556 - HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO.

CHAPTER XL.

ADAMS TOWNSHIP.

Geography, Soil and Scenery—Mineral Wealth—The Adams Garrison —Names of First Settlers—Other Early Settlers—German Emigration—Negro Colony—Societies—Masonic Lodge—Odd Fellows Lodge—Grange—Churches—Early Religious Meetings—Physicians —Early Events—Township Organization—Lowell Business Enterprises.

ADAMS, a large township lying east of Waterford, and bordering on Noble county, possesses a variety of soil and scenery. The Muskingum river flows through a fertile alluvial valley of variable width in the southern half. High terraces rise abruptly on both sides and extend to the borders. These terraces on the north are drained by Coal run, Big run, Cat's creek and Bear run. There are no streams worthy of a name emptying into the Muskingum from the south. The bluff which faces the river on this side is higher than the terraces lying futther back, and throws the water from them into Rainbow and its branches.

The hills along Coal run, Big run, and Cat's creek, contain heavy seams of coal of a fair quality, which would be an unlimited source of wealth were it not for the unfortunate circumstance that the market in this region is very meagre. Great repositories of coal can only be of value in the presence of manufacturing establishments, and at this age of the world railroads are as necessary to manufacturing operations as steam pipes to an engine. As has been noted in the chapter on Waterford, mines about the mouth of Coal run have been opened and supply the local needs of the community, but the economic resources of the township can be fully developed only by railroad facilities.

The soil of this township, considering its physical features, is upon the whole superior. The river alluvians are as productive though not as extensive as those of Waterford. The soil on the terraces has been made fertile by disintegrated limestone, and produces satisfactory crops of wheat and other cereals.

THE SETTLEMENT.

The improvement of the territory of Adams township was retarded about four years by the Indian war. Donation lots were drawn in 1789, and many of the owners joined the Waterford colony, or more properly the Second association, and were confined within the garrison at that place. A few others remained at Marietta— the owners of Bear Creek allotment nearly all resided in Campus Martius.

The settlement of Adams was cotemporary with the settlement of the block-house colony on the south branch of Wolf creek, but fortunately suffered no such disaster as the murder of Sherman Waterman, although that event caused great anxiety in the frail garrison located nearly opposite the site of the present town of Buell's Lowell. The inhabitants of this garrison were four families and four single men, all of whom owned land in the vicinity and employed the time during the first summer at clearing and building cabins. The garrisoned cabins which stood near each other on the river bank belonged to, and were occupied by, Nicholas Coburn, with whom Asa, his brother, then a single man, boarded; Robert Allison, with whom Oliver Dodge boarded; Nathan Kinny and family, admitted to their cabin Joseph Simons, and William Davis, whose cabin was the home, during the first summer, of Daniel Davis.

By the close of the summer of 1795, a clearing had been made on each man's farm, and a cabin had been erected by those with families. Permanent peace with the Indians broke the pickets from the garrison fence, and the little band which necessity had made neighbors scattered to their possessions. The improvement of other lots now commenced, and in a few years much of the thick and heavy forest of the Muskingum alluvians gave place to fields of stout corn. Of the eight first settlers three—Robert Allison, Oliver Dodge and Joseph Simons, were at Marietta during the war, the other five were at Waterford.

The Coburns and their descendants are prominent in the history of the township. Major Coburn, who came to Marietta in the latter part of 1788, was one of three brothers who entered the Colonial army at the opening of the Revolution. Andrew, the eldest, was killed at Bunker Hill Abraham also lost his life in battle. Asa served as captain, and after the recognition of the Government was retired with the rank of major. All three belonged to the Massachusetts line. Phineas, eldest son of Asa, joined the first company of Ohio emigrants. Major Asa, with his sons Nicholas and Asa, came half a year later. The father and three sons joined the second association. The burial place of Major Coburn is unknown. He died at Waterford during the Indian war. Nicholas and Asa settled on the bottom, opposite the mouth of Cat's creek, on adjoining lots. Asa died in 1827, leaving seven children, three of whom, Sibyl, Asa and Minerva, live on the homestead; Sarah, Samuel and Parsis are dead; Lucy is married to Joseph Frye, who lives on the Coburn farm. Mrs. Coburn, whose maiden name was Rhoda Baker, daughter of Dr. Baker, died in 1816.

Joseph Frye, father of Joseph Frye, jr., came from Maine to Waterford, where he was one of the early school teachers. He married Sally Becker, by whom he had three children: Sophrania, died young; Rhoda, married John Wilkins, of Adams township, and Joseph, in 1840, married Lucy Coburn, who was born in the year 1809. Joseph was born in the year aro. Their family consists of two children—Sarah, wife of Oliver Keil, of Darke county, and John W., of this township, who was born January 14, 1841. He married, August 19, 1863, Melinda Mason, who was born October 10, 1840. They have four children—Henry C., Harley E., Joe W., and Nellie M. The permanent settlement of Phineas Coburn, eldest son of Major Coburn, was in Morgan county. Nicholas Coburn, after making considerable progress in improving his land, traded with James Owens and removed to Morgan county.. Three daughters of Major Asa Coburn married Ohio pioneers. Sibyl, first wife of Andrew Webster, died in Massachusetts. Her husband and two sons—Adelpha and Asa

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C., belonged to the second association. Mary, second daughter of Major Coburn, was married to Gilbert Devol. Susanna was married to William Mason.

