HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO - 665

CHAPTER XLIX.

PALMER TOWNSHIP.

A Progressive Township—The Pioneer of the Settlement—Census in 1796—The Pioneer Babies—The Palmers—To the Legislature—The Pioneer Marriage—The First Brick House—Sudden Death—The Old Veteran—The First Death—Fire—The First Frame House—A New Settlement on the Creek—Brown's Mill—Horse-Mill—An Exhibition—A Portable Post Office— A Historic Log House—Civil History--Record of Officers from 1851 to 1880—Early and Late Justices of the Peace—Educational— The First School—Ashcroft—Other Teachers—A New Building—A School for Teachers—The Freewill Baptist Meetings—Early Methodist Gatherings—The First Preachers—First Circus Rider—Organization—The Corner Chapel—The Different Circuits—Temperance in Palmer—A Blow at Prevailing Customs — Palmer Anti-License—A Fine Company of Riflemen—Gard Graveyard—Death at a Barn-Raising—The Murdock Cemetery—A Giant Skeleton—Roads—The Old Indian Trail—The First Road Made by White Men —Doctors—Industries—Stores—The First Blacksmith Tanneries— Agriculture—Sheep Raising—Palmer Pastures—A Bit of Geology—Native Trees—The Old Pine Grove—A Well-Farmed Land—Census.

IT HAS been said, "Happy is the native whose annals are tiresome." To those who love the tales of war, danger, and sacrifice, of startling change, or scenes of destruction, rather than wholesome growth and quiet advance, this is indeed true. But there are some who delight in watching the tranquil and steady progress of a community, from its doubtful and unsteady first steps to a prosperous present, a course as undisturbed as the glide of a boat down a widening river. To these is addressed this record of the pleasant and balmy progress of the township of Palmer.

In the upper part of their courses the West fork and the left branch of the South fork of Wolf creek approach within less than half a mile of each other. Thence diverging far before they meet, these streams enclose a large and compactly shaped tract of land, in the upper part of which is included the most of the fourteen thousand or more acres that, since 1851, have been known as Palmer township. Wolf creek's west fork courses diagonally through the northwest corner. The smaller stream just mentioned traverses from end to end the southern half of the township. The dividing ridge between these creeks extends from the west end of the donation tract belonging to Palmer through the centre of the township, and bends sharply to the northwest— shaped much like a great J and standing a perpetual judge of the claims of the two streams to the drainage of the township. In remarkable exception to the general rule that first settlements proceed along streams, the first settlers of Palmer choose homes along this ridge. This is partly due to the fact that the region between the creeks, the scene of this sketch, is beautifully rolling, the billowy land nowhere breaking into ruggedness. Thus it was that Christopher Malster, as he was choosing a place for a future home, in the year 1796, found it convenient to penetrate the then roadless wilderness without confining himself to the pathways worn by the waters. Christopher Malster was a native of Delaware, where he was born December 27, 1755. He had married Margaret Mehaffy, who was born in 1776, in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and settled in her native shire.

Here their first child, William, was born December 11, 1795. The following year the father, then in the prime of life, determined to wrest a home from the wilds of the west. Going first to the mouth of Wolf creek, he finally chose lot No. 15, now in Palmer, and bought of a man named Burnham lot sixty-three. On this latter place he erected his cabin home, and the population of what is now Palmer numbered one. The next year the problem presented itself of transportation. Far to the east was his wife and babe of two years. Woman's pluck solved it. All the toilsome way from Williamsport, Pennsylvania, the mother rode horseback, carrying her child in her arms. As Virgil says: "Tantae motif erat Romanam eondere genteel'," it was that much trouble to start the settlement.

After arrival the family was increased by the birth of six more children. John kept his brother William company after September 2, 1800, and was the first born of the township. After him at intervals of two years, Thomas, Benjamin, and Moses were born. The daughters Elizabeth and Mary were born in 1810 and 1814 respectively.

In 1832, January 11, the father finished his work, and was laid to rest in the Gard cemetery. His wife survived him thirty years, and now lies by his side. William, the infant pioneer married in 1822, Sarah Baker, who was born in the county in 1800. Five of their six children are living: Roxana, John L, Moses A., Rowena, and Mary. Roxana is in Palmer. Moses A. was born in 1826, married Martha White in 1835, lives in Watertown, and is the father of four children, all living. His uncle, John, also lives in the place—the only surviving child of Christopher Malster. Rowena is Mrs. George B. Quinn; Mary E. married Walter Buchanan, of Watertown township. William Malster died February 12, 1876.

In March, 1802, the Palmers moved to the tract of land now under consideration. They settled on the land now occupied by Brown's Mill post office. The head of the family was Joseph Palmer, born in Windom, Connecticut, January 13, 1761, with his wife Hannah Fox, who was born in Windom August 2, 1763. His removal was from Rutland county, Vermont, where he had been a resident. The family came to King's settlement, at the head of the Allegheny river. Accompanied by Messrs. Howe, Prouty, Thaddeus, Pond, and Elijah Pond, they made their way down the rivers to Marietta in Keel-boats in the fall of 1801. On the way an accident occurred in the rapids, upsetting the boat containing the Palmers, spilling out their effects and giving the occupants a cool, but not dangerous bath. Jerusha Palmer, then a little girl, was rescued by Mr. Howe. The Palmers then consisting of the two parents and their children Joseph, Jabez, Jerusha, Isaac, and perhaps Ephraim, went immediately to the settlement at Wolf Creek mills. Winter was at hand and some place to spend it had to be found immediately. Mr. Palmer finally decided upon a building that had been used as a shelter for sheep. As might be expected, it was not in condition to suit the notions of a housekeeper who had any regard for cleanliness, but it was soon put in condition for occupation. Arriving at Palmer next spring,

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they found in the well known pine grove that then occupied the place, a man before them. He was one of that profession that in those days found employment in gathering knots from the pine trees and burning them for the tar they afforded. This man's name was Mallery—a singular character in some respects—well known in the Waterford settlement. He was a bachelor and had constructed a very neat lodge in the vast pine wilderness, and as he was through his work there Mr. Palmer ushered in his family and began in earnest the life of a settler. The first care was to provide a more commodious and permanent shelter for a large family than that afforded by a bachelor's shanty, which was done. In the spring of the following year, 1803, the last child of the family, Elizabeth, was born. In 1805 or 1806 another log cabin was built by Mr. Palmer, into which they soon moved. By the year 1810 Mr. Palmer had constructed a third house, of hewed pine logs, two stories in height, and in this the family lived until the death of its builder, in 1831, in his seventy-first year. Then Isaac Palmer built and lived in a two-story frame building, now remodelled and occupied by A. F. Breckenridge. Joseph Palmer, sr., was quite a prominent character in the settlement that he had helped to found. He was the first justice of the peace. In 1807 he was sent to the legislature as a representative of Washington county. Towards the close of his life his brain became affected, the general opinion being that this misfortune originated from too assiduous duties performed while at Columbus. His wife survived him five years and died at the age of seventy-three years.

