HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY. - 651

CHAPTER LXVII

CLEAR CREEK TOWNSHIP.*

ITS FORMATION, BOUNDARIES AND PHYSICAL FEATURES - ANTIQUITIES - EARLY SETTLERS AND SETTLEMENTS - MILLS - CHURCHES - SCHOOLS - SAVANNAH

PRIOR to June 4, 1816, Mifflin Township was eighteen miles long, from north to south, and six miles wide. At that date, two-thirds of this territory, being the northern part, was organized into a township called Milton. This territory was again divided by a line through the center, east and west, October 15, 1818, and the north half called Clear Creek. Thus Clear Creek was formed out of the north half of Milton, at the date above mentioned, and was originally six miles square. Upon the formation of Ashland County in 1846, Clear Creek was again divided, four tiers of sections on the east being included in Ashland County, the other two tiers remaining in Richland. This last division reduced the township to its present dimensions-four by six miles. That part of it which remained in Richland was enlarged and called Butler. Clear Creek was surveyed and subdivided into sections in 1807, by Maxfield Ludlow, who, with James Hedges, surveyed a large part of the country in this vicinity. Ruggles Township lies immediately north of it, and Orange east. The southern part of the township is described by the surveyor as second rate; other parts, however, as fine farming land. It was originally covered with all the different species of hard wood.

The center of this township forms the dividing ridge between the head-waters of the Mohican and those of the Vermillion Rivers, the latter stream rising in a beautiful little lake that lies near the eastern center of the township, on Sections 13 and 14, called Savannah

* Now to Ashland County, formerly in Richland.

Lake. The surveyor found this lake bearing northwest and southeast, and two Indian trails leading in the same general direction across the township-one bordering the lake on the south, and the other north of the lake, crossing. the northeast corner of the township.

Clear Creek possesses more relics for the archaeologist than any township in Ashland County. The nature of the soil in the valleys enabled the Mound-Builders to erect earthworks; the remains of some of which are yet visible. When Mr. John Bryte settled on Section 26, nearly half a century ago, he found an earthwork, in shape a square, very few of this shape being found in Ohio. The east and west sides were about three hundred feet, and the north and south sides two hundred feet long. At that time, the banks were about three feet high, and twenty feet wide at the base; large trees were growing upon them. There was a gateway upon the southwest side, leading to a fine spring. The plow has nearly obliterated the ancient work. Half a century ago, when Mr. Thomas Sprott settled on Section 35, he found a very old and curiously constructed mound. It stands in the midst of a ten-acre field, a large elevation of ancient glacial drift, composed of rounded, well-worn bowlders, gravel, sand and light loam; lifts its head about one hundred and twenty feet above the surrounding valleys. The country around differs from it in soil. The surface on the top, from north to south, is about one hundred and twenty-five feet long, and from east to west, about one hundred feet, and level, with the exception of two mounds about twenty-four feet. apart,

652 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

nearly four feet high and thirty feet at the base, which stood on the top of this hill at the time Mr. Sprott came. Large trees were growing upon and around the mound, which must have been centuries old. For many years after he came, there was yet a small trench around the south of the mound. His curiosity being excited, he at one time dug down about five feet, and came upon a lot of stones curiously piled over a lot of human bones. While removing these, he came upon about a peck of Indian red paint, which he removed and found a. large collection of bones in a tolerable state of preservation. He replaced the bones and filled up the grave. This was no doubt an Indian grave, and the paint had been placed there for use in the happy hunting-grounds.

The first permanent settlement in this township occurred in the spring of 1815; a year or more previous to this, however, several of those who afterward settled permanently came and entered their lands. The land office was then located at Canton, Ohio. The majority of them were from Western Pennsylvania, Washington and Westmoreland Counties; a few were from Virginia and a few from Eastern Ohio.

The names, date and place of settlement so far as ascertained are as follows: Rev. James Handy, 1815; entered three quarters of land on Section 11, where the town of Savannah was afterward located; John and Richard Freeborn, 1815, Section 10; John Aton, 1821, Section 26; Abel Bailey, 1818, Section 16; John Bailey, father of Abel, 1818, Section 14; John Bryte, 1819; David Burns, 1815, Section 23; James Burgan, 1826 ; James Chamberlain, 1823, Section 25 ; John Cook, 1822, Section 24 ; Thomas Cook, 1822, Section 3 ; John Cuppy, 1819, Section 15 ; Patrick Elliott, 1817, Section 12 ; Elias Ford, 1819, Section 22 ; Isaac Harrout, 1819, Section 16; Abraham Huffman, 1815, Section 31 ; John McWilliams, 1817, Section 26; Daniel Hufman, 1816; Jacob McLain, 1822, Section 11 ; John McMurray, 1819; Jared N. Slonacker, 1824, Section 23 ; Thomas Sprott, Sr., 1823, Section 35 ; Peter Vanostrand. Sr., 1816, Section 35; Thomas Wright, 1823.

