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CHAPTER LIII.

LUDLOW TOWNSHIP.

Birth of the Township-Changes in Territory-Records-Early Elections-A Poor Place for Whigs-Population-The Little Muskingum and Its Tributaries-Scenery-The Earliest Settlement-The "Oldest Inhabitant "-A Governor Without a Subject-Silver Mining- Salt Boring-A Long-lived Family-A Grave Perplexity-First Birth -Early Agricultural Wants and Contrivances-Bark Harness-First Blacksmith Shop-First Road-A House Founded Under a Rock- David Cline and His Town-Abner Martin, the Pioneer Preacher- The Methodists-The Disciples-The Catholics-Solomon's Temple and the Baptists-Schools- Physicians-Mills- Bloomfield-Scotttown.

THIS township derives its name indirectly from a surveyor of that name, who ran the north boundary of the donation land called the Ludlow line. On July 17, 1819, the county fathers established the township and named it after the line that now bounds it on the north. At that time, however, the township extended two miles north of this line. The establishing act, as found in the commissioners' journal, is as follows :

July 27, 1819.

On the petition of Joseph Dickerson, John Davis, and Kinzer D. Jolly and others, inhabitants of the third township in the sixth range. The board of commissioners of Washington county establish the third township in the sixth range, together with section No. 36 of township two, in said sixth range, into a new and independent township and election district, to be hereafter known and distinguished by the name and denomination of Ludlow. And order that the qualified electors of said district meet at the house of Daniel Hearn, in said town, on the fourth Monday of August next, at to o'clock A. a., to elect their township officers agreeably to law.

In 1851 all above the Ludlow line became a part of Monroe county. In 1840 the establishment of Independence declared the "section No. 36 in township two" a part of that township. These are the only two changes that Ludlow has suffered territorially since its establishment. It now contains twenty-two and a half square miles, and is bounded north by Monroe county, east by Grand View, south by Grand View and Independence, and West by Liberty.

As is, unfortunately, often the case, the township records for the earlier political history of Ludlow are wanting. They were destroyed by fire. Consequently, dependence must be placed in the uncertain memory of man for what few early township officers he may chance to recall. The earlier elections were held principally at the house of Christopher Dickson, sr. This continued for a great many years. Afterwards a school-house was used for the purpose, then a log town house was built

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about 1840, at Bloomfield. This was replaced two or three years ago by a frame township house, in which elections are now held.

The early justices of the peace that are remembered are Joseph Dickerson, who was probably the first; Charles McIntyre, David McIntyre, and, later, Daniel Flint.

By the year 1840 there were about sixty voters in the township, but this number was of small benefit to the Whig party. A list of those who through these years stuck to the Whigs would begin and end with the names Samuel Kean, Solomon Hearn, Porter Flint, and George Adams, who says he was at one time the only Whig in the township.

The township officers for the year 1880-81 are: Elijah Haught, James Drum and Jonathan Cline, trustees; E. G. Smith, clerk; A. J. Watson, treasurer: Christopher Dickson, assessor; William Hendershot and Samuel Boston, constables; Isaac Tucker and John Hall, justices of the peace.

The population of Ludlow in 1840 was five hundred and thirty-nine; in 1860, one thousand and forty-three; in 1870, one thousand and eighty-two; and in 1880, one thousand three hundred and seventy-four.

TOPOGRAPHY.

The principal stream of the township is the Little Muskingum river, which, with very crooked course, bisects the township from northeast to southwest, so that the two halves dovetail together in much the same way as the different pieces of a child's puzzle block. The runs that enter the river from the left flow from a water-shed in the southeast part of township, and take, in general, a direction north of west. The principal of these creeks are, beginning up the river, Edwards' run, Wilson's run, Cedar run, Pice run and Hendershot run. Wilson's run is named from an old hunter by the name of Israel Wilson, who made its valley his favorite hunting ground. The derivation of the name of Cedar run is evident. The others are named from the owners of farms near their mouths.

The tributaries entering the Little Muskingum from the right flow almost due south from a water-shed in Monroe county. Those named are, proceeding down the river, Long eddy, Sackett's run and Winget's run. The first was named from the eddy formed at its mouth by its current and the conformation of the banks of the Little Muskingum at that point. Sackett's run was the resort of a hunter by that name, and Jacob Winget was the first settler on the stream by that name.