Joseph Palmer, jr., the eldest son, married, in 1808, Sarah Martin. This, the first marriage ceremony of the settlement, was to have been performed by a preacher at Wolf Creek mills, by the name of Lindley. Everything was made ready—

"The bridegroom's doors are opened wide

To all the kith and kin;

The guests are met, the feast is set:

Mayst hear the merry din—"

but the minister comes not. The impatient couple wait long, for they cannot know that Mr. Lindley has received and accepted an offer of a position at Athens, Ohio, and is busily engaged in removing thence. The position is becoming embarrassing. Brilliant thought! The old gentleman suddenly remembers he is a justice of the peace. He performs the ceremony himself, thus doing his son the last favor possible while yet a member of his family, pronouncing the closing words, we may well imagine, amid many smiles, much merriment, and good natured comment of the assembled guests—"the twain are made one"—and the wedding fee remains in the family. The happy couple immediately entered upon their wedding tour, which was the nearest route to their new home, about a quarter of a mile distant. In 1852 Joseph and his wife both died, aged respectively sixty-six and sixty-four years. They were buried side by side in the old Gard graveyard. Of their children, the first-born, Harris, made his home in the township and married Annie Hougling, of Barlow township. They have four children: Sarah, who married George Camp, of Palmer;

Edward R., husband of Mary J. Thornbury; Ruth, now Mrs. Ezra Chapman, of Palmer; and Ephraim. Joseph and John E. are dead. Edward R. was born in 1837, and married in 1858. His wife was born in 1841. His children are Jesse A., Emma N., and Mary. James Martin, another child of Joseph, jr., was born in 1813. He married Sophia Gard in 1835. Six children blessed this union, one of whom, James D., died in the army in the late war. Jabez, the second son of Joseph, sr., married Lydia Brown and settled in Palmer. He built the first brick house in the township, in 1828. It was thirty by forty feet. In the fall of 1844, while cutting cork he fell dead in the field. He was aged fifty-five. Ten years after, his wife died, at the age of sixty-four. Benjamin F. Palmer, the third son of the original family, married Margaret Hougland, and lives in Barlow township. Jerusha married Caleb Green, of Barlow, who accidentally killed himself. Isaac was born in 1797, and married Persis Tilton. He moved to Waterford township, and had seven boys and four girls. Ephraim, the next younger, married Mary Densmore, went on a western trip and died there about 1835. Elizabeth, the first girl baby of the township, died in r867. She was never married. The last thirteen years of her life were spent in darkness, for the checking of a running sore in the back of her head produced blindness. Of the original family, all were noted for their great size. Jabez was the largest.

The third family in the settlement was that of Jason Rice and his wife, who was a Miss Hibbard. Their children were Reuben, Joseph, Ambrose, Mary, Deborah, Jonas, Sabinas, and Jason. They moved to the neighborhood in the spring of 1802, a very little later than the Palmers. In about two years they sold out to Cornelius Gard, and went to Federal creek. Mr. Rice was from New England, and lived a short distance north of where the town-house now stands. For several years after his removal he paid visits to the neighborhood.

In 1803 John Danley brought his family to the settlement, and in a few years, together with David Gard, bought lot No. 1,065, and settled on the eastern half. He was a Virginian from near Winchester, and a farmer, though before moving west he was engaged in teaming over the mountains. He was noted as a hunter, and was very fond of the society of his neighbors, especially of children. He had never seen his father, and superstition used to bring people from miles around with children who had sore mouths. Though he had none of the superstition himself, yet he would gratify them by breathing into the mouths of his patients, their parents trusting that they would be cured in that way. His first removal west was to Marietta, in 1797. There he stayed for two years, working for Paul Fearing. Thence he moved to Round bottom, whence he finally came to the Palmer settlement. His wife was Amy Pugh. His children were: Benjamin, who died on attaining his majority; Mary, who married John Comes; John; Eliza, who became Mrs. William Groves; Elizabeth, wife of J. Leonard; Amy, who married Thomas Malster; Robert, who became the husband of a daughter of Edmund Perry, and

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has three children; Joel, and, finally, Joseph. John Danley, sr., died in 1858, in his eighty-fourth year—nine years after the death of his wife, in her seventy-first year. Robert and his wife are still living, but by themselves, where the old man of sixty-seven still works at his last. He is widely known as the "old veteran," is entrusted with the care of the old Gard cemetery, and takes great pride in his charge. His quaint communications on the subject of bygone days often appear in print, and indicate how prone he is to think of the "days that are no more."

Cornelius Gard, Mary Hancher, his wife, and their two children, David and Timothy, the former of whom married Mary Hiett two years before, were the next accession to the township. They came from West Virginia, near the Ohio river. Cornelius settled in 1804 on lot No. 1,068. All the family were shoemakers. Cornelius paid more attention to that trade than his sons, however, the latter turning farmers. The father is remembered as a large man, with a deep, heavy voice, and a pleasant though bluff manner. A negro servant accompanied the Gards, Chloe, by name, whose little daughter died the summer of their arrival, and was buried without funeral services on the Breckenridge place. This was the first death and burial in the settlement. In a year or two the Gards sold out to Henry Comes. Timothy moved on Jonathan's creek, near Zanesville. His wife was Nancy Davis, an orphan girl raised by Isaac Williams, the pioneer who named the West Virginia town opposite Marietta. David, in 1805, moved back to West Virginia, returning in the spring of 1809. He, with John Danley, bought one hundred and sixty acres, lot No. 1,065, and for his part settled with his father on the west half.

Cornelius was born in East Jersey, October 30, 1749, (0. S.) and died November 2, 1842, in his ninety-fourth year. Mary, his wife, was born in 1757, and died in 1840.

David's wife, Mary Hiett, was a daughter of Timothy Hiett, one of the earliest settlers of West Virginia, near Marietta. The children of David were: Hiram, Maria, Rowena, Sophia, Jane and James, the latter two not now living. Hiram is the oldest, was born in 1806, and is in Barlow township; Maria married Mason Brown; Rowena, Edward Camp, Sophia; Martin Palmer.

On his second settlement in the Palmer neighborhood, David Gard built a two-story house of hewed logs, which in 1816 was destroyed by fire. In all probability this was the first conflagration in the settlement. It left the family in a rather uncomfortable plight, none having any clothes but the single suits they were wearing that day.

