. CEMETERIES. There are cemeteries at each of the churches described in this township besides one on section 5, at the site of church which was burned there, one on the site of the old Union Church on section 11, and a few private cemeteries on farms. BIOGRAPHICAL. James Blackstone, born Jan. 27, 1822, in Guernsey County, Ohio, son of James and Nancy (Dennis) Blackstone, both natives of Chester County, Penn. The parents of both Mr. and Mrs. Blackstone settled in Guernsey County on adjoining farms where they grew up and married, making that county their home until the time of their death. Mr. Blackstone died when James was about two years of age. Mrs. Blackstone afterward married her brother-in-law, Thos. Blackstone. Both are now dead, Mrs. Blackstone dying in 1876. The children of her first marriage were—James and William. By the second there were seven children—Harriette (deceased), Elizabeth, Thomas, Christiana J. (deceased), Vinston (deceased), Eben and Isaac. James Blackstone, the eldest, grew to manhood in Guernsey County. Although the educational facilities were very limited, he received a fair education. During the greater part of the time he helped his father on the farm. Ile was married July 4, 1842, to Maria E. Sheley, who vas born in Guernsey County, April 15, 1821. Previous to HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1077 this he began working at the cabinet trade which he continued after he was married. Then he turned his attention to carpentering, which occupation he followed in the vicinity of Claysville for nineteen years in succession. In 1861 he came to Hocking County where he had eighty acres, a part of the farm on which he now lives. He moved into an old log cabin not three rods from where his residence now stands. In connection with his work on farm he also kept at his trade during the summer months, having erected a number buildings in this and Vinton counties. At two different times he made additions to his farm, having at present 226 acres under good cultivation. The land has large veins of iron ore, also some coal running through it. Mr. Blackstone has been connected with the United Brethren church since 1862. He was reared a Methodist, and has been a member of the church since he was sixteen years of age. He has been School Director of Washington Township for the last three years. They have had seven children, five of whom are now living, two SODS and three daughters—Nancy Jane, Charlotte C. (deceased), Mary Maria, William Brown, Joseph H., Martha Ellen, and one dying in infancy. Mr. Blackstone has always been a hard-working man, and although he has shared all the hardships common to the times in which he lived he is now, at the age of sixty-one years, enjoying remarkably good health. He is still full of that force and energy which have all along marked his life. He has been a devout man, being a constant reader of the scriptures. Taking Christ for his example, he has tried to live in accordance with His teachings. For the last fifteen years he has been Class-leader in his church, and has lived to see all of his family brought within its protecting folds, As a citizen, he has many friends, and is honored and respected by them all. In 1861 he enlisted in the Ohio National Guards, and, on the first of May, 1863, was mustered into the regular army at Columbus for 100 days. He served out his time and returned home. In the fall of 1864 he was drafted into the army and served till the close of the war. He was mustered out of the service at Richmond, Va., June, 1865, and returned home in July, 1865. He was in Company G, Sixty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry. John Griffin was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., Aug. 2, 1816, a son of John Griffin, a native of the same county, born July 26, 1768. His grandfather, Patrick Griffin, was a native of Ireland, born in 1746, and came to America when a young man 1078 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. He died in 1834. His wife, Margaret (Allgire) Griffin, died in 1840, aged eighty-six years. John Griffin, Sr., was married when twenty-six years of age to Susan Herring, a daughter of John and Christia Ann Herring. She was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., Dec. 8, 1798. They had a family of eleven children, all but one living till maturity. Three sons and two daughters are still living. Mr. Griffin died Nov. 11, 1854, and Mrs. Griffin, Aug. 24, 1868. John Griffin, Jr., lived on a farm till he was eighteen years old, and then went to learn the blacksmith's trade, working two and a half years for George Albert, of Youngstown, Pa. He was then variously employed till his marriage. In 1839 he came to Ohio and bought eighty acres of land in Salt Lick Township, Perry County, but did not settle in Ohio till 1848. May 27, 1849, he married Catharine Sowers, daughter of John and Catharine Sowers. She is a native of Frederick County, Md., born March 14, 1819. The summer after his marriage Mr. Griffin worked on a farm and the next winter at his trade. In the spring of 1850 he settled on his farm, moving into a little log cabin, where he lived five years. April 3, 1855, he came to Hocking County, and bought the farm of 165 acres where he now lives. In August, 1878, he had his barn and all its contents destroyed by fire; value, $1,200, insured for $700. Mr. and Mrs. Griffin have had five children—John Alexander, born Oct. 21, 1854; James Augustus, April 17, 1856; Susan Agnes and Mary Ann (twins), Nov. 7, 1857; Peter Franklin, Oct. 30, 1860. Mrs. Griffin's mother died when she was four years old and she with a younger sister was reared by her grandfather, Michael Lutz. John Hansel.—The grandfather of the subject of our sketch, Henry Hansel, was a native of Pennsylvania, and moved from there to Fairfield County, Ohio, at an early date. In 1818 he moved his family to Hocking County, and settled on Scotch Creek, in Falls Township. He reared a family of seven children, all now deceased. George Hansel, the eldest son, was born in Fairfield County in 1806. He was married in 1829 to Anna Mary Punsey, whose parents were from Pennsylvania, early settlers of Fairfield and Hocking counties. She was born Feb. 5, 1805. After his marriage he entered 160 acres of land three miles east of Logan where he resided till his death. At the time of his death he had between 400 and 500 acres of land, and had also given each of his children $1,000. He also had some town property in Logan. He was a prominent member of the Lutheran church. He died in August, HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1079 1870. His widow is now living on the old homestead, aged seventy-eight years. She is the mother of ten children, three sons and four daughters now living. John Hansel was born Aug. 27, 1831. He was married Dec. 23, 1853, to Emily Harden, a native of this township, born March 29, 1834 and a daughter of Even Harden. After his marriage he bought 181 acres of wild land, only a small portion being cleared. On this place he lived seventeen years, and in 1870 purchased his preseut residence of 167 acres, having now 348 acres. Feb. 1, 1879, his house was destroyed by fire. He immediately erected his present house, which is a large two-story frame. Politically Mr. Hansel is a Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Hansel have had ten children, only six now living—Ephraim, married Mary Armstrong; William, married Wilmina Corter; Mary Ann, wife of C. F. Brandt; Almeda Jane, Sarah Cora and Benjamin Ruggles. George Riley died at the age of seventeen years; Evan, aged fourteen; Eliza Jaue, aged one, and one died in infancy. They have one adopted child—Jacob Hansel, the son of a brother of Mr. Hansel. Ephraim Harden, son of Even and Eliza Harden, was born in Perry County, Ohio, April 29, 1831. In September of the same year he came with his father to Hocking County, where he was reared. He was married March 30, 1854, to Susan Stiveson, born in Hocking County, May 18, 1835, and daughter of John and Elizabeth Stiveson. They have four children—Joel, born July 8, 1855, married to Rachel Campbell; Eliza Jane, born Oct. 29, 1856, wife of Aaron Zeller; Luciuda, June 24, 1858, and Elmer, Sept. 8, 1865. In June, 1856, he purchased eighty acres of land but did not reside on it till 1862. In April, 1878, he purchased eighty acres, now having in one tract of land 160 acres, where he resides. Politically Mr. Harden is a Democrat, having always voted that ticket. Even Harden, son of Ignatius and Rachel (Griffith) Harden, was born near Pleasantville, Fairfield Co., Ohio, March 12, 1805. He was reared in Perry County, and remained with his father till his death. In 1831 he moved to Washington Township, Hocking Co., Ohio, where he lived nine years. He bought his farm near Ewing in October, 1840, where he still resides. He was married Sept. 20, 1827, to his cousin, Eliza Harden, born in Bedford County, Penn., May 10, 1810, and died Jan. 5, 1880. They have had six children, three of whom are living—William E., married to Lucetta Harsh; Ephraim, married to Susanna Stiveston, and 1080 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. Emily, wife of John Hansel. Politically Mr. harden is a Democrat, he having cast his first Presidential vote for General Jackson. Ignatius Harden was born in 1710, and was an old Revolutionary soldier. In the fall of 1800 he moved to Fairfield County, and in 1805 he located in Perry County, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1827, he having lived to be 117 years of age. His wife died in the fall of 1856. They reared a family of twelve children, seven sons and five daughters. Enos Knipe, born in Montgomery, Penn., April 20, 1820, son of John L. and Margaret Knipe. In 1842 he came with the family to Muskingum County, Ohio, where his father died two years later. He was married in Muskingum County, in December, 1846, to Eliza, a native of Loudoun County, Va., and daughter of Samuel Amick. They have two children—John W., born Sept. 22, 1847, and Maria Jane. John W. was married to Angeline Linton in 1870, and has two children —Charlie G. and Albert C. April 1, 1849, Mr. Knipe moved to Hocking County and has now 236 acres of land. He has been connected with the Lutheran church for the past twenty years, his wife having joined when she was sixteen years old. In politics Mr. Knipe is a Democrat. Elijah, Lee was born Dec. 10, 1829, in Hocking (now Swan Station, Vinton) County. His grandfather, James Lee, was a native of Ireland and when a young man came to America and lived seven years in Pennsylvania. He then put all his earnings into flaxseed and started back to Ireland. On the way over there was a storm and the seed with all other cargo was thrown overboard, in order to save the ship and passengers. Mr. Lee soon after returned to Pennsylvania and settled in Germantown. He married Elizabeth Krickburn, a German lady. They had four children, two sons and two daughters. George Lee, the youngest of their family, was born in 1798, and in 1816 came to Ohio with his father and brother James, locating in what is now Starr Township, Hocking Couuty. He was Married in 1820 to Martha O'Neil, a native of Portage County, Ohio, born Oct. 8, 1800. They had a family of six children—Samuel, Nancy, George W. (died March 6, 1874), Ross, Eli jah and Julia A. Mr. Lee died Sept. 14, 1831, and his wife, Aug. 12, 1866. Elijah Lee was married Nov. 8, 1860, to Eliza A. Bartlett, a native of La Porte County, Ind., born Dec. 20, 1838. After his marriage he located on seventy-eight acres of land near his present residence,which he bought in 1865, having now 268 acres, lying in Hocking and Vinton counties. Mr. and Mrs. Lee have HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1081 had six children, five now living—Vernon W., Martha J., Homer M., Elijah E. and Emmet S. Lida died Aug. 16, 1878, aged eight years, one month and twenty-six days. Mrs. Lee's father, Cephas Bartlett, was born in Massachusetts, June 11, 1794, and when twenty-one years of age came to Ohio and settled in Hocking County. He was by trade a stone mason and made the first burrs in the Falls Mill at Logan and in the mill at McArthur. He married in March, 1821, Louisa Evarts, a native of Castleton, Vt., born Sept. 22, 1795. her father, Ambrose Evarts, and his family were one of the seven families who first settled in Athens County, and her brother; G. A. Evarts, was the first white male child born in Athens County in 1797. In 1837 Mr. Bartlett went to LaPorte County, Ind., but in June, 1839, returned to Hocking County, and resided here till his death, Aug. 25, 1817. Mrs. Bartlett died Jan. 10, 1871. Silas Nixon, youngest of twelve children of Robert and Catheriue (Sapp) Nixon, was born March 3, 1827, near Straitsville, Perry Co., Ohio. The family moved from Virginia to Perry County, Ohio, where they settled about 1818. Our subject was married April 5, 1849, to Mary Cochran, a native of Perry County, where she was born Sept. 20, 1829. She is a daughter of Joseph Cochran. They have six children—Sarah Jane, wife of Philip Marx, residing near Lancaster, Fairfield County; Thomas, married to Lydia Clark, residing on Mr. Nixon's farm in Perry County; Emanuel and Amanda (twins), the former married to Mary Gordon; Clara and Alva. After marriage Mr. Nixon lived in different places till 1855, when he came to Hocking County where he settled in his present residence. He has 165 acres of land in a high state of cultivation, and has been very successful in his business relations. In 1862 he joined the Baptist church, holding his membership at the Scotch Creek church in Falls Township. Politically he has always associated himself with the Democratic party. Mr. Robert Nixon died in December, 1828, and his wife survived him twenty years. William Noble, born Dec. 22, 1810, in Washington County, Peun. His father, William Noble, was a native of Ireland, and emigrated to America with his wife, Elizabeth (O'Neil) Noble and an infant, where they lived east of the mountains for three or four years, and then settled in Pennsylvania, where Mrs. Noble died. In the fall of 1833 the family moved to Guernsey County, Ohio, where Mr. Noble lived till his death. They had a family of thir- 1082 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. teen children, ten of whom lived to maturity. William Noble, the subject of this sketch, was twenty-two years of age when he moved with his father to Guernsey County. He was married July 12, 1839, to Mary Ann Ogier, a native of Germany. They have three living children—William, married to Kate Sell; James, married to Jemima