CHAPTER IX
MADISON TOWNSHIP
This township, situated in the extreme northeastern part of Pickaway County, was established June 5, 1810, by the County Commissioners, and the first election was ordered to take place at the home of Luke Decker, on June 23rd. The township contains 24 sections, of which 16 and 21 were reserved for school lands. The township is bounded on the north by Madison township, Franklin County ; on the east by Bloom township, Fairfield County; on the south by Walnut township, and on the west by Harrison township, Pickaway County. 'Madison is the smallest township iii Pickaway County in point of size and in point of population is next to the smallest, being given 794 in the census of 1900. The officers of Madison township for 1906 are as follows : Trustees--C. U. Rose, E. H. Baum and H. M. Runkle; clerk, C. B. Teegardin; treasurer, Henry Noecker ; assessor. Nathan W. Perrill; justices of the peace--T. M. Garner and Elisha Warner.
The chief stream of the township is Walnut Creek, which flows through the western half of the township in a southerly direction. The eastern portion of the township is watered by Slate Run and its branches, which stream empties into Walnut Creek about two miles above St. Paul. Madison township has many fine and productive farms. The soil is uniformly good, consisting of a black loam and gravel on the lower lands, and clay on the hills, with many excellent beds of gravel. The eastern part of the township rises into quite large hills, with generally a long slope to the lowlands, which were originally swamps in the early clays of the settlement and abounded iii wild ducks and geese. On account of the washing of the clay soil. Walnut Creek is seldom clear. The early settlers never lacked for game, as the forests here were the home of (leer and turkeys and bears were occasionally seen; wild ducks were plenty and small game such as pheasants, rabbits and squirrels inhabited every part of the underbrush and forest. Until recent years small mounds, whose presence is attributed to the ancient race of Mound Builders, might be seen in various parts of the township. The township seems also to have been a favorite resort with the Indians, for many relics, such as stone hammers, spear and arrowheads and pestles for pounding corn, have been found.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The early settlements in Madison township were for the first part made on small tracts. The township was included in the district known as Congress lands, which were not put upon the market until 1801 ; it is probable that some settlements were made here previously. The earliest settlements of which we have a record were made about 1804. George Reed, George Gibson, Col. Thomas Gibson, John Ritter (who was the, first blacksmith in the township) and Henry Hall were among the first settlers, coming here in 1804 or 1805.
Among those who settled here in 1806 were Isaac Millar, Joseph Hoffhines, Luke Decker,
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Ezekiel Groom, George Coon and Edward Cutler. Isaac Millar came here from Virginia and settled on a section of land, which was entered by William Millar. He accumulated considerable property, at one time owning 1,800 acres of land in Harrison and Madison townships. He brought the first threshing machine and the first reaper into Madison township. Luke Decker came here from Virginia, remained two years and then returned home, where he married Ivea Fox ; he then brought his bride to begin a home in the Western woods. He was a commissary to Gen. William H. Harrison in the War of 1812. At the time he came here, there was a camp of Indians near his place who went away soon after his settlement.
Among the arrivals in the years 1808 and 1809 were : Louis Fridley, John Smith and John Fisher. Many settlers came into the township about 1810, among whom were Peter Kroninger, John Nothstine, Daniel Rainier, William Teegardin, Jacob McLane, Joseph Kelly and. Andrew Dildine. Aaron Teegardin came here in 1811 and John Woodruff and John Albright came here between 1810 and 1812. Aaron Teegardin, as stated, made his settlement in Madison township in 1811. He had previously come here with his son, William Teegardin, and made a selection of land. At his death he gave each of his children, of whom he had seven, 160 acres of land. His descendants are among the best-known residents of Madison and Harrison townships.
George P. Shook, Christian Loffer, James Lambert and Henry Regal came here about 1812; Solomon Glick, about 1814 or 1815; and Christian Baum, about 1815. Among the arrivals in 1816 or a little before were the following : Nathan Perrill, Henry Crossley, Jacob Ice, George Hensel, Jacob Noyer, Samuel Hunt and Matthias Case. Nathan Perrill and family came here from Frederick County, Virginia, in 1816, arriving on May 5th of that year. He settled on the southwest quarter of section 15, which he purchased from William Teegardin, who had bought it from the government for $800. Mr. Perrill served as a 2nd lieutenant during the War of 1812, being stationed at Norfolk, Virginia, most of the time. Jacob and Isaac Schleich came here soon after 1816. William Woolweaver came here from Virginia about 1817; Joseph Wright and Daniel Wilson settled here in 1820; J. C. Peters, in 1825; John Souser, in 1828; Henry Culp, about 1829; Jacob Hines, in 1831; and John Noecker, in 1832. Among the other early settlers in Madison township were : John Funkhouser, Joshua Benton, William and Trueman Bowen, John Colburn, David Morris, David Flenner, William Bishop, James McClish, Daniel Hankison, John Childs, Noah Groom, John Guiberson, Robert Reed, Valentine Sparr, Benijamin Howell, Isaac Bean, Jesse Spangler and the Brobst family.
