150 - HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. very slight bruises. At a number of places in the vicinity of Rehoboth. all kinds of trees were blown down, and not one left standing. Many of the trees were blown up by their roots ; but most of them were broken off a few feet above the ground. It was the work of days to clear open the public highways, through some of this fallen timber. Saddles, bridles, harness and other articles, were carried off, and many of them never recovered. No lives were lost in either of the storms of 1832 or 1845, though many marvelous escapes were made. THREE GREAT FLOODS.--About 1834 or 1835—the oldest inhahitants differ as to the exact year—there was a tremendous flood at New Lexington and vicinity. It was in July, and the farmers were cradling oats. The wonderful deluge was not preceded by any warning ; many people were caught in it, and some of them were in danger of drowning, though no such calamity occurred. It had been a clear, calm day, and between four and five in the afternoon, a light cloud began to obscure the sky, and, unexpectedly to all observers, the rain was soon descending in torrents, though apparently not a breath of air was stirring. The rain lasted nearly an hour, and then ceased as suddenly as it began. The streams became marvelously swollen ; horses and men were swimming where an hour before had been dry land. Rush Creek was booming, and spread over all the bottom, from the New Lexington hill to the hills half a mile and more northward. Great damage was done to crops and fences, but no buildings were washed away. Another notable flood of somewhat similar characteristics, occurred Saturday, August 5th, 1882. The New Lexington Tribune, of August Toth, after speaking of the flood at Corning and Rendville the previous Thursday, thus describes the flood at New Lexington and vicinity : The wonderful rainfall and flood of Saturday night, we will more particularly describe. From a New Lexington point of observation, the cloud was light, and approached slowly and gently from a westerly direction, and gradually the whole heavens became overcast, and the big rain drops began to fall. It rained hard and steadily for about an hour, but not harder than it had frequently done before, in former years. As soon as the long shower was over, it was discovered that Oxawoosie or Fowler's Run was raising very fast, and, at the west end of town was soon out of banks and overflowing the low lands adjacent. Soon after, Yerger's Run, which empties into Rush Creek a few rods below the mouth of the Oxawoosie, was observed to be still higher than its neighbor on the other side, and the great flow of water from these two tributaries, began to back water up Rush Creek, and the novel feature of logs, boards and other drift, flowing up stream, was for some time exhibited. The back water extended for more than a fourth of a mile from the junction of the two streams named with Rush Creek. A num ber of citizens were looking upon this novel back water scene, when a tremendous roar was heard up the creek, which is also up the track of the C. & M. V. R. R. One person suggested that it was an approaching train. Another said no, it is the roaring of water. True enough, and in a very few minutes the floods came, which meeting and uniting with the back water from Yerger's Run and Oxawoosie, HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - 151 rose three feet higher than was ever before known, and caused the water to flow into some forty or fifty dwellings ; and in some of them it was three or four feet deep. The night was tolerably dark, and the sudden influx of water upon dwellings was very alarming. The degree of danger could not at once be known, and the screaming of women and children was frightful enough for a while. All, however, safely waded or were carried to higher grounds, and not a life was lost. The flow of water was so sudden and bewildering, that carpets and many other articles of household goods were seriously damaged. The waters were booming for hours, and did not recede much until after midnight. The Ohio Central Railroad bridge across Rush Creek was carried away, and some of the adjacent track washed out. The passenger train was standing near the Ohio Central depot, and a good part of the railroad bed was washed from under it. The iron bridge that spanned Rush Creek at the north end of Main street, was carried away. It floated off beautifully at first, with the street lamp attached to it, lighting up the scene ; but fifteen or twenty rods down the stream the floating bridge was dashed against something, and the lighted lamp disappeared beneath the waves. The principal bridge, leading from up town to the C. & M. V. depot, escaped. The bridge north 'of town, near Arnold's Mill, was for a time under water, but safely, weathered the storm. The railroad_. bridge of the C. & M. V., across Rush Creek, about three-fourths of a mile north of town, was carried off, and the track for about a quarter of a mile washed out. The water and drift had evidently gathered and dammed up at this point, on the north side of the railroad track, and when the break was made, everything went with a rush. The Ohio Central depot, though in an exposed situation, and thoroughly bumped and punched with drift wood, stood the racket well, and did not receive any serious injury. The great rain and flood at this place have been sufficiently described, but some of the accessories to the flood are deserving of mention. The gathering of waters and drift three-fourths of a mile above town already referred to, did much to swell the flood at New Lexington—just how much it is impossible to determine. When the new channel for the creek was cut out, along the north side of the railroad, it was probably sufficient to carry all the water ; but a thicket of willows and other young timber has gradually accumulated along the banks, and reaching out over and into the creek bed, until the channel is far from what it should be. Here the water and drift dammed up, and when the bridge and track broke, everything went at once, and this damming up of the water of Rush Creek was the cause, in part, of the unusual back water from Fowler's and Yerger's Run, as well as the extraordinary rise of Rush Creek at New Lexington. There is another reason for the unprecedented back water, at this place. The channel of Rush Creek; just below town, is very crooked, and is, at this time, much obstructed by logs and other drift, so that the great surplus of water had no sufficient outlet. There was a marvelous flood at Rendville and Corning on Thursday, August 3d,1882. A correspondent of the New Lexington Tribune, who was a witness of the whole affair, as nearly as one person could 152 - HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. be, gave the following description of the unprecedented flood and the consequences resulting from it : On Thursday afternoon we were visited by the most destructive flood that ever occurred on Sunday Creek. In about half an hour's time the water had risen fifteen feet, and was destroying everything in its course. Every bridge, county and railroad, was washed out between Moxahala tnnnel and two miles south of Corning, with the exception of the depot bridge at Corning, and it was saved by the torrent of water breaking over the track above the depot and running down the east side. At Mine No. 2 the entire side track and about five hundred feet of main track was carried some distance down the stream. Six coal cars that were on the side track were scattered along the creek for some distance, two of them lodging against a tree about one-quarter of a mile below. At Middletown the water was up to the second floor of the houses nearest the creek. One house was moved from its foundation. Both bridges at this place were swept away. At No. 3 bridges and the side track from the hill to the main track were swept out. The main track for some distance below the depot was washed from the road bed. The. water was from one to three feet deep in nearly all the houses in Rendville. The majority of the stores are losers to some extent—some of them quite heavy. The damage to the Sunday Creek Company's store is not less than $1,000. Shepperd & Co. lose about $800. Clifford's saloon was the first building to go from Rendville. It went to pieces on the railroad bridge, carrying the bridge