HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY - 461

CHAPTER L.

(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE)

BEDFORD TOWNSHIP.

Location-Organization-Name-Topography-Early Settlers

-Indians-First Road-Schools- Mills-Distilleries-Can-

nel Coal Oil Operations-Churches-west Bedford.

BEDFORD township lies in the western part of the county. It is bounded on the north by Jefferson township, on the east by Jackson, on the south by Washington, and on the west by Perry, and consists of township 5 in the 8th range of the original survey. The northeastern quarter is a military section, which was surveyed into one hundred-acre lots, in 1808, by William Cutbush; the remainder of the township is congress land, opened up for settlement by its survey into sections, in 1803, by Silas Bent, Jr. The township exceeds somewhat the requisite width of five miles, making the western tier of sections considerably larger than they should be. Some of the quarter sections here contain nearly 260 acres, instead of 160, and the fact led to some unsuccessful local litigation, in early days, by one or two settlers, against their adjacent, more fortunate neighbors who had secured "fat" quarters. The purpose of the suit was to compel a division of he surplus land.

The land which forms this township was a portion of Newcastle township until 1825, at which time it was organized by act of commissioners into a separate township. The organization was completed by the election of township officers at he house of Henry Heroes. It is not known to certainty who these officers were, as the records f the election are not known to exist, but William McCoy, Herman Anderson and John McNabb are supposed to have been the first trustees, and Nathan Wright the first justice of the peace. Richard Wood afterwards served the township in this latter capacity for an extended period of years. Jehu Wright, Michael Heaton and John Quigley, were other early "squires." The township election continued to be held at Mr. Haines' residence for four or five yearn, and were subsequently transferred to West Bedford. The township received its name from a county in Pennsylvania, from which came quite a number of the pioneer families. Bedford county furnished at least fifteen or eighteen early families in this township, perhaps many more, besides many others to surrounding townships. The first settler from there doubtless sent back to the friends he had left in the East, a glowing account of his western home and thereby induced others to emigrate, the favorable reports of these in turn bringing others. A similar emigration was instituted years afterwards from this township into Hardin county, many of the early settlers moving there in their old age. The population of the township according to the late census is 920.

The character of the surface is rolling throughout, generally roughly rolling. The headwaters of Mohawk and Simmons' runs are near the middle of the township, east and west. South of this the water flows in a southerly direction in several small streams, the most noticeable of which is Wakatomica run. Poplar, chestnut, black walnut, hickory and red oak, besides other varieties, were the trees composing the dense forests that held continuous possession of the soil seventy-five years ago. Coal in the eastern half of the township is abundant; scarcely any is

462 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

found in the western part. In the east the soil is sandy and black loam in places; in the west, where much limestone is found, it is a loam with clay subsoil. There is very little surface rock to be seen. On John Noland's place is a single exception. Standing Rock, as it is called, about fifteen or eighteen feet high and twenty feet in length by ten in width, is rendered doubly conspicuous by the absence of other exposures in the vicinity.

Richard Shelton is regarded as the primitive white settler of the township. He came about 1808, and settled on lot 25 of the military section. He was of a roving nature, possessing in a greater degree the characteristics of a hunter than of a farmer.

Next in the long line of pioneers was Ezra Horton. He was from the Cumberland valley in Maryland, and settled in the southwest quarter of section 6 about 1809 or 1810, where he remained till his death. His wife, Jemima, was noted in pioneer circles for her skill in performing the duties of a physician. Two of his sons, Thomas and David, were engaged in the second American struggle for liberty in 1812. Thomas, at the first call to arms, enlisted in Captain Meredith's company, and served in the vicinity of Mansfield. David participated in a more active campaign at Fort Meigs, on the Maumee river.

Henry Haines was the next settler. He left his eastern home in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in 1810, for the West, reaching Licking county in the fall of that year, expecting to continue on to Franklin county, but discouraging reports induced him to stop. He was informed that Zanesville, some sixty miles distant from his prospective home, would be the nearest point at which to obtain salt and get his grinding done; also that the proposed location was unhealthy. This piece of news prevailed with him, and he resolved to settle closer to Zanesville. He was directed by a Mr. Wolford to this township. In the spring of 1811 he moved here, entering the northwest quarter of section 18. For six months he lived in a three-sided cabin, the one end being entirely open, but by fall he had a substantial log cabin ready for occupation. He brought with him six cows, and made a large amount of butter. Few of the settlers who soon after located here were fortunate enough to own a cow, and butter, with them, was quite a luxury. Mr. Haines availed himself of every opportunity to exchange this product of the dairy for a pig. In the course of several years he had a large drove of hogs and a fine herd of cattle, which had been raised with trifling cost. These he drove to Zanesville in several lots, and sold them at a fair figure. With the proceeds of these sales he paid for his quarter section. He reared a family of eight children, and died in 1863, at the age of eighty-one years. His brother John came with him, and settled the northwest quarter of section 14.

In the fall of 1811 John Wolford appeared, settling in the southwest quarter of section 14. He had entered it some time prior to his immigration; was originally from Bedford county, Pennsylvania, but had been living a while in Belmont county. He afterwards moved to Hancock county, and there engaged in milling till he died.

About the same time Elias James from Bedford county, Pennsylvania, settled on the northwest quarter of section 16. This quarter had been entered by a German named Grimm, who, at the first indication of approaching Indian warfare, sold it for a trifle to Mr. James and vamosed to a more congenial clime in the East. Information is had that Mr. Grimm afterward settled in Keens township and rose to the dignity of an associate judge.

John McKearns from Bedford county, about 1812, settled in the southwest quarter of section 24. He died in the spring of 1815 of "cold plague" as did also his wife and a sister. Aaron now lives just across the line in Washington township.

Solomon Tipton, formerly from Wellsburg, Virginia, but directly from Belmont county, settled on the northwest quarter of section 15 probably in 1812. He came in the spring and in the fall of the same year was drafted into the army and entered service. While in the army a sad calamity befell his family at home. The back wall of his chimney which had been built that summer fell over upon two of his children, killing one of them and seriously injuring the other.

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Nathan Wright came with his family from Bedford county to Perry township in June, 1814, and a few months later to the southwest quarter of section 25. His oldest son, John, who was married, accompanied him. Another son, Nathan, is still living in the township and is the oldest resident here. He was born February 9,1798, being now in his eighty-fourth year. His mental vigor is unimpaired, and he is widely known and highly esteemed by all who enjoy his acquaintance. In his youth he was a deer slayer of note, and in his prime an active, intelligent and energetic citizen. Charles Cessna came with the Wrights from the same county. He settled in the northwest quarter of section 17, and after a residence of perhaps fifteen ,years moved to Hardin county.

About 1814, Samuel Dillam settled on the military section. He was a roving character, did not become a property owner here, and changed his place of habitation repeatedly.

John Anderson had entered the southeast quarter of section 24, and built a little cabin upon it, in 1814, which he expected to occupy. He returned to Guernsey county, whence he came, for his family, and died there, early in 1815, of cold plague.

About 1815, a tide of emigration set in, which continued unabated for ten years, and before the expiration of that time, the land in the township had all been entered. Thomas Srnith and his son Edward settled, about 1818, in the southeast quarter of section 11. Their nationality was Irish. Edward had been drafted into the British service, while still living on the Emerald Isle, and was sent, with the English forces, to Canada, near Sackett's Harbor. While he and a fellow-soldier were out on the river, in a little boat, fishing, they made a successful effort to desert the English lines. They drifted down the river as far as they could, without exciting suspicion, and when ordered to return, pulled lustily in the opposite direction. The pickets opened fire upon them, and Smith's companion dropped flat in the bottom of the boat, to screen himself from the flying bullets, leaving his fellow deserter to row him out of danger. Smith brought the boat safely to the American lines, amid the huzzas of the soldiers who witnessed the escape. A brother, who subsequently became a blacksmith, in Coshocton, and his father, Thomas, had in the meantime emigrated from Ireland to America. Edward joined them in the East and came, with his father to this place, where he remained all his life. Daniel, William and James McCurdy, three brothers, remotely from the "holy sod," and immediately from Jefferson county, came in about 1816 or 1818, and settled in sections 19 and 20.

Edward McCoy, a little earlier, came from Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and settled in the southwest quarter of section 17. He died recently in Monroe township. His brother, William McCoy, accompanied him here. Other early settlers, from the same county, were Moses Wolford, occupying the northeast quarter of section 24; William Richards, the southeast quarter of section 17; Jacob Rine, the southwest quarter of section 14; Henry Rine, the southeast quarter of section 25; Enoch Fry, the northwest quarter of section 25; Jacob Adams, Robert Elder, Samuel Rose, a famous bee-hunter, and Micajah Heaton, the northeast quarter of section 16.

To vary the Bedford township monotony, John Hutchinson, originally an Irishman, about 1816, came from Wilmington, Delaware, and settled on the southwest quarter of section 11. John McNabb, a little earlier, emigrated from Belmont county to lot 6, military section; likewise George McNabb to the southwest quarter of section 15; Martin Markle to lot 13, from Virginia. He removed to Illinois twenty-five or thirty years ago. Nathan Evans, from near Baltimore, Maryland, about 1818, located the northwest quarter of section 3; Samuel Duncan, a brother to Matthew Duncan, of New Castle township, the southwest quarter of section 5. He here ran a little fulling machine. His death resulted from the kick of a horse. Bennett Browner moved to lot 21, military section, about 1816. He hailed from Virginia, was a noted character, and years after moved to New Castle township, where he died. Joseph Parish came, in 1817, from Belmont county and entered the northwest quarter of section 8. Hugh Barrett and his sons, John (married), Joseph and Richard, came about 1818 or 1820, emigrants from Ireland, settling in the northwestern part of the township. John Richardson,

461 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

one of the floating population, lived a while, at an early clay, on the military section, and afterwards went to Jefferson township. He was from Virginia. A son, Joseph, attained to considerable prominence subsequently in Roscoe. Thomas Tipton, a brother to Solomon, in 1817, settled on the southeast quarter of section 5.

Thomas Morris came to Ohio in 1813, with the expectation of settling in Coshocton county, having relatives on the Tuscarawas river, but his children were taken sick with the measles in Belmont county, and, once stopped, he remained there seven years. He rented a farm of about fifty acres, which was cleared and leased twenty acres of timber for six years, having the use of it during this period in return for the labor of clearing it. During his stay here, he accumulated means sufficient to enter the south half of section 7, on which he settled in 1820. He died twenty-one years later, at the age of sixty six years. Stephen Donley came with him, entering the northeast quarter of section 5. Joseph Hughes came in the spring of 1821, from Belmont county, to the southeast quarter of section 6. David Lammey, his brother-in-law, owned seventy acres of this section, and came out a year or so earlier, building at first a little cabin of saplings, without doors or windows, the only entrance being from the roof.

No Indian village existed within the bounds of this township, though the savages frequently encamped along the little streams here. Few settlers had arrived when the Indians deserted this part of the country, consequently there was little local communication here between the two races. One Indian, known as J. Cook, encamped for some time in the southwest quarter of section 22, now owned by Mrs. T. English, on the little branch of Wakatomica run, which flows through the place. He had a hopeful scion about fifteen years of age, whom he was endeavoring to train up in the way he should go, by sending him out in the woods every morning to shoot game. The lad formed the acquaintance of Henry Haines' sons, shortly after their arrival; and instead o scouring the wild forest paths in quest of noble game, as he should have done, he whiled away the lazy hours of the day at the cabin of his white neighbors, roasting potatoes, scraping turnips and getting a civilized meal occasionally. On his return home in the evening he would report "no game " to his waiting sire. J. Cook at length suspecting that his son was not as zealous in the pursuit of deer, as he should be, followed him one day, and found him as usual, playing with his white companions. He took him home with him and very successfully applied corrective principles of some kind to the boy's wayward course, effectively curing his hankering after civilized companionship, for he never returned.

When Mr. Haines was about to put up his cabin in 1811, there were no settlers in the vicinity from whom to receive assistance. He went down to the neighborhood of Dresden to procure the services of several workmen, if possible, and found two men who willingly agreed to come, but complained a little of the distance they would have to walk. Mr. Haines jokingly advised them to ride two of the ponies belonging to the occupants of an Indian village close by. Sure enough, the men appeared at Haines' door the next morning mounted on two horses. They had not been here long, however, when two new arrivals put in their appearance-an Indian and his half-grown son-who had tracked their stolen horses hither. A jug of whisky mollified their wrath and induced them to stay all day. The Indian lad rendered some little assistance, but the noble red man devoted his attention exclusively to a full investigation of the whisky jug. As evening approached they bestrode their recovered steeds and silently wended their way homeward, leaving the men to follow the path afoot.

