(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) 286 - HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO HUNTINGTON Huntington township lies south of Paint creek, in Ross county, and has Scioto and Franklin townships for an eastern boundary, Pike county for its southern, and Twin township for the western boundary. Huntington was formed froin a part of Scioto and Twin townships March 5, 1811. The following is a copy of the proceedings of the commissioners : " Ordered that a part of Scioto township and .a part of Twin be erected into a separate township, beginning at the mouth of Indian creek; thence up the Scioto river to the mouth of Paint creek; thence up Paint creek to the mouth of North Paint; thence up North Paint to the upper line of SciOto township; thence with said line to the mouth of Cattail run; thence with a line to include the inhabitants south of Vincent Haller's bottom on to the mouth of Fergus Moore's run; thence with Gilfillin's run, taking the Sulphur lick to the thirteen-mile tree on the State road; thence with Mifflin township line to the line of Franklin township; thence with said line to the place of beginning. Said township to be known by the name of Huntington township. The place of elections to be the house of Charles Mitchell." The first election was held at the house of Charles Mitchell, April 1, 1811, at which election David Murphy, Frederick Bishop and Daniel Chestnut were chosen justices of the peace. SURFACE, SOIL, ETC. The surface of Huntington township is very rough. The valleys are narrow, and the hillsides steep and often rocky. Of the land which might be called level, a greater portion is highland or plateau. Huntington is rich in scenery.. From the plateaus and knobs one may see well over the entire county. The streams of water are short, and hence are for the most part in continual ripples and cascades. In many places they have cut for themselves deep and narrow channels in the sandstone, down which one might leap from shelf to shelf as on a huge stairway. The highest portions of the township are formed in pinnacles, and bald knobs near the central portion. They stand between four hundred and fifty and five hundred feet above the Scioto river. From them and the high lands to the southwestward flows Ralston run to the north, into Paint creek. Indian creek and Crooked creek to the southeast, into the Scioto. Good springs are abundant in the northern and western portions. The Alum cliffs are on Paint creek in the northwestern part of the township. They derive their name from abundant deposits of alum. The alum is nearly a pure article, and was formerly gathered in large quantities by dyers. Saltpetre is also found to some extent along these cliffs, and an attempt once was made to manufacture it for market. Paint creek has here cut a very remarkable channel through solid rock to the depth of three hundred feet, while its width at the base is scarcely so great. The walls of the channel contain numerous caves—some very large ones—which have, in former times, been the hiding places of wild animals, and also of men. The cliffs are crowded with spruce and pine, and taking all in all, a more delightful summer resort is scarcely to be found. Though somewhat difficult of access at present, the place is visited by hundreds every year. SALT WELL. At an early day General McArthur dug a salt well on land now owned by John Dunn. At the depth of forty-five feet a strong stream of salt water was struck. Continual pumping could not exhaust water. Being desirous to get a still stronger stream, General McArthur bored to the depth of two hundred feet, when a strong stream of fresh water was struck. This fresh water rising in the well completely neutralized the salt water, and finally compelled the operators to abandon the work. The township was originally covered with a dense growth of forest, but the tillable land has been mostly cleared. We measured a tulip tree (erroneously called yellow poplar), which stands in Streevey's hollow, near the foot of the carriage-way hill, and found it to have a circumference of nineteen feet, at the height of sixteen feet from the ground. Game of all sorts was very abundant in early times, and the early settlers were nearly all noted hunters. The larger kinds of game have disappeared, but foxes are still found in considerable numbers. The hills of Huntington are composed chiefly of sandstone or freestone, and shale. The sandstone is used for local building purposes. The soil in the valleys is good and productive. On the uplands it is thin, and, to a considerable extent, stony. The hillsides, sloping northward, are covered with a rich deposit of