Lautz, and Celia Ann, wife of Joseph Cherry. Mrs. Noble had one daughter, Mary Josephine, by a previous marriage, who was reared by Mr. and Mrs. Noble till her marriage with Albert Hartsell. In April, 1841, Mr. Noble moved to Hocking County, where he lived till 1845, when for the following three years he resided in Perry County. In the spring of 1819 he returned to Hocking County and bought the place where he now lives, it being very little cleared at that time. He went in debt for the land, but in the course of ten years he had made the last payment, and at the present time has 150 acres of land, which is well supplied with iron ore and veins of coal. Mr. Noble was reared in the Presbyterian church. In early life he was a Democrat, but since the formation of the Republican party he has associated himself with it. Peter Pleukharp was born Oct. 15, 1824, in Hocking County, Ohio. His father, Peter Pleukharp, was a native of Germany, and when about twenty-five years of age came to the United States and settled in Fairfield County, Ohio, where he remained two years, and while there he was married to Margaret Goss, also a native of Germany. In 1822 he came to Falls Township, Hocking Co., Ohio, where he entered land, and remained in the township till his death, which occurred in Logan, Nov. 3, 1850. He had at the time of his death 323 acres of land, and also some property in Logan. His wife died in Fairfield County. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom ten are living. Peter Pleukharp was reared in Falls Township, and lived with his parents till he attained his majority. Oct. 18, 1849, he was married to Catherine Clark, a native of Falls Township. They have six children—Mary Emily and Sarah Ann (twins), the former married to George Keifer, of Ward Township, and the latter to Clinton Walker, of Licking County, ̊hid; James, married to Emily Barnett, residing in Vinton County, Ohio; Maggie, wife of Frank Leamon, of McArthur, Vinton County; Eli and Clara, residing at home. After his marriage he lived eighteen months a mile south of the Falls Mill, when he moved on his father's old homestead which he rented for three years. In 1852 he purchased his present place in Washington Township, buying at first eighty acres; by subsequent purchases HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1083 he has at present 155 acres. In 1878 he united with the Scotch Creek Baptist church, in Falls Township. Politically he has always been a Republican. George Clark, the father of Mrs. Pleukharp, was a native of Virginia, born Oct. 16, 1786, settled in Fairfield County, Ohio, where he lived two years. He then went to Scotch Creek, Hocking County, where he entered forty acres of laud, but at different times added to it, so that at his death he had 345 acres, a part of which was previously deeded to his children. Mr. Clark married for his second wife Mary Harris, also a native of Virginia, by whom he had seven children, three sons and four daughters, all of whom are living. He died on the place he settled, Nov. 16, 1S78, after living on it over sixty years. His wife departed this life about eleven months previous. Peter Rauch was born in Yellow Creek, Pa., Aug. 12, 1836. His father, Peter Rauch, was a native of Germany, coining to this country when a young man. He was married to Mary Magdalene Bower in Pennsylvania, and remained in that State a few years. In 1838 they moved to Ohio, where they settled in Washington Township, Hocking County. After living here three years he died, leaving a widow who still survives him. They were the parents of four children, three of whom lived to maturity. Their son, Frederick, was killed by a freight train June 9, 1881. Peter Rauch, our subject, left his home in December, 1853, and commenced to learn the saddler's trade at Logan, at which he continued there till December, 1859. He next went to Delaware County, Ind., and worked at his trade till March, 1862, when he returned to Hocking County and tried farming for a year. In 1863 he went to Logan, again working at his trade three years, when his health began to fail him. Accordingly in 1867 he purchased the old home farm, and sold it in 1875, when he bought his present farm. He has 120 acres of well-improved land. Dec. 31, 1863, he was married to Hannah Kimble, born Oct. 10, 1843, and daughter of George and Bethena (Watts) Kimble. They are the parents of eleven children, whose names are—Mary Ellen, Laura, Clara, Cora May, Emma, Nettie Myrtle, Charles, Minnie Arvilla, Iona and Miona (twills), and William. Politically Mr. Rauch favors the Democratic party. However, in local elections he always votes for the man he deems best fitted for the office, irrespective of party. Wesley F. Reddick was born Jan. 4, 1839, in Washington Township, Hocking Co., Ohio, about a mile from his present residence. His father, Jacob Reddick, was born in Maryland in 1794, and 1084 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. when a young man moved to Perry County, where he worked at the blacksmith's trade a few years. he was married iu Perry County to Martha Kelly, a native of Virginia. In 1829 he settled in Washington Township, Hocking County, where he worked at his trade for eight or ten years, spending the rest of the time at farming till death, which occurred May 19, 1869, aged seventy-five years. His wife died June 15, 1879, at the age of seventy-five years. They had thirteen children, all but one living to maturity, and eight are living at the present time, whose names are—William, George, Joseph, L. H., W. F., Elizabeth (wife of Cromwell Egleston), Mary (wife of Isaac Johnson), Martha, (wife of Isaac Mathias). Wesley F. Reddick was reared in Washington Township, living with his father till his twenty-first year. In 1861 he enlisted in Company H, Seventy-fifth Ohio Infantry, Captain Pilcher, and Colonel McLean commander of the regiment. He served three years and two months, having participated in the battles of Bull Run, Gettysburg, Gainesville, and an engagement at the Rappahannock. He was mustered out of service in the winter of 1864, and reached home Jau. 3, 1865. From 1865 to 1872 he lived in Pickaway and Hocking counties and in Illinois, and in August, 1872, he returned to Hocking County and purchased his present farm, containing 158 acres, situated near New Mount Pleasant. He was married in October, 1873, to Mary Elizabeth, daughter of George Souders. She died May 3, 1875. Mr. Reddick was again married March 16, 1877, to Eleanor Jane Clark, who was born in Belmont, Jan. 13, 1841, and reared in Vinton County from the time she was two years old. They have two children—Charlie B., born Jan. 4, 1878, and Carrie Iretha, born Dec. 23, 1882. Mr. Reddick is a member of the Methodist church and a Republican in politics. Samuel Riggs, son of Noah and Nancy (Shepler) Riggs, was born in Washington County, Pa., May 22, 1828. When an infant his parents removed to West Virginia, and lived near Wheeling till he was seventeen years of age. Iu 1845 they located in Guernsey County, Ohio, where they lived nine years, when they moved to Hocking County, where they resided till their death. Our subject was married on Dec. 25, 1856, to Sarah Ann, daughter of Samuel Johnston, one of the first settlers of Hocking County. They have ten children—William J., married to