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470 - HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO WASHINGTON. The territory included within the present limits of Washington township possesses, probably, as few interesting or valuable features as any portion of Highland county. The surface is very uneven and hilly, and the soil, though in the main fertile, soon after it is broken by cultivation loses its fertility to a great extent. This loss is principally caused by the continuous washing of heavy storms, which carries the better portion of the soil to the narrow valleys and runs, whence it is distributed along the valleys of the larger creeks, and down the lower Scioto valley. Thus the more extensive valleys are enriched at the expense of the hills and uplands. The upper soil is light, and, when removed, leaves the .hilltops and hillsides composed of clay and gravel, and worn into deep fissures, which, from the effects of storms and frost are long in being covered with grass. As a natural consequence the amount of grain grown must, necessarily, be comparatively small. Many of the present owners of the soil are coming to see the necessity of converting their lands into pastures and attending more to stock-raising than grain-growing. As a grazing country the land is particularly adapted, very many of the hills and valleys being well watered from numerous springs and small runs. Fruit-growing will also succeed well. Underneath most of the hills are layers of limestone, and, in some parts, sandstone, though few, if any, quarries are worked. Like all limestone country, there are many places deep in the hills where the action of the water has worn large cavities and fissures, as is evidenced by the numerous sink-holes to be found in various places, where the weight of the superincumbent mass has settled down, nearly or quite filling the cavity below, and forming, for a time, a drain through which passes the water accumulated in the vicinity. Some of these sink-holes gradually fill in the lowest part and form ponds of water, in some cases of considerable depth and extent: The larger of these ponds might, perhaps, be utilized, to some extent, as fish ponds, with the risk of their being suddenly drained by another sink, or underground passage being opened, by which their contents would find a lower level and pass into some one of the many runs and streams which flow to the larger creeks. This country was orginally covered by a dense growth of timber, the more valuable portion of which has been removed in the gradual settling up of the country. Of this, oak, sugar-maple, hickory, beech, and other varieties, formed the principal part. In the process of cultivation, as the soil was disturbed it was no uncommon thing for the plow to unearth the bones of the aboriginal inhabitants. Many relics of the Indians who inhabited the country have been found, consisting of stone implements—of the chase mostly such as arrow points, spear heads, stone hammers or hatchets, fleshers, and the stone pestles with which they ground or pounded their corn. Places are found where camps were situated, as is shown by the ashes and cinders plowed up, and where the soil shows a marked discoloration from this cause. Many of the branches which go to form Brush creek, originate in the hills and valleys of Washington township; some of. them of considerable size, and containing a variety of fish. SURVEYS. The original entries of land situated wholly, or in part, within the present limits of Washington, were made by Barrere, No. 10,670; Hoops, 2,334; Biddle, 1,135; Gillison, 584; Snead, 6,406; Massie, 4,638 and 6,4o1; Bernard, 3,757; Clemson, 2,770, 2,771, and 2,769; Leitch, 1,996; Hawkins, 1,637; Tannyhill, 1,326; Means, 2,739 and 3,015; Marks, 1,521; N. Massie, 14,355 SETTLEMENT. James Carlisle removed from Chillicothe (where he settled in 1800) to this county, in 18o5, and located in the northeast part of Washington township. He was the first settler who raised and manufactured tobacco in the county. His brand became very popular, and was generally used throughout southern Ohio. George, John, and Gus. Richards settled near by, several years previous to the arrival of Mr. Carlisle. Walter Craig and Michael Metzgar had also settled on Rocky fork, not far distant. George Richards cleared a farm two miles north of Berryville, where he lived many years, serving his township as justice of the peace. John Richards lived two miles east of Berryville, and was one of the early county treasurers. Terah and Robert Templin were members of the original party of twenty-six, who settled in Chillicothe