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CHAPTER XII.

PERRY TOWNSHIP.

BOUNDARIES - WATER - COURSES - PIONEERS - RUN TING GROUNDS- WESTCHESTER WILMINGTON - MILLS - CHURCHES - TOWNSHIP MAGISTRATES.

PERRY TOWNSHIP occupies the southeast corner of Tuscarawas County. Guernsey County bounds it on the south and Harrison on the east; Rush Township bounds it on the north, and Washington on the west. It consists of Township 5, Range 1, of the United States Military District, and is five miles square. It is composed entirely of Congress land. The township was formed from Oxford Township and named Perry, at a session of the County Commissioners held August 11, 1818, in compliance with a petition presented by Robert Johnson. Its original limits included, besides Township 5, Range 1, a strip two miles wide off the east side of Township 5, Range 2, now in Washington Township. The erection of Washington in 1827 reduced Perry to its present size. The inhabitants of the newly formed Perry were directed to hold an election for township officers on the last Saturday of August, 1818, at the house of Robert Johnson, of Westchester.

Perry is isolated to a great extent from other portions of the county not only by distance, but by rough and hilly roads. No large streams have a place within its bounds to break by broad, sweeping valleys the rugged contour of the surface. Fallen Timber Creek crosses eastward through the northernmost tier of sections. It received its name from the adjoining ridge, where a severe local storm, about 1828, had swept to the earth much of the standing timber. Laurel Creek takes its origin in the southwest part of the township, and flows northeasterly. It received its name from the multiplicity of laurel which grow upon its banks. About half way across the township it is met by the waters of a small stream called Phillips Fork, flowing from the northwest. A tradition ascribes the following origin to the name. In times before the forests here were disturbed by the woodman's ax, and when hostilities were rife between the white and red men, Joseph Huff and a Mr. Phillips, while hunting, were discovered by a band of savages, who immediately gave chase. Huff was fleet, and outran his pursuers; but his unfortunate companion was captured and killed near the mouth of the run which now bears his name. In the extreme southeastern part of Perry is Atkinson Creek, which has an easterly course. It is stated that a Mr. Atkinson once killed a bear here, and that this exploit has invested the stream with his name. The soil in the highest ridges is sandy, and chestnut the prevailing timber; but on the lower hills a clay soil is found and oak predominates, intermixed with the general variety of woods found in this region.

The earliest settlers as a rule did not remain long in this locality. The rugged ;hills could tempt only those whose means were insufficient to locate in lands more favorably situated Many came, and after a brief residence sold out and migrated farther toward the setting sun. The settler often found his way here with all his worldly goods packed on a horse, or in a cart drawn by a team of horses or yoke of oxen. The first settlements were made in the southeastern portion of the township. The first settler was John Cadwallader,

620 - HISTORY OF TUSCARAWAS COUNTY.

who entered the south half of Section 20, it is said, about 1808. He was of the Quaker faith, and was accompanied by three adult sons-John. Joseph and David. He is described as a moral, temperate man, obliging, truthful, and capable of giving good advice. He was influential among the primary settlers of Perry, and in the matter of township officers, it is said, secured the election of any one by simply nominating him for the office. John Cadwallader built the first house in the township. kept the first hotel, was first Postmaster and elected the first Clerk. At the first election, it is said, but seven votes were cast.

The next settlers were John Wilson. Ephraim Sears, John Sharron and Samuel Boston. John Wilson hailed from the Emerald Isle: owned the west half of the northwest quarter of Section 19. He died on the farm in old age. Ephraim Sears emigrated from Lancaster County, Penn. He owned 141 acres in the southeast quarter of Section 14, was a prominent man, an early Justice of the Peace, and migrated to Missouri. Joseph Sharron also came from Pennsylvania and died on his farm. Samuel Boston was a native of Scotland, and lived in Perry Township from the time he entered until he died.

In 1820, the following residents, in addition to several of the above, were paying taxes on real estate in this township: Elias Brewer, six acres in southeast quarter of Section 20, at Westchester; Robert Johnson, three acres in the same quarter section; Thomas McCready, two acres in the same quarter section; Samuel Maires, 118 acres in the southeast quarter of Section 19; Thomas Shannon, who entered and owned the northwest quarter of Section 17; Israel Wilson, two acres in the southeast quarter of Section 211; John Williams, who entered and then owned the southeast quarter of Section 21; Edward Ware, fifteen acres, and Jacob Yantis, eighteen acres, in the southeast quarter of Section 20.