Laura Wright, and residing on a part of the farm; Charles W., Elizabeth, Mary J., Orlando A., Louisa B., George W., Samuel G., Noah F. and Ethel M. After marriage Mr. Riggs moved to his farm in Wash- HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1085 ington Township, where he resided for twenty years. In 1876 he purchased his present residence adjoining his farm. In his business career he has been very successful, having begun life without anything, but by his industry and careful management he has at present an excellent farm of 567 acres. He has been connected with the Methodist church for twenty-two years, being at present a member of Mount Pleasant church. Politically he is a Republican, having always been a strong supporter of that party. Mr. Noah Riggs is a native of Washington County. He died in 1871. His wife, Nancy (Shepley) Riggs, a native of Westmoreland County, Pa., died in 1862. They reared a family of eight children, two sons and six daughters, our subject being the fourth child. Daniel Schaal, born in York County, Pa., Oct. 31, 1828. His parents were August C. and Mary Agnes Schaal, both natives of Germany, Berlin being his father's birth-place, and Wurtemburg his mother's. They came to America with their three children in the spring of 1827, landing at Baltimore. Being without means they went to Pennsylvania and worked for the farmers there till they secured enough to take them farther. In 1831 they moved West and located in Muskingum County, Ohio. When they arrived in Zanesville Mr. Schaal had only 50 cents in cash and an old blind horse. They made Muskingum County their home for about six years, when they came to Hocking County, that portion which now forms a part of Vinton County. They died in October, 1869, Mrs. Schaal on the 10th, and Mr. Schaal one week later, the 17th. Mrs. Schaal was the mother of eleven children, eight of whom grew up—five sons and three daughters. One daughter has been dead about thirty-five years. Daniel Schaal, the fourth child, remained at home until he was nearly twenty-three years of age. His educational advantages were very limited, the country being new and schools a rarity. He was married June 5, 1851, to Anna Elizabeth Hengst, who was born in Prussia, June 30, 1828, daughter of John and Christina Hengst. The Hengst family came to this country in 1835 and settled in Lancaster, Fairfield Co., Ohio. After his marriage Mr. Schaal bought a forty-acre tract in Vinton County, and began farming. He remained on this farm till the fall of 1866, whew he removed to Hocking County and bought 320 acres in Washington Township, where he has ever since resided. This farm has been increased to 420 acres, and is now well improved. He was originally a Whig, and when that old party died he fell in line with the Democracy. He has been Township Trus- 1086 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. tee for six terms at different intervals, the last time holding the office for three consecutive terms, the last term expiring April 1, 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Schaal have had seven children, four of whom are now living—John W., married Harriet Funk; George, married Arminda Waller; Adam and Mary E. Schaal. Mr. Schaal has been connected with the Evangelical Lutheran church since 1819. His wife and children are also members of the same church. Israel Sonders was born in Perry County, Ohio, April 6, 1819, and is the son of Jacob and Mary Magdalene (Slater) Sonders, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Virginia. When three years of age his parents moved to Morgan County where he was reared till nineteen years of age, and where his mother still resides on the old homestead, his father having died soon after the close of the war. He was married Feb. 10, 1842, to Susanna Weller, a native of Morgan County. They have had eight children, two of whom died in infancy. Those living are—Eli W., Alfred A., Jacob G., Lavina J., Sarah A. and Luther. After his marriage Mr. Souders moved to Hocking County, and settled on the place he now resides when it was a dense wilderness. He has been a member of the Presbyterian church for ten or twelve years, previously belonging to the Lutheran denomination. Politically he was originally a Whig but is now a Republican. Thos. Swepston, M. D., born in Gallia County, Ohio, March 10, 1825. his father was John H. Swepston, a native of Pittsylvania County,Va. There he married Winnie Bruce. In 1823, with a family of six children, he came to Ohio, locating in Springfield Township, Gallia County. He moved in 1830 into Richland Township, Vinton County (then Jackson County), and settled on a farm. Mrs. Swepston died in 1874 and her husband in 1876. They had fourteen children, seven sons and seven daughters, all of whom lived to be themselves parents. Dr. Swepston was reared in Richland Township, Vinton County, living with his father till his twenty-first year. During this time he worked on the farm and attended the district school. He then hired out for one summer. The next winter he attended school. The following summer he was in school at McArthur and the next winter began teaching and continued in that vocation five winter terms. He began in 1852 the study of medicine with Dr. Joseph Wilcox, of Allensville, under whose tutelage he became a physician. In 1856 he located at New Mount Pleasant, situated on the line between Hocking and Vinton counties, where he commenced the practice of medicine. HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1087 He attended lectures at the Cincinnati College of Medicine and Surgery during the sessions of 1857–'8. He has continually practiced here. and during a period of seven years was in partnership with Dr. John Holland, an old practitioner in this region. His practice has been large and very successful. He has been a Master Mason about seventeen years, and has held many offices in the lodge, and at present is Senior Deacon. He was married in 1849 to Love Samantha Darby, who was born in Richland Township, Vinton County. They have had six children, of whom four are now living—Salina M. (deceased), Pickney A., Kenzy P., Edna A., Mayo B., and one dying in infancy. William B. Wadsworth was born April 29, 1824, in Maryland, near the Pennsylvania line, a son of John C. and Margaret (Clinefeller) Wadsworth, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Maryland. The Wadsworth family is quite a numerous one in the East, and originally came from England. The Clinefelters were of Prussian-German descent. Peter Clinefelter, grandfather of William Wadsworth, in early times kept a tavern, and the Pennsylvania and Maryland State line ran through his house. In 1838 or 1839, John C. Wadsworth moved to Ohio. and settled in Morgan Comity, where he lived eleven years, when he moved to Vinton County and settled between Hamden and Allensville, near where the Cincinnati iron furnace now stands. He remained here about six years, and then moved to Iowa, where he died in 1879. His widow is still living in Decatur County. They reared a family of eleven children, of whom eight are now living. William B. is the eldest son now living. He lived with his father till after he was twenty-one years of age. He was married March 4, 1851, to Lydia C. Skivington, who was born in Morgan County, Ohio, March 