Of these early settlers. John Bryte afterward held several offices of trust in the township; was its first Clerk, and was twice Director of the Ohio Lunatic Asylum. David Burns served in Capt. Martin's company of militia, on duty at the block-house at Beam's mill. James Haney was Justice of the Peace, and also, probably, the first clergyman in the township. The wife of Patrick Elliott was the first school teacher. It will be observed that the Rev. James Haney, the two Freeborns, John and Richard, David Burns and Abraham Hufman were the very first settlers, arriving in 1815. The first three mentioned and William Shaw built a keel-boat in Washington County, Penn., where they resided, and, placing their families and household goods thereon, floated down the Ohio and up the Muskingum and its tributaries as far as they could, landing near the present site of Jeromeville, on Jerome Fork, and transporting their goods and families thence to their future homes in the township, through the woods, on pack animals.

The Messrs. Freeborn named the principal creek in the township "Clear Creek," from the beauty of its waters, and after this creek the township was named. These Freeborns also planted the first apple-seeds, from which sprang some of the oldest orchards.

The nearest mills in those early days were Shrimplin's, on Owl Creek, thirty or forty miles south, and Odell's, in Wayne County, about thirty miles distant. In 1822, Thomas Ford erected a " horse-mill," the first in the township. The first saw-mill was erected by Joseph Davis, on Clear Creek, about one and a half miles west of Savannah. It employed one saw, and ran about five months in a year. The first grist-mill run by water-power was erected in 1824, by John Hendricks. It was a

primitive affair, but did a large business. It

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY. - 653

stood on Vermillion River, about a mile northwest of Savannah. A second grist-mill was erected in 1827, by Thomas Haney, on Mulhollen's Run, near town.

For many years the first settlers, though religiously inclined, were not able to erect a church building, meetings being held in private houses. The house of Thomas Ford was a prominent place of public worship for many years; the pioneers-men, women and children-often traveling six or eight miles on foot to attend religious services; lighting their way through the woods with torches of hickory bark. A church was finally erected near Mr. Ford's house, in 1830. It was called "Ford's meeting house." It was a very good church, and would seat about four hundred people. The first meeting held in it was on the occasion of Thomas Ford's funeral. The sermon was preached by the Rev. Elmer Yocum. Rev. James Haney was the first minister, and for many years a prominent man, serving several terms in the Ohio Legislature. The first religious meeting was held in his house, near the present village of Savannah.

The first school in the township was taught by Mrs. Patrick Elliott in her own house, in the winter of 1817-18. Rev. Haney, William Shaw and John Hendricks were among her pupils. It was many years before any school building was erected, the first one being erected on the site of Savannah about 1818. Another was erected in 1820, in the southern part of the township, on the land of Abraham Huffman. The first teacher here was Robert Nelson, and his scholars were Abraham Huffman, Isaac Van Meter, Peter Vanostrand, Sr., Robert Ralston, Andrew Stevenson, Mrs. Treckle and David Mc Kinney. One of the earliest schoolhouses was also erected near Ford's mill.

The first physician is Dr. Cliff, who came to Vermillion (Savannah) in 1823.

The township was a famous hunting-ground for the Seneca and Wyandot tribes of Indians;

they were generally inclined to peace, and did not disturb the settlers.

The first election was held at the house of John Freeborn.

Savannah, the only town, was laid out in 1818, by John Haney, son of Rev. James Haney, on the latter's land. It was first called Vermillion, but more frequently went by the name of "Haneytown," after its founder. Its first settler was Joseph Fast, a carpenter. The first schoolhouse was a log building, erected on the northeast corner of the town plat. Jacob McLain was the first brick-maker and hatter in the town and township; Garnett Whitelock, the first blacksmith. Some of its first settlers were John Downer,. a cabinet-maker; Eliphalet Downer, hatter; William Bryan and Joseph Marshall, blacksmiths, and James Duff, weaver; they all lived in log houses. In 1836 or 1837, the names of town and post office was changed to Savannah; and from this time until 1840 the town was at the zenith of its prosperity; there were three stores, two public houses, and a supply of mechanics, all doing a fair business. It was a leading stopping place between the productive country south and the market on the lake, north. Several efforts were made between the years 1830 and 1840, to erect a new county, with Savannah as the county seat; this failing, the town declined for several years. In 1858, an institution of learning called the "Savannah Male and Female Academy " was started, which seemed to put new life into the town.

There are several churches in the town: The Presbyterian, established in 1833, by Rev. Robert Lee; the Free Presbyterian, organized in 1851, by Rev. F. M. Finney ; the United Presbyterian, organized in 1858, by Rev. J. Y. Ashenhurat ; the Associate Reformed Congregation, organized in 1831, by Rev. James Johnson, and the Disciple, organized in 1830, by Elders David Bryte and Joseph Harvout,