with it. Two houses belonging to Clifford were in great danger, with their occupants, who had not time to get out of the water as it rose so rapidly. A house was washed from the foot of Main street and lodged on the railroad track. Two houses belonging to William McBride were washed away ; one of them, which was occupied by a family by the name of McMahon, having eight persons in it, fortunately lodged long enough against No. 9 bridge for them to be rescued before the house and bridge both went to pieces. Two house belonging to George Venning were washed from their foundations and lodged against the hill. Mrs. Burns was in one of the houses, sick, and was rescued while the house was in motion. The Sunday Creek Mine side-track was partially washed out and a number of loaded cars drifted some distance into the meadow. Between that point and Corning nearly all the main track is carried from the road-bed. Frank Rogers had his entire stock of lumber floated off; also-, the Jones Brothers, at Corning. About two miles of track below Corning is swept away. A number of small houses from the lower end of Corning were carried off. Two large houses were floated right across the end of Valley street. The Corning depot was flooded, and the boys abandoned it in a hurry, all striking for high grounds, except Agent McKay, who made for the platform of the old depot, and as the waters rose he mounted on a pile of beer cases and was thus enabled to defy the flood. Jim Cody, for the time, lost all interest in telegraphy, and took a sudden notion that he had business up town. Our Rendville agent, H. C. Bowles, although he thinks Rendville is no such a place as his old home in Virginia, did not want to leave on a floating depot, and made a rush for. the passenger train wnich was caught here by the flood. Mr. J. H. Harsh started from the store to his home near HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - 153 the mine when he saw the flood coming, and succeeded in getting to his house just before the water began to rush around it. He thinks he could have outrun the Champion Valley. Rend & Co. and No. shaft were partly filled with water. Si Nelson, from Porterville, was at the mill with two horses and an express wagon, which were swept away. Considerable stock was drowned. It is impossible to give anything near a correct estimate of the damages of the flood in this valley, but it will not fall much short of $15o,000. It will be several weeks before the mines are, in full operation again. It will be several days before trains can get here. - 20 - 154 - HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. CHAPTER XIX. OLD SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION. A Pioneer Association has been one of the things long talked of in Perry county, but, for various reasons, never inaugurated until quite a recent date. A few weeks previous to the annual County Fair of 1882, a notice was published in the county papers, requesting the Old Settlers of the county to assemble at the fair ground, on the second day of the fair, for the purpose of organizing an Old settlers' Association. A fair degree of interest was at once manifested in relation to the matter, and the simple announcement referred to brought together at the appointed place and time a respectable number of persons, men and women, from various sections of the county. It is presumable that meetings will be held annually or oftener hereafter. The annexed account of the Old Settlers' meeting, and the organization of the society, is from the New Lexington Tribune: Agreeable to a call through the press, quite a number of the old settlers met at the Perry County Fair, at two o'clock p. m., Thursday, September 28th, 1882, and organized an "Old Settlers' Association," by appointing D. C. Fowler as temporary Chairman, and E. Teal, Esq., temporary Secretary. On motion, a committee of five was appointed to draft a plan of organization, consisting of the following gentlemen : R. E. Huston, E. S. Colborn, Wm. Story, Robert Bennett and J. K. Milligan. After due deliberation the committee reported the following, and recommeded its adoption : ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT.--This Association shall be known as the Old Settlers' Association of Perry county, Ohio. Its object to be for mutual enjoyment, socialities, and the collection and preservation of historical incidents, etc. It shall hold its meetings at least once a year, or as often as the society shall direct. Any person, male or female, having resided in the county fifty years or more, may become a member of this society by subscribing their names hereunto. The officers of this society shall consist of a President, and one Vice President from each township within' the county, and one Secretary, together with what assistance he may choose. Also an Executive Committee of five. The officers shall be elected viva voce, annually, at a regular meeting of the society. The duties of the President shall be the usual duties of Presidents of deliberative bodies. The oldest Vice President present at a meeting, in the absence of the President, shall preside. The duties of the Secretary shall be to keep a record of the names, date, and place of birth and death, together with such incidents in the lives of the members as he HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - 155 may be directed by the President and Executive Committee from time to time. The Executive Committee, together with the President and Vice Presidents, and Secretary, shall constitute a Board, with power to make all needful rules and regulations for the government of the Association, subject to the approval of the society. On motion the report of the committee was unanimously adopted. On motion a committee was appointed to report permanent officers for the Association for the ensuing year. The committee reported as follows : President, Peter Overmyer. Vice Presidents—Pike, R. E. Huston ; Clayton, Eph. Teal ; Reading, Martin Scott ; Thorn, John Good ; Hopewell, Bernard Mechling ; Madison, Alex Melick ; Harrison, Harvey Allen ; Bearfield, John K. Milligan ; Pleasant, James. Fowler ; Monroe, Benjamin Sanders ; Monday Creek, Alex McLean ; Coal, Harrison Hazelton ; Salt Lick, Henry Hazelton ; Jackson, Daniel O'Harra. Secretary, J. J. Johnson. Executive Committee—Robert Bennett, Ephraim Teal, D. C. Fowler, Jehu Jones, Brice J. Welch. On motion the report was adopted. The temporary Chairman then introduced the Permanent President, who, after thanking the organization for the honor conferred, gave a clear, straightforward, historical statement of the early history of the, county, connecting therewith a short synopsis of the war of 1812, at the conclusion of which the society extended a vote of thanks for his very satisfactory inaugural address. By general consent, the subscription for membership was presented. and the following membership obtained : Peter Overmyer, born in Northumberland county, Pa., August 24, 1799 ; came to Perry county in 1802. Robert E. Huston, born in Somerset, Perry county, 0., March 16, 1815. Wesley Iliff, Jos. Snider, Mrs. N. B. Colborn, Andrew Moore., James Fowler, Henry Wilson, Susana King, Mary Ann Wilson, David Brookhart, Mary A. Brookhart, Rual Sayres, John McBroom,.Thomas Selby, James Martin, Solomon Longstreth, James Longstreth, Israel Watt, Jos. Stoneburner, Thomas S. Mains, Peter Cochran, Jane Vansickle, Daniel O'Harra, William Rose, William Story, William J. King, Robert Bennett, Benjamin Sanders, S. H. Milligan, George W. Moore, Lucinda Aid, Lydia Feigley, Isaac Brown, John Jonas, Matthew Clayton, E. S. Colborn, James Clark, James Taylor, Charles Vanatta, Josiah Grimes, Ephraim Teal, J. K. Milligan, Alexander McLean, D. C. Fowler, William Bennett. The Association then adjourned, to meet at the call of the President and Executive Committee. 156 - HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. CHAPTER XX. MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS. THE ZANESVILLE AND MAYSVILLE TURNPIKE.