(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) 478 - HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO MARSHALL. This township was originally a part of Liberty, Jackson, Brush Creek and Paint townships, and was first set off in January, 1844. Since that time the township of Washington was*formed on the west, which materially reduced its boundaries, until it is now one of the smallest of the townships of Highland county. THE SOIL is generally of a limestone formation, and is capable of producing good crops of wheat. There is also considerable black loam on the lower lands, while the hills are generally clay. It is tilled to some extent, but is well adapted to stock raising. Springs are plenty. THE SURFACE, while not hilly, is sufficiently rolling to admit of free drainage, the dividing ridge between Brush creek and Rocky fork being near the center of the tpwnship, from which direction the drainage is both toward the north and the south. STREAMS. The northern boundary of the township is the Rocky fork, beyond which lies Paint township. Miller's run heads west of the village, and following a northerly direction, empties into Rocky fork. Dead run and Plum run head at springs on the farm of J. L. Hughes, and passing east of the village, also empty into the Rocky fork. In the southwest is Elk run, and in the southeast another small run which heads at a spring on the farm of Allen T. Hiser, both passing to the south until they reach Brush creek. SETTLEMENT. In about 1800 William and Bigger Head came from Barron county, Kentucky, and located in the neighborhood of Major Franklin, the former in Brush Creek and the latter in Marshall township, with their families, where they resided many years, and raised large and respected families. During the summer of 1803 a great alarm arose among the first settlers, caused by the murder of Captain Her- rod and an Indian chief—Waw-will-a-way in Ross county. The settlers gathered at convenient places for defence, one of these places being at the house of Bigger Head, where were congregated five men, two women and four children—namely, Bigger, Thomas and William Head, Anthony Franklin, Thomas Dick, Mrs. Bigger Head and Mrs. Thomas Dick. 1. hey had four guns and two kegs of powder, with plenty of provisions for a continued siege. The house was fortified, and here they remained two days, until word was received that the alarm was false. Wilson Head, a son of Bigger Head, settled on a part of the tract owned by his father, where he lived and raised a family. He finally sold to Noah Amen, and he to J. L. Hughes, who now owns the property. About the middle of January, 1802, Thomas Dick moved from Chillicothe, and built a cabin a short distance east of the present town of Marshall, where he settled down and became a prominent citizen of the new country. He was a native of Belfast, Ireland, from whence he came to this country, arriving in Philadelphia about 1788. He had obtained a good education in his native land, and after arriving in Philadelphia, and finding no business to engage in, he started for Pittsburgh, but eventually settled in the Ligonier valley, in the summer of 1789. There he engaged in school teaching, at which he soon succeeded well. In the succeeding year he married and settled down. On the eighteenth of March, 1791, while himself and wife, with a young man who was visiting him on business, were engaged at dinner, a party of Seneca Indians fired through the open door, killing the young man. One of the Indians had his tomahawk raised to kill Mr. Dick, but seemed to change his mind, and took himself and wife prisoners, hurrying them off to their towns on the Sandusky river, near Tiffin. After their arrival Mrs. Dick became very sick and helpless from rheumatism. Some weeks afterward Mr. Dick had some trouble with an Indian, who struck him without provocation. Mr. Dick, being a man of spirit, promptly knocked him down, which pleased the other Indians. Soon afterward the same Indian attempted to play a rough trick upon him, when he seized his tormentor and threw him over the bluff into the river. The Indians were afraid the mortified warrior would kill Dick at the first opportunity, and the chief sold him to a trader, who took him to Detroit, where he was ransomed by an English officer. Mr. Dick was a good penman, and was employed at the post until he accumulated means to hire a trusty Indian to go and steal his wife from her captors. She was so helpless from the rheumatism that a negro woman, who was living with the Indians, had to carry her to the canoe on her back. They paddled down the river until daylight, when the Indian hid her in the woods, it being unsafe