CHAPTER XI
MUHLENBERG TOWNSHIP
This township was erected December 8, 1830, being formed from portions of Jackson township on the south and east, Scioto on the north and east, Darby on the north and west and Monroe on the south and west. It is next to the smallest township in the county in area and the third smallest in population, which was 918 in 1900. The first survey for a township was made by Judge William Florence in 1826 or 1827. It was afterward again surveyed by Mr. Nesbeth, of Ross County. A change was made in its boundaries in 1851. Darby Creek flows from northwest to southeast through the center of the township. This is the only stream of any size that can be found here. It rises near the head-waters of the Scioto River and runs in a course nearly parallel with that stream, into which it empties near Circleville. The name "river" would more nearly describe its size. At times of high water, it overflows a large area of bottom land, where it is not protected by levees. Its banks in some sections are quite high. It derives its name from an old Indian chief who lived on its banks at an early day. There are also two small streams, known as Dry Run and George's Run.
When the first settlements were made in this township, the pioneers found the face of the land covered with a heavy growth of timber. In the western part of the township and adjoining townships were found small tracts of land without timber, covered with a luxuriant growth of wild grass that would sometimes reach to the height of a man's shoulders when mounted on horseback. These tracts were given the name of "prairies." The bottom lands were covered with great forests of walnut, maple, ash, elm, honey-locust and sycamore trees, while on the uplands grew many oaks. The land was cleared in the most expeditious manner possible--either by felling the trees and burning the logs, or by girdling and thus destroying- then. This was done in order to get the land under cultivation without the waste of time. At a later date mills were established along Darby Creek and considerable lumber was produced ; as a consequence but little timber suitable for first-class lumber is to be' found at this day in the township.
In the bottom lands the soil is for the most part a black loam-mixed with some gravel and is very productive, raising large crops of corn and wheat. On the uplands is found a clay soil which is nearly as productive as the black soil of the lowlands, though it requires a greater effort to produce a crop. In order to protect the land along Darby Creek from overflow in times of flood, levees have been built along the creek by the owners of these lands. Great quantities of corn are raised in this township: Until some 30 or 40 years ago the land was mostly owned in large tracts by a few persons. Even now there are a number of very large farms.
It is thought that the first election in Muhlenberg township was that held in the spring of 1831, a few months after the township's erection. William Hill, Sr., was the first justice of the peace. In 1875 a town house was erected on the main street in Darbyville at a
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cost of $1,200, the lower story being built by the township and corporation and the upper story jointly by the Good Templars organization and Good Samaritan Grange. The township officers for 1906 are as follows : Trustees R. C. Hill, William Graham and E. F. Kneisley; clerk, Jonathan M. Grabill; treasurer, W. S. Carpenter; assessor, Milton Fullen; justices of the peace--Henry B. Darst and Jacob Bennett.
When Virginia ceded this portion of Ohio to the general government, the lands ,west of the Scioto River were reserved by the State of Virginia for her soldiers of the Revolutionary War as a reward for their services. Of these military lands, Gen. Peter Muhlenberg owned some 1,700 acres; Henry Baldwin, 1,200; Henry Massie, 1,200; while Carter, Copeland and others owned large tracts. Gen. Peter Muhlenberg was one of the most ardent patriots of the Revolutionary War. At the time the war broke out, he was a minister; he immediately transformed himself into a soldier and did valiant service in behalf of the revolting colonists. The township of Muhlenberg is named after his youngest son, Francis, who settled here in 1820.
INDIANS.
This section was the home of the Shawnee Indians. At an early day small bands of these Indians lived in various parts of the township; even after the country was partially settled, the Indians returned annually early in the spring for the purpose of making maple sugar. In the fall of the year they proceeded north toward Lake Erie. On the opposite side of the creek, a short distance above Darbyville, a large burying ground was located, in the rear of the old camp of the band to which the chief Darby belonged. At an early day in the history of the township, an Indian duel took place just below Darbyville where there was an Indian camp.
EARLY SETTLERS.