—This public improvement was made in 1839-40, and, though the road passed only through the townships of Reading, Madison and Hopewell, merely touching the latter, the improvement was regarded as one of considerable note at the time, and the splendid line of coaches, which rolled over it, from Zanesville to Lancaster, and vice versa, was the pride of the county in those days, prior to the advent of the railroad. Though the pike passed only through one end of the county, it was, in some degree, a benefit to all ; for the grain-haulers from the southern end of the county, were accustomed to strike the pike at either Uniontown or Rushville on their way either to Zanesville or Lancaster. The greatest drawback for a long time was six miles of unfinished road west of Somerset, but, in course of time, this was completed, making a continuous line of pike through the county, and from Zanesville to Lancaster and beyond. CHURCHES AND SABBATH SCHOOLS.—Religious worship came in with the first pioneers, or quite soon after them ; and no matter of what denomination, the circumstances and surroundings were very much the same. First, there would be preaching at private houses, in double log cabins and in barns ; then the old style log church went up, where the people, on stated occasions, were accustomed to assemble. At a later day came the frame and brick church edifice, with tower and steeple reaching and pointing heavenwards, and with bell to call the people to the house of God. Sabbath-schools came later, and they are as compared with the churches, of modern origin. Somerset and Rehoboth were the pioneer Sabbath schools of the county. There is not much difference, in point of time, between their establishment in the two places. Other villages and communities organized their schools in course of time. A wonderful change and improvement have been made in Sabbath-schools, since their first introduction in the county, and almost every church has such a school connected with it. The Methodist Episcopal denomination has the most churches, and probably the greatest membership. This denomination has churches in every township in the county. The Catholics probably rank next in point of numbers. They have strong churches in Reading, Jackson, Pike, Harrison, Pleasant, Monroe, Saltlick and Coal. The Lutherans probably come next in order of numbers, and have churches in Thorn, Hopewell, Reading, Jackson, Monday Creek and Pike. The Baptist, HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - 157 Presbyterian, Reform and United Brethren denominations, are something nearly equal in churches and numerical strength. The Baptists have churches in Thorn, Pike, Hopewell, Pleasant, Monday Cteek, Saltlick and Coal ; the Presbyterians in Clayton, Pike, Harrison,Pleasant, Bearfield, Madison and Saltlick ; the Reform in Reading, Thorn and Hopewell, and the United Brethren in Reading, Jackson, Pike, Monday Creek, Harrison and Monroe. The Methodist Protestants, Disciples of Christ, Bible Christians and Dunkards, (German Baptists,) also have one or more churches. There are two colored churches, one Baptist, the other Methodist. Both are at Rendville. A more detailed account of churches is given in the history of townships. SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS' INSTITUTES.—The pioneer schools are all very much of the same character. A roving "Master" of the old style would come along, go around and obtain a few pupils for a short term of school, and on a given day begin work. The school would probably be held in an old abandoned cabin, with the roughest kind of a puncheon floor. Then came the old log school houses with immense fire-places, and long windows filled with greased white, paper. Then, still later, came a coal or wood stove and glass panes for the windows. This made the school room now almost a paradise, compared with the old way. Then, in course of time, came the frame and brick school houses, and a better kind of school-room furniture. Teachers also gradually improved in knowledge and methods of teaching. As time rolled on it ceased to be regarded as masculine, or out of her sphere for a girl to be seen with a slate, and pencil. This prejudice, however, wore away slowly. After many more years came the uniform school books. and graded schools for the larger towns and villages ; and the general public school system, as it exists at present. The old log school houses have disappeared, and brick or frame edifices have taken their Places, most of them with something like fair surroundings. Applicants for certificates are required to pass a tolerably rigid examination in all the common branches, and United States History, and also in the theory and practice of teaching. Teachers' Institutes are of comparatively modern origin. They were organized in Perry county about 1868-69, but did not make any great progress, or become generally attended by teachers and students. until 1874-75. Since this date the Institutes have been numerously attended and generally regarded as successful, though not always corning up to the full expectation of teachers and spectators. Nevertheless. it is unquestionable that the Institutes, of late years, have been highly useful and instructive. PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.—This order, a few years since, had ranges established in most of the townships of the county, and in some of them two or three. They flourished for a season, and interesting public meetings and parades of the order were had at New Lexington. Somerset, Thornville and other places, but the Granges have not been kept up, except in a few instances, and the order has consequently died out. While in active operation, the Grange meetings were reported to be of much interest, and the source of considerable information to 158 - HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. the farming community. Farmers' Clubs, not connected with the Patrons of Husbandry, have been organized at several points, and flourished for a season, but none of them proved to be very long-lived. Farmers' Institutes are now agitated, and are looked upon with considerable favor by the farming communty. LYCEUMS AND LITERARY SOCIETIES.—These organizations have received more than ordinary attention in this county. New Lexington. Somerset, Rehoboth, Oakfield, Maxville, and most of the villages and country school districts, have had their societies of this kind. New Lexington had a very large and flourishing one, especially from 1842 until the beginning of the war, in 1861. The "graduates" of this institution were very numerous, and they are scattered far and wide over the earth. Several of the participants in the village and country Lyceums, have since held high positions in church and State. Many Lyceums are now existing, but they are mostly confined to the country school districts and smaller villages. They do not appear to prosper in the atmosphere of the larger towns. THE GREAT SNOW STORM.—The memorable snow fall of 1833 was altogether unprecedented in this section of country. It came unheralded and unexpected, in the night season, and fell to the depth of three feet. There was no wind, and the snow did not drift, but lay as level as a floor, and was almost as smooth as a pane of glass. The inhabitants necessarily kept within doors the next day, and it was several days before the roads were much broken. Men went out on horseback breaking the roads so they could be traveled. The snow was soft and wet, and the big boys of 1833 tunneled along under it like a ground mole, though not breaking or disturbing the surface of the snow. It is difficult to see where the fun consisted, nevertheless many snow tunnels were made in the manner herein described. This was the deepest snow ever experienced in Perry county since its first permanent settlement by the white people. THE NAMES OF STREAMS.