black sandy loam, and are much more productive than those sloping southward. We heard that when Noah's flood came, it came from the south, with the result of washing away the soil from the southern slopes and depositing it upon the northern slopes! The whole township is excellently adapted to grazing and the raising of sheep and other stock. Orchards apple and peach—succeed finely, and the small fruits can be grown in any desired quantity. ANCIENT WORKS. On the property of Mr. T. Minney, on the east side of Black run, is a stone wall enclosing about an acre of HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO - 287 ground, with inner walls forming divisions. The form of the outer wall is nearly a square. The walls are at present about four feet high. To the south of this, about two hundred yards, is a stone circle, one hundred feet in diameter and about six feet high. In the center of this circle is a large stone mound, ten feet high, on which a large hickory tree is growing. On John Dunn's farm, on Paint creek, is a circular earthwork about four feet high, and about three hundred feet in diameter. On the adjoining farm, owned by Peter Hersh, are two mounds, one about eight feet high and twenty-five feet in diameter, the other ten feet high, sixty feet long, and forty wide. At the head of a small branch of Indian creek, on Mr. Vanscoy's land, is a stone mound four or five feet high. A large mound is to be seen on the farm of James Steele. It is honeycombed with fox holes, and is considered a breeding place of the foxes. EARLY SETTLEMENT. Huntington was settled in its earliest history by men who, having lived a year or two on the bottom lands of the Scioto or Paint, removed, on account of the malarial sickness, to the hills in Huntington. William Richie was the first settler on Rolston's run. Benjamin Rolston was perhaps the second. He built his cabin there before 1800. He had a family of three boys and five girls. One of the boys was born in Virginia, whence the family came. Robert, the youngest boy, born in 1804, is still living within a few rods of the place where his father first settled. He has never been more than forty miles from home, and never rode on the cars. His father, Benjamin, set out an orchard about 1805, many trees of which are still standing. He bought his land of Henry Massie. He was a great hunter. He was out hunting one very cold night, lost his way in the woods, and perished before morning. He was found by his friends in Streevey's hollow, not far from where his grandson, Hiram, now lives. Robert Rolston married Maria Taylor. He has three sisters living, one of whom is in Missouri. Michael Thomas emigrated from Pennsylvania, on horseback, in 1796, and settled in Chillicothe. He bought one hundred acres of land, but soon traded it for five hundred acres in Huntington. This land is now nowed by Mr. Samuel Posey. Mr. Thomas was twice married and had three children by his first wife, and nine by his second. Tabitha, the oldest girl, married Peter Streevey. When Mr. Thomas was a young man, he was a spy under General Wayne in his expedition to the Maumee valley. At one time, while out reconnoitering, he saw five or six Indians not far from him, and at the same time they saw him, and gave chase. Being very swift of foot he eluded his pursuers for some time, but they eventually gained on him, and he began to look out for a hiding place. Seeing a large poplar tree, from which the bark had fallen and rolled up, he threw in his gun and crawled in after it. He was nearly exhausted and felt sure that his pursuers would find him. They came and stood on the bark immediately over him. His heart beat so loud that it seemed as if the Indians could surely hear it, and with such throbs as to seem to raise the bark on which they were standing. Fortunately for him, his foes did not discover him nor his hiding-place, but soon passed on. He remained there till dark, when he crawled out and made his way to a point of safety. Paul Streevey was in the war of the Revolution from the battle of Brandywine till its close. He settled in Chillicothe, near where the depot now is, in 1800 ; he came from Pennsylvania; he moved to Huntington after a few years, and settled near the limestone road. He had a family of three boys and two girls. The boys' names were Daniel, Joseph and Peter. All three of them were in the war of 1812. Joseph disappeared in a mysterious way, and was never heard from again. Daniel died soon after returning home from the war. Peter was a great hunter, and had many encounters with the wild beasts. He and Benjamin Rolston went out one day to hunt. When near Pinnacle knob, they heard the dogs barking