456 - TOWNSHIP HISTORIES OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO

MONROE TOWNSHIP.

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DERIVATION OF NAME—FIRST SETTLER—FIRST LOG HOUSE--FIRST ORCHARD— WA-KA-TOM-I-KA —INDIAN VILLAGES—PIONEERS—TOPOGRAPHY —SOIL— FORESTS—COAL—ANCIENT SCRIPTURE ON ROCKS—RESERVATION, FOR SCHOOL PURPOSES—FIRST ROAD—BOUNDARIES OF TOWNSHIP—OTSEGO , AND ITS DIRECTORY—FIRST ORCHARD, AGAIN—FIRST TAVERN, OR HOTEL— FIRST FRAME HOUSE—STONE HOUSE — FIRST BIRTH-FIRST SCHOOL—METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH—FIRST CEMETERY — FIRST DEATH - MILLS—DAM—FIRST MARRIAGE—MAYSVILLE M. E. CHURCH—TANNERY--PLEASANT VALLEY M. P. CHURCH— PHYSICIANS—FIRST STORE—FIRST THRESHING MACHINE— BLACKSMITH—CARPENTER—OTSEGO BAPTIST CHUR H—OTSEGO PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH—FIRST MOWING MACHINE— UNION CHAPEL M. P. CHURCH—FINE STOCK ; HOGS, CATTLE, SHEEP

This township was named for James Monroe, the fifth President of the United States, who was born in Westmoreland county, Virginia, in 1758. His father's given name was Spence ; his mother's maiden name was Elizabeth Jones. He was educated at the College of William and Mary, and, immediately after leaving college, identified himself with the Colonists, in their struggle for freedom. It was the memory of this characteristic that induced the colonists of this township to choose him for their patron saint—and so they named the township Monroe.

The first settler in this region was Charles Marquand, who immigrated from the Island of Guernsey, France, and located on Wills creek, in the northwest corner of Monroe township, with his family, in 1810. John Marquand, his grandson, occupies a part of the old homestead. Charles Marquand built the first log house in the township ; he cleared the first ground and set out the first orchard, which was on the northwest quarter of section one.

James Sprague came from Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and located at Wakatomika, Ohio, in 1802. Tn 1812, he, with his sons, Samuel, Jonathan, and Elijah, cut a r0ad from Symmes creek to White Eyes creek, and to the Indian village that occupied the same site now occupied by the village of Otsego, and moved there in May, of that year. They planted corn on the site of the deserted village, but it did not ripen on account of early frost, and they were obliged to procure corn from Wakatomika for the first year's provision. His first house was built on the northwest quarter of section thirteen, and was raised by himself and family. At that time there was no land entered within the bounds of Monroe.

Jacob Bainter also came from Pennsylvania, and bought lots twenty-nine and thirty, of the " School Land," and located upon the same in 1812. Adam Bainter located on lots six and seven, of School Lands, at the same. time.

John Stoner, also from Pennsylvania. settled on the southeast quarter of section-thirteen, in the

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year 1814. David Richardson came from Vermont in 1816, and bought Stoner's place. His wife, Mary, taught the first school in the neighborhood—in her own house. Sbe died in 1880, in the ninety-second year of her age.

In 1817, Tunis Elson came from Pennsylvania, and settled upon the southeast quarter of section two, now owned by Decatur Buker. Jared Cone came from New England, and bought of James Sprague the northeast quarter. of section thirteen. in the year 1813.

TOPOGRAPHY.

The territory comprising this township is situated in the extreme northeast corner of Muskingum county. It is drained entirely by "White Eyes" creek, (so named in commemoration of the noted Indian by that name, who, notwithstanding he was indeed the white man's friend, was murdered by white men). The stream traverses it from the southwest to the northeast corner. Wills creek just touches the northwest corner of the township, and effects very little drainage.

In the southern portion of the township, the hills are of comparatively easy ascent and descent, but the northern part is more broken. The soil is well adapted to some kinds of farming— generally a preponderance of sand, supplied from adjacent cliffs. Tbere is need of skillful labor, and hence, as this is the price of good crops, the fields present an appearance of thrift. The famous forests of southeastern Ohio are well represented here, though not nurtured. Coal of good quality, and in apparently inexhaustible quantities, is found here.

ANCIENT SCRIPTURE ON THE ROCKS.

On Robert Wilson's land are to be seen a number of rocks engraved with characters not familiar to our people. They are believed to be chiefly English letters.

