710 - HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO.

CHAPTER LV.

BARLOW TOWNSHIP.

A Progressive Township—Description—Establishment and Organization—Early Provision Made for Schools and Churches—Settlement- Religious Organizations—Educational Interests—Temperance Society—Agricultural Association—Wool Growers' Association—Patrons of Husbandry—Mills—Barlow Village.

THIS township, for the public spirit of its citizens, the industry, enterprise, and general thrift of its farmers, is known as one of the leading townships of the county. The many farms showing thorough culture, the successful operation of the agricultural fair, the Wool Growers' association, the church and school interests, and many other prominent indications of industry and intelligence, entitle her to that position. It is situated in the western part of the county, and is bounded on the north by Watertown, on the east by Warren, south by Dunham, and west by Fairfield and Palmer. The southern part is drained by branches of Little Hocking, and the north by branches of Wolf creek. In the central and northern parts the land is rather smooth, and the hill-slopes gradual, while the southern part is more inclined to abrupt declivities and higher elevations.

The soil is of red and yellow clay, and in many localities are found beds of .shale of considerable thickness, containing small concretionary lumps of limestone in large quantities, thus giving the shales (or "marls," as they are popularly called) great value in fertilization. The chief productions are fruits, wheat, corn, and the ordinary farm products of this section. The chief branch of industry is wool growing, which is carried on quite extensively. The Merino sheep is the favorite breed in this locality, producing fleeces of fine wool, commanding good prices. The market for this production is local and ample, thus rendering the operations of trade both easy and profitable to the producers.

The township—barring a protrusion of two half-sections on the east, and a half-section taken from the northwest corner—is five sections wide and six long, making in all thirty and one-half sections, or nineteen thousand five hundred and twenty acres of land. It is almost entirely rural in its settlements, having no incorporated towns within its limits, and but three important points of trade—Barlow village, Vincent station, and Fleming post office—and has, according to the last census (1880), a population of one thousand two hundred. The main thoroughfare is the State road, leading from Marietta to Athens, and passing almost directly through the centre from east to west, receiving the Belpre and Watertown road at Barlow. The abandoned line of the Marietta & Cincinnati railroad passes through the southern part of the township.

Several seams of coal are found in this township, known as the Hobson seam, and generally found along the course of Wolf creek, but none of the seams are thick enough for practical mining—so far as the discoveries yet made are concerned. The probabilities are that future need of fuel will stimulate research that will be rewarded by the discovery of deeper seams of more superior coal.

Jesse Lawton some years ago discovered on his farm near the village of Barlow, which is situated in the midst of the marl regions, a locality of fossil fresh water shells of the genus (Ink These shells were imbedded in coarse sand or gravel, cemented by ferruginous matter, and the specimens are casts replaced by argillacious oxide of iron. This locality bears evidence of once having been the bed of a lake or pond, but is now a valley surrounded by low hills, extending some four miles in length and a mile in width. The waters of this valley are drained by a small branch of the Little Hocking.

ORGANIZATION.

On petition of Nathan Proctor, Benjamin Baker, and others, the inhabitants of township three, of range ten, were declared entitled to the privileges and immunities of incorporated towns, and said territory to be known as Barlow township. The inhabitants were notified to meet at the residence of James Lawton for the purpose of electing township officers, on the third Monday of July, 1818. The only records of any election that can now be found is that of the election of trustees and other officials for managing the school and ministerial lands, which was held on the third day of January, 1818, at the Old Hickory school-house. At this meeting Benajah Howe was made both chairman and clerk pro tern. Judges of election were Cornelius Houghland and Isaac Hutchinson. The election resulted as follows: Cornelius Hough- land, S. N. Cooke, and Caleb Greene, trustees; Duty Greene, treasurer; and, in the following April, Benjamin F. Palmer was appointed to fill the vacancy occasioned by the death of Cornelius Houghland.

In all probability, Cornelius Houghland was the first justice of the peace who exercised the functions of that office in Barlow township, as he held commissions as justice of the peace here long before the township was stricken from Wesley. The oldest of these commissions bears date of October 9, 1810, and is signed by Governor Samuel Huntington. Another is dated October 30, 1813, and bears the celebrated signature of Return Jonathan Meigs, governor and commander in chief of the State of Ohio.

SCHOOL AND MINISTERIAL FUND.

Section sixteen was granted by Congress for school and section twenty-nine for church purposes. These sections were surveyed and laid out in lots April 12, 1812, by Joseph Palmer, Cornelius Houghland, and Nathan Proctor, and they were viewed and appraised by Duty Greene. Five lots, Nos. I, 2, 3, 4, and 5, of eighty acres each, were first laid out in section twenty-nine and valued at one dollar and seventy-five cents, to two dollars per acre. This land was rented to settlers, the rents collected by the trustees and applied to payment of teachers and preachers. In 1823 it was resolved by the trustees that any kind of goods in merchantable trade would be received for rents at following prices, viz: wheat, seventy-five cents per bushel, corn fifty cents, rye fifty cents, oats thirty-three cents, pork four dollars and fifty cents, and tow-linen cloth fifty cents per yard. Duty Greene as agent for the Methodist Episcopal

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church made the first demand for the ministerial funds, and on June 19, 1824, he received all the property in the treasury.

The first lease of land was made to William Dunbar, dated April 12, 1822, for No. 5 of section twenty-nine, valued at two dollars per acre—"six per cent. of this valuation to be paid every year as rent for said lands." This lease was witnessed by David Ewell, Samuel Clark, and Thomas Dunbar, and the trustees were Joseph Palmer, John Curtis and Edmund Neal.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

In the spring of 1800, James Lawton (to whom we are indebted for many of the facts contained in the history of Barlow), and Nathan Proctor made the first opening in what was then known as "White Oak settlement." The first cleared fields were on the small elevation just west of the present residence of Mrs. James Lawton, jr., southeast of Barlow village, and were made along the dividing lines between the only settlers in the wilderness. Nathan Proctor and his brother Jacob, erected a tent about forty rods south of the present Methodist Episcopal church.

Soon after, James Lawton began the erection of the first cabin, which was built immediately east of the present brick farm residence above mentioned—a relic of this first cabin in Barlow township is preserved, in the shape of a cane made from one of the walnut logs, and is now in possession of the Lawton family.

During the erection of this cabin the men engaged, who were hired from Marietta, passed the nights in Nathan Proctor's tent, where they were often entertained by the singing of Watts' hymns and the psalms, by the Proctor boys, who were then considered remarkably good singers.

In the summer of 1800, William Vincent and family, Cornelius Houghland, his brother-in-law, Thomas McGuire, and their families arrived in this vicinity. Duty Greene came the following year, and was probably the first Methodist in this locality. He was one of the leading men in the religious work of those early days, especially as a leader in the singing, and was very partial to a familiar methodist hymn called the "Good Old Way," which he sang on very frequent occasions.

Nathan Proctor came from Danvers, Massachusetts, and after he cleared the land and erected his cabin, his aged father and mother and his sister came to the new settlement. He died in Barlow in his seventieth year— of whose death the Marietta Register thus speaks: "Shortly after the first settlement at Marietta, he emigrated to what is now Barlow township, and selected his dwelling place where his residence now stands, and felled the first tree in the new settlement. In the death of this gentlemen society has lost a valuable member; the family, a kind husband and affectionate parent. He was a Christian and a Republican."