At one time a servant was working for David Gard, by the name of Isaac Cherry. A poplar tree was standing by the road side, much deflected from the perpendicular by a large limb, that, for some reason, it was considered advisable to remove. This could only be done by standing on a limb below, holding on with one hand and using an axe with the other. The man volunteered to undertake the task; but, as soon as the limb was freed the tree, relieved of its weight, straightened and began a series of vibrations that loosened Mr. Cherry's foothold, and, while he hung by one hand, swung him violently against the trunk again and again. However, he held on, and when the tree ceased vibrating, came down with no worse injuries than a few bruises.

Benjamin M. Brown, who was born in New York State in 1797, emigrated to Ohio in 1806, and lived in Palmer township, this county, until his death, which occurred in 1849. In 1826 he married Maria Gard, who was born in 1806 and died in i880. The surviving children are as follows, viz: C. A. Brown, who married Martha J. Breckenridge and does business in Belpre village, and John A. Brown, who resides in Union county. The elder Mr. Brown was a prominent man in Palmer township, having served nine years as magistrate and four years as county sheriff

The sixth family to enter the neighborhood was the first German family. Henry Comes and his wife Catharine came probably from Pennsylvania and remained in the settlement until 1832. His settlement has been described before, as the purchase, near the year 1806, of the farm of Cornelius Gard and his moving thereon. He was noted for his fondness for horses. In 1809 or 1810 he built the first frame house in the settlement. Part of it is standing yet, on what is known as the Stacey farm. The Comes children were William, Elizabeth, John, James, Rachel and Henry. William was married before his arrival. His second wife was Mary Perry, whom he married about 1820. Upwards of seven of his children are yet living. He himself died in 1831, at the age of sixty years. Elizabeth married Asa Beach, of Watertown; John, Mary Dauley; James, Mary Miller, of England; Rachel, Miller Clark, on Little Hocking; Henry, Mary Pugh, of Virginia. The second and third deaths in the settlement were those of two children of William Comes.

For a period of seven years, more or less, no additional families came to the settlement. Finally, in 1813, Joseph Atkinson with his wife, a niece of Paul Fearing, moved in from Waterford. His children were John, Luan, Frank, Deborah, and a little girl whose name is not known. Atkinson was a disorderly character. Returning intoxicated from Wolf Creek mills one evening in 1818, he fell by the roadside and died from exposure. There he was found by one of his sons.

During all this period, the settlement was confined to the upland country. The course of the West fork of Wolf creek now included in Palmer, was, it is remarkable, not settled at all But in 1815, Timothy Hiett, who, up to that time, was living in West Virginia, a few miles below Marietta, began the erection of a saw-mill with one run of buhrs on this stream. This was the second mill on Wolf creek. Samuel Brown, a millwright of Athens, was employed to build the mill for six hundred dollars. When finished it was bought by its builder, while Mr. Hiett, with his wife, who was Elizabeth Pewthers before marriage, bought a farm near where Robert Breckenridge now lives. In 1834 he sold to John Breckenridge and returned to the mill, which he operated until his death, in 1839, at which time he was fifty years of age. His wife survived him until 1861, dying in her seventieth year.

668 - HISTORY OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO.

Samuel Brown was a brother of General Brown, of Athens, and learned his trade of Sharp & Hunt, for whom he worked in the construction of Wolf Creek mills. Hiett had a cabin put up, in which he intended to live when his mill should be finished. Brown and his family occupied it during the building of the mill, and continued to remain there upon his purchase of the mill. Mr. Brown did not make such a financial success of his business as a less sympathetic man would have done. Never a needy person, however, unable to pay, came to his mill and went away empty handed. After the sale of his mill, he lived with his son-in-law, a Frenchman, named Eugene Pierrot. Brown's first wife was Mary Poole, who died in Athens county. Her children were Sophia, Lucinda, Affa, and Alvina. By his second wife, Sarah Jenkins, his children were: Mary and Amy. Samuel Brown died in 1872, aged ninety-one years. His last wife died in 1856, aged sixty-four.

Before the construction of these mills, the neighborhood went principally to those on Wolf creek. A hand-mill in Watertown township also did them some service. In this connection it may be mentioned that Brown's was the only grist-mill ever run by water in the territory of Palmer. Between 1820 and 1825, John Hurlbut came to the settlement, bought the farm now owned by widow Stoller, erected a horse-power tread-mill, and with his brother-in-law, John Miller, did grinding for the neighborhood. This mill will be remembered by old settlers in connection with an exhibition, consisting of literary exercises by home talent, and held in the building shortly after its erection. This performance was perhaps the first of the kind in the neighborhood. The frame of the mill is now used in a barn on the same place. Hurlbut went to Waterford about 1842, and lived there until his death. Two miles above Brown's mill, about 1835, Hiram Gard put up a saw-mill.

The only post office that is now, or ever has been, in the neighborhood now called Palmer, is called Brown's Mill's post office. Its name indicates its origin. Samuel Brown was the first postmaster, beginning in that capacity about 1821, and locating the office in his dwelling-house, near the mill. At that time there was no post office between it and Harmar. The mail was carried by Colonel Ullmore, of Massachusetts, on the route between Marietta and Lancaster, which was opened at that time. The next postmaster was Hiram Gard, who held it for about a score of years, beginning with 1826 or 1827. The succeeding one was Thomas Breckenridge. The present postmaster is Andrew Breckenridge. The office was changed successively to the residences of the different postmasters.

George Quinn was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, and afterwards came to Palmer township in 1820-30. His wife, Jane Bruce, was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania. Six children were born to them, of whom five are living : Charles lives in McClellan county, Texas; David J. is in Harrison county; George B. is in Palmer township; and Elizabeth is at home. They had a daughter, Annie, who is dead. George B. was born in Washington county in 1845, and married, in 1867, Roena

Malster, who was born in 1830. Mr. Quinn has a large farm of some three hundred and seventy-seven acres, on which he is extensively engaged in the important interest of Palmer township—that of sheep-raising.

Thomas Perry, born in Pennsylvania in 1746, emigrated to Ohio in 1824, and died in what is now Palmer township. By his wife, Catharine Fisher, he had three sons and seven girls. Of these, John settled in Washington county in 1829. He married Abigail, the daughter of Samuel Patterson, who was born in aot. Five of their eleven children survive. James, the fourth child, was born in 1823, and has been in this township since he was five years of age.

Isaac Perry was a Pennsylvanian, who came to the southern end of the settlement in 1829. He lived from 1775 to 1868. In 1819 he married Mary Armstrong, who was born in 1801. Six children were born—James B.; Isabelle, who is married and lives in Fairfield; Margaret, now Mrs. Smith, of Palmer; Mary Ann, a resident with her parents; Sarah, wife of Dock V. Smith, and an inhabitant of Washington Court House; and Armstrong H., who lives in Palmer.