Wolves were quite an annoyance to the settlers, particularly to those who owned sheep. These had to be kept in tight pens close to the cabin during the night, and even then were not always safe from the fangs of their old-time enemies. Squirrels, too, were quite a pest in destroying the corn and other products of the farm. A famous squirrel raid was organized in New Castle township, at a time when it comprised what are now Bedford, Pike, Perry and New Castle townships. The township was divided equally into two parts, the settlers of each division vieing with each other in their efforts to exterminate to the mischievous little animal. The hunt lasted

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three weeks, and during the time it is said more than twenty thousand squirrels were killed.

Two salt licks existed near the township center, one on the northwest quarter of section 18, Levi Haines' place ; the other on the northwest quarter of section 13, about a mile to the north. These were the favorite haunts of deer, generally at night. The venison-loving settler might secrete himself in the neighboring thicket any evening and be tolerably sure of killing a deer if he possessed a little patience. Deer have often been killed here at night when darkness shrouded them completely from view, the hunter being made aware of the game's presence by its tread, and knowing by experience the direction in which to shoot.

The first road in the township was the one leading from Coshocton to Mt. Vernon. It was built in 1810 or earlier, and just grazed the north eastern part of the township. The next was the one built from Dresden to the mouth of Owl creek, in New Castle township. It was made as far as the center of Washington township in 1811, and in 1812 or 1813 completed. It was the road which passes through West Bedford north and south.

About 1818 a school was taught in a deserted cabin on the northeast quarter of section 6. Another, about the same time, was held in an old cabin on the southwest quarter of section 18. It was taught by Thomas McBride, later of Newark, and William McCoy. In 1824 one was taught in the cabin which Henry Haines had occupied, on the northwest quarter of section 18. Mr. Haines had moved into a new brick the year before. William McCoy, one of this township's pioneer settlers, taught the first term of three months. The three "rs," reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic, were the only branches taught. The families that sent their children here included the Harrisons, Wolfords, Richards, McCurdys, McCoys, and Cessnas. The next year another term of three months was taught by John Oxley, an individual who was crusty in manner and harsh in his treatment toward the scholars. The school was then abandoned. About 1820 a clumsy little log school-house was built in the northwest quarter of section 25. Nathan Wright, Sr., was installed the first teacher. Richard Wood succeeded him the next year. About 1825 or 1826 a term was taught by John Oxley in a. deserted loom-house belonging to Thomas Norris. The settlers then were obliged to manufacture their own clothing, or wear buckskin, and many of them chose the latter. Oxley afterwards moved to Perry, then Monroe, township, where he died.

Milling facilities were important considerations with the pioneer settlers in selecting the spots for their future homes. In this township where the water power could not always be relied upon, the settlers made provision for getting along without it when it became necessary. Many of the settlers constructed rude, little hand mills, which they could resort to in an extremity to grind their corn. Draft horse mills also were not rare. One of these was built by Jared Parish and Ben. Nulen about 1825 in the northeast quarter of section 23, which was operated ten or twelve years. Ben. Nulen afterward built another in West Bedford but when he moved to Hardin county some years later it was abandoned.

In the southwest quarter of section 18 a grist mill was built about 1814 by John Wolford. An overshot water-wheel was used, and one set of buhrs was run, Mr. Wolford sold to Patrick English who added a saw mill and afterward sold out to Isaac Dickerson The mill was operated till about 1865.

About 1830 Henry Haines erected a saw mill on the quarter section adjoining this one on the north, on the same stream. Several years later he built a grist mill at the same site. Two races were constructed from the two forks of the run, one a hundred and twenty-five, the other seventy-five rods long. A large undershot wheel was employed in driving the machinery. One set of buhrs was connected with the mill, and about 1850 it was abandoned; the saw mill had been taken away some years before.

In the eastern part of lot 11, of the military section, three acres were sold for a mill site, and a saw mill erected upon it about 1835, by Aaron Kane. He removed to Adams county, Illinois, and Harvey Doney came into possession of the mill, who subsequently moved to Greens county, Indiana. The water-wheel was of Parker's pattern, and the saw was a sash-saw, as were also

466 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

those in all other mills in this township, circular saws not yet having come into vogue.

It is said that Joseph Parish erected a little distillery, about 1818, in the northwestern part of the township, which remained in operation five or six years. His boys were obliged to pack the rye on horses to a little mill on Mohawk run, in Jefferson township, there being no mill closer.

About 1828, Edward McCoy started a distillery on his place, in the northwest quarter of section 17. He had first built a carding mill, but after a few years abandoned this, attached a little pair of buhrs for grinding, and erected the distillery. His motive power was of a kind not usually found here. It consisted of a tramp-wheel, a large wheel perhaps thirty feet in diameter, set in an inclined position. Cattle were placed upon one side of the wheel, and their weight set it in motion. They were fastened so that they were unable to move along with the wheel, but had to tramp, tramp, up the side of the revolving wheel until the mash was ground in the mill, which was connected by machinery with the wheel. This distillery was operated about ten years.

The next distillery was owned by William Richards, and erected several yearn later. He had no mill connected with the distillery, but had his grain ground at different little mills around. After some ten years' operation, it, too, was abandoned.

About 1835, Moses Wolford became another manufacturer of distilled spirits and, not only was whisky made at these little distilleries, but also peach brandy, apple brandy, etc., Wolford's still was located on the northeast quarter of section 24 and, after a period of four or five years, it suspended operations. Probably the last still was smallest of all, quite an insignificant affair, run for a few years, and owned by John Metz, about thirty-five years ago, in the southern part of the township.

From 1858 to 1860, and to some extent for a few years later, a large amount of capital was invested in coal oil manufactories in this and in Jefferson township. Beds of cannel coal, of the richest description, from which the oil was extracted, lie in the hills in the northeastern part of this and the southern part of Jefferson township. The vein is largest on Simmons' run, where it attains a thickness of six feet three inches, cannel coal, and three feet bituminous. The average thickness of the cannel is between three and four feet, with the bituminous in proportion. It is sporadic, however, liable to swell into a deep rich vein, or dwindle away into a worthless seam, in a very short distance. The bituminous lies over the cannel coal, and was little mined, having no market.

Previous to 1858, coal oil had been manufactured to a considerable extent in the east, and about that time extensive works were springing up in Newark, the manufacturers designing to ship the coal from the various mines to that place, and there extract the oil. Colonel Metham, of Jefferson township, was probably the first person in this vicinity to enter the promising field of future wealth. He purchased a piece of land containing coal, in this township, with William Stanton, of Coshocton, as partner, and went to Newark to acquaint himself with the minutiae of the distilling process. He there met J. E. Holmes and found high excitement prevailing. The coal he was able to supply could be easily disposed of to the various speculators at a fair figure. He was the first to suggest transferring the works to the coal fields, and thus save the freightage on the coal, which was a considerable item of expense. The suggestion was acted upon, and a number of firms came with their works to the coal beds in this township. The coal beds were, as a rule, leased by the operators from the land owners. Three companies were located on the Metham and Stanton tract-Captain Stuart, of Steubenville, with two sets of works, one consisting of fourteen, the other of ten retorts; Forsythe & Brothers, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, having thirty-two retorts, and a Mr. Edwards, of Muskingum county, with six retorts. W Wilcox & Osborn made heavy investments in the coal regions here, still owning about 650 acres of land. Judge Wilcox, the senior member of the firm, is a banker in Painesville, Mr. Osborn a banker of Chicago. On their property Dr. Semple, of Steubenville, had a set of works, Mr. Carnahew, of Pennsylvania, another, and Ezra Cornell, of New York, a third. Mr. Cornell superintended his works here in person. Some of the companies not only distilled the crude oil here, but also, at least, par-

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tially refined it. Others sent the oil to Newark, or elsewhere, to be refined.

The retorts by which the oil was distilled were of various kinds, the most common pattern being an upright, cast-iron retort, about nine feet high and four feet thick. It was filled with coal, made air-tight, and heat was then applied on the outside. The vapors thus set free were conveyed through a worm and condensed. At first, two charges were run a day, but this was found to be too many, and the number was reduced to one. A ton of coal usually produced about forty gallons of crude oil, worth at first fifty cents per gallon, but toward the end sold at a narrow margin at ten cents a gallon. Mixed with the crude lamp oil were lubricating oil, asphaltum and paraffine. These, in the early stages of the manufacture, were regarded and treated as waste products ; afterward they were utilized, the lubricating oil fires, then the asphaltum and paraffine. For a year or two after the war some of the works were operated solely for these latter compounds, the crude oil being relied upon, however, to pay expenses.

The works had scarcely become thoroughly established when the petroleum oil wells in Western Pennsylvania, which developed rapidly and produced oil in immense quantities, furnished the burning fluid at a figure which made it utterly impossible for the manufacturers here to compete with them, and the business received its death blow. All the costly preparation for a permanent business, by way of machinery, etc., became at once so much dead capital, completely valueless.

It is estimated that $300,000 were lost through these enterprises in the two townships, This was not felt to any great extent by the county, however, for the most of it was foreign capital. A few of the retorts were removed only a short time ago, but most of them were taken away during the war, and, it is said, cast into shells and used on various battlefields in the late conflict.

It is a noteworthy fact that most of these rich bed: of coal are now owned by non residents of the county, and await only the construction of a railroad in the vicinity to be developed to the fullest extent. The tract of about 650 acres of land, situated in the heart of this valuable field, owned by Wilcox & Osborn, has already been mentioned. Much of the coal has been purchased by foreign capitalists from parties who still own the land. One company of seven, consisting of Mr. Thompson (now deceased), formerly president of the Pennsylvania Central railroad, Thomas Scott, ex-president of the same road, Mr. Shaw, a vice president of this road, Judge R. C. Hurd, of Mount Vernon (now deceased), General G. A. Jones, of Mount Vernon, now receiver of the Cleveland, Mount Vernon and Delaware railroad, Samuel Israel, vice president of the same, and Colonel P. Metham, now own about 800 acres of the coal in this and Jefferson townships.

The Dresden branch of the Cleveland, Mount Vernon and Columbus railroad, which was partially constructed in 1873, but then suspended operations by reason of the panic, passed through this region and would have offered the desired outlet to a market had it been completed. The road entered the northeastern part of the township from Jefferson, and passed up the narrow valley of Simmons' run, in a southwesterly direction, for about three miles to "Tunnel Hill," on William Noland's farm, lot 32 of the military section. The company was at work in this tunnel when it ceased operations, had it been completed, the construction of the balance of the road to Dresden would have been comparatively easy, as the little valley of Wakatomica run could be followed the entire distance.

Limestone abounds in the vicinity of the coal beds, and kidney iron ore has also been discovered. What extent of this iron ore a thorough investigation might reseal, awaits the future to determine.

A Christian church, vulgarly known as the " New Light," was organized in 1823. The pioneer settlers, who attached themselves to the organization at or closely following its inception, and grew to be leading lights in the body, included the names of Joseph Hartman and wife, Charles Cessna and family, Richard Mood and wife, William . Richards' family, Ira Marshall and John Haines. Services were held at private houses during the infancy of the church, generally at Richard Mood's or Joseph Hartman's. It was customary also to hold protracted meetings in

468 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

the forest "God's first temples." In 1840, a house of worship was erected a short distance north of the village of West Bedford, at an out lay of the modest sum of $300. It was a small frame, which still stands the ravages of time. Revs. James Mervin and Ashley were the first ministers. At a later date, came Revs. Andrew Hunger, Adolphus Bradfield, Jacob Hunger, William Webb and H. Harsh. In 1864, by reason of removals and deaths, the church was too feeble to support itself and became extinct. During its existence, a Sunday-school had been carried on with success and several refreshing seasons of great spiritual revival marked the history of the church. Its membership at one time exceeded fifty.

The Union Methodist Episcopal church is located in the southern part of the township. It was long known as Smith's church, so called from one of its principal early members who lived in the vicinity of the building, but since his decease it has given way to the name mentioned above. The first church building, a hewed log affair, was erected about 1832. Preaching had been held for many years prior in cabins, but, it is understood, the class was formed not long before the erection of the building. Harvey Willson was probably the first minister. The early members were George and James Smith, William McCoy, John Dickerson, Moses Wolford, Jonathan Phillips, Isaac Dikus, Martin Markle and the families of many of these. One of this number, William McCoy, built the first church. The present house of worship, a frame, structure, was built about twenty-five years ago. The membership is now fifty or more, the minister in charge, A. McCullough. A Sunday-school is carried on during the summer.

The Methodist Episcopal church in West Bedford was organized in 1838 or 1840. It might properly be called a branch of the Union Methodist church, just described, as a number of the early members of that society severed their membership with it in order to organize this one. Colonel Roe was mainly instrumental in effecting its organization. He was an ardent Methodist and resided at West Bedford but was unable to walk to the Union church and, having no conveyance of his own, could not be regular in his attendance upon services.