Cornelius Houghland, an early settler of what is now Barlow township, was a native of Hampshire county, Virginia, where he was born in 1773. In the spring of 1796 he married Anna Stalcut, and the fall of the same year left for Kentucky. He soon found his way to the vicinity of Williamstown opposite Marietta, where he made a settlement on a branch of Big run since known as Houghland's run. In April, 1801, with his brother- in-law Thomas McGuire, he removed to what was then known as "White Oak settlement," and located on the farm now owned by Neal Loynachan's heirs, one mile west of Barlow village. In his log cabin he kept the first licensed tavern in the township. The license was issued January 5, 1806, for the township of Wooster, and was signed by E. W. Tupper. Mr. Houghland was killed March so, 1818, while cutting timber, a tree falling upon him. His wife died April 29, 1824, in her forty-eighth year. Their children were Polly, Margaret, Ruth, John, Eleanor, Elza, Lewis, David, and Anna. All are now dead except Anna (widow of Harris Palmer), who lives in Palmer township, aged sixty-four. Polly was the wife of Rev. Edmund McGinnis. Margaret married Benjamin F. Palmer, of Barlow. She died May 19, 1875, in her seventy-seventh year. She had four children: Joah F., Joseph, Cornelius (who died young), and Elza H. Ruth Houghland died in childhood. Eleanor became the wife of Vincent Smith, of Plymouth, this county.

Thomas McGuire who came to Barlow (then Wooster) with his brother-in-law, Cornelius Houghland, in the spring of 180x, settled on Wolf creek, northeast of where Barlow village now is. His cabin stood a short distance below the old hickory school-house.

The settlements made by these families formed the centre of what has now grown to be Barlow township.

The roads were then known only as "tracks" through the unbroken wilderness. One leading from Marietta to Athens, from east to west now known as the State road, passed a few rods north of the Lawton cabin, and the other from Belpre to Watertown was a short distance west. These routes sustained all the travel to and from these points, and the travellers, on account of the difficulties of the unbroken road, were often compelled to remain over night with some of the settlers, and among these early visitors are remembered—Dr. Perkins, of Athens, Griffin Greene, sr., of Marietta, Colonel Israel Putnam, and Colonel Fisher, of Belpre, Colonel Oliver, and Major White, of Waterford.

James Lawton, sr., was born in Rhode Island in 1760, and settled in Marietta in 1796, and died in Barlow in 1843. He was the first settler of Barlow township, and a man of superior intelligence and public, spirit. He was married to Susannah Gould, who was born in 1764, and died in 1852. They had four children: one now living—Mrs. Sarah Branson, who lives in Illinois. His son Jesse was born in 1789, and came to Ohio with his parents in 1796, and was married to Maria Haskell in 1821, and settled in Barlow township in 1800. They had a family of six children—five now living: Arthur, Isaac and Phoebe (twins), Isaiah B., and Richard, who was born in 1824, and was married in 1862, to Persis Walker, who was born in 1828. He was in the United States army during the late war, in the hundred day service, and is one of the leading and respected farmers of Barlow.

712 - HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO.

William Vincent settled in Barlow in 1800. He was born in 1770, in Rhode Island, and died in this township in 1825. His wife, Elizabeth Earl, was born in 1767, and died in 1852. Of this family two yet survive —Mariah, widow of the late Obediah Gardner, of near Columbus, and John, who now resides in the township. He was trustee for eight years, also overseer of the poor for a number of years. John Vincent was born in 1809, and was married to Elizabeth Dustin in 1832, who was born in 1808. They have thee children living. His son John C. was an orderly sergeant in the hundred day service. He is the inventor of the "Vincent rifle," and is engaged in the manufacture of these guns, and in other mechanical pursuits at his shop, just east of Vincent station. The popularity of this gun is increasing, and orders for them are received from various and distant places. Mr. Vincent is known as a workman of rare skill and proficiency in many departments of mechanical art.

Henry Earl Vincent was born in 1802, in Barlow township, where he died in 1873. He held the office of justice of the peace for many years, and was also clerk, treasurer, and trustee, and a leading pioneer citizen of the township. He was married in 1830 to Rhoda Clark, who was born in 1806. Her father, Elisha Clark, was born in New Jersey, in 1765, and settled in Belpre in 1798, and was married to Helen Brown, who was born in 1765. She has six living children, and is now living on the farm of eighty acres at Vincent station, engaged in farming and fruit growing. Osmer B. was in the hundred day service, and Henry C. was employed as telegraph operator, by the Government, under General Thomas, in Tennessee.

Daniel N. Dunsmore was born in 1817, and was married in 1843 to Isabel Fleming, who was born in Scotland, in ir8z7. They have two children. He is a farmer. and stock-raiser and engaged particularly in raising thoroughbred Merino sheep. Hiel Dunsmore was in the hundred day service.

Duty Greene settled in Barlow, in 1800, and was born in New York, in 1760, and died in 1842. He had a family of six children, one of whom is now living: Pamelia, widow of S. H. Reynolds, now living in Missouri. Smith Greene, his son, was born in New York, in 1792, and came to Barlow with his father; was married to Sarah Mellor in 1813, who was born in England, in 1789. To them were born six children—two now living—Edna and Cynthia; the latter was born in 1814, and was married to Simeon Evans in 1842. He served in the Union army as member of company F, Thirty- sixth Ohio volunteer infantry. They had a family of four children—two now living—Harriet E. and Charles E., who was in the hundred day service; David E., enlisted in 1861, in company F, Thirty-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, and died from injuries received in the army in 1863.

Isaac Woodruff was born in New Jersey in 1787; emigrated to this country and settled in Barlow township, in 1801. He was justice of the peace four years,and served in various township offices. He was married to Margaret Greene, who was born in 1790, and died in 1853. The following children of this family are now living: Silas, Chester, Caroline, Jeanette, and Duty. Mrs. Pamelia Bell was born in 1819, in Barlow township, and was married in 1838, to William Bell, who was born in an, and died in 1868. He was trustee of the township for a number of years, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church from 1837 until his death. Mrs. Bell is a cripple for life, having been injured by a fall in 1879. She has seven children living and owns two hundred and twenty-five acres of land.

Silas Woodruff, son of Isaac Woodruff, was born in au, and was married to Mary Stump, in 1833, who was born in 1812, and died in 1859. To them were born seven children; the following are now living: Hiram, David, and Anson, all living in Kansas; Maria, wife of J. L. Palmer, of California; and Mary, wife of H. M. Morter, this township. He was again married in 1859, to Elizabeth Stollar, who was born in Pennsylvania, in 1830. They had four children: Alpharetta, Calvin E., Marian G., and Clarence L. At present he has a farm of three hundred and fifty acres and is a general farmer.

In 1801, John Laflin settled in Watertown township. He was born in Vermont in 1773, and died in 1851. His wife, Abigail Richards, was born in 1777, and died in 1847. The surviving members of this family are Luman and Harley, the latter was the second son and was born in Wooster township, in 1807, and was married to Anna Shields, in 1831, who was born in 1809. They had a family of four children—three now living: Diantha, now Mrs. John Seeley, of Watertown; Mary A., wife of James Morrison; and Charles S., who now lives on the homestead, and was born in 1839, and married to Caroline Cooksey, in 1868. They have three children: Charles E., Morrison, and Lizzie.

Harley Laflin has held the office of justice of the peace for twelve years, and was elected to the legislature in 1854, and now resides on his estate of one hundred and sixty acres of land, a respected citizen and farmer of Barlow.

