1150 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. of their childhood, as their forefathers had done. The assessed valuation of this township in 1882 was: Real estate, $212,758; personal property, $140,957; total, $353,715. CHURCHES. Marion Township is well supplied with churches, there being nine in the township, which are divided among the different sects as follows: Two Lutheran, which were the pioneer churches of the township, both located on section 8, in the Rush Creek settlement; three Methodist Episcopal, located on sections 12, 22 and 31; two United Brethren, one on section 3 and the other on sec-tion 27; two Dunkard churches on sections 6 and 24. These different societies all have comfortable buildings and are well supported. SCHOOLS. The schools of this township are well attended and well supported. The old log school-house that was the best of the old pi-oneer days had little of the elements of convenience to be found in the year 1883. The public-school fund was then not known, but the subscription school, with the teacher " boarding around," was the only place of education. To-day the Township of Marion has for the year 1883 a school fund of $1,963.13, and if more is wanted it can be had by a very light taxation. There is nothing, then, to be wondered at if the rising youth of Marion Township shall equal in all respects the attributes of an educational people. BIOGRAPHICAL. Alfred M. Brown, teacher, twelfth son of Thomas and Hannah (Beech) Brown, was born in Marion Township, July 2, 1856. He was educated at the common schools. When twenty-one years of age he began teaching school. He attended the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, two terms, and has attended select schools during his vacations, thus preparing himself to make teaching a business. Thomas Brown, farmer, fifth. son of William and Hannah (Taylor) Brown, was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., June 13, 1811, and lived with his parents until manhood. At twenty-one years of age he-began working on a farm for wages. In 1846 he removed to Ohio and leased lands in Marion Township, Hocking County. In 1850 he purchased the farm where he resides. He has HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1151 served as Assessor of Marion Township four years. Sept. 11, 1832, he married Hannah, daughter of John and Rosanna (Moore) Beech. They had nine sons—William, of Licking County; David, of Hocking County; Amos O., guard in Ohio Penitentiary; James of Columbus ; Joseph, of Franklin County ; Lewis, of Putnam ; Noah H., of New Baltimore; Isra, of Hocking County, and Alfred, at home. John, the second son, died aged two years; Samuel died in the army at Boliver, Tenn., aged twenty-one years; Jesse, aged two years; Leroy, aged eleven years; Oliver T., aged one year; Anamary, aged one year; Nancy J., aged one year. Mr. and Mfrs. Brown are members of the Presbyterian church. Jeremiah Carpenter, farmer, second son of Samson and Catherine (Walters) Carpenter, was born in Falls Township, Hocking County, July 27, 1825. Soon after his birth his parents removed to Good Hope Township, where he lived with them until manhood. His first work for himself was shingle-making, which he followed for a few months. He then rented a farm six years, and in 1852 purchased the farm first entered by Rickey and Davis. He also owns and runs a saw-mill by water-power. He has worked at the cooper's and wagon-maker's trades, but has been principally engaged in farming, where he resides, in Marion Township since 1852. June 26, 1847, he married Phoebe, daughter of John and Christina, (Kline) Engle. They have four children—Elizabeth, wife of Lewis McGill, of. Columbus, Ohio; Daniel, of Hocking County; Sarah, wife of John Hufford, of Hocking County; and Catharine, wife of David Dupler, of Hocking County. His wife died April 13, 1854, aged twenty-seven years. She was a member of the Evangelist church. June 7, 1855, Mr. Carpenter married Mrs. Magdaline, widow of Henry Heyd and daughter of Daniel and Susan (Friesner) Swartz, of Fairfield County, Qhio. They have six children —Susan, wife of William Elick, of Hocking County; Noah, Rachel, William, Wesley and Amos, at home. Lewis died in infancy; Frakie died in his second year. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Carpenter had two children by her first husband, both deceased—Lydia, born Sept. 23, 1851, died March 2, 1876; Daniel, born July 25, 1853, died Dec. 24, 1878. George W. Frasure, farmer, second son of George and Mary (Ruble) Frasure, was born in Falls Township, Hocking Co., Ohio:, May 10, 1838. Soon after his birth his parents removed to Marion Township, where he lived with them until manhood working 1152 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. on the farm, receiving a common-school education. In 1865 he purchased the farm where he resides and has been engaged farming and wool-growing, making fine stock sheep a specialty. In April, 1879, he was elected Justice of the Peace of Marion Township and re-elected April, 1882. Sept. 29, 1859, he married Mary, daughter of Peter and Margaret (Pultz) Beery, of Hocking County, by whom he has three children—Margaret E., wife of John H. Bright; Mary A., Wife of William Risley, of Falls Township; and Almeda. Malinda and Emerson died in infancy. His wife died in 1871, aged thirty-one years. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal -church. May 21, 1872, he married Martha, daughter of Edward and Jemima (Fast) Tigner, of Hocking County. They have three children—Charles A., Amanda J. and George W., all at home. Alice C. died aged two years. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Isaiah Erasure, farmer and wool-grower, eldest son of George and Mary (Ruble) Frasure, was born in Auburn Township, Fairfield Co., Ohio, Aug. 9, 1829. In 1831 his parents removed to Falls Township, Hocking County, and afterward removed to Marion 'Township, where he lived until manhood. In 1877 he purchased the farm where he now resides in Marion Township, and has been extensively engaged in wool-growing and farming, making fine stock sheep a specialty. He is a member of Hocking Valley Lodge, No. 191, I. 0. 0. F., Logan, Ohio, and has filled all the chairs in the lodge. He is also a member of the Encampment, No. 262, Logan, and has filled all the chairs in that body. Oct. 22, 1849, he married Mary, daughter of John G. and Rebecca (Howser) Blosser, of Hocking County. His wife died Jan. 17, 1882, aged fifty-two years. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Oct. 14, 1882, he married Lydia, daughter of Thomas J. and Christina (Friesner) Durr. Mr. Frasure is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife is a member of the Dunkard church. Noah, Grimm, farmer, second son of Jacob and Margaret (Holt) -Grimm, was born in Rush Creek Township, Fairfield County, Jan. 18, 1822. His parents came from the Shenandoah Valley, Va., to Ohio in 1818, and first settled on Rush Creek. He lived with his parents until eighteen years of age. At eighteen years of age he was apprenticed to Jacob Beery to learn the carpenter and joiner's, also cabinet-maker's, trade. He worked at the trade a few months when his health failed and he returned to his father's and worked HISTORY OF HOOKING VALLEY - 1153 on the farm two years. He then worked at his trade till 1848. From 1848 ti11.1860 he was engaged in milling. He then returned to his father's farm and three years later sold his interest and pur-chased the farm where he now resides. He served as Assessor of Marion Township one year. Sept. 21, 1851, he married Nancy, daughter of John and Aseneth (Speer) Hamilton, of Hocking County, by whom he has five children—Aseneth, wife of Baxter M. Shaw, of Neosho County, Kan.; Israel, a machinist of Indianapolis, Ind.; Sarah A., Amos and Phoebe, at home. John died aged twenty-three years, Jacob aged eight years and William in infancy. His wife died Oct. 7, 1882, aged fifty-six years. She was a member of the German Baptist church. He is a member of the same church. David Hamilton, deceased, was born in Pennsylvania, March 19, 1825, and came to Ohio with his Grandfather Hines and lived with him until sixteen years of age. His grandparents dying, he worked for his brother until twenty-one years of age. He had no education until after his marriage. At twenty-one years of age he began clearing land his grandfather gave him. In 1856 he sold his farm and purchased land on Laurel Run. Nov. 15, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Fifty-eighth Ohio Infantry, as a pri-vate and was appointed First Sergeant of his company and served as such until his death. He was engaged in the battles of Fort Donelson and Shiloh, and soon after the battle of Shiloh was ta-ken sick with typhoid fever and died on the steamer Tycoon, 100 miles south of Cincinnati, May 13, 1862. Dec. 21, 1845, he mar-ried Mary, daughter of Mathias and Hannah (Blosser) Lecrone, of Fairfield County, Ohio. They have five children—Noah, of Hock-ing County; Elizabeth, wife of J. N. Shaw, of Neosho County, Kas. ; Minerva, Amos, Jacob, of Neosho, Kas. Mrs. Hamilton sold the farm and settled the business and has purchased another farm, and her son Amos lives with her. He is a school-teacher and manages her farm. Nicodemus D. Buford, M. D., third son of Christopher and Mary (Reaner) Hufford, was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, June 14, 1826. When twenty-one years of age he rented land, and the next two years, in connection with farming, studied medicine. He then began teaching school, and continued reading medicine for three years. He then located at Straitsville, Perry County, and practiced until 1861. In August, 1861, he was commissioned as recruiting Lieutenant and enlisted in Company H, of - 73 - 1154 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. the Sixty-second Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was promoted to Captain of the company; was on special detail surgeon duty. He was in the battles of Winchester, Va., Cedar Creek, Fredericksburg and Charleston, Va. His command was then transferred to the Peninsula, from there to Fortress Monroe, Yorktown, Suffolk and Norfolk, and returned to Fortress Monroe, where he was discharged in December, 1862. He returned to Straitsville arid resumed the practice of medicine, and in the winter of 1864–'65 attended lectures at the Columbus Starling Medical College and graduated in the spring of 1865. He continued his practice at Straitsville until 1879 when he purchased the farm where he resides. Feb. 25, 1847, he married Eliza J., daughter of Rev. Samuel and Rebecca. (Igehagnes) Bright, of Hocking County, by whom he has one son—George A., of East Tennessee. Four children are deceased—Samuel S., died, aged eighteen months; William J., aged fifteen months; Clara D., aged one year; Mary R., aged twenty-two years. He was divorced from his wife in 1876. May 13, 1877, he married Frances, daughter of Joseph B. and Catharine (Leonard) Bright, of Hocking County. They have one daughter—Mary H. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. John Shaw Martin, farmer, Marion Township, Hocking County, eldest son of John M. and Isabel (Shaw) Martin, was born in Rush Creek Township, Fairfield Co., Ohio (now Marion Township, Hocking County), July 5, 1824, and lived with his parents until twenty-two years of age, working on a farm and attending the common schools. At the age of eighteen he began teaching school, and taught three winters at Geneva, and the winter of 1845 attended the Greenfield Academy in Fairfield County one term, then in charge of Dr. Williams. The six succeeding winters he taught school, receiving $16 per month, and $161 for the last term. In the spring of 1850 he purchased and removed to the farm where he resides, and has been engaged in farming. He now owns the farm where he was born, and where his father first settled. He has served. as Clerk of Auburn Township, Fairfield County, two years, and Clerk of Marion Township nine years. He served as Commissioner of Hocking County two terms. He has been Justice of the Peace of Marion Township since 1870. April 8, 1847, he married Mary W., daughter of William and Jane (McCloy) Black, of Perry County. They have eight children—George W., a missionary minister in Utah; Jane I., widow of William G. Sweitzer, Sarah A., wife of Robert Boland, of Perry County; John W., a teacher HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1155 in Utah; Albert S., Bible agent in Utah; Franklin P., Emma M. and Maggie B. at home. James R. died in .infancy, and Mary R., aged four years. Mr. and Mrs. Martin are members of the United Presbyterian church. Alexander McCune, M. D., third son of Alexander and Margaret (Mitchel) McCune, was born in Allegheny County, Pa., Dec. 