The early history of the township is more like a history of a neighborhood than of a town until 1830, it was not known as a township, being included in Jackson, Scioto, Darby and Monroe townships. The names and dates of arrivals of many of the first settlers have been lost, and the information given here can be considered as only fragmentary. The first settlement of which we have any record was made about 1805 or 1806. It is thought that John Rush and family lived here prior to 1805, as at that time they owned 50 acres of land on Darby Creek. In 1806 a Mr. Galbreath and a Mr. Swank came to Muhlenberg. John Studebaker, Edward Pritchard and Judge William Florence also came to this township in 1806.. The last named, who was a Virginian, arrived April 9, 1806. After occupying a cabin on. John Renick's place for a short time, he bought. too acres of the Muhlenberg tract. He afterward purchased more land until he owned some 1,700 or 1800 acres. Judge Florence: was twice elected to the State Legislature and served two terms as associate judge. He died. in 1870, aged 96 years. He left a decided impress on the life of his time and section. About 1807 Isaac Van Meter, John and David Shepherd and Parnick George came to this township. In 1808 Judge William Seymour came here from Ross County. He was one of the early associate judges of the Common Pleas Court, to which office he was elected by the Legislature in 1810. George Rowe came into the country about 1812 and bought land on Dry Run, which he came near losing, as the title proved defective. The Hill family, one of the most widely represented in the township, was established here about 1815, when William Hill with his family, consisting of a wife and eight children, came here; at the same time his brothers, Leroy and Robert Hill, also settled here. These two brothers afterward removed to other sections of Ohio. John McKinley came from Virginia in 1819 and settled about three miles. above Darbyville.
Francis Muhlenberg came here about 1820, and for a number of years lived in the family of Judge William Florence. He was elected to the State Legislature in 1823 and several years later was elected to Congress, but would only serve the first year of his term. Alexander McKinley and Charles Bell came here about 1825. Jacob Yoakum settled here in
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1822. William Fullen came to Pickaway County in 1827, and about seven years later purchased and moved upon land near Darbyville. Abel Seymour, a son of Judge William Seymour, came to Ohio in 1827 and settled on a part of his father's tract. Jacob Thorn settled in Muhlenberg township about 1834; Isaac Seymour, in 1835; Baldwin C. Carpenter, in 1837; William A. Miller, in 1840; George W. Bolin, in 1841, and Joseph A. Pritchard in 1844. Henry Darst settled in Circleville about 1835 or 1836, kept hotel there three years and then came to Muhlenberg township. Other early settlers in this township were : John and David Martin, Mrs. Burget, the Poulson brothers (mention of whom is made in the history of Darby township), and Arthur Whiteside.
WHIPPING A POLE-CAT.
"It was no very unusual thing for the new settlers in a wilderness of timber to become somewhat dazed and lost when they had occasion to traverse the timber out of some path or well-known course. Where the settlements were several miles distant from each other and the interval a dense and almost impenetrable forest, this is not to be wondered at. On one occasion, Isaac Van Meter, then well along in years, mounted his horse and rode into the woods to gather in some of his hogs that had been fattening on `shack,' as acorns and beech-nuts were called. He was gone much longer than was expected and his family became alarmed and instituted a search for him. The neighbors were called on and after some time found him about three miles from home near what is now known as Robtown. He had dismounted and tied his horse to a bush and was engaged in whipping a pole-cat around with a little switch. When asked what he was doing that for, he replied that `he became so very cold in riding that he had to do something to keep warm and it occurred to him that if he whipped that pole-cat about for a while he would get warmed up. The general verdict of the searching party was that he had become pretty well `warmed up' as they returned home, carefully keeping the windward side of him."
SOME FIRST EVENTS.
It is not known who was the first white person born in the township, but it is thought there were births in the families of some of the squatters before the actual settlers came in and took possession of the land. The first death that occurred in the neighborhood was that of a child of Jonathan Renick, named Seymour, in 1805. An infant daughter of Judge Florence, deceased in November, 1806, was the first person buried in the Florence burial-ground. The first marriage that can be recalled was that of Anthony Hall and Polly Wood in 1806. The early settlers obtained flour and meal from a mill on Darby Creek in Jackson township, about seven miles from the present town of Darbyville or from a mill on the upper part of the same stream, in Franklin County. The first of these mills was built about 1802 or 1803, and the other a little later. The first orchard planted in Muhlenberg township was set out on the place of Isaac Van Meter about 1808. About this time Eleazar Smith established a blacksmith shop on Darby Creek be-low Darbyville. A sawmill was built on the farm of Francis Hill, a little below Darbyville, about 1820; in 1831 it was equipped for grinding purposes. In 1835, after the death of Mr. Hill, Jonathan Blue rented the property and bought a wool-carding machine. It was subsequently rented by others and finally sold to Jacob Measy about 1844. This old mill was torn down on the completion of the mill in Darbyville, in 1877. A tannery, established by John Shepherd in 1819, was conducted by him until his death and then by his son, Abram, until 1838. James Magill also operated a tannery at an early date.