to travel by day. She suffered much from thirst, but the Indian brought her water in his moccasins, from which she drank. After some days they arrived safely at Detroit, where she was restored to her faithful husband. As soon as she was able they started for Erie, HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO - 479 where they arrived in December, 1791. From there they traveled by sleigh as far as possible, and Mr. Dick carried her most of the remaining distance on his back, often being obliged to remain for weeks in one place, owing to her sufferings and the inclemency of the weather. They finally arrived at Pittsburgh on the eighth of March, 1792, and soon reached their home in Ligonier valley. In November, 1793, they removed to Kentucky, and from there to the Scioto valley in 1796, being among the first party that settled at Chillicothe. There Mrs. Dick died, and Mr. Dick removed to this county. Mr. Dick again married, and his son, C. G. Dick, was the first white child born in Marshall township, where he passed his life. Joel Brown settled on Rocky fork, four miles southeast of Hillsborough, in the fall of 1804. He came from Culpeper county, Virginia, and soon after his arrival planted an orchard from which he raised good fruit, from which he made cider. His house and land has long since passed out of the hands of the family. Isaac Stockwell came to the county before 1807, and settled on the land now owned by the Patterson heirs, in the north part of the township, on Rocky fork. He afterwards sold this property and removed to another part of the country. David Kinsely settled on land now owned by J. L. Hughes, previous to the year 1812. He made a clearing and a home, which he afterwards disposed of to 'Squire Hughes, and removed into Brush Crcek or still further south. Peter Moore settled on Rocky fork soon after 1800, where he cleared a farm and passed his life. He was a prominent Methodist, and the first regular services of that denomination were held at his house. He was afflicted with a wen or tumor on his arm, which appeared as large as a child's head. It is not now known whether this was the immediate cause of his death, but at any rate he lived to be an old man. After his death his cabin was torn down and the timbers were taken to Marshall, where it was rebuilt, and is still in use as a wagon shop. A man named Stultz had a small distillery in the northwest part of the township, on land now owned by William Keys, where he worked as early as 1812 or 1815. He was scalded to death by the cap of the still blowing off, and was buried on that farm, but the timber and other landmarks have been effaced and his grave is now lost. John Spargur afterwards settled on this land,where he died. The property was purchased by William Keys a few years since, and is now occupied by him. Henry Smith came from Lewis county, Kentucky, to Highland county, in 1815, and settled about a mile southwest of Marshall, where he bought a farm of one hundred and forty-eight acres. He passed his life on this farm, where he raised a family. He was an earnest Methodist, and the early meetings of the members of this church were held at his house. His sons Aquilla and Henry B., live in Marshall township; another son, John, lives in Boston, Paint township. Five sons live in Iowa. Mrs. Smith is still living, aged eighty-eight years. Soon after the settlement of Henry Smith, William Bousernan came to the county and settled on the south part of the same survey, where he remained until soon after 1840, when he sold to Jacob Miller and removed to Indiana, where he died. When a young man, he passed many years among the Indians, and during his life with them acquired many of their wild habits, which clung to him after he settled down. John Norton settled still farther south, near Bouseman, in about 1820, where he made a clearing and a home, on which his widow still remains. Near Norton, Henry Battin settled not far from the same date. He also made and improved a farm on which he passed his days. The property is now owned by George Murphy. Jacob Wires came into the settlement about the same time, and made a home for his family on the land now owned by Jonathan Barrett. He was by trade a hatter, and worked at his calling in a shop on his place, where he made wool and fur hats. He also bought furs of various kinds which he worked up and manufactured into hats. At that day, this business was one of the important industries of the country, shops being established in many of the larger places. After he gave up his business, William Hilliard occupied the farm for a time. Solomon Blunt settled on the place now owned by B. W. Creed, about the time