25, 1828, a daughter of John Skivington. After his marriage he worked for other parties two years, and in April, 1853, bought a piece of land in the woods of Hocking County, with only six or seven acres cleared. He built a log house and moved into it in October. He lived there a number of years, and then lived in Ilesboro a year. In 1863 he bought his present place, which contains 280 acres. Mr. Wadsworth has been a member of the Methodist church forty-three years. He has had a family of five children, only two of whom are living—Arthur A. and Robert C. Eva May, Cornelius Shepard and a twin brother of Cornelius are deceased. Hiram K Wright was born Sept. 1, 1832, in Washington Township, Hocking Co., Ohio, a son of Joseph Wright, a native of Green Township, born Sept. 17, 1806. His grandfather, Thomas 1088 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. Wright, was one of the earliest settlers along the Hocking River. The Wrights were of Irish descent, and the wife of Thomas was a German lady. Joseph Wright was married at the age of twenty-one years to Levina Carver, a native of Washington County, Ohio. Shortly after his marriage he built a hewed-log house, a portion of which is still standing. He died June 17, 1860, and his wife Nov. 23, 1882. They had a family of thirteen children, rearing ten to maturity—Lucinda, wife of J. D. Sain, of Coles County, Ill.; Albert C., of Benton Township; Presley O., of Cromwell, Iowa; Hiram K., subject of this sketch; Mary, wife of George Bond, of Crawfordsville, Ind.; Robert W. S., of Coles County, Ill.; Ann Maria; Barbara, wife of Samuel Johnson, of Coles County, Ill.; Irwin C., a physician at Haydenville; Emily L., wife of Daniel Moore, of Coles County, Ill. Hiram K. Wright was married Sept. 5, 1858, to Susan Trout, a native of Washiugton Township, and a daughter of Paul Trout. She was born Aug. 17, 1837. They have four children—Clara A., Charles V., Stella L. and Bertha Bell. They have lost four—Mary L., aged three years; Eugenia F., aged eighteen months; Frank H., aged seventeen years, and Irvin D., aged twenty-one years. Mr. Wright attended the common schools of Washington Township and the Ohio University at Athens. He then taught school at intervals for eighteen terms. After his marriage he moved on a farm that he had previously bought, in Benton Township, and resided there three years, when he purchased the farm where he now resides in Washington Township. Mr. Wright was for eighteen years a member of the Methodist church, but in 1876 joined the Presbyterian church, and was shortly after elected Treasurer and Deacon. Politically he is a Democrat. Re has served two terms as Justice of the Peace, two terms as Township Trustee, and School Director and Supervisor, and has been President of the Board of Education. He has been the executor of one estate and administrator of another. He was guardian of a brother and sister, having the care of them from the ages of ten and fourteen till they were of age. BENTON TOWNSHIP. THE WONDERS OF QUEER CREEK. Benton Township lies upon the southern border, being in the south range of townships of the county. It is bounded on the north by Laurel Township, on the east by Washington Township and Vinton County, south by Vinton County, and west by Salt Creek HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1089 Township. The township has an area of 23,040 acres of land, broken in many places, and especially in the region of Queer Creek will be found deep ravines, the bold outlines of rocky bluffs, and the varied scenery of a country wonderful in its formation, suggesting to the mind—because of its weird-like appearance at twilight—a home for spirits to dwell in. The wonders of Queer Creek have not all yet been developed. Benton's wealth lies not altogether in the richness of her soil, for down in the bowels of the earth lies untold wealth. Iron ore of superior quality, coal in immense veins, apparently inexhaustible, promises of silver and lead and other mineral wealth, all attest the fact that when Benton Township shall have been thoroughly prospected and her hidden resources brought to the light of day, she will rank in material prosperity with the leading townships in the county. SILVER MINES. Indian tradition has located rich silver mines within her border, and quite an excitement was raised by a supposed find of silver ore on the farm of Mr. Moody in April, 1874. Some of the beet farming land is found in this region, drained by the waters of the Scioto, and the valleys of Benton Township are rich in soil and fertile in production: For sheep and stock generally it is unsurpassed. ITS STREAMS AND RAVINES. It is watered by Big Pine Run in the northwest, the branches of Queer Creek, Cedar Fork, which rise on the east, and Feed Rock Run in the southeast. These uniting form Queer Creek which, after some twelve miles of meandering, falls into Salt Creek on the border of Salt Creek Township. Grasses grow luxuriantly, and with its waters make it an admirable stock-raising country. Benton Township is given on the map as a congressional township, six miles square, but the assessor claims no less than 23,498 acres upon his roll. This is 458 acres more than a congressional township, and he has probably measured both sides of the most prominent hills in the township. This setting the land upon edges and measuring both sides seems to add considerable to the acreage of the township. Benton is in township 11 of range 18, and is one of the original townships in the county, and can probably boast of as energetic and enterprising people as any township in the county. - 69 - 1090 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. The following description of the remarkable valley of Queer Creek is taken nearly verbatim from an old publication of. Dr. S. P. Hildreth. " THE ROAD TO HELL." " The valley of Queer Creek, in the southwestern part of Hocking County, is a wild, romantic ravine, in which the stream has cut a passage several miles in extent through the solid rock, forming mural cliffs more than 120 feet in height. They are also full of caverns aud grottoes, clothed with dark evergreens of the hemlock and cedar. Near the outlet of this rocky and narrow valley there stood a few years since a large beech tree on which was engraved in legible characters, This is the road to hell, 1782. These words were probably traced by some unfortunate prisoner then on his way to the old Indian town of Chillicothe. This whole region is full of interesting scenery, and affords some of the most wild and picturesque views in the State of Ohio. It was once the favorite haunt of the bear, as the grottoes and caverns furnished fine retreats for their winter quarters. These caverns were also valuable for the vast beds of nitrous earth from which the old hunters, iu time of peace, extracted large quantities of saltpeter for the manufacture of gunpowder. One of these grottoes, well-known to the inhabitants of the vicinity by the name of ' Ash Cave,' remarkable for the great quantity of ashes it contains, is the most notable feature of the vicinity and receives a separate notice elsewhere. " These ravines and grottoes have all been formed in the outcropping edges of sandstone and conglomerate rocks, which underlie the coal fields of Ohio, by the wasting action of the