Of the little group of pioneer families of 1795, Robert Allison's was the largest. Mr. Allison came to the county from Pennsylvania in the fall of 1788, and lived in the stockade until the spring of 1795, when he joined the Adams colony. He had drawn lot fourteen, in Cat's Creek allotment, and in the fall he removed his family into a cabin erected during the summer. The family consisted of eleven children, the second of whom, Nancy, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, October 22, 1784. She was married to Stephen Frost, son of Samuel Frost, December 18, 1800. They had seven children—Robert, Clarissa, Louisiana, Rosetha, Nancy, Stephen, and Eliza. Louisiana, the third child, was born September 16, 1807. She was married to John Stacy, son of Joseph Stacy, of Muskingum township. Five children was the fruit of this marriage—Miles, Austin, Luceba, Sophia, and Mary. Austin, the second child, was born in Adams township, September 25, 1830. He married, April 22, 1858, Lydia Pixley, daughter of Fremont Pixley, of Marion county, Ohio. She was born October 9, 1837. Eight children have blessed this union—Albert F., Jessie M., George P., Osmer 0., William, Harry, Mary, and Littie; all of whom are living. Mrs. Frost, now in her ninety-seventh year, is a remarkably well preserved woman. Her memory of events at Marietta, during the Indian war is clear, and to her the writer of this chapter is indebted for his information concerning the first settlement. Longevity was a characteristic of some of her ancestors. The father of Robert Allison lived to the extreme old age of one hundred and four.

Oliver Dodge was one of the forty-eight who came to Ohio in April, 1788. He had seven brothers, but one of whom, Nathaniel, one of Marietta's early merchants, came to Ohio. Oliver was born at Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, in 1776. He was in Campus Martius during the Indian war, and joined the Adams colony in the spring of 1795. He frequently walked to Marietta to purchase provisions, and carried them home on his back. In January, 1800, he married Mrs. Nancy Manchester. Her maiden name was Devol. Her first husband died before she came to Ohio. Mr. Dodge, after the first summer, had lived alone in the lonely neighborhood, one year in a hollow sycamore tree. He lived on the farm until his health failed, when he came to Marietta for medical treatment, and died at the residence of his brother on Putnam street. He was buried on his farm in Adams township, with Masonic honors, the lodge conducting his body for burial in a barge up the river. He had two children: Richard Hubbard, born in iiior, and Mary Manchester, born in 1807. Richard married, October 4, 1825, Betsy H. McCoy, who was born in this county in 1801. Richard was familiarly termed an odd genius, and many anecdotes are told of him. He never permitted anything to change his plans. Upon one occasion his wife was intending to go on horseback with him to church. "Dick" brought out a favorite horse saddled for two, and rode to the block, where he waited a short time for his companion, whose coming was not as prompt as he desired, and without a word he hastened alone to the church. He had a mania for horses, and once, while riding to church with his wife, the horse struck a gait so satisfactory to the head rider that he was not permitted to stop until the meeting-house had been left five miles behind. Richard had no children, and with him the family in this line became extinct. They lived for many years at the homestead, until his health failed, and then removed to McConnelsville, where he died November 2, 1866. Mary Manchester, only daughter of Oliver Dodge, was married to Perley B. Johnson, of Marietta. Oliver and his son Richard were tall, thin men. "The Dodges always lived as they pleased and died as they pleased."

Nathan Kinny, who has been mentioned as one of the eight, and whose name appears in the early history of Waterford, was a native of Nova Scotia, and a descendant of an aristocratic English family. Mr. Kinny married Massa Wilson, a member of the Wilson family of Waterford township. He owned the farm on which the garrison stood during the first summer. The friendship formed between these pioneer families seems to have been of a permanent character, for two of the sons of Robert Allison, William and Stephen, married two of the daughters of Nathan Kinny, Elizabeth and Abigail, respectively. Sarah, the second daughter of Mr. Kinny, married Wyram Bartlett, of Waterford.

William and Daniel Davis, sons of Captain Daniel Davis, one of .the forty-eight first emigrants, owned lots rn Bear Run allotment. After Wayne's treaty they left the garrison on the Kinny farm, and moved to their own land, a part of which was cleared and planted the first summer. Williard, one of the sons of William Davis, was born March 5, 1806. He married in 1827, Caroline Shepard, who was born in New York, November 27, 1811. Their family consisted of five children, viz: Elizabeth, Walter, Susan, Willard H., and Mary C., three of whom are living, Elizabeth, Walter, and Willard. Walter was born August 8, 1832. He married, May 17, 1863, Elizabeth Trapp, daughter of Philip Trapp. They have had five children, four of whom are living: Willard F., Katie, Rosa, and Walter. Mr. Davis has been in mercantile business in Lowell for about seventeen years.