The society was organized in his log cabin, which stood on the lot now occupied by the parsonage. Revs. Kellogg and Joseph Brown were on the circuit at that time. The circuit was larger than at present, embracing New Castle, East Union, Mohawk Village, West Carlisle, Roscoe, Dresden, and perhaps other appointments. Other early preachers were Revs. Barker, Blanfield, Henry, Whiteman, John McNabb and William Boggs. William Jones and William Smith were the two first class-leaders. Besides these, other original members were Mr. Smith's wife, Nancy (the only original member now connected with the church), and his daughter, Mary Ann; Mr. Jones' wife Rachel and daughter Susan; James Jones, his wife Susan and children Mary Jane and Barrack; Coe Roe and his wife Julia, and Mrs. Ellen Renfrew. James Jones had four sons who subsequently became ministers of the gospel in this denomination, Thomas, Barrack, William and Samuel. The second, one of the original members, was at the time of the church's organization a lad of but ten years of age. Meetings for a year or two were held in private houses on week days, then in 1841, the church was built and services held in it on Sundays. The church . lot was donated by Mrs. Ellen Renfrew. The building is a large frame, with a seating capacity of about 500, built by George Conn. It was repaired and refurnished several years ago, and, notwithstanding its age, still presents a good appearance, though the members are at present discussing the propriety of erecting a new structure. The year the church was built was a noted one in the history of the church. A revival that year resulted in 500 accessions to the different churches in this circuit. During another revival in the West Bedford church, several years ago, about 140 conversions were made. The present membership ranges about ninety or 100. Rev. A. McCullough is the pastor.

West Bedford was laid out September 13, 1817, by Micajah Heaton. For a long time it was known only as Heaton's Town, then its proper name came into use. It lies in the southwestern part of the township, on the northeast quarter of

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 469

section 16. Mr. Heaton was from Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and settled on this quarter-section about a year previous to the laying out of the village. His cabin was situated upon the corner where James James' residence now is. He kept a tavern here for a few years. The travel through the town was scanty, and the proprietor relied mainly upon the sale of whisky for the income of the house. He also received the appointment as postmaster, and thereby drew considerable custom to his bar. Thomas McBride afterward became postmaster and retained the office for an extended term of years. In order to promote the growth of the village, the proprietor offered a town lot to the person who would erect the first house in the village. Enoch Fry and Samuel Waters competed for the prize, but it is unknown which of the two was successful. Lemuel Holmes was the first store keeper. He had been a merchant in Baltimore, but had met with business reverses and came West about 1818 or 1819, with his aged father, to retrieve, if possible, his broken fortunes. He had but a small stock of goods and did not remain here long. He purchased a farm near Mount Vernon and removed to it, William Renfrew and Robert Hay succeeded Mr. Holmes in the mercantile business of the place. Their store occupied the site of Mr. Heaton's cabin. Mr. Renfrew remained in business here quite a number of years, and became a prominent and influential man in the extended circle in which he moved. When he retired from business, he removed to a farm in the eastern part of the township, and there, undisturbed by business cares, spent his remaining years amidst the quiet and repose of rural life.

While he was still in business, James McFarland, an Irishman, opened a second store. He came here with only $400, rented a little log house, stocked it with goods, and also lived in it. He remained identified w with the village many years, and acquired a large fortune through his business relations. He removed to Vermillion county, Illinois. An important character in the village's early days, was William Lynch, the hatter, who fashioned and furnished all kinds of head-ware for his pioneer customers hereabouts. Jabez Heaton, a brother to Micajah, was the first blacksmith, opening his shop about 1820. He was followed by James Roney, an attentive and industrious mechanic, who worked at the trade here for many years. In 1820, Isaac Heaton, another brother to Micajah, was running a little tannery. It afterwards passed into the hands of John Quigley, who sold it to Thomas McBride and William Renfrew. It ceased to exist some twenty-five yearn ago. Another tannery teas started about 1842, by Philip Kennedy. Patrick Thompson operated it awhile, and Thomas Jones then purchased it. Several years later he allowed it to go down.

In the past, considerable manufacturing was carried on in the village. About 1840, a threshing machine manufactory was started by Isaac and Thomas Lewis and William Lukens. Four years later; Dr. E. M. Lewis, who had charge of the shops for the firm, bought it and in turn sold it to John Shields, who gradually, discontinued the business. Patrick Thompson and James Roney, about 1851, started a shop of a similar kind, but after three years experience quit the business. Thompson and Shields have built a limited number of windmills here, in years gone by. About 1862, John Shields began making revolving hay rakes, and is still engaged in the manufacture; about fifty were made the first season, but the number has since been reduced.

In 1858 George Moore erected a large steam saw and grist mill just west of the village. The saw mill was first set and the material for the structure sawed. After the building was finished he removed the saw and used the building as a grist mill only. In 1863 Patrick Thompson purchased the property, replaced the sawing apparatus and has carried on both ever since. In former times the mill was kept constantly running but not so much business is done now.

The first school in the village was held about 1822 in a little log cabin which stood near the present residence of Mrs. Sarah Movel. Edward McCoy, an easy, good-natured man, was the first teacher. His pupils were John, Daniel and Henry Haines, Owen Marshall, Elijah, Elisha and Joseph Musgrove, Absolom Wolf, Conner Crawford, Arthur and Robert McBride and Elias Norris Schools continued to be held in the village with tolerable regularity from that day to

470 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

the present, at first not longer than three months in a year. About 1846 the West Bedford academy was organized, and for many years was one of the leading institutions of the place. The building was erected by a stock company consisting of James Jones, James and Matthew McFarland, William Smith, Charles Barnes, Patrick Thompson and others. William Renfrew donated the land. After a flattering career of four or five years the academy was destroyed by fire, but the school was transferred temporarily to the Methodist church and the energetic citizens proceeded at once to erect another. Its cost was about $1,200, a fund raised by stock subscription as before. Rev. William Grissell the Methodist minister at the time was the founder of the institution. He was assisted in the instruction by two lady teachers from Oberlin The school in its day ranked high as a college preparatory department. The catalogue showed one hundred and ten students in attendance at one session, a number of them from Coshocton and Roscoe. A bell capped the building and a fine library circulated among the students. In the course of time the property passed into the hands of the school district, the directors buying the stock at a discount. The village school is still held in the building. It is a two-story frame, twenty-four feet by forty-eight, and contains three rooms only two of which are now used. About eighty-eight scholars are now enrolled. They are taught by Samuel Moore and W. R. Spencer.

Wakatomica Lodge, No. 108, of the Masonic Order, is located here. It was organized at West Carlisle, February 10, 1840, under name of Washington Lodge. Afterward, it was removed to West Bedford. The lodge formerly owned a one-story frame hall, situated across the street from Jones' store, but, in 1875, it erected a third story to a building belonging to Patrick Thompson, and have since occupied it as a lodge room. The present officers are: Joseph Dickerson, Master; T. W. Thomson, Senior Warden; James White, Junior Warden ; John McKee, Secretary; Frank Jones, Treasurer; T. W. Helrigle, Senior Deacon; Martin Wolford, Junior Deacon; Frank Tredaway, Tyler. The membership is now forty-five.

A lodge of Good Templars was located here once, but it has perished.

The population of the village is one hundred and thirty-four. Although there have been three or four stores here formerly at one time, at present Thomas Jones monopolizes the mercantile business. Several blacksmith shops, a shoe shop, and a cabinet shop complete the business. C. F. Moore is proprietor of the hotel. Two physicians. are now in practice here, Drs. J. W. Heskett and William Litten. Former practitioners were Drs. Nelson, William Stanton, Roof, Wattel, Simmons, Smith and Stockdale.

Zeno was the quaint appellation which Abraham Cheney bestowed upon a little town of his own creation, in 1833, situated on lot 11 of the military section. Its life was ephemeral. Few houses were built, these few soon removed, and the village plot vacated not many years after its formation, the reason whereof is veiled in oblivion as deep as the town itself.

Tunnel Hill Postoffice is situated about two, miles east of West Bedford, on the Coshocton road. It was formed in 1873 by the appointment of T. W. Thompson postmaster. He still holds the position. The postoffice was secured through the influence of the railroad officials then engaged upon the construction of the tunnel a mile or so to the northeast. T. W. Thompson owns a store here, Leonard Haines a harness shop, and Samuel Dickerson a blacksmith shop.

CHAPTER LI.

BETHLEHEM TOWNSHIP.

Name-Boundaries-Streams-Surface-Soil-"Denman's

Prairie "-Name of the Killbuck:-Legend of the White

Woman-Hunting Grounds-Mounds--The Morrisons- Mrs.

Kimberly and the Deer-Other Early Settlers-Squatters-

Saw Mill-Bridges and Canal-Schools-Churches.

BETHLEHEM township was organized in 1826. The honor of naming it was given to William Speaks, a revolutionary soldier, who was the oldest resident of the township at that time. It is hounded on the north by Clark township, on the east by Keene, on the south by Jackson and on the west by Jefferson.

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 471

It is watered by the Walhonding river and Killbuck creek. The Walhonding enters the southern portion of the township from the west, and, pursuing a nearly easterly course, crosses the line into the southwestern corner of Keene township. The Killbuck enters at the northwest from Clark township, and, just after crossing the line, bears to the west about a mile and touches Jefferson township in one or two places; it then seeks the Walhonding by a southeasterly course, reaching it almost a mile southeast of the township center. The northeastern portion of the township is drained by a little stream called Buckalew run, which enters Killbuck creek near its mouth.

The valleys of the Walhonding and the Killbuck give to the township more bottom lands than are found in any one of the surrounding townships. That of the Walhonding, having an average width of more than a mile, possesses a soil of unusual fertility. The valley of the Killbuck, not quite so wide, contains a soil which is often a clay and very productive, though not equaling in this respect that of the Walhonding. The ridge land is mostly of a clayey and limestone nature, and is, consequently, of good quality. Beyond the valleys the surface is rough ;the roughest, us well as largest, section of it being found in the northeastern part, where there is no stream of any consequence.

Timber of a heavy growth covered the township at the coming of the first settlers, except in two localities In the southeastern corner of the township, south of the river, and extending across the line a short distance into Keene and Jackson townships, was an open space of several hundred acres, known as Denman's prairie. The soil was rich and productive, bearing a luxuriant growth of tall, waving grass: The other exception was between the Killbuck and Walhonding, near their junction, where there was a scope of several hundred acres, covered only with saplings and low underbrush. The place is still called the plains. The principal growths here were the scrub-oak, jack-oak, white-oak, hickory, cherry, walnut and wild plum. It has mostly been cleared since. About all that is left of this young growth is the little grove standing in front of the residence of Mr. John Hogle. The trees here have now attained a goodly size, being a foot in diameter, some of them Killbuck creek received its name from that of a noted chief of the Delawares, whose town was located on this stream between Millersburg and Wooster. Concerning the origin of the name Walhonding, which in the Indian tongue signifies "the White Woman," there appear to be two accounts. Along the western banks of the river,. in the southeastern part of the township, on the Denman farm, is a broken ledge of rocks invested with a romantic legend. The river here winds close to the base of a steep acclivity of ground from which, here and there, jut out cliffs of sandstone rock lending an air of picturesque beauty to the scene. The tradition, current among the people in this vicinity, tells that a beautiful, young, virgin captive, loath to endure the indignities and barbarities of an Indian life, preferred stern death instead, and, breaking away from the hated camp adjacent, rushed madly towards the storm-swollen stream-the Indian braves in hot pursuit-and plunged from this overhanging rock into its seething waters beneath. According to one account the cold waters closed over her forever, the Indians, on reaching the brink, beholding the bubbles of her expiring breath rise to the surface; but from another version, she concealed herself beneath a projecting rock until the Indians abandoned the chase and returned to their camp, then cautiously stole away and escaped. The poetic legend is traced back to the Carpenter: who came to Coshocton county in 1801, and many people of the present generation, who live within knowing distance of the rock, give full credence to it and fondly tell to the passing stranger the story of the White Woman. The chronicles of the earliest white men, who saw the beauty of this valley, however, give a different account of the origin of the river's name. Christopher Gist, a surveyor, in the interest of the Ohio Land Company visited"White Woman's creek" in 1751. In his journal of that date he says the white woman who gave the river her name was Mary Harris, the wife "of an Indian chief who dwelt upon its banks. The legend of this woman is narrated in another chapter of this volume.

The valley of the Walhonding, as also that of

472 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

the Killbuck, before the advent of the pale face, was doubtless one of the happiest of the terrestrial happy hunting grounds of the untamed, forest-roving savage. A hundred years ago two villages of the Delawares were located in the valley; one three miles, the other ten miles, above Coshocton.