that Wires came to the country. This place he partially improved, after which he sold it to Mr. Main. It was afterwards owned by Mr. Milburn, and then by its present possessor. Zadock Bundy established a blacksmith shop on a run which empties into Rocky fork, where he settled somewhere about 1815 or 1820. He afterwards erected a small overshot wheel-mill on the same run, which was in use several years. Adam Redkey, his wife Mary, and their children, Nancy, Rachel, Joshua, John, Jacob, Adam, George, and William, emigrated from Pennsylvania to Ohio, and located on the west bank of Rattlesnake creek, in Paint township, in 1808. Mr. Redkey was born in Pennsylvania, in 1763, and returned to Washington, in that State, where he died in 1810. He served some time in the Revolutionary war, and several years after its close married Mary, daughter of Captain Joshua Davis, who also served under General Washington in the same war. Mr. Redkey had no aspiration for worldly honors; on the contrary, he sought that which comes from above. Soon after his marriage, both himself and wife joined the Methodist Episcopal church, and established a place of meeting at their house, where services continued until his death. His son, Adam Redkey, it at present a resident of Marshall township. John W. Templin settled in the west part of Marshall, in 1826, on the farm which was for many years known as the "little pigeon roost," it having been a favorite roosting place for untold numbers of these birds. His farm was located a mile and a half west of the present village of Marshall, and there he lived until 1834, when he was seized with a desire to remove to the prairies of Indiana, which he did. His father, Terah Templin, who 480 - HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO. had settled a few miles west of him as early as 1801, came to the farm after his departure, and passed the remainder of his days here. Both himself and wife died in 1856. They were early members of the Presbyterian church at Hillsborough, of which Mr. Templin had been a ruling elder. After the organization of the Presbyterian church at Marshall, he was appointed to the same office, which he held until his death. His son Eli now owns and occupies the place, and another son, N. Templin, lives near by. John Butters, grandfather of John N. Butters, and father of James Butters, was born in Maryland in 1770. From there he moved to Clarksburgh, Harrison county, Virginia, where he married, and served in the war of 1812. In 1814 he removed to Ohio, and settled in Brush Creek township, Highland county, on the farm now owned by William Butters, where he died in 1847. He was a farmer, and a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was the father of fifteen children, of whom but two are living—Phebe and William. Phebe is unmarried, and lives in Highland county. William married Elizabeth Frump. The following died: Samuel died in West Virginia; James married Elizabeth Curp and died in Highland county; Mary became the wife of Benjamin West, and died in Highland county; George died in Iowa; John married Susan Head and died in Iowa; Sarah became the wife of Jacob Turnip- seed, and Margaret, both died in Highland county; Michael married Elizabeth Zink and removed to Indiana, where he died; Stephen, Elizabeth, Delilah, and Hannah, died in Highland county. James Butters was born near Wheeling, West Virginia; in 1800, and came to Highland county, Ohio, in 1815. He was thrice married—to Elizabeth Curp, Sarah Curp, and Loving. Larick. He served in Brush Creek township as trustee and constable for a number of years. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He settled on the farm now owned by Jesse Sprinkle, in Brush Creek township, where he raised a family of eight children, seven of whom are still living, as follows: Mary A., wife of Joseph L. Johnson, lives in Missouri; John N. married Catharine Zink, and lives in this county ; James married Elizabeth T. Davis, and lives in Missouri; George married Martha B. Cheff and lives in this county; Caleb; Sarah, wife of H. N. Head, lives in the county ; Elizabeth lives in the county; Frederick married Elizabeth Larich, and is deceased. John N. Butters, son of James Butters, was born in Highland county in 1825, and married Catharine Zink in 1847. For nine years in succession he served the county as infirmary director. In politics he is a staunch Republican. He is the father of three children Daniel L., who married L. L. Lewis, and lives in this county ; Aaron F., and Anna L. D. James Hughes, his wife, Hannah, and a family of six children, emigrated from Ireland, in 1816, and settled in Campbell county, Virginia, where