James Owen, who came into possession of the Nicholas Coburn lot, emigrated to Ohio with his family in the spring of 1788, from Rhode Island. His first wife was Mary Gardner. After her death he married Ruby Brown. Daniel Owen, one of the sons, afterwards became a resident of this township. He was born in Rhode Island, November 25, 1782. He married, April 10, 1804, Hannah Allison. He married, for his second wife, February 20, 1820, Betsy Green, and for his third, February 29, 1828, Deborah Sprague Swift. By his first wife he had seven children: Sally, Polly, Azabab, Vincent, Leander, and Allison; by his second, Olivet G., and by his third, Hannah, Daniel, and Henry. Daniel, the only survivor of the last named three, was born No-

550 - HISTORY OF WASHINGTION COUNTY, OHIO.

vember 28, 1831. He was married May 9, 1852, to Mercy. Chapman, who was born November 23, 1830. They have three children: Florence, Alice, and Linnie.

William Mason, a native of Massachusetts, joined the Forty-eight Ohio emigrants in April, 1788, and it is said was the second man to leave the boat at Marietta. He married, March 14, 1790, Susanna Coburn. He had received the title of colonel in the Revolution and was a man of prominence in the early community. He settled in Adams in 1796 or 1797, on the bottom and plain nearly opposite the site of Upper Lowell, where he died September 26, 1813. Of a family of twelve children but one is yet living, Jonas, the third child. There is a tradition that he was the first child .born in the township, but this is disputed by others. Adams was at that time a new community and medical services could be obtained only at Marietta or Waterford. This circumstance made it prudent for the wives of the youthful Adams settlement to spend the period of expectancy in one of the older communities. It is said that for more than two years after its first settlement, no child was born on Adams territory. We are unable to say positively whether or not Mr. Mason was born in this township. He was born May 23, 1797. He married Beulah Stacey, who was born in Rainbow, October 8, 1804. They were married January 24, 1822. The other members of the family of Colonel Mason will be remembered by the old people of this township. Pamela married John Roach, of Adams; Joseph finally settled in Missouri; William lived and died in Upwer Lowell; Susan married in Marion county, where she died; Elijah lived back of Upper Lowell; Simeon settled in Missouri; Sophronia married Solomon Parke, of Watertown; Clarinda married Abner Devol, of Adams; and Adelpha Coburn Mason, who was born April 12, 1814. He married, in 1836, Patience Simons and settled on lots 8 and 9 of Cat's Creek survey. He had six children who settled as follows: Reuben S., on the Nicholas Coburn farm; Oscar F., in Kansas; William W., killed in the war; Vestie S., (Foster), in Waterford township; Elijah J., in Marietta; and Electa K. (Owen), in Illinois. Reuben S., the oldest son, married Miss L L. Stacy, by whom he had four children.

Isaac, youngest son of William and Sarah Mason, was born August 7, 1826. He married, March 25, 1847, Delia Allison, who was born April 10, 1821, and died December 21, 1876. He married for his second wife Anthia Simons, March 22, 1877. She was born October 17, 1838. By his first wife he had six children: Amy, Chester, Delia A., Melissa A., Stephen, and Rachel. C. By his second wife, two: Cloyd R., and Mertie.

William B., second son of Colonel. Mason, was born in 1800, and in 1821 married Henrietta McDonald, who was born in the District of Columbia, in 1804. Two children by this marriage are living: Elizabeth, wife of Warner Green, of Harmar, and William B., jr. The latter, born in 1823, was married in 1852, to Lucetta B. Mason, by whom he has two children: Mary E., and William B. Mrs. Mason's family were not related to the family by her husband, although her father's name, curiously enough, was William B. Mason. Colonel W. B. Mason was county recorder from 1855 to 1861, when he left for the war, entering the army as a private and coming out in 1865 as colonel of the Sixty-third regiment. In 1866 he was elected county treasurer, holding the office during one term. From 1870 to 1878, he was postmaster at Marietta. In 1880 he engaged in the hat business in Marietta.

Mr. Isaac Devol, of Tiverton, Rhode Island, was born in August, 1774; married Elizabeth Brownell, of Portsmouth, in 1798, and came to Ohio the same year in company with two brothers, Allen and Daniel, two sisters and a widowed mother. He bought a farm on the Muskingum, not far from Big run. He built on his farm a large stone house, which is still standing. He followed the sea for several years previous to his marriage and visited both the East and West Indies. He died November 4, 1851, and his wife eleven years afterward. They were the parents of eleven children-George W., Clarissa, Rebecca, Abner, Richmond, David, Patience, Isaac, Nathan B., Charles M., and Cynthia-of whom are living: Richmond, in Missouri, Patience, wife of Edmund Morse, in Athens county, and Charles M., in Muskingum township, this county. The latter married Celina M. Olney, and has five children-Russell S., who is professor of mathematics in the Ohio university, Athens; Mary E., (Mrs. Cook) in Morris, Illinois; Alice D., in Kansas; Silian, in Muskingum, and Charles M., jr., at home.

William Mason, a native of Pennsylvania, emigrated to Ohio and settled in Adams township in 1797. He married Rebecca Sharp, by whom he had eight children, three boys and five girls. William, the fifth child, was born in Pennsylvania, September 9, 1796. He married twice; first Luna Sprague, April 18, 1818. She died in 1839. He married for his second wife Nancy Sprague. His family consisted of ten children: Lydnay, Rachel, Eliza, Adeline, Lucy, Sarah, and Sylvester, by his first wife; and Melinda, Melissa, and William W., by his second. Sylvester married, July 22, 1856, Harriet Barnes.