28, 1806. When six years of age his mother died, and he lived with John Wilson until seventeen years of age. He then was apprenticed to William Crawford, of Pittsburg, to learn the cabinet trade, and worked with him four years. He then worked at journeyman work in different places till 1832, when he established a shop in Williamsburg, Guernsey County, and there began reading medicine with W. B. Stotler, M. D. In 1838 he removed to Hebron, Licking County, and began practicing medicine. He practiced in Hebron, New Salem, Bremen and Geneva till 1865, when he came to Marion Township and purchased the farm where he now resides. He is the oldest practicing physician in the county. He was Land Appraiser of Marion Township for the year 1870. He is a Master Mason, member of Mingo Lodge, No. 171, A. F. & A. M., Logan, Ohio. June 3, 1832, he married Margaret, daughter of Archibald and Elizabeth (Doughty) Crawford, of Monroe County, Ohio, by whom he has two sons—Henry, of Kansas, and Alexander M., of Fairfield County, Ohio. John V. was in the late war and died in 1862. His wife died in 1841. She was a member 'of the Methodist Episcopal church. October, 1842, he married Amanda, daughter of Andrew Craiger, of Fairfield County, by whom he has eight children—Hilas, Rufus, Hiram, Margaret E. (wife of Henry Jurgensmier), Isabel (wife of Robert Bell), Eliza E. (wife of William Palmer), Emily (wife of John Shinniff). His wife died April 14, 1861. Jan. 14, 1864, he married Mrs. Harriet, widow of William Plummer, and daughter of John and Margaret (Rosser) Rosser. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. David Miller, farmer, fourth son of John and Catharine (Groves) Miller, was born near Pleasantville, Fairfield Co., Ohio, Sept. 21, 1819. When he was nine years of age his parents removed to Perry County. At the age of eighteen years he was employed for a time on a canal boat on the Ohio Canal, and afterward worked for farmers in Scioto and Pike counties until twenty-four years of age. He then rented a farm in Fairfield County, near Rushville, until 1851. In 1848 he had purchased land in Mercer County, and in 1851 he traded it for the ,farm where he now resides. In March, 1156 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY 1841, he married Rebecca, daughter of George and Mary (Leohner) Rader, of Fairfield County, Ohio, by whom he has two daughters—Mary A., wife of Isaac Mericle, and Laura, wife of T. Moyers, both of Allen County, Ohio. Malinda died June 17, 1882, aged thirty-eight years; John, in infancy; Catharine, aged one year; Clarissa, aged two years; Allen R, aged five years; William P., aged three years; Rebecca J., in infancy. His wife died in 1858, aged thirty-four years. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Nov. 1, 1860, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas G. and Lydia (Barb) Perry, of Licking County, Ohio. They have one son—Perry. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Noah Poling, section 36, Marion Township, was born in Rush Township, Fairfield Co., Ohio, Nov. 22, 1825. His father, Samuel R. (deceased), a native of Maryland, came to Ohio over seventy years ago, and in 1829 brought his family to Hocking County, where our subject has since resided. His mother, Elizabeth (Stamey) Poling, drew a pension, as her husband was a soldier in the war of 1812, under George Sanderson, of Fairfield County, Ohio. She departed this life March 29, 1882, aged eighty-eight years. Noah Poling was married April 12, 1849, to Mrs. Susannah Rhoads, daughter of Isaac Red. They were the parents of ten children, eight of whom are still living —Alnora J. (McGlougin), Samuel and Elizabeth (twins), Sarah A., Dwight A., James T., Margaret and John O. He has nearly 184 acres of land, his business being that of a farmer and stock-raiser. He has been Township Trustee one year, and Trustee of the Infirmary five years, arid has also held other smaller offices. Samuel St. Clair, farmer, second son of Hugh and Julia A. (Rutter) St. Clair, was born in Indiana County, Pa., May 11, 1849. March 25, 1865, he enlisted as a private in Captain J. W. Dougherty's company, of Indiana County, Pa.; was assigned to the One Hundred and Third Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry, and was on duty on Roanoke Island and Newburn, N. C. He was mustered out at Newborn, and discharged at Harrisburg, Pa., July, 1865. He then returned home to Indiana County, Pa., and soon after came to Perry County, Ohio, and worked in a sawmill one year: In 1866 he and his brother purchased a portable saw-mill and engaged in milling in Perry and Hocking counties until 1872. He then sold his mill interest and has since been engaged in farming. He served as Assessor of Falls Township in 1878 and 1879. He is a HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1157 member of Hocking Valley Lodge, No. 191, I. O. O. F. Nov. 9, 1871, he married Josephine, daughter of George and Maria (Moore) Crawford, of Hocking County. They have three children—Frank, Josie B. and Jennie M. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Andrew W. Voris, farmer, eldest son of Isaiah and Nancy (Hughes) Voris, was born near Bremen, Fairfield Co., Ohio, June 20, 1838. In 1849 his parents removed to Logan, and lived two years. In 1852 his father purchased a farm three miles east of Logan. He was reared on a farm and. educated at the common schools. At the age of twenty-one years he rented a farm near Gore. A year later he purchased a farm in Marion Township. Feb. 14, 1865, he enlisted in Company H, Eighteenth Ohio Infantry, at Athens, Ohio, as a private for one year and was on garrison duty at Chattanooga, Tenn., until the last of May, 1865. They were then transferred to Augusta, Ga., where he was detailed on special duty in the commissary department. Nov. 6 1865, he was mustered out near Augusta, Ga., and returned to Columbus, Ohio, where he received his discharge, and returned home. Some time after returning from the army he sold his farm and rented a farm one year. He then purchased the farm he had sold and in 1872 purchased the farm where he resides. Aug. 7, 1860, he married Charlotte, daughter of Robert and Anna (McGee) Sanderson, of Hocking County. They have six children—Emma, wife of Noah Carpenter, of Hocking County; Charles J., Lucy-, Iona A., Francis A. and Shady V. at home. William I. died, aged three years; Benjamin J., in infancy; George, aged four years; Asa, aged three years, and Augustus, in infancy. His wife died June 22, 1881, aged forty-seven years. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Re is also a member of the same church and Superintendent of Sabbath-school. CHAPTER XLII. HISTORY OF VINTON COUNTY A COUNTY WHICH CAME INTO BEING READY MADE, BY TOWNSHIP. A COUNTY WHICH HAD NO PIONEER HISTORY—LABOR—ITS ORGANIZATION, 1850—BOUNDARY AND AREA—EARLY ARRIVALS—AN INTERESTING LETTER—NAMES OF EARLY SETTLERS—POLITICAL MOVEMENTS —FIRST CONVENTION—FIRST WILL—JAIL AND CONTRACT—COURT-HOUSE—ITEMS— MINERAL INTERESTS—COAL—IRON ORE— GEOLOGICAL REPORT—BURR STONE—AGRICULTURAL AND STOCK STATISTICS—VALUATION—MILES OF RAILROAD—COUNTY INFIRMARY—BUILDINGS AND COST—OFFICIALS. NO PIONEER HISTORY AS A. COUNTY. Labors the ground work of progress, the road to wealth, to health and to happiness, and therefore labor is a necessity. Labor has wrought the wilderness which once shrouded Vinton in gloom into smiling fields and glowing furnaces. Churches and schools have sprung up all around, one to guide and guard the moral vine-yard, the other to prepare fhe rising generation for the performance of intelligent labor. It was not until 1850 that Vinton County came into existence something near a half century after the first pioneer had tread her soil and the Indians departed in the direction of the setting sun. The counties which were shorn of their territory to form Vinton County were Athens-, Hocking, Jackson, Ross and Gallia, and her population at the time of organization numbered 9,338. AREA AND BOUNDARY. Vinton County is credited in the census of 1880 with an area of 400 square miles. This is an error, being composed of exactly eleven congressional townships and six sections over, or, 402 square miles. There are five townships having less than a congressional township, and one that has more. Madison and Knox have each two thirds of a congressional township, in territory; Clinton, five sixths; Eagle is wanting four sections to complete her quota; Har- - (1158) - HISTORY OF HOOKING VALLEY - 1159 rison needs two sections, while Richland has six sections over. What Harrison and Eagle lacks, Richmond makes up, and what Clinton wants is Made up by the twin townships Madison and Knox, with one tier of sections to spare. On the west side Vinton County has but eleven miles of border, while on the east she has twenty-four miles. In her widest part, from east to west, she 18 twenty-six miles, and the above twenty-four miles gives her greatest length north and south. She is not a beauty in form, in fact her shape cannot very well be described. With this area of square' miles she is entitled to 257,280 acres of land, but she is assessed, in the aggregate, on 258,078 97-100 acres, or about 758 acres more than the area in square miles. It is evident that the assessors measure both sides of some of the hills. Yet, notwithstanding this, some of the 'townships fall short of having the number of acres that should be found in an area six miles square —that is, what is returned by the assessor. Wilkesville is assessed on 522 61-100 acres less than what her area calls for, while Swan Township is actually assessed on 380 30-100 acres more than is said to be within its limits, by the same rule of six miles square. SOIL. The soil of the county is well adapted to grass, and some of the farmers have already splendid grazing farms. The valleys in many places are wide, and the hills generally are of a sloping character, which in many places are cultivated to their summit, and have been successfully devoted to grape culture. Fruit can also be raised upon the sides of these hills. The valleys where clay is found can be improved by under-drainage, but that composed of alluvial is inexhaustible in its fruitful bearing qualities. Outside of its mineral productions Vinton County can be found to have some fine agricultural lands, nowhere surpassed. SOME EARLY ARRIVALS. The early history of the pioneers will mostly be found in the township histories, as they preceded the county history from thirty to forty-five years. There are some names of old and prominent citizens that may have escaped mention, and the notice of a few of those who were prominent in the first settlement of what is now Vinton County, will not be amiss. The early settlement of Vinton County seemed to have centered more strongly around McArthur and Elk townships, and these represent the first settlers of the county to a great extent. 1160 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. Of Mr. Musselman, the discoverer of tile burr stone, very little is known. He was probably the first white man who settled in the county. He worked a few years quarrying these stones, as in fact did most of the early or first settlers. George Will was a soldier in the Indian war under Generals St. Clair and Wayne, and also in that of 1812. In the former he was severely wounded. He settled in 1797 in the valley of the Scioto, some twelve miles from Chillicothe, where he remained until the war of 812. In 1813 he was aid-de-camp to General McArthur. After the war he settled at the new town of Adelphi, in Ross County, putting up a residence and store, and engaged in the mercantile business, at which he secured a competency. Ile was the first Postmaster of that town, and remained until 1837, when, being a Whig, he was removed under Van Buren's administration, but was reappointed by General Harrison, who knew him as a soldier comrade and a man of sterling integrity and worth. During the interval in which he was out of the Postmastership be was elected to the Legislature. He was a member of the Methodist church for twenty-five years before his death, which occurred :March 27, 1845. George Will was a man of strong mind, energetic, a good neighbor and devoted friend, and while having views and a faith of his own he believed that others could honestly differ from him and be true. Samuel Sage was born in Bristol, England, June 11, 1756, and died April 8, 1824, in the sixty-eighth year of his age. He was a soldier of the war of the Revolution and was present at the sur-render of Cornwallis. He married Miss India Canovan, of Galway, Ireland, and came to America in 1774. They first settled in Virginia after peace was declared, in which State five children were born to them—Joel, Nancy, Charlotte, and twin sons, James and Joseph. The