The township, like the others in its vicinity, is quite hilly. Many of these hills, however, are covered with the red soil that yields so well, and, if carefully tilled, affords good crops. The seams of coal are the same as in Liberty and Salem townships, but not so thick or extensive.

The Little Muskingum valley is famed for its beauty. Almost any of the hills that overlook this stream afford fine prospects. This may be particularly remarked of the ridge at one of the southern bends of the river, about a mile above the mouth of Pice's run. Through the trees on this ridge, whose limbs form a rustic frame for the scene, near two miles of the course of the river can be descried as it swings far to the south, laps the foot of the ridge under the spectator's feet, and bears off to the west. In the elbow thus formed lies the "made land of many an acre of the proverbial breadth"—the child of the river and the northern hills. By almost insensible gradations, the level merges to the rolling, and finally to the hill land back of it. Far back the dividing ridge, and to the right and left the ridge that turns the stream from sight bound the view. When the leaf and grain have painted this prospect in green and gold, it must be a sight for an artist. Unfortunately for the description, however, the writer was forced to be content with a winter view, when the snow was gone. A rain was falling, alike dampening to soil, clothes and appreciation of the beautiful, and in this case the bleak prospect proved the untruth of the adage that "beauty unadorned 's adorned the most."

SETTLEMENT.

As is everywhere the cage, the first settlements were along the streams, usually in the order of the size of these streams. All the early settlements in Ludlow were along the Little Muskingum, and generally, at the mouths of its tributaries. The oldest in Ludlow is the Tice run. The first ones to make a home here, and, consequently, the pioneers of the township, was the family of Solomon Tice.

Solomon Tice, sr., was known as "Governor" Tice. He was a blacksmith, farmer, and hunter, and came from New York city. He settled in Ludlow in 1797, on the east side of the Little Muskingum, about two miles below Bloomfield, where he died about 1838, at the age of ninety-three.

At one time he was in Virginia, and while there, received one vote for governor of that State. This gave him the cognomen of governor which stuck to him until the day of his death. He was a man of remarkable energy, which did not desert him even in his old age. One of his ruling passions was the desire to amass wealth suddenly. In 1833 he dug for silver on "Silver Mine run" known afterwards as Campbell's run, in the upper part of the township. He found shining metal which he took to be silver, probably thinking that the saying "All that glitters is not gold," did not apply to silver. He took a half bushel of it to Wheeling as a test, and there learned his mistake. This was not his only attempt. The hills of Independence and other places were the scene of his prospecting expeditions. In 1825 he bored for salt on Fifteen Mile creek opposite the mouth of Mill fork, penetrating the earth three hundred feet. Petroleum, of whose value he was then ignorant, calling it the "Devil's grease," stopped his enterprise. Throughout his long life, he boasted he never attended church. His family was remarkable for longevity. He had seventy grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, and a few great-great-grandchildren before he died. He was noted for his wit and sociability. He related as his own experience the well known story of the capture of seven Indians by knocking the wedge from a partially split log, which they had been induced to try to pull apart.

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His parents were Martin and Mary; his wife was Mary Collier. He had six sons and two daughters. Martin died young. James was born in 1775, and owned six hundred acres of land. His mania was the, acquisition of land. He owned a saw-mill on the Little Muskingum above the mouth of Hendershot's run. He died on the way to Oregon in 1851. His wife was Sarah Strimback.

The first death in his family was that of a daughter. The longevity of the Tices has been remarked. James and family had not been in the habit of attending funerals. They therefore were at a loss to know the customary way in which funerals were conducted, and had to seek their neighbors to learn how. John, another son of Solomon, was born in 1780, and settled near his father in Ludlow. His two wives were sisters: Catharine and Christina Cline. Another son, Solomon, jr., was born in 1782, and settled on Archer's fork in Independence. He married another of the Cline sisters, Rosanna. The next son, Jacob, shot himself at a sugar camp in trying to kindle a fire with a loaded gun. Mary died in infancy. David settled in Virginia, from whence he went to Missouri in 1850. Sarah was born in 1798, and is the only one still living. She is the wife of Jacob Newlin, who was a soldier of the War of 1812. Sarah was probably the first white child born in Ludlow township.