She died March 16, 1880, leaving two children, Vestie L and George D. He married for his second wife, November 18, 1880, Caroline Reaney.

It was once said by a census enumerator, that he only asked the first names of the inhabitants of the Muskingum valley, between rainbow and the mouth of Wolf creek. He could tell by family resemblance whether they were Devols, Masons, or Spragues. An effort has already been made to briefly trace the other two families.

The Sprague family, in Washington county, is descended from an old English family of thatl name. Joshua Sprague, second, was born in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1729. He married twice, first to Amy Darling, second to Abigail Wilber, from whom the Spragues of Adams township are descended. The family were living in Nova Scotia at the opening of the Revolution, but at that time removed to Massachusetts. Joshua served during the war as major. He lost all his property during the war. In 1788, accompanied by his two sons, Jonathan

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and William, he came to Simrell's ferry with a horse and two wheeled vehicle. They came by water to Marietta, arriving in June. Mr. Sprague and his sons took the contract of building one of the block-houses, for which they recived one hundred dollars. They joined the second association in the spring of 1789, and were at Waterford during the Indian war. In the spring of 2784 the remaining members of the family were removed to Waterford. Joshua lived in Waterford until 1812, when he removed to Adams township, where he died October, 1816. Abigail, his wife died at the same place, December 10, 1825, in her ninety-fifth year. Joshua's descendants at the time of his death numbered one hundred and sixty-three. The sons of Joshua numbered nine and the daughters four. Of these, William settled and died in Adams township; James in Muskingum county; Samuel on Meigs creek; Wilber in Jackson county; Frederick, in Columbus; Nehemiah, in Adams township; and Jonathan, the head of the Spragues, now living in Adams, settled on the bottom opposite Coal Run, in 1803, and built the stone house now occupied by his son, Elijah. He also built a mill which is still standing; it was known as the Island mill. He also had a distillery. His sons were Wayne, who lived on the old Lord farm, and died in 1848; Jonathan is still living in the valley, near the homestead; Joshua died in 1828, on a farm near the mill; Elijah occupies the old house; Seaman lives in the west; and Benjamin lived in Waterford. The family has always been highly respectable as well as numerous.

Stephen Frost improved the farm now owned by A. 0. Stacey, nearly opposite Buell's Lowell. Michael Cyphers, a Pennsylvanian, came to this township about 1803, and made an improvement on the Flick farm. John Green and a Mr. Brown were temporary settlers on the upper end of the Coburn bottom. Esquire Lord lived at Marietta during the Indian war. He afterwards purchased a lot on the west side of the river, above the dam.

Benjamin Beadle. and Andrew McClure, two of the Waterford associates, drew lots in the Cats Creek allotment. Andrew McClure made some improvement on his farm, but soon sold and removed to Waterford. Benjamin Beadle removed at an early date to Athens county.

The first farm below the mouth of Cats creek was improved by Esquire Joseph Wells. David Wells lived near the mouth of the creek. They were sons of Major Wells, and lived in the stockade during the Indian war.

The brick house now occupied by Walter Davis was built by Alexander Oliver, who purchased three lots at an early period of lhe settlement, and removed from Belpre, where he had been during the war.

Enoch Wing improved the farm and built the house now owned by Hanson Dutton.

Gilbert Seamans and his three sons, Benijah, Gilbert and Preserved, owned lots in Bear Creek allotment. They were at Harmar during the Indian war.

Joseph Simons owned and improved lot ten in Cats Creek allotment.

Amos Wrlson, a native of Maine, came to Washington county about the year 1804. He died in 1837. His wife was Betsy Newhall, who bore him nine children as follows: Caroline, Charles, Charlotte, David, Eliza, Newhall, Polly, Nelson, and one that died in infancy. Newhall was born in this township in 1817, and has resided here since. He has been twice married—to Susan Lewis, in 1845, and after her death (in March 1877,) was married in May, 1878, to Margaret A. Stacy.

George N. Cox, a native of Pennsylvania, was born in 1787, and removed to Virginia about the year 1816, and resided there until 1838, when he came to this county and settled in Aurelius township. He afterwards moved to Salem township, and still later to Adams, and continued to live here until his death, which took place April 5, 1879. He was the father of eleven children, named as follows: Jane A., James F., Samuel N., William F., Benjamin M., Joseph, George W., John F., Charles, Margaret, Edwin R. All the children are living except Jane, George and Charles. Joseph, a well-known resident of this township, was born in what is now Marshal county, Virginia, in 1820. He came to Adams in 2844. He was formerly a tinner by trade, and followed his trade some ten years, when he engaged in merchandising in Lowell, in which he continued some twenty-three years. In 1877 he sold out to Sprague & Wolfram. In 1849 he was married to Harriet Porter, of Salem, born in 1826. They have one child, Flora M., wife of A. W. Tompkins, of Harmar.

The aged mother of Mr. Cox is still living, at the advanced age of eighty-nine. She and her husband had lived together as man and wife for sixty-seven years.