In the forks of the Wolhonding and Killbuck was Custaloga's Town. Here was the residence doubtless of Mary Harris, after whom the river was probably named. Custaloga was a Delaware chief, and the orator of his tribe. He, with twenty warriors representing his nation, was the first to surrender their prisoners to Colonel Bouquet. His speech at the treaty of Fort Pitt is full of noble sentiment and Indian eloquence. From the name of this town, it is probable that it was the residence of this distinguished speaker and chief.

For years after the Indians left Coshocton county, wandering red men returned to visit the loved haunts of old. In 1822, and perhaps many years later, Indians from the Tuscarawas river came to the Killbuck during the summer season to trap and to hunt. Game of every description was abundant. The air at times was black with wild turkeys. Deer were often seen in herds of forty or fifty. Bears and wolves were numerous. No place was more eagerly sought by the lover of the chase than the valleys of Bethlehem township, and for many years the sport was enjoyed alike by the cabin-dwelling huntsman and his dusky neighbor of the forest wigwam.

Upon John Hogle's farm, or, as it is better known, the east reserve of the Rathbone section, not far from the Wolhonding, is a large mound, having a height of perhaps fifteen feet and a very gradual slope. Another mound of a. lesser size stands on the Moffat farm, a short distance northwest of the center of the township in the Killbuck valley. These are the only ones known to exist in the township.

Bethlehem township is made up entirely of military land, consisting of four military sections, of 4,000 acres each. The first or northeast section was surveyed into forty one-hundred-acre lots, by the government, for the accommodation of revolutionary soldiers, or other individuals, who held warrants for this number of acres. George Skinner, of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, was the original individual owner of the second or northwest section. The third or southwest section is known as the John Rathbone section. He obtained it in 1825, from Alexander O. and Mary E. Spencer, and James C. and Sarah Norton, who, it seems, were the heirs of William Steele, the original grantee of the section under patent dated March 20, 1800. Matthew Denman and William Wells were the proprietors of the southeast section. All these proprietors were nonresidents.

The first settlement in the county was made on Denman's prairie, in the eastern part of this township, in the spring of 1800, by Charles Williams, William Morrison and Isaac and Henry Hoagland. These little open spaces of rich, productive soil, scattered sparingly, like oases, in the unlimited expanse of timber growth, were eagerly seized upon by the earliest pioneers, and afforded an excellent opportunity of raising the indispensable crop of corn until tillable fields could be wrought out of the native forests. Ebenezer Buckingham soon after, in 1800, settled at the mouth of Killbuck, remaining two years only. On Denman's prairie, as early as 1801, were also Samuel Morrison, Ira Kimberly, George Carpenter and James Craig. The wives of Williams, the two Morrisons and of Kimberly were sisters of George Carpenter, and were noted for their physical strength and activity.

For years previous to their emigration to Coshocton county, they had lived with their father on the banks of the Ohio, in the midst of the fierce and prolonged Indian warfare which then was waged unremittingly along the border. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter, while out in the fields at work once, in the Ohio valley, were suddenly surprised by a band of Indians. He was shot, and fell motionless to the ground. Supposing him to be dead, the Indians left him and pursued Mrs. Carpenter, who sped fleetly in the direction of the fort which had been erected, and succeeded in reaching it in safety. Mr. Carpenter, who was not fatally wounded, recovered sufficiently to crawl away and conceal himself before the Indians returned. He thus escaped the tomahawk and the scalping knife. Inured to emergencies demanding great endurance and physical action,

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 473

his children were raised to bear the brunts of a rugged and shifting pioneer life with ease. A little incident which occurred on the Denman prairie, while these early settlers were encamped here, will illustrate the muscular power and hardihood of these pioneer women. Mrs. Sallie Kimberly was visiting at the cabin of her brother-in-law, William Morrison, who at the time was suffering from some bodily ailment, and in consequence was unable to mote about much. He saw a deer across the Walhonding, and, taking down his rifle, he shot it. Not being well enough to go across for the game himself, he asked one of the women to do so. \ire. Kimberly consented to bring over the deer. The river was deep in this place, and not fordable anywhere in the vicinity, but nothing daunted her. She sprang into the stream and swam easily across; then securely tied her large neckerchief around the deer's neck and drew it to the water, and, holding one end of the cloth by her teeth, she swam over with the deer to the opposite shore.

The Morrisons and the Carpenters afterward passed on up the Killbuck, becoming the earliest settlers of what is now Holmes county. Kimberly moved two miles further up the valley, to the place where the bridge now crosses the river: It was long known as Kimberly's ford, afterward as Fry's ford. James Craig kept a little grocery close by, for a number of years, whisky being the chief article of trade; then removed to Coshocton, where he and his family died about 1814, of "cold plague."

Isaac Hoagland came from Virginia to the Denman section, about the same time the Morrisons did. He afterward moved up to Clark township, becoming one of the pioneer settlers.

About 1806, Henry Carr, from Hardy county, Virginia, settled on lot 11 of the southwest section, now owned by James Richardson. He here operated a little still for a few years, beginning about 1810. The distilled sprits he disposed of mostly to his scattering neighbors, often exchanging it for the raw material- corn. One bushel of shelled corn was worth a gallon of whisky, and many of the settlers would send a bag of corn to Carr as regularly as they did to mill.

John Bantum came in 1806, from near Baltimore, Maryland, and settled on that part of the Rathbone section, afterwards known as the east reserve. He had served through the revolution. Joseph Burrell, a son of Benjamin Burrell, who was one of the earliest settlers of Keene town ship, settled here early. He was from Frederick county, Maryland; died in August, 1874, at the age of eighty-four years.

About 1808, Adam Markley came in from Maryland with a large family-eight sons and four daughters. John Markley, who was killed at an election at Coshocton in 1816, by George Arnold, a noted rough from what is now Bethlehem township-then forming a portion of Tuscarawas township-was a member of this family. This murder was the first one committed in Coshocton county. John Biter accompanied the Markleys here. He died soon after his arrival. The names of other early settlers concerning whom little is now known are, Joseph Bradford, Joshua and Peter Woods, James Rich, Stephen Willis and Thomas Pool.

Benjamin Fry was an early settler from Virginia. His was a restless spirit, which led him to make frequent migrations. He run a little distillery awhile, in the western part of the township, then moved to Tuscarawas township in 1808, and two years later, to a place in Jackson township, two miles below Coshocton, where he distilled a short time. He next went to Jefferson township, then back again to Bethlehem, settling at the site of the bridge. His habitation here gave the place the name of "Fry's Ford." Mr. Fry raised a large family and lived to an extreme old age. He was active and energetic in life, and apt to be strong in expression. When ninety-five years old, he declared with an oath that unless he got away from the Walhonding river, he couldn't live five years longer. He accordingly "pulled up stakes " and moved his entire family to Illionis, where he died the next year.

Michael Hogle settled in the township in April, 1814. He wag born near Plattsburg, New York, but emigrated here from Vermont. He settled first on the Denman section, south of the river; raised a family of nineteen children, removed to Illionis in 1845, and died there the following year. His son, John Hogle, still lives in this township; has long been a justice of the peace, and is well known as one of its best citizens.

474 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

John Merrihew and David Ash came at the same time with Mr. Hogle. A little later Niles and Ebenezer Coleman came from New York. About 1830, these four settlers moved westward to Knox county.

Albert Torrey, a New Englander, settled in the northern part of the township about 1814. He was a blacksmith by trade, and pursued this vocation here in connection with farming; said to be the first mechanic in Bethlehem township. George Shearer, Elijah Newcome and Matthew Boner, were also early settlers. Newcome settled near the center of the township, on the D. Waring farm. He afterwards removed to Iroquois county, Illinois.

William Speaks, a revolutionary soldier, settled about a half a mile north of Newcome, on the place which in later years belonged to A. Frederick. Mr. Speaks was a Virginian, drank nothing stronger than wine, was w ell respected, quiet in his habits, a member of the Methodist church and died in the township at a good old age.

James Willis, from Virginia, settled on the farm now occupied by John G. Frederick. He was a famous hunter and engaged more in hunting than in tilling the soil. He killed five bears in one day. Samuel Ray and Andrew Wilson, two soldiers of the war of 1812, were early settlers. The former owned 500 acres south of the Killbuck, adjoining Jefferson township; the latter, lot 39 of the northeast section.

Samuel Clark, born in Ireland, emigrated to Virginia at the age of eighteen. He there married Rachel Clark, and came west to Coshocton county at an early clay. He spent a number of years on the Duller section, in Franklin township, and about 1820 moved to the Denman tract, in this township. He here became one of the township's most prominent citizens. He was a justice of the peace nearly all his active life, and was several times county commissioner. Two of his brothers, Archibald and Gabriel, and his father, Archibald, settled in the township about the same time.

Somewhat later came Nathan Spencer, from Hardy county, Virginia. To "draw it mildly," he was a rough, rollicking, boisterous kind of a man, fond of cards, whisky, company and sport He had a frolic of some kind about once a week at his place, which was situated near the township center-the Samuel Moffat farm. He married a daughter of William Speaks, and terminated his career here by moving to Missouri.

Many of the settlers who cleared the first fields in Bethlehem township, as on military lands elsewhere, were only squatters, possessing no right whatever to the soil they cultivated. When the land would belong to a capitalist he would often wish to retain it for years until it could be sold at a greatly enhanced price. There was little or no opportunity to lease it, and occupancy by squatters was encouraged rather than forbidden, as the improvements that would be made on the place were advantageous to the proprietor. An instance of this kind of settlement was on the Rathbone section. Men began to settle here as early as 1806, and a constant stream of emigration was flowing in from that time on, while very little if any of the land was sold before 1835.

The survey of this section was made about 1834. It was surveyed into thirty lots, varying in size from 100 to 150 acres. These lots included all of the section except two tracts on the river, one of 192, the other of sixty-nine acres, reserved as mill sites. The western reserve includes an island, in the Wolhonding, of nineteen acres in extent. These reserves were well selected for the construction of dams, but the building of the Wolhonding canal destroyed their value for this purpose, as excellent water power might be obtained at the locks of the canal at a comparatively trifling expense.

Bethlehem township is distinctively a rural district. No village or hamlet exists on its soil, nor has the establishment of one ever been attempted. The various industries common in early days also have had a very meager representation here. Shortly after the arrival of the earliest settlers, one or two little still-houses found lodgment in the township for a very limited period. One saw mill embraced the extent of the milling interests. It was erected by Thomas H. Duller, near the mouth of the Killbuck, about 1830, and worked a very few years. Perhaps the chief industry was the rafting of logs down the Killbuck. A great amount of this was clone. The logs were usually poplar, oak, walnut or sycamore, and were rafted at first to

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 475

Zanesville,. afterwards to Roscoe and Coshocton. One bridge, located near the northwestern corner of the township, crosses the Killbuck. The only bridge across the Walhonding in Bethlehem township is at "Fry's Ford." It was erected in 1868-9. John Sharks, of Newark, was the contractor for the masonry, which cost $6,709. The superstructure, of wood, contracted for by John Hesket, cost $6,100. In early times a ferry was kept here by William Kimberly, John Kimberly and Thomas Clark successively. A large flat boat, of sufficient size to hold four horses and a loaded wagon, was used.

The Walhonding canal passes through the township along the river valley. It enters from Jackson township on the south, crosses the river by a dam in the western part of the township, and continues up the northern side of the river into Jefferson township. It contains two locks in this township, one about a half mile above the dam, the other about the same distance below it.

It is affirmed that a school was taught on the prairie up the Walhonding in 1802 or 1803, but who the teacher was, and who there learned to read their A, B, C, it is impossible now to tell. What would we not give to be able to call back to memory the picture of that school. Yes, we should like to hand down to future ages, and immortalize the name of the first pedagogue of Coshocton county. What a tale might be told of school-boy feats, could we only bring the past in solemn review before us again. We have met with but a single individual, Mr. Alvah Buckingham, of Putnam, who recollects having attended this school. All recollection, except this simple fact, has faded from his mind.

An early school was taught by Charles Elliott, who afterward became a famous Methodist minister, editor and president of the Wesleyan University of Iowa. The school was situated in the southeastern part of the township, Mr. Elliott residing at this time in Keens township.

A school-house was built about 1821, near the township center, close to the banks of Killbuck. Matthew Boner was the first teacher. With all his pedagogic arts, however, he could not prevent the most of his pupils giving greatest attention to a pet deer; belonging to Martin Spencer that would frequent the school yard.

About the same time a cabin for school pur poses was erected in the northern part of the township, about a half mile east of Archibald Clark's residence, near where the school-house now stands. It was built in regular primitive fashion, rude, but substantial. "King" Cole and Walter Trust were among the first to rule over the "future presidents" who attended school here.

A few years later Michael Hoyle built a school-house, at his own expense, where school was kept for a number of years. Leander Hoyle and James Madden were among its first teachers.