When the Government surveyed this township, the southwest quarter was reserved for school purposes, and surveyed into one hundred acre lots, numbered from one to forty, commencing at the southeast corner of the four thousand acre tract, and ending on the northwest corner of the same.

The first road was made between Symmes creek and the present site of Otsego, by James Sprague and sons, in 1812., The first regularly laid out road was surveyed by Charles Roberts, in 1815, from James Lindley's, in Union township, to the mouth of Wills creek. The next was from James Sprague's, in Monroe township, (then Highland township), to Colonel John Reynolds' store, on the Wheeling road, in Union township, in 1817, by Joseph K. McCune, surveyor.

The County Commissioners, July 2d, 1819, defined the boundaries of Monroe township, as follows: "Beginning on the northeast corner of Muskingum county, thence west to the line dividing the sixth range ; thence south to the line dividing the second and third townships, in the sixth range ; thence eaSt to the county line ; thence north, with the county line, to the place of beginning."

The place of election for township officers was James Spragues'.

OTSEGO.

There is but one village in Monroe township. The site occupied by it waS entered by James Sprague, in 1811, and afterwards sold to Moses Abbott and Francis Wires. In 1838, they procured the services of James Boyle, the County Surveyor, and laid out the town. The eastern portion was laid out by Abbott, and the western portion by Wires. The. town was named after Otsego, New York, by Dr. Alonzo DeLamater. It has never been incorporated. It is a desirable point for business, and contains a Methodist church (T. H. Scott, pastor) ; a Baptist church a postoffice, with A. V. P. Hager as Postmaster ; three physicians (named under the title of "first physicians") ; a hotel, by Josepb C. Miller, and another by Joseph C. Simmons ; a general variety store, by A. V. P. Hager, and one by Boyce & Cowden ; a drug store, by Dr. A. L. Jackson ; a grocery, by Thomas H. Davis ; shoe shop; by Thomas H. Davis ; blacksmiths—James T. Case and Isaac McGraw ; wagon shop, by John Hammond ; harness shop, by Marquis Norris ; tannery, by Walker & Co. ; a carpenter—Tbomas Riney ; a cabinet maker, E. H. Bradford ;

milliners—Catharine C. Wortman and Phoebe Riney ; coal dealers—William and Alfred Smith. The village has twenty-seven houses, and one hundred and twenty inhabitants.

The first orchard in the township was set out by Charles Marquand. James Sprague and sons hauled a load of apple trees from Wakatomika, on a sled, through the woods, and set them out in the woods, where Otsego now stands. This was in April, 1812.

The first wagon was brought to the township by James Sprague, in 1812.

The first hotel, or tavern (the latter term was more familiar), it is believed, was kept by David Richardson. He built the house now kept by Joseph C. Miller, about 1837, and "kept hotel:. After him came George Hahn and Thomas Miller, who kept tavern in a house erected upon lot nine, opposite the present store of A. V. P. Hager. This tavern was burned in 1870, and never rebuilt.

In 1865, Joseph C. Simmons opened hotel on lot four, and ten years later moved upon a farm. In 1876, he again opened a hotel on lot fifteen, in Otsego, (Abbott's part of same.)

The first frame bouse was built by Martin Richardson, in 1813, on section nineteen, where Harrison Honnold now lives. The first brick house was built by David Richardson, on the southeast quarter of section thirteen (now owned by Caleb Buker), in 1819, and is still standing.

The first stone house was built by Caleb Buker, and is occupied by his son.

The first person born in the township was Levinia Sprague, daughter of James and Susanna Sprague, July 29, 1814.

The first school was taught by Mrs. Mary

458 - TOWNSHIP HISTORIES OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO

Stoner, in her own house. Her husband brougbt her from Pennsylvania, and settled on the southeast quarter of section thirteen, in the year 1814, and she oped school soon after. The next school was taught by Mary Richardson, from Vermont, in 1816-17. She taught in her own house, one half mile south of Otsego, and had 'ten or twelve pupils, four of whom were living in 1880, viz : Samuel Sprague, Elijah Sprague, Frederick Bainter and John Bainter. The first school house built for that purpose was on the southwest quarter of section eight, now owned by Benjamin Bradford. This was in 1817.

The First Baptist church basement was also used for a school room.

There are now five good school houses, distributed for the convenience of the township.

MILLS.