CHURCHES.
A Baptist Church was established here about 1820 or 1825, but it finally went into decay.
A branch of the Presbyterian Church was organized here about 1825. Services were held in private houses in the neighborhood during the winter season and in the summer, a pleasant grove was selected, logs being rolled
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PAGE - 148: PICTURES: HIGH WATERON DEER CREEK; SCENE IN THE SALT CREEK VALLEY; RESIDENCE OF HARRY F. ALKIRE; LOG CABIN BUILT BY MICHAEL ALKIRE IN 1800 AND RESIDENCE AND BARN OF S. H. RIDGWAY.
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together for seats for the congregation. For some years after the completion of the Darbyville schoolhouse, it was used for religious services. In 1842 a church was erected in Jackson township near the Muhlenberg township line, where the Presbyterians of this township had services for some time. A Presbyterian Church was finally established at Darbyville. Of late years the society has not been active and the building is not now in use.
Darbyville M. E. Church.--Services conducted by laymen of the Methodist denomination were held at an early day in the township. There was preaching at Mr. McKinley's as early as 1826 and afterward at a schoolhouse in Darbyville. It is not known just when the church was organized. It was at first a charge of the Scioto Circuit and then of the Franklinton Circuit. It is now included in the Darbyville Circuit, which has four appointments : Darbyville, Pherson, Hebron and King's. The membership of the circut is 370 and the church property of the four appointments is valued at $7,000. The number of Sunday-school. pupils in the entire circuit is 480. Rev. F. B. Davis, who is stationed at Darbyville, is in charge of the circuit. The attendance of the Darbyville M. E. Church is about 175. The Sunday-school at Darbyville has an average attendance of about 110; to; Charles W. Davis is superintendent. The church at Darbyville was begun in 1842 and completed in 1844. A parsonage was built here in 1898 at a cost of about $1,500.
The Pherson M. E. Church is one of the appointments of the Darbyville Circuit, with Rev. F. B. Davis as pastor. The church has a membership of 125. The average Sunday attendance is 200. The church building .was erected in 1891 at a cost of $1,200. The superintendent of the Sunday-school is Robert Pherson.
In the spring of 1878 a branch organization of the African M. E. Church was perfected at Darbyville. For a number of years services were held. at the schoolhouse in the village of Darbyville by John Dickinson. The pulpit was supplied for a time by Rev. R. H. Morris, of Circleville.
CEMETERIES.
At an early day there were several cemeteries established' in the county, most of them being of a family or neighborhood nature, In 1879 there were not less than eight burial places to be found. The first cemetery was on the farm of Judge William Florence, where his infant daughter' was buried in 1806. In 1875 the corporation of Darbyville bought five acres of ground just below the town on the pike and opened a general township cemetery.
SCHOOLS.
In 1807 Judge William Florence established a school in a log cabin on his place, hiring Brice Howard as teacher. Sylvester Tipton taught school in this log cabin after Howard ; Horatio Keys also taught about the same time. Rev. George Ambrose came to the township about 1820, and taught school on the west side of Darby Creek near Darbyville. He was a Baptist minister and preached in the surrounding country. Mr. Abbott taught school about 1816 or 1818; James Rice taught on the Muhlenberg farm about 1817. The township is well provided with schools and the school buildings are of a substantial nature. The Board of Education of Muhlenberg township, elected in the fall of 1904, is as follows : M. F. May, Samuel Ankrom and J. Wilson--four years; J. J. McLaughlin and W. S. Carpenter --two years. The clerk of the board is Jonathan M. Grabill.