they remained until 1825, Mr. Hughes working at the building of pikes much of the time. In June, 1825, the family started for Ohio, with the intention of locating at Chillicothe, but learning of the sickness in the Scioto valley, he came on to Highland county, and settled a mile and three-fourths east of Marshall village, where he remained during his life. When in Ireland, he worked at the business of linen- dressing. He had a family of ten children, seven of whom lived to years of maturity, as follows: Peter L., Philip, J. L., born May 29, 1809; Catharine, Ann, James P., and Maria, all of whom settled here. Catharine (Mrs. Armstrong), lives in Adams county. Maria (Mrs. Thomas Welch), in Missouri; James P. and J. L., in Marshall township. The latter owns one hundred and fifty-four acres of the old homestead, besides other lands, and lives adjoining the village of Marshall. He has served as justice of the peace in the township continuously since 1843, with the exception of seven months. In 1857, he was elected to a seat in the State legislature, in which he served during the years 1858, 1859, and 186o. In 1867 he was again elected to the legislature, and served during 1868, 1869, and 1870. Daniel Delaplane and family removed from Butler county, where he settled in 1821, to Marshall township, in 1836, and purchased, from John Bundy, two hundred and thirty-seven acres, where he remained during his life. He died on Christmas day, 1859. His wife survived him and died in 1875, at the age of about ninety-three. The place is now owned and occupied by his son, N. N. Delaplane, who held the office of associate judge of the county, under the old constitution, in 1851. James B. Thompson was born in New Marlborough, New Hampshire, April Jo, 1783. His wife was Margaret, daughter of Simon Mercer, who was born July 17, 1799. Her father died July 24, 1824, aged sixty-six years. Elizabeth, daughter of James and Margaret Thompson, was born January 31, 1824, in Ohio county, Virginia. Mr. Thompson and his family removed from Wheeling to Cincinnati, in 1834, and to Marshall township, Highland county, in r845. His wife died in Franklin township, Adams county, May 4, 1840, aged forty years, nine months and seventeen days. EARLY EVENTS. The first sermon preached in the township was by Rev. David Young, in June, t 8o2, at the house of Bigger Head. Mr. Young was a traveling Methodist preacher. The first school taught in the township was by Thomas Dick, in the winter of 1802. The first white child horn in the township was C. G. Dick, son of Thomas Dick. The first burial-ground in this settlement was on the farm of Peter Moore. This ground is not now used, but is cared for by the township trustees. There were also many private burial-grounds, but most of them have since been neglected. There is at present a cemetery belonging to each of the three churches of Marshall, and in case of death one of these is used. Thomas Dick kept the first tavern in Marshall, at his house, very soon after his settlement. It is related that Aaron Burr once stopped for dinner at Dick's, but they were unable to make change for the piece he tendered, and he left the bill for his servant to settle. The servant 480A - HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO JUDGE N. N. DELAPLANE. Nathaniel Norris Delaplane, one of the most prominent and influential citizens of Marshall township, is son of Daniel and Catharine (Norris) Delaplane, and was born at their home, near Monocacy, in Frederick (now Carroll) county, Maryland, April 23, 1813. His father was born in the year that American independence was declared, and was of French descent, a farmer, and long an active member and elder in the Presbyterian church. He was also a soldier in the war of 1812. In 1821 he removed with his family from Maryland to Ohio, and settled near Hamilton, Butler county, from which he came fifteen years thereafter, in 1836, to the fine estate in Marshall township, now occupied by his son, the subject of this sketch. 