CHURCHES.
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church.--In the early years of the settlement of Madison township, the members of the Lutheran denomination who wished to attend religious services had to go to the adjoining county of Fairfield. They therefore, in 1834, petitioned the Synod of Ohio at Miamisburg for a minister and a separate organization. Their petition was granted and Rev. Joseph A. Roof was licensed as their first minister. On June 29, 1834, the first service was held at the house of Mrs. Mary Magdalene Hoover. The church was formally organized on August 3rd, with Solomon Teegardin and John Brintlinger being chosen as elders and Elias Hoover and Jacob Lilly, as deacons. They were installed into the duties of their respective offices the same day. For some months services were held in school-houses. Finally, at a meeting held on December 3, 1834, the question of purchasing a lot and building a church edifice was considered. A subscription was raised and a lot purchased on section 23, where a church building was erected the following year. By the terms of this subscription, this church was to be the joint property of the Evangelical Lutheran and German Reformed churches. The building was not completed until 1838, though services were held in it from 1835. Mr. Roof continued as pastor until 1855, when he resigned; he was
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again called to the pastorate in 1860. The present brick church was built in 1864 at a cost of $4,000, being erected and owned wholly by St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church. It has a seating capacity of 300. In 1872 a seven-room brick parsonage was erected at a cost of $1,500. In 1869 Rev. E. L. S. Tressel was called to the pastorate ; he was succeeded in turn by the following: Revs. W. H. Brown, B. S. Schillinger, D. E. Snapp, G. T. Cooperrider and F. B. Hax, who is pastor at the present time. The church has a membership of 165 members. This is considered a wealthy congregation. In addition to the church property, consisting of the church and parsonage and various improvements, the church also owns a farm of 80 acres, that was willed to it by Solomon Teegardin about 1875. The Sunday-school, of which D. L. Hines is superintendent, has a membership of about 150. The official board of the church is constituted as follows: Trustees--J. A. Baum, C. B. Teegardin, G. D. Griffith, D. A. Runkle and E. Berger; deacons--H. M. Runkle, Clarence Noecker and Arthur Coon ; elders--Joshua Glick and Lewis Baum; treasurer, J. L. Hoover; secretary, Ira Fisher.
Trinity Lutheran Church was organized in 1856, in which year a frame church was erected in the southeastern corner. of section 25 on land given for the purpose by Jacob Brobst. The first members were Peter Brobst and family, Jacob Brobst and family, David Brobst and family, Conrad Salt and family, Samuel Smith and family, David Hall and family, Reuben Smith and family and others. The first minister employed was Rev. Peter Eirich. There is no pastor at the present time. Rev. O. E. Weber, of Lithopolis, recently ' served the church.
A Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in this township about 1844 by Rev. Isaac Hunter, who was a circuit preacher. It was called the Pleasant Grove Church and was included in the Lithopolis Circuit. The church building was erected in 1850 and services were held in it until 1869 or 1870, when the building was sold to the township trustees for use as a schoolhouse. No services of this denomination are now held, in the township.
Madison Presbyterian Church.--In the winter of 1895, following the suggestion of a number of residents of the township that a Presbyterian Church be built here,' a subscription paper was circulated with the result that $1,658. was secured from various sources. On Sunday, April 13, 1896, a meeting was held at the St. Paul High School, where Rev. J. P. Stratton, of Circleville, explained the necessary steps to be taken preliminary to organization. At the, Columbus Presbytery, held the week following at Plain City, Dr. Stratton and Rev. J. A. Ewalt, pastor of the Presbyterian Church at London, were delegated to the work of effecting the organization. They met at the residence of Miss Kate H. Decker, Monday evening April 27th, and partially effected the organization, which was completed on May 24th, when 33 persons were received as members. The first officials selected were as follows : Trustees--T. M. Garner, W. S. Moore, Benjamin Myers, George R. Miller and Clifton H. Decker; elders--Hon. W. T. Conklin, John, W. Teegardin and C. U. Rose; building committee--John W. Teegardin, E. O. Teegardin, Bennett Myers and S. B. Alspaugh. The name: "Madison Presbyterian Church" was adopted. On May 3rd a Sunday-school was organized at the schoolhouse in District. No. 2, where it continued to be held regularly, until the completion of the church edifice. Religious services were also held in this schoolhouse on alternate Sundays during the summer of 1896,. Rev. J. W. Barnes, of Westerville, Ohio, preaching here during his summer vacation. The site selected for the church was at the cross-roads opposite the election house, part of the ground being donated by G. P. Alspaugh. The contract price for the work, $2,051, was made on the condition that the hauling of material should be done by members of the congregation: Work upon the building was begun. in July, and it was completed in December,. 1896. The total cost of the building, including the furnace; furniture, .etc., was $2,356.40.. It was dedicated on December 13, 1896, by Rev. W. S. Eagleson, of Columbus, Ohio, assisted by Rev. T. B. Atkins, of Lithopolis and Rev. C. W. Hemstead, of Commercial Point. The church building is a commodious, well-
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built structure, excellently adapted for church purposes. The interior finishing is in oak; the windows are Gothic, glazed with stainedglass. The auditorium is furnished with chairs, placed in circular form, instead of the customary pews. The present membership of the church is 85. Rev. Howard M. Welsh is the present pastor. The Sunday-school has a membership of about l00.