Benjamin F. Palmer came to Barlow in 1816 and built his log cabin bachelor's hall about twenty feet east of his present residence north of Barlow, While clearing his farm he gave two days' work of each week for his board, and passed the nights in his cabin, sleeping on the floor. He was married in 1827 to Margaret Houghland, who was born in 1798, and three of their children are now living in Barlow—Sarah, Joseph, and Elza H. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, serving under Captain Timothy Buell, and was one of the pioneers of the township. He now owns a farm of two hundred and sixty acres as the result of his own industry. E. H. Palmer, his youngest son, occupies the old homestead, and is largely engaged in the raising of fine stock.

Robert Breckenridge first settled in Wesley township in 1811; was born in Scotland in 1794, and died in Barlow 1871. He was one of the first elders of the Presbyterian church, which office he held until his death. Was married to Catharine Harvey, who was born in 1794. The surviving members of their family are Nancy, Eliz-

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abeth, Mary, and James H. The latter was born in 1832 in Barlow, and was married to Catharine Reed in 1860, who was born in Weft Virginia in 1835. He now owns a farm of eighty acres, and is one of the substantial farmers of the township.

Cyrus W. Morey was born in New York in 1807 and came to this township with his parents in 1808. The family consisted of four children—Benson, who now resides in Delaware county, Ohio; Julia, who died in 1872; Maria, who died in 1874; and Cyrus.

Heman Chapman was born in Connecticut in 1764 and first settled in Marietta in 1806, and died in Barlow in 1851. He was married in 1785 to Marcy Potter, who was born in 1767 and died in 1834. His son, Samuel Chapman, was born in New York in 1793 and came to Ohio in 1816, in which year he was married to Catharine Clark, who was born in 1797, and they settled in Watertown township in 1816. To them was born one son— Hid Chapman—who was born in 1829, and in 1857 was married to Abigail Hutchins, who was born in 1831, and are now living in Barlow. He has held the office of constable and justice of the peace. Was a member of company F, One Hundred and Forty-eighth. Ohio national guards, and is now a general farmer, owning a farm of eighty acres, on which he resides.

Jesse Pugh settled in Barlow township in 1814. He was born in Virginia, and married Sarah McDonald. They reared a family of five boys and three girls, viz.: Benjamin, Jesse, John, James, and Robert. Of these children, James, who was born in 1804, married Margaret Gard, the daughter of John Gard. Of their five children, two are living—James A. and John L. The latter lives in Noble county. James A., born in 1845, married Dora E. Cook, born in 1856. One child has blessed this union. They live in Palmer township, where Mr. Pugh owns one hundred and fifty acres of land.

Asa Beach was born in Connecticut in 1780 and first settled in Watertown in 1799, where he died in 1847. His wife, Betsey Corns, was born in 1782 and died in 1859. The following members of this family yet survive: David, Pardee, Bernard, Sarah, Elizabeth, and Rufus. The latter was born in 1814, and in 1840 was married to Emily Thompkins, who was born in 1820. To them were born the following children: Josephine, Alfred, Cydnor T., Leander, Roena, Alice, Ruth, and Ada May. Alfred was a member of company F, Thirty-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry; was wounded at Winchester in 1863 and discharged in 1865. Cydnor enlisted in same company in 1863, and was discharged in 1865. Mr. Beach has held the office of trustee for five years, and resides on his farm of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Barlow.

One of the well known citizens of this township is John McCuiag, who came from Scotland and first settled in Warren township in 1821. He was born in Scotland in 1797, and was married to Catharine Harvey, who was born in 1801, and died in 1860. He has two children now living—Margaret, widow of Alexander Gordon, and Mary C., wife of David Scott. He served his apprenticeship as a blacksmith in Scotland, and after coming to this country he worked at his trade for a number of years at Barlow, where he now resides an honored and respected citizen, having retired from business, on his farm, adjoining the village.

Margaret Gordon was born in 1828 and was married in 1851 to Alexander Gordon, who was born in Scotland in 1818, and died in 1873. She has two children living with her on the old homestead—Kate G., now Mrs. Frank Palmer, and John, who was married to Carrie Hart in 1879.

James W. Merrill was born in 1832 and was married in 1854 to Rebecca Greene, who was born in 1832. He came to the township in 1842 and located where he now resides, in Barlow village. He entered the army as first lieutenant of company B, Ninety-second Ohio volunteer infantry, and was wounded in the right knee at the battle of Chickamauga and, being disabled, was honorably discharged in 1864. He immediately entered the dry goods business at the present location, where he has since been engaged, and has accumulated considerable wealth, owning a farm of one hundred acres, a dwelling in the village, and one-half interest in the present store.

David H. Merrill was born in 1835 and came to Barlow in 1850. He first began work on a farm; afterwards taught school until in 1857 he commenced merchandising at his present location in Barlow. In 1864 he was joined by his brother in partnership, under the name of Merrill Brothers, and they are now successfully operating the largest business in this section, consisting of general merchandising in all its departments, milling and buying wool —amounting. to a business of forty thousand dollars per year.

Thomas G. Graham was born in Pennsylvania in 1800, and came to Barlow in 1842, havirig previously served as captain of militia in Pennsylvania. He was married to Susan Gillchreast, who was born in 1822 and died in 1848. The surviving children are : Maria, who lives in Palmer township ; and Amanda, also living in Palmer.

Robert Graham was born in 1842, and was married to Mary L Lamb, in 1868, who was born in 1846. They have four children living, and he is a farmer and stock raiser, owning a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of land. He enlisted in the Union army in 1862, company G, Nineteenth Ohio volunteer infantry, and was discharged in 1865.

Christiana Lamb, whose father, William Fraser, was born in Scotland, in 1783, and settled in Warren township in 1823, where he died in 1837, and whose mother, Christiana McKinsey, was born in 1772, and died in 1848, was born in Scotland in 1809, and was married to William Lamb, in 1827, who was born in 1803 and died in 1878. She has four children—Agnes, Christiana, Mary L and Sarah, and now lives in Barlow.

Amos Benedict was born in New York in 1806, and settled in Warren township in 1844, where he died in 1879. He was married to Hannah Hobby, who was born in 1806, and died in 1853. They left three children, now living, Henry N., George E., and A. H. He was again married in 1854, to Anna Moffit, who was born in England in 1816.

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A. H. Benedict was born in 1843, and was married in 1867 to Lucy E. Gould, who was born in 1847 in Barlow township, and they have a family of three children. He was admitted to the bar in 1867, has served as correspondent of the Marietta Register, has taught school in Barlow for the past twenty years, and at present possesses seventy-five acres of land, where he - resides in Barlow township.

Josiah Scott, son of John and Nancy, was born in 1820, and was married to Louisa Finch, in 1855, who was born in 1822. They have one child living—Frank L, who resides at home. He now lives on his farm in Barlow, containing one hundred acres of land.

His father, John Scott, first settled in Warren township in 1839, was born in Pennsylvania in 1773, and died in Harmar in 1874. He was married to Nancy Patterson, who was born in 1778, and died in 1861. They have six children now living—William, now residing in Warren township; Mary A., wife of Seth Baily, of Coolville; James, now in Kentucky ; Lydia, widow of John Scott, of Harmar, Moses, of Pomeroy, Ohio, and Josiah, who lives in Barlow.

David Breckenridge settled in Barlow in 1832, was born in Scotland in 1773, and died in 1843. His wife, Charlotta McMillen, was born in 1785, and died in 1875. The names of the living members of this family are, viz : Elizabeth, now Mrs. William Andrew ; Charlotte, wife of John Dunlap; David, now living in Barlow; Margaret, wife of James McKay; Duncan and John, both living in Iowa; Charles, now in Indiana, and Thomas. The latter was born iri Scotland, in 1811, and was married to Margaret Harvey, in 1836, who was born in Scotland, in 1812. He has served as trustee, supervisor and school director for several years, and now owns a farm of one hundred and thirty-five acres of land, on which he resides.