Alfred Hall was born in West Virginia in 1802. In 1822 he moved to Ohio and settled in Adams township. He died at Coal Run in 1878. His wife, whose name was Narcissa Ross, was born in 1803, The surviving members of their family are: Matilda Mackay, who resides in Missouri; Malissa Yates, Beverly; Alfred J., Coal Run; Eliza Blackmer, Iowa; Sarah Keever, Coal Run; and Alonzo, who was born in 1828. He married Mary Wilson in 1852. She was born in 1831. They have two children—Clara A. Rose, and Charley. Mr. Hall was engaged in merchandising at Coal Run from 1857 to 1877. He is now retired from business.

John J. Wood, son of Morgan Wood, was born in Adams township, October 24, 1824, and was a resident of the township until his death, which occurred December 21, 1880. January r, 1868, he married Martha J. Campbell, of Noble county, who was born July 14, 1835. Her father, Patriarch Campbell, was once a resident of this county. Mrs. Wood has a family of five children. She continues to farm the homestead, one-half mile north of Upper Lowell.

John C. Farnsworth was born in Monroe county in 1826. In 1841 he removed to Washington county and settled in this township. In 1845 he married Emeline Devol, who was born in 1822. Mr. Farnsworth is a veteran school director, having served his district in that capacity from 1854 till 1878. Three of the seven children of his family are still living. Simeon and Frank live at Coal Run, and William at home with his father. Mr.

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Farnsworth engaged in farming and flat-boating from 1845 to 1859. He has since been engaged as a dealer in general produce. Mr. Farnsworth now lives in Waterford township.

David M. Reed, a native of Ireland, came from New York State to Ohio, and settled first in Morgan county, coming to this county in 1849, and settling in Adams township. By his wife, Lucinda Buchanan, he had three children, viz.: George W., of Belpre, Lucy D. (Echalbury) of Missouri, and Frances M., of Harmar, this county. George W. who is a practicing physician in Belpre, was born in Morgan county in 1846. He married Mary T. Chandler, of Adams township. After the doctor's graduation he practiced for a time at Lowell.

James H. Rose was born in Virginia in aro. He emigrated to Ohio and settled in this township in 1844. He married Mary Shafer, who was born in 1812 and died in 1871. Mr. Rose died at Coal Run in 1880. He was a substantial member of the Methodist church and a worthy man. His surviving children are: Anna (Hickman), Coal Run; Isaiah and Lemuel, Coal Run; Silas, Bellaire; Edward, Coal Run; James, born 1849, in 1871 married Clara J. Hall, born in 1853; Manning, born in 1856, married Louisa M. Bish in 1877. James and Manning have been in business at Coal Run since 1878.

Richard Fouraker was born in Stafford county, Virginia, in 1809. In the fall of 1852 he settled in that part of Union township now embraced in Adams township. His farm of two hundred acres was, when he came to it, a vast wilderness, which hard work has converted into a pleasant home. By his wife, Caroline, he has had seven children. Of this family Joseph N., Elizabeth, Levi J., Douglas W., and Martha E. are deceased, Lewis K. and Eliza J. being the survivors.

Mr. Fouraker was captain of company H of the Seventy-seventh Ohio volunteer infantry, in which company his sons, Douglas W. and Lewis K. enlisted in 1861. Douglas died from wounds received at the battle of Shiloh. Lewis was wounded there but finally recovered. Mr. Fouraker has served as justice of the peace, trustee, constable, and the like.

Albert Chandler removed to Adams in the winter of 1844, coming from Muskingum county, where he was born in 1823. Mr. Chandler enlisted in the Mexican war, but on arriving at Camp Washington, Cincinnati, found that his services were not needed, as the quota required had been filled. He was therefore sent back home. In the war of the Rebellion he again offered his services to the Government with better success. He was captain of company K, Ohio volunteer infantry, and served three years and three months. Previous to the war he had been engaged in the lumber and mercantile business, and subsequently in merchandise and commission, and also ran a flouring mill. At the present time he is farming. In the spring of 1848 he was married to a daughter (Ethella) of Alfred Regnier, esq., born in 1827. They have one daughter, Mrs. Dr. G. W. Reed, of Belpre.

James F. Putnam became a resident of Adams in 1870, having removed from Pickaway county, Ohio, where he was born in 1839. In the tall of 1873 he was married to Harriet Brow.n, a native of this township, born in 1841. They have four children—Wade W., James B., Hattie, and Anna. Mr. Putnam is now serving his second term as justice of the peace, and has also held the office of township assessor for the last six years. He has been engaged for the past eleven months in the drug business in Lowell. Mr. Putnam was captain of the Eighth battery in the war of the Rebellion.

The value of the terraces of Adams township, was not appreciated until about 1840, when the German emigration begun. On Cats creek, above the river bottom, there was no improvement before 1833, when Alvey Hoyt purchased a lot and built a house. The population of the hill districts is, at the present time, more than eighty per cent. German. ‘Fearing’ and Adams are the German townships of the county. The village of Lowell is more than sixty per cent. German, and it is to the people of this nationality, that the township owes a large proportion of its wealth.