weather and attrition of running water. The process is yet going on in several streams on the southwest side of Hocking County, where the water has a descent of thirty, forty or even fifty feet at a single pitch, and a fall of eighty or a 100 in a few rods. The falls of the Cuyahoga and the Hocking rivers are cut in the same geo!ogical formation. The water, in some of these branches, is of sufficient volume to turn the machinery of a saw-mill, and being lined and overhung with the graceful foliage of evergreen shrubs, furnishes some of the wildest and most beautiful scenery. This is especially so at the ' Cedar Falls' and the Falls of Black Jack.' " There is a tradition among the credulous settlers of this retired spot that lead ore was found here and worked by the Indians; and many a weary day has been spent in its fruitless search among the HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1091 cliffs which line all the streams of this region. Ashes and piles of cinders have often been found, and the pot holes' in the bench of the sand reek in Ash Cave,' evidently worn by the water at a remote period, have been taken for ancient contrivances for smelting the lead." The Wyandot Indians had possession of this tract of country, and there is every evidence to show that the valley of Queer Creek was one of their rendezvous, and doubtless a place of retreat from their savage neighbors when hostilities existed between them, and as game was also plenty to secure their supplies, nature could scarcely have furnished a safer retreat. ASH CAVE. The most striking and beautiful of all the scenes in Hocking County is so named from the vast quantity of ashes which it contains. It has been estimated by different persons to contain several thousand bushels. The author of an old historical work on Ohio says, in speaking of this, that he " visited this grotto in 1837, and should say there was, at that time, not less than three or four hundred bushels of clear ashes, as dry and free from moisture as they were on the day they were burned." The source of this unnatural and singular deposit yet remains among the mysteries. Whether they are the refuse of old saltpeter-makers, or whether they were piled up there in the course of ages by some of the aborigines who made these caverns their dwelling places, are only probable conjectures. The cave is formed by a projecting cliff at the head of a little stream, whose deep valley separates the bold rock-ribbed hills towering high above from the stately pines which grow at their base. At this point, which is the highest rock exposure in the county, the ledge is 120 feet high and projects over from the base a distance of about ninety feet, forming a semicircular cavern 600 feet in length, ninety feet deep and about ninety feet high. At one side of this semicircle, near the rock, lies the great heap of ashes which gives this beautiful place its name. From the center of the overhanging roof a little stream leaps down into a sparkling pool below, lending additional beauty and charm to the already sublime picture. For a distance of a quarter of a mile down the valley the rocky ledge on either side rises to a height of from eighty to 100 feet, forming a diversity of splendid natural scenery seldom surpassed. It is simply a huge, natural amphitheater where every step and every 1092 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. glance reveals new and striking wonders. Masses of rock are thrown together in magnificent confusion, many of them lichened and covered with mossy carpets of varied and gorgeous hues. From some points the eye takes in an entire view of the long rocky ledge from base to summit; another view presents the furrowed features of the rocky faces partially hidden by vines that clamber up their sides and the scraggy branches of the pines that grow up from below. SOME PLAIN PROSE. The first settler was Christian Eby, whose cabin was upon nearly the same spot where Bloomingville now stands, on Queer ()reek. Geo. Starkey was another early settler, also Moses Dolson. The first election held was at Eby's. The first sermon was preached by the Rev. David Dutcher. The first church was a Methodist Episcopal church, near the present site of Bloomiugville. Dr. Dutcher was its first Pastor, and the first mill was erected by Mr. Eby, on Queer Creek. This mill for quite a number of years was patronized by a large extent of country, The township has five churches—three Methodist, one Baptist and one United Brethren. The present Pastor of the Bloomingville Methodist church is the Rev. Levi Sparks. It has a membership of 130, and is one of the largest and most flourishing churches of this denomination in the county. The Rev. Levi Sparks is also the pastor of Wesley Chapel, an organization which is in an excellent condition. It has now ninety members. BLOOMINGVILLE. This village was laid out by John Chilcote who owned the land upon which it was located. Samuel and Christian Eby were the pioneer merchants of the place, their store being on the ground now occupied by George Gill as a drug store. While not likely to attain a very large size Bloomingville will grow, as it is a very necessary convenience for the farmers in that section of the county. There are now two general stores, one managed by John Goddard and the other owned by John Quellin. George Gill owns the drug store. There are two good country hotels, the Ohio House, by J. W. Iles, and the American, by William Evarts. Drs. Green and Redfern are the physicians. Miss Redfern has the only millinery store. There is one flouring and saw mill owned by Henry HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1093 O. Haynes, and one blacksmith shop, by John A. Smith. The present Postmaster is George Gill. The first Postmaster was Herschel Sanford who kept the office at his house about one and one-half miles east of Bloomingville. It was called at that time the “Rock House" postoffice. The first Postmaster at Bloomingville was Samuel Wilson, followed in the order named: Dr. Floyd, Samuel Wilson, J. J. Bilgen, Henry Burch, W. F. Englehart, Peter Eby, J. F. Starkey, W. H. Everett, J. T. McCormack, J. C. Wolfe and, as above stated, George Gill, the present officer. Stamp sales reach about $120 per annum. The town has a population of 250. The schools in the township number nine, and the amount of township funds for 1883 is $1,582.18. The schools are flourishing and the school-houses neat and comfortable. TOWNSHIP OFFICERS, 1883. Trustees, Jonathan Shaw, Isaac Hill and Andrew Devon; Treasurer, J. M. Buchanan; Clerk, George Gill; Assessor, H. Chilcote; Constables, Nathaniel Laicht and John Buckingham; Justices of the Peace, William Fleming and N. R. Petit. The population in 1850 was 933; 1860, 1,349; 1870, 1,448; 1880, 1,628. The assessed valuation of this township in 1882 was: Real estate, $167,851; personal property, $58,175. BIOGRAPHICAL. Benjamin H Allen, son of John and Saville Allen, was born in Perry County, Ohio, Feb. 20, 1845. When he was three years of age his parents came to Hocking County, where he was reared, remaining at home till his twenty-fifth year. June 6, 1869, he married Mary C. Herl. She died April 17, 1875, leaving three children, two now living. July 18, 1878, Mr. Allen married Sarah B. Vest. He was a school-teacher several years, but in September, 1874, bought the farm where he now lives, and since then has worked on the farm during the summer, still teaching during the winter months. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a man of considerable energy, and has been very successful in what he has undertaken. Mr. Allen has four children —Homer C., Eugene E., Prudence E. and Sculley 0. John Allen, Jr., born in Culpeper County, Va., July 13, 1818, was a son of John and Margaret (Umphrey) Allen, natives of Virginia. When he was quite young his parents came to Ohio and 1094 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. settled near Roseville, Muskingum County. While he was still a boy his father died and the support of the family fell on him and his brother Jasper. He was married April 1, 1841, to Savilla God-love, daughter of John Godlove, and settled on his portion of his father's estate, where he lived till 1846. He then sold his farm and came to Hocking County and bought the farm where he now lives. Mr. Allen is the father of twelve children, ten now living —Matilda A., now Mrs. Louis Seymore; Benjamiu H.; Elizabeth, now Mrs. 'David Jadwin; Julia A., now Mrs. E. Huffman; John, married Mary Vest; Philander, Minerva, Margaret E. and Savilla. Mr. Allen is a member of the United Brethren Church. Politically he is a Democrat. George Amerine, born in Belmont County, Ohio, July 11, 1820, is a son of Peter and Nancy (McConett) Amerine, natives of Pennsylvania. In 1833 his parents moved to Perry County, Ohio, and in 1845 he came to Hocking where, with the exception of six years, he has since resided. He was reared on a farm and received his education in the country schools, paying his own tuition. The first farm he bought was in Vinton County, at that time part of Hocking, and but little more than a wilderness. In 1855 he sold that farm and bought the one then known as the Adam Brown farm. He has always been a hard-working man, and by his good management has now a fine farm of 180 acres. He has had eight children horn to him, two of whom are dead. Three are married and are making for themselves good homes. Mr. Amerine has been a member of the Methodist church since nineteen years of age. Eli J. Dennis, son of Elias and Matilda (Walters) Dennis, was born Feb. 23, 1834, in Perry County, Ohio. When he was six months old his parents came to Hocking County, where he was reared and educated. June 6, 1858, he married Mary M. Poling, daughter of Abraham Poling. After his marriage he rented land for three years, and then took a lease for some land of Simon Deaver, remaining on it nine years. In March, 1870, he bought eighty acres in Benton Township, which he has brought to a good state of cultivation. Besides being a farmer he is by trade a stone-mason, and is one of the best in the county. Mr. and Mrs. Dennis have had fourteen children, twelve of whom are living—Mary C., Allie A., David, Barbary, Vance, Cynthia, George, Jacob, Denona, Effie, Henry and James H. One son, Vance, has had the spinal meningitis twice, and is now a cripple, probably for life. HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1095 W. B. Fleming, son of Joseph and Jane E. (Middleton) Fleming, was born April 4, 1836, in Virginia. In 1842 his pareuts came to Ohio and settled in Licking County. When sixteen years of age he went to work for David Waters as an apprentice to learn the trade of a millwright, and worked at that trade till 1861. April 27, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Fourteenth Ohio Infantry, for three months. In August, 1861, he enlisted in the Thirty-eighth Ohio Infantry, for a year, and participated in the battles at Phillipi, Laurel Hill and Carrick Ford. July 19, 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundredth Ohio Infantry for three years. During his latter term of enlistment he was in the engagement at Knoxville, through the Georgia campaign, the battles of Franklin and Nashville, then to Washington, Wilmington and Greensboro, where he was mustered out July 13, 1865. He was married in September, 1869, to Miss M. J., daughter of John and Polly Brewer, of Tennessee. He lived in Tennessee ten years after his marriage, working at his trade. In 1881 he came to Ohio and located in Logan, and in August, 1882, came to Bloomingville. He was elected Justice of the Peace April 2, 1883. He has been a member of the T. 0. 0. F. fraternity since 1858. He is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. P. J. Green, M. D., son of John and Catharine (Darwin) Green, was born Feb. 17, 1817, in Enniskillen, Fermanagh County, Ireland, and came to the United States with his parents in 1829. They came to Ohio in 1832, locating first in Muskingum County, and in the spring of 1833 moved to Perry County. His fathergave him the benefit of a liberal education, intending to fit him for the priesthood in the Catholic church, but he did not coincide with his father's plans, and so, when nineteen years of age left home to take care of himself. In the fall of 1837 he entered the Cincinnati Medical College and attended three sessions, graduating in 1839. He was clerk on the river steamer Tuscarawas for four years and a half, and was on board at the time it was blown up with gunpowder. He then went to Cuba, but did not remain long, returning via New Orleans to Perry County, where he taught school twelve months. Sept. 3, 1845, he married Asenath Dollison and moved to Muskingum County, where he taught school and reviewed his medical studies three years. In October, 1849, he came to Hocking County and entered upon the practice of his profession in Logan. After a residence there of two years he went to New Mt. Pleasant, where he remained eight years. He then went to 1096 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. Kingston, Ross County, but in 1S60 left there and came to Bloom-. ingville, where he still resides. He has, by close application to his profession, acquired a large and lucrative practice. Dr. Green has reared a family of seven children, six now living. Samuel S. Iler, son of William and Ann (Berry) Iler, was born in Hocking County, Jan. 30, 1851. He was thrown on his own resources when quite young, but succeeded in getting a fair English education in the public schools. He was married Jan. 4, 1872, to Emma, daughter of Basil and Margaret A. Black. They have five children—Minnie, Lillie, Dellie, Joseph N. and Noah W. After his marriage Mr. Iler settled on the farm where he now lives, on section 6, Benton Township. He makes a specialty of fruit, taking great pride in his work, and being one of the largest fruit-growers in the county. He joined the Disciple church in March, 1872. Politically, he is a Democrat. Solomon Parrish, born in Baltimore County, Md., July 21, 1806, is a son of Joshua and Sarah Parrish. His parents moved to Belmont County, Ohio, in 1809, where he was reared and educated. He commenced to learn the blacksmith's trade when seventeen years of age and worked at it hi Belmont County till January, 1833. He then went to Tuscarawas County, and remained till 1854. In October of the latter year he came to Hocking County and located in Benton Township. He has made farming his chief occupation, and now owns 252 acres of fine land. Feb. 21, 1828, he married Elizabeth Jones, a native of Montgomery