The first sawmill in the township was built by Martin Richardson, in 1817, on White Eyes creek, where Harrison Honnold now resides. The first gristmill was built by Tunis Elsbn, in 1819, on White Eyes creek, on the northwest quarter of section one. John Dill was the millwright. This mill did good service, although it had but one run of buhrs. About 1840, Messrs. McDonald and Achison became proprietors, and ran the mill four years, when it passed into the hands of H. and J. Bradford, who still own it.

A dam was built across Wills creek in the northwest quarter of section five, in the year 1819, by Charles and Peter Marquand, who then erected a sawmill, to be run by this power. but did not complete it until 1820. They built a carding and gristmill, which went into operation in the fall of 1829.

The carding mill was operated until 1850, when it ceased, and was started again during the war of the Rebellion, and run for about two years.

In 1867, J. M. Johnson became proprietor of the gristmill, which contained three runs of buhrs, and he continues to operate it.

Samuel Sprague built a sawmill in 1839—location not known—and sawed a large proportion of the lumber for the buildings in Otsego, at that time.

The first marriage was solemnized between Samuel Sprague and Mary. Smoot, in October, 1820.

CHURCHES.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was the first in the township. It was gathered together in 1816, by Jacob Young and Wm. Knox, who organized the first class, which comprised the following members : George Bainter and Lydia, his wife, and their son, John ; Ashfield Watrous and Elizabeth, his wife ; Samuel Sprague, Catharine Kelly, Miss Jack and Charles Marquand.

Charles Marquand was the Class Leader. Preaching occurred at the house of George Bainter.

This class was merged into the Methodist Protestant Church in 1828.

The first public graveyard was on Caleb Buker's place, south of Otsego. Francis Richardson was the first person Buried there, in 1817.

The first death in the township was that of Timothy Watrous, in 1818. His daughter died about the same time, and they were buried where Walker's tannery now stands, and, after four years, they were taken up and buried in the Water's graveyard, situated on section ten.

Maysville Methodist Episcopal Church.—In the year 1822, Rev. J. P. Durbin, of the Zanesville circuit, organized a class at Hugh Ballentine's house, with the following members :

Hugh Ballentine, wife, Mary, and family ; Wm. Clark, wife, Nancy, and family ; Charles Wilcox, wife, Nancy, and family. Meetings were held at Ballentine's house until 1848, when a church was built, on the northwest quarter of section live. This was a frame structure, 30x40. It vas burned in 1854, and rebuilt, of tbe same size, in 1855, and is yet standing.

The maximum number of members was eighty. The present number is seventy-five. The pastor, Rev. J. Wilson, is of tbe East Plainfield circuit.

The Leaders are Charles Wilcox, August Erman, John Edwards, and A. Roderick. The Stewards are Simon. Roderick and J. M. Johnson.

The first person buried in the graveyard. connected with this church, was Catharine Preston, in 1841.

Pleasant Valley Methodist Protestant Church.— This class was organized in 1828, or '29, by Rev's. Myers and Gibbons, and composed of the following members : James Holcomb and Electa, his wife ; Phineas Palmer and Margaret, his wife ; David Richardson and Mary, his wife : James Sprague and Susanna, his wife ; Samuel Sprague, Elijah. Sprague and Elizabeth. his wife. Phineas Palmer was Leader.

The first meeting house was built in 1835. It was a frame structure, 35x42, located on the site now occupied by the cemetery. It was removed in 1870, and the present edifice built by Thomas. Riney. It is a neat and comfortable house, 28x50, pleasantly situated, in the valley just north of the town of Otsego.

The membership numbers one hundred and fifteen. The pastor is Rev. Thomas H. Scott. The Leader, Martin R. Palmer ; the Steward, Decatur Buker ; the Trustees, D. J. Abbott, Joseph C. Miller, Lafayette Buker, Richard Boyce, and Harrison Honnold.

Otsego Baptist Church.—This society was composed of members who withdrew from the church at Adamsville, Elder William Spencer, pastor, for the convenience of church organization nearer home. The pioneer preachers in this region, before the formation of a church, were : Rev. Barton Hawley, Elders Rees,. White, William Spencer, and Rev. William Mears.