The next to settle was the family of Abraham Devees. They came in about the decade of this century, probably near the year 1808. Mr. Devees had five children named William, Sarah, Archibald, Abraham, and Nellie. They settled near the mouth of Tice's run.

Following the family of Mr. Devees, was Daniel Hearn, a native of England. His migration to this county, however, was from Sussex county, Delaware. About the year 1807 he came with his family down the Ohio river, the freezing of which compelled him to stop where is now Matamoras. He leased a farm of, perhaps, eighty acres near that place, and remained there about four years. Then he changed his quarters to Ludlow, moving over by the aid of Solomon Tice, jr., who brought over the household goods on a sled. At that time Mr. Hearn's family consisted of his wife, who was Betsy Wilson before marriage, and five children named Hiram, Josiah, Solomon, Mary, and Daniel, jr. This number was subsequently increased to thirteen by the birth of Henry, Elizabeth, Nancy, Narcissa, Louisa, Perry, Luther, and Nehemiah.

Mr. Hearn settled in the same section of land with his neighbors Devees and Tice, section twenty. He, also, chose his home on the banks of the creek. Solomon Hearn was celebrated for his fondness for litigation. He practiced law himself to a limited extent. He also did something in the way of loaning money. Nehemiah married Elizabeth, daughter of John Medley. Nancy married James Bowie. Daniel, jr., was born in 18zo and was therefore a year old when he came to the township. He married Margaret Elder in 1840. Mrs. Daniel Hearn was born in 1818. Their surviving children are three boys and one girl.

The next two families to arrive were those of John Elder and Christopher Dickson. Elder probably came first. His arrival was in the neighborhood of 1812. He was accompanied by his two sons, James and John, from Ireland, although his son, John, never came to Ludlow. James married Sarah Rinard and was blessed with twelve children, one of whom, Margaret, has been referred to as the wife of Daniel Hearn. James Elder was a farmer, miller, distiller, and, in fact, worked at almost anything. John and James Elder settled on opposite sides of the creek on the farm now owned by Luther Rinard.

Christopher Dickson, sr., came in 1813 or 1814, and settled on the hill above Bloomfield, with his wife, who was Fanny Lewis, and children: Christopher, Jane, Elizabeth, Susan, and Mary. Afterwards Sarah, Jemima, Lavina, Nancy, Cynthia, Alexander, and Jacob were born. All are now dead but Jacob, Christopher, jr., Susan and Cynthia. Jacob lives on the right side of the Little Muskingum, a short distance above Bloomfield. Cynthia is the widow of John Thomas, and lives farther down the stream. Susan is the widow of Truman Payne and lives near by. Christopher, who was born in 1808, lives just above Bloomfield. In 1834 he married Ann Elizabeth Snyder, who was born in 1815 and died in 1878. The children are Amanda, Albert, Lavina, Cynthia, Lewis, Margaret E., Abner, Clarissa, and Selena. Lewis, Cynthia, Albert, and Lavina are dead. Amanda became Mrs. John Woods and lives in Pennsylvania. Margaret married R. L. White and lives in Indiana. Abner married Mary E. Kirkpatrick. Christopher Dickson, jr., has been honored with many offices in the gift of his township. His father died about thirty years ago aged not far from eighty years; he lies in the Bloomfield cemetery.

The makeshifts and contrivances resorted to by these early settlers in the absence of harness-makers, blacksmiths, and the like, are difficult of comprehension by one who did not live at that time. Thus, in the toilsome task of loosening the soil on the hill-sides, the farmers would harness their horses to their rude plows with bark stripped from bushes and saplings. The settlers were obliged to get their blacksmithing done outside the township until the arrival of Stephen Parr, who opened the first blacksmith shop a little below where Scot Town now is.

The difficulties of travel were greatly ameliorated by the building of the first road in the township. It was the Woodsfield and Marietta road, and ran along the Little Muskingum. A branch was afterwards built up Winget's run. The distances were marked by means of mile-trees.

Mention must also be made of the old settler, Jacob Winget, who named the stream just referred to and settled at a very early date at its mouth.