County, Md. They are the parents of ten children, five only now living— Amanda , born Sept. 30, 1832 ; Thomas, Oct. 7, 1831 ; Marion, Dec. 23, 1839; Abraham R., Sept. 19, 1812, and Esther V., Sept. 21, 1847. Mr. and Mrs. Parrish joined the Methodist Episcopal church at West Union, Tuscarawas County, March 12, 1837. Their family are all members of the church here. Emery Fisk Redfern, M. D., son of Uriah and Jane (Murphy) Redfern, was born in Jackson, now a part of Vinton County, June 4, 1842. He lost both his parents when a child and went to live with Isaac Dunkle, remaining with him till twenty years of age. July 31, 1862, he enlisted in Company V, Ninetieth Ohio Infantry. He participated in twenty-one battles and skirmishes, the more prominent being Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, and with Sherman to the sea. He was discharged June 13, 1865, having been in the service nearly three years and never having been off duty. Aug. 9, 1862, he married Martha Nichols, daughter of HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1097 John F. and Mary (Larkins) Nichols. They have four children—Francis N. R., Isaac W., Mary A. J. and Lillie L. M. Dr. Redfern commenced the practice of medicine in 1870, and in the winter of 1878–'79 attended medical lectures at the American Eclectic College, Cincinnati, receiving a diploma from that school. He located in Sharonville, Pike County, and remained about six months; then went to Limerick, Jackson County; from there to South Perry, and thence to South Bloomingville, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. Dr. Redfern is a member of Lodge No. 361, I. 0. 0. F., McArthur, and of the Grand Army of the Republic. Frederick Wolfe, son of Daniel and Joanna (Bench) Wolfe, was born in Surry County, N. C., Sept. 24, 1814, and came with his parents to Ohio in 1825, settling in what was then Ross County, but is now Vinton. His father not being able to buy a half section, the least that could be bought at that time, was obliged to settle on Congress land. Mr. Wolfe remained with his father in Ross County ten years and then came to Hocking County an I entered forty acres of land. In 1835 he married Rebecca, daughter of John and Hester Chilcote. About the time of his marriage he traded his land for what is now known as the Eby farm. He by industry added to his possessions till at one time he owned 262 acres of fine land. he now has 105 acres. Mr. Wolfe is the oldest resident in Benton Township. When he first came here he had to go twenty-four miles on horse-back to mill. Their salt was brought from the Kanawha Salt Works, Va., also on horse-back. Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe have had eight children, of whom the following grew to maturity—John (married twice, Mary and Rachel Davis), Hester A. (now Mrs. T. J. Allison,) Daniel, Joshua (married Jennie Johnson), William, Mary Eby, and Columbus (married Jane Turner). Mr. Wolfe has been a member of the Methodist church since 1840. CHAPTER XL. SALT CREEK AND PERRY TOWNSHIPS-VARIED SCENERY, FER- TILE SOIL, A WEALTHY AND PROGRESSIVE PEOPLE. SALT CREEK-WHAT IT COMPRISES-METES AND BOUNDS-AREA, SIX MILES BY SEVEN-POPULATION-PIONEERS, SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES-POSTOFFICE AND STORES-TOWNSHIP OFFICERS, 1883—BIOGRAPHICAL. PERRY - AREA- BOUNDARY - SCENERY - EARLY SETTLERS-INCIDENT-THE FIRST WHITE CHILD BORN-MILLS-TOWNSHIP OFFICERS-SOUTH PERRY- LAURELVILLE-BUENA VISTA-CHURCHES-SCHOOLS- POPULATION- VALUATION- PRESENT OFFICIALS--NOTED BEECH TREE-BIOGRAPHICAL. SALT CREEK. WHAT IT COMPRISES. Salt Creek comprises the southwest corner of Hocking County, extending one mile further south than any other township of the county. The township is rectangular in shape, its dimensions being six miles from east to west, and seven from north to south. It consequently contains six square miles more than the ordinary congressional township, and in all, 26,880 acres of land. Salt Creek Township is bounded on the north by Perry, on the east by Benton and Vinton County, OD the south by Vinton County, and on the west by Ross County. It is drained entirely by Salt Creek, a tributary of the Scioto River, from which it takes its name. The soil is fertile and productive along the valley of Salt Creek and its tributaries and well adapted to farming, but the upland is thin and in some parts very rough. Farming and grazing are the principal occupations of the inhabitants. Although the largest township, in territory, in the county it ranks sixth in population. The increase has been fair in the last two decades, the last decade showing a growth of about twenty-six per cent., being fourth in this respect in the county. The figures for the last four decades are as follows: Population in 1840, 821; in 1850, 1,094; in 1860, 990; in 1870, 1,179; and in 1880, 1,486. The assessed valuation of Salt Creek Township in 1882 was: Real estate, $234,092; personal property, $76,340. Although - (1098) - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1099 this township can not boast of a rock house, an ash cave, or a " road to hell," yet in natural scenery it partakes of the nature of its neighbors, and has within its borders a portion of the wonderful stream Queer Creek. But where it is a little behind in this respect, the difference is probably more than balanced by the industry and sobriety of its people,—facts which would refute the charge of containing a " road to hell" in any sense. Among the FIRST SETTLERS here were : Daniel Karahner, Moses Wiggins, Thomas Wiggins and William Hoover. The exact date of their arrival to this part of the great forest of the Northwest cannot now be ascertained, but it was probably near the time of the first flood of emigration to the Ohio Company's purchase, as in 1840 the township had a fair population for that date, as shown above, ranking fourth among the townships of the county. The general occupation was that of clearing and cultivating the soil. Lemuel Wiggins built and ran a saw-mill on the bank of Salt Creek at an early date, it being the first in the township. It was afterward changed into a grist-mill, and was finally abandoned, which leaves the township without a single manufacturing establishment. The first blacksmith-shop in the township, owned by D. L. Davis, was built in 1858, and situated on section 15, near the Haynes postoffice. There are three shops in the township at present. This township has eight school districts, each of which is supplied with a school-house. For the support of the schools the township tax in 1882 was $1,039.95. CHURCHES. The churches of the township are three in number, the most important of which is the United Brethren society, known as Zion Church.—This society was first organized in 1855 with a membership of ten persons. A building was erected a few years after the organization of the society, situated very near the center of the township, on section 21. Throughout its history this church has been one of prosperity and great usefulness. The present Pastor, the Rev. Mr. Montgomery, is an earnest and efficient Pastor, and the society, now numbering about seventy members, bids fair for a long and useful future. Bethel Church (United Brethren) is located on section 12, near the eastern border of the township. The location is a pleasant