HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY. - 401

CHAPTER XLII

BUTLER TOWNSHIP.

ORGANIZATION - TOPOGRAPHY - EARLY SETTLERS - CHURCHES - SCHOOLS - LA FAYETTE - MILLS - THE GRANGE - A WOLF HUNT.

BUTLER TOWNSHIP was formed March 5, 1849, by taking the eastern half, which had, prior to the erection of Ashland County, been a part of Clear Creek Township, and a strip two miles in width from the eastern part of Blooming Grove, and uniting them into a new township four miles in width and six miles in length. It is thus equal in size with all others in the north part of the county, having twenty-four square miles of territory.

The surface of Butler Township is flat. No other township in Richland County is so level. It is drained by the Whetstone, the head-waters of which find their sources in the northwest part of the township. In early times, it was wet and uninviting to the settlers, if that part is excepted on the Whetstone, and, consequently, it settled slowly. But since the country became opened to the sun, and the fallen timber all removed, which obstructed the drainage of the surface, it has developed into a fine agricultural district, with a rich, productive soil, well adapted for grass and stock-raising. The timber is chiefly beech, sugar, hickory, black walnut, cherry and oak, with a few sycamores lifting their long arms in the air. In its topographical features, it does not present the same variety of hill and dale as some other townships. With the exception of the Whetstone, but little running water is found within its boundaries; but good water is obtained at a convenient depth by digging.

Jacob Foulks settled in Butler Township in the year 1815, and entered land on the Whetstone. His son Ransom was born in 1816, being the first while child born in the township, The first death, that of his daughter Nancy, also took place at his house in 1818. His son, Henry Foulks, laid out the village of La Fayette in 1838, and kept the first store. The old homestead farm was sold to E. T. Kirk. Some of the descendants are yet in the neighborhood. James Kirk, son of E. T. Kirk, occupies the premises at present.

The first Justice of the Peace was Cyrus Evarts, who was Justice here before Ashland County was made. He was a resident for some time, of the township.

Robert Houston entered 160 acres of land on the Whetstone in 1818. He came from Delaware. In the year 1824, he was married to Sarah Owens, being the first marriage in the township. Their son, John Houston, is now living in La Fayette. He is running a steam saw-mill, and doing' a large business. The first saw-mill put in operation in the township was on the site of this mill, by a Mr. Fairchild, in the year. 1839.

Abraham Claberg came to Butler in the year 1815. His nearest neighbor was Jacob Foulks. Only two or three other, families were in the township at the time. Occasionally, Indiana were seen. His house stood on the banks of the Whetstone. He had two sons, Jacob and Isaac. Jacob still lives two miles north of La Fayette, and is one of the Commissioners of this county.

John Owens was born in Ireland, and grated to the united States in the year 1806, and settled in Pennsylvania; moved to Richland

402 - HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY.

County in the year 1814, and settled two miles below Ashland, and, after living there five years, came up to Butler Township, and entered a quarter of land on the Whetstone, two miles north of Olivesburg, in 1819, where he planted a large orchard, raising the first apples in the neighborhood. He assisted in building the first Presbyterian Church in Olivesburg ; was active in organizing the first school in Butler Township. He had five sons and five daughters; Archibald was the oldest son, and still lives at La Fayette, and is nearly eighty years of age. The youngest daughter married the late Mr. Charles Anderson, and is living at La Fayette. Mr. Owens dial in the year 1842, aged seventy-six. James Laughlin, one of his nearest neighbors, was associated with him in early church and school enterprises. The first school organized in the township was on. Mr. Laughlin's land, and was taught by Joseph Ward, Sr., of Weller Township.

John Wolf settled in the west part of township, in 1816. The Starrs were his nearest neighbors for some time. Mrs. Starr is still living on the old farm, where she has resided about sixty-five years. Her son, Mitchel Starr, is a practicing physician. Mr. Wolf was a lifelong member of the Methodi7 st Church. His house was, for a long time, one of the "backwoods chapels," where itinerant preachers held religious service, long before commodious churches were built. The Rev. Mr. Boardman was their first preacher. Mr. Wolf was an officer in the M. E. Church till the close of his useful and self-denying life. One of his daughters married the Rev. Jacob Fegtly, of the North Ohio Conference. The entire family removed to Iowa about the year 1857.