David Edwards settled in Ludlow in 1819, and resided there until his death in 1848. He was born in Maryland in 1792, and in 1817 was married to Rachel Riggs, a native of West Virginia, born in 1795. She died in 1863. Mr. Edwards was a soldier in the War of 1812. He was the father of eight children, seven of whom survive and reside as follows: Mrs. Mary Scott, in Washington Territory; Mrs. Priscilla Griffiths, in

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Brooklyn, New York; James, in Belpre, this county; Charles,"in West Virginia; William A. W., in Missouri; B. W. in Ludlow, and Mrs. Elizabeth Hooper, in West Virginia; Harriet is deceased; Baswell W., born in 1833, married in 1856 to Arminta Hooper, born in 1838, and has. ten children: Nancy J., wife of S. Cline; Rachel E., wife of L. Moore; Benson B., Priscilla L, Mary B., Minerva J., Margaret A., Rebecca, Amanda E., and Sarah L

Another very early settler was Patrick O'Hanlon. He was born in Ireland, whence he came with his parents. His children were: Margaret Ellen, John, Phelix (sir) James, Mary, and Richard. Ellen married Jacob Kinser, a laborer, who was the first settler on Dana's run. At first their dwelling was under a rock. He removed down the river where he died. Phelix became the husband of Mary Musser, who lived in Ludlow township; James married Sarah Tice and lived in Ludlow; Mary became Mrs. George Musser, of Ludlow.

John Rinard, born in Pennsylvania in aor, came to Washington county with his parents, Isaac and Mary Rinard. In 1824 he married Nancy Ray, who was born in 1802. They reared a family of twelve children, ten of whom survive, as follows: Isaac, John W., and Luther, who reside in Ludlow; Samuel, Mrs. A. Smith, David, Nelson, and Theodore, who reside in Iowa; Mrs. J. Pool, in Grand View township, and Mrs. H. Monteith, in West Virginia. Luther, one of the leading farmers of this township, was born in 1834 in Grand View township. In 1865 he married Charlotte Martin, who died in 1879, at the age of forty years. He has had seven children, six of whom are living, namely: Matilda and Delilah A. (twins), Delilah (deceased), David A., John, Hannah, Charlotte B., and Ida Dell.

David Cline came to Ludlow about 1840, and lived a few years at the mouth of Sackett's run. Then he moved about a mile below, back on the high ground. He laid out a village, which he called Clinesville, on the corner of a road just surveyed, hoping that this road would build the town. He left in a few years for Archer's fork, in Independence township.

Porter Flint was a millwright and farmer. He built Flint's mills before 1832 on the Little Muskingum, at what is now Bloomfield. His wife was a Miss Bell, of Newport township. He was drowned in 1859 while running a raft.

Daniel Flint, his brother, kept the first store in the township. It was opposite Flint's mills, and subsequently kept by Holland. He afterwards moved out of the State.

Joseph Reese, a native of Loudoun county, Virginia, born in 1798, removed to Washington county in 1840, and settled in Ludlow township. He remained here until 1862, when he moved to Germantown, Liberty township, and died the following year. His wife, Maria, born in 1796, survived him some ten years. He had twelve children, three of whom are living. David, merchant and postmaster at Dalzell, was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, in 1835, and removed to this county with his parents in 1840. He was married, in 1859, to Malinda Scott, who was born in Ludlow in 1840. They have seven children—Howard B., Jewett A., Laura L, James R., Albert O., John C., Melvin F., living, and Charles S., deceased. Mr. Reese served in the war of the Rebellion, from September x4, 186z, to July 27, 1865, being a member of company G, Thirty-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry. He had also four brothers in the service, Joseph, Oliver, Jonathan, and Thomas. He was appointed postmaster at Dalzell in 1874, and continues in that position.