latter lived and died in Elk Township, marrying Miss Nancy Landfair. Joseph married Miss Polly Pliner and moved to Iowa, where he died. Charlotte married John Boyles, who lived in Athens County, and Nancy became the wife of James Pilcher, and the other four were single. Samuel Sage came to Ohio in 1806. and settled on what is known as the Warren farm, but in 1810 re-moved to Elk Township and purchased the farm which is now the property of Daniel Will. His son-in-law, James Pilcher, followed them and settled in Madison Township, near Zaleski, and his farm is also owned by Daniel Will. Mr. Sage's wife died in 1833. Mr. Sage was a man well educated, of gentle bearing and steady habits, HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1161 and in this country followed the profession of teaching, and farm-ing, but principally the former. He ever commanded the respect and confidence of his neighbors. Joel Sage, the eldest son of Samuel Sage, came with his father and settled in Elk Township in the spring of 1815. In the fall of that year, or winter, McArthurtown being laid out in November, 1815, he opened the first tavern ever kept in what is now Vinton County. He was a man peculiarly adapted to the business, a genial, hearty man. He also carried on his arm, and the two kept him a busy life. He died in the prime of vigorous manhood in 1818. Seven days previous to his own death he had buried his wife, and from the time of that parting he seemed to droop. He soon followed the one he loved so well. Robert Sage was the only son and child of Joel Sage and his wife, and was born in 1811. He. is living, and at this time the oldest native citizen of Elk Township. He married Miss Jane Brewer, and nine children were born to them, six sons and three daughters, six of whom are four sons and two daughters. Three of the sons are living at Hot Springs, Ark., and one in Vinton County. A daughter is living in McArthur. Mr. Sage has been a prominent citizen of McArthur for half a century, a well-known and honored citizen. He is now holding the office of Justice of the Peace, it being the sixth time he has been called upon to serve. He metes out justice so fair and impartial that he stands as a pillar of strength in the cause of right. He is respected by all. Isaac Dunkle commenced his residence in Vinton County at the age of three years, in 1818. He was born in Pickaway County, Sept. 11, 1815, his father, John Dunkle, moving to this section. Mr. Dunkle is still living, and a resident of Vinton County, highly esteemed by those who know him, an honest man and upright citizen. Isaac Peirson came to Vinton County in the prime of physical manhood in 1805. Mr. Peirson was an active. member of the Methodist church, and a prominent citizen of McArthurtown when it first came into existence. Jacob Byerly was an early settler in Swan Township, locating in 1820 in his twenty-first year, having been born Feb. 20, 1799. He married Susan Hass the same year. They had ten children, of whom seven, six daughters and one son, lived to manhood and womanhood. His wife died July 26, 1854, and before her death weighed 330 pounds, being the largest woman in the county. He 1162 - HISTORY OF HOOKING VALLEY. married Mary England for his second wife, who survives him, and is living in Mahaska, Iowa. Mr. Byerly was a straightforward, honorable man, and was well known in McArthur. He was a carpenter by trade. He died in 1875, in the seventy-seventh year of his age. Nathaniel Richmond settled in Clinton Township in 1820, aid located the land upon which the village of Hamden now stands. He was a man of strong mind, a fluent conversationalist, well educated, and of considerable scientific attainments. He was called a scientific farmer, and was not of the age and people in which he had cast his lot. He was progressive, and had a commanding way in his manner which did not please all with whom he came in contact. This caused trouble, and he lost two children by what was believed to have been poison, the latter being thrown into his well. He, in a few years, left for a more congenial clime, and settled in Knoxville, Ill., where, having scope for his genius, he became very wealthy. He was an honorable man and an entertaining companion. Benjamin Reynolds was born at Martinsb urg, in Virginia, Aug. 22, 1790. In the year 1811 he was married to Susan Shriver, who was born in the year 1793. Mr. Reynolds, with his family, started West in 1817, and in December of that year settled in Perry County, 'Ohio. After living in that county thirteen years, he removed with his family to Swan Township, which then formed a part of Hocking County. Mr. Reynolds had, since that time, lived on the same farm, and had seen a tract of country changed from a wilderness to fruitful fields and pleasant homes. McArthurstown was at that time about fifteen years of age. Mt. Pleasant and Ilesboro, were mot; and the " Puritan Fathers" looked upon New Plymouth as a sickly plant! Much of the land in the northern part of the county had not been " entered," and roads across the country were few and unworked. Mr. Reynolds lived to see almost all his old neighbors pass away, nearly two generations having come and gone since he moved to -the farm on which he died. The most remarkable feature in the history of this family is its longevity. Mr. Reynolds was in his ninety-third year at the time of his death, in June, 1883. Mrs. Reynolds is now in her ninetieth. They had fourteen children, all of whom were living up to 1882. In that year a daughter, Rachel, died, being the first death in the family. Henry Reynolds, of McArthur, is the oldest son, being now in his seventy-first year. George, the second son, is a citizen of Swan Town- HISTORY OF HOOKING VALLEY - 1163 ship; Samuel, the third son, is now living in Iowa; Isaac, the fourth, is a resident of Kansas. Six daughters live in this county, three of whom are married, Elizabeth is the relict of Silas Wilson, and mother of George W. and Dennison Wilson, of Zaleski; Sarah is the relict of Harrison Foster, and lives in Iowa; Lydia is the relict of the late H. H. Swaim, of Elk Township; Mary Ann is the wife of Henry Schlotterback, of Swan Township; Mariah is the wife of Charles M. Sidman, living near Nelsonville, in Athens County; Lucinda is the wife of Presley Wright, who lives in Iowa; Cordelia is the wife of E. H. Wailer, of Swan Township. Anna and Susan live