James Ormiston, third, was born in Scotland, in 1822, and in 1845 was married to Polly Conchrite, who was born in 1826. They have seven children now living, and he is general farmer and mechanic, and has made himself possessor of three hundred and fifty acres in Barlow, and served as constable for six years. His father, David Ormiston, first settled in Warren township, in 1828, was born in Scotland in 180o, and died in Illinois in 1880. The living members of this family are : John, living in Barlow ; William, in Missouri ; A. S., in Kansas ; David and Jane in Illinois; Mary, widow of David Taylor, of Indiana, and Benjamin F., now living in Illinois.

James Ormiston, sr., was born in Scotland, in 1769, and settled in Barlow township in 1831, where he died in 1852. His wife, Christiana Lamb, was born in 1771, and died in 1834. Their children were Agnes and James. The latter was born in 1806 in Scotland, and was married in 1834 to Lucinda Willworth, born in 1813. The living members of this family are, viz : Alexander, Isaac, Christiana, James, Merat, Rufus, Anna J., Ruth L, and Thomas L. Alexander enlisted in 1861, in company G, Sixty-third Ohio volunteer infantry, and was with Sherman on his march to the sea. Isaac and James served in the hundred days service.

Mr. Ormiston was a carpenter in his early days, but now resides on his farm of two hundred and thirty acres in Barlow Township, and is a general farmer and stock- raiser.

Thomas Fisher, sr., first settled in Aurelius township, in 1837, afterwards in Barlow in 1840. He was born in England in 1811. His wife, Mary Cousins, to whom he was married in 1835, was born in 1814. They have a family of six children, five now living—Richard, John, Sarah, Thomas, Hezekiah and Joseph.

Thomas Fisher, jr., is a general farmer of the township, and is also engaged in raising sheep, and has a farm of one hundred and fifty acres of land.

Marcus Anderson, sr., a native of Ireland, born in 1809, and came to Ohio in 1841. His wife, Rebecca Rodgers, was born in 1812. The members of this family now living are: Elizabeth, Edward, Mary, William, James, Susan, Agnes, Jane, Thomas, Marcus, and Rebecca. Edward was in the hundred day service. William was a member of company F, Thirty-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, and James of the "Pierpont battery." Mr. Fisher now owns three hundred acres of land and is engaged in sheep raising.

D. H. Tompkins settled in Barlow in 1845; was born in Belmont county in 1818, and died in 1880. He was married in 1843 to Betsey Windsor, who was born in 1823 and died in 1879. Two of the children are now living—A. W., who lives in Harmar, and W. E., citizen of this township. The latter was born in 1851, and now resides on the homestead containing over two hundred acres.

William Beebe, M. D., the leading physician of Barlow township, began the practice of medicine here in 1845. He was born in Belpre in 1822, and was married to Elizabeth Rathbone in 1846, who was born in 1827. To them were born five children now living—W. L., practicing physician in Minnesota ; Brooks F., physician in Cincinnati; William P. physician in Texas. Lucy L. and Lizzie H. are both living at home. The doctor has a large practice, and is regarded in the community as an able practitioner in his profession.

In 1834, Robert Haddow came from Scotland and settled in Barlow township. He was born in 1799, and was married to Jeanette Ormiston, who was born in 1795 and died in 1866. The members of this family are—John, Nancy, Mary, Jane, and James.

James Haddow was born in 1827, and was married to Lucy Dustin in 1853, who was born in 1834. He was a member of company F, Thirty-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry from 1861 to 1865, and was wounded at the battle of Winchester, Virginia, and discharged in 1865. He has a family of eight children, and owns one hundred and twenty acres of land, where he resides as a farmer and citizen.

John Haddow was loin in 1821, and married in 1843 to Jane C. Fleming, born in 1824, and has seven children now living. He is present postmaster at Barlow, which office he has held since 1861; has held the office of justice of the peace for nineteen years, and township clerk eighteen years. In 1860 he was elected to the

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legislature, and through his influence Muskingum township was organized.

Ezekiel Deming was born in Massachusetts in 1772, and died at Marietta in 1858. He was judge of the supreme court twenty-one years; was also school teacher, and was married to Hannah Parke, who was born in 1777, and died in 1818. To them were born the following children: Hiram R., James H., Lucinda, Mary, and J. T. Deming, who was born in aro, and was married in 1841 to Mary A. Richards, who was born in 1824. They have nine children living. Henry R. was sergeant in the hundred day service. Mr. Deming has over one hundred acres of land, and is engaged in farming and raising fine wool sheep.

William H. Cunningham, son of B. F. Cunningham, who was born in aa, and married to Sabra Harvey, born in 1824, was born in 1842, and was married to Caroline Childers in 1867, who was born in 1848, and died in 1875, leaving two children. He is undertaker and cabinetmaker at Barlow. Of his father's family the following are now living, viz: John W., Melissa J., Orlando, Loring, Mary E., Ister C., Sarah R.,. and Robert.

John Fleming settled in Barlow in 1820. He was born in Scotland in 1778 and died in 1854. He was married to Jane Colvell, who was born in 1782 and died in 1852. His family consists of David, Isabella, and Mrs. Mary Harvey, who was born in Scotland in 1804, and was married to James Harvey in 1825, born in 1802 and died in 1856. She has six children. now living. Her son, David, enlisted in 1861 in company F, Seventy-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, and died in 1863 from injuries received in the army. Also her son Robert enlisted in 1861 in company A, Thirty-sixth Ohio volunteer infantry, and gave his life to his country at the battle of Cloyd Mountain, Virginia, in 1864. Mrs. Kate W. Harvey was born in 1855, and was married in 1875 to Andrew Harvey, who was born in 1846 and died in 1880. She has three children living, and is also possessor of a farm of two hundred acres of land located in Barlow.

James Fleming was born in Scotland in 1792, and settled in Barlow township in 1820, and died in 1851. His wife was Margaret Breckenridge, and to them were born the following children: J. C., Sarah, Robert, Jane, Margaret, and Thomas. The latter was born in 1836, and was married to Margaret Breckenridge, who was born in 1840. They have seven children now living. He is extensively engaged in raising fine sheep, and has a farm of three hundred acres of land.

Enoch Preston first settled in Harmar in 1838. He was born in Maryland in 1806, and was united in marriage to Miss Margery Lytton, who was born in 1812. The surviving members of this family are Margaret A., wife of John W. Tuttle; Daniel L., Maria E., William L., and Mary J.

Miss Mary J. Preston was born in 1840 in Dunham township, and is now engaged in keeping a general supply store at Vincent station, where she began about one year ago, and at present carries a stock valued at two thousand dollars.

John Jones was born in Pennsylvania in 1803, and married Sarah Lavan, who was born the same year. In 1850 they became residents of Barlow township, remaining there until 1877; thence removing first to Fairfield and finally to Palmer township. His first wife dying in 1875, he married Mrs. Sarah K Winner, daughter of Ansel and Lida Forbes. Mr. Jones has eight children living, and Mrs. Jones has nine children by her first husband. Mr. Jones has held township office.

CHURCHES.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH - BARLOW VILLAGE.

The first meetings of this society were held in the old Hickory school-house, and was then on Marietta circuit. David Young was one of the early ministers, and is remembered as having at one time selected for his text the twenty-third verse of the fifth chapter of Judges—"Curse ye, Meroz, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof, because they came not to the help of the Lord." In the exposition of this text the minister, as was the custom in those days, repeated the text frequently, and each time with greater emphasis. An elderly lady from West Virginia happened to be present, and being afterward asked how she liked the sermon, replied: "The sermon was very good, but I am afraid the old man swore most too much."