—Rush Creek is generally believed to have been named from the numerous bulrush swamps that existed along its banks at the time the county was first settled. It was probably first named below the junction at Bremen, and, accordingly, above that place the two forks took the names respectively of East Rush Creek and West Rush Creek. Several men by the name of Rush were pioneer settlers in the neighborhood of this stream, but it is said that the creek was known by the name of Rush Creek when these men came to the country. Sunday Creek and Monday Creek are said to have received their names in this wise : An expedition, sent out by the authority of the Virginia Colony to treat with the Indians on the Pickaway Plains, encamped one Sunday evening on the banks of a large creek, which the commander of the expedition wrote down in his journal as Sunday Creek. The woods were dense, the members Of the expedition did not travel fast, and the next night tents were pitched upon the banks of another large stream, and it was in like manner named Monday Creek. HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - 159 The expedition referred to, doubtless, passed through south of the present border of Perry, but the circumstances alluded to gave the names to the creeks, both of which have their sources in Perry county. Sunday Creek, in the southern part of the county, has several branches nearly equal in size, and they are all called Sunday Creek. This condition of things has led to some confusion. Monday Creek has conditions somewhat similar, but the two principal branches of it are known as Big Monday and Little Monday. Buckeye Creek was named from the buckeye trees that grew along its banks. McLuney Creek is said to have derived its name from a roving explorer or hunter, who at a very early day made it his abiding place. Nothing else appears to be known of him, except that he gave his name to the stream, where he hunted, fished and had his temporary abode. Bear Run was named from the fact that it was once the well known habitation of this animal. The early settlers often tracked or chased bears into the dark and lonely region of Bear Run. Bear Wallow, a tributary of Rush Creek, was also named from the fact that it was a bear haunt. Turkey Run was so named because in early times it was famous for the wild turkeys that clucked, gobbled and roosted in the neighborhood of its banks. Honey Creek, a tributary of the Reservoir, was so named for the reason that it was long a disputed question whether the bee-trees adjacent to it were the property of the bears or the pioneer settler. Oxawoosie, a tributary of Rush -Creek, and running through the town of New Lexington, was so named by some per- son, but is often called Fowler's or Skinner's Run, from early settlers who lived near it. A great many of the smaller streams are named after early settlers. Moxahala was named by the Indians. The name signifies, in Indian language, " Elk's Horn." The aborigines had followed it from the Muskingum river to its forks, and up both of them to their source, no doubt, and thus learned that the creek and branches resembled an elk's horn. The creek, especially the northern branch, has also received the name of Jonathan's Creek, and this name is accounted for in this way. The late Rev. Cornelius Springer of Muskingum county, relates that in his young days he conversed with men who related that they were on a hunting expedition in what is now Licking and Muskingum counties, about the year 1792. The name of one of the hunters was Jonathan Evans. The hunters separated during the day, and returned to their camp at night. One evening Evans was missing, and could nowhere be found when night. set in. The search for him was continued the following day, and he was at last discovered encamped on a high hill near the north bank of the Moxahala, not far from where it flows into the Muskingum. Rev. Springer says, that from this circumstance the stream became known as Jonathan's (Evans) Creek. There is also another story as to the origin of the name, which tradition or legend, has been duly celebrated by the poet, Charles Edgar Spencer of Somerset, Ohio, in his " Legend of the Moxahala," published by the house of J. B.Lippencott & Co., Philadelphia. Spencer's story, in brief, is this : A man, whose Christian name was Jonathan, was born and bread in the East. He wooed and won a beautiful and winsome maiden, whom he made, his wife. Jonathan was brought up a 160 - HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. Christian, and was a farmer, hunter, fisherman and much of a lover. He built a cottage near the shore of Otsego Lake, to which he took his wife ; there they lived, and loved, and there their children were born. One night Jonathan was attacked by an overwhelming Indian force, his wife and children were butchered, his cottage burned, himself badly wounded and left for dead, but the sharp blade of the tomahawk had not penetrated deep enough to accomplish its deadly mission. After Jonathan had regained his health and strength, which required a long while, with an awful vow he turned his face to the West, made a long journey, stopping at last on the northern branch of the Moxahala, in what is now Madison township, Perry county, Ohio. There he sought out the rockiest, wildest place he could find, and built a rude but near a cavern of rocks. Here, with only his gun and faithful dog, he made his permanent abode His mission was to slay all the Indians he could, for this was the wretched man's strange vow. /He wreaked his vengeance, and scores of Indians fell beneath his rifle's unerring aim. But Jonathan could not forever conceal himself, and at last his red enemies hunted and tracked him to his labyrinthian abode. Let the poet, in his own words, relate the story of " THE LAST CONFLICT." The sun had set ; the crescent moon With halo wan had followed soon ; And Moxahala shadowed o'er By buckeye, beach, and sycamore, Flow'd gurgling 'neath the gloom of night ; And, 'tween the leaves that rippled light, Look'd, trembling, here and there a gleam Of starlight on the dimpling stream. With piercing glance and noiseless tread, Quick from his but the hunter fled, (While Don, as stealthful, keeping nigh Glared fiercely round with savage eye), For, having cross'd the woody vale, He came upon an Indian trail, And all his deadly peril felt : Well did he know the place he dwelt Was sought by Indians far and near— To wreak revenge—for many a year. The Shawnee Chief had tracked the bear, At last, e'en to his hidden lair. And, stealing from the bosky glen With half a hundred ruthless men, Before 'twas his the foe to take, He mentally burned him at the stake For many a murder'd warrior's sake. The red men, feeling sure the prey Was in his fastness brought to bay, Closed round the but on every side ; And some the firey brand applied, While others, yelling, turn'd to bind The dreadful foe they thought to find, And rush'd within with tiger-bound But, lo ! no captive there they found. Hark ! ringing on the midnight breeze Afar 'neath labyrinthian trees, A rifle shrieks with sulphurous breath Sending its message dire of death- HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - 161 The Shawnee Chief with dying whoop Falls, quivering, midst the motly group. Ha! now amazement dumb appalls— A sharp report, another falls- O pale-face Chief, away! away! Loud, fierce, resounds the deep-voiced bay Of ghoulish forms, a horrid pack, That, howling, bound upon your track With bow and spear, and gun and knife, And tomahawk to take your life! Away—away—go, seek the cave Where oft before, your life to save, With mystery deep, you did elude The hordes that at your back pursued. Ah, hark! they come with sounding tread And whoops that echo wild and dread ! * * * * * * * * * * * Dewy, and fragrant breath'd and pale, Came morn, with wakening voice of bird And bee, and cool leaf-stirring gale, And squirrel's chirp, mid branches, heard. 'Twas on a hill-side's bluffy edge, Where rocks stuck out with mossy ledge, Where wavy-scallop'd ferns between The fissured rocks grew rich and green. And delicate flowers, to us unknown Save—hid from man—in forests lone, Bloom'd 'neath the trees that, arching high Shut out the azure summer sky. Where ivy wild and grapevines clung To drooping shrubs that overhung The liclien'd rocks and shady ground, Beneath the ledge a passage wound, That, to a cavern dark and small, Led through a jagged, narrow hall. There Jonathan the night before    Escaped the Indians in his flight; He seem'd to vanish—be no more    And they, with awe and sore affright And superstitious fancy fraught Deem'd 'twas a demon they hail fought. And hied them homeward full of thought. Rut Jonathan lay cold and dead, The cavern-floor his rocky bed; And on his bosom, clotted o'er With oozy drops of blackish gore, A bail had left its circle red; And in his back an arrow-head, With shaft protruding, broke in two, Had proved its fatal guidance true. Yes, Jonathan, the pale-face Chief, Had found at last that sweet relief— Nepenthe for each earthly grief. And e'en o'er him one mourner kept His vigil—yea, and, haply, wept; For think not man alone can know The bliss of love, the pang of woe:— With paws upon his master's breast And plaintive howl of deep unrest, His lonely dog, though all unheard, Implored a look, a loving word, And lick'd his master's cheek and hand, And seem'd to vaguely understand His soul was in a happier land!" - 21 - 162 - HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. INTERESTING RECOLLECTIONS OF AN OCTOGENARIAN PRINTER.