James B. Perry was born in 1819 in Pennsylvania. He came to this county with his parents. In 1844 he married Esther, daughter of William Huston, and is the father of the following seven children: Euphemia, Orange C., Charles B., Chauncey, Mahala, Caroline, and Lewis. His first wife lived ftom 1827 to 1878. He married, in 1880, Mrs. Phcebe Smith, who was born in 1846. Her children by her first husband are Minnie, Leslie, and Clara B. Mr. Perry's name appears frequently in the table of the township officers, and he was also in the one hundred days' service during the war.

Dock V. Smith, mentioned above, was a son of Vincent Smith. He was born in 1832 in this county, and in 1855 was married. He removed from the county in 1877. Of his five children Ralph W., is living in Palmer township with his grandparents. He was born in 1856, and in 1880 married Ruth Rardin, who was born in 1862. He is a general farmer and stock-raiser. Ada, the second child of Dock Smith, is at home; Ella married Dr. Bansier, a native of England; Frank and Fred are at home. Vincent Smith had another son by the name of S. S., who was born in this county in 1825, and married, in 1862, Deborah Graham, who was born in 1830 and died in 1856. Three children resulted from this marriage—two survive: Anna N., and Eva J., who married George Chamberlain; both live in Columbiana county. In 1861 S. S. Smith married Margaret Perry, who was born in 1823. Their two children are Sidner E., and Idella M. S. S. Smith is a farmer on a ninety acre farm.

In April, 1828, Elias Murdock came to the settlement from Harmar, to which place he had moved from Wood county, Virginia, in 1826. His parents, John Murdock and Mary Dilse, had moved to the latter place from Pennsylvania in 1804. In 1825, Elias married Malinda, a daughter of James Pewthers, who had come from Scotland prior to 1790, and settled on the Vienna bottom, on the Ohio river. The Pewthers family was of the Bellville garrison during the Indian war.

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Elias Murdock, born 1807 and died 1880. His wife in 1870. The children were: Elizabeth A., James M., Mary P., George W., Virginia A., Jesse G., Sarah C., and Charles J. James M. was born March 4, 1828, and married in 1849, Nancy Breckenridge, who was born in the county in 1828. Their five children are named respectively: Hugh B., George D., Henry G. (died in 1865), Robert H., and Ellie A.

William Hickman, the third son of William and Mary (Tumblinson) Hickman, natives of Virginia, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1819, and settled in Palmer township in 1838. He married Susan, the daughter of Thomas and Catharine Perry. They have three children, viz: Charlotte (Varner), of this township; Selena, at home, and Mary (Lake), in Decatur township. Mr. Hickman owns one hundred and sixty acres of land. He has held important township offices.

Owen Pattent, the son of Richard Pattent, was born in Washington county, in 1812, and married Anna, daughter of Freeman Hopkins. She was born in 1814, Seven children were born: Andrew, Freeman, Sarah, Thomas, John, Owens, and Robert. Thomas was born in 1840, in the county, and in 1866 married Mary, daughter of William Comes. She was born in 1847. The fruit of this union is two children: Ida and Earl, both of whom are with their parents. Mr. Pattent is actively engaged in stock raising on a hundred and twenty acre farm. Mr. Pattent enlisted in 1861 in company L, First Ohio cavalry.

An example of what industry will do, is that afforded by Robert and Margaret Graham, the parents of Thomas Graham. When they arrived in America, their capital consisted of twenty-five cents, and hope. By hard work they in time attained a competence. Thomas, who was born in Pennsylvania, in 1800, was a miller and farmer, and lived with his parents until he was forty-five years of age. Then, having already married Susan Gilchrist in 1841, he began life for himself in Palmer township. Their children were: Robert, Maria, and Susan; the latter is dead. Thomas Graham's second wife was Miss Dennis, and his third a daughter of Peleg Lincoln, who was born in 1812 and still lives in Palmer.

She is the daughter of Peleg and Bettie Lincoln, and a native of Franklin county, Massachusetts. She came to Morgan county in 1817, and was married in 1849. Her only child, Amanda, still lives with her on a two hundred acre farm.

Mariah, daughter of Thomas Graham and his first wife, still lives in Palmer on a farm of two hundred and twelve acres, which she is managing herself.

The Scotch settlement, which owed its existence to the energy of Nahum Ward, and which began in Barlow about 1817—began in Palmer in 1820, with the advent of John and Hugh Breckenridge. Following his settlement, in order, were the arrivals of Hugh Greenlees in 1834, David Ferguson, and Duncan Drain. This is the extent of that settlement in Palmer.

Robert Breckenridge settled in the territory, now a part of Palmer township, in 1818. He was one of a numerous family that emigrated from Scotland and settled in the county of Washington. His father was Andrew Breckenridge, who married Nancy Brown, by whom he had the following children: Robert, Isabel, John, Hugh, Edward, William, Elizabeth and Nancy, all of whom were born in Argylshire. Robert, the first settler, married Catharine Harvey and left Scotland in June, 1818, coming from New York to Philadelphia, whence he walked nearly all the way to Pittsburgh, coming thence in a keel-boat down the Ohio and landing at Marietta. His wife still survives. They had six children. John and Hugh, who were twins, settled in Palmer township in 1820. John married Agnes Fleming, by whom he had three sons and three daughters—Andrew, John, Robert, Jane, Nancy, and Martha, who married C. A. Brown of Belpre. Mr. Breckenridge was elected county commissioner in 1849 and served three years. His first wife dying, he was again married in 1852, his second wife dying in 1871. The eldest son, Andrew, in 1848, married Elizabeth, only daughter of Joseph and Sarah Palmer. Four children were born of this union. Mr. Breckenridge has been postmaster at Brown's Mills since 1861. He has been the treasurer of Palmer township. Robert Breckinridge married Mary P. Murdock. They have had seven children, five of whom are living. The Breckenridge family is of the old Scotch Presbyterian faith.

On the Breckenridge place stands a log house that has something of a history. It is two stories in height, and built by Mr. Hutchinson when he owned the farm. Timothy Hiett bought the place, and in 1834 sold it to John Breckenridge, who already had a home on an adjoining farm. The house, accordingly, not being used by himself, he devoted it to the shelter of the Scotch families who were frequently coming in search of places in which to live, and they thus used the house temporarily until more permanently settled. Nor was this the only use made of the house. As the Breckenridge daughters would be married at different times, they would begin housekeeping in this quasi hotel until their husbands could construct dwellings of their own. Thus this structure has seen many families within its hospitable walls.

