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CHAPTER XIII.
RUSH TOWNSHIP.
ORGANIZATION-PHYSICAL FEATURES--FIRST SETTLEMENTS-EARLY TEACHERS - THE SCREAM OF THE IRON HORSE-LIMA--POST OFFICES-CHURCHES-JUSTICES.
RUSH TOWNSHIP was constituted by the Board of Commissioners December 1, 1828, with the following boundaries: Beginning at the northwest corner of Township 6, Range 1, adjoining Lot 21 in the Gnadenhutten tract; thence south to the southeast corner of Lot 22 in that tract; thence west to the line between Ranges 1 and 2; thence south to the line between Townships and 6; thence east to the southeast corner of Township 6, Range 1; thence north to the northeast corner of the same township, and west to the place of beginning. Its boundaries have since been changed and enlarged principally by accessions of territory on the east. As it exists at present, Rush includes all of Township 6, Range 1, save one and one-fourth sections in the northeast corner, now a part of Mill, and the slight inroad which the Gnadenhutten tract made in the northwest corner, several hundred acres. It also embraces six sections east of this, a part of Township 13, Range 7, of the seven ranges. Of Township 6, Range 1, all is Congress land except the second or northwest quarter, which was surveyed into thirty-eight 100-acre military lots. At the Suggestion of Judge Patrick, the township was named in honor of Dr. Benjamin Rush, of Philadelphia.
Stillwater Creek meanders through the eastern section of the township from Harrison County on the south, to Mill Township on the north. It is met by Laurel Creek, which also enters from Harrison. Crooked Run flows from northwest to southeast across the township, and is joined by Watson's Fork, which has a general. easterly course. There are other streamlets threading the surface in various directions, but none of any size. The land is a succession of bill ranges, rough and continuous, save where they break away into little meadow lands along the streams. The valley of the Stillwater is broad and fertile, and here are found some excellent farming lands, the best in the township.
It was here in the valley of the Stillwater that the first settlement in the township was made. The six sections which form the eastern part of Rush, 19, 20, 25, 26, 31, and 32 of Township 13, Range 7, like those in Mill Township, are a portion of the Dohrman tract. It began to be settled about 1808, and in 1820 the following settlers resided here and owned property: Thomas Archbold, the east half of Section 19; Nathan Adams, the northeast quarter of Section 20; Peter Bennett, the southwest quarter of Section 19; Patrick Bennett, the northwest quarter of Section 31; Richard French,.the northeast quarter of Section 31; Charles Foster, the southwest quarter of Section 32; William Lyons and James Martin, the south half of Section 31; Hugh Nelson, the northwest quarter of Section 32; John Niblack, the northeast quarter of Section 25; Levi Porter, the southwest quarter of Section 20; Andrew Sewell, the southeast quarter of Section 25; William Wilson, the northeast quarter of Section 32.
Many of these pioneers removed a few years later. Thomas Archbold mi-
628 - HISTORY OF TUSCARAWAS COUNTY.
grated to Wells County, Ind., and from last accounts was still living. John, Peter and Edward Bennett were brothers, and all lived here for awhile. James Martin died in Harrison County. Hugh Nelson was a noted local Methodist preacher and died in this township. Daniel Turner was another early Methodist local preacher. John Niblack removed to Freeport, Harrison County. The family of Levi Porter went to Martin County, Ind. Andrew Sewell was an Irishman and died on his farm.
Thomas Lyons was an early settler, and lived in the southern part of Section 31. Daniel Enterling was another pioneer. He owned and occupied the northeast quarter of Section 3, in the north part of the township. Henry Grum owned Military Lots 17, 14, 25, 26 and 27, in the northwest part, prior to 1820. Nathan Griffith, at the same time occupied and owned the south half of Military Lot 5, and John Lambright the northeast quarter of Section 2. Abijah Robinett was one of the foremost residents of the township. Casper Warner entered and dwelt for many years upon the west half of Section 2. in Dutch Valley, as it was called. Henry Stahl settled in Stillwater Valley in 1812.
Mr. Houk, the father of Jacob Houk, came with his family from Wellsburg, Va., to the valley of Stillwater in 1807, and located near the site of Newport. He taught an early school. in the winter of 1817-18, in a log schoolhouse which occupied the lot now used as the Dutch Valley Cemetery. Among other early teachers of the township, were Charles Everett, Joseph Whitney, Mr. Finney, Henry Conwell, Thomas Rankin. Gabriel Watson, Isaac Condor, John Steel, Ephraim Whitney, Robert Ogden, Samuel Lindsay, John F. Hines, Peter Bennett, Bernard Bennett. Abraham Porter, William Spooner. William Crum, William Turner, John W. Lytle and Isaac Blackwell.
The early settlers came chiefly from Pennsylvania. They were mostly unlearned, and many were superstitious. Their life among the shaded hills was isolated from the outside world. "When the Pan Handle road was building," says the Tuscarawas Chronicle," the whistle of construction trains caused consternation in Rush Township. Some thought it was somebody lost: some thought it was a `painter,' and others, more superstitious, attributed the unearthly racket to supernatural agencies. One family had lost a son who was killed in felling a tree. They decided that it was Jake's spirit that had come back, and was screaming and screeching through the woods. One morning, the noises became so terrifying that they could stand it no longer. The old man went out to where Jake was killed to seek an interview with the ghost, and find out, if possible, what caused him to cavort around in such an alarming fashion. A neighbor, who went to the house that morning before the old man returned, found the whole family seated in solemn silence, each holding a book of some sort. There not being enough works of a devotional character to go around, some of the family had almanacs, and every countenance wore a deeply pious look. They felt that the time had come for them to be religious."