William Fox, born in County Tyrone, Ireland, emigrated to this country with his family in 1841 and settled in this township. He settled in a sugar-camp and entered the first land in section one and seven. In the winter of 1842 a catamount was killed in the spring-house. At that time the milling was all done by horsepower at E. Reed's. Mr. Fox and wife, and son James, were the first Catholic citizens of the county outside of Marietta. The locality in which they settled was called the Fox settlement. Mr. Fox died in 1857. His wife, whose maiden name was Jane Maginnis, died. in 1876, aged about eighty-four. They had five children. Patrick, James, and Mrs. Sarah McCormick reside in Ludlow; Mrs. Mary McKinney in Grand View, and the family of William, who is deceased, live in Iowa. James was born in Ireland in 18'9. He married, in 1847, Margaret McKinney, who was born in 1824. They have had ten children living, as follows: Thomas, John, Sarah, William, Jane, Mary, Maggie, James, Anna, John, Catharine, and Bell. The first two are dead. Mr. Fox served about nine months in company D, Fifty-first Ohio volunteer infantry in the war of 1861-5.

Samuel L. Day came to Washington county and settled in Ludlow in 1849. He was born in 1820, and died in 1854, He married, in 1844, Drazilla Johnston, who was born in 1825. There were born to them nine children, of whom three only are now living, viz: William A., Rachel E. (Mrs. Scott), and Lavinia (Mrs. Ridgway). The last two reside in Kansas. William A. was born in 1845; married, in 1867, Joanah Hendershot, and has four children—Samuel L., Clara B., and George and Minnie, twins. He was a member of company G, Seventy-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, and served from the fall of 186z to the spring of 1865. He was postmaster of Winget Run office for two years.

In 1853 Robert Giffin came to Ludlow, from Belmont county, Ohio, in company with his mother. Though born in 1798, the aged lady is still living with him. Robert Giffin was born in 1829. In 1858, he married one of the same surname—Miss Mary Giffin, who was born in 1833. Their children are: Emeline Asa, Anna M., Eunice M., Huldah J., and Reginald R. Huldah is dead.

One of the later settlers to the township is A. J. Watson, who came in 1878 and began keeping a store at Bloomfield. He was born October 30, 1855; his parents are James and Maria Watson, the former a native of Scotland. In 1880 he married Anna K. Poole. Although so short a time in the neighborhood, he has been already selected to fill township offices, that of clerk and treasurer.

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CHURCHES.

The "advance guard of civilization," which came on foot armed with axe and rifle, would, in the early settlement of the country, be followed in no long time by the pioneers of mind and soul—the itinerant preacher on horseback, equipped with Bible and calling the hunters and farmers together as he passed, to worship God. By 1824, one of these preachers, Abner Martin by name, addressed meetings at different houses in the neighborhood often, for one, at the house of Christopher Dickson. These meetings soon bore fruit in the organization of the first church in the township. This was of the Methodist denomination. Before 1848, it became strong enough to build a meeting-house at Bloomfield. This lasted about twenty-five years, and was finally torn down. The organization has long since ceased to exist.

The next church was of the Christian denomination, otherwise and more properly called the Disciple church. This was near 1850. The original members, so far as learned, were: Ezra McMullins, Joseph Rees, Richard Scott, Samuel Thomas, Isaac Thomas, Levi McMullin, and their wives. The first minister was Richard Atherton. Following him were Isaac Thomas, Rev. Ashley, and David Hendershot. In about ten years after their organization, the members built a place of worship on Winget's run in section thirty-four, where they now hold meetings.

In the southeastern part of the township are many Irish, mostly of Catholic proclivities, making the field a favorable one. for the planting of a Catholic church. This was accordingly done by Father Brumer, not far from 1860. At the same time a log church building was erected, principally through the agency of Messrs. Fox, Patrick Cawley, Charles Cawley, and James McCormick. The land on which it stands was donated for the purpose by Charles Cawley. The present officiating priest is Father Newmonger.

On April 29, 1866, Rev, John S. Covert preached in a school-house called "Solomon's temple." About twenty people only, attended the morning service, but in the afternoon the house would not hold the people. In May, 1866, a Sabbath-school was organized with Thomas Reynolds as superintendent. This school furnished itself a library and all the necessary accessories to its successful work.

The religious work thus inaugurated was continued by Elder Covert, who preached in May, July and August of that year. He was granted an involuntary vacation in June by the prevalence of floods, preventing his access to the place. Thus at different intervals, the work was kept alive until February, 1867. At that time the great flood of religious interest in Lawrence township to the south, arose and lapped the sides of the southern hills of Ludlow. Large meetings were held in the little schoolhouse and five persons were baptized by Elder Seckman.