and Station Prairie in 1796. They drove through a team of oxen for General Massie, and for their services received each one out and two in-lots in Chillicothe. Robert left the new settlement in 1800 or 18o1, and came to Highland county, locating in the south part of Liberty township, on the waters of Rocky fork, where he passed his life. Terah Templin remained in and near Chillicothe a few years, and from there went to Oldtown, where he also remained a few years. In 1804 he was married to Esther, HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO - 471 daughter of James Wilson, who was one of the first settlers on the Pickaway plains. He came to Highland county in 18or, while still a single man, and settled on the farm adjoining his brother Robert, in Washington township, where he brought his young bride. He raised a family of nine children, who arrived at years of maturity, and of whom all but one raised families. His eldest son, John W., settled in the western part of what is now Marshall township, in 1826, and in 1834 he located on the same place, while John removed to Indiana. Mr. Templin and his wife remained in Marshall during the remainder of their lives, and died in 1856. He was an early member of the Presbyterian church, and after the organization of the congregation at Marshall was made a ruling elder, which office he held until his death. Another early settler in Washington township in r8o6, was William Murphin, who moved in and built a cabin some two miles east of the present town of Berryville, on land which is still known as the "old Murphin place." The same year Frederick Fraley moved in from the Pee Pee bottoms, and settled about four miles southeast of Hillsborough, where his son John had purchased a farm and made some improvements the previous year. Soon after Mr. Fraley's arrival he opened a blacksmith shop, which was the first regular smith shop on Rocky Fork. He was a good workman, and made many of the axes used by the early settlers. He was county coroner in 1807, and afterwards served several years as justice of the peace. His home was situated on land now owned by James Miller, where he lived until an old man, when he went to live with his son-in-law, and there died. Jeremiah Smith came into the country at the same time as the Fitzpatricks, in 1805, and settled in the north part of what is now Washington township, and not far from Rocky Fork. He was a teamster, owned land, and a part of the time worked at the cabinet business. Mr. Scott, in his "Historical Sketches of Highland County," says: "The first coffin made on Rocky Fork that we have any information of, was made for George Weaver, in the winter of 1806. Jeremiah Smith was the undertaker, being a pretty good carpenter and cabinet-maker, but owing to the fact that there were no saw-mills yet established in the county, he had no plank, nor could he get any. So he was obliged to split the lumber out of a walnut log. In dressing down this material, Esther and Nancy Fitzpatrick, in the spirit characteristic of the pioneer girls, assisted him. They worked nearly all night at it, in order to have it ready by the hour appointed for the burial." Matthew Creed, a veteran of the Revolutionary war, and a great hunter and Indian spy in the troublous times of western Virginia, came with his large family from Monroe county, Virginia, and bought out Terah Templin in the fall of 1806. He lived near his old friend and brother-in-law, James Fitzpatrick, in the Rocky Fork country, where he built a small horse-mill. Before this time the settlers had been obliged to take their grain to Porter's horse-mill beyond New Market. Creed's mill was in use some twenty years, and proved a great convenience. "The first wheat ground on the upper Rocky Fork was ground at this mill. He was not prepared for bolting the flour, but procured enough bolting cloth from Chillicothe to cover an ordinary sieve, and fastened it to the hoop of one. When any one took wheat to the mill one of the girls, or his wife, had to go along and sift the flour. The name, at that day, for this substitute for a bolt, was a sarth." Mr. Creed was a good hunter, and game was abundant, yet he did not pass much time in the woods. He built a turkey pen of logs or rails, and covered it over with the same material. He then dug a trench deep enough for the game to pass under the base of the pen, and after sprinkling corn about in the vicinity and making a trail of the same kind leading through the trench into the pen, the trap was set. In this pen he caught many turkeys, who, after they had picked up the corn, instead of passing out by the