To the Methodist Episcopal church is due the earliest propagation of religious sentiment in this, as in nearly every other township in the county. In days when the country was sparsely settled, the merest nucleus for a religious organization could be found only here and there in the broad range of developing lands, yet they were fostered and nurtured with a self-sacrificing zeal that insured success from its very intensity. The local preachers knew no rest, but were constantly in the saddle or the place of worship. Services were held on every day in the week, so numerous were the appointments that must be filled by one preacher. It was about 1820, that a class was formed in Bethlehem township. Its early members were Samuel Clark, Rachel his wife, and his daughter Nancy; Archibald Clark, his wife Susan and daughters Catherine and Jane; Mrs. Christina Lowman and her daughters Mary and Hannah; Elizabeth Clark, Joseph Meigs and Eleanor, his wife; Mrs. Willis and William Speaks. The circuit of which this congregation formed a part extended from Millersburg to Dresden, and as far east as Evans' creek, near Newcomerstown. For a long time preaching was held on week days only. The society never became sufficiently strong to erect a house of worship, and services were held in dwellings and school-houses until about 1870, when the society united with the Warsaw congregation.

The Mount Zion Methodist Protestant church is located in the northwestern part of the township, on land donated to the society by John C. Frederick. The building, a hewed log weather boarded structure, was erected about 1850. At that time John C. Frederick, George Parks, Abra-

476 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

ham Mowrey and William Clark, were the principal members. The church was organized about three years before, just over the line in Jefferson township, and the early meetings were held in the Tabor Evangelical church of that township. Revs A. Robinson, William Holland, John Hanby, William Chandler, Lawson, William Baldwin, William Woodward, William Nickerson, J. P. King, William Bradford and John Murphy have been pastors of the church. The present pastor is Rev. John Baker, who has charge also of the congregation at Big run, Monroe township, the Pleasant Valley church of Holmes county, and Prairie chapel of this township. The membership of Mount Zion is now quite small.

The Bethlehem Evangelical or Albright church, is a religious organization composed of a few German settlers, most of whom live in Clark township. The building is situated within a few rods of the northern line, and within a few feet of the central line of the township running north and south. The society was formed about 1854, under the ministerial charge of Rev. Jacob Reschler; the church, erected some four years later, has been undergoing repairs during the last winter. Revs. Henry Futheroe and John Smith, are the present pastors. The membership, through removals and deaths, has been reduced to fourteen. A Sabbath-school, organized in 1854 by John Gamersfelter, still the leading member of the church, is now in as feeble condition as the church.

Prairie chapel is a Methodist Protestant church, situated in the southeastern part of the township. The class was organized in 1861, with Zachariah Clark as leader. It owes its formation to Rev Samuel Frederick, who was at that time a mere lad and a member of the Mount Zion Methodist Protestant church, of this township. He conducted a series of revival meetings at the old school-house which stood on the site of Prairie chapel, and notwithstanding his extreme youth, the meetings were attended with great success. From the conversions which followed, the society was organized. Among the members who united with the church in its infancy, were Mrs. Elizabeth Baird, Zachariah and Susan Clark, Louisa Baird, George Baird, Mrs. Mina Boring, William and Dian Maxwell, Isaac and Susan Fivecoats, George and Mary Thompson, and Daniel and Mary Benning. Rev. Frederick continued to labor here four years, and since his pastorate the ministers have been as follow: John Baker and William Robinson, one year; William Wilkerson, one year; W. L. Baldwin, six years; J. D. Murphy, one year; William Bradford, one year; William Woodford, two years; Thomas Scott, one year; J. P. King, one year; John Baker, present incumbent. The membership is fifty-four. The church, a commodious frame, was dedicated August, 1877. It was erected at a cost of $1,272. A Sabbath-school, under the management of James Slaughter, is in very flourishing condition.

CHAPTER LII.

CLARK TOWNSHIP.

Location-Topographical Features-Organization-Name-

Early settlements-Indians-First Schools-Mills-Hel-

mick-Bloomfield-Churches-Population.

CLARK township is the middle one of the five northern townships, touching Holmes county on the north, Mill Creek township on the east, Bethlehem on the south, and Monroe on the west. Its surface is broken and hilly, except along the streams, where the alluvial deposits broaden into fertile valleys. The soil in the bottoms is usually a heavy clay, and sometimes of a gravelly constituency; on the hills, it is in places clayey, but generally sandy. The whole township was heavily timbered when first the settlers began to occupy its territory, and among the varieties of wood most abundant were red, white and black oak beech, sugar, chestnut, hickory and poplar. A vigorous growth of the last mentioned variety flourished on the hills, and large quantities of it were rafted down the Killbuck in early days, to Roscoe and Zanesville. Wheat and corn are largely grown, and much of the hillside lands is devoted to pasturage. Killbuck creek, which perpetuates the name of a famous Indian chief, is the main stream that courses through the township.

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 477

It enters from the north, flown circuitously about and crosses into Bethlehem township at a point almost directly south of its point of entrance, Three wooden bridges span its waters within the limits of the township.

Its principal tributary is Doughty's fork, commemorative of the name of another Indian brave well known to the first pioneers. He doubtless pitched his wigwam upon the banks of this stream; but not here only, for Captain Doughty was familiarly known to the early settlers on Will's creek in Linton township, and also in Virginia township and elsewhere. The stream that bears his name enters the northeast ern part of Clark township from Holmes county and unites with Killbuck a short distance west of the township center. Smaller streams than these are Big run and Hoagland's run, both western tributaries of Killbuck, and Buckalew run which enters Bethlehem township and flows into Killbuck near its mouth.

The northern half of the township consists of military land; the southern half is congress land, which was surveyed into sections for settlement in 1803 by Silas Bent, Jr. Of the military portion, the western half or second section was surveyed into forty 100-acre lots by William Cutbush in 1808, and located by different settlers in tracts of 100 acres or more. The northeast quarter of the township, or the first military section, a body of 4,000 acres, was granted by President John Adams to Jonathan Burrell, of New York City, by patent, dated March 29, 1800. It was located for him by John Matthews, who received in compensation 284 acres from the northeast corner of the quarter. In 1807 Mr. Burrell disposed of the remainder of the section to Philip Itskin, of Baltimore, Maryland, who •old it in parcels to various persons.

The township was organized with its present limits in 1829. At the coming of the first settlers it was a part of Mechanic township. The adjoining township in Holmes county still bears this name. When Monroe township was formed, in 1S24, it became a portion of it, and when Bethlehem was organized, in 1826, the southern part o what is now Clark was united to it. When this territory yet belonged to Mechanic township, the elections were held for a few years at the cabin of John Craig, near Bloomfield. The new township of Clark, in 1829, was organized at the house of Peter Buckmaster. Only fifteen or twenty votes were cast. Benjamin Patterson was elected clerk, and William Craig justice of the peace. John Duncan was the second justice, and was succeeded by Joel Glover, who served his township as "'squire " for twenty-one years. He was elected to his first term by a majority of one vote only. The township elections continued to be held at dwelling houses until the erection of the present township house, on the farm of Nicholas Mullet, some twenty years ago.

The township was named in honor of Samuel Clark, then a county commissioner, who was among the earliest and most highly esteemed citizens of the Killbuck valley, a resident, however, of Bethlehem township

The first settlement to the township was made, probably, about 1815, though it is impossible to be exact, as the recollection of no one now in the township extends back beyond 1817 or 1818. Isaac Hoagland was among the first arrivals, and probably was the first to settle permanently in what is now Clark, Has was also among the foremost pioneers of this county, coming in 1800, with Charles Williams, to "the prairies," in Bethlehem township, and the next year occupying, with him, the first house built in Coshocton. He was a soldier in Captain Adam Johnson's company, which did service on the frontier, in 1812. It is not known when he moved to this township. His farm near the Killbuck comprised the southwest quarter of section 16. Both he and his wife, a Carpenter, sister of Charles Williams' wife, died and were buried upon this place. They had a large family of children, some of whom died here, the others removing to the West, chiefly to Illinois. Mr. Hoagland is remembered as a genuine frontiersman, and wore the hunter's garb up to the time of his death. Dressed in an old limey hunting-shirt, belted around the waist, and fringed below, he spent much time in roaming the wilderness, in quest of game. In stature he was tall and, like most other settlers of that day, was unlearned in things pertaining to books.

A settlement was formed very early in the e northeastern part of the township. Arthur Cunningham, of Virginia, settled a short distance

478 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

from Bloomfield, on a 300-acre tract, and in 1815, about twenty-five acres of it was cleared. He sold it, however, about 1817, to William Austin, and removed elsewhere. Mr. Austin came from Chautauqua county, New York, with his only daughter, Lucy, a servant, Shurey Odle, and a negress. Two sons remained in New York. Mr. Austin's sojourn here was brief, for he died in 1819. In this year William McBride came from Virginia to the Austin farm, and remained there until 1824. He then removed to Warsaw, but the year following he was drowned in the Walhonding, at Fry's ford, while attempting to cross the river on a horse His widow survived him many years, terminating her earthly career at the house of her daughter, Mrs. Martha Buckalew, in Monroe township.

John Craig settled on the location lot of the first section in 1818. He was born in Ireland, and emigrated to Washington county, Pennsylvania, from his native land when a youth of sixteen years. Thence he moved to Jefferson county, Ohio, and from that county here. A daughter, Mrs. Mary Dougal, had removed with her husband to Richland county. His son, William Craig, accompanied him to this township. They first built a house near the southeast corner .of the township, but the next year, 1819, William erected a cabin for himself on the spot now occupied by the dwelling of Washington Lawrence, in Bloomfield. Both were engaged in agricultural pursuits. John Craig died in 1824; aged sixty-two years. William died August 17,1853, having almost completed his seventieth year. John Craig served as justice of the peace from 1819 to 1822, when this territory belonged to Mechanic township. William, as stated above, was the first justice of Clark township. His son Charles, also, has now for many years served the township in this capacity.

Abraham Miller settled upon the southeast quarter of section 16 in 1818 or 1820. He was the son of George Miller, a pioneer of Lafayette township was originally from Virginia and had been a member of Captain Adam Johnson's company in 1812. He was yet a young man when he came to this township and remained in it till his death. He had married a Miss McNeal, and his brother-in-law, Archibald McNeal, an Irishman, moved to his farm and lived there with him the remainder of his life.

Parker Buckalew came in about 1817 from Virginia, settling on the northwest quarter of section 25, where he remained the rest of his life, tilling the soil as an avocation, though spending much time in hunting, of which he was very fond. He was well respected by the community in which he lived, and upon his death was buried on the home farm. His children are still living in this vicinity. His brothers Samuel, James and John, afterward took up a residence in this township.

Eli Fox entered the township in 1820, locating in the eastern part of section 18. He was originally from Hartford county, Connecticut, and came to Zanesville at an early day. By trade he was a ship-carpenter, and after his emigration to Ohio devoted much attention to milling. He rented the mills of Mr. Dillon, at East Zanesville, and operated them for some years, then purchased property and lived a short time in Granville township, Licking county. Not liking this country he returned to Zanesville and leased a piece of land near by. Soon after, he obtained the contract for building the first bridge across the Scioto, at Chillicothe. A little later he resolved to seek a more unsettled neighborhood and erect a mill. With this purpose in view he came to this township in 1820. He brought with him Piatt Williamson, William Barl and a Mr. Brooks, to assist in its erection. The mill was built about one-fourth mile above Hehnick. In a few years it was burned, but was replaced by another on the site of the present mill at Hehnick. Mr. Fox boarded with Piatt Williamson the first year, and in 1821 removed his family from Zanesville to his new home. He spent the remainder of his life here, and his descendents still cultivate the soil of the old home place.

Piatt Williamson was a native of New Jersey. In December, 1819, he emigrated to Zanesville, where he remained a year. He was a blacksmith, and followed this occupation in Zanesville. For one year after his arrival at Clark township, he remained in Mr. Fox's employ, performing the work connected with his trade necessary to the construction of the mill. He then bought 80 acres of land from Mr. Kinney, and the next

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HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 481

year entered 80 more. From this time until his death he carried on his trade and farming together. When a lad of seventeen, an apprentice in a blacksmith shop under an older brother, near Jersey City, he enlisted in the army during the war of 1812. His children are still residents of the township.

William Barl was also a New Jersey man by birth and a resident of Zanesville prior to his removal hither. He lived on section 18 and hunted and trapped a great deal. After a few years' stay in this township he removed to the vicinity of Marietta. Brooks remained here but a short time and returned to Zanesville.

Andrew Weatherwax, a glass blower by trade, removed from Albany county, New York, to this township in 1821 and settled upon the southwest quarter of section 25, purchasing the land from James Buckalew. After his arrival he followed his trade a while in Zanesville, but devoted most of his time to farming. He died while visiting his sister in Bedford township in June, 1872, aged eighty-four years. His brothers Leonard and Adam settled here some ten or twelve years after his arrival.