In the early '50's a union school district was set off in the village 0f Darbyville and a school building was erected at a cost of $1,500. In 1867 a second story was added to the building at an expense of $400. The school has. a high school department, in. addition to the grammar and primary departments. Charles W. Davis is in charge, assisted' by Florence Terflinger and Minnie Dennis. The Board of Education of the Darbyville Village School District, elected in November, 1904, is as follows : G. W. Miller, Harry Moore and C: T. Neff--four years; P. C. Thomas and Mrs. Laura Anderson--two years.
150 - HISTORY OF PICKAWAY COUNTY.
At one time in the history of Darbyville, a school was kept up by the township for the education of colored children; a building was erected for the purpose in 1872 at a cost of $632.
PHYSICIANS.
"I he first physician employed' in the township was Dr. Scott, of Chillicothe. This was previous to 1810. In that year Drs. Turney, Webb and Luckey settled in Circleville and acquired the business of Muhlenberg township, as they were good physicians and more convenient of access. In 1828 'Dr. Raiff, a Frenchman, settled at Darbyville, where he remained until his death. Drs. Noble and Wilson came later. About 1833 Dr. James Allen settled in Darbyville, where he conducted his practice for some 22 years. Of more recent physicians we may mention Dr. Richard H. Tipton who began his practice of medicine at Darbyville in 1846; Dr. F. M. Black, who came to Darbyville in 1853 and entered into partnership with Dr. James Allen; Dr. J. T. Kirkendall, who died some 10 or 12 years ago, after an extended practice; and Dr. John E. Miller, deceased in 1904, who practiced at Darbyville for many years and was a man of prominence in this section, being a Representative in the General Assembly at the time of his death. Darbyville has at the present time two practicing physicians : Dr. Joseph B. Justice, who has been located here since November, 1898; and Dr. Floyd E. Ginder, who. came here in 1904.
SOCIETIES.
Good Samaritan Grange, P. of H., was organized in Monroe township in 1874 but was afterward changed to Darbyville. .It was long since discontinued. Darbyville has always been strong in temperance sentiment: There was formerly a very flourishing lodge of the Independent Order of Good Templars here, which was organized under a charter issued in 1875. It finally went out of existence. The Woman's Christian Temperance Union is very well represented at Darbyville, where one of the strongest societies in the county is active in the good work.
DARBYVILLE.
The corporation of Darbyville was platted July 27, 1826. It was laid out on land formerly entered, surveyed and patented by Cornelius Baldwin on the west side of Darby Creek and near the center of the present township of Muhlenberg. A store for the sale of merchandise was opened by Samuel Scott in 1826 or 1827. A year later a grocery was opened by George and J. P. Hill. In 1826 a blacksmith shop was run here by Charles McFeters, a mulatto. The first postoffice was kept in Darbyville in 1827, Rev. George Ambrose being the first postmaster. Before the office was opened the residents of the town went to Circleville for their mail. The present postmaster is James A. Miller. It has been reported that the postoffice is to be discontinued, on account of rural free delivery. The present officers of the corporation of Darbyville are as follows : Mayor, P. C. Thomas; marshal, Walter Girton; clerk, C. E. Hill; treasurer, Ezra Hill; Council--G. W. Miller, Jacob Bennett, Dr. Joseph B. Justice, Charles W. Davis, S. G. Girton and John Sines. The streets are lighted with six, patent gasoline lamps. The business houses of the village are as follows : George W. Miller, P. C. Thomas, James A. Miller and Davis & Moore, general merchandise; Everett Brown and Millward Gulick, meat markets; Mrs. E. N. Devany, millinery; Henry Radcliff, hotel; Charles Neff and Marion Stonerock, blacksmiths; Ezra Hill, dealer in agricultural implements of all kinds, wagons, carriages, etc. ; S. G. Girton, sawmill (also grinding grain and feed) ; and Bowman & Snyder, undertakers (also with an office at Mount Sterling). The population of the town in 1900 was 250.
PHERSON
Is a small settlement of about 35 population, located in the southern corner of Muhlenberg township. District School No. 1, a brick structure with shingle roof, is located here; also the Pherson M. E. Church. I. A. Pherson conducts a general store and John J. McLaughlin, a blacksmith shop. The latter is also a veterinary surgeon.