The Methodists, after holding services in the Hickory schoolhouse for a number of years, built a log meetinghouse in I808, north of Barlow village, where they held services until the present church building was erected in the village, which was completed in 1836, though it has been much improved since then, having at present a cupola and bell; and is a good substantial frame, thirty- five by forty. Among the early preachers of this society was Jacob Young, a brother of David Young, who is remembered as a very efficient minister in building up this part of the circuit. The present parsonage, located near the church building, was completed in 1839, and was first occupied by Rev. James B. Austin. Among the ministers who preached on this circuit after the church was built, were: John Furree, presiding elder, William Strickland, Samuel Hamilton, presiding elder, (1838) James D. Webb and Joseph Gasner, Matthew Scoville, Sheldon Parker, Joseph Morris, Martin Wolf. In 1844 the circuit was changed to Barlow, after having been Marietta, then Belpre circuit for a number of years. The society at Barlow village is now in a flourishing condition under the present ministry of Rev. S. B. Ricketts, and has a membership of one hundred and fifteen. The Sabbath-school, under the superintendence of Daniel Canfield, meets every Sunday. In connection with the church is the Woman's Missionary society, organized and carried on by the ladies of the society, and succeeds in adding about thirty dollars yearly to the missionary fund of the general church.

PRESBYTERIAN (OLD SCHOOL) CHURCH-BARLOW VILLAGE.

The Proctor family were the pioneer Presbyterians of this locality, and the house of Nathan Proctor was the stopping place of the ministers of this denomination, and he would make an appointment for them to preach at night, or probably secure their services for Sabbath.

716 - HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO.

Revs: S. P. Robbins, Jacob and Stephen Lindley, were among the early ministers of this denomination. The present church building was erected in 1833, and the first organization was effected three years after (1836) by Revs. Addison Kingsbury and Luther Bingham, "the petition to presbytery having been signed by John Henry, John and Hugh Breckenridge, and others." The sermon, from First. Samuel, seventh chapter and second verse, was delivered by Rev. Kingsbury, and at the first meeting the following persons were received into communion by letter: Nill and Agnes McGeachy, Jeanette Johnson, and Elizabeth Bowman; afterwards, Joshua, Elizabeth, James and Hannah Rodgers, Thomas Breckenridge, John and Mary Martin, John Breckenridge, Charlotta Dunlap, David F. and Sophia Fleming, Michael Ormiston, and Duty Greene.

Revs. Manning and Roberts served this congregation as supplies until the first regular pastor, Rev. Samuel P. Dunham, was installed. In 1839 the "New School" society withdrew from this church, and erected a small frame building just east of Barlow village. Among the prominent members of this society were Robert Haddow, William Lamb, and Nelson Ford. They held services in this building until 1870, when the two Presbyterian societies again united, and the building was abandoned, the reunited society choosing the present house of worship. The present pastor, Rev. William Bay, has served this congregation about four years, and they have a present membership of about seventy-five, and are enjoying a good degree of prosperity. Services are held regularly every Sabbath, after which the Sabbath-school is convened, and an hour spent in the study of the Scripture and imparting the knowledge thereof to the children.

UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH—BARLOW VILLAGE.

This congregation was organized October 8, 1849, by. Samuel Findly, D. D. It was formed mainly of those who had withdrawn from the "Old School" congregation worshipping in the same village. Since its organization the following have been ministers in charge: Revs. S. M. Hutchinson, James McNeal, Julian Straus, and W. S. Harper. The pastoral work of Rev. J. D. Palmer, the present minister, began in May, 1876. Ruling elders: Daniel Drain, Almond Henderson, W. B. McGill, and Anderson Ferguson. Trustees: F. P. Deming, Andrew McFarland, and James Drain. The membership now numbers about one hundred, holding services in the brick building located in Barlow village. Services and Sabbath-school every Sabbath.

THE UNION CHURCH—VINCENT STATION.

This building is located in the northeast part of the village; is a frame twenty-five by forty feet, and was erected in 1867 by general subscription as a union church for the use of all denominations. The Universalists, Methodists, and Presbyterians hold services here, but the former has regular services under the ministerial charge of Rev. J. W. McMasters. The original trustees were John Onniston, Isaac Hopkins, and Isaac Dunlap. In 1866 Mrs. Sarah Hill first inaugurated the movement which resulted in the organization of the present union Sabbath-school, which now meets regularly at the church. The leading men in this congregation were Henry M. Amlin, John Ormiston, Osmer B. Vincent, and Hiram Gard. The object of the organization was to promote a general study of the bible without sectarian bias. The first officials were H. M. Amlin, superintendent; John Ormiston, assistant superintendent; 0. B. Vincent, secretary; J. Caleb Vincent, treasurer. At present there are eight teachers, one hundred and seventeen scholars, with a library of about one hundred and fifty volumes. The present officials are: John Ormiston, superintendent; J. C. Vincent, assistant superintendent; Emmett Agin, secretary; Florence M. Hayes, treasurer. The school is now in very prosperous condition, and is regarded as an institution productive of much good, morally, socially and intellectually, and great interest is felt among the moral people of this community for the continued success of the union Sabbath-school.

The Christian church was organized in 1846 under the administration of Rev. William Kelso. The first meeting was held at the house of Amos Pryor, who was the first elder of the church. In 1859 the present church building was erected. The ministers of the society have been, in the order of their services, Zephaniah Zollers, Isaac Newton, John Beard, Nathan Moody, H. Bing- man, Adam Cardner, John Moody, J. Neugent, Joseph Thomas, Ezra Barker, A. B. Wade, J. A. Walters, R. A. Pickens, Joseph Dunn, Joseph Dutton, and A. Calvert, the present clergyman. The society now numbers about thirty members, and has a prosperous Sabbath-school, of which A. Pryor is superintendent.

SCHOOLS.

In the fall of 1808-9 the first school-house was built on the northwest part of section sixteen, and was known as the old Hickory school-house. The first teacher was a young man—John Treat Deming—from Sandersfield, now Watertown. The next teacher was a venerable Irishman—Samuel Clark—who was well educated in mathematics and penmanship. He went from here to the vicinity of Fishtown in Fairfield, and afterwards removed to Columbus. For the following abstract of a description of this pioneer school-house we are indebted to the papers left by Henry Earle Vincent:

The house in which the pioneer children of Barlow township first learned their A, B, C, and to repeat "In Adam's fall we sinned all," was built entirely of rough hickory logs, with chimney of "cat and clay," and a broad fireplace wide enough to receive logs the length of a common fence-rail, which not only furnished fuel for fire but seats for the young urchins while warming themselves. The floor, benches and writing table were all made of rough-hewn puncheons—that is, logs split into slabs and some of the roughness " scutched" off with a broad-axe. Small cavities were left in the back wall in which the inkstands, containing the maple ink, were kept to protect it from the frost. The windows were made by cutting out a piece of a log six or eight feet in length and placing small sticks perpendicularly across the space at intervals, thus making a sash over which paper was pasted. The paper used was generally the well-scribbled leaves of old copy-books, as there were no newspapers in those days and blank paper was too scarce and too valuable to be used for such purposes. This paper was made transparent by being first generally coated with coon's grease, possum fat, and a fire-brand held to it until well melted.