Nathan, the third child of Samuel and Rebecca (Shipley) Browning was born in Maryland in 1816, and when young came to Morgan county, Ohio, with his parents. He married Jane, daughter of Levin and Nancy Shipley. Six of their ten children are living, viz.: Edward, George, Charles and Annis, at home; Francis, in Michigan; John in Marietta. Mr. Browning is one of Washington county's most worthy farmers and respected citizens.

One of the later accessions to the township is William R. Stacy, who was born in Muskingum township in 1850; married Eliza J. Breckenridge in 1872 and settled in Palmer township in 1873. His wife was born in 1858. They have four children, three of whom, Len. E., Clide C., and Ned E., are living. John R. is dead.

Orlando Trotter, son of Richard and Caroline Trotter, was born in 1850, and married Anna, daughter. of Duncan and Catharine Drain. One child is the result of their marriage. Mr. Trotter has been a township officer, and owns a farm of one hundred and fifteen acres of land.

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POLITICAL HISTORY.

The territory that is the subject of these pages, has undergone many changes in regard to township lines. One man, long a resident of the Palmer neighborhood, recollects having been, without moving, successively in Waterford, Wooster (afterwards called Watertown) Roxbury, Wesley and Palmer. Prior to the formation of Noble county in 1851, a man standing on the northeast corner of section six, now in Palmer, could have placed himself by a single step, either northeast, in Watertown, southeast in Barlow, southwest, in Wesley, or northwest, in Roxbury. From this point, the dividing lines ran toward the four points of the compass in two straight lines through the present township. But, by the formation of Noble, Morgan county lost large areas, and was partially recompensed by the addition of the larger part of Roxbury, taken from Washington county. At a special session of the commissioners, May 19,1851, the remaining portions of Roxbury, with parts of the other townships just mentioned were consolidated into a new township, named after the family so much concerned in the settlement and growth of its territory and interests. The entry on the journal reads as follows:

A petition was received from citizens of Roxbury and parts of Wesley, Watertown and Barlow for the erection of a new township composed of territory embraced within the following boundaries, viz : Commencingat at the northwest corner of one hundred and sixty acre lot No. 1,079, range eleven, town eight; thence south to the southwest corner of said lot; thence to the northwest corner of one hundred and sixty acre lot No. 1,080; thence south to the southwest corner of section thirteen, range eleven, town eight; thence south to the southwest corner of section No. 17, range eleven, town seven; thence to the southeast corner of section No. 5, range eleven, town seven; thence east to the southeast corner of section No. 35, range ten, town three; thence north to the southwest corner of one hundred and sixty acre lot No. 780; thence east to the southeast corner of one hundred and sixty acre lot No. 780; thence north to the northeast corner of section No. 30, range ten, town three; thence north to the northeast corner of fractional lot No. 838, range ten, town four; thence north to the southeast corner of one hundred acre lot No. 47, range ten, town four, south branch allotment; thence to the northeast corner of one hunched acre lot No. 47 aforesaid; thence west to the northwest corner of one hundred acre lot No. 14, range ten, town four, west branch allotment; thence south to the southwest corner of one hundred acre lot No. 15, range ten, town four, west branch allotment; thence westwardly to follow the line which divides the late township of Roxbury, setting off the said township to Morgan county, to the place of beginning.

An order was issued for the first election of township officers, and bore the date, May 18,1851. The place appointed for the election was the "school-house in district No. 1, formerly of Roxbury township." Here, May 30, 1851, the election was held. The officers elected were: Hiram Gard, John Danley, jr., and George Quin, trustees; Hiram M. Brown, clerk; Joseph Leonard, treasurer; O. M. Cook, assessor; John Palmer, Thomas Breckenridge, constables; John Breckenridge, jr., B. S. Malster, James H. Gard, Albert Thomas, Hugh Greenlees, and William Leget, supervisors. Supervisors appointed the same day-Albert Ward, Andrew Brown, Nathan Witham, William Ormiston, William Creighton, Thomas Drain, Richard Trotter, George Hildebrand, David Hildebrand, and Isaac Aigin. The judges of this election were George Quin, John Danley, jr., and J. L Palmer. Hiram Gard and Joseph Leonard were the clerks of the election.

Since that time the township trustees elected at each spring election are: 1852, William Malster, John Danley, jr., Horace Dunsmore; 1853, Richard Trotter, William Malster, Isaac Perry; 1854, O. M. Cook, David Ferguson, Joseph W. Danley; 1855, William Hickman, jr., Joseph W. Danley, Gabriel Payne; 1856 and 1857, William Hickman, jr., J. M. Mordough, R. I. Danley; 1858, R. I. Danley, J. B. Perry, Thomas Drain; 1859 and 1860, William Malster, William Hickman, Thomas Drain; 1861, J. M. Murdock, William Hickman, J. H. Gard; 1862-67, J. M. Murdock, James M. Palmer, William Hickman; 1868, J. M. Murdock, David Ferguson, John M. Danley; 1869, J. M. Murdock, David Ferguson, Henry L. Pugh; 1870-2, R. Breckenridge, David Ferguson, I. W. Danley; 1873 and 1874, R. Breckenridge, David Ferguson; O. M. Cook; 1875, R. Breckenridge, David Ferguson, G. B. Quinn; 1876-8, R. Breckenridge, A. G. Pugh, D. W. Shinn; 1879-80, R. Breckenridge, S. J. Henry, D. W. Shinn.

The clerks of the township for the same time are: 1852-3, H. M. Brown; 1854-5, James H. Gard, 1856-7, John Palmer; 1858-60, Joseph Leonard; z 861-2, Thomas Breckenridge; 1863-5, H. M. Brown; 1866-8, D. P. Leonard; 1869-72, J. J. Montgomery; 1873, C. J. Gibson; 1874-7, J. P. Daugherty; 1878, H. M. Palmer; 1879-80, T. E. Ferguson.

Treasurers: 1852, Joseph Leonard; 1853, James M. Mordough; 1854, Joseph Leonard; 1855, John W. Danley ; 1856-7, Joseph W. Danley; 1858, D. L. Brown; 1860-66, John Breckenridge; 1867, C. A. Brown; 1868, James Breckenridge; 1869-71, John L. Pugh; 1872-78, J. G. Murdock; 1879-80, L Daugherty.

Assessors: 1852-3, Hiram Gard; 1854-7, Isaac Perry; 1858, Richard Trotter; 1859, John Breckenridge; 1860, Isaac Perry; 1861-2, Richard Trotter; 1863, Robert Breckenridge; 1864, Richard Trotter; 1865-6, Robert Breckenridge; 1867, Richard Trotter; 1868-9, Robert Breckenridge; 1870, Richard Trotter; 1871, S. S. Smith; 1872-3, William Campbell; 1874-5, Robert Breckenridge; 1876, Richard Trotter; i877, J. M. Murdock; 1878, Ell. Miller; 1879, Richard Trotter; 1880, Samuel Caskey.

