HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 575 a part owner in the Jackson Hill and Wellston Shaft coal mines. He was married in September, 1875, to Martha L. Jarrott, of French origin. They have three children. Jeremiah Morrow, Superintendent of the Springfield Coal Company mines, a son of the Rev. Jeremiah Morrow and grandson of Jeremiah Morrow, et-Governor of Ohio, was born in Chillicothe, Ohio, in the year 1843, at which place he lived until twelve years of age. He removed .to Oxford, Butler Co., Ohio, where he received his education at Miami University, graduating in 1863, having previously served in the three months' service, being a member of Company A, Eighty-sixth Ohio Infantry. Soon after finishing his college life he entered the United States navy, serving on the United States flag ship Cricket, passing through many hard-fought naval engagements on the Western waters. He left the service at the close of hostilities with especial mention by Commodore Gorringe (his commander) for his courage and zeal. In 1865 Mr. Morrow cast his lot with the mining interests of Jackson County, and since that time has been engaged with the largest mining enterprises of the county as manager and superintendent, having served in that capacity with the old Cincinnati Furnace Company, Petrea Coal Company, and his present engagement with the Springfield Coal Company. Mr. Morrow is the inventor of the Morrow dnmping and weighing machine, a device for saving the breakage of coal in loading from the bank cars to the railroad flats, the advantage of which is valuable to the coal interest. H. C. Murfin is a native of Scioto County, Ohio, and a son of James Murfin, a native of Adams County, Ohio, and one of the early furnace men of Southern Ohio. He died in Scioto County: Our subject was reared and edncated in his native county, and when thirteen years of age entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, where he spent three years. He was then a clerk in a book store in Portsmouth four years, but left there to accept a clerkship at the Ohio Furnace in Scioto County. In 1878 he returned to Portsmouth and became associated with W. W. Reilly in a book store. In 1882 he came to Jackson, where he is now operating quite extensively in coal. He was married in November, 1873, to Margaret A., daughter of W. W. Reilly. They have four children. L. T Murfin, manager of the " Globe Iron Company," Jackson, Ohio, is one of the leading and successful experimental furnace men of the State. His father, James Murfin, was a native of Adams County, Ohio, born in 1810, and of Scotch extraction. He reached his majority in his native county, and in 1832 came to Scioto County, where he became connected with the "Scioto Furnace," which business occupied his time until his death in 1862. At that time he was the ruling member in the Empire Furnace, under the firm name of Murfin & Co. This and other furnaces he superintended with more than ordinary success, which placed him financially well off. He was always successful in life, knowing no such word as fail, while his energy and determination were always equal to the emergencies. In matrimonial comforts he was unfortunate, having, in 1837, buried his first wife, Eliza Turner; his second wife, Elizabeth Rodgers, in 1848, and leaving Miss R. Y. Gould, his third wife, a widow, who survived him until 1878. Of his six children our subject is the second eldest, and was born in Scioto County, Ohio, Oct. 24, 1837. He was reared at Junior Furnace, where he received the rudiments of a common-school education, and when a youth of fifteen entered the Ohio Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio, giving three years to mental labor, under the training of the well-equipped faculty of that institution. At the age of eighteen he returned home, and became associated actively in the furnace work, and in 1864 took the 578 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. management of the Empire Furnace, which resulted in establishing his ability as a successful furnace man. In 1870 he was induced to take charge of the Kenton Furnace, in Green up County, Ky. In 1872 he became manager of the Eagle Furnace, in Vinton County, Ohio, and there remained until the centennial year, when he became manager of the Globe Iron Company, at Jackson, Ohio, having, however, been one of the original stockholders of that company, and still continues. In 1871, while in Kentucky, he was one of the prime movers and original stockholders in building the Hamilton Furnace in Missouri. As a furnace man, Mr. Murfin's experience covers over a quarter of a century, which has been marked with a number of successful experiences, one of which, as a matter of history, is mentioned: He was the man who first successfully smelted iron from the raw native ore, making a better quality of pig iron than had formerly been made after roasting the ore. His observations through furnace work enable him to stand second to none in Southern Ohio, in explaining the condition of material while passing the different periods in the furnace. In short, his furnace experience has been remunerative and successful, and he is one of the well-to-do citizens, willing to assist in all public improvements, and at the same time does not fail to consider the comforts and happiness of himself and family, as his elegant Gothic frame house on Posey Hill bears testimony, it having been recognized as second to no dwelling in the county for comfort, convenience and architectural excellence, standing as a monument to the taste of the proprietor. On Jan. 1, 1862, he was married to Miss Kate, daughter of James F. Forsythe, of Scioto County, Ohio. The issue of this union is one daughter—Jessie F., who, in 1879, graduated from the public schools of Jackson, Ohio, at the age of fifteen, and in 1882 graduated at the Cincinnati Wesleyan College, and was awarded the valedictory in a class of twenty-one. Thomas Wallace Patterson, Deputy Auditor, Coalton, Jackson County, was born Sept. 27, 1838, in Philadelphia, Pa., a son of Thomas and Fanny Patterson, natives of Ireland, who came to Philadelphia in May, 1835, where they were married Aug. 12, 1837. March 9, 1856, they left Philadelphia and settled on their homestead in Washington Township, Jackson Co., Ohio, where the former died Dec. 30, 1881, and the latter Oct. 23, 1878. They were the parents of two sons and two daughters. Our subject attended school in Philadelphia until he was twelve years of age. His early life was passed in attending store, then in surveying under H. S. Townsend. He was then engaged as cabin boy and sailor on the schooner J. J. Ireland for a time, after which he served an apprenticeship as machinist molder to J. P. Morris & Co., of Philadelphia, at which he worked till he came to Ohio, since which he has followed farming. He enlisted in the late war in Company H, First Ohio Heavy Artillery. He was married Nov. 17, 1858, in Washington Township, to Mary Elizabeth Baunon. They have had ten children—Ezekiel W., Fannie, Thomas J., Jane, John S., Catharine, Margaret, Major K., William and Flora May, Mr. Patterson was elected County A uditor in October, 1875, and re-elected in October, 1877, holding that office five years. He has held his present office of Deputy Auditor three years. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and in politics is a stalwart Republican. He is a Knight Templar Mason, and has served as Master two years, and has taken all the Scottish rites up to the thirfy-second degree. He served as Worthy Master two terms of the American Protestant Association. He also belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, and is at present Commander of the Francis Smith Post, No. 365. Rufus Peters, of the Eagle Mills Company, HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 577 was born in Switzerland in 1838, the sixth of eight children of Jacob and Elizabeth Peters,, both natives of Argau, Switzerland. In 1849 his parents started for America, but his mother died on the voyage over. His father and the children settled in Portsmouth, where his father died in 1862. Rufus Peters followed farming, railroading and milling till 1863, when he enlisted in Company D, First Ohio Heavy Artillery, and served two years. A part of the time he was detailed to a grist-mill and bakery. After his return home in 1865, he was employed at the Franklin Mills, remaining there till 1876. Since then he has been manager and miller at the Eagle Mills. He married Eliza, daughter of John Davis. They have three sons. They are members of the Christian church. Politically Mr. Peters is a Democrat. He has served several terms in the Town Council. Peter Pickrel, President First National Bank, Jackson, is a son of Solomon and Anna Pickrel, who in 1815, with a family of five children, came from Pittsylvania County, Va., and settled near the present limits of Jackson, Ohio. Solomon engaged as a farmer and frontier woodsman, enduring all the hardships common to early-day life. He remained a resident of Jackson County until 1845, wheu he moved to Knox County, Ill., where he and his wife both died. Of their ten children Peter is the fourth, and was born Jan. 19, 1811, in Virginia, but since a child of four years old has resided mostly in Jackson County, Ohio. When he arrived at the proper age to enter school, such was nnknown, but as he neared manhood the introduction of schools was effected, and with the very limited privileges he acquired a meager education. When only a youth of fifteen years he went to the Kanawha Valley to engage in the salt works. There he devoted his time to boating salt down the Kanawha Valley. He commenced working for 50 cents a day, but by his energy and industry his - 37 - wages were subsequently increased to $1 per day. He practiced the strictest economy, and thereby in the five years thus engaged accumulated some means; returned to Ohio in 1831, or when twenty years of age, and engaged in teaming, and also buying all the dry-goods, groceries, etc., that came to Jackson, and shipping the produce that left the village to Virginia. About 1840 he began buying horses and driving to Virginia and North Carolina, which he continued for about five years. This pursuit was followed by buying and selling cattle and hogs, which was equally as successful as the former engagement. He realized the need of a steam grist-mill in Jackson, and in 1841 erected the Franklin Mills, the first steam grist-mill and carding machines in Jackson, which he conducted several years. Beside this he had been connected with nearly all the enterprises in and about Jackson. He started in life a poor boy with no means, but a capital of energy and determination. He has met with a number of reverses, but being possessed with the skill of a close financier his tax, outside of bank stock, amounts to about $600 annually. In banking he has been connected since 1855, and since 1879 has held his present position. He owns a fine farm of 300 acres near Jackson, where he resides. The surface is underlaid with good coal and iron ore. He is a man who has at all times considered well the value of his finances, and his judgment for investments is ever regarded as valuable. He has always been industrious, a man of average frame, plain in his dress and manners; a man with whom it is a pleasure to do business. He does not belong to any church, hence is free from creed or denomination. His wife was