place in which they entered, always looked upward for a place of escape. Thomas John bought land in the south part of the township about 1807 or 1808. In or about 1812 he built a mill and distillery on a tributary of Brush creek, which he kept in operation some years. Matthew McCarty run the distillery for some time after John and family sold the property. Joseph Eyler, a wealthy man, settled in Washington township in 1818 or 182o. Soon after this time he started a distillery, which he kept in operation some six or eight years, during which time he made money. He bought his property from Enos Johnson. Mr. Eyler sold his business, which soon run down, and removed to Fin- castle, where he died. One of the oldest men now living in Washington township is Zimri Manker, a son of Jacob Manker, who came from Berkeley county, Virginia, in 1811. He first settled in Belmont county, where he remained some four years, when he removed to Hocking county, and lived for a short time on the road from Lancaster to Newark. In 1816 he removed to Highland county, and leased land belonging to Mrs. Pusey, on Rocky Fork, where he remained three years. He went from there to land now owned by Jacob Duckwall, and afterward bought a farm near Samantha, where he died. He had three sons and three daughters. Of the sons, Jacob owns the home farm. Jeremiah was buried January 1, 1880. Zimri learned the blacksmith trade in 1819, and worked at that business in Hillsborough forty-eight years. He then passed a year in Indiana, after which he returned and bought a small farm in the north part of the township, where he lives with his son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. John Bales. Mitchell, George, and Elias Boatman came to this vicinity before 1812, and settled one and one-fourth miles west of Berryville. The former remained in the township until an old man, when he removed to near New Market, where he died, leaving no family. Elias lived here many years, but finally removed to the west. His son George is now living in this county. Jacob Weaver was an early settler at the cross roads, near Prospect church, where he lived and died. Jonas Likens located on the land now owned by Fran- 472 - HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO. cis Stewart, near Berryville, where he passed his days. William Higgins, jr., came from. Virginia, with his family, in 1816, and settled about two miles north of Berryville, and west of the present pike nearly or quite half a mile. Here he cleared a farm and raised a family of twelve children, all of whom remained in the vicinity many years. Four are buried in Prospect church grounds, and one at Pleasant Hill. Four sons went to the west, where they are still living. Two daughters now live in Darke county, and one, Mrs. J. M. Chaney, in Hillsborough. The old homestead in now owned by Mr. Willett. The father of William Higgins, jr. came to the county a few years later, and settled near Smith's mills, in Jackson township. Mr. Higgins, jr., was by trade a brick and stonemason, and worked at this business during his lifetime, besides conducting his farm. James Kelley, who has been a resident of this township for many years, and lives near Berryville, came to the county from Ross county, in 1803. His father, Ezekiel Kelley, settled near Rocky fork, in Liberty township, where he passed the remainder of his life. Of the family of fifteen children raised by him, but two now remain, Aaron, on the old homestead, and James, near Berryville. Francis Stewart, a son of William Stewart, came, with his father, from Delaware, in 1822, and settled on Clear creek, where they remained until 1827, when they removed to Washington township, and bought a farm of Jacob Weaver. This they sold in 183o, and leased a part of the Buckley land. Francis Stewart now owns a farm adjoining the little hamlet of Berryville. Thomas Bales was in the war of 1812, and died in Fayette county, at the age of one hundred and four years. His son, Nathan, came to Highland county, and after a short residence, removed to Arkansas, where he died. His son, John, married a daughter of Zimri Manker, and lives in the north part of Washington township. John Ballentine emigrated from Scotland to the United States, in 1829, with his father. They remained in New York three years, and from there went to Pittsburgh. They then went to Missouri for one year, when they returned to Pittsburgh. In 1844, they removed to Highland county and bought a farm of one hundred and fifty-four acres, on which he has since lived. Five brothers and one sister came to the county at the same time, as follows : Robert, James, William, David, A. J., and Margaret. David removed to Kansas in 1879. The others remained in the county. Their mother, aged eighty-eight years, recently died at the home of her son, John. The children of the latter are: Mary (Mrs. Z. N. Van Zant), Lucinda (Mrs. N. M. West), John W., who conducts a mercantile establishment, and is postmaster at Berryville; William H., George B., Matilda, and Kate at home. Valentine Roads, sr., came from Virginia with his family, in 1813. His children were: George, Abraham, Philip, John, Henry, Catharine, Mary, and Barbara, who came at the same time. One other remained in Virginia. They settled on Brush creek, where they remained for a time, when they went into Paint township and made a permanent home on Smith's survey. The children all married and settled in the county. George lives at Hillsborough ; Catharine (Mrs. Brock), near Hillsborough; Philip, near Rainsborough; Henry lived and died in Paint township. He had a family of thirteen children, of whom one, Valentine, lives in Washington township, a mile west of Berryville. Charles Elliott came to Highland county from near Gallipolis, sometime between the years 1825 and 183o. He bought a small piece of land, and married Nancy Smith, daughter of Jeremiah Smith. To them were born four children: Rufus, Henry W., Clarinda C. and Angeline. The latter (Mrs. McConnahy), lives in Iowa. Clarinda married John Sanders, and lives in the township. Henry W. lives a little more than a mile west from Prospect church. His father, Charles Elliott, still lives in the north part of the township, where he has a farm. He has for many years worked at stone and bricklaying, but has now pretty much given up that trade. Thomas Renoe and Sarah, his wife, came from Loudoun county, Virginia, and settled in Paint township in 1826. Their sons, Sampson and Thomas, removed to Washington township, and settled a mile and more southeast from Berryville, on farms adjoining. A son of Thomas (W. H. Renoe), is engaged in a general merchandizing business in Berryville. BERRYVILLE. The town of Berryville was laid out by Amos Sergeant in March, 1846. The first house within its limits was built by Newton Allen, and is now owned and occupied by Dr. S. H. Johnson. The first store was established by Enos West, who continued in business until his death in 1877. Mr. Adams also had a store in the place soon after it was laid off; he sold to Allison & Williams. Since that time the following persons, and probably others, have been engaged in business in Berryville: John Siders, Thomas and Amos Higgins, W. J. Morgan, Christopher Parks, Thomas Higgins, Joseph Lemons. John Ballentine bought the stock belonging to the latter, in 1875, and has since continued the business. W. H. Renoe engaged in business here in 1879, and still continues in trade. BERRYVILLE POST-OFFICE was established in about 1847 or 1848, with Bruden Smith as postmaster. He continued in office until about 1850, when he was succeeded by Enos West, who acted in that capacity until his death in 1877. Soon after his death, the office was removed from his store to that of John W. Ballentine, who became his successor, and administers the office at the present time. The first mail-carrier through the township was Zimri Mancher, who carried the first mail from Hillsborough to Youngstown, on horseback. He acted in this capacity one year, when the contract was leased. BUCKLEY POST-OFFICE was established in the southwest part of the township, March 22, 1866, with W. T. Shannon as postmaster, who remained in charge until the office was discontinued in 1872. HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO - 473 The business of Washington township is quite limited, and has been from its first settlement. A saw- and gristmill was built at Berryville in 1849. The grist-mill was a small concern, with one buhr for use in grinding corn. In 1856 Enos West built a larger mill building, which he put in operation the following winter. This mill has since been kept in operation, and for the past two years has done a good business. In 1830 Elias Boatman had a small horse-mill in the township, which was operated a few years. The physicians at Berryville have been Drs. Atwell, Cunningham, Smith, Given, Lytle, Davis, Devoss, and, at the present time, Dr. S. H. Johnson. ORGANIZATION. Washington was organized as an independent township, June 6, 1850, being set off from the townships of Liberty, Concord, Jackson, and Marshall, and bounded as fol- lows : " Beginning in the New Market and Sinking Springs' road, at John Sider's and I. E. Puckett's corner, thence with Sider's and