The early justices in the neighborhood are not all known. Joseph Palmer has already been mentioned as the first one in the settlement. Others were: Silas Cook, the father of O. M. Cook, about 1815-20; Hiram Gard, in the neighborhood of 1834; Evan Jenkins, about 1840-7; and Squires Trotter and Pewthers. In the June term, 1851, the court of common pleas ordered the first election of Palmer township justices to be held the third Saturday of the following July. July 19th the election was held, resulting in the choice of Hiram Gard and Edwin West. In 1854 Richard Trotter and Thomas Breckenridge were elected; 1857, Richard Trotter, A. F. Breckenridge; June 13, 1857, Joseph W. Danley was elected; April, 1860, Richard Trotter; June, 1863, Joseph W. Danley; 1865, Edward Camp; 1867, Henry L. Pugh.

May 31, 1851, an election was held on the Marietta & Cincinnati railroad question. Those who favored a coun-

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ty subscription of two hundred thousand dollars for the railroad, numbered seventy-six; those against, thirty- three.

Palmer township has always been Republican. A few elections indicative of its political drift are: 1851, Samuel F. Vinton, Republican, sixty-three; Reuben Wood, Democrat, thirty-eight. In 1852 General Scott received twenty-one majority. October 10, 1854, Joseph R. Swan, for supreme judge, sixty; Shep. Norris, twenty-five. In 1855 the Republican majority was forty. In 1862 the Republican majority was twenty-six; in 1866, fifty-six. In October, 1880, for secretary of State, there were eighty-eight Republican, fifty-one Democratic, and one Greenback votes cast. For the last fifteen years the average vote has been one hundred and fourteen, and the average Republican majority, forty-three.

Palmer township began with thirteen road districts; in 1878 it had fifteen. In 1880, in accordance with the Moore law, which affects only Washington county, the township was divided into two road districts, "all north of and including lots Nos. 1085, 1075, 1070, 805, and 1804," being one district, and the remainder of the township the other.

The first election after Palmer township was established has already been referred to as in a school-house. From then up to 1856 elections were usually held in an old dwelling-house near A. F. Breckenridge's residence. In 1856, when the present school-house was built, the former one was appropriated as a town-house, in which all elections have since been held.

SCHOOLS.

These began almost with the settlement. It will be remembered that Joseph Palmer built three houses. In the winter, probably, of 1805-6, Russell Darrow, a young man from New England, who married a daughter of Frederick Evelyn, engaged by Mr. Palmer, taught school a month. This was the first school in the settlement, and was held in the second house built by Mr. Palmer, a log cabin into which Palmer had not yet moved. The pupils were the seven Palmer children and Benjamin Danley—then a lad of some seven or eight summers. The wages the young teacher received were twelve dollars for his month's work.

Probably the next school was that taught by James Ashcroft in 1809 or 1810. By this time the Palmers had moved out of the house that Darrows had used, leaving it free to be occupied by Mr. Ashcroft for his work, and hence his school was held in the same building in which was Mr. Darrow's. The pupils were the Palmer children, except Joseph, the Malsters, named William, John, Thomas, and Benjamin; seven or eight of the Comes children, three Danley children, and last, perhaps least at that time, Hiram Gard. Ashcroft was an Englishman whose folks lived at the mouth of Wolf creek. He was a peevish, spiteful man, and on account of a difficulty with David Gard, carried on a series of petty persecutions against little Hiram, keeping him most of the time on the dunce block, which, it is said, was a large bible. Almost every day he would deputize some larger pupil to "take Hiram Gard by the ear and lead him to the dunce block ; " but at one time the laugh was turned on him by the wit of one of his scholars. This one, being appointed as Hiram's guide, led him up to the teacher's seat, which at that time was unoccupied.

In one respect Ashcroft was an extreme hypochondriac. He was mortally afraid of getting damp. Many a housewife would often recall to memory the half opened door, the head thrush in, and the inquiry from the owner thereof: "Have you been scrubbing your floor? If you have, I can't come in." How near this dread approached insanity may be seen by the fact that at one time, at an apple-paring, he declared that the "damp from the apple-peelings affected his system." It may easily be imagined what amusement, and even scorn, this would excite among a community schooled to all manner of hardship, with whom strength and manliness was virtue, and weakness and effeminacy crime; whose women were men in fortitude, and whose men were hardy beyond their race—a people that admired virility in men, and would hardly tolerate womanly weakness in women.

Ashcroft, however, was a good scholar, and received maximum wages—twelve dollars per month.

After Ashcroft, three more teachers taught in the same building. Their probable order was Jabez Palmer, John T. Dumont, and William Brown. The little flock which all these led through educational pastures was composed of substantially the same lambs as heretofore mentioned.

By 1814 a building, for educational and religious uses, was constructed of hewed pine logs and on the small plat of ground where now stands the schools and townhouse. The first teacher in this building was Solomon N. Cook, who taught two winters. Other teachers were Peter B. Lake, William Cowee, Rufus Humphrey, B. M. Brown, and Hiram Gard, who, let us hope, remembered Ashcroft and was merciful. Two lady teachers—Eliza Danley and Elizabeth Palmer—taught a summer school in this same building.

Not far from the year 1825 the log building was superceded by a frame school-house, which was so used until 1856, when it was appropriated for a town-house, and may yet be seen. In the spring of this year, however, a select school was begun and held in it. It was conducted by Z. G. Bundy, and principally designed for the instruction of teachers whose winters were occupied at their profession. In the summers of 1857, 1858 and 1859 it was continued under the instruction of Jefferson Yarnell, in the school-house yet standing, which was built in 1856. The higher branches were taught both in language and mathematics, so that it was possible for a student in the school to prepare himself for college. Its patronage was from quite a large territory, members being from Noble and Morgan counties. The number of pupils ranged from fifty to seventy-five. Among them was E. R. Alderman, the present editor of the Marietta Register, who attended in 1857, 1858 and 1859, in the latter year hearing some classes. After 1859 the enterprise was discontinued.

CHURCHES.

In the early days of the settlement, a man named Straight held Freewill Baptist meetings. Meetings of

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this denomination were frequently held through the different settlements at that time, and rarely resulted in an organization of a church. That was the case here. Straight became involved in social difficulties and left the neighborhood. No more meetings of this class were held after.