with their mother in Swan Township. The youngest child is now forty-five years old, and the average age of pal ents and children at the death of the first member of the family, in 1882, was sixty-two years. AN INTERESTING LETTER. The author of this work received from Mr. George W. Shockey, formerly a citizen of Vinton County, but now of Washington, D. .C., a letter in which were some references to old times in McArthur, and from which a few extracts are here given. He said: " I was born in Athens County, Ohio, now Vinton County, in the year 1822, and can recollect many of the first settlers of Elk Township. My grandfather, Frederic Snyder, came from Hampshire County, Va., in the year 1821, and settled on the farm at Vinton Station, three miles east of McArthur. He was a farmer, and also had learned the carpenter's trade. Several years after, he removed to Ross County, and died at the ripe age of ninety years. His son, Smith Snyder, carne from the same county in Virginia, and in the same year married Miss Rachel Fry, and made a settlement on the farm now owned by Charles Brown. He built a saw ..and grist mill on Raccoon Creek near his house, which were run successfully for many years. " Jacob Shockey, a pioneer, was a native of Berkley County, Va., and moved to Vinton County (at that time Athens) in 1821. He first arrived at Chillicothe, but in the same year moved to Elk Township, Vinton County, one and a half miles east of McArthur, on Congress land, then known as the old Will field, but now owned by Henry Robbins. At that time Elk Township was almost a wilderness, with the exception of one or two acres. This settlement was a dark, wild forest of heavy timber, in which many wild beasts of the forest loved to roam at large. Near by and on this farm were 1164 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. several rock houses and a saltpeter cave. Not far off was also an alum cave, and many deer licks and a wild-cat den. I can remember of seeing a black bear near McArthur. It was treed and shot by Stephen Martin in sight of the court-house in McArthur. There were numerous wild animals in and about McArthur since my recollection, such as bear, deer, wolves, catamounts, wild-cat, foxes, coon, and other smaller animals. A few years after, Mr. Shockey bought a piece of Congress land now known as the Howell estate, then sold it and purchased another place, known as the Purkey place, one and half miles northeast of McArthur. From there he moved to McArthur, and after all the hardships of pioneer life—of a new and unsettled country redeemed from a. wilderness, a family of seven reared, educated and provided for, and after living to see the march of civilization and modern improvements take the place of the Indians and wild beasts of the forest—he was destined, just as peace, prosperity and contentment had found an abiding-place in his home, to cross the mystic river and join those who had gone before, leaving an honored name and an unblemished reputation. He died at the age of' sixty-eight. “NAMES OF EARLY SETTLERS. " Robert Sage, Hiram Hulbert, Jacob Shry, Rachel Snyder, James Pilcher, John England, David Evans, Charles Bevington, David Culbertson, Michael Swaim, Moses Dawson, Eli and Cyrus Catlin, David Markwood, George Fry (Senior), Isaac Shry, William Hoffhines, John Wyman, Levi Wyman,- James Robbins, Philip Kelch, John Winters, John Morrisson, Lewis Benjamin, Samuel and Jacob Calvin, James Bothwell, Richard McDougal, Thomas John-son and Nathan Horton. I think there were never any block houses in Vinton County. There were two water-mills on Elk Fork of Raccoon Creek, built by Moses Dawson as early as 1820. One on the farm now owned by Harvey Robbins, one and a hal miles east of McArthur, the other, one mile northeast of McArthur on the same stream, known now as the Gold Mill." This closes the most important part of Mr. Shockey's letter. There is a brother of the writer living in the county, Mr. Jno. J. Shockey, who has served as Sheriff of the county, etc., whose. name will be found among the list of County Officials, and another brother of the writer, Wm. M. Shockey, was a minister of the Methodist church, who was highly esteemed for his talent and HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1165 worth, but who died at the early age of thirty-two years, his death occurring in 1860. POLITICAL MOVEMENT. Soon after the organization of the county the commissioners called an election for county officers. As the then county of Vinton was composed of no less than parts of five counties it was hard to form an idea of the political cornplexion of the county. The Whigs and Democrats at once began to move for party lines, and there was also an independent movement which proposed a joint convention of Whigs and Democrats, each taking half of the ticket.. This latter was managed by a-few shrewd men, who were good wirepullers, and they got their names on the ticket. This, however, is a little ahead; a meeting was called, a convention unanimously agreed upon and the call was made for a convention to meet and form a union ticket. THE FIRST COUNTY CONVENTION. This meeting was held on the 6th of April, 1850, at McArthur, for the purpose of nominating candidates to fill the various offices of the new county of Vinton. The convention was composed of a Democrat and a Whig from each township in the county, except Clinton and Eagle. The proceedings manifested the utmost unanimity of feeling, and there was an evident desire to avoid party feeling, and to allay anything like local or sectional prejudices; and it was evident that not a single delegate left the meeting dissatisfied with the proceedings, or with any other feeling than that of perfect satisfaction at the results. The ticket nominated was emphatically a union one, being composed of five Democrats and five Whigs, selected by a convention of both parties, in which nine of the eleven townships were fairly represented. The Democrats were given the first choice of officers. They chose D. Richmond for Treasurer, whereupon he was nominated by acclamation. The Whigs then selected Thomas Davis for Auditor, who was also nominated by acclamation. It was then agreed to give the Democratic delegates the choice of sheriff, two commissioners and recorder; whereupon they selected the following candidates for Commissioners: Almond Soule and Patrick Murdock; Sheriff, W. Brady; Recorder, Joel