up a large chestnut tree, which had been broken off at the top, at the height of forty feet. Through a hole in the tree at a height of about twenty feet, they saw something which looked like a bear. Mr. Streevey fired. Supposing the bear to be dead, he climbed the stump, taking a large pole, which he tied to his body with his suspender. When at the top, he commenced thrusting his pole down upon the bear. To his surprise, the bear came up and out and down on one side, while Mr. Streevey made haste to come down on the other. At the ground the bear was attacked by the dogs, and he was soon dispatched with a ball. Reascending the stump, Mr. Streevey found two young cubs, which he carried home alive. The Indians were quite numerous, and sometimes saucy. They would enter houses, and, if no one was present, or only the children, they would take slices of venison and roast them on the coals. On day, while Mrs. Thomas was at the river washing clothes, the house being left with Tabitha, afterward Mrs. Peter Streever, and her sister, some Indians began to make free with the venison, as above stated. Slipping out of the house, they told their mother. She, with a neighbor, returned to the house, armed with wooden shovels made of clapboards, and cleared the cabin of intruders by applying the shovels lustily to their bare backs. Peter Streevey served Huntington township many years as a supervisor. He is now dead. His son, Michael T. Streevey, born in 1807, lives in the northwest part of the township. He inherited a great fondness for hunting, and has been as successful in that line as any man who ever lived in the township. Daniel Chestnut was in the whiskey rebellion under Washington. His father came to this country from Scotland, and his mother from Ireland. They all lived at Portsmouth, Ohio, for a short time, and thence moved in 1798, to Chillicothe. After four years they moved onto the hill, near by where they lived three years. Daniel 288 - HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO then bought from General Massie, on Indian creek, in Huntington township, a farm of two hundred and sixty acres, to which he removed with his wife and five children. At first they lived in an abandoned hut. Then, in a tent made of the wagon cover. Finally they completed a log cabin, sixteen by eighteen feet in size. Daniel, like most of the other settlers of that day; was a hunter. He kept sheep at a very early day, though the wolves were often very troublesome. High pens and well protected were necessary in order to save the sheep. Mr. Chestnut lost at one time forty sheep by the wolves. And the bears would sometimes take a fancy for pork, and carry off a hog. Mr. Daniel Chestnut was elected one of three justices of the peace in 181i, these being the first in the township. He held the office seventeen years. During this time a man by the name of Shears was brought before him, charged with stealing money from a Mr. Ogden while riding behind Mr. Ogden on a horse. Shears confessed his crime, and the 'squire ordered him to jail. On the way to jail Shears told the constable that he would rather take thirty lashes than go to jail. The night was dark and stormy, and the constable concluded that that would be the easiest way to get rid of the prisoner. Mr. Chestnut cut five stout hickory gads, and Mr. Ogden applied them to the back of the offender. He gave a few strokes, then bathed the back with whiskey, while continually exhorting the victim to better ways. When thirty lashes, save one, had been given, the prisoner was set free and permitted to go his way. Mr. Chestnut was for several years captain in the militia. He helped cut the old Zane trace, now known as the limestone road. He and William Richie were detailed a part of the time to watch the Indians in the upper end of the county. Mr. Chestnut had a family of five children. Their names were Daniel, William, Margaret, Polly and Benjamin. William was in the war of 1812. He volunteered the ninth of May, 1813, in Captain William Rutley's company, under Colonel Denny and General Tupper, and started the next day for Fort Meigs on the Maumee. He served ninety days when he returned to Chillicothe, and was discharged. For his services he received eight dollars per month, and, in 1824, a land warrant. In July, 1798, when he was yet a boy, he saw Captain Johnnie shoot the war chief, Toa-willa-wa. The bullet scattered his brains for some distance, on the ground. His squaw was present, and expressed her terrible grief and sorrow by wailings and tearing of her hair. Toawilla-wa was buried in costume and armor. The descendants of the Chestnuts in Huntington have been numerous till within