- John M. Laird, now editor of the Greensburg (Penn.) Argus, and one of the earliest printers and newspaper men in Perry county, wrote not long ago the following recollections to the New Lexington Tribune: " In the Spring of1822, Mr. James Patterson, a merchant of Somerset, Perry county, Ohio, came to Pittsburgh to purchase a supply of goods. He was also empowered to purchase materials for a printing office. He called on John M. Snowden, Esq., who then published the Mercury, a prominent and influential Democratic paper, with a view of purchasing type and other materials to equip a printing office. Mr. Snowden was agent for Johnson's Type Foundry in Philadelphia. Mr. Patterson purchased one hundred and twenty pounds of long primer and about forty pounds of English job type, and a font of canon for head-lines for posters. Mr. Patterson asked Mr. Snowden to assist him in securing a practical printer to manage the paper.. Mr. S. recommended (me) his nephew, who had graduated in his office the previous fall. I was not in the city, but after corresponding with Mr. Patterson, I left Pittsburgh, for Somerset, Ohio, on the first week of May, 1822. I took the stage (a rough two horse wagon) by way of Washington and Wheeling—there were no turnpikes in those days. The roads were muddy and the passengers had to walk a great part of the way, and frequently to confiscate rails from neighboring fences to pry the wagon out of mud holes. We were to be landed. in Somerset on Saturday noon, but owing to the bad roads we did not get there till Sabbath afternoon, when I landed at Eaton's Hotel, where I remained a boarder for eighteen months. On Monday morning I called on Mr. Patterson, and found that he had no more idea of the material necessary for a printing office than a child. He had provided but a small font of long primer, a small font of job type, and an old dilapidated Ramage press, and two bundles of paper, royal size. We gathered up three old cases, and set up outside matter. Found that the new type was not sufficient to set up one side. John Lidev and Rev. Andrew Henkle, a Lutheran Minister, who was also a pretty good engraver, had purchased some type at the sales of the Scorpion and Rattlesnake papers, came to the rescue, and I was enabled to get out the first number of the Perry Record, without having a single subscriber. The citizens of Somerset and adjoining neighborhood generally subscribed, with the full understanding that the paper was to be free from the influence of any of the factions by which the community was distracted. The friends of the enterprise assured all timid persons that the reason for procuring a stranger to manage the paper was that he might be impartial to all factions. I concluded, in this state of affairs, to accept "wages" instead of partnership, or becoming sole proprietor. "There were only three post offices in the county. One in Thornville, Somerset and New Lexington. There were some post offices at or near the lines of adjoining counties. An exciting Congressional election took place, in which D. Chambers of Muskingum, General McConnell of Morgan and W. W. Irvin and Lyman Beecher of Lancaster, were candidates. Beecher was successful. Jacob Catlin, and some one in one of the other counties in the district, were candidates for Senator. Catlin was elected. A Presidential election was approach- HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - 163 ing. Jackson, Clay, Adams and Crawford, were the candidates. The voters of Perry county were chiefly divided between Jackson and Clay. There were but two lawyers in the county—John B. Orton and Peter Odlin, the latter now of Dayton, Ohio. Orton was a warm Clay man. Odlin and a merchant named Hanna, were the only supporters of Adams in the county. The excitement on this national question, in a great measure, overshadowed all local issues. I supported Jackson. The only Jackson papers in the State were the Cincinnati Republican, Cincinnati Advertiser by Moses Daw son, the Batavia Sun, by Sam Medary, the New Lisbon Patriot, by W. D. Leaper, and my paper. John Harmen published an English and German paper in Lancaster, Ohio. The English paper was of demi size. and although a Jacksonian. took no part in the contest except to publish the official proceedings of all parties. I was made chairman of the Jackson county committee. The State Committee raised funds and sent each week to the chairman of County Committees from two to four hundred copies of the two Cincinnati papers, and the Jackson party in Pennsylvania sent me large packages of the Columbia Observer, published in Philadelphia, by Simpson & Conrad. My postage on these documents was from two to four dollars per week. The packages of the two last weeks before the election did not arrive until after the election, when I refused to pay the postage, amounting to eight dollars. Perry county gave Jackson a majority of four hundred or five hundred. Clay carried the State by less than one thousand. One township in Perry county voted one week too late, casting the entire vote for Jackson. Atter being in Somerset about one year, I took typhus fever, in May, and was not in the office until October. G. W. O'Harra, of Coshocton, conducted while I was confined by sickness. The paper was never remunerative. The people of Perry county, in that day, were proverbially hospitable. My sojourn among them was most pleasant. I found many Westmorelanders among the earlier settlers—the Trouts, the Bowmans, Mechlings, Bughs, and others. There were many Pennsylvanians from other counties. Jonathan Babb was sheriff. then Benjamin Ream.—Harper was Presiding Judge and John Trout and C. C. Hood, Associates ; J. Lidey, Auditor ; and John Beckwith, Clerk. Mr. Odlin removed to Dayton Mr. Orton married Matilda Reynolds. He is long since dead. The Reynolds, Yost, Spencer, Skinner and Ream families were numerous and highly respectable. After remaining in Somerset about three years, I was solicited by my friends in Pennsylvania to join another party in establishing a Democratic paper in Steubenville, which I accepted, and left Somerset with many regrets." THE RESCUE OF THE WHITE SQUAW.-This section of Ohio was, from 1750 to 1800, the theater of many of the most thrilling incidents and some of the most interesting romances that the world ever witnessed. White men, women and children, were frequently captured along the frontier in Pennsylvania and Virginia, and carried to the homes of the Indian tribes along the Muskingum and Hocking rivers. Where the captives were children or young people, they were taught the ways of Indians, and brought up -as nearly like savages as possible. Most 164 - HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. of these captives, however, longed to escape from captivity and return to the East. The footsteps of scores of these captives were familiar sounds here, long before the land surveyors lighted their camp fires, or the boldest pioneer blazed his way into these primeval solitudes. The case of the rescue of a white girl from captivity among the Indians, is here related and illustrated, because the principal scene is not far from the border of Perry, and there is a tradition, upon what evidence is not known, that the captive girl and deliverers rowed in a dug-out canoe across Big- Lake," while making their escape from the hostile Indians who were in pursuit. COLD SPRING RESCUE The girl was a captive at the Indian town then existing on the present site of Lancaster. The Indians were at the time all hostile, and two noted scouts, for some unknown purpose, came up the Hocking, and from a place of concealment on Standing Stone." (Mount Pleasant) watched the movements of the Indians on the plain below. The white scouts were compelled to come down to a place called —Cold Spring" to procure water to drink. On one occasion, while one of the scouts was after water, he suddenly came upon two squaws at the spring or pool, and instantly comprehending his danger, if they were permitted to escape he seized the two women, with the intention of thrusting their heads under water until they