Philip Mattern, county commissioner and postmaster at Lowell, was born in Germany, in July 1836, and emigrated to this country with his father, Henry Mattern, who settled and afterwards lived in Salem township. Henry Mattern was born in 1790, and died in 1860. He was the father of four children, of whom Philip was the youngest. Philip remained in Salem township until the fall of 1855, when he moved to Adams, and has since resided here. He has been twice married, first in 1855 to Mary, daughter of John Chandler, who died April 19, 1872, leaving two children—John and Philip. His present wife was Christina Minich, whom he married in June, 1873, and by whom he has one child— Clarence. As previously mentioned, Mr. Mattern is serving as county commissioner, and postmaster at Lowell, having held the latter office for sixteen years. He has also served as township clerk for two years.

Jacob Snyder emigrated with his family from Germany, where he was born in 1795, and settled in Belpre township, this county, in 1847. Three years afterward he moved to Warren, and in 1852 came to Adams, and died in this township in June, 1853. His wife was Margaret Baker, by whom he had seven children. Of these, five are living, viz: Jacob, Charles, Elizabeth, George and Daniel. George, a resident of this township, was born in Germany in 1831, and in 1864 married Elizabeth, daughter of Willard Davis, also born in 1831. They had two children—Caroline D., and Jessie D. Mr. Snyder has served as trustee of his township three terms, and was appraiser of real estate in 1870.

Thomas Spratt, who was born in Northumberland county, England, in 1829, became a 'resident of this county in 1856. Since his settlement, he has earned, by unceasing energy, his present farm of two hundred and twenty acres of land. He took part in the war of the Rebellion before becoming a citizen of the United States, and served faithfully in the hundred day service. Both in his native land and in this country he has been an extensive dealer in fine sheep. By his wife, Jane Heslop, he has had five children: Lizzie A., Alice J., Matthew, George and Mary.

MANLY W. MASON.

Mr. Mason is a representative of one of the oldest families of Washington county, being a grandson of William Mason, whose settlement is noted elsewhere. His father, John Mason, was born in Adams township, in 1803. In 1831 he was married to Rosannah Scribner, who was born in the year 1815. They raised a family of eight children, of whom the subject of this notice was the second son. He was born in Adams township, Washington county, Ohio, August 13, 1835, and resided there until 1857, since which time he has lived at Coal Run village, in Waterford township. His occupation had been that of a farmer, until October, 1871, when he was admitted by the supreme court of Ohio to practice law in the several courts of the State, and since then he has followed the practice of his profession. He was commissioned a notary public for Washington county, Ohio, in May, 1877, and is still holding that office. At the September term Of the circuit court of Wood county, West Virginia, in 188o, he was admitted to practice in that State.

Mr. Mason was married March 15, 1855, to Sophia A Hall, who died February 23, 1862, leaving four small children. July 23, 1862, he married Lucy A. Dyer.

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Jacob Becker, son of Theobold Becker, was born in Germany in 1836. He came to America with his father in 1847, and settled in Fearing township. He married in 1860, Mary E. Wilking, who was born in Union township in 1839. In 1867 he came to Lowell, and has since been engaged as a carpenter and contractor. His family consists of eight children—John, Philip, Caroline, Harman, Lavina, Flora, Ellen and Anna.

Jacob Rietz was born in Bavaria in 1815. February 8, 1840, he married Margaret Gloss, who was born in Germany, August 20, 1820. They came to America in 1840, and settled in Salem township. In 1857 he removed to Lowell and operated the Powell saw-mill. He sold the mill in 1872, and is now engaged in business. The family consists of six children—Jacob, Caroline, (Weis), Margaret Blankenbiihler, Katie (deceased), Phcebe and Henry.

In 1875, a colored colony obtained a foothold near the line of Adams and Muskingum townships. The colony at present consists of eight families, who deserted the plantations of Rockingham county, Virginia, about 1855, and settled in Belmont county, Ohio, whence they came about six years ago. They organized a religious society in 1880, and are regularly ministered to by Rev. J. Andrews, the Wesleyan Methodist preacher at Parkersburgh.

SOCIETIES.

Lowell Lodge, No. 436 F. and A. M., was chartered October 21, 1867. The charter members were John Farbell, Albert Chandler, John Williamson, Philip Mattern, Joseph Cox, John W. Frye, Sylvester Mason, Cyrenus Buchanan, S. N. Meriam, William Mason, William Engler, and A. 0. Stacey. The first officers were John Farbell, W. M.; Albert Chandley, S. W.; John Williamson, J. W.; Philip Mattern, treasurer; Joseph Cox, secretary; J. W. Frye, S. D.; Sylvester Mason, J. D; Cyrenus Buchanan, tyler.

'The following is a list of masters with the date of the expiration of their term of service: John Farbell, December, 1870; A. Chandler, 1871; J. W. Frye, 1872; A. Chandler, 1873: John Williamson, 1874; Jacob Landsettle, 1875; Sylvester Mason, 1876; George Snyder, 1877; J. Landsettle, 1878; P. Mattern, 1880; J. Land- settle, since December, 1880. The lodge was constituted December 25, 1869, by David Aikin, P. M., in Philip Mattern's building, where meetings were held until September, 1870, when the lodge removed its quarters to the Snyder building.