'The mother, Catharine Norris, born December 24, 1782, was of the eminent pioneer family which gave the name to Norristown, Pennsylvania. She lived to the advanced age of ninety-three years, about fifty of which were spent in happy union with her husband, whom she survived for almost exactly twenty years, he dying on Christmas day, 1833, and she October 3o, 1875. Their son, Nathaniel, had but limited advantages of education in his early day, but of late years read and studied much, independently of the schools, until he acquired a large fund of information and thought, and has come to be accounted by his fellow-citizens as a man of unusual intelligence and mental power. He remained at home, assisting his father in the labors of the farm until and after his marriage, which took place November Is, 1841, and was to Miss Amanda Miller. Upon the occurrence of this interesting event, he assumed charge of the home place, as his father was now well advanced in years, and ultimately became full proprietor of the same. In 1831 he was appointed by the legislature an associate judge of the Highland county court of common pleas, and served acceptably in that honorable capacity until the constitution of 1852, which did not provide for the continuance of the office, came into force and effect. His companions of the bench at this time were presiding judges Norris, of Clermont, and Collins, of Adams counties, with Thomas Barry, of Hillsborough, and John Duvall as associates. He was at that time a Whig in his political principles and practice, but subsequently became a Democrat. He has often been offered by his party, nominations for representative in the State legislature, and to other offices, but being no office-seeker, he has not consented to hold any public positions, except that named above, with the office of magistrate in his township, which he held for eighteen years, being unanimously chosen, without opposition, at every election after the first. He has also been a faithful school officer for thirty or more years. Although of quiet and domestic habits, he has enjoyed the opportunities which his wealth and taste afforded to see the world. He was a visitor to the Centennial exposition, in 1876, and three years thereafter made a pleasant excursion with his wife to Niagara Falls. Judge Delaplane lost his first wife by death April 17, 1849, and was remarried March II, 1852, to Miss Sallie B. Fulton, who still survives. He has had children only by his first wife, namely: Mary, born December 14, 1842, now Mrs. Henry M. Huggins, of Hillsborough; Nathaniel Norris, jr., born October 12, 1845, died at Natchez, Mississippi, April 14, 187o; and Burch Delancey, born June 6, 1847, died October 17, 1849. A friend says of him: "A few years since, while traveling, I came to a little valley surrounded by high forest-covered hills. In that valley was a single house. It was of substantial character, large, well painted and in perfect repair. Not a shingle was missing from the roof; no unhinged blinds swung idly in the winds. All around was tidy and well conditioned. The wood-house was stored with wood, the barns were ample, and stacks of hay without declared that it was full within. The soil around was productive, and a high state of cultivation had rendered it still more fertile. Thriving orchards, rich pastures, and prolific meadows occupied the bed of the valley, and the rugged sides of the hills beyond. It was a scene of interest and beauty, and suggested at once the question of their ownership. "What I learned then of the character and history of Judge N. N. Delaplane has been confirmed and strengthened by years of acquaintance and friendship. Judge Delaplane came to this State at a time it needed men of cultured minds and enlarged and liberal spirits, and became identified with the interests of the country, and exerted himself in the upbuilding of those institutions which make men and nations great. " Having a mind enriched by the study of the classics, and gifted with that poetic fancy which paints the future in the brightest colors, and expands life's pathway with the bow of hope, he sought to impress upon the minds of others the inspiration he felt within his own. Being an ardent friend of education, the public schools were to him a leading thought, and he gave them his attention and support, and by precept and example encouraged those safeguards of material and moral prosperity, the education and enlightenment of the people. "Judge Delaplane's social qualities are of the highest order. Warmhearted and genial, a fine talker, he is possessed of varied qualifications, large hospitality, and generous to a fault. He sought and made friends upon every side, while no social gathering was complete without him. Chaste in mind and action, careful of the rights and feelings of others, he at once impressed the mind even of strangers with the conviction that they were in the presence of the noblest work of God—an honest man. For forty-three years, Judge Delaplane has been a resident of this county, and his person and character are known to all," HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO - 481 finally paid the amount to Mr. Barrere, who kept tavern at New Market, and he refunded it to Mr. Dick. Henry Smith did the first tanning in the settlement, but only tanned the leather he required for his