were drowned. One of the squaws, who was young and active, struggled seveerly, and, to the surprise of the scout, pathetically addressed him in English. The scout made sure of the death of the old Indian squaw, and then he and the white girl captive, hastened to the hiding place on Mount Pleasant. The prolonged HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - 165 absence of the two squaws was observed by the Indians, search was made, the lifeless body of the squaw was discovered in the pool, after which there was an unusual commotion in the ltttle Indian town on the the plain, among the Indian braves. The retreat of the scouts and the rescued girl were at length discovered, and finally, in the night season, there was an attempt made to storm the heights ; but the intrepid scouts, with their unerring rifles, picked off Indian after Indian, as the red warriors advanced up the narrow defiles, whereupon the remainder of them prudently concluded to try and starve out the enemy above. There was a possibility of doing this, of course, but the vigilant scouts watched their 'opportunity, and favored one night by great darkness effected their escape at an unexpected point, taking the rescued white girl with them. This is the substance of the story, as related by the late General Sanderson, of Lancaster, in a lecture before a Literary Institute, in 1844. Sanderson was acquainted with the earliest pioneers, and with many of the Indians as well, and he considered the story authentic. It is also stated, upon what appears to be good authority, that the rescued girl had a sister in captivity, who was also restored to her friends at a subsequent time, afterwards married, and that some of her descendants yet reside in Fairfield county. The fact has already been referred to, that the adventures of the rescued captives have in some way been connected with "Big Lake" (Reservoir), but upon' what authority cannot at present be ascertained. As marvelous as the foregoing story may appear, it is not more so than scores of others, well authenticated, connected with this 'section of Ohio .during the latter part of the last century. 166 - HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. CHAPTER XXI. SOME "PERRY COUNTY BOYS." General Philip H. Sheridan, born and brought up at Somerset, Ohio, was sent to West Point, graduated, and subsequently became, as General Grant once said, as great a soldier and General as any of ancient or modern times, capable of managing or maneuvering the largest armies. It is not expected that any thing here said can add or detract from the fame of General Sheridan, yet it is quite certain that he has not, in many respects, received the credit and honor that is justly due him. It has been. frequently said that he saw the backs of more rebels than any other Federal General ; this is doubtless true, and, of itself, expresses as well as implies a good deal. It is known that he was about equally skillful in the command of artillery, cavalry and infantry. He commanded in the East as well as in the West, and was popular and successful with both armies. He changed the cavalry arm of the service from an inefficient, unreliable force, into a well disciplined, invincible, victorious army. He brought his division—all there was left of it—intact out of the deadly struggle in the tall cedars at Stone River. Though badly cut up with General McCook's Corps at Chickamauga, Sheridan rallied the remnant of his division and proceeded to march in the direction of the sound of General Thomas' guns. It was Sheridan who changed the valley of the Shenandoah from a valley of humiliation into a land of triumph. After the Shenendoah was cleared of the enemy, he was called back to the main army in front of Richmond. Grant's whole operations, during the summer of 1864 and the early part of the year 1865, had been little less than a series of bloody disasters, and, as offensive movements,were certainly not successful. Eventually, Grant decided to make a last desperate attempt to break the rebel lines, and General Sheridan was selected to lead the momentous expedition. About three o'clock one morning Grant called Sheridan from his bed, and told him what was to be done.. "I want you to break the rebel lines," says General Grant, "and if you fail, go and join Sherman." make the attempt," replies Sheridan, "but I'll not go to Sherman ; I propose to end it right here." Right there, in the breast of little Phil Sheridan,was the crack of doom for the Southern Confederacy. Sheridan's command charged at Five Forks, the hitherto invincible lines of General Lee were broken, and Richmond doomed. Lee's army was routed, retreated in great confusion, and the: Confederate Administration hastily deserted the rebel Capital, as rats desert a sinking ship. It was a great victory for the Army of the Potomac ; but few dreamed —not even General Grant—that the war was virtually over. It was Sheridan who, with his accustomed habit of following closely upon the backs of the defeated rebels, at once discovered the true condition of things, and dispatched back to Grant : "Hurry up the troops ; Lee HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - 167 must surrender if closely pressed. I am sure of it." Meanwhile Sheridan had a sharp engagement at or near Hanover Court House, the last stand Lee's ragged and brave veterans ever made. Grant "Hurried up the troops," and Appomattox was the result. Sheridan is a Major General in the Regular Army, with headquarters at Chicago. His aged mother still resides at Somerset, in this county. Janairus A. McGahan was born and brought up in the neighborhood of New Lexington, Perry county, Ohio ; afterward attended school at Notre Dame, Indiana, and before he was twenty-one was a reporter and correspondent of the daily press at Saint Louis. In a year or two he went East and secured a position on the New York Herald, where he suddenly arose to the front rank among newspaper men. In a short time he was sent to Europe as a war correspondent of the Herald. He also made a similar engagement with the London News. As a correspondent of these journals, McGahan was in all the wars of Europe for eight or ten years previous to his death, including the great French-Prussian war. McGahan was in Paris during the reign of the Commune, and gave vivid but faithful pictures of that exciting and eventful period. He was arrested and imprisoned by the Commune, and would have been summarily executed but for the intervention of powerful and influential friends. McGahan was with one expedition of the Czar of Russia into the heart of Asia, and at another time he accompanied an exploring party to the Arctic ocean in search of the North Pole—all in his capacity of newspaper correspondent for two of the greatest journals of the world. It was McGahan who penned the faithful descriptions of the Turkish atrocities in Bulgaria, and he then told the suffering people that he would be back there in a year with the army of the Czar ; and, sure enough, he was. McGahan is known over the civilized world as the deliverer of Bulgaria, and the Bulgarians so regarded him ; and when he was there the second time the people—men, women, and children—crowded around him, kissing his bridle, spurs, and even the horse that he rode. McGahan was no common man. He was a statesman and philanthropist, as well as newspaper correspondent. He had the ability to be first writer on any newspaper on either side of the Atlantic. He fell in love with and married -a Russian lady of rank, though no man was more democratic in his notions than he. McGahan died about four years since at Constantinople from a malignant fever, which he contracted while nursiug a friend who was afflicted with the disease. McGahan died at the age of about thirty-three years, and his mortal remains were consigned to their mother earth near the bank of the Bosphorus, hard by the ancient city of Constantinople. His widow and baby boy, not long since, visited the boyhood home of the lamented husband and father. James M. Comly was born and brought up at New Lexington, Ohio. He went to Columbus to learn the trade of a printer, and was successively " devil," " jour," foreman, local editor, and finally editor and proprietor of the Ohio State journal. He was Colonel, then General in the army, postmaster of Columbus, and was subsequently appointed by President Hayes as Minister