Lowell Lodge, No. 438, I. 0. 0. F., was chartered August 23, 1869, with the following members: Henry Wolf, Jacob Hopp, Jacob Becker, Jacob Landsettle, Franz Wilking, jr., Franz Wilking, sr., Jacob Rietz, William Wendell, John Wilking, Aberus Judd, sr., E. W. Sprague, Parley Rummer, J. S. Donalson, S. M. Devol. The first officers were: A. Judd, sr., noble grand; Franz Wilking, jr., secretary; E. W. Sprague, treasurer. The lodge was constituted by Grand Marshal H. G. Hollister and Grand Marshal Snider. The noble grands have been: A. Judd, jr., Franz Wilking, sr., I. D. Spooner, J. L. Delong, E, C. Farquhar, 0. A. Stacey, H. Porter, Albert Chandler, Jacob. Landsettle, William Bosner, Franz Wilking, 2d, Jacob Becker, J. A. Fleck, Henry Spies, R. S. Mason, John Williamson, Wrlliam Wendell, David Wilking, 2d, C. E. Judd, Christian Doeberiner, J. A. Fleck, David Wilking, Henry Spies, and Theobatd Becker. This lodge has always had a large membership.

Lowell Grange, No. 1035, was organized September 30, 1874, with nineteen members. The first officers were: George Snyder, master; 0. A. Stacey, overseer; R. S. Mason, lecturer; A. Chandler, chaplain; S. C. Kile, steward; T. M. Alexander, assistant steward; Walter Davis treasurer; Mrs. Emily Mason, ceres; Mrs. Lydia Stacey, pomona; Mrs. Elizabeth Davis, flora; Mrs. Jane Alexander, lady assistant steward. George Snyder was master till 1877; J. W. Frye, till 1880; A. 0. Stacey, till 1881; R. S. Mason is present master.

In the spring of 1878, the Union Grange Fair association was formed by delegates from Lowell, Liberty Hill and Adams granges. The first fair which was held at Lowell, in September, 1878, proved a success. Since then four other granges--Jackson, Ridge, Valley and Waterford—have been admitted to the association. The fair of 1879 was satisfactory, but bad weather greatly impaired the exhibition of 1880. Lowell grange at present has a membership of twenty.

RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.

The first religious services in the township were held soon after the first settlement,.by Dr. Story, of Marietta. The residence of Robert Allison was for some time used for religious meetings by all denominations—Baptists, Congregationalists, and Methodists—after the formation of Marietta circuit. Mrs. Stacey has given us a picture of one of these meetings. She writes:

Previous to the building of the Baptist church at Upper Lowell, they had meetings in private houses and school-houses, in cold weather ; in warm weather in barns and groves. I attended meeting in a private log house with two rooms, about twelve feet square. During the meeting a woman proceeded to examine a small sack hanging up. Being unable to determine its contents by feeling, she opened it and exclaimed, "There, it is candles, and I have spoiled them!" On another occasion the speaker being somewhat animated, raised a chair and brought it down so violently on the foot of a man that it took the nail off the great toe. I saw him limp out of the house. I have seen a large proportion of the congregation in their bare feet. The ladies were in the habit of carrying their shoes near the church. They then put them on but soon removed them after leaving the meeting."

The Methodist church, usually strong in country districts, never made much progress in Adams. A house of worship was once erected at Lowell, but owing to the weakness of the congregation was finally abandoned. The Baptist church absorbed religious interests in the early history of the township.

BAPTIST CHURCH.

The first Baptist church in the county and second religious society of any denomination, was organized. in Adams township in 1797. The history of this early organization, its successes and dissensions, has been given in connection with the history of the church at Marietta. The present society is a reorganization of the old Rainbow church, which was effected in 1832, with fifty-seven members. It had been a branch of the Marietta

562 - HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO.

church from 1827 until that date. During the year of its establishment (1832) a house of worship was built near the site of Upper Lowell. The location was unfortunate, as the centre of population in a few years moved further down the river. The present house in Buell's Lowell was built in 1868. The church has-always incurred strong opposition from the outside and suffered dissension within its own membership. Good Hope and Watertown churches originated in an interest at Lowell. The successive pastors have been: A. Dana, A. Darrow, H. Gear, M. White, A. J. Sedwick, William Pearce, J, M. Winn, M. Madox, S. W. Churchill, H. Lyon, S. Seigfried, W. A. Blake, H. Lyon, F. Stanley, J. C. Richardson, H. M. Prince. Mr. Stanley is the present pastor. The pastorate was vacant from 187o to 1874.

DISCIPLE CHURCH.

Through the efforts of John Reed and others a society of Disciples in Christ was organized in 1831, with a large and influential membership. A house of worship was built below the present site of Lowell. The pulpit has been supplied by John Reed, Reuben Davis, Nathan J. Mitchell, George Lucy, John Sargeant, and others. There was an awakening revival in 1858 which resulted in sixty accessions to the church. The new house was built in 1872. The congregation has been for some time without a settled minister, and is not as strong as formerly.

EVANGELICAL PROTESTANT CHURCH.