family use. A tannery was located on his father's farm in Kentucky, and he there became familiar with the manner of operations in tanning. He cut down a tree, made a trough, into which he put the hides, and kept them until they were tanned. Zadoc Bundy had a small mill on a run which empties into Rocky fork, in 1815 or 1820. Another similar mill was built below this point on the same run, in 1834 or 1835, by Jesse Miller. If allowed to remain idle any great length of time, the upper part of the wheel would become dry, and it would run irregularly when again put into use. Mr. Miller went from home at one time, and left the care of changing the wheel to his wife. On his return he found her lifeless body beside the mill, she having been crushed when applying the power to change the position of the wheel. Jesse Miller then sold to Jacob Miller, and he to Vincent Stargel. Stargel sold to Thomas Bennett, who allowed it to go to decay. A horse mill was run for a few years, about this time, on the place now owned by Robert Cooper's heirs. It was finally removed to the village of Marshall, but is long since gone. A small tannery was started on the farm now owned by N. Templin, some time about 182o, but never did much business. William M. Patton established a tannery in the village of Marshall in 1837. This he worked until about 1844, when he failed in business. It was afterwards run for a time by Matthew Peabody, who sold it to Sanford Williams, under whose management it again ran down. He afterward started another tannery, and after operating it three or four years, sold to John Carper, who, soon after, died. It was then owned by Theopholis Williams, but is not now in operation. Robert and Thomas Baskins had a tannery in the village in 1838, which they operated until 1844, when Robert removed to Jackson. Thomas had previously died. The first justice of the peace in the township was Bigger Head, who was elected to that office at a very early date, when this was comprised in the original township of Brush Creek. At the time of the organization of Marshall township, J. L. Hughes was the justice of the peace for that part of the old township, and served the remainder of his term, when he was re-elected from the new township. POST-OFFICE. The Marshall post-office was established in 1844, with Matthew Sypherd as postmaster. The mail route at that time ran from Portsmouth, through Locust Grove, Bell, Marshall, and to Hillsborough, and was first carried by Ezekiel Thompson. Mr. Sypherd was succeeded by Mr. Griffith, in 1849, and has since served continuously with the exception of four years, from 1857 to 1861. During that time Abraham Grabill served six months or a year, when Thomas Milburn was appointed, but soon gave it up, and Dr. W. C. McBride served the rest of the time. Before a post-office was established at Marshall, the people procured their mail from Hillsborough. MERCHANTS AND PHYSICIANS. Edward Burns opened the first store in Marshall, a small affair, in 1822, or about that time. He had a small stock of groceries, a few articles of general merchandise, and a quantity of whiskey. He continued in business until an old man, but never amassed a fortune. William Wilson was the next merchant, and opened a stock of goods two or three years after Burns commenced business. He was followed by Samuel B. Turner, B. Cravens, I. B. West, and Jesse Lucas & Co., who finally closed out the business. Cravens again engaged in business, but soon afterwards sold out to John Biteman, who closed out the stock. Reece & Spargur opened a store in 1844, and, in 1846, sold out to Hughes & Carlisle. They were succeeded by Isaac Milburn in 1855 or '56, and, in 1858, he, too, closed out his stock. Noah Amen opened a store in 1839, and continued in business, with several changes of partners, until 1858, when he sold to D. Cameron. It was afterwards owned by W. P. Lucas, Lucas & Son, and J. W. Spargur, who died in 1862, of small-pox. William Peterson had a store in operation some three years, when he sold to A. Grabill. The latter disposed of the business to J. W. Spargur & Williams, who, in 1857, made an assignment. Davis, Griffith & Co., afterwards Davis, Milburn & Co., were in business for a time. Hughes & Carlisle bought the stock of J. W. Spargur in 1862, and continued in the business until the year 1871, when they closed their store, in which some of their goods still remain. Miller & Griffith bought D. Cameron's stock in 1862, and, in 1865, Mr. Griffith bought the stock, which he is now selling. He also has the post-office. Edward Head also had a store in 1833 or '34, which he continued a few years, when he sold out. R. W. Watts commenced