A. Walden. To the Whig delegates was given the choice of candidates for commissioner, surveyor, coroner and prosecuting attorney; whereupon, they selected as follows: 1166 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. Commissioner, A. Curry; Surveyor, W. M. Bolles; Coroner, A. L. Beard; Prosecuting Attorney, John A. Browne. The meeting then confirmed all nominations unanimously. There was later a ticket nominated which was known as the county ticket, and the candidates were: Commissioners, A. Soule, Jr., L. S. Payne, Andrew Curry; for Treasurer, Henry Payne; for-Auditor, Joseph Magee; for Sheriff, Francis Shades; for Recorder, James. Malone; for Surveyor, William St. Clair; for Prosecuting Attorney, Thomas Shelby; for Coroner, T. 8. Rice. The latter ticket was elected excepting Prosecuting Attorney, Coroner and Surveyor, Browne, Beard and Bolles, Union ticket and Whig's being elected. Andrew Curry, Commissioner, was on both tickets. The result of the election. ended the Union tickets and since then Whigs and Democrats, and Republicans and Democrats have clung to their party and stood by its principles. The election took place. April 15, 1850, being the first election held in the county. The officers, however, only served until the regular election in October of the same year. THE FIRST WILL recorded in Vinton County after its organization was that of Benjamin Stevens, and reads as follows: “BENJAMIN STEVENS'S WILL. "In the name of the Benevolent Father of all, I, Benjamin Stevens, of the county of Vinton, and the State of Ohio, do make and publish this my last will and testament. " I then first give and devise to my beloved wife, Lydia, the farm on which we now reside, situated in Elk Township, Vinton Co., Ohio, containing about 120 acres, during her natural life, and all the stock, household goods, furniture, provisions and other goods and chattels which may be thereon at the time of my decease, during her natural life as aforesaid, she, however, selling so much thereof as may be sufficient to pay my just debts. At the death of my said wife, the real estate aforesaid, and such part of the per.sonal property or the proceeds thereof as may there remain unconsumed and unexpended, I give and devise to my three children, viz. : Robert Stevens, Lavilla Stevens and Priscilla Stevens, each to share and share alike. I do hereby revoke all former wills by me made. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 15th day of June, in the year 1850. BENJAMIN STEVENS. HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1167 "Signed and acknowledged by said Benjamin Stevens, as his last will and testament in our presence, and signed by us in his presence.. "AQUILA WEBB, " WILLIAM CARSON, his "ISAAC + HAWK. mark. COUNTY JAIL. The commissioners met May 14, 1851 (Paine and Curry being present), to take steps toward the erection of a county jail, and ordered published in the Vinton County Republican for four weeks the following notice: "Notice to Contractors. —Sealed proposals will be received by the commissioners of Vinton County, at the auditor's office in McArthur, until the 12th day of June, A. D. 1851, for building a brick jail and jailor's dwelling in the town of McArthur. The building will be let to the lowest and best bidder, who will be required to. give sufficient security to said commissioners for the performance of the work. Plans, specifications and terms of said building can be seen at the auditor's office. The commissioners will be in ses sion at the auditor's office on said 12th day of June, to enter into contract with the person or persons who may be deemed the lowest and best bidders for building the jail." Wednesday, May 22, the commissioners purchased of S. H. Brown forty-two feet off the east side of lot number 67, -for the purpose of locating thereon the jail and jailor's dwelling for Vinton County, paying therefor $150. The sale was duly consummated June 2, the county purchasing an additional strip two feet wide and ten rods long of lot number 67, for $20, making $170 paid for the-whole site. The bids received were: F. A. McLain, $3,999; - John Lod, $3,500; Farr & Yager, $4,500; L. S. Bort, $3,899;. Sisson & Hulbert, $3,590; Westfall & Backus, $3,775; Henry Reynolds, $3,999; Richmond & Archer, $3,474;. Albert Lake, $3,398; Robbins &. Dill, $4,000. Mr. Lake finally declining to make a contract the work was awarded Richmond & Archer at their bid, and the latter executed bonds in accordance with the contract, and went to work, the commissioners allowing them an advance payment of $740. In-lots Nos. 63 and 64, which had been donated to the town by the original proprietors for court-house purposes, were accepted by the- 1168 - HISTORY OF HOOKING VALLEY. commissioners at a special meeting Jan. 27, 1852. It was intended for court-house, jail and market-house, and the site of the jail was changed and a new contract entered into with Evans Archer. ITEMS. The Methodist church was rented for a court-room for the year 1854. The county purchased a safe for the use of the Treasurer, Henry Payne, in 1856, at a cost of $112.93 delivered in McArthur. In September of the same year the court-house bell was purchased at an expense of $270. The new court-house was completed December, 1856, and accepted by the commissioners. The sheriff and prosecuting attorney -were assigned the southeast room, now forming part of the auditor's office, and the others are using about the same offices as then assigned them. In June, 1858, the assessment districts were changed to single townships, each of the municipal divisions having its own assessor, and numbered from one to twelve. On June 7, 1859, a new treasurer's safe was purchased at a cost of $1,000, of Dodd &, Co., they to take the old one at $105. It was paid for in installments. MINERAL INTERESTS. A glance at the map of the State is sufficient to show the important geographical position of this county in regard to the mineral region in Southeastern Ohio. The townships of Wilkesville, Clinton, Richland, Elk, Swan and Brown are all embraced within the celebrated belt of mineral lands known as the "lower coal series," lying between the conglomerate and calcareo-silicious or burr stone strata. Their valleys, table-lands and hills are sufficiently elevated to embrace all the several layers of workable coal, limestone, iron lore, the pure quartz or millstone