William Estap was another early settler. He came into this township from Holmes county, purchased and occupied ninety acres about a mile west of Bloomfield, then a tract of two hundred acres two miles south of this village: He afterward removed to Monroe township.

Isaac Purdy, from Pennsylvania, settled upon lot 11, section 2, prior to 1822. He tilled the soil here the remainder of his life. Jacob Frazier was another settler, who was a tax payer on real estate in section 25 as early as 1822. He was a shoemaker and followed this calling in this vicinity for a few years in connection with farming. He removed subsequently to Muskingum county and there died.

William Shepherd settled in section 24 probably as early as 1820. He was from Virginia, and, unlike the other settlers who made this township their home, came provided with bountiful means, driving a six-horse team and possessing a comfortable cash-box. But this proved a hindrance rather than help to him in developing his backwoods home. He was not spurred by necessity to exertion, and having no settled taste for hard work, he lived at ease until his available resources were exhausted, and then found that the sturdy blows of his neighbors had wrought a transformation in the value of their farms not discernable in his. A brother, Samuel, and a sister, Nancy, lived with him. He died in this township.

Isaac Johnson settled on eighty acres in the southeast quarter of section 23 about 1827. His mother was a sister of Isaac Hoagland, and he was the brother of John and Henry Johnson, the two lads who daringly killed their Indian captors in Jefferson county and escaped unhurt. Mr. Johnson subsequently dwelt for a time in Bethlehem township, then emigrated to Indiana.

George Lowman came to the southeast quarter of section 24 about 1825, from Maryland. A few years later he removed to Wabash, Indiana.

Jonathan Maxon, Thomas Endsley, Benjamin White, Daniel Fulton and John Bise were other early settlers. Mr. Bise came in 1825 or 1826, settling upon the west half of the southeast quarter of section 23. In 1829 he sold this place to Joel Glover and removed to Muskingum county.

Mr. Glover is one of the few pioneers who still survive. He was born in Jefferson county in 1808; removed to Crawford county in 1826, and three years later to the place he now occupies. When n he entered the township he moved into a deserted school-house, located on the place he had purchased. It was about fourteen by sixteen feet in size, built of split poplar logs, with a rude fireplace extending across one end of the room. In lieu of windows, a log had been removed from each side, to admit the light, and over this open space strips of oiled paper had been pasted.

The usual wild animals prevailing in this State in pre-colonization times, were numerous in Clark township, and the earliest white arrivals had abundant opportunities to gratify that love of hunting which is common to backwoodsmen. Deer, bears and wolves, and occasionally a "painter," were the types of game the country afforded. Bill and Tom McNeal, sons of Archibald McNeal, on one occasion tracked a bear to a tall, hollow oak stub, in which it had taken refuge. The most feasible plan of obtaining the game was

482 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

adopted; accordingly Bill climbed a hickory tree close by, and, having reached the proper height, crossed over and sat astride the hollow stub; his musket was handed him by Tom, who, at the foot of the tree, watched and waited, while Bill thrust the muzzle of his gun into the hollow tree and fired. The shut took effect, but only irritated the bear, and before Bill could realize his situation, the wounded bear was at the top of the tree. He had just time to drop his gun, seize a branch of the hickory tree and swing himself away from the bear's clutches. The bear hastily descended the tree and ran away. Tom shot and wounded bruin as he ran. The two young hunters followed up their game for about a mile, and discovered the bear behind a log, plugging its wounds with hair. This time both discharged their guns simultaneously and the bear fell dead.

No Indian village is known to have been located in the township, but hunting parties of the red-skins frequently encamped on the Killbuck and Doughty fork. An Indian camp, built of split logs, and having only three sides, stood in a bend, on the north side of Killbuck, in the northeast quarter of section 17. The fourth side was wholly open, and when the camp was occupied at night, a log fire must be built across the open side, to protect the sleeping inmates from prowling animals. Tom Lyon was an Indian brave, who was wont to encamp on the banks of the Killbuck, with several other Indians. He was a tall, slim savage, and when irritated or intoxicated, taunted the white settlers who chanced to be within his hearing, by telling of the many pale-faces he had slain. He had taken ninety-nine scalps, he said, and wanted one more to make it an even hundred. Becoming enraged at Abram Miller, one day, he boasted that he had shot Miller's grand father, in Virginia. John Hoagland, a lad of fifteen years, the son of Isaac Hoagland, was so incensed at the idle boasts of the Indian, that it was with difficulty he was restrained from shooting him. Lyon frequented his old haunts on the Killbuck, until about 1825, when he bade them a final adieu, and started westward, in search of happier hunting grounds.

Little can be said of the early schools in this region. The schools were few in number, held for terms of two or three months only in deserted cabins, or whatever buildings could be obtained for the purpose. The son of one of the earliest settlers relates that the "schooling" of his boyhood was as follows: The first school he attended was taught in an old cabin on Abe Miller's farm by Alexander Young. It was two months in duration. The next was one held on what is now J. J. Gamersfelter's land, in the southern part of the township. Adam Clark was the teacher of this school. The third was taught at the same place as the first, by Leonard Hogle; then one just south of this on the Opdyke place, taught by Mary Bassett. The fifth and last was on Platt Williamson's place, and was presided over by Durius Snow, a venerable, itinerant preacher of Monroe township. These five terms of two or three months each scarcely amounting to one year in all, constituted the extent of his school privileges between the ages of eight and twenty-one years. The greater number of the neighboring children were equally limited in educational advantages. Other schools had been held not so remote as to render attendance impossible, but the tuition of the subscription schools, small as it now appears, was an item of expense that could not well be allowed every year by the majority of the settlers. The text books usually employed were the spelling-book and the new testament. When the first was completed, the pupil must continue his spelling lessons in the testament, and half the book would be spelled sometimes before the pupil was able to read a verse correctly. One of the earliest schools in the township was taught just west of Bloomfield, about 1828, by George Elliott.

The first, and for a long time the only, mill in the township was the one erected by Eli Fox. A saw-mill was first erected, and a little later a large grist-mill, containing one run of buhrs, afterward two. The buhrs were rude, rough stones, incapable of reducing the grist to impalpable fineness but they answered their purpose very well in those days. In 1829 the mill was burned. In a few years Mr. Fox built a saw-mill about one-fourth of a mile farther down the stream, at Helmick, and some time after the grist-mill was rebuilt at the name place. The mill was afterward

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 483

operated by James Clark, Albert and G. W. Seward, Absalom Petit and Benjamin Beck. Mr. Beck is the present owner, and has owned it for f about ten years. He has rebuilt the saw-mill, constructed a new race, refitted the gristmill. and is doing a good custom trade at present. Mr. Beck is also proprietor of a store located here. He is a resident of Holmes county, and the store is managed by Eugene Henderson. It was opened by Mr. Nelson, and by him transferred to Mr. Ferrell. J. P. Henderson and William Jack were the next owners, and sold the property after a time to Mr. Robinson, who disposed of it to Oliver and Saul Miller. Saul retired, and after a while it was purchased from Oliver Antler by the present owner.

A postoffice designated Helmick is located at the store. It was named in honor of William Helmick, of Tuscarawas county, formerly the congressional representative of this district. It was through his influence that the office was obtained. Absalom Petit was the first postmaster. Since the store was started the appointment has been held by the merchants successively operating here. A large amount of business is transacted at Helmick, much greater than the external appearance of things would indicate. No village is situated near this point, it is readily accessible from all directions, and the postoffice, mills and store supply the wants of most of the farmers within a radius of several miles.

Two mills are at present located on Doughty's fork. One of these a combined saw and grist mill is situated a short distance below Bloomfield and is now owned by Michael Kaiser. A saw mill and a small "corn-cracker" were built on this site many years ago by Jacob Haviland. The property after a time came into the possession of John Duncan, who refitted the saw mill and built a large carding mill. The woolen factory remained in operation a number of years and was finally torn away to be replaced by a grist mill. Years later Benjamin Beck purchased it, and several years ago he sold it to the present owner.

About one and a half miles below this John Crosley built a saw mill and soon after a grist mill, containing one run of buhrs. A second pair was afterward added. The building was a rugged and rough frame structure and the floor was bolted by hand. A large undershot water-wheel furnished the power. Crosley sold to George Croy, who erected a new building. John Powers was the next owner and he made extensive improvements in the machinery, purchasing and inserting new buhrs and new bolts. Mr. Kaiser, the next possessor, carried on a little distillery in connection with it for a while, but this was soon abandoned and the mill also gradually suspended operations. It has been purchased by Ed. Buckalew and only the saw mill is now running.

On the southwest quarter of section 14 on Hoagland's run a little saw mill was built years ago by Leonard Weatherwax. His son John next operated it and after him Williamson McLaughlin, the present owner, obtained it It still does a limited amount of sawing but not so much as formerly, for steam portable mills have superseded water mills here as elsewhere.

Bloomfield is the only village in the township. It lies in the extreme northeastern corner. No village plat was laid out here, but the town has had a natural growth, beginning about forty years ago. The main street forms the line between this and Holmes county, and some of the buildings are across the line in the other county. There are twenty-eight dwelling houses, mostly in this county. Some of them are handsome structures, and almost all are neat and tasty, indicating thrift and enterprise on the part of the inhabitants. Few, or none of the dilapidated structures, usually met with in a country town, are to be seen here. Bloomfield is so situated as to be unaffected by railroads, there being none nearer than Millersburg, and is in possession of a wholesome country trade. The village contains two general stores, owned by A. J. Doak and J. J. Myser, the latter in Holmes county. A hardware and tin store was opened about a year ago, and now owned by Leslie Chase. Two steam saw and planing mills do an extensive business. The one in Coshocton county, owned by Henry Reynolds, has been in operation about four years. That of John Conkle & Co., located on the Holmes county side, was started since. The three blacksmith shops of J. Luke & Brothers, W. D. Doty and Isaac R. Thompson, are in this county. The

484 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

first two manufacture carriages and wagons also. Two shoe shops and one harness shop are in Holmes county.

The first buildings in this vicinity were the cabins of the Craigs, built over sixty years ago; then one was built in Holmes county by Aaron Purdy. James Kerr, about 1835, erected a cabin on the spot now occupied by Doak's new storehouse. The first store was opened across the line about 1842, by Aaron Purdy, and afterwards kept by James Kerr. But it did not remain in operation long. Teachout & Towsley started the first store on this side about 1845, in James Kerr's house. Charles Poe, about 1846, built a house where Doak's old building stands, and commenced mercantile business there. He died soon after, and Patrick Foley, Robert Graham and the present merchant, have successively operated here in this line since.

After Purdy and Kerr ceased merchandising on the Holmes county side, John Fisher kept a tavern in the building, for awhile. The first tavern had been opened years before, by William Edgar. O. Williams is the present hotel proprietor of the village, the hotel being in Holmes county

The first postoffice in this neighborhood was Clark's, and William Craig was the first postmaster. William Tidball then kept it, about a mile south of the village. Subsequent postmasters have been William Craig, Samuel Tidball and A. J. Doak. The original name, Clark's, is still retained. A daily mail is received, the office being on the Millersburg and Coshocton route.

The two physician of the village have had a almost life-long residence here. Dr. J. Beach has been in continuous practice since 1849, and Dr. J. G. Carr since 1854. They were classmate while attending medical lectures at Cleveland and Dr. Beach settled here at once, upon completing his course. Dr. Carr practiced five year at East Union, prior to locating at Bloomfield Other former practitioners here were Drs. Smith Caskey, Cowan and Barton.

A cheese factory was started at Bloomfield, in 1866, by George Craig, William Renfrew, Solo mon Snyder and Robert Graham. For three years it was carried on extensively; then Mr Craig disposed of his interest, and the factory was removed about a mile west of town, where the manufacture was continued a while longer.

The village does not contain a school. The adjoining district schools in the two counties are each about a mile from town. During Rev. Duncan's pastorate of the Clark Presbyterian church, he held a "select school" in the village, the only school ever kept there.

The Bloomfield Methodist Episcopal church was built during the summer of 1871, and dedicated January 14, 1872. Its cost was about $2,500. The congregation was not organized until after the erection of the building. Its members had previously been connected with Elliott's church, situated four miles north of Bloomfield. Theoriginal class was composed of twenty members, including Enos Casey and family, John Casey, Dr. J. G. Carr and wife, William Duncan and family, J. A. Evans and wife, and W. D. Doty and wife. Three other congregations are connected with this charge-Elliott's, Wolf Creek and Killbuck, all in Holmes county. Rev. A. E. Thomas was pastor 1870-72, and under his labors thirty-three were added to the Bloomfield church. Following him, the ministers in charge have been, Edward Bache (supply), one year; Stephen R. Clark, one year; W. W. Smith, one year; George E. Scott, one year; C. Craven, two years; M. L. Wilson, one year, and J. Sanford, present incumbent, two years. The present church membership is about seventy. It was organized in March, 1872, with E. J. Pocock as superintendent. He was succeeded by W. D. Doty, who resigned, and his unexpired term was filled by J. A. Evans, assistant d superintendent. J. A. Doak was next elected, and is now serving his third year in this capacity. Since its organization, the school has not missed holding meeting a single Sunday. The enrollment of its membership is about 100.