On the last day of March, 1837, a council was called of delegates from the churches at Brownsville, Graysville, Matamoros, Unity, Woodsfield, Liberty, Rood Fork, and Lawrence. The elders were present and the organization of the Baptist church of Ludlow was effected. The first members were: Mary Thomas, Isaac R. Rinard, Luther Rinard, Alfred Graham, Eunice Graham, Martha Thomas, and Eliza Swallow, all of whom yet live in the neighborhood. W. Harvey and Mary E. Harvey, who are now dead; and Ellen Hendershot,— Reynolds, Sarah Powell, Sarah Baker, James Pratt, Mary J. Pratt, Burgess Hall, Hannah Hall, Jonah Walters, and Mary J. Walters, who have moved away.

In a few years the little band determined to have a special place of worship, but it was not until May, 1870, that this was dedicated. The exercises lasted from the twenty-seventh to the twenty-ninth of that month, under the guidance of Elders Covert and Dana, and pastor D. Seckman, who was the regular preacher at that time. The building is a neat frame structure, situated on a bluff on Pice's run.

In November, 1870, at a meeting held in the church building, it was decided to incorporate the church. The trustees were elected for three years, consisting of Luther Rinard, Luther M. Hearn, Isaac Graham, and G. W. Harvey.

SCHOOLS.

Usually, when a settlement has so far progressed as to include four or five families, some maiden lady undertakes the task of keeping the little ones out of the way of the harvesters or other summer laborers, by instructing them in the mysteries of A, B, C, and the like branches of knowledge. About the year 180 two such schools were taught. No trace of earlier ones in the neighborhood have been found. Nothing definite is learned that will determine which of these two schools were the first. The probability is, however, that the first one was by Miss Daly. It-was a summer school of three months duration. Quite a number of pupils attended for the time of year, probably fifteen. This was held in a log school-house, about a mile and a half below Bloomfield. The attendants were the little ones of the families of Dickson, Tice, Hearn, French, Martin and others. The wages paid were a dollar and a half per pupil. The next school was taught by a man by the name of Gale.

At a school-house on the land of Daniel Hearn, the first teacher was Elizabeth McIntyre, about the year 1816. She was succeeded by Washington Williams. She had over a dozen pupils.

The settlers of Ludlow were without the benefits of a physician within easy access until 1838. Before that they were obliged to summon assistance, when sickness of such gravity as justified it attacked any of them, from Newport, Woodsfield, or even more distant points. But in the year referred to Dr. Philip D. Cocks settled in the vicinity. About the same time Dr. Jesse Ward, one of those physicians peculiar to the times called "steam doctors," made his home in what was then Ludlow but since has become Monroe county. Since then Drs. Russell. and William Mitchell have settled in the township.

The first mill in the township not turned "by hand" was the horse-mill of James Tice. Soon after James Elder built one. These mills partially relieved the necessities of the people in that direction, until about the year 1818 or i820 when Richard Taylor built the first water

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mill in the settlement. It was constructed on the Little Muskingum at the site of Bloomfield. It was both a grist-. and a saw-mill. The first dam was a brush dam; this being swept away, it was replaced by a log dam. So anxious were the farmers to have this great convenience that when it was proposed to build the mill they subscribed aid enough, principally in lumber, work, etc., to insure its probable completion. This mill was afterwards rebuilt by Porter Flint, and still afterwards by Mr. Edwards and Solomon Tice.

About 1850, J. C. Ashley built a saw-mill farther down, in the neighborhood of Scott Town, but it has not been running since about 1870. Near this town, also, the firm of Best & Bates moved in and in the spring of 1869 started a woollen mill on Winget's run.

The oldest of the graveyards in Ludlow is what is known as the Tice cemetery. This dates from the year Ass, at which time Cynthia, a daughter of Jacob Wright, was buried—the first one in the yard. This cemetery has received the bodies of many old citizens and many of their families. Here Solomon Tice was buried; here William Snively and his wife; here are gravestones bearing the names of Dickson, Hearn, and others.