rock, sandstone and shale. They embrace, also, a group of associated minerals which, when a means of cheap transportation shall have been furnished, will be sources of exhaustless wealth, not only to the citizens of the county, but to the whole State. COAL AND IRON ORE. The coal fields of Vinton County underlie nearly three fourths of its surface, and iron ore is in the same beds and is inexhaustible in quantity. From the summit coming down into the valley of Rac- HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1169 coon Creek you strike the iron and coal ledges that fill the hills. Before you leave the crest of the hill many feet in your downward course, iron ore crops out in large quantities, and there is no end to the best of potter's clay. This valley of Raccoon Creek leads to McArthur, growing wider as it nears the town. In this the coal field is reached when within about five miles of McArthur, and the hills are full of it, of a splendid quality, some being the Jackson -coal, noted for its superior quality. This Jackson coal is found in other parts of the county, and no less than three veins of ore are found above it. One known as the Dunkle vein, is from one to four feet in thickness, and lies under the limestone or Winter's vein of coal. Over the Winter's vein lies the gray limestone ore that is considered the best of the three veins; but this last is not regular, being found more or less in pockets, in some places even nine feet thick, but as above remarked, its irregular deposit gives the other two veins as the most profitable to work. Raccoon Creek Valley and Elk Fork are noted for the coal that abounds in the hills through which they run. All the hills around McArthur for miles are filled with coal, lime and iron. There are two strata of coal above the water level, the upper generally about twenty or twenty-five feet • above the other. Nearly all of these veins are from four to six feet deep, of the very best ,quality of coal. Northeast of McArthur the veins run from three and a half, five and a half to six or seven feet in thickness. On Dr. Wolf's farm on Elk Fork, the Jackson coal has been found from six to fifteen feet below the surface, and from three to five feet in thickness. Northeast from the town it is found at the depth of sixty feet, and over that a vein of iron ore from two to three feet thick, and then comes the limestone, and over that the limestone ore, in some places running eight feet in thickness. GEOLOGICAL REPORT. In this connection, however, the conclusion of the report, or rather the summary of the geological report made in 1870; in reference to Vinton County may be appropriate here. In closing, speaking of Vinton County, it says: " The county is rich in iron ore and coal. The better ore, as a general thing, is the so-called limestone ore,' or the ore resting on ferriferous limestone. This remarkable limestone is found in -five townships, viz.: Madison, Elk, Clinton, Vinton and Wilkesville. The northern limit of the limestone presents a ragged outline, and very often the limestone is replaced by burr or flint. The north- - 74 - 1170 - HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY. ern limit is found in Madrson and Elk townships. At one point in Brown Township, a little limestone was found, which further investigation may prove to be the geological equivalent of the ferriferous limestone. If so, it is only a local deposit. It is a fact of no little interest that this limestone never reappears in our lower coal measures in the northern part of the Second District. There is a limestone in the First District called the gray limestone, which may, perhaps, hereafter be found to correspond proximately in stratigraphical position to the ferriferous limestone. " North of Elk and Madison townships we find the Nelsonville coal, but in other important particulars the strata in the northern part of Vinton County do not correspond with those of the southern part. This dissimilarity has been formerly noticed by our intelligent furnace men, who in their explorations between the Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad and the Hocking River, report themselves as lost' in their geological calculations. "There is, doubtless, much good ore of the block and kidney varieties north and west of the limits of the limestone ore,' but as there have been no furnaces to create a market, comparatively little exploration has been made. The limestone ore' in Elk and the more southern townships is often very thick and of very fine quality. The Craig ore, already described, is also a very excellent ore, and very rich in iron. There is ore enough in the county to supply many furnaces for a long time to come. " The best coal found as yet is the Wolfe Coal,' in Elk Township. I have no doubt that this coal in its raw state will make iron. The seam lies quite low in the valley, and for the most part is below the bed of the stream, but it may, perhaps, be found over a considerable area by sinking shafts. The county is generally well supplied with coal suited for all household and ordinary uses. "The blue, or Putnam Hill, limestone is generally well developed, but it is mostly too earthy to make it a valuable material" for quicklime. In the neighborhood of McArthur it is hard and susceptible of a good polish, but will not compete with marble for ornamental purposes." AGRICULTURAL AND STOCK STATISTICS. The crop statistics of Vinton have changed much since it became a county. This has resulted from the development of the mineral resources of the county. While the population of the county has increased the agricultural productions and stocks have decreased. This is a mistake, especially as regards stock. Whether the mineral productions increase or not, it would be found on trial that stock-raising might be heavily increased without risking the aggregate of mining interests. It looks as if a period of depression had set in upon the agricultural and stock industries of the county, HISTORY OF HOCKING VALLEY - 1171 and that something should be done to prevent a still more disastrous retrogade movement. The figures given are not calculated to be a source of pride or congratulation for the people. CROP REPORTS. In 1858 the wheat crop was 13,463 acres, 148,148 bushels. In 1858 the corn, 14,586 acres, 454,898 bushels. In 1862 the wheat crop was 11,156 acres, 216,866 bushels. 1867.

STOCK STATISTICS.