TOWNSHIP HISTORIES OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO - 473
CLAY TOWNSHIP.
18I2—ROSEVILLE—THE FIRST CABIN—NEW MILFORD—NAME OF THE VILLAGE CHANGED—THE POST OFFICE—FIRST POSTMASTER, AND SUCCESSORS—THE FIRST TAVERN—FIRST STOREKEEPER—FIRST BLACKSMITH—FIRST SON OF CRISPIN— SCHOOLS—SATAN IN THEIR MIDST— ANOTHER SENSATION—THE VILLAGE INCORPORATED—FORMATION OF CLAY TOWNSHIP—ELECTION — CHURCHES IN UNIONTOWN—SONS OF TEMPERANCE—JONATHAN LODGE, NO. 356, I. O. O. F.— GEOLOGY—THE POTTER'S PARADISE— COAL
ROSEVILLE.
This is the only village in Clay township. It joins Morgan county on the south, and Perry county on the west. It was laid out by Ezekiel Rose, in 1812, under the name of New Milford. Two years later, Mr. Rose built the first cabin ; and near the same time, Jeremiah Spurgeon built his cabin. The-name of the village was changed in June, 1830, when a postoffice was appointed there—there being another Roseville in Ohio, this change was deemed imperative by the Postmaster General John Allen was the first Postmaster. It is claimed, by some, that the postoffice is of older date, but no record can be found concerning this. John Allen's brother, Robert, had charge of the postoffice until Jackson was elected President of the United States, the second time, in 1832. His successors have been, Edward Rose, John Forgraves, :Orange W. Pace, R. B. Allen, C. L. Williams and L. S. Kildow. For many years following the inauguration of the postoffice, the mail was weekly, and carried to and fro on horseback. In those days, the rate of postage, was twenty- five cents for each letter, payable in silver, by the person receiving the letter..
In 1837, James Littleton laid out an addition to the village.
The first tavern was kept by John Laughlin, in an humble log cabin.
The first store-keeper was Robert Allen, whose place of business was a small frame building. Allen & Copeland subsequently erected a large brick building, and thereby greatly increased business.
The first blacksmith was Zedekiah Wilson, who is spoken of as an excellent workman and good citizen.
The first son of Crispin was one, Forgran, who " kept his lapstone bright, and always waxed his thread."
The first school was taught by Elisha Ken nedy, in a conventional log building, with puncheon floor and slab seats and desks ; it has long since disappeared. Of those who attended this school, it is likely that David Porter is the only one living. Mr. Porter is now about three quarters of a century old, and thinks he has outlived his school mates.
The second school house was like unto the first, although built as late as 1840. This structure, in time, gave way for. the present frame building, with its improved furnishing. The school now taught, is graded and ably conducted. The term lasts eight months. The pupils number one hundred and twenty-five.
The village of Roseville was incorporated A. D. 1840. The population, at this time, was about three hundred, and, under the new regime, a Mayor and Council must preside over her destinies. Accordingly, Dr. James Little was elected Mayor. The date of this election is supposed to have been shortly after the incorporation ; but no record of the election has been found, and no tradition informs us who the members of the Council were.
SATAN IN THEIR MIDST.
About 1818, " Black Tom" made his appearance, and was the subject of remark by the villagers generally, and the children in particular, many of whom had not so much as heard of black people, generally concluding that such a color was the peculiarity of his satanic majesty, and hence " Black Tom" was thought to be a near relative of Satan, and looked upon with dubious eyes, and given a, wide' berth by the little .folks, whose ears were filled with strange legends as to his origin and habits, by " children of larger growth." To the credit of Tom, be it said, he was of quiet disposition, industrious, fond of story telling, although his stories were not new. And it is altogether likely that, had he been suspected of having a soul, some missionary would have made overtures to him with efforts to lead him. to the light, which would not have been difficult, for he was credulous in the extreme. And yet Tom did not believe in the existence of a devil, whose home was amidst flames. He "know'd dar was no rich pusson ; nobody kin live in de brimstone smoke—he'd choke to def, sure !" But he lived there were many devils in this country, and that this must be his home.
ANOTHER SENSATION.
In 1821, Miss Maria Brumager, a very worthy young lady, of gentle manners, and noted for good taste, and the habit of carefully considering the proprieties of her sex, whose opinion was highly regarded by every one who knew her well enough to know what her opinion was, particularly on matters of costume, and was "the flower of the family" at home, and the charm of the circle in which she moved, and whose familiarity with those whose opinions made the .sentiment of the village, was such that it was fair to conclude, whatever their opinions might be, she would be the last one to outrage them ; and familiar, too, with the time-honored custom of those:simplehearted people, who, by their own handicraft, prepared their own garments, from the-shearing of the sheep and hackleing of the flax, to the fruit of the -loom, to which they added new beauties by the ingenuity of their devices, often displaying artistic talent of a high order, for the age in which they lived, and inspiring admiration in the mind of every male beholder, as well as envy in their own sex, and notwithstanding, were con-
474 - TOWNSHIP HISTORIES OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO.
tent to wear what they themselves had made, and thought it good enough ; and notwithstanding their skill in arranging colors in pieces and stripes almost approached the painter's art, they were not prepared for the daze that o'er powered them when Miss Brumager walked into church wearing a straw bonnet and calico dress! This was an event in Roseville never to be forgotten ! And, strange to relate, many, deemed well -clad hitherto, now thought they had " nothing to wear !"
THE FORMATION OF CLAY TOWNSHIP.
THURSDAY, Dec. 9, A.D. 1841.
Pursuant to adjournment, the Commissioners met. Present—John Goshen, Robert Boggs, and Littleton Moore.