The old schoolmaster was so deaf that the scholars would "talk right-out-loud," and often he would go to sleep and then the way the

HIRAM & ATALINE GARD

Cornelius Gard, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born near Morristown, New Jersey, on the thirtieth of October, 1749, (Old Style), was of English extraction, and married near Pughtown, in Frederick county, Virginia, on the first of October, 1774, Mary Hancher, whose parents were from Wales, and who was born June 22, 1757. Cornelius Gard came to Ohio from Frederick county, Virginia, in 1802; was a shoemaker by trade; lived in Washington and Licking counties; was a jovial and companionable man, and died in Palmer township, Washington county, November 2, 1841, , aged ninety-two years, his wife having preceded him in death about one year-dying August 6, 1840, aged eighty-three years. Both of them were members of the Methodist church. They left two sons-Timothy, the oldest, born February 21, 1780, and David, born April 18, 1782. Timothy married Nancy Davis, a lady reared by Isaac Williams, a pioneer who lived in Virginia, opposite the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers. Timothy died July 23, 1836, at Gratiot, Licking county, Ohio, leaving four sons-Isaac, Jeremiah, Timothy, Samuel, and one daughter, Polly.

David Gard, the father of Hiram Gard, was born in Hampshire county, Virginia, and married Mary Hiett, March 25, 1802, of same place. Came to Vienna, Virginia, six miles above Parkersburgh the same spring; lived there one year, and in 1803 moved to the White Oak settlement, in what is now Palmer township, Washington county, Ohio, at which place Hiram was born. In 1805 David returned to Vienna, Virginia, and remained there until the spring of rho when he returned to the White Oak settlement, then Wesley township, near where Brown's Mills were afterwards built, on Wolf creek, where he lived until his death February 16, 1859. His wife, Mary Hiett Gard, followed him in death from the same place May 15, 1861. David Gard was a man of sterling integrity, and honest in the fullest sense of the term; a man of very limited education but of good judgment, and much respected in society. He and his wife were both devoted and worthy members of the Methodist church for the last twenty years of their lives; were quiet in demeanor, much beloved and respected.

David Gard left two sons-Hiram, born May xx, r804, and James Hiett, born January 2, 1828; and four daughters-Maria, born August 20, 1806; Rowena, born December 20, 1810; Sophia, born January 3, 1815; and Jane, born March 15, 1817 (died in infancy by accidental scalding).

Of the daughters, Maria married Benjamin Mason Brown, of Athens county, on the eleventh of May, 1826, and died at Belpre, July 27, 1880, at the home of her son-in-law, justice Alderman, where she had lived many years in widowhood, receiving the kindest attention and best care that could be bestowed during a long illness. She left sons-Hiram McNeal, who died some years before his mother, leaving a wife, Mrs. Jane Brown, and one son, John Mason Brown; Charles Alonzo and John Area both enlisted in the service of the United States against the Rebellion, and were honorably discharged at the close of the war, Charles Alonzo having received a wound at the battle of Chickamauga, from which he finally recovered; Charles Alonzo, who married Martha Breckenridge; John Arra, who married Henrietta Stacy; and Saphrona Josephine, who married the aforesaid Justice Alderman and lives in Belpre village.

Rowena married Edward Camp October 3, 1833, and reared two sons-George L., and David H., both of whom served honorably in the war against the Rebellion (George L., during an engagement with the enemy, at the battle of Mission Ridge, stopped one of the enemy's balls, which passed through many thick nesses of blanket and his trousers, and stopped in the midst of his silver lever watch, after entirely destroying it); and three daughters-Josephine, who married William Vincent; Augusta, who married twice-Dr. William Bates and J. R. Horniday; and Emma, unmarried.

Sophia Gard married James M. Palmer November 4, 1835, and had three sons -David F., who married Miss Shrader; Dudley, who died in the Union army in Tennessee; and Hiram, who married Augusta Evans; and three daughters - Mary, who married Jesse Murdock; and Lydia and Laura, who are unmarried. Jane Gard died in infancy by a scald.

James H. married Ruth G. Palmer December a, 1852. He also enlisted in the Union army and served a term of some three months. He left two daughters -Clara and Lucy, their oldest daughter, Ella, having died young. James H. died August 8, 1865. His widow and the two little daughters moved to Oregon where they still reside.

Hiram Gard, the oldest son of David Gard, married Ataline Gage Dunamoor February 25, 1830. They have reared four sons-Edward Dunemoor, Charles Edgar, Daniel Hosmer, and Hiel Abner; and three daughters-Mary Melissa, Martha Jane, and Helen Josephine.

Edward, first son, married Jane Breckenridge April 28,1853, and died November 25, 1855. His daughter, Martha Ataline, was born after his death, on May 17, 1856, and died April 17, 1881.

Edward D. was a very industrious and persevering young man, and had already founded a comfortable home at the time of his premature death.

Charles Edgar, second son, was born March 31, 1832, and married Rachel Broadwell September 3, 1860, who was born April 10, 1841, at Mt. Cannel, Ohio. They have two sons-Orlo Lark, born November 6, 1862; Onis Brent, born February 15, 1876; and one daughter-Grace Adena, born May 16, 1862, Charles was a surveyor and engineer (after being reared on a farm, where he studied and worked hard for an education), but finally settled down to merchandising, to which business he applies himself closely and shrewdly. He has served as just tice of the peace one term and also as county surveyor.

Daniel Hosmer, third son, was born at Palmer February 24, 1844, and married Ella E. Rider November 5, 1868. They have one son, born May 3, 1876, named Wordsworth. He is a telegraph operator; has always made that his business, and is now superintendent of two lines of railway telegraph, viz; Hocking Valley and Columbus & Toledo railroads. He lives at Columbus, Ohio, where he has built a fine residence on Long street, near the crossing of Lexington avenue. He is a man of close application and good business habits, and stands high with his associates and the railroad companies.

Hiel Abner, third and youngest son, born August 19, 1853, married Flora Belle Ellenwood, November 13, 1879, is a young farmer, a man of good judgment, and prides himself on raising good stock and having everything near around him, and carries on the home farm cat Vincent. Three sons, together with the daughters whose names will follow,'were all born at Palmer, Washington county, Ohio.

Mary Melissa, the oldest daughter, was born March 31, 1834, and married Leonidas Pitt Pond November 23, 1854, who died January 25, 1875. Mr. Pond was hauling wood at a distance from his house; the ground was sloping and frozen but slightly thawed on top; the wagon slipped and upset, horses and all, into a broad gulley, the wood under the wagon and Mr. Pond under one of the

THE GARD FAMILY.

horses, which was also down. He was dead when found by his wife several hours afterward. He left four sons. Hiram Otis, the oldest, born November 15, 1855, was a telegraph operator in the principal office of the Columbus & Toledo railroad at Columbus, Ohio; is now chief train dispatcher on the same road. He was born minus one hand, the arm terminating a few inches below the elbow, an apparent evil perhaps working Inc his good. Charles Orland, second son, born November 26, 148, a promising young man of six feet three inches: Beman Lew, third son, born June 9, 1867, and Sylvester Pitt, fourth and last son, born February 22, 1870.

Martha Jane, second daughter of H. Gard, was born January 29, 1836, and married Joel Mason Danley June 19, 1856, who enlisted in the Union army in the spring of 1862 for three years, and before he had seen many months service, took the measles, followed by pneumonia, which caused his death at Carthage Ferry while in the service of his country. He reared one son, Robert Joel Mason, born September 26, 1861 (this son is also a telegraph operator in the principal office of the Hocking Valley railroad at Columbus), and one daughter, Ida Leona, born June 21, 1858, married to Stewart E. Crewson.