The following persons having obtained their letters from the Salem township Baptist Church, were, on the l0th of July, 1844, constituted the Otsego Baptist Church, by Elder William Sedwick, who, from that date, took charge of the congregation, and served as pastor until May 19, 1849, when he resigned :

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Jared Cone, Sr., Eliza Cone, Nelson F. Richardson, Drusilla Richardson, Elizabeth Emler, Sarah Bradford, Phillip Darner, Rebecca Darner, Harriet E. Frazier, Maria Wortman, Ellen Trimble, Charles Foster, Margaret Foster, Elizabeth Buker. James Trimble, Marv. Trimble, Robert Trimble, William Hague, Lewis Lane, Gilbert Ross, Casper Bradford, Barton Cone, Charles Frazier, Rebecca Trimble, Margaret Ross, Abraham Emler, Mary Emler, Daniel Milton, Susan Milton, George Milton, Mary J. Milton, David McVicker, Elizabeth McVicker, Sarah Sprague, James Reed, Matilda A. Reed, Asheba Lane, G. C. Sedwick, H. C. Sedwick, Ruth Nash, William Emler, and Mary Emler. .

January 3d, 1849, Elder D. L. Clouse, took charge of the church and served as pastor until November 30, 1850, when he resigned to accept another charge. The church then called Rev. J. B. St. Clair, who began his pastorate February 8, 1851, and served until May, 1851, when death closed his earthly _career, and the congre- tion mourned the loss of a good man.

In August, 1851, Rev. B. Allen came to the pulpit, and served the congregation until August, 1854, when he took charge of the church at New Concord. The church was then supplied by Rev. E. W. Handel, for one year, from September, 1854, when Elder Hugh Brown became the pastor, and served until September, 1859. In October, of that year, C. T. Emerson, a licentiate, from Newcomerstown, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, moved into the vicinity of the church, was ordained, and became their pastor, and served until September, 1862, when he resigned.

Elder William Sedwick, of Adamsville, was called a second time to the pastorate of this church, in October, 1862, and served until August, 1866,. He was succeeded in September, following, by the Rev. G. T. Jones, of Antrim, Guernsey county, Ohio, who served two years ; and in April, 1868, Rev. J. G. Whitaker, was -called to the pastorate, and continued until March, 1872, when he alternated with A. Jordan, and J. C. Skinner, until June, 1873, when Rev. A. Woder, of Coshocton, became pastor for one year. In 1875-6-7, the Rev. J. G. Whitaker served them' as pastor, and in September, 1878, S. R. Mears, a licentiate, and graduate of Denison University, was called, ordained, and installed as pastor.

The first church was built of brick, thirty by forty feet, at a cost of one thousand dollars, in 1840. The second church was built in 1869 ; was forty by fifty feet, and cost two thousand five hundred dollars.

The officers chosen at the organization were : Deacons, Jared Cone, Sen., and Gilbert Ross.. The Trustees were : David Richardson, Sr., Philip Darner, and Jared Cone, Sr.

The present officers are as follows :

Deacons-George Bradford, and William Walker.

Clerk—Charles Walker.

Trustee—Benjamin Bradford.

Treasurer—Robert Walker.

Otsego Presbyterian Church.—In 1848, the Rev's. William Wilson, and William Wallace, being appointed by Presbytery, organized the church, which was named, " Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church," with the following members : Malcolm McNeel and Isabel, his wife, John McNeel and Margery, his wife, Malcolm Mc- Neel (the less) and Eliza, his wife, Mary and Margaret McNeel, James McNeel and sisters, Margery, Margaret, Sarah, and Mary, Arthur Hamilton and Catharine, his wife, Samuel Hamilton and wife.

The Elders elected, were : Malcolm McNeel, John McNeel, and Arthur Hamilton ; the Deacons were : Samuel Hamilton, and Malcolm McNeel, (the less).

A frame church, 30x36, was erected on the northeast quarter of section nineteen, on lands of Malcolm McNeel, one acre and a quarter being subsequently donated for this purpose, by the McNeel heirs ; the church was finished in 1849, and is still occupied by the congregation.

Rev. William Wallace was the first pastor, and officiated until 1852, When he died, and the church had no settled pastor for a few years. Rev. Robert Marquis was next called, and remained with the church three years, preaching one-half of his time, and was then employed for his whole time by the Cambridge congregation. The Rev. W. V. Milligan was his successor in this church, serving three years. There has been no regular pastor since that time, but the pulpit has had occasional supplies ; of these, principally, were Revs. Watson, Russell, Alexander, McBride, March, and Williamson. Rev. McKnight Williamson is the present pastor.