The next oldest is the Hall graveyard. This is in the southwest part of the township, and is nearly as old as the Tice burying-ground.

About forty years ago the graves of four children from the families respectively, of Daniel Flint, Jacob Flint, Elijah Reed, and George Snyder, situated near the site of Bloomfield, were found to be too close to the Little Muskingum. The bodies were accordingly removed to what is now the Bloomfield cemetery, which thus originated. Here are buried Daniel Hearn, sr., and his wife,. Porter Flint, his wife and his mother, Christopher Dickson, sr., and his wife, David McIntyre, and others.

The Catholic cemetery is about twenty-five years old. It is situated in the southwestern part of the township, in section seven.

After the erection of the Baptist church building, near the school-house, that bears the singular name of Solomon's Temple, a cemetery was started. Necessarily, it is a burying-place for only the comparatively modern settlers.

At present there are two villages in the township, Bloomfield and Scott Town. The attempted enterprise of Clinesville has been referred to in the treatment of the settlement.

About forty years ago Porter Flint laid out the town of Bloomfield. The flouring and saw-mill there, as well as a furniture shop, distillery, and store carried on by Harvey and Horace Holland, seemed to warrant the expectation that a town could be successfully started. About that time, also, a post office was started which is yet in operation. At present Bloomfield is a small place on the left bank of the Little Muskingum, and situated principally in section twenty-one. The post office is on the other side of the stream.

In 1865 Isaac Scott opened a store at the mouth of Wingate's run. This was the origin of and the first building in Scott Town. In 1873 the place was granted a post office, with A. C. Alexander as postmaster. W. A. Day succeeded him and he was followed by the present postmaster, Isaac Scott.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

ROBERT GIFFIN.

The subject of this sketch was born in Belmont, county, Ohio, August 5, 1829. His father, Archibald Giffin, was a native of Scotland, and was born September 24, 1771. He emigrated to America and settled in Belmont county, Ohio. He owned a farm and lived in Richland township until his death, July 26, 1833. In November, 1814, he married Agnes Belville, who was born in Newcastle county, Delaware, July 14, 1798. She is of French parentage.

The Giffin family consisted of six children. Cornelius lives in Belmont county; John died in Belmont county; Archibald lives at St. Clairsville, Belmont county; William lives in Newport township, this county; Agnes died at the age of four years; and Robert, a pictorial sketch of whose residence in Ludlow township is presented on an adjoining page.

Robert Giffin purchased the farm on which he now lives while that portion of the county was comparatively new. Ninety acres was the extent of his property at that times This was a part of the old Solomon Tice farm, an eccentric character who came from Virginia at an early period. The clearing and cabin of the "Governor," as he was known among the early settlers, stood near the site of Mr. Giffin's residence. But a small portion of the land was cleared, and to our subject is due the credit not only of accumulating acres, but also of improving them. John Giffin lived on the farm during the first year of Robert's proprietorship. The following year, his father having died, Mr. Giffin removed to the farm on which he has resided ever since. His mother accompanied him, and still makes his residence her home.

Mr. Giffin married Miss Mary Giffin, of Belmont county, York township, who was born June so, 1833. The fruit of this union was six children, viz: Emeline, born August 29, 1861; Asa, born October 29, 1863; Anna Martha, born November 6, 1865; Eunice, born April 26, 1868; Huldah J., born December 12, 1872; Reginald R., born November 15, 1874. Huldah J. died October 25, 1873.

Mr. Giffin has been adding to his possessions from time to time until he now has in the farm on which he lives two hundred and twenty-seven acres. He also owns a farm on Tice run, embracing one hundred and twenty acres.

Mr. Giffin served during the war in the Thirty-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry. He enlisted February 24, 1865, and was discharged from the service July 27, 1865.

Mr. Giffin is one of the most progressive farmers of

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the township. In addition to the routine of farming he deals largely in sheep, and in that way has added materially to his competence. In the community he is looked upon as a leading citizen, and in consequence is frequently called upon to act in the capacity of guardian or administrator of estates.

His farm is probably the best improved in the township. The large, square house, presented in the view, is surrounded by picturesque hills. Few more picturesque or more desirable places, so far as scenic effect goes to give interest to a locality, could be found in the county.