The first Methodist meetings were held in the neighborhood of 1807, under the management of Philip or John Green, a local preacher. Succeeding him was one named Mitchell. The place of these meetings was the house of Henry Comes. These exercises were discontinued, after a short time, until 1813, when the circuit rider, Isaac Quinn, at that time of the Marietta circuit, revived the cause of Methodism and held meetings in the former dwelling house of Joseph Palmer, sr., the house referred to as taught in by Ashcroft. Meetings were held in this for only a year or less, when they were transferred to the hewed pine log house that had just been made as a school and meeting-house. At this time, or very soon after, the church was organized. The fist class-leader was Joseph Palmer, jr. The members, as far as can be recalled by old residents, were no more than Joseph Palmer and wife, and William Comes and his mother. Not long after Christopher Malster joined the little band. Some time before the organization of the church, many from the neighborhood attended in what was known as Corner chapel, in the Miller neighborhood. An early preacher there was named Stone. In 1827, after the building that now stands as a town-house was put up, meetings were held in that until the fall of 1837, when the present church building was constructed. The land for this latter building was given by Isaac Palmer. The present minister of the church is D. M. Smith, of the Plymouth circuit. In 1799, this settlement was included in the Little Kanawha circuit. In 1805 it became part of the Little Muskingum circuit. In 1807, it was Muskingum and Little Kanawha. After 1808, it was the Marietta circuit. This order of things continued until 1836, when it was transferred to the Belpre circuit. In 1843, it became part of the Barlow circuit. In 1856, it was part of Plymouth circuit, where it has remained ever since.

TEMPERANCE.

Palmer township, situated at a distance from large towns with their excitements and other influences which make cities always allurements to intemperance, settled by men of steady habits, devoted to the tranquil pursuits of agriculture and sheep-raising township, it may be readily inferred, is the home of a strong, decided, and active temperance sentiment. As early as December 24, 1840, this sentiment had crystallized into a temperance society, and the aggressive character of this sentiment was well expressed by the title, "the Roxbury Society for the Promotion of Temperance." John Hurlbert was the president, Jesse Leasure was vice-president, and Edward Camp was secretary at the organization of this society. Four times a year they met, keeping time with the seasons, thus literally fulfilling the injunction to be "instant in season and out of season." Business meetings were held on the first Saturday of April.

The first meeting saw the subscription of twenty-eight names—which roll was, by the year 1851, increased to nearly a hundred and fifty—to the following pledge which was a part of their constitution:

We the undersigned do agree that we will abstain from intoxicating liquors as a beverage except in cases of sickness or bodily hurt ; that we wiU not traffic in them ; that we will not provide them as an article-of entertainment for persons in our employment, and in all suitable ways we will discontinue their use throughout the community.

It will be noticed that one clause of this agreement is aimed at the then prevailing practice of rewarding neighborly aid at log-rollings, barn-raisings, and similar gatherings, also furnishing harvest hands with whiskey.

This society was succeeded by the Sons of Temperance in 1851—which body existed in Palmer until 1854. This was the period, it will be remembered, of the contest concerning the Maine Liquor law. June 17, 1851, soon after its establishment, Palmer township voted as follows on the license question: For license, thirty; against the same, fifty-two; majority against license, twenty-two.

April 9, 1852, a branch society of the Washington County Temperance Union was organized in Palmer with J. M. Palmer as president, John Breckenridge, jr., as vice-president and J. M. Murdock as secretary. This was also organized principally with the object of aiding the temperance interests in the approaching political contest.

Early meetings of the first society, as well as those of the Sons of Temperance, were held in the old Palmer house—the one mentioned as built or hewed pine logs and lived in by Joseph Palmer, jr., all the latter part of his life. When the death of the old man ended its use as a dwelling house, this building was put to many public uses. It was a general resort for the neighborhood. Isaac Palmer fitted it up, at one time as a dancing hall, and its old walls, many a time, rang to the strains evoked from his violin by the indispensable well known, country fiddler. Fourth of July and other celebrations were held in this building. It was also used many years, as a store, but more of this hereafter.

Among all these organizations in Palmer, must not be forgotten that of the Independent Rifle company. This owed its existence to a similar organization in Barlow township, about the year 1822, to which some of the residents of,, what is now Palmer belonged. These afterwards organized a separate company in their own neighborhood, thus bringing it in the range of this sketch. There were from a hundred to a hundred and thirty members in it. The early captains were Michael Gard, Ephraim Palmer, and Henry Abbott. Both officers and men were very finely uniformed, and their parades were very much admired by the neighborhood.

CEMETERIES.

March 15, 1817, Jane, a six months old daughter of David Gard, was accidentally and fatally scalded. This was the fourth death in the settlement. She was buried on a high plat of ground a short distance north of the residence of R. I. Danley. This was the origin of the Gard cemetery. is in a beautiful situation, and is well kept by R. I. Danley, in whose charge it now remains.

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It is rare that one sees a graveyard so filled with the patriarchs and pioneers of a community. It contains, on a close estimate, two hundred and seventy-five graves. Of the old residents of the land enclosed in Palmer township, there lie here Joseph Pierrot, a native of France, died in 1856, aged sixty-five; Henrietta, his wife, of Berne, Switzerland, died in 1875, aged seventy-four; F. L. Liengme, also of Berne, died in 1848, aged forty-four; Thomas G. Graham; Sybil Piper, died in 1853, aged seventy; Esther Michener, of Pennsylvania, died in 1867, born in 1778; Benjamin G. Brockway, died in 1856, aged seventy-four; Ruth, his wife; Dr. John Hemphill; Nathan Gard, died in 1821, aged fifty-two, the third buried in the yard; Eleanora Gard, died in 1824, aged fifty; Benjamin Pugh, died in 1870, aged eighty-four; Mary, his wife; James Henderson, died in 1835, aged forty-three; William Groves, died in 1841, aged forty-two; Eliza, his wife; Benjamin Danley, died in 1820, aged twenty-two, the second buried in the cemetery; Henry Comes, died in 1826, aged seventy-two; Elias Pewthers, died in 1840, aged thirty-seven; Benjamin M. Brown, born in Washington county, New York, in 1797, was sheriff of the county from 1834 to 1838, died in 1849; Phoebe Groves, died in 1856, aged seventy- six; John Hurlbut, died in 1855, aged seventy-six; John Mutton, died in 1850, aged sixty-five; Lucy, his wife, died in 1848, aged seventy-two. Here, also, lie many whose deaths and ages have already been given—of the Palmers, the Malsters, the Gards, the Comes, the Danleys, the Breckenridges, and many others. Many well-known names of Barlow, Watertown, and Windsor townships also appear on the marble stones.