Puckett's line N. to, E. too poles, thence W. to poles, to Sider's and Renoe's corner, thence with their line N. 8, E. 136 poles, thence W. 2, W. 883 poles to the southeast corner of Liberty township, thence with the line between Marshall and Liberty townships N. 640 poles, to a point in Samuel Uyle's field, that being a coiner, thence S. 70, W. 838 poles to Samuel Henderson's, excluding him, to a red oak tree, thence S. 52, W. 479 poles to a white oak opposite Vance's school-house, thence W, 421 poles to the line between New Market and Liberty townships, that being a corner, thence S. 7, W. 318 poles to the southwest corner of Liberty township, thence N. 85, E. 205 poles, thence S. 2, E. 459 poles to the New Market and Concord township line, thence S. 14, E. 680 poles to a white oak (that being a corner), thence E. 278 poles to a sugar tree, thence N. 6, E. 995 poles to the mouth of Henry Waldron's lane, thence S. 820, E. 38o poles to the beginning." Election was ordered to be held at Berryville, Saturday, June 21, 1850. CHURCHES. PROSPECT METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. Early in the autumn of 1805 the first regular meeting of Methodists in Highland county, was held at the house of James Fitzpatrick, three and one-half miles southeast from Hillsborough. The circuit riders were Peter Cartwright and James Quinn, and the presiding elder was William Burk. Cartwright and Quinn stopped regularly at Fitzpatrick's, which was a home for the itinerants. Soon after the first meeting was held, a church was organized, which met regularly at the house of James Fitzpatrick, some twenty-one years during his life, and at his death was removed to the house of his son, Robert. Preaching was had here several years, when a frame church was erected on the site of the present Prospect church. This frame building was occupied until 1855, when the present brick church was erected. The early members were the Fitzpatricks, Jacob Weaver, Jonas Likens, James and Matthew Creed and their families. The membership steadily increased under the powerful preaching of Cartwright, Quinn, and others, and has since been well sustained. A Sabbath-school has been sustained for many years. SALEM METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. As the membership of Prospect church increased in numbers it was necessary to form several classes in order that all could have the benefit of these exercises. When the class was first divided a section was taken to the house of Jesse Chaney, who was its first leader. There it remained for a time, when it was removed to James Stanforth's, where Robert Fitzpatrick became the leader, and where preaching services were held several years. From there it was removed to William Martin's in 1842, where J. M. Chaney was appointed leader. A church was organized about this time, and a year later a small log church was built in the northwest part of Washington township, which received the name of Salem. The present class-leader is James M. Griffith ; the pastor is Rev. McCollum, who lives in Marshall. THE BAPTIST CHURCH at Berryville was organized about 1856 by Nathaniel West and wife, Enos West, Mrs. Mary J. Tannyhill, Mrs. Rachel Shaw, Elizabeth West, Enos M. West, and Samuel Shannon and wife, who were the first members. Meetings were held in a school-house (since torn down), near Henry Storer's. In 1859 or 1860 the church in Berryville was erected and has since been occupied. The first preacher was Rev. Huson, who remained several years. Rev. Daniel Trickier has preached for the congregation some five years, but on account of failing health he resigned in the fall of 1879, since which time Rev. Weatherbee has supplied the church once each month. A Sabbath-school has been sustained for the past few years, but is comparatively of recent origin. THE CHRISTIAN UNION CHURCH was organized by a number of members of the Methodist Episcopal church, who left that body principally because of political differences with members who remained. It was organized in 1869 or 187o, by Rev. J. J. Given, with quite a large membership. The members were Adam Miller and some forty others. Money was raised soon after the organization was effected, and a small frame church, which had some years previously been built by the New Light Church, in Berryville, was purchased. The first preacher in the congregation was Rev. P. P. Wolf. Rev. J. W. Clise was the pastor at the time of the dedication of the church. The building was not finished when purchased, but was completed before its dedication. The present membership is about thirty- five, with Rev. Wolf as pastor. 60 |