The tax duplicate for 1826 exhibits the following as owners of land in that year. As Congress land was not taxable until five years after entry, this property was all entered in 1821 or prior thereto. The land mentioned above is omitted here. Nathaniel Ayres, part of the southwest quarter of Section 11 and the east half of the northwest' quarter of Section 20, 212 acres; Samuel Boston, the west half of the southwest quarter of Section 13; William Barcus, the southwest quarter of Section 14: David Burgess, the east half of the southwest quarter of Section 16; Joshua Swain, the northwest quarter of Section 21; William and Hugh Conley, the southwest quarter of Section l5; John Carver's heirs, the southeast quarter of Section 17; John Cook. two acres in Westchester; Thomas Carver, the east half of the northeast quarter of Section 21; Jacob Gitchell, 113 acres in Section 20; Samuel Gilpin's heirs, the southwest quarter of 17; John Gibbon, fifty acres in the northeast quarter of 24; Thomas Holliday, part of the southeast quarter of 20; Evan Hurford. the northwest quarter of 10; Lewis T. Hankinson, 110 acres, part of the northeast quarter of 24; William Hensel, 155 acres, part of the southeast quarter of 7; Israel Jenkinson, the northeast, quarter of 211; Elisha Leach, southeast quarter of 16; Alexander Logan, southwest quarter of 23; Jacob Millison, southwest quarter of 21; Jacob Miler, southeast quarter of Section 22; Neal Morris, east half of the northwest quarter of 16; William Morrison, eight acres in Section 8; Ephraim Morrison, five acres in Section 71; Thomas Pearce, the northwest quarter of 25; John Shotwell, the northeast quarter of 9 and the southwest quarter of 19; Elisha Spooner, forty acres in the northwest quarter of 17; Samuel Schooly, the east half of the southwest quarter of 24; Thomas Taylor, the north half of 23; Amos Townsend. the west half of the northeast quarter of 21; William Wilson, two acres at Westchester; Robert Wilson, forty-two acres in the southeast quarter of 19; Peter Williams, 295

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acres in the southern part of 8; Thomas Young's heirs, three acres at Westchester. Many of the above proprietors were doubtless non-residents of the township. Jacob Miller came in 1816 from Maryland, bringing all his worldly effects on two old horses, besides a cow, a heifer, a calf, a rifle and a dog. His son John still lives on the home place. Neal Morris hailed from Loudoun County, Va., came to Belmont County, Ohio, about 1805, and to Perry Township about 1820, where he died, leaving a large family.

In 1830, when John Dearth came to the township, but nine families lived north of Philip's Fouk and Laurel Creek, as follows: James Wright, Isaac Buffington, John Parks, Joseph Dawson, Robert McCoy, Samuel Schooly, Jacob Livergood, Thomas Linden and Thomas McGuire. Many of the early settlers were superstitious and firm believers in witchcraft. It was a long time until the township was entirely settled. Many of the buildings are yet the primitive structures.

Perry Township embraces some of what were once the best hunting grounds in this part of the State, in the valleys of Laurel and Fallen Timber and the adjacent hills. The hillsides were rough, rocky, and mantled with dense thickets of laurel, while the ravines were covered with a mass of thick underbrush. almost impenetrable. Game could be found here when it had disap peared from the surrounding country. A number of noted hunters dwelt here, chief among whom was Joseph Huff. His adventures with Indians and wild animals would fill a volume. He had hunted with Lewis Wetzel, and was a wonderful marksman. Huff came to the township from Harrison County in 1837, and remained until his death in 1844. He had been a frontiersman in the eastern part of the State, and his brother was killed by the Indians. This made him an inveterate foe to the red race, and in the border warfare he brought low with his unerring rifle many a skulking savage Though eccentric, he was a big-hearted man and a good neighbor, a fast friend to his friends, but the unforgiving enemy of the Indians. He had often ranged the hills of Perry before they were settled, and in several instances narrowly escaped destruction from infuriated wild animals.

The town of Westchester was laid out by John Cadwallader, Jr., in September. 1814, on the south half of Section 20, Township 5, Range 1. The original plat was in the form of a parallelogram, containing 94 lots. The lots are 61i feet wide and 198 feet deep. Market and High streets extend due east and west; Gay, Philadelphia and :Marietta streets, north and south. High is 80 feet wide, Market and Gay 66, and Philadelphia and Marietta 60 feet. Two lots on the east side of Cray. between High and Market, were donated to the public. The town was started while the country about it was yet an almost unbroken wilderness. Remote from river, canal or railroad, its opportunities for extended growth have been very slight. In early times one of the principal western thoroughfares, the Coshocton road, passed through the village, and the place was then bustling with activity. Robert Johnson was probably the first tavern-keeper at Westchester. He first took out a license for this purpose in October, 1816. David Cadwallader and Joshua Cory were other early tavern-keepers. It would not be uncommon in early times for the two or three taverns here to be filled to overflowing with emigrants seeking homes in this Western land. William Boyd and Benona P. Evans were early merchants; also James McMath and Mr. Jenkins. Benjamin Parsons commenced business here in 1830. Frederick Butters was the first to attempt the practice of medicine in this locality, and soon learned that his services were not in demand. Dr. Isaac H. Kurtz, now of New Philadelphia, practiced here successfully for many years.