EARLY CEMETERIES.
In the center of section 17 was located the first cemetery in the township. The land was owned at the time by a non-resident, Jacob Behenstaugh. A number of burials were made, but the place was abandoned many years ago and no marks are now left. In 1843 a cemetery was opened by Z. H. Perrill on the old Perrill place; Nathan Perrill was the first person interred there. There are a number of other cemeteries in the township, which have been used to a greater or less extent, some of them still being used occasionally.
SCHOOLS.
Among the early school teachers in Madison township were Travis Redd, David Ammon, William McArthur, John Wright, Alexander Cameron, Truman Bowen, David Daugherty and John Miller. The township now has six school districts, including the district where is located the high school. The Board of Education, elected in November, 1904, was as follows : E. O. Teegardin, S. 0. Smith and John W. Teegardin--four years; C. V. Burk and F. J. Peters--two years. With one exception, the board has the same members at the present time, Jacob Smith having succeeded C. V. Burk. The clerk of the board is C. B. Teegardin.
The Madison township High School was established in 1883, which was some four or five years prior to similar action on the part of any other township in the county. The members of the Board of Education who were instrumental in having this action taken were George A. Knepper, Monroe Brobst and Hon. W. T. Conklin. When it was decided to have a high school, the other two members of the board--N. Z. Moore and J. W. Decker--went to work enthusiastically with the majority of the board, for the establishment and equipment of the school. It was first located at St. Paul and later was removed to the center of the township. The building is a brick structure of two rooms. During the 23 years of its life, the high school has been an unqualified success and has had about 75 graduates, a large number of whom have become successful as teachers and in other occupations.
EARLY MILLS AND INDUSTRIES.
Jacob Shook erected an oil-mill at an early date, and carried on the business of extracting oil from flaxseed for eight or ten years, after which he built a sawmill on the same site. The first grist-mill was built and owned by Luke Decker, in 1816 or 1817. The mill was operated for over 25 years. Jacob Shafer came to this township from Harrison township after 1810 and established a tannery; he also had a small mill for grinding, which was run by horse power. In the early days a number of stills for the manufacture of whiskey were operated in Madison township. Isaac Millar ran a small still soon after his settlement here in 1806. William Bishop, Jesse and John Reed and Enoch Henry also owned and operated stills at an early date. A copper still and mill was run by William Teegardin at the time of the building of the Ohio Canal, in 1825-30. A number of stone quarries have been opened in the town-ship, but the quality of the stone is not very good and the product has been used only for the 'foundations to buildings and for cellars.
ST. PAUL,
The only settlement in Madison township, has a population of about 70. In 1866 G. A. Knepper and John R. Teegardin built a store and opened a stock of goods at this place. Knepper retired from the partnership after one year and the business was conducted by Teegardin & Julian one year, when Teegardin became sole
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proprietor and conducted the business for five years, when he associated with him his brother, George Philip Teegardin. It was again run for five years in partnership, when John R. Teegardin bought his brother's interest and conducted the business alone. His successor, H. H. Teegardin, is still engaged in business at the old 'stand conducting a general store and grocery. Harley Gatten has a blacksmith shop here and George Bowers, a shoe shop. These comprise the business interests of the place at the present time.
There was no postoffice in Madison township until 1859 or 1860, when an office was established at St. Paul, which was at that time called Teegardin's. Rev. J. A. Roof, of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, who was appointed the first postmaster, administered the office at his residence. No provision was made for carrying the mails ; for a number of years it was done by private enterprise, persons in the neighborhood alternating in carrying it. Finally a private subscription was raised and George Coon carried it for two years; Andrew Duvall succeeded him and carried it for several years, until a regular route was established between South Bloomfield and Marcy. The second postmaster was Louis Rhodes. John R. Teegardin then became postmaster and the mail business was transacted by the Teegardins until the postoffice was discontinued, in, 1902. The residents now get 'their mail by rural free delivery from Ashville.