The township is, and has always s been. without village or town. The near. est approach to one is Lima, a hamlet of a few scattering houses near Stillwater, on the northwest quarter of Section 25. About 1825, John Tolbert moved from the Quaker settlement at Richmond, near Steubenville, and built a grist mill on Stillwater, about a half-mile south of Lima. In a few years it was washed away during a freshet, and with his two bachelor brothers he rebuilt the mill at Lima, which are. now known as the Brainerd Flouring Mills. In early days, an extensive merchant business was transacted here. Wheat was purchased. ground into flour and shipped by boat down the stream to the canal. A few years ago the dam was washed away and has not since been
RUSH TOWNSHIP. - 629
rebuilt. A saw mill stands on the opposite bank of the creek. In 1833, the first store was started by John Minnich and Jerry Walton. It has been in operation ever since. Lima is on the line of the Cleveland, Lorain & Wheeling Railroad, and the station is called Stillwater. The only present post office in the township is here, and is also named Stillwater. P. S. Jones is Postmaster. In former years, several country post offices were located in the township. Rush Post Office was kept by Lewis Jones, and afterward by Lewis Conwell, near the southeast corner of Township 6, Range 1. A store and tannery were also operated here. Milligan Post Office was in charge of James Milligan, who lived near the present Christian Union Church. Thomas Milligan afterward held the office, and kept it about two miles farther up Crooked Run. A post office called Johnson also existed within the township limits.
There are four churches in the township, two Methodist Episcopal, one Presbyterian and one Christian Union. Pleasant Grove Methodist Episcopal Church is located in the south part of Section 32. The society is quite an old one, the oldest in the township. Hugh Nelson, Mr. Stahl and many others were early members. Preaching was at first held in Mr. Stahl's house, and the society is now occupying its second church edifice, a well-built frame structure. The membership is strong, numerically, and in charge of Rev. J. Beetham.
Kennedy's Methodist Episcopal Meeting-House is situated in the western part of the township, near the north line of Section 11. Thomas Rankin, N. B. Kennedy, David Kennedy and Mr. Hitchcock were among the earlier members. The first church structure was erected about 1832. It was occupied about fifty years, and in 1882 gave place to the present house of worship, which cost about .1,800. Rev. John Beetham is pastor. The membership is not so large as formerly.
The Presbyterian Church, in the southern part of Section 25, near Stillwater, was built about 1869. It is a large, handsome and well-finished frame structure. The Disciples, or Christians, formerly occupied a building upon the same lot. Among the early members were John Laurie, Silas Porter, John Hitchcock and Andrew Sproul. Rev. Cook, from Moorefield, Harrison County, was the first minister. He was succeeded by Rev. Grimm, Rev. I. N. Newcomb and others. Rev. Samuel Patterson, of Deersville, is the present Presbyterian minister. He has served the congregation for many years.
In the western part of Section 19, on Crooked Run, stands the Christian Union Church. A house of worship was first built in this locality by the neighboring settlers for a Baptist society, a somewhat feeble organization, among whose early members were Stephen Losey and John and William Crum. Rev. Gitchell, from Harrison County, was the first Baptist minister. He was followed by Revs. Wood, Thomas Jones, George Jones, Mayberry, and others. This society became very weak, and regular services were discontinued. By permission, a struggling; band of Disciples occupied the house for a brief period, under the ministrations of Revs. White, Grimm, and others. The membership was small, and included Brice Cochran and John Denning. Nearly twenty years ago a Christian Union society was formed, mainly through withdrawals from the Kennedy Methodist Church. David and N. B. Kennedy, John Linard, Matthew Kennedy. Mary Crum, the Vasbinders, besides others, were included in the early membership. Soon after organization, the society constructed the meeting-house, in which they have ever since maintained regular services. The society is not strong numerically. Rev. Shane was the last minister in charge.
The first election was held at the house of James Moore, in the spring of 1829. The Judges were N. B. Kennedy, Lewis Sanders and Pretty man Con-
630 - HISTORY OF TUSCARAWAS COUNTY.
well Michael I. Bennett acted as Clerk. The Justices of the Peace from that year to the present have been as follows: Joshua Davis, 1829; Lewis Sanders, 1829; Lewis Sanders, 1832; William C. Kennedy, 1832; William C. Kennedy, 1835; Lewis Sanders, 1835; William C. Kennedy, 1838; Lewis Sanders, 1838; Patrick Archbold, 1841; Lewis Sanders, 1841, resigned 1842; William C. Kennedy, 1842; James Milliken, 1844; Lewis Sanders, 1844; William Kennedy, 1845; Ezra Brainerd, 1847; Charles Turner, 1848; Lewis Sanders, 1847; Ezra Brainerd, 1850; James D. Huff, 1850; Joshua Davis, 1851; Hiram F. Bennett, 1852; Ezra Brainerd, 1853; Joshua Davis, 1854; James D. Huff, 1855; Ezra Brainerd, 1856; Hiram F. Bennett. 1856; Peter Heller, 1857; John Q. White, 1859; William C. Kennedy, 1859; Ezra Brainerd, 1860; John Schooley, 1860; William C. Kennedy, 1862; Peter McCurdy, 1864, resigned 1865; Andrew J. Wagstaff, 1865; W. H. McLaughlin, 1866; Laffer Caples, 1866; Isaiah Thompson, 1867; Wesley Kennedy, 1869; Wesley Kennedy, 1872; Thomas B. Rankin, 1874; Elza Parrish, 1875; James Barkley, 1877; Thomas B. Rankin, 1878; James Galbraith, 1880; Thomas B. Rankin, 1881.