As early as 1830, an effort was made by the people of Westchester and

624 - HISTORY OF TUSCARAWAS COUNTY.

vicinity to procure the erection of a new county from territory of present Tuscarawas, Harrison and Guernsey Counties. The project was agitated from time to time' and in 1850 efforts were renewed to establish Chester County, with Westchester as the county seat. For the purpose of booming the scheme, the Westchester Times was ushered into being, its first issue bearing date May 11, 1850, with Charles N. Allen and J. F. McGaw, editors. It was a six-column folio, and survived about one year. At present the village of Westchester contains three dry goods stores, one drug store, two blacksmith shops, one shoe shop, an undertaking establishment, a graded school, and three churches-the Methodist Episcopal, United Brethren and Presbyterian. It contained in 1870 a population of 198; in 1880, of 216. It was recently incorporated, and in 1882 G. W. Reese was elected Mayor. The post office is called Cadwallader.

The first cooper in the township was Isaac Wells; the first blacksmith, Jacob Yantis; David Cadwallader was the first Justice of the Peace (while this territory was yet in Oxford Township); Joseph Cadwallader was the first minister; he was a Quaker, but advocated Armenian doctrine. John McAdow was the first school teacher; he taught a subscription school for 50 cents a scholar per month, and had eleven scholars. Charles Clauts was the first tailor; John S. Rank, the first shoe-maker; Isaac Shafer, the first carpenter; Samuel Hoover, the first saddler; John Buthler. the first wagon-maker: John Hines. the first cabinet-maker; Thomas Wilkin, the first tanner (on Section 21); Jacob Balsel, the first hatter; Isaac N. Roberts. the first plow maker; and Epoch Creppin, the first tanner. Mr. Rentoul and Joseph Galbraith were among the earliest teachers. The latter was a graduate of Cannonsburg (Penn.) College, and was a noted and excellent teacher.

Wilmington was laid out on the southeast quarter of Section 14, by Ephraim Sears, September 14, 1815. It consisted of forty-eight lots in the form of a square, with two streets, Coshocton and Market, crossing at right angles in the center. The plat was vacated in 1860, by Charles Galbraith. The village existed only in name, and even that was scarcely known beyond the farm upon which it was platted.

The first grist mill in the township was a horse mill, started by Hugh McAdow about 1830. It was afterward converted into a carding mill, which was owned by Chrisly Swatz, and operated by John Cory. James Wright built the first water grist mill in 1831, in Section 4, on Fallen Timbers. It was at first a round-log structure, was twice rebuilt, last owned by Silas Gray, and ceased to exist about 3860. The next mill built in the same valley was owned by Joseph Dicks. Mr. Porter built the third on Laurel Creek in Section 18. Joseph McCue still owns and operates it occasionally. James McCue built another just below. Bazil Longsworth erected one in the southeast corner of the township. and Zachariah Shannon now has one in Section 18. The first saw mill was built by Disbury Johnson on Section 12. About ten have since been operated in the township.

The first religious society was of the Methodist Protestant persuasion. After worshiping in private houses, the class about 1838, built on Henry Gardner's place, in the southwest quarter of Section 12, a small log meeting house, known as the High Hill Church. It had a mud-daubed interior. seats made of split chestnut poles, no pulpit. but a platform instead, withal a typical pioneer structure. Among the early members were David and John Gardner and Nathan Meeks, Sr. The society did not attain a great numerical strength, and in a few years perished.

Hoagland's Chapel is the only Methodist Protestant Church now existing in the township. It stands near the center of Section 8. was erected about ten years ago, and named in honor of Rev. Hoagland, who was preaching on

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this circuit at the time of its construction. A former church was built by the same society about 1840, on James Boals' farm in Section 9. It was called Amity Church. The, society was organized a few years previous. The early membership included I. N. Roberts, Joseph Lanning, Hugh S. Smith, John Meddles, John Parks, Hugh Boals, William Gray and others. After the old building became dilapidated, meetings were continued in Lanning's School house until the present structure was reared. The membership is now probably forty, and the pastor in charge is Rev. Oliver H. Louther.