Helen Josephine, third daughter, was born August 22, 1839, and was married to Henry C. Vincent January an20. 1864. Ms. They have one son, Fred Wilber, born July 1, 1864. Mr. Vincent lives at Vincent, Ohio; he is also a telegraph operator, one of the first who learned to operate on the old Marietta and Cincinnati railroad; he has followed the business most of his life.

Hiram Gard, the subject of the portrait, was born in Washington county, in what was then called the White Oak settlement, which is now included in Palmer township. From 1805 to 1810 he was absent in Virginia, after which he returned and remained until 1854, when he removed to Vincent, in Barlow township. He was absent from that place some five years, living at New England, Athens county; at the expiration of which he returned to Vincent, where he now resides. In early life he was engaged to some extent in driving and dealing in stock, also in merchandising and milling. Subsequently at Vincent he graded about one and a half miles of the old Marietta & Cincinnati railroad track. At the age of nineteen he was elected a captain of militia, and a year or two later, lieutenant colonel of the same. In 1840 he was elected county commissioner for Washington county. He was frequently called to serve as viewer of State and county roads, and as justice of the peace in different townships in Washington and Athens counties. He once received a tie vote for nomination as representative of Washington county. He married, February 25, 1830, Ataline Gage Dunsmoor, the daughter of Phineas and Polly Dunsmoor, of Goshen, Sullivan county, New Hampshire. On February 25, 1880, they celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of their happy wedded life, surrounded by all their children, most of their grandchildren, and many of their friends. Hiram Gard, to a character of sterling worth unites a genial, hearty temperament, which rejoices in the society of friends, and finds the chief pleasure of life in their companionship. A good talker, he possesses a fund of anecdote and reminiscence which makes him excellent company. He has that self-depreciation and that lack of self-consciousness which render him always more thoughtful for the happiness of others than of himself. His incorruptible honesty as well as his strong hold on the affections of his acquaintances and friends are illustrated by an incident in his business career. At one time he became deeply involved in debt, and his friends urged him to avail himself of the advantage of the bank. rept law. He refused to do so, saying in substance that it was a law for sneaks. "There is my property," said he, "take it and divide it up among you as far as it will go, and if I ever make any more I will pay the whole debt; but will not take advantage of the bankrupt law." Several judgments were secured against him, and articles of his property were, in pursuance thereof, offered at sheriff's sale; but in no instance, save one, was there one of his neighbors who was willing to bid, and, consequently, the property remained unsold. He redeemed himself and paid all in full.

Phineas Dunsmoor was born in Townsend, Massachusetts, December 29, 1771. Polly Gage, his wife, was born in Pelham, New Hampshire, July 16, 1782, and was the daughter of Abner Gage, a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and at the battle Of Bunker Hill had a portion of his foot taken off by a cannon ball. They were married April 10, 1798. He owned a large farm at Charleston, New Hampshire, where they resided until Ataline was about five years old, when he sold his farm and purchased a hotel stand and farm adjoining, at Goshen, Sullivan county, New Hampshire, where they resided until Ataline was five years old; he then sold his property in New Hampshire, and bought of J. Buck a farm of nine hundred and five acres, situated in the Ohio company's purchase, Wesley township, Washington county, Ohio. They left New Hampshire the same spring and arrived in Wesley, July 25. 1822. He died May 6, 1823, at the same place, leaving his widow with seven children. These were: Horace, born October 11, 1799: Abner G., born March 27, 1804; Mary K., born August 23, 1805; Hiel, born October 20, 1807, Lucius P., born January 25, Ataline G., born September 18, 1812 (all the above born at Charleston, New Hampshire); Daniel N., born in Goshen November 26, 1817. Their mother died at Barlow March 20, 1857. Their ancestors came to this country in 1719, and settled in Londonderry, New Hampshire. They descended from Lord John Dinsmore, of Achumeed, Scotland: who possessed a large tract of land in the north of Ireland, Londonderry county.

Londonderry, New Hampshire, derived its name from Londonderry, Ireland name given by first settlers there. From the above are descended all the Densmores, Dunsmoors, and Dinsmores of this county.

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO - 717

young rogues in "home-spun and linsey" would "cut-up" was nobody's business but the teacher's and he did not know it. When dismissed for noon, the first one on the ice was the best fellow—but the best fellow in this case happened to be a tall, portly girl, who generally led the van in all the sports. The old school-house has long since, with the youthful actors in the scenes about its portals, passed away forever.

The early schools received some support from the rents of the lands granted by Congress for that purpose. The other expenses were paid by subscription from the parents who had children to send to school. As an illustration of how teachers were engaged the following contract is appended:

The article of agreement between James Lawton, jr. and his employers:

Witnesseth, that he on his part agrees to teach the school during the term of three months in which he is to teach the different parts of learning that may be required according to his best ability.

For the above service (when performed) the undersigned agree to give the said James Lawton the sum of $36.00, half in cash or store orders the other in the following articles of produce, viz : Merino wool (not less than one-fourth blooded) at 50 c. per lb., flax at 12 1/2 whiskey at 31 c. per gal., linen cloth 30 c., and that which is called four and thirty linen.

This township has now eight school districts, all provided with school buildings and teachers supported under the present public school system at public expense. At the present time there are three hundred and forty-three pupils enrolled, with an average daily attendance of two hundred and twenty-seven. And the average number of weeks these schools were in session during the last year (1880) was twenty-six. The present educational advantages as compared with the past is not better exemplified in any other locality than in Barlow when we recall old Hickory school-house with its unhewn logs, its copy-book windows, clapboard seats, and few, if any books, with the present comfortable houses and many appliances and facilities in educational pursuits.

THE BARLOW AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION.

In response to a call for a meeting to organize an agricultural society, about fifteen persons assembled at the town house in Barlow August 24, 1872. Daniel Canfield was called to the chair, and I. B. Lawton was appointed secretary. The election of officers resulted as follows: William Thompson, president; Thomas Fleming, vice-president; directors—for two years, John Ormiston, Daniel Canfield, C. S. Prugh, James H. Breckenridge; for one year, D. N. Dunsmore, Robert Dunlap, Rufus Beach, and C. H. Goddard; I. F. Palmer, secretary.

The grove of C. D. Ford, about a mile west of Barlow village, was immediately fitted up for the first exhibition, which was held September 24 and 25, 1872. The first exhibition was very much larger than was anticipated, there being over three hundred entries, and general interest was awakened and deepened by the discussion of various questions of farm interest.

The total receipts for the first year were seventy-five dollars and thirty-five cents; expenses, fifty-six dollars and ninety-four cents; leaving a balance of eighteen dollars and forty-one cents in the treasury, to begin the improvements and make arrangements for the next exhibition. The grounds are now amply fitted for a very creditable display; having a domestic and art hall twenty by sixty feet, farm products hall twenty by sixty feet, an ornamental flower pavilion with a fountain, a sheep shed of fifty-six pens, arranged in a circle, enclosing an open space in the centre for exhibition; cattle and horse sheds containing over over one hundred and fifty stalls; and the enclosure of the grounds embraces an area of about fifteen acres, well supplied with . water. The gross receipts of last year were six hundred and forty-six dollars and ninety-six cents, and expenditures five hundred and ninety-four dollars and ninety-nine cents. The present officers are: William Thompson, president; Robert Breckenridge, vice-president; directors, Thomas Fleming, C. S Prugh, Roscoe Walcott, John Ormiston, C. S. Laflin, D. R. Shaw, J. H. Breckenridge; I. F. Palmer, treasurer; F. P. Deming, secretary.