The first religious society at La Fayette was formed in 1842, and was composed of eight members, viz.: Joshua Ford, Elizabeth Ford, Edward T. Kirk, Mary Kirk, Samuel Robinson and wife, Mrs. George Dancer and John Freeman. For a time, they held their meetings in a log schoolhouse. In 1844, they built their first church, a frame building, at a cost of $500. The Trustees of this church were Joshua Ford and Edward T. Kirk. Edward T. Kirk and wife made a deed, and donated, in fee simple, one acre of ground for church and graveyard. The Rev. John Quigley was the Pastor, and dedicated the church; John H. Power was the Presiding Elder. In 1857, the old church edifice gave way to a more commodious building, of modem style. The contract was given to James O. Hagerman, of Weller Township, for the sum of $1,200. The Trustees were Joshua Ford, E. T. Kirk, Michael Kirk, Daniel Freeman; the Pastor, Silas Seymour.

A powerful revival followed the building. of this church, and the society has continued to prosper. Only one of the original members is yet connected with the society-Mrs. E. T. Kirk. A Sunday school was organized when the new church was built, and is yet in successful operation. The present Superintendent is John Kirk.

There are seven common schools and school-houses, in the township, and three churches, viz., Methodist, Disciple and "Church of God."

The Disciple Church is situated in the northwest part of the township. It was built about the year 1870. Is a commodious structure, 40x50 feet in size. Its principal members are Charles Thompson, Peter Davidson, Thomas Tucker, George Garrow, Abram Crabbs, David Enzor and John Davidson. The Pastor is Rev. Mr. Cline. A successful Sabbath school is connected with the church. The Winebrenarians have a small society in the southeast part of the township.

There is no grist-mill in the township; two sawmills are in operation, owned by Morris & Sechrist and John Houston. The country is well adapted to stock-raising. The Messrs. Kirk have large stock-farms near La Fayette. A farmers' grange was organized here in 1874, and holds regular meetings. The citizens seem to take a laudable

HISTORY OF RICHLAND COUNTY. - 403

interest in guarding the morals of the community. All liquor-selling is prohibited, and other nuisances banished, as far as practicable. Not a drunkard is to be seen in the community.

No railroad at present touches the township. A tile factory, near Shenandoah, worked by Messrs. Whisler & Starr, is doing a good business.

Butler Grange was organized in April, 1874. Its officers are: Master, John Kirk; Overseer, William Garrow ; Steward, J. Richardson ; Assistant Steward, George Robinson; Lecturer, Henry Yockey; Chaplain, R. T. Brokaw; Secretary, D. V. Tucker; Treasurer, Cyrus Evarts ; Business Agent, G. B. Barnes; Ceres, Mrs.. M. Barnes; Gatekeeper, D. S. Dancer; Assistant Steward, Mrs. J. Brokaw ; Flora, Mary Kirk; Pomona, Maggie. Anderson; Gatekeeper, David Dancer.

The Grange owns and occupies a commodious hall in the village of La Fayette. It meets every two weeks, reads essays, collects statistics, discusses agricultural questions of interest, and keeps on hand a small stock of groceries. The Grange is said to be in a prosperous condition.

In the year 1828, a grand union wolf-hunt was organized by the citizens of this and adjoining townships. There were but few wolves, but there were at that time deer, wild turkeys, and other wild game. A central point was previously marked out in a little "neck of woods," the trees blazed conspicuously all round to form a" dead line." Marshals were appointed to manage the incoming lines, fill up vacancies, and prevent the escape of game through the lines. The "center " was near where the village, of La Fayette now stands. The lines were formed about two or three miles back from the center, about 10 o'clock in the morning. Hundreds of people were on the lines in waiting, with guns, tin bugles, dogs, pitchforks, butcher knives, etc. At a given signal, the lines advanced toward the center, every man and boy did his "level best" to make the biggest noise, and, as the advancing columns approached each other, the affrighted game, with heads . aloft, would rush from side to side, seeking some avenue of escape. A number of wild turkeys rose on wing and sailed out over the lines in regular turkey triumph.

When the lines had come within eight of each other and the game was seen flying to and fro, the excitement in the crowd was indescribable. The officers lost control of the men, who commenced firing before the proper time. While in range of the opposite lines, one man had the bark of a tree knocked in his face by a passing bullet. In the center was a little knoll that protected opposite parties. A number of deer and turkeys were killed, but no wolves The writer of these pages partook of a turkey-killed by Archibald Owens on that day. After gathering up the wounded and the slain, a grand carnival was held, and, when the hunters separated for their homes, it was, no doubt, with the impression that it was the greatest and the grandest day since the days of Nimrod.