In the western part of Section 17, stands the Grove Methodist Episcopal Church. It is a frame structure, built about 1865, and superseding a former frame edifice which occupied the same site, and was destroyed by fire. The society is quite an old one, and numbered among its pioneer members Job Gilpin, Samuel Gilpin, Elisha Spooner, Jonathan Roberts and Zachariah Shannon. It belongs to the Mineralsville Circuit, which includes this and the Westchester Churches in this township, Newton and West Union in Washington Township, and one in Guernsey County. The present membership of the Grove society is about fifty. Rev. John Knight is pastor.

The Methodist Episcopal society at Westchester is in a flourishing condition, and is now in possession of its second house of worship, a substantial frame structure, built about twelve years ago. Its predecessor was also a frame building, and the first church built in Westchester. Early leading members were John McGuire, William Fleming, Mr. Stevenson, Mr. Hart and others.

In the northern part of Section 3, the Perry Presbyterian Church flourished a few years ago. The building was erected about 1848. The society was organized and has held services some time before in private houses, at William McCullough's (the northwest quarter of Section 5), and elsewhere. The early membership included in its list Robert McCoy, Richard Parker, Richard Moore, Henry Linard and Alexander Parker. Rev. Neely of Uhrichsville and Rev. Samuel Patterson. of Deerville, Harrison County, were the regular pastors Services were discontinued about 1875, through loss in membership by death and removal.

About the time that meetings were suspended at the Perry Church, a Presbyterian Church congregation was organized at Westchester, and a neat frame building soon after erected. It is still in a prosperous condition.

The United Brethren Churches of this township owe their origin to a camp meeting, conducted, about 1835, by Rev. James McGaw. From that time services were regularly held at the house of John Dicks, on Laurel Creek, until 1837, when the Mount Carmel United Brethren Church was built in the east ern part of the township. It is a frame structure, 30x44 feet in size. The early members here were John Dicks, Imes Dicks, Mr. Moore and Mr. Hinton. Zera Davidson is the only member now living who was contemporaneous with these founders of the church. The early ministers were Revs. Sewell Briggs, the McGaws, Samuel Long, Jacob Brill, Abram Lemasters, Asbery and William Simpkins, Revs. Paxton, Sherman and others. The society remains active and flourishing.

The society at Westchester was organized with fourteen members, at the house of John Paulls, in 1851 or 1852. Services were held at Mr. Milleson's, and in 1853 the house which is used to-day was built at a cost of $400 in money and additional work. Bishop J. Weaver, D. D., their Presiding Elder in the Muskingum Annual Conference, preached the dedicatory sermon. The pastors have been the same as have ministered at Mount Carmel, except Rev. J. R. Shipler, who was pastor in charge at the time of dedication. Early members were John Miller, Daniel Swain, who still survive. and Thomas

626 - HISTORY OF TUSCARAWAS COUNTY.

Horn, deceased. The parsonage, a neat frame building, stands in Westchester.

The township magistrates of Perry have been as follows: Robert Johnson, 1818; David Cadwallader, 1820; Ephraim Sears, 1823; David Cadwallader, 1823; Hugh McAdoo, 1826; William Sharron, 1828; Joshua Cory, 1828: Ephraim Sears, 1830; Benoni P. Evans, 1831; Joshua Cory, 1832; Isaac N. Roberts, 1833; Ephraim Sears, 1835; Isaac N. Roberts, 1836; Benjamin P. Ferguson, 1836; William Boyd, 1836; Joseph Lanning, 1839; Ephraim Sears, 1839; Joseph Sharron, 1840: John O. Cory, 1842; Thomas McGuire, 1842; Joseph Sharron, 1843; William Boyd, 1844; James McCue, 1845; Thomas DIcGuire, 1845; Joseph Sharron, 1846; James McMath, 1847; Thomas McGuire, 1848; Joseph Sharron, 1849: James McMath, 1850; Thomas McGuire. 1851; Joseph Sharron, 1852; Thomas Horn, 1853; Clark Conwell, 1853: Thomas DIcGuire, 1854; Adam Timmerman, 1854; Thomas Horn, 1856; Thomas McGuire, 1857; Benjamin Wright, 1857; Thomas Horn. 1859; Thomas McGuire, 1860; Benjamin Wright, 1860; Thomas Horn, 1862: Thomas McGuire, 1863; Isaac G. Spech, 1865; John M. Parks, 1867: Thendas Randall. 1868; Harrison Miller, 1870; George Bear, 1871, Harrison Miller, 1873; George Bear, 1874; J. M. Parks, 187 5: John C. Donabey, 1877 : T. J. Murphy, 1878; J. C. Donahey, 1880; Francis R. Berkshire, 1881; George Bear, 1881; George Bear, 1883.