A German congregation of the Protestant Evangelical church was organized in Lowell about 1857. In the absence of early records we are unable to give exact dates. A society was organized and constitution adopted in 1860. In 1863 the present brick church was built. May 6, 1879, the roof was burned and the building otherwise injured, necessitating extensive repairs. F. Juergeus was pastor till 1867, and Alfred Kretschmar succeeded. F. Eschenfld became pastor in 1871, and remained about one year. C. G. Freidrich succeeded and remained till July, 1880. Since September, 1880, E. A. Frienfstick has been pastor. The present membership is about sixty.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

The Congregational society of Lowell was organized by Charles Weatherby. In 186o the most commodious church building in the township was erected. Since Mr. Weatherby resigned the pastorate, the society has never been strong in numbers, but the field is large and there yet remains hope of final success. Mr. Weatherby's successors have been: Messrs. Noble, Frye, Fay, Moore, Ransom, Mills, Louis, Reed, and Irwin.

PHYSICIANS.

The first of these useful members of society who settled in Adams was Thomas Hearsay. He opened an office about the beginning of the century and held a full practice for a number of years. Drs. Baker and Dergy, of Waterford, and Regnier, of Duck Creek, were relied upon in serious cases. A fair share of the practice passed to Dr. Cyrus Spooner after he began practice. Dr. Spooner had a strong love of natural science, and spent his leisure time experimenting in mechanics.

Dr. James Sales was for a number of years in partnership with Dr. Spooner.

Dr. Sirenus Buchanan will be remembered as a physician who enjoyed the confidence of a large class of people during a full practice extending over a period of many years. It is a fact worthy of mention in this connection, that with these exceptions, and a few others, Adams township during past years has suffered inefficient or inexperienced medical service. There are at present four physicians located at Lowell.

MISCELLANEOUS NOTES.

The first school in the township was kept by Enoch Wing, esq., in his cabin, about 1797. This school was attended by the youth of the whole settlement for a distance of four miles along the river. The first summer school was taught in a cabin on the farm of Esquire Wells, by Nancy Hanson. Schools were regularly supported after that by subscription until the public school law went into effect. The first school-house was built by a gathering of the neighbors, about the beginning of the century.

The public burying ground of Adams township was set apart for cemetery purposes by the Ohio company. It is located on a beautiful plain and were proper care given to its ornamentation would be a resting place worthy of the memory of past generations, whose legacy the children of the present are enjoying. The first man buried in this cemetery was Benijah Seamans; the first woman, Lottie, wife of Alexander Oliver.

Mention must be made of some old mills on the Muskingum. Esquire Wells built a small horse-mill near the mouth of Cats creek at an early period of the settlement. It was afterwards purchased by Esquire Wing, who attached water-power. This mill next came into possession of Dr. Spooner, who made considerable improvement in the method of grinding and then sold to Mr. Fleck. The dam took away the power and the mill went down.

The second mill on the river was built by Jonathan Sprague.

Adams was constituted a corporate town by the court of quarter sessions in 1797. Its boundaries have undergone numerous changes since that time as has been detailed in the chapters on the neighboring townships. No records remain of the early official acts of the town. We are therefore unable to give anything concerning elections.

There is an extensive group of well defined ancient works on the plain above Lowell. For theories concerning their origin the reader is referred to the special chapter on that topic.

LOWELL.

The first goods were sold in Adams township in 1816 by S. N. Meriam. The first store was opened by E. Short in 1822 where Upper Lowell now stands. The improvement of the Muskingum made Buell's Lowell. A great many men were employed and thousands of dollars expended on the dam, lock, and canal. The place became a natural centre of trade during these four years, and the opening of navigation perpetuated the favorable conditions.

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Truckson, Lyon & Buck, in 1842, built the Lowell mills, which are now owned by Dirks & Baldwin.

Buell's Lowell was laid out by P. B. Buell, who encouraged business enterprises and succeeded in starting a village which has become a seat of trade.

The principal stores at present are owned by P. Mat- tern, D. W. Sprague & Co., Davis & Trapp, P. Rummer, S. N. Meriam, and James F. Putnam.

Oak mill, built in 1859 by A. Judd, is now owned by Mr. King. The Lowell planing-mill, a manufacturing establishment of considerable importance, was burned May 6, 1879.

There are in Lowell two steam tanneries; one built by Wilking, Wendell & Co. in 1866, was purchased in 1875 by Rice & Wendell. It has a capacity of twenty-five hundred heavy sides per year. The other tannery was built by Franz Wilking, in 1877 and is about equal in capacity. The Lowell woollen factory was built by C. T. Weatherby.

E. Short was the first postmaster at Lowell, or Adams as it was originally. He held the office nearly twenty years—until about 1840, when Henry Wolf succeeded. Philip Mattern has held the office since December, 1863, with the exception of one year, during which John Spooner was in charge.

Buell's Lowell was incorporated May 10, 1851, with town privileges. The following persons were elected to conduct the affairs of the town: Theodore Schreiner, mayor; S. N. Meriam, recorder; John Scott, Solomon Sharpe, John B. Regnier, Joseph Cox, and George Fleck, trustees. William Bartlett was elected first marshal by the board of trustees.