a few years. Henry Bishop emigrated to Ohio from Berkeley county, Virginia, in 1805. He purchased land in Huntington township in 18o6, and died in 1820, at the advanced age of ninety-eight. His son, Robert, was seventeen years old when he came to Ohio with his father. He lived in Huntington till his death, which occurred in 1875. He married Sarah Hill, who came to Ohio, from Maryland, in 1807. They had a large family of children, nine of whom grew up. Two are now living in the township, viz: Robert, jr. and Mrs. Catharine Sellers. The elder Robert was a second sergeant in Captain George Yoakem's company in the war of 1812. For his services he received a warrant for forty acres of land, which he sold to a young man going west. David Shotts entered Huntington in 1809. He was a native of Virginia, and was in the Revolutionary war. He also assisted General Washington in the suppression of the whiskey rebellion. He died in 1825. He had been away from home, and on his return was overtaken by a severe thunder storm. He took shelter under a large oak tree which was struck by lightning. He was found there, dead. His family consisted of seven girls and three boys, viz: Catharine, Jacob, Elizabeth, Margaret, Hannah, Mary, Daniel, Sophia, Jonas, and Susan. Catharine and Daniel are dead. The others, eight in number, are remarkable for their longevity, the youngest being over sixty years of age, and the oldest eighty-five. Margaret (or Peggy) married Jacob Bishop, a cousin of Robert Bishop, sr. Jacob Bishop was a blacksmith and carpenter, and at several times held township offices. The younger Robert Bishop married one of his daughters. In 1808, Mr. L. Neborgall emigrated to Ohio, with his family of six children, viz: Jacob, John, Catharine, George, James, and Henry. He settled in the eastern part of the township of Huntington. Mr. Neborgall was very well acquainted with the hermit, William Hewitt, and often visited him at his hermitage, and he in return visited Mr. Neborgall at his house, and was often quite social, though to strangers he was very reticent. WILLIAM HEWITT. William Hewitt, the hermit, came from Virginia, about the year 1808. About 1816 he occupied a bark shanty on Crooked creek, above Farmersville, on land which afterward belonged to Daniel Shotts. He lived there in the summer time, and in the winter he would remove to a log cabin on land afterwards owned by James Toops. The cabin had no doors or windows cut out, but being on a hillside, with one side some distance from the ground, the hermit had dug away the earth, and thus made an entrance from beneath. He lived here four years, and then removed to the celebrated cave on the Portsmouth pike. Mrs. Mary Hester describes him as a large, portly man, and rather good looking. His clothing was buckskin of his own dressing. He carried a long, flint-lock rifle, and a tomahawk. He was a peaceable, inoffensive man, of temperate habits, a good singer, was never known to hunt on the Sabbath day, but spent this day at home, reading much in his Bible. He had a few friends with whom he was on very social terms, and he at one time and another gave one of them, Mr. Neborgall, to understand that the cause of his singular life was the infidelity of his wife, whom he discovered in his couch with another man. His first impulse was to kill them both. HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO - 289 On reflection he concluded that he could live alone and enjoy himself in the forests. He left for Ohio and never returned, but used frequently to speak of his wife. One morning a well-dressed man rode up to him in front of his cave, and without ceremony said, "Well, old man, I have come to get a history of your life." Hewitt immediately replied, " You leave here quick, or I'll give you a history of hell?" He left. The war of 1812 drew very heavily upon the able- bodied men of Huntington township. So many were gone that it was extremely difficult for the remainder to secure the crops. Henry Miskell, an old colored man, rendered very important services to the people, assisting the women and older children in the work of securing the crops. He was a large, stout man, and worked almost night and day during the harvest time. 