to the Sandwich Islands, from which country he has recently returned to his home in Columbus. J. M. Rusk was brought up in Bearfield township, Perry county, 168 - HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. Ohio ; worked as a day laborer on the old C. W. & Z. R. R. at McLuney in 1853 ; went to Wisconsin, became a General in the Union army, subsequently served three terms in Congress, and is the present Governor of the State of Wisconsin. Jacob Strawn, one of the early settlers of Thorn township, remained a citizen' of the same until he had accumulated considerable property, sold out and left, with the stereotyped remark that he would be the. first in his State or nothing. He did become the largest land owner in the State of Illinois, to which he went, and was at the time of his death the greatest cattle owner in the world. John W. Iliff, born and lived to man's estate in Harrison township, near McLuney, went to the Far-west at the age of about twenty-one ; went into the cattle business on the Plains ; raised, sold, and speculated in cattle until he became very wealthy ; and at the time of his death, which occurred a few years ago in Denver, Colorado, was the largest cattle owner in the world, and was known far and wide as the " Cattle King." His estate is estimated to be worth about two million dollars. Thomas C. Iliff, a cousin of John Wesley Iliff, the Cattle King, born and brought up in Harrison township, near McLuney, served in the war while in his 'teens ; went to school and graduated at Athens University ; subsequently became a minister in the Ohio Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, then was sent to Helena, Montana, and finally to Salt Lake, where he is now in charge: Though only a Presiding Elder in rank, Iliff is practically a Bishop throughout all Utah, Territory. One of the Bishops, in presenting Tlff, in a late session of the Ohio Conference, announced that he would now introduce to them " The successor of Brigham Young." is an able and eloquent preacher, as well as organizer and explorer. He visited the Old World, not long since ; spent a year in Palestine. and rode all over the Holy Land on horseback. Walter C. Flood, born and brought up at Somerset, Ohio, clerked in his father's store, learned the trade of a printer, taught school, became editor of the Perry County True Democrat, Ironton Times,, Portsmouth Times, Marietta Times, and was one of the best political writers in the State, and, in some respects, had no peer. lie was said to be a walking library and dictionary, and scarcely ever made a misstatement of anything. He was a nephew of the celebrated Charles Hammond, a distinguished old-time editor of the Cincinnati Gazette. Mr. Hood was appointed State Librarian by Governor Allen, a position for which he was eminently qualified, and he died in the city of Columbus, while holding that office. Rezen Debolt, son of Rev. George Debolt, brought up in Thorn township, learned the trade of a tanner, afterward studied law, went West, and subsequently became a District Judge and member of Congress for the State of Missouri. Stephen D. Elkins, a native of Thorn township, has, for several terms, been a delegate in Congress from the Territory of New Mexico, and would have been one of the United States Senators, had New Mexico been admitted as a State. Mr. Elkins is married to a daughter of Senator Davis, of West Virginia. Fifteen or sixteen members of the Ohio Conference of the Method- HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - 169 ist Episcopal Church hail from Perry county. Of these, Isaac Crook, James F. Gardner, Wellington Harvey, and several others, are' very distinguished. Crook has now been transferred to a Michigan Conference. Harvey served quite a number of years as Presiding Elder. Joseph Carper, of Reading township, Jesse Stoneman, of Thorn, and Samuel Harvey and Samuel Hamilton, of Madison township, were all, in their lifetime, itinerants in the Ohio Conference. Jesse Stonemon, with James Quinn as a colleague, was appointed by the Baltimore Conference, in f800, to what was then called the Muskingum and Hocking circuit, embracing Marietta, Zanesville, Coshocton, Mount Vernon, Lancaster, Athens, and all the country lying between ; and they rode this extensive wilderness circuit in 1801, as the Church record shows. The mortal remains of Rev. Stoneman repose in the Methodist Episcopal Cemetery at Thornville. PART VI TOWNSHIP HISTORIES OF PERRY COUNTY HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - 171 TOWNSHIP HISTORIES, CHAPTER XXII. BEARFIELD TOWNSHIP. Bearfield is one of the original townships of Perry county, Ohio, and was organized in 1818. It is situated one township north of the southeast corner of the county, and, with Monroe township, forms the most eastern portion of the county. At the time of its organization it was a full township, containing thirty-six sections, and remained so up to 1850, when there were nine sections taken from the southwest corner of it to form a part of Pleasant township, thus leaving it with twenty-seven sections, or seventeen thousand two hundred and eighty acres of land. It is bounded on the north by Harrison township, of Perry county, and Harrison township, of Morgan county ; on the south, by Monroe and Pleasant townships, of Perry county ; on the east, by Harrison and Dearfield townships, of Morgan county, and on the west, by Pleasant and Pike townships. The township is naturally divided into two parts, or slopes, by a ridge passing in a northeastern and southwesterly direction, the northern slope dipping toward the Muskingum valley, and occupying about two-thirds of its surface. The southern slope dips toward the Hocking valley, and contains about one-third of its area. The streams are all small, and from this natural division flow both north and south, the greater number rising within its own borders. The largest stream is that of the south branch of Jonathan's Creek, which flows from the central northern part of Pleasant township, in a northeastern direction, and flows out at its northern boundary, near McLuney, in Harrison township. The township is all underlaid with a stratum of the best of soft coal, four feet thick. This coal is mined iu the northwestern part by drifting ; but if it were obtained in the southern and eastern parts it would necessarily have to be by shafting, so rapidly does the stratum dip. Iron ore and fire and potter's clay are found in many places. The iron ore is of the black band mineral, and yields about forty per cent of iron. The potter's clay is of the best quality, from which all kinds of common stoneware are successfully manufactured. The surface of this township may well be said to be everywhere undulating, It has so small a portion of valley land that it is scarcely worth a mention. The hills are not so high, but a great many of them 172 - HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. are rather steep ; yet there is not much of the land that is not arable, and its fertility is beyond dispute, as many an industrious farmer, who now enjoys a full competency for his declining years, can testify. Coal mines, iron ore deposits, potter and fire clay banks, and farm products, are seldom more happily united than in Bearfield township. It is said that James Black was the first settler in this township, who must have come before 1812, but how long before is unknown. He settled near where Porterville now stands. As early as 1815 came the father of Jacob Hearing and settled, a neighbor to James Black. The following is a list of the first settlers, as could best be obtained from available records : Benjamin Tatman, Bartholomew Tatman, John G. Hearing, David Worley, Charles Crook, Samuel Ogburn, John B. Holcomb, Benjamin Morgan, Lawson Teal, Samuel Worley, James Palmer, Edward Conner, James Montgomery, Isaac Ken*, Michael Longstreth, William Lashley, Andrew Woods, John Yo.unkin, Thomas Tatman, John A. Hearing, Samuel Younkin William J. Moore, Elisha Palmer, Matthew Palmer, Leon Strait, William Tatman, John Montgomery, John Thrapp, L. J. Baker, Ezekiel Rose, John J. Jackson, David Little, Lloyd Teal, and John Handsley. These people came from the Eastern States and the Old Country ; consequently, were a mixture of various nations. Upon their arrival, all the hardships and realities of a pioneer life were upon them. The "Giant Oak" stood king of