BARLOW TEMPERANCE UNION.

The object of this society is to increase the interest in the cause of temperance. The Murphy pledge is used and the meetings are public, which are enlivened and made attractive by literary exercises. The first meeting was held February 26, 1880, at the Methodist Episcopal church. Rev. J. D. Palmer was called to the chair, and prayer offered by Rev. S. B. Ricketts. Sixty-five persons signed the pledge at the first meeting, and the membership has increased to two hundred and twenty-five. The election of officers resulted as follows: D. H. Merrill, president ; J. H. Breckenridge, vice-president; Miss Nettie Loynacan, secretary; Miss Anna R. Ford, treasurer. The Union is now in active and successful operation, and is considered as an effectual agent in promoting moral reform in this locality.

WOOL GROWERS' ASSOCIATION.

The sheep breeders and wool growers of Washington county met at the residence of William Thompson, in Fairfield township, March 24, 1876, for the purpose of organizing an association. Thomas Fleming was called to the chair, and G. B. Quinn, secretary; R. Breckenridge, treasurer. The committee appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws reported as the object of the association, the promotion of harmony and more intelligent action among sheep breeders by the interchange of ideas and information, and the careful and unprejudiced comparison of stock and productions. On motion it was decided that a "shearing" be held the following spring at the residence of William Thompson, and a committee was appointed to arrange for the meeting. James Hiett, Andrew Harvey, William' R. Putnam, James Trotter, George Coffman, and Pemberton Palmer were appointed judges of sheep. At this shearing, which was held May r, 1876, the examinations were made as to the breed, age, age of fleece, weight of carcases and of fleece, quality of wool and condition, length of staple, density of fleece, yolkiness, covering of belly, head, and legs, wrinkliness, form and constitution. The sheep were first examined by the committee, then sent to the shearer; the shearer turns the fleeces over to the committee on fleeces, and, after examination, they are bundled and labelled,

718 - HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO.

and recorded by the secretary. Over one hundred and fifty head of sheep were presented for examination at the first meeting.

The meetings of the association are held regularly once a month from October to May. The present officials are : Joseph H. Gage, president; John Ormiston, vice-president: F. P. Deming, secretary; R. Breckenridge, treasurer.

BARLOW GRANGE NO. 712 PATRONS OF HUSBANDRY.

The organization of this grange was effected in April, 1874, and the original officials were: D. N. Dunsmore, master; J. E. Lawton, overseer; C. C. Lawton, lecturer; J. W. Bradhurst, chaplain; D. Hartson, steward; Andrew Harvey, assistant steward; S. W. Harvey, secretary; D. H. Fleming, treasurer; Mrs. S. W. Harvey, Ceres; Mrs. P. Dunsmore, Pomona; Mrs. D. H. Fleming, Flora; Miss Hannah Fleming, stewardess. The charter members, including the above, were: E. F. Greene, P. Dunsmore, D. A. Dunsmore, William Fleming, J. W. Morris, Josiah Scott, Tremont Maister, Misses Emma Fleming, Nettie and Sarah Henry.

The building in which the meetings are held is located in East Barlow, and is a frame twenty by forty feet, erected by the grange in 1874. The meetings have been harmonious, though in debate on various questions affecting general interests, opinions are freely expressed, no serious discussions have occurred, and at present, though somewhat embarrassed by financial difficulties, in which this and other granges became involved by departing from grange principles and attempting to conduct business on plani not contemplated by the organization. This embarrassment has seriously injured the grange movement, although, so far as this society is concerned, every effort is being made to push the finances to final and satisfactory settlement, and to continue the organization, and make it an organization of substantial benefit to all classes as well as the farmer. The present membership is about twenty, though but about half of the original membership, it embraces among its numbers many of the substantial and reliable farmers of this locality.

CEMETERIES. -BARLOW CENTRAL CEMETARY ASSOCIATION.

This association was formed February 14, 1859, at a meeting called for that purpose, held at the town house in Barlow village. The officers of the association were elected, viz: D. C. Perry, John Vincent, James W. Merrill, James Haddow, and J. H. Breckenridge, trustees; James W. Merrill, treasurer; John Lawton, sexton. An addition was made to the old burying-grounds immediately east of Barlow village, on the Proctor farm. The lots were surveyed twelve by twenty feet, with an alley four feet wide between. These grounds are kept in repair by the association, and are now the principal burying-grounds of the township.

MILLS.

In early times "going to mill" was a pilgrimage requiring long absence from home, and at best, an uncertain return, and accompanied by many difficulties unknown to the present generation. Henry E. Vincent leaves on record a very full description of a journey of this kind from this locality to the mill on Big Hocking, some fifteen or twenty miles distant. The roads were but paths through the woods, and often led dangerously near the deep gorges and precipices of the rough country through which he passed. In the route he passed along the Big West branch, and here met with an accident. By a sudden slide of the wagon his load was precipitated over a precipice; down went sack after sack bounding over the rocks and tumbling over each other in their rapid descent, and to crown all, his bucket of biscuits burst from their confinement and went skipping down over the rocks after the sacks of grain, causing the hapless victim to smile in the midst of the disaster. He finally arrived at the mill, though it was fast growing dark, on Friday, and was informed that he could not have the grist before the following Sunday. But there were several others there patiently waiting for their supply of meal, and they camped around the miller's fire, where they passed the time in telling jokes, and the fun and mirth that went gaily around the miller's fire during those long nights must be imagined. The trip home was performed on the following Sunday, and by the assistance of a neighbor who rode with him from the mill, he was finally enabled to reach home in safety.

Barlow mill, located in the village of Barlow, was erected in 1859, by Haynes & Basim, and now belongs to Merrill & Ford, operated by D. E. Basim. It is a substantial frame building, two stories high, and has two run of stone, with capacity of two hundred bushels per day.

Since the abandonment of the railroad no shipping has been done, the trade being generally confined to custom work. This is the only flour mill within the bounds of the township, and now furnishes a large and growing community with all the usual commodities of the trade.

BARLOW VILLAGE.

The plat of this village was originally made in 1840, with John McCuig, Horatio Ford and Lyman Laflin, proprietors, and consisted of eleven lots of fifty-four acres each, and located near the Marietta and Belpre roads. The first house within the plat was a small frame located on the southeast corner (now used as a kitchen to J. W. Merritt's residence), and was built by Elias Woodruff and John Pratt for a grocery. The first store was where the present store of Merrill Bros. now stands, and Lyman Laflin kept the first post office south of the present store. At present the village has one general store, one blacksmith shop, one tin shop, one shoe shop, one wagon shop, one cabinet-maker and undertaker and one flour mill, two physicians and three churches.

Fleming station is a small collection of houses with one store and post office kept by Lyman Tullis in east part of township on the old Marietta & Cincinnati railroad.

VINCENT STATION.

This small village, located in the southwestern part of the township on the old line of the Marietta & Cin-

HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO - 719

cinnati railroad, was first laid out in lots, August 3, 1853, by Henry Earle Vincent, proprietor. The first house built within the original plat was erected by Enoch Preston on lot eight, where he kept the first house of entertainment and where he yet lives as proprietor of the Preston house. The first post office was kept by Henry E. Vincent in the present station house (1857), and the first store was kept by Church B. Tuttle on the lot, where the present store house of H. Gard & Son now stands. The village now contains two general stores, one saloon, one church, and one cooper-shop. The abandonment of the Marietta & Cincinnati railroad was a serious blow to the rather flattering prospects of the village from which there are small hopes of recovery.