'The old men and women of the present day still remember him. He lived to be an old man, but how old he was he could not tell. The following names make a partial list of those who were in the service in one capacity or another: John Cochenour, Peter Streevey, William Heness, Robert Bishop, sr., David Ogden, David Toops, Jacob Toops, Daniel Toops, James Wilson, Stacey Devinney, Aaron Vanscoy, jr., Enoch Vanscoy, John Yoakem, William Haynes, Joseph Haynes, George Grove, Rev. Isaac Murphy, Henry Long, John Campbell, David Elliott, Jacob Day, George Ruffner, Benjamin Smith, George Houseman, David Ridgeway, David. Shoemaker, William Chestnut, William Selby, sr., Daniel Grubb, Larkin Selby, Isaac Jordan, William Lockwood, William Sadler, Hocery McAllister, Jacob Seelig, Michael Thomas, Alexander Monroe, William Chandler, Henry Wilt, Solomon Trego, George Funk, Richard Honold, Francis Kile, Thomas McCann, Henry Strong, George Meyers, Lewis Wheaton, Uriah Hurley, John Miller, Ebenezer Rozell, William Miller, Simon Johnson, Henry Cramer, Jacob Grubb. These may not have all been out at the same time, but there was a short time when it is stated that all the white men in the township but three, were in the service. Henry Montgomery came to Ohio in 1797, and was drowned in Paint creek, in 1800. Among those who have served the township in one capacity or another, are David Murphy, Frederick Bishop, and Daniel Chestnut the first justices. John Mathus, Peter Lytle, John Kilbourne, Benning Wentworth and his son Benjamin, Hon. Isaac J. Finley, Richard Boyer, Andrew McCollister, and B. S. Ruley, were all justices. The following have been trustees: Samuel R. Posey, James Lenox, jr., Abram Streevey, James Toops, B. S. Ruley, Samuel P. Long, Henry R. Bishop, Enos Rinehart, Richard Boyer, Joseph Ringer, and Joseph Grubb. In 1804 Aaron Vanscoy emigrated from Virginia to Ohio, in wagons. The family settled first in Gallia county, where they remained six years. From there they moved to Ross county and Huntington township. His son Aaron served six months in the war of 1812, for which he received no pay, though promised six dollars a month. He even furnished his own arms, clothing and blankets. Some years later he received a warrant for one hundred and sixty acres of land. He lived to a great old age. James Finley, with his family, emigrated from Ireland to America in 1811. They came in wagons from New Haven to Pittsburgh, over the Alleghany mountains. From Pittsburgh they came by boat to Manchester, Adams county, and lived for a short time on the banks of Brush creek, near West Union. They again removed, this time to Huntington township. The family consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Finley, and seven children. John married Mary Wentworth. He died in 1858. Their son, Hon. Isaac J. Finley, was for many years justice of the peace, and held other township trusts. In 1868-9 he was a member of the Ohio legislature from Ross county. Moses, brother of John, was for many years township treasurer. William, another brother, served his country through the Mexican war. He died of cholera in Cincinnati, about 1865. Isaac Finley was a carpenter by trade. Mary, a sister, married Mr. Hester, and lived on the road from Chillicothe to Portsmouth. Benning Wentworth was a native of the State of Maine. He served in the war of the Revolution five years as a drummer. He emigrated to Huntington in 1816. He was the second school teacher in the township, and his wife, Phoebe, was the first female teacher in the township. The Wentworths were very excellent people, and exerted a beneficial influence on all who knew them. Mrs. Wentworth organized the first Sabbath school in the township. They were among the early members of the Baptist church. Their son, A. P. Wentworth, was a justice of the peace, and clerk of the township. Another son, Benjamin, was one of the earliest store-keepers. He also was a justice of the peace. SCHOOLS. The earliest schools were subscription schools, and were often held in private houses when a regular schoolhouse could not be obtained. The first school was taught by Thomas Gilfillen, not far from Rolston's run. Among the early school teachers were also Benning Wentworth, Zebulon Dow, and Theophilus Wood. In the township, there are, at this writing (188o), fifteen public schools, one of which is for the colored children. The children of school age, namely, between six and twenty-one years, number about nine hundred and seventy. The wages paid to school teachers range from forty-five dollars, the highest ever paid, to thirty dollars per month, averaging about thirty-six dollars. The largest school is now in the southern part of the township, sub-district number ten, and could enrol one hundred and eight pupils. RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. Preaching in early days was mostly carried on by circuit riders, and the circuits were often two hundred miles around. As early as 1806 there were regular preaching places in Huntington. It is stated that probably Thomas and Robert Sisseney held the first meeting for prayer, and their houses were among