New Township.—A petition was presented by William Wann, signed by a majority of the householders residing within the boundaries of the proposed new township, at the last June session of this board, and laid over to the present session, which was this day taken up, and the Commissioners being satisfied that the necessary notice of such intended application had been given by advertisements, as required by law, proceeded to take the matter into consideration. The petitioners set forth that they labor under many difficulties and disadvantages in consequence of the distance, and other difficulties they have to labor under, in going to and from elections, etc., and also praying that a new township may be set off of part of Brush Creek. township, and the Commissioners, believing the prayer of the petitioners necessary for the convenience of the inhabitants And township officers, do hereby order a new township to be set off, according to the following boundaries, to wit : "Sections number one, two, three, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, and fifteen, in township fourteen, range fourteen, being part of Brush Creek township, in Muskingum county," which said new township is called Clay township. Also ordered by the Commissioners, that an election be held at the house of Adam Rider, Sr., in said township. [See Commissioners' Journal, of this date—not paged.]
The record of the first, and many subsequent elections, seem to have been lost. At. an early election in Brush Creek township, Dr. James Little was elected Justice of the Peace, and John Boyd, Jacob Dietrich, and , were elected Township Trustees ; William Dunn, Constable. Mr. Dunn held this office for seven consecutive years. If not the first, this was near about the time of the first election. If is said that the entire population living in that part of Brush Creek known as Clay township, did not exceed one hundred.
CHURCHES.
The churches in Uniontown in 1848, according to tradition, were as follows :
One Evangelical Lutheran Church, having about seventy-five members, ministered to by Rev. James. Manning.
The Methodist Episcopal Church, having about one hundred members, was ministered to by Rev. James Jamison and Rev. James Gurley.
The Old School Baptist Church, having about twenty members, was ministered to by Elder Thomas Harper.
The New School Baptist. Church, having about sixty members, was ministered to by Rev. Wm. Sigefried.
Uniontown Presbyterian Church.—In September, 1848, an application having thirty signers, was presented to the Zanesville Presbytery, asking the organization of the Uniontown Presbyterian Church, which was granted, and the society organized November i8th, of that year, and Samuel Milhouse was ordained Ruling Elder, and John Read and John Smocks ordained deacons ; H. C. MacBride, pastor.
The Methodist Protestant Church had about thirty members, ministered to by Rev. John. Wilson.
The Bible Christian Church had about seventy-five members, ministered to by Rev. C. Hand.
SONS OF TEMPERANCE.
A lodge of this denomination of temperance workers was organized in Roseville in 1848, and flourished to such a degree that the sale of intoxicating liquor was generally considered such a disreputable business that no citizen would engage in. it. They were determined, also, that no one should keep liquor on sale, as will appear from the following circumstance : In the fall of 1848, one Jack Myer, brought three barrels of whiskey into the village and opened a shop. He named his barrels " Good, Better and Best:" The Sons of Temperance took notice of his preparation for business and where he located his merchandise, ,and in a calm still night, ere the moon canoe forth, they found their way into the cellar under the saloon, and with augers, elongated for the purpose by the blacksmiths, they tapped each barrel. from below and let their contents flow.. freely. Early the next morning some one applied to the would-be liquor seller fora jug full. He.tried a barrel marked "Good," but it was no good ; he tried a barrel marked "Better," with no better success, and finally he tried a barrel marked " Best," and then he thought some one had the best of him. And he wisely concluded to abandon this place, and there was no attempt of the kind made there for the ensuing six years. This long cessation of hostilities was the cause of the organization subsiding.
ODD FELLOWSHIP.
Jonatkan Lodge, No. 356, I. 0. O. F.—This Lodge was instituted August 8th, 1865. The first officers were : N. G.. E. B. Bailey ; V. G., C. F. Watson ; Secretary, J. J. Walpole ; Treasurer, Andrew Dugan. The membership numbers about seventy-five, and is in a flourishing condition,
TOWNSHIP HISTORIES OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO - 475
CLAY TOWNSHIP GEOLOGICALLY.
This is a very limited area, in the southwest corner of the county. J. S. Newberry, Chief Geologist for the State, in his report for r869, remarks as folldws " Near Roseville, an old coal working was found to be eighty feet above the Putnam Hill lime stone. This is the proper place for the Nelsonville, or Upper Lexington coal. No opportunity presented itself for measurement.''
Dr. Hildreth, in the old geological report, found calcario-silicious rock on the high hills in section fourteen. It was found difficult to determine the exact stratigraphical position of the Flint Ridge buhr, as it lies on the top of the ridge, more like a blanket than like a rigid stratum. It conforms more or less to the undulating surface of the general top of the ridge, and is at some points higher than others. The buhr is porous and often cracked, and water passing through may have carried the soft shale below, and thus lowered the stratum along its border.
E. B. Andrews, Assistant Geologist, in the report fof 1873, says : " Putnam Hill limestone is found here, and the Upper New Lexington seam of coal is about eighty feet above it. The lower seam had not been found, but it may be there in local developments. It is nowhere a very certain seam. When there is sufficient demand to warrant careful searches, I have little doubt but that valuable iron ore will be found in this vicinity. In other townships, good ores are found in similar portions of the coal-measures series. The most useful material as yet taken from the earth in Clay township is potter's clay, from which large quantities of excellent pottery is made."
THE POTTER'S PARADISE.
This village is headqitarters for the potter, being .situated in a region abounding in potter's- clay of the best variety, on which account the township, it is said, was called Clay.
" Stoneware" is the staple here. A car load of some clasS of stoneware is shipped from here. every working day in the year.
COAL.
Coal is abundant and large quantities is shipped.
GRAIN AND WOOL.
Grain, stock and wool are exported in large quantities.
RAILROAD.
The P., C. & St. L. Railway agent sells about a hundred dollars worth of tickets, every week.
The Adams Express Company have an office here and do a very satisfactory business.