Elizabeth D. Haven, by whom he had ten children, and nine are now living. Mr. Pickrel is one of the able and well-to-do citi zens, willing to assist in all public improvements. Elmer C. Powell, Prosecuting Attorney, 578 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. Jackson, Ohio, was born in Gallia County, Ohio, Nov. 1, 1849, and is the eldest son of Andrew J. and Mary Ann (Kerr) Powell. Andrew J. moved with his father to Gallia County in an early day, where he still resides. Our subject was reared to the life of a farmer, and acquired a common-school education, and afterward attended the college at Willoughby, Ohio, in 1869–'70. In the summer of 1870 he went to Victoria, Ill., where, in 1871, he was married to Sarah E. Clark. They have three children living. After his marriage he returned to Gallia County and farmed on his father's farm for a time, when he went to Kansas. In 1873 he settled in Victoria, Ill., where he followed carpentering five years. In the falhef 1876 he commenced studying law under Homer Gaines, of Victoria, Ill. In 1877 he returned to Ohio, continued reading law, and was admitted to the bar in the fall of 1878, at McArthur, Ohio. He then settled in Jackson, and in 1880 was elected to his present position, and re-elected in the fall of 1882. Mr. Powell has, during his life, written several political ballads. Henry Price, mining surveyor and engineer, Jackson, Ohio, was bornDudleyd'ey, Staffordshire, England, Dec. 8, 1824, a son of George and Sarah (Round) Price, who, in 1832, with a family of eight children, came to the United States and located in Pittsburg, Pa., and in 1846 came to Jackson County, Ohio, and located hear Portland, where Mr. Price died in 1863. Mrs. Price is still living, aged eighty-three years. Of their eight children but three are now living, and the subject of our sketch is the second. His boyhood days were spent in mining and attending school, his time being about equally divided between the two. From 1852 till 1868 he resided in Meigs County, employed in superintending 'Clines. Since 1868 he has been employed at the Star mines. He has had wide experience, and has few equals and no superiors in his branch of business. He was married in 1850 to Mary Harrop. They have one daughter—Cordelia. John L. Ramsey, broker and retired farmer, Jackson, Ohio, is a son of Samuel and grandson of Moses Ramsey. The latter was a lineal descendant from Scotch ancestors, a native of Lancaster County, Pa., where he ever lived, and followed coopering for his livelihood. Of his children Samuel was eldestdeSt, who was born in the same county as his father, and there grew to manhood. In falk of Scioto Countylhef 1859 he settled in Scioto County, Ohio, where he died. In early life he learned blacksmithing in Pennsylvania, which he also followed in Scioto County. His wife was Mary, daughter of Thomas Lyons, of Irish parents, and also a native of Pennsylvania. Of Samuel and Mary's nine children John L. is the second, and was born March 7, 1826, near Danville, Columbia (Monteur) Co., Pa. He lived until he was fifteen years of age in his native State, receiving only a meager education. His parents then moved to Belmont County, Ohio, where he matured, and on Aug. 20, 1851, married Nancy M. Rozell, of Monroe County, Ohio, a lineal descendant from France, her grandfather having been born in that country. In 1859 John L. and Nancy M. Ramsey settled near the town of Jackson, Ohio, having previously purchased a farm which he still owns. In minor life he engaged in shippin coal down the river from Pittsburg to New Orleans, but owing to misfortune business he abandoned it and learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed to some extent together with farming, in Jackson County. They lived on their farm until 1861, and again from 1863 to 1869, the remainder of the time in Jackson. He has, through his life in Jackson County, been one of its most energetic stock-dealers, though, now almost retired with a neat competency, the result of his and his wife's legitimate and untiring efforts. Mr. Ramsey has been a stockholder in both the Iron and First National baof Jackson-son for HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 579 some time. He and Mrs. Ramsey are both ardent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of Jackson, to which they have belonged for a number of years. Mr. Ramsey is one of the well-to-do citizens of Jackson, willing to assist in all public and laudable enterprises that tend toward the elevation of the county or mankind. Even though they have no family he has always manifested an active interest in the educational welfare of the community. The hospitality and generosity of the family are too well known by the people of the present day to need comment. Their residence is beautifully located at the junction of Broadway and South streets, Jackson, Ohio. John R. Rowland, civil engineer and miner, Jackson, Ohio, was born May 9, 1840, in Cardigaushire, South Wales, the youngest of two sons of John N. Rowland, who through life has been a civil engineer, and is still living in Wales, over eighty years of age. John R. learned his trade in Wales, working most of the time in lead mines, but the last six years he was there he was agent for John Waddingham. He came to America in 1878 and in the fall of the same year located in Jackson. He has been employed as surveyor for the Huron, Tropic and Globe furnaces, and since March 8, 1882, has held his present position. He was married in 1858 to Miss Magdalene Davies. They have a family of eleven children. John Sanders was born in Guilford County, N. C., Aug. 15, 1815, a son of George B. and Rebecca (Lampkins) Sanders, his father a native of North Carolina and his mother of Virginia. His maternal great-grandfather, Major Laningham was killed at the battle of Guilford Court-House, near where our subject was born. His paternal great-grandfather was an Englishman and married a Scotch lady. His father was a farmer by occupation. He died near Lynchburg, Va., aged about fifty years. His mother died in Jackson County, Ohio. In 1823, with his mother and stepfather, he came to Ohio, where, in 1829, his mother died, and he was then thrown on his own resources. In 1830 he went to the Kanawha Valley, Va., and worked for a salt works company nine years. In the meantime he acquired a thorough knowledge of the Ohio and Kanawha rivers and had few equals and none who were superior in piloting. In 1840 he abandoned river life and permanently settled in Jackson County. His home had been here, however, the entire time of his employment on the river. In 1840 he began clearing a farm of 200 acres in Franklin Township, adding to it till he had 300 acres. In 1864 he sold the farm and moved into Lick, on the Piketon road, but since 1872 has resided in Jackson. Politically he is a Democrat. He has no aspirations for office, but is in favor of all industrious institutions and is always ready to do his part to assist any enterprise that tends to elevate the county, State, or Nation. He was married in 1838 and has one daughter—Rebecca, wife of Captain Lewis Davis. W. A. Steele was born near Portsmouth, Ohio, in 1845, a son of William B. and Julia Ann (Oard) Steele, natives of Virginia. In 1846 his parents removed to Jackson where his father worked at the tanner's and subsequently at the saddler's trade several years. The latter was a man of delicate constitution, and for several years prior to his death was unable to do more than superintend his business. He died in 1873 ; his wife died in 1872. Of their six children our subject is the third. He attended the schools of Jackson and afterward the Northwestern Ohio Normal, at Lebanon, graduating from the commercial department in 1868. In 1861 he enlisted in Company F, but afterward transferred to Company C, Fifty-third Ohio Infantry. He participated in the battles of Corinth, Pittsburg Landing, and Paducah, but in the fall of 1862, on account of his small stature and poor 580 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. health, he was discharged. He afterward enlisted in the First Ohio Heavy Artillery and served till the close of the war, mostly on scouting duty. He was wounded at Pittsburg Landing and again at Loudon, Tenn. In 1865 he returned to Jackson and became associated with his brothers in the mercantile business. In 1870 he established his present business. He carries a full line of glass and queen's-ware, drain tile, crockery, etc. He is also agent for Adams Express Company. He married Belle Vinson, of Lebanon, Ohio. They have six children. Mark Sternberger was born in Bavaria, Germany, May 18, 1841, a son of Samuel Sternberger, a farmer of that country, who died when Mark was seven weeks old. In the fall of 1860 he came to America and located in Jackson, Ohio, where his brother Moses was living. He clerked for his brother till June, 1863, when he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Ohio Infantry, and served till March, 1864. After his return home he formed a partnership with his brother which existed till August, 1867. In the fall of that year he established a separate store where he has a liberal patronage. He has a complete stock of general merchandise, dry-goods, clothing, carpets, etc. Politically Mr. Sternberger is a Republican. He has been a member of the School Board of Jackson six years, and Treasurer of the town of Jackson four years. He has been a Director of the Home Building and Loan Association from its origin and was its President several years. In the spring of 1883 he was nominated by the Republican party as Treasurer of Jackson County. Mr. Sternberger was married March 1, 1865,to Sarah Stinson, a native of Jackson County. They have five children, all at home. Moses Sternberger, Jackson, Ohio, stock-dealer and grazer, retired merchant and capitalist. In all ages, from the Romans to the present, there has been a universal feeling in favor of preserving with the history of a county something of the life work of its citizens, and as the history of a LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY would be incomplete without a sketch of this distinguished and well-known merchant of Jackson, together with brief ancestral relations, we here give it. He is a son of Samnel and Caroline Sternberger, who were both natives of Bavaria, Germany, where they matured and married. Samuel died in 1842 leaving his wife a widow, who subsequently came to the United States, settling in Dayton, Ohio, where three of her sons lived, and there in 1879 she died. Moses Sternberger is the second of a family of eight children, and was born in Bavaria, Germany, Aug. 29, 1826. He was apt, his perceptive faculties keen, and from the favorable opportunities offered for school he acquired a good German education. In 1839, when only a youth of thirteen, he emigrated to America, clerking for two years in a store in Philadelphia. While there, by practicing the strictest economy and industry, he accumulated a few dollars and came to Ohio, making his headquarters at Jackson in the year 1845. He purchased a small package of notions and started to peddling, and at the end of nine months opened a small retail store in Jackson, which gradually increased in quality and quantity for over thirty years. During the time he became prominently known as a merchant of energy and ability, together with the reputation of an extensive and profitable real-estate dealer. He now owns about 600 acres of excellent grazing land nnderlaid with a fine vein of Jackson coal from three and one-half to four feet thick, and also good iron ore abounds. In 1862 he commenced handling cattle, and has since studied the science, so to speak, until he has few eqnals and no superiors in judging the quality, weight and value of stock. Since 1877 he has turned his attention exclusively to stock grazing and farming, which he conducts scientifically. He is one of the enterprising citizens of Jackson, and as a monument to his enterprise HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 581 on the corner of Main and Portsmouth street is a large brick business building which was erected in 1855, the first one of any note in the town. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank, also in the Dayton Iron Com- pany, as well as in the Jackson Coal and Iron Company. He is favorable to all improvements that indicate the financial interests of the general public. He as a financier stands eminent in Southern Ohio, as is easily coinprehended when only considered that he started in life by peddling and with no capital but energy, determination and shrewd dealing. He was married in 1850 to Elizabeth Stephenson, who died in 1873, leaving seven children. Mr. Sternberger's second wife was Fanny Sternberger, of Philadelphia, Pa., by whom he has one daughter. Mrs. Steraberger is an accomplished lady. J. K. Stewart was born in Franklin Township, Jackson Co., Ohio, in 1856, the sixth of eight children of Daniel and Nancy (Martin) Stewart. His father was born in Allegheny County, Penn., in 1818, but in 1840 removed to Ohio. He subsequently returned home and induced his parents to move to his adopted State. They located in Franklin Township, where his parents died and where he still resides. He has through life been a farmer, at the same time working at the carpenter's trade and manufacturing grain cradles J. K. was thus reared a farmer, but being possessed of a ready mind he was desirous of obtaining an education, and therefore made the best use of his advantages and when twenty years of age was qualified to teach. He taught his first school at the Whaley School-house, in Liberty Township, but since then has taught each winter in his own district. In the summers of 1881 and 1882 he clerked in the store of Rodrick & Co., Jackson, Ohio. He ranks as one of the leading disciplinarians of Jackson County. May 6, 1882, he married Ida M. Gray, daughter of B. Gray. L. A. F. Summers, Superintendent of the Forest Coal Mine, is a native of Kanawha Valley, West Va., born in 1832, but since 1834 has resided in Ohio, the greater part of the time in Hocking Valley and Greene County. He was married in 1855 to Eleanor J. Mills of Greene County. In January, 1882, he removed to Jackson County and since early in 1883 has been associated with the Forest Mine. Mr. Summers's early training was under the supervision of a widowed mother. He had fair school privileges and made the most of his advantages. When eighteen years of age he began to teach and taught the most of the time for thirty-two years. He took a course in the Miami Commercial College, at Dayton, Ohio, and for several years was engaged in bookkeeping in Dayton, Xenia and Jackson. Mr. and Mrs. Summers have a family of five children. John E. Sylvester, M. D., was born in Lawrence County, Ohio, Feb. 6, 1855, the second of six children of Dr. William and Rachel (Salmons) Sylvester, his father a native of Meigs County, Ohio, born in 1826, and his mother of Guernsey County, Ohio. He was educated in the common schools and graduated from the National Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, in August, 1872. When fourteen years of age he commenced teaching, following that vocation when not attending school till he began the practice of his profession. In 1873 he commenced reading medicine under his father's supervision, and three years later graduated from the Ohio Medical College, at Cincinnati. He commenced his practice with his father but in 1878 located in McArthur, Ohio, where he has built up a successful practice. He was married in 1874 to Alice Welker, of Vinton, Gallia Co., Ohio. They have had two children, only one now living—John. Dr. William Sylvester received a common-school education and afterward attended the Albany Academy, in Athens County. He then de- 582 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. voted several years to teaching; took up the study of medicine under Dr. Mears, of Lawrence County, Ohio. In 1856 he relinquished teaching and began the practice of his profession. He is now located at Wellston, Jackson County. Evan X Thomas, of the Jackson Planing Mill Company, was born in Oak Hill, Jackson Co., Ohio, in 1842, a son of Thomas D. and Mary (Evans) Thomas, both natives of South Wales. His father came to America when a young man and settled in Jackson County making his home with his mother and step-father. He then worked at the carpenter's trade in Cincinnati, having learned the trade in Manchester, England. While living in Cincinnati he married Mary Evans, who came to America on the same ship with him. They settled in Oak Hill where they both died leaving one child—Evan M., the subject of our sketch. His educational advantages were meager, and being deprived of his father when sixteen years of age he commenced farming and working at the carpenter's trade. In 1874 he came to Jackson and erected the mill known as the Jackson Planing-Mill, where he has been very successful and is now one of the well-to-do citizens of the place. He was married to Ann Williams, who died in 1876, leaving two children. He afterward married Mrs. Eunice Tolly. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are members of the Presbyterian church. Edgar B. Thompson, Recorder of Jackson County, Ohio, was born in Jackson County, Feb. 27, 1857, a son of Green and Eliza A. (Wilson) Thompson, his father a native of Virginia and his mother of Jackson County, Ohio, both of English descent. His mother died Feb. 10, 1881. He was reared on a farm attending school in Lick Township. When seventeen years of age he began to teach school and taught seven years. In October, 1882, he was elected on the Democratic ticket to the office of Comity Recorder. Dec. 24, 1878, he married Alice M. Rice. They have one daugh ter —Lula M. P. T Thurheimer, Priest of the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Jackson Ohio, was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Aug. 12, 1846. His early education was acquired in the parish schools, but at the age of twelve years he entered the gymnasium of Ellwangen; from there went to the Clerical Seminary at Ehinger, where he remained till 1867, completing his classical and philosophical course. In 1867 he came to America and spent three years in the Theological Seminary at Pittsburg, Pa., and was ordained priest in that city in 1870. He had charge of the Pittsburg Diocese four years and then came to Ohio; and took charge of the Columbus Diocese, consisting of the congregations at McCluney, Perry County, and Marietta. In the fall of 1879 he took charge of the congregation at Jackson, where his labors have shown good fruits in behalf of the church. James Tripp, lawyer, Jackson, Ohio, is a son of William Tripp, who was in the war of 1812, and Sarah (Haft) Tripp, both natives of Eastern Pennsylvania. They emigrated with their parents to Washington County, Pa., about 1800 and were married there in 1817. They were the parents of ten children—six boys and four girls—six of whom are living. Judge John H. Tripp was the eldest; Dr. Will. iam Tripp, of Carrollton, Ohio, the second son, was Surgeon of the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Ohio Infantry during the late war; Stephen Joseph Tripp was a member of the One Hundred and Thirty-second Ohio Infant. ry and was killed at the battle of Champion Hills; Samuel Tripp was also wounded in the hand in battle; James Tripp, whose name heads this sketch, was the fourth child, and was born in Cannonsburg, Pa., Oct. 17, 1824, I where he lived till 1832, when he moved with his parents to Carroll County, Ohio. He at. tended the public school, known as the West Union School, near Carrollton during winter HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 583 for ten years, and when twenty-two years of age spent two terms at the Carrollton Academy. He read law with his brother, John H. Tripp, during the years 1848 and 1849 at Carrollton, and continued to read from 1849 till 1856, while on a farm in Jackson County; and during his residence on the farm he spent fhe winter season in teaching school. He has resided in Jackson County since 1849. In 1855 he was elected Justice of the Peace, but at the end of two years resigned. He was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Jackson County in 1858 and re-elected in 1860, and in 1863 he was elected to the Ohio Legislature, being re-elected in 1865. He was elected to the Constitutional Convention in 1872 and has held the office of Judge of the Court of Common Pleas since 1878 by re-election, his present term expiring in February, 1889. During the late war he was commander of a section of a six-gun battery of Ohio National Guards, and was in the service under a call of Governor Brough for 100 days. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church since 1859. He was married June 7, 1849, to Christiana Smeltz. of Carroll County, Ohio, who died Oct. 24, 1882. Nine children were born to them, all living except one daughter who died in infancy. Their names are—William L., Sarah C., James M., Venetia P., Mary L., Minnie B., Gettie and Stella, all residing in Jackson, Ohio, except Sarah C., who lives in Clinton, Mo. The five eldest are married. Judge Tripp is one of the most influential men in Jackson County, and at the same time one of her best and most trusted citizens. He was successful in his profession, has filled with credit every place of trust to which he has been elected or appointed, and is an able, just and upright Judge. In all his relations to the public he has been faithful and honorable and holds, as he deserves to, a high place in the esteem and confidence of all who know him. The citizens of Jackson County take a just pride in Judge Tripp. They know the man and have the most implicit faith in his honesty and integrity, and regard him as a wise counselor and a safe and skillful leader. James M. Tripp, attorney at law, Jackson, Ohio, was born in Liberty Township, Jackson County, Ohio, Jan. 13, 1857, a son of Judge James Tripp. His parents removed to Jackson County in the fall of 1857 and he therefore had the advantage of a good common-school education. When sixteen years of age he entered the Ohio University at Athens and graduated in 1877. During his last year in college he began the study of law with his father as preceptor. In September, 1878, he was admitted to the bar and since that time he has been practicing in Jackson. In 1880 the faculty of his alma mater selected him to deliver the master's oration of his class. The ability with which it was delivered and the depth of thought it contained secured him the degree of A. M. Mr. Tripp married Emma A., daughter of Dr. 0. C. Miller, deceased. They have two children—Homer F., and James O. P. H. Washam, clothier, Jackson, Ohio, of the firm of P. H. Washam & Co., is a native of Eastern Virginia, born in 1841, of