Near Bloomfield is the Clark Presbyterian church. It was organized March 22, 1834, by n Rev. N. Conkling, with a membership of twelve, including George Watherwax and wife, Thomas. Guthrie and wife, Nelly Kerr, John P. Kerr, William Craig and wife and Robert Guthrie and

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 485

wife. These had mostly emigrated from Western Pennsylvania. Before the congregation was organized, occasional services had been held here by Rev. Conkling and others. For three years the services were held in the house or barn of William Craig. The first church building was erected in 1837 by George Weatherwax. Its cost was about $200. The site of the building, originally donated, was deeded to trustees May 19,1846, by William Craig and wife, in consideration of one dollar. In 1867 a new edifice was erected on the same site. It is a good sized and neatly built frame structure, erected by Jacob Miller, and costing $2,250. The ministers of the church have been: Nathaniel Conkling, 1834-38; Revs. Washburn, Turbit and George cordon were supplies from 1838 to 1845; S. M. Templeton, 1845-47; Samuel Hanna, 1847-51; John M. Boggs, 1851-56; R. W. Marquis, 1857-72; A. S. Milholland, 1873-75; T. D. Duncan, 1875-79; J. A. E. Simpson, April, 1880, present pastor. Before Rev. Marquis' pastorate, this congregation was connected with the Keene church; since then it has formed a separate charge. The elders of the church have been John P. Kerr, Thomas Guthrie, Robert Huston, George Weatherwax, Thomas Shannon, William Weatherwax, George R. Altman, James Endsley, Jr., and John T. Crawford. The last five compose the present session. The present membership of the church is about 150. A Sunday-school has been in successful operation for more than forty years. It was formerly conducted only during the summer, but at present the whole year. The average attendance through the entire year is about forty. Albert Altman has recently been elected superintendent succeeding John T. Crawford, resigned, who had charge of the school for about four years.

Clark Township Regular Baptist Church, situated near Helmick, was organized June 19, 1833 by T. G. Jones and E. Otis, with eleven members Shortly after the organization, the church license one of her members, Benjamin White, to preach and in June, 1834, he was ordained as an elder and called regularly to the pastorate, in whit relation he continued about nine years. Of the early members may be mentioned Edward Mattox and wife, Benjamin White, Piatt Willis son and wife, Jacob Mattox and wife, Sylvanus Haviland and wife, William Baldwin and wife, Collin Smith and wife, Mr. Moody, William Pugh and wife and William and Isaac Cross. The earliest services were conducted at the house of Edward Mattox, until the church was erected, in about the year 1840. It stood about two miles northeast from Helmick, in section 12. It was a rough frame building, of medium size, erected with a small outlay of money. Immediately after this meeting house was built a series of revival services were held with great success by the pastor and Rev. Elijah Freeman. They resided in twenty-five or more accessions to the church. After Elder White closed his labors as pastor of the church, a division arose in the councils of the congregation, owing to the desire of .some for a removal of the church location, and in a short time two branches separated from the church and held services elsewhere, one at Baldwin's school-house, some distance southeast from the church, and one at Piatt Williamson's. By removals these branches became too weak to maintain separate organizations, and they were united as before, Elder White again becoming pastor of the church. The present house of worship was erected in 1868, on land donated for this purpose by Amos Fox. It was constructed by Isaac Williamson, is thirty-four by forty-four feet in size, with a seating capacity of three or four hundred persons, and represents a cash outlay of about $1,300. The pastors in order have been B. White, Elder Ammerman, H. Sampson, J. W. Dunn, S. W. Frederick and Howard Clark. The last mentioned has been ministering to this people for the space of about three years. The estimated membership of the church is thirty.

The Sunday-school, held only during the summers, has been an efficient aid in the church work almost from the organization of the society. It now has a membership of fifty, and is under the supervision of William Williamson.

Two organizations of the Evangelical association belong to this township-Hopewell church h and Salem church. The former is situated near the southeast corner of the northwest quarter of section 17. The society was organized about 1863 in the school-house adjoining. A Methodist

486 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

class, including some of its members, had been formed a few years before by Rev. Henry Lawson, and the failure to fill appointments for services produced its decline. The first meetings Were held in the school-house. During an early revival, this becoming too limited to contain the congregation, the services Were transferred to the lower rooms in Johnson Williamson's house. Amongst the earliest members, Were Jackson Miller and Wife, Johnson Williamson and Wife, William McLaughlin and Wife, Lizzie and Rose Orney, Susan Mullet, Josiah Green, Peter Buckmaster and Wife, and Nelson Bartlett and Wife. In 1869 the congregation erected a substantial and commodious frame house of worship, at a cost of about $1,100. Jacob Rasselar and George Hossenflaug were the first ministers. Revs. H. T. Strouch, Shultz, Strome, William King, J. S. Hawks, W. H. Eagle, C. Haldeman, John Duly, Elisha Pier, J. J. Conaghy, F. R. Tuthero, Otto Spreng, J. W. Smith and J. R. Reinhart, have since served in this capacity. The present membership is ninety-four.

A Sundy-school is in constant and successful operation, under the present superintendency of Elisha Pier. It has a membership of about forty. Its organization dates contemporaneously With that of the church and soon after its formation; under the management of John Smaile it attained an unrivaled degree of prosperity, its membership at one time very closely approximating 100.

Salem church is located on lot 8, of the second quarter, close to the northern line of the township and its membership probably is as strong in the adjacent county as in this. It was organized as German class, in 1862, With a membership o twenty-six, including John Dobbert and Wife, H Scheibe and Wife, Gottfreid Scheibe and Wife Valentine Scheibe, Jacob Mullet and Wife, Her man Rodhe and Wife, Fritz Grafe, Joseph Lint and Wife, and Francis Schueberger and wife Rev. William Pfeiffer was the first minister. The church belongs to the same circuit that include Hopewell Church. The early meetings Were held in an old log church, near the present church formerly occupied by a United Brethren congregation, Which for a few years maintained an organization here. In 1871, the church building now in service was erected, at a cost of $1,000. It is a frame building, the dimensions of Which are twenty-five by thirty-five feet. In 1876, an English class was organized, and the two have since been carried on separately. The German class contains sixteen members at present; the English class, fifty-five. The services are now usually conducted in English.

A Sunday-school was started soon after the church was built, and has maintained a successful existence since, during the summer months. Michael Kaiser is its present superintendent. In membership it numbers seventy-three.

A Disciple church stands close to the western line on lot 37 of the second section. It is a modest frame structure erected in the summer of 1874 at a cost of $450 and dedicated December 27 of the same year. Prior to this, services had been held for some time in the adjoining school-house. Its early membership included the names of John Foster and Wife, Jackson Stover and Wife, Sarah McNeal, Catherine Foster, Nancy Smith, Ingabew Hughes, Mrs. Martha Buckalew and Mary Woolum. Rev. Urias Huffman was the founder of the church. He was succeeded in a ministerial capacity by Thomas Stewart, who had charge of the church for about two years, and was succeeded by his predecessor. During the last few months services have not been regularly conducted. The membership is quite small at this time. A Sunday-school was organized in the spring of 1875 and has been held every summer up to this date.

The population of Clark township in 1830 was 246; in 1840 it had reached 703; in 1850, 833; in 1860 it had fallen to 796, but in 1870 it had increased to 867, and in 1880 still farther to 1042.

CHAPTER LIII.

CRAWFORD TOWNSHIP.

Location-Survey-Soil-Settlers-Population-First School-

Industries-Churches-New Bedford-Chili.

CRAWFORD township is situated in the north-eastern part of the county. It is bounded on the north by German township, Holmes

HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY. - 487

county, on the east by Buck's township, Tuscarawas county, on the south by White Eyes, and on the west by Mill Creek township. The first, or northeast quarter, is a military section, which was surveyed in forty 100-acre lots by A. Holmes, in 1818. The remainder of the township consists of congress land, surveyed in 1803, by Ebenezer Buckingham. It was organized as a township in 1828. The name is said to have been given in honor of Associate Judge Crawford, who held a considerable tract of land in it.

The soil in the southern part is clayey, with limestone as the usual surface rock; towards the north it partakes more of a sandy nature. Like the surrounding townships, the surface is one interminable range of hills except where the small streams course through its length. White Eyes creek, which rises near the northern line and flows southward, and its many little branches, carry off the waters of its abundant, gushing springs.

No one is known to have preceded Jacob Miser in the permanent occupancy of this territory. He was the first of a group of Pennsylvania Germans who came into the dreary wilderness that shrouded the hills, and by unflagging industry, converted it into pleasant hillside farms. Mr. Miser came about 1815, and settled upon the . southwest quarter of section 22, where his son, Samuel, still lives, and remained there till he died. He at first could provide his family only with a rudely constructed camp, and afterward went eight miles for assistance in raising his first cabin. Philip Fensler, his father-in-law, had entered some land in the township previously, but did not remove to it till about a year after Miser came. He had served in the war of 1812, and owned a little property in Virginia. He disposed of this to advantage, and with the proceeds and his army wages, entered several quarters of land, among them the southeast quarter of section 23, upon which Chili is built. Mr. Fensler remained in the township till his decease. His son John continued on the place for some time, then went West. The Fenders were accompanied or speedily followed by several other families, all of whom located in the southern part of the township. William Stall settled on the southwest quarter of section 23; William Gotshall, who was directly from Harrison county, the southeast quarter of section 22, where he spent the remainder of his life; his brother, George Gotshall, who afterward removed to Indiana, the, northwest quarter of section 21; John Albert, the northwest quarter of section 22 He was from Pennsylvania, and subsequently removed to Adams township, where his widow, now said to be a centenarian, still survives. Daniel S. Salsberry, originally from Pennsylvania, but immediately hailing from Jefferson county, came about 1817, to the southeast quarter of section 18. William Farver at this time owned the southeast quarter of section 21, and not many years later, his son John occupied it. The veritable John Smith, too, ranked among the foremost settlers. His freehold consisted of the northeast quarter of section 23.

From this time on the settlement of the town ship was slow. As late as 1835 there was still unentered land. The rough character of the surface held out no enticing allurements of a life of ease, and those who located here did so expecting to endure innumerable discomforts and to reap no bounteous rewards for their toil. Other early settlers were Jacob Rinehart, John Gonser, Adam Miller, George Lower, Benjamin and Daniel Lower, Mr. Stomm, Mr. Shauwecker, and others. In 1828 David Everhart settled in the wilderness, on the southeast quarter of section 20. He was from Pennsylvania, and about ]820 or 1821 had come to White Eyes township, where he lived till he came here. His farm in this township he had received from Philip Fensler, as a compensation for clearing forty acres of land in White Eyes township.

Beginning about 1832, quite a number of settlers from Washington county, Pennsylvania, poured into this and the adjoining township in Tuscarawas county. Among them was William Doak. Very few of them are now living here. The Lorentzs, Himebaughs, Crawfords and Winkleplecks were also old and well known families of this township. A little later a German population began to take possession of the soil, usually in small tracts, of forty of eighty acres each. The hills are now densely settled with this thrifty people, other nationalities having scarcely a representation in the township.

488 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

In 1830 the population was 442. From this date it increased rapidly, reaching 1,134 in 1840; ten years later the maximum point of population was reached, 1,552; an almost imperceptible decline reduced it to 1,516 in 1860; in 1870 it had fallen to 1,245; during the last decade, however, this loss was partially recovered, and in 1880 the population was 1,431.

Game was abundant among the hills for many years after the first settlers arrived. Wolves in large packs prowled through the forests and made the raising of sheep an impossibility for a long time. The bears acquired a keen relish for pork, and frequently dined upon their favorite dish. In unison with their wild surroundings it was not uncommon for the pioneers to make pets of bear cubs, and they would even attempt sometimes to domesticate the young of the panther, which was occasionally seen. In several instances did children narrowly escape death from attacks of these half-grown savage pets.