the earliest of 17 290 - HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO. preaching places. Not only so, but they both, on occasion, could and would exhort. Another preaching place was at Richard Honold's house, and Mr. Honold was also an exhorter. A similar place was William Sadler's, and the early preachers haying stopped at these preceding places, then went to old John Fink's house, at Bourneville. Among the early preachers were Henry Phinanders, James Havens, and, later, Joseph Trimble. The Methodist church, on Bishop's hill, in the northwest part of the township, is believed to have been the earliest organized. This church is known as Mt. Olive chapel. The present house was erected about 1838. There is, at present, a membership of about forty members. Two ministers supply the pulpit from time to time, namely: Revs. Elijah N. Nichols and Matthias Batheny. The Christian Union church, which stands in the western part of the township, was organized about 1863, by the Rev. Dr. Given and Dr. Olds. The members were drawn largely from the Methodist church on Bishop's hill. The church is essentially methodist in its creed, and may be regarded as an off-shoot from that church. Preaching is had once in two weeks. Rev. Nathan Eveland is the present minister. About forty-five or fifty years ago, a Protestant Methodist church sprang up. This church was also in the western part of the township. The Rev. Mr. Hughey was the first minister. Among the early members were George Lytle, the Cochenours, and the Rosells. For a long time this church was in a very flourishing condition, and its membership was large. About 187o it ceased to exist as an organization. At Farmersville is a Methodist Episcopal church. It has a membership of about forty members. The Baptists have a church on Rolston's run. William Baker was the first preacher. Among the early members of the church may be mentioned Mr. Benning Wentworth and family, Peter Hess, John Gibson, Peter Cockler, Lewis Wheaton. The church has been in a very flourishing condition. Its present membership is about fifty. Services are held once a month. Mr. Carwin Reed is the minister. BLACKHAWK WAR. During the exciting discussions concerning slavery, Huntington became involved in domestic trouble. During the years of 1838 and 1839, anti-slavery lecturers visited the township, and ministers, whose views were anti-slavery, would sometimes attempt to enlighten the people on their duties in this connection. There arose a determination on the part of some young men, led on by a few older ones, to make it uncomfortable for such as presumed to speak against slavery. They did not propose to tolerate the free expression of such views by any one, and when they heard that a neighbor had said that he thought it would be better for a white girl to be married to a good, smart negro, than to a lazy, good-for- nothing white man, their rage was unbounded. We fear some thought that the inevitable consequence of freeing the blacks would be social intimacy and marriage and intermarriage. The determination to stop the spread of such notions led to the organization of the " Blackhawks." Their officers were a captain, called " Blackhawk," a secretary, and a factotum to carry the jug of whiskey. Their work was begun by throwing down fences, and prying over chimneys, and sometimes ended by throwing eggs, etc. A preacher, stopping with Mr. Howell, found his horse one morning closely shaven, and mane and tail cut short. Mr. Kilbourne and Mr. Saddler found their fences down, and Mr. Howell also, and his house was stoned. When the case was brought before a certain justice of the peace, little satisfaction could be obtained, for the justice was himself Blackhawk, the leader of the band. Of that, however, the outsiders knew nothing at the time. Cases would sometimes be compromised by the defendants agreeing to put up the fence again. But this only gave them a new opportunity, which they immediately availed themselves of, to throw the fences down again. "No abolitionist allowed in this region," was the battle- cry, and more than once the Blackhawks gave notice to certain persons that they must leave the country, and oftentimes those who were thus named left. Some came back after awhile, and some never came back. The Blackhawks had a ram's horn which they would blow when it was desired to call the company together, and with it they could collect together in half an hour their whole force. Indeed, for a time a reign of terror existed on account of their high handed proceedings, and even the sheriff, when serving his papers, was careful to do it in a proper way. But while the organization, its membership and