business in 1875, and still continues. Dr. S. Peabody was the first physician to settle in Marshall, where he located in 1831 or '32. His was the botanical profession, at which he continued until about 1846. Dr. Dixon came after Peabody, and remained a few years, when he died. Dr. Bayhan came later, and bought the business of Dr. Peabody. He was a regular physician, and continued in practice until his death, some time after 1850. Dr. Collins was in practice a few months before Dr. Bayhan. Dr. Sharp was also in practice from about 1837 until 1848, when he was obliged to leave, because of his immoral practices. Dr. Alexander McBride came in 1849, and remained less than a year, when Dr. W. C. McBride came, and remained until 1864, when he died. Since that time Drs. Lewis, Lytle, John Smith, A. A. Patton, J. M. Miller, and Dr. J. F. Blair, the present physician, have been in practice. Dr. Thomas Davis and Dr. S. H. Johnson were also in practice for a short 482 - HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO time. Dr. Myers, a German physician, settled in the east part of the township in 1836. His practice was confined principally to the Germans, and was never large. ORGANIZATION. The township of Marshall was established under an independent organization, January 15, 1844, at which time lines were run separating it from Liberty, Jackson, Brush Creek, and Paint townships, as follows: " Beginning at the cross roads, by Samuel Weaver's, near Prospect meeting-house, and running from said point, as near as practicable, a southeast course to the farm of Aaron Miller, and thence to Brush Creek township." The western boundary lines have since been changed by the erection of Washington township. This township was organized by the petition of a number of residents of the several townships from which it was formed. Other persons objected to its organization, and an appeal was taken from the decision of the county commissioners, February 5, 1844, but the case was dismissed by the plaintiff's attorney, March 5, 1844. An order was issued for an election to be held at the shop of Jeremiah Morrow, on Monday, April 1, 1844. MARSHALL VILLAGE was laid out and platted by William Simmons, June 17, 18r 7. It for some years went by the name of "Slabtown," in derision, the real name at that time being West Liberty. In the year 1836, David Reece, at that time the representative from this county in the State legislature, presented a petition to that body, asking that the name be changed to Marshall, which was granted. The village never, attained great distinction, and the number of its inhabitants has always been small. It contains three churches, two or three stores, a post-office, and some one hundred or more inhabitants. The first addition to the village was made by William and Sarah Head, and the second by John and Susan Butters. Both were recorded December 29, 1837. PROJECTED RAILROAD. A short time before the year 1852 a railroad was projected and surveyed through the township to the south and southeast, and during the succeeding years the grade was made, substantial stone culverts built, and everything in a fair way toward assured success. But the Marietta & Cincinnati railroad managers, fearing it would prove a detriment to their line, managed to purchase a controlling interest, and as soon as this was acomplished ceased work entirely. Since that time the road bed has been allowed to lie idle until the charter has expired and they can have no further claim on the route. The present season a party of surveyors have passed through over the old line, with the intention of locating another line over the same route. Time will tell whether the enterprise succeeds or fails. CHURCHES. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The first sermon preached in the present township of Marshall was in the house of Bigger Head, in the year 1802, by a wandering Methodist preacher--the Rev. David Young. The first regular services of the Methodist church were held at the house of Peter Moore, on the farm now owned by John Grabill, as early as 1816. Meetings were held here until Mr. and Mrs. Moore became too old and feeble to have the care of them, when the place of worship was changed to Lamuel Scott's, where it was held until they, too, became too old to care for the attendants. It was then changed to the house of Henry Smith, in about the year 1826, where it remained some eight years, when it was again changed to the house of Mr. Biteman, west of the present house of Aquilla Smith. At which place of worship the church was originally organized can not, at this late day, be ascertained. The place of meeting was changed from Mr. Biteman's to the village of Marshall in about 1840, at which time a small frame church was built. This was occupied as a house of worship until 1855, when the present brick church was erected. Soon after this the old church was set on fire and burned by a man who had a spite against some of the people, on account of a deserved prosecution for unlawfully selling liquor. Among the first members were Peter Moore and wife, Samuel Scott and wife, Simon Simmons and wife, Madison Head and wife, Thomas Smith and wife, besides others. There has been a large membership, and is at the present time. The Sabbath-school is under the superintendence of Robert Watts. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. The Marshall Presbyterian church was organized in 1851 in a small church building that was erected as early as 1836, for use as a preaching place. Some years previous to that time preaching service was held at the house of Thomas Dick, and at other private houses. It was a branch of the Hillsborough church, to which many of the members belonged, but the distance to Hillsborough was so great, and the inconvenience occasioned by bad roads prevented many from attending the services there as often as they wished. Accordingly, in 1851, an organization was effected by the withdrawal of a number of members from the old church. The original members of Marshall Presbyterian church were, Terah Templin and his wife, Samuel Newell and wife, Noah Amen and wife, Thomas Robinson and wife, Andrew Johnson and wife, Abraham Grabill and wife. Thomas Buchanan and wife, Aquilla Smith and wife, Eli Templin and wife, Mrs. Margaret Delaplane and her daughter Delilah, Mrs. Gillillan, Mr. McCrary and wife, Isaac Lawson and wife, William Peterson and wife, Ann Williams and others. The first regular preacher before the organization was Rev. John Forbush, who preached some three or four years, after which Dr. Steele of Hillsborough, supplied the congregation once in two weeks, during a period of ten years. Rev. E. Grand-Girard was installed as pastor on the organization of the church, and served as such until 1855. He was succeeded by Rev. Alexander Leadbetter, he by Rev. Nathaniel Williams, he by Rev. McKnight Williamson, who occupied the pulpit twelve and a half years. Since that time Revs. John Johnson and Benjamin Lee officiated for a time. The present pastor is Rev. J. G. Galbreath, who has occupied the place two years. HISTORY OF ROSS AND HIGHLAND COUNTIES, OHIO - 483 The original church, a small frame building, is still in use. The membership has varied at different times since its organization, but has never been large. At present it is about thirty-five. A Sabbath-school has been sustained for many years—even before the organization of the church. It numbers about fifty members at the present time, and is under the superintendence of Thomas H. Dick. CHRISTIAN UNION CHURCH. This church was organized in 1864, by A. T. Cunningham, N. H. Lucas, B. Cravens, James Dunlap, Jacob Miller, James S. Carlisle, J. M. Fernow, James Burnett, J. L. Hughes, Isaac Milburn, Harvey Milburn, Uriah Milburn, and the wives of most of these. Two years later, in 1866, a frame church building was erected in the village of Marshall, which is still occupied. The first pastors were A. T. Cunningham and Uriah Milburn. P. P. Wolf and J. W. Clise were the preachers in 1866; the former has served since that time, with the exception of one or two years. The membership is something over one hundred and twenty. A Sabbath-school of some forty members has been sustained for a few years, and is at present under the superintendence of Daniel Williams. PIGEON ROOST. In early days the farm now owned by Eli Templin, and the one adjoining it on the west, was the resort of great numbers of wild pigeons, which came here nightly to roost. The first flocks would return to the roost about nightfall, and from that time until midnight there was an almost continuous rush of birds through the air as they returned to their home. Their arrival in the forrest was often followed by the noise of falling limbs, and the flutter of frightened or wounded birds. They congregated so thickly on the branches of the trees that many of the larger ones were broken off, and .the country in which they settled became covered with a dense growth of underbrush, which was often so loaded with the weight of the birds as to almost lie prone upon the ground. During the period this roost was occupied, it was an easy matter for any person who wished to make a pigeon dinner to kill any number of the birds with clubs and stones. Since the settlement of the country, and the clearing of the land, the roost has been abandoned.