A school was a novelty for a long time after the whites settled this township. The first one was taught about 1820, by Jacob Seidler, in a little cabin which stood in the woods where Chili now stands, just north of the bridge. It was the usual subscription school, and was only three months in duration. The Smiths, Misers, Sondals, Ravenscrofts and others from this and White Eyes township attended here. This one short term was all the school instruction that some of the aged fathers and mothers of today received, all they had an opportunity of receiving. For a number of years after, school was not again taught in this neighborhood, and then only at irregular periods. The teachers were usually little in advance of their pupils in point of knowledge, and consequently the progress of the latter was very slow. It is said that Joseph Townley was the first early efficient teacher in the township. He taught, about 1835, near the Lutheran church, just above Chili.

John Smith built the first and only mill, on the northeast quarter of section 23. It was a little log structure at first, with one, afterward wit two, run of buhrs, set in operation very early an continued many years. Mr. Gonser began the construction of a saw-mill near New Bedford, but the dam was swept away before it was finished, and never was replaced.

Distilleries were operated for a short time by Frank Lambrecht, John Bickle, Yost Miller, John Smith, John Gardner and Andrew Eichmeier.

The religious sentiment of the people is embodied in five societies, four of which conduct services in the German language. Beside these, two others, one just across the line in Holmes county, the other, just over the line in White Eyes township, both German, possess considerable memberships from this township. Geographically, two are in New Bedford, two in or near Chili, and one in the eastern part of the township. One is an English Lutheran, one a German Lutheran, one a United Brethren. one a German Reformed, and one an Evangelical Protestant church. Beside these, a United Brethren church (German), now defunct, formerly existed on the southeast quarter of section 12. The house of worship was erected about 1852. The society was formed by the separation of its original members from the adjoining German Reformed church and subsequent organization of a new body. Rev. Miller was the first minister. The membership was at no time very large. Among the early prominent members were Peter Lenhart, Peter Lower and John Miller. The earliest meetings were held in Mr. Lenhart's and Mr. Miller's barns, and, in fact, wherever room could be obtained. Regular services were suspended six or eight years ago, owing to the reduced membership.

A short distance east of this, near the northwest corner of the southeast quarter of section 11, stands the German Reform church which was built in 1845 or 1846. It is a log building and is about to be replaced by a substantial frame structure. Rev. Jacob Seidle was one of the earliest ministers, holding services in the school-house before the church was built. Rev. Zohner was the first preacher in the church building. The present pastor is Rev. Schodd. Jonathan Price, h John Eichmeirer and Mr. Buser, were prominent d members during its early days. At present the e membership is small.

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St. John's Evangelical Lutheran (German) church, located in New Bedford was organized in 1854 by Rev. G. Doepken. He remained in charge of the congregation nineteen years, at the end of that time removing to Marietta. Rev. C. Lembke succeeded him and ministered unto this people two and a half years. Then, in 1876, Rev. O. Priwer obtained the pastorate and still has charge of the congregation, which now includes more than silty families. A German Sunday-school is held during the summer. The meeting house is a commodious frame, which was built in 1855. The church owes its existence to a dissension in the German Reform church, a short distance northwest of this in Holmes county, in consequence of which many members withdrew and became the founders of this society. The prominent early members were Frederick Schmalz, George Lebegut, Christian F. Baad, Adam Baad, Gottlieb Rottman, David Schlegle, Conrad Scheetz, George Gonser, Gottfried Band, George J. Kleinknecht, Jacob Semmlar, Frederick and Jacob Lautenschlager, Sebastian Trautwein, Jacob Brandle Gottlieb Ruesz and Joseph Rumbolt. The church is in connection with the Joint Synod of Ohio.

From another distraction in the aforementioned Holmes county German Reformed church sprang the United Brethren church of New Bedford. It was organized about 1848, by Rev. March, with a large membership. George Smith, George Schultz and John P. Lower were included in the number. Revs. John Dilly and John Crone have been prominent pastors of this society. Rev. Schluscer is the present pastor. The membership is small The church building is a large, substantial frame, which was erected about 1848. A Sunday-school is held during the summer.

The Evangelical Protestant (German) church, near Chili, was organized in January, 1880, with about fifteen families, among which were those of Henry Ehrich, Martin Sunkle, John and Gabriel Lorenz, John Shoemaker and Valentine Huprich. The membership has slighty increased since. Rev. Haffele was the first and present pastor. he church, a large frame building, was erected in the fall of 1879, at a cost of over $1,200. The original members had formerly held allegiance to the German Reformed church, several miles east of Chili. A Sunday-school was organized several years ago in the Chili school-house. From the start it has been under the management of Henry Ehrich, and now contains about fifty members.

The remaining church at Chili is the Evangelical English Lutheran church. It was organized in 1832 by Rev. E. Greenwald, who was settled at New Philadelphia. He preached the first sermon November 12, 1832. Rev. J. B. Reck succeeded him in 1835, but, after a few years, the care of the church again devolved (in 1838) on Mr. Greenwald. In 1840 Rev. E. C. Young took charge of the church, and in 1846 Rev. E. Melsheimer, who died in 1849. In 1850 Rev. A. N. Bartholomew became pastor, and, in 1859, Rev. M. M. Bartholomew. Rev. S. S. Lawson took charge in 1862, and Rev. David Sparks in 1864. He remained several years and was succeeded by Rev. J. M. Myers, who severed his connection with the church in 1878. After a vacancy of about a year, Rev. John Y. Marks, in May, 1879, was elected to the pastorate and is still the minister. The elders have been Andrew Eichmier, Jacob Miser, Henry Grimm, John Smith, A. Winklepleck, William Stall, Frederick Everhart, Michael Grile, John Gardner, William Doak, Anthony Stall and Samuel Miser; the deacons, Joseph Miser, George Winklepleck, Charles Gillespie, Frederick Everhart, George Ringer, Henry Everhart, Jesse Eichmier, Frederick Barrack, Thomas Christy, Peter Helmreich, Robert Doak, John Bowman, Israel Barrack and Henry Renner. The number of communicants, in 1833, was sixteen; it is now about one hundred. Not long after the society was organized, a log church was erected on land donated by Philip Fensler. Then, in 1855 or 1856, the present frame structure was erected. It was repaired and enlarged in 1874, at a cost of over $600.

New Bedford is situated in the northwestern part of the northwest quarter of section 3, one corner of the town plat touching the Holmes county line. It consists of fifty-five lots, and was laid out in March, 1825, by John Gonser, while

490 - HISTORY OF COSHOCTON COUNTY.

the country around it was scarcely at all settled. Just over the line, in Holmes county, a little village had been laid oat and named Wardsville, and New Bedford was launched into existence as its rival. In his laudable endeavors to found a village, Mr. Gonser was ably seconded by his three sons, Henry, David and Adam, each of whom erected a house for himself in the town plat. The Gonsers were from Bedford county, Pennsylvania, hence the name of the village. It now contains a population of 134. Many of its buildings are newly erected, of ample proportions, and fine appearance.

The first merchandising was done by David Burget, who, about 1828, opened his little stock of goods in a building on lot 22, which is still standing, occupied by John Luke. He remained in business in this village until 1864, during which time he accumulated considerable property. He then removed to Cleveland, where he has since been leading a retired life. John Winklepleck was the second store-keeper, coming about ten years after Burget. He remained but a short time, removing to Chili. George Bell and David Gonser trafficked in succession for a short time each, and in 1846 Lewis Helman, a Jew, from Europe, brought a large stock of goods into town, and conducted an extensive and very profitable business for five or six years. He then sold out to Levi Deetz, and is said to have returned to Europe. There have been two stores here ever since. George A. Rinner and Adam Long are the present proprietors of one, and George Bowman and G. F. Shauweker the proprietors of the other.

The remaining business of the town is as follows: One hardware store, Brown & Croft; three groceries, C. C. Hinkle, Jacob Roth and Jacob Welling; one jeweler shop, Noah Snyder; two wagon shops, Jacob & John Engle, and Gottlieb Swigert; one marble shop, Jacob Goetz; one dress maker, Miss Maggie Senft; one milliner, Miss Samantha Luke; one saddler shop, Samuel Snyder; two shoe shops, Adam Diefenbaugh and H. H. Geiger; two blacksmith shops, George Rosencopp, and Jacob Dresher and George Price.

The first public tavern was kept by Mr. Parnell, about 1823. Others, who have since acquired a name in this capacity, have been John Luke, John Bowman, Robert Nickerson, Mrs. Bowman, and J. E. Fleming. There are now two hotels Commercial House, C. C. Hinkle, and Mansion House, S. S. Snyder.

David Burget was the first postmaster. He filled the position for a long continued term, and was succeeded by J. E. Fleming. A. Doak and Jackson Bowman successively followed, and the mail matter then passed into the hands of Henry H. Geiger, the present postmaster. A tri-weekly mail between West Lafayette and Millersburg, and another between Millersburgh and Philipsburgh, pass through this place.

I. D. Luke is a practitioner of law, and Drs. F. G. Guittard and S. P. Snyder the physicians. The former has had an uninterrupted residence here of about twenty=eight years; the latter is a late accession. Dr. John Busby was an old and prominent physician of the place, having C. Steward associated with him in business for a while. Other practitioners have remained in the village but a short time.

The present school-house was erected in 1877, as a one-story building, containing only one room. Miss Samantha Luke was the first teacher therein. In the fall of 1880, a second story was added. The building now presents a very neat appearance, and is nicely fitted up with modern school furniture of the most approved pattern. Miss Elizabeth Boyd and Miss Caroline Shauwecker were the teachers during the winter of 1880-81.

New Bedford Lodge, No. 446, of the I. O. 0. F., was instituted June 29, 1870. George C. Rinner, D. D. Funk, Peter Lenhart, Jacob Lenhart, C. G. Baad, Ferdinand Sedlemyer and Gottlieb Stein were the charter members. The officers at present are as follows: Jacob Engle, Noble Grand; Christian G. Baad, Vice Grand; F. J. Guittard, Treasurer; Noah Snyder, Recording Secretary; Benjamin M. Snyder, Permanent Secretary. In 1874, the lodge leased for fifty yearn the upper story of the building on the northwest corner of the square, and have there a nicely furnished hall. The present membership is twenty-seven.

The village of Chili, located upon the southeast quarter Of section 23, approaches within a few feet of the White Eyes township line. The

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"inner history" of its foundation is said to be as follows : James Evans had shortly before erected a saw mill in White Eyes township a short distance below where Chili stands. Being an enterprising kind of a man, he desired a market for the lumber which he was preparing, and urged upon Mr. Fender, the owner of the adjoining quarter-section, the feasibility of laying out a town. Repeated argumentation at length produced conviction in Mr. Fensler's mind that it was the proper thins to do, and he forthwith set abort to lay out the town, much to the satisfaction of Mr Evans, delighting in the prospective sale of his lumber. The plat was surveyed March 7, 1834, by James Ravenscraft, and consisted of twenty-nine lots. To the surveyor was given the honor of naming the town. He called it Chili (universally called Chili hereabouts). David Zellers, a blacksmith, built the first house, and directly afterward his blacksmith shop. Willis Butler, from Tuscarawas county, was proprietor of the first store. His stay was short, and he re turned to his former residence. Robert Porter succeeded him, and he in turn was soon superseded by John Winklepleck, who was engaged in business here for many years, up to the time of his death. In the line of dry goods, two firms are now engaged in business, John Lorenz, and Lenhart & Stein. Gottlieb Feller conducts an excellent tannery, established many years ago by Henry Warnes, and with it a harness and saddlery shop. Allen Turner has a cabinet shop, Philip Gebhard a wagon shop, Philip Neiss and John Hawk each a blacksmith shop, and Henry Ehrich and Charles Klein each a shoe shop. Solomon DeWitt provides hospitable entertainment for the wayfarer. Ernest C. Volz and Aaron Busby are the two doctors. Dr. Thomas Pinkerton was the first resident physician. Quite a number have intervened between him and the present practitioners; among them Drs. Chapman, B. Blackburn, John Beaver, Knight, Busby and Fell. During its existence of nearly half a century, Chili has lost only one building by fire, and it was a small cabin of little value. The population at present lacks only a few names of amounting to 100.

CHAPTER LIV.

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.

Boundaries-Physical Features-Canal and Railroad-Early

Settlers and Settlements- Major Robinson's Captivity-

Indians-Schools and Churches-Taverns-Distilleries and

Mills-Postoffices-Coal-Oil.

THE early records of this township, yet preserved, contain an account of its organization. The first entry consists of the following notice

WHEREAS, The commissioners of Coshocton county, Ohio, hath this day erected a new township off the south end of Tuscarawas township in said county, to be known by the name of Franklin, and consisting of the fourth township in the sixth range and the east half of the fourth township in the seventh range; therefore, the qualified electors of said township of Franklin are hereby notified to meet at the house of John Wamsley, in said township, on Saturday, the 17th day of September, and elect necessary township officers, according to law.

MORDECAI CHALFANT,

JAMES MESKIMEN,

Commissioners.

Coshocton, September 6, 1814.

At the appointed time and