In the year 1838, shortly after the arrival of John and Hugh Breckenridge in the settlement, they were at a barn raising. While they were at work, one of the rafters fell, killing Hugh and injuring John. In accordance with a wish expressed by Hugh a short time before, he was buried on that part of his land now embraced by the cemetery, near the house of J. M. Murdock. This was the beginning of that graveyard. The next burial in it was that of the wife of John Breckenridge. In this yard are buried persons of the names of Breckenridge, Murdock, Palmer, Mitchell, Ferguson, Greenlees, Bryan, Reed, and others. It now contains about forty graves. Both these graveyards are in the care of the township, the Murdock cemetery having been entrusted to it some four years ago.

These are not the only burying-grounds in the township. There existed another, containing one grave, but the date of its origin, and facts about the life of its occupant, are destined, probably, forever to remain mysteries. The grave was situated west of Brown's mills, on a ridge, and was what is ordinarily known as an Indian mound. It was on the farm of G. W. Murdock. In 1838, Ludley Gard, D. W. Shinn, and others, opened it, and discovered in it a vault eight feet long, four feet deep, and walled with stone. This contained a skeleton seven feet long, a tomahawk, arrow-heads, and stones ground into divers shapes. This mound was situated near what might be styled the first road in the township. This was no more or less than an old Indian trail, which crossed the stream below Brown's mills, and ran in tilt direction of the Hocking river from the Ohio. Its situation indicates that it was a line of communication from the western villages of the Indians to the frontier. In addition to the mound above mentioned, many Indian relics were found along its course.

The first white man's road in Palmer, however, was built from Waterford to within three miles of Plymouth ; that is, to the State road between Marietta and Athens. The course of this road through Palmer was along the high ground to the east of the West fork of Wolf creek, and lay directly through the site of the earliest settlement. In those days of few roads, and no steamboats or railroads, articles imported into the settlement were, of course, very high priced. Salt at that time was carried over the mountains on horseback. Residents of the neighborhood were obliged to go to Marietta for this article, and pay five dollars per bushel for it.

PHYSICIANS.

The first physician in Palmer was Dr. John Hemphill, a native of New Hampshire, who was a young man of thirty-five when he arrived. His arrival was, in all probability, in 1836. He married Mary Ann Gage, of Waterford, and settled near Brown's mill. He had two children, Orson and Joseph. He was a quiet, unassuming man and a good practitioner. He practiced until within a few years of his death, which occurred in 1869, of softening of the brain. He was sixty-seven years old at the time of his death.

In 1850 Dr. West came to the settlement. He was of the eclectic school of physicians, and was very successful, especially in fevers. He did not remain but about four years. While in the settlement he lived at different places, but most of the time his residence was near the neighborhood store.

The third and last doctor in Palmer was H. Bryan, who came in 1856. He was a botanical doctor, and practiced about a dozen years.

INDUSTRIES.

The first store in the territory included in Palmer was kept by Hiram Gard, between 1825 and 1830. It was situated on the West fork.

Upon the death of Joseph Palmer, sr., in 1831, his two-story hewed pine log dwelling house, so often mentioned in this article, was used as a store. Colonel Stone, of Harmar, filled it with goods. Beginning with 1834 and continuing for four years, John Malster kept it. The building itself after being used for the various purposes referred to, was torn down. The upper story was fitted up as a dwelling house, and so used by David Richards, and after him many other store-keepers. This part of the historic building is still standing and in good preservation, but would hardly be recognized now as the last of the three houses of old Joseph Palmer.

The first blacksmith in the neighborhood, as near as can be recollected, was William Chute, who began pounding iron there about 1825. He located his shop just east of Brown's mill. At first he had no anvil, and was

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obliged to use instead an old cast-off saw-mill crank. When business got better he doubtless indulged in an anvil of a more approved pattern.

The first tannery was put up near Brown's mill on the Hemphill farm, by James Jenkins. This was probably a few years after the mill was built. The enterprise lasted but a few years. About 1833 Edward Camp bought a few acres of the Gards and started the second tannery. In 1847 Robert I. Danley bought this of its founder and managed it two or three years, when the enterprise was discontinued. This tannery was situated in the depression between Mr. Robert Danley's present dwelling house and the residence of Mr. Brown.

In the summer of 1879, Ezra Michner, at Brown's mills, began what promised to be an important work to the neighborhood—the manufacture, by grinding, of limestone flour—thus furnishing a good fertilizer for farms. But the main industries, and what must always be the main industries of Palmer, are the cultivation of farms and the raising of sheep. The land, as before remarked, is rolling, nowhere so steep as to make cultivation impossible or even difficult. The soil, though in many places of a whitish color, still yields fairly on the whole, and good cultivation is supplementing other deficiencies.

Within a comparatively few years the attention of Palmer township people has largely been turned to the raising of sheep, many of the farmers dealing in the finest varieties. So far has this interest progressed, that as the traveller traverses the country and notices the grassy surfaces, apparently swelling and falling in great waves of land on every side, he is struck with the idea that Palmer is certainly the township of meadows.

Limestone is situated in most places through this county too low to be of much value as a fertilizer. Sandstone is a remarkable factor in the rocks that underlie these farms, and where this sandstone rests on a more solvent shale, exposed to the action of water, the very beautiful waterfalls are formed that appear to one passing along the often romantic valleys of the streams.

Coal is not present in paying quantities. The only seam that appears, according to Professor E. B. Andrews, is the Hobson seam. This is not of remarkable thickness, but it gives the coal miner of Palmer a Hobson's choice—that or nothing. Mr. Andrews avers that about a hundred and twenty feet above the coal appears iron ore of two or three feet in thickness. This is said to cover a considerable area in the neighborhood. It yields a very small per cent.—only nine and seventy-two hundredths of iron.

The native trees of the county are, among others, the white oak, and hickory on the flat lands. The pine grove referred to as settled in by Mr. Palmer, and furnishing tar under the skill of a Mallery, was a remarkable growth confined to that, immediate neighborhood, and well remembered by those who lived within sight of it, or spent their noons, while attending the select school, beneath its shade. Within the present year, under the destroying influence of the portable saw-mill, it has entirely disappeared from the landscape.

The numerous white oak trees have christened this, in common with settlements in adjoining townships, the White Oak settlement, which has always been famous for its thrift and intelligence. The results of this, as well as of the steady progress which the preceding pages attempt to convey, are well attested by the eye that views the neat and often beautiful houses, the well kept fences and farm improvements, and the general air of order that everywhere exists in this pleasant section.

In 1860 the population of Palmer township was six hundred and eighteen; in 1870 , six hundred and seventy- one; in 1880, five hundred and ninety-three. The decrease in the last decade is partly due to the fact that increase in individual wealth resulted in larger farms and consequently fewer farmers.