The Elders are James Lane, John Glenn, and Arthur Hamilton. Deacons and Trustees L. C. Hamilton, Joseph Young, and Isaac McGraw.

The name of the church was changed from " Pleasant Hill " to " Otsego " Presbyterian Church at the time of the union of the new and old school divisions of the church.

Union Chapel Methodist Protestant Church.— Anno Domini, 1860, a number of the citizens of the neighborhood, where this society was formed, assembled at a private house, in the capacity of a prayer meeting, and so earnest was the desire for an outpouring of God's Spirit on the little band, that it came, and they were revived to that degree that they determined to organize a class, which was done, the Rev. H. T. Lawson officiating. The following persons became members of the class : Robert Donaldson and Nancy, bis wife, Frances Holcomb and Susan, his wife, Elijah Sprague and Elizabeth, his wife, G. W. Vensel and Sarah Ann, his wife, Samuel Echelberry and Charity, his wife, Hannah Elson, and Alice Elson.

The Leader chosen was Robert Donaldson ; the present Leader is Jerome H. Waters, who is also Steward.

MOWING MACHINE.

The first mowing machine was introduced by John S. Abbott, in 1855.

460 - TOWNSHIP HISTORIES OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.

TANNERY.

The first tannery was inaugurated by Joseph Walker, in 1826. It was located on lot No. one, of the school lands, and in 1831, he moved it to lot thirteen, where he conducted the business until 1870, and then removed to Otsego, and built on lots thirty-four, thirty-five, thirty-six and thirty seven, of Wires' addition to that town plat. It is now operated by R. A. Walker, son of Joseph W. Walker, and is the only tannery in Monroe township.

PHYSICIANS.

The first resident physician was Dr. Cass, in 1830. He made his home with David Richardson.

In 1832, Dr. Alonzo DeLamater arrived from Otsego, New York, and began the practice of medicine, and continued until death closed his career, in 1839. He was succeeded by Dr. G. W. Mitchell, who practiced one year, and was succeeded by Dr. William DeLamater, brother of Alonzo D. Dr. James Hull began the practice of medicine in 1841, and was shortly after succeeded by Dr. McVickers, who remained about two years, and was succeeded by Elijah Wortman, in 1848. Dr. J. M. Lane commenced practice at Otsego, in 1865, and was followed by Dr. Nathan B. Ridgeway, in 1870, and was succeeded by Dr. A. L. Jackson, in 1878. The present physicians are Dr's. A. L. Jackson, J. J. Bradford, and Abraham Walker.

STORES.

The first store in Monroe township was that kept by Charles and Peter Marquand, on Wills Creek, in 1834. The first store in Otsego was kept by Alonzo and Ralph DeLamater. They built their store-house where Boyce & Cowden now keep about the year 1837. The next merchant was Thomas Wilson ; and about this time Thomas McCall opened a store in the building now occupied by Joseph C. Simmons as a hotel.

In 1839, James Bell built the corner storehouse, occupied by the postoffice, in 1880 ; he carried on the mercantile business four years, and was succeeded by 'Squire Marshall ; after him, came Caleb Buker, and then, (1865), A. W. Hague, the present occupant. William and Clark Ford also kept store in Otsego for a short time. In 1871, G. B. Johnson opened a store at Johnson's Mills, where he is still in business.

The first threshing machine was introduced by Thomas McCall, about 1835. It was a “tread power.”

The first blacksmith was Parker Shepardson, whose shop was on White Eyes' Creek, abont where Jerome H. Waters now lives. This was in " an early day."

John Thompson was the first carpenter.

FINE STOCK.

Hogs.—The Chester White were imported in 1862, by Decatur Buker. He now has also Poland China and Essex. Lafayette Buker is the principal stock raiser at present.

Durham Cattle.—In 1865, Decatur Buker and Barton Cone purchased three head of " short horns," of J. G. Hagerty, of Licking county, Ohio, and one of H. H. Hankins, of Clinton county, Ohio, and one from John G. Coulter, at a total cost of $650. These were the first fine cattle introduced into the township, and from whicb the Monroe farmers improved their herds.

Merino Sheep.—Ebenezer Achison was the first to introduce this breed of sheep. The experiment, however, was a failure on his part, as tbe people could not be induced to appreciate the runts, and he himself ultimately gave them up, and it was not for years afterwards that their value was discovered and their gradual introduction accomplished.