the forest, and defied the "Woodman's ax." At once it was to be seen that there was life for a struggle, and prosperity for continued effort. Making bare their muscles to the labor, and with wills determined to know the best or Worst of it, log cabins sprang up like mushrooms from a hot bed, and passed away like fairies in the morning dew-drops, giving place to the hewed log-house, and eventually to the unique frame and brick architectural dwellings of the present day and generation, as the harvest of the fallow, broken by the wooden mouldboard as it was directed by the muscle that received sustenance from the hand and horse grist mill, and toated upon the pack saddle, together with the venison, the bear and the turkey, nature's provision for man's coming. In those pioneer days, the sickle was thrust, the flail was wielded or the oxen trod out the grain, which was fanned by the sheets of pioneer couches, for twenty-five cents per bushel, in trade. Corn was plowed with the rudest plows for twelve and a half cents in-trade. Tea and coffee were luxuries that was too expensive to be often indulged in ; upon Sunday or a holiday they might be allowed. Yet at their log rollings and house and barn raisings we still can catch a breath of their hilarity and neighborly feeling, and we are often constrained to say, "They enjoyed themselves more than we do now," never taking a thought that then they had no time to quarrel with each other, or look up the intricate points of law and push a law suit. They were busily employed. The most of the land in this township was entered directly, by the citizens themselves, at $1.25 per acre. Some of the southern part came through the hands of Buckingham and Sturgess. It is creditably stated that of those who took up land through Buckingham, many were unable to pay for it, and some could no more than HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY - 173 pay the interest on the money they borrowed from him, or was due on back payments, the enormous interest of twenty per cent. being charged by him for money invested, or upon back pay for their farms, purchased him at from $5.00 to $1o.00 per acre. In consequence of this they were obliged, many of them, to sell out the very land they. had doubly earned and made fruitful by their toil, in many cases saving a mere pittance from,years of hard labor. Hence it comes that, few of the first settlers or their children remain to this day in the southwestern part of the township. It is difficult to tell now, where the first mill was built, but it is quite likely it was upon South Fork creek, in about 1817, by Frank Harris. That part of the township was afterward made a part of Pleasant township, where a more complete history of the mill is given. Levi Little, who once lived upon the present site of Porterville, in an early day had. a hand mill where they used to grind all night, and in that length of time could grind about two bushels of corn, three or four bushels of buckwheat, or one and one half bushels of wheat. The burr was small and turned by means of a pin fastened near the edge upon the top. They turned with one hand and fed it with the other. It was afterward turned to a horse mill. It is claimed by some that the first mill was built upon the head waters of Black's Fork creek, by a man by the name of Fate, who afterward sold it to Petit. At this mill they ground corn, buckwheat and wheat, and sawed lumber. A man by the name of Underhill once had a horse mill on the line between Perry and Morgan counties. One of the oldest mills was built by Levi T. Deaver, near the edge of the township, not far from Deavertown, of Morgan county. There is now no mill running in the township, all having gone down. For a better class of work, and quicker returns, the farmers often went to Zanesville on horseback to mill, via the cow paths, riding one horse and leading another, which wore the pack saddle and carried most of the grain. In 1818, as above stated, this township held its first election, and the names given as the first settlers, were the first voters, or at least most of them were voters here at that time. Then the ballot was cast for the first Justice of the Peace, who in all probability was Samuel Ogburn. At that time the votes were polled as they have been ever since, some place, and in some kind of a building, upon the sixteenth and school section of the township. If Ogburn was not the very first, he was among the first to hold that office. Upon the sixteenth section they now have a township house where the votes are polled. The number of votes cast in 1882 was two hundred, not varying but little from that number at any time. It is said that David Hearing was the first man married in this township. This township has no railroads nor pikes. The Cincinnati & Muskingum Valley, a branch of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railway, passes near its northern boundary at McLuney. As James Black is considered the first settler, it is altogether probable that around him gathered the first neighborhood, and thereby the first schools were held in that neighborhood, on a farm owned at the 174 - HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. time by Jesse Simmer, and now owned by Ephraim Bennett. The first school teachers there were, first of all, Abraham Striker. Samuel Younkin soon after. Robert Sandburn taught in 1820, and Thomas Petit in 1821. They all taught in the log cabin school house, so frequently described in this history, that a repetition here would be to increase the monotony of the story. The public school system was adopted as soon as practicable, and as is shown in the county history. There is now in this township six sub-school districts, and in each there is a good, substantial frame school house, where at least an average term of school of six months is kept up each year, the teachers receiving their pay from the public school fund. There are one hundred and forty-eight male and one hundred and forty-eight female scholars enrolled. CHURCHES.—Fletcher Chapel is of the Methodist Episcopal denomination, and is commonly known as the Holcomb church. It is the oldest church we now have any knowledge of in this township, and was probably organized in about 1815, and met in private houses previous to 1820 to 1825, at which time they built a log church on Joseph Holcomb's farm. In private houses they meet at Geoi ge Reed's, John Fate's and Joseph Holcomb's. The first members were John Fate and and wife, Joseph Holcomb and wife, Mrs. George Reed, Patton Ferson and wife, Thomas Hollingshead and wife, Asher Holcomb, who was the first class class leader, and a few others. The first preachers were Rev. Samuel Hamilton and Rev. Cornelius Springer. They were afterward supplied by the Ohio Conference, and were known to be in the Zanesville district, and in Deavertown circuit until 1882, when a change was made, and it became one of four appointments of which the Rev. Raymond Griffith is pastor, but is still in Zanesville district. Previous to the change they for many years past had preaching once in three weeks, but since that they have preaching alternate Sundays. The old log church was supplanted in 1846 by a frame building that is now standing. The first Sunday school met in the log house and was kept up until about 1867, only during the summer season ; since that time they have continued during the whole time, and now number about fifty scholars, with M. G. Sayre as Superintendent. Charles Crider, Ephraim Bennett, Bartholomew Longstreth and William Sayre are class leaders of the church, and there are about seventy members. Pleasant Grove M. E. Church is commonly known as the Tatman Church, and is situate in the southeastern portion of the township, near Joseph Wallace's farm. It was organized in about from 1832 to 1837, and first met in Bartholomew Tatman's house on the farm now owned by Joseph Wallace. Bartholomew Tatman and wife, one McClannahan and wife, Samnel Ogburn, one Mr. Iden and some others, were the first members. B. Tatman was likely the first class leader. The first ministers were Samuel Harvey and Samuel Hamilton, and have since been supplied by the Ohio Conference. Soon after their organization, they built a hewed log church hard by the site of the present frame church, which took its place in about 1861, built under the pastorate of Rev. Joseph Barringer. There are