proceedings were kept a secret, the individual members would always appear in court when wanted. They proposed to have their fun and then take the consequences. The case was finally brought into the county courts, and was continued through nine sittings. At the last the fudge gave the plaintiffs three cases to choose from, and if they failed to get judgment on the case they should choose, they were to be considered As defeated at all points and all the cases were to be dropped. A piece of sharp practice was then indulged in on the part of the defendants. On a certain night agreed upon, nearly all the Blackhawks scattered, some going into adjoining counties, Pike, Highland, Pickaway, and some to the farther parts of Ross county, such as Adelphi, while a chosen few, by great industry, committed the usual depredations. This seemed to the plaintiffs to be the best of the three cases from which they were to choose. But to their astonishment every person accused was ready with his witness to prove that on that particular night the defendant was elsewhere and could have been engaged in the mischief. The result was that all the cases were dismissed. The Blackhawks were thirty-five in number. The roll of membership is yet in existence. But the members, now middle aged or old men, are agreed that the business was carried too far, and they could not be induced to go through the same work again for any HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO - 291 money. Some half a dozen of them had money, while most of them had none. Those who had it advanced money to defend the cases in court, and several of them. "invested" four or five hundred dollars. Soon after the cases were out of the court, the organization disbanded, and quite a number of its members sold out or left the country as best they could. The excitement, however, was not fully allayed for many years, and even yet one may run across a trace of ill feeling toward certain neighbors which owes its origin to these earlier troubles. Some years after the above events (about 1845) a school teacher from New York State, Miles A. Carver by name, in some way gave offence to a portion of the community by reason of his anti-slavery utterances. Before the winter was out, the school-house in which he. taught (on Bishop's hill), was burned. It was currently believed that the Blackhawks had a hand in this mischief, but such was not the case. The Blackhawks were disbanded before the burning of the house. " WEEHAWKS." In the southern part of the township, about 1845, there was an organization by the name of "Weehawks." This band was not so powerful as the Blackhawks, and had for its object the intimidation and driving away of the colored population. In a fracas, one of their number was shot, and to retaliate a colored man was shot through the head, while at his work. He lived till he reached his friends in Columbus. His son was afterwards shot through the bowels and died. But most of those engaged in these affairs now regard the business as at least a very foolish business, and regret that they ever had a hand in it. There were no other organizations equal to the Blackhawks for pure deviltry in the county, and, doubtless its members had the moral support of large numbers, not only among their own neighbors, but among the people of the county. They were resisted chiefly by legal methods, and though the plaintiffs often could only guess who the guilty parties in any case were, the Blackhawks now admit that as a rule they guessed pretty straight. It has been claimed for Huntington that it never had a representative in the Ohio penitentiary. This we believe is a fact; but it will be seen that it has not been for lack of lawless deeds. MILLS, STORES, ETC. Huntington has not had many mills. A saw-mill was erected on Rolston's run, which was propelled by water power. A mill is still there, but is run by steam power. It is owned by Mr. Simon Heckinger. A circular sawmill on Indian creek, at "Yankeetown," completes the list. William Keyes erected the first distillery; then Henry Johnson erected one. There is in the township but one village Farmersville. It contains one store, one blacksmith shop, one church. Dr. Archibald is the only physician in the township. CEMETERIES. There are no large cemeteries in Huntington. There is usually one in connection with the churches and there are a few that might properly be called private burial grounds. The officers of the township at present are: Charles Hechinger, clerk; Henry Snyder, treasurer; Francis Brufft, John M. Rinehart, and Samuel E. Rinehart, trustees; Samuel Rinehart, George Hughey, and Archibald Growdon, justices of the peace.