English extraction, a son of A. W. and Nancy J. Wash-am, and brother of W. T. Washam, now of Lick Township, Jackson County. The firm in which Mr. Washam occupies so prominent a position is second to none in the county, and is not only extensively but favorably known throughout the district covered by the history of this volume. P. H. Washam matured in his native State but had comparatively no educational advantages save at his own expense, though business has greatly improved his general knowledge. He served in the late war from 1861 to 1863, under Captain T. S. Flournoy, who subsequently became Colonel of the Sixth Virginia Regiment. From the expiration of his military services he remained in 584 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. Virginia until 1869 in which year he came to Jackson, Ohio. Since a resident here he has been in public business and is widely known as a strict, live, energetic and substantial business man with whom it is a pleasure to trade. While he possesses a fine knowledge of business, he does not believe in dividing his attention, giving a small proportion to different classes of business, but believes in the old adage, "Where there is concentration of mind there is strength." Mr. Washam is politically a Democrat though not an aspirant to any public offices. His marriage was consummated with Miss Almira Poor, of Jackson, to whom one child has been born. Joseph B. Watson is a native of Pennsylvania, a son of Samuel and Mary (Mason) Watson. His grandfather, George Watson, was a native of Ireland and died in Westmoreland County, Pa. His father died in August, 1823, in Pennsylvania. In 1850 he came with his mother to Ohio and located in Portsmouth. His mother subsequently died in Ross County. His first work after coming to Ohio was to assist in building the Cincinnati & Marietta Railroad. He afterward worked at the carpenter's trade in Portsmouth ten years. In 1860 he came to Jackson. In 1869 he commenced gardening on his present lot of fifteen acres in the Salt Creek bottom. His land is well cultivated and yields him annually a good profit. He was married July 3, 1853, to Ellen Reininger, a native of Portsmouth, and a daughter of Major C. F. Reininger. They have six children, five daughters and one son, all living at home. J. W White, a son of William White, was born in Beaver County, Pa., Dec. 20, 1838. When he was eight years of age his father removed to Jackson County, Ohio, and settled on a farm, where his boyhood days were passed. He was a diligent student and by his own exertions prepared himself for a teacher. He taught his first school in the fall and winter of 1858. He was a successful disciplinarian and never taught a school that his services were not desired fora second term. June 2, 1862, he enlisted in Company E. Eighty-seven th Ohio Infantry, and served four months. At the surrender of General Miles at Harper's Ferry he was taken prisoner, but was paroled and returned home. June 21, 1863, he enlisted in Company F, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Ohio Infantry. He participated in the campaign of General Burnside, and was discharged March 5, 1864. Sept. 2t, 1864, he enlisted in Company F, Twenty-fifth Ohio Veteran Infantry, and was discharged July 15, 1865. After his return home he taught one term of school and then carried on a farm a year. In 1867 he moved to Jackson and was in the mercantile business till 1873, but since then has been clerking for different parties. Since 1880 he has been store-keeper for the Starr Furnace Company. He was married March 29, 1866, to M. J. Harper. They have six children. Mr. and Mrs. White are members of the United Presbyterian church near Cove Station. David R. Williams, of the firm of Chapman & Williams, proprietors of the Diamond Coal Mine, Jackson, Ohio, was born in Go County, Ohio, in 1849, the second of ten children of George G. and Catharine Waal, both natives of Wales. His mother came America when quite young and his father the age of eighteen. They were married Pittsburg, Pa., and located at Pomeroy, 0, afterward removing to Gallia County, whe his father died and his mother is still living David R. was reared on a farm and follow., that occupation till 1879 when he removed Sunfish Township, Pike County, and en; ed in lumbering a year. In 1880 he removed to Jackson and has since been engaged at the Diamond Coal Mine. In 1872 he married Margaretta Shedrick, who died, leaving on child. He then married Jane, daughter of Lewis Davis. To them were born two ail. dren. His present wife was Margaret Rod- HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 585 rick. They have one child. Mr.. and Mrs. Williams are members of the Welsh Presbyterian church. He is one of the well-to-do and influential citizens of Jackson. William E Williams, physician and surgeon, Jackson, Ohio, is a son of Morgan Williams, who was of Welsh birth, and died in Jackson, Ohio, June 17, 1883. In his native country he was engaged in cabinet-making, but after coming to Ohio he followed farming successfully, mostly till his death. He was married in his native country to Annie Jones, of Welsh birth, and in 1838 they emigrated to Ohio, settling in Jackson County, where they ever after lived. Mrs. Williams died in 1855 and was the mother of ten children. Our subject was born in Jackson County in 1848 and passed his minor life mostly on the farm. At the age of fifteen he was an independent farmer and managed a farm successfully until he was eighteen years of age when he en - tered the Ohio University, at Athens, Ohio. In this institution he devoted his time until reaching the senior year. He read medicine under Dr. Lash, of Athens, graduated from the Ohio Medical College, of Cincinnati, in 1873, and at once took up the practice of his profession in Jackson, where success has attended his deserving efforts, and he is now in partnership with Dr. C. K. Crumit. Dr. Williams' political affiliations are in behalf of the Republican party, but he is no aspirant for office. In religion he is a Presbyterian, and in secret order a Mason. He was married June 26, 1873, to Anna, daughter of Hon. T. L. Hughes, of Oak Hill, Jackson Co., Ohio. Two children have been born to them —Lloyd and Anna. CHAPTER XXX. LICK, LIBERTY, SCIOTO AND FRANKLIN TOWNSHIPS. THE BEST FROM AN AGRICULTURAL STANDPOINT. LICK TOWNSHIP. ONCE A TOWNSHIP IN ROSS COUNTY. Lick is the oldest township in Jackson County. Previous to the county's organization it was a township in Ross County, was organized in the winter of 1808—'9, and its first election was held in April, 1809. It was then composed of the territory of what is now Coal, Washington, Scioto and Jackson, besides its own boundary. Having within its borders at that time nearly all of the salt reservation, it found permanent settlers as early as 1798. At the time of the organization of Jackson County, which was taken from Ross, Scioto, Gallia and Athens, Lick became one of the original townships of the county, formed in May, 1816. It did not, however, remain long with its extensive territory, for in June, 1816, Jackson Township was formed, and but a few years expired before it had been curtailed to the dimensions of a congressional township. In July, 1816, an order of the court changed its boundaries to include all of township 7, of range 18, and all of township 7, of range 19, excepting the north tier of sections. This order reads as follows: LICK TOWNSHIP. " It was also ordered at this meeting that Lick Township should have the following boundaries: Beginning at the northeast corner of section 1, township 7 and range 18, the lin to run due south to the southeast corner section 36 of township aforesaid; thence we to the county line at the southwest corner section 31, township 7 and range 19; then, north along the county line to the northwest corner of section 7, township 7 and range 19 thence east to the northeast corner of section 12, township 7 and range 19; thence north the northwest corner of section 6, township range 18; thence east to the place of beginning." These boundaries gave Lick Township of the present township of that name, togethe with the present Liberty Township, with th exception of the northern and western tier sections. This included Liberty Township except north tier of sections mentioned and the territory lying west of range 19. From the date of the organization of Liberty Township Lick became only a congressional township and this continued its size until January 1883, when Coal Township robbed it of on third of its territory, leaving it with but twenty-four sections of land. Lick has been the butt of nearly all the surrounding to townships, and when any of them wanted to increase their size Lick seemed to be the object of their attack, until from being a township of generous proportions she is now but an infant in size. - 586 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 587 THEY PREFERRED LICK. Here is a plaintive wail which the commissioners had not the heart to refuse, the petition being presented Oct.14, 1828,and granted Dec. 2 following. The petition reads: " To the Honorable Commissioners of Jackson County: We, the undersigned, have proved by experience that there are many difficulties which we have to encounter and labor under by being attached to Washington Township, and in order to remedy the same we desire and earnestly request that your honorable body will permit us, your humble petitioners, to become attached to the township of Lick. Your compliance will confer a particular favor on us, and render us your much obliged obedient humble servants. "N. B. We wish the original surveyed line of Lick Township to be re-established." TOPOGRAPHY. The township is hilly, but there is a wide expanse of Talley around Jackson, the county seat, and up the valley of Salt Creek, down that stream, after leaving Jackson for a mile and a half, the valley narrows and you find yourself between rugged hills and massive rocky bluffs which limit it on either side. There are a few small tributaries which flow into Salt Creek, but taking the township together it is well watered and timbered. From the width of the valley in the upper portion of Salt Creek and around Jackson there is quite a body of good agricultural lands, and the township, though hilly and broken, is one of the best for agricultural purposes in the connty, that is among all, for there are no townships that can boast of the alluvial soil of the river bottoms, or the black mold which is found on the Western prairies. Still in this township, as in other parts of the county, fair yields of cereals, vegetables and grasses are secured to the farmer for his labor. Of course with a township so made up of rolling sur face, the drainage is good and malarial diseases are not chronic in this section. In many respects the history of Jackson, the county seat, embraces much of the history of Lick Township, and therefore it is not necessary to detail that which will be found in the history of the county seat. The first bridge built in Lick Township was across McDowell's Run, and $7 was appropriated by the township trustees to purchase plank to build said bridge. This was all the money in the township treasury, March 31, 1823. THE PIONEERS. Lick Township being organized by Ross so early, and so many years before the county was organized, gives it a history anterior to that of the county, but the pioneer came and settled even before the township was known. The main salt springs were in Lick Township, and for a few years the place was known as " Salt Lick," and the latter name was finally chosen for the township when organized. We give a few names of the earliest arrivals, and the prominent men before the county came into existence. The following were all permanent settlers prior to the organization of the county and in fact prior to 1812: John Munday, Abraham Welsh, Joshua Winks, John Prather, Thomas Trago, William Niblack, Paul Bunk, John Gillespie, Austin Palmer, Samuel Niblack, John James, Joseph Clements, David Mitchell, John Sargeant, Daniel Stoy, David McConnel, Isaac Washburn, Jared Strong, Matthew Kidder, William Bares,Thomas Foster, Francis Heron, Thomas Scott, Asa Lake, Elkana Bramlette, Emanuel Hoover, Austin Palmer, Robert Strother, John Brander, Elijah Strong, Paris Griffeth, Thomas M. Carbotte, John Lake, Jesse Watson, Jacob Scallenger, William Higginbotham, Samuel A. Hall, John Ogg, Peter Marshall, Jesse Wilson, Philip Strother, Jackson Taylor, Samuel Rice, Joseph 588 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. Armstrong, Joseph Lake, Joseph Stockholm, George L. Crookham, William White, John Stewart, Henry Armstrong, John Armstrong, Charles Higginbotham, George Mooney, Joseph W. Ross, Olney Haw-kings, William Golby, William Hill, Samuel Goodenough, John McGee, Robert Patrick, William Howe, Daniel Harris, Joseph Clemens, Timothy Allen, Phillip Hartley, John Stewart, Samuel Bunn, Benjamin Haines, Daniel Clark, Samuel Aldridge, James Mc-Daniels, Peter Bunn, Aaron Martin, William Jolly, Absalom Wells, Andrew Donnelly, Benjamin Kiger, Richard Perdue and David Pinney. Most of these names will be familiar to many now living. They are those who settled here and lived, and most of them found their graves within the township. The first Justices of the Peace date from 1809, and the names of David Mitchell, William Niblack, William Givens, Jared Strong, and Joseph Armstrong, were all acting as such in this township, prior to the organization of the county. The two former were the first who served. The first Grand Juror from Lick Township, was Olney Hawkings, and Petit Jurors, Robert Patrick and William Niblack. They served March 6, 1809, seven years before the county came into existence. In 1812 the township treasurer made his report from April, 1810, to April, 1812. The amount received for the two years was $19.00 and the expenditures for the same time was $17.55; balance, $1.45. John Brander, Clerk of the township, received $15 for his services for the year 1813. ITS GROWTH. Lick Township, as the central township, has exceeded all others in its growth. Outside of the county seat it, has a larger agricultural population by several hundred than any other. The growth of the township has been steady and prosperous since its formation up to about 1880. At that time Coalton did not amount to much, and the furnace population lived mostly within the limits of Jackson. The population by decades is as follows : 1840, 822; 1850, 1,501; 1860, 2,334; 1870, 3,746; 1880, 5,213. Deducting the population of Jackson in 1870 and in 1880 and the township had 1,730 population in 1870; 2,192 in the latter year, the growth of Coalton having been mostly in the last three years. ASSESSED VALUATION AND AREA. The assessment for Lick Township for 1864 gave the valuation of personal property at $77,962; corporation, $99,299; total, $177,261 In 1863 the figures were: Township, $50,674; corporation, $91,774; total, $142,448. Gain in one year: Township, $27,288; corporation, $7,525; total gain, $34,813. In 1880 this valuation of personal property was $113,010 outside the corporation, while the city had reached the sum of $299,692. In 1882 the valuation of real-estate of the township was $315,788, and personal property outside of corporation, $122,664; total, $438,452. The real and personal in Jackson is, $880,636; total, $1,319,088. The total sum raised by Lick Township during the civil war for the support of.the families of the volunteers was $7,735. A town house was purchased of Peter Pickrel and Lewis Davis for $2,000, May 20, 1870, and sold Nov. 23, 1874, for $2,500 to Geo. Pugh and Wm. Vaughn, in four equal annual payments from March 1, 1875. The trustees sold the first note for $615.92. A contract was made June 12, 1875, with Benjamin Trago to build a new town hall, on the corner of Portsmouth and Pearl streets for $1,075, payable in monthly install. ments upon estimates. It was completed Sept. 25, 1875. The township was divided into two voting precincts, June 12, 1875. The tax levy for bounty fund was sufficient to pay off the bonds and interest, and March 29, HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 589 1873, there was a balance to the credit of the bounty fund of $728.45. This amount was turned over at above date to the Board of Education of Lick Township for school purposes. The township holds the brine deposit of the county, and is noted for the quantity and quality of its coal and iron ore which lies under the surface. There are six school districts in the present bounds of the township outside the city of Jackson. There are in the same territory one Free-Will Baptist church and one Methodist, on lot 29 of the Salt Reservation, and one Methodist church on section 23; two cemeteries also in the country. It has two railroads running through the township—the Portsmouth Branch, running southwest, and then east of south from Jackson, and the Ohio Southern, which comes in on the west and runs north to Wellston. TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. The first township officers elected, April, 1809, were as follows: Trustees, Roger Seldon, David Mitchell and Robert Patrick; Treasurer, Levi Patrick; Clerk, John Brander; Lister, Sam'l Niblack; Overseers Poor, John James and Olney Hawkings ; Constables, Sam'l Niblack and Phillip Strother. Olney Hawkings refused to serve as Overseer of the Poor, and he was fined. Then the Trustees appointed Stephen Radcliff, Sr. Roger Seldon, Trustee, removed to another county and Wm. Niblack was appointed Trustee May 20, 1809. Levi Patrick,Town Treasurer, removed to Virginia, and Olney Hawkings was appointed March 10, 1810. The present officers, 1883, are: Trustees, W. T. Washam, Jos. Humphries, Andrew Benson; Clerk, Sam '1 Stevenson; Assessor First Precinct, Thos. Rogers; Assessor Second Precinct, Wm. D. Trago; Constables, James Baker, W. E. Arthur. BIOGRAPHICAL. Allison Brown, farmer, was born in Jack. son County, Oct. 1, 1827, where he was rear- ed to farm life, and passed through all the phases of pioneer life, and at present owns a good farm near Jackson, Ohio. He was married in 1851 to Lucy A., daughter of David and Anna Dennis, of Jackson County. Eleven children have been born to this union, of whom three sons and seven daughters are living. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. His father, Solomon Brown, was a native of Greenbrier County, Va., and settled in Jackson County in 1815, where he spent his life in developing the agricultural interests of the county. He died in Jackson County in October,1873,at the age of ninety-three years. He was married to Elizabeth Vernon, mother of our subject. She was a native of North Carolina and came with her parents to Ohio in an early day. She died in Jackson County at the age of seventy-seven years in November, 1875. George Washington Brown, farmer and stock-dealer, was born in Jackson County, Feb. 10, 1822. His father, William Brown, was born in 1796 in Greenbrier County, Va., and came to Ohio in 1817 and died in 1880. His mother, Martha (Burris) Brown, was a native of Gallia County, Ohio, and when a child came to Jackson County where she died in 1837. Our subject attended school till his mother's death and when nineteen years old, taught school. At the end of three years he sold clocks, continuing in this business for two years, after which he and J. H. McClintock engaged in the mercantile business under the firm name of Brown & McClintock. He sold out at the end of six months and farmed and taught school till 1855. He then embarked in the mercantile trade which continued two years, under the firm name of G. W. & J. A. Brown, when they sold out. He then followed farming till 1865 on Little Raccoon, when he sold his farm and in March, 1865, purchased his present farm. He was married in October, 1847, to Minerva, daughter of Charles and Viletta Lott. They have had . 590 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY two sons and five daughters born to them. His wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Brown was elected Commissioner of Jackson County in 1871 and served two terms. He is a member of Trowel Lodge, No. 132, A. F. & A. M., and of the chapter and council, R. A. M., of Jackson. He is also a member of the Knights Templar Commandery of Chillicothe, Ohio. Elwood B. Dickason, farmer, stock-dealer and dairyman, near Jackson, was born in Jackson County in 1858. He was reared a farmer and educated at the graded schools of Jackson and since attaining his majority has been engaged in his present business. Oct. 1, 1878, he was married to Ida, daughter of Mary A. and Absalom Nelson, of Jackson County. They have a family of two children—Cornelia N. and Charles A. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian church. Reuben Dickason, grandfather of our subject, was born Dec. 2, 1795, in Virginia and settled in Jackson County in 1819 where he is still living. Our subject's father, Charles Dickason, was born and reared in Jackson County and is now living in Jackson. William B. Foster was born in Monroe County, W. Va., Oct. 28, 1824, and is the eldest son of Robert and Catherine (Rice) Foster who were born, reared and married in Monroe County. At the age of sixteen years he removed with his parents, in 1840, to Jackson County, where they died. He was reared to farm labor and educated at the common schools, and by industry has obtained a good home. Aug. 13, 1846, he was married to Anna, daughter of Wilson and Charity Hog-bin. Of their four children three are living. One son died in infancy. Mrs. Foster died March 10, 1853. He married his second wife, Harriet Connelly, May 18, 1854. They had three children two of whom died in infancy. His wife died July 23, 1863, and Jan. 16, 1864, he married Mrs. Lydia (Wilson) Tilly, by whom he has had one son and a danghter. Hugh Gilliland, son of Samuel and Sarah (Krouskop) Gilliland, was born Feb. 5, 1824, in Jackson County where he was reared a farmer and received a limited education. He was employed as a teamster at Jackson Furnace for ten years and during that time saved $1,000, which he invested successfully in lands. Since then he has been engaged in farming and dealing in stock, and is the possessor of a farm of 440 acres in Frauklin Township, 320 acres in Jefferson Township, and 310 acres where he resides, in Lick Township. He also has $10,000 in the Tropic Trot, Furnace. He was married March 1, 1849, to Nancy, daughter of Charles and Margaret Slavens, pioneers of Pike County, where her father died at the age of seventy-five ye Her mother is living yet, aged eighty-four years. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gilliland, one son and six daughters. The son died at the age of twenty-two years. One daughter died when thirty-one years old and the other at the age of eighteen years. Mr. Gilliland has served one term as Trustee of Franklin Township. His parents settled in Jackson County in 1817. His father died at the age of sixty-four years and his mother at the age of fifty-five years. Edward Heath, son of Christian and Mar. tha Heath, was born in Jackson County, Feb. 8, 1829, and has always followed the avoca tion of a farmer. He was married May 11, 1858, to Eliza A., daughter of William and Sarah Kesinger, by whom he had three sons and six daughters, of whom one son and one daughter are deceased. He and wife an members of the Disciple church. His fathe was a native of Maryland, and died in Jackson County at the age of forty-five years. mother was born in Ohio. She is still livin being in her eighty-third year. John B. Heath, son of Edward and Eli A. Heath, was born in Jackson County, Fe 27, 1859. His parents being in poor circa stances he had to go to work at an early HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 591 and therefore had not much opportunity for obtaining an education, but by studying nights he fitted himself for a teacher. He taught his first school in Liberty Township in the winter of 1879-'80, and the following spring entered the school at Jackson. The following winter he taught again in his first school, after which he taught in the River Mill school in Pike County. He is at present teaching in a graded school in Pike County, where he is giving general satisfaction, and may be ranked among the most successful teachers of Pike and Jackson counties. Andrew Henson, son of Larkin and Nancy (Lackey) Henson, was born April 14, 1830, in Jackson County, Ohio. He lived on the home farm and attended the common schools till he was twenty-one years of age, when he entered the Ohio University at Athens where he spent two years, and the following year taught school, and for a time was engaged selling goods for J. D. Claar at the Cross Roads, Jackson County. From 1857 till 1861 he was bookkeeper for the Cambria Iron Company, and in 1862 he was salesman for J. D. Claar. He had an interest in the Five-Mile Furnace in Hocking County and was sole manager for four years, after which he managed the Limestone Furnace two years. He was the bookkeeper and manager of the Madison Furuace four years, and from 1876 till September, 1881, he was manager and bookkeeper of Latrobe Furnace, Jackson. Since 1881 he has devoted his time to his farm and to dealing in stock. He was married March 1, 1863, to Catherine, daughter of John J. and Rebecca (Cherington) Evans. They have a family of five children—Morris A., Emma B., Carrie A., William C. and Elbert F. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church. He is a Trustee of Lick Township and a member of Oak Hill Lodge, A. F. & A. M. John Johnson was born Dec. 25, 1823, in Carroll County, Ohio, where his parents, James and Jane (Kerr) Johnson, settled in an early day. Mr. Johnson died when our subject was an infant, and when he was fourteen years old his mother married again and he left home and worked for a farmer till he was twenty-two years old. He then bought sixty acres of lama in Carroll County where he farmed four years, and in 1851 removed to Jackson County and purchased his present farm which contained 160 acres, but at present he owns 203 acres, which is underlaid with three veins of hill coal and one vein of shaft coal and also an abundance of iron ore. He has devoted his time to his farm and stock and has some of the best stock in the county. In 1848 he married Catherine McDaniel, of Carroll County. They were the parents of one son and a daughter. The former died at the age of one year. His wife died in 1853, and in 1855 he married Mrs. Caroline (Plummer) Poor. Five children were born to this union, all living. His wife died Jan. 28, 1873, and Nov. 16, 1875, he married his third wife, Mrs. Sarah (Davis) Vernon. They have been blessed with two daughters. Samuel Watt McClung, son of Mordecai and Nancy (Wilson) McClung, was born near Jackson, Sept. 7, 1841. His father was born in Baltimore County, Md., in 1809, and his mother was born in 1816, in Washington County, Pa. In 1834 they settled in Jefferson County, Ohio, and came to Jackson County in 1841. He worked at the blacksmith's trade till 1840, after which he pursued farming till his death in 1869. His widow is still living. At the age of twenty years our subject taught school, and followed teaching and farming for ten years, since when he has devoted his entire time to his farm. He was married Sept. 15, 1870, to Annie, daughter of Daniel and Melinda (Dawson) Harrel. They have two children—John J. and Nellie May. Mrs. McClung is a member of the Christian church. John D. Mitchell, commercial traveler, was born in Jackson County, Dec. 23, 1841, and enlisted in the late war July, 1861, in Com- 592 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. pany D, Thirty-sixth Ohio Infantry, as a private for three years, and was appointed First Sergeant, and the following winter was promoted to Second Lieutenant, being assigned to Company A. He remained with the same regiment during the war. The next summer he was promoted to First Lieutenant of Company H, and in 1863 became Captain of Company C, which he commanded during the war. He participated in the battles of Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Md., Antietam, Tullahoma, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Cloyd Mountain, Lynchburg raid, Lexington and many others. He participated in all the engagements in the Shenandoah Valley. He was discharged at Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 1, 1865. After the war he engaged in his present business and has traveled for the firm of Minor & Dixon, wholesale grocers of Cincinnati, for sixteen years. He was married April 1, 1868, to Isabelle, daughter of Ralph and Sabra Loft, of Steubenville, Ohio. They have a family of four children—George C., Ada T., Charles It. and John D., Jr. His wife is a member of the Methodist church. He is a member of Trowel Lodge, No. 132, A. F. & A. M., of Jackson, Ohio. His grandfather, David Mitchell, was a native of Kentucky, and settled in Jackson County prior to 1812. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 and was at one time Probate Judge of Jackson County, and represented the county two terms in the State Legislature. He was a Whig in politics and died in Jackson County. David H. Mitchell, father of our subject, was born in Jackson County, Jan. 16, 1816, and for thirty years wasa prominent physician of Jackson, where he died in November, 1868. He was married in 1838 to Typhenia Hewitt, who was born in Athens County, Ohio, in 1821. Her grandfather, Moses Hewitt, was one of the first settlers of Athens County, and was one of the Trustees of the Ohio University for a number of years. Joseph Hewitt, the father of M Mitchell and son of Moses Hewitt, was born and reared in Athens County and at one tim was Sheriff of the county. He died in ti State of Iowa. Joseph Peterson, farmer and stock-dealer, was born in Jackson County, April 7, 1832, a son of James and Mary (Floro) Peterson, the former of German and the latter of Irish descent. His father was born where Jackson is now situated, Sept. 14, 1802, and his mother was born in 1800 on the Potomac River, in Virginia. They were married in Jackson County and reared a family of seven children, and in 1851 she died, her husband's death occurring in 1859. At the age of twenty-one years our subject began boating on the Ohio Canal, which occupation he followed for seven years, after which he was employed in burning charcoal in furnaces and soon after became a coal contractor, which business he successfully followed till 1875. In 1875 he purchased his present farm to which he has devoted his entire time since 1875. His farm is well supplied with iron ore and coal. Dec. 23, 1859, he was married to Sarah Scott, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of William and Maria (Scott) Butler, of Irish descent. John Poor, son of George and Mary (Billups) Poor, was born in Jackson County, Nov. 18, 1841. His father being a stock-dealer, he, at the age of fifteen years, began dealing in stock for his father. Upon attaining his majority he began farming and stock-dealing for himself and has been ever since successfully engaged. He was married in Novemer, 1861, to Mary, daughter of Allison and Sarah (Nelson) Kinnison. Their children are —Rissie A., Charlie C., John S. and DrueE, Mr. Poor and wife are members of the Meth. odist Episcopal church. His father was born in Gallia County, Ohio, in 1802, and his mother was a native of Virginia. They settled in Jackson County in an early day, where HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 593 his father died at the age of seventy-three years, June 12, 1875. His mother died Feb. 9, 1864, in her sixty-third year. Ambrose Scott, farmer, is the third son of Benjamin F. and Priscilla Scott. His father was born in Maryland in 1796, and married in Virginia in 1817, and soon after settled in Athens County, near Coolville, where our subject was born Nov. 7, 1822. When an infant his parents settled near the present site of Wellston, Jackson County, where he was reared on a farm and attended the log-cabin schools. He was first employed as driver of a stage coach for the Ohio Stage Company for three years. He was then engaged in the mercantile trade in Jackson from 1848 to 1862 since when he has farmed and dealt in iron ore. He has an office on Broadway, Jackson, where he transacts his business. He was married Nov. 7, 1850, to Melinda, daughter of William C. and Elizabeth Humphrey, who came from Virginia to Ohio in 1819. They have been blessed with a family of three sons and four daughters. His wife belongs to the Baptist denomination. William T. Washam was born in Pittsylvania County, Va., April 27, 1840, and is a son of William and Fannie (Collins) Washam, the former of Scotch and latter of Welsh descent. He was left an orphan when very yonng. and when four years old came with his sister, Mrs. Dove, to Jackson County, Ohio. He obtained a good education by attending the common schools, and worked at brick-making till the breaking out of the late war. Sept. 20, 1863, he enlisted in Company F, Second Ohio Heavy Artillery, and was on duty at several different places. He participated in the battles of Strawberry Plains, Bull's Gap, and Athens, Tenn., and in 1864 was a delegate to the Ohio State Convention that elected Cox for Governor. He was mustered out of service at Nashville, Tenn., and discharged at Columbus, Ohio, Sept. 29, 1865, when he returned home and followed farming - 38 - till 1868. He then engaged in the mercantile business in Jackson, and in 1871 his nephew became a partner, the firm name being Washam & Co. until 1873. In that year he purchased one-eighth interest in the Ophir Iron Furnace, and soon after purchased three-fourths of the stock, and ran the furnace eighteen months. He then sold his furnace and mercantile interests, and has since been engaged in farming and manufacturing brick. Dec. 31, 1857, he was married to Tabitha, daughter of Benjamin and Tabitha (Seward) Branscom. Five of the six children born to them are living—John J., William T., Jr., Nellie 0., David and Stella B. Harry B. died, aged three years. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian church. He has served his township as Treasurer two years, and for the past several years has held the office of Township Trustee. In 1870 he was elected a member of the Board of Equalization, and reelected in 1880, his present term expiring in 1890. He is a member of Trowel Lodge, No. 132, A. F. & A. M., of Jackson, and member of the Chapter R. A. M. of the same place. He is also a member of Salt Lick Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., of Jackson, and of the Ancient Order of Red Men, and of the Knights of Labor. Daniel Henry Whetsel was born Jan. 6, 1848, in Jackson County, and is a son of Jacob and Verlinda (Maddox) Whetsel. He joined the United Brethren church when twelve years old, and in 1872 became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. At the age of twenty-one years he went to the Wilkesville Academy, in Vinton County, and after leaving school engaged in teaching and local preaching. He taught school during the winters, attending school in the summer, till 1876, since which time he has followed farming and local preaching. He owns the George L. Crookham farm, which is well supplied with coal, both for domestic use and smelting purposes. He was married April 15, 1874, to Samantha A., daughter of 594 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. Thomas and Belinda (Allison) Neal. She has belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church since her twelfth year. Their children are—Emerson J., Wiley N., Ora 0. and Harry M. Lola E., their eldest child, died in infancy. William Madison Wykle is the eldest son of Henry and Elizabeth (Rose) Wykle, the former born in Monroe County, West Va., Dec. 11, 1803, and the latter in Giles County, Tenn., in 1807. His parents were married in Monroe County in 1827, and came to Jackson County, Ohio, in 1834, where they resided until death. The subject of this sketch was born Jan. 16, 1836. He was reared a farmer, and helped clear the farm, and has followed farming through life, with the exception of two terms, when he taught school. He attended the common schools, and graduated at the Jackson High School. His grandmother resides with him, at the advanced age of ninety-six years. May 22, 1850, he was mar ried to Mary A. Johnson, a native of Pittsburg, Pa., and a daughter of George and Jane (Cunningham) Johnson. This union has been blessed with one son and four daughters, all of whom are living. The eldest, a son now twenty-two years old, assists his father on the farm. They have attended the common schools, and are well educated and accomplished children. LIBERTY TOWNSHIP. Originally the greater part of Liberty Township belonged to Lick Township, part of its territory being embraced in the Salt Lick reservation. All but the northern row of sections belonged to Lick, which was formed at the organization of the county in May, 1816. Jackson Township, which was organized in July, 1816, included the northern row of sections, now forming Liberty Township. In the commissioners' record of Dec. 3, 1839, the following order appears: "Ordered. That the auditor notify the inhabitants of township 7, range 19, by advertisements, to meet at the house of Wm. Newell, in said township, on Saturday, the 21st day of the present month, then and there to proceed to elect officers for said township." This was, without doubt, the first election held in the township of Liberty, as a separate voting precinct. Among the old settlers may be mention the names of T. Meeker, John and Jacob Harrison, Joseph and Titus Baily, James an Hugh Martin, Joseph and Abner Whaly John Hartmann, James Boyd, John Rate George Glasburn, William Jackson, August Lewis, Elzy and Smith Landrum, Jam Bower, David Roberts, Simon Howell a Samuel Vandivort. TOPOGRAPHY AND MINERALS. The surface of Liberty Township is rolling and in some parts quite hilly. The branches of Salt Creek which run through its eastern edge drain the township. Buckeye Creek flows from about the middle of the southern border northeasterly, and empties into Salt Creek near the middle of the eastern border. Along its valley is fertile grazing and agricultural ground. From near the center of the township Pigeon Roost Creek flows north and discharges its waters in Salt Creek, in Jackson Township. These are the only streams of any size in the township and, together with their smaller tributaries, comprise the drainage of the township. The valley of the latter creek also has good grazing and agricultural lands. Back a short distance from these creeks are found the steepest hills. The minerals of this township are nearly the same as in Lick Township. Considerable iron ore and coal have been taken from the hills, but it has been mostly taken elsewhere for consumption. The Ohio Southern Railroad having been recently completed through the township from east to west, an outlet is given for the minerals and they will, in the HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 595 future, doubtless prove a source of the greatest industry in the township. In the past the leading industry has been farming and grazing. In this respect the township has ranked among the first in the county. Its average is among the largest in the county, having a surface of 26,880 acres, or forty-two sections of land. The value of its lands in 1882 was fixed at $171,967; the value of its chattel property was fixed at $99,055. POPULATION AND IMPROVEMENTS. The population of Liberty Township in 1840 was 474; in 1850 it was 1,017; in 1860 it was 1,393; in 1.870 it was 1,747; in 1880 it was 1,734. Liberty Township is bounded on the north by Jackson Township, on the east by Lick, on the south by Scioto, and on the west by Pike County. There is an old saw and grist mill in this township, built in 1833 by Jacob and John Harrison. The grist department was added in 1844. From 1847 to 1855 John Harrison owned and ran the mill alone, having bought his brother out. In 1857 he sold the entire establishment to James Simpson, who continued to operate it up to 1879, when he sold to J. B. Harrison, the present owner. It is situated on the bank of Buckeye Creek on section 27. When the Ohio Southern Railroad was built through the township in 1878, two stafions were made within its borders, viz.: Miller's, on section 33, and Sampson's, on section 27. The township officers elected in the spring of 1883, are as follows: Trustees, William Stephenson, M. Landrum and Brice Tope; Clerk, James C. Harper; Treasurer, James Sheridan; Constables, Jas. McCartney and Isaac Branscom ; Justices, John McCartney and Alfred Lewis. SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES. There are nine school districts in the township and ten schools, one of the districts having a white and a colored school. The last enumeration (1883) gave the township 617 children of school age. Sub-district No. 1, called the Pine School, has seventy-two scholars. Sub-district No. 2 has two schools. The Hartley School (white) sixty-three scholars, and the Sharon School (colored) sixty scholars. The latter is governed by. the township School Board. Sub-district No. 3, the Whaley School, has fifty-eight scholars. Sub-district No. 4, the Tope School, has seventy-eight scholars, Sub-district No. 5, the Rapp School, has fifty-seven scholars. Sub-district No. 6, the Coen School, has forty-nine scholars. Sub-district No. 7, the Glasburn School, has fifty-nine scholars. Sub-district No. 8, the Aten School, has fifty-eight scholars. Subdistrict No. 9, the Sheridan School, has sixty-three scholars. Perhaps the first school-house ever built in the township was the old log-cabin schoolhouse, situated on the Glasburn place. It was built in 1827. The township has four churches, founded along in its history as the growing population seemed to demand. Pleasant Grove Church (Christian Union). —The society was organized during the late war. The Tope School-house was used for the occasional meetings for six or seven years until the present church building was erected in 1871. Among the organizing members were: Woodson Nimley and wife, Jno. A. Lake and wife, James Hatton and wife, D. H. Johnson and wife, James McLurd and wife, James Richardson and Mrs. Susan Johnson. The membership is now nearly 200. When the new church was built in 1871 the pastor was Rev. Geo. W. Culp; Trustees, Daniel 596 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY Johnson, Jno. Stephenson and James Hatton. The church was dedicated by the Rev.. Joseph Nichols. The present pastor is Joseph Thompson; Trustees, Samuel Overly, John M. Stephenson and James McClure. Christian Church.—This church building was erected in 1872 by a neighborhood on section 21. It was given to the Christian organization with the understanding that other denominations might use it when not used by them. It was dedicated by the Rev. Henry Cunningham, of the Christian church. The Trustees then were: Thos. Beatty, Elza Landrum and Richard Kirkendall. The pastor was the Rev. Asbury Redfair, since whose departure in that year there has been no regular pastor of any denomination. Occasional meetings are held by announcement, and at times protracted meetings are held. Presbyterian Church. — This church was organized about the year 1850, and held meetings in a log school-house on section 15. In 1857 a new school-house was built, and the congregation adopted that as a place of worship until 1874, in which year their present church was built. The Rev. Mr. Ford was pastor at first and up to 1857. From 1857 to 1861 the Rev. Mr. Fowler officiated. From that time until the erection of the new church, in the fall of 1874, no regular pastor was employed, but the society was occasionally supplied by some foreign minister, generally Rev. J. K. Gibson. After the erection of the church the Rev. Mr. Wilson preached regularly to the congregation for a nnmber of years, and was succeeded by Rev. D. E. Evans. For the last two years no regular preaching has been had, but the society has been occasionally visited by Rev. James Gowdy, a United Presbyterian minister. The present Trustees are: A. Vandivort, C. L. Ritchie and Chas. Elliott. The church has a Sabbath-school, superintended by Robert Ritchie. Bethel .Methodist Episcopal Church.--This society was organized in about 1850, an built a log church in the year 1854. The Rev. Mr. Halliday was the pastor, and had about twenty-five members. In the year 1873 the old church was blown down, and in the following year a new one was built and dedicated by Rev. T. J. Miller. The first pasto to hold meeting in the new building was Rev. John R. Prose. The present pastor is the Rev. Samuel Crosby. The present Boardof Trustees consists of the following gentlemen, viz.: Wm. Rutledge, James Hoover, Edward Swan, Thomas Swan and J. M. Sfewart. The Sabbath-school is superintended by T. J. Griffith; average attendance about sev. enty. The church is located on section 30. BIOGRAPHICAL. Thomas J. Griffith was born Aug. 17,1: in Fayette County, Penn., and in December 1862, accompanied his parents, James H. an, Margaret (Bird) Griffith, to Ohio. They settled in Washington Township, where parents still reside. He worked on the fa with his father till he attained his majority when, having obtained a teacher's certificate he began to teach in the district schools au taught for six years. In 1876 he bought 235 acres of land in Liberty Township, Jackson County, where he has since remained, makin a specialty of farming and raising sheep, having at the present time 119 head of fine merinos. His land is underlaid with a vein of coal three and one-half feet in thickness, and iron ore is found in large quantities. He was married April 28,1875, to Catherine Rouland, a daughter of William and Nancy Rouland, of Vinton County, Ohio. They have four children—William A., Nancy M., Martha G. and Lilly C. He and his wife are members of Bethel Chapel. John McCartney was born in Elk Run Township, Columbiana Connty, Oct. 6, 1837, a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Montgomery) McCartney, the latter a native of Ohio. His HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 597 father was born Dec. 27, 1810, in County Tyrone, Ireland, and came to America in 1832. He landed at Quebec and worked in Canada that season, coming to Ohio in 1833, and remained in Columbiana County till 1842, wheu he settled in Liberty Township, Jackson County. John McCartney, their eldest son, came with his parents to this county and has ever since made it his home. He moved on his present farm in 1861, and from a wilderness has now forty acres of well-cultivated land. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1866 and is at present an incumbent of that office, having held it by re-election ever since. May 2,1864, he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Seventy-second Regiment, Ohio National Guards. He joined Sherman's commaud at Savannah, Ga., in January, 1865, and was discharged July 13 of that year. He married his first wife, Mary M. Dison, Oct. 15, 1857, who bore him seven children—Robert M., Caroline E., Thomas J., James D., Ulysses S. (who died April 5, 1867), John 0. and Ira E. Jan. 4, 1872, he married Lucinda (Cozan) Umpbley, by whom he had four children—Edgar William, Ida M., Emma A. and Asa Lee. Politically Mr. McCartney is a Democraf. His father and two of his brothers, also served in the late war, his brothers, Thomas J. and James M., having died while in the serves. William Ragland, Jr., was born in Virginia about the year 1847, a son of William and Sylvia Ragland. He was emancipated when about two years of age in company with forty-seven others, and came with his mother to Ohio in 1854. Since coming to this State he has, by close attention to his books, acqnired an average education and has taught in country schools several terms. His wife, Maria (Waller) Ragland, was born in Virginia. She was a slave belonging to a Mr. Waller, and was emancipated in 1854, and came to Ohio in 1861. They have been blessed with seven children—Mary, Charles, Emma, Ellen, Hattie, David and Arthur. Mr. Ragland has by his industry become the owner of 220 acres of hill land which is in a good state. of cultivation. David Roberts, one of the first settlers of Liberty Township, was born April 29, 1806, in North Wales, and in 1828 came to the United States. He served an apprenticeship of seven years at the carriage maker's trade, and after coming to this country followed that business several years, traveling through all the Eastern States and working in all the principal cities from New York to New Orleans. In 1836 or 1837 he bought 203 acres of land in Liberty Township, Jackson County, but did not locate on it till 1842. He added to his farm from time to time and at his death owned 267 acres of excellent land which is well supplied with a fine quality of ore. He was married in 1846 to Elizabeth Owens, daughter of John Owens, one of the first settlers of this part of Jackson. In politics he was a Democrat. He was the father of eleven children, six of whom are living. Mr. Roberts died Oct. 3, 1883. Johnson A. White, M. D., physician and farmer, was born in Beaver County, Pa., Oct. 14, 1842, a son of William and Anna (Wade) White, his father born in Maryland in 1804, and his mother in Westmoreland County, Pa., in 1812. His parents were married in Beaver County, Pa., Dec. 30,1830, and came to Jackson County, Ohio, in 1845, where his father died March 17, 1878. They had a family of eleven children—Samuel, James J., John W., William W., Johnson A., Lewis A., David A., Sarah E., Mary K, Annie M. and Arthur, the latter deceased. Mr. White was ultra antislavery and anti-secret society in his views, and politically was a Republican. He was a member of the United Presbyterian church. Our subject passed his early life on a farm. He attended the common schools till eighteen years of age. He then attended two terms at the Harrisonville Academy. In June, 1862, 598 - HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY. he enlisted as a private in Company E, Eighty-seventh Ohio Infantry. Sept. 15 he was captured at Harper's Ferry; was afterward paroled and discharged Oct. 3. The following winter he taught school, and Oct. 14, 1863, enlisted and was appointed Sergeant of Company F, Second Ohio Heavy Artillery, and was discharged Aug. 29, 1865. He taught school the winter of 1865 and then attended the Ohio University two terms. In 1869 he began the study of medicine with Dr. A. B. Monahan. He began the practice of his profession in 1876 and subsequently graduated from the Ohio Medical College, Cincinnati, in 1877. He now resides on a farm five miles northwest of Jackson, which he superintends in connection with attending to his practice-Dr. White is politically a Republican and is an ultra temperance man. He is opposed to secret societies and has never connected himself with any. He has been a member of the United Presbyterian church since 1863. March 5, 1866, he married Margaret A. Aten. They have had eight children—Victor E., Minnie E., Harry A., Homer E., Maud, Oliver B., Ira E. and Leland, the latter deceased. Samuel White, of Liberty Township, Jackson Co., Ohio, was born Jan. 7, 1832, in Beaver County, Pa. He is the eldest of ten children, seven brothers and three sisters, all living, whose parents were William and Anna (Wade) White. His father was born in Maryland and reared in Beaver County, Pa., and his mother was born in Beaver County, Pa. He removed with his father's family to Scioto Township, Jackson Co., Ohio, in 1845, and settled on lands his father purchased from the United States Government. His father died in 1878, and his mother is still living on the old homestead. The early education of Samuel was obtained at the common schools, and a select school at Jackson. Dec. 26, 1855, he was married to Mary R. Ransom, born Jan. 20, 1840, in Beaver County, Pa., daughter of James H. Ransom, a native of Mahoning County, Ohio, and Nancy (Duncan) Ransom, a native of Bearer County, Pa., by whom he is the father of thirteen children, six sons and seven daughters, all living, except one boy, who died in childhood. He has followed agriculture all his life, in connection with other pursuits, teaching school most of the time from 1855 to 1858. He followed merchandising from 1858 to 1872, and in 1880 purchased a portable saw-mill, and has been operating it since that time. He first bought eighty acres of land in 1859, to which he removed in 1860, and where he still resides, and has added to it, till now he owns 475 acres. He was Captain of Company A, Seventy-seventh Battalion Ohio National Guard, from 1863 to 1866. He entered the United States service with his company in 1864, as Company K, One Hundred and Seventy-second Regiment United States Volunteer Infantry, and served four months. Politically he is a Republican, voting with that party from its organization. Religiously he is a United Presbyterian. SCIOTO TOWNSHIP. Scioto is one of the western townships of Jackson County. Its boundaries are as follows: North by Liberty Township, east by Franklin Township, south by Hamilton Township and Scioto County, and west by Pike County. TOPOGRAPHY AND STREAMS. The township of Scioto is hilly, but well adapted to grazing and to agriculture, especially along the streams. The streams are only small tributaries. From the north center of the township, flowing southwesterly, is Brushy fork of the Little Scioto River, which flows through Scioto County to the Ohio River. Buckeye Creek, which flows northwest into Salt Creek, rises in this township, and drains a little of its northern portion. A branch of HISTORY OF LOWER SCIOTO VALLEY - 599 Big Buck Lick Creek rises south of the center of the township and flows south. A few thread-like streams flow from near the eastern border eastward beyond the limits of the township, all of which show the township to be of higher elevation than the immediate portions of the surrounding country. No stream finds a course through the township, but its waters are sent forth through numerous small ones in almost every direction. Coal and iron are distributed generally throughout the hills, considerable having been dug out and hauled away. ORGANIZATION. In July, 1816, the county commissioners granted the petition from the inhabitants of the below described territory, asking to be formed into a new township to be known by the name of Scioto. The petition is as follows: "Beginning at the northeast corner of section 2, in township 6, range 19, and running south along the section lines to the county line at the southeast corner of section 35, township 5, range 19; thence west to the southwest corner of the county; thence north along the county line; thence east to the place of beginning." The township, as thus described embraced only a part of the present township of Scioto, together with all of Hamilton, except the eastern tier of sections and a part of Scioto County. In 1825 Hamilton Township was formed from the southern part of Scioto Township, and it was reduced to its present size. SETTLEMENT. The date of the earliest settlement in this township is but a few years later than the earliest in the county. John Graham is recorded as having received by patent from the Government and entered the southeast half of the southwest quarter of section 35, in the year 1817. Edward Crabtree entered in a like manner a quarter of section 30 in 1818. Mr. Tolbert, father of Thornton Tolbert, entered a quarter of section 25, adjoining the land of Edward Crabtree, and about the same time Samuel McDowell entered a portion of section 20. Other of the early settlers were Joseph Graham, Wm. Thomas, Lewis Crabtree, George Bowen, Peter Keller, Jacob Culp, David Walton and others. The earliest records to be found show the following corps of officers for the year 1823, viz.: Trustees, Seth Graham, Nathaniel Scott and John McDowell; Treasurer, Peter Kelan; Clerk, John McDowell, Jr.; Lister, Henry Culp; Overseers of the Poor, Edward Crabtree and Isaac Miller; Constables, Nathan Burgess and John Burgos; Justices of the Peace, Samuel McDowell and Alexander Anderson. For the present year (1883) the officers are as follows: Trustees, W. B. Pratt, Adam Shier and Evan Crabtree; Treasurer, J. W. Hays; Clerk, W. A. Russell; Assessor, John Eaton; Constables, Daniel Martin, James Evans and A. M. Davis; Justices of the Peace, James Davis, Robert Beatty and Joseph Wiseman. POPULATION AND VALUATION. The population of each decade since 1840 is as follows: In 1840, 931; in 1850, 1,347; in 1860, 1,484; in 1870, 1,505; in 1880, 1,579. In politics the township is Democratic. The chief industry of the inhabitants is farming and stock-raising. The mining of coal and iron ore has given employment to some. Since the township contains six more sections than a regular congressional township it has a surface of 25,919 acres of taxable land, ranking second in this